Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Algal communities in human‐impacted stream ecosystems suffer beta‐diversity decline

Human‐mediated geomorphic degradation of streams and rivers is a serious environmental problem with negative effects on aquatic biota and social infrastructure. Billions of dollars are spent for stream restoration in the USA alone, but it is still unknown how algal diversity is affected by these efforts. In this investigation, we studied a geomorphically stable and heterogeneous reach and two degraded and homogeneous reaches of Batavia Kill, a highland stream in New York, USA. Spatial surveys of algae and geomorphic conditions were conducted in all three reaches for 2 years. After the first year of study, one of the two unstable reaches was subjected to a large‐scale streambed restoration. Species–area relationships (SAR) were examined for the first time in local algal communities of stream periphyton. Alpha‐ and gamma‐diversity, which represent the species richness at a sample and reach level, respectively, and cell density, were also explored. In all reaches, SAR were fitted with semi‐log models, which revealed that the rate of increase of species richness with area, i.e. algal beta‐diversity, was significantly higher in the geomorphically stable reach than in the two degraded reaches. Gamma‐diversity followed the same trend, whereas alpha‐diversity and cell density were significantly higher in the unstable reaches. Restoration significantly increased the heterogeneity of conditions, including depth and particle size. From all studied community descriptors, restoration had a benign influence on algal beta‐ and gamma‐diversity; however, beta‐diversity remained the highest in the stable reference reach and this difference was significant. Our results provide guidelines for the use of periphytic algae in future bioassessments of stream bank restoration. Community properties such as species richness and organismal density, which are common metrics of ecosystem health, may be inappropriate in stream restoration surveys; instead diversity measures, often overlooked in applied ecology, e.g. beta‐diversity, should be given full consideration.
Genetic size and growth in goats

The allometric equation (Y=aW) has been shown in literature to be very effective in explaining between-animal variation of metabolism variables (Y) as a function of weight (W). Here the change of Y relative to Wis called the 'scaling' of Y to W. This chapter describes briefly the main developments in the study of scaling patterns in animal metabolism, from the surface law, the mouse-to-elephant curve, to the genetic size scaling theory of Taylor. The scaling theory generalizes and integrates the size-metabolism relationships for different variable types. The theory may be useful in animal production as animal variation due to genetic size can be separated from size-independent variation. Two basic problems are identified in this chapter in applying the genetic size-scaling theory at a practical level: rules for intra-specific scaling are not firmly established, and a practical accurate method for size determination is lacking. Conditions for an ideal practical measure of genetic size are formulated, and current methods for size determination in ruminant species are discussed. It is concluded that a promising approach for determination of genetic size might be to look for characteristics in (relative) growth patterns of body components that are linked to functional stages of development. To select such promising alternatives more detailed knowledge is required of allometric growth patterns.
Thidiazuron improves in vitro multiple shoot induction in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cotyledon with embryonic axis

A reproducible and highly efficient plant regeneration method involving embryonic axis in chickpea Desi varieties, viz. ‘Vijay’, ‘Digvijay’ and Kabuli variety ‘Virat’ was developed as an essential pre-requisite for genetic transformation. Considerable variation in response to plant growth regulators used was observed in all the three cultivars. Embryonic axis with cotyledon obtained from 4–6 day old seedlings were found to be best in producing maximum of 55.02 shoot per explant when cultured on MSB5 medium with 2 mg/l 2-isopentenyladenine (2-iP), 1 mg/l thidiazuron (TDZ) and 0.4 mg/l kinetin (KIN). Embryonic axis without cotyledon produced only 2.25–4.88 shoots per explant. Shoots were elongated on MSB5 medium with 2 mg/l benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 0.1 mg/l indole acetic acid (IAA). Rooting was obtained by immersing cut ends of elongated shoots to 10 seconds pulse treatment of 100 mM indole butyric acid (IBA) and subsequent transfer to liquid MSB5 medium which resulted in maximum of 92.67% rooting. Plantlets with well-developed root systems were hardened in polyhouse out of which 72% survived and showed normal growth and development. This plant regeneration method was found to be genotype independent and deemed to be very useful in genetic transformation of chickpea.
FI-1045: A Profile of a Commercially Useful Isolate of Metarhizium anisopliae var. anisopliae

