Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sublethal effects of organophosphate, diazinon on gill tissue and growth performance of Caspian roach (Rutilus rutilus) fingerling kept in fresh water and brackish water

The stocks of Caspian roach (Rutilus rutilus), an economically important species in the Caspian Sea, is depleting. Annually, millions of fingerlings of these species are produced artificially and restock in the mouth of Qare Soo River in the Southern Caspian Sea, where they exposed to the pesticides coming from rice and orchard farms in the region. The fate of this exposure in hypo-osmoregulatory ability of juvenile fish is important. Therefore, this study initially investigates fingerlings of Caspian roach which was exposed to different concentrations of diazinon (close to estuaries concentration) for 96 h, then they were transferred to the brackish water for 240 h where the growth and survival rate were examined. The major changes in the exposed fish gills to pesticides were collapsed secondary lamellae, oedema, epithelial lifting, and shortening of secondary lamellae. The findings of this study showed decrease of tissue damage in the gill tissue in fingerlings at brackish water, while, a lower growth rate was seen compared to the control group (P < 0.05). This study suggests that the exposure of Caspian roach fingerlings to diazinon in fresh water may jeopardize their physiological capabilities and subsequent survive in brackish water conditions which may cause failure in fish stocks rebuild project in the Caspian Sea.
Protecting Cattle from Horn Flies

The most damaging insect pest for beef cattle in Texas is the horn fly (Fig. 1). Research shows that a calf infested with more than 200 horn flies will weigh 15 to 50 pounds less at weaning. Horn fly feeding on dairy cows can also reduce milk production up to 20 percent. To suppress horn flies effectively and economically: • Identify them properly, • Understand the insect’s life cycle, and • Use a combination of control strategies.
Effect of Nano-SiO 2 Particles on Fracture Properties of Concrete Composite Containing Fly Ash

A parametric experimental study has been conducted to investigate the effect of nano-SiO 2 particles on fracture properties of concrete composite containing fly ash. Five different nano-SiO 2 contents were used for this study. By means of three-point bending method, the fracture parameters of the effective crack length, initial fracture toughness, unstable fracture toughness, fracture energy, critical crack opening displacement, maximum crack opening displacement and maximum mid-span deflection of the beam specimen were measured. The results reveal that the addition of lower SiO 2 content (<5%) nano-particles may help improve the fracture properties of concrete composite containing fly ash. Nano-SiO 2 has a significant effect on the fracture relational curves of the three-point bending beam specimen. The fracture parameters increase gradually and the fracture relational curves become thicker as the nano-SiO 2 content increases from 0% to 5%. However, the fracture parameters begin to decrease and the curves become thinner when the nano-SiO 2 content exceeds 5%. These variation rules of fracture parameters and fracture relational curves indicate that nano-SiO 2 contributes significantly to the improvement of fracture properties of concrete composite containing fly ash only when its content does not exceed 5%.
Modeling habitat use by Bryde’s whale Balaenoptera edeni off southeastern Brazil

: Habitat-use models are a powerful tool for improving our understanding of the relationships between animals and their environment. With the development of GIS, these models have been used increasingly for the analysis of ecological data. However, they often suffer from inappropriate model specifications, particularly the assumption of independence, which is essen-tial in conventional statistical models, and may often be violated during the collection of spatial data. Spatial autocorrelation occurs when the values of variables sampled close to each other are not independent, representing a major problem that must be accounted for systematically. We used a spatial eigenvector (SEV) generalized linear model framework to investigate the distribution of Balaenoptera edeni off Cabo Frio, in southeastern Brazil, an upwelling area impacted by human activities (tourism and fisheries). Sighting data were collected during 94 boat trips conducted between December 2010 and November 2014. A quasi-Poisson model using SEV indicated that the use of habitat by the whales varied with depth and the distance from the coast, and predicted that whales would be found most frequently around Cabo Frio Island and along the coastline, apparently overlapping with their prey. We found that habitat use was better predicted with the inclusion of SEV and that it is also possible to produce predictions of habitat use by correcting for spatial autocorrelation without the use of expensive surveys conducted by specialized research ships. This study provides useful insights into the habitat use of B. edeni in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean, and represents an important contribution to the conservation of this data-deficient species.
Regulation of Innate Immune Responses is Required for S. mansoni Development

