Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Linking ecological divergence and reproductive isolation: A tale of two killifish

Adaptation to salinity is potentially a critical driving force of speciation in fishes. Here we tested for differences in ion/osmoregulatory gene expression between two species of killifish, Lucania goodei and L. parva that differ in salinity tolerance. Expression patterns of several genes encoding ion transport proteins were quantified for animals taken directly from populations that varied in salinity as well as animals from a salinity transfer experiment. We found that L. parva, a euryhaline species, expressed higher levels of the genes involved in saltwater ion/osmoregulatory regulation than its stenohaline counterpart L. goodei (Na/K-ATPase 1a and 1b, Na-K-2Cl cotransporter 1, and glucocorticoid receptor) when exposed to a change in salinity in the laboratory. However, both species expressed similar levels for two of the three genes involved in freshwater osmoregulation (14-3-3a and V-type H-ATPase). Surprisingly, we found little evidence for differential plasticity between L. parva and L. goodei in our salinity transfer experiment. Lucania parva expressed high levels of genes involved in both freshwater and saltwater ion/osmoregulation, while L. goodei only expressed high levels of genes involved in freshwater osmoregulation. These results indicate that L. parva may increase their transcript levels of osmoregulatory genes when faced with any type of salinity challenge. Thus, changes in ion/osmoregulatory physiology may be occurring post-transcriptionally via differential RNA 1 This chapter appears in its entirety in the Journal of Zoology. Berdan, E. L. , Fuller, R. C. (2012), Interspecific divergence of ionoregulatory physiology in killifish: insight into adaptation and speciation. Journal of Zoology. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.2012. 00914.x. This article is reprinted with the permission of the publisher and is available from http://onlinelibrary.wiley. com and using doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.2012. 00914.x.
Clinical features, MRI, and 18F‐FDG‐PET in differential diagnosis of Parkinson disease from multiple system atrophy

This study aimed to differentiate the variations in the clinical characteristics, MRI irregularity, and glucose metabolism on 18F‐FDG‐PET for the differential diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease (PD), MSA with predominant Parkinsonism (MSA‐P), and MSA with predominant cerebellar features (MSA‐C).
Effects of simulated acid rain on physiological and ecological characteristics of Camellia sasanqua.

