Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stretching the skin of the fingertip creates a perceptual and motor illusion of touching a harder spring

We investigated how artificial tactile feedback in the form of a skin-stretch affects perceptions of stiffness and grip force adjustment. During interactions with objects, information from kinesthetic and tactile sensors is used to estimate the forces acting on the limbs. These enable perceptions of the mechanical properties of objects to form, and the creation of internal models to predict the consequences of interactions with these objects such as feedforward grip-force adjustments to prevent slippage. Artificial tactor displacement-induced skin stretch can produce a linear additive effect on stiffness perception, but it remains unclear how artificial stretch affects the control of grip force. Here, we used a robotic device and a custom-built skin-stretch to manipulate kinesthetic and tactile information. Using a stiffness discrimination task, we found that adding artificial tactile feedback to a kinesthetic force can create the illusion of touching a harder spring which affects both perception and action. The magnitude of the illusion is linearly related to the amplitude of the applied stretch. We also isolated the contribution of tactile stimulation to the predictive and reactive components of grip force adjustment, and found that unlike other cases of perceptual illusions, the predictive grip force is modulated consistently with the perceptual tactile-induced illusion. These results have major implications for the design of tactile interfaces across a variety of touch applications such as wearable haptic devices, teleoperations, robot-assisted surgery and prosthetics.
The golden delicious apple genome sequencing project: progress and perspectives

1 IASMA Research Center, Via E. Mach 1, 38010 San Michele all’Adige (TN), Italy 2 Myriad Genetics Inc, 320 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108, USA 3 454 Life Sciences Corp, 20 Commercial Street, Branford, Connecticut 06405, USA 4 Roche Diagnostics Corp, Roche Applied Science, 9115 Hague Road, Indianapolis, Indiana 46250, USA 5 Amplicon Express Inc., 2345 NE Hopkins Court, Pullman, Washington 99163, USA 6 Technology Park Lodi, Località Cascina Codazza, Via Einstein, 26900 Lodi, Italy
GROUPING CHICKENS INTO RESISTANT AND SENSITIVE TO STRESS ON THE BASES OF HETEROPHIL/LYMPHOCYTE RATIO FOR GENETIC AND IMMUNOLOGICAL STUDIES.

The Heterophil/Lymphocyte ratio (H/L) was used to separate chickens into Resistant (R) and Sensitive (S) to S.typhimurium , using the 99% lower confidence limit for selection. 2- Five groups of chickens were constructed, 20 each, varying the number of R and S in each group, from all R, (15R+5S), (10R+10S), (5R+15S) and all S. Mean H/L ratio, before and 9 day post Salmonella typhimurium infection were compared. 3- Difference in H/L ratio group means, within "before" and "after" infection were significant due to different constructions. 4- Comparison of "before and "after" H/L mean, within each group, showed a different outcome according to group construction. 5- It was concluded that individuals should be separated into R and S, using the H/L ratio as an indicator and criterion for selection for resistance before grouping the chickens for genetical and immunological studies.
Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori resistance to clarithromycin determined by 23S ribosomal RNA analysis in Jordan. Diab AF1, Diab FH2, Nassar SS3. Faculty of Medicine, University of Jordan1; Departments of Medicine2 and Laboratory Medicine3, Khaldi Medica

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is a growing problem in Helicobacter pylori treatment. This study was intended to evaluate the prevalence of clarithromycin resistance, using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique on gastric specimens, from adult Jordanian patients with Helicobacter pylori infection. Materials and Methods: Gastric biopsy specimens were taken from gastric antrum and body during routine upper gastrointestinal endoscopies, and were tested with Rapid Urea test for H. pylori. Only specimens that were positive for H. pylori by the rapid Urea test were included in the study. A total of 50 specimens tested positive for H. pylori, and were further tested using the Seeplex® ClaR-H. pylori ACE detection kit, a dual priming oligonucleotide (DPO) methodology from Seegene Inc., Seoul, Korea, to determine the frequency of point mutations in 23s rRNA gene, known to confer resistance to clarithromycin (A2142G and A2143G point mutations). Results: Out of a total of 50 gastric specimens that tested positive for H. pylori by rapid urease test, 49 were confirmed positive for H. pylori by PCR technique. Point mutations were found in 11 specimens (8 had A2143G point mutation, and 3 had A2142G point mutation). Conclusion: Prevalence of clarithromycin resistant strains of H. pylori in Jordan was 22.4%. A2143G was the most prevalent point mutation. This high rate of clarithromycin resistant strains should be taken into consideration when prescribing eradication regimens. This is the first study to investigate H. pylori resistance to clarithromycin in Jordan.
A Comprehensive Mathematical Model of Surface Electromyography and Force Generation

