Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Molecular investigation of genetic variation to improve uniformity of cauliflower production

Cauliflower production in Australia is export oriented. The industry aims for uniform, high quality product and is based on Fi hybrid cauliflower cultivars. However non-uniform products still occur. The lack of uniformity may be due to genetic variation evident in the seed, seedling or production stage. There are many cauliflower cultivars released each year and there is a need to correctly identify cultivars for seed companies and growers. W e developed fingerprinting keys using molecular markers to correctly identify cultivars at any stage, and therefore without the need for field trials. Australian Fi hybrid cultivars and open pollinated cultivars of Indonesia were assessed genetically using R A P D markers. Genetic variation within and between cultivars of both countries were investigated. Dendograms were constructed using Neighbor-Joining analysis based on Phylogenetic Analysis Using Parsimony (PAUP). D N A fingerprinting keys were developed and genetic relationships among cultivars were determined. Comparison between Indonesian and Australian based cultivars indicated that Indonesian cultivars have unique genotypes and would be good sources of genes for future crop improvement. Results proved that R A P D markers can be used for the routine identification of cauliflower cultivars. Hybrid cauliflowers have been developed to exploit heterosis and to improve uniformity of production. However, 'morphological sib' plants, assumed to be self inbred, often contaminate hybrid seed lots in the SI system and contribute up to 2 0 % of the total harvest. Sibs produce very small and non-marketable curds. Whilst self inbreeding is not possible in the C M S system, plants that look like sibs often occur up to 4 0 % of the crop. In this study, microsatellite markers for male and female cauliflower parent lines of both SI and C M S systems were developed. T w o pairs of markers were chosen for purity testing of F] hybrid seeds. Microsatellite analysis, glasshouse and field trials confirmed that morphological sib plants from the SI system were not always self-inbred. In contrast, most self inbred plants showed normal growth. All morphological sibs from the C M S system showed hybrid bands. This suggests that morphological sibs were not always due to selfing but possibly to an interaction between genetic and environmental factors and this requires further investigation. Variation in curd maturity which results in spread of harvesting time is another problem in the cauliflower industry and contributes to up to a 2 0 % loss. This phenomenon prevents the use of harvest machinery and increases cost of harvesting as
Purification of the Specific Antibody of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Serotype A by Ion Exchange Chromatography

Background: Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is an acute and contagious disease in domestic ruminants, which is currently the most economical viral disease that threatens livestock industry. The virus that causes the disease is belongs to Aphthovirus genus from the picornaviridae family. This family contains seven serotypes and is about 30 nanometers in diameter and no external membrane similar to other picornaviruses. Objectives: The current study aimed to introduce ion exchange chromatography as a convenient method to purify specific antibody against 146S antigen. Methods: The study was performed in vaccine and serum research of Razi institute, Tehran, Iran, after purification of 146S antigen of foot-and-mouth disease virus serotypes A using sucrose gradient procedure; two Guinea pigs were immunized with 30 µg 146S antigen combined with complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) and booster with incomplete Freund’s adjuvant (IFA) according to the protocol. After bleeding and serum obtaining, agglutination assay, dot blot and the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to confirm specific antibody against 146S. Ion exchange chromatography was used to purify specific antibody against 146S antigen. Finally, sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) electrophoresis was used to evaluate the purification. Results: The interaction of 146S antigen with the immunized rabbit resulted in agglutination reaction. Assaying with the heterologous antigen showed negative result that confirmed the production of specific antibody in the rabbit. In dot blot, presence of brown spots was confirmed by binding specific antibody with 146S antigen. The result of ELISA showed that each antigen of different serotypes reacted better with homolog antibody. Since IgG containing positive charge and 25, 2-diethylaminoethyl (DEAE) Cephadex gel in ion exchange chromatography also had positive charge, IgG was eluted at the first step by buffer (pH = 9) and the other proteins were eluted by buffer at different pH levels. The absorbance amount of IgG was 0.197 that showed IgG = 0.725 mg/mL. Conclusions: With respect to the results as well as the speed of ion exchange chromatography, this method is advised to purify antibodies.
The Marine Protected Areas debate: implications for the proposed Phakisa Marine Protected Areas Network

