Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Incidence and morphology of anovulatory haemorrhagic follicles in the mare

During the dioestrous phase of the mare’s oestrous cycle, a cohort of 8-12 ovarian follicles is stimulated to develop by the action of pituitary FSH. During the ensuing oestrus, a “dominant follicle” is selected to continue maturation towards ovulation under the influence of pituitary LH (Evans and Irvine 1975), while the other follicles in the cohort become atretic. Morphological and biochemical changes in the follicular wall result in follicular rupture (ovulation) through the ovulation fossa and the release of the oocyte surrounded by cumulus cells into the oviduct. Ovulation failure has been well documented in the mare (Ginther 1979, Bosu et al. 1982, Ginther and Pierson 1989, Daels and Hughes 1993, Pierson 1993, McCue and Squires 2002), the most common form of which is the development of an anovulatory haemorrhagic follicle (AHF) where the follicle fails to rupture and its cavity becomes increasingly filled with blood. Such haemorrhagic follicles are commonly observed during the transitional phases in Spring and Autumn (Ginther 1992, Nunes et al. 2002), when the secretion rates of both gonadotropins and ovarian steroids are declining (Daels and Hughes 1993). Their occurrence during the breeding season greatly reduces breeding efficiency and the aim of the present study was to document the incidence of AHFs in an experimental herd of mares undergoing repeated pharmacological shortening of their oestrous cycles. Materials and methods
Coordination between patterning and morphogenesis ensures robustness during mouse development

The mammalian preimplantation embryo is a highly tractable, self-organizing developmental system in which three cell types are consistently specified without the need for maternal factors or external signals. Studies in the mouse over the past decades have greatly improved our understanding of the cues that trigger symmetry breaking in the embryo, the transcription factors that control lineage specification and commitment, and the mechanical forces that drive morphogenesis and inform cell fate decisions. These studies have also uncovered how these multiple inputs are integrated to allocate the right number of cells to each lineage despite inherent biological noise, and as a response to perturbations. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of how these processes are coordinated to ensure a robust and precise developmental outcome during early mouse development. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Contemporary morphogenesis'.
A new enigmatic genus of subterranean amphipod (Amphipoda : Bogidielloidea) from Terrell County, Texas, with the establishment of Parabogidiellidae, fam. nov., and notes on the family Bogidiellidae

Abstract. The superfamily Bogidielloidea is one of the most wide-ranging hypogean amphipod taxa currently known, comprising over 130 species in 43 genera occurring on every continent except Antarctica. This large distribution among such cryptic organisms is curious, especially when combined with weak morphological characters uniting the superfamily. A unique new genus and species of bogidielloid amphipod, Simplexia longicrus, gen. et sp. nov., described from Terrell County, Texas, sheds light on the evolutionary relationships within this grouping. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of the order Amphipoda using two nuclear genes and one mitochondrial gene reveal that this species and the sympatric Parabogidiella americana form a clade removed from other sequenced members of Bogidiellidae sensu stricto, and, as such, the two species are placed in the newly erected Parabogidiellidae, fam. nov. Additional phylogenetic analyses of the cosmopolitan Bogidiellidae are recommended to further resolve its systematics.
Of mitogens and morphogens: modelling Sonic Hedgehog mechanisms in vertebrate development

Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) Is a critical protein in vertebrate development, orchestrating patterning and growth in many developing systems. First described as a classic morphogen that patterns tissues through a spatial concentration gradient, subsequent studies have revealed a more complex mechanism, in which Shh can also regulate proliferation and differentiation. While the mechanism of action of Shh as a morphogen is well understood, it remains less clear how Shh might integrate patterning, proliferation and differentiation in a given tissue, to ultimately direct its morphogenesis. In tandem with experimental studies, mathematical modelling can help gain mechanistic insights into these processes and bridge the gap between Shh-regulated patterning and growth, by integrating these processes into a common theoretical framework. Here, we briefly review the roles of Shh in vertebrate development, focusing on its functions as a morphogen, mitogen and regulator of differentiation. We then discuss the contributions that modelling has made to our understanding of the action of Shh and highlight current challenges in using mathematical models in a quantitative and predictive way. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Contemporary morphogenesis’.
The impact of stylization on face recognition

