Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Isolation and Characterization of Methanogenium

A new mesophilic methanogenic bacterium was isolated from a sewage sludge digestor. The cells were irregular cocci (diameter, 0.5 to 2.0 pm) and occurred singly or in small aggregates. Adjacent cells did not appear to touch, even in aggregates. This bacterium was not motile and did not possess flagella. Colonies appearing after 1 week of incubation were white and 1 mm in diameter. Older colonies were yellow and up to 4 mm in diameter. The organism used H2-C02 or formate as an energy source. Acetate and either yeast extract or Trypticase peptone were required for growth. The optimum pH for growth was between 6.5 and 7.0. The NaCl requirement for methanogenesis was less than 0.2 g/liter. The deoxyribonucleic acid base composition was 52 mol% guanine plus cytosine. This isolate is named Methanogeniurn aggregans sp. nov., and the type strain (strain MSt) has been deposited in the Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen as strain DSM 3027. Irregularly shaped coccoid cells occur in three genera of methanogenic organisms, Methanosarcina, Methanococcits, and Methanogeniitm. Most species in these genera are mesophilic methanogens isolated from marine environments (5.10, 16, 18). Most use either Hz-CO2 or formate for growth and methane formation. Two notable exceptions to the use of these two substrates are the species Methanosarcina mazei and “Methanosarcina acetivorans,” which use methanol, acetate, and methyl-, dimethyl-, and trimethylamine. Recently, thermophilic coccoid isolates have also been reported (6, 7, 9, 14), again from marine origins. We describe here the isolation and characterization of a new species of coccoid methanogenic bacterium from a sewage sludge digestor. The name Methanogeniiim aggreguns sp. nov. is proposed for this isolate. MATERIALS AND METHODS Enrichment and isolation. An enrichment culture was inoculated with a sample from a sewage sludge digestor at Bourg en Bresse, France. This enrichment culture was grown in 20 ml of medium in a 60-ml serum bottle with 2 atmospheres (203 kPa) of Hz-C02 as the substrate. The cultures were repressurized with H2-C02 as needed and transferred (2 ml) at weekly intervals to fresh media. Cultures were incubated without shaking at 37°C. For isolation of axenic cultures of methanogens, the enrichment culture was transferred to media containing penicillin (3,000 U/ml j; after growth (as measured by methanogenesis), the enrichment culture was serially diluted and inoculated into roll tubes (8). Culture media. The isolate was cultured on medium containing 1.0 g of NH4CI, 0.4 g of K2HP04 - 3H20, 0.2 g of MgCI2, 0.5 g of cysteine hydrochloride, 5.0 g of sodium formate, 1.0 g of sodium acetate, 1.0 g of Trypticase peptone (BBL Microbiology Systems, Cockeysville, Md.), 1.0 g of yeast extract (Difco Laboratories, Detroit, Mich. j, 0.001 g of resazurin, 0.3 g of K2HP04, 10 ml of a trace minerals solution (l), 5 ml of rumen fluid, and 1,000 ml of deionized water. When roll tubes were used, 2.0% agar was added.
Characterization of two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in symbiosis with Allium porrum: inflow and flux of phosphate across the symbiotic interface

