Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gene expression pattern of acetyl-coA carboxylase alpha, fatty acid synthase, and stearoyl-CoA desaturase in pregnant Barki sheep under complete feed deprivation

Objective: To assess the mRNA level of acetyl CoA carboxylase alpha (ACACA), fatty acid synthase (FASN), and stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) by means of real-time PCR in Barki sheep subjected to complete feed deprivation. Design: Controlled study. Animals: Seven healthy pregnant ewes. Procedures: Ewes were subjected to complete feed deprivation with ad libitum water for five consecutive days. Venous blood samples were collected from each ewe before (zero time) and on the fifth day post-deprivation of feed for measurement of the mRNA level of ACACA, FASN, and SCD and assessment of serum metabolic profile parameters. Results: On the fifth day post-fasting, the gene expression pattern of ACACA, FASN, SCD genes showed a significant (p < 0.05) down regulation in comparison with pre-deprivation of feed. There was a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the serum level of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), beta-hydroxyl buteric acid (BHBA), and triglycerides in pregnant ewes in the fifth day post-fasting in comparison with pre-deprivation of feed. On the other hand, there was a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the level of glucose, cholesterol, and insulin in pregnant ewes in the fifth day post-fasting compared with pre-deprivation of feed. On histopathology, liver showed marked heptic steatosis in midzonal and periportal area, with formation of small fatty cysts in liver lobule. There was a positive correlation between leptin and insulin (r = 0.996; p < 0.01), BHB and leptin (r = 0.951; p < 0.05) and glucose and SCD (r = 1.0, p < 0.01). However, there was a negative correlation between FASN and NEFA (r = - 0.991; p < 0.05), FASN and leptin (r = -0.683; p < 0.05) and FASN and cholesterol (r = - 0.82; p < 0.05). Conclusion and clinical relevance: Pregnant Barki ewes can clinically tolerate complete feed deprivation for five days, with down regulation of ACACA, FASN, SCD genes and presence of marked metabolic changes. Therefore, metabolic monitoring is warranted to predict the early changes associated with feed deprivation under different stressful conditions.
Polyploid Gene Expression and Regulation in Polysomic Polyploids

Polyploidization is one of the most crucial pathways in introducing speciation and broadening biodiversity, especially in the Plant Kingdom. Although the majority of studies have focused only on allopolyploid or disomic polyploids, polysomic polyploid species have occurred frequently in higher plants. Due to the occurrence of the capabilities of more copies of alleles in a locus which can have additive dosage effects and/or allelic interactions, polysomic polyploids can lead to unique gene regulations to silence or adjust the expression level to create variations in organ size, metabolic products, and abiotic stress tolerance and biotic stress resistance, etc. This review aims to comprehensively summarize the contemporary understanding and findings concerning the molecular mechanisms of gene expression as well as gene regulation in natural typed and resynthesized polysomic polyploid plants. The review investigates the molecular level of phenomena in polysomic polyploid plants such as 1) typically enlarging organ size and stabilizing meiosis, 2) increasing phytochemical content and metabolic products, 3) enhancing the ability to adapt with biotic and abiotic stress, and 4) changing in gene regulation to silence or adjust the expression levels involve in sequence elimination, methylation, gene suppression, subfunctionalization, neo-functionalization, and transposon activation.
Genetic screens reveal a central role for heme biosynthesis in artemisinin susceptibility

Artemisinins have revolutionized the treatment of Plasmodium falciparum malaria, however, resistance threatens to undermine global control efforts. To explore artemisinin resistance in apicomplexan parasites broadly, we used genome-scale CRISPR screens recently developed for Toxoplasma gondii to discover sensitizing and desensitizing mutations. Using a sublethal concentration of dihydroartemisinin (DHA), we uncovered the putative porphyrin transporter Tmem14c whose disruption increases DHA susceptibility. Screens performed under high doses of DHA provided evidence that mitochondrial metabolism can modulate resistance. We show that disruption of a top candidate from the screens, the mitochondrial protease DegP2, lowered levels of free heme and decreased DHA susceptibility, without significantly altering fitness in culture. Deletion of the homologous gene in P. falciparum, PfDegP, similarly lowered heme levels and DHA susceptibility. These results expose the vulnerability of the heme biosynthetic pathway for genetic perturbations that can lead to survival in the presence of DHA. We go on to show that chemically reducing heme biosynthesis can decrease the sensitivity of both T. gondii and P. falciparum to DHA, suggesting guidelines for developing combination therapies.
Mitigating memory effects during undulatory locomotion on hysteretic materials

