Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Variation in Melitaea cinxia gut microbiota is phylogenetically highly structured but only mildly driven by host plant microbiota, sex or parasitism

Originality-Significance Statement The factors contributing to the assembly of microbiota in animals are extremely complex, and thus a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms shaping host-associated microbial communities in natural ecosystems requires extensive ecological studies and appropriate statistical methods. In this study, we investigated the bacterial microbiota associated with the caterpillars of the Glanville fritillary (Melitaea cinxia), which is a long-term-studied ecological model system. We assessed the structure of variation in both occurrence and abundance of gut microbial communities of individuals collected in the wild with joint-species modelling, with the aim to relate the microbial community structure with multiple potentially impacting covariates: host plant microbiota and metabolites, hosts’ sex, potential parasitoid infection, and family structure. These covariates exhibited substantial correlation with multiple microbial taxa’s occurrences, which correlations were consistent for phylogenetically related groups of taxa, but varied across the whole microbial community; on the contrary, only few correlations were found with taxa’s abundances. The dominating co-occurrence pattern of microbiota assembly, which effectively split caterpillar individuals into two distinct groups, was, however, unrelated to any of the considered covariates. Summary Understanding of what ecological factors shape intraspecific variation of insect microbiota is still relatively poor. In Lepidopteran caterpillars, microbiota is assumed to be mainly composed of transient bacterial symbionts acquired from the host plant. We sampled Glanville fritillary (Melitaea cinxia) caterpillars from natural populations to describe the microbiome and to identify potential factors that determine the structure of the microbial community, including the sex of the host, the impact of parasitoid infection, and the possible link between host plant and caterpillar microbiota. Our results demonstrate high variability of microbiota composition even among caterpillars that shared the same host plant individual. The observed variation in microbiota composition is partially attributed to the measured properties of the host or its plant microbial and chemical composition, and is aligned with microbial phylogenetic structure, with related taxa exhibiting similar patterns. However, the prevailing part of the observed variation was not associated with any of the assessed characteristics, although it followed a pronounced segregation structure: in some caterpillars the microbial communities were dominated by several related Enterobacteriaceae taxa, while in others these taxa were absent. Our results challenge previous findings that the host plant properties are the major drivers of microbiota communities of insect herbivores.
Local structural connectivity directs seizure spread in focal epilepsy

How does the human brain’s structural scaffold give rise to its intricate functional dynamics? This is a central challenge in translational neuroscience, particularly in epilepsy, a disorder that affects over 50 million people worldwide. Treatment for medication-resistant focal epilepsy is often structural – through surgery, devices or focal laser ablation – but structural targets, particularly in patients without clear lesions, are largely based on functional mapping via intracranial EEG (iEEG). Unfortunately, the relationship between structural and functional connectivity in the seizing brain is poorly understood. In this study, we quantify structure-function coupling, specifically between white matter connections and iEEG, across preictal and ictal periods in 45 seizures from 9 patients with unilateral drug-resistant focal epilepsy. We use High Angular Resolution Diffusion Imaging (HARDI) tractography to construct structural connectivity networks and correlate these networks with time-varying broadband and frequency-specific functional networks derived from coregistered iEEG. Across all frequency bands, we find significant increases in structure-function coupling from preictal to ictal periods. We demonstrate that short-range structural connections are primarily responsible for this increase in coupling. Finally, we find that spatiotemporal patterns of structure-function coupling are stereotyped, and a function of each patient’s individual anatomy. These results suggest that seizures harness the underlying structural connectome as they propagate. Our findings suggest that the relationship between structural and functional connectivity in epilepsy may inform current and new therapies to map and alter seizure spread, and pave the way for better-targeted, patient-specific interventions.
The Impact of COVID-19 on the Well-Being of Division III Student-Athletes

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) has caused societal impact that has been intense and fast-paced, especially for college students when education was transitioned quickly into a distance learning format during the spring 2020 semester raising numerous health concerns. Spring athletic seasons were cancelled abruptly raising concern about the mental distress student athletes could be experiencing that could impact their future. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) addressed the disruption that COVID-19 has caused and the negative impact it has made on both physical and mental health of athletes (14). The purpose of this research study was to examine the mental distress and programming needs of Division III student-athletes in response to COVID-19. Through the use of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale (GAD-7) and the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS), anxiety was assessed among participants suggesting that both genders and all academic years have experienced some level of anxiety during this pandemic which deserve to be addressed and explored on a deeper level. Significant findings revealed that female participants were more likely than male participants to effectively manage their schoolwork, use social media at least four hours per day, express worry for the future and the fall 2020 semester related to COVID-19, experience challenges moving home, and to utilize mindfulness practices. Findings also revealed that as compared to other races/ethnicities, white participants indicating experiencing higher challenges regarding social distancing. Mental distress was associated with lack of resources and the absence of available facilities to train for their sport. This setback led student-athletes to experience decreased levels of motivation, increased feelings of stress, and general feelings of helplessness. The need for interventions to be provided both remotely and in-person to provide modalities assisting in coping with anxiety is apparent.
Genetic variation and asymmetry in populations of Iphigenia brasiliensis (Lamarck, 1818) from different localities and environments

