Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tartrazine Induced Haematological and Serological Changes in Female Swiss albino Mice, Mus musculus

Summary Tartrazine, being cheapest, is the commonly used synthetic dye to impart lemon yellow colour to the food items but there is paucity of literature concerning to the toxicity of this dye. The present study was aimed to evaluate toxic effects of tartrazine on haematological and serological parameters of female Swiss albino mice. The experimental animals were feed with 0.2 gm/kg b.wt and 0.4 gm/kg b.wt of tartrazine as low dose (LD) and high dose (HD) respectively for 35 days. A highly significant decrease in the body weight was recorded at both the dose levels. The dye at both the dose levels caused almost significant decrease in parameters like Hb, haematocrit % and TEC, and highly significant decrease in TLC and polymorph count. A highly significant increase was observed in lymphocytes count, MCV and MCH at both the dose levels however, no significant change was seen in eosinophils and monocytes counts. Serologically, the dye caused a highly significant decrease in the level of glucose but a highly significant increase was observe in the levels of triglycerides, alkaline phosphates and total cholesterol at both the dose levels. The increase in the total serum protein was found to be highly significant at low dose but non-significant at high dose.
Author's Personal Copy Ecological Indicators Development of a Macrophyte-based Index of Biotic Integrity for Minnesota Lakes

In most cases authors are permitted to post their version of the article (e.g. in Word or Tex form) to their personal website or institutional repository. Authors requiring further information regarding Elsevier's archiving and manuscript policies are encouraged to visit: Keywords: Aquatic macrophytes Biological assessment IBI Lake monitoring Metrics Point intercept a b s t r a c t Traditional approaches for managing aquatic resources have often failed to account for effects of anthro-pogenic disturbances on biota that are not directly reflected by chemical and physical proxies of environmental condition. The index of biotic integrity (IBI) is a potentially effective assessment method to integrate ecological, functional, and structural aspects of aquatic systems. A macrophyte-based IBI was developed for Minnesota lakes to assess the ability of aquatic plant communities to indicate environmental condition. The index was developed using quantitative point intercept vegetation surveys for 97 lakes that represent a range of limnological and watershed characteristics. We followed an approach similar to that used in Wisconsin to develop the aquatic macrophyte community index (AMCI). Regional adaptation of the AMCI required the identification of species representative of macrophyte communities in Minnesota. Metrics and scaling methods were also substantially modified to produce a more empirically robust index. Regression analyses indicated that IBI scores reflected statewide differences in lake trophic state (R 2 = 0. multiple regression models indicated a unique response of the IBI to human-induced stress separate from a response to natural lake characteristics. The IBI was minimally affected by differences in sample point density as indicated by Monte Carlo analyses of reduced sampling effort. Our analysis indicates that a macrophyte IBI calibrated for Minnesota lakes could be useful for identifying differences in environmental condition attributed to human-induced stress gradients.
A review of the consequences of complementary sex determination and diploid male production on mating failures in the Hymenoptera

Complementary sex determination is the ancestral sex‐determination mechanism in the Hymenoptera. Under this system, diploid individuals develop into females if they are heterozygous at an autosomal sex‐determining locus or loci, whereas haploid individuals develop into males because they are hemizygous at the sex‐determining locus or loci. However, diploid males can still arise from fertilized eggs if such individuals are homozygous at the sex‐determining locus or loci. Diploid males are often viable but sire few daughters, thereby representing a substantial genetic load in hymenopteran populations. Here, we review the effects of complementary sex determination and diploid male production from the perspective of female hymenopterans. Because female hymenopterans need not mate to produce haploid sons, complementary sex determination can cause special forms of mating failures by preventing some females from controlling the sex ratio of their brood and producing the desired number of daughters. Under some circumstances, complementary sex determination can cause complete mating failure by preventing females from producing daughters altogether. Although we outline serious gaps of knowledge in the field, the data at hand suggest that diploid male production can substantially increase mating failures in small populations of economically and ecologically important hymenopterans.
Trace elements in the otoliths of New Zealand blue grenadier (Macruronus novaezelandiae) as an aid to stock discrimination

