Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of low calorie structured lipid palm mid fraction, virgin coconut oil and canola oil blend on rats body weight and plasma profile

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of low calorie cocoa butter substitutes, the structured lipids (SLs) on rats’ body weight and plasma lipid levels. The SLs were developed from a ternary blending of palm mid fraction (PMF), virgin coconut oil (VCO) and canola oil (CO). The optimized blends were then underwent enzymatic acidolysisusing sn-1,3-specific lipase. This process produced A12, a SL which hasa solid fat content almost comparable to cocoa butter but has low calories. Therefore, it has a high potential to be used for cocoa butter substitute with great nutritional values. Fourty two Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 6 groups and were force feed for a period of 2 months (56 days) and the group were Control 1(rodent chow), Control 2(cocoa butter), Control 3(PMF:VCO:CO 90:5:5 – S3 blend), High doseSL (A12:C8+S3), Medium dose SL (A12:C8+S3) and Low dose SL (A12:C8+S3). The body weight of each rat was recorded once daily. The plasma profile of treated and control rats, which comprised o.
Effect of plant Growth Regulators on Blissus insularis (Hemiptera: Blissidae)

Summary Plant growth regulators are known to influence a plant's characteristics and therefore can be used as an alternative strategy in making Blissus insularis Barber (Hemiptera: Blissidae) habitat unfavorable for this insect's survival. The reduction of B. insularis population densities following the application of mefluidide and trinexapac-ethyl in field plots indicated the indirect effect of plant growth regulator application on B. insularis for its management in St. Augustinegrass.
Giardia Infection in Recently Acclimatized Kalahari Red Goats in Nigeria

Prevalence of Giardia duodenalis in recently acquired and acclimatized Kalahari Red goats in Nigeria was determined using a commercially produced enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Giardia duodenalis coproantigens were detected in 46.9% of the faecal samples collected from 98 Kalahari Red goats. The highest (58.1%) and lowest rates (38.2%) were recorded in pre-weaned goat kids up to three months of age and adults goats over one year of age respectively. Infection was higher in females (56.8%) and diarrhoeic goats (75.0%) than males (38.9%) and non-diarrhoeic goats (45.7%) respectively. No significant difference (p>0.05) was observed in the infection rates among age categories, sexes and stool consistencies of the goats. The results of this study showed a high prevalence of Giardia infection in the Kalahari Red goat herd which may imply that they are susceptible to giardiasis if managed under conditions that may facilitate transmission from infected indigenous animals. Key words: ELISA, Giardia , goat, Kalahari Red, Nigeria.
COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF THE PROTECTIVE EFFICACY OF DIFFERENT VACCINATION PROGRAMS AGAINST A VIRULENT FIELD STRAIN OF THE NEWCASTLE DISEASE VIRUS IN BROILERS

Despite the intensive vaccination programs used for controlling Newcastle disease (ND) in the Iranian poultry industry, outbreaks of ND have been reported in poultry farms. This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of vaccines for the protection against ND infection and virus-shedding period of velogenic Newcastle disease virus (vNDV) field strain after different immunization schemes. Eight groups of commercial broiler chickens were used. Six groups were vaccinated with different vaccination programs using commercial live and inactivated ND vaccines. All groups, except for group 8, were challenged with a virulent field isolate (104EID50/bird) at 28 days of age. Clinical signs, mortality rate and gross lesions were investigated. Antibody titers were assayed by hemagglutination inhibition test and fecal virus shedding was determined for 14 days post challenge (dpc) with 3-day intervals by the RT-PCR method. All unvaccinated-challenged control birds died. Vaccination with these ND vaccines protected chickens from clinical disease. The mortality rate in the vaccinated groups was significantly lower than in the positive control group. However, vaccinated chickens shed the challenge virus in fecal samples. Although the different vaccination regimens displayed close degrees of protection against the disease, the best protection was observed in broilers primed with the live B1 vaccine via eye drop simultaneously with inactivated vaccine at 8 days of age and boosted with B1 or LaSota via drinking water on day 18. In conclusion, the currently used vaccines with different vaccination schemes can protect chickens against the disease in areas where ND is endemic, while the spread of the field virus to other flocks cannot be prevented.
Porcelain crabs of the genera Pachycheles Stimpson and Neopisosoma Haig (Decapoda : Anomura : Porcellanidae): new premises based on molecular data and comments on phylogenetic relationships in the family

