Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Diet selection of the plains vizcacha (Lagostomus maximus, family Chinchillidae) in relation to resource abundance in semi-arid scrub

The diet of the plains vizcacha (Lagostomus maximus) was studied in semi-arid scrub of central Argentina from November 1985 to May 1987 as a basis for understanding the effects of this herbivore on plant communities. Diet composition was documented with microhistological analyses. Fecal nitrogen, an index of diet quality, and vegetation cover were used as measures of resource abundance. Vizcachas consumed a wide variety of grasses, forbs, and shrubs. Grasses were observed in the feces significantly more than expected on the basis of plant cover in the field. Intensive foraging on grasses is consistent with observations of a lower abundance of grasses on colony sites than in the surrounding matrix. Diet quality and breadth of the grass–forb component of the diet were strongly correlated, and comparisons within a season between years showed that diet selectivity decreased with increasing plant cover. Our results contrast with many other studies of foraging strategies that have shown higher selectivity with .
Ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block versus transversus abdominis plane block in children undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy: a randomized controlled study

Context Ultrasound (US)-guided quadratus lumborum block (QLB) is a new abdominal truncal block used for perioperative pain management of both upper and lower abdominal surgeries. Aims To compare the analgesic efficacy of US-guided QLB with transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block. Settings Approval of Zagazig Institutional Review Board (IRB) was obtained (ZU-IRB # 5504/16-9-2018) before the study, and patient’s informed written consent was also obtained. Our clinical study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04031196). A total of 34 pediatric patients scheduled for elective laparoscopic appendectomy were randomly allocated in two equal groups: QLB and TAP block groups. Patients and methods All patients received general anesthesia using intravenous 2 mg/kg propofol, 1 µg/kg fentanyl, and atracurium 0.5 mg/kg. After induction of anesthesia, QLB group received bilateral US-guided QLB type 2, using 0.5 ml/kg of 0.25% levobupivacaine, whereas TAP block group received bilateral US-guided TAP block using 0.5 ml/kg of 0.25% levobupivacaine. The primary outcomes were changes of intraoperative hemodynamics and postoperative pain assessment. Secondary outcomes were total intraoperative fentanyl consumption, the first time of rescue analgesics, total rescue analgesic consumption in the first postoperative 24 h, and degree of parent satisfaction. Results QLB group had statistically significant lower hemodynamic changes 15 min after performing the block to the end of surgery (P<0.05), highly significant lower visual analog scale score in the first postoperative 4 h (P<0.001), highly significant lower intraoperative fentanyl dose (P<0.001), significant longer time for the first rescue analgesic, lower analgesic doses given in the first 24 h postoperatively (P<0.001), and higher parent satisfaction compared with TAP block group. Conclusion This study revealed that QLB provides longer and more effective postoperative analgesia compared with TAP block in pediatric patients undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy.
SEED-SIZE SELECTION IN MOURNING DOVES AND EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES

Abstract I studied seed-size selection among Mourning Doves (Zenaida macroura) and Eurasian Collared-Doves (Streptopelia decaocto), two newly sympatric species for which mechanisms of seed selection are not well understood. I measured and compared mean length, breadth, and thickness of seeds available to, and consumed by, these species in feeding trials of penned birds. Both species selected corn (Zea mays) seeds that were shorter and narrower than average, but Eurasian Collared-Doves selected corn that was thicker than average and sunflower (Helianthus annuus) seeds that were broader and thicker than average. Mourning Doves consumed corn of average thickness, and wheat (Triticum aestivum) and sunflower seeds of average size with respect to all dimensions. Corn consumption by both species seems limited by seed length and breadth, but Mourning Dove consumption of smaller seed types (wheat and milo [Sorghum vulgare]) appears largely unaffected by seed size. Among larger seed types (corn and sunflower), Eurasian Collared-Doves may select thicker- and/or broader-than-average seeds to maximize foraging efficiency. Sunflower and corn seeds consumed did not vary between species with respect to any dimension, but Eurasian Collared-Doves seemed willing to select, and able to eat, broader and thicker seeds than Mourning Doves, which may limit foraging competition between these species.
SCAU-Net: Spatial-Channel Attention U-Net for Gland Segmentation

