Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Maize silage as a supplement for pasture-fed dairy cows in early and late lactation

Eight experiments were conducted over 2 years with 92 lactating dairy cows individually fed various combinations of irrigated perennial pasture and maize silage in an indoor feeding facility. Responses to different amounts of maize silage and pasture in early and late lactation were measured. Daily pasture intake ranged from 6.2 to 12.4 kg dry matter (DM)/cow, while maize silage intake ranged from 0 to 12.4 kg DM/cow. The marginal return to feeding maize silage at up to 5 kg DM/cow.day to cows in early lactation eating about 7 kg DM/day of pasture as their basal ration was 0.89 kg extra milk for each kg DM maize silage eaten. In late lactation, this was reduced to 0.63 kg milk/kg DM. Milk yield responses to maize silage at both stages of lactation were lower at higher levels of pasture feeding. Although milk fat content was maintained over a wide range of maize silage, feeding large quantities of maize silage in early lactation was detrimental to milk production. The likely explanation for poor animal performance at the high levels of maize silage was dietary protein insufficiency.
Assessment of stress gene expression in chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) upon pathogen infection (C. parasitica (Murr.) Barr) and wounding

The expression of pathogen-related (PR-) proteins was measured by northern blot analysis in wounded and pathogen-challenged chestnut in vitro stems using heterologous probes. It showed that hypovirulent C. parasitica triggered PR-protein gene transcription strongly, but also that virulent C. parasitica and wounding caused an accumulation of PR-transcripts, although to a lesser extent. Further investigations focussed on the wound response of chestnut and on the influence of pathogen infection on the expression of wound-responsive genes. Wound-responsive genes were isolated from chestnut stems by differential mRNA display and comprised genes involved in signalling, pathogen and stress response, growth regulation, protein metabolism, light and energy related genes and genes of unknown function. Comparison of the expression patterns of the isolated genes revealed that C. parasitica inoculation altered the expression of wound-responsive genes: Some groups, predominantly pathogen defence genes, e.g. s-1.3-glucanase, were strongly induced when C. parasitica was applied to the wounds, whereas others, such as growth-regulating genes were highly expressed when the plants were only wounded and no fungal inoculum was present in the wound.
Effects of supernatant of mouse endometrial cells on proliferation and secretion activity of mouse spleen lymphocyte and goat PBMC.

【Objective】 The study was done to explore the effects of endometrial cells on proliferation and secretion activity of Mouse Spleen Lymphocyte and Goat PBMC the way of paracrine. 【Method】 We studied the effects of the mouse endometrial epithelial cells(EECs),stromal cells(ESCs) culture supernatant on proliferation and secretion activities of IL-2 and IL-4 in vitro cultured mouse spleen lymphocyte,goat PBMC by MTT colorimetric test and ELISA method. 【Result】 The supernatant from both the EECs and the ESCs could stimulate the proliferation of mouse spleen lymphocytes and goats PBMC and induce the secretion of IL-2 and IL-4,while inhibit the proliferation and IL-2 secretion of mouse spleen lymphocytes and goats PBMC induced by PHA-P,but enhance IL-4 secretion induced by PHA-P.【Conclusion】 The results revealed that EECs and ESCs affect the activation and secretion of mouse spleen lymphocytes and goat PBMC,predominantly the Th2 lymphocytes,in a paracrine way,thus play an important role in local uterine immune regulation.
Multi-band Rectenna Integrated with Solar Cells for Microwave Energy Harvesting System

This paper represents a hybrid rectenna system with a multi-band solar panel integrated antenna for providing support to satellite systems in orbit at the L-band, S-band, C-band, and X-band operating frequency bands. First, the frequency bands that are primarily used for satellite communication in the Leo orbit have been identified. Then, to improve the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the receiver at low RF input signals, develop a rectenna system based on a solar panel integrated antenna on the appropriate frequency bands, which included an impedance matching circuit and Villard voltage doubler. the output DC voltages of 0.95 V, 0.7 V, 0.91 V, and 0.77 V, and output DC powers of 0.84 mW, 0.51 mW, 0.81 mW, and 0.6 mW at 5 dBm input power and desired frequency bands.
The spread oi Erysiphe graminis f. sp. hordei in mixtures of barley varieties

