Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and Genotypes of Cryptosporidium in Wildlife Populations Co-Located in a Protected Watershed in the Pacific Northwest, 2013 to 2016

Between October 2013 and May 2016, 506 scat samples were collected from 22 species of wildlife located in a protected watershed of a major municipal water supply in the Pacific Northwest, USA. Overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium in the wildlife scat was 13.8% (70/506), with 15 species of wildlife found positive for Cryptosporidium. Prevalence of Cryptosporidium varied among species of wildlife, with higher prevalences observed in cougars (50.0%), mountain beavers (40.0%), and bobcats (33.3%), but none of these species are riparian-dependent. Genotyping of Cryptosporidium by sequencing PCR amplicons from the 18S rRNA gene were successful for seven species of wildlife, including bobcat, unknown predator, black-tailed deer, deer mouse, snowshoe hare, mountain beaver, and western spotted skunk. BLAST and phylogenetic analyses indicated that multiple species and genotypes of Cryptosporidium were present, with some isolates possibly co-circulating within and between wildlife populations in this protected watershed. Evidence of oocyst exchange between infected prey and their predators was also found. During the study period, several zoonotic Cryptosporidium species and genotypes that are uncommon in humans were detected in bobcat (99.58% identical to Cryptosporidium felis), unknown predator (100% identical to Cryptosporidium canis), snowshoe hare (100% identical to Cryptosporidium sp. skunk genotype), and mountain beaver (100% identical to Cryptosporidium ubiquitum). Novel sequences were also found in mountain beaver. To our knowledge, this is the first published report of a unique genotype or species of Cryptosporidium in mountain beaver (Aplodontia rufa).
Romnalda ophiopogonoides (Asparagales: Laxmanniaceae), a new and endangered species from the Wet Tropics bioregion of north-east Queensland

Romnalda ophiopogonoides Conran, P.I. Forst. et Donnon sp. nov. from the Cape Tribulation -Daintree area in the Wet Tropics bioregion of north-east Queensland is described, illustrated and compared with related species. A conservation status of Endangered is proposed. Notes on habitat, distribution and cytology and a key to the species of Romnalda are provided.
Diet and Feeding Behavior of Ethiopian Wolves (Canis simensis)

The Ethiopian wolf ( Canis simensis ) is a rare and endangered carnivore found in only a few mountain ranges of the Ethiopian highlands. We studied its diet and feeding behavior in Bale Mountains National Park, Ethiopia, from 1988 through 1992. Observations of foraging behavior ( n = 380) and scat analysis ( n = 689) suggested that the Ethiopian wolf specializes in eating rodents. Rodents accounted for 96% of the prey occurrences and 97% volume in the droppings. The giant molerat ( Tachyoryctes macrocephalus ) was the main food item, followed in importance by three species of rats ( Arvicanthis blicki, Lophuromys melanonyx , and Otomys typus ). Ethiopian wolves foraged solitarily throughout the day, but occasionally small packs (≤6) hunted hares, young antelopes, and sheep. During food-choice experiments, wolves significantly preferred Tachyoryctes to Arvicanthis and Lophuromys , Arvicanthis to Lophuromys , and either of them to Stenocephalemys , which was invariably discarded. Lepus starcki was preferred to any of the species of rats. The contribution of different species of prey to the diet of the Ethiopian wolf correlated with abundance of prey.
Mechanism of Electron Flow through the QB Site in Photosystem II. 4. Reaction Mechanism of Plastoquinone Derivatives at the QB Site in Spinach Photosystem II Membrane Fragments

Interactions of externally added plastoquinone (PQ) derivatives (PQ0-PQ3) with the photosystem II (PSII) acceptor side were investigated in PSII membrane fragments prepared from spinach by measuring the photoreduction rates of PQ derivatives at various PQ concentrations, and the following results were obtained. From the kinetic analysis, all the PQ derivatives (PQ0PQ2) except PQ3 were shown to accept electrons at two sites (the QB site and the PQ site) as in the case of Synechococcus vulcanus PSII particles with benzoquinone derivatives [Satoh et al. (1995) Plant Cell Physiol. 36: 597]. Affinities of PQ derivatives at the QB site increased as the length of the isoprene side chain got longer, while those at the PQ site were not very much different for al) the PQ derivatives tested in this study. The inhibitory effect of DCMU was noncompetitive, and, therefore, the affinity of PQ3 for the PQ site was determined while that for the QB site could not be estimated presumably due to its fairly high affinity to the site. Based on the results obtained using PQ derivatives, the mechanism of interaction of an authentic PQ, PQ9, at the QB site is discussed.
Two Trichodinids of Paratrichodina (ciliophora, Peritrichida, Trichodinidae) Infecting Gills of Ietalurus Punetaus from Chongqing, China

