Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A large and enigmatic new eleutherodactyline frog (Anura, Strabomantidae) from Serra do Sincora Espinhaco range, Northeastern Brazil

We describe a new species of a large eleutherodactyline frog from the mountain rocky meadows (“campos rupestres”) of the Serra do Sincora, Espinhaco mountain range, Mucuge municipality, State of Bahia, Brazil. The new species is promptly diagnosed from all the other Brazilian eleutherodactylines by its large size (males SVL 40.3–41.1; females SVL 75.2–79.7mm), broad head (head width 43–49% of SVL), presence of frontoparietal crests, pars fascialis of the maxilla deepened, discs absent on fingers, toes with poorly developed discs, first and second toes ridged, and tarsal fold absent. On the basis of these characters the new species is attributed to the genus Strabomantis up to now restricted to southern part of Central America and northwest part of South America.
Decreasing vitamin premix on chicken carcass composition and blood chemistry in floor and battery cage systems

Two experiments were conducted the to compare the effect of a decreasing amount of vitamin premix in diets inbroilers from 29 to 42 days of age on carcass composition and blood chemistry in floor (Experiment 1) and battery cage (Experiment 2) systems. At 35 and 42 days of ages, one bird of each replicate was slaughtered and carcass composition was measured. Blood concentrations of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and calcium (Ca) were used to diagnose vitamin D3 deficiency and enzymes aspartate amino transferase (AST) to identify vitamin E deficiency. Floor raised birds showed that vitamin premix reduction/withdrawal at 29 days of age did not impair body weight (BW), carcass composition, ALP and Ca during the final rearing period. However, diet without vitamin premix (T1) had a higher AST at 42 days of age than the other diets. Birds reared in cages were slightly more sensitive to vitamin premix reduction/withdrawal, probably due to the impracticality of performing coprophagy. Diet without vitamin premix (T1) had a lower BW, carcass breast and thigh yield at 42 days of age; also serum ALP, AST and Ca were impaired. In conclusion, the withdrawal of vitamins is not a reasonable option but it is possible to reduce vitamin premix in finisher broilers’ diets without negative effects on performance and on some metabolic traits during the finisher period with both methods of rearing.
A comparative study of the chromosomes of six species of notonecta

a. Observations. 123 b. Comparison with result,s of Pantel SinBty . 128 V. The chromosomes of N. shooterii. 129 a. Observations . 129 b. Size relations of X and Y. 131 VI. The chromosomes of N. indica. 132 a. Observations . 132 b. The X chromosome of N. indica. 135
Antagonistic action of Trichoderma harzianum and Trichoderma viride against Fusarium solani causing root rot of tomato

Trichoderma spp. are fungi that are present in substantial numbers in nearly all agricultural soils. They received attention mainly due to their importance in biological control of soil born plant pathogens. They are used in reasonably large quantities in plant agriculture both for disease control and increased yield. The antagonistic potential of Trichoderma harzianum and Trichoderma viride were evaluated in the present study against Fusarium solani casual agent of root rot of tomato. In vitro test showed that T. harzianum exhibited higher antagonist activity than T. viride against F. solani. Dual culture and volatile metabolites assays showed that T. harzianum was more effective in suppressing the growth (51.4 and 38.1%) of pathogen. Culture filtrates of T. harzianum and T. viride caused reduction in the growth of F. solani by 21.3 and 17.3%, respectively. Under pot conditions, tomato plants treated with T. harzianum showed 117.5 and 138.9% increase in plant height and dry weight, respectively compared to the control. T. harzianum caused 55.5% reduction in disease incidence while T. viride reduced root rot by 41.1%. The results obtained here clearly indicate that T. harzianum is more effective antagonist against F. solani as compared to T. viride.
On the donor substrate dependence of group‐transfer reactions by hydrolytic enzymes: Insight from kinetic analysis of sucrose phosphorylase‐catalyzed transglycosylation