Abstract. Porcellanidae Haworth, 1825 is a family of marine anomuran crabs distributed throughout tropical and temperate regions of all the oceans, typically littoral and sublittoral waters, with a considerable diversity of lifestyles, habitats and colouration. Pachycheles Stimpson, 1858 and Neopisosoma Haig, 1960 share, among other morphological characteristics, the fragmentation of the lateral carapace walls. The morphology of this body region was key to supporting the establishment of Neopisosoma, which increased uncertainty about the taxonomic status of these genera due to the high intraspecific variation of this character. Our study reconstructs the phylogenetic relationship between Pachycheles and Neopisosoma based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences to evaluate whether these are valid taxa. While Pachycheles seems to be monophyletic, the position of Neopisosoma mexicanum (Streets, 1871) indicates that the group is polyphyletic, and deserves further investigation. Pachycheles is revealed to be older than Neopisosoma, and likely originated in the Indo-Pacific, later spreading to the American continent during the early Tertiary. Neopisosoma may have arisen much later in the Caribbean Province before the closure of the Isthmus of Panama, explaining its distribution, which is restricted mainly to Central America. The inclusion of a considerable number of species from both genera represents a significant advance in the study of this controversial group. The phylogenetic reconstruction of Pachycheles unveiled clades corroborated by morphology, but also revealed unclear relationships, which may indicate the potential existence of cryptic species.
Functional fitness in older people: A population-based cross-sectional study in Borba, Amazonas, Brazil (Aptitud funcional en personas mayores: Un estudio transversal de base poblacional en  de Borba, Amazonas, Brasil)

Introduction: Aging has been associated with loss of physical capacity caused by the deterioration of most physiological systems. Objective: To analyze the differences in functional Fitness (FF) associated with gender, age and physical activity (PA), and to compare the FF scores of Borbenses with other populations. Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out, comprising 233 elderly (71,2±8,9 yrs old; range between 60,0 to 95,7 yrs old). The FF was evaluated using the Senior Fitness Test battery and PA was estimated by questionnaire. Result: After controlling for age and PA, sex-related differences in FF were only found in shoulder flexibility (favoring women) and in aerobic endurance (AE, favoring men). There were age-related differences in lower body strength (LBS) and AE in both genders and in agility/dynamic balance in men, and upper body strength in women, only, (favoring the younger age group). PA-related differences in FF were only found in trunk flexibility (favoring the active group). Borba population had higher scores in the trunk flexibility than both samples studied and higher scores in shoulder flexibility than Madeiran, only. Conclusion: Except for flexibility and AE, our results indicated FF homogeneity between men and women. The oldest men and women underperformed in LBS and AE. The rest of the FF components may be more dependent on other related factors such as sex, lifestyles, and the environment. Taking into consideration the reference population from the US and Portugal, Borba population underperformed on the majority of FF components, with the exception of flexibility.
Total Carotenoid and Beta Carotene Contents of Selected Stored Plant Foods

Among the micronutrient deficiencies, vitamin A deficiency is recognized as a serious public health problem linked with, blindness, poor growth in children, reduced immunity and infection. Though the rate of blindness due to xerophthalmia is steadily decreasing, it has become evident in recent years that subclinical deficiency is an important cause of morbidity and mortality among children. The root cause of vitamin A deficiency is the continued inadequate dietary intake of vitamin A rich foods due to ecological, economic and cultural constraints.
Micronuclei Induction and Neurotoxic Effect in C6 Glioma Cells Exposed to Low Concentrations of Diazinon, an Organophosphorus Compound

