Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Variability in the Precision of Children’s Spatial Working Memory

Cognitive modeling studies in adults have established that visual working memory (WM) capacity depends on the representational precision, as well as its variability from moment to moment. By contrast, visuospatial WM performance in children has been typically indexed by response accuracy—a binary measure that provides less information about precision with which items are stored. Here, we aimed at identifying whether and how children’s WM performance depends on the spatial precision and its variability over time in real-world contexts. Using smartphones, 110 Grade 3 and Grade 4 students performed a spatial WM updating task three times a day in school and at home for four weeks. Measures of spatial precision (i.e., Euclidean distance between presented and reported location) were used for hierarchical modeling to estimate variability of spatial precision across different time scales. Results demonstrated considerable within-person variability in spatial precision across items within trials, from trial to trial and from occasion to occasion within days and from day to day. In particular, item-to-item variability was systematically increased with memory load and lowered with higher grade. Further, children with higher precision variability across items scored lower in measures of fluid intelligence. These findings emphasize the important role of transient changes in spatial precision for the development of WM.
Biodegradation of Atrazine by the Novel Klebsiella variicola Strain FH-1

Bacterial strain FH-1 with high efficiency of degrading Atrazine is separated by means of enrichment culture from the soil applied with Atrazine for many years. FH-1, recognized as Klebsiella variicola based on phylogenetic analysis of 16S rDNA sequences, can grow with Atrazine which is the sole nitrogen source. In fluid inorganic salt medium, the optimal degradation temperature, pH value, and initial concentration of Atrazine are 25°C, 9.0, and 50 mg L–1, respectively, and the degradation rate of Atrazine by strain FH-1 reached 81.5% in 11 d of culture. The degrading process conforms to the kinetics equation of pesticide degradation. Among the metal ions tested, Zn2+ (0.2 mM) has the most significant effect of facilitation on the degradation of Atrazine. In the fluid medium with Zn2+, the degradation rate of Atrazine is increased to 72.5%, while the Cu2+ (0.2 mM) inhibits the degradation of Atrazine. The degradation products of Atrazine by strain FH-1 were identified as HEIT (2-hydroxyl-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-1,3,5-triazine), MEET (2-hydroxyl-4,6-bis(ethylamino)-1,3,5-triazine), and AEEO (4,6-bis(ethylamino)-1,3,5-triazin-2(1H)-one) by HPLC-MS/MS. Three genes (atzC, trzN, and trzD) encoding for Atrazine degrading enzymes were identified by PCR and sequencing in strain FH-1. This study provides additional theoretical support for the application of strain FH-1 in bioremediation of fields polluted by Atrazine.
The effects of reward devaluation on cue-evoked modulation of sucrose seeking and neuronal ensemble plasticity in nucleus accumbens

Animals must learn the relationship between food and the environmental cues that predict their availability for the successful procurement of nutrient sources. These cues can gain powerful control over food seeking, but these cue-evoked behaviours must remain flexible and updated upon changes in internal states such as the perceived desirability of food. Recalling these cue-food associations activate subsets of neurons termed ‘neuronal ensembles’ in motivationally relevant brain areas such as the striatum. However, how neuronal ensembles are recruited and physiologically modified following the update of these learned associations has not fully elucidated. To investigate this, we examined the effects of reward devaluation on ensemble plasticity at the levels of recruitment, excitability, and synaptic physiology in sucrose conditioned Fos-GFP mice that express green fluorescent protein (GFP) in recently activated neurons. Neuronal ensemble activation patterns and their physiology were examined using immunohistochemistry and ex vivo electrophysiology, respectively. First, devaluation via four days of ad libitum sucrose consumption, but not caloric satiation, attenuated the ability of the cue to evoke sucrose seeking. Thus, changes in the hedonic, incentive value of sucrose, and not caloric need drove cue-induced sucrose seeking. Also, devaluation attenuated the cue’s ability to recruit a neuronal ensemble in nucleus accumbens (NAc), but not dorsal striatum. Next, devaluation prevented the cue from recruiting a hyper-excitable, GFP+ ensemble in the NAc, but did not alter the physiology of excitatory synapses on these GFP+ neurons. Our findings provide new insights into how updates in the hedonic value of sucrose critically modulates the flexibility of sucrose seeking and recruitment of ensembles with an altered excitability phenotype in the NAc shell.
Structure of the host cell recognition and penetration machinery of a Staphylococcus aureus bacteriophage

Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of infections in humans. The emergence of virulent, antibiotic-resistant strains of S. aureus is a significant public health concern. Most virulence and resistance factors in S. aureus are encoded by mobile genetic elements, and transduction by bacteriophages represents the main mechanism for horizontal gene transfer. The baseplate is a specialized structure at the tip of bacteriophage tails that plays key roles in host recognition, cell wall penetration, and DNA ejection. We have used high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy to determine the structure of the S. aureus bacteriophage 80α baseplate at 3.7 Å resolution, allowing atomic models to be built for most of the major tail and baseplate proteins, including two tail fibers, a trimeric receptor binding protein, and part of the tape measure protein. Our structure provides a structural basis for understanding host recognition, cell wall penetration and DNA ejection in viruses infecting Gram-positive bacteria. Comparison to other phages demonstrate the modular design of baseplate proteins, and the adaptations to the host that take place during the evolution of staphylococci and other pathogens.
Knowledge Level and Self-Confidence on The Computational Thinking Skills Among Science Teacher Candidates

The trending topic in today's education is computational thinking skills which are used to help to solve complicated problems easier. This study aims to identify the level of knowledge and self-confidence of science teacher candidates (physics and biology) on computational thinking skills. The survey research design was used through a mixed-method approach by combining quantitative and qualitative approaches. The quantitative study involved 1016 randomly selected groups of science teachers while in the qualitative study, eight science teachers were chosen based on the scores obtained from the quantitative study. The questionnaire was used as a quantitative data collecting technique to analyze descriptive statistics. Then, an interview was used as the qualitative data collecting technique and was analyzed through theme creation. The findings show that science teacher candidates have a high level of knowledge and self-confidence. The implication of this study is very important for teacher candidates because computational thinking can help to facilitate problems solving in everyday life. Teacher candidates need to be given knowledge and understanding of computational thinking skills, to have readiness and self-confidence in facing the challenges of the learning in the 21st-century
Tubifex Tubifex Müller, 1774 (Annelidae)'in Besin Kompozisyonu.

Nutritional composition of Tubifex tubifex Müler, 1774 (Annelidae). Nutritional composition of Tubifex tubifex Müler, 1774 (Annelidae) was investigated. Percentage crude protein, lipid, ash and moisture content of T. tubifex were 11.02±0.58, 2.14±0.06, 1.83±0.16 and 18.78±0.83 recpectively. Total fatty acid content was 7.28 mg/100 mg dry weight and ω-3 (C18:3n3 and C20:5n3) and ω-6 (C18:2n6c and C20:4n6) fatty acids composed 18%, 22% of the total, respectively. C22:6n3 (DHA) were not present in the sample. The most abundant amino acids (amino acid g/100 g protein) were lysine (6.54±0.12), leucine (6.52±0.13) fallowed by arganine (5.39±0.04), valine (4.92±0.09), treonine (4.81±0.09), phenylalanine (4.36±0.09), isoleucine (4.31±0.08), tyrosine (2.74±0.07), histidine (2.67±0.03) and methionine (1.82±0.04). Total carotenoid level was measured as 15.02±0.80 mg/kg .
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

Two analytical methods were developed for the determination of 48 organic compounds and 20 of their main by‐ products in fish matrices. The targeted compounds belong to various chemical classes of metabolizable (phthalates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, insecticides [pyrethroids and N,N‐diethyl‐meta‐toluamide]) and legacy (organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, polybrominated diphenyl ethers) pollutants. Analyses were performed by gas and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) and dynamic MRM, respectively. Method performances were satisfactory, with results meeting the validation criteria because they achieved good linearity responses, recovery, precision, and accuracy for most of the 68 investigated compounds. The methods were then applied on 3 feral chub (Squalius cephalus) collected from the Marne hydrographic network (France). Twenty‐six parent compounds and 5 metabolites were systematically detected in fish matrices, with substantial concentration variability within and among individuals. Phthalates and pyrethroids accounted for most of the pollutant load. Metabolite concentrations in liver samples exceeded those of parent molecules in fish muscle. The present study presents 2 reliable methods for the determination of a wide range of contaminants and underlines the importance of metabolite analysis for a more comprehensive understanding of pollutant bioaccumulation and fate in aquatic organisms. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:1866–1878. © 2019 SETAC
Effects of ruminal pH and subacute ruminal acidosis on milk yield and composition of Holstein cows in different stages of lactation

Subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA; implying a rumen fluid pH between 5.5 and 5.0), is one of the most important metabolic diseases of dairy cows. In this study, the effect of SARA and rumen fluid pH on milk yield and composition was assessed in dairy cows under field conditions, with repeated measurements in the same cows, at different stages of lactation. Rumenocentesis was performed in 83 Holstein cows of a commercial herd at 30, 90, and 150 days in milk (DIM). Rumen fluid pH was measured on-site using a portable pH-meter. Milk yield was also recorded at the same days. Milk samples were analyzed for fat, protein, lactose and total solids content. For the statistical analysis, mixed linear regression models were used. Prevalence of SARA was 48.2%, 53.8% and 65.3% at 30, 90 and 150 DIM, respectively. There was a significant negative effect of SARA and decreased rumen fluid pH on milk fat content; SARA was associated with a decrease of milk fat content by 0.22%, while a one-unit increase of rumen fluid pH, even within the normal range, was associated with a 0.28% increase of milk fat content and 0.44% increase of milk total solids content. There was no effect of SARA on milk yield or protein, lactose and total solids content. In conclusion, under field conditions, SARA and decreased rumen fluid pH reduce milk fat content.
Substitution of a commercial diet with raw meat complemented with vegetable foods containing chickpeas or peas affects faecal microbiome in healthy dogs