The purpose of this article is to provide a unified description of a comprehensive mathematical model of surface electromyographic (EMG) measurements and the corresponding force signal in skeletal muscles. The model comprises motor unit pool organization, recruitment and rate coding, intracellular action potential generation and the resulting EMG measurements, as well as the generated muscular force during voluntary isometric contractions. It consolidates and extends the results of several previous publications that proposed mathematical models for the individual model components. A parameterization of the electrical and mechanical components of the model is proposed that ensures a physiologically meaningful EMG-force relation in the simulated signals. Moreover, a novel nonlinear transformation of the excitation model input is proposed, which ensures that the model force output equals the desired target force. Finally, an alternative analytical formulation of the EMG model is proposed, which renders the physiological meaning of the model more clear and facilitates a mathematical proof that muscle fibers in this model at no point in time represent a net current source or sink. Neuromuscular physiology is a vibrant research field that has recently seen exciting advances. Many previous publications have focused on thorough analyses of particular aspects of neuromuscular physiology, yet an integration of the various novel findings into a single, comprehensive model is missing. A consistent description of a complete physiological model as presented here, including thorough justification of model component choices, will facilitate the use of these advanced models in future research. Results of a numerical simulation highlight the model’s capability to reproduce many physiological effects observed in experimental measurements, and to produce realistic synthetic data that are useful for the validation of signal processing algorithms. The model is based on recent advances in the understanding of muscular physiology and hence also applicable for analyzing the influence of various physiological and measurement setup parameters on the measured force and EMG signals.
Causes and consequences of immune activation and its effect on metabolic and energetic status in production animals

Nutrient and energy partitioning toward productive processes (i.e., growth, reproduction, and milk production) is key to economically profitable agriculture. During infection, nutrients and energy are drawn away from profitable purposes to support the immune system. Immunological costs contribute to the economic consequences of sickness that include decreased growth, inefficient feed utilization, poor reproduction, and increased health care costs. Animals experience frequent immune challenges, as bacterial insults can originate from many different scenarios. Understandably, the intestinal epithelium is a focal point of bacterial translocation due to its “gate-keeping” role of simultaneously facilitating nutrient absorption while preventing bacterial infiltration into portal and systemic circulation. Immune insults originating from intestinal bacteria have become of interest as heat stress, feed restriction, and peripheral inflammation contribute to intestinal permeability to luminal content. Additionally, metabolic maladaptation to lactation following calving (i.e., ketosis) in dairy cattle is associated with inflammation, and intestinal-derived endotoxin may contribute to this metabolic disorder. Sickness or suboptimal health, regardless of origin, is an animal welfare issue and an economic burden to animal agriculture. The activated immune system employs a unique metabolism to strategically utilize substrates and ensure its quick and effective response. An activated immune system requires a large amount of energy, and systemic glucose homeostasis is markedly disrupted during endotoxemia. Specifically, activated macrophages and other immune cells become obligate glucose utilizers and hypoglycemia and hyperlactemia are characteristic hallmarks. The increased glucose requirement by the immune system occurs simultaneously with hypophagia and thus reduced intestinally derived carbohydrate
Patterns of variation in Microtus arvalis and Microtus agrestis populations from Middle to Late Pleistocene in southwestern Europe

Abstract Fifteen paired fossil populations of Microtus arvalis and Microtus agrestis from southwestern Europe have been analysed from a morphological and morphometric point of view. The sites under consideration are located in the northern Iberian Peninsula and southern France, from the Middle Pleistocene to the end of the Late Pleistocene. The aim of this study is to stress once again the importance of keeping these two species separated in the fossil record in order to recognize specific trends of evolution and divergence and to obtain more precise information on palaeoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental conditions. It was possible to observe remarkable intraspecific differences between Middle and Late Pleistocene populations of both species. Furthermore, in synchronic co-specific populations from the Late Pleistocene, climatic and geographic conditions seem to exert a major influence in shaping intraspecific changes in dental pattern.
CD26 mRNA expression in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease which involves several organs.CD26 is a multifunctional molecule that has an extracellular domain with dipeptidyl peptidase IV activity which digests crucial inflammatory molecules. CD26 plays an important role in T-cell activation and enhances immune responses. This study was carried out to evaluate the level of CD26 gene expression in SLE patients. Forty-six SLE patients and 44 healthy controls voluntarily participated in this study. Based on the SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI), the patients were divided into two subgroups, those with active disease (n=24) and those with inactive disease (n=22). Patients were also subgrouped according to renal involvement, as those with lupus nephritis (n=17) and those without lupus nephritis (n=29). Their CD26 mRNA levels in peripheral blood cells were analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR. CD26 mRNA expression increased 3.6-fold in SLE patients in comparison with the controls (p 0.05). Although CD26 mRNA expression in patients with lupus nephritis was 2.76-fold higher than those without nephritis, the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). CD26 gene expression in peripheral blood cells of SLE patients significantly increased over that of the controls. This increase was not affected by the disease activity nor did it show any significant correlation with complications in organs.
Influence of Parthenogenesis-Inducing Wolbachia Infection and Sexual Mode on Trichogramma kaykai (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) Fitness

