Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Identification of Corynebacterium urealyticum based on the phenotypic characteristics and 16S rRNA gene sequence

ISS In this study, we have described and identified a strain of Corynebacterium urealyticum from a case of urinary tract infections (UTIs) based on its phenotypic characteristics and 16S rRNA gene sequence. The bacterium grows slowly on standard media and may easily be misidentified. The special phenotypic characteristics are valuable for identification, and DNA sequencing after PCR amplification with suitable primers is a fast and easy way to obtain the correct bacterial information to establish the diagnosis of UTI. We believe that the simultaneous phenotyping and rapid genotypic identification will have a major impact on the diagnosis and treatment of UTI. 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
NOMENCLATURE OF ENDOSYMBIOTIC DINOFLAGELLATES

Summary The nomenclature of symbiotic dinoflagellates harboured by animal hosts is reviewed with regard to its history and employment. Zooxanthella, Philozoon, Zoorhabdella, and Endodinium may be regarded as synonyms of Amphidinium which has priority. Gymnodinium is considered to be incorrectly employed instead of Symbiodinium when applied to S. microadriaticum. Chrysidella is illegitimate. It is proposed to reject Zooxanthella as a confusing name widely applied to taxa not including its type.
A comparison of greenhouse and field screening methods for blackleg resistance in doubled haploid lines of Brassica napus

A group of 87 doubled haploid (DH) lines of canola (Brassica napus) were screened for blackleg resistance in the greenhouse at three plant growth stages: cotyledon, true leaf, and adult plant. Disease severity data were calculated on 33 DH lines, which were subsequently screened in field experiments over 2 yr along with parental lines and controls. The inoculum level used in field experiments was the same as that used in greenhouse screening. Blackleg disease severity and disease incidence on field-grown lines were highly correlated (r≥ 0.82) with greenhouse disease severity data for all three growth stages. In greenhouse experiments, disease severity data for different growth stages were also highly correlated (r≥0.83)
Development of Dual Control Allotopic Expression System for Subunit 8 of Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae Mitochondrial ATP Synthase

The yeast mitochondrial F1F0-ATP synthase is a multisubunit complex that contains at least 17 different subunits. Subunit 8 of yeast mitochondrial ATP synthase is a hydrophobic protein of 48 amino acids encoded by the mitochondrial ATP8 gene. A dual control allotopic expression system for subunit 8 has been developed. The strategy involves maintenance of two different compatible yeast expression vectors each utilizing a different inducible promoter in the same host cells. The system thus enables cloning and allotopic expression of two different forms of subunit 8 gene. The goal of the developed strategy is to permit allotopic expression of functional wildtype subunit 8 gene under a conditional promoter system and subunit 8 variant gene under the control of a different promoter system. The system is potentially useful for accurate assessment of assembly behavior of functionally defective subunit 8 variants in vivo. The strategy relies on the ability to conditionally regulate the expression of the two genes. A set of functionally defective subunit 8 variants has been cloned under an inducible yeast promoter system and dual plasmid harboring strains for dual control allotopic expression of each variant have been constructed.
Weakly-Supervised Text Classification Using Label Names Only

Current text classification methods typically require a good number of human-labeled documents as training data, which can be costly and difficult to obtain in real applications. Humans can perform classification without seeing any labeled examples but only based on a small set of words describing the categories to be classified. In this paper, we explore the potential of only using the label name of each class to train classification models on unlabeled data, without using any labeled documents. We use pre-trained neural language models both as general linguistic knowledge sources for category understanding and as representation learning models for document classification. Our method (1) associates semantically related words with the label names, (2) finds category-indicative words and trains the model to predict their implied categories, and (3) generalizes the model via self-training. We show that our model achieves around 90% accuracy on four benchmark datasets including topic and sentiment classification without using any labeled documents but learning from unlabeled data supervised by at most 3 words (1 in most cases) per class as the label name.
Towards an asymmetric index of community similarity