During a parasitological survey in China, two species of trichodinid ectoparasite (Ciliophora, Peritrichida, Trichodinidae) belonging to genus Paratrichodina , were isolated from letalurus punetaus (Siluridae ) . One species was identified as a new species and named as Paratrichodina rotundiformis sp. nov. and this new species has round and undeveloped blade with round tangent point, undeveloped triangular central part, slim ray with inclining backward, and whole fitting loose denticle. The other species, Paratrichodina corlissi is described for the first time in Asia in the present work. The morphometric data were obtained from specimens prepared using dry silver nitrate and methyl green-pyronin stain techniques. Results of comparison between the new species and closely related species are provided.
INFLUENCE OF FOREST COVER ON THE MOVEMENTS OF FOREST BIRDS: A HOMING EXPERIMENT

Habitat loss and fragmentation affect forest birds through direct loss of breeding habitats, detrimental edge effects such as increased nest predation and brood parasitism, and possibly by limiting movements among remaining forest patches. Despite indirect evidence suggesting that landscape-scale bird movements are constrained by open areas, skepticism remains because birds routinely cross inhospitable terrain during migration. Here, we report evidence from 201 independent homing trials showing that landscape composition and configuration influence the movements (1–4 km) of two neotropical migrant (Black-throated Blue Warbler, Dendroica caerulescens and the Ovenbird, Seiurus aurocapillus) and one resident (Black-capped Chickadee, Poecile atricapillus) forest bird species in Quebec, Canada. Trials consisted of translocating territorial, mated males and measuring the time they needed to return to their territories (homing time), as well as the probability with which they returned to their territories within.
Soft Materials for Wearable/Flexible Electrochemical Energy Conversion, Storage, and Biosensor Devices

Next-generation wearable technology needs portable flexible energy storage, conversion, and biosensor devices that can be worn on soft and curved surfaces. The conformal integration of these devices requires the use of soft, flexible, light materials, and substrates with similar mechanical properties as well as high performances. In this review, we have collected and discussed the remarkable research contributions of recent years, focusing the attention on the development and arrangement of soft and flexible materials (electrodes, electrolytes, substrates) that allowed traditional power sources and sensors to become viable and compatible with wearable electronics, preserving or improving their conventional performances.
Breed and Sex Effect on Meat Quality of Chicken

2 Abstract: Total of 120 chickens from Anka and Rugao breed includes (60 individual per breed and 30 individual per sex) were taken as a representative sample and were slaughtered at Jiangsu Poultry Institute, China, and then the carcasses were dissected manually. Water holding capacity, color density, pH an d tenderness were estimated from breast muscle. Breeds were found differed significantly (P 0.05) different were noted between breeds. Tenderness, the values for shear force were significantly (P>0.01) higher in males than females in two chicken breeds. In addition color density, pH and water holding capacity were non significantly difference (P>0.05). In Anka chicken breed color density was positive correlated with pH, tenderness and water holding capacity, and similarly pH was positively related with tenderness. While in Rugao all meat quality traits shows negative correlation with each others, specially tenderness was observed positive correlation with color density.
Differences in the Reproductive Ecology of Belted Kingfishers (Ceryle alcyon) Across Streams with Varying Geomorphology and Habitat Quality

