Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Seasonal changes in population structure of the tropical deep‐water kelp Laminaria abyssalis

Tropical kelp populations are rare and anomalous relicts of shallow‐water populations that existed during glacial periods of cooler oceanographic climate. The endemic Brazilian tropical kelp, Laminaria abyssalis Joly and Oliveira Filho, occurred at depths below 40 m. The seasonal variations in biological aspects of L. abyssalis sporophyte populations and local variations in seawater nutrients and temperature were evaluated. A population was sampled four times between the austral spring of 2005 to winter 2006. Seasonal variations in the population structure and in the tissue content of nitrogen (N), carbohydrate and pigments were observed. Higher density (6.3 individuals m−2), biomass (7.3 kg m−2) and blade area (13 221 cm2) were observed in summer, while the highest percentage of tissue total N (1.6%), carbohydrates (32.9%) and photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a = 1.9% and chlorophyll c = 0.4%) were observed in spring. The highest surface area of fertile tissue in L. abyssalis sporophytes (2.36%) was recorded in winter, indicating winter as the season when more investments are made in reproduction. The highest concentrations of total N (6.3 μM) and phosphate (0.6 μM) in seawater were observed in spring and summer, respectively. Seawater temperatures lower than 20°C, which are characteristic of upwelling waters, occurred every month and were most frequent in spring and summer. We show that L. abyssalis invests more in growth in spring and summer and reaches the greatest thallus size and population density in summer. The lower abundance during winter may be related to the lower frequency of temperatures below 20°C and the local seasonal storms that cause turnover of rhodoliths, the main substrate for L. abyssalis.
Enhancement of Omega‐3 Fatty Acid Content in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Fillets

A commercial diet for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) was supplemented with 0 (control), 8.5%, or 15.0% (w/w) of flaxseed oil (FO). Trouts were harvested on days 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120. Boneless skinless trout fillets were recovered from fish and analyzed for fatty acid profile (FAP) and total fat. While the total fat levels of fillets were not (P > 0.05) affected by FO supplementation, the FAP was. The lowest (P < 0.05) proportion of saturated fatty acids was obtained from 15%, followed by 8.5% FO group, and the control group. The opposite results were observed for the unsaturated fatty acids. The highest (P < 0.05) content of omega-3 fatty acids (ω-3 FA) in fillets was determined in the 15.0%, followed by the 8.5% FO group, and the control group. While the 15.0% and 8.5% of FO supplementation increased (P < 0.05) concentration of linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3n3) in fillets, the eicosapentaenoic (EPA, 20:5n3) and docosahexaenoic acids (DHA, 22:6n3) contents decreased (P < 0.05). At the same time, higher (P < 0.05) concentration of linoleic (L, 18:2n6) and lower (P < 0.05) concentration of arachidonic acids (AN, 20:4n6) in fillets were obtained in the 15.0% FO group compared with the control group. The ω-3/ω-6 FA ratio was also improved (P < 0.05) by supplementing basal diet with 15.0% FO. Our results suggest that trout fillets with enhanced content of ω-3 FA can be developed from trout raised in aquaculture systems fed diets supplemented with 15.0% FO. These fillets could be a basis to develop novel functional aquatic foods for some niche markets.
Landscape simplification and altitude affect biodiversity, herbivory and Andean potato yield

Summary 1. The simplification of agricultural landscapes through the increase in cropped area has caused the loss of habitats for many species that fulfil important ecosystem services such as pest control and production. Evidence for detrimental effects on ecosystem services is scarce, particularly in tropical regions. 2. We studied the effect of the percentage of cropped land in the landscape and altitude in tropical agro-ecosystems in relation to crop pest regulation and yield. In the Colombian Andes, we established potato Solanum tuberosum plots along gradients of altitude and increasing proportion of cropped area to assess the effects on herbivores, their natural enemies, potato production and overall biodiversity. 3. Increasing altitude and percentage cropped land reduced the richness and abundance of herbivores and their natural enemies, except for the specialist Guatemalan potato moth Tecia solanivora, which showed the opposite response. 4. Potato yield was negatively affected by the presence of the Guatemalan potato moth, which increased in density as the percentage of cropped land and altitude increased. Other herbivores and natural enemies did not affect yield. 5. Synthesis and applications. Tropical landscapes at lower altitude or with smaller areas of cropped land suffered less from the presence of the potato moth, which had a negative effect on yield. Our results suggest that conservation of natural habitats like the endangered Andean ecosystems would benefit farmers through ecosystem services such as reduced pest damage, higher yield and increased functional biodiversity.
COVID-19, smoking, vaping and quitting: A representative population survey in England