A number of indices are currently used by ecologists to measure the similarity or difference between community samples. Nearly all are symmetrical, in that the degree of similarity is equal for both parties being compared. There are situations, however, where an asymmetrical measure is more appropriate, most notably in studies of dispersal and its effects. I propose 2 variants of a potentially useful asymmetrical similarity index for use in such circumstances. In most respects, they are well behaved, reflecting the similarity and nestedness of samples, while being relatively insensitive to sample size and species diversity. They are also simple to compute and intuitively meaningful. Nonetheless, they provide anomalous results in cases where one plot contains a nested subset of the commonest species of another. I welcome suggestions for a better asymmetric index of similarity.
Reintroduction and postrelease movements of red-cockaded woodpecker groups in eastern Texas

The effects of demographic isolation may be particularly severe in small, isolated populations of the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis). Augmentation of single adult woodpeckers with subadult birds of the opposite sex allows managers to stabilize small, isolated populations but does not provide a means to significantly increase populations. The reintroduction of pairs of subadult red-cockaded woodpeckers into unoccupied habitat provides a technique to bolster small populations. We report the results of such efforts to increase a small, isolated red-cockaded woodpecker population in eastern Texas, and we describe postrelease movements of translocated red-cockaded woodpeckers. Seventeen red-cockaded woodpeckers (9 M, 8 F) were translocated to the Sabine National Forest in eastern Texas between December 1994 and March 1995. Prior to translocations, this forest contained 13 groups of red-cockaded woodpeckers. Five pairs, consisting of a subadult male and female, were released to attempt to establish new breeding pairs. Seven additional subadult woodpeckers were translocated to provide mates to solitary individuals. Nine previously unoccupied sites were occupied. Of the 17 woodpeckers translocated, 12 (71%; 6 M, 6 F) were established in territories following the 1995 or 1996 breeding seasons. The remaining 5 woodpeckers were unaccounted for. Of the 12 woodpeckers resighted, 3 (18%) established territories at their release sites. Woodpeckers that dispersed from their release site were relocated in sites an average of 2.8 km (range = 0.5-9.6 km) away. One (20%) of the 5 pairs released remained together into the 1995 breeding season. Eight (89%) of the 9 new pairs found during 1995 and 1996 included at least 1 translocated red-cockaded woodpecker and bred during 1995 or 1996. Our results demonstrate that the direct reintroduction of multiple pairs is an effective technique for reestablishing breeding units in formerly vacant habitat. Our results also suggest the reintroduction of pairs in a spatial array dense enough to allow social contact between adjacent pairs and with preexisting clusters substantially increases the formation of new pairs.
The Occurrence of Ripistes parasita (Oligochaeta:Naididae) in Minnesota and Its Implications for Benthic Sampling

The naidid Ripistes parasita (Schmidt) was identified from benthic samples collected at two localities in north-central Minnesota. Specimens were collected with a D-frame kick net from the Rainy and Bear Rivers. These samples represent a new western range extension for this species, as well as being the first recorded occurrence in Minnesota. This naidid may be more widespread than records indicate. However, the widespread use of 0.590-mm sieves for benthic work, resulting in the possible loss of naidids may be responsible for its sporadic distribution. Future benthic work should include sorting unsieved samples, or sieving some samples through finer (0.250 mm) mesh, to correlate naidid assemblages with water quality and to accurately assess the contribution of this fauna to total community dynamics.
Short-term memory demands of reaction-time tasks that differ in complexity.

