Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Mechanical Basis of Memory – the MeshCODE Theory

One of the major unsolved mysteries of biological science concerns the question of where and in what form information is stored in the brain. I propose that memory is stored in the brain in a mechanically encoded binary format written into the conformations of proteins found in the cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) adhesions that organise each and every synapse. The MeshCODE framework outlined here represents a unifying theory of data storage in animals, providing read-write storage of both dynamic and persistent information in a binary format. Mechanosensitive proteins that contain force-dependent switches can store information persistently, which can be written or updated using small changes in mechanical force. These mechanosensitive proteins, such as talin, scaffold each synapse, creating a meshwork of switches that together form a code, the so-called MeshCODE. Large signalling complexes assemble on these scaffolds as a function of the switch patterns and these complexes would both stabilise the patterns and coordinate synaptic regulators to dynamically tune synaptic activity. Synaptic transmission and action potential spike trains would operate the cytoskeletal machinery to write and update the synaptic MeshCODEs, thereby propagating this coding throughout the organism. Based on established biophysical principles, such a mechanical basis for memory would provide a physical location for data storage in the brain, with the binary patterns, encoded in the information-storing mechanosensitive molecules in the synaptic scaffolds, and the complexes that form on them, representing the physical location of engrams. Furthermore, the conversion and storage of sensory and temporal inputs into a binary format would constitute an addressable read-write memory system, supporting the view of the mind as an organic supercomputer.
THE RELATION BETWEEN DISPERSAL BEHAVIOR AND REPRODUCTIVE FITNESS IN THE FLOUR BEETLE TRIBOLIUM CASTANEUM

Assuming that dispersal from optimal environments evolved as a colonizing device, it is expected that dispersants will possess reproductive characteristics enhancing the probability of successful colonization. Two approaches were used to clarify the relationship between dispersal behavior and two major components of reproductive fitness (developmental time and fecundity) in the flour beetle Tribolium casruneum: (a) co~nparison between two lines. one selected for low dispersal and the other selected for high dispersal, for several components of reproductive fitness, and (b) calculation of the correlation coefficients between each fitness component investigated and dispersal behavior. The results obtained by both approaches indicate, as expected, shorter deveiop~mental time and higher fecundity for dispersants than for nondispersants. Si l'abandon d'un milieu de vie optimal constitue 1'Cvolution d'un enkcanisme de colonisation, il est probable yare les insectes quittant un environnement propice a leur survie posskdent des caractkres reprotluctifs yui augmenteront leurs chances de succbs dans la coionisation d'un nouveau milieu. Afin de clarifier ies liens qui existent entre le comportement d'abandon et deux des plus importants caractkres reproductifs (durCe du cycle de reproduction et fCconditC), deux approches ont CtC eatilisies avec le tribolium rouge de la farine (Tribolium casraneum): a) la comparaison de deux lignCes, la premiere choisie pour sa "rPticence" h abandonner un milieu favorable et la seconde pour la raison inverse, pour plusieurs aspects de la capacitC de reproduction et b) le calcul des coefficients de corrklation entre chaque aspect examink et le comportement d'abandon. Comme il fallait s'y attendre, Ies rksultats obtenus dams chaque cas montrent l'existence d'un cycle de reproduction plus court et d'une pleas grande f6conditC chez les insectes nomades comparativernent aux insectes grkgaires. [Traduit par le journal]
Drought‐Induced Soil Desiccation Cracking Behavior With Consideration of Basal Friction and Layer Thickness

