Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Capturing remote activation of epilepsy source?

Spontaneous focal synchronization of collective spiking followed by induced traveling waves can occur in the cortical sheet and in cultured planar neuronal networks. In the first case, it is well-known focal epilepsy leading to a seizure and, in the second, this synchronization originates from one of a few steady nucleation sites resulting in a so-called population spike. Assuming functional similarity between the nucleation sites and non-lesional epileptic foci, the major unsolved problem in both cases is that it is unclear whether activation of the focus originates internally (i.e., autonomously relative to interaction with surrounding neuronal tissue) or externally. The ’internal’ scenario implies that the focus spatially contains some pacemakers. In turn, several experimental findings indicate a complex spatially non-local activation of epileptic focus. Here, we suggest a generative mechanistic model of planar neuronal network, where the spatial configuration of pacemaker neurons is artificially engineered in order to resolve the above mentioned problem: all pacemakers are placed within a circular central spot. Leaving the global dynamic regime unaffected, this crucially helps to clarify the activation process, visualizing of which is hindered in the natural spatially-uniform configuration. We show in simulations that the nucleation sites (i) can emerge in spatial regions, where pacemakers are completely absent and (ii) can be activated even without direct links from pacemakers. These results demonstrate the principle possibility of external, or remote, activation of a focal source of epileptic activity in the brain. The suggested deterministic model provides the means to study this network phenomenon systematically and reproducibly.
Voting Lines, Equal Treatment, and Early Voting Check-In Times in Florida

Abstract Lines at the polls raise the cost of voting and can precipitate unequal treatment of voters. Research on voting lines is nonetheless hampered by a fundamental measurement problem: little is known about the distribution of time voters spend in line prior to casting ballots. We argue that early, in-person voter check-in times allow us identify individuals who waited in line to vote. Drawing on election administrative records from two General Elections in Florida—1,031,179 check-ins from 2012 and 1,846,845 from 2016—we find that minority voters incurred disproportionately long wait times in 2012 and that in-person voters who waited excessively in 2012 had a slightly lower probability—approximately one percent—of turning out to vote in 2016, ceteris paribus. These individuals also had slightly lower turnout probabilities in the 2014 Midterm Election, ceteris paribus. Our results draw attention to the ongoing importance of the administrative features of elections that influence the cost of voting and ultimately the extent to which voters are treated equally.
Characterization of O-glycan binding lectin from the red alga Hydropuntia eucheumatoides

The red alga, Hydropuntia eucheumatoides is one of the algal genera from which agar is commercially extracted, and is the main source of agar in the world. The lectin HEL from the red alga H. eucheumatoides was isolated by a combination of aqueous ethanol extraction, ethanol precipitation, ion exchange and filtration chromatography. Lectin gave a single band with molecular mass of 17,000 Da in both non-reducing and reducing SDS-PAGE conditions, therefore lectin exists in monomeric form. The hemagglutination activities of HEL were stable over a wide range of pH from 3 to 10, temperature up 60 C and not affected by either the presence of EDTA or addition of divalent cations, indicating that lectin requires no metal for biological activity. The hemagglutination activities of HEL were not inhibited by monosaccharides and glycoproteins, Dglucose, D-mannose, D-galactose, D-xylose, N-acety-D-mannosamine, transferin, fetuin and yeast mannan, but strongly inhibited by monosaccharides containing acetamido groups at equatorial C2 position, such as Nacetyl-galactosamine, N-acetyl-glucosamine, N-acetyl-neuraminic acid and glycoprotein porcine stomach mucin bearing O-glycans. Thus, lectin is specific for O-glycans and may recognize the sequences GalNAcαSer/Thr, GalNAc(α1-3)[Fuc(α1-2)]Gal(β1-4)GlcNAc(β1-3)GalNAcand GluNAc(α1-4)Galunder interacting with the acetamido groups at equatorial C2 position of the terminal sugar residues in oligosaccharide structures of O-glycans. The red alga H. eucheumatoides could promise to be a source of valuable lectins for application in biochemistry and biomedicine.
How to Outgrow Your Native Neighbour? Belowground Changes under Native Shrubs at an Early Stage of Invasion

