Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
EFFECT OF pH AND TEMPERATURE ON JUMBO SQUID PROTEINS

Evaluation of the effect of pH (2 to 13) and temperature (0 to 50C) on functional properties of jumbo squid proteins was performed, followed by a 2 × 3 factorial design for producing squid protein hydrolysates bearing useful functional properties. In particular, the effects of pH (8, 9 and 10) and temperature (30, 35, 40C) were evaluated. Alcalase and papain were tested on each treatment. The protein recovery, whippability and emulsifying capacity of the hydrolysates were evaluated. Almost 80% of the proteins were recovered in water-soluble form after hydrolysis with papain at pH 10 at the three temperatures. The highest values of whippability (245 ± 17.7%), foam stability (100%), emulsion-forming capacity (27 ± 0.97%) and stability (99.99 ± 8.8%) occurred with papain-produced hydrolysates. When squid protein was treated at 50C and pH 8, the highest whippability value (390.0 ± 0.1%) and foam stability (100%) were obtained when no enzyme was added. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS This paper assesses how process variables, particularly temperature and pH, affect the functional properties of squid proteins. Making use of such process variables will produce more useful and efficient processes, as the application of a hydrolysis system. The processing of jumbo squid protein to obtain proteins bearing adequate functional properties would be an inexpensive way to provide added value to this marine resource and the production of a high-quality protein ingredient. These results hold promise for jumbo squid proteins as useful food ingredient because of their functional properties.
Nitrous oxide emissions from a cropped soil in a semi‐arid climate

Understanding nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from agricultural soils in semi‐arid regions is required to better understand global terrestrial N2O losses. Nitrous oxide emissions were measured from a rain‐fed, cropped soil in a semi‐arid region of south‐western Australia for one year on a sub‐daily basis. The site included N‐fertilized (100 kg N ha−1 yr−1) and nonfertilized plots. Emissions were measured using soil chambers connected to a fully automated system that measured N2O using gas chromatography. Daily N2O emissions were low (−1.8 to 7.3 g N2O‐N ha−1 day−1) and culminated in an annual loss of 0.11 kg N2O‐N ha−1 from N‐fertilized soil and 0.09 kg N2O‐N ha−1 from nonfertilized soil. Over half (55%) the annual N2O emission occurred from both N treatments when the soil was fallow, following a series of summer rainfall events. At this time of the year, conditions were conducive for soil microbial N2O production: elevated soil water content, available N, soil temperatures generally >25 °C and no active plant growth. The proportion of N fertilizer emitted as N2O in 1 year, after correction for the ‘background’ emission (no N fertilizer applied), was 0.02%. The emission factor reported in this study was 60 times lower than the IPCC default value for the application of synthetic fertilizers to land (1.25%), suggesting that the default may not be suitable for cropped soils in semi‐arid regions. Applying N fertilizer did not significantly increase the annual N2O emission, demonstrating that a proportion of N2O emitted from agricultural soils may not be directly derived from the application of N fertilizer. ‘Background’ emissions, resulting from other agricultural practices, need to be accounted for if we are to fully assess the impact of agriculture in semi‐arid regions on global terrestrial N2O emissions.
Defining IT Business Value under Conditions of Economic Austerity

Abst ract - Inv estment in Information Technology (IT) has typically been justified as playing a crucial role in assisting business and other Organisations in conducting their business in a more efficient and effective way. The implied “value” that results from such investments is known as “IT business value” and its definition and measurement under conditions of economic austerity and uncertainty is the main subject of this paper. The question is why, under such conditions, many Organisations fail to realize the positive impacts expected from IT investment, which by itself is then rather scarce and difficult to attain. To answer this question we concentrate in this paper on the issues of IT business value measurement and more specifically we attempt to answer the research question of how best to define the “business value” of IT and what factors may affect it.
The Effect of Lighting Program and Melatonin on the Alleviation of the Negative Impact of Heat Stress on the Immune Response in Broiler Chickens

