Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Human first-order tactile neurons can resolve spatial details on the scale of single fingerprint ridges

Fast-adapting type 1 (FA-1) and slow-adapting type 1 (SA-1) first-order tactile neurons provide detailed spatiotemporal tactile information when we touch objects with fingertips. The distal axon of these neuron types branches in the skin and innervates many receptor organs associated with fingerprint ridges (Meissner corpuscles and Merkel cell neurite complexes, respectively), resulting in heterogeneous receptive fields that include many highly sensitive zones or ‘subfields’. Using raised dots that tangentially scanned a neuron’s receptive field, here we examined the spatial resolution capacity of FA-1 and SA-1 neurons afforded by their heterogeneous receptive fields and its constancy across scanning speed and direction. We report that the resolution of both neuron types on average corresponds to a spatial period of ∼0.4 mm and provide evidence that a subfield’s spatial selectivity arises because its associated receptor organ measures mechanical events limited to a single fingerprint ridge. Accordingly, the sensitivity topography of a neuron’s receptive fields is quite stable over repeated mappings and over scanning speeds representative of real-world hand use. The sensitivity topography is substantially conserved also for different scanning directions, but the subfields can be relatively displaced by direction-dependent shear deformations of the skin surface. Significance Statement The branching of the distal axon of first-order tactile neurons with receptor-organs associated with fingerprint ridges (Meissner and Merkel end-organs) results in cutaneous receptive fields composed of several distinct subfields spread across multiple ridges. We show that the spatial selectivity of the subfields typically corresponds to the dimension of the ridges (∼0.4 mm) and that neurons’ subfield layout is well preserved across tangential movement speeds and directions representative of natural use of the fingertips. We submit that the receptor-organ underlying a subfield essentially measures mechanical events at an individual ridge. That neurons receive convergent input from multiple subfields does not preclude the possibility that spatial details can be resolved on the scale of single fingerprint ridges by a population code.
High-resolution line-scanning reveals distinct visual response properties across human cortical layers

Our understanding of the human brain relies on advancing noninvasive brain imaging approaches. Characterization of the function of brain circuitry depends on the spatiotemporal correspondence at which recorded signals can be mapped onto underlying neuronal structures and processes. Here we aimed to address key first-stage questions of feasibility, reliability, and utility of line-scanning fMRI as a next generation non-invasive imaging method for human neuroscience research at the mesoscopic scale. Line-scanning can achieve high spatial resolution by employing anisotropic voxels aligned to cortical layers. The method can simultaneously achieve high temporal resolution by limiting acquisition to a very small patch of cortex which is repeatedly acquired as a single frequency-encoded k-space line. We developed multi-echo line-scanning procedures to record cortical layers in humans at high spatial (200 μm) and temporal resolution (100 ms) using ultra high-field 7T fMRI. Quantitative mapping allowed us to identify cortical layers in primary visual cortex (V1) and record functional signals from them while participants viewed movie clips. Analysis of these recordings revealed layer-specific V1 spatial and orientation tuning properties analogous to those previously observed in electrophysiological recordings of non-human primates. We have consequently demonstrated that line-scanning is a powerful non-invasive imaging technique for investigating mesoscopic functional circuits in human cortex. Graphical Abstract
Targeted Stimulation of an Orbitofrontal Network Disrupts Decisions Based on Inferred, Not Experienced Outcomes

