Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Enhanced Biodegradation of Insecticides in Soil: Implications for Agroecosystems

A vast amount of research since the publication of Silent Spring (13) shows that soil, water, air, and the biota have become the ultimate sinks for all pesticides and their degradation products. During the late 1950s and through­ out the 1960s great concern was expressed about the accumulation of the chlorinated hydrocarbon and cyclodiene insecticides in the biosphere. From the mid-1970s and throughout the 1980s these persistent insecticides have gradually been phased out by regulation and replaced by highly toxic but biodegradable insecticides. Biodegradation, a term used usually in reference to microbial metabolism of natural and synthetic chemicals in soil and water, is needed to reduce the accumulation of pesticide residues in the environment. Without biodegradation, the environmental sinks would rapidly fill with all kinds of chemical contaminants. Most pesticides used for insect and weed control are applied directly to the soil. Pesticides are mainly dissipated from soil by microbiological metabo­ lism. Paradoxically, biodegradation of pesticides, which has been viewed as a positive process for reducing environmental hazards, is a double-edged sword in regard to management of crop damage by soil-borne pests. Because prophylactic treatment is the strategy most frequently used to control soil pests, the efficacy of the pesticide depends on its persistence in the soil before the appearance of the pest. A growing body of literature has shown that some environmentally labile pesticides are degraded at accelerated rates in soils that are retreated with the same chemical. In several cases, this enhancement of biodegradation has been associated with ineffective pest control. Physiologi-
Minimum energy bounds on longitudinal elastic constants of transversely isotropic unidirectional composites

We consider the n-component transversely isotropic unidirectional elastic composites, the longitudinal axis of which is parallel to those of the transversely isotropic components as well as the generators of the cylindrical phase boundaries between them. From the minimum energy and complementary energy principles, with appropriate constant strain and piece-wise constant stress trial fields, optimization and iteration techniques, a set of bounds for the macroscopic (effective) longitudinal elastic constants of the composites (including the simple lower arithmetic average estimate for longitudinal Young modulus Eeff ≥ EV) are constructed. Numerical examples are provided to illustrate the obtained results.
International Disease Epidemics and the Shadow Economy

Adding to the emerging body of research related to the current coronavirus crisis, this paper studies the impact of disease epidemics on the worldwide prevalence of the shadow or the underground economy. The informal sector undermines compliance with government regulations and lowers tax collections. Our main hypothesis is that epidemics positively impacts the spread of the shadow economy. Using data on nearly 130 nations and nesting the empirical analysis in the broader literature on the drivers of the shadow sector, we find that both the incidence and the intensity of epidemics positively and significantly contribute to the spread of the underground sector. Numerically, a ten percent increase in the intensity of epidemics leads to an increase in the prevalence of the shadow economy by about 2.1 percent. These findings about the spillovers from epidemics have implications for economic policies in the current times of coronavirus.
An investigation into how the cell cycle and the Notch signalling pathway regulate pronephrogenesis in Xenopus laevis

The connections between cell cycle exit and terminal differentiation remain poorly understood. Cyclin dependent Kinase Inhibitors (CKIs) provide a possible link between entry into the quiescent state and differentiation. The initial aim of this project was to further investigate if the CKI p27Xic1 could promote differentiation in addition to, and independently of, its well characterised cell cycle exit function. p27Xic1 has been shown to be involved in cell fate determination during gliogenesis, neurogenesis, myogenesis and cardiogenesis and many mammalian Cip/ Kip CKI homologues of p27Xic1 have been described as important regulators of cellular processes beyond control of cell division. We aimed to investigate these roles during development of the embryonic kidney, the pronephros. We discovered that p27Xic1 does not affect differentiation during pronephrogenesis, but instead controls pronephric organ size through its cell cycle exit function. In addition we identified a previously unrecognised role for the cell cycle exit function of p27Xic1 in allocation of the somites during paraxial mesoderm segmentation. Preliminary results had suggested p27Xic1 expression in the pronephros was under the control of the Notch signalling pathway. Over-expressing a constitutively active form of Notch, Notch-ICD, and a dominant negative form of the Delta ligand, DeltaSTU, showed that both mis-activation and suppression of Notch signalling inhibited p27Xic1 expression. However, when investigating the effects these overexpressions had on pronephros development, we identified novel results indicating the Notch signalling pathway, which has previously been implicated in pronephros development, is essential for the separation of the proximal lateral and medial pronephric mesoderms. This process we propose is mediated by the Notch signalling pathway through the establishment of a boundary between these two distinct populations of cells, permitting both compartments to develop in isolation. The results in this thesis suggest novel mechanisms by which cell division controls X. laevis segmentation and organ size and how the Notch signalling pathway is able to pattern the pronephros anlagen such that the different compartments of the mature pronephros are able to develop, and thus function.
A 4-year Study of Community Acquired Urinary Tract Infections from a Tertiary Diagnostic Centre in Mumbai with Special Reference to MIC Values

