Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
GENETIC DIVERSITY, HERITABILITY AND CORRELATION BETWEEN LOCAL CULTIVARS OF PADDY GOGO

Paddy is one of the important cereal crops as food a main food for a third of the world's population, including Asia. Production of paddy rice plants can be improved through plant genetic improvement. The ebjective of this study was examine the genetic diversity, heritability, and correlation between the characteristics of several local upland rice cultivars. This study was carried out in Tamarenja Village, Sindue District, Donggala Regency, Central Sulawesi Province. It was began in May to October 2018. A Randomized Block Design with eight cultivars as a genotypic treatment and reapeted three times was used in this study. There were 24 trial plots in total. Variables observed included plant height, number of leaves, length of leaves, number of tillers, number of productive tillers, age of panicle exit, panicle length, harvest age, number of seeds per panicle, seed length, seed diameter, weight of 100 seeds, and total yield. The results showed that the genetic influences were more dominant than the environment on all observed variables except the weight of 100 seeds and seed diameter. The number of seeds per panicle, the number of tillers and the number of productive tillers were traits that have a high value on heritability and genetic progress. Panicle length, seed diameter and weight of 100 seeds were characteristics that have a high genetic correlation coefficient on upland rice yields. The weight of 100 seeds has a direct influence and high genetic correlation to the results so that it can be used as a direct selection criterion to increase upland rice yields.
ENHANCEMENT OF SOW MOTHERING ABILITY TRAITS, SUCKLING PIG PERFORMANCE AND LIVABILITY USING EXOGENOUS INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTOR-1 (IGF-1)

Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) is important in growth and development of animals. This study demonstrated the effects of dietary IGF-1 supplementation to sow udder morphometry, which impacts sow mothering ability. Twenty gilts bred in two batches were assigned to control or treatment diet (supplemented with exogenous IGF-1 at 50 g/50 kg of feeds) from day 1 of gestation to day 30 of lactation. Sow udder morphometric traits like teat diameter (DIA), teat length (LEN), same row adjacent teat distance (SAM), opposite row adjacent teat distance (OPR) and teat tip to floor distance (FLO) were measured from each sow during pre-breeding, post-breeding and post-farrowing stages. Strong relationship between LEN and DIA was observed during the post-breeding and post-farrowing. A higher (P ≤ 0.01) IgG concentration was seen in sows given IGF-1 supplementation, indicating a positive effect of IGF-1 on colostrum quality. Moreover, data obtained on the average litter weaning weight, ADG, and diarrhea incidence in piglets were different (P ≤ 0.01) between control and treatment groups, where piglets nursed by treated sows demonstrated better performance. Results of this study showed that dietary supplementation of IGF-1 improved sow mothering ability, which positively affected suckling pig performance.
Temporal chunking as a mechanism for unsupervised learning of task-sets

Depending on environmental demands, humans can learn and exploit multiple concurrent sets of stimulus-response associations. Mechanisms underlying the learning of such task-sets remain unknown. Here we investigate the hypothesis that task-set learning relies on unsupervised chunking of stimulus-response associations that occur in temporal proximity. We examine behavioral and neural data from a task-set learning experiment using a network model. We first show that task-set learning can be achieved provided the timescale of chunking is slower than the timescale of stimulus-response learning. Fitting the model to behavioral data confirmed this expectation and led to specific predictions linking chunking and task-set retrieval that were borne out by behavioral performance and reaction times. Comparing the model activity with BOLD signal allowed us to identify neural correlates of task-set retrieval in a functional network involving ventral and dorsal prefrontal cortex, with the dorsal system preferentially engaged when retrievals are used to improve performance.
Swede midge (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) diapause initiation under stable conditions: not a family affair

