Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Does paternity or paternal investment determine the level of paternal care and does female choice explain egg stealing in the fifteen-spined stickleback?

An earlier field study on the fifteen-spined stickleback (Spinachia spinachia) showed that frequent male--male interactions result in high frequencies of sneaking and egg stealing. Moreover, sneaking behavior was performed not only by males adopting alternative mating strategies, but also by males with their own nests. The advantage of sneaking is easily understood, but it is more difficult to explain the evolutionary benefit of stealing eggs from other males. I investigated whether males suffering from sneaking adjust their paternal effort in relation to their degree of paternity. I also examined whether females prefer males that have more eggs in their nests, as this could explain egg stealing. There was no relationship between the degree of paternity and fanning activity, hatching success, or nest defense. However, the older the eggs become, the more the males increase their attack rate toward potential egg predators (goldsinny wrasse and shore crabs). Thus, males adjusted their level of defense to the amount of energy and time already invested in the clutch. Females did not prefer males with more eggs in their nests. On the contrary, females preferred males with reduced clutches over males with enlarged clutches. Therefore, female choice is unlikely to be a driving force behind egg stealing in this species. Copyright 2002.
Isoform-specific differences in rapid nucleocytoplasmic shuttling cause distinct subcellular distributions of 14-3-3σ and 14-3-3ζ

Nucleocytoplasmic transport of proteins plays an important role in the regulation of many cellular processes. Differences in nucleocytoplasmic shuttling can provide a basis for isoform-specific biological functions for members of multigene families, like the 14-3-3 protein family. Many organisms contain multiple 14-3-3 isoforms, which play a role in numerous processes, including signalling, cell cycle control and apoptosis. It is still unclear whether these isoforms have specialised biological functions and whether this specialisation is based on isoform-specific ligand binding, expression regulation or specific localisation. Therefore, we studied the subcellular distribution of 14-3-3σ and 14-3-3ζ in vivo in various mammalian cell types using yellow fluorescent protein fusions and isoform-specific antibodies. 14-3-3σ was mainly localised in the cytoplasm and only low levels were present in the nucleus, whereas 14-3-3ζ was found at relatively higher levels in the nucleus. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) experiments indicated that the 14-3-3 proteins rapidly shuttle in and out of the nucleus through active transport and that the distinct subcellular distributions of 14-3-3σ and 14-3-3ζ are caused by differences in nuclear export. 14-3-3σ had a 1.7× higher nuclear export rate constant than 14-3-3ζ, while import rate constants were equal. The 14-3-3 proteins are exported from the nucleus at least in part by a Crm1-dependent, leptomycin B-sensitive mechanism. The differences in subcellular distribution of 14-3-3 that we found in this study are likely to reflect a molecular basis for isoform-specific biological specialisation.
The local dimension of a finite group over a number field

Let $G$ be a finite group and $K$ a number field. We construct a $G$-extension $E/F$, with $F$ of transcendence degree $2$ over $K$, that specializes to all $G$-extensions of $K_\mathfrak{p}$, where $\mathfrak{p}$ runs over all but finitely many primes of $K$. If furthermore $G$ has a generic extension over $K$, we show that the extension $E/F$ has the Hilbert--Grunwald property. The transcendence degree of the extension is compared to the essential dimension of $G$ over $K$, and its arithmetic analogue.
Significant nonclassical paths with atoms and cavities in the double-slit experiment

In the the double-slit experiment, nonclassical paths are Feynman paths that go through both slits. Prior work with atom cavities as which-way detectors in the double-slit experiment has shown these paths to be experimentally inaccessible. In this paper, we show how such a setup can indeed detect nonclassical paths with 1% probability if one considers a different type of nonclassical path than previously investigated. We also show how this setup can be used to erase and restore the coherence of the nonclassical paths. Finally, we also show how atom cavities may be used to implement a exact measure of Born-rule violation [Quach, Which-way double-slit experiments and Born-rule violation, Phys. Rev. A 95, 042129 (2017)], which up until now has only been a formal construct.
Relationships Among Job satisfaction, Organizational Affective Commitment and Turnover Intentions of University Academicians in Tanzania

