Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SYNTHESIS OF GLYCEROL TRILEVULINATE ESTER: EFFECT OF REACTION PARAMETERS

Derivatisation of glycerol (Gly) with levulinic acid (LA) to produce glycerol trilevulinate (Gt-LE) was studied. The reaction parameters affecting synthesis of Gt-LE were investigated. Catalytic and non-catalytic reactions between Gly and LA were carried out. Effects of reaction time and temperature on non-catalytic reaction were observed. Conversely, for catalysed reaction, reaction parameters studied were type of catalyst, mole ratio, catalyst loading and reaction time. Result analysis indicated that for the catalyst-free reaction, increment of reaction time and temperature will further reduce the acid value of reaction product. On the other hand, for catalytic reaction, p -TsOH accelerated the reaction much faster than montmorillonite, Amberlyst-15 or Amberlyst-46. Result analysis also showed that the best mole ratio and catalyst loading to obtain high composition of Gt-LE without having to go through cumbersome purifying process was 1:6 with 8% catalyst loading. For reaction conducted with mole ratio of 1:6 (Gly:LA), the optimum reaction time and temperature was found to be 8 hr and 140 ° C, respectively, in which GC analysis showed that product contained about 84.5% of Gt-LE.
Assessing restoration success by predicting time to recovery—But by which metric?

This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. © 2019 The Authors. Journal of Applied Ecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Ecological Society 1Department of Environmental Sciences, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Sogndal, Norway 2University of Oslo, Geo-Ecology Research Group, Section of Research and Collections, Natural History Museum, Oslo, Norway 3Radboud University, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Nijmegen, The Netherlands 4Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Bergen, Norway
Comparison of Emotional Intelligence of University Students in the Province of Sindh (Pakistan)

The study reports findings drawn from an amended version of Wong & Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLIS), university students’ of Sindh. 600 students from three universities were selected as the sample for the study. Gender wise, the male students and qualification wise the B.Sc. degree holders were found significantly better than their counterparts. There were also some significant differences in terms of the university the students were studying in. The study concludes that the emotional intelligence is positively correlated with age, gender, qualification as well as the educational institution the student is enrolled in.
Subpopulations of miniature pig mesenchymal stromal cells with different differentiation potentials differ in the expression of octamer-binding transcription factor 4 and sex determining region Y-box 2

Objective Human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) exhibit variable differentiation potential and can be divided accordingly into distinct subpopulations whose ratios vary with donor age. However, it is unknown whether the same is true in pigs. This study investigated MSC subpopulations in miniature pig and compared their characteristics in young (2 to 3 months) and adult (27 to 35 months) pigs. Methods Osteogenic, chondrogenic, and adipogenic capacity of isolated MSCs was evaluated by von Kossa, Alcian blue, and oil red O staining, respectively. Cell surface antigen expression was determined by flow cytometry. Proliferative capacity was assessed with the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Expression of marker genes was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results Porcine MSCs comprised cells with trilineage and bilineage differentiation potential (tMSCs and bMSCs, respectively) and non-differentiating stromal cells (NDSCs). The tMSC and bMSC fractions were smaller in adult than in young pigs (63.0% vs 71.2% and 11.6% vs 24.0%, respectively, p<0.05); NDSCs showed the opposite trend (25.4% vs 4.8%; p<0.05). Subpopulations showed no differences in morphology, cell surface antigen expression, or proliferative capacity, but octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4) expression was higher in tMSCs than in bMSCs and NDSCs (p<0.05), whereas sex determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2) expression was higher in tMSCs and bMSCs than in NDSCs (p<0.05). Aging had no effect on these trends. Conclusion Porcine MSCs comprise distinct subpopulations that differ in their differentiation potential and OCT4 and SOX2 expression. Aging does not affect the characteristics of each subpopulation but alters their ratios.
Deciphering the transcriptomic landscape of tumor-infiltrating CD8 lymphocytes in B16 melanoma tumors with single-cell RNA-Seq