Aims: To explore 1) associations between suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection, hand washing, smoking status, e-cigarette use, and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) use and 2) whether COVID-19 has prompted smoking and vaping quit attempts, and more smoking inside the home. Design: Cross-sectional household surveys of a representative sample of the population in England from April-May 2020. Participants: The sample included 3,285 adults aged [≥]18 years. Measurements: Participants who reported they definitely or think they had coronavirus were classified as having a suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection. Participants were asked how often they wash their hands after returning home, before eating, before preparing foods or before touching their face. They were also asked whether, due to COVID-19, they had i) attempted to quit smoking, ii) attempted to quit vaping, and iii) changed the amount they smoke inside the home. Findings: Odds of suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection were significantly greater among current smokers (20.9%, adjusted odds ratio [ORadj]=1.34, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.04-1.73) and long-term (>1-year) ex-smokers (16.1%, ORadj=1.33, 95%CI=1.05-1.68) than never smokers (14.5%). Recent (<1-year) ex-smokers had non-significantly greater odds of suspected infection (22.2%, ORadj=1.50, 95%CI=0.85-2.53, Bayes factor=0.55-1.17). Bayes factors indicated there was sufficient evidence to rule out large differences in suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection by NRT use and medium differences by e-cigarette use. With the exception of hand washing before face touching, engagement in hand washing behaviours was high (>85%) regardless of nicotine use. A minority (12.2%) of past-year smokers who made a quit attempt in the past three months were triggered by COVID-19, and approximately one-in-ten current e-cigarette users reported attempting to quit vaping because of COVID-19. Most people reported smoking the same amount inside the home. Conclusions: In a representative sample of the adult population in England, current smokers and long-term ex-smokers had higher odds of suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection than never smokers, but there were no large differences by NRT or e-cigarette use. In general, engagement in hand washing was high regardless of nicotine or tobacco use. A minority of past-year smokers and current e-cigarette users, respectively, attempted to quit smoking/vaping due to COVID-19.
BlindWalkVR: formative insights into blind and visually impaired people's VR locomotion using commercially available approaches

Virtual Reality (VR) promises expanded access to spatial information, especially for blind and visually impaired people. Through haptic and acoustic feedback, real world's limitations like the risk of injury or the necessity of a sighted safety assistant can be circumvented. However, the best possible profit of this technology requires interactive locomotion in large virtual environments to overcome real world space limitations. Thus, we present formative insights of blind people's egocentric VR locomotion by comparing four different implementations (i.e., two VR treadmills, trackers on the ankles or joystick based locomotion) in a qualitative and quantitative user study with seven blind and visually impaired participants. Our results reveal novel insights on characteristics of each implementation in terms of usability and practicability and also provide recommendations for further work in this field with the target user group in sight.
Computation of the improvement directions of the Pareto front and its application to MOEAs

This paper introduces the mathematical development and algorithm of the Improvement-Directions Mapping (IDM) method, which computes improvement directions to "push" the current solutions toward the true Pareto front. The main idea is to compute normal vectors to the front, as improvement directions in the objective space, to be then transformed into search directions in the variable space through a transformation tensor. The main contributions of the IDM as a local search operator versus previous approaches are the following: 1) It does not require of a priori information about improvement directions or location of the true Pareto front, 2) It uses a local quadratic approximation of the Pareto front to compute the transformation tensor, thus, reducing numerical problems and avoiding abrupt changes in the search direction which could lead to erratic searches. These features allow the IDM to be implemented as a local search operator within any Multi-objective Evolutionary Algorithm (MOEA). The potential of the IDM is shown by hybridizing two well-known multi-objective algorithms: a) MOEA/D + IDM; b) NSGA-II + IDM. In the first approach, IDM "pushes" the offspring population in each iteration. A similar experiment is performed with the second approach. Furthermore, one more experiment evaluates the IDM as a refinement step that is applied to the last Pareto front delivered by NSGA-II.
Microbiological and enzymatic studies during the development of an 'Iru' (a local Nigerian indigenous fermented condiment) like condiment from Bambara Nut (Voandzeia subterranea (L) Thours)

Fifteen isolates were obtained from a-96 h spontaneously fermented bambara nut to produce an ‘Iru’ like condiment. Pure cultures of the isolates were identified employing API 50CH strips and API CHL medium (API system, Montalieu, Vercieu, France). Their identities were confirmed as Bacillus subtilis , Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus pumilus . The total microbial counts showed that the microbial load increased significantly from 3.2 x 10 5 + 0.11 cfu/g at 0 h to 9.2 x 10 7 + 0.20 cfu/g at 96 h ( p < 0.05). The investigation into enzymatic activities during product development revealed that the amylase activity fluctuated, by increasing significantly from 0.33 + 0.1 x s unit g/dry wt at 0 h to 0.39 + 0.04 x s unit g/dry wt at 60 h which finally decreased to 0.32 + 0.08 x s unit g/dry wt at the end of fermentation. Proteinase activity showed that at 0 h an activity of 0.22 + 0.09 x s unit g/dry wt was recorded, which increased significantly to 0.24 + 0.06 x s unit g/dry wt at 24 h. This value decreased significantly to 0.21 + 0.03 x s unit g/dry wt at 48 h which increased significantly to 0.28 + 0.08 x s unit g/dry wt at 96 h. However, the lipase which was observed at 0 h to show an activity of 0.50 + 0.05 x s unit g/dry wt increased significantly to 0.80 + 0.06 x s unit g/dry wt at 72 h and decreased to 0.70 + 0.08 x s unit g/dry wt at the end of production period.
Acceptance-Based Emotion Regulation Reduces Subjective and Physiological Pain Responses

