Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The presence of immunoreactive cyclooxygenases in the ductuli efferentes and epididymis of prepubertal and adult alpaca (Lama pacos).

________________________________________________________________________________________ PARILLO, F. , G. CATONE, C. CAPEZZONE, M. ZERANI: The presence of immunoreactive cyclooxygenases in the ductuli efferentes and epididymis of prepubertal and adult alpaca (Lama pacos). Vet. arhiv 83, 677-684, 2013. ABSTRACT In this study, we report the cell specifi c expression of cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, COX1 and COX2, in the ductuli efferentes and epididymis of prepubertal and adult alpaca. COX1 weakly stained the cytoplasm of epithelial cells lining the ductuli efferentes and the epididymal corpus, whereas these cells were immunonegative in the epididymal caput and cauda. In adults, we observed an increase in the immunsignals for COX1 in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells lining the ductuli efferentes and all the epididymal regions. In prepubertal alpaca, immunoreactivity for COX2 was not revealed in the epithelial cells lining the ductuli efferentes and epididymal regions, whereas it was evidenced in adult animals. The apical rich mithocondria cells immunoreacted only with COX1 in the epididymis of prepubertal animals, whereas they expressed both COX1 and -2 in the adult alpaca. Our results suggest that COXs may play a role in the pubertal development of the excurrent duct system of the alpaca.
Association Of Coronary Artery Disease With Psoriasis In A Group Of Patients In Queen Alia Heart Institute (Qahi) In Jordan

Objective: The aim of our study is to demonstrate the association between psoriasis and CAD in a group of patients at QUEEN ALIA HEART INSTITUTE (QAHI). Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at QUEEN ALIA HEART INSTITUTE from April 2012 to August 2016. 167 psoriatic patients (with moderate to severe psoriasis) and 197 non-psoriatic patients (control group) were matched by sex, age and risk factors of CAD. All patients underwent coronary angiography, and the incidence of coronary artery disease was compared between the two groups. Results: After analysis, the p-value of CAD risk factors in both groups (psoriasis and controls) were: age (41.3 year, 35.4 ,0.04) , male (67% , 64% ,0.06), smoking (60.5% , 56% , 0.4) , HTN (40.5 % , 43% , 0.29 ) ,DM (37.5% ,36.3% ,0.3), hyperlipidemia (20.3% , 17.8% , 0.41), family history (36.1% ,34.4 ,0.05). After matching for all these risk factors, the rate of CAD in psoriasis patients was (8.2%) and (2.1%) in non-psoriatic patients with p-value less than 0.001. Conclusion: Psoriasis (moderate and severe) is an independent risk factor for increasing the risk of coronary artery disease in (sex, age, and other risk factor for CAD) matched patients.
Why Millennials As Digital Travelers Transformed Marketing Strategy in Tourism Industry

As digital natives, millennials have led to significant shifts in the marketing approach of organizations in the tourism industry. The aim of the paper is to analyze how digital technologies have influenced the travel behavior of millennials and to create their profile, in order to help marketing managers in tourism to create effective marketing strategy. Meta-analysis approach has been used, taking different published studies into account, focused on tourism and marketing concepts in the era of information technology. The analysis showed that millennials have a high level of technological proficiency, they are price sensitive, not predictable, do not respond to traditional marketing, use social media and digital influencers as a source of information for travel decisions, prefer mobile applications for travelers, are equipped with many digital devices while traveling and choose destinations that offer them experience that can be shared on social networks instantly.
Flexible voices : implications of variability in vocal signals for the perception of speaker characteristics from familiar and unfamiliar voices

