Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Identificação de possíveis genes relacionados com a infecção por Trypanosoma cruzi no hospedeiro.

KAWAMATA, C. E. M. Identification of possible genes related to Trypanosoma cruzi infection in the human host. 2011. 125 p. (Ph. D. Thesis Biology of the interactions between Hosts and Pathogens). Biomedical Science Institute of the University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, 2011. Chagas disease is caused by the protozoan Trypanosssoma cruzi and is usually transmitted by Triatominae bugs and affects about 12 million people in the American continent. In a previous study, segregation analysis showed evidence of a major gene with a small multifactorial component influencing the predisposition to the Trypanosoma. cruzi infection in a population composed by 4697 individuals of 886 families from Northeastern Brazil in 1969-1970 at São Paulo, Brazil. In the present work, 69 individuals (18 positives to T. cruzi infection and 51 negative) belonging to 14 families were selected. They had the DNA extracted and genotyped using 250K SNPs DNA microarrays (GeneChip Mapping Affymetrix). 18 SNPs showed evidence of association between infection to T. cruzi with P<10, although after Bonferroni’s correction only the SNP rs17469997 (minor allele frequency = 0.1667, adjusted-Bonferroni P = 0.015) on chromosome 10 was significant. The other 17 SNPs that showed association with T. cruzi infection with P<10 can still be informative in linkage analyses. On an effort to validate these findings, a multi point linkage analyses was performed with GeneHunter (KRUGLYAK et al., 1996) program and a two point linkage analyses were performed with SuperLink (FISHELSON e GEIGER, 2002) program, both analyses showed no significant results.
Relative Attachment Behaviors of Pathogenic and Nonpathogenic Escherichia coli to Soil Particles: Influence of Soil Physicochemical Properties

Attachment of Escherichia coli to soil particles influences bacteria transport to water sources. Nontoxigenic E. coli are commonly used as indicators for predicting the fate of pathogens and their contamination potential in natural environments. However, few studies have been conducted to compare the attachment of indicator bacteria with pathogenic bacteria in soil environments. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to compare pathogenic E. coli O157:H7 and nonpathogenic E. coli WH09 attachment to different soils and to assess the effects of soil physicochemical properties on E. coli attachment on soil particles. E. coli O157:H7 cell surfaces in tested soil suspensions were much less negatively charged and more hydrophobic than E. coli WH09, which resulted in greater amounts of E. coli O157:H7 attachment to soil particles. Pearson correlation analysis between partition coefficient (Kd) and soil properties showed the attachment of E. coli O157:H7 to soil particles was negatively correlated with organic matter (OM) of soils (p < 0.01); however, E. coli WH09 attachment was positively correlated with soil solution electrical conductivity (EC) (p < 0.01). Partial correlation and stepwise multiple regression analysis suggested OM and clay content (CC) were the dominant factors (p < 0.01) impacting E. coli O157:H7 attachment. However, EC was the sole significant factor (p < 0.01) determining the attachment of E. coli WH09 to soil particles.
Isolation, Identification and Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of E. coli Isolated from Chicken Flocks

Fifty E. coli strains isolated from chicken flocks were analyzed to determine their resistance to antimicrobial agents used in Tehran poultry industry. By using Mast Diagnostic kit only O6 serotype was identified. Multiple resistance to antibiotics was observed in all isolates. The highest rate of resistance was against Tetracycline (94%), followed by Rifampicin (90%), and Oxytetracycline (80%). Fifty E. coli isolates showed 10 different patterns of resistance to the antimicrobial agents used in this study. The most common antimicrobial resistance pattern of these isolates was Enrofloxacin / Trimethoprim-Sulphamethoxazole / Tiamulin / Flumequine / Sulphadiazine / Oxytetracycline / Rifampicin. The present study confirms significant increase in the incidence of resistance in E. coli isolated from poultry which is probably due to increased use of antibiotics as feed additives for growth promotion and prevention of disease, resistance transfer among different bacteria and possible cross resistance between antibiotics used in domestic animals and those used in human medicine.
Human Pancreatic Proteolytic Enzymes and Protein Inhibitors

