Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Semantic Processing in Autism Spectrum Disorders Is Associated With the Timing of Language Acquisition: A Magnetoencephalographic Study

Individuals with autism show difficulties in using sentence context to identify the correct meaning of ambiguous words, such as homonyms. In this study, the brain basis of sentence context effects on word understanding during reading was examined in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and typical development (TD) using magnetoencephalography. The correlates of a history of developmental language delay in ASD were also investigated. Event related field responses at early (150 ms after the onset of a final word) and N400 latencies are reported for three different types of sentence final words: dominant homonyms, subordinate homonyms, and unambiguous words. Clear evidence for semantic access was found at both early and conventional N400 latencies in both TD participants and individuals with ASD with no history of language delay. By contrast, modulation of evoked activity related to semantic access was weak and not significant at early latencies in individuals with ASD with a history of language delay. The reduced sensitivity to semantic context in individuals with ASD and language delay was accompanied by strong right hemisphere lateralization at early and N400 latencies; such strong activity was not observed in TD individuals and individuals with ASD without a history of language delay at either latency. These results provide new evidence and support for differential neural mechanisms underlying semantic processing in ASD, and indicate that delayed language acquisition in ASD is associated with different lateralization and processing of language.
EFFECTIVENESS OF COMPOST TEA FROM SPENT MUSHROOM SUBSTRATE ON DRY BUBBLE (LECANICILLIUM FUNGICOLA)

Dry bubble, caused by the fungus Lecanicillium fungicola (Preuss) Zare & W. Gams, is a serious and common disease of white button mushroom. The most widely used control method against this disease is strict hygiene in the growing installation accompanied by the application of prochloraz. However, the gradual decrease in the sensitivity of Lecanicillium fungicola to prochloraz [1] and the relatively short persistence of the fungicide [2] mean that alternative methods of control need to be found. Among biocontrol methods considered as an alternative to chemical products is the use of aqueous extracts (compost tea) made from agricultural wastes. Indeed, the results obtained with this method to control dry bubble have proved encouraging in in vitro trials [3]. Here, we study the possibility of using compost tea made with spent mushroom substrate as a biocontrol method against the disease. Its effectiveness was evaluated in a mushroom growth cycle artificially infected with L. fungicola. Two compost teas were tested, one obtained from spent mushroom substrate with mineral soil as casing layer and the other with peat. One, two or three drench applications with these compost teas were carried out. Three controls were used: one pure control, one inoculated with L. fungicola, and the other inoculated and treated with prochloraz. In all treatments the yield of mushrooms, with and without L. fungicola, was calculated. The application of the compost tea made from substrates using peat was the most effective. In this treatment, infected mushrooms represented 14.6 to 26.2% of the total crop, while in the control to which prochloraz was applied 35.6% of mushrooms showed signs of the disease. The best results were obtained when the compost teas were applied close to the beginning of harvesting.
Live Trap for Pocket Gophers

Abstract We presented a new trap for pocket gophers and compared its effectiveness with the Baker and Williams live trap. Our box trap readily captured juveniles ≥44 g and adults ≤294 g. We had ≤50% capture success. In general, capture success was similar to the Baker and Williams live trap. However, analyses suggested that our trap was superior in some aspects, e.g., capture of heavier pocket gophers and males. Our trap was user friendly and could be employed to equally capture all portions of a population of pocket gophers.
A Modified phosphate-carrier protein theory is proposed as a non-target site mechanism For glyphosate resistance in weeds