Abstract Wolbachia pipientis represents one of the most pervasive bacterial infections in the world, with estimates of over one million arthropods species infected. Parthenogenesis-inducing (PI) Wolbachia in various haplodiploid species effectively feminizes male offspring through a process called gamete duplication and converts the reproductive mode of infected females from arrhenotoky (fertilized eggs undergo female development, unfertilized eggs undergo male development) to thelytoky (fertilized and unfertilized eggs undergo female development). The fitness consequences associated with PI Wolbachia infection are of particular interest to ecologists and evolutionary biologists given the extreme effect that infection has on the reproductive mode of infected individuals. We use a model PI Wolbachia infected species, Trichogramma kaykai Pinto (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae), to investigate the effects of infection status and mating status on T. kaykai fitness. Three genotypically distinct isofemale cultures were used to test whether fitness (number of offspring reaching pupal stage, number of female offspring, and pupal survival) differed among infected unmated, infected mated, and antibiotically curedmated females. Significant survival costs were observed for mated Wolbachia-infected females, and fecundity costs were observed for mated and unmatedWolbachia-infected females, with significant variation for these costs across host genotypes.
Modelling the interplay between nitrogen cycling processes and mitigation options in farming catchments

SUMMARY Quantitative assessment of mitigation measures for nitrogen (N) pollution requires adequate models, good knowledge of catchment functioning and a thorough understanding of agricultural systems and stakeholder constraints. The current paper analyses a set of results from simulations, with two models, of agricultural changes in two catchments in different contexts with different constraints. The results show that reducing N inputs and increasing grassland areas are the most efficient measures, not only because they reduce N fluxes in streams but also because they enhance N use by agriculture and the whole catchment system. Introducing catch crops, hedgerows and riparian buffers are interesting complementary measures but of limited impact when implemented alone. These results are sensitive to the way mitigation measures are translated into model inputs, and their operational implications are discussed.
IN VITRO PRESERVATION OF DATE PALM (PHOENIX DACTYLIFERA L.) EMBRYOGENIC CALLUS

n vitro medium term conservation of tropical plant germplasm is widely used for most plant species. Changes in the physical or chemical conditions had been used as a strategy for reducing the in vitro plant metabolism and prolonging the cultivation period. Embryogenic callus cultures of Oshkingbeel and Friahy date palm cultivars were derived from shoot tip explants using Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 10 mg/l dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) and 3 mg/l 2isopentenyladenine (2iP). Cultures were stored at two temperature (20 and 27±2°C) in complete darkness. Cultures were also subjected to different osmotic agents (sucrose and sorbitol) at different concentrations (0.087, 0.1, 0.2 or 0.4 M), which were added to medium supplemented with 10 mg /l 2,4-D and 3 mg/l 2iP. Every three months of storage up to 15 months, cultures were evaluated for percentage of survived and germinated embryos. After 15 months, the temperature of 20°C was more effective for the in vitro conservation of both cultivars concerning survival percentage and number of germinated embryos. At this temperature, after 15 months of storage, the highest survival percentage was 86.7 and 93.3% for cvs Oshkingbeel and Friahy, respectively. For osmotic agents, after 15 months, the highest survival percentage (66.7 %) was recorded with sorbitol at 0.4 M or sucrose at 0.2 M for cv Fraihy, whereas 60% of cv Oshkingbeel cultures were able to survive when preserved on medium containing 0.2 M sucrose. Sorbitol at its different concentrations and 0.2 M sucrose were the most appropriate treatments for maintaining the cultures and increasing the number of germinated embryos of cvs Oshkingbeel and Fraihy cultures after the tested storage periods.
Antimicrobial activity of Cascabela thevetia (Flowers)

A large number of medicinal plants are claimed to be useful in treating skin diseases in all traditional system of medicine. The present study was carried out to investigate the antimicrobial effect of the compound isolated from the ethylacetate fraction of flowers of Cascabela thevetia. This compound was shown to possess antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi. Four bacterial strains Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus cereus and two fungal strains Curvularia lunata and Candida albicans were tested by using disc diffusion method. The anti-bacterial activity of the compound isolated from ethyl acetate fraction is almost comparable with standard Chloramphenicol. The antifungal activity is almost comparable with standard Fluconazole.
Evolution of boldness and life history in response to selective harvesting

