Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Screening and Functional Analyses of Novel Cecropins from Insect Transcriptome

Simple Summary Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are widely present in organisms, exhibiting broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and rarely developing resistance. Currently, research on AMPs in many species is still limited, and they have great potential for exploration. In this study, a class of AMPs called Cecropin was identified from insect transcriptome using bioinformatics. Novel Cecropin genes were discovered in several insects and three of them were selected for experimental validation. These peptides possess antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria, exhibit a structure and mechanism of action similar to known Cecropins, and are non-toxic to mammalian cells. This study provides a reliable analytical method in the search for AMPs, which hold promising application prospects in diverse fields such as medicine, food, and beyond. Abstract Antibiotic resistance is a significant and growing threat to global public health. However, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have shown promise as they exhibit a broad spectrum of antibacterial activities with low potential for resistance development. Insects, which inhabit a wide range of environments and are incredibly diverse, remain largely unexplored as a source of novel AMPs. To address this, we conducted a screening of the representative transcriptomes from the 1000 Insect Transcriptome Evolution (1KITE) dataset, focusing on the homologous reference genes of Cecropins, the first identified AMPs in insects known for its high efficiency. Our analysis identified 108 Cecropin genes from 105 insect transcriptomes, covering all major hexapod lineages. We validated the gene sequences and synthesized mature peptides for three identified Cecropin genes. Through minimal inhibition concentration and agar diffusion assays, we confirmed that these peptides exhibited antimicrobial activities against Gram-negative bacteria. Similar to the known Cecropin, the three Cecropins adopted an alpha-helical conformation in membrane-like environments, efficiently disrupting bacterial membranes through permeabilization. Importantly, none of the three Cecropins demonstrated cytotoxicity in erythrocyte hemolysis tests, suggesting their safety in real-world applications. Overall, this newly developed methodology provides a high-throughput bioinformatic pipeline for the discovery of AMP, taking advantage of the expanding genomic resources available for diverse organisms.
Feeding volcanoes of the Kluchevskoy group from the results of local earthquake tomography

We present a seismic model of the area beneath the Kluchevskoy volcano group (Kamchatka, Russia) based on the tomographic inversion of more than 66000 P and S arrival times from more than 5000 local earthquakes that occurred in 2004 and that were recorded by 17 permanent stations. Below a depth of 25 km beneath the Kluchevskoy volcano, we observed a very strong anomaly in the Vp/Vs ratio that reached as high as 2.2. This is a probable indicator of the presence of partially molten material with a composition corresponding to deeper mantle layers. The upper part of this anomaly at a depth of 25–30 km coincides with a cluster of strong seismicity that can be explained by strong mechanical stresses in the lowermost crust due to magma ascension, water release and/or phase transitions. In the crust, we observed regular seismicity clusters that link the mantle anomaly with the Kluchevskoy volcano and most likely indicate the paths of magma migration. Between depths of 8 and 13 km, we see several patterns of high Vp/Vs ratios, interpreted as intermediate‐depth magma storages. Directly below the Kluchevskoy volcano, we observed a shallow body of high Vp/Vs, which probably represents the activated magma chamber just beneath the volcano cone, which erupted in the beginning of 2005. The existence of three levels of magma storage, based on results of local earthquake tomography, may explain the variety of the lava composition and eruption regimes in different volcanoes of the Kluchevskoy group.
The COLA Global Coupled and Anomaly Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere GCM

Abstract The Center for Ocean–Land–Atmosphere Studies (COLA) global coupled and anomaly coupled ocean–atmosphere GCM models are described. The ocean and atmosphere components of these coupled models are identical. The only difference between them is in the coupling strategy. The anomaly coupling strategy guarantees that the climatology of the coupled model is close to the observed climatology, whereas the global coupled model suffers from serious climate drift. This climate drift is largest in the eastern tropical Pacific where the coupled model is too warm by as much as 5°C. The climate drift in the coupled model can also be seen by the predominance of an erroneous double intertopical convergence zone (ITCZ) in the eastern tropical Pacific. Despite the climate drift, both models exhibit robust interannual variability in the tropical Pacific. Composite analysis, however, reveals that the characteristics of interannual variability in the coupled and the anomaly coupled models are markedly different. For ex.
Temporal evolution of ClONO2 observed with Improved Limb Atmospheric Spectrometer (ILAS) during Arctic late winter and early spring in 1997

