Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Meiotic instability in some Brazilian common wheat cultivars.

The meiotic index (percentage of normal quartets) of 17 wheat cultivars which have been used in Brazilian breeding programs was determined. Plants with a meiotic index above 90 (91 Z or more normal quartets) were considered meiotically stable for practical purposes. Observations were made on material sampled over a period of several days at four localities. From zero to 28 micronuclei were found per quartet. In two cultivars, all plants had a meiotic index greater than 90, 14 cultivars had plants with indices either above or below 90, and in one cultivar all plants had indices below 90. The percentage of plants of all varieties with a meiotic index of less than 90 was 32 Z, indicating that meiotic abnormalities have not been eliminated by the usual breeding procedures. At one location, correlation coefficients between meiotic index and temperature, humidity, rainfall and isolation were low, although significant. The behaviour of unstable and stable cultivars was independent of day and place of fixation. These data suggest that the genotype played a major role on meiotic stability.
Spatial and temporal patterns of antimicrobial action against Staphylococcus Epidermidis biofilms

This study investigated the spatio-temporal patterns of antimicrobial action against Staphylococcus epidermidis planktonic and biofilm bacteria. Bacteria were stained with a fluorogenic esterase substrate, Calcein-AM, which allowed for the visualization of cells that possessed intact cell membranes. Four different antimicrobial agents were tested for their effect upon cell viability as associated with membrane integrity. The four biocides were Barquat®, glutaraldehyde, chlorine, and nisin. Planktonic bacteria were analyzed with flow cytometry, observing fluorescence loss during 1 h antimicrobial treatment. Treatment with Barquat resulted in initial fluorescence loss, which increased during the treatment period to levels which were present prior to the introduction of biocide, along with a decrease in cell density. Treatments with glutaraldehyde and chlorine resulted in increased average fluorescence intensity for the cell population, accompanied by decreased cell density for chlorine and increased cell density for glutaraldehyde. Nisin treatment resulted in a decrease in CAM fluorescence with an increase in cell density. Viable cell plate counts showed average log reductions in CFU/mL of 3.61, 3.83, 4.12, 4.26, and 4.67 for Barquat, glutaraldehyde, high and low concentrations of chlorine, and nisin treatments, respectively. There was no apparent correlation between plate counts and flow cytometry data. Biofilm bacteria were analyzed with time-lapse confocal scanning laser microscopy, observing fluorescence loss during biocide treatment. Biofilms treated with Barquat lost an average of 91.5% of their initial fluorescence, and clusters decreased in areal coverage by 9%. Fluorescence loss during Barquat treatment suggested the presence of a tolerant subpopulation of bacteria in the interior regions of the biofilm. Glutaraldehyde treatment reduced the average fluorescence by 16%, and cluster area did not change. There was CTC staining after glutaraldehyde treatment only. The high and low concentrations of chlorine treatment showed averages of 100% and 79% reductions in CAM staining, with liquefaction of biomass causing erosion events which reduced areal coverage by 90% and 43%, respectively. Nisin treatment reduced CAM staining by an average of 100%, while shrinking the cluster area by 8%. Corner biofilms showed qualitative differences during treatment than isolated clusters. Mathematically-predicted biocide diffusion times were much faster than experimentally observed fluorescence loss in biofilms.
Studies on malaria in Serra do Navioegion, Amapa State, Brazil

