Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Eye movements support behavioral pattern completion

Significance We are often tasked with recognizing familiar items from partial input, like the obscured face of a friend. Remarkably, our brains have the ability to “complete” these visually sparse cues from memory. This operation, termed “pattern completion,” though critical for successful memory, has also been thought to underlie memory errors, whereby a similar novel item is incorrectly called “old. ” Using eye movement monitoring, we showed that when presented with a novel degraded cue, participants looked to regions that they had viewed during the previous encoding of a similar item, and these gaze shifts were associated with an increase in false alarms. These findings provide evidence that retrieval of encoded memory representations (i.e., pattern completion), underlies false alarms to similar items. The ability to recall a detailed event from a simple reminder is supported by pattern completion, a cognitive operation performed by the hippocampus wherein existing mnemonic representations are retrieved from incomplete input. In behavioral studies, pattern completion is often inferred through the false endorsement of lure (i.e., similar) items as old. However, evidence that such a response is due to the specific retrieval of a similar, previously encoded item is severely lacking. We used eye movement (EM) monitoring during a partial-cue recognition memory task to index reinstatement of lure images behaviorally via the recapitulation of encoding-related EMs or gaze reinstatement. Participants reinstated encoding-related EMs following degraded retrieval cues and this reinstatement was negatively correlated with accuracy for lure images, suggesting that retrieval of existing representations (i.e., pattern completion) underlies lure false alarms. Our findings provide evidence linking gaze reinstatement and pattern completion and advance a functional role for EMs in memory retrieval.
Observations on reproduction in captivity of the endemic long-tailed snake Philodryas chamissonis (Wiegmann, 1835) (Reptilia, Squamata, Dipsadidae) from Chile

The long-tailed snake Philodryas chamissonis is an oviparous rear-fanged species endemic to Chile, whose reproductive biology is currently based on anecdotic reports. The characteristics of the eggs, incubation time, and hatching are still unknown. This work describes for the first time the oviposition of 16 eggs by a female in captivity at Zoológico Nacional in Chile. After an incubation period of 59 days, seven neonates were born. We recorded data of biometry and ecdysis of these neonates for 9 months. In addition, a review about parameters of egg incubation and hatching for Philodryas species is provided.
Genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance and correlation studies for yield and component traits in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The present study was conducted to estimate the phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation, broad sense heritability, genetic gain and correlations in rice during kharif season 2016-17 at Norman E. Borlaug Crop Research Centre Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India. Thirteen rice genotypes along with their thirty F1 developed by using line × tester mating design were evaluated in randomized complete block design with three replications for yield and yield components namely days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height at maturity, numbers of tillers per plant, number of panicle per plant, panicle length number of grains per panicle, grain length, Grain width, 1000 grain weight and grain yield per plant. Analysis of variance showed significant differences among the genotypes were observed for all the characters under study which is essential to achieve crop improvement through selection. Highest GCV and PCV estimates was obtained for grain yield per plant. High Broad sense heritability and correspondingly high genetic advance was obtained for grain yield per plant and number of grains per panicle suggesting that selection for these character may be effective. Grain yield per plant showed positive and significant phenotypic and genotypic association with number of tillers per plant ( 0.749, 0.838), number of panicles per plant (0.784, 0.843), panicle length ( 0.479, 0.572) and number of grains per panicle (0.521, 0.543). 1000 grain weight (0.313) showed significant positive genotypic association with grain yield per plant therefore these characters can be used for grain yield selection.
Effect of Silicon on photosynthetic rate and the chlorophyll fluorescence parameters at hydroponically grown cucumber plants under salinity stress

