Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects Of Long-Term Exposure To Kanamycin and/or Ampicillin On Resistance Genes On An E. Coli Plasmid

Multi-drug-resistant bacteria are a major cause of hospital-acquired infections and antibiotic resistance in these organisms is often plasmid mediated, which has become a growing concern. Plasmids conferring resistance to multiple antibiotics are increasingly becoming a common source of antibiotic resistance. The behavior of these plasmids under and in the absence of selective pressure is not yet fully understood. Therefore, to determine the behavior of a multiple-resistance plasmid under selective pressure pCR 2.1-TOPO, a commercial plasmid, was inserted into an Escherichia coli host and grown in a continuous culture under four conditions: broth with 1) kanamycin alone, 2) ampicillin alone, 3) with both kanamycin and ampicillin, and 4) without antibiotics. Samples were taken every two weeks, frozen, and later cultured on a replica plate series to identify mutants whose plasmids no longer conferred resistance to one or both antibiotics. The plasmids of these mutants were isolated, sequenced, and compared. The sequence data were analyzed to determine how the plasmid-mediated resistance genes changed over time. These results show the effects of selection pressure on the plasmid itself rather than on the organism by antibiotics and relates to the overall problem of antibiotic resistance in medicine and animal science by contributing to the understanding of the persistence of resistance markers in pathogen populations.
Examining the effect of adding community-based palliative care on the health-related quality of life of individuals with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease dissertation

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the leading cause of morbidity and the 5th leading cause of mortality worldwide, affecting more than 200 million people. COPD patients have high rates of healthcare utilization and frequent hospitalizations resulting in high healthcare costs. In addition, COPD causes emotional, psychological, and physical stress for patients and negatively impacts the health-related quality of life (HrQOL) as the disease progresses. Furthermore, spiritual wellbeing is associated with HrQOL in those with serious illnesses, such as COPD, and is a major component of PC, so it should be addressed in research related to PC’s effect on HrQOL in COPD Aim: The primary aim was to test the impact of adding community-based PC to usual COPD management on HrQOL, symptoms, and activity levels of the post hospitalized COPD patients, as compared to patients who received usual care alone. The secondary aim was to test the impact of adding community-based PC to standard COPD management on spiritual wellbeing of the post hospitalized COPD patients, as compared to patients who usual care alone Methods: The study was a feasibility pilot study, using a quasi-experimental 30-day, non-blinded, non-randomized, single site, controlled trial design. Due to the inability to blind, matching between the control and intervention groups was used. The population was a convenience sample of 40 patients with COPD, male and female, aged 40-75 years, with a diagnosis of COPD that had been admitted to the hospital for acute on chronic respiratory failure, or a COPD exacerbation. Potential
Intra-monthly variability of some physiological and blood parameters in pigs under different environmental conditions

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of intra-monthly variability of some physiological and blood parameters in pigs under different environmental conditions. For this purpose, 10 pigs (five males and five females) coming from a Sicilian farm were used. On all animals, rectal temperature, respiratory rate and blood sampling were carried out every five days, at six-time points under different environmental conditions, for the whole month of July 2017. For each period, ambient temperature, the relative humidity and the temperature-humidity index (THI) were recorded. Blood samples were tested for haematological (RBC, WBC, Hb, Hct) and haematochemical (GLU, TRIG, CHOL, TP, ALB and CREA) analyses. Our results showed a statistically significant effect of time (P < 0.05) on rectal temperature, haematological and haematochimical parameters. CREA and respiratory rate have not shown statistically significant effect of time. Our data indicate that the majority of parameters evaluated in the present study showed variations related to changes in environmental conditions and to high ambient temperature. These results provide information into the physiological responses of pigs to different environmental conditions and could be useful to optimize the husbandry practices and provide useful information for monitoring changes in the health status of pigs.
Fungal Diversity and Enzyme Activity Associated with the Macroalgae, Agarum clathratum