This study evaluated the status of malaria transmission in Serra do Navio region where a malaria control programme had been carried out for more than 20 years, which included the provision of a daily intake of chioroquinised salt. Malaria endemicity in the study areas [target area: Serra do Navio (SNV); control areas: Colonia Agua Branca (CAB), Porto Terezinha (PT) and Arrependido (ARR)] was established based on the spleen rate and prevalence of malaria parasites among the 2-9 years age group. SNV was defined as a non-endemic area for malaria since both rates were zero, while CAB and ARR were concluded to be mesoendemic areas since the rates were between 10 and 50%, and PT was considered hypoendemic area because both rates were under 10%. Antibody prevalence measured using IFAT with asexual form antigens of Plasmodium . falciparum and Plasmodium vivax and ELISA (asexual forms of P.falciparum, sporozoites of P.falciparurn, P.vivax type 1, P.vivax type 2, P.vivax type 3 and P.malariae/P.brasilianum) was determined for individuals from each study area. These results showed a high frequency of P.falciparum antibodies in all areas. The level of haptoglobin in 100 children from all these areas demonstrated the close relationship between hypohaptoglobinaemia and malaria in the control areas. Haskin's method , a qualitative method, was applied for testing chioroquine in urine. Therefore, chioroquine levels were measured in serum and urine using the ELISA test and the results were in agreement with the reports of the intake of chioroquine salt. The distribution and potentiality of the malaria vectors in all areas was determined. Fifteen anopheline species were identified among 3053 mosquitoes collected by human biting catches in the 4 study areas. 96.4% of the total mosquitoes caught belonged to 4 species, namely, An.albitarsis, An.braziliensis, An.nuneztovari and An.triannulatus. An.darlingi which is considered the main vector of malaria in the Amazon region of Brazil was very scarce. Using ELISA for the detection of Plasmodium spp sporozoites a positivity rate of 0.799% (23/2876) was found covering six species: 15 An. albitarsis, 4 An. nuneztovari, and 1 of each: An. braziliensis, An. triannulatus, An. oswaldoi and An.rangeli. 9 out 23 positive mosquitoes were infected with P. raalariae ; 9 with P. vivax- variant VK 247; 3 with P. falciparum and 2 with the classical P.vivax.
Overexpression of Bax induces apoptosis and enhances drug sensitivity of hepatocellular cancer-9204 cells

AIM: To investigate the role of overexpression of Bax in apoptotic pathways and the response of human hepatocellular cancer (HCC)-9204 cells to cell death induced by adriamycin.METHODS: The whole length of Bax cDNA was transfectrd into human HCC-9204 cells by the method of lipofectamine transfection. An inducible MT-Ⅱ regulatory system was constructed, which allowed controlled expression of protein upon addition of ZnSO4 (100 μmol/L) as an external inducer. Stable transfecting inducible expression vector containing Bax gene was performed. Expression of Bax in protein was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. TUNEL and flow cytometry were used to assess the effect of Bax on apoptosis. Colony assay and tetrazolium blue (MTT) assay were used to evaluate the difference in drug sensitivity of HCC-9204 cells after Bax-transfection.RESULTS: Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting demonstrated that the expression of Bax protein markedly increased in Bax-transfected cells 4 h after the addition cytoplasm and perinuclear region of HCC-9404 cells, and there was ectopic expression in cells with marked condensation of chromatin and cytoplasm (apoptotic cells). Apoptotic index significantly increased in Bax-transfected HCC-9204/Bax cells (3.6 vs 27.2, 4.2 vs 32.3, P＜0.05). Flow cytometry analysis showed a significant sub-G1 peak and apoptosis in 15.4% HCC-9204/Bax cells 24 h after treatment. Furthermore, colony survival rate decreased from 66% (HCC-9204/pMD) to 45% (HCC-9204/Bax) 2 dafter ADR withdrawal. MTT assay result showed that the effects of Bax on cell viability following ADR exposure were significant as compared to the vehicle-transfected HCC-9204/pMD cells (21% vs 44%, P＜0.01). CONCLUSION: Overexpression of Bax not only induces apoptosis, but also sensitizes HCC-9204 cells to cell death induced by adriamycin.
Effect of chromium on morphological features of tomato and brinjal

Studies were carried out to investigate the morphological features of tomato and brinjal at different Cr 6 + concentrations. Chromium caused reduction in root length, shoot length and decreased number of branches. Numberof stomata and epidermal cells decreased with increasing level of chromium both in tomato and brinjal except on lower side of leaf in tomato. Number of trichomes increased and size of trichomes and stomata decreased. Deformed and less differentiated stomata were frequently present in the treated plants. There was reduction in leaf area, width of primary vein, secondary vein and areoles.
P53-M Real-Time PCR Array for Multi-Gene Expression Profiling and Microarray Data Validation: RT2 Profiler PCR Array.

