Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genetic Basis of Mating Preferences in Wild House Mice

Synopsis. This paper reviews work conducted over the last several years on the effect of genetic differences within the t-complex of wild house mice on female mating preference. Wild mice are polymorphic for a mutation within the t complex on chromosome 17. About 25% of wild mice are heterozygous (+/t) for a t-haplotype and the remainder are +/+. These t-haplotypes have a number of deleterious effects when homozygous and hence t/t individuals are rarely found in wild populations. We have examined preferences of +/+ and +/t females for males of both genotypes. We have found that +/t, but not +/+ females have strong preferences for +/+ males. These preferences can be modified by a variety of factors including estrous condition ofthe female (the preferences are stronger among estrous than diestrous females) and the dominance status ofthe male (when forced to choose, females give priority to male dominance status over t complex genotype in choosing males). The restiction of preference to +/t females indicates that genes on t haplotypes modulate these preferences. Because t haplotypes include the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of the mouse we designed a study to ascertain whether the preferences of +/t females were associated with the MHC. Results ofthe study indicate that the preferences are independent ofthe MHC. Further work testing females carrying a partial t-haplotype (twl8) indicates that the genes for mating preference are localized in the region of the t complex distal to the MHC. A large number of t haplotypes are found in wild mouse populations. Females that are themselves +/t when forced to choose between 2 +/t males (one carrying a haplotype that is the same as their own and one carrying a haplotype that is different) prefer males carrying t-haplotypes that differ from their own. Finally, we conclude that mating preference may only be a weak force regulating the frequency of t-mutations in wild mouse populations. The impact of mating preference on population genetics of genes within this region is muted because of the great importance of male dominance rank in determining mating patterns within interacting social groups.
Synchronized inter‐annual fluctuation of flowering intensity affects the exposure to allergenic tree pollen in North Europe

Many anemophilous, early‐flowering tree genera include allergy plants of world‐wide significance. We studied the synchronisation of high and low pollen years in the genera Betula, Alnus, Corylus, Salix and Populus and the cumulative effects that an increasing number of taxa has on the number of days of exposure to different levels of allergenic pollen in North Europe. The proximal causes of the inter‐annual variations of airborne pollen loads were analysed with a multiple regression analysis. The annual fluctuations of airborne pollen sums were compared between genera and found to be positively correlated among all combinations of genera at the three study sites. Most correlations were statistically significant (p<0.05). The comparison between Betula and Alnus is discussed first. Betula pollen was clearly the most abundant airborne pollen type. The presence of Alnus pollen, however, significantly increased the predisposal to allergenic pollen. At all sites, the number of days per year when the Betula and Alnus pollen counts together exceeded 10 and 100 grains m−3 of air, was found to be greater than the number of days when the Betula pollen counts alone exceeded 10 and 100 m−3 of air. The difference was statistically significant. In Kuopio, the difference was found to be statistically significant even for grains per 1 000 m−3 of air of Betula and Alnus together compared with the same count of Betula pollen alone. Betula, Alnus and Corylus belong to the order Fagales and have cross‐reacting main allergens. The flowering of Alder and Corylus culminate at the same time, two to four weeks earlier than that of Betula. Due to synchronization of high and low years and the mostly non‐overlapping flowering seasons, the time of exposure to pollen may be very long during the high years. Furthermore, Alnus and Corylus pollen may prime allergic people before the onset of the Betula season.
Incremental passivity and stabilization for switched nonlinear systems

This paper studies the problems of incremental passivity, incremental passification and incremental stabilization for a switched nonlinear system. First, an incremental passivity concept for switched nonlinear systems is proposed. Each subsystem is only required to be incrementally passive, when it is active. The energy change of each inactive subsystem is charaterized. Then, a sufficient condition for such a system to be incrementally passive is given. Second, a state-dependent switching law and state feedback controllers are designed to render a system with relative degree one incrementally passive. Third, we show that an incrementally passive switched nonlinear system can be incrementally stabilized under some constraints on the energy change of inactive subsystems. In particular, a recursive feedback incremental passification design technique is adopted to achieve the incremental stability for a switched nonlinear system with any same relative degree by designing a set of feedback controllers and a state-dependent switching law, constructively. Finally, two examples are provided to verify the effectiveness of the proposed theory.
Relative growth in Nephrops norvegicus (L.) (Decapoda: Nephropidae)