Abstract Agarum clathratum, a brown macroalgae species, has recently become a serious environmental problem on the coasts of Korea. In an effort to solve this problem, fungal diversity associated with decaying A. clathratum was investigated and related β-glucosidase and endoglucanase activities were described. A total of 233 fungal strains were isolated from A. clathratum at 15 sites and identified 89 species based on morphology and a multigene analysis using the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and protein-coding genes including actin (act), β-tubulin (benA), calmodulin (CaM), and translation elongation factor (tef1). Acremonium, Corollospora, and Penicillium were the dominant genera, and Acremonium fuci and Corollospora gracilis were the dominant species. Fifty-one species exhibited cellulase activity, with A. fuci, Alfaria terrestris, Hypoxylon perforatum, P. madriti, and Pleosporales sp. Five showing the highest enzyme activities. Further enzyme quantification confirmed that these species had higher cellulase activity than P. crysogenum, a fungal species described in previous studies. This study lays the groundwork for bioremediation using fungi to remove decaying seaweed from populated areas and provides important background for potential industrial applications of environmentally friendly processes.
The First Cases of Evolving Glyphosate Resistance in UK Poverty Brome (Bromus sterilis) Populations

Abstract Poverty brome (Bromus sterilis L.) [sterile or barren brome, syn. Anisantha sterilis (L.) Nevski] is a problematic UK arable weed. There are currently no confirmed cases of glyphosate resistance in any weed species in the United Kingdom or in B. sterilis worldwide. However, there are reports of poor control by glyphosate in this species. Here, we report experiments to confirm the suspected on-farm resistance of B. sterilis populations to glyphosate. Glyphosate screening and dose–response experiments established that glyphosate sensitivity of three UK B. sterilis populations exhibiting poor field control is outside the normal range of sensitivity of 30 sensitive populations and adjacent unexposed populations. Control of sensitive populations ranged from 49% to 82% and for suspected resistant populations from 21% to 30%. Dose–response ED50 values of sensitive populations ranged between 241 and 313 g ai ha − 1; corresponding values of suspected resistant populations ranged between 420 and 810 g ha − 1, and resistance indices ranged from 1.55 to 4.5. Suspected resistant populations were incompletely controlled at the recommended field rate of glyphosate (540 g ha − 1), while adjacent unexposed populations were completely controlled. We conclude that some UK populations of B. sterilis have reduced glyphosate sensitivity and are in the process of evolving resistance. This is the first reported case of reduced glyphosate sensitivity in any UK weed species and in B. sterilis worldwide. This, coupled with increasing glyphosate use, highlights the need for increased vigilance and monitoring for glyphosate resistance in the United Kingdom.
Potential of a low-calcium fly ash (FA) for the production of alkali-activated materials

: Coal-FA from power stations is an industrial waste abundantly produced in the world. FA can be used as a silicate precursor, and activated with an alkali-metal source to produce alkali-activated materials (AAMs). AAMs are more sustainable than other traditional products, as the use of waste for their production, reduces carbon emissions, and raw materials and energy consumption. This paper studies the properties, composition and reactivity of an Irish FA to establish its potential for the production of AAMs. The results clearly evidenced that the FA is reactive. It is ultrafine, it has a high specific surface area and is partially glassy. Furthermore, a substantial part of the total silica and alumina comprising the FA is amorphous, hence reactive and likely to form cements upon alkali activation. The main phases in the amorphous ash, determined during devitrification, are mullite (2Al 2 O 3 . 2 SiO 2 ) and hematite (Fe 2 O 3 ). They progressively crystallize between 600 and 1000°C, as evidenced with the exothermic curve obtained by differential scanning calorimetry. The FA is pozzolanic, and can be classified as class F in the ASTM C 618 standard. Its reactivity with lime -Ca(OH) 2 - was experimentally proven by electrical conductivity. The FA also complies with the chemical requirements in the European standards (EN450-1) for the use of FA in concretes, mortars and grouts. The physical property results, as well as the chemistry, mineralogy and amorphousness of the FA evidence that the FA is suitable for alkali activation. Furthermore, the FA meets the specific requirements for the production of AAM in the literature.
Phytotoxic effect of silver nanoparticles in Triticum aestivum: Improper regulation of photosystem I activity as the reason for oxidative damage in the chloroplast