Quantitative real-time reverse-transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) is presently the method of choice for validating gene expression results from high-density microarrays. However, the low throughput of traditional gene-by-gene RT-qPCR makes this process labor intensive and time consuming. To accelerate this laborious task, the SuperArray RT²Profiler PCR Array combines SYBR Green–based real-time RT-qPCR technology with a multi-gene array plate format to simultaneously analyze a panel of genes related to a specific disease or biological pathway. Each assay on the PCR array plate has been experimentally validated to insure gene-specific amplification. The reliability and reproducibility of the RT²Profiler PCR Array have been demonstrated by DNA sequencing and intra/inter-laboratory reproducibility comparisons. The DNA sequencing demonstrated 100% of the PCR products amplified from the correct target genes. In one laboratory, individual PCR assays produced a standard deviation of 0.24 cycles and a coefficient of variance of 0.92% in technical replicates. The correlation coefficient for Ct values between replicate runs was 0.997 and for fold changes (ΔΔCt) across thermocyclers was 0.976. Comparisons between two different laboratories using different thermocyclers showed correlation coefficients of 0.972 and 0.976 for ΔCt and ΔΔCt, respectively. Each PCR array also includes stringent controls to monitor RNA quality by assessing reverse transcription efficiency and genomic DNA contamination to ensure the reliability of the PCR array data. A practical application for the PCR array was demonstrated by identifying human pancreatic tumor–associated genes using the Cancer PathwayFinder RT²Profiler PCR Array. Results showed 23 genes exhibiting a statistically significant threefold or greater change in expression between a human pancreatic tumor and normal pancreas, including many genes previously linked to pancreatic cancer. Hence, the RT2 Profiler PCR Array system offers a simple, reliable, and convenient tool for multi-gene profiling and microarray data validation.
Endometrial stromal sarcoma: Unexpected guest!

Endometrial Stromal Sarcoma (ESS) are very rarely encountered malignancies of uterus that account for only 1% of all uterine malignancies. ESS is commonly seen in perimenopausal women, typically presents with abnormal uterine bleeding and most commonly, pre-operative diagnosis will be leiomyomas. We report an interesting case of 42 year old female presenting with irregular cycles and excessive bleeding per vaginum. With provisional clinical diagnosis of fibroid uterus, total abdominal hysterectomy was done. Histopathological examination and immunohistochemistry staining with CD 10 confirmed the diagnosis of Low Grade ESS. The case is presented in view of its rarity and showing very much distinguishing gross and microscopy appearance. It highlights the unsuspected uterine malignant tumor, which was mimicking leiomyoma both clinically and radiologically. The histopathological examination again proved as gold standard to confirm the diagnosis of this rare entity.
Transcending Microbial Source Tracking Techniques Across Geographic Borders: An Examination of Human and Animal Microbiomes and the Integration of Molecular Approaches in Pathogen Surveillance in Brazil and the United States

Gulls are prevalent in beach environments and can be a major source of fecal contamination. Gulls have been shown to harbor a high abundance of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB), such as E. coli and enterococci, which can be detected readily as part of routine beach monitoring. Despite the ubiquitous presence of gull fecal material in beach environments, the associated microbial community is relatively poorly characterized. We generated comprehensive microbial community profiles of gull fecal samples using Roche 454 and Illumina MiSeq platforms to investigate the composition and variability of the gull fecal microbial community and to measure the proportion of FIB. Enterococcaceae and Enterobacteriaceae were the two most abundant families in our gull samples. Sequence comparisons between short-read data and near full-length 16S rRNA gene clones generated from the same samples revealed Catellicoccus marimammalium as the most numerous taxon among all samples. The identification of bacteria from gull fecal pellets cultured on membrane-Enterococcus indoxyl-β-Dglucoside (mEI) plates showed that the dominant sequences recovered in our sequence libraries did not represent organisms culturable on mEI. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing of gull fecal isolates cultured on mEI plates, 98.8% were identified as Enterococcus spp. , 1.2% Streptococcus spp. ; and none were identified as C. marimammalium. Illumina deep sequencing indicated that gull fecal samples harbor significantly higher proportions of C. marimammalium 16S rRNA gene sequences (>50fold), relative to typical mEI culturable Enterococcus spp. C. marimammalium therefore can be confidently utilized as a genetic marker to identify gull fecal pollution in the beach environment.
Effects of Breast Cancer Treatment on Shoulder Function: What to Expect and How to Treat?

