Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of milk composition, yeast‐mould numbers and seasons on aflatoxin M1 amounts in camel milk

The aim of this research was to determine the chemical composition, fungal and aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) contaminations in raw camel milk samples collected from seven dairy farms in Yazd province, Iran. Milk samples (10 samples from each of 7 farms) were collected in autumn and winter seasons. The mean contents of protein, fat and ash ranged from 2.14 to 3.28%, 1.52 to 2.01%, and 0.93 to 0.97%, respectively. Of the fungal agents identified, yeasts belonged to Candida spp. (48.2%), Rhodotorula spp. (22.3%) and Trichosporon spp. (13.4%); and moulds belonged to Geotrichum spp. (16.1%). Of the 70 milk samples, 20 (28.6%) samples had AFM1 in concentrations in excess of the maximum levels specified in European Union (EU) regulations, that is, 50 ng/L. The mean concentration of AFM1 in milk samples was 45.95 ng/L, and the minimum and maximum levels were 5.19 and 150.17 ng/L, respectively. The mean concentrations of AFM1 in winter and autumn months were 54.24 and 34.92 ng/L, respectively (p<.05). As contamination of milk with fungi and AFM1 is a potential risk for human health, raw camel milk should be monitored for their presence. Practical applications Having an idea of fungal load and AFM1 contamination in raw camel milk could be used by food safety organizations to establish regulations for the control of contamination sources. In Iran, there is no study about the incidence of fungal and AFM1 contaminations in raw camel milk. Our study is the first one in Yazd province, Iran. In the current study, Candida species were the most predominant yeasts in raw camel milk. The mean AFM1 contamination was 45.95 ± 49.50 ng/L, representing 28.6% samples exceeded the EU accepted limit (50 ng/L). Therefore, feed hygiene control is the first step in preventing the transfer of aflatoxins to human; and continuous monitoring of dairy products will be necessary for evaluation of hygienic managements.
Diversité de l’entomofaune floricole de Sesamum indicum (L.) 1753 (Pedaliaceae) et son impact sur les rendements fruitiers et grainiers à Bambui (Nord-Ouest, Cameroun)

De mai a juin 2013 et 2014 respectivement, les fleurs de Sesamum indicum ont ete observees en vue de l’etude de l’activite des insectes et de la determination de l’impact de celle-ci sur les rendements fruitiers et grainiers de cette plante. Deux traitements ont ete formes a partir du marquage de 1347 et 5480 boutons floraux pour chacune des periodes d’investigation selon la presence ou l’absence de protection de ces bouquets floraux. Le comportement de butinage des insectes, le taux de fructification, le nombre moyen de graines par fruit et le pourcentage de graines normales ont ete evalues. Les resultats montrent que 15 especes d’insectes ont visite les fleurs de sesame en 2013 et 2014. Amegilla sp. etait l’espece la plus frequente, suivie de Camponotus flavomarginatus et Apis mellifera adansonii . En comparant les rendements des deux traitements, il est apparu que les insectes ont augmente le taux de fructification de 27,35%, le nombre de graines par fruit de 15,99% et le pourcentage de graines normales de 12,26%. Cette etude a fourni une certaine connaissance sur la diversite des insectes floricoles du sesame, qui peut etre exploitee pour ameliorer la production fruitiere. © 2016 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved. Mots cles: Insectes floricoles, Sesamum indicum , fleurs, pollinisation, rendements English Title: Diversity of flowering insect fauna on Sesamum indicum (L.) 1753 (Pedaliaceae) and its impact on fruit and seed yields in Bambui (North-West, Cameroon) English Abstract From May to June 2013 and 2014 respectively, Sesamum indicum flowers have been observed for the study of insect activity and determination of the impact of it on pod and seed yields of this plant. 1347 and 5480 flower clusters for each studied year were labeled and divided in to two treatments, differentiated according to the presence or absence of protection against insect’s activities. Insects foraging activities, the fruiting rate, the percentage of normal seeds and the mean number of seeds per pod were recorded. Results have shown that 15 species of flower-visiting insects were recorded on S. indicum flower within the two years. Amegilla sp. was the most frequent, followed by camponotus flavomarginatus and Apis mellifera adansonii . The comparison of yields of the two treatments showed that insects significantly increased the fruiting rate by 27.35%, as well as the number of seeds per pod by 15.99% and the percentage of normal seeds by 12.26%. This study provided some knowledge about the anthophilous insect’s diversity of this Pedaliaceae, which can be exploited to improve fruit production. © 2016 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved. Keywords: Anthophilous insects, Sesamum indicum , flowers, pollination, yields
Feeding and growth of the isopod Idotea baltica on the brown alga Fucus vesiculosus: Roles of inter-population and within-plant variation in plant quality

