Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Macronutrient Composition on Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Overweight and Obese Humans

Two thirds of American adults are overweight and almost half of those qualify as obese. Obesity independently increases risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), type II diabetes (T2D), and hypertension; thus, strategies to reduce risk in this population are desperately needed. Oxidative stress and inflammation are two perpetuators of these chronic diseases that are often elevated in obesity. Interventions that target reductions in oxidative stress and inflammation may help to reduce co-morbidities associated with obesity. Weight loss is shown to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation. However, the composition of and food choices within the weight loss diet may influence the response of these factors to weight loss, and has not been adequately assessed. We first tested whether there were differential effects of a conventional low-fat, high carbohydrate weight loss diet (LF) and the Atkins diet (a popular low carbohydrate, high fat diet (HF)) on oxidative stress and inflammation. We demonstrated that HF raised Creactive protein (CRP) levels relative to LF in overweight and obese women over four weeks. This finding raises questions as to the long term safety of the HF eating plan in terms of CVD risk. We next examined the role of oxidative stress in the HF diet-induced increase in inflammation by evaluating the effects of an antioxidant supplement versus a placebo in conjunction with HF in overweight and obese men and women. Although our full hypothesis was not supported, as oxidative stress did not increase with HF, the trend for a differential effect on CRP when antioxidants were consumed is provocative. It suggests that future research on the connection between oxidative stress, the macronutrient content of the diet, and inflammation in obesity is warranted. Regarding the effects of specific fats, epidemiological research shows that diets high in saturated fat (SFA) are associated with higher CVD risk while diets higher in omega 3 fats (n-3FA) with lower CVD risk. However, the acute effects of these fats on indices of inflammation and oxidative stress are less understood, particularly in the overweight/obese population. As the majority of the time is spent in the postprandial state, the acute responses to high fat meals are gaining attention for their contribution to endothelial dysfunction and CVD. We showed that acute meals high in SFA increased a marker of endothelial activation (ICAM-1) which could contribute to the atherogenic associations with SFA. Conversely, including n-3FA in a high fat meal acutely enhanced NF-κB activation in circulating mononuclear cells; however, there were no increases in any inflammatory proteins measured over the 6 h postprandial period. It is apparent that dietary macronutrients can influence factors associated with chronic disease in overweight and obese individuals. The evidence presented here may help to refine dietary recommendations for this population.
Pigmentary and Zootechnical Responses of Juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931) Maintained on Diets Supplemented with Xanthophylls of Marigold Tagetes erecta Flowers

Practical diets supplemented with 75 or 150 ppm xanthophylls (75% zeaxanthin, 15% lutein) industrially extracted from marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) flowers increased the astaxanthin and total carotenoid concentrations in juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei, compared to shrimp fed a practical control diet. Our results paralleled or exceeded those obtained with a diet containing 75 ppm supplementary synthetic astaxanthin. The post-feeding astaxanthin concentration accounted for more than 84% of the total carotenoid concentration in shrimp fed either diet, while beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, lutein, and other non-identifiable carotenoids comprised a minority of the total concentration. That this was seen in both the tail exoskeleton and abdominal muscle indicates that L. vannamei can metabolize precursor xanthophylls to produce astaxanthin. In most cases, more than 60% of the astaxanthin was esterified. In general, survival improved in shrimps fed the supplemented diets compared to those fed the control diet. There were no differences in growth.
Interactions between high and low virulence isolates of Neospora caninum and target cells of the bovine innate immune response

Neospora caninum, the causal agent of neosporosis, is an apicomplexan obligate intracellular parasite closely phylogenetically related to Toxoplasma gondii. Bovine neosporosis causes severe economic losses in dairy and beef industries due to the abortion and still birth of calves. Currently, there are no effective vaccines or treatments against infection by N. caninum, and control options are based on diagnosis and management practices. Neospora caninum infection underlies a complex immunological regulation that may lead to protection or contribute to the pathogenesis of abortion. Interactions of the parasite with cells of the host immune system during early infection (innate immune response), which represent the first line of defense against infections, should be critical in determining the character of the subsequent response. Macrophages play a key role in initiating early-immune responses against infections and establishing a link with the adaptive immune response. Despite the fact that these cells are essential for combating N. caninum infection, a limited number of studies have been conducted to investigate N. caninum-macrophages interaction, and most of them used murine and human cells. However, human and mouse are not natural hosts for N. caninum an dit has been demonstrated that parasite virulence can be host-specific.
Efficacy of Penoxsulam on Weeds and Yield of Transplanted Rice (Oryza sativa)