Individual arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can differ markedly in their ability to improve the phosphate nutrition and growth of host plants. In particular, Scutellospora calospora is relatively ineffective with some hosts and a growth depression is often observed. We have examined the abilities of S. calospora and Glomus sp. 'City Beach' strain WUM 16, grown in soils which promote extensive mycorrhizal colonization, to transfer phosphate (P) to Allium porrum. Phosphate uptake from the low-P soils (P 0 ) was compared with uptake from soils amended with extra P (P 1 ). In order to relate P transfer to physiological characteristics of the two fungi, inflow of P via fungus to the plant was combined with the surface areas of intercellular hyphae and arbuscules (symbiotic interfaces) to calculate the amount of P transferred per unit area of interface (P fluxes). 'Hyphal inflows' and 'hyphal fluxes' were also calculated on the assumption that P uptake by the plant was the same in mycorrhizal and equivalent non-mycorrhizal (NM) plants (the validity of this assumption is discussed). With both soil P treatments, P was taken up by plants colonized by both mycorrhizal fungi to a greater extent than by the equivalent NM controls. Hyphal inflows to plants in P 0 soil that were colonized by Glomus sp. 'City Beach' were greatest from 14-21 d and decreased at later harvests. With P 1 soil the inflow via Glomus sp. 'City Beach' peaked at a very high value at 21-28 d. Hyphal inflows into plants in P 0 soil that were colonized by S. calospora increased throughout the experiment, and with P 1 soil they remained steady at high values. With both fungi, the surface areas of the symbiotic interfaces increased greatly after 14 d, and generally there was little effect of higher soil P. With P 0 soil, Glomus sp. 'City Beach' showed no significant differences in the ratio of surface areas of the two interfaces over the course of the experiment. Scutellospora calospora tended to produce a lower percentage of interfacial area contributed by arbuscules. With the mycorrhizal plants growing in their respective soils, there appeared no consistent differences between the two fungi with respect to fluxes of P across the interfaces. With P 0 soil, fluxes via Glomus sp. 'City Beach' were initially higher than those via S. calospora, but later they were higher with S. calospora. With P 1 soil the only difference was the 28-42-d period, when Glomus sp. 'City Beach' produced the higher flux (reflecting the low surface area at the time). The results show that relative inefficiency of S. calospora in its ability to transfer P, as reported by others, may result from different environmental conditions, use of different hosts, or even of different fungal isolates (strains).
Adoptive Transfer of CD8α+ Dendritic Cells (DC) Isolated from Mice Infected with Chlamydia muridarum Are More Potent in Inducing Protective Immunity Than CD8α− DC

Chlamydial infections are serious public health concerns worldwide. In this study, we examined the role of dendritic cell (DC) subsets in inducing protective immunity against chlamydial infection using an adoptive transfer approach. We found that CD11c+CD8α+ (double-positive, DP) DC, compared with CD11c+CD8α− (single-positive, SP) DC isolated from infected mice, are more potent inducers of protective immunity. Specifically, mice pretreated with DPDC from infected mice, upon infection with Chlamydia trachomatis mouse pneumonitis (MoPn), experienced significantly less severe body weight loss and in vivo chlamydial growth. Analysis of MoPn-driven cytokine production by immune cells revealed that mice that were treated with DPDC produced significantly higher levels of Th1 (TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-12) but lower levels of Th2 (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13)-related cytokines than the recipients of SPDC following infection challenge. Moreover, DPDC-treated mice displayed significantly higher levels of MoPn-specific IgG2a production and delayed-type hypersensitivity responses compared with SPDC-treated mice. Furthermore, DPDC isolated from infected mice produced higher amounts of IL-12 and IL-10 in vitro in comparison with SPDC. These data indicate that CD8α+ DC have a significantly higher capacity in inducing protective immunity compared with CD8α− DC, demonstrating the crucial role of DC1-like cells in eliciting protection against C. trachomatis infection
Multiple Pro197 Substitutions in the Acetolactate Synthase of Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas) Confer Resistance to Tribenuron

Abstract Variations in the acetolactate synthase (ALS) gene sequence were determined from 28 populations of corn poppy resistant (R) to tribenuron and from 6 populations susceptible (S) to this herbicide. The ALS gene fragment (634 bp) sequence revealed in R populations five point mutations at the codon Pro197, and among them the substitution of Pro197 by Ala was the most common. The sequencing chromatograms revealed that nine R individuals had only the mutant ALS gene and were homozygous (RR), 18 R individuals had both the wild type and the mutant ALS gene and were heterozygous (RS), whereas one R individual was heterozygous but with two different mutant ALS alleles (R1R2). The use of restriction digestion profile analysis to verify the DNA sequence results by detecting the existence of point mutations at the codon 197 managed to distinguish the R and S alleles and confirmed the results obtained from the sequencing chromatograms analysis. The secondary protein structure prediction suggested the formation of novel β-strands for each of the five mentioned amino acid substitutions that was not present in wild type ALS around the mutant site. These findings support the hypothesis that the substitution of Pro197 by Ser, Thr, Ala, Arg, or Leu resulted in altered secondary structure, which stabilizes an ALS tertiary conformation that prevents tribenuron binding and thus confers resistance to this herbicide. Nomenclature: Tribenuron; corn poppy, Papaver rhoeas L. PAPRH.
Process environment sampling can help to reduce the occurrence of Listeria monocytogenes in food processing facilities