Blue grenadier, Macruronus novaezelandiae, or hoki as it is known in New Zealand, spawns at two distinct localities off New Zealand. Earlier research on morphometrics and on age and growth suggested that these spawning localities are used by two discrete stocks; however, the research was not conclusive. Inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) was used to analyse trace elements in otoliths from adult blue grenadier collected at the two spawning sites. Before analysis, portions of otoliths formed during juvenile and adult life were isolated and these segments were analysed separately. With a cross-validation procedure (jackknife), it was possible to classify correctly 100% of the samples in relation to age (juvenile v. adult). On the basis of the jackknifed discriminant functions, classifications of blue grenadier in relation to sex or capture locality were not significantly different from random. The results are not definitive in determining stock structure of New Zealand blue grenadier but do provide insight into the application of otolith trace element chemistry in studies of stock structure.
The infrageneric taxonomy of Chaerophyllum (Apiaceae) revisited: new evidence from nuclear ribosomal DNA ITS sequences and fruit anatomy

Evolutionary relationships among 65 Chaerophyllum spp. were inferred from nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence variation. Thirty-one species, represented by 158 mericarp samples, were analysed for fruit anatomical character variation, employing phylogenetic and phenetic methods to explore their congruence with infrageneric divisions based on molecular data. Phylogenetic trees inferred from molecular data using maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods corroborated the division of the genus into four sections: Chaerophyllum, Dasypetalon, Physocaulis and Chrysocarpum. From among the newly sequenced species, the Greek endemic C. heldreichii was grouped with section Chaerophyllum, whereas the highly variable Asian C. reflexum–C. villosum complex formed an early-branching paraphyletic assemblage in section Chrysocarpum. The recently described C. karsianum has an identical ITS sequence to C. bulbosum, whereas C. aksekiense was clearly separated from the morphologically similar C. macrospermum. Our study confirmed the postulated synonymy of several species on the basis of morphology, but also demonstrated distant relationships between some morphologically similar species. With the exception of the monotypic section Physocaulis, we were unable to find carpological traits matching sectional divisions. We hypothesize that fruit characters evolved rapidly as a result of diversification of members of the genus in different habitats. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2015, 178, 298–313.
The marine cladoceran Penilia avirostris and the "microbial loop" of pelagic food webs'

We used quantitative microscopy to examine feeding of Penilia avirostris on natural ( 9.0 x lo6 cells ml-l) of clumped cells from bacterial cultures. Bacterivorous microflagellates were ingested. Most species of available natural phytoplankton (chain-forming or large diatoms) and Pseudoisochrysis paradoxa (5-6 pm) were not ingested, but the 4-6-pm diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana and the 1 O-l 2-pm Thalassiosira weiss$? ogiii were. Food choice and feeding rate appeared related to food concentration as well as cell size. Our results contrast with previous reports of bacterivory by P. avirostris and other cladocerans, possibly due to preferential bacterivory on large or aggregated bacteria, elevated bacterial abundance levels in cultures, or failure to recognize heterotrophic microflagellates as an unseen intermediate trophic step in studies with nonmicroscopic techniques. Although P. avirostris does not feed on free-living bacterioplankton, it may be an important component of the “microbial loop” between bacterioplankton and higher consumers because of
Aflp Analysis of Populations of Haliotis Discus Hannai, Haliotis gigantea, and Their Hybrids