Listeners are able to extract a wealth of information from voices: linguistic content, psychological states and speaker characteristics, such as age and sex, can all be decoded from vocal signals. While human vocal communication is uniquely flexible and variable, studies looking at the extraction of speaker characteristics to date have, however, mainly used neutral speech samples. This thesis explores the perception of speaker characteristics from variable vocal signals outside of neutral speech: Nonverbal vocalisations, produced under different levels of volitional control (vowels, volitional laughter, spontaneous laughter and crying) and whispered speech were used to investigate familiar and unfamiliar listeners’ abilities to extract and generalise information about speaker characteristics from such variable vocal signals. Experiments 1-2 show that speaker sex perception is impaired for spontaneous vocal signals compared to volitional signals. Experiments 3-4 reveal that speaker identity discrimination is impaired for pairs of spontaneous vocalisations (spontaneous laughter and crying) compared to volitional vocalisations (volitional laughter and vowels), and performance decreases dramatically for pairs requiring generalisation across variable social signals (e.g. vowels versus spontaneous laughter). Experiment 5 shows that while familiarity with a voice can to some extent offset these effects, generalisation is still drastically impaired. Experiment 6 further suggests that familiar listeners are afforded a greater advantage over unfamiliar listeners when extracting identity-related information from voiced vocals signals, compared to whispered signals. Experiments 5-6 thus suggest that a familiarity advantage only generalises to a certain extent for relatively unfamiliar vocal signals (spontaneous laughter, whispered speech). Finally, an fMRI study (Experiment 7) explored the neural
Geographic variation in life history tactics, adaptive growth rates, and habitat-specific adaptations in phylogenetically similar species: The Eastern Fence Lizard, Sceloporus undulatus undulatus, and the Florida Scrub Lizard, Sceloporus woodi

Suites of life history traits observed on large geographic scales often follow environmental variation, such as that found in temperature. On large geographic scales differences between populations often have an adaptive component, and result in countergradient variation. Cogradient variation, which occurs when trait differences along an environmental gradient follow patterns that are consistent with plastic trait responses, is often observed over fine scale environmental gradients. Most squamate species follow a cogradient pattern because their activity periods are constrained by the thermal environment: longer activity periods in warmer and/or southern climates allow for more energy acquisition through increased foraging activity and faster assimilation rates. However, the Eastern Fence Lizard, Sceloporus undulatus, is one species that shows countergradient variation in life history traits across its range. The mechanisms by which cogradient variation, observed at fine scales, switches to countergradient variation, observed at large scales, must occur on regional scales. We compared Sceloporus populations with only ~2° latitude between them, which corresponds with a 1° C difference in average monthly temperatures. We examined north and south populations of the Eastern Fence Lizard, S. undulatus, and the Florida Scrub Lizard, S. woodi, by measuring adult body sizes, reproduction, and hatchling body sizes over a two year period. Our results indicate cogradient variation in life history traits of S. undulatus and countergradient variation, at least in adult body size, in S. woodi along the Florida peninsula. Thus, S. undulatus exhibits cogradient variation at fine geographic scales although at larger geographic scales it exhibits countergradient variation.
Asymptotically Autonomous Epidemic Models

Differential equation systems modeling the spread of infectious diseases are considered which can be rewritten as smaller asymptotically autonomous systems with limiting systems that are easier to handle than the original ones. Using recently developed techniques, it is shown that the asymptotic dynamics of the original systems are the same as the ones of the reduced systems, namely convergence to the disease-free or an endemic equilibrium. The models describe non-lethal sexually transmitted diseases. The first model considers a complex dependence of the incidence on the numbers of susceptible, infective, and removed individuals caused by change of behavior according to the perceived risk. The second model adds multiple strains of the infective agent with total cross-immunity. The third model considers a standard incidence, but a distributed length of the removal period.
Role of miRNAs in Oligodendrocyte Development

