Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Evolutionary Maintenance of Alternative Phenotypes

To understand the evolution of polyphenism, or adaptive switching between alternative developmental pathways and corresponding phenotypes, environmental factors governing the developmental switch, or cues, must be distinguished from factors affecting relative fitnesses, or selective agents. Under most conditions of purely spatial variation in environment, the maintenance of polyphenism requires adaptive developmental sensitivity to cues, which results in phenotype-environment matching. Other determinants of the maintenance of polyphenism under spatial variation include relative fitnesses of different phenotype-environment combinations, frequencies of alternative environments, and possible costs of polyphenism. Where variation is temporal, polyphenism is affected by the same parameters but is maintained more readily and may be favored without adaptive developmental sensitivity Even where environmental conditions are sufficient for maintaining polyphenism, its evolution may be precluded by constraints on developmental sensitivity that prevent phenotype-environment matching, costs of developmental switching, or antagonistic pleiotropy that prevents independent evolution of alternative phenotypes. These factors could be highly taxon-specific, which would preclude generalizations concerning the distribution of polyphenism. However, the abundance of seasonal polyphenisms in multivoltine organisms suggests that where environments are favorable, developmental systems are often flexible enough for the establishment of simple polyphenisms. Elaborate polyphenisms may be restricted to circumstances in which the developmental switch occurs during very early development
Effect of larval diet on the performance of the predator Chrysoperla carnea Stephens (Neuropt., Chrysopidae)

Abstract: Chrysoperla carnea larval diet exerts a significant effect on the rate of development, survival, cocoon weight and the fecundity of the adult females. For this predator, Pieris brassicae L. eggs proved to be as important a prey as aphids, and, although Drosophila melanogaster pupae and adults were accepted as prey, they proved to be relatively inferior as a prey source.
CIRCADIAN STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN THE RETINA OF LYCOSA TARENTULA (ARANEAE : LYCOSIDAE)

Daily structural changes of the rhabdoms are described in the four eye types of a lycosid spider submitted to laboratory conditions: LD 12:12 (light on at 08.00, 100 lux). From a study of animals submitted to constant darkness during fourteen days, rhabdom turnover was shown to be circadian. Each type of retina exhibits its own rhythmic turnover of rhabdoms. Anterior-lateral, posterior-median and lateral eyes are mostly diurnal; anterior-median retinae comprise 300 receptors with mainly nocturnal functioning and 150 receptors with mainly diurnal functioning. A correlation was found between rhythms of locomotor activity, other activity, and rhabdom turnover in L. tarentula suggesting that the same pacemaker controls these different rhythms.
Root Repair Versus Partial Meniscectomy for Medial Meniscus Posterior Root Tears: Comparison of Long-term Survivorship and Clinical Outcomes at Minimum 10-Year Follow-up

Background: The importance of repair in medial meniscus posterior root tears (MMPRTs) has been increasingly recognized because it restores hoop tension. However, no study has compared the long-term outcomes between meniscectomy and repair. Hypothesis: Survivorship and clinical outcomes of repair would be better than those of meniscectomy after long-term follow-up. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Between 2005 and 2009, patients with MMPRTs who had been followed up for at least 10 years after partial meniscectomy (n = 18) or pullout repair (n = 37) were recruited. Clinical assessments, including the Lysholm score and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective score, were evaluated preoperatively and at the final follow-up. The final results in each group were compared with the preoperative results, and the final results of the groups were compared. Clinical failure was defined as conversion to total knee arthroplasty (TKA), and the final clinical scores were assessed just before TKA. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to investigate the survival rates of surgical procedures. Results: Mean ± SD follow-up period was 101.4 ± 45.9 and 125.9 ± 21.2 months in the meniscectomy and repair groups, respectively (P = .140). The mean Lysholm and IKDC scores, respectively, in the meniscectomy group were 50.8 ± 7.7 and 37.6 ± 7.0 preoperatively and 58.2 ± 22.1 and 44.4 ± 19.0 postoperatively (P = .124; P = .240). In the repair group, the mean Lysholm score and IKDC score, respectively, significantly increased from 52.3 ± 10.9 and 41.0 ± 9.6 preoperatively to 77.1 ± 24.0 and 63.7 ± 20.6 postoperatively (P < .001; P < .001). The final Lysholm and IKDC scores in the repair group were significantly better than those in the meniscectomy group (P = .004; P = .003). In cases of clinical failure, 10 patients (56%) in the meniscectomy group and 8 patients (22%) in the repair group converted to TKA in the follow-up period (P = .016). According to Kaplan-Meier analysis, the 10-year survival rates for the meniscectomy and repair groups were 44.4% and 79.6%, respectively (P = .004). Conclusion: In MMPRTs, root repair was superior to partial meniscectomy in terms of clinical results for at least 10 years of follow-up. From a long-term perspective, repair with restoration of hoop tension is more effective management than meniscectomy.
Generalized myoclonus in COVID-19