Abstract : Helminth blood flukes of the genus Schistosoma infect over 200 million people. As a result of host-parasite co-evolution, S. mansoni evolved to exploit host immune factors as signals to coordinate its own development. Worms fail to develop normally in RAG-/- mice, lacking T and B cells, while development is restored by adoptive transfer of CD4+ T cells, suggesting that CD4+ T cells play a central role in regulating parasite development. Recent findings suggest the role of CD4+ T cells in this process is indirect, being limited to provision of non-cognate T cell help for innate responses which, in turn, facilitate parasite development. In support of this hypothesis, we have found that long-term stimulation of TLR4 by LPS, a pathogen associated molecular pattern (PAMP), in RAG-/- mice, in the absence of CD4+ T cells, also restores worm development, indicating that innate immune signals are sufficient for parasite development to proceed normally. We have also found that chronic TLR stimulation via other PAMPs that utilize MyD88 dependent signaling, as well as chronic inflammasome signaling were also sufficient to restore worm development in RAG-/- mice. Chronic stimulation of both of these pathways resulted in down-regulated proinflammatory responses leading us to hypothesize that regulation of innate immune responses are necessary for restoration of S. mansoni development. In support of this hypothesis we found blocking TNF- or administering IL-4 also led to the regulation of pro-inflammatory immune responses that favored parasite development as well. Administering IL-4 to immunodeficient mice also resulted in the establishment of Th2 like immune environment. This suggests that in immunologically intact animals it is the establishment of Th2 responses that promote parasite development. Elucidation of the innate immune signals that control schistosome development could provide leads for the development of new drug targets and vaccine strategies.
Characterization of Candidatus Bartonella ancashi: A Novel Human Pathogen Associated with Carrins Disease

Abstract : Bartonella species belong to a group of emerging, yet neglected pathogens. In the past 25 years, over 20 new Bartonella species have been identified. Bartonella species are vector borne pathogens that infect a wide array of mammalian hosts,including humans. Of the Bartonella species, three regularly cause human disease. These species are B. quintana, B. henselae, and most importantly B. bacilliformis. B.bacilliformis causes a biphasic illness, called Carrins disease, which is characterized by an acute phase, Oroya fever, and a chronic phase, verruga peruana. Infections are only seen in the Andes Mountain range of Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia. The chronic phase presents as benign red-purple skin nodules and was the subject of a 2003 clinical treatment trial in Caraz, Ancash, Peru- an area where B. bacilliformis is endemic. During this clinical treatment trial three isolates that were found to be disparate (based on sequencing of a 33 bp region of gltA) from B. bacilliformis were identified.
Production Performance of Broiler Chicken as Affected by Supplementation of Salts of Organic Acids

A total of 300, day old commercial broiler chicks were randomly distributed into five treatments having six replicates consisting of ten birds each to assess the efficacy of salts of organic acids as feed additives on growth performance of broiler chicken. A maize-soybean based diet was used as the basal diet (Control group). The basal diet was supplemented with sodium butyrate and calcium propionate @ 0.5 and 1% each. Addition of calcium propionate at 1% level resulted in higher (P<0.05) body weight gain during sixth week of the growth period as compared to the control. Total feed intake was higher in the 1% sodium butyrate supplemented group than other groups. Supplementation of 1% sodium butyrate in the basal diet improved (P<0.05) the FCR as compared to the control group. Inclusion of 1% sodium butyrate and 1% calcium propionate in the basal diet increased (P<0.05) DM metabolizability as compared to control group. Nitrogen retention and gross energy metabolizability were the highest in the group supplemented with 1% sodium butyrate. Hence, addition of 1% sodium butyrate in the diet improved nutrient utilisation and growth performance of broiler chicken.
Landscapes preferences in the human species: insights for ethnobiology from evolutionary psychology

