Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ecological interactions shape the adaptive value of plant defence: Herbivore attack versus competition for light

Abstract Plants defend themselves against diverse communities of herbivorous insects. This requires an investment of limited resources, for which plants also compete with neighbours. The consequences of an investment in defence are determined by the metabolic costs of defence as well as indirect or ecological costs through interactions with other organisms. These ecological costs have a potentially strong impact on the evolution of defensive traits, but have proven to be difficult to quantify. We aimed to quantify the relative impact of the direct and indirect or ecological costs and benefits of an investment in plant defence in relation to herbivory and intergenotypic competition for light. Additionally, we evaluated how the benefits of plant defence balance its costs in the context of herbivory and intergenotypic competition. To this end, we utilised a functional‐structural plant (FSP) model of Brassica nigra that simulates plant growth and development, morphogenesis, herbivory and plant defence. In the model, a simulated investment in defences affected plant growth by competing with other plant organs for resources and affected the level and distribution of herbivore damage. Our results show that the ecological costs of intergenotypic competition for light are highly detrimental to the fitness of defended plants, as it amplifies the size difference between defended and undefended plants. This leads to herbivore damage counteracting the effects of intergenotypic competition under the assumption that herbivore damage scales with plant size. Additionally, we show that plant defence relies on reducing herbivore damage rather than the dispersion of herbivore damage, which is only beneficial under high levels of herbivore damage. We conclude that the adaptive value of plant defence is highly dependent on ecological interactions and is predominantly determined by the outcome of competition for light. plain language summary is available for this article.
Altered GnIH precursor gene expression during early development of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus

ABSTRACT This study investigated the expression patterns and relationships among gonadotropin inhibiting hormone (GnIH), gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) mRNA during early developmental phases of Nile tilapia. GnIH mRNA could be detected immediately after hatching and was maintained until 11 weeks post-hatching (wph), at which time presumptive puberty occurs in this species. Subsequently, levels remained low for up to 24 wph. GnIH expression was relatively high until the onset puberty, and started to decrease when the expression of GnRH1, LH-β, and FSH-β mRNA increased. Expression of GnRH1 was low until 11 wph, but increased significantly at 12 wph. Markedly high of expression occurred at 12 and 24 wph. Results from this study suggest that GnIH is involved in the inhibition of sexual maturation during early development periods until the onset of puberty in this species.
Semen quality and fertility of liquid stored and frozen-thawed semen in crossbred pigs of North-Eastern India

Study was conducted to compare the semen quality and fertility of liquid stored semen for three days and frozen-thawed semen in the north-eastern region of India. For liquid semen, the semen ejaculates were extended in Beltsville Thawing Solution (BTS) extender and preserved at 17°C for three days. For cryopreservation, semen was diluted Lactose-egg yolk-glycerol extender and frozen in straw using programmable freezer with freezing rate of 40°C/min from -6 to -140°C. The preserved evaluated for sperm motility, viability, plasma membrane integrity and fertility. The results revealed that the liquid stored semen has maintained the sperm motility and viability up to day 3 without significant reduction. Similarly the plasma membrane integrity did not differ significantly up to day 2, but it was significantly (P<0.05) reduced on days 3 in liquid stored semen. After freezing and thawing, the mean sperm motility, viability and plasma membrane integrity were 58.25 ± 2.96%, 64.75 ± 2.47% and 47.06 ± 2.02%, respectively. These parameters were significantly (P<0.01) lower as compared to the liquid stored semen from day 0 to day 3. After insemination with liquid semen, the farrowing rate was 77.7%, 80.76%, 73.07% and 69.8%, respectively from day 0, day1, day 2 and day 3. The pregnancy rate, farrowing rate and litter size did not differ significantly among different days of liquid storage. These parameters were significantly (P<0.01) lower in frozen semen as compare to that of liquid stored semen. The study concluded that the liquid semen stored up to three days is more efficient than frozen-thawed semen in terms of preserving sperm quality and fertility.
Motor Development Research: II. The First Two Decades of the 21st Century Shaping Our Future