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important for the regulation of various processes in cell biology. However, the function of miRNAs in the central nervous system and especially in glial cells is still poorly understood. Oligodendroglial cells in the CNS are required for the myelination of the axonal tracts. At initial stages of CNS development and maturation, cells of the oligodendroglial lineage are produced in great excess to ensure sufficient myelination of the CNS. Specific gene regulation programs are required for proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of oligodendrocytes. We determined whether miRNAs are participating in these processes by regulating important developmental genes. We generated oligodendrocyte-specific Dicer knock-out mutant mice to show the general impact of miRNAs on oligodendrocytes in vivo. The depletion of mature miRNAs resulted in a decreased oligodendrocyte cell number. Microarray profiling of primary oligodendrocytes revealed that the miR-17~92 family of miRNA cluster is highly enriched in the cells of the oligodendroglial lineage. Mutant mice with oligodendrocyte-specific deletion of the miR-17~92 cluster also revealed a reduction of oligodendrocyte cell number. In gain of function experiments we found that the expression of the miR-17~92 cluster promotes oligodendrocyte cell proliferation. Furthermore, we could show that the proliferation is regulated by miR-19b and its influence on the Akt signalling pathway. Together these findings illustrate that miRNAs play essential roles in the regulation of oligodendrocyte cell number and that the miR-17~92 cluster is crucial in this process by influencing the cell proliferation of the oligodendroglial lineage.
European and Mediterranean oaks ( Quercus L.; Fagaceae): SEM characterization of the micromorphology

Abstract This paper examines micromorphological characteristics (trichomes, waxes, stomata) of the abaxial leaf surface of European and Mediterranean oaks. Observations were performed by scanning electron microscopy, and the purpose of the investigation was to ascertain whether it is possible to distinguish the different species taxonomically using these features. Several species, as well as some subspecific entities and taxa considered doubtful, were taken into consideration. Subgenera appear to be well-defined: e.g. the subgenus Quercus is characterized by waxes arranged in vertical scales, the subgenera Cerris and Sclerophyllodris by smooth waxes. They differ because the former has markedly elliptical stomata, while the latter two have roundish stomata. The different species are also fairly easy to distinguish, and this fact confirms the taxonomical validity of the parameters we have taken into consideration. In some cases subspecific entities and doubtful species do not differ at all from the related species, but in others they present such marked variations that it is difficult even to classify them with certainty. The most critical taxonomic groups (i.e. those which include a number of specific and subspecific entities often too difficult to distinguish from each other) are the series Quercus robur – Quercus petraea – Quercus pubescens and the Quercus faginea – Quercus lusitanica – Quercus canariensis group.
Chitons (Mollusca: Polyplacophora) from the southern Chilean Comau Fjord, with reinstatement of Tonicia calbucensis Plate, 1897

The hardbottom benthic communities of the southern Chilean fjord region are among the least studied worldwide. Within the framework of biodiversity surveys of the Comau Fjord system (42°10’ – 42°30’S), new distributional and biological information on chitons has been obtained. This paper deals with nine species, belonging to four families, observed and collected in shallow water (0–39 m depth) between 2003 and 2005. Photographs of living specimens in their habitat are given for the first time. Radulae and external features are compared. Problematic taxa, such as Chiton magnificus, are discussed. Based on examination of the type material, Tonicia calbucensis is re-evaluated and recognized as a valid species, differing from T. lebruni by a number of characters. For the first time an infection by an endoparasitic nematode is reported in chitons. The species reported herein were already known from southern Chile, but the species composition in Comau Fjord system differs from that of the more exposed Pacific Ocean coast.
Heterochromatin : molecular and structural aspects

Ram Verma has assembled ten distinguished contributors to survey what is currently known about the relationship of the structure of DNA to its role in the function and expression of genes. The crucial role of heterochromatin in the organization of chromosomes is thoroughly explored in this resulting landmark edited volume. Cytogeneticists and other geneticists, molecular biologists, cytologists, biochemists and their advanced students will also find this an invaluable reference source.
Implications of dark matter free streaming in the early Universe

In this thesis, we link astrophysics and particle physics aspects in order to study the implications of the nature and properties of different types of dark matter candidates on the observable Universe. The main property which connects the different works on which this manuscript is based is free-streaming. After giving a general overview of cosmology and dark matter, we present a study on a mixed model, where dark matter consists of a standard cold fraction plus a fraction given by another component non-cold. By varying both the mass and the fraction of the non-cold dark matter candidate in a sufficient range, we obtain bounds on the fraction of the non-cold dark matter component with respect to the total dark matter, as a function of its mass. Then, we present a forecast on the mass of the first and smallest dark matter bound systems within a supersymmetric model realized with 9 independent parameters. We analyse the kinetic decoupling temperature and the resulting protohalo masses, which set the power spectrum cutoff. We study correlations among the temperature of kinetic decoupling and the spin-dependent and the spin-independent cross-sections, and address the implications for indirect detection and dark matter searches at colliders. We find that, depending on the nature of the lightest supersymmetric dark matter particle, the values of annihilation cross sections and protohalo masses can change significantly. We also cover scenarios where neutralinos co-annihilate with other supersymmetric particles, and that could be potentially tested by the Large Hadron Collider.
Self‐medication in insects: current evidence and future perspectives

