Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Isolation and Identification of Alkaline Lipase Producing Microorganisms, Cultural Conditions and Some Properties of Crude Enzymes

Two bacterial strains 26.IB (I) and 22.39B (II) were isolated from soil as alkaline lipase producing microorganisms. Strain 26. IB (I) was identified as Pseudomonas nitroreducens nov. var. thermotolerans, and strain 22.39B (II) was identified as Ps. fragi. When they were cultivated aerobically in a 20-liter jar fermentor in medium containing 2.0% soybean meal, they secreted a large amount of alkaline lipases. The enzymes were recovered efficiently as precipitates by adjusting the pH of the culture fluids to 4.0 with HC1. The enzymatic characteristics included: optimum pH, 9.5 (I,II); stable pH range, 5~11 (I,II); optimum temperatures, 50°C (I) and 75~80°C (II); and more than 95% of the enzyme activity remained after incubated at 70°C for 20 min (I,II). Lipase activities were inhibited remarkably in the presence of anionic surfactants (I,II) and bile salts (I,II).
The evolution and ecology of masquerade

Many organisms appear to mimic inanimate objects such as twigs, leaves, stones, and bird droppings. Such adaptations are considered to have evolved because their bearers are misidentified as either inedible objects by their predators, or as innocuous objects by their prey. In the past, this phenomenon has been classified by some as Batesian mimicry and by others as crypsis, but now is considered to be conceptually different from both, and has been termed 'masquerade'. Despite the debate over how to classify masquerade, this phenomenon has received little attention from evolutionary biologists. Here, we discuss the limited empirical evidence supporting the idea that masquerade functions to cause misidentification of organisms, provide a testable definition of masquerade, and suggest how masquerade evolved and under what ecological conditions.
Two New Varieties of Setaria viridis

Two new varieties of foxtails, Setaria viridis var. robusta alba Schreiber and Setaria viridis var. robusta-purpurea Schreiber are described. As their names imply, they differ from each other only in the color of their bristles but differ from Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv. and Setaria viridis var. major (Gaud.) Posp. in their robust growth habit, morphology, and physiological responses. A key distinguishes these from other species of similar habit and habitat.
Lethal and Residual Effects of Lambdacyhalothrin, Deltamethrin and Cyfluthrin Insecticides on Adult Mosquitoes of Anopheles stephensi Liston (Diptera: Culicidae) on Different Surfaces

Background: Human malaria remains a major malady in Eastern Iran. Vector control interventions such as indoor residual spraying are used to fight with the disease. This study was undertaken to determine the lethal and residual effects of three different pyrethroid insecticides on adult mosquitoes of Anopheles stephensi on different surfaces in Iran, as part of a national program to monitor insecticide resistance in endemic areas. Methods: Two main endemic foci were selected as collection sites. Wild adult females of An. stephensi (mysoriensis strain) from the first focus were subjected to standard susceptibility tests, using lambdacyhalothrin, deltamethrin and cyfluthrin insecticides within holding tubes according to the method proposed by WHO. In Kazerun, the residual effects of these compounds were examined by conical bioassay tests of An. stephensi (type strain) on plaster and cement walls. Data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney test to determine the differences in susceptibility and residual effects of An. stephensi mosquitoes to these insecticides. Results: The susceptibility of females of An. stephensi to three concentrations of lambdacyhalothrin, deltamethrin and cyfluthrin insecticides culminated in full scale mortality at the highest diagnostic dose. The maximal residual time of these three insecticides on plaster and cement walls was estimated to be about three months. There was no significant difference in the mortalities of An. stephensi on different sprayed surfaces (P=0.653). Conclusion: All field-collected An. stephensi populations exhibit gross susceptibility to all diagnostic doses of the three evaluated insecticides. In endemic areas, lambdacyhalothrin reveals a slightly longer residual activity than the other two insecticides.
Allelopathic potentiality of two Heliotropium species on germination and protein expression of some plants.

