Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The in vitro inhibition of genotoxicity by plant extracts and the isolation and characterization of antimutagenic compounds from Combretum microphyllum (Combretaceae)

v TABLE OF CONTENTS . viii LIST OF FIGURES . xii LIST OF TABLES . xv LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS . xvii PAPERS PREPARED FROM THIS THESIS . xix CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS . xix CHAPTER 1 . 2 Introduction . 2 1.1. Background . 2 1.2. Literature review . 3 1.2. 1. Mutations and their role in the pathogenesis of diseases . 3 1.2. 2. Antimutagens and their role in chemoprevention . 4 1.2. 3. Antioxidants and their role in chemoprevention . 6 1.2. 4. Medicinal plants as sources of new pharmaceuticals . 7 1.2. 5. Mutagens used in the study . 10 1.2. 6. Overview of methods used for cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and antigenotoxicity testing . 12 1.2. 6.1. Neutral red uptake . 12 1.2. 6.2. Tetrazolium-based MTT cytotoxicity assay . 12 1.2. 6.3. Ames Salmonella/microsome mutagenicity assay . 12 1.2. 6.4. Cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome assay . 13 1.2. 6.5. Alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis/Comet assay . 15
CARACTERÍSTICAS QUÍMICAS E FERMENTATIVAS DO CAPIM-ELEFANTE ENSILADO COM NÍVEIS CRESCENTES DE SUBPRODUTO DA AGROINDÚSTRIA DO CAJU

Nutritive value of silages of Elephant grass (Pen-nisetum purpureum, Schum.) mixed with 0; 3.5%; 7.0%; 10.5% and 14.0 % of dehydrated by product from juice industry of cashew fruit (Anacardium occidentale, L) (DBC) was determined. A randomized design was used with four replicates. Silages were opened after 65 days and samples taken for analysis of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), hemicellulose HCEL), cellulose (CEL), lig-nin (LIG), crude energy (CE), ash, neutral detergent inso-luble nitrogen (NDIN) and acid detergent insoluble nitro-gen (ADIN). Were also analyzed, pH, ammonia nitrogen and organic acids (lactic, acetic, butyric and propionic). Regarding fermentative parameters, there was an expected decrease in pH and the increasing levels of DBC did not affect the concentrations of N-NH3/NT and organic acids. It is concluded that dehydrated cashew by product can be ensiled along with Elephant grass without altering its fer-mentative characteristics. On the other side, the increased cell walls and ADIN contents of the silage may affect its nutritional value. Key-words: Cashew byproducts, nutritive value, tropical grass.
The effect of a major road on bat activity and diversity

Summary 1. It is well known that roads can have a significant impact, usually negative, on species and ecosystems. However, despite their protected status in many countries, little research has been done into the effects of roads on bats. With a view to making more informed management recommendations, we address the simple question: are bat activity and diversity (as measured with ultrasonic detectors) correlated with distance from a major road? 2. Broadband acoustic surveys were conducted on 20 walked transects perpendicular to the M6, a major road in Cumbria (UK), with bat activity recorded at eight spot checks per transect at different distances from the road. Climatic and habitat variables were also recorded, and the relationships between bat activity and these variables were investigated using generalised estimated equations (GEE) and ordinal logistic regression. 3. Total bat activity, the number of species and the activity of Pipistrellus pipistrellus (the most abundant species) were all positively correlated with distance from the road. Total activity increased more than threefold between 0 and 1600 m from the road. These effects were found to be consistent over 2 years. 4. Synthesis and applications. This study is one of the first to show that roads have a major negative impact on bat foraging activity and diversity and is broadly applicable to insectivorous bat communities worldwide. Mitigation requires that roads are made more permeable to bats through the use of effective crossings, such as underpasses and overpasses, and that habitat is improved within 1 km of major roads. Because the effectiveness of current mitigation measures is unknown, well-designed monitoring of mitigation is essential.
Effect of storage conditions and periods of conservation in gene bank on seed viability and germination of Acacia tortilis and Acacia raddiana.