The isolate FI-1045 is the basis of a mycoinsecticide, BioCane TM granules recently registered for the control of greyback canegrub, Dermolepida albohirtum (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) in Australian sugarcane fields. The isolate was obtained from a naturally infected larva of D. albohirtum collected from Tully in north Queensland. The isolate can be distinguished from others infecting the same insect and also other species of canegrub by means of RAPD patterns and sequence data from the ITS region. A comparison of a stored FI-1045 isolate with three derived isolates which had different histories of host-passage, showed no variation in RAPD pattern. All isolates grew well at temperatures between 20 and 30°C but did not grow at 35°C and grew slowly at 15°C. However, on potato dextrose agar, the original FI-1045 grew more rapidly and did not produce as much pigment as the derived isolates. It is speculated that this difference was due to the storage method used with the original FI-1045 being stored at -70°C and the other isolates being freeze-dried. Bioassays against third instar greyback canegrubs gave a mean LC 50 of 8.7 2 10 4 conidia g -1 peat substrate after 10 weeks. Using Tenebrio molitor as a host, it was found that conidia taken directly from the infected insect were similar in virulence to the cultured FI-1045. Using injection of culture filtrate as the assay method, it was found that FI-1045 produced destruxins. In laboratory host range tests, a dose of 10 6 conidia g -1 peat killed 96% of southern oneyear canegrubs, Antitrogus consanguineius , 85% of Lepidiota picticollis and less than 30% of the other five species of canegrub tested.
Phenotypic and phylogentic characterisation of tannin degrading/tolerating bacterial isolates from the rumen of goats fed on pakar (Ficus infectoria) leaves

The tannin degrading/tolerating bacteria were isolated from goat rumen fed on tannin rich diet on a medium containing 1% tannic acid. One hundred and twenty five isolates were picked up and screened for their potential to grow on a medium containing tannic acid as one of the ingredients and eight best isolates were selected for further characterisation. The isolates were coccoid to cocco-bacillary. Two out of eight isolates were Gram negative and the rest were Gram positive. All the isolates exhibited tannase activity with maximum of 29.0 units in isolate numbers 5, 6 and 7 and were able to grow on glucose, cellobiose, galactose, fructose, starch and sucrose but none of the isolates was able to grow on rahmnose. The isolates were tolerant to the presence of gallic acid in the medium up to 20mM, but pyrogallol, ferulic acid and coumaric acid were toxic at higher concentrations (20mM). True degradability of pakar leaves was increased by 9.7% by inclusion of live cultures of isolate number 6 (Accession no. HM771331) in the incubation medium. The phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA sequences of the isolates made a tight cluster with Streptococcus gallolyticus showing similarity ranging from 97.4% to 99%. The goat isolate number 6 (Accession no. HM771331) was tolerant to the phenolic monomers, exhibited tannase activity and improved in vitro true digestibility of tannin rich pakar leaves. The isolate appears to have a potential to be used as microbial feed additive to improve the utilisation of poor quality tannin containing feeds by the ruminants.
Identification of Soybean mosaic virus and Zucchini yellow mosaic virus isolated from Iran and phylogenetic comparison with other isolates

