Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of sorghum processing on phytate, phenolic compounds and in vitro solubility of iron and zinc in thick porridges

This study focussed on the impact of process variables on levels of phytate and phenolic compounds, and in vitro solubility of iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) in sorghum porridges, a major staple in semi-arid tropics. The aim was to identify practices that enhance the mineral availability in this type of staple food. We studied the example of the West African porridge `dibou' for which the processing methods involve grain cleaning, milling, sieving and cooking. Regional variations occur in the process, particularly in the cleaning which may be done wet or dry; sieving may be omitted in certain locations. Cleaning reduced the phytate content of the grain by 24-39%, while milling, sieving and cooking had no significant effect on phytate. Phenolic compounds measured as levels of reactive hydroxyl groups, remained constant after cleaning, milling and sieving, but significantly decreased by 38-65% after cooking. The Fe solubility tended to increase after cleaning but was drastically reduced due to cooking, and so was the soluble Zn. Levels of total phenolic compounds highly correlated with the Fe and Zn solubility (r2 = 0.73 and 0.82, respectively). Phenolic reaction products formed during the cooking process are presumably related with the extensive browning phenomenon observed in the dibou porridge, and with the reduction observed in Fe and Zn solubility
Do model‐based phylogenetic analyses perform better than parsimony? A test with empirical data

The use of model‐based methods to infer a phylogenetic tree from a given data set is frequently motivated by the truism that under certain circumstances the parsimony approach (MP) may produce incorrect topologies, while explicit model‐based approaches are believed to avoid this problem. In the realm of empirical data from actual taxa, it is not known (or knowable) how commonly MP, maximum‐likelihood or Bayesian inference are inaccurate. To test the perceived need for “sophisticated” model‐based approaches, we assessed the degree of congruence between empirical phylogenetic hypotheses generated by alternative methods applied to DNA sequence data in a sample of 1000 recently published articles. Of 504 articles that employed multiple methods, only two exhibited strongly supported incongruence among alternative methods. This result suggests that the MP approach does not produce deviant hypotheses of relationship due to convergent evolution in long branches. Our finding therefore indicates that the use of multiple analytical methods is largely superfluous. We encourage the use of analytical approaches unencumbered by ad hoc assumptions that sap the explanatory power of the evidence.
Climatic trends and advancing spring flight of butterflies in lowland California

Many studies, largely from cool‐temperate latitudes, have investigated the relationship between the timing of biological events and changes in climatic conditions during the past few decades. Relatively little is known about the response of plants and animals at lower latitudes. Here we show that the average first spring flight of 23 butterfly species in the Central Valley of California has advanced to an earlier date over the past 31 years. Among the species that have appeared significantly earlier, the average shift is 24 days. Climatic conditions (largely winter temperature and precipitation) are found to explain a large part of the variation in changing date of first flight. These results suggest a strong ecological influence of changing climatic conditions on a suite of animals from a mid‐latitude, Mediterranean climate.
Quantitative inheritance of leaf morphological traits in upland cotton

SUMMARY Genetic manipulation of leaf architecture may be a useful breeding objective in cotton (Gossypium spp.). The present study reports quantitative genetic analysis of leaf traits from two intraspecific crosses of inbred lines in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) viz. Kang3×Chaoji463 and Han109×Ji98. Six leaf morphological traits (leaf area (LA), leaf perimeter (LP), main lobe length (LL) and width (LW), petiole length (PL), and main LL/LW ratio) were recorded from multiple generations (P1, F1, P2, BC1, BC2, and F2) in the two crosses. Generation mean analyses were conducted to explain the inheritance of each leaf morphological trait. The six-parameter model showed a better fit to an additive-dominance model for LA, main LW, PL, and main LL/LW ratio in the two crosses, suggesting the relative importance of epistatic effects controlling leaf morphology. A simple additive-dominance model accounted for the genetic variation of the main LL in the Kang3×Chaoji463 cross. Different models were selected as appropriate to explain LP in the two crosses. The differences between broad- and narrow-sense heritability values for the same trait were not constant in the two crosses. The estimated minimum number of genes controlling each leaf morphological trait ranged from 0 to 2 for both the crosses. Moreover, the sums of the minimum number of genes controlling leaf morphology were 6 and 2 in the Kang3×Chaoji463 and Han109×Ji98 populations, respectively. Most data suggested that there existed a substantial opportunity to breed cottons that transgress the present range of leaf phenotypes found.
Metabonomics Study of the Anti-Osteoporosis Effect of Velvet Collagen Hydrolysate Using Rapid Resolution Liquid Chromatography Combined with Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Tandem Mass Spectrometry

