Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regional Disconnection in Alzheimer Dementia and Amyloid-Positive Mild Cognitive Impairment: Association Between EEG Functional Connectivity and Brain Glucose Metabolism

Introduction: The disconnection hypothesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is supported by growing neuroimaging and neurophysiological evidence of altered brain functional connectivity in cognitively impaired individuals. Brain functional modalities such as [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography ([18F]FDG-PET) and electroencephalography (EEG) measure different aspects of synaptic functioning, and can contribute to understanding brain connectivity disruptions in AD. Aim: This study investigated the relationship between cortical glucose metabolism and topographical EEG measures of brain functional connectivity in subjects along AD continuum. Methods: Patients diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD (n = 67), and stratified into amyloid-positive (n = 32) and negative (n = 10) groups according to cerebrospinal fluid Aβ42/40 ratio, were assessed with [18F]FDG-PET and resting-state EEG recordings. EEG-based neuroimaging analysis involved standardized low-resolution electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA), which estimates functional connectivity from cortical sources of electrical activity in a 3D head model. Results: Glucose hypometabolism in temporoparietal lobes was significantly associated with altered EEG functional connectivity of the same regions of interest in clinically diagnosed MCI and AD patients and in patients with biomarker-verified AD pathology. The correlative pattern of disrupted connectivity in temporoparietal lobes, as detected by EEG sLORETA analysis, included decreased instantaneous linear connectivity in fast frequencies and increased lagged linear connectivity in slow frequencies in relation to the activity of remaining cortex. Conclusions: Topographical EEG measures of functional connectivity detect regional dysfunction of AD-vulnerable brain areas as evidenced by association and spatial overlap with the cortical glucose hypometabolism in MCI and AD patients. Impact statement The association between glucose hypometabolism, as evidenced by [18F]FDG-PET ([18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography), and altered electroencephalography (EEG) functional connectivity metrics within temporoparietal lobes provides link between synaptic, neurophysiological, and metabolic impairment in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease patients. This study reported alterations in EEG measures of both instantaneous and lagged linear connectivity across distinct frequency bands, both of which were shown to be important for inter- and intrahemispheric communication and function of memory systems in general. EEG-based imaging of brain functional connectivity has a potential to serve as a noninvasive, low-cost, and widely available alternative in assessing synaptic and network dysfunction in cognitively impaired patients.
Complete mitochondrial genome of Hemilepidotus gilberti (Scorpaeniformes: Cottidae)

Abstract The complete mitochondrial genome of gilbert’s irish lord (Hemilepidotus gilberti), a fish belonging to family Cottidae, was sequenced for the first time. This complete mitochondrial genome was 16,907 nucleotides in length, consisting of 38 mitochondrial genes (13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, and a control region). The order of these genes was similar to that of other teleosts. The overall A, C, G, and T nucleotide contents in mitogenome were 26.8%, 30.4%, 17.0%, and 25.8%, respectively. The A + T content (52.6%) was higher than the G + C content (47.4%). NJ phylogenetic analysis was performed for 10 related species within the family of Cottidae along with, two fish species belonging to another family (Sebastidae).
Man-machine interaction-based motion control of a robotic walker.

BACKGROUND The aging population brings the problem of healthcare and dyskinesia. The lack of mobility extremely affects stroke patient's activities of daily living (ADL) and decreases their quality of life. To assist these mobility-limited people, a robotic walker is designed to facilitate gait rehabilitation training. OBJECTIVE The aim of this paper is to present the implementation of a novel motion control method to assist disabled people based on their motion intention. METHODS The kinematic framework of the robotic walker is outlined. We propose an intention recognition algorithm based on the interactive force signal. A novel motion control method combined with T-S fuzzy controller and PD controller is proposed. The motion controller can recognize the intention of the user through the interactive force, which allows the user to move or turn around as usual, instead of using their hands to control the walker. RESULTS Preliminary experiments with healthy individuals and simulated patients are carried out to verify the effectiveness of the algorithm. The results show that the proposed motion control approach can recognize the user's intention, is easy to control and has a higher precision than the traditional proportional-integral-derivative controller. CONCLUSION The results show that users could achieve the task with acceptable error, which indicates the potential of the proposed control method for gait training.
Optimizing Diluent Volume Improves Johnsongrass Control in Sugarcane (Saccharum sp.) with Asulam