With the development of medical technology, image semantic segmentation is of great significance for morphological analysis, quantification, and diagnosis of human tissues. However, manual detection and segmentation is a time-consuming task. Especially for biomedical image, only experts are able to identify tissues and mark their contours. In recent years, the development of deep learning has greatly improved the accuracy of computer automatic segmentation. This paper proposes a deep learning image semantic segmentation network named Spatial-Channel Attention U-Net (SCAU-Net) based on current research status of medical image. SCAU-Net has an encoder-decoder-style symmetrical structure integrated with spatial and channel attention as plug-and-play modules. The main idea is to enhance local related features and restrain irrelevant features at the spatial and channel levels. Experiments on the gland dataset GlaS and CRAG show that the proposed SCAU-Net model is superior to the classic U-Net model in image segmentation task, with 1% improvement on Dice score and 1.5% improvement on Jaccard score.
From a line in the sand to a landscape of decisions: a hierarchical diversity decision framework for estimating and communicating biodiversity loss along anthropogenic gradients

When setting water quality criteria, managers must choose thresholds for stressors that are protective of aquatic biodiversity. Setting such thresholds requires making implicit judgments about the degree of biodiversity loss that managers are willing to accept. We present a new modelling approach, the hierarchical diversity decision framework (HiDDeF) that explicitly communicates the sensitivity of water quality benchmarks to these implicit judgments. We apply HiDDeF to a data set of stream macroinvertebrate abundances across 218 sites in south‐western West Virginia, USA, where alkaline mine drainage increases streamwater conductivity and leads to the loss of sensitive taxa throughout regional river networks. By integrating responses of individual taxa within a flexible hierarchical framework, HiDDeF reliably predicts macroinvertebrate assemblages across the full range of conductivities observed in the training data set but requires only a fraction (~10%) of the sites required in previous studies. HiDDeF results suggest that the current conductivity benchmark (300 μS cm−1) for regional streams translates to 50% loss in abundance for at least one‐quarter of regional macroinvertebrate taxa. HiDDeF produces a ‘decision landscape’ that allows decision‐makers to assess sensitivity of proposed benchmarks to their choice of protective level. HiDDeF allows users to investigate both individual‐ and community‐level responses to environmental gradients and generates output that includes a comprehensive summary of uncertainty in model parameters.
Trade‐offs in low‐light CO2 exchange: a component of variation in shade tolerance among cold temperate tree seedlings

1. Does enhanced whole-plant CO2 exchange in moderately low to high light occur at the cost of greater CO2 loss rates at very-low light levels? We examined this question for first-year seedlings of intolerant Populus tremuloides and Betula papyrifera, intermediate Betula alleghaniensis, and tolerant Ostrya virginiana and Acer saccharum grown in moderately low (7·3% of open-sky) and low (2·8%) light. We predicted that, compared with shade-tolerant species, intolerant species would have characteristics leading to greater whole-plant CO2 exchange rates in moderately low to high light levels, and to higher CO2 loss rates at very-low light levels. 2. Compared with shade-tolerant A. saccharum, less-tolerant species grown in both light treatments had greater mass-based photosynthetic rates, leaf, stem and root respiration rates, leaf mass:plant mass ratios and leaf area:leaf mass ratios, and similar whole-plant light compensation points and leaf-based quantum yields. 3. Whole-plant CO2 exchange responses to light (0·3–600 µmol quanta m−2 s−1) indicated that intolerant species had more positive CO2 exchange rates at all but very-low light ( 15 µmol quanta m−2 s−1, its lower respiration resulted in lower CO2 losses than other species at light < 15 µmol quanta m−2 s−1. 4. Growth scaled closely with whole-plant CO2 exchange characteristics and especially with integrated whole-plant photosynthesis (i.e. leaf mass ratio × in situ leaf photosynthesis). In contrast, growth scaled poorly with leaf-level quantum yield, light compensation point, and light-saturated photosynthetic rate. 5. Collectively these patterns indicated that: (a) no species was able to both minimize CO2 loss at very-low light (i.e. 15 µmol quanta m−2 s−1), because whole-plant respiration rates were positively associated with whole-plant photosynthesis at higher light; (b) shade-intolerant species possess traits that maximize whole-plant CO2 exchange (and thus growth) in moderately low to high light levels, but these traits may lead to long-term growth and survival disadvantages in very-low light (< 2·8%) owing, in part, to high respiration. In contrast, shade-tolerant species may minimize CO2 losses in very-low light at the expense of maximizing CO2 gain potential at higher light levels, but to the possible benefit of long-term survival in low light.
Public attention and policy responses to COVID-19 pandemic