Chemical group‐transfer reactions by hydrolytic enzymes have considerable importance in biocatalytic synthesis and are exploited broadly in commercial‐scale chemical production. Mechanistically, these reactions have in common the involvement of a covalent enzyme intermediate which is formed upon enzyme reaction with the donor substrate and is subsequently intercepted by a suitable acceptor. Here, we studied the glycosylation of glycerol from sucrose by sucrose phosphorylase (SucP) to clarify a peculiar, yet generally important characteristic of this reaction: partitioning between glycosylation of glycerol and hydrolysis depends on the type and the concentration of the donor substrate used (here: sucrose, α‐d‐glucose 1‐phosphate (G1P)). We develop a kinetic framework to analyze the effect and provide evidence that, when G1P is used as donor substrate, hydrolysis occurs not only from the β‐glucosyl‐enzyme intermediate (E‐Glc), but additionally from a noncovalent complex of E‐Glc and substrate which unlike E‐Glc is unreactive to glycerol. Depending on the relative rates of hydrolysis of free and substrate‐bound E‐Glc, inhibition (Leuconostoc mesenteroides SucP) or apparent activation (Bifidobacterium adolescentis SucP) is observed at high donor substrate concentration. At a G1P concentration that excludes the substrate‐bound E‐Glc, the transfer/hydrolysis ratio changes to a value consistent with reaction exclusively through E‐Glc, independent of the donor substrate used. Collectively, these results give explanation for a kinetic behavior of SucP not previously accounted for, provide essential basis for design and optimization of the synthetic reaction, and establish a theoretical framework for the analysis of kinetically analogous group‐transfer reactions by hydrolytic enzymes.
Genetic parameters of production traits of native fowl of Garhwal Himalayas

The present study was conducted on 160 pullets of native fowl of Garhwal Himalayas. The least square means and heritability were computed to evaluate the performance of production traits. The average weight at sexual maturity, age at sexual maturity, annual egg production and egg weight were found to be 1396.50±19.20 g, 176.20±2.76 days, 168.20±6.27 eggs and 36.80±0.60 g, respectively. The heritability estimates of corresponding traits based on sire component of variance were 0.33±0.12, 0.22±0.10, 0.19±0.08 and 0.12±0.10, respectively. The genetic and phenotypic correlations between age at sexual maturity and egg production were highly negative and significant, while the correlations among other traits were significantly positive.
The incidence of torpor in winter and summer in the Angolan free-tailed bat, Mops condylurus (Microchiroptera: Molossidae), in a subtropical environment, Mpumulanga, South Africa

ABSTRACT The incidence of torpor during summer and winter in response to cold exposure in Mops condylurus was studied in a subtropical environment. Body temperature changes under natural roosting conditions during winter and summer were monitored using bats fitted with temperature-sensitive radio transmitters. Rectal temperatures of free-roosting bats were also measured during winter. During summer, the effect of clustering on the incidence of torpor under different climatic conditions was investigated. Mops condylurus were thermolabile and displayed daily bouts of torpor during winter and summer, with body temperatures closely conforming to ambient temperatures. Body temperatures as low as 12.0°C were recorded during winter. Regression analysis showed a positive correlation between body and ambient temperatures in winter and summer. There was no difference in the incidence of torpor between single and clustering bats, although single bats maintained slightly higher body temperatures. Results indicate that M. condylurus maintained an optimally small Tb–Ta differential by readily becoming torpid under roosting conditions, thereby minimizing energy expenditure.
Near Real Time EHR Data Utilization in a Clinical Study

Extraction and use of Electronic Health Record (EHR) data is common in retrospective observational studies. However, electronic extraction and use of EHR data is rare during longitudinal prospective studies. One of the reasons is the amount of processing needed to assess data quality and assure consistency in meaning and format across multiple investigational sites. We report a case study of and lessons learned from acquisition and processing of EHR data in an ongoing basis during a clinical study.
Virulence gene transcription, phylogroups, and antibiotic resistance of cervico-vaginal pathogenic E. coli in Mexico

