Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Papain hydrolysates of casein: molecular weight profile and encapsulation in lipospheres

Some reaction parameters were tested in the hydrolysis of casein by papain, in order to prepare hydrolysates with high oligopeptide contents, for either dietetic or pharmaceutical purposes. Five casein hydrolysates were prepared and then fractionated by size-exclusion HPLC. The rapid correct fraction area method was used for quantifying peptides and free amino acids. Among the five reaction conditions tested, three produced similar peptide profiles. However, the use of a temperature of 37°C and an E:S ratio of 2% is probably the most economical condition for use in large-scale manufacture. With the aim of masking the bitterness of these preparations, a new method, based on the encapsulation in lipospheres, was used. Also, second derivative spectrophotometry was used for the first time to measure the extent of encapsulation of protein hydrolysates, which changed from 50% to 83%. Moreover, the efficiency of this system was evaluated by analysing other parameters, which showed a reduction of hydrophobicity and bitterness of all samples, as well as good chemical stability during 60 days of storage under refrigeration. The electron microscopical analysis of liposheres showed an average size around 5.0 ± 1.0 µm. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry
Dynamic selection procedures for constrained inbreeding 
and their consequences for pedigree development

A novel selection algorithm for maximizing genetic response while constraining the rate of inbreeding is presented. It is shown that the proposed method controls the rate of inbreeding by maintaining the sum of squared genetic contributions at a constant value and represents an improvement on previous procedures. To maintain a constant rate of inbreeding the contributions from all generations are weighted equally and this is facilitated by modifying the numerator relationship matrix. By considering the optimization of the contributions of many generations the initial mating proportions (the genetic contributions to the next generation) are not equal to their long-term values, but are set equal to the expected long-term contributions given the current information. This is confirmed by the regression of the long-term contributions on the assigned mating proportions being close to one. The gain obtained from the selection algorithm is compared with the maximum theoretical genetic gain under constrained inbreeding. It is concluded that this theoretical upper bound is in general unattainable, but from this a concept of genetic efficiency in terms of resources and constraints is derived.
RESEARCHES ABOUT ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY, ASCORBIC ACID AND POLYPHENOLS CONTENTS IN SOME VEGETABLES

A total of 18 vegetables: bell pepper (red and green); pepper (red and green), sallow thorn (Hyppophae rhammnoides) celery (leaves and root), cabbage (white, red, curly and Bruxelles), broccoli, cauliflower, radish, dill (leaves), parsley (leaves and roots); carrots were analyzed for antioxidant activities using FRAP method, DPPH method, total polyphenols content by Folin Ciocalteu method and ascorbic acid content using 2,6-dichlorophenol indophenols. The highest TAC values was identified for sallow thorn (Hyppophae rhammnoides), red cabbage, red bell pepper and pepper.
Ecology of Fishes on Coral Reefs: Seascape ecology of fishes on coral reefs

The local diversity and global richness of coral reef fishes, along with the diversity manifested in their morphology, behaviour and ecology, provides fascinating and diverse opportunities for study. Reflecting the very latest research in a broad and ever-growing field, this comprehensive guide is a must-read for anyone interested in the ecology of fishes on coral reefs. Featuring contributions from leaders in the field, the 36 chapters cover the full spectrum of current research. They are presented in five parts, considering coral reef fishes in the context of ecology; patterns and processes; human intervention and impacts; conservation; and past and current debates. Beautifully illustrated in full-colour, this book is designed to summarise and help build upon current knowledge and to facilitate further research. It is an ideal resource for those new to the field as well as for experienced researchers. [Book Synopsis]
Chaetoglobosin M, a New Metabolite of a Mutant of Diplodia macrospora, belonging to the family of (1H‐indol‐3‐yl)‐substituted 10,11‐diethyl‐10,11‐dinorcytochalasans

From a mutant of Diplodia macrospora, chaetoglobosin M (5), ergosterol, β-sitosterol, and a third sterol, most likely stigma-5,7,22-trien-3β-ol, were isolated. Metabolite 5 is a new member of the (1H-indol-3-yl)-substituted 10,11-diethyl-10,11-dinorcytochalasans. Its structure was determined by 1H- and 13C-NMR and mass spectrometry.
Isolation, identification and synthesis of miriamides, new hostmarkers from eggs of Pieris brassicae.