Drought‐induced cracking of soils is of great concern with the advent of global climate change. The cracking process accelerates the evaporation rate of pore water, lowers the water retention capacity, and degrades the hydraulic‐mechanical properties of soils. Basal friction and layer thickness are two important aspects affecting the subsurface cracking. To explore their detailed effects on soils under drying, we conduct a series of desiccation tests on twelve slurry soil bars and select four types of base materials with different roughness levels and three kinds of layer thicknesses. We track the dynamic cracking process in various samples and adopt the noncontact optical technique—digital image correlation—for the motion of soil particles. Experimental results validate that the coupled effects of basal conditions and soil layer thickness play a key role in governing the soil cracking behavior. The presence of rough bottom surface induces the onset and propagation of desiccation cracks at both top and bottom surfaces. Some of the cracks initiated at the bottom do not propagate through the soil profile. Increasing layer thickness weakens the effect of basal friction on the soil top surface shrinkage but increases the frictional force acting on the base and results in more crack initiations at the bottom. The digital image correlation results further reveal that cracks initiated on the bottom surface and propagated upward vertically are dominated by tensile stresses, while those propagated upward obliquely are dominated by the joint action of shear and tensile stresses.
#ChildMaltreatment and Technology

Technology may seem like a friend one day, a foe another depending on how and why it is being used. In today’s world, we are inundated with social media, smart phones, tvs, and cars. Our ability to harness technology to make our lives a better place is a noble goal, however our ability to harness technology to enhance our research skills is absolutely necessary. The current paper explores the ways in which technology has been used and can be used to better understand child maltreatment and domestic violence. Overall, the message is clear, integrating technology-based research methods and practical approaches to helping vulnerable populations is one of this generations’ paradigm shifts. Technology coupled with sound research methodologies can help move us forward in our exploration and understanding of social problems and interventions.
Germination behaviour of the seeds of seven New Zealand woody plant species

Abstract Germination rates, percentage germination success, and phenomena related to germination delay were determined for seeds from freshly collected fruit of Carpodetus serratus, Coprosma lucida, Pittosporum eugenioides, P. tenuifolium, Plagianthus regius, Pseudopanax arboreus, and P. crassifolius. The experimental treatments simulated natural conditions that the seeds might experience after dispersal. The percentage germination success for all species in well-lit conditions was very high (94–100%). The lengths of time before the start of germination and for its completion differ for each species. The seeds of all species tested germinated within a year. Seeds of all species germinated in the dark, but usually germination rates were slow and percentage success was relatively low. The same applied to seeds placed on soil. Seeds left in the pericarp tissues failed to germinate except for Plagianthus, Pseudopanax crassifolius, and one collection of Pittosporum eugenioides. The overall flexible germination.
Transgenic Mice Overexpressing a Dominant-negative Mutant Type II Transforming Growth Factor β Receptor Show Enhanced Tumorigenesis in the Mammary Gland and Lung in Response to the Carcinogen 7,12-Dimethylbenz-[a]-anthracene

Abstract To test the hypothesis that the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) system has tumor suppressor activity in the mammary gland, we have generated transgenic mice overexpressing a dominant-negative mutant form of the type II TGF-β receptor, under the control of the mouse mammary tumor virus-long terminal repeat. High-level expression of the transgene was observed in the mammary and salivary glands, with lower expression in the lung, spleen, and testis. Older nulliparous transgenic mice (9–17 months) showed a marked increase in the incidence and degree of lobulo-alveolar side-branching in the mammary glands when compared to wild-type littermates (24.8% of glands examined histologically versus 14.4%; P = 0.004), suggesting a role for endogenous TGF-βs in regulating development or maintenance of mammary alveoli. Spontaneous tumorigenesis was unchanged in the transgenic mice. However, following initiation with the carcinogen 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene, the transgenic group showed a significant increase in the incidence and multiplicity of mammary tumors when compared with wild-type littermates (40% incidence in transgenic mice versus 22% for wild-type, with 4 of 25 transgenics developing multiple mammary tumors versus 0 of 27 wild-type; P = 0.03). An early increase in the incidence of lung tumors was also observed in transgenic mice, but no difference between genotype groups was seen in the incidence of tumors in tissues in which the transgene is not expressed. The data show that the endogenous TGF-β system has tumor suppressor activity in the mammary gland and lung.
Range of Application of Inverse Variance Weighting for Using Historical Information in Stepwise Yield Screening of Plant Varieties

