Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
NASAL COLONIZATION BY GRAM-NEGATIVE BACTERIA IN DENTAL SURGEONS: INTERFACES BETWEEN PREVENTION AND CONTROL MEASURES

The work conditions of dental surgeons (DS), associated with low compliance to precautionary standards, often lead to the colonization and dissemination of infectious agents. To assess the epidemiological and microbiological aspects of nasal colonization by Gram-negative bacteria in DS while teaching (dentistry teachers). The data were collected by application of a questionnaire and a nasal swab. The biochemical identification, the susceptibility profile and the detection of β-lactamases were carried out in Vitek 2 compact®. 41 (77.3%) DS participated in the study, nine of them (22.0%) presented nasal colonization by Enterobacteriaceae, the participants were predominantly men (27/65.9%), over 50 years of age (24/58.5%). All ofthem confirmed using procedure gloves and a surgical mask while attending patients, with frequent (95.5%) hand washing although a statistical difference was found regarding personal habits (p=0.03). Enterobacter aerogenes (60.0%) was the most prevalent species, followed by Citrobacter koseri (20.0%). The intrinsic production of AmpC β-lactamase by E. aerogenes species, which is multiresistant to antimicrobials, was present in the nasal cavity of 14.6% of the DS. There were high levels of nasal colonization by Enterobacteriaceae in teaching DS (22.0%), 14.6% had been colonized by multiresistant microorganisms and the results wereassociated with inadequate personal habits.
Agronomic performance and strategies of promoting Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) in Malawi

Quinoa ( Chenopodium quinoa Willd) has the potential to contribute to Malawi’s food and nutritional security by adaptation to droughts that have become frequent due to climate change. Eleven genotypes of quinoa were introduced in 2012 and evaluated for plant growth and yield performance in different environments of central and southern regions of Malawi to determine the potential for quinoa production in the country. The first trials were conducted at Bunda in Lilongwe and Bembeke in Dedza in 2012 under irrigated conditions. Trials under rainfed conditions were conducted at the Bunda site in the 2012/13 and 2014/15 cropping seasons. Evaluation of thirteen promising genotypes under irrigated conditions (2014 to 2015) was extended to six extension planning areas, including Chiluwa in Salima and Nkhunga (Nkhotakota) as warm environments, Mwansambo (Nkhotakota) as a mildly warm environment, Malomo (Ntchisi) as a mildly cool environment, and Kalira 2 (Ntchisi) and Nalunga (Dowa) as cool environments. The genotypes were laid out in completely randomized block designs with four replicates. The maturity period of the genotypes was early in the warm sites (88 days in Nkhunga and 94 days in Chiluwa) and delayed in the cooler sites (121 days in Nalunga and 120 days in Kalira). On the basis of genotype and site-specific results, the highest grain yields were achieved for Brightest Brilliant Rainbow (BBR) (3,992 kg ha-1), QQ74 (3,652 kg ha-1), Black Seeded (3,426 kg ha-1), Multi-Hued (3,272 kg ha-1) and Puno (3,251 kg ha-1) in Nalunga and in QQ74 (4,311 kg ha-1), BBR (3,331 kg ha-1), Multi-Hued (3,184 kg ha-1) and Cherry Vanilla (3,056 kg ha-1) in Malomo. The lowest yields obtained were from Cherry Vanilla, Red Head (1,276 kg ha-1) and BBR (1,255 kg ha-1) in Chiluwa. Quinoa production is possible in Malawi. The genotypes QQ74, BBR, Multi-Hued, Cherry Vanilla, Bio-Bio, Titicaca and Black Seeded have been released for commercial production. Engagement of both government and nongovernmental organizations with a focus on seed systems, processing and utilization can help to integrate quinoa into the food systems of Malawi.
Investigation of Prevalence of Co-Infection by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and Ranavirus in Endemic Beyşehir Frog (Pelophylax caralitanus)

