Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influences of MHC Class II Haplotypes on Avian Influenza Traits in Thai Indigenous Chicken

Natural infections with influenza viruses have been reported in a variety of animal species including human, pigs, horses, sea mammals, mustelids and birds. Occasionally devastating pandemics occur in domestic chickens (broiler and layers) and human. During November 2003 to March 2004 in many countries in Asia, there are outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza virus, causing of death of infected patients and devastated poultry industry. Some groups of Thai indigenous chickens are survivable recommended as resistance. These traits were related to immunogenetics, especially, the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and class II molecules. The chicken MHC class II was investigated as candidate genes for avian influenza resistance. Seven hundred and thirty Thai indigenous chickens of small holder farms in the rural area of avian influenza outbreaks in the central part of Thailand were used in this study. They were separated into two groups, 340 survivable chickens and 390 dead chickens (resistance and susceptible). Genomic DNA were precipitated from blood samples and feathers. Diluted DNA was amplified to identify MHC haplotype. Data were statistically analyzed by χ2 analysis to test significant differences of influences of MHC class II haplotypes on avian influenza traits. The results represented ten MHC class II haplotypes, A9, B12, B13, B14, B19, B21, B2, B4, B5, and B6, and included eighteen of their crossbred. The homozygous B21 from these collected samples had 100 percent of survival rate and they were the major survival group. In addition, the heterozygous B21 also showed high survival rate because of co-dominant expression of these genes. In the other way, the homozygous B13 had 100 percent of mortality rate and they were the major group of high mortality rate. These results confirmed that MHC class II haplotypes influenced on avian influenza resistant traits in Thai indigenous chicken. The MHC genes can be used as genetic markers to improve disease resistant traits in chicken.
Protecting oil during frying: A comparative study

The effect of carbon dioxide blanketing (CDB) and vacuum frying (VF) on the frying performance of regular canola oil was evaluated. For 7 h daily and for 7 days French fries were fried in regular canola oil at 185 ± 5 °C without and with CDB and in a vacuum fryer. The extent of changes in the oil was assessed by analysis of total polar compounds (TPC), anisidine value (AV), color component formation and changes in composition of fatty acids and tocopherols. Frying under CDB reduced the amount of TPC by 54%, while 76% reduction was observed during VF compared to standard frying conditions (SFC). Similarly, lower oxidative degradation was observed when measured by AV. At the end of the frying period, the reduction in unsaturated fatty acid content was 3.8, 1.9 and 12.7% when frying under CDB, vacuum and SFC, respectively. The rate of tocopherol degradation was three and twelve times slower in VF when compared to CDB and SFC, respectively.
Ecology of the lower rhône after 200 years of human influence: A review

Embankments of the last century and contemporary channelization and development of urban and industrial areas along the Rhone Valley have greatly changed the river. The impacts of these on three biological descriptors of the hydrosystem (benthic invertebrates, fish communities and aquatic birds) have been studied. A reduction in the morphological diversity of the regulated hydrosystem has caused a reduction in biological diversity. This system has become a slow potamic system as a consequence of the more uniform environmental conditions: the benthic macroinvertebrate fauna has become eurytopic and pollution tolerant, with very localized potamic species; fish communities are dominated by limnophilic cyprinids; and water bird communities are limited by the absence of typical species of fluvial areas, such as terns.
Immunohistochemical Loss of the DNA Mismatch Repair Proteins MSH2 and MSH6 in Malignant Fibrous Histiocytomas

Purpose: Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) account for less than 1% of all malignancies and constitute a heterogeneous tumor entity in which malignant fibrous histiocytomas (MFH) represent one-third and are characterized by a lack of type-specific differentiation. A defective mismatch repair (MMR) system cause the familial cancer syndrome hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), and since occasional MFH have been described in HNPCC patients we assessed the contribution of defective MMR to the development of MFH. Methods: MMR status was characterized in a series of 209 histopathologically reviewed MFH. Tissue microarray sections from the tumors were immunohistochemically stained for the MMR proteins MLH1, MSH2 and MSH6, and cases with aberrant staining were further characterized for microsatellite instability. Results and Discussion: Two of the 209 STS–a storiform-pleomorphic MFH and a myxofibrosarcoma–showed concomitant loss of MSH2 and MSH6, but retained staining for MLH1 on both cases. The myxoid tumor also had a microsatellite unstable phenotype. These findings, together with previous observations of defective MMR in pleomorphic STS, indicate that these tumors may be part of the HNPCC-associated tumor spectrum and demonstrate that MMR defects occur in a small subset of STS.
Advances and pitfalls in the analysis and interpretation of resting-state FMRI data

