Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MORPHOLOGICAL AND MORPHOMETRICAL FEATURES IN DUNALIELLA SALINA (CHLAMYDOMONADALES, DUNALIELLACEAE) DURING THE TWO-PHASE CULTIVATION MODE

The paper presents studies of morphological and morphometrical characteristics of green halophilic carotenogenic microalga Dunaliella salina (Dunal) Teodoresco, 1905, from the south-west region of Crimean Peninsula. D. salina was cultivated in two-phase mode under conditions of natural illumination at the premises of A.O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas of RAS (IBSS), Sevastopol, Russia. The maximum D. salina cell density was 1.69·106 cell/ml in the “green” phase and 0.84·106 cell/ml in the “red” growth phase. The maximum productivity by cell number reached 0.15 ∙ 106 cell/(ml·day)in the “green” phase while it was lower by 73% in the “red” phase (0.04∙106 cell/(ml·day). Along with the maximum productivity, linear growth stage in the first phase was characterized by a maximum fraction of small (up to 500 μm3 in volume) cells (about 15-29%) and a decrease in cell volume by 40-45% as compared with initial value. The mean of D. salina cell volume in the “red” phase was 30% higher than in the “green” phase. At the same time, the large cell fraction in the “red” phase was consistently high (15-35%). The patterns of change in morphological and morphometrical cell parameters were in accordance to stage and conditions of growth. Thus, cell elongation was noted in the stage of linear growth, while under unfavorable conditions at growth-declining stage cells became more round-shaped, with orange and tile-red coloration and granulation of cell content. It was shown that morphological and morphometric cell parameters can serve as additional criteria for assessment of physiological condition in D. salina culture. The experiment demonstrated the prospects for two-stage D. salina cultivation in Crimea.
Does prey preference affect habitat choice in Antarctic seabirds

Diet composition of the members of 2 seabird species assemblages in the Scotia-Weddell Confluence region, Antarctica, was investigated during 3 seasons/years: spring 1983, autumn 1986, and winter 1988. One assemblage frequented the pack ice and the other was present in adjacent open waters; most members of the latter species assemblage vacated the Antarctic during winter. We sought answers to 2 questions: (1) Did the 2 species assemblages depend on food webs that differed substantially; and (2) Was there a trophic basis to explain why the pack-ice assemblage did not expand into the open water left vacant by the other during winter? To test an a priori hypothesis that diet was affected by habitat, diet samples were obtained from birds encountered in 3 habitats: open water, sparse concentrations of ice, and heavy ice cover. Cluster analysis showed broad overlap in seabird diet regardless of species, habitat (ice/water mass) or year. Seabirds exploited prey largely according to ranked availability, although they appeared to choose the larger fish and crustaceans over smaller crustaceans. Myctophids in particular, but also krill and squid, were the main prey groups. Diets did not separate on the basis of predator/prey size to any appreciable degree even though a lOOO-fold difference in predator size existed. Feeding success, as indicated by fullness of stomach, of the members of the 2 species assemblages was highest when in their respective usual habitats. We conclude that open-water seabirds lack the specialized foraging behaviors required to exploit the pack-ice environ­ ment and that open waters during the winter offer much poorer feeding conditions than those of the pack ice.
Insect secretions determine habitat use patterns by a female lesser mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus)

The lesser mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus) is one of six sympatric nocturnal primates found in the Kirindy forest, west‐Madagascar. Each of these species is reported to consume a secretion produced during the austral winter by the Homopteran insect Flatidia coccinea. In July and August 1993 a study was conducted to determine the importance of this food resource in the ecology of female M. murinus. At this study site, animals were distributed only along the forest edge where insect secretions are significantly more abundant than in the forest interior. Abundances of arboreal and nocturnal flying insects do not differ between the forest edge and interior. Experimental resource removal from a 25 × 25 m plot in one female's home range caused a significant shift in the animals' pattern of habitat use while no change occurred in a control plot. Thus, at this study site and time of year, the ranging behavior of a female M. murinus was strongly influenced by the presence of Homopteran secretions. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
New method for presenting nutritionally defined food sources to marine organisms

