Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spawning and fecundity of king weakfish, Macrodon ancylodon, in the Río de la Plata estuary, Argentina–Uruguay

The reproductive biology of the king weakfish, Macrodon ancylodon, inhabiting the estuarine waters of the Río de la Plata (Argentina–Uruguay), was studied using macroscopic and histological analysis of the gonads. The samples were collected from commercial landings and from three research cruises carried out between 1999 and 2001. King weakfish is a multiple spawner with indeterminate annual fecundity. Spawning of this species extends from October to March with two main peaks of gonadal index in November and March. Based on the incidence of females with new postovulatory follicles, the evening near sunset was the estimated time of spawning for M. ancylodon. Spawning frequency, determined using the percentages of females with postovulatory follicles, was about 17% during March 2001, indicating that females spawn once every six days at the second peak of the reproductive season. Batch fecundity ranges from 12,400 to 225,700 hydrated oocytes and was fitted to a linear function of total length and ovary-free female weight. The number of hydrated oocytes decreased at the end of the spawning season. In addition, a decline in hydrated oocyte size and weight was also observed during this period.
Increasing Coverage of Indoor Localization Systems for EEE112 Support

Among many techniques for indoor localization, fingerprinting has been shown to provide a higher accuracy compared to the alternative techniques. Fingerprinting techniques require an initial calibration phase during which site surveyors visit virtually every location in the area of interest to manually collect the fingerprint data. However, this process is labour intensive, tedious, and needs to be repeated with any change in the environment. In this work, we propose a technique for enhancing cellular-based indoor localization fingerprinting systems by automatically increasing the spatial density of the reference points. This can be achieved by generating synthetic measurements for virtually all points in the environment to cover inaccessible places.
Eating Disorders in Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women: A Systematic Review

Background and objectives: Pregnancy is a stage associated with various biopsychosocial changes. These changes, along with concerns about keeping an adequate weight, can modulate an individual’s risk for psychological disorders, especially eating disorders (EDs). The aim of this review was to investigate the prevalence, associated risks, and consequences of eating disorders in pregnancy and in breastfeeding mothers. Materials and Methods: A systematic review was carried out following the PRISMA guidelines in the scientific databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and PsycINFO. Search terms related to EDs, pregnancy, and breastfeeding were used. The evaluation of the methodological quality of the studies was carried out using different scales; CASP (Checklist for Cohort Study), NICE (Methodology Checklist for Cohort Study), ARHQ (Methodology Checklist for Cross-Sectional), and NOS (Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for Cohort). Results: From 2920 studies, 16 were selected to study EDs in pregnant women and 2 studies in nursing mothers. Most of the studies used questionnaires and scales as tools for the diagnosis of EDs. Binge eating, anxiety, and depression were the most common comorbidities of EDs, accompanied in most cases by excessive concern about weight gain. The consequences of EDs are diverse. The prevalence of EDs in this population is estimated to be 1 out of 20. Conclusions: Eating disorders are related to anxiety and depression and have negative consequences for both mothers and fetuses (cesarean, miscarriages, premature births). More research on the field to determine the risk factors for EDs in the population of pregnant and lactating women is needed.
3D Printing Approach in Dentistry: The Future for Personalized Oral Soft Tissue Regeneration

Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology allows the production of an individualized 3D object based on a material of choice, a specific computer-aided design and precise manufacturing. Developments in digital technology, smart biomaterials and advanced cell culturing, combined with 3D printing, provide promising grounds for patient-tailored treatments. In dentistry, the “digital workflow” comprising intraoral scanning for data acquisition, object design and 3D printing, is already in use for manufacturing of surgical guides, dental models and reconstructions. 3D printing, however, remains un-investigated for oral mucosa/gingiva. This scoping literature review provides an overview of the 3D printing technology and its applications in regenerative medicine to then describe 3D printing in dentistry for the production of surgical guides, educational models and the biological reconstructions of periodontal tissues from laboratory to a clinical case. The biomaterials suitable for oral soft tissues printing are outlined. The current treatments and their limitations for oral soft tissue regeneration are presented, including “off the shelf” products and the blood concentrate (PRF). Finally, tissue engineered gingival equivalents are described as the basis for future 3D-printed oral soft tissue constructs. The existing knowledge exploring different approaches could be applied to produce patient-tailored 3D-printed oral soft tissue graft with an appropriate inner architecture and outer shape, leading to a functional as well as aesthetically satisfying outcome.
Clinical Reasoning: A 64-year-old woman with progressive leg weakness and ophthalmoplegia

