Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Isolation and screening of lactic acid bacteria , Lactococcus lactis from Clarias gariepinus ( African catfish ) with potential use as probiotic in aquaculture

In aquaculture probiotic feeding could play a crucial role in developing microbial control strategies, since disease outbreaks are recognized as important constraints to aquaculture production and the fear of antibiotic resistance. In this study, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains from the intestinal tissue of African catfish Clarias griepinus were successfully screened, characterized and identified. The isolates (S1#8, S1#9, S1#10, S1#18, S1#19 S1#20 and S1#21) shared common morphological characteristics of LAB such as non-sporulating, Gram positive cocci or cocco-bacilli shape. These were the dominating morphology found in the catfish, as compared to other types of LABs reported to be found in freshwater fishes. All of the 35 isolates have the ability to utilize lactose as part of their metabolism process and showed negative reactions towards catalase test. These isolates were also tested for antimicrobial activities using disc diffusion assay against indicator Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli. Based on the partial 16S rRNA sequences, the selected LAB isolates belonged to a member of Lactococcus lactis with 98% DNA similarity. This strain can be used as probiotic in aquaculture feeding.
α1- and β1-Adrenoceptor Signaling Fully Compensates for β3-Adrenoceptor Deficiency in Brown Adipocyte Norepinephrine-Stimulated Glucose Uptake

To assess the relative roles and potential contribution of adrenergic receptor subtypes other than the β3-adrenergic receptor in norepinephrine-mediated glucose uptake in brown adipocytes, we have here analyzed adrenergic activation of glucose uptake in primary cultures of brown adipocytes from wild-type and β3-adrenergic receptor knockout (KO) mice. In control cells in addition to high levels of β3-adrenergic receptor mRNA, there were relatively low α1A-, α1D-, and moderate β1-adrenergic receptor mRNA levels with no apparent expression of other adrenergic receptors. The levels of α1A-, α1D-, and β1-adrenergic receptor mRNA were not changed in the β3-KO brown adipocytes, indicating that the β3-adrenergic receptor ablation does not influence adrenergic gene expression in brown adipocytes in culture. As expected, the β3-adrenergic receptor agonists BRL-37344 and CL-316 243 did not induce 2-deoxy-d-glucose uptake in β3-KO brown adipocytes. Surprisingly, the endogenous adrenergic neurotransmitter norepinephri.
“Coastal” versus “inland” shorebird species : interlinked fundamental dichotomies between their life- and demographic histories?

In this contribution I present an extended but testable hypothesis (or “evolutionary scenario”) to explain how and why many life-history features of latitudinal migrant shorebirds, basically characterised by the correlation between habitat choice in the winter and the breeding season, may be functionally and causally intertwined. The most novel (and contentious) aspect of the hypothesis is that historical restrictions in suitable habitat may generate further restriction of suitable habitat with the causal chain consisting of population bottlenecks, leading to reduced adaptive genetic variation, leading to reduced ability to fight diseases, thus affecting potential habitat choice.
Demographic monitoring of four endemic plant taxa in the fire prone-environments of Central Greece: early results

Several authors have indicated the important role of fire in the evolution of the Mediterranean ecosystems of the world. A significant part of Greece is typical Mediterranean. Of the total 1300 endemic plant taxa in Greece, about 25% occur mainly in the fire prone Mediterranean environments. Data concerning the occurrence and the life attributes of the plant taxa endemic in the Mediterranean habitats of Greece were collected through a literature inventory. Analysis of these data revealed five distinct profiles have identified of these taxa. From these five profiles five taxa have been selected for detailed study each, one corres ponding to one profile. In this work the results of four of them namely Fritillaria obliqua Ker-Gawl. ssp. obliqua, Campanula celsii A. DC. ssp. celsii, Stachys swainsonii Bentham ssp. melangavica, Silene spinescens Sm. are presented. Their populations have been located in the field and data concerning their life attributes have been collected. Size classes have been distinguished relevant to the life stages of each taxon. First years results show that each one of the studied taxa has a completely different population structure from the other. In Fritillaria obliqua ssp. obliqua a small number of seedlings is established and very few flowers and fruits are formed. For Campanula celsii ssp. celsii seedlings represent a large fraction of the population and although few individuals form flowers and fruits, flower and fruit production is quite high. Stachys swainsonii ssp. swainsonii population has a large number of mature plants and seedlings while small plants represent a small fraction of the population. In Silene spinescens the majority of the plants are large plants while seedlings and small plants represent a small fraction of the population.
Species variation in the specificity of cholinesterases in human and rat blood samples.

