Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Web Design on the Prey Capture Efficiency of the Uloborid Spider Octonoba sybotides under Abundant and Limited Prey Conditions

Abstract The influence of web design on prey capture efficiency was investigated in the orb-webs of Octonoba sybotides under different prey conditions (abundant and limited). The insects captured by artificial traps under limited prey conditions were smaller than those captured under abundant prey conditions. O. sybotides webs with spiral stabilimenta (SP webs) have a narrower mesh and a larger catching area than webs with linear stabilimenta (LN webs). Previous studies have shown that the form of the stabilimentum is changed in response to the internal energetic state of individual spiders. Food-deprived spiders tend to construct SP webs, and food-satiated spiders tend to construct LN webs. The total thread length of SP webs is significantly longer than that of LN webs; so food-deprived spiders seem to invest more energy in foraging than do satiated spiders. When prey was abundant, prey sizes and capture rates for SP webs and LN webs were similar. LN webs may have an advantage over SP webs in prey capture when prey is abundant, because SP webs appear to be more costly than LN webs. On the other hand, SP webs caught more prey than LN webs under limited-prey conditions, when the prey was smaller than under abundant-prey conditions. The average size of prey captured on SP webs was smaller than that on LN webs; SP webs seem to catch more prey than LN webs by catching smaller prey efficiently in prey-limited conditions. Since the food-deprived and food-satiated conditions of spiders in the field may correspond to the potential prey abundance in their habitat, O. sybotides seems to change its web dimensions in order to capture prey efficiently under different prey conditions.
Impairment of Mossy Fiber Long-Term Potentiation and Associative Learning in Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase Activating Polypeptide Type I Receptor-Deficient Mice

The pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) type I receptor (PAC1) is a G-protein-coupled receptor binding the strongly conserved neuropeptide PACAP with 1000-fold higher affinity than the related peptide vasoactive intestinal peptide. PAC1-mediated signaling has been implicated in neuronal differentiation and synaptic plasticity. To gain further insight into the biological significance of PAC1-mediated signaling in vivo, we generated two different mutant mouse strains, harboring either a complete or a forebrain-specific inactivation of PAC1. Mutants from both strains show a deficit in contextual fear conditioning, a hippocampus-dependent associative learning paradigm. In sharp contrast, amygdala-dependent cued fear conditioning remains intact. Interestingly, no deficits in other hippocampus-dependent tasks modeling declarative learning such as the Morris water maze or the social transmission of food preference are observed. At the cellular level, the deficit in hippocampus-dependent associative learning is accompanied by an impairment of mossy fiber long-term potentiation (LTP). Because the hippocampal expression of PAC1is restricted to mossy fiber terminals, we conclude that presynaptic PAC1-mediated signaling at the mossy fiber synapse is involved in both LTP and hippocampus-dependent associative learning.
p16 not a prognostic marker for hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the prognostic significance of p16 in patients with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPSCC) and to evaluate the relationship between p16 and human papillomavirus (HPV). Unlike in oropharyngeal SCC (OPSCC), the prognostic significance of p16 in HPSCC and its association with HPV is unclear. DESIGN Retrospective medical chart review. SETTING University tertiary referral center. PATIENTS A total of 27 patients with HPSCC treated with definitive radiation therapy between 2002 and 2011 whose tissue was available for immunohistochemical analysis. INTERVENTIONS Twenty-two patients were treated with chemoradiation, and 5 with radiation alone. All tumor biopsy specimens were analyzed for p16 and, when sufficient tissue was available, for HPV DNA. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Overall survival (OS), locoregional control (LRC), disease-free survival (DFS), and laryngoesophageal dysfunction-free survival (LEDFS) were analyzed according to p16 status. RESULTS Findings for p16 were positive in 9 tumors and negative in 18 tumors. Median follow-up was 29.3 months. There was no significant difference in OS, LRC, DFS, or LEDFS for patients with p16-positive vs p16-negative tumors. Only 1 of the 19 tumors tested for HPV was found to be HPV positive. When used as a test for HPV, p16 had a positive predictive value of 17%. CONCLUSIONS In contrast to OPSCC, p16 expression in patients with HPSCC had a low positive predictive value for HPV and did not predict improved OS, LRC, DFS, or LEDFS. Thus, for HPSCC, p16 is not a prognostic biomarker. Caution must be taken when extrapolating the prognostic significance of p16 in patients with OPSCC to patients with head and neck SCC of other subsites.
The Far-Infrared Spectrum of the Sagittarius B2 Region: Extended Molecular Absorption, Photodissociation, and Photoionization