Undulatory swimming in flowing media like water is well-studied, but little is known about loco-motion in environments that are permanently deformed by body–substrate interactions like snakes in sand, eels in mud, and nematode worms in rotting fruit. We study the desert-specialist snake Chion-actis occipitalis traversing granular matter and find body inertia is negligible despite rapid transit and speed dependent granular reaction forces. New surface resistive force theory (RFT) calculation reveals how this snakes wave shape minimizes memory effects and optimizes escape performance given physiological limitations (power). RFT explains the morphology and waveform dependent performance of a diversity of non-sand-specialist, but overpredicts the capability of snakes with high slip. Robophysical experiments recapitulate aspects of these failure-prone snakes and elucidate how reencountering previously remodeled material hinders performance. This study reveals how memory effects stymied the locomotion of a diversity of snakes in our previous studies [Marvi et al, Science, 2014] and suggests the existence of a predictive model for history-dependent granular physics.
A Comparative Study on the Self Perception of Body Image in College Students

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to research the distorted self-perception of body image held by many college students. Method: The subjects in this study consisted of 189 female college students and 125 male college students. The data were obtained through self-reported questionnaires completed by the students between April 1 and April 10, 2005. The data were analyzed by frequency and a -test in the SPSS/pc 10.0 statistical program. Result: While female students tend to perceive themselves as being more overweight than they actually are according to their BMI scores, male students consider themselves to be thinner than they actually are according their BMI scores. Conclusion: Many female and male college students have a distorted self-perception of body weight. These findings indicate that health care providers need to do a better job of educating college students about normal body weight.
PERIOSTITIS TIBIAL. TRATAMIENTO FÍSICO

El objetico de este estudio es recabar informacion sobre los tratamientos fisicos existentes para el sindrome de estres tibial, periostitis tibial o shin splint debido a la frecuencia de esta patologia en atletas y militares (incidencia entre 4% y 35%) por consecuencia del exceso de actividad fisica creando traumatismos repetidos que producen una inflamacion del periostio provocando asi dolor e impotencia para continuar con la actividad. Se ha realizado una revision bibliografica consultando para ello diversos libros de medicina deportiva, fisioterapia, podologia y realizando busqueda de articulos en bases de datos de PubMed y Cochrane Plus. Se encontraron como tratamientos crioterapia con la intencion de disminuir edema, magnetoterapia que produce relajacion muscular al tiempo que actua en el metabolismo del calcio y colageno del hueso, masoterapia que deshace las bolitas que se producen a lo largo de la tibia (rosario periostico) y relaja musculatura, vendaje funcional para descarga y relajacion muscular y estiramientos como rehabilitacion potenciar los musculos antes de iniciar la practica deportiva. Tras la busqueda efectuada tan solo encontramos un articulo en el que se valore la eficacia de magnetoterapia para tratar la periostitis tibial pero no encontramos articulos que valoren el resto de tratamientos.
Morphology, molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of the ribosomal nuclear DNA (rDNA) sequence of a pathogenic fungal isolate Aspergillus niger LKO1

Aspergillus niger is the causal organism of “black mold” disease of fruits and vegetables. The objective of the present investigation was to characterize the pathogen morphologically in vitro and to confirm its molecular identity and phylogenetic position by the sequence of ITS region of rDNA. A. niger LKO1 was isolated from soil and cultured in PDB and PDA media. The characteristic of growth was monitored and the reproductive structures were analyzed. After 3 days of growth, the diameter of each colony was 1.5 cm, after which the colony was extended its diameter 1 cm per day and subsequently black conidiophores were formed with black pigmented spore heads carrying numerous conidia. Fungus was also characterized using molecular methods based on ITS-PCR (GenBank accession number MK696283). The amplified sequence was compared with the available sequences in the NCBI GenBank. The sequence showed 100% similarity with other isolates of A. niger. The isolation, morphological characterization and sequencing of ITS region of rDNA will help in further research on the management of this plant pathogen and its commercial utilization.
Palatability Test of Mineral Herbal Blocks on Performans of Local Sheep

This research was aimed to study of palatability and body weight gain local sheeps given minerals herbal (MBH). The farms used in this study were male 4 local sheep at the age of 12-18 months who showed symptoms of mineral deficiency. The research method used is the Latin Square Design (LSD). The treatment given is: H0 = Basal Feed + Salt; H1 = Basal Feed + Salt + Mineral + Turmeric; H2 = Basal Feed + Salt + Mineral + Ginger; H3 = Basal Feed + Salt + Mineral + Turmeric + Ginger. The research parameter is the mineral palatability of herbal blocks and body weight gain. The results showed that MBH given turmeric (10%), ginger (10%) and a combination of 5% + 5% ginger showed a non-significant effect on feed consumption and conversion. Palatability test showed that all MBH treatments were favored by local sheep, but the highest palatability of MBH was by adding ginger; followed by a combination of ginger and turmeric; and the lowest palatability is turmeric. Based on palatability tests, MBH with turmeric supplementation of 10%; 10% ginger or a combination of 5% ginger + 5% turmeric in the form of Herbal Minerals Block has a good palatability (preferred) and can improve the performance of local sheep.
A CASE STUDY INTO THE SUSTAINABILITY JOURNEY AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION PROJECTS IN SARAWAK BY SARAWAK OIL PALMS BERHAD

