Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Little evidence of a road‐effect zone for nocturnal, flying insects

Abstract Roads and traffic may be contributing to global declines of insect populations. The ecological effects of roads often extend far into the surrounding habitat, over a distance known as the road‐effect zone. The quality of habitat in the road‐effect zone is generally degraded (e.g., due to edge effects, noise, light, and chemical pollution) and can be reflected in species presence, abundance, or demographic parameters. Road‐effect zones have been quantified for some vertebrate species but are yet to be quantified for insects. Investigating the road‐effect zone for insects will provide a better understanding of how roads impact ecosystems, which is particularly important given the role insects play as pollinators, predators, and prey for other species. We quantified the road‐effect zone for nocturnal flying insects along three major freeways in agricultural landscapes in southeast Australia. We collected insects using light traps at six points along 2‐km transects perpendicular to each highway (n = 17). We sorted the samples into order, and dried and weighed each order to obtain a measure of dry biomass. Using regression models within a Bayesian framework of inference, we estimated the change in biomass of each order with distance from the road, while accounting for environmental variables such as temperature, moon phase, and vegetation structure. The biomass of nine of the ten orders sampled did not change with distance from the freeway. Orthoptera (i.e., grasshoppers and crickets) was the only order whose biomass increased with distance from the freeway. From our findings, we suggest that the impacts of roads on insects are unlikely extending into the surrounding landscape over a distance of 2 km. Therefore, if there are impacts of roads on insects, these are more likely to be concentrated at the road itself, or on finer taxonomic scales such as family or genus level.
Bidirectional biomimetic flow sensing with antiparallel and curved artificial hair sensors

Background: Flow stimuli in the natural world are varied and contain a wide variety of directional information. Nature has developed morphological polarity and bidirectional arrangements for flow sensing to filter the incoming stimuli. Inspired by the neuromasts found in the lateral line of fish, we present a novel flow sensor design based on two curved cantilevers with bending orientation antiparallel to each other. Antiparallel cantilever pairs were designed, fabricated and compared to a single cantilever based hair sensor in terms of sensitivity to temperature changes and their response to changes in relative air flow direction. Results: In bidirectional air flow, antiparallel cantilever pairs exhibit an axially symmetrical sensitivity between 40 μV/(m s−1) for the lower air flow velocity range (between ±10–20 m s−1) and 80 μV/(m s−1) for a higher air flow velocity range (between ±20–32 m s−1). The antiparallel cantilever design improves directional sensitivity and provides a sinusoidal response to flow angle. In forward flow, the single sensor reaches its saturation limitation, flattening at 67% of the ideal sinusoidal curve which is earlier than the antiparallel cantilevers at 75%. The antiparallel artificial hair sensor better compensates for temperature changes than the single sensor. Conclusion: This work demonstrated the successive improvement of the bidirectional sensitivity, that is, improved temperature compensation, decreased noise generation and symmetrical response behaviour. In the antiparallel configuration, one of the two cantilevers always extends out into the free stream flow, remaining sensitive to directional flow and preserving a sensitivity to further flow stimuli.
Body condition influences ontogeny of foraging behavior in juvenile southern elephant seals

Abstract Ontogeny of diving and foraging behavior in marine top predators is poorly understood despite its importance in population recruitment. This lack of knowledge is partly due to the difficulties of monitoring juveniles in the wild, which is linked to high mortality early in life. Pinnipeds are good models for studying the development of foraging behaviors because juveniles are large enough to robustly carry tracking devices for many months. Moreover, parental assistance is absent after a juvenile departs for its first foraging trip, minimizing confounding effects of parental input on the development of foraging skills. In this study, we tracked 20 newly weaned juvenile southern elephant seals from Kerguelen Islands for up to 338 days during their first trip at sea following weaning. We used a new generation of satellite relay tags, which allow for the transmission of dive, accelerometer, and location data. We also monitored, at the same time, nine adult females from the colony during their post‐breeding trips, in order to compare diving and foraging behaviors. Juveniles showed a gradual improvement through time in their foraging skills. Like adults females, they remarkably adjusted their swimming effort according to temporal changes in buoyancy (i.e., a proxy of their body condition). They also did not appear to exceed their aerobic physiological diving limits, although dives were constrained by their smaller size compared to adults. Changes in buoyancy appeared to also influence their decision to either keep foraging or return to land, alongside the duration of their haul outs and choice of foraging habitat (oceanic vs. plateau). Further studies are thus needed to better understand how patterns in juveniles survival, and therefore elephant seal populations, might be affected by their changes in foraging skills and changes in their environmental conditions.
Interpretation of the mechanism of action of antituberculosis drug bedaquiline based on a novel two‐ion theory of energy coupling in ATP synthesis

