Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Violent Attachments

Drawing on feminist and queer critiques that see violence as constitutive of identities, this essay points to subject-positions whose construction is necessarily conditioned by exercising violence. Focusing on settler colonialism, I reverse the optics of the first set of critiques: rather than seeing the self as taking form through the injuries she suffers, I try to understand selves that are structurally constituted by causing injury to others. This analysis refuses the assumption that violence is in conflict with (liberal) identity, and that, therefore, the endurance of violence of liberal states/societies is dependent upon mechanisms of active blindness (or denial, deferral, and other forms of dissociation). I argue that this assumption, which is shared by many critiques of violence, fails to perceive that people can desire the violent arrangements supporting their communities. They therefore fail to address political settings wherein violence is an affirmative element of political identities.
Evaluation of Antimicrobial Compounds from Amycolatopsis decaplanina JAR8 against Various Pathogens

Amycolatopsis decaplanina JAR8 is rare actinomycetes which was isolated from agricultural field of Punjab, India. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing of strain JAR8 showed 98% similarity with Amycolatopsis decaplanina. The morphological, cultural and physiological characteristics were determined by International Streptomyces project by using various mediums. The bioactive metabolites produced by the strain were obtained from the optimized culture medium through solvent extraction method. The ethyl acetate extract obtained after extraction was characterized using UV, FTIR and GC-MS spectroscopic analysis. The minimum inhibitory concentration of active metabolite was found to be 60 µg/ml against Staphylococcus aureus. The present study deals with the exploration of rare actinomycetes which also produces various biological active compounds against infectious diseases.
Acclimation to light in planted and naturally regenerated populations of white spruce seedlings

Physiological responses to sun and shade were examined in white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) seedlings collected from three naturally regenerated (N1-N3) and three planted (P1-P3) stands in the boreal forest of Saskatchewan. Seedling survival was greater in the sun than in the shade pretreatment periods. Dark respiration de - clined by 70% in shade- compared with sun-acclimated seedlings; however, the decline was not statistically significant because of the large within-population variation. Quantum yield, total chlorophyll content, specific leaf area, and abso - lute water content of needles increased by 45, 33, 32, and 50%, respectively, in response to shade. At low light levels, shade-acclimated populations showed greater photosynthetic rates and steeper light-response curves than seedlings growing in full sun. Seedlings of P3, N2. and N3 saturated at about 200 μmol·m -2 ·s -1 PAR in the shade, with no in- crease in photosynthesis at higher light intensities. At light saturation, populations P1 and N3 showed similar photosynthetic rates to both light acclimation regimes; populations P2, P3, and N2 had lower light-saturated photosyn - thesis in sun, compared with shade pretreatment. Only in N1 was photosynthetic rate greater after sun than shade pre- treatment; this population behaved like a "sun" and "shade" population depending on pretreatment. Differences in physiological responses to light among populations suggest the presence of more than one ecotype. N1 showed the greatest plasticity in response to light pretreatment. The remaining populations behaved more like shade-adapted popu- lations, with little adjustment to light conditions. Intrapopulation variation was large for both regeneration types. It ap- pears that selection pressure during reforestation was not great enough to cause a decline in intrapopulation variation in planted compared with naturally regenerated white spruce seedlings.
Transmission of bovine spongiform encephalopathy

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is one of several diseases known collectively as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) and caused by prions, which are nonconventional infectious agents. The risk of human infection by exposure to a TSE agent is generally considered to be low, because of the species barrier. However, the prions causing BSE in cattle are able to cross the species barrier easily. The appearance of variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (vCJD) after human exposure to BSE prions has highlighted the possible impacts of this infection on human health. Today, a major concern is that the number of BSE cases in many European countries, including the emerging eastern European countries of the EU, is growing. A further concern now emerging is the possibility that BSE could spread to other livestock species, such as sheep or goats. This paper provides an overview of BSE transmission and its potential implications for public health. Prion diseases
Diversity and Biogeography of the Scleractinian Coral Fauna of Easter Island (Rapa Nui)1