In Part I of this series I, we looked back at the 20th century and re-examined the history of Motor Development research described in Clark & Whitall’s 1989 paper “What is Motor Development? The Lessons of History”. We now move to the 21st century, where the trajectories of developmental research have evolved in focus, branched in scope, and diverged into three new areas. These have progressed to be independent research areas, co-existing in time. We posit that the research focus on Dynamical Systems at the end of the 20th century has evolved into a Developmental Systems approach in the 21st century. Additionally, the focus on brain imaging and the neural basis of movement have resulted in a new approach, which we entitled Developmental Motor Neuroscience. Finally, as the world-wide obesity epidemic identified in the 1990s threatened to become a public health crisis, researchers in the field responded by examining the role of motor development in physical activity and health-related outcomes; we refer to this research area as the Developmental Health approach. The glue that holds these research areas together is their focus on movement behavior as it changes across the lifespan.
Morphological , physiological , and biochemical indicators of quality in tobacco fruits and seeds

Morphological or isozyme markers related to physiological maturation and deteriorative processes are important in the evaluation of seed quality. Two experiments were conducted to examine the possibility of using isozymes as indicators of quality in tobacco seed lots and fruit appearance as an indicator of physiological maturity in tobacco cultivars, based on the physiological and biochemical changes of the seeds. Cultivars CSC 444 and CSC 221 of tobacco fruits were harvested at various maturity stages and their physiological quality was assessed by germination, first count, germination speed index, time to reach 50% germination, cumulative average germination, and seedling emergence. We also assessed the activity of catalase (EC 1.11.6.1 – CAT), esterase (EC 3.1.1.1 – EST), isocitrate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.41 – IDH), malate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.37 – MDH), alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.1 – ADH), endo-β-mannanase (EC 3.2.1.78), and heat-resistant proteins during the process of maturation. Six lots of cultivar CSC 444 were used to differentiate the quality levels between the lots, and their characterization was determined by germination and vigor tests. In addition, we evaluated the enzymatic activity of CAT, EST, ADH, MDH, and heat-resistant proteins. During maturation of the fruits from the partially dark stage, we observed a progressive increase in germination and seed vigor. We concluded that appearance of the
Majority of B2M-Mutant and -Deficient Colorectal Carcinomas Achieve Clinical Benefit From Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy and Are Microsatellite Instability-High.

PURPOSE Microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) colorectal carcinomas (CRCs) show high rates of response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (IOs). B2M mutations and protein loss have been proposed as causes of resistance to IOs, yet they are enriched in MSI-H CRC. We aimed to characterize B2M-mutant, IO-naive CRC. PATIENTS AND METHODS All CRCs with results for Memorial Sloan Kettering Integrated Mutation Profiling of Actionable Cancer Targets, a next-generation sequencing assay that interrogates > 400 genes for mutations as well as MSI status, were surveyed for B2M mutations. All B2M-mutant CRCs were assessed for expression of B2M, major histocompatibility complex class I, and programmed death-1 ligand (PD-L1) via immunohistochemistry and average CD3+ and CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte counts against a control group of MSI-H B2M wild-type CRCs. RESULTS Fifty-nine (3.4%) of 1,751 patients with CRC harbored B2M mutations, with 84% (77 of 92) of the mutations predicted to be truncating. B2M mutations were significantly enriched in MSI-H CRCs, with 44 (24%) of 182 MSI-H CRCs harboring B2M mutations (P < .001). Thirty-two of 44 B2M-mutant CRCs with available material (73%) had complete loss of B2M expression, whereas all 26 CRCs with wild-type B2M retained expression (P < .001). B2M mutation status was not associated with major histocompatibility complex class I expression, KRAS or BRAF mutation, tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte level, or PD-L1 expression after adjustment for MSI status. Of 13 patients with B2M-mutant CRC who received programmed death-1 or PD-L1 IOs, 11 (85%) achieved clinical benefit, defined as stable disease or partial response using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors criteria. CONCLUSION B2M mutations occur in approximately 24% of MSI-H CRCs and are usually associated with loss of B2M expression. Most patients with B2M-mutant MSI-H CRC with loss of protein expression obtain clinical benefit from IOs.
Root Phenotyping for Drought Tolerance: A Review

