Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interspecific Sex in Grass Smuts and the Genetic Diversity of Their Pheromone-Receptor System

The grass smuts comprise a speciose group of biotrophic plant parasites, so-called Ustilaginaceae, which are specifically adapted to hosts of sweet grasses, the Poaceae family. Mating takes a central role in their life cycle, as it initiates parasitism by a morphological and physiological transition from saprobic yeast cells to pathogenic filaments. As in other fungi, sexual identity is determined by specific genomic regions encoding allelic variants of a pheromone-receptor (PR) system and heterodimerising transcription factors. Both operate in a biphasic mating process that starts with PR–triggered recognition, directed growth of conjugation hyphae, and plasmogamy of compatible mating partners. So far, studies on the PR system of grass smuts revealed diverse interspecific compatibility and mating type determination. However, many questions concerning the specificity and evolutionary origin of the PR system remain unanswered. Combining comparative genetics and biological approaches, we report on the specificity of the PR system and its genetic diversity in 10 species spanning about 100 million years of mating type evolution. We show that three highly syntenic PR alleles are prevalent among members of the Ustilaginaceae, favouring a triallelic determination as the plesiomorphic characteristic of this group. Furthermore, the analysis of PR loci revealed increased genetic diversity of single PR locus genes compared to genes of flanking regions. Performing interspecies sex tests, we detected a high potential for hybridisation that is directly linked to pheromone signalling as known from intraspecies sex. Although the PR system seems to be optimised for intraspecific compatibility, the observed functional plasticity of the PR system increases the potential for interspecific sex, which might allow the hybrid-based genesis of newly combined host specificities.
Life-history strategies and the effectiveness of sexual selection

The hypothesized relationship between the relative strength of sexual selection and life-history strategies is reexamined. The potential effectiveness of sexual selection depends not only on the relative survivorships of immature stages, but also on other components of fitness. The effects of fecundity and timing of maturation must be evaluated together with the survivorship in order to determine the reponsiveness of alternative life-history configurations to the force of sexual selection. More-over, the r-K continuum is an inadequate model for comparisons of life-history strategies. A general three-dimensional demographic model provides a more comprehensive conceptual framework for life-history comparisons
Surface and deep ocean coupling in the subpolar North Atlantic during the last 230 years

The subpolar North Atlantic Ocean (SPNA) is of key importance for modulating the climate of NW Europe because of heat loss to the atmosphere from the North Atlantic Current. Although hydrographic properties of the surface SPNA vary on interannual to multidecadal timescales, hydrographic time series scarcely extend back beyond the 1950s. We present a 230 year long record of SPNA surface conditions reconstructed from a very high accumulation rate core that also registers changes in deep flow speed in the Iceland Basin. A lagged correlation is observed between the records of deep flow speed and stable oxygen isotopic composition of the surface SPNA (d 18 O w ), with strongest correlation when the paleoflow speed record leads by 15–20 years. This offset may to some extent reflect size‐selective biological mixing of the sediment. Nonetheless, these records reveal a decadal‐scale coupling between surface and deep ocean variability over the past 230 years, possibly driven by the North Atlantic Oscillation, with implications for North Atlantic circulation and climate.
Multiple somatosensory areas in the anterior parietal cortex of the California ground squirrel (Spermophilus beecheyii)

