Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rapid Detection of Yeast in Orange Juice by Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay

Antisera against native yeast of 6 species, Candida intermedia, C. parapsilosis, C. guilliermondii, C. Iambica, Crytococcus lamentii, and Rhodotorula rubra, were prepared for use as probes in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). These antisera reacted with yeast cell surface antigens that are thought to consist of protein moieties. The qross-reactivities between the antisera and yeast of 11 species were investigated by immunofluorescent and immunoblotting methods. It was shown that ELISA using the antiserum against C. intermedia or C. parapsilosis, is a valuable means of detecting yeast in orange juice. Yeast of more than 103 were capable of being detected by ELISA.
HLA DRB1 and DQB1 Gene Diversity in Maratha Community from Mumbai India

Abstract Indian Population exhibits not only a wide variety of ethnic but also great cultural and linguistic diversity. In the present study 113 unrelated Marathas residing in Mumbai, Maharastra, (Western India) were studied for HLA DRB1 and HLA DQB1 locus antigen profiles. The HLA antigens were identified using commercially procured PCR-SSP typing kits. The genotype frequency, haplotype frequency and Linkage disequilibrium estimates were calculated following the standard methods. The HLA antigen frequencies of HLA DRB1*02, DRB1*15, DRB1*0701, DQB1*06 and DQB1*0203 were increased while that of HLA DRB1*0301, DRB1*12, DRB1*09, and DQB1*04 were decreased in the Marathas. Two Locus haplotype analyses revealed the presence of DRB1*02 - DQB1*06, and DRB1*04 - DQB1*0303 haplotypes with positive linkage disequilibrium among the Maratha. Haplotype DRB1*0701 - DQB1*06 and DRB1*0401 – DQB1*06 were the haplotypes identified in negative linkage disequilibrium. The observed antigen frequencies, haplotype frequencies and linkage disequilibrium in Marathas suggest the influence of genetic drift caused by selection, geography and culture. Further the study reveals that the Hindu population of India cannot be considered as a single panmictic population due to vast allelic diversity and immense heterozygosity in haplotypes.
Identification of an Interaction between the M-band Protein Skelemin and β-Integrin Subunits

Signaling across integrins is regulated by interaction of these receptors with cytoskeletal proteins and signaling molecules. To identify molecules interacting with the cytoplasmic domain of the β3-integrin subunit (glycoprotein IIIa), a placental cDNA library was screened in the yeast two-hybrid system. Two identical clones coding for a 96-amino acid sequence were identified. This sequence was 100% identical to a sequence in skelemin, a protein identified previously in skeletal muscle. Skelemin is a member of a superfamily of cytoskeletal proteins that contain fibronectin-type III-like motifs and immunoglobulin C2-like motifs and that regulate the organization of myosin filaments in muscle. The amino acid residues in the isolated clones encompassed C2 motifs 4 and 5 of skelemin. A recombinant skelemin protein consisting of C2 motifs 3–7 interacted with β1- and β3-integrin cytoplasmic domains expressed as glutathioneS-transferase (GST) fusion proteins, but not with GST-β2-integrin cytoplasmic tail or GST alone. The skelemin-binding region was in the membrane proximal cytoplasmic domains of the integrins. Full-length skelemin interacted with integrin in intact cells as demonstrated by the colocalization of hemagglutinin-tagged skelemin in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells containing αIIbβ3-integrin and by the finding that microinjection of C2 motif 4 of skelemin into C2C12 mouse myoblast cells caused spread cells to round up. A skelemin-like protein was detected in CHO cells, endothelial cells, and platelets, and this protein colocalized with β1- and β3-integrins in CHO cells. This study suggests the presence of a skelemin-like protein in non-muscle cells and provides evidence that it may be involved in linking integrins to the cytoskeleton.
Genetic diversity of Atherina hepsetus (Osteichthyes: Atherinidae) populations as determined by RFLP analysis of three mtDNA regions

