Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genetic Differentiation and Population Structure in Sorex haydeni and S. cinereus

Populations of the masked shrew ( Sorex cinereus ) and the prairie shrew ( S. haydeni ) occurring in sympatry in Alberta were compared genetically with each other and with populations of S. cinereus across Canada using protein electrophoresis of 33 loci. Despite distinct morphologic differences between S. cinereus and S. haydeni , in Alberta these taxa were less genetically differentiated (Ne's genetic distance, D N = 0.006; Rogers' genetic distance, D R = 0.047) than were conspecific populations of S. cinereus across Canada ( D N = 0.019; D R = 0.058). Although there were no fixed allele differences among the populations sampled, there was a unique allele at a moderate frequency in S. haydeni (PEP-SB, 0.375). This may be indicative of no gene flow between these two taxa and thus they may be valid species. The genetic similarity of the masked and prairie shrews implies that S. cinereus is a paraphyletic taxon and suggests a recent divergence of these taxa, perhaps in the late Pleistocene or the early Holocene. Among populations of S. cinereus across Canada, the pattern of differentiation is consistent with a biogeographic model in which shrews re-colonized Canada from multiple refugia following the retreat of the Wisconsin glaciers.
Age and growth of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) from Lake Tana, Ethiopia

Age and growth of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, from Lake Tana were studied from June 2016 to May 2017. In total, 1 597 otoliths were collected from three representative sampling sites for macrozone analysis. Otoliths were ground and examined under a dissecting microscope at 7–40× for the presence of translucent and opaque macrozones using a reflected light source. The age of the fish was determined from the total number of translucent macrozones counted in the otoliths considering the time of translucent zone formation and median hatch date. Two peaks of translucent macrozones were observed in January and February and in June and July. The mean marginal increment was found to be highest (73–85%) in November, December and May, and lowest (0–9.3%) in January, February, June and July. The von Bertalanffy Growth Function was fitted to observed length and age, with L ∞ = 45.1 cm, K = 0.21 y–1 and t 0 = –0.514 years. The growth rate for O. niloticus from Lake Tana was lower than that previously reported for Ethiopia, warranting additional studies to determine causative factors that would explain the differences.
Exploring the Spatial Relationships Between Real and Virtual Experiences: What Transfers and What Doesn’t

Virtual environments are commonly used to assess spatial cognition in humans. For the past few decades, researchers have used virtual environments to investigate how people navigate, learn, and remember their surrounding environment. In combination with tools such as electroencephalogram, neuroimaging, and electrophysiology, these virtual environments have proven invaluable in their ability to help elucidate the underlying neural mechanisms of spatial learning and memory in humans. However, a critical assumption that is made whenever using virtual experiences is that the spatial abilities used in the navigation of these virtual environments accurately represents the spatial abilities used in the real-world. The aim of the current study is to investigate the spatial relationships between real and virtual environments to better understand how well the virtual experiences parallel the same experiences in the real-world. Here, we performed three independent experiments to examine whether spatial information about object location, environment layout, and navigation strategy transfers between parallel real-world and virtual-world experiences. We show that while general spatial information does transfer between real and virtual environments, there are several limitations of the virtual experience. Compared to the real-world, the use of information in the virtual-world is less flexible, especially when testing spatial memory from a novel location, and the way in which we navigate these experiences are different as the perceptual and proprioceptive feedback gained from the real-world experience can influence navigation strategy.
Correlates of Silence: Enhanced Microstructural Changes in the Uncinate Fasciculus

Silence is an important aspect of various meditation practices, but little work has focused specifically on the underlying neurophysiology of silence-related meditative practice, and on how it relates to the self-reported experiences of practitioners. To expand current knowledge regarding the neurophenomenology of silence in meditation, we directly investigated first-person reports of silence-related experiences during the practice of Quadrato Motor Training (QMT) and their association with changes in fractional anisotropy (FA). Participants recorded their cognitive, emotional, and physical experiences upon beginning QMT and again after 6 weeks of QMT practice. These reports were evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively. Findings showed that change between the two time points in self-reported silence-related experiences was negatively correlated with change in attentional effort, and positively correlated with changes in the left uncinate fasciculus. These results expand current knowledge regarding the neuroanatomical correlates of silence-related experiences during meditation.
Neural Dynamics of Improved Bimodal Attention and Working Memory in Musically Trained Children