The present research aims at evaluating the effect of silicon on the photosynthetic rate and the chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of hydroponically grown young cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus L.), cv. Gergana, under salinity stress. The experiment was conducted in a climatic chamber at the Department of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Agricultural University – Plovdiv. Four variants were examined: 1 – control, 2 – NaCl, 3 – Si, and 4 – NaCl + Si. Plants were grown in a nutrient solution and were treated with 50 mM NaCl and 1.5 mM Si in form of Na2SiO3. The results showed a decrease in the photosynthetic rate by 25% for the NaCl variant compared to the control. Silicon supply increased the photosynthetic rate of the salt-stressed plants by 17%. Salinity had also a negative effect on of the chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and the content of photosynthetic pigments, which were dramatically reduced. It was established that the silicon supply had a positive influence on the photosynthetic rate, the chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and the pigment content of the treated cucumber plants. The content of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, and carotenoids increased.
Studies on the Anaerobic Fungus Pecoramyces ruminantium Sp. C1A: Spore Collection and Genetic Manipulation Approaches

18 Introduction.20 Materials and Methods.23 Results.29 Discussion.45 References.48 III. INSIGHTS INTO THE UTILITY OF THE FOCAL ADHESION SCAFFOLDING PROTEINS IN THE ANAEROBIC FUNGUS ORPINOMYCES SP. C1A.56 Abstract.56
A New Species of Plateau Pit Viper (Reptilia: Serpentes: Gloydius) from the Upper Lancang (=Mekong) Valley in the Hengduan Mountain Region, Tibet, China

Abstract. The Plateau Pit Viper, Gloydius strauchi, from southwest and central China has long been considered a single, widespread species despite suspicion that it represents a potential complex of distinct evolutionary lineages. Although series of works were published on the G. strauchi species complex over the last 10 yr, species boundaries and diagnostic features of different members of the complex have remained poorly understood. Combining both morphological and genetic data, we re-evaluate taxonomic statuses of populations of G. strauchi in southwest China and describe the eastern Tibetan populations as a new species. The new species is most closely related to G. monticola phylogenetically, and it differs from all congeners by having a matte dorsal body scale texture, oval and robust head shape, distinct body ornamentation and coloration, and unique hemipene morphology. In addition, we provide the first updated diagnostic key to all recognized members of the G. strauchi species complex, and discuss ongoing taxonomic problems associated with cryptic diversity within the genus in China.
Effects of levetiracetam on axon excitability and synaptic transmission at the crayfish neuromuscular junction

Levetiracetam (LEV) is a widely prescribed antiepileptic drug, but its actions on neuronal function are not fully characterized. Since this drug is believed to enter neurons by binding to a vesicular protein during endocytosis, we used motor axons of the crayfish opener neuromuscular junction to examine potential impacts of LEV on axon excitability. Two electrode current clamp from the inhibitory axon of the opener showed that LEV reduced action potential (AP) amplitude (APamp) and suppressed synaptic transmission, although the latter occurred with a longer delay than the reduction in APamp. Comparison of antidromic and orthodromic conducting APs in LEV suggested that this drug preferentially reduced excitability of the proximal axon, despite the expectation that it entered the axon at the terminals and should affect the distal branches first. Results presented here suggest that LEV modulates axonal excitability, which may in turn contribute to its antiepileptic effects.
Galectin-3 as a new negative checkpoint of the immune response is the key target for effective immunotherapy against prostate cancer

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a major health problem worldwide. Taxol derivatives–based chemotherapies or immunotherapies are usually proposed depending on the symptomatic status. In the case of immunotherapy, tumors develop robust immune escape mechanisms that abolish any protective response. However, Docetaxel has been shown to enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy in a variety of cancers, but to date, the mechanism is still unknown. Herein, we showed first that Galectin-3 (Gal-3) expressed by prostate tumor cells is the principal immunological checkpoint responsible of the failure of immunotherapy; and that Docetaxel leads to the inhibition of Gal-3 expression in PCa cells as well as in clinical samples of mCRPC patients promoting a Th1 response. We thus optimized a prostate cancer animal model that undergoes surgical resection of the tumor like prostatectomy to mimic what is usually performed in patients. More importantly, using low and nontoxic doses of taxane prior to immunotherapy, we were able to directly impact the activation and proliferation of CD8+ cytotoxic T cells through reducing the number of CD8+CD122+CD28-T cells and highly control tumor recurrence. Thus, Gal-3 expression by PCa cells is a key inhibitor for the success of immunotherapy, and low doses of Docetaxel with noncytotoxic effect on leukocyte survival should be used prior to vaccination for all PCa patients. This combined treatment sequence right after surgery would promote the preconditioning of the tumor microenvironment, allowing for effective anti-tumor immunotherapy and can be transferred rapidly to clinical therapeutic protocols.
Harvest Time Determines Quality and Usability of Biomass from Lowland Hay Meadows