Multiunit electrophysiological recording techniques were used to explore the somatosensory cortex of the California ground squirrel (Spermophilus beecheyii). Cortex rostral and caudal to the primary somatosensory area (SI) contained neurons that responded to stimulation of deep receptors and to muscle and joint manipulation. The region of cortex rostral to SI was termed the rostral field (R) because of possible homologies with a similar field described in other mammals. Cortex caudal to SI had neurons that responded to stimulation of deep receptors and has been termed the parietal medial area (PM), as in previous investigations in squirrels. Like SI, both R and PM contained a complete or almost complete representation of the body surface, although the receptive field size for clusters of neurons in these regions was somewhat larger than those for clusters of neurons in SI. Electrophysiological recording results were correlated with histologically processed tissue that had been sectioned tangentially. Although SI was clearly identified as a myelin‐dense region, both R and PM stained much less densely for myelin. Our results indicate that as in a number of other mammals including monotremes, marsupials, carnivores, and primates, the anterior parietal cortex of the California ground squirrel contains multiple representations of the sensory epithelium. This work, as well as a growing body of studies of somatosensory cortex organization in a variety of mammals, indicates that anterior parietal fields other than SI existed early in mammalian evolution, and were present in the common ancestor of all mammals. J. Comp. Neurol. 416:521–539, 2000.
Meeting Highlights: The First Korean Breast Cancer Treatment Consensus Conference

The first Korean Breast Cancer Treatment Consensus Conference Expert Panel reviewed and endorsed new evidence on aspects of local and regional therapies and diagnostic procedures that support the conservative application of results from recent clinical trials. This conference clarified the barriers that limit the application of recent clinical trial results, such as questions about level of evidence, differences between the setting of clinical trials and that of daily clinical practice, and medical necessities and environment. Detailed decisions recommended for the treatment and diagnosis, according to the from the consensus conference, are recorded including details of the votes. These recommendations differed in the degree of support for clinical consideration of disease extent and host factors, medical necessities, and environment.
The pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of dry eye disease.

BACKGROUND Dry eye disease (DED) is common; its prevalence around the world varies from 5% to 34%. Its putative pathogenetic mechanisms include hyperosmolarity of the tear film and inflammation of the ocular surface and lacrimal gland. Dry eye is clinically subdivided into two subtypes: one with decreased tear secretion (aqueous-deficient DED), and one with increased tear evaporation (hyperevaporative DED). METHODS This review is based on pertinent publications retrieved by a selective PubMed search and on the authors' own clinical and scientific experience. RESULTS The diagnostic evaluation of dry eye disease should include a detailed patient history, thorough split-lamp examination, and additional tests as indicated. Few randomized controlled therapeutic trials for dry eye have been published to date. Artificial tears of various kinds are recommended if the symptoms are mild. Lid hygiene is helpful in the treatment of hyperevaporative dry eye, while collagen or silicon plugs can be used for partial occlusion of the efferent lacrimal ducts to treat severe hyposecretory dry eye. The benefit of long-term topical anti-inflammatory treatment of moderate or severe dry eye disease with corticosteroids or cyclosporine A eye drops has been documented in clinical trials on a high evidence level. Orally administered tetraycycline derivatives and omega-3 or omega-6 fatty acids are also used. CONCLUSION The treatment of dry eye has evolved from tear substitution alone to a rationally based therapeutic algorithm. Current research focuses on pathophysiology, new diagnostic techniques, and novel therapies including secretagogues, topical androgens, and new anti- inflammatory drugs.
Permission and obligation intertwined: The twofold modal meaning of the Finnish jussive from a discourse perspective

Abstract This article examines the representation of semantic vagueness in discourse as well as the connection between deontic modal meaning and third person reference through the semantics and uses of the Finnish jussive mood. The data used in the analysis come from a collection of newspaper texts and a corpus of dialectal speech. Analyzing jussive forms that give rise to various modal readings, I argue that the two poles of the deontic axis, permission and obligation, are simultaneously present, albeit highlighted to different extents, in the interpretation of a jussive clause. This binary nature of the jussive semantics reveals itself to be a discursive resource: it allows the position of the speaker and other intentional agents to be taken into account in regard to the event that is potentially taking place, thus presenting more than one point of view in the situation. The jussive mood can therefore be regarded as contributing to the dialogical dimension of language.
How to measure and predict the molar absorption coefficient of a protein

