Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Soil Bioassay for Detecting Magnaporthiopsis maydis Infestation Using a Hyper Susceptible Maize Hybrid

Magnaporthiopsis maydis is the causal agent of severe maize late wilt disease. Disease outbreak occurs at the maize flowering and fruit development stage, leading to the plugging of the plant’s water vascular system, resulting in dehydration and collapse of the infected host plant. The pathogen is borne by alternative hosts, infected seeds, soil, and plant residues and gradually spreads to new areas and new countries. However, no soil assay is available today that can detect M. maydis infestation and study its prevalence. We recently developed a molecular quantitative Real-Time PCR (qPCR) method enabling the detection of the M. maydis DNA in plant tissues. Despite the technique’s high sensitivity, the direct examination of soil samples can be inconsistent. To face this challenge, the current work demonstrates the use of a soil bioassay involving the cultivation of a hyper-susceptible maize genotype (Megaton cultivar, Hazera Seeds Ltd., Berurim MP Shikmim, Israel) on inspected soils. The use of Megaton cv. may facilitate pathogen establishment and spread inside the plant’s tissues, and ease the isolation and enrichment of the pathogen from the soil. Indeed, this cultivar suffers from severe dehydration sudden death when grown in an infested field. The qPCR method was able to accurately and consistently identify and quantify the pathogen’s DNA in an in vitro seed assay after seven days, and in growth-chamber potted plants at as early as three weeks. These results now enable the use of this highly susceptible testing plant to validate the presence of the maize late wilt pathogen in infested soils and to evaluate the degree of its prevalence.
Perceived occupational value in people with acquired brain injury

Abstract Background It is well known that engagement in occupations becomes restricted after acquired brain injury (ABI), but little is known about how this influences occupational values and occupational balance. Aim To describe the extent to which persons with ABI perceived occupational value; to explore whether occupational value and occupational balance were associated with life satisfaction, and to explore how occupational value, occupational balance, the severity of disability, fatigue and sociodemographic characteristics influenced life satisfaction. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study was undertaken with 75 participants of working age with ABI who responded to questionnaires on occupational value, occupational balance, and life satisfaction. Additionally, instruments covering fatigue and severity of disability were administered. Data were analyzed by means of comparisons, correlations and logistic regression. Results A high perceived occupational value and a high perceived occupational balance were significantly associated with satisfaction with life as a whole, psychological health and somatic health. The logistic regression showed that occupational value, occupational balance and severity of disability significantly impacted satisfaction with life as a whole. Conclusions and significance: Occupational value and occupational balance together with severity of disability, are important areas of focus in the later phase of rehabilitation after ABI to promote satisfaction with life as a whole.
Methamphetamine-Induced Neuronal Damage: Neurotoxicity and Neuroinflammation

Methamphetamine (METH) is a highly addictive psychostimulant and one of the most widely abused drugs worldwide. The continuous use of METH eventually leads to drug addiction and causes serious health complications, including attention deficit, memory loss and cognitive decline. These neurological complications are strongly associated with METH-induced neurotoxicity and neuroinflammation, which leads to neuronal cell death. The current review investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying METH-mediated neuronal damages. Our analysis demonstrates that the process of neuronal impairment by METH is closely related to oxidative stress, transcription factor activation, DNA damage, excitatory toxicity and various apoptosis pathways. Thus, we reach the conclusion here that METH-induced neuronal damages are attributed to the neurotoxic and neuroinflammatory effect of the drug. This review provides an insight into the mechanisms of METH addiction and contributes to the discovery of therapeutic targets on neurological impairment by METH abuse.
lmmunodepression,a Noncontributor to Radiation-inducedLeukemogenesis of the RFMMouse1

