Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sequence characterization of four putative membrane-associated proteins from sweet potato little leaf strain V4 phytoplasma

To increase understanding of the genetic architecture of phytoplasmas, a random clone (pH80) of the sweet potato little leaf strain-V4 (SPLL-V4) phytoplasma and the glucose-inhibited division protein A (gidA) gene were analysed. Clone pH80 and the gidA gene are located in a 100-kb region near the putative origin of replication. Three ORFs were identified within the pH80 random clone, encoding the proteins PotB, PotC and PotD, which form part of an ABC transport system for polyamine import. Sequence data were supported by structural analysis which indicated that SPLL-V4 PotB and PotC were integral membrane proteins, and PotD was a substrate-binding, surface-exposed membrane protein. The gidA gene in the SPLL-V4 phytoplasma was also putatively identified as a membrane protein. The complete gidA gene sequences were characterized for the tomato big bud and SPLL-V4 phytoplasmas. The proteins identified here were found to share high similarity with those recently identified in the onion yellows phytoplasma genome. Both the gidA and polyamine transport operons are believed to be associated with DNA replication.
Blood Lead Levels in Rag-Pickers of Kathmandu and its Association with Hematological and Biochemical Parameters

Introduction Lead poisoning is a common health problem in Nepal and there are a limited number of studies on blood lead levels in various population groups. Rag-pickers are those people who visit from house to house to collect the materials that can be recycled and thus earn their livelihood. The present study was designed to evaluate blood lead level (BLL) and its relationship between hematological and biochemical parameters in rag-pickers working in Kathmandu. Methods An observational cross-sectional study among 50 ragpickers working in the selected area of Kathmandu was done in May 2019 after obtaining ethical approval from the Nepal health research council. Capillary and venous blood was drawn from each participant after written consent to measure the BLL, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin, creatinine, glucose and to test for a complete blood count. Whole blood was also screened for the presence of hemoglobin variants in cases with abnormal red blood cell indices. Data was analyzed using SPSS (Version 20.0). Result All rag pickers were men with mean age of 32.56 ± 12.51 years. The mean BLL among ragpickers was 11.6 ± 7.23 μg/dL. High eosinophil count was found (8.27 ± 5.49 %) in 27 cases (54%) having no significant association with BLL. The mean BLL was higher (12.89 μg/dL) in a cohort of workers who pick and recycle electronic waste. Beta-Thalassemia trait was seen in four cases, all of them had high BLL. No significant association of BLL with the number of years worked by rag picker was found. Similarly, no significant association of BLL with hematological and biochemical parameters was found. Conclusion Rag-pickers working in Kathmandu are at increased risk of lead toxicity. The use of protective gloves, masks, shoes and clothes along with a regular medical examination of this vulnerable group is recommended.
Impact of drying processes on Bryophyllum pinnatum phenolic constituents and its anti-inflammatory and antioxidative activities in human erythrocytes.

The effect of drying on the phytoconstituents, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory properties of Bryophyllum pinnatum leaves was investigated. The phenolic constituents were characterized using HPLC-DAD. The aqueous extraction was done and various assays (Inhibition of membrane stabilization, albumin Denaturation and heat-induced hemolysis, malondialdehyde (MDA), and reduced glutathione (GSH) contents, as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity), were carried out on human erythrocytes. The fresh portion (89.12 µg/ml) exhibited the highest potential to inhibit heat-induced hemolysis compared to the standard drug-Diclofenac (91.51 µg/ml). Freeze-dried sample showed the highest inhibitory potential on albumin denaturation ([Freeze-dried-330.72 µg/ml], [Diclofenac-318.63 µg/ml]) and membrane destabilization ([Freeze-dried-331.93 µg/ml], [Diclofenac-289.57 µg/ml]) when compared with Diclofenac. Similarly, the freeze-dried sample showed the highest GSH and SOD level and lowest MDA level when human erythrocytes challenged with tertiary butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP) were treated with the extract. This study confirms the retention of a considerable quantity of bioactive constituents of plants when freeze-dried. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The ideal method of drying Bryophyllum pinnatum and possible anti-inflammatory potential was investigated. This work may apply to the development of anti-inflammatory agents from a natural source with little or no side effect in managing inflammation.
The problem of sampling families rather than populations: relatedness among individuals in samples of juvenile brown trout Salmo trutta L.