Two experiments were conducted to study the effect of lighting program and melatonin addition to the diet on the immune responses of broiler chickens under chronic heat stress. In the first experiment, two groups of male broiler chickens received Continuous Light (CL) (23L: 1D) while another two groups received Intermittent Light (IL) (1L: 3D). From 4 to 6 wk of age, a group from each light program was exposed to 35°C versus 24°C for the other two groups. Heat stressed chickens under IL had significantly lower (p<0.05) body temperatures, pro-inflammatory cytokines levels and corticosterone concentrations in their plasma, compared to the heat stressed chickens under CL. Furthermore, in the heat stressed groups, the IL group had a significantly higher (p<0.05) cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity response and T-cell proliferation, compared to the CL group. In the second experiment, two groups of male broiler chickens were fed a diet containing melatonin (40 ppm), while the other two groups received a melatonin free diet (0 ppm), from 4 to 6 wk of age. Concurrently, a group from each melatonin treatment was exposed to 35°C versus 24°C in the other group. The heat stressed chickens receiving melatonin had significantly lower (p<0.05) body temperatures, pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1 and IL-6 and corticosterone concentrations. Furthermore, in the heat stressed birds, the melatonin group had a higher but not significant cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity response and T-cell proliferation. The current study indicates that intermittent light and melatonin administration can be used to ameliorate immunosuppression associated with heat stress in broiler chickens.
The impact of financial reporting quality on debt maturity: the case of private firms

We examine whether the debt maturity structure of privately held firms is associated with the quality of their earnings numbers. We argue that earnings numbers that are better able to predict future cash flows lower information asymmetry between privately held firms and their creditors, improving privately held firms’ access to long-term debt. Furthermore, we examine whether the relationship between privately held firms’ earnings quality and their debt maturity differs between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and larger privately held firms. Using detailed financial statement information from a sample of privately held Belgian firms, we find that earnings quality is positively associated with the likelihood of having long-term debt and with the proportion of long-term debt in total debt. Further, we report evidence that these associations are more pronounced for SMEs than for larger privately held firms, which is consistent with smaller firms entailing more fundamental risk for creditors.
The Bacterial Zinc‐Metallophospholipases C

The bacterial zinc‐metallophospholipases C are produced only by gram‐positive bacteria and are characterised on the basis of the presence of up to three zinc ions in the active site. Some zinc‐metallophospholipases C, like the α‐toxin of Clostridium perfringens, are potent toxins and play key roles in the pathogenesis of disease. Toxicity appears to be related to the ability of the enzyme to interact with phospholipids in host cell membranes and to the hydrolysis of both phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin. Significant insight into the mode of action of the zinc‐metallophospholipases has been gained from knowledge of the crystal structures of several members of this group. All of the enzymes possess an enzymatic domain, but only some zinc‐metallophospholipases possess a domain that can play a key role in the recognition of membrane phospholipids. The presence of this domain appears to be necessary for toxicity, but not all enzymes that possess this domain are toxic. Several studies have indicated that membrane active toxins, such as C. perfringens α‐toxin, might be exploited for the treatment of oncogenic disease.
Potential of some carotenoids in two recent sediments of Kiel Bight as biogenic indicators of phytodetritus