To study nutritional ecology in aquatic and marine ecosystems, it is important to be able to perform feeding trials enabling feeding and nutrient selection behavior of organisms to be observed in situ. Current studies in marine nutritional ecology are limited to laboratory and shallow water studies using food sources of undefined nutrient concentration. Here we describe a technique for delivering standardized nutrient sources in situ to both pelagic and benthic organisms as a feeding choice array, in a way that allows the amounts eaten of different foods and nutrients to be quantified and correlated with precise descriptions of the feeding behavior of individual organisms. A pilot study proved that this feeding choice array can be successfully deployed in marine environments. It will also be possible to use this technique to explore patterns of nutrient limitation and to investigate the nutritional regulatory response of marine and aquatic organisms.
Length-weight regressions of the microcrustacean species from a tropical floodplain

AIM: This study presents length-weight regressions adjusted for the most representative microcrustacean species and young stages of copepods from tropical lakes, together with a comparison of these results with estimates from the literature for tropical and temperate regions; METHODS: Samples were taken from six isolated lakes, in summer and winter, using a motorized pump and plankton net. The dry weight of each size class (for cladocerans) or developmental stage (for copepods) was measured using an electronic microbalance; RESULTS: Adjusted regressions were significant. We observed a trend of under-estimating the weights of smaller species and overestimating those of larger species, when using regressions obtained from temperate regions; CONCLUSION: We must be cautious about using pooled regressions from the literature, preferring models of similar species, or weighing the organisms and building new models.
Structural Change Analysis of Active Cryptocurrency Market

Motivated by the large frequent price fluctuation and excessive volatility observed in the cryptocurrency market, this study adopts Bai and Perron’s structural change model by incorporating the trading volume and autoregressive variables to examine the number and location of change points in daily closing price, return and volatility proxied by the squared return of Cryptocurrency Index, Cryptocurrency Index 30, and the top 10 cryptocurrencies ranked according to market capitalisation. Results show that the structural changes occur very frequently for the price series, followed by squared return and return series which were consistently observed between December 2017 to April 2018. In addition, the results also reveal that the two cryptocurrency indices may not be beneficial as an indicator to reflect the whole cryptocurrency market for the entire studied period as these two indices do not display consistent structural change in contrast to the top 10 cryptocurrencies that might have significant implications for modelling the cryptocurrency data.
Effect of storage time on physicochemical and textural properties of sausages covered with oxidized banana starch film with and without betalains

In this study, two types of oxidized banana starch films (betalains and no betalains) were prepared and used as covering for sausages, then were refrigerated for 20 days at 4°C and 5% relative humidity (RH). The sausages covered were analyzed (covered with films without betalains = F1 and covered with films with betalains = F2) and they were compared with a control (without covering). The sausages were evaluated every 5 days by physicochemical analysis of color, size, weight loss, pH and quantification of betalains in the films. Textural analysis was performed on the sausages. The results indicated that films did not significantly alter the color or moisture loss during storage (P > 0.05), while the F2 films maintained the amount of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in the sausages during storage (P < 0.05). Sausages covered with both types of film maintained their texture characteristics for longer compared to the control.
Australian Octocorallia (Coelenterata).

This paper presents a taxonomic treatment of four Australian collections of octocorals belonging to the orders Stolonifera, Telestacea, and Alcyonacea. The four collections are located in the Australian Museum, Sydney, the Department of Fisheries, Adelaide, the National Museum of Victoria, Melbourne, and the Fisheries Laboratory, Queensland Fisheries Service, Mourilyan Harbour, Queensland. The material contains 67 species, 20 being found in Australian waters for the first time. Forty-five are known species, but nine of these are more or less completely redescribed. Twenty-two species are new, including eight new species of Capnella. A key to the species of this genus is given.
Male description and host record for Lophomutilla corupa Casal, 1968 (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae), with behavioural notes on mating behaviour and host nest attacks

The male of the mutillid wasp Lophomutilla corupa is described for the first time. This sexual association was based on field observations of courtship behaviour and on mating trials in the laboratory. The male genitalia are illustrated for the first time for the genus. Diagnosis of Lophomutilla halicta males is also given. Lophomutilla halicta, previously known only from Costa Rica, is reported from Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama. The bee Dialictus seabrai is reported as the first host record for L. corupa. Behavioural notes on attempts to parasitize D. seabrai nests are given, as well as a brief description of the biology of the bee host.
Prognostic implications of expression of the Wilms tumor 1 (WT1) gene in acute leukemia (experience from South Egypt).

