Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Identification of gas-producing components in different varieties of Phaseolus vulgaris by in vitro fermentation

Phaseolus vulgaris consumption has been limited as part of the occidental diet owing to flatulence production. Raffinose, stachyose and verbascose have been shown to be the main components responsible for flatulence; however, it is thought that soluble fibre could also be involved in this phenomenon. The aim of the present study was to identify the main components of beans influencing flatus. Ten varieties of P vulgaris originating from South America were first analysed for their main nutrient and carbohydrate fractions. Three of the varieties were then fractionated to extract soluble and insoluble fibres. Various combinations of α-galactosides and soluble and insoluble fibre fractions, in similar proportions to those contained in cooked grains, were used as substrates for in vitro fermentation studies using human faecal inoculum to determine the fermentative capacity of each of the three fractions. Considering the white varieties, total gas production and acidification of the medium were correlated with fermented organic matter from soluble fibre (R2 = 1)) and with α-galactosides (R2 = 0.75). On the other hand, tannins present in pigmented varieties did not seem to interfere significantly in fermentation of soluble fibre. The total production of gas per gram of mixed fractions of soluble fibre and α-galactosides in proportions found in cooked grains was lower than that expected from each substrate separately. It can be concluded that soluble fibre and α-galactosides are good substrates for endogenous colonic flora subjected to in vitro fermentation studies and are thus responsible for flatulence induced by legume consumption. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry
Comparison of Plant Growth Promoting Methylobacterium spp. and Exogenous Indole-3-Acetic Acid Application on Red Pepper and Tomato Seedling Development

A comparative study was performed in gnotobiotic and greenhouse conditions to evaluate the effect of exogenous application of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and inoculation of Methylobacterium spp. possessing 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase (ACCD) and IAA activity on red pepper and tomato seedling growth and development. Application of 1.0 ㎍ mL? ¹ IAA positively influenced root growth while high concentrations (＞10.0 ㎍ mL? ¹) suppressed root growth of red pepper and tomato under gnotobiotic condition. On the other hand, inoculation of Methylobacterium strains with ACCD activity and IAA or without IAA enhanced root growth in both plants. Similarly, under greenhouse condition the inoculation of Methylobacterium sp. with ACCD activity and IAA enhanced plant fitness recorded as average nodal length and specific leaf weight (SLW) but the effect is comparable with the application of low concentrations of IAA. Seedling length was significantly increased by Methylobacterium strains while total biomass was enhanced by Methylobacterium spp. and exogenous applications of ＜ 10.0 ㎍ mL? ¹ IAA. High concentrations of IAA retard biomass accumulation in red pepper and tomato. These results confirm that bacterial strains with plant growth promoting characters such as IAA and ACCD have characteristic effects on different aspects of growth of red pepper and tomato seedlings which is comparable or better than exogenous applications of synthetic IAA.
Parental care in a polygynous group of bat-eared foxes, Otocyon megalotis (Carnivora: Canidae)

This study reports the first recorded instance of polygyny and communal nursing in Otocyon m. megalotis. The polygynous group, which was studied in the Kalahari Desert, consisted of a male, two lactating females and a litter of five pups. New aspects of parental care that were observed include the bringing of food items to pups at the den. Although bat-eared foxes in this area seldom capture lizards for their own consumption, lizards were the main food item carried to the den. It is suggested that bat-eared foxes specifically seek out lizards because they are more easily transportable than their normal insect prey. Despite this behavioural adaptation, there is relatively little opportunity for the male to contribute to the nutrition of the pups when compared to the contribution made by the males of large carnivorous canids, which routinely bring large volumes of meat to the den. Instead, young bat-eared foxes depend heavily on milk, so the females have to forage for extended periods to replenish their milk supplies. This study shows that the major duties of males are guarding and grooming the pups while the females are foraging. In this social context there are relatively few disadvantages in sharing a father between two litters and these disadvantages are occasionally outweighed by the benefits of communal care, amongst which are cooperative attacks on predators and alternate nursing.
Performance evaluation of students using online courses

