Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reconstructing Arctic Precipitation Seasonality Using Aquatic Leaf Wax δ2H in Lakes With Contrasting Residence Times

Arctic precipitation is predicted to increase this century. Records of past precipitation seasonality provide baselines for a mechanistic understanding of the dynamics controlling Arctic precipitation. We present an approach to reconstruct Arctic precipitation seasonality using stable hydrogen isotopes (δ2H) of aquatic plant waxes in neighboring lakes with contrasting water residence times and present a case study of this approach in two lakes on western Greenland. Residence time calculations suggest that growing season lake water δ2H in one lake reflects summer precipitation δ2H, while the other reflects amount‐weighted annual precipitation δ2H and evaporative enrichment. Aquatic plant wax δ2H in the “summer lake” is relatively constant throughout the Holocene, perhaps reflecting competing effects of local summer warmth and increased distal moisture transport due to a strengthened latitudinal temperature gradient. In contrast, aquatic plant wax δ2H in the “mean annual lake” is 100‰ 2H depleted from 6 to 4 ka relative to the beginning and end of the record. Because there are relatively minor changes in summer precipitation δ2H, we interpret the 100‰ 2H depletion in mean annual precipitation to reflect an increase in winter precipitation amount, likely accompanied by changes in winter precipitation δ2H and decreased evaporative enrichment. Thus, unlike the “summer lake,” the “mean annual lake” records changes in winter precipitation. This dual‐lake approach may be applied to reconstruct past changes in precipitation seasonality at sites with strong precipitation isotope seasonality and minimal lake water evaporative enrichment.
Targeted walking in incomplete spinal cord injury: Role of corticospinal control.

Locomotor recovery after incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI) is influenced by spinal and supraspinal networks. Conventional clinical gait analysis fails to differentiate between these components. There is evidence that corticospinal control is enhanced during targeted walking, where each foot must be continuously placed on visual targets in randomized order. This study investigates the potential of targeted walking in the functional assessment of corticospinal integrity. Twenty-one controls and 16 individuals with chronic iSCI performed normal and targeted walking on a treadmill while electromyograms (EMGs) and kinematics were recorded. Precision (% of accurate foot placements) in targeted walking was significantly lower in individuals with iSCI (82.9±14.7%, controls: 94.9±4.0%). While the overall kinematic pattern was comparable between walking conditions, controls showed significantly higher semitendinosus activity before heel-strike during targeted walking. This was accompanied by a shift of relative EMG intensity from 90-120Hz to lower frequencies of 20-60 Hz, previously associated with corticospinal control of muscle activity. Targeted walking in iSCI individuals evoked smaller EMG changes, suggesting that the switch to more corticospinal control is impaired. Accordingly, mildly impaired iSCI individuals revealed higher adaptations to the targeted walking task than more-impaired individuals. Recording of EMGs during targeted walking holds potential as a research tool to reveal further insights into the neuromuscular control of locomotion. It also complements findings of preclinical studies and is a promising novel surrogate marker of integrity of corticospinal control in individuals with iSCI and other neurological impairments. Future studies should investigate its potential for diagnosis or tracking recovery during rehabilitation.
Seed borne mycoflora of groundnut

Using blotter, agar plate and deep freezing method as recommended by ISTA, the seed borne mycoflora of 12 groundnut seed samples collected from different localities of Pakistan was examined. Of the 14 genera and 28 species of fungi isolated, 18 fungal species viz., Absidia corymbifera (Cohn) Sacc and Trotter, Alternaria citri Ellis and Pierce apud Pierce, Aspergillus awamori Nakazawa, A. candidus Link ex Link, A. japonicus Saito, A.luchuensis Inui, A. panamensis Raper & Thom, A. penecilloides Spegazzini, A. terricola Marchal, A. terreus Thom, A. wentii Wehmer, Chaetomium globosum Kunze ex Steud. , C. indicum Corda, Cladosporium oxysporum Berk. & Curt, Paecilomyces variotii Bain,Syncephalastrum racemosum Cohn ex Schrot, Trichoderma hamatum (Bonord) Bain and Tricothecium roseum (Pers) Link ex Gray do not appear to have been reported from Pakistan on groundnut seed. Macrophomina phaseolina, Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium solani, F. oxysporum, Aspergillus flavus and A. niger were found predominant. Higher number of fungi were isolated where blotter method was used as compared to agar plate and deep-freezing method. Surface sterilization of seeds reduced the incidence of A. flavus and A. niger.
Alpha-Synuclein Oligomers and Neurofilament Light Chain in Spinal Fluid Differentiate Multiple System Atrophy from Lewy Body Synucleinopathies.