Objective To report 3 patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) who developed generalized myoclonus. Methods Patient data were obtained from medical records from the University Hospital “12 de Octubre,” Madrid, Spain. Results Three patients (2 men and 1 woman, aged 63–88 years) presented with mild hypersomnia and generalized myoclonus following the onset of the so-called inflammatory phase of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). All of them had presented previously with anosmia. Myoclonus was generalized with both positive and negative jerks, predominantly involving the facial, trapezius, sternocleidomastoid, and upper extremities muscles. These myoclonic jerks occurred spontaneously and were extremely sensitive to multisensory stimuli (auditive and tactile) or voluntary movements, with an exaggerated startle response. Other causes of myoclonus were ruled out, and none of the patients had undergone respiratory arrest or significant prolonged hypoxia. All of them improved, at least partially, with immunotherapy. Conclusions Our 3 cases highlight the occurrence of myoclonus during the COVID-19 pandemic as a post- or para-infectious immune-mediated disorder. However, we cannot rule out that SARS-CoV-2 may spread transneuronally to first- and second-order structures connected with the olfactory bulb. Further investigation is required to clarify the full clinical spectrum of neurologic symptoms and optimal treatment.
Commiphora Extract Mixture Ameliorates Monosodium Iodoacetate-Induced Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic inflammatory joint disease that affects millions of elderly people around the world. The conventional treatments for OA consisting of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and steroid have negative health consequences, such as gastrointestinal, renal, and cardiac diseases. This study has evaluated the Commiphora extract mixture (HT083) on OA progression as an alternative treatment in animal models. The root of P. lactiflora and the gum resin of C. myrrha have been in use as traditional medicines against many health problems including bone disorders since ancient time. The extracts of P. lactiflora root and C. myrrha gum resin were mixed as 3:1 for their optimal effects. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) into the knee joints to induce the symptoms identical to human OA. HT083 substantially prevented the loss of weight-bearing inflicted with MIA in rats. The MIA-induced cartilage erosion as well as the subchondral bone damage in the rats was also reversed. In addition, the increase of serum IL-1β concentration, a crucial pro-inflammatory cytokine involved in OA progression was countered by HT083. Furthermore, HT083 significantly reduced the acetic acid-induced writhing response in mice. In vitro, HT083 has shown potent anti-inflammatory activities by inhibiting the production of NO and suppressing the interleukin -1β, interleukin -6, cyclooxygenase-2, and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in lipopolysaccharide -stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Given its potent analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities in MIA rats and acetic acid-induced writhing in mice, HT083 should be further studied in order to explain its mechanism of actions in alleviating OA pain and inflammation.
Day-Night Vertical Distribution and Feeding Patterns of Fourth Instar ofChaoborus Larvae in a Neotropical Reservoir (Socuy Reservoir, Venezuela)