A field experiment was conducted during rainy (kharif) seasons of 2005 and 2006 at Jabalpur to assess the efficacy of penoxsulam as pre-emergence (5 days after transplanting-DAT) and early post-emergence (10 DAT) in transplanted rice (Oryza sativa L.). The major weeds were Echinochloa colona, Cyperus spp. , Ammania baccifera, Lindernia crustacea, Eriocaulon spp. , Caesulia axillaris, Alternanthera sessilis and Commelina spp. Infestation of weeds reduced grain yield of rice by 25.9%. Penoxsulam 22.5 g/ha applied at 10 days after transplanting was found most effective in controlling weeds and maximizing rice grain yield (6287 kg/ha). Early post-emergence application (10 DAT) of penoxsulam was better than its pre-emergence application (5 DAT) in increasing grain yield. Grain yield of rice was significantly and negatively correlated (r = −0.82) with weed dry matter.
Analyse épidémio-génétique de la fonction rénale chez les personnes d’Afrique sub-Saharienne vivant avec le VIH

Pres de 500 millions de personnes dans le monde souffrent de maladies renales chroniques (MRC) et environ 80% d’entre eux resident dans des pays a revenu faible ou intermediaire. Les personnes vivant avec le VIH (PVVIH) sont exposees a un risque renal accru en particulier en Afrique sub-Saharienne. Cette situation est probablement liee a une susceptibilite genetique conferee par des variants du gene de l’apolipoproteine L1 (APOL1). Ces variants, dont la frequence est elevee en Afrique et en particulier en Afrique de l’Ouest, ont ete identifies comme fortement impliques dans la survenue de pathologies renales graves rencontrees chez les PVVIH.Ce travail de these avait pour objectif d’ameliorer les connaissances sur l’evolution a long terme de la fonction renale chez des PVVIH d’Afrique subsaharienne traites contre l’infection a VIH et sur le risque de complications renales associe aux variants genetiques de APOL1. Nous avons analyse les donnees medicales et genetiques de plusieurs cohortes de PVVIH suivies dans differentes structures sanitaires d’Afrique de l’Ouest et du Centre.Les prevalences et incidences de la MRC observees dans les differentes cohortes et estimees selon les recommandations du Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative sont faibles a moderees et contrastent avec les observations faites dans certains pays de la region avec des prevalences atteignant 30%. Les frequences des 2 variants a risque du gene APOL1 sont egalement plus faibles qu’attendues, avec seulement 3 a 5% de porteurs du genotype a haut risque. L’observation de frequences plus elevees en Afrique de l’Ouest qu’en Afrique Centrale est cependant confirmee.En raison du faible nombre de porteurs du genotype a haut risque et des faibles prevalences de MRC, nous n’avons pas pu mettre en evidence un effet significatif des variants de APOL1 sur le risque de complications renales.En revanche, nos travaux confirment le role des facteurs de risque connus tels que l’âge, l’immunodepression, l’hypertension arterielle et l’exposition au Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate. Et ces observations nous ont conduits a evaluer les performances d’un score predictif de la MRC initialement developpe pour les PVVIH occidentaux. Nous montrons qu’il peut etre utilise en Afrique sub-saharienne pour identifier les personnes a risque de developper une MRC et leur proposer un suivi et une prise en charge adaptes.Ces travaux apportent des elements rassurants quant a la sante renale des PVVIH d’Afrique de l’Ouest suivis et traites pour leur infection VIH. Cependant, au regard des difficultes de prise en charge des maladies renales severes, la mise en place de strategies de depistage et de prevention doit constituer une priorite de sante publique.
Genetic gains in grain yield under nitrogen stress following three decades of breeding for drought tolerance and Striga resistance in early maturing maize