Acetylthiocholine iodide (ATC) as a common substrate in the combined assay of red blood cell cholinesterase (RBC ChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) do not provide the accurate individual enzyme activities. Hence, in the present study the two enzyme activities in the same sample were assayed with the help of two different substrate, ATC and butyrylthiocholine iodide (BTC). Specificity of BTC towards BuCHE was found in blood, plasma and serum, while ATC is nonspecifically hydrolysed by both RBC ChE and BuChE. ATC gives significantly higher enzyme activity (P < 0.001) in rat plasma/serum and significantly lower enzyme activity (P < 0.0001; P < 0.001) in human plasma/serum. The possible reasons are discussed for substrate spccity in various species in the assay of ChEs.
Identification and characterization of iron reducing bacteria attached on stainless: Steel immersed in Port Dickson seawater

Aims: The study focused on the isolation, identification and characterization of iron reducing bacteria (IRB) attached on stainless steel immersed in seawater. Methodology and results: Ten marine bacteria were successfully isolated from 5 different stainless steel samples immersed in seawater of Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan. These bacteria were cultured in VMNI medium for 72 h at 37 °C and pure colonies of 10 isolates were obtained and later were used for molecular analysis. The biofilm of each strains were observed by using microscope Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) with magnification of 3000x and 5000x and most of these bacterial cells are in a form of bacillus, coccobacillus, coccus and dicoccus. By using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), genome from 10 strains were used to amplify the 16S rRNA gene sequence and aligned using the multiple alignments software, Mega 4 Software. The phylogenetic analysis which based on the 16S rRNA sequences revealed that 6 out of 10 strains were belong to the Shewanella gfenus while the other two strains were put under the family of Alteromonodaceae and Rhodobacteraceae and one strain was not determined yet because of no accurate data from GenBank and was known as unidentified organism. Conclusion, significance and impact study: Six out of ten strains isolated are belong to Shewanella genus which was one of iron-reducing bacteria group and by using SEM, biofilm formation and bacterial cells can be observed. IRB’s role in biocorrosion are important for several sectors such as oil and gas and shipping industry and therefore, this study was undertaken to isolate, identify and perform initial characterization on IRB.
Diversification of the white-toothed shrews of the genus Crocidura (Insectivora: Soricidae) in East and Southeast Asia

ABSTRACT The genus Crocidura is one of the largest genera among mammals and widely distributed in Eurasia, Africa, and Southeast Asia. We review the recent advances in taxonomic and phylogenetic studies of this genus in East and Southeast Asia. Sympatric distributions of two or more species are known in several localities. Karyotypes of East and Southeast Asian species are divided into several groups. From karyological comparison and molecular phylogeny, those groups are suggested to have formed by geographical isolation in islands and in the continent in East and Southeast Asia. To clarify evolutionary history of East and Southeast Asian species, comprehensive studies with the West Asian and European species from karyological and molecular approaches are desired.
Construction and characterization of a cDNA library from the marine sponge Chondrosia reniformis

A cDNA library from a marine sponge Chondrosia reniformis was constructed with an initial aim to isolate cDNA for 2',5'-oligoadenylate (2-5A) synthetase. The library consisted of about 100 000 clones with an insert size ranging from 0.7 to 3.5 kb. 96 cDNAs were end-sequenced which resulted in a total of 83 000 bp DNA sequences. The analysis revealed a high similarity of cDNA sequences from C. reniformis to those from evolutionarily higher organisms, mostly vertebrates, including primates and human. No cDNA for 2-5A synthetase was found probably due to its low homology with a specific probe used for screening the 2-5A synthetase cDNA from another marine sponge, Geodia cydonium. Statistical analysis of dinucleotide frequencies in the sequenced cDNA fragments from C. reniformis showed some deviations from their common distribution in other sponges.
The Pedicinus species (Insecta, Phthiraptera, Anoplura, Pedicinidae) on douc langurs (Pygathrix spp.)