Background: Wilms’ tumor (WT1) gene expression has been reported in the majority of acute leukemia patients at diagnosis and has been evaluated as a prognostic and minimal residual disease (MRD) marker but its role is still controversial. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain was used on bone marrow samples from 100 newly diagnosed adults and pediatrics acute leukemia patients (50 and ALL patients). WT1 expression were examined at diagnosis and at the end of induction. Results: WT1 was expressed in (14%) ALL and in (36%) AML patients. We found no statistically significant impact of WT1 expression at diagnosis on response p= 0.054, 0.057, DFS (P = 0.591, 0.858), or OS (p= 0.339, p= 0.331) in ALL and AML patients respectively. showed significant results in ALL p=0.045. Conclusion: Our results suggest that WT1 expression in patients with acute leukemia doesn't have any implication on response or survival however, significant association was found in predicting ALL relapse but the small sample size should be considered.
Expression of the β‐nerve growth factor gene in male sex organs of the mouse, rat, and guinea pig

Steady‐state nerve growth factor (NGF) mRNA levels were estimated in male sex organs of the mouse, rat, and guinea pig by RNA blot hybridization analysis. The abundance of NGFmRNAs was in the order vas deferens < epididymis ≥ seminal vesicles > testis. NGF mRNA levels in these organs were compared with those estimated for other rat peripheral tissues and were found to correlate with the density of their sympathetic innervation, with the exception of guinea pig prostate. Castration had no significant effect on NGF mRNA levels in the guinea pig prostate, suggesting that NGF synthesis in this tissue is not under direct androgen control. NGF‐like and proNGF‐like immunoreactivities were localized by immunohistochemical techniques in the secretory cells of the glandular epithelium of the guinea pig prostate and in germ cells in the seminiferous tubules of the mouse testis.
Understanding the Magdoff pre-sidedress nitrate test for corn

(.) The Magdoff Pre-Sidedress Nitrate Test (PSNT) is a soil test that provides more accurate fertilizer N recommendations for corn than previous N recommendation systems based on anticipated effects of manure and crop management. Using the test can result in significant reductions of fertilizer N use on high-N supplying soils. This article provides the background for understanding how and why this soil test functions for corn in the humid regions of the Midwest and Northeast. The pattern of high-crop N uptake rates relative to mineralization indicates that adequate nutrition requires the presence of a large available N pool in the oil at the start of corn's period of rapid growth. (.)
Effect of various treatment modalities on the novel coronavirus (nCOV-2019) infection in humans: a systematic review & meta-analysis

Background and aim: Several therapeutic agents have been investigated for the treatment of novel Coronavirus-2019 (nCOV-2019). We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effect of various treatment modalities in nCOV-2019 patients. Methods: An extensive literature search was conducted before 22 May 2020 in PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane library databases. Quality assessment was performed using Newcastle Ottawa Scale. A fixed-effect model was applied if I2 <50%, else the results were combined using random-effect model. Risk Ratio (RR) or Standardized Mean Difference (SMD) along-with 95% Confidence Interval (95%CI) were used to pool the results. Between study heterogeneity was explored using influence and sensitivity analyses & publication bias was assessed using funnel plots. Entire statistical analysis was conducted in R version 3.6. 2. Results: Eighty-one studies involving 44 in vitro and 37 clinical studies including 8662 nCOV-2019 patients were included in the review. Lopinavir-Ritonavir compared to controls was significantly associated with shorter mean time to clinical improvement (SMD -0.32; 95%CI -0.57 to -0.06) and Remdesivir compared to placebo was significantly associated with better overall clinical improvement (RR 1.17; 95%CI 1.07 to 1.29). Hydroxychloroquine was associated with less overall clinical improvement (RR 0.88; 95%CI 0.79 to 0.98) and longer time to clinical improvement (SMD 0.64; 95%CI 0.33 to 0.94). It additionally had higher all-cause mortality (RR 1.6; 95%CI 1.26 to 2.03) and more total adverse events (RR 1.84; 95% CI 1.58 to 2.13). Conclusion: Our meta-analysis suggests that except in vitro studies, no treatment till now has shown clear-cut benefit on nCOV-2019 patients. Lopinavir-Ritonavir and Remdesivir have shown some benefits in terms less time to clinical improvement and better overall clinical improvement. Hydroxychloroquine use has a risk of higher mortality and adverse events. Results from upcoming large clinical trials must be awaited to draw any profound conclusions.
BCG vaccination and socioeconomic variables vs Covid-19 global features: clearing up a controversial issue