Abstract Tuberculosis (TB) claims the lives of 1.3 million people each year, more than any other bacterial infection. Hence great interest was generated in health communities upon the recent introduction of the new diarylquinoline anti‐TB drug, bedaquiline. Bedaquiline acts by binding to the c‐subunit in the membrane‐bound FO portion of the F1FO‐adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthase, the universal enzyme that produces the ATP needed by cells. However, the mechanism of killing by bedaquiline is not fully understood. Recent observations related to the bactericidal effects of bedaquiline, which show that it is a potent uncoupler of respiration‐driven ATP synthesis in Mycobacterium smegmatis are summarized. These observations are then interpreted from the standpoint of Nath's two‐ion theory of energy coupling in ATP synthesis (Nath, Biophys. Chem. 2017; 230:45–52). Especial importance is given to the interpretation of biochemical fluorescence quenching data, and the differences between the uncoupling induced by bedaquiline from that by the classical anionic uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation are highlighted. Suggestions for new experiments that could lead to a better understanding of the uncoupling mechanism are made. A model of uncoupling action by the drug is presented, and the biochemical basis underlying uncoupling of ATP synthesis and lethality in mycobacteria is elucidated. The major biological implications arising from these novel insights are discussed. It is hoped that the analysis will lead to a more fundamental understanding of biological energy coupling, uncoupling and transduction, and to an integrated view for the design of novel antimicrobials by future research in the field.
Applications of decellularized extracellular matrix in bone and cartilage tissue engineering

Abstract Regenerative therapies for bone and cartilage injuries are currently unable to replicate the complex microenvironment of native tissue. There are many tissue engineering approaches attempting to address this issue through the use of synthetic materials. Although synthetic materials can be modified to simulate the mechanical and biochemical properties of the cell microenvironment, they do not mimic in full the multitude of interactions that take place within tissue. Decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) has been established as a biomaterial that preserves a tissue's native environment, promotes cell proliferation, and provides cues for cell differentiation. The potential of dECM as a therapeutic agent is rising, but there are many limitations of dECM restricting its use. This review discusses the recent progress in the utilization of bone and cartilage dECM through applications as scaffolds, particles, and supplementary factors in bone and cartilage tissue engineering.
Innominate vein cannulation: easy but neglected technique

Introduction: Our experience in minimally invasive procedures and improvement of graft technology enables easy and successful operation carried out even with complex thoracic aortic diseases from limited surgical area. However, it should be more than one incision or cannulation site for such intervention. We aimed to present our experience and results of 23 patients who has ascending aorta and aortic arch pathologies of which we operated with J-shaped partial sternotomy and innominate vein cannulation. Methods: From January 2014 to January 2016, 23 patients with aorta and aortic valve pathologies who underwent aortic surgery with J-shaped partial sternotomy and innominate vein cannulation included. Operation findings, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) values, postoperative results, surgical mortality and morbidity rates, late conversion to full sternotomy rates, ICU and hospital length of stay were evaluated. Results: The mean age of the patients was 53.7±12 (range 19-68) and 18 (78.2%) were males. Arcus aorta debranching applied to 4 patients (17.3%) and one of these procedures was frozen elephant trunk procedure (4.3%). Neither mortality nor cerebrovascular accident occurred. Mean CPB peak flow was 4.6±0.4 L/min, mean flow index calculated as 2.01±0.38 L/min/m2 and there was no CPB problem intraoperatively. Innominate vein ligation was carried out in 5 patients but no complication was seen except one who had left arm swelling treated with elevation. Conclusion: Innominate vein cannulation with J-shaped partial sternotomy is a reliable and easily applicable method providing effective utilization of limited operative field not only in ascending aorta and aortic arch operations but also with the advancements of hybrid systems used in descending aorta pathologies.
Lectins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis – rarely studied proteins

The importance of bacterial lectins for adhesion, pathogenicity, and biofilm formation is well established for many Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. However, there is very little information available about lectins of the tuberculosis-causing bacterium, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). In this paper we review previous studies on the carbohydrate-binding characteristics of mycobacteria and related Mtb proteins, discussing their potential relevance to Mtb infection and pathogenesis.
Celiac plexus block increases quality of life in patients with pancreatic cancer