Early non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI) significantly reduced the death toll of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, there are vast differences in how quickly governments implemented NPIs. In this paper, we analyze the role of public attention, measured as the share of daily Google searches in a country related to COVID-19, in the timing of the NPI responses. We first show that public attention depends strongly on whether there are cases in own country. We then show that countries with high levels of public attention are more likely to implement non-pharmaceutical interventions, even after controlling for the number of cases and deaths. Finally, we show that the extent to which a government responds to public attention is highly dependent on the country's institutional quality. The positive effect of public attention on policy implementation is driven entirely by countries with good institutions.
NO EVIDENCE FOR EFFECTS OF BREEDING DENSITY AND MALE REMOVAL ON EXTRAPAIR PATERNITY IN THE PIED FLYCATCHER

Abstract Molecular methods have brought new insight to the study of mating patterns. Extrapair fertilizations (EPF) have proven to be widespread among bird species irrespective of social relationships. Ecological factors, such as breeding density and synchrony, have been suggested as contributors to variation in EPF rates. Absence of a male during the female fertile period may also increase the probability of EPFs. In this study, we examined experimentally whether breeding density and male absence before egg-laying influence the EPF rate in Pied Flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca). DNA fingerprinting revealed that 4.4% (10/225) of nestlings were the result of EPFs and 7.0% (3/43) of broods included at least one offspring sired by a male other than that attending the nest. We did not find any evidence of higher EPF rate with higher breeding density as stated by the density hypothesis. Contrary to expectation, EPFs were more frequent, though not quite statistically significantly, at low breeding density: all three EPF nests were found in low-breeding-density areas. There was no evidence that EPF rate was affected by a 4 h male removal. In all cases of EPF, an old female was mated with a yearling male, which suggests that older females mated with browner yearling males may have adjusted their initial mate choice through EPCs to acquire indirect genetic benefits. Pied Flycatcher females may be constrained to accept a mate of lower than preferred quality, especially at low breeding density, due to the cost of searching for alternative males.
The genome analysis of Tripterygium wilfordii reveals TwCYP712K1 and TwCYP712K2 responsible for oxidation of friedelin in celastrol biosynthesis pathway

Tripterygium wilfordii is a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) from family Celastraceae and celastrol is one of the strongest active ingredients belonging to friedelane-type pentacyclic triterpenoid, which has a large clinical application value of anti-tumor, immunosuppression, and obesity treatment. The first committed biosynthesis step of celastrol is the cyclization of 2, 3-oxidosqualene to friedelin, catalyzed by the oxidosqualene cyclase, while the rest of this pathway is still unclear. In this study, we reported a reference genome assembly of T. wilfordii with high-quality annotation by using a hybrid sequencing strategy (Nanopore, Bionano, Illumina HiSeq, and Pacbio), which obtained a 340.12 Mb total size and contig N50 reached 3.09 Mb. In addition, we successfully anchored 91.02% sequences into 23 pseudochromosomes using Hi-C technology and the super-scaffold N50 reached 13.03 Mb. Based on integration genome, transcriptom and metabolite analyses, as well as in vivo and in vitro enzyme assays, two CYP450 genes, TwCYP712K1 and TwCYP712K2 have been proven for C-29 position oxidation of friedelin to produce polpunonic acid, which clarifies the second biosynthesis step of celastrol. Syntenic analysis revealed that TwCYP712K1 and TwCYP712K2 derived from the common ancestor. These results have provided insight into illustrating pathways for both celastrol and other bioactive compounds found in this plant.
The Open Access Israeli Journal of Aquaculture – Bamidgeh

