Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Heritability of sperm competition success in the bulb mite, Rhizoglyphus robini

Multiple mating by females has been proposed to function as a form of mate‐choice, which implies that males should show heritable variation in sperm‐competitive abilities. In this study, repeatability and heritability of sperm competition success was estimated in the bulb mite, Rhizoglyphus robini. Fertilization success of males was estimated in competition with sperm of two other males. Males differed consistently in their sperm competition success, with repeatability estimated at 0.22. The heritability of sperm competition success was estimated using parent‐offspring regression, with the mean fertilization success from two matings used as a measure of each male's competitive ability. There was a significant association between the sperm competition success of fathers and sons. Narrow sense heritability (h2) was 0.284. This result supports the hypotheses proposing the multiple mating is selectively maintained in females by enhancing the reproductive success of their progeny.
Is it possible to predict the complexity of peripheral artery disease with atherogenic index?

Objectives Lower extremity peripheral artery disease develops mainly due to atherosclerosis and occurs as a result of the systemic atherosclerotic process. Increased triglyceride (TG) and decreased high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) values increase atherosclerosis risk. With regard to this information, TG/HDL-C ratio is used as the atherogenic index. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of TG/HDL-C ratio to predict the complexity of disease in patients with peripheral artery disease. Methods Patients who were diagnosed with peripheral artery disease and admitted to our clinic between August 2013 and August 2019 were included in this study retrospectively. Patients were divided into two groups based on angiographic evaluations with TransAtlantic Inter-Society Consensus-II classification. Those with TASC A-B lesions were included in Group 1 and those with TASC C-D lesions constituted Group 2. Results The mean ages of Group 1 (n = 314) and Group 2 (n = 98) patients were 56.1 ± 9.3 and 58.4. 1 ± 8.1 years, respectively. The frequency of male gender and coronary artery disease was significantly higher in Group 2 (p = 0.043, p = 0.001, respectively). In Group 2, triglyceride and TG/HDL-C ratios were significantly high, while HDL-C was significantly low (p = 0.022, p < 0.001, p = 0.010, respectively). The multivariate logistic regression analysis performed to evaluate the parameters in predicting the angiographic complexity of peripheral artery disease showed that coronary artery disease (OR: 1.009 CI 95%: 1.003–1.021 p = 0.016) and TG/HDL-C ratio (OR: 5.385 CI 95%: 2.553–9.357 p = 0.001) were independent predictors for complexity. ROC analysis revealed that the cut-off value of TG/HDL-C was 2.9 (AUC = 0.670, p < 0.001) with 75.5% sensitivity and 56.7% specificity. Conclusions It is possible to predict the angiographic complexity of peripheral artery disease with TG/HDL-C ratio, also known as atherogenic index, which is easily obtained by routine biochemical parameters.
Analysis of growth of broilers with restricting and unrestricting initial body weight in Gompertz-Laird model in different environments

The objectives of the present study were twofold. The first objective was to compare the original Gompertz-Laird model with two other versions of the Gompertz-Laird models where the model parameter of the initial body weight (BW0) was restricted in two different ways: 1) BW0 was set to be the mean of the observed initial body weights, 2) BW0 was allowed to vary within an interval of ±3σp around the mean of the initial observed body weights. The second objective was to estimate growth curve parameters for live weight of broilers using the selected form of the model, then to investigate the effect of environmental fluctuations on the model parameters. Data were obtained from the 278 broilers that were reared in diverse environments where temperature, sex, and feeding regimes were the factors creating the environmental diversity. Models were compared using coefficients of determination (R2), correlation between the observed and the estimated growth curves (r), residual standard deviation (RSD), and the estimated mature body weight (BWa). The restrictions applied on BW0 did not improve the fitting of Gompertz-Laird model, and resulted in estimating model parameters that are out of the parameter space. The unrestricted form of the Gompertz-Laird model was, however, observed to be suitable for explaining the growth of broilers. Broilers subjected to 21°C reached the age of maximum growth about 3 days later than the broilers subjected to 30°C. The initial specific growth rate (L) and the rate of exponential decay (K) of the initial specific growth rate were lower in 21°C than 30°C. The model parameters of BW0, L, and K were affected by differences in feeding regimes.
STUDIES ON THE SEX RATIO IN THE JARRAH LEAFMINER PERTHIDA GLYPHOPA (LEPIDOPTERA: INCURVARIIDAE)