【Objective】 The objective of this experiment is to study the effect of simulated acid rain at different pH levels on the physiological and ecological characters of camellia. 【Method】 With pot experiments,this paper studied the effect of simulated acid rain that included 4 different pH values (2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.6) on the membrane damage and antioxidant enzyme activity, chlorophyll (Chl) content, and gas exchange parameters of camellia (Camellia sasanqua) seedlings leaves. 【Result】 The results showed that under simulated acid rain of different values stress, the membrane permeability and malondialdehyde (MDA) content of camellia leaves gradually increased, and there was a significant correlation between them. The dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) activities were showed a single-peak curve which was firstly increased and then decreased, and the maximum of SOD and CAT appeared at the pH4.0 point and POD at the pH 3.0. Chl content a gradually decreased with decreasing pH value, and then increased significantly at pH 2.0. The net photosynthetic (Pn), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), stomatal conductance (Gs), and transpiration rate (Tr) all showed a trend of increase first and then decrease. The stomatal limitation value (Ls) showed an trend of gradual increase. 【Conclusion】 Results show that camellia has strong resistance to acid rain, pH 3.0 can be used as an invisible critical point of acid rain damage to its leaves. Therefore, camellia can be considered as one of the landscaping and vegetation constructing plants in the acid rain-hit area.
Exploring changes in the human gut microbiota and microbial-derived metabolites in response to diets enriched in simple, refined, or unrefined carbohydrate-containing foods: a post hoc analysis of a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND Dietary carbohydrate type may influence cardiometabolic risk through alterations in the gut microbiome and microbial-derived metabolites, but evidence is limited. OBJECTIVES We explored the relative effects of an isocaloric exchange of dietary simple, refined, and unrefined carbohydrate on gut microbiota composition/function, and selected microbial metabolite concentrations. METHODS Participants [n = 11; age: 65 ± 8 y; BMI (in kg/m2): 29.8 ± 3.2] were provided with each of 3 diets for 4.5 wk with 2-wk washout, according to a randomized, crossover design. Diets [60% of energy (%E) carbohydrate, 15%E protein, and 25%E fat] differed in type of carbohydrate. Fecal microbial composition, metatranscriptomics, and microbial-derived SCFA and secondary bile acid (SBA) concentrations were assessed at the end of each phase and associated with cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRFs). RESULTS Roseburia abundance was higher (11% compared with 5%) and fecal SBA concentrations were lower (lithocolic acid -50% and deoxycholic acid -64%) after consumption of the unrefined carbohydrate diet relative to the simple carbohydrate diet [false discovery rate (FDR): all P < 0.05), whereas Anaerostipes abundance was higher (0.35% compared with 0.12%; FDR: P = 0.04) after the simple carbohydrate diet relative to the refined carbohydrate diet. Metatranscriptomics indicated upregulation of 2 cellular stress genes (FDR: P < 0.1) after the unrefined carbohydrate diet compared with the simple carbohydrate or refined carbohydrate diets. The microbial expression of 3 cellular/oxidative stress and immune response genes was higher (FDR: P < 0.1) after the simple carbohydrate diet relative to the refined carbohydrate diet. No significant diet effect was observed in fecal SCFA concentrations. Independent of diet, we observed 16 associations (all FDR: P < 0.1) of taxon abundance (15 phylum and 1 genera) with serum inflammatory markers and also with fecal SCFA and SBA concentrations. CONCLUSIONS Consuming an unrefined carbohydrate-rich diet had a modest effect on the gut microbiome and SBAs, resulting in favorable associations with selected CMRFs. Simple carbohydrate- and refined carbohydrate-rich diets have distinctive effects on the gut microbiome, suggesting differential mechanisms mediate their effects on cardiometabolic health. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01610661.
Single‐cell RNA sequencing in Drosophila: Technologies and applications

Single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq) has emerged as a powerful tool for investigating cell states and functions at the single‐cell level. It has greatly revolutionized transcriptomic studies in many life science research fields, such as neurobiology, immunology, and developmental biology. With the fast development of both experimental platforms and bioinformatics approaches over the past decade, scRNA‐seq is becoming economically feasible and experimentally practical for many biomedical laboratories. Drosophila has served as an excellent model organism for dissecting cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie tissue development, adult cell function, disease, and aging. The recent application of scRNA‐seq methods to Drosophila tissues has led to a number of exciting discoveries. In this review, I will provide a summary of recent scRNA‐seq studies in Drosophila, focusing on technical approaches and biological applications. I will also discuss current challenges and future opportunities of making new discoveries using scRNA‐seq in Drosophila.
Effect of feeding processed cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) peel meal based diet on the performance characteristics, egg quality and blood profile of laying chicken.