1. Self‐medication is an ability to consume or otherwise contact biologically active organic compounds specifically for the purpose of helping to clear a (parasitic) infection or reduce its symptoms. Consumption of these compounds may either take place before the infection is contracted (prophylactic consumption) or after the infection is contracted (therapeutic consumption).
Rendimiento y valor nutritivo del ballico perenne (Lolium perenne l.) en respuesta a la frecuencia de corte

El objetivo del estudio fue determinar la frecuencia de corte que proporcione mayor rendimiento y valor nutritivo en una pradera de ballico perenne (Lolium perenne L.). Los tratamientos fueron tres frecuencias de cortes (2, 4 y 6 semanas) que se distribuyeron en parcelas de 4 x 4 m, con un diseno en bloques al azar con cuatro repeticiones. Se evaluaron: rendimiento de forraje, tasa de crecimiento diario, altura de planta, composicion botanica y valor nutritivo, las que fueron expresadas en valores estacionales y anuales. Los resultados mostraron que la mayor acumulacion de forraje (6,000 kg MS ha-1 ano-1) se obtiene al cosechar entre 4 y 6 semanas (P<0.05). Independientemente de la frecuencia de corte, durante la primavera y el verano se registro el 72 % del rendimiento anual de forraje. La mayor y menor tasa de crecimiento diario se observo en julio (35 kg MS ha-1 dia-1) y enero (5 kg MS ha-1 dia-1) (P<0.05). La digestibilidad in vitro de la materia organica disminuyo a medida que aumento el intervalo entre cortes (P<0.05) y fue mayor en invierno. La proteina cruda fue en promedio de 20.3 % y disminuyo cuando aumento el intervalo de cortes de 2 a 4 semanas (P<0.05). Estos resultados sugieren que para obtener los mas altos rendimientos de materia organica digestible y proteina, en las condiciones planteadas en este experimento, los cortes deben realizarse cada 4 semanas.
Dorsal visual cues in German wasp navigation

The German wasp Vespula germanica is found in the Palaeartic region of the globe. Outside this area, it is highly invasive species. It has an omnivorous diet and is able to hunt other insects and scavenge for food from both natural and anthropogenic sources. It has been previously shown that this species has efficient and specialized foraging strategies depending on the resource. It is capable of navigating successfully through closed habitats, has a large landmark learning capacity as well as flexible responses to changing environmental variables. They are also able to recognize a shape irrespective of color and contrast with the background. Our study shows that this species is able to detect patterns and their orientation in the dorsal field, ability that is lacking in honeybees. Furthermore, our data suggests that each forager is able to remember landmarks associated with not only the current, but also the previous resource location, something that has already been proved in previous studies.
Effect of Various Plant Extracts on Dry Root Rot of Chillies Caused by Sclerotium rolfsii

Eight different plant extracts were evaluated in vitro against Sclerotium rolfsii causing dry root rot in chillies. Among these, leaf extract of neem (Azadirachta indica) caused maximum inhibition of mycelial growth (80.74%), followed by periwinkle Vinca rosea (78.8%) and bottlebrush (Callistemon, 74.8%) respectively. Sclerotial production was inhibited to an extent of 11% and the inhibition caused was maximum with neem extract, followed by Polyalthia longifolia and V. rosea extracts. Though sclerotial germination was inhibited by 30% to 95% in various treatments, the most effective treatment was that of neem leaf extract (95%), followed by ginger extract (92%).
Vector host choice and the environmental context of mosquito-borne virus transmission

