Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
RNA-DNA Ratios as an Indicator of Fish Growth in Golden Mahseer (Tor putitora)

In this investigation, Golden Mahseer (Tor putitora) having an average body weight ranging between 3.5 and 650 gms were collected from Experimental Mahseer Hatchery and lake, Bhimtal in order to assess the food availability in their natural habitat as well as for the prediction of growth rate. Commonly used molecular indices for fish growth and feeding conditions include RNA concentration (μg/mg tissue) and its ratio to DNA (RNA/DNA). Most of the isolated DNA had no sign of degradation and the spectrophotometer analysis of absorbance at 260 and 280nm provided ratios ranging between 1.70 and 1.90 indicating that quality of DNA was good. The DNA and RNA concentration ranged between 4.06 and 8.86 and 0.92-to 23.70 μg/ mg respectively. The RNA/ DNA ratios ranged from 0.10 to 4.83 with the mean average of 2.52. The means of the RNA/ DNA ratio of the wild fish were relatively higher than that of the reared fry indicating that they were generally in better condition. A positive correlation was also observed between body mass/size of the fish with RNA/ DNA ratio. The RNA concentration and ratio of tissue RNA/ DNA have proven to be a reliable estimator of recent fish growth rate and food availability in their natural habitat.
Are Monobia and Montezumia Monophyletic? A Cladistic Analysis of their Species Groups Based on Morphological Data (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae)

ABSTRACT A concept of the higher-level phylogeny of the Eumeninae remains elusive. As such, the naturalness of several genera occurring in the Neotropical region is doubtful, including Monobia and Montezumia. Morphological data were used to infer the phylogenetic relationships among the species groups within both genera, as well as to test their monophyly. Analyses recovered Monobia and Montezumia as monophyletic as long as Montezumia arizonensis and Montezumia aurata were included in Monobia. Most species groups proposed by Willink in 1982 were also recovered as monophyletic. Three new combinations are proposed in congruence with the phylogenetic results: Monobia arizonensis, new combination, Monobia aurata, revised combination, and Monobia oaxaca, new combination. An additional new species is described: Monobia goiana Hermes, new species.
The activity of the TGF beta superfamily in prostate cancer and the formation of bone metastases.

Introduction: Bone metastasis is a key event responsible for the progression and morbidity in prostate cancer patients. Interactions between prostate cancer cells and the bone microenvironment facilitate survival of tumour cells and alter bone turnover, a process that enhances growth of metastases in this site. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that tumour derived TGFβ signaling regulates the differentiation/growth of osteoblastic lineage cells and promotes survival and growth of prostate cancer cells in bone. Findings: In initial studies I showed that factors produced by prostate cancer (PC3RFP) cells increased the proliferation and suppressed the differentiation of osteoblastic cells (SaOS2 cells). I showed that interactions between prostate cancer and osteoblastic cells affected the expression of TGF-β superfamily genes in the latter. Noggin, a BMP antagonist was expressed and secreted by PC3RFP cells but expressed at very low levels by SaOS2 when these cells were grown alone. This pattern changed when SaOS2 cells were treated with PC3RFP conditioned media, with strong induction of Noggin being demonstrated. Silencing Noggin in PC3 cells removed the effects of conditioned medium on the growth of SaOS2 cells, while media containing recombinant Noggin stimulated growth. Together these studies identify Noggin as an important regulator of osteoblast lineage cells that can be either directly secreted by tumour cells or induced in the bone cells by factors derived from prostate cancer cells. The latter is an important, novel finding of this study. Xenograft experiments to test the role of Noggin on tumour colonization were inconclusive however; immunohistochemistry showed that in tibiae of tumour bearing mice, strong Noggin protein staining was found on the bone surface and in bone lining cells in close proximity to tumour foci. Conclusion: These studies suggest that tumour derived/induced Noggin may play a role in suppression of osteoblast differentiation in prostate cancer bone metastases.
The organization of the microtubule cytoskeleton and its role on nuclear dynamics in the multinucleate hyphae of "Ashbya gossypii" revealed by live cell imaging and electron microscopy

