Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
β-adrenergic signaling modulates cancer cell mechanotype through a RhoA-ROCK-myosin II axis

The ability of cells to deform and generate forces are key mechanical properties that are implicated in metastasis. While various soluble and mechanical cues are known to regulate cancer cell mechanical phenotype or mechanotype, our knowledge of how cells translate external signals into changes in mechanotype is still emerging. We previously discovered that activation of β-adrenergic signaling, which results from soluble stress hormone cues, causes cancer cells to be stiffer or less deformable; this stiffer mechanotype was associated with increased cell motility and invasion. Here, we characterize how β-adrenergic activation is translated into changes in cellular mechanotype by identifying molecular mediators that regulate key components of mechanotype including cellular deformability, traction forces, and non-muscle myosin II (NMII) activity. Using a micropillar assay and computational modelling, we determine that βAR activation increases cellular force generation by increasing the number of actin-myosin binding events; this mechanism is distinct from how cells increase force production in response to matrix stiffness, suggesting that cells regulate their mechanotype using a complementary mechanism in response to stress hormone cues. To identify the molecules that modulate cellular mechanotype with βAR activation, we use a high throughput filtration platform to screen the effects of pharmacologic and genetic perturbations on βAR regulation of whole cell deformability. Our results indicate that βAR activation decreases cancer cell deformability and increases invasion by signaling through RhoA, ROCK, and NMII. Our findings establish βAR-RhoA-ROCK-NMII as a primary signaling axis that mediates cancer cell mechanotype, which provides a foundation for future interventions to stop metastasis.
Evidence of polygenic adaptation at height-associated loci in mainland Europeans and Sardinians

Adult height was one of the earliest putative examples of polygenic adaptation in human. By constructing polygenic height scores using effect sizes and frequencies from hundreds of genomic loci robustly associated with height, it was reported that Northern Europeans were genetically taller than Southern Europeans beyond neutral expectation. However, this inference was recently challenged. Sohail et al. and Berg et al. showed that the polygenic signature disappeared if summary statistics from UK Biobank (UKB) were used in the analysis, suggesting that residual uncorrected stratification from large-scale consortium studies was responsible for the previously noted genetic difference. It thus remains an open question whether height loci exhibit signals of polygenic adaptation in any human population. In the present study, we re-examined this question, focusing on one of the shortest European populations, the Sardinians, as well as on the mainland European populations in general. We found that summary statistics from UKB significantly correlate with population structure in Europe. To further alleviate concerns of biased ascertainment of GWAS loci, we examined height-associated loci from the Biobank of Japan (BBJ). Applying frequency-based inference over these height-associated loci, we showed that the Sardinians remain significantly shorter than expected (~ 0.35 standard deviation shorter than CEU based on polygenic height scores, P = 1.95e-6). We also found the trajectory of polygenic height scores decreased over at least the last 10,000 years when compared to the British population (P = 0.0123), consistent with a signature of polygenic adaptation at height-associated loci. Although the same approach showed a much subtler signature in mainland European populations, we found a clear and robust adaptive signature in UK population using a haplotype-based statistic, tSDS, driven by the height-increasing alleles (P = 4.8e-4). In summary, by examining frequencies at height loci ascertained in a distant East Asian population, we further supported the evidence of polygenic adaptation at height-associated loci among the Sardinians. In mainland Europeans, we also found an adaptive signature, although becoming more pronounced only in haplotype-based analysis.
Characterization of gelatins from Nile tilapia skins preserved by freezing and salting

After Nile tilapia skin was preserved using the methods of freezing and dry salting, characteristics of skin gelatin were evaluated with regard to yield, rheological features and physical and chemical properties. Preservation was performed after filleting, at which time skins were either frozen (-18°C) for 7 days or salted (25°C) for 7 days. Although no differences (p > 0.05) were observed with respect to humidity, protein, lipid, ash and calcium levels, gelatin from salted skins had a higher concentration of iron relative to frozen skins. Further, twenty-three fatty acids were detected in salted skins compared with merely three found in skin derived gelatin. Of amino acids found, glycine, alanine, proline and arginine were the most abundant. Hydroxyproline abundance in salted and frozen skin gelatin were 8.76% and 8.71%, respectively. In addition, salted skin gelatins had a greater accumulation of saturated fatty acids and lower rates of monounsaturated fatty acids. Salted skin gelatin had the highest yield (18g × 100g-1), gel strength (200 g) and viscosity (19.02mPas) when compared to the yield (17g × 100g-1), gel strength (12.7g) and viscosity (9.16 mPas) of frozen skins. Results show that gelatin from dry salted skin had the best yield and also had relatively better rheological properties, more iron, and better coloration relative to gelatin obtained from frozen skins of Nile tilapia.
Effect of Breed and Egg Weight on the Weight of Day-Old Chick in Kuroiler and Chabro Breeds of Poultry

