Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The rete mirabile of the tail, an effective site for sampling sterile blood from armadillos (Dasypodidae, Xenarthra)

Abstract Armadillos constitute a neotropical endemic mammalian group in the American continent and the main diversity is distributed in Argentina. Several species of this family are in danger of extinction. Blood collection in armadillos is difficult because of their anatomy. In the present work, in latex-perfused material, the rete mirabile of the coccygeal artery of the tail was recognized as an appropriate venipuncture site for sterile blood collection. From cadaveric material, histological sections of the tail of six species of five genera of armadillos were used to determine the diameter and the distance to access the main artery of the rete mirabile ventrodorsally. Field studies were carried out in wild animals. A total of 232 blood samples were obtained from the following species: Chaetophractus villosus (70), C. vellerosus (105), Zaedyus pichiy (15), Euphractus sexcinctus (8), Dasypus hybridus (25), and Tolypeutes matacus (9). The animals were restrained with the thumbs pressing the abdomen ventrolaterally and the rest of the fingers holding the carapace. Punctures were carried out between the first and second rings of the tail with a 21-gauge needle. Alternatively, an immobilization device was designed to allow sampling by a single operator. Blood cell integrity was evaluated through histological analysis and ulterior development in lymphocyte culture. We concluded that the rete mirabile of the tail of armadillos is an effective venipuncture site for field studies that allows obtaining sterile blood samples, avoiding animal mortality, high-risk venipuncture sites, anesthetics and excessive stress.
Hydrologic effects on riparian vegetation in a boreal river: an experiment testing climate change predictions

Climate change is expected to alter the magnitude and variation of flow in streams and rivers, hence providing new conditions for riverine communities. We evaluated plant ecological responses to climate change by transplanting turfs of riparian vegetation to new elevations in the riparian zone, thus simulating expected changes in water‐level variation, and monitored the results over 6 years. Turfs moved to higher elevations decreased in biomass and increased in species richness, whereas turfs transplanted to lower elevations gained biomass but lost species. Transplanted plant communities responded slowly to the new hydrologic conditions. After 6 years, biomass of transplanted turfs was statistically indistinguishable from target level controls, but species richness and species composition of transplants were intermediate between original and target levels. By using projections of future stream flow according to IPCC climate change scenarios, we predict likely changes to riparian vegetation in boreal rivers. Climate‐driven hydrologic changes are predicted to result in narrower riparian zones along the studied Vindel River in northern Sweden towards the end of the 21st century. Present riparian plant communities are projected to be replaced by terrestrial communities at high elevations as a result of lower‐magnitude spring floods, and by amphibious or aquatic communities at low elevations as a result of higher autumn and winter flows. Changes to riparian vegetation may be larger in other boreal climate regions: snow melt fed spring floods are predicted to disappear in southern parts of the boreal zone, which would result in considerable loss of riparian habitat. Our study emphasizes the importance of long‐term ecological field experiments given that plant communities often respond slowly and in a nonlinear fashion to external pressures.
Effects of Different Forced Molting Methods on Postmolt Production, Corticosterone Level, and Immune Response to Sheep Red Blood Cells in Laying Hens

SUMMARY The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different molting methods on postmolt production, plasma corticosterone levels, and antibody production to SRBC for the welfare of laying hens. This experiment was conducted with 120 IGH-type Brown laying hens (70 wk of age), randomly divided into 3 experimental groups. The hens in one group were fed a whole-grain barley diet during the first 10 d (WB diet). On d 11, hens consumed 100 g of layer diet/d until d 28. In the second group, hens were fed a Zn diet containing 10,000 mg/kg of Zn as ZnO for 10 d (Zn diet). Hens were then provided 100 g of a layer diet from d 11 to 28. In the third group, feed was withdrawn for 10 d, and on d 11 hens were fed a cracked corn diet ad libitum until d 28 (California method; CAL diet). Hens in all groups were returned to the layer diet ad libitum on d 29. Egg weight was lower in the Zn treatment than in the other treatments. Feed intake and plasma corticosterone levels were higher and antibody production was lower in the CAL treatment than in the WB and Zn groups. The FCR was better in the WB than in the Zn group. Mortality, egg production, and egg quality were not significantly different among the molting methods. As a result, the WB molting program was the best method for postmolt production among the programs examined.
The Neolithic of the southern Levant