ABSTRACT Three surveys at Easter Island (Rapa Nui) spanning the period 1999–2005, and examination of private and museum collections, have revealed a depauperate zooxanthellate scleractinian fauna. Collections were all made off island shelf exposures, from tide pools to 70 m with scuba, and by dredging to 100 m. With synonymies, reassignments, and two new records in the families Pocilloporidae and Faviidae, the Easter Island coral fauna now comprises 13 species. Pocilloporid and poritid coral abundances were generally high on all island shelves protected from southern swells. A cluster analysis of the coral fauna relationships of 19 south, central, and far-eastern Pacific sites indicates a strong affinity between those of Easter Island and the far-eastern Pacific equatorial region (e.g., Colombia, Ecuador, Panamá, and the Galápagos Islands). The precipitous drop in coral species richness from the Pitcairn Island group (61 species) to Easter Island suggests the presence of a dispersal barrier between these two remote southeastern Pacific areas, separated by ~1,800 km of deep ocean waters. Consideration of the surface circulation based on satellite tracked surface drifters confirms this conclusion. Surface currents are from east to west along the topography on which Easter and Salay Gómez Islands sit, suggesting a substantial barrier to recruitment from the west.
Metabolic and thermoregulatory capabilities of juvenile steller sea lions, Eumetopias jubatus

Metabolic and Thermoregulatory Capabilities of Juvenile Steller Sea Lions, Eumetopias jubatus. (May 2007) Lisa Ann Hoopes, B.S., Michigan State University; M.S., Texas A&M University Co-Chairs of Advisory Committee: Dr. Graham A.J Worthy Dr. Jay R. Rooker Maintaining thermal balance is essential for all homeotherms but can be especially challenging for pinnipeds which must regulate over a variety of ambient temperatures and habitats as part of their life history. Young pinnipeds, with their immature physiology and inexperience, have the additional expense of needing to allocate energy for growth while still dealing with a thermally stressful aquatic environment. With the immense environmental and physiological pressures acting on juvenile age-classes, declines in prey resources would be particularly detrimental to survival. The goal of the present study was to examine the metabolic and thermoregulatory capabilities of juvenile Steller sea lions to better understand how changing prey resources indirectly impact juvenile age classes. Data collected from captive Steller sea lions suggest that changes in body mass and body composition influence the thermoregulatory capabilities of smaller sea lions in stationary and flowing water. Serial thermal images taken of sea lions after emergence from the water show vasoconstriction of the flippers compared to the body trunk to help minimize heat loss. Despite this ability to vasoconstrict, sea lions in poor body
Analysis of incidence and prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and evaluation of their control in epidemiological survey in the Czech Republic.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this analysis was to analyze the presence of the most important cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and to discuss patterns of LDL cholesterol management in the population studied. METHODS We enrolled 961 males, average age of 42.9 ± 4.7, and 851 females, average age of 51.2 ± 3.6. Data on personal, pharmacological and family history, and laboratory examinations were collected. Cardiovascular (CV) risk was calculated using the Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) algorithm with modifications according to the guidelines. RESULTS The distribution of CV risk in the observed cohort was as follows: 24% of the subjects had low, 51% moderate, 17% high and 8% very high risk. The percentage of patients who reached target values of LDL cholesterol was dramatically lower in the groups with very high (1%) and high (3%) risk than in the groups with moderate (14%) or low risk (59%). Dyslipidemia was newly identified in 20% of both sexes. Arterial hypertension was newly diagnosed in 8% of males and 5% of females, and type 2 diabetes mellitus was newly diagnosed in 3% of both the males and females. Dyslipidemia was present in 39% of males and 41% of females; arterial hypertension in 43% of males and 45% of females, and type 2 diabetes mellitus was diagnosed in 11% of the subjects of both sexes. 49% of males and 31% of females were overweight and 32% of both genders were obese. There were 36% of male smokers and 22% of female smokers. 48% of the participants were pharmacologically treated. Non-pharmacological treatment was recommended to 62% of male and to 65% of female participants. Pharmacological intervention was started in 53% of males and 51% of females. In both gender antihypertensive treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (29% of males and 27% of females) and lipid lowering therapy with a statin (28% of males, 27% of females) were the most commonly initiated treatments. In the subgroup of the 101 patients with LDL cholesterol levels > 5 mmol/L 56% were not treated with a statin. The analysis of relationship between the positive family history of any of the followed CV risks showed significant increases of the risk for arterial hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia. CONCLUSION European guidelines suggest general screening for risk factors, including analysis of lipid profiles in the population of 40-year-old males and 50-year-old or postmenopausal women. Our study documents high prevalence and incidence of CV risk factors together with insufficient control of the risk factors in Czech patients of this age range. This finding suggests that preventive examinations should be undertaken earlier (e.g., in 30-year-old males and 40-year-old women). Exact timing of the preventive check-ups to yield the best cost-benefit ratio needs to be verified.
Some characteristics of a fast movement of auxin in intact tomato seedlings (Lycopersicon esculentum)

