Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
AQ-12 Application of a Multiplex PCR Assay to Detect Campylobacter fetus subspecies venerealis from Imported Bovine Preputial Samples

Campylobacteriosis, caused by Campylobacter spp . , is of considerable economic importance to the cattle industry worldwide. Campylobacter spp . were recognized as etiological agents of abortion in sheep. Campylobacter fetus subsp. fetus ( Cff ) causes sporadic abortion in sheep, often late in gestation, while subspecies vener e alis ( Cfv ) is a cause of sexually transmitted bovine infertility and sporadic abortion in cattle. Various investigations have been carried out in different countries to assess the prevalence and impact of this disease. Some published results surveys are outlined in Table 1. Table 1. A summary of published data showing the prevalence of C. fetus in different countries Study area Sample type(s) Sample size Prevale nce of C. fetus (%) Diagnostic method Australia (1985-1986) Bulls (preputi al suction) 1 008 animals 41 herds 87% herds positive Serological (Fluorescent antibody test) California (United States of America) Cows 400 47 Serological (ELISA) New Zealand Cows (vaginal mucous) and bulls (preputial wash) 1 230 cows (125 herds) 54 bulls 70% herds positive Cfv : 0 Cff/others Serological (ELISA) Bacteriological culture Cff : Campylobacter fetus subsp. fetus , Cfv : C. fetus subsp. venerealis . According to [1], Bovine Genital Campylobacteriosis (BGC) disease was classified as 1 st Group of animal quarantine disease. It is an exotic disease that was not ever detected in Indonesia. However, large scale cattle importation to Indonesia from the countries which ever reported BGC prevalence in their territories, initiating and spreading BGC will be the major threat for feedlotter or dairy farm in Indonesia. Hence, we should apply diagnostic test to detect Cfv in order to prevent the introducing the BGC to Indonesia. The aim of this study was to verify that multiplex PCR assay applicative to detect C ampylobacter fetus subsp. vener e alis from field samples.
How heterogeneity in glucokinase and gap junction coupling determines the islet electrical response

Understanding how cell sub-populations in a tissue impact the function of the overall system is often challenging. There is extensive heterogeneity among insulin-secreting β-cells within islets of Langerhans, including their insulin secretory response and gene expression profile; and this heterogeneity can be altered in diabetes. Several studies have identified variations in nutrient sensing between β-cells, including glucokinase (GK) levels, mitochondrial function or expression of genes important for glucose metabolism. Sub-populations of β-cells with defined electrical properties can disproportionately influence islet-wide free-calcium activity ([Ca2+]) and insulin secretion, via gap junction electrical coupling. However, it is poorly understood how sub-populations of β-cells with altered glucose metabolism may impact islet function. To address this, we utilized a multicellular computational model of the islet in which a population of cells deficient in GK activity and glucose metabolism was imposed on the islet, or where β-cells were heterogeneous in glucose metabolism and GK kinetics were altered. This included simulating Glucokinase gene (GCK) mutations that cause monogenic diabetes. We combined these approaches with experimental models in which gck was genetically deleted in a population of cells or GK was pharmacologically inhibited. In each case we modulated gap junction electrical coupling. Both the simulated islet and the experimental system required 30-50% of the cells to have near-normal glucose metabolism. Below this number, the islet lacked any glucose-stimulated [Ca2+] elevations. In the absence of electrical coupling the change in [Ca2+] was more gradual. As such, given heterogeneity in glucose metabolism, electrical coupling allows a large minority of cells with normal glucose metabolism to promote glucose-stimulated [Ca2+]. If insufficient numbers of cells are present, which we predict can be caused by a subset of GCK mutations that cause monogenic diabetes, electrical coupling exacerbates [Ca2+] suppression. This demonstrates precisely how heterogeneous β-cell populations interact to impact islet function. SIGNIFICANCE Biological tissues contain heterogeneous populations of cells. Insulin-secreting β-cells within the islets of Langerhans are critical for regulating blood glucose homeostasis. β-cells are heterogeneous but it is unclear how the islet response is impacted by different cell populations and their interactions. We use a multicellular computational model and experimental systems to predict and quantify how cellular populations defined by varied glucose metabolism interact via electrical communication to impact islet function. When glucose metabolism is heterogeneous, electrical coupling is critical to promote electrical activity. However, when cells deficient in glucose metabolism are in the majority, electrical activity is completely suppressed. Thus modulating electrical communication can promotes islet electrical activity, following dysfunction caused by gene mutations that impact glucose metabolism.
Diet composition and reproductive success of Mexican Spotted Owls

