Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Horizontal transfer of matter by a cave-dwelling mysid

The role of a cave-dwelling mysid population as a matter carrier was evaluated in a cave of the Medes Is. (NW Mediterranean) during 1988–89. Hemimysis spehmcola (Ledoyer, 1963) is a gregarious mysid whose swarms migrate daily from the inner end of the cave - where they remain during the day–to the exterior where they feed during the night. Fecal pellet composition, pellet egestion and pellet decomposition were measured in order to evaluate the transfer of matter by mysids. Based on the strong daily behavioural rhythms of these mysids. special importance was attached to the sampling frequency (every 2 h). In order to assess seasonal variability, four daily cycles were evaluated within a year. In situ incubations were carried out to determine changes on the egestion rates, morphology, weight and composition (AA. C: N ratios) of pellets in the course of a day. The number of pellets deposited inside the cave was estimated using containers distributed along the cave bottom by SCUBA divers. Fecal pellets showed an amorphous composition, whereby diatom frustules, dinoflagellate loricae and coccolithoporids were very scarce. About 25% of the body weight were estimated to be egested daily as fecal pellets, suggesting a detritivorous feeding habit. The population oscillated seasonally between 1 and 12 millions. Individuals egested between 1.6 and 3.5 pellets a day into the cave, each averaging from 9.4 to 11.9 μg DW, 0.5 to 1.0 μg C and 0.046 to 0.27 μg N. Therefore, the population carried daily about 20 407 g DW POM. 2–21 g C and 0.5 2.7 g N from outside to inside the cave. Pellets decomposed very quickly; between 20 to 50% of both C and N were released from pellets in less than 2 h after egestion. Oxidation of pellets theoretically consumes an amount of oxygen which agrees with the high BOD values previously reported for this cave. Marine caves are generally viewed as strictly oligotrophic systems; dense mysid populations, however, could strongly modify the trophic relationships in marine caves.
Energy balance measurements over a banana orchard in the Semiarid region in the Northeast of Brazil

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a confiabilidade da tecnica das correlacoes turbulentas, analisando as componentes do balanco de energia, a evapotranspiracao e o fechamento do balanco de energia nas estacoes de crescimento seca e umida, na cultura da banana. O experimento foi realizado em uma fazenda localizada no distrito irrigado de Quixere, na Bacia do Baixo Jaguaribe, Ceara. Foi utilizado um sistema de correlacoes turbulentas na obtencao das medidas dos fluxos turbulentos. Uma estacao meteorologica automatica foi instalada em um gramado para a obtencao da evapotranspiracao de referencia (ET0) pelo metodo FAO-Penman-Monteith. A velocidade do vento e o deficit de pressao do vapor sao as variaveis mais importantes no processo evaporativo em ambas as estacoes. Na estacao seca, os fluxos de calor tem ordens de magnitude similares, enquanto na estacao umida o calor latente e superior. O sistema de correlacoes turbulentas apresentou confianca aceitavel na obtencao dos fluxos de calor, com a evapotranspiracao real mostrando valores similares aos obtidos pelo metodo do balanco hidrico. O fechamento do balanco de energia apresentou bons resultados para a area de estudo, com valores medios de 0,93 e 0,86 para as estacoes seca e chuvosa, respectivamente.
Brain Network Modularity During a Sustained Working-Memory Task

Spontaneous oscillations of the blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signal are spatially synchronized within specific brain networks and are thought to reflect synchronized brain activity. Networks are modulated by the performance of a task, even if the exact features and degree of such modulations are still elusive. The presence of networks showing anticorrelated fluctuations lend initially to suppose that a competitive relationship between the default mode network (DMN) and task positive networks (TPNs) supports the efficiency of brain processing. However, more recent results indicate that cooperative and competitive dynamics between networks coexist during task performance. In this study, we used graph analysis to assess the functional relevance of the topological reorganization of brain networks ensuing the execution of a steady state working-memory (WM) task. Our results indicate that the performance of an auditory WM task is associated with a switching between different topological configurations of several regions of specific networks, including frontoparietal, ventral attention, and dorsal attention areas, suggesting segregation of ventral attention regions in the presence of increased overall integration. However, the correct execution of the task requires integration between components belonging to all the involved networks.
Strain-Dependent Modifier Genes Determine Survival in Zfp423 Mice