Abstract: We investigated the effects of local nutrient enrichment, among-population variation in quality, and within-plant variation in quality on growth, development, and food consumption (total amount of food ingested) of the marine isopod Idotea baltica when fed Fucus vesiculosus. We found that the proximity of fish farms increased carbon/nitrogen ratio, but did not change the concentration of phlorotannins in the F. vesiculosus thallus. Algal diets taken from sites close to or far from fish farms did not affect the growth, development, or total amount of food ingested of I. baltica. Therefore, eutrophication may not necessarily decrease the level of plant resistance. We found that different F. vesiculosus beds vary in quality and led to differences in total amount of food ingested and production efficiency of I. baltica. The variation in quality of F. vesiculosus in different locations may generate variance in grazing pressure between the belts. Idotea baltica was most sensitive to within-plant variation, as the isopods grew more and had higher production efficiency on apical than basal parts of F. vesiculosus. Idotea baltica did not compensate for the lower quality of basal parts by increasing consumption. This may indicate that the low quality of the basal thallus is related to higher levels of secondary metabolites and not to lower levels of soluble sugars or nitrogen that might have encouraged compensatory consumption. Our results suggest that within-plant variation in the quality of the F. vesiculosus is more important for herbivores than possible environmental variation caused by eutrophication.
Histone acetylation and chemoresistance in colorectal cancer : an opportunity for effective personalized treatment

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common cause of deaths in the West. Despite many therapeutic opportunities, drug resistance or recurrence has significant rates among patients. Nearly 50% of CRC patients develop metastases. Therefore, sensitive biomarker and effective treatments with minimal toxicity are needed. Genetic and epigenetic alterations play major roles in initiation, development, and chemoresistance of CRC. Histone deacetylase2 (HDAC2) over-expression is well-known in CRC. Many studies have associated HDAC2 over-expression and TP53 mutations with late stages of metastatic CRC (mCRC). However, the relationship between HDAC2 expression level and TP53 status and mCRC drug resistance is unclear. Here, I have investigated HDAC2 role in drug resistance and assessed the synergistic effects of DNA chemotherapeutics agents and HDAC inhibitors (HDACIs) on TP53 status in mCRC cell lines. I have shown for the first time that in mutated p53 mCRC cells (Sw480 and HT29) the steady-state level of HDAC2 is low compared to wild-type p53 cells (HCT116 p53+/+). I have also found that increase in HDAC2 expression level in the highly resistant cell line HT-29 enhances drug resistance and its depletion by shRNA sensitises HT-29 to 5Fluorouracil (5FU) or Oxaliplatin (Oxa). The combined treatment of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA)/5FU and SAHA/Oxa was able to reduced HDAC2 expression level and induced mitotic cell death. However, SAHA/Doxorubicin combined treatment induced cell death in wild-type p53 (HCT116 p53+/+), null p53 (HCT116 p53-/-), and SW480 cell lines. This cell death associated with decrease in HDAC2 level. I have shown the association between sensitivity to treatment and reduction of HDAC2 level via bioluminescence imaging in combination with liposomal-encapsulated
Do lake littoral benthic invertebrates respond differently to eutrophication, hydromorphological alteration, land use and fish stocking?

