Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of diets supplemented with either individual or combined probiotics, Bacillus subtilis E20 and Lactobacillus plantarum 7-40, on the immune response and disease resistance of the mud crab, Scylla paramamosain (Estampador)

Two trials, including firstly, diets incorporating individual or combined species of probiotics, Bacillus subtilis E20 and Lactobacillus plantarum 7-40, were fed to the mud crab, Scylla paramamosian, for 28 days to evaluate the growth, immunity and disease resistance, and secondly, the optimal level of B. subtilis E20 in the diet by tracking the growth, immunity and disease resistance after 28 days of feeding were analysed. No significant differences in growth, total haemocyte counts, respiratory bursts, superoxide dismutase, or glutathione peroxidase were found in the two trials. Crabs fed the B. subtilis E20-containing diet (D20) had significantly increased phenoloxidase (PO) activity, phagocytic activity (PA) and disease resistance compared with crabs fed the control and the mixed probiotics diet (MD). The mortality of crabs fed the D20 was significantly lower than that of crabs fed the L. plantarum 7-40-containing diet. L. plantarum 7-40 had a great inhibitory effect on the growth of B. subtilis E20, which may have led to the decreased probiotic effect of the MD. An analysis of the optimal level of B. subtilis E20 in the diet showed that crabs fed the B. subtilis E20-containing diet at a level of 109–10 cfu kg−1 had better immune response of PO and PA, and disease resistance in the second trial.
C4 photosynthesis in a single C3 cell is theoretically inefficient but may ameliorate internal CO2 diffusion limitations of C3 leaves

Attempts are being made to introduce C4 photosynthetic characteristics into C3 crop plants by genetic manipulation. This research has focused on engineering single-celled C4-type CO2 concentrating mechanisms into C3 plants such as rice. Herein the pros and cons of such approaches are discussed with a focus on CO2 diffusion, utilizing a mathematical model of single-cell C4 photosynthesis. It is shown that a high bundle sheath resistance to CO2 diffusion is an essential feature of energy-efficient C4 photosynthesis. The large chloroplast surface area appressed to the intercellular airspace in C3 leaves generates low internal resistance to CO2 diffusion, thereby limiting the energy efficiency of a single-cell C4 concentrating mechanism, which relies on concentrating CO2 within chloroplasts of C3 leaves. Nevertheless the model demonstrates that the drop in CO2 partial pressure, pCO2, that exists between intercellular airspace and chloroplasts in C3 leaves at high photosynthetic rates, can be reversed under high irradiance when energy is not limiting. The model shows that this is particularly effective at lower intercellular pCO2. Such a system may therefore be of benefit in water-limited conditions when stomata are closed and low intercellular pCO2 increases photorespiration.
Association of circulating levels of total and protein-bound sphingosine 1-phosphate with osteoporotic fracture

The biological activity and effects of circulating sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) might be dependent on the carrier protein. Although S1P is known to be a biomarker for osteoporotic fracture (OF), its role according to its carrier protein (high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or albumin) has not yet been studied. We measured the protein-bound S1P levels and bone mineral density (BMD) in 58 postmenopausal women with OF and 58 age-matched and body mass index–matched postmenopausal women without OF. Albumin-bound S1P was the most abundant. Before adjustment, women with OF had higher total S1P (p=0.046) and albumin-bound S1P (p=0.026) levels than those without OF, but there was no difference in the levels of HDL-bound or LDL-bound S1P. After adjustment for confounders including BMD, women with OF had only higher levels of total S1P than those without OF (p=0.047). Before adjustment, the OR for OF was higher in subjects in the highest quartile for total S1P (OR 5.36, 95% CI 1.22 to 23.63) or albumin-bound S1P (OR 4.48, 95% CI 1.22 to 16.42). After adjustment for confounders including BMD, statistical significance persisted only for total S1P (OR 2.23, 95% CI 1.12 to 4.81). These findings suggest that the positive association of S1P with OF is mainly due to level of total plasma S1P and not due to the differing contributions from specific carrier protein-bound fractions.
Net primary production and light use efficiency in a mixed coniferous forest in Sweden