The day-night vertical distribution, diel feeding activity and diet of fourth instar of Chaoborus larvae were analyzed in lacustrine zone of a neotropical reservoir which shows seasonally contrasting hypolimnetic oxygen conditions. Larvae stayed in sediment and water bottom during day and ascended to surface during night. Results indicate that feeding activity is limited mainly to the plankton population. Phytoplankton, rotifers or remains of Chaoborus larvae were not found in crops. With the exception of ostracods, all crustacean prey available in the zooplankton occurred in the guts. Ceriodaphnia cornuta and Moina micrura were the most frequent food items (about 75% of occurrence frequency) and were positively selected. The remainder crustacean zooplankton taxa were negatively selected by larvae. The most intense feeding activity in larvae occurred near midnight and sunrise, in dates when the hypolimnion was anoxic. When oxygen was available on the bottom, a higher and not changing diel feeding activity was detected. Our results indicate that vertical migration may promote a spatial separation between larvae and zooplankton, and feeding activity of larvae occurred only when both overlapped. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Educational Inequalities in Life and Healthy Life Expectancies among the 50-Plus in Spain

This study computes educational inequalities in life expectancy (LE), healthy life expectancy (HLE), and unhealthy life expectancy (ULE) by gender and education level in Spain in 2012. Death registrations and vital status by level of education were obtained from Spain’s National Institute of Statistics. Health prevalences were estimated from the National Health Survey for Spain. We used Sullivan’s method to compute HLE, ULE, and the proportion of time lived with health problems. Our results reveal that Spanish women live longer than men in all education groups, but a higher proportion of women report poor health. We detect substantial differences in unhealthy life by gender and education, with higher effect for women and for those with low levels of education. Poor self-perceived health shows the largest educational gradient; chronic diseases present the lowest. This is the first work that provides evidence on health inequalities by education level in Spain. Our findings seem to be in line with reports of the smaller social inequalities experienced in Southern Europe and highlight the importance of education level on extending the proportion of years spent in good health in a Mediterranean country.
Comparison of Parameterization Methods for Real-Time Battery Simulation Used in Mechatronic Powertrain Test Benches

This paper deals with the real-time simulation of a power tool battery pack on a mechatronic powertrain test bench. The ability of an easy-to-use model for quick and iterative test runs mainly depends on the effort of parameterization. For this purpose, an easily parameterizable battery model is required. The battery model used is based on the current state of research and simulates the battery’s behavior with an adequate precision. The suggested parameterization allows building the model without the necessity of experimental investigation. Three different procedures for model parameterization were used and compared with the real battery behavior. In conclusion, this paper shows a good tradeoff between precision and an easy way to handle a battery model for testing mechatronic powertrains.
Elucidating negative symptoms in the daily life of individuals in the early stages of psychosis

Abstract Background It remains poorly understood how negative symptoms are experienced in the daily lives of individuals in the early stages of psychosis. We aimed to investigate whether altered affective experience, anhedonia, social anhedonia, and asociality were more pronounced in individuals with an at-risk mental state for psychosis (ARMS) and individuals with first-episode psychosis (FEP) than in controls. Methods We used the experience sampling methodology (ESM) to assess negative symptoms, as they occurred in the daily life of 51 individuals with FEP and 46 ARMS, compared with 53 controls. Results Multilevel linear regression analyses showed no overall evidence for a blunting of affective experience. There was some evidence for anhedonia in FEP but not in ARMS, as shown by a smaller increase of positive affect (BΔat−risk v. FEP = 0.08, p = 0.006) as the pleasantness of activities increased. Against our expectations, no evidence was found for greater social anhedonia in any group. FEP were more often alone (57%) than ARMS (38%) and controls (35%) but appraisals of the social situation did not point to asociality. Conclusions Overall, altered affective experience, anhedonia, social anhedonia and asociality seem to play less of a role in the daily life of individuals in the early stages of psychosis than previously assumed. With the experience of affect and pleasure in daily life being largely intact, changing social situations and appraisals thereof should be further investigated to prevent development or deterioration of negative symptoms.
Exploitation and interference intraspecific larval competition in the dipteran leaf miner, Agromyza frontella (Rondani)