Background Pancreatic cancer is a malignant disease with a high mortality rate and severe pain that is challenging to manage. To reduce the excruciating abdominal pain, opioids and adjuvant agents are conventionally used. Objectives PRNCPB is a treatment of neural therapy. The number of studies assessing the effect on patients’ QoL is limited and inconsistent. With this study, we intended to address this issue. Study design A prospective nonrandomized study with a series of cases of unresectable pancreatic cancer was conducted. Setting The study was performed at our pain clinic under real life conditions. Materials and methods A total number of 16 patients with severe abdominal pain were enrolled in the study all of whom had responded to combined systemic analgesic therapy inadequately and had intolerable side effects contraindicating further increase in dose. The efficacy of this invasive, palliative analgesic procedure was evaluated 35 days after PRNCPB was performed. Primary outcomes were changed in pain intensity using the VAS questionnaire. Secondary outcomes were improved in QoL using the SF-36 questionnaire. Changes in pain medications and adverse reactions were monitored. Results After PRNCPB patients experienced a significant decrease (P=0.002) in pain intensity as shown by the VAS score, and a decreased opiate demand. Their QoL scores considering effect sizes also improved (P<0.001). No complications attributable to PRNCPB were observed during the study period. Additionally, no adverse drug reactions were observed. Limitations Detection, observation, and reporting bias can be estimated as moderate. Selection bias was not detected. Conclusion Our results give preliminary evidence that PRNCPB might be helpful as an additional treatment to conventional pain management in end-stage pancreatic cancer patients. PRNCPB seems to improve QoL in these patients in a time frame of at least 5 weeks after intervention.
Hub genes and gene functions associated with postmenopausal osteoporosis predicted by an integrated method

Postmenopausal osteoporosis (PO) imposes great burden on individuals and society. This study predicted hub genes and gene functions for PO by an integration of the convergent evidence (CE) method, rank product (RP) algorithm and the combing of P-values. Using the gene expression data, genes were ranked by the CE method, RP algorithm and combing P-values, respectively. Subsequently, the top 100 genes were selected from each of the three gene lists, and then the common genes for two or three methods were denoted as informative genes of PO. A mutual information network (MIN) was constructed for the informative genes utilizing the context likelihood of relatedness algorithm. Topological centrality (degree) analysis was conducted on the MIN to investigate hub genes. Then we performed Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis dependent upon the Biological Networks Gene Ontology tool (BiNGO) plugin of Cytoscape to investigate hub gene functions for PO patients. Consequently, a total of 82 informative genes were obtained by integrating the results of the three methods. There were 82 nodes and 1,741 edges in the MIN, of which 8 hub genes were identified, such as PFN1, EEF2 and S100A9. The result of GO enrichment analysis showed that 49 GO terms with P<0.001 were detected, especially the top 5 gene sets were defined as hub gene functions of PO, for instance, translational elongation, translation and cellular macromolecule biosynthetic process. In conclusion, we have predicted 8 hub genes and 5 hub gene functions associated with PO patients. The findings might help understand the molecular mechanism underlying PO.
Environmental variation shapes genetic variation in Bouteloua gracilis: Implications for restoration management of natural populations and cultivated varieties in the southwestern United States

Abstract With the increasing frequency of large‐scale restoration efforts, the need to understand the adaptive genetic structure of natural plant populations and their relation to heavily utilized cultivars is critical. Bouteloua gracilis (blue grama) is a wind‐dispersed, perennial grass consisting of several cytotypes (2n = 2×–6×) with a widespread distribution in western North America. The species is locally dominant and used regularly in restoration treatments. Using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and cpDNA analyses, we assessed the genetic variability and adaptive genetic structure of blue grama within and among 44 sampling sites that are representative of the species’ environmental and habitat diversity in the southwestern United States. Five cultivars were also included to investigate genetic diversity and differentiation in natural versus cultivated populations. Three main findings resulted from this study: (a) Ninety‐four polymorphic AFLP markers distinguished two population clusters defined largely by samples on and off the Colorado Plateau; (b) substructure of samples on the Colorado Plateau was indicated by genetic divergence between boundary and interior regions, and was supported by cytotype distribution and cpDNA analysis; and (c) six AFLP markers were identified as “outliers,” consistent with being under selection. These loci were significantly correlated to mean annual temperature, mean annual precipitation, precipitation of driest quarter, and precipitation of wettest quarter in natural populations, but not in cultivated samples. Marker × environment relationships were found to be largely influenced by cytotype and cultivar development. Our results demonstrate that blue grama is genetically variable, and exhibits genetic structure, which is shaped, in part, by environmental variability across the Colorado Plateau. Information from our study can be used to guide the selection of seed source populations for commercial development and long‐term conservation management of B. gracilis, which could include genetic assessments of diversity and the adaptive potential of both natural and cultivated populations for wildland restoration.
Do replicates of independent guppy lineages evolve similarly in a predator‐free laboratory environment?

