Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adoption of leucaena-based feeding systems in Sumbawa, eastern Indonesia and its impact on cattle productivity and farm profitability

Keynote paper presented at the International Leucaena Conference, 1‒3 November 2018, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.Leucaena has been fed to cattle by the Balinese community in Sumbawa and West Sumbawa districts on Sumbawa Island since the 1980s. However, prior to 2011, this practice was not adopted by the local Sumbawanese farmers. Since then, a model leucaena-based cattle fattening system was developed in Sumbawa and West Sumbawa districts in a collaborative research project between the Assessment Institute for Agricultural Technology (BPTP), University of Mataram and The University of Queensland (UQ) funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), followed by a scaling-out project involving collaboration between the University of Mataram and CSIRO (Applied Research and Innovation Systems in Agriculture - ARISA project) funded by DFAT (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) promoting public-private partnerships. Further promotion of leucaena-based fattening systems occurred in Dompu, Sumbawa, through a project with the University of Mataram and Massey University funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). By the end of October 2018, more than 2,500 farmers on Sumbawa Island were practicing leucaena-based cattle fattening. The main drivers of adoption of cattle fattening with leucaena were: (1) The high growth rates achieved (0.4–0.6 kg/d for bulls fed 100% leucaena and 0.66 kg/d when maize grain was added to the leucaena basal diet) compared with 0.16 kg/d for the traditional system, combined with high profitability; (2) the needs of farmers being met in terms of relevance and cultural appropriateness; (3) field extension staff being well trained and mentored, and respected by the farmers; (4) the local government being highly supportive of leucaena-based cattle fattening; and (5) additional benefits being increased dressing percentage and high carcass quality. The rapid increase in the use of leucaena for cattle fattening in eastern Indonesia is expected to have a significant positive impact on household incomes as well as on regional economic growth.
Liver enzymes activity in periparturient high and low yielding Sahiwal and Karan Fries Cows during summer and winter season

Ten each of pregnant Sahiwal and Karan Fries cows were selected from Livestock Research center, ICARNDRI, Karnal (Haryana) during summer and winter season separately. These animals were further divided equally (5 each) into two groups i.e. high and low producing. All the animals were maintained under existing feeding and management system followed at the farm. To quantify the effects of thermal and metabolic stress on liver enzymes (alkaline phosphatase and Lactate dehydrogenase), blood samples were collected from periparturient high and low producing Sahiwal and Karan Fries cows on days -45, -30, -15 (before calving), and 15, 30, and 45 (After calving) with respect to day of parturition (0) . The results showed that the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in the blood plasma of high and low yielding Sahiwal cows decreased by 5.6 and 7.6% and in Karan Fries the decline was 10.8 and 4.7% on the day of calving from the pre calving values (45 days) respectively during the summer season. During winter season the ALP activity in blood plasma of high and low yielding Sahiwal cows decreased by 19.7 and 12.8% on 30 and 15 day of calving, where as in Karan Fries cows the activity decreased by13.9 and 9.75% on 15 day of postpartum and on the day of calving from the pre-calving values (45 days) respectively. The magnitude of increase in Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity was higher on 15 day postpartum compared to pre and post calving period in high and low yielding groups of both the breeds. The plasma activity of LDH in high and low yielding Sahiwal cows increased by 17.7 and 12.6% on the day of calving from the pre-calving values (45days) respectively during the summer season. During the winter season, the plasma LDH activity in high and low yielding Sahiwal cows increased by 43.7 and 48% respectively on the 15 day of calving from the pre calving values (45 days). The results showed the significantly higher activity of both the enzymes (ALP and LDH) in Karan Fries cows, higher yielders and during summer compared to Sahiwal, low yielders and winter season, respectively, indicated that higher yielding cows (specially Karan Fries) showed be protected from heat stress for sustain milk production.
Dryadonycteris capixaba (CHIROPTERA: PHYLLOSTOMIDAE: GLOSSOPHAGINAE): FIRST RECORD FOR THE CERRADO AND UPDATED GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION MAP

