Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
INX-18 and INX-19 play distinct roles in electrical synapses that modulate aversive behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans

In order to respond to changing environments and fluctuations in internal states, animals adjust their behavior through diverse neuromodulatory mechanisms. In this study we show that electrical synapses between the ASH primary quinine-detecting sensory neurons and the neighboring ASK neurons are required for modulating the aversive response to the bitter tastant quinine in C. elegans. Mutant worms that lack the electrical synapse proteins INX-18 and INX-19 become hypersensitive to dilute quinine. Cell-specific rescue experiments indicate that inx-18 operates in ASK while inx-19 is required in both ASK and ASH for proper quinine sensitivity. Imaging analyses find that INX-19 in ASK and ASH localizes to the same regions in the nerve ring, suggesting that both sides of ASK-ASH electrical synapses contain INX-19. While inx-18 and inx-19 mutant animals have a similar behavioral phenotype, several lines of evidence suggest the proteins encoded by these genes play different roles in modulating the aversive quinine response. First, INX-18 and INX-19 localize to different regions of the nerve ring, indicating that they are not present in the same synapses. Second, removing inx-18 disrupts the distribution of INX-19, while removing inx-19 does not alter INX-18 localization. Finally, by using a fluorescent cGMP reporter, we find that INX-18 and INX-19 have distinct roles in establishing cGMP levels in ASK and ASH. Together, these results demonstrate that electrical synapses containing INX-18 and INX-19 facilitate modulation of ASH nociceptive signaling. Our findings support the idea that a network of electrical synapses mediates cGMP exchange between neurons, enabling modulation of sensory responses and behavior. Author Summary Animals are constantly adjusting their behavior to respond to changes in the environment or to their internal state. This behavior modulation is achieved by altering the activity of neurons and circuits through a variety of neuroplasticity mechanisms. Chemical synapses are known to impact neuroplasticity in several different ways, but the diversity of mechanisms by which electrical synapses contribute is still being investigated. Electrical synapses are specialized sites of connection between neurons where ions and small signaling molecules can pass directly from one cell to the next. By passing small molecules through electrical synapses, neurons may be able to modify the activity of their neighbors. In this study we identify two genes that contribute to electrical synapses between two sensory neurons in C. elegans. We show that these electrical synapses are crucial for proper modulation of sensory responses, as without them animals are overly responsive to an aversive stimulus. In addition to pinpointing their sites of action, we present evidence that they may be contributing to neuromodulation by facilitating passage of the small molecule cGMP between neurons. Our work provides evidence for a role of electrical synapses in regulating animal behavior.
Tracking the Emergence of Location-based Spatial Representations in Human Scene-Selective Cortex

Scene-selective regions of the human brain form allocentric representations of locations in our environment. These representations are independent of heading direction and allow us to know where we are regardless of our direction of travel. However, we know little about how these location-based representations are formed. Using fMRI representational similarity analysis and linear mixed-models, we tracked the emergence of location-based representations in scene-selective brain regions. We estimated patterns of activity for two distinct scenes, taken before and after participants learnt they were from the same location. During a learning phase, we presented participants with two types of panoramic videos: (1) an overlap video condition displaying two distinct scenes (0° and 180°) from the same location, and (2) a no-overlap video displaying two distinct scenes from different locations (that served as a control condition). In the parahippocampal cortex (PHC) and retrosplenial cortex (RSC), representations of scenes from the same location became more similar to each other only after they had been shown in the overlap condition, suggesting the emergence of viewpoint-independent location-based representations. Whereas these representations emerged in the PHC regardless of task performance, RSC representations only emerged for locations where participants could behaviourally identify the two scenes as belonging to the same location. The results suggest that we can track the emergence of location-based representations in the PHC and RSC in a single fMRI experiment. Further, they support computational models that propose the RSC plays a key role in transforming viewpoint-independent representations into behaviourally-relevant representations of specific viewpoints.
Notes on the Molts and Plumages of the Sparrow Hawk

