Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The role of highly unsaturated fatty acids in aquatic foodweb processes

1. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are almost exclusively synthesized by plants. Animals can convert from one form of PUFA to another through elongation and desaturation, but very few can synthesize PUFA de novo. PUFA play an important role in regulating cell membrane properties, serve as precursors for important animal hormones and are essential for animals. 2. In aquaculture studies, highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA), a subset of PUFA, have been found to be critical for maintaining high growth, survival and reproductive rates and high food conversion efficiencies for a wide variety of marine and freshwater organisms. 3. The plankton literature suggests high food-quality algae species are rich in HUFA and low food-quality algae are poor in HUFA. Adding semi-pure emulsions of HUFA to algae monocultures can markedly increase the growth rates of zooplankton feeding on these mixtures. 4. A study measuring zooplankton biomass accrual when feeding on natural phytoplankton found a strong correlation between phytoplankton HUFA (specifically eicosapentaenoic acid) content and herbivorous zooplankton production. 5. The aquatic ecology literature suggests that planktonic foodwebs with high HUFA content phytoplankton have high zooplankton to phytoplankton biomass ratios, while systems with low HUFA phytoplankton have low zooplankton biomass. Also, the seasonal succession of plankton in many temperate lakes follows patterns tied to phytoplankton HUFA content, with intense zooplankton grazing and ‘clear-waterphases’ characteristic of periods when the phytoplankton is dominated by HUFA-rich species. 6. Herbivorous zooplankton production is constrained by the zooplankton’s ability to ingest and digest phytoplankton. It is becoming increasingly clear, however, that much of the phytoplankton which is assimilated may be nutritionally inadequate. HUFA may be key nutritional constituents of zooplankton diets, and may determine energetic efficiency across the plant–animal interface, secondary production and the strength of trophic coupling in aquatic pelagic foodwebs.
Optical path length and wavelength selection using Vis/NIR spectroscopy for olive oil's free acidity determination

Summary Four different optical path lengths, namely 0.5, 1, 5 and 10 mm, were assayed for olive oil's free acidity determination using Vis/NIR spectroscopy. Results illustrated that the use of higher path length during spectra acquisition resulted in more accurate PLS models, especially when using solely the NIR region. The PLS model obtained with the NIR spectrum using the 10-mm cuvette was subjected to optimisation by Monte Carlo uninformative variable elimination (MCUVE) and successive projections algorithm (SPA). Both methods drastically reduced the number of spectral variables and markedly improved the performance of the PLS model, especially the SPA-PLS model, which achieved a SEP (0.051) quite close to SEL (0.048). Interestingly, only twelve of the eighty spectral variables selected by SPA were among the 314 variables provided by MCUVE. All in all, NIRS incorporated to MCUVE-PLS or SPA-PLS may be applied as an alternative method for the rapid determination of olive oil's free acidity.
Design and Evaluation of Skating Motions for a Dexterous Quadruped

This paper describes skating locomotion for a quadruped robot with dexterous limbs. The emphasis is on design of omnidirectional motion primitives and quantification of resulting speed and accuracy when traversing different types of smooth but potentially non-flat terrain. In particular, we study trade-offs between using four-wheeled versus three-wheeled skating maneuvers. In four-wheeled skating, motions have the benefit of symmetry, so that errors due to wheel slip should theoretically cancel out on average. Three-wheeled skating, by contrast, introduces significantly more asymmetry in configuration and contact force distribution over time; however, it has the advantage of guaranteeing continuous ground contact for all skates when terrain has bumps or other curvature. We present simulation results quantifying errors for each approach, for various terrains. Our results allow us to tune motions to reduce biases and variability in motion, which are primarily due to accelerations as locomotion begins.
miR‐34c works downstream of p53 leading to dairy goat male germline stem‐cell (mGSCs) apoptosis

Recent lines of evidence have indicated that miR‐34c can play important roles in regulation of the cell cycle, cell senescence and apoptosis of mouse and human tumour cells, spermatogenesis, and male germ‐cell apoptosis. However, there is little information on the effects of miR‐34c on proliferation and apoptosis of livestock male germ cells. The dairy goat is a convenient domestic species for biological investigation and application. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of miR‐34c on apoptosis and proliferation of dairy goat male germline stem cells (mGSCs), as well as to determine the relationship between p53 and miR‐34c in this species.
Puzzlingly High Correlations in fMRI Studies of Emotion, Personality, and Social Cognition 1