While digital humans are key aspects of the rapidly evolving areas of virtual reality, gaming, and online communications, many applications would benefit from using digital personalized (stylized) representations of users, as they were shown to highly increase immersion, presence and emotional response. In particular, depending on the target application, one may want to look like a dwarf or an elf in a heroic fantasy world, or like an alien on another planet, in accordance with the style of the narrative. While creating such virtual replicas requires stylization of the user’s features onto the virtual character, no formal study has however been conducted to assess the ability to recognize stylized characters. In this paper, we present a perceptual study investigating the effect of the degree of stylization on the ability to recognize an actor, and the subjective acceptability of stylizations. Results show that recognition rates decrease when the degree of stylization increases, while acceptability of the stylization increases. These results provide recommendations to achieve good compromises between stylization and recognition, and pave the way to new stylization methods providing a tradeoff between stylization and recognition of the actor.
An enigma no more: an integrated taxonomic revision of Aenigmetopia Malloch reveals novel phylogenetic placement and four new species (Diptera : Sarcophagidae : Miltogramminae)

Abstract. Aenigmetopia Malloch is the only endemic genus of miltogrammine flesh flies (Diptera : Sarcophagidae) in Australia and, until now it has been known from a single species, A. fergusoni Malloch. This study constitutes the first comprehensive taxonomic revision of Aenigmetopia. Four new species, Aenigmetopia amissa, sp. nov., A. corona, sp. nov., A. kryptos, sp. nov. and A. pagoni, sp. nov., are described through the integration of molecular and morphological data and characters for genus- and species-level diagnoses are given. Aenigmetopia is included in a molecular phylogenetic analysis for the first time and the genus emerges as the sister taxon to Metopia Meigen, in agreement with morphological evidence.
Using symptom-based case predictions to identify host genetic factors that contribute to COVID-19 susceptibility

Epidemiological and genetic studies on COVID-19 are hindered by inconsistent and limited testing policies to confirm SARS-CoV-2 infection. Recently, it was shown that it is possible to predict potential COVID-19 cases using cross-sectional self-reported disease-related symptoms. Using a previously reported COVID-19 prediction model, we show that it is possible to conduct a GWAS on predicted COVID-19 which benefits from a larger sample size in order to gain new insights into the genetic susceptibility of the disease. Furthermore, we find suggestive evidence that genetic variants for other viral infectious diseases do not overlap with COVID-19 susceptibility and that severity of COVID-19 may have a different genetic architecture compared to COVID-19 susceptibility. Our findings demonstrate the added value of using self-reported symptom assessments to quickly monitor novel endemic viral outbreaks in a scenario of limited testing. Should there be another outbreak of a novel infectious disease, then we recommend repeatedly collecting data of disease-related symptoms.
How do socio-demographic status and personal attributes influence adherence to COVID-19 preventive behaviours?

This study assesses how socio-demographic status and personal attributes influence protection behaviours during a pandemic, with protection behaviours being assessed through three perspectives: social distancing, personal protection behaviour and social responsibility awareness. The COVID-19 preventive behaviours were explored and compared based on the social-demographic and personal attributes of individuals. Using a publicly available and recently collected dataset on Japanese citizens during the COVID-19 early outbreak and exploiting both Classification and Regression Tree (CART) and regression analysis, the study notes that socio-demographic and personal attributes of individuals indeed shape the subjective prevention actions and thereby the control of the spread of a pandemic. Three socio-demographic attributes (sex, marital family status and having children) appear to have played an influential role in abiding by the COVID-19 protection behaviours by Japanese citizens, especially with women having children being noted more conscious than the male counterparts. Work status also appears to have some impact especially concerning social distancing and personal protection behaviour. Among the personality attributes, smoking behaviour appeared as a contributing factor with non-smokers or less-frequent smokers more compliant to the protection behaviours. Overall, the findings imply the need of public policy campaigning to account for variations in protection behaviour due to socio-demographic and personal attributes during a pandemic.
Production of a synthetic repeat array system for artificial centromere formation in maize & epigenetic regulation of kinetochore size in plants