Summary (1) Numerical values are given for the relative proportions of carapace length, total length, propodus length and total wet weight of Nephrops norvegicus from the Irish Sea. Where possible these values have been compared with those for animals from other areas. (2) Abdominal width and propodus length show changes in growth rate relative to the carapace length which have been ascribed to the onset of sexual maturity. The relative growth rate of the abdominal width in relation to carapace length is isometric, whereas the relative growth rate of propodus length is isometric, but positively allometric in males from sexual maturity onwards. (3) There were statistically significant differences between the body proportions of some populations of N. norvegicus. This may indicate the existence of races in discrete areas. (4) Handedness in N. norvegicus was investigated; animals with two similar claws are rare, particularly those with two crusher claws. The development of crusher and cutter claws is described.
The structure of emotional support networks in families affected by Lynch syndrome

Abstract Genetic risk is particularly salient for families and testing for genetic conditions is necessarily a family-level process. Thus, risk for genetic disease represents a collective stressor shared by family members. According to communal coping theory, families may adapt to such risk vis-a-vis interpersonal exchange of support resources. We propose that communal coping is operationalized through the pattern of supportive relationships observed between family members. In this study, we take a social network perspective to map communal coping mechanisms to their underlying social interactions and include those who declined testing or were not at risk for Lynch Syndrome. Specifically, we examine the exchange of emotional support resources in families at risk of Lynch Syndrome, a dominantly inherited cancer susceptibility syndrome. Our results show that emotional support resources depend on the testing-status of individual family members and are not limited to the bounds of the family. Network members from within and outside the family system are an important coping resource in this patient population. This work illustrates how social network approaches can be used to test structural hypotheses related to communal coping within a broader system and identifies structural features that characterize coping processes in families affected by Lynch Syndrome.
Synthesis of Ag-Fe3O4 nanoparticles for degradation of methylene blue in aqueous medium

Fe3O4 known as magnetite is one of the oxides of iron which plays a major role in various fields of sciences. Fe3O4 was synthesized by precipitation method using NH3.H2O, FeCl2.4H2O and FeCl3.6H2O as precursor materials. For synthesis of 5% Ag-Fe3O4, the green synthetic method was used for immobilization of Ag nanoparticles on Fe3O4 using leaves extract of Calotropis gigantea plant. The synthesized Fe3O4 and 5% Ag-Fe3O4 were employed as catalyst in degradation of methylene blue. The photo catalytic activity of Fe3O4 was remarkably enhanced by doping of Fe3O4 with Ag nanoparticles. Advanced instrumental techniques including XRD, EDX, TGA and SEM were used for characterization of synthesized particles. The immobilization of Ag on Fe3O4 enhanced the photo degradation of methylene blue from 40 to 72% at 40 °C which confirms that 5% Ag-Fe3O4 is an active catalyst for treatment of dye contaminated water. Ag-Fe3O4 exhibited almost same catalytic activity in two successive cycles. Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2020, 34(1), 123-134. DOI: https://dx.doi. org/10.4314/bcse.v34i1. 11
Differential effects of nutrients and light on the primary production of stream algae and mosses

Benthic algae and mosses are the main primary producers in headwater streams. In these ecosystems, primary production is mainly determined by the availability of light and nutrients. The present study analyses the different effects of nutrient enrichment (inorganic phosphorus and nitrogen) and light availability on the primary production of both algal and moss communities from a headwater forested stream using laboratory experiments. These laboratory experiments consider four treatments (low light-unenriched, high light-unenriched, low light-enriched and high light-enriched). Photosynthesis-irradiance curves of both communities were also performed. Respiration and net primary production (NPP) of algae and mosses were measured using incubation chambers and oxygen balance measurements. The moss community was dominated by Fontinalis antipyretica and diatom epiphytes, while the algal community consisted of Cladophora glomerata and attached diatoms. Under all treatments, NPP was significantly higher for algae (3-18 mg O 2 mg chl -1 h -1 ) than for mosses (0.4 and 1.8 mg O 2 mg chl -1 h -1 ). Light (as a single factor) significantly affected GPP (gross primary production) and NPP of algae and mosses. Non-inhibitory effects of GPP were observed at saturating light conditions, showing the high plasticity of the stream algal and moss communities. Nutrients produced a significant enhancement of NPP only under high light availability. The greater response of algae to nutrient enrichment was also shown by the highest phosphate uptake rate of this community. Extrapolation of laboratory primary production measurements to the field scale showed the occurrence of significant autotrophic production pulses during periods of light availability (e.g. before leaf emergence and after leaf fall in Mediterranean forested streams), in contrast to the major heterotrophic behaviour, especially in autumn, of these ecosystems. These production pulses in heterotrophic streams could provide high-quality resources to downstream reach, which might be essential for consumers.
Haplometrotic colony founding by the slave‐making ant polyergus rufescens (hymenoptera, formicidae)