Carotenoids are routinely used as biogenic markers for plant debris in the marine environment. But, like the chlorophylls, carotenoids suffer chemical alteration and even hydrolysation to colourless endproducts when detritus is metabolized by animals and bacteria in the water column. This study investigates the stability of pigments after deposition in surface sediments. In a laboratory experiment using oxic sediment, the carotenoid lutein exhibited greater stability against chemical and microbial breakdown than chlorophyll a, which has a half-life of only 3 wk under oxic conditions. In situ investigations in anoxic mud sediments in Kiel Bight, Germany, showed rapid disintegration of polar xanthophylls and chloropigments. p-Carotene and lutein were relatively stable in anoxlc sediment. Data from a 1 yr field study at 2 stations in Kel Bight are reported as an example of the applicability of carotenoid pigments as biogenic markers in sediments. Advective transport of macrophyte debris was investigated by measuring the concentration of lutein in different sediments on a down-slope transect. Lutein exhibited a pattern of slowly increasing red macrophyte input to the muddy sediments, starting in autumn and continuing through winter; but it was not detected in shallow sand sediments near the growth sites of the algae. Fucoxanthin and peridinin were found in both muddy and sandy sediment, reflecting sedimentation events resulting from transport of phytoplankton from the water column.
Functional analysis of activation of porcine oocytes by spermatozoa, calcium ionophore, and electrical pulse

The present study was conducted to examine differences in the activation of pig oocytes induced by sperm penetration or the artificial stimulators calcium ionophore A23187 and electrical pulse. Cumulus‐oocyte complexes were cultured in NCSU 23 medium supplemented with 10% pig follicular fluid and 0.57 mM cysteine for 44 hr and then freed from cumulus and corona cells prior to activation with A23187 or an electrical pulse or inseminated with frozen‐thawed ejaculated semen. Cortical granule (CG) exocytosis, zona reaction, nuclear activation, and developmental ability were examined after treatment. A23187 and electrical pulse induced 75.7% and 76.9% of CGs to be released from oocytes. Sperm penetration induced 86.3% of CGs to be released from the oocytes, which was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those induced by artificial stimulators. Activation induced by A23187 and sperm penetration resulted in a zona reaction, which prevented sperm penetration after insemination or reinsemination, respectively. Activation induced by electrical pulse, however, did not cause a zona block since the penetration rate (80%) of oocytes was not different (P > 0.05) from that in control oocytes (87%). Electrical pulse induced 87% of the oocytes to form a pronucleus(ei), with 53% failing to release the second polar body. A23187 induced 62% of oocytes to form a pronucleus(ei), and 81% of these oocytes released the second polar body. Sperm penetration induced 98–100% of the oocytes to release the second polar body and form a female pronucleus, and 88–89% of sperm penetrated oocytes formed a male pronucleus(ei). Blastocyst formation of oocytes exposed to spermatozoa, electrical pulse, and A23187 was 27%, 10%, and 4% at Day 6 and 28%, 11%, and 5% at Day 7, respectively (P < 0.05). More nuclei were observed in the blastocysts derived from in vitro fertilization (32.3 ± 12.9) than artificial stimulators. These results indicate that different and possibly overlapping mechanisms may be involved in the activation of pig oocytes by spermatozoa, electrical pulse, and A23187. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 51:346–353, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Pollen cones and associated leaves from the Lower Cretaceous of China and a re-evaluation of Mesozoic male cycad cones

Male cones of Ixostrobus hailarensis from Lower Cretaceous strata of the Hailar region of north-east China were re-examined for features of their cuticle and in situ pollen. The cones are loosely aggregated and possess helically arranged peltate microsporophylls containing resin bodies. Microsporophyll cuticle is thick, papillate and has elliptical stomata with 6–9 subsidiary and ∼10 encircling cells. Adaxial sporangia contain monosulcate pollen assignable to the dispersed taxon Cycadopites minimus. Both the cuticle and pollen are distinct from Ixostrobus but are consistent with the cycad genera Androstrobus, Aegianthus, Loricanthus and the putative angiosperm Solaranthus. Reanalysis of the type species of Androstrobus, A. zamioides, provides new information on its structure and allows an accurate delimitation of the genus and improved comparison with other genera. A new genus, Schimperstrobus, is erected for species now excluded from Androstrobus. Comparisons indicate that Solaranthus represents a male cycad cone and that Aegianthus, Loricanthus and Solaranthus are synonyms; Aegianthus has nomenclatural priority. We emend the combined generic and specific diagnoses for Aegianthus sibiricus to allow additional species to be placed in the genus, and erect the new combinations Aegianthus resinifera for specimens previously assigned to Loricanthus, and Aegianthus daohugouensis for specimens previously placed within Solaranthus. The Hailar cone conforms to the generic circumscription of Aegianthus and represents a new species that we name A. hailarensis comb. nov. Androstrobus phialophora also conforms with Aegianthus and is transferred to Aegianthus phialophora comb. nov. Co-occurring with A. hailarensis are cuticles of the ginkgophyte leaf Sphenobaiera longifolia that are similar to microsporophyll cuticles of A. hailarensis. However, we discount that they belong to a single plant species and conclude that the cuticles of some Mesozoic ginkgoalean and cycadalean taxa may be virtually indistinguishable. We consider that Aegianthus was widespread across China, Mongolia and southern Russia during the Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous.
FADING OF FEULGEN-STAINED BOVINE SPERMATOZOA