Centromeres are specified by a histone H3 variant CENH3 and a DNA-binding protein CENPC, both of which are conserved components of the inner kinetochores. In animals, ectopically localized CENH3 or CENPC is sufficient to assemble de novo kinetochores. In this study, we tested whether similar observations can be achieved in maize to create artificial centromeres. To this end, we have developed a satellite repeat array, which is composed of five different binding modules and was designed to be used as a tethering site. We showed that it is possible to synthetically engineer and introduce megabase repeat arrays into the maize genome by biolistic transformation, and that the array was sufficient to efficiently tether fluorescent proteins to specific loci. We utilized the array system to specifically tether kinetochore protein CENH3 and CENPC to the chromosome arms. We showed that although these proteins may be transiently targeted to ectopic loci, they tended to be unstable and insufficient to induce neocentromere formation. Rather, transgenic CENH3 or CENPC fused with different tethering proteins were localized at endogenous centromeres and caused strong dominant-negative affects on native kinetochores. Our observations suggest that plant kinetochores are highly stable and rarely move. We also investigated centromere size variations in the grass species. We showed that the size of the CENH3 domains is correlated with genome size divided by chromosome number. We also observed that CENH3 domains are flexible and can change rapidly in new environments where two species are crossed. These observations lead to the speculation that the size of the CENH3 domain is a reflection of how much kinetochore area is required to stabilize the spindle microtubules and that cell size has a strong influence on the kinetochore stable state. INDEX WORDS: centromeres, kinetochores, CENH3, CENPC, neocentromeres, artificial chromosomes, ectopic tethering, epigenetic regulation, centromere size, maize PRODUCTION OF A SYNTHETIC REPEAT ARRAY SYSTEM FOR ARTIFICIAL CENTROMERE FORMATION IN MAIZE & EPIGENETIC REGULATION OF KINETOCHORE SIZE IN PLANTS
Nitrogen and Phosphorus Content in Constructed Wetlands

Abstract High effectiveness of organic pollutants and nutrients removal is achieved in biological wastewater treatments plants – in case of proper exploitation of these objects. Nitrogen and phosphorus transformation or removal depends on many physic – chemical and biochemical conditions, deposit and environmental factors. A rule for treating wastewater consists in decomposition of organic compounds included in wastewater in water-soil environment. Removing contaminations is performed as a result of sorption of contaminations, bio-chemical oxidation-reduction reactions and biological activity of soil microorganisms and hydrophyte flora. The research has been carried out in the constructed wetland in Małyszyn (1300 EP). The treatment plant operates in horizontal system, with under-surface flow of wastewater.
Isolation and Classification of Intracellular Symbiotes from the Rice Brown Planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens , Based on Analysis of 18S-ribosomal DNA

トビイロウンカ (Nilaparvata lugens) 卵より形態的に異なる7グループの酵母様共生微生物が分離された. これらの酵母株から全DNAを抽出し, これを鋳型としてPCR法により18S-rRNAをコードするrDNA領域を増幅し, 増幅されたDNAを比較することによってこれらの酵母の分類を試みた. PCRのプライマーとしては, 18S-rDNAの生物間で保有性の高い領域を用いた. PCRの結果, 6グループからは約1600塩基対の, 1グループからは約1300塩基対のDNA断片が増幅された. 次に増幅されたDNAを5種の制限酵素で切断したところ, 各グループでの切断パターンはそれぞれ異なっていた. これらの結果から, この7種の酵母株は分類学的に別種に分類されることが明らかとなった.
3D Object Digitization Devices in Manufacturing Engineering Applications and Services