The occurrence and persistence of Listeria monocytogenes strains in food processing environments pose a risk of cross-contamination to food. The control of these strains is thus essential to ensure food safety. In the present study, 205 samples were collected from a food processing facility between May 2012 to February 2013 and analysed for the presence of L. monocytogenes by the ISO11290 standard method. L. monocytogenes isolates were differentiated using pulsed field gel electrophoresis. Up to 55% of the samples were positive for L. monocytogenes until October 2012. Advice was given on the implementation of corrective actions regarding cleaning and disinfection procedures and workflows. This resulted in a decrease in the number of positive samples, reflecting the reduction of L. monocytogenes in the processing environment. Eight pulsotypes were found in the food processing facility environment, mainly on non-food contact surfaces. One type was identified as persistent as it was isolated on each sampling occasion and constituted more than 71% of the isolates collected. It was the only type found in the processing environment after the implementation of corrective actions. This work demonstrates that processing environment sampling plans are effective to assess hygiene and implement corrective actions. This contributes to prevention of contamination events and consequently to assuring the safety of the food product.
Behavior of Tiger Muskellunge in Newman Lake, Washington Determined by Ultrasonic Biotelemetry

Ultrasonic transmitters were surgically implanted into 30 adult tiger muskellunge Esox masquinongy x E. lucius to evaluate long-term (bi-weekly tracking intervals conducted over 29 months) and short-term (hourly locations recorded over 48 hour periods) movement behavior in Newman Lake, Washington. Long-term behavior was analyzed in terms of use-area and distance traveled by season period (winter-spring vs. summer-fall), and was compared to similar tiger muskellunge telemetry data previously collected from Mayfield Reservoir in western Washington. Short-term behavior was analyzed, seasonally, in terms of travel rates and areas of the lake utilized by individual fish. Movement and areas used by tiger muskellunge tracked biweekly were greater during winter-spring than in summer-fall. However, mean distance traveled between observations in Newman Lake was approximately twice the distance observed in Mayfield Reservoir. During the 48-h tracking periods, a wide range of individual tiger muskellunge behavior was observed, ranging from fish that occupied short sections of shoreline or particular bays, to fish that traveled many kilometers in short periods of time. Managers of escocid fisheries typically consider northern pike, muskellunge, and tiger muskellunge lie-andwait littoral predators that have defined home ranges and exhibit limited movement. However, the results of this study suggest otherwise. The varying travel rates and use-areas observed at Newman Lake provide evidence that tiger muskellunge behavior may be lake-specific, or that tiger muskellunge employ different behavioral strategies not only between, but within populations. Further study, on tiger muskellunge waters with varying morphologies and fish assemblages would bolster efforts to determine whether this species should be managed on a lake-by-lake basis. The results of this study also suggest that the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s standard warmwater sampling protocols may not be highly effective for sampling tiger muskellunge populations, and that tiger muskellunge-specific sampling protocols need to be developed.
Heritability of Exterior Egg Quality Traits in Japanese Quail

The objective of this study was to estimate the genetic and phenotypic parameters for Japanese quail external egg quality traits. In this study, 1567 eggs were collected out of 584 Japanese quails which were caged individually. Egg weight (EW), specific gravity (ESG), width (WE) and height (HE) of egg, shape index (ESI), shell thickness (ST), shell weight (SW), shell ratio (SR), egg surface area (ESA), and shell weight per unit surface area (SWUS) were measured. The restricted maximum likelihood procedure was applied to estimate heritability and genetic and phenotypic correlations for the examined traits. Heritability of EW, ESG, WE, HE, ESI, ST, SW, SR, ESA, and SWUS were 0.83, 0.31, 0.68, 0.72, 0.59, 0.53, 0.08, 0.31, 0.83, and 0.19, respectively. Shell weight, WE, and HE had high positive genetic correlations with EW and they were ranged from 0.52 to 0.94. However, SR and SWUS had high and negative genetic correlations with EW, they were -0.93 and -0.88, respectively. The genetic correlations between ESG and each of ST, SW, and SWUS were high and ranged from 0.56 to 0.82, whereas genetic correlations between ESG and the traits related with egg size were low and insignificant, ranging from -0.01 and 0.08. Therefore, selection based on ESG would be feasible to improve the ST and consequently high shell stiffness without antagonistic effect on egg size. Positive correlations between ESI and EW were higher in magnitude than the negative correlations between ESI and HE. This indicates that egg size is limited by the WE rather than HE. Shell ratio and SWUS were negatively correlated with EW, WE and HE, indicating larger eggs had proportionately less SW and consequently low SWUS. Hence, selection for increased EW will result in decreased shell quality.
Ultrastructure of Cell Envelopes of Large Cells, Small Cells and Cysts of Azotobacter chroococcum

