Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Adding Phytase from Aspergillus niger to a Low Phosphorus Diet on Growth Performance, Tibia Characteristics, Phosphorus Excretion, and Meat Quality of Broilers 35 days after hatching

This study was designed to determine the effect of phytase extracted from Aspergillus niger (Natuphos® E) on growth performance, bone mineralization, phosphorous excretion, and meat quality parameters in broilers fed available phosphorous (aP)-deficient diet. In total, 810 one-day-old Indian River broilers were randomly allotted into one of three dietary treatments, with six replicates per treatment. The three dietary treatments were 1) control group (CON: basal diet with sufficient aP), 2) low phytase (LPY: available phosphorus-deficient diet supplemented with 0.01% phytase), and 3) high phytase (HPY: available phosphorus-deficient diet supplemented with 0.02% phytase). Average daily gain and, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio were measured for 35 days. Excreta were collected from each pen on day 35. One broiler from each cage was euthanized to collect visceral organs and tibia samples. Broiler chickens fed LPY and HPY showed improved (P<0.05) growth performance compared to broilers fed CON on day 35. The tibia length of HPY-fed broilers was more than those of broilers fed other diets on day 35 (P<0.05). However, tibia calcium and phosphorous contents in LPY-fed broilers was higher (P<0.05) than in CON and HPY-fed broilers. Tibia length and calcium and phosphorous content showed a positive correlation (P<0.05) with the weight gain of broilers on day 35. Phosphorous level in the excreta of LPY- and HPY-fed broilers was lesser than those of CON broilers on day 35 (P<0.05). Furthermore, HPY-fed broilers showed lower (P<0.05) phosphorous content in the excreta than LPY-fed broilers. LPY- and HPY-fed broilers showed higher (P<0.05) liver weight than the CON broilers. In conclusion, broilers fed aP-deficient diet supplemented with phytase from Aspergillus excreted less phosphorus, which enhanced growth performance and tibia development from time of hatching to day 35 post-hatching.
Ecological Effects of Free-Roaming Horses in North American Rangelands

Free-roaming horses are a widespread conservation challenge. Horse use (grazing and related impacts) is largely unmanaged, leading to concerns about its impact on native plant communities and ecosystem function. We synthesized the literature to determine the ecological effects of free-roaming horses in North American rangelands. Largely unmanaged horse use can alter plant community composition, diversity, and structure and can increase bare ground and erosion potential. Free-roaming-horse use has also been linked to negative impacts on native fauna. Horses have repeatedly been shown to limit and even exclude native wildlife's use of water sources. These effects would likely be greatly reduced if the horse populations were better managed, but sociopolitical factors often preclude improved management. Using rigorous ecological research to educate politicians and the general public may facilitate the development of science-based management of free-roaming horses; however, ecological effects may have to become more severe before such changes can be realized.
Fast surveys and molecular diet analysis of carnivores based on fecal DNA and metabarcoding

Large carnivores play an important role in the regulation of food-web structure and ecosystem functioning. However, large carnivores face serious threats that have caused declines in their populations and geographic ranges due to habitat loss and degradation, hunting, human disturbance and pathogen transmission. Conservation of large carnivore species richness and population size has become a pressing issue and an important research focus of conservation biology. The western Sichuan Plateau, located at the intersection of the mountains of southwest China and the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, is a global biodiversity hotspot and has high carnivore species richness. However, increasing human activities may •研究报告• © 生 物多 样性 Bio dive rsity Sci enc e 544 生 物 多 样 性 Biodiversity Science 第 27 卷 研 究 报 告 exacerbate the destruction of local flora and fauna, thereby threatening the survival of wild carnivores. Information on species composition and dietary habits can improve our understanding of the structure and function of the ecosystem and food-web relationships in the study area. In addition, species composition and dietary habits are of great significance for understanding multi-species coexistence mechanisms and preserving biodiversity. This study collected carnivore fecal samples from Xinlong and Shiqu counties in the Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province. DNA was then extracted from the samples and the species was identified based on DNA sequences and DNA barcoding techniques. Seven carnivores were identified, including five large carnivores (Canis lupus, Ursus arctos, Panthera pardus, P. uncia and Canis lupus familiaris) and two medium and small-sized carnivores (Prionailurus bengalensis and Vulpes vulpes). Using fecal DNA, high-throughput sequencing and metabarcoding, we conducted diet analysis for the seven carnivores and found 28 different food molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs), including 19 mammals, eight birds and one fish species. The predominant prey categories of wolves, dogs and brown bears were ungulates. The domestic yak (Bos grunniens) was the most frequently identified prey species. Small mammals such as rodents and lagomorphs accounted for a significant proportion in the diets of leopard cats and red foxes, The most frequent prey of this category of carnivore were the Chinese scrub vole (Neodon irene) and plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae). In addition, leopards and snow leopards mainly fed on the Chinese goral (Naemorhedus griseus) and blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur), respectively. Our study highlights the utility of fecal DNA and metabarcoding technique in fast carnivore surveys and high-throughput diet analysis, and provides a technical reference and guidance for future biodiversity surveys and food-web studies.
The Relationship between Body Mass Index and Poor Self-rated Health in the Korean Population