Plant roots play a significant role in plant growth by exploiting soil resources via the uptake of water and nutrients. Root traits such as fine root diameter, specific root length, specific root area, root angle, and root length density are considered useful traits for improving plant productivity under drought conditions. Therefore, understanding interactions between roots and their surrounding soil environment is important, which can be improved through root phenotyping. With the advancement in technologies, many tools have been developed for root phenotyping. Canopy temperature depression (CTD) has been considered a good technique for field phenotyping of crops under drought and is used to estimate crop yield as well as root traits in relation to drought tolerance. Both laboratory and field-based methods for phenotyping root traits have been developed including soil sampling, mini-rhizotron, rhizotrons, thermography and non-soil techniques. Recently, a non-invasive approach of X-ray computed tomography (CT) has provided a break-through to study the root architecture in three dimensions (3-D). This review summarizes methods for root phenotyping. On the basis of this review, it can be concluded that root traits are useful characters to be included in future breeding programs and for selecting better cultivars to increase crop yield under water-limited environments.
Gravimetric Constraints on the Hydrothermal System of the Campi Flegrei Caldera

The Campi Flegrei caldera (Italy) has been undergoing unrest over the past five decades including episodes of rapid ground deformation, seismicity, and variations in gas emissions. Hydrothermal fluids and gases are released most vigorously in the central sector of the caldera at the fumarolic fields of Solfatara volcano and Pisciarelli. We conducted a high‐precision gravity survey coupled with inverse modeling to image the shallow (<2‐km depth) structure of the hydrothermal feeder system. Results indicate the presence of three low density bodies beneath Pozzuoli, Astroni volcano and the Solfatara/Pisciarelli fumarolic fields. The first two are inferred to be sealed hydrothermal systems trapped beneath impermeable cap rock, while the latter depicts a plume‐like geothermal feeder system reaching the surface via a combination of Solfatara's maar‐diatreme structure and the intersection of NW‐SE and NE‐SW trending regional faults. The density contrasts of the reservoirs from background values are best explained by a multiphase mixture of caldera fill containing a secondary and interconnected void volume fraction of between 0.2 and 0.3 that hosts a vapor volume fraction ψv of between 0.38 and 1 and a liquid volume fraction ψl fraction of between 0 and 0.62. This work highlights the control of volcano‐tectonic structures on fluid movement in the shallow crust of hydrothermally active volcanic systems undergoing sustained or periodic unrest.
Synthesis And Characterization Of Adsorbent From Solid Waste Of Ceramics Industry

At present, the adsorbents generally use bentonite and activated carbon, but the availability of bentonite is less so that other alternatives are needed for substitution of bentonite as an adsorbent. One of the materials that have the potential as an adsorbent is the ceramic industry waste (ceramic clay). Ceramics clay containing feldspar which before being activated using sulfuric acid has a ratio of concentration between silica and alumina (silica/alumina) of 3.6, so a process is needed to increase the ratio of silica and alumina. One such process is by activating ceramic clay using sulfuric acid. The characterization and adsorption performance of adsorbent from ceramic clay were studied with various acid concentration. Ceramic clay powder was activated with sulfuric acid. The adsorbent particles were characterized by IR Spectra, X-Ray Diffraction, X-Ray Fluorescence, and BET. Various concentrations of sulfuric acid solutions for activation have a significant effect on the characteristics and performance adsorbent. This is indicated by XRD analysis where the characteristics of the adsorbent have feldspar (Ca-KAl2SiO3) content with the ratio between silica and alumina increasing around 4.3-4.8 with an increase in sulfuric acid concentration from 10-30% and adsorbents in the form of mesoporous crystalline structure. The characteristics of adsorbent with IR Spectra analysis showed that the presence of silicate alumina groups, so the products have the potential as a bleaching agent. The best surface area is produced at a concentration of 15 % sulfuric acid solution with one hour activation time which is equal to 117.44 m2/g.
Aging‐associated skeletal muscle defects in HER2/Neu transgenic mammary tumour model

