Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Variabilidade espacial da emissão de CO2, da temperatura e umidade de um latossolo desprovido de vegetação sob diferentes lâminas de molhamento

The irrigation application is one of the most useful techniques in tropical environments, especially during dry seasons. In this study, CO 2 efflux, temperature and soil moisture were studied in a field sampled with a grid having 48 points distributed in 35 x 25 m, under irrigation promoted by a sprinkler located at the center of the area, provoking different levels of water deposition, with maximum irrigation levels of 44.4 and 62.2 mm in points closer to the sprinkler. The results show that the emissions, temperature and moisture were strongly affected by the two irrigations events, having a total water level added of 106,6 mm for the points next to the sprinkler and zero for the most distant points from it. The maps of space variation of the variables, as well as the linear correlation between them, indicate that the emissions were positively related to the soil moisture and negative correlated to the soil temperature only after the irrigations events. The special variability models of soil CO 2 emission changed from exponential to spherical after the irrigations events. Such results indicate that soil moisture is among possible controlling factors of the soil CO 2 emission, because even with reductions in soil temperature provoked by the wetness, emissions increased strongly.
Phosphorus solubilization and pH changes as a result of the interactions between soil bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on a medium containing NO3- as nitrogen source

The interactions between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and bacteria may affect the nutrient dynamics in the environment. To study these changes, assays were conducted in a two-compartment Petri plate system. A NO3--N medium containing an insoluble phosphate (P) source was used to evaluate the effect of Glomus intraradices (Schenck & Smith) external mycelium, mycorrhizal, and nonmycorrhizal transformed carrot roots (Daucus carrota L.), alone or in interaction with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Schroeter) Migula, Pseudomonas putida (Trevisan) Migula, or Serratia plymuthica (Dyar) Bergey et al., on phosphorus solubilization and pH changes of the medium. In the NO3--containing medium, G. intraradices external mycelium as well as the three bacterial species studied were rather inefficient P solubilizers when growing individually. However, when G. intraradices external mycelium interacted with either P. aeruginosa or P. putida, the levels of soluble P in the medium significantly increased (P 0.05). These improvements .
A Machine Learning Approach to Forecasting Consumer Food Prices

This research thesis attempted to answer the following question, “What is the best way to predict food prices for the average Canadian consumer? ” The overall objective was to forecast the Canada Consumer Price Index (CPI) to assess the performance of various machine learning techniques against three data models. Specifically, the research aimed to: 1. Determine the top performing model of the three models assessed (Holt-Winters, Food Price Report, Financial Futures-Market) 2. Determine the top performing machine learning technique of the four assessed (Linear Regression, Multilayer Perceptron, SMOreg, M5P Tree) 3. Evaluate the performance of the Multilayer Perceptron as the only technique to incorporate backpropagation. This research thesis was not meant to be a definitive approach to food price forecasts by favoring one technique over another but rather was intended to illustrate the accuracy of machine learning techniques in this forecasting domain by using the tools and techniques which can easily be duplicated by the average consumer.
Valoración contingente de hortalizas frescas obtenidas bajo manejo integrado de plagas: El caso de la papa (patata) en Argentina

El objetivo del trabajo es identificar los factores que explican la intencion de adquirir una papa (patata) fresca de calidad superior, obtenida bajo manejo integrado de plagas, para cuantificar la hipotetica valoracion que los consumidores argentinos otorgarian a este alimento. Los datos provienen de una encuesta realizada en junio de 2009 a una muestra estratificada aleatoria de 500 hogares de la ciudad de Mar del Plata. Se aplica el Metodo de Valoracion Contingente para la indagacion de las preferencias y se propone un modelo econometrico que permite corregir por el sesgo de seleccion. Finalmente, se calcula la media muestral de la disposicion a pagar a traves de un procedimiento no parametrico. La disponibilidad de este alimento generaria un incremento en el bienestar de los consumidores de la ciudad equivalente a 12,9 millones de pesos al ano. Los resultados obtenidos indican una relacion entre el nivel de informacion de los consumidores que trabajan o estudian y su capacidad de valorar positivamente el sistema de produccion integrada. Aunque el contenido de residuos de agroquimicos en los alimentos pareceria no constituir una preocupacion entre quienes pagarian mas por la papa integrada, estos posibles compradores se encuentran interesados en la vinculacion entre el cuidado de su salud y el contenido nutricional de los alimentos. Ademas, creen que el precio de la papa senaliza correctamente su calidad.
Thyroid hormone levels associate with insulin resistance in obese women with metabolic syndrome in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