While it is acknowledged that invasive species are a global driver of land degradation, their effects are often only noticed when the invasion has been going on for a while. However, early stage processes must play a fundamental role in plant establishment until invasive plants are able to outgrow the native vegetation. In ten plots of 100 m2 each, we tested the hypothesis that belowground properties are associated with early invasion processes aboveground. We examined the early stage of invasion by a woody legume (Acacia longifolia), growing in the canopy of native dune shrubs (Corema album) as a model system in oligotrophic primary dunes in southern Portugal. Biomass under canopies of invaded and non‐invaded C. album shrubs as well as organic matter (OM) distribution in various soil fractions was measured. In accordance with our hypothesis, A. longifolia presence was related to increased C. album foliar δ15N, a proxy for nitrogen derived from the invasive legume. Under invaded canopies, root and rhizosphere biomass were higher, as was OM in the silt‐clay fraction. Also, δ15N of the OM in the silt‐clay fraction under invaded canopies was enriched, while δ13C was depleted. Finally, we found that the ratio between OM in the biotic versus soil compartment could be a good early indicator for invasion. These findings suggest that even when aboveground invasion pressure on the system is low, it is imperative for ecosystem conservation to remove young plants, as they might alter soil functioning already at an early stage of invasion. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
COVID-19 severity associates with pulmonary redistribution of CD1c+ DC and inflammatory transitional and nonclassical monocytes.

SARS-CoV-2 is responsible for development of COVID-19 in infected individuals, who can either exhibit mild symptoms or progress towards a life-threatening acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Exacerbated inflammation and dysregulated immune responses involving T and myeloid cells occur in COVID-19 patients with severe clinical progression. However, the differential contribution of specific subsets of dendritic cells and monocytes to ARDS is still poorly understood. In addition, the role of CD8+ T cells present in the lung of COVID-19 patients and relevant for viral control has not been characterized. Here, we have studied the frequencies and activation profiles of dendritic cells and monocytes present in the blood and lung of COVID-19 patients with different clinical severity in comparison with healthy individuals. Furthermore, these subpopulations and their association with antiviral effector CD8+ T cell subsets were also characterized in lung infiltrates from critical COVID-19 patients. Our results indicate that inflammatory transitional and non-classical monocytes and CD1c+ conventional dendritic cells preferentially migrate from blood to lungs in patients with severe COVID-19. Thus, this study increases the knowledge on specific myeloid subsets involved in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 disease and could be useful for the design of therapeutic strategies to fight SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Mapping of internal audit research: a post-Enron structured literature review

Purpose — This paper reviews the field of internal auditing (IA) post-Enron to develop insights into how IA research has developed, offer a critique of the research to date and identify ways that future research can help to advance IA. Design/methodology/approach — A structured literature review (SLR) was used to analyse 471 papers from 64 journals published between 2005 and 2018 based on a number of criteria; namely, author, journal type, journal location, year, theme, theory, nature of research, research setting, regional focus, method and citations. Findings — The IA literature has not significantly contributed to knowledge of the internal audit function (IAF), and we still know relatively little about the factors that contribute to making the impact of IA practice effective and measurable. The IA literature is US dominated (authors and journals), focused on the American context (publicly listed companies), reliant on positivist analyses and largely makes no explicit reference to theory. Central regions (emerging economies) and key organisational settings (private SMEs and not-for-profit organisations) are largely absent in prior IA research. This paper evaluates and identifies avenues through which future research can help to advance IA in order to address emerging challenges in the field. Originality/value — This is the first comprehensive review to analyse IA research in the postEnron period (2005–2018). The findings are relevant to researchers who are looking for appropriate research outlets and emerging scholars who wish to identify their own research directions. Keywords — Internal audit, internal audit function, structured literature review, Enron Paper type — Literature review
Biological invasion by Cenchrus ciliaris L.: is there an impact on Caatinga composition and diversity of herbaceous stratum?

