Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development and Validation of an Open Access SNP Array for Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Tilapia are among the most important farmed fish species worldwide, and are fundamental for the food security of many developing countries. Several genetically improved Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) strains exist, such as the iconic Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT), and breeding programs typically follow classical pedigree-based selection. The use of genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data can enable an understanding of the genetic architecture of economically important traits and the acceleration of genetic gain via genomic selection. Due to the global importance and diversity of Nile tilapia, an open access SNP array would be beneficial for aquaculture research and production. In the current study, a ∼65K SNP array was designed based on SNPs discovered from whole-genome sequence data from a GIFT breeding nucleus population and the overlap with SNP datasets from wild fish populations and several other farmed Nile tilapia strains. The SNP array was applied to clearly distinguish between different tilapia populations across Asia and Africa, with at least ∼30,000 SNPs segregating in each of the diverse population samples tested. It is anticipated that this SNP array will be an enabling tool for population genetics and tilapia breeding research, facilitating consistency and comparison of results across studies.
Unbalanced Inhibitory/Excitatory Responses in the Substantia Nigra Pars Reticulata Underlie Cannabinoid-Related Slowness of Movements

The substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr), where the basal ganglia (BG) direct and indirect pathways converge, contains among the highest expression of cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1r) in the brain. Hence, SNr is an ideal locus to study pathway interactions and cannabinergic modulations. The objective of this study was to characterize the effects of systemic injections of the CB1r agonist (CP55940) on the balanced activity of the direct/indirect pathways in the SNr and its associated behaviors. To this aim, we recorded somatosensory and pathway-specific representations in the spiking activity of the SNr of male rats under CP55940. CB1r activation mainly decreased the inhibitory, potentially direct pathway component while sparing the excitatory, potentially indirect pathway component of somatosensory responses. As a result, cutaneous stimulation produced unbalanced responses favoring increased SNr firing rates, suggesting a potential locus for cannabinergic motor-related effects. To test this hypothesis, we implemented an ad hoc behavioral protocol for rats in which systemic administration of CP55940 produced kinematic impairments that were completely reverted by nigral injections of the CB1r antagonist (AM251). Our data suggest that cannabinoid-related motor effects are associated with unbalanced direct/indirect pathway activations that may be reverted by CB1r manipulation at the SNr. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The cannabinergic system has been the target of multiple studies to master its potential use as a therapeutic agent. However, significant advances have been precluded by the lack of mechanistic explanations for the variety of its desirable/undesirable effects. Here, we have combined electrophysiological recordings, pharmacological and optogenetic manipulations, and an ad hoc behavioral protocol to understand how basal ganglia (BG) is affected by cannabinoids. We found that cannabinoids principally affect inhibitory inputs, potentially from the direct pathway, resulting in unbalanced responses in the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) and suggesting a mechanism for the cannabinoid-related slowness of movements. This possibility was confirmed by behavioral experiments in which cannabinoid-related slowness of purposeful movements was reverted by cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1r) manipulations directly into the SNr.
Quick and Sensitive Detection of Water Using Galvanic-Coupled Arrays with a Submicron Gap for the Advanced Prediction of Dew Condensation

We have demonstrated a highly sensitive moisture sensor that can detect water molecules, in addition to water droplets, and therefore, can predict dew condensation with high accuracy and high speed before the formation of water droplets, showing a better performance than a commercial hygrometer. Additionally, the dependence of the output response from the sensor on factors, such as the cooling rate of the sensor’s surface and the vapor pressure in the chamber, that affect the performance of the moisture sensor has been clarified. The output response showed a clear dependence on the variation in cooling rate, as well as the vapor pressure. The higher the cooling rate and vapor pressure, the higher the output response. The output response showed a linear response to the change in the above-mentioned parameters. The higher sensitivity and accuracy of the moisture sensor, as a function of the physical parameters, such as cooling rates, vapor pressure, enables the sensor to perform in advanced detection applications. The sensor can be modified to the actual target regarding the surface nature and the heat capacity of the target object, making it more suitable for wide applications.
Choline, Neurological Development and Brain Function: A Systematic Review Focusing on the First 1000 Days

