Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rheological and Sensory Properties of Reduced‐Fat Processed Cheeses Containing Lecithin

Reduced fat processed cheeses were prepared with granular or hydrogenated soy lecithin. Trained sensory panelists (n = 11) determined that reduced-fat cheeses containing lecithin were more similar in texture attributes to full-fat control cheeses than reduced fat cheeses without lecithin (P<0.05). Consumer flavor and acceptance scores (n =60) for cheeses with lecithin were not different from control cheeses, but texture acceptance scores for cheeses with lecithin were higher than scores for reduced fat control cheeses (P.0.05). Cheeses containing lecithin were less elastic than reduced fat control cheeses as determined by sensory panels and instrumental percent creep recovery. Lecithin improved processed cheese texture without negatively affecting acceptance.
Plasmid profile of Escherichia coli 0157:H7 from apparently healthy animals

One hundred samples from healthy animals were screened for the presence of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli 0157: H7 and 17 were positive for EHEC 0157:H7 after confirmation using serology kits. Antibiotic susceptibility patterns showed the isolates to be highly susceptible to the various antibiotics screened with a few showing multiple antibiotic resistance. The plasmid profiles revealed that 8/17 (47%) of the animal isolates harboured detectable plasmids ranging in size from 0.564 kb to >23 kb. Key words : Escherichia coli, EHEC, animals, plasmid profile. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol.2(9) 2003: 322-324
Further insight into lobule teeth homology in Lejeuneaceae subf. Lejeuneoideae from Cheilolejeunea oscilla, a new species from Australia

Abstract Within the Lejeuneaceae the lobule papilla has been conceived to occupy three positions: proximal, distal, or ental of the apical tooth. This concept rests on the presupposition that the apical tooth in all species is homologous, an assumption that has been questioned but not demonstrably falsified. This paper describes a situation where characters describing the position of marginal papillae fail the test of conjunction, an explicitly testable criterion of homology, by co-occurring within an individual. This situation is presented by Cheilolejeunea oscilla, a new species from Queensland Australia. Variation in lobule morphology within individuals of C. oscilla demonstrates that a change from proximal to distal lobule papilla is achieved without altering the topological relationships between the first and second lobule teeth, and the lobule papilla. Therefore, the marginal papilla occupies the same position, proximal of the first lobule tooth, in all species of Lejeuneaceae subf. Lejeuneoideae, and apical teeth within typical Cheilolejeunea and Lejeunea are not homologous. The apparent difference in papilla position is due to the second lobule tooth being elaborated, and the first lobule tooth being incorporated into the lobule margin in typical Cheilolejeunea. One defining morphological character of Cheilolejeunea may be the presence of an elaborated second tooth, and on this basis the new combination Cheilolejeunea norrisii is proposed for a Tasmanian species previously referred to Lejeunea. The views of Mizutani and He, that referring to ‘apical’ teeth is ambiguous and the terminology ‘distal’ or ‘proximal’ when applied to lobule papilla position is positively misleading, are upheld. The need for descriptions of characters to accurately encapsulate the homology hypotheses they represent is stressed, and the need for greater attention to homology assessment when liverwort taxonomists propose characters and character states to describe their plants is again reiterated.
Implementation in breeding programmes

Genetic improvement is easy when selecting for one heritable and well-recorded trait at a time. Many industrialised national dairy herds have overall breeding indices that incorporate a range of traits balanced by their known or estimated economic value. Future breeding goals will contain more non-production traits and, in the context of this paper, traits associated with human health and cow robustness. The definition of Robustness and the traits used to predict it are currently fluid; however, the use of mid-infrared reflectance spectroscopic analysis of milk will help to create new phenotypes on a large scale that can be used to improve the human health characteristics of milk and the robustness of cows producing it. This paper describes the state-of-the-art in breeding strategies that include animal robustness (mainly energy status) and milk quality (as described by milk fatty acid profile), with particular emphasis on the research results generated by the FP7-funded RobustMilk project
Behavioural responses of a south‐east Australian floodplain fish community to gradual hypoxia