Recent studies have proposed that tumor-specific tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T lymphocytes (CD8 TIL) can be classified into two main groups: “exhausted” TILs, characterized by high expression of the inhibitory receptors PD-1 and TIM-3 and lack of transcription factor 1 (Tcf1); and “memory-like” TILs, with self-renewal capacity and co-expressing Tcf1 and PD-1. However, a comprehensive definition of the heterogeneity existing within both tumor-specific and total CD8 TILs has yet to be clearly established. To investigate this heterogeneity at the transcriptomic level, we performed paired single-cell RNA and TCR sequencing of CD8 T cells infiltrating B16 murine melanoma tumors, including cells of known tumor specificity. Unsupervised clustering and gene signature analysis revealed four distinct CD8 TIL states - exhausted, memory-like, naïve and effector memory-like (EM-like) - and predicted novel markers, including Ly6C for the EM-like cells, that were validated by flow cytometry. Tumor-specific PMEL T cells were predominantly found within the exhausted and memory-like states but also within the EM-like state. Further, TCR repertoire sequencing revealed a large clonal expansion of exhausted, memory-like and EM-like cells with partial clonal relatedness between them. Finally, meta-analyses of public bulk and single-cell RNA-seq data suggested that anti-PD-1 treatment induces expansion of EM-like cells. Our reference map of the transcriptomic landscape of murine CD8 TILs will help interpreting future bulk and single-cell transcriptomic studies and may guide the analysis of CD8 TIL subpopulations in response to therapeutic interventions.
Oligocene Limnobiophyllum (Araceae) from the central Tibetan Plateau and its evolutionary and palaeoenvironmental implications

The extinct genus Limnobiophyllum (Araceae) has been considered a tentative link between the Aroideae and Lemnoideae subfamilies of Araceae. General understanding of morphological character evolution among these subfamilies has been limited due to the lack of preserved key structures in fossils such as infructescences. In this study, a new fossil species, Limnobiophyllum pedunculatum Low, Su & Xing sp. nov., is reported based on unusually complete specimens with intact leaves, stolon and attached infructescence and seeds from the late Oligocene of central Tibet, China. It represents the first convincing Limnobiophyllum fossil from the Tibetan Plateau and the first well-documented occurrence from east Asia. Its phylogenetic position was inferred using a matrix of 56 morphological characters and 5226 gene sequences of 41 taxa. Phylogenetic inference based on the matrix suggests that Limnobiophyllum is sister to Cobbania, as well as to the remaining extinct and living genera within the Araceae subfamily Lemnoideae. Reconstruction of vegetative and reproductive character evolution confirms that Limnobiophyllum possessed intermediate characters, especially for infructescences, between the subfamilies Lemnoideae and Aroideae. Within Lemnoideae, both vegetative and reproductive characters show clear reduction and simplification from extinct genera to living lemnoids. These findings shed new light on the evolutionary history of the family Araceae. In addition, the discovery of this species, in association with the surrounding plant megafossil assemblage, suggests a warm, humid lowland environment in the central Tibetan Plateau during the late Oligocene, contradicting previous studies that indicated high elevation of the plateau since the early Palaeogene. However, the extinction of Limnobiophyllum might have been due to both global cooling and orogenesis.
Sweetpotato Cultivar Trials on Hawai‘i Island

Twelve sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas var. batatas) accessions/cultivars/landraces (entries) were evaluated for yield, resistance to pests, and quality in five field trials planted at Pepe`ekeo, Hawai‘i Island, and replicated over time with blocks planted on May and Oct. 2014, Feb. and July 2015, and Jan. 2016. Plots were harvested at 4.5 to 6 months after planting. In the first two field trials, local entries planted were ‘Okinawan’, ‘Mokuau’, and ‘Kona B’, as well as PI 531094, ‘Beauregard’, PI 573309, PI 573330, ‘Darby’, ‘Pelican Processor’, and ‘Picadito’. Yields of ‘Mokuau’ and ‘Kona B’ were low and were replaced in the latter three field trials with ‘Murasaki-29’ and ‘LA 08-21p’ from Louisiana State University (LSU) AgCenter, Baton Rouge. At harvest, storage roots were graded according to State of Hawai‘i standards and marketable yields included grades AA, A, and B. Then, injuries of storage roots due to infestations of sweetpotato weevil (Cylas formicarius elegantulus) in each category were estimated. Finally, sugar concentrations, anthocyanins, and β-carotene contents were measured in storage roots. Marketable fresh weight yields of entries differed significantly, with ‘LA 08-21p’ having the greatest marketable yield. However, ‘LA 08-21p’ also had the greatest incidence of damage due to sweetpotato weevil, perhaps because of its growth habit as a tight cluster of storage roots located close to the soil surface. Entries also had significantly different sugar concentrations (fructose, glucose, sucrose, maltose, and total sugars). Concentrations of sucrose ranged from 25 to 68 mg·g−1 fresh weight and were greater than those of monosaccharides analyzed. ‘Beauregard’ had the highest sucrose concentration and total sugars. Purple-fleshed cultivars Okinawan and LA 08-21p contained total monomeric anthocyanins that ranged from 34 to 37 mg/100 g dry weight. Orange-fleshed cultivars Beauregard and Darby contained β-carotene that ranged from 5485 to 8302 µg/100 g fresh weight. These results provide yields of storage roots, susceptibility to sweetpotato weevils, and amounts of antioxidants in purple- and orange-fleshed sweetpotato cultivars to growers interested in producing new sweetpotato cultivars.
Genetic association studies of alcohol dependence

