Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Seahorses exhibit conventional sex roles in mating competition, despite male pregnancy

In seahorses, only males undergo a pregnancy. It had been tacitly and explicitly assumed that seahorses were sex role reversed (that females competed more intensely than males for access to mates), on the basis that male pregnancy so limited male reproduction as to produce a female-biased operational sex ratio (OSR). However, this supposition had never been investigated. The laboratory experiments in this paper demonstrate that, contrary to expectations, seahorses exhibit conventional sex roles: male seahorses compete more intensely than females for access to mates, on both the first and final days of courtship. Competing males are more active than competing females in those courtship and competitive behaviours common to both sexes, and only males exhibit uniquely competitive behaviours (wrestling and snapping). Males which succeeded in copulating are heavier than their rivals and copulating seahorses of both sexes generally are more active in courtship and competition than are their unsuccessful rivals. The finding that seahorses maintain conventional sex roles requires us to reconsider the impact of male pregnancy on the OSR.
Small nuclear RNA transcription and ribonucleoprotein assembly in early Xenopus development

The Xenopus egg and embryo, throughout the transcriptionally inactive early cleavage period, were found to contain a store of approximately 8 X 10(8) molecules of the small nuclear RNA (snRNA) U1, sufficient for 4,000-8,000 nuclei. In addition, when transcription is activated at the twelfth cleavage (4,000 cell-stage), the snRNAs U1, U2, U4, U5, and U6 are major RNA polymerase II products. From the twelfth cleavage to gastrulation, U1 RNA increases sevenfold in 4 h, paralleling a similar increase in nuclear number. This level of snRNA transcription is much greater than that typical of somatic cells, implying a higher rate of U1 transcription or a greater number of U1 genes active in the embryo. The Xenopus egg also contains snRNP proteins, since it has the capacity to package exogenously added snRNA into immunoprecipitable snRNP particles, which resemble endogenous particles in both sedimentation coefficient and T1 RNase digestibility. SnRNP proteins may recognize conserved secondary structure of U1 snRNA since efficient packaging of both mouse and Drosophila U1 RNAs, differing 30% in sequence, occurs. The Xenopus egg and embryo can be used to pose a number of interesting questions about the transcription, assembly, and function of snRNA.
Symmetry Breaking and Emergence of Directional Flows in Minimal Actomyosin Cortices

Cortical actomyosin flows, among other mechanisms, scale up spontaneous symmetry breaking and thus play pivotal roles in cell differentiation, division, and motility. According to many model systems, myosin motor-induced local contractions of initially isotropic actomyosin cortices are nucleation points for generating cortical flows. However, the positive feedback mechanisms by which spontaneous contractions can be amplified towards large-scale directed flows remain mostly speculative. To investigate such a process on spherical surfaces, we reconstituted and confined initially isotropic minimal actomyosin cortices to the interfaces of emulsion droplets. The presence of ATP leads to myosin-induced local contractions that self-organize and amplify into directed large-scale actomyosin flows. By combining our experiments with theory, we found that the feedback mechanism leading to a coordinated directional motion of actomyosin clusters can be described as asymmetric cluster vibrations, caused by intrinsic non-isotropic ATP consumption with spatial confinement. We identified fingerprints of vibrational states as the basis of directed motions by tracking individual actomyosin clusters. These vibrations may represent a generic key driver of directed actomyosin flows under spatial confinement in vitro and in living systems.
Transcriptional repression of Myc underlies the tumour suppressor function of AGO1 in Drosophila

