Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Negative emotional biases in late chronotypes

Abstract Increasing evidence suggests evening chronotypes are at increased risk for developing depression. Here, we examined if, similar to acutely depressed patients, evening chronotype individuals display biases in emotional face recognition. Two hundred and twenty-six individuals completed an online survey including measures of sleep quality, depression/anxiety and chronotype followed by a simple emotion recognition task presenting male and female faces morphed in 10 steps between 0 (neutral) and 100% sad or happy. Evening chronotype was associated with increased recognition of sad facial expressions independently of sleep quality, mood, age and gender. The current results extend previous work indicating that negative biases in emotional processing are present in evening chronotypes and may have important implications for the prevention and treatment of depression in these vulnerable individuals.
Genomics analysis on the responses of E. coli cells to varying environmental conditions

The natural living environments of E. coli cells are diverse, varying from mammalian gastrointestinal tracts and soil. Each environment might require distinct metabolic pathways and transporter systems, and long-term evolution has established elaborate regulatory system for E. coli cells to quickly adapt to the changing conditions. Sensing outside stresses and then adopting a different phenotype enable them to take advantage of any possible nutrients and defend against hostile environment. A lot of regulatory mechanisms have been identified by genetic, biochemical and molecular biology methods, and our study aim to build a systematic view on the response of the whole genome to four different environmental conditions. We used statistical tests including Pearson’s tests and Spearman’s tests and multiple testing adjustments to identify feature genes that are induced or repressed significantly across treatment levels. The feature genes identified were partially supported by previous literatures, and some of the novel genes not found in any previous studies may infer a potential research blind spot. Additionally, we compared the correlation tests to the implementation of machine learning algorithms, and discussed the advantage and drawbacks of each method.
Winter Thermal Ecology Of Pleurodema thaul (Amphibia: Leptodactylidae) Ecología térmica en Invierno de Pleurodema thaul (Amphibia: Leptodactylidae)

The biodiversity of the entire planet is threatened by global warming, and among vertebrates, Amphibia is the taxon most negatively affected by this problem. Amphibians depend on an external heat source to achieve and maintain an adequate body temperature, which has a signifi cant impact on their fi tness. Therefore, an increase in the average environmental temperature will affect, probably in a negative way, the general performance of amphibians. This makes it imperative to increase our scarce knowledge of amphibian thermoregulation. The aim of this work is to contribute to the knowledge of amphibian thermoregulation by studying the winter thermal ecology of one of the most widely distributed species in Chile, Pleurodema thaul. Individuals were collected during the mid-austral winter in Peninsula de Hualpen, which corresponds to the midpoint of the latitudinal range of distribution of P. thaul. In the fi eld and laboratory we recorded body temperature and the substrate and air temperatures. The data indicate that P. thaul is a thermoconformer, as its body temperature varies during the day, following the temperature of the substrate and the air. Pleurodema thaul does not seem to use morphological body properties to facilitate thermoregulation; body temperature was unrelated to the body size or weight of individuals. The fact that during winter P. thaul does not thermoregulate actively constitutes a clear indication that the global warming may have serious effects on this species.
Atributos físicos, químicos e biológicos de Latossolo Amarelo na conversão de floresta primária para seringais na Amazônia

The objective of this work was to quantify the effects of primary forest conversion into rubber tree plantation (Hevea spp.), concerning the physical, chemical, and microbiological attributes of a Xanthic Oxisol in the Central Amazon. Soil samples were collected at the 0.0–0.1 m depth in areas of the primary forest and of adjacent rubber tree plantations covering an area of 2.0 ha, with plant ages of 6, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 45 years. The reforestation with rubber tree plantation does not minimize the negative effects of the removal of the primary forest, with increased metabolic quotient and reduction of organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), porosity, enzymes (arilsulfatase, β-glucosidase, and β-galactosidase), and humic substances (humic and fulvic acids, and humin) in the soil. MBC and MBN ranged from 291.97 to 615.27 μg g-1 and from 65.76 to 98.58 μg g-1, respectively, and they are the most sensitive attributes to alterations resulting from the replacement of primary forest by rubber tree plantations.
Effect of Toxoplasma gondi Infestation on Lipid Peroxidation and Certain Antioxidants in Pregnant Women in Mosul City

