Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Knockdown of Foxg1 in Sox9+ supporting cells increases the trans-differentiation of supporting cells into hair cells in the neonatal mouse utricle

Foxg1 plays important roles in regeneration of hair cell (HC) in the cochlea of neonatal mouse. Here, we used Sox9-CreER to knock down Foxg1 in supporting cells (SCs) in the utricle in order to investigate the role of Foxg1 in HC regeneration in the utricle. We found Sox9 an ideal marker of utricle SCs and bred Sox9CreER/+Foxg1loxp/loxp mice to conditionally knock down Foxg1 in utricular SCs. Conditional knockdown (cKD) of Foxg1 in SCs at postnatal day one (P01) led to increased number of HCs at P08. These regenerated HCs had normal characteristics, and could survive to at least P30. Lineage tracing showed that a significant portion of newly regenerated HCs originated from SCs in Foxg1 cKD mice compared to the mice subjected to the same treatment, which suggested SCs trans-differentiate into HCs in the Foxg1 cKD mouse utricle. After neomycin treatment in vitro, more HCs were observed in Foxg1 cKD mice utricle compared to the control group. Together, these results suggest that Foxg1 cKD in utricular SCs may promote HC regeneration by inducing trans-differentiation of SCs. This research therefore provides theoretical basis for the effects of Foxg1 in trans-differentiation of SCs and regeneration of HCs in the mouse utricle.
miR-140-3p inhibits bladder cancer cell proliferation and invasion by targeting FOXQ1

Upregulation of the forkhead box protein Q1 (FOXQ1) promotes bladder cancer (BCa) cell growth and metastasis. Factors affecting FOXQ1 expression at the post-transcriptional level have not yet been identified. We performed cell proliferation, cell invasion, and tumorigenesis experiments to characterize the relationship between FOXQ1 and miR-140-3p. We found that FOXQ1 was significantly upregulated and miR-140-3p was significantly downregulated in BCa tissues. We also identified an inverse correlation between miR-140-3p and FOXQ1 expression in BCa tissues. Overexpression of miR-140-3p reduced FOXQ1 expression, suppressing BCa cell proliferation and invasion. A luciferase assay confirmed that miR-140-3p bound to the 3’-UTR of FOXQ1 mRNA and decreased its expression. In addition, we used a mouse xenograft model to demonstrate that miR-140-3p suppressed tumor cell growth in vivo. Our findings suggest that miR-140-3p suppresses BCa cell proliferation and invasion by directly decreasing FOXQ1 expression.
Silvopasture in the Caatinga biome of Brazil: A review of its ecology, management, and development opportunities

Aim of study : Silvopastoral system (SPS) involving numerous indigenous trees and shrubs is a traditional land-use system in the Caatinga, but it has little been studied scientifically. Given the importance of SPS as a sustainable land-use strategy in the drylands, this paper examines the attributes of the Caatinga SPS and their relevance to other arid and semiarid regions. Area of study : Caatinga biome, with an area of 0.9 million km 2 and a population of 25 million, a unique dryland ecosystem of Brazil. Materials and methods : The paper reviewed the literature on the main characteristics of SPS management of the Caatinga biome and the global perspectives of silvopastoral land-management in semiarid regions. Main results : Guidelines for sustainable SPS management of the Caatinga include maintaining up to 400 trees/ha (40% tree cover) and allowing at least 40% of the available forage to dry up to provide mulch for soil protection. Opportunities for improving the low carrying capacity of the Caatinga are thinning, coppicing, and enrichment planting with desirable tree and understory species. Establishment of fodder banks, promotion of non-conventional feed sources such as cactus, and introduction of grazing animals to orchards and plantations are some other promising interventions. Research highlights : The review highlights the importance of initiating new studies on Caatinga SPS, focusing on the role and potential of various native species and the ecosystem services they provide, in conjunction with relevant social, economic, and policy aspects to better exploit the benefits of the system and facilitate its wider adoption.
Spatially Guided Distractor Suppression during Visual Search