Whether intensive harvesting alters the behavioral repertoire of exploited fishes is currently unknown, but plausible. We extend a fish life-history model to account for boldness as a personality trait that affects foraging intensity, which affects energy intake and risk from predation and fishing gear. We systematically investigate life-history and behavioral trait evolution along the boldness–timidity axis in response to the full range of common selectivity and exploitation patterns in fisheries. In agreement with previous studies, we find that any type of harvesting selects for fast life histories and that merely elevated, yet unselective, fishing mortality favors boldness. We also find that timid-selective fishing (which can be expected in species targeted by active gear types) selects for increased boldness. By contrast, increased timidity is predicted when fishing targets bolder individuals common to passive gears, whether in combination with selection on size or not. Altered behavior caused by inte.
Diagnostic and prognostic significance of urinary xanthurenic acid excretion in tuberculosis

Objective: To assess the diagnostic and prognostic significance of the test in tuberculous patients. Methods: Xanthurenic acid excretion in urine was measured before and after an oral load of5 gm tryptophan in 10 healthy individuals and 24 patients of tuberculosis (pulmonary, lymph glandular and osteocarticular). Xanthurenic acid excretion estimation was done again after 3 months of successful antituberculosis chemotherapy in pulmonary tuberculosis cases only. Results: The mean excretion values before and after load in the tuberculosis patients were found higher as compared to control subjects. These values came down significantly after successful chemotherapy of 3 months. Conclusion: We found that altered tryptophan metabolic pathway did operate in tuberculosis patients, being maximum in pulmonary followed by lymph gland and osteo-articular tuberculosis respectively.
VARIABILIDADE GENÉTICA EM GENÓTIPOS DE TECA ( Tectona grandis Linn. F.) BASEADA EM MARCADORES MOLECULARES ISSR E CARACTERES MORFOLÓGICOS

The aim of this work was to evaluate 50 genotypes of teak based on molecular markers ISSR. Among the genotypes studied, 12 were candidate trees, 36 were surrounding the candidates and 02 trees were considered superior based on the phenotype, according to the assessment of the producers. These genotypes were propagated through seminal via and are 10 to 12 years old in the field. For this study, young and expanded leaves of each genotype were collected in the field. Total DNA was extracted and the amplifications were made by PCR with 12 primers ISSR, previously selected. The samples were applied in agarose gel 1.5% and subjected to electrophoresis running. For visualization of the amplified products, the gel was stained with ethidium bromide and photodocumented in UV transilluminator. Data were analyzed using the program POPGENE 1.31 and diversity parameters were estimated. Dissimilarity analyzes were estimated by Jaccard Index and the dendrogram construction was made based on the UPGMA method. At the same time, the phenotypic analysis of morphological data regarding the candidate trees was conducted by multicategorical analysis. All analyzes were performed with the assistance of Genes Program. The 12 primers amplified 56 fragments. For polymorphic information content the indicators UBC 841, UBC 857 and UBC 807 provided higher values, 0.329, 0.327 and 0.303, respectively. The genetic diversity of the candidate trees (H = 0.1601 and I = 0.2301) was similar to the neighbors (H = 0.1507, I = 0.2178). The dendrogram generated by the UPGMA method formed 14 groups, while the grouping based on Tocher, 15 groups were formed. For the phenotypic analysis, the variable that most contributes to the diversity was the formation of catana. These results reflect that there is variability among the genotypes. It is possible to note, therefore, the need to expand the variability of the material, by introducing genotypes of different origins and genetically unrelated.
Root system architecture – budget experimental system for monitoring and analyses

Abstract Quantifications of root system architecture and growth dynamics became essential in sustainable agriculture, bio-engineering and underground ecology in general. Assessing of root architectural parameters is still challenging also owing to different methodological challenges and high-cost facilities required. The objective of this study was to design and examine a performance of a simple experimgal set-up for monitoring and analyses of root system architecture. The proposed system was examined with two cover crops – white mustard and sweet clover – grown in sand filled pots under controlled climate conditions for several weeks. Root systems of each crop were harvested in regular intervals of 2 to 3 weeks in 3 to 4 replicates. After careful washing, the intact root systems were photo captured in water filled cylinder in their quasi-natural position over entire rotation and then scanned using a flatbed professional scanner. The gained images (photos and scans) were analysed with AutoCAD and WinRhizo software for measuring of diverse root architectural parameters for modelling. The results showed that the selected experimental and methodical approaches were appropriate for monitoring and delivering data of good quality. Both, digital camera and scanner were regarded as essential complementary imaging tools for correct assessment of the root system architecture. To maximise the accuracy of the measurements, recommendation for improving the system were provided. Extracted root data are intended for parametrisation of root architectural models, but they also support researcher and experts in their efforts to improve crop uptake efficiency in sustainable agriculture and for bio-engineering purposes.