Background: The presence of doses of diazinon far lower than IC50 cholinesterase activity was reported in plasma of pregnant women and newborns living in agricultural areas. Objective: In the current study, we investigated the possibility of neurotoxicity induction by exposing cultured gliotypic C6 cells to a similar range of concentrations, for 24 h, at 37°C. Materials and methods: Confluent C6 cellswere exposed to diazinon (DZN) at concentrations from 200ng/L to 0.002ng/L. The maintenance of confluence, the induction of micronuclei and the expression of molecules related to the cholinergic system were verified, by morphological, biochemical and immunohistochemical methods, in order to check the effects of the altered modulation of the cholinergic signal on glial-like cells. Results: The exposure to 0.002ng/L showed significant effecton micronuclei occurrence since the exposure to 0.002ng/L, while the inhibition on butyrylcholinesterase activity showed significant variations starting from the exposure to 0.2ng/L up to 200ng/L. Acetylcholinesterase activity was significantly inhibited only by the exposure to 200ng/L. The immunohistochemical localization of choline acetyltransferase and fibronectin showed dramatic variation only in C6 cells exposed to 200ng/L. Conclusion: The low doses of DZN investigated affect the investigated features of glial-like cells, mainly starting from the 0.2ng/L dose, while the effects on AChE activity and ChAT and fibronectin-immuorectivity were clearly exerted in cell cultures exposed to 200ng/L. Collectively, these findings translated to the in vivo functions of glial cells indicate that exposure to doses that are nontoxic to adult organisms may weaken the brain defense and functions of glial cells through an AChE-mediated mechanisms.
Evaluación del efecto biocontrolador de Bacillus spp., frente a Fusarium spp., bajo condiciones de invernadero en Rosmarinus officinalis L

This study evaluates the effect of the genus Bacillus sp as biological control of fungal phytopathogens in plants, mostly through antagonistic relations that induce cell death in natural way. Fusarium oxysporum is well-known pathogen related with vascular wilt and root rot in a variety of plants; colonizing the vessels and blocking them to cause yellowing of leaves due to the impossibility in the transport of nutrients, causal of serius economic loss in national agriculture. Several mechanisms have been established to control this filamentous fungi within which are the extensive and variable use of agrochemicals and pesticides, but due its harmful effects to the environment, has begun to replace by the use of the genus Bacillus . Its biocontrol effect is mediated by the biochemical profile, as they produce multiple biologically active metabolites; Bacillus subtilis produces fengycin and iturin A, and Bacillus brevis and gramicidin S (1-5), able of inhibit the normal growth and development of other organisms, this suggest its use as a biocontrol of pests to strengthen the current environmental quality standards.
Toxic and synergistic properties of several botanical extracts against larval and adult stages of the mosquito, Anopheles pharoensis.

Ethanolic extracts of 12 plants, belonging to 10 families were screened for their efficacy against larvae and adults of the mosquito, Anopheles pharoensis. The larvicidal LC 50 values were Azadirachta indica > Conyza aegyptiaca > Piper nigrum > Salix safsaf > Sonchus oleraceus. The LC 50 value for adults was least in case of C. aegyptiaca (0.072 ppm) and highest for Punica granatum (0.159 ppm) extracts. Tested insecticides (chlorpyrifos, deltamethrin, flufenoxuoron, methomyl) showed LC 50 values between 0.04–0.155 ppm for the larvae and 0.07–0.137 ppm for the adults. Combining botanical extracts with each other and/or with insecticides induced potentiating effects for the majority of bioassayed mixtures, against both mosquito larvae and adults. Specifically, the synergistic effect was much pronounced for mixtures of the insecticide methomyl with different botanical extracts. The RC 50 values ranged between 0.084 g/50 cm for S. oleracues and 0.312 g/50 cm for C. intybus extracts. The overall results of the present investigation reveal the broad-spectrum toxic properties of the tested plant extracts against An. pharoensis mosquito larvae and adults; which encourage further research on mosquito control in tropics.
Population Genetics of the Copperhead at Its Most Northeastern Distribution