Background The obesity epidemic is a pressing global health concern, as obesity rates continue to climb worldwide. The current study was aimed mainly to evaluate the correlation between thyroid hormones and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance in Saudi obese women with metabolic syndrome. Methods 100 obese women aged 25 to 55 years were clinically evaluated, from which 72 women were diagnosed with the metabolic syndrome and 28 without metabolic syndrome. Insulin resistance was quantified using the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance method and the resulting values were analyzed for association with demographic, clinical, and metabolic parameters. Results This analysis revealed that body mass index, systolic blood pressure, and biochemical parameters and fasting insulin showed statistically higher levels in the group with metabolic syndrome compared to the group without metabolic syndrome. Similarly, values of waist circumference, fat ratio, cholesterol, free thyroxine, free triiodothyronine and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance results were higher in the group with metabolic syndrome as compared to the group without metabolic syndrome. Correlation analysis revealed positive association of thyroid-stimulating hormone with waist circumference (P=0.01), total cholesterol (P=0.002), fasting insulin (P=0.03) and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance results (P<0.01), and negatively associated with diastolic blood pressure (P=0.013) and age (P=0.05). Free thyroxine was positively associated with triglyceride level (P=0.003) and negatively associated with homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance values (P=0.035) and fasting insulin. Free triiodothyronine was positively associated with body mass index (P=0.032) and waist circumference (P= 0.006) and negatively with age (P=0.004) and total cholesterol (P=0.001). Homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance test revealed elevated level with positive association of body mass index, waist circumference, biochemical parameters and thyroid-stimulating hormone in insulin resistant obese women. Higher level of free triiodothyronine was found to be associated with low insulin sensitivity.
Nonnucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor Hypersusceptibility and Resistance by Mutation of Residue 181 in HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase

Substitutions at residue Y181 in HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT), in particular, Y181C, Y181I, and Y181V, are associated with nonnucleoside RT inhibitor (NNRTI) cross-resistance. In this study, we used kinetic and thermodynamic approaches, in addition to molecular modeling, to gain insight into the mechanisms by which these substitutions confer resistance to nevirapine (NVP), efavirenz (EFV), and rilpivirine (RPV). ABSTRACT Substitutions at residue Y181 in HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT), in particular, Y181C, Y181I, and Y181V, are associated with nonnucleoside RT inhibitor (NNRTI) cross-resistance. In this study, we used kinetic and thermodynamic approaches, in addition to molecular modeling, to gain insight into the mechanisms by which these substitutions confer resistance to nevirapine (NVP), efavirenz (EFV), and rilpivirine (RPV). Using pre-steady-state kinetics, we found that the dissociation constant (Kd) values for inhibitor binding to the Y181C and Y181I RT-template/primer (T/P) complexes were significantly reduced. In the presence of saturating concentrations of inhibitor, the Y181C RT-T/P complex incorporated the next correct deoxynucleoside triphosphate (dNTP) more efficiently than the wild-type (WT) complex, and this phenotype correlated with decreased mobility of the RT on the T/P substrate. Interestingly, we found that the Y181F substitution in RT—which represents a transitional mutation between Y181 and Y181I/V, or a partial revertant—conferred hypersusceptibility to EFV and RPV at both the virus and enzyme levels. EFV and RPV bound more tightly to Y181F RT-T/P. Furthermore, inhibitor-bound Y181F RT-T/P was less efficient than the WT complex in incorporating the next correct dNTP, and this could be attributed to increased mobility of Y181F RT on the T/P substrate. Collectively, our data highlight the key role that Y181 in RT plays in NNRTI binding.
Neutrophil extracellular trap‐microparticle complexes trigger neutrophil recruitment via high‐mobility group protein 1 (HMGB1)‐toll‐like receptors(TLR2)/TLR4 signalling

