Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Direct multiple shoot induction from aerial stem of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rose.)

An efficient and reproducible protocol for direct multiple shoot induction through in vitro culture of aerial stem (pseudostem) of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) is reported. Murashige and Skoog basal medium supplemented with BAP and NAA in different combinations (1:0.5, 1:1, 2:1, 3:1 mg l-1) resulted in high frequency shoot / root organogenesis from the basal and middle segments of the aerial stem explants of in vitro grown ginger as compared to the other hormone combinations. Maximum of 3.1 shoots could be obtained. Genotypes differed in their in vitro response of multiple shoot induction. Anatomical studies revealed the origin of shoot primordial from axillary, apical and primary thickening meristem and of root primordial from primary thickening meristem. The regenerated plantlets were acclimatized and successfully established in the field conditions and harvested after 8 months.
A Study on Production of Resin from Pinus merkusii Jungh. Et De Vriese in the Bosscha Observatory Area, West Java-Indonesia

A B S T R A C T We investigated the variability in resin production of a pine stand in Bosscha Observatory Bandung (Indonesia) with the aim to exploit this natural resource in a sustainable way. The potential resin productivity of the pine stand in observatory bosscha area has been known. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the use of methods (quarre and drill method) in pine resin productivity. The tapping method resulted in differences in resin production in 20-25 year-old trees. The production of extracted with the quarre method was 19.34 g treeG 1 , meanwhile, the drill method resulted in 32.64 g treeG 1 . The potential annual resin production in bosscha observatory area were 9.29 and 15.640 t yearG 1 for quarre and drill method, respectively. The resin production capacity of pine species (P. merkusii Jungh. Et de Vriese) were affected by tree diameter.
Subirrigation to root stem cuttings: comparison to intermittent mist and influence of fertilization

A subirrigation method for rooting stem cuttings was compared to intermittent mist. Both methods resulted in 100% rooting of ‘Charm’ chrysanthemum [Dendranthema × grandiflorum (Ramat.) Kitamura] and coleus (Coleus × hybridus Voss. ) after 2 weeks. Subirrigated cuttings of ‘Charm’ chrysanthemum had a lower mean . root dry mass than misted cuttings, but root dry mass of coleus was not affected. Percentage rooting and mean root dry mass of subirrigated cuttings of ‘Franksred’ red maple (Acer rubrum L.) were 95% and 321 mg, whereas the mean root dry mass of the 33% of cuttings that rooted under mist was 38 mg. For Japanese tree lilac [Syringa reticulata (Blume) Hara], the percentage of cuttings with living callus, mean callus diameter, and percentage rooting were higher for subirrigated cuttings than for misted cuttings. In a second study, cuttings of ‘Franksred’ red maple were subirrigated with a solution containing 0 to 7.2 mol N/m3 and not misted. Cuttings given 3.6 or 7.2 mol N / m3 had > 90% rooting after 2
EFFECT OF ALLELOPATHIC LEAF EXTRACT OF SOME SELECTED WEED FLORA OF AJMER DISTRICT ON SEED GERMINATION OF TRITICUM AESTIVUM L.

The present study was conducted to investigate the allelopathic effects of some selected weeds (Phalaris minor L., Chenopodium muraleL., Sonchus oleraceus L., Cyanodon dactylon L. and Convolvulus arvensis L.) of Ajmer district on seed germination and seedling growth of wheat(Triticum aestivum L.). Root, stem and leaf aqueous extracts of weeds at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10% concentrations were applied to determine their effect on seed germination, seedling length and seedling dry weight of test plant under laboratory conditions. The aqueous extracts of all the weeds under study caused inhibitory effects on seed germination; seedling length and seedling dry weight of crop, which increased progressively on increasing the concentration of weed plant part extracts. The leaf extract of Phalaris minor have more inhibitory effect on the germination percentage of crop as compared to other weeds under study. The inhibition caused by the leaf extract of Phalaris minor was found to be more than stem and root extracts of all the weeds under study.
Characterization of microbial populations in a wastewater treatment plant focusing on Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa

v RESUMO . vii TABLE OF CONTENTS . ix LIST OF FIGURES . xiii LIST OF TABLES . xv ABREVIATIONS . xvii CHAPTER I| INTRODUCTION . 1 1.1. Background . 3 1.2. Main objectives . 3 1.3. Thesis Organization . 3 CHAPTER II| BIBLIOGRAPHIC REVIEW . 5 2.1. Impact of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotics in human health and in environment. 7 2.2. Antibiotic resistant bacteria . 7 2.2.1. Biofilm formation . 8 2.3. Relationship between antimicrobial resistance and the history of antibiotics . 11 2.4. Spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria and genes in the environment . 12 2.5. Wastewater Treatment Plants . 13 2.5. 1. Pre-treatment . 13 2.5. 2. Primary treatment . 14 2.5. 3. Secondary treatment . 14 2.5. 4. Tertiary treatment . 15 2.6. Wastewater treatment plants as hotspot for development and dissemination of antibiotic resistant bacteria and genes. 15 2.7. Mechanisms to fight the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria using wastewater treatment plants . 17 2.8. Relevant microorganisms in hospitals that enter in the environment . 19
Spatio-temporal resource use at a microhabitat scale in an amphibian community at a pond in Mediterranean Central Italy

- The micro-habitat use in relation to the spatial and temporal context was studied in a six-species-community or amphibians in a Mediterranean pond in central Italy. several concurrent sets of statistical analyses, including univariate, multivariate and null model simulations, were used in order to interpret the community structure. In terms of micro-habitat selection, the newt species Triturus carnifex and T. vulgaris used primarily the aquatic habitats for most of the time spent in the pond, whereas the anuran species (Bufo bufo, Hyla intermedia, Rana dalmatina and the green frogs) used mainly the terrestrial micro-habitats adjacent to the pond except during the reproductive period when they used also the aquatic micro-habitats. A PCA analysis classifying the amphibian species on the basis of their spatio-temporal habitat use put each species in a separate part of the multidimensional space, whereas another set of PCA analysis revealed that, on the basis of the use of the aquatic micro-habitats, there were four 'groups': a) Hyla intermedia and the green frogs; b) Bufo bufo and Rana dalmatina; c) Triturus vulgaris; d) Triturus carnifex. Some species used the micro-habitats types in relation to their relative availability in the field, whereas other were clearly selective in their requirements. Null model analyses based on Monte Carlo permutations of overlap values (RA2 and RA3 algorithms) showed that the various species were arranged in the micro-habitat scale in a non-random way. The general implications of these results are discussed.
A Comparison between COMPACT and Hazardexpert Evaluations for 80 Chemicals Tested by the NTP/NCI Rodent Bioassay

A total of 80 structurally diverse chemicals for which rodent carcinogenicity data are known, have been evaluated by two predictive computer-based systems, COMPACT and Hazardexpert. The results demonstrate that these two predictive test procedures are, to some extent, complementary, in that COMPACT can identify carcinogens which require metabolic activation, whereas Hazardexpert is able to provide an alert for potentially direct-acting agents. In this study, COMPACT was able to identify correctly most rodent carcinogens, and the Hazardexpert system showed a high concordance with non-carcinogens, in particular. It is suggested that some form of combined approach to the use of predictive methods in chemical safety evaluation may represent a way forward for the future.
Detection of Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Saanen Goats with Subclinical Mastitis

Background/Aim: The aim of the present study is to describe the distribution of viral antigen localization in nonnervous tissues was described in goats naturally infected with caprine arthritis encephalitis virus. Materials and Methods: The milk samples were collected from one Saanen goats flock in the Western Turkey. A total of 280 half-udder milk samples (140 Saanen goats) were collected in a single sampling time in a flock during the early lactation period. The milk samples were incolated to 5 % sheep blood agar incubated at 37 o C for 24-48 hours. After that, all isolates were identified
Epidemiology of fungal infections in HIV infected individuals in France : P jirovecii pneumonia and invasive aspergillosis in FHDH ANRS CO4