The purification of human proteolytic enzymes, i.e. two trypsins, two chymotrypsins and at least one elastase from activated extracts of human pancreas has been accomplished by a combination of affinity chromatography and conventional ion-exchange chromatography on SE-Sephadex. The enzymes thus obtained were homogeneous by several criteria: gel electrophoresis, equilibrium sedimentation and immunological assay. The molecular weight and amino-acid composition of each preparation was determined and compared with those of other mammalian enzymes. The two trypsins showed only partial immunological identity while the two chymotrypsins were identical immunologically. The data raises the question of the number of the zymogens present in the human pancreas. In addition to the proteolytic enzymes, four protein inhibitors of proteolytic enzymes were also isolated from human pancreas. The procedure consisted of several steps that included gel filtration, affinity chromatography and isoelectric focusing. The two major components which accounted for most of the trypsin inhibitory activity were characterized and were apparently of the Kazal type. The more basic human pancreatic inhibitor had a pI of 8.7 and contained 48 amino acids with a molecular weight of 5200. The more acidic inhibitor had a pI of 6.5 and contained 39 amino acids with a molecular weight of 4300. Both inhibitors were capable of inhibiting bovine and two human trypsins. They did not inhibit two human chymotrypsins but had a weak capacity to inhibit bovine chymotrypsin.
The effect of roots and ectomycorrhizal fungi on carbon cycling in forest soils

Though the input of labile substrates into the rhizosphere by roots is known to promote decomposition of both soil organic matter (SOM) and surface litter, the presence of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi living in symbiosis with plant roots has been shown to coincide with decreased litter decomposition rates in some systems. In a series of field experiments, techniques including forest girdling and soil trenching were used to exclude roots and ECM fungi in order to investigate the mechanisms controlling litter decomposition in forest soils. Soil trenching was carried out in combination with litter bag incubations, and measurements of soil CO2 flux in a 20 year-old Pinus contorta stand. The use of mesh in-growth collars allowed the influence of ECM fungal hyphae on litter mass loss, and their contribution to soil CO2 flux, to be established separately to that of roots. A specialised irrigation system allowed moisture effects caused by root/ECM hyphal water uptake to be investigated. Neither the presence of roots, nor ECM fungi had any influence on litter decomposition, and soil temperature was the only factor found to correlate with litter mass loss. The exclusion of roots and ECM hyphae led to increased utilisation of a simple substrate, 13C-labelled glucose. Results of incubations of four substrates, varying in structural complexity and nitrogen (N) content, suggested that the rapid utilisation of simple substrates by r-strategist microorganisms might be suppressed in the presence of ECM fungi. Though N content appeared to have a positive influence on substrate decomposition, the results were not significant. In contrast, when forest girdling was used in a nearby Tsuga heterophylla stand to exclude plant-assimilate C supply to the soil, a significant reduction in the rate of litter mass loss was observed. The results presented in this thesis indicate a potentially large role of ECM fungi in controlling decomposition in forest soils, and the mechanisms underlying their influence require further investigation.
Avaliação da técnica de coloração AgNOR em testículos de ovinos

The silver staining technique for AgNOR nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) is characterized by marking proteins linked to the ribosomal ribonucleic acid, evaluating cell proliferation. The aim was to study the validity of the AgNOR staining technique in the testicular cell proliferation in crossbred ovine. Forty-three pairs of ovine testicles between 6 and 10 months old were collected. Wilcoxon and Spearman tests were used with a significance level of 5%. The mean NORs count in cells of the right and left gonads were respectively: spermatogonia (8.77±1.14 and 9.04±0.96), spermatocytes (4.99±2.00 and 6.20±2.07, P<0.05), Leydig (8.05±2.82 and 7.89±2.29) and Sertoli cells (8.07±1.88 and 7.61±2.16; P<0.05). There was a correlation between the mean values for the right and left sides for the number of NORs (P<0.05) between Leydig x spermatocytes (0.49); spermatocytes x Sertoli (0.49) and Sertoli x Leydig (0.96). The study demonstrates that the AgNOR staining technique is indicated to evaluate the cell proliferative potential in ovine testis with practical implementation and low cost.
TARGETED THERAPY FOR LIVER FIBROSIS AND CANCER