Objective Several previous studies have evaluated associations between body mass index (BMI) and self-rated health (SRH); however, the results were inconsistent. This study aimed to examine the association between BMI and SRH in Korean adults. Methods The study was conducted in 214,997 adults who participated in the 2016 Korean Community Health Survey. Participants were categorized into four groups based on BMI: underweight (<18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (18.5–24.9 kg/m2), overweight (25.0–29.9 kg/m2), or obese (≥30.0 kg/m2). Multivariate Poisson regression analysis with sampling weights and robust variance estimators was performed to evaluate the relationship between BMI categories and poor SRH. Results There was a J-shaped association between BMI and poor SRH in both sexes, with the lowest risk observed in the normal weight group in both sexes. Compared with normal weight subjects, the age and lifestyle adjusted prevalence rate ratios for poor SRH were 1.61 (95% CI, 1.50–1.74) for underweight, 1.16 (95% CI, 1.11–1.21) for overweight, and 2.35 (95% CI, 2.13–2.58) for obese men; and 1.24 (95% CI, 1.17–1.32) for underweight, 1.26 (95% CI, 1.22–1.31) for overweight, and 1.77 (95% CI, 1.64–1.91) for obese women. Conclusions In a cross-sectional study using a nationally representative survey, there was a nonlinear relationship between BMI and poor SRH. This relationship was more prominent in men than in women. Prospective studies are needed to further clarify the relationship between BMI and SRH.
Organic farming expansion drives natural enemy abundance not diversity in agricultural landscapes

Organic farming is seen as a prototype of ecological intensification able to conciliate crop productivity and biodiversity conservation in agricultural landscapes. However, how natural enemies, an important functional group supporting pest control services, respond to organic farming at different scales and in different landscape contexts remain unclear. Using a hierarchical design within a vineyard-dominated region located in southwestern France, we examine the independent effects of organic farming and semi-natural habitats at the local and landscape scales on natural enemies. We show that the proportion of organic farming is a stronger driver of species abundance than the proportion of semi-natural habitats and is an important facet of landscape heterogeneity shaping natural enemy assemblages. Although our study highlight a strong taxonomic group-dependency about the effect of organic farming, organic farming benefits to dominant species while rare species occur at the same frequency in the two farming systems. Independently of farming systems, enhancing field age, reducing crop productivity, soil tillage intensity and pesticide use are key management options to increase natural enemy biodiversity. Synthesis and Applications. Our study indicates that policies promoting the expansion of organic farming will benefit more to ecological intensification strategies seeking to enhance ecosystem services than to biodiversity conservation.
Analysis of the Promoter Region, Motif and CpG Islands in AraC Family Transcriptional Regulator ACP92 Genes of Herbaspirillum seropedicae

Identification of promoters and their regulatory elements are the most important phases in bioinformatics. To understand the regulation of gene expression, identification, and analysis of promoters region, motif and CpG islands are the most important steps. The accurate prediction of promoter’s is basic for proper interpretation of gene expression patterns, construction and understanding of genetic regulatory system. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze the promoter region, motif such as a transcription factor and CpG islands in AraC family transcriptional regulator ACP92 genes of Herbaspirillum seropedicae. The analysis was carried out by identifying transcription start sites in ACP92 genome sequences taken from the H. seropedicae assembly of NCBI genome browser, and 29 ACP92 genes sequences. Accordingly, transcription start sites (TSS) were identified, and the result indicated that 37.9% had more than one TSS whereas only 62.1% had one TSS. In the analysis, seven motifs were identified from the thought sequences and MV6 was revealed the common promoter motif for all (100%) in H. seropedicae ACP92 gene that serves as binding sites for transcription factors which shared a minimum of 48.27%. Based on a common motif MV6 to find out similar motifs using TOMTOM from the databases of prokaryotes DNA, most of them are transcription factors of fur family. The others are bacterial histone-like protein family, matp and sigma-54 factor family also transcription factor families that are binding candidate to MV6. H. seropedicae ACP92 genes are CpG Island which implies that the regulation of gene expression plays an important role.
Seroprevalence of Herpes Simplex Virus Type-1 IgG Antibody in Healthy Blood Donor from Baghdad, Iraq