When direct experience is unavailable, animals and humans can imagine or infer the future to guide decisions. Behavior based on direct experience versus inference may recruit partially distinct brain circuits. In rodents, the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) contains neural signatures of inferred outcomes, and OFC is necessary for behavior that requires inference but not for responding driven by direct experience. In humans, OFC activity is also correlated with inferred outcomes, but it is unclear whether OFC activity is required for inference-based behavior. To test this, we used noninvasive network-based continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) in human subjects (male and female) to target lateral OFC networks in the context of a sensory preconditioning task that was designed to isolate inference-based behavior from responding that can be based on direct experience alone. We show that, relative to sham, cTBS targeting this network impairs reward-related behavior in conditions in which outcome expectations have to be mentally inferred. In contrast, OFC-targeted stimulation does not impair behavior that can be based on previously experienced stimulus–outcome associations. These findings suggest that activity in the targeted OFC network supports decision-making when outcomes have to be mentally simulated, providing converging cross-species evidence for a critical role of OFC in model-based but not model-free control of behavior. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT It is widely accepted that the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is important for decision-making. However, it is less clear how exactly this region contributes to behavior. Here we test the hypothesis that the human OFC is only required for decision-making when future outcomes have to be mentally simulated, but not when direct experience with stimulus–outcome associations is available. We show that targeting OFC network activity in humans using network-based continuous theta burst stimulation selectively impairs behavior that requires inference but does not affect responding that can be based solely on direct experience. These results are in line with previous findings in animals and suggest a critical role for human OFC in model-based but not model-free behavior.
Appearance of New Transport Capacity in Wounded Plants

Gersani, M. 1985. Appearance of new transport capacity in wounded plants. —J. exp. Bot. 36: 1809-1816. Bean hypocotyls were cut so that only a narrow transverse bridge connected the shoot and the root. The purpose of the work was to follow the processes of new, regenerative, vascular differentiation as expressed by the transport capacity of the wounded regions. Rapid transport of sucrose, auxin and gibberellin appeared as an exponential function of time. This transport probably expresses the functioning of newly differentiated sieve tubes and it comes close to the level of intact plants about 3 d after the plants are wounded. There was also a less rapid transport that appeared earlier, within 1 d of wounding, that was specific to auxin. The results supply critical parameters concerning new vascular differentiation and support the hypothesis that it is induced and oriented by the flow of auxin.
Is structure based drug design ready for selectivity optimization?

Alchemical free energy calculations are now widely used to drive or maintain potency in small molecule lead optimization with a roughly 1 kcal/mol accuracy. Despite this, the potential to use free energy calculations to drive optimization of compound selectivity among two similar targets has been relatively unexplored in published studies. In the most optimistic scenario, the similarity of binding sites might lead to a fortuitous cancellation of errors and allow selectivity to be predicted more accurately than affinity. Here, we assess the accuracy with which selectivity can be predicted in the context of small molecule kinase inhibitors, considering the very similar binding sites of human kinases CDK2 and CDK9, as well as another series of ligands attempting to achieve selectivity between the more distantly related kinases CDK2 and ERK2. Using a Bayesian analysis approach, we separate systematic from statistical error and quantify the correlation in systematic errors between selectivity targets. We find that, in the CDK2/CDK9 case, a high correlation in systematic errors suggests free energy calculations can have significant impact in aiding chemists in achieving selectivity, while in more distantly related kinases (CDK2/ERK2), the correlation in systematic error suggests fortuitous cancellation may even occur between systems that are not as closely related. In both cases, the correlation in systematic error suggests that longer simulations are beneficial to properly balance statistical error with systematic error to take full advantage of the increase in apparent free energy calculation accuracy in selectivity prediction.
Efficacy of Herbicides in Wet Direct-sown Summer Rice

Major weed nora associatcd with wet direct-sown summer rice during the dry season comprised mainly Echinochloa colona (9.5%,), Cyperus defformis (30.2%), Fimbistrylis miliacea (27.0%,), Sphenochlea zeylanica (15.8%) and Ludwigia parviflora (17.5%.). Pyrazosulfuron-ethyl (25 g ha−1) applied at 10 days after sowing was most effective in controlling the weeds (95.6%) and maximizing rice grain yield (5.72 t ha−1). This was at par with hand wceding twice at 20 and 40 DAS in terms of weed control efficiency and grain yield. Pyrazosulfuron ethyl (20 g ha−1) applied at 10 DAS, pretilachlor + safener (750 g ha−1) applied at 7 DAS and fentra/amide (120 g ha−1) applied at 7 DAS also showed good suppression of weeds with weed control etliciency of 93.7, 91.4 and 90.5%, respectively. There was more than 45%, reduction in the grain yield of rice due to competition with weeds in weedy plots.
S0950268820000965jra 1..7