Cenchrus ciliaris is native to South Asia and West Africa, considered one of the main invasive exotic species of Caatinga. This study aims to evaluate the effects caused by C. ciliaris on the composition, structure and diversity of Caatinga herbaceous stratum. The study area was divided into five environments, in each were allocated 10 plots measuring 1m x 1m, in which five with sites invaded for C. ciliaris and five in places non-invaded. At each sampling unit the number of individuals, the coverage and biomass of each species were known. The evaluated elements were density, frequency, dominance, besides to the diversity and environment similarity. For the sampling were selected 12 families, 16 genus, 19 species and 778 individuals. In general, this invasive exotic showed high coverage and density values, even with the presence of other native species, thus demonstrating the aggressiveness of C. ciliaris. All environments showed significant differences in terms of diversity, when compared to the conditions of invaded and non-invaded. The dissimilarity analysis demonstrated the consistent group’s formation between invaded and non-invaded conditions. This study showed the C. ciliaris ability to change environments, affecting the richness and biodiversity.
Rhizobacteria strains as promoters of rooting in hybrids of Eucalyptus nitens × Eucalyptus globulus

In Chile, the Eucalyptus nitens (H. Deane & Maiden) Maiden × E. globulus Labill. hybrid presents the highest production potential due to its desirable characteristics for the production of cellulose. Nevertheless, its low ability to rooting complicates the clonal propagation in nurseries, with the need for new alternatives to increase rooting. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of rhizobacteria in the adventitious rooting of mini-cuttings of two hybrid E. nitens × E. globulus clones, wherein 106 rhizospheric bacterial isolates from five species and hybrids of Eucalyptus spp. were used. The mini-cuttings were treated at the base with a 20 mL liquid suspension of rhizobacterial strains. In addition, cultured bacteria were applied by manual sprinklers in the rooting substrate. In the first trial, 38% of rhizobacteria increased significantly rooting of X-64 clone mini-cuttings. Of these, in a second trial, 50% of rhizobacteria maintained their effect in promoting the rooting in two clones, and in the third trial among the 20 strains evaluated, 10 strains increased rooting in both clones. The rhizobacteria that had the most consistent effect in the rooting increase of the mini-cuttings were species of Bacillus and Pseudomonas sp. , as well as the genera Chryseobacterium, Mucilaginibacter and Rhodococcus sp. , with these results, it is concluded that 10 rhizobacterial isolates have increased the adventitious rooting of minicuttings of two hybrid clones of E. nitens × E. globulus, and these inoculants could be used in periods of underperformance of minicuttings, in order to optimize their performance.
Estimation of moisture content in Liberica coffee by using near infrared spectroscopy

Liberica coffee is a popular one in the global trade market beside Arabica and Robusta. Moisture content (MC) is one of the most important quality parameters of green coffee beans production and trading. NIR spectroscopy is one of the alternative methods for the rapid determination of chemical compounds in the products non-destructively. The purposes of this study are to determine the best calibration model, data transformation, and data pretreatment for moisture content of Liberica coffee. The ground coffee samples were measured by FT-NIRS in the wavelength of 1000-2500 nm, properly the moisture contents of the same samples were determined by the oven method. The obtained spectrums were transformed into absorbance (Log 1/R) and Kubelka-Munk (K/S) units. Data pretreatment, such as standard normal variance (SNV), second derivative (dg2), and multivariate calibration method such as a partial least square (PLS), were carried out to develop the best calibration model. Good accuracy for the prediction of moisture content of Liberica coffee green bean was obtained from the spectral data pretreated with dg2 and Kubelka-Munk(K/S) data transformation with the statistical evaluation values of r (0.87), RPD (2.05), consistency (99%) and CV (5.76 %)
Character association studies in grape accessions selected from Leh district of Jammu and Kashmir