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) are among the most frequent infectious diseases affecting humans, and represent an important public health problem with a substantial economic burden. Due to the high empiric use of antibiotics for treatment of UTI, antibacterial resistance of Enterobacteriaceae, specifically the main uropathogens Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, has significantly increased worldwide. A retrospective analysis of cases of community acquired UTI reported over last 4 years at Suburban Diagnostics was done. A total of 27,501 cases of UTI were analysed retrospectively. Growth was found in 12,476 (45.36%). 15,025 (54.63%) cases were sterile on culture. Community acquired UTI is showing increasing resistance as seen in our study of 4 years with around 27,000 cases of UTI and around 12,000 isolates. High rates of ESBL-64% of E. coli and 54% Klebsiella isolates found in our study reinforce the fact that this form of resistance is common in community acquired UTI.
Factors favouring the evolution of multidrug resistance in bacteria

The evolution of multidrug antibiotic resistance in commensal bacteria is an important public health concern. Commensal bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pneumoniae or Staphylococcus aureus, are also opportunistic pathogens causing a large fraction of the community-acquired and hospital-acquired bacterial infections. Multidrug resistance (MDR) makes these infections harder to treat with antibiotics and may thus cause substantial additional morbidity and mortality. Here, we develop an evolutionary epidemiology model to identify the factors favouring the evolution of MDR in commensal bacteria. The model describes the evolution of antibiotic resistance in a commensal bacterial species evolving in a host population subjected to multiple antibiotic treatments. We combine statistical analysis of a large number of simulations and mathematical analysis to understand the model behaviour. We find that MDR evolves more readily when it is less costly than expected from the combinations of single resistances (positive epistasis). MDR frequently evolves when bacteria are in contact with multiple drugs prescribed in the host population, even if individual hosts are only treated with a single drug at a time. MDR is favoured when the host population is structured in different classes that vary in their rates of antibiotic treatment. However, under most circumstances, recombination between loci involved in resistance does not meaningfully affect the equilibrium frequency of MDR. Together, these results suggest that MDR is a frequent evolutionary outcome in commensal bacteria that encounter the variety of antibiotics prescribed in the host population. A better characterization of the variability in antibiotic use across the host population (e.g. across age classes or geographical location) would help predict which MDR genotypes will most readily evolve.
Influencia del Riego Deficitario Controlado Sobre el Desarrollo de las Bayas y la Composición Química de los Mostos y Vinos

