Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cannibalism of Decapod Crustaceans and Implications for Their Aquaculture: A Review of its Prevalence, Influencing Factors, and Mitigating Methods

ABSTRACT The prevalence of cannibalistic behavior among many commercially important decapod crustaceans is one of the biggest limiting factors to their culture productivity and profitability in aquaculture. Various biotic and abiotic factors influence cannibalism including stocking densities, molt status, size heterogeneity, photoperiod, light intensity, and availability to refuge and food; however, their relative efficacies are often species or stage dependent. For instance, although generally penaeid shrimp are seldom cannibalistic when food and space are sufficient, this does not apply to many crab, lobster, and some crayfish species. This review will first discuss the cannibalistic prevalence among commercially important crustacean species followed by a brief review on the current knowledge regarding chemical cues that trigger cannibalism. The main focus will then be on various mitigating methods to improve survival for each of the three main aquaculture phases, that is hatchery, nursery, and grow-out, respectively. Throughout, areas in which one method may have applications to other species or life stages will be highlighted. A final section discusses possible future directions that include individually farming high-value crustaceans and the potential to manipulate hormones associated with aggression. It is hoped that such discussions as well as identifying knowledge gaps will prompt research to help expand and diversify the crustacean farming industry.
Eleotris bosetoi (Teleostei: Gobioidei: Eleotridae), a New Species of Freshwater Fish from the Solomon Islands1

Abstract: A new species of Eleotris, a freshwater eleotrid, is described from streams of the Solomon Islands using both genetic analysis based on the mitochondrial COI gene and morpho-meristic study. The new species is separated from E. acanthopoma, E. melanosoma, and E. fusca with a mean pairwise divergence of 14%, 11%, and 9.9%, respectively. It shares with E. fusca, its sister species, the same combination of cephalic free neuromast patterns (i.e., second, fourth, and sixth suborbital free neuromast rows on cheek extending ventrally past horizontal row d (2.4.6 pattern) and row os connecting with row oi at ventroposterior margin of opercle, but it differs by a combination of characters including scales in lateral series 42–46 versus 53–67, transverse back series 11–13 versus 13–21, and zigzag series 9–11 versus 12–17.
Flower opening and vase life of gladiolus cultivars: the sensitivity to ethylene and the carbohydrate content

Vase life is one of the most important characteristics in the quality of cut flowers. The carbohydrate content of petals from each cultivar can be a decisive factor to vase life of gladiolus flowers. Despite exposure to ethylene does not affect the life of open florets of gladiolus flowers, it may reduce the flower’s commercial life due the occurrence of flower buds abortion. This study thus aimed to evaluate the flower opening and the vase life of gladiolus flowers according to ethylene sensitivity and carbohydrate content of each cultivar. The gladiolus cultivars used in Experiment I were ‘Amsterdam’, ‘Blue Frost’, ‘Gold Field’, ‘Green Star’, ‘Jester’, ‘Lavender’, ‘Red Beauty’, ‘Rose Supreme’, ‘Traderhorn’, and ‘Veronica’. Stems were stored in airtight chambers and exposed to the ethylene concentrations of 0, 0.1, 1.0, 10, 100, and 1000 μL L −1 for 24 h. Subsequently, flower stem were placed in a test tube with distilled water when were evaluated for percentage of flower opening and vase life. In Experiment II, three cultivars (‘Amsterdam’, ‘Red Beauty’, and ‘Veronica’) were chosen based on the lowest, medium, and highest vase life in Experiment I, respectively. Total soluble sugars, reducing sugars, and starch contents were evaluated in five flower developmental stages. No effect of ethylene on the flower opening or alterations in flower opening between cultivars. The vase life of gladiolus flowers differed between cultivars regardless of ethylene action. ‘Veronica’ and ‘Amsterdam’, which had the highest and lowest vase life, respectively, differed as to the total soluble sugar content. Ethylene does not influence the flower opening or vase life of the gladiolus cultivars studied. In these cultivars, the maintenance of flower opening is attributed to total soluble sugars content, which, in turn, is a major determinant of the vase life.
Engineering secondary metabolite production in transgenic Nicotiana tabacum and Hyoscyamus muticus and isolation of MYB sequences from Catharanthus roseus.