Past work has demonstrated that active suppression of salient distractors is a critical part of visual selection. Evidence for goal-driven suppression includes below-baseline visual encoding at the position of salient distractors (Gaspelin and Luck, 2018) and neural signals such as the distractor positivity (Pd) that track how many distractors are presented in a given hemifield (Feldmann-Wüstefeld and Vogel, 2019). One basic question regarding distractor suppression is whether it is inherently spatial or nonspatial in character. Indeed, past work has shown that distractors evoke both spatial (Theeuwes, 1992) and nonspatial forms of interference (Folk and Remington, 1998), motivating a direct examination of whether space is integral to goal-driven distractor suppression. Here, we use behavioral and EEG data from adult humans (male and female) to provide clear evidence for a spatial gradient of suppression surrounding salient singleton distractors. Replicating past work, both reaction time and neural indices of target selection improved monotonically as the distance between target and distractor increased. Importantly, these target selection effects were paralleled by a monotonic decline in the amplitude of the Pd, an electrophysiological index of distractor suppression. Moreover, multivariate analyses revealed spatially selective activity in the θ-band that tracked the position of the target and, critically, revealed suppressed activity at spatial channels centered on distractor positions. Thus, goal-driven selection of relevant over irrelevant information benefits from a spatial gradient of suppression surrounding salient distractors. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Past work has shown that distractor suppression is an important part of goal-driven attentional selection, but has not yet revealed whether suppression is spatially directed. Using behavioral data, event-related potentials (ERPs) of the EEG signal [N2pc and distractor positivity (Pd) component], as well as a multivariate model of EEG data [channel tuning functions (CTF)], we show that suppression-related neural activity increases monotonically as the distance between targets and distractors decreases, and that spatially-selective activity in the θ-band reveals depressed activity in spatial channels that index distractor positions. Thus, we provide robust evidence for spatially-guided distractor suppression, a result that has important implications for models of goal-driven attentional control.
Energy reserves and gonad steroid levels during the reproductive cycle of the Japanese mantis shrimp Oratosquilla oratoria De Haan, 1844 (Stomatopoda: Squillidae) in Pikou Bay, Dalian, China

This study aimed to characterize the seasonal cycles of energy storage and depletion in different organs of both sexes of the mantis shrimp Oratosquilla oratoria (De Haan, 1844). We sought to relate these findings to the reproductive cycle and environmental factors affecting such cycles and identify the link between steroid concentrations and the reproductive cycle. Individuals were collected monthly (May 2014 to April 2015) in Pikou Bay, Dalian, China, and the biochemical compositions of muscle, hepatopancreas, and gonads analyzed. Two peaks of protein levels were observed in the ovaries in May and November in accordance with the seasonal variations in gonadosomatic index (GSI). An increase in the lipid content of ovaries during gonad maturation was also observed. Protein levels in the hepatopancreas and muscle decreased before May and November in both sexes. Glycogen concentration in the muscle of females peaked in February and September, decreasing during the reproductive months. These subsequently decreased during the peaks in reproduction. In the hepatopancreas of male as well as in the ovaries, the largest reserves of glycogen were observed in the autumn and a subsequent decrease was seen during the transition from autumn to winter. These finding suggest that in O. oratoria both protein and lipids serve as energy reserves for reproduction. Besides, glycogen from either the ovaries or the hepatopancreas of males might be used during periods of intense activity and starvation. Two vertebrate sex steroids, 17 β -estradiol and testosterone, were also identified in testes and ovaries, respectively, by means of ELISA. Fluctuating levels of these steroids during the reproductive cycle suggest they might be related to gonadal development in O. oratoria .
Previously unknown ssDNA molecules co‐occurring with CdebDNAV infecting the marine planktonic diatom Chaetoceros debilis