Breast cancer treatment may lead to side effects such as shoulder pain, restricted shoulder mobility, fibrosis, breast cancer-related lymphedema, and anatomical and biomechanical changes of the shoulder, which will contribute to functional status limitations. Function of the upper limb requires adequate mobility of the shoulder, including the scapula, and an efficient neuromuscular coordination. Movement deviation patterns in women following surgery for breast cancer are similar to those seen in other known shoulder conditions. Exercise therapy and scapular stabilization exercises were found to be an effective approach for controlling pain, promote normal motor control and decreasing disability. The main purpose of the present paper is to review the shoulder movement dysfunctions after breast cancer treatment and to briefly characterize the main physical therapy intervention strategies to treat or prevent these dysfunctions.
Studies of the Preparations and Use of Sol-Gel for Enzyme Immobilization and Analytical Applications.

Studies of the Preparations and Use of Sol‐Gel for Enzyme Immobilization and Analytical Applications by Suzana Hamdan Much attention has been paid to immobilization of enzymes to improve enzyme stability and permit its reuse. Glucose oxidase entrapment in different kinds of silica sol‐gel matrices was investigated. The enzyme showed stable activity for 11 uses in the sol‐gel with tetramethyl orthosilicate (TMOS) as precursor, and at least 7 uses in the sol‐gel induced electrochemically with tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) as precursor. The sol‐gel made with TEOS as precursor and HCl as catalyst showed stability in enzyme activity for 11 uses but the activity decreases on the same sol‐gel when modified with silica nanoparticles. Factors such as optimal incubation time of glucose solution, the reproducibility between different sol‐gels, and the storage time were investigated. Good linearity and analytical results on real samples were obtained. The detection method was based on a colorimetric method for determining the concentration of hydrogen peroxide produced from the oxidation reaction of glucose.
xTAG Luminex multiplex assay for rapid screening of verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli strains

Abstract The O26 verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC)-associated outbreak of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) cases in Romania during 2016 showed the need to improve the current methodology of non-O157 VTEC detection and surveillance. An in-house assay based on xTAG Luminex technology was optimized to identify seven of the most relevant diarrheagenic E.coli serogroups (O-specific wzx genes), two convenient VTEC virulence markers (eaeA and ehxA genes), and a species-specific control gene (uidA). Twenty-nine strains previously characterized in terms of serogroup and virulence genes were tested with the optimized protocol and the results were as expected. The ratio of sample signal to background varied from 66.7 (ehxA) to 7.6 (uidA) for positive samples, with a cut-off of 3. Sensitivity varied depending on the target to be amplified from approximately 102 genomic copies to approximately 104 genomic copies per reaction, respectively. The current approach seems an affordable alternative to commercially available assays that can be further exploited to improve existing autochthonous strategies to prevent future VTEC outbreaks.
Parenting and externalising problems in adolescents: Results of factor analysis

Background/Aim. Modern conceptualising of parenting in relation to manifesting adolescence externalising problems is based on parent-child two-way communication, mutual trust and parental involvement. A lot of research reports prove independent contribution of parental variables on expressing externalising problems in middle and late adolescence while data about their mutual relationship are missing. The aim of this study was to determine the relationships of parental variables and variables of externalising problems in a common space. Methods. The study included 507 students, both boys and girls, of Belgrade secondary schools, aged from fifteen to eighteen. Parental monitoring was studied using the Parental Monitoring Scale, affective attachment to parents by the Inventory of Parents and Peers Attachment, parenting practices using the Alabama Parenting Questionnaire and externalising problems by the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment, Youth Self- Report. Results. Factor analysis indicated the existence of 4 factors (components) which together accounted for 65.5% of variance. The first factor (positive parenting and affective attachment to mother) accounted for 38.1%, the second (externalising problems and negative parenting) accounted for 11.26%, the third (affective attachment to father) accounted for 8.93% and the fourth (negative discipline and inadequate affective attachment to mother) accounted for 7.22% of variance. The most important discovery arised from matrix correlation was a negative correlation of the second component with the first (-0.539) and the third (- 0.481) one. Conclusion. A positive relationship between parents and adolescents except for a positive parenting practices of parents characterize all the subscales of parental monitoring except for the parental control. Compared to fathers, mothers are generally more involved in life of adolescents and have better mutual relationship with them, but in relation to externalising problems the affective attachment to fathers proved to be very significant even independently of their parenting role.
Comparision of prevalence, demographical profile and visual status of POAG and PACG at first visit in a tertiary care centre in south west Punjab

