Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Vertebrate Herbivores and Northern Plant Communities: Reciprocal Influences and Responses

Vertebrate herbivores in northern latitudes are generalists in their selection of forage species. Their foraging behaviour is influenced by the availability of vegetation of high nutritional quality, abiotic disturbance events, the effect of plant species on nutrient cycling, and the degree to which herbivores can forage on a diversity of plant species. In resource-limited, early successional environments their foraging activities may accelerate or delay plant succession, depending on the type of plant-animal interaction. They may increase the turnover rate of nutrients, particularly nitrogen, thereby sustaining net primary production of preferred forage plants. Alternatively, the movement of animals from locality to locality at the landscape level allows them to exploit available nutrient pulses in space and time in environments where high turnover rates cannot be sustained. The long-term effects of herbivory on the vegetation in the latter case appear to be minimal. There is also a group of plants which are unsuitable as forage because of the presence of secondary compounds. The low digestion efficiency when these plants are eaten correlates well with the recalcitrant nature of the tissues to microbial decomposition, the slow turnover of nutrients in the soil and the slow growth rates of the plants. Overall, herbivores do not appear to influence plant species assemblages in the different communities in the long term or alter the trajectory of plant succession at the landscape level, but they may have considerable short-term effects on vegetation, particularly at fine spatial scales (1-20 m). Exceptions to these generalizations are primarly at the local level and involve the top-down influence of human agencies in altering herbivore numbers, thereby creating trophic cascades and leading to the destruction of plant communities.
Draft Genome Sequences of Acinetobacter sp. Strain EKM10A, Enterobacter hormaechei EKM10E, and Enterobacter hormaechei EKM11E (Phylum Proteobacteria) Colonizing the Seed Surface Biogel of Echinocystis lobata (Wild Cucumber)

Here, we report the draft genome sequences of Acinetobacter sp. strain EKM10A, Enterobacter hormaechei EKM10E, and Enterobacter hormaechei EKM11E, containing 3,978,352, 4,760,222, and 4,758,163 bp, respectively. These seed biogel-associated endophytes were previously isolated from the seed wash of Echinocystis lobata (wild cucumber) and tested in vitro for antagonism against soilborne fungal/oomycete pathogens. ABSTRACT Here, we report the draft genome sequences of Acinetobacter sp. strain EKM10A, Enterobacter hormaechei EKM10E, and Enterobacter hormaechei EKM11E, containing 3,978,352, 4,760,222, and 4,758,163 bp, respectively. These seed biogel-associated endophytes were previously isolated from the seed wash of Echinocystis lobata (wild cucumber) and tested in vitro for antagonism against soilborne fungal/oomycete pathogens.
Allochthonous organic carbon and phytoplankton/bacterioplankton production relationships in lakes

Humic lakes with high inputs of allochthonous dissolved organic carbon have a pelagic food chain that, to a large extent, is based on bacterioplankton energy mobilization from allochthonous organic carbon compounds. This is in contrast to clear lakes in which total pelagic production is based mainly on phytoplankton photosynthesis. The energy economy in humic lakes may be less efficient than in clear lakes, because it is likely that one more link is included in the food chain. Lake data from Scandinavia and North America demonstrate that shifts between food chains based on heterotrophic production and food chains based on primary production can take place at moderate increases or decreases in the concentration of dissolved organic carbon from allochthonous sources. Large variations in the loading of allochthonous organic carbon (e.g., due to climatic variations) may have considerable effects on the biostructure and productivity of lakes.
Counting the Burden: Atopic Dermatitis and Health-related Quality of Life

Atopic dermatitis is the most prevalent chronic inflammatory skin condition globally. The burden of atopic dermatitis on children and adults is extensive and there is also significant impact on the lives of patient caregivers and family members. It is important to be able to measure this impact to inform clinical decisions and to plan appropriate patient and carer support. The current impact of atopic dermatitis on children and adults can be measured using several different quality of life questionnaires: the most frequently used are the Dermatology Quality of Life (DLQI), Children’s Dermatology Quality of Life and Infants Dermatology Quality of Life. The impact on partners and family can be measured using several atopic dermatitis specific questionnaires or the Family DLQI or the generic Family Reported Outcome Measure, FROM-16.
Multifunctionality of lanthanum-strontium manganite nanopowder.