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studiesofemotion, personality, and social cognition have drawn much attention in recent years, with high-profile studies frequently reporting extremely high (e.g., >.8) correlations between brain activation and personality measures. We show that these correlations are higher than should be expected given the (evidently limited) reliability of both fMRI and personality measures. The high correlations are all the more puzzling because method sections rarely contain much detail about how the correlations were obtained. We surveyed authors of 55 articles that reported findings of this kind to determine a few details on how these correlations were computed. More than half acknowledged using a strategy that computes separate correlations for individual voxels and reports means of only those voxels exceeding chosen thresholds. We show how this nonindependent analysis inflates correlations while yielding reassuring-looking scattergrams. This analysis technique was used to obtain the vast majority of the implausibly high correlations in our survey sample. In addition, we argue that, in some cases, other analysis problems likely created entirely spurious correlations. We outline how the data from these studies could be reanalyzed with unbiased methods to provide accurate estimates of the correlations in question and urge authors to perform such reanalyses. The underlying problems described here appear to be common in fMRI research of many kinds—not just in studies of emotion, personality, and social cognition.
Egoviruses: distant relatives of poxviruses abundant in the gut microbiome of humans and animals worldwide

Large and giant double-stranded DNA viruses within the phylum Nucleocytoviricota are diverse and prevalent in the environment where they substantially affect the ecology and evolution of eukaryotes. Until now, these viruses were only sporadically found in the digestive system of vertebrates. Here, we present the identification and genomic characterization of a proposed third order of viruses within the class Pokkesviricetes that currently consists of poxviruses and asfuviruses. Members of this newly identified order we provisionally named “Egovirales” are abundant in the digestive system of vertebrates worldwide and occur in high abundances in >10% of livestock animals, >2% of humans, and wild animals. Egoviruses have linear genomes up to 360 kbp in length that likely produce multilayered icosahedral capsids, similar to those of asfuviruses. The diversity of egoviruses already far exceeds that of all known poxviruses and animal-associated asfuviruses. Phylogenetic analyses and patterns of virus distribution across vertebrates suggest that egoviruses can be either specialists or generalists associated with a single or multiple vertebrate species, respectively. Notably, one egovirus clade is human-specific, evolutionarily constrained, and spread across continents, demonstrating a long-lasting association between Egovirales and the human population on the global scale. Egoviruses not only expand the ecological and evolutionary scope of Pokkesviricetes, but also appear to be the most diverse, widespread, and abundant group of double-stranded DNA viruses infecting eukaryotic cells in the digestive system of vertebrates.
Anatomy of a pest control failure: Introgression of cytochrome P450 337B3 alleles from invasive old-world bollworm into native corn earworm

The establishment of invasive species populations can threaten the ecological balance in naïve habitats and impact agricultural production practices. The old-world bollworm (OWBW), Helicoverpa armigera, and the corn earworm (CEW), H. zea, were geographically separated prior to the 2013 report of OWBW invasion into South America. Introgression of OWBW-specific cytochrome P450 337B3 (CYP337B3) gene into CEW was repeatedly detected across South America and the Caribbean. Two hybrids were documented among samples collected in Texas during 2019. In this study, screening insects collected in Olathe, Colorado, USA where a failure of pyrethroids to control CEW damage to conventional sweetcorn in 2023, detected 28.59% insects with the OWBW-specific CYP337B3 marker. Nucleotide sequencing of CYP337B3 gene identified 73.05 and 26.95% insects homozygous for CYP337B3v2 and CYP337B3v6 alleles, respectively. Based on prior data for distinct phylogeographic origins of CYP337B3v2 and v6 alleles, our results indicate Olathe samples were derived from two different introductions. Specifically, a novel origin based on restricted distribution of v6 allele to Ghana in West Arica, and possible South American or Caribbean origin of the v2 allele. One of the 1618 individuals screened also carried a ribosomal RNA internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) derived from OWBW. Local selection pressures at the Olathe location imposed by repeated pyrethroid exposures are likely attributed to the prevalence of CYP337B3, where control practices hasten the accumulation of phenotypic resistance by adaptive introgression. Pyrethroid and other resistance factors carried by invasive OWBW may continue to impact CEW management tactics for across the Americas.
Phospholipase C β4 promotes RANKL-dependent osteoclastogenesis by interacting with MKK3 and p38 MAPK

