Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Terrestrial planarians (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Terricola) from the Iberian Peninsula: New records and description of three new species

Little is known about the taxonomy and distribution of terrestrial planarians on the Iberian Peninsula. Few studies have tried to investigate the local diversity of these animals, due to both their lack of economic interest and their low abundance. In this study we have made extensive searches and collections of terrestrial planarians from the Iberian Peninsula, thus gathering new information on their taxonomy and biogeography. The study includes the description of three new species of the genus Microplana, viz. Microplana aixandrei sp. nov., Microplana grazalemica sp. nov., and Microplana gadesensis sp. nov. We present distribution maps summarizing published and new records of land planarians. The present work substantially increases our knowledge on this group of animals in Spain and Portugal and at the same time also evidences the scarcity of data and studies on the biology of these organisms.
Elastohydrodynamic Film Study under Impact Loading and Lateral Vibrations

A squeeze film action is an essential phenomenon in elastohydrodynamically lubricated conjunctions subjected to impact loading or sudden halting of motion and affects both film thickness and friction. This study presents experimental results of film thickness behaviour of lubricant entrapment under diverse conditions including initial impact gaps, initial approaching speeds, loading speeds and variety of lubricants during introductory part of impact loading. The results are compared with recent theoretical solution. It is shown that the entrapped film shape directly depends on loading speed and the central film thickness is mainly determined by the approaching speed and lubricant viscosity and can be approximated by power law where the influence of impact times/ speeds can be estimated from basic rheological properties of lubricants.
Intraspecific Functional Repertoires in the Feeding Mechanism of the Characoid Fishes Lebiasina, Hoplias and Chalceus

The jaw movement pattern and the timing of cranial muscle activity were studied during feeding on a variety of prey types in three characoid fishes: Lebiasina boruca, Hoplias malabaricus and Chalceus macrolepidotus. In Hoplias, the kinematic and electromyographic profiles do not vary with prey type or location. Mouth opening invariably occurs by synchronous activity in the levator operculi, sternohyoideus, geniohyoideus, epaxial and obliquus superioris muscles. Jaw movement and muscle activity patterns in Lebiasina vary dramatically and consistently with prey type and location. Elusive prey elicit an electromyographic pattern similar to that in Hoplias except that the geniohyoideus is inactive. During capture of less elusive prey (insect larvae), three distinct feeding patterns are seen depending on whether prey are located on the surface, in the midwater or on the bottom. The epaxial muscles are always active during surface feeding whereas they are silent during feeding from the bottom. Midwater strikes were highly variable, and asymmetrical activity between right- and left-side muscles was observed. Prey capture by Chalceus was highly variable and no particular muscle activity pattern could be correlated with a specific prey type or location. Asymmetrical activity between certain right- and left-side muscles was also found. The functional repertoire of Hoplias represents a subset of the broader repertoires seen in Lebiasina and Chalceus. Prey capture by high-speed inertial suction is of limited versatility and is correlated with a nearly invarient movement and electromyographic pattern.
Basic skills and transitions to adulthood

This article reports on the findings of a qualitative research project conducted in the North East of England. This project involved interviews with 55 young adults in an attempt to explore the impact of poor basic skills on transitions to adulthood. Poor basic skills have been identifued across Europe as a problem facing nation states, groups and individuals. But apart from large-scale survey-based studies (Bynner and Parsons, 2001), previous youth research has neglected the process through which basic skills play a role in transitions to adulthood. Proposing a social theory of situated basic skills as communal and individual resources, the authors develop an approach that is sensitive to both structure and agency in theorizing the role of literacy, numeracy and oracy in transitions. They claim that the mobilization of basic skills resources and their role across the life-course can best be understood by using a conceptualization of agency that recognizes the importance of reflexivity as a mediating link between subjective (agential) and objective (structural) dimensions of transition.
ACE Insertion/Deletion (I/D) Polymorphism in Hypertensive Patients of Palestinian Population

Hypertension is a risk factor for coronary heart disease, stroke, and renal failure; resulting from interaction of several genes with each other and with environmental factors. The renin-angiotensin system(RAS) plays an important role in the regulation of blood pressure. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is an enzyme of the RAS. ACE ID gene polymorphism has been associated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. The objective of this work was to determine the frequencies of the ACE gene alleles D and I and any associations to hypertension risk factors in Palestinian population. Genomic DNA was isolated from 293 subjects who have participated in a case–control study. ACE gene ID polymorphism was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction in 193 hypertension cases and 100 healthy controls. The frequency of ACE genotype were: DD 62.2%, II 6.7% and ID 31.1%,while as in control group the DD frequency is 54.0%, II 4. 0% and ID 42.0%. The frequencies of the ACE D and I alleles of the study population were 0.78 and 0.22for case group, 0.75 and 0.25 for control group respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups with respect to genotype distribution. Furthermore, we did not find any significant difference in the frequency of ACE ID polymorphism in hypertension subjects when stratified by gender (p = 0.61). The results showed that there was no significant association between the ACE ID gene polymorphism and hypertension in Gaza strip.
High Resolution Mapping of Modafinil Induced Changes in Glutamate Level in Rat Brain