A 64-year-old woman with type 2 diabetes (HbA1C: 6.6%) experienced pain radiating down her right leg with intermittent numbness and tingling in her feet, followed by right leg weakness and recurrent falls. Two months after onset, she required a walker to ambulate long distances. Over the next 5 months, she experienced slow and progressive right leg weakness. Her neurologic examination revealed normal cranial nerves, fasciculations in the right leg, and nonpyramidal weakness in the right L3-S1 myotomes. She had intact strength elsewhere. Reflexes were pathologically brisk (3+), except for absent right patellar and bilateral Achilles reflexes. Plantar responses were flexor. There was mild length-dependent distal sensory loss in both lower extremities.
Highly-chirped Bragg gratings for integrated silica spectrometers.

A blazed chirped Bragg grating in a planar silica waveguide device was used to create an integrated diffractive element for a spectrometer. The grating diffracts light from a waveguide and creates a wavelength dependent focus in a manner similar to a bulk diffraction grating spectrometer. An external imaging system is used to analyse the light, later device iterations plan to integrate detectors to make a fully integrated spectrometer. Devices were fabricated with grating period chirp rates in excess of 100 nm mm-1, achieving a focal length of 5.5 mm. Correction of coma aberrations resulted in a device with a footprint of 20 mm×10 mm, a peak FWHM resolution of 1.8 nm, a typical FWHM resolution of 2.6 nm and operating with a 160 nm bandwidth centered at 1550 nm.
Adaptation to Noise in Human Speech Recognition Depends on Noise-Level Statistics and Fast Dynamic-Range Compression

Human hearing adapts to background noise, as evidenced by the fact that listeners recognize more isolated words when words are presented later rather than earlier in noise. This adaptation likely occurs because the leading noise shifts (“adapts”) the dynamic range of auditory neurons, which can improve the neural encoding of speech spectral and temporal cues. Human hearing adapts to background noise, as evidenced by the fact that listeners recognize more isolated words when words are presented later rather than earlier in noise. This adaptation likely occurs because the leading noise shifts (“adapts”) the dynamic range of auditory neurons, which can improve the neural encoding of speech spectral and temporal cues. Because neural dynamic range adaptation depends on stimulus-level statistics, here we investigated the importance of “statistical” adaptation for improving speech recognition in noisy backgrounds. We compared the recognition of noised-masked words in the presence and in the absence of adapting noise precursors whose level was either constant or was changing every 50 ms according to different statistical distributions. Adaptation was measured for 28 listeners (9 men) and was quantified as the recognition improvement in the precursor relative to the no-precursor condition. Adaptation was largest for constant-level precursors and did not occur for highly fluctuating precursors, even when the two types of precursors had the same mean level and both activated the medial olivocochlear reflex. Instantaneous amplitude compression of the highly fluctuating precursor produced as much adaptation as the constant-level precursor did without compression. Together, results suggest that noise adaptation in speech recognition is probably mediated by neural dynamic range adaptation to the most frequent sound level. Further, they suggest that auditory peripheral compression per se, rather than the medial olivocochlear reflex, could facilitate noise adaptation by reducing the level fluctuations in the noise. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Recognizing speech in noise is challenging but can be facilitated by noise adaptation. The neural mechanisms underlying this adaptation remain unclear. Here, we report some benefits of adaptation for word-in-noise recognition and show that (1) adaptation occurs for stationary but not for highly fluctuating precursors with equal mean level; (2) both stationary and highly fluctuating noises activate the medial olivocochlear reflex; and (3) adaptation occurs even for highly fluctuating precursors when the stimuli are passed through a fast amplitude compressor. These findings suggest that noise adaptation reflects neural dynamic range adaptation to the most frequent noise level and that auditory peripheral compression, rather than the medial olivocochlear reflex, could facilitate noise adaptation.
Drug repurposing studies targeting SARS-CoV-2: an ensemble docking approach on drug target 3C-like protease (3CLpro)

