Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Demography of the northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) in the most arid part of its range

The northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) is a carnivorous marsupial that has suffered severe population declines over the last 50 years and is now listed as Endangered. The Pilbara region of Western Australia is a semi-arid area that represents an extreme of the northern quoll's range. The overall objective of this study was to assess population characteristics of northern quolls at two rocky sites in the Pilbara, focusing on body condition, reproductive timing, population size, and sex-specific survival. We interpret these in the context of variation in habitat quality and the harsh climate. We found that reproduction occurred later in the year than in populations at more mesic locations where quolls have been previously studied, although their life history and demography were otherwise similar to that in other parts of their range. Contrary to our expectations, post-mating mortality of males was not complete. Population sizes differed between sites, suggesting that these rocky habitats varied in habitat quality. We suggest that local population size estimates can guide decisions on the relative importance of sites to ensure the long-term conservation of the species, given impacts of mining and the imminent invasion of introduced cane toads (Rhinella marina).
Chemical Content and Biological Activity Spectrum of Nigella sativa Seed Oil

Bu calismada, Mugla (Koycegiz)'de yetisen Nigella sativa (corek otu) tohumu yaginin kimyasal bilesimi ile yagin antioksidan, antikolinesteraz, antimikrobiyal ve ureaz aktivitesinin arastirilmasi amaclanmistir. Bitkinin yagi, Soxhlet aparati kullanilarak elde edildi. Yag bilesimi Gaz Kromatografisi-Kutle Spektrometresi (GC-MS) ile belirlendi. GC-MS sonuclarindan, yagin otuz bir bileseni tespit edilebildi. Yagin ana bilesenleri palmitik asit (% 10.48), linoleik asit (%8.05), o-siemen (% 7.11), 3,5-dimetil sikloheksanol (% 6.68), timokinon (% 6.44), p -tert-butil katekol (% 6.28) ve 8-metil-1-undesen (% 3.28) olarak belirlendi. Biyolojik aktivite test sonuclari tibbi ozelligi olan corek otu yaginin yeni ilaclarin kesfinde ve yeni dogal drog preparatlarin hazirlanmasinda kullanilabilecek umut verici bir aday oldugunu gostermektedir.
The Relationship between the Biochemical Leaf Components and the Population Density of the Onion Thrips and Land Snails Attacking some Vegetable Crops

Field experiments were carried out at Sakha Agricultural Research Station, Kafr El-Sheikh governorate during 2013/14, 2014/15 and 2015/16 seasons, to study host preference and the population densities of Thrips tabaci Lind. andMonacha spp. in lettuce (Roman), onion (Giza red) and garlic (sids 40 and balady cultivars) plantations. Also, the relationship between the biochemical leaf components (Chlorophyll, moisture, potassium (K), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), protein, total carbohydrates mg/kg and phenols) and pest population density. The population density of T. tabaciwere detected in lettuce, onion, garlic (sids 40 and balady) plantations by late January. The population density of T. tabaci progressively increased to reached its peaks during February and March. No land snails were detected on balady garlic. Snail populations in lettuce, onion, garlic (sids 40), were low or moderate until mid February, and then gradually increased to maximal peaks in February and March. The highest population density of thrips was observed in onion followed by garlic when compared with lettuce, while Monacha spp. was opposite. Garlic (sids 40) had higher chlorophyll content followed by balady garlic than lettuce. Almost, K, N, P, protein, total carbohydrates and total phenols significantly varied among vegetable crops (p≤ 0.05). In addition, there is a positive correlation between the population density of T. tabaci with each of chlorophyll content, moisture, P and total phenols, while relationship between the population density and K, N, protein and total carbohydrates were negative. There is a negative correlation between land snails and chlorophyll content but it was positive with each of moisture, N, protein and total phenols and positive significant with K (p≤ 0.05).
Pangenomic type III effector database of the plant pathogenic Ralstonia spp.

Background The bacterial plant pathogenic Ralstonia species belong to the beta-proteobacteria class and are soil-borne pathogens causing vascular bacterial wilt disease, affecting a wide range of plant hosts. These bacteria form a heterogeneous group considered as a “species complex” gathering three newly defined species. Like many other Gram negative plant pathogens, Ralstonia pathogenicity relies on a type III secretion system, enabling bacteria to secrete/inject a large repertoire of type III effectors into their plant host cells. Type III-secreted effectors (T3Es) are thought to participate in generating a favorable environment for the pathogen (countering plant immunity and modifying the host metabolism and physiology). Methods Expert genome annotation, followed by specific type III-dependent secretion, allowed us to improve our Hidden-Markov-Model and Blast profiles for the prediction of type III effectors. Results We curated the T3E repertoires of 12 plant pathogenic Ralstonia strains, representing a total of 12 strains spread over the different groups of the species complex. This generated a pangenome repertoire of 102 T3E genes and 16 hypothetical T3E genes. Using this database, we scanned for the presence of T3Es in the 155 available genomes representing 140 distinct plant pathogenic Ralstonia strains isolated from different host plants in different areas of the globe. All this information is presented in a searchable database. A presence/absence analysis, modulated by a strain sequence/gene annotation quality score, enabled us to redefine core and accessory T3E repertoires.
Structure of D. melanogaster ARC1 reveals a repurposed molecule with characteristics of retroviral Gag