Using yield data collected in the preceding steps of selection (historical information) for the evaluation of the yielding ability of test varieties is essential to increase the efficiency of stepwise yield screening of plant varieties. Selection in each step should be performed based on the average score over the preceding and current steps. Three methods of weighting can be used to calculate the average score, i.e., inverse variance (IV), field area (FA) and equal (EQ) weighting. In IV, yield data collected in the preceding and current steps are weighted by the inverse of the error variance of the corresponding steps, while those in FA are weighted by the field area (or plot numbers) allocated per variety. A simple average score is used in EQ. Of these three methods, although IV is the best theoretically, it has not been recommended previously nor is commonly used in actual screening trials because two necessary statistics, i.e., variances due to the measurement error (V) and variety × year interaction (I), may not be estimated correctly. Our studies demonstrated that the superiority of IV to the other methods persists under possible degrees of inaccuracy in the estimates of V and I. Calculation of the inverse-variance-weighted average does not require significant extra resources or expensive facilities. We therefore suggest that method IV be used with the necessary statistics V and I being estimated from the yield data obtained in the current and earlier steps. Stepwise screening thus performed is superior to non-stepwise screening where the yield of all varieties is measured in the same years and evaluated based on the average over the years.
Population structure and genetic diversity of metamorphic and paedomorphic populations of the tiger salamander, Ambystoma tigrinum

Genetic relationships, population subdivision and genetic diversity were estimated from mtDNA and allozyme data for two subspecies of tiger salamander, one of which is obligately metamorphic and the other polymorphic for paedomorphosis (larval reproduction). Far greater genetic differentiation exists between subspecies than within subspecies, suggesting that the subspecies have evolved in allopatry. Values of Fst calculated from both mtDNA and allozymes were greater than 0.400 for each subspecies. Significant population subdivision was detected even on a microgeographic scale. This extensive population subdivision indicates that populations can respond to extremely localized selection pressures. In the case of paedomorphosis, populations in permanent water should evolve paedomorphosis as long as the appropriate genes exist. For both mtDNA and allozymes, comparisons of population structure within the polymorphic subspecies and between polymorphic and metamorphic subspecies reveal no discernible effects of paedomorphosis. However, a comparison of paedomorphic and metamorphic populations of the polymorphic subspecies showed significantly higher mtDNA diversity in paedomorphic populations. The discrepancy between the allozyme and mtDNA results may be due to the lower effective population size of mtDNA compared to autosomal genes.
Male alternative mating behaviour depending on tail length of the guppy, Poecilia reticulata

Male guppies, Poecilia reticulata, exhibit two distinct types of mating behaviour, i.e., courting females for solicited copulation and sneaking behaviour for forced copulation. It is known that the frequency of these alternative mating behaviours is affected by environmental, genetic and morphological factors. We examined the influence of male tail (caudal fin) length on the frequency of these two types of mating behaviour. Female orient responses to courting males increased according to male courtship frequency and did not differ between males with longer and shorter tails. In further mating interactions, however, females showed glide responses much more frequently to displaying males with shorter tails than to those with longer tails. Males with shorter tails performed courtships more frequently than males with longer tails. Males with longer tails attempted sneaking (gonopodial thrusting) more often than those with shorter tails. These results indicate that male tail length determines the frequency of these alternative mating behaviour in the guppy. Assuming male long tails to be a deceptive tactic to attract females, the greater frequency of sneaking behaviour by males with longer tails to unreceptive females should be adaptive.
Systematics of New Zealand Inuleae (Compositae)—4 a taxonomic review

Abstract An evaluation is presented of the exceptionally large number of name changesJunparticularly of generic attribution, proposed for New Zealand gnaphalioid taxa, principally in the past decade. The transfer of certain New Zealand species to AnaphalioidesNovEuchiton, and Pseudognaphalium is supported, but some other changes, including the establishment of Ewartiothamnus, the resurrection of Psychrophyton, and the relocation of New Zealand species of Helichrysum, require (and are now receiving) further study.
Paternity study of an interspecific natural hybrid of the genus Eucalyptus L'Hér (Myrtaceae) based on cytogenetic data