Following a single acute exposure to 300 A of X-rays at 6 weeksold, approximately65% of femaleRFMmice die of thymic lymphoma during the first year of life. In contrast, nonirradiated animals do not die of this neoplasm during this same period. To determine if immediate immunological resto ration is of significance in interrupting the inductive process, we injected 50 x 106 syngeneic spleen or bone marrow cells into these animals immediatelyfollowing X-irradiation. Resto ration of immunocompetenceas measured by both humoral and cell-mediated parameters was more rapid in spleen cell reconstituted animals than in bone marrow-treated animals; however, spleen cells failed to protect the mice against the irradiation-induced thymic lymphomas. In contrast, although there was no significant difference in the immunologicalrecov ery of bone marrow-reconstituted animals and animals that receivedonly irradiation, mortality was dramatically reduced as a result of marrow injection. Therefore, although immuno depression is an inherent component, it cannot be considered as a critical obligatory requirement in the pathogenesis of radiation-induced thymic lymphomasof RFM mice.
D-Glucose uptake and clearance in the tauopathy Alzheimer’s disease mouse brain detected by on-resonance variable delay multiple pulse MRI

In this study, we applied on-resonance variable delay multiple pulse (onVDMP) MRI to study D-glucose uptake in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) tauopathy and demonstrated its feasibility in discriminating AD mice from wild-type mice. The D-glucose uptake in the cortex of AD mice (1.70 ± 1.33%) was significantly reduced compared to that of wild-type mice (5.42 ± 0.70%, p = 0.0051). Also, a slower D-glucose uptake rate was found in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of AD mice (0.08 ± 0.01 min−1) compared to their wild-type counterpart (0.56 ± 0.1 min−1, p < 0.001), which suggests the presence of an impaired glucose transporter on both blood–brain and blood–CSF barriers of these AD mice. Clearance of D-glucose was observed in the CSF of wild-type mice but not AD mice, which suggests dysfunction of the glymphatic system in the AD mice. The results in this study indicate that onVDMP MRI could be a cost-effective and widely available method for simultaneously evaluating glucose transporter and glymphatic function of AD. This study also suggests that tau protein affects the D-glucose uptake and glymphatic impairment in AD at a time point preceding neurofibrillary tangle pathology.
Good taste or gut feeling? A new method in rats shows oro‐sensory stimulation and gastric distention generate distinct and overlapping brain activation patterns

Abstract Satiation is influenced by a variety of signals including gastric distention and oro‐sensory stimulation. Here we developed a high‐field (9.4 T) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) protocol to test how oro‐sensory stimulation and gastric distention, as induced with a block‐design paradigm, affect brain activation under different states of energy balance in rats. Repeated tasting of sucrose induced positive and negative fMRI responses in the ventral tegmental area and septum, respectively, and gradual neural activation in the anterior insula and the brain stem nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), as revealed using a two‐level generalized linear model‐based analysis. These unique findings align with comparable human experiments, and are now for the first time identified in rats, thereby allowing for comparison between species. Gastric distention induced more extensive brain activation, involving the insular cortex and NTS. Our findings are largely in line with human studies that have shown that the NTS is involved in processing both visceral information and taste, and anterior insula in processing sweet taste oro‐sensory signals. Gastric distention and sucrose tasting induced responses in mesolimbic areas, to our knowledge not previously detected in humans, which may reflect the rewarding effects of a full stomach and sweet taste, thereby giving more insight into the processing of sensory signals leading to satiation. The similarities of these data to human neuroimaging data demonstrate the translational value of the approach and offer a new avenue to deepen our understanding of the process of satiation in healthy people and those with eating disorders.
Mineral Inter-relationship among Soil, Plants and Animals in Pithoragarh District of Uttarakhand