The tetrapod neuronal protein ARC and its D. melanogaster homologue, dARC1, have important but differing roles in neuronal development. Both are thought to originate through exaptation of ancient Ty3/Gypsy retrotransposon Gag genes, with their novel function relying on an original capacity for self-assembly and encapsidation of nucleic acids. Here, we present the crystal structure of dARC1 CA and examine the relationship between dARC1, mammalian ARC and the CA protein of circulating retroviruses. We show that whilst the overall architecture is highly related to that of orthoretroviral and spumaretroviral CA, there are significant deviations in both N- and C-terminal domains, potentially affecting recruitment of partner proteins and particle assembly. The degree of sequence and structural divergence suggests that Ty3/Gypsy Gag has been exapted on two separate occasions and that, although mammalian ARC and dARC1 share functional similarity, the structures have undergone different adaptations after appropriation into the tetrapod and insect genomes.
Differences in Microbial Communities and Pathogen Survival Between a Covered and Uncovered Anaerobic Lagoon

Anaerobic lagoons are a critical component of confined swine feeding operations. These structures can be modified, using a synthetic cover, to enhance their ability to capture the emission of ammonia and other malodorous compounds. Very little has been done to assess the potential of these covers to alter lagoon biological properties. Alterations in the physicochemical makeup can impact the biological properties, most notably, the pathogenic populations. To this aim, we performed a seasonal study of two commercial swine operations, one with a conventional open lagoon, the other which employed a permeable, synthetic cover. Results indicated that lagoon fecal coliforms, and Escherichia coli were significantly influenced by sampling location (lagoon vs house) and lagoon type (open vs. covered), while Enterococcus sp. were influenced by sampling location only. Comparisons against environmental variables revealed that fecal coliforms (r2 = 0.40), E. coli (r2 = 0.58), and Enterococcus sp. (r2 = 0.25) significantly responded to changes in pH. Deep 16S sequencing of lagoon and house bacterial and archaeal communities demonstrated grouping by both sampling location and lagoon type, with several environmental variables correlating to microbial community differences. Overall, these results demonstrate that permeable synthetic covers play a role in changing the lagoon microclimate, impacting lagoon physicochemical and biological properties.
Genetic and morphological data reveal new insights into the taxonomy ofCampanula versicolors.l. (Campanulaceae)

Campanula versicolor is a constituent of the Campanula pyramidalis complex, distributed in the central and southern Balkan Peninsula with a small disjunct range in SE Italy. The taxonomy of the broadly defined C. versicolor was controversial in the past due to high morphological variability of the populations across the range. We used microsatellite DNA data along with morphometric analyses on an extensive population sampling covering the entire range to reconstruct the relationships among populations of the intricate C. versicolor s.l. Based on the results three distinct entities can be distinguished, circumscribed here on the subspecies level, with newly established combinations: C. versicolor subsp. versicolor, C. versicolor subsp. korabensis and C. versicolor subsp. tenorei. We propose a new taxonomic treatment of C. versicolor s.l. with description, distribution and habitat data for each of the subspecies and a key for their identification.
Late Embryogenesis Abundant (LEA) proteins confer water stress tolerance to mammalian somatic cells

Late Embryogenesis Abundant (LEA) proteins are commonly found in organisms capable of undergoing reversible dehydration - “anhydrobiosis”. Here, we have produced three LEA proteins: pTag-RAB17-GFP-N, Zea mays dehydrin-1dhn, expressed in the nucleo-cytoplasm; pTag-WCOR410-RFP, Tricum aestivum cold acclimation protein WCOR410, binding to cellular membranes, and pTag-LEA-BFP, Artemia franciscana LEA protein group 3 that targets the mitochondria. Somatic cells transfected with three LEA proteins were subjected to desiccation under controlled conditions, followed by rehydration, viability assessment and membrane/mitochondria functional tests were performed. Results shown that LEA protect cells from desiccation injury. Cells expressed all LEA proteins shown very high percentage of viable cells (58%) after four hour of desiccation compare to un-transfected cells (1% cell alive). Plasmalemma, cytoskeleton and mitochondria appeared unaffected in LEA-expressing cells, confirming their protective action during the entire desiccation and rehydration process. Here, we show that natural xeroprotectants (LEA proteins) transiently expressed in somatic cells confer them desiccation tolerance.
IL-23/IL-17 Axis Activates IL-1β-Associated Inflammasome in Macrophages and Generates an Auto-Inflammatory Response in a Subgroup of Patients With Bullous Pemphigoid