Universities play a pivotal role in any country’s economic development goal by creating the required human capital, generating and preserving knowledge, and by offering technical advisory services to businesses and communities. Effective and efficient performance of this role depends largely on the quantity and quality of their satisfied and committed academic staff. Universities in Africa, Tanzania in particular, are suffering from low academic staff capacity. Yet such low capacity is further threatened by high rates of turnover. To manage this threat, universities need to manage not only the turnover of their academic staff but also their turnover intentions. Turnover intentions are the best predictor of actual turnover. Managing this threat requires among other things, an understanding of the predictors of turnover intentions. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between two job attitudes (job satisfaction and affective commitment) and the behavioural outcome of turnover intentions. Data was collected through a survey administered on 300 academicians conveniently selected from five public universities in Tanzania and analysed through descriptive statistics, multiple regression analysis, and the Hayes’ Process Tool v.3. 4.1. Both job satisfaction and affective commitment statistically negatively predicted turnover intentions, even after controlling for the influence of tenure and education qualifications. Affective commitment significantly but partially mediated the job satisfaction – turnover intentions relationship. It is therefore recommended that universities should have in place work systems that are pro-job satisfaction to reduce turnover intentions among the academicians. Moreover, coupling these efforts with measures capable of enhancing affective commitment adds value in managing turnover intentions.
Teachers’ Perception of Teaching as Correlates of Students’ Academic Performance in Oyo State, Nigeria

It needs to be pointed out that the role of the teacher is of paramount importance in the education system. He is the custodian of knowledge and instructor of instruction. It is often said that the standard of education can not grow beyond the level or standard of the teachers. Therefore this study examined the Teachers’ perception of teaching as correlate of students’ academic performance in Oyo state, Nigeria. The results showed that, the relationship between teachers’ perceptions and students’ performance is positive and significant that is, the perceptions of teachers have effect on students’ performance. (r = 0.372, P<.05) Also it was revealed that qualification has no significant effect on students performance as t=0.683, P>. 05.Teachers attitudes and good behaviour has a significant effect on performance (r=0.395, P<.05) and Methods of teaching has significant effect on students performance (r= 0.591,P<.05). It was however recommended that it is necessary for the teacher as a member of his profession to be an enlightened person who possesses a thorough mastery of broad field of human knowledge, subject matter, attitudes and behaviour.
Oxidative Stability of Cooked Chicken Breast Burgers Obtained from Organic, Free-range and Conventionally Reared Animals

The oxidative stability of cooked chicken breast burgers from chickens reared on organic (n=3), free-range (n=3), and conventional (n=3) diets was determined. α-Tocopherol and fatty acid concentrations were also determined. Organic, free-range and conventional chicken breasts were obtained from local retail outlets. Significant (P free-range>conventional. It was concluded that cooked breast burgers from broilers fed organic diets had a lower shelf-life (oxidative) stability compared with cooked breast burgers from broilers free-range and conventional diets. Stability, in the present work, appeared to be related more to α-tocopherol concentration than to fatty acids.
Searching for debris discs in the 30 Myr open cluster IC 4665

Context. Debris discs orbiting young stars are key to understanding dust evolution and the planetary formation process. We take advantage of a recent membership analysis of the 30 Myr nearby open cluster IC 4665 based on the Gaia and DANCe surveys to revisit the disc population of this cluster. Aims. We aim to study the disc population of IC 4665 using Spitzer (MIPS and IRAC) and WISE photometry. Methods. We use several colour–colour diagrams with empirical photospheric sequences to detect the sources with an infrared excess. Independently, we also fit the spectral energy distribution (SED) of our debris-disc candidates with the Virtual Observatory SED analyser (VOSA) which is capable of automatically detecting infrared excesses and provides effective temperature estimates. Results. We find six candidate debris-disc host stars (five with MIPS and one with WISE), two of which are new candidates. We estimate a disc fraction of 24 ± 10% for the B–A stars, where our sample is expected to be complete. This is similar to what has been reported in other clusters of similar ages (Upper Centaurus Lupus, Lower Centaurus Crux, the β Pictoris moving group, and the Pleiades). For solar-type stars we find a disc fraction of 9 ± 9%, which is lower than that observed in regions with comparable ages. Conclusions. Our candidate debris-disc host stars are excellent targets to be studied with ALMA or the future James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
A Low-mass Stellar-debris Stream Associated with a Globular Cluster Pair in the Halo