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are used in several industries and their continuous release into environment can damage the ecosystem. Our study observed the impact of two concentrations of AgNPs (1 and 5 mM) on wheat seedlings. In this study, the treatment of AgNPs was found to have a significant impact on growth parameters, such as root and shoot length of wheat seedlings, in addition to that biochemical parameters, such as activity of catalase, glutathione, flavonoid, and chlorophyll concentrations, were also affected. AgNPs apparently suppressed the photosynthetic activity of the seedlings, with a clear destruction of photosystems at 5 mM concentration. The result also indicated an improper regulation of PSI electron transport, resulting in a damage to chloroplast structure, including photosystem itself. Our study presents a mechanism of the AgNPs action of on photosynthetic processes in plants.
Emerging opportunities and challenges for passive acoustics in ecological assessment and monitoring

High‐throughput environmental sensing technologies are increasingly central to global monitoring of the ecological impacts of human activities. In particular, the recent boom in passive acoustic sensors has provided efficient, noninvasive, and taxonomically broad means to study wildlife populations and communities, and monitor their responses to environmental change. However, until recently, technological costs and constraints have largely confined research in passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) to a handful of taxonomic groups (e.g., bats, cetaceans, birds), often in relatively small‐scale, proof‐of‐concept studies. The arrival of low‐cost, open‐source sensors is now rapidly expanding access to PAM technologies, making it vital to evaluate where these tools can contribute to broader efforts in ecology and biodiversity research. Here, we synthesise and critically assess the current emerging opportunities and challenges for PAM for ecological assessment and monitoring of both species populations and communities. We show that terrestrial and marine PAM applications are advancing rapidly, facilitated by emerging sensor hardware, the application of machine learning innovations to automated wildlife call identification, and work towards developing acoustic biodiversity indicators. However, the broader scope of PAM research remains constrained by limited availability of reference sound libraries and open‐source audio processing tools, especially for the tropics, and lack of clarity around the accuracy, transferability and limitations of many analytical methods. In order to improve possibilities for PAM globally, we emphasise the need for collaborative work to develop standardised survey and analysis protocols, publicly archived sound libraries, multiyear audio datasets, and a more robust theoretical and analytical framework for monitoring vocalising animal communities.
Regulatory Activities from Conjugated Linoleic Acid of p38 Protein in Melanoma Cells

This study investigated the activities of trans10,cis12-conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) were then passed through the p38 in in vitro model. Cell viability, apoptosis, expression of p38 was evaluated using B16 melanoma cells. Our result showed that the trans10,cis12-CLA increased cell apoptosis in melanoma cells. In addition, CLA stimulated the expression of p38 and phosphorylation p38 (p-p38) level using western blotting. The p38 was presumed that the CLA were involved in regulation of apoptosis-related pathway in the melanoma cells signaling pathway. Considering the results obtained, the present study finding that the regulatory activities of trans10,cis12-CLA may be important as a therapeutic target in ameliorating melanoma cells mediated cancer or/and tumor on in vitro model.
Why has evolution not selected for perfect self-control?

Self-control refers to the ability to deliberately reject tempting options and instead select ones that produce greater long-term benefits. Although some apparent failures of self-control are, on closer inspection, reward maximizing, at least some self-control failures are clearly disadvantageous and non-strategic. The existence of poor self-control presents an important evolutionary puzzle because there is no obvious reason why good self-control should be more costly than poor self-control. After all, a rock is infinitely patient. I propose that self-control failures result from cases in which well-learned (and thus routinized) decision-making strategies yield suboptimal choices. These mappings persist in the decision-makers’ repertoire because they result from learning processes that are adaptive in the broader context, either on the timescale of learning or of evolution. Self-control, then, is a form of cognitive control and the subjective feeling of effort likely reflects the true costs of cognitive control. Poor self-control, in this view, is ultimately a result of bounded optimality. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Risk taking and impulsive behaviour: fundamental discoveries, theoretical perspectives and clinical implications.
Description of Basiria khouzestanensis n. sp. (Nematoda: Tylenchidae) from Iran and its phylogenetic relationships with other species in the family.