A model is proposed of mechanisms which might affect the progress of Erysiphe graminis f. sp. hordei in mixtures of barley varieties. Results obtained from two field trials indicate that the efffect of mixtures may be panitioned into three categoriesof the influence of the reduced density of the susceptible plants, the barrier effect of the resistant plants, and the induced resistance due to the non-virulent pathogen biotypes. In the early stages of plant growth the lower density of susceptible plants accounted for most of the reduction in pathogen development in mixtures. As the epidemic progressed, the barrier and induced resistance effects increased in importance and the total mixture effect was at a maximum mid-way through epidemic development. Towards the end of the trials the overall mixture effect declined though the influence of induced resistance was at its maximum. The reasons for these changes and their implications for the use of host varietal mixtures in disease control are discussed. Mixtures also protected the crop against a pathogen other than the target organism.
Patrols, records and pictures: Demonstrations of Europe in the midst of migration’s crisis

Migration is not readily seen. A vast infrastructure supports its visualization, making migration visible and actionable. Recent scholarship on the visuality of migration has clearly shown how visualizing migration is an integral part of governing it. Concepts and research approaches from Science and Technology Studies (STS) are particularly appropriate when studying these connections between knowing and doing. In this paper, the performativity of visual methods and their data practices are analysed with respect to the monitoring infrastructure of European border management. Three such methods – patrolling, recording and publicizing – are reconstructed through analysis of their histories and their present. Patrolling involves the tactical domination of terrains. Recording involves the production of documentary objectivity. Publicizing involves the pictorial capture of fleeting realities. These methods are irreducibly political. Their political significance is explored through the concept of demonstrative effects that helps to show how methods of visualising migration at once involve specific demonstrations of the European association that is operative in them. These demonstrations make visible what Europe can and cannot do. The so-called ‘migration crisis’ of Europe turns out to be more than political discourse but entangled with the very methods that render migration apparent and governable.
Tomato Leaf Diseases Detection with Recommended Prescription Using Deep Learning

Detecting early signs of plant leaf diseases is vital in an agrarian economy. Automatic Leaf disease recognition is extremely important because predictive mechanisms that aid in the avoidance of losses can be adopted timeously. Transfer learning algorithms have become a popular solution for recognizing tomato leaf diseases over the years. However, they have innate limitations which include higher processing time and lower accuracy according to various expectations in regards to problem domain. A classification algorithm is as good as the features used to develop the model. Therefore, the primary objective of this experimental study was to discover the most discriminating features in detecting tomato leaf diseases. The paper presents a combination of Grayscale Pixel Value (GPV) features and ResNet9 in an effort to solve the aforementioned problem. We evaluated the proposed solution against other features such as Mean Pixel Value (MPV) and other deep learning generated features. The results showed that our proposed method is effective in detecting tomato leaf diseases because of the significantly low computation time (10 minutes) and superior accuracy (98.59%).
Detecção de genes sob seleção positiva em linhagens de Escherichia coli patogênicas para aves (APEC) e para humanos