Abstract Larvae of the swede midge, Contarinia nasturtii (Kieffer) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), rely on environmental cues to initiate the diapause programme. This facultative diapause strategy, which provides opportunities for both bet hedging and multivoltinism, likely contributed to the successful colonisation and spread of this invasive pest in North America. Population diapause incidence is variable even under relatively stable conditions (especially at the critical day length), yet the mechanisms influencing the developmental trajectory of individuals under such conditions are unknown. Here we approach the non-environmental (i.e., heritable) controls of this variation by comparing diapause frequencies within and among full-sibling swede midge families reared in one of two stable environments. Under warm, long-day conditions > 99% of swede midges pupated directly, while 86% of swede midges entered diapause under cool, short-day conditions. In the latter condition, most families exhibited mixed developmental trajectories (ranging from 36% to 96% diapause). This developmental variation among siblings indicates that the diapause induction threshold does not follow simple Mendelian inheritance with complete dominance for a particular allele, but may follow incomplete dominance or a more complex heredity. Alternatively, within-family diapause variation may result from maternal bet hedging or factors such as maternal age or larval nutrition.
Detecting respiratory bacterial communities of wild dolphins: implications for animal health

Infectious diseases contribute to the vulnerable status of marine mammals, including respiratory illnesses. This study aimed to capture exhaled breath condensate (blow) for microbial identification from wild Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins Tursiops aduncus. Individual dolphins were sampled by holding a funnel connected to a 50 ml centrifuge tube over the blowhole of the animal near shore in Shark Bay (SB), Western Australia. Four individuals were sampled on 2 occasions along with seawater samples. Comparative blow and pool water samples were collected from 4 individual common bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus housed in the National Aquarium (NA), Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Bacteria were identified using the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene from extracted DNA. We identified bacteria independent of seawater in SB dolphins, which included the classes Alphaproteobacteria (26.1%) and Gammaproteobacteria (25.8%); the phyla Bacteroidetes (15.6%) and Fusobacteria (7.2%); and the genera Pseudomonas (11.5%), Pedomicrobium (4.5%), Streptobacillus (3.7%), Phenylobacterium (2.2%) and Sphingomonas (2.1%). There were broad similarities in phyla between SB and NA dolphins yet there were differences between lower taxonomic groups. A number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were shared between dolphin individuals, which may be a result of their genetic lineage (siblings or parentage), shared living and social interactions. A number of genera were observed in SB dolphins which have species known to be infectious in marine mammals such as Pseudomonas, Mycoplasma and Streptococcus. This study successfully characterised bacteria from DNA captured in blow from wild dolphins. The ability to capture these communities from individuals in the wild provides a novel health indicator.
Listeria monocytogenes exploits the MICOS complex subunit Mic10 to promote mitochondrial fragmentation and cellular infection

Mitochondrial function adapts to cellular demands and is affected by the ability of the organelle to undergo fusion and fission in response to physiological and non-physiological cues. We previously showed that infection with the human bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes elicits transient mitochondrial fission and a drop in mitochondrial-dependent energy production through a mechanism requiring the bacterial pore-forming toxin listeriolysin O (LLO). Here, we performed quantitative mitochondrial proteomics to search for host factors involved in L. monocytogenes-induced mitochondrial fission. We found that Mic10, a critical component of the mitochondrial contact site and cristae organizing system (MICOS) complex, is significantly enriched in mitochondria isolated from cells infected with wild-type but not with LLO-deficient L. monocytogenes. Increased mitochondrial Mic10 levels did not correlate with upregulated transcription, suggesting a post-transcriptional regulation. We showed that Mic10 is necessary for L. monocytogenes-induced mitochondrial network fragmentation, and that it contributes to L. monocytogenes cellular infection independently of MICOS proteins Mic13, Mic26 and Mic27. Together, L. monocytogenes infection allowed us to uncover a role for Mic10 in mitochondrial fission. Importance Pathogenic bacteria can target host cell organelles to take control of key cellular processes and promote their intracellular survival, growth, and persistence. Mitochondria are essential, highly dynamic organelles with pivotal roles in a wide variety of cell functions. Mitochondrial dynamics and function are intimately linked. Our previous research showed that Listeria monocytogenes infection impairs mitochondrial function and triggers fission of the mitochondrial network at an early infection stage, in a process that is independent of the main mitochondrial fission protein Drp1. Here, we analyzed how mitochondrial proteins change in response to L. monocytogenes infection and found that infection raises the levels of Mic10, a mitochondrial inner membrane protein involved in formation of cristae. We show that Mic10 is important for L. monocytogenes-dependent mitochondrial fission and infection of host cells. Our findings thus offer new insight into the mechanisms used by L. monocytogenes to hijack mitochondria to optimize host infection.
Rice stories in the mainstream media: the case of PhilRice