Abstract The rapid development of CAD 3D systems has led to the development of solutions enabling the physical achievement of the designed object, already at the design stage. Such a solution is the rapid prototyping method, intended for fast, precise and repeatable production thanks to additive technology. The first basic step of this method is a 3D scan. It is a technique that analyzes a real object in order to collect data about its basic (geometric) and additional (e.g. color) features. The collected data is used to generate three-dimensional, virtual models. Scanning can be performed in various ways using different devices. The aim of the article is to review the available technologies for digitizing 3D objects and to compare them in the context of individual application areas. It presents selected tools and software that will economically and efficiently increase the range of applications of digitization methods in the production process and offering various services on the market.
When Speakers Are All Ears: Characterizing Misactivations of IoT Smart Speakers

Abstract Internet-connected voice-controlled speakers, also known as smart speakers, are increasingly popular due to their convenience for everyday tasks such as asking about the weather forecast or playing music. However, such convenience comes with privacy risks: smart speakers need to constantly listen in order to activate when the “wake word” is spoken, and are known to transmit audio from their environment and record it on cloud servers. In particular, this paper focuses on the privacy risk from smart speaker misactivations, i.e., when they activate, transmit, and/or record audio from their environment when the wake word is not spoken. To enable repeatable, scalable experiments for exposing smart speakers to conversations that do not contain wake words, we turn to playing audio from popular TV shows from diverse genres. After playing two rounds of 134 hours of content from 12 TV shows near popular smart speakers in both the US and in the UK, we observed cases of 0.95 misactivations per hour, or 1.43 times for every 10,000 words spoken, with some devices having 10% of their misactivation durations lasting at least 10 seconds. We characterize the sources of such misactivations and their implications for consumers, and discuss potential mitigations.
Revised Badenian (middle Miocene) depositional systems of the Austrian Vienna Basin based on a new sequence stratigraphic framework

Abstract This paper presents a revised sequence stratigraphy for the lower, middle and upper Badenian depositional systems of the Austrian Vienna Basin based on the integration of 3D seismic surveys and well data. The study area in the central and northern part of the Austrian Vienna Basin is covered with 3D seismic data. According to a new sequence stratigraphic framework established in the southern part of the Vienna Basin, the Badenian is subdivided into three 3rd order depositional sequences. For each sequence, paleogeographic maps are created, representing coeval depositional systems within a chronostrati-graphic interval. Lower Badenian sediments of the 1st sequence (Ba1) represent fillings of the pre-Badenian sub-basins with a major change of sediment transport direction. The early stage of the 1st sequence is dominated by subaerial braided river deposits which use two pronounced canyon systems (Mistelbach Canyon and Reinthal Canyon) on the northwestern margin of the Vienna Basin as a bypass zone towards the marine depositional system of the North Alpine-Carpathian Foredeep. The late stage of the 1st sequence reflects the change from subaerial to marine depositional environments with main sediment influx from the west, creating two major eastwards prograding delta systems (Zistersdorf Delta and Mühlberg Delta). Depositional systems of the middle Badenian 2nd sequence (Ba2) reflect the interplay between ongoing extensional fault tectonics and major sea-level changes. Lower Badenian paleo-highs in the northern part are drowned during the 3rd sequence (Ba3), thus the Mühlberg Delta and the Zistersdorf Delta merge into one delta system. During the Ba3 the drowning of the Spannberg Ridge initiates a clockwise rotation of the Zistersdorf Delta. Thus, the former Zistersdorf Delta transforms into the Matzen Delta covering the Spannberg Ridge. Together with the Mühlberg Delta, they represent the last full marine depositional system of the eastward prograding paleo-Danube Delta in the Austrian Vienna Basin.
Development of novel Quercus rubra chloroplast genome CAPS markers for haplotype identification