Abstract The aim of the study was to investigate if the inclusion of chickpeas or peas in the diet can modify faecal microbiome in dogs. Eight healthy adult Border collie, fed a commercial extruded diet as reference diet (RD), were divided in two groups of four individuals. At the beginning of the trial, one group received a diet based mainly of raw meat, rice and chickpeas (CP) and in the other group this pulse was substituted with peas (PE). After 14 days, the dogs with CP diet shifted to the PE and those with PE shifted to the CP diet, for another 14 days. Faeces were collected at the beginning (T0), after 14 days (T14) and at the end of the study (T28). Faeces were analysed for 16S rRNA, short chain fatty acids (SCFA), lactate, pH and faecal score was also evaluated. The SCFA and lactate in the faeces were not affected by the inclusion of pulses, with the only exception of isovalerate, which was higher in CP and PE diets in comparison with RD diet (p < .05). The abundances of Erysipelotrichaceae incertae sedis, Eubacterium, Anaerobacter and Sarcina significantly differed in CP and PE in comparison with RD. Moreover, the genera Prevotella, Lactobacillus, Alloprevotella, Suttarella varied significantly between CP and PE diets. The observed modifications of faecal microbioma were related not only to the change from RD to CP or PE, but also to the type of pulse, chickpeas or peas. However, long-term studies are required to investigate the implications that pulses can have for gut health. Highlights Faecal quality and end products of fermentation were similar between diets. Faecal microbiota is affected by the type of pulse and raw meat inclusion. Thermally treated Chickpeas or Peas in the diet of dogs were safe, but further study are required.
Comparative Analysis of Flour Properties of Dioscorea alata Tuber And Its Utilization On Wet Noodle

Abstract— Dioscorea alata grown in many areas of the world has been intensively studied. However none of Indonesian cultivar has been intensively studied for their properties and its utilization in food industry. This research was aimed to compare the properties of purple Dioscorea alata’s flour produced using different methods and to study the effect of partly substituted wheat by purple Dioscorea alata’s flour on the characteristic of wet noodles. The research on the properties of purple Dioscorea alata’s flour was conducted using complete random design with treatment on the methods used to produce flour: control, steaming, soaking in 1% citric acid solution + steaming, blanching + soaking in 1% citric acid solution + steaming and blanching + soaking in 2% ascorbic acid solution + steaming.These 5 methods were repeated 4 times. The research on utilization of Dioscoreaalata’s flour on wet noodle was conducted using complete random design with 5 levels of treatment (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% of Dioscorea alata’s flour) and 4 replications. The result showed that steaming the slices of tuber for 7 minutes prior to drying was an effective method to produce flour with strong natural color of purple. The concentration of Dioscorea alata’s flour significantly affects the elongation and texture of noodle (p<0.05). Except for its unpleasant grey color, wet noodle can be produced using up to 40% Dioscorea alata’s flour.
Relative Influence of Host, Wolbachia, Geography and Climate on the Genetic Structure of the Sub-saharan Parasitic Wasp Cotesia sesamiae

The parasitoid lifestyle represents one of the most diversified life history strategies on earth. There are however very few studies on the variables associated with intraspecific diversity of parasitoid insects, especially regarding the relationship with spatial, biotic and abiotic ecological factors. Cotesia sesamiae is a Sub-Saharan stenophagous parasitic wasp that parasitizes several African stemborer species with variable developmental success. The different host-specialized populations are infected with different strains of Wolbachia, an endosymbiotic bacterium widespread in arthropods that is known for impacting life history traits, notably reproduction, and consequently species distribution. In this study, first we analyzed the genetic structure of C. sesamiae across Sub-Saharan Africa, using 8 microsatellite markers. We identified five major population clusters across Sub-Saharan Africa, which probably originated in the East African Rift region and expanded throughout Africa in relation to host genus and abiotic factors, such as Koppen-Geiger climate classification. Using laboratory lines, we estimated the incompatibility between the different strains of Wolbachia infecting C. sesamiae. We observed that incompatibility between Wolbachia strains was asymmetric, expressed in one direction only. Based on these results, we assessed the relationships between the direction of gene flow and Wolbachia infections in the genetic clusters. We found that host specialization was more influential on genetic structure than Wolbachia-induced reproductive incompatibility, which in turn was more influential than geography and current climatic conditions. These results are discussed in the context of African biogeography, and co-evolution between Wolbachia, virus parasitoid and host, in the perspective of improving biological control efficiency through a better knowledge of biological control agents’ evolutionary ecology.
A biogeographic and evolutionary analysis of the flora of the North-eastern cerrado, Brazil

