Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Day Dreaming of Highly Effective Dean: An Important Role towards the Success of Higher Educational Institutes (HEI)

A highly effective Dean plays a marvelous role in the success of creating Quality oriented culture as a Professional Leader, Strategic Thinker, Effective Manager of the Faculty, staff and Students and raises the standards of academic quality. After a detailed review of the prevailing literature about an Effective Dean, this article proposes a conceptual framework that will help out in promoting a healthy culture of effectiveness in the community of Deans. Issues like strategic planning, curriculum, facilities and research are also part of the responsibilities of Effective Deans. Daydreaming 'offers a positive,simultaneous effect on task performance. Through a wide-ranging attributes of Effective Dean, the probable model as mentioned in Figure No. 6.1, uncovers the Planning, Professional, Leadership, and Managerial,scholarly and effective teaching capabilities of Deans. Adopting continuous Improvement strategy, getting accreditation of the relevant Programs at national as well as international level are also the key attributes. The model, if implemented successfully can develop Effective Deans who can run their Schools effectively and the culture of Effective Schooling will ultimately lead towards the creation of a successful Higher Education Institute (HEI).
Application of Oribatid mites as indicators

This review discusses the connection between quantitative changes of environmental factors and oribatid communities. With the overview of available studies, it can be clearly explored how various characteristics of Oribatid communities are modified due to changes in moisture, temperature, heavy metal concentration, organic matter content and level of disturbance. The most important question concerning the application of Oribatids as indicators is to clarify what kind of information content does natural Oribatid coenological patterns possess from the aspect of bioindication. Most of the variables listed above can be directly measured, since rapid methods are available to quantify parameters of the soil. Responses of Oribatids are worth to study in a more complex approach. Even now we have an expansive knowledge on how communities change due to modifications of different factors. These pieces of information necessitate the elaboration of such methods which render Oribatid communities suitable for the task to prognosticate what extent the given site can be considered near-natural or degraded, based on the Oribatid composition of a single sample taken from the given area. Answering this problem needs extensive and coordinated work.
Down Syndrome and Vascular Disease: DSCR1 and NFAT Signaling

Down Syndrome (DS) is one of the most common genetic disorders to date, occurring in 1 out of every 800-1000 live births (Egan et al. 2004; Roizen & Patterson, 2003; Stoll et al. 1990). DS patients often display several developmental and cognitive deficiencies. Common phenotypes of DS patients include congenital heart disease, dysmorphic physical features, and early-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Since the discovery in 1959 that DS occurs from an extra copy of human chromosome 21 (hChr21) (Lejeune J, Gautier & Turpin, 1959), questions arose whether a 1.5-fold increase in a gene or set of genes were responsible for the phenotypes associated with DS. Sequence analysis of hChr21 indentified over 225 genes and/or predicted genes (Hattori et al. 2000). With the recent advances in sequencing, the gene content of hChr21 is now estimated to exceed 300 genes (Roizen & Patterson, 2003). While typically characterized by complete trisomy of hChr21, several DS cases, however, demonstrate that partial trisomy of hChr21 is enough to elicit the phenotypes associated with DS (Stoll et al. 1990), hence arising the concept of a Down Syndrome Critical Region (DSCR). The DSCR theory suggests that enhanced expression of a few genes located in this critical chromosomal region (between markers D21S17 and D21S55 (Delabar et al. 1993; Korenberg et al. 1994)) are responsible for some, if not all, of the features of DS. Olson LE et al show, however, that triplication of this region alone is not enough to fully manifest the phenotypes associated with DS (Olson et al. 2004; Olson et al. 2007). These findings contradict the longstanding DSCR theory, indicating that the genetic instability seen with hChr21 triplication is not merely from excess gene expression. Rather, the functional interactions occurring within a set of overexpressed genes may explain the various phenotypes observed in DS. Many of the triplicate genes on hChr21 are implicated in several diseases. Cohorts of genes, interestingly, have been associated with pathologies that appear to be more common for DS individuals. A group of at least 16 genes on hChr21 have been correlated with a role in energy and reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism (Roizen & Patterson, 2003). Several studies have linked mitochondrial dysfunction and metabolic disorders with DS (Arbuzova, Hutchin & Cuckle, 2002). In vitro, DS neurons were observed to have 3to 4-fold increases in reactive oxygen species compared to control cells, with elevated rates of consequent cell apoptosis (Busciglio & Yankner, 1995). Degeneration of DS neurons was rescued by administration of free-radical scavengers, suggesting DS neurons are unable to efficiently metabolize ROS. DS patients are also evidenced to have increased mitochondrial superoxide
The Bioengineering and Industrial Applications of Bacterial Alkaline Proteases: the Case of SAPB and KERAB

