Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Antimicrobial activity of bee pollen ethanolic and methanolic extracts on Staphylococcus aureus bacterial strain.

Bee pollen is consumed for api-therapeutical, nutritional and medicinal properties. These actions are attributed to its chemical composition and mostly phenolics, carotenoids, fatty acids and vitamins. For this study bee pollen was freshly harvested and immediately placed at -18 0 C. Two different extraction solvents were used: ethanol and methanol, in three different dilutions (60, 70, 80%). 5%, 10% and 15% pollen concentration in each solvent solution were carried out to determine the most efficient variant, possessing the highest antibacterial activity, using the disc diffusion method. Stock culture of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria was grown in Nutrient Broth at 37ÂoC for 24h in a shaker. The inhibition zones were different, according to the extraction solvent used and also the pollen concentration. Methanol extract (70%) of 15% pollen have the biggest inhibition diameter. Negative controls (methanol and ethanol) did not show an inhibitory effect on the tested bacteria, while positive control (Streptomicine) has the highest antimicrobial activity. Â
Two new effective semiselective crystal violet pectate media for isolation of Pectobacterium and Dickeya

Pectolytic bacteria, including Pectobacterium spp. and Dickeya spp. , are best isolated on crystal violet pectate (CVP), a semiselective medium containing pectin. The source of pectin is essential, because pectolytic bacteria are not able to degrade all of them. The aims of this study were to identify a new pectin source and to perfect formulations of semiselective CVP media to isolate the pectolytic bacteria Pectobacterium spp. and Dickeya spp. from different environmental compartments (plants, soil and water). The AG366 pectin, selected after screening six different formulations, was incorporated into single-layer (SL-CVPAG366) and double-layer (DL-CVPAG366) CVP media. Both media were compared with those based on Bulmer, Sigma-Aldrich and Slendid-Burger pectins, using 39 Pectobacterium and Dickeya strains. All strains formed deep cavities on AG366-CVPs, whereas nine did not produce cavities on Bulmer or Sigma-Aldrich media. Recovery rates were similar on DL-CVPAG366, Sigma-Aldrich and Bulmer CVPs for a given taxon, and did not differ significantly between SL- and DL-CVPAG366. Pectolytic bacteria were successfully isolated on both media from field samples of diseased potatoes, carrots, tobacco, onions, radishes and ornamentals. AG366 is thus a high-performance pectin source for the elaboration of CVP media suitable to isolate Dickeya and Pectobacterium. It is also efficient for enrichment purposes in liquid medium. The validation of AG366 as an improved source of pectin to recover the polyphagous Pectobacterium and Dickeya in different environmental compartments is essential given the current worldwide emergence and recrudescence of these bacteria.
The Role of Atherosclerosis, Hormones and Genes in Stroke

textabstractThis thesis describes the relation between atherosclerosis, hormones and genetic factors in relation to the risk of stroke. The results are based on the Rotterdam Study, a large population based cohort study among 7,983 persons aged 55 years or older. A total of 7,721 persons were free from previous stroke. The cohort was followed for morbidity, including stroke. The incidence rate increased with age and was higher in men than in women over the entire age range. We found that an increased wall thickness did not only increase the risk of stroke, but also the risk of intracerebral hemorrhage and lacunar infarction, irrespective of cardiovascular risk factors. The relevance of carotid plaques in persons without a previous stroke or TIA was not yet clear. Estradiol was not related to the risk of stroke, neither in men nor in women. Our results are in line with recent clinical trials that failed to report a beneficial effect from estrogen replacement therapy on the risk of stroke. A decreased testosterone level was related to an increased risk of stroke in men, in particular in those who did not smoke. We report that there is no clear relation between the Dallele in the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism and risk of stroke. The relation between mutations in the hemochromatosis gene and stroke: two mutations (C282 and H63D) were related to the risk of stroke and increased carotid intima-media thickness in persons who smoked or had hypertension.
Research Article: Expression and localization of the enhanced green fluorescent protein in the peroxisomes of the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris

Abstract The enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) is a macromolecule which fluoresces green under specific wavelengths of light. It has been widely used as a tool to study cell structure and function. EGFP-PTS1 is a fusion of the EGFP gene and a peroxisome targeting sequence (PTS1). Attachment of the PTS1 localizes EGFP to the peroxisome, an organelle found in eukaryotic cells. In this work, DNA encoding an EGFP-PTS1 fusion was inserted into a plasmid which contained a selectable marker gene for adenine biosynthesis (ADE1). The plasmid, called pCO1, was transformed into an adenine auxotrophic strain (ade1) of the yeast Pichia pastoris. The ade1 strain, which is pink in color, could not synthesize its own adenine and thus could not survive without this nitrogenous base in its growth medium. The ADE1 gene on pCO1 acted as a form of selection to identify cells transformed by the plasmid. Colonies transformed by pCO1 were white in color and could grow in medium without the supplemental addition of adenine. Cells harboring pCO1 expressed EGFP-PTS1 protein when grown on methanol because the gene fusion was put under the control of the methanol-inducible AOX1 promoter. By utilizing fluorescence microscopy, we show that these pCO1-transformed yeast express EGFP-PTS1 and localize it to their peroxisomes. The experimental method detailed here has been modified to teach concepts of yeast genetics and protein expression to large numbers of laboratory students in an undergraduate setting.
Seaweed extracts improve copper uptake of grapevine

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of seaweed extract on macro and micro nutrient uptake of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Karaerik). One-year-old grapevine (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Karaerik) saplings were planted in perlite with different nutrient element levels under greenhouse conditions. Three seaweed extracts, Maxicrop, Proton and Algipower, were sprayed on the foliage at different concentrations (0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 g l−1). Results indicated that foliar application of seaweed extract increased Cu uptake of grapevine in the growth media which had insufficient nutrient elements. No significant differences in nutrient uptake of grapevine were obtained among the three seaweed extract types. The results showed that nutrient element level of growth media was more effective on stimulation of N, P, K, Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn and Zn uptake than seaweed extracts. In contrast, seaweed extract was more effective in supporting Cu uptake in vines than nutrient element level of growth media.
Lethal toxicity of Vibrio harveyi to cultivated Penaeus monodon induced by a bacteriophage

In Southern Thailand in 1996, intense luminescence in many shrimp rearing ponds was accon~panied by massive mortality resulting in total crop loss within 3 or 4 d. Mortality was correlated with gross signs which shrimp farmers called (English translation) tea-brown gill syndrome (TBGS). Histological examination of moribund shrimp revealed massive lesions of the hepatopancreas characterized by hemocytic infiltration and the presence of bacterial cells. Bactenal isolation yielded several strains tentatively identified as Vibrio harveyi on the basis of luminescence and growth on BTB Teepol agar. Representative isolate VH1039 was selected and identified by biochemical tests as harveyi. When strain VH1039 and the other luminescent isolates were injected into normal shrimp (1 X 10'cells shrimp-'), no significant mortality was observed in comparison with control shrmp injected without bacteria. Nor was any significant mortality observed after injection of supernatant fluids from normal or sonicated bacterial cultures of VH1039 (1 X 108 cells ml-l). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of hepatopancreatic tissue from farmed TBGS shrimp revealed bacterial cells of Vibrio morphology together with large numbers of bacteriophage particles that had round to hexagonal heads of approximately 60 nm diameter and tails of approximately 100 nm length. These were either free, attached to cell walls of intact bacteria or in various stages of replication within bacterial cells. Gills of farmed TBGS shrimp were subsequently homogenized in lobster haemolymph buffer (LHB) and membrane filtered (0.22 pm). Compared to control shrimp injected with LHB, shrimp injected with the lOOOx diluted gill filtrate (DGF) showed no significant mortality. However, when DGF was injected together with 1 X 10' cells of strain VH1039, there was total mortality within 48 h. High and rapid mortality concurrent with brown gills was seen only in the mixed injection group. TEM of the artificially infected shrimp tissues did show the presence of bacterial cells, but no mature bacteriophage particles or lysed bacterial cells were found similar to those seen in farmed TBGS shrimp. In further tests, addition of DGF to cultures of VH1039 induced extreme but transitory toxicity of culture filtrates from 24 to 36 h. Treatment of DGF with a germicidal lamp (UV) for 30 min or with heat at 100°C for 15 min failed to stop shnmp mortality from mixed DGFNH1039 injections. However, mortality was stopped if the heated DGF was treated with DNase. The results suggested that a bacteriophage may sometimes mediate the toxicity of V harveyiin Penaeus monodon by the transfer of a toxin gene@) or a gene(s) controlling toxin production.
Testing a novel agri‐environment scheme based on the ecology of the target species, Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus

Farmland birds are in steep decline and agri-environment schemes (AES) to counteract these biodiversity losses are expensive and inefficient. Here we test a novel AES, ‘Birdfields’, designed using detailed ecological knowledge of the target species, Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus. Current AES, such as field margins, that aim to improve foraging conditions (i.e. vole densities) for harriers are inefficient, as prey are difficult to capture in tall set-aside habitat. ‘Birdfields’ combines strips of set-aside to boost vole numbers and strips of alfalfa, as voles are accessible after alfalfa has been harvested. We found that vole numbers were generally highest in set-aside. Montagu's Harriers fitted with GPS-loggers used ‘Birdfields’ intensively after mowing, preferring mown to unmown strips. Thus, prey availability appeared more important than prey abundance. Thus, ‘Birdfields’, as a targeted AES for Montagu's Harriers, is more effective than previous AES due to increased prey accessibility. An additional advantage of ‘Birdfields’ is that it is considerably cheaper, due to the harvest of alfalfa. We advocate that AES should always include monitoring and research activities, aiming at a more adaptive conservation approach.
Ecologia da comunidade de metazoários parasitos do olho-de-cão Priacanthus arenatus (Cuvier, 1829) (Osteichthyes, Priacanthidae) do litoral do estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Between December 1999 and April 2000, fifty-eight specimens of big-eye Priacanthus arenatus from the coastal zone of Rio de Janeiro (22o55’S, 43o12’W), Brazil, were necropsied to study their infracommunities metazoan parasites. Thirteen species of metazoan parasites were identified and all fish were parasitized by two or more species, with mean (96,4±110). The copepods were the majority of parasite specimens collected, with 74.5%. The Simpson index for all parasite species was 0.127, indicating lack of dominance by any species in the parasite community. Hatschekia quadrabdominalis Yu, 1933 showed the higher frequency of dominance and mean relative dominance. The parasite species in P. arenatus showed the typical overdispersed pattern of distribution. The mean diversity in the infracommunities of P. arenatus was H=0.43±0.14, without correlation with the host’s total body lenght and without differences betweenmale and female fish. The parasite community of P.arenatus was dominated by species with highprevalence values, but that composed a few numberof associations, thus, is considered as an intermediatetype among interactive ans isolacionist types.
Eficiência placentária na espécie equina: quais fatores podem estar relacionados?

Esta revisao de literatura propoe levantar os principais fatores que podem influenciar o crescimento intrauterino e o suprimento de nutrientes placentarios para o feto, abordando aspectos morfofuncionais relacionados a eficiencia placentaria, correlacionando-os com aspectos zootecnicos, como raca, pluriparidade e idade das femeas gestantes. O objetivo foi estabelecer as interrelacoes que determinem maior eficiencia placentaria, propondo um paralelo comparativo entre especies a fim de ser entendida a eficiencia placentaria na especie equina.
Genetic polymorphism of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF C936T) in the Korean population