Modafinil is marketed in the United States for the treatment of narcolepsy and daytime somnolence due to shift-work or sleep apnea. Investigations of this drug in the treatment of cocaine and nicotine dependence in addition to disorders of executive function are also underway. Modafinil has been known to increase glutamate levels in rat brain models. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1HMRS) has been commonly used to detect the glutamate (Glu) changes in vivo. In this study, we used a recently described glutamate chemical exchange saturation transfer (GluCEST) imaging technique to measure Modafinil induced regional Glu changes in rat brain and compared the results with Glu concentration measured by single voxel 1HMRS. No increases in either GluCEST maps or 1HMRS were observed after Modafinil injection over a period of 5 hours. However, a significant increase in GluCEST (19±4.4%) was observed 24 hours post Modafinil administration, which is consistent with results from previous biochemical studies. This change was not consistently seen with 1HMRS. GluCEST mapping allows regional cerebral Glu changes to be measured and may provide a useful clinical biomarker of Modafinil effects for the management of patients with sleep disorders and addiction.
Migration and Cultural Change: A Role for Gender and Social Networks?

To incorporate the insights from the literature on gender and migration we focus upon three key concepts that have emerged regarding the role of social networks households and communities for affecting migration processes. The three key concepts we interrogate are: “social embeddedness” (Portes and Sensenbrenner 1993) “circular and cumulative causation” (Massey 1990) and “relative deprivation” (Stark 1991). We propose considering these three concepts through the lens of a third area of research the sociology of culture and we draw upon ideas about identity formation trust and normative expectations. Our empirical examples come primarily from Thailand where we draw upon both secondary and primary data but also from secondary data from Latin America and the Caribbean migrant experiences. In our effort to demonstrate that social networks and gender are essential elements for understanding migration and cultural change our discussion refers to international internal permanent and temporary migration. We begin our analysis through a brief review of the three developments in the migration field. We then conceptualize how these three literatures might be usefully synthesized with each other and relevant work in the sociology of culture. In our view culture is an essential component for understanding the meaning given to individuals (gender) their actions (migration) and their relationships (network ties). This in turn influences the way inequality is produced or redressed. In the conclusion we discuss how measurement of networks might be improved by these insights and synthesis. We also suggest that by synthesizing these literatures we can refine theories of social change and the structuring of inequality in relation to migration processes. (excerpt)
Surface circulation in the eastern North Atlantic, from drifters and altimetry

A description of the near-surface circulation and its properties is the result of the analysis of a drifting buoy data set in the eastern North Atlantic between the Iberian Peninsula, the Azores, and the Canary Islands. World Ocean Circulation Experiment-Tropical Ocean-Global Atmosphere experiment drifters equipped with holey sock drogues centered at 15 m depth collected a total of 14.4 years of data. The drifters sampled a rather inhomogeneous velocity field with a weak mean flow regime and eddies of different scales. They meandered southward everywhere in the study region, except in the Iberian coastal transition zone north of 41degreesN where they headed northward. The near-surface mean velocity field obtained from the drifter data set shows all important mean currents, including the poleward Portugal Coastal Countercurrent during the fall, winter, and early spring off western and northern Iberia, the southward Portugal Coastal Current, the slow offshore southward flow of the Portugal Current during the whole year, the southwestward Canary Current, and the eastward Azores Current, which extends to the vicinity of the African coast near the Gulf of Cadiz. Maps of the eddy kinetic energy field were obtained from the drifters and from satellite altimetry. It provides the largest part of the total kinetic energy. The rate of dispersion is estimated from the Lagrangian statistics of the drifting buoys. The dispersion of the drifters in the study region is well modeled by a simple description of eddy diffusion assuming homogeneous turbulence. Ensemble mean diffusivities K and the Langrangian integral length scales and timescales (L and T) were obtained for the zonal and meridional directions. The sea surface temperature measured along the drifter trajectories is used to produce estimates of the eddy diffusivity, which is compared with the diffusivity estimates obtained from the theory of Taylor. The eddy diffusivity is found to be approximately proportional to the eddy kinetic energy. Discrete eddies and meanders were observed using drifters and altimetry in order to map and describe their geographical distribution and characteristics in the eastern North Atlantic.
The self—harmed, visualized, and reblogged: Remaking of self-injury narratives on Tumblr