Abstract Our main objective was to generate cost-effective chloroplast (cp) DNA markers that are easy to apply and to score. In combination with already published cpSSR markers they should increase haplotype resolution in populations. To discover new cpDNA markers, we sequenced 87-97 % of the entire chloroplast genome (except the second inverted repeat) of 8 trees representing different regions of the Quercus rubra L. natural range with 4,030X-6,297X coverage and assembled the genome sequences using the publicly available chloroplast genome of Quercus rubra L. as a reference. In total, 118 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 107 insertions or deletions (indels) were detected, and 15 cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) markers were developed for Q. rubra. Using these new markers together with five chloroplast microsatellite or simple sequence repeat (cpSSR) markers, we identified 10 haplotypes in our diversity panel of 19 Q. rubra populations. Specifically, two haplotypes based only on the cpSSR markers could now be separated in five haplotypes. These markers are useful to assess haplotype diversity with high resolution and are also transferable to a closely related species, Quercus ellipsoidalis E. J. Hill.
Inhabitant changes in long-term mole nesting at the same site, revealed by observing mushroom fruiting at the site

Abstract Talpine moles are reported to nest at the same site for periods longer than their known longevity. The present study verifies experimentally in situ that during such long-term nesting, the inhabitants of the nest change, with the new inhabitant constructing its own nest if the existing nest has been removed. The principal methods involved removal of both the nest and inhabiting mole from the nesting site, the site that had been located by observing the fruiting of the mushroom species Hebeloma radicosum. This treatment was followed by observation of refruiting of the mushroom at the same site; refruiting indicated renesting by another mole. Verification was made at three sites in the cool temperate forests of central Japan where three talpine species live. At two of the sites, the inhabiting Euroscaptor mizura mole was replaced by another E. mizura mole. At the third site, a Mogera wogura mole was replaced by a Mogera imaizumii mole. The causes and circumstances for such persistent nesting are discussed, with emphasis on habitat-cleaning symbiosis.
Can Bone-Specific Alkaline Phosphatase and Osteocalcine Levels Be Used to Determine the Age in Children?

Background Demand for age determination by medical methods from legal authorities is of critical importance, especially for people in pubertal age. We planned this study to evaluate the potential utility of biochemical methods in these applications. We aim to investigate whether alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP), and osteocalcine can be used in the determination of age. Materials and Methods A total of 146 children (85 girls, 61 boys) between the ages of 9 and 16 years participated in the study. Considering legally defined age limits, we did the age grouping at the following intervals: we formed 3 different subgroups, (1) 9 to 11 years age group, (2) 12 to 14 years age group, and (3) 15 to 16 years age group. As the physiological growth and development processes changed according to sex, all calculations were done separately for girls and boys. Results Our data indicate that ALP and BALP values for girls can be used for age determination with acceptable sensitivity and specificity. However, we could not observe such precise distinction for boys. Although BALP is claimed to be superior to ALP, we have not found any evidence to confirm this in our study. Conclusions This study provides sex- and age-dependent cutoff values for ALP and BALP for the girl, which may be useful for age determination.
Sphingiphila (Bignoniaceae), a New Genus from the Paraguayan Chaco

A remarkable new species of Bignoniaceae from the Paraguayan Chaco, which has tetramerous actinomorphic flowers, sessile anthers, mostly simple leaves, and nodal thorns, is de- scribed as the new genus Sphingiphila with the single species S. tetramera A. Gentry.
20 años de modelos ARCH: una visión de conjunto de las distintas variantes de la familia

En los primeros meses de 1982, Robert Engle revolucionaba el estudio de los modelos de volatilidad ampliando al campo de las estructuras cuadraticas las ya muy utilizadas pautas de la metodologia BoxJenkins, creadas en 1976. Desde entonces, se han escrito multitud de aportaciones sobre las distintas potencialidades de estos modelos, que ya se han convertido en herramienta cotidiana entre los interesados en modelizar comportamientos basados en la estructura. Algunos "surveys" sobre el tema refieren cientos de aplicaciones sobre este tipo de modelos incluidos en las mas prestigiosas revistas academicas nacionales e internacionales. El presente articulo pretende hacer un breve repaso sobre los principales variantes tecnicas formuladas sobre el modelo seminal de Robert Engle, haciendose un breve recorrido historico de sus principales especificaciones y principales puntos de preocupacion a lo largo del tiempo. En el se refieren algunas conclusiones sobre la metodologia ARCH y su empleo en general.