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Characterization And Domestication Of Wild Edible Mushrooms From Selected Indigenous Forests In Burundi, Vincent Nteziryayo, Donatha D. Tibuhwa, Prosper Kiyuku, Tatien Masharabu

Tanzania Journal of Science

In Burundi, minimum work has been done to comprehensively identify and commercialize high yielding local mushrooms. The previous studies carried out on mushroom cultivation have focused on exotic strains. This is the first study undertaken on domestication of wild edible mushrooms from Burundi indigenous forests. Nine samples were collected from four protected areas and characterized using phenotypic and molecular markers. Germoplasm isolation through tissue culture techniques, spawn production and cultivation studies were also undertaken. Mushroom samples were identified as Pleurotus citrinopileatus, Lentinus squarrosulus, Hypholoma fasciculare, Laetiporus sulfureus, Macrolepiota dolichaula, Trametes polyzona, Amanita zambiana, Lactarius delicious and Amanita verna. Spawn production …

Generation Of Highly Ordered 3d Vivid Monochromatic Coloured Photonic Crystal Films Using Evaporative Induced Technique, Ikhazuagbe H. Ifijen, Esther U. Ikhuoria

Tanzania Journal of Science

Structural coloured crystal films have attracted immense attention because of numerous applications like optical sensing, anti-counterfeiting and photonic fabrics.  Herein, we successfully generated highly periodic three-dimensional (3D) monochromatic structural crystal films with brown, turquoise, blue and yellow colourations from as-synthesized poly(styrene-methyl methacrylate-acrylic acid) or P(St-MMA-AA) colloidal latex via the evaporative induced self-assembly technique. The colours were controlled through the modulation of their crystal lattice by varying their microspheres diameter from 180 nm, 120 nm, and 260 nm to 150 nm. Scanning electron microscope and atomic force microscope (SEM/AFM) analyses showed that the photonic crystal particles readily assembled into an impeccable …

Antimicrobial Activities Of Endophytic Fungi Secondary Metabolites From Moringa Oleifera (Lam), Zuhura N. Mwanga, Esther F. Mvungi, Donatha D Tibuhwa

Tanzania Journal of Science

This study presents the antimicrobial activities of secondary metabolites of endophytic fungi isolated from a medicinal plant Moringa oleifera growing at the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Two endophytic fungi were identified, Nigrospora sp. from leaves, and Fusarium sp. from roots and seeds. The disc method was used in testing the antimicrobial activities of the crude extracts of endophytic fungi secondary metabolites against four human pathogens, namely, Bacillus substilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans. The results revealed that the crude extracts of endophytes secondary metabolites from leaves showed strong antimicrobial activities against two Gram positive bacteria and …

Effects Of Seasons And Zonation On Biochemical Contents Of Two Seagrass Species Along Dar Es Salaam Coast, Tanzania, Wamwi M. Mbaga, Esther F. Mvungi

Tanzania Journal of Science

Accumulation and allocation of biochemicals in plants are affected by various factors. The influence of seasons and vertical zonation on biochemical contents of seagrasses Cymodocea rotundata and Thalassia hemprichii from Mjimwema seagrass meadow along the coast of Dar es Salaam were assessed. Samples were collected in 2016 during wet/rainy (April–May) and dry (June–July) seasons. Concentrations of crude protein, soluble carbohydrates, phosphorus, lipid, and proline were determined using standard methods. Significant higher levels of phosphorus, lipid, protein and proline were observed during the dry season than in wet season (p < 0.05). Likewise, seagrass population occurring at the shore zone expressed higher levels of biochemical contents than those found at the subtidal zones. The highest concentration of protein was recorded in Thalassia hemprichii (5.8 mg/g dw)), while those of lipid and carbohydrates (27.1 and 53.1 mg/g dw, respectively) were recorded in Cymodocea rotundata. The two species studied did not vary significantly in their biochemical concentrations in both seasons. Generally it was observed that the concentrations of studied biochemicals were up-regulated during the dry season and varied depending on the locations where the seagrass grow. Thus, both season and zonation played roles in biochemical accumulation in the seagrasses understudy, however not interactively.

