Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Long-term declines in common breeding seabirds in Japan

Summary Global seabird populations are in decline, with nearly half of all seabird species currently in an extinction crisis. Understanding long-term seabird population trends is an essential first step to inform conservation actions. In this study, we assembled historical breeding records of seabirds throughout the Japanese archipelago and quantified the long-term population trends of 10 major breeding seabird species using a hierarchical Bayesian state-space model. The model revealed that six species had increasing or no detectable trends (Short-tailed Albatross Phoebastria albatrus, Leach’s Storm Petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa, Pelagic Cormorant Phalacrocorax pelagicus, Japanese Cormorant Phalacrocorax capillatus, Spectacled Guillemot Cepphus carbo, and Rhinoceros Auklet Cerorhinca monocerata). However, decreasing trends were found not only in nationally threatened species (Common Murre Uria aalge, and Tufted Puffin Fratercula cirrhata) but also common species that are often described as abundant (Black-tailed Gull Larus crassirostris and Slaty-backed Gull Larus schistisagus). These declining species have declined to 3–35% of baseline levels over the past 30 years. This study provides the first evidence of long-term declines in common and widespread seabirds in Japan.
Paralinguistic Information and Biological Codes in Intra- and Interspecific Vocal Communication: A pilot study of Humans and Domestic Cats

This pilot study is an attempt to explore how fundamental frequency (f0) as an acoustic correlate to paralinguistic infor- mation and biological codes are em- ployed in interspecific vocal communi- cation. Measures of f0 in human (Homo sapiens) and domestic cat (Felis catus) intra- and interspecific communication were compared. Results showed higher mean f0 in interspecific than intraspe- cific utterances for both species, while all cat-directed utterances had higher f0 range and standard deviation (sd).
Ecology, endemism, and conservation status of birds that collide with glass windows in Monteverde, Costa Rica

Worldwide, billions of birds die annually due to window collisions. Nevertheless, few accounts document bird-window collisions in the Neotropics. In this study, we document species that collided with windows in Monteverde, Costa Rica, and describe their ecological and conservation status. We gathered information from different sources, including data from museum records and accounts by Monteverde residents who participated as “citizen scientists” between May 2014 and December 2017. We conducted carcass searches between March 2015 and February 2016. We classified window-strike species by migratory, forest dependence, trophic guild, weight, abundance, conservation, and endemism status. We registered 103 species striking windows in Monteverde, which includes 98 of 267 species known to occur in three life zones in Monteverde and five not registered in the area. Window strike casualties’ frequencies differed by species, trophic guild and migratory status. Most window victims were residents, small, insectivorous, considered common or fairly common, with declining population trends. The families with the most species represented were Parulidae (14 spp.), Trochilidae (13 spp.), Turdidae (10 spp.), and Tyrannidae (9 spp.). Most species were passerines (Order Passeriformes) (71 spp.). No hawks or vultures were found colliding with buildings. The three species most commonly killed by windows were frugivores: Swainson’s Thrush (Catharus ustulatus), Northern Emerald-Toucanet (Aulacorhynchus prasinus), and Black-faced Solitaire (Myadestes melanops). Among window-kills were five species whose status on the IUCN Red List are Near Threatened and one Vulnerable, including the Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) and the Three-wattled Bellbird (Procnias tricarunculatus). Six species are listed as in danger of extinction and four are listed as species with reduced populations by the National System of Conservation Areas for Costa Rica (SINAC). 12 endemic species are strike casualties. The premontane wet forest is the life zone where more species were found (n=64 spp.), followed by the premontane moist forest (n = 49 spp.) and the lower montane wet forest (n = 31 spp.). These findings demonstrate the urgent need for conservation measures to mitigate bird mortality due to window collisions. Promoting use of methods to protect birds from windows should be an important goal for this IBA and the rest of Costa Rica. We also recommend collecting data in order to increase understanding about bird window collisions.
Early evolution of Cupedidae revealed by a mid‐Cretaceous reticulated beetle from Myanmar (Coleoptera: Archostemata)

Cupedidae, the most species‐rich family of the archaic suborder Archostemata, were abundant, diverse and widespread in the Mesozoic, yet little is known about the early evolution and biogeography. This stems, in part, from a lack of exceptionally preserved fossils from the Mesozoic and of formal phylogenetic study of both extant and extinct taxa. Here we describe and illustrate a new fossil from mid‐Cretaceous Burmese amber, and provide a phylogeny combining both fossils and all known extant genera of Archostemata. A dataset of 43 ingroup taxa and four outgroup taxa based on 110 morphological characters was analysed under parsimony. The results indicate that Priacma LeConte and Paracupes Kolbe, as well as the Cretaceous genera Barbaticupes Jarzembowski et al. and Mallecupes Jarzembowski et al., together form a sister clade to the rest of Cupedidae. Priacma megapuncta sp.n. is attributed to the relict North American Priacma by the presence of distinct subtruncate elytral apices, lateral elytral margins with two rows of sharp teeth, and peculiar fixing epipleural folds near the elytral apices. Our discovery of the first fossil species of Priacma in Burmese amber reveals the antiquity and wider distribution of the genus in the late Mesozoic.
Distinct cellular mediators drive the Janus faces of toll-like receptor 4 regulation of network excitability which impacts working memory performance after brain injury