There are expected to be physical relationships between the globular clusters (GCs) and stellar substructures in the Milky Way, not all of which have yet been found. We search for such substructures from a combined halo sample of SDSS blue horizontal-branch and SDSS+LAMOST RR Lyrae stars, cross-matched with astrometric information from Gaia DR2. This is a sample of old stars which are also excellent tracers of structures, ideal for searching for ancient relics in the outer stellar halo. By applying the neural-network-based method StarGO to the full 4D dynamical space of our sample, we rediscover the Sagittarius Stream, and find the debris of the Gaia-Enceladus-Sausage and the Sequoia events in the outer halo, as well as their linkages with several GCs. Most importantly, we find a new, low-mass, debris stream associated with a pair of GCs (NGC 5024 and NGC 5053), which we dub LMS-1. This stream has a very polar orbit, and occupies a region between 10 to 20 kpc from the Galactic center. NGC 5024 (M53), the more massive of the associated GC pair, is very likely the nuclear star cluster of a now-disrupted dwarf galaxy progenitor, based on the results from N-body simulations.
The Deficit in the Gaussian Log-Sobolev Inequality and Inverse Santaló Inequalities

We establish dual equivalent forms involving relative entropy, Fisher information and optimal transport costs of inverse Santalo inequalities. We show in particular that the Mahler conjecture is equivalent to some dimensional lower bound on the deficit in the Gaussian logarithmic Sobolev inequality. We also derive from existing results on inverse Santalo inequalities some sharp lower bounds on the deficit in the Gaussian logarithmic Sobolev inequality.
Stellar-mass black holes in young massive and open stellar clusters – IV. Updated stellar-evolutionary and black hole spin models and comparisons with the LIGO-Virgo O1/O2 merger-event data

I present a set of long-term, direct, relativistic many-body computations of model dense stellar clusters with up-to-date stellar-evolutionary, supernova (SN), and remnant natal-kick models, including pair instability and pulsation pair instability supernova (PSN and PPSN), using an updated version of NBODY7 N-body simulation program. The N-body model also includes stellar evolution-based natal spins of BHs and treatments of binary black hole (BBH) mergers based on numerical relativity. These, for the first time in a direct N-body simulation, allow for second-generation BBH mergers. The set of 65 evolutionary models have initial masses $10^4M_\odot-10^5M_\odot$, sizes 1 pc-3 pc, metallicity $0.0001-0.02$, with the massive stars in primordial binaries and they represent young massive clusters (YMC) and moderately massive open clusters (OC). Such models produce dynamically-paired BBH mergers that agree well with the observed masses, mass ratios, effective spin parameters, and final spins of the LVC O1/O2 merger events, provided BHs are born with low or no spin but spin up after undergoing a BBH merger or matter accretion onto it. In particular, the distinctly higher mass, effective spin parameter, and final spin of GW170729 merger event is naturally reproduced, as also the mass asymmetry of the O3 event GW190412. The computed models produce massive, $\sim100M_\odot$ BBH mergers with primary mass within the 'PSN gap' and also yield mergers involving remnants in the 'mass gap'. They also suggest that YMCs and OCs produce persistent, Local-Universe GW sources detectable by LISA. Such clusters are also capable of producing eccentric LIGO-Virgo mergers.
Water, electrolyte and acid-base balance in transported Bos indicus steers