OBJECTIVE To explore the role of alpha-synuclein (αSyn) oligomers and neurofilament light chain (NFL) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as markers of early multiple system atrophy (MSA) and to contrast findings to Lewy body synucleinopathies. METHODS In a discovery cohort of well-characterized early MSA patients (n = 24) and matched healthy controls (CON, n = 14) we utilized ELISA to measure NFL and protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) to detect αSyn oligomers in CSF. We confirmed findings in a separate prospectively enrolled cohort of patients with early MSA (n = 38), Parkinson's disease (PD, n = 16), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB, n = 13), and CON subjects (n = 15). RESULTS In the discovery cohort, NFL was markedly elevated in MSA patients with perfect separation from CON. ASyn-PMCA was non-reactive in all CON, while all MSA samples were positive. In the confirmatory cohort, NFL again perfectly separated MSA from CON, and was significantly lower in PD and DLB compared to MSA. PMCA was again non-reactive in all CON, and positive in all but 2 MSA cases. All PD and all but 2 DLB samples were also positive for αSyn aggregates but with markedly different reaction kinetics than MSA: aggregation occurred later but maximum fluorescence was higher, allowing for perfect separation of reactive samples between MSA and Lewy body synucleinopathies. INTERPRETATION NFL and αSyn oligomers in CSF faithfully differentiate early MSA not only from CON but also from Lewy body synucleinopathies. The findings support the role of these markers as diagnostic biomarkers, and have important implications for understanding pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying the synucleinopathies. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
A stool test in patients with active ulcerative colitis helps exclude cytomegalovirus disease

Abstract Objectives: In severe ulcerative colitis (UC) bowel biopsy is recommended to detect the cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection capable of complicating the course of the disease. Histopathology with immunohistochemistry (IHC) is time-consuming, and a blood polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for CMV DNA is used as an alternative, notwithstanding nothing more than a moderate correlation between the two. We aimed to detect CMV DNA in the stools of patients with active UC, and to compare the results with CMV IHC in bowel biopsies. Materials and methods: Measurement of CMV DNA in stools (copies/ml) entailed PCR, while biopsies assessed inflammation activity (Geboes scale), as well as counts of numbers of CMV IHC-positive cells/biopsy. The severity of UC was assessed using the Mayo score, stool calprotectin and concentrations of C-reactive protein in the blood. Results: 89 of the above pairs of tests for CMV were performed among 75 patients. CMV was detected in 36/89 stool specimens and 19/89 bowel biopsies. The sensitivity of the stool-CMV PCR was thus 84.7%, while specificity was of 71.4%. The negative predictive value was 94.3% and the positive predictive value 44.4%. No difference in the severity of UC was noted between the stool CMV DNA positive and negative groups. Similarly, there was no difference in the severity of UC between the CMV IHC positive and negative groups, except for the Geboes score, more often found to be higher in CMV IHC-positive patients (p = .002). Conclusions: CMV DNA was detected in the stools of 40.4% of patients with active UC. A negative test result may help to exclude bowel CMV disease.
The Fatty Acids Composition of some Important Mediterranean Fish Species