The large white butterfly, Pieris brassicae L. , a herbivorous pest of crucifers, produces egg-associated chemical markers that inhibit its oviposition. The identification of the marker compounds is reported herein. Separation by means of reversed-phase hplc demonstrated the presence of three active substances, which were identified as trans-2-[3-(3,4,5-trihydroxyphenylpropenoyl)-amino]-3,5-dihydroxyobenzoic acid [1],trans-2-[3-(3,4-dihydroxy-5-β- glucopyranose-phenylpropenoyl)amino]-3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid [2], and trans-2-[3-(3,4dihydroxyphenylpropenoyl)amino]-3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid [3], using mass and nmr spectroscopy and chemical synthesis. This group of compounds has not been reported from the animal kingdom before [. ]
Fertilizer Nitrogen and Boron Uptake, Storage, and Allocation Vary during the Alternate-bearing Cycle in Pistachio Trees

10 B, carbohydrate reserves, fruit tree nutrition, 15 N, Pistacia vera, uptake efficiancy Abstract. The effects of alternate bearing on recovery and loss of isotonically labeled fertilizer N and B and on the accumulation of carbohydrate and N reserves were assessed in mature 'Kerman' pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) trees. Total recovery of labeled fertilizer N applied once (in late January) was ≈ 60% greater if applied to trees entering an "off' than an "on" year, with respect to fruiting. Eleven percent more labeled B was recovered in off- than on-year trees. Five times more N (1 vs. 0.2 kg N) was lost from the tree in fruit and senescent leaflets from on- than off-year trees. In dormant trees, 144% and 22% more starch and N reserves, respectively, were present after off than on years. Thus, on-year trees were characterized by a greater reproductive demand for N and carbohydrates, reduced accumulation of C and N (i.e., storage) reserves in perennial tree parts, and reduced recovery of January-applied labeled fertilizer N than off-year trees. As B is absorbed passively, the higher transpiration that may accompany the 43% larger leaf area per tree and the probability of increased root growth probably contributes to its increased uptake during off years. The enhanced labeled N recovery in early spring by trees entering their off year preceded fruit and seed development in on-year trees. The differential tree capacity for nutrient uptake in spring may have been conditioned the previous rather than the current year. The increased uptake of labeled N by trees entering an off year (i.e., emerging from an on year) was associated with lower levels of carbohydrate and N reserves than for on-year trees that had just completed an off year. Future experimentation should assess the comparative capacity for nutrient uptake by on-and off-year trees at other stages of phenology, e.g., during seed development and postharvest. Alternate bearing-the alternation of high and low crop years—
Insights into the protein profiles of stress tolerant and mesophilic yeast by proteomics approach: a comparative study.

Proteins of the stress tolerant and mesophilic yeast were extracted using optimized protein extraction method and estimated by Bradford method. Immobilized pH gradient (IPG) strips were rehydrated with known concentrations of protein samples. Rehydrated IPG strips were run in isoelectric focusing (IEF) to separate the proteins on the basis of their pH gradient. 2DE gels were run, stained and image of the stress tolerant yeast was compared with the gel image of mesophilic yeast. The image analysis using the image master software resulted in the identification of differentially expressed spots in stress tolerant yeast. Among the differentially expressed spots, six were selected and characterized by MALDI-TOF as Enolase, Fructose bisphosphate aldolase, Alcohol dehydrogenase, 30KDa HSP, HSP70 and HSP90.
GENETIC DIVERSITY IN THE LOCALLY COLLECTED BRASSICA SPECIES OF PAKISTAN BASED ON MICROSATELLITE MARKERS

