Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Carcass morphology and meat quality from roosters slaughtered at eight months affected by genotype and finishing feeding

The aim of this study was to describe the carcass characteristics and the meat quality of the roosters from the autochthonous Mos breed slaughtered at 8 months. With comparative purpose roosters from hybrid line Sasso T44 were used in this study. Birds were reared on their typical production system (extensive indoor or barns and finishing diet whit corn). Both live and carcass weight were higher for commercial breed (p<0.001). Drumstick, thigh and wing percentages were greater in Mos breed than in Sasso T-44, while breast was similar for both genotypes. Only significant differences in cholesterol and alpha-tocopherol content between genotypes have been found, whereas finishing feeding treatment had effect on moisture, intramuscular fat content, cholesterol, tocopherol isomers and meat yellowness. Unsaturated fatty acids constituted the main contribution to total amount of fatty acid (FA), where monounsaturated oleic acid was the major compound, and found higher concentrations in commercial breed. Mos breed showed higher amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and lower amounts of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) than Sasso T-44. The relation PUFA/SFA was above 0.68 for Mos breed and was slightly lower for the other genotype. In conclusion, the carcass morphology and meat quality was influenced by breed and finishing feeding with corn.
A salt-rejecting anisotropic structure for efficient solar desalination via heat–mass flux decoupling

Solar evaporation is regarded as a promising and sustainable technology to address global clean water crisis. Tremendous efforts have been made for the development of new materials and structures, but heat utilization efficiency and stable salt-rejection remain the major challenges. In this study, a novel sugarcane-derived anisotropic structure with heat–mass flux decoupling effects was invented, and it exhibited outstanding salt-rejection and high efficiency in solar desalination. Numerical simulations revealed that heat–mass flux decoupling was achieved by making the mass flux perpendicular to the heat flux. The horizontally distributed channels provided sufficient water flux towards evaporation surface while transporting the concentrated salt ions from the surface back to the bulk water driven by the concentration gradient. Moreover, temperature gradient-driven heat transfer was effectively suppressed owing to the discontinuous and deficient water flux in the vertical direction. This anisotropic structure showed high efficiency (>80%) and excellent salt-rejecting performance for a wide range of salinities (0–15 wt%) and different solar densities (0.8–3 sun). Furthermore, stable performance was observed during long-term evaporation experiments under harsh operating conditions.
Endemic regions of the vascular flora of the peninsula of Baja California, Mexico

Abstract Question: Can we recognize areas of high endemism and high endemic richness, using data from collections, and what are the ecological variables that best explain these areas? Location: Peninsula of Baja California, Mexico. Methods: We analysed the distribution of 723 endemic vascular plants species along the peninsula of Baja California and neighbouring islands distributed in 218 cartographic cells 15′ × 20′ in size. By means of a residual analysis, we identified areas of significantly high endemic species richness, and we calculated the degree of endemicity (or rarity) in each cell by giving to each species a weight factor inversely proportional to the land area it covers. Results: Nine regions of high-endemicity and/or high endemic species richness were found. Discussion and conclusions: The analyses of rarity and endemic species richness showed two contrasting scenarios: High endemicity values in oceanic and sky islands accounts for a high number of species with a restricted distribution, promoted most likely by genetic isolation and high environmental heterogeneity. High endemic richness along the peninsular coast is related to ecotonal transition along vegetation types. After correcting for collection effort (i.e. the number of specimens collected within a cell), we found the phytogeographic region and altitudinal heterogeneity to be the variables that best predicted endemic richness. Both high endemism and high endemic richness have distinct geographic patterns within our study region. The nine endemic regions provide elements for priority definitions in future conservation programs.
Propagation of yellow grouper nervous necrosis virus (YGNNV) in a new nodavirus‐susceptible cell line from yellow grouper, Epinephelus awoara (Temminck & Schlegel), brain tissue

A nodavirus was isolated from diseased yellow grouper, Epinephelus awoara, larvae cultured in southern Taiwan. The histopathology and RT–PCR results confirmed that it was a fish nodavirus; its coat protein gene sequence was similar to that of red spotted grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV) and it is named yellow grouper nervous necrosis virus (YGNNV). A new nodavirus-susceptible cell line, grouper brain (GB) was established and characterized from the brain tissue of yellow grouper. The GB cells multiplied well in Leibovitz’s L-15 medium supplemented with 10% foetal bovine serum at temperatures between 24 and 32 °C, and have been subcultured more than 80 times, becoming a continuous cell line. The GB cell line consists of fibroblast-like cells and some epithelioid cells. The cell line yielded titres of YGNNV up to 108.5 TCID50 mL–1. The GB cells effectively replicated the virus at 28 °C, which could be purified to homogeneity by caesium chloride gradient centrifugation. Electron microscopy studies showed that purified virus particles were 25–30 nm in diameter. The cytoplasm of infected cells was filled with aggregates of virus particles. These results indicate that the GB cell line is a significant tool for the study of fish nodaviruses.
Quantitative analysis of HOXA13 function in the developing limb