E XAMINATION of the Carnegie Museum’ s series of 126 specimens of the North American Sparrow Hawk, Falco sparverius sparverius Linnaeus, has shown that some recent authors have been confused about certain of the molts and plumages of this little falcon. As is well known, individual variation in color and pattern in this species is so marked that the selection of characters for criteria of age and of geographic variation must be made with great caution. This variability shows its extreme development in the rectrix pattern of males, no two birds bein g exactly alike in this respect. Bond (1943)) in an otherwise excellent treatment of geographic variation in the Sparrow Hawks of western North America, has made several statements concerning molts and plumages that call for comment, especially as some are in direct contradiction to Bent (1938) and other authorities. On p. 174 Bond states “I can see no evidence that any fall molt of the young takes place. All changes in appearance are attributed to wear and fading. Immature specimens are not always certainly distinguishable even in fresh plumage. ” Bond then lists several “useful criteria of immaturity,” ending with the sentence “Immature females are much more difficult to distinguish than immature males. ” This is the only one of his statements that I can endorse. Bond also presents a bar graph which purports to illustrate his statement that “First-year birds disappear rapidly after reaching a peak of about two-thirds of the population in August. ” Bond would have us believe that young Sparrow Hawks suffer a 75 per cent mortality (i.e., from twothirds down to one-third of the total population) between August and November, a rate which seems excessive for a predator which “has not been reported as a major item in the diet” of any other predator (Clay, 1953:131). Actually, as I shall show, his graph of the “disappearance” of first-year birds is nothing but a representation of the schedule of the postjuvenal molt which Bond claims is non-existent. Bent (1938:112) states of the young Sparrow Hawk “. early in fall changes begin to take place, by fading and by a gradual molt of the body plumage, during September and October ; by midwinter great progress has been made toward maturity. ” Th is coincides exactly with my own findings; note how the progress of the molt corresponds with Bond’ s “disappearance” of first-year birds.
FKBP3 mediates oxaliplatin resistance in colorectal cancer cells by regulating HDAC2 expression

Colorectal cancer (CRC), a commonly occurring malignant tumor in the gastrointestinal tract, is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. FK506-binding proteins (FKBPs) comprise an immunophilin family that are involved in the carcinogenesis, progression and chemoresistance of cancers, including CRC. FKBP3 (also known as FKBP25) is a nuclear protein that is a member of the FKBP family and is correlated with the activity of histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2). However, the role of FKBP3 and HDAC2 in oxaliplatin resistance in CRC and the potential molecular mechanisms are still poorly understood. In the present study, the expression of FKBP3, HDAC2 and related-genes was detected by real-time PCR and western blot analysis. Furthermore, cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry (FCM). We found high expression of FKBP3 and HDAC2 in CRC tissues. In vitro, primary CRC cells with high expression of FKBP3 and HDAC2 were insensitive to oxaliplatin. Downregulation of FKBP3 significantly increased the sensitivity of primary CRC cells to oxaliplatin, reduced expression of HDAC2, permeability glycoprotein (P-gp) and phosphorylated AKT (p-AKT), and increased expression of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and cleaved caspase-3. Accordingly, upregulation of FKBP3 had the opposite effect. Furthermore, downregulation of HDAC2 significantly counteracted FKBP3-induced oxaliplatin resistance in CRC cells. Our data revealed that oxaliplatin resistance in CRC cells is positively associated with FKBP3 and HDAC2 expression, and FKBP3 downregulation could attenuate oxaliplatin resistance in CRC cells by reducing HDAC2 expression and possibly through regulation of the PTEN/AKT pathway.
Rheological Properties of Terminalia Mantaly Exudate as Drilling Mud Additive