In order to provide adequate guidelines in freshwater management, managers need reliable bioindicators that can respond differently to varied stressors. Managers also have to consider hierarchical structure of environmental factors. Thus, our research aims to test the independence of taxa responses along environmental gradients and to examine in what order natural and anthropogenic factors constrain the structure of littoral benthic assemblages. The rank of explained variance of littoral benthic assemblage's variable group hierarchy was: land use > landscape characteristics > eutrophication > fish stocking > hydromorphological alteration. We determined nine gradients (two natural and seven stressor gradients), separated into five groups based on statistically significant differences in responsiveness of taxa. Apart from responsiveness to natural factors, littoral benthic invertebrates could be used as bioindicators for stressors reflecting urbanization, eutrophication, hydromorphological alteration and fish stocking. The taxonomical composition of littoral benthic invertebrates, especially when taxa with preference for certain relatively narrow environmental conditions along gradients are present, can be used to identify effects of key stressors. Our findings have profound implications for ecological assessment and management of lakes, as they indicate that benthic invertebrates can be used when the effects of multiple stressors need to be disentangled.
Age, growth and morphometry of the limpet Cellana eucosmia (Mollusca: Gastropoda) from the Gulf of Suez

A total of 750 specimens of Cellana eucosmia were measured for growth, age determination and intra and interspecific variations in its shell morphometry. The longevity of Cellana eucosmia was extended to 5 years. The values of von Bertalanffy growth parameters (L∞, K and to) were estimated by two different methods. The growth increment was 38% and 4.9% of the asymptotic length (L∞ =44.1 mm) during the I-II year and IV-V year, respectively. The average value of relative coefficient of condition (Kn ) was about 1.3. The average ratio of posterior to anterior shell sloping walls was 1.499. The regression constants A and B for the various relationships of shell length to breadth, height and sloping walls, were studied.
Relationships between Numbers of Vertebrae, Scale Counts, and Body Size, with Implications for Taxonomy in Nightsnakes (Genus: Hypsiglena)

Abstract The relationships between the number of trunk and caudal vertebrae, the number of ventral and subcaudal scales, and snout–vent length (SVL) and tail length were investigated in several species of Hypsiglena, including a few specimens from species contact zones. We confirm the presence of a 1:1 relationship between trunk vertebrae and ventral scales within Hypsiglena (99 specimens total; 50 males; 49 females). We also found a positive relationship between the number of ventral scales and SVL in adult specimens. We did not find a 1:1 relationship between caudal vertebrae and subcaudal scales, but there is a positive relationship between subcaudal scales and tail length. Because there is a positive relationship with the number of ventral scales and SVL, we infer—as general population trends—that snakes with more ventral scales have the capacity to grow to be larger than snakes with fewer ventral scales. Many other environmental factors influence body size, however, and this trend should be used only as a general comparison. Therefore, the number of ventral scales can be used as a proxy for general population trends in body size among species of Hypsiglena, as wide geographic-ranging species may be exposed to large-scale environmental gradients (e.g., lower temperatures at higher latitudes). Ventral and subcaudal scale counts may not be good diagnostic characters for assigning individual specimens to taxonomic groups or for diagnosing taxonomic groups, because species appear to show much overlapping variation. This variation may be good for examining different trends in body size between taxa across geographic landscapes.
Tetrasporangial plants of Monosporus indicus (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta): a new alien in the Mediterranean Sea

We provide the first detailed description of the tetrasporophyte of the red algal species Monosporus indicus Børgesen (Wrangeliaceae, Ceramiales) and its first record from the Mediterranean Sea. This prostrate, filamentous epiphytic species, which has been recorded from tropical and subtropical locations in the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, has invaded and established healthy populations in the warm Levant Mediterranean Sea of Israel. Plants invariably have propagules and are rarely observed with tetrasporangia. With the description of tetrasporangia in M. indicus, doubt is cast on the integrity of the genus Desikacharyella because their presence as well as sexual reproduction was used to separate that genus from Monosporus.
Comparative shell shape distributions in Jurassic-Cretaceous ammonites and Jurassic-Tertiary nautilids

