Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Changes in the Biochemical Composition of Tomato Fruit under the Influence of Illumination Quality

Tomatoes are one of the most consumed vegetables in the world. Unfortunately, obtaining a high quality tomato yield in our latitudes is inconceivable without additional lighting. Changes in biochemical composition are mainly dependent on the light received by the plant. During the winter months, natural daylight at 55 ° latitude is insufficient to provide the necessary vegetation for fruit-bearing vegetables. The aim of this study is to investigate the changes in the biochemical composition of tomato fruits by using less conventional lighting methods, which could offer potential energy savings by providing higher levels of biologically active substances in tomatoes. The study was conducted in a greenhouse of Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies during the winter season 2018-2019, using a 16-hour photoperiod. LED, Induction, and High Pressure Sodium Lamps (as control) were used in the study. These lighting devices, with some differences, simulate daylight. Three tomato cultivars: ‘Diamont F1’, Encor F1’and ‘Balzano F1’were studied. The study specified the tomato yield and the following biochemical parameters: soluble sugars (BRIX), vitamin C, organic acids, lycopene, carotenoids, phenols and flavonoids. As expected, the yield and species-specific pigment content of tomato fruit is largely dependent on the genetics of the variety. On the other hand, biologically active compounds such as organic acids, soluble sugars, ascorbic acid and flavonoids undergo more changes due to the composition of the light. The obtained biochemical parameters give an opportunity to consider different illumination methods and the need to carry out further studies in order to confirm the conclusions. Significantly higher yields were observed in the variant with conventionally used high pressure sodium lamps. In mean time, it should be noted that in the variant with LED lamps, higher content of lycopene as well as phenols and vitamin C were observed.
Prediction of Solid Solution Formation among Chemically Similar Molecules Using Calculation of Lattice and Intermolecular Interaction Energy

Several 2-substituted 4-nitrobenzoic acid (NBA) derivatives such as 2-chloro-4-nitrobenzoic acid (2C4NBA), 2-methyl-4-nitrobenzoic acid (2CH34NBA) and 2-hydroxy-4-nitrobenzoic acid (2OH4NBA) were selected as model compounds because of their availability and chemically similar structures, in which the different group/atom (R) does not significantly affect the dominant intermolecular interactions – hydrogen bonds formed by the carboxylic group [1]. Quantum chemical calculations of lattice and intermolecular interaction energy were carried out to identify possible factors, which could be, used in prediction of the formation of solid solutions (SS) in binary systems of chemically similar molecules, in this case - various nitrobenzoic acid derivatives. Meanwhile, crystallization experiments were used to determine the experimental information about formation of solid solutions. The obtained crystalline phases were characterized by combined use of powder X-ray diffraction (XRPD) and differential scanning calorimetry/thermogravimetry (DSC/TG) [2].
The Effect of Biodiesel Composition on Characteristics of Blended Summer Diesel Fuel

The blends of varying proportions of biodiesel fuel containing fatty acid methyl esters and triacetin (FAME*), synthesised accordingly to Latvian patent LV 15 373 and summer diesel were prepared, analysed and compared with diesel fuel. The selected fuel properties (viscosity, density, carbon residue and cold flow properties) tested accordingly to standard LVS-EN 14214 have indicated a good potential of FAME*, obtained by synthesis of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) by simultaneous conversion of glycerol to triacetin as a renewable diesel engine fuel. The results showed that blends containing 5 to 25% of FAME* in summer diesel yielded the properties closely matching that of diesel.Introduction
Does artificial snow production affect soil and vegetation of ski pistes? A review