Using exogenous 14C-IAA, a fast movement of auxin was demonstrated in intact tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill, cv. Craigella) cultured in vitro. This movement is insensitive to or weakly enhanced by cold temperature (0°C) and not influenced by gravity. In short time experiments (10 min) the main part of the radioactivity which travels through the plant is IAA; in long time ones (6 h) the metabolism is much higher and leads mainly to the formation of IAAsp. The integrity of the plant is necessary for the possibility to observe such a fast movement. Isolated hypocotyl segments show only the classical polar and slow movement of auxin. Microautoradiographic techniques show that the fast movement takes place inside the plant. In the epicotyl, the vascular bundles, mainly phloem cells, are labelled; in contrast, the radioactivity detected in the hypocotyl is low, and the tracers can be visualized only inside the epidermal cells.
Selenium in poultry nutrition 2. Reproduction, egg and meat quality and practical applications

In the first part of this review (Surai, 2002), the antioxidant properties and pro-oxidant activity of Se have been described. In spite of a long history, our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of Se action in human and animals are still in their initial stages. Indeed Se is an integral part of various selenoproteins with glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) being the first selenoprotein identified in 1973. Se's participation in antioxidant defence and in the regulation of redox status of the cell could explain its importance to various physiological functions, especially to reproduction. Chicken embryo tissues and spermatozoa are rich in long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and as a result are very vulnerable to lipid peroxidation. Therefore Se is a crucial factor in maintaining appropriate antioxidant defence during embryonic development and spermatogenesis. In conditions of stress in commercial poultry production the beneficial effects of Se are difficult to overestimate. From egg storage before incubation, when lipid peroxidation can occur, to the final day of egg production, Se participates in preventing the damaging effects of free radicals and toxic products of their metabolism. Dietary antioxidant supplementation in general and organic Se supplementation in particular are considered to be major protective measures for maintaining high productive and reproductive characteristics in poultry.
Intraspecific variation in bionomic characters of the Mexican bean weevil, Zabrotes subfasciatus

Zabrotes subfasciatus (Boheman) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) is native to parts of Central and South America but has now been spread to many others areas. It commonly infests the seeds of both Lima beans, Phaseolus lunatus, and common beans, Phaseolus vulgaris. Five geographic populations were found to differ in fecundity, patterns of egg distribution, times of development and adult sizes when they were kept under the same conditions. Each population also differed unpredictably from the others in its response to different cultivars of host seed. These differences have been shown to be of considerable importance in determining the potential pest status of the populations and should also promote caution in making predictions about the responses of different populations to new cultivars of bean for agricultural use.
Integrated Analysis of lncRNAs and mRNAs Identifies a Potential Driver lncRNA FENDRR in Lung Cancer in Xuanwei, China