A bacteria Escherichia coli coloniza o trato intestinal de aves e humanos, de maneira comensal sem causar processos infecciosos. No entanto alguns clones adquiriram fatores de virulencia especificos, permitindo o desenvolvimento de diferentes doencas como infeccao do trato urinario, diarreia e meningite em humanos e colibacilose em aves. As linhagens que causam doenca em aves sao tipicamente denominadas APEC (Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli). Neste trabalho foram sequenciados e anotados os genomas de quatro linhagens APECs (SCI-07, SEPT362, S17 e O8)que, juntamente com mais nove genomas referentes a linhagens de Escherichia coli patogenicas para aves e patogenicas para humanos foram utilizados para a busca de genes sob selecao positiva. Os genes homologos foram agrupados,e posteriormente submetidos ao alinhamento de codons e das sequencias proteicas correspondentes. Uma arvore filogenetica foi gerada para cada grupo de proteinas homologas. Testes estatisticos determinaram qual entre os modelos de selecao neutra ou selecao positiva melhor explicou os dados existentes (alinhamentos de codons e arvores filogeneticas). Essas analises detectaram duzentas e cinquenta e quatro grupos de genes homologos com evidencia de selecao positiva. Para cada grupo foi realizado um teste de recombinacao para verificar se o aumento na variacao das sequencias nao era devido a conversao genica, resultando em cento e dezesseis grupos de genes homologos sob selecao positiva. A proteina correspondente a um gene de cada grupo de genes homologos foi identificada, por meio da ferramenta Blast. Diversos fatores de virulencia, ja conhecidos, e proteinas regulatorias puderem ser detectados. Os genes sob selecao positiva, tambem foram submetidos a anotacao considerando o termo GO (Gene Ontology),apenas da categoria processo biologico. Dos cento e dezesseis genes apenas cinquenta e sete puderam ser identificados por meio dessa metodologia. O resultado da classificacao dos genes dentro da classe GO, considerando o terceiro nivel hierarquico,mostrou que a maioria dos genes anotados (31) tinha relacao com o metabolismo primario.As proteinas cuja identificacao, por meio do blast, nao foi possivel (proteinas hipoteticas)foram submetidas a analise de predicao de localizacao subcelular e de peptideo sinal. Essas analises revelaram que tres proteinas desconhecidas (hypothetical proteinECIAI39_1028, hypothetical proteinZ0639e hypothetical proteinEC042_3791) sao potenciais alvos para estudos que visam a busca de novos fatores de virulencia de Escherichia coli patogenicas. Abstract
Some neutral constituents of the Rhodophyceae with special reference to the occurrence of the floridosides

Isofloridoside, in addition to floridoside, was demonstrated as a constituent of 16 species of the Bangiophycidae and Florideophycidae (Rhodophyceae). Photosynthetic experiments with Porphyra umbilicalis resulted in a very slow labelling of isofloridoside both in light and in darkness after photosynthesis in 14CO2. This observation supports the concept that the floridosides are not equivalent as metabolites.Trehalose was identified as a constituent of species of the Corallinaceae. A dideoxyinositol, D-(+)-14/25-cyclohexanetetrol, was isolated from Porphyridium sp. , taurine from Polyides rotundus, and di-N-methyl taurine was obtained from Corallina officinalis.
Efficient PCR walking on plant genomic DNA

We have adapted the technique of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) walking on uncloned human genomic DNA to plant genomic DNA. In this paper we show that PCR walking is an efficient and rapid, yet simple and reproducible approach for the characterisation of the plant genes tagged by an integrative molecule and for the isolation of regulatory sequences from plant DNA. PCR walking was used to amplify long Arabidopsis genomic DNA sequences at the right and left borders of the T-DNA of the transformed lines. The resulting sequence information was used to walk with different primer combinations varying in length and in Tm on wild type genomic DNA in order to characterise the T-DNA target site and to clone the corresponding wild type gene. We demonstrate that a small scale, rapid isolation protocol provides genomic DNA of sufficient integrity to make PCR walking appropriate for the routine analysis of large number of plants. We have used this approach with Brassica napus in order to isolate and characterise the regulatory sequences upstream of an open reading frame homologous to the FAEI gene of Arabidopsis. Thus, DNA walking on plant genomic DNA is an extremely efficient alternative to inverse PCR for the characterization of T-DNA flanking regions and eliminates the requirement of screening libraries for the isolation of genomic regions flanking coding sequences, ESTs, STSs or any short, known sequence.
Plasmid-mediated transformation of Escherichia coli having a dependence on the heat-shock protein GroEL