Bullous Pemphigoid (BP) is a skin autoimmune blistering disease characterized by immune-mediated degradation of the dermo-epidermal junction and release of a large number of inflammatory cytokines. Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is a pleiotropic pro-inflammatory cytokine associated with inflammasome activation and known to be pivotal in several auto-immune and auto-inflammatory diseases. We sought to clarify the presence of inflammasome-dependent IL-1β and to investigate its role in BP. Skin biopsy specimens (n = 13), serum (n = 60), blister fluid (n = 26), and primary inflammatory cells from patients with BP were used to investigate inflammasome activation and function. We here highlighted a differential occurrence of a functional in situ inflammasome in patients with BP, biologically distinguished by IL-1β and NLRP3 expression. Clinically, elevated IL-1β levels were associated with the presence of erythema and urticarial plaques reflecting the inflammatory phase preceding blister formation. We further identified IL-17 and IL-23 as important molecules favoring IL-1β expression in monocyte-derived macrophages from BP patients. Finally, we demonstrated the ability of IL-1β to stimulate the release of the matrix metalloproteinase-9 in those macrophages, reinforcing the role of IL-1β in the auto-amplification loop of the inflammatory response associated to BP. However, whether this inflammasome is an epiphenomenon associated with BP disease or constitutes an amplification inflammatory step in certain patients still need to be determined. In the context of a precision medicine approach, our findings allowed us to delineate a subgroup of patients with BP that showed similarities with auto-inflammatory diseases. Subsequently, this opens up alternative therapeutic strategies targeting IL-1β pathway in the aim to control the early, pre-blistering inflammatory phase. Ultimately, this could also help in reducing the detrimental effects associated with high doses of corticosteroids treatment.
Vegetation structure shapes small mammal communities in African savannas

Disturbance by large herbivores, fires, and humans shapes the structure of savannas, altering the amount of woody vegetation and grass. Due to change in the intensity and frequency of these disturbances, savannas are shifting toward grass-dominated or shrub-dominated systems, likely altering animal communities. Small mammals are critical components of savannas, and their distributions likely are affected by these ecosystem-wide changes in vegetative cover. We assessed the responses of small mammals to a gradient of woody cover in low-lying savannas of southeastern Africa. In Kruger National Park (South Africa) and in three nearby reserves (Eswatini), we livetrapped for over 2 years to build multispecies occupancy models that assessed the responses of the small mammal community to grass and woody cover. Overall, whole-community occupancy increased with grass biomass. More species responded positively to woody cover than to grass biomass, but woody cover was associated with reduced occurrence of one species (Mastomys natalensis). Our results suggest that an increase in grass biomass enhances whole-community occupancy of small mammals, but regional diversity is likely to be higher in areas that contain patches of high grass biomass as well as patches of woody cover.
Scalable transactions in Cloud Data Stores

Cloud computing has become an promising and popular prototype, by presenting its different popular paradigm as infrastructure as a service, platform as a service, software as a service. Now a days there is a challenge of building scalable, available, consistent Cloud Data Stores. In this paper, data partitioning approach such as static and dynamic partitioning are discussed. The main objective of this paper is to bring out the issues in the area of database scalability and to discuss the opportunities open for research work. In this paper, taxonomy of data management in Cloud is proposed. This paper also introduces the design model for partitioning scheme.
Genetic diversity of long-established populations of Elaeis guineensis jacquin (Arecaceae)

Abstract This study aimed to estimate the genetic diversity of three Elaeis guineensis populations in Rio Grande do Norte state, as well as to verify the decreases in effective population size. The population with the highest polymorphism was MAT (Mata) with+ 57 loci (72%), followed by RIA (Riacho) with 54 loci (68%) and HOR (Horta) with 34 loci (43.03%). The RIA population was shown to be the most genetically diverse, with Nei (h = 0.28) and Shannon (I = 0.41) diversity indices. There was high genetic differentiation among populations (AMOVA, analysis of molecular variance = 42%), which was separated into three distinct genetic groups according to a Bayesian analysis. There was a significant population decrease (P < 0.05) for the HOR population in the IAM (infinite allele model) and SMM (stepwise mutation model), and for the RIA population in the IAM. The data obtained in this study may support ex-situ conservation projects for Elaeis guineensis, contributing to the selection of genotypes and their sustainable use.
Breeding origins and migratory connectivity at a northern roost of Vaux's Swift, a declining aerial insectivore