refl ect the intrinsic energy demands of neuron populations that, via fi ring together with a common functional purpose, have subsequently wired together through synaptic plasticity (e.g., Saini et al., 2004; Lewis et al., 2009). RSNs can be reliably and reproducibly detected at individual subject and group levels across a range of analysis techniques (Greicius et al. A characteristic set of co-activating functional systems is found consistently across subjects (Beckmann et al. and even (to some extent) across species (Vincent et al., 2007). Moreover, individual networks have been shown to be herit-able (Glahn et al., 2010) and altered resting (and stimulus-guided) functioning of large-scale networks has been found in correlation with individual differences in behavioural performance (Fox et al. Therefore there is compelling evidence for RSNs as core functional networks in the mammalian brain.
Genetic improvement of forage crops – past, present and future

Grass is a complex crop and its value for agriculture must be assessed in terms of the quantity and quality of downstream livestock products (milk, meat and wool). In addition to being a natural low-cost feed for ruminants, grassland protects soil and water resources and enhances the landscape. Temperate grasslands support a major share of the world's milk and beef production but now there is increasing emphasis on sustainability in livestock farming systems rather than maximizing outputs. The economic sustainability of livestock producers in many developed temperate regions is increasingly linked to production from fewer animals giving a higher quality product. A key element in the efficiency of all grassland systems is to optimize the protein/energy balance of forage and value it in a similar way to other livestock feeds. Grasses are rich in energy comprising structural and non-structural carbohydrates while forage legumes are rich in protein. The main forage legumes used in Europe are white and red clover, and lucerne, which form an essential part of sustainable farming systems because of their high nutritive value and ability to fix nitrogen. The productivity of grasslands containing legumes generally reflects the amount of N fixation, which is 65–280 kg/ha/year in W. Europe. Animal production from white clover-based pastures in Europe can be 0·8 that obtained from grass pastures fertilized with 400 kg N/ha/year, and that from lucerne and red clover can be equivalent to animal production from such pastures.
Quaternary Transition Pathway in Sol-Gel Encapsulated Haemoglobin Tracked by NIR and UV Spectral Relaxations

→T structural transition of haemoglobin (hb), the protein responsible for oxygen (o) transport in the red blood cells of vertebrates, is the hall mark example. This transition, which regu lates o2 uptake in the lungs and o2 release in the tissues, is a switch in the quaternary structure of the protein from a low-affinity state (T) to a high-affinity state (R), two well-characterised structures. The struc tural pathway connecting the end states of this transition remains unclear, however, although recently several experimental 1 or
Effects of Macrophyte Bed Architecture on Largemouth Bass Foraging: Implications of Exotic Macrophyte Invasions

Abstract Invasive, canopy-forming macrophyte species such as Eurasian watermilfoil Myriophyllum spicatum and hydrilla Hydrilla verticillata are now widespread throughout North American lakes and reservoirs. However, their effects on economically and ecologically important species such as largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides are insufficiently understood. Canopy-forming exotic macrophytes typically displace structurally diverse native macrophytes. In aquaria, we tested whether exotic macrophyte canopies negatively affect age-0 largemouth bass foraging success compared with diverse macrophyte assemblages. In addition, we explored the relative effects of macrophyte density, and prey density of bluegills Lepomis macrochirus on largemouth bass foraging success. Bluegill prey density did not significantly affect largemouth bass foraging success. However, largemouth bass experienced shorter search times and greater attack and consumption rates in moderate plant density treatments (compared with dense) and diver.
Causes and Ecosystem Consequences of Multiple Pathways of Primary Succession at Glacier Bay, Alaska

