Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lipoprotein signatures of cholesteryl ester transfer protein and HMG-CoA reductase inhibition

Background CETP inhibition reduces vascular event rates but confusion surrounds its low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol effects. We sought to clarify associations of genetic inhibition of CETP on detailed lipoproteins. Methods and Results We used variants associated with CETP (rs247617) and HMGCR (rs12916) expression in 62,400 Europeans with detailed lipoprotein profiling from nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Genetic associations were scaled to 10% lower risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Associations of lipoprotein measures with risk of incident CHD in three population-based cohorts (770 cases) were examined. CETP and HMGCR had near-identical associations with LDL-cholesterol concentration estimated by Friedewald-equation. HMGCR had a relatively consistent effect on cholesterol concentrations across all apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins. CETP had stronger effects on remnant and very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol but no effect on cholesterol concentrations in LDL defined by particle size (diameter 18–26 nm) (-0.02SD 95%CI: -0.10, 0.05 for CETP versus -0.24SD, 95%CI -0.30, -0.18 for HMGCR). CETP had profound effects on lipid compositions of lipoproteins, with strong reductions in the triglyceride content of all highdensity lipoprotein (HDL) particles. These alterations in triglyceride composition within HDL subclasses were observationally associated with risk of CHD, independently of total cholesterol and triglycerides (strongest HR per 1-SD higher triglyceride composition in very-large HDL 1.35; 95%CI: 1.18, 1.54). Conclusion CETP inhibition does not affect size-specific LDL cholesterol but may lower CHD risk by lowering cholesterol in other apolipoprotein-B containing lipoproteins and lowering triglyceride content of HDL particles. Conventional composite lipid assays may mask heterogeneous effects of lipid-altering therapies.
Agronomic performance of plantain genotypes and genetic variability using Ward-MLM algorithm

Plantains in Brazil are produced from the `Terra Maranhao’, ‘Terrinha’ and ‘D´Angola’ cultivars, which are all susceptible to black Sigatoka, weevils and nematodes. Therefore, the development of resistant plantain cultivars with agronomic characteristics aligned with market demands is the most efficient way to overcome these barriers regarding fruit production. The objectives of this work were to evaluate plantain cultivars for agronomic and physicochemical characteristics, and to estimate their genetic variability using ISSR molecular markers. The experimental design used was randomized block with ten plantain genotypes distributed in five blocks with four plants per plot. Ten agronomic and five physicochemical characteristics were measured. The agronomic, physicochemical and molecular (ISSR) characteristics were analyzed together using the Ward-MLM algorithm. Based on the agronomic and physicochemical evaluations, the ‘Red Yad’, ‘Curare Enano’ and ‘Chifre de Vaca’ genotypes could potentially be recommended to farmers, especially due to their short height and higher bunch mass and number of hands. The analysis of the combined data using the Ward-MLM algorithm identified genetic variability that, although restricted, can be used for genetic improvement strategies. To the best of our knowledge this is the first work that validates new plantains under Brazilian conditions, increasing cultivar options for farmers.
Assessing naturalness of arable weed communities: a new index applied to a case study in central Italy

Abstract The interest in the ecological role of weed communities within arable fields has increased greatly in recent years. The aim of this work was to provide an original tool for arable land naturalness estimation, based on the many features of plants that colonize crops. Taking account of taxonomic, structural, chorological and ecological features of weed taxa as exoticism, Raunkier life-form and edaphic preference, a new index (Arable Land Naturalness Index – ALNI) was developed, which allowed for an evaluation score to be obtained for a given field. To ensure easy and quick application of the tool, a program for the calculation of ALNI values was written in Java. The index was applied to segetal communities of 61 wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) fields and 44 maize (Zea mays L.) fields in Latium region (central Italy), revealing both the existence, in such cultivations, of geographic naturalness gradients and large differences between wheat and maize weed assemblages. It was detected that naturalness levels were higher in wheat weed communities than in maize weed communities and tended to increase when moving eastwards and at higher altitudes, e.g. in internal hills and low mountains. Finally, based on evidence from literature, the results were related to the most probable types of agricultural management system (extensive/traditional or intensive), showing that maize was much more often submitted to intensive agriculture, whereas traditional, extensive farming systems was clearly used in many of the wheat fields.
Different Germination Success May Explain Lower Species Richness of Herbaceous Vegetation Below Non-Native Than Native Shrubs