[1] The temporal evolution of the volume mixing ratio (VMR) of chlorine nitrate (ClONO2) observed with the Improved Limb Atmospheric Spectrometer (ILAS) is described for the Arctic late winter and early spring of 1997. The temporal development of ClONO2 on the 475-K isentropic surface during winter and spring is characterized by high variability in the VMR with seasonal enhancement to about 2 ppbv. In February, depleted values of ClONO2 were also observed; some of these low values are attributable to denitrification or to occurrence of polar stratospheric clouds. After mid-March, when ClONO2 reached peak values, ClONO2 decreased and showed much less variability. Comparison of ClONO2 with HCl observed by the Halogen Occultation Experiment/Upper Atmospheric Research Satellite (HALOE/UARS) suggests a conversion of ClONO2 into HCl earlier at high altitudes than at lower altitudes. During the period a marked enhancement in NO2 was observed with a reduction in ClONO2 in the vortex, providing the first evidence from space of the NO2 time evolution in conjunction with ClONO2. Continuous measurements of ClONO2 through winter and spring over the Arctic are limited to date. The ILAS measurements reported in this paper will be useful for reanalyzing the seasonal variation of chlorine activation/deactivation processes in the Arctic lower stratosphere that control the degree of ozone destruction.
Graptolite and conodont biostratigraphy of the upper Telychian–lower Sheinwoodian (Llandovery–Wenlock) strata, Jabalón River section, Corral de Calatrava, central Spain

Abstract A graptolite biostratigraphy is erected for the upper Telychian (upper crenulata Biozone) to lower Sheinwoodian (riccartonensis or dubius Biozone) strata of the Jabalón River section, Spain. Two unconformities are recognized in the section: one between the lapworthi and murchisoni biozones; the other between the murchisoni and riccartonensis biozones. These unconformities coincide with intervals of lowered eustatic sea-level. Graptolite assemblages include both cosmopolitan taxa and some which have been recorded previously from Morocco and/or other Spanish sections. At some stratigraphical levels Pristiograptus or Euroclimacis species are abundant; Monoclimacis, Streptograptus and Mediograptus species are generally uncommon. Conodonts were examined from the upper spiralis through to lower murchisoni Biozone; the occurrences of Pterospathodus amorphognathoides are consistent with the species' known range elsewhere. Four new graptolite species are described: Euroclimacis jabalonensis, E. hamata, Monoclimacis flexa and Stimulograptus pradoi.
Mevacor/Poly(vinyl acetate/2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) as Solid Solution: Preparation, Solubility Enhancement and Drug Delivery

Mevacor/Poly(vinyl acetate-co-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) drug carrier systems (MVR/VAC-HEMA) containing different Mevacor (MVR) contents were prepared in one pot by free radical copolymerization of vinyl acetate with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate using an LED lamp light in the presence of camphorquinone as a photoinitiator and Mevacor as a drug filler. The prepared material was characterized by FTIR, 1H NMR, DSC, SEM and XRD methods. Different parameters influencing the efficiency in the Mecvacor-water solubility and the drug delivery of this system, such as the swelling capacity of the carrier, the amount of Mevacor loaded and the pH medium have been widely investigated. The results obtained revealed that the Mevacor particles were uniformly dispersed in their molecular state in the copolymer matrix forming a solid solution; the cell toxicity of the virgin poly(vinyl acetate-co-2-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate) (VAC-HEMA) and MVR/VAC-HEMA drug carrier system exhibited no significant effect on their viability when between 0.25 and 2.00 wt% was loaded in these materials; the average swelling capacity of VAC-HEMA material in water was found to be 45.16 wt%, which was practically unaffected by the pH medium and the solubility of MVR deduced from the release process reached more than 22 and 37 times that of the powder dissolved directly in pH 1 and 7 media, respectively. The in vitro MVR release kinetic study revealed that the MVR/VAC-HEMA system containing 0.5 wt% MVR exhibited the best performance in the short gastrointestinal transit (GITT), while that containing 2.0 wt% is for the long transit as they were able to considerably reduce the minimum release of this drug in the stomach (pH1).
Language Learning Motivations among Turkish Learners of Chinese as a Foreign Language: A Survey of Five Universities in Turkey