Samples of soil, feeds and fodder and blood serum of animals (cattle and buffaloes) in four villages, two from each tehsils (Pithoragarh and Gangolihat) of Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand were collected and analysed for different macro and micro mineral contents to establish the mineral correlation among soil, plants and animals. The macro and micro mineral contents in soils of Pithoragarh district were higher than their respective critical levels except Ca. Average daily macro and micro mineral intake per animal through different feed ingredients were found optimum except calcium and copper which were deficient with an average value of 11.4 g and 48.16 ppm, respectively. The soil and plants (r=−0.07) and soil and animal (r=−0.34) showed non-significant negative correlations while, significant (P<0.05) negative correlation (r=0.08) between plants and animals for Ca was observed. The correlation for phosphorus, magnesium, iron, copper, cobalt, manganese and zinc was observed between soil-plants, plants-animals as well as soil-animals. The total mineral intake showed nonsignificant positive correlations for phosphorus, zinc and copper while negative correlations for calcium, magnesium, iron and manganese. Based on present study, supplementation of calcium, copper and manganese in the diet of cattle and buffaloes under existing feeding practices in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand is imperative for better health and productivity. However, further, studies could elucidate the bioavailability and strategic dietary supplementation of minerals for livestock.
Timing and duration of mating and brooding periods of Atka mackerel (Pleurogrammus monopterygius) in the North Pacific Ocean

The timing and duration of the reproductive cycle of Atka mackerel (Pleurogrammus monopterygius) was validated by using observations from time-lapse video and data from archival tags, and the start, peak, and end of spawning and hatching were determined from an incubation model with aged egg samples and empirical incubation times ranging from 44 days at a water temperature of 9.85°C to 100 days at 3.89°C. From June to July, males ceased diel vertical movements, aggregated in nesting colonies, and established territories. Spawning began in late July, ended in mid-October, and peaked in early September. The male egg-brooding period that followed continued from late November to mid-January and duration was highly dependent on embryonic development as affected by ambient water temperature. Males exhibited brooding behavior for protracted periods at water depths from 23 to 117 m where average daily water temperatures ranged from 4.0° to 6.2°C. Knowledge about the timing of the reproductive cycle provides a framework for conserving Atka mackerel populations and investigating the physical and biological processes influencing recruitment.
Robustness of plant quantitative disease resistance is provided by a decentralized immune network

Significance Molecular studies of plant immune responses have mainly focused on qualitative resistance, a form of immunity determined by a few large effect genes. In contrast, very limited information exists about quantitative disease resistance (QDR), although it is extensively observed in wild and crop species. We used systems biology approaches to describe this form of immunity in Arabidopsis thaliana. On the basis of gene regulation studies and search for protein–protein interactions, we report the reconstruction of a highly interconnected and distributed network, organized in five modules with differential robustness to genetic mutations. These studies revealed key functions of QDR, mainly distinct from those previously identified for plant immunity, and shed some light on the complexity of this plant immune response. Quantitative disease resistance (QDR) represents the predominant form of resistance in natural populations and crops. Surprisingly, very limited information exists on the biomolecular network of the signaling machineries underlying this form of plant immunity. This lack of information may result from its complex and quantitative nature. Here, we used an integrative approach including genomics, network reconstruction, and mutational analysis to identify and validate molecular networks that control QDR in Arabidopsis thaliana in response to the bacterial pathogen Xanthomonas campestris. To tackle this challenge, we first performed a transcriptomic analysis focused on the early stages of infection and using transgenic lines deregulated for the expression of RKS1, a gene underlying a QTL conferring quantitative and broad-spectrum resistance to X. campestris. RKS1-dependent gene expression was shown to involve multiple cellular activities (signaling, transport, and metabolism processes), mainly distinct from effector-triggered immunity (ETI) and pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP)-triggered immunity (PTI) responses already characterized in A. thaliana. Protein–protein interaction network reconstitution then revealed a highly interconnected and distributed RKS1-dependent network, organized in five gene modules. Finally, knockout mutants for 41 genes belonging to the different functional modules of the network revealed that 76% of the genes and all gene modules participate partially in RKS1-mediated resistance. However, these functional modules exhibit differential robustness to genetic mutations, indicating that, within the decentralized structure of the QDR network, some modules are more resilient than others. In conclusion, our work sheds light on the complexity of QDR and provides comprehensive understanding of a QDR immune network.
Performance of six birth‐weight and estimated‐fetal‐weight standards for predicting adverse perinatal outcome: a 10‐year nationwide population‐based study