Abstract We evaluated the influence of stream geomorphology and habitat quality on brood weight, offspring growth rate, and territory length of Belted Kingfishers (Ceryle alcyon) in northwestern Vermont, USA. We gathered measurements of habitat use, fish abundance and biomass, and reproductive success at breeding territories in stream reaches of differing geomorphic and habitat conditions during spring and early summer 2002. We used model selection based on AICc to examine the effects of stream geomorphology, habitat quality, and fish abundance and biomass on the selected reproductive measures. Geomorphic condition emerged as the most important predictor variable for models of both brood weight and territory length. We tested two viable models during the 2003 breeding season at new, independent breeding territories and found them to be well-supported. Our results provide evidence that stream geomorphic condition plays both direct and indirect roles in the habitat use and reproduction of Belted Kingfishers, suggesting that stream and riparian management strategies focused on protecting and restoring functional morphology will have ecological benefits for riverine birds.
Engineered receptors for human cytomegalovirus that are orthogonal to normal human biology

A trimeric glycoprotein complex on the surface of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) binds to platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor α (PDGFRα) to mediate host cell recognition and fusion of the viral and cellular membranes. Soluble PDGFRα potently neutralizes HCMV in tissue culture, and its potential use as an antiviral therapeutic has the benefit that any escape mutants will likely be attenuated. However, PDGFRα binds multiple PDGF ligands in the human body as part of developmental programs in embryogenesis and continuing through adulthood. Any therapies with soluble receptor therefore come with serious efficacy and safety concerns, especially for the treatment of congenital HCMV. Soluble virus receptors that are orthogonal to human biology might resolve these concerns. This engineering problem is solved by deep mutational scanning on the D2-D3 domains of PDGFRα to identify variants that maintain interactions with the HCMV glycoprotein trimer in the presence of competing PDGF ligands. Competition by PDGFs is conformation-dependent, whereas HCMV trimer binding is independent of proper D2-D3 conformation, and many mutations at the receptor-PDGF interface are suitable for functionally separating trimer from PDGF interactions. Purified soluble PDGFRα carrying a targeted mutation succeeded in displaying wild type affinity for HCMV trimer with a simultaneous loss of PDGF binding, and neutralizes trimer-only and trimer/pentamer-expressing HCMV strains infecting fibroblasts or epithelial cells. Overall, this work makes important progress in the realization of soluble HCMV receptors for clinical application.
Effects of L-Phenylalanine on Energy Intake and Glycaemia—Impacts on Appetite Perceptions, Gastrointestinal Hormones and Gastric Emptying in Healthy Males

In humans, phenylalanine stimulates plasma cholecystokinin (CCK) and pyloric pressures, both of which are important in the regulation of energy intake and gastric emptying. Gastric emptying is a key determinant of postprandial blood glucose. We evaluated the effects of intragastric phenylalanine on appetite perceptions and subsequent energy intake, and the glycaemic response to, and gastric emptying of, a mixed-nutrient drink. The study consisted of two parts, each including 16 healthy, lean males (age: 23 ± 1 years). In each part, participants received on three separate occasions, in randomised, double-blind fashion, 5 g (Phe-5 g) or 10g (‘Phe-10 g) L-phenylalanine, or control, intragastrically, 30 min before a standardised buffet-meal (part A), or a standardised mixed-nutrient drink (part B). In part A, plasma CCK and peptide-YY (PYY), and appetite perceptions, were measured at baseline, after phenylalanine alone, and following the buffet-meal, from which energy intake was assessed. In part B, plasma glucose, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), insulin and glucagon were measured at baseline, after phenylalanine alone, and for 2 h following the drink. Gastric emptying of the drink was also measured by 13C-acetate breath-test. Phe-10 g, but not Phe-5 g, stimulated plasma CCK (p = 0.01) and suppressed energy intake (p = 0.012); energy intake was correlated with stimulation of CCK (r = −0.4, p = 0.027), and tended to be associated with stimulation of PYY (r = −0.31, p = 0.082). Both Phe-10 g and Phe-5 g stimulated insulin and glucagon (all p < 0.05), but not GLP-1. Phe-10 g, but not Phe-5 g, reduced overall plasma glucose (p = 0.043) and peak plasma glucose (p = 0.017) in response to the mixed-nutrient drink. Phenylalanine had no effect on gastric emptying of the drink. In conclusion, our observations indicate that the energy intake-suppressant effect of phenylalanine is related to the stimulation of CCK and PYY, while the glucoregulatory effect may be independent of stimulation of plasma GLP-1 or slowing of gastric emptying.
Immunogenicity and Efficacy of Zika Virus Envelope Domain III in DNA, Protein, and ChAdOx1 Adenoviral-Vectored Vaccines