Mechanisms by which invasive species affect native communities have been intensively studied. Invasive plants may influence other species through competition, altered ecosystem processes, or other pathways. It has been suggested that allelochemical interference is the key mechanism explaining a lower species richness of herbaceous plants below non-native than native shrubs. We studied plant recruitment from seeds sown inside and outside patches formed by Sorbaria sorbifolia, a shrub non-native to Finland, and a native shrub Rubus idaeus. Recruitment of seedlings was lower below non-native than native shrubs, in contrast to recruitment outside the shrub patches. Biotic filtering of subdominant plants was a stepwise process affected by the difference between nonnative and native shrubs. Our results suggest that allelochemicals released by non-native species may be responsible for this difference. They thus give support to the hypothesis emphasizing the importance of allelopathy in the invasion of non-native plants. The slow and stepwise action of biotic filtering cautions against defining plant community membership merely based on the presence of seedlings.
Bainitic transformation during the two-step Q&P process in a lean medium Mn steel containing silicon

Lean medium Mn Quenching and Partitioning (Q&P) steels with Mn contents up to 5 wt-% have recently gained a lot of interest due to their promising combination of strength and ductility. This steel group is characterized by a microstructure consisting of a carbon-depleted tempered martensitic (α’’) matrix and a considerable amount of retained austenite (RA) stabilized by both, C and Mn, in order to ensure a sufficient strain-induced austenite to martensite transformation (TRIP-effect). Furthermore, the hard α’’ matrix contributes to the excellent performance of these steels in bending, sheet cutting and hole expansion operations. In this contribution, the impact of the Q&P process on the transsformation behavior of a 0.2C-4.5Mn-1.5Si lean medium Mn steel is presented and discussed in detail. This includes dilatometric experiments examining the influence of the Q&P process parameters on the phase transformations, light optical and scanning electron microstructural (LOM, SEM) investigations, as well as hardness measurements according to Vickers. Moreover, the Q&P annealing approach was compared to the TRIP-assisted bainitic ferrite (TBF) process, in order to evaluate the influence of primary martensite (α’initial) being present in the Q&P samples at the onset of isothermal bainitic transformation (IBT) on the transformation kinetics. With increasing quench temperature (TQ) the amount of α’’ significantly decreased, whereas the phase fraction of bainitic ferrite (αB) and RA continuously increased, leading to the formation of fresh martensite (α’final) and the sharp decrease of the RA fraction at TQ exceeding 250°C. Furthermore, with increasing partitioning temperature (TP) a decreasing amount of αB, associated with an increasing amount of α’final, could be examined. The comparison of the Q&P and TBF process in terms of transformation behavior manifested a pronounced influence of the presence of α’initial, since the IBT was intensively accelerated in the Q&P samples.
Potentiation by potassium iodide using TPPS4 for antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation

Potassium iodide can potentiate antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation (aPDI) of a broad-spectrum of microorganisms, producing many extra logs of killing. We compared two charged porphyrins, TPPS4 (thought to be anionic and not able to bind to Gram-negative bacteria) and TMPyP4 (considered cationic and well able to bind to bacteria). As expected TPPS4 + light did not kill Gram-negative Escherichia coli, but surprisingly when 100 mM KI was added, it was highly effective at mediating aPDI (eradication at 200 nM + 10 J/cm2 of 415 nm light). TPPS4 was more effective than TMPyP4 in eradicating the Gram-positive bacteria, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and the fungal yeast Candida albicans (regardless of KI). TPPS4 was also highly active against E. coli after a centrifugation step when KI was added, suggesting that the supposedly anionic porphyrin bound to bacteria and Candida. We conclude that TPPS4 behaves as if it has some cationic character in the presence of bacteria, which may be related to its supply from vendors in the form of a dihydrochloride salt.
The use of glucocorticoid hormones or leucocyte profiles to measure stress in vertebrates: What’s the difference?