Liver fibrosis is a chronic disorder that leads to accumulation of excessive amounts of extracellular matrix (ECM), and the first part of my dissertation work is about the effect of microRNA miR-29a in inhibiting the ECM gene expression at post-transcriptional or translational level. Our data indicates that transfection of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) with miR-29a significantly inhibited the expression of ECM-related genes, which was mediated by the putative targeting sites at their 3’-UTR. We have also found that miR-29a plays a role in mediating the antifibrotic effect of the nuclear receptor Farnesoid X receptor (FXR). In addition, we have uncovered that miR-29b indirectly inhibits ECM synthesis at post-translational level. By targeting the 3'-UTR of Heat shock protein 47 (HSP47) and lysyl oxidase (LOX) which are known to be essential for post-translational modification of ECM proteins, overexpression of miR-29b led to abnormal ECM structure as shown by electron-microscopy. The second part of my work was to improve the therapeutic outcome via formulation strategy. A drug-interactive motif (Fmoc) was introduced into the PEG5K-VE2 micelle system (PEG-FVE2), and the drug loading capacity was evaluated using paclitaxel (PTX) as a model drug. The Fmoc/PTX physical interaction was demonstrated by a fluorescence quenching assay. PTX-loaded PEG-FVE2 micelles exerted higher antitumor effect than the Taxol formulation both in vitro and in vivo. As an overall approach, the targeting efficiency of drug carriers was further improved by conjugation with a ligand for the Sigma-2 receptor, which is over-expressed in multiple types of solid tumors. SV119 is a synthetic small molecule which binds to sigma-2 receptors with high affinity and specificity. The final part of my study showed that incorporation of SV119-PEG-DOA significantly increased the cellular uptake of liposomes by tumor cells but not normal cells. This study suggests that SV119-modified liposomes might be another promising drug carrier for tumor targeted drug delivery. In summary, our study suggests that miR-29 holds potential as a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of liver fibrosis. In addition, we have developed a novel formulation that enhances the therapeutic efficacy of existing anticancer agents such as paclitaxel.
Nveis de protena bruta para fmeas sunas gestantes de 4 ou 5 parto

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of CP intake during gestation on productive and reproductive performance of pregnant sows of 4th or 5th parturition orders. A total of 25 crossbred sows averaging 189.0±16.46 kg at 4th parity order was allotted to a completely randomized experimental design with three treatments (10, 13.5, and 17% of CP) and 18, 15 and 12 replicates, and each sow was considered an experimental unit. No treatment effects on sow weight gain from mating to 110 days of gestation and from mating to parity, on weights at parity and weaning, backfat thickness gain during gestation and backfat thickness loss during lactation were observed. The dietary CP level of 13.5% provided the best energetic balance for sows, the highest number of piglets born alive, the highest average piglet weight at weaning, the highest litter weight at parity and weaning and the highest litter average daily weight gains. The energetic balance in the productive process was more efficient in sows fed diets with 13.5% of CP. The best dietary CP level for sows of 4th or 5th parity orders in the gestation is of 13.5%, that is correspondent to a daily intake of 312 g of CP.
Effect of disinfecting litter on rearing performance and results of blood indices and internal organs of broiler chickens.