A metabonomics study using RRLC-Q-TOF/MS was performed to obtain a systematic view of the osteoporosis and anti-osteoporosis effects of velvet collagen hydrolysate. Combined with multivariate statistics, the urinary difference was determined between the model group and control group and between the treatment group and model group. Biochemical and pathway analyses were also performed to validate the osteoporosis model and investigate the anti-osteoporosis effect of velvet collagen hydrolysate. A clear separation trend was observed in the PCA scores plot. A total of five compounds were identified as significantly changed metabolites in the urine samples and may be potential biomarkers. This study demonstrates that the action mechanism of velvet collagen hydrolysate on osteoporosis may involve the regulation of amino acid metabolism and phospholipid metabolism.
Quantification of the aggregation of magnetic nanoparticles with different polymeric coatings in cell culture medium

The knowledge of the physico-chemical characteristics of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) is essential to enhance the efficacy of MNP-based therapeutic treatments (e.g. magnetic heating, magnetic drug targeting). According to the literature, the MNP uptake by cells may depend on the coating of MNPs, the surrounding medium as well as on the aggregation behaviour of the MNPs. Therefore, in this study, the aggregation behaviour of MNPs in various media was investigated. MNPs with different coatings were suspended in cell culture medium (CCM) containing fetal calf serum (FCS) and the distribution of the hydrodynamic sizes was measured by magnetorelaxometry (MRX). FCS as well as bovine serum albumin (BSA) buffer (phosphate buffered saline with 0.1% bovine serum albumin) may induce MNP aggregation. Its strength depends crucially on the type of coating. The degree of aggregation in CCM depends on its FCS content showing a clear, local maximum at FCS concentrations, where the IgG concentration (part of FCS) is of the order of the MNP number concentration. Thus, we attribute the observed aggregation behaviour to the mechanism of agglutination of MNPs by serum compartments as for example IgG. No aggregation was induced for MNPs coated with dextran, polyarabic acid or sodium phosphate, respectively, which were colloidally stable in CCM.
Rubber, a Unique Crop: The Mature Hevea Stand as a Nutritionally Self-sustaining Ecosystem in Relation to Latex Yield , by K. Sivanadyan, H. Ghandimathie & G. Haridas. X + 54 pp. Kuala Lumpur: Rubber Research Institute of Malaysia (1995).

The book is in three parts. The first sets the historical context. It considers previous periods of rapid change in agriculture, as during the eighteenth century, and then the origins and accomplishments of the modern revolution. Many tables list the changes in land use, in people and animals and in production. The second part, three-quarters of the text, describes the advances in science and technology during the period. It covers experimental design and measurement, mechanization, soils and fertilizers, and the diseases, breeding and husbandry of crops and animals. While the authors focus on the revolution as it affects the UK, the global scene is often surveyed, for science is international and national economies are interdependent. Throughout, the men and women who made possible the main advances are given prominence. Technicalities and details are avoided to the extent that there is not a single diagram in the book. The wealth of fascinating information is almost faultlessly presented. The only errors I noticed were in Table 7, where pig meats in 1936 do not add up correctly, on pp. 229 and 230 where it should record that Phillipson became Professor of Veterinary Clinical Studies at the Cambridge Veterinary School and that Coleman carried out his research at the ARC Institute of Animal Physiology, and on p. 232 where it should read Tilley and Terry. The final part of the book carefully assesses the role of scientific research and development in the agricultural revolution. During the first three decades, successive governments provided generous encouragement and support. Soon, however, this led to misgivings in high places, and from the time of the Rothschild Report (1972), ministerial control over the structure and expenses of the research service began to be imposed. Eventually, as a free market philosophy blossomed, governmental support gradually diminished, much to the dismay of the people affected. Nevertheless, the momentum gained and new advances such as in biotechnology continue to drive the revolution forward.
Salt balance of leaves of the mangrove Avicennia marina