According to evolutionary psychology, landscapes preferences by the human species are influenced by their evolutionary past. A set of psychological processes may have been selected to guide the selection of landscapes that offered advantages for the survival and reproduction of human groups in the past. In addition, these psychological mechanisms may also influence the current human behavior in landscapes preference. Based on this, Gordon Orians postulated the savanna hypothesis, which predicts that the human being prefers these environments, since in the past, African savanna environments had a set of important characteristics for survival. If this is true, there are important implications for ethnobiological studies that seek to understand the factors that can influence the selection and management of landscapes by human groups.
Developmental programming in equine species: relevance for the horse industry

According to statistics collected by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (www.fao.org/faostat/en/), the worldwide population of horses was estimated at 58 million head in 2014, of which 55.2% are located in the Americas (with a third in North America), 24.3% in Asia, 10.3% in Africa, and 9.4% in Europe. This population is heterogeneous depending on continents, but the percentage of horses dedicated to leisure and sport activities is steadily increasing in westernized countries. In Europe, the equine sector provides 400,000 full-time jobs, generating revenue above €100 billion annually, and the number of horse riders increases by 5% per year (http://www.europeanhorsenetwork.eu/the-horse-industry/).
Population ecology of Fendler ceanothus: responses to herbivory and forest restoration treatments

To understand responses of Fendler ceanothus to forest restoration treatments and large ungulate herbivory, I focused research on four areas: 1) effects of large ungulate herbivores on Fendler ceanothus stem size, morphology, and flower production, 2) production, fate, and germination of Fendler ceanothus seeds, 3) importance of overstory density, ungulate herbivory, prescribed fire, and drought for Fendler ceanothus growth and regeneration, and 4) simulation of population dynamics under various management scenarios. After two seasons (1999, 2000), plants protected from large ungulate herbivores were larger and produced greater biomass, leaf area, and flowering stems than plants that were not protected. These results showed that large herbivores such as mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus) constrained growth and reproduction of Fendler ceanothus in thinned forest units. Fendler ceanothus stems that were not protected from large herbivores did not produce fruit over the four-year study (1999-2002). Seed production (2000-2001) was affected by stem size and probably drought. Predispersal seed parasites and postdispersal predators were important sources of ovule loss. Seed germination after iii exposure to 90C (10-minute duration) was greater than without heat treatment. These results increase our understanding of Fendler ceanothus seed production and losses. Stand density index (SDI) and browsing by ungulates were negatively related to Fendler ceanothus growth. Prediction of growth from SDI and browsing was poor in years of drought. Plant mortality was positively related to depth of forest floor consumed in experimental burning. Fendler ceanothus seedlings emerged on burned plots but not on unburned plots. These results indicate that overstory tree thinning and prescribed fire can increase growth and reproduction of Fendler ceanothus but responses are constrained by herbivory and drought. Simulation of Fendler ceanothus population dynamics suggested that restoration treatments and herbivory interact to affect long-term persistence and population structure. Populations that did not experience fire were generally dominated by dormant seeds whereas burned populations had relatively even life stage structures at the end of the 25- year simulation. Frequent fire (2-5 yr) stimulated growth of protected populations but negatively affected populations exposed to intense herbivory.
An ancient example of Platycladus (Cupressceae) from the early Miocene of northern China: origin and biogeographical implications