Recent data suggest that neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) form aggregates with microparticles (MPs) upon activation of neutrophils although the functional role of NET‐MP complexes remain elusive. The objective of this study was to examine the role of NET‐MP aggregates in leukocyte recruitment in vivo.
Chloroplast genome structure and phylogenetic position of Calanthe sylvatica (Thou.) Lindl. (Orchidaceae)

Abstract Calanthe sylvatica plays an important role in horticulture and is undergoing the pressure of population decline. In this study, its complete chloroplast genome sequence was successfully obtained by the technology of Illumina sequencing. The whole chloroplast genome length was 158,828 bp with a typical quadripartite structure: one large single copy (LSC) region (87,277 bp), one small single copy (SSC) region (18,535 bp) and a pair of inverted repeats (IR) regions (26,508 bp). The GC content of this genome was 36.7%. The genome contained 118 genes consisting of 84 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and 4 rRNA genes. The phylogenetic analysis indicated a close relationship between C. sylvatica and Calanthe triplicata.
An Immunological Stairway to Severe Tissue Complication Assembly in Bothrops atrox Snakebites

Snakebites are a serious public health problem and, in the Amazon, the Bothrops atrox snake is the most frequent cause of envenomation. B. atrox venom (BaV) causes pathophysiological changes with intense, local inflammatory processes, such as severe tissue complication (STC). However, mechanisms associated with the inflammatory process in humans are still poorly understood. Thus, in this study, we sought to describe the profile of local and systemic immunological soluble molecules in Bothrops envenomation patients treated at a specialist tertiary healthcare unit in the Brazilian Amazon. An analytical and prospective study was performed with patients who had snakebites with different clinical outcomes (STC and Mild Tissue Complication—MTC) using venous blood and blister exudate in order to measure immunological soluble molecules present in the response process. Twenty STC patients and 20 MTC patients were eligible for the study. In addition, 20 healthy donors (HD) who had never been bitten by a snake were used as controls. The biomarkers CXCL-8, CCL-5, CXCL-9, CCL-2 and CXCL-10; C3a, C4a, and C5a; IL-1, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, TNF, IFN-γ and IL-17A were quantified using flow cytometry and ELISA. The circulating response profile differs between the studied groups, with MTC patients presenting a mixed profile and STC patients presenting a more polarized profile for Th1 response. In addition, individuals who develop STC have a more intense local immune response, because the tissue response differs from the circulating immunological soluble molecules and presents Th1/Th2/Th17 response polarization. Furthermore, these results suggest that CCL-2 and CXCL-10 are biomarkers for STC and the response profile they assume against Bothrops snakebite should reflect in the clinical practice for the patient.
The StoNED age: The departure into a new era of efficiency analysis? An MC study comparing StoNED and the "oldies" (SFA and DEA)

Based on the seminal paper of Farrell (1957), researchers have developed several methods for measuring efficiency. Nowadays, the most prominent representatives are nonparametric data envelopment analysis (DEA) and parametric stochastic frontier analysis (SFA), both introduced in the late 1970s. Since decades, researchers have been attempting to develop a method which combines the virtues - both nonparametric and stochastic - of these oldies. The recently introduced Stochastic non-smooth envelopment of data (StoNED) by Kuosmanen and Kortelainen (2010) is a promising method. This paper compares the StoNED method with the two oldies DEA and SFA and extends the initial Monte Carlo simulation of Kuosmanen and Kortelainen (2010) in two directions. Firstly, we consider a wider range of conditions. Secondly, we also consider the maximum likelihood estimator (ML) and the pseudolikelihood estimator (PL) for SFA and StoNED, respectively. We show that, in scenarios without noise, the rivalry is still between the oldies, while in noisy scenarios, the nonparametric StoNED PL now constitutes a promising alternative to the SFA ML.
The autoimmune susceptibility gene, PTPN2, restricts expansion of a novel mouse adherent-invasive E. coli