As the important resource in human nutrition, vegetables are susceptible to several viruses. Potyvirus as the most important genus in the family Potyviridae causes severe crop yield reduction. We tried to detect a genomic fragment, amplified by RT-PCR by use of the Potyvirus degenerate primers (NIb2F/NIb3A), from samples of vegetables in East Azerbaijan. A pTZ57R/T vector was prepared by adding thymine nucleotide to the free 5′ end of the linear plasmid, to clone the fragments. Recombinant plasmids were transformed in Escherichia coli as a prokaryotic host. To investigate the identity of genomic fragments, sequencing was carried out and finally, some genomic segments were investigated to be SMV and ZYMV that are membranes of Potyvirus genus. This is the first report of ZYMV from this region of Iran based on RT-PCR detection and SMV is sequenced for first time from Iran. Finally, phylogenetic comparison with other isolates was carried out for these two isolate of Potyvirus genus.
Comparison of bioactive components in fresh, pressurized, pasteurized and sterilized pennywort (Centella asiatica L.) juices

The biologically active constituents of pennywort juice were analyzed by HPLC. The juice extract contained the bioactive glycosides, including asiaticoside and madecassoside. Antioxidant properties of juices were determined in terms of ferric-reducing antioxidant power assay, total polyphenol, β-carotene and ascorbic acid contents. After processing, asiaticoside, madecassoside and β-carotene in the extracted juice were relatively stable with no significant losses occurring. Pressurization could significantly retain ascorbic acid, polyphenols and antioxidant capacity than those pasteurization or sterilization. For storage assessment, asiaticoside in the processed juices was relatively stable during 4 months storage. Losses of ascorbic acid in the pressurized juice during storage were greater than in pasteurized and sterilized juice. However, the total amount of ascorbic acid retained in pressurized juice was still higher than those thermal-treated products.
Clinician Mindfulness Practice and the Implications for Burnout Mitigation: Mindfulness as a Values Component of Self-Care

Over 40 years after Freudenberger (1975) introduced the term, burnout remains a critical concern among mental health clinicians. Many researchers in recent decades have focused their attention upon burnout prevention, exploring the practices of clinicians, and proposing the possible factors at-play in counselor, therapist, and social workers’ resiliency in the face of vicarious trauma, and other burnout factors. Mindfulness is a growing area of interest in this course of study, with yoga, meditation, and visualizations as some of the exercises associated with the practice and its apparent benefits. This qualitative study examined mindfulness as a component of mental health clinician self-care and burnout prevention. In so doing, this study assessed clinician mindfulness practice through a survey and qualitative interviews, and then deployed the Maslach Burnout Inventory (1981) to triangulate findings and consider future study on this topic. The findings illuminate mindfulness practice as a valued component in the clinician’s arsenal of burnout prevention tactics.
Variability in numbers of long‐tailed bats (Chalinolobus tuberculatus) roosting in Grand Canyon Cave, New Zealand: Implications for monitoring population trends

Abstract Counts of roosting bats undertaken within caves are used frequently as indicators of population size, long‐term indices of population trends, and as measures of response to management. Numbers of New Zealand long‐tailed bats (Chalinolobus tuberculatus Forster 1844) using Grand Canyon Cave were monitored over 8 years. Grand Canyon Cave is a focal point for one of the largest known populations. Its has been used by long‐tailed bats consistently for >40 years. The aims of this study were to examine the utility of cave‐roost counts for long‐term monitoring of population trends in this threatened species, and to establish a baseline for future monitoring. Two population indices, number of bats counted roosting inside the cave during the day and net number emerging at dusk, were not significantly different. Monthly and daily counts were characterised by high variability. Indices varied significantly through the year but not between years. Distribution of bats within the cave was not random. Bats avoided roosting within 30 m of each entrance and larger groups were always concentrated along two 50 m stretches of cave ceiling. Large groups occurred when cave temperatures ranged from 10–13°C, suggesting an optimum temperature range. Maximum counts of 250 (day roosting) and 358 (night roosting) bats confirm that Grand Canyon Cave is significant as a site for C. tuberculatus. Counts can be used as a baseline against which to judge future trends in the population of C. tuberculatus at Grand Canyon Cave and contribute to national monitoring of bat populations. Effects of variation can be overcome with standardisation of repeat counts, adopting a sampling frequency that provides sufficient power to detect changes, and use of statistical models that separate sampling effects from variance in bat activity. Recommendations for future monitoring are made.
Short-term temporal genetic investigation of two populations of Pagellus erythrinus (Linnaeus, 1758, Sparidae) from Western and Eastern Mediterranean basins off the Tunisian coast