We present large-scale 9′ × 27′ (~25 pc × 70 pc) far-IR observations around Sgr B2 using the Long-Wavelength Spectrometer (LWS) on board the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO). The spectra are dominated by the strong continuum emission of dust, the widespread molecular absorption of light hydrides (OH, CH, and H2O), and the fine-structure lines of [N II], [N III], [O III], [C II], and [O I]. The widespread dust emission is reproduced by a cold component (Td ≃ 13-22 K) together with a warm component (Td ≃ 24-38 K), representing ≲10% of the dust opacity. The fine-structure line emission reveals a very extended component of ionized gas. The [O III] 52 μm/88 μm and [N III] 57 μm/[N II] 122 μm line intensity ratios show that the ionized gas has an average electron density of ~240 cm-3. The ionizing radiation can be characterized by a hard but diluted continuum, with effective temperatures of ~36,000 K and a Lyman continuum photon flux of ~1050.4 s-1. The spatial distribution of the ionizing sources with respect to the extended cloud and the clumpiness of the medium determine the large-scale effects of the radiation. Photodissociation regions (PDRs) can be numerous at the interface of the ionized and neutral gas. The analysis of the [C II] 158 μm and [O I] 63 and 145 μm lines indicates a far-UV radiation field of G0 ≃ 103-104 and a density of nH = 103-104 cm-3 in these PDRs. The widespread OH lines are reproduced by nonlocal radiative transfer models for clouds of moderate volume density (n ≃ 103-104 cm-3) at Tk ≳ 40-100 K. PDR models can explain the enhanced column density of species such as H2O, OH, and O0. However, they fail to reproduce the observed NH3/NH2/NH ≃ 100/10/1 abundance ratios. For N-bearing species, it seems that shock chemistry has to be invoked. The molecular richness in the outer layers of Sgr B2 is probed by the ISO/LWS Fabry-Pérot (~35 km s-1) detections toward Sgr B2(M), where more than 70 lines from 15 molecular and atomic species are observed at high signal-to-noise ratios.
Cardiorespiratory fitness, but not central obesity or C-reactive protein, is related to liver function in obese children.

UNLABELLED Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most frequent complications associated with excess adiposity. Its pathogenesis is complex and there are multiple factors that may contribute to it. AIM To analyze whether cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), waist circumference (WC), and C-reactive protein (CRP) are associated with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in children with obesity. METHODS 79 overweight/obese children of both genders, 11-13 year-olds, with abnormal serum ALT from Porto public schools comprised the sample. Measurements included CRF (20-m Shuttle Run Test), WC (NHANES protocol), CRP and ALT (Cholestech LDX analyzer). Logistic regression adjusted for gender, maturation, and weight with ALT levels as dependent variable (risk vs. non risk), and WC (risk vs. non risk), CRP (risk vs. non risk), and CRF (fit vs. unfit) as independent variables. Level of significance was set at 95%. RESULTS Logistic regression showed that obese fit children were less likely to have abnormal ALT values (OR=.031) CONCLUSION In obese children, higher cardiovascular fitness appears to reduce the chance of decreased liver function.
The Immunocytochemistry Is a Valuable Tool in the Diagnosis of Papillary Thyroid Cancer in FNA's Using Liquid-Based Cytology