Photometric restudy of 120 Feulgen-stained bovine spermatozoa after an interim period of 30-38 days from their initial date of measurement clearly demonstrates a marked decolorization of the cells, depending on the particular lot of Feulgen reagent used. With an eight-month-old and often-used reagent, no fading occurred over a period of 38 days. Using a fresh reagent, made with the same batch and initial content of basic fuchsin as the above, a fading of 14.6% was observed in 30 days, and of 20.9% in 37 days. These findings clearly emphasize the need for greater control of the Feulgen reagent and reaction and for the caution that must be exercised in using long prepared Feulgen-stained material for quantitative purposes.
Evolutionary Changes in Genomic DNA Constituents and the Duration of Cell Cycle in Lathyrus species

The duration of the complete mitotic cycle and its component phases were compared with the amounts of 2C nuclear DNA, heterochromatin DNA and euchromatin DNA in four Lathyrus species. The total cycle time as a whole was not correlated with the variation in 2C nuclear DNA amount which was two fold between the 4 related species. However, the duration of synthesis phase was positively correlated with the amounts of total DNA and heterochromatin DNA. The results have further shown that a disproportionate increase in the amount of heterochromatin in the genome can increase the total duration of the mitotic cycle as well as the duration of its component phases.
No sex please, we're biased: some comments on sexing Marsh Tits Poecile palustris by wing length

Suggestions have been made for sexing Marsh Tits using wing length (adjusted for age) as the sole criterion. Data from a long-term, single-site study are presented here and indicate that nearly 10% of Marsh Tits will be incorrectly sexed using this criterion. Further summary data are presented from the BTO national ringing data set. The merits and problems of assigning sex of birds based on the wing-length criterion are discussed. Potential biases in sex-based analyses are described and recommendations for assigning sex are made.
Effects of dual inoculation of mycorrhiza and endophytic, rhizospheric or parasitic bacteria on the root-knot nematode disease of tomato

The effects of mycorrhisation and inoculation with soil bacteria on the disease caused by Meloidogyne incognita on tomato were studied in pots under greenhouse conditions. Efficacy in promoting plant growth and reducing disease severity and final nematode densities were evaluated for two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF; Funneliformis mosseae and Rhizophagus irregularis), three soil bacteria with different living strategies (the endophyte Bacillus megaterium, a rhizospheric Pseudomonas putida and the hyperparasite of nematodes Pasteuria penetrans) and combinations of the fungi and bacteria. In M. incognita-infested plants, F. mosseae increased tomato growth more than R. irregularis, and plants inoculated with B. megaterium presented higher shoot fresh weight than with P. putida or P. penetrans, but dual inoculation did not improve tomato growth more than single inoculations. Disease severity and final nematode densities were reduced by F. mosseae compared to non-mycorrhizal plants. B. megaterium and P. penetrans reduced both the root galling and the final nematode densities compared to treatments without bacteria. P. penetrans reduced final nematode densities more than B. megaterium or P. putida. Dual inoculation of AMF and P. penetrans showed the highest efficacy in reducing the final nematode densities in tomato.
Quantitative seasonal aspects of zooplankton in the Delaware River estuary

