Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cortical dynamics of saccade-target selection during free-viewing of natural scenes

Natural visual behaviour entails explorative eye movements, saccades, that bring different parts of a visual scene into the central vision. The neural processes guiding the selection of saccade targets are still largely unknown. Therefore, in this study, we tracked with magnetoencephalography (MEG) cortical dynamics of viewers who were freely exploring novel natural scenes. Overall, the viewers were largely consistent in their gaze behaviour, especially if the scene contained any persons. We took a fresh approach to relate the eye-gaze data to the MEG signals by characterizing dynamic cortical representations by means of representational distance matrices. Specifically, we compared the representational distances between the stimuli in the evoked MEG responses with predictions based (1) on the low-level visual similarity of the stimuli (as visually more similar stimuli evoke more similar responses in early visual areas) and (2) on the eye-gaze data. At 50–75 ms after the scene onset, the similarity of the occipital MEG patterns correlated with the low-level visual similarity of the scenes, and already at 75–100 ms the visual features attracting the first saccades predicted the similarity of the right parieto-occipital MEG responses. Thereafter, at 100–125 ms, the landing positions of the upcoming saccades explained MEG responses. These results indicate that MEG signals contain signatures of the rapid processing of natural visual scenes as well as of the initiation of the first saccades, with the processing of the saccade target preceding the processing of the landing position of the upcoming saccade. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Humans naturally make eye movements to bring different parts of a visual scene to the fovea where our visual acuity is the best. Tracking of eye gaze can reveal how we make inferences about the content of a scene by looking at different objects, or which visual cues automatically attract our attention and gaze. The brain dynamics governing natural gaze behaviour is still largely unknown. Here we suggest a novel approach to relate eye-tracking results with brain activity, as measured with magnetoencephalography (MEG), and demonstrate signatures of natural gaze behaviour in the MEG data already before the eye movements occur.
Construction of vector for tobacco plastid transformation and obtainment of tobacco transgenic plants

Vector pTRZ was constructed with rpl2-trnH-psbA, trnK-ORF509A as tobacco plastid homologous recombinant fragments and spectinomycin-resistant aadA gene from plasmid pZS197. After spectinomycin selection, transformed calli and regenerated tobacco plants were obtained from tobacco seedling^s leaves bombarded with golden microprojectiles coated with pTRZ DNA. Further PCR and Southern analyses of transformed plants indicated that No.13, 16, 23 were positive tobacco transplastomic plants and the foreign aadA gene had integrated into their plastid genome. The resistance of progeny phenotype to spectinomycin showed the aadA gene was stably inherited to their progeny.
Essais de détermination de la dose optimale d'irradiation des mâles de Glossina palpalis gambiensis (Vanderplank; 1949) en vue de la lutte biologique par lâchers de mâles stériles dans la région de Bobo-Dioulasso (Hte-Volta)

Les auteurs ont cherche a determiner la dose d'irradiation optimale en vue d'essais de lâchers de mâles irradies de Glossina palpalis gambiensis, en Haute-Volta. Deux experiences successives leur ont permis de definir la dose optimale (11 000 rads) induisant un taux de sterilite eleve sans amoindrir de facon trop considerable la competitivite des mâles. Les differents criteres permettant d'evaluer la sterilite et la competitivite des mâles irradies a la dose de 11 000 rads font ensuite l'objet d'une etude plus approfondie
Effects of cigarette smoke condensate on the production and characterization of exopolysaccharides by Streptococcus mutans / Sigara dumanı kondensatının Streptococcus mutans tarafından üretilen eksopolisakkaritlerin üretimi ve karakterizasyonu üzerine etkisi