Research on language learning motivations has been extensive. However, research on learners’ motivations for learning Chinese has been underexplored compared to that for learning English. The current study aimed to investigate the motivations among 256 Turkish learners of Chinese as foreign language (CFL) who studied at five universities in Turkey. Participants completed an adapted questionnaire based on Gardner’s Attitude/Motivation Test Battery (AMTB). A series of statistical analysis revealed three major findings. First, integrativeness, attitudes towards learning situation and attitudes towards learning Chinese were identified as the three most important motivational variables, followed by instrumentality, and parental encouragement. Language anxiety and passive motivation seemed to play a weaker role in Turkish CFL learners’ motivations for learning Chinese at the tertiary level. Second, the results also show that females exhibited higher motivation to learn the target language compared to their male peers. Third, the choice of major among CFL learners appeared to influence their language learning motivations, with a notable distinction between Chinese majors and non-Chinese majors in five motivational variables: integrativeness attitudes towards the learning situation, language anxiety, parental encouragement, and passive motivation.
Maximum entropy reconstructions of krill distribution and estimates of krill density from acoustic surveys at South Georgia, 1996-2000

This paper presents Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) reconstructions of krill distribution and estimates of mean krill density within two survey boxes (dimensions 80 km x 100 km) north of South Georgia. The reconstructions were generated from line-transect acoustic survey data gathered in the boxes during austral summers from 1996 to 2000. Krill densities had previously been determined at approximately 0.5 km intervals along each of the ten 80 km transects in each box, providing about 1600 density estimates per box. The MaxEnt technique uses an iterative Bayesian approach to infer the most probable krill density for each of the 32 000 0.5 x 0.5 km cells in each box, taking explicit account of the spatial relationship between densities in the observed data. Despite some very large interannual and regional differences in mean krill density, the MaxEnt approach works well, providing plausible maps of krill distribution. The maps reveal some consistent 'hot spots' of krill distribution, knowledge of which could aid the understanding of mechanisms influencing krill distribution, and hence krill/predator interactions. The MaxEnt technique also yields mean krill densities for each survey, for which the confidence limits are often narrower than those determined from conventional statistical analyses.
Costoclavicular Brachial Plexus Block Facilitates Painless Upper Extremity Reduction: A Case Report

Introduction The costoclavicular brachial plexus block (CCBPB) has emerged as a more effective approach to regional anesthesia of the upper extremity. The costoclavicular space is the anterior portion of the superior thoracic aperture, located between the clavicle and first rib. The brachial plexus cords traverse this space clustered together in a superficial location lateral to the axillary artery and share a consistent topographical relationship to one another. By targeting the brachial plexus at this specific anatomical location, the CCBPB offers a powerful, single-shot, sensorimotor block of the upper extremity below the shoulder. We present a novel application of the CCBPB to facilitate emergency department (ED) analgesia and closed reduction of an upper extremity fracture. Case Report A 25-year-old male presented to the ED with a traumatic Colles fracture sustained during a high-speed motor vehicle collision. Despite multimodal analgesia, the patient reported intractable severe pain with intolerance of radial manipulation. An ultrasound-guided CCBPB was performed to augment pain control and avoid procedural sedation, resulting in dense, surgical anesthesia of the upper extremity, and painless fracture reduction. Conclusion Regional anesthesia is an effective component of multimodal pain management and another tool in the emergency physician’s analgesic armamentarium. In acute orthopedic traumas necessitating emergent reduction, regional blocks serve as rescue pain control and can obviate the need for procedural sedation. In terms of targeted upper extremity analgesia, the CCBPB offers effective, single-shot, sensorimotor blockade below the shoulder, mitigating use of opioids and their deleterious side effects, while simultaneously avoiding incomplete blockade or phrenic nerve palsy associated with other approaches to brachial plexus blockade.
Nematodos asociados al nopal Opuntia ficus-indica L. (Miller) en Milpa Alta, Ciudad de México