ABSTRACT Background: The forest-savanna habitat switching is thought to have been a recurrent event in evolutionary history. Notwithstanding, the centre of the Cerrado, a large biogeographic domain, may be hypothesised to be a region with historical climatic stability and thus is predicted to contain high richness of cerrado species and the presence of few species from adjacents domains. Aims: We tested if today’s flora of the north-eastern cerrado (NC), a peripheral province of the domain, demonstrated an observable gradient in their distribution from centre of the Cerrado towards adjacents domains. Methods: We compiled vegetation survey data for 178 sites in the cerrado of north-eastern Brazil. Distribution patterns of plant taxa were assessed using multivariate techniques. Results: We recorded 1071 species in 390 genera and 85 families. Almost 40% were monogeneric families and ca. 50% were monospecific genera. The species composition in the NC followed a gradient related to the distance from the centre of the Cerrado towards its periphery. Conclusions: We show that the NC flora is unique and much richer than previously thought and that it is likely to be an outcome of evolutionary processes and of today’s intermixing of species from adjacent formations.
Bayesian inference of reassortment networks reveals fitness benefits of reassortment in human influenza viruses

Significance Genetic recombination processes, such as reassortment, make it complex or impossible to use standard phylogenetic and phylodynamic methods. This is due to the fact that the shared evolutionary history of individuals has to be represented by a phylogenetic network instead of a tree. We therefore require novel approaches that allow us to coherently model these processes and that allow us to perform inference in the presence of such processes. Here, we introduce an approach to infer reassortment networks of segmented viruses using a Markov chain Monte Carlo approach. Our approach allows us to study different aspects of the reassortment process and allows us to show fitness benefits of reassortment events in seasonal human influenza viruses. Reassortment is an important source of genetic diversity in segmented viruses and is the main source of novel pathogenic influenza viruses. Despite this, studying the reassortment process has been constrained by the lack of a coherent, model-based inference framework. Here, we introduce a coalescent-based model that allows us to explicitly model the joint coalescent and reassortment process. In order to perform inference under this model, we present an efficient Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm to sample rooted networks and the embedding of phylogenetic trees within networks. This algorithm provides the means to jointly infer coalescent and reassortment rates with the reassortment network and the embedding of segments in that network from full-genome sequence data. Studying reassortment patterns of different human influenza datasets, we find large differences in reassortment rates across different human influenza viruses. Additionally, we find that reassortment events predominantly occur on selectively fitter parts of reassortment networks showing that on a population level, reassortment positively contributes to the fitness of human influenza viruses.
Effect of Maturation Degree on the Fixed Oil Chemical Composition, Phenolic Compounds, Mineral Nutrients and Antioxidant Properties of Pistacia lentiscus L. Fruits

This study aimed to evaluate the maturity stage effects on the bioactive metabolites content, the antioxidant activity and color variation of Algerian Pistacia lentiscus L. fruit. For this propose, both red and black fruits of the selected species representing two different maturation stages immature and mature, respectively are chosen. Our experimental study was initiated by a GC/MS analysis in order to determinate the fixed oils chemical composition. An AAS for macroelements and ICP-MS for microelements was carried out to evaluate the mineral composition. Furthermore, phenolic, anthocyanins and total sugars compounds level were determinate. Also, a chromameter was used to detect the color changes of fruits powders. At last, antioxidant activities were evaluated by DPPH and FRAP assays. As a result, the fixed oil qualitative evaluation, revealed new molecules were synthesized in the mature fruit oil which gives it a higher quality than one of the immature stage, we also noted that the accumulation of the oils increases with the fruits maturation while the sugar content decreases significantly. In addition, the results obtained showed that the bioactive molecules were found to be significantly high at the mature stage and its affects positively the P. lentiscus antioxidant activity. High levels of minerals (Ca, Mg, Mn, Cu and Zn) observed in mature fruits ensure a high nutritional quality compared to immature ones. To conclude, the phytocomponents of P. lentiscus fruit are accumulated during maturation, which provides it with an important qualitative and quantitative value in terms of both curative and/ or nutritional fields. ********* In press - Online First. Article has been peer reviewed, accepted for publication and published online without pagination. It will receive pagination when the issue will be ready for publishing as a complete number (Volume 47, Issue 3, 2019). The article is searchable and citable by Digital Object Identifier (DOI). DOI link will become active after the article will be included in the complete issue. *********