Abstract Objective: Streptococcus mutans is regarded as the major agent causing dental caries. It has been well documented that cigarette smoke affects the growth of S. mutans. This study investigate the effect of cigarette smoke condensate (CSC) on the production and characterization of exopolysaccharides (EPS) produced by S. mutans ATCC 35668. Methods: Cigarettes of Shanhua brand were used to prepare the CSC. S. mutans was cultured in MSB media with the addition of CSC under anaerobic condition. Furthermore, the EPS fraction was isolated and purified by gel filtration chro-matography on Sepharose CL-6B. The molecular characterization of EPS was analyzed by GC-MS, FT-IR and size exclusion chromatography/multiangle laser light scattering (SEC/MALLS) system. Results: The results showed that CSC at tested concentrations could significantly increase the growth of S. mutans and acetic acid production, compared with the control. The CSC was not found to affect carbohydrate composition of the EPS, but the molecular mass of EPS decreased from 3.04×104 g/mol (without CSC) to 2.75×104 (with CSC). The SEC/MALLS also revealed the molecular conformation of EPS changed from flexible coil to globular shape in aqueous solution. Conclusion: This study revealed that CSC was directly able to affect molecular mass and structural conformation of EPS from S. mutans. The molecular characterization of EPS would become an indicator in certain pathological disorders.
Neosergipea, a new name for the lichen fungus Sergipea, with an updated phylogeny and notes on the genus Dichosporidium (lichenized Ascomycota: Arthoniales: Roccellaceae)

Abstract The new name Neosergipea M. Cáceres, Ertz & Aptroot is introduced to replace Sergipea M. Cáceres, Ertz & Aptroot, which is a later homonym of Sergipea Regali, Uesugui & Santos, a genus of fossil pollen. Using the small subunit of the mitochondrial rDNA cistron, we present an updated phylogeny of the Enterographa clade in Roccellaceae which includes the genera Dichosporidium, Enterographa, Erythrodecton, Mazosia, and Neosergipea. While in a previous analysis the relationship between Neosergipea and Dichosporidium was unresolved, our results suggest Neosergipea to be an unsupported sister to Dichosporidium s. lat. The latter potentially represents two distinct genera, differing in ascospore type.
CARACTERIZAÇÃO DA DIVERSIDADE GENÉTICA DE SCHINUS MOLLE L. E EXPANSÃO NO BIOMA PAMPA BRASILEIRO

: O bioma Pampa e um dos biomas mais negligenciados do mundo, carecendo de informacoes principalmente a cerca de sua biodiversidade. Schinus molle L. e uma especie de arvore perene de ocorrencia natural nesse bioma com grande potencial ecologico e economico. O objetivo desse trabalho foi caracterizar a diversidade genetica de S. mole e discutir sua capacidade de expansao no bioma. Foram amplificados, em 108 individuos de cinco populacoes naturais de S. molle, dois locus microssatelites (oriundos da especie congenere Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi.) utilizando um termociclador Eppendorf®. As bandas amplificadas foram visualizadas no sequenciador de DNA 4300L Li-Cor®. Como resultado S. molle apresentou alta diversidade genetica (H 0,73) e um baixo coeficiente de endogamia (f = -0,08) indicando que a especie possui grande capacidade de expansao. Ponderando esses padroes de diversidade genetica da populacao em S. molle, recomenda-se a implementacao de estudos no sentido de estabelecimento de plantios comerciais dessa especie no bioma Pampa.
Early Response of Defense Related Genes to Secondary Downy Mildew Infection in Sunflower Line with Pl6 Gene

Abstract Sunflower line with resistance for downy mildew (Ha-26R) and susceptible line (Ha-26S) were inoculated with the suspension of Plasmopara halstedii zoosporangia, race 730, in the phase of first pair of leaves. The expression of defense related genes was investigated in the time period of 2 to 96 h after treatment. Several categories of defense-related genes: signalization (EDS1 and EDR1); H2O2 producing (Hacaox and Haoxox); antioxidative response (SODc and SODp), pathogenesis related (chi, PAL, PR5) were examined. Most examined defense related genes were constitutive with higher expression in resistant line. However, in response to secondary downy mildew infection six genes were upregulated. Upregulation of HaEDS1 signaling gene 2 h after infection indicates that SA mediated response is activated. Pathogenesis related genes: chitinase and PR5, were also upregulated in the earliest time point. Other defense related genes: SODp, Caox and OxOx were sequentially upregulated from 4 to 48 h after infection in resistant line. Our results indicate that the early response of defense related genes to secondary downy mildew infection, resembles to hypersensitive-like reaction and is connected with resistance conferred by Pl6 gene. According to our results resistance to secondary infection is characterized with earlier upregulation of PR5 in comparison to primary infection.
Evaluation of Various Media for Recovery of Thermally-Injured Escherichia coli O157:H7 1.