Combining genes encoding enzymes involved in secondary metabolic pathways from one plant species to another is an attractive approach to the creation of new diversity in the secondary chemistries of plants. Such an approach may lead to the development of new plants which produce commercially useful ‘hybrid secondary metabolites’, which have agronomic or medicinal value. One of the aims of the work reported in this thesis was to generate transgenic tobacco plants with altered secondary chemistries by introducing two genes encoding the enzymes tropinone reductase (TR-I) and hyoscyamine6hydroxylase (H6H) from Hyoscyamus niger, under the control of the CaMV 35S promoter, using particle bombardment. Fertile transgenic tobacco plants expressing both transgenes were generated. Progeny from the parental lines (T1) leaves harvested from these plants were used in feeding experiments utilising tropinone and hyoscyamine. Alkaloid extracts were analysed using GC and TLC. It was demonstrated that the TR-I and H6H enzymes were functional in the transgenic tobacco background. More important, however, was the detection using GC of putative novel compounds, suggesting that transgenic tobacco plants carrying both trI and h6h transgenes were able to generate novel compounds which are not normally found in wild type. In addition, it was observed that transgenic tobacco plants could carry out esterification reactions on tropine and hyoscyamine, the products of TR-I and H6H activity, which was thought to be a reaction exclusive to plants producing tropane alkaloids. Both the parental lines and the T1 progeny, expressing the trI and h6h transgenes, contained nicotine levels of between 3.2 to 13fold higher than in wild tobacco plants and/or transgenic plants carrying nptII gene alone. The second objective of this thesis was to study the regulation of TIA biosynthetic genes in C. roseus and to identify potential regulatory genes. The transcriptional regulation of selected TIA biosynthetic genes was studied in developing C. roseus seedlings. Using these RNA populations, combined with RT-PCR strategies, a partial myb-related sequence was isolated (named CrMYB or CrMYB2). Further studies showed that the CrMYB gene is apparently transcriptionally-regulated during seedling development and a possible role for this gene in regulating specific TIA biosynthetic genes is discussed. In addition, using the same RT-PCR strategy, a partial sequence for a 4-coumarate-CoAligase was fortuitously isolated from C. roseus.
Local and regional spread of banana xanthomonas wilt (BXW) in space and time in Kagera, Tanzania

Banana is an important crop in the Kagera region of Tanzania. Banana Xanthomonas wilt (BXW) was first reported in Kagera in 2006, and is now an important limiting factor in banana production, since all cultivars are susceptible and infected plants can fail to produce fruit. BXW is caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum (Xcm), which is spread by farm tools, infected planting materials, and pollinating insects. Practices that address Xcm dissemination, such as mat removal, debudding, and tool sterilization, have not prevented the spread of BXW in the region. Disease surveys were conducted in Kagera from 2007 to 2011 to assess BXW presence, monitor its intensity, and evaluate its socioeconomic impacts. Spatiotemporal clusters of BXW were analysed with ArcGIS and SAS. The relationship between BXW clusters and environmental variables was examined using bivariate correlations in SPSS, and two modeling approaches, MaxEnt (Maximum Entropy) and logistic regression, were used to predict the potential distribution of BXW in Tanzania. Disease progress over time was best described with the Gompertz model. Significant clustering of BXW was observed in all years and hotspots were located in the Muleba, Karagwe, Misenyi, and Bukoba rural districts. These findings suggest that BXW spreads rapidly over short distances. BXW clusters were positively correlated with rainfall and negatively with temperature and altitude. According to MaxEnt, precipitation was the main factor associated with BXW development. MaxEnt and logistic regression predicted a wide potential distribution of BXW in Tanzania, since the climate in all banana-growing regions is conducive for its establishment. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
The Comparative Testing of Eight Coded Chemicals in the Rat Limb Bud Micromass and Rat Embryo Culture Systems

