Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Microbial communities in anammox reactors: a review

ABSTRACT The anammox (anaerobic ammonium oxidation) process has been used to remove nitrogen from wastewaters and is considered a promising approach due to its advantages over conventional processes (nitrification and denitrification). The development of molecular biology tools has allowed for great advances in describing the microbial communities in anammox reactors, which is important to understand the complex reactions and interactions that occur inside these systems. This study presents a review of the microbial diversity studies in anammox reactors. Several researchers have investigated the microbial community composition in anammox reactors, in order to elucidate the roles that the different microbial groups (besides the anammox bacteria) play in these systems. The microbial communities of anammox reactors appear to be affected by several factors, such as the configuration of the reactors, the biomass growth mode inside of the reactors, operational conditions and type of inoculum used for start-up. However, independent of reactors characteristics, some microbial groups such as Proteobacteria and Chloroflexi have always been found with Planctomycetes in anammox reactors. Moreover, other microbial groups such as Chlorobi, Acidobacteria and Bacteroidetes are often detected in these systems. Identifying the roles and interactions of such microorganisms inside anammox reactors is a great challenge for future studies.
A new approach for simultaneous DNA-based monitoring of the polluted environments.

Taxon composition and biodiversity analyses are known powerful parameters for environmental site status and environment diagnosis. Many ecological studies assess taxon composition through traditional species identification and use bioindicator species to evaluate environmental conditions. The recent breakthrough in bulk sample sequencing combined with DNA barcoding has created a new era for environmental monitoring. Metabarcoding approaches are more robust in studying alpha, and beta diversity compare to the DNA barcoding and the conventional method of species identification, particularly for rare and cryptic species. Here we built upon ecological studies of bioindicator species and transferred the traditionally named taxa to DNA-based approaches. We developed a small customized DNA database for biodiversity assessment and taxonomic identification of environmental DNA samples using high-throughput amplicon sequences. It contains macroinvertebrate species that are known as indicators of specific environmental conditions. By implementing this small database into the KRAKEN algorithm for the first time, we were able to assess environmental biodiversity compared to other popular methods of taxonomic classification, especially in polluted environments where the taxonomic composition globally change by the presence of anthropogenic drivers. Our method is incredibly faster, and it requires significantly less computational power in contrast to common homology-based techniques. To evaluate our approach, we have also studied the importance of database’s size and the depth of sequencing in taxonomic classification of high-throughput DNA sequences.
The complete mitochondrial genome of the endangered great hammerhead shark, Sphyrna mokarran

Abstract We present the first mitochondrial genome sequence of the great hammerhead shark, Sphyrna mokarran. This species is of considerable conservation concern throughout its global distribution, and currently listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. The mitochondrial genome is 16,719 bp in length with 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes and a non-coding control region. The gene arrangement is congruent with other shark and most vertebrate species. This S. mokarran mitogenome provides a genomic resource for assisting with population studies and conservation efforts for this highly depleted species.
Expression of integrin α6β4 in functional epidermolysis bullosa

Abstract The integrin α6β4 is a member of the integrin family of adhesion receptors. The integrin α6β4 is preferentially expressed in stratified squamous epithelia, where it is localized in hemidesmosomes. A reduced number of rudimentary hemidesmosomes is often found in skin from patients with junctional epidermolysis bullosa (JEB). In this study we have investigated the expression of α6β4 in skin specimens of patients with junctional (one non-lethal, two lethal) and dystrophic (two) epidermolysis bullosa, using immunofluorescent (IF) staining with five different monoclonal antibodies against the α6 and β4 subunits. The intensity of IF staining of the integrin α6β4 and bullous pemphigoid antigen (BPA) was unreduced along the epidermal basement membrane zone (EBMZ) of all EB patients, compared to that in skin of healthy human controls. However, in the skin of two patients with lethal (Herlitz) JEB, who did not express GB3, IF staining of integrin α6β4 and BPA showed a "stitchy" discontinuous linear pattern along the EBMZ with interruptions at the borders of adjoining basal keratinocytes. The same results were obtained by immunoelectron microscopy. They corresponded with freeze-induced partial cell detachment from the basement membrane at the ultimate baso-lateral edge of the basal keratinocytes in lethal JEB skin. The basal lamellipodia at that location almost completely lacked tonofilaments and hemidesmosomes. Furthermore, in JEB there was a split between the intra- and extracellular epitopes of the integrin α6β4 receptor, whereas the integrin remains intact in salt-split skin. This suggests that the defect is in α6,β4 itself or perhaps its ligand.
Technical Report for UVC-Based N 95 Reuse Risk Management