We report a new record for the bat species Dryadonycteris capixaba (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae),the first for the Cerrado biome, based on two specimens collected in palm swamps (“veredas”) in the municipality of Turmalina, state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. This record confirms that D. capixaba is not endemic to Atlantic rainforest areas, although it may be associated with mesic habitats.
Cell-type diversity and regionalized gene expression in the planarian intestine revealed by laser-capture microdissection transcriptome profiling

Organ regeneration requires precise coordination of new cell differentiation and remodeling of uninjured tissue to faithfully re-establish organ morphology and function. An atlas of gene expression and cell types in the uninjured state is therefore an essential pre-requisite for understanding how damage is repaired. Here, we use laser-capture microdissection (LCM) and RNA-Seq to define the transcriptome of the intestine of Schmidtea mediterranea, a planarian flatworm with exceptional regenerative capacity. Bioinformatic analysis of 1,844 intestine-enriched transcripts suggests extensive conservation of digestive physiology with other animals, including humans. Comparison of the intestinal transcriptome to purified absorptive intestinal cell (phagocyte) and published single-cell expression profiles confirms the identities of known intestinal cell types, and also identifies hundreds of additional transcripts with previously undetected intestinal enrichment. Furthermore, by assessing the expression patterns of 143 transcripts in situ, we discover unappreciated mediolateral regionalization of gene expression and cell-type diversity, especially among goblet cells. Demonstrating the utility of the intestinal transcriptome, we identify 22 intestine-enriched transcription factors, and find that several have distinct functional roles in the regeneration and maintenance of goblet cells. Furthermore, depletion of goblet cells inhibits planarian feeding and reduces viability. Altogether, our results show that LCM is a viable approach for assessing tissue-specific gene expression in planarians, and provide a new resource for further investigation of digestive tract regeneration, the physiological roles of intestinal cell types, and axial polarity.
Gynaecological In-Patient Audit in a Nigerian Tertiary Health Institution

Objective: To determine the demographic, disease pattern and outcome of management of gynaecological in-patient. Materials and Metrhods: A retrospective case record review of all gynaecological admissions at Federal Medical Centre Abakaliki, over a two- year period (January 2000 to December 2001.) Results: Up to 9.9 percent of the hospital admissions were to gynaecology. The commonest indication for admission varies among the different age groups. Among the adolescents, early pregnancy complications i.e. abortions and ectopic gestation (70%) and acute pelvic inflammatory diseases (10.7%) were predominant while gynaecological malignancies (83.3%) were more after 60 years. Majority of them presented at the hospital in deplorable clinical state with sepsis, severe anaemia and advanced genital cancers. Ignorance and poverty were the major reasons for late presentation. The mean duration of hospital stay was 15.2 ± 5 days and considerable number of days were unnecessarily lost during investigations. The re-admission rate was 1.2% and patients with advanced genital cancers, recurrent pelvic inflammatory disease and abortion complications were more likely to be re-admitted. Default in outpatient clinic follow-up and non-compliance with medications at home were risk factors for re-admission. Gynaecological in-patient constituted 20% of the total hospital mortality. Conclusion: Information, education and counseling on reproductive health and provision of affordable health services will increase the utilization of hospital facilities and reduce mortality among these women. Key Words: Gynaecology, inpatient, Audit, Nigeria. Journal of College of Medicine 2005: 9(2): 116-118
Investigating decadal changes in persistent organic pollutants in Scottish grey seal pups