Since the first discovery of diatom viruses, more than a dozen species have been identified, and these viruses can significantly affect the dynamics of diatoms in nature. To better understand marine primary productivity, details of the relationship between viruses and their diatom hosts must be elucidated. The marine diatom Chaetoceros debilis is a cosmopolitan species and its blooms are often observed in highly productive areas. To date, only C. debilis DNA virus (CdebDNAV) has been isolated and characterized. In this study, we successfully identified a previously unknown virus‐like particle (VLP) and ssDNA molecules co‐occurring with CdebDNAV. Transmission electron microscopy analysis of the cytoplasm of infected C. debilis revealed particles that were 21 and 36 nm in size, corresponding to the newly identified VLPs and CdebDNAV, respectively. The ssDNA molecules encode a putative capsid protein (CP); however, no proteins related to replication were detected. The estimated molecular weight of the CP is 24.4 kDa, similar to that of VLPs in the protein electrophoresis analysis. Genetic analyses revealed that the CP shows low levels of similarity with uncultured marine ssDNA viruses, but seems to be independent of the known virus genera. Although the relationships between the smaller VLP and ssDNA molecules identified in this study were not fully revealed, it might be a new virus. The finding is important for understanding diatom virus ecology and to promote further characterization of uncultured aquatic ssDNA viruses.
Circumstances of Human–Bat interactions and risk of lyssavirus transmission in metropolitan France

Since the elimination of dog and terrestrial wild animal rabies, bat exposures remain the only source of autochthonous lyssavirus transmission to humans in Western Europe. European bats have already been found infected with several lyssaviruses, and human–bat interactions represent a risk of viral transmission and fatal encephalitis for humans. In this study, we aim to better characterize exposures to bats in metropolitan France from 2003 to 2016 and to identify circumstances associated with exposures to lyssavirus‐positive bats. Two complementary sources of data were analysed: 1/ data associated with bats responsible for human exposure received for Lyssavirus testing by the French National Reference Centre for Rabies (NRCR); and 2/ data pertaining to individuals seeking medical care through the French Anti‐Rabies Clinics network after contact with a bat. From 2003 to 2016, 425 bats originating from metropolitan France were submitted to the NRCR and 16 (4%) were found positive with a lyssavirus (EBLV‐1b was diagnosed in 9 bats, EBLV‐1a in 6 and BBLV in one specimen). The two factors associated with bat positivity in our study were the female sex and the bat belonging to the E. serotinus species. During the same study period, 1718 individuals sought care at an Anti‐Rabies Clinic after exposure to a bat resulting in an estimated incidence of human–bat interactions of 1.96 per 106 person‐years. The two most frequent circumstances of exposure were handling or bites. Interactions mostly involved one adult human being and one live and non‐sick‐looking bat. Our study provides new insights about circumstances of human–bat interactions and may be helpful to target prevention interventions to improve the awareness of the population of the risk of lyssavirus transmission.
Relationship between oral health literacy and periodontal health

Objectives The objective of this study was to describe oral health literacy and its association with periodontal health status. Methods A population of young adults, enlisted personnel, at a military police force at Escola da Guarda (EG GNR) in Portalegre, Portugal, participated in this crosssectional study. Information on sociodemographic, dental and oral health literacy was collected. Oral health literacy was assessed using OHLI (Oral Health Literacy Instrument). Clinical periodontal examinations were performed, and data was obtained for oral hygiene status and severity of gingival inflammation. Results A total of 274 participants enrolled and completed the study. Most participants (54.7 percent) had an adequate oral health literacy level. For 38 percent the level of literacy was marginal and, 7.3 percent had an inadequate level of oral health literacy. There is an association between education and oral health literacy (P<0.001). Female participants had more general oral health knowledge than males (P=0.034). Participants with the 12th grade or less have statistically significant less general oral health knowledge than participants with a bachelor’s degree (P<0.001). Dental plaque index was lower for participants with higher attendance of dental appointments (P=0.002) and adequate oral health literacy (P = 0.009). Conclusions Oral health literacy, education and frequency of dental appointments were associated. General oral knowledge is worst for males and people with lower education levels. Oral hygiene status is better for participants with adequate oral health literacy and a higher number of dental appointments.
Évolution et Développement d'un organe sériel - la molaire : Transcriptomique comparée des bourgeons de molaire chez les rongeurs