Technical Report for UV-C-Based N95 Reuse Risk Management Some of the available literature on decontamination of N95 FFRs reviewed in this document is a result of recent efforts to relieve the shortage of N95 FFRs during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. Thus, some recent research papers cited in this document are not yet peer reviewed. ​For clarity, wherever non-peer-reviewed research results are cited in this report, the citation is preceded by a “*”​.
Effect of type of diet (casein-based or protein-free) and caecotrophy on ileal endogenous nitrogen and amino acid flow in rabbits

Twenty-eight New Zealand White X Californian doe rabbits weighing 3791±141 g were surgically fitted with a glass T-cannula at ileum level. Animals were given ad libitum access to either a casein-based diet (C) or a protein-free diet (PF). The only difference in the ingredient composition of the diets was the substitution of 160g/kg of maize starch by casein in the C diet. Animals were randomly allotted to each experimental diet. Seven rabbits per diet were not allowed to practice caecotrophy. The C diet resulted in higher food dry matter (DM) intake (DMI) (111-5 v. 51-5 g/day), food nitrogen intake (3-12 v. 0-20 g/day), ileal flow of DM (56-0 v. 23-8 g/day) and ileal flow of nitrogen (0-72 v. 0-24 g/day) but lower soft faeces DMI (21-7 v. 41-4 g/day) than the PF diet. A linear relationship between ileal endogenous nitrogen flow and total DMI was found for animals given the C but not for the PF diet. The ingestion ofC diet led to a higher (proportionately 0-41, on average), endogenous ileal amino acid flow than PF diet for all amino acids except for glycine. The ileal flow of glycine was proportionately 0-25 higher in animals given the PF diet than in animals given the C diet. The C diet resulted in higher content of nitrogen, threonine and proline in soft faeces than the PF diet. In contrast, the ingestion of the PF diet led to a higher content of lysine and methionine in soft faeces than the C diet. Within the C diet, animals practising caecotrophy showed higher ileal flow of DM (73-4 v. 56-0 g/day) and phenylalanine (0-834 v. 0-677 g/kg DMI) than animals not practising it. Caecotrophy led to a higher endogenous proportion of some of the most important limiting essential amino acids in rabbits, such as arginine, lysine, phenylalanine and threonine. In rabbits, the use of PF diets has limited practical application in the estimation of nitrogen endogenous losses as the low food DMI and the high soft faecesDMI leads to abnormal food: soft faeces intake ratio. Moreover, due to the important effect of caecotrophy on the amino acid composition of endogenous losses, it is important to correct the total amino acid content of the ileal chyme by the undigested amino acid residue coming from the soft faeces intake. This correction could be made, without the methodological complexity implied, by fitting animals with a wooden collar and thereby avoiding caecotrophy as in the present trial.
Biodiversity of actinomycetes in Manakkudi mangrove ecosystem, Southwest coast of India

The diversity of actinomycetes in the Manakkudi mangrove ecosystem were analysed by the present study reveals that, the diversity of actinomycetes are found maximum in the rhizosphere soil than the non-rhizosphere soil that too mangrove associate of Achrostichum aureum harbours maximum counts than true mangrove plants. The diversity of actinomycetes is found maximum between the soil depth of 10-20cm are not correlated with the maximum level of nutrients between the soil depth of 0-10cm. The presence of actinomycetes in the Manakkudi mangrove ecosystem could pave the way for the establishment of disease free mangrove seedlings in the nursery and in the field. Efforts have been undertaken to find out the bioactive potential of mangrove sediment actinomycetes for the treatment dreadful human diseases.
Estimating Occurrence and Detectability of a Carnivore Community in Eastern Botswana using Baited Camera Traps

Human-wildlife conflict and habitat loss are threatening carnivore populations in southern Africa, where the bulk of research focuses on large predators. However, scant research exists on medium and small carnivore (mesocarnivore) ecology. We employed hierarchical community modelling to estimate the effect of habitat on species occurrence and the effect of bait on detection probabilities for the carnivore community in the Mashatu Game Reserve, Botswana. We tested sites baited with either impala (Aepyceros melampus) meat (meat sites) or cheesecloth soaked in used cooking fat (fat rag sites) against unbaited sites (control sites). Within each bait classification, we divided our sampling effort between two habitat classifications, riverine and non-riverine sites. Thirteen of 16 carnivore species inhabiting the area (81%), including 10 of 12 species of mesocarnivore (83%), were recorded. Occupancy rates were higher in riverine habitat for several species, in particular African civet (Civettictis civetta), brown hyaena (Hyaena brunnea), and large-spotted genet (Genetta tigrina), demonstrating the importance of riverine habitat, which is declining in the study region. Our results suggest that the use of bait improves detectability. Several large carnivores, including spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta), brown hyaena, and leopard (Panthera pardus), were detected at highest rates at meat sites. Many mesocarnivores, including black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas) and African civet responded equally to meat and fat rag sites, with detections greater than at control sites. Notably, large-spotted genet showed highest detection rates at fat rag sites, and brown hyaena showed higher rates at fat rag sites than control sites. Our detection results indicate that spent cooking fat may be used as an effective bait alternative to meat when studying mesocarnivore communities in southern Africa, whereas meat may still be the most effective for studying large carnivore communities. Identifying effective methods of increasing detection rates will benefit carnivore survey and monitoring initiatives, especially for cryptic species.
Testing the importance of a common ectomycorrhizal network for dipterocarp seedling growth and survival in tropical forests of Borneo

