Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterisation of the eukaryotic initiation factor 2alpha kinases of Plasmodium falciparum

Malaria remains a devastating disease with respect to both mortality and the constraints it places on the economic development of the countries in which it is endemic. Our laboratory is seeking new antimalarial targets, by characterising the protein kinases of the most lethal human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. As central components of many diverse signalling pathways, protein kinases are crucial for the control of proliferation and differentiation in other eukaryotes; we hypothesise that they play similar roles in P. falciparum. The life cycle of P. falciparum is complex, consisting of a series of tightly controlled stages of division and differentiation. In the related apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, stress stimuli have been implicated in an important differentiation step, from rapidly dividing tachyzoites, to quiescent bradyzoites (which enable immune evasion). Evidence suggests that stress may also contribute to an essential differentiation stage, gametocytogenesis, in P. falciparum. In yeast and metazoans, part of the stress response is mediated through phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2alpha (eIF2alpha), which results in selective translation of mRNAs encoding stress response proteins. Post-transcriptional control of gene expression is suspected to play an important role in P. falciparum. Importantly, the Goldberg laboratory recently demonstrated that similarly, in P. falciparum the eIF2alpha orthologue is phosphorylated in response to starvation. Here we identify the P. falciparum orthologue of the translation initiation factor eIF2alpha and provide bioinformatic evidence for the presence of three eIF2alpha kinases in P. falciparum; PfeIK1, PfeIK2 and PfPK4, only one of which (PfPK4) has been described previously (Mohrle et al., 1997). We show that one of the novel eIF2alpha kinases, PfeIK1, is able to phosphorylate P. falciparum eIF2alpha in vitro. In addition, initial experiments support previous observations that PfPK4 is indeed an active protein kinase (Mohrle et al., 1997). We present evidence that PfPK4 is essential for asexual growth, which precludes straightforward reverse genetics studies aiming to determine its possible role in gametocytogenesis. In contrast, transgenic parasites allowed us to show that neither PfeIK1 nor PfeIK2 are required for asexual growth, or sexual development of the parasite in the mosquito vector. However, preliminary evidence (requiring confirmation) may indicate that parasites lacking PfeIK1 over-express PfPK4, which would suggest that PfeIK1 may play an important function in the parasite. This study strongly suggests that a mechanism for versatile regulation of translation by several kinases with a similar catalytic domain, but distinct regulatory domains, is conserved in P. falciparum.
The expression level of hsa-miR-146a-5p in plasma-derived exosomes of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Background: The standard treatment for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) had been rituximab-based immunochemotherapy. However, the biological and clinical heterogeneity within DLBCL seems to affect treatment outcome. Therefore, the evaluation of miRNA levels might be useful in predicting treatment response and relapse risk. miR-146a is a modulator of innate and acquired immunity and may play an important role in predicting treatment response. The aim of the present study was to compare the expression level of miR-146a in plasma-derived exosomes of responsive DLBCL patients (response to R-CHOP (Rituximab, and Cyclophosphamide, Hydroxydaunorubicin, Oncovine and Prednisone)), refractory DLBCL patients (resistant to R-CHOP), patients receiving R-CHOP, and healthy donors. Materials and Methods: After the preparation of plasma and isolation of exosomes, the presence of plasma-derived exosome was confirmed by Zetaseizer, electron microscope, and Western blot. The patients’ medical records were collected and analyzed. The expression level of exosomal miR-146a was evaluated in DLBCL patients and healthy donors using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The −ΔCt values of miR-146a were compared among responsive patients (n = 17), refractory patients (n = 16), patients receiving R-CHOP therapy (n = 15), and healthy donors (n = 6). Results: The presence and size of plasma-derived exosomes were confirmed. Our findings did not show any significant difference in the expression level of exosomal miR-146a between DLBCL patients and healthy donors (P = 0.48). As well, the clinical and histopathological parameters were not correlated with the expression level of exosomal miR-146a or plasma miR-146a. The expression level of plasma miR-146 was lower than the expression level of exosomal miR-146 (P = 0.01). Conclusion: Exosomal miR-146a might be useful as a promising “liquid biopsy” biomarker in predicting treatment response and relapse risk; however, we could not find significant differences due to small sample size.
A RE‐EXAMINATION OF MUSCLE PROTEIN SOLUBILITY