Glyphosate is an herbicide that inhibits the enzyme 5-enolpyruvyl-shikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPs) (EC 2.5.1.19). EPSPs is the sixth enzyme of the shikimate pathway, by which plants synthesize the aromatic amino acids phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan and many compounds used in secondary metabolism pathways. About fifteen years ago it was hypothesized that it was unlikely weeds would evolve resistance to this herbicide because of the limited degree of glyphosate metabolism observed in plants, the low resistance level attained to EPSPs gene overexpression, and because of the lower fitness in plants with an altered EPSPs enzyme. However, today 20 weed species have been described with glyphosate resistant biotypes that are found in all five continents of the world and exploit several different resistant mechanisms. The survival and adaptation of these glyphosate resistant weeds are related toresistance mechanisms that occur in plants selected through the intense selection pressure from repeated and exclusive use of glyphosate as the only control measure. In this paper the physiological, biochemical, and genetic basis of glyphosate resistance mechanisms in weed species are reviewed and a novel and innovative theory that integrates all the mechanisms of non-target site glyphosate resistance in plants is presented.
Demographic structure and genetic variability of a population of Testudo hermanni hermanni (Reptilia: Testudines: Testudinidae) from Southern Tuscany (Central Italy): a case of “happy-ending” uncontrolled reintroduction

Abstract Testudo hermanni hermanni is becoming seriously endangered throughout its range. It has a scattered distribution, with a small number of residual populations found in Spain, France and Italy. In this study we sampled a population of T. h. hermanni from Southern Tuscany (Massa Marittima, Grosseto), composed of native and introduced individuals (recognizable due to residual signs of previous marking on the carapace). Overall, 95% of the captured individuals were adults and the sex ratio was slightly, but not significantly, biased in favour of females. Population density was relatively high in comparison with other Italian populations, although it was doubled by previous reinforcement. Genetic analysis performed on six polymorphic microsatellite loci revealed a high level of genetic variability and heterozygosity, with no evidence of current inbreeding processes. Moreover, introduced individuals presented genotypes similar to those of the native individuals, thus suggesting that the reinforcement intervention did not cause a significant change in the original genetic pool. Nevertheless, long-term monitoring of the population is necessary to ensure its stability and vitality. Furthermore, to preserve the genetic identity of the local population in the future, uncontrolled translocation events should be avoided.
Testing species limits and inferring the species tree for the Sceloporus scalaris species group (Squamata: Phrynosomatidae)

OF THE THESIS Testing Species Limits and Inferring the Species Tree for the Sceloporus scalaris Species Group (Squamata: Phrynosomatidae) by Jared Anthony Grummer Master of Science in Biology San Diego State University, 2013 Systematists have two major goals: to identify species boundaries, and the subsequent reconstruction of species-level relationships. While researchers previously relied on delimiting species with single-locus (often mitochondrial DNA) datasets, recent technological advancements have led to the generation of large, multi-locus datasets, while theoretical advances provide the necessary tools for analyzing large molecular datasets. Defining species boundaries for species complexes and species groups is particularly difficult since these often represent cases where multiple taxa diverged from a common ancestor over a brief period of time. Modeling the coalescent process between gene copies in a multi-locus dataset provides a strong framework in which to investigate the species limits within a group of organisms. In this study, I investigated the species limits within the Sceloporus scalaris species group. The S. scalaris species group contains nine extant taxa that are distributed throughout montane regions in México and are largely allopatric. The unique geographic distribution and previous phylogenetic hypotheses of the S. scalaris species group present a great opportunity to test new methods in empirical species delimitation. I generated sequence data for six nuclear loci (~4,600 base pairs) representing 34 individuals from all extant taxa. I generated a three-tiered approach to species delimitation using multiple programs, including the coalescent-based programs *BEAST and BPP, in which I employed Bayes factors to statistically identify distinct lineages. Species limits testing resulted in the recognition of nine distinct species arranged into two major groupings, the northern and southern clades. Two species, S. aeneus and S. scalaris, each contain two lineages as identified during genetic analyses. While concatenation has been shown to give inflated support values and even incorrectly reconstruct evolutionary relationships, results from the concatenated dataset here were very similar to those from the coalescent-based analyses. Results from this study are encouraging for the applicability of this method to delineating species in other systems as there is no trend to either split or lump lineages together: two new taxa were discovered, one taxon was synonymized (lumped) with another, and another taxon was elevated to the species level.
Temperature as a predictor of survival of the pine processionary moth in the Italian Alps