Field studies were conducted in second-ratoon crops of sugarcane infested with rhizome johnsongrass to determine the effects of aqueous diluent volumes ranging from 47 to 561 L ha-1 on the performance of asulam. Trend analyses of johnsongrass recovery, based on panicle numbers late in the growing season, indicated a quadratic response with panicle numbers being lowest when asulam at 2.8 kg ai ha-1 was applied in a diluent volume approaching 187 L ha-1. The response was similar regardless of whether droplet size or number was altered to obtain these diluent volumes. Differences in late-season johnsongrass control were reflected in harvested sugarcane stalk populations and net cane yields. In greenhouse studies, johnsongrass plants were thoroughly washed with water 24 h after treatment with asulam at 2.8 kg ha-1 at water volumes ranging from 47 to 374 L ha-1. Asulam absorption, as evidenced by reduction in the growth of johnsongrass, was higher when surfactant was included, but was not affected by diluent volumes in the range evaluated.
Inoculation of Rice with Different Pathogens: Sheath Blight (Rhizoctonia solani), Damping off Disease (Pythium graminicola) and Barley Powdery Mildew (Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei)

[Abstract] To prevent yield losses in plant cultivation due to plant pathogens, it is an important task to find new disease resistance mechanisms. Recently, Weidenbach et al. (2016) reported about the capacity of the rice gene OsJAC1 to enhance resistance in rice and barley against a broad spectrum of different pathogens. Here, we describe the respective protocols used by Weidenbach and colleagues for inoculation of rice with the basidiomycete Rhizoctonia solani, the oomycete Pythium graminicola and the ascomycete Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei (Bgh).
Molecular Level Investigation of Staphylococci’s Resistance Mechanisms to Antibiotics

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR ) techniques development allows elaboration of many assays for identification of bacteria’s resistance mechanisms to antibiotics. Following this idea, the results of molecular level investigation of bacteria’s resistance mechanisms to antibiotics may give many opportunities to find more rapid methods for identifying the genes which are responsible for antibiotic resistance induction. The aim of this study was to investigate antibiotic resistance genes in Staphylococcus bacteria on molecular level. As classes of antibiotics it was used macrolides-lincosamides-streptogramin B (MLSB) and beta-lactams. In the proposed study the bacterial strains are represented by 50 isolates of Staphylococcus. The bacterial strains were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction to identify the nuc, tuf, tst, sea, pathogenic activity genes. After this, the bacteria were tested for ermA, ermB, ermC genes and for mecA, femA which are involved in resistance to macrolides, lincosamides, streptogramin B and to beta-lactams, respectively. The presence or the absence of these genes confirms that tested strains are resistant to specific antibiotic or not. Bacteria pathogenic activity was emphasized by genes as follows: sea (enterotoxin) which was found at all isolates, tst (toxic shock toxin) gene was not detected in any of isolates and tuf gene (elongation factor) was obtained with one pair of primers. Resistance to beta-lactams was evidenced by the presence of mecA in all isolates and femA in some strains. Each of ermC, ermA and ermB, macrolides-lincosamides-streptogramin B resistance genes, were detected.
Novel redox indicators for optical detection of NADH

The rapid, sensitive, and selective sensing of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotides NAD(P)H is of significant interest for applications in diagnostic assays, synthesis of chiral compounds and drug discovery. The redox couple NAD(P)+/NAD(P)H plays a crucial role in energy metabolism and has been used as a biomarker to detect altered cancer cell metabolism. Furthermore, NAD(P)H detection is desirable for in vitro analysis of NAD+-dependent enzymes, which is important in the context of high-throughput screening and the development of these enzymes for industrial applications. Moreover, NAD(P)+-dependent glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) has been widely utilized for glucose sensors in point-of-care (POC) testing. Optical techniques proved to be a powerful tool for quantitation of analytes in biological fluids. Both NADH and NADPH absorb light at 340 nm and have intrinsic fluorescence. Direct NAD(P)H detection does not provide adequate sensitivity for most applications. In this regard, colorimetric and fluorescent indicators are particularly attractive, because they are able to change their absorption spectra to a longer wavelength upon reaction with a target analyte. The key considerations in a search for a tailor made NADH indicator include water solubility, rate of reaction with NADH and sensitivity. Up to now, it still remains a challenge to develop an indicator meeting all these demands. The aim of this thesis was to discover a small molecule indicator for NADH detection. Chapter 1 introduces the concepts of test strip development for blood glucose monitoring and gives a brief overview of research activities in this area. Chapter 2 describes, for the first time, that a colorimetric indicator — directly accepting electrons from an enzymatic reaction — can be utilized for glucose sensing on a dry chemistry test strip. The glucose assay reagent included a quinone-functionalised Ru (II) complex, the artificial cofactor cNAD+ and mutated GDH. An absorbance response was observed at 840 nm in proportion to glucose concentration. Chapter 3 presents a new optical NADH indicator to analyze intracellular metabolic pathways at the single-cell level. The design is based on an electron deficient heterocycle (active acceptor) conjugated to a polymethine chain of the cyanine dye scaffold. Such compounds are nearly colourless and nonfluorescent. Upon hydride transfer from NADH to the active acceptor moiety, cyanine chromophore is unmasked leading to a sensitive absorbance and fluorescence response.
Molecular Differentiation of Five Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) Genotypes Using Inter-simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) Markers