The molar absorption coefficient, ε, of a protein is usually based on concentrations measured by dry weight, nitrogen, or amino acid analysis. The studies reported here suggest that the Edelhoch method is the best method for measuring ε for a protein. (This method is described by Gill and von Hippel [1989, Anal Biochem 182:319–326] and is based on data from Edelhoch [1967, Biochemistry 6:1948–1954].) The absorbance of a protein at 280 nm depends on the content of Trp, Tyr, and cystine (disulfide bonds). The average ε values for these chromophores in a sample of 18 well‐characterized proteins have been estimated, and the ε values in water, propanol, 6 M guanidine hydrochloride (GdnHCl), and 8 M urea have been measured. For Trp, the average ε values for the proteins are less than the ε values measured in any of the solvents. For Tyr, the average ε values for the proteins are intermediate between those measured in 6 M GdnHCl and those measured in propanol. Based on a sample of 116 measured ε values for 80 proteins, the ε at 280 nm of a folded protein in water, ε(280), can best be predicted with this equation
El repertorio del amor romántico y las condiciones de posibilidad para la violencia machista

The present article analyzes the relationship between the interpretative repertoire of romantic love and gender violence. We conducted eight life stories with young people between 25 and 35 years old (3 boys and 5 girls), focused on their relationships. We have resorted to discourse analysis, specifically the analysis of interpretative repertoires. This approach has allowed us to identify, characterize and analyze the interpretative repertoire of romantic love. The results show how romantic love’s interpretative repertoire guides to appropriate ways of feeling, helping heterosexual, romantic, monogamous and long lasting relationships that are the basis for patriarchy, generating the conditions of possibility for the emergence and maintenance of gender violence.
Zombie Vortex Instability I: The "Dead" Zones of Protoplanetary Disks are Not Dead

There has been considerable interest in purely hydrodynamic instabilities in the dead zones of protoplanetary disks (PPDs) as a mechanism for driving angular momentum transport and as a source of vortices to incubate planetesimal formation. We present a series of numerical simulations with both a pseudo-spectral anelastic code and the fully compressible Godunov finite-volume code Athena, showing that stably stratified flows in a shearing, rotating box are violently unstable and produce space-filling, sustained turbulence dominated by large vortices with Rossby numbers of order ∼0.2− 0.3. This Zombie Vortex Instability (ZVI) is observed in both codes and is triggered by initial Kolmogorov turbulence with Mach numbers less than ∼0.01. ZVI is robust and requires no special tuning of cooling times, boundary conditions, or initial radial entropy or
Rainbow perfect domination in lattice graphs

Let $0<n\in\mathbb{Z}$. In the unit distance graph of $\mathbb{Z}^n\subset\mathbb{R}^n$, a perfect dominating set is understood as having induced components not necessarily trivial. A modification of that is proposed: a rainbow perfect dominating set , or RPDS, imitates a perfect-distance dominating set via a truncated metric; this has a distance involving at most once each coordinate direction taken as an edge color. Then, lattice-like RPDS s are built with their induced components C having: { i } vertex sets V(C) whose convex hulls are n-parallelotopes (resp., both (n-1)- and 0-cubes) and { ii } each V(C) contained in a corresponding rainbow sphere centered at C with radius n (resp., radii 1 and n-2).
Galectin-3 Activation and Inhibition in Heart Failure and Cardiovascular Disease: An Update

Galectin-3 is a versatile protein orchestrating several physiological and pathophysiological processes in the human body. In the last decade, considerable interest in galectin-3 has emerged because of its potential role as a biotarget. Galectin-3 is differentially expressed depending on the tissue type, however its expression can be induced under conditions of tissue injury or stress. Galectin-3 overexpression and secretion is associated with several diseases and is extensively studied in the context of fibrosis, heart failure, atherosclerosis and diabetes mellitus. Monomeric (extracellular) galectin-3 usually undergoes further “activation” which significantly broadens the spectrum of biological activity mainly by modifying its carbohydrate-binding properties. Self-interactions of this protein appear to play a crucial role in regulating the extracellular activities of this protein, however there is limited and controversial data on the mechanisms involved. We therefore summarize (recent) literature in this area and describe galectin-3 from a binding perspective providing novel insights into mechanisms by which galectin-3 is known to be “activated” and how such activation may be regulated in pathophysiological scenarios.
Geo-SAGE: A Geographical Sparse Additive Generative Model for Spatial Item Recommendation