The mechanisms by which the neurophysiological and inflammatory responses to brain injury contribute to memory impairments are not fully understood. Recently, we reported that the innate immune receptor, toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) enhances AMPA receptor (AMPAR) currents and excitability in the dentate gyrus after fluid percussion brain injury (FPI) while limiting excitability in controls. Here we examine the cellular mediators underlying TLR4 regulation of dentate excitability and its impact on memory performance. In ex vivo slices, astrocytic and microglial metabolic inhibitors selectively abolished TLR4 antagonist modulation of excitability in controls, without impacting FPI rats, demonstrating that glial signaling contributes to TLR4 regulation of excitability in controls. In glia-depleted neuronal cultures from naïve mice, TLR4 ligands bidirectionally modulated AMPAR charge transfer demonstrating the ability of neuronal TLR4 to regulate excitability, as observed after brain injury. In vivo TLR4 antagonism reduced early post-injury increases in mediators of MyD88-dependent and independent TLR4 signaling without altering expression in controls. Blocking TNFα, a downstream effector of TLR4, mimicked effects of TLR4 antagonist and occluded TLR4 agonist modulation of excitability in slices from both control and FPI rats. Functionally, transiently blocking TLR4 in vivo improved impairments in working memory observed one week and one month after FPI, while the same treatment impaired memory function in uninjured controls. Together these data identify that distinct cellular signaling mechanisms converge on TNFα to mediate TLR4 modulation of network excitability in the uninjured and injured brain and demonstrate a role for TLR4 in regulation of working memory function. Highlights TLR4 suppresses dentate excitability in controls through signaling involving glia Neuronal TLR4 signaling underlies enhanced dentate excitability after brain injury TNFα contributes to TLR4 regulation of excitability in the injured brain Altering TLR4 signaling impacts working memory performance TLR4 signaling is a potential target to improve working memory after brain trauma
Soil Solarization and Calcium Cyanamide Affect Plant Vigor, Yield, Nutritional Traits, and Nutraceutical Compounds of Strawberry Grown in a Protected Cultivation System

Soil solarization is a hydrothermal procedure of disinfesting soil of soilborne diseases and pests. Solarization can be combined with many other chemical or non-chemical alternatives to afford integrated pest and diseases management or improve plant yield. Calcium cyanamide (CaCN2) is a fertilizer used in agriculture sector and is also effective in suppressing soilborne pathogens. The present study assessed the influences of different pre-plant CaCN2 dosages on strawberry grown on solarized or non-solarized soil. Soil solarization and 500 kg ha−1 CaCN2 significantly increased early marketable yield by 105.3%, total marketable yield by 53.0% and firmness by 3.0%, respectively compared with the control (no solarization × 0 kg ha−1 of CaCN2). Exposing solarized plots to CaCN2 at 1000 kg ha−1 significantly increased fruit ascorbic acid content by 77.5% and phenolic content by 13.3% compared with fruits from control plants. Overall, plants grown on solarized soil performed better than those cultivated on no-solarized plots. Plants grown on soil treated with a dosage of 500 or 1000 kg ha−1 CaCN2 increased plant height, number of shoots plant−1, number of leaves plant−1, root collar diameter, plant visual quality, anthocyanins, and antioxidant capacity compared to control plants. Fruits from plants grown on soil exposed to CaCN2 with a dosage of 500 and 1000 kg ha−1 showed a lower N fruit content (5.4 and 19.5%, respectively) than control plants (non-treated control).
A Rare Variant Which Interfered with Interleukin 15 Receptor alpha Signal Transduction Exists in Schizophrenia Patients.

BACKGROUND Schizophrenia is a complex and debilitating mental disorder with a strong heritability. Immune imbalance is considered to be an important pathogenesis. Interleukin 15 and interleukin 15 receptor alpha are classic immune molecule and also maintains normal brain function, but little is known whether IL-15RA variants contribute to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. OBJECTIVE Testing the hypothesis that the genetic variants of IL-15RA are associated with schizophrenia progression and that IL-15RA SNPs play key roles in the downstream signaling transduction. METHODS AND RESULTS We sequenced IL-15RA exon from 132 Chinese schizophrenic patients and discovered a rare variants(rs528238821)in a patient who is catatonic schizophrenia with ankylosing spondylitis and his clinical features is similar to phenotype of IL-15Rα KO mice. Furthermore, the pBI-CMV vector over expressed missense variant significantly increased IL-15Rα expression in vitro. Cells carrying this mutation showed an attenuated response to exogenous interleukin15 stimulation through the inhibition of STAT3 phosphorylation. CONCLUSION We report this rare variant exists in schizophrenic patients and interferes with IL-15Rα intracellular signal transduction which may be a suspicious variant for specific types of schizophrenia.
ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTIBIOFILM EFFECTS OF BEE VENOM FROM (APIS MELLIFERA) ON MULTIDRUG-RESISTANT BACTERIA (MDRB)