En Milpa Alta, al sur de la ciudad de Mexico se localiza la principal zona productora de nopal verdura Opuntia ficus-indica L. a nivel nacional. Se realizo un muestreo sistematico para determinar la existencia de nematodos asociados a la rizosfera del cultivo de nopal verdura. Se identificaron 11 generos de importancia fitosanitaria, dentro de los que sobresale Cactodera cacti (Filipjev y Schuurmans-Stekhoven, 1941) Krall y Krall, 1978, principal nematodo de importancia en el cultivo de nopal.
Fine mapping of the major gene BhHLS1 controlling seed size in wax gourd (Benincasa hispida)

Introduction/Background The seed size of wax gourds is an important agronomic trait; however, the associated genes have not yet been reported. Methods In this study, we used a high-density genetic map constructed based on F8 recombinant inbred line populations derived from a cross between MY-1 (large seed) and GX-71 (small seed) strains to detect quantitative trait locis (QTLs) for seed-size-related traits in wax gourd over a two-year period. Results Two stable QTLs (qSL10 and qSW10) for seed length (SL) and seed width (SW) on chromosome 10 were repeatedly detected over two years (2021–2022). qSL10 had a phenotypic variation rate of 75.30% and 80.80% in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Whereas, qSW10 had a phenotypic variation rate of 66.60% and 73.80% in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Further, a single nucleotide polymorphism mutation was found to cause early termination of Bch10G006400 (BhHLS1) translation in GX-71 through sequencing analysis of candidate genes. Based on gene functional annotation and quantitative real-time PCR analyses, BhHLS1 encoded a probable N-acetyltransferase HLS1-like protein and its expression level was significantly different between parents. Therefore, BhHLS1 is a major candidate gene associated with a one-factor polymorphism regulating the SL and SW of wax gourds. Finally, based on variation in the BhHLS1 sequence, a cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence marker was developed for the molecular marker-assisted breeding of wax gourds. Discussion Overall, this study is of great significance for the genetic improvement of seed size, verification of gene functions, and cultivation of specific germplasm resources for wax gourds.
The gravitationally consistent sea‐level fingerprint of future terrestrial ice loss

We solve the sea‐level equation to investigate the pattern of the gravitationally self‐consistent sea‐level variations (fingerprints) corresponding to modeled scenarios of future terrestrial ice melt. These were obtained from separate ice dynamics and surface mass balance models for the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets and by a regionalized mass balance model for glaciers and ice caps. For our mid‐range scenario, the ice melt component of total sea‐level change attains its largest amplitude in the equatorial oceans, where we predict a cumulative sea‐level rise of ~ 25 cm and rates of change close to 3 mm/yr from ice melt alone by 2100. According to our modeling, in low‐elevation densely populated coastal zones, the gravitationally consistent sea‐level variations due to continental ice loss will range between 50 and 150% of the global mean. This includes the effects of glacial‐isostatic adjustment, which mostly contributes across the lateral forebulge regions in North America. While the mid range ocean‐averaged elastic‐gravitational sea‐level variations compare with those associated with thermal expansion and ocean circulation, their combination shows a complex regional pattern, where the former component dominates in the Equatorial Pacific Ocean and the latter in the Arctic Ocean.
Authigenic minerals: Locality 80, Bed I Tuffs, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania

Understanding climatic and water-mineral chemistry affecting hominin habitats during the period 1.92 to 1.80 Ma in Paleolake Olduvai basin, Tanzania is of social and scientific interest. Previous Olduvai research reported climate cycles in bulk sample mineral analyses. Xray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, and color analyses of Locality 80 Tuff Bed I samples tested the null hypothesis: Alteration mineralogy of Central Basin volcanic Tuffs IA through IF reflect salinity/alkalinity cycles. Such cyclicity was not found. Several primary authigenic minerals were confirmed, but not as previously reported. Tuffs are thoroughly altered, mostly to potassium-feldspars, zeolites, and carbonates, plus other feldspars and clay minerals (clays not in this study). Nevertheless, other findings reveal there is more to be learned. Results imply a major geochemical shift around 1.869-1.857 Ma, from non-zeolite forming environments to zeolite forming environments. A newly developed age model could aid re-analysis of past work and assist future research. INDEX WORDS: Age model, Authigenesis, Bed I, Climate cycle, Paleolake Olduvai, Phillipsite, Tuff alteration, Zeolite AUTHIGENIC MINERALS: LOCALITY 80, BED I TUFFS, OLDUVAI GORGE, TANZANIA
F4ESS – a framework for interdisciplinary data-driven earth system science