Drawing on from a media monitoring study conducted with the support of the Philippine Rice Research Institute's (PhilRice) Development Communication Division from August to December 2015, and using the Agenda Setting Theory as its theoretical lens, this paper argues on the need to explore more creative ways of presenting scientific information to the public. As it stands, good science is inadequate to merit attention by the mainstream media. PhilRice is the Philippines's lead agency for rice research and development. Specifically, the aim of this research was to scrutinize how the Philippine media reports about rice and rice agriculture. The monitoring covered 149 print publications, 70 websites, and 25 radio and TV stations. Content analysis was conducted paying careful attention to the types of stories media published, sections where the story landed, and public relations (PR) value of each story. This research also identified media champions with respect to the extent and PR value attached to their coverage of rice stories. Phone interviews and online conversations with media practitioners, i.e. news producers, researchers, and writers were conducted. Results reinforce earlier studies saying that agriculture stories, in this case rice, hardly occupy front pages or are given sufficient attention by the Philippine media. Controversy is a key element for agriculture stories to be published. Recommendations on enhancing public understanding of rice stories are presented.
Development of c-MET-specific chimeric antigen receptor-engineered natural killer cells with cytotoxic effects on human liver cancer HepG2 cells

In recent years, cellular immunotherapy has served an important role in the combined treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. The possibility of specific cell therapies for the treatment of solid tumours has been further explored following the success of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy in the treatment of haematological tumours. The present study aimed to evaluate the specificity and efficiency of c-MET-targeted CAR-NK cell immunotherapy on human liver cancer in vitro. A CAR structure that targeted and recognised a c-MET antigen was constructed. c-MET-CAR was transferred into primary NK cells using lentiviral infection. c-MET-positive HepG2 cells were used as an in vitro study model. The cytotoxicity assay results revealed that c-MET-CAR-NK cells exhibited more specific cytotoxicity for HepG2 cells with high c-MET expression compared with the lung cancer cell line H1299, which has low levels of c-MET expression. The results of the present study demonstrated that c-MET may be a specific and effective target for human liver cancer cell CAR-NK immunotherapy. Based on these results, CAR-NK cell-based immunotherapy may provide a potential biotherapeutic approach for liver cancer treatment in the future.
Analisis Kadar Air dan Aroma Blending Kopi Arabika (Coffea arabica L) dan Robusta(Coffea canephora L) Selama Penyimpanan Dengan Principal Component Analisys (PCA)

Kopi merupakan komoditas pertanian yang menyumbang devisa terbesar bagi Indonesia dan menjadi komoditas perdagangan nomor dua di dunia. Ekspor kopi Indonesia masih terbatas pada kopi kering gelondongan, belum diolah menjadi barang jadi berupa kopi bubuk. Proses pengolahan menjadi kopi bubuk melalui serangkaian proses penyangraian yang didalamnya terjadi proses fisik dan kimia yang sangat komplek yang mempengaruhi cita rasa dan aroma. Terdapat dua jenis kopi yang berkembang di Indonesia yakni Kopi Arabika dan Robusta dengan karakteristik yang berbeda. Arabika memiliki rasa yang kuat sedangkat robusta memiliki kelebihan dari segi aroma. Jika kedua jenis kopi ini dipadukan maka akan menghasilkan cita rasa dan aroma yang kuat. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengidentifikasi kadar air dan aroma blending kopi arabika dan robusta menggunakan Principal Component Analisys (PCA). PCA pada dasarnya bertujuan untuk menyederhanakan variabel yang diamati dengan cara menyusutkan (mereduksi) dimensinya. Hal ini dilakukan dengan cara menghilangkan korelasi diantara variabel bebas melalui transformasi variabel bebas asal ke variabel baru yang tidak berkorelasi.Identifikasi Aroma blending kopi Arabika dan Robusta dilakukan menggunakan empat buah sensor aroma (electric Nose) yang dipasang secara bersamaan yakni sensor TGS822, TGS825, TGS826 dan TGS2602. Hasil analisis menujukkan PCA mampu mereduksi data dan mengklasifikasi kopi sesuai input kadar air dan aroma selama penyimpanan.
Effect of different cantaloupe (Cucmis melo L.) cultivars on whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gen.) digestive enzymes, total protein, total carbohydrates and total lipids