Enzymes have long been used as alternatives to chemicals to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of a wide range of industrial systems and processes. They are currently used in basic and applied arenas of research as well as in a wide range of product design and manufacturing processes, such as those pertaining to the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, detergent, leather processing, and peptide synthesis industries (Gupta et al., 2002). Of particular interest to the aims of the present work, proteases have often been reported to constitute a resourceful class of enzymes with promising industrial applications. According to recent estimates, these enzymes account for nearly 65% of total worldwide enzyme sales (Anonyme, 2007; Rao et al., 1998). They are widely distributed in nature and play a vital role in life processes. They are particularly known for their capacity to hydrolyze peptide bonds in aqueous environments and to synthesize peptide bonds in non-aqueous biocatalysis. Proteases have been employed in a wide array of applications for many years with satisfactory results. They constitute a large family of enzymes present in a wide range of living organisms, such as plants, animals and microorganisms. In biotechnologically oriented systems and processes, however, proteases from microbial origins have often been reported to have distinct advantages when compared to plant or animal proteases, particularly because they possess almost all the characteristics desired for biotechnological applications. Among these biocatalysts, high-alkaline proteases, which alone account for about 40% of the total worldwide enzyme sales (Kirk et al., 2002), proved particularly suitable for industrial use. This is mainly due to their high stability and activity under harsh conditions.
The cag Pathogenicity Island

This chapter focuses on the functions that are encoded by a 40-kb chromosomal region with the features of a pathogenicity island (PAI). The Helicobacter pylori PAI was originally named cytotoxin-associated gene (cag) since it was thought to be associated with expression of the vacuolating toxin (VacA). The module also forms the core of the left and right ends of an insertion sequence common in H. pylori, the IS605 element. One of the most exciting research areas in microbial pathogenesis over the past decade has been the exploration of type III secretion systems. The type IV secretion system can translocate virulence proteins into the host cells. The resulting protrusions on the cell surface (pedestals) somehow resemble the cup-like structures induced by H. pylori, although they are clearly different structures. Recent observations characterized the involvement of the cag PAI in phagocytosis of H. pylori. Mononuclear phagocytes were shown to engulf H. pylori within approximately 4 minutes, but the internalized bacteria were not killed if type I strains were used for the infection. Instead, H. pylori induced homotypic phagosome fusions leading to the formation of large vacuoles. The function of the cag (PAI) in H. pylori-associated disease has been the subject of controversy ever since its discovery in 1993. Clinical studies with different outcomes have been performed to test whether the presence of the cag PAI is connected with peptic ulcer disease or gastric cancer. Future approaches have to consider that the presence of the cagA gene alone is not equal to virulence.
Protein engineering and covalent modification of trichoderma reesei cellulases in pichia pastoris for textile biofinishing