Summary The aim of the study was to determine the effect of Lubisan fi n a disinfection agent on the rearing performance and selected blood indices and internal organs of broiler chickens. The experimental material comprised of 240 Cobb 500 meat type broiler chickens divided into two equal groups: control (K) and experimental (D) n with a disinfection agent (trade name Lubisan fi ) added to their litter. Better production results were found in the group of experimental birds. The body mass of the chickens from the experimental group was higher during the weeks of rearing, although differences were observed at a significance level of p £ 0.01 during the third and fourth week, whereas in the fifth and sixth week n at a level of p £ 0.05. The Rearing Efficiency Index was also more favourable in the group of chickens reared on litter where the disinfecting agent (D n 360.59, K n 346.56) had been added. No significant differences were demonstrated in haematological indices of the birdis blood, whereas differences were reported between the birds in serum levels of AE- and a-globulins. The control chickens were characterized by a lower (p £ 0.01) level of a-globulins and a higher (p £ 0.05) level of AE-globulins as compared to the control group. A pathomorphological examination of the analyzed internal organs of chickens (spleen, liver, kidneys, lungs, and cornea) demonstrated twice as many pathological changes in the group of control birds as compared to the experimental chickens. The rearing of broiler chickens of meat type Cobb 500 on litter disinfected by Lubisanfi had a positive effect and resulted in a 4% higher REI in this group when compared to the control group of chickens.
Analysis of North Atlantic Right Whale Swimming Behavior during Bottom Foraging Events to Assess Entanglement Risk

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. INTRODUCTION. Purpose and Objectives. Overview: Status of Right Whales. Entanglements. Research. METHODS. DTAGs and Data Collection. Data Analysis. RESULTS. Tag Data. Proximity to Bottom. Rolling Behavior. DISCUSSION. Fishing Gear and Proximity to Bottom. Fishing Gear and Rolling Behavior. New Gear Modifications. Conclusions. Future Work. LITERATURE CITED. FIGURES. Figure 1: Example of a dive profile. Figure 2: Proximity to bottom, RW213b. Figure 3: Proximity to bottom, RW220. Figure 4: Proximity to bottom, RW233. Figure 5: Example of a ‘typical’ roll profile. Figure 6: Roll variation within individual. Figure 7: Roll variation between individuals. Figure 8: Examples of non-stereotyped roll behavior. Figure 9: Questions of scale. Figure 10: Lobster pot/trap gear. Figure 11: Gillnet gear. 1
Brassinosteroids in induced resistance and induction of tolerances to abiotic stress in plants

Brassinosteroid. phytohormones are known to control important developmental functions in plants, including growth, photomorphogenesis, fertility and seed germination. This paper is focused on the role of these compounds in plant defense against biotic and abiotic stress. Studies of resistance inducing effects and activation of plant tolerances to different abiotic stressors are reviewed. Results of the investigation of signal transduction and regulation of gene expression are discussed with respect to molecular mechanisms of brassinosteroid mediated stress responses in plants. Further scientific research on the plant protecting effects of brassinosteroids may lead to practical applications of these plant growth regulators in agricultural production.
Decomposição de serapilheira foliar em três sistemas florestais no Sudoeste da Bahia

The decomposition process influences the functioning of forest ecosystems, because it regulates the accumulation of soil organic matter and nutrient cycling. The objective of this study was to evaluate the decomposition of leaf litter in a native forest fragment (semideciduous forest) and two forest plantations (native species planting: Tabebuia impetiginosa, Tabebuia serratifolia, Tabebuia roseo-alba, Alchornea triplinervia and Astronium urundeuva and jackfruit planting. The decomposition was evaluated from the use of nylon bags containing about 10 grams of leaf material. The bags were collected at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 days after installation. Were estimated the percentage of the remaining mass, the rate of decomposition (k) and half-life time of the litter (t1/2). At the end of the experiment, in the jackfruit planting, over 50% of the leaf material was decomposed, while in the native forest and in the native planting native the decomposition occurred of 34 and 35%, respectively. The coefficient k was higher for jackfruit planting (0,0033 g g-1 day), followed by native forest (0,0023 g g-1 day) and the native planting (0,0019 g g-1 day). The half-life time was 210,04 days (jackfruit planting), 364,81 days (native planting) and 301,37 days (native forest). The leaf litter of jackfruit planting has more rapid decomposition in relation to native forest and native planting. The decomposition process is influenced not only by the quality of the litter, but also by quality of the microenvironment of a given forest stand.
Soil management in the Breede River Valley wine grape region, South Africa. 2. Soil temperature.

