Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Starch Degradation and Textural Characteristics of Dietary Fiber Enriched Biscuits

Abstract The effects of dietary fiber inclusion on biscuit texture, cooking properties, and sugar release after in vitro degradation were investigated. Inulin, β-glucan enriched fraction (BGEF), potato fiber, and a resistant starch were used. Effects of the dietary fibers on the pasting properties of flour based mixtures were investigated using a rapid visco analyzer. Results showed a reduction in visco-pasting properties (peak viscosity and final viscosity) of the flour–dietary fiber systems with increasing fiber content. Addition of dietary fiber into the biscuits affected biscuit shrinkage and height development during cooking, as well as generally reducing the resistance of biscuits to snapping during texture analysis tests. Sugar release during in vitro degradation studies showed a highly significant decline when comparing dietary fiber enriched biscuits to the control samples. This would have a beneficial effect in potentially reducing the glycaemic index and subsequent glycaemic loading of such foods.
Conservation Genetics of Remnant Coastal Brook Trout Populations at the Southern Limit of Their Distribution: Population Structure and Effects of Stocking

Abstract We examined genetic variation within and among a group of remnant coastal brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis populations along the coast of the northeastern United States. These populations occur at the southern limits of anadromy for this species and could form the foundation of a restored anadromous metapopulation. We also tested for genetic introgression between these populations and the hatchery source that has been used to stock these sites. The overall F ST for the natural populations at 12 microsatellite loci was 0.145 (95% confidence interval, 0.108–0.183), and D was 0.225 (0.208–0.243). On average, 94.6% of individuals were correctly assigned to the population where they were collected. Our results suggest that there is little gene flow even between geographically proximate populations. We found little evidence that repeated historic stocking from a known hatchery source has led to genetic introgression into these wild coastal brook trout populations. One hybrid individual appeared to be .
Estimation of (co)variances for growth traits in Nellore cattle raised in the humid tropics of Brazil by random regression.

Modelos de regressao aleatoria sao utilizados atualmente na avaliacao genetica de bovinos de corte, devido admitir mudancas na media e variâncias da caracteristica ao longo do tempo, estimando (co) variâncias entre qualquer ponto na curva de crescimento do rebanho. Objetivou-se estimar componentes de (co)variâncias e parâmetros geneticos para caracteristicas de crescimento de bovinos Nelore por meio de regressao aleatoria, utilizando modelos com heterogeneidade e homogeneidade de variância residual. Utilizou-se de 23.278 registros de pesagens, do nascimento aos 550 dias de idade, nascidos entre 1993 e 2010. O modelo de melhor ajuste foi o que considerou os efeitos: genetico direto, genetico materno, de ambiente permanente do animal e o de ambiente permanente materno ajustado por polinomios de quarta, terceira, sexta e quarta ordens respectivamente. As estimativas de herdabilidade para o efeito genetico direto se apresentaram crescentes dos 120 aos 450 dias de idade e tendo uma reducao aos 550 dias de idade, observando-se valores de 0,23; 0,23; 0,38; 0,52 e 0,43, respectivamente, sendo que, as estimativas de herdabilidades maternais foram baixas para todas as idades analisadas, variando de 0,01 a 0,08. As correlacoes geneticas foram de moderada a alta magnitude, e mantendo-se moderada mesmo com o aumento da distância entre as idades.
Ancient mtDNA Implies a Nonconstant Molecular Clock in the Human Holobaramin

An analysis of 61 human complete mitochondrial genomes (six Neandertal, two Denisovan, and 52 modern Homo sapiens ) revealed real differences that cannot be reduced to simple varieties of modern Homo sapiens . Neandertals and Homo sapiens differed by an average of 190.9 single nucleotide differences (SNDs), with 104 fixed differences. Denisovans and Homo sapiens differed by an average of 370.8 SNDs, with 265 fixed differences. Denisovans and Neandertals differed by an average of 355 SNDs, with 349 fixed differences. When analyzed under the assumption of a molecular clock, results indicated that molecular substitution rates in human mtDNA must have been much higher at some point in the first 2000 years of earth history.
Helicases in Improving Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Crop Plants