Abstract A number of cupressaceous fossil leaves are described in this paper that come from the lower Miocene of Inner Mongolia, northern China. These new examples of fossil leaves are compressed, have their branchlets arranged in a plane, either spreading or ascending, and are flat. These specimens also possess scale-like leaves that are dimorphic, preserved facial leaves that are rhomboidal and have obtuse apices, and lateral leaves that are boat-shaped and have slightly incurved apices. The epidermal cells of these fossils are quadrangular, rectangular, or narrowly rectangular, while the leaves are amphistomatic, and stomata are elliptical or oblong, and monocyclic. In comparison with both living and related fossil taxa, we identify the new fossils as Platycladus preorientalis sp. nov. Taken in combination with a molecular phylogenetic analysis, the new fossils suggest that the genus Platycladus originated in the Oligocene in mid and high Asian latitudes. Thus, the ancient Platycladus lineage probably migrated from Europe to Asia following the closure of the Turgai strait during the Oligocene.
Disturbance-effects on treeline larch-stands in the lower Kolyma River area (NE Siberia)

Tree stands in the boreal treeline ecotone are, in addition to climate change, impacted by disturbances such as fire, water-related disturbances and logging. We aim to understand how these disturbances affect growth, age structure, and spatial patterns of larch stands in the north-eastern Siberian treeline ecotone (lower Kolyma River region), an insufficiently researched region. Stand structure of Larix cajanderi Mayr was studied at seven sites impacted by disturbances. Maximum tree age ranged from 44 to 300 years. Young to medium-aged stands had, independent of disturbance type, the highest stand densities with over 4000 larch trees per ha. These sites also had the highest growth rates for tree height and stem diameter. Overall lowest stand densities were found in a polygonal field at the northern end of the study area, with larches growing in distinct “tree islands”. At all sites, saplings are significantly clustered. Differences in fire severity led to contrasting stand structures with respect to tree, recruit, and overall stand densities. While a low severity fire resulted in low-density stands with high proportions of small and young larches, high severity fires resulted in high-density stands with high proportions of big trees. At waterdisturbed sites, stand structure varied between waterlogged and drained sites and latitude. These mixed effects of climate and disturbance make it difficult to predict future stand characteristics and the treeline position.
Anti-aflatoxin activities of milk thistle (Silybum marianum) in broiler

Mycotoxins are secondary fungal metabolites of structurally diverse groups occurring worldwide as contaminants of cereals such as wheat, corn, maize, peanut, and barley, which comprise the main ingredients of poultry diets. Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) has wide range of beneficial properties, including data showing its positive effects in protecting the liver of birds exposed to aflatoxins. Trials have shown that in broilers affected by aflatoxicosis, which adversely affected feed intake, weight gain, feed efficiency, serum biochemistry and immune status, supplementation of diets with silymarin reduced the detrimental effects, thereby improving the productivity and health. Although promising results have been reported, established doses and further research on the standardisation of this herb will increase its uses as alternative to synthetic drugs. The following review discusses several important aspects of the beneficial properties of milk thistle on poultry growth performance in experimentally induced aflatoxicosis.
Efforts Towards an in vivo Platform for the Combinatorial Biosynthesis of Polyketides

CASTELLI, KIMBERLY R. Efforts Towards an in vivo Platform for the Combinatorial Biosynthesis of Polyketides. (Under the direction of Dr. Gavin Williams). Polyketides are a medically-relevant class of natural products that are produced by large modular proteins called polyketide synthases (PKSs). The loading modules of PKSs are responsible for initiating polyketide biosynthesis by priming the enzyme with monocarboxylic CoA-esters, or starter units. Efforts towards engineering polyketide diversity at the loading module are dependent upon the availability of acyl-CoA starter units, and new biosynthetic methods for the production of acyl-CoAs are desired. Herein, the substrate scope and kinetics of an acyl-CoA synthetase from Pseudomonas chlororaphis, AcsA, is presented. Mutagenesis of AcsA has provided insight into substrate selection by the enzyme active site, laying the foundation for future efforts in engineering the substrate scope of AcsA. In addition, engineering polyketides in the natural host organisms is a long-term goal for the robust production of polyketides and polyketide analogs. The application of CRISPRCas9 as a tool for the in vivo mutagenesis of PKSs in Actinomyces is presented here. Preliminary analysis of fermentation extracts of polyketide-producing hosts confirms the production of FK520 and rapamycin, providing a starting point for future experiments. © Copyright 2016 by Kimberly R Castelli All Rights Reserved Efforts Towards an in vivo Platform for the Combinatorial Biosynthesis of Polyketides by Kimberly R Castelli A thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty of North Carolina State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Chemistry
Genetic Diversity Assessment in Chickpea Using Morphological Characters and Start Codon Targeted (SCoT) Molecular Markers