Species-rich hay meadows are usually managed extensively to maintain their biodiversity, with the harvested biomass traditionally being fed to ruminants for milk or meat production. The quality of the biomass is, however, variable, difficult to predict and often does not fulfil today’s requirements. This study established a field trial at two species-rich hay meadows to investigate the combined effect of fertilisation (none, phosphorus and potassium (PK), nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK)) and date of first cut (at different phenological stages) on biomass quality and quantity. In addition, the most suitable uses of the biomass were explored, including the alternatives biogas and combustion. After four years of the field trial, the stage of maturity at the time of first cut had a greater influence than extensive fertilisation on biomass quality. Dry matter yield (DMY) of the first cut was about 40%–60% of annual DMY (53.99 ± 12.51 dt ha−1 a−1) depending on site, fertilisation and harvest time. Fertilisation had a stronger effect than harvest time on DMY and annual methane yield. In most cases, there was no significant difference in chemical composition between biomass harvested at the end of the grass-flowering stage and at the seed-ripening stage. Thus, a late cut for hay proved to be the most flexible option.
Arabidopsis PAD4 lipase-like domain is a minimal functional unit in resistance to green peach aphid

Plants have evolved mechanisms to attract beneficial microbes and insects while protecting themselves against pathogenic microbes and pests. In Arabidopsis, the immune regulator PAD4 functions with its cognate partner EDS1 to limit pathogen growth. PAD4, independently of EDS1, reduces infestation by Green Peach Aphid (GPA). How PAD4 regulates these defense outputs is unclear. By expressing the N-terminal PAD4-lipase-like domain (LLD) without its C-terminal ‘EDS1-PAD4’ (EP) domain, we interrogated PAD4 functions in plant defense. Here we show that transgenic expression of PAD4LLD in Arabidopsis is sufficient for limiting GPA infestation, but not for conferring basal and effector-triggered pathogen immunity. This suggests that the C-terminal PAD4-EP domain is necessary for EDS1-dependent immune functions. Moreover, PAD4LLD is not sufficient to interact with EDS1, indicating the PAD4-EP domain is required for heterodimerisation. These data provide molecular evidence that PAD4 has domain specific functions.
Tick-borne Pathogens in Small Ruminants in Turkey: A Systematic Review

Keneler ve kene kaynakli hastaliklar hayvan yeti s tiricili g i acisindan onemli sorunlara neden olmaktadir. Turkiye uygun iklim ko s ullarina ve cok ce s itli hayvan nufusuna sahip oldu g undan, son yillarda Turkiye'de kene kaynakli hastaliklar artmi s tir. Koyun ve keci yeti s tiricili g i, ulusal ekonomide onemli bir yer tutmaktadir. Turkiye'deki kucuk ruminantlarda kene ile nakledilen ba s lica patojenler; Babesia ovis, B. motasi, B. crassa, Babesia sp. , Theileria ovis, T. uilenbergi, T. luwenshuni, Theileria sp. MK, Theileria sp. OT1, Theileria sp. OT3, Anaplasma ovis ve A. phagocytophilum’dur. Co g rafik bolge, il, konak, incelenen hayvan sayisi, ornekleme tekni g i, ornekleme yili ve te s his metodu acisindan koyun ve kecilere kene ile bula s an onemli patojenler kronolojik olarak ozetlenmi s ve Turkiye'deki mevcut durum sunulmu s tur.
Drought Enhances the Role of Competition in Mediating the Relationship between Tree Growth and Climate in Semi-Arid Areas of Northwest China