Contours of whorl expansion rate (W), distance of the generating curve from the axis of coiling (D) and shape of the generating curve (S) were plotted from data on 988 Jurassic through Cretaceous ammonite species and 205 Jurassic through Tertiary nautilid species. The areas occupied by the ammonites and nautilids are largely nonoverlapping when plotted as WD and DS graphs. The almost complete absence of overlap in Juro-Cretaceous ammonite and nautilid shell shape distributions is consistent with the view that ammonites and nautilids were dissimilar ecologically, and evolved different shell shapes in response to different adaptational needs. The terminal Cretaceous extinction of the ammonites may have opened up new opportunities for nautilid evolution during the Tertiary, because Tertiary nautilids are dominanted by moderately compressed, hydrodynamically efficient shell shapes which were rarely present among Jurassic and Cretacepus nautilids, but common among ammonites. The restriction of nautilids to a far more limited portion (compared to ammonites) of the theoretically available spectrum of planispiral shell shapes may be due in part to fabricational constraints imposed by the simple nautilid septum and septal suture. Nautilid shell shapes were limited to globular or slightly compressed to depressed shells, which are inherently strong due to pronounced shell wall curvature, and would be strengthened to only a small extent by buttressing from internal septa. Strongly depressed or compressed shell shapes, commonly evolved among ammonoids, had flattened shell regions which are inherently weak, and would be strengthened to a considerable extent by numerous thick, or strongly folded and fluted septa and septal sutures.
Effect of Night Interruption on Cold Acclimation of Potted ‘Concord’ Grapevines

Two photoperiod regimes, natural daylength (ND) and night interruption (NI) of ND with a white light source, were used to test the importance of photoperiod on growth parameters, cold acclimation, and root conductance of potted ‘Concord’ grapevines (Vitis labruscana Bailey). By 3 Sept. , NI-treated plants had a greater percentage of shoots with actively growing apices and a greater number of nodes per shoot than those untreated. No differences were seen in effect of light treatment on the extent of shoot maturation, as evidenced by shoot color change from green to brown. No consistent differences in hardiness of primary buds or canes of the first 12 nodes could be attributed to light regime. Apical tissues were less hardy than basal tissues for all regimes early in the acclimation period (10 Sept.). Root conductance, measured as suction-induced water flow, decreased throughout the acclimation period but did not differ between light treatments. Results are discussed in light of current hypotheses and of evidence of interrelationships among photoperiod, shoot growth cessation, shoot maturation, and cold acclimation.
Status of macrobenthic diversity and distribution in Subei Shoal, China

Five cruise surveys were carried out in May–June 2013 to evaluate the status of macrobenthic diversity and distribution in Subei Shoal, China. Twenty-four stations were sampled and divided into four groups according to depth (5–10 m, 10–20 m, 20–30 m and 30–35 m). A total of 163 species were collected with Polychaeta dominating in species composition and abundance. All of the community parameters (abundance, biomass, mean species richness, Margalef richness index, Shannon-Wiener index and Pielou's evenness) were not significantly different among the five cruises or among the four groups, except that Shannon-Wiener index at 5–10 m was significantly lower than that in other depth groups. No significant difference in community structure was detected among cruises, but when the data from the same station were pooled together, significant differences among stations were observed basically from inshore to offshore. The benthic opportunistic polychaetes amphipods index showed four stations having moderate ecological status in Subei Shoal. Canonical correspondence analysis showed that Sigambra bassi and Praxillella sp. were positively correlated with depth and salinity, and Paralacydonia paradoxa was positively correlated with dissolved oxygen.
Evaluation of the chemical composition and biological activity of extracts of Tetragonisca angustula propolis and Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi (Anacardiaceae)

Native stingless bee propolis (or cerume) has begun to be studied in the last decades, mainly focused on its pharmacological properties. In this study, however, the chemical composition of diverse samples of Tetragonisca angustula propolis was compared via ESI-MS fingerprinting and ultra-high performance chromatography- mass spectrometry with extracts of Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi (Anacardiaceae), a possible source of resins. These results confirmed that the samples of T. angustula propolis, independently of their geographic origin, presented a similar composition to the flowers of S. terebinthifolius. The evaluation of their biological activity (antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxic) showed that the plant extract was more active than the T. angustula propolis samples, in spite of their similar composition, possibly due to quantitative variations in the composition due to freshness.
Leaf protein analysis during gibberellic and photoperiodic induction of flowering in Arabidopsis thaliana