En experimentos de campo realizados durante la temporada 2000-2001 en un vinedo comercial ubicado en Alto Jahuel, Region Metropolitana, Chile, se evaluo el efecto de deficit hidricos tempranos y tardios sobre el rendimiento, la composicion de las bayas, del mosto y de los vinos, de los cultivares de Vitis vinifera L. , Cabernet sauvignon, Carmenere, Chardonnay y Sauvignon blanc. Los deficit hidricos tempranos redujeron significativamente el diametro final de las bayas de tres de los cuatro cvs. estudiados, pero no se registraron reducciones significativas en su peso. Los mostos obtenidos de estas bayas mostraron mayor concentracion de solidos solubles. El vino obtenido de algunos tratamientos de riego deficitario temprano presento mayor grado alcoholico, mayor contenido de glicerol, compuestos fenolicos totales, y antocianos, asi como mayor intensidad colorante, y menor matiz. La influencia de los deficits hidricos sobre la division celular de las bayas de los cv. Cabernet sauvignon y Carmenere fue determinada indirectamente, por el contenido de acido desoxiribonucleico (ADN), obteniendose una reduccion significativa en el contenido de ADN de las bayas como consecuencia del riego deficitario temprano en uvas Cabernet sauvignon; por lo que un menor numero de celulas podria explicar el menor crecimiento de la bayas obtenido. En consecuencia, se corrobora que el deficit hidrico tiene un efecto favorable sobre la calidad de los vinos producidos, dependiendo de la magnitud yepoca de los periodos secos.
Hepatitis B Virus Maturation Is Sensitive to Functional Inhibition of ESCRT-III, Vps4, and γ2-Adaptin

ABSTRACT Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is an enveloped DNA virus that presumably buds at intracellular membranes of infected cells. HBV budding involves two endocytic host proteins, the ubiquitin-interacting adaptor γ2-adaptin and the Nedd4 ubiquitin ligase. Here, we demonstrate that HBV release also requires the cellular machinery that generates internal vesicles of multivesicular bodies (MVBs). In order to perturb the MVB machinery in HBV-replicating liver cells, we used ectopic expression of dominant-negative mutants of different MVB components, like the ESCRT-III complex-forming CHMP proteins and the Vps4 ATPases. Upon coexpression of mutated CHMP3, CHMP4B, or CHMP4C forms, as well as of ATPase-defective Vps4A or Vps4B mutants, HBV assembly and egress were potently blocked. Each of the MVB inhibitors arrested virus particle maturation by entrapping the viral core and large and small envelope proteins in detergent-insoluble membrane structures that closely resembled aberrant endosomal class E compartments. In contrast, HBV subvirus particle release was not affected by MVB inhibitors, hinting at different export routes used by viral and subviral particles. To further define the role γ2-adaptin plays in HBV formation, we examined the effects of its overexpression in virus-replicating cells. Intriguingly, excess γ2-adaptin blocked HBV production in a manner similar to the actions of CHMP and Vps4 mutants. Moreover, overexpressed γ2-adaptin perturbed the endosomal morphology and diminished the budding of a retroviral Gag protein, implying that it may act as a principal inhibitor of the MVB sorting pathway. Together, these results demonstrate that HBV exploits the MVB machinery with the aid of γ2-adaptin.
EFFECT OF COOKING ON THE PROFILE OF PHENOLICS, TANNINS, PHYTATE, AMINO ACID, FATTY ACID AND MINERAL NUTRIENTS OF WHOLE‐GRAIN AND DECORTICATED VEGETABLE COWPEA (VIGNA UNGUICULATA L. WALP)