Abstract This study was to screen out potential driver long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in lung cancer in Xuanwei (LCXW) differently expressed mRNAs and lncRNAs were detected by gene expression microarrays in 23 paired lung adenocarcinoma and adjacent tissues. Combined bioinformatics analysis was performed to identify potential driver lncRNAs and their potential regulatory relationships. Transcriptome and clinical data in TCGA-LUAD were used as comparison and validation dataset. The comparison of LCXW and TCGA-LUAD revealed significant differences in expression of some genes, signaling pathways affected by differentially expressed genes, and the 5-year survival rate of patients. We identified 14 consistently deregulated mRNAs and 5 lncRNAs as candidate genes, which affected multiple cancer-related pathways and influenced patients’ overall survival. By combined bioinformatics analysis, we further identified a potential driver lncRNA fetal-lethal non-coding developmental regulatory RNA (FENDRR) and proposed its possible regulation mechanism. The low expression of FENDRR was positively correlated with Krüppel-like factor4 (KLF4), KLF4 down-regulation may loss the activation function of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (CDKN1A) and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1C (CDKN1C) and the inhibition function of CyclinB1 (CCNB1), eventually cause excessive cell cycle activation and lead to lung cancer. This study revealed a potential FENDRR-KLF4-cell cycle regulation axis. These results lay an important foundation for further research on the pathogenesis of LCXW and identification of potential novel biomarkers or therapeutic targets.
Does Stem Injection of Glyphosate Control Invasive Knotweeds (Polygonum spp.)? A Comparison of Four Methods

Abstract Japanese knotweed, Sakhalin knotweed, and their hybrid, Bohemian knotweed, are invasive across much of the United States. Monocultures formed by these species threaten natural riparian areas, and effective methods of control are being sought. Injection of herbicide is a relatively new control technique with no known published results. Bohemian knotweed was injected with four treatment dosages: 1 ml (0.03 oz) (0.48 g ae) (0.017 oz ae), 3 ml (0.10 oz) (1.44 g ae) (0.05 oz ae), or 5 ml (0.17 oz) (2.4 g ae) (0.08 oz ae) of undiluted glyphosate (suggested application), and 5 ml (0.17 oz) of a glyphosate : water mix (1 : 1, by vol) (1.2 g ae) (0.04 oz ae). Injections were tested at two heights on the plants: low node, 0.2 m (0.66 ft) (L) or chest height node, 1.0 to 1.3 m (3.3 to 4.3 ft) (M). After 1 mo, average percent injury was greater than 90%, and analysis showed no effect of injection location on the stem and no difference between the suggested 5-ml (0.17 oz) glyphosate application and 3-ml (0.10 oz) application. Nine months after treatment there was a reduction in knotweed height and density, though vigorous regrowth was evident within plots. Although the injection method results in the short-term dieback of injected stems, drawbacks to its use in certain scenarios should be considered when developing an integrated management plan for knotweed control. Nomenclature: Glyphosate; Bohemian knotweed, Polygonum x bohemicum (J. Chrtek & A. Chrtkova) P.F. Zika & A.L. Jacobson; Sakhalin knotweed, Polygonum sachalinense F. Schmidt & Maxim; Japanese knotweed, Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. & Zucc
ANTIDERMATOPHYTIC ACTIVITY OF ANGIOSPERMIC PLANTS: A REVIEW

In recent years, there has been increasing interest worldwide in the use of alternative/herbal medicine for the prevention and treatment of fungal diseases. Currently, however, quality-related problems (lack of consistency, safety, and efficacy) seem to be overshadowing the potential genuine benefits of various herbal products for the treatment of fungal diseases. Extracts obtained from many plants have recently gained a great popularity and scientific interest. Since the middle ages, natural plant preparations have been widely used for treatment of fungal diseases. Treatment of the fungal pathogen is becoming increasingly difficult due to antifungal drug resistance, especially with fluconazole, which is a commonly used azole. This paper reviews the in vitro activity of angiospermic plant extracts and their major compounds against dermatophytes and also a compilation of updated information on angiospermic plant extracts with antifungal properties. Keywords: Dermatophytes, Extracts, Medicinal plants.
IL15 Stimulation with TIGIT Blockade Reverses CD155-mediated NK-Cell Dysfunction in Melanoma