Leaf proteins from Arabidopsis thaliana Landsberg erecta treated with gibberellin A 3 and different light regimes (continuous light, 16/8 h dark/light cycle and 8/16 h dark/light cycle) were analysed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Qualitative differences between the controls and the treated plants were found, indicating that these treatments were responsible for the synthesis of specific proteins. A 35 kDa polypeptide is induced by gibberellin A 3 application and a 25 kDa polypeptide depends on the photoperiod.
Identification and functional characterisation of bioactive peptides in rice bran albumin hydrolysates

Summary The potential heath-benefitting bioactivities of rice bran albumin hydrolysates were investigated. The antioxidant and α-glucosidase- and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory activities of the crude hydrolysates and their fractions were determined. The fractions with the highest bioactivities were analysed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry to identify the active peptide sequences. Hydrolysates produced by commercial proteases Alcalase and Protamax exhibited the highest α-glucosidase- and ACE-inhibitory activities, resulting in 43.1 ± 2.1% and 54.4 ± 5.1% inhibition of the enzymes, respectively. Inhibitory activities against both enzymes were highest in the MW<3-kDa fractions that were eluted under alkaline conditions. A number of peptide sequences were identified in the fractions, which contained several sequences with reported α-glucosidase- or ACE-inhibitory activities. This is the first time that such activities are reported for rice bran albumin hydrolysate, and it demonstrated that the hydrolysates may be developed into nutraceuticals useful in managing diabetics and hypertension.
Growth Responses of Lolium perenne L. to Trinexapac-ethyl

A growth chamber and a greenhouse study were conducted to determine if successive applications of trinexapac-ethyl (TE) to developing perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) plants would reduce leaf elongation rate (LER) while increasing tiller number and root mass. Growth parameters measured were LER, tiller number, and root mass. In the growth chamber, developing perennial ryegrass plants were sprayed twice with TE at 0.24 kg.ha -1 a.i. at 20 and 40 days after emergence. Leaf elongation rate was reduced by 35% following two applications of TE in both growth chamber experiments. This treatment increased the number of tillers per plant in the growth chamber at 60 days after emergence and in the greenhouse at 150 days after emergence, but had no effect on root or shoot mass in either location. Multiple applications of TE to developing perennial ryegrass turfs may favor quicker establishment in terms of tillering, while substantially reducing mowing requirement. Chemical names used: 4-cyclopropyl-a-hydroxy-methylene-3,5-dioxo-cyclohexanecarboxylic acid ethyl ester (trinexapac-ethyl).
Method Development and Validation for the Determination of Purine Alkaloid Caffeine from Camellia sinensis by RP-HPLC Method

Objective: This study was done with the objective of developing a validated method for routine analysis of caffeine content in tea by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography method. Caffeine a purine alkaloid a xanthine derivative obtained from tea leaves Camellia sinensis. Methods: Caffeine crystals were isolated from tea leaves separated through a reversed-phase C18 Chromatopak (250 mm X 4.6 X 5 micron) column using a mobile phase composed of water: Acetonitrile (60:40) at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min. The peak response time for caffeine was observed at 1.275 minutes using UV detector set at 273 nm. The developed method was validated according to the International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) guidelines, which includes specificity, linearity, precision, accuracy, robustness, limit of detection and limit of quantitation. Results: The developed method validates good linearity with excellent correlation coefficient (R2>0.999). In repeatability and intermediate precision, the percentage relative standard deviation (% RSD) of results was less than 1% shows high precision of the method. The recovery rate for caffeine was within 97.4-98.6% indicates high accuracy of the method. The low limit of detection and limit of quantitation of caffeine enable the detection and quantitation of caffeine from Camellia sinensis at low concentrations. Conclusion: The developed RP-HPLC method is a simple, rapid, precise, accurate can be widely accepted and can be recommended for efficient assays. The run time was 30 mins the Rt was 1.275, the run time can be decreased to less than 10 mins, the mobile phase and run time can be saved.