1 The pine processionary moth Thaumetopoea pityocampa is expanding its geographical range in Europe, as a consequence of enhanced winter survival under a warmer climate. A combination of daytime nest temperatures and night air temperatures determines the number of hours larvae are able to feed (hours above realized feeding threshold, RFT).
It's About Time: Minimizing Hardware and Software Latencies in Speech Research With Real-Time Auditory Feedback

Purpose Various aspects of speech production related to auditory–motor integration and learning have been examined through auditory feedback perturbation paradigms in which participants' acoustic speech output is experimentally altered and played back via earphones/headphones “in real time. ” Scientific rigor requires high precision in determining and reporting the involved hardware and software latencies. Many reports in the literature, however, are not consistent with the minimum achievable latency for a given experimental setup. Here, we focus specifically on this methodological issue associated with implementing real-time auditory feedback perturbations, and we offer concrete suggestions for increased reproducibility in this particular line of work. Method Hardware and software latencies as well as total feedback loop latency were measured for formant perturbation studies with the Audapter software. Measurements were conducted for various audio interfaces, desktop and laptop computers, and audio drivers. An approach for lowering Audapter's software latency through nondefault parameter specification was also tested. Results Oft-overlooked hardware-specific latencies were not negligible for some of the tested audio interfaces (adding up to 15 ms). Total feedback loop latencies (including both hardware and software latency) were also generally larger than claimed in the literature. Nondefault parameter values can improve Audapter's own processing latency without negative impact on formant tracking. Conclusions Audio interface selection and software parameter optimization substantially affect total feedback loop latency. Thus, the actual total latency (hardware plus software) needs to be correctly measured and described in all published reports. Future speech research with “real-time” auditory feedback perturbations should increase scientific rigor by minimizing this latency.
Impact of oxidation processes on the composition and biodegradability of soluble organic nutrients in wastewater effluents

The characteristics and bioavailability of wastewater derived organic nutrients and their susceptibility to removal technologies have implications in nutrient loading to aquatic environments and their contributions to eutrophication. Therefore, a better understanding of treatability of effluent organic nutrients is of interest for water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs) and regulators. Oxidation processes (OPs) can reduce concentrations of soluble organic nutrients and convert them into more biodegradable forms. In this study, three WRRF effluents were treated with low‐pressure ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and combined UV/H2O2. Untreated and treated effluents were subjected to nitrogen and phosphorus speciation analyses and soluble organic nitrogen (SON) biodegradability assays. The OP treatments did not change SON concentrations significantly. For two WRRFs, OP treatments decreased soluble organic phosphorus (SOP) and seemed to convert it into soluble acid hydrolyzable phosphorus (SAHP), indicating possible increases in phosphorus bioavailability. Fingerprinting and quantification of dissolved organic matter (DOM) using fluorescence spectroscopy with parallel factor analysis revealed changes in DOM pool composition in response to OPs treatments, which suggests likely organic nutrients composition changes. Based on biodegradability assessments, OP treatments likely changed the composition and biodegradability of effluent SON compounds. Combined UV/H2O2 treatment seemed more effective than other OPs at oxidizing some of the organic nutrients.
Phytochemical investigation and anticholinesterase activity of ethyl acetate fraction of Myristica fragrans Houtt. seeds

Abstract In this work, n-hexane, chloroform, and ethyl acetate fractions of the methanol extract of Myristica fragrans Houtt. seeds were evaluated against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) via Ellman’s method. It was found that all fractions depicted no anti-AChE activity, however, they were active toward BChE with IC50 values of 361.8, 215.0, and 145.8 µg/mL, respectively comparing with donepezil as the reference drug (IC50 = 1.97 µg/mL). The ethyl acetate fraction which also showed high neuroprotectivity and metal chelating ability was selected for the phytochemical analysis. Our results confirmed the presence of trimyristin and 5,7-diacetyl chrysin (reported for the first time in M. fragrans) in the corresponding fraction. Graphical Abstract
MIGRATION ROUTES AND WINTERING LOCATIONS OF BROAD-WINGED HAWKS TRACKED BY SATELLITE TELEMETRY