ABSTRACT Iphigenia brasiliensis (Lamarck, 1818) is a species of bivalve of the family Donacidae Fleming, 1828 which inhabits unconsolidated substrata and occurs in Brazil between 0°07ʹ04ʺS, 49°23ʹ17ʺW and 29º19ʹ46ʺS, 49º42ʹ39ʺW, and is also found in Florida (USA), Suriname and parts of the Caribbean sea. As an estuarine species it is subject to a wide range of environmental variables usually presenting considerable variation in morphological traits and genetic composition. In this paper, the presence and type of asymmetry in the species was inferred based on measures from left and right valves and genetic variation was assessed by means of allozymes electrophoresis. The assessment of levels of asymmetry and genetic variation was done in three different localities and two environments (Channel and Mangrove). The results indicate the generalized presence of asymmetry, which varied between directional (DA) and fluctuating (FA) depending on the environment. Associations between FA and genetic variation were statistically significant on the dependence of the measure assessed. Thus, we present information on the levels of asymmetry and genetic variation of natural populations of I. brasiliensis which may be useful to research and management of this species.
EVALUATION OF DYNAMIC CHANGE OF WATER LEVEL OF THE SMALL ARAL SEA BASED ON DATA OF OPEN SOURCES

The study of the Aral Sea water level and volume dynamics is an urgent scientific task due to the need to understand the mechanisms of natural, anthropogenic processes. In particular, the study of water balance component dynamics of Small Aral basin is the most important task in planning scenarios of water use, water protection in the region. In the proposed work, on the basis of machine learning methods, two statistical models were developed: a model that takes into account the variability of the monthly values of Syrdaria runoff and corresponding change in Small Aral water volume. In the low availability conditions of data from field observations, obtained operational estimates, which compose water balance component are the most important source of information about ongoing changes in studied basin. The proposed technique can used to obtain initial conditions in hydrodynamic modeling experiments, as well as to calculate climatic scenarios for development of the Aral hydrological system.
Evaluation of the diversity in qualitative traits of Bambara groundnut germplasm (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.) of Cte dIvoire

The objectives of this study were to assess phenotypic diversity of Bambara groundnut germplasm from Cote d’Ivoire using qualitative traits and to understand the genetic diversity at different levels. Hundred and one accessions collected from four agro-ecological zones (central, eastern, northern, western) were characterized in a randomised complete block design with three replications. Thirteen qualitative traits were recorded from seedling emergence to physiological maturity of the crop species. All recorded traits were found to be polymorphic with three or four phenotypic classes. The results revealed a considerable amount of phenotypic variation in the germplasm studied. The phenotypic variation was expressed in color, shape, texture, flexibility, growth habit, pilosity and hardness in both the aerial organs and the underground pods. Cluster analysis grouped together accessions into six genetically distinct groups independently to their geographical origin, suggesting seeds exchanges between growing-zones. The chi-square analysis highlighted the presence of phenotypic variability within and between accessions from each agro-climatic zone for most of the traits evaluated indicating some adaptive forms related to the four zones. Estimates of Shanon-Weaver diversity index (H’) for all agro-climatic zones ranged from 0.32 to 0.66 with a mean of 0.46. The northern zone appeared phenotypically more diversified (H' = 0.66) than the others. These results are useful to ensure efficient germplasm collection, conservation and management strategies. Key words: Bambara groundnut, accession, agroclimatic zones, phenotypic diversity, qualitative traits.
Neuronal activity drives homeostatic sleep through engagement of the hypothalamic neuropeptide galanin

Sleep pressure homeostatically increases during wake and dissipates during sleep, but the molecular signals and neuronal substrates that measure homeostatic sleep pressure remain poorly understood. A pharmacological assay that generates acute, short-term increases in wakefulness in larval zebrafish, revealed that subsequent rebound sleep is dependent on the intensity of global neuronal activity. Whole brain activity mapping identified preoptic Galanin expressing neurons as selectively active during rebound sleep, and the induction of galanin transcripts was predictive of total rebound sleep time. Galanin is required for sleep homeostasis, as galanin mutants almost completely lack rebound sleep following both pharmacologically induced neuronal activity and physical sleep deprivation. These results suggest that Galanin expressing neurons play a key role in integrating sleep pressure signals derived from global neuronal activity and act as an output arm for the vertebrate sleep homeostat. (word count: 129).
Robust Beamforming Designs in Secure MIMO SWIPT IoT Networks With a Nonlinear Channel Model