The objective of these studies was to investigate the physiological mechanisms involved in maintaining water, electrolyte and acid-base balance in Bos indicus steers placed under stress. These studies also sought to provide a novel approach to minimize the effects of stress on the physiology of Bos indicus steers during long haul transportation in the seasonally dry tropics. Merino sheep provided a simulated stress response model, to evaluate the effects of the principle stress hormone cortisol on indices of water and electrolyte balance. This study indicated that stressed sheep suffer from a loss of body water in excess of that associated with a loss of electrolytes to support the hypothesis that elevated physiological levels of cortisol induce a diuresis in ruminants that contributes to dehydration.A second pen study was performed to investigate the effects of excess cortisol on physiological mechanisms that resist dehydration in Bos indicus steers. The presence of excess cortisol suppressed the RAA axis but did not markedly affect plasma AVP concentrations. This reflected the complexity of endocrine interactions associated with water balance in Bos indicus steers that enabled homeostasis to be maintained. A quantitative analysis of acid base balance in Bos indicus steers demonstrated long haul transportation or extended periods of feed and water deprivation to have no effect on blood pH. The primary challenge to a transported or feed and water deprived animal is a mild metabolic acidosis induced by elevated plasma proteins which may be the result of a loss of body water. The loss of electrolytes has little effect on the acid-base balance of the animals. The treatment of Bos indicus steers prior to long haul transportation with the osmolyte glycerol provided a novel approach to conserving body water, decreasing the energy deficit and preserving muscle quality.
Characterization of Neoantigen Load Subgroups in Gynecologic and Breast Cancers

Objective Although gynecologic and breast (Pan-Gyn) cancers share a variety of similar characteristics, their response to immunotherapy is different. Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy is not effective in all patients, while neoantigen load (NAL) may be a predictive biomarker. However, the selection of a NAL cutoff point and its predictive effect remain to be elucidated. Methods We divided 812 Pan-Gyn cancer samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas into three groups based on 60 and 80% of their load percentile. We then correlated the identified NAL subgroups with gene expression, somatic mutation, DNA methylation, and clinicopathological information. We also characterized each subgroup by distinct immune cell enrichment, PD-1 signaling, and cytolytic activity. Finally, we predicted the response of each subgroup to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Results Across Pan-Gyn cancers, we identified three distinct NAL subgroups. These subgroups showed differences in biological function, genetic information, clinical variables, and immune infiltration. Eighty percent was identified as a meaningful cutoff point for NAL. In all patients, a higher NAL (top 20%) was associated with better overall survival as well as high immune infiltration and low intra-tumor heterogeneity. Furthermore, an interesting lncRNA named AC092580.4 was found, which was associated with two significantly different immune genes (CXCL9 and CXCL13). Conclusions Our novel findings provide further insights into the NAL of Pan-Gyn cancers and may open up novel opportunities for their exploitation toward personalized treatment with immunotherapy.
Provenance errors and vagrants: Their role in underestimating the conservation status of sea Kraits (Elapidae: Laticaudinae)

Erroneous locality records and those based solely on vagrants have provided an unrealistic assessment of the true distribution (area of occupancy) of breeding populations of sea kraits (genus Laticauda). This distortion over-estimates the extent of their geographic ranges and seriously under-estimates their conservation status.
The role of copy-number variation in the reinforcement of sexual isolation between the two European subspecies of the house mouse