In this study we compare the allelopathic potentiality of two invasive species; Heliotropium curassavicum and H. bacciferum on germination, seedling growth and protein expression of Calotropis procera, Faba sativa and Lycopersicon esculentum. The germination of C.procera, F.sativa and L.esculentum controls was 100%, and inhibition of this germination increased with increasing the extract concentrations. Minimum germination values were recorded at the highest extract concentration (T3) and amounting to 20, 52 and 76% for C.procera, F.sativa and L.esculentum plants treated with H. curassavicum and were 52, 72 and 60% for the same treatment and test plants but treated with H. bacciferum extract. Values of plumule lengths were generally higher than that of radicle in all test species using either of the two invasive species extract. Radicle-plumule ratios for all test species and using any of the two extracts were less than unity except control F.sativa plants which recorded 1.14. Dry matter allocation toward plumule is generally higher than that of radicle in all test plant treatments except for one case; L.esculentum control which recorded allocation amounting to 44.83% for plumule and 55.17% for radicle. Expression of proteins in treated plants of the present study was significantly increased or decreased at the level of number and intensity of protein bands as compared to control plants, depending on the type and concentration of extract treatment. According to the unweighted pairgroup arithmetic mean method (UPGMA) dendrogram, the expressed proteins of control plants were the farthest among the different treatments of the three test plants.
Analysis of simple sequence repeat markers linked to coffee berry disease resistance genes in a segregating population of arabica coffee (Coffea arabica L.)

Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica) production in Africa is majorly constrained by coffee berry disease (CBD) caused by Colletotrichum kahawae. Transfer of desired genes from related wild diploid Coffea species into the cultivated allotetraploid C. arabica has been known to confer better traits such as pest/disease resistance. Thus, this study was aimed at establishing microsatellite markers that co-segregate with resistance to CBD in an F2 population. Among the 12 simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers tested, six markers were polymorphic, but only two discriminated between the parents, F1 and the F2 population derived from a cross between resistant variety (Rume Sudan) and susceptible cultivar (SL 28). Phenotypic studies using Colletotrichum kahawae inoculum to screen F2 population was carried out in order to understand the segregation of CBD resistance as well as their association with SSR markers. Only two SSR markers, M 24 and Sat 227 showed the expected Mendelian segregation ratio (1:2:1) for single gene effect (d.f = 1.0, P < 0.05) in the chi-square (x 2 ) analyses. In the phenotypic data analysis, the F2 population segregated in a 3:1 for a major gene action (R:S) ratio for resistant and susceptible plants, respectively. Therefore, there was a correlation between phenotypic data and molecular data with regard to resistance to Colletotrichum kahawae infection. The genotypes from F2 population that showed resistance to C. kahawae were putatively linked to two alleles/loci of SSR markers, M 24 (∼210bp) and Sat 227 (∼200bp). These diagnostic markers could be used in breeding programs where Rume Sudan is used as the donor parent to develop CBD resistant coffee varieties.
Chemical, Physicochemical and Functional Characteristics of Dietary Fiber Obtained From Asparagus byproducts (Asparagus officinalis L.) / Características Químicas, Físicoquímicas y Funcionales de la Fibra Dietaria Obtenida de los Subproductos del Espá