South Africa recently had the privilege of hosting prominent fisheries scientist Professor Ray Hilborn from Washington University who stimulated lively discussion on global stock status, food production, impacts of trawling on the seabed, fisheries management and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Professor Hilborn gave a seminar billed as 'Fisheries Myths' on 25 August 2016 and the following day participated in a formal debate at the Two Oceans Aquarium on South Africa's MPA expansion strategy and the need for additional MPAs. The debate was held between Professors Ray Hilborn and Doug Butterworth (Marine Resource and Assessment Management Group, Applied Mathematics Department, University of Cape Town) speaking against the strategy and expansion, and Dr Jean Harris (Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife and Pew Fellow) and Professor Colin Attwood (Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town) speaking in favour of additional MPAs. The debate examined the need for MPA expansion; the effect of MPAs on fisheries; and the role of MPAs in fisheries management, food security and biodiversity protection; and interrogated targets to increase ocean protection.
The Effect of Cinnamon Extract on Spermatogenesis and

In livestock production systems, antibiotics are commonly used to prevent disease and metabolic disorders, as well as improve feed efficiency. However, in the recent years, public concern over the routine use of antibiotics in livestock nutrition has increased due to the emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria which affect human health. Consequently, considerable effort has been devoted toward developing alternatives to antibiotics. Plants offer a unique opportunity in this regard (Wallace, 2004), as many plants produce secondary metabolites, such as saponins, tannins and essential oils which have antimicrobial properties. These compounds have been shown to modulate ruminal fermentation to improve nutrient utilization and production efficiency in ruminants (Benchaar et al. 2008). The Glycyrrhiza glabra, commonly known as Licorice, is one of the important traditional medicinal plants that its growth is widely spread around the world, including Iran and has been used for medicinal purposes for at least 4000 years. It is a very sweet, moist, soothing herb; it grows upward about 2 meters in height. The roots are long, cylindrical, thick and multi-branched. The root of this plant has several useful pharmacological properties, such as antiinflammatory, antiviral, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities as well as it has immunomodulatory, hepatoprotecIn this study, nine male Dallagh sheep (initial weight 35±2 kg) were used in a replicated 3 × 3 latin square design experiment with three treatments and three 21-day periods (14 d adaptation, 7 d collection). Treatments were control (without addition) and two treatment diets containing 10% dry matter Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) and Urtica dioica (nettle) powder. The dry matter intake, average daily gain, feed conversion ratio were determined. Rumen fluid was obtained at 0, 4 and 8 hours after feeding. Also, blood samples were collected 2 h after feeding. Diet containing 10% licorice significantly increased feed conversion ratio versus control (P<0.05). In licorice treatment, lactic acid bacteria in rumen fluid were lower than nettle 8 hours after morning feeding. Sheep fed licorice had higher rumen protozoa count than control before morning feeding (P<0.05). Dietary supplementations had no effect on the weight gain, dry matter intake, and total count of bacteria, coliforms, rumen pH, blood glucose, total protein, triglyceride, cholesterol, and albumin. In conclusion, licorice dry powder decreased lactic acid bacteria, increased feed conversion ratio, and had no significant effect on other studied factors. Also, nettle had no effect on performance, blood metabolite and rumen parameters.
DistB-SDoIndustry: Enhancing Security in Industry 4.0 Services based on Distributed Blockchain through Software Defined Networking-IoT Enabled Architecture