Reinforcement has the potential to generate strong reproductive isolation through the evolution of barrier traits as a response to selection against maladaptive hybridization, but the genetic changes associated with this process remain largely unexplored. Building upon the increasing evidence for a role of structural variants in adaptation and speciation, we addressed the role of copy-number variation in the reinforcement of sexual isolation evidenced between the two European subspecies of the house mouse. We characterized copy-number divergence between populations of Mus musculus musculus that display assortative mate choice, and those that do not, using whole-genome resequencing data. Updating methods to detect deletions and tandem duplications (collectively: copy-number variants, CNVs) in Pool-Seq data, we developed an analytical pipeline dedicated to identifying genomic regions showing the expected pattern of copy-number displacement under a reinforcement scenario. This strategy allowed us to detect 1824 deletions and seven tandem duplications that showed extreme differences in frequency between behavioural classes across replicate comparisons. A subset of 480 deletions and four tandem duplications were specifically associated with the derived trait of assortative mate choice. These ‘Choosiness-associated’ CNVs occur in hundreds of genes. Consistent with our hypothesis, such genes included olfactory receptors potentially involved in the olfactory-based assortative mate choice in this system as well as one gene, Sp110, that is known to show patterns of differential expression between behavioural classes in an organ used in mate choice—the vomeronasal organ. These results demonstrate that fine-scale structural changes are common and highly variable within species, despite being under-studied, and may be important targets of reinforcing selection in this system and others. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Towards the completion of speciation: the evolution of reproductive isolation beyond the first barriers’.
Evolution of strong reproductive isolation in plants: broad-scale patterns and lessons from a perennial model group

Many recent studies have addressed the mechanisms operating during the early stages of speciation, but surprisingly few studies have tested theoretical predictions on the evolution of strong reproductive isolation (RI). To help address this gap, we first undertook a quantitative review of the hybrid zone literature for flowering plants in relation to reproductive barriers. Then, using Populus as an exemplary model group, we analysed genome-wide variation for phylogenetic tree topologies in both early- and late-stage speciation taxa to determine how these patterns may be related to the genomic architecture of RI. Our plant literature survey revealed variation in barrier complexity and an association between barrier number and introgressive gene flow. Focusing on Populus, our genome-wide analysis of tree topologies in speciating poplar taxa points to unusually complex genomic architectures of RI, consistent with earlier genome-wide association studies. These architectures appear to facilitate the ‘escape’ of introgressed genome segments from polygenic barriers even with strong RI, thus affecting their relationships with recombination rates. Placed within the context of the broader literature, our data illustrate how phylogenomic approaches hold great promise for addressing the evolution and temporary breakdown of RI during late stages of speciation. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Towards the completion of speciation: the evolution of reproductive isolation beyond the first barriers'.
Sympatric speciation in mountain roses (Metrosideros) on an oceanic island

Shifts in flowering time have the potential to act as strong prezygotic reproductive barriers in plants. We investigate the role of flowering time divergence in two species of mountain rose (Metrosideros) endemic to Lord Howe Island, Australia, a minute and isolated island in the Tasman Sea. Metrosideros nervulosa and M. sclerocarpa are sister species and have divergent ecological niches on the island but grow sympatrically for much of their range, and likely speciated in situ on the island. We used flowering time and population genomic analyses of population structure and selection, to investigate their evolution, with a particular focus on the role of flowering time in their speciation. Population structure analyses showed the species are highly differentiated and appear to be in the very late stages of speciation. We found flowering times of the species to be significantly displaced, with M. sclerocarpa flowering 53 days later than M. nervulosa. Furthermore, the analyses of selection showed that flowering time genes are under selection between the species. Thus, prezygotic reproductive isolation is mediated by flowering time shifts in the species, and likely evolved under selection, to drive the completion of speciation within a small geographical area. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Towards the completion of speciation: the evolution of reproductive isolation beyond the first barriers’.
Characterization and Evaluation of Horse Gram ((Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam) Verdcourt Genotypes

An experiment was carried out to evaluate twenty two Horse gram [Macrotyloma uniflorum (Verdcourt)] genotypes for analysis of quantitative as well as qualitative characters. Among the genotypes IC-268213, IC-341283, IC-282590, IC-259326 and IC-341308 were the top ranking, in terms of yields per plant. The early genotypes were IC-341294, IC-267282, IC-341307, IC-341308 and IC-341283 which had observed its average 50% flowering on 36.58, 36.78, 36.95, 37.14 and 38.13 days respectively, where as the local selection C-I and C-II had shown very less yield per plant and also late in 50% flowering.