In this article, we study a robust beamforming design for multiuser multiple-input–multiple-output secrecy networks with simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT). In this system, an access point, multiple Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices under the nonlinear energy harvesting (EH) model with a help of one cooperative jammer (CJ). We employ artificial noise (AN) generation to facilitate efficient wireless energy transfer and secure transmission. To achieve EH fairness, we aim to maximize the minimum harvested energy among users subject to secrecy rate constraint and total transmit power constraint in the presence of channel estimation errors. By incorporating a norm-bounded channel uncertainty model, the original robust problem is transformed into a two-layer optimization problem, where the inner layer problem is reformulated as semidefinite programming (SDP) and the outer layer problem is solved by a one-dimensional (1-D) line search algorithm. In addition, in order to reduce computational complexity, we propose an algorithm based on sequential parametric convex approximation (SPCA). Finally, simulation results show that the proposed SPCA method achieves the same performance as the two-layer algorithm with much lower complexity.
Association between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Pratylenchus brachyurus in maize crop

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one crop of major relevance in Brazil; however, nematodes are limiting factors in maize growth and productivity due to the difficulty to control them. Studies point out that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) increase plant tolerance to nematodes. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the association between AMFs and Pratylenchus brachyurus in maize growth. Six AMF species (Rhizophagus clarus, Claroideoglomus etunicatum, Gigaspora rosea, G. margarita, Scutellospora calospora, S. heterogama), as well as a control treatment free of mycorrhizae, were assessed under two different nematode inoculum conditions (presence and absence). Plants were collected and analyzed 60 d after inoculation. The nematode population was higher in the treatments inoculated with AMFs. On the other hand, just the plants inoculated with R. clarus did not present improved development in comparison to the control. Nematodes increased AMF spore density, but despite the fact that AMFs have presented different root colonization capacity (ranging from 2.3% to 95.0%), such capacity was not affected by the nematodes.
Effect of Ethanol Concentration on Antibacterial Activity of Bligo Fruit Extract (Benincasa hispida Thunb) to Salmonella typhi

Bligo fruit (Benincasa hispida Thunb) is one of medicinal plants that used to cure typhoid fever which caused by Salmonella typhi bacteria. The aim of this research is to find ont the effect of ethanol concentration as a solvent from Bligo fruit (Benincasa hispida Thunb) extracts as an antibacterial, especially to Salmonella typhi. This simplicia was being extracted with 96% ethanol, 70% ethanol, and 50% ethanol by using maceration method for 3x24 hours. The antibacterial activity test was done by diffusion of agar method to the MHA medium by obserring the resistor zone which formed from 96% ethanol, 70% ethanol and 50% ethanol. The diametres that have been obtained are 6,815 mm for 96% ethanol, 25,223 mm for 70% ethanol while for 50% ethanol there is no resisten zone can be seen. From the result canbe conclude that the best concentration of ethanol that has a great potencial as resistor to Salmonella typhi bacteria is the Bligo fruit (Benincasa hispida Thunb) extracts of 70% ethanol.Key words: Bligo fruit (Benincasa hispida Thunb), Antibacterial, Salmonella typhi.
The first genetically gene‐edited babies: It's “irresponsible and too early”

A scientist, Jiankui He of Southern University of Science and Technology of China, recently claimed at the Second International Summit on Human Genome Editing in Hong Kong on 29 November that he has created the world's first genetically altered babies using CRISPR. This announcement sparked controversy and criticism. The newly developed CRISPR/Cas9 technique has been applied to genetic modification of many kinds of animals. However, the technique is still in its infancy and many questions remain to be answered before it can be used for clinical purposes, especially for reproductive purposes.
Host-pathogen transcriptomics of macrophages, Mucorales and their endosymbionts: a polymicrobial pas de trois