Genetic diversity among 120 different accessions of Brassica species were characterized with the help of SSR markers. These species include Brassica rapa, B. juncea and B. napus. 39 SSR primers were used and they produced 162 scorable bands in which 105 were polymorphic. The average rate of polymorphic loci was 46%, which indicates high genetic diversity among the accessions. The UPGMA cluster analysis revealed two main clusters and nine sub-clusters. From the gene pool of the collected Brassicas considerable variation was observed among the B. rapa accessions, which clearly differentiate the B. rapa of northern part of the country from the B. rapa of rest of the country. Groupings also reflected geographical similarities and suggested misidentification of certain accessions in the germplasm collection. Based on our study, SSR analysis proved to be a useful tool in assessing the genetic diversity of leafy Brassica germplasm.
Salt tolerance of salt marsh plants of Otago, New Zealand

Abstract The salt tolerance of 31 species — 29 halophytes constituting a large proportion of the more important species in salt marshes of Otago, and 2 glycophytes — was examined in water culture. The effects of salinity on growth and survival were the main parameters measured. There were considerable differences between species; most could not grow in sea water (3.5% NaCl), although a small number could grow in hypersaline conditions of up to 7.5% NaCl. Some species had a salt requirement for maximum growth, the greatest being 1.5% NaCl, but most grew best in freshwater. No species required saline solutions to survive. In general, the salt tolerance of species decreased from the lower to the upper marsh, which generally parallels field salinities. There were, however, important differences between the shapes of the salt tolerance growth curves, these being related to habitat and, in particular, to the variability of salinity.
p16 INK4A promoter hypermethylation and expression of p16 INK4A , cyclin D1, and Rb in papillary thyroid carcinoma

Background/Aims: Dysregulation of the cell cycle is believed to be important in human neoplasia. , a regulator of the retinoblastoma protein, is inactivated by several mechanisms, including hypermethylation of the promoter. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between methylation status and the expression of , cyclin D1, and retinoblastoma protein in papillary thyroid cancer. Methods: Thirty-five surgically resected papillary thyroid cancer cases treated at Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center from Jan 2003 to Dec 2005 were included in the study. We examined promoter hypermethylation of and immunohistochemically analyzed , cyclin D1, and retinoblastoma protein expression. Results: Aberrant hypermethylation of 5' CpG islands of the gene promoter was observed in 17 (48.6%) out of 35 cases, and the protein was lost in 18 (51.4%) cases. With the exception of one case, promoter hypermethylation correlated with the loss of protein expression (p and pRb immunostaining (p and alterations in the p16 INK4a/cyclin D1/retinoblastoma pathway, which are thought to be very important in papillary thyroid cancer.
A PORTABLE‐CORRAL TECHNIQUE FOR MEASURING THE EFFECT OF GRAZING INTENSITY ON YIELD, QUALITY AND INTAKE OF HERBAGE

A grazing experiment using four stocking rates of sheep, equivalent to 34, 45, 57 and 68 sheep/ha on an assumed 200-day grazing season, was conducted using a portable grazing corral technique. Plots were subjected to fotir grazing periods between mid May and early September. The effect of stocking rate on herbage yield and quality and the influence of these factors and feed intake on liveweights of the sheep were recorded. The mean daily herbage organic matter available over the trial was 9.6, 5.8, 3.3 and 23% of the total liveweight of the sheep at each of the four stocking rates. The highest grazing pressure led to the production of high-quality herbage, but also led to reduced productivity, low feed intake and liveweight losses. The most lenient grazing pressure failed to provide adequate herbage utilization. Even at the most intensive stocking pressure, only 66% of the herbage available to ground level was utilized in grazings after July. Intake results suggested that sheep of 45 kg liveweight required 1000–1200 g digestible organic matter per day to maintain body weight. Despite the higher in vitro digestibility of herbage on offer at the higher stocking rates, intake was limited through lack of herbage; a high degree of correlation existed between herbage availability and herbage intake over the four stocking rates and at all grazings. It is concluded that the portable corral technique is well suited for grazing studies and the assessment of sward response to varying stocking rates and is particularly useful where facilities for more extensive studies are limited.
Substrate specificity in polysaccharide hydrolysis: Contrasts between bottom water and sediments