The sex ratio of the jarrah leafminer Perthida glyphopa Common was studied in the larvae, pupae and adults. Female larvae predominated at the feeding stage in leaves during June‐September, the sex ratio (male:female) being 0.74:1.00. Diapausing larvae in the soil at the end of September had sex ratio 1.47:1.00, pupae in March 1.30:1.00 and emerging adults in April‐May 1.56:1.00. The reversal of the sex ratio at the diapausing stage suggests a biased mortality of female larvae in the soil.
Advances in therapeutic vaccines for treating human papillomavirus‐related cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the etiologic agent of the majority of cervical intraepithelial lesions (CIN) and cervical cancers. While prophylactic HPV vaccines prevent infections from the main high‐risk HPV types associated with cervical cancer, alternative nonsurgical and nonablative therapeutics to treat HPV infection and preinvasive HPV diseases have been experimentally investigated. Therapeutic vaccines are an emerging investigational strategy. This review aims to introduce the results of the main clinical trials on the use of therapeutic vaccines for treating HPV infection and ‐related CIN, reporting the ongoing studies on this field.
Effect of wheat spike infection timing on fusarium head blight development and mycotoxin accumulation

Fusarium head blight in wheat spikes is associated with production of mycotoxins by the fungi. Although flowering is recognized as the most favourable host stage for infection, a better understanding of infection timing on disease development and toxin accumulation is needed. This study monitored the development of eight characterized isolates of F. graminearum, F. culmorum and F. poae in a greenhouse experiment. The fungi were inoculated on winter wheat spikes before or at anther extrusion, or at 8, 18 and 28 days later. Disease levels were estimated by the AUDPC and thousand-kernel weight (TKW). The fungal biomass (estimated by qPCR) and toxin concentration (deoxynivalenol and nivalenol, estimated by UPLC-UV-MS/MS) were measured in each inoculated spike, providing a robust estimation of these variables and allowing correlations based on single-individual measurements to be established. The toxin content correlated well with fungal biomass in kernels, independently of inoculation date. The AUDPC was correlated with fungal DNA, but not for early and late infection dates. The highest disease and toxin levels were for inoculations around anthesis, but early or late infections led to detectable levels of fungus and toxin for the most aggressive isolates. Fungal development appeared higher in kernels than in the chaff for inoculations at anthesis, but the opposite was found for later inoculations. These results show that anthesis is the most susceptible stage for FHB, but also clearly shows that early and late infections can produce significant disease development and toxin accumulation with symptoms difficult to estimate visually.
Plant K+ Channels: Similarity and Diversity

: In this review we compared the electrophysiological properties of plant K+ uptake channels from different plants and tissues. Taking into account the detailed knowledge of K+ channel properties, which has emerged since the application of the patch-clamp technique on plant cells, as well as results from our recent studies we were able to extract features common among plant K+ channels. In addition, we focused on the diversity that could create plant or tissue-specificity. Functional fingerprints for the voltage-dependent K+ uptake channels were generated on the basis of their voltage-dependence, kinetics, permeability, conductance and pharmacology as well as regulation of K+ channels studied in their natural environment and cloned channels in heterologous expression systems. Finally, sequence information on plant and animal K+ channels cloned so far was used to identify structural motifs that may be related to functional phenotypes.
Mites (Acari) Associated with the Desert Seed Harvester Ant, Messor pergandei (Mayr)

Mites (Acari) associated with the seed harvester ant Messor pergandei were investigated in the Sonoran desert of Arizona. At least seven representatives of the mite genera Armacarus, Lemanniella, Petalomium, Forcellinia, Histiostoma, Unguidispus, and Cosmoglyphus are phoretically associated with M. pergandei. Most of these morphospecies show preference for specific phoretic attachment sites and primarily use female alates rather than male alates for dispersal. Five mite morphospecies were found in low numbers inhabiting the chaff piles: Tydeidae sp. , Procaeculus sp. , Anystidae sp. , Bakerdania sp. , and Tetranychidae sp. The phoretic Petalomium sp. was observed consuming fungus growing on a dead queen, but the roles of the other mite species remain mostly unresolved.
Phytotoxicity induced by Phragmites australis: an assessment of phenotypic and physiological parameters involved in germination process and growth of receptor plant