Background: Connections between mature trees and seedlings via ectomycorrhizal (EcM) hyphal networks existing in dipterocarp-dominated tropical rain forests of South-east Asia could have strong implications for seedling growth and survival and the maintenance of high diversity in such forests. Aim: To test whether EcM hyphal network connections are important for the growth and survival of dipterocarp seedlings. Methods: We conducted four independent experiments that prevented contact of experimental seedlings with an EcM network by using a series of fine meshes and/or plastic barriers. We measured the growth and survival (and foliar δ13C in one experiment) of seedlings of six dipterocarp species over intervals ranging from 11 to 29 months. Results: Seedling growth (diameter, height or leaf number) was unaffected by exclusion from the EcM network in three experiments and there were no differences in foliar δ13C values in the fourth. Seedling survival was reduced following exclusion from the EcM network in one experiment. Our results give little support to the hypothesis that dipterocarp seedlings growing in the shaded forest understorey benefit from being connected, through a common EcM network, to surrounding trees. Conclusions: We suggest that our negative results, in contrast to studies conducted in low diversity boreo-temperate or tropical forests, are due to these high diversity forests lacking host species-specific EcM fungi and therefore providing little opportunity for adaptive support of seedlings via hyphal networks.
An Efficient Edge Detection Algorithm for Reducing the Limitations of Existing Operators

The existing edge detection operators are used in image processing techniques for many appliances. They have also some limitations in practice which are the slow process and gives noisy outputs. But, the accuracy and time consumption of those operators are very important to the exacted result. This research paper has proposed the edge detection algorithm, which is reducing the limitations and drawback of existing operators. The Butterworth filter, More Weighted Derivative Mask and Double thresholding techniques are used to get the more accurate results, noiseless outcomes and speed process. The drawbacks of existing operators will be surely replaced by the proposed method.
Age-related differences in the perception of speech in noise Master of Arts , 1997

The primary purpose of the present study was to develop a masure for examining age-related differences in the perception of speech in background noise. A four-alternative forced-choice, which incorporated feahres fiom previws studies, was designed to optimize the motivation of young children. Adultq 5-year-olds, and 9-year-olds listened to speech presented in background babble at two signal-to-noise ( S N ) ratios that yieided approximately 60% and 85% correct identification. The SN ratios required for these performance levels decreased with increasing age, as would be expected by age-related changes in auditory sensitivity. The differences in S/N levels associated with these performance levels were consistent across age levels, which Mplies processing similarities across age. In short, the present task is suitable for research and practicai applications with young children.
Characterization of and MYC expression in a HL-60 mutant resistant to DMSO induced differentiation

CHARACTERIZATION OF AND NYC EXPRESSION IN A HL-60 MUTANT RESISTANT TO DMSO INDUCED DIFFERENTIATION Walter Michael Stadler 1988 The promyelocytic cell line, HL-60, has been extensively studied for its ability to terminally differentiate in res¬ ponse to various chemical inducers, including, but not li¬ mited to, DMSO and retinoic acid. It has also been noted that the myc oncogene is amplified and highly expressed in these cells. Furthermore, differentiation in this line, as well as in several other cell lines, is accompanied by a marked decline in myc expression, leading to the hypothesis that this decline is mechanistically important for differen¬ tiation to occur. To probe this phenomenon more closely and to test this hypothesis I isolated an HL-60 mutant that no longer responded to DMSO induced differentiation and measured myc expression in these cells following exposure to DMSO, retinoic acid, or a combination of the two. I show that such a mutant is also partially cross resistant to retinoic acid induced differentiation, that the myc gene locus is not rearranged or changed in amplification status, and that a decline in myc expression can be associated with an undif¬ ferentiated, replicating phenotype. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2017 with funding from The National Endowment for the Humanities and the Arcadia Fund https://archive.org/details/characterizationOOstad ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Like most large pieces of work, this was not completed in a vacuum. Many people were actively involved in helping, advising, and encouraging me. Foremost among these must be my friends and family who not only shared in my joy but who also put up with my complaints. Dr. David Frank deserves special mention for isolating the original mutant and for many of the ideas developed here. Dr. Ivan King was instru¬ mental in teaching me most of the techniques used as well as serving as a critical guide. Peter Ho has my thanks for acting as an initial sounding board for many of my ideas. In addition, there were many individuals within the lab who were a great source of help. Although there are too many to mention by name, my thanks goes out to each and every one. Finally, this work would have been impossible without the support of my research advisor, Dr. Alan Sartorelli.
Shroomroot: An Action-Based Digital Game to Enhance Postsecondary Teaching and Learning about Mycorrhizae