Objectives: The present study was aimed to find the effective method to assess the performance of students and their interest towards e-learning. Methods: Questionnaire survey was conducted among Indian students and their response were identified on various aspects; assessment, interaction, evaluation and feedback. Statistical analysis: The responses were collected and the data were analyzed with statistical software. Results: Interaction and evaluation aspects had high impact; signifying 40% of the students agree that online learning is more effective, innovative and convenient than the conventional way of learning. Assessment and interaction showed the highest positive correlation (0.564) when compared to the evaluation and feedback (0.440). The evaluation has attained significant value in the statistical analysis of ANOVA. Keywords: Internet; Assessment; e-learning; Statistical software; Correlation
Global resorption efficiencies and concentrations of carbon and nutrients in leaves of terrestrial plants

Nutrient resorption in plants influences nutrient availability and cycling and is a key process in biogeochemical models. Improved estimates of resorption parameters are needed for predicting long-term primary productivity and for improving such models. Currently, most models assume a value of 50% resorption for nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) and lack resorption data for other nutrients and for specific vegetation types. We provide global estimates of resorption efficiencies and nutrient concentrations for carbon (C), N, and P and the first global-scale estimates for essential nutrients such as potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg). We also examine leaf mass loss during senescence (LML) globally and for different plant types, thus defining a mass loss correction factor (MLCF) needed to quantify unbiased resorption values. We used a global meta-analysis of 86 studies and ∼1000 data points across climates for green and senesced leaves in six plant types: ferns, forbs, graminoids, conifers, and ev.
Comparative Genetic Linkage Mapping in Insects

Genomics is the study of the structure and organization of entire genomes. The recent coinage of this term (46) reflects the comparative youth of this emerging field. The nuclear genome of eukaryotic organisms is the collection of all DNA sequ ences in the nucleus that are transmitted through cell lineages by the orthodox processes of mitosis and meiosis. Eukaryotic genomes are organized into discrete units, the chromosomes , whose uniqueness is defined by their DNA base sequences . The genome includes sequences specifying information for chromosome replication, maintenance, packaging, and trans­ mission; other sequences that with their coding and control regions represent expressed genes; still other sequence families often regarded as parasitic because of methods of duplication, transposition, and recombination that allow nonorthodox methods of transmission; and many other sequences of unknown function and significance. Comparative genomics examines properties of genomes from different species. It represents an extension of the classical tradition of the comparative approach in evolutionary biology to questions of genome structure and function. One property of genomes is their complexity spectrum, which describes the distribution of DNA sequences into different copy number classes (single copy, moderately repeated, or highly repeated). A related
Multi-scale modeling of potato late blight epidemics

Keywords: Solanum, invasion, Gaussian plume model, functional connectivity, landscape design Proper landscape-scale deployment of disease resistant genotypes of agricultural crop species could make those crops less vulnerable to invasion by resistance breaking genotypes. Here we develop a multi-scale, spatio-temporal model of the potato late blight pathosystem (Phytophthora infestans - Solanum tuberosum) to investigate spatial strategies for the deployment of host resistance. The model comprises a landscape generator, a potato late blight model, and a suite of aerobiological models, including an atmospheric dispersion model. Spatial phenomena are solved using Fast Fourier transforms. Increasing the number of host genotypes caused the greatest reduction in epidemic extent, followed by reduction of the proportion of potato in the landscape, lowering the clustering of host fields, and reducing the size of host fields. Simulation results showed that spatial spread through short-distance “island hopping” is not a prerequisite for P. infestans invasions, and it appeared not possible to generate host free zones at the landscape level that were large enough to provide worthwhile levels of resilience against disease invasion from one host area to another. Deployment of host resistance in genotype mixtures had a large effect on disease invasion. A new functional connectivity parameter, characterizing the probability of successful infection following spore dispersal, proved to be useful in interpreting these results. Variation in simulation results revealed the importance of using an atmospheric dispersion model for dispersal, with large weather data sets, and many random landscape iterations. The specific coincidence in time and space between weather conditions and the geographic locations of source and target sites defined true landscape connectivity and determined model results regarding inoculum exchange between fields. Given the apparent capacity of P. infestans for long distance transport of viable inoculum, it can be concluded that spatial resistance deployment strategies that center on the creation of spatial barriers to disease at scales up to several kilometers may not be effective in mitigating invasions of virulent pathogen strains. Strategies that induce finer-grained spatial and genotypic heterogeneities in host populations are more limiting to epidemic spread. Genotype mixing was an effective option for generating agricultural landscapes that are comparatively resilient to disease invasion.
Is Co-Infection with Influenza Virus a Protective Factor of COVID-19?