Six structurally distinct polysaccharides were fluorescently labeled and used to compare potential hydrolysis rates and substrate specificities of extracellular enzymes in bottom water and surface sediments. Potential hydrolysis rates differed by factors of 10–100 among the six polysaccharides. The relative order of potential hydrolysis rates in sediments was distinctly different from that of the bottom water samples. In surface sediments, pullulan hydrolysis was extremely rapid, and relative hydrolysis rates decreased in the order pullulan ≫ laminarin > chondroitin sulfate > xylan > arabinogalactan ≫ fucoidan. In bottom water, in contrast, pullulan, arabinogalactan, and fucoidan were barely hydrolyzed, whereas chondroitin sulfate, xylan, and laminarin were hydrolyzed relatively rapidly. Hydrolysis rates decreased in the order xylan > chondroitin sulfate > laminarin >>> arabinogalactan ≅ pullulan ≅ fucoidan. The differences among the relative hydrolysis rates might reflect fundamental differences in seawater and sedimentary microbial communities with disparate extracellular enzymatic capabilities. Carbohydrates are significant constituents of dissolved organic carbon in seawater and are detectable as molecularly distinct structures in sediments of significant geologic age. Slow hydrolysis may provide the time required for geochemical transformations that further increase resistance to remineralization.
Nivel óptimo de proteínas en la dieta para alevines de Prochilodus mariae Optimal dietary protein levels for Prochilodus mariae alevins

The purpose of this work was to determine the optimal protein level to feed alevins of coporo (Prochidolus mariae) fish. Four diets were formulated with growing levels of crude protein (15, 25, 35 and 45%) with similar energy values (between 19,6 and 20,4 KJ g-1). Three trials were performed for each diet. The animals were acclimated and fed a commercial diet during one week and after that time the test diets were administered ad libitum three times a day during 41 days. Fifty five frys per fishbowl were placed with an initial mean weight of 0,32 ± 0,04 g. Three periods of fourteen days each were registered and at the end of each period weight gain (GP) and food consumption per fish tank was determined. The zootechnical parameters, final mean weights (PMF), total weight gain (GTP), specific growth rate (TCE) and daily growth index (ICD) of the fish did not show significant differences between the diets with protein levels of 35% and 45% proteins, indicating that a diet with 35% protein is adequate for a good development of the fish in this stage.
Rapid morphological divergence of introduced Red‐whiskered Bulbuls Pycnonotus jocosus in contrasting environments

New environmental conditions may impact on behaviour and morphology, and consequently affect population dynamics. Rapid response to new conditions is likely to be a key factor in species introduction success. The Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus is an Asian species which, following accidental introduction only 30 years ago, has colonized the two climatically and ecologically contrasting sides of the island of Reunion in the Indian Ocean. We assessed the degree of morphological divergence of mature birds in 11 nonseasonal and three seasonal characters, in windward and leeward sites. Our study showed (1) that sexual dimorphism existed, (2) that when sexual dimorphism is controlled, nine non-seasonal characters differed significantly between windward and leeward sites, (3) that these non-seasonal characters define groups of geographically proximal sites, especially in males, and (4) that classification according to the most indicative character, the bill, also clearly separated birds from windward and leeward sites. These results indicate very rapid morphological divergence, particularly in bill size, in an introduced bird species in fewer than ten generations. We suggest that differences in diet could partly explain this variability.
Enhancement of Growth Performance and Pigmentation in Red Oreochromis mossambicus Associated with Dietary Intake of Astaxanthin, Paprika, or Capsicum