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has been responsible for several deaths worldwide. The causative agent behind this disease is the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome – novel Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). SARS-CoV-2 belongs to the category of RNA viruses. The main protease, responsible for the cleavage of the viral polyprotein is considered as one of the hot targets for treating COVID-19. Earlier reports suggest the use of HIV anti-viral drugs for targeting the main protease of SARS-CoV, which caused SARS in the year 2002–2003. Hence, drug repurposing approach may prove to be useful in targeting the main protease of SARS-CoV-2. The high-resolution crystal structure of the main protease of SARS-CoV-2 (PDB ID: 6LU7) was used as the target. The Food and Drug Administration approved and SWEETLEAD database of drug molecules were screened. The apo form of the main protease was simulated for a cumulative of 150 ns and 10 μs open-source simulation data was used, to obtain conformations for ensemble docking. The representative structures for docking were selected using RMSD-based clustering and Markov State Modeling analysis. This ensemble docking approach for the main protease helped in exploring the conformational variation in the drug-binding site of the main protease leading to the efficient binding of more relevant drug molecules. The drugs obtained as top hits from the ensemble docking possessed anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. This in silico ensemble docking approach would support the identification of potential candidates for repurposing against COVID-19. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma
Influence of caecectomy on digestibility of amino acids by roosters fed distillers' dried grains with solubles

Several laboratories are currently using the rapid excreta collection assay desoribed by Sibbald (1979), or a modification thereof, to measure digestibility of amino acids (AA) in feedingstuffs for poultry. The use of faecal or excreta collection assays to measure utilization of dietary AA has been frequently questioned because of the unknown effects of gut micro-organisms on AA excretion. These effects may be large with swine (Holmes et al. 1974) and thus many researchers have used ileal digesta collection to measure AA digestibility with pigs (Zebrowska, 1978). The question on significance of microbial effects is less clear with poultry. Some studies with germ-free chicks suggested that influence of the hindgut microflora on digestibility of protein and AA was significant (Salter & Coates, 1971; Elwell & Soares, 1975), whereas others indicated that these effects were small and probably negligible (Salter, Coates & Hewitt, 1974; Salter & Fulford, 1974). More recently, Parsons, Potter, Brown, Wilkins & Bliss (1982) concluded that microbial fermentation in the hindgut may have a significant effect on AA excretion by poultry, but to a much lesser extent than swine.
Human OAS1 activation is highly dependent on both RNA sequence and context of activating RNA motifs

Abstract 2′-5′-Oligoadenylate synthetases (OAS) are innate immune sensors of cytosolic double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) and play a critical role in limiting viral infection. dsRNA binding induces allosteric structural changes in OAS1 that reorganize its catalytic center to promote synthesis of 2′-5′-oligoadenylate and thus activation of endoribonuclease L. Specific RNA sequences and structural motifs can also enhance activation of OAS1 through currently undefined mechanisms. To better understand these drivers of OAS activation, we tested the impact of defined sequence changes within a short dsRNA that strongly activates OAS1. Both in vitro and in human A549 cells, appending a 3′-end single-stranded pyrimidine (3′-ssPy) can strongly enhance OAS1 activation or have no effect depending on its location, suggesting that other dsRNA features are necessary for correct presentation of the motif to OAS1. Consistent with this idea, we also find that the dsRNA binding position is dictated by an established consensus sequence (WWN9WG). Unexpectedly, however, not all sequences fitting this consensus activate OAS1 equivalently, with strong dependence on the identity of both partially conserved (W) and non-conserved (N9) residues. A picture thus emerges in which both specific RNA features and the context in which they are presented dictate the ability of short dsRNAs to activate OAS1.
Crepidotus, Pellidiscus and Ramicola in Greenland (Agaricales : Crepidotaceae)