Background: An emerging outbreak of COVID-19 has rapidly caused global pandemic. Few studies were reported on the incidence and role of influenza virus co-infection on COVID-19. Methods: 273 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and tests of influenza A/B virus were enrolled from February to March 2020 in Wuhan, China. Data on baseline characteristics, clinical manifestations and outcomes, laboratory findings were collected and analysed. Findings: The incidence of influenza virus co-infection in patients with COVID-19 was 55·3% (151/273), with 48·5% (133/273) of influenza A and 6·6% (18/273) of influenza B, respectively. Influenza virus co-infection was significantly more common in non-critical group (60·5%, 115/190) than critical group (43·4%, 36/83; p=0·01). The fatality of COVID-19 in influenza group was 9·9% (15/151), while it was 23·8% (29/122) in non-influenza group (p=0·01). Accordingly, the incidence of critical type was higher in influenza group (p=0·01). Cox regression analysis revealed that co-infection with influenza virus had significant reduction of fatality than non-influenza group (OR 0·470, p<0·05). Other fatality indicators included age (p=0·02), sex (OR 3·626, p=0·00), and low lymphocytes (OR 2·368, p=0·04). Interpretation: There is a high incidence of influenza virus co-infection in patients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China. It seems like co-infection with influenza virus acts as a protective factor for COVID-19. The relationship between SARS-nCoV-2 and influenza virus co-infection warrants further studies. Funding Statement: This study was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China Grant (No. 81800493). Declaration of Interests: All authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. Ethics Approval Statement: The procedure was approved by the Institutional Ethics Board of Tongji Medical College. The follow-up was up to March 22, 2020.
Metabolite profiling of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) leaves by altering the ratio of NH+ 4/NO− 3 in the culture solution

Abstract To observe the effect of different forms of N, we have applied metabolic profiling using gas chromatography mass spectrometry to evaluate the metabolite composition of spinach. The aim of the present study was to find an appropriate indicator of overall metabolic response to N source. The effect of the NH+ 4/NO− 3 ratio on spinach tissue was investigated, comparing two cultivars that differed in their ability to use N. There was wide variation in NH+ 4/NO− 3 absorption without any distinct growth inhibition in either cultivar. Statistical analysis revealed that the metabolites could be broadly divided into two types, correlating either positively or negatively with NH+ 4 uptake in the culture solution. Principal component analysis (PCA) was an effective tool that extracted the indexes of the effect of the ratio of N forms as PCA scores. Close relationships between metabolite profiles and NH+ 4 uptake were observed, indicating that metabolic profiling is able to distinguish the invisible metabolic change in mature leaves of spinach and may provide a new tool for the investigation of quality features or rhizosphere nutritional condition.
Population dynamics of the non-native crab Petrolisthes armatus invading the South Atlantic Bight at densities of thousands m-2.