The contribution of each of the salt-transporting processes to the NaCl balance of the leaves of the salt-recreting mangrove Avicennia marina (Forssk.) Vierh. was quantitatively investigated. Transpiration rates, xylem sap concentration, leaf salt content, recretion rates and rates of salt retranslocation out of the leaves were continuously monitored during three day periods and the salt fluxes in and out of the leaves were calculated. The results indicated that salt filtration by the roots is by far the most important salt-rejecting mechanism, preventing some 80% of the salt which is carried towards the root surface by the transpiration stream, from entering the shoot. Out of the remaining quantity of salts which enter the root xylem and reach the leaves, only 40% is removed by the salt-recreting glands.
Seasonal variation of polyphenolics in Ascophyllum nodosum (Phaeophyceae)

Thalli of the brown alga Ascophyllum nodosum were collected on the Scottish west coast and the phlorotannin content was measured once a month between January and December 2005. Due to the potential use of A. nodosum extract as a nutritional supplement or for medical purposes, our aim was to determine the most favourable time for collection of the algal material. For this purpose two different methods for quantitative phenol determination were used, i.e. the well-known spectrophotometric measurements with Folin–Ciocalteu's phenol reagent (FC-method) and for the first time quantitative 1H NMR spectroscopy (qHNMR). Qualitative variations regarding the composition of the polyphenolic fraction were analysed employing RP-HPLC and 1H NMR spectroscopy. Both quantitative and qualitative analysis of phlorotannins revealed variations over the course of the year. The highest phenol content during the year was reached in July.
Effects of a calcium deficiency on stomatal conductance and photosynthetic activity of Quercus robur seedlings grown on nutrient solution

L'influence d'une carence calcique sur le fonctionnement stomatique et la photosynthese a ete etudiee sur des plants de Quercus robur cultives en hydroponie. La carence calcique n'a pas affecte la reponse des stomates a l'ABA, et les degres d'ouverture stomatique enregistres a l'obscurite n'etaient que legerement superieurs a ceux des plantes temoins. En revanche, les conductances stomatiques en presence de lumiere ainsi que l'assimilation nette de CO 2 des plantes carencees etaient reduites de moitie. De plus, la vitesse d'ouverture des stomates lors d'une transition obscurite-lumiere etait fortement reduite. La disponibilite en Ca ++ dans les cellules de garde pourrait limiter la liberation d'osmoticum de type organique necessaire au mouvement d'ouverture. La diminution de photosynthese etait accompagnee d'une stabilite de la concentration en CO 2 dans les espaces intercellulaires, et du maintien d'une efficience photochimique maximale du PS II en fin de nuit. La concentration chloroplastique en CO 2 , calculee a partir de mesures combinees d'echanges gazeux, et d'efficience photochimique du PS II par fluorescence de la chlorophylle, etait en revanche significativement plus faible dans les plantes carencees. Ces resultats suggerent qu'une baisse de la disponibilite en CO 2 dans le chloroplaste etait le principal facteur limitant de l'assimilation nette de CO 2 en situation de carence calcique.
Cytogenetic Analysis of the Triploid Pacific Abalone, Haliotis discus hannai

In this study, we invesgated a cytogenetic analysis of the Pacific triploid abalone, Haliotis discus hannai induced by low temperature treatment. We got a lot of mitotic metaphase chromosome spreads from the triploid and diploid Pacific abalones' hatched larvae (trochophores). The chromosome number of diploid abalone was 2n = 36 and that of triploid abalone was 3n = 54, so the chromosome number of triploid abalone was 1.5 times higher than that of diploid abalone. We developed a modified flow cytometric method for Pacific abalone from the existing methods. We uesd 51 months aged triploid and diploid Pacific abalones' hemolymph to get the DNA contents by flow cytometry. The DNA content of diploid abalone was 1.743 pg/cell and the DNA content of triploid abalone was 1.49 times higher than that of diploid one. It proved that triploid abalone was consisted with two sets of maternal diploid and one set of paternal genome.
Impact of stand-alone minimally invasive radiofrequency ablation with left atrial appendectomy on left atrial function assessed by echocardiography.

