Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lipometabolic Alteration in Mice Feeding Eatable Tissues of Chinese Mitten Crab

Objective: Chinese mitten crab is a famous aquatic species in eastern Asian region, but their edible parts, particularly hepatopancreas and gonads, generally contain very high levels of lipids that may have negative effects on human health. This study investigated the effects of different edible parts of Chinese mitten crab on the body weight and lip metabolism for Kunming mice. Method: The mice were fed with diets containing one part of an Chinese mitten crab or the mixture of parts of an Chinese mitten crab for 4 weeks. There were 9 treatments. The triacylglycerol (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were enzymatically determined using commercial kits (purchased from Nanjing Jiancheng Bioengineering Institute, China). The arteriosclerosis index (AI) was calculated by the equation: AI = (TC – HDL-C)/HDL-C. The levels of fatty acid syntheses (FAS), the 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA) and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) were measured using commercially available kits according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The significant differences between the groups were further analyzed by Bonferronis’s t-test. Results: Our results showed that the crab hepatopancreas, gonads and the mixed male crab-edible parts increased blood lipids in some experiment group of mice corresponding to a change in the nutrition-related liver enzymes. It shows that addition of the Chinese mitten crab has an adverse effect on the blood lipid levels in mice. The FFH, FFMI and FMMI groups had significantly higher weight than the FN group (P < 0.05). The crab hepatopancreas, crab gonads and the mixed male crab-edible parts cause an increase in the blood lipid levels. The crab mixture significantly affected the AI value of male and female mice (P < 0.01). The level of FMMI group was significantly higher than the FN group (P < 0.05). Other groups showed no significant difference. The level of the FFMI group was significantly lower than the FN group (P < 0.05), and levels in the MMM and MFMI groups were significantly lower than the MN group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: It clearly showed that long-term feeding with the Chinese mitten crab has an adverse effect on the blood lipid levels in mice. One the one hand, the weight, liver index and fat index of experimental mice were changed than normal mice. On the other hand, the crab diet affects the level of TC, TG, AI and FASN on increasing. It is suggested that the special diet has affected lip metabolic alteration associated with contents of serum lipids and metabolic enzymes. But according to a certain regular feeding, there would be no adverse effect on mice. On the contrary, it may adjust the blood lipid in mice
Parasitism and pathogenicity of curly-leaf parsley with the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica in Southern Italy

Summary Severe infections of parsley plants and soil infestations with Meloidogyne javanica during an autumn surveys for the pathogenic root-knot nematode infestations were found in Monopoli at Bari province in Southern Italy. This unusual severe infection of parsley, considered a winter crop, was possibly instigated by a very warm autumn from the previous year. Nematodes were extracted from soil samples according to the Coolen’s method. Morphological analysis (based on stylet length, tail length and shape, adult females perineal pattern, excretory pore position and Ep/stylet ratio) and molecular studies were used for the nematode characterization and identification. In the soil of infested area a severely deformed root systems were observed, showing a galling rate = 2.5 - 4 (scale 0-5) and a soil nematode population densities ranging from 350 to 2,730 eggs and J2 per 5 g of fresh root. M. javanica attack on parsley roots is a limiting factor for plant growth. Considering that curly-leaf parsley varieties resistant to the nematodes are not yet available control strategies must be focused on reduction of soil infestation level below tolerance limit of the target nematode species. Due to the higher cost and reduced availability of fumigant and non-fumigant nematicides, soil solarization, organic amendments or biological control approaches should be preferably used as alternatives.
Network Governance for Invasive Species Management

Invasive species management depends not only on biological and economic issues but also on how governance institutions influence cooperation from networks of stakeholders. We use the “contingency” framework for network governance to analyze why eradication of invasive Spartina in San Francisco Bay has been more successful than many other eradication efforts. The core argument is that invasive Spartina features antecedent conditions that favor a centralized network as the best governance approach, as demonstrated by a quantitative survey of Spartina stakeholders. This centralized policy network, with a clearly defined core of actors with the expertise, authority, and resources, produces effective cooperation. The contingency framework has implications for invasive species management more generally, as well as other conservation issues featuring dynamic spatial ecological processes.
Determination of Fatty Acid Composition and Phospholipid Molecular Species of Large Yellow Croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea) Roe from China

ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to investigate the composition of the fatty acids and phospholipids derived from large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea) roe. The composition of the total lipids and the molecular species of phospholipids were determined by gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy (GC–MS) and high performance liquid chromatography–evaporative light scattering detector (HPLC–ELSD), respectively. The results showed that large yellow croaker roe had high levels of the total lipid (19.6% ± 1.32%, w/w) and phospholipid (61.2% ± 1.22% of the total lipid). The phospholipid was rich in docosahexaenoic acid (31.0% ± 0.19% of the total phospholipids), and the major phospholipid molecular species was phosphatidylcholine (PC, 61.06% ± 0.02% of the total phospholipids, w/w). It was concluded that large yellow croaker roe is expected to be a good resource of phospholipids with a high content of PC.
Identification and characterization of novel antitubercular compounds

Novel strategies, including phenotypic screenings directly in a host-pathogen system, are needed to discover new drugs against tuberculosis. We used amoebae such as Dictyostelium discoideum and Acanthamoeba castellanii as a host model for in vivo drug screenings. We developed assays to monitor the impact of chemicals and intracellular factors on bacteria health, growth, and virulence mechanisms and intrinsic host defenses. We used GFP fluorescent reporters for quantification of bacteria numbers. We validated the system using known first and second line antimycobacterial drugs.
Digenean trematode cysts within the heads of threatened Galaxiella species (Teleostei : Galaxiidae) from south-eastern Australia

Abstract. The dwarf galaxias (Galaxiella pusilla) and little galaxias (Galaxiella toourtkoourt) are both threatened freshwater fish from south-eastern Australia. Occasionally populations have been found with enlarged heads associated with the accumulation of ‘white balls’, but the cause of these deformities has not previously been investigated. In this study, histopathology and molecular techniques were employed to identify cysts extracted from the heads of Galaxiella species across six populations. Histopathology and DNA sequences from both mitochondrial (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I) and nuclear (ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1) regions identified the cysts as metacercariae of Apatemon gracilis (Rudolphi, 1819), a cosmopolitan digenean trematode species. Heavy infestations of trematode metacercariae within Galaxiella populations are of concern due to the potential to cause increased mortality associated with altered behaviour of the fish host that increases the likelihood of predation. Direct mortality from infestations is also possible, but not quantified in this study.
Halophile isolation to produce halophilic protease, protease production and testing crude protease as a detergent ingredient

Halophilic enzymes are potentially useful in many industries, particularly in food fermentation, pharmaceutical, textile, and leather for the treatment of saline and hypersaline wastewaters. In this study, a halophilic bacterium was isolated from saltpan environment, and was identified as Bacillus sp. Mk22 through biochemical test and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. During protease screening, the isolates produced 24 mm clear zone around the bacterial colony. The maximum production of proteases was due to the following conditions: 45°C, pH 8, 12% NaCl, carbon source glucose, nitrogen source skim milk powder and 42-h culture time, respectively. The protein was purified 16.5 fold, having 24.01% recovery, in DEAE-cellulose chromatography and 64 kDa molecular weight. Ca and Zn enhanced protease activity, while Hg strongly inhibited it. The protease was used to destain blood, ink, coffee and was active and stable under more than one extreme condition of high salt, pH, and temperature. Key words: Saline environment, halophilic bacteria, protease, detergent.
Oocyte quality: Molecular constituents altered in the oocyte due to various environmental factors