The Neolithic period of the southern Levant was an era of tremendous change. Over the course of the Neolithic, the gradual transition from foraging to agriculture involved not merely economic innovations, but also profound shifts in population size, social organization, and technology. This represents possibly the earliest, and certainly one of the earliest, instances of the transition to agriculture. The advent of farming altered human demography, health, and diversity; it shaped the spread of the world's dominant cultures, genes, and languages. 1 , 2 It recast humans' relationship with the natural world, increasing modification of the environment. It both enabled and required the development of new social structures as humans learned how to live in increasingly large and densely packed groups.
FACTORS INFLUENCING IN VITRO PLANT REGENERATION OF LIQUORICE (GLYCYRRHIZA GLABRA L.)

An efficient and reproducible in vitro protocol for largescale multiplication of Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) has been described. Multiple shoots formation was significantly influenced by growth regulators, photoperiod, explant position, season of explant collection and culture passage. Nodal explants were collected at monthly intervals to initiate in vitro cultures. The highest bud-break (86.6%) with the longest shoot length (8.0 cm) and maximum number of shoots (3.0) was obtained when middle order nodes (3rd to 5th node from apex) collected between May to August were inoculated on MS medium supplemented with 6Benzylaminopurine (2.0 mg/l) + α-naphthalene acetic acid (0.5 mg/l) under photoperiod of 16/8 h (light/dark cycle). The induction of multiple shoots was also affected by photoperiod and subculture cycle. Multiple shoots formation increased from the first (2.2) to the fourth subculture (6.6). The in vitro regenerated shoots were induced on half strength MS medium enriched with 1.0 mg/l IAA resulting early rooting and maximum root growth. Plantlets were hardened and successfully established in the soil. Concentration of chlorophyll, total sugars, reducing sugars and proteins were estimated in leaf tissues from both in vivo and in vitro raised plants. Chlorophyll content was higher in in vivo plants, whereas other three components were higher in micropropagated plants. The present optimized micropropagation protocol offers the possibility of germplasm conservation and mass cultivation of this important medicinal plant.
Ocean pH time‐series and drivers of variability along the northern Channel Islands, California, USA

Eastern boundary current systems (EBCSs) experience dynamic fluctuations in seawater pH due to coastal upwelling and primary production. The lack of high‐resolution pH observations in EBCSs limits the ability to relate field pH exposures to performance of coastal marine species under future ocean change (acidification, warming). This 3‐yr study describes spatio‐temporal pH variability across the northern Channel Islands, along a persistent temperature gradient (1–4°C) within the eastern boundary California Current System. pH and Conductivity, Temperature, Depth, and Oxygen sensors were deployed on island piers in eelgrass and kelp habitat and on a subtidal mooring. Due to event‐scale primary production, the temperature gradient across the islands did not manifest in a pH gradient. We resolved spatial pH variability on diel (ΔpHT 0.05–0.2: photosynthesis), event‐scale (ΔpHT <0.1–0.2: upwelling, phytoplankton blooms, wind relaxation), and seasonal (ΔpHT 0.06: warming) time frames. In the kelp forest, summer mean pHT (8.01–8.02) and magnitude of diel pHT cycles (ΔpHT 0.12–0.10) were comparable year‐to‐year, despite 2.1°C warming from 2012 to 2014. Compared to nearby mainland sites, the northern Channel Islands experienced few low pH events. The majority of pHT observations were >7.9. The lowest pH observations (>1 SD below mean pHT) occurred under either warm (respiration during warm nights) or cold (advection of upwelled water) temperatures. We emphasize the importance of incorporating site‐specific environmental variability in studies of ocean change biology, particularly in the design of multistressor experiments.
THE FUNGUS-GROWING ANT GENUS APTEROSTIGMA IN DOMINICAN AMBER