--We identified 3793 prey remains from 44 and 41 Mexican Spotted Owl (Strix ocddentalis udda) territories in Arizona and New Mexico, respectively, from 1991-95. We found no relationship between Mexican Spotted Owl reproductive success and the proportion of dietary biomass comprised ofwhite-footed mice (Peromyscus spp.) or woodrats (Neotoma spp.). This was contrary to previously observed diet patterns in Northern (S. o. caurina) and California Spotted Owls (S. o. ocddentalis) showing that mammals can co•nprise 88.2% of the dietary biomass in Arizona and 94.0% in New Mexico. We found that the most important prey based on relative biomass for Mexican Spotted Owls were woodrats (47.8%) and white-footed mice (17.0%). Gophers (Thomomys bottae) and birds occurred more frequently in owl diets in Arizona, while rabbits (Sylvilagus spp.), insects, and woodrats occurred more frequently in diets of New Mexico owls.
Seroprevalence of anti-microbial antibodies in the normal healthy population with implications in chronic diseases

We have previously discovered a panel of anti-microbial antibodies from patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) and Sjogren’s syndrome (Sjo). We have also demonstrated the increase of these anti-microbial antibodies in other autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and multiple sclerosis in a small number of cases. The seroprevalence of these antibodies in the normal healthy population is unknown. We set to survey the normal population for these anti-microbial antibodies. We collected 288 blood samples from the donor units of the leukocyte-reduced red blood cells from the American Red Cross, and examined the presence of the anti-microbial antibodies in these blood samples using direct ELISA assays established in our laboratory using the recombinant microbial protein antigens. Our results showed that the prevalence of RPOB antibody in the normal blood donor population is 2.4% (7 positive of 288 samples). The prevalence of EF-G antibody is 4.2% (12 positive of 288 samples), ATP5a 5.2% (15 positive), Hsp65 2.8% (8 positive), EF-Tu 5.6% (16 positive), and NMPC 4.2% (12 positive). Meanwhile, in 109 patients with Crohn’s disease and 28 patients with Sjogren’s syndrome, these anti-bacterial antibodies are significantly increased (p<0.001). These results indicate that the specific anti-microbial antibodies within the normal general population are uncommon, but frequent in chronic disease states. The presence of increased anti-microbial antibodies in the blood of patients but not in normal controls can serve as biomarkers for chronic diseases such as Crohn’s disease and Sjogren’s, and their presence indicates abnormal B-cell/plasma cell function in response to the commensal/pathogenic microbes. Since the antigens were derived from the common microbes present on the surface of the normal population, the antimicrobial antibodies in patients with diseases but not in the normal population suggest a deficient clearance of the microbes from the circulation by the innate immunity system in chronic diseases. These results also raise questions of bacterial vaccination using whole bacterial extracts as these anti-bacterial antibodies appear pathogenic rather than protective, offering fresh thinking in designing bacterial vaccines as preventive or therapeutic measures in chronic diseases such as Crohn’s disease and Sjogren’s Disease.
METABOLIC CHARACTERIZATION OF MICE LACKING CARBONIC ANHYDRASE III

iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . iv TABLE OF CONTENTS . vi LIST OF TABLES . viii LIST OF FIGURES . ix LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS . x CHAPTER 1 – THE α-CARBONIC ANHYDRASES . 1 The α-carbonic anhydrase family members are structurally similar yet functionally diverse . 1 Cytosolic CAs . 2 Cytosolic carbonic anhydrase related proteins (CA-RPs) . 5 Membrane-associated CAs . 6 Mitochondrial CAs . 9 Secreted CA . 10 Using prior α-CA research to determine unknown functions of CAs . 11 CHAPTER 2 – PREVIOUS RESEARCH ON CARBONIC ANHYDRASE III . 16 Discovery of CA III . 16 The CA III Conundrum . 16 CA III knockout mice (Car3 KO) and controls respond similarly tocommon lab stressors . 18 CA III and metabolism . 19 CA III and oxidative damage . 23
Rhizobacteria-mediated Induced Resistance in Barley against Cochliobolus sativus under Field Conditions