The concept of Industry 4.0 is a newly emerging focus of research throughout the world. However, it has lots of challenges to control data, and it can be addressed with various technologies like Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Software Defined Networking (SDN), and Blockchain (BC) for managing data securely. Further, the complexity of sensors, appliances, sensor networks connecting to the internet and the model of Industry 4.0 has created the chal-lenge of designing systems, infrastructure and smart applications capable of continuously analyzing the data produced. Regarding these, the authors present a distributed Blockchain-based security to industry 4.0 applications with SDN-IoT enabled environment. Where the Blockchain can be capable of leading the robust, privacy and confidentiality to our desired system. In addition, the SDN-IoT incorporates the different services of industry 4.0 with more security as well as flexibility. Furthermore, the authors offer an excellent combination among the technologies like IoT, SDN and Blockchain to improve the security and privacy of Industry 4.0 services properly. Finally , the authors evaluate performance and security in a variety of ways in the presented architecture.
The threadsnake tangle: lack of genetic divergence in Epictia tenella (Squamata, Leptotyphlopidae): evidence for introductions or recent rafting to the West Indies

ABSTRACT The confusion between the Neotropical threadsnakes Epictia albifrons (Wagler) and Epictia tenella (Klauber) has been ongoing for decades. The lost holotype of Stenostoma albifrons, a poorly detailed original description, and dubious type locality confound the problem. Recently an extant series of nine museum specimen from Belém, state of Pará, Brazil were selected as topotypes for Epictia albifrons Wagler. From this series a neotype was designated. Here we compare the morphology of the neotype to specimens from Trinidad and Guyana, confirming that they are Epictia tenella (Klauber) not E. albifrons (Wagler). We also compare four mitochondrial and one nuclear marker from Trinidad and mainland (Guyana) Epictia tenella populations and find E. tenella relatively widespread with minimal genetic diversification between island and mainland specimens. Hypotheses that may explain the low divergence for this small, fossorial snake are explored and discussed: over-water rafting, human-mediated dispersal, and avian-mediated dispersal.
Sound production during courtship and spawning among freshwater gobiids (pisces, gobiidae)

In this paper the breeding sound production among gobiids is reviewed. Results of recent comparative studies on both pre‐spawning (courtship) and spawning sound production in the three italian freshwater gobiids are reported. A significant production of sounds associated to mating was discovered in two of these species. Furthermore, the quantification of acoustic behaviour across the spawning period (i.e., from the beginning of oviposition until the departure of the female from the male's nest) revealed a pattern of spawning sound production similar in the two species.
Are beetles good indicators of insect diversity in freshwater lakes?

Abstract The study verifies the usefulness of aquatic beetles as an indicator of biodiversity of a simple ecological system. Detailed analyses were carried out at the elementary level for the purpose of determining the significance of correlations between the biodiversity of Coleoptera and other groups of aquatic insects in single samples. The relation of selected taxa to selected habitats of the lake Wukśniki (north-eastern Poland) was also investigated. Moreover, the possibility of application of biodiversity surrogates, i.e. higher taxonomic units (genera and orders), in the determination of biodiversity was examined. A significant high correlation was determined between Coleoptera and the total remaining taxa (RR - Remaining Richness) in samples collected in the entire lake. The correlation has the highest value at the species level. The complementarity analysis reveals that the percentage contribution of Coleoptera in the overall biodiversity of the lake is similarly high at the species and genus level, and substantially lower at the family level. In accordance with the hypothesis, aquatic beetles can be used as indicators of the overall biodiversity of insects in the ecosystem of a mesotrophic lake. Biodiversity surrogates, i.e. higher taxonomic units (genera and families), can be applied instead of the species level.
Mechanisms and roles of the LuxS system, methyl recycling, and DNA methylation on the physiology of Campylobacter jejuni