Abstract Mucorales spores, the causative agents of mucormycosis, interact with the innate immune system to cause acute, chronic, or resolving infection. Understanding the factors that influence disease initiation and progression is key to understanding mucormycosis and developing new treatments. Complicating this, mucormycosis can be caused by a number of species that span the Mucorales genus and may be host to bacterial endosymbionts. This study sets out to examine the differences between two species in the Mucorales order by characterising their differential interactions with the innate immune system, and their interactions with environmental bacterial endosymbionts. Through a holistic approach, this study examines the transcriptional responses of Rhizopus delemar and Rhizopus microsporus, two of the most commonly diagnosed species, to innate immune cells. This study also examines the immune cell response and assesses the variation in these responses, given the presence or absence of bacterial endosymbionts within the fungi. We see that the fungal response is driven by interaction with innate immune cells. The effect of the bacterial endosymbiont on the fungus is species specific, with a minimal in the absence of stress, but strongly influencing fungal transcripts during interaction with innate immune cells. In contrast, we observe that the macrophage response varies depending on the infecting fungal species, but also depending on endosymbiont status. The most successful macrophages elicit a pro-inflammatory response, and we see that through germination inhibition macrophage survival is enhanced. This work reveals species-specific host responses to related Mucorales spores and shows that bacterial endosymbionts impact the innate immune cell response.
Spatial–Temporal Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Coupled Coordination between Urbanization and Eco-Environment: A Case Study of 13 Urban Agglomerations in China

Urban agglomeration is the core area of not only regional economic development and urbanization but also human–land contradiction. Based on the population–economy–society–spatial model and the pressure–state–response model, this study develops an evaluation index system for the urbanization and eco-environment of 13 urban agglomerations in China. The urbanization index and eco-environment index are determined using the coefficient of variation method. The coupled coordination of the two indices is measured with the coupled coordination model, and the influence of the indicator factors is calculated with a geographical detector. The results reveal the following: (1) The urbanization indices of the 13 urban agglomerations in China increase year by year, and the spatial distribution pattern is high in the east and low in the west. (2) The eco-environment index shows an “S-shaped” variation trend, and the spatial difference between urban agglomerations gradually decreases. (3) The coupled coordination is mainly characterized as a mild imbalance, and the spatial distribution pattern is “balance in the east and imbalance in the west”. (4) The coupled coordination degree between urbanization and eco-environment is affected by many factors. Among such factors, economic urbanization, social urbanization, spatial urbanization, and eco-environment response are the main controlling factors. The impact of population urbanization, eco-environment pressure, and eco-environment state presents a gradual increase.
Kanatlı kökenli Salmonella Infantis suşlarının multilokus dizi tiplendirmesi ile filogenetik analizi

Bu calismada broyler tavuk kumeslerinin altlik, toz, cevresel, kemirici kapanlari, yem ve su orneklerinden izole edilen 20 adet Salmonella Infantis susunun multilokus dizi tiplendirme (MLST) ile tiplendirilmesi amaclandi. Sekans tipleri (ST) ve serotipler arasindaki evrimsel iliskiyi gostermek amaciyla yapilan filogenetik analizde, 6 farkli serotip calismaya dahil edildi. Her bir susa ait 7 housekeeping gen uzerinden gerceklestirilen MLST analizi sonucunda tum S. Infantis suslari ST32 bulundu ve Turkiye’de S. Infantis icin baskin sekans tipi olabilecegi sonucuna varildi. S . Enteritidis ST11, S . Typhimurium ST19, S . Hadar ST33, S . Agona ST13, S . Mbandaka ST413 ve S . Coeln ST2015 bulundu . S. Agona, S. Mbandaka ve S . Coeln serotipleri Turkiye’de ilk kez bu calismada, MLST ile tiplendirildi. Ilk kez bu calisma ile ST2015 icin serotip bilgisi S . Coeln olarak MLST veritabanina girildi.
Morphological, Biochemical, and Molecular Characterization of Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas [L.] Lam) Germplasms

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter Abstract The sweet potato is considered as an excellent source of β -carotene and anthocyanins and has a considerable value in the functional food market. In this report, 21 sweet potato ( Ipomoea batatas [L.] Lam) germplasms were evaluated for genetic diversity using morphological and biochemical and molecular markers. Ten morphological traits were studied, and the mean squares due to germplasm were highly significant for storage root number per plant, individual root weight, storage root (fresh) per plant, storage root (dry) per plant, storage root yield, and storage root length. UPGMA cluster analysis based on morphological traits separated the germplasm into three groups. The similarity coefficient ranged from 0.00 to 0.50 with an average of 0.176. Biochemical analysis, viz. total phenol and antioxidant, was performed to find out superior genotype at biochemical level under given conditions. Maximum total phenol was observed in the genotype “V-12” (1.39 mg), whereas maximum total antioxidant was observed in “Samrat” (0.30 mg). RAPD analy- sis was carried out, and out of 15 RAPD primers, 10 primers produced 96 reproducible and polymorphic bands. UPGMA cluster analysis based on RAPD data also separated the genotypes into three clusters. The results of the present study can be used for sweet potato crop improvement through molecular breeding and marker-assisted selection for desired traits in future.