The classic account of primary succession inferred from a 220—yr glacial retreat chronosequence at Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska was compared to reconstructions of stand development based on tree—ring records from 850 trees at 10 sites of different age. The three oldest sites (deglaciated prior to 1840) differ from all younger sites in the early recruitment of Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis), the presence of western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla), and the inferred importance of early shrub thickets. The nitrogen—fixing shrub Sitka alder (Alnus sinuata) has been an important and long—lived species only at sites deglaciated since 1840. Black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa) has been an overstory dominant only at sites deglaciated since 1900. These single—species additions or replacements distinguish three pathways of vegetation compositional change which are segregated spatially and temporally. The communities of different age at Glacier Bay do not constitute a single chronosequence and should not be used uncritically to infer long—term successional trends. Among—site differences in texture and lithology of soil parent material cannot account for the multiple pathways. However, distance from each study site to the closest seed source of Sitka spruce at the time of deglaciation explains up to 58% of the among—site variance in early spruce recruitment. Multiple pathways of compositional change at Glacier Bay appear to be a function of landscape context, which, in conjuction with species life history traits (dispersal capability and generation time), affects seed rain to newly deglaciated surfaces and thereby alters the arrival sequence of species. Differences among the pathways probably include long—term differences in ecosystem function resulting from substantial accumulation of nitrogen at sites where nitrogen—fixing shrubs are important.
Nestmate recognition mediated by intestinal bacteria in a termite, Reticulitermes speratus

Discrimination and aggressive responses toward non-nestmates have been observed in a number of termite species, but the mechanism is poorly understood. Here I present the novel hypothesis that differential intestinal bacteria composition leads to production of colony-specific chemical cues that enable nestmate recognition. The intestinal microflora of a lower termite, Reticulitermes speratus, consisted of many bacteria species. The composition of the intestinal bacteria was exclusively colony-specific. Termites that had adsorbed an unfamiliar odor of bacteria sampled from another colony were fiercely attacked by nestmates. Experimental manipulation of the composition of bacteria by antibiotics successfully changed the recognition behavior toward nestmates. These results indicate that intestinal bacteria play an important role in nestmate recognition.
Tag Retention, Growth, and Survival of Red Swamp Crayfish Procambarus clarkii Marked with Coded Wire Tags

Abstract Juvenile red swamp crayfish (or crawfish), Procambarus clarkii (20–41 mm in total length) were collected from a crayfish culture pond by dipnetting and tagged with sequentially numbered, standard length, binary-coded wire tags. Four replicates of 50 crayfish were impaled perpendicular to the long axis of the abdomen with a fixed needle. Tags were injected transversely into the ventral surface of the first or second abdominal segment and were imbedded in the musculature just beneath the abdominal sternum. Tags were visible upon inspection. Additionally, two replicates of 50 crayfish were not tagged and were used as controls. Growth, survival, and tag retention were evaluated after 7 d in individual containers, after 100 d in aquaria, and after 200 d in field cages. Tag retention during each sample period was 100%, and average mortality of tagged crayfish within 7 d of tagging was 1%. Mortality during the remainder of the study was high (75–91%) but was similar between treatment and control samples.
BIONOMICS OF STRAWBERRY ROOT WEEVIL ADULTS, OTIORHYNCHUS OVATUS (L.)(COLEOPTERA: CURCULIONIDAE), ON YOUNG ORNAMENTAL CONIFER TREES IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO

Abstract Field and laboratory studies were undertaken in southern Ontario to gain bionomical information on the adult strawberry root weevil (Otiorhynchus ovatus), a pest of ornamental conifer trees in nurseries. Emergence of overwintering adults began on 3 June 1991 and lasted 56 days, with 50% emerging within 18 days. Adults dispersed less than 5 m in 48 days from a single release point. About 50% of females were fecund. The laboratory temperatures at which adults were reared (15, 20, and 25°C) had no significant effect on fecundity (62.3 eggs per female) but influenced longevity; adults at 15°C lived longer than at 20 or 25°C. The mean preovipositional and ovipositional periods were 31.5 and 49.0 days, respectively. Less than 1% of adult weevils released in the field survived the winter; overwintering adults lived 10 months. Egg eclosion occurred 16 days after oviposition with 78% of the eggs viable. The significance of these biological observations in the development of management strategies for this pest is discussed. Résumé Des recherches en nature et en laboratoire ont été entreprises dans le sud de l’Ontario dans le but d’étudier la biologie du Charançon de la racine du fraisier (Otiorhynchus ovatus), un insecte qui infeste les conifères ornementaux dans les pépinières. L’émergence des adultes qui ont survécu à l’hiver a commencé le 3 juin 1991 et a duré 56 jours, mais 50% des individus étaient déjà sortis après 18 jours. Les adultes se sont déplacés de moins de 5 m en 48 jours à partir d’un point de libération unique. Environ 50% des femelles étaient fécondes. Les températures utilisées en laboratoire pour l’élevage des adultes (15, 20 et 25°C) n’avaient pas d’influence particulière sur la fécondité (62,3 oeufs par femelle), mais influençaient la longévité; les adultes élevés à 15°C ont vécu plus longtemps que ceux élevés à 20 ou 25°C. La durée moyenne de la période de préponte a été évaluée à 31,5 jours, celle de la ponte à 49,0 jours. Moins de 1% des charançons adultes libérés en nature ont survécu à l’hiver et leur longévité a été estimée à 10 mois. L’éclosion s’est produite 16 jours après la ponte et 78% des oeufs étaient viables. L’importance de ces observations dans l’élaboration de stratégies d’aménagement fait l’objet d’une discussion. [Traduit par la Rédaction]
Aquatic Community Responses to Salmon Carcass Analog and Wood Bundle Additions in Restored Floodplain Habitats in an Alaskan Stream

Abstract Land use activities often directly and indirectly limit the capacity of freshwater habitats to produce fish. Consequently, habitat creation and enhancement actions are often undertaken to increase the quantity and quality of resources available to aquatic communities within these impaired systems, with the intent to increase fish production. The objectives of this study were to (1) determine whether aquatic community colonization and development could be accelerated through additions of woody debris bundles and marine-derived nutrients (via salmon carcass analog pellets) and (2) measure how aquatic communities (biofilm, invertebrates, and fish) respond to these additions after the creation of off-channel (alcove) fish habitat in a stream in south-central Alaska. Biofilm, invertebrates, and juvenile coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch were sampled in four treatments (control, wood, analog, and analog plus wood). Biofilm chlorophyll-a concentrations were 4–10 times higher in analog-enriched treatments.
Serum visfatin concentration and its relationship with sex hormones in obese Saudi women

Objective: Visfatin is an adipokine secreted mainly by adipose tissue and has been implicated in obesity. It also mimics the effects of insulin and its expression is hormonally regulated by hormones. Serum visfatin concentrations were evaluated in Saudi women of different body weights to determine its relationships with sex hormones and obesity-induced insulin resistance (IR) in women in Saudi Arabia. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 83 healthy Saudi women of different body weights were recruited between 2014 and 2016, from King Abdulaziz University staff and students. They were divided into three groups according to their body mass indexes (BMIs). Anthropometric measurements were recorded for all of the participants. Blood samples were collected to assess the biochemical variables, including glucose, insulin, lipid profile, visfatin, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), and sex hormones levels. Results: Obese women exhibited significantly higher blood pressure (BP), glucose, insulin, IR, lipid profile, and visfatin levels than overweight and lean women. However, lean women had significantly higher high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL)-C, estradiol (E2), luteinizing hormone (LH), and SHBG levels than overweight and obese women. Positive correlations were observed between visfatin levels and waist and hip circumferences, BMI, diastolic BP, systolic BP (SBP) insulin, IR, and LDL-C levels (P < 0.001 – P < 0.05). Negative correlations were observed between visfatin levels and HDL-C, SHBG, LH, and E2 levels (P < 0.001 – P < 0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study revealed that E2 and SHBG concentrations were decreased in obese women, while visfatin levels were increased in obese women with high IR levels. This suggests that visfatin levels and sex hormones interact synergistically with obesity with regard to the IR risk in obese women.
Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium Accumulation in Coriander (Coriander sativum L.