Campylobacter jejuni is one of the leading causes of human bacterial gastroenteritis, and campylobacteriosis in sheep. The genetic diversity of this organism, the potential for multiple sources to transmit C. jejuni to humans, and the possession of a variety of virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance mechanisms make C. jejuni a serious health problem worldwide. The autoinducer-2 (AI-2)/LuxS system has been the focus of several studies for its potential applications to attenuate C. jejuni virulence. A study from our group found that the LuxS enzyme plays a critical role in virulence and fitness of C. jejuni IA3902 and 11168 strains. Mutagenesis of the luxS gene negatively impacted C. jejuni colonization of the gastrointestinal tract of several host species. However, the physiologic basis for this colonization defect is unclear. In addition to AI-2 production, LuxS is also a key enzyme involved in the activated methyl cycle (AMC). The AMC is an important source for the formation of S-adenosylmethionine, a methyl donor crucial to biological processes like DNA methylation. DNA methylation has also been linked with a diverse number of important physiological and pathogenic mechanisms in many bacteria, but is poorly understood in C. jejuni. The collective work from this thesis attempts to address some of the knowledge gaps on the role of LuxS, methyl recycling, and DNA methylation in C. jejuni physiology. Collectively, results from our study showed that luxS mutation interrupted the AMC resulting in significant changes to intracellular concentrations of several key metabolites. However, the colonization-associated factors tested on our luxS mutants in this thesis do not show evidence of being the primary mechanisms responsible for the luxS mutant‘s decreased colonization ability. We proceeded to analyze the role of LuxS on DNA methylation and found that the luxS mutation had no appreciable effect on the methylome profile of the
Diversity, Uses and In vitro Propagation of Different Bamboos of Sonitpur District, Assam

Bamboos are the tallest and largest member of the grass family and widely distributed in India and abundantly occur in northeast region. A few species are also found scattered in other parts of the country both in the hills and the plains. Bamboos play an important role in the day to day lives of common people of Assam and become an integral part of the cultural, social and economic traditions of the State. Besides, it is an essential component of forest ecosystem and commonly found in the traditional home gardens of Assam. Study was carried out in 62 randomly selected home gardens of Sonitpur district of Assam. The maintenance of bamboo diversity in home gardens fulfills the household necessity and also contributes to the rural economy. The commonly found bamboos are B. tulda, B. balcooa, B. pallida, B. nutans, B. bambos, Dendrocalamus strictus, D. hamiltonii, Melocanna baccifera etc. Home garden based bamboos have also great demand as a construction materials, fencing, fodder and also as a source of fiber for paper industry. Tissue culture technique is also applied in three selected Bamboos for large scale production of plantation stocks for commercial cultivation. Rural employment can be generated by proper cultivation and management of bamboos in traditional home gardens thereby helps in conservation of bamboo diversity without much care and effort.
Summer habitat selection by Dall's sheep in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska

Sexual segregation occurs frequently in sexually dimorphic species, and it may be influenced by differential habitat requirements between sexes or by social or evolutionary mechanisms that maintain separation of sexes regardless of habitat selection. Understanding the degree of sex-specific habitat specialization is important for management of wildlife populations and the design of monitoring and research programs. Using mid-summer aerial survey data for Dall's sheep (Ovis dalli dalli) in southern Alaska during 1983–2011, we assessed differences in summer habitat selection by sex and reproductive status at the landscape scale in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve (WRST). Males and females were highly segregated socially, as were females with and without young. Resource selection function (RSF) models containing rugged terrain, intermediate values of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and open landcover types best explained resource selection by each sex, female reproductive classes, and all sheep combined. For male and all female models, most coefficients were similar, suggesting little difference in summer habitat selection between sexes at the landscape scale. A combined RSF model therefore may be used to predict the relative probability of resource selection by Dall's sheep in WRST regardless of sex or reproductive status.
EFFECTS OF DIET PARTICLE SIZE AND SUPPLEMENTAL HAY ON MITIGATING SUBACUTE RUMINAL ACIDOSIS IN HIGH-PRODUCING DAIRY CATTLE