The effect of four rhizobacterial strains on the severity of spot blotch disease caused by cochliobolus sativus was evaluated for two growing seasons under rainfed conditions. Three barley genotypes were used as host plant. All strains reduced C. sativus severity, with effect more pronounced when Pseudomonas putida BTP1 and Bacillus subtilis Bs2508 were used. The disease reduction was up to 56% in Arabi Abiad / P. putida BTP1. The grain yield was not obviously affected by the presence of the rhizobacteria, except some signifitive increase in season 2. Raising the resistance by soaking seed with rhizobacterial strains might be of ultimate value in agriculture.
Research on the Comparison of Time Series Models for Network Traffic Prediction

Network traffic prediction is very important in network protocol designing,network management and high performance routers designing etc.Currently,ARMA and FARIMA time series are the main models used to fit and predict the network traffic.But the relation between time scale and time series models hasn't been studied.The network traffic was modeled according to different time scales using the traffic trace data taken from the Internet traffic archive,and the prediction performance of those models was compared.The results show that time series models perform better under the large scale(minute)than under small time scales(millisecond and second),and the performance of self similarity model FARIMA shows no advantage over other models.
Degraded or Just Dusty? Examining Ecological Change in Arid Lands

The ecological history of rangelands is often presented as a tale of devastation, where fragile drylands are irreversibly degraded through inappropriate land use. However, there is confusion about how to recognize and measure degradation, especially in low-productivity environments characterized by extreme natural variability and where abrupt and comprehensive management upheavals preclude benchmarks. These issues have important consequences for rangeland management programs, which are typically founded on presumptions of substantial and ongoing degradation from former “natural” states. We explore complementary approaches to critically assess degradation: the historical record, long-term grazing exclosures, surveys for potentially rare and sensitive plant species, and assessment of water-remote areas in relation to rare plant occurrence. Employing these approaches in inland Australia, we show that prevailing paradigms have become entrenched despite being inconsistent with empirical evidence. Our methodology can be applied to drylands with abrupt changes in management and contentious ecological narratives.
Determining the risk of predator attacks around protected areas: the case of Bardia National Park, Nepal

Abstract In this study we determined the probability of predator attacks on livestock around Bardia National Park, Nepal. We conducted semi-structured interviews to explore the patterns and factors affecting livestock losses in four administrative sectors of the Park's buffer zone. We developed models to investigate the overall probability of livestock loss, economic damage caused, and the respondents’ attitudes towards wildlife. The probability of leopard attacks on livestock was much higher (85% of all livestock lost to depredation) than that of tiger attacks (8%), and the northern sector experienced the highest loss of livestock (50% modelled probability of livestock loss) in the buffer zone. Livestock loss was significantly related to the number of livestock owned by respondents, their ethnic group, and village distance to the Park boundary. Economic damage was influenced by buffer zone sector, number of livestock owned, and distance to the Park boundary. Conservation attitudes depended on respondents’ knowledge of wildlife, levels of education and self-sufficiency, and the probability of livestock being killed by leopards. Respondents who were male, highly educated and self-sufficient were most likely to support conservation. Tigers are tolerated based on religious beliefs, and these cultural values, together with the sharing of conservation benefits, facilitate conservation. Leopards, however, are not tolerated in the same way and are the most damaging predators.
Identification of GH|MspI and GHR|AluI Gene Polymorphism and its Association with Calf Birth Weight of Grati-PO Cattle