The production of artificial snow and the use of snow additives in ski resorts have increased considerably during the last 20 years. Their ecological consequences are the subject of environmental concerns. This review compiles studies about the ecological implications of ski pistes preparation in general and of artificial snow production. The main direct impacts of ski piste preparation on the vegetation are related to the compaction of the snow cover, namely the induction of soil frost, the formation of ice layers, mechanical damage and a delay in plant development. The vegetation reacts with changes in species composition and a decrease in biodiversity. Artificial snowing modifies some of these impacts: The soil frost is mitigated due to an increased insulation of the snowpack, whereas the formation of ice layers is not considerably changed. The mechanical impacts of snow-grooming vehicles are mitigated due to the deeper snow cover. The delay of the vegetation development is enhanced by a considerably postponed snowmelt. Furthermore, artificial snowing induces new impacts to the alpine environment. Snowing increases the input of water and ions to ski pistes, which can have a fertilising effect and hence change the plant species composition. Increasingly, snow additives, made of potentially phytopathogenic bacteria, are used for snow production. They enhance ice crystal formation due to their ice nucleation activity. Although sterilised, additives affected the growth of some alpine plant species in laboratory experiments. Salts are applied not only but preferably on snowed pistes to improve the snow quality for ski races. The environmental impacts of most salts have not yet been investigated, but a commonly used nitrate salt has intense fertilising properties. Although snowing mitigates some of the negative impacts of ski piste preparation in general, new impacts induced by snowing could be non-beneficial to the vegetation, which, however, has yet to be clarified.
Microstructure and Mechanical Properties Investigation of New Al10Cr12Mn28Fe(50-x)Ni(x) High Entropy Alloys

In the present study, two newly developed non-equiatomic high entropy Al10Cr12Mn28Fe(50-x)Ni(x) alloys (x= 20 & 15 at%, namely: Ni20 & Ni15, respectively) are investigated. The studied HEAs were designed based on thermodynamic principles to maintain high ductility and improve strength. Ingots were prepared using arc-melting then microstructure examinations and mechanical properties for the as-cast alloys were done. The mechanical properties were enhanced for the as-cast material, compared with previously introduced HEAs of the same system, namely Al5Cr12Mn28Fe35Ni20, (Al5) and Al10Cr12Mn23Fe35Ni20, (Al10). Al10Cr12Mn28Fe30Ni20 (Ni20) HEA generally shows the highest compressive yield strength which was improved by ∼7% when compared with previously introduced Al10.
International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents

Background: Molnupiravir is an essential oral antiviral agent against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID- 19); however, its real-world effectiveness has not been evaluated in patients undergoing haemodialysis (HD). Methods: This multi-centre retrospective study, involving 225 patients undergoing HD with initially mild or asymptomatic COVID-19, was conducted to compare the risks of 30-day COVID-19-related acute care visits between patients receiving and not receiving molnupiravir. Patients who received molnupiravir were stratiﬁed by rapid antigen detection (RAD) test results on day 7 after disease onset to assess whether rapid molnupiravir introduction accelerated viral clearance. Results: Thirty-day COVID-19-related acute care visits were reported in 9.41% and 21.74% of the molnupi- ravir and control groups, respectively, and use of molnupiravir markedly reduced the risk of acute care visits after adjusting for baseline characteristics via propensity score weighting [hazard ratio 0.218, 95% conﬁdence interval (CI) 0.074–0.642; P = 0.006]. The tolerability of molnupiravir in the enrolled patients was generally acceptable, with only 11.88% of molnupiravir users reporting mild adverse events. More- over, rapid initiation of molnupiravir within 1 day of COVID-19 onset was an independent predictor of conversion to a negative RAD test result on day 7 after disease onset (odds ratio 6.207, 95% CI 2.509– 15.358; P < 0.001). Conclusions: Molnupiravir is well tolerated and decreases the medical needs in patients with COVID-19 undergoing HD. Furthermore, the rapid initiation of molnupiravir accelerates viral clearance in patients with COVID-19 undergoing HD. These ﬁndings highlight the therapeutic role of molnupiravir for this vul- nerable population.
Properties of cellulose nanofibril produced from wet ball milling after enzymatic treatment vs. mechanical grinding of bleached softwood kraft fibers

