Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
POLISH JOURNAL OF NATURAL SCIENCES

The aim of this study was to review recent research, conducted over the last two decades, into prediction of carcass leanness and fatness in live domestic birds. Numerous traits were measured in live birds, and relatively high correlations were found between the breast muscle content and lean meat content of the whole carcass vs. breast muscle thickness, breastbone crest length and body weight of birds. Breast muscle thickness was measured using needle catheters and, more recently, ultrasonic devices. The above three traits were used as independent variables in multiple regression equations for estimating breast muscle content and lean weight in the whole carcass. The breast muscle content of poultry carcasses can be determined in vivo with high accuracy by computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, both techniques are relatively expensive, for which reason they are not widely used in animal breeding. PRZYŻYCIOWE METODY OCENY UMIĘŚNIENIA TUSZEK DROBIOWYCH Roman Bochno, Daria Murawska, Danuta Michalik, Katarzyna Tomaszewska, Wiesław Brzozowski, Magdalena Zawacka Katedra Towaroznawstwa Ogólnego i Doświadczalnictwa Uniwersytet Warmińsko-Mazurski w Olsztynie S ł o w a k l u c z o w e: drób, tuszki, mięśnie piersiowe, przyżyciowa ocena, równania regresji. Address: Daria Murawska, Department of Commodity Science and Animal Improvement, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury, ul. Oczapowskiego 5, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland, daria.murawska@uwm.edu. pl
A comprehensive review on Polygonum glabrum

Polygonum glabrum commonly called as dense flower knotweed is a perennial plant. It is an amphibious shrub with pink flowers and glossy brown seeds found in most parts of India. Various parts of the plant like leaves, stem, flowers and roots are used in traditional system of medicine. Traditionally, different decoctions/infusions are prepared using the plant parts and given for the treatment of rheumatism, jaundice, piles etc. From pharmacological point, the plant has been effectively screened for antihepatotoxic, antinephrotoxic, antimicrobial, anticancer, antidepressant, analgesic and antioxidant activities. The plant contains many flavonoids including diosmetin, rutin, hyperin and quercitrin. The lanceolate leaves are rich in essential oil which contains many compounds like 6, 6-dimethyl-1, 3-heptadien-5-ol, oleicacid, 9-octadecenamide, isodecyloctyl ester and 1,2,3-benzenetriol. Compounds like aliphatic, alicyclic compounds, sesqueterpenes, sterols, phenolic acids as well as other trace elements have been identified in the plant. This review provides morphological, ethnomedical, pharmacological and phytochemical data of the plant Polygonum glabrum.
The patterns of sex determination and differentiation genes in green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas)

Green sea turtle (C. mydas) is one of TSD (Temperature-dependent Sex Determination, TSD) animals which mean that their sex is determined by the egg’s incubation temperature. Genotypic Sex Determination (GSD) homologous genes play a role in TSD process. Until now, research on the pattern of sex determination genes in C.mydas has not been conducted yet. The aim of this research is to reveal sex determination and differentiation genes expression in Mesonephros-Gonad (MG) complexes of C. mydas embryos which incubated in masculinizing temperature (MT) and feminizing temperature (FT). C. mydas eggs were incubated in 3 different stage of TSP (Thermosensitive Period) at masculinizing temperature (26±1 0 C, MT) and feminizing temperature (31±1 0 C FT). Mesonefros-gonad complexes were isolated at Pre-TSP stage (FT at 14 th day, MT at 24 th day), TSP stage (FT at 24 th day, MT at 36 th day) and differentiated stage (FT at 40 th day, MT at 58 th day). RNA from mesonephros-gonad (MG) complexes were converted into cDNA by RT-PCR process. Pattern of Sf1, Wt1, Aromatase, FoxL2, Sox9, Wnt4, Fgf9 and Rspo1 genes expression were analyzed by quantitative Real Time PCR (qPCR) method with β-actin gene as an internal control. Result of this study shown that expression pattern of Sf1, Wt1, Aromatase, FoxL2, Sox9, Wnt4, Fgf9, and Rspo1genes in gonadal embryo of C. mydas were increased during gonadal development stage. Four genes expression patterns (Wnt4, Fgf9, Rspo1, and FoxL2) have shown that these genes have role in sexual differentiation rather than in sexual determination.
DAYTIME VARIATIONS OF CHLOROPHYLL A FLUORESCENCE IN PAU D'ALHO SEEDLINGS