Abstract. Due to its mechanical and biochemical properties, dietary fiber is part of a healthy diet. Containing good levels of prebiotics, asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) produces healthy effects when incorporated into processed foods. The objective of the current study was to obtain fiber from asparagus byproducts and determine its chemical composition [Total Dietary Fiber (TDF), protein, moisture and ash)] and physicochemical [pH, and water activity (aw)] and functional characteristics [Water Absorption Index (WAI), Water Solubility Index (WSI), Oil Absorption Index (OAI) and Swelling Volume (SV)]. The plant material was treated through extraction and dehydration thermal treatments. A response surface model was applied to evaluate the effects of extraction and drying temperatures. The TDF ranged from 60.7 to 79%. Significant differences were only observed for TDF, moisture and aw (P ≤ 0.05). The WAI, WSI, OAI and SV were found to be within the range observed for similar plant materials. Due to their functional properties and elevated TDF content, asparagus byproducts can be used as active biological components in food production. This innovative utilization will contribute to reducing the environmental impact of the industrial processing of this vegetable. / Resumen. Por sus propiedades mecanicas y bioquimicas, la fibra dietetica puede formar parte de una alimentacion saludable. Al ser incorporado en los alimentos en el proceso de elaboracion, el esparrago (Asparagus officinalis L.) tiene efectos beneficos para la salud del consumidor, debido a su contenido de prebioticos. El objetivo del estudio fue obtener fibra a partir de los subproductos del esparrago para determinar su composicion quimica [Fibra Dietaria Total (FDT), proteina, humedad y cenizas] y sus propiedades fisicoquimicas [pH y actividad del agua (aw)] y funcionales [Indice de Absorcion del Agua (IAA), Indice de Solubilidad del Agua (ISA), Indice de Absorcion de Aceite (IAAc) y Volumen de Hinchamiento (VH)]. El material vegetal se sometio a tratamientos termicos de extraccion y secado. Se ajusto un modelo de superficie de respuesta para evaluar el efecto de las temperaturas de extraccion y secado. La FDT estuvo entre 60,7 y 79%. Solo los contenidos de FDT, humedad y aw, mostraron diferencias significativas (P ≤ 0,05). Los valores de IAA, ISA, IAAc y VH estuvieron dentro de los niveles establecidos para otros materiales vegetales similares. Los subproductos del esparrago, dado su alto contenido de FDT y sus propiedades funcionales, pueden ser utilizados como elemento biologico activo en la elaboracion de alimentos, contribuyendo a la reduccion del impacto ambiental derivado del proceso agroindustrial de la hortaliza.
The role of prolactin and its antagonist in HER2/neu tumorigenesis

Purpose: To study the role of prolactin (PRL) and its antagonist, G129R, in HER2/Neu tumorigenesis. Specifically, to investigate the interaction between the oncogene HER2 and the PRL receptor (PRLR) signaling pathways for designing effective combinational therapeutics for breast cancer. Experimental Design: The combination effects of G129R and an anti-HER2 antibody, Herceptin, were tested against HER2-overexpressing human breast cancer cell lines, T-47D and BT-474, using cell based assays and xenografts established in athymic mice. Furthermore, four different bitransgenic mouse lines co-expressing the murine version of HER2 and PRL or G129R were generated. The mammary tumor incidence, characterization of mammary gland development, and alteration of the molecular biomarkers in the mammary glands were investigated in these transgenic mice. Results: It was demonstrated that PRL was able to activate HER2 in human breast cancer cells and the addition of G129R competitively inhibited the stimulatory effect of hPRL. More importantly, G129R has synergistic/additive effects when used in combination with Herceptin in inhibiting HER2 activation. Results further demonstrate that Herceptin and G129R displayed a synergistic inhibitory effect on MAPK phosphorylation. Most importantly, the combinational treatment of Herceptin and G129R significantly inhibited the growth of xenografts in athymic mice. In the bitransgenic mouse study, it was found that co-expression of G129R in MMTV-neu female mice had little effect on overall HER2 tumor incidence due to the low expression levels of G129R. Surprisingly, co-expression of low levels of PRL in
Effect of weed control and irrigation regimes on transplanted rice (Oryza sativa) in Kashmir valley

A fidd experiment was conducted during rainy season of 1993 and 1994 on silty clay-loam soil of Shalimar in Kashmir to study the effect of weed-control practices and irrigation regimes on weed-control efficiency and grain yield of transplanted rice (Oryza sativa L.). Among various weed-control treatments, weed-free treatment gave the highest wced-control efficiency and thereby resulted in the highest mean grain yield (6.32 tonnes/ha). It was 9.2, 70.8 and 77.5% more than that from the application of butachlor@ 1.5 kg a i/ba + 1 hand-weeding, 2,4 - D (ethyl ester of 2, 4 dichlorophenoxy acetic acid) @ 1.0 kg ai/ha + 1 hand-weeding and uuweeded control respectively. Weed-control efficiency and water- expense efficiency followed a trend identical to grain yield. However, application of butachlor @ 1.5 kg ai/ba + 1 hand-weeding proved more profitable, with highest benetit : cost ratio (1.50). Different irrigation regimes did not cause variation in the dry weight of weeds and weed-control efficiency. However, delayed irrigation supressed the broad-leaf weeds than continuous standing water (5 cm ± irrigation at interval of 2 days). Continuous standing water and application of irrigation 2 days after infiltration of ponded water with mean benefit: cost ratio of 1.34 and 1.23 respectively recorded similar grain yield but significantly higher than irrigation at intervals of4 and 6 days, which in turn had higher mean water-expense efficiency.
Preliminary characterization of poultry in Ha Giang province