Characters association and path analysis was studied in fifty genotypically diverse grape (Vitis vinifera L.) accessions for 20 important quantitative characters. The genotypic and phenotypic association of yield was signifi-cantly positive with most of the studied characters except yield efficiency, berry weight and chemical characters. Yield was positively and significantly correlated (r) with bunch length (0.652), bunch breadth (0.584), bunch weight (0.946), number of bunches per vine (0.289), number of berries per bunch (0.672), berry length (0.337), berry breadth (0.363) and number of seeds per berry (0.612). Direct and positive effect was observed between yield and bunch and berry characters. Bunch breadth (1.538), number of bunches per vine (0.708), berry weight (1.112) ex-hibited a good amount of direct effect on yield and its correlation with yield was also positive. Hence it is clear from the present study that for selection of any accession in the crop due emphasis must be given on the yield and the associated characters which have direct and positive effect on the yield.
An integrated model of principal transformational leadership and teacher leadership that is related to teacher self-efficacy and student academic performance

ABSTRACT Using an integrated school leadership framework, this research intended to investigate 1.whether and to what extent transformational leadership could leverage teacher leadership; 2 the integrated effects of principal transformational leadership and teacher leadership on teacher self-efficacy and student academic performance. This study used a two-stage stratified sampling approach and collected the complex survey data in one Chinese province. Researchers employed a rigorous three-level Structural Equation Model to investigate multi-dimensional relationships among the aforementioned variables. The results suggest that principal transformational leadership is significantly and positively related to teacher leadership. Meanwhile, principal transformational leadership and teacher leadership are both positively related to teacher self-efficacy, but only teacher leadership is positively related to student learning. This study adds nuanced and international evidence and provides a practical framework to improve schools by involving teacher leaders through principal transformational leadership.
Acute Pancreatitis Associated With Peritoneal Migration of Grass Awn in Two Dogs

Abstract A 12 year old male Fox Terrier (case 1) and a one year old female Poodle (case 2) were presented with a history of dysorexia and vomiting, and case 2 also with distress associated with eating. Both dogs were diagnosed with acute pancreatitis based on clinical signs, blood analysis and ultrasonography which revealed the presence of a vegetable foreign body in the proximity of the pancreatic right lobe. Laparatomy enabled the gramineae awns to be removed which led to full resolution of clinical signs. We believe that these are the first reported cases of acute pancreatitis due to grass awns.
Genetic variability of some agronomic traits in the Iranian Fenugreek landraces under drought stress and non-stress conditions

3International Center of Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA), Aleppo, Syria. This study was carried out to assess the genetic diversity and heritability of various agronomic traits using twenty fenugreek landraces from Iran. The trial was conducted at Maragheh experiment station in North-west of Iran under rainfed (RF) and irrigated (IR) conditions during 2008 cropping season. Results of combined analysis of variance showed significant differences among landraces for all traits except for harvest index under rainfed conditions and in number of pods per plant, number of seeds per plant and dry biomass under irrigated conditions. The highest phenotypic and genotypic variances are found for grain yield under rainfed conditions and plant type and growth habit in both rainfed and irrigated conditions. The highest heritabilities were shown by thousand kernel weight, days to flowering and plant type under both rainfed and irrigated conditions. Cluster analysis allowed to classify the
Fauna de lepidoptera associada a um ecossistema natural no Estado de São Paulo

This paper deals with the survey of Lepidoptera occurring in a wood composed by the following tree species: Schizolobium parahyba (guapuruvu), Esenbeckia leiocarpa (guaranta), Caesalpinia ferrea (pau-ferro), Piptadenia gonoacantha (pau-jacare), Nectandra rigida (canela), Anadenathera sp. (angico), Carinana legalis (jequitiba), Melia azedarach (cinamomo), Spathodea campanulata (espatodea) and Eucalyptus saligna. The collections were made weekly using light traps from April 1997 to May 1998. The insect families collected were: Geometridae (49.2%), Noctuidae (19.7%), Pyralidae (7.6%), Notodontidae (6.7%), Amatidae (5.3%), Arctiidae (5.3%), Sphingidae (2.3%), Lymantriidae (1.4%), Saturniidae (0.8%), Stenomidae (0.7%), Megalopygidae (0.5%), and Dalceridae (0.5%). Among the identified species there were observed forest pests such as: Glena sp. , Oxydia sp. , Oxydia vesuliata (Geometridae), Sarsina violascens (Lymantriidae), Automeris amphirene, Dirphia sp. , Eacles imperialis, and Hylesia sp. (Saturniidae).
Investigation of Structure, Optical, and Electrical Properties of CuS Thin Films by CBD Technique