Analises das fluorescencias transiente e modulada da clorofila a, foram realizadas em intervalos de uma hora, durante o periodo de oito horas, iniciando-se as 07h30min, com o objetivo de estudar mecanismos de fotoprotecao a elevacao da radiacao e temperatura, em plantas de Gallesia integrifolia. Sementes foram dispostas para germinar em vasos de polietileno contendo solo como substrato. Aos 120 dias apos a emergencia, determinacoes da fluorescencia da clorofila foram realizadas com o uso dos fluorometros Handy-PEA e FMS2. Durante o transcorrer do dia foi observada elevacao na temperatura e na radiacao fotossinteticamente ativa ate as 12:30h com posterior queda. Identificou-se alteracao nas curvas de cinetica transiente da fluorescencia da clorofila a o que resultou em alteracao nos parâmetros de teste JIP, podendo ser destacado a elevacao, durante o periodo de alta radiacao e temperatura, nas variaveis relacionadas ao fluxo de dissipacao, juntamente com o aparecimento das bandas -L e -K positivas. Para a fluorescencia modulada destacam-se altos valores dos coeficientes de extincao nao fotoquimico associados aos menores valores da eficiencia fotoquimica efetiva do fotossistema II (FV'/FM') e eficiencia fotoquimica atual do FS II (φPSII) no inicio da manha, resultado provavelmente de uma inibicao da fase bioquimica da fotossintese. Pode-se concluir que as plantas de pau d'alho apresentam decrescimo na atividade fotoquimica com o incremento da radiacao fotossinteticamente ativa, demonstrando um efeito fotoinibitorio sob condicoes de alta irradiância contudo, sem dano irreversivel ao aparato fotossintetico.
The evolution of hominoid ecomorphology studies of locomotor behaviour and anatomy in human and nonhuman apes

An animal’s locomotor abilities facilitate its interactions with the surrounding environment. Extant hominoids (apes) have evolved diverse ranges of locomotor strategies which allow them to exploit terrestrial and arboreal habitats despite their large body size. However, hominins (modern humans and their ancestors) are traditionally defined by their restriction to upright, bipedal posture and locomotion. Reconstructions of locomotor capacity in fossil hominoids allow investigation of the evolution of extant ape locomotion; yet these reconstructions rely on detailed understanding of the relationships between morphology, locomotor behaviour and the environment in extant apes. This thesis explores variation in locomotor behaviour and skeletal morphology among extant apes in order to shed light on these relationships. Studies of chimpanzees, gorillas and modern humans reveal considerable mechanical variation in gait, and demonstrate the importance of considering environmental context in ape locomotion. Anatomical studies find reduced reliability of inferring locomotor capacity in fossil hominoids due to significant variation among extant apes in skeletal predictors of habitual bipedality and estimations of joint range of motion. These studies highlight the importance of behavioural flexibility in determining hominoid locomotor capacity, and suggest that fossil hominoids were less constrained in their locomotor repertoires than previous reconstructions imply.
Sperm Selection Techniques and their Relevance to ART

Fertilization is now possible using any available sperm through intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment (Palermo et al., 1992). As a result, andrological research has raised questions regarding the selection of suboptimal sperm used for assisted reproductive technology (ART) (Avendano and Oehninger, 2011). In recent years, the role of sperm in ART has been highlighted as the sperm provides one half of the genome to the developing embryo.The use of healthier sperm has showed to improved ART outcomes and subsequently, sperm selection has become an integral part of ART procedure (Said and Land, 2011). Since the birth of first in vitro fertilization conceived baby in 1978, sperm selection for ART has been focused on selecting physiologically motile and morphologically normal sperm (Bartoov et al., 2002). Despite success, it has become evident that physical appearances of the sperm are inefficient to identify the most suitable sperm for ART success (Yetunde and Vasiliki, 2013). Hence, recent research is focused on developing novel sperm biomarkers to identify non-apoptotic sperm with high DNA integrity for successful use in ART. Our understanding of sperm physiology, as well as the technology to select healthier sperm has progressively been improved. Initially, sperm selection was based on simple semen washing procedures and
Quantitative Analysis of the Structural Dynamics of Mitotic Chromosomes in Live Mammalian Cells