Abiotic stress conditions adversely affect plant growth and limit agricultural production worldwide. Minimizing these losses is a major area of concern for all countries. Salinity, drought, and cold are among the major environmental stresses that greatly influence the growth, development, survival, and yield of plants. Several genes including the genes for helicases are known to express under the influence of various abiotic stresses. The helicases are ubiquitous enzymes that catalyze the unwinding of energetically stable duplex DNA (DNA helicases) or duplex RNA secondary structures (RNA helicases). Most helicases are members of DEAD-box protein superfamily that play essential roles in basic cellular processes regulating plant growth and development, such as DNA replication, repair, recombination, transcription, ribosome biogenesis, and translation initiation. It seems, therefore, that DEAD-box helicase might also be playing an important role in stabilizing growth in plants under stress conditions by regulating some stress-induced pathways. There are now few reports on the upregulation of DEAD-box helicases in response to abiotic stresses. The exact mechanism of helicase-mediated tolerance of stress has not yet been understood. There could be two possible sites of action for the helicases: (i) at the level of transcription or translation to enhance or stabilize protein synthesis or (ii) in an association with DNA multisubunit protein complexes to alter gene expression. Here, we have described all the known plant helicases, which play a role in stress responses. The exploitation of abiotic stress-responsive helicase genes of new pathways of RNA and DNA unwinding will be helpful for engineering stress-tolerant crop plants.
Novel Diversity Identified in a Wild Apple Population from the Kyrgyz Republic

The genetic diversity of a wild Malus population collected in the Kyrgyz Republic was compared with seedlings of Malus sieversii collected in Kazakhstan. Based on microsatellite marker results, we conclude that the population of 49 individuals collected in the Kyrgyz Republic includes private alleles and this population is assigned to a common genetic lineage with M. sieversii individuals found in the Karatau Mountain range of Kazakhstan. We recommend that a subset of these individuals be included in the National Plant Germplasm System Malus collection so they may be made available to breeders, physiologists, and other scientists for further examination.
Systematics and distribution of three Bothriurus species (Scorpiones, Bothriuridae) from central and northern Chile

Bothriurus coriaceus Pocock and B. keyserlingi Pocock are redescribed, and the latter is restored as a valid species (formerly under synonymy of B. coriaceus). Though these species were erroneously mentioned from Argentina and Brazil, they are restricted to Chile: B. coriaceus distributed from Coquimbo to Santiago (type locality Coquimbo), and B. keyserlingi from the Región de Valparaíso and surroundings (type locality uncertain). The external morphology and the hemispermatophores of these species are very similar; they differ in their pigment patterns. The ranges of both species are updated. New records of the close relative, B. dumayi, are also provided, which enhance its known distribution. Resumen Se redescriben Bothriurus coriaceus Pocock y B. keyserlingi Pocock, y esta última es revalidada (anteriormente bajo la sinonimia de B. coriaceus). Aunque fueran erróneamente citadas para Argentina y Brasil, estas especies están limitadas a Chile: B. coriaceus desde Coquimbo a Santiago (localidad tipo, Coquimbo), y B. keyserlingi en la Región de Valparaíso y alrededores (localidad tipo incierta). La morfología externa y el hemiespermatóforo de estas especies son muy similares, difiriendo en sus patrones de pigmentación. Se actualizan las distribuciones de ambas especies. Se proporcionan también nuevos registros de la especie próxima B. dumayi, ampliando su distribución conocida.
Phellinus rimosus. Protects Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Chronic Hepatotoxicity In Rats: Antioxidant Defense Mechanism