The foundations of neurodevelopment across an individual’s lifespan are established in the first 1000 days of life (2 years). During this period an adequate supply of nutrients are essential for proper neurodevelopment and lifelong brain function. Of these, evidence for choline has been building but has not been widely collated using systematic approaches. Therefore, a systematic review was performed to identify the animal and human studies looking at inter-relationships between choline, neurological development, and brain function during the first 1000 days of life. The database PubMed was used, and reference lists were searched. In total, 813 publications were subject to the title/abstract review, and 38 animal and 16 human studies were included after evaluation. Findings suggest that supplementing the maternal or child’s diet with choline over the first 1000 days of life could subsequently: (1) support normal brain development (animal and human evidence), (2) protect against neural and metabolic insults, particularly when the fetus is exposed to alcohol (animal and human evidence), and (3) improve neural and cognitive functioning (animal evidence). Overall, most offspring would benefit from increased choline supply during the first 1000 days of life, particularly in relation to helping facilitate normal brain development. Health policies and guidelines should consider re-evaluation to help communicate and impart potential choline benefits through diet and/or supplementation approaches across this critical life stage.
A Calibration Procedure for Field and UAV-Based Uncooled Thermal Infrared Instruments

Thermal infrared cameras provide unique information on surface temperature that can benefit a range of environmental, industrial and agricultural applications. However, the use of uncooled thermal cameras for field and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) based data collection is often hampered by vignette effects, sensor drift, ambient temperature influences and measurement bias. Here, we develop and apply an ambient temperature-dependent radiometric calibration function that is evaluated against three thermal infrared sensors (Apogee SI-11(Apogee Electronics, Santa Monica, CA, USA), FLIR A655sc (FLIR Systems, Wilsonville, OR, USA), TeAx 640 (TeAx Technology, Wilnsdorf, Germany)). Upon calibration, all systems demonstrated significant improvement in measured surface temperatures when compared against a temperature modulated black body target. The laboratory calibration process used a series of calibrated resistance temperature detectors to measure the temperature of a black body at different ambient temperatures to derive calibration equations for the thermal data acquired by the three sensors. As a point-collecting device, the Apogee sensor was corrected for sensor bias and ambient temperature influences. For the 2D thermal cameras, each pixel was calibrated independently, with results showing that measurement bias and vignette effects were greatly reduced for the FLIR A655sc (from a root mean squared error (RMSE) of 6.219 to 0.815 degrees Celsius (℃)) and TeAx 640 (from an RMSE of 3.438 to 1.013 ℃) cameras. This relatively straightforward approach for the radiometric calibration of infrared thermal sensors can enable more accurate surface temperature retrievals to support field and UAV-based data collection efforts.
Mechanism of Inactivation of Bacteriophage J1 by Ascorbic Acid

The mechanism of inactivation of a double-stranded DNA phage, phage J1 of Lactobacillus casei, by ascorbic acid was investigated. Bubbling air, oxidizing agents and transition metal ions enhanced the rate of inactivation of the phage by ascorbic acid. In contrast, bubbling nitrogen gas, other reducing agents and radical scavengers prevented the inactivation. The results indicated that the inactivating effect of ascorbic acid was oxygen dependent and caused by free radicals formed during the autoxidation of ascorbic acid. The target of ascorbic acid in the phage particle was not the tail protein but DNA. Ascorbic acid caused single-strand scissions in phage DNA, as exhibited by alkaline sucrose density gradient centrifugation analysis, and caused a slight decrease in the viscosity of DNA.
Low Ejection Fraction Predisposes to Contrast-Induced Nephropathy after the Second Step of Staged Coronary Revascularization for Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Retrospective Observational Study

