Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Host plant accessions determine bottom-up effect of snapmelon (Cucumis melo var. momordica) against melon fly (Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett))

The melon fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Tephritidae: Diptera) is an important pest of snapmelon (Cucumis melo var. momordica), leading to significant losses in yield in the hot arid agro-climate of India. The accessions IC- 430190 (11.21%), DKS-AHS 2011/4 (14.97%) and DKS-AHS 2011/3 (18.57%) were found to be novel resistant accessions against melon fly, B. cucurbitae infestation. Free amino acid and total soluble solid (TSS) were in positive correlation with percent fruit infestation whereas phenols, tannin, total alkaloids and flavonoid contents had significant negative correlation with percent fruit infestation. The percent fruit infestation had significant positive correlation with fruit length, fruit diameter and flesh thickness and negative correlation with length of ovary pubescence, rind hardness at immature stage, rind hardness at mature stage and pericarp thickness. Based on Kaiser Normalization method, two principal components (PCs) were extracted explaining cumulative variation of 82.80% in melon fly infestation. PC1 explained 53.41% of the variation while PC2 explained 29.39% of variation. The flavonoid, total alkaloid, tannins, phenols content, length of ovary pubescence and rind hardness were the novel antibiosis and antixenotic characters found in snapmelon resistant melon fly, B. cucurbitae and therefore, could be used as marker traits in plant breeding programs to select resistant accessions.
Dietary analysis of an uncharacteristic population of the Mountain Pygmy-possum (Burramys parvus) in the Kosciuszko National Park, New South Wales, Australia

Background The Mountain Pygmy-possum (Burramys parvus) is a critically endangered marsupial, endemic to alpine regions of southern Australia. We investigated the diet of a recently discovered population of the possum in northern Kosciuszko National Park, NSW, Australia. This new population occurs at elevations well below the once-presumed lower elevation limit of 1,600 m. Goals and Methods Faecal material was analysed to determine if dietary composition differed between individuals in the newly discovered northern population and those in the higher elevation southern population, and to examine how diet was influenced by rainfall in the southern population and seasonal changes in resource availability in the northern population. Results and Discussion The diet of B. parvus in the northern population comprised of arthropods, fruits and seeds. Results indicate the diet of both populations shares most of the same invertebrate orders and plant species. However, in the absence of preferred food types available to the southern population, individuals of the northern population opportunistically consumed different species that were similar to those preferred by individuals in higher altitude populations. Differing rainfall amounts had a significant effect on diet, with years of below average rainfall having a greater percentage composition and diversity of invertebrates. Seasonal variation was also recorded, with the northern population increasing the diversity of invertebrates in their diet during the Autumn months when Bogong Moths (Agrotis infusa) were absent from those sites, raising questions about the possum’s dependence on the species Conclusions Measurable effects of rainfall amount and seasonal variation on the dietary composition suggest that predicted climatic variability will have a significant impact on its diet, potentially impacting its future survival. Findings suggest that it is likely that B. parvus is not restricted by dietary requirements to its current pattern of distribution. This new understanding needs to be considered when formulating future conservation strategies for this critically endangered species.
Genome-wide association study of kernel moisture content at harvest stage in maize

Kernel moisture content at harvest stage (KMC) is an important factor affecting maize production, especially for mechanical harvesting. We investigated the genetic basis of KMC using an association panel comprising of 144 maize inbred lines that were phenotypically evaluated at two field trial locations. Significant positive or negative correlations were identified between KMC and a series of other agronomic traits, indicating that KMC is associated with other such traits. Combining phenotypic values and the Maize SNP3K Beadchip to perform a genome-wide association study revealed eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with KMC at P ≤ 0.001 using a mixed linear model (PCA+K). These significant SNPs could be converted into five quantitative trait loci (QTLs) distributed on chromosomes 1, 5, 8, and 9. Of these QTLs, three were colocalized with genomic regions previously reported. Based on the phenotypic values of the alleles corresponding to significant SNPs, the favorable alleles were mined. Eight maize inbred lines with low KMC and harboring favorable alleles were identified. These QTLs and elite maize inbred lines with low KMC will be useful in maize breeding.
Phylogeography of the highly invasive sugar beet nematode, Heterodera schachtii (Schmidt, 1871), based on microsatellites