Abstract Geographic and temporal genetic variation of allele frequencies at 21 isozyme loci were examined in two populations of common Pandora, Pagellus erythrinus (Linnaeus, 1758, Sparidae). Fishes were sampled from Western and Eastern Mediterranean basins off Tunisian coasts over one year at the beginning of each season. Analysis of genetic diversity showed a low level of heterozygosity for all populations (average H e=0.052). Fixation indices reflected a significant departure from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium with heterozygote deficiencies, slight spatial differentiation between both sampling localities (F ST=0.003, P=0.017) and temporal genetic stability at seasonal and annual scales. Annual genetic variation was evaluated over a five-year period estimated indirectly from fish otoliths. Comparison of genetic diversity between year classes of both locations showed an increase of the H e values concurrent with age, supporting the hypothesis of the high variance in individual reproductive success. Finally, our results suggest that the effective population size of Pagellus erythrinus is large and genetic drift is weak but variable, especially between successive adult year classes for both sampling locations.
Subcellular Localization of Ca-ATPase and Calcium in Bufo arenarum Oviducts

The localization of calcium and Ca−ATPase activity in Bufo arenarum oviducts was investigated by ultrahistochemical techniques during the sexual cycle. In the preovulatory period prominent calcium deposits were detected in the secretory granules of epithelial and glandular cells as well as in close proximity to the plasma membranes. Furthermore, intense Ca−ATPase activity was found outlining the plasma and secretory granule membranes. Regional differences along the oviduct were observed. Immediately after ovulation the above−mentioned cells exhibited a marked reduction of calcium deposits and Ca−ATPase activity, but during hibernation this situation progressively reverted. These results demonstrate that the most prominent calcium deposits can be detected in the cellular structures that, through different secretion mechanisms, release their products towards the oviductal lumen to form the structural network of the jelly coats. The variations in calcium contents in the oviduct and the animal cycle changes in serum calcium levels are closely related with the fluctuations of estradiol serum levels during the sexual cycle, suggesting hormonal regulation.
Monitoring the metabolic response to nanoencapsulated silibinin treatment in DMBA-induced oral carcinogenesis using endogenous fluorescence

Autofluorescence spectroscopy is a very sensitive tool for detecting early metabolic response after cancer treatment. The present work aims to investigate the chemopreventive effect of the prepared silibinin-loaded nanoparticles (SILNPs) relative to the efficacy of free silibinin (SIL) for monitoring the changes in the endogenous fluorophore emission and to quantify the metabolic changes in the redox state during 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) induced hamster buccal pouch (HBP) carcinogenesis using autofluorescence spectroscopy. Significant differences in the autofluorescence spectral signatures between the control and the experimental animals have been noticed under the excitation wavelength at 320 nm with emission ranging from 350–550 nm. The tumor tissues are characterized by a decrease in the emission of collagen, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) compared to the control tissues. Further, the optical oxidation–reduction (redox) ratio is a measure of cellular metabolism and can be determined by the relative change in the fluorescence emission intensity of NADH and FAD. The optical redox ratio will provide sufficient information on metabolic changes associated with tumor transformation. The results revealed that a significant decrease in the optical redox ratio is observed in DMBA-induced tumor tissues, which indicates increased metabolic activity compared to the control tissues. Moreover, an oral administration of SIL and its nanoparticulates restored the status of endogenous fluorophore emission and led to a higher redox ratio in the buccal mucosa of DMBA-painted animals. On a comparative basis, treatment with nanoparticulate silibinin was found to be more effective than free silibinin for reducing the formation of squamous cell carcinoma and improving the status of endogenous fluorophore emission to a near normal range in DMBA-induced hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis. Furthermore, the diagnostic algorithms based on principal component analysis followed by linear discriminant analysis (PC–LDA) achieved an overall diagnostic sensitivity of 96.46% and specificity of 93.64% for separating the control from the experimental groups. The results of this study further suggest that the fluorescence spectroscopic technique in conjunction with PC–LDA has a potential for rapid and sensitive detection of specific metabolic alteration and changes in the endogenous fluorophores in response to anti-cancer drug treatments.
Mark Retention, Survival, and Growth of Jaw-Tagged and Fin-Clipped Rainbow Trout