The green porcelain crab Petrolisthes armatus recently invaded oyster reefs of the South Atlantic Bight. In 2 estuaries of coastal Georgia, USA, crab densities reached peak densities of 4000 to 11 000 crabs m -2 in some periods and locations. Densities generally were higher in the low versus the high intertidal and in the lower versus upper regions of the estuaries. In warmer months, 20 to 90% of adult females were gravid, recruits were dense, and population levels were high. In colder months, densities dropped by 64 to >99%. Male:female ratios were near 1:1 across times and loca- tions. Maximum mean densities of P. armatus in Georgia were 37 times the highest densities re- corded in the presumptive native range. Crabs in the new range reproduced at a smaller size, and the percentage of gravid females was similar between the old and new range. Thus, population fecundity in Georgia exceeds that of the native range by more than 1 order of magnitude. Densities of native mud crabs in the genera Panopeus and Eurypanopeus were unrelated to, or positively correlated with, densities of the exotic crabs; correlations were never significantly negative. The impact of Petrolisthes armatus on native communities is unclear, but could be considerable if this filter-feeding crab impacts oysters, which are the foundation species of inshore reefs.
Antioxidant enzymes in sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka) during aestivation

To evaluate the effect of antioxidant defence in coelomic fluid of sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus in aestivation was studied in the field from July to November 2006 in Qingdao. During the sampling period, activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase increased significantly in August and November. Activities of glutathione reductase and glutathione decreased significantly in August and increased significantly in November and activities of Se-glutathione peroxidase increased significantly in August. There were no significant differences in total glutathione peroxidase. In relation to the water temperature in the field, it is known that the oxygen consumption rate dropped and antioxidant defence was enhanced in August. The structure and function of respiratory trees of A. japonicus were completely vivified as normal in November, and it is suggested that antioxidant defence was enhanced because of the sharp change of oxygen consumption. Data indicate that both enzymatic and metabolite antioxidant defences in sea cucumber are adaptable systems that are modulated during pre-aestivating stage and arousing stage.
Relationship between Viscoelastic Properties and Starch Structure in Rice from Thailand

This study continues the studies of Noosuk et al. to investigate the properties of four Thai rice starches with different amylose content published in Starch/Starke (2003, 55, 337-344). The composition, gelatinisation behaviour and paste viscosity of these starches has been discussed previously. Here the amylopectin fine structure, amounts and size of the amylose are reported and discussed with reference to the viscoelastic behavior of the gels. The viscoelastic response was measured for 6 to 15% (w/w) pastes (60°C) and gels (25°C) by oscillation (pastes and gels) and creep (gels). Viscoelasticity was shown by all gels at concentrations >6% and the creep compliance could be represented by a four element Burger model. G' from oscillation, the instantaneous elastic modulus and Newtonian viscosity from creep, increased strongly with both starch and amylose concentration. Starch gels (30%, w/w) were monitored over 100 h, by Fourier Transform Infra Red spectroscopy (FTIR) and dynamic oscillatory rheology on storage at 25°C. Changes were seen at similar rates, using the Avrami model, for the two high-amylose (>20%) samples, but not for the other starches. Development of crystallinity, at both 25 and 5°C, was monitored by X-ray diffraction. Both the kinetics of retrogradation and extent of crystallinity suggest that amylopectin retrogradation is occurring in the high-amylose starch gels on storage but not in the lower amylose samples. It is suggested that amylopectin retrogradation is promoted by retrograded amylose. The fine structure of amylopectin may also be important, because samples that showed no retrogradation on storage had an amylopectin with a high proportion of amylopectin chains of DP 3-10 and a lower portion of chains of DP 11-22. In gels from waxy wheat it has been reported that retrogradation does occur, which may be related to the lower proportion of the shorter amylopectin chains in this material compared with low amylose rice.
Populational density and harvest age of carrots for baby carrot manufacture