Plant‐parasitic nematodes (PPNs) threaten crop production worldwide. Yet few studies have examined their intraspecific genetic diversity or patterns of invasion, critical data for managing the spread of these cryptic pests. The sugar beet nematode Heterodera schachtii, a global invader that parasitizes over 200 plant species, represents a model for addressing important questions about the invasion genetics of PPNs. Here, a phylogeographic study using 15 microsatellite markers was conducted on 231 H. schachtii individuals sampled from four continents, and invasion history was reconstructed through an approximate Bayesian computation approach, with emphasis on the origin of newly discovered populations in Korea. Multiple analyses confirmed the existence of cryptic lineages within this species, with the Korean populations comprising one group (group 1) and the populations from Europe, Australia, North America, and western Asia comprising another (group 2). No multilocus genotypes were shared between the two groups, and large genetic distance was inferred between them. Population subdivision was also revealed among the populations of group 2 in both population comparison and STRUCTURE analyses, mostly due to different divergent times between invasive and source populations. The Korean populations showed substantial genetic homogeneity and likely originated from a single invasion event. However, none of the other studied populations were implicated as the source. Further studies with additional populations are needed to better describe the distribution of the potential source population for the East Asian lineage.
Transcriptome profiling reveals the role of ZBTB38 knock-down in human neuroblastoma

ZBTB38 belongs to the zinc finger protein family and contains the typical BTB domains. As a transcription factor, ZBTB38 is involved in cell regulation, proliferation and apoptosis, whereas, functional deficiency of ZBTB38 induces the human neuroblastoma (NB) cell death potentially. To have some insight into the role of ZBTB38 in NB development, high throughput RNA sequencing was performed using the human NB cell line SH-SY5Y with the deletion of ZBTB38. In the present study, 2,438 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in ZBTB38−/− SH-SY5Y cells were obtained, 83.5% of which was down-regulated. Functional annotation of the DEGs in the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database revealed that most of the identified genes were enriched in the neurotrophin TRK receptor signaling pathway, including PI3K/Akt and MAPK signaling pathway. we also observed that ZBTB38 affects expression of CDK4/6, Cyclin E, MDM2, ATM, ATR, PTEN, Gadd45, and PIGs in the p53 signaling pathway. In addition, ZBTB38 knockdown significantly suppresses the expression of autophagy-related key genes including PIK3C2A and RB1CC1. The present meeting provides evidence to molecular mechanism of ZBTB38 modulating NB development and targeted anti-tumor therapies.
The use of the Brief Child Abuse Potential Inventory in the general population in Finland

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this research was to analyze psychometric information in the Brief Child Abuse Potential Inventory (BCAP) in a Finnish general population sample. Design: A self-report survey of parents in a primary health care setting and a hospital setting was used to evaluate the use of the BCAP. Setting: The study population consisted of parents who were visiting one of the following contexts: a primary maternity health care clinic, a child health care clinic, and the maternity outpatient clinic, various pediatric outpatient clinics, the general pediatric ward, the pediatric surgical ward, or the neonatal intensive care unit in a hospital setting. Subjects: The BCAP was given to parents at the 30–34th week of pregnancy, when the child was 5 months old or all parents depending on the context. The BCAP was delivered to 759 parents. The final size of the sample was 453 respondents. Main outcome measure: The BCAP, which consisted of 25 items to screen child abuse potential and nine items for evaluation of respondent validity. Results: The internal consistency of the Abuse Risk Scale was good (.770), and the validity scales worked well. The factor structure mirrors with the original factors structure. Conclusion: The psychometric properties of the BCAP reported in the analysis suggest that the BCAP could be a valid instrument to detect child abuse potential in the general population in Finnish health care settings. However, among Finnish respondents there is very little variation in some parts of the measure, which suggests that further research should assess the validity of the instrument in representative samples. Further analysis is also needed to evaluate the correct classification rate of the BCAP. Key points Identification of families at risk of child maltreatment requires valid tools to recognize risk within the general population, as part of child and family needs and risk assessments in family services. 1. The BCAP is valid, reliable, and useful in bringing parental worries under discussion in child and family services. 2. Results of this study can be used for a more systematic and valid child maltreatment risk assessment for identifying families who need help managing their everyday lives.
Are Our Farm Workers in Danger? Genetic Damage in Farmers Exposed to Pesticides

Modern agriculture, practiced after the “green revolution” worldwide, aims to maximize production in order to provide food for the growing world population. Thus, farmers are required to modernize their practices through the mechanization of land use and, above all, the use of chemical pesticides to control agricultural pests. However, in addition to combating the target pest, chemical pesticides indirectly affect a wide range of species, including humans, leading to health damage. Among the main problems caused by the use of pesticides is the genotoxicity caused by chronic exposure. The present study aims to verify the occurrence of genetic damage in farmers who are occupationally exposed to agrochemicals compared to people of other professions that do not use toxic substances (control group). The research was conducted with 36 male participants (18 farmers and 18 control group, ages 24–71 for the farmer group and 22–61 for the control group). The comet assay and micronucleus test results revealed a higher rate of genetic damage in the group of farmers than in the control group. A questionnaire answered by the farmers showed that the Personal Protect Equipment (PPE) is used incorrectly or not used. In summary, our results indicate that farmers are exposed to occupational hazards. To mitigate this risk, we conducted awareness campaigns to notify the farmers of the risks and highlight the importance of using PPE correctly. Intensive efforts and training are thus required to build an awareness of safety practices and change the attitudes of farm workers in the hope of preventing harmful environmental and anthropogenic effects.
Can patients with cerebellar disease switch learning mechanisms to reduce their adaptation deficits?