This study investigated the possible phytotoxicity induced by Phargmites australis on phenotypic and physiological parameters of recipient plants with identification of major inhibitors in the donor plant. This was achieved using aqueous extracts of different organs and root exudates of P. australis in laboratory and greenhouse experiments with Lactuca sativa as the model test plant. The observed reduced liquid imbibition and altered resource mobilization in seeds of L. sativa, in particular an insufficient carbohydrate supply, demonstrated that the onset of germination might be negatively affected by phytotoxicity. Dose-response studies pointed out that oxidative stress through reactive oxygen species production could potentially cause the observed germination and seedling growth reductions. The osmotic effects by mannitol solution on germination as well as growth and physiology at a level of −0.57 and −0.45 bar, respectively, demonstrated that the results from aqueous plant extracts were partially induced by the osmotic potential on and above those levels. Overall, the relative strength of inhibition on measured parameters was the highest in leaf extract, followed by rhizome, root, stem, and inflorescence. Root exudates of P. australis also had negative impacts by reducing germination and growth of plant. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis revealed gallic acid, a potent phytotoxin, as a major compound with an order of leaf >inflorescence>rhizome>root>stem.
Survey of Milking Hygiene Practices and Their Relationships to Somatic Cell Counts and Milk Production

Abstract A total of 581 official test herds on the Quebec Dairy Herd Analysis Service were surveyed to measure frequency of practices of milking hygiene and effects of milking hygiene on herd averages of somatic cell counts and milk production. Over 99% of the dairymen washed or sprayed cows' udders, 55% used a separate towel for washing, 18% dried udders after washing, 35% rinsed teat cups in disinfectant, 50% used a teat dip, 34% recorded mastitis cases, and 63% had a mastitis control program, but only 18% had a program organized by a professional. Herds using a teat dip had counts 70,300 cells/ml lower than those not teat dipping, and herds drying udders had counts 44,000 cells/ml lower than those not drying udders. Effects of use of separate towels and rinising teat cups were small. Herds on a mastitis control program organized by a professional and those on a self-organized program averaged 58,800 and 40,800 cells/ml lower counts than herds without a control program. The difference between herds subscribing to a monthly cell counting service and those not was 30,400 cells/ml in favor of herds receiving monthly reports. Each increase of 100,000 cells/ml in herd average of cell count was associated with a decline of 59kg average production in the herd.
Evaluation of antioxidant potentials of Morinda morindoides leaf extract

This study investigated antioxidant status of animals given aqueous extract of Morinda morindoides leaves using the levels of reduced glutathione, total-thiol, vitamin C, and vitamin E as well as malondialdehyde concentrations as indices, and its in vitro antioxidant capacity. Thirty rats divided into five groups were used. Group A served as control and were administered distilled water while groups B, C, D, and E were given 100, 200, 400, and 800 mg per kilogram body weight of water-extracted constituents of M. morindoides for 28 days. Total phenolic compounds amounted to 83.6 ± 5.9 mg g−1 gallic acid equivalent, while total flavonoid content was 9.5 ± 0.9 mg g−1 pyrocathecol equivalent. Malondialdehyde in plasma was significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner, ranging from 21% in groups B and C to 84% in groups D and E. Vitamins C and E were significantly increased, in group E by 91% and 17% compared with control. Total thiols and glutathione in plasma were significantly increased, with group E having 2.5-fold and 4.2-fold higher values than control.
Physician interpretation of ultrasound in the evaluation of ankle edema

Objectives The aim of this study was to assess inter‑ and intra‑observer agreement of detection and grading of oedema measured by vascular physicians using ultrasonography. Method In this observational study, three investigators read 113 videos of ultrasonography of the medial lower leg of 77 patients using a 15–18 MHz linear probe and reported whether oedema was present or not and, if present, to what extent. The videos were selected by the coordinator and sent every two months for a period of six months to the three investigators. Intra‑ and interobserver agreements were calculated using the Fleiss Kappa coefficient, reported with their 95% confidence interval and interpreted using the Landis and Koch values. Results Inter-observer agreement as to whether oedema was present or not was 0.88 (0.77–0.98), 0.96 (0.89–1.0) and 0.91 (0.80–1.0) for the first, second and third readings, respectively. The concordance was considered to be “excellent. ” Inter-observer agreement as to the severity of oedema was 0.52 (0.38–0.65), 0.53 (0.39–0.66) and 0.61 (0.47–0.75) for the first, second and third readings, respectively. The concordance was “moderate”. Intra-observer reliability for the diagnosis of oedema was only 0.89 (0.70–1.0), 0.93 (0.75–1.0) and 0.92 (0.74–1.0) for the first, second and third reader, respectively, which was “excellent”. Conclusions The inter-observer agreement interpreting ultrasound videos using standard probes was excellent. Only moderate agreement in grading the severity of the edema using our arbitrary criteria was shown.
Open microfluidic coculture reveals paracrine signaling from human kidney epithelial cells promotes kidney specificity of endothelial cells