Climate variability can exert a powerful impact on biotic competition, but past studies have focused largely on short-lived species, with a lack of attention to long-lived species such as trees. Therefore, there is a need to evaluate how competition regulates the climate-growth relationship in mature trees. We sampled the dominant tree species, Picea wilsonii Mast. , on Xinglong Mountain, China, and studied the above issues by analyzing the relationship between tree radial growth, precipitation, and competition. In relatively wet years (precipitation > average), there was no significant difference in climate sensitivity between different competition classes. However, trees suffering from highly competitive stress were more sensitive to climate variability in all years, and particularly in the subset of years that was relatively drought (precipitation < average). These results suggest that competition enhances its ability to regulate tree growth response to climate variability in adverse weather conditions. Competition for resources between trees was asymmetrical, and an increase in height could give trees a disproportionate benefit. Thus, at trunk-level, both basal area incremental growth and intrinsic water-use efficiency of trees subjected to low competitive stress were significantly higher than trees that are subjected to highly competitive stress. Although the intrinsic water-use efficiency of trees under highly competitive stress increased more rapidly as the drought level increases, this did not change the fact that the radial growth of them declined more. Our research is valuable for the development of individual-tree growth models and advances our understanding for forest management under global climate change.
Insecticidal activity of four essential oils on the survival and oviposition of two sympatric bruchid species: Callosobruchus maculatus F. and Callosobruchus subinnotatus PIC. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidea: Bruchinae)

Callosobruchus maculatus F. and Callosobruchus subinnotatus Pic. are two pest species of stored cowpeas and bambara groundnuts. Methods of controlling their populations remain the use of chemical insecticides that have ecotoxicological effects. The aim of this work is to look for alternative methods using essential oils extracted from four aromatic plants (Bidens borianiana, Chromolaena odorata, Cymbopogon giganteus and Cymbopogon nardus) to control these pests. Essential oils GC/MS analysis revealed differences in their composition. The major components of the essential oils of the two congeneric Poaceae species C. giganteus and C. nardus are totally different. Limonene (23.03%), cis-p-mentha-2, 8-dien-1-ol (14.26%) and p-mentha-1(7), 8-dien-2-ol isomer (14.06%) were the main compounds in C. giganteus oil whereas citronellal (30.58%) and geraniol (23.93%) were identified in C. nardus oil. In the essential oils of the other two plants, the major components are respectively geyrene (19.44%), α-pinene (15.96%), and germacrene D (14.03%) for Chromolaena odorata essential oil and trans-β-ocimene (31.58%) for Bidens borianiana essential oil. Toxicity tests were performed by fumigation on adult survival and female oviposition in C. maculatus and C. subinnotatus by evaluating the LD10; LD50 and LD90 of the four essential oils. These tests showed that only essential oils extracted from Cymbopogon species are efficient. The essential oil of C. giganteus was the most toxic to adults of both bruchid species. The LD50 were 20.06 and 34.62 µL/L, respectively for C. maculatus and C. subinnotatus while C. nardus essential oil showed the best ovicidal activity with female oviposition reduction in both bruchid species of more than 80% at a lower concentration (10 µL/L). C. giganteus and C. nardus essential oils can thus be used in stocks of cowpea and bambara groundnuts for adult control and prevent female oviposition. Key words: Callosobruchus maculatus, Callosobruchus subinnotatus, Cymbopogon giganteus, Cymbopogon nardus, Bidens borianiana, Chromolaena odorata, essential oils, survival, oviposition
Arterial Stiffness and Indices of Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction in Patients with Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Etiology