Muscle proteins are conveniently characterized by their solubility properties. Sarcoplasmic proteins are defined as those soluble when muscle is extracted with water or solutions of low ionic strength, i.e., physiological or less. Myofibrillar proteins are generally thought to be soluble at elevated ionic strengths (> 0.3). Close examination of the extractability and solubility properties of these two groups of proteins, indicates that their solubility properties are not as different as is generally believed. With both groups of proteins, distinctions must be made between extractability and solubility. Our research results have revealed that the proteins of eight different white muscles are essentially completely soluble in solutions of physiological ionic strength or less and neutral pH. Six of these muscles were from white fleshed fish, and one each was from a fatty fish and chicken breast muscle. There were differences among the muscles of the various species. In mackerel and chicken breast muscle, it appeared that certain proteins had to be removed before the remaining myofibrillar proteins could be solubilized in water.
Results of the Rumphius Biohistorical Expedition to Ambon (1990). Part 13. Mollusca, Bivalvia, Cardiidae

31 Cardiidae species have been collected in Ambon, Indonesia by the Rumphius Biohistorical Expedition, comprising circa 40% of the known species of this family from the Indonesian archipelago. Seven of these could be traced to the figures given by Rumphius (1705) and an additional two, taking into account some reservations about the identity of Rumphius' depicted shells. This implies that all but one of Rumphius' species, viz. Tridacna (Tridacna) gigas (Linnaeus, 1758), have been reencountered by the present expedition. The expedition has yielded the first Indonesian published records of two species: Fulvia (Laevifulvia) lineonotata Vidal, 1994 and Acrosterigma dianthinum (Melvill & Standen, 1899). For the latter this implies a considerable range extension of the known distribution.
In vitro regeneration of pathogen free Kaempferia galanga L. - a rare medicinal plant

Kaempferia galanga L. is an aromatic and medicinal herb of the family Zingeberaceae.The plant is propagated through rhizomes for which various pathogens are transmittedthrough it. Conventional breeding methods are ineffective for producing disease free cropbut in vitro regeneration can serve the purpose. Direct in vitro regeneration using shoot budsin Murashige and Skoog media supplemented with various concentrations and combinationsof cytokinin were used for regeneration. The sprouts responded within 3-4 weeks. Maximumnumber of plantlets were observed in the media supplemented with 4 mg/L BAP (4.33shoots/explant) when different cytokinins were used alone. Combinations of BAP andkinetin produced better results. Maximum regeneration was observed in mediasupplemented with 3 mg/l BAP + 4 mg/l kinetin (6.52). Decline in the rate of regenerationwere observed after 1st or 2nd subcultures depending upon the plant growth regulator/s.Rooting followed shooting in all the hormone combinations. High survival percentage wasobserved on hardening. The regenerated plantlets were detected to be pathogen free.
Brief intervention for obesity in primary care: how does student learning translate to the clinical context?

This article was migrated. The article was marked as recommended. There is an international call for more sustainable approaches to healthcare and for graduating doctors to develop the competencies to address the behavioural, psychological and social determinants of health. Obesity is a global challenge, and the case for preventative health is evident. There is growing evidence to support brief interventions for obesity in primary care. The feasibility and acceptability of teaching within classroom contexts have been demonstrated, however there are known barriers to adopting these approaches with patients. It is unclear how well classroom learning translates to the clinical context. 329 final year medical students from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki attended training that had been developed through action research processes at King’s College London and adapted to the local context. Students conducted brief interventions with 3,177 overweight or obese patients across 136 primary healthcare facilities over three rotations. Their reflective learning essays were coded for content and thematically analysed to illuminate their experiences. Emergent themes include students’ insights into the drivers behind the obesity epidemic and psychosocial barriers to change; transformative experiences using patient-centred approaches to communication and behaviour change; progression in skills and attitudes to broaching obesity in clinical contexts; and insights into the factors that drive patient engagement. Their experiences indicate that facilitative approaches are acceptable to patients, and result in commitment to change where relevant to the patient’s agenda.
Corolla shape vs. size in flower choice by a nocturnal hawkmoth pollinator