SUMMARY: Vegetative organisms of Azotobacter chroococcum, as seen by electron microscopy of ultra-thin sections, had a single, very thin wall, surrounded by a capsule which appears to correspond structurally to an outer wall. The smaller gonidial forms had double walls and no capsule. Cysts had a spore-like multiple wall, and give evidence of being produced within the cell.
Biological Properties of Plant Flavonoids: An Overview

Plant flavonoids are a large group of naturally occurring phenylchromones found in fruits, vegetables, grains, bark, roots, stems, flowers, tea and wine. While as much as several hundred milligrams are consumed in the average western diet, much work remains to be done on the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of these compounds. A variety of in vitro and in vivo experiments have shown that selected flavonoids possess antiallergic, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antioxidant activities. Moreover, acting by several different mechanisms, particular flavonoids have been shown to exert significant anticancer activity including anticarcinogenic and prodifferentiative activities. Certain flavonoids possess potent inhibitory activity against a wide array of enzymes but of particular note is their inhibitory effects on several enzyme systems intimately connected to cell activation processes such as protein kinase C, protein tyrosine kineses, and phospholipase A 2. It has been suggested that biolog.
Notes on the Natural History, Distribution and Conservation Status of the Andean Night Monkey, Aotus miconax Thomas, 1927

Abstract: The Andean night monkey Aotus miconax is found only in Peru's northeastern cloud forests, and is one of the country's three endemic primate species. Very little is known of this species; today largely limited to the records of Butchart et al. (1995) and a few museum specimens. Between 2005 and 2007, we observed A. miconax in various localities in the regions of Amazonas and San Martín, and recorded what we could of its natural history, distribution and conservation status. The Andean night monkey was observed to live in groups of two to four individuals, using sleeping sites at heights of 6 to 9 m. We have confirmed the presence of the species in 10 additional localities in Amazonas and San Martín, all between 900 and 2,788 m above sea level. It was recorded in various forests types, from primary to relict. Even though it is not hunted directly and can survive in disturbed habitats, the extremely high rate of deforestation in this area is threatening its long term survival. Research on the biology, natural history and ecological requirements of this species are much needed.
Musa acuminata subspecies banksii: status and diversity.

Musa acuminata spp banksii est une des six sous-especes decrites d'acuminata. Il existe une certaine variabilite naturelle dans les populations d'a. banksii connues. Cette variabilite peut avoir differentes origines : existence de plusieurs ecotypes, nature hybride de certaines accessions. Les diploides, cultivars derives d'a. banksii, ressemblent aux plantains d'Afrique de type faux-corne et/ou corne. L'origine des plantains peut etre a rechercher dans le complexe AA banksii. (Resume d'auteur)
Laboratory and field evaluation of neem for the control of aphids (Homoptera : Aphididae)

Laboratory and field trials with formulated neem seed oil (NSO) and neem seed extract (NSE) demonstrated that these materials are effective aphicides. NSO sprays to intact plants in the laboratory resulted in significant reductions in numbers of green peach aphids, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), on peppers and rutabagas; currant-lettuce aphids, Nasonovia ribisnigri (Mosley), on lettuce; and strawberry aphids, Chaetosiphon fragaefolii (Cockerell), on strawberry. NSO reduced aphid numbers in a dose-dependent manner, with estimated concentrations for a 50% reduction in aphid populations (EC50) ranging from 0.2 to 1.4%. Under field conditions, NSO and NSE treatments were as effective as the botanical insecticide pyrethrum for control of aphids on pepper and strawberry, but ineffective for the control of aphids on lettuce. The effectiveness of neem appears to be influenced by the host plant, the aphid species, and weather conditions.
Evaluation of Selected Indian Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Genotypes for Morpho-physiological and Biochemical Characterization under Salt Stress Conditions