To evaluate three birth‐weight (BW) standards (Australian population‐based, Fenton and INTERGROWTH‐21st) and three estimated‐fetal‐weight (EFW) standards (Hadlock, INTERGROWTH‐21st and WHO) for classifying small‐for‐gestational age (SGA) and large‐for‐gestational age (LGA) and predicting adverse perinatal outcomes in preterm and term babies.
Responsiveness of outcome measures in myotonic dystrophy type 1

As myotonic dystrophy type 1(DM1) evolves slowly and interventional trials often have a short duration, responsive outcomes in DM1 are needed. The objective of this study was to determine the responsiveness of muscle strength, balance, and functional mobility measurements after a 1‐year follow‐up period in individuals with DM1.
IMPACT OF FOOD SUPPLEMENTATION AND METHIONINE ON HIGH DENSITIES OF COTTON RATS: SUPPORT OF THE AMINO-ACID-QUALITY HYPOTHESIS?

Abstract Considerable research supports the tenet that quantity and quality of food limit vertebrate populations. We evaluated predictions that increased availabilities of food and the essential amino acid methionine were related to population limitation of the hispid cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus). Effects of supplemental food and methionine on density, survival, and reproductive parameters of wild cotton rats were assessed in north-central Oklahoma in 1998–1999. Twelve enclosed groups of 16 adult cotton rats each (8 male, 8 female) were randomly assigned to either no supplementation (control), supplementation with a mixed ration that had methionine at slightly below maintenance levels (0.20%), or a methionine-enhanced mixed ration (1.20%). In general, densities of cotton rats were twice as high and were sustained longer with dietary supplementation, and methionine-supplemented populations maintained the highest densities. Treatment effects on survival depended on time of year, with higher survival in supplemented enclosures in October and November. Per capita recruitment was highest with methionine-enhanced food. Treatment effects on proportions of overall and female cotton rats in reproductive condition depended on sampling date, but males were most reproductively active with methionine supplementation. Methionine supplementation resulted in an earlier and longer reproductive season. Density-dependent and density-independent factors no doubt interplay to determine population dynamics of cotton rats, but our results suggest that methionine plays a role in the population dynamics of wild cotton rats, apparently by enhancing overall density, recruitment, and reproductive activity of males.
Europium Doping Impact on the Properties of MBE Grown Bi2Te3 Thin Film

The impact of europium doping on the electronic and structural properties of the topological insulator Bi2Te3 is studied in this paper. The crystallographic structure studied by electron diffraction and transmission microscopy confirms that grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) system film with the Eu content of about 3% has a trigonal structure with relatively large monocrystalline grains. The X-ray photoemission spectroscopy indicates that europium in Bi2Te3 matrix remains divalent and substitutes bismuth in a Bi2Te3 matrix. An exceptional ratio of the photoemission 4d multiplet components in Eu doped film was observed. However, some spatial inhomogeneity at the nanometer scale is revealed. Firstly, local conductivity measurements indicate that the surface conductivity is inhomogeneous and is correlated with a topographic image revealing possible coexistence of conducting surface states with insulating regions. Secondly, Time of Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) depth-profiling also shows partial chemical segregation. Such in-depth inhomogeneity has an impact on the lattice dynamics (phonon lifetime) evaluated by femtosecond spectroscopy. This unprecedented set of experimental investigations provides important insights for optimizing the process of growth of high-quality Eu-doped thin films of a Bi2Te3 topological insulator. Understanding such complex behaviors at the nanoscale level is a necessary step before considering topological insulator thin films as a component of innovative devices.
Sex and Careers of University Students in Educational Practices as Factors of Individual Differences in Learning Environment and Psychological Factors during COVID-19