Nuclear migration is important for normal growth and development of all eukaryotes including ﬁlamentous fungi. Among those, Ashbya gossypii, which is evolutionarily related to the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is a particularly attractive organism to study nuclear migration in multi-nucleated, elongated cells (hyphae). Upon hyphal extension, nuclei move toward the growing tip, showing not only long-range migration and asynchronous division, but also extensive nonsynchronized oscillations and occasional bypassing. However, little is known how these processes are coordinated. This thesis is structured in three parts that all share the common purpose to increase our understanding how the particular nuclear dynamics of A. gossypii are controlled with a gene set very similar to the mono-nucleate budding yeast S. cerevisiae. In part I a detailed characterization of the A. gossypii microtubule cytoskeleton is presented. By combining high-resolution electron microscopy analysis of A. gossypii MTOCs and associated microtubules with live cell imaging of GFP-Tub1 labeled microtubules, we found distinct differences to the S. cerevisiae SPBs and a plausible answer to the question how nuclei can behave independently in the continuous cytoplasm of A. gossypii. Part II describes the functional analysis of several A. gossypii MTOC components. Unexpected deletion phenotypes reveal that even though the A. gossypii genome encodes orthologs for all presently known S. cerevisiae SPB genes, their cellular function show distinctive differences to the S. cerevisiae homologs. Our data also suggests that an evolved SPB outer plaque and the cytoplasmic microtubules that it nucleates account for the complexity of nuclear dynamics in A. gossypii. Part III of this thesis deals with the role of the A. gossypii ortholog of Kar9, a protein that is required for the establishment of spindle asymmetry in S. cerevisiae. The presented data indicate that spindle asymmetry and orientation prior to mitosis is not critical in the continuous cytoplasm of A. gossypii.
Metabolic rate and aggressiveness between Brown Trout populations

Summary 1. Studies focusing on the physiological variation between populations and its connection to fitness-related traits are rare, even though integrating these fields would increase knowledge on the evolution of traits. Standard metabolic rate (SMR) has been suggested to influence an individual’s social status and the level of aggressiveness, as dominant individuals tend to have higher SMR than subordinate individuals. 2. The SMR of juvenile Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) from four populations was measured, and the population-level relationship between SMR and aggressiveness, which is a fitness-related behavioural trait, was investigated. 3. SMR differed between the populations, but no differences were found in the amount of aggression. Nevertheless, a significant positive correlation between aggressiveness and SMR between the populations was found. 4. Unlike many previous studies on geographical variation of metabolic rate, SMR correlated negatively with the latitude of origin of the populations. 5. The results suggest that SMR and aggressiveness are correlated not only at the individual level as shown by previous studies, but also at the population level. The costs and benefits of high metabolic rate depend largely on the environment, and local differences in environmental conditions, as for example in food availability, may select for local differences in SMR.
Manipulating the p53 pathway for cancer treatment