Manganites are multifunctional materials which are widely used in both technology and devices. In this article, new prospects of their use as nanoparticles for various types of applications are demonstrated. For that, the ferromagnetic nanopowder of La0.6Sr0. 4MnO3 has been synthesized by the sol-gel method with a subsequent annealing at 700-900 °C. The crystal structure, phase composition and morphology of nanoparticles as well as magnetic, magnetothermal and electrocatalytic properties have been studied comprehensively. The critical sizes of superparamagnetic, single-domain, and multi-domain states have been determined. It has been established that an anomalously wide temperature range of magnetocaloric properties is associated with an additional contribution to the magnetocaloric effect from superparamagnetic nanoparticles. The maximum values of the specific loss power are observed in the relaxation hysteresis region near the magnetic phase transition temperature. The electrochemical stability and features of the decomposition of nanoparticles in 1 M KOH and Na2SO4 electrolytes have been determined. A decrease in the particle size contributes to an increase in electrocatalytic activity for overall water splitting. Magnetocaloric and electrocatalytic results of the work indicate the prospects for obtaining the possibility of changing the temperature regime of electrocatalysis using contactless heating or cooling.
The Diagnostic Performance of the Length of Tumor Capsular Contact on MRI for Detecting Prostate Cancer Extraprostatic Extension: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective The purpose was to review the diagnostic performance of the length of tumor capsular contact (LCC) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for detecting prostate cancer extraprostatic extension (EPE). Materials and Methods PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched up to March 24, 2019. We included diagnostic accuracy studies that evaluated LCC on MRI for EPE detection using radical prostatectomy specimen histopathology as the reference standard. Quality of studies was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 tool. Sensitivity and specificity were pooled and graphically presented using hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic (HSROC) plots. Meta-regression and subgroup analyses were conducted to explore heterogeneity. Results Thirteen articles with 2136 patients were included. Study quality was generally good. Summary sensitivity and specificity were 0.79 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.73–0.83) and 0.67 (95% CI 0.60–0.74), respectively. Area under the HSROC was 0.81 (95% CI 0.77–0.84). Substantial heterogeneity was present among the included studies according to Cochran's Q-test (p < 0.01) and Higgins I2 (62% and 86% for sensitivity and specificity, respectively). In terms of heterogeneity, measurement method (curvilinear vs. linear), prevalence of Gleason score ≥ 7, MRI readers' experience, and endorectal coils were significant factors (p ≤ 0.01), whereas method to determine the LCC threshold, cutoff value, magnet strength, and publication year were not (p = 0.14–0.93). Diagnostic test accuracy estimates were comparable across all assessed MRI sequences. Conclusion Greater LCC on MRI is associated with a higher probability of prostate cancer EPE. Due to heterogeneity among the studies, further investigation is needed to establish the optimal cutoff value for each clinical setting.
Molecular epidemiology, genetic diversity and antimicrobial resistance of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from chicken and pig carcasses, and carcass handlers

The epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus in food animals, associated products, and their zoonotic potential in Nigeria are poorly understood. This study aimed to provide data on the prevalence, genetic characteristics and antimicrobial resistance of S. aureus isolated from chicken and pig carcasses, and persons in contact with the carcasses at slaughterhouses in Nigeria. Surface swabs were collected randomly from 600 chicken and 600 pig carcasses. Nasal swabs were collected from 45 workers in chicken slaughterhouses and 45 pig slaughterhouse workers. S. aureus isolates were analyzed by spa typing. They were also examined for presence of the Panton-Valentine Leucocidin (PVL) and mecA genes, as well as for antimicrobial resistance phenotype. Overall, 53 S. aureus isolates were recovered (28 from chicken carcasses, 17 from pig carcasses, 5 from chicken carcass handlers and 3 from pig carcass handlers). Among the isolates, 19 (35.8%) were PVL-positive and 12 (22.6%) carried the mecA gene. The 53 isolates belonged to 19 spa types. The Based Upon Repeat Pattern (BURP) algorithm separated the isolates into 2 spa-clonal complexes (spa-CC) and 9 singletons including 2 novel spa types (t18345 and t18346). The clonal complexes (CC) detected were CC1, CC5, CC8, CC15, CC88 and CC152. CC15-related isolates represented by spa type t084 (32.1%) and CC5 represented by spa type t311 (35.3%) predominated among isolates from chicken carcasses/ handlers, and pig carcasses/ handlers, respectively. Multidrug resistance exhibited by all the CC except CC8, was observed among isolates from chicken carcasses (64.3%), pig carcasses (41.2%), handlers of chicken meat (40.0%) and handlers of pork (33.3%). All the CC showed varying degrees of resistance to tetracycline while CC15 and CC5 exhibited the highest resistance to sulphamethoxazole/trimethoprim and erythromycin, respectively. The predominant antimicrobial resistance pattern observed was penicillin-tetracycline-sulphamethoxazole/trimethoprim (PEN-TET-SXT). In conclusion, food animals processed in Enugu State in Southeast Nigeria are potential vehicles for transmission of PVL-positive multiple-drug resistant S. aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus from farm to slaughterhouse and potentially to the human population. Public health intervention programs at pre- and post-slaughter stages should be considered in Nigerian slaughterhouses.
Sublethal and transgenerational effects of sulfoxaflor on the demography and feeding behaviour of the mirid bug Apolygus lucorum

Sulfoxaflor, the first commercially available sulfoximine insecticide, has been used for the control of sap-feeding insect pests such as plant bugs and aphids on a variety of crops. However, its sublethal effects on the mirid bug Apolygus lucorum, one of the key insect pests of Bt cotton and fruit trees in China, have not been fully examined. Here, we evaluated the demography and feeding behaviour of A. lucorum exposed to sulfoxaflor. The leaf-dipping bioassay showed that the LC10 and LC30 of sulfoxaflor against 3rd-instar nymphs of this insect were 1.23 and 8.37 mg L-1, respectively. The LC10 significantly extended the nymphal duration and decreased the oviposition period by 5.29 days and female fecundity by 56.99% in the parent generation (F0). The longer duration of egg, 5th-instar nymphs, preadult, and male adult longevity were observed in the F1 generation (F1) at LC10. At the LC30, the duration of egg and 1st-instar nymph, female adult longevity, and oviposition period of the F1 were significantly shorter, while the nymphal duration in the F0 and duration of 5th-instar nymphs, preadult survival rate, and male adult longevity in the F1 significantly increased. The net reproductive rate (R0), intrinsic rate of increase (r), and finite rate of increase (λ) in the F1 were not significantly affected by these two concentrations, whereas the mean generation time (T) was lower at the LC30. Additionally, the probe counts and cells mixture feeding time were markedly lengthened by the LC10 and LC30, respectively, when A. lucorum nymphs exposed to sulfoxaflor fed on Bt cotton plants without insecticides. These results clearly indicate that sulfoxaflor causes sublethal effects on A. lucorum and the transgenerational effects depend on the tested concentrations.
Evaluation of Methods for Extraction of Nematodes and Endoparasitic Fungi From Soil

Six methods were tested for nematode extraction: the Seinhorst elutriator, Cobb's decanting and sieving, the Whitehead direct method (Whitehead tray), and centrifugal-flotation with silica (Ludox LS), sucrose and MgSO 4 , respectively. The most efficient methods for non-parasitic nematodes were centrifugal-flotation with silica, the Seinhorst elutriator and the Whitehead tray. Tylenchorhynchus spp. and total plant parasitic nematodes were recovered in largest numbers with the elutriator and the three centrifugation-flotation methods. The largest numbers of Pratylenchus crenatus were recovered with the Whitehead tray, while centrifugal-flotation with silica was superior for the trichodorids. Four species of endoparasitic nematophagous fungi (Catenaria anguillulae, Harposporium anguillulae, Nematoctonus leiosporus and Hirsutella rhossiliensis) were isolated from nematodes extracted with four of the six methods: the Seinhorst elutriator, the Whitehead tray, centrifugation with silica and centrifugation with sucrose. The largest numbers of infected nematodes were obtained with centrifugal-flotation with silica and the elutriation method. The smallest number of endoparasitic fungi were recovered by using Cobb's decanting and sieving and the Whitehead tray methods.
Increased nuclear but not cytoplasmic activities of CELF1 protein leads to muscle wasting.