An Investigation Of The Potentials Of 2-[(2-Hydroxyphenyl) Methylidene] Hydrazine-1-Carbothioamide And Its Mn(Ii) And Zn(Ii) Complexes As Antimicrobial Agents, Umar Sani, Musbahu Yahaya, Dailami S. Adam

Tanzania Journal of Science

Antibiotic resistance as a result of misuse, overuse or abuse of drugs is an issue of serious concern world over. The quest for more active and robust antimicrobial agents remains a scientific challenge and requires multimillion-dollar investment in the area of drug design and development. Here in, we report the synthesis and characterisation of a tridentate thiosemicarbazone (2-[(2-hydroxyphenyl)methylidene]hydrazine-1-carbothioamide) (HL) from salicylaldehyde and thiosemicarbazide. Its complexes with Mn(II) and Zn(II) were prepared following similar technique and characterised by melting point, FT-IR, UV –visible spectrophotometry, and elemental analysis. The Mn(II) complex showed paramagnetism with a magnetic moment value of 5.80 BM while …

Climate Change Increasing Threats On Non-Conserved Mangroves Forests Of Micheweni, Zanzibar–Tanzania, Haji M. Hamad, Islam S.S. Mchenga, Mariam I. Hamisi

Tanzania Journal of Science

Overutilization of mangroves has been reported as the factor for mangrove declining across the globe. However, currently, the global climate change has been claimed to pose significant threats to the survival of mangroves. This study analysed the impacts of climatic variability (sea level rise, temperature and precipitation) to the mangroves of Micheweni (non reserve) and Ngezi-Vumawimbi (nature forest reserve). Multi-disciplinary approach was employed to collect information on community perceptions. Secondary time series data of up to 30 years for temperature, rainfall and sea level rise were collected and analysed. Inquiry results on how local communities perceived climate change showed that …

Eye Spy, Robbin Ray

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.

Interpretable Deep Neural Network For Cancer Survival Analysis By Integrating Genomic And Clinical Data, Jie Hao, Youngsoon Kim, Tejaswini Mallavarapu, Jung Hun Oh, Mingon Kang

Computer Science Faculty Research

Background: Understanding the complex biological mechanisms of cancer patient survival using genomic and clinical data is vital, not only to develop new treatments for patients, but also to improve survival prediction. However, highly nonlinear and high-dimension, low-sample size (HDLSS) data cause computational challenges to applying conventional survival analysis. Results: We propose a novel biologically interpretable pathway-based sparse deep neural network, named Cox-PASNet, which integrates high-dimensional gene expression data and clinical data on a simple neural network architecture for survival analysis. Cox-PASNet is biologically interpretable where nodes in the neural network correspond to biological genes and pathways, while capturing the nonlinear …

Robust Cullin-Ring Ligase Function Is Established By A Multiplicity Of Poly-Ubiquitylation Pathways, Spencer Hill, Kurt Reichermeier, Daniel C. Scott, Lorena Samentar, Jasmin Coulombe-Huntington, Luisa Izzi, Xiaojing Tang, Rebeca Ibarra, Thierry Bertomeu, Annie Moridian, Michael J. Sweredoski, Nora Caberoy, Brenda A. Schulman, Frank Sicheri, Mike Tyers, Gary Kleiger

Life Sciences Faculty Research

The cullin-RING ligases (CRLs) form the major family of E3 ubiquitin ligases. The prototypic CRLs in yeast, called SCF enzymes, employ a single E2 enzyme, Cdc34, to build poly-ubiquitin chains required for degradation. In contrast, six different human E2 and E3 enzyme activities, including Cdc34 orthologs UBE2R1 and UBE2R2, appear to mediate SCF-catalyzed substrate polyubiquitylation in vitro. The combinatorial interplay of these enzymes raises questions about genetic buffering of SCFs in human cells and challenges the dogma that E3s alone determine substrate specificity. To enable the quantitative comparisons of SCF-dependent ubiquitylation reactions with physiological enzyme concentrations, mass spectrometry was employed …

Modelling And Analysis Of A Holling Type Ii Stage Structured Predator-Prey System In The Presence Of Harvesting, Jacob Lyimo, Nyimvua Shaban, Eunice Mureithi, Thadei Sagamiko

Tanzania Journal of Science

The effect of harvesting and predation on a Holling type II stage-structured predator-prey system with assumption that harvesting and predation happen only to mature preys was investigated. Stability of interior point was analysed using Routh Hurwith Criterion. Numerical simulations were carried out. The results show that harvesting and predation have strong negative impacts on population dynamics of stage structured predator-prey system.