The effect of competition among similarly aged larvae of the alfalfa blotch leaf miner, Agromyza frontella (Rondani), was investigated in laboratory studies over a range of larval densities (1–10 larvae per leaflet) commonly found on alfalfa in Quebec. In these studies A. frontella larvae were found to be resource limited when developing in small leaflets and (or) with other larvae. Larval mortality owing to interference (cannibalism) during the first two larval instars, and exploitation (starvation) competition during the third and final instar, increased in a density-dependent manner. Prepupal and pupal mortality increased and pupal weight decreased as larval density increased. However, pupal developmental rates and adult sex ratios of survivors were not significantly affected by larval density. Interference competition during the first two larval instars reduced larval density and thus diminished the probability that third-instar larvae would be subjected to exploitation competition. These findings wer.
Distributed Fixed-Time Attitude Tracking Consensus for Rigid Spacecraft Systems Under Directed Graphs

Distributed fixed-time attitude tracking consensus is investigated in this letter for rigid spacecraft systems, with a directed communication graph containing a single leader which is the root of a directed spanning tree. The evolution of each follower is subject to unknown but bounded disturbances. First, a distributed fixed-time observer with heterogeneous coefficients is presented for each follower allowing cooperative estimation of the state of the leader at each follower. Then an observer-based fixed-time tracking protocol is designed to make the state of each spacecraft exactly track the state of the leader by the aid of backstepping technique. Finally, a simulation example is conducted to verify the analytical results.
Fitossociologia de campos rupestres quartzíticos e ferruginosos no Quadrilátero Ferrífero, Minas Gerais.

The floristic composition and phytosociological structure of two areas with quartzitic and ferruginous (itabiritic) campos rupestres in the Quadrilatero Ferrifero region of Minas Gerais state were studied. The aim of this research was to determine if geology and geomorphology influence the vegetation of these communities. The campos rupestres in both lithologies were stratified in three kinds of geomorphologic/phytophysionomic habitats: 1. Slopes with grasslands; 2. Plateaus with grasslands and 3. Lower slopes with woody savannas. In each habitat, 10 plots (10x10m) were randomly defined, totaling 60 plots. Frequency, dominance and importance value (IV) parameters were calculated for each species. Shannon-Wiener (H') and Pielou (J') indexes were estimated for each habitat. Jaccard index and clustering analysis were used to assess the floristic similarity of the different habitats. There were 165 species in the quartzitic and 160 in the ferruginous grasslands. Vellozia compacta was the species with the highest IV in both ferruginous grasslands. Lagenocarpus rigidus was the species with the highest IV in quartzitic sloped areas, followed by several phanerophytes. Echinolaena inflexa was the species with the highest IV in quartzitic plateaus followed by several phanerophytes and many hemicryptophytic species. The woody savannas in ferruginous areas were dominated by E. erythropappus and V. compacta, while in quartzitic areas by Echinolaena inflexa, Eremanthus erythropappus and many phanerophytic species. Woody savannas were more diverse than grasslands. Ferruginous campos rupestres exhibited lower diversity (H'=2.92) and equitability (J'=0.58) than quartzitic ones (H'=3.36; J'=0.66). Cluster analysis produced groups corresponding to the lithological and geomorphological habitats. The results give evidence that geology and geomorphology influence the floristic composition of campos rupestres.
Soil acidification reduces the effects of short‐term nutrient enrichment on plant and soil biota and their interactions in grasslands