The genetic differentiation of 11 Greek Atherina hepsetus populations have been investigated at the mtDNA level. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of three mtDNA regions (12S rRNA, 16S rRNA and D‐loop) amplified by PCR was used. Eighteen restriction endonucleases were found to have at least one recognition site at the three mtDNA regions studied. Fifteen different composite haplotypes were detected among the populations studied while 80.6% of the individuals were grouped in two common haplotypes. The estimated net nucleotide sequence divergence values between the populations ranged from 0.003 to 0.379%, while the Nst value of 0.092 indicates the existence of low interpopulation genetic differentiation. The findings clearly support the existence of a single panmictic population in the sampling area.
T102C and 1438 G/A Polymorphisms of the Serotonin 2A Receptor Gene in Etiology and Course of ADHD

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the -1438A>G and T102C polymorphisms of serotonin 2A (5-HT2A) receptor gene frequencies in patients with ADHD compared with a healthy control group, and to determine the effects of these polymorphisms on the course and outcome of ADHD. Fifty adolescents and young adults diagnosed with ADHD in childhood (between 1994 and 2001) were included in this study. The patients were followed in the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department of Gazi University Medical Faculty for 7–14 years, and they completed this follow-up period. The control group consisted of 50 adolescents and young adults who were healthy both physically and mentally. In adolescence and adulthood, a diagnosis was reached after a semistructured interview based on the DSM-IV criteria. A genetic evaluation was carried out using the Polymerase Chain Reaction method. 50 adolescents and young adults (39 males, 11 females; age range 16-25 years) who were diagnosed with ADHD during childhood (age range at the time of diagnosis 6–10 years) and 50 healthy adolescents and young adults (33 males, 17 females; age range 16-25 years) were evaluated. In adolescence and adulthood, the diagnosis of ADHD remained in 44 (88%) of the cases, whereas six (12%) were in remission after the 7–14-year follow-up. * No significant difference in the frequency of CC, CT and TT genotypes of T102C polymorphism (χ2=1.629, p=0.44) and AA, AG and GG genotypes of -1438A>G polymorphism (χ2= 0.065, p=0.96) was found between the ADHD and control groups. No significant difference was found between ADHD patients with CC, CT, or TT genotypes in terms of the outcome of the illness (χ2=0.114, p=0.94). Similarly, there was no difference between ADHD patients with AA, AG, and GG genotypes in terms of the outcome (χ2=0.530, p=0.76). No significant association between -1438A>G and T102C polymorphisms of the 5-HT2A receptor gene and ADHD was found in the present study. No significant effect of these two polymorphisms on the outcome of ADHD in adolescence was detected. The results of this study do not support a role for the serotonergic system in the development and course of ADHD.
A NEW SPECIES AND NEW RECORDS OF BLACK FLIES (DIPTERA : SIMULIIDAE) FROM THAILAND

Simulium (Byssodon) siripoomense sp. nov. is described based on two mature larval specimens collected from Thailand. This species is distinguished from the other known species of this subgenus by the pupal gill histoblast with six slender filaments. Four other simuliid species are newly recorded from this country : i.e., S. (Gomphostilbia) decuplum Takaoka and Davies, S. (G.) parahiyangum Takaoka and Sigit, S. (Simulium) brevipar Takaoka and Davies, and S. (S.) quinquestriatum (Shiraki). Two known species, which had been tentatively identified as S. (S.) sakishimaense Takaoka and S. (S.) nitidithorax Puri, are treated to be conspecific to S. (S.) fenestratum Edwards and S. (S.) tani Takaoka and Davies, respectively. Simulium (G.) sp. C, one of the five unnamed species previously reported, is found to conform to S. (G.) asakoae Takaoka and Davies.
Managing the Abundance and Diversity of Breeding Bird Populations through Manipulation of Deer Populations

Abstract: Deer densities in forests of eastern North America are thought to have significant effects on the abundance and diversity of forest birds through the role deer play in structuring forest understories. We tested the ability of deer to affect forest bird populations by monitoring the density and diversity of vegetation and birds for 9 years at eight 4‐ha sites in northern Virginia, four of which were fenced to exclude deer. Both the density and diversity of understory woody plants increased following deer exclosure. The numerical response of the shrubs to deer exclosure was significantly predicted by the soil quality (ratio of organic carbon to nitrogen) at the sites. Bird populations as a whole increased following exclosure of deer, particularly for ground and intermediate canopy species. The diversity of birds did not increase significantly following exclosure of deer, however, primarily because of replacement of species as understory vegetation proceeded through successional processes. Changes in understory vegetation accounted for most of the variability seen in the abundance and diversity of bird populations. Populations of deer in protected areas are capable of causing significant shifts in the composition and abundance of bird communities. These shifts can be reversed by increasing the density and diversity of understory vegetation, which can be brought about by reducing deer density.
The impact of daily tour service quality on tourist satisfaction and behavioural intentions in an island context: a study on tours to Isla de la Plata, Ecuador