Poultry is fastest growing sector of Indian agriculture today. Production of good-quality chicks is the prime objective of modern hatcheries in the world. One of the main genetic factor that affect the subsequent productivity of layer and broiler chicken is egg weight. Effect of egg size on post hatch performance of broiler chicks has an important economic impact. Though lot of work has been carried out on egg quality traits of established breeds, the information on varieties developed and being popularized for backyard farming in rural and tribal areas are limited.
Delayed suppression normalizes face identity responses in the primate brain

The primate brain is specialized for social visual perception. Previous work indicates that recognition draws upon an internal comparison between a viewed face and an internally stored average face. Here we demonstrate that this comparison takes the form of a delayed, dynamic suppression of face averageness among single neurons. In three macaque face patches, spiking responses to low-identity morphed faces met with a synchronous attenuation starting approximately 200 ms after onset. Analysis showed that a late-emerging V-shaped identity tuning was sometimes superimposed on linear ramp tuning and could not be ascribed to repetition suppression. The results indicate that the brain’s analysis of faces is enhanced through predictive normalization of identity, which increases sensitivity among face-selective neurons to distinctive facial features known to drive recognition. One Sentence Summary Dynamic suppression underlies identity normalization in macaque face patch neurons.
Hepatocellular steatosis as a response to nutritional stressors in Lutjanus guttatus (Steindachner, 1869) grown in floating cages: a case study

This paper describes histological findings in the liver of Lutjanus guttatus after an acute mortality event in fish cultivated by river fishermen from Colima, Mexico, who were making their first attempt to cultivate this species. During 187 days, divided into two stages, 20,000 juveniles (6 g) were randomly distributed in three floating cages (125 m 3 ). During the first 110 days (pre-fattening), the fish were fed commercial feed. From days 111 to 180 (fattening), the fish were given a test feed, high in fat (20.4%) and low in protein (30.2%). At the end of the first stage, the fish showed good biometric parameters as well as normal behavior and healthy appearance. During the second stage, starting on day 175, a strange behavior was observed followed by an acute mortality event; this alarmed the group of fishermen, who requested our intervention. In the necropsy and the histopathological analysis, the liver of the fish showed clear evidence of hepatocellular steatosis, possibly as a result of the nutritional stress to which they were subjected during cultivation. The present work can serve as a basis for future research, given the scarce information of this pathology in this fish species.
Use of random forest for dystocia detection in dairy cattle

The aim of the present study was to illustrate the predictive performance of random forest (RF) used for dystocia detection in dairy cattle. A total of 1,342 and 1,699 calving records of Polish Holstein-Friesian Black-and-White heifers and cows were used. Five or ten predictor variables were included in the RF models for heifers and cows, respectively. The output variable was calving class. The proportion of correctly detected easy, moderate and difficult calving events in heifers on the independent test set was 39.64 %, 57.39 % and 83.64 %, respectively. The total accuracy was recorded as 60.12 %. The corresponding values for cows were 69.39 %, 67.61 %, 0 % and 66.04 %. The most significant predictors for heifers were sire’s rank and calving age, whereas those for cows additionally included: daily milk yield for the preceding lactation and the length of calving interval. The RF model developed in the present study was characterized by a high percentage of correctly diagnosed difficult calving events in heifers. However, it was completely unable to correctly detect dystocia in cows. The use of more influential predictor variables for cows in future research is especially important.
Discovery of Novel Human Biomarkers using Variable Lymphocyte Receptor Antibodies of the Sea Lamprey

Diversity, specificity, and memory are the fundamentals of vertebrate immunity – an intricate system that arose in response to the necessary cohabitation of vertebrates with the most ancient forms of life as we know it, namely microbial life. Although microorganisms are a cause of disease, another critical postulate or determinant is the capacity or capability of one’s immune system. In other words, the same pathogen will not be harmful to all individuals and disease can arise from the immune system itself. Notably, cancer, autoimmunity, and viral infection expose the limitations of human immunity. Not unlike how we observe interindividual variation in disease susceptibility and immune capacity, differences are amplified when we compare different species. Can the strengths of an alternate immune system address the restrictions of ours?
Experimental Study of Mass Transfer from a Sphere in Pulsating Flow