According to latest findings, the essentiality of ω-3-fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) as micro nutrients as well as their positive effect w.r. t. prevention and therapy of cardiovascular diseases can be considered as established facts. Since an adequate intake of EPA and DHA by humans via nutritional route is primarily limited to fish consumption, the current work was carried out to investigate the fatty acid composition of the most popular fishes from Greece and work out relevant nutritional recommendations. Among the sixteen types of fishes investigated, oil fractions isolated from Engraulis encrasicolus, Sardina pilchardus and Spicara vulgaris contained relatively high levels of EPA and DHA viz more than 30%. However, the fish with the highest amount of total-ω-3-fatty acids of 1.9 g per 100 g fresh fish was Scomber scombrus. Sardina pilchardus and Triglia lucerna contained also more than 1 g total-ω-3-fatty acids per 100 g fresh fish. The data obtained with the last three fishes are of importance from nutritional point of view, since they represent popular market fishes of Greece and eastern mediterranean countries. Die Fettsauren-Zusammensetzung von einigen wichtigen Mittelmeer-Fischspezies Die Essentialitat der ω-3-Fettsauren. Eicosapentaensaure (EPA) und Docosahexaensaure (DHA) kann nach den neuesten Erkenntnissen uber deren positive Wirkung in der Prevention und Therapie von Herz- und Kreislaufkrankheiten als gesichert gelten. Da eine ausreichende Versorgung des Menschen mit EPA und DHA uber die Nahrung an erster Stelle nur mittels Fischverzehr gewahrleistet werden kann, wurden die wichtigsten Konsumfische des griechischen Marktes auf ihre Fettsauren-Zusammensetzung untersucht, um Ernahrungsempfehlungen auszusprechen. Von den 16 untersuchten Fischspezies weist das isolierte Ol von Engraulis encrasicolus, Sardina pilchardus und Spicara vulgaris mit uber 30% den relativ hochsten Gesamtgehalt an EPA und DHA auf. Der Fisch mit dem hochsten Gehalt an Gesamt-ω-3-Fettsauren von 1.9 g pro 100 g Frischgewicht ist jedoch Scomber scombrus. Sardina pilchardus und Triglia lucerna enthalten ebenfalls uber 1 g Gesamt-ω-3-Fettsauren pro 100 g Frischgewicht. Fur den Diatologen mus es von Bedeutung sein, weil alle drei zuletzt genannten Spezies populare Konsumfische Griechenlands und des Ostmittelmeerraumes reprasentieren.
Development of Near-isogenic Lines for Photoperiod-insensitive Genes, Ppd-B1 and Ppd-D1, Carried by the Japanese Wheat Cultivars and their Effect on Apical Development

In order to clarify the characteristics of the photoperiod-insensitive genes Ppd-B1 and Ppd-D1 carried by the Japanese wheat cultivars, we produced near-isogenic lines (NILs) and investigated their effects on apical development. The NIL ‘H(A)’ was produced by backcrossing the Japanese photoperiod-sensitive cultivar ‘Haruhikari’ as a recurrent parent and the insensitive cultivar ‘Saitama 27’ (Ppd-D1) as a nonrecurrent parent. The other three NILs ‘H(B)’, ‘H(C)’ and ‘H(D)’ were produced using the insensitive cultivar ‘Fukuwasekomugi’ (Ppd-B1 Ppd-D1) as another nonrecurrent parent. Genetic analysis of the photoperiod response showed that ‘H(A)’, ‘H(B)’, ‘H(C)’ and ‘H(D)’ carried Ppd-D1, Ppd-D1, Ppd-B1 and Ppd-B1 Ppd-D1, respectively. Ppd-B1 and Ppd-D1 were incompletely dominant and exhibited an interaction, the former displaying a stronger effect on insensitivity to photoperiod. The analysis of apical development indicated that both Ppd-B1 and Ppd-D1 had significant effects on accelerating double-ridge initiation and on the following spike development under a short photoperiod.
Seasonal fluctuation of some limnological variables on a floodplain lake (Patos lagoon) of the Upper Paraná River, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil

Temporal variations of some limnological variables in limnetic and littoral regions of Patos lagoon, a "varzea" lake on the floodplain of the Upper Parana River (220 43'12"S e 530 17'37"W), were studied in relation to hydrological and climatological factors. Measurements of water temperature, euphotic zone, suspended material, electrical conductivity, total alkalinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, carbon dioxide, total nitrogen, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, total phosphorus, dissolved phosphorus, reactive soluble phosphorus and chlorophyll a were taken monthly between March 1993 and February 1994. Results lend evidence to the importance of the hydrological regime on the dynamic of limnological variables in floodplain lakes. A dilution of nutrients in the lagoon, especially phosphates, occurred during floods. This was followed by fertilization of the environment by nutrients from the inundated marginal regions. During low connectivity periods, autochthonous, events such as ressuspension of sediment, brought on by wind and rain, governed limnological events in the lagoon.
[Clinical Characteristics and Prognostic Influencing Factors of Adult AML Patients with MLL Rearrangement].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognostic influencing factors of adult AML patients with MLL rearrangement. METHODS Clinical data of 184 adult AML patients with MLL rearrangement treated in our hospital from January 2011 to December 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. The clinical features, immunophenotypic characteristics, cytogenetic characteristics, molecular biological characteristics and gene mutation characteristics were recorded, the survival and prognostic influencing factors of patients were analyzed. RESULTS Among 184 patients, 94 cases were male, 90 cases were female, median age were 36.0 years, median WBC count were 22.0×109/L, 156 cases as 84.78% for FAB typing M5, and 18 cases as 28.13% for MLL/AF9 gene positive. The median total survival time and recurrence-free survival time of 184 patients were 15.7 months and 13.3 months respectively. The cumulative total survival rate and recurrence-free survival rate by followed-up for 2 years were 36.72% and 29.33% respectively. The cumulative overall survival rate and recurrence-free survival rate of transplant recipients were significantly higher than those of non-transplant recipients by follow-up for 2 years (P＜0.05). Univariate analysis showed that age, baseline WBC count, baseline Hb levels, complete remission after one course of treatment and transplantation or no were the influencing factors of overall survival time in adult AML patients with MLL rearrangement (P＜0.05). Cox regression model multivariate analysis showed that baseline WBC count, complete remission after one course of treatment, and transplantation or no were the independent influencing factors for overall survival time in adult AML patients with MLL rearrangement（P＜0.05）. CONCLUSION Adult AML patients with MLL rearrangement are mostly belong to acute monocytic leukemia, and MLL/AF9 is the most common associated gene. Patients with AML and MLL rearrangement are prone to recurrence after routine chemotherapy. Allo-HSCT treatment is helpful to improve clinical prognosis of patients.
Shorebird Breeding Biology in Wetlands of the Playa Lakes, Texas, USA

Abstract Wetlands in the Playa Lakes Region of Texas are important habitats for North American wintering waterfowl and migrant shorebirds. However, shorebird breeding biology has been overlooked in characterizing the region’s ecological importance. In 1998 and 1999, American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana), Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus), Killdeer (Charadrius vociferous), and Snowy Plover (C. alexandrinus) breeding ecology were studied in playas, saline lakes, and riparian wetlands in the Playa Lakes Region of Texas. Chronology of nest initiation, clutch sizes, and hatching success for 298 Snowy Plover, 111 American Avocet, 43 Killdeer, and 26 Black-necked Stilt clutches were measured. All four species nested in saline lakes, American Avocet and Killdeer also nested in playas, and Snowy Plover nested on riparian wetlands. American Avocet had higher hatching success in 1999 (52%) than 1998 (8%), because of more suitable hydrological conditions and lower predation. Hatching success was higher in 1998 than 1999 for Killdeer (1998, 63%; 1999, 21%) and Snowy Plover (1998, 47%; 1999, 33%) due to failures caused by flooding and hail in 1999. In other regions, clutch predation limits shorebird productivity, but hatching success in the Playa Lakes Region appears to be limited by unpredictable precipitation patterns and wetland hydroperiod. As such, breeding shorebird conservation and management should focus upon maintaining wetland hydrological integrity.
Gallic acid enhances reproductive function by modulating oxido-inflammatory and apoptosis mediators in rats exposed to aflatoxin-B1

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is reported to elicit adverse reproductive outcomes in animals. Gallic acid (GA) is known to exhibit antioxidant and inflammatory bioactivities. The impact of GA on AFB1-facilitated reproductive dysfunction is nonexistent in literature. This investigation elucidated GA protective effect on AFB1-induced reproductive toxicities in rats, exposed for 28 consecutive days to AFB1 (75 µg/kg), or co-treated with GA (20 or 40 mg/kg) body weight. AFB1 significantly (p < 0.05) reduced testicular function biomarkers, serum hormonal levels, and functional sperm characteristics in experimental animals. GA abated AFB1-induced increases (p < 0.05) in lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, suppressed myeloperoxidase, interleukin-1β, nitric oxide, and tumor necrosis factor-α levels—inflammatory biomarkers—in testes, epididymis, and hypothalamus. Furthermore, GA improved antioxidant defenses and alleviated reduction in interleukin-10, caspase-3 activation, and histological variations in epididymis, testes, and hypothalamus of rats dosed with AFB1. Conclusively, GA enhanced reproductive function in AFB1-exposed rats by modulating inflammatory, oxidative stress, and apoptosis mediators. Impact statement Infertility resulting from reproductive deficiency can be stressful. Exposure to aflatoxin B1, a dietary mycotoxin prevalent in improperly stored grains, is reported to elicit reproductive insufficiencies and infertility. We, therefore, examined the likely beneficial effect of gallic acid (GA) a phytochemical, recognized to exhibit in vitro and in vivo pharmacological bioactivities against oxidative stress and related inflammatory damages in rats, since AFB1 toxicities are predicated on oxidative epoxide formation, in a bid to proffer new evidence to advance the field of nutriceutical application from plant-derived chemopreventive agents. Our findings will advance the field of chemoprevention by presenting data absent in the literature on GA. Our results demonstrate further evidence for GA conferred protection against AFB1-mediated histological lesions in testes, epididymis, and hypothalamus of treated rats; suppresses oxidative damages, relieved inflammatory and apoptotic responses, restored sperm functional characteristics, and hormonal levels relevant for reproductive integrity and function.
The bumblebees of the subgenus Subterraneobombus: integrating evidence from morphology and DNA barcodes (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Bombus)