In order to determine the effects of toxoplasmosis on the lipid peroxidation and the glutathione defense system against peroxides. Forty pregnant women with toxoplasmosis (acute and chronic) and twenty healthy pregnant women (control group) with age range of 18-45 years living in Mosul city were selected. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced form of glutathione (GSH) and gluthathione peroxidase activity (GSH-PX) were measured. The results showed a marked increased in MDA level (as an index of lipid peroxidation) in patients with toxoplasmosis in comparison with the control group. On the other hand, patients with toxoplasmosis had decreased GSH and increased GSH-PX level when compared with the control subjects.
Immunofluorescence analysis and diagnosis of primary ciliary dyskinesia with radial spoke defects

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a genetically heterogeneous recessive disorder caused by several distinct defects in genes responsible for ciliary beating leading to defective mucociliary clearance often associated with randomization of left/right body asymmetry. PCD individuals with defective radial spoke heads are difficult to diagnose due to lack of gross ultrastructural defects and absence of situs inversus . Thus far, most radial spoke mutations identified are loss-of function mutations, and missense variants have been rarely described. Using immunofluorescence analyses (IF), we studied the consequences of different RSPH9 , RSPH4A , and RSPH1 mutations on the assembly of the radial spoke complex to improve diagnostics in PCD. We identified bi-allelic mutations in RSPH9, RSPH4A and RSPH1 including 7 novel mutations comprising missense variants in 21 PCD individuals (16 families). We performed IF using antibodies directed against the radial spoke head components RSPH9, RSPH1 and RSPH4A to analyzed respiratory cilia of these patients. Absence of RSPH4A due to mutations in RSPH4A results in deficient axonemal assembly of the radial spoke head components RSPH1 and RSPH9. RSPH1 mutant cilia, lacking RSPH1 fail to assemble RSPH9, while RSPH9 mutations result in axonemal absence of RSPH9 but do not affect the assembly of the other head proteins RSPH1 and RSPH4A. Interestingly, our results were identical in individuals carrying loss-of-function mutations, missense variants or one amino acid deletion. Thus, we conclude that Immunofluorescence analysis can improve diagnosis of PCD in patients with loss-of-function mutations as well as missense variants.
Epigenetics, a signal sensor of dietary components, is involved in the hepatic gene regulation

Sustained high fat feeding leads to obesity and metabolic syndrome, accompanied by low-grade chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia. Changes caused by low-grade inflammation in the liver can result in the progression of disease and fibrosis. COX-2 is an enzyme that produces prostaglandins, which participate in multiple physiological and pathological processes, including the activation of inflammatory responses. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received a high fat diet during different life stages, including maternal (HF/C), post-weaning (C/HF), and lifelong (HF/HF). Liver samples were collected for analysis at 12 weeks of age. Total fat accumulation and liver damage evaluation were significantly higher in HF/HF than in the rest of the treatment groups. Analysis by PCR of the expression of COX-2 mRNA showed an induction in all of the high fat diet groups, especially in the HF/HF group, which doubled the induction fold of HF/C and C/HF. Meanwhile, analysis of fatty acid composition showed that proportion of both Arachidonic acid and Δ6-Desaturase, which produces Arachidonic acid, significantly increased in the high fat groups, which may have motivated the biochemical flow as well as provided the reaction substrate for COX-2 catalysis. In conclusion, induction of COX-2 gene expression in response to a high fat diet is associated with the period of exposure.
Antimicrobial Effect of Ursolic Acid and Oleanolic Acid against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