Soil nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) contents, and soil acidification have greatly increased in grassland ecosystems due to increased industrial and agricultural activities. As major environmental and economic concerns worldwide, nutrient enrichment and soil acidification can lead to substantial changes in the diversity and structure of plant and soil communities. Although the separate effects of N and P enrichment on soil food webs have been assessed across different ecosystems, the combined effects of N and P enrichment on multiple trophic levels in soil food webs have not been studied in semiarid grasslands experiencing soil acidification. Here we conducted a short‐term N and P enrichment experiment in non‐acidified and acidified soil in a semiarid grassland on the Mongolian Plateau. We found that net primary productivity was not affected by N or P enrichment alone in either non‐acidified or acidified soil, but was increased by combined N and P enrichment in both non‐acidified and acidified soil. Nutrient enrichment decreased the biomass of most microbial groups in non‐acidified soil (the decrease tended to be greatest with combined N and P enrichment) but not in acidified soil, and did not affect most soil nematode variables in non‐acidified or acidified soil. Nutrient enrichment also changed plant and microbial community structure in non‐acidified but not in acidified soil, and had no effect on nematode community structure in non‐acidified or acidified soil. These results indicate that the responses to short‐term nutrient enrichment were weaker for higher trophic groups (nematodes) than for lower trophic groups (microorganisms) and primary producers (plants). The findings increase our understanding of the effects of nutrient enrichment on multiple trophic levels of soil food webs, and highlight that soil acidification, as an anthropogenic stressor, reduced the responses of plants and soil food webs to nutrient enrichment and weakened plant–soil interactions.
Anticoagulant Effects of Pindone in the Rabbit and Australian Bushtail Possum.

The anticoagulant and toxic effect of the rodenticide pindone were compared in the rabbit and the Australian brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula). Six possums and six rabbits were dosed orally with 25mg kg-1 pindone, and another five possums were dosed with 100mg kg-1 pindone. Blood samples were taken before dosing and 6 days after dosing. In rabbits, the mean haematocrit was reduced from 0.41 to 0.14, the one-stage prothrombin time increased from 7.1 to more than 120 s, and activated partial prothrombin time increased from 26.1 to more than 180 s. These parameters were unchanged in the possums that received 25mg kg-1. In possums that received 100mg kg-1 the one-stage prothrombin time increased from 41.9 to 80.0 s and the activated partial prothrombin time increased from 30.2 to 103.9 s. The haematocrit was unchanged. Half the rabbits died with extensive haemorrhaging within 6 days, but there was no haemorrhaging or mortality in the possums in either dose group.
Effects of Herbivory on Growth and Biomass Allocation in Native and Introduced Species of Lonicera

We compared growth and biomass allocation patterns of Lonicera japonica, an invasive vine in the southeastern United States, and its native congener, L. sempervirens, among three herbivory treatments. Growth and biomass variables were calculated at nine harvest dates across 14 mo under no herbivory, insect herbivory, and mammal and insect herbivory. In the absence of herbivory, L. sempervirens accumulated greater biomass and had higher growth rates than L. japonica. Lonicera sempervirens, however, experienced more herbivore damage than L. japonica, particularly due to the combined effects of insect and mammal herbivory. Total biomass accumulation and greater allocation to leaves and stems indicate a compensatory response to herbivory by L. japonica. These attributes in response to herbivory coupled with lower herbivory in its new range compared to L. sempervirens could give L. japonica a substantial advantage over its native congener.
Evolution of Odometry Calibration Methods for Ground Mobile Robots

Localisation is a critical problem in ground mobile robots. For dead reckoning, odometry is usually used. A disadvantage of using it alone is unbounded error accumulation. So, odometry calibration is critical in reducing error propagation. This paper presents an analysis of the developments and advances of systematic methods for odometry calibration. Four steering geometries were analysed, namely differential drive, Ackerman, tricycle and omnidirectional. It highlights the advances made on this field and covers the methods since UMBmark was proposed. The points of analysis are the techniques and test paths used, errors considered in calibration, and experiments made to validate each method. It was obtained fifteen methods for differential drive, three for Ackerman, two for tricycle, and three for the omnidirectional steering geometry. A disparity was noted, compared with the real utilisation, between the number of published works addressing differential drive and tricycle/Ackerman. Still, odometry continues evolving since UMBmark was proposed.
Mammal remains from pellets of the Eagle Owl, Bubo bubo, from Azraq Nature Reserve, Jordan

Abstract A total of 17 pellets from the Eagle Owl, Bubo bubo, from Azraq Nature Reserve, Jordan, was analyzed. The remains of two insectivores (Paraechinus aethiopicus, Crocidura suaveolens), three rodents (Jaculus jaculus vocator, Meriones crassus, and Mus musculus), and one bird (Passer domesticus) were identified.