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent regulator of normal and abnormal angiogenesis. Recent literature suggests that VEGF has several activities that may amplify acute inflammation reactions. Dysregulated VEGF expression has been implicated as a major contributor to the development of a number of common disease pathologies. One of common mutations in the 3'‐untranslated region of the VEGF gene, a C? T exchange at nucleotide position 936, has been found to be significantly associated with VEGF expression levels in the plasma from a previous Austrian study. The frequency of this mutation could be important genetic information regarding tumor growth and angiogenesis related diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency distribution of this mutation in general Korean population. We examined the statistical data from 207 healthy Korean subjects. Observed numbers (%) of 936T were 28.5 (CT) and 3.9 (TT), respectively. The mutant allele frequency of 936T in Korean subjects was 0.18, which appeared somewhat higher than that in Austrian subjects.
THE EFFECT OF THE WHEAT STEM SAWFLY, CEPHUS CINCTUS (HYMENOPTERA: CEPHIDAE), ON THE YIELD AND QUALITY OF WHEAT

Abstract Larvae of the wheat stem sawfly, Cephas cinctus Nort, reduced the weight of grain per head by an average of 17.3% in the two spring wheats Red Bobs and Thatcher with annual reductions varying from 10.8% to 22.3%. They also lowered the protein content in Thatcher by an average of 0.6% and a maximum of 1.2%. However, because a significant loss in protein content occurred in only 1 of 6 years in Red Bobs, the effects of the larvae on protein content cannot be generalized for all varieties. The losses in weight per head resulted from a mean reduction of 11.9% in the weight of the kernels combined with a mean reduction of 1.9 in the number of kernels per head. The larvae caused the losses by feeding in the stems and by cutting them when the moisture contents of the kernels were relatively high. Annual variations in losses were attributed to the dates of the infestation, to the amount of precipitation in July and August, and to differences in dates of cutting by the larvae.
Competition of five native prairie grasses with Bromus inermis under three moisture regimes

We examined the effect of moisture on the competitive ability of five native grasses (Agropyron and Stipa) in competition with the non-native grass Bromus inermis Leyss. The plants were grown in large pots in growth rooms, and the moisture treatment was imposed by the frequency of watering. The competitive ability of the five native grasses, as measured by shoot biomass ratio, increased with reduced water availability, but even under the driest conditions, they competed poorly with B. inermis. The order of competitive ability found in this experiment did not match the order predicted from field observations based on the hypothesis of a strict reciprocal relationship between stress tolerance and competitive ability. Stipa viridula Trin. was the best competitor of the five, and Stipa curtiseta (A.S. Hitchc.) Barkworth was consistently the least competitive. The order of competitive ability was more variable when measured by the effect on Bromus than when measured by the effect on the native grasses themselv.
Predicting the potential distribution of rain‐forest structural characteristics

Models are reviewed that predict the potential distribution of classes of rain-forest structural characteristics in relation to indices of climate and soil parent material. A description is given of the field survey undertaken to examine these relations in the Wet Tropics of Queensland, Australia. The predicted probabilities are compared with the observed values and the extent of correspondence between the two data sets examined. Environmental relations based on finer-scaled landscape processes are proposed to explain the mismatches. An index of catchment hydrology is described that represents the most feasible additional independent variable for spatial extension purposes.
Basic Development Rate in Spring Wheat