Four experiments were conducted to determine whether the increased reaction time produced by loading memory with a set of irrelevant items depended on the complexity of the stage structure or of the stimulus-response (S-R) mapping rules underlying the task. In each experiment, reaction-time tasks varying in complexity were performed alone and in the retention interval of a short-term memory task requiring ordered recall of eight digits. Experiment 1 compared simple, choice, and go/no-go tasks over 3 days of practice and found no interaction between memory load and task complexity. Experiment 2 replicated the first day of Experiment 1 with more power and again found no interaction. Since the different tasks required different numbers of stages, this ruled out stage structure as a factor loading memory. However, in Experiment 1 and 2, the same subjects performed all three tasks with the same set of letters and may have developed one comprehensive set of mapping rules for all three tasks, essentially eliminating differences in memory demands between tasks. Experiment 3 used different groups of subjects for a simple and a choice task with letters as stimuli to encourage the development of separate, differentially complex mapping rules for each task and found more interference in the choice task than in the simple task. Experiment 4 involved one group that performed the choice task with letters and the simple task with dots presented at different positions in the visual field, and another group that performed the simple task with letters and the choice task with dots. Comparisons within subjects between materials and between subjects within materials showed that with letters as stimuli, the choice task suffered more interference than the simple task. However, the choice task with dots showed no such pattern, perhaps because of high ideomotor compatibility. It is concluded that S-R mapping rules are held in memory to enable performance on reaction-time tasks, and the findings are discussed in terms of strategies, preparation, and attentional control.
Models for evaluation of growth of performance tested bulls

Before being used for insemination, young bulls of Czech Fleckvieh (CF) are tested for growth at performance-test stations. While at stations, the bulls are weighed monthly. Evaluation included 7 448 bulls with 82 676 records of weight measured from 6 to 520 days of life. In the station-year-period (HYS), which can be prolonged up to 3 months, different groups were tested according to the beginning of growth curve and according to test-days of weighing. Weight analyses were used to handle heterogeneous variability based on age. Legendre Polynomials (LP) with 5 parameters described the average growth curve for HYS classes. Deviations from average curves were decomposed into genetic (G), animal's permanent environment (PE) and residual (RES) components. Functions of (G) and (PE) were tested using LP random regression (RR) methodology with 5 or 3 parameters and Linear Spline (SP) function with 5 knots. Variance increases with the age of the animals. From 100 to 400 days, heritability was nearly the same with a mild depression in the middle of the period. The average was h 2 = 0.31 and ended with h 2 = 0.36. Results were similar for variance components, heritability, genetic, environmental and phenotype correlations from different models with different LP and SP functions. Higher RES variability occurred only for LP with 3 parameters. For traits like live weight, the RR should have at least 3 parameters and SP function should be used.
Cell-Taught Gene Therapy for the Preservation and Regeneration of Cardiac Tissue Following Chronic Heart Failure

Heart failure is the primary cause of mortality and morbidity in the Western world. Although cell therapy has demonstrated improvement in cardiac function, these benefits are being attributed to the activation of paracrine factors, rather than the differentiation and integration of the transplanted cells into the host tissue. Based on this knowledge the focus of this thesis work was to deliver paracrine factors, and evaluate its effect on cardiac function. Gene therapy has evolved as a promising option to deliver pro-angiogenic proteins to infarct zones, thus providing cardiac benefit. This study has identified a gene design without the use of viral vectors, to deliver transient, yet therapeutic levels of an angiogenic chemokine, Stromal-Derived-Cell-Factor-1 (SDF-1) in rodents with chronic heart failure, and has reported significant improvement in cardiac function. The use of Kozak sequences and translational enhancers helped boost gene expressions which could be accurately measured using bio-fluorescence imaging techniques. This improvement in
Fertility, Women's Wage Rates, and Labor Supply

A theoretical model is presented whereby the relationships among fertility child quality womens wage rates and labor supply can be studied. The model utilizes a disaggregate multivariate household approach. The theoretical underpinnings of the multiple equation model are described. The data base and variables that were used are discussed. The focus of the model is a wifes lifetime labor supply as influenced by fertility decisions price and income variables instead of current labor force participation. The model shows that the number of children desired responds negatively to their cost and positively to family income. Desired family size feeds back negatively to mothers market earning power. Contrasting to previous model evaluations this model shows a negligible influence on the labor force participation of married women by the number of children in the family. Future research should focus on exogenous forces impinging on the decision to have children.
Brachydontium notorogenes sp. nov. (Seligeriaceae) from Southeastern Brazil