Acceptance-based regulation of pain, which focuses on the allowing of pain and pain related thoughts and emotions, was found to modulate pain. However, results so far are inconsistent regarding different pain modalities and indices. Moreover, studies so far often lack a suitable control condition, focus on behavioral pain measures rather than physiological correlates, and often use between-subject designs, which potentially impede the evaluation of the effectiveness of the strategies. Therefore, we investigated whether acceptance-based strategies can reduce subjective and physiological markers of acute pain in comparison to a control condition in a within-subject design. To this end, participants (N = 30) completed 24 trials comprising 10 s of heat pain stimulation. Each trial started with a cue instructing participants to welcome and experience pain (acceptance trials) or to react to the pain as it is without employing any regulation strategies (control trials). In addition to pain intensity and unpleasantness ratings, heart rate (HR) and skin conductance (SC) were recorded. Results showed significantly decreased pain intensity and unpleasantness ratings for acceptance compared to control trials. Additionally, HR was significantly lower during acceptance compared to control trials, whereas SC revealed no significant differences. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of acceptance-based strategies in reducing subjective and physiological pain responses relative to a control condition, even after short training. Therefore, the systematic investigation of acceptance in different pain modalities in healthy and chronic pain patients is warranted.
The Roles of Embryonic Transcription Factor BRACHYURY in Tumorigenesis and Progression

Transcription factor brachyury, with a DNA-binding T-domain, regulates posterior mesoderm formation and notochord development through binding with highly conserved palindromic consensus sequence in a variety of organisms. The absence of brachyury expression in majority of adult normal tissues and exclusive tumor-specific expression provides the potential to be developed into a novel and promising diagnostic and therapeutic target in cancer. As a sensitive and specific marker in the diagnosis of chordoma, brachyury protein has been verified to involve in the process of carcinogenesis and progression of chordoma and several epithelial carcinomas in various studies, but the mechanism by which brachyury promotes tumor cells migrate, invade and metastasis still remains less clear. To this end, we attempt to summarize the literature on the upstream regulatory pathway of brachyury transcription and downstream controlling network by brachyury activation, all of which involve in both the embryonic development and tumor progression. We present the respective correlation of brachyury expression with tumor progression, distant metastasis, survival rate and prognosis in several types of tumor samples (including chordoma, lung cancer, breast carcinoma, and prostate cancer), and various brachyury gain-of-function and loss-of-function experiments are summarized to explore its specific role in respective tumor cell line in vitro. In addition, we also discuss another two programs relating to brachyury function: epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cell cycle control, both of which implicate in the regulation of brachyury on biological behavior of tumor cells. This review will provide an overview of the function of master transcriptional factor brachyury, compare the similarities and differences of its role between embryonic development and carcinogenesis, and list the evidence on which brachyury-target therapies have the potential to help control advanced cancer populations.
Lacustrine Groundwater Discharge Through Giant Pockmarks (Lake Neuchatel, Switzerland)

Pockmarks are circular depressions on the floor of oceans and lakes and constitute potential hot spots of gas ebullition and/or groundwater discharge. Marine pockmarks are well-studied, whereas lacustrine pockmarks are virtually unexplored. In Lake Neuchatel (Switzerland) four giant pockmarks of 80 to 150 m in diameter are located along the northern shore and adjacent to the karst system of the Jura Mountains. Two pockmarks have a ~60 m-deep chimney filled with mud; two are funnel-shaped 12 and 29 m deep holes. We present evidence for the presence of groundwater in the pockmark chimneys and active lacustrine groundwater discharge (LGD) at both pockmark types. Temperature, electrical conductivity and calcium concentrations of the pore water in the chimneys show values typical for karst water (maximal sampling and profiling depth: 41 m into the pockmark) and contrast strongly with the properties of the lake water. TOC and TIC indicate that the chimney mud is homogenized and composed of liquefied sediments from the entire deglacial to Holocene lacustrine sediment succession. Mini mud volcanoes apparent on the suspension surface imaged with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) localize the groundwater exit points and confirm LGD. LGD is further corroborated by electrical conductivity anomalies detected above the lutoclines and within a funnel-shaped pockmark during the ROV survey. We conclude that the giant pockmarks in Lake Neuchatel represent a type of subaquatic springs that connect the water body of the lake with the karst system. A next essential research step will be to quantify LGD via the pockmarks in order to assess their lake-wide relevance. This study underlines the existing need for research on the connectivity of lakes and oceans with groundwater systems for completing our understanding of the hydrological cycle.
Unpleasant Food Odors Modulate the Processing of Facial Expressions: An Event-Related Potential Study