p53 is a tumour suppressor that is dysfunctional in most cancers. In some cancers, mutation of the TP53 gene results in expression of a mutant protein or loss of p53 expression, while in others wild-type p53 is retained but there is a defect in the mechanisms that allow for the activation of p53, including, but not limited to, upregulation of p53’s negative regulators (MDM2 and MDMX). Restoration of wild-type p53 function can lead to tumour regression and is therefore an attractive anti-cancer therapy. Several small molecule compounds that activate wild-type p53 have been described, and in this study the functions of two new compounds that stabilise p53 are described. While these drugs may be useful to activate p53-dependent apoptosis or senescence in wild-type p53 tumours, an alternative approach that depends on the use of transient p53 activation to protect normal cells while leaving p53 null or mutant tumour cells vulnerable to cytotoxic drugs is also explored. Finally, the identification of pharmacodynamic biomarkers for p53 stabilisation is described. In chapter 3 a new class of MDM2 inhibitor (MPD compounds) is described. The compounds are capable of stabilising and activating p53 in cells by inhibiting the E3 ligase activity of MDM2 in a mechanism that involves compound binding to the RING-tail of MDM2. Although the MPD compounds have limitations in terms of solubility and potency they have demonstrated a new method of achieving MDM2 inhibition and support design of further RING-tail binding compounds with more favourable chemical properties. In chapter 4 the function of a dual inhibitor of MDM2 and MDMX has been explored (HLI373). This compound is shown to activate p53 in cells and in vivo by interfering with ribosomal biogenesis, causing ribosomal stress and inhibiting MDM2. In addition it is capable of reducing MDMX expression at the promoter level by a mechanism that requires intact MDM2-p53 binding. Further work is required to fully define the mechanism of action of this compound and demonstrate its anticancer activity in xenograft and transgenic mouse models. In chapter 5 a chemoprotective approach for p53 activation, which might be applied to situations where tumours express mutant p53, is explored in cell lines. Low-dose actinomycin D treatment can activate p53 without occult DNA damage via the ribosomal stress pathway, thereby protecting wild-type p53 expressing cells from the cytotoxic effects of paclitaxel. Low-dose actinomycin D may therefore be used to limit chemotherapy-induced toxicity to normal cells while targeting a mutant p53 expressing tumour. In chapter 6 the potential for developing pharmacodynamic biomarkers for MDM2 inhibition in serum, peripheral blood mononuclear cells and hair follicles taken from patients prior to and following chemotherapy was examined. Measurement of serum MIC-1 level showed most promise, although further evaluation of this marker is needed before it could be used as a pharmacodynamic endpoint in a clinical study.
Employment Generation through Entrepreneurial Development: The Nigerian Experience

Unemployment has of recent become a global problem with developing nations of the world having the lion shares of the phenomenon. This has resulted in the migration of people from one region of the world to another in search of greener pastures. In the past three decades, Europe has seen people migrating from its Eastern to the Western part while Africa has lost so many of her bright scholars and potential citizens through migration to Europe even through unorthodox means such as through the Mediterranean Sea and savannah deserts in search of greener pastures. This paper investigated the past Nigerian government’s interventional efforts and attempts at addressing the hydra headed problems of unemployment in the country and their effectiveness at encouraging the sense entrepreneurship in the country with a view to facilitating job creation for the teaming Nigerians job seekers. The study relied on secondary data by way of existing literatures for this study while the results of the findings are presented with the aid of frequency tables. The finding from the study revealed that several intervention programmes introduced by successive governments in the country had failed to produce the expected results. Findings further indicated a plethora of bottlenecks which are principally hinged on corruptions, bureaucratic bottleneck vis-avis inconsistencies in government policies, political instability and lack of entrepreneurial skill by majority of unemployed Nigerians. The study recommended combined hard work on the part of the government to the development of entrepreneurship by providing an enabling environment and infrastructures coupled with the introduction of relevant entrepreneurial educational programmes in all institutions of learning be tailored towards development of entrepreneurial skills while start up loans should be made available without interests.
The Alticini (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae) fauna ofDavraz Mountain (Isparta): comments on host plant and altitude preferenceswith two new records for Turkish fauna

Forty-seven species belonging to 7 genera of Alticini are presented based on the investigations conducted on Davraz Mountain (Isparta). Host plant relationships of 24 species established from the area are listed. Brassicaceae, Scrophulariaceae, and Lamiaceae seem to be the most preferred host plant families among others. Three species from the genus Longitarsus Berthold - namely L. baeticus Leonardi, 1979; L. foudrasi Weise, 1893; and L. tabidus (Fabricius, 1775) - were sampled only from 1900 m and above on the mountain. Additionally, Longitarsus brunneus (Duftschmidt, 1825) and Psylliodes laticollis Kutschera, 1864 are given as new records for the Chrysomelidae fauna of Turkey.
Hake, Merluccius merluccius L., in the northeastern Mediterranean Sea: a case of disappearance