Polymers are known for controlling fluid loss and modifying rheology in drilling muds through polymer chain entanglement and polymer-solvent interactions. Natural polymers have been used in the formulation of drilling muds, mainly due to their high molecular weight and eco-friendliness but they have limitations in controlling fluid loss, modifying viscosity or forming good gel strength in saline and thermal environments. This study reports laboratory evaluation of Terminalia mantaly exudates as viscosifier in drilling mud formulations. The effects of polymer concentrations, temperature, pH and salinity on the rheological properties of this novel biopolymer were investigated. Results obtained show that as polymer concentration increases (0.5% – 2.5%w/v), the rheological properties (apparent viscosity, plastic viscosity and yield point) of the biopolymer increased. At the polymer concentrations investigated, an increase in temperature (80°F-150°F) results in a slight decrease in the rheological properties of the polymer. At 2%w/v polymer concentration, an increase in salinity results in a slight decrease in its rheological properties, while at 1.5%w/v polymer concentration, an increase in pH (4-10) shows no significant change in the rheological properties. The shear stress increases with increase in shear rate and obeys the Bingham plastic model. The results obtained show that the polymer has a good alkaline resistance at pH above 7 and stable rheological properties at increased salinity and temperature. This has been attributed to the stable repulsive forces of the negatively charged polyelectrolyte of the polymer as salinity increases. From the results obtained in this study, Terminalia mantaly exudate can be a substitute for conventional natural polymers in water-based drilling muds.
Involvement of SNX1 in regulating EGFR endocytosis in a gefitinib-resistant NSCLC cell lines

The drug gefitinib, a specific inhibitor of EGFR tyrosine kinase, has been shown to suppress the activation of EGFR signaling for survival and cell proliferation in non-small cell lung cancer cell lines. For many years, EGFR endocytosis has served as a model for investigating ligand-induced, receptor-mediated endocytosis. On EGF stimulation, EGFR is internalized and transported via clathrin-coated vesicles to early endosomes, and EGFR then recruits and phosphorylates signaling molecules, leading to the activation of downstream signaling such as MAPK/PI3K/AKT pathways-an important mechanism for regulating cell growth. Once delivered to the lysosomes, EGFR is degraded to terminate intracellular EGFR signaling via endocytosis; this process is known as receptor downregulation. Therefore, the endocytosis of EGFR is closely related with attenuation of intracellular EGFR signaling. Alternatively, EGFR is returned to cell surface from early endosomes for the continued signaling. Previous reports revealed that a competent EGF-induced endocytosis of EGFR followed by its rapid downregulation efficiently proceeds in the gefitinib-sensitive NSCLC cell lines. In contrast, gefitinib-resistant cell lines showed that EGFR endocytosis is impaired and the internalized EGFR is aggregated in the early endosomes, which is associated with the overexpressed sorting nexin 1 (SNX1), initially identified as a protein that interacts with EGFR. Thus dysregulated EGFR endocytosis is implicated in gefitinib resistance, as it leads to uncontrolled signal transduction. At present, the therapeutic relevance of EGFR endocytosis with regard to drug resistance in lung cancer has not been clarified. This review focused on the mechanism for EGFR endocytosis associated with SNX1 trafficking in gefitinib-resistant lung cancer cells.
Potato tuber yield and quality in response to different nitrogen fertilizer application rates under two split doses in an irrigated sandy loam soil

Abstract Management strategies to minimize nitrogen (N) losses to the atmosphere and water bodies from potato production fields while maintaining tuber yields and quality relies on good N management. A 2-year (2016–17 and 2017–18) field trial with ‘Symphonia’ potato was completed on a sandy loam soil irrigated with flood irrigation in Punjab, Pakistan to investigate the effect of N fertilizer rate on vegetative, yield and tuber quality parameters. The N fertilizer treatments comprising six N rates from 0 to 300 kg ha−1 were applied at 50 kg N increments. Number of stems and tubers plant−1 showed a quadratic response while other parameters revealed cubic trends in response to N fertilizer rates. Applying more than 250 kg ha−1 of N fertilizer did not increase vegetative growth and yield. In conclusion, the optimal N-application rate of 250 Kg ha−1 has great potential to improve yield and quality of potato in the sub-tropical region of Punjab, Pakistan. These findings, besides improving productivity can minimize the risk of N fertilizer loss to the atmosphere.
Potato Tuber Yield and Plant Morphological Descriptors as Affected by Nitrogen Application