In real-life situations, emotional information is often expressed through multiple sensory channels, with cross-talk between channels. Previous research has established that odor environments regulate the recognition of facial expressions. Therefore, this study combined event-related potentials (ERPs) with a facial emotion recognition task to investigate the effect of food odor context on the recognition of facial expressions and its time course. Fifty-four participants were asked to identify happy, fearful, and neutral faces in an odor context (pleasant, unpleasant or neutral). Electroencephalography (EEG) was performed to extract event-related potentials (ERPs). Behaviorally, unpleasant food odors triggered faster recognition of facial expressions, especially fearful ones. ERP results found that in the early stage, unpleasant food odors within 80–110 ms evoked a larger P100 amplitude than pleasant food odors and no odors, which showed that the unpleasant odor environment promoted the rapid processing of facial expressions. Next, the interaction between odor environment and facial expressions occurred during the middle stage, and the fearful expression evoked a smaller VPP (vertex positive potential) amplitude than the happy and neutral expressions when exposed to the unpleasant food odor environment. This result indicates that unpleasant odor environment consumed fewer cognitive resources when judging fearful expression, showing the promoting effect of mood coherence effect. These findings provided evidence for how people chose odor environments to facilitate the recognition of facial expressions, and highlighted the advantages of unpleasant food odors in communicating emotional information across the olfactory and visual pathways.
Macro workstep detection for assembly manufacturing

In this paper, we introduce a detection system for macro worksteps in a manufacturing assembly line using depth images. The sensor is mounted on the ceiling with a top-down angle. The system was deployed in a real life industrial process where workers had to assemble an ATM machine. Experimental results show the effectiveness of three identification approaches that were used: (1) template matching using a single template per macro workstep, (2) multiple templates for macro worksteps and (3) template matching and motion detection in order to detect the transition between each two consecutive macro worksteps. Each approach has its own benefits in terms of processing speed, accuracy and precision and we discuss them in details along with the challenges the system had, in the discussion section. The results are also investigated in details and we present the future plans for the proposed detection system.
Alternative Healthy Food: Noodles and Cookies Cannalina from Composite Flour Canna indica and Spirulina platensis

The flour composite from C.indica tubers and S platensis namely Cannalina flour (P 00201508315) has prospective to process many kind of healthy food. Cannalina flour from white tubers of C. indica contains fructose, stachiose and inulin as a prebiotic and from the red tubers contains maltose, fructose, and sucrose. The Cannalina flour from white tubers successes was processed became various kinds of food such as noodles and cookies. The research purposes to find out changes of nutrient content after Cannalina flour from white the C. indica tubers is processed into noodles and cookies. Beside that to know respond of respondent for the noodles and cookies specially its color, aroma, texture and taste. The methodology of research was experimental with proximate test and organoleptic test. The result showed Cannalina flour contains carbohydrate 67.607%, protein 17.413 %, lipid 0.29%, fiber 9.54%, water 8.75%. Carbohydrate content in cookies Cannalina is the highest than in flour and noodles, there were 69.395%. Cannalina noodles contains the highest fiber which is 10,75%. Taste of noodle are preferred over cookies. Cannalina noodles and cookies have potential to be a healthy alternative food.
In silico identification of MicroRNAs and their targets in diatoms

As one of the most successful groups of microalgae in the contemporary ocean, diatoms are of ecological, biotechnological and evolutionary significance. Recent research has revealed for the first time the presence of functional silencing machinery in diatoms. Nevertheless, no microRNAs (miRNAs) participating in their gene regulation have been reported. Based on the principle of sequence conservation, previous known plant miRNAs were blasted against the expressed sequence tag databases of the marine diatoms Phaeodactylum tricornutum andThalassiosira pseudonana and according to a series of filtering criteria, 6 conserved miRNAs were identified and 5 potential target genes of them were subsequently predicted. Alignmental and phylogenetic analyses showed that the miRNA precursor sequences were unexpectedly poorly conserved and distantly related to other family members. Above all, the findings from this study will contribute not only to further research of miRNAs features and regulatory mechanisms in diatoms, but also to their evolutionary research by virtue of new molecular tools. Key words: Diatom, microRNA, evolution, bioinformatics.