Summary All three species of Southeast-Asian douc langurs (Pygathrix spp.) harbor a host-specific species of Pedicinus (Neopedicinus). Using freshly collected material of known provenance, these were identified as Pedicinus tongkinensis Mey, 1994 ex Pygathrix nemaeus, Pedicinus atratulus nov. spec. ex Pygathrix nigripes, and Pedicinus curtipenitus nov. spec. ex Pygathrix cinerea. The three species described here are closely related to each other and belong to the newly created “ancoratus species group” within the subgenus Neopedicinus.
Synthetic Auxin Herbicides Control Germinating Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius)

Abstract Scotch broom is a large, nonnative shrub that has invaded forests and grasslands in 27 U.S. states. Without treatment, Scotch broom's persistent seedbank ensures a continuing source of regeneration after soil disturbance. In growth chamber studies, five rates of three synthetic auxin herbicides, aminocyclopyrachlor (AC), aminopyralid (AP), and clopyralid (CP), were compared for PRE control of Scotch broom. Cumulative 90-d emergence, mortality, and biomass of seedlings did not vary among herbicides, averaging 42% of seeds sown, 75% of emerged seedlings, and 9 mg seedling−1 for treated containers, respectively, versus 46%, 17%, and 26 mg seedling−1 for nontreated containers. Low rates of each herbicide (< 50% of the maximum labeled rate [MLR]) provided 60 to 80% control, whereas 100% MLR provided 69 to 89% control. Although the herbicides differed in cost per unit seedling mortality (AP < CP < AC), each demonstrated strong potential as a viable treatment for PRE control of Scotch broom. Nomenclature: Aminocyclopyrachlor; aminopyralid; clopyralid; Scotch broom; Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link CYSC4. Resumen Cytisus scoparius es un arbusto no-nativo y de gran tamaño que ha invadido bosques y pastizales en 27 estados de los Estados Unidos. Sin tratamiento, el persistente banco de semillas de C. scoparius asegura una continua fuente de regeneración después de la perturbación del suelo. En estudios en cámaras de crecimiento, cinco dosis de tres herbicidas auxinas sintéticas, aminocyclopyrachlor (AC), aminopyralid (AP), y clopyralid (CP), fueron comparados para el control PRE de C. scoparius. La emergencia acumulada a 90-d, la mortalidad, y la biomasa de plántulas no varió entre herbicidas, promediando 42% de las semillas sembradas, 75% de las plántulas emergidas, y 9 mg plántula−1 para contenedores tratados, respectivamente, versus 46%, 17%, y 26 g plántula−1 para contenedores no tratados. Dosis bajas de cada herbicida (<50% de la dosis máxima de la etiqueta [MLR]) brindaron 60 a 80% de control, mientras 100% de la MLR brindó 69 a 89% de control. Aunque los herbicidas difirieron en el costo por unidad de mortalidad de plántulas (AP < CP < AC), cada uno demostró un fuerte potencial como tratamiento viable para el control PRE de C. scoparius.
Lack of inbreeding avoidance in the Argentine ant Linepithema humile

Although workers might increase their inclusive fitness by favoring closer over more distant kin, evidence suggest that nepotism generally does not occur within colonies of social insects. It has been suggested that this may be due to the cost of recognition errors. We tested whether recognition occurs in a system where a better than random ability to recognize kin should be selected for. Using DNA microsatellites, we show that sexuals of the Argentine ant Linepithema humile fail to use genetic cues to avoid sib-mating. When offspring of two queens were allowed to mate, the percentage of matings among siblings was not significantly lower than expected under the hypothesis of random mating. The finding that sexuals fail to use genetic cues to avoid sib-matings cannot be attributed to the cost of recognition errors because any recognition system that would lead to a better than random ability to avoid sib-mating should be selected for when there are costs to inbreeding. These data are thus consistent with the view that kin recognition mediated solely by genetic cues might be intrinsically error prone within colonies of social insects. Copyright 2002.
Implications of Ignoring Telemetry Error on Inference in Wildlife Resource use Models