Summary 1. Hypoxic conditions occur frequently during hot, dry summers in the small lentic waterbodies (billabongs) that occur on the floodplains of the Murray-Darling River system of Australia. Behavioural responses to progressive hypoxia were examined for the native and introduced floodplain fish of the Ovens River, an unregulated tributary of the Murray River in south-east Australia. 2. Given the high frequency of hypoxic episodes in billabongs on the Ovens River floodplain, it was hypothesised that all species would exhibit behaviours that would confer a degree of hypoxia-tolerance. Specifically, it was hypothesised that as hypoxia progressed, gill ventilation rates (GVRs) would increase and aquatic surface respiration (ASR) would become increasingly frequent. Fish were subjected to rapid, progressive hypoxia from normoxia to anoxia in open tanks. 3. All tested species exhibited behaviours consistent with their use of potentially hypoxic habitats. As hypoxia progressed, GVRs increased and all species, with the exception of oriental weatherloach, began to switch increasingly to ASR with 90% of individuals using ASR at various oxygen concentrations below 1.0 mg O2 L−1. Australian smelt, redfin perch and flat-headed galaxias were the first three species to rise to ASR, with 10% of individuals using ASR by 2.55, 2.29 and 2.21 mg O2 L−1 respectively. Goldfish and common carp were the last two species to rise to ASR, with 10% of individuals using ASR by 0.84 and 0.75 mg O2 L−1 respectively. In contrast to other species, oriental weatherloach largely ceased gill ventilation and used air-gulping as their primary means of respiration during severe hypoxia and anoxia. 4. Australian smelt, redfin perch and flat-headed galaxias were unable to maintain ASR under severe hypoxia, and began exhibiting erratic movements, termed terminal avoidance behaviour, and loss of equilibrium. All other species continued to use ASR through severe hypoxia and into anoxia. Following a rise to ASR, GVRs either remained steady or decreased slightly indicating partial or significant relief from hypoxic stress for these hypoxia-tolerant species. 5. Behavioural responses to progressive hypoxia amongst the fish species of the Ovens River floodplain indicate a generally high level of tolerance to periodic hypoxia. However, species-specific variation in hypoxia-tolerance may have implications for community structure of billabong fish communities following hypoxic events.
Distributions of Natural Heritage Program Communities and their Use as Surrogates for Rare Species in New York State Parks

Abstract Biodiversity distributions can be quantified as alpha (taxonomic richness), and beta (compositional heterogeneity) components. In both cases, accurate and detailed assessments require substantial resources, so surrogate measures have been proposed and tested. Scientists from the New York Natural Heritage Program (NHP), working in over 140 New York State Parks, recorded occurrences of 128 different ecological communities, 98 significant (rare or exemplary) ecological communities, and 312 rare species. I used their data to test whether community distributions were valid surrogates for rare species diversity at alpha and beta levels. I found that (1) alpha patterns among the State Parks were similar for NHP significant communities and rare species; (2) beta patterns were contrasting, such that NHP significant communities were weak surrogates at this level; (3) alpha distributions were poor predictors of Beta distributions among parks; and (4) a large fraction of beta diversity is attributable to variation in geographic region, but most State Parks and all State Park Regions make unique contributions.
Do lowland habitats represent barriers to dispersal for a rainforest mayfly, Bungona narilla, in south-east Queensland?