Cellulose nanofibril (CNF) is a class of promising and renewable nanocellulosic material due to its unique dimensional characteristics and appealing properties. CNF preparations based on TEMPO pretreatment followed by high-pressure homogenization have been studied intensively, while the high energy consumption and the environmental issues remain challenges to their application. Mechanical refining processes have been commonly applied at the academic and industrial relevant scales for CNF production. In this study, bleached softwood kraft pulp was subjected to high-efficiency wet ball milling (following enzymatic pretreatment) and mechanical grinding to obtain CNF. The effects of ball milling time, grinding gap, and grinding passes on structure and properties of CNF were evaluated. Scanning electron microscopy images confirmed that the diameter of CNF was decreased with the increment of ball milling time and number of grinding passes. The results indicated that ball milling time, grinding gap, and grinding passes were important to increase the dispersity of CNF suspensions. The degree of polymerization and crystallinity index of CNF decreased with increasing ball milling time and grinding passes.
ANDROGENESIS INDUCTION, CALLOGENESIS, REGENERATION AND CYTOGENETIC STUDIES OF TOMATO HAPLOID

Four tomato F1 hybrid cultivars (Roma, Maya, Rio Grande and T-55) were used to develop haploid lines during 2005-08. Anthers were cytogenetically analyzed for anther size and meiotic stage. Anthers of varying sizes and meiotic stages were collected at different flowering stages. These were subjected to various pretreatments like low temperature (4, 7 and 10°C) and high sucrose concentration (5, 7, 10, and 12%) for enhancement in androgenic response. Anthers were cultured on MS basal media containing different concentrations of cytokinins, auxins, vitamins and adjuvant. Plants regenerated from androgenic calli were analyzed for their ploidy level under microscope and 9-15 chromosomes could be visualized per haploid cell.
Immediate increase in plant species richness after clear-cutting of boreal herb-rich forests

Abstract The flora of clear-cuttings with soil scarification in forests was compared < 1–2 yr after cutting with that in mature herb-rich forests in SW Finland. The total and mean numbers of vascular plant species both in the study areas and in the sample plots, were almost double in clear-cut areas compared to mature forests. Clear-cuttings and mature forests were distinctly separated by multivariate analyses (DCA). Several dozen species not found in forests were common in clear-cut areas. Most of them probably belong to the neglected native species pool of early boreal forest succession and are dependent on the long-term persistent seed bank or effective wind dispersal. It is emphasized that in forests many plant species are confined to the very early stages (< 2 yr) after disturbance. The storage effect of the long-term persistent seed bank is crucial for the maintenance of plant diversity in boreal forests. Probably a considerable part of the flora of agricultural areas is composed of species that were originally disturbance dependent forest plants. Scarification is beneficial to disturbance dependent plants and may be useful in restoration of populations of species of early succession. Nomenclature: Hämet-Ahti et al. (1998).
Chewing Entrains Cyclical Actions but Interferes With Discrete Actions in Children

Abstract Functional chewing patterns are achieved early in life prior to other motor skills like walking. Chewing seems to improve specific aspects of attention; however, there is limited research on chewing in dual motor tasks. This study examined relationships between chewing and secondary motor tasks in children. Sixteen typically developing children (13.1 ± 2.3 years) participated in finger tapping, simple reaction time, and walking while chewing at different speeds. The chewing rates varied when produced with a secondary motor task, especially for slow chewing and preferred chewing, and the secondary motor tasks were differentially influenced by the chewing. This relationship was not as strong as what has been reported in adults. It appears the neural oscillatory mechanisms involved in chewing and the secondary motor tasks may not be fully developed in children.
Factors affecting feed efficiency in dairy goats

The objective of this study was to present some factors affecting feed efficiency in dairy goats. To develop our work, individual and average data from performance experiments with lactating goats were used. The following variables were evaluated: gross feed efficiency, adjusted feed efficiency, dry matter intake, milk-yield, 3.5% fat-corrected milk yield, dry matter digestibility, dietary neutral detergent fiber content, different roughage-to-concentrate ratios and body weight. The statistical analyses involved the application of descriptive and dispersion measures besides Pearson's correlation coefficient and linear regression analysis. The analyzed variables were highly correlated with feed efficiency. The feed efficiency of lactating goats was affected by the milk fat correction, dry matter digestibility, dietary fiber content, proportion of roughage in the diet and body weight. Among these factors, standardization of the milk fat appeared to be the most efficient in correcting the feed efficiency in lactating goats. Correction of some of these factors implies greater precision in the measurement of feed efficiency.
Designation and management of large‐scale MPAs drawing on the experiences of CCAMLR