Abstract During spring 2000, we captured five adult female Broad-winged Hawks (Buteo platypterus) in northcentral Minnesota and western Maryland and fitted them with satellite-received radio tags. The migrating hawks left their nesting areas about 10–15 September and moved south toward eastern Texas. They followed the Gulf Coast through Mexico and an inland course through Central America to their wintering areas. Mean fall migration distance for four hawks was about 7,000 km, and for three hawks the mean fall migration time was about 70 days and mean fall migration rate was about 100 km/day. Three hawks arrived on their wintering areas from about 15 October to 15 December. Wintering areas for four hawks were in Panama, Venezuela, Brazil, and Peru, between 08° 25′ N, 80° 54′ W and 11° 00′ S, 67° 07′ W. We tracked one hawk for her entire spring migration, and two hawks showed fidelity to their nest areas.
Meta-Analysis of Prevalence of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer and Its Clinical Features at Incidence in Indian Patients With Breast Cancer

PURPOSE Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in India, with higher incidence rates of aggressive subtypes, such as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). METHODS A systematic review was performed to compute pooled prevalence rates of TNBC among patients with breast cancer, and clinical features at presentation were systematically compared with non-TNBC in an Indian cohort of 20,000 patients. RESULTS Combined prevalence of TNBC among patients with breast cancer was found to be on the higher side (27%; 95% CI, 24% to 31%). We found that the estrogen receptor (ER) expression cutoff used to determine ER positivity had an influence on the pooled prevalence and ranged from 30% (ER/progesterone receptor [PR] cut ff at 1%) to 24% (ER/PR cutoff at 10%). Odds for TNBC to present in the younger age-group were significantly higher (pooled odds ratio [OR], 1.35; 95% CI, 1.08 to 1.69), with a significantly younger mean age of incidence (weighted mean difference, −2.75; 95% CI, −3.59 to −1.92). TNBC showed a significantly higher odds of presenting with high grade (pooled OR, 2.57; 95% CI, 2.12 to 3.12) and lymph node positivity (pooled OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.21 to 1.60) than non-TNBC. CONCLUSION Systematic review and meta-analysis of 34 studies revealed a high degree of heterogeneity in prevalence of TNBC within Indian patients with breast cancer, yet pooled prevalence of TNBC is high in India. High proportions of patients with TNBC present with aggressive features, such as high grade and lymph node positivity, compared with patients without TNBC. We emphasize the need for standardized methods for accurate diagnosis in countries like India.
The effect of food supplementation on reproductive success in bumblebee field colonies

Food availability is a major component of habitat quality. For bumblebee field colonies, it is unknown to what extent reproductive success is limited by food availability relative to other factors such as parasites. To assess the importance of food availability, we carried out a field experiment in the Quebec City area, Canada, in 1999 and 2000, using 45 colonies of Bombus impatiens and B. ternarius. Colonies whose nectar and pollen supplies were increased regularly throughout the season reached larger sizes (in number of workers) and had a higher reproductive success than controls, by 51% and 86% respectively. In particular, food supplementation increased the number of males produced and the probability of producing gynes (young queens). The sex ratio was highly skewed in favour of males overall, and the relative proportion of gynes increased with food supplementation in B. ternarius, but not in B. impatiens. These results suggest that colonies ensure reproduction by producing some males and, given the opportunity (sufficient food availability), will produce gynes. Possible reasons for the increased success of food supplemented colonies are explored. However, despite some clear advantages of having larger food supplies such as the build-up of larger worker populations, food supplementation did not appear to help colonies defend themselves against macroparasites because experimental and control colonies experienced similar levels of parasitism by Psithyrus, Fannia canicularis, Brachicoma devia and Vitula edmandsae.
EARLIEST AFRICAN NEORNITHINE BIRD: A NEW SPECIES OF PROPHAETHONTIDAE (AVES) FROM THE PALEOCENE OF MOROCCO