Background Stand-alone minimally invasive radiofrequency (RF) ablation with left atrial (LA) appendectomy has been an effective surgical intervention for non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) (NPAF) in patients with a medical history of thromboembolism for secondary stroke prevention. This study sought to assess the impact of this surgery on LA function. Methods A total of 37 NPAF patients with a medical history of stroke or thromboembolism were enrolled in this prospective observational study, all of whom underwent stand-alone minimally RF ablation with LA appendectomy. Echocardiography was used to evaluate LA function preoperatively and 1 week and 3 months postoperatively. All patients were divided into two groups (Group AF and Group SR) according to whether sinus rhythm (SR) was restored after the surgery. Results The surgery had no impact on LA function in Group AF. Once NPAF patients were restored to SR, LA minimal volume (LAVmin) decreased immediately compared with pre-operation (22.98±13.76 vs. 17.68±9.52 mL; P<0.05) and consequently LA reservoir function increased, including LAEF (37.69%±12.53% vs. 46.71%±8.53%, P<0.05) and LAEI (66.54%±34.39% vs. 92.15%±31.37%, P<0.05). PA-TDI of Group SR, indicating LA electromechanical coupling, were improved at three months of follow-up because of atrial stunning after the surgery (160.55±26.19 vs. 143.82±20.923 ms, P<0.05). LA contractile function was also improved at three months of follow-up (A-TVI: 2.95±1.16 vs. 5.10±1.85 cm, P<0.05). Conclusions Stand-alone minimal invasive RF ablation with LA appendectomy had no impact on LA function in AF patients who could not be restored to SR. However, once AF patients were restored to SR after the surgery, LA function could recover better. Meanwhile, thromboembolic events could also be reduced after the surgery.
Disclosure and lawsuits ahead of IPOs

We examine whether IPO registration disclosures expose firms to greater nonshareholder litigation risk. Using hand-collected data on lawsuits initiated at federal and state courts against IPO firms, we show that firms that submit their IPO registration statement with the SEC publicly experience a 16% increase in litigation risk between the registration filing and issuance date. Consistent with the public filing of the registration driving this heightened litigation risk, firms that file their registration confidentially under the JOBS Act do not experience such an increase in litigation risk. The effects of confidential filing are concentrated among business-initiated lawsuits, intellectual property/ contract lawsuits, and potentially meritless lawsuits. We find no disproportionate increase in post-IPO lawsuits for confidential filers, suggesting that withholding information during the IPO registration period mitigates litigation risk.
CHLOROPLAST PIGMENT PATTERNS IN DINOFLAGELLATES 1

The chlorophylls and carotenoids of 22 species of dinoflagellates were analysed by thin layer chromatography, using 2‐dimensional sucrose plates, and 1‐dimensional polyethylene plates for chlorophylls c1 and c2. Peridinin was the major carotenoid in 19 of the species, while fucoxanthin was the major carotenoid in 3. In the peridinin‐containing species, 5 carotenoid fractions, constituting more than 95% of the total carotenoids, were always present. These were peridinin (± neo‐peridinin), averaging 64% of the total carotenoid, diadinoxanthin, dinoxanthin, β‐carotene and a polar, unidentified pink xanthophyll. Six other carotenoid fractions occurred in minor or trace quantities among the species, but were not identified. Two of these had, a wide distribution; the other 4 were restricted to one or 2 species. The chlorophyll content of the dinoflagellate cultures ranged from 1–141 μg chlorophyll a + c/106 cells, a pattern which was broadly correlated with cell size. In the peridinin‐containing species the ratio of chlorophyll a to c on a molar basis was approximately 2 (range 1.60–4.39); in the fucoxanthin‐containing species this ratio was approximately 4 (range 2.65–5.73). Both chlorophylls c1 and c2 occurred in the fucoxanthin‐containing dinoflagellates, and only chlorophyll c2 (one exception) occurred in the peridinin‐containing dinoflagellates. These patterns of chlorophyll c and major carotenoid correspond to patterns previously observed in the Pyrrhophyta and the Chrysophyta, suggesting different phylogenetic origins for the “dinoflagellate” chloroplasts.
Steers Grazing a Rye Cover Crop Influence Growth of Rye and No-Till Cotton