With the adoption of the United Nations Law of the Sea came the need for effective worldwide control of marine fisheries. Initially centred on single species, the tasks have extended to ecosystem-based management through the concept of marine-protected areas into habitats and biodiversity. These diverse requirements have placed enhanced responsibilities on fisheries management organizations. Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) has successfully developed effective management measures for the Southern Ocean but has encountered difficulties in establishing marine-protected areas. Key to the success of CCAMLR has been the establishment of conservation measures on clearly defined topics through decision making by consensus. It is argued that the problems that CCAMLR has encountered in establishing marine-protected areas centre on the range of features, in terms of stakeholder interests, to be afforded protection allied to problems with the consensus process. In this paper, the approaches of CCAMLR in converting the conceptual framework of treaty language into practical management measures using consensus are discussed in relation to the manner in which marine-protected areas might be established within other fisheries management organizations. It is concluded that the most effective approach is as a composite of strictly focussed conservation measures the sum of which cover all facets of a marine-protected area. This approach has the further advantage that individual components can be changed without opening the whole legal instrument to re-negotiation.
Genetic structure and insecticide resistance characteristics of fall armyworm populations invading China

The rapid wide‐scale spread of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) has caused serious crop losses globally. However, differences in the genetic background of subpopulations and the mechanisms of rapid adaptation behind the invasion are still not well understood. Here we report the assembly of a 390.38‐Mb chromosome‐level genome of fall armyworm derived from south‐central Africa using Pacific Bioscience (PacBio) and Hi‐C sequencing technologies, with scaffold N50 of 12.9 Mb and containing 22,260 annotated protein‐coding genes. Genome‐wide resequencing of 103 samples and strain identification were conducted to reveal the genetic background of fall armyworm populations in China. Analysis of genes related to pesticide‐ and Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) resistance showed that the risk of fall armyworm developing resistance to conventional pesticides is very high. Laboratory bioassay results showed that insects invading China carry resistance to organophosphate and pyrethroid pesticides, but are sensitive to genetically modified maize expressing the Bt toxin Cry1Ab in field experiments. Additionally, two mitochondrial fragments were found to be inserted into the nuclear genome, with the insertion event occurring after the differentiation of the two strains. This study represents a valuable advance toward improving management strategies for fall armyworm.
Classification of the COVID-19 infected patients using DenseNet201 based deep transfer learning

Abstract Deep learning models are widely used in the automatic analysis of radiological images. These techniques can train the weights of networks on large datasets as well as fine tuning the weights of pre-trained networks on small datasets. Due to the small COVID-19 dataset available, the pre-trained neural networks can be used for diagnosis of coronavirus. However, these techniques applied on chest CT image is very limited till now. Hence, the main aim of this paper to use the pre-trained deep learning architectures as an automated tool to detection and diagnosis of COVID-19 in chest CT. A DenseNet201 based deep transfer learning (DTL) is proposed to classify the patients as COVID infected or not i.e. COVID-19 (+) or COVID (−). The proposed model is utilized to extract features by using its own learned weights on the ImageNet dataset along with a convolutional neural structure. Extensive experiments are performed to evaluate the performance of the propose DTL model on COVID-19 chest CT scan images. Comparative analyses reveal that the proposed DTL based COVID-19 classification model outperforms the competitive approaches. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma
Early weaning alters redox status in the hippocampus and hypothalamus of rat pups