The first fossil species of the fungus-growing ant genus Apterostigma (Myrmicinae: Attini) are described from Dominican amber. Two new species are described, and the likely placement of each within the genus is discussed. The phylogenetic position of Apterostigma within the Attini is summarized, as is the evolutionary history of the transition from the cultivation of leucocoprineaceous fungi (the ancestral condition) to the cultivation of pterulaceous fungi (the derived condition) by different lineages of Apterostigma species. I conclude by speculating on the possible implications of the fossil species for understanding this transition, which is unique within the fungus-growing ants.
Assessing Local Generalization Capability in Deep Models

While it has not yet been proven, empirical evidence suggests that model generalization is related to local properties of the optima, which can be described via the Hessian. We connect model generalization with the local property of a solution under the PAC-Bayes paradigm. In particular, we prove that model generalization ability is related to the Hessian, the higher-order “smoothness” terms characterized by the Lipschitz constant of the Hessian, and the scales of the parameters. Guided by the proof, we propose a metric to score the generalization capability of a model, as well as an algorithm that optimizes the perturbed model accordingly.
PRINCIPLE AND TOOLS FOR PRIMER DESIGN

Bioinformatics has become an essential tool not only for biological database but also for applied research in biotechnology and biomedical sciences. Optimal primer sequence and appropriate primer concentration are essential for maximal specificity and efficiency of PCR. Selection of oligonucleotide primers is useful for polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Oligo hybridization and DNA sequencing. Proper primer design is actually one of the most important steps in successful DNA
Novel primer sets for species‐specific amplification of the mitochondrial 12S rRNA genes in four Japanese woodpeckers (Picidae, Piciformes)

In birds, feathers and faeces can be used as a source of DNA for genetic analyses. If the materials are derived from an absentee bird(s), however, the species must first be identified. Here, we developed four pairs of primers for amplification of mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA fragments in the black woodpecker Dryocopus martius, a vulnerable species in Japan, and three other sympatric woodpeckers including Dendrocopos leucotos, D. major and Picus awokera. Because each primer pair gave a PCR product in only one of the examined species, these primer sets will be useful in identifying the species of woodpeckers.
Nutrient uptake by grape in a Brazilian soil affected by rock biofertilizer

PK rock biofertilizers made from rocks and elemental sulphur inoculated with Acidithiobacillus improve yield of many short cycle plants similarly to soluble fertilizers. This study aims to evaluate the potential of PK rock biofertilizers for grape cultivation in the Brazilian San Francisco Valley. Three sources of P and K were compared: (a) soluble fertilizers, (b) biofertilizers plus elemental sulphur inoculated with Acidithiobacillus, and (c) ground phosphate and potash rocks, all at three application rates. A control treatment without P and K fertilization was added. Earthworm compound was applied as N source in all treatments. Grape (Vitis vinifera cv. Italia Pirovano) was cultivated in a dystrophic Planossol (medium texture) at the San Francisco River in the Brazilian Semiarid. P, K, Ca, Mg, S-SO 4 2and Fe concentrations were analyzed in grape leaves and fruits. The results showed adequate leaf contents of S-SO 4 2, K, and Fe with PK biofertilizer application plus earthworm compound, which indicates this may be alternative to soluble fertilizer for grape in soils with low available P and K.
Phylogeography of the horse mussel Modiolus modiolus

Phylogeographic inferences concerning marine species are largely based on intertidal species. In high latitudes, intertidal species have been affected by ice coverage and ice scour, and therefore show northern range limitations during glaciations. In this study, we use the subtidal horse mussel (Modiolus modiolus) to investigate whether generalizations about genetic structure of high latititude intertidal species, specifically in the North Atlantic, are representative of other near shore taxa. We analysed genetic diversity, molecular variance, and geographical patterns of genetic relatedness using data from the mtDNA CO1 gene. Although we do find little to no haplotype structure in the North Atlantic, our results show that north-eastern Pacific individuals represent a different haplotype network with no haplotypes in common with Atlantic individuals. Thus, M. modiolus in the Pacific may represent an unrecognized species. Genetic diversity and population expansion times suggest a Pacific origin is most likely, with subsequent dispersal to the Atlantic. The lack of genetic structure in the Atlantic suggests that a rapid range expansion occurred less than 50 KYA, rather than a stepping stone mode of dispersal.
Bacterial freshwater species successfully immigrate to the brackish water environment in the northern Baltic