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) ve Ranavirus (Rv), dunya capinda amfibi populasyonlarinin hizla azalmasindan sorumlu patojenler arasindadir. Bu calismanin amaci, 2012-2013 yillari arasinda Guneybati Anadolu Bolgesi'ndeki Goller Bolgesi'nde yasayan endemik Beysehir kurbaga populasyonunda her iki patojenin varligini saptamaktir. Her bir patojen ve koenfeksiyon varligi sirasiyla %48,6, % 10,3 ve % 7,0 oraninda tespit edildi ve gollerin ve yillar arasinda yayginlik oranlarinda farkliliklari tespit edilmistir. Bu calisma, Turkiye'de endemik Beysehir kurbagasi ( Pelophylax caralitanus) ’nda Bd ve Rv'si ile Rv enfeksiyonu ve ko-enfeksiyonunun ilk rapordur. Her iki patojen tarafindan da enfeksiyon olmasina ragmen, P.caralitanus populasyonunun azalmasinda ne kadar etkili oldugu tespit edilmemistir.
Effects of dietary butyrate supplementation and crude protein level on carcass traits and meat composition of broiler chickens

Abstract The short-chain fatty acid butyrate, either in unprotected or protected form, is widely applied as a growth-promoting feed additive in poultry nutrition; however, its possible effects on the carcass composition of broilers have not been fully elucidated. Further, lowering dietary crude protein (CP) levels is an important issue in poultry farming, contributing to ecologically beneficial lower nitrogen excretion. The main aims of this study were to test how unprotected and protected forms of butyrate and decreased dietary CP content with essential amino acid (lysine, methionine, threonine, tryptophan) supplementation (“LP-EAA” diet) affect carcass parameters and the chemical composition of muscles in broilers. Ross 308 chickens were randomized to seven groups (n=10/group) receiving adequate CP-containing (normal protein, “NP”) or LP-EAA diets, both supplemented with or without unprotected sodium butyrate, and NP diets with different forms of protected sodium butyrate. Carcass traits were measured, and the chemical composition of pectoral and femoral muscles was analyzed at the age of 6 weeks. Carcass weight was significantly increased by the LP-EAA diet and all protected butyrate types tested, while the relative breast meat yield was significantly higher in LP-EAA than NP groups and in both unprotected and protected butyrate-supplemented chickens compared to controls. The protein content of the femoral muscle was significantly decreased, but its lipid content was significantly elevated by the LP-EAA diet and by all types of butyrate addition. However, no changes were detected in the chemical composition of pectoral muscle. In conclusion, breast meat production can be effectively stimulated by dietary factors, such as by reducing dietary CP content with essential amino acid supplementation and by applying butyrate as a feed additive, while its chemical composition remains unchanged, in contrast to the femoral muscle. The aforementioned nutritional strategies seem to be the proper tools to increase carcass yield and to alter meat composition of broilers, contributing to more efficient poultry meat production.
Antibacterial potential of nudibranch-associated bacteria from Saparua and Nusa Laut Islands, Indonesia