Outbreaks of norovirus-associated gastroenteritis have been reported in schools in recent decades in China. For early warning and response to infectious disease outbreaks, the Shanghai Infectious Diseases Bud Event Surveillance System (IDBESS) was established in 2016. Bud event is a term used for the early sign of a potential infectious disease outbreak in public settings when the first few cases appear. This study aimed to describe the epidemiological characteristics of Norovirus-associated gastroenteritis bud events from June 2016 to December 2017 and to understand factors influencing the severity of events. Data were extracted from the IDBESS, supplemented by field investigations and school absence surveillance. In total, 189 bud events of Norovirus-associated gastroenteritis were reported in schools and kindergartens, affecting 3827 individuals and 52.38% happened in primary schools. The attack rate of Norovirus-associated gastroenteritis was 3.82% on average in students in the affected schools. In each event, case numbers varied between 5 and 148, with a median of 16. The duration of bud events lasted for 2 days on average. School absence happened in 47.93% (1797/ 3749) of affected students and the average duration of absence was 3.07 days. It was found that a longer delay before reporting was associated with a longer-lasting duration of bud event (OR = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.65, 3.07). In conclusion, ascribed to the sensitive threshold for alerting and the timely field investigation, the surveillance of bud events of Norovirus-associated gastroenteritis is effective in the control of Norovirus infection among preschool children and students in Shanghai.
Population status of the Tinian Monarch (Monarcha takatsukasae) on Tinian, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

We conducted surveys to evaluate the current population sta- tus of the Tinian Monarch (Monarcha takatsukasae), an insectivorous forest bird restricted to the island of Tinian, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. In 1996, we recounted transects surveyed in 1982 and used the same analysis procedure to compare 1982 and 1996 population estimates. The 1996 population estimate was 55,721 ± 3,846 SE (48,345-63,495 95% CI), which is 57% higher than our estimate of 35,846 ± 2,211 SE (31,668-40,337 95% CI) for 1982. Vegetation densi- ty, measured by canopy cover and lateral visibility at each station, has also increased since 1982. Our data suggest that the Tinian Monarch population has increased possibly due to increased habitat availability, but remains at risk both from an accidental introduction of brown tree snakes (Boiga irregularis) to the island and stochastic processes.
Production of Common Sour Orange × Carrizo Citrange Hybrids Using Embryo Rescue

Citrus rootstock breeding is important in improving resistance to diseases, insect pests, and adverse environmental conditions. The majority of citrus species and cultivars have nuceller embryony, which causes some problems for breeding programs. This disadvantage can be eliminated by using embryo rescue. In this research, Common sour orange × Carrizo citrange were crossed in order to produce new rootstocks and immature embryos. The embryos were gathered from the crossed plants 80, 100, and 120 days after pollination. The immature embryos were transferred to 0, 0.5, and 1 mg/L GA3 containing medium to germinate them. In general, the later after pollination that the embryos were harvested, the higher the germination rate. Those harvested at 80 days averaged 32% over all treatments, while those harvested at 100 days averaged 77%, and those harvested at 120 days averaged 98% germination. Embryos on control media averaged 67% germination over all treatments, while those with 0.5 mg/L GA3 averaged 62%, and those with 1 mg/L GA3 in the media averaged 78% germination. The percentage of embryos developing trifoliate leaves for those harvested at 80 days averaged 51% over all treatments, while those harvested at 100 days averaged 24%, and those harvested at 120 days averaged 41%. Embryos on control media averaged 36% trifoliate leaf development over all treatments, while those with 0.5 mg/L GA3 averaged 35%, and those with 1 mg/L GA3 in the media averaged 44% germination.
Heterogeneity in the response of different subtypes of Drosophila melanogaster enteroendocrine cells to viral infections