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a common infectious agent worldwide. It can cause earnest illnesses at each stage of life. Data on seroprevalence of HSV-1 antibody (Ab) in Iraqi population is limited. This study aimed on determination the frequency of HSV-1 IgG Ab in apparently healthy blood donor of Baghdad province, capital of Iraq. In this study, serum samples were collected from 454 apparently healthy blood donor (385 male and 69 female), their ages ranged from 18 to 64 year. This study was conducted through the period from October, 2018 to February, 2019. Demographic data were gathered by a well-designed questionnaire. Five (5) ml of blood sample was collected and centrifuged, all obtained sera samples were tested using Enzyme linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for determine of HSV-1 IgG Ab. Totally, HSV-1 IgG Ab were positive in 427 out of 454 (94.1%) among studied population. The age groups of (21-30) years and (31-40) years had the highest percentage of seropositivity for anti HSV-1 IgG Ab (39.1% and 32.3%, respectively), while the lowest seropositivity was found in age groups (>50) years and (≤20) years (4.4% and 5.4%, respectively). The frequency of HSV-1 IgG Ab was higher among male (84.8%) compared with females (15.2%), however, it was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Results confirm a high frequency of anti HSV-1 IgG Ab among Iraqi population. The high frequency of HSV-1 infection underlines the need for focusing on preventive efforts and education among the population about HSV-1 and its complications.
Muscarinic modulation of spike-timing dependent plasticity at recurrent layer 2/3 synapses in mouse auditory cortex

Cholinergic systems contribute to the refinement of auditory cortical receptive fields by activating muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs). However, the specific cellular and synaptic mechanisms underlying acetylcholine’s effects on cortical circuits are not fully understood. In this study, we investigate the effects of muscarinic receptor modulation on spike-timing dependent plasticity (STDP) at synapses onto layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons in mouse auditory cortex (AC). Synapses onto layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons exhibit a STDP rule for pairing of postsynaptic spike bursts with single presynaptic stimuli. Pre-before-post pairing at +10 ms results in a timing-dependent long-term potentiation (tLTP), whereas pre-before-post pairing at +50 ms intervals, and post-before-pre pairing at -10 to -20 ms produce a timing-dependent long-term depression. We also characterize how mAChR activation affects plasticity at these synapses, focusing on the induction of tLTP. During pre-before-post pairing at +10 ms, mAChR activation by either carbachol or oxotremorine-M suppresses tLTP. mAChR activation also reduces the NMDA-receptor dependent synaptically evoked increase in calcium in dendrites, apparently without affecting presynaptic transmitter release. Pharmacological experiments suggest that M1 and M3 receptors are not involved in the mAChR-mediated suppression of tLTP. Taken together, these results suggest activating mAChRs in layer 2/3 intracortical circuits can modify the circuit dynamics of AC by depressing tLTP mediated by NMDA receptors, and depressing calcium influx at excitatory synapses onto layer 2/3 pyramidal cells.
Tasks on Graphs

Despite missing of the topic in standard school curricula, tasks on graphs are among the most used in programming contest for secondary school students. The paper starts with fixing the used terminology. Then one possible classification of tasks on graphs is proposed. Instead of the inner logic of Graphs Theory, which is typical for some profiled textbooks, the classification ap- proach of the general textbooks on algorithms was used. The tasks on graphs from last ten editions of the Bulgarian National Olympiad in Informatics were considered and classified in order to check the usability and productivity of the proposed classification.
Comparison of One Point Fixation Vs Two Point Fixation in the Treatment of Zygomatico Maxillary Complex Fractures.

Background: Zygomatic fractures constitute of 20-40% of all facial fractures, most common among the males between the second and fourth decades of life. The ratio of the incidence between females and male is 1: 4. The zygomatic bone occupying a prominent position in the face determines the facial width. It also acts as a major buttress for the mid face between the maxilla and cranium and it is this prominent location which makes it more prone to injury.
The Effect of Lower Limb Resistance Exercise with Elastic Band on Balance, Walking Speed, and Muscle Strength in Elderly Women

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of an 8-week resistance exercise program on balance, walking speed, and muscle strength in elderly women. Methods: This randomized controlled trial was performed on 50 elderly women aged 60-66 years who were assigned to two groups of experimental and control. The Time Up and Go test, was used to measure dynamic balance, Romberg's test was used to measure static balance, and the 10 Meter Walk Test was used to measure walking speed, and the 30 Second Chair Stand test was used to measure muscle strength. Paired t-test and independent t-test was used for comparing balance time before and after the exercise program. Results: The mean duration of static balance increased in the experimental group from 21.64 ± 10.98 before exercise to 28.20 ± 13.47 after exercise (p < 0.001). The mean duration of Up and Go Time decreased from 12.88 ± 1.45 seconds before exercise to 10.80 ± 1.80 seconds after exercise (p < 0.001). Ten-meter walking time in the experimental group decreased from 1.15 ± 0.1 seconds before exercise to 1.00 ± 0.11 seconds after exercise (p < 0.001) and muscle strength in the experimental group increased from 7.8 ± 1 before exercise to 9.56 ± 1.71 after exercise (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Lower limb resistance exercises with elastic band improve static and dynamic balance and also walking speed, which possibly improve muscle strength. It is recommended that these exercises be considered in developing the elderly women's health care programs due to their accessibility, affordability, and reliability.
Predicting functional effect of human missense mutations