ABSTRACT Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis of the population genetic structure and genetic diversity of Haliotis discus hannai (D), Haliotis gigantea (G), and their reciprocal hybrids D ♀ × G ♂ (DG) and G ♀ × D ♂ (GD) was carried out in this study. A total of 479 unambiguous and highly repeatable AFLP markers, 311 of which (64.93%) were polymorphic, were obtained using 7 primer combinations. The reciprocal hybrids inherited bands from both parents, indicating that the hybrids were truly heterogeneous. The Shannon diversity index for D, G, and their reciprocal hybrid populations DG and GD was 0.169 ± 0.188, 0.211 ± 0.227, 0.236 ± 0.267, and 0.231 ± 0.242, respectively. Analysis of molecular variance revealed that 29.58% of the variance was among populations, whereas 71.42% of variance was within populations. Genetic distance was maximum (0.681) between D and G, and was minimum (0.482) between GD and G. The 4 populations were clustered into 2 major clades using the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean. All genetic parameters indicated that there was plentiful genetic diversity in the reciprocal hybrids of D × G. Results of this study suggest that these AFLP markers can be used in the future to enhance current breeding practices in abalone culture because of the large numbers of polymorphic markers.
A new species of Dendrophryniscus Jiménez–de–la–Espada from the Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos, Teresópolis, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Amphibia, Anura, Bufonidae)

A new species of Dendrophryniscus is described from the Atlantic Rain Forest, in the Serra dos Orgaos, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at 1050 m a.s. l. The description was based on three female specimens, with a mean snout-vent length of 23.0 mm. The new species, Dendrophryniscus organensis, differs from the eight other known species in having a characteristic dorsal color pattern, with the tips of the fingers and toes, the snout, and the sub-rostral crest reddish-orange, rostral angle accentuated, end of the snout triangular in dorsal view, and the relation of tibia and snout-vent length equals to 0.4. The large size of the oocytes suggest that the new species reproduces in bromeliads, which places the new species in the D. brevipollicatus group together with D. berthalutzae, D. carvalhoi, D. krausae, and D. stawiarskyi.
Fitting Different Random Effects in Genetic Parameter Estimation Using Animal Models for Weaning Weight in Indigenous Tuli Cattle of Zimbabwe

Five models were fitted to weaning weight data of indigenous Tuli cattle to investigate their suitability for evaluation of breeding values. Variance components for direct, maternal, permanent environmental effects, covariance between direct and maternal effects were estimated by restricted maximum likelihood, fitting five different animal models from 4091 pedigree weaning weight records. All investigated models included a random direct effect, but different combinations of random maternal genetic and permanent environmental maternal effects as well as for direct- maternal genetic covariance. The direct heritability ranged from zero to 0.30 when maternal genetic effects were included in model, while direct heritability estimates were 0.21 and 0.68 when maternal effects were excluded. The maternal heritability was higher, 0.26 than direct heritability, zero when only maternal genetic effects were included in the model and were 0.19 and 0.30 when permanent environment maternal effects of the dam was added. The permanent environmental maternal effects were negligible and a small and positive genetic correlation was observed. The proportion of direct additive variance for weaning weight in indigenous Tuli was high which means genetic response might also be high. On the basis of the log likelihood ratio test results and number of parameters used, Model 5 was determined as the most appropriate model for weaning weight of indigenous Tuli cattle of Zimbabwe.
Intertidal meiofauna communities along an estuarine gradient in a protected area (Ria de Foz, north-west Spain)

The northern Galician rias provide important economic and social services from fisheries, shellfish harvesting and recreational activities. Consequently, these rias have been included in the Nature 2000 Network as a Special Conservation Zone. The aims of this study were to describe the meiofauna spatial structure in terms of diversity and abundance of major taxa, as well as its relationship with the environmental characteristics in the Ria de Foz nature reserve. For this aim, environmental gradients and distribution patterns of intertidal meiobenthic communities at the Ria de Foz nature reserve were studied using multivariate methods. Ria de Foz showed to be a complex transitional habitat with significant changes in its environment along the estuarine gradient. An abundant and rich meiofauna community was reported at Ria de Foz. A total of 21 higher taxa of meiofauna were found. The most common taxa were nematodes, copepods, ostracods and turbellarians. Three clear different meiobenthic communities were defined. These three communities showed a clear spatial distribution pattern along the estuarine gradient. Moreover, a high degree of similarity between distribution patterns of meiobenthic communities and previously studied macrobenthic communities was found. Regarding the role of environmental factors shaping meiobenthic community distribution patterns distance to the river mouth was the environmental variable that best explained meiobenthic community structure and distribution. Therefore, changes on hydrodynamics that affect environmental factors related to the estuarine gradient will change the distribution pattern and diversity of benthic communities. This work provides the first information about meiobenthos diversity and structure in the Ria de Foz nature reserve and should be useful for future management and conservation plans on this and other similar protected areas.
THE SUBIMAGO OF EPHORON LEUKON WILL., AND A DISCUSSION OF THE IMAGO INSTAR. (EPHEM.)