ABSTRACT Here, we report novel tumour suppressor activity for the Drosophila Argonaute family RNA-binding protein AGO1, a component of the miRNA-dependent RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). The mechanism for growth inhibition does not, however, involve canonical roles as part of the RISC; rather, AGO1 controls cell and tissue growth by functioning as a direct transcriptional repressor of the master regulator of growth, Myc. AGO1 depletion in wing imaginal discs drives a significant increase in ribosome biogenesis, nucleolar expansion and cell growth in a manner dependent on Myc abundance. Moreover, increased Myc promoter activity and elevated Myc mRNA in AGO1-depleted animals requires RNA polymerase II transcription. Further support for transcriptional AGO1 functions is provided by physical interaction with the RNA polymerase II transcriptional machinery (chromatin remodelling factors and Mediator Complex), punctate nuclear localisation in euchromatic regions and overlap with Polycomb Group transcriptional silencing loci. Moreover, significant AGO1 enrichment is observed on the Myc promoter and AGO1 interacts with the Myc transcriptional activator Psi. Together, our data show that Drosophila AGO1 functions outside of the RISC to repress Myc transcription and inhibit developmental cell and tissue growth. This article has an associated ‘The people behind the papers’ interview. Highlighted Article: In the Drosophila wing, the Argonaute family protein AGO1 acts independently of the miRNA-silencing pathway to restrict tissue growth by directly repressing transcription of the master growth regulator Myc.
In vitro micropropagation of a tree legume adapted to arid lands Acacia tortilis subsp raddiana

Une methode a ete developpee pour la multiplication de pousses et la formation de plants in vitro a partir d'explants d'embryons d'Acacia tortilis (Forsk) Hayne, ssp raddiana (Mimosoidees). Cette Legumineuse est un arbre important adapte aux conditions arides, eleve en particulier pour la stabilisation des dunes et les programmes de reboisement dans differentes zones arides du monde. Les graines d'A. tortilis, recoltees sur des genotypes selectionnes par le CAZRI, ont ete mises a germer in vitro sur un milieu de Murashige et Skoog (MS), sans regulateurs de croissance. Differents types d'explants (hypocotyles, cotyledons, axes embryonnaires [=nœuds cotyledonaires]) ont ete excises a partir de semis d'une semaine. Differents regulateurs de croissance ont ete incorpores au milieu MS pour les etudes de regeneration. L'induction de pousses a partir d'explants de nœuds cotyledonaires a ete observee des le 5 e j de culture, comme en temoignent les observations faites en microscopie electronique a balayage. La regeneration de pousses est favorisee par l'addition dans le milieu de concentrations elevees de cytokinines (2,5 a 5 mg.l -1 ) avec ou sans auxine (0,1 a 0,25 mg.l -1 ). Jusqu'a 13 pousses peuvent se differencier a partir d'explants eleves sur milieu de MS additionne d'ANA (0,1 mg.l -1 ) et de BA (5 mg.l -1 ). La croissance et la multiplication des pousses est stimulee par des repiquages a 4 sem d'intervalle. Sur les explants se forment a la fois des pousses axillaires et des pousses adventives. Il n'y a en revanche eu aucune regeneration a partir d'hypocotyles ou de cotyledons, et cela quels que soient les traitements. Des pousses feuillees, bien allongees, ont ete obtenues a partir du milieu de multiplication apres 10 a 12 sem de culture. Elles se sont enracinees sur milieu MS a la dilution 1/2 contenant de l'AIB (3 mg.l -1 ). L'ANA s'est avere moins efficace que l'AIB pour l'enracinement. L'adjonction de concentrations d'auxine plus elevees (>3 mg.l -1 ) favorise la formation de cals a la base des pousses. Des plantules developpees in vitro ont avec succes ete elevees pendant 2 mois en conditions non steriles. Le systeme de regeneration ainsi obtenu peut etre utile pour la multiplication en masse d'A tortilis
Full-Genome Sequences of Two Newcastle Disease Virus Strains Isolated in West Java, Indonesia

The full-genome sequences of strains chicken/Indonesia/Cilebut/010WJ/2015 and chicken/Indonesia/ITA/012WJ/1951, isolated in West Java, Indonesia, in 2015 and 1951, respectively, were examined. Chicken/Indonesia/Cilebut/010WJ/2015 (genotype VII) caused a 2015 disease outbreak in Indonesia, and chicken/Indonesia/ITA/012WJ/1951 (genotype VI) is used as a standard strain for challenge in Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vaccine trials. ABSTRACT The full-genome sequences of strains chicken/Indonesia/Cilebut/010WJ/2015 and chicken/Indonesia/ITA/012WJ/1951, isolated in West Java, Indonesia, in 2015 and 1951, respectively, were examined. Chicken/Indonesia/Cilebut/010WJ/2015 (genotype VII) caused a 2015 disease outbreak in Indonesia, and chicken/Indonesia/ITA/012WJ/1951 (genotype VI) is used as a standard strain for challenge in Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vaccine trials.
Winter energy deficits and the importance of fruit versus insects in a tropical island bird population