Childhood Disability: Challenges And Theory-Informed Child Life Interventions In The Healthcare Setting, Fatema-Zahra Jaffer

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Children with intellectual, sensory, physical, and/or speech disabilities encounter a proliferation of challenges in the healthcare environment. Such challenges are exacerbated by insufficient knowledge in doctors, nurses, child life specialists, and other healthcare providers in bias-free and specialized healthcare delivery. To remedy this, pertinent methods informed by theoretical perspectives of atypical development that ameliorate stress and augment coping in children with disabilities are warranted. Therefore, the purpose of this independent study is to provide a synthesis of the literature that chronicles this topic. Multifarious child life interventions that are premised on contemporary developmental frameworks of childhood disability will be presented. …

Features Of Social And Individual – Biological Development Of The Person In The Educational Process, Аtanazar Karimovich Raximov, Gulyor Аtanazar Qizi Karimova

Bulletin of Gulistan State University

The article describes the interaction of many subjects despite pedagogy in the formation of personality the existence of specific stages in the mental, physical and physiological development of pupils, their role in the system of human relations and their originality and the importance of reading in the formation of spirituality, moral education and the virtues of humanity. It also describes the socio-historical environment, the specific conditions of life and upbringing, the individual, specific biological, hereditary, anatomical-physiological features of the personality, and the connection with the effectiveness of education. The existence of genetic differences between intelligence, talent and ability in humans …

Serum Iron Status Of Children With Cyanotic Congenital Heart Disease In Lagos, Nigeria, Adejumoke Y. Itiola, Barakat A. Animasahun, Olisamedua F.

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: Cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD) predisposes patients to iron deficiency due to compensatory secondary erythrocytosis. This study aimed to determine the serum iron status and prevalence of iron deficiency among children with cyanotic congenital heart disease attending the Paediatric Cardiology outpatient clinic of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria. Methods: This cross-sectional casecontrol study took place between May and October 2015 at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital. A total of 75 children with cyanotic congenital heart disease and 75 apparently healthy age-, gender- and socioeconomicallymatched controls were analysed to determine serum iron status and the prevalence of …

For Whom The Bell Does Not Toll: The Invisible Saga Of Cancer Caregivers, Ritu Lakhtakia, Ikram Burney

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Quercetin A Potential Treatment For Keloids, Hamideh Moravvej, Mojtaba Memariani, Hamed

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

The Value Of Programmed Death Ligand 1 Expression In Cancer Patients Treated With Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy, Malika Al-Dughaishi, Asem Shalaby, Khawla Boudaka, Ammar, Mohamed-Rachid Boulassel, Jumana Saleh

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) is an inhibitory molecule expressed by cancer cells to supress T-cell activity and escape anti-tumour immunity. The role of PD-L1 in cancer has been studied extensively as it is considered an important immune checkpoint against immune over-activation through its interaction with Programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1) expressed on activated lymphocytes. PD-L1 expression was found to be enhanced by chemotherapy through different proliferation pathways. However, the predictive and prognostic value for PD-L1 expression in cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is not yet established. This review focused on the potential effects of chemotherapy on PD-L1 …

Storm On The Horizon: Climate Change, Hurricanes, And The Future Of The Eastern Caribbean, Joseph P. Odegaard

Student Theses 2015-Present

Hurricanes are a fact of life in the Caribbean. This meteorological reality has shaped the islands’ development throughout its history. However, in recent years, the Atlantic’s most fearsome storms have been unprecedented, both in strength and number. This paper explores the relationship between climate change and hurricanes and the effect this relationship has on the Eastern Caribbean. Chapter 1 uses quantitative data from a variety of sources, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment of the United Nations, as well as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association and the National Climate Assessment of the United …

Antioxidant Activity Of Sesame Seed Lignans In Sunflower And Flaxseed Oils, S. Y. Hadeel, S. A. Khalida, M. K. Walsh

Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

This study investigated the antioxidant activity of crude lignan extracts and purified lignans (sesamin, sesamolin, and sesamol) in sunflower and flaxseed oils. Lignan extracts were prepared from roasted sesame seed oil (LRSO) and unroasted sesame seed oil (LUSO). Additionally, the individual lignans were purified from both oils. The crude extracts and purified lignans were added at concentrations of 0.01, 0.02 and 0.03% to the oils and stored at 25 and 65°C over time and peroxide values and thiobarbituric acid values were measured. Each oil showed an increase in oxidation over time, with the samples stored at 65°C exhibiting accelerated oxidation. …

Vegetative Propagation Of Stylosanthes Scabra, Alexandre C. L. De Mello, Adeneide C. Galdino, José C. B. Dubeux Jr., Mércia V. F. Dos Santos, Mário De A. Lira Jr., Felipe M. Saraiva, Mário De A. Lira, Márcio V. Da Cunha