Published in Agron. J. 105:1571–1580 (2013) doi:10.2134/agronj2013.0020 Copyright © 2013 by the American Society of Agronomy, 5585 Guilford Road, Madison, WI 53711. All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. W annual small grains are high-quality forages that when grazed in the vegetative stage will generally meet and exceed nutrient requirements for all classes of grazing livestock (NRC, 1996; Rao and Horn, 1995). As more emphasis has been placed on soil quality, environmental issues, and reduction of soil erosion, small grains have often been used as cover crops before minimum or no-till establishment of row crops. Benefits include reduced soil erosion (Daniel et al., 1999; Collins, 2003), decreased soil water evaporation (Unger and Parker, 1976), enhanced rainfall infiltration (Naderman, 1991), reduced nitrate leaching (Logsdon et al., 2002), higher soil C (Edwards et al., 1992), and greater microbial activity (Acosta-Martinez et al., 2004). Improved weed control has long been associated with small grain cover crops (Teasdale et al., 1991); suggested mechanisms include increased competition (Fisk et al., 2001) and release of allelopathic chemicals (Barnes and Putnam, 1983, 1986). Fisk et al. (2001) suggested that negative effects can also accrue to cover crops including reduced soil moisture and need for chemical termination of the cover crop. Using small grains, particularly wheat, for both grazing and grain production has been well established (Redmon et al., 1996). Grazing cover-crop small grains before no-till establishment of a row crop is less common. Concerns have included potential for soil compaction, trampling, amount and uniformity of residual biomass, and effects on seed placement but the actual impacts of grazing on the following crop are not well known. The objective of our research was to determine effects of grazing a rye cover crop by beef steers within a long-term rye–cotton– wheat–fallow–rye rotation on growth of rye, stand establishment and yield of cotton, and to determine the presence and potential relationships of allelopathic compounds with grazing and observed plant responses.
Maturation, fertilization, and early cleavage in the Hen's egg

The nuclear changes which take place in the ovum of the domestic fowl during the few days just preceding ovulation have received little attention. Only a few references in the literature disclose any attempt to study the iiuclear ehaiiges during this brief but important period of the developrneiit of the ovum. Of the few studies which have been made on maturation of birds' eggs, practically all have been based on the eggs of smaller birds, particularly the pigeon
Standardizing education in interventional pulmonology in the midst of technological change

Interventional pulmonology (IP) is a maturing subspecialty of pulmonary medicine. The robust innovation in technology demands standardization in IP training with both disease and technology driven training. Simulation based training should be considered a part of IP training as seen in other procedural and surgical subspecialties. Procedure volume is a component of training; however, this does not guarantee or translate into competency for learners. Basic competency skills can be assessed using standardized well validated assessment tools designed for various IP procedures including flexible bronchoscopy, endobronchial ultrasound guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS TBNA), rigid bronchoscopy and chest tube placement; however, further work is needed to validate tools in all procedures as new technologies are introduced beyond fellowship training. Currently there are at least 39 IP fellowship programs in the United States (US) and Canada which has led to improved training by accreditation of programs who meet rigorous requirements of standardized curriculum and procedural volume. The challenge is to be innovative in how we teach globally with intention and how to best integrate new evolving technology training for those not only during fellowship training but also beyond fellowship training.