Objectives: Alcohol dependence (AD) commonly co-occurs with bipolar disorder (BP) and schizophrenia (SZ). Together these heritable (and cross-heritable disorders) account for significant morbidity and mortality. The genetic comorbidity between AD, BP, and SZ was investigated to find genetic factors affecting risk for developing AD. / Methods: Subjects were from the UCL AD (n=586), BP, and SZ samples and supernormal controls (SNC; up to 603 subjects). The BP and SCZ subjects were further categorized as having comorbid AD (BPALC n=143; SZALC n=77) or without AD comorbidity (BPnonALC n=367; SZnonALC n=384). The following single gene association study or Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) of the above phenotypes were performed: i) Seven SNPs previously associated with AD in the GABRA2 gene were genotyped in the AD cases and SNCs. ii) GWAS of BPALC vs SNC; and BPALC vs BPnonALC. iii) GWAS of SZALC vs SNC; and SZALC vs SZnonALC. iv) Meta-analysis of BPALC and SZALC GWAS data. Single marker tests, and gene-based permutation tests on all SNPs within a 50kb region flanking each gene, were performed. Genes previously implicated with AD and related phenotypes were tested for association in the datasets. Pathways analysis were performed on all genes uncorrected p<0.01. / Results: i) None of the GABRA2 SNPs showed association with AD. ii-iv) No GWAS SNP met the genome-wide significance threshold. Several gene wide tests with CNS genes suggested replication of prior AD findings. AD implicated pathways included neuronal generation; inflammation; reaction to inorganic substance; transportation; and tyrosine metabolism. / Conclusions: No significant single marker associations were detected in the AD sample or comorbid AD groups. Potential candidate genes were suggestively implicated by gene-based analysis and literature replication. Possible mechanisms for AD susceptibility genes in affective/psychotic disorders are discussed. This exploratory study was underpowered to detect genome wide significance and larger studies are needed.
MENTAL HEALTH STATUS AND PERCEIVED BARRIERS TO SEEKING TREATMENT IN RURAL RESERVE COMPONENT VETERANS

National Guard and Reserve (RC) troops (N=617) primarily from the Appalachian Region in Southwestern Pennsylvania who recently returned from deployment in support of current military conflicts responded to a survey that assessed their demographics, mental health symptoms, help-seeking behaviors, barriers for not seeking treatment, deployment history, and stressors. Veterans were classified as rural (N = 334) or non-rural (N = 283). Rural participants reported a significantly greater number of issues with transportation/access in seeking mental health treatment, were more likely to perceive others as worse off as a reason not to seek treatment, had a more negative attitude toward seeking treatment for mental health problems, and reported fewer concerns about a mental health problem affecting their career. Recommendations for mental health care providers and policymakers are offered based on the results, including the importance of recognizing the distinctive barriers to care that RC Appalachian veterans face when they come back into civilian communities, many of them rural.
Mechanisms of Synchrony in Heterogeneous Inhibitory Interneuronal Networks for Type 1 versus Type 2 Excitability