ABSTRACT Global Positioning System (GPS) and very high frequency (VHF) telemetry data redefined the examination of wildlife resource use. Researchers collar animals, relocate those animals over time, and utilize the estimated locations to infer resource use and build predictive models. Precision of these estimated wildlife locations, however, influences the reliability of point-based models with accuracy depending on the interaction between mean telemetry error and how habitat characteristics are mapped (categorical raster resolution and patch size). Telemetry data often foster the assumption that locational error can be ignored without biasing study results. We evaluated the effects of mean telemetry error and categorical raster resolution on the correct characterization of patch use when locational error is ignored. We found that our ability to accurately attribute patch type to an estimated telemetry location improved nonlinearly as patch size increased and mean telemetry error decreased. Furthermore, the exact shape of these relationships was directly influenced by categorical raster resolution. Accuracy ranged from 100% (200-ha patch size, 1- to 5-m telemetry error) to 46% (0.5-ha patch size, 56- to 60-m telemetry error) for 10 m resolution rasters. Accuracy ranged from 99% (200-ha patch size, 1- to 5-m telemetry error) to 57% (0.5-ha patch size, 56- to 60-m telemetry error) for 30-m resolution rasters. When covariate rasters were less resolute (30 m vs. 10 m) estimates for the ignore technique were more accurate at smaller patch sizes. Hence, both fine resolution (10 m) covariate rasters and small patch sizes increased probability of patch misidentification. Our results help frame the scope of ecological inference made from point-based wildlife resource use models. For instance, to make ecological inferences with 90% accuracy at small patch sizes (≤5 ha) mean telemetry error ≤5 m is required for 10-m resolution categorical rasters. To achieve the same inference on 30-m resolution categorical rasters, mean telemetry error ≤10 m is required. We encourage wildlife professionals creating point-based models to assess whether reasonable estimates of resource use can be expected given their telemetry error, covariate raster resolution, and range of patch sizes.
Lichen physiology and air pollution: II. Statistical analysis of the correlation between SO2 , NO2 , NO and O3 , and chlorophyll content, net photosynthesis, sulphate uptake and protein synthesis of Parmelia sulcata Taylor.

Samples of the lichen Parmelia sulcata Taylor were collected in the vicinity of 17 air pollution monitoring stations in the northern part of Switzerland and its bordering area. Net photosynthesis, dark respiration, and the content of [35 S]-sulphate and [35 S]-protein after cultivation with 35 SO4 2- , as well as the chlorophyll and protein contents were measured. Mean values of dark respiration and protein content were not significantly different in the plant material from the various locations. Most of the mean values of net photosynthesis differed less than the average standard deviation. The rates of sulphate uptake and protein synthesis were lowest and chlorophyll content was highest at the most polluted sites. The values differed by a factor of 3.5-7 between the various locations. Multiple regression analysis gave a linear correlation between the three physiological parameters [35 S]-sulphate, [35 S]-protein and chlorophyll content and a combination of the annual mean concentrations of the air pollutants NO, NO2 , SO2 and O3 . The highest multiple correlation coefficient (R2 ) was estimated for chlorophyll (0-84). Its linear correlation coefficient (r) with NO2 alone was 0.91, and with SO2 alone 0.85.
New phylogenetic perspectives among species of South-east Asian wild pig ( Sus sp.) based on mtDNA sequences and morphometric data

There are more taxa of wild pig in South-east Asia (SEA) than in any other comparable area in the world, but the number of species and subspecies is still uncertain. The taxonomy of some wild pig populations distributed in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, was investigated using molecular and morphometric techniques. Our results suggest the existence of two main evolutionary clades that are likely to have diverged during the Pliocene in SEA: one including wild pig populations distributed in the Philippines (Sus cebifrons) and Sulawesi (S. celebensis); the other including the Indonesian and Malaysian bearded pigs (S. barbatus), and the widespread Eurasian wild boar (S. scrofa). A possible scenario for pig speciation in SEA is developed, and the need for a taxonomic revision of bearded pigs suggested, particularly concerning the taxonomic status of S. b. ahoenobarbus from Palawan Island, and the existence a new species distributed in the Tawi Tawi Islands (Philippines). Unexpectedly, bearded pigs in the Malay Peninsula are closely related to the Bornean population, but distinct from Sumatran S. barbatus, and they should be considered as belonging to a different subspecies.
Synthetic cytokinin-1-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-3-phenylurea (CPPU)-promotes fruit set and induces parthenocarpy in watermelon