ABSTRACT This study assesses the impact of daily tour service quality on tourist satisfaction and behavioural intentions in an island context. Using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), the analysis of data collected from 195 participating in a daily tour to Isla de la Plata (Ecuador) showed that all the services examined (transportation by boat, food and beverage, tourist guide and visits) had a significant direct impact on tour satisfaction, having the transportation the highest impact. Moreover, the indirect effect of the daily tours services on behavioural intentions mediated by the satisfaction with the tour was also significant.
Latitudinal pattern of abundance and composition of ciliate communities in the surface waters of the Atlantic Ocean

Abundance, biomass, and taxonomic composition of the ciliate community were studied in the surface waters along a transect between 50°S 61°W and 48°N 5°W (Atlantic Ocean, March-April 2011). The abundance of heterotrophic ciliates was low in the equatorial zone (280–320 cells l−1, 0.11–0.12 μg C l−1), but it increased toward both the northern and southern temperate zones with the maximum abundance observed at 44°S (2667 cells l−1, 0.82 μg C l−1). This pattern resembles the global distribution of oceanic primary production, which is low at lower latitudes and high in temperate zones. In temperate zones ciliate abundance peaks during spring and fall. Thus, because the present study was carried out during spring in the northern hemisphere and austral fall in the southern hemisphere, the ciliate abundance at higher latitudes was additionally elevated. Functionally autotrophic Mesodinium rubrum was only observed in the northern hemisphere and tropical waters. Its maximum abundance was observed at 48°N (1080 cells l−1, 1.14 μg C l−1). The most frequently observed ciliates were oligotrichs and choreotrichs. Other important ciliates were haptorids (including M. rubrum) and hypotrichs.
The response of rhizosphere microbial properties to flavonoids and Nod factors

Flavonoids and Nod factors (lipo-chitooligosaccharides) influence legume growth, plant–microbe communication and regulate microbial community. To assess the effects of pea (Pisum sativum) seed inoculation with flavonoids and Nod factors on microbial parameters, field study was performed on a Haplic Luvisol. Flavonoids were extracted from sprouted pea seeds, and Nod factors were isolated from Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae strain GR09. Pea seeds were soaked with flavonoids (F), Nod factors (Nod), mixture of both compounds (F + Nod) or water (control, C) and then planted. Enzyme activities (dehydrogenases, protease and acid phosphatase), the numbers of cultivable fungi, bacteria, Pseudomonas and Bacillus were determined in pea rhizosphere. Generally, a significant increase was observed in dehydrogenases and protease activities, bacteria, Pseudomonas and Bacillus numbers under F, Nod and F + Nod treatments compared to control and decrease in fungi number. The effect of F and Nod factors was significant for most of the microbial parameters analysed. Significant interactions between F and Nod factors for a number of fungi and Pseudomonas population were found. The results indicate that the application of F and Nod factors on seeds could improve root–microbes interactions through enhanced microbe number and activity in pea rhizosphere.
Temporal variation in dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima) habitat use and group size off Great Abaco Island, Bahamas

Dwarfspermwhales(Kogiasima)areamongthemostcommonlystrandedyetleast known pelagic cetaceans. Few studies have occurred at sea, and none have quantified temporal and spatial variation in dwarf sperm whale abundance and group size. We assessed seasonal and spatial variation in dwarf sperm whale group size and abundance off Great Abaco Island, Bahamas using surveys within a 126 km 2 study area with depths between 2 and 1,600 m. After correcting for survey effort and variation in sighting efficiency among sea states, we found that dwarf sperm whale group size and habitat use varied seasonally. In summer, dwarf sperm whale groups were small (median = 2.5, range = 1‐8) and were found only in the two deep habitats within the study area (slope 400‐900 m, deep 900‐1,600 m). In winter, group sizes increased (median = 4, range = 1‐12) and sightings were almost six timeshigherintheslopehabitat,whereverticalreliefishighest,thanotherhabitats. Our results suggest that studies of pelagic cetaceans and conservation plans must explicitly account for seasonal variation in group size and habitat use.
Breeding relationships among several species of Agaricus