Abstract. Kristiana R, Sibero MT, Farisa MY, Ayuningrum D, Dirgantara D, Hanafi M, Radjasa OK, Sabdono A, Trianto A. 2019. Antibacterial potential of nudibranch-associated bacteria from Saparua and Nusa Laut Islands, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 20: 1811-1819. Infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria are the international health issue that triggers the urgency of finding new antibacterial agents. The aim of this study was to obtain the nudibranchs-associated bacteria that have bioactivity against multidrug-resistant bacteria. A total of 13 species of nudibranch were identified based on morphological characterization. Overlay methods were used for the screening of the isolates bioactivity against six pathogenic multidrug-resistant bacteria. The Minimum Inhibition Concentration (MIC) of the crude extract was evaluated against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumonia, Micrococcus luteus, and Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamases E. coli (ESBL) using MTT method. A total of 145 isolates were obtained which eleven of the isolates showed antibacterial activity against the pathogenic bacteria. The MIC tests showed that the best acivity was isolate SM-S-9-15 and SM-N-3-7. The methanolic extract of isolate SM-S-9-15 active to all of the pathogenic bacteria, while the ethyl acetate extract of the isolate SM-N-3-7 active to the E. coli, B. subtilis, K. pneumonia at the concentration of 500 mg/mL. According to 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence-based identification, all active isolates belong to Virgibacillus marismortui, V. dokdonensis, Bacillus kochii, Vibrio algynoliticus, and Pseudoalteromonas piscicida.
IRG1 controls immunometabolic host response and restricts intracellular Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the pathogen causing human tuberculosis, has evolved multiple strategies to successfully prevent clearance by immune cells and to establish dissemination and long-term survival in the host. The modulation of host immunity to maximize pathogen elimination while minimizing inflammation-mediated tissue damage may provide another tool to fight drug-resistant Mtb strains. Metabolic reprogramming of immune cell populations can dramatically influence the outcome of immune responses and modulate antimicrobial properties of infected host cells, nicely demonstrating that metabolites are tightly linked to immune cell effector functions. One important endogenous metabolite of the Krebs cycle is itaconate, which has potent bactericidal activity by inhibiting isocitrate lyase and the glyoxylate shunt within prokaryotes including mycobacteria. Recent findings show that itaconate and the catalytic enzyme responsible for its generation in mammalian cells, i.e. IRG1 (immune-responsive gene 1), also modify inflammatory signaling of infected cells enhancing host defense pathways.Here, we demonstrate that IRG1 is recruited to Mtb-containing phagosomes and that it influences the host response controlling Mtb infection. While IRG1 deficiency does not affect uptake of Mtb by macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) in vitro, it increases the intracellular replication of Mtb. Concomitantly, in comparison to wild type cells, IRG1-deficient macrophages and DCs have increased levels of lipid droplets, a correlate of inflammation. These intracellular organelles store triacylglycerol and phospholipids that are hijacked by Mtb as reservoir of host nutrients. Exposure of IRG1-deficient mice to M. bovis BCG via the intranasal route induced neither lethality nor severe lung immunopathology, while IRG1-deficient mice were highly susceptible to Mtb infection resulting in animal death three weeks post-infection linked to exacerbated inflammation and high mycobacterial burden. The lungs of infected IRG1-deficient mice displayed large areas of necrotizing granulomatous inflammation and neutrophil infiltration, accompanied by reduced levels of B and T lymphocytes and increased levels of alveolar and interstitial macrophage populations, compared to their wild type counterparts. Therefore, our findings demonstrate that IRG1 is a major player in controlling the acute phase of Mtb infection with a specific effect on pathogenic mycobacteria.
DNA Barcoding of polychaetes collected during the 2018 Rapid Assessment Survey of floating dock communities from New England

ABSTRACT Rapid Assessment Surveys are routinely used to document biodiversity and is particularly important for the identification of non-indigenous species. However, the methods associated with these surveys have traditionally relied solely on morphological data, which for broad scale surveys, can be time consuming and expensive. In this study we incorporated DNA barcoding into a recent RAS of native and non-indigenous fauna associated with floating dock communities at several marinas in the New England region of the United States. We focused specifically on the polychaetes – a notoriously problematic group to barcode. Results from the rapid assessment survey, carried out over three days, yielded 48 polychaete specimens in total, representing 11 distinct species and six families. Three different primer pairs were used to amplify a 550–710 bp fragment of the CO1 gene for each of the 11 morphologically identified species. CO1 amplification was successful for all species and each morphologically identified species was molecularly confirmed using the GenBank database (identity scores ranged from 92 to 100%). Phylogenetic analysis along with low intraspecific genetic distance estimates (0.000–0.019) strongly supported the similarity indices. Four of the 11 species identified are part of species complexes in other parts of the world and are assigned here as pseudo-cosmpolitan while the remaining seven species are likely cryptogenic. This is the first DNA barcoding study on polychaetes from floating dock communities on the New England coast which adds to a growing number of studies that are incorporating molecular barcoding into rapid assessment surveys.
Preliminary Characterization of Crude Lectins Fractions of Red Macroalgae Species Collected from the Southern Coast of Gunungkidul Indonesia