SUMMARY Breeding for resistance to Striga hermonthica Del. (Benth) and tolerance to drought has been a major strategy to improve maize (Zea mays L.) production and productivity in West and Central Africa during the last three decades. The three decades consisted of three breeding periods or eras based on the germplasm and methodologies used; that is, 1988–2000, 2001–06 and 2007–11. A total of 50 early maturing cultivars, combining Striga resistance with drought tolerance were developed, including 15, 16 and 19 cultivars for the three periods, respectively. Although the cultivars were not selected intentionally for low-nitrogen (N) tolerance, it was hypothesized that tolerance to low-N had been significantly improved while selecting for drought tolerance and Striga resistance. This hypothesis was tested by evaluating the 50 cultivars in 2010 and 2011 in Nigeria at Mokwa and Ile-Ife under both low-N (30 kg N/ha) and high-N (90 kg N/ha) levels. Under low-N conditions, grain yield improved from 2280 kg/ha during the first period to 2610 kg/ha during the third period, an increase of 165 kg/ha per period with r2 of 0·99. Under high-N, yield increased from 3200 to 3650 kg/ha, an increase of 225 kg/ha and r2 of 0·93. Relative gain per period was 30 kg/ha for the two N rates with r2 values of 0·99 and 0·94 respectively. Grain yield performance of the 50 cultivars under low-N conditions adequately predicted their performance under high-N. Selection for Striga resistance and drought tolerance in early maturing maize populations enhanced low-N tolerance in the maize cultivars derived from the populations. The improvement was higher in later than earlier breeding periods.
The Exocrinology of the Queen Bumble Bee Bombus terrestris (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Bombini)

Abstract Chemical analyses are presented of prominent exocrine glands of queen Bombus terrestris including mandibular, labial and hypopharyngeal glands in the head, Dufour’s gland and tarsal glands. A plethora of about 500 substances were identified belonging to various aliphatic compounds including hydrocarbons, various classes of esters, alcohols, methyl ketones and fatty acids. A group of chiral hydroxy acids and their butanoic acid esters are reported for the first time in bees.
Tolerance of Three Wheatgrass Cultivars to Sulfosulfuron Herbicide

Crested, tall, and pubescent wheatgrasses are cool-season, drought-resistant perennial forages that grow well in semiarid environments and could complement wheat pasture grazing systems of the Texas Rolling Plains. However, wheatgrass stand establishment is difficult due to competing winter grasses. This study evaluated wheatgrass cultivars for tolerance to a sulfonylurea herbicide that may control competing annual grass weeds in wheatgrass stand establishment. Utilizing greenhouse facilities, three rates of sulfosulfuron were applied preemergence, 2 weeks after emergence (2 WAE) at the 2-leaf stage, or 4 WAE at the 3- to 4-leaf stage to individual plants of ‘CD II’ (crested), ‘Jose’ (tall), and ‘Manska’ (pubescent) wheatgrasses. Sensitivity to sulfosulfuron was least for CD II and greatest for Manska. Considering all treatments and timings, Manska and Jose had greater declines in above-ground and below-ground biomass and fewer surviving seedlings than CD II. Wheatgrass cultivars were most sensitive to sulfosulfuron when treated 2 WAE. Plant survival increased when sulfosulfuron application was delayed to 4 WAE, except for Manska where nearly 100% of the plants died regardless of herbicide rate. A rigorous selection program with CD II could possibly lead to the development of a non-genetically engineered, sulfosulfuron-tolerant crested wheatgrass.
Yield and fruit quality of 'Queen' orange [Citrus sinensis (L) Osb.] grafted on different rootstocks in Iran