We have examined the breeding behavior of several species of Agaricus including the cultivated A. brunnescens and the wild A. bitorquis, A. vaporarius, A. arvensis, A. campestris, A. silvicola, and A. placomyces. For A. brunnescens, two homo-karyons carrying auxotrophic mutations and compatible mating types were obtained from the American Type Culture Collection. A stable, prototrophic heterokaryon was recovered by nutritional selection from a pairing of the two auxotrophic strains. The two nuclear types were recovered from the heterokaryon by the formation and regeneration of protoplasts, many of which were homokaryotic. In A. bitorquis, a distinct macroscopic interaction correlated with dikaryon formation was observed in compatible matings of single-spore isolates. Fluffy zones of dikaryotic mycelium appeared in compatible pairings where the two cultures met. Mating among monosporous isolates was specified by unifactorial heterothallism. These observations of A. bitorquis were similar to those reported .
Satisfaction as a determinant of tourist expenditure

The main aim of this study is to analyse the influence of tourist satisfaction with the tourism offering on tourist expenditure in the destination. Quantitative analysis is based on 523 self-administered questionnaires collected from tourists visiting Rijeka and the Opatija Riviera (Croatia) during the summer of 2014. Principal component analysis was conducted on 22 elements of the offering in order to reduce the dimensionality of satisfaction with the tourism offering, resulting in four dimensions of satisfaction. Regression analysis was conducted with the log of daily expenditure as a dependent variable. The results revealed that only one satisfaction dimension (related to the diversity of facilities) out of the four proved to be a significant predictor of tourist expenditure in the destination. The study also confirms that family income, type of accommodation, past behaviour and length of stay significantly influence daily expenditure.
When the Horse Drinks: Enhancing Everyday Creativity Using Elements of Improvisation

A qualitative approach was used to investigate the elements of improvisation and why they are being used in a variety of fields to enhance creative, innovative thinking. Seven individuals from diverse disciplines, who all incorporate improvisational techniques in their work, were interviewed. Analysis using Patton's (1990) constant comparison method identified elements of improvisation that parallel the ingredients considered necessary for creative thinking. The elements that emerged from this research were communication, community/teamwork, honest emotional expression, risk/challenge, safety, self-actualization, and joy. Suggestions are offered for incorporating elements of improvisation into everyday activities and educational settings to enhance creative, innovative thinking and personal growth.
PII: S0305-4179(02)00104-3

A one-dimensional multi-layer model is presented to characterise the skin burn process resulting from the application of a high temperature heat source to a skin surface. Transient temperatures were numerically calculated using a finite difference method to solve the Pennes bioheat equation. A damage function denoting the extent of burn injury was then calculated using the Arrhenius assumptions. The model was used to predict the effects of thermal physical properties and geometrical dimensions on the transient temperature and damage function distributions. The results show that the epidermis and dermis thicknesses significantly affect the temperature and burn injury distributions, while variations of the initial temperatures and the blood perfusion have little effect. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.
Development of a host-vector system for Gluconobacter suboxydans

A shuttle vector for Gluconobacter suboxydans and Escherichia coli was constructed by ligation of a cryptic plasmid, pMV201, found in G. suboxydans IFO 3130 to E. coli plasmid pACYC177. The chimeric plasmid named pMGlOl carries the ampicillin resistance gene derived from pACYC177 and transforms G. suboxydans var. α IFO 3254 as well as E. coli. The transformation conditions for G. suboxydansvar. α IFO 3254 were examined using pMGlOl DNA. Competent cells were induced efficiently by treatment with LiCl or RbCl CaCl2 which induced the competency of Acetobacter was much less effective. Addition of polyethylene glycol enhanced the transformation efficiency significantly. An efficiency of approximately 102 transformants per μg DNA was finally obtained.
Enzymatic synthesis of UTPγS, a potent hydrolysis resistant agonist of P2U‐purinoceptors