mRNA processing is highly regulated during development through changes in RNA binding protein activities. CUG-BP, Elav-like family member 1 (CELF1, also called CUGBP1) is a RNA binding protein the expression of which decreases in skeletal muscle soon after birth. CELF1 regulates multiple nuclear and cytoplasmic RNA processing events. In the nucleus, CELF1 regulates networks of postnatal alternative splicing (AS) transitions, while in the cytoplasm, CELF1 regulates mRNA stability and translation. Stabilization and mis-regulation of CELF1 has been implicated in human diseases including myotonic dystrophy type 1, Alzheimer's disease, and multiple cancers. To understand the contribution of nuclear and cytoplasmic CELF1 activity to normal and pathogenic skeletal muscle biology, we generated transgenic mice for doxycycline-inducible and skeletal muscle-specific expression of active CELF1 mutants engineered to be localized predominantly to either the nucleus or the cytoplasm. Adult mice expressing nuclear, but not cytoplasmic, CELF1 are characterized by strong histopathological defects, muscle loss within 10 days, and changes in AS. In contrast, mice expressing cytoplasmic CELF1 display changes in protein levels of targets known to be regulated at the level of translation by CELF1, with minimal changes in AS. These changes are in the absence of overt histopathological changes or muscle loss. RNA-sequencing revealed extensive gene expression and AS changes in mice overexpressing nuclear and naturally-localized CELF1 protein, with affected genes involved in cytoskeleton dynamics, membrane dynamics, RNA processing, and zinc ion binding. These results support a stronger role for nuclear CELF1 functions as compared to cytoplasmic CELF1 functions in skeletal muscle wasting.
Contribuição ao conhecimento de espécies venezuelanas de Lespesia Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera, Tachinidae, Exoristinae), com descrições de novas espécies

A taxonomic study on Venezuelan species of the genus Lespesia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1863 (Diptera, Tachinidae) is done, based on the collection of the "Museo del Instituto de Zoologia Agricola Francisco Fernandez Yepez (MIZA) de la Universidad Central de Venezuela - Maracay". Six species are recognized, two of which are described as new, Lespesia giovannae sp. nov. and Lespesia oscari sp. nov., and three recorded from Venezuela for the first time: Lespesia affinis (Townsend, 1927), Lespesia protoginoi (Blanchard, 1966) and Lespesia spitzi Guimaraes, 1983. Redescriptions and key to species are given.
Robotic surgery for gynecologic cancers: indications, techniques and controversies

Minimally invasive surgery for gynecologic cancers is associated with fewer postoperative complications including less blood loss and quicker recovery time compared to traditional laparotomy. The robotic platform has allowed patients access to minimally invasive surgery due to its increased utilization by gynecologic oncologists. Many surgeons have embraced the robotic platform due to its technological advances over traditional laparoscopy including high‐definition 3D optics, wristed instrumentation, camera stability and improved ergonomics. While robotic surgery continues as a mainstay in the management of gynecologic cancers, it remains controversial in regards to its cost effectiveness and more recently, its long‐term impact on clinical and oncologic outcomes. A strong component of the justification of this surgical platform is based on extrapolated data from traditional laparoscopy despite limited prospective randomized trials for robotic‐assisted surgery. In this review, we highlight the use of robotic surgery in the management of gynecologic cancers in special populations: fertility sparing patients, the morbidly obese, the elderly, and patients with a favorable response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
Punishing the privileged: Selfish offers from high-status allocators elicit greater punishment from third-party arbitrators