With the rapid development of location-based social networks (LBSNs), spatial item recommendation has become an important means to help people discover attractive and interesting venues and events, especially when users travel out of town. However, this recommendation is very challenging compared to the traditional recommender systems. A user can visit only a limited number of spatial items, leading to a very sparse user-item matrix. Most of the items visited by a user are located within a short distance from where he/she lives, which makes it hard to recommend items when the user travels to a far away place. Moreover, user interests and behavior patterns may vary dramatically across different geographical regions. In light of this, we propose Geo-SAGE, a geographical sparse additive generative model for spatial item recommendation in this paper. Geo-SAGE considers both user personal interests and the preference of the crowd in the target region, by exploiting both the co-occurrence pattern of spatial items and the content of spatial items. To further alleviate the data sparsity issue, Geo-SAGE exploits the geographical correlation by smoothing the crowd's preferences over a well-designed spatial index structure called spatial pyramid. We conduct extensive experiments and the experimental results clearly demonstrate our Geo-SAGE model outperforms the state-of-the-art.
Incremental Acquisition of Verb Hypothesis Space towards Physical World Interaction

As a new generation of cognitive robots start to enter our lives, it is important to enable robots to follow human commands and to learn new actions from human language instructions. To address this issue, this paper presents an approach that explicitly represents verb semantics through hypothesis spaces of ﬂuents and automatically acquires these hypothesis spaces by interacting with humans. The learned hypothesis spaces can be used to automatically plan for lower-level primitive actions towards physical world interaction. Our empirical results have shown that the representation of a hypothesis space of ﬂu-ents, combined with the learned hypothesis selection algorithm, outperforms a previous baseline. In addition, our approach applies incremental learning, which can contribute to life-long learning from humans in the future.
Improving query expansion using WordNet

This study proposes a new way of using WordNet for query expansion (QE). We choose candidate expansion terms from a set of pseudo‐relevant documents; however, the usefulness of these terms is measured based on their definitions provided in a hand‐crafted lexical resource such as WordNet. Experiments with a number of standard TREC collections WordNet‐based that this method outperforms existing WordNet‐based methods. It also compares favorably with established QE methods such as KLD and RM3. Leveraging earlier work in which a combination of QE methods was found to outperform each individual method (as well as other well‐known QE methods), we next propose a combination‐based QE method that takes into account three different aspects of a candidate expansion term's usefulness: (a) its distribution in the pseudo‐relevant documents and in the target corpus, (b) its statistical association with query terms, and (c) its semantic relation with the query, as determined by the overlap between the WordNet definitions of the term and query terms. This combination of diverse sources of information appears to work well on a number of test collections, viz., TREC123, TREC5, TREC678, TREC robust (new), and TREC910 collections, and yields significant improvements over competing methods on most of these collections.
Properties of Chitosan Nanoparticles Formed Using Sulfate Anions as Crosslinking Bridges

Problem statement: The preparation of new simple Chitosan nanoparticle delivery system is very important and could have many applications particularly in pharmaceutical field to be used as a drug delivery system. In this study, the production of robust Chitosan nanoparticles has been developed and characterized by chemical crosslinking using sulfate anions. Approach: Chitosan polymer is considered one of the best polymers used in the field of Nanomedicine due to its safety, biocompatibility, biodegradability and environment friendly. Therefore, the development of a new method for the production of Chitosan nanoparticles should be of great importance for the pharmaceutical industry applications. The method was found to produce Chitosan sulfate capable carrying drug molecules which could explain the importance of such technique. Results: The size of Chitosan sulfate nanoparticles was determined using different LMW Chitosan HCl and sodium sulfate were confirmed by Laser diffraction, DSC and FTIR spectroscopy and it was tested for its dissolution rate. Conclusion/Recommendations: LMW Chitosan sulfate nanoparticles were relatively stable in aqueous medium and exert a slow rate of dissolution when placed in acidic medium. The properties of the Chitosan sulfate nanoparticles are considered suitable carriers in Nanomedicine and drug delivery technology.
Genetic deletion of xCT attenuates peripheral and central inflammation and mitigates LPS‐induced sickness and depressive‐like behavior in mice