In species exhibiting a nonrandom distribution of closely related individuals, sampling of a few families may lead to biased estimates of allele frequencies in populations. This problem was studied in two brown trout populations, based on analysis of mtDNA and microsatellites. In both samples mtDNA haplotype frequencies differed significantly between age classes, and in one sample 17 out of 18 individuals less than 1 year of age shared one particular mtDNA haplotype. Estimates of relatedness showed that these individuals most likely represented only three full‐sib families. Older trout exhibiting the same haplotypes generally were not closely related.
Limited Effect of Management on Apple Pollination: A Case Study from an Oceanic Island

Intensive agricultural practices leading to habitat degradation represent a major threat to pollinators. Diverse management practices are expected to influence wild pollinator abundance and richness on farms, although their effect in perennial crops is still unclear. In this study, we assessed the impact of management on apple (Malus domestica) pollination on an oceanic island, by comparing conventional (with and without herbicide application) and organic apple orchards. Pollinator visitation and pan trap surveys were carried out in six apple orchards in Terceira Island (Azores) and the landscape composition surrounding orchards was characterized. We also quantified fruit set, seed set and apple weight. We found no significant effect of management on insect visitation rates, whereas there was a negative association with increasing surrounding agricultural land. In contrast, management had an effect on species abundance, richness and diversity at the orchard level. Conventional orchards without herbicides showed higher abundance than the rest, but lower richness and diversity than conventional orchards with herbicides. Management had an effect on fruit set, but not on seed set or fruit weight. Our results suggest that management alone is insufficient for the overall improvement of apple pollination on an oceanic island, while landscape composition may play a relevant role.
The 2μm plasmid of laboratory yeast strains is a type‐1/type‐2 hybrid

Industrial yeast strains carry one of two homeologous 2μm plasmids designated as type‐1 or type‐2. The 2μm plasmid, Scp1, found in common laboratory strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is considered a type‐2 plasmid, since the ori, STB, RAF and REP1 loci and intergenic sequences of the right‐unique region of Scp1 are homologous to the corresponding loci in industrial strain type‐2 plasmids. However, within both its 599 bp inverted repeats Scp1 has 142‐bp sequences homologous to the bakers' yeast type‐1 plasmid. DNA sequence analyses and oligonucleotide hybridizations indicate that the 142‐bp insertion in Scp1 was probably due to homeologous recombination between type‐1 and type‐2 plasmids. These results suggest that some of the plasmid and chromosomal sequence polymorphisms seen in laboratory yeast strains result from homeologous recombination in their ancestral breeding stock.
Differences of a Single Injection of Botulinum Toxin A between Infantile and Nonaccommodative Esotropia

ABSTRACT Purposes To compare the results of a single injection of botulinum toxin A (BTA) between children with infantile esotropia (IET) and nonaccommodative esotropia (NAET) during the first 2 years. Methods Retrospective study that included 23 children with IET and 25 with NAET. At 6 months, 1 and 2 years after treatment, the deviation and stereoacuity were evaluated. Results At 6 months and 1 year after treatment there was no difference in ocular alignment between the two groups (success criteria were achieved in 36.8% in IET group and 60.0% in NAET at 6 months p = .129, and 57.9% in IET group and 68.0% in NAET group at 1 year p = .352). Two years after treatment, there were statistical differences between motor alignment (IET group 21,1% and NAET group 60.0%, p = .007) and stereoacuity (IET group 40% and NAET group 90%, p = .004) between the two groups. Although side-effects affected most children during the first week (in the first week, overcorrection was present in 16 (84.2%) children with IET, and in 19 (76.0%) children with NAET; and ptosis affected 15 (78.9%) children with IET and 17 (68.0%) children with NAET), at 6 months all the effects have disappeared on both groups. Conclusions We recommend BTA as an alternative, but not as definite treatment in IET if the surgeon/parents are not comfortable with an early strabismus surgery; but retreatment or surgery will have to be considered after 1 year. On the contrary, BTA may be a first-line treatment of NAET because it is an easy, safe and has a long-lasting effect.
Système de question-réponse multilingue appliqué aux agents conversationnels