Lameere (1917), in a paper dealing with the evolution of mayflies recognizes the moult between subimago and imago as a mere delamination of the outer layer of cuticle resulting in a lighter more fragile imago. Needham (1935) agrees with this contention and states that the subimago “does not represent a growth period and is therefore not a true instar. ” Further, “It is only a casting of the delaminated, hairy outer cuticle. ” This is a recent view and at variance with the more conventional one that both the subimago and imago represent separate insttars.
Reduction of free gossypol levels in cottonseed meal by microbial treatment.

Experiments were carried out to study the effect of some local selected fungi on the reduction of free gossypol (FG) levels during solid-state fermentation (SSF) of cottonseed meal (CSM) and evaluate the most effective strain for biodegradation of FG (BFG) through optimization the parameters of SSF process and also to determine the crude protein (CP) and amino acid (AA) content of CSM substrate fermented under optimal conditions. Results indicated that microbial fermentation could greatly decreased FG levels in CSM, but it differed among species of microorganisms with Candida tropicalis the most effective. The optimum fermentation conditions for BFG by C. tropicalis were incubation period of 48 h, incubation temperature at 30°C, inoculum level at 1 x 10 7 cells g -1 of solid substrate, moisture content of solid substrate 55% and pH in nature (5.2). The CP and AA content of the fermented substrate under optimizing conditions were improved markedly.
Microbial dynamics during the decline of a spring diatom bloom in the Northeast Atlantic

The microbial dynamics during a spring diatom bloom decline was monitored in the Northeast Atlantic during a 5-day Lagrangian study (8-12 April 2002). Phytoplankton abundance, composition and health status were related to viral and bacterial abundance, zooplankton abundance and grazing rates, as well as bacterial production. Phytoplankton reached maximum concentration on Day 3 (Chl a >5 μg L −1 ) and declined on Day 5 (Chl a ∼2 μg L −1 ) and was dominated (70% of Chl a) by diatoms. Bacterial production increased substantially to >20 μg C L −1 day −1 on Day 3 and concomitantly large viruses decreased in number by half to <10 × 10 3 mL −1 . This was followed by a 5-fold increase in large viruses on Day 5, indicating infection and subsequent lysis on Days 3 and 5, respectively. Micro- and mesozooplankton grazing were not the principal cause for the decline of the bloom and pheophorbide-a showing little variation in concentration from Days 1-4 (∼100 ng L −1 ) although doubled on Day 5. The poor physiological status of the diatoms, indicated by the high chlorophyllide-a concentrations (50-480 ng L −1 ), likely promoted a series of closely interrelated events involving bacteria and viruses leading to the demise of the diatom bloom.
Evaluation of a method for determining the length of sperm whales (Physeter catodon) from their vocalizations

The click vocalizations of sperm whales often contain several regularly-spaced, discrete pulses of sound. Norris & Harvey (1972) hypothesized that these were caused as a single pulse of sound produced at the front of the whale's head bounced between reflective air sacs at either end of the spermaceti organ. Thus the interval between pulses will be twice the travel time for sound along the length of the spermaceti organ. It should therefore be possible to determine spermaceti organ length and thence total body length by measuring the interval between these pulses. Several workers have used an equation relating inter-pulse interval (IPI) to body length to estimate sperm whale body lengths acoustically. In this paper, aspects of this technique are examined in some detail. In particular, variability in IPIs and trends in IPI with time and depth are investigated. Most importantly, for the first time IPIs in the vocalizations of whales of known lengths have been measured. Variability in IPIs in the clicks of a single whale is acceptably low though there is a tendency for low and high values to occur in runs. There is no clear trend for IPI to alter significantly with the whale's depth or with the time since leaving the surface. IPIs are positively correlated with body length though not as predicted by the equations used by previous workers. Some likely errors in these equations are discussed. A new empirically derived relationship between IPI and body length has been calculated, though more data are desirable to obtain a more accurate and reliable equation.
Potential use of adult bovine serum obtained during the slaughtering process as a biological reagent