Zfp423 encodes a transcriptional regulatory protein that interacts with canonical signaling and lineage pathways. Mutations in mouse Zfp423 or its human ortholog ZNF423 are associated with a range of developmental abnormalities reminiscent of ciliopathies, including cerebellar vermis hypoplasia and other midline brain defects. Null mice have reduced viability in most strain backgrounds. Here we show complete lethality on a C57BL/6J background, dominant rescue in backcrosses to any of 13 partner strains, with strain-dependent survival frequencies, and evidence for a BALB/c-derived survival modifier locus on chromosome 5. Survival data indicate both perinatal and postnatal periods of lethality. Anatomical data from a hypomorphic gene trap allele observed on both C57BL/6J and BALB/c congenic backgrounds shows an aggregate effect of background on sensitivity to Zfp423 loss rather than a binary effect on viability.
Pervasive non-CpG methylation at zebrafish mosaic satellite repeats

In vertebrates, DNA methylation predominantly occurs at CG dinucleotides even though widespread non-CG methylation (mCH) has been reported in mammalian embryonic and neural cells. Unlike in mammals, where mCH is found enriched at CAC/G trinucleotides and is tissue-restricted, we find that zebrafish embryos as well as adult somatic and germline tissues display robust methylation enrichment at TGCT positions associated with mosaic satellite repeats. These repeats reside in H3K9me3-marked heterochromatin and display mCH reprogramming coincident with zygotic genome activation. Altogether, this work provides insight into a novel form of vertebrate mCH and highlights the substrate diversity of vertebrate DNA methyltransferases.
Conserved anti-inflammatory effects and sensing of butyrate in zebrafish

Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are produced by microbial fermentation of dietary fiber in the gut. Butyrate is a particularly important SCFA with anti-inflammatory properties and is generally present at lower levels in inflammatory diseases associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis in mammals. We aimed to determine if SCFAs are produced by the zebrafish microbiome and if SCFAs exert conserved effects on zebrafish immunity as an example of the non-mammalian vertebrate immune system. We demonstrate that bacterial communities from adult zebrafish intestines synthesize all three main SCFA in vitro, although SCFA were below our detectable limits in zebrafish intestines in vivo. Immersion in butyrate, but not acetate or propionate, reduced the recruitment of neutrophils and M1-type pro-inflammatory macrophages to wounds. We found conservation of butyrate sensing by neutrophils via orthologs of the hydroxycarboxylic acid receptor 1 (hcar1) gene. Neutrophils from Hcar1-depeleted embryos were no longer responsive to the anti-inflammatory effects of butyrate, while macrophage sensitivity to butyrate was independent of Hcar1. Our data demonstrate conservation of anti-inflammatory butyrate effects and identify the presence of a conserved molecular receptor in fish.
Insulin receptor activation by proinsulin preserves synapses and vision in retinitis pigmentosa

Synaptic loss, neuronal death, and circuit remodeling are common features of central nervous system neurodegenerative disorders. Retinitis pigmentosa (RP), the leading cause of inherited blindness, is a group of retinal dystrophies characterized by photoreceptor dysfunction and death. The insulin receptor, a key controller of metabolism, also regulates neuronal survival and synaptic formation, maintenance, and activity. Indeed, deficient insulin receptor signaling has been implicated in several brain neurodegenerative pathologies. We present evidence linking impaired insulin receptor signaling with RP. We describe a selective decrease in the levels of the insulin receptor and its downstream effector phospho-S6 in retinal horizontal cell terminals in the rd10 mouse model of RP, as well as aberrant synapses between rod photoreceptors and the postsynaptic terminals of horizontal and bipolar cells. A gene therapy strategy to induce sustained proinsulin, the insulin precursor, production restored retinal insulin receptor signaling, by increasing S6 phosphorylation, without peripheral metabolic consequences. Moreover, proinsulin preserved photoreceptor synaptic connectivity and prolonged visual function in electroretinogram and optomotor tests. These findings point to a disease-modifying role of insulin receptor and support the therapeutic potential of proinsulin in retinitis pigmentosa.
Quantifying variation in bacterial reproductive fitness with and without antimicrobial resistance: a high-throughput method