We studied the distribution and seasonal dynamics of five species from the genus Flavobacterium and one species from the genus Marinomonas over the course of a year along a northern Baltic Sea river‐marine transect. All of the species had been previously demonstrated as important consumers of riverine dissolved organic carbon. Quantitative DNA–DNA hybridization data showed that two of the Flavobacterium spp. and the Marinomonas sp. had highest abundance in the river water (maximum 20,000 cells ml−1), with maximum relative abundance of 0.5–2.5% of the bacterial community. These species declined in abundance from the river to the estuary and the offshore site. Abundance and dynamics in the estuarine environment suggested successful immigration of freshwater bacteria, accompanied by growth in the brackish water environment. Two of the three abundant species showed high cell numbers also during late autumn to early spring in the estuary, indicating a selective advantage when riverine dissolved organic carbon was the main carbon source. The remaining three species showed more episodic abundance close to the detection limit of the method, providing weaker evidence of occurrence in the freshwater environment. Some bacterioplankton consuming riverine organic carbon in the brackish water environment in the northern Baltic are therefore freshwater species, with a selective advantage during winter.
PPARγ polymorphisms and cancer risk: A meta-analysis involving 32,138 subjects

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) has been suggested to act as a tumor suppressor gene. Two common variations of PPARgamma, P12A (Pro12Ala, rs1801282) and C161T (His447His, rs3856806), are thought to have an effect on susceptibility to various carcinomas but the results are inconsistent. In this meta-analysis, we assessed published studies of the association between two common PPARgamma polymorphisms and cancer risk from 26 studies with 27,677 subjects for PPARgamma P12A, from 4 studies with 4,461 subjects for C161T. No significant associations were found in carriers of the rare Ala allele of the P12A polymorphism versus the common Pro/Pro genotype among the studies. In the subgroup analyses by cancer types, carriers of the Ala variant of P12A polymorphism were associated with protection from colorectal cancer (OR=0.84, 95% CI=0.72-0.98, Pheterogeneity = 0.014), but the inverse association was found in gastric cancer (OR=2.31, 95% CI=1.59-3.36, Pheterogeneity = 0.941). In the stratified analysis by ethnicity, no significant risks were found among Asians, Americans and Caucasians. For PPARgamma C161T, no significant associations were found in any of the studies (OR=1.08, 95% CI=0.95-1.23, Pheterogeneity = 0.430) or subgroups. This meta-analysis suggests that the Ala allele of the PPARgamma P12A polymorphism might be a protective factor for colorectal cancer, but a risk factor for gastric cancer. The PPARgamma C161T is marginally associated with cancer susceptibility.
EFFECTS OF COMBINING ORGANIC MATERIALS WITH INORGANIC PHOSPHORUS SOURCES ON MAIZE YIELD AND FINANCIAL BENEFITS IN WESTERN KENYA

SUMMARY Due to escalating costs of imported fertilizers, there is renewed interest in the use of local nutrient resources in managing soil fertility in Kenya. We tested the effect of two organic materials, farmyard manure (FYM) and Tithonia diversifolia (tithonia), and an inorganic N fertilizer, urea, when applied alone or in combination with three inorganic P sources, triple superphosphate (TSP), Minjingu phosphate rock (MPR) and Busumbu phosphate rock (BPR), on maize yields and financial benefits. The study was conducted for three consecutive seasons, from March 2007 to August 2008 in western Kenya. FYM and tithonia were applied to supply 20 kg P ha−1 in treatments where they were used either alone or in combination with the inorganic P sources while 40 kg P ha−1 was from the inorganic P sources in the combination. Where urea was used, the inorganic P sources were applied at 60 kg P ha−1. When applied in combination with urea, MPR was a better P source for maize than TSP or BPR. However, when applied in combination with FYM or tithonia, TSP was the best P source. Treatments including tithonia were more effective in increasing maize yields than those without it with a similar total P application rate. The agronomic effectiveness of tithonia did not, however, translate to economic attractiveness, mainly due to very high labour costs associated with its use. FYM when applied alone at 20 kg P ha−1 was the only treatment that exceeded a benefit:cost ratio of 2 and, therefore, the most likely, of the tested technologies to be adopted by farmers.
Cardiovascular risk estimation: important but may be inaccurate