Three species of the genus Eucalyptus (E. dunni, E. grandis, E. saligna) and interspecific hybrid were studied cytogenetically. The Eucalyptus species and the hybrid showed a symmetrical karyotype with 2n=22 chromosomes, with chromosome length ranging from 0.67 to 1.39 μm. Karyotypic analysis indicated a homogenous morphology and chromosome number for the species and the hybrid studied here. Based on the karyotype asymmetry data, together with the chromosome morphology results, the hybrid presented close similarity to E. saligna, suggesting that the latter is one of the parental species involved in the production of the hybrid.
The depersonalised consumer subjectivity and its effect on fostering meaningful relationships between undergraduates and academics in higher education

ABSTRACT Both the consumer subjectivity and partnership models are receiving increasing attention within higher education institutions. In this article, I explore the impersonality that characterises the social role of the consumer and its impact on the formation and implementation of meaningful relationships between undergraduates and academics. I draw from Fairclough’s three-dimensional model of critical discourse analysis to explore 32 interviews and 12 policy documents gathered from two post-1992 universities in England. Academics and undergraduates in this study recognised the conflict that arises between the consumer subjectivity and the partner subjectivity; this article explores how this conflict is created through the behaviours that constitute socially structured roles. I will discuss the divergence between the institutional positioning of undergraduates and the impact this positioning has on the relationships between undergraduates and academics. This article discusses the variation apparent in the verbal and written discourses across both institutions and questions the navigation of the impersonal consumer subjectivity for fostering meaningful relationships between undergraduates and academics.
Pleurotaenium trabecula, a desmid of wetland biofilms: the extracellular matrix and adhesion mechanisms 1

Pleurotaenium trabecula (Ehren.) Nägeli is a placoderm desmid that commonly occurs in wetland biofilms of the southeastern Adirondacks (NY, USA). It often displays a distinctive habit whereby the cell remains attached to the substrate via the polar end of one semicell, while the remainder of the cell is suspended in the water column. In this study, we examined the extracellular matrix (ECM) of this alga to elucidate its adhesion mechanisms and postadhesion behavior. The ECM consists of the following: (i) an extracellular polymeric substance (EPS), which includes polyanionic and sulfated polysaccharides; (ii) a thin pectin‐containing primary cell wall, which is quickly sloughed off after postcytokinetic semicell expansion; and (iii) a thick secondary cell wall that is perforated with a distinct pore complex. Each pore of this complex possesses an external network of densely aggregated fibrils. Selective solubilization and immunolabeling studies suggest that these fibrillar aggregates or “adhesion centers” (i.e., ACs) contain arabinogalactan protein and are involved in initial adhesion of the cell to a substrate. We propose that postinitial adhesion behavior entails localized secretion of EPS derived from a large pool of EPS‐containing vesicles situated in the peripheral cytoplasm. As the EPS absorbs water, hygroscopic pressure breaks the connections between the ACs on the cell wall and substrate and allows a portion of a cell to lift up into the water column.
Quantitative Genetic Analysis of Traits in Avocado Cultivars

This research is aimed at quantitative genetic analysis of several avocado traits and cultivars. The experimental material consists of our avocado breeding project in which data were collected from several crosses as well as selfings of cultivars. Parenthood was determined by isozymes and the seedling progenies were assessed for eight traits. A biometrical genetic approach for analysis of this breeding project is presented. Genetic profiles of the traits and cultivars were detailed by several characteristics: level of heterozygosity and dominance deviation, dominance of alleles, dominance direction, general evaluation of additive and non-additive genetic variance, maternal inheritance, and allelic differences among the various cultivars in major genes controlling the same quantitative trait. Five avocado cultivars: ‘Fuerte’, ‘Hass’, ‘Ettinger’, ‘Tova’, and ‘Rosh-Hanikra’, were characterized separately for each trait. Practical conclusions for the breeder regarding economically important quantitative traits are discussed.
DO LEAF SURFACE CHARACTERS PLAY A ROLE IN PLANT RESISTANCE TO AUTO EXHAUST POLLUTION