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

One way to multiply genetically desirable plants in a more uniform manner is to use vegetative propagation, such as using plant cuttings. This technique multiplies a single plant into several, in an easy low-cost system (Fachinello et al. 2005), so it is useful in plant breeding. This technique may be enhanced through the use of hormonal regulators, with indolebutyric acid (IBA) being most frequently used, because of its stability in hydroalcoholic solution, low sensitivity to biological degradation and good establishment of adventitious roots (Fachinello et al. 1995). In spite of its large-scale use for fruit production, the technique …

Effects Of Two Intake Levels Of Leucaena Leucocephala On Rumen Function Of Sheep, Marcos Barros-Rodríguez, Javier Solorio-Sánchez, Carlos Sandoval-Castro, Athol V. Klieve, Eduardo Briceño-Poot, Luis Ramírez-Avilés, Rafael Rojas-Herrera

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Ruminant production systems based on grass pastures often produce poor animal performance as expressed by growth or reproductive rates. The nutrient imbalance affecting rumen function is due to their low energy and protein intake. The incorporation of leguminous forages such as Leucaena leucocephala, in the diet of ruminants, can stimulate rumen function by providing protein-rich forage (Barros-Rodriguez et al. 2012). This increases the availability of compounds such as ammonia, amino acids and peptides as well as branched short-chain fatty acids, which are produced as a result of degradation of proteins. These substances promote fibre breakdown by acting as ruminal …

Survey Of Pasture Species And Management, Manure Management, Milk Production And Reproduction On Pasture-Based Dairy Farms In Florida And Georgia, Usa, F. Du, K. D. Gay, M. E. Sowerby, Y. C. Newman, C. R. Staples, R. C. Lacy, A. De Vries

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Traditionally, most dairy farms in the south-eastern United States confine cows to barns or on pasture lots year-round and feed stored forages and concentrated feeds (Fontaneli et al. 2005). Often, much of the feed is purchased, however, the cost of purchased feed and fuel has risen rapidly in the last 5 years (NASS 2009). In addition, a significant amount of capital is tied up in buildings, machinery and manure management systems on the farms. For these reasons, many dairy farmers have shown an interest in or started transitioning to pasture-based dairy systems (Ricks and Hardee 2012). The management practices …

Breeding Strategies For Brachiaria Spp. To Improve Productivity–An Ongoing Project, Geovani F. Alves, Ulisses J. De Figueiredo, Antônio D. Pandolfi Filho, Sanzio C. L. Barrios, Cacilda B. Valle

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Two strategies have been used in the breeding of Brachiaria (syn. Urochloa) to produce new cultivars. The first involves exploring the natural variability existing in nature, which is the selection of ecotypes, mostly apomicts, from the diversity in germplasm banks. This strategy proved efficient originally and the cultivars in use in Brazil were derived in this way, but progress with this strategy is limited in the medium to long term.

Dry Matter Intake By Beef Steers On Piatã Palisadegrass (Brachiaria Brizantha Cv. Brs Piatã) Pasture, Denise B. Montagner, Valéria P. B. Euclides, Teresa C. M. Genro, Nayana N. Nantes

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Beef production in Brazil is primarily based on tropical pastures and 85% of these pastures are Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu. Such a monoculture could prove disastrous if some pest or disease emerged. With the goal of further diversifying pastures and contributing to the sustainability of the pasture production system, B. brizantha cv. BRS Piatã was released by the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa). Little is known about the characteristics of this cultivar in relation to grazing management and plant-animal interactions. Dry matter (DM) intake by grazing animals is influenced by the structural characteristics of tropical grasses (Stobbs 1973, 1975), and …

Agronomic Evaluation Of 324 Intraspecific Hybrids Of Brachiaria Decumbens In Brazil, Rogério G. Mateus, Sanzio C. L. Barrios, Ulisses J. De Figueiredo, Cacilda B. Valle

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk is the most planted pasture grass in the tropics owing to its adaptation to poor and acid soils, typical of the tropics, plus good animal performance. This cultivar was responsible for a radical change of scenario in central Brazil in the early 1970s and is the only cultivar available commercially. Efforts to breed this species have been recent, as the successful somatic chromosome duplication of sexually reproducing diploid plants of B. decumbens was accomplished only in 2009 (Simioni and Valle 2009). Subsequently, intraspecific crosses with natural apomictic tetraploid accessions were carried out. Breeding is needed since …

Effect Of Season And Year Of Evaluation In The Selection Of Brachiaria Humidicola Hybrids, Ulisses J. De Figueiredo, José A. R. Nunes, Cacilda B. Valle, Sanzio C. L. Barrios, Geovani F. Alves