Abstract Several newly‐mated females of the European slave‐making ant Polyergus rufescens usually participate in slave raids and penetrate together the same target colony. This fact could result in a pleometrotic colony foundation. In the laboratory, two newly‐mated females of P. rufescens were introduced simultaneously into queenright artificial colonies of Formica cunicularia, the slave species present in the natal dulotic nest. The experiments were carried out using artificial colonies of two kinds: ‘simple’ (a nest connected with a foraging arena) and ‘complex’ (a simple colony connected with an empty nest serving as a flight‐chamber). In both cases, the two parasitic females never cooperated in attacking and killing the Formica queen. In fact, only one of the two was able to obtain adoption by the resident workers, the other being killed by them. Egg‐laying by the usurping queens was observed the following spring, and in the summer new mixed colonies developed: this is the ultimate criterion for look.
Routing Protocol Design for Underwater Optical Wireless Sensor Networks: A Multiagent Reinforcement Learning Approach

Underwater optical wireless sensor networks (UOWSNs) have been attracting many interests for the advantages of high transmission rate, ultrawide bandwidth, and low latency. However, due to limited energy resources and highly dynamic topology caused by the water flow movement, it is challenging to provide a low-consumption and reliable routing in UOWSNs. To tackle this issue, in this article, we propose an efficient routing protocol based on multiagent reinforcement learning, termed as DMARL, for UOWSNs. The network is first modeled as a distributed multiagent system, and residual energy and link quality are considered into the routing protocol design to improve the adaptation to a dynamic environment and the support of prolonging network life. Additionally, two optimization strategies are proposed to accelerate the convergence of the reinforcement learning algorithm. On the basis, a reward mechanism is provided for the distributed system. The simulation results show that the DMARL-based routing protocol has low energy consumption and high packet delivery ratio (over 90%), and it is suitable for networks where the average number of neighbor nodes is less than 14.
Effect of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in neural differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells and neural precursor cells

Embryonic stem (ES) cells, which have pluripotency in differentiation, have been considered as an excellent source for cell replacement therapy of damaged tissues. Although neurotrophic factors induce neural differentiation in neural precursor cells, their actions in ES cells are not clear. This study was designated to examine the effect of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on neural differentiation in mouse ES cells. Undifferentiated mouse ES cells were maintained at suspension culture in the presence of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), and neural precursor cells were isolated from the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the 2–3 day old mice brain. Oct-4 was expressed in undifferentiated ES cells and neural precursor cells, of which expression was markedly decreased by induction of differentiation. RT-PCR analysis showed that neural differentiation of ES cells induced expression of various neural markers, and that BDNF increased their expression. Western blot analysis demonstrated that BDNF induced expression of synaptophysin, a neuronal marker, and inhibited expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein, a glial marker. Undifferentiated ES cells expressed TrkA, TrkB and TrkC, of which expressions were increased during differentiation. Neural differentiation increased their expression, and BDNF further increased them. The treatment of BDNF during differentiation decreased expression of Notch1. These results indicated that BDNF induces neural differentiation and inhibits glial differentiation in ES cells as well as neuronal precursor cells.
Experience with the CASPER system during RADICS field trials

The DARPA LADS program uses unintended emissions, including RF emissions, to try to determine the internal state of a digital device. The CASPER project uses a combination of digital signal processing and machine learning in order to discover changes of state that may indicate unwanted activity on the device. In this paper, we will discuss our recent experiences fielding the CASPER system as part of the DARPA RADICS exercise. The RADICS program is building the tools necessary to recover from a catastrophic attack on the cyber assets of the electrical grid. CASPER provides a complementary technology for discovering which assets are performing anomalously to help speed remediation efforts. The RADICS exercise lasted 7 days and is conducted on a live electrical grid in a remote area. The design of the exercise is to provide a high degree of realism including no Internet access and limited access to supplies not already on site.
Osteology and relationships of the southern freshwater lower euteleostean fishes