ABSTRACT Populations of Vaux's Swift (Chaetura vauxi), like those of many aerial insectivores, are rapidly declining. Determining when and where populations are limited across the annual cycle is important for their conservation. Establishing the linkages between wintering and breeding sites and the strength of the connections between them is a necessary first step. In this study, we analyzed 3 stable isotopes (δ13C, δ15N, δ2H) from feathers collected during spring migration from Vaux's Swifts that perished during a stopover on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. We previously analyzed claw tissue (grown during winter) from the same individuals, revealing that the swifts likely wintered in 2 or 3 locations/habitats. Here, we used stable isotope analysis of flight feathers presumed to have been grown on, or near, the breeding grounds to determine the likely previous breeding locations and presumed destinations for the swifts. Stable isotope values (δ13C, δ15N, δ2H) showed no meaningful variation between age classes, sexes, or with body size. Surprisingly, ∼26% of the birds sampled had feather isotope values that were not consistent with growth on their breeding grounds. For the remaining birds, assigned breeding origins appeared most consistent with molt origins on Vancouver Island. Overall, migratory connectivity of this population was relatively weak (rM = 0.07). However, the degree of connectivity depended on how many winter clusters were analyzed; the 2-cluster solution suggested no significant connectivity, but the 3-cluster solution suggested weak connectivity. It is still unclear whether low migratory connectivity observed for Vaux's Swift and other aerial insectivores may make their populations more or less vulnerable to habitat loss; therefore, further efforts should be directed to assessing whether aerial insectivores may be habitat limited throughout the annual cycle.
Neuroanatomical Risk Factors for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Recent Trauma Survivors

Background Low hippocampal volume could serve as an early risk factor for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in interaction with other brain anomalies of developmental origin. One such anomaly may well be a presence of large Cavum Septum Pellucidum (CSP), which has been loosely associated with PTSD. Here, we performed a longitudinal prospective study of recent trauma survivors. We hypothesized that at one-month after trauma exposure, the relation between hippocampal volume and PTSD symptom severity will be moderated by CSP volume, and that this early interaction will account for persistent PTSD symptoms at subsequent time-points. Methods 171 adults (87 females, average age=34.22, range=18-65) admitted to a general hospital’s emergency department following a traumatic event, underwent clinical assessment and structural MRI within one-month after trauma. Follow-up clinical evaluations were conducted at six (n=97) and fourteen (n=78) months after trauma. Hippocampus and CSP volumes were measured automatically by FreeSurfer software and verified manually by a neuroradiologist. Results At one-month following trauma, CSP volume significantly moderated the relation between hippocampal volume and PTSD severity (p=0.026), and this interaction further predicted symptom severity at fourteen months post-trauma (p=0.018). Specifically, individuals with smaller hippocampus and larger CSP at one-month post-trauma, showed more severe symptoms at one-and fourteen months following trauma exposure. Conclusions Our study provides evidence for an early neuroanatomical risk factors for PTSD, which could also predict the progression of the disorder in the year following trauma exposure. Such a simple-to-acquire neuroanatomical signature for PTSD could guide early management, as well as long-term monitoring. Trial Registration Neurobehavioral Moderators of Post-traumatic Disease Trajectories. ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT03756545. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03756545
Lithocarpus densiflorus (Hook. & Arn.) Rehd. tanoak

Tanoak (Lithocarpus densiflorus), also called tanbark-oak, is an evergreen hardwood that, with other species in the genus, is considered a link between the chestnut, Castanea, and the oak, Quercus (19). Tanoak has flowers like the chestnut and acorns like the oak. This medium-sized tree grows best on the humid moist slopes of the seaward coastal ranges. It usually occurs in a complex mixture with conifers and other hardwoods, but often forms pure even-aged stands. The wood is hard, strong, and fine-grained. Tanoak is designated a commercial species in California. Current major uses are for fuel and pulp. The acorns are a valuable food source for many kinds of wildlife.
Design of Power Efficient One Dimensional Median Filter for Real Time Noise Reduction Applications

— Tremendous growth of multimedia technologies mandates the need for high quality images. Thus fast and efficient noise removal technique is the need of the hour. Nonlinear filters have shown their supremacy in removing the outliers from a signal affected by non-Gaussian noise, such as clicks, scratches, salt-and pepper impulses etc., Median filter is the most sought after non linear filter known for its excellent noise reduction capability. A modified selective one dimensional median filter design is proposed in this work which is aimed at reducing the power consumption. Proposed design is a word-level filter; the samples are stored in descending order in the window of size N. When a sample enters the window, the oldest sample is removed, and the new sample is inserted in an appropriate position to preserve the sorting of samples. The throughput of the design is increased by performing the deletion and insertion of samples in the same, so that the median output is generated at each cycle. The simulation results has shown reduction in power and delay thereby improving the throughput.