Les programmes de developpement font appel a l'expression coordonnee de milliers de genes, a laquelle le RNA-seq nous donne maintenant acces.Quelles differences d'expression sous-tendent les differences de programmes de developpement, (i)entre organes similaires d'une meme espece ? (ii) entre organes homologues dans des especes differentes ? Alors que d'autres etudes s'interessent a des genes maitres regulateurs, je me suis interessee au transcriptome pris dans son ensemble, dans ce qu'il peut nous apporter pour comprendre les differences de programme de developpement en relation avec la morphologie finale. Notre modele est le developpement des molaires inferieure et superieure chez les rongeurs, pour lesquelles nous avons obtenus des series transcriptomiques de germes dentaires complets ou de germe coupes en deux.La majeure partie de la variation dans ces donnees correspond a un signal temporel qui est observe pour organes complets au cours du developpement, mais aussi plus finement entre replicats et enfin au niveau de dents coupees en deux.Le deuxieme patron de variation est la difference entre la molaire inferieure et superieure.Nous avons mis en evidence que le transcriptome reflete les proportions relatives de tissus qui le composent et nous renseigne sur des differences de population de cellules constituant chaque molaire. Ainsi les molaires de souris different entre elles par leur composition relative en mesenchyme et en tissu de cuspides.Puis nous avons montre que les specificites des programmes inf/sup sont conservees chez la souris et le hamster. Cependant, les differences transcriptomiques entre ces deux especes ne correlent pas avec les differences morphologiques, meme dans le cas ou la morphologie est similaire. Cette evolution rapide des profils temporels d'expression est compatible avec un phenomene de derive developpementale.Enfin, je me suis interessee a l'identite bucco-lingual (BL) des molaires, car les cuspides supplementaires de la molaire sup de souris se forment cote lingual. Nous avons montre que le cote lingual a sa propre identite et que les differences d'expression BL sont plus fortes dans la molaire sup de souris. Enfin, les perspectives de ces travaux seront de comprendre les modifications du programme developpemental qui differencient les molaires sup de souris et de hamster, en s'appuyant en plus sur les donnees BL, afin de comprendre comment la molaire sup de souris developpe 2 cuspides linguales supplementaires.
Fast Solution of (cid:0) (cid:0) -Norm Minimization Problems When the Solution May Be Sparse

— The minimum (cid:0) (cid:0) -norm solution to an underdeter-mined system of linear equations (cid:2) (cid:0) (cid:3)(cid:4) is often, remarkably, also the sparsest solution to that system. This sparsity-seeking property is of interest in signal processing and information transmission. However, general-purpose optimizers are much too slow for (cid:0) (cid:0) minimization in many large-scale applications. In this paper, the Homotopy method, originally proposed by Os-borne et al. and Efron et al. , is applied to the underdetermined (cid:0) (cid:0) -minimization problem (cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4) (cid:0) (cid:4) (cid:0) (cid:0) subject to (cid:2) (cid:0) (cid:3)(cid:4) . Homo-topy is shown to run much more rapidly than general-purpose LP solvers when sufﬁcientsparsity is present. Indeed,the method often has the following (cid:5) -step solution property: if the underlying solu-tion has only (cid:5) nonzeros, the Homotopy method reaches that so-lution in only (cid:5) iterative steps. This (cid:5) -step solution property is demonstrated for several ensembles of matrices, including inco-herent matrices, uniform spherical matrices, and partial orthogonal matrices. These results imply that Homotopy may be used to rapidly decode error-correcting codes in a stylized communication system with a computational budget constraint. The approach also sheds light on the evident parallelism in results on (cid:0) (cid:0) minimization and Orthogonal Matching Pursuit ( O MP ), and aids in explaining the inherent relations between H OMOTOPY , Least Angle Regression ( L ARS ),
Effect of nutrition in Palas (Butea monosperma Lam.) on the survivability of lac insect