The communication between the immune and central nervous system (CNS) is affected in many neurological disorders. Peripheral injections of the endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) are widely used to study this communication: an LPS challenge leads to a biphasic syndrome that starts with acute sickness and is followed by persistent brain inflammation and chronic behavioral alterations such as depressive‐like symptoms. In vitro, the response to LPS treatment has been shown to involve enhanced expression of system xc− . This cystine‐glutamate antiporter, with xCT as specific subunit, represents the main glial provider of extracellular glutamate in mouse hippocampus. Here we injected male xCT knockout and wildtype mice with a single intraperitoneal dose of 5 mg/kg LPS. LPS‐injection increased hippocampal xCT expression but did not alter the mainly astroglial localization of the xCT protein. Peripheral and central inflammation (as defined by cytokine levels and morphological activation of microglia) as well as LPS‐induced sickness and depressive‐like behavior were significantly attenuated in xCT‐deficient mice compared with wildtype mice. Our study is the first to demonstrate the involvement of system xc− in peripheral and central inflammation in vivo and the potential therapeutic relevance of its inhibition in brain disorders characterized by peripheral and central inflammation, such as depression.
Effect of Online Learning in Psychology course on Undergraduate students’ Engagement in Learning

the paper has analyzed the effect of online learning and traditional mode of learning on students’ engagement in learning. A sample of 50 students studying psychology in their b.A course was selected randomly from one college in Chandigarh. An online learning course in selected topics of psychology was developed. the experimental group of the study was exposed through online learning mode for 15 days. likewise, control group was taught the same content by traditional learning for 15 days as well. both the groups were controlled on same instructional design model such as ADDIE (analysis, design, development, implementation and evaluation), same number of participants, same content was employed for teaching and they were both matched on pre-test of engagement in learning. the students’ post-test scores on engagement in learning was analyzed using t-test to determine if there were significant differences between the two groups. results indicated significant differences between online learning and traditional learning on students’ engagement in learning as students taught by online learning were more engaged in learning than students who were taught by traditional learning. It indicates that learning through online does enhance students’ engagement in learning.
Light loggers reveal weather-driven changes in the daily activity patterns of arboreal and semifossorial rodents

Abstract Measuring daily and seasonal patterns of activity is useful for understanding the ecological and evolutionary drivers of behavior. We used collar-mounted light loggers to examine how nest attendance in arboreal squirrels and aboveground activity in semifossorial ground squirrels are affected by weather-driven changes in thermoregulatory conditions. Activity of lactating red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) had a diurnal pattern showing 3 daily peaks of activity with time spent outside the nest increasing with increasing ambient temperature, but decreasing with increasing relative humidity and wind. Despite the persistence of daylight during midsummer in the arctic environment, female arctic ground squirrels (Urocitellus parryii) also exhibited diurnal activity patterns with time spent above ground each day decreasing in response to precipitation but increasing with increasing ambient temperature and incident solar radiation. On cooler days, ground squirrels exhibited a unimodal activity pattern. However, on warm days, ground squirrels spent less time above ground when solar radiation and ambient temperature were both at their daily maxima, which resulted in a bimodal activity pattern. Our results highlight the utility of light loggers as a cost-effective means of addressing questions related to foraging behavior, parental care, thermoregulation, energetics, and timing of activity in arboreal and semifossorial small mammals.