Single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) offers the possibility to monitor both host and pathogens transcriptomes at the cellular level. Here, public scRNA-seq data from Drosophila melanogaster have been used to compare the differences in replication strategy and cellular response between two viruses, Thika virus (TV) and D. melanogaster Nora virus (DMelNV) in enteroendocrine cells (EEs). TV and DMelNV exhibited different patterns of replication and for TV, accumulation varied according to cell subtype. Cells infected with TV underwent down-regulation of genes that represent bottlenecks in the fruit fly interactome, while cells infected with DMelNV went through a down-expression of translation-related genes that represent both hubs and bottlenecks in the host interactome. In contrast, flies infected with DMelNV show only a systemic level down-regulation of bottleneck genes. Here, we use scRNA-seq to highlight the differences and commonalities between cellular response to TV and DMelNV and between cellular and systemic response to DMelNV.
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a nutritional supplement, modulates steroid insensitivity in asthma

Asthmatics with poor steroid responsiveness are now found to use health services at higher frequency and contribute to socio-economic burden disproportionately. We have previously shown that a ω-6 fatty acid metabolite leads to a severe and steroid insensitive asthma-like condition in mice. Here, we investigated the role of retinoid-x-receptor gamma (RXRγ) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a ω3 fatty acid rexinoid ligand of RXR, on the features of steroid insensitivity in asthmatic condition. RXRγ was found to be reduced in the lungs of human asthmatics and mice with steroid insensitive allergic airway inflammation. RXRγ knockdown in naïve mice led to spontaneous asthma like features whereas RXRγ knockdown in allergic mice led to steroid insensitive asthma features. We observed while RXRγ binds to the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene and regulates its transcription, DHA increases the GRα expression in human bronchial epithelial cells and reverses the steroid insensitive features in mice with allergic airway inflammation. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a ligand of RXR, was reduced in the sera of steroid-insensitive asthmatics. We conclude that DHA may prove to be a promising steroid sensitizing agent for the treatment of steroid insensitive asthmatics. Summary The molecular regulation of glucocorticoid receptor by retinoid-x-receptor gamma (RXRgama) has an implication in steroid insensitive asthma as we found that Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a nutritional supplement and natural ligand of RXRgamma, improves steroid sensitivity in steroid insensitive mice model of asthma and DHA levels are found to be low in steroid insensitive asthmatic patients.
Neural mechanisms underlying expectation-dependent inhibition of distracting information

Predictions based on learned statistical regularities in the visual world have been shown to facilitate attention and goal-directed behavior by sharpening the sensory representation of goal-relevant stimuli in advance. Yet, how the brain learns to ignore predictable goal-irrelevant or distracting information is unclear. Here, we used EEG and a visual search task in which the predictability of a distractor’s location and/or spatial frequency was manipulated to determine how spatial and feature distractor expectations are neurally implemented and reduce distractor interference. We find that expected distractor features could not only be decoded pre-stimulus, but their representation differed from the representation of that same feature when part of the target. Spatial distractor expectations did not induce changes in preparatory neural activity, but a strongly reduced Pd, an ERP index of inhibition. These results demonstrate that neural effects of statistical learning critically depend on the task relevance and dimension (spatial, feature) of predictions.
Topographic gradients of intrinsic dynamics across neocortex

The intrinsic dynamics of neuronal populations are shaped by both macroscale connectome architecture and microscale attributes. Neural activity arising from the interplay of these local and global factors therefore varies from moment to moment, with rich temporal patterns. Here we comprehensively characterize intrinsic dynamics throughout the human brain. Applying massive temporal feature extraction to regional haemodynamic activity, we estimate over 6,000 statistical properties of individual brain regions’ time series across the neocortex. We identify two robust topographic gradients of intrinsic dynamics, one spanning a ventromedial-dorsolateral axis and the other spanning a unimodal-transmodal axis. These gradients are distinct in terms of their temporal composition and reflect spatial patterns of microarray gene expression, intracortical myelin and cortical thickness, as well as structural and functional network embedding. Importantly, these gradients are closely correlated with patterns of functional activation, differentiating cognitive versus affective processing and sensory versus higher-order cognitive processing. Altogether, these findings demonstrate a link between microscale and macroscale architecture, intrinsic dynamics, and cognition.
Combining ability for yield and its contributing characters in tomato