Mass transfer from a naphthalene sphere in a circular tube under steady and pulsating airflow at room temperature is investigated by measuring the loss in weight or the decrease in dimension of the body after a given time. Because of small mass-transfer rate, there is little difference between the results based on analyses with and without the resistance due to the rate of gas flow. Under the pulsating flow, however, the resistance is taken into consideration, because air and C10H8 gas may be mixed enough. Comparison of these results with theoretical ones reported previously gives the following semi-empirical expression: Sh=2+[(0.58)4+(O.38z0.4)4]1/4Sc1/3Re1/2p where, Sh=2rokf/D, z=(aω/U∞)3/2(a/ro)1/2, Sc=ν/D, Rep=2roU∞/ν (a: amplitude, D: diffusivity, kf: mass-transfer coefficient, ro: radius, U∞: free stream velocity, ν: kinematic viscosity, ω: angular frequency). As z=0, this expression agrees with the experimental one for steady flow mass-transfer, i.e., Sh=2+0.58Sc1/3Re1/2pThe experimental results for half naphthalene-coated sphere and of local mass-transfer show that the acceleration effect of pulsating flow on the mass transfer is remarkable in the dead-water region of the sphere, where the mass transfer is small under steady flow.Pressure and velocity in the pipe and around the sphere are measured by the use of a strain-gauge-type pressure transducer and a hot-wire anemometer, respectively, and the flow behavior is also examined.
MIXED-SPICES SUPPLEMENTATION SUPPRESSES FAT DEPOSITION AND CAUSES NO ALTERATIONS IN LIPID AND RED BLOOD CELL PROFILES IN BROILER CHICKENS

This research was conducted to determine the carcass traits, lipid and red blood cell indices of broiler chickens fed mixed spices-supplemented diet. Driedand pulverized spices; Allumsativum (garlic), Zingiberofficinale (ginger) and Punicagranatum (pomegranate) were mixed in ratio of 2:2:1 respectively.The mixed-spices were combined with Starter and Finisher to formulate four (4) diets; A was non-supplemented Starter, B was 2% mixed spices-supplemented Starter, C wasnon-supplemented Finisher and D was 2% mixed spices-supplemented Finisher. In the first phase of the experiment, 150 chicks were divided into groups 1 and 2 of 75 birds each, and randomly assigned to diets A and B. Groups 1and 2were respectively maintained on diets A and B for 3 weeks. In the second phase, group 1 in the first phase was sub-divided into groups A and B while group 2 was sub-divided into groups C and D and fed ad libitum for additional 3 weeks. The feed intake, carcass traits, lipid and red blood cell indices were determined. Increase in weight and feed intake were significantly lower (p 0.5). All evaluated red blood cell indices, lipid and artherogenic indices did not significantly differ (p>0.5) from the control. Conclusively, the spices could suppress fat accumulation in broiler chicken, without affecting other carcass traits, lipid and red blood cell indices.
The local impact of macrofauna and land‐use intensity on soil nutrient concentration and exchangeability in lowland tropical Peru

Agricultural expansion is a major driver of deforestation which has negative consequences for biodiversity and habitat stability. While sustainable farming is known to be beneficial for biodiversity and crop resilience, little is known about the impact of macrofauna and land‐use intensity on soil quality. In this study, we examine the relative effects of (a) soil macrofauna and (b) land use (primary forest, agroforestry, and annual crop) on element depletion rates, concentration, and exchangeability in standardized soil. We used microcosms with two different mesh sizes, 0.25 mm and 5 mm, to exclude and include macrofauna, respectively. The microcosms were incubated for up to a year throughout which samples were collected without replacement. Macrofauna did not have a significant impact on any of the soil parameters which is likely to be due to the low diversity of termites in the sites. Land‐use intensity significantly affected cation depletion rates whose effects increased in order of primary forest
Effects of forest windstorm disturbance on invasive plants in protected areas of southern Illinois, USA

Invasive plant populations respond positively to light increase from windstorm‐caused canopy damage, but are typically out‐competed over time as the tree canopy recovers. Some invasive plants have the ability to slow or even completely prevent canopy regrowth. It is important to understand invasive plant dynamics in windstorm blowdowns to inform effective forest management. We hypothesized that blowdown areas are more invaded than unaffected forest and that invadedness of a blowdown will decrease with increasing time since disturbance and increase with disturbance magnitude. We used Landsat imagery to identify 31 blowdowns caused by one of three storms in southern Illinois of the United States: 2006 tornado, 2009 derecho or 2017 tornado. We statistically matched these blowdowns to areas of unaffected forest based on slope, aspect, elevation, distance to a road and distance to a trail. We surveyed blowdown and unaffected units for invasive plants in summer 2018. Disturbance magnitude was measured in two ways: per cent change in normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and area of blowdown. Overall, blowdowns were more invaded than their statistically matched areas. Invadedness of blowdowns decreased with increasing time since disturbance, indicating that the blowdowns are recovering as tree canopy regrowth shades out invasive plants. Per cent change in NDVI was not a supported predictor of blowdown invadedness, but invadedness was strongly positively related to blowdown size. Larger blowdowns recover more slowly than smaller disturbances due to different recovery pathways, providing more time and opportunity for the spread and establishment of invasive plants. Synthesis. Our findings suggest that although blowdowns contained higher cover of invasive plants than forest unaffected by windstorms, invasive plants were responding negatively to canopy regrowth. Land managers should prioritize treatment of invasive plants in larger and more recent blowdowns.
Enhanced leaky sex expression is an adaptive plastic response to pollen limitation in the dioecious plant Mercurialis annua