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Brachiaria humidicola is well adapted to infertile and acid soils with poor drainage or temporary flooding (Keller-Grein et al. 1996). It is widely used in Brazil in wetlands and areas of marginal land characterised by waterlogged soils. During the evaluation stages of the breeding program of this species, genotypes are generally tested using consecutive cuts within different seasons for at least 2 years. The ‘Cerrado’ region, where most animal production takes place in Brazil, has 2 well defined seasons: spring-summer with warm weather and rain; and autumn-winter with cooler, dry weather. Thus, owing to environmental variation, especially related to …

Effects Of Irrigation And Season On Performance Of Grazed Pastures Of Brachiaria Brizantha Cv. Mg5, Rita De C. R. Carvalho, Wellington W. Rocha, Bruno S. Pires, César T. Piza, Luziney D. Silva, Paulo R. V. Leite, Eliel A. Ferreira

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In Brazil, livestock production is based primarily on systems with continuously grazed natural or cultivated pastures (FAO 2009). Intensifying animal breeding, handling and knowledge strategies is necessary to obtain improvements in production indices for economically feasible and sustainable grazing systems (Cedeño et al. 2003). Beef cattle breeding on irrigated pasture, like all forms of intensive grazing, requires the use of forage species with high potential for production and quality, and Brachiaria brizantha cv. MG5 is considered a good option. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of irrigation on the performance of B. brizantha cv. MG5 grazed rotationally by …

Development Of Leucaena Mimosine-Degrading Bacteria In The Rumen Of Sheep In Myanmar, Aung Aung, Moe Thida Htun, Lwin Naing Oo, Mar Mar Kyi, Tin Ngwe

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Myanmar has an agricultural base, and about 70% of people reside in rural areas. They depend for survival on agriculture and small-scale crop production, with ruminant livestock consuming fibrous agricultural residues. For optimal ruminant production, concentrates are needed as supplements to these residues. As concentrates are expensive, researchers are testing alternative protein sources like legumes, including foliage from leguminous trees such as leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala). Leucaena is the most widely used leguminous tree as a ruminant feed because it is rich in protein (~ 22%) and contains easily digestible fibre (23% neutral detergent fibre, 16.6% acid detergent fibre; …

Development, Isolation And Characterisation Of A New Non-Virulent Mimosine-Degrading Klebsiella Pneumoniae Strain From The Rumen Liquor Of German Steers By Using Ibt-Goettinger Bioreactor, Aung Aung, U. Ter Meulen, F. Gessler, H. Böhnel

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The tropical legume Leucaena leucocephala (leucaena) has many uses, including: a potential source of firewood and timber; for soil erosion control (Dijkman 1950); to provide shade; to enhance soil fertility; and as a nutritious forage for animal feed (Ruskin 1977). It is widely used as forage for cattle in tropical agriculture (Shelton 1998). In Myanmar, leucaena is used as a protein source in urea-molasses multi-nutrient blocks for ruminants (Ni Ni Maw et al. 2004). However, the use of leucaena as ruminant feed is not without problems, because it contains mimosine, a toxic anti-nutritional factor limiting its use as animal …

Brs Paiaguás: A New Brachiaria (Urochloa) Cultivar For Tropical Pastures In Brazil, Cacilda B. Valle, Valéria P. B. Euclides, Denise B. Montagner, José R. Valério, Celso D. Fernandes, Manuel C. M. Macedo, Jaqueline R. Verzignassi, Luis A. Machado

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Approximately half the world’s beef is produced in the tropics and subtropics, almost exclusively on pasture. While the world production of beef and veal increased 91% over the past 40 years, the increase in the tropics was 200%. Brazil has today the largest commercial cattle herd in the world (about 190 M head) and is the world's largest exporter of beef. The area of cultivated pasture increased from 30 to 100 Mha between 1970 and 1995 (IBGE 2006). This area has now stabilised or decreased despite the increase in beef production, which reflects the gain in area productivity. Part of …

Performance Of Nelore Cattle On Panicum Maximum Pastures In The Brazilian Cerrado, Giovana A. Maciel, Gustavo J. Braga, Roberto Guimarães Jr., Hélio A. De Araújo, Allan K. B. Ramos, Marcelo A. Carvalho, Lourival Vilela, Liana Jank

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

With the increased demand for meat products, associated with environmental concerns due to global climatic and land use changes, the need to efficiently use pasture and forage resources will increase (Boval and Dixon 2012). Efforts to breed and release new forage cultivars must incorporate these concerns, ensuring that introduced material is of high quality, especially under grazing (Euclides et al. 2008).

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the average daily weight gain and stocking rate of Nelore beef cattle grazing new genotypes of Panicum maximum during the rainy season in the Brazilian Cerrado.