ABSTRACT Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) pathogenesis involves significant contributions from genetic and environmental factors. Loss-of-function single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 2 (PTPN2) gene increase IBD risk and are associated with altered microbiome population dynamics in IBD. Expansion of intestinal pathobionts, such as adherent-invasive E. coli (AIEC), is strongly implicated in IBD pathogenesis as AIEC increases pro-inflammatory cytokine production and alters tight junction protein regulation – suggesting a potential mechanism of pathogen-induced barrier dysfunction and inflammation. We aimed to determine if PTPN2 deficiency alters intestinal microbiome composition to promote expansion of specific bacteria with pathogenic properties. In mice constitutively lacking Ptpn2, we identified increased abundance of a novel mouse AIEC (mAIEC) that showed similar adherence and invasion of intestinal epithelial cells, but greater survival in macrophages, to the IBD-associated AIEC, LF82. Furthermore, mAIEC caused disease when administered to mice lacking segmented-filamentous bacteria (SFB), and in germ-free mice but only when reconstituted with a microbiome, thus supporting its classification as a pathobiont, not a pathogen. Moreover, mAIEC infection increased the severity of, and prevented recovery from, induced colitis. Although mAIEC genome sequence analysis showed >90% similarity to LF82, mAIEC contained putative virulence genes with >50% difference in gene/protein identities from LF82 indicating potentially distinct genetic features of mAIEC. We show for the first time that an IBD susceptibility gene, PTPN2, modulates the gut microbiome to protect against a novel pathobiont. This study generates new insights into gene-environment-microbiome interactions in IBD and identifies a new model to study AIEC-host interactions.
Abiotic Parameters and Pedogenesis as Controlling Factors for Soil C and N Cycling Along an Elevational Gradient in a Subalpine Larch Forest (NW Italy)

Mountain regions are vulnerable to climate change but information about the climate sensitivity of seasonally snow-covered, subalpine ecosystems is still lacking. We investigated the impact of climatic conditions and pedogenesis on the C and N cycling along an elevation gradient under a Larch forest in the northwest (NW) Italian Alps. The environmental gradient that occurs over short distances makes elevation a good proxy for understanding the response of forest soils and nutrient cycling to different climatic conditions. Subalpine forests are located in a sensitive elevation range—the prospected changes in winter precipitation (i.e., shift of snowfalls to higher altitude, reduction of snow cover duration, etc.) could determine strong effects on soil nitrogen and carbon cycling. The work was performed in the western Italian Alps (Long-Term Ecological Research- LTER site Mont Mars, Fontainemore, Aosta Valley Region). Three sites, characterized by similar bedrock lithology and predominance of Larix decidua Mill. , were selected along an elevation gradient (1550–1900 m above sea level-a.s.l.). To investigate the effects on soil properties and soil solution C and N forms of changing abiotic factors (e.g., snow cover duration, number of soil freeze/thaw cycles, intensity and duration of soil freezing, etc.) along the elevation gradient, soil profiles were opened in each site and topsoils and soil solutions were periodically collected from 2015 to 2016. The results indicated that the coldest and highest soil (well-developed Podzol) showed the highest content of extractable C and N forms (N-NH4+, DON, DOC, Cmicr) compared to lower-elevation Cambisols. The soil solution C and N forms (except N-NO3−) did not show significant differences among the sites. Independently from elevation, the duration of soil freezing, soil volumetric water content, and snow cover duration (in order of importance) were the main abiotic factors driving soil C and N forms, revealing how little changes in these parameters could considerably influence C and N cycling under this subalpine forest stand.
Why we publish where we do: Faculty publishing values and their relationship to review, promotion and tenure expectations

Using an online survey of academics at 55 randomly selected institutions across the US and Canada, we explore priorities for publishing decisions and their perceived importance within review, promotion, and tenure (RPT). We find that respondents most value journal readership, while they believe their peers most value prestige and related metrics such as impact factor when submitting their work for publication. Respondents indicated that total number of publications, number of publications per year, and journal name recognition were the most valued factors in RPT. Older and tenured respondents (most likely to serve on RPT committees) were less likely to value journal prestige and metrics for publishing, while untenured respondents were more likely to value these factors. These results suggest disconnects between what academics value versus what they think their peers value, and between the importance of journal prestige and metrics for tenured versus untenured faculty in publishing and RPT perceptions.
The plastid genome of Klainedoxa gabonensis Pierre ex Engl. (Malpighiales)