Simple light use efficiency (epsilon) models of net primary production (NPP) have recently been given great attention (NPP = epsilon x absorbed photosynthetically active radiation). The underlying relationships have, however, not been much studied on a time step less than a month. In this study daily NPP was estimated as the sum of net ecosystem exchange (NEE) and heterotrophic respiration (R-h) of a mixed pine and spruce forest in Sweden. NEE was measured by eddy correlation technique and R-h was estimated from measurements of forest floor respiration (R-f) and the root share of R-f. The total yearly NPP was on average 810 g C m(-2) year(-1) for 3 years and yearly epsilon was between 0.58 and 0.71 g C MJ(-1), which is high in comparison with other studies. There was a seasonal trend in epsilon with a relatively constant level of approximately 0.90 g C MJ(-1) from April to September Daily NPP did not increase for daily intercepted radiation above 6 MJ m(-2) d(-1), indicating that between-years variation in NPP is not directly dependent on total Q(i). The light was most efficiently used at an average daytime temperature of around 15 degreesC. At daytime vapour pressure deficit above 1400 Pa epsilon was reduced by approximately 50%. (Less)
Expression and Localization of Cry1Ac22 Crystal Protein from Bacillus thuringiensis W015-1 in Yeast ( Saccharomyces cerevisiae )

In order to explore the expression and sub-cellular localization of Bt Cry1Ac22 insecticidal crystal protein in eukaryotic organism, we constructed eukaryotic expression vector pYES2-Cry1Ac22-GFP by fusing Cry1Ac22 and green fluorescent protein (GFP) based on the initiative pYES2 vector. The construct was transformed into yeast ( Saccharomyces cerevisiae ) strain INVScl to express the fusion gene promoted by GAL1. With the induction of 20%galactose, the fusion protein of Cry1Ac22-GFP was expressed as a mass of fluorescence particles in the yeast cell. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that the fusion proteins were expressed in the yeast crude succus about 130 kDa in size. The fusion proteins can generate intense fluorecense light alone with the yeast cell membrane observed under the fluorescent microscope, which indicated that Cry1Ac22 proteins were anchored in the cell membrane. This research might provide the insights and approach for studying the function of Bt insecticidal proteins as well as for tracing the trail of transgenic proteins.
Pollen quality traits of cultivated ('Oryza sativa' L. Ssp. Indica) and weedy ('Oryza sativa' var. Nivara) rice to water stress at reproductive stage

Water stress during the early phase of the reproductive growth stage is a major constraint to yield of rice. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of pre-anthesis water stress on pollen quality of cultivated varieties and weedy rice strains. Two widely cultivated Malaysian varieties of MR219 and MR232 (Oryza sativa L. ssp. indica), and two weedy rice strains of Bertam and Ketara (Oryza sativa var. nivara) were grown in polybags in rice culture system-like situations. Water stress condition (no water supplied) was then applied for 10 days prior to anthesis phase. Plastic polybags (40 x 45 cm) were placed in an enclosed cage and arranged as completely randomized design with four replicates. Pollen quality traits were then determined such as pollen production, pollen viability and pollen load on stigma. The number of spikelets panicle-1 was also measured. Scanning Electron Microscopy was used to evaluate the morphology. Water stress reduced the pollen quality traits like pollen grain production, pollen viability and pollen load on stigma equally in both cultivated and weedy rice genotypes, resulting poor spikelet fertility and spikelet production. Observation of fluorescence microscopy indicated that water stress clearly affects pollen germination and pollen tube growth in both cultivated and weedy rice. Reduction of pollen viability and vigour appear to be the cause of reduction in pollen germinability and retardation in pollen tube growth, resulting poor fertilization and poor spikelets production in both cultivated and weedy rice genotypes under water stress. Weedy rice strains were comparatively more tolerant under water stress condition than cultivated rice varieties due to maintaining pollen quality traits. This suggests that weedy rices, Bertam and Ketara, may not heavily be influenced by water stress at reproductive growth stages.
Leaf development in Begonia hispida var. cucullifera with special reference to vascular organization