Abstract The capacity of a chemical to produce liver damage in vivo. often results from interaction of a series of complex cellular processes that are involved in the uptake, biotransformation, and elimination of potentially toxic compounds. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in the pathophysiology of a number of human ailments including carbon tetrachloride–induced hepatotoxicity. Several phytochemicals found in natural products associated with pharmacological attributes have been reported to scavenge free radicals. Chronic hepatotoxicity was induced by intraperitoneal injection of CCl4 (1.5 ml/kg body wt.) in paraffin oil. Administration of ethyl acetate extract of Phellinus rimosus. (Berk) Pilat (Hymenochaetaceae) 25 and 50 mg/kg body wt. orally prior to CCl4 injection significantly and dose-dependently protected the CCl4-mediated elevation of serum transaminases such as glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), and of serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The hepatic antioxidant status, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities and the reduced glutathione (GSH) level was reduced in the CCl4 alone treated animals. Administration of extract prior to CCl4 challenge restored the hepatic antioxidant status. The antioxidant status in the blood of CCl4 alone treated animals also decreased compared with the normal as well as extract plus CCl4 treated animals. The activity of a phase I enzyme, aniline hydroxylase, showed profound increase in the CCl4 alone treated animals that was reduced in the extract plus CCl4 treated group. The activity of phase II enzyme glutathione S. -transferase (GST) was also elevated in the liver and blood of animals treated with the extract compared with the CCl4 alone treated group. The serum and liver lipid peroxidation levels were elevated in the CCl4-treated animals compared with the normal or extract plus CCl4 treated animals. The findings thus suggested ethyl acetate extract of P. rimosus. protects CCl4-induced chronic hepatotoxicity in rat by restoring the liver antioxidant status, inhibiting phase I and enhancing phase II enzyme activities.
Tactical versus continuous stocking in perennial ryegrass-subterranean clover pastures grazed by sheep in south-western Victoria 1. Stocking rates and herbage production

A 4-year field experiment was carried out in south-western Victoria to determine whether tactical stocking might improve perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) persistence and prime lamb production, compared with the more common practice of year-around continuous stocking. Tactical stocking consisted of variable length summer, autumn and winter rotations and continuous stocking in spring. The 2 grazing strategies were compared on 2 contrasting pastures: an upgraded pasture, sown with newer cultivars of perennial ryegrass and subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) with 26 kg phosphorus/ha.year, and a more typical naturalised perennial ryegrass pasture receiving 6 kg phosphorus/ha.year. Paddocks were grazed by Border Leicester x Merino ewes, which were mated to a terminal sire to lamb in September. The effects of the grazing systems and pasture treatments on herbage production and stocking rate are presented in this paper. Herbage production was similar between the treatments, but tactical stocking significantly increased herbage mass during the growing season (P<0.05) compared with continuous stocking. In spring each year, the herbage mass generally exceeded 3000 kg dry matter/ha in tactically stocked paddocks and averaged 500–900 kg dry matter/ha higher than the mass on continuously stocked paddocks. This enabled the year-round stocking rate to be increased by an average of 9% over the 4 years of the experiment. We considered that the stocking rates could not be further increased, despite the higher herbage mass in spring, as stock reduced the dry herbage to a low residual mass by the opening rains in autumn. In contrast, stocking rates averaged 51% higher on the upgraded pasture compared with the typical pasture over the 4 years of the experiment. This indicates that pasture improvement and soil fertility status have a much greater impact on productivity than changes to grazing method. However, tactical stocking was able to increase the sustainability of prime lamb production on upgraded pastures in a dry summer climate, by maintaining herbage cover on the paddocks over the summer–autumn period.
Water‐miscible ionic liquids as novel effectors for the firefly luciferase reaction