In vitro-matured (IVM) oocytes lack the same developmental competence as oocytes that are matured in vivo (IVV), yet no compelling explanation for this discrepancy has been provided at the molecular level. The aim of this study was to identify molecular alterations between porcine oocytes that are matured in vitro compared to those that are matured in vivo, which may ultimately lead to differences in developmental competence. The transcriptomes of in vivo-matured and in vitro-matured porcine oocytes were analyzed using the Illumina sequencing platform. This analysis identified 493 transcripts that were differentially expressed (FDR-adjusted P<0.05) between the IVV and IVM oocytes. Of these, 460 (93%) were more abundant in the IVM oocytes, whereas 33 (7%) were more abundant in the IVV oocytes. In the second part of this study, quantitative real-time PCR was used to evaluate relative gene expression levels of 70 genes from a variety of functional gene categories in individual IVM and IVV porcine oocytes. Relative transcript abundances for 18 out of the 70 genes tested were found to be differentially expressed between the IVM and IVV oocytes. Of these differentially expressed genes, 14 were higher in the IVM oocytes and only 4 were higher in the IVV oocytes. Based on RNA sequencing and qPCR results, western blot analysis of protein expression levels of the hypoxia-inducible chaperone protein HYOU1 in IVV and IVM porcine oocytes was performed. Relative levels of HYOU1 protein were found
NEST PREDATION OF CHUKAR PARTRIDGE (ALECTORIS CHUKAR GRAY, 1830) IN SOUTHEASTERN BULGARIA: EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

This study aims investigation of chukar partridge losses during the incubation period in species’ nesting habitat. From 45 nests set in 2010 and 2011, 19 (42.22 %) were destroyed. In 13 of these, mammal predation was the cause. 4 (8.89 %) were destroyed by birds and 2 (4.44 %) by unknown pest. Statistical differences between the size of destroyed nests and herb vegetation height have not been found. Losses were, more likely, distributed randomly in time. Relationship between setting time and herb vegetation height was not established.
Chromatin structure and gene expression: from the TMAC complex to the dREAM complex

Multi-subunit complexes such as the testis-specific meiotic arrest complex (TMAC) and the dREAM complex are context specific gene regulators, controlling genes involved in spermatogenesis and the G2/M transition respectively. The TMAC and dREAM complexes largely consist of subunits that are the same or paralogous to one another. One shared subunit, chromatin assembly factor 1, is also a component of the nucleosome remodelling factor complex, which has a similar testis gene expression phenotype to a TMAC mutant when its testis specific isoform, NURF301, is mutated. Therefore both complexes are thought to control gene expression, at least in part, through modifying chromatin either directly or through associations with chromatin remodellers. To investigate this further I have employed an unbiased approach for determining the positions of DNA bound proteins in vivo called Chromatin Particle Spectrum Analysis (CPSA) which involves micrococcal nuclease digestion of native chromatin and paired-end mode Illumina sequencing. Strikingly, in the cells which have many genes activated by TMAC, the spermatocytes, the transcriptional start sites of TMAC target genes lack coherent nucleosome positioning, which is a robust indicator of high gene expression in somatic cells. Disruption of TMAC does not decidedly alter this structure, suggesting that TMAC does not influence nucleosome positioning surrounding testis specific transcriptional start sites. In contrast, when analysing dREAM subunit deficient S2R+ cells, dREAM is found to contribute to the depletion of a nucleosome sized particle at the mid-point between divergently transcribed genes. This phenotype is linked with the involvement of dREAM in both enhancer blocking between proximal genes and its interaction with the nucleosome remodelling and deacetylase complex. Overall, I uncover the unique chromatin structure of highly expressed genes in spermatocytes, and implicate dREAM as being involved in nucleosome removal between divergent gene pairs.
Myloplus planquettei sp. n. (Teleostei, Characidae), une nouvelle espèce de grand Serrasalminae phytophage du bouclier guyanais

Myloplus planquettei sp. n. is a new species which can reach 58 cm of standard length. M. planquettei is described from Mana, Maroni and Essequibo Basins on the Guiana Shield. Wayana people look upon M. planquettei as a patrimonial species. In Maroni Basin, M. planquettei differs from M. rubripinnis and a specimen identified as Myloplus sp. by the presence of a black distal margin well defined on the caudal fin and a larger number of postdorsal vertebrae. The number of rays on the anal and dorsal fins is lower in M. planquettei than in M. rubripinnis. M. planquettei is also different from the Myloplus sp. specimen of Maroni by more prepelvic and total serrae. In the Maroni and Mana Basins, M. planquettei is sympatric with Tometes lebaili, another large phytophagous Serrasalminae.
EFFECTIVENESS OF TEXT MESSAGE INSTRUCTIONS ON ORAL HYGIENE FOR ORTHODONTIC PATIENTS