Systematic perturbations in motor adaptation tasks are primarily countered by learning from sensory-prediction errors, with secondary contributions from other learning processes. Despite the availability of these additional processes, particularly the use of explicit re-aiming to counteract observed target errors, patients with cerebellar degeneration are surprisingly unable to compensate for their sensory-prediction-error deficits by spontaneously switching to another learning mechanism. We hypothesized that if the nature of the task was changed – by allowing vision of the hand, which eliminates sensory-prediction errors – patients could be induced to preferentially adopt aiming strategies to solve visuomotor rotations. To test this, we first developed a novel visuomotor rotation paradigm that provides participants with vision of their hand in addition to the cursor, effectively setting the sensory-prediction-error signal to zero. We demonstrated in younger healthy controls that this promotes a switch to strategic re-aiming based on target errors. We then showed that with vision of the hand, patients with spinocerebellar ataxia could also switch to an aiming strategy in response to visuomotor rotations, performing similarly to age-matched participants (older controls). Moreover, patients could retrieve their learned aiming solution after vision of the hand was removed, and retain it for at least one year. Both patients and older controls, however, exhibited impaired overall adaptation performance compared to younger healthy controls (age, 18-33), likely due to age-related reductions in spatial and working memory. Moreover, patients failed to generalize, i.e., they were unable to adopt analogous aiming strategies in response to novel rotations, nor could they further improve their performance without vision of the hand. Hence, there appears to be an inescapable obligatory dependence on sensory-prediction-error-based learning – even when this system is impaired in patients with cerebellar degeneration. The persistence of sensory-prediction-error-based learning effectively suppresses a switch to target-error-based learning, which perhaps explains the unexpectedly poor performance by patients with spinocerebellar ataxia in visuomotor adaptation tasks.
Biomaterial Enhanced Regeneration Design Research for Skin and Load Bearing Applications

Biomaterial enhanced regeneration (BER) falls mostly under the broad heading of Tissue Engineering: the use of materials (synthetic and natural) usually in conjunction with cells (both native and genetically modified as well as stem cells) and/or biological response modifiers (growth factors and cytokines as well as other stimuli, which alter cellular activity). Although the emphasis is on the biomaterial as a scaffold it is also the use of additive bioactivity to enhance the healing and regenerative properties of the scaffold. Enhancing regeneration is both moving more toward regeneration but also speeding up the process. The review covers principles of design for BER as well as strategies to select the best designs. This is first general design principles, followed by types of design options, and then specific strategies for applications in skin and load bearing applications. The last section, surveys current clinical practice (for skin and load bearing applications) including limitations of these approaches. This is followed by future directions with an attempt to prioritize strategies. Although the review is geared toward design optimization, prioritization also includes the commercializability of the devices. This means a device must meet both the clinical performance design constraints as well as the commercializability design constraints.
The Role of Tissue Transglutaminase in Cancer Cell Initiation, Survival and Progression

Tissue transglutaminase (transglutaminase type 2; TG2) is the most ubiquitously expressed member of the transglutaminase family (EC 2.3.2.13) that catalyzes specific post-translational modifications of proteins through a calcium-dependent acyl-transfer reaction (transamidation). In addition, this enzyme displays multiple additional enzymatic activities, such as guanine nucleotide binding and hydrolysis, protein kinase, disulfide isomerase activities, and is involved in cell adhesion. Transglutaminase 2 has been reported as one of key enzymes that is involved in all stages of carcinogenesis; the molecular mechanisms of action and physiopathological effects depend on its expression or activities, cellular localization, and specific cancer model. Since it has been reported as both a potential tumor suppressor and a tumor-promoting factor, the role of this enzyme in cancer is still controversial. Indeed, TG2 overexpression has been frequently associated with cancer stem cells’ survival, inflammation, metastatic spread, and drug resistance. On the other hand, the use of inducers of TG2 transamidating activity seems to inhibit tumor cell plasticity and invasion. This review covers the extensive and rapidly growing field of the role of TG2 in cancer stem cells survival and epithelial–mesenchymal transition, apoptosis and differentiation, and formation of aggressive metastatic phenotypes.
RPGRIP1L is required for stabilizing epidermal keratinocyte adhesion through regulating desmoglein endocytosis