When cultured at high density, mesenchymal cells from rat limb buds proliferate and differentiate into chondrocytes. Inhibition of this in vitro chondrogenic process has been used for the preliminary evaluation of teratogenic potential. Alternatively, intact post-implantation rat embryos, maintained in short-term culture, provide a system for the in vitro study of abnormal development not limited to the skeletal system. Both systems isolate the test agent from maternal metabolism and pharmacokinetic restraints. In this study, drug-associated selective inhibition of alcian blue uptake by cartilage proteoglycans, in micromass cultures of limb bud cells prepared from 13-day-old rat embryos, was used to assess teratogenic potential in vitro following exposure for 48 hours to eight coded compounds (acetylsalicylic acid, isoniazid. penicillin G, saccharine, vincristine sulphate, 6-aminonicotinamide, retinoic acid, and amaranth). Following drug exposure, cultures were incubated for another 96 hours, and the cells were then fixed and stained with 0.5% alcian blue. Bound dye was then extracted and quantitated. In parallel cultures, cell viability was measured by neutral red uptake, and protein content was assayed by using the bicinchoninic acid method. Except for retinoic acid and vincristine sulphate, the maximum test concentration was 1000μg/ml. Inhibition of alcian blue uptake (> 50%) was noted at 0. 001μg/ml vincristine sulphate, 0.5/μg/ml retinoic acid and 5μg/ml 6-aminonicotinamide, demonstrating that strong teratogens inhibit differentiation in micromass cultures at lower concentrations than those which affect limb cell viability. When the same eight compounds were tested in a 24-hour embryo culture model, dysmorphogenesis was evident at 0. 005μg/ml vincristine sulphate, 0. 1μg/ml retinoic acid and 0. 3μg/ml 6-aminonicotinamide. For the other five chemicals, little or no toxicity was noted up to the maximum test concentration in either model. We conclude that the two test systems, both based on the developing rat embryo, are consistent with each other, and that either of them would be useful for the preliminary screening of potential teratogens.
MOLECULAR GENETICS MUTATIONS OF THE S GENE OF HEPATITIS B HBV VIRUS IN EGYPTIAN PATIENTS

Two novel mutants of the hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) were characterized. The mutants that were isolated from asymptomatic patients were found to be persistently positive for both HBsAg and anti-hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) and a long-lasting anti-HBc (core) IgM. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing were performed to surface antigen coding region and revealed two genotype D mutants HBV. Aligned with known HBsAg sequences from GenBank, the mutant variants matched to consensus with eight distinct genotypes (A to H) of hepatitis B virus. Multiple sequence alignment provided a more sensible way of detecting sequence homology and identifying the HBV isolates. From this alignment, certain positions were highly conserved with the previously identified recorded Egyptian isolates, while other positions were not. The importance of the two variants lies in the observation that mutations in the surface antigen coding region can change the immunodominant region structure and therefore alter the group specific determinant antigenicity. Phylogenetic tree based on HBsAg partial nucleotide sequence was displayed. In conclusion, by understanding the HBsAg major immunodominant region nucleotide sequence, highly sensitive diagnostic assays can be achieved for detection of HBV in clinical specimens. Control of these HBV mutants, which will require new drugs, vaccines, and treatment strategies, will become the next major challenge on the path to eventual elimination of HBV infection.
Phylogenetic Evolution Studies on Different Varieties of Genus Ocimum with Special Reference to Rewa District of Madhya Pradesh