Phospholipase C beta (PLCβ) exerts diverse biological processes, including inflammatory responses and neurogenesis; however, its role in bone cell function is largely unknown. Among the PLCβ isoforms (β1–β4), we found that PLCβ4 was most highly upregulated during osteoclastogenesis. In this study, we used global knockout and osteoclast lineage-specific PLCβ4 conditional knockout (LysM-PLCβ4−/−) mice and demonstrated that PLCβ4 is a crucial regulator of receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation. Deletion of PLCβ4, both globally and in the osteoclast lineage, resulted in a significant reduction in osteoclast formation and the downregulation of osteoclast marker genes. Importantly, LysM-PLCβ4−/− male mice exhibited greater bone mass and a lower number of osteoclasts in vivo than their wild-type littermates, without altering osteoblast function. Mechanistically, we found that PLCβ4 forms a complex with p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and MAPK kinase 3 (MKK3) in response to RANKL, thereby modulating p38 activation. An immunofluorescence assay further confirmed the colocalization of PLCβ4 with p38 after RANKL exposure. Moreover, p38 activation rescued the impaired osteoclast formation and restored the reduced p38 phosphorylation due to PLCβ4 deficiency. Thus, our findings reveal that PLCβ4 controls osteoclastogenesis via the RANKL-dependent MKK3-p38 MAPK pathway, and PLCβ4 may be a potential therapeutic candidate for bone diseases such as osteoporosis.
Long-term outcome of patients presenting with acute infectious encephalitis of various causes in France.

BACKGROUND A prospective study of infectious encephalitis was conducted in France in 2007. In total, 253 patients were enrolled with a proven etiological diagnosis for 52%. The cohort of surviving patients with encephalitis was assessed for sequelae and impairment 3 years after enrollment. METHODS Patients, their family, and general practitioners (GPs) were interviewed by phone to document persisting symptoms, return to work, and past and current leisure activities, with standardized questionnaires. The IQCODE (Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly) was completed with relatives. The global outcome was determined in all patients with the Glasgow outcome scale. RESULTS In 2010, 20 patients (10%) were unavailable for follow-up, 2 (1%) were excluded, and 18 (9%) had died since hospital discharge. Data were available for 167 survivors and 9 patients whose death was related to the encephalitis. The outcome was favorable in 108 of 176 patients (61%) (71 with complete resolution), 31 (18%) were mildly impaired, 25 (14%) were severely impaired, and 3 (1%) were in a vegetative state. The most frequent symptoms were difficulty concentrating (42%), behavioral disorders (27%), speech disorders (20%), and memory loss (19%). Fifteen of 63 patients (24%) previously employed were still unable to resume work. Long-term outcome was significantly associated with comorbid conditions, age, level of education, and the causative agent of encephalitis. CONCLUSIONS Most patients with encephalitis experienced a favorable outcome 3 years after hospital discharge. However, minor to severe disability persists in a high number of cases with consequences for everyday life. Physical and mental impairment should be evaluated in all patients with encephalitis, and neuropsychological rehabilitation implemented whenever needed.
Extracellular vesicles produced during fungal infection in humans are immunologically active

Of the known 1.5 million fungal species, Candida spp. , Cryptococcus spp. , and Paracoccidioides spp. are the main pathogenic species causing serious diseases with almost two million annual deaths. The diagnosis and treatment of fungal infections are challenging since of the limited access to diagnostic tests and the emergence of antifungal resistance. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) promote the interactions of fungal cells with other organisms and play an important role in the pathogen–host relationship. Owing to the complexity of fungal EVs and the lack of clinical studies on their roles in human infections, we studied the EVs from the serum and urine samples of patients with fungal infections caused by Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and determined their roles. Steroids, sphingolipids, and fatty acids were identified as the main secondary metabolites via mass spectrometry analysis. We asked whether these metabolites in EVs could play roles in modulating the host immune response. Our findings revealed the polarization of the proinflammatory profile in murine and human macrophages, with the increased production of cytokines, such as the tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ, and interleukin-6, and an increased expression of the inducible nitric oxide synthase gene, a M1 response marker. Therefore, circulating EVs from patients with fungal infections are likely involved in the disease pathophysiology. Our findings provide insights into the roles of EVs in fungal infections in clinical samples and in vitro, suggesting possible targets for systemic mycoses therapy. Significance Statement Fungal infections cause approximately 1.6 million deaths annually. Due to therapeutic and diagnostic limitations, it is mandatory to understand and develop new immunological interventions. Despite several in vitro studies on the production of extracellular vesicles (EVs) from fungal pathogens, this study is a pioneer in the identification and characterization of EVs in the course of fungal infection in humans. Our group demonstrated the presence of EVs in clinical samples from patients diagnosed with candidiasis, cryptococcosis, and paracoccidioidomycosis, as well as the EVs interaction produced by host and fungal pathogen with the immune system, resulting in relationships that may be beneficial for the progression or elimination of fungal disease.
Managing Multigranular Linguistic Distribution Assessments in Large-Scale Multiattribute Group Decision Making