Population genetic data are an important standard with which to gauge demography and gene flow within and among biodiversity units, and are often gathered on species of conservation concern. Yet an exclusive focus on ‘conservation immediacy' can also have negative consequences. For example, it can shift monitoring efforts away from more abundant and/or widely distributed clades and, by so doing, promote a more myopic approach to conservation and management. A current example concerns North American pitvipers (Viperidae: Crotalinae), within which listed species of Crotalus and Sistrurus receive considerable population genetic attention whereas broadly distributed Agkistrodon is largely overlooked. To address this disparity, we used 22 polymorphic tetra-nucleotide microsatellite loci to explore genetic structure, diversity, and relatedness in a Connecticut population of Copperhead (A. contortrix). Three admixed genetic clusters were identified across five winter dens, with overall and sex-specific relatedness similar among dens and across the population. First- and second-order relationships were identified within the population, then juxtaposed against known den associations. Values for genetic structure, diversity, and effective population size are similar to those reported for populations of North American Crotalus and Sistrurus. However, the study population did not sustain a genetic bottleneck following recent anthropogenic habitat alterations, and this may reflect a potential resilience to environmental change, particularly when compared with North American Crotalus and Sistrurus. Our results underscore the importance of (1) quantifying population-level parameters in non-threatened crotalines so as to broaden and extend our understanding of anthropogenic impacts, and (2) evaluating population genetics in taxa that appear superficially resilient to anthropogenic modifications. The latter may also promote valuable comparative analyses with threatened and endangered taxa.
Changes in bioactive compounds and their relationship to antioxidant activity in white sufu during manufacturing

In this article, samples of white sufu were collected at different manufacture stages and their content of water‐soluble protein (WSP) and amino nitrogen (AN); the distribution of peptides in WSP and isoflavones, as well as the antioxidant activities, was analysed. Results indicated that the peptides with molecular weight of 500–1000 Da increased 13.09 times from 0.11 to 1.44 g 100 g⁻¹ dry matter (DM) during the whole manufacturing, while isoflavone glucosides were almost entirely converted to aglycones after ripening for 15 days. Ferric reducing power (FRAP) and 2,2′‐azinobis‐3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulphonic acid radical scavenging activity (ABTS RSA) were significantly increased by 2.80‐ and 1.60‐fold, respectively. Correlation analysis suggested that ABTS RSA was significantly related to WSP (especially for the 500–1000 Da peptides; P < 0.01) and the content of aglycones (P < 0.05), while FRAP was only correlated to WSP (P < 0.05). It is concluded the peptides were the most important components contributing to the antioxidant activities of sufu.
Analysis of Bactericidal and Bacteriostatic Effect of the Crude Extract of Scent Leaf (Ocimum gratissimum) on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus

The antibacterial activity of the extract of Ocimum gratissimum was determined against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus . The phytochemical analysis of the leaf extract revealed the presence of bioactive bases responsible for antibacterial property, such as Saponin, Alkanoid, Flavonoid, Tanin and Steroid. The methanolic extraction of the active ingredient of the leaves was carried out using the method as described by Fatope, et al., (1993). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was 12.5mg/ml for E. coli and 25mg/ml for S. aureus and also had minimum bactericidal concentration of 6.25mg/ml for E. coli and 12.5mg/ml for S. aureus . The concentration 1.0mg/disc inhibited the isolates with highest diameter zone of inhibition as 15mm for E. coli and 13mm for S. aureus while the lowest diameter zone of inhibition as 8mm for E. coli and 7mm for S. aureus were recorded at concentration of 0.1mg/disc. Statistical analysis of the extract showed no significant difference (P> 0.05) the test isolates were sensitive to leaf extract of Ocimum gratissimum which implies that the leaf extract of Ocimum gratissimum can serve as a source of therapeutic agent and possess antibacterial properties. Keywords- Ocimum gratissimum, Escherichia coli , Staphylococcus aureus Bactericidal, Bacteriostatic, Crude extract
The Role of LMO4 in the Regulation of SLK Localization & Activation within Migrating Cells and in Murine Mammary Tumorigenesis

The Ste20-like kinase SLK plays a pivotal role in cell migration and focal adhesion turnover. SLK activity is regulated by the LIM domain-binding proteins Ldb1/2. In addition to playing role in tumor initiation and progression, these proteins have been demonstrated to interact with LMO4. Therefore, this project assessed the ability of LMO4 to interact and regulate SLK activity. Results show that LMO4 can directly bind to SLK and activate its kinase activity. LMO4 can be co-precipitated with SLK following the induction of cell migration by scratch wounding. Cre deletion of LMO4 inhibits cell migration and SLK activation, and impairs Ldb1 and SLK recruitment to the leading edge of migrating cells. Src/Yes/Fyn-deficient cells (SYF) express very low levels of LMO4 and do not recruit SLK to the leading edge. Src-family kinase inhibition impairs SLK recruitment to the leading edge, suggesting that both expression of LMO4 and the recruitment of SLK to the leading edge require c-Src activity. In conclusion, cell migration and activation of SLK requires its recruitment to the leading edge by LMO4 in a Srcdependent manner. This study also investigated whether LMO4 deletion through MMTVCre-driven excision would impair mammary tumorigenesis in a PyMT mouse model of breast cancer. No difference in Overall Survival was observed between animals with and without LMO4 expression. Western blot analysis and IHC showed that tumors expressed LMO4 protein in animals genotyped as Cre-positive. This result suggests that expression of LMO4 is required for tumor initiation in the PyMT model of murine mammary carcinoma. This project has established a novel cytosolic role for the transcriptional coactivator LMO4 and validated it’s involvement in the regulation of SLK and cell migration. This pathway may provide a novel therapeutic strategy as LMO4 appears to be critical to the initiation and progression of breast cancer.
Effect of nitrogen and zinc fertilization on quality and productivity of maize (Zea mays L.)