The flavivirus envelope protein domain III (EDIII) was an effective immunogen against dengue virus (DENV) and other related flaviviruses. Whether this can be applied to the Zika virus (ZIKV) vaccinology remains an open question. Here, we tested the efficacy of ZIKV-EDIII against ZIKV infection, using several vaccine platforms that present the antigen in various ways. We provide data demonstrating that mice vaccinated with a ZIKV-EDIII as DNA or protein-based vaccines failed to raise fully neutralizing antibodies and did not control viremia, following a ZIKV challenge, despite eliciting robust antibody responses. Furthermore, we showed that ZIKV-EDIII encoded in replication-deficient Chimpanzee adenovirus (ChAdOx1-EDIII) elicited anti-ZIKV envelope antibodies in vaccinated mice but also provided limited protection against ZIKV in two physiologically different mouse challenge models. Taken together, our data indicate that contrary to what was shown for other flaviviruses like the dengue virus, which has close similarities with ZIKV-EDIII, this antigen might not be a suitable vaccine candidate for the correct induction of protective immune responses against ZIKV.
The Disproportionate Impact of COVID-19 on Racial and Ethnic Minorities in the United States

EDITORIAL COMMENTARY • cid 2021:72 (15 February) • 709 Received 1 July 2020; editorial decision 3 July 2020; accepted 8 July 2020; published online July 10, 2020. Correspondence: J. M. Wilder, Duke Division of Gastroenterology, Duke Clinical Research Institute, 200 Morris Street, Room 6522, Durham, NC 27701 (julius.wilder@duke. edu). Clinical Infectious Diseases 2021;72(4):709–11 © The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com. DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa959 The Disproportionate Impact of COVID-19 on Racial and Ethnic Minorities in the United States
Gold Nanoparticle-Assisted Virus Formation by Means of the Delivery of an Oncolytic Adenovirus Genome

Oncolytic adenoviruses are a therapeutic alternative to treat cancer based on their ability to replicate selectively in tumor cells. However, their use is limited mainly by the neutralizing antibody (Nab) immune response that prevents repeated dosing. An alternative to facilitate the DNA access to the tumor even in the presence of anti-viral Nabs could be gold nanoparticles able to transfer DNA molecules. However, the ability of these nanoparticles to carry large DNA molecules, such as an oncolytic adenovirus genome, has not been studied. In this work, gold nanoparticles were functionalized with different amounts of polyethylenimine to transfer in a safe and efficient manner a large oncolytic virus genome. Their transfer efficacy and final effect of the oncolytic virus in cancer cells are studied. For each synthesized nanoparticle, (a) DNA loading capacity, (b) complex size, (c) DNA protection ability, (d) transfection efficacy and (e) cytotoxic effect were studied. We observed that small gold nanoparticles (70–80 nm in diameter) protected DNA against nucleases and were able to transfect the ICOVIR-15 oncolytic virus genome encoded in pLR1 plasmid. In the present work, efficient transgene RNA expression, luciferase activity and viral cytopathic effect on cancer cells are reported. These results suggest gold nanoparticles to be an efficient and safe vector for oncolytic adenovirus genome transfer.
Humaneness and Selectivity of Killing Neck Snares Used to Capture Canids in Canada: A Review

Although killing neck snares are used on traplines in Canada to capture gray wolves (Canis lupus), coyotes (C. latrans), and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), they are not subject to trap performance criteria set out in the Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards (AIHTS). This paper reviews scientific information related to the humaneness and selectivity of killing neck snares used to capture canids. All past studies demonstrated that manual and power killing neck snares were inadequate to consistently and quickly render canids unconscious. Furthermore, killing neck snares are non-selective, and impact seriously on the welfare of non-target animals. We recommend that the AIHTS be modified to allow only killing neck snares that kill quickly and consistently, and in the absence of such snares, to phase-out all killing snares for which efficient and more humane alternatives exist. 1
A Review of the Literature on Principal Turnover