Background: The Covid-19 pandemic is characterized by extreme variability in the outcome distribution and mortality rates across different countries. Some recent studies suggested an inverse correlation with BCG vaccination at population level, while others denied this hypothesis. In order to address this controversial issue, we performed a strict epidemiological study collecting data available on a global scale, considering additional variables such as cultural-political factors and adherence to other vaccination coverages. Methods: Data on 121 countries, accounting for about 99% of Covid-19 cases and deaths globally, were from John's Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, United Nations, Human Freedom Report, and BCG Atlas. Statistical models used were Ordinary Least Squares, Tobit and Fractional Probit, implemented on Stata/MP16 software. Results: Based on our results, countries where BCG vaccination is or has been mandated in the last decades have seen a drastic reduction in Covid-19 diffusion (-80% on average) and mortality (-50% on average), even controlling for relative wealth of countries and their governmental health expenditure. A significant contribution to this reduction (respectively -50% and -13% on average) was also associated to the outbreak onset during summer, suggesting a possible influence of seasonality. Other variables turned out to be associated, though to a lesser extent. Conclusions: Relying on a very large dataset and a wide array of control variables, our study confirms a strong and robust association between Covid-19 diffusion and mortality with BCG vaccination and a set socio-economic factors, opening new perspectives for clinical speculations and public health policies.
Suspected COVID-19 in primary care: how GP records contribute to understanding differences in prevalence by ethnicity.

Abstract Background The first wave of the London COVID-19 epidemic peaked in April 2020. Attention initially focussed on severe presentations, intensive care capacity, and the timely supply of equipment. General practice has seen a rapid take up of technology to allow virtual consultations, enabling the management of mild and moderate community cases. Aim To quantify the prevalence and time-course of suspected COVID-19 presenting to general practices during the London epidemic. To report disease prevalence by ethnic group, and explore how far differences by ethnicity can be explained by data in the electronic health record (EHR). Design and Setting Cross-sectional study using anonymised data from the primary care records of 1.3 million people registered with 157 practices in four adjacent east London clinical commissioning groups (CCGs). The study area includes 48% of people from ethnic minorities and is in the top decile of social deprivation in England. Method Suspected COVID-19 cases were identified using SNOMED codes. Explanatory variables included age, gender, self-reported ethnicity and measures of social deprivation. Clinical factors included 16 long-term conditions, latest body mass index and smoking status. Results There were 8,985 suspected COVID-19 cases. Ethnicity recording was 78% complete. Univariate analysis showed a two-fold increase in odds of infection for South Asian and Black adults compared to White. In a fully adjusted analysis, including clinical factors, the odds were: South Asian OR 1.93 (95% CI = 1.83 to 2.04) Black OR 1.47 (95% CI 1.38 to 1.57) Conclusions Using data in GP records Black and south Asian ethnicity remain as predictors of community cases of COVID-19, with levels of risk similar to hospital admission cases. Further understanding of these differences requires social and occupational data.
Case fatality risk by age from COVID-19 in a high testing setting in Latin America: Chile, March-May, 2020