Introduction. Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common malignancy of the thyroid. An accurate cytological diagnosis is based on distinctive cytological features in combination with immunocytochemistry. Methods. A number of 83 fine needle aspirations, positive for papillary thyroid cancer (44 from thyroid nodules and 39 from cervical lymph nodes), were studied using Thin Layer Cytology. A panel of the immunomarkers Cytokeratin-19, Galectin-3, HBME1, CD-44, CD-56, and E-Cadherin was performed. Results. Positive expression of CK-19 was observed in 77 cases (92.7%), of Galectin-3 in 74 cases (89.1%), of HBME1 in 65 (78.3%), and of CD-44 in 72 cases (86.7%). Loss of expression of CD-56 was observed in 80 cases (96.4%) and of E-cadherin in 78 (93.9%). Conclusions. Our data suggest that Thin Layer Cytology increases the diagnostic accuracy in papillary carcinoma and seems to be a promising technique for further investigation of thyroid lesions permitting the possibility to use archive material. Positive immunoexpression of CK-19, Galectin-3, HBME-1, and CD-44 improves the diagnostic accuracy of papillary thyroid cancer. Furthermore, loss of E-cadherin and of CD-56 expression is a feature of malignancy.
The relation between cigarette price and hand-rolling tobacco consumption in the UK: an ecological study

Objectives Cigarette price increases reduce smoking prevalence but as a tobacco control policy are undermined by the availability of lower cost alternatives such as hand-rolling tobacco. The aim of this descriptive study is to explore time trends in the price of manufactured cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco, and in the numbers of people who smoke these products, over recent years in the UK. Settings and participants UK. Outcome measures Trends in the most popular price category (MPPC) data for cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco from 1983 to 2012 adjusted for inflation using the Retail Price Index, and trends in smoking prevalence and the proportion of smokers using hand-rolling tobacco from 1974 to 2010. Results After adjustment for inflation, there was an increase in prices of manufactured cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco between 1983 and 2012. Between 1974 and 2010, the prevalence of smoking fell from 45% to 20%, and the estimated total number of smokers from 25.3 to 12.4 million. However the number of people smoking hand-rolling tobacco increased from 1.4 to 3.2 million, and MPPC cigarette price was strongly correlated with number of people smoking hand-rolling tobacco. Conclusions Although the ecological study design precludes conclusions on causality, the association between increases in manufactured cigarette price and the number of people smoking hand-rolling tobacco suggests that the lower cost of smoking hand-rolling tobacco encourages downtrading when cigarette prices rise. The magnitude of this association indicates that the lower cost of hand-rolling tobacco seriously undermines the use of price as a tobacco control measure.
Experimental Evaluation of Bi-directional Multimodal Interaction with Conversational Agents

In the field of intuitive HCI, Embodied Conversational Agents (ECAs) are being developed mostly with speech input. In this paper, we study whether another input modality leads to a more effective and pleasant “bi-directional” multimodal communication. In a Wizard-of-Oz experiment, adults and children were videotaped while interacting with 2D animated agents within a game application. Each subject carried out a multimodal scenario (speech and/or pen input) and a speech-only scenario. The results confirm the usefulness of multimodal input, which yielded shorter scenarios, higher and more homogeneous ratings of easiness. Additional results underlined the importance of gesture interaction for children, and showed a modality specialization for certain actions. Finally, multidimensional analyses revealed links between behavioral and subjective data, such as an association of pen use and pleasantness for children. These results can be used for both developing the functional prototype and in the general framework of ECA-systems evaluation and specification.
Altered in Transgenic Mice Overexpressing BDNF or Mutant Huntingtin in Forebrain

Stem cells in the adult brain subventricular zone (SVZ) generate new neurons that migrate to the olfactory bulb. About half of the new neurons survive and become functional interneurons. SVZ stem cells are being studied to discover if there are ways to enhance the survival of adult-born neurons, and if they can be used to replace neurons in damaged brain areas. In transgenic mouse models of Huntington’s disease (HD), survival of new olfactory neurons is reduced. Crossing this group with mice over-expressing the growth factor brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) may increase neuron survival. Before testing for neuron survival effects, we quantified SVZ cell proliferation to determine if transgene expression affected SVZ stem cell proliferation. Four groups of mice (BDNF over-expressers, HD mice, two control strains) were analyzed. Mice were given the mitotic cell marker bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), euthanized 4 hours later, and labeled SVZ cells were counted. The results indicate that neither increased BDNF expression or expression of a human HD mutation have any significant effect on endogenous SVZ cell proliferation in adult mice.
Hydrologic Evaluation of the TRMM Multisatellite Precipitation Analysis Over Ganjiang Basin in Humid Southeastern China