Background: Several studies have recently demonstrated that active communication to explain the importance of oral hygiene can improve the oral health of orthodontic patients. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a structured text message communication on orthodontic patient’s oral hygiene compliance for tooth brushing, plaque control and gingival health. This Randomized clinical trial was conducted on 100 patients of both sex with age range between 15-25 years recruited from orthodontics department de,Montmorency College of Dentistry, Lahore. All participants were undergoing fixed orthodontic appliance therapy. Participants were randomized in to text message and control group. Pre, during and post-trial examinations were carried out by author her-self using blind and calibrated methodology using plaque, bleeding and modified gingival indices. Results showed that text message group expressed a statistically significant (P<0.001) decrease in Bleeding Index score, Plaque Index score and Modified Gingival Index score from 0-60 days as compared to control group. This was concluded that text message reminder system is effective for improving oral hygiene compliance in orthodontic patients. Bleeding Index, Plaque Index and Modified Gingival Index scores were significantly lower in the text message group than control group. There is a need of clinical trial with longer duration on large number of subjects in the age range of 15–40.
Numerical simulation of 2D hydraulic jumps using SPH method

A hydraulic jump that generally occurs in river or spillway is a rapid transition from supercritical to subcritical flow characterized by the development of large-scale turbulence, surface waves, energy dissipation and considerable air entrainment. The hydraulic jump is widely used as energy dissipaters in hydraulic engineering due to the high energy dissipation rate. In this study, a weakly compressible smoothed particle hydrodynamics model (WCSPH) is established to simulate the 2D hydraulic jump in open channel. To test the model, two hydraulic jump cases with different inflow Froude number are simulated. The comparison between numerical conjugate depths in the subcritical section with theoretical results show generally good agreement with theory. In addition, an aeration at the jump toe can be clearly observed in numerical results with only Single-phase flow. It is proved that SPH method has unique advantages dealing with the hydraulic jumps.
Rapid determination of the angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory activity of peptide by HPLC method: A simulated gastrointestinal digestion study

ABSTRACT Angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) plays a vital role in blood pressure regulation. In vitro ACE inhibitory activity assays are commonly used for evaluating the activity of inhibitors in many researches. In the present study, a rapid, sensitive, simple, and accurate HPLC method for ACE inhibitory activity determination using chicken meat as a model was developed. Specific attention was paid to assess the ACE inhibitory activity of peptides released during simulated gastrointestinal digestion. Using hippuryl–histidyl–leucine as the substrate, ACE can catalyze it into hippuric acid, which is rapidly and sensitively detected by the HPLC at the retention time of 8–10 min. The ACE inhibitory activity of each digestion solution can be rapidly determined every 15 min or less. The model protein displayed a high ACE inhibitory activity during simulated gastrointestinal digestion, but the digestion solution in the stomach showed stronger activity than in the intestine. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Spatial variations in the zooplankton community from the Corumbá Reservoir, Goiás State, in distinct hydrological periods = Variações espaciais da comunidade zooplanctônica no reservatório de Corumbá (Estado de Goiás), em distintos períodos hidrológicos

This study evaluated the spatial variations in species richness and abundance of zooplankton over a hydrological cycle, and also verified the influence of physical and chemical water variables and chlorophyll-a concentrations on the abundance of these organisms. The tested hypothesis was that the zooplankton community presents higher species richness in lotic environments and higher abundance in lentic ones. One hundred forty species were identified, distributed among rotifers (88), testate amoebae (35), cladocerans (13) and copepods (4). Higher values of species richness and abundance were observed during the dry period. During both hydrological periods, the copepods presented high abundance values, due to the contribution of young stages, followed by rotifers, cladocerans and testate amoebae. In general, testate amoebae presented high values of species richness and abundance in lotic sampling stations, whereas the other zooplankton groups (rotifers, cladocerans and copepods) presented higher abundances in lentic environments and higher species richness in lotic ones. The Pearson correlation analysis evidenced the importance of physical and chemical water variables and food resource availability influencing the variation of organisms’ abundance.
Is TD-60 a chromosomal passenger protein, a Guanine exchange factor, or both?