Exposure to environmental factors can program the metabolism, conferring resistance or increasing the risk to chronic disease development in childhood and adulthood. In this sense, lactation is an important period in this window of development. Herein, we investigated the effect of early weaning on neurochemical and behavioral changes in offspring at weaning and adulthood. Female and male pups were divided into four groups: (1) Control weaning (weaning on the PND21, pups were kept with the biological mother); (2) Early Weaning Bromocriptine group (EWB) (pharmacological weaning on PND16); (3) Early Weaning Cross‐Fostering group (EWCF) (pups housed with a foster mother on PND16 up to PND21); (4) Early Weaning Without Care group (EWWC) (weaning on PND16, maternal separation). Weight control of pups was recorded from postnatal Day 16 to 59. On the 21st day, part of the pups was euthanized and the hippocampus and hypothalamus were removed for biochemical evaluation. The remaining pups were submitted to behavioral tests on the 60th postnatal day. Early weaning reduced the pups' body weight, in a sex‐dependent way. At 60 days of age, male pups of EWCF and EWWC groups have lower body weight compared to control male, and female body weight was lower than male pups. In relation to biochemical changes in the brain, weaning altered the levels of oxidants, increased the enzymatic activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), as well as induced lipid peroxidation. Weaning was also able to alter long‐term memory and induce anxious behavior in pups. Our results demonstrate that the different types of early weaning changed the parameters of redox status in the hippocampus and hypothalamus of pups (21 days old), suggesting a prooxidative profile, in addition, to alter learning/memory and inducing an anxious behavior in male offspring (60 days old).
Visualising virulence factors: Trichophyton benhamiaes subtilisins demonstrated in a guinea pig skin ex vivo model

Dermatophytoses rank among the most frequent communicable diseases in humans, and the zoonotic transmission is increasing. The zoophilic dermatophyte Trichophyton (T.) benhamiae is nowadays one of the main causes of tinea faciei et corporis in children. However, scientific data on molecular pathomechanisms and specific virulence factors enabling this ubiquitous occurrence are scarce.
Reproductive health challenges of male and female street beggars and use of reproductive health services by female street beggars in Ife-Ijesa, Nigeria

Abstract Objectives The aims of the study were to investigate the reproductive health challenges in Nigeria of male and female street beggars and the use of reproductive health services by female street beggars. Methods The study had a cross-sectional descriptive design. An interviewer-administered questionnaire, designed by the authors, was used to elicit information from 100 male and female street beggars recruited over a 4 week period in Ife-Ijesa zone, south-western Nigeria. Information was obtained about male and female participants’ reproductive health challenges (symptoms and issues) and female participants’ use of reproductive health services. Results More than a third of participants were aged ≥60 years (37%), 57% were men, 82% were from the Hausa tribe and 92% were Muslims. The main reasons given for street begging were poverty (30%) and physical handicap (66%). Although most of the street beggars were aware of the availability of reproductive health services (81%) and where to access them (89%), only a small proportion of female street beggars had given birth in hospital (9.3%) and family planning services (32.6%). Conclusion Street beggars are a poor and vulnerable group with reproductive health challenges. They have difficulty accessing reproductive health services because of physical disabilities and related low socioeconomic status.
Anti-inflammatory functions of the glucocorticoid receptor require DNA binding

Abstract The glucocorticoid receptor is an important immunosuppressive drug target and metabolic regulator that acts as a ligand-gated transcription factor. Generally, GR’s anti-inflammatory effects are attributed to the silencing of inflammatory genes, while its adverse effects are ascribed to the upregulation of metabolic targets. GR binding directly to DNA is proposed to activate, whereas GR tethering to pro-inflammatory transcription factors is thought to repress transcription. Using mice with a point mutation in GR’s zinc finger, that still tether via protein–protein interactions while being unable to recognize DNA, we demonstrate that DNA binding is essential for both transcriptional activation and repression. Performing ChIP-Seq, RNA-Seq and proteomics under inflammatory conditions, we show that DNA recognition is required for the assembly of a functional co-regulator complex to mediate glucocorticoid responses. Our findings may contribute to the development of safer immunomodulators with fewer side effects.