ABSTRACT Nitrogen (N) applied as a unique and relatively high rate can increase soil salinity and lead to potato yield loss. Thus, the aim of this work was to determine the effect of N fertilizer application mode on potato tuber yield and on morphological descriptors of shoot and subterranean organs throughout the potato plant cycle of the cultivars Agata and Asterix. Three treatments were evaluated: T0 (without N), T1 (50% of the N rate at planting time + 50% of N at 22 days after the plant emergency), and T2 (single N rate at planting). The N rate was 220 kg/ha, as urea. Two experiments were simultaneously installed in the field, each corresponding to each cultivar. Applying urea at an inadequate time leads to a 4.3% decrease in crop profitability. For Agata, it is more appropriate splitting urea application and for Asterix it is better not to split the N application. Compared to the unfertilized control, for both cultivars, a suitable mode of N application provided an increase in stem and leaf dry weight and a decrease in stoloniferous root dry weight. Regardless of cultivars, the highest value of dry weight was observed in the tuber, followed by leaf, stem, roots, and stolon.
Antioxidant Activity of Haramounting Leaf Ethanol Extract (Rhodomytrus tomentosa) In Preventing Heart Damage of Mice (Mus musculus L.) after exposure to Electronic Cigarette

Cigarette smoke is one factor that increases free radicals in the blood will affect liver health in the body. The purpose of this study is to find outthe effect of giving leaves ethanol extract haramounting to histology of male mice liver exposed to electric cigarettes. The design of this study used Completely Randomized Design (CRD) consisting of + Group, - Group and three treatments of Haramounting Leaf Ethanol Extract (Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (Aiton) Hassk. ) for 30 days at a dose of 100 mg/kg BW Body Weight, 200 mg/kg BW and 300 mg/kg BW for treament use of five replications. Liver organ preparations were made using paraffin block method and Hematoxylin Erlich-Eosin (HE) staining. The results of the study show on histological observations The liver has a tendency that electric cigarette smoke can cause damage in liver cells. The results of this study indicate that ethanol extract leaves of Haramounting after exposure to eletric cigarette smoke can effectively regenerate damaged liver cells.
Modelling wine astringency from its chemical composition using machine learning algorithms

Aims: The present work aims to predict sensory astringency from wine chemical composition using machine learning algorithms.Material and results: Moristel grapes from different vineblocks and at different stages of ripening were collected. Eleven different wines were produced in 75 L tanks in triplicate, and further sensory factors were described by the rate-all-that-apply method with a trained panel of participants. The polyphenolic composition was characterised in wines by measuring the concentration and activity of tannins using UHPLC-UV/VIS, the mean degree of polymerisation (mDP. and the composition of tannins using thiolysis followed by UHPLC-MS. Conventional oenological parameters were analysed using FTIR and UV-Vis. Machine learning was applied to build models for predicting a wines astringency from its chemical composition. The best model was obtained using the support vector regressor (radial kernel) algorithm presenting a root-mean-square error (RMSE) value of 0.190. Conclusions: The main variables of the astringency model were the % of procyanidins constituting tannins and ethanol content, followed by other eight variables related to tannin structure and acidity.Significance of the study: These results increase the knowledge of chemical variables related to the perception of wine astringency and provide tools to control and optimise grape and wine production stages to modulate astringency and maximise quality and the consumer appeal of wines.
Effectiveness of pH and Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA) on Fungicidal Activity of Certain Fungicides for Controlling Green and Blue Mold Diseases on Orange Fruits