Long-distance dispersal might be an important mechanism for the maintenance of aquatic insect populations in heterogeneous landscapes. However, these events can be difficult to measure by direct observation because the techniques can be time-consuming, expensive and technically difficult. When dispersal results in gene flow within and between populations, patterns of variation can be detected by genetic methods. The levels of population genetic structuring and the relationship between gene flow and geographical distance were assessed in the mayfly species Bungona narilla (Harker, 1957) in rainforest streams in south-east Queensland that are separated by lowland habitats. An analysis of molecular variance based on mitochondrial DNA data, using a fragment of the cytochrome oxidase I gene, revealed significant differentiation between regions, suggesting that maternal gene flow was restricted. A nested clade analysis revealed patterns of historical (contiguous) range expansions and recent restricted gene flow along with some long-distance dispersal events. Our analyses have shown that populations of B. narilla are significantly structured throughout the species range in south-east Queensland and that the low elevation habitats separating the northern and southern populations are restricting gene flow to some extent.
Different responses to area closures and effort controls for sedentary and migratory harvested species in a multispecies coral reef linefishery

We used a simulation model to examine the effect of area closures and fishing effort on the two main target species of the Great Barrier Reef Coral Reef Finfish Fishery: common coral trout (Plectropomus leopardus) and red throat emperor (Lethrinus miniatus). Area closures had greater effect on the more sedentary coral trout, in the areas outside the closures and accessible to the fishery, and little effect on red throat emperor, which was assumed to move among reefs. The effects of effort levels were greater than area closures on the harvest of both species and were seen not only in the areas accessible to the fishery, but also in the biomass of red throat emperor in the areas closed to the fishery. The catch and biomass resulting from a given effort level did not appear to have an equivalent effect attributable to any area closure. Although the effects of effort levels and area closures are confounded in reality by the coincidental implementation of area closures and restructuring of the fishery, the simulation model separated these factors to show that the closures under the 2004 rezoning should have had minimal effect on total-stock biomass and that a greater effect would result from changes in fishing effort.
Effects of climate change and management on net climate impacts of production and utilization of energy biomass in Norway spruce with stable age‐class distribution

We studied the effects of climate change and forest management scenarios on net climate impacts (radiative forcing) of production and utilization of energy biomass, in a Norway spruce forest area over an 80‐year simulation period in Finnish boreal conditions. A stable age‐class distribution was used in model‐based analyses to identify purely the management effects under the current and changing climate (SRES B1 and A2 scenarios). The radiative forcing was calculated based on an integrated use of forest ecosystem model simulations and a life cycle assessment (LCA) tool. In this work, forest‐based energy was used to substitute coal, and current forest management (baseline management) was used as a reference management. In alternative management scenarios, the stocking was maintained 20% higher in thinning compared to the baseline management, and nitrogen fertilization was applied. Intensity of energy biomass harvest (e.g. logging residues, coarse roots and stumps) was varied in the final felling of the stands at the age of 80 years. Also, the economic profitability (NPV, 3% interest rate) of integrated production of timber and energy biomass was calculated for each management scenario. Our results showed that compared to the baseline management, climate benefits could be increased by maintaining higher stocking in thinning over rotation, using nitrogen fertilization and harvesting logging residues, stumps and coarse roots in the final felling. Under the gradually changing climate (in both SRES B1 and A2), the climate benefits were lower compared to the current climate. Trade‐offs between NPV and net climate impacts also existed.
Enantioselective Oxidation of Racemic Citronellol with an Interface Bioreactor

Microbial oxidation of racemic citronellol was done on the interface between a nutrient agar plate and decane (interface bioreactor). While Rhodococcus accumulated (R)-citronellal (21-80% e.e.), many yeasts accumulated (S)-citronellic acid (20–68% e.e.) as the oxidation product. For the production of (R)-citronellal and (S)-citronellic acid, Rhodococcus equi IFO 3730 and Hansenula anomala IFO 0147 were the best strains, respectively. While citronellol-oxidation in R. equi IFO 3730 was (S)-selective, citronellal-oxidation was (S)-selective. Although H. anomala had also both (S-selective alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenases (constitutive, NAD+-dependent), the equilibrium of the alcohol dehydrogenase shifted to reduction of citronellal. Geotrichum candidum JCM 01747 accumulated very high concentrations of citronellic acid (conversion yield 90% in 5 days or accumulation 65 mg/ml in 13 days) in spite of the strong toxicity of the acid, although the optical purity was low. For the alleviation of the toxicity of .
β-Catenin Functions Mainly as an Adhesion Molecule in Patients with Squamous Cell Cancer of the Head and Neck