Résumé. Les modèles de langages (e.g. BERT) permettent de résoudre avec brio des tâches de TALN complexes comme le question-réponse. Cependant, les jeux de données spécifiques à ces tâches sont principalement en anglais, ce qui rend difficilement compte des progrès dans les autres langues. Heureusement, les modèles commencent à être pré-entraînés dans des centaines de langues et ont une bonne capacité de transfert zero-shot d’une langue à l’autre. Dans cet article, nous montrons notamment que BERT multilingue, entraîné pour la tâche de question-réponse en anglais, est capable de généraliser au français et au japonais. Nous présentons alors une application pratique Kate, agent conversationnel dédié au support ressources humaines, qui répond aux questions posées par des utilisateurs dans plusieurs langues à partir de contenus de pages d’intranet.
Food and Nutrition-Related Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices among Reproductive-age Women in Marginalized Areas in Sri Lanka

Nutrient deficiencies are a public health problem in Sri Lanka. Achieving food security is a major challenge due to unhealthy eating patterns. The nutritional status of a woman and her knowledge is a powerful indicator of the nutritional security of her children and household food security. Nutrition-related knowledge and attitude are necessary for dietary changes towards a healthier dietary pattern. For that reason, food and nutrition-related Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) is one of the key factors to achieving household food and nutritional security. The main objective of this study is to assess the food and nutrition-related KAP among reproductive-age women and understanding of household food and nutritional security in Sri Lanka as an example for marginalized societies. Thus, a cross-sectional survey was conducted using the KAP model questionnaire administered on 400 reproductive age women (18–49 Years) in marginalized areas in Sri Lanka. Data were collected using a random sampling method. The research results clearly showed that the reproductive age women have a low level of nutritional knowledge in the areas being investigated. Most women have a positive attitude towards receiving nutritional knowledge but have low-level practice about a healthy diet. Furthermore, knowledge, practices, and attitudes of women largely affect their BMI status, as well as household food security. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to analyze the influential factors. There was a highly significant positive correlation between nutritional knowledge, attitude score, and BMI level and a significant difference was found in the area, age, family size, monthly income, educational level, attitudes towards nutrition, food and nutrition practices across the reproductive women (R2: 467, p < 0.01). The research results showed that KAP largely determines women’s nutrition and household food security. Based on the results of this research, there is a need to enhance nutritional education in reproductive-age women in marginalized areas in Sri Lanka.
Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor, Based on a latent class analysis of 12 ‘non-core symptoms’ in a sample of 1,210 patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and/or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) Huber and colleagues [1] found 6 subtypes (classes) of ‘ME/CFS’: one class likely to endorse all noncore symptoms, one class that endorsed none of the non-core symptoms, one class with primarily gastro-intestinal symptoms, one class with primarily circulatory symptoms, one class with gastro-intestinal and circulatory symptoms, and one class with circulatory symptoms and orthostatic intolerance. Not surprisingly, none of the subclasses relates to a ME patient subgroup [2]. This is a direct consequence of the definition of ‘ME/CFS’ [1]. ME is a neuromuscular disease, characterized by muscle fatigability (‘general or local muscular fatigue following minimal exertion with prolonged recovery time’) and ‘neurological disturbance, especially of cognitive, autonomic and sensory functions’ [3,4]. ‘ME/CFS’ is defined by the authors by four ‘core symptoms’: fatigue, post-exertional malaise (PEM), neurocognitive problems, and unrefreshing sleep [1]. Using this definition of ‘ME/CFS’ a ME patient subgroup is excluded, as a large patient study (n = 420) [3] found that only 77% of ME patients experience ‘cognitive disturbance’. Post-exertional ‘malaise’, unrefreshing sleep and fatigue, ‘core symptoms’ of ‘ME/CFS’ were never part of a formal definition of ME [3,4]. In this context, it should be noted that postexertional ‘malaise’, an ill-defined abstract notion, is not the same as muscle fatigability/post-exertional muscle weakness, a specific symptom of ME [3,4], which can be assessed objectively. The non-specificity of post-exertional ‘malaise’, ‘fatigue’ and unrefreshing sleep’, is illustrated by the observation of the authors [5] that many patients with two medical diseases, major depression disorder, and (explained) chronic fatigue also experience these three ‘core symptoms’ of ME/ CFS. In conclusion, to find solutions for patients and to define patient ‘ME/CFS’ patient subgroups correctly it is crucial to differentiate ME from ‘ME/CFS’ [1] and CFS [6].
Treating limbal stem cell deficiency: current and emerging therapies