Measuring stress in animals is important in many ecological, zoological and veterinary research settings. A common method is to measure plasma levels of glucocorticoid hormones (cortisol, corticosterone, hereafter CORT). Over the past decade, an alternative method has become widely popular: assessing leucocyte profiles; in other words, the heterophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (H/L) in birds and reptiles or the neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (N/L) in mammals, amphibians and fish. Recent studies have shown that although both indices reliably change after acute stress, they are not always correlated at baseline, and thus are not interchangeable. This lack of correlation has led to some confusion about which of these two measures is “better”; in other words, more biologically relevant and a truer readout of stress. In this review, we first document the dramatic expansion of the use of leucocyte profiles to assess stress over the past decade. We then review published evidence that may explain the discrepancies between leucocyte profiles and plasma CORT. We argue that these discrepancies stem from the nature of the stress reaction and the role of corticosterone (or cortisol) versus leucocytes during the stress response. The differing roles of the two responses translate to differences in the timing of each, which is important for researchers studying either acute or chronic stress. Although plasma glucocorticoids rise within minutes of the onset of acute stress and return to baseline within 1 or 2 hr after the stressor passes, H/L or N/L ratios remain low for at least 30–60 min or sometimes more. The temporal nature of these metrics differs also in the context of long‐term chronic stress. The glucocorticoid response wanes in repeatedly stressed animals, or those exposed to chronic environmental stress, which can often (but not always) lead to low baseline levels and more typically, an attenuated acute stress response. Meanwhile, H/L or N/L ratios appear to remain high under the same conditions. Understanding the temporal differences in the responses should help researchers decide which metric is the better method in their particular study, or whether both would be useful for elucidating different elements of the stress response.
The genetic polymorphism of merozoite surface protein-1 in Plasmodium falciparum isolates from Aceh province, Indonesia

An estimated of 3.3 million Indonesian population were infected with malaria. However, extensive genetic polymorphism of the field isolates msp-1 of P. falciparum represents a major obstacle for the development of malaria treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic diversity of msp-1 genotype in field isolates of P. falciparum collected in Aceh Province. A total of 90 patients with malaria (+) were selected from eleven district hospitals in Aceh from 2013-2015. Data were collected by anamnesis, complete physical examination and laboratory tests for msp-1. All protocols to diagnose malaria followed the WHO 2010 guideline. All samples were stored in Eijkman Biology Molecular Institute, Jakarta. Among 90 samples, 57.7% were male, and 42.3% were female with the most cases found between 21-30 years old. From the allele typing analysis of P. falciparum from Aceh; K1, MAD20, and RO33 allele types were identified. MAD20 type was the highest allele found in this study (57.9%). It was found in single and mixed infection. A moderate level of the mixed allele was also observed.
Post-weaning feeding levels on feeding behavior, growth and development in Holstein dairy heifers