Abstract A new taxon of the Prophaethontidae (Aves) is described from the phosphatic beds of the Ouled Abdoun Basin, Morocco. Lithoptila abdounensis gen. et sp. nov. is represented by a single, well-preserved neurocranium, dated as upper Paleocene (Thanetian) on the basis of the selachians identified in the matrix. This specimen is the oldest known African neornithine bird and the oldest record of the Prophaethontidae. It bears some striking resemblance to Prophaethon shrubsolei Andrews, 1899, from the lower Eocene (Ypresian) London Clay of the Isle of Sheppey, England. Aside from general proportions of the neurocranium, this new taxon differs from Prophaethon shrubsolei in many respects, such as the shape and position of the crista temporalis, impressio glandulae nasalis, surface of contact with the os lacrimale, and tuberculum basilare. This justifies its assignment to a new genus and species. A cladistic analysis of 47 osteological characters supports the monophyly of the Prophaethontidae and a sister-group relationship between the Prophaethontidae and Phaethontidae. The Pelecaniformes are polyphyletic, and the clade comprising the Phaethontidae and Prophaethontidae is the sister-group of the Procellariiformes.
Time course and diagnostic utility of NfL, tau, GFAP, and UCH-L1 in subacute and chronic TBI

Objective To determine whether neurofilament light (NfL), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), tau, and ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase-L1 (UCH-L1) measured in serum relate to traumatic brain injury (TBI) diagnosis, injury severity, brain volume, and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) measures of traumatic axonal injury (TAI) in patients with TBI. Methods Patients with TBI (n = 162) and controls (n = 68) were prospectively enrolled between 2011 and 2019. Patients with TBI also underwent serum, functional outcome, and imaging assessments at 30 (n = 30), 90 (n = 48), and 180 (n = 59) days, and 1 (n = 84), 2 (n = 57), 3 (n = 46), 4 (n = 38), and 5 (n = 29) years after injury. Results At enrollment, patients with TBI had increased serum NfL compared to controls (p < 0.0001). Serum NfL decreased over the course of 5 years but remained significantly elevated compared to controls. Serum NfL at 30 days distinguished patients with mild, moderate, and severe TBI from controls with an area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.84, 0.92, and 0.92, respectively. At enrollment, serum GFAP was elevated in patients with TBI compared to controls (p < 0.001). GFAP showed a biphasic release in serum, with levels decreasing during the first 6 months of injury but increasing over the subsequent study visits. The highest AUROC for GFAP was measured at 30 days, distinguishing patients with moderate and severe TBI from controls (both 0.89). Serum tau and UCH-L1 showed weak associations with TBI severity and neuroimaging measures. Longitudinally, serum NfL was the only biomarker that was associated with the likely rate of MRI brain atrophy and DTI measures of progression of TAI. Conclusions Serum NfL shows greater diagnostic and prognostic utility than GFAP, tau, and UCH-L1 for subacute and chronic TBI. Classification of evidence This study provides Class III evidence that serum NfL distinguishes patients with mild TBI from healthy controls.
Switches of SOX17 and SOX2 expression in the development of squamous metaplasia and squamous intraepithelial lesions of the uterine cervix

The dynamics and topographical distribution of SOX17 and SOX2 expression was studied in the transformation zone (TZ) of the uterine cervix. This TZ is a dynamic area where switches from glandular into squamous epithelium can be recognized, new squamocolumnar junctions are formed, and premalignant lesions originate. SOX17 and SOX2 show mutually exclusive expression patterns in the normal uterine cervix, with SOX2 being exclusively found in squamous epithelium, while SOX17 is detected in endocervical columnar cells and reserve cells.