A field experiment was conducted to study four levels of nitrogen and three levels of zinc on quality and yield of maize. The results revealed that application of N up to 100 kg/ha recorded significantly higher leaf area index at all the growth stages and was superior in increasing relative growth rate (RGR) and not assimilation rate (NAR) between 25 and 50 days compared to 60 kg/ha. Application of 100 and 120 kg N/ha was statistically at par and these were found significantly superior in increasing cob/plant and shelling per cent over 60 and 80 kg N/ha. Application of 80 and 100 kg N/ha significantly increased grain and stover yield over 60 kg N/ha. A significant increase in N, P and Zn content and their uptake was also recorded in these treatments. Protein content in grain and chlorophyll in leaves increased significantly with successive increase in nitrogen doses up to 100 N/ha. Application of zinc up to 5.0 kg/ha significantly enhanced leaf area index and shelling per cent compared to 2.5 kg zinc/ha. Application of 5.0 kg Zn/ha significantly increased grain and stover yields of maize over 2.5 kg Zn/ha. A significant increase in N and P content and their uptake was also recorded at 5.0 kg Zn/ha. Application of 5.0 kg Zn/ha also recorded significantly higher chlorophyll (1.81 mg/g 50 DAS) and protein content of grain (10.01%).
Nature of a Root-Associated Paenibacillus polymyxa from Field-Grown Winter Barley in Korea

Soil or seed applications of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have been used to enhance growth of several crops as well as to suppress the growth of plant pathogens. In this study, we selected a PGPR strain, Paenibacillus polymyxa strain E681, out of 3,197 heat-stable bacterial isolates from winter wheat and barley roots. Strain E681 inhibited growth of a broad spectrum plant pathogenic fungi in vitro, and treatment of cucumber seed with E681 reduced incidence of damping-off disease caused by Pythium ultimum, Rhizoctonia soiani, or Fusarium oxysporum. When inoculated onto seeds as vegetative cells or as endospores, E681 colonized whole cucumber root systems and root tips. Different temperatures such as 20C and 30C did not affect root colonization by strain E681. This colonization was associated with a consistent increase in foliar growth of cucumber in the greenhouse. These results indicate that strain E681 is a promising PGPR strain for application to agricultural systems, particularly during the winter season.
Some “laws” of gastropod shell form

Five generalizations derived from the shell form of prosobranch gastropods are developed. (1) A univalve of more than one volution whose aperture lies in a plane that passes through the axis of coiling does not live with the aperture parallel to the substrate. (2) A univalve of more than one volution whose aperture lies in a plane that is tangential to the body whorl does live with the plane of the aperture parallel to the substrate. (3) Gastropods with tangential apertures, when extended, support the shell so that the center of mass of the shell and its contents is over the midline of the cephalopedal mass; this balancing of the shell may be accomplished either by regulatory detorsion, by inclination or by a combination thereof, to keep the center of gravity of the shell as low as possible. (4) Angulations or re-entrants in the gastropod aperture are usually indicative of inhalent or exhalent areas; inhalent areas are directed as far anteriorly as possible. (5) Gastropods having elongated apertures possess only a single gill and develop a water current through the mantle cavity from anterior to posterior along the long axis of the aperture; this axis is subparallel to the anterior-posterior axis of the foot. These generalizations are then used as the basis for some deductive interpretations of behavioral modes of Paleozoic Gastropoda.