III DECLARATION . V ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . VIII PUBLICATIONS . XI TABLE OF CONTENTS . XII LIST OF FIGURES . XVII LIST OF TABLES . XVIII ABBREVIATION . XIX INTRODUCTION . 1 1.1 The cell cycle . 1 1.1.1 General overview . 1 1.2 Mitosis: an overview . 4 1.2.1 Mitotic phases . 5 1.2.1.1 Prophase . 5 1.2.1.2 Prometaphase . 5 1.2.1.3 Metaphase . 6 1.2.1.4 Anaphase . 6 1.2.1.5 Telophase . 6 1.2.1.6 Cytokinesis . 7 1.2. 2 Centromeres and Kinetochores . 7 1.2. 2.1 General Overview of kinetochore proteins . 9 1.2. 3 The mitotic spindle . 14 1.2. 4 Kinetochore-­‐microtubules attachments . 16
Supplementation with corn oil and palm kernel oil to grazing cows: ruminal fermentation, milk yield, and fatty acid profile

The effect of supplementation with corn oil (CO) and its mixture with palm kernel oil (CO:PKO 75:25) to grazing cows on ruminal fermentation, milk yield, and its fatty acid (FA) profile was evaluated. The treatments were: one control treatment (C) without oil and two treatments with 720 g d−1/cow of CO or CO:PKO (ether extract: 22.7 g kg−1 for control treatment, 66 g kg−1 for CO, and 65 g kg−1 for CO:PKO). Six multiparous Holstein cows (6.3±1.8 yr, 597±11.5 kg [. ]
Soil nematode community response to fertilisation in the root-associated and bulk soils of a rice-wheat agroecosystem

The practice of growing agricultural crops in rows results in larger soil nematode populations in the root-associated soil than in the bulk soil between the rows. Fertilisers applied to improve grain yield generally increase the abundance of nematode communities in agricultural soils. The objective of this study was to compare total nematode density and four dominant genera in the root-associated and bulk soils of paddy rice and upland wheat receiving organic and mineral fertilisers. Dominant nematode genera accounted for 80% of all nematodes and represented four trophic groups. There was greater total nematode density and a higher enrichment index (EI) but less nematode diversity (H′) and a lower structure index (SI) in the root-associated soil than bulk soil of upland wheat. By contrast, nematode abundance, diversity and ecological indices were similar in the root-associated and bulk soils of the paddy rice. Soil nematode communities were affected significantly and consistently by fertilisation in upland wheat and paddy rice phases. More herbivore Hirschmanniella were present with mineral fertiliser than in the non-fertilised control. Straw-based organic fertilisers increased the abundance of bacterivore Eucephalobus . The lack of interaction between rhizosphere effect and fertilisation indicated that crop-growing conditions (different species and water regimes) were more influential on nematode communities and not consistently impacted by short-term organic and mineral fertilisation in the rice-wheat agroecosystem.
RAPD ANALYSIS OF THE LAST POPULATION OF A LIKELY FLORIDA KEYS ENDEMIC CACTUS

The semaphore cactus in the Florida Keys bus until recently been considered a disjunct location of the Jamaican Opuntia spinosissima. Loss of all but one population in the Keys coupled with recent suggestions that the species should be taxonomically separated from the Jamaican cactus and is, therefore, a Florida Keys endemic, makes this population of con- servation concern. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) ana1.v. si.s was conducted on the remaining 12 individual large stems in the wild to determine whether this small population contains multiple genotypes. Other accessions of the cactus, mainly from private collections and from the Caribbean were also included. Analysis of 42 RAPD markers reveals that all Florida accessions are closely related, with unique genotypes being separated by dt~erences at only one to as many as jive polymorphic markers (2.4-11.9% of markers). Within the wild population. seven genoype.7 could be unique1.y identified. The Jamaican accession was sepa- rated from the Florida cacti by an average of 22 marker dt2erence.s (52.3% of the markers). The difference of the Florida accessions from the Jamaican accession by a large number of markers suggests possible species-level differentiation, providing additional supportive evidence that the Keys population may be one of the rarest and most threatened plants in the continental United States.