Purpose: Natural killer (NK) cells play a critical role in tumor immunosurveillance. Multiple activating and inhibitory receptors (IR) regulate NK-cell–mediated tumor control. The IR T-cell immunoglobulin and ITIM domain (TIGIT) and its counter-receptor CD226 exert opposite effects on NK-cell–mediated tumor reactivity. Experimental Design: We evaluated the frequency, phenotype, and functions of NK cells freshly isolated from healthy donors and patients with melanoma with multiparameter flow cytometry. We assessed TIGIT and CD226 cell surface expression and internalization upon binding to CD155. We evaluated the role of IL15 and TIGIT blockade in increasing NK-cell–mediated cytotoxicity in vitro and in two mouse models. Results: NK cells are present at low frequencies in metastatic melanoma, are dysfunctional, and downregulate both TIGIT and CD226 expression. As compared with TIGIT− NK cells, TIGIT+ NK cells exhibit higher cytotoxic capacity and maturation, but paradoxically lower cytotoxicity against CD155+ MHC class I–deficient melanoma cells. Membrane bound CD155 triggers CD226 internalization and degradation, resulting in decreased NK-cell–mediated tumor reactivity. IL15 increases TIGIT and CD226 gene expression by tumor-infiltrating NK cells (TiNKs) and, together with TIGIT blockade, increases NK-cell–mediated melanoma cytotoxicity in vitro and decreases tumor metastasis in two mouse melanoma models. Specific deletion of TIGIT on transferred NK cells enhances the antimetastatic activity of IL15, while CD226 blockade decreases the effects of IL15 and TIGIT blockade. Conclusions: Our findings support the development of novel combinatorial immunotherapy with IL15 and TIGIT blockade to promote NK-cell–mediated destruction of MHC class I–deficient melanoma, which are refractory to CD8+ T-cell–mediated immunity. See related commentary by Pietra et al., p. 5274
The Effects of Decreasing Winter Diet Quality on Foraging Behavior and Life-History Traits of White-Tailed Deer Fawns

Abstract Many high-density populations of wild ungulates have exerted strong negative impacts on their habitat. A decrease in forage quantity and quality may affect individual growth, fecundity, and survival, especially under harsh winter conditions. On Anticosti Island, Québec, Canada, browsing by introduced white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) negatively affected boreal forest composition. Since the preferred contemporary winter forage of deer, balsam fir (Abies balsamea), has been almost completely extirpated from the island at browse height, deer are forced to increase the proportion of normally avoided forage, such as white spruce (Picea glauca), in their winter diet. We predicted that an increase in the proportion of white spruce in the diet would have detrimental effects on deer body condition and would affect their behavior and life history traits. We experimentally simulated a deterioration of winter forage quality in semi-natural enclosures by increasing the proportion of white spruce in the diet and examined the effects of winter diet quality on 1) forage intake, 2) body condition loss, 3) activity budget, and 4) survival of white-tailed deer fawns. Fawns fed the poor-quality diet maintained a higher forage intake rate throughout the winter than fawns fed the control diet, suggesting a compensatory response to the decrease of forage quality by consuming more forage during winter. Body mass decreased over the winter, but we did not observe any significant effects of diet quality on body mass loss. Diet quality did not influence the activity budget of fawns, but deer decreased activity in cold weather. The main determinant of overwinter survival was individual body mass in early winter. Our study suggests that deer have adapted to the extreme conditions encountered on Anticosti (i.e., harsh and long winters, low-quality browse, and a high-density population). Even though white spruce stands are gradually replacing balsam fir stands, our results suggest that deer on Anticosti could maintain a high-density population by increasing the amount of white spruce in their diet. However, future studies are necessary to address the long-term effects of a diet dominated by white spruce on deer body condition, survival, and reproduction under natural conditions.
Integrating phylogeography, physiology and habitat modelling to explore species range determinants

Disentangling the roles of the interacting processes that shape species' ranges requires independent measurements of dispersal, physiological traits and habitat use. Multifaceted approaches of range determinants are, however, still rare, despite the widespread recognition that correlative modelling approaches alone are not sufficient to understand and predict species' distributions. Here, we combined genetic, distributional and physiological data to reveal the processes that cause the disjunct distribution of the groundwater isopod Proasellus valdensis in isolated Alpine mountains previously covered by Pleistocene glaciers.