Although bumblebees have received a lot of attention, some taxonomic problems have persisted for many years. One particularly obdurate case has been the species of the subgenus Subterraneobombus. We revise the bees of this subgenus by integrating evidence from both morphology and, for a 5% subsample, from DNA (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1, CO1) barcodes from pinned museum specimens. We apply a reciprocal illumination procedure: (1) taxa recognized previously from morphology are used to stratify samples for DNA subsampling; (2) DNA barcodes from these subsamples are used to recognize groups of phylogenetically related specimens; and (3) for these groups, we re-examine morphological characters in order to recognize and diagnose species. A total of 3854 specimens from 1535 samples from across the geographic range of the subgenus throughout the Holarctic and northern Oriental regions are identified to 11 species. This includes one species newly recognized from Mongolia, Bombus mongolensis Williams sp. nov. Taxon concepts are modified substantially for four species, seven lectotypes are designated, and four new synonyms are recognized. The prevailing usage of Bombus distinguendus is maintained as valid by designating Bombus elegans as a nomen oblitum and designating B. distinguendus as a nomen protectum. Identification keys and colour-pattern diagrams are provided, and geographic distributions, elevational ranges, and phenological activity periods are described to characterize the species. An estimate of the biogeographic history is reconstructed with dispersal–vicariance analysis. In this study, DNA barcode data have been a cost-effective source of additional characters for diagnosing groups of specimens. The barcode data contributed directly to recognizing the one new species, of which females remain difficult to identify from morphology alone. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 163, 813–862.
Normal and aberrant tissue distribution of Loma salmonae (Microspora) within rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), following experimental infection at water temperatures within and outside of the xenoma‐expression temperature boundaries

Temperatures above 20 °C or below 9 °C interrupt the life cycle of the gill intracellular microsporidian parasite Loma salmonae (Microspora) prior to sporogony, inhibiting the production of xenomas. This study intended to characterize this life-cycle failure. Juvenile rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), were experimentally infected with L. salmonae spores, and the effect of water temperature on the progress of infection, as determined by polymerase chain reaction, was compared for fish held at water temperatures of 5, 15 and 21 °C. At 15 °C, parasite DNA was first detected in the heart (3 days post-exposure [PE]), and then in the gills and spleen (2 weeks PE). Branchial xenomas developed by week 4 PE. In contrast, at 5 °C, the arrival of the parasite in the heart was delayed until 7 days PE. However, even though parasite DNA was detected in the gills at 7 days PE, xenomas failed to form in the gill, and by week 4 PE, parasite DNA was no longer detected. In fish held at 21 °C, parasite DNA was detected in the heart, gills and spleen by 3 days post-infection, and similar results were observed at 7 days PE. Xenomas also failed to form in these fish and parasite DNA was no longer detected by week 2 PE. Within the range of temperatures tested in this study, spore germination and delivery of their DNA into the host through the intestinal wall was not blocked by temperature. At 5 or 21 °C, migration to the heart and gills occurred, but at aberrant periods of time. The normal life cycle of L. salmonae may depend on the completion of relatively lengthy, but yet unknown, stages of development within the heart, prior to reaching the gill. This development may be adversely affected by temperature, and explain the temperature limits of this parasite.