Introduction: Based on scientific research, most experts agree that the limbal stem cells reside in a special microenvironment at the limbus. Insult to this microenvironment leads to limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD). LSCD invariably manifests as corneal pannus formation, which over a period of time allows the ocular surface reconstructive procedures to be carried out. Areas covered: This review article describes both the current and emerging treatment strategies. The current treatment strategies include conjunctival limbal autograft, cultivated limbal epithelial transplantation (CLET) and simple limbal epithelial transplantation for unilateral cases. Keratolimbal allograft, allogenic CLET, keratoprosthesis and cultivated oral mucosal transplantation are meant for bilateral cases. The emerging treatment modalities include tissue-engineering approaches, stem cell-based regenerative therapies and ocular surface regeneration using embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent and mesenchymal stem cells. Expert opinion: Each of the above-mentioned techniques continues to be practiced for the treatment of LSCD worldwide. None of the single techniques is perfect and that is why there are so many in practice. Each technique has its unique advantages and limitations. At the same time, there are several new and emerging options to tackle complex cases of LSCD. In this review, we discuss applications of new and emerging techniques as well as established and conventional procedures.
Tree-Ring-Based Reconstruction of Precipitation in the Bighorn Basin, Wyoming,

Cores and cross sections from 79 Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and limber pine (Pinus flexilis) trees at four sites in the Bighorn Basin of north-central Wyoming and south-central Montana were used to develop a proxy for annual (June–June) precipitation spanning 1260–1998 A.D. The reconstruction exhibits considerable nonstationarity, and the instrumental era (post-1900) in particular fails to capture the full range of precipitation variability experienced in the past ;750 years. Both single-year and decadal-scale dry events were more severe before 1900. Dry spells in the late thirteenth and sixteenth centuries surpass both magnitude and duration of any droughts in the Bighorn Basin after 1900. Precipitation variability appears to shift to a higher-frequency mode after 1750, with 15–20-yr droughts becoming rare. Comparisons between instrumental and reconstructed values of precipitation and indices of Pacific basin variability reveal that precipitation in the Bighorn Basin generally responds to Pacific forcing in a manner similar to that of the southwestern United States (drier during La Niña events), but high country precipitation in areas surrounding the basin displays the opposite response (drier during El Niño events).
Skin and Rheumatic Disease

Many rheumatic diseases may involve any organ system of the body including the skin. Proper understanding of rheumatic skin disease is necessary for making a diagnosis. In addition, there are important relationships existing between the cutaneous and systemic manifestations of rheumatic diseases. In management of these diseases, the interdisciplinary approach could generate better results. Among rheumatic diseases, the cutaneous manifestations of three major rheumatic diseases such as lupus erythematosus (LE), dermatomyositis (DM)/polymyositis and scleroderma/systemic sclerosis (SSc) will all be reviewed.
Applying Proteolytic Enzymes on Soybean

Soy proteins were incubated with a microbial acid protease (Molsin) under the following condition: substrate concentration, 1%; enzyme-substrate ratio (by weight), 1/100; pH, 2.8; and temperature, 40°C—flavor components and related impurities are removable from crude soy-protein concentrates by their incubation for 2 hr under the above condition. The acid-precipitated fraction of soy protein incubated for 2 hr with Molsin (i.e. 2 hr-proteolyzate) showed the following composition: 10% trichloroacetic acid (TCA) insoluble fraction, 47.52%; 10% TCA soluble peptide fraction, 52.02%; and free amino acid fraction, 0.46%. Gel filtration of the 2 hr-proteolyzate gave an elution pattern showing its molecular weight distribution.In the process of the incubation of the acid-precipitated protein, the 10% TCA insoluble fraction showed increase in amino nitrogen content, its solubility in a phosphate buffer increased to change at 6 hr, and a hydrophobic amino acid share in this fraction increased gradually.In vitro dig.
Bioactive forage legumes as a strategy to improve silage quality and minimise nitrogenous losses