Basiria khouzestanensis n. sp. , recovered from the rhizosphere of orange in Khouzestan Province, south-western Iran, is described and illustrated based on morphological, morphometric and molecular data. The new species is characterized by having short body length (430-635 µm), lateral fields composed of four incisures, with non areolated bands, cephalic region smooth and continuous with body contour, stylet 9-12.5 µm long, basal bulb short and pyriform to slightly cylindrical, V = 63.3 (58-65.5), spermatheca non-offset, tail elongate-conoid, tail tip with various shapes and males with 16.5 (15-18) μm long spicules. Morphologically, the new species is similar to five known species of the genus: B. babhi, B. brevia, B. graminophila, B. lauta and B. shahidi. Morphological comparisons with these species are discussed. The sequence of the D2-D3 expansion segments of 28S rDNA gene for the new species was also used for molecular phylogenetic analysis. The phylogenetic relationships of the new species in relation to representatives of the family Tylenchidae, obtained from Bayesian inference (BI) analysis of the D2-D3 sequences, are presented and discussed. The new species clusters in a subclade containing three unidentiﬁed species of the genus Basiria from Iran with high support.
Pengaruh faktor Hidro-Oseanografi terhadap pertumbuhan dan tingkat kelangsungan hidup (Survival Rate) hasil Transplantasi Terumbu Karang jenis Acropora sp. di Perairan Paiton Probolinggo

Perairan paiton termasuk dalam Selat Madura yang terdapat ekosistem terumbu karang. Adanya aktivitas kapal pengangkut batubara dan limpasan air hangat untuk pendingin mesin secara terus menerus dapat mengancam kehidupan terumbu karang Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui laju pertumbuhan dan tingkat kelangsungan hidup terumbu karang terhadap kondisi fisika-kimia perairan Paiton. Parameter perairan yang diukur adalah suhu, arus, kecerahan, salinitas, derajat keasaman (pH), oksigen terlarut (DO), nitrat (NO3), fosfat (PO4). Metode transplantasi yang dilakukan dengan menanam fragmen yang telah dipotong pada substrat keras (kanstin FABA) pada kedalaman 8m dengan jenis terumbu karang yang di transplantasi adalah Acropora formosa, Acropora pulchra, Acropora intermedia. laju pertumbuhan selama 6 bulan didapatkan pada Acropora formosa 0,1674 cm/minggu ± 1,55, Acropora pulchra 0,2021 cm/minggu ± 1,96, Acropora intermedia 0,1382 cm/minggu ± 1,28. Tingkat kelangsungan hidup didapatkan pada setiap jenis yaitu pada ¬Acropora formosa 93,33%, Acropora pulchra 93,33%, Acropora intermedia 96,67%. Hasil rata – rata pengukuran parameter hidro-oseanografi yaitu, suhu 29,1 ⁰C, kecerahan 6,81 m, arus 5,59 cm/s, salinitas berkisar 30,39 ppt, derajat keasaman (pH) berkisar 7,5 , oksigen terlarut berkisar 5,4 mg/l, kandungan nitrat berkisar 0,105 mg/l, kandungan fosfat berkisar antara 0,012 mg/l. Uji korelasi statistik menunjukkan bahwa parameter perairan mendapatkan korelasi sangat kuat dan sangat lemah terhadap laju pertumbuhan Acropora formosa, Acropora pulchra , Acropora intermedia dengan nilai korelasi positif dan negatif. Korelasi parameter perairan dengan tingkat kelangsungan hidup mendapatkan korelasi sangat kuat dan sangat lemah dengan nilai positif dan negatif.
Fitness consequences of sex-ratio meiotic drive and female multiple mating in a stalk-eyed fly, Teleopsis dalmanni

Meiotic drive genes are a class of segregation distorter that gain a transmission advantage in heterozygous males by causing degeneration of non-carrier sperm. This advantage must be balanced by fertility or viability costs if drive is to remain at stable frequencies in a population. A reduction in male fertility due to sperm destruction reduces the fitness of the rest of the genome, accordingly mechanisms to circumvent the effects of drive may evolve. Such adaptations will have implications for how likely it is that drive will persist. The primary theme of this thesis has been examining fertility consequences of meiotic drive in a Malaysian stalk-eyed fly, Teleopsis dalmanni. I demonstrate that drive carrier males are not sperm limited, despite the destruction of half their sperm. They produce ejaculates with sperm numbers equivalent to wildtype male ejaculates. Furthermore, drive males achieve this with greatly enlarged testes. However, resources are not unlimited; drive males also have reduced body size, and reduced accessory glands and eyespan for their body size. Accessory gland size limits male mating frequency, and male eyespan is a sexually selected trait used in female choice and male-male competition. I discuss how these patters fit with theoretical models that predict males should invest in producing an optimal ejaculate according to levels of expected sperm competition, even if they are low-fertility males. A second interrelated theme of this thesis has been to examine the benefits of polyandry, female mating with multiple males, using wild-caught individuals. Polyandry is widespread across many taxa and almost ubiquitous in insects. However, there is much debate around its proximate and ultimate causes. There are many costs associated with mating and so polyandry requires an adaptive explanation. I utilise data on wild-caught T. dalmanni to explore how natural variation amongst females and males influences fertility gains for females.
Epigenetic Modulations Induction Using DSCR1 Ectopic Expression in Breast Cancer Cells