The leaf is initiated by periclinal divisions in the second cell layer of the apex. Early in development, it assumes an asymmetrical shape as a result of the non-median position of the apical meristematic region that forms the leaf tip. The other main lobes of the leaf are formed by two additional regions of growth to the side of the tip. In the second plastochron, primordia are initiated on the upper surface of the main ribs of the leaf and these often develop into large, leaf-like appendages. During the third plastochron, the leaf becomes covered by a dense layer of trichomes. Vascular development is well correlated with regions of growth. The median procambial strand extends diagonally into the skewed apical growth region and another strand branches from this and develops on the other side. Lateral procambial strands usually form in an abaxial to adaxial sequence in the petiole: one strand of the first pair to develop forms part of the median rib and the other forms a third main rib on the opposite sid.
Ecological States and the Resilience of Coral Reefs

We review the evidence for multiple ecological states and the factors that create ecological resilience in coral reef ecosystems. There are natural differences among benthic communities along gradients of water temperature, light, nutrients, and organic matter associated with upwelling-downwelling and onshore- offshore systems. Along gradients from oligotrophy to eutrophy, plant-animal symbioses tend to decrease, and the abundance of algae and heterotrophic suspension feeders and the ratio of organic to inorganic carbon production tend to increase. Human influences such as fishing, increased organic matter and nutrients, sediments, warm water, and transportation of xenobiotics and diseases are common causes of a large number of recently reported ecological shifts. It is often the interaction of persistent and multiple synergistic disturbances that causes permanent ecological transitions, rather than the succession of individual short-term disturbances. For example, fishing can remove top-level predators, resulting in the ecological release of prey such as sea urchins and coral- eating invertebrates. When sea urchins are not common because of unsuitable habitat, recruitment limitations, and diseases, and when overfishing removes herbivorous fish, frondose brown algae can dominate. Terrigenous sediments carried onto reefs as a result of increased soil erosion largely promote the dominance of turf or articulated green algae. Elevated nutrients and organic matter can increase internal eroders of reef substratum and a mixture of filamentous algae. Local conservation actions that attempt to reduce fishing and terrestrial influences promote the high production of inorganic carbon that is necessary for reef growth. However, global climate change threatens to undermine such actions because of increased bleaching and mortality caused by warm-water anomalies, weakened coral skeletons caused by reduced aragonite availability in reef waters, and increased incidence of diseases in coral reef species. Consequently, many coral reefs, including those that are heavily managed, have experienced net losses in accumulated inorganic carbon in recent decades and appear likely to continue this trend in coming decades. Reefs urgently need to be managed with a view to strengthening their resilience to the increased frequency and intensity of these pressures. Ecological targets must include the restoration or maintenance of species diversity, keystone species, spatial heterogeneity, refugia, and connectivity. Achieving these goals will require unprecedented cooperative synergy between human organizations at all political levels, from intergovernmental to local. * (ERRATUM: A longer version of this paper is published as a book chapter in McClanahan, T.R., N.V.C. Polunin and T.J. Done. 2002. Resilience of coral reefs. in L.H. Gunderson and L. Pritchard Jr. (editors). Resilience and the Behavior of Large-Scale Systems. SCOPE and Island Press, Washington. The original version of this paper stated incorrectly that the book chapter was still in press. )
Evaluation of oxidative stress in brucella infected cows

Oxidative stress can influence the metabolism of cells in vital organs of the body. Oxidative stress is extremely dangerous as it does not exhibit any symptom and is recognisable with great difficulty by means of laboratory methods. It can be monitored with several biomarkers like antioxidants and pro-oxidants which can be assessed in serum. The inexorableness of exposure of cows to brucella infection makes oxidative stress associated with this infection an appropriate field of investigation. There is paucity of work to detect stress, which is essential to take timely corrective measures and to save the animal population. Therefore the investigation was carried out to evaluate oxidative stress in the cows suffering from brucellosis. For this serum biomarkers of oxidative stress viz. vitamin C, vitamin E, catalase, monoamine oxidase, glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione, xanthine oxidase, oxidase and peroxidase were determined. Results indicated that vitamin C, vitamin E and glutathione activity decreased significantly in affected cows as compared to healthy cows. Serum catalase, superoxide dismutase, monoamine oxidase, glutathione reductase, xanthine oxidase, oxidase and peroxidase activities increased significantly in affected cows as compared to healthy cows. Decreased activity of vitamin C, vitamin E and glutathione indicated towards their depletion which generally occurs in the oxidative stress to scavenge the free radicals. It was concluded that oxidative stress was there in the animals. This study recommends the use of antioxidants in affected cows
Molecular Genetics of Sexuality in Chlamydomonas