Abstract The Trinidadian guppy is emblematic of parallel and convergent evolution, with repeated demonstrations that predation regime is a driver of adaptive trait evolution. A classic and foundational experiment in this system was conducted by John Endler 40 years ago, where male guppies placed into low‐predation environments in the laboratory evolved increased color in a few generations. However, Endler's experiment did not employ the now typical design for a parallel/convergent evolution study, which would employ replicates of different ancestral lineages. We therefore implemented an experiment that seeded replicate mesocosms with small founding populations of guppies originating from high‐predation populations of two very different lineages. The different mesocosms were maintained identically, and male guppy color was quantified every four months. After one year, we tested whether male color had increased, whether replicates within a lineage had parallel phenotypic trajectories, and whether the different lineages converged on a common phenotype. Results showed that male guppy color generally increased through time, primarily due to changes in melanic color, whereas the other colors showed inconsistent and highly variable trajectories. Most of the nonparallelism in phenotypic trajectories was among mesocosms containing different lineages. In addition to this mixture of parallelism and nonparallelism, convergence was not evident in that the variance in color among the mesocosms actually increased through time. We suggest that our results reflect the potential importance of high variation in female preference and stochastic processes such as drift and founder effects, both of which could be important in nature.
Unbalanced biparental care during colony foundation in two subterranean termites

Abstract Parental care is a major component of reproduction in social organisms, particularly during the foundation steps. Because investment into parental care is often costly, each parent is predicted to maximize its fitness by providing less care than its partner. However, this sexual conflict is expected to be low in species with lifelong monogamy, because the fitness of each parent is typically tied to the other's input. Somewhat surprisingly, the outcomes of this tug‐of‐war between maternal and paternal investments have received important attention in vertebrate species, but remain less known in invertebrates. In this study, we investigated how queens and kings share their investment into parental care and other social interactions during colony foundation in two termites with lifelong monogamy: the invasive species Reticulitermes flavipes and the native species R. grassei. Behaviors of royal pairs were recorded during six months using a non‐invasive approach. Our results showed that queens and kings exhibit unbalanced investment in terms of grooming, antennation, trophallaxis, and vibration behavior. Moreover, both parents show behavioral differences toward their partner or their descendants. Our results also revealed differences among species, with R. flavipes exhibiting shorter periods of grooming and antennation toward eggs or partners. They also did more stomodeal trophallaxis and less vibration behavior. Overall, this study emphasizes that despite lifelong monogamy, the two parents are not equally involved in the measured forms of parental care and suggests that kings might be specialized in other tasks. It also indicates that males could play a central, yet poorly studied role in the evolution and maintenance of the eusocial organization.
An easy, flexible solution to attach devices to hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) enables long‐term high‐resolution studies

Abstract Bio‐logging is an essential tool for the investigation of behavior, ecology, and physiology of wildlife. This burgeoning field enables the improvement of population monitoring and conservation efforts, particularly for small, elusive animals where data collection is difficult. Device attachment usually requires species‐specific solutions to ensure that data loggers exert minimal influence on the animal’s behavior and physiology, and ensure high reliability of data capture. External features or peculiar body shapes often make securing devices difficult for long‐term monitoring, as in the case with small spiny mammals. Here, we present a method that enables high‐resolution, long‐term investigations of European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) via GPS and acceleration loggers. We collected data from 17 wild hedgehogs with devices attached between 9 and 42 days. Our results showed that hedgehogs behaved naturally; as individuals curled, moved through dense vegetation, slipped under fences and built regular day nests without any indication of impediment. Our novel method makes it possible to not only attach high‐precision devices for substantially longer than previous efforts, but enables detachment and reattachment of devices to the same individual. This makes it possible to quickly respond to unforeseen events and exchange devices, and overcomes the issue of short battery life common to many lightweight loggers.
Compassionate faces: Evidence for distinctive facial expressions associated with specific prosocial motivations

Compassion is a complex cognitive, emotional and behavioural process that has important real-world consequences for the self and others. Considering this, it is important to understand how compassion is communicated. The current research investigated the expression and perception of compassion via the face. We generated exemplar images of two compassionate facial expressions induced from two mental imagery tasks with different compassionate motivations (Study 1). Our kind- and empathic compassion faces were perceived differently and the empathic-compassion expression was perceived as best depicting the general definition of compassion (Study 2). Our two composite faces differed in their perceived happiness, kindness, sadness, fear and concern, which speak to their underling motivation and emotional resonance. Finally, both faces were accurately discriminated when presented along a compassion continuum (Study 3). Our results demonstrate two perceptually and functionally distinct facial expressions of compassion, with potentially different consequences for the suffering of others.