A 12 week feeding trial was conducted using three hundred and sixty point of lay Haco strain of pullets to evaluate the effect of feeding diets containing sun-dried cassava peel meal (SDCPM) and lye-treated cassava peel meal (LTCPM) on their performance. Nine experimental diets were formulated. The SDCPM and LTCPM were included at the rate of 50, 60, 70 and 80% levels respectively to replace maize of the control diet. The birds were randomly allotted to nine dietary treatment groups. Diet 1 was the control containing 0% of either SDCPM or LTCPM. Diet 2, 3, 4, and 5 had 50, 60, 70 and 80% of SDCPM respectively while diets 6, 7, 8 and 9 had 50, 60, 70 and 80% of LTCPM respectively. There were four replicates per treatment with ten birds per replicate in a completely randomized block design experiment. Treatment method had effect on the cyanide level of the cassava peels. The lye treated cassava peels had lower cyanide level than the sun-dried peels. The response criteria show that Hen day production of the birds fed 50% SDCPM (70.00%), 50% LTCPM (70.40%), 60% LTCPM (70.80%) and 70% LTCPM (69.90%) compared favourably (P > 0.05) with the birds on the control diet (71.00%). Similar trend was observed for feed conversion ef ciency. Birds fed with diets containing cassava peels either SDCPM or LTCPM had lower (P < 0.05) yolk weight and blood cholesterol value than those fed with maize based diets. The PCV, RBC, HB and WBC values of birds fed 70%, 80% SDCPM and 80% LTCPM were lower (P < 0.05) than the values observed for the birds fed the control diet. It can be concluded that up to 50% of SDCPM and 70% of LTCPM can be used in layer diet to replace maize without adverse effect on performance and blood characteristics of laying chickens.
Characterization of Crystalline Phase of TiO2 Nanocrystals, Cytotoxicity and Cell Internalization Analysis on Human Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is manufactured worldwide as crystalline and amorphous forms for multiple applications, including tissue engineering, but our study proposes analyzing the impact of crystalline phases of TiO2 on Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs). Several studies have already described the regenerative potential of MSCs and TiO2 has been used for bone regeneration. In this study, polydispersity index and sizes of TiO2 nanocrystals (NCs) were determined. Adipose tissue-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (AT-MSCs) were isolated and characterized in order to evaluate cellular viability and the internalization of nanocrystals (NCs). All of the assays were performed using the TiO2 NCs with 100% anatase (A), 91.6% anatase/9.4% rutile (AR), 64.6% rutile/35.4% anatase (RA), and 84.0% rutile/16% brookite (RB), submitted to several concentrations in 24-h treatments. Cellular localization of TiO2 NCs in the AT-MSCs was resolved by europium-doped NCs. Viability was significantly improved under the predominance of the rutile phase in NCs with localization restricted at the cytoplasm, suggesting that AR and RA NCs are not genotoxic and can be associated with most cellular activities and metabolic pathways, including glycolysis and cell division.
Analysis of Genetic Diversity in Some Potato Varieties Grown in Bangladesh

Genetic diversity using Mahalanobis's D - technique was studied for tuber yield and its components 2 viz., Plant Height (PH), Number of Leaves/plant (NLPP), Fresh Weight/plant (FWP), Number of Tubers/plant (NLPP), Number of Eyes/tuber (NEPT), Average Tuber Weight of Plant (ATWP) and Tuber weight/plant (TWt./P). The 30 potato genotypes were grouped into six clusters. The maximum diversity was contributed by tuber weight/plant. The cluster III and cluster IV contained the maximum number of genotype and the cluster I contained the minimum. The highest inter-cluster distance between cluster I and cluster VI followed by between cluster I and cluster v showing wide diversity among the groups. The highest intra-cluster distance was observed in cluster VI and lowest in cluster II. The inter cluster distance in most of the cases were higher than the intra-cluster distance indicating wider genetic diversity among the genotypes of different groups. Plant height, number of leaves/ plant, fresh weight/plant and tuber weight/plant showed maximum contribution towards total divergence among the genotypes.
Can miRNAs Be Considered as Diagnostic and Therapeutic Molecules in Ischemic Stroke Pathogenesis?—Current Status