The aim of this study was to investigate stress in common carp Cyprinus carpio L. caused by harvesting, transport, and the stunning method, and the effect of the latter on flesh quality Serum cortisol concentration increased during harvesting and transport. The percussive stunning (blow on head) method caused the least stress and resulted in a significant increase in blood cortisol concentration (P<0.01). This method had no significant effect on conventional flesh quality. CO2 asphyxiation which was more stressful delayed stiffening in rigor mortis development. The greatest stress was caused by live chilling. There was a decline of pH levels in the CO2 asphyxiated and live chilled groups compared to the percussive stunned group. According to our results percussive stunning led to the best fillet quality and is the least objectionable method according to animal welfare standards. The IJA appears exclusively as a peer-reviewed on-line open-access journal at http://www.siamb. org.il. To read papers free of charge, please register online at registration form. Sale of IJA papers is strictly forbidden.
Computational Elucidation of self-organization of E. coli chromosome underlying HI-C data

The chromosome of archetypal bacteria E. coli is riddled with multifaceted complexity and its multiscale organization is slowly getting recognised. The emergence of chromosome conformation capture techniques and super-resolution microscopy are providing newer ways to explore chromosome organisation, chromosome dynamics and its effect on gene expression. Here we combine a beads-on-a-spring polymer model and recently reported highresolution Hi-C data of E. coli chromosome to develop a comprehensive model of E. coli chromosome at 5 kbp resolution. The Hi-C data-integrated chromosome model elucidates a self-organised structure of E. coli chromosome into multiple macrodomains within ring-like architecture, with oriC loci located at the mid-cell position. The model also predicts that a majority of the genetic loci are linearly organised, except Ter macrodomain. The distance profiles, extracted from the model are in quantitative agreement with data from FISH and DNA-recombination assay experiments. Additionally, a genome-wide fine-grained radius of gyration map captures multiple chromosomal interaction domains (CIDs) and identifies the location of rrn operons. Finally, via a mutation-based analysis, the model quantifies the role of multiple nucleotide-associated proteins (NAPs) like HU, Fis and MatP in controlling the chromosome architecture.
Malaria, Therapeutic Options and Melatonin

Malaria is one of the most severe global infectious diseases caused by a group of parasites belonging to the genus Plasmodium. Each year it is estimated that over 220 million cases of malarial infections are reported. As drug resistance develops to existing antimalarial drugs, a new artemisinin-based combination therapy has been introduced. The goal of the antimalarial drug therapy should ideally be directed towards the reduction of malarial incidences by targeting the blood stage of the disease and in addition to eliminate all persistent asexual forms of these parasites in their entirety from the blood. As proteases like aspartic proteases and cysteine proteases are involved in the egress phenomenon which is where the parasites emerge from the infected erythrocytes, proteases are also considered as targets for antimalarial drugs and classes of drugs that have been developed along this line have proven most effective in reducing parasitemia. With the establishment of nocturnal melatonin levels in the host’s blood acting as the “key signal” regulating Plasmodium life cycles in the erythrocyte, attention is now predominantly more focused on developing melatonin antagonists which will significantly reduce parasitemia and in turn, lessen the incidence of malarial infection. Recently, a number of melatonin antagonists with antimalarial activities have been developed. Melatonin not only acts as the signal for promoting the intraerythrocytic growth of malarial parasites, but similarly serves as an effective antioxidant in the erythrocyte, protecting them from free radical attacks within erythrocytes. Hence, working on the development of antimalarial drugs with anti-melatonergic activity will undoubtedly be extremely effectual in eliminating malaria.
The cost of virulence: an experimental study of egg eviction by brood parasitic chicks

Hatchlings of some virulent brood parasitic birds have evolved to eliminate host offspring. We experimentally studied the dynamics and potential costs of the egg eviction behavior of hatchlings of the common cuckoo Cuculus canorus in broods of common redstarts Phoenicurus phoenicurus, a cavity nesting host. Eliminating the labor of egg tossing per se improved the cuckoo chick's growth during the eviction period by ∼20--30%. Evictor cuckoo chicks recovered from the cost of egg tossing to fledge at similar masses compared with solitary chicks, although they did so at older ages. Foster parents fed evictor chicks less often compared with nonevictors. Feeding frequencies by hosts to evictors correlated negatively with eviction effort as evicting chicks often appeared to ignore fosterers offering food. Nest cup steepness was negatively related to eviction success and positively to age at first eviction. We propose that eviction behavior by cuckoo hatchlings is favored by selection because the costs of eviction are much lower than the costs of cohabitation with host chicks. Copyright 2009, Oxford University Press.
Análise econômica determinística da terminação em confinamento de novilhos abatidos com distintos pesos

