Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of fungicides on key diseases of groundnut in relation to crop stage

Abstract Five rounds of spray, starting from 30 days after sowing, with 12‐day intervals using carbendazim 0.05% plus mancozeb 0.2% was found to have maximum control over rust and late leaf spot diseases which resulted in 57% increased dry pod yield. However, the reduction of these diseases ultimately contributed to an increase in the 100 kernel weight and shelling percentage. It was also economical to give the fungicidal spray on the maturity stage of the crop.
Patterns of local adaptation of a protozoan parasite to its bumblebee host

Typically, microparasites being short-lived and more numerous can evolve more quickly than their hosts. They are therefore expected to adapt rapidly to the prevailing host environments. Under certain conditions, this will be reflected in higher virulence expressed in sympatric as compared to allopatric hosts. We tested this prediction with cross-infection experiments of the trypanosome intestinal parasite Crithidia bombi. Individual workers of colonies of the bumblebee Bombus terrestris from three different geographic regions were infected with the respective sympatric and allopatric parasites. We used host mortality rate, host body mass difference, prevalence and intensity of infection as measures of virulence. Contrary to expectation, allopatric infections caused higher host mortality rates overall, but differences among regions existed. Corresponding changes in host body mass during infection were found, but no differences in prevalence or intensities of sympatric vs allopatric infections were observed. When the experiment was repeated at a smaller geographic scale, within a single region. the opposite tendency (sympatric infections more virulent) but no significant effects were found. We discuss the results in relation to the complexity of effects in host-parasite interactions. where migration rates of both host and parasites, as well as genotypic variation play a role.
Association of a Novel Single Nucleotide Polymorphism in Growth Hormone Receptor Gene with Production Traits in Bali Cattle

The growth hormone (GH) is the main regulator of postnatal growth and metabolism in mammals. The action of GH on target cells depends on the growth hormone receptor (GHR). This is mediated through induced transcription of other genes. GHR gene is one of the candidate genes employed in selection strategy using DNA markers (marker assisted selection). This study was designed to identify the novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in exon 8 and intron 8 of GHR gene that may affect production traits in Bali cattle. A SNP was identified by the direct sequencing technique. Genotypes of the SNPs were identified using PCR-RFLP. The SNP was located in intron 8 of the GHR gene and was caused by an A/G transition. It was identified using the HpyCH4III restriction enzyme. Polymorphism of GHR/HpyCH4III has a significant influence on weaning weight and average daily gain, but not on birth weight of Bali cattle.
Sexual and reproductive health services in universal health coverage: a review of recent evidence from low- and middle-income countries

Abstract If universal health coverage (UHC) cannot be achieved without the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of the population being met, what then is the current situation vis-à-vis universal coverage of SRH services, and the extent to which SRH services have been prioritised in national UHC plans and processes? This was the central question that guided this critical review of more than 200 publications between 2010 and 2019. The findings are the following. The Essential Package of Healthcare Services (EPHS) across many countries excludes several critical SRH services (e.g. safe abortion services, reproductive cancers) that are already poorly available. Inadequate international and domestic public funding of SRH services contributes to a sustained burden of out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) and inequities in access to SRH services. Policy and legal barriers, restrictive gender norms and gender-based inequalities challenge the delivery and access to quality SRH services. The evidence is mixed as to whether an expanded role and scope of the private sector improves availability and access to services of underserved populations. As momentum gathers towards SRH and UHC, the following actions are necessary and urgent. Advocacy for greater priority for SRH in government EPHS and health budgets aligned with SRH and UHC goals is needed. Implementation of stable and sustained financing mechanisms that would reduce the proportion of SRH-financing from OOPE is a priority. Evidence, moving from descriptive towards explanatory studies which provide insights into the “hows” and “whys” of processes and pathways are essential for guiding policy and programme actions.
Entry of the DNA virus, Ectocarpus fasciculatus virus type 1 (Phycodnaviridae), into host cell cytosol and nucleus