The experiment was conducted with 45 F1s and F2s developed through diallel technique excluding reciprocals along with ten parents namely, Pant Bahar, Punjab Chhuhara, Pusa Ruby, Pusa Gaurav, Azad Type-2, Azad Type-3, Kalyanpur Type-1, Angoorlata, KS-16 and KS-29 in randomized block design (RBD) with three replications. The study revealed that the significant general combining ability effects were shown by parents KS-29, Pant Bahar and Kalyanpur Type-1 and they were good general combiners for fruits yield in both the generations. Most of the crosses showed high sca effects for fruit yield in both the F1 and F2 generations. Crosses KS-16 x KS-29, Kalyanpur Type-1 x KS-29 and Pant Bahar x KS-16 were found to be the best specific combiners for fruit yield. In F1 and F2 generations, for fruit yield/plant (kg), the best specific combiners was KS-29 (6.30) followed by Angoorlata (4.29), Pant Bahar (3.79) and Kalyanpur Type-1 (2.37) and KS-29 (4.66) followed by Angoorlata (4.32), Pant Bahar (3.19), Kalyanpur Type-1 (2.35) and Pusa Ruby (2.26). Specific combining ability (sca) effects for fruit yield/plant of crosses in F1 generation were significant in 35 of the crosses with the range from 14.71 to 17.13.
Constructional morphology of cerithiform gastropods

ABSTRACT Cerithiform gastropods possess high-spired shells with small apertures, anterior canals or sinuses, and usually one or more spiral rows of tubercles, spines or nodes. This shell morphology occurs mostly within the superfamily Cerithioidea. Several morphologic characters of cerithiform shells are adaptive within five broad functional areas: (1) defence from shell-peeling predators (external sculpture, pre-adult internal barriers, preadult varices, adult aperture) (2) burrowing and infaunal life (burrowing sculptures, bent and elongated inhalant adult siphon, plough-like adult outer lip, flattened dorsal region of last whorl), (3) clamping of the aperture onto a solid substrate (broad tangential adult aperture), (4) stabilisation of the shell when epifaunal (broad adult outer lip and at least three types of swellings located on the left ventrolateral side of the last whorl in the adult stage), and (5) righting after accidental overturning (projecting dorsal tubercles or varix on the last or penultimate whorl, in one instance accompanied by hollow ventral tubercles that are removed by abrasion against the substrate in the adult stage). Most of these characters are made feasible by determinate growth and a countdown ontogenetic programme. These varied adaptations often have evolved independently among different taxonomic groups of cerithiforms, and multiple times within the same group.
Epitope-Based Peptide Vaccine Design Against Fructose Bisphosphate Aldolase of Candida Glabrata: An Immunomics Approach

Background Candida glabrata is a human opportunistic pathogen that can cause life-threatening systemic infections. Although, there are multiple effective vaccines against fungal infections, and some of these vaccines were engaged in different stages of clinical trials, none of them yet approved by (FDA). Aim To predict the most conserved and immunogenic B- and T-cell epitopes from the Fructose Bisphosphate aldolase (Fba1) protein of C. glabrata. Materials and Methods 13 C. glabrata Fructose bisphosphate aldolase protein sequences (361amino acid) were retrieved from NCBI and several in silico tools presented in the IEDB server for predicting peptides were used and homology modeling and molecular docking were performed. Result The promising B-cell Epitopes were AYFKPH, VDKESLYTK, and HVDKESLYTK. While, promising peptides which have the high affinity to MHC I binding were: AVHEALAPI, KYFKRMAAM, QTSNGGAAY, RMAAMNQWL and YFKEHGEPL. Two peptides (LFSSHMLDL and YIRSIAPAY) were noted to have the highest affinity to MHC class II that interact with 9 MHC class II alleles. The molecular Docking revealed the epitopes QTSNGGAAY and LFSSHMLDL have the high binding energy to MHC molecules Conclusion The epitope-based vaccines predicted by using immunoinformatics tools have remarkable advantages over the conventional vaccines that they are more specific, less time consuming, safe, less allergic and more antigenic. Further in vivo and in vitro experiments are needed to prove the effectiveness of the best candidates epitopes (QTSNGGAAY and LFSSHMLDL). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that has predicted B- and T-cells epitopes from Fba1 protein by using in silico tools in order to design an effective epitope-based vaccine against C. galabrata.