Attention and working memory (WM) are core components of executive functions, and they can be enhanced by training. One activity that has shown to improve executive functions is musical training, but the brain networks underlying these improvements are not well known. We aimed to identify, using functional MRI (fMRI), these networks in children who regularly learn and play a musical instrument. Girls and boys aged 10–13 with and without musical training completed an attention and WM task while their brain activity was measured with fMRI. Participants were presented with a pair of bimodal stimuli (auditory and visual) and were asked to pay attention only to the auditory, only to the visual, or to both at the same time. The stimuli were afterward tested with a memory task in order to confirm attention allocation. Both groups had higher accuracy on items that they were instructed to attend, but musicians had an overall better performance on both memory tasks across attention conditions. In line with this, musicians showed higher activation than controls in cognitive control regions such as the fronto-parietal control network during all encoding phases. In addition, facilitated encoding of auditory stimuli in musicians was positively correlated with years of training and higher activity in the left inferior frontal gyrus and the left supramarginal gyrus, structures that support the phonological loop. Taken together, our results elucidate the neural dynamics that underlie improved bimodal attention and WM of musically trained children and contribute new knowledge to this model of brain plasticity.
Environmental influence on phytoplankton production during summer on the KwaZulu-Natal shelf of the Agulhas ecosystem§

During February 2010, studies of primary production (PP) and physiology were conducted at five selected sites in the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Bight of the Agulhas ecosystem as part of a programme to elucidate the influence of major physical driving forces and nutrient inputs on the structure and functioning of biological communities. These sites were located in the vicinity of the Durban lee eddy, in the midshelf region of the central part of the bight, off the Thukela Mouth, and to the north and south of Richards Bay. At four of the sites, chlorophyll a ranged from 0.10 to 1.44 mg m–3 and integrated PP ranged between 0.35 and 2.58 g C m–2 d–1. The highest biomass and PP, which were comparable to those observed in a wind-driven upwelling system, were associated with a diatom community observed at the midshelf site, and varied between 0.26 and 4.27 mg m–3 and 7.22 and 9.89 g C m–2 d–1, respectively. Environmental conditions at each of the sites differed substantially and appeared to be influential in initiating and controlling the development and distribution of phytoplankton biomass and production. Phytoplankton adaptation to variable environmental conditions was characterised by a decreased light-limited slope (αB) and increased rate of photosynthesis (Pm ) and light saturation (Ek) with elevated temperatures. The converse (increased αB and decreased Pm and Ek) was observed as irradiance levels declined. Generalised additive models indicated that irradiance, temperature and biomass were important variables influencing photosynthetic parameters and photosynthetic rates.
Toward an Integrative Model of Sources of Personality Stability and Change

There is now compelling evidence that people’s typical patterns of thinking, feeling, striving, and behaving are both consistent and malleable. Therefore, researchers have begun to examine the distinct sources of personality stability and change. In this article, we discuss traditional classifications of sources, review key findings, and highlight limitations and open questions in research on personality stability and change. We conclude by describing an integrative model and by outlining important directions for future research.
Correlation of CD74 expression with the Ki-67-labeling index and CD138 in multiple myeloma: a clinicopathological and immunohistochemical study

Introduction Despite the advancements in multiple myeloma (MM) therapy, it is still considered an incurable disease. The fact that CD74 is highly expressed in MM implicates it as a potential therapeutic target. Ki-67 is a nuclear protein that is strictly associated with cell proliferation. The antibody to Ki-67 has been used as a marker of proliferative activity in MM. CD138 is a transmembrane protein whose expression is highly specific for terminally differentiated plasma cells. Aim of the study The aim of the study was to assess the possible correlation between CD74 expression with proliferative activity (represented by the Ki-67-labeling index) and plasma cell differentiation (represented by CD138 expression) in MM tumor cells. Patients and methods This study included 22 patients with MM. Biopsy specimens were obtained from the lesions and stained using hematoxylin and eosin. Immunohistochemical staining for CD74, Ki-67, and CD138 expression was performed for all the cases. The slides were examined and the results were tabulated and statistically analyzed. Results The mean age of the study group was 52.9±11.4 years, with slight male predilection (59% men and 41% women). CD74 expression was observed in tumor cells of all patients with MM with variable degrees of immunoreactivity. Ki-67-labeling index ranged from 5 to 40%. Significant positive correlation was found between the proliferation index and CD74 immunoexpression (r=0.5, P<0.03). Weak positive correlation was found between CD74 and CD138 expression by the tumor cells. Conclusion There is a significant positive correlation between the expression of CD74 and the Ki-67-labeling index, suggesting an important role for CD74 in the proliferation and aggressiveness of MM. There is a weak positive correlation between CD74 and plasma cell differentiation (represented by CD138 expression) of MM tumor cells. The presence of CD74 in all cases of MM supports the fact that it is a suitable target for MM immunotherapy.
Isotermas de dessorção de pimentão verde e energia envolvida no processo