Thirty Greenlandic collections of Crepidotus, Pellidiscus and Ramicola (Agaricales, Basidiomycetes), mainly collected in the last years have been studied. Descriptions, illustrations and a key is given to six species: C. fusisporus, C. lundellii, C. subverrucisporus, C. versutus, P. pallidus, and R. haustellaris. Five species are recorded as new to Greenland. The type of C. longisporus has been reexamined. SEM studies show the significance of spore ornamentation for the taxonomy of these fungi. The floristic patterns are discussed; C. fusisporus is an American element of the Greenlandic mycoflora.
Reassessing evolutionary relationships in the filamentous cyanolichen genus Spilonema (Peltigerales, Lecanoromycetes)

Abstract Spilonema was originally described to accommodate an unusual group of cyanolichens with thread-like, cushion-forming thalli, and has long been placed in Coccocarpiaceae based on ascomatal development. However, Spilonema is the only genus of Peltigerales to include species lichenized with the cyanobacterial genus Stigonema, and the evolutionary relationships of Spilonema to other genera in the family have yet to be tested using molecular data. We present evidence from combined nuclear 28S, 18S and mitochondrial 12S rDNA to confirm the placement of the core species of Spilonema (S. paradoxum and S. revertens) in Coccocarpiaceae. Our data further show that despite possessing a different genus of photobiont (Scytonema), the north Pacific endemic genus Spilonemella must be included within Spilonema, suggesting that closely related species of the genus have changed photobionts in the course of evolution. However, we recovered Spilonema dendroides, one of the only lichens known to associate with the cyanobacterial genus Hyphomorpha, as only distantly related to the Coccocarpiaceae. The evolutionary relationships of this species are as yet unclear but it may occupy a basal position in the Peltigerales. We create for this species the new genus Erinacellus T. Sprib. , Muggia & Tønsberg.
Land use planning decisions using multi-criteria analysis: The case of the master plan for the western part of the coastal zone of Thessaloniki, Greece

Land use planning decisions involve tackling complex problems and confronting multiple interests. A variety of factors and criteria need to be considered when planning for intricate and multifaceted environments, such as physical, social, economic, environmental, institutional etc. These factors which interact with each other, either in a complementary or conflicting way, cannot always be easily integrated into the decision-making process. Quantitative approaches such as Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) techniques combined with GIS have been developed to conduct land suitability analysis and to support decision-making. Drawing on a completed project within the IPA Cross-Border Programme ‘Greece – the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 2007-2013’ titled “Soil degradation assessment and rehabilitation strategies for sustainable land use planning“ (acronym TERRAMED), the paper presents the application of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), developed by Thomas L. Saaty in the 1970s, to produce decision maps in order to define the suitability of future land uses in the western part of the coastal zone of Thessaloniki in Greece. The analyses and scenarios produced constituted the basis for the formulation of specific strategies and actions, within the broader process of developing a master plan for this particular area. The paper stresses the importance of MCDM methods in providing a rational framework for making consistent land use planning decisions, being able to improve the transparency of the planning processes and to contribute to consensus building on policies and actions.
Challenges in Design and Fabrication of Flexible/Stretchable Carbon- and Textile-Based Wearable Sensors for Health Monitoring: A Critical Review

To demonstrate the wearable flexible/stretchable health-monitoring sensor, it is necessary to develop advanced functional materials and fabrication technologies. Among the various developed materials and fabrication processes for wearable sensors, carbon-based materials and textile-based configurations are considered as promising approaches due to their outstanding characteristics such as high conductivity, lightweight, high mechanical properties, wearability, and biocompatibility. Despite these advantages, in order to realize practical wearable applications, electrical and mechanical performances such as sensitivity, stability, and long-term use are still not satisfied. Accordingly, in this review, we describe recent advances in process technologies to fabricate advanced carbon-based materials and textile-based sensors, followed by their applications such as human activity and electrophysiological sensors. Furthermore, we discuss the remaining challenges for both carbon- and textile-based wearable sensors and then suggest effective strategies to realize the wearable sensors in health monitoring.
SnO2 Nanoflower–Nanocrystalline Cellulose Composites as Anode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries

One of the biggest challenges in the commercialization of tin dioxide (SnO2)-based lithium-ion battery (LIB) electrodes is the volume expansion of SnO2 during the charge–discharge process. Additionally, the aggregation of SnO2 also deteriorates the performance of anode materials. In this study, we prepared SnO2 nanoflowers (NFs) using nanocrystalline cellulose (CNC) to improve the surface area, prevent the particle aggregation, and alleviate the change in volume of LIB anodes. Moreover, CNC served not only as the template for the synthesis of the SnO2 NFs but also as a conductive material, after annealing the SnO2 NFs at 800 °C to improve their electrochemical performance. The obtained CNC–SnO2NF composite was used as an active LIB electrode material and exhibited good cycling performance and a high initial reversible capacity of 891 mA h g−1, at a current density of 100 mA g−1. The composite anode could retain 30% of its initial capacity after 500 charge–discharge cycles.
Polymer-Based Scaffolds for Soft-Tissue Engineering

Biomaterials have been used since ancient times. However, it was not until the late 1960s when their development prospered, increasing the research on them. In recent years, the study of biomaterials has focused mainly on tissue regeneration, requiring a biomaterial that can support cells during their growth and fulfill the function of the replaced tissue until its regeneration. These materials, called scaffolds, have been developed with a wide variety of materials and processes, with the polymer ones being the most advanced. For this reason, the need arises for a review that compiles the techniques most used in the development of polymer-based scaffolds. This review has focused on three of the most used techniques: freeze-drying, electrospinning and 3D printing, focusing on current and future trends. In addition, the advantages and disadvantages of each of them have been compared.
First report of citrus huanglongbing disease on orange in Iran.

Huanglongbing (HLB), also known as greening, is a destructive disease of citrus that may limit production of this crop in many parts of Asia, Africa and South America. HLB is caused by a non-culturable phloem-limited bacterium of the genus ‘ Candidatus Liberibacter’. Three Candidatus species of Liberibacter, namely, ‘ Ca . L. asiaticus’, ‘ Ca . L. africanus’ and ‘ Ca . L. americanus’, have been identified (Bove, 2006). The psyllid Diaphorina citri , vector of ‘ Ca. L. asiaticus’ was first detected in December 1997 in Iran in an area close to the border with Pakistan (Bove et al ., 2000). Since then, high populations of D. citri have been found in citrus plantations of Hormozgan and Kerman provinces in southern Iran (Bove, 2006). Citrus trees in this region exhibit typical HLB symptoms including mottling of leaves and yellowing of shoots. In the present study leaf samples from Valencia sweet orange trees ( Citrus sinensis ) (20 with and 20 without symptoms) and over 50 psyllid samples were collected from various locations in Sistan-Baluchistan and Hormozgan provinces and total DNA was extracted using the CTAB (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide) method. DNA samples were tested for presence of ‘ Ca . L. asiaticus’ by nested PCR using primer pairs F1 (5 ′ -TGAATTCTTCGAGGTTGGTGAGC-3 ′ )/R1(5 ′ -AGAATTCGACTTAATCCCCACCT-3 ′ ) as the first set and F2(5 ′ -GCGTTCATGTAGAAGTTGTG-3 ′ )/R2(5 ′ -CCTACAGGTGGCTGACTCAT-3 ′ ) as the second set. Both primer pairs were designed based on the published beta-operon of ribosomal protein encoding sequence of ‘ Ca . L. asiaticus’ (Villechanoux et al ., 1993). Nested PCR resulted in amplification of a 400 bp product from five out of 20 leaf samples and 26 out of 50 psyllid samples. No amplicons were obtained from symptomless sweet orange trees and psyllid samples reared on healthy sweet orange seedlings. The amplified fragment from a psyllid sample was cloned and sequenced (GenBank Accession No. FJ172759). A blast search showed 100% identity with corresponding sequences of ‘ Ca. L. asiaticus’ (M9439, AY34200 and EU078703). This is the first report on the occurrence of HLB disease in Iran. The disease appears to be widely distributed in citrus growing regions of southern Iran and may be a component of citrus decline in this area.