Today, prognosis, diagnosis and treatment of cancers are progressing with non-invasive methods, including investigation and modification of the DNA methylation profile in cancer cells. One of the effective factors in regulating gene expression in mammals is DNA methylation. Methylation alterations of genes by external factors can change the expression of genes and inhibit the cancer. In the present study, we investigated the effect of down syndrome critical region 1 gene (DSCR1) ectopic expression on the methylation status of the BCL-XL, ITGA6, TCF3, RASSF1A, DOK7, VIM and CXCR4 genes in breast cancer cell lines. The effect of DSCR1 ectopic expression on cell viability in MCF7, MDA-MB-468, MDA-MB-231 and MCF10A cell lines was evaluated using MTT assay after the cells treated by lentivirus vectors harboring DSCR1 for 72 hrs. Methylation status of BCL-XL, ITGA6, TCF3, RASSF1A, DOK7, VIM and CXCR4 genes in breast cancer cell lines was assessed by Restriction Enzyme PCR (REP) method. Also, methylation changes of these genes in breast cancer cell lines after treatment by lentivirus vectors harboring DSCR1 for 7 days were analyzed by REP method. To confirm the effect of DSCR1 on methylation of genes, Real-time PCR was performed. The MTT assay results indicated that DSCR1 ectopic expression reduced cell viability in all three human breast cancer cell lines. Our results showed that DSCR1 ectopic expression after 6 days reversed the hypomethylation status of the BCL-XL, ITGA6, TCF3, VIM and CXCR4 genes and hypermethylation of RASSF1A and DOK7 genes. The expression levels of BCL-XL, ITGA6, TCF3, VIM and CXCR4 mRNA significantly reduced (P<0.05) and the expression levels of RASSF1A and DOK7 mRNA significantly increased (P<0.05). Our findings reveal for the first time the impact of DSCR1 ectopic expression on the methylation status of breast cancer cells and identify a novel agent for epigenetic therapy.
Characterization of a Cathelicidin from the Colubrinae Snake, Sinonatrix annularis

The cathelicidins represent an important family of host defense peptides (HDPs) found exclusively in vertebrates, which serve as a critical effector in host immune response against microbial infections. To date, a large number of cathelicidins has been identified from diverse vertebrates, such as mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fishes. Sixteen cathelicidins have been identified from snakes in the Elapidae, Viperidae, and Biodae families. However, no cathelicidin has been discovered from a snake of the Colubrinae family. In the present study, we report the identification and characterization of a novel cathelicidin, SA-CATH, from the Colubrinae family snake, Sinonatrix annularis. The cDNA sequence encoding SA-CATH precursor is 735 bp in length, and the mature peptide (SA-CATH) is composed of 30 amino acid residues. Sequence alignment result indicated that SA-CATH precursor possesses relatively high sequence similarity with the cathelicidins from Elapidae and Viperidae family snakes. Similar as the cathelicidins from Elapidae, Viperidae, and Biodae family snakes, SA-CATH mainly assumes an amphipathic alpha-helical conformation, and possesses potent antimicrobial, biofilm inhibitory and anti-inflammatory activities. The results in the present study imply that cathelicidins serve as a kind of conserved effectors with similar structures in the immune systems of Colubrinae, Boidae, Elapidae and Viperidae family snakes. The identification of SA-CATH provides novel clues for the understanding of function and evolution of snake immune systems. The potent antimicrobial, biofilm inhibitory, anti-inflammatory, and slight cytotoxic activities of SA-CATH imply that it is a potential drug candidate in novel antimicrobial agent development.