Este trabalho teve como objetivos a obtencao das isotermas de dessorcao do pimentao verde e a avaliacao das propriedades termodinâmicas de sorcao do fruto. As isotermas foram obtidas em funcao da temperatura (30°C, 40°C, 50°C e 60°C) em umidades relativas entre 4,0-90,0%. Os dados experimentais foram ajustados aos modelos matematicos GAB, BET, Halsey, Henderson e Oswin para se descrever seu comportamento. Os resultados demonstram que o modelo de GAB descreveu com maior precisao as isotermas de dessorcao do pimentao verde entre as faixas de atividade de agua (aw) selecionadas, em uma temperatura fixa. O calor isosterico de sorcao (qst) pode ser determinado a partir de dados de sorcao de umidade utilizando-se a derivada da equacao de Clasius-Clapeyron, obtendo-se entao o calor envolvido no processo de dessorcao de umidade do pimentao verde fresco. A teoria da compensacao entalpia-entropia ou isocinetica foi aplicada aos dados experimentais, sugerindo que o processo de dessorcao e conduzido pela entalpia.
The effect of cover crops and their management on plant-parasitic nematodes in vineyards.

In South Africa the use of annual cover crops is an established soil cultivation practice in vineyards that is environmentally friendly and financially sustainable in the long term. Species from the Brassicaceae family are well known for their biofumigation potential. In this study, Sinapis alba (white mustard), Brassica napus cv. AV Jade (canola), Brassica juncea cv. Caliente 199 (Caliente), Eruca sativa cv. Nemat and Avena sativa cv. Pallinup were established as cover crops in a vineyard for three growing seasons and evaluated for their biofumigation impact, as well as crop host impact on the suppression of economically important plant-parasitic nematodes. Mechanical and chemical cover crop management practices on Criconemoides xenoplax (ring nematode) and Meloidogyne javanica (root-knot nematode) numbers were determined. Canola and Caliente showed a consistent reduction of C. xenoplax present in the vine row 60 days after the management practices applied at the end of the third growing season. This trend was found during the three-year trial period for all different sampling periods (0, 15, 30 and 60 days). Lowered numbers for the total plant-parasitic nematodes were also found for the three-year trial period measured at 60 days after the management practice sampling period. The results can be attributed mainly to the crop host status of the two cover crop species towards C. xenoplax. White mustard showed a constant increase in C. xenoplax numbers in the vine row over the three-year period compared to the treatments in which no cover crop was sown.
Abnormal Innate Immunity in Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure: Immunotargets for Therapeutics

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a severe life-threatening condition with high risk of multiorgan failure, sepsis, and mortality. ACLF activates a multifaceted interplay of both innate and adaptive immune response in the host which governs the overall outcome. Innate immune cells recognize the conserved elements of microbial and viral origin, both to extort instant defense by transforming into diverse modules of effector responses and to generate long-lasting immunity but can also trigger a massive intrahepatic immune inflammatory response. Acute insult results in the activation of innate immune cells which provokes cytokine and chemokine cascade and subsequently initiates aggressive systemic inflammatory response syndrome, hepatic damage, and high mortality in ACLF. Dysregulated innate immune response not only plays a critical role in disease progression but also potentially correlates with clinical disease severity indices including Child-Turcotte-Pugh, a model for end-stage liver disease, and sequential organ failure assessment score. A better understanding of the pathophysiological basis of the disease and precise immune mechanisms associated with liver injury offers a novel approach for the development of new and efficient therapies to treat this severely ill entity. Immunotherapies could be helpful in targeting immune-mediated organ damage which may constrain progression toward liver failure and eventually reduce the requirement for liver transplantation. Here, in this review we discuss the defects of different innate immune cells in ACLF which updates the current knowledge of innate immune response and provide potential targets for new therapeutic interventions.
Measuring the Sense of Agency: A French Adaptation and Validation of the Sense of Agency Scale (F-SoAS)

Sense of Agency (SoA) is the subject of growing attention. It corresponds to the capacity to claim authorship over an action, associate specific consequences with a specific action, and it has been claimed to be a key point in the development of consciousness. It can be measured using the Sense of Agency Scale (SoAS), originally proposed by Tapal et al. (2017), who distinguished it into two-factor: Sense of Positive Agency (SoPA) and Sense of Negative Agency (SoNA). This study reports on the first adaptation of the SoAS into another language, French. For this French version of the Sense of Agency Scale (F-SoAS), we analyzed responses from a sample of 517 native French-speakers. Our results indicate that the scale has good psychometric properties. Factor analysis confirms the same two-factor model as Tapal et al. (2017). However, some items were removed due to insufficient loadings with factors, leading to a short version of the scale (7-item). Furthermore, we observed gender differences that are consistent with findings in the literature. Specifically, women report higher SoNA scores and lower SoPA scores than men. We conclude by discussing possible uses and future directions for the scale.
Effect of phosphate solubilizing bacteria on plant growth promotion and nodulation in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.)