Abstract Klainedoxa gabonensis Pierre ex Engl. is an important tropical tree species. In this study, its complete plastome sequence was determined. This is the first reported complete plastome sequence in the family Irvingiaceae. The plastome is totally 160,118 bp in length, containing a pair of 26,963-bp-long inverted repeat regions (IRs), a large single copy region of 88,157 bp, and a small single copy region of 18,035 bp. A total of 112 unique genes were identified in K. gabonensis plastome, of which 78 are protein-coding genes, 30 are tRNA genes, and four are rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the close relationship between K. gabonensis and Irvingia malayana.
Pollen storage studies in sugar apple (Annona squamosa L.) cv. Balanagar

Annona cv. ‘Arka Sahan’ essentially needs assisted pollination with sugar apple pollen for commercial fruit production. However, there is no perfect synchronization in flowering of the pollen source sugar apple cv. Balanagar with that of cv. ‘Arka Sahan’. So, an attempt was made to store the pollen of the former to assure its availability as and when cv. ‘Arka Sahan’ flowers need to be pollinated. In vitro pollen germination was assessed using different concentrations of sucrose (5%, 10% and 15%) with and without boric acid (100 ppm). Pollen collected on the second day of anthesis showed maximum germination (43.47%) in 5% sucrose + 100 ppm boric acid while those collected on first day of anthesis did not show any germination. Pollen collected at different times of the day showed a rapid decrease in pollen germination from maximum germination at 6 am (36.55%) to no germination at 2 pm. The maximum pollen germination was in 10% sucrose + 100 ppm boric acid combination for the stored pollen as well as pollen collected during late hours of the day. Pollen stored under varying temperatures lost viability within 1 month at 4°C while pollen stored at −196°C in liquid nitrogen retained germination for 2 months. Pollen germination and pollen tube growth were progressively reduced with storage time. Structure of stored pollen examined using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), revealed deformed and shriveled pollen structure. The results of this study indicated that the Annona pollen tends to be viable for a period of 2 months.
Do live or inactive yeasts improve cattle ruminal environment?

ABSTRACT This research was conducted to investigate the effect of live and inactive sugarcane yeast on beef cattle voluntary intake, apparent digestibility of nutrients, ruminal pH, volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentrations, and ruminal ammonia. Five rumen-cannulated Nellore heifers were distributed in a 5×5 Latin square design, with five experimental periods of 15 days, with seven days for adaptation to the additives and the remaining days for data records and sampling. Total mixed ration (TMR) was composed by corn silage (20%) [. ]
The Implementation of Group Method to Improve Students’ Outcomes in Learning Simple Plane

This research was conducted to find out the implementation of group method can improve student learning outcomes in grade V at math in simple plane material. The type of this research is classroom action research which conducted in 2 cycles and each cycle consisted of 2 meetings. The techniques of data analysis were used quantitative and qualitative technique. Based on the research findings, it concluded that the use of group method can improve students' mathematics learning outcomes on the subject matter of simple plane in grade V semester I of SD Negeri 101762 District Paya Bakung Hamparan Perak school year of 2012/2013 with the difference of the average improvement between cycle II with Cycle I is 23,38 (80,81 - 57,43 = 23,38) and the difference of percentage is 40,54% (86,49% - 45,95% = 40,54%).
Phage composition of a fermented milk and colostrum product assessed by microbiome array; putative role of open reading frames

Bacteriophages (phages), Earth’s most numerous biological entities, are natural constituents of alimentary matrices; in this study we describe the characterization of phage populations in a product obtained by fermentation of bovine milk and colostrum. Such characterizations were achieved using a microarray consisting of a chip covered in short DNA sequences that are specific to certain target organisms for a total of approximately 12,000 species. The only viruses evidenced by the array belonged to Siphoviridae, the largest phage family that targets bacteria and archea. The array yielded 27 iterations corresponding to a unique target. We discuss the putative role of some open reading frames of these phages in conferring health-supporting properties.