Ischemic stroke is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Clinical manifestations of stroke are long-lasting and causing economic burden on the patients and society. Current therapeutic modalities to treat ischemic stroke (IS) are unsatisfactory due to the intricate pathophysiology and poor functional recovery of brain cellular compartment. MicroRNAs (miRNA) are endogenously expressed small non-coding RNA molecules, which can act as translation inhibitors and play a pivotal role in the pathophysiology associated with IS. Moreover, miRNAs may be used as potential diagnostic and therapeutic tools in clinical practice; yet, the complete role of miRNAs is enigmatic during IS. In this review, we explored the role of miRNAs in the regulation of stroke risk factors viz., arterial hypertension, metabolic disorders, and atherosclerosis. Furthermore, the role of miRNAs were reviewed during IS pathogenesis accompanied by excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, neurogenesis, and Alzheimer’s disease. The functional role of miRNAs is a double-edged sword effect in cerebral ischemia as they could modulate pathological mechanisms associated with risk factors of IS. miRNAs pertaining to IS pathogenesis could be potential biomarkers for stroke; they could help researchers to identify a particular stroke type and enable medical professionals to evaluate the severity of brain injury. Thus, ascertaining the role of miRNAs may be useful in deciphering their diagnostic role consequently it is plausible to envisage a suitable therapeutic modality against IS.
Changes in Water-Extractable Organic Carbon with Cover Crop Planting under Continuous Corn Silage Production

Long-term row crop agricultural production has dramatically reduced the pool of soil organic carbon. The implementation of cover crops in Midwestern agroecosystems is primarily to reduce losses of nitrogenous fertilizers, but has also been shown to restore soil carbon stocks over time. If labile carbon within agricultural soils could be increased, it could improve soil health, and if mobilized into subsurface drainage, it may positively impact watershed biogeochemistry. We tested for potential differences in water-extractable organic carbon (WEOC) at two different soil profiles (0-5 cm and 5-20 cm) between plots planted with cereal rye/daikon radish (cover crop), corn, and zero control (no vegetation) within the Illinois State University Research and Teaching Farm. We also tested for potential differences in denitrification within the upper soil profile throughout the growing year. We modeled excitation–emission matrices from soil cores through parallel factor analysis. We found no difference in WEOC concentrations between each crop treatment (P = 0.2850), but concentrations of WEOC were significantly lower in the 5-20 cm profile than that in the upper (0-5 cm) profile (P = 0.0033). There was a significant increase in WEOC after each treatment in samples after cover crop termination. The parallel factor analysis model found humic and fulvic acids to be the dominant fractions of WEOC in all soils tested. Humic and fulvic acids accounted for ~70% and 30% of model variation. Denitrification rates did not differ across treatments (P = 0.3520), which is likely attributed to soil WEOC being in limiting quantities and in primarily recalcitrant fractions. After three years, cover crops do not appear to alter soil WEOC quantity and type. Restoring the availability of carbon within agricultural soils will not be a short-term fix, and fields will likely be a net carbon sink, contributing minimal labile carbon to receiving waterways.
Association of predaceous Hemiptera with selected crops

The abundance of predatory hemipterans within 4 crops-soybean, Clycine max (L.); corn, Zea mays L. : tomato, Lycopersicum esculentum Miller; and tobacco, Nicotiana tabacum L-was studied in small plots its 1992 and 1993. Predatory hemipteran populations varied among the crops despite the close proximity of the various crops. No predatory hemipteran was commonly observed in >2 crops, and nabids were associated with only 1. Three nabid species-Nabis roseipennis Reuter, Nabis amerucoferus Carayon, and Nabis urufusculus Reuter-were associated with soybean; only small numbers were found on the other crops. The anthocorid Orius insidiosus (Say) was abundant on soybean early in the season and became more abundant on corn as the season progressed. Ceocoris punctipes (Say) was common in soybeans and tobacco, although nymphs were more abundant on soybean, Jalysus wickhami (Say) was found on tomatoes and tobacco and only rarely on the other crops. Predatory hemipterans from different families exhibited differences in crop associations. Implications of crop associations by predatory hemipterans are discussed.
Plasma Membrane MCC/Eisosome Domains Promote Stress Resistance in Fungi