Background: β-catenin, depending on subcellular localization, plays a dual role in carcinogenesis: as a signaling factor (in the nucleus) and as an adhesion molecule (in cell membrane). In this study, we sought to determine the role of β-catenin in head and neck carcinogenesis. Methods: First, we studied the incidence of mutations of β-catenin in a cohort of 60 head and neck squamous cell cancers (HNSCC). We subsequently evaluated the protein expression levels of β-catenin in a cohort of oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer tissue microarray using a novel in situ method of quantitative protein analysis and correlated those with cyclin D1 levels and clinical and pathologic data. Results: The mean follow-up time for survivors was 45 months and for all patients was 35 months. We found no mutations in the cohort of 60 HNSCC. β-catenin displayed primarily membranous expression pattern. Patients with high tumor-node-metastasis stage were more likely to have high expression of β-catenin (P = 0.040). Patients with low β-catenin expression had a local recurrence rate of 79% compared with 29% for patients with high β-catenin tumors (P = 0.0021). Univariate Cox regression revealed a hazard ratio for low β-catenin tumors of 3.6 (P = 0.004). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that patients with low β-catenin expressing tumors trended toward worse 5-year disease-free survival (P = 0.06). In multivariate analysis, only β-catenin expression status was an independent prognostic factor (P = 0.044) for local recurrence. Tumors with high β-catenin had low cyclin D1 and vice versa (P = 0.007). Conclusions: The absence of activating β-catenin mutations combined with the inverse correlation between β-catenin levels with cyclin D1 levels and outcome suggest that β-catenin mainly functions as an adhesion and not signaling molecule in HNSCC.
Características da bacteriocina produzida por Lactococcus lactis ssp. hordniae CTC 484 e seu efeito sobre Listeria monocytogenes em carne bovina

Screening for the bacteriocin production of strains of lactic acid bacteria from various meat and meat products resulted in the detection of a bacteriocin-producing Lactococcus lactis ssp. hordniae CTC 484, isolated from chicken. The bacteriocin inhibited not only closely related lactic acid bacterium (Lactobacillus helveticus), but also pathogenic microorganisms (Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus, Clostridium perfringens, and Enterococcus faecalis). This compound was inactivated by a-chymotrypsin, trypsin, pronase E, ficin, pepsin, papain, and also by lipase. It was heat stable even at autoclaving temperature (121°C/10 min) and was produced under refrigerated storage. It was also active over a wide range of pH values (2-10), although the highest activity was observed in the lower pH range. The effectiveness of strain CTC 484 as well as that of its bacteriocin in reducing population levels and growth of Listeria monocytogenes in sterile beef were studied. The results indicated that the inoculation of this bacteria into the meat contributed to the safety improvement and the shelf life extension of this food.
Aging-Related Expression of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase and Markers of Tissue Damage in the Rat Penis1