Lectins or hema g glutinin s are specific sugar-binding proteins (glycoproteins) of non-immune origins that typically agglutinate certain cells and/or precipitate glycoconjugates. This study aimed to evaluate the activity of hemagglutination, protein comtent, and initial characterization (the stability towards pH, temperature, divalent cation and inhibition of hemagglutination activity by sugars and/or glycoproteins) crude lectins fractions of red macroalgae from the coast of Gunungkidul Beach, Yogyakarta. The findings showed that hemagglutination activity using trypsin treated rabbit erythrocytes of crude fractions of red algae lectins Nitophylium punctatum species, Helminthora divaricata, and Acanthophora spicifera were 2 6 , 2 6 , and 2 13 , respectively. The protein contents were 8,123.47 μg / ml; 9,545.65 μg / ml; and 7,368.45 μg / ml. Although the three red macroalgae species tend to maintain a relatively stable pH, their temperature tolerance was unstable, and were unaffected by divalent cations. The carbohydrate-binding specificities assay of the red macroalgae species showed the occcurence of inhibition in certain glycoproteins and not simple sugars.
Accuracy of Single and Multi-Trait Genomic Prediction Models for Grain Yield in US Pacific Northwest Winter Wheat

Incorporating secondary correlated traits collected from high-throughput phenotyping in genomic selection (GS) models for complex traits has been demonstrated to improve accuracy. The prediction ability of different single and multiple trait partial least square (PLS) regression models for grain yield were assessed for winter wheat lines evaluated in US Pacific Northwest environments. Different populations including a diversity panel, F5, and double haploid breeding lines were evaluated in Lind and Pullman, WA between 2015 and 2018 and were genotyped with genotyping by sequencing-derived SNP markers. Prediction ability was assessed under cross-validations and independent predictions. Multi-trait covariate models were advantageous in obtaining optimal predictions for yield, especially when there is less genetic relatedness between the training and test populations. Adding multiple traits in the model improved predictions for environments with low heritability. Cross-validations resulted in the highest prediction ability (0.16) whereas independent predictions using the diversity panel to predict F5 and double haploid winter wheat breeding lines obtained the lowest (0.002). Relatedness between populations, heritability of the secondary traits, and the type of PLS model used were among the principal factors affecting prediction ability. Our results showed the relevance of using multi-trait GS models to achieve increased predictions. Genetic architecture of the target trait and genetic relatedness between populations should be taken into consideration when choosing which type of models to implement in the breeding program. An increased prediction ability for the multi-trait models indicates the potential to attain improved genetic gains for yield in wheat breeding programs through these GS approaches.
Growth and Dry Matter Accumulation of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) as Influenced by Different Plating Pattern Under Okra - Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) Intercropping

Compared to sole cropping, intercropping systems can more efficiently use the existing resources which ultimately lead to improved plant growth and dry matter accumulation. So, most of the farmers in developing countries can follow the intercropping systems with high yielding crop combinations. The experiment was carried out at the Crop Farm of Eastern University, Sri Lanka in 2018 to investigate the growth and dry matter accumulation in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) as influenced by different planting patterns under okra-cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) intercropping in sandy regosol. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Treatments were okra as a sole crop (T1), cowpea as a sole crop (T2), alternative planting of okra and cowpea (T3), 60/150 cm paired row planting of okra with two rows and three rows of cowpea in between paired rows (T4 and T5) and 75/120 cm paired row planting of okra with two rows and three rows of cowpea in between paired rows (T6 and T7). Plant height, root length, fresh and dry weights of plant, leaf area, leaf area index, canopy width and cumulative yield of okra were higher in T5, while chlorophyll content showed no significant difference (P>0.05) with different planting patterns. The present study concluded that 60/150 cm paired row planting of okra with three rows of cowpea in between paired rows (T5) would be the most suitable planting system in sandy regosol to achieve better growth and dry matter in okra.
Why is the explicit component of motor adaptation limited in elderly adults?

The cognitive component of motor adaptation declines with aging. Yet, in other motor tasks, older adults appear to rely on cognition to improve their motor performance. It is unknown why older adults are not able to do so in motor adaptation. In order to solve this apparent contradiction, we tested the possibility that older adults require more cognitive resources in unperturbed reaching compared to younger adults, which leaves fewer resources available for the cognitive aspect of motor adaptation. Two cognitive-motor dual-task experiments were designed to test this. The cognitive load of unperturbed reaching was assessed via dual-task costs during the baseline period of visuomotor rotation experiments, which provided us with an estimation of the amount of cognitive resources used during unperturbed reaching. However, since we did not observe a link between dual-task costs and explicit adaptation in both experiments, we failed to confirm this hypothesis. Instead, we observed that explicit adaptation was mainly associated with visuospatial working memory capacity. This suggests that visuospatial working memory of an individual might be linked to the extent of explicit adaptation for young and older adults.
Factors affecting the nitrate concentration and its health risk assessment in drinking groundwater by application of Monte Carlo simulation and geographic information system