Ionic liquids (IL) are used as a new class of solvents for various reactions. Especially using IL in biocatalysis in an aqueous milieu has attracted considerable attention because enzymes show remarkable differences in their catalytic features in IL‐containing reaction media. Firefly luciferase is widely used in many analytical techniques, because light production of firefly luciferase is one of the most sensitive analytical measures in the ultrasensitive detection of adenosine‐5′‐triphosphate, e.g. for measuring microbial contamination and monitoring gene expression, as well as for monitoring tumor growth and metastasis in whole animals. Firefly luciferase is an unstable enzyme and its inactivation can lead to low sensitivity in the above‐mentioned assays. The present study addresses the comparative influence of six different water‐immiscible IL, the 3‐methylimidazolium derivatives [BMIM]Cl, [HMIM]Cl, [BMIM]Br, [EMIM]Br, [HMIM]Br, and [BMIM]BF4, on the kinetic properties, structural stability, and function of firefly luciferase from Photinus pyralis using circular dichroism, fluorescence spectroscopy, and a bioluminescence assay. The incubation of luciferase with various IL showed that, with the exception of [BMIM]BF4, the activity and stability of luciferase was considerably increased in the presence of IL, compared to luciferase in aqueous medium. Moreover, Km for the substrate adenosine‐5′‐triphosphate in the presence of IL (except for [BMIM]BF4) decreased while Km for luciferin remained constant.
Light pollution at stadiums favors urban exploiter bats

Artificial night lighting by humans may destabilize ecosystems by altering light‐dependent biological processes of organisms and changing the availability of light and darkness as resources of food, information and refuge. I tested the hypothesis that urban exploiters should be more likely to utilize bright, unpredictable light pollution sources such as sport stadiums and building sites than urban avoiders. I quantified insectivorous bat activity and feeding attempts at seven sport stadiums under light and dark treatments using acoustic monitoring of echolocation calls. Species richness estimators indicated that stadium inventories were complete. Activity and feeding attempts were significantly higher at lit stadiums than dark stadiums, irrespective of season or surrounding human land use. Bats exhibited species‐specific differences in utilization of stadiums. As predicted, four urban exploiters – Chaerephon pumilus, Tadarida aegyptiaca, Otomops martiensseni and Scotophilus dinganii – dominated activity and feeding attempts at lit stadiums, yet one urban exploiter – Mops condylurus – was associated with dark stadiums. Activity levels at both dark and light stadiums were negatively correlated with peak echolocation frequency. Landscape‐scale and finer scale abiotic variables were poor predictors of bat activity and feeding attempts. My results suggest that in addition to abiotic processes associated with urbanization, light pollution at sport stadiums may homogenize urban bat diversity by favoring selected urban exploiters.
Comparative Nutritional and Phytochemical Evaluation of the Aerial and Underground Tubers of Air Potato (Dioscorea bulbifera) Available in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

The wild yam species (Dioscorea bulbifera), known as edu in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria, has two types of edible tubers (underground tubers and aerial bulbils) produced by the same plant. The yam species is highly neglected in the region and all over the world such that it is only consumed in the rural areas of the region often not out of preference but at periods of food scarcity. Both tuber forms are consumed in Abakaliki. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the nutritional and antinutritional profiles of the two tuber forms. The proximate and phytochemical constituents were determined using standard official methods of the Association of Analytical Chemists while mineral elements were quantified by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) method. The study revealed no significant difference between the tuber forms in their contents of crude fats, fibre ash and carbohydrates and calorific values (P>0.05) while crude protein was Original Research Article Celestine and David; BJAST, 11(4): 1-7, 2015; Article no.BJAST. 20249 2 significantly higher in the aerial bulbils (P<0.05). The mineral elements K, Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu and P but Mn were all significantly higher in the underground tubers while the heavy metals Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni, Se and Co were not detected. Oxalate, tannins and phenols were significantly higher in the underground tubers while the bulbils were richer in alkaloids, HCN saponins and flavonoids. Compared with nutritional values of common edible yam species in the literature, this study also showed that this neglected yam species is a good source of protein, lipid, crude fibre, carbohydrates and minerals. Its contents of the toxic substances (phytate, oxalate, tannins, alkaloids and HCN) were not exceedingly higher compared to common yams. Considering the levels of proximate, minerals and phytochemicals and also the various literature reports on the medicinal potentials of D. bublifera, we advocate for increased utilization of this yam species in the area and beyond to reduce food crisis.
Lowering environmental costs of oil‐palm expansion in Colombia