Efficacies of plating media for recovering heated Escherichia coli O157:H7 were determined and compared. To compare populations of recovered cells, suspensions of cells (three isolates, four replications/isolate) were heated at 50, 55, or 60°C, and then inoculated onto eight media: PCA-PA (plate count agar with 1% pyruvic acid [PA]), MSA (MacConkey sorbitol agar), MSA-Mg (MSA with 0.025% MgSO4), MSA-PA (MSA with 1% PA), MSA-MUG (MSA with 0.005% 4-methylumbelliferyl-β-d-glucuronide (MUG), PRSA-MUG (phenol red sorbitol agar [PSRA] with 0.005% MUG), PRSA-PA (PRSA with 1% PA), and TSA-PA (tryptic soy agar with 1% PA). Recovery was consistently higher (P < 0.05) with PRSA-MUG and PRSA-PA. At 50, 55, and 60°C, mean numbers (log10 CFU/ml) of recovered cells on PRSA-MUG were 4.42, 4.62, and 3.32, respectively, as compared to 2.78, 2.08, and 1.63, respectively, on MSA. PCA-PA and TSA-PA were less effective than PRSA media, but better than MSA media. Thus, PRSA with MUG or PA was an effective medium for recovering heated cells of E. coli O157:H7; whereas MSA failed to detect sublethally injured cells. Furthermore, addition of Mg, PA, or MUG to MSA further compromised this medium.
Studies in the liverwort family Aneuraceae (Metzgeriales) from southern Africa. 2. The genus Riccardia and its type species, R. multi­ fida, with confirmation of its presence in the region

A generic description of Riccardia Gray is presented, as well as confirmation of the local presence of its type species, R midtifida (I,.) Gray, which is described and illustrated. Amell (1952; 1963) incorrectly identified his collections of this species as R. saccatiflora (Steph.) S.W. Arnell; some notes on it are added.
Molecular Phylogeny of Y-Box Proteins and their Cold Shock Domains

Purpose: Y-box proteins are a family of highly conserved nucleic acid binding proteins that are conserved from prokaryotes to human. They are supposed to be involved in both transcriptional and translational control. Little is understood about their evolution end genomic diversity among different taxa. The study was performed by combining Bioinformatic and phylogenetic approaches in order to address first cross family evolution of Y-box proteins from different eukaryotic organisms. Methods: For sequence analysis, inferring the phylogenetic tree and evolutionary characterization the protein sequences of Y box proteins from 17 different species were used. The tree was drawn by Neighbour-joining method while using the bootsrapping as a test of inferred phylogeny.Result: The phylogenetic trees were constructed from multiple aligned sequences showing bootstrap values on nodes and species codes on leaves. The analysis of data led to a single most consistent tree. Discussion and conclusion: The results endow with an excellent perception about the evolutionary order of Y-box proteins. The study established an overall framework of information for the family of Y-box proteins, which may facilitate and stimulate the study of this gene family across all organisms.
An exotic species of earthworm preyed by Craugastor rhodopis (Anura: Craugastoridae) in Mexico

Mexico, and is listed as vulnerable by the IUCN (2012). Its distribution is restricted to western Veracruz and the adjacent states of Hidalgo and Puebla, Mexico between 1200 and 2100 m a.s. l. However, there is an apparently separate population in central and southeastern Chiapas (and adjacent Oaxaca) (Lynch and Santos-Barrera, 2004). Despite being a relatively common species within its distribution range, little is known about its natural history, particularly about its diet. In a recent study on the diversity and conservation of amphibians in central Veracruz, a female Craugastor rhodopis was observed eating an earthworm in a cloud forest fragment near the La Cortadura reserve in the municipality of Coatepec, Veracruz (19° 29’ 32.0” N, 97° 01’ 44.5” W, elevation 1944 m a.s.l.). The observation was made on June 7, 2012 at 0111 h on a hillside, close to a stream when the atmospheric temperature was 13.20 °C and relative humidity was 95.9%. Both organisms were captured and the predation was interrupted. Lately the frog and earthworm were transported to the laboratory. The frog was identified according to the diagnostic characters proposed by Streicher (2012), weighed 6.2 g, and had a snout-vent length of 38.9 mm (SVL). The C. rhodopis specimen was deposited in the personal collection of Eduardo Pineda Arredondo (CEPA-985). The earthworm weighed 1.1 g (one-sixth the weight of the frog) was 94.3 mm long, and was identified as Amynthas corticis, an exotic species native to Asia (Fig. 1) according to the diagnosis proposed by Blakemore (2003). The specimen was deposited in the collection of Oligochaeta of the Instituto de Ecología, A. C. (IEOLcatalog number in process). This finding represents the first record of prey consumed by C. rhodopis, documenting a predatorprey interaction for a native amphibian with an alien species in a relatively preserved habitat, and enhances the existing records of anurans with earthworms in their diet, including Hyla japonica (Hirai and Matsui, 2000), Lithobates catesbeianus (Carpenter et al., 2002), Leptodactylus latrans (Solé et al., 2009), Limnonectes leporinus (Inger, 2009) Fejervarya limnocharis (Kumar et al., 2010), Charadrahyla sp. (CansecoMárquez and Gutiérrez-Mayén, 2010), Hypopachus pictiventris (Lieberman, 1986), Lithodytes lineatus and Leptodactylus leptodactyloides (Parmelee, 1999).
Effects of soil warming history on the performances of congeneric temperate and boreal herbaceous plant species and their associations with soil biota