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) remain a risk to marine ecosystem health. POPs accumulate in fat tissue and are biomagnified up through food webs, generating high concentrations in apex predators, including marine mammals. Seals are thus often cited as sentinels of marine environment POP levels. Measuring changes across decadal timescales in these animals is key to understanding the effectiveness of regulations controlling POPs, predicting health, population, and ecosystem level impacts, and informing conservation and management strategies. Information on recent changes in legacy POPs in seals is relatively sparse, however, and datasets are not always continuous in the absence of dedicated POP monitoring programmes. Here, POP concentrations in the blubber of weaned grey seal pups from the Isle of May, Scotland, were compared between studies investigating POP impacts on survival and energy balance in 2002, and in 2015–17. By 2017, the total dioxin‐like polychlorinated biphenyls (ΣDL‐CBs) and the total non‐dioxin‐like polychlorinated biphenyls (ΣNDL‐CBs) had decreased to ~75% of 2002 levels. The organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), dichlorodiphenyltrichoroethane (ΣDDT), dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), and dichlorodiphenyldichoroethane (DDD), and some CB congeners, did not fall over the 15‐year period; however, the power to detect small changes at low concentrations was limited. High DDE and a lack of change in DDD are likely to reflect the low excretion of DDT metabolites, rather than recent exposure. The limited change in many POPs over 15 years suggest that risks remain for energy balance, endocrine status, and immune function in grey seal pups, with contingent effects on conservation and management objectives for this species. These data highlight the need for long‐term datasets and parity in sampling and analytical methods to evaluate continuing impacts of POPs in grey seals and on marine ecosystems more widely.
The effect of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase on lipolysis in adipose tissue: an historical and comprehensive review

Abstract Context Lipolysis is one of the most important pathways for energy management, its control in the adipose tissue (AT) is a potential therapeutic target for metabolic diseases. Adenosine Mono Phosphate-activated Protein Kinase (AMPK) is a key regulatory enzyme in lipids metabolism and a potential target for diabetes and obesity treatment. Objective The aim of this work is to analyse the existing information on the relationship of AMPK and lipolysis in the AT. Methods A thorough search of bibliography was performed in the databases Scopus and Web of Knowledge using the terms lipolysis, adipose tissue, and AMPK, the unrelated publications were excluded, and the documents were analysed. Results Sixty-three works were found and classified in 3 categories: inhibitory effects, stimulatory effect, and diverse relationships; remarkably, the newest researches support an upregulating relationship of AMPK over lipolysis. Conclusion The most probable reality is that the relationship AMPK-lipolysis depends on the experimental conditions.
Use of temporary immersion bioreactors on in vitro culture of cactus pear

This work was conducted with the objective of evaluating the performance of cactus pear cultivars on in vitro culture using bioreactors and the conventional method. The treatments were arranged in a 3 × 2 factorial scheme with a completely randomized design, and the three cactus pear cultivars (Orelha de elefante mexicana, Miuda and IPA-Sertânia) were combined with two micropropagation methods (conventional and temporary immersion bioreactors), totaling six treatments with five replicates each. After 30 days, the following variables were evaluated: cladode length, fresh explant matter mass, number of shoots and number of roots. There was a significant interaction between the cultivar factor and the micropropagation method for the cladode length and fresh matter mass, with bioreactors being the most responsive. However, regarding to the number of shoots and number of roots, there was no interaction between these factors under the same level of significance, where the conventional crop stood out. The results indicate different morphogenetic responses among the tested cultivars, and specific in vitro propagation protocols should be developed for each one. Key words: Micropropagation, bioreactor, plant productivity, cactus pear cultivars.
Reconstructing the Early Evolution of the Cupressaceae: A Whole-Plant Description of a New Austrohamia Species from the Cañadón Asfalto Formation (Early Jurassic), Argentina