The process by which Ectocarpus fasciculatus virus type 1 (EfasV‐1) infects zoospores of its brown algal host was studied by electron microscopy. Upon virus attachment to the target cell, the integral membrane component of the viral capsid fuses with the host plasma membrane, and the 140‐nm viral DNA‐protein core enters the cytosol. Within 5 min after infection, particles resembling viral cores appeared in the nucleus. The entry mechanism of EfasV‐1 into the host nucleus remains enigmatic.
A new biosurfactant produced by Candida glabrata UCP 1002: characteristics of stability and application in oil recovery

The production of a new biosurfactant by Candida glabrata UCP1002 was studied to evaluate the influence of the concentration of the cotton seed oil, glucose and yeast extract. The dynamics of the growth and surfactant production were showed for all the cultivation conditions studied. The best emulsification of the n-hexadecane, quantified by the emulsifying index was observed in the medium containing 7.5% cotton seed oil, 5% glucose and 0.3% yeast extract. The isolated biosurfactant showed a CMC of 2.5% and the surface tension at that point showed to be 31mN/m. The potential application of the biosurfactant in oil recovery from the sand, in acid and alkaline environments and over exposure to high salinity and different temperatures was demonstrated by the percentage of oil removal and by the stability of the surface tension, respectively.
Investigation of Thermal Behavior of 3D PET Knits with Different Bioceramic Additives

The purpose of this study is to investigate the thermoregulatory properties of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) 3D knitted materials with bioceramic additives which are highly absorbing far-infrared (FIR) radiation. Ceramic materials are well-known and useful for thermal insulation applications. In order to compare different types of ceramic additives and coating methods for their incorporation into textile, several types of ceramic compounds with heat-retaining function were selected: germanium (Ge), aluminum (Al) and silicon (Si) additives were applied by impregnation in squeezing padder and titanium (Ti) by the screen printing method. The thermoregulatory properties (thermal resistance, heat-retaining effectiveness and air permeability) of 3D PET knits with bioceramic additives were estimated. In this study scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images were used to analyze the morphology of coated fabrics, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) analysis was applied to evaluate the number of minerals with high heat capacity in each formulation used for treatment. The knits coated with a formulation containing Ti ceramic additives demonstrated the most effective thermal behavior. Furthermore, better heat accumulation effectiveness of Ti ceramics containing knits was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. It was also determined that 3D knitted fabric with Ti ceramic additives showed the highest emissivity among tested samples and the implication is that this sample radiates its energy more efficiently than others.
Expression profile of lncRNAs and miRNAs in esophageal cancer: Implications in diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic response

Esophageal cancer is the seventh most common cancer worldwide. Although a number of environmental and lifestyle‐related risk factors have been identified for this kind of cancer, the exact molecular mechanisms of tumor evolution have not been clarified yet. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) as important regulators of gene expression and chromatin configuration have essential roles in the pathogenesis of esophageal cancer. They have been shown to alter the function of cancer‐related signaling pathways such as phosphoinositide 3‐kinase/protein kinase B and Wnt pathway, thus they might modulate the response of patients to pathway‐targeted therapies. Moreover, a number of lncRNAs, such as AFAP1‐AS1, UCA1, HOTAIR, LOC285194, and TUSC7, are involved in conferring chemoresistant/radioresistant in esophageal cancer cells. A complex network of interaction exists between lncRNAs and miRNAs in the context of esophageal cancer. Finally, various panels of lncRNAs and miRNAs have been introduced that can predict the survival of esophageal cancer patients. In this review article, we summarize the recent findings regarding the role of miRNAs and lncRNAs in the pathogenesis of esophageal cancer with the special focus on their regulatory roles on signaling pathways, their potential as diagnostic/prognostic markers, and their relevance with therapeutic response.
Growth responses of Picea abies to climate in the central part of the Ceskomoravska Upland (Czech Republic)

The aims of the study were to determine the effect of temperatures and precipitation on the ring width and to compare the results with the results of previous studies conducted in other mountain ranges of the Czech Republic. The research was performed in the central part of the Ceskomoravska Upland in the vicinity of Heralec municipality in selected 70up to 110-year-old spruce stands at altitudes from 680 m a.s. l. to 779 m a.s. l. Measuring of tree-ring widths and synchronization of individual ring series were conducted in PAST4. The age trend was removed by ARSTAN and climatic effects were modelled in DendroClim2002. The correlation of tree-ring width with monthly precipitation is positive and statistically significant for July of the previous year and for the entire summer period from June to September of the current year. The correlation of tree-ring width with mean monthly temperatures is negative and statistically significant for July and September and positive and statistically significant for October of the previous year. Negative correlation was also found for temperatures of the entire summer period from June to September of the previous year. The regional tree-ring chronology mainly shows two periods of highly reduced increment: from 1992 to 1996 and from 2003 to the end of the analysed period. The results thus confirm the hypothesis that the tree-ring width is in positive correlation with summer precipitation and negative correlation with summer temperatures. Also the results of the habitual diagnostics have shown a relatively low degree of crown transformation which indicates a weak or short-term stress load. Additional key words: Norway spruce, precipitation, temperature, tree-ring width, habitual diagnostic, Ceskomoravska Upland Addresses: M. Rybnicek, P. Cermak, T. Žid, T. Kolar, Mendel University in Brno, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Zemidilska 3, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic, e-mail: michalryb@email.cz, T. Kolar, Global Change Research Centre, Academy of Science of the Czech Republic, Bilidla 986/4a, 603 00 Brno,
Autologous plasma gel injection combined with scar subcision is a successful technique for atrophic post-acne scars: a split-face study

Abstract Background Different therapeutic options can be used for post-acne scarring. Scar subcision alone or in combination with other treatments have been used by many dermatologists to treat post-acne scarring. Objectives We thought to study and compare the efficacy and safety of scar subcision combined with platelet gel injection versus scar subcision combined with PRP injection for atrophic post-acne scarring. Patients and methods Scar subcision was done 1st on both sides of the face. Plasma gel injection was done on the right side and PRP injection was done on the left side. The sessions were done monthly for 4 months followed by a 6-month follow-up period. Evaluation of the results and any complications were recorded. Results There was a significant improvement (p = .035) of the scars on the subcision-gel-side at one month following the 1st treatment session. However, along with the following sessions, there were no significant differences between both sides. Finally, at the follow-up visit after 6 months following the end of the treatment course there was a significant difference between the two sides of the face in favor of the subcision-gel-side. Conclusions Subcision combined with autologous plasma gel injection is a successful technique for atrophic post-acne scars.
Wnt/β-catenin signaling is critical for regenerative potential of distal lung epithelial progenitor cells in homeostasis and emphysema

Wnt/β‐catenin signaling regulates progenitor cell fate decisions during lung development and in various adult tissues. Ectopic activation of Wnt/β‐catenin signaling promotes tissue repair in emphysema, a devastating lung disease with progressive loss of parenchymal lung tissue. The identity of Wnt/β‐catenin responsive progenitor cells and the potential impact of Wnt/β‐catenin signaling on adult distal lung epithelial progenitor cell function in emphysema are poorly understood. Here, we used TCF/Lef:H2B/GFP reporter mice to investigate the role of Wnt/β‐catenin signaling in lung organoid formation. We identified an organoid‐forming adult distal lung epithelial progenitor cell population characterized by a low Wnt/β‐catenin activity, which was enriched in club and alveolar epithelial type (AT)II cells. Endogenous Wnt/β‐catenin activity was required for the initiation of multiple subtypes of distal lung organoids derived from the Wntlow epithelial progenitors. Further ectopic Wnt/β‐catenin activation specifically led to an increase in alveolar organoid number; however, the subsequent proliferation of alveolar epithelial cells in the organoids did not require constitutive Wnt/β‐catenin signaling. Distal lung epithelial progenitor cells derived from the mouse model of elastase‐induced emphysema exhibited reduced organoid forming capacity. This was rescued by Wnt/β‐catenin signal activation, which largely increased the number of alveolar organoids. Together, our study reveals a novel mechanism of lung epithelial progenitor cell activation in homeostasis and emphysema.
Minor Splicing Factors Zrsr1 and Zrsr2 Are Essential for Early Embryo Development and 2-Cell-Like Conversion

Minor splicing plays an important role in vertebrate development. Zrsr1 and Zrsr2 paralog genes have essential roles in alternative splicing, mainly participating in the recognition of minor (U12) introns. To further explore their roles during early embryo development, we produced Zrsr1mu and Zrsr2mu mutant mice, containing truncating mutations within the second zinc finger domain. Both homozygous mutant mice were viable with a normal lifespan. When we crossed a homozygous Zrsr2mu/mu female with Zrsr1mu/mu male, the double heterozygotes were non-viable, giving rise to embryos that stopped developing mainly between the 2- and 4-cell stages, just after zygotic gene activation. RNA-seq analysis of Zrsr1/2mu 2-cell embryos showed altered gene and isoform expression of thousands of genes enriched in gene ontology terms and biological pathways related to ribosome, RNA transport, spliceosome, and essential zygotic gene activation steps. Alternative splicing was analyzed, showing a significant increase in intron retention in both U2 and U12 intron-containing genes related to cell cycle and mitotic nuclear division. Remarkably, both Zrsr1 and Zrsr2 were required for the conversion of mouse-induced pluripotent stem cells into 2C-like cells. According to our results, Zrsr1 or Zrsr2 are necessary for ZGA and both are indispensable for the conversion of induced pluripotent stem cells into 2C-like cells.
Quantitative Analysis of Antibody Survival across the Infant Digestive Tract Using Mass Spectrometry with Parallel Reaction Monitoring

Orally delivered antibodies may be useful for the prevention of enteric pathogen infection, but to be effective they need to survive intact across digestion through the gastrointestinal tract. As a test case, we fed a recombinant human antibody, palivizumab, spiked into human milk to four infants and collected gastric, intestinal and stool samples. We identified a tryptic peptide from palivizumab (LLIYDTSK) that differs from all endogenous human antibodies and used this for quantitation of the intact palivizumab. To account for dilution by digestive fluids, we co-fed a non-digestible, non-absorbable molecule-polyethylene glycol 28-quantified it in each sample and used this value to normalize the observed palivizumab concentration. The palivizumab peptide, a stable isotope-labeled synthetic peptide and polyethylene glycol 28 were quantified via a highly sensitive and selective parallel-reaction monitoring approach using nano-liquid chromatography/Orbitrap mass spectrometry. On average, the survival of intact palivizumab from the feed to the stomach, upper small intestine and stool were 88.4%, 30.0% and 5.2%, respectively. This approach allowed clear determination of the extent to which palivizumab was degraded within the infant digestive tract. This method can be applied with some modifications to study the digestion of any protein.
Effect of temperature on hatching and multiplication of potato cyst-nematodes.

Hatching and development of five populations of potato cyst-nematodes (two of G. rostochiensis and three of G. pallida) were studied at different temperatures. There were no fundamental differences between British and Peruvian populations but a Peruvian population (from Otuzco) seemed well adapted to a wide range of temperatures. G. pallida populations hatched and reproduced more at lower temperatures than G. rostochiensis populations, but G. rostochiensis was more successful than G. pallida at temperatures above 20°.
Somatosensory-visual effects in visual biological motion perception

Social cognition is dependent on the ability to extract information from human stimuli. Of those, patterns of biological motion (BM) and in particular walking patterns of other humans, are prime examples. Although most often tested in isolation, BM outside the laboratory is often associated with multisensory cues (i.e. we often hear and see someone walking) and there is evidence that vision-based judgments of BM stimuli are systematically influenced by motor signals. Furthermore, cross-modal visuo-tactile mechanisms have been shown to influence perception of bodily stimuli. Based on these observations, we here investigated if somatosensory inputs would affect visual BM perception. In two experiments, we asked healthy participants to perform a speed discrimination task on two point light walkers (PLW) presented one after the other. In the first experiment, we quantified somatosensory-visual interactions by presenting PLW together with tactile stimuli either on the participants’ forearms or feet soles. In the second experiment, we assessed the specificity of these interactions by presenting tactile stimuli either synchronously or asynchronously with upright or inverted PLW. Our results confirm that somatosensory input in the form of tactile foot stimulation influences visual BM perception. When presented with a seen walker’s footsteps, additional tactile cues enhanced sensitivity on a speed discrimination task, but only if the tactile stimuli were presented on the relevant body-part (under the feet) and when the tactile stimuli were presented synchronously with the seen footsteps of the PLW, whether upright or inverted. Based on these findings we discuss potential mechanisms of somatosensory-visual interactions in BM perception.
Fallow Method Affects Downy Brome Population in Winter Wheat

Downy brome (Bromus tectorum L.) is a prevalent weed infesting winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the Great Plains. Long-term field research was initiated in 1980 on a Williams loam soil (fine-loamy, mixed Typic Argiborolls) near Sidney, MT, to determine the effect of stubble mulch (SM), minimum-till (MT), and no-till (NT) fallow methods on downy brome proliferation in winter wheat-fallow cropping systems. In 1989, downy brome comprised 32% of the winter wheat community phytomass in the SM method, but was not detected in winter wheat of the MT or NT methods. Winter wheat grain yield in 1989 was 23 and 29% less in the SM method infested with downy brome than in the MT or NT methods, respectively (.)
SARS-CoV-2 nsp13, nsp14, nsp15 and orf6 function as potent interferon antagonists

ABSTRACT The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus, is now causing a tremendous global health concern. Since its first appearance in December 2019, the outbreak has already caused over 5.8 million infections worldwide (till 29 May 2020), with more than 0.35 million deaths. Early virus-mediated immune suppression is believed to be one of the unique characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 infection and contributes at least partially to the viral pathogenesis. In this study, we identified the key viral interferon antagonists of SARS-CoV-2 and compared them with two well-characterized SARS-CoV interferon antagonists, PLpro and orf6. Here we demonstrated that the SARS-CoV-2 nsp13, nsp14, nsp15 and orf6, but not the unique orf8, could potently suppress primary interferon production and interferon signalling. Although SARS-CoV PLpro has been well-characterized for its potent interferon-antagonizing, deubiquitinase and protease activities, SARS-CoV-2 PLpro, despite sharing high amino acid sequence similarity with SARS-CoV, loses both interferon-antagonising and deubiquitinase activities. Among the 27 viral proteins, SARS-CoV-2 orf6 demonstrated the strongest suppression on both primary interferon production and interferon signalling. Orf6-deleted SARS-CoV-2 may be considered for the development of intranasal live-but-attenuated vaccine against COVID-19.
Host Gene Expression of Macrophages in Response to Feline Coronavirus Infection

Feline coronavirus is a highly contagious virus potentially resulting in feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), while the pathogenesis of FIP remains not well understood, particularly in the events leading to the disease. A predominant theory is that the pathogenic FIPV arises from a mutation, so that it could replicate not only in enterocytes of the intestines but also in monocytes, subsequently systemically transporting the virus. The immune status and genetics of affected cats certainly play an important role in the pathogenesis. Considering the importance of genetics and host immune responses in viral infections, the goal of this study was to elucidate host gene expression in macrophages using RNA sequencing. Macrophages from healthy male cats infected with FIPV 79-1146 ex vivo displayed a differential host gene expression. Despite the virus uptake, aligned viral reads did not increase from 2 to 17 h. The overlap of host gene expression among macrophages from different cats was limited, even though viral transcripts were detected in the cells. Interestingly, some of the downregulated genes in all macrophages were involved in immune signaling, while some upregulated genes common for all cats were found to be inhibiting immune activation. Our results highlight individual host responses playing an important role, consistent with the fact that few cats develop feline infectious peritonitis despite a common presence of enteric FCoV.