Loss of skeletal muscle volume and functional limitations are poor prognostic markers in breast cancer patients. Several molecular defects in skeletal muscle including reduced myoblast determination protein 1 (MyoD) levels and increased protein turn over due to enhanced proteosomal activity have been suggested as causes of skeletal muscle loss in cancer patients. However, it is unknown whether molecular defects in skeletal muscle are dependent on tumour aetiology.
A novel ADI Galerkin spectral element method for the solution of two-dimensional time fractional subdiffusion equation

In this paper, a new numerical technique is presented for the solution of two-dimensional time fractional subdiffusion equation. To this end, we use the Galerkin spectral element method to discretize the spatial derivatives, weighted and shifted Grünwald difference (WSGD) operator to discretize the fractional term and for the time stepping, an alternating direction implicit (ADI) method based on the Crank-Nicolson scheme is investigated. The unconditionally stability of the proposed method as well as an error estimate for the full discretization scheme are presented. Numerical results are reported to support the theoretical analysis and to show the accuracy and efficiency of proposed method in comparison with other ADI schemes.
LOW ANTERIOR RESECTION POST-NEOADJUVANT CHEMORADIATION IN RECTAL CANCER (LAPAROSCOPIC Vs. OPEN)

Background: Laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer is widely performed all over the world and several randomized controlled trials have been reported. However, the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic surgery compared with open surgery has not been demonstrated sufficiently, especially after preoperative chemoradiotherapy for low rectal cancer. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that laparoscopic low anterior resection is safe and effective when compared with the open approach for locally advanced mid or low rectal cancer after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Patients and methods: A prospective study on 40 patients suffering from locally advanced rectal cancers (stage IІ-Ш), an age of at least 18 years and fit for elective surgery after receiving neoadjuvant therapy, during the period from 20/5/2016 to 15/11/2019. Twenty patients underwent low anterior resection by laparoscopic technique, and the other 20 patients were operated upon by conventional open technique. Clinical characteristics, perioperative outcomes, pathological results, oncologic outcomes, and two-year follow-up for recurrence free survival, overall survival rates were compared between both groups. Results: Laparoscopic low anterior resection (LAR) with total mesorectal excision (TME) showed significantly less blood loss and shorter time to pass first flatus and to start a liquid diet in addition to shorter hospital stay compared to those on open surgery. However, the mean operation time was significantly longer in laparoscopic group. Other perioperative outcomes, including postoperative morbidity rates, number of harvested lymph nodes, and nerve preservation, were not significantly different between the two groups. Oncological results, local recurrence rate, overall and disease-free survival rates showed no significant differences between open and laparoscopic groups. Conclusion: Laparoscopic surgery after preoperative chemoradiation for mid or low rectal cancer was safe and feasible. In addition, it has short-term advantages compared with open surgery. The oncological outcome was equivalent.
ENTOMOLOGICAL SURVEY OF MOSQUITO VECTORS OF LYMPHATIC FILARIASIS IN TALATAN-MAFARA AND TSAFE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF ZAMFARA STATE, NIGERIA

Entomological survey of mosquito vectors was carried out to determine species abundance and identify those responsible for the transmission of lymphatic filariasis in Talatan-mafara and Tsafe Local Government Areas of Zamfara State, Nigeria. Houses were randomly selected for mosquito collection. Aerosol (Baygon) was sprayed in the rooms to knockdown indoor resting mosquitoes. A total of 5,230 mosquitoes comprising of 3,104 females and 2,126 males were collected and 1,182 engorged females were dissected to isolate filarial worm, Wuchereria bancrofti. The species of mosquitoes encountered include Culex quinquefasciatus (84%), Anopheles funestus (10%) and Anopheles gambiae sl. (6%). The overall infection and infectivity rates of the mosquitoes with Wuchereria bancrofti were 1.86% and 1.44% respectively. The infection/infectivity rates of Culex quinquefasciatus, Anopheles funestus and Anopheles gambiae sl. were 1.01%/0.51%, 2.97%/2.97% and 4.54%/4.14% respectively.
The Effect of Online Core Courses Enrollment on Student Success: The Case of University System of Georgia