Copper Sulfide (CuS) thin films were deposited onto a glass substrate using the Chemical Bath Deposition (CBD) technique. The chemical bath Precursors were made up of CuSO4, SC(NH2)2, and C4H6O6. Different parameters have been considered to specify the optimum conditions for fabricating CuS thin films, such as solution temperature, deposition time, pH level, and different precursor concentrations. It has been found that the optimum deposition time is 20 min at temperature 80 °C and pH = 11. The optimum precursor concentrations were 0.15 M, 0.2 M, and 0.1 M of CuSO4, SC(NH2)2, and C4H6O6, respectively. The structural properties of the thin film were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), and a single peak was observed for the thin film made at optimum conditions, while all other cases were amorphous. It is obvious from the optical characterization that the transmission spectra show a red-shift for the cases of increasing deposition time, bath temperature, C4H6O6 concentration, and pH. For the case of increasing CuSO4, blue shifts in the transmission spectra were observed. The energy band gap, resistivity, and activation energy of CuS thin films under optimum conditions are 2.35 eV, 0.7 Ω·cm, and 0.0152 eV, respectively.
Meta-analysis challenges a textbook example of status signalling: evidence for publication bias

The status signalling hypothesis aims to explain conspecific variation in ornamentation by suggesting that some ornaments signal dominance status. Here, we use multilevel meta-analytic models to challenge the textbook example of this hypothesis, the black bib of house sparrows (Passer domesticus). We conducted a systematic review, and obtained raw data from published and unpublished studies to test whether dominance rank is positively associated with bib size across studies. Contrary to previous studies, our meta-analysis did not support this prediction. Furthermore, we found several biases in the literature that further question the support available for the status signalling hypothesis. First, the overall effect size of unpublished studies was zero, compared to the medium effect size detected in published studies. Second, the effect sizes of published studies decreased over time, and recently published effects were, on average, no longer distinguishable from zero. We discuss several explanations including pleiotropic, population- and context-dependent effects. Our findings call for reconsidering this established textbook example in evolutionary and behavioural ecology, raise important concerns about the validity of the current scientific publishing culture, and should stimulate renewed interest in understanding within-species variation in ornamental traits.
Denuding a Craton: Thermochronology Record of Phanerozoic Unroofing From the Pilbara Craton, Australia

Cratons are ancient regions of relatively stable continental fragments considered to have attained long‐term tectonic and geomorphic stability. Low‐temperature thermochronology data, however, suggest that some cratons have experienced discrete Phanerozoic heating and cooling episodes. We report apatite fission track, and apatite and zircon (U‐Th)/He low‐temperature thermochronology data from the Archean Pilbara craton and adjacent Paleoproterozoic basement, NW Australia. Inverse thermal history simulations of this spatially extensive data set reveal that the region has experienced ~50–70°C cooling, which is interpreted as a response to the unroofing of erodible strata overlying basement. The timing of cooling onset is variable, mainly ~420–350 Ma in the southern and central Pilbara‐eastern Hamersley Basin and ~350–300 Ma in the northern Pilbara, while the westernmost Pilbara‐central Hamersley Basin does not record a significant Paleozoic cooling event. These differences are attributed to variations in sedimentary thickness and proximity to adjacent rift basins, which lack Archean age zircons in their Paleozoic strata. The onset of Paleozoic cooling coincides with the timing of the episodic intraplate late Ordovician‐Carboniferous Alice Springs Orogeny. This orogeny is thought to have resulted from far‐field plate margin stresses, which in turn caused the opening of the adjacent Canning Basin, to the north and east of the craton. We propose that basin development triggered a change of base level, resulting in denudation and the crustal cooling event reported here. Our results provide further evidence for the transmission of far‐field forces to cratons over hundreds of kilometers and support the view that cratons have experienced geomorphic changes during the Phanerozoic.