The population density of Lac insect was recorded by counting insects (later lac cells) per 2.5 sq cm on three branches per tree and at three fixed points per branches at 50, 62, 76 and 94 days after BLI. At 50 days after BLI, the mean population density of K laccaper varied from 44.95 to 50.28 in different treatments. There was significant difference in the mean population density of Lac insect in T3, T5 and T8 over T6. The former three were at par with each other. It was highest (50.28) in T3 Multiplex and lowest (44.95) in T6 Humic acid + Bolt acid + Bolt. At 62 days after BLI, the mean population density of Lac insect varied from 37.05 to 39.34 in different treatments but was at par among the treatments. It was highest (39.34) in T3 -Multiplex and lowest (37.05) in T2-Auskelp super. The mean population density of lac insects reduced at 76 days after BLI and it varied from 28.37 to 33.46. At 94 days after the BLI, the mean population density of lac also reduced in comparison to that on 50th day after BLI. It varied from 20.86 to 26.05 per 2.5 sq. cm. The mean population density of lac insect differed significantly in case of T3 – Multiplex over the Control (T8). It was highest (26.05) in case of T3, lowest (20.86) in T8.
Studies on Association, Path Analysis and Genetic Parameters for Seed Cotton Yield and It’s Contributing Characters in Desi Cotton (Gossypium arboreum L.)

Cotton is a crop of prosperity having a profound influence on men and matter. Cotton is one of the most important commercial crops and popularly known as the "White Gold". It is an industrial commodity of worldwide importance. India has been the traditional home of cotton and cotton textiles. It occupies the place of pride in Indian agriculture and economy by earning valuable foreign exchange. Four out of the 50 recognized cotton species in the world are cultivated. In India, all the four cultivated cotton species viz., Gossypium arboreum, G. herbaceum, G. hirsutum and G. barbadense are grown on a commercial scale. Genetic variability is pre-requisite for plant breeders to exercise selection. The phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation were estimated using genotypic and phenotypic variances respectively. The coefficient of variation indicated only the extent of existing variability for various traits, but does not give any information about the heritable portion of it. Therefore, heritability accompanied by International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 6 Number 11 (2017) pp. 104-111 Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas. com
Social Media, Populism, and Migration

Several scholars have attributed high hopes to social media regarding their alleged ability to enable a nonhierarchical and freely accessible debate among the citizenship (Loader & Mercea, 2011; Shirky, 2011). Those hopes have culminated in theses such those describing the social web as being a ‘new public sphere’ (Castells, 2009, p. 125) as well as in expectations regarding its revitalizing potential for the ‘Habermas’s public sphere’ (Kruse, Norris, & Flinchum, 2018, p. 62). Yet, these assumptions are not uncontested, particularly in the light of socially mediated populism (Mazzoleni & Bracciale, 2018). Interestingly, research on populism in the social web is still an exception. The same is true for the populist permeation of the social media discourse on migration, as a highly topical issue. This study seeks to elaborate on this research gap by examining to what extent the Twitter debate on the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (GCM) was permeated by populist content. For this purpose, almost 70,000 tweets on the most important Hashtags referring to the GCM that took place in Marrakesh in December 2018 were collected and the 500 widest-reaching tweets analysed in terms of their populist permeation. Against initial expectations, the empirical findings show that populist narratives did not dominate the Twitter debate on migration. However, the empirical results indicate that ordinary citizens play an important role in the creation and dissemination of populist content. It seems that the social web widens the public sphere, including those actors who do not communicate in accordance with the Habermasian conceptualization of it.