Colombia is the fifth largest producer of palm oil in the world. The country's government and oil‐palm farmers association target a sixfold increase of crude palm‐oil production by 2020. We model the impacts of expanding oil‐palm agriculture in Colombia through a spatially explicit scenario analysis. We demonstrate that the impacts of oil‐palm expansion (e.g., deforestation, conversion of natural savannahs) would be minimized by establishing new plantations on pasture lands, given the low environmental value and economic utility, and the high agricultural potential of this land use. Impacts of oil‐palm expansion on beef and dairy production could be compensated by improving productivity of pasture lands elsewhere. However, the profitability of oil‐palm production in these areas might suffer over the long term due to high land purchase costs.
Genes for Sperm‐specific Basic Nuclear Proteins in Bufo and Xenopus Are Expressed at Different Stages in Spermatogenesis

The expression of the genes for sperm‐specific basic nuclear proteins was examined, using the cDNA clones encoding protamine (P2) of Bufo japonicus and SP4 of Xenopus laevis as probes. Northern analyses showed that the mRNAs for these proteins were present only in the testes. Analyses with total RNA extracted from testicular cells at various spermatogenic stages revealed that in Bufo the transcripts of protamine genes are present in the spermatids, while in Xenopus the mRNAs for SP4 are present in both primary spermatocytes and spermatids. In situ hybridization studies with radiolabeled antisense RNA probes generated from cDNAs indicated that the Bufo protamine mRNAs accumulated first in round spermatids, while the Xenopus SP4 mRNAs did so in the pachytene stage of primary spermatocytes and thereafter.
Bacillus: género bacteriano que demuestra ser un importante solubilizador de fosfato

Objective: Identify phosphate solubilizing activity of strains of the genus Bacillus, as an alternative to improving soil for agricultural production. Materials and methods: For the study, 11 strains of the genus Bacillus were collected from rhizosphere of plants and fireplaces of broiler chicken producers. Two strains were used as negative control, and stored at -70C prior to reactivation for identifying phosphate solubilizing activity. Results: 11 strains showed Phosphate solubilizing abilities. Each strain studied exhibited different solubility rates
Discriminating Crop Residues from Soil by Shortwave Infrared Reflectance

Quantifying crop residue cover on the soil surface is important for evaluating the effectiveness of conservation tillage practices. Current methods of measuring residue cover are inadequate in characterizing the spatial variability of residue cover over large fields. The objectives of this research were to determine the spectral reflectance of crop residues and soils as a function of water content and to evaluate the limits of discrimination that can be expected. Spectral reflectances of corn (Zea mays L.), soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ], and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) residues plus five diverse soils were measured over the 400- to 2400-nm wavelength region at a wide range of moisture conditions in the laboratory. Reflectance factors for scenes with varying proportions of crop residues and soils were simulated. The spectra of dry crop residues displayed a broad absorption feature near 2100 nm, associated with lignin and cellulose, that was absent in spectra of soils. The relative depth of the cellulose-lignin absorption feature, defined as the cellulose absorption index (CAI), was positive for all crop residues, except those saturated with water. In contrast, all soils had negative CAI values. Water significantly altered reflectance spectra of wet crop residues, but it did not prevent the discrimination of crop residues from the soils using the CAI. The wide range of CAI values expected for dry and moist conditions makes quantification of crop residue cover feasible. This reflectance technique appears promising for field- and regional-scale surveys of crop residue cover and conservation tillage practices.
Intra- and interspecific variation in patterns of organic and inorganic nitrogen utilization by three Australian Pisolithus species

The ability of three Australian Pisolithus species, discriminated on the basis of ITS sequence data, to utilize a range of inorganic and organic nitrogen sources was assessed in liquid axenic culture. Both intra-, and putative interspecific, variation in nitrogen source utilization was observed. Most isolates demonstrated a preference for NH 4 + over NO 3 − , although some showed no significant preference for either inorganic source. All isolates utilized a range of amino acids. Species I isolates demonstrated a preference for acidic and/or neutral amino acids over basic acids, while species II and III isolates generally utilized amino acids poorly relative to species I. Although most isolates utilized BSA poorly, two species I isolates that had been maintained in axenic culture for > 10 y grew well on this substrate, suggesting possible changes in nitrogen utilization with extended storage in axenic culture.