Influence of three phosphate solubilizing bacteria i.e. RMV1, RMV4 and RPB3 were evaluated on growth, seed yield and nodulation of soybean through seed inoculation under field conditions. Results of the study revealed that all these isolates had significant impact on plant growth in terms of field emergence, root length, plant height, nodule dry weight, number of branch and nodule per plant and finally seed yield over control. Among these, RPB3 exhibited greatest influence by 24.31, 64.79, 26.89, 32.69 and23.88% for germination, root length, plant height, number of branches per plant and seed yield respectively. While, RMV4 and RMV1 reflected lesser influence than RPB3 for the characters studied. However, RPB3, RMV4 and RMV1 showed 74.68, 61.74 and 53.95% increment on nodulation, respectively over control, while dry weight of nodule enhanced by 86.08, 71.47 and 61.32%. The better performance of these three bacterial isolates was attributed to their greater phosphate solubilization ability and positively correlated with plant growth and seed yield of soybean. However, RPB3 was rated as good candidate to be developed into a phosphate solubilizing bio-inoculant.
Saproxylic invertebrates in plantation forests

I Acknowledgements. IV Table of contents . VI List of Figures . IX List of tables . XI Chapter 1 General introduction . 1 1.1 Saproxylic organisms and their ecological functions . 1 1.2 Plantation forestry and saproxylic organisms . 2 1.3 Plantation forests and decomposition of coarse woody debris . 4 1.4 Host specificity and proximity to native habitat. 5 1.5 Thesis objectives . 7 Chapter 2 Conservation benefits of spatial heterogeneity through invertebrate succession in decaying deadwood in a plantation forest . 9 2.
COVID-19: Current Developments and Further Opportunities in Drug Delivery and Therapeutics

SARS-CoV-2 has affected people from all age groups, races and ethnicities. Given that many infected individuals are asymptomatic, they transmit the disease to others unknowingly, which has resulted in the spread of infection at an alarming rate. This review aims to provide an overview of the pathophysiology, preventive measures to reduce the disease spread, therapies currently in use, an update on vaccine development and opportunities for vaccine delivery. The World Health Organization has advised several precautions including social distancing, hand washing and the use of PPE including gloves and face masks for minimizing the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection. At present, several antiviral therapies previously approved for other infections are being repositioned to study their efficacy against SARS-CoV-2. In addition, some medicines (i.e., remdesivir, chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine) have received emergency use authorisation from the FDA. Plasma therapy has also been authorised for emergency use for the treatment of COVID-19 on a smaller scale. However, no vaccine has been approved so far against this virus. Nevertheless, several potential vaccine targets have been reported, and development of different types of vaccines including DNA, mRNA, viral vector, inactivated, subunit and vaccine-like particles is in process. It is concluded that a suitable candidate delivered through an advanced drug delivery approach would effectively boost the immune system against this coronavirus.
COMPORTAMIENTO DE 145 ACCESIONES DE Leucaena spp. AVIVERADAS EN UN SUSTRATO CON SUELO ÁCIDO

Se evaluo una coleccion de Leucaena spp. , representada por 145 accesiones de nueve especies, en condiciones de vivero sobre un sustrato con suelo acido; estas se sembraron en bolsas de polietileno negro de 26 x 14 cm, con el objetivo de conocer las variedades de mejor comportamiento en cuanto a caracteres tales como la altura de la plantula, el grosor del tallo y el numero de ramas como indicadores del momento optimo de trasplante. Se observo que estos caracteres tuvieron influencia en el desarrollo de la planta y mostraron una gran variabilidad (44,6 %) en la primera componente del analisis de componentes principales. Se encontro relacion entre los caracteres estudiados en esta fase inicial y para los tres caracteres se destacaron tres accesiones: L. trichodes CIAT-8814 y CIAT-8813 y L. esculenta CIAT-17225. De acuerdo con la dinamica de crecimiento (7,1-31,0 cm) se formaron cinco grupos y sobresalieron 15 accesiones que mostraron una mayor dinamica. Se concluye que existe variabilidad en la coleccion dentro de las especies y accesiones de cada especie y que es necesario tener en cuenta los caracteres estudiados para definir el momento optimo de trasplante.
Effects of GA3 treatment on endogenous hormones of newhall navel orange during the tree storage.

The effects of GA3 treatment on the content changes of endogenous GA,IAA,ZRs,ABA of newhall navel orange during on the tree storage were observed.The results showed that GA3 treatment could delay the descending rate of endogenous GA,IAA,ZRs,ABA accumulation by 20-40 days and the cumulation of endogenous ABA content by about 20 days.It also delayed the ascending rate of ABA/GA and ABA/IAA and controlled the abscission of fruit effectively.