The present thesis explored ethological and geographical approaches for the investigation of vector-borne parasites. In the first part, the role of associative learning on vector preferences for hosts was investigated through a comprehensive series of behavioural experiments using the vector of dengue and yellow fever diseases, the mosquito Aedes aegypti . To this end, the possibility that the mosquitoes were able to associate unconditional stimuli with particular odours and visual patterns to which they were responsive was explored, but no evidence supporting the hypothesis that associative learning abilities are present in adults of this species was found. A critical review of the literature on learning in mosquitoes conducted afterward allowed the reinterpretation of findings in the field, narrowing the scope of evidence suggesting the existence of these cognitive abilities in some species. In the second part of the thesis, the distribution and evolution of mosquito-borne viruses was investigated with the use of geo-coded environmental data and spatial statistics. Initially, the eco-climates associated with the distribution of Japanese encephalitis virus were described and modelled, allowing the production of a worldwide predictive map defining the probability of each region to develop this disease in the future. Predominating amongst those areas shown to be under high risk were the equatorial regions of South America and Africa. The methodology used to infer such patterns – non-linear discriminant analysis – was subsequently explored with a number of simulations. Overall, differences in the choice of parameters required for the analysis were shown to lead to differences in the final outputs produced, basically in those cases where the environmental range for which predictions are generated is not rigorously limited. Finally, eco-climate surrogates for the evolution of the Japanese encephalitis serocomplex were investigated, but the current environmental distances between the viruses did not seem to be associated with the events leading to their speciation.
Effect of 'steaming-up' on subsequent production in dairy cows

Crossbred (Hariana, Jersey ~nd Holstein-Friesian) pregnant dairy heifers (12), were taken to study the effect of steaming-up on subsequent production. Animal were selected based on their similarity in age, body weight. Over and above the scheduled amount (@2.5 kg/day/animal) ofconcentrate, steaming-up group was provided extra 60 kg concentrate feed in 30 days (extra 2 kg/day/animal) whereas other group was considered as untreated control. After calving, animals were fed according to their milk yield Le. 2 kg concentrate for maintenance plus 1kg for every 2.5 kg milk production. Peak milk yield was almost similar but peak yield was attained earlier in control group than steaming-up group. Total milk yield, lactation length, per day yield and birth weight ofcalves were higher in steaming-up group than control group. The present study recommended that 'steaming-up' could have beneficial effect on subsequent milk production traits in crossbred primiparous dairy cows.
Gastric motility in soluble guanylate cyclase α1 knock‐out mice

The principal target of the relaxant neurotransmitter nitric oxide (NO) is soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC). As the α1β1‐isoform of sGC is the predominant one in the gastrointestinal tract, the aim of this study was to investigate the role of sGC in nitrergic regulation of gastric motility in male and female sGCα1 knock‐out (KO) mice. In circular gastric fundus muscle strips, functional responses and cGMP levels were determined in response to nitrergic and non‐nitrergic stimuli. sGC subunit mRNA expression in fundus was measured by real‐time RT‐PCR; in vivo gastric emptying of a phenol red meal was determined. No changes were observed in sGC subunit mRNA levels between wild‐type (WT) and KO tissues. Nitrergic relaxations induced by short trains of electrical field stimulation (EFS) were abolished, while those by long trains of EFS were reduced in KO strips; the latter responses were abolished by 1H[1,2,4,]oxadiazolo[4,3‐a]quinoxalin‐1‐one (ODQ). The relaxations evoked by exogenous NO and the NO‐independent sGC activator BAY 41‐2272 were reduced in KO strips but still sensitive to ODQ. Relaxations induced by vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and 8‐bromo‐cGMP were not influenced. Basal cGMP levels were decreased in KO strips but NO, long train EFS and BAY 41‐2272 still induced a moderate ODQ‐sensitive increase in cGMP levels. Gastric emptying, measured at 15 and 60 min, was increased at 15 min in male KO mice. sGCα1β1 plays an important role in gastric nitrergic relaxation in vitro, but some degree of nitrergic relaxation can occur via sGCα2β1 activation in sGCα1 KO mice, which contributes to the moderate in vivo consequence on gastric emptying.