Abstract The majority of terrestrial plants associate with fungi in symbiotic resource-exchange relationships called mycorrhizae. Because of the importance of these mycorrhizal systems to ecosystem functioning, it is crucial that future resource managers and scientists have a solid understanding of mycorrhizal ecology. Limited interest of postsecondary students in plants and fungi compared with animals, combined with difficulties visualizing below-ground processes, present challenges for learning mycorrhizal concepts. To address this, we created the digital, plant-ecology-centric, action-based game Shroomroot for use in a second year, postsecondary Introduction to Soil Science course. We then assessed effects of Shroomroot on students' knowledge acquisition and engagement with the topic of mycorrhizal ecology using a pre- and post-test evaluation. Students' knowledge of mycorrhizal ecology increased significantly after playing Shroomroot, and tended to increase more for items related to Shroomroot gameplay than in rewards-based game content. Student engagement with mycorrhizal content tended to increase after gameplay. These results suggest positive potential for action-based, plant-ecology-oriented digital games in a postsecondary science curriculum. Furthermore, greater understanding of mycorrhizae has the potential to improve our multifaceted relationships with the ecosystems upon which we depend.
The nassariids from the Gulf of Gabès revisited (Neogastropoda, Nassariidae)

ABSTRACT Since the latter half of the nineteenth century, marine biologists have recognized that many molluscs living in the Gulf of Gabès, on the southern coast of Tunisia, exhibit a number of morphological characters that set them apart from the ‘typical form or variety’ that occurs in the rest of their Mediterranean distribution area. In the family Nassariidae, local forms (varieties or subspecies) were recognized as early as 1882, but none of these is currently recognized as having taxonomical significance. We have revisited the species-level systematics of the family using an integrative approach, based on morphological, geographic and molecular evidence (COI and 28S). Besides Tritia gibbosula (not sampled by us), we delimitated seven species, three with a broad range: Tritia neritea (probably introduced), T. mutabilis (but with considerable genetic structure between localities), and T. corniculum; and four not previously recognized as valid, and which may be considered Gulf of Gabès endemics: T. lanceolata, T. tenuicosta, T. pallaryana sp. nov. and T. djerbaensis sp. nov. Also, Tritia elongata is recognized as a valid species in the T. corniculum complex, with a distribution outside the Gulf of Gabès. It is remarkable that all have paucispiral protoconchs indicating non-planktotrophic larval development. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:069F3B3B-66E8-4C07-A974-3023924426EB
Effect of corn replacement with enzose (corn dextrose) on growth performance and nutrient digestibility in broilers

Abstract Enzose (corn dextrose), a by‐product of wet milling of corn, is a light‐amber colored liquid derived from enzymatic conversion of cornstarch to dextrose. The present study was planned to investigate the effect of corn replacement with enzose on growth performance and nutrient digestibility in broilers from one to 42 d of age. A total of 300 one‐day‐old straight run Hubbard broiler chickens was randomly divided into 30 experimental units of 10 chicks each. A starter control diet was formulated having 21% CP, 2,900 kcal/kg metabolizable energy (ME), and 0% enzose (ENZ0: maize 50%, enzose 0%). The other iso‐caloric and iso‐nitrogenous dietary treatments were obtained by replacing the maize on a wt:wt ratio, with 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10% enzose in the control diet (ENZ2.5: maize 47.5%, enzose 2.5%; ENZ5: maize 45%, enzose 5%; ENZ7.5: maize 42.5%, enzose 7.5%, and ENZ10: maize 40%, enzose 10%). Likewise, a finisher control diet (19% CP, 3,000 kcal/kg ME, and 0% enzose) and other dietary treatments (iso‐caloric and iso‐nitrogenous) were formulated having the same level of maize and enzose as in the starter diets. Each dietary treatment was randomly allotted to 6 replicate pens. Starter and finisher diets were offered ad libitum from one to 21 and 22 to 42 d of age, respectively. Corn replacement with enzose resulted in linear improvement (P < 0.001) in feed intake, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio during all growth periods. Mortality was non‐significant among dietary treatments (P > 0.05). Although there were variable results, some enzose supplementation concentrations showed increased digestibility of dry matter, CP, crude fiber, and ether extract (P < 0.001) as compared to the ENZ0 group in general. Higher dietary enzose concentrations resulted in considerable economic returns as compared to the ENZ0 diet. In conclusion, the corn replacement with enzose in broiler diets resulted in improved growth performance and nutrient digestibility with increased economic returns without any harmful effect on survival of birds.