In Egyptian deserts, Acacia tortilis trees play an important role for biodiversity and Bedouins populations, where they used as source of animal fodder, timber, fuel wood, charcoal, gums and other products as well as contributing to soil stabilization of sand dunes. This work aimed to study the effect of storage conditions and storage periods of preservation in gene bank on germinability and viability of two wild economic native Acacia species, which were collected from two different regions of the Egyptian deserts (Wadi Tekuila - Gabel Elba - Red Sea) and (Gabel El-Halal -North Sinai, Sinai). In these areas, Acacia tortilis trees showed high densities and form forest wadis. Acacia plants are exposed to stresses in their natural habitats as insects which feed on their seeds, anthropogenic pressures and the inability of seeds to germinate normally due to some kinds of seed dormancy. The best value of germination percentage (45%) was recorded when seeds of Acacia tortilis subspecies. raddiana from Elba, were conserved in base room at -22 ⁰C for 24 months.
Estructura y composición de la comunidad de cianobacterias bentónicas de un arroyo de montaña mediterráneo, el arroyo Mediano (Madrid)

La comunidad de cianobacterias bentonicas del arroyo Mediano (Comunidad de Madrid) esta compuesta por 16 especies, de ellas, 4 pertenecen al orden de las Chroococcales, 9 al de las Oscillatoriales y 3 al orden Nostocales. Se han definido 7 "especies comunes" como constituyentes mas representativos de esta comunidad, ya que aparecen en mas del 25 % de las muestras observadas, las otras 9 especies se observan con presencia puntual, habiendo sido incluidas en la categoria de "especies raras". Las "especies comunes" fueron: Chamaesiphon minutus, Chroococcus minor, Chroococcus minutus, Synechococcus elongatus, Leptolyngbya nostocorum, Phormidium aerugineo-caeruleum y Nostoc carneum. A lo largo del arroyo mediano hay variaciones en la estructura: las Chroococcales se mantienen constantes en todos los tramos del rio definidos, sin embargo, en los tramos medio y bajo hay un incremento de las Oscillatoriales y un descenso de las Nostocales. Los estudios taxonomicos se realizaron utilizando dos tipos de metodologias: por un lado la observacion de muestras fijadas y paralelamente muestras cultivadas en medio agarizado de cianobacterias. El 37 % de los especimenes observados (todos "especies raras") se observaron unicamente en las muestras cultivadas. Se propone el empleo paralelo de ambas metodologias para realizar un estudio de una comunidad cianobacteriana como una tecnica util, ademas de favorecer la identificacion taxonomica de algunas especies.
Bacterial community associated with the rhizosphere of wheat: interactions with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and selection of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria for the increase of wheat growth and soil health in Indian marginal rainfed fields

The antibiotic 2,4-diacetyphloroglucinol (2,4-DAPG) is a major determinant in the biocontrol of the plant growth promoting rhizobacteria associated with crops of agronomic relevance. The phlD gene is a useful marker of genetic and phenotypic diversity of 2,4-DAPG producing rhizobacteria. A two-steps amplification procedure was developed in order to assess directly the presence of phlD in environmental DNA avoiding the tedious procedure of phlD positive strain screening and isolation. We hypothesise that the continuous rice-wheat rotation for twenty-five years and the use of the same wheat cultivar in the tested fields would lead to an enrichment of particular phlD genotypes, following a process similar to the one occurring in monoculture suppressive soils.
Fatty acid composition of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and Red hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus X Oreochromis niloticus) reared in intensive and extensive systems