Sarawak is the largest state in Malaysia with an oil palm cultivation area of 1.56 million hectares which accounts for 27% of the total cultivated area in Malaysia. This case study focuses on the sustainability initiatives and outcomes by Sarawak Oil Palms Berhad (SOPB), a Sarawakian oil palms plantation company incorporated in Malaysia. This study shares SOPB’s past experiences, present operational practices, its adoption of industry sustainability standards and certification schemes such as the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) and International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) and SOPB’s future plans, in particular, biodiversity conservation efforts while juggling the competing goals of People, Planet
First incidence of yellow vein virus of huasteco pepper in soybean in Mexico.

In the state of Sinaloa, soybeans are one of the few crop alternatives during the summer; therefore, its reactivation is being reconsidered. The whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Genn, Biotype ‘B’) was one of the main causes of the reduction of soybean growing areas in Mexico as a result of direct damage to flower production and plant yield, as well as of the transmission of geminiviruses. During the summer of 2013-2014, a total of 11 soybean varieties were evaluated to determine the incidence of viral diseases in the Valley of Culiacán and Valle del Fuerte, Sinaloa, Mexico. Symptomatology, amplification of DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequence analysis of amplified fragments confirmed the incidence of yellow vein virus of huasteco pepper (PHYVV) in soybean grown in the west of Sinaloa, Mexico. Sequence analysis showed 100% of nucleotide and amino acid identities with respect to the PHYVV1GMES isolate from Mexico (GenBank accession number KT022087). This is the first report on the emergence of PHYVV in soybean in Mexico.
Species of Malva L. (Malvaceae) Cultivated in the Western of Santa Catarina State and Conformity With Species Marketed as Medicinal Plants in Southern Brazil

The Malva genus presents different species with therapeutic potential and inadequate consumption can occur due to the incorrect identification of the plant in the market. The objective of this study was to identify species of the Malva genus cultivated in the Western Mesoregion of Santa Catarina State-Southern Brazil, and to verify the conformity of products’ labels marketed as dehydrated medicinal plants through the characteristics of the plant parts. The specimens were collected following an unsystematic procedure from households of ten municipalities. The material was identified with the help of specialized bibliography and a specialist. After, they were herborized and deposited in the herbaria of the State University of Santa Catarina (LUSC) and of the Botanical Garden Research Institute of Rio de Janeiro (RB). Five cultivated species of Malva were found (M. nicaeensis, M. parviflora, M. pseudolavatera, M. Sylvestris and M. verticillata). Whereas one species of the Geraniaceae family (Pelargonium graveolens) and three species of the Malvaceae family (Malva sylvestris, M. verticillata and Sida cordifolia) were found in the dehydrated packages. S. cordifolia species was present in 80% of the samples, with 65% of them marketed as M. sylvestris or under the common name of "mallow". Macroscopic images of the species and illustrations of the mericarps were made and an identification chart along with the morphological description for each species was elaborated based on the morphological results. Descriptions of labels for 60 samples were checked for the determination of the dehydrated Malva species marketed. Characteristics of parts of the plant in comparing them with the characteristics described in the specialized literature were performed. The target species of incorrect identifications in the analyzed packages was M. sylvestris.
Helicobacter pylori in water sources and food products: A constant public health problem

Helicobacter pylori is a curved, microaerophilic, multi-flaked, Gram-negative bacillus associated with different gastrointestinal disorders. It´s still a relevant issue in public health due to several scientific investigations that are being carried out in different subjects as, virulence factors, ecosystem interactions, immune response, eradication strategies and Pathogen Transmission Routes in food and water sources. The present review included the association between food, water sources and H. pylori, also, the importance of promoting preventive measures for this pathogen transmission, such as the improvement of the living conditions of families and good hygienic practices in the preparation of food, to prevent the infection by this pathogen, considering, that food and drinking water has always played a very important role as vectors of this pathogen.
Impact of an outpatient dietary intervention on antipsychotic-induced weight gain