The sedentary population of 200 to 500 silver-eyes on Heron Island, Australian Great Barrier Reef, experiences high mortality during the winter non-breeding season. The omnivorous silvereyes feed mainly on small insects gleaned from foliage, and on fruits, especially the fig Ficus opposita. Estimates of the energy content of food items reveal that small insects (2–5 mm long) provide little assimilable energy (9 J), whereas large insects (>8 mm) and bites of fig provide most assimilable energy (217 J and 181 J respectively). An analysis of the average daily intakes and expenditures (estimated by the time-budget method) for three sampling occasions showed that the rates of insect consumption (10,15 and 11 kJ day-1) were significantly less than the energy requirements (37, 38 and 37 kJ day-1). While many individuals may have been able to balance their energy budgets by eating figs, the calculated fruit intake rates (38, 9 and 0.5 kJ day-1 respectively), together with high inter-individual variation in fig consumption, suggest that figs were often in short supply. The birds visited fig trees most frequently during the first 2 h after sunrise, and the feeding success rate in fig trees (approximately 20% of visits successful) during this time was significantly greater than that during the rest of the day (approximately 10% of visits successful). Alternative hypotheses for these patterns, based on protein requirements, on diurnal rhythms imposed by insect availability, or on satiation, are considered and rejected. These results indicate that the pre-breeding population size is limited by winter energy shortage, the extent of which is dependent on the size and phenology of the fig crop. Natural selection should favour individual strategies for maximization of net energy intake.
Fitness Functions for Alternative Developmental Pathways in the Timing of Diapause Induction

We analyze five commonly occurring ontogenetic relationships between the sensitive period (SP) for diapause induction, during which environmental cues are assessed and the decision is made whether to diapause, and the diapause stage (DS), during which normal development ceases and diapause characteristics prevail. One relationship (case 1), in which both the SP and DS occur in the juvenile stages of the same generation, has previously been analyzed in detail. Here we concentrate on the remaining four developmental pathways. In case 2a, the DS is the adult preceded by a determinate SP. Since a determinate SP has a fixed end before reproduction, adults are committed to reproduction or to diapause before reproducing. In case 2b, the DS is the adult preceded by an indeterminate SP, which has no fixed end and extends into the reproductive adult stage, allowing an adult to reproduce before entering diapause. The parental generation in case 3a determines the diapausing fate of a preadult stage in the next generation, and the SP is determinate (i.e., offspring are all diapausing or all nondiapausing). Case 3b is the same as case 3a, but with an indeterminate SP, permitting females to produce nondiapausing and then diapausing offspring. Each of these four cases generates a unique fitness function. For each case, we provide formulas for the optimal time at which individuals should enter diapause or produce diapausing offspring; we also show which parameters determine the shape of the fitness functions. We review the literature on the occurrence of the alternative pathways among various arthropods and discuss the evolutionary significance of a determinate versus indeterminate SP. It is suggested that case 2b would be the best for testing the predictions of the theory.
(Pre)Modern sleep. New evidence from the Antwerp criminal court (1715–1795)

Lately, experts have turned to historical evidence to uncover the default mode of our sleep pattern. Even though there are some notable exceptions, most historians use a qualitative methodology based on scattered evidence in diaries, letters, novels, medical treatise and other literary sources. To provide fresh perspective in the debate, the present article develops a more quantitative approach. Drawing fresh evidence from early modern criminal records – viz the eyewitness reports of the Hoge Vierschaer or the local criminal court in Antwerp – we are able to debunk some classic stereotypes about premodern sleep patterns. Data reveal that most 18th‐century Antwerpers slept fewer hours than we would expect, slumbered in a monophasic way and rarely if ever took a nap during the day. Moreover, the start and end of sleep were less attuned to the solar cycle than we would imagine. Last but not least, the pattern also shows some fascinating weekly and seasonal variations.
Lateral Perturbation-Induced and Voluntary Stepping in Fallers and Nonfallers After Stroke.