Abstract Five groups (200 each) of rainbow trout were held in a hatchery pond for 2 years and grew from 229 to 444 mm TL. Three groups were marked with different jaw tags, one was fin clipped, and one was unmarked. Condition factors of tagged, fin-clipped, and unmarked rainbow trout from Lake Michigan were also available. Tagged trout held in a hatchery retained virtually all of their tags for a year, but at the end of 2 years, the three groups had lost 5% (No. 10 ring), 15% (No. 8 ring), and 21% (No. 3 strap) of the tags. Jaw tags inhibited growth slightly but had no effect on fish condition factors. Trout bearing the No. 3 jaw tag in Lake Michigan had significantly lower condition factors than unmarked trout, but No. 10 ring-tagged trout did not. In the hatchery, 95% or more of the pelvic, pectoral, adipose, and maxillary clips were recognizable at the end of 2 years. Growth and condition of trout held in the hatchery were unaffected by a combination of clipped pectoral and pelvic fins. The clipped pect.
Object-Based Mobile Augmented Reality for a 3D Model

: Augmented Reality (AR) is a convincing technology for manipulating user's visual perception of the real world. A single image-based tracking approach is not sufficient to recognise a 3D object from different viewpoints. The basic issue of this approach is it can no longer recognise a 3D model when the viewing perspective is changed since the image captured by the camera is no longer match the reference image. This paper presents an object recognition approach to track markerless 3D building blocks as the AR target. This was achieved by extracting the feature points of the building blocks through a preliminary scanning process using Vuforia Object Scanner. Then a dataset of these feature points is used to recognize the building blocks so that the tracking process can be performed and virtual models can be imposed. To make the AR scene more realistic, the virtual model shadow is added using shadow mapping approach. The experiment shows the presented method is able to recognize the building blocks from side to side, which leads to a robust tracking performance, while the shadow mapping successfully adds realistic shadows to the scene. This robust performance also resulting in a stable appearance of the augmented virtual model.
Genetic identification and phylogenetic inferences in different Mugilidae species using 5S rDNA markers

A DNA methodology was developed to discriminate fry of six Mugilidae species found in the Mediterranean, namely Mugil cephalus, Mugil so-iuy, Chelon labrosus, Liza aurata, Liza ramada and Liza saliens. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the 5S rDNA gene was used for the identification of the above six species. PCR products of two species showed different patterns on EtBr-stained agarose gels; M. so-iuy gave a pattern of three bands, while L. saliens gave a pattern of one band. Mugil cephalus, C. labrosus, L. aurata and L. ramada gave a pattern of two bands. Subsequent sequencing analyses revealed unique haplotypes for each of the remaining four species. This is a genetic technique that could be applied in hatcheries, for identification of fry mullet's species. Furthermore, 5S rDNA sequences of each of five of the studied species (i.e. M. cephalus, C. labrosus, L. aurata, L. ramada and L. saliens), as well as a sequence of Oedalechilus labeo that belongs to the Mugilidae family, were aligned and used for the examination of the phylogenetic relationships among them. Phylogenetic trees produced in our study are in general agreement with those presented in the literature. This is the first study to use a nuclear marker to elucidate the phylogeny of Mugilidae species.