ABSTRACT The accumulation of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in coriander (Coriander sativum L.) was studied in the field at different plant development stages using 2 sowing dates and 2 nitrogen levels. Plant analysis indicated total accumulation of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium was higher in flowers than in grain. No significant differences in nutrient accumulation due to planting date or nitrogen fertilizer level were apparent. A good association between acetic acid-extractable phosphorus and potassium and total concentrations of these elements in tissue were observed.
Solitary, Late Metastatic Recurrence of Renal Cell Carcinoma to the Pancreas: A Case Report

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for 3% of all adult malignancies and is known for metastatic initial presentation, unpredictable metastatic pathway, and late recurrence post-curative resection. We report a case of solitary late metastatic renal cell carcinoma to the pancreas more than 10 years after radical nephrectomy. A high index of suspicion must be maintained to detect RCC late recurrence and metastasis to rare and atypical locations. A lifelong follow-up is recommended.
Acid adaptation to improve viability and X‐prolyl dipeptidyl aminopeptidase activity of the probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus fermentum HA6 exposed to simulated gastrointestinal tract conditions

Summary In this work, the viability of the probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus fermentum HA6 isolated from naturally fermented vegetables in Vietnam was improved by growing the bacterium into a mild acid condition (pH 4.0). Viability and probiotic functionality [X-prolyl dipeptidyl aminopeptidase (PepX) activity] of the acid-adapted bacterium exposed to simulated gastrointestinal conditions were investigated. After 180 min in the simulated gastric juice (0.3 g/L pepsin, pH 2.0), the viability of acid-adapted L. fermentum HA6 (11.5%) was higher than that of control L. fermentum HA6 (2.2%). Specific PepX activity of acid-adapted cells (24.5 U/mg) was higher than that of control cells (17.8 U/mg). After 180-min exposure to the simulated small intestinal medium (0.3 g/L bile salts, 0.1 g/L pancreatin, pH 8.0), the viability of acid-adapted L. fermentum HA6 (13.5%) was twofold as high as that of control L fermentum HA6 (8.0%). Our results suggested that acid adaptation has a key role in acquiring cross-protection mechanism, which in this study resulted in higher survival of L. fermentum HA6 after simulated gastrointestinal stresses. The strategy of acid adaptation could be valuable for the production of robust probiotics.
Utilization of the exotic cladoceran Daphnia lumholtzi by juvenile fishes in an Illinois River floodplain lake

Daphnia lumholtzi comprises a substantial component of the zooplankton community during mid- to late-summer in Lake Chautauqua, a floodplain lake along the Illinois River near Havana, Illinois. In order to quantify the utilization of D. lumholtzi by juvenile fishes, diet analyses were conducted for seven juvenile fish species collected from Lake Chautauqua during the 2001 annual drawdown period. Freshwater drum Aplodinotus grunniens and emerald shiner Notropis atherinoides demonstrated negative selectivity for D. lumholtzi relative to native zooplankton species whereas four species of fish (bluegill Lepomis macrochirus, white bass Morone chrysops, white crappie Pomoxis annularis and black crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus) consumed substantial amounts of D. lumholtzi. Although selectivity values for D. lumholtzi varied among these fish species, positive selection for D. lumholtzi increased similarly among larger size classes of each fish species, and corresponded with ontogenetic shifts in diet. Mean body length of D. lumholtzi consumed by 20–69 mm LT juvenile fishes ranged from 0·75 to 0·99 mm with a calculated total length range of 2·0–2·6 mm. Results from this study provide evidence that high abundances of D. lumholtzi in mid- to late-summer provide an additional food source for several juvenile fish species during a time when abundances of large native cladoceran species (i.e. Daphnia) are low, and juvenile fishes are searching for larger prey associated with ontogenetic shifts from zooplankton to macroinvertebrates and fishes. Because zooplankton production is typically lower in rivers than in lakes, survivorship of juvenile fishes produced in floodplain lakes may be higher in riverine systems if they are not reliant on zooplankton as a primary food resource. Therefore, high abundances of D. lumholtzi may benefit juvenile fishes in managed floodplain lakes, such as Lake Chautauqua, by increasing growth and facilitating the transition from zooplanktivory to insectivory or piscivory.