Purpose The study is aimed at identifying echocardiographic and circulating biomarkers as well as hemodynamic indices of embolic stroke of undetermined etiology (ESUS) in patients aged <65. Methods We prospectively investigated 520 patients with confirmed ischemic stroke and selected those 65 patients who were diagnosed with ESUS (age 54 (47-58) years, 42% male). An additional 36 without stroke but with a similar risk profile were included as a control group (age 53 (47-58) years, 61% male). All patients underwent echocardiography, noninvasive assessment of hemodynamic parameters using a SphygmoCor tonometer (AtCor Med., Australia), and measurements of selected biomarkers. Results ESUS patients and controls were well matched for baseline characteristics including blood pressure and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Compared to controls, patients with ESUS had lower mean early diastolic (E′) and systolic (S′) mitral annular velocities and a higher ratio of the peak velocity of early diastolic transmitral flow to the peak velocity of early diastolic mitral annular motion (all p < 0.01). The peak velocity flow in the late diastole (A wave) value and LV mass indexed to the body surface area (LVMI) (g/m2) were higher in the ESUS group than in the control group (both p < 0.01). The isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT) was longer and the mean left atrial volume index (LAVI) was higher in ESUS patients compared to the control group. Parameters of arterial stiffness such as augmentation pressure, augmentation index, and augmentation index adjusted to a heart rate of 75 bpm (AIx75) were higher in ESUS patients compared to controls (p < 0.05). Patients in the ESUS group had higher levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine, interleukin 6, and N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP, all p < 0.05) than those in the control group. In multivariate analysis, the following factors were significantly associated with the presence of ESUS: AIx75 (odds ratio (OR) 1.095, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.004-1.194; p = 0.04), IVRT (OR 1.045, 95% CI: 1.009-1.082; p = 0.014), LAVI (OR 1.3, 95% CI: 1.099-1.537; p = 0.002), and NT-proBNP (OR 1.003, 95% CI: 1.001-1.005; p = 0.005). Conclusions Increased arterial stiffness and indices of diastolic dysfunction as well as a higher NT-proBNP level are significantly associated with ESUS. These parameters require further scrutiny over time to understand their impact on the development of symptomatic heart failure. The ClinicalTrials.gov identifier is NCT03377465.
The Relationship between the Misfolding Avoidance Hypothesis and Protein Evolutionary Rates in the Light of Empirical Evidence

For more than a decade the misfolding avoidance hypothesis (MAH) and related theories have dominated evolutionary discussions aimed at explaining the variance of molecular clock across cellular proteins. In this study we use various experimental data to further investigate the consistency of the MAH predictions with empirical evidence. We also critically discuss experimental results that motivated the MAH development and that are often viewed as evidence of its major contribution to constraining protein evolution. We demonstrate, in Escherichia coli and Homo sapiens, the lack of a substantial negative correlation between protein evolutionary rates and Gibbs free energies of unfolding, a direct measure of protein stability. We then analyze multiple new genome-scale datasets describing protein aggregation and interaction propensities, which are likely optimized in evolution to alleviate deleterious effects associated with toxic protein misfolding and misinteractions. Our results demonstrate that the propensity of proteins to aggregate, the fraction of charged amino acids, and protein stickiness do correlate with protein abundances. Nevertheless, across multiple organisms and datasets we do not observe substantial correlations between proteins aggregation- and stability-related properties and evolutionary rates. Therefore, diverse empirical data support the conclusion that the MAH and similar hypotheses are unlikely to play a major role in mediating a strong negative correlation between protein expression and molecular clock, and thus in explaining the variability of evolutionary rates across cellular proteins. Significance statement Evolutionary rates vary substantially across cellular proteins. Understanding the nature of molecular clock and its variability across proteins is a foundational question in molecular evolution. The popular and currently dominant theory to explain the molecular clock variability is the misfolding avoidance hypothesis (MAH). The role of the MAH is currently under active debate. In the manuscript we discuss how to appropriately test the MAH based on available empirical data, and then rigorously test the hypothesis using more than a dozen of new genome-wide datasets of protein stability and aggregation propensities. Our results suggest that the MAH is unlikely to play a major role in explaining the variability of molecular clock across proteins.