Fish and marine mammals are among the richest sources of long–chain n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in nature. As farmed fish becomes a major contributor to world fish supplies, hence it is important to maintain the high lipid nutritional quality of the product and to continue to provide large amounts of the health-promoting n-3 and n-6 PUFA to the consumers. Therefore, a study was conducted to examine the nutritional content, mainly fatty acid composition, of Nile (Oreochromis niloticus and Red hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus x Oreochromis niloticus), derived from intensive and extensive culture systems. Twenty-two samples of Nile tilapia and 16 samples of Red tilapia cultured intensively and 10 samples of extensively cultured Nile tilapia were used in this study. All samples were subjected to total fatty acids extraction and their fatty acid compositions were determined using gas liquid chromatography. Results showed no significant differences in the concentration of saturated fatty acids (SFA) between intensively and extensively cultured Nile tilapia. For monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), the concentration was higher (p<0.05) in the intensively cultured Nile tilapia compared to the extensively cultured Nile tilapia. For n-3 PUFA, the concentration was higher (p<0.05) in Nile tilapia from the extensive system compared to Nile tilapia from the intensive system. But for n-6 PUFA, the intensively cultured Nile tilapia had a higher (p<0.05) concentration compared to the extensively cultured Nile tilapia. For n-6:n-3 PUFA ratio the intensively cultured Nile tilapia had a higher ratio (p<0.05) than the extensively cultured Nile tilapia. The different fatty acid composition of Nile tilapia cultured in different systems could be due to the different types of feed consumed by the fish. Future research could be directed at increasing the PUFA level in tilapia through the manipulation of the PUFA level in the fish diet.
Genotype by environment interaction and adaptation in barley breeding: basic concepts and methods of analysis

Genotype by environment interaction (GE) has important consequences in barley breeding. It often complicates testing and selection of superior genotypes, reducing genetic progress in breeding programs. This drawback may be overcome by a better understanding of the genetic and environmental factors that determine GE and adaptation of genotypes. An important array of statistical techniques is nowadays available to breeders and researchers to cope with the presence of relevant GE in multi-environment trials. This paper begins with a review of recent literature on the latest barley studies on GE and adaptation, including potential biotic and abiotic causes underlying GE. Most studies reported are empirical, describing postdictively genotypic performance across environments. As an alternative, methods allowing a more analytical approach are proposed, in which genotypes and environments are characterized in terms of external variables that affect genotypic performance. These methods are applied to a real barley data set. After data description, a number of selected multiplicative models are developed, namely the additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) model, and the factorial regression model. Finally, the implications of GE in barley breeding are discussed. As an appendix, the SAS programs are given for the models described. Key-words: genotype by environment interaction, adaptation, AMMI, factorial regression, breeding programs
DIVERSIDAD, ABUNDANCIA Y AMENAZAS DE LOS OCTOCORALES DE LA ISLA MALPELO, PACÍFICO ORIENTAL TROPICAL, COLOMBIA

RESUMEN Durante expediciones a la isla Malpelo en 2009 y 2010, se exploro la diversidad, abundancia y estado de los octocorales. Se encontraron siete especies de octocorales: Leptogorgia alba, Pacifigorgia cf. lacerata, Pacifigorgia sp.1 y Pacifigorgia sp.2, Muricea cf. fruticosa , Muricea sp. y la especie invasora Carijoa riisei . Los octocorales forman densas agregaciones en paredes y escarpes rocosos, con su mayor abundancia entre 10 y 20 m, alcanzando densidades maximas de hasta 20 colonias m -2 . La especie mas abundante fue Pacifigorgia cf. lacerata , con mas de un 60 % de predominio en numero y una frecuencia de aparicion del 100 % para todos los sitios visitados. Para la mayoria de los sitios se determino la existencia de tres zonas bien definidas de acuerdo a la profundidad. Una zona profunda entre 25 y 40 m, con dominancia exclusiva de L. alba , una estructura somera entre 7 y 20 m, con dominancia de Pacifigorgia spp. y una zona de transicion comprendida entre 18 y 25 m, con una mezcla de
Assessment of gestational age using anthropometric parameters: an observational study in India