Chromatin, organized into individual chromosomes, is the physiological carrier of the genetic and epigenetic information in eukaryotes. In the nucleus of an intact cell, the structure of chromatin is dynamic and essential for genomic activities. The most dramatic changes in chromatin structure occur in mitosis, when compact metaphase chromosomes are formed, organized and partitioned equally to two daughter cells. How this vital reorganization of chromatin is accomplished remains poorly understood in vivo. To address this, in the first part of my thesis I developed quantitative assays to determine the kinetics of mitotic chromosome compaction, using multidimensional confocal microscopy of live cells stably expressing fluorescent histone 2b. Condensation was measured at three different scales: Large-scale (~800 nm), where the chromatin volume was measured by high resolution 4D imaging; medium scale (~200 nm) by statistical analysis of pixel intensities; and molecular scale (~10 nm) by a FRET reporter of histone tail environment. These measurements show that (i) mitotic compaction may start at least 20 min before prometaphase; (ii) it correlates with changes in histone tail conformation; (iii) chromatin density is not highest in metaphase but in late anaphase chromosomes. In the second part, I focused on the novel finding of highest compaction in anaphase. Single chromosome measurements revealed that chromatids compact in anaphase by a mechanism of lengthwise shortening that starts only after segregation of the sister chromatids is complete. This axial shortening was not affected in condensin-depleted cells, and was independent of the poleward pulling motion on kinetochores, but it nevertheless depended on dynamic microtubules. Perturbation of this shortening caused a severe phenotype of multi-lobulated daughter nuclei, strongly suggesting a function in post-mitotic nuclear assembly and architecture. In addition, if anaphase compaction was perturbed in condensin-depleted cells, segregation defects increased 3-fold, suggesting a second role for anaphase compaction as a rescue mechanism for segregation defects. In the third part, the quantitative compaction assays were used to probe the role of PNUTS, a major protein phosphatase 1 nuclear-targeting subunit, in the regulation of chromatin structure. In live cells depleted of PNUTS by RNAi, compaction was slowed at least 3-fold. Our collaborators in the group of Philippe Collas at the University of Oslo had shown that PNUTS accelerates chromatin decompaction in vitro. PNUTS is thus involved in mitotic chromatin structure in vivo and in vitro, and my findings make it an interesting target for future research to understand the molecular mechanism of chromosome compaction.
A new species of Microstachys (Euphorbiaceae, Hippomaneae) in Paraguay

Abstract Pscheidt, A.C. , H. -J. Esser & I. Cordeiro (2017). A new species of Microstachys (Euphorbiaceae, Hippomaneae) in Paraguay. Candollea 72: 27–30. In English, English and Spanish abstracts. A new species, Microstachys dasycarpa Pscheidt, Esser & Cordeiro (Euphorbiaceae, Hippomaneae), endemic to Paraguayan Chaco, is described and illustrated. The genus Microstachys A. Juss. is represented in this area by other three species : Microstachys corniculata (Vahl) Griseb. , Microstachys hispida (Mart.) Govaerts and Microstachys serrulata (Mart.) Müll. Arg. , with which this new species is compared.
Targeted dynein inhibition generates flagellar beating