Images featuring self-injury (SI) have been proliferating on social media. This article reports the findings of a visual narrative analysis of 294 photo-based posts on Tumblr, exploring how SI is narrated through the interplay between image content, photographic composition, associated texts and tags, and reblogging. Findings reveal a shift in the iconography of SI from direct depictions of self-injured bodies to re-appropriations of popular media content that figuratively represent emotional struggles. Images of self-inflicted wounds received 10 times less reblogs than images without wounds, and media memes conveying hopeless moods were the most widely distributed. These memes represent SI as a form of life struggle virtually anyone can face while complicating conventional readings of SI as an individual pathologic experience. We discuss these findings in the context of an emergent online curation culture and how Tumblr’s unique affordances may both offer and limit possibilities for narrating SI.
Negativity Bias, Negativity Dominance, and Contagion

We hypothesize that there is a general bias, based on both innatepredispositions and experience, in animals and humans, to give greater weight to negative entities (e.g., events, objects, personal traits). This is manifested in 4 ways: (a) negative potency (negative entities are stronger than the equivalent positive entities), (b) steeper negative gradients (the negativity of negative events grows more rapidly with approach to them in space or time than does the positivity of positive events, (c) negativity dominance (combinations of negative and positive entities yield evaluations that are more negative than the algebraic sum of individual subjective valences would predict), and (d) negative differentiation (negative entities are more varied, yield more complex conceptual representations, and engage a wider response repertoire). We review evidence for this taxonomy, with emphasis on negativity dominance, including literary, historical, religious, and cultural sources, as well as the psychological literatures on learning, attention, impression formation, contagion, moral judgment, development, and memory. We then consider a variety of theoretical accounts for negativity bias. We suggest that 1 feature of negative events that make them dominant is that negative entities are more contagious than positive entities.
Different reactions of Southern Ocean phytoplankton size classes to iron fertilization

During the European Iron Fertilisation Experiment (EIFEX), performed in the Southern Ocean, we investigated the reactions of different phytoplankton size classes to iron fertilization, applying measurements of size fractionated pigments, particulate organic matter, microscopy, and flow cytometry. Chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentrations at 20‐m depth increased more than fivefold following fertilization through day 26, while concentrations of particulate organic carbon (POC), nitrogen (PON), and phosphorus (POP) roughly doubled through day 29. Concentrations of Chl a and particulate organic matter decreased toward the end of the experiment, indicating the demise of the iron‐induced phytoplankton bloom. Despite a decrease in total diatom biomass at the end of the experiment, biogenic particulate silicate (bPSi) concentrations increased steadily due to a relative increase of heavily silicified diatoms. Although diatoms >10 µm were the main beneficiaries of iron fertilization, the growth of small diatoms (2‐8 mm) was also enhanced, leading to a shift from a haptophyte‐ to a diatom‐dominated community in this size fraction. The total biomass had lower than Redfield C : N, N : P, and C : P ratios but did not show significant trends after iron fertilization. This concealed various alterations in the elemental composition of the different size fractions. The microplankton (>20 µm) showed decreasing C : N and increasing N : P and C : P ratios, possibly caused by increased N uptake and the consumption of cellular P pools. The nanoplankton (2‐20 µm) showed almost constant C : N and decreasing N : P and C : P ratios. Our results suggest that the latter is caused by a shift in composition of taxonomic groups.
Advances with microRNAs in Parkinson’s disease research

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second-most common age-dependent neurodegenerative disorder and is caused by severe degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. Unfortunately, current treatment only targets symptoms and involves dopamine replacement therapy, which does not counteract progressive degeneration. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small RNA molecules implicated in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression during development. Recent studies show that miRNAs are playing an important role in the pathophysiology of PD. miRNA-based therapy is a powerful tool with which to study gene function, investigate the mechanism of the disease, and validate drug targets. In this review, we focus on the recent advances of the use of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of PD.
Sorghum: An Underutilized Cereal Whole Grain with the Potential to Assist in the Prevention of Chronic Disease