Whitefly Bemisia tabaci is considered a serious pest of cucurbit plant in Egypt. It feeds on leaves, flower and fruit of their host plants. It is a suitable model for adapting to the different host plant from intra and inter species. Five biochemical analysis; digestive enzymes (lipase and alphaamylase), total protein, total carbohydrates and total lipids were carried out to study the effect of three cantaloupe cultivars (Ideal V1, Sundown V2 and Primo V3) on the fourth instar (pupa) of whitefly. The obtained results revealed that whitefly pupa (fourth instar) feed on Primo V3 plant cultivar were found to contain 0.149±0.007, 0.32 ±0.028, and 0.53 ±0.017mg/g fat body weight (F.B.W) in total protein, carbohydrate and lipids respectively, and 0.42 ± . 0098, 0.79± 0.017 u/g protein F.B. W of lipase and amylase respectively. These results showed a significant difference than the pupa of whitefly fed on Ideal V1 plant cultivar. whereas, pupa of whitefly fed on Ideal V1 plant cultivar were found to contain (0.106±0.0063, 0.234±0.009, and 0.44±0.011mg/g F.B. W of total protein, carbohydrate and lipids respectively, and 0.38± 0.0057 and 0.50± 0.076 u/g protein F.B. W of lipase and amylase respectively. On the other hand, whitefly pupa feed on Primo V3 has a slight different than insects fed on Sundown V2 plant cultivar (0.129±0.0052, 0.273±. 0.007 and 0.49±0.010mg/g F.B. W of total protein, carbohydrate and lipids respectively and 0.42±. 008 and 0.75± 0.037 u/g protein F.B. W of lipase and amylase respectively. The current study suggests that B. tabaci biotypes utilize different biochemical strategies when encountering various host
Alpha rhythms reveal when, where and how memories are retrieved

Our memories for past experiences can range from vague recognition to full-blown recall of associated details. Neuroimaging research has tried to understand the brain mechanisms underlying qualitatively different memories for decades (Yonelinas, 2002). On the one hand, Electroencephalography (EEG) has shown that recall signals unfold a few hundred milliseconds after simple recognition and are hallmarked by sustained voltage deflections over left posterior sensors (Herron, 2007; Johansson & Mecklinger, 2003; Mecklinger, Rosburg, & Johansson, 2016; Rugg & Curran, 2007). However, sensor-based analyses only provide limited insights into the supporting brain networks. On the other hand, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has revealed a ‘core recollection network’ centred on posterior parietal and medial temporal lobe (MTL) regions (Hayama, Vilberg, & Rugg, 2012; Johnson, Suzuki, & Rugg, 2013; King, de Chastelaine, Elward, Wang, & Rugg, 2015; Rugg, Johnson, & Uncapher, 2015; Rugg & Vilberg, 2013; Thakral, Benoit, & Schacter, 2017). However, due to the relatively poor time resolution of fMRI, the temporal dynamics of these regions during retrieval remain largely unknown. In order to overcome these modality-specific limitations, we here used Magnetoencephalography (MEG) in a verbal episodic memory paradigm assessing correct rejection (CR) of lures, item recognition (IR) of old words and associative recall (AR) of paired target words. We found that power decreases in the alpha frequency band (10-12 Hz) systematically track different mnemonic outcomes in both time and space: Over left posterior sensors, alpha power decreased in a stepwise fashion from 500 ms onward, first from CR to IR and then from IR to AR. When projecting alpha power into source space, the ‘core recollection network’ known from fMRI studies emerged, including posterior parietal cortex (PPC) and hippocampus. While PPC showed a linear change across conditions, hippocampal effects were specific to recall. Critically, the hippocampal recall effect emerged ∼200 ms before the PPC recall effect, suggesting a bottom-up recall signal from hippocampus to PPC. Our data thus link engagement of the core recollection network to the temporal dynamics of episodic memory and suggest that alpha rhythms constitute a fundamental oscillatory mechanism revealing when, where and how our memories are retrieved. Highlights Alpha rhythms distinguish between different retrieval outcomes Alpha power time courses track item recognition and associative recall Source alpha power decreases track the fMRI core recollection network Hippocampal recall signal precedes parietal signal
Population‐scale treatment informs solutions for control of environmentally transmitted wildlife disease