The Hox family of transcription factors are key regulators of embryonic development. First identified in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, Hox gene mutations cause homeotic transformations of one body segment into another. A striking example of this is mutations affecting the expression of the Hox gene Antennapedia which transform the developing antennae into legs in D. melanogaster. In humans and mice there are 39 Hox genes located in four clusters on four different chromosomes. To date, mutations in three of these Hox genes have been found to be the basis for human syndromes. The loss of HOXA 13 function causes severe malformations of the appendicular skeleton including pre-axial digit loss, soft tissue syndactyly, and carpal/tarsal bone brachydactyly in both humans and mice. Analysis of Hoxa13 expression reveals a pattern of localization overlapping with sites of reduced Bmp2 and Bmpl expression in Hoxa13 mutant limbs. Biochemical analyses identified a novel series of Bmp2 and Bmpl enhancer regions that directly interact with the HOXA 13 DNA-binding domain and activate gene expression in the presence of HOXA13. lmmunoprecipitation of HOXA13-Bmp2 and -Bmpl enhancer complexes from the developing autopod confirm that endogenous HOXA 13 associates with these regions. Exogenous applications of BMP2 or BMP7 partially rescues the Hoxa13 mutant limb phenotype, suggesting that decreased BMP-signaling contributes to the malformations present in these tissues.
An experimental investigation into the buckling of GFRP stiffened shells under axial loading

The results of an experimental study on the buckling behavior of thin-walled GFRP cylindrical shells are presented. The specimens were fabricated from continuous glass fiber using a specially-designed filament winding machine. The buckling behaviors of unstiffened shells and stiffened shells with lozenge, triangular and hexagonal grids were then studied under quasi-static axial loading at room temperature. Due to the thin skin of the shells, all specimens first experienced a general buckling mode as well as barreling under the applied loading. Following this general buckling damage, local buckling mode was seen on all specimens. Based on the experimental results, the critical buckling load was higher for the shells with hexagonal and triangular grids while the unstiffened shells and stiffened shells with lozenge grids exhibited much lower critical buckling load. On the other hand, in very small skin thicknesses, when the specific buckling loads for all specimens were compared, the unstiffened shells showed the highest specific buckling load.
An assessment of the salt tolerance of wheat/Thinopyrum bessarabicum 5Eb addition and substitution lines

Lines of Triticum aestivum cv. Chinese Spring carrying an additional chromosome 5E b from Thinopyrum bessarabicum or having chromosome 5A or 5D replaced by chromosome 5E b were screened in hydroculture for tolerance to salt. The previously reported tolerance of the 5E b addition line was confirmed and the two substitution lines were shown to have a higher level of survival in 175 mol/m 3 NaCl than both the addition and the 'Chinese Spring' parent. Reasons for the better tolerance of the substitutions are discussed.
Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies anti fragment Fc of bovine IgG

The aim of this work was to produce and characterize monoclonal antibodies anti bovine immunoglobulin G (IgG). Out of seven hybridomas, two were chosen based on the ELISA'S absorbance values and were labeled B4F11 and B3H12. These monoclonals were analyzed through Western Blot for IgG fragments obtained by proteolysis with papain, separated by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with β-mercaptoetanol as reducing agent. This revealed that, possibly, the B4F11 was directed to a conformational antigen, and that B3H12 reacted in a specific fashion with Fc (Bovine IgG crystallizable fragment). This antibody could be used in the development of reagents to immunoassays relevant for research and diagnosis.
Jasus lalandii 'walkouts' or mass strandings in South Africa during the 1990s: an overview

Faunal mass mortalities are a sporadic, but not uncommon, feature of the West and South coasts of South Africa. Five mass mortalities of West Coast rock lobster Jasus lalandii, including three of the most severe ever recorded in South Africa, occurred in the 1990s and resulted in the stranding of about 2263 tonnes of lobster. The bulk (97%) of the loss occurred in the last three years of the decade. The five events occurred within an 80 km stretch of coastline that straddled two fishing zones and resulted from hypoxic conditions associated with high-biomass dinoflagellate blooms. In each case, the quantity of lobsters stranded was directly related to the extent or duration of low-oxygen conditions. Small females constituted the bulk of the lobster stranded in most events. The lobster fisheries in the affected fishing zones suffered severe impacts. Recovery in one zone appears to be extremely slow, whereas the other zone is more resilient. Not only would a continuation of the trend of increasing frequency and severity of lobster strandings devastate the rock-lobster fishing industry and the employment prospects of small fishing communities, but it could also seriously affect the ecology of the region.
Inhibition of nuclear DNA sensing by herpes simplex virus 1