Individuals high in socioeconomic status (SES) are often viewed as valuable members of society. However, the appeal of high-SES people exists in tension with our aversion to inequity. Little experimental work has directly examined how people rectify inequitable distributions between two individuals varying in SES. The objective of the present study was to examine how disinterested third parties adjudicate inequity in the context of concrete financial allocations between a selfish allocator and a recipient who was the victim of the allocator’s selfish offer. Specifically, this study focused on whether knowing the SES of the victim or the allocator affected the participant’s decisions to punish the selfish allocator. In two experiments (N = 999), participants completed a modified third-party Ultimatum Game in which they arbitrated inequitable exchanges between an allocator and a recipient. Although participants generally preferred to redistribute inequitable exchanges without punishing players who made unfair allocations, we observed an increased preference for punitive solutions as offers became increasingly selfish. This tendency was especially pronounced when the victim was low in SES or when the perpetrator was high in SES, suggesting a tendency to favor the disadvantaged even among participants reporting high subjective SES. Finally, punitive responses were especially likely when the context emphasized the allocator’s privileged status rather than the recipient’s underprivileged status. These findings inform our understanding of how SES biases retributive justice even in non-judicial contexts that minimize the salience of punishment.
Leaf nutritional quality as a predictor of primate biomass: further evidence of an ecological anomaly within prosimian communities in Madagascar

Abstract: The correlation between the biomass of forest primates and a chemical index of the average nutritional quality of leaves in tropical forests has been repeatedly documented since 1990. We tested the role played by protein : fibre on lemur biomass in a gallery forest in southern Madagascar. Plant species abundance was determined based on transect censuses. We calculated an average ratio of protein-to-fibre in leaves and an abundance-weighted ratio, i.e. the mean weighted by the basal area of tree species, to be compared with the figures available for other forest ecosystems in Madagascar and a number of anthropoid habitats. Lemur densities were evaluated through compilation of previous studies made from prior to 1975 and up until 2011 based on strip censuses and/or identification of all groups supplemented with new censuses. A high mean ratio of protein to fibre (> 0.4) supports high folivore biomass at 390 kg km−2 (reaching 630 kg km−2 in the closed-canopy forest area) compared with primate communities in other Malagasy forests (protein : fibre: < 0.5; folivore biomass: < 440 kg km−2), as predicted. However, the data corroborate the finding that the total biomass of lemur communities as well as the biomass of folivorous lemur species are low compared with those of African and Asian primate communities for a given protein : fibre ratio. Tree diversity and leaf production do not consistently explain this pattern. In contrast, the extinction of large folivorous lemurs during the past two millennia presumably allowed too little time for smaller-sized species to evolve equally effective morphological and physiological specializations for processing a large range of fibrous foods.
Hydrogen gas (XEN) inhalation ameliorates airway inflammation in asthma and COPD patients

Summary Background Hydrogen was proven to have anti-oxidative and anti-inflammation effects to various diseases. Aim We wish to investigate the acute effects of inhaled hydrogen on airway inflammation in patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Design Prospective study. Methods In total, 2.4% hydrogen containing steam mixed gas (XEN) was inhaled once for 45 min in 10 patients with asthma and 10 patients with COPD. The levels of granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, interferon-γ, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-2, IL-4, IL-6 and so on in peripheral blood and exhaled breath condensate (EBC) before and after ‘XEN’ inhalation were measured. Results 45 minutes ‘XEN’ inhalation once decreased monocyte chemotactic protein 1 level in both COPD (564.70–451.51 pg/mL, P = 0.019) and asthma (386.39–332.76 pg/mL, P = 0.033) group, while decreased IL-8 level only in asthma group (5.25–4.49 pg/mL, P = 0.023). The level of EBC soluble cluster of differentiation-40 ligand in COPD group increased after inhalation (1.07–1.16 pg/mL, P = 0.031), while IL-4 and IL-6 levels in EBC were significantly lower after inhalation in the COPD (0.80–0.64 pg/mL, P = 0.025) and asthma (0.06–0.05 pg/mL, P = 0.007) group, respectively. Conclusions A single inhalation of hydrogen for 45 min attenuated inflammatory status in airways in patients with asthma and COPD.