The prevalence of (MDRB) is increasing worldwide; therefore, this study aimed to identify the most common MDRB in clinical specimens and meet the urgentneed to develop new antibacterial drugs to control their intractable infection. Additionally, due to the confrontation of the infection associated with bacterial biofilms, which are difficult to treat, and cause problems to public health, which require real solutions. Bee Venom produced by the glands of (Apis mellifera) is a complex mixture of active peptides, enzymes, and amines. So, it is considered a fertile environment for research to achieve the goal of this study. The results of the specimen’s examination showed that, from a total of 500 clinical specimens, there are 224 specimens exhibited no growth, while 276 were positive. From 276 positive cultures, 317 isolates were obtained. Out of the 317 bacterial isolates, 169 (53.3%) were Gram-negative bacteria (GNB), and 148 (46.7%) were Gram-positive (GP). It was of this number 124 (39.1%) were multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates of which 89 (71.77%) were Gram-negative type, including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter cloacae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 35 (28.23%) were Gram-positive including Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus haemolyticus and Enterococcus faecalis. Antibacterial assays showed that Bee Venom possesses strong potential effect against MDR isolates including both GNB and GPB.with a wide range of MICs and MLCs concentration-spacing between 3.125 – 50 μg/mL and 6.25 – 100 μg/mL, respectively against all MDR-GNB and GPB. It was found that GPB was more sensitive at lower concentrations of Bee Venom than GNB. In addition, Bee Venom sub-MICs values against the most biofilm bacterial produces namely; E. faecalis, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, VRSA, S. haemolyticus and E. faecalis exhibited sharp reduction in their biofilms ranged between (63.8- 92%) especially at ½ MICs according to each bacterium, exclude E. faecalis biofilm was moderately affected (39%). While, at another tested sub-MICs showed moderate, weak, and no antibiofilm effects.
The diet of a forest-dependent frog species, Odorrana morafkai (Anura: Ranidae), in relation to habitat disturbance

While deforestation is one of the greatest drivers of biodiversity loss, our understanding of the effects of habitat modification on species is limited. We investigated the diet of a forest-dwelling frog species, Morafka’s frog (Odorrana morafkai), in a highland forest in Vietnam in relation to habitat disturbance, sex and season. We surveyed the species at 45 sites in forest of varying disturbance and examined its diet using stomach flushing, estimating prey availability via trapping. We detected significantly fewer O. morafkai in highly disturbed habitats compared to moderately disturbed or non-disturbed habitats. We revealed that O. morafkai is a dietary generalist, identifying 28 prey types, primarily invertebrates. Prey composition, the number of prey items per stomach and prey volume per stomach did not vary between disturbance levels. Diet did not vary significantly between sexes, except that females had a higher prey volume. Prey composition in the species varied between seasons, with Coleoptera and Orthoptera dominating the diet in the rainy season and Lepidoptera in the dry season. The number of prey items per stomach and prey volume were significantly higher in the rainy season. There was a significant correlation between prey availability and diet composition. The low number of O. morafkai detected in highly disturbed habitats suggests that this habitat may not be optimal for the species, despite having a generalist feeding strategy and presumed high mobility. This study provides a window into the impact of an increasing threat, habitat disturbance, on forest-dependent amphibian species.
Phylogenetic analysis of bluetongue virus serotype16 based on genome segment 5 (encoding NS1)