Cellulase enzymes have been extensively used for the biopolishing of cellulosic fabrics but they are inefficient to prevent pilling in viscose fabrics. Moreover, their application causes a loss in the fabric strength due to the aggressive action of the enzymes. One solution to this problem is the design and production of enzymes with increased molecular weights so that aggressive action of the cellulases would be limited to the fabric surface. In the framework of this study, cellulases and cellulase formulations that can ameliorate the problem of pilling and prevent loss of tensile strength in viscose fabrics were designed and produced . For this purpose, both protein engineering and chemical modification methods were used seperately and in combination to obtain cellulases with desired properties. Trichoderma reesei Endoglucanase I (EGI), Endoglucanase III (EGIII), Cellobiohydrolase I (CBHI) enzymes were successfully cloned and expressed in Pichia pastoris under the control of AOX1 promoter to mg/L quantities. A loop mutant of EGI, (EGI_L5) was prepared by introduction of a ten aminoacid long loop by molecular modelling and site directed mutagenesis for the creation of hotspots for directed crosslinking of the enzyme. The mutant enzyme was crosslinked using crosslinked enzyme aggregate (CLEA) technology. The effect of codon optimization on EGI production was analyzed. A mutant of EGI was prepared by inserting a second catalytic domain to EGI and thereby forming a bicatalytic mutant of EGI (EGI_BC) with increased molecular weight. All of the recombinant enzymes were produced in a laboratory scale fermenter and characterized. A commercial cellulase preparation was crosslinked using CLEA technology and fractionated according to the particle size. The effects of native, engineered and chemically modified cellulases on viscose fabrics were evaluated. It was found that commercial cellulase preparation crosslinked using CLEA technology, recombinant EGI and EGI_L5 produced in P. pastoris improved the pilling values of viscose fabrics by 20 % without much loss in the strength of the fabrics.
Mutualism between armoured scale insects and ants: new species and observations on a unique trophobiosis (Hemiptera: Diaspididae; Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Melissotarsus Emery)

The association between African armoured scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Diaspididae) and ants belonging to Melissotarsus Emery (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae) is the only trophobiosis known in which ants do not receive honeydew or nectar in exchange for protection and other services. Food reward for the ants in this mutualism remains unknown, despite repeated suggestions that diaspidids are consumed by the associated ants, thus serving as ‘domestic cattle’. We describe new observations on interactions between Melissotarsus emeryi Santschi and the diaspidid Morganella conspicua (Brain) from South Africa. Worker ants exhibited previously undescribed tending behaviours, most notably a ‘squeezing and licking’ performed on an adult female diaspidid and ‘culling’, in which a worker removed an adult female armoured scale from the host plant. These could represent the gathering of secretory products and the cultivation of an individual for consumption, respectively. An ant exclusion study over 12 days of isolation showed that adult female diaspidids and second‐instar nymphs secreted no wax or exudates that attending ants would ordinarily collect. Workers of M. emeryi did not defend their nest against invading colonies of Crematogaster and other unidentified ants: we hypothesize that the primary mode of defence is maintenance of isolation within galleries. We describe three new ant‐associated diaspidid species: Affirmaspis cederbergensis Schneider sp.n. from South Africa, Diaspis doumtsopi Schneider sp.n. from Cameroon, and Melissoaspis incola Schneider sp.n. from Madagascar. Melissoaspis formicaria (Ben‐Dov) comb.n. is transferred from Morganella (Brain). Diagnostic characteristics for Melissoaspis Ben‐Dov are revised, and additional taxonomic information defining this genus allows ease of identification. An updated identification key to the species of ant‐associated diaspidids is provided.
Gene expression profile of Arabidopsis plants that overexpress ZEITLUPE/LOV KELCH PROTEIN1 : up-regulation of auxin-inducible genes in hypocotyls

ZEITLUPE (ZTL) is a blue-light photoreceptor with an F-box motif in Arabidopsis thaliana. The molecular mechanisms underlying the ZTL-dependent control of the circadian rhythm and repression of photoperiodic flowering are relatively well characterized. ZTL also positively regulates hypocotyl elongation under light, but the molecular mechanisms remain unknown. Using microarray analysis, we showed that 194 genes, including 17 SMALL AUXIN UP RNA (SAUR) genes (SAUR9, 15, 16, 19, 20, 22–24, 28, 29, 61–67) and two AUXIN/INDOLE-3-ACETIC ACID (AUX/IAA) genes (IAA7, 29), were up-regulated and 283 genes were down-regulated in ZTL-overexpressing Arabidopsis seedlings. The results were confirmed for SAUR22, 23, and IAA29 by real-time quantitative reverse-transcription PCR. Application of the polar auxin transport inhibitor N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA), the auxin antagonist α-(phenyl ethyl-2-one)-indole-3-acetic acid (PEO-IAA), or the auxin biosynthesis inhibitor 5-(4-chlorophenyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol (YUCASIN) inhibited hypocotyl elongation enhanced in ZTL-overexpressing seedlings. Our data suggest the involvement of auxin and auxin-inducible genes, including SAURs and IAAs, in hypocotyl elongation in ZTL-overexpressing seedlings.
Study of Genetic Diversity in Crocus hyemalis Boiss. and Blanche Using RAPD Techniques