1 The defective Cl− secretion characteristic of cystic fibrosis airway epithelial cells can be bypassed by an alternative Ca2+ dependent Cl− secretory pathway that is activated by extracellular nucleotides, e.g. uridine‐5′ triphosphate (UTP), acting on P2U purinoceptors. Since UTP is susceptible to hydrolysis by nucleotidases and phosphatases present in the airways, the identification of stable P2U‐purinoceptor agonists would be of therapeutic relevance. 2 Uridine‐5′‐0‐(3‐thiotriphosphate) (UTPγS) was synthesized by nucleoside diphosphate kinasecatalyzed transfer of the γ‐phosphorothioate from guanosine‐5′‐0‐(3‐thiotriphosphate) (GTPγS) or adenosine‐5′=O‐(3‐thiotriphosphate) (ATPγS) to UDP. Formation of UTPγS was illustrated by observation of transfer of 35S from [35S]‐GTPγS and transfer of 3H from [3H]‐UDP. The chemical identity of high performance liquid chromatography (h.p.l.c.)‐purified UTPγS was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance analysis. 3 Human 1321N1 astrocytoma cells stably expressing the phospholipase C‐coupled human P2U‐purinoceptor were utilized to test the activity of UTPγS. UTPγS (EC50 = 240 nM) was essentially equipotent to UTP and ATP for stimulation of inositol phosphate formation. 4 Unlike [3H]‐UTP, [3H]‐UTPγS was not hydrolyzed by alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, or apyrase. Moreover, no hydrolysis was detected during a 1 h incubation with human nasal epithelial cells. 5 UTPγS was equally potent and efficacious with UTP for stimulation of Cl− secretion by human nasal epithelium from both normal donors and cystic fibrosis patients. Based on its high potency and resistance to hydrolysis, UTPγS represents a promising compound for treatment of cystic fibrosis.
A model of the velocity of advance of foot and mouth disease in feral pigs

(1) A diffusion model was used to calculate the minimum velocity of advance of an outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in feral pigs Sus scrofa in eastern Australia. The rate of contact between feral pigs, the carrying capacity of the environment for feral pigs, and the duration of the latent period in the development of an FMD infection were found to be important factors affecting the velocity of propagation. (2) Two key parameters in the model, the diffusivity and the contact rate, were estimated from data collected during radio-tracking feral pigs in Namadgi National Park in south eastern Australia. In this environment, with a feral pig density of 1 4 km-2, the velocity of propagation of FMD was estimated to be 2 8 km day
Assembly of weed communities along a crop diversity gradient

Summary 1 Increasing cropping system diversity is one strategy for reducing reliance on external chemical inputs in agriculture and may have important implications for agro-ecosystem functions related to the regulation of weed populations and community assembly. However, the impacts of cropping system diversity on weed communities have not been evaluated formally in a study comparable with those performed in experimental grasslands, where much of the evidence regarding diversity–ecosystem function has been reported. We performed a field experiment in Michigan, USA, in which we manipulated the number of crop species grown in rotation and as winter cover crops over a 3-year period and in the absence of fertilizer and pesticides, to determine the impact of crop diversity on the abundance, composition and structure of the weed community. 2 Crop diversity treatments consisted of three row-crops, corn Zea mays L. , soybean Glycine max (L.) Merr. and winter wheat Triticum aestivum L. , grown in continuous monoculture and in 2- and 3-year annual rotations with and without cover crops (zero, one or two legume/small grain species). Weed communities were measured each year at peak biomass, with soil resources and light availability being measured over the course of the growing season in the final year of the study. 3 The effects on weed communities of the crop diversity treatments were dependent on rotation phase. In winter wheat, weed abundance and diversity (species richness, H′ and D) were lowest in the two highest crop diversity treatments. Across all phases of the rotation, weed community structure was affected more by crop identity than crop diversity per se. 4 In general, the effects of crop diversity on weed communities were mainly the result of the presence of cover crops, which had strong effects on soil resource and light levels, particularly in winter wheat. 5 Synthesis and applications. Increasing crop diversity in the absence of external chemical inputs can result in changes in soil resource availability without a concomitant increase in the abundance of weeds or a shift to weed communities that are more difficult to manage.