The use of forage legumes as a source of protein for ruminants is a sustainable strategy to reduce the use of inorganic-nitrogen fertiliser. In addition, some legumes species contain naturally bioactive secondary compounds, which could improve silage quality and digestive processes in ruminants. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of bioactive legumes containing condensed tannins or polyphenol oxidase, ensiled alone or in mixture with a grass, on silage quality and conservation characteristics. Six mini-silos were prepared in triplicate as follows: 100% red clover (RC), 100% sainfoin (SF), 100% Timothy (T, control without bioactive compounds), binary mixtures 50% T + 50% RC, 50% T + 50% SF and ternary mixture 50% T + 25% RC + 25% SF. Condensed tannins remain unaltered during the silage-making process in terms of quantity and chemical structures, while polyphenol oxidase is activated during this process. All the silages that contained bioactive legumes were better conserved than the pure grass silo. In addition bioactive legumes were able to preserve protein from their degradation during the silage process. Inclusion of bioactive legumes can improve silage quality, and polyphenol oxidase may be more efficient than condensed tannins to improve the nitrogen value of silage.
TGF‐β3‐Mediated tissue interaction during embryonic heart development

A critical process during early heart development is the formation of mesenchymal cells which will contribute to valves and septa of the mature heart. These cells arise by an epithelial‐mesenchymal transformation of endothelial cells in the atrioventricular (AV) canal and outflow tract areas of the heart. Adjacent endothelial cells in the atrium and ventricle remain epithelial. A three‐dimensional collagen gel culture system has been exploited to examine the interactions that mediate this transformation. The AV canal myocardium produces a stimulus that is transmitted through an intervening extra‐cellular matrix to the AV canal endothelium. This interaction is regionally specific, such that ventricular myocardium does not provide an adequate stimulus and ventricular endothelium does not respond to the AV canal myocardial stimulus. Exogenous TGF‐β1 (or TGF‐β2) can complement ventricular myocardium to produce transformation by AV canal endothelium. A blocking antibody, effective against several TGF‐β, prevents cell transformation. To identify the specific member of the TGF‐β family that functions in situ, antisense oligonucleotides for each of the numbered TGF‐β were topically added to AV canal explant cultures. Only the oligonucleotide targeted to TGF‐β3 was an effective inhibitor of mesenchymal cell formation. Studies have been undertaken to localize specific mRNas by in situ hybridization and RNase protection assays. These assays have concentrated on the regional and temporal appearance of TGF‐β2 and 3. Surprisingly, RNase protection assays with a TGF‐β3 sense probe showed the presence of a transcript complementary to TGF‐β3. Further analysis of this tissue interaction included the testing of a variety of signal transduction mechanisms including kinases, G‐proteins, and intracellular calcium. Tissue interaction in the heart is a complex interaction in which regulation of the induction process occurs in both the inducing and target tissues. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A CONCEPTUAL GENEALOGY OF FRAGMENTATION RESEARCH: FROM ISLAND BIOGEOGRAPHY TO LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY*

The concept of habitat fragmentation has become an important theme in conservation research, and it is often used as if fragmentation were a unitary phenomenon. However, the concept is ambiguous, and empirical studies demonstrate a wide variety of direct and indirect effects, sometimes with mutually opposing implications. The effects of fragmentation vary across organisms, habitat types, and geographic regions. Such a contrast between a schematic concept and multifaceted empirical reality is counterproductive. I analyzed the stabilization of the schematic view of fragmentation by the early 1980s, using a genealogical narrative as a methodological approach. The main assumptions behind the schematic view were: (1) fragments are comparable to oceanic islands; (2) habitats surrounding fragments are hostile to a majority of the organisms; and (3) natural pre-fragmentation conditions were uniform. The stabilization loop of this view was supported by the reduction of empirical research to species–area curve fitt.