The Ha Giang chicken population has been widely sampled and genotyped for twenty ISAG-FAO microsatellites. Highly Expected and Observed heterozygosis were observed in the district populations from the province (0.628, 0.545). However genetic differentiation mainly occurred within districts leading to low FST values (0.013). Individuals admixture analysis did not reveal any clear genetic structure within the Ha Giang chicken population. (Resume d'auteur)
Contributions to the Limoniidae (Insecta, Diptera) fauna from inner western Anatolia

The study was carried out between 2009 and 2011 in the inner part of western Anatolia (Afyonkarahisar, Kutahya, and Usak), and 18 species were recorded for the first time for the Turkish Limoniidae fauna. The taxa are Ellipteroides (s.str.) lateralis (Macquart, 1835), Erioconopa diuturna (Walker, 1848), E. interposita Stary, 1976, Gonempeda flava (Schummel, 1829), Gonomyia (s.str.) recta Tonnoir, 1920, G. (Paralipophleps) bifida Tonnoir, 1920, Hoplolabis (Parilisia) longior Stary, 2006, Idiocera (s.str.) alexanderiana (Lackschewitz, 1940), Ilisia inermis Mendl, 1979, Molophilus (s.str.) appendiculatus (Staeger, 1840), M. (s.str.) niger Goetghebuer, 1920, Tasiocera (Dasymolophilus) murina (Meigen, 1818), Euphylidorea phaeostigma (Schummel, 1829), Pilaria scutellata (Staeger, 1840), Dicranomyia (s.str.) didyma (Meigen, 1804), D. (Idiopyga) danica Kuntze, 1919, Helius (s.str.) calviensis Edwards, 1928, and Rhipidia (s.str.) uniseriata uniseriata (Schiner, 1864). The distribution maps of the 18 new records from the research area are given.
Comparison of Seasonal Dynamics of Mite (Acari) Aggregation in Pine Forest Litter and Pine Chips

This paper analyzed seasonal dynamics of mite (Acari) aggregations, with particular attention to oribatid mites (Oribatida), in two different substrates intended for soil regeneration – shredded forest litter from Scots pine forest and pine wood chips. The study was conducted in the years 2011-2012, on microplots established within a belt of trees in a nursery in Biale Blota (Bydgoszcz Forest District). To maintain optimum moisture content, the microplots were hydrated by micro sprinklers as per the guidelines and schedule for the irrigation of nurseries, and mean soil moisture was kept at the level of 5.1-9.9 %. The mites were classified into orders and oribatid mites into species or genera, with regard to juvenile stages. A total of 4,142 mites were determined, including 2,939 oribatid mites. Mite density in the shredded forest litter, intended mainly for soil inoculation with edaphon, was similar in the initial and final period of the study. Mite density in the pine wood chips, intended for mulching degraded soils and providing optimal conditions for mesofauna development, increased over two years of the study. Oribatid mites were the most abundant mites in the analyzed samples. Mean number of their species s in the forest litter was comparable at the beginning and at the end of the study cycle. In the pine chips, the differences in species abundance between the first and second year were significant. Oribatid mites most frequently observed in both substrates included Chamobates schuetzi, Oribatula tibialis and Tectocepheus velatus.
Microbial quality and some physicochemical properties evaluating of drinking water in some residential neighborhoods in Baghdad city-Iraq