Phenotypic plasticity is all but ubiquitous across the tree of life, but clear demonstrations that it is adaptive are rare. In dioecious plants, males and females frequently show ‘leaky’ sex expression, with individuals occasionally producing flowers of the opposite sex. Here, we ask whether leaky sex expression in the wind-pollinated dioecious herb Mercurialis annua is plastically responsive to its mating context, and whether such plasticity is adaptive. We compared experimental populations of females growing either with or without males. Females growing in the absence of males were leakier in their sex expression than controls with males, producing more than twice as many male flowers, and they enjoy much greater fitness. We discuss differences in the degree of plasticity between ploidal races of annua Mercurialis in terms of likely differences in the reliability of the signal plants may perceive for the presence of males in their populations. Our results provide a striking instance of adaptive plasticity in the reproductive behavior of plants and draw attention to possible constraints on plasticity when the environmental signals individuals receive are unreliable.
The Role of SLC22A4 Gene Polymorphisms in the Response to Salbutamol in Asthmatic Patients

Response to Bronchodilators is influenced by many factors including genetics. To evaluate the influence of SLC22A4 gene polymorphisms (rs3792876 and rs2073838) on the response to inhaled salbutamol in asthmatic patients, bronchodilator response was assessed in 180 bronchial asthma patients via measuring changes of the Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1) after the administration of inhaled salbutamol and genotyping for rs3792876 and rs2073838 was carried out using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Frequencies of genotypes were compared in between responders and non-responders. The frequency of rs2073838 genotypes showed no significant differences. On the other hand, the recessive genotype of rs3792876 occurred more frequently among the non-responding patients P = 0.01, 95% confidence interval (1.2-9.5). The homozygous form of rs3792876 can influence the absorption of inhaled bronchodilator (Salbutamol), although, replication studies on this point are recommended.
Effect of Foliar Spray of Plant Growth Regulators on Growth and Quality of Sprouting Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica L.)

Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica L.), belongs to family Brassicaceae and member of Cole group. The term ‘Cole’ originated from the word ‘Colewort’ meaning ‘wild cabbage’. It is also known as ‘green gobhi’. Among the growth regulators, auxin causes enlargement of plant cell and Gibberellins stimulates cell division, cell enlargement or both (Nickell, 1982). Gibberellic acid (GA3) and Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) exhibited beneficial effect in several crops (Sharma and Sardana, 2012; Thapa et al., 2013; Gayakvad et al., 2014). Due to diversified use of productive land, it is necessary to increase the food production and growth regulators may a contributor in achieving the desired goal.
Highly disparate bird assemblages in sugarcane and pastures: implications for bird conservation in agricultural landscapes

Sugarcane and cattle pastures are two of the most widespread and economically important agricultural landscapes. However, in Brazil, they have not been properly investigated for their importance to native birds and wildlife conservation. Thus, we aim to characterize and compare bird assemblages of sugarcane and cattle pastures; and understand how landscape features within both habitats influence bird assemblages. We surveyed birds in both agricultural habitats over one year, and then investigated the relationship between species richness and composition with landscape diversity, matrix permeability, and the size and distribution of natural forests close to both habitats. We observed 132 species in cattle pastures and only 72 in sugarcane (48% bird community similarity). We further evaluated the richness and relative abundance of avian ecological groups, including habitat specialists and habitat generalists, insectivores, omnivores, granivores and frugivores. All avian groups were higher in pastures, the habitat where landscape heterogeneity and number of scattered trees was higher. Our results show that overall increasing landscape heterogeneity favors an assemblage with higher richness and composed by species with more diverse ecological functions. Therefore, we argue in favor of management practices that incorporate heterogeneity in agricultural landscapes, mainly in sugarcane fields where a homogeneous scheme has been used. Otherwise, the potential of agricultural landscapes for bird conservation will be highly hindered, particularly if the sugarcane sector expands to other agricultural lands.