Cilia-related proteins are believed to be involved in a broad range of cellular processes. Retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator interacting protein 1-like (RPGRIP1L) is a ciliary protein required for ciliogenesis in many cell types, including epidermal keratinocytes. Here we report that RPGRIP1L is also involved in the maintenance of desmosomal junctions between keratinocytes. Genetically disrupting the Rpgrip1l gene in mice caused intraepidermal blistering, primarily between basal and suprabasal keratinocytes. This blistering phenotype was associated with aberrant expression patterns of desmosomal proteins, impaired desmosome ultrastructure, and compromised cell-cell adhesion in vivo and in vitro. We found that disrupting the RPGRIP1L gene in HaCaT cells, which do not form primary cilia, resulted in mislocalization of desmosomal proteins to the cytoplasm, suggesting a cilia-independent function of RPGRIP1L. Mechanistically, we found that RPGRIP1L regulates the endocytosis of desmogleins such that RPGRIP1L-knockdown not only induced spontaneous desmoglein endocytosis, as determined by AK23 labeling and biotinylation assays, but also exacerbated EGTA- or pemphigus vulgaris IgG-induced desmoglein endocytosis. Accordingly, inhibiting endocytosis with dynasore or sucrose rescued these desmosomal phenotypes. Biotinylation assays on cell surface proteins not only reinforced the role of RPGRIP1L in desmoglein endocytosis, but also suggested that RPGRIP1L may be more broadly involved in endocytosis. Thus, data obtained from this study advanced our understanding of the biological functions of RPGRIP1L by identifying its role in the cellular endocytic pathway.
Group structure and entitativity in group fitness: considering groupness at within- and between-group levels

Abstract Objective: How can we distinguish between a collection of individuals exercising alongside one another from group that is exercising ‘together’? This question is central to research on the extent that individuals perceive their fitness settings to entail core features of groups. To advance understanding of the nature of groupness and its implications in exercise, the current study (a) evaluated a brief measure of groupness and (b) examined the extent that groupness predicted perceptions of exertion and affect. Design: Participants included 633 exercisers (Mage = 33.92, SD = 11.05, 74% female) who completed surveys after group fitness classes (k = 34). Main outcome measures: Groupness, affect, exertion, and group cohesion. Results: Exploratory structural equation modelling provided support for a two-factor solution reflecting entitativity and group structure as subdimensions of groupness. The groupness factors were differentially associated with theoretically relevant aspects of classes (e.g. synchronised movement), the individual (e.g. number of members interacted with), as well as group cohesion. Groupness also predicted perceived exertion and affect. Conclusion: Our research provides support for a brief measure of groupness, advances theory related to how individuals perceive exercise groups, and provides evidence regarding how broader experiences during exercise may relate to exercisers’ perceptions of groupness.
An investigation into the relationship between paracycling athletes and their prosthetics technology: a proposed design framework

Abstract Objective: Product attachment has been stated as an emotional relationship an end-user may develop with a tangible product or artefact. The objective of this study is to investigate this relationship with athletes who possess limb absence and utilise assistive sports technology competitively. Method: Five elite paracyclists were surveyed using a modified 31 question product attachment survey. The survey comprised the ability to capture both closed-ended and open-ended data. The survey design itself was derived from three previously validated product relationship questionnaires. Results: Four elite athletes with limb absence did not provide any firm evidence or indication to support the concept of a non-physical relationship with their prosthetic device. However, some respondents had (or wished) to incorporate some form of aesthetic-based prosthetic personalisation or customisation, as long as this did not impact on the prostheses functional performance. Furthermore, a thematic analysis of the participant's responses yielded a four-point assistive technology design philosophy framework. The emerging thematic areas were 1) The identification of the factors that influence performance in the athletes chosen sport; 2) To consider an ‘appearance follows performance’ approach; 3) To conduct sports specific trials of the prosthetic limb; and 4) To identify any need for prostheses decorative personalisation. Conclusions: The survey revealed some anecdotes of a sports technology to user relationship but this will require further exploration with different and larger sample populations. Use of the proposed four-point framework may help inform practitioners of what considerations could provide greater end-user satisfaction when designing and developing specialised prosthetic limbs for elite-level sport. Implications for rehabilitation Whilst the formal characteristics of product attachment were not broadly identified in this study, some indications may give credence for prosthetists to consider an “appearance follows performance” approach to sports prostheses design. This may improve end-user satisfaction with their assistive technology. The inclusion of prosthetic post-manufacture decoration and personalization would seem to be desirable to the end-user. By adopting the feedback given in this study, undertaking trials conducted at a race-specific intensity of the athlete end-user may reduce the need to perform post-manufacture ad-hoc prostheses modifications.