Aims Climate warming raises the probability of range expansions of warmadapted temperate species into areas currently dominated by coldadapted boreal species. Warming-induced plant range expansions could partly depend on how warming modifies relationships with soil biota that promote plant growth, such as by mineralizing nutrients. Here, we grew two pairs of congeneric herbaceous plants species together in soil with a 5-year warming history (ambient, +1.7°C, +3.4°C) and related their performances to plant-beneficial soil biota. Methods Each plant pair belonged to either the mid-latitude temperate climate or the higher latitude southern boreal climate. Warmed soils were extracted from a chamberless heating experiment at two field sites in the temperate-boreal ecotone of North America. To isolate potential effects of different soil warming histories, air temperature for the greenhouse experiment was identical across soils. We hypothesized that soil with a 5-year warming history in the field would enhance the performance of temperate plant species more than boreal plant species and expected improved plant performances to have positive associations with plant growth-promoting soil biota (microbialfeeding nematodes and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi). Important Findings Our main hypothesis was partly confirmed as only one temperate species performed better in soil with warming history than in soil with history of ambient temperature. Further, this effect was restricted to the site with higher soil water content in the growing season of the sampling year (prior to soil collection). One of the boreal species performed consistently worse in previously warmed soil, whereas the other species showed neutral responses to soil warming history. We found a positive correlation between the density of microbial-feeding nematodes and the performance of one of the temperate species in previously wetter soils, but this correlation was negative at the site with previously drier soil. We found no significant correlations between the performance of the other temperate species as well as the two boreal species and any of the studied soil biota. Our results indicate that soil warming can modify the relation between certain plant species and microbialfeeding nematodes in given soil edaphic conditions, which might be important for plant performance in the temperate-boreal ecotone. Thakur et al. | Effects of soil warming history 671
In vitro and in vivo hepatoprotective activity of extracts of aerial parts of Bidens pilosa L (Asteraceae)

Purpose: To investigate the protective effects of aqueous and methanol extracts of Bidens pilosa using various in vivo and in vitro models of hepatic injury. Methods: One kilogram of the aerial parts of Bidens pilosa was used to prepare 80 % methanol and aqueous extracts of the plant (500 g for each extract). The total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity of both extracts were evaluated. The hepatoprotective activity of these extracts in carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 , 0.1 %) and D-galactosamine (700 mg/kg)-induced liver injury, respectively, was investigated in mice. Paracetamol-induced liver injury was used as in vitro reference standard. Results: TPC and TFC of methanol extract were higher than those of the aqueous extract. The combination of methanol extract and silymarin showed the highest antioxidant activity. In vivo administration of CCl 4 and D-galactosamine significantly increased the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), but decreased the total protein, albumin and glutathione (GSH) contents of liver. Co-administration of the extracts (50 mg/kg) and silymarin (100 mg/kg) effectively countered the effects of CCl 4 and Dgalactosamine, while also exerting their antioxidant properties. Both methanol and aqueous extracts showed hepatoprotective activity in paracetamol-induced cytotoxicity in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes. Conclusion: Bidens pilosa possesses significant in vivo and in vitro hepatoprotective activity in mice and may be therapeutically useful as a protective agent in acute liver injury. Keywords: Bidens pilosa , D-galactosamine, Carbon tetrachloride, Paracetamol, Liver injury, Hepatoprotective, Antioxidant, Silymarin, Hepatocytes
Mitochondrial d-loop sequence variations in Indian cattle