Five soil management practices (treatments) were applied in a micro-sprinkler irrigated Chardonnay/99 Richter vineyard on a sandy clay loam soil near Robertson, commencing in April 1993 (one year after planting). The effect of the treatments on the soil temperature at a depth of 200 mm was measured on an hourly basis from April 1995 to March 1999. Differences in soil temperature between the un-mulched and mulched treatments, as measured in the grapevine rows, were negligible from late April to the end of August. From mid-September (grapevine bud break) to the end of March, the temperature of the mulched soil was, with the exception of the third week in October, lower than that of the un-mulched soil. Results indicated that soil temperatures during early spring had a slight effect on the onset of grapevine bud break. Mulching minimised the diurnal variation in soil temperature. The annual cover crop did not cause any delay in bud break and kept the soil temperatures below 25°C, with the exception of a three week period just before harvest.
Trichoderma spp. as a seed dressing bioproduct against damping-off seedlings of vegetables crops

The aim of study was to assess the effect of carrot seed dressing with selected isolates of the fungus Trichoderma spp. against damping-off seedlings of carrots. It was shown that the used isolates of Trichoderma spp. significantly reduced the infection of germinating seeds and carrots seedlings by the pathogenic fungus species Pythium spp. The use of Trichoderma spp. more efficiently affected the height and weight of the tested carrot seedlings as compared to thestandart seed dressing Zaprawa Nasienna T 75 DS/WS, as well as the biopreparation based on Trichoderma harzianum. No effect of phytotoxicity of Trichoderma spp. isolates used on seed germination and the development of carrot seedlings was started.
Characteristics of zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) biodeposits in a tidal freshwater estuary

Zebra mussels are now a major component of the benthos in the tidal freshwater Hudson River. Their filtering activity has had a wide range of ecosystem-level effects. Zebra mussel biodeposits (feces and pseudofeces) were sampled in in situ chambers containing mussels attached to artificial substrates. The biodeposits collected were analyzed for organic matter (OM), chlorophyll-a, phaeopigments, C, N, bacterial cell densities, and bacterial production rates. Relative to control sediments (sediments passively collecting in the chambers), biodeposits were significantly enriched in all measures except bacterial cell densities. Biodeposits were estimated to contain 9.5 % OM and 3.9 % live algae by weight, while values in passive deposits were 7.8 % and 1,1 %, respectively. The C: N ratio of biodeposits was estimated at 8.3, and bacterial production was estimated at 14.6 x 10 7 cells gOM -1 h -1 , while passive deposit values were 9.8 and 7.4 x 10 7 cells gOM -1 h -1 , respectively. When subjected to a range of mixing energies, biodeposit mixtures (feces, pseudofeces and passive deposits) were resuspended at a bed stress that was approximately 50 % lower than the bed stress required to resuspend the passive deposits. Although biodeposits were shown to be enriched in the above measures, their resuspension by water currents in a system like the tidal freshwater Hudson River will reduce their residence time at the river bottom, possibly reducing their ecological impact on the benthos.
The Effect of Cyclic Feeding Regime on Growth-Related Traits, Estimates of Fat Deposition and Their Genetic Architecture in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

THE EFFECT OF CYLCIC FEEDING REGIME ON GROWTH-RELATED TRAITS, ESTIMATES OF FAT DEPOSITION AND THEIR GENETIC ARCHITECTURE IN RAINBOW TROUT (ONCORHYNCHUS MYKISS) Riley Magee Coadvisors: Dr. N. J. Bernier University of Guelph, 2011 Dr. M. M. Ferguson I examined the influence of cyclic feeding regime on fillet yield and quality and their genetic architecture in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Two lots of half-sib families produced in September and December were exposed to periods of reduced ration followed by increased ration. Fish fed cyclically reduced rations weighed less and had smaller fillets and body proportions relative to controls. They also had less estimated muscle and visceral lipid but also more proportional visceral mass. Lots and families within lots differed significantly for the majority of traits. Genotypic analysis with 23 microsatellite markers spanning 19 linkage groups detected QTL for all traits over multiple linkage groups that were not necessarily consistent between feeding regime and parental lot. Linkage groups RT-9 and 29 had the largest QTL effects for fillet composition traits and overall body size across the greatest number of parents sampled.