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the effect of anthropogenic factors, including land use, environmental factors, and topography at a radius of 400 m around the wells on nitrate concentration so as to assess the health risk from nitrate concentration and accordingly analyze its sensitivity using field and software surveys. In this study, 70 samples of drinking water were taken from 35 wells in two seasons: low rainfall and high rainfall in 2017 and the concentration of nitrate was determined using spectrophotometry. The area of four types of land use in a radius of wells was determined using Google Earth and GIS software. Pearson correlation and t-test were employed to determine the effect of the above factors on nitrate concentration by SPSS. Health risk assessment was performed for three age groups and analyzed by a sensitivity analysis using Monte Carlo. The results showed that eight samples (11.4%) exceeded the recommended. limit of 50 mg/L. The concentration of nitrate in wells without sanitary protection area was 51.1 ± 11.01. The wells at the bottom of the groundwater flow have an average nitrate concentration of 41.39 ± 11.85. The highest CDI (0.98 mg/kg) and HQ (0.75) values were belonged to age group of 0–6 years; approximately 90% of this age group was at high risk during this high rainfall season. Nitrate concentration was recognized as the most effective factor in the non-carcinogenicity risk of nitrates.
FOOD CONSUMPTION AND ASSIMILATION OF THE ADULT DOG CONCH LAEVISTROMBUS CANARIUM (LINNAEUS 1758) AT DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES

Laevistrombus canarium (Linnaeus 1758) or the dog conch is a highly important fishery species with great potential for introduction into aquaculture. The present study evaluates food consumption and assimilation by the adult conch at different temperatures (i.e. 22°C, 26°C, 30°C and 34°C). The conchs were acclimated for one week in stocking tanks with well-aerated seawater of 30 PSU salinity and at ambient temperature of 26°C. Prior to experimentation, the gastric emptying level of the conchs were standardized by allowing them to feed till satiation, followed by 24 h starvation. Ten similar sized aquaria (20 x 15 x 15 cm) were used, each containing one individual conch. Each conch was provided with similar quantity of food (~ 102.13 ± 0.45 mg of sinking pellets) and they were allowed to feed within a 24 h period. The food consumption rate for adult conchs was significantly different (p<0.05) between different temperature regimes. Hence, the food absorption efficiency was also affected (p<0.05), which ranged from 55.21% to 74.75%. The food energy absorbed showed significant variations between temperatures (p<0.05). Higher food consumption and assimilation was recorded at 26°C followed by 30°C, 34°C and 22°C. Adult L. canarium can adapt well in captive conditions by efficiently digesting particularly food pellets. However, more studies are still needed, particularly by adopting longer exposure times as well as higher temperature ranges, in order to better understand the effect of temperatures on the species.
Perceptual learning of lesions in mammograms induced by response feedback during training

Detecting subtle lesions in mammograms indicative of early breast cancer usually requires years of experience. Well-designed training paradigms could be a strong tool for promoting perceptual learning (PL) with rapid and long-lasting improvement in detectability of these subtle mammographic lesions. Given that PL occurs without feedback about the accuracy of subjects’ responses, the role of feedback has been completely ignored in clinical applications of PL. However, in this study, we found that the contents of the feedback profoundly and differentially influence the formation and retention of PL to detect calcification and architectural distortion lesions, two types of mammographic lesions that are frequently missed in mammographic screenings. We trained subjects to detect one type of lesion in a mammogram and manipulated the content of the response feedback during training for 3 groups (no feedback, correctness only, and both correctness and location of the lesion). We found that PL occurred for both lesions when both correctness and location feedback were provided. PL also occurred for calcifications but not for distortions when only correctness was provided. No learning occurred without feedback for either lesion. A retest conducted six months later showed that PL was retained only in the group with both correctness and location feedback for both types of lesions. In contrast to the general consensus of basic PL studies, our results demonstrate that the content of the response feedback is a determining factor in forming and retaining PL to detect mammographic lesions.