Ocimum species are widely used for food, perfumery, cosmetics, pesticides, medicine, and traditional rituals. In Rewa District five Ocimum species i.e. Ocimum sanctum , O. basilicum , O. gratisimum , O. americanum , & O. kilimandericum are widely cultivated. In the present investigation phylogenetic evolution status of these species has been analyzed by using ISSR marker. Out of 80 marker sequences 16 were amplified in all Ocimum species and gave scorable amplification pattern. Total 144 alleles have been detected in which 7 alleles were monomorphic and 137 were polymorphic. Number of alleles generated, were ranging from 6 to 13 besides 46 unique identity alleles. Pairwise genetic similarities ranged from 0.107 to 0.533. UPGMA dendrogram were generated based on Jaccard’s coefficient. On basis of maximum genetic similarity we have divided Ocimum species in two clusters. First cluster contained three species Ocimum sanctum , O. kilimandericum , and O. basilicum whereas second cluster consisted of O. gratisimum and O. americanum . In the first cluster O. basilicum showed divergence and kept distantly.
A new species of Flamella (Amoebozoa, Variosea, Gracilipodida) isolated from a freshwater pool in Southern Mississippi, USA

We isolated and identified a freshwater amoebozoan species that belongs to the genus Flamella Schaeffer, 1926 by single cell isolation and light microscopy. Our specific strain was isolated from a water sample obtained on the cover of a swimming pool in Petal, Mississippi, USA collected during the winter of 2015. Morphologically, our isolate is a fan-shaped amoeba with a large, frontal hyaloplasm and distinctive granuloplasm. It is capable of encystment and trophozoites occasionally have two nuclei. The isolate (GFP151sc) is phylogenetically sister to but unique from the freshwater environmental flamellid clone from Borok, Yaroslavl region, Russia originally published in 2006. Here we describe and place this isolate into a new species, Flamella piscinae n. sp.
Fatty Acid Profile of the Amazon Caiman Protein Concentrate

Some species of fish and other aquatic organism are important sources of protein and fatty acids that are beneficial to human health and can be industrially processed. The fatty acid profile of Melanosuchus niger (native to the Brazilian Amazon flooded forest) was determined in samples of a protein concentrate (PC) there was obtained from processing residues. The PC was prepared from cooked muscle portions and NaCl (1.5%) using an adiabatic process. Saturated fatty acids such as stearic acid (0.59%) and palmitic acid (1.43%) were present. The levels of the unsaturated fatty acids omega-6 (ω-6) and omega-3 (ω-3) linolenic acids were 0.32% and 0.15%, respectively. In conclusion, Black caiman PC seems to provide essential fatty acids for human nutrition. Clinical studies are necessary to assess the influence of fatty acids from Amazon Caimans on human diet and the feasibility of obtaining new products such as nutraceuticals.
The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Populus davidiana Dode

Abstract The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Populus davidiana Dode was determined in this study. The cpDNA was 155,853 bp in length, containing a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) of 27,571 bp each separated by a large and small single copy (LSC and SSC) regions of 84,127 bp and 16,584 bp, respectively. The cpDNA contained 130 genes, including 85 protein-coding genes, 8 ribosomal RNA genes and 37 transfer RNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis indicated P. davidiana was mostly close to Populus tremula, widely distributed in Europe and Populus tremula × alba.
PLANTLET REGENERATION THROUGH SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS IN SCHISANDRA CHINENSIS (TURCZ.) BAILL. AND ANALYSIS OF GENETIC STABILITY OF REGENERATED PLANTS BY SRAP MARKERS

To study the efficient plant regeneration system of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. via somatic embryogenesis and evaluated the genetic stability of regenerated plants was carried out. Dormant buds were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2,4-D and TDZ for induction of callus. The callus induction rate was highest on MS medium with 3.0 mg/l 2,4-D and 0.2 mg/l TDZ and MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/l TDZ and 0.2 mg/l zeatin (Zt) was beneficial to embryonic callus induction. The globular embryo formation was improved when embryonic calli were cultured in liquid half-strength MS medium than semi-solid medium. MS supplemented with 0.2 mg/l indole-3-butytric acid (IBA) was most favorable for root formation of regenerated plants. SRAP primer were used for PCR amplification on parental and regenerated plants, and there were no specific bands produced, confirming that the plant regeneration system was stable and reliable. The result of this study will be beneficial for genetic transformation and mass clonal propagation.
POLYMORPHIC TERMINATION OF DIAPAUSE BY CECROPIA: GENETIC AND GEOGRAPHICAL ASPECTS