The pathogenicity of Escherichia coli strains that cause cervico-vaginal infections (CVI) is due to the presence of several virulence genes. The objective of this study was to define the variability regarding the genotype of antibiotic resistance, the transcription profiles of virulence genes after in vitro infection of the vaginal cell line A431 and the phylogroup composition of a group of cervico-vaginal E. coli strains (CVEC). A total of 200 E. coli strains isolated from Mexican women with CVI from two medical units of the Mexican Institute of Social Security were analysed. E. coli strains and antibiotic resistance genes were identified using conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and phylogroups were identified using multiplex PCR. Virulence gene transcription was measured through reverse-transcriptase real-time PCR after infection of the vaginal cell line A431. The most common antibiotic resistance genes among the CVEC strains were aac(3)II, TEM, dfrA1, sul1, and qnrA. The predominant phylogroup was B2. The genes most frequently transcribed in these strains were fimH, papC, irp2, iroN, kpsMTII, cnf1, and ompT, mainly in CVEC strains isolated from chronic and occasional vaginal infections. The strains showed a large diversity of transcription of the virulence genes phenotype and antibiotic resistance genotype, especially in the strains of phylogroups, B2, A, and D. The strains formed 2 large clusters, which contained several subclusters. The genetic diversity of CVEC strains was high. These strains have a large number of transcription patterns of virulence genes, and one-third of them carry three to seven antibiotic resistance genes.
Multiple Roles of Interferon-γ in the Mediation of Interleukin 12-induced Tumor Regression

Administration of recombinant interleukin 12 (IL-12) induces tumor regression that is associated with T-cell infiltration in the OV-HM ovarian carcinoma and CSA1M fibrosarcoma models. After confirming the blocking of regression by injection of anti-IFN-gamma monoclonal antibody (mAb), we investigated the mechanisms underlying the requirement of IFN-gamma in T-cell migration and tumor regression. T-cell migration was inhibited by injection of anti-IFN-gamma mAb to OV-HM tumor-bearing mice prior to IL-12 treatment. We examined, using the lymphoid cell migration assay, whether IFN-gamma is required for enhancing the migratory capacity of T cells or the T cell-accepting potential of tumor masses during IL-12 treatment. Spleen cells from IL-12-treated or untreated OV-HM-bearing mice were stained in vitro with a fluorescein chemical and transferred i.v. into OV-HM-bearing mice that were not treated with IL-12. Migration of donor cells was quantitated by counting the number of fluorescent cells on cryostat sections of tumor masses from recipient mice. Compared to spleen cells from OV-HM-bearing mice that were not treated with IL-12, enhanced migration was observed for cells from IL-12-treated OV-HM-bearing mice. Anti-IFN-gamma pretreatment of donor mice before IL-12 treatment did not reduce the migratory capacity of T cells, whereas migration was markedly inhibited in recipient mice injected with anti-IFN-gamma. Anti-IFN-gamma pretreatment decreased vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1)-/intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1)-positive blood vessels at tumor sites. Consistent with this, migration was also inhibited by treatment of recipient mice with either anti-VCAM-1 or anti-ICAM-1 mAb. In contrast to the OV-HM model, T-cell migration was not affected in the CSA1M model following preinjection of anti-IFN-gamma mAb. In this model, VCAM-1-/ICAM-1-positive blood vessels existed even after anti-IFN-gamma treatment, although tumor regression was completely inhibited. These results indicate that IFN-gamma plays two distinct roles in expressing the antitumor efficacy of IL-12: one is to support the T-cell acceptability of tumor masses, and the other is to mediate the antitumor effects of migrated T cells.
Spatial Patterns of Breeding Parameters in Tropical Roseate Terns Differ from Temperate Seabirds