Background: Antipsychotic induced weight gain occurs frequently and may lead to obesity. In this field, long term impacts of dietary treatment remain unknown. Objective: the aim of this study was to assess long term weight evolution in relation to initial weight changes in order to better predict potential benefits of continuation or interruption of dietary treatment. Method: We reviewed the charts of twelve outpatients treated by antipsychotics and followed by a dietician for at least six months. Results: Increase of body mass index during the first 6 months seems to predict further and/or sustained weight gain. Patients were classified as either weight losers or weight gainers and their classifications compared at months 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24. Conclusions: The 6 month classification was found to be the best predictor of the weight loser/weight gainer proportion in the following 9 months.
Ventilation Frequency Reveals the Roles of Exchange Surface Areas in Metabolic Scaling

The surface area (SA) theory proposes that resting metabolic rate (RMR) scales with body mass, which parallels the exchange SA of organisms, and that a species with a larger scaling exponent of exchange SA has a larger scaling exponent of RMR. However, the effects of exchange SA on metabolic scaling may be eclipsed because oxygen transfer across the respiratory surface is determined not only by the exchange SA but also by ventilation. We hypothesize that the scaling of both gill surface area (GSA) and ventilation frequency (VF) positively affects the scaling of metabolic rate. In six closely related species of carp maintained under the same experimental conditions, the scaling exponents of RMR and GSA were analyzed. In the goldfish, RMR scaled with body mass by an exponent significantly lower than that of GSA but not different from the exponents of GSA in the remaining five species. The scaling exponent of RMR was positively related to those of both GSA and VF among the species. In addition, the VF-corrected metabolic scaling exponent was positively related to the scaling exponent of GSA among the species. These results suggest that variations in GSA scaling and in VF scaling among species mutually affect metabolic scaling.
Prey preference, environmental tolerances and ichthyotoxicity by the red-tide dinoflagellate Noctiluca scintillans cultured from Tasmanian waters

The large phagotrophic dinoflagellate Noctiluca has become a prominent red tide organism in southeast Australian waters since the 2000s, raising concerns for beach tourism, grazing impacts as well as ichthyotoxicity for finfish aquaculture. Satisfactory culture growth rates (0.23–0.56 per day) were obtained by feeding with small Thalassiosira diatom and Tetraselmis flagellate diets, while optimal growth rates sustained for up to 8 months (0.69 per day) were achieved by feeding in a plankton wheel with the large chain-forming dinoflagellate Gymnodinium catenatum. Noctiluca was highly tolerant towards salinities from 20 to 35 and growth was stimulated by temperatures increasing from 10 to 23°C, which in combination with the key factor of prey abundance explains the incidence in southeast Australia of predominantly summer and spring but occasionally also winter blooms. Fatty acid biomarkers suggest that Tasmanian field populations indiscriminately feed on available diatom and dinoflagellate mixtures. Noctiluca exhibited very limited ichthyotoxicity, and only at the highest cell concentrations of 2 000 000/L (50% reduction in RTgill W1 cell viability). Only the densest red tide surface slicks contained acutely toxic levels of unionized ammonia of 242 to 510 μg/L while inshore slicks generated oxygen concentrations as low as 0–1.5 ppm. Lipid phycotoxins (eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid) did not appear to contribute to Noctiluca ichthyotoxicity. The fatty acid 20:0 eicosanoic acid may serve as a potential Noctiluca biomarker in marine food webs and sediments.
Does nomenclatural stability justify para/polyphyletic taxa? A phylogenetic classification in the xeric clade Pitcairnioideae (Bromeliaceae)

The genera Deuterocohnia, Dyckia, and Encholirium are recognized as the xeric clade Pitcairnioideae. More than 220 xeric species of this group occur in South America in the Andean region, the Chacoan subregion, and the South American Transition Zone. The species recently and rapidly diversified, and such phylogenetic relationships are difficult. This clade is well-supported in phylogenetic analyses, but despite the monophyly of this group of xeric species, the analyses have demonstrated the paraphyly or polyphyly of genera in the xeric clade. However, most of these studies suffer with partial resolution, limited taxon sampling or incorrect homology statements. To investigate this group, we conducted the most comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of the xeric clade to date using parsimony criteria with morphological and molecular datasets, including plastid and nuclear genomes concatenated for the first time, to establish a suitable classification. A total of 133 accessions were included that corresponded to 109 taxa. The dataset included 70 morphological characters and ∼6 kb of sequence data from the plastid and nuclear genomes. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted using equal and implied weighting. The analysis resulted in a well-supported cladistic hypothesis and demonstrated the three genera as currently circumscribed are not supported as monophyletic. Based on the results we propose a new classification that reflects the evolutionary relationships, a new circumscription for Dyckia is proposed that includes the species belonging to Deuterocohnia and Encholirium. For this circumscription, 41 combinations were made for Dyckia.