PV+ fast spiking basket interneurons are often implicated in gamma rhythms. Here we focus on mechanisms present in purely inhibitory networks. Neurons with type 1 excitability can fire arbitrarily slowly, whereas those with type 2 excitability cannot fire below a minimum frequency. We systematically examine how excitability type affects synchronization of individual spikes to a population rhythm in the presence of heterogeneity and noise, using model neurons of each type with matched F/I curve, input resistance, time constant and action potential shape. Population synchrony in noisy heterogeneous networks is maintained because neurons either fire within a tight time window or skip that cycle. Type 2 neurons with hyperpolarizing inhibition skip cycles due to their intrinsic dynamics; we show here the cycle skipping mechanism for type 1 neurons or type 2 neurons with shunting inhibition is synaptic and not intrinsic. Type 2 neurons are more resistant than type 1 to partial and complete suppression in networks with hyperpolarizing inhibition that exhibit network gamma. Moreover, type 2 neurons are recruited more rapidly and more completely into theta-nested gamma. In contrast, type 1 networks perform better with shunting inhibition on both counts, because the nonlinear dynamics in that case favor suppression of type 2 compared to type 1 neurons. Conductances that control excitability type may provide a therapeutic target to improve spatial and working memory and other tasks that rely on gamma synchrony or phase amplitude coupling. Author Summary The collective, synchronized activity of neurons produces brain rhythms. These rhythms are thought to subserve cognitive functions such as attention and memory encoding and retrieval. Faster rhythms are nested in slower rhythms as a putative way of chunking information. A subset of neurons called fast spiking basket cells tend to inhibit other neurons from firing. These neurons play an important role in oscillations, and in the coupling of faster oscillations to slower ones. In some brain regions these neurons can fire arbitrarily slowly (type 1 dynamics) whereas in others they cannot fire below a minimum cutoff frequency (type 2 dynamics). Mathematically, these distinct origins of rhythmic firing are signatures of very different dynamics. Here, we show that these distinct excitability types affect the ability of networks of these neurons to synchronize their fast oscillatory activity, as well as the ability of slower oscillations to modulate these fast oscillations. The exact nature of the inhibitory coupling, which may vary between brain regions, determines which type synchronizes better and is modulated better.
Biomassa de espécies florestais para produção de carvão vegetal

Devido à alta demanda das empresas por geração de energia oriunda de fontes renováveis, o objetivo deste estudo foi analisar as propriedades da madeira e do carvão proveniente de três espécies florestais: Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn. (Sumaúma), Guatteria sp. (Envirão) e Brosimum sp. (Mumuré). O material foi coletado na Empresa Rosa Madeireira Ltda. De cada espécie foram coletadas 10 amostras para a análise das propriedades da madeira e do carvão e, destas, 5 amostras foram utilizadas para a análise química. As propriedades avaliadas foram: densidade básica e teor de umidade da madeira, rendimento gravimétrico, densidade aparente e teor de umidade do carvão e, composição química. Os dados foram submetidos à Análise de Variância e médias comparadas pelo teste Tukey a 5% de probabilidade, assim como os efeitos da densidade básica sobre o rendimento gravimétrico e sobre a densidade aparente foram testados pela correlação de Pearson. As análises indicaram que o fator espécies apresentou efeito significativo em todos os parâmetros, exceto quanto ao teor de umidade do carvão. Sobre densidade básica da madeira, a Sumaúma apresentou o menor valor médio (0,4302 ± 0,0157 g/cm3) e Mumuré, o maior (0,5276 ± 0,0251 g/cm3). Entretanto, com relação ao teor de umidade, Sumaúma foi a espécie que apresentou o maior teor (47,46% ± 2,88). Os valores de rendimento em carvão variaram entre 30,03% ± 1,95 (Envirão) e 32,35% ± 1,46 (Sumaúma). Houve correlação entre a densidade da madeira e o rendimento gravimétrico para a espécie Mumuré (P = -0,553), no entanto, considerada negativa. Entretanto, correlação positiva foi encontrada para Sumaúma (P = 0,058) e Envirão (P = 0,955). Nos testes de densidade do carvão, o Mumuré apresentou o maior valor médio (0,3173 ± 0,0116 g/cm3) e Envirão o menor (0,2654 ± 0,0407 g/cm3). Uma relação direta e positiva entre a densidade básica da madeira e a densidade relativa aparente do carvão foi encontrada. Tratando-se da composição química, o fator espécies não apresentou efeito significativo.
Identification of promising resistance sources against sheath blight from the annual wild species of rice Oryza nivara (Sharma et Shastry)