Summary 1. Corolla shape is one of many floral traits used by pollinators when making foraging decisions. Corolla shape has been implicated as a factor in floral isolation and evolutionary shifts between pollinator affinities, yet few studies have investigated how quantifiable differences in corolla shape affect pollinator behaviour. 2. This study measured variation in corolla shape (primarily corolla limb dissectedness) across eight species of Nicotiana (section Alatae) and its influence on flower choice by nocturnal hawkmoths (Manduca sexta). Behavioural assays performed under simulated moonlight tested for hawkmoth preference and performance differences between the average floral shape of sphingophilous species (CHawkmoth), the average of all Nicotiana species in this study (CAll), and/or the average of hummingbird-pollinated species (CHummingbird). 3. In mixed arrays, hawkmoths preferred CHawkmoth over CAll flowers, but only when shapes were not standardized for surface area. In homogeneous arrays, hawkmoths emptied more flowers with CHawkmoth shapes, but performance did not differ when shapes were standardized by surface area. However, hawkmoths visited fewer CHummingbird flowers than other shapes when surface area was standardized. 4. Our study shows that hawkmoth behaviour can be affected by differences in corolla shape, but that floral size may be more important than true shape differences in floral discrimination by hawkmoths.
Seed priming effects on growth, lipid peroxidation, and activity of ROS scavenging enzymes in NaCl-stressed sorghum seedlings from aged seeds

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate growth, lipid peroxidation, and activity of antioxidative enzymes in sorghum seedlings grown under salt stress from artificially aged and primed seeds. The experimental design was completely randomized, with four replications per treatment, in a 2×2×2 factorial arrangement that consisted of eight treatments: two seed vigor levels (aged or not), two seed types (primed or not), and two salinity levels (0 and 100 mM NaCl). In low physiological quality (aged) seeds, the osmoconditioning mitigated the salinity negative effects (NaCl at 100 mM) on seedling growth. The results suggest that osmoconditioning induced an increase in catalase (CAT) and guaiacol peroxidase (POX) activities and these enzymes protected the seedlings against oxidative damage caused by seed accelerated aging and salinity in nutrient solutions. Finally, the observed behavior for superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities suggest that changes in these enzymes in both shoot and roots could do not be induced by studied treatments, because the changes in these organs are unrelated to each other.
Listeria monocytogenes : biofilm formation and persistence in food-processing environments

Listeria monocytogenes is ubiquitous in nature and a major concern for the food industry, since it is the causal agent of the serious foodborne illness listeriosis. This organism can be introduced through many routes to food-processing environments and may become established on food-processing equipment. Subsequently, food products may become contaminated during processing. In addition, the bacterium can grow at refrigeration temperatures. Biofilms are regarded as important with respect to the survival and growth of microorganisms in the food industry. Microorganisms growing in biofilms are protected against cleaning and disinfection and are difficult to eradicate. Listeria monocytogenes may grow in biofilms that protect them against environmental stress and can be isolated from surfaces after cleaning and disinfection. For each individual food-processing plant, a limited number of clones of L. monocytogenes may become established and persist for years. Persistent strains adhere to surfaces and form biofilms more readily compared to sporadically found strains, suggesting that adherence to surfaces is important for survival and persistence of L. monocytogenes in food-processing environments. Listeria monocytogenes can adhere to all the materials commonly used in the food industry. In biofilms L. monocytogenes is significantly more resistant to disinfection than its free-living counterparts and thick, complex biofilms are more difficult to remove than adherent single cells of L. monocytogenes . Several novel approaches to avoid adhesion of L. monocytogenes have been proposed, but high costs, practical difficulties or resistance problems limit their practical use. Despite considerable research on the adhesive properties and resistance of L. monocytogenes enabling its survival in the food production environment, a final solution for avoiding establishment of the bacterium has not yet been found.
Genetic diversity of Quercus liaotungensis Koidz populations at different altitudes