Abstract This paper addresses the hypothesis that parental quality, expressed in terms of nest location, determines differences in breeding parameters between colonies and colony areas. I compared hatching date, egg size, egg shape, clutch size, breeding success and chick growth of Roseate Terns (Sterna dougallii) on the tropical Aride Island, Seychelles between: a) central pairs of an old colony, b) peripheral pairs of the same colony, c) pairs of old small sub-colonies and c) pairs of a recently formed colony. The breeding parameters at the small, old colonies were similar to those of the large, old colony and significantly different from those of the new colony, suggesting that parental quality is more closely related to sub-colony age than to sub-colony size. In 1998, a good breeding season, egg size was similar between all study areas, but clutch size in the new colony was significantly larger than that in the center of the old colony and the small sub-colonies. However, breeding success was significantly higher in the last two areas. In 1999, a poor breeding season, center-eggs were smaller than both edge-eggs and new-colony eggs. These patterns at the center of the old and the new colony are the opposite to those described for seabirds in temperate areas. The shape index of eggs in the new colony was lower than that of eggs in the old colony, suggesting that the new colony was formed mainly by young birds. Parameters of early growth and linear growth rate showed only minor differences between study colonies. The earliest breeding birds laid in the center of the old colony, so these results agree with a proposed hypothesis that tropical Roseate Terns trade egg and clutch size for earliness of laying. Therefore, the positive effect of larger egg size on the growth parameters of chicks from the new colony was probably annulled by the opposing effect of other factors such as low parental quality and declining foraging conditions.
Interface pressure reduction effects of wheelchair cushions in individuals with spinal cord injury: a rapid review

Abstract Objective Wheelchair cushion is routinely used to manage the sitting acquired pressure for an individual with spinal cord injury, but which kind of wheelchair cushion performs better in terms of interface pressure management is unclear. This review aims to compare different kinds of wheelchair cushions on their effect of interface pressure reduction in individuals with spinal cord injury. Methods and results The databases of MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE and Web of Science were searched. Totally 10 studies were included in this review. Seven of the included studies indicated that air cushions were superior to gel cushions in interface pressure reduction. Three of the included studies reported that gel cushions were superior to polyurethane foam cushions in interface pressure reduction. The variables of measurement duration, measurement focus, measurement devices, cushion covering, sample variations and body positioning of patients may confound the comparison of interface pressure reduction effect of different wheelchair cushions among studies. Conclusions Air cushion was reported more consistently effective in interface pressure reduction than gel and foam cushions. While the variable parameters (measurement duration, focus, devices) and individual conditions (BMI, body positioning) may interfere the comparison among studies. Researches disseminating consistent parameters and clinical prescriptions with individualized evaluation are suggested for the establishment of an evidence-based practice in clinic. Implications for rehabilitation Wheelchair cushion is routinely used for an individual post spinal cord injury to manage the sitting acquired pressure. Which kind of wheelchair cushion performs better in terms of interface pressure management is unclear. Air cushion is found more consistently effective in interface pressure reduction than gel cushion and foam cushion. Individualized evaluation of the interface pressure is suggested for the prescription of wheelchair cushion in clinic.
Temporal distribution of phytoplankton in the south-western Caspian Sea during 2009–2010: a comparison with previous surveys