Background Early severity estimates of COVID-19 are critically needed to better assess the potential impact of the ongoing pandemic in different socio-demographic groups. Using real-time epidemiological data from Chile, the nation in Latin America with the highest testing rate for COVID-19, we derive delay-adjusted severity estimates by age group as of May 18th, 2020. Methods We employed statistical methods and daily series of age-stratified COVID-19 cases and deaths reported in Chile to estimate the delay-adjusted case fatality rate across six age groups. Results Our most recent estimates of the time-delay adjusted case fatality rate are 0.08% (95% Credible Interval CrI:0.04-0.13%) among persons aged 0-39, 0.61% (95%CrI:0.41-0.87%) for those aged 40-49, 1.06% (95%CrI:0.76-1.40%) for those aged 50-59, 3.79% (95%CrI:3.04-4.66%) for those aged 60-69, 12.22% (95%CrI:10.40-14.38%) for those aged 70-79, and 26.27% (95%CrI:22.95-2980%) for persons aged 80 and over. The overall time-delay adjusted case fatality rate is1.78% (95%CrI: 1.63-1.95%) across all age groups. Conclusions Severity estimates from COVID-19 in Chile indicate a disproportionate impact among seniors, especially among those aged [≥] 70 years. COVID-19 is imposing a high death toll in Latin America. Case fatality rates in Chile suggest the health system is not yet overwhelmed, but the epidemic is expanding fast.
Common and separable neurofunctional dysregulations characterize obsessive compulsive, substance use, and gaming disorders - evidence from an activation likelihood meta-analysis of functional imaging studies

Compulsivity and loss of behavioral control represent core symptoms in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), substance use disorder (SUD), and internet gaming disorder (IGD). Despite elaborated animal models suggesting that compulsivity is mediated by cortico-striatal circuits and a growing number of neuroimaging case-control studies common and distinct neurofunctional alterations in these disorders have not been systematically examined. The present activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analysis capitalized on previous case-control fMRI studies to determine shared and disorder-specific neurofunctional alterations among the three disorders. Task-based fMRI studies employing case-control designs in individuals with SUD, OCD or IGD were obtained. Coordinate-based meta-analyses (ALE) were performed within each disorder. Next subtraction and conjunction meta-analyses were performed to determine differential and common neurofunctional alterations between the disorders. Task-paradigm classes were group according to RDoC domains to determine contributions of underlying behavioral domains. 144 articles were included representing data from individuals (SUD=2418, controls=2332; IGD=361, controls=360; OCD=715, controls=711) from case-control. Comparative and conjunction meta-analyses revealed shared alterations in insular-prefrontal circuits in SUD and OCD, with SUD exhibiting additionally pronounced dorsal striatal alterations as compared to both, OCD and IGD. IGD and SUD exhibited shared prefrontal alterations, with IGD demonstrating pronounced temporal alterations compared to both, SUD and OCD. No robust overlap between IGD and OCD was observed. Across the disorders, neurofunctional alterations were mainly contributed to by the cognitive systems and positive valence RDoC domains. The present findings indicate that neurofunctional dysregulations in prefrontal regions engaged in regulatory control represent shared neurofunctional alterations across substance and behavioral addictions, while neurofunctional dysregulations in the anterior insula may mediate compulsivity substance addiction and obsessive-compulsive disorders.
Effects of the herbicide molinate on the metabolic activities of a degradative Streptomyces griseus strain

Abstract Cometabolic degradation of the herbicide molinate was tested using two microorganisms, Arthrobacter sp. , strain M3 and Streptomyces griseus strain M2; the latter classified on the basis of the presence of the enzymatic cofactor SF‐420. The strains M3 and M2, inoculated in a basic salts medium with glucose as carbon source and added with 100 mg L‐1 of molinate, degraded respectively 35 and 51% of the herbicide in 36 days. Increasing concentrations of molinate, ranging from 50 to 200 mg L‐1 in glucose medium, did not affect the final ATP yield of the strain M2, but decreased the final growth yield and the ATP synthesis rate. Moreover, the onset of coenzyme SF‐420 synthesis was progressively delayed. In contrast, surprisingly, SF‐420 final yield and production rate were increased by progressive increasing concentrations of molinate in the mineral medium.