Abstract Sheath blight caused by soil borne necrotrophic fungus Rhizoctonia solani [teleomorph-Thanatephorus cucumeris (Frank) Donk. ] is a major disease of rice. The disease is increasing over the year in India and cause up to 69% yield loss under favourable conditions. A total of 67 accessions of Oryza nivara were screened to identify resistance against sheath blight during 2015. Out of these, 16 accessions were found moderately resistant (MR) which were further evaluated during the year 2016 and 2017. After three years of screening, 12 of them were found to have a consistent moderate resistant reaction whereas four of the O. nivara accessions namely, IRGC81941, IRGC102463C, CR100097 and CR100110A have shown moderately susceptible to susceptible reaction against sheath blight. A correlation study revealed that different disease variables measured were significantly (P < 0.05) correlated. All the genotypes and genotype × environment interaction had a significant (P < 0.001) effect on all the disease variables. Cluster analysis showed that all the accessions were clustered into four groups which showed resistant, MR, moderately susceptible and susceptible reactions. Among all the O. nivara accessions IRGC81941A showed the maximum potential against sheath blight due to a least relative lesion height of 22.80%. None of the accession had complete resistance to the disease. The identified promising accessions such as IRGC81835, IRGC81941A, CR100008 and CR100111B can be utilized in a sheath blight resistance breeding program.
Crossover trial for comparing the biofunctional prosthetic system with conventional procedures

Context: The rapid provision of high.quality complete dentures is an unmet clinical need in some populations. Novel procedures may simplify this service but require validation against existing methods. Aims: The aim of this trial was to evaluate the clinical acceptability of complete dentures fabricated using the biofunctional prosthetic system. (BPS) when compared with conventional methods. Materials and Methods: This study was designed as a crossover trial. The patients wore either a complete denture, which was made using the biofunctional prosthetic system biofunctional prosthetic system complete denture (BPSCD) or a complete denture made with conventional procedures conventional complete denture (CCD) for 3. months before switching to the other dentures. The patients were asked to report their satisfaction levels in an abbreviated version of the Oral Health.Related Quality of Life questionnaire, specifically designed for edentulous patients. (Oral Health Impact Profile for edentulous subjects. [OHIP-EDENT]). Furthermore, the number of adjustments required for each technique to deliver pain.free fitting was noted. Finally, the patients were asked to state which denture gave them superior occlusal feel, comfort, esthetics, and retention and which denture they wished to keep for the long-term. Results: Although the satisfaction score and the OHIP. -EDENT scores showed no significant differences, the majority of patients preferred the BPSCD over the CCD in terms of occlusal feel, comfort, esthetics, and retention. Nine out of 10 patients chose to keep the BPSCD rather than the CCD, with one patient choosing the CCD for purely esthetic reasons. Conclusions: Within the limitation of this study, the BPS produced high.quality complete dentures with satisfactory results and was just as efficient as conventional procedures.
The genetics of phenotypic plasticity. XVII. Response to climate change

The world is changing at a rapid rate, threatening extinction for a large part of the world's biota. One potential response to those altered conditions is to evolve so as to be able to persist in place. Such evolution includes not just traits themselves, but also the phenotypic plasticity of those traits. We used individual‐based simulations to explore the potential of an evolving phenotypic plasticity to increase the probability of persistence in the response to either a step change or continual, directional change in the environment accompanied by within‐generation random environmental fluctuations. Populations could evolve by altering both their nonplastic and plastic genetic components. We found that phenotypic plasticity enhanced survival and adaptation if that plasticity was not costly. If plasticity was costly, for it to be beneficial the phenotypic magnitude of plasticity had to be great enough in the initial generations to overcome those costs. These results were not sensitive to either the magnitude of the within‐generation correlation between the environment of development and the environment of selection or the magnitude of the environmental fluctuations, except for very small phenotypic magnitudes of plasticity. So, phenotypic plasticity has the potential to enhance survival; however, more data are needed on the ubiquity of trait plasticity, the extent of costs of plasticity, and the rate of mutational input of genetic variation for plasticity.