Patients who develop contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) are at an increased short-term and long-term risk of adverse cardiovascular (CV) events. Our aim was to search for patient characteristics associated with changes in serum creatinine and CIN incidence after each step of two-stage coronary revascularization in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and multivessel coronary artery disease undergoing staged coronary angioplasty during hospitalization for AMI. We retrospectively analyzed medical records of 138 patients with acute myocardial infarction without hemodynamic instability, in whom two-stage coronary angioplasty was performed during the initial hospital stay. In-hospital serum creatinine levels were recorded before the 1st intervention (at admission), within 72 h after the 1st intervention (before the 2nd intervention), and within 72 h after the 2nd intervention. The incidence of CIN was 2% after the 1st intervention (i.e., primary angioplasty) and 8% after the 2nd intervention. Patients with significant left ventricular systolic dysfunction after the 1st intervention (ejection fraction (EF) ≤35%) exhibited higher relative rises in creatinine levels after the 2nd intervention (18 ± 29% vs. 2 ± 16% for EF ≤35% and >35%, respectively, p = 0.03), while respective creatinine changes after the 1st revascularization procedure were comparable (−1 ± 14% vs. 2 ± 13%, p = 0.4). CIN after the 2nd intervention was over five-fold more frequent in subjects with low EF (28% vs. 5%, p = 0.007). The association between low EF and CIN incidence or relative creatinine changes after the 2nd intervention was maintained upon adjustment for baseline renal function, major CV risk factors, and the use of renin-angiotensin axis antagonists prior to admission. In conclusion, low EF predisposes to CIN after second contrast exposure in patients undergoing two-stage coronary angioplasty during the initial hospitalization for AMI. Our findings suggest a need of extended preventive measures against CIN or even postponement of second coronary intervention in patients with significant left ventricular dysfunction scheduled for the second step of staged angioplasty.
Continuous learning through platforms.

The health crisis situation we have experienced caused by the SARSCoV-2 virus has changed our daily life in numerous aspects, including those related to training (undergraduate, postgraduate, and continuing education, etc). Training activities, conferences, lectures, face-to-face workshops were suspended until the Health Situation was over. Alternatives to face-to-face training were needed to guarantee the continuity of these activities. Online training, teaching and evaluation emerged as a relatively fast, simple, operational and flexible solution. Universities and faculties promoted online teaching through virtual classes. The Spanish Society of Hospital Pharmacy supported this initiative by signing an agreement with the Board of Deans and Chancellors of Pharmacy to make it possible for undergraduate students to continue their studies and supervised practices in hospital pharmacy departments. Specialized training was affected. Pharmacy residency programs were significantly modified by hospital pharmacies to be able to provide the new clinical and research activities required, everyday, by the pandemic situation. Postgraduate and residency training were also negatively affected. Again, online activities made up for restrictions to face-to-face teaching and training. The Spanish Society of Hospital Pharmacy promoted continuing education and provided updated information on the SARS-CoV-2 virus through its website. Thus, numerous virtual sessions, lectures and webinars have been held, and high-quality material was offered to provide up-todate knowledge, on the pharmacological management of patients with COVID-19. Online teaching and education has demonstrated to be an invaluable tool for hard times. During the lockdown, technology has kept us closer and has emerged as an ally. Many of us have found a new means of communication, information, and training. The Spanish Society of Hospital Pharmacy has substantially contributed to make it possible.
Enzymic Transformation of Isoflavone Phytoestrogens in Soymilk by β-Glucosidase-Producing Bifidobacteria

ABSTRACT: Five strains of bifidobacteria were screened for β-glucosidase activity using p-nitrophenyl-β-D-glucopyranoside as the substrate, and selected strains were used to ferment soymilk. Enumeration of viable bifidobacteria and quantification of isoflavones using HPLC were performed at 0, 12, 24, 36, and 48 h of incubation. Four strains produced β-glucosidase. B. pseudolongum and B. longum-a displayed the best growth in soymilk, with an increase of 1.3 log10 CFU/mL after 12 h. B. animalis, B. longum-a, and B. pseudolongum caused hydrolysis of isoflavone malonyl-, acetyl- and β-glucosides to form aglycones, and transformed daidzein to equol in soymilk. Fermentation of soymilk with Bifidobacterium sp. resulted in a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the concentration of aglycones.
Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite DNA markers in the Japanese eight‐barbel loach, Lefua echigonia