Background To evaluate changes in reproductive fitness of bacteria, e.g., after acquisition of antimicrobial resistance, a low-cost high-throughput method to analyse bacterial growth on agar is desirable for broad usability, including in low-resource settings. Method In our bacterial quantitative fitness analysis (baQFA), cultures are spotted in a predefined array on agar plates and photographed sequentially while growing. These time-lapse images are analysed using a purpose-built open source software to derive normalised image intensity values for each culture spot. Subsequently, a Gompertz growth model is fitted to these optical intensity values of each culture spot and fitness is calculated from parameters of the model. For image segmentation validation, we investigated the association between normalised intensity values and colony-forming unit (CFU) counts. To represent a range of clinically important pathogenic bacteria, we used different strains of Enterococcus faecium, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, with and without antimicrobial resistance. Relative competitive fitness (RCF) was defined as the mean fitness ratio of two strains growing competitively on one plate. Results baQFA permitted the accurate construction of growth curves from bacteria grown on semisolid agar plates and fitting of Gompertz models: Normalised image intensity values showed a strong association with the total CFU/ml count per spotted culture (p<0.001) for all strains of the three species. Bacterial QFA showed relevant reproductive fitness differences between individual strains, suggesting substantial higher fitness of methicillin-resistant S. aureus JE2 than Cowan (RCF 1.60, p<0.001). Similarly, the vancomycin-resistant E. faecium ST172b showed higher competitive fitness than susceptible E. faecium ST172 (RCF 1.72, p<0.001). Conclusion Our baQFA adaptation allows detection of fitness differences between our bacterial strains, and is likely to be applicable to other bacteria. In the future, baQFA may help to estimate epidemiological antimicrobial persistence or contribute to the prediction of clinical outcomes in severe infections at a low cost.
Nitrogênio e época de colheita nos componentes da produtividade de forragem e sementes de capim-mombaça

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of nitrogen doses and harvesting time, on the yield components of forage and seed production of Mombaca Guineagrass (Panicum maximum cultivar Mombaca). The treatments were composed by N doses (0, 75, 150, 225 and 300 kg ha -1 ) and two harvesting times (8 and 14 days after anthesis). The experimental design was the randomized complete block in a split-plot arrangement with four replicates. Forage and leaf lamina yield were positively and linearly affected by N doses. The characters density of fertile tillers, apparent number of seeds and number of pure seeds per panicle, and apparent and pure seed yields were significantly affected by the interaction between N doses and harvesting time. Positive correlation was observed between apparent or pure seed yield and number of seed per panicle and weight of one thousand seeds. The highest apparent seed yield of 89.1 kg ha -1 and pure seed yield of 28.2 kg ha -1 were observed on nitrogen doses at 241.2 and 250.0 kg ha -1 , respectively, at 8 days after anthesis.
Rapid isolation and profiling of a diverse panel of human monoclonal antibodies targeting the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein

Antibodies are a principal determinant of immunity for most RNA viruses and have promise to reduce infection or disease during major epidemics. The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has caused a global pandemic with millions of infections and hundreds of thousands of deaths to date1,2. In response, we used a rapid antibody discovery platform to isolate hundreds of human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein. We stratify these mAbs into five major classes based on their reactivity to subdomains of S protein as well as their cross-reactivity to SARS-CoV. Many of these mAbs inhibit infection of authentic SARS-CoV-2 virus, with most neutralizing mAbs recognizing the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of S. This work defines sites of vulnerability on SARS-CoV-2 S and demonstrates the speed and robustness of new antibody discovery methodologies.
Coordinated visual displays and vocal duetting in different ecological situations among Western Palearctic non-passerine birds