There is growing appreciation that the plasma membrane orchestrates a diverse array of functions by segregating different activities into specialized domains that vary in size, stability, and composition. Studies with the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae have identified a novel type of plasma membrane domain known as the MCC (membrane compartment of Can1)/eisosomes that correspond to stable furrows in the plasma membrane. MCC/eisosomes maintain proteins at the cell surface, such as nutrient transporters like the Can1 arginine symporter, by protecting them from endocytosis and degradation. SUMMARY There is growing appreciation that the plasma membrane orchestrates a diverse array of functions by segregating different activities into specialized domains that vary in size, stability, and composition. Studies with the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae have identified a novel type of plasma membrane domain known as the MCC (membrane compartment of Can1)/eisosomes that correspond to stable furrows in the plasma membrane. MCC/eisosomes maintain proteins at the cell surface, such as nutrient transporters like the Can1 arginine symporter, by protecting them from endocytosis and degradation. Recent studies from several fungal species are now revealing new functional roles for MCC/eisosomes that enable cells to respond to a wide range of stressors, including changes in membrane tension, nutrition, cell wall integrity, oxidation, and copper toxicity. The different MCC/eisosome functions are often intertwined through the roles of these domains in lipid homeostasis, which is important for proper plasma membrane architecture and cell signaling. Therefore, this review will emphasize the emerging models that explain how MCC/eisosomes act as hubs to coordinate cellular responses to stress. The importance of MCC/eisosomes is underscored by their roles in virulence for fungal pathogens of plants, animals, and humans, which also highlights the potential of these domains to act as novel therapeutic targets.
Multiple categorization and intergroup bias: Examining the generalizability of three theories of intergroup relations.

Research on intergroup bias usually focuses on a single dimension of social categorization. In real life, however, people are aware of others' multiple group memberships and use this information to form attitudes about them. The present research tests the predictive power of identification, perceived conflict, and perceived symbolic threat in explaining the strength of intergroup bias on various dimensions of social categorization in multiple categorization settings. We conduct a factorial survey experiment, manipulating 9 dimensions of social categorization in diverse samples from 4 countries (n = 12,810 observations, 1,281 participants representing 103 social groups). The dimensions studied are age, gender, ethnicity, religion, place of residence, education, occupation, income, and 1 country-specific dimension. This approach allows exploring the generalizability of established determinants of bias across dimensions of categorization, contexts, and target groups. Identification and symbolic threat showed good generalizability across countries and categorization dimensions, but their effects varied as a function of participant and target groups' status. Identification predicted stronger bias mainly when the participant belonged to a higher status and the target belonged to a lower status group. Symbolic threat predicted stronger bias mainly when the target was a minority group member. Conflict predicted bias only in few cases, and not only the strength but also the direction of the effects varied across countries, dimensions, and target and participant groups. These findings help to clarify the limits of generalizability of established determinants of intergroup bias and highlight the need for new explanations of social-cognitive processes among minority group members. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Relationship between Snoring and Lifestyle-related Diseases among a Japanese Occupational Population

Objective Snoring is a common physical condition in active workers. However, the link between snoring and health problems is poorly understood. Therefore, the prevalence of snoring in Japanese workers and the relationships between snoring and lifestyle-related diseases were investigated. Methods This was a retrospective, single-center, cross-sectional study. The results of a single year's medical examinations were investigated for 25,141 Japanese active office workers 20 to 59 years old. The presence and duration of snoring were investigated using a personal computer at a medical interview before the medical checkup. The snoring frequency was investigated for each gender. In addition, the relationships between snoring and hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia were also analyzed. Results Men (21,774) were a mean 46±6 years old with a snoring prevalence of 43%. Women (3,367) were a mean 46±6 years old with a snoring prevalence of 20%. In men, snoring was an independent comorbid factor of hypertension and dyslipidemia. In particular, a long snoring vintage (multiple years) was an independent comorbid factor for hypertension [odds ratio (OR), 1.14; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.05-1.24; p=0.002; and OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.07-1.34; p=0.001]. In women, snoring was not an independent comorbid factor for lifestyle-related diseases when adjusted for the age and body mass index. Conclusion Snoring was shown to be a frequent pathophysiology in active workers. It was a health indicator for active workers, and especially in men, intervention for snoring may reduce the risk of developing lifestyle-related diseases.