Brachydontium notorogenes is described from Parque Nacional do Itatiaia in south- eastern Brazil. It is distinguished from all other species in the genus by the combination of long- subulate leaves and eperistomate capsules. Brachydontium is a genus of small acrocarpous mosses with mitrate calyptrae, large annuli, and mostly plicate capsules. It differs from the confamil- ial Seligeria by just these characters, and usually by truncate peristome teeth. Plants of both genera have small smooth leaf cells, mostly flexuose setae with erect capsules, and haplolepideous peristomes. The previously described species of Brachydontium are the circum-North Temperate B. trichodes (Weber) Milde, B. flexisetum (Hampe) Paris from Andean Colombia (and more recently reported from Rwan- da, De Sloover 1973), B. intermedium Stone from southeastern Australia, B. curvisetum Crum from Mexico, B. olsonii Bowers & Allen from Honduras, and B. olympicum (Britton) McIntosh & Spence from the North American Pacific Northwest (Oregon to Alaska) and Japan. All but the last of these species are peristomate. Therefore, when another eperis- tomate species of Brachydontium was recently dis- covered in southeastern Brazil, it was relatively sim- ple to establish that it was undescribed.
Influence of Age of Female Glyptapanteles flavicoxis (Marsh) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and Its Periodicity of Oviposition Activity on Levels of Parasitism and Reproductive Output

Glyptapanteles flavicoxis oviposition activity, progeny production, and progeny sex ratio were studied in relation to parental female age in the laboratory. The daily percentage of hosts successfully parasitized, total number of progeny produced, and percentage of female progeny all declined with parental female age. Greater success in parasitizing hosts was achieved in the morning (9–12 a.m.) than in the afternoon (1–4 p.m.) when given equal numbers of hosts. Female age had no significant effect on this trend.
First record of genus Gallardoneris (Polychaeta: Lumbrineridae) in Mediterranean marine waters

The occurrence of the lumbrinerid polychaete Gallardoneris iberica along the North Adriatic coast is here reported for the first time. The specimens of G. iberica have been recently discovered and described from the Portuguese continental shelf. Specimens of G. iberica collected in the Adriatic Sea were compared with paratypes and some relevant morphological characters were revised, illustrated and discussed. The record of G. iberica here reported represents a new addition to the fauna of Italian marine waters extending hence the geographical distribution of the genus Gallardoneris to the Mediterranean Sea.
Protective cover and the use of space : different strategies in finches

The use of space in two finches (Emberizidae), lark buntings (Calamospiza melanocorys) and white-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys), was studied experimentally relative to dense vegetation that may provide protection from predators. Both species were strongly influenced by such vegetation (cover). When cover was present, both buntings and sparrows would feed close to it. However, buntings avoided feeding in cover, and fed in its complete absence, while the more "conventional" sparrows preferred feeding in cover and never fed in its absence. This difference reflects the two species' escape tactics: sparrows sought cover when attacked by raptors, while buntings never sought even nearby (< 1 m distant) cover when attacked. The attraction of cover for lark buntings appeared to be the obstruction it afforded, but its precise nature is not clear. Overall, lark buntings and white-crowned sparrows exhibited very different strategies for the use of space around cover, and the existence of such differences has important implications for avian community organization.
SUCCINIC DEHYDROGENASE ACTIVITY IN THE SQUAMOSOMANDIBULAR ARTICULATION OF PRENATAL MICE

Succinic dehydrogenase activity of the 15 to 20 day murine (CD-1) mandibular joint was determined by incubating cryostat sections at 37°C for one hr in a medium containing sodium succinate. A series of adjacent sections were incubated in a medium from which the substrate had been deleted. The SDH activity in the mandibular joints of 15 and 16 day embryos was minimal and thereafter a gradual increase in the enzyme activity was evident. The cells involved in intercellular matrix elaboration (chondroblasts and osteoblasts) and those concerned in remodeling of existing structures (osteoclasts/chondroclasts) demonstrated high levels of enzyme activity. The activity observed in chondrocytes varied between slight and moderate, however, the osteocytes were non-reactive. Intense SDH activity was observed in the medial and lateral pterygoid muscles as well as in the trigeminal ganglia.
ELECTROCHEMICAL DETECTION AND CATALYTIC OXIDATION OF PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS OVER NICKEL COMPLEX MODIFIED GRAPHITE ELECTRODE