Recent molecular and cellular data on the sexual cycle of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a unicellular green alga, is considered in the context of current theories on the origins and evolution of eukaryotic sex. The mating-type locus of C. reinhardtii controls gamete recognition and fusion, organelle inheritance, and sporulation, the three traits that characterize most sexual cycles in lower eukaryotes. The mating-type locus comprises approximately one megabase of DNA on linkage group VI, is highly rearranged in its central region, and contains identified genes that govern both recognition/fusion and chloroplast inheritance. Sporulation, a diploid program designed to negotiate changing environments, is analogous if not homologous to the somatic differentiation program of multicellular plants and animals, and its expression requires the fusion of compatible gametes.
Ammonium and phosphate uptake rates, N: P supply ratios, and evidence for N and P limitation in some oligotrophic lakes1

tionship [y = 0.0148~ cxp(O.l496x)] was found between th,e ratio of POd3- to NH,’ uptake rates (y) and N : P supply ratio (x), indicating that this index was sensitive to the N : P supply ratio under which phytoplankton are grown. Community composition in the 5 : 1, 15 : 1, and 45 : 1 treatments was influenced by supply ratio. Cultures grown at the highest ratio were dominated by a chroococcoid cyanobacterium (probably Synechococcus sp.), while those grown at the two lower ratios were dominated by the diatoms Nitzschia and Synedra and the chlorophyte Scenedesmus. Saturated NH,+ and PO,’ uptake rates were determined for Synechococcus and Synedra, grown under different N: P supply ratios. The good competitor for P (Sywchococcus) demonstrated a low capacity for NH, t uptake under N-limited conditions, whilce the good competitor for N (Synedra) showed poor ability to sequester POz,3 under P-limited conditions. Additional experiments were conducted on two oligotrophic lakes in an effort to determine if N and P co-occurred as limiting resources. Nutrient bioassay studies on water from one of these lakes indicated that N was in short supply among mcmbcrs of the phytoplankton community. Estimates of in situ N : P supply ratios in the lakes ranged from 18 : 1 to >45 : 1. as well. Results of these experiments were consistent with limitation by N and P at times.
The availability of synthetic methionine in pigs

Zusammenfassung Die Verfugbarkeit von synthetischem Methionin beim Schwein Mit Hilfe von 14C-L-Methionin wurde die Verfugbarkeit von synthetischem Methionin anhand der ilealen Absorption beim Schwein untersucht. Als Versuchstiere dienten zwei kastrierte mannliche Schweine mit einen Korpergewicht von etwa 80 kg, versehen mit ileocaecalen Umleitungskanulen. Bestimmt wurde die distale ileale Passagerate von 14C-L-Methionin. Aus den Untersuchungen ging hervor, das 98–99% des oral verabreichten 14C-L-Methionin vor dem distalen Ende des Ileums absorbiert waren.
Phylogeny of the Platyhelminthes and the evolution of parasitism

Robust phylogenies provide the basis for interpreting biological variation in the light of evolution. Homologous features provide phylogenetically informative characters whereas homoplasious characters provide phylogenetic noise. Both provide evolutionary signal. We have constructed molecular and morphologically based phylogenies of the phylum Platyhelminthes using a recently revised morphological character matrix and complete 18S and two partial 28S rRNA gene sequences in order to evaluate the emergence and subsequent divergence of parasitic forms. In total we examine 65 morphological characters, 97 18S rDNA, 41 Dl domain 28S rDNA, and 49 D3-D6 domain 28S rDNA sequences. For the molecular data there were 748, 132 and 249 phylogenetically informative sites for the 18S, Dl and D3-D6 28S rDNA data sets respectively. Morphological and molecular phylogenetic solutions are incongruent but not incompatible, and using the principles of conditional combination (18S rDNA + morphology passing Templeton's test) they demonstrate: a single and relatively early origin for the parasitic Neodermata (including the cestodes, trematodes and monogeneans); sister-group status between the cestodes and monogeneans, and between these taxa and the trematodes (digeneans and aspidogastreans). The sister-group to the Neodermata is likely to be a large clade of neoophoran turbellarians, based on combined evidence, or a clade consisting of the Fecampiid + Urastomid turbellarians, based on morphological evidence alone. The combined evidence solution for the phylogeny of fiatworms based on 18S rDNA and morphology is used to interpret morphological and life-history data and to support a model for the evolution and radiation of neodermatan parasites in the group.
A qualitative quick‐test for detection of herbicide resistance to tribenuron‐methyl in Papaver rhoeas