Linguistic large-scale group decision making (LGDM) problems are more and more common nowadays. In such problems a large group of decision makers are involved in the decision process and elicit linguistic information that are usually assessed in different linguistic scales with diverse granularity because of decision makers’ distinct knowledge and background. To keep maximum information in initial stages of the linguistic LGDM problems, the use of multigranular linguistic distribution assessments seems a suitable choice, however, to manage such multigranular linguistic distribution assessments, it is necessary the development of a new linguistic computational approach. In this paper, it is proposed a novel computational model based on the use of extended linguistic hierarchies, which not only can be used to operate with multigranular linguistic distribution assessments but also can provide interpretable linguistic results to decision makers. Based on this new linguistic computational model, an approach to linguistic large-scale multiattribute group decision making is proposed and applied to a talent selection process in universities.
DNA Double-Strand Break Movement in Heterochromatin Depends on the Histone Acetyltransferase dGcn5

Cells employ diverse strategies to repair double-strand breaks (DSBs), a dangerous form of DNA damage that threatens genome integrity. Eukaryotic nuclei consist of different chromatin environments, each displaying distinct molecular and biophysical properties that can significantly influence the DSB repair process. Specifically, DSBs arising in the compact and silenced heterochromatin domains have been found to move to the heterochromatin periphery in mouse and Drosophila to prevent aberrant recombination events. However, it is poorly understood how chromatin components, such as histone post-translational modifications, contribute to these DSB movements within heterochromatin. Using locus-specific DSB induction in Drosophila tissues and cultured cells, we identify that histone H3 lysine 9 acetylation (H3K9ac) is enriched at DSBs in heterochromatin but not euchromatin. We find that this enrichment is mediated by the histone acetyltransferase dGcn5, which rapidly localizes to heterochromatic DSBs. Moreover, we demonstrate that in the absence of dGcn5, heterochromatic DSBs display impaired recruitment of the SUMO E3 ligase Nse2/Qjt and fail to relocate to the heterochromatin periphery to complete repair. In summary, our results reveal a previously unidentified role for dGcn5 and H3K9ac in heterochromatin DSB repair and underscore the importance of differential chromatin responses at heterochromatic and euchromatic DSBs to promote safe repair.
An In vitro Comparison of Furcal Perforation Repaired with Pro-root MTA and New Endodontic Cement in Primary Molar Teeth- A Microleakage Study

Statement of Problem: One of the most challenging procedural accidents during pulpotomy of primary molars is furcal perforation. To prevent bacterial invasion, the perforation site should be sealed as soon as possible. Purpose: The aim of the current study is to investigate the ability of the pro-root MTA and new endodontic cement (NEC) in repairing the furcation perforations of primary molar teeth. Materials and Method: In this in vitro study, 42 extracted primary molars were selected. Their roots were sectioned horizontally and standard access cavity was prepared. The orifices and the root apices were sealed with two layers of resin composite.The samples were randomly assigned into 2 groups. 6 teeth were considered as the positive and the negative controls. In the experimental groups; perforation was made. In group 1 and 2, perforation site received pro-root MTA and NEC respectively. The teeth were covered by two layers of nail polish except for the external surface of the perforation site. The negative control group received no repairing material. All teeth were mounted and sterilized for 24 hours. Lower chambers were filled with sterilized Muller Hinton broth. Bacterial suspension of Enterococcus faecalis in 0.5 McFarland was prepared. The repaired site was then exposed to the bacterial suspension of Enterococcus faecalis every 3 days. All samples were inserted in an incubator at 37oC and 100% humidity. The turbidity of the samples was detected for a period of 30 days. Data were analyzed by Chi- square test. Results: 44% of samples in Pro- root group, 50% of the samples in the NEC group showed contaminations during 30 days. There was no significant difference between these two groups (p= 0.799). Conclusion: With limitations of this study, Pro- root MTA and NEC showed similar capability in sealing the furcal perforations of the primary molars.
Quantizer Design for Distributed GLRT Detection of Weak Signal in Wireless Sensor Networks

We consider the problem of distributed detection of a mean parameter corrupted by Gaussian noise in wireless sensor networks, where a large number of sensor nodes jointly detect the presence of a weak unknown signal. To circumvent power/bandwidth constraints, a multilevel quantizer is employed in each sensor to quantize the original observation. The quantized data are transmitted through binary symmetric channels to a fusion center where a generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT) detector is employed to perform a global decision. The asymptotic performance analysis of the multibit GLRT detector is provided, showing that the detection probability is monotonically increasing with respect to the Fisher information (FI) of the unknown signal parameter. We propose a quantizer design approach by maximizing the FI with respect to the quantization thresholds. Since the FI is a nonlinear and nonconvex function of the quantization thresholds, we employ the particle swarm optimization algorithm for FI maximization. Numerical results demonstrate that with 2- or 3-bit quantization, the GLRT detector can provide detection performance very close to that of the unquantized GLRT detector, which uses the original observations without quantization.