The advent of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) in 1996 resulted in a dramatic fall in the incidence of AIDS-defining illness (ADI), including Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP). Nevertheless, PCP was the second most frequent ADI in France in 2001-2003 and fungal infections remain a major threat for HIV-infected individuals worldwide. Epidemiological data on fungal infections in the late cART period in resource-rich settings are scarce. The purpose of our work was to study changes in the epidemiology of fungal infections among HIV-infected individuals in France in the late cART period, focusing on PCP and invasive aspergillosis (IA) in the French Hospital Database on HIV ANRS CO4 (FHDH). In the FHDH, during the 2004-2011 period, half of the 1259 PCP cases occurred among HIV-infected individuals who had waning adherence to care, and for those who had a prior ADI before PCP the 3-year mortality rate was 25%. For the second study on IA, a review committee validated IA cases among all the cases that included a diagnostic code for aspergillosis (ICD-9 or ICD-10) in the FHDH over a 20-year period. Our study demonstrated that only half of validated IA cases among HIV-infected individuals met EORTC criteria. The 3-months survival rate after IA diagnosis improved after the advent of cART and a protective role of voriconazole was observed in the period after 2001.
Effects of Low Irradiance Stress on Gibberellin Levels in Pea Seedlings

Using gas chromatography-selected ion monitoring with internal standards we analyzed endogenous levels of GA,, GAS, GA19, GA,,, GA2,, GA, and GA,, in shoots of pea cv. Alaska grown under different levels of irradiance: high irradiance, 386 + 70 pmol rn-, s-l, control (100%); medium (50%); low (10%); darkness (0%). The average plant heights for medium and low irradiance and dark grown plants were 157%, 275%, and 460% of the control plants, respectively. Plants grown in medium and low irradiance developed the same numbers of internodes as control plants but plants in darkness developed fewer internodes and exhibited suppressed leaf expansion. The endogenous levels of GA,, GAS and GA2, were higher in medium and low irradiance grown plants than those of the high irradiance control. In particular, the GA,, level of low irradiance plants was markedly higher (7.6-fold) than that of control plants. In dark-grown plants GA, and GA, levels also slightly increased but GAzo and GA2, levels decreased and the levels of GA,,, GA, and GA,, did not change. Feeding of GA, and a GA biosynthesis inhibitor (uniconazole) to plants grown at reduced irradiance and in darkness suggests that the responsiveness of plants to GA, also increased at low irradiance and in darkness. In conclusion, plants increase both GA, and GA,, biosynthesis or altered catabolism and GA, responsiveness under low irradiance stress.
Formulation Design And Characterization Of Mouth Dissolving Tablets Of Anti-Allergic Levocetirizine Dihydrochloride

The main aim of the present investigation was to prepare mouth dissolving tablet of levocetirizine enriched with taste masking agent to provide rapid onset of action of levocetrizine increasing its therapeutic efficacy and also increase the compliance amongst geriatric, pediatric and uncooperative patients. The mouth dissolving tablets were prepared by two methods viz. direct comrpression and sublimation method. Mannitol was used as the binder as well as sweetener while saccharin sodium was used as the additional taste masking agent in the formulations. Total seven formulations of MDTs were prepared using direct compression (DCMDT1 to DCMDT4) and sublimation method (SMDT1 to SMDT3). The concentration of the super-disintegrant or the sublimating agent was varied depending on the method. All the formulations were subjected to post compression evaluation test and the results indicate that the formulation had hardness of 3 Kg/cm, thickness of 3 mm, weight variation in the range of 2.7-3.3 %, friability of less than 1 %, drug content in the range of 97.2 to 98.9 %, wetting time from 17 to 49 seconds with water absorption ratio of more than 75 %, disintegration time of less than 30 seconds and a drug release of more than 80 % over a period of 5 minutes. The formulations were found to be stable under accelerated conditions for a period of 3 months with almost negligible change in the critical parameters.
Evaluation of castorbean (Ricinus communis L.) mutants for genetic parameters and cluster analysis.