A qualitative seed-based method useful for the detection of resistance to the herbicide tribenuron-methyl in Papaver rhoeas L. is described. Seeds were germinated on 35 mL of a 1.3% agar medium containing 2 g KNO 3 L -1 in 8.5 cm Petri dishes in a growth chamber under 20 μmol s -1 m -2 of fluorescent light. When 0.24 μM tribenuron-methyl or more was added, growth in susceptible plants stopped after the cotyledon stage and they turned chlorotic. The resistant plants continued developing new leaves. The same effect was achieved when 0.2 g gibberellin (GA3) L -1 and 7.68 μM tribenuron-methyl or 0.5 g GAS L -1 and 61.44 μM tribenuron-methyl were added. Germination percentage rose with gibberellin in the presence or absence of the herbicide. Plants developed rapidly, with only about 14 d needed to finish the test but sometimes root growth was reduced because of the addition of gibberellin. In the absence of gibberellin but in the presence of the herbicide, plants grew more slowly and developed smaller leaves with a 17-d evaluation period requirement. The test was validated with pot experiments in a greenhouse and also with field trials. The best combination was found to be 0.2 g GA 3 L -1 and 7.68 μM tribenuron-methyl, assuring homogenous germination and testing of dormant seeds but avoiding root inhibition associated with too much gibberellin.
Composition of Essential Oils Extracted from Six Aromatic Plants of Kabylian Origin (Algeria) and Evaluation of Their Bioactivity on Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius, 1775) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

The essential oils extracted from six plants from Kabylia (Algeria), namely Eucalyptus globulus, Eucalyptus radiata, Myrtus communis, Salvia officinalis, Laurus nobilis and Pistacia lentiscus, were analysed by gas chromatography (GC/MS). Their biological activity was assessed on a pest destructive of stored products, Callosobruchus maculatus on cowpea (Vigna unguicultata). The results showed that these oils have two monoterpene compounds in common: &agr;-pinene and &bgr;-pinene in different proportions. The bio-tests were conducted through contact, fumigation and repellency, under laboratory conditions. All the oils tested proved to be active, and the most significant action was the inhibition of oviposition during the tests through contact at a dose of 12µ1/50 g of bean seed. The essential oil of E. globulus caused 50% mortality in adult C. maculatus at 24 hours at a dose of 4µl/1 of air in fumigation tests. In addition, the essential oils tested were highly repellent towards adult C. maculatus at a dose of 16 µl.
Evaluation of the haematology and biochemistry of Clarias gariepinus as biomakers of environmental pollution in Tiga dam, Nigeria

This study aimed to evaluate the haematological and biochemical changes in Clarias gariepinus as biomarkers of environmental pollution in Tiga dam, Nigeria (wild aquatic environment). Water and fishes were sampled twice, a week apart, from the controlled and the wild aquatic environment. There were no significant (p>0.05) differences between the temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen contents of both aquatic environments. Similarly, there were no significant (p>0.05) changes in the haematological parameters of the reared and wild the C. gariepinus except in their white blood cell counts, which were significantly (p<0.05) higher in wild C. gariepinus. The activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase (serum enzymes) were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the wild C. gariepinus. However, the concentrations of serum total triglyceride (serum metabolite) were significantly (p<0.05) lower in the wild C. gariepinus. The haematological and biochemical alterations in the wild C. gariepinus, which were strongly indicative of cellular damages, might have been a consequence of the toxic pollution of Tiga dam, Nigeria.