This study focuses on spatial and temporal distribution and species composition of phytoplankton in the south-western Caspian Sea between July 2009 and March 2010. Samples were collected from 11 stations along three transects: Lisar, Anzali and Sefidrood. Among 44 identified phytoplankton species, diatoms (70.2%) and cyanophytes (25.0%) were dominant. The average phytoplankton abundance was calculated as 1.085E + 05 cells l−1. Among the phytoplankton groups, diatom density was higher (70.2%) than two out of three of total abundance in density of 1.085E + 05 cells l−1. Cyanophytes were the second important group (25.0%) contributing to total phytoplankton. Dinoflagellates, chlorophytes and euglenoids were other contributors to total phytoplankton. Diatoms Dactyliosolen fragilissimus and Skeletonema costatum and cyanophyte Oscillatoria sp. numerically dominated in the system. There were major changes in phytoplankton composition and average phytoplankton density was higher than those documented in 1996–1997 and 2005. The average concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) and dissolved inorganic silicate were 14.5 ± 6.32, 1.14 ± 0.44 and 5.10 ± 3.98 μM, respectively, and these concentrations were strikingly high. Increases in DIN and DIP concentrations were more than twofold compared to recorded values during the last 2 decades due to the eutrophication. Fluctuations in nutrients played an important role in the variation of phytoplankton composition and abundance. Chlorophyll-a concentrations varied between 3.22 and 16.1 μg l−1 and there was a significant increase in chlorophyll-a (8.13 ± 5.72 μg l−1) compared to the values in 1996–1997 (1.44 ± 1.48 μg l−1), 2001 (2.62 ± 1.48 μg l−1) and 2005 (2.14 ±1.94 μg l−1).
Platelet gene expression and function in patients with COVID-19

Abstract There is an urgent need to understand the pathogenesis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In particular, thrombotic complications in patients with COVID-19 are common and contribute to organ failure and mortality. Patients with severe COVID-19 present with hemostatic abnormalities that mimic disseminated intravascular coagulopathy associated with sepsis, with the major difference being increased risk of thrombosis rather than bleeding. However, whether severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection alters platelet function to contribute to the pathophysiology of COVID-19 remains unknown. In this study, we report altered platelet gene expression and functional responses in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. RNA sequencing demonstrated distinct changes in the gene-expression profile of circulating platelets of COVID-19 patients. Pathway analysis revealed differential gene-expression changes in pathways associated with protein ubiquitination, antigen presentation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. The receptor for SARS-CoV-2 binding, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), was not detected by messenger RNA (mRNA) or protein in platelets. Surprisingly, mRNA from the SARS-CoV-2 N1 gene was detected in platelets from 2 of 25 COVID-19 patients, suggesting that platelets may take-up SARS-COV-2 mRNA independent of ACE2. Resting platelets from COVID-19 patients had increased P-selectin expression basally and upon activation. Circulating platelet-neutrophil, -monocyte, and -T-cell aggregates were all significantly elevated in COVID-19 patients compared with healthy donors. Furthermore, platelets from COVID-19 patients aggregated faster and showed increased spreading on both fibrinogen and collagen. The increase in platelet activation and aggregation could partially be attributed to increased MAPK pathway activation and thromboxane generation. These findings demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with platelet hyperreactivity, which may contribute to COVID-19 pathophysiology.
Nutrient Utilization and Growth of Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Fed Dietary Levels of Cassava Leaf Meal

Fingerlings of catfish (Clarias aariepinus) of average weight 0.87 g were collected from ARAC, Port Harcourt and used to assess the responses of feeding dietary levels of cassava leaf meal on nutrien t utilization and growth of the fish. 35% isonitrogeneous diets of 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% dietary levels of cassava leaf meal were formulated. These were fed to the fingerlings randomly assigned to 4 treatments TCN (Control), TC 1 (10% CLM), TC2 (20% CLM) and TC3 (30% CLM) respectively in 3 replicates of 1 3 fingerlings each, using 12 plastic aquaria of 250 x 150 cm dimension. The fish were fed at 5% body weight twice daily within the experimental period of 8 weeks. Mortality range was between 20 and 24%, the least observed on the TCN (control) while TC2 and TC3 were the highest. Daily feed intake and protein intake were not significantly (p>0.05) different. The control (TCN) had the highest body weight gain, followed by TC2, TC3 and then TC1. Specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio for the control (TCN) were significantly (p<0.05) better than other treatments. The dietary inclusion levels of cassava leaf meal therefore seem to have no strong nutritional attribute as feedstuff in the diet of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings.