Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nutrición de la planta y calidad de fruto de pimiento asociado con micorriza arbuscular en invernadero

The symbiotic activity that mycorrhizal fungi present may constitute a major biotechnological component to increase horticultural productivity. Among the benefits of the AMF-host plant symbiosis, is growth promotion and greater mineral nutrition of the plant. The horticultural production in greenhouse has had an increasing expansion in Mexico, because it has advantages, not only in consumer demand but by the high productivity generated. However, there are multiple factors that proceed from different agricultural practices that express in quality of production. Nutrition and fruit quality of pepper (cv. 'Valeria') was evaluated, by effect of inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) Rhizofagus intraradices, in greenhouse. The crop was handled with a fertigation system and HMA inoculation was in transplantation. The inoculated plants showed an increase in chlorophyll index, leaf contents of N, P, Fe and Zn, and mycorrhizal colonization, compared with non-inoculated plants. Also showed differences in fruit quality; by size, the fruits from non-inoculated plants reached grade 2, while the AMF reached level 1, with a weight gain of 30%. Inoculation with the AMF represents a biotech management that can be added within the horticultural production practices in greenhouse.
Effects of Light, Temperature, Irrigation and Fertilizer on Photosynthetic Rate in Tea (Camellia Sinensis)

SUMMARY Photosynthetic rates were monitored during the warm dry season in tea Clone 6/8 in a line-source irrigation × fertilizer experiment in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania. Irrigation and fertilizer increased photosynthetic rate both by enhancing photosynthetic rate per unit leaf area (A) in healthy leaves and by increasing the proportion of sunlight intercepted by photosynthetically efficient leaves. Irrigation-induced increases in A could be accounted for by increases in stomatal conductance (g) and associated reductions in leaf temperature. Fertilizer at an annual application rate of 225 kg N ha-1 caused increases in A associated with increases in g and improved responses to ambient CO2 concentration and illuminance (photon flux density, PFD). However, a further increase in fertilizer application rate to 375 kg N ha-1 a-1 decreased A in spite of increasing g. Light-saturation of photosynthesis occurred only at the higher fertilizer application rate. In unfertilized tea or tea fertilized at the lower rate, A decreased at a PFD of between 1400 and 2000 μmol m-2 s-l. These results are discussed in terms of the relation between photosynthesis and yield in tea. Fotosíntesis en el té
Communication and shared decision-making with patients with limited health literacy; helpful strategies, barriers and suggestions for improvement reported by hospital-based palliative care providers

Background Communication and shared decision-making (SDM) are essential to patient-centered care. Hospital-based palliative care with patients with limited health literacy (LHL) poses particular demands on communication. In this context, patients’ emotions and vulnerable condition impact their skills to obtain, understand, process and apply information about health and healthcare even more. If healthcare providers (HCPs) meet these demands, it could enhance communication. In this study, HCPs were interviewed and asked for their strategies, barriers and suggestions for improvement regarding communication and SDM with LHL patients in hospital-based palliative care. Methods A qualitative interview study was conducted in 2018 in four Dutch hospitals with 17 HCPs—11 physicians and 6 nurses. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results In general HCPs recognized limited literacy as a concept, however, they did not recognize limited health literacy. Regarding SDM some HCPs were strong advocates, others did not believe in SDM as a concept and perceived it as unfeasible. Furthermore, five themes, acting as either strategies, barriers or suggestions for improvement emerged from the interviews: 1) time management; 2) HCPs’ communication skills; 3) information tailoring; 4) characteristics of patients and significant others; 5) the content of the medical information. Conclusions According to HCPs, more time to communicate with their patients could resolve the most prominent barriers emerged from this study. Further research should investigate the organizational possibilities for this and the actual effectiveness of additional time on effective communication and SDM. Additionally, more awareness for the concept of LHL is needed as a precondition for recognizing LHL. Furthermore, future research should be directed towards opportunities for tailoring communication, and the extent to which limited knowledge and complex information affect communication and SDM. This study provides first insights into perspectives of HCPs, indicating directions for research on communication, SDM and LHL in hospital-based palliative care.
Detection of Ureaplasma Biovars and Subtyping of Ureaplasma parvum among Women Referring to a University Hospital in Morocco

Objectives The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Ureaplasma biovars and Ureaplasma parvum (U. parvum) serovars, their associated risk factors, and genital STI-related symptoms. Methods DNA obtained from cervical samples of 1053 women attending the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the laboratory of pathological anatomy of Hassan II university hospital of Fez, Morocco, was used to detect Ureaplasma biovars (U. urealyticum and U. parvum) and to subtype U. parvum by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results Of the 1053 women examined, 25.4% (268/1053) were Ureaplasma positives. The rates of U. urealyticum and U. parvum were 12.1% (128/1053) and 7% (74/1053), respectively, and the copresence of these biovars was noted in 6.3% (66/1053) cases. The U. parvum subtyping revealed a predominance of the serovar 3/14 (61.4%). The association of demographics variables with Ureaplasma biovars was studied and shows that the age (“<30” years) seems to be a risk factor of Ureaplasma spp. and U. urealyticum carriage (OR 1.729, 95% CI [1.113-2.687] and OR 1.848, 95% CI [1.026-3.330], respectively). There was no difference in the prevalence of Ureaplasma type regarding symptoms. However, a significant association was found between U. parvum serovar 1 and infertility (P = 0.011). Conclusion This first study conducted in Morocco provides an idea on Ureaplasma biovars and U. parvum serovars circulating in this region, their associated risk factors, and genital STI-related symptoms. Therefore, further studies are required to clarify and confirm the pathogenic role of these Ureaplasma species.
Bacillus subtilis PB6 based probiotic supplementation plays a role in the recovery after the necrotic enteritis challenge

In poultry production, birds are raised under intensive conditions, which can enable rapid spread of infections, with Clostridium perfringens-caused necrotic enteritis (NE) being one of the most devastating for the industry. The current investigation was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of Bacillus subtilis PB6 probiotic supplementation on bird’s post NE recovery, based on chicken performance, cecal microbiota composition, ileum histomorphometric measurements, and short-chain fatty acid production in the cecum of the birds that were challenged with NE mid-production. Birds were split into four groups, including a negative control, positive control challenged with C. perfringens, group supplemented with B. subtilis probiotic, and NE challenged birds supplemented with B. subtilis probiotic. Following NE challenge birds were allowed to reach the end of production time at 40 days, and samples were collected to estimate if probiotic supplementation resulted in better post-NE recovery. Intestinal lesion score across the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum indicated that at the end of production timeline NE challenged birds supplemented with B. subtilis probiotic had lower intestinal lesion scores compared to NE challenged birds without probiotic supplementation implying improved recovery. Probiotic supplementation improved performance of NE challenged birds only in the post-NE recovery stage. NE challenged birds had a significant increase in cecal propionic acid, which was not observed in NE challenged birds supplemented with B.subtilus. Both B. subtilis supplemented groups (challenged and unchanged) were characterized by a significant rise in cecal acetic and butyric acid. Our results demonstrate that B. subtilis supplementation can assist the birds in dealing with NE outbreak and long term recovery.
The True Identity of Meconopsis Napaulensis DC.

Summary. In assessing the true identity of M. napaulensis DC. it has been necessary to re-evaluate the whole of the M. napaulensis aggregate, a single species according to George Taylor (1934) that stretched in a narrow band from west Nepal through Sikkim, Bhutan, Assam and northern Burma (Myanmar) to western China. This has necessitated revising the whole of subsection Eupolychaetia and, as a result, four new species are described here: M. chankheliensis, M. ganeshensis, M. staintonii and M. wilsonii, while M. wallichii Hook. f. is reinstated.
Investigating the effects of Functional Ice (FICE) on Salmonella-food safety, microbial spoilage and quality of raw poultry thigh meat during refrigerated storage

In meat processing, antimicrobial treatment applied during slaughter and deboning may not control pathogens and spoilage organisms during subsequent transportation and storage. “Functional Ice” (FICE), an innovation over traditional ice, was investigated for its effects on food safety, shelf life, and quality of raw poultry thigh meat during refrigerated storage. FICE was prepared by freezing aqueous solutions of sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) (2.5% and 5% w/v) and sodium lactate-sodium diacetate (SL-SD) (1% and 2.5% v/v). Potable water was used to prepare ice for the control treatment. Thigh meat inoculated with Salmonella Typhimurium (108 CFU/sample) was placed in FICE treatments, stored at 4 °C and sampled at 0, 12, 24, 36 and 48 h (n = 375). Weight pick-up was recorded for the uninoculated thighs. Additionally, shelf life and quality were evaluated for 8 days on tray-packed thighs that were stored in FICE treatments for 48 h (STPP 5%, and SL-SD 2.5%). Differences among treatments were determined using ANOVA with LSMeans (p ≤ 0.05). Results indicated that inoculated thighs stored in individual STPP 5%, and SL-SD 2.5% treatments lead to a significant reduction in Salmonella Typhimurium compared to the control (p ≤ 0.05) after 48 h of storage. FICE treated thighs showed higher yields, lower cook loss, and an extended shelf life of 1–2 days, without any color changes. FICE has the potential to improve food safety and shelf life while improving the yields and quality during storage and transportation of raw poultry meat.
Comparison of isozymes, rDNA spacer regions and MAT-2 DNA sequences as phylogenetic characters in the analysis of the Ceratocystis coerulescens complex

Abstract The genus Ceratocystis sensu stricto includes species that are insect-vectored, plant pathogens, occurring mainly on angiosperm hosts. Species in the Ce. coerulescens complex form a morphologically distinct group that are pathogens on gymnosperms (Pinaceae) and angiosperms. In recent years, species in the Ce. coerulescens complex have been intensively studied based on their morphology and isozymes, as well as on their molecular characteristics. The aim of this study was to compare the phylogeny of these species inferred from the MAT-2 HMG box DNA sequences to the phylogenies inferred from partial rDNA sequences and isozyme data. Part of the MAT-2 HMG box of species in the Ce. coerulescens complex was amplified using PCR. The PCR fragments were sequenced and phylogenetically analysed using parsimony, with Ce. fimbriata as the outgroup taxon. Species in the Ce. coerulescens complex on gymnosperms formed a single clade, inferred to be a sister-taxon to the clade that included the species on angiosperm hosts, thus supporting the hypothesis that the adaptation to gymnosperms was a single evolutionary event in the history of Ceratocystis. The phylogeny inferred from the MAT-2 HMG box sequences was found to be similar to the phylogeny based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of the rDNA. However, the MAT-2 HMG box sequences enabled the separation of Ce. laricicola from Ce. polonica, as well as the separation of the Ce. virescens isolates on Acer and Liriodendron from those on Fagus and Quercus. Similarly, isozyme data separated these morphologically similar sister species, but isozyme analysis did not appear to reflect a true phylogeny of the species in the Ce. coerulescens complex.
Age and cohort rise in diabetes prevalence among older Australian women: Case ascertainment using survey and healthcare administrative data

Background Due to the absence and or costliness of biological measures such as glycated haemoglobin, diabetes case ascertainment and prevalence studies are usually conducted using surveys or routine health service use databases. However, the use of each of these sources is associated with its limitations potentially impacting the quality of the case ascertainment and prevalence estimation. This study aimed at ascertaining diabetes cases and estimating prevalence among mid- and older-age women through simultaneous use of a longitudinal survey and multiple healthcare administrative data sources. Methods Data were available for 12,432 and 13,714 women born in 1921–26 and 1946–51 from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (ALSWH). Diabetes was ascertained using the ALSWH survey, health service use, and cause of death data. Parsimonious multiple logistic regression analyses tested associations between sociodemographic and health variables and the presence of diabetes. Results In both cohorts, two or more of the sources captured more than 80% of the women with diabetes. The point prevalence of diabetes increased from 8.4% when the mean age of the women were aged 73, to 22.0% of surviving women at age 90 in the 1921–26 cohort; and from 2.6% at age 48 to 15.8% at age 68 in the 1946–51 cohort. In the 1921–26 cohort, women who were obese (OR: 3.56; 95 CI: 3.04–4.17) and women who were sedentary (OR: 1.18; 95 CI: 1.09–1.40) were more likely to have diabetes compared to those who had a normal weight and engaged in a moderate level of physical activity. In the 1946–51 cohort, the odds of diabetes increased three times (OR: 2.99; 95 CI: 2.54–3.52) for overweight women and nine times (OR: 8.78; 95 CI: 7.46–10.33) for obese women compared to those who had normal weight. Conclusions The simultaneous use of multiple data sources improved the validity of diabetes case ascertainment. Application of this methodology in future studies may have important benefits including estimation of disease burden, health service needs, and resource allocation with improved precision. Diabetes prevalence increased with age, was much higher in the 1946–51 cohort than in 1921–26 at similar ages, and was significantly associated with physical inactivity and obesity. Interventions to promote physical activity and a healthy weight are needed to prevent the rising prevalence of diabetes across successive generations.
The genetic risk for hypertension is lower among the Hungarian Roma population compared to the general population

Estimating the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and risk factors among the Roma population, the largest minority in Europe, and investigating the role of genetic or environmental/behavioral risk factors in CVD development are important issues in countries where they are significant minority. This study was designed to estimate the genetic susceptibility of the Hungarian Roma (HR) population to essential hypertension (EH) and compare it to that of the general (HG) population. Twenty EH associated SNPs (in AGT, FMO3, MTHFR-NPPB, NPPA, NPPA-AS1, AGTR1, ADD1, NPR3-C5orf23, NOS3, CACNB2, PLCE1, ATP2B1, GNB3, CYP1A1-ULK3, UMOD and GNAS-EDN3) were genotyped using DNA samples obtained from HR (N = 1176) and HG population (N = 1178) subjects assembled by cross-sectional studies. Allele frequencies and genetic risk scores (unweighted and weighted genetic risk scores (GRS and wGRS, respectively) were calculated for the study groups and compared to examine the joint effects of the SNPs. The susceptibility alleles were more frequent in the HG population, and both GRS and wGRS were found to be higher in the HG population than in the HR population (GRS: 18.98 ± 3.05 vs. 18.25 ± 2.97, p<0.001; wGRS: 1.52 [IQR: 0.99–2.00] vs. 1.4 [IQR: 0.93–1.89], p<0.01). Twenty-seven percent of subjects in the HR population were in the bottom fifth (GRS ≤ 16) of the risk allele count compared with 21% of those in the HG population. Thirteen percent of people in the HR group were in the top fifth (GRS ≥ 22) of the GRS compared with 21% of those in the HG population (p<0.001), i.e., the distribution of GRS was found to be left-shifted in the HR population compared to the HG population. The Roma population seems to be genetically less susceptible to EH than the general one. These results support preventive efforts to lower the risk of developing hypertension by encouraging a healthy lifestyle.
Comparing somatic cell counts, production and milking durations of dairy cows when milked at two automatic cup-removal flow-rate thresholds

The present study evaluated the effect of two automatic cup remover (ACR) flow-rate threshold settings (0.2 and 0.4 kg/min) on somatic cell count (SCC), clinical mastitis (CM), milk production and milking duration for cows milked twice daily. In a crossover design, 161 cows were assigned to one of two groups and milked with an ACR set at either 0.2 kg/min (Group 1, n = 81) or 0.4 kg/min (Group 2, n = 80) for a 3-week period from peak lactation. Following a 1-week transition period at a milk-flow threshold setting of 0.3 kg/min for both groups, there was a further 3-week treatment period where Group 1 was milked with an ACR set at 0.4 kg/min and Group 2 set at 0.2 kg/min. The milk-flow threshold setting did not affect SCC (P > 0.05). Clinical mastitis was detected in 3% of cows, and was not more prevalent when cows were milked to a flow rate of 0.4 kg/min. Post-milking strip yields were larger when thresholds were set at 0.4 kg/min than those with 0.2 kg/min (P 0.05), but average daily milk, MS and protein yields were lower (P < 0.05) for the 0.4 kg/min setting, equating to a 1% difference in production. Milking duration was reduced by 11% (P < 0.001) when cups were removed at flow rates of 0.4 kg/min, compared with 0.2 kg/min. Increasing the milk flow-rate threshold for cluster removal can reduce milking time without affecting milk quality, but may result in a minor reduction in MS production.
Hydrogen peroxide acts as a secondary messenger for production of silymarin in Ag+ elicited Silybum marianum hairy root cultures.

This study was performed to investigate the effect of Ag as an elicitor on the activity of antioxidant enzymes, content of H2O2, accumulation of total tocopherol and antioxidant activity in hairy root cultures of Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. The hairy roots were treated with 2 mM Ag. The treated and non-treated hairy roots were harvested in the same time and data on H2O2 content, DPPH, tocopherol content and enzyme activity were measured. Ag elicitation resulted in enhanced H2O2 content after 24, 72 and 96 h. Peroxidase activity increased 24 h after elicitation, whereas the antioxidant activity decreased upon treatment. The overall trend of IC50 changes was very similar to that of the control treatments. Tocopherol content decreased 24 and 48 h after elicitation. The results demonstrated a possible role of hydrogen peroxide as a secondary messenger for production of silymarin in Ag elicited Silybum marianum hairy roots cultures. Key word: Silybum marianum, Ag, Antioxidant enzymes, DPPH, Tocopherol
Plant phenology, leaf traits and leaf litterfall of contrasting life forms in the arid Patagonian Monte, Argentina

Abstract Question: Do coexisting plant life forms differ in overall phenology, leaf traits and patterns of leaf litterfall? Location: Patagonian Monte, Chubut Province, Argentina. Methods: We assessed phenology, traits of green and senesced leaves and the pattern of leaf litterfall in 12 species of coexisting life forms (perennial grasses, deciduous shrubs, evergreen shrubs). Results: We did not identify differences in phenology, leaf traits and patterns of leaf litterfall among life forms but these attributes contrasted among species. Independent of the life form, the maintenance of green leaves or vegetative growth during the dry season was mostly associated with leaves with high leaf mass per area (LMA) and high concentration of secondary compounds. Low LMA species produced low litterfall mass with low concentration of secondary compounds, and high N concentration. High LMA species produced the largest mass of leaf litterfall. Accordingly, species were distributed along two main dimensions of ecological variation, the dimension secondary compounds in leaves - length and timing of the vegetative growth period (SC – VGP) and the dimension leaf mass per area - leaf litterfall mass (LMA – LLM). Conclusions: Phenology, leaf traits and leaf litterfall varied among species and overlapped among life forms. The two dimensions of ecological variation among species (SC – VGP, LMA – LLM) represent distinct combinations of plant traits or strategies related to resource acquisition and drought tolerance which are reflected in the patterns of leaf litterfall. Nomenclature: Correa (1971, 1978, 1984, 1988, 1999).
Climate and land‐use drivers of invasion: predicting the expansion of Vespa velutina nigrithorax into the Iberian Peninsula

The yellow‐legged hornet (Vespa velutina nigrithorax) has been identified as a major threat to European entomofauna. Species distribution models have been used to assess its invasiveness risk. No studies were, however, developed specifically for peripheral regions, where unique biodiversity can be threatened by this species. This study aims to address that particular issue by incorporating non‐commonly used drivers and by forecasting regions in Iberian Peninsula where the species has high risk of expansion. Climatic, anthropogenic and land‐use variables were considered. The species potential distribution was assessed using a generalised linear model. Overall, the model predicted the northern regions of the Iberian Peninsula suitable for the species expansion. Only the driest regions at the south are conservatively predicted to not be occupied by the yellow‐legged hornet. Precipitation and temperature have the highest influence in Vespa velutina nigrithorax distribution, with land‐use also playing an important role in its expansion at regional scale. These results highlighted the threat of this species to beekeeping activities. Due to high species richness and endemicity levels, peripheral regions integrated in Biodiversity Hotspots need special attention and control measures.
Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2018: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray

Cooperating Organizations American Astronomical Society (United States) • Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON) (Netherlands) • Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corporation (United States) Canadian Astronomical Society (CASCA) (Canada) • European Astronomical Society (Switzerland) • ESO—European Southern Observatory (Germany) • International Astronomical Union • Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KAS! ) (Republic of Korea) • National Radio Astronomy Observatory • POPSud (France) • TNO (Netherlands)