Introduction: The gestational age of newborn is assessed by standard method New Ballard’s score but it can also be assessed by some other simple parameters which are less time consuming and significantly correlate with gestational age. Material and Methods: The study population included 209 consecutive live born singleton newborn of 28-40 weeks of gestation. Data were recorded and analyzed by applying correlation and regression analysis. Regression equation was derived to predict gestational age from foot length and mid upper arm circumference (MUAC). Result: The foot length, MUAC and nipple to umbilicus distance correlated very well with gestational age with R=0.7843, 0.7832 and 0.6630 respectively and when used in combination i.e. foot length and MUAC as R= 0.833. The quadratic regression equation obtained was Y=0.006X – 0.174X + 5.081 (Y is gestational age and X is the mean of foot length and MUAC). Conclusion: Foot length is an easy parameter and can be used as a proxy measure for New Ballard’s score. Foot length and MUAC when used in combination can be used as a better and reliable guide for gestational age assessment of newborn. Also, the foot length, MUAC and nipple to umbilicus distance at cut-off value of 7 cm, 7 cm and 8 cm respectively can be used as ready reference for gestational age assessment of newborn at 34 weeks. Key wordsAnthropometry; Equation; Gestational age; New Ballard’s score; Newborn .
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF USING TED TALKS TO IMPROVE STUDENTS’ PRONUNCIATION AT THE TWELFTH GRADE STUDENTS OF SMK MUHAMMADIYAH WAY SULAN IN 2016-2017

This research described the use of TED Talks to improve students’ pronunciation. Moreover, it was to find out whether TED Talks is effective to improve students’ pronunciation at the twelfth grade students of SMK Muhammadiyah Way Sulan. This research used experimental design in which attitudes were assessed both before and after an experimental treatment. The subject of the research was consisted of 60 students, they were divided into experimental and control group. The instruments used for collecting data were test which was consisted of pretest and posttest. The data analysis of this research was attempted by using independent sample T-test which was calculated through computing with Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 20. The result indicated that the students’ mean score of experimental and control group in posttest were significantly different. It showed that t-count was higher than t-table (10,706 > 2,002) and the sig. 2-tailed value was lower than sig. level (0.000 > 0.05). Therefore, the null hypothesis (Ho) was rejected and the alternative hypothesis (Ha) was accepted. It meant that there was effective impact of using TED Talks towads students’ pronunciation. In conclusion, using TED Talks as a media was effective to improve students’ pronunciation. Therefore, it was suggested the use of TED Talks as a media in teaching English generally and teaching pronunciation particularly.
Chemical Composition and Biological Potential of Essential Oil from Tunisian Cupressus sempervirens L.

The essential oil was obtained by hydro-distillation of the aerial part of Cupressus sempervirens L. cultivated in Sfax gardens, Tunisia. The obtained oils were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and 24 compounds were identified. The antioxidant activity of Cupressus sempervirens L. essential oil was evaluated by measuring the radicals-scavenging effect on 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and by using the 2, 2’-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS) assay. Antimicrobial activity were obtained on ten food-spoilage yeasts Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Halomonas elongate, Salmonella typhimurium, Enterococcus hirae, Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans and Trichoderma reesei. The results suggest that the essential oil of C. sempervirens might be used as a readily accessible source of antimicrobial agent and as natural antioxidant.
Perennial ryegrass for dairy cows: Grazing behaviour, intake, rumen function and performance

Keywords: Dairy cows, Perennial ryegrass, Rumen fill, Clearance, Degradation, Grazing behaviour. In temperate environments, perennial ryegrass is the most widely used species for feeding dairy cows. That is because of its high productivity, palatability, digestibility and nutritive value. However, perennial ryegrass suffers from two main disadvantages: firstly, its unbalanced nutrient content in terms of crude protein (CP) and energy availability at rumen level and secondly, its low dry matter intake (DMI) by high producing dairy cows. In ruminant animals, DMI is a function of the balance between eating motivation, which is strongly related to palatability, on one hand and rumen capacity on the other. This thesis was divided into three parts: the first part aimed to investigate the possibility of improving pasture DMI by increasing rumen capacity. Rumen capacity is related to the rate of clearance (Kcl) of material from the rumen, which is the summation of both rates of degradation ( kd ) and passage (kp). Six varieties of perennial ryegrass were screened for their clearance and degradation rates using in vitro , in vivo and in situ techniques. The results suggested that there is a narrow range for selection with respect to clearance and degradation rate. The second part of this thesis aimed at investigating the possibility of improving pasture DMI by improving its palatability. Palatability is mainly a function of flavour and taste, which arise from certain compounds in the grass, especially water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC). High sugar grass varieties were fed to dairy cows in mid lactation. The results showed that feeding high sugar grass did not lead to an improved DMI and milk yield under both stall-feeding and grazing conditions. Moreover, milk composition in terms of fat, protein and lactose, rumen pH, fibre clearance and degradation rates were not influenced. However, rumen ammonia and milk urea concentrations were significantly reduced when feeding high sugar grass. The third part of this thesis aimed to investigate the role rumen fill and fermentation end products may play in signalling the termination of a grazing bout, especially the dusk grazing bout of dairy cows under continuous stocking. It was found that dairy cows interrupted the first two main grazing bouts at the morning and afternoon long before their maximal rumen capacity was reached. Moreover, rumen fill was always maximal at the time when the dusk grazing bout ceased indicating that rumen fill is more likely to play a major role in signalling the termination of the dusk grazing bout.
Use of phenotypic and MAS selection based on bulk segregant analysis to reveal the genetic variability induced by artificial hybridization in apple.