Summary Hake was not an important commercial fish in the northeastern Levant until the 1990s when a sudden increase in landings was experienced. However, following a series of profitable years, landings declined sharply. The rapid development of the trawl fleet played a role in the decline; however such an episodic event cannot be explained within the fisheries context alone. In this study the results of sparse historical trawl surveys were evaluated together with oceanographic data, and the impact of hydrographical changes on the appearance/disappearance of hake in the Levant was considered. The formation and movement of different water masses in the area seem to have primary importance for the species. The winter occurrence of modified Atlantic water that temporarily intrudes in the region may favour hake. Parallel with the increase in hake, an increase in clupeid species not common in the area was also observed. The change in the hydrography of the region, which was probably linked to the cold period that prevailed at the same time, temporarily led to an additional late summer pulse in the production cycle. The consequent increase in clupeids along with the changes in the hydrology favoured the advent of clupeid-eating hake in the NE Levant. The growth pattern result of the modal shift in monthly length-frequency distributions also showed that the species underwent a rapid growth phase in winter, which was most likely associated with intense feeding.
Cystatin C- An Early Diagnostic Biomarker of Diabetic Kidney Disease

SNS the study and supervised the work. Authors SNS and SS carried out all laboratories work and performed the statistical analysis. Authors PWI and PSKR managed the analyses of the study. SNS and PSKR wrote the first draft of the manuscript. Author SNS managed the literature searches and edited the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. ABSTRACT Aim: This study aimed to evaluate serum cystatin C vs. Serum creatinine and BUN as a potential better marker for early diagnosis of diabetic kidney disease. Study study. Methodology: Diagnosed patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus were evaluated based on detailed history, clinical examination and laboratory investigations. Patients having frank proteinuria were excluded. Patients without proteinuria were tested for microalbuminuria. In study group, we included 50 patients having microalbuminuria and in control group, 50 patients without microalbuminuria. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine and serum cystatin C were estimated. Results were analysed by unpaired t-test & P-value was determined. Results: Serum cystatin C was found to be increased in the study group as compared with controls and the difference was statistically significant ( P = .000 ). BUN ( P = .26 ) and serum Creatinine ( P = .11 ) were found to be slightly higher in cases compared to control group but values were within reference range. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that serum cystatin C measurement is a useful, practical tool for the evaluation of renal involvement in the course of diabetes. BUN and serum creatinine values are affected by many factors like age, sex, muscle mass, diet. Serum cystatin C estimation offers a hope that diabetic kidney disease can be well prevented with appropriate interventions.
A neurotropic virus isolated from the blood of a native of Uganda

Summary A neurotropic virus was isolated from the blood of an African woman with fever. The serum taken at the time of illness contained no demonstrable neutralizing antibodies against the virus, whereas convalescent serum taken 3 months later neutralized strongly. The virus has a particle size of approximately 21 to 31 mµ. The virus is pathogenic for mice by intracerebral, intranasal, and intraperitoneal inoculations. It is slightly, if at all, pathogenic for mice by subcutaneous inoculation. It induces encephalitis and causes death when introduced intracerebrally in rhesus monkeys. It causes fever without obvious illness in African monkeys (Cercopithecus ethiops centralis) and induces the formation of neutralizing antibodies. It is not pathogenic for rabbits and guinea pigs, but induces the formation of antibodies. Neutralization tests with this virus and appropriate immune sera may be carried out either by intracerebral or by intraperitoneal inoculation. Immunologically the agent is related to the virus of Japanese B encephalitis and perhaps also to the virus of louping ill. The lesions induced by the virus are essentially limited to the central nervous system and are apparently different from the lesions induced by other known neurotropic viruses pathogenic for man.
Impact of the rosette crown weevil Trichosirocalus briesei on the growth and reproduction of Onopordum thistles