Genetic diversity in 35 chickpea genotypes were studied using morphological characters and 14 start codon targeted (SCoT) markers. Results of variance analysis and descriptive statistics for morphological traits indicated that the genotypes differed significantly for all studied characteristics. A dendrogram was constructed from morphological traits and the genotypes were grouped into six clusters. Fourteen SCoT primers yielded 135 bands, of which 100 bands were polymorphic. Number of polymorphic bands varied from 6 to 9, with an average of 7.14 bands per primer. PIC values ranged from 0.27 (SCoT22) to 0.46 (SCoT15), with an average value of 0.36 per primer. Cluster analysis Based on SCoT-PCR markers grouped 35 chickpea genotypes into three major clusters. Results showed a weak relationship between morphological divergence and molecular diversity pattern. Overall, we found relatively high genetic diversity in examined chickpea genotypes using morphological and SCoT molecular markers. Findings of this study can be useful for breeder for selective genotypes and specific traits in breeding programs in chickpea. Original Research Article Ahmad and Talebi; ARRB, 15(1): 1-8, 2017; Article no.ARRB. 34203 2
Green Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activities of Silver Nanoparticles using Cell Free-Extracts of Enterococcus species

Cell-free extracts of six strains of Enterococcus species obtained from fermented foods were used for the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), which was characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The biosynthesized AgNPs were dark brown in colour having surface plasmon resonance in the range of 420-442 nm. The spherical shaped AgNPs had sizes of 4-55 nm, whose formations were facilitated by proteins as indicated by the presence of peaks 1,635-1,637 and 3,275-3,313 cm -1 in the FTIR spectra. The energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) showed prominent presence of silver in the AgNPs colloidal solution, while the selected area electron diffraction was typified by the face-centred crystalline nature of silver. The particles inhibited the growth of multi-drug resistant clinical isolates of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus vulgaris, and also potentiated the activities of ampicillin, ciprofloxacin and cefuroxime in the AgNPs-antibiotic synergy studies. In addition, the prospective relevance of the particles as nanopreservative in paints was demonstrated with the inhibition of growth of Staphylococcus aureus , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Aspergillus niger and A. flavus in AgNPs-paint admixture . This report further demonstrates the green synthesis of AgNPs by strains of Enterococcus species.
ACIDIFICANTES E DIGESTIBILIDADE DE NUTRIENTES COM SUÍNOS EM CRESCIMENTO

The aim of the experiment was to evaluate the effect of the addition of acidifiers to diets on the digestibility of growing pigs. We used 18 pigs with an average initial weight of 53.55 kg. The treatments consisted of conventional diet (corn and soybean meal) and alternative diet (pre-cooked corn and inactive soybean), with the addition of an acidifier at the levels of 0%, 0.1%, and 0.2%. The experimental design was in randomized blocks in a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement (diets x levels of the acidifier). The alternative diet was worse for CP (P<0.03) and ash (P<0.001) digestibility, but improved fiber digestibility (CF, P <0.001; ADF, P <0.001). The addition of the acidifier (0.2%) improved digestibility of Ca (P <0.01). There was an interaction between the acidifier and diet on digestibility coefficients of DM (P <0.01) and NDF (P<0.02). The alternative diet showed higher DM digestibility than the conventional diet when added 0.1% acidifier, respectively, 86.02% and 84.51% (P<0.05). As for NDF digestibility results, the alternative diet showed higher values than the conventional diet with the addition of 0% or 0.1% of the acidifier. For the alternative diet with 0.2%, values greater than 0 or 0.1% (P<0.05) were obtained. Keywords: Additives; chrome oxide; pre-cooked corn; inactive soybean.