Hyalophora cecropia (L.) is dimorphic for the termination of diapause at Urbana and Chicago, Illinois, about 40°6' and 41°51' north latitude respectively. Under natural conditions the emergence of the adults is clearly bimodal in both places. At Urbana the early emergers (Group I) initiate development at the end of March and emerge during the second half of May; the late emergers (Group II) initiate development at the beginning of June and emerge during the second half of June and the first week of July. Members of either group produce some progeny which emerge with Group I and a majority which emerge within Group II.The bimodality has a genetic basis. In either two or three generations we were able to line select from the Urbana population strains which averaged over 75% emergence with Group I as compared with the average of about 8% which was typical of the wild population.Reciprocal transfers in the fall of wild-collected cocoons between Urbana and the Chicago area revealed that Group II exhibits geogr.
Impact of physiological stresses on nitric oxide formation by green alga, Scenedesmus obliquus

The rate of apparent nitric oxide (NO) release, as measured in the exhaust gas of green alga, Scenedesmus obliquus, depended on the light intensity and pH. It doubled after lowering the temperature from 25°C to 15°C and strongly decreased from 35°C to 42°C. The Scenedesmus cells, deficient in nitrogen or phosphorus, demonstrated a significant increase in NO production following their transfer to nitrate- and phosphate-rich media. The addition of herbicides (DCMU and glyphosate) or toxic concentrations of Cu 2+ or Fe 3+ produced strong NO peaks, resembling those that occurred after sudden darkening. An increase in the Ni 2+ concentration to 20 ppm resulted in a gradual increase of NO release from the initial ∼1.5 ppbv to >20 ppbv, whereas Cd 2+ instantaneously suppressed the NO production. Presumably, the nitrite-dependent release of NO by the cultures of Scenedesmus was not altered by L-NNA, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), or by its substrate, L-arginine. This seems to exclude the role of NOS in the NO formation under study. Accordingly, it can be assumed that the rate of NO formation is mainly a function of dynamic nitrite pool sizes and environmental factors significantly affect the NO production in algae.
Characterization of organic cation transporters in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Uptake transporters represent integral elements in the ADME (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion) processes and toxicological response. They play crucial role in the initial phase of cellular metabolism of xeno- and endobiotics by mediating the uptake of compounds across the cell membrane. The majority of uptake transporters belong to the SLC (Solute Carrier) protein superfamily which is one of the largest known protein superfamilies. Organic cation transporters (OCTs) are members of SLC22A family. There are three human OCT members, OCT1-3. OCT1 and OCT2 are dominantly expressed in liver and kidney, respectively. OCTs are localized in basolateral membranes of blood-tissue barrier cells and they are responsible for polyspecific transport of numerous organic cations. Using phylogenetic and synteny analysis of previously identified two members of zebrafish Octs, we determined orthological relationship with human and other vertebrates Octs. We also determined dominant expression of Oct1 in zebrafish kidney and liver, whereas Oct2 showed lower but ubiquitous expression. Functional characterization was performed using newly identified fluorescent Oct1 substrates, which were used as tool for determination of interactions with various environmentally and physiologically relevant compounds. Initial interaction screen with ASP+ as fluorescent substrate and numerous tested compounds revealed steroid hormones as potent interactors of Oct1, with the highest inhibition constants for progesterone (Ki = 2 µM), androstenedione (5.3 µM) and testosterone (13.2 µM). Among environmental contaminants Oct1 showed high interaction with organotin compounds, especially with dibutyltin and tributyltin chloride with the lowest Ki values of 0.4 and 3.9 µM, respectively. We also modeled tertiary structure Oct1 and performed molecular docking analysis with model substrates and determined interactors, revealing crucial amino acid residues within Oct binding region. In conclusion, this study represents the first functional characterization of organic cation transporters from Slc22 family in fish. The obtained knowledge provides new insight into possible roles of Octs in crucial physiological, defensive and pathological processes in zebrafish, enabling a more reliable use of zebrafish in understanding of OCT/Oct functions in higher vertebrates and human.