The detection of immunostimulatory DNA is well documented to occur at several cellular sites, but there is limited evidence of nuclear innate DNA sensing. Prior to this study, the detection of herpesviral DNA was thought to be restricted to the cytosol so as to limit the sensing of host DNA in the nucleus. However, given the nuclear lifecycle of these viruses, we hypothesized that viral DNA could be sensed in the nucleus of infected cells. To test this hypothesis we examined the activation of interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF-3) in response to herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) infection of primary human foreskin fibroblasts (HFF). Using a mutant defective for expression of all viral genes, we observed that the release of viral DNA into the nucleus is necessary to activate IRF-3 signaling. Furthermore, we determined this response to be dependent on nuclear-localized interferon inducible protein 16 (IFI16) and the cytoplasmic stimulator of interferon genes (STING) adaptor protein. The HSV-1 ICP0 E3 ubiquitin ligase has been observed to inhibit the induction of IRF-3 responsive genes in human fibroblasts; therefore, we investigated the effects of ICP0 on this pathway. We observed that nuclear ICP0 inhibits the induction of type I interferon by sequestering IRF-3 away from cellular
The effects of excess manganese on photosynthetic rate and concentration of chlorophyll in Triticum aestivum grown in solution culture

Manganese toxicity, which involves a broad array of physiological responses, has been identified as an important factor limiting plant growth on acid soils. In the experiments reported here, we examined the toxic effects of Mn on chlorophyll content, photosynthesis and respiration in two cultivars (Norquay and Columbus) of Triticum aestivum (wheat) which differ in tolerance of Mn. When grown over a range of concentrations of Mn (0–1 000 μM), the Mn-tolerant cultivar maintained higher rates of photosynthesis and respiration, and higher concentrations of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b, than did the Mn-sensitive cultivar, despite greater accumulations of Mn in leaf tissues. After 5 days growth with 1 000 μM Mn in solution, the photosynthetic rate fell to 25% of control in the sensitive cultivar and to only 75% of control in the tolerant cultivar. The concentration of chlorophyll a fell to 50% of control in the sensitive cultivar, but did not differ from control in the tolerant cultivar. Greater effects were seen on concentrations of chlorophyll b. which fell to 35% and 55% of control in the sensitive and tolerant cultivars, respectively. Rates of photosynthesis decreased in both cultivars as concentrations of chlorophyll decreased; however, the photosynthetic rate per unit chlorophyll remained constant or increased in the tolerant cultivar and decreased in the sensitive cultivar as concentrations of Mn in solution increased. Thus, in the sensitive cv. Columbus, Mn seemed to have a toxic effect on both chlorophyll content and photosynthesis per unit chlorophyll. In the tolerant cv. Norquay, the only clear effect of Mn was a reduction in chlorophyll content, although direct inhibition of photosynthesis could not be discounted.
VU Research Portal LOSt and found across the mycobacterial cell envelope

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Status of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Diseases in Metekel Zone, North West Ethiopia

Common bean has versatile benefits such as nutritional, environmental and economic benefits for the producers and consumers. However, its production has been affected and threatened by a number of biotic factors. Survey was conducted in 2018/19 cropping season within three woredas of Metekel Zone, Benshangul-Gumz region, Ethiopia, with the objective of identifying and prioritizing haricot bean diseases.The result revealed that haricot bean production in the Zone is affected by eleven diseases which are caused by fungi, bacteria and virus. Based on the disease severity, incidence and prevalence scores, the diseases are categorized in to Major, intermediate and Minor disease. Angular Leaf Spot (Pseudocercospora griseola), Anthracnose (Colletotrichum lindemuthianum), Floury leaf spot (Mycovellosiella phaseoli), and Cercospora leaf spot (Cercospora cruenta are grouped in to major diseases. Rust (i), Web blight Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn (teleomorph Thanatephorus cucumeris (Frank) Donk), Ascochyta blight (Phomaexigua var. exigua/Ascochyta phaseolorum acc) and Bean common mosaic virus (potyvirus) are categorized as Intermediate and the remaining three diseases: Halo blight (Pseudomonas syringaepv. phaseolicola), Common Bacterial Blight (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv phaseoli) and Downy Mildew (Phytophthora phaseoli Thaxt) are grouped under minor diseases. The survey revealed, the common bean production and disease management practices and variety development efforts for the Zone, onwards, should focus on those major disease (such as Angular Leaf Spot, Anthracnose, Floury leaf spot, and Frog Eye leaf spot) in order to sustain production and productivity of common bean cultivars.
On the origin of present Neotropical biodiversity : a preliminary meta-analysis about speciation timing using molecular phylogenies