ABSTRACT An experiment was conducted to determine the profile of phenolics, tannins, phytate, amino acid, fatty acid and mineral nutrients in whole-grain and decorticated vegetable cowpea before and after cooking. Two cowpea varieties: C-152-White, having big grain and S-1552-White, having small grain with black eye were used for the study. Decortication of cowpea grain resulted in significant reduction (P ≤ 0.05) of total phenolics, total tannins and phytate contents of the two cowpea varieties. Comparison showed that cooking resulted in 19, 28, 28 and 37% losses in phenolics in whole-grain C-152, decorticated C-152, whole-grain S-1552 and decorticated S-1552, respectively. After cooking, whole-grain and decorticated C-152 retained 52.1 and 57.7% tannins while S-1552 retained 59.4 and 49.5%, respectively. In the whole grain, C-152 lost 72.2% phytate after cooking while S-1552 lost 70.3%. For the decorticated samples, C-152 lost 72.4% phytate after cooking while S-1552 lost 71.2%. For the two cowpea varieties, decortication resulted in significant (P ≤ 0.05) losses of Ca, Fe, Mn, Mg, Zn, K and Cu while there was no significant effect on protein and amino acid profile. Cooking did not cause any significant change in the mineral nutrient composition of either the whole-grain or decorticated cowpea. For the two cowpea varieties, bulk of the fat consisted of palmitic acid (23.2–27.3%) and stearic acid (53.5–59.8%) in the ratio of 1:2, approximately. Upon cooking, losses of crude protein were recorded in the whole-grain and decorticated samples of the two cowpea varieties. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Cowpea is an important cheap source of protein particularly for the low-income countries, especially in Africa and Asia. However, there is the need for some pretreatments before its cooking because of the presence of some undesirable antinutrients which often cause flatulence after consumption or they can render some minerals unavailable for body assimilation. This study investigated the role that African traditional method of decortication and cooking could play in reducing the concentration of antinutritional factors. We also showed how the traditional treatments could affect the other nutritionally important component of cowpea.
Optimization of alkaline protease production from Pseudomonas fluorescens isolated from meat waste contaminated soil

A protease producing bacteria was isolated from meat waste contaminated soil and identified as Pseudomonas fluorescens. Optimization of the fermentation medium for maximum protease production was carried out. The culture conditions like inoculum concentration, incubation time, pH, temperature, carbon sources, nitrogen sources and metal ions were optimized. The optimum conditions found for protease production was 37°C at pH 9, with 2% inoculum in the medium for 24 h. Wheat bran and peptone stimulates the production of protease. Magnesium sulphate has less inhibitory effect among the metal ions tested.
CHATBOTS FOR EDUCATION - TRENDS, BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES

Conversational agents change the way we think and live, as they have the ability of being present and ready to provide help anytime and anywhere. From mobile phones or PCs to smart homes, virtual assistants may ease our lives, by doing tasks while conducting conversations. The effects bots can have on education change the humanity forever, implementing new educational principles designed as complementary to traditional methods and to teachers. They may have a major role in delivering pedagogical content and assessing, covering a wide variety of lessons and subjects by using multimedia content and speeches. New eye candy ways of evaluating students and perpetual learning may be conceived, while getting real time feedback from targeted learners. They convincingly simulate how a human would behave as a conversational partner and enhance the attraction of technology, gaining the trust of the students. To sum up, chatbots may be cheap and easy to use educational tools, meant to be closer to nowadays students in a more pleasant way, adequate to modern styles of learning. This technology, could have a large potential in schools, universities and other training scenarios, reaching a wide variety of targets. The future belongs to robots, and they are already here. Robots surround us, even though they may not have the shape the users imagine. This paper discusses the development and capabilities of conversational agents and the added value they can bring to the educational process: the concept of chatbot is provided, the most important frameworks are underlined, a set of successful educational examples of chatbots, the benefits and challenges of using chatbots in education are also reviewed. In the end, a model of using an education chatbot to increase quality of life is proposed.
Identification of Immunodominant Regions within the C-Terminal Cell Binding Domain of Intimin α and Intimin β from Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli

ABSTRACT Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) strains are a common cause of infantile diarrhea in developing countries. EPEC strains induce a characteristic attaching and effacing (A/E) lesion on epithelial cells. A/E lesion formation requires intimin, an outer membrane adhesin protein. The cell-binding activity of intimin is localized at the C-terminal 280 amino acids of the polypeptide (Int280). So far, four distinct Int280 types (α, β, γ, and δ) have been identified. The aim of this study was to identify immunodominant regions within the Int280α and Int280β domains. Recombinant DNA was used to construct and express overlapping polypeptides spanning these domains. Rabbit anti-Int280 antisera and human colostral immunoglobulin A were reacted with these polypeptides in Western blots and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The results obtained with the rabbit antisera showed the presence of two separate immunodominant regions which are common to both Int280α and Int280β. The first localized within the N-terminal region of Int280, and the second localized between amino acids 80 and 130. The results with the human colostra revealed one reactivity pattern against the Int280α fragments but two different reactivity patterns against the Int280β domain.
Long-read assembly of the Brassica napus reference genome Darmor-bzh