This study assesses the successive Version-6 and Version-7 TRMM Multisatellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) products including near-real-time products (3B42RTV6 and 3B42RTV7) and post-real-time research products (3B42V6 and 3B42V7) from March 2002 to February 2008 over Ganjiang Basin in the humid southeastern China, located in the lower reach of Yangtze River. Direct comparison of TMPA rainfall estimates with ground observation shows that the spatial and temporal rainfall characteristics over this region are well captured by 3B42V6, 3B42RTV7, and 3B42V7. In terms of daily grid-based comparison, 3B42RTV7 has been improved over 3B42RTV6 by reducing relative bias (RB) from -30.25% to 4.93%; 3B42V6, 3B42RTV7, and 3B42V7 show close performance with each other with RB less than 5% and moderate correlative coefficient (CC, 0.59). Daily hydrologic simulation with Xin'anjiang hydrologic model using these TMPA products as input shows that: 1) 3B42V6 and 3B42V7 demonstrate very comparable hydrologic skills, which are close to those of the reference rainfall with high Nash-Sutcliffe index (NSCE, 0.71 and 0.72, respectively) and strong correlation (CC = 0.88); and 2) 3B42RTV7 displays a better hydrologic performance than 3B42RTV6 by increasing the NSCE from 0.56 to 0.59, improving CC from 0.81 to 0.87, and reducing RB from -33.15% to 20.93%. This improvement of real-time TMPA product shows its potential hydrologic utility in water resource management and flood forecast. Finally, this study provides useful reference for TMPA developers and insights for the end users in their applications.
Reproducibility and Validity of Dietary Patterns Assessed by a Food Frequency Questionnaire Used in the 5-Year Follow-Up Survey of the Japan Public Health Center-Based Prospective Study

Background Analysis of dietary pattern is increasingly popular in nutritional epidemiology. However, few studies have examined the validity and reproducibility of dietary patterns. We assessed the reproducibility and validity of dietary patterns identified by a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) used in the 5-year follow-up survey of the Japan Public Health Center-Based Prospective Study (JPHC Study). Methods The participants were a subsample (244 men and 254 women) from the JPHC Study. Principal component analysis was used to identify dietary patterns from 28- or 14-day dietary records and 2 FFQs. To assess reproducibility and validity, we calculated Spearman correlation coefficients between dietary pattern scores derived from FFQs separated by a 1-year interval, and between dietary pattern scores derived from dietary records and those derived from a FFQ completed after the dietary records, respectively. Results We identified 3 Japanese dietary patterns from the dietary records and 2 FFQs: prudent, westernized, and traditional. Regarding reproducibility, Spearman correlation coefficients between the 2 FFQs ranged from 0.55 for the westernized Japanese pattern in men and the prudent Japanese pattern in women to 0.77 for the traditional Japanese pattern in men. Regarding validity, the corresponding values between dietary records and the FFQ ranged from 0.32 for the westernized Japanese pattern in men to 0.63 for the traditional Japanese pattern in women. Conclusions Acceptable reproducibility and validity was shown by the 3 dietary patterns identified by principal component analysis based on the FFQ used in the 5-year follow-up survey of the JPHC Study.
Distributed under Creative Commons Cc-by 4.0 Coping with Shorter Days: Do Phenology Shifts Constrain Aphid Fitness?