The aim of this study was to evaluate the economic viability of feedlot-finished steers through financial indicators of risk and return, via deterministic analysis, based on average values ? quotations practiced in Rio Grande do Sul state in the years 2004-2012. We used 18 Charolais steers with average initial age of 30 months and average initial weight of 297.0kg ± 11.5kg. We evaluated three predetermined slaughter weights: 420, 460 and 500kg, being the weights obtained of 421, 461 and 495kg, respectively. Variable costs represented 98% of total cost, and of these, the most representative were purchase of feeder cattle and food (forage + concentrate). The estimates of the financial indicators to slaughter weights of 421, 461 and 495kg were, respectively: R$ -266.30, -323.49 and -417.18 for gross margin; R$ -289.70, -440.59 and 346.90 for net margin; R$ -344.89, -419.93 and -536.24 for profit; R$ -316.78, -381.92 and -483.67 for net present value; 0.85, 0.83 and 0.81 for index benefit:cost, -2.65%, -2.52% and -2.58% for additional return on investment; -5.02%, -4.57% and -4.56% for the internal rate of return (a.m.); and 7.05, 8.37 and 9.86 months for discounted payback. Although these results indicate infeasibility of termination at any slaughter weight, lower weights resulted in lower economic losses, making this technology of high economic risk. KEYWORDS: beef cattle, finishing system, ideal slaughter weight, investment analysis, risk analysis.
Chlamydia psittaci : epidemiology, zoonosis and examination of the innate immunity

Chlamydia psittaci and atypical Chlamydiaceae infections are (re)-emerging in chickens. We therefore examined the prevalence of C. psittaci, atypical Chlamydiaceae and their zoonotic transmission on 19 Belgian chicken farms. Atypical chlamydiaceae were not detected in chickens but 18 of 19 farms were positive for C. psittaci by culture and PCR. C. psittaci ompA genotypes A and D were discovered. None of the examined humans (n= 31) was infected with atypical Chlamydiaceae, but 29 (93.5%) of them were positive for C. psittaci by culture and PCR. Genotypes A, D and a mixed infection with genotypes C and D were found. Humans (n = 2) working in the C. psittaci negative farm never had respiratory complaints, while 25 out of 29 (86.2%) positive farmers, reported yearly medical complaints potentially related to psittacosis. Four of them currently experienced respiratory disease and one of them was being treated with antibiotics. Four farmers (12.5%) mentioned that they had pneumonia after starting to keep chickens. Occupational physicians should be aware of emerging Chlamydiaceae infections in chickens. Chlamydia in chickens and zoonosis 47
GENERATION OF CYTOTOXIC T LYMPHOCYTES IN VITRO

Mouse cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) were generated in mixed leukocyte cultures (MLC) using spleen cells as responding cells and irradiated allogeneic spleen cells as stimulating cells. Cytotoxicity was assessed by a quantitative 51Cr assay system and the relative frequency of CTL in individual cell populations was estimated from dose-response curves. Inclusion of 2-mercaptoethanol in the MLC medium resulted in a 20–40-fold increase in the relative number of CTL generated at the peak of the response. Under these culture conditions, cell-mediated cytotoxic activity was detectable in MLC populations as early as 48 h after the onset of the cultures. When spleen cells from mice immunized with allogeneic tumor cells 2–4 mo previously were cultured with irradiated spleen cells of the same alloantigenic specificity (MLC-Imm), it was found that the cell-mediated cytotoxic response was detectable earlier and reached higher levels than that observed in a primary MLC. At the peak of the response, MLC-Imm populations were observed to lyse up to 50% of the target cells within 3 h at a lymphocyte: target cell ratio of 0.3:1. Immunological and physical characterization of the effector cells generated in MLC-Imm indicated that they were medium to large-sized T lymphocytes. Altogether, these studies suggested the existence of an anamnestic cell-mediated cytotoxic response in MLC-Imm.