The present research was carried out in Spain during the COVID-19 pandemic following emergency school closures in an attempt to avoid the spread of infection. As a result, university students undertaking the final year of education degrees (teaching placements) have been obliged to deliver their teaching from home, adapting their teaching contexts to learning in virtual settings. A novel instrument was designed and validated in order to analyze the impact of learning environments and psychological factors in university students during a period of teaching placements. This took place in an adaptive context (state of confinement). Associations were determined between learning environments and psychological factors in adaptive contexts, in relation to the group to which they belonged (whether undertaking a degree in primary education, physical education and sport, early education or social education), and sex. The present study used a Delphi method, alongside a descriptive and quantitative analysis. The data demonstrate that learning environments differ according to the degree studied. The four analyzed groups revealed significant differences in relation to learning environments and psychological factors in adaptive confinement contexts. The subjects of Primary and Social Education were seen to be related with a greater possibility of being overwhelmed and reporting difficulties. Those more used to physical exercise showed more positive psychological indices. Females reported more negative responses. The conclusion reached is that the results of the present research will enable future additional multi-dimensional analysis to be conducted.
Comprehensive mapping of immune perturbations associated with severe COVID-19

Although critical illness has been associated with SARS-CoV-2-induced hyperinflammation, the immune correlates of severe COVID-19 remain unclear. Here, we comprehensively analyzed peripheral blood immune perturbations in 42 SARS-CoV-2 infected and recovered individuals. We identified extensive induction and activation of multiple immune lineages, including T cell activation, oligoclonal plasmablast expansion, and Fc and trafficking receptor modulation on innate lymphocytes and granulocytes, that distinguished severe COVID-19 cases from healthy donors or SARS-CoV-2-recovered or moderate severity patients. We found the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio to be a prognostic biomarker of disease severity and organ failure. Our findings demonstrate broad innate and adaptive leukocyte perturbations that distinguish dysregulated host responses in severe SARS-CoV-2 infection and warrant therapeutic investigation. Profound plasmablast expansion, innate cell modulation, and T cell activation are defining features of severe COVID-19.
Effect of Feeding Hydroponics Barley (Hordeum vulgare) Fodder on Nutrient Utilization, Growth, Blood Metabolites and Cost Effectiveness in Hariana Male Calves

Twelve Hariana male calves of similar age (6–8 months of age) and body weight (99.5 kg) were distributed in three groups of 4 animals each in order to study the effect of feeding of hydroponics barley fodder on intake, digestibility of nutrients and growth in calves. The study was conducted at Ayurvet Research Foundation, Chidana, Sonepat, Haryana for 90 days. The animals in group T1 (control) were fed 1.4 kg concentrate mixture containing 21% CP and 70% TDN, 2 kg conventional green fodder and wheat straw ad lib. In group T2, 50% of CP and energy requirements were met through concentrate mixture (0.55 kg) and rest through hydroponics barley fodder (2.5 kg) and wheat straw was provided ad lib. while in group T3, 5.0 kg hydroponics barley fodder was given alongwith ad lib supply of wheat straw. Dry matter intake (% of BW) was higher in groups T2 and T3 (3.38 and 3.35, respectively) in comparison to control (2.93). Digestibility of OM (64.23 and 62.33 vs. 55.14%) and CP (79.57 and 77.46 vs. 72.76%) were significantly higher (P<0.05 and P<0.01) for calves fed hydroponic fodder based TMR in groups T3 and T2 compared to group T1. The average daily gain was also higher in groups T2 (501.67 g) and T3 (490.33 g) compared to group T1 (375.00 g). There was a reduction of 33% in feeding cost per kg weight gain/calf/day in group T2 in comparison to T1. Therefore, feeding of hydroponics barley fodder increased DM intake, digestibility of nutrients and growth rate in calves while increasing the profit.