Diets for tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus, were supplemented with astaxanthin, paprika, or capsicum to determine their effects on growth performance and pigmentation. Seven isonitrogenous (37% crude protein) and isoenergetic (18 kJ/g) diets were formulated to contain 40 or 60 mg carotenoid per kg diet. Triplicate groups of 210 fish were stocked in 21-l plastic boxes and fed one of the three experimental diets or the control diet for 45 days. Significantly better final weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, and food conversion ratio were obtained with the diets containing 40 or 60 mg/kg paprika than with control diet (p<0.05). In general, the carotenoidsupplemented diets significantly increased the values of redness (a*), yellowness (b*), and chroma (C*), and decreased the values of lightness (L*) and hue (H o ab) on the tail, body, and head areas (p<0.05). Results show that paprika or capsicum oleoresin can be used as an alternative natural carotenoid source in O. mossambicus diets to ensure good pigmentation, better growth, and feed utilization.
INTRASPECIFIC GENETIC DIVERSITY IN THE MARINE COCCOLITHOPHORE EMILIANIA HUXLEYI (PRYMNESIOPHYCEAE): THE USE OF MICROSATELLITE ANALYSIS IN MARINE PHYTOPLANKTON POPULATION STUDIES 1

Using primer pairs for seven previously described microsatellite loci and three newly characterized microsatellite loci from the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi (Lohm.) Hay and Mohler, we assessed genetic variation within this species. Analysis of microsatellite length variants (alleles) was conducted for 85 E. huxleyi isolates representative of different ocean basins. These results revealed high intraspecific genetic variability within the E. huxleyi species concept. Pairwise comparison of a 1992 Coastal Fjord group (FJ92) (n=41) and a North East Atlantic (NEA) group (n=21), using FST as an indicator of genetic differentiation, revealed moderate genetic differentiation (FST=0.09894; P=0; significance level=0.05). Gene flow between the FJ92 and NEA groups was estimated to be low, which is in agreement with the moderate levels of genetic differentiation revealed by the microsatellite data. A genetic assignment method that uses genotype likelihoods to draw inference about the groups to which individuals belong was tested. Using FJ92 and NEA as reference groups, we observed that all the E. huxleyi groups tested against the two reference groups were unrelated to them. On a global biogeographical scale, E. huxleyi populations appear to be highly genetically diverse. Our findings raise the question of whether such a high degree of intraspecific genetic diversity in coccolithophores translates into variability in ecological function.
Regulation of pollen tube growth by Rac‐like GTPases

Plant Rac-like GTPases have been classified phylogenetically into two major groups-class I and class II. Several pollen-expressed class I Rac-like GTPases have been shown to be important regulators of polar pollen tube growth. The functional participation by some of the class I and all of the class II Arabidopsis Rac-like GTPases in pollen tube growth remains to be explored. It is shown that at least four members of the Arabidopsis Rac GTPase family are expressed in pollen, including a class II Rac, AtRac7. However, when over-expressed as fusion proteins with GFP, both pollen- and non-pollen-expressed AtRacs interfered with the normal pollen tube tip growth process. These observations suggest that these AtRacs share similar biochemical activities and may integrate into the pollen cellular machinery that regulates the polar tube growth process. Therefore, the functional contribution by individual Rac GTPase to the pollen tube growth process probably depends to a considerable extent on their expression characteristics in pollen. Among the Arabidopsis Racs, GFP-AtRac7 showed association with the cell membrane and Golgi bodies, a pattern distinct from all previously reported localization for other plant Racs. Over-expressing GFP-AtRac7 also induced the broadest spectrum of pollen tube growth defects, including pollen tubes that are bifurcated, with diverted growth trajectory or a ballooned tip. Transgenic plants with multiple copies of the chimeric Lat52-GFP-AtRac7 showed severely reduced seed set, probably many of these defective pollen tubes were arrested, or reduced in their growth rates that they did not arrive at the ovules while they were still receptive for fertilization. These observations substantiate the importance of Rac-like GTPases to sexual reproduction.