Calf birth weight (CBW) is one of the important selection criteria to predict mature body weight and for calving ease in beef cattle. The GH and GHR genes are considered as candidate genes responsible for growth traits in cattle. The objectives of this study were to identify the polymorphism of GH|MspI and GHR|AluI genes and its association with CBW in Grati-PO cattle. A total of 186 Grati-PO cattle raised by BCRS from May to December 2017. Genomic DNA were isolated from whole blood and used in genotyping analysis using the PCR-RFLP method. The result showed that the average of CBW of Grati-PO cattle in present study was 25.58±3.31 kg. There was no statistical difference for CBW between male and female. The genotype frequency of CC, CT, and TT of GH gene were 1.1, 18.8 and 80.1 %, respectively and allele frequency of C and T of the GH gene were 0.105 and 0.895, respectively. While the genotype frequency of AA, AG, and GG of GHR gene were 66.1, 25.3 and 8.6 %, respectively, and allele frequency of A and G of GHR gene were 0.788 and 0.212, respectively. It concluded that both GH|MspI and GHR|AluI gene are polymorphic but not significantly associated with CBW in Grati-PO cattle.
Centrality and Communicability Measures in Complex Networks: Analysis and Algorithms

Centrality and Communicability Measures in Complex Networks: Analysis and Algorithms By Christine Klymko Complex systems are ubiquitous throughout the world, both in nature and within man-made structures. Over the past decade, large amounts of network data have become available and, correspondingly, the analysis of complex networks has become increasingly important. One of the fundamental questions in this analysis is to determine the “most important” elements in a given network. Measures of node importance are usually referred to as node centrality and measures of how well two nodes are able to communicate with each other are referred to as the communicability between pairs of nodes. Many measures of node centrality and communicability have been proposed over the years. Here, we focus on the analysis and computation of centrality and communicability measures based on matrix functions. First, we examine a node centrality measure based on the notion of total communicability, defined in terms of the row sums of the exponential of the adjacency matrix of the network. We argue that this is a natural metric for ranking nodes in a network, and we point out that it can be computed very rapidly even in the case of large networks. Furthermore, we propose a measure of the total network communicability, based on the total sum of node communicabilities, as a useful measure of the connectivity of the network as a whole. Next, we compare various parameterized centrality rankings based on the matrix exponential and matrix resolvent with degree and eigenvector centrality. The centrality measures we consider are exponential and resolvent subgraph centrality (defined in terms of the diagonal entries of the matrix exponential and matrix resolvent, respectively), total communicability, and Katz centrality (defined in terms of the row sums of the matrix resolvent). We demonstrate an analytical relationship between these rankings and the degree and subgraph centrality rankings which helps to explain the observed robustness of these rankings on many real world networks, even though the scores produced by the centrality measures are not stable. Finally, we propose an extension of subgraph centrality to directed networks, and we apply this extension to the problem of ranking hubs and authorities. The extension is achieved by bipartization, i.e., the directed network is mapped onto a bipartite undirected network with twice as many nodes in order to obtain a network with a symmetric adjacency matrix. We explicitly determine the exponential of this adjacency matrix in terms of the adjacency matrix of the original, directed network, and we give an interpretation of centrality and communicability in this new context, leading to a technique for ranking hubs and authorities. This method is compared to the well-known HITS algorithm as well as to several other ranking algorithms. Centrality and Communicability Measures in Complex Networks: Analysis and Algorithms
Fruit structure and some details of fruit morphogenesis in subfamily Tripterygioideae Loes. (Celastraceae R. Br. )