Long‐term pathogen control or eradication in wildlife is rare and represents a major challenge in conservation. Control is particularly difficult for environmentally transmitted pathogens, including some of the most conservation‐critical wildlife diseases. We undertook a treatment programme aimed at population‐scale eradication of the environmentally transmitted Sarcoptes scabiei mite (causative agent of sarcoptic mange) during an epizootic in bare‐nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus). Field trial results were used to parameterize a mechanistic host‐disease model that explicitly described indirect transmission, host behaviour and viable disease intervention methods. Model analysis shows that elimination of S. scabiei in the wild is most sensitive to the success of treatment delivery, and duration of the programme. In addition, we found the frequency that wombats switch burrows was an important positive driver of mite persistence. Synthesis and applications. This research emphasizes the utility of applying model‐guided management techniques in order to achieve practical solutions for controlling disease in the field. We find that control efforts of Sarcoptes scabiei are most successful when simultaneous improvements are made to the current best‐practice protocol, specifically the implementation of better treatment application methods in combination with a longer lasting treatment. These suggested management changes may also reduce the resources and field effort required to implement a successful regime. Furthermore, our approach and findings have applicability to other species affected by S. scabiei (e.g. wolves, red foxes, Spanish ibex and American black bear), as well as other conservation‐critical systems involving environmental transmission (e.g. bat white‐nose syndrome and amphibian chytridiomycosis).
Site-directed M2 proton channel inhibitors enable synergistic combination therapy for rimantadine-resistant pandemic influenza

Pandemic influenza A virus (IAV) remains a significant threat to global health. Preparedness relies primarily upon a single class of neuraminidase (NA) targeted antivirals, against which resistance is steadily growing. The M2 proton channel is an alternative clinically proven antiviral target, yet a near-ubiquitous S31N polymorphism in M2 evokes resistance to licensed adamantane drugs. Hence, inhibitors capable of targeting N31 containing M2 (M2-N31) are highly desirable. Rational in silico design and in vitro screens delineated compounds favouring either lumenal or peripheral M2 binding, yielding effective M2-N31 inhibitors in both cases. Hits included adamantanes as well as novel compounds, with some showing low micromolar potency versus pandemic “swine” H1N1 influenza (Eng195) in culture. Interestingly, a published adamantane-based M2-N31 inhibitor rapidly selected a resistant V27A polymorphism (M2-A27/N31), whereas this was not the case for non-adamantane compounds. Nevertheless, combinations of adamantanes and novel compounds achieved synergistic antiviral effects, and the latter synergised with the neuraminidase inhibitor (NAi), Zanamivir. Thus, site-directed drug combinations show potential to rejuvenate M2 as an antiviral target whilst reducing the risk of drug resistance.
New species of Ballusia Ginsburg and Morales, 1998 (Ursidae, Carnivora) from Miocene of Eastern Siberia, Russia

ABSTRACT The new basal ursine bear, Ballusia zhegalloi n. sp. , is described from the Early Miocene Tagay 1 locality (Baikal region, Russia) based on isolated M1. Previously described maxillary fragment with M1-2 from the closely synchronous fauna of Khirgis-Nur I in Mongolia, originally referred to Ballusia elemensis, is here included into the new species. The M1 of the new species shares similarities with M1 of previously known Early Miocene European species B. elmensis but is more derived in lower medial cusps, transversally closer spaced medial ridge and lingual cingulum, and by a slightly expressed antero-external angle. The new Asian species shares some derived features with Ballusia orientalis from Early Miocene of China, such as a more rounded M1 outline, and incipient buccal styles in M1. The other characters in the two forms of Asian Ballusia imply their parallel evolution. The Tagay find represents the first record of the genus Ballusia in Russia. It elucidates phyletic affinities of early ursine bears and refines the geographic and stratigraphic range of the genus Ballusia.