The Delaware, a major Coastal Plain estuary about 90 miles long, was quantitatively sampled for net zooplankton at quarterly intervals over a two-year period (#2 bolting cloth on Clarke-Bumpus samplers for 1-hour tows). The principal species were counted from 20-foot depth intervals and for 13 channel stations distributed from the Atlantic Ocean to fresh water. Accompanying hydrographic data were taken on salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and surface transparency.
Poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) Depolymerase from Fusarium solani Thom

Fusarium solani Thom produced maximum PHB depolymerase by 48 h when grown in BHM containing 0.2%, w/v PHB, pH 8.0 at 25∘C. Statistical optimization studies using Plackett Burman design of PHB depolymerase production yielded maximum PHB depolymerase activity after 2 days as against 4 days in the unoptimized conditions with a 2-fold increase in activity. Partial purification of the extracellular poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) depolymerase PHAZFus from F. solani Thom by two steps using ammonium sulphate (80% saturation) and affinity chromatography using concanavalin-A yielded 162.3-fold purity and 63% recovery of protein. The enzyme composed of a single polypeptide chain of 85 KDa, as determined by SDS-PAGE. The enzyme stained positive for glycoprotein by PAS staining. Optimum enzyme activity was detected at pH 7.0 and 55∘C. The enzyme was stable at pH 7.0 and 55°C for 24 h with a residual activity of almost 85%. Paper chromatography revealed β-hydroxybutyrate monomer as the major end product of PHB hydrolysis. Complete inhibition of the enzyme by 1 mM HgCl2 (100%) indicated the importance of essential disulfide bonds (cystine residues) for enzyme activity or probably for maintaining the native enzyme structure.
Alternative Models of Character Displacement and Niche Shift. 2. Displacement when There is Competition for a Single Resource

Character displacement or nongenetic niche shift, when competitors become sympatric, can result from changes in the absolute abundance of the resources available, as well as from changes in the relative abundance of different types. A model of competition for a single resource by two species of consumers is used to illustrate the range of possible directions of phenotypic change that can occur when the main effect of competition is a change in the absolute resource abundance at equilibrium. Divergence, convergence, and parallel change are all possible responses to competition in sympatry, depending on the type and magnitude of cost involved in increasing the functional response. Parallel change may be the most common mode of displacement for similar species. These adaptive responses to competition may result in an increase or a decrease in the strength of the competitive interaction between the species.
Providing a healthcare input to children in special schools

Background: From a public health perspective and for the appropriate allocation of resources it is important to understand the differences in health between areas. This paper examines the variations in morbidity and mortality between urban and rural areas. Methods: This is a cohort study looking at morbidity levels of the population of Northern Ireland at the time of the 2001 census, and subsequent mortality over the following four years. Individual characteristics including demographic and socio-economic factors were as recorded on census forms. The urban-rural nature of residence was based on census areas (average population c1900) classified into eight settlement bands, ranging from cities to rural settlements with populations of less than 1000. Results: The study shows that neither tenure nor car availability are unbiased measures of deprivation in the urban-rural context. There is no indication that social class is biased. There was an increasing gradient of poorer health from rural to urban areas, where mortality rates were about 22% (95% Confidence Intervals 19%–25%) higher than the most rural areas. Differences in death rates between rural and city areas were evident for most of the major causes of death but were greatest for respiratory disease and lung cancer. Conversely, death rates in the most rural areas were higher in children and adults aged less than 20. Conclusion: Urban areas appear less healthy than the more rural areas and the association with respiratory disease and lung cancer suggests that pollution may be a factor. Rural areas however, have higher death rates amongst younger people, something which requires further research. There is also a need for additional indicators of deprivation that have equal meaning in urban and