Endothelial cells (ECs) from different human organs possess organ-specific characteristics that support specific tissue regeneration and organ development. EC specificity are identified by both intrinsic and extrinsic cues, among which, parenchyma and organ-specific microenvironment are critical contributors. These extrinsic cues are, however, largely lost during ex vivo cultures. Outstanding challenges remain to understand and re-establish EC organ-specificity for in vitro studies to recapitulate human organ-specific physiology. Here, we designed an open microfluidic platform to study the role of human kidney tubular epithelial cells in supporting EC specificity. The platform consists of two independent cell culture regions segregated with a half wall; culture media is added to connect the two culture regions at a desired timepoint, and signaling molecules can travel across the half wall (paracrine signaling). Specifically, we report that in the microscale coculture device, primary human kidney proximal tubular epithelial cells (HPTECs) rescued primary human kidney peritubular microvascular EC (HKMEC) monolayer integrity and fenestra formation, and HPTECs upregulated key HKMEC kidney-specific genes (HNF1B, AJAP1, KCNJ16) and endothelial activation genes (VCAM1, MMP7, MMP10) in coculture. Co-culturing with HPTECs also promoted kidney-specific genotype expression in human umbilical vein ECs (HUVECs), and human pluripotent stem cell-derived ECs (hPSC-ECs). In comparison to the culture in HPTEC conditioned media, co-culture of ECs with HPTECs showed increased upregulation of kidney specific genes, suggesting potential bidirectional paracrine signaling. Importantly, our device is compatible with standard pipettes, incubators, and imaging readouts, and could also be easily adapted to study cell signaling between other rare or sensitive cells.
Mate preference for multiple cues: interplay between male and nest size in the sand goby, Pomatoschistus minutus

Female mating preferences are often based on more than one cue. In empirical studies, however, different mate choice cues are typically treated separately ignoring their possible interactions. In the current work, we studied how male body size and size of the male's nest jointly affect mate preferences of female sand gobies, Pomatoschistus minutus. The females were given a binary choice between males that differed either in body size or size of their nest or both. We found that neither body size nor size of the nest alone affected male attractiveness, but together these 2 cues had a significant effect. Specifically, large males were more popular among females when they had a large nest than when they occupied a small nest. The results suggest that if interaction effects between multiple mate choice cues are not considered, there is a danger of ignoring or underestimating the importance of these cues in sexual selection by female choice. Copyright 2007, Oxford University Press.
Milt quality, parasites, and immune function in dominant and subordinate Arctic charr

Within a species, different males may display different mating strategies. For example, some males may be selected to invest in attractiveness and mate guarding, whereas others are selected for increased sperm production and sneaky breeding. In systems with a hierarchical structure, dominant males are expected to adopt mate-guarding behaviour and subordinate males sneaky-breeding behaviour. In this study, we kept wild-caught and sexually ripe male Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) in size-matched pairs and determined social rank from the number of aggressive encounters. After 4 days, subordinate males showed symptoms of stress, with higher blood glucose and erythrocyte levels than dominant males. There were no differences between dominant and subordinate males in parasite intensities or immune activity, measured as levels of granulocytes and lymphocytes in blood. Although subordinate males had smaller testes than dominant males, they still had a higher density of sperm cells and higher sperm numbers relat.
A non-linear reverse-engineering method for inferring genetic regulatory networks

Hematopoiesis is a highly complex developmental process that produces various types of blood cells. This process is regulated by different genetic networks that control the proliferation, differentiation, and maturation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Although substantial progress has been made for understanding hematopoiesis, the detailed regulatory mechanisms for the fate determination of HSCs are still unraveled. In this study, we propose a novel approach to infer the detailed regulatory mechanisms. This work is designed to develop a mathematical framework that is able to realize nonlinear gene expression dynamics accurately. In particular, we intended to investigate the effect of possible protein heterodimers and/or synergistic effect in genetic regulation. This approach includes the Extended Forward Search Algorithm to infer network structure (top-down approach) and a non-linear mathematical model to infer dynamical property (bottom-up approach). Based on the published experimental data, we study two regulatory networks of 11 genes for regulating the erythrocyte differentiation pathway and the neutrophil differentiation pathway. The proposed algorithm is first applied to predict the network topologies among 11 genes and 55 non-linear terms which may be for heterodimers and/or synergistic effect. Then, the unknown model parameters are estimated by fitting simulations to the expression data of two different differentiation pathways. In addition, the edge deletion test is conducted to remove possible insignificant regulations from the inferred networks. Furthermore, the robustness property of the mathematical model is employed as an additional criterion to choose better network reconstruction results. Our simulation results successfully realized experimental data for two different differentiation pathways, which suggests that the proposed approach is an effective method to infer the topological structure and dynamic property of genetic regulations.