T was more resistant to UA and OA than that of the MRSA strains. The MBC values of UA and OA against MRSA had broad ranges; 4 to 32 µg/ml and 16 to >256 µg/ml, respectively. It was difficult to understand the different antimicrobial activities of UA and OA among the MRSA strains, because UA and OA antimicrobial mechanisms are unknown. These results indicate that the antimicrobial effects of UA and OA against MRSA are dependent on resistance to UA and OA in each strain.
Captive broodstock development of common carp Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758: influence of age on spermatogenesis and fertilisation parameters

Knowledge on the quality of male and female gametes which may affect fertilisation success and larval survival is necessary to enhance fish production to meet global demand. Gamete quality is affected by factors like sex ratio, stocking density, age, size, nutrition and feeding regime. In the present study, the spermatological and fertilisation parameters as influenced by the age of brooders of Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus 1758 developed under captive condition from a single population were studied with special reference to dilution ratios. Milt was collected from 6, 12 and 18 months old brooders of C. carpio and diluted at three ratios viz., 1:40, 1:80 and 1:120 using freshwater fish saline. Sperm density, spermatocrit value, seminal plasma composition, motility duration, fecundity, fertilisation and hatching rates were studied for brooders of all age groups. The results showed that milt from 12 months old brooder produced good quality milt in terms of motility duration (69.66±4.72 sec), fertilisation rate (91.3±3.05%) and hatching rate (76.5±2.64%) at 1:40 dilution ratio.
The effect of silvicultural management on regeneration, growth and yield of Arundinaria alpina (Highland bamboo) at Choke Mountain, East Gojam, Northwest Ethiopia

With the objective of determining the effects of silvicultural management on regeneration and growth of mismanaged Arundinaria alpina stands, an experiment was conducted in the Choke Mountain, northwest Ethiopia. Eight soil and plant management techniques that comprise soil loosening, selective thinning and removal of old stumps were splited on two levels of organic fertilizer and applied on one hectare communally owned bamboo stand. Effect of the treatments was observed from data collected in 2009 and 2010 rainy seasons. The number of recruited culms of previous years (2007 and 2008) which had intermittent protection from human and livestock interference was also quantified employing culm age determination techniques. Result of combined analysis of 2009 and 2010 indicated that soil loosening combined with selective thinning and removal of old stumps resulted in culm recruitment of 13,750 plants ha-1, i.e. 37% higher than the control plot. This treatment combination decreased shoot mortality by 61% less than the control and increased culm recruitment by 40 % more than the control plot during the 2009 shooting season. Culm diameter and height of individual culms recruited in 2009 and 2010 showed increasing trend across the two years. Comparison of culm recruitment of previous years with recruitments after treatment application indicated that with improved management, including protection from interference, culm yield of communally owned bamboo stands can be maximized by 158-589%. Key words: soil loosening, selective thinning, highland bamboo, silviculture, Yushania alpina
Land Degradation in the Peri-Urban Area

The book revealed that the land use is generally for agriculture (rainfed crop farming and animal husbandry), forest reserve, soil mining and refuse dumping while, the land covers are crops, trees (both exotic and indigenous species), shrubs, grasses, litters and refuse. Land use and land cover changes revealed forest use to agriculture and from tree/grass cover to crop cover and bare land respectively. The overall rate of degradation stands at 1%. The major types of degradation in the area are loss of surface soil rich in organic material, distortion of the land surface morphology, gully erosion, deforestation, flooding and indiscriminate dumping of refuse. Fourteen variables were selected for the analysis of the causes of land degradation. The results of correlation reveals that the partial correlation coefficient between the size of area degraded and slope is 0.563 while with the size of land use for agriculture, types of degradation and numbers of economic trees are -0.992, -0.630 and -0.496 respectively and they are all significant at 5% test level. Using the regression model the most important explanation of land degradation is the size of land used for agriculture.
Effect of Dietary Protein on the Performance of Local Guinea Keets in the Northern Region of Ghana