Physical, chemical and a biological measurments were carried out and drinking water samples were collected from four areas Abu ghraib, Dora, Ghazaliya and Saydiya for period extended from February 2016 to September 2016, through the residential sites at different areas situated with various distances from the supplying source, three samples were taken monthly. Water temperature at sampling time was varied from 17.4°C to 30.8°C, for temperature at sampling time also. The results of pH values were within the allowable limits, ranging from 6.5 in winter to 8.2 in summer. The highest value of turbidity recorded for drinking water was in spring with 21 NTU and the lowest value was in summer with 0 NTU. The study showed that the results of TDS values ware ranged from 520 mg/L in winter to 200mg/L in spring. The highest value of residual chlorine was recorded in winter with 2.01 mg/L; the lowest value was 0.1 mg/L in spring . The current results showed an increased in the number of autotrophic bacteria, total coliform, and E. coli during winter season in most study locations as compared to those of the other seasons for drinking water . The Total plat count results of drinking water were exceed 100 cell/ml, the allowable limit for drinking water, for some samples in some sites. On the other hand, the TC, and E. coli exceeded zero cell/100ml, the allowable limits for drinking water, in some drinking water samples for some sites.
Isolation and Identification of Bipolaris coicis, Causing Leaf Blight of Job's Tears

Diseased leaves of Job's tears were collected at six locations in Korea to isolate and identify the pathogen causing leaf blight. Conidia were brown, fusoid, and slightly curved. They were in size, and had mostly 4 septa which were characteristic of pseudosepta. A few conidia had slightly protruding hila, whereas most had no hilum. Conidial germ tubes were produced mostly from both polar end cells (bipolar), and progressed in semiaxial direction. When seedlings of Job's tears were inoculated with conidia, long, spindle-shaped, and brown lesions were produced on leaves, and entire leaves became blighted 15 days later. Based on the aggressiveness in pathogenicity, the isolates could be divided into two groups. Considering the mycological characteristics and pathogenicity of the fungus, the pathogen causing leaf blight of Job's tears was determined to be Bipolaris coicis (Nisikado) Shoemaker.
Inhibition of nuclear factor-κB attenuates atherosclerosis in apoE/LDLR - double knockout mice

Nuclear factor - kappaB (NF-kappaB) is a good therapeutic target for cardiovascular disease and numerous efforts are being made to develop safe NF-kappaB inhibitors. Nowadays many authors address NF-kappaB as a major therapeutic target in atherosclerosis, especially for preventive measures, in the light of two main hypothesis of atherosclerosis: oxidation and inflammation. We hypothesized that ammonium pyrrolidinedithioocarbamate (PDTC) - a well-known inhibitor of NF-kappaB could inhibit the development of atherosclerosis in this experimental model. We used apoE/LDLR - DKO mouse model, which is considered as a one of the best models to study the anti-atherosclerotic effect of drugs. In this model PDTC inhibited atherogenesis, measured both by "en face" method (25,15+/-2,9% vs. 15,63+/-0,6%) and "cross-section" method (565867+/-39764 microm2 vs. 291695+/-30384 microm2). Moreover, PDTC did not change the profile of cholesterol and triglycerides in blood. To our knowledge, this is the first report that shows the effect of PDTC on atherogenesis in gene-targeted apoE/LDLR - double knockout mice.
Genetic Comparison of Pinus brutia Ten. Populations from Different Elevations by RAPD Markers

Turkish Red Pine (Pinus brutia Ten.) is an important forest tree species in Turkey for various economic and ecological reasons. In this study, nine RAPD (Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA) primers were used to determine genetic variation within and among populations of P. brutia located at the Duzlercami common-garden test site. This site was established in 1979 and includes six natural populations of P. brutia from two altitudinal transects extending from the coast to higher elevations in the Antalya region of Turkey. A total of 32 polymorphic RAPD loci were found in the analyzed six populations. The mean proportion of polymorphic loci among population samples equals 100%, mean number of alleles for each locus = 2.0, effective allele number = 1.71, Shannon’s information index = 0.58, and mean Nei (1973)’s gene diversity value = 0.4. According to GST results, a high proportion of genetic diversity (95-99%) is found within populations. A relatively high genetic differentiation was found among altitudinal population pairs in both transect. Also, data on quantitative traits (total height and/or diameter) at different ages (13, 17, 30 years) were compared with molecular data. There are similarities between the results obtained from RAPD markers and those obtained from the quantitative traits. The differentiation in quantitative traits appears to be due to local adaptation of populations. Data suggest that priority should be given to the selection of material based on geographic origin along the altitudinal gradients of P. brutia populations to conserve the genetic resource of species.