Premise of research. A new Early Jurassic species of Cupressaceae is reconstructed from the Cañadón Asfalto Formation in Argentina, based on impressions of foliage and attached and dispersed seed and pollen cones. Methodology. Over 230 specimens were examined using reflected-light microscopy and epifluorescence. Relevant extant taxa were studied for structural comparisons using herbarium specimens and living material from botanical gardens. Relationships of the new conifer were assessed in the context of currently known fossil and living taxa and used to evaluate morphological trends in the early evolution of Cupressaceae. Pivotal results. The new species, Austrohamia asfaltensis D.L. Contreras, I.H. Escapa, R.C. Iribarren, & N.R. Cúneo, has helically arranged, dorsiventrally flattened leaves that are rotated into semiplanar orientation, seed cones consisting of helically arranged coriaceous ovuliferous complexes that each bear two seeds and have a distinct abaxial keel and acuminate apex, and pollen cones that occur in clusters subtended by keeled bracts. Specimens show evidence that normal vegetative shoot growth continues from the pollen cone clusters, a condition that appears to characterize living Cunninghamia and some extinct conifers but not Taiwania. The new species is assignable to the genus Austrohamia, which shares a combination of characteristics consistent with the Cunninhamioideae and Taiwanioideae subfamilies of the Cupressaceae. It is distinct from other Austrohamia species, most notably by having seed cones that are twice as large and with many more ovuliferous complexes. Conclusions. The new species expands the known morphological diversity of Austrohamia, which is the oldest recorded genus of Cupressaceae based on reproductive material, and provides a new early occurrence of the family in the Southern Hemisphere. The development of a whole-plant concept enabled morphological comparisons over a broad range of traits and with taxa known from different combinations of organs, which has provided additional insights into the early evolution of Cupressaceae.
A limited role for autophagy during arbovirus infection of mosquito cells

Macroautophagy is an evolutionarily conserved cellular process critical for maintaining cellular homeostasis. It can additionally function as an innate immune response to viral infection as has been demonstrated for a number of arthropod-borne (arbo-) viruses. Arboviruses are maintained in a transmission cycle between vertebrate hosts and invertebrate vectors yet the majority of studies assessing autophagy-arbovirus interactions have been limited to the mammalian host. Therefore we evaluated the role of autophagy during arbovirus infection of the invertebrate vector using the tractable Aag2 Aedes aegypti mosquito cell culture system. Our data demonstrates that autophagy is significantly induced in mosquito cells upon infection with two flaviviruses, dengue virus (DENV) and Zika virus (ZIKV), as well as an unrelated mosquito-borne virus, chikungunya virus (CHIKV; Togaviridae). While assessing the role of autophagy during arbovirus infection, we observed a somewhat paradoxical outcome. Both induction and suppression of autophagy via torin 1 and spautin-1, respectively, resulted in increased viral titers for all three viruses, yet suppression of autophagy-related genes had no effect. Interestingly, chemical modulators of autophagy had either no effect or opposite effects in another widely used mosquito cell line, C6/36 Aedes albopictus cells. Together, our data reveals a limited role for autophagy during arbovirus infection of mosquito cells. Further, our findings suggest that commonly used chemical modulators of autophagy alter mosquito cells in such a way as to promote viral replication; however, it is unclear if this occurs directly through autophagic manipulation or other means. Author Summary Arthropod-borne (arbo) viruses, specifically those transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, cause significant morbidity and mortality and pose a continued public health threat worldwide. Many of these viruses lack vaccines or therapeutics and current mosquito control strategies are underperforming. For these reasons, identifying vulnerabilities within the transmission cycle that can be targeted will be critical to the development of novel control interventions. Autophagy is a highly conserved cellular pathway and previous studies manipulating this pathway have shown promise in minimizing viral infections in mammalian hosts. In this study we examined arbovirus-autophagy interactions within vector mosquitoes. The goal was to elucidate the role of autophagy during infection of mosquitoes in hopes of identifying critical interactions that can be targeted by novel approaches to block infection of and transmission by vector mosquitoes.
Three Novel Loci for Infant Head Circumference Identified by a Joint Association Analysis