Summary 1. Several European thistle species of the genus Onopordum have become naturalized in Australia and are considered serious pasture weeds, leading to a project aimed at their biological control. 2. The population structure of a potential control agent, the crown weevil Trichosirocalus briesei , a newly described member of the Trichosirocalus horridus species group, was studied under natural conditions on its Onopordum spp. host-plants in northern Spain. 3. Trichosirocalus briesei was found to be the most abundant of three species of crownfeeding insect utilizing these plants. Adults of this univoltine weevil began to lay eggs in mid-autumn and larval population sizes increased over winter until pupation in early spring. 4. The spatial distribution of the immobile larvae was not random, indicating that females were selective in their oviposition behaviour. Field data suggested that plants in dense patches were attacked less frequently, and larger rosettes were preferred for egg-laying. 5. A preliminary cage experiment indicated that feeding by T . briesei could damage Onopordum spp. thistles. A second experiment using plants in individual cages showed a clear relationship between the density of the weevils and the reduction in several growth parameters and seed production. At the highest densities, larval feeding could kill Onopordum rosettes before they produced flowering stems. 6. These results indicated that T . briesei has the potential to contribute to the biological control of Onopordum spp. thistles in Australia. Following host-specificity testing, the weevil was released in 1997.
Comparative Study of Bioactive Constituents in Turkish Olive Oils by LC-ESI/MS/MS

The purpose of this research was to evaluate and compare the differences in the phenolic composition, antioxidant properties, and fatty acids of virgin olive oils from the Ayvalik, Gemlik, and Memecik olive varieties cultivated in their respective growing areas over two harvest years. The phenolic composition of olive oils was carried out by liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry analysis and the fatty acid composition was determined by gas chromatography analysis. Fourteen phenolic compounds were identified and, among these, the most dominant were elenolic acid, tyrosol, and hydroxytyrosol. For olives from both years, the highest total phenolic content was determined in Memecik followed by Ayvalik and Gemlik. 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl and 2,2′-azino-bis- (3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) methods were used to determine the antioxidant capacity of the olive oil extracts. In both methods, the antioxidant capacity values were higher for oil from cv. Ayvalik. Thirteen fatty acids were identified and quantified in all samples. Oleic acid was the highest concentration and this acid was more dominant in Gemlik oils.
A further contribution to the knowledge of sooty mould fungi from Iran

Sooty mold fungi are often associated with honeydew which insects secrete while feeding on the plant. A great variety of these fungi occur in the North of Iran, especially on Citrus ssp which is one of the most widely cultivated fruit trees in this region. During last 10 years, several collections of these fungi examined and 15 species have been recorded. In this paper seven previously unreported species are treated and described for the first time from Iran. The treated species include Catenuloxyphium heterosporum (on Salix aegiptiaca and Alnus glutinosa); Echinothecium sp. (on Eriobotrya japonica and Passiflora sp.); cf. Denisiella sp. (On Citrus sinensis and Malus pumila); Fumagospora capnodioides (on Alnus glutinosa, Populus deltoids, Salix aegyptiaca and Zelkova carpinifolia); Leptoxyphium fumago (on Alnus glutinosa, Rubus sp. and Phytolacca americana); Tripospermum juglandis (on Ligustrum sp.) and Scorias spongiosa (on Citrus sinensis).
THREE NEW SPINY EUPHORBIA ( EUPHORBIACEAE ) SPECIES FROM WESTERN SAUDI ARABIA

Three shrubby, succulent, spiny Euphorbia ( Euphorbiaceae ) species from western Saudi Arabia are described and illustrated as new: Euphorbia madinahensis Fayed & D.Al-Zahrani, Euphorbia saudiarabica Fayed & D.Al-Zahrani and Euphorbia taifensis Fayed & D.Al-Zahrani. Diagnostic characters, descriptions and taxonomic comments on each are given, and they are compared with closely related species. The geographical distribution of the three new species is shown.
Ontogenetic changes in temperature preference of Atlantic cod

Final thermal preferendum (T) experiments were conducted in a horizontal thermal gradient tank from the beginning of August 2001 to mid-November 2001 using Atlantic cod Gadus morhua from 6.5 to 79.0 cm fork length (L F ). The value of T varied significantly (P<0.005) with L F (T= 7.23-0.054L F ), with smaller (younger) fish choosing higher temperatures than larger (older) fish. The preferendum varied from 6.9 C for fish of 6.5 cm to 3.0° C for those of 79.0 cm. Experiments comparing fish positions in the gradient tank between thermal gradients of 0.5-11.0 and 4.5-14.5° C demonstrated that fish positions were determined by temperature selection instead of undesirable tank effects. This study is the first to demonstrate the effect of ontogeny on temperature preferences of a marine fish species.