The biological significance of mutual behaviours, like duet singing and visual displays, is not entirely clear. The main hypotheses (pair bonding and territorial defence) come from studies of tropical bird species. The aim of this work is to identify some behavioural-ecological parameters that characterize the birds of the temperate area showing duets and coordinated-visual displays (CVD). To this end we performed a multivariate statistical analysis considering 122 non-passerine of the Western Palearctic, 46 of which make coordinated displays. Five main groups have been obtained, two of which are pure vocal duetters (owls/woodpeckers and swifts/shearwaters), and the other three consisting of birds where vocalisations are accompanied by CVD (some marine colonial species, Anatidae and divers). In agreement with previous studies of tropical birds, vocal duetting is typical of monogamous, monomorphic and territorial species. CVD is present in species living in open habitat with nidifugous offspring and migrat.
Discovery of repurposing drug candidates for the treatment of diseases caused by pathogenic free-living amoebae

Diseases caused by pathogenic free-living amoebae include primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (Naegleria fowleri), granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (Acanthamoeba spp.), Acanthamoeba keratitis, and Balamuthia amoebic encephalitis (Balamuthia mandrillaris). Each of these are difficult to treat and have high morbidity and mortality rates due to lack of effective therapeutics. In pursuit of repurposing drugs for chemotherapies, we conducted a high throughput phenotypic screen of 12,000 compounds from the Calibr ReFRAME library. We discovered a total of 58 potent inhibitors (IC50 <1 μM) against N. fowleri (n=19), A. castellanii (n=12), and B. mandrillaris (n=27) plus an additional 90 micromolar inhibitors. Of these, 113 inhibitors have never been reported to have activity against Naegleria, Acanthamoeba or Balamuthia. Rapid onset of action is important for new anti-amoeba drugs and we identified 19 compounds that inhibit N. fowleri in vitro within 24 hours (halofuginone, NVP-HSP990, fumagillin, bardoxolone, belaronib, and BPH-942, solithromycin, nitracrine, quisinostat, pabinostat, pracinostat, dacinostat, fimepinostat, sanguinarium, radicicol, acriflavine, REP3132, BC-3205 and PF-4287881). These compounds inhibit N. fowleri in vitro faster than any of the drugs currently used for chemotherapy. The results of these studies demonstrate the utility of phenotypic screens for discovery of new drugs for pathogenic free-living amoebae, including Acanthamoeba for the first time. Given that many of the repurposed drugs have known mechanisms of action, these compounds can be used to validate new targets for structure-based drug design. Author Summary Free-living amoebae (FLA) are ubiquitous in soil and freshwater and most are non-pathogenic to people; however, three different pathogenic FLA have been found to cause severe, most often fatal diseases in humans. Due to poor detection and inadequate treatment options available for pathogenic FLA, the fatality rates are still > 90% for the diseases caused by Balamuthia mandrillaris, Naegleria fowleri, and Acanthamoeba spp. With hundreds of cases in the United States and many more cases reported worldwide, there is still an urgent clinical need for effective diagnosis and specific treatments discovered against these opportunistic parasites. Drug repurposing is a powerful approach for drug-discovery because it significantly improves the discovery time, reduces the amount of resources, and decreases costs required to advance lead candidate drugs of interest into the clinic. This is extremely helpful for neglected diseases including pathogenic FLA where there is a need for new active therapies with limited budgets. This report addresses the discovery of new active drugs with potential for repurposing, multiple new drug classes that inhibit pathogenic FLA, and numerous putative drug targets that can be used as tools for further investigation and structure-based drug design.
Knowledge, attitude, and practice towards coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among medical students: A cross-sectional study