To estimate genetic diversity and genetic structures of Q. liaotungensis at different altitudes in Xingtangsi, eight natural populations were surveyed by sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) markers. A total of 179 bands were amplified by 12 pairs of SRAP primer combinations. The average number of amplification band for each pair primers was 14.9. The percentage polymorphic band (PPB) of Q. liaotungensis was 100%, Nei’s gene diversity (H) and Shannon information index (I) was 0.3482 and 0.5264 respectively, which indicated the high genetic diversity occurred in Q. liaotungensis populations. The highest genetic diversity harbored in population 6, while the lowest in population 4. The genetic diversity of all eight studied populations showed a low-high-low variation pattern along elevation gradients. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) explored that the genetic variation mainly existed within populations (80%) and only 20% of genetic variation between populations of Q. liaotungensis (p<0.001). STRUCTURE and Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) further confirmed the AMOVA analysis. Based on the genetic distance between populations, eight populations were mainly clustered into two groups. Q. liaotungensis' intrinsic biological characteristics, effective gene flow and microenvironmental heteroplasmy resulted in the genetic distribution of Q. liaotungensis populations in Xingtangsi. Key words: Genetic diversity, gene flow, Q. liaotungensis, sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP), Xingtangsi.
Carbohydrate utilization by juvenile silver perch, Bidyanus bidyanus (Mitchell). II. Digestibility and utilization of starch and its breakdown products

The ability of silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus) to digest and utilize dietary starch or starch breakdown products was investigated. For experiment 1 the ability of silver perch (2.7 ± 0.01 g) to digest wheat starch at two dietary inclusion levels (30% or 60%), each at four levels of gelatinization (0%, 25%, 50% or 80%), was investigated over a 31-day period. For experiment 2, the ability of silver perch (15.9± 0.25 g) to digest wheat starch, dextrin (at three levels of dextrinization), maltose, glucose and pea starch, all at the 30% inclusion level, was investigated over a 41-day period. Water temperature for both experiments was 25 ± 1 °C. Apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) for starch, dry matter (DM) and energy were affected by both degree of gelatinization (80% > 50% > 25% = 0%) and inclusion level (30% > 60%). Specific growth rate (SGR) was unaffected by the inclusion of 30% starch; however, it was reduced at the 60% starch content level. Degree of gelatinization had no effect on SGR. For experiment 2, there were significant differences between carbohydrate and DM ADCs for the test ingredients. The carbohydrate, DM and energy ADCs were ranked as follows: dextrin (Fieldose 9) = dextrin (Fieldose 17) = dextrin (Fieldose 30) = gelatinized wheat starch = maltose = glucose > raw wheat starch > raw pea starch. The protein ADC of the diets, postprandial plasma glucose concentration and SGR were all unaffected by ingredient type. For both experiments, HSI tended to increase with carbohydrate inclusion. Liver glycogen concentrations were also elevated, but muscle glycogen and liver and muscle triacylglycerol concentrations were unaffected. Digestibility of starch by silver perch is clearly affected by inclusion content and processing.
Report of Cancer Incidence and Mortality in China,2011