When the cells of Escherichia coli mutant in heat-shock regulator protein sigma-32 were transformed with plasmid pUC19 DNA, the transformation efficiency (TRE) of the mutant strain was about 10% of the wild type (wt) strain, indicating the role of heat-shock protein(s) in the transformation process. In order to search for the protein(s), when three different E. coli mutants in three important heat-shock proteins (DnaK, DnaJ and GroEL) were studied, TRE of dnaK and dnaJ mutants was similar to that of their wt strain; but TRE of groEL mutant was drastically less, that is, it is almost 10% of the TRE of its wt counterpart. On transformation of the groEL mutant with a groEL-bearing plasmid, the transformed cells elicited higher TRE like wt cells. Over-expression of GroEL by the brief heat-shock step of the transformation procedure was also evident from immuno-precipitation, as well as western blot studies. All these results suggested that GroEL had a positive role in the transformation phenomenon. Key words: Escherichia coli, transformation, pUC19 DNA, sigma-32, GroEL
Fusarium vascular wilt in lentil : Inheritance and identification of DNA markers for resistance

The inheritance of resistance to lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) vascular wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lentis was investigated in a cross between resistant (ILL5588) and susceptible (L692-16-1(s)) lines. F 2:4 progenies and F 6:8 , F 6:9 recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations were assessed for their wilt reaction for three seasons in a well-established wilt-sick plot. Resistance to wilt was conditioned by a single dominant gene in the populations studied. The map location of the Fw locus was identified for the first time through linkage to a random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) marker (OPK-15 900 ) at 10.8 cM. Two other RAPD markers (OP-B17 800 and OP-D15 500 ) identified by bulked segregant analysis were associated in the coupling phase with the resistance trait, and another marker (OP-C04 650 ) was associated with repulsion. The DNA markers reported here will provide a starting point in marker-assisted selection for vascular wilt resistance in lentil.
Determination of the role of certain bacterial peptidases by inference from heterogeneous and incomplete data

The determination of the role of proteins is at the origin of most biological studies. It becomes currently more important since the advent of genome sequencing, which provides a great number of proteins of unknown roles. The sequencing of new genomes allows at the same time to obtain high-throughput post-genomic data as for example microarrays data. It allows also the construction of phylogenetic profiles. The approach we have used, couples statistics and biology and integrates this post-genomic data in order to predict and further validate the role of putative proteolytic enzymes of Lactococcus lactis. We worked in three different steps. First, we did a statistical inference of the predicted relationships between proteins of lactococci based on five different data sources: the graph of metabolic pathways, microarray data, phylogenetic profiles and the distance between genes in terms of base pairs on the chromosome and proteomic data from 2D gels. These relationships allowed us to pose biological hypotheses on the role of target proteins. Second, we carried out wet-lab experiments to validate the predictions comparing the wild type strain to knock-out mutants of PepF and YvjB. The third step consisted of a sensitivity analysis with the aim to outline the most important data in terms of contribution to the relationship prediction of our target proteins and to find a subset of data leading to the same predictions. Applied to two proteolytic enzymes of lactococci, PepF and YvjB, this approach allowed us to validate their participation in protein export predicted by the statistical analysis. We have shown that PepF participates in the export of proteins liberated in the supernatant by the hydrolysis of the signal peptide, which is cleaved by the signal peptidase I. PepF participates also in the synthesis of the cell wall and pyruvate metabolism, two functions also predicted by the statistical analysis. YvjB participates in the localization and maturation of lipoproteins, another group of exported proteins. It is necessary for the correct localization of certain lipoproteins and participates in their signal peptide cleavage. Our approach has shown to be very useful, as it allows to pose biological hypotheses that guide experimental validations. Moreover, this approach is applicable to all completely sequenced organisms for which enough post-genomic data is available.
Using structured pathology data to predict hospital-wide mortality at admission

Early prediction of in-hospital mortality can improve patient outcome. Current prediction models for in-hospital mortality focus mainly on specific pathologies. Structured pathology data is hospital-wide readily available and is primarily used for e.g. financing purposes. We aim to build a predictive model at admission using the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes as predictors and investigate the effect of the self-evident DNR (“Do Not Resuscitate”) diagnosis codes and palliative care codes. We compare the models using ICD-10-CM codes with Risk of Mortality (RoM) and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) as predictors using the Random Forests modeling approach. We use the Present on Admission flag to distinguish which diagnoses are present on admission. The study is performed in a single center (Ghent University Hospital) with the inclusion of 36 368 patients, all discharged in 2017. Our model at admission using ICD-10-CM codes (AUCROC = 0.9477) outperforms the model using RoM (AUCROC = 0.8797 and CCI (AUCROC = 0.7435). We confirmed that DNR and palliative care codes have a strong impact on the model resulting in a decrease of 7% for the ICD model (AUCROC = 0.8791) at admission. We therefore conclude that a model with a sufficient predictive performance can be derived from structured pathology data, and if real-time available, can serve as a prerequisite to develop a practical clinical decision support system for physicians.
Photosynthetic Metabolism and Nitrogen Reshuffling Are Regulated by Reversible Cysteine Thiol Oxidation Following Nitrogen Deprivation in Chlamydomonas