Achieving maximum milk production in dairy cows increases the risk of subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA), a severe digestive disorder that is an economic concern for producers. High-producing dairy cattle require more dietary energy in order to meet the demands of increased milk production. High energy diets, however, are low in physically effective NDF (peNDF) and high in starch. Starch sources in the diet are often processed in a manner to optimize starch availability in the rumen and the fiber sources are often highly digestible and short in particle length. As a result, these types of diets are highly fermentable in the rumen and often lack the structural characteristics needed to maximize rumination time and the flow of salivary buffers into the rumen. The result is reduced pH in the rumen and increased risk of acidosis. While it is critical to meet the energy requirements of high-producing cows, acidosis must be avoided to ensure high milk production and efficient use of feed. There is growing evidence that dairy cows will select feeds with high ruminal buffering capacity in an attempt to attenuate the effects of low ruminal pH. Four experiments were carried out on early to mid-lactation Holstein dairy cows to investigate the effects of corn silage particle size and supplemental hay on feed preference, ruminal fermentation, dry matter intake, and milk yield and components during an induction of SARA. Together, these experiments provide valuable observations in regards to feeding supplemental hay as a nutritional management strategy to mitigate SARA. Feeding supplemental long hay to high-producing dairy cattle experiencing SARA was found to be beneficial and helped maintain dry matter intake, alleviate low ruminal pH, and blunted the shift of FA towards trans-10, C18:1. In
Altitudinal variations in chemical profile and antioxidant activities of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) genotypes

The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the altitudinal variation between two lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) genotypes on the basis of their chemical profile, total phenolic content and antioxidant activitiy. Pulse samples were collected from two different altitudes of Uttarakhand state. The chemical profiling was done via Gas chromatography-Mass spectrometry analysis. A total of 45 and 33 phytoconstituents accounting for 76.51% and 81.03% of the total extract has been identified in the sample from lower altitude and higher altitude respectively. Antioxidant activity was determined in terms of 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, hydroxyl radical scavenging and metal chelating assays. Results revealed that the genotype from higher altitude exhibits higher antioxidant potential than the genotype from lower altitude. A significant positive correlation has been observed between altitude and total phenolic content, whereas a significant negative correlation between altitude and 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of both genotypes.
Foot-and-mouth disease in wildlife population of India

A total of 41 clinical samples (vesicle/tongue/foot/nasal epithelium) from Indian gaur, deer, spotted deer, nilgai, chowsinga, bison, black buck, elephant, sambar deer were collected in 50% phosphate buffered saline/glycerol medium (pH-7.5) during suspected FMD outbreaks. Supernatants of homogenized clinical samples were used in a serotype differentiating antigen detection ELISA and samples found negative were further subjected to multiplex PCR (mPCR). A total of 3/11 (27.2%) samples from Indian gaur, 2/7 (28.5%) chital deer, 5/5 (100%) nilgai, 2/2 (100%) black buck were found positive for serotype O in antigen detection ELISA. A total of 3 ELISA-negative samples from spotted deer, 2 from bison and 2 from sambar deer were found positive for serotype O in mPCR. The VP1 region-based phylogenetic analysis indicated the involvement of both O/ME-SA/Ind2001 and PanAsia lineage of serotype O in the outbreaks. The wildlife species infected with FMD may pose further threat to the surrounding domestic livestock.
The first record in Italy of Trichogramma cordubense Vargas & Cabello 1985 (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) emerging from the eggs of Lobesia botrana (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

This study investigated the egg parasitoids of Lobesia botrana (Denis & Schiffermuller, 1775) feeding on Daphne gnidium L. (Malvales, Thymelaeaceae) in the San Rossore-Migliarino-Massaciuccoli Nature Reserve (Tuscany, Italy). Four species of egg parasitoids of the genus Trichogramma spp. were obtained. The parasitization rate gradually increased over the season, reaching its maximum level in September 2015, with a percentage of parasitized eggs close to 55 %. Three of the species obtained were already known as L. botrana parasitoids, whereas the finding of Trichogramma cordubense Vargas & Cabello, 1985 represents the first recording in Italy, as well as the first report of this species among the natural enemies of L. botrana .