An experiment was conducted on 524 guinea keets to test the effect of four dietary protein levels on general performance. The four levels evaluated were 0.22, 0.23, 0.24 and 0.25g dietary protein/g feed. Data were collected on feed intake, weight gains and mortality. Partial cost-benefit analysis was also done. The results showed significant feed intake differences between treatments (P<0.05). Keets on 0.22 protein feed recorded the highest feed consumption followed by 0.23, 0.25 and lastly 0.24. Mean daily weight gain was highest among keets on the 0.24 protein feed and lowest among keets on the 0.22 protein feed; however, these differences were not statistically significant. The 0.25 DP feed also appeared to perform better than 0.23 DP feed in terms of daily weight gain. Mean cost of feed per kilogram live weight gained seemed to be lowest for the 0.24 protein diet followed by keets on 0.25, 0.23 and then 0.22 protein feed. Mortality was highest in keets on 0.22 protein diet and least in keets on 0.24 protein diet. The 0.24 protein diet may therefore be the most economical diet to feed to growing indigenous keets between 0 and 8 weeks.
Chemical Composition of Ten Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.) Cultivars

Abstract Ten blackcurrant cultivars were evaluated for some quality components. On average, the sugar content was 9.0%, of which fructose made up 45%, glucose 40% and sucrose 15%. Soluble solids were 15.4% as an average for the ten cultivars in three years. The acid content was 5.1% of fresh weight, 88% was citric acid and 12% malic acid. The ascorbic acid content varied from 67 mg per 100 g fresh fruit in Hedda, to 204 mg per 100 g in Blackdown. Except for Hedda and Ojebyn, which both had low values of ascorbic acid and colour properties, the quality components of the cultivars were found to be within an acceptable range.
Nocturnal bird migration in the Bay of Biscay as observed by a thermal-imaging camera

ABSTRACT Capsule: Bird migration was recorded by an infrared device at three sites in the southeastern Bay of Biscay, indicating seasonal east–west differences in migration flow. Aims: The main aims of this study were to quantify and describe nocturnal migration dynamics in proximity of a sea barrier, and to assess seasonal and geographical drivers of migration patterns. Methods: A thermal-imaging camera was used at two coastal study sites (Punta Galea, Cape Higuer) in spring and three study sites (coast: Punta Galea, Cape Higuer; inland: Iregua Valley) in autumn for four hours from sunset over 90 nights in 2014 and 2015. Results: Migration was strong at both coastal sites in early spring. Autumn migration was weak at the western coast, but strong at the eastern coast and inland. Tailwind had no significant effect on migration intensity, but migration ceased during strong cross- or headwinds despite clear skies. The majority of the targets were passerines. Conclusions: The patterns observed suggest spring migration occurs on a broader front, potentially involving sea crossing further to the west, while autumn migration concentrates more eastwards over land. In both seasons, there was no significant response to wind conditions.
Certification for Food Service Managers: A Survey of Current Opinion

The current opinion of state food protection directors toward certification was determined by a survey mailed to directors in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. There was a 96% return rate for the survey. Results of the survey reveal that 3 states (6%) have statewide mandatory certification programs; 17 states (35%) have voluntary programs; and 20 states (42%) have local jurisdictions with certification programs. A majority of directors (68%) would like to see either a mandatory or voluntary certification program in place in their state, and 73% of the respondents believe that certification programs do improve food handling practices. Barriers to developing statewide programs include financial resources, pragmatic design of training programs in rural states, and uniform requirements for certification. Respondents' comments are used to detail the implications of these barriers.
Impact of life history and ecology on rate of diversification and speciation, as exemplified by thoracotreme crabs along the western tropical Atlantic and on both sides of the Isthmus of Panama