Our aim is to prioritize human missense mutations by their probability of being disease causing. Such a computational method could be used to obtain a reduced set of mutations with a relatively large fraction of disease related mutations, thereby aiding in the search for this type of mutation within a large mutation set. Whereas a range of methods is available for this purpose, only few employ the availability of the 1000G data to obtain a set of neutral mutations. The novelty of our approach is the use of separate classifiers that were trained on a subset of mutations from one amino acid to any other amino acid. The combined performance of these classifiers show an improved performance compared to the often used prediction method PolyPhen2.
Skewed distributions of LRS: beyond mean and variance

Many field studies find that lifetime reproductive success (LRS) is highly skewed and often multimodal among individuals. Field biologists generate invaluable data on survival and reproductive rates, as a function of age and stage, that are used to parameterise structured models. These models often perform well at predicting population growth and mean LRS, but we do not know whether they accurately predict observed distributions of individual LRS. If the models fail to recreate these distributions, their use may be limited because the LRS is central to understanding life history evolution. We present powerful tools to generate distributions of LRS from age and/or stage structured models. Our methods reveal that structured models do perform well at generating distributions that agree with observations. Our approach also reveals why such skewed distributions arise, and helps resolve a debate about detecting signatures of selection in skewed distributions of LRS.
Traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological activity of Carpobrotus edulis: A global perspective

Carpobrotus edulis has widely been used in South Africa as a traditional medicine for a wide range of ailments and its pharmacological activities has been widely studied. The present review aims to provide a comprehensive literature overview regarding phytochemistry, traditional use, pharmacology and toxicology of different Carpobrotus edulis extracts. The review was compiled through a thorough literature search from authentic resources using data bases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Science Direct, peer reviewed articles, books and thesis. Carpobrotus edulis is an important medicinal plant used in ethno medicine for the treatment of tuberculosis and other respiratory infections, toothache and earache, facial eczema, wounds, burns, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. Pharmacological studies performed on the fresh plant materials, crude extracts and various solvent extracts of Carpobrotus edulis validates the traditional medical use of the plant. Studies performed validate the use of Carpobrotus edulis extracts in antimicrobial, antiproliferative, and antioxidant therapy. Carpobrotus edulis also has proved to have anticholinesterase activity against acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase. Information on therapeutic validation in wound healing, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, analgesia and gastrointestinal motility is scanty. To substantiate the traditional use of C. edulis in the aforementioned area, there is need for further experimental studies to validate its pharmacological use. The information on toxicology was also scanty however the available literature suggests that C. edulis extracts are non-toxic. The review article supports the folkloric use of the medicinal plant. However, in-depth studies evaluating the safety profile of C. edulis extracts are highly recommended.
Spatio-temporal distribution of banana weevil Cosmopolites Sordidus [Germar] and nematodes of various genera in Uganda: A case of smallholder banana orchards in Western Uganda

Smallholder farmers’ banana orchards in Western Uganda were used to study the spatio-temporal factors influencing the distribution of banana weevils and parasitic nematodes in tissue culture and non-tissue culture banana types using Nested case control design. Nematodes were extracted from randomly collected composite banana root samples from 20 banana orchards. The banana weevils were trapped in the rainy and dry seasons. A total of 1,280 banana genets were surveyed to determine weevil and nematode densities. Interactions between season and locations with high banana weevils and nematodes densities significantly negatively influenced the distribution of tissue culture and non-tissue culture banana in space and time. Both tissue culture and conventional bananas are prone to banana weevil and nematode infestations. Infestation with weevils and nematodes were higher for tissue culture banana in the dry season. Kiruhura district had a higher density for banana weevils (Cosmopolites sordidus [germar]) while Ibanda district had higher nematode densities. Helicotylenchus multicinctus and Radopholus similis were found most prevalent. This knowledge is not only important in shaping the adoption and sustenance of the adopted banana types, but also can form a basis for developing affordable strategies to lower the occurrence of banana weevil and nematodes below the threshold level in smallholder banana farms of Uganda. Key words: Spatial, temporal, distribution, nematodes, weevil, tissue culture banana, nematodes, infestation.