Twenty seven desirable mutants of castorbean were evaluated in M5 generation at Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology, Faisalabad, Pakistan during 2007-08. Estimation of different genetic parameters alongwith correlation coefficient, path and cluster analyses were done in castorbean mutants on quantitative traits. The results showed positive and significant genotypic correlation of main spike length, capsules of main spike, capsules of secondary spike and spikes per plant with seed yield. These traits alongwith branches per plant also showed positive but non-significant phenotypic correlation with seed yield. Days to mature, number of branches and capsules of main spike showed positive direct effects coupled with positive genotypic correlation with seed yield. Therefore, direct selection of these characters might be helpful for increasing seed yield. Plant height showed high heritability(bs) (54%) alongwith high genetic advance (19.87) seemed to be governed by additive genes while days to mature exhibited high heritability(bs) (45.10%) with low genetic advance (6.61) governed by non-additive type of genes (dominants, epistasis or their interaction). Complete linkage elucideadistances classified the population into three main clusters. Cluster-II showed maximum average seed yield (187.50 g/plant) followed by cluster I (138.78 g/plant). The variation (standard deviation) was also higher in cluster-II (20.84). The high average seed yield (187.50 g/plant) in cluster-II was due to high average values of main spike length (50.29 cm), secondary spike length (33.81 cm), capsules of main spike (135.21), capsules of secondary spikes (74.13) and spikes per plant (7.94) as compared to other two clusters. Aforementioned characters also showed positive and significant correlation with seed yield. So mutant lines possessing more number of branches, more number of spikes and higher number of capsules in main as well as secondary spikes may be promoted further for increasing seed
Isolation and Identification of Heterotrophic Nitrifying Bacteria From Sewage Sludge

Screening of heterotrophic nitrifying bacteria as an alternative source of biological removal of nitrogen compounds in polluted lake waters was carried by soil samples collected from the lake bed were subjected to primary and secondary enrichment were performed. Culture samples showing nitrate production were subjected to confirmatory test. Change of colour from pink to yellow and decrease in pH indicated the presence of nitrifying bacteria. The ammonia oxidizing bacteria isolated belonged to genus Bacillus sp. Isolation and characterization using 16s ribosomal RNA is in progress.
Development of michrosystem technology suitable for bacterial identification and gene expression monitoring

As any phenotypical and taxonomical feature of living form is indexed in genome sequence and its expression, the aims of presented work were to develop appropriate DNA microarray formats suitable for both, sequence analysis at single-nucleotide accuracy and gene expression monitoring at the level of RNA transcription focussing on the actinomycete group of eubacteria. Both approaches were established in the course of work via optimization of the following parameters: solid support, its activation chemistry, structure and concentration of hybridization probes and targets, hybridization buffer, volume, time, washing conditions, signal detection and hybridization data analysis. Domain I of eubacterial 16S rRNA and its sequence signatures responsible for the taxonomical delineation within above group of bacteria at the genera level and above were chosen as taxonomical markers. PCR primers selected within conserved regions and oligonucleotide probes selected in the variability regions of taxonomical importance allowed a sensitive and specific detection of cognate bacterial sequences differing by a single base. A principal interchangeability of using either of the type of molecules, obtained PCR fragments or oligonucleotides, as attached probes and hybridisable targets, respectively, was shown. On the other hand, arrays composed of thousands spots carrying shotgun-library inserts of the erythromycin producer S. erythrea DSM40517 were constructed. Hybridization with two RNA samples isolated from cells grown in rich and semisynthetic media was shown to result in technically plausible data with regard to specific and sensitive detection of genomic entities responding by perturbed expression rate to conditions investigated.
Carbohydrate Accumulation and Flowering-related Gene Expression Levels at Different Developmental Stages of Terminal Shoots in Litchi chinensis