Summary . Fruit structure and morphogenesis in subfamily Tripterygioideae Loes. (Celastraceae R. Br.) are presented. Fruits are either with 2, 3 or 5 lateral wings, nested along the fruit, or with one apical wing (on the fruit’s sides and its apex). The wings are wide or narrow, membranous; the body of the fruit is shorter than its wings. The wings usually possess a net of vascular bundle derivates. The topography of vascular bundles defines the way of pericarp expansion. For all examined fruits style on the apex always remains. Peculiarities of pericarp structure and development suggest morphogenetical type of the fruit in Tripterygioideae – pseudomonomerous unilocular one-seeded winged pyrenarium with a pyrene, which can be formed by 3 to 5 layers of tangential elongated macrosclereids (in many examined taxa). Fruit type of Ptelidium is uni- or bilocular and one(two)-seeded nut, because its pericarp is lignified entirely. Fruit of Rzedowskia has only one layer of radially elongated sclereids in endocarp. Seeds of all examined species are small, without aril. Two genera appeared to be more isolated – Ptelidium and Rzedowskia . All examined taxa have demonstrated one special evolutional trend in common – the reduction of the number of seeds per fruit and the development of wings as an adaptation to the dispersal by wind. According to the latest molecular data, such fruit types have been formed in Celastraceae at least six times in the course of evolution.
Systematics of the dung beetle tribe Sisyphini Mulsant (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) inferred from a molecular phylogeny and biogeography of southern African species

The tribe Sisyphini Mulsant was recently redefined following the transfer of the endemic southern African genus Epirinus Dejean from the polyphyletic tribe Deltochilini Lacordaire. A molecular phylogeny of the southern African members of Sisyphini supports Epirinus as sister to Sisyphus Latreille and recovered three major clades in Sisyphus classified here as subgenera Sisyphus (Neosisyphus Müller) stat. rev., Sisyphus (Parasisyphus Barbero, Palestrini & Zunino) stat.n. and Sisyphus (Sisyphus) stat.n. A molecular clock analysis suggests that Sisyphus and Epirinus diverged from their last common ancestor during the Lower to Middle Oligocene (c. 29.37 Ma). Biogeographical analysis indicated that southern African Sisyphus species are centred in the east and northeast in Highveld grassland and warmer savannah regions. By contrast, Epirinus species are largely restricted to the southwest and southeast in the cooler winter and bimodal rainfall regions plus arid highland Karoo and Highveld grasslands. Based on morphological and biogeographical differences between Epirinus and Sisyphus, we propose that the monogeneric Epirinus be placed in its own tribe, Epirinini van Lansberge stat. rev.
Influence of organic mulching on drip irrigation management of cabbage cultivation

Irrigation has been pointed out in recent decades as the major consumer of water. Considering the need for a rational use of water resources and the importance of mulching for planting, this study evaluated the effect of organic mulching (sugarcane straw) under soil water storage for cabbage crop development. This research was conducted at CCA/UFSCar, and the experimental design was a completely randomized design with four replications and two treatments with and without sugarcane straw. Water application was performed by a drip irrigation system and irrigation management was determined from data collected by TDR. The use of organic mulching did not interfere with cabbage productivity under greenhouse conditions. The straw presents efficiency for reduction of soil evaporation and, consequently, increases water-use efficiency. The soil cover made it possible to save up to 28.1 mm (14.5%) of the water depth.
Physical activity during school recess: A missed opportunity to be active?

Objective: The goals of this study were to (1) describe physical activity levels during school recess in 8-year-old children, (2) analyse the percentage of children who achieved physical activity recommendation at recess, and (3) examine if recess physical activity levels varied by gender, weight status, and parental educational level. Methods: In all, 291 children (mean age ± SD = 8.3 ± 0.3 years, 156 boys) from 7 schools of Granada (Spain) were recruited by convenience. To analyse sedentary time and physical activity levels during recess, children wore a tri-axial accelerometer attached to the wrist over five consecutive school days. Results: Sedentary time (29.6% vs 40%) and light physical activity (33.2% vs 35.5%) were lower in boys than in girls (all p < .001). Conversely, moderate physical activity (26.7% vs 20%), vigorous physical activity (10.5% vs 4.4%) and moderate-vigorous physical activity (37.2% vs 24.4%) were higher in boys than in girls (all p < .001). Only 12% of the children accomplished the moderate-vigorous physical activity recommendations during recess (21.2% boys vs 1.5% girls). Lower body mass index values were associated with higher vigorous physical activity intensity. Conclusions: Levels of moderate-vigorous physical activity during school recess are very low in children, being lower in girls than in boys, a very low percentage of children achieve moderate-vigorous physical activity recommendations during school recess, and girls and overweight/obese children show lower values in moderate-vigorous and vigorous physical activity.