Applying a 200 ppm solution of CPPU to pollinated ovaries of watermelon (Citrullus lunatus Matsum) at anthesis increased fruit set from 26.9% (control) to 95%. Applying CPPU solutions to nonpollinated ovaries at anthesis induced parthenocarpy, yielding 65% and 89.5% fruit set, respectively with 20 and 200 ppm applications. However, 64% of the 20 ppm CPPU-treated parthenocarpic fruit stopped growth 10 days after treatment. Growth of CPPU-treated, pollinated, and nonpollinated fruit increased significantly compared with growth of control fruit during the first 10 days after treatment, but, except for the 20 ppm CPPU parthenocarpic fruit, growth subsequently slowed, resulting in fruit equal in size to the control by harvest. CPPU application did not affect soluble solids content of pollinated fruit, but reduced content of parthenocarpic fruit treated with 20 ppm. Fructose content was generally higher than glucose and sucrose at harvest. However, in pollinated fruit treated with 20 ppm CPPU, sucrose levels were higher than glucose and fructose. These results suggest that CPPU is practical for promoting fruit set and seedless fruit without adversely affecting fruit quality and development.
Production of anti-PMSG antibodies and its relation to the productivity of rabbit does

A batch of 100 female rabbits of the Hyplus breed were subjected to artificial insemination (A.I.) for a period of 9 months. With the goal of inducing the sexual receptivity of the does, half of them received systematic doses of 25 I.U . of PMSG (Ciclogonine PROCHENA), 48 hours before A.I. The other half were not injected (Control group). Following this experimental period (40 days after the last injection), blood samples of all the does were taken, in order to assay the anti-PMSG antibodies and to study the relationship between the production of antibodies, and the receptivity and productivity of the does observad for the previous litter. For the PMSG group, we classified the results of the does according to their level of immunity which either has a low binding rate (≤4 %) or a high one (> 4 %). 30,6% of the does from the group treated with PMSG produced anti­PMSG antibodies with a high binding rate. In no way related to the level of production of the antibodies, the PMSG treated does were found to be significantly more receptiva than the does in the control group (respectively 70.6 - 66.7 vs 42.0%, P = 0.023), while the fertility did not appear to have been either improved or decreased by the PMSG treatment. The total number of young born, born alive and weaned rabbits per litter did not vary according to the treatment or the intensity of antibody production. Likewise the weight of the litter and also the individual mean weight of the weaned young did not vary significantly according to the group. However, inside of the group treated with PMSG, the individual weight at weaning was the highest for the young from hyper- immune mothers (710 vs 639g, P = 0.035). For 29 does from the PMSG group, a second blood sample was taken 12 weeks after the previous one. Only 3 does showed a decreased level of antibodies, 4 months after the last injection. The study showed that one third of the does developed an immune reaction following injections of PMSG; however the proportion of antibodies produced did not appear related to either their sexual receptivity or productivity.
The Significance of Tacit Knowledge in the Evolution of Human Language

The present article introduces the theory of cultural evolution as a possible basis for treating language as a selection process. Cultural evolution is often thought to be Lamarckian, involving the transmission of explicit concepts. A possible complementary neo-Darwinian principle operating in the social realm is defined in terms of the tacit knowledge that underlies explicit concepts. Since some forms of tacit knowledge cannot be adapted, a neo-Darwinian principle of cultural evolution is established. This is attractive because Lamarckian selection is plagued by a problem of maintaining stability in the face of individual-level adaptation. A statistical argument is presented, indicating that this problem requires the need to protect the Central Dogma in its wider form, also when language is treated as a selection process. In the course of the argument a definition is provided of the replicating cultural code that aims to clarify previous definitions. The usual “memetic” definition of interactors is also .