We isolated and characterized 17 polymorphic microsatellite loci for the Japanese eight-barbel loach, Lefua echigonia, an endangered freshwater species in streams including agricultural canals in Japan. The number of observed alleles for each locus ranged from two to nine, and the values of observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.125 to 0.844 and from 0.148 to 0.876, respectively. All loci conformed to Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. Genetic linkage disequilibrium analysis between all pairs of the loci showed no significant departure from the null hypothesis between any of the loci.
Functional heterogeneity of PDGFRα (+) cells in spontaneously active urogenital tissues

As PDGFRα (+) cells appear not to suppress the excitability of detrusor smooth muscle by generating SK3‐dependent hyperpolarising as proposed in the gastrointestinal tract, we further explored the functional roles of PDGFRα (+) cells in regulating the spontaneous activity of urogenital tissues.
Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae causes wart‐like eruptions on fruit of buttercup squash (Cucurbita maxima)

Abstract Fruit of buttercup squash (Cucurbita maxima D. hybrids ‘Delica’ and ‘Kurijiman') grown at Mangatawhiri, South Auckland, New Zealand, are prone to develop wart‐like eruptions during the first 2–3 weeks after harvest. This disfigurement renders the fruit unacceptable for export, and was a serious problem in the 1993–94 season. Isolations from “warts” resulted in the recovery of large numbers of bacteria (>107/g) in the spongy internal tissues. Fungi were infrequently isolated from warts. Bacterial isolates were screened for pathogenicity to pumpkin cotyledons and for the capacity to reproduce symptoms on fruit. Isolates strongly pathogenic to cotyledons and which also induced a typical waiting response were all identified as Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae on the basis of LOPAT determinative tests, syringomycin production, and pathogenicity to lilac. The same organism was consistently re‐isolated from warts produced following artificial inoculation. One re‐isolate was tested for wart‐inducing cap.
GABAB receptors in the centromedian/parafascicular thalamic nuclear complex: An ultrastructural analysis of GABABR1 and GABABR2 in the monkey thalamus

Strong γ‐aminobutyric acid type B (GABAB) receptor binding has been shown throughout the thalamus, but the distribution of the two GABAB receptor subunits, GABAB receptor subunit 1 (GABABR1) and GABAB receptor subunit 2 (GABABR2), remains poorly characterized. In primates, the caudal intralaminar nuclei, centromedian and parafascicular (CM/PF), are an integral part of basal ganglia circuits and a main source of inputs to the striatum. In this study, we analyzed the subcellular and subsynaptic distribution of GABAB receptor subunits by using light and electron microscopic immunocytochemical techniques. Quantitative immunoperoxidase and immunogold analysis showed that both subunits display a similar pattern of distribution in CM/PF, being expressed largely at extrasynaptic and perisynaptic sites in neuronal cell bodies, dendrites, and axon‐like processes and less abundantly in axon terminals. Postsynaptic GABABR1 labeling was found mostly on the plasma membrane (70–80%), whereas GABABR2 was more evenly distributed between the plasma membrane and intracellular compartments of CM/PF neurons. A few axon terminals forming symmetric and asymmetric synapses were also labeled for GABABR1 and GABABR2, but the bulk of presynaptic labeling was expressed in small axon‐like processes. About 20% of presynaptic vesicle‐containing dendrites of local circuit neurons displayed GABABR1/R2 immunoreactivity. Vesicular glutamate transporters (vGluT1)‐containing terminals forming asymmetric synapses expressed GABABR1 and/or displayed postsynaptic GABABR1 at the edges of their asymmetric specialization. Overall, these findings provide evidence for multiple sites where GABAB receptors could modulate GABAergic and glutamatergic transmission in the primate CM/PF complex. J. Comp. Neurol. 496:269–287, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Potential of plantation-grown eucalypts for structural sawn products. I. Eucalyptus globulus Labil, ssp. globulus.

Summary Plantation-grown 19- to 33-year-old Eucalyptus globules Labili, ssp. globulus from Tasmania was tested as a resource for structural sawn products. Back-sawn products were dried, dressed, visually stress graded, and subjected to a four-point bending test, and small clear specimens were tested under central point loading. Knots were the main defect, and determined the structural grades of most boards. Density had a highly significant positive effect on modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE). Location of the boards in trees also displayed a significant relationship with the strength characteristics. The 2400 mm boards dried satisfactorily, and internal checking had no significant effect on MOR and MOE. Strength grouping suggested SD3 for the three stands, but the in-grade testing indicated Stress Grade F8. The primary cause of the discrepancy in stress grades seemed to be the high incidence of large knots in the younger plantation trees. Eucalypt plantation material similar to that .
Formation of 1-Deoxy-D-threo-pentulose and 1-Deoxy-L-threo-pentulose by Cell-free Extracts of Microorganisms

A new enzymatic acyloin-type condensation between pyruvate (or acetoin or methylacetoin) and D-glyceraldehyde was found to be catalyzed by cell-free extracts of a transketolase mutant of Bacillus pumilus IFO 12089. The reaction product (1) was isolated and determined to be 1-deoxy-D-threo-pentulose (d-DTP), which is considered to be a precursor of the five-carbon unit of the thiazole ring thiamine. 1-Deoxy-L-threo-pentulose (l-DTP, 2) was synthesized similarly when l-glyceraldehyde was used instead of D-glyceraldehyde. The configurations of 1 and 2 were confirmed by reduction to the corresponding 1-deoxy-pentitols.Similar enzyme activities were also detected in cell-free extracts of all the wild-type strains tested of bacteria, actinomycetes, yeasts, and molds. These results suggest that the d-DTP synthesizing enzyme plays an important role in the biosynthesis of the thiazole ring of thiamine in vivo.
Roles of the glutamate receptor ε2 and δ2 subunits in the potentiation and prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle reflex

We examined the regulation of the acoustic startle response in mutant mice of the N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA)‐ and δ‐subtypes of the glutamate receptor (GluR) channel, which play important roles in neural plasticity in the forebrain and the cerebellum, respectively. Heterozygous mutant mice with reduced GluRε2 subunits of the NMDA receptor showed strongly enhanced startle responses to acoustic stimuli. On the other hand, heterozygous and homozygous mutation of the other NMDA receptor GluRε subunits exerted no, or only small effects on acoustic startle responses. The threshold of the auditory brainstem response of the GluRε2‐mutant mice was comparable to that of the wild‐type littermates. The primary circuit of the acoustic startle response is a relatively simple oligosynaptic pathway located in the lower brainstem, whilst the expression of GluRε2 is restricted to the forebrain. We thus suggest that the NMDA receptor GluRε2 subunit plays a role in the regulation of the startle reflex. Ablation of the cerebellar Purkinje cell‐specific δ2 subunit of the GluR channel exerted little effect on the acoustic startle response but resulted in the enhancement of prepulse inhibition of the reflex. Because inhibition of the acoustic startle response by a weak prepulse is a measure of sensorimotor gating, the process by which an organism filters sensory information, these observations indicate the involvement of the cerebellum in the modulation of sensorimotor gating.
Assessing the failure of a community-based human-wildlife conflict mitigation project in Budongo Forest Reserve, Uganda

Abstract Primate crop raiding is a major cause of human-wildlife conflict around the forests of western Uganda. In an attempt to ameliorate the situation a conflict mitigation strategy was established in villages around the Budongo Forest Reserve in 2001. Live-traps were constructed that allowed the identification of crop raiding animals; pest species could be disposed of and threatened species released unharmed. However, by 2004 none of the traps in the study area were functioning and interviews were conducted to assess the reasons for their decline and local people's acceptance of the intervention. Forty-one percent of respondents did not believe the strategy was effective and the majority of local farmers did not accept responsibility for the traps. This was because of operational failures in four areas: (1) the identification of key stakeholders, (2) objective evaluation to assess the efficacy and benefit of the intervention, (3) participatory monitoring and evaluation, and (4) long-term funding commitment by conservation agencies. We examine the impact of these four elements upon the sustainability of the live-trap programme and stress the importance of recognizing and reporting failures to develop effective and acceptable mitigation strategies.