Genetic relationships among populations of Crocus hyemalis Boiss. and Blanche collected from different regions of Jordan were studied using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA analysis. C. hyemalis was also compared to the cultivated species C. sativus and C. vernus. RAPD and the cluster analysis indicated high degree of inter- and intra-populations variation within the wild C. hyemalis populations. High genetic association was found among some wild populations originating from the same collection sites. The close genetic similarity of the C. hyemalis collected from Al-Burge with the cultivated C. vernus may indicate that this population could be easily brought into cultivation as an ornamental crop due to its showy flowering habit. The possibility of having a new subspecies from C. hyemalis population collected from Al-Burge, will be challenged by future rigorous taxonomic analysis and morphological investigation.
Cucurbita Jablonsky et Urnulinella Borza et Samuel (Foraminifères) dans le Trias (Ladinien?-Carnien) méditerranéen en faciès récifal: morphologie et taxonomie

The Triassic Foraminifers Cucurbita Jablonsky and Urnulinella Borza & Samuel (Pseudocucurbitidae Zaninetti et al., 1982a) are redescribed and a new definition of the family Pseudocucurbitidae is proposed. The genera Pseudocucurbita, Amphorella and Paratintinnina are junior synonyms either of Cucurbita or Urnulinella. The effect of diagenesis on the structure and morphology of the tests is also discussed.
Predicting Global Patterns in Mangrove Forest Biomass

Understanding spatial variation in carbon storage in natural habitats is critical for climate change mitigation efforts such as REDD. Terrestrial forests are being mapped with increasing accuracy, but the distribution of ``blue carbon'' in marine ecosystems remains poorly understood. We reviewed the literature to obtain field data on carbon storage and fluxes in mangroves world‐wide. Using this material we developed a climate‐based model for potential mangrove above‐ground biomass (AGB) with almost four times the explanatory power of the only previous published model. From this model, we present the first ever global map of potential mangrove AGB and estimate a total global mangrove AGB of 2.83 Pg, with an average of 184.8 t ha−1. Data on other carbon stocks and fluxes confirm the importance of mangroves in carbon accounting. The map highlights the high variability in mangrove AGB and indicates areas that should be prioritised for mangrove conservation and restoration.
Determination Of The Essential Functions Of A Conserved Cyclin, Cyclin Y, In Drosophila

DETERMINATION OF THE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF A CONSERVED CYCLIN, CYCLIN Y, IN DROSOPHILA by DONGMEI LIU August 2010 Advisor: Dr. Russell L. Finley Jr. Major: Molecular Biology and Genetics Degree: Doctor of Philosophy The Drosophila gene CG14939 encodes a member of a highly conserved family of cyclins, the Y type cyclins, which have not been functionally characterized in any organism. Here I report the generation and phenotypic characterization of a null mutant of CG14939, which we rename Cyclin Y (CycY). I show that the null mutant, CycY, is homozygous lethal with most mutant animals arresting during pupal development. The mutant exhibits delayed larval growth and major developmental defects during metamorphosis. Heat shock-induced expression of CycY at different times during development resulted in variable levels of rescue, the timing of which suggests a key function for zygotic CycY during the transition from third instar larvae to prepupae. CycY also plays an essential role during embryogenesis since zygotic null embryos from null mothers fail to hatch into first instar larvae. Furthermore I show that CycY is required for adult viability, especially in males. I provide evidence that the CycY protein (CycY) interacts with Eip63E, a Cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) for which no cyclin partner had previously been identified. Like CycY, the Eip63E gene has essential functions during
Lack of evolutionary potential of developmental instability of front tibia length in the Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella)