As an important trait at birth, infant head circumference (HC) is associated with a variety of intelligence- and mental-related conditions. Despite being dominated by genetics, the mechanism underlying the variation of HC is poorly understood. Aiming to uncover the genetic basis of HC, we performed a genome-wide joint association analysis by integrating the genome-wide association summary statistics of HC with that of its two related traits, birth length and birth weight, using a recently developed integrative method, multitrait analysis of genome-wide association (MTAG), and performed in silico replication in an independent sample of intracranial volume (N = 26,577). We then conducted a series of bioinformatic investigations on the identified loci. Combining the evidence from both the MTAG analysis and the in silico replication, we identified three novel loci at the genome-wide significance level (α = 5.0 × 10−8): 3q23 [lead single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs9846396, p MTAG = 3.35 × 10−8, p replication = 0.01], 7p15.3 (rs12534093, p MTAG = 2.00 × 10−8, p replication = 0.004), and 9q33.3 (rs7048271 p MTAG = 9.23 × 10−10, p replication = 1.14 × 10−4). Each of the three lead SNPs was associated with at least one of eight brain-related traits including intelligence and educational attainment. Credible risk variants, defined as those SNPs located within 500 kb of the lead SNP and with p values within two orders of magnitude of the lead SNP, were enriched in DNase I hypersensitive site region in brain. Nine candidate genes were prioritized at the three novel loci using multiple sources of information. Gene set enrichment analysis identified one associated pathway GO:0048009, which participates in the development of nervous system. Our findings provide useful insights into the genetic basis of HC and the relationship between brain growth and mental health.
Disruption to NKCC1 impairs the response of myelinating Schwann cells to neuronal activity and leads to severe peripheral nerve pathology

Myelinating Schwann cells of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) express numerous ion channels and transporters, and have the capacity to respond to neuronal activity. However, it remains unknown how the response of Schwann cells to neuronal activity affects peripheral nerve formation, health or function in vivo. Through a genetic screen in zebrafish, we identified a mutant, ue58, with severe disruption to the morphology of myelin along peripheral nerves and associated nerve oedema. Molecular analyses indicated that this phenotype was caused by the loss of function of a previously uncharacterized gene, slc12a2b, which encodes a zebrafish paralog of the solute carrier NKCC1. NKCC1 is a co-transporter of Na+, K+, and Cl− ions and water, typically from the extracellular space into cells. Upon impairing slc12a2b function, constitutively, or specifically in neurons or myelinating Schwann cells, we observed disruption to myelin and nerve oedema. Strikingly, we found that treatment of slc12a2b mutants with TTX completely prevented the emergence of these pathologies. Furthermore, TTX treatment rescued pathology in animals with cell-type specific loss of slc12a2b from myelinating Schwann cells. Together our data indicate that NKCC1 regulates ion homeostasis following neuronal activity and that this is required to maintain myelinated axon and peripheral nerve integrity.
Diagnostic fingerprints ISSR/SSR for tropical leguminous species Stylosanthes capitata and Stylosanthes macrocephala

Stylosanthes capitata Vogel and Stylosanthes macrocephala M.B. Ferreira & Sousa Costa are two forage leguminous species of agronomic importance for animal husbandry in tropical environments. The physical mixture of both species (80 % S. capitata and 20 % S. macrocephala) comprises the commercial cultivar “Estilosantes Campo Grande”. However, proximity of fields for seed production may contaminate seed lots, compromising seeds quality. The combined use of dominant and co-dominant molecular markers is an appropriate strategy to certificate genetic purity and perform diversity studies of cultivars. In this research, a set of ISSR (Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat polymorphic DNA) and SSR (Simple Sequence Repeat polymorphic DNA) molecular markers were standardized to characterize S. capitata and S. macrocephala species and evaluate the genetic purity of commercial samples. Four ISSR markers (UBC 2, 864, 885, 886) and SSR marker SC18-01 G4B showed precise species-specific electrophoretic fingerprints for both species. Electrophoretic patterns of ISSR molecular markers should be displayed first to confirm the sample identification. The structure analysis showed that the less contaminated sample was S. capitata with 97 % of its genetic composition assigned to a single genetic cluster vs. 95 % for S. macrocephala. S. capitata has greater genetic diversity (ISSRHe:0.292; SSRHe:0.57) than S. macrocephala (ISSRHe:0.285; SSRHe:0.16); however, this difference was only significant with SSR molecular markers. As these genetic resources have considerable ecological, agronomic and economic importance, tools for accurate species identification and genetic studies are essential for further seed multiplication, as well as for improvement and conservation of cultivars.