The progressive formation of the Isthmus of Panama during the Miocene, and its final closure during the Pliocene, was the preeminent geological event that affected the western tropical Atlantic and eastern Pacific oceans. As consequence of this closure, marine populations were isolated on both sides of the isthmus and initiated independent genetic divergence, affected by different environmental conditions. So far, phylogeographic patterns of species inhabiting western tropical Atlantic or eastern tropical Pacific oceans received only limited focus. The species used as model in this study correspond to American representatives of thoracotreme crabs, selected based on two major ecological characters that possibly affected their evolutionary histories: dispersal abilities and habitat. This should allow comparing the effect of these characters. The goals of this study are: 1) to investigate the consequences of the closure of the Isthmus of Panama, and to determine which of the two models proposed to explain the formation of the isthmus is better supported by the transisthmian divergence of marine taxa; 2) to explore the phylogeographic patterns in the western tropical Atlantic, especially the relationships between Caribbean and Brazilian marine faunas, and 3) to assess the phylogenetic relationships of the American sesarmid genera Aratus, Armases, Metopaulias and Sesarma. Our results support the final closure of the Isthmus of Panama to have occurred during the Pliocene rather than during the Miocene. Mangrove sister species present a smaller transisthmian divergence than rocky shore sister species, supporting the assumption of mangroves as last habitat to allow genetic exchanges between Atlantic and Pacific oceans at the final closure of the isthmus. Populations of Aratus pisonii on both sides of the isthmus are morphologically and genetically distinct. As consequence, Aratus pacificus n. sp. , is presently described as the sister-species of Aratus pisonii. Along the western tropical Atlantic, unexpectedly contrasting differences between related taxa inhabiting the same biogeographic area could be found, ranging from apparent panmixis to deeply divergent lineages. Three species exhibit clear signs of past or recent changes in their population size. It reveals the importance of the ecological characteristics of the studied species, and their consequences on sympatric taxa. It also highlights the importance of individual histories of each species. Phylogenetic relationships in the American Sesarmidae reflect a rapid radiation that started 10.5 mya, when this family established on the American continent. The genus Aratus represents a deep branch in the genus Armases rather than its sister taxa, making Armases paraphyletic. The exploration of genetic patterns in American thoracotreme crabs at different levels shed light on how both environmental changes and ecological characteristics shaped the biodiversity of this region since the Miocene.
Expression Pattern of pmt, erf1 and jap1 Genes in Nicotiana benthamiana and Atropa belladonna Plants under UV Radiation, Wounding and Methyl Jasmonate Treatments

The Solanaceae plants produce a variety of interesting biologically active products including the steroid alkaloids solanidine, nicotine and tropane alkaloids. Putrescine N-methyltransferase (PMT) is an enzyme that catalyses s-adenosylmethionine-dependent methylation of putrescine in one of the primary steps of nicotine and tropane alkaloids biosynthesis pathway. Two tobacco members of the AP2/ERF-domain transcription factors family called NtORC1 and NtJAP1 were shown to up regulate the activity of the NtPMT promoter in Nicotiana tabacum L. under environmental stresses. In this study, semiquantitave RT-PCR analysis showed that expression patterns of PMT, ERF1 and JAP1 genes in shoots and roots of Nicotiana benthamiana Domin and Atropa belladonna L. were examined under methyl jasmonate, UV radiation and wounding treatments. Plants were harvested half an hour after each treatment. The expression pattern of examined genes showed differences between plant tissues under different treatments.
SYSTEMATICS OF TRICHOMANES (HYMENOPHYLLACEAE: PTERIDOPHYTA), PROGRESS AND FUTURE INTERESTS

Trichomanes L. sensu lato (s.l.), is a large group of Hymenophyllaceae to which ca. 250 species are attributed, distributed from the tropics to temperate regions around the world,. Their life forms and morphology are more diversified than those of the other large filmy-fern genus Hymenophyllum. Phylogenetic analyses were performed based on the rbcL sequences of 81 Trichomanes taxa, covering most of the major groups within the genus, in addition to morphological, anatomical and cytological investigations, that offer a number of insights concerning evolution of the genus. Eight robustly supported clades are recognized within Trichomanes, while some traditional trichomanoid taxa (e.g., Pleuromanes) are transferred to the Hymenophyllum clade.