Abstract Erectile dysfunction in the aging male results in part from the loss of compliance of the corpora cavernosal smooth muscle due to the progressive replacement of smooth muscle cells by collagen fibers. We have examined the hypothesis that a spontaneous local induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression and the subsequent peroxynitrite formation occurs in the penis during aging and that this process is accompanied by a stimulation of smooth muscle apoptosis and collagen deposition. The penile shaft and crura were excised from young (3–5 mo old) and old (24–30 mo old) rats, with or without perfusion with 4% formalin. Fresh tissue was used for iNOS and proteasome 2C mRNA determinations by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay, ubiquitin mRNA by Northern blot, and iNOS protein by Western blot. Penile sections from perfused animals were embedded in paraffin and immunostained with antibodies against iNOS and nitrotyrosine, submitted to the TUNEL assay for apoptosis, or stained for collagen, followed by image analysis quantitation. A 4.1-fold increase in iNOS mRNA was observed in the old versus young tissues, paralleled by a 4.9-fold increase in iNOS protein. The proteolysis marker, ubiquitin, was increased 1.9-fold, whereas a related gene, proteasome 2c, was not significantly affected. iNOS immunostaining was increased 3.6-fold in the penile smooth muscle of the old rats as compared with the young rats. The peroxynitrite indicator nitrotyrosine was increased by 1.6-fold, accompanied by a 3.6-fold increase in apoptotic cells and a 2.0-fold increase in collagen fibers in the old penis. In conclusion, aging in the penis is accompanied by an induction of iNOS and peroxynitrite formation that may lead to the observed increase in apoptosis and proteolysis and may counteract a higher rate of collagen deposition in the old penis.
Seed dormancy and germination stimulation syndromes for Australian temperate species

Understanding seed germination biology and the dynamics of seed dormancy is essential to developing reliable germination techniques. This paper presents some new data and reviews recent findings from germination studies on Australian species, with respect to the role of temperature and moisture in the control of dormancy and germination. A seed-burial experiment was conducted over a 1-year period (January–December) with seeds of Acanthocarpus preissii Lehm. , Astroloma xerophyllum (DC.) Sond. , Gahnia grandis (Labill.) S.T. Blake, Goodenia scaevolina F.Muell. and Tersonia cyathiflora (Fenzl) J.W. Green to determine the fluctuations in temperature and moisture seeds naturally experience in the buried environment. All seeds became hydrated during autumn (March) while soil temperatures were >15°C, suggestive of a period of warm stratification before the onset of cooler winter temperatures appropriate for germination. Evidence of rapid wetting and drying of seeds in the soil environment was also present. Laboratory experiments testing stratification as a means for dormancy loss showed that several weeks of warm stratification at 26/13°C or 33/18°C promoted germination of Lomandra preissii (Endl.) Ewart, Marianthus bicolor (Putt.) F.Muell. and Xyris lanata R.Br. seeds. X. lanata seeds also responded to several weeks of cold stratification at 5°C. By integrating this new data with other published data on germination of Australian species, diagrammatic models of germination timing, dormancy syndromes and propagation strategies for temperate Australian species are presented as working hypotheses to help direct future research.
Stimulation of Xenopus laevis Oocyte Maturation by Methyl-β-Cyclodextrin1

Abstract The cholesterol-depleting drug methyl-β-cyclodextrin (Me-β- CD) was tested for its effects on amphibian oocyte maturation, cholesterol depletion, and low-density membrane recovery. Progesterone-induced oocyte maturation was accelerated by pretreatment of cells with 5–50 mM Me-β-CD in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment of oocytes with 50 mM Me-β-CD alone was sufficient to induce germinal vesicle breakdown, stimulate formation of meiotic spindles, and stimulate phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase over time courses longer than those observed after progesterone treatment. After short-term (30 min) labeling of oocytes with [3H]cholesterol, 30–90 min of treatment with 5–50 mM Me-β-CD removed 50%–70% of cell- associated label, and cholesterol depletion was not observed with α-cyclodextrin. After long-term (20–23 h) labeling of oocytes with [3H]cholesterol, Me-β-CD treatment resulted in dose- dependent cholesterol depletion in the 5–50 mM range, and 50 mM Me-β-CD removed approximately 50% of cell-associated label after 9 h. Treatment of oocytes with 5–50 mM Me-β-CD also decreased recovery of low-density membrane by detergent- free sucrose gradient centrifugation. These results implicate cholesterol and low-density membrane domains in the signaling mechanisms leading to germinal vesicle breakdown in amphibian oocytes.