EnglishTo study the effect of post-weaning feeding levels on the growth of dairy heifers, 40 animals with 77.7 ± 8.1 days of age and 77.5 ± 9.2kg of body weight were grouped in 10 pens, and each pen was randomly assigned to one of the following treatments for 120 days: feeding level to achieve a body weight gain of 600 (TMEDIUM) or 800 (THIGH) g/day based on a total mixed ration. After this period all heifers were managed as a single group for 150 days. Nutrient intake, behavior, body weight and other morphological measures were recorded in each animal. As a result of the experimental design THIGH heifers had a higher nutrient intake than TMEDIUM heifers, which was reflected in a higher daily weight gain, withers height, heart girth and hip width. However, treatments had no effect on these traits during the residual period. Key words: heifer; feeding level; growth portuguesPara estudar o efeito dos niveis de alimentacao pos-desmame sobre o crescimento de novilhas da raca Holandes, 40 animais com 77,7 ± 8,1 dias de idade e 77,5 ± 9,2kg de peso corporal foram agrupados em 10 canetas, sendo que cada caneta foi aleatoriamente designada para um dos seguintes tratamentos por 120 dias: nivel de alimentacao para atingir um ganho de peso corporal de 600 (TMEDIO) ou 800 (TALTO) g/dia com base em uma racao total misturada. Apos este periodo, todas as novilhas foram tratadas como um unico grupo por 150 dias. A ingestao de nutrientes, o comportamento animal, o peso corporal e outras medidas morfologicas foram registrados em cada animal. Como resultado do delineamento experimental, as novilhas TALTO tiveram maior ingestao de nutrientes do que as novilhas TMEDIO, o que refletiu em maior ganho diario de peso corporal, altura dos gomos, circunferencia do coracao e largura do quadril. No entanto, os tratamentos nao tiveram efeito sobre estas variaveis durante o periodo residual. Palavras-chave: novilha; nivel de alimentacao; crescimento
IDENTIFICATION AND OPTIMIZATION OF LIPASE PRODUCING BACTERIA FROM PALM OIL CONTAMINATED WASTE

Bacteria isolated from semi-solid waste, SS2B1 exhibited a greater zone of clearance, 9mm with higher lipase activity. SS2B1 isolate demonstrated a Gram-positive and rod shape arrangement under microscope observation belong to Bacillus sp based on biochemical characteristics. The effect of carbon source, nitrogen source, medium pH and temperature for the lipase production was studied. The lipase production was maximum (0.1228 µg/ml/min) at pH7, temperature 37 0 C by the lipase producing bacteria SS2B1, Bacillus sp. Increased enzymatic production was obtained when the organisms were cultured in medium supplemented with 1% tryptone and palm oil as substrate with 53.58% optimization process. The results of the present study demonstrate that the Bacillus sp. is ideal for extracellular lipase production at industrial level such as detergent, leather and fine chemical industries.
‘Otter, Come Out!’: Taking Away the Stone on the Southernmost Italian Lutra lutra Population

ABSTRACT Although Italy is among the European countries with the highest number of threatened species, since the turn of the twenty-first century some flagship species, such as Eurasian otter Lutra lutra and wolf Canis lupus, have started to recover. Since 2003 the otter has been newly recorded on the Sila Massif (S. Italy), where it had been reported to have gone extinct in the 1980s. With the aim of outlining the actual range of this population, in 2014–2017 we monitored otter occurrence on eight major rivers. Spraint surveys were carried out on 18–23 sampling stretches every July. Seven stations (Rivers Savuto and Neto-Lese) showed 75–100% positive surveys, while otters were recorded only once at three of the rivers. Monitoring allowed identifying in the catchments of the Rivers Savuto and Neto, which flow on opposite sides of the Sila Massif, otter core population at the southern edge of its Italian range. We assessed the exceptionality of the recent sightings using a surprise index based on the time distribution of pre-disappearance otter records. Analyses suggest that the otter persisted in the area and went unrecorded during the national survey carried out in 1983–1985, stressing the need for further monitoring at national scale.
Study of Antibacterial Activity of Chenopodium album Leaves Extract

This study describes the antibacterial activities of three different solvent extracts of leaves of Chenopodium album. Methanol, acetone and chloroform extracts of C. album were prepared. The antibacterial activity was assessed using well plate method and were examined for the size of zone of inhibition. Different extracts were investigated against the test organisms namely Lactobacillus, Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli. The maximum activity was observed at 100% concentration of different extracts of leaves. The maximum zone of inhibition for 100% concentration were observed as E. coli (19 mm) and Lactobacillus (19 mm) in diameter respectively. C. album did not show any antibacterial activity against B. subtilis. Antibacterial activity was compared with standard Amoxicillin and it was found to be 23 mm diameter for Lactobacillus and 25 mm for both E. coli and B. subtilis in terms of zone of inhibition.
Diversity increases with elevation: empidine dance flies (Diptera, Empididae) challenge a predominant pattern