As global temperatures climb to historic highs, the far-reaching effects of climate change have impacted agricultural nutrient availability. This has extended to low latitude oceans, where a deficit in both nitrogen and phosphorus stores has led to dramatic decreases in carbon sequestration in oceanic phytoplankton. Although Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a freshwater model green alga, has shown drastic systems-level alterations following nitrogen deprivation, the mechanisms through which these alterations are triggered and regulated are not fully understood. This study examined the role of reversible oxidative signaling in the nitrogen stress response of C. reinhardtii. Using oxidized cysteine resin-assisted capture enrichment coupled with label-free quantitative proteomics, 7889 unique oxidized cysteine thiol identifiers were quantified, with 231 significantly changing peptides from 184 proteins following 2 h of nitrogen deprivation. These results demonstrate that the cellular response to nitrogen assimilation, photosynthesis, pigment biosynthesis, and lipid metabolism are regulated by reversible oxidation. An enhanced role of non-damaging oxidative pathways is observed throughout the photosynthetic apparatus that provides a framework for further analysis in phototrophs.
Structure, microbial associations and function of the so‐called “mixed segment” of the gut in two soil‐feeding termites, Procubitermes aburiensis and Cubitermes severus (Termitidae, Termitinae)

The morphology, histology and ultrastructure of the mesenteric and proctodaeal components of the mixed segment are described in detail, together with the disposition of the associated gut musculature, the patterns of peristalsis and the streaming movements of soil particles in the gut lumen. The mesenteric epithelium is characterized by very extensive basal infoldings which are associated with a large population of mitochondria, but evidence of significant protein synthesis and secretion is lacking. It is proposed that this tissue is a transporting epithelium whose major function is the secretion of a copious, K+ -rich fluid into the intestinal lumen to irrigate the hindgut (proctodaeum) and that alkaline hydrolysis of humic fractions by this fluid is an essential component of digestion. Malpighian tubules are present, but do not participate in fluid excretion. Since the hind-guts of soil-feeding termites are exceptionally voluminous and elongated and the major symbiotic micro-organisms occupy fixed positions by virtue of their attachment to the lining cuticle, it is argued that flushing is necessary to sustain microbial activity and for the recovery of end-products by the host. A survey of the protodaeal epithelium suggests that the anterior colon (P4a) is the most likely site of fluid reabsorption and that the wall of the hindgut anterior to this site is impermeable. The greater degree of ultrastructural differentiation of the mixed segment of Cubitermes severus and its more complete morphological separation from the midgut suggests that this species is a more advanced soil-feeder than Procubitermes aburiensis.
Resource integration

Core to developing a general theory of markets, service-dominant (S-D) logic suggests that service is the fundamental basis of exchange (Vargo and Lusch, 2004). In turn, ‘Service provision implies the ongoing combination of resources, through integration, and their application’ (Vargo and Lusch, 2010: 4); hence the central role of resource integration as the means through which resource integrators (actors) co-create phenomenologically determined value. We identify five themes relevant to gaining a clearer understanding of the role of social and economic factors in resource integration. The themes and the broad relationships between them are conceptualized in Figure 1. Here we identify actors who possess appropriate resources which they are allowed and able to share, co-creating value using collaborative and integrative processes. Their evaluation of each experience occurs within the context of each specific engagement and provides continuous input into future collaborations. The resulting value may impact both the ability of actors to exercise agency and the processes involved in integrating resources.