The evolutionary origin of extant species has been largely debated. The controversy is especially vivid in the Neotropics, one of the more biodiverse regions of the world. One hypothesis is that Neotropical species emerged primarily during the Quaternary (the last ~2 million years), favored by the alternating glacial/interglacial climates. An opposite view proposes an older Tertiary origin linked primarily to paleogeographic changes. Here, a thorough review of the available literature on DNA molecular dating shows that the TertiaryQuaternary debate no longer makes sense. Indeed, the >1400 Neotropical species dated so far appeared in a continual fashion since the late Eocene/early Oligocene (~39 million years before present) to the Quaternary. Speciation rates maximized during the Plio-Pleistocene (the last ~5 million years), coinciding with a global climatic cooling. Paleogeographic mechanisms of speciation are relatively well known, but diversification processes linked to climate are still poorly understood. These results are important to understand the origin of present-day biodiversity patterns at both local and global scales, as well as the genetic and environmental mechanisms involved, two crucial aspects for suitable biodiversity conservation strategies.
Molecular characterization of crude oil degrading bacterial isolates from polluted soils and cow dung

Crude oil contamination of agricultural soil is frequent in the Niger- Delta Region of Nigeria and can devastate the soil thereby, negatively affecting the socio-economic lives of the people. This study aimed to characterize twelve bacterial isolates with potential for crude oil degradation using conventional and molecular tools. Isolates with potential for crude oil degradation were selected from among the crude oil degrading bacteria obtained from petroleum contaminated agricultural soils and Cow dung all in Ondo State, Nigeria. The identities of the isolates were confirmed via morphological and biochemical characterization and thereafter the CTAB method was used to prepare the DNA. PCR amplification of 16S rRNA gene of isolates was carried out using universal primers for bacteria. The PCR products were then purified using ethanol precipitation and thereafter sequenced with automated DNA sequencing machine. The sequence data were compared with gene sequences in GenBank database (NCBI) using a BLAST search to find closely related sequences. Phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA gene sequences were examined in order to determine the evolutionary relatedness of the isolates. Results revealed eight (8) gram positive bacteria consisting of Staphylococcus hominis, Geobacillus sp. , Lactobacillus plantarum and four (4) different species of Bacillus, while the gram negative bacterial isolates were Brevundimonas diminuta, Klebsiella oxytoca, Esherichia coli and Enterobacter tabaci with 83% to 100% ribosomal RNA homology. Crude oil degrading bacteria characterized in this study can be developed as inoculums with high survival and activity to bioaugment the degradation of crude oil polluted agricultural soil.
Tissues and organs of the immune system

It is the nature of scientists to be perpetually occupied with questions like “where,” “how,” and “why” things happen the way they do. Immunologists, in particular, are keen on answering the “where” question as it is central to understanding how immune cells are generated, what is required for their maturation, and whether they might mount productive responses against foreign antigens or not. The immune system is a bona fide organ system comprising primary and secondary lymphoid tissues (Figure 1.1). Primary lymphoid tissues (the bone marrow and thymus) specialize in generating immune cells from hematopoietic progenitors and transforming immature cells into mature lymphocytes Tissues and organs of the immune system
Distribution center location selection using a novel multi criteria decision-making approach under interval neutrosophic complex sets

aAcademy of Finance, No. 58 Le Van Hien Street, Duc Thang Ward, Tu Liem District, Hanoi, Vietnam bPhenikaa University, Yen Nghia Ward, Ha Dong District, Hanoi, Vietnam C H R O N I C L E A B S T R A C T Article history: Received November 28, 2019 Received in revised format: December 28, 2019 Accepted January 24, 2020 Available online February 1, 2020 Distribution centers selection is a vital task of any company to reduce costs, improve efficiency of transport flows, which yields customer satisfaction. To select the suitable distribution centers, many quantitative and qualitative criteria must be considered in the selection process. Therefore, distribution centers selection can be seen as a multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) problem under vague environment. Single-valued complex neutrosophic sets (SVCNSs), which is generalized of fuzzy sets, complex fuzzy sets and intuitionistic fuzzy sets; can better represent the vague information than the other sets. This paper aims to propose a new the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) approach based on SVCNSs to select the locations of distribution center. In the proposed TOPSIS approach, the importance weights of criteria, the ratings of alternatives, and their aggregated values are assessed and evaluated using SVCNSs. Then, this paper defines the operational rules of SVCNSs and calculates the aggregated weighted ratings of alternatives. Furthermore, the score, accuracy and certainty function are developed to rank the alternatives. Last, an application to the distribution center location selection is presented to show the advantages of the proposed approach.
808. CYMBIDIUM WENSHANENSE

Summary Cymbidium wenshanense Y.S. Wu & F.Y. Liu, a very rare species from Yunnan is discussed and illustrated. Though only recently described (in 1990), it is already threatened in the wild by over-collecting. Fortunately it is well-established in cultivation and can be propagated by seed.