ABSTRACT Earth system science is an interdisciplinary effort to understand the fundamentals and interactions of environmental processes. Interdisciplinary research is challenging since it demands the integration of scientific schemes and practices from different research fields into a collaborative work environment. This paper introduces the framework F4ESS that supports this integration. F4ESS provides methods and technologies that facilitate the development of integrative work environments for Earth system science. F4ESS enables scientists a) to outline structured and summarized descriptions of scientific procedures to facilitate communication and synthesis, b) to combine a large variety of distributed data analysis software into seamless data analysis chains and workflows, c) to visually combine and interactively explore the manifold spatiotemporal data and results to support understanding and knowledge creation. The F4ESS methods and technologies are generic and can be applied in various scientific fields. We discuss F4ESS in the context of the interdisciplinary investigation of flood events.
A case report of neurosyphilis coexisting with a positive MOG antibody manifested as optic neuritis

Background Neurosyphilis refers to an infection of the central nervous system by Treponema pallidum. The clinical manifestations of neurosyphilis are diverse, making it easy to miss or misdiagnose. Anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease is a recently defined immune-mediated inflammatory demyelinating central nervous system disease. Few studies have reported the coexistence of the two diseases. Case presentation This case report presents a 37 years-old male patient with neurosyphilis manifested as optic neuritis with a positive myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody. This patient received intravenous administration of 3.2 million units of procaine penicillin every 4 h for 2 weeks, followed by a two-week intramuscular injection of benzathine penicillin. Additionally, methylprednisolone sodium succinate was administered intravenously at 1,000 mg/day, gradually reduced to 500 mg/day and 240 mg/day every 3 days. Subsequently, prednisone tablets at a dosage of 60 mg/day were orally administered, with a gradual reduction of 5 mg/day every 3 days until reaching a dosage of 30 mg/day. The patient’s visual acuity was improved after 26 days of hospitalization. However, the visual field and color vision did not. At 3 months of follow-up, the symptoms remained unchanged despite the patient continued taking oral prednisone tablets at a dosage of 30 mg/day. Conclusion Neurosyphilis could be a potential triggering factor for MOGAD. In patients with neurosyphilis, it is strongly recommended to perform testing for MOG antibody along with other brain disease antibodies.
Graph Neural Processes Towards Bayesian Graph Neural Networks

We introduce Graph Neural Processes (GNP), inspired by the recent work in conditional and latent neural processes. A Graph Neural Process is deﬁned as a Conditional Neural Process that operates on arbitrary graph data. It takes features of sparsely observed context points as input, and outputs a distribution over target points. We demonstrate graph neural processes in edge imputation and discuss beneﬁts and draw backs of the method for other application areas. One major beneﬁt of GNPs is the ability to quantify uncertainty in deep learning on graph structures. An additional beneﬁt of this method is the ability to extend graph neural networks to inputs of dynamic sized graphs.
Partitioning of siderophile and chalcophile elements between sulfide, olivine, and glass in a naturally reduced basalt from Disko Island, Greenland

Major and trace elements in coexisting glass, olivines, and metal-sulfide spherules from a chilled margin sample of a strongly reduced basaltic dike from Disko Island, Greenland have been investigated. Three sets of partition coefficients are obtained, olivine/silicate liquid and metal-sulfide liquid/silicate liquid partition coefficients established at magmatic temperatures, and FeNi/FeS partition coefficients at lower temperatures. High metal-sulfide liquid/silicate liquid partition coefficients are found for Ni, Sb, As, Mo, Cu, Co, and W. The significance of the present results for planetary evolution and the formation of metal-rich or sulfide-rich metal cores is considered in terms of P, W, and Mo abundances in the mantles of the earth, moon, the Shergotty parent body, and the Eucrite parent body.