Sorghum is an important cereal grain food, grown globally, that is rich in nutrients, dietary fiber, and bioactive components yet is considered of low value to humans and often used as an animal feed. This review provides an overview of key sorghum grain components, including starches, dietary fiber, protein, lipids, and phytochemicals, with functional properties that have potential to impact on health. Though acknowledging the impact of the whole food will reflect the synergy between the components, studies of these components implicate effects on energy balance, glycemic control, lipids, gut microbiota, and cell-mediated immune responses, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. For these to be confirmed as contributory effects from sorghum consumption, evidence from quality randomized controlled trials is required. If proven effective, there may be a role for sorghum grain–based diets to assist in the prevention of chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. Future research addressing effects of sorghum consumption may help drive a paradigm shift from sorghum as a low value food to a potentially health-promoting, highly valued human grain food.
Differences in antioxidant properties of ginkgo leaves collected from male and female trees

Abstract Total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity (FRAP method) of Ginkgo biloba L. leaves collected from male and female trees were determined and compared. Different water and aqueous ethanolic (water/ethanol 80/20, V/V) extracts were prepared by varying the time of infusing, boiling and steeping in order to determine the effect of the extraction method on the above parameters. Antioxidant activity and phenolic content of ginkgo leaf extracts correlated well with significant correlation coefficients. Slopes of linear regression lines were not statistically different for either sex
Value of gradient-echo magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of familial cerebral cavernous malformation.

BACKGROUND Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are congenital vascular anomalies that can cause seizures, intracranial hemorrhages, focal neurological deficits, and migrainelike headaches. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has substantially facilitated diagnosis of CCM. It is now widely accepted that familial clustering with an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern should be suspected in cases of multiple lesions. OBJECTIVE To determine by MR imaging the penetrance of cavernous malformations in a 3-generation family that included 5 members with typical clinical signs and diagnostic findings. METHODS All family members underwent routine MR T1-weighted and T2-weighted spin-echo sequences in addition to MR T2-weighted gradient-echo sequences. RESULTS Four family members had been symptomatic with either brainstem bleeding, headaches, or focal neurological signs. The gradient-echo sequences yielded a dramatically higher sensitivity with regard to lesion number and distribution. As in previous reports of familial CCM, an increase in lesion number with increasing age, changes in lesion characteristics, de novo occurrence in serial MR imaging over time, and the phenomenon of anticipation could be confirmed in this family. CONCLUSION Magnetic resonance gradient-echo sequences should be considered the method of choice for diagnosis of familial CCM.
Immunologic Effects of Beryllium Exposure

Abstract Metal‐induced hypersensitivity is driven by T‐cell sensitization to metal ions. Although numerous metals are associated with the development of diffuse parenchymal lung disease, beryllium‐induced hypersensitivity is the best‐studied to date. This review focuses on the interaction between innate and adaptive immunity that leads to the development of chronic beryllium disease. After beryllium exposure, activation of the innate immune system occurs through the engagement of pattern‐recognition receptors. This activation leads to cell death, release of alarmins, and activation and migration of dendritic cells to lung‐draining lymph nodes. These events culminate in the development of an adaptive immune response that is characterized by beryllium‐specific, T‐helper type 1‐polarized, CD4+ T‐cells and granuloma formation in the lung. The unique ability of beryllium to bind to human leukocyte antigen‐DP molecules that express a glutamic acid at position 69 of the &bgr;‐chain alters the charge and conformation of the human leukocyte antigen‐DP‐peptide complex. These changes induce post‐translational modifications that are recognized as non‐self. In essence, the ability of beryllium to create neoantigens underlies the genesis of chronic beryllium disease, and demonstrates the similarity between beryllium‐induced hypersensitivity and autoimmunity.
Parametric Design and Performance Analysis of a Decoupled Service-Oriented Prediction Framework Based on Embedded Numerical Software

In modern utility computing infrastructures, like grids and clouds, one of the significant actions of a service provider is to predict the resources needed by the services included in its platform in an automated fashion for service provisioning optimization. Furthermore, a variety of software toolkits exist that implement an extended set of algorithms applicable to workload forecasting. However, their automated use as services in the distributed computing paradigm includes a number of design and implementation challenges. In this paper, a decoupled framework is presented, for taking advantage of software like GNU Octave in the process of creating and using prediction models during the service life cycle of a SOI. A performance analysis of the framework is also conducted. In this context, a methodology for creating parametric or gearbox services with multiple modes of operations based on the execution conditions is portrayed and is applied to transform the aforementioned service framework to optimize service performance. A new estimation algorithm is introduced, that creates performance rules of applications as black boxes, through the creation and usage of genetically optimized artificial neural networks. Through this combination, the critical parameters of the networks are decided through an evolutionary iterative process.