Among the many challenges facing public schools are high levels of principal turnover. Given the important role that principals play and are expected to play in the improvement process, concerns about principal turnover have resulted in a growing body of research on its causes and consequences. The purpose of this review is to take stock of what we have learned about the sources and consequences of principal turnover and to identify what gaps remain. The final review included 36 empirical studies. It discusses and categorizes findings relating to the determinants and consequences of principal turnover. The review concludes with a discussion about the implications of those findings and the areas and kinds of research still needed.
Trends and uncertainties in Siberian indicators of 20th century warming

Estimates of past climate and future forest biomass dynamics are constrained by uncertainties in the relationships between growth and climatic variability and uncertainties in the instrumental data themselves. Of particular interest in this regard is the boreal‐forest zone, where radial growth has historically been closely connected with temperature variability, but various lines of evidence have indicated a decoupling since about the 1960s. We here address this growth‐vs.‐temperature divergence by analyzing tree‐ring width and density data from across Siberia, and comparing 20th century proxy trends with those derived from instrumental stations. We test the influence of approaches considered in the recent literature on the divergence phenomenon (DP), including effects of tree‐ring standardization and calibration period, and explore instrumental uncertainties by employing both adjusted and nonadjusted temperature data to assess growth‐climate agreement. Results indicate that common methodological and data usage decisions alter 20th century growth and temperature trends in a way that can easily explain the post‐1960 DP. We show that (i) Siberian station temperature adjustments were up to 1.3 °C for decadal means before 1940, (ii) tree‐ring detrending effects in the order of 0.6–0.8 °C, and (iii) calibration uncertainties up to about 0.4 °C over the past 110 years. Despite these large uncertainties, instrumental and tree growth estimates for the entire 20th century warming interval match each other, to a degree previously not recognized, when care is taken to preserve long‐term trends in the tree‐ring data. We further show that careful examination of early temperature data and calibration of proxy timeseries over the full period of overlap with instrumental data are both necessary to properly estimate 20th century long‐term changes and to avoid erroneous detection of post‐1960 divergence.
Determination of seed yield and some yield components through path and correlation analyses in many six-rowed barley (Hordeum vulgare conv. hexastichon)

This study was carried out to determine the selection criteria suitable for higher yield of barley in breeding studies. For this purpose, methods of path and correlation analyses were performed on 10 barley cultivars and 43 lines. Depending on the findings of this study, no statistically significant relation was observed between seed yield and plant height. It can be inferred from the results obtained that besides other yield components, 1000- seed weight can function as the most important selection criterion in a study performed in order to improve yield; although A±t is advisable that other yield components should be taken into account. Key words: Barley, yield components, path analysis.
BIOGEOGRAPHICAL HISTORY AND MORPHOLOGICAL EVOLUTION OF TWO CLOSELY RELATED OSTRACOD SPECIES, ISHIZAKIELLA RYUKYUENSIS AND I. MIURENSIS

Abstract Individuals of the brackish water ostracod species Ishizakiella ryukyuensis are found sympatrically with those of the closely related species I. miurensis at the Kii Peninsula, western Japan, and possess a projection on the male copulatory duct. By contrast, individuals of this species recovered from the Nansei Islands, southern Japan, do not have such a projection. Molecular phylogenetic trees based on mitochondrial COI sequences consistently indicated that the populations at the Nansei Islands formed a paraphyletic group outside of a cluster consisting of the population at the Kii Peninsula. Thus, the development of the projection in the male copulatory organ is considered as a derived character for the individuals at the Kii Peninsula, and this feature may have been brought about by the sympatric distribution and a process of character displacement.
Attributional and Irrational Cognitions, Depression and (Threat of) Job Redundancy

The attributional reformulation of the learned helplessness model as well as the rational-emotive model make predictions about the nature of cognitions which are hypothesized to be related to depressive affect. In the present research for 27 (ex-)employees of a firm, who had recently been made redundant or lived with the threat of redundancy, whether attributional and irrational cognitions are related to depression was examined. For both types of cognitions, general and situation-specific, i.e., concerning the (threat of) job redundancy, beliefs were assessed. None of the attribution measures for bad events correlated significantly with depression. Both general and specific irrational beliefs were significantly associated with depression.