Phenotypic selection in apple seedling populations (F1), derived from semidiallel hybridizations between genitors with different peculiarities (Florina and Liberty, resistant to apple scab attack; Starkrimson and Golden spur, with spur ideotype) was completed with Marker Assisted Selection (MAS), based on Bulk Segregant Analysis (BSA) technique. Molecular analyses performing by Bulk Segregant Analysis were intended to indentifying markers for scab resistance, powdery mildew resistance and architectural tree structure (ideotype) with bulks of five to six plants per groups, and testing the bulks with RAPD polymorphic primers. The polymorphic bands between the bulks were mostly associated to apple scab resistance genes. Concerning powdery mildew resistance and architectural tree structure analysis the results are inconclusive. Although it seems that the primer 54 showed a polymorphic band in a resistant to powdery mildew hybrid, which is missing in the sensitive hybrids, the result is only apparently favourable since this band is present in both parental forms (Starkrimson, tolerant to powdery mildew and Liberty, relative susceptible). Molecular profile of the standard ideotype and spur ideotype, resulted in hybrids originated in standard parental form (Florina) and spur parental form (Golden spur), were usually monomorphic. Genetic association among the parental molecular polymorphism for scab resistance and the other two important traits (powdery mildew resistance and ideotype), was not conclusive.
Hydrocortisone Resistance of Graft vs Host Activity in Mouse Thymus, Spleen and Bone Marrow

The effects of corticosteroids on the graft vs host activity of thymus, spleen and bone marrow were studied. Adult BALB/c mice were given 2.5 mg of hydrocortisone intraperitoneally 2 days before killing. The number of nucleated cells in their spleens was 21% of control values; in bone marrow, 79%; and in thymus, only 6%. When equal numbers of thymus cells from hydrocortisone-treated and control animals were administered to neonatal CAF1 recipients, the hydrocortisone-thymus was by far the more active at initiating the graft vs host (GvH) reaction, as measured by splenomegaly. Similarly, when equal numbers of spleen or bone marrow cells from hydrocortisone-treated or normal mice were transferred to normal adult CAF1 recipients, the hydrocortisone-spleen and hydrocortisone-bone marrow were significantly more active at initiating GvH. It is suggested that a population of cells which is not involved in GvH is preferentially destroyed by hydrocortisone in each of these organs. The corticosteroid-resistant thymus cells, which have previously been shown to exist in the medulla, thus have characteristics of peripheral lymphoid cells.
A New PAC-Bayesian Perspective on Domain Adaptation

We study the issue of PAC-Bayesian domain adaptation: We want to learn, from a source domain, a majority vote model dedicated to a target one. Our theoretical contribution brings a new perspective by deriving an upper-bound on the target risk where the distributions' divergence-- expressed as a ratio--controls the trade-off between a source error measure and the target voters' disagreement. Our bound suggests that one has to focus on regions where the source data is informative. From this result, we derive a PAC-Bayesian generalization bound, and specialize it to linear classifiers. Then, we infer a learning algorithm and perform experiments on real data.