The evolutionary potential of developmental instability (DI, defined as an individual's inability to buffer its development against random perturbations) as estimated by individual asymmetry (so-called fluctuating asymmetry, small random deviations from perfect symmetry), remains a controversial subject of research. Only if DI is heritable and if it is related with fitness, can evolution be expected to occur. In this study we find no evidence for evolutionary potential of DI of the front tibia in the Indian meal moth. The heritabilities of fluctuating asymmetry and DI were negative. Individual asymmetry was nor related to two fitness components: survival probability and body length. In contrast, both survival probability and body length were heritable. Body length increased with food quality but was not affected by density, whereas survival probability increased with food quality and decreased with density. Thus, effects of environmental stress and genetic background differed for fluctuating asymmetry on one hand and survival probability and body length on the other hand. (Less)
Does L-Canavanine Ingestion Induce Murine SLE?: Paradoxical Effects on Survival of BALB/c Mice

Abstract Observations in humans and macaques suggest that ingestion of an excess of alfalfa sprouts can induce systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Feeding L-canavanine increased the incidence of autoimmune symptoms in several strains of mice. The presence of L-canavanine in alfalfa sprouts could result in the synthesis of proteins rich in L-canavanyl residues and subsequent recognition of these modified endogenous proteins as foreign. The original purpose of this long-term study in BALB/c mice was to determine whether ingestion of L-canavanine did induce an SLE-like disorder by such a mechanism. Analysis of mortality patterns observed during that investigation of diet-induced autoimmune disease suggests that L-canavanine increases murine longevity. Eighteen female BALB/c mice were fed a diet containing 1.56% L-canavanine sulfate (equivalent to 1% L-canavanine base). Eighteen other mice received a control diet. The animals were monitored for the presence of anti-nucleic acids and survival. There was no evi.
Effect of cows in the reference population: First results in Swiss Brown Swiss

The effect of including 1,236 cows in the current reference population of Swiss Brown Swiss cattle on the accuracy of genomic breeding values was studied. The accuracy of genomic predictions based on reference populations consisting of bulls only and bulls and cows was compared. The gain in accuracy was very small or not existing at all. Reasons could be that the number of cows was too small for a reference population consisting of 4,085 bulls and that the cows and bulls were too closely related. Nevertheless, genotyping cows and subsequent inclusion in the reference population should be accelerated.
Tools for rice transformation: A flexible series of vectors harbouring phytohormone genes and specific promoters

A series of vectors that incorporate senescence - (Arabidopsis SAG12) or endosperm-specific (O. sativa SBEI, Gt1 and Gt3) promoters controlling the expression of Agrobacterium ipt or iaaM and iaaH genes have been created for manipulation of plant hormone levels. The vectors are suitable for direct gene delivery or they may be incorporated into pBECKS2000 binary replicons by a Cre/loxP site-specific recombination and converted to tools for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation with options for co-transfer of target and marker genes as a single or two independent T-DNA units. Each vector has an analogue, in which the bacterial hormone biosynthesis gene is replaced by the gusA reporter gene, thus allowing verification of the promoter's spatial and temporal expression pattern in heterologous plant systems. Additional constructs with the isolated promoters or the promotorless ipt gene extend the possible applications of the series. The efficacy of the vectors was confirmed in stably transformed rice plants.
Alligator weed eradication in Victoria - a developing success story.

Alligator weed was discovered in Victoria in 1996 and a management program started in 1997. A large number of suburban backyards contained the weed at that time, as alligator weed was being grown by the Sri Lankan community due to confusion with a traditional vegetable. The project to date has resulted in around 800 backyards containing this weed being identified and successfully treated with herbicides. New reports of the weed in backyards substantially reduced from 2000 to 2006 and new reports are now rare, despite continued publicity. A total of 34 naturalised infestations had been located by the end of 2005, of which 13 are considered to have been eradicated.