A Novel Ni(II) mixed ligand complex modified graphite electrode is developed for detection and oxidation of the phenolic compounds based on simple cyclic voltammetric technique. The Ni(II) mixed ligand complex with thiocyanate and macro cyclic ligand 1, 4, 8, 11 tetraaza cyclotetradecane (cyclam) was synthesised and used for catalytic oxidation of phenolic compounds viz. phenol, nitro-phenol and chloro-phenol etc. The Ni(II)-cyclam-thiocyanate mixed ligand complex was synthesised in typical molar ratio of 1:2:5:: Ni(II):cyclam:thiocyanate and crystallized followed by characterization and catalytic applications. The electrochemical study of the complex mediated graphite electrode revealed its fast electron-transfer property, as formation of higher oxidation state of central Ni(II) metal ion as Ni(III) on applying a positive potential, which catalyses the oxidation of the target species. The Ni(II) complex modified graphite paste electrode enhanced the oxidation current of phenolic compounds many times relatively at lower oxidation potential in comparison to simple graphite paste electrode. It is also found to be sensitive for the detection of various phenolic compounds in the range of 20 mg/L to 0.5mg/L in aqueous solution. The Ni(II)-complex stability at higher potential and ambient condition proved its potential for sensing and detoxification of phenolic compounds released in the ecosystem from polluting industries.
UAV Path Planning using Global and Local Map Information with Deep Reinforcement Learning

Path planning methods for autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are typically designed for one specific type of mission. This work presents a method for autonomous UAV path planning based on deep reinforcement learning (DRL) that can be applied to a wide range of mission scenarios. Specifically, we compare coverage path planning (CPP), where the UAV's goal is to survey an area of interest to data harvesting (DH), where the UAV collects data from distributed Internet of Things (IoT) sensor devices. By exploiting structured map information of the environment, we train double deep Q-networks (DDQNs) with identical architectures on both distinctly different mission scenarios to make movement decisions that balance the respective mission goal with navigation constraints. By introducing a novel approach exploiting a compressed global map of the environment combined with a cropped but uncompressed local map showing the vicinity of the UAV agent, we demonstrate that the proposed method can efficiently scale to large environments. We also extend previous results for generalizing control policies that require no retraining when scenario parameters change and offer a detailed analysis of crucial map processing parameters' effects on path planning performance.
Soil moisture map construction using microwave remote sensors and sequential data assimilation

Microwave remote sensors mounted on center pivot irrigation systems provide a feasible approach to obtain soil moisture information, in the form of water content maps, for the implementation of closed-loop irrigation. Major challenges such as significant time delays in the soil moisture measurements, the inability of the sensors to provide soil moisture information in instances where the center pivot is stationary, and the inability of the sensors to provide soil moisture information in the root zone reduce the usability of the water content maps in the effective implementation of closed-loop irrigation. In this paper, we seek to address the aforementioned challenges and consequently describe a water content map construction procedure that is suitable for the implementation of closed-loop irrigation. Firstly, we propose the cylindrical coordinates version of the Richards equation (field model) which naturally models fields equipped with a center pivot irrigation system. Secondly, measurements obtained from the microwave sensors are assimilated into the field model using the extended Kalman filter to form an information fusion system, which will provide frequent soil moisture estimates and predictions in the form of moisture content maps. The utility of the proposed information fusion system is first investigated with simulated microwave sensor measurements. The information fusion system is then applied to a real large-scale agriculture field where we demonstrate the its ability to address the challenges. Three performance evaluation criteria are used to validate the soil moisture estimates and predictions provided by the proposed information fusion system.