Litchi trees flower at the apex of terminal shoots. Flowering is affected by the maturity of terminal shoots before growth cessation occurs during the winter. In this study, we focused on changes offlowering in three importantcultivars, Guiwei, Feizixiao, and Huaizhi, from Dec. 2012 to Mar. 2013 under natural winter conditions. Flowering rate, carbohydrate accumulation, and expression of the flowering-related genes were determined at three different developmental stages of terminal shoots with dark green, yellowish green and yellowish red leaves, respectively. The results showed that the total solublesugarandstarchcontentsinthedarkgreenleaveswerethehighest,whereasthose in the yellowish red leaves were the lowest. Trees with dark green terminal shoots had the highest flowering rates, whereas those with yellowish green or yellowish red shoots had relatively lower flowering rates. SPAD was highest in dark green leaves and lowest in yellowish red leaves at the start of the trial. The SPAD value of yellowish red leaves slightly increased but did not reach the levels of the dark green leaves, whereas levels of the other leaf stages remained fairly constant. Expression level of the litchi homolog FLOWERING LOCUS C (LcFLC), the floral inhibitor in yellowish red leaves, increased from 16 Jan., whereas that in dark green leaves declined to a level lower than the yellowish red leaves on 4 Feb. Expression level of the litchi homolog CONSTANTS (LcCO), the floral promoter in dark green leaves, was higher than that of yellowish red leaves before 26 Jan. Expression level of the litchi homolog FLOWERING LOCUS T 2 (LcFT2), encoding florigen, was higher in dark green leaves than in the other two leaf types. Our results suggest that terminal shoots should be matured and leaves should turn green for successful flowering. Mature leaves had higher expression levels of the floral promoter and florigen. In litchi production, leaves of the terminal shoots (potential flowering branches) should be dark green during floral induction and differentiation stages, and winter flushes should be removed or killed.
Capacitative Ca2+ entry and tyrosine kinase activation in canine pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells

We investigated the role of capacitative Ca(2+) entry and tyrosine kinase activation in mediating phenylephrine (PE)-induced oscillations in intracellular free Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) in canine pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). [Ca(2+)](i) was measured as the 340- to 380-nm ratio in individual fura 2-loaded PASMCs. Resting [Ca(2+)](i) was 96 +/- 4 nmol/l. PE (10 micromol/l) stimulated oscillations in [Ca(2+)](i), with a peak amplitude of 437 +/- 22 nmol/l and a frequency of 1.01 +/- 0.12/min. Thapsigargin (1 micromol/l) was used to deplete sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca(2+) after extracellular Ca(2+) was removed. Under these conditions, a nifedipine-insensitive, sustained increase in [Ca(2+)](i) (140 +/- 7% of control value) was observed when the extracellular Ca(2+) concentration was restored; i.e., capacitative Ca(2+) entry was demonstrated. Capacitative Ca(2+) entry also refilled SR Ca(2+) stores. Capacitative Ca(2+) entry was attenuated (32 +/- 3% of control value) by 50 micromol/l of SKF-96365 (a nonselective Ca(2+)-channel inhibitor). Tyrosine kinase inhibition with tyrphostin 23 (100 micromol/l) and genistein (100 micromol/l) also inhibited capacitative Ca(2+) entry to 63 +/- 12 and 85 +/- 4% of control values, respectively. SKF-96365 (30 micromol/l) attenuated both the amplitude (15 +/- 7% of control value) and frequency (50 +/- 21% of control value) of PE-induced Ca(2+) oscillations. SKF-96365 (50 micromol/l) abolished the oscillations. Tyrphostin 23 (100 micromol/l) also inhibited the amplitude (17 +/- 7% of control value) and frequency (45 +/- 9% of control value) of the oscillations. Genistein (30 micromol/l) had similar effects. Both SKF-96365 and tyrphostin 23 attenuated PE-induced contraction in isolated pulmonary arterial rings. These results demonstrate that capacitative Ca(2+) entry is present and capable of refilling SR Ca(2+) stores in canine PASMCs and may be involved in regulating PE-induced Ca(2+) oscillations. A tyrosine kinase is involved in the signal transduction pathway for alpha(1)-adrenoreceptor activation in PASMCs.
An ornithological survey of Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo

ABSTRACT Mount Mulu, an isolated 2,376 m peak in eastern Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, has not been thoroughly surveyed for bird species since shortly after the creation of Mount Mulu National Park in 1974. The Park is of particular interest for its isolation, spectacular limestone structures, bat flights, and extensive primary forest that ranges from near sea level to the mountain’s peak. We spent 2.5 months surveying, observing, and mist-netting birds in the Park and recorded 244 species across its elevational gradient from 50–1,850 m, including 32 species new to the 1979–82 Mt. Mulu checklists. Here, we report the elevational range of each species we observed, compare our list with these earlier Mt. Mulu checklists compiled 25 years ago, and comment on unique observations.