OBJECTIVE A loss of balance poststroke from externally induced-perturbations or during voluntary movements is often recovered by stepping. The purpose of this study was to characterize stepping behavior during lateral induced waist-pull perturbations and voluntary steps in community-dwelling fallers and nonfallers with chronic stroke. METHODS This study used a cohort design. Thirty participants > 6 months poststroke were exposed to 24 externally triggered lateral waist-pull perturbations and 20 voluntary steps. Balance-tolerance-limit (BTL) (transition from single to multiple steps) and first step type were determined for the waist-pull perturbations. Step parameters of initiation time, velocity, first step length, and clearance were calculated at and above BTL and for the voluntary steps. Hip abductor/adductor torque, foot cutaneous sensation, and self-reported falls that occurred 6 months prior were evaluated. RESULTS Twelve participants were classified retrospectively as fallers and 18 as nonfallers. Fallers had a reduced BTL and took more medial first steps than nonfallers. Above BTL, no between-group differences were found in medial steps. At BTL, the nonparetic step clearance was reduced in fallers. Above BTL, fallers took longer to initiate a paretic and nonparetic step and had a reduced nonparetic step length and clearance when compared with nonfallers. There was a between group difference in step initiation time for voluntary stepping with the paretic leg (P < .05). Fallers had a reduced paretic abductor torque and impaired paretic foot cutaneous sensation. CONCLUSION A high fall rate poststroke necessitates effective fall prevention strategies.Given that more differences were found during perturbation induced stepping between fallers and non-fallers, further research assessing perturbation induced training on reducing falls is needed. IMPACT Falls assessments should include both externally induced perturbations, along with voluntary movements in determining the fall risk.
A Two-Layer, Energy-Efficient Approach for Joint Power Control and Uplink–Downlink Channel Allocation in D2D Communication

Energy efficiency (EE) is a critical performance indicator for the device-to-device (D2D) communication underlaying cellular networks due to limited battery capacity and serious interference between user equipment. In this study, we proposed a power control and channel allocation scheme for the EE maximization of the D2D pairs, while jointly reusing uplink–downlink resources and guaranteeing the cellular users’ (CUs) quality of service (QoS). The formulated problem was a mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) problem, which is generally an unsolved non-deterministic polynomial-time hardness (NP-hard) problem within polynomial time. To make it tractable to solve, the original problem was divided into two sub-problems: power control and channel allocation. A power control algorithm based on the Lambert W function was proposed to maximize the EE of the individual D2D pair. Assigning either an uplink or downlink resource to reuse, the EE of each D2D pair was calculated using the power control results. A channel allocation scheme based on the Kuhn–Munkres algorithm utilized the EE weights to optimize the overall EE of the D2D pairs. The simulation results verified the theoretical analysis and proved that the proposed algorithm could remarkably improve the EE of D2D pairs while guaranteeing the QoS of the CUs.
The International Model of Alcohol Harms and Policies: A New Method for Estimating Alcohol Health Harms With Application to Alcohol-Attributable Mortality in Canada.