India is the most significant source of the cattle diversity in the world, which have been distributed in various states of the country. These diverse and rich breeds are being used worldwide to enhance the genetic wealth of cattle. This genetic wealth calls for conservation of such breeds and their haplotyping would be a step in this direction. The present study was thus carried out with the aim of haplotyping bovine mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) by analysing complete mtDNA D-loop region among Indian cattle breeds. A total of 32 cattle mtDNA Dloop region were amplified for studying sequence variation. This amplified region corresponded to 15792 nucleotide to 546 nucleotide region of bovine mtDNA. Out of 32 cattle, 14 mtDNA D-loop regions were sequenced completely and rest of the 18 animals gave only 400 bps region sequenced with full assurance. Comparative analysis of complete nucleotide sequence region showed 55 polymorphic sites within 940 bp sequence length and that of 400 bp regions showed 43 variant sites. Phylogenetic status clearly showed that only one AM13 (Amrit mahal) cattle breed was highly diverse, carrying both B. taurus and B. indicus lineage. Rest 13 haplotypes were deduced out of 14 and placed into separate Bos indicus clade, on the basis of B. indicus haplogroup, obtained from a Brazilian “Nellore” cattle represented under accession number NC_005971 in NCBI. It can be concluded that, most of the Indian cattle breeds having a common haplotype pattern of B. indicus suggesting their zebu (Bos indicus) genetic background. A separate haplotype in Amrit mahal cattle breed has been identified.
Different aspects of reproduction strategies in crayfish: A review

Study of the reproductive strategy of crayfish species is of great importance in the current astacological world. Crayfish are among the largest freshwater invertebrates, and as keystone species, they are able to regulate the structure of the benthic fauna in the freshwaters, demonstrating different ecological strategies and life spans ranging up to 20+ years. In order to bring together the various pieces of information related to this issue, this overview of published scientific reports was conducted. The majority of crayfish species studied show sexual dimorphism, with approximately equal numbers of males and females. However, over some decades numerous observations have been made for a few species that may have different modes of reproduction, such as hermaphroditism or intersex (e.g. Cherax quadricarinatus , Samastacus spinifrons, Parastacus virilastacus and Pacifastacus leniusculus ) and parthenogenesis (only Procambarus fallax f. virginalis ). A recent study showed a new case of parthenogenesis as apomictic parthenogenesis (only Orconectes limosus ). In addition, there are many investigations into the reproduction biology of crayfish, including using eyestalk ablation or androgenic gland ablation under various lab conditions and hybridization under natural conditions (e.g. Astacus astacus X Astacus leptodactylus , Orconectes rusticus X Orconectes propinquus ). There are also some chemical factors which could possibly affect the reproduction system of crayfish in the wild.
Actual status of biological control studies on chestnut blight in Turkey.

This article reports the results of a long-term study conducted in province Manisa, Ege region, on biological control of chestnut blight (caused by Cryphonectria parasitica) by using hypovirulent strains and on their natural spread in the stand between the years 2002- 2009. Since hypovirulent strains were not found in the chestnut orchards of the region, hypovirulent isolates from the Marmara region which belong to vc type EU-1 and MAT-1 mating type were used in the study. The virulent strains isolated from the infected trees in the research area have revealed that they also belong to vc type EU-1 and MAT-1 mating type. After determination of the canker dimensions and types on the young chestnut trees, the introduced hypovirulent strain was inoculated into the holes around these cankers and the dimensional changes of the diseased areas in these trees were measured at monthly intervals and recorded. It was observed that most of the cankers treated with the hypovirulent strain on chestnut trees were healed between 2004 and 2005. The hypovirulent strain could be re-isolated from the healing cankers. Five years after inoculation, 45 new healed cankers were determined on 31 trees in the research area between 2007 and 2009, showing that hypovirulence disseminates naturally in the chestnut stand.