ABSTRACT This study examines the impact of online core courses on students’ academic and financial outcomes of postsecondary students. To do so, we analyzed data from a large sample of students in the University System of Georgia (USG), governing agency of Georgia’s 26 public universities and colleges. Since 2001, USG has offered “eCore” courses: lower-division core curriculum courses that are offered fully online to students enrolled in either face-to-face or fully online programs, and satisfy requirements at any USG institution. Our dataset contains students seeking associate degrees (N = 103,684) and bachelor’s degrees (N = 238,648) analyzed independently. Our research investigates the impact that eCore has on student retention, graduation, and loan accumulation. Our findings show that students who took eCore courses enrolled in more semesters regardless of the degree being sought. Associate-seeking students who enrolled in eCore courses were more likely to graduate and took on fewer loans on average.
The presence of Tetraodontidae species in the Central Mediterranean: an update from the southern Adriatic Sea

This paper presents the first record of the Lessepsian migrant fish Lagocephalus sceleratus (silver-cheeked toadfish) on the Italian side of the south Adriatic Sea. In addition, four specimens of Sphoeroides pachygaster (blunthead puffer) were analysed. Meristic and morphometric data of the silver-cheeked toadfish and blunthead puffer are in accordance with data from the Mediterranean. The specimen of silver-cheeked toadfish was a female with gonad in resting stage and the specimens of blunthead puffer were adults (male and female) with gonads in maturing, mature/spawner and post-spawning stage. The stomach contents of the specimen of silver-cheeked toadfish were composed by Mollusca Opistobranchia and Crustacea Brachyura. Stomach contents analysis of S. pachygaster confirmed that Mollusca are the preferred prey for this species. However, the presence of Crustacea (shrimps, crabs) and fish in the stomachs indicates that the blunthead puffer has a broad and variable diet in the south Adriatic Sea. The present study suggests the presence of an established population of blunthead puffer on the continental shelf of the southeast Adriatic Sea.
Detection of Metallo-Beta-Lactamase-Encoding Genes Among Clinical Isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Qom Province

Background: Carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa has emerged as a serious problem in many hospitals and intensive care units. The purpose of this study was to determine the antibiotic susceptibility proﬁle and the distribution of metallo-beta-lactamase genes among P. aeruginosa isolates from Qom province of Iran. Methods: In this study, 200 P. aeruginosa isolates were collected from several clinical samples in hospitals aﬃliated to Qom Univer-sityof MedicalSciences,Qomprovince,Iran. Theantibioticsusceptibilityof theisolateswastestedbytheKirby-Bauerdiscdiﬀusion test and the distribution of MBL genes among carbapenem-resistant isolates was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Results: Among carbapenem non-susceptible isolates of P. aeruginosa , 38% (76 isolates) were multidrug resistant, 26% (52 isolates) werepan-drug-resistantand5% (10isolates)wereextensivedrugresistant. 52% oftheisolateswereresistanttocarbapenems. Among carbapenem non-susceptible isolates of P. aeruginosa , 40 isolates (38.4%) exhibited MBL production. Of 40 MBL-producing isolates, 38 isolates (36.5%) contained the bla IMP gene and two (1.9%) isolates contained the bla VIM gene. Conclusions: Outbreaksof MBL-producing P.aeruginosa isolateswillbeaseriousprobleminhospitalsinthefutureandrapididen-tiﬁcation of these isolates is necessary to control further dissemination of MBL resistance genes. This is the ﬁrst report of the rates of MDR,XDR,PDR,andMBL-producing P.aeruginosa isolatedfromhospitalsaﬃliatedtoQomUniversityof MedicalSciencesinQom province of Iran.