INTRODUCTION The term glaucoma refers to a group of diseases that have in common a characteristic optic neuropathy with associated visual function loss for which elevated IOP is one of the primary risk factors, its presence or absence though does not have a role in the definition of the disease. [1],[2]. Glaucoma can be classified in various ways with separate anatomic, gonioscopic, biochemical, molecular and genetic views. The most acceptable scheme of classification combines the mechanism of anterior segment changes leading to glaucoma (Developmental, open angle or angle closure) and whether this mechanism is without any apparent cause (Primary) or due to some discrete cause or pre existing [3] ocular or systemic disease (Secondary).
The Shape of Life

Aldehydes are obtained from aryl, vinylic and heterocyclic halides and substituted derivatives thereof, a tertiary amine, carbon monoxide and hydrogen at from about 50 DEG -175 DEG C under from about one to 200 atmospheres pressure and with PdX2[P(C6H5)3]1 or 2 as a catalyst where X is acetate or a halogen. The ratios of carbon monoxide to hydrogen are not critical but the most favorable reactions are usually obtained with ratio from about 0.1 to about 10. A typical example is the conversion of p-bromoanisole to anisaldehyde in 84% yield at 150 DEG C in 18 hrs. at 1000 psig. of 1:1 CO to H2 with one mole percent of PdBr2[P(C6H5)3]2 as catalyst and with tri-n-butylamine as the tertiary amine.
Immunomodulatory effect of pneumolysin upon CD4 T cells

The human bacterial pathogen, Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus), has been shown to modulate different parts of the innate immune response of its host, however its ability to modulate the adaptive immune response remains largely uninvestigated. Furthermore, the importance of the adaptive arm of the immune system in responding to Streptococcus pneumoniae has only recently begun to be elucidated. I therefore investigated a potentially novel pneumococcal immunomodulatory mechanism involving the effect of the pneumococcal toxin, pneumolysin, upon the cells at the heart of the adaptive immune response; the CD4 T cell. I generated purified pneumolysin and a purified pneumolysin mutant called F433 to allow me to examine this potential effect. I found that pneumolysin inhibits in vitro antigen specific murine CD4 T cell proliferation and cytokine production and that this effect is not observed with the F433 mutant pneumolysin. Furthermore, I demonstrated that pneumolysin accomplished this inhibitory activity by inducing apoptosis of activated CD4 T cells and suggest that lipid rafts may be involved in this process since we also demonstrated that pneumolysin preferentially binds to lipid rafts. Finally I demonstrated that pneumolysin is able to inhibit the in vivo accumulation of T cells and also inhibits in vivo antibody production. I propose that the immunomodulatory mechanism I have described may play an important role during pneumococcal infection and that this warrants further investigation. I propose that detailed in vivo studies are required to demonstrate that this mechanism functions during infection and to elucidate the effect this has upon the course of infection.
Selection in presence of genotype by environment interaction may increase environmental sensitivity.

INTRODUCTION The reaction norm of a genotype describes the phenotype expressed by that genotype over a range of environments (e.g. Woltereck, 1909 in : Stearns, 1989). The two sires in figure 1 have equal phenotypic values in environment 2. If, in a later generation, the environmental value has increased, the progeny of sire 1, having the steeper reaction norm, will be favoured over progeny of sire 2. Assume a population of animals having linear reaction norms with individual variation in slope (i.e. genotype by environment interaction (GxE)). The environment is continuously improving. If the population is selected for high phenotypic value, there is reason to believe that the environmental sensitivity of the population will increase. 0 20 40 60 80 100