OBJECTIVE Data regarding alcohol-caused health harms are required by policymakers for setting health priorities. However, these estimations are currently resource intensive, and estimates vary substantially by method. Thus, many countries, states, and regions do not track these harms. We address this limitation through creation of the International Model of Alcohol Harms and Policies (InterMAHP), an open-access alcohol harms estimator. InterMAHP consists of methodologies and program software designed to assist alcohol research teams in estimating alcohol-attributable mortality and morbidity, by region. It is available at www.intermahp. cisur.ca. Application is illustrated through updated estimates of alcohol-attributable mortality in Canada. METHOD Mortality counts and per capita alcohol sales were obtained from Statistics Canada. Drinking and bingeing prevalences were obtained from the Canadian Substance Use Exposure Database. InterMAHP automated the calculations of alcohol-attributable fractions (AAF) using the modern AAF formulation and a gamma distribution to specify the continuous prevalence distribution of consumption. RESULTS Alcohol is a leading driver of mortality in Canada. In 2016, more than 14,800 (95% CI [12,435, 17,127]) deaths were alcohol attributable, representing 5.5% of all deaths. This burden is borne disproportionately by men (79%). Among condition categories, cancer is the leading cause of alcohol-attributable mortality in both men and women. CONCLUSIONS InterMAHP has the potential to assist public health researchers globally in estimating alcohol harms. This open-access software was used to estimate alcohol-attributable mortality in Canada, which was shown to be substantial. Policies proven to reduce alcohol consumption and related harms should be considered to reduce this burden.
Tunneling diodes based on polymer infiltrated vertically aligned carbon nanotube forests

We report the fabrication and characterization of metal–insulator–metal diodes incorporating vertically aligned carbon nanotube (VACNT) arrays encased in polymer for applications in high frequency optoelectronics. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and epoxy infiltrating media are used in this study. VACNT forests are embedded with polymer to form a planarized surface over which an array of tunneling diodes is fabricated. Diodes comprising Al2O3 and HfO2 dielectric multilayers achieve highly nonlinear and asymmetric current-voltage characteristics. Results show that asymmetry in excess of 92 can be achieved with multi-insulator barrier tuning, though there is a strong correlation between asymmetry, resistance, and device longevity. With our best performing and most stable device structure (PDMS–VACNT/Al2O3-HfO2-Al2O3-HfO2/PEDOT:PSS), we provide a demonstration of optical-to-d.c. rectification at 638 nm, realizing a current responsivity of 0.65 µA W−1. Our approach to fabricating these VACNT diode arrays is facile and highly scalable. It is capable of being integrated with solution-processed materials and soft lithography techniques to create flexible devices for optical and infrared detection.
Resistance training in stroke rehabilitation: systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis investigates the effects of resistance training in supporting the recovery in stroke patients. Data sources: PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and the PEDro databases were reviewed up to 30 April 2020. Review methods: Randomized controlled trials were included, who compared: (i) resistance training with no intervention, (ii) resistance training with other interventions and (iii) different resistance training protocols in stroke rehabilitation. Results: Overall 30 trials (n = 1051) were enrolled. The parameters evaluated were: (1) gait, (2) muscular force and motor function, (3) mobility, balance and postural control, (4) health related quality of life, independence and reintegration, (5) spasticity and hypertonia, (6) cardiorespiratory fitness, (7) cognitive abilities and emotional state and (8) other health-relevant physiological indicators. The data indicates that: (i) resistance training is beneficial for the majority of parameters observed, (ii) resistance training is superior to other therapies on muscular force and motor function of lower and upper limbs, health related quality of life, independence and reintegration and other health-relevant physiological indicators, not significantly different from other therapies on walking ability, mobility balance and postural control and spasticity and hypertonia, and inferior to ergometer training on cardiorespiratory fitness and (iii) the type of resistance training protocol significantly impacts its effect; leg press is more efficient than knee extension and high intensity training is superior than low intensity training. Conclusion: Current data indicates that resistance training may be beneficial in supporting the recovery of stroke patients. However, the current evidence is insufficient for evidence-based rehabilitation.
Aerosol containment box to the rescue: extra protection for the front line

As the COVID-19 pandemic has created shortages of vital personal protective equipment that threatens healthcare workers’ risk of exposure, a need for innovative new ways to protect healthcare workers has emerged. An aerosol containment box that covers the patient’s head and neck in bed provides a solution to protect clinicians during aerosol-generating procedures such as intubation. We collaborated with original designer HYL and modified the size to adapt to larger patients and operator mobility. We expand its applicability by allowing the use of different instruments. The container is outfitted with an ultra-low particulate air-equipped filtration vacuum device to create negative pressure within the chamber and actively remove floating droplet nuclei generated during a procedure. This barrier method will be a valuable and economical option to protect healthcare workers on the front line globally during this pandemic and beyond.