Knowledge of genetic diversity is one of the important tools used for genetic management of quinoa accessions for plant breeding. This research aimed to molecularly characterize five quinoa genotypes using ISSR markers to reveal genetic polymorphism and identify unique markers for each genotype. Analysis of inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) revealed that 10 ISSR primers produced 53 amplicons, out of them 33 were polymorphic and the average percentage of polymorphism was 61.83%. The number of amplicons per primer ranged from 3 (HB-13, HB-10, HB-8 and 17898A) to 10 (HB-15) with an average of 5.3 fragments/primer across the different quinoa genotypes. Data showed a total number of unique ISSR markers of 24; eleven of them were positive and 13 were negative. Using ISSR analysis, we were able to identify some unique bands associated with quinoa genotypes. The genetic similarity ranged from 49% (between Ollague and each of QL-3 and Chipaya) to 76% (between CICA-17 and CO-407). The results indicated that all the five quinoa genotypes differ from each other at the DNA level where the average of genetic similarity (GS) between them was about 59%. The dendrogram separated the quinoa genotypes into two clusters; the first cluster included two genotypes (QL-3 and Chipaya). The second cluster was divided into two groups; the first group included two genotypes (CICA-17 and CO-407) and the second group included only one genotype (Ollague). Our results indicated that ISSR technique is useful in the establishment of the genetic fingerprinting and estimation of genetic relationships among quinoa genotypes. Also, this technique could detect enough polymorphism in the studied quinoa genotypes to distinguish each genotype from the others. Furthermore, the use of these results in the future is important for quinoa germplasm management and improvement as well as for the selection strategies of parental lines that facilitate the prediction of crosses in order to produce hybrids with higher performance. Using ISSR analysis, we were able to identify unique bands associated with quinoa genotypes. These bands might also be used in breeding programs for differentiating among Chinopodium quinoa varieties.
Neuroexcitability control by adenosine and BDNF at the adult hippocampus

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and adenosine are widely recognized as neuromodulators of glutamatergic transmission in the adult brain. Most BDNF actions upon excitatory plasticity phenomena are under control of adenosine A2A receptors (A2ARs). Concerning gammaaminobutyric acid (GABA)-mediated transmission, the available information refers to the control of GABA transporters. We now focused on the influence of BDNF and the interplay with adenosine on phasic GABAergic transmission. To assess this, we evaluated evoked and spontaneous synaptic currents recorded from CA1 pyramidal cells in acute hippocampal slices from adult rat brains (6 to 10 weeks old). BDNF (10– 100 ng/mL) increased miniature inhibitory postsynaptic current (mIPSC) frequency, but not amplitude, as well as increased the amplitude of inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) evoked by afferent stimulation. The facilitatory action of BDNF upon GABAergic transmission was lost in the presence of a Trk inhibitor (K252a, 200 nM), but not upon p75 blockade (anti-p75 IgG, 50 μg/mL). Moreover, the facilitatory action of BDNF onto GABAergic transmission was also prevented upon A2AR antagonism (SCH 58261, 50 nM). We conclude that BDNF facilitates GABAergic signaling at the adult hippocampus via a presynaptic mechanism that depends on TrkB and adenosine A2AR activation.
A Meta-Analysis of the Generalization of the Reliability of State/Trait Depression Inventory Scores.

BACKGROUND Depression is a disorder that is highly prevalent nowadays. Within the dimensional explanatory model of depression, the State/Trait Depression Inventory was developed. Its objective is to identify the degree of affectation (state) and the frequency of occurrence (trait) of the affective component of depression. The instrument has proven reliable and comprises two factors in its structure: state and trait, with two euthymia and dysthymia subscales in each one. The objective of this meta-analysis is to find an average alpha for the questionnaire. METHOD A bibliographical search was conducted on Web of Science and Scopus. Forty-five articles were selected. RESULTS The alpha ranges from . 84 to . 89 for all factorizations, and in most studies a bifactorial structure of state and trait depression was found. CONCLUSIONS The State/Trait Depression Inventory is a reliable and suitable instrument for measuring depression.
Improving fertilizer recommendations for Nepalese farmers with the help of soil-testing mobile van