Green and blue molds caused by Penicillium digitatum and P. italicum, respectively, are the major postharvest cause of orange fruit decay, resulting in economic losses in the citrus industry. Four fungicides (i.e. boscalid, kresoxim-methyl, boscalid+kresoxim-methyl and cyprodinil+ fludioxonil) and the antioxidant butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) were evaluated separately and in mixtures against P. digitatum and P. italicum causing green and blue mold diseases of navel orange fruits, respectively. The in vitro studies showed that higher (8-11) and lower (3-5) pH values reduced the growth of P. digitatum and P. italicum. Also, the results showed that the premixed fungicide formulations were more efficient in inhibiting the mycelial growth of fungi than individual forms. Both fungi tolerated high concentrations of BHA. The potency of fungicides and BHA against fungi growth was interestingly increased at pH 3 and 9. Also, the fungitoxic activities of fungicides were increased by adding BHA to fungicide-amended medium. The in vivo studies illustrated that all the separated fungicide treatments, particularly the mixtures of them, effectively controlled the diseases, while the separate BHA treatments slightly reduced the incidence of diseases. Also, the addition of BHA to the fungicides greatly increased their efficiencies against the incidence of diseases. Moreover, the potency of fungicide and BHA was considerably increased at pH values of 3 and 9.
Cluster ions to preserve ready-to-eat table grape during cold storage

The demand for natural fresh-cut products characterized by high quality has promoted the research for non-chemical post-harvest treatments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of air purification with the ion generator Ionny® (Fruit control Equipment, Italy) on fresh-cut table grape quality during post-harvest storage. The air purification was the effect of positively and negatively charged ions generated by the ion generator at atmospheric pressure. The treatment was applied in a storage room on fresh-cut table grape at 0°C for 21 days. Berries were analyzed for weight loss, flesh firmness, skin color, total phenols, acidity, total soluble solids, vitamin C and total yeasts/molds. Results showed that ions treatment positively influenced the quality maintenance of the product, by improving color retention, limiting weight losses and preserving high phenolic content during postharvest storage. Moreover, in cv Red Globe treated berries showed higher soluble solids, acidity, lightness and lower firmness losses, while in cv Italia the ions treatment limited the growth of the microorganisms.
Can phosphorous acid be used to control Neonectria ditissima in New Zealand grown apples?

European canker, Neonectria ditissima, is a worldwide apple tree disease killing shoots, branches and trees, and treatment with phosphorous acid is a possible control option. The effect of six postharvest phosphorous acid (PA) treatments on fruit residues the following season was studied in Tasman on two trial sites growing ‘Scifresh’ or ‘Scilate’ apple trees. Spray treatments consisted of number (0–3) and timing (early, mid and/or late) of PA applications. Additionally, leaf-scar wounds were artificially inoculated with N. ditissima spores at the ‘Scilate’ site on 1 and 8 June 2017 to determine disease control. Symptom expression was checked regularly between October 2017 and February 2018. None of the treatments caused a statistically significant reduction in the incidence of canker development compared with the control. Two or more PA applications resulted in PA residues in fruit, at harvest, the following season. Higher PA residues were found in fruit following early applications than with late applications. More applications of PA resulted in higher residues. This finding has important implications for exporting fruit to markets that have no tolerance for PA residues.
Consumers’ experiences of appropriate sales interaction – a speech code theory perspective

Little is known about what kind of salesperson-consumer interaction is valued in different cultures. We explore the influence of national speech culture in sales-related communication in business-to-consumer (B2C) environments. We apply speech codes theory to identify the B2C context-specific speech codes attached to the sales-related communication described in consumers’ narratives. The results inform three discourses among sales-related communication: consumer orientation, professionalism and independency. The results suggest that independency, fact-oriented talk, and consumer-oriented communication are central speech codes related to the B2C sales context in Finland. Furthermore, the results describe a cultural norm for appropriate sales-related communication.
American-style options in jump-diffusion models: estimation and evaluation

We propose dynamic programming coupled with finite elements for valuing American-style options under Gaussian and double exponential jumps à la Merton [J. Financ. Econ., 1976, 3, 125–144] and Kou [Manage. Sci., 2002, 48, 1086–1101], and we provide a proof of uniform convergence. Our numerical experiments confirm this convergence result and show the efficiency of the proposed methodology. We also address the estimation problem and report an empirical investigation based on Home Depot. Jump-diffusion models outperform their pure-diffusion counterparts.