The ‘Queen’ orange [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osb. ] is highly adaptable to the climatic conditions of the Southwest of Iran. However, the success of its production is highly dependent on its compatibility with rootstocks. This paper describes fruit production and quality of 10-year-old ‘Queen’ orange grafted on six commercial rootstocks in a five year period. ‘Queen’ orange trees grafted on ‘Volkamer’ lemon (Citrus volkameriana Ten. and Pasq.) (VL) produced the highest cumulative fruit yields, whereas trees on ‘‘Swingle’’ citromelo [(Citrus paradisi (L.) × Ponicrus trifoliate (L.) Raf. ] (SC) and ‘Cleopatra’ mandarin (Citrus reshni Hort. Ex Tan.) (Cleo) produced the least yield. The response of grafted trees in term of fruit production was intermediate on ‘‘Carrizo’’ citrange [(Citrus sinensis (L.) Osb. × Ponicrus trifoliate (L.) Raf. ] (CC), ‘Troyer’ citrange [(Citrus sinensis (L.) Osb. × Ponicrus trifoliate (L.) Raf. ] (TC), and Sour orange (Citrus aurantium L.) (SO). Trees grafted on VL produced larger canopy volume than trees on the other rootstocks (32.48 m 3 ), while Cleo had the lowest tree canopy volume (18.87 m 3 ). Trees grafted on VL and CC produced the largest fruits, whereas the smallest fruits were obtained from trees grafted on Cleo and TC. Fruit rind thickness and acid content were not significantly affected by rootstocks. Fruit from trees grafted on VL had the highest juice content (43.52%), whereas fruits from trees on Cleo produced the lowest juice content (40.70%). Fruit from trees on SO had the highest soluble solids (13.50%), while those from trees on VL were the lowest (12.08%). The study revealed that the rootstocks have significant effects on most of the measured parameters, indicating that tree size, yield, and fruit quality of ‘Queen’ orange can be controlled by proper selection of rootstock. This study showed that VL is a good rootstock for ‘Queen’ orange grafting.
Grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae) associated with prairie remnants in the Lower Chippewa River State Natural Area (LCRSNA) of Western Wisconsin

Abstract The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has identified a new State Natural Area in the Lower Chippewa River region of western Wisconsin. This 100,000-ha+ area contains 800 ha of prairie remnants—25% of Wisconsin's remaining remnant prairie. Diversity of grasshopper populations (Orthoptera: Acrididae) was assessed in these remnant prairies. Remnants ranged in size from <1 ha to > 60 ha, and contained from 6 to 15 species from four subfamilies. Half of the remnants contained 10 or more species. Data from this survey provides the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources with a tool to evaluate remnant prairies, and a snapshot of what grasshopper communities may have looked like in Wisconsin prior to settlement. This research also updates the Orthopteran literature database for acridid distribution records for this region of the USA.
Factors Affecting the Choice of University in Thailand among Thai International High School Student’s Grade 11 and Grade 12 in the Central Bangkok Area

In Thailand, the higher education institute both public and private required many marketing activities to attracting students because of globalization and demographic transitions. The main target of the marketplace is the Higher School Students especially for the International study programs at Grade 11 and 12. The purpose of this study is to identify the factors affecting Thai international high school student’s (G.11 and G.12) in the central Bangkok area choice of university in Thailand and to develop a richer understanding of each determinant factors. The researcher collected the sample size of 179 respondents, from a combined population of 300 Ekamai and Trinity International School, through survey questionnaires using convenience sampling and snowball sampling methods. The analysis was then conducted using multiple linear regression to test hypotheses to determine whether each independent variable has a statistical influence on choice of university. Major findings from this survey are that tuition fee, parental influence, location of university, educational facility, and institution reputation have statistical influences on choice of university. The result means that the respondents are significantly concerned about all these independent variables which includes tuition fee, parental influence, location of university, educational facility, and institution reputation and that all these variables significantly affect choice of university.
Abundance and size of western rock lobster (Panulirus cygnus) as a function of benthic habitat: implications for ecosystem-based fisheries management

Ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM) requires the expansion of fisheries research programs to include the relationship between target species and their habitats such that trophic and other ecological interactions can be assessed. The western rock lobster (Panulirus cygnus) is an ecologically important species that supports Australia’s most valuable single-species fisheries. We tested the relationship between abundance and size of western rock lobster and benthic habitats based on the annual independent breeding stock survey and benthic towed video transects. The work was undertaken at Dongara, Jurien Bay and Lancelin, Western Australia between 2005 and 2007. Abundance of western rock lobster was significantly but moderately related to benthic habitat (adjR2 = 0.28), with high abundances associated with high cover of mixed assemblage and Ecklonia sp. Size was effectively predicted by habitat (adjR2 = 0.65) with larger lobsters found in mixed assemblages with sponge and smaller lobsters associated with mixed assemblage with Ecklonia sp. Our study has shown that understanding the influence of habitat and fishing pressure on the abundance and size of targeted species is a critical step in the effective implementation of EBFM.
Split Applications of Herbicides at Reduced Rates Can Effectively Control Wild Oat (Avena fatua) in Wheat1

Split application of herbicides for wild oat control may minimize wild oat competition with wheat while reducing the number of wild oat seeds returned to the soil. Field experiments were conducted in 2000 and 2001 to evaluate the effects of CGA-184927, fenoxaprop-P, flucarbazone, and ICIA 0604 at labeled and reduced rates on wild oat control, wild oat seed rain, and wheat yield. Each herbicide was applied once at 25, 33, and 100% of the labeled rate at the two-leaf stage of wild oat or split applied at 50 and 66% of the full rate as two equal applications. Excellent full-season wild oat control was obtained with CGA-184927, flucarbazone, and ICIA 0604 applied twice at reduced rates. ICIA 0604 or CGA-184927 split applied at 25 and 33% rates (totaled 50 and 66% of the full rate) provided wild oat control equal to one application of labeled rates. Wild oat seed rain was similar among all herbicide treatments, except plots treated with fenoxaprop-P once at 25 and 33% rates where seed rain was higher and equal to 47% of untreated plots. Wheat yields and net returns were highest and similar after treatment with CGA-184927 or ICIA 0604 applied either once at the labeled rate or split applied at 25 or 33% rates. Nomenclature: Fenoxaprop-P; ICIA 0604 (proposed name, tralkoxydim), 2-[1-(ethoxyimino)propyl]-3-hydroxy-5-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)cyclohex-2-enone; CGA-184927 (proposed name, clodinafop-propargyl), propanoic acid, 2-[4-[(5-chloro-3-fluoro-2-pyridinyl)oxy]phenoxy]-2-propynyl ester; flucarbazone; wild oat, Avena fatua L. #3 AVEFA; hard red spring wheat, Triticum aestivum L. Additional index words: Hard red spring wheat, reduced herbicide rates. Abbreviation: DAT, days after treatment.
STRUCTURE OF GLANDULAR HAIRS AND IDENTIFICATION OF THE MAIN COMPONENTS OF THEIR SECRETED MATERIAL IN SOME SPECIES OF THE LABIATAE

The anatomical structure of the secretory hairs of eight species of Labiatae was studied and the main components of their secretory substances identified. Peltate and capitate hairs were found in all species, the latter consisting of three types, differing in structure and mode of secretion. The capitate hairs precede the peltate hairs in their development and secretory activity. In the capitate hairs the secreted material is extruded to the outside, while in the peltate hairs it remains in a subcuticular space. The eight species were divided into groups according to the structure of the volatile compounds they secrete.
Isolation and Characterization of Lactobacillus spp. of Human Origin for Studying their Prevalence

A total of 15 samples of healthy human feces were collected for the isolation of lactobacilli using lactobacillus selection MRS agar. Thirty-eight colonies were randomly picked based on colonial morphology. All the isolates were subjected to cell morphology, physiology and an array of biochemical characterization. The isolates showed different growth patterns at different temperatures (15 and 45 °C), oxygen and at different concentrations of NaCl (2.0, 4.0 and 6.5%). On the basis of physiological tests and sugar utilization pattern, all the thirty eight isolates were confirmed to the different species of Lactobacillus (i.e., Lactobacillus plantarum (4), Lactobacillus casei (15), Lactobacillus rhamnosus (2), Lactobacillus fermentum (4), and Lactobacillus acidophilus (10), Lactobacillus helveticus (3). Among isolates Lactobacillus casei was found to be prevalent in the human gut. Keywords: Lactobacilli, biochemical characterization, human gut
Aspects of the growth and reproductive ecology of the introduced ascidian Didemnum perlucidum (Monniot, 1983) in Western Australia.

In 2010, the colonial ascidian Didemnum perlucidum (Monniot, 1983) was first recorded in Western Australia and is now widespread across the state. This species is classified as a target biosecurity species by the Department of Fisheries, Government of Western Australia. However, limited information on the biology of this ascidian is available for Australian waters. The aim of this study was to gather baseline information on the temporal variation in growth, survival, and reproduction of D. perlucidum. The mean average colony area was significantly higher in summer (29.7 cm ) decreasing towards winter (3.3 cm ). Colonies produced larvae year round with maximum production (1109.0 larvae cm 2 ) and highest recruitment (0.90 settlers cm 2 ) in summer. Larva density was positively correlated to salinity (r = 0.965) and chlorophyll a concentration (r = 0.958) in the water column. From a management point of view, the decrease in colony size, larvae production, and recruitment of D. perlucidum during winter could offer the best opportunity for the control or eradication of this ascidian at specific locations in the state.