Tropical mountain forests are important reservoirs of biodiversity. They are usually species‐rich and often support endemic species making them prime targets for conservation effort. The aim of this study was to investigate elevational patterns of species diversity and phenology to provide a meaningful understanding of insects’ spatio‐temporal distributions along a tropical gradient of elevation. Our study focuses on the Empidinae communities (Diptera, Empididae) from Doi Inthanon (north Thailand, gradient 400–2556 m asl), sampled during two entire years (2006–2007, 2014). This group of insects is more diverse in temperate localities than in the tropics and we found that: (1) increase in altitude and latitude has a similar effect, so that the diversity of our model increases with elevation; (2) the phenology is strongly influenced by seasonality with a peak of diversity occurring during the transition between the dry and rainy seasons; (3) there is no phenological shift in the diversity peak with elevations; and (4) the species composition changes along the altitudinal gradient and through the year (high beta diversity). The increase in diversity with increasing elevation and the peak of diversity occurring at the transitional period both strongly coincide with abiotic factors, the decreasing temperature and the arrival of the monsoon, respectively.
Coordinated species importation policies are needed to reduce serious invasions globally: The case of alien bumblebees in South America

Fil: Aizen, Marcelo Adrian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universidad Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; Argentina
QTL mapping and candidate gene mining for soybean seed weight per plant

ABSTRACT In this study, 147 recombinant inbred soybean lines constructed from the parents Charleston and Dongnong594, were used to map quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for seed weight per plant in multiple years (2006 to 2010 and 2013). QTL mapping was done using a simple sequence repeat (SSR) map combined with specific-locus amplified fragment (SLAF) map and the composite interval mapping (CIM), multiple interval mapping (MIM) and inclusive complete interval mapping method (ICIM) algorithms. By combining QTLs with the QTL physical locations, two QTL intervals located in the D1a and C2 linkage groups were found in different years. KEGG and GO annotations of the 413 genes located within these QTL intervals were used to screen for candidate genes potentially involved in seed production. Based on WeGo online genetic classification, we ultimately selected four genes related to yield traits, Glyma.01G158700, Glyma.01G156800, Glyma.01G125400 and Glyma.01G147800, as candidate genes.
Nexus between Strategic Management and Firm Performance: A Study of Selected Manufacturing Companies in Nigeria

Today’s business is characterized by dynamism in business environments (Internal and External) which are expected to lead to increased competition among the stakeholders. Business managers are expected to plan more efficient and effective to achieve set objectives. The objective of this paper is to contribute to the existing research in the field of strategic by determining the nexus between strategic management and firm performance using five (5) selected manufacturing companies in Lagos Nigeria. Data were collected using questionnaire design in simple English Language and analyzed using simple percentage and non parametric statistical tool of Chi-square (χ). It was discovered that companies set up their own strategic management process among the top echelon of each of the companies used as a case study. It is therefore recommended that companies whether small, medium or large-scale company should set fund aside for research and development, in other to fine tune required strategic plans and incorporate strategic management in business studies in business schools to serve as a research institute and incubation center for business strategy.
The congruence effect is impaired in healthy aging: a relationship to event-related potentials and theta-alpha oscillations

Long-term memory can improve when incoming information is congruent with known semantic information. This so-called congruence effect has widely been shown in younger adults but age-related changes and neural mechanisms remain unclear. Here, congruence improved recognition memory in younger and older adults (i.e. congruency effect), but – importantly – this effect decreased with age. Electroencephalography data show that, in both groups, congruence led to widespread differences in event-related potentials (ERPs) and alpha-beta oscillations (8-30 Hz), known to support semantic processing. Importantly, these ERP differences predicted increases in memory performance, especially for congruent items. Finally, age-related differences in memory were accompanied by a positive ERP and later decrease in theta-alpha (5-13 Hz) during encoding, which were greater in the younger group. Together, although semantic congruence generally increases long-term memory, the effect is less pronounced in the elderly. At the neural level, theta-alpha oscillations, previously linked to memory and attentional processes, provide a mechanistic explanation for such an age-related effect.