There have been a number of reports indicating that, in the absence of vernalization and photoperiod influences, there is a factor(s) which acts to exert control over the rate of development in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em. Thell.). In an attempt to characterize this phenomenon more fully, three sets of wheat genotypes were examined for their rate of development in the absence of vernalization and/or photoperiod influences. Seventeen spring wheats, prevernalized and grown with an 18-h photoperiod in an outdoor pot experiment were found to differ in development rate, indicating that it may be of significance to adaptability and yield, at least in this type of wheat. In a set of near-isogenic lines of ‘Triple Dirk’ (differing for the vernalization response genes vrn 1 and vrn 2) their development rates were similar, indicating that it is not a manifestation of the action of genes for vernalization response. Additionally, the absence of a close correlation between the level of vernalization response and basic development rate in the 17 spring wheats indicates physiological independence between the two processes. Using growth apex dissection the various phases of floral development were followed in two Australian spring wheat cvs. , Pinnacle and Falcon, at four times of sowing in an outdoor situation and grown under an 18-h photoperiod. The cv. Falcon was much faster than Pinnacle from sowing to floral initiation, terminal spikelet, and ear emergence at the four times of sowing. While the vegetative phase in Pinnacle was generally longer than in Falcon, the spikelet initiation and stem elongation phases did not show the same relative prolongation. ‘Chinese Spring’/‘Thatcher’ chromosome substitution lines 7B and SD, pre-vernalized for weekly periods from 0 to 8 weeks and grown with an 18-h photoperiod in an outdoor pot experiment were used to investigate the chromosomal control of development rate in wheat. Chromosome 7B of Thatcher substituted in Chinese Spring reduced its vernalization requirement and increased its rate of development. Chromosome 5D of Thatcher did not alter either vernalization response or rate of development of Chinese Spring. In view of these data and earlier reports, the term “basic development rate” is proposed to denote differences between wheats in the rate of development in the absence of vernalization and photoperiod influences. Recognition of the phenomenon of basic development rate prompts a re-evaluation of the developmental basis of flowering in wheat and other temperate plants.
Evaluation of genetic diversity among edible banana varieties found in Mizoram, India using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA.

Genetic variations in the edible non-seeded banana cultivars found in Mizoram, India was studied using RAPD markers. A total of seven edible cultivars belonging to different genome groups were analyzed using six standardized UBC-primers. Out of six primers used, two primers namely UBC 416 and 450 generates 100% polymorphism. The average polymorphism per primer was 92.7%. The polymorphism information content (PIC) of the primers in used ranged from 0.58 to 0.89. The resolving power of primer, UBC-418 was the highest (9.4) while that of primer UBC-419 was the lowest (3.7). The dendrogram analysis revealed the grouping of the cultivars into two major groups. The first group was constituted by all the six hybrid cultivars of A and B genomes while the second group was represented by the lone triploid AAA genome sample. The result of the principal co-ordinate analysis also supported the dendrogram grouping of the samples studied. Thus, the use of RAPD technique for the study of genetic variations in the banana cultivars was demonstrated. It was also shown that significant amount of genetic diversity existed in the samples studied, thereby providing clear genetic information for future breeding and conservation strategies.
Larval development of Empoasca vitis and Edwardsiana rosae (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) at different temperatures on grapevine leaves

The grape leafhopper Empoasca vitis (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) is regarded as a major insect pest in many European grapevine growing areas, with an increasing importance realized in recent years maybe as a result of climatic change. Both larvae and adults feed on the phloem vessels of the leaves, causing characteristic symptoms also referred to as hopperburn. Phenology of adult leafhoppers was monitored in one vineyard in three successive years and indicated that immigration of a few hibernated E. vitis individuals into vineyards might take place already quite early in the year depending on winter temperatures and starts to progress in substantial numbers right at grapevine bud burst. In addition, these monitoring studies have shown that there are several other leafhopper species occurring on grapevine plants besides E. vitis, such as the rose leafhopper Edwardsiana rosae (Homoptera: Cicadellidae). Here, we report on the development of larval instars of both leafhopper species, E. vitis and E. rosae on grapevine leaves under different temperature regimes in the laboratory. Shortest larval developmental time was observed at night temperatures of 13–15°C and day temperatures of 23–25°C, which was in agreement with predicted optimal temperatures for both species. At the temperature regime of 20°C night and 30°C day temperature, either no egg hatch was observed or early development of first‐instar larvae was not successful for both species. These results suggest that warm (18°C) nights and moderately warm (28°C) days are representing the upper thermal threshold for development of both E. vitis and E. rosae embryonic stages on grapevine leaves, questioning current assumptions of an increasing importance of E. vitis as a grapevine pest under future climate change.