Abstract Starting from 2013, the Korean ‘Marine Environment Management Act,’ in response to international regulation on marine pollution, will prohibit the marine disposal of land wastes such as animal husbandry by-products and waste produced during the slaughtering process. Currently, most bovine blood is wasted during the slaughtering process and causes environmental problems in Korea. Therefore, long-term measures are required to process blood waste produced during the slaughtering process. The aim of this research is to investigate the potential use of adult bovine serum obtained during the slaughtering process for use in cell cultures. Primary mouse astrocytes, primary human fibroblasts, and L6 cells were cultured with adult male, adult female, and castrated male bovine sera for comparison with fetal bovine serum (FBS). The performance of adult bovine serum was comparable to that of FBS in culture of astrocytes and fibroblasts. Compared to FBS, adult bovine serum supported enhanced proliferation and differentiation of L6 cells. These results suggest that adult bovine serum obtained from the slaughtering process has a potential use as a biological reagent. Moreover, recycling adult bovine serum will contribute to solving the environmental issues arising from the disposal of waste produced during the slaughtering process.
In vitro antifungal activity of plant extracts on Saprolegnia parasitica from cutaneous lesions of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) eggs

Saprolegnia parasitica Coker is the main agent of saprolegniosis, one of the most important causes of economic losses in the rainbow trout farming industry in Iran. In this work, seven essential oils (2 species) and ethanol extracts (5 species) were tested against a strain of S. parasitica from cutaneous lesions of Oncorhynchus mykiss eggs, using a continuously agitated broth technique that allows both the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC > 50 % ) and the minimum lethal concentration (MLC > 99.9 % ) to be evaluated. The essential oils of Thymus daenensis and Thymus khuzestanicum (MIC > 50 % = 0.63 µl ml -1 and MLC > 99.9 % = 22 µl ml -1 ) and ethanol extracts of Tanacetum parthenium and Mentha longifolia (MIC > 50 % = 31.25 and 62.5 µg ml-1 and MLC > 99.9 % = 600 and 550 µg ml-1, respectively) showed higher inhibition against S. parasitica than the other extracts. In general, our study suggests that natural products derived from some medicinal plants have the potential to be used as health rainbow trout eggs.
Polymorphism of Genetic variability of gene in sheep

Riassunto Il polimorfismo del gene MUC1 nella pecora. Il gene MUC1 esprime una mucina della membrana dei globuli di grasso del latte e contiene una regione ripetitiva ipervariabile. La sequenza di MUC1 è nota nel bovino e nella capra ma non nella pecora. Un’analisi preliminare della regione ripetitiva, eseguita mediante PCR su 23 soggetti di razza Tacola utilizzando una coppia di oligonucleotidi disegnati sulla sequenza di capra, ha evidenziato il polimorfismo di lunghezza già noto per MUC1 di uomo, bovino e capra. L’analisi della sequenza di un frammento ha dimostrato l’esistenza di una regione ripetitiva formata da un’unità di 60 bp ripetuta in successione, caratteristica in comune con il gene MUC1 delle altre specie. I risultati ottenuti sono il primo contributo alla conoscenza di MUC1 di pecora e consentono di avviare indagini sul suo polimorfismo nelle razze ovine.
The detection and role of human endogenous retroviruses in multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases

This work or any part thereof has not been previously presented in any form to the University or to any other body whether for the purposes of assessment, publication or for any other purpose (unless previously indicated). Save for any express acknowledgements, references and / or bibliographies cited in the work, I confirm that the intellectual content is the work is the result of my own efforts and of no other person.