[Purpose] To estimate the cancer incidence and mortality in China in 2011. [Methods]On basis of the methods and criteria of data quality control made by NCCR,177 registries' data qualified from 234 submitted registries after data clearance and assessment as pooled data. The data was stratified by area(urban/rural),gender,age group and cancer site,incidence and mortality were calculated combined with national population in 2011. Chinese population census in 2000 and Segi's population were used for age-standardized incidence/mortality rates. [Results] All 177 cancer registries(77 in urban and 100 in rural) covered a total of 175 310 169 population(98 341 507 in urban areas and 76 968 662 in rural areas),accounted for 13.01% of whole national population in 2011. The morphology verified cases(MV%) accounted for 70.14%,and 2.44% of incident cases were identified through death certifications only(DCO%) with mortality to incidence ratio(MI ratio) of0.63. It was estimated that new cancer cases and cancer deaths were 3 372 175 and 2 113 048 in2011,respectively. The crude incidence in China was 250.28/105(male 277.77/105,female 221.37/105),age-standardized incidence by Chinese standard population(ASR China) and by world standard population(ASR world) were 186.34/105 and 182.76/105 with the cumulative incidence(0~74 age years old) of 21.20%. The cancer incidence and ASR China were 261.38/105 and 189.89/105 in urban areas, whereas 238.60/105 and 182.10/105 in rural areas,respectively. The crude mortality in China was 156.83/105(male 194.88/105,female 116.81/105),age-standardized mortalities by Chinese standard population(ASR China) and by world standard population(ASR world) were 112.88/105 and 111.82/105 with the cumulative mortality(0~74 age years old) of 12.69%. The crude cancer mortality and ASR China were 154.37/105 and 108.20/105 in urban areas, and 159.42/105and117.97/105 in rural areas,respectively. Cancers of lung cancer,female breast,stomach,liver,colon and rectum,esophagus,cervix,uterus,pancreas and ovary were the most common cancers,accounting for about 75% of all cancer new cases. Lung cancer,liver cancer,gastric cancer,esophageal cancer,colorectal cancer,breast cancer,pancreatic cancer,brain tumor,cervical cancer and leukemia were the leading causes of cancer death,accounted for about 80% of all cancer deaths. [Conclusions] The coverage of cancer registration population had a greater increase than that in the last year. The data quality and representativeness are gradually improved. As the basic work of cancer prevention and control,cancer registry is playing an irreplaceable role. The disease burden of cancer is increasing,the health department has to take effective measures to contain the increased cancer burden in China.
Desempenho do arroz de terras altas com a aplicação de doses de nitrogênio e em sucessão às culturas de cobertura do solo em sistema de plantio direto

A area cultivada no sistema de plantio direto no Brasil tem sido incrementada rapidamente e a cultura do arroz de terras altas pode ser incluida no sistema, em rotacao com outras culturas. Outro aspecto importante e a utilizacao de adubacao adequada sendo o nitrogenio um dos nutrientes absorvidos em maior quantidade pelo arroz. Assim, o objetivo do trabalho foi o de avaliar algumas caracteristicas agronomicas e a produtividade do arroz de terras altas, cv. IAC 202, utilizando-se a combinacao de culturas de cobertura - milheto, sorgo granifero, milho, guandu, crotalaria, mucuna-preta, alem da vegetacao espontânea no pousio e doses de N em cobertura - zero, 25, 50, 75, 100 e 125 kg ha-1, no municipio de Selviria (MS), nos anos agricolas 2001/2002 e 2002/2003. Considerando-se os resultados, concluiu-se que a cultura do sorgo e opcao viavel ao fornecimento de adequada quantidade de massa de materia seca e ao recobrimento da superficie do solo, mas nao para o aumento da produtividade na cultura do arroz em sucessao, em sistema de plantio direto em terras altas; a situacao e inversa com a cultura do guandu como planta de cobertura, sendo a produtividade na cultura do arroz em sucessao, em sistema de plantio direto em terras altas, distintamente influenciada pela adubacao nitrogenada, em dois anos consecutivos.
A Lazy Bailout Approach for Dual-Criticality Systems on Uniprocessor Platforms

A challenge in the design of cyber-physical systems is to integrate the scheduling of tasks of different criticality, while still providing service guarantees for the higher critical tasks in the case of resource-shortages caused by faults. While standard real-time scheduling is agnostic to the criticality of tasks, the scheduling of tasks with different criticalities is called mixed-criticality scheduling. In this paper, we present the Lazy Bailout Protocol (LBP), a mixed-criticality scheduling method where low-criticality jobs overrunning their time budget cannot threaten the timeliness of high-criticality jobs while at the same time the method tries to complete as many low-criticality jobs as possible. The key principle of LBP is instead of immediately abandoning low-criticality jobs when a high-criticality job overruns its optimistic WCET estimate, to put them in a low-priority queue for later execution. To compare mixed-criticality scheduling methods, we introduce a formal quality criterion for mixed-criticality scheduling, which, above all else, compares schedulability of high-criticality jobs and only afterwards the schedulability of low-criticality jobs. Based on this criterion, we prove that LBP behaves better than the original Bailout Protocol (BP). We show that LBP can be further improved by slack time exploitation and by gain time collection at runtime, resulting in LBPSG. We also show that these improvements of LBP perform better than the analogous improvements based on BP.