The quality of baby carrots may be associated to the standard of the raw material that in turn, may be influenced by agronomic practices. Thus, the effect of planting density and harvest age were assessed on physical and morphological characteristics, yield and end quality of intact and minimally processed carrots in the form of baby carrots. A randomized block experimental design was used with the density in the plots (4 x 20 cm and 4 x 7.5 cm) and the harvest age in the subplots (50, 57, 64, 71, 78, 85, 92, 99 and 106 days), with five replications. The experimental unit consisted of 25 plants. The assessments of diameter, length, yield, secondary phloem translocation with the cambio and total carotenoids were decisive in selecting the carrot harvest age for baby carrot manufacture. Under the 4 x 20 cm and 4 x 7.5 cm adensed conditions, harvested between 85 and 92 days, carrot roots became thinner and more orange in color (with maximum carotenoid accumulation), larger and with satisfactory yields and therefore more acceptable for minimal processing in the form of baby carrots. Thus the decision of populational density associated to harvest age will depend on the market demand, on price, quality and other variables. The use of adensed cropping with early harvests may lead to obtain carrots and respective baby carrots that are more acceptable for commercialization.
A NECESSÁRIA TRANSIÇÃO PLANETÁRIA: (IN) CONVENIENTES DO COVID-19 PARA VIABILIZAR A BENFAZEJA COLHEITA FUTURA NO BRASIL E NA COMUNIDADE INTERNACIONAL DE ESTADOS

Objective: The paper records the first impressions, especially in Brazil, in March 2020, about the origin and advance of COVID-19 from an anomalous physical quarantine situation. As a general objective, the study investigates the spiritualist view of economic analysis of Law as instrumental to implement otherness in social relations. Methodology: This is a qualitative research, using a deductive method and bibliographic and documentary analysis; has as its theoretical framework, neoinstitutionalist authors such as Douglas North and Joseph Schumpeter and spiritualist such as Francisco Cândido Xavier and Divaldo Pereira Franco. Results: It is concluded that COVID-19 provides the opportunity for the diffusion of a political-economic-legal view, focused on otherness and happiness, the need to change the way of acting individually and collectively, so that happiness is possible. COVID-19 comes as another instrument for the “reorganization” of humanity, even though the cost of living is so high from an existential point of view. The reaping of death still perplexes us; however, from the point of view of human essence, great learnings can be introjected into our life experience. Contributions: The work records the origin and progress of COVID-19, highlighting the need for change in individual and collective action, enabling happiness. Revista Jurídica vol. 02, n°. 59, Curitiba, 2020. pp. 255 -282 _________________________________________ Revista Jurídica Unicuritiba. Curitiba.V. 02, n.59, p.255-282, Abril-Junho. 2020 [Received/Recebido: Janeiro 10, 2019; Accepted/Aceito: Dezembro 19, 2019] Este obra está licenciado com uma Licença Creative Commons Atribuição-NãoComercial 4.0 Internacional. Specifically, it aims to alert to the need for economic-legal behavior, aiming at the social economic good through the “efficient-economic-social renovating selfdestruction” (ADRECOS).
EFECTO DE BICARBONATO DE SODIO Y GLUCOSA SOBRE LA FERMENTACIÓN RUMINAL, EQUILIBRIO ÁCIDO-BASE Y QUÍMICA SANGUÍNEA EN BORREGOS Effect of Sodium Bicarbonate and Glucose on Ruminal Fermentation, Acid-Base Balance and Blood Chemistry in Sheep

The effects of NaHCO3 and glucose on ruminal fermentation, acid-base balance and blood chemistry were assessed in sheep fed with 60% of concentrated. Four ruminally cannulated sheep (65 ± 10 kg initial BW) were used in a cross-over design in metabolic crates. Sheep were fed with a total mixed ration (concentrate 60% and forage 40%). Each period included adaptation of 14 d an d2do fsample collection. Glucose (1 g on day 1, and 2 g glucose/kg BW on day 2) was ruminally administrated to all the animals. Treatments consisted of 20 g/d of NaHCO3 in the feeding and a control. Dry matter intake was measured daily. Ruminal fluid samples were collected at 0, 2, 4 and 6 h to determine pH, VFA, L-lactate, osmolality and protozoa. Blood samples were collected at 0 an d6ht odetermine pH, HCO3, pCO2, base excess, electrolytes (Na, K, Cl), anion gap and other metabolites. Sheep receiving NaHCO3 had highest VFA concentration with more proportion of acetate and less propionate; and increased nutrient intake (DM, protein, NDF y starch) (P 0.05). The principal effect of NaHCO3 was to increase acetate without changes in the acid-base and electrolytes balance, with limited effects on ruminal fermentation and blood chemistry in the sheep.