Manuel and colleagues applied the recommendations from six national guidelines on statin treatment to the same Canadian population and measured each guideline's impact in terms of number of people recommended for treatment, potential number of deaths from coronary heart disease avoided, and the number needed to treat to avoid one death.1 They show that markedly different numbers of people are recommended for treatment when different guidelines are followed. Deciding whether to prescribe statins for a patient for the primary prevention of coronary heart disease would seem to be a relatively straightforward issue in the broader context of decision making in primary care. …
Observations at Mercury Encounter by the Plasma Science Experiment on Mariner 10

A fully developed bow shock and magnetosheath were observed near Mercury, providing unambiguous evidence for a strong interaction between Mercury and the solar wind. Inside the sheath there is a distinct region analogous to the magnetosphere or magnetotail of Earth, populated by electrons with lower density and higher temperature than the electrons observed in the solar wind or magnetosheath. At the time of encounter, conditions were such that a perpendicular shock was observed on the inbound leg and a parallel shock was observed on the outbound leg of the trajectory, and energetic plasma electron events were detected upstream from the outbound shock crossing. The interaction is most likely not atmospheric, but the data clearly indicate that the obstacle to solar wind flow is magnetic, either intrinsic or induced. The particle fluxes and energy spectra showed large variations while the spacecraft was inside the magnetosphere, and these variations could be either spatial or temporal.
A preliminary investigation of allozyme genetic variation and population geographical structure in Aphanius fasciatus from Italian brackish‐water habitats

A total of 150 individuals from Aphanius fasciatus from coastal brackish-water habitats was analysed by allozyme electrophoresis to collect data on its genetic variation. From 22 enzymes, 43 putative enzyme-coding loci were resolved, 12 of which were polymorphic at P0·99 level. Only one of the 31 probability tests showed a significant departure from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Aphanius fasciatus showed low levels of genetic polymorphism, with expected heterozygosity values ranging from 0·027 (S.E.=0·013) to 0·064 (s.e.=0·023). Nei's genetic distances between populations ranged from 0·002 to 0·042. Weir & Cockerham F-statistics showed high levels of genetic heterogeneity among populations (jackknifed θ=0·302, s.e.=0·045) and estimates of Nm were < 1, indicating restricted gene flow. Significant positive correlation between genetic distance and geographical distance matrices, detected by Mantel's test (g=1·941; P0·001), is consistent with the prediction that the species is genetically structured by isolation-by-distance.
A review on wireless sensor networks routing protocol: challenge in energy perspective

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) technology consists of a number of sensor nodes that are dispersed in a geographically distributed area usually for monitoring purposes. The widespread applications of WSN have fueled the emergence and acceptance of this technology as a frontrunner. However, the success of the wireless sensor network applications highly depends on the reliable communication among the sensor nodes. One of the major problems in wireless sensor network environments is the limitation of the physical resource that is energy resources. The node energy is a critical constraint that needs addressing in order to achieve the demanding goals of wireless sensor network applications. High energy consumption in the sensor node occurs when data is disseminated to the other nodes in wireless sensor networks. Data delivery in specific time slot holds the key position for the successful completion of tasks assigned to sensor nodes and hence the application those sensors are serving. The wireless sensor network applications are in high demand nowadays. Time delay in packet delivery can save lives. The data in WSN hops from one node to another in order to reach the destination if the receiver node is not in a direct radio range of the sender. This paper provides a critical analysis on the impact of the previous methods on the reliability and energy efficiency for routing protocol in multi-hop wireless sensor networks. At the end of this paper, a characterized comparison has been forwarded on these methods based on the analysis outcome.