Climate change can alter the phenology of organisms. It may thus lead seasonal organisms to face different day lengths than in the past, and the fitness consequences of these changes are as yet unclear. To study such effects, we used the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum as a model organism, as it has obligately asexual clones which can be used to study day length effects without eliciting a seasonal response. We recorded life-history traits under short and long days, both with two realistic temperature cycles with means differing by 2 • C. In addition, we measured the population growth of aphids on their host plant Pisum sativum. We show that short days reduce fecundity and the length of the reproductive period of aphids. Nevertheless, this does not translate into differences at the population level because the observed fitness costs only become apparent late in the individual's life. As expected, warm temperature shortens the development time by 0.7 days/ • C, leading to faster generation times. We found no interaction of temperature and day length. We conclude that day length changes cause only relatively mild costs, which may not decelerate the increase in pest status due to climate change.
An Orange Ripening Mutant Links Plastid NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase Complex Activity to Central and Specialized Metabolism during Tomato Fruit Maturation[C][W]

In this study, the characterization of OrrDs, a dominant transposon-tagged tomato mutant deficient in the NDH-M subunit, provided evidence that the plastid NAD(P)H dehydrogenase (NDH) complex is essential for the fruit ripening process and related metabolism. In higher plants, the plastidial NADH dehydrogenase (Ndh) complex supports nonphotochemical electron fluxes from stromal electron donors to plastoquinones. Ndh functions in chloroplasts are not clearly established; however, its activity was linked to the prevention of the overreduction of stroma, especially under stress conditions. Here, we show by the characterization of OrrDs, a dominant transposon-tagged tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) mutant deficient in the NDH-M subunit, that this complex is also essential for the fruit ripening process. Alteration to the NDH complex in fruit changed the climacteric, ripening-associated metabolites and transcripts as well as fruit shelf life. Metabolic processes in chromoplasts of ripening tomato fruit were affected in OrrDs, as mutant fruit were yellow-orange and accumulated substantially less total carotenoids, mainly β-carotene and lutein. The changes in carotenoids were largely influenced by environmental conditions and accompanied by modifications in levels of other fruit antioxidants, namely, flavonoids and tocopherols. In contrast with the pigmentation phenotype in mature mutant fruit, OrrDs leaves and green fruits did not display a visible phenotype but exhibited reduced Ndh complex quantity and activity. This study therefore paves the way for further studies on the role of electron transport and redox reactions in the regulation of fruit ripening and its associated metabolism.
Screening the visual system homeobox 1 gene in keratoconus and posterior polymorphous dystrophy cohorts identifies a novel variant

Purpose Mutations in the visual system homeobox 1 (VSX1) gene have been described at a low frequency in keratoconus and posterior polymorphous corneal dystrophy (PPCD). The putative role is controversial for several reasons, including a lack of mutations detected in other population cohorts. This study aims to determine whether VSX1 contributes to the genetic pathogenesis of keratoconus and PPCD in a New Zealand population, and includes analysis of a Polynesian population. Methods Recruitment of patients with keratoconus and PPCD, comprehensive clinical examination including corneal topography and pachymetry, and collection of biologic samples for DNA extraction were undertaken. Mutational analysis of VSX1 (exons 1–7) with PCR and sequencing with bioinformatic assessment of variants was performed. Probable pathogenic variants were screened for in a control population using high-resolution melting analysis. Results Forty-seven patients with keratoconus, including 15 familial cases, and ten unrelated patients with PPCD were recruited. Two pathogenic changes were detected; a novel change c.173C>T (p.Pro58Leu) was found in a patient with PPCD, predicted to be pathogenic, and not seen in 200 ethnically matched control alleles. The previously reported c.731A>G (p.His244Arg) was detected in a patient with sporadic keratoconus, and not present in the controls. No family members were available for segregation analysis. Conclusions This study reports the presence of pathogenic mutations in VSX1 in PPCD and keratoconus, including a novel disease-causing variant. The affected numbers are small, but given the growing body of evidence of pathogenic segregating changes in VSX1 in disease cohorts, the expression in keratocytes as part of wound healing, and the documented association of PPCD and keratoconus, it seems likely that the role of VSX1 as a genetic factor contributing to disease is real.