Abstract Background The combination of long reads and long-range information to produce genome assemblies is now accepted as a common standard. This strategy not only allows access to the gene catalogue of a given species but also reveals the architecture and organization of chromosomes, including complex regions such as telomeres and centromeres. The Brassica genus is not exempt, and many assemblies based on long reads are now available. The reference genome for Brassica napus, Darmor-bzh, which was published in 2014, was produced using short reads and its contiguity was extremely low compared with current assemblies of the Brassica genus. Findings Herein, we report the new long-read assembly of Darmor-bzh genome (Brassica napus) generated by combining long-read sequencing data and optical and genetic maps. Using the PromethION device and 6 flowcells, we generated ∼16 million long reads representing 93× coverage and, more importantly, 6× with reads longer than 100 kb. This ultralong-read dataset allows us to generate one of the most contiguous and complete assemblies of a Brassica genome to date (contig N50 > 10 Mb). In addition, we exploited all the advantages of the nanopore technology to detect modified bases and sequence transcriptomic data using direct RNA to annotate the genome and focus on resistance genes. Conclusion Using these cutting-edge technologies, and in particular by relying on all the advantages of the nanopore technology, we provide the most contiguous Brassica napus assembly, a resource that will be valuable to the Brassica community for crop improvement and will facilitate the rapid selection of agronomically important traits.
The analysis of groups of experiments

When a set of experiments involving the same or similar treatments is carried out at a number of places, or in a number of years, the results usually require comprehensive examination and summary. In general, each set of results must be considered on its merits, and it is not possible to lay down rules of procedure that will be applicable in all cases, but there are certain preliminary steps in the analysis which can be dealt with in general terms. These are discussed in the present paper and illustrated by actual examples. It is pointed out that the ordinary analysis of variance procedure suitable for dealing with the results of a single experiment may require modification, owing to lack of equality in the errors of the different experiments, and owing to non-homogeneity of the components of the interaction of treatments with places and times.
Nitrapyrin has far reaching effects on the soil microbial community structure, composition, diversity and functions

Nitrapyrin is one of the most common nitrification inhibitors that are used to retain N in the ammonia form in soil to improve crop yields and quality. Whereas the inhibitory effect of nitrapyrin is supposedly specific to ammonia oxidizers, in view of the keystone role of this group in soils, nitrapyrin could have far-reaching impacts. Here, we tested the hypothesis that nitrapyrin leads to large shifts in soil microbial community structure, composition, diversity and functions, beyond its effect on ammonia-oxidizers. To test this hypothesis, we set-up a field experiment where wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. AC Walton) was fertilized with ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) and supplemented or not with nitrapyrin. Rhizosphere and bulk soils were sampled twice, DNA was extracted, the 16S rRNA gene and ITS region were amplified and sequenced to follow shifts in archaeal, bacterial and fungal community structure, composition and diversity. To assess microbial functions, several genes involved in the nitrogen cycle were quantified by real-time qPCR and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were trapped in the rhizosphere at the moment of sampling. As expected, sampling date and plant compartment had overwhelming effects on the microbial communities. However, within these strong effects, we found statistically significant effects of nitrapyrin on the relative abundance of Thaumarchaeota, Proteobacteria, Nitrospirae and Basidiomycota, and on several genera. Nitrapyrin also significantly affected bacterial and fungal community structure, and the abundance of all the N-cycle gene tested, but always in interaction with sampling date. In contrast, nitrapyrin had no significant effect on the emission of VOCs, where only sampling date significantly influenced the profiles observed. Our results point out far-reaching effects of nitrapyrin on soil and plant associated microbial communities, well beyond its predicted direct effect on ammonia-oxidizers. In the longer term, these shifts might counteract the positive effect of nitrapyrin on crop nutrition and greenhouse gas emissions.