ABSTRACT Smallholder farmers dominate agriculture in Nepal. These farmers have poor knowledge about agriculture and lack of support for soil management and integrated plant-nutrient systems. Focusing on the importance and need for soil-fertility management, a soil-testing mobile van program has recently been introduced in Nepal by Soil Management Directorate, Hariharbhawan. With the introduction of the mobile lab, famers can get their soil tested for nutrient deficiencies and fertilizer requirements at their doorsteps. Using mobile lab, spatial distributions of chemical properties, including pH, organic matter (OM), total nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (as P2O5), and available potassium (as K2O) were examined in soil samples taken from the 0 to 15 cm depth from selected agricultural fields in eight different districts in the mid-hills and Terai regions of Nepal. Tests conducted on 1,479 soil samples in the soil-testing mobile van revealed the following: the mean soil OM ranged from 0.01 to 1.77%; total N content ranged from 0.01 to 0.08%; mean available P2O5 ranged from 16.47 to 197.82 kg ha−1; and mean available K2O ranged from 84.3 to 422.57 kg ha−1. For each crop to be grown, farmers were provided with individual soil health reports and fertilizer recommendations (rate, amount, and type). This program not only allows scientists and farmers to work closely and share information but also serves as a model for the nation to successfully transfer technology for improving soil health and sustainability.
Diagnoses and remarks on the genera of Tortricidae (Lepidoptera). Part 4. Cnephasiini, Ceracini, Atteriini, Sparganothini and Euliini

Diagnoses, redescriptions, and remarks are presented on the genera that comprised the five tortricid tribes Cnephasiini (19 genera), Ceracini (4 genera), Atteriini (9 genera), Sparganothini (20 genera), and Euliini (173 genera). Original references, type species, type localities, synonyms, and zoogeographic regions are provided. Moronata is a synonym of Pseudapina. Raisapoana, omitted in Archipini is added in the appendix.
Assessment of a natural, non-antibiotic blend on performance, blood biochemistry, intestinal microflora, and morphology of broilers challenged with Escherichia coli

The effect of a non-antibiotic growth-promoting component composed of natural phytomolecules, direct-fed microbials, glucomannan oligosaccharides, and organic acids on the performance, intestinal morphology and microbiology, plasma biochemistry, enzyme activities, visceral organ weights, and immune response of commercial broilers challenged with Escherichia coli was investigated. Three hundred and sixty one-day old male Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly divided into basal diet (control, CON); control plus 0.5 mL of culture materials containing 108 cfu/mL of E. coli (E. coli); control with [. ]
FACTORS AFFECTING ENZYMATIC STARCH HYDROLYSIS IN SUGAR SOLUTIONS

Laboratory investigation of the hydrolysis of star,ch by bacterial q -amylase in both technical and pure sucrose solutions has been carried out. The influence of reaction time, brix, viscosity, starch concentration, and enzyme dosage is represented in graphical form. I. Enzyme Reactions The action of hydrolysing enzyme can in its simplest form be represented by the formation of an enzyme-substrate complex
Translocation and distribution of photosynthetically assimilated 13 C to ‘Tsugaru’ apple fruits

Photosynthetically assimilated carbon (C) is transported from source leaves to fruits depending on their development stage. To examine the translocation of the assimilated C in a shoot with a fruit throughout the development process, we constructed an in-situ CO2 exposure chamber system for a fruit-bearing apple shoot and measured the assimilation of C in leaves and its translocation to the fruit in an early maturing apple (Malus domestica) cultivar ‘Tsugaru’. Fruitbearing shoots were exposed three times during the development period (early development, fruit development, and mature stages) to CO2 for 1 h in the chamber and collected 72 h after exposure, followed by analysis of C inventory in each organ (leaves, branch, and fruit). We evaluated the translocation of C using two indices: C remaining ratio (C inventory in each plant organ) / (net assimilated C during exposure), and C distribution ratio (C inventory in each plant organ) / (total C inventory in the shoot). Although the C remaining ratio in the fruit during the early development stage was slightly lower than that at the fruit development and mature stages, the ratio at the mature stage was similar to that at the fruit development stage, indicating that the ability of source leaves to allocate photoassimilates to fruit was maintained until fruit maturation. The C distribution ratio of the fruit was similar regardless of its development stage, although biomass proportion of fruit increased with the development stages. This suggests that the sink strength of the fruit-bearing shoots of ‘Tsugaru’ may not be altered by fruit development.
Smelly fumes: volatile-mediated communication between bacteria and other organisms

Volatiles are small (<300 Da), smelly molecules emitted by all organisms. They have very diverse roles for the producing organism (e.g., as infochemicals or antimicrobial compounds) and fulfill important ecosystem functions. While the importance of plant volatiles has been recognized for more than 30 years, research on microbial volatiles attracted attention only in the last decades. This special issue focuses on several new findings and recent developments in the field of microbial (fungal and bacterial) volatiles, their biological functions and chemical identification, which are highlighted in this editorial.