Wheat is the second most important crop after rice in India and occupies approximately 28.5 million hectare area. Salinity is one of the major factors reducing plant growth and productivity worldwide, and affects about 7% of world’s total land area. In India about 6.73 million hectare land area is salt affected. The aim of this study was to investigate the morpho- physiological and biochemical response of wheat to temporal salinity (ECiw = 10.0 dSm–1) exposures. Ten wheat genotypes were evaluated in two successive growing seasons (2012–2014), with complete randomized design with three replications under both salinity stress and non-stress conditions. The morpho-physiological and biochemical character measured in this investigation, inhibited under both salt stresses (S1 & S2) conditions but much more significantly inhibited under long-term salinity exposure (S2) than S1 because interrupting the metabolic process of plant, resulting in reduced growth and productivity. According to correlation result, selec.
Volatile Constituents of Leaves and Bulbs of Gynandriris Sisyrinchium and their Antimicrobial Activities

The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from the leaves and bulbs of Gynandriris Sisyrinchium L. growing in the northern region of Jordan (Irbid) were investigated by GC and GC/MS. The major constituents of the leaves oil were 3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-2-hexadecen-1-ol (20.24%), ledene oxide (II) (12.62%), furfural (9.80%) and trans-sabinol (3.58%). The bulb oil was found to contain phenylacetaldehyde (21.85%), 8,9-dehydroneoisolongifolene (12.10%), 8S,14-cedranediol (8.36%) and furfural (3.66%) as the major constituents. The antibacterial activity of essential oils mixture of the bulbs and leaves were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against ten bacterial isolates using agar disc and agar well diffusion methods. The Grampositive bacterial isolates including Bacillus cereus, ATCC11778 and Bacillus subtilis, ATCC6633 were the most susceptible to the tested oil mixtures. In contrast, the tested essential oils showed either no inhibitory effect against Klebsiella pneumoniae, ATCC 10031 and Serratia marcescens, ATCC 27117 or moderate effects against the remaining tested Gram-negative bacterial isolates.
Demonstration of a short chain polyphosphate in Pisolithus tinctorius and the implications for phosphorus transport

SUMMARY Polyphosphate was extracted from an Australian isolate of Pisolithus tinctorius (Pers.) Coker & Couch, known to be mycorrhizal with Eucalyptus pilularis. It was separated from RNA and characterized by PAGE and 31P NMR spectroscopy. A broad pink band, which showed y-metachromasy with toluidine blue, ran faster on acrylamide gels than a number of purple-blue bands (various RNA fractions) and did not stain with ethidium bromide, was identified as polyphosphate. The major pink band co-migrated with a synthetic polyphosphate standard of a chain length of about 15 phosphate (Pi) subunits, and analysis by 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy confirmed that polyphosphate was a major fraction in the extract. Polyphosphate was extracted from mycelium grown at both high and low levels of Pi, but the amount extracted from cultures grown with 10 mm Pi (added as ammonium phosphate) was significantly greater. Polyphosphate was a substantial fraction of the phosphorus present in the hyphae and it is proposed that polyphosphate is transported along the hyphae by the motile tubule and vacuole system present in this fungus.
Germin‐like oxalate oxidase, a H2O2‐producing enzyme, accumulates in barley attacked by the powdery mildew fungus

Germin-like oxalate oxidase is an oligomeric enzyme which generates H2O2. This paper reports increased activity of this enzyme in association with the response of barley to the powdery mildew fungus, Erysiphe graminis f.sp. hordei. The increase is detected in a colorimetric assay as well as on activity blots using extracts of both resistant and susceptible leaves. The increase is generally apparent from 24 h after inoculation. From 48 h after inoculation, there is an approximately 10-fold higher oxalate oxidase activity in the samples from inoculated plants compared with the controls. The oxalate oxidase activity increase appears 1–3 days earlier than PR-1 protein accumulation. SDS—PAGE analysis suggests that this pathogen-response oxalate oxidase is different from a commercially available barley oxalate oxidase, and from a constitutive barley root oxalate oxidase.