Objective: To assess knowledge, attitude, and practice of medical students towards coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: A self-designed questionnaire was developed and given to the students of a government medical college in Uttarakhand. The demographics, mean knowledge, attitude, and practice of the participants were investigated, and the scores were calculated. t-test and ANOVA were used for statistical analysis. Results: Out of the total participants (n=354), 50.3% were male and 54.5% were 21-23 years. Almost all the participants (96.6%) increase the frequency of washing hands under the influence of COVID-19. Although no significant relationship was found between different religions, age-categories in terms of knowledge, the participants who were aged 21-23 years had higher knowledge. In addition, gender had a significant impact on practice scores (P<0.05) while no demographic variable was found to have a significant relation with attitude score (P>0.05). Conclusions: The majority of the participants had good knowledge, positive attitude, and sufficient practice. Females and males have significantly different practices. Although the results are very positive, it is suggested that people should continue to strengthen knowledge, attitude, and practice towards COVID-19, so that India can win the battle against the disease.
Studies on the Constituents of Ophiopogonis Tuber. III. On the Structure of Ophiopogonin D

The chemical structure of ophiopogonin B, C39H62O12·2H2O, mp 269-271°, [α]15D-105.5°(pyridine), a main glycoside isolated from the tuber of Ophiopogon japonicus KER-GAWLER var. genuinus MAXIM. (Liliaceae) was established to be ruscogenin (1)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1rham→2fuc)-β-D-fucopyranoside as represented by formula (Ia). It should be noted that ophiopogonin B is one of the examples of the spirostane type glycosides whose sugar moiety links to the hydroxyl group other than C3-hydroxyl group of the aglycone.
The effects of two types of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors on the hypertension induced by new pressor protein associated with beta-factor XIIa in rats

Background and purpose: New pressor protein (NPP) is a human plasma enzyme, which is structurally related to the beta-fragment of activated factor XII. The present study aimed to compare the effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (captopril) and angiotensin type 1 receptor blocker (losartan) on the hypertension induced by NPP injection in normal (sham-2NX) and bilaterally nephrectomized rats (2NX). Experimental approach: In total, 60 male Wistar rats were sham operated or bilaterally nephrectomized under anesthesia. After 24 h of anesthesia with Inactin® (100 mg/kg), their systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and heart rate (HR) were measured before and after the intravenous administration of captopril, losartan, and NPP. Findings / Results: In the sham-2NX group, after NPP injection, changes were observed in SBP (145.99 ± 3.6 mmHg), DBP (93.9 ± 3.87 mmHg), and HR (400.29 ± 12.78 bpm). In the captopril group, SBP and DBP had no significant changes, while HR increased significantly (P = 0.001). In the losartan group, SBP and DBP decreased (P = 0.001 and P = 0.000, respectively), while HR had no significant changes. In the 2NX group, after NPP injection,changes were denoted in SBP (127.89 ± 9.03 mmHg), DBP (65.86 ± 5.69 mmHg), and HR (333.35 ± 11.47 bpm). In addition, captopril injection increased DBP(P = 0.016) and HR (P = 0.036) in response to NPP injection, while losartan injection had no significant effects in this regard. Conclusion and implications: It could be concluded that losartan could improve hypertension in normal rats, while captopril deteriorated hypertension in bilaterally nephrectomized rats in this hypertension model.
The effect of insecticides and a plant barrier row on aphid populations and the spread of bean yellow mosaic potyvirus and subterranean clover red leaf luteovirus in Vicia faba in South Australia

SUMMARY The effect of the insecticides malathion, demeton-S-methyl and disulfoton, and a barley barrier row on the rate and pattern of spread of bean yellow mosaic potyvirus (BYMV) and subterranean clover red leaf luteovirus (SCRLV) in Vicia faba was investigated in field plots with artificially introduced sources of viruses and vectors. The systemic insecticide treatments reduced aphid populations in the plots and this was associated with reduced spread of SCRLV, but not of BYMV. The barley barrier did not affect aphid populations in plots; however, it reduced the spread of BYMV to rows 1 · 1 m from the source but had only a minor effect on the spread of SCRLV. Apterae rather than alates of Aulacorthum solani were implicated in the spread of SCRLV. Spread of BYMV was attributed mainly to alate migrants of Myzus persicae and Macrosiphum euphorbiae, but other aphid species and morphs which occurred in high populations at the times of most rapid virus spread may also have had an active role as vectors of BYMV.