Summary The significance of micro-morphologica1 leaf surface characters of plants in indication and mitigation of auto-exhaust pollution has been investigated. For the purpose of the study, the following plant species growing along roadsides in low and high traffic density areas have been selected: Asparagus racemosus , Azadirachta indica , Bougainvillea spectabilis , Cassia fistula , Ficus religiosa , Nerium indicum , Polyalthia longifolia and Thevetia neriifolia . These plants were continuously exposed to automobile emissions. As compared to control plants, the leaf surface structures changed significantly in the exposed plants. The epidermal cells collapsed, cell boundaries were irregularly fused, and a two-fold increase in stomatal frequency and trichome length could be observed. Epicuticular wax also lost its original shape, got disorganised and subsequently eroded, forming patches of a crust on the cuticle. While the surface structural changes were significant, the phenology of these plants remained unaffected by auto-exhaust pollution. The investigated species though manifesting above changes remained normal and healthy and, therefore, they may be recommended for growing along roadsides in areas polluted by automobile emissions.
The effect of suspect race on police officers’ decisions to draw their weapons

Abstract Researchers are working to identify appropriate benchmarks for exploring racial bias in the officer-involved shooting (OIS) context. Two recent studies benchmarked OIS against incidents in which officers drew weapons but did not shoot. A problem is that the decision to draw a weapon may itself be subject to bias. Using 2017 use-of-force data from the Dallas Police Department, we modeled officers’ decisions to draw their weapons as a function of suspect race and other suspect, officer, and incident characteristics. We benchmarked by limiting analyses to arrest and active aggression cases, thereby excluding interactions in which it was less likely suspects would have had weapons drawn against them. The key finding was that black suspects were no more or less likely to have weapons drawn against them than other suspects.
Do Online, Offline, and Multiplatform Journalists Differ in their Professional Principles and Practices? Findings from a Multinational Study

ABSTRACT Online journalists are often believed, not least in the industry itself, to follow different professional standards from their print and broadcast colleagues. There is, however, little empirical evidence to support or to refute this perception. This paper intends to help fill that gap by investigating whether offline and online journalists differ in their professional principles and practices. Drawing on previous conceptual research by Deuze, we operationalize the concept of journalism as an ideology comprising four ideal professional values: public service, objectivity, autonomy, and ethics. Using survey data from the Worlds of Journalism Study we compare professional principles and practices among online, offline, and multiplatform journalists in nine Western and Eastern European countries (N = 6,089). We find, contrary to previous research, that principles and practices among online and offline journalists broadly conform. However, we also find that online journalists are more likely than their offline colleagues to find justification for publishing unverified information and less interested in holding politicians to account, despite reporting that they have more freedom to select and frame news stories. We also find important differences between our samples of Western and Eastern European journalists.
Salt-tolerance identification and quality evaluation of Abelmoschus manihot (L.) Medik

Abstract: Abelmoschus manihot (L.) Medik. is a medicinal and edible plant. To evaluate its suitability for cultivation on the coastal saline-alkali land in northern China for high quality functional products, salt-tolerance identification and flavonoid contents were evaluated under saline treatments. Results showed that the salt-tolerance threshold of A. manihot ranged from 4.1 to 6.9 g L-1; however, low soil salt content (<3 g L-1) had the best growth and accumulation of total flavonoids. Sixteen kinds of common functional components such as hyperoside, rutoside, and quercetin were found. Of these components, the four (myricetin-3-0-glucoside, rutoside, quercetin-3′-0-glucoside, and gossypetin-8-0-β-d-glucuronic acid) with the highest content were chosen as the quality evaluation indexes. High levels of quality and yield occurred at a soil salt content of 3 g L-1. Our results suggested that soil salt content should not exceed 3 g L-1 in field cultivation for high quality and high yield of A. manihot.