Temperate lands of the Southern Hemisphere have freshwater f ish faunas that are dominated by a series of lower euteleostean genera that seem to fall into three clusters: 1) Retropinna, Stokellia and Prototroctes, forming a family Retropinnidae; 2) Aplochi- ton, Lovettia, Galaxias, Neochanna, Brachygalaxias, Paragalaxias and Galaxiella in- cluded in either a single family Galaxiidae or split between Galaxiidae and Aplochito- nidae (the latter including Lovettia); and 3) Lepidogalaxias. Although the generic classif ication seems relatively well-settled, the familial allocations and phylogenetic relationships among these three groups of genera have been much discussed in recent decades, dating back into the 1960s. There is wide agreement that Retropinna, Stokel- lia, and Prototroctes are closely related to each other; that the other genera apart from Lepidogalaxias are also closely related to each other and well separated from the ret- ropinnids; but what Lepidogalaxias is related to has been a subject of considerable debate and highly divergent phylogenetic hypotheses for many years. Our study pre- sents extensive mor phological information, mostly osteological, that seeks to clarify all of these relationships. Using the Northern Hemisphere Osmeridae as the principal out- group, our data support the historical relationships discussed above, for all but Lepido- galaxias, though we also suggest that Aplochiton and Lovettia are quite deeply sepa- rated from the galaxiid genera. Our conclusions relating to Lepidogalaxias are highly equivocal, given the large numbers of autapomor phic characters in the analysis and the lack of convincing synapomor phies shared by that genus and other southern lower euteleosteans, we conclude that Lepidogalaxias is deeply separated from the other southern genera. Incor porating additional molecular information, we conclude that Le- pidogalaxias is possibly the sister group of all other euteleostean f ishes, a conclusion that also emerges more explicitly from other, recent molecular studies of this highly controversial taxon. It has so many distinctive mor phological characters that it seems diff icult, if not impossible, to identify its relationships from osteology alone, though the extent of autapomor phy may result in part from our use of Osmeridae as the prin- cipal outgroup. Further studies comparing Lepidogalaxias with other outgroups, or per- haps the use of other types of mor phological characters, may reveal more of its rela- tionships.
Significance of endogenous gut nitrogen losses in the nutrition of growing pigs: A review

During the past two decades endogenous gut N losses (ENL) at the distal ileum in the growing pig have received considerable attention in swine nutrition research. Estimates of ENL are important for determining true ileal N and amino acid digestibilities and for identifying means to improve the efficiency of N and energy utilization in growing pigs. Endogenous secretions originate from various sources including saliva, pancreatic secretions, bile, sloughed off epithelial cells, serum albumin and mucin. It has been estimated that 70 to 80% of endogenous N secretions are digested and re-absorbed. Therefore, ENL represents only a fraction of total endogenous N secreted into the gut. Increased ENL are likely associated with elevated rates of gut protein synthesis. This is bound to increase maintenance energy and amino acid requirements of pigs. Traditionally, ENL were determined by feeding protein-free diets or by the regression method. Various alternative techniques (15N-isotope dilution technique, homoargini.
Rules of Attraction: The Role of Bait in Small Mammal Sampling at High Altitude in South Africa

Baits or lures are commonly used for surveying small mammal communities, not only because they attract large numbers of these animals, but also because they provide sustenance for trapped individuals. In this study we used Sherman live traps with five bait treatments to sample small mammal populations at three high-altitude sites (>1700 m) in the Sneeuberg Mountain Complex of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. We investigated the influence of bait treatment on three parameters commonly recorded in small mammal surveys. In addition, we investigated how different bait treatments vary in measuring species richness using the Chao 2 species richness estimator together with rarefaction curves. Overall, 12 small mammal species were sampled. A combination of birdseed and banana captured the highest number of species (11) but the most successful bait overall was peanut butter and oats (greatest number of captures, recaptures, number of individuals and highest Shannon diversity). The Chao 2 richness estimator indicated that four of the five bait treatments reached their sampling capacity. Rarefaction curves indicated that all bait treatments are similar with regard to species accumulation. This could possibly be explained by odours left behind in traps as even un-baited traps (i.e. controls) captured seven different small mammal species. We conclude that the most suitable bait for surveying small mammals at high altitude in South Africa is peanut butter and oats. However, using peanut butter and oats in combination with other bait treatments will improve estimates of diversity when surveying small mammal communities.
Personalized Residential Energy Usage Recommendation System Based on Load Monitoring and Collaborative Filtering

Residential demand response (DR) is recognized as a promising approach to improve grid energy efficiency and relieve the network stress. Many studies have been conducted to design home energy management systems that directly schedule and control the household appliances. Distinguished from existing works, this article proposes a personalized recommendation system (PRS) to learn energy-efficient household appliance usage experiences from a large scale of residential users, and recommends suitable appliance usage plans to users while taking their lifestyles into account. The proposed system is based on a collaborative filtering recommendation technique. The PRS first classifies a collection of users as “highly responsive users” and “less responsive users” based on their DR degree analysis. Then, for each less responsive user, the PRS infers the user's lifestyle from usage profiles of nonshiftable appliances and finds out users who have similar habits with the target user from the set of highly responsive users. Based on this, the PRS evaluates the lifestyle similarity between the target user and each smart user, aggregates the appliance usage experiences of highly responsive users, and makes appliance-use recommendations to the target user. Experiments based on a residential data simulator “SimHouse” are designed to validate the proposed system.