Bluetongue virus (BTV) is the ‘type’ species of the genus Orbivirus within the family Reoviridae. The BTV genome is composed of ten linear segments of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), each of which codes for at least one of ten distinct viral proteins. Phylogenetic analysis based on VP2, VP3, VP5, VP7 and NS3 gene has been advocated by different researchers around the world. However, very little information about the phylogenetic analysis based on the NS1 gene of BTV-16 isolates is available. In this study, a partial sequence of segment 5 (Seg 5) from the BTV-16 Hisar isolate was sequenced. Sequence analysis of the Seg 5 of the BTV-16 Hisar isolate revealed highest nucleotide sequence identity of 98.9% (BTV-21), -96.4% (BTV-9) with sequences of NS1 genes of Indian isolates and 97.8% (BTV-3),-93.4%(BTV-1) isolates from other countries. The lowest sequence identity detected was 91.2% between sequences of NS1 gene of JQ924824 of BTV 16 Indian isolate and JX861502 BTV-1 of France. The study also assessed the comparative identity from the deduced amino acid sequences and found maximum homology (100% identity) with Indian isolates and 95.2 to 98.8% identity with Western isolates with only three amino acid difference. Phylogenetic analysis of the NS1 gene of the BTV-16 Hisar isolate with others around the world has revealed two major clusters which includes the Indian (Eastern) linage and Western linage separately. The BTV-16 Hisar isolate was found to be closely related with the BTV-9 and 21 Indian isolates based on its NS1 gene. Phylogenetic analysis of segment 5 is highly conserved among the different serotypes however, NS1 of BTV-3 of USA clustered with the Eastern lineage indicating introduction of Western BTV strains and a possible reassortment between Eastern and Western field strains in India. Key words: Bluetongue virus, genome, NS1, Orbivirus, phylogeneticanalysis, segment-5, serotype.
Influence of different doses of pyrazosulfuron-ethyl and establishment methods on the yield of lowland rice (Oryza sativa L.).

Field experiment to determine “influence of different doses of pyrazosulfuron-ethyl and establishment methods on the yield of lowland rice” was conducted at the Research Farm of College of Agriculture, Central Agricultural University, Imphal, Manipurduring the Kharif season of 2017. The experiment comprised of four doses of pyrazosulfuron-ethyl i.e. 0, 15, 25 and 35 g a.i.ha-1 and threecrop establishmentmethods i.e. broadcasting, drum seeding and transplanting method.The result revealed that among the different doses, pyrazosulfuron-ethyl @ 35g a.i.ha-1was most effectivein suppressing weeds, decreasing dry matter and highestweed control efficiency. Among the different establishment methods, transplanting was found to be the most effective method. It was also evident that the combined effect ofpyrazosulfuron-ethyl @ 35g a.i.ha-1along with transplanting method recorded significantly higher yield attributes and grain yield. However,pyrazosulfuron-ethyl @ 35g a.i.ha-1under drum seeding resulted in highest B:C ratio.
Soil type affects grape juice free amino acids profile during ripening of cv. Malvasia Istriana (Vitis vinifera L.)

ABSTRACT Four terroirs where cv. Malvasia Istriana is grown under equal viticultural practices and climatic conditions, but on different soil types, were studied. Grape juice samples were taken during ripening at three grapevine growth stages (S35 – berries begin to colour and enlarge; S36 – berries with intermediate Brix values; and S38 – berries harvest ripe). Malvasia Istriana grape juice showed a specific free amino acids profile during all three grapevine growth stages, where arginine was the most abundant free amino acid, followed by alanine, threonine, tyrosine, aspartic acid, serine, histidine and glutamic acid. Leucine was the least abundant free amino acid on all studied terroirs at all grapevine growth stages. Total free amino acids decreased at S38, compared to both S35 and S36, on all terroirs, except Fiorini terroir where total free amino acids concentration at S38 was significantly lower compared to S36, but significantly higher compared to S35.
Ratio-based vegetation indices for biomass estimation depending on grassland characteristics

Aboveground biomass (AGB) is one of the key indicators of aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP). The aim of this study is to demonstrate the potential of hyperspectral remote sensing techniques to predict AGB in grasslands. In order to reach this goal, biomass properties with different ecological features and altitudes of 550 m, 1200 m, and 1400 m above sea level were investigated. Twenty-one biomass samples and hyperspectral measurements were collected from each region and a total of 63 samples were analyzed. Linear and nonlinear regression models were generated to analyze the relationships between biomass and hyperspectral vegetation indices (VIs). The results showed strong relationships between VIs and biomass variations. However, dense biomass samples indicated weaker relationships with VIs due to saturation phenomena. Findings based on the measured data showed that AGB (except dense biomass) can be estimated with high accuracy using hyperspectral vegetation indices.
Early growth of planted Norway spruce and Scots pine after site preparation in Sweden

ABSTRACT Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) have different site preferences, but silvicultural recommendations for their regeneration at planting (including site preparation) are often the same. Thus, there is a clear need for greater understanding of species-specific interactions between site preparation and site properties. To meet this need, the species’ growth and survival have been monitored at both fertile and poor sites in northern and southern Sweden. At each of these sites, effects of three types of site preparation – removed humus (RH), deep soil cultivation (DSC) and control (C, no site preparation) – were compared. Results show that Scots pine grew more rapidly initially than Norway spruce, and DSC site preparation promoted growth of both species. However, on poor sites there was a delay in growth responses. In addition, removal of organic material in the RH treatment caused a sustained growth check of Norway spruce, but not for Scots pine. This study confirms that it is beneficial to use site preparation as it increases the survival of both species and may increase growth. However, site preparation methods that reduce the amount of organic material in the planting spots should be avoided for Norway spruce.