Motile cilia and flagella are highly conserved organelles that are essential for the normal development and health of many eukaryotes including humans. To reveal the molecular mechanism of motility, we used cryo-electron tomography of active sea urchin sperm flagella to directly visualize the macromolecular complexes and their structural changes during flagellar beating. We resolved distinct conformations of dynein motors and regulators, and showed that many of them are distributed in bend-direction-dependent fashion in active flagella. Our results provide direct evidence for the conformational switching predicted by the “switch-point-hypothesis”. However, they also reveal a fundamentally different mechanism of generating motility by inhibiting dyneins, rather than activating them, causing an asymmetric distribution of force and thus bending. Our high-resolution structural and biochemical analyses provide a new understanding of the distinct roles played by various dyneins and regulators in ciliary motility and suggest a molecular mechanism for robust beating in an all-or-none manner. HIGHLIGHTS Direct visualization of the switching mechanism for flagellar motility. Flagellar beating is generated by oscillating the side of dynein inhibition. I1 dynein, I1-tether and N-DRC are key regulators that are involved in switching. Structural insights into distinct roles of dynein isoforms in flagellar motility.
ANTHOCYANIN AND POTENTIAL THERAPEUTIC TRAITS IN CLITORIA, DESMODIUM, CORCHORUS, CATHARANTHUS AND HIBISCUS SPECIES

The USDA, ARS, Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit curates several important nutraceutical and medicinal plant species. Anthocyanins are responsible for flower, leaf and seed coat color in plants, and are antioxidants as well. However, little is known about anthocyanin content in Clitoria ternatea, Desmodium adscendens, Corchorus olitorius, Catharanthus roseus, Hibiscus sabdariffa and Acer saccharum. This study was conducted to identify anthocyanin indexes and additional health enhancing components in these species. An anthocyanin meter with an LED diode of 520 nm was used to measure the anthocyanin index of leaves and flowers from plants growing in the field during July, September and October 2006. We found anthocyanin indexes ranging from 4.1 to 52.4 for leaves and 0.8 to 26.8 for flowers in all five species. The highest leaf anthocyanin index average of 14.6 was found in D. adscendens (PI 316623) followed by sugar maple (A. saccharum) with a leaf anthocyanin average index of 13.0. Catharanthus roseus (PI 608581) also had the highest flower anthocyanin index average of 17.3. These data were recorded at or prior to 50% maturity. In addition, potential health uses for these species are discussed. Phytochemicals identified include but are not limited to an antimicrobial protein from C. ternatea, anthocyanin rich extracts from H. sabdariffa for potential use as a chemopreventive agent, and antitumor promoters in C. olitorius leaves. These anthocyanins and phytochemicals have potential value in the nutraceutical and medical industries. These variable anthocyanin indexes among these species will assist breeders and other scientists with valuable germplasm for development of anthocyanin enriched cultivars.
Microbial Esterases: An overview

Enzymes were known to mankind since the late 17 century where the digestion of meat in humans was thought to occur using stomach secretions. The term enzyme [in Greek, enyzyme = in leaven] was used for first time by German physiologist Wilhelm Kunhe. Further in 1897, Eduard Buchner, named the enzyme that bought about fermentation of sucrose as zymase . Following Buchner s example, the enzymes are usually named according to reactions they carry out. Esterases belong to hydrolases class of enzymes which catalyze the cleavage and formation of ester bonds. The enzyme commission number assigned to esterase is E.C 3.1. 1.x where x depends on the substrate (Bornscheuer, 2002). Esterases can catalyze three types of reactions: esterification, interesterification and transesterification reactions with very good chemo-, regioand/or enantioselectivity (Gupta et al., 2012). ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 2 Number 7 (2013) pp. 135-146 http://www.ijcmas. com
Functional Traits and Ecological Affinities of Riparian Plants along the Colorado River in Grand Canyon

Abstract. Trait-based approaches to vegetation analyses are becoming more prevalent in studies of riparian vegetation dynamics, including responses to flow regulation, groundwater pumping, and climate change. These analyses require species trait data compiled from the literature and floras or original field measurements. Gathering such data makes trait-based research time intensive at best and impracticable in some cases. To support trait-based analysis of vegetation along the Colorado River through Grand Canyon, a data set of 20 biological traits and ecological affinities for 179 species occurring in that study area was compiled. This diverse flora shares species with many riparian areas in the western USA and includes species that occur across a wide moisture gradient. Data were compiled from published scientific papers, unpublished reports, plant fact sheets, existing trait databases, regional floras, and plant guides. Data for ordinal environmental tolerances were more readily available than were quantitative traits. More publicly available data are needed for traits of both common and rare southwestern U.S. plant species to facilitate comprehensive, traitbased research. The trait data set is free to use and can be downloaded from ScienceBase: https://www.sciencebase. gov/catalog/item/58af41dee4b01ccd54f9f2ff and https://dx.doi. org/10.5066/F7QV3JN1
Interactive effects of land use, temperature, and predators determine native and invasive mosquito distributions

Land-use and climate change could alter the distribution of both native and exotic mosquitoes by changing abiotic and biotic characteristics of freshwater habitats. We initially studied the influence of land use on standing water habitats, and the subsequent effects on native and exotic mosquito and mosquito-predator presence. Associated with abiotic habitat characteristics, mosquito-predator richness was highest in aquatic habitats of natural land uses (forest and grassland), and lowest in human-modified land uses (pastoral and urban), and the opposite relationship was true for mosquito presence. Based on the outcome of the field survey we investigated the potential effects of climate-induced habitat warming and drying on interactions between invasive Aedes notoscriptus and native Culex pervigilans mosquitoes and native invertebrate predators affected by the land-use gradient. Predator presence, which is directly affected by both climate and land-use change, influenced both mosquito survivorship and behaviour. We found predation rates increased with temperature, but the magnitude of changes depended on both predator and prey identity. In general, higher temperatures increased mosquito pupation rates, but also made mosquitoes more susceptible to predation. Although invasive A. notoscriptus were more susceptible to predation, increased temperature resulted in shorter life cycles, thereby reducing the net effect of increased predation caused by higher temperatures. Overall, our results suggest interactions between temperature, land use and predator identity will be important in determining mosquito distributions, and will likely differ between mosquito species. Such interactions and species-specific responses will be particularly important if environmental changes facilitate range expansion of invasive mosquito species that are vectors for disease.
Simultaneous growth and metabolite production by yoghurt starters and probiotics: a metabolomics approach

The main objective of this research was to investigate the simultaneous growth and metabolite production by yoghurt starters and different probiotic strains, i.e. Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB12 and Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1, during set-yoghurt fermentation and refrigerated storage. In this context, the microbial activity was evaluated in terms of bacterial population dynamics, milk acidification and formation of volatile and non-volatile metabolites in set-yoghurt. A complementary metabolomics approach using headspace SPME-GC/MS and 1 H-NMR was applied for characterization of biochemical changes associated with the microbial metabolism during fermentation and storage. The results revealed that incorporation of the three probiotic strains did not significantly influence the acidity and concentrations of key-aroma volatile compounds of set-yoghurt. Still, the presence of probiotics substantially contributed to the formation of a large number of volatile and non-volatile metabolites detected at low concentration. Because many probiotic strains are not able to survive well in fermented milk, a strategy to enhance their survival was additionally applied by preculturing the three probiotic strains under sublethal salt and low pH stress conditions prior to inoculation in milk. The results revealed an improved survival of L. rhamnosus GG and B. animalis subsp. lactis BB12, specifically by preculturing at relatively low pH conditions. Moreover, incorporation of sublethally precultured L. plantarum WCFS1 significantly impaired the survival of L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, which consequently reduced the post-acidification of yoghurt. Metabolomics analyses revealed that the presence of stress-adapted probiotics induced significant changes in the overall metabolite profile of yoghurt. This finding is important, since variations in the relative abundance of various organic acids, aroma volatiles and proteolytic-derived compounds may directly influence the organoleptic quality of product. Finally, multivariate analysis enabled to distinguish yoghurts fermented by different types of starter combinations and different durations of storage according to their metabolite profiles. This research provides new information regarding the impact of probiotics on the metabolome of yoghurt and potential application of stress-adapted probiotics in an actual food-carrier environment.