Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Local demographic and epidemiological patterns in the Linum marginale–Melampsora lini association: a multi‐year study

Many theoretical and empirical studies operate from an assumption that pathogens have a significant influence on the fecundity and life span of their host species. However, there are surprisingly little data investigating the long‐term fitness impacts and genetic consequences that arise from pathogen infection in natural populations. Here, we address this gap through the analysis of a dataset investigating the local population dynamics of a native host plant (Linum marginale) and an associated rust pathogen (Melampsora lini) across 12 years. To investigate patterns of disease prevalence and severity and track effects on host fecundity and demography, we conducted censuses on an annual basis at a single site. Annual M. lini infection prevalence ranged from 0% to 99%. Severe epidemics occurred in 3‐ to 4‐year cycles causing high overwintering mortality and subsequent changes in the relative abundance of different host phenotypes. Host population size oscillated in response to epidemics and declined towards the end of the observation period. Changes in host numbers were found to affect disease severity but not infection prevalence. Melampsora lini infection increased L. marginale fecundity; the infected plants produced threefold more seed capsules on average than uninfected plants (13·3 vs. 4·3 seed capsules per plant). To investigate how variation in environmental conditions affects epidemiology and host demography, we identified climatic factors affecting host growth, overwintering and disease severity. Winter (June) rainfall increased host overwintering success and summer (December) rainfall favoured host growth. The progress of M. lini disease epidemics benefited from optimal temperatures in February and suffered from rainfall in January. We further examined links between the genetic structure of the pathogen population and disease dynamics. There was a positive correlation between mean pathogen infectivity (as measured across a host differential set) and the severity of disease epidemics. Synthesis. Our results provide new insights into local drivers and consequences of pathogen epidemiology in natural populations. Melampsora lini infection can have profound consequences on the phenotype, demography and population structure of Linum marginale by increasing host fecundity, overwinter mortality and disease resistance.
Long-term recovery of soil carbon stocks and permafrost depth lags recovery of organic layer thickness following fire in black spruce forests of the Copper River Basin, Alaska

This study investigated differences in forest structure, organic layer thickness, soil organic carbon, and permafrost depth between late-successional (LS) and postfire (PF; 90–120 years since burn) plots under black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) growing on fine-textured, poorly drained lacustrine sediments in the Copper River Basin, Alaska. Although live stem and seedling density and organic layer thickness were not significantly different between PF and LS plots (28 ± 7 cm and 31 ± 10 cm, respectively), we did find a significant difference in soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks (30 ± 10 kg·m−2 and 46 ± 12 kg·m−2, respectively) permafrost depth (90 ± 28 cm and 56 ± 12 cm, respectively). OLT was linearly related to 1 m SOC stocks for LS plots but not for PF plots, and LS plots had a greater proportion of highly decomposed (humic) material in the organic layer. The soil properties of PF plots appear to be on a trajectory of recovery toward those of LS plots with respect to SOC stocks, permafrost depth, and organic layer composition. However, PF plots remain different despite nearly 100 years since fire disturbance and thus they are potentially more sensitive to changes in future fire frequency or climate.
How social norms are often a barrier to addressing climate change but can be part of the solution

Abstract We argue that the behavioral challenges posed by climate change are fundamentally problems of social influence. Behaviors that perpetuate climate change are often opaque in their consequences; thus, we look to others to infer how to act. Yet unsustainable behaviors, like driving and eating meat, are often the norm; conformity to such norms is a major hurdle to a more sustainable world. Nonetheless, we argue that social norms can also be a powerful lever for positive change. Drawing on two streams of recent research, we show that well-implemented social norm strategies can motivate positive steps even in the face of a negative current norm and even in individuals’ private behavior absent the judgment of others. First, appeals to dynamic norms – information about change in others or trends in norms over time – can lead people to conform to the change itself, even if this change violates current norms. Second, framing normative appeals in terms of an invitation to work with others toward a common goal can increase the motivation to join in. Despite ubiquitous unsustainable norms, careful theory-based representations of social norms can help us make progress on climate change.
A rationally designed mimotope library for profiling of the human IgM repertoire

Specific antibody reactivities are routinely used as biomarkers but the use of antibody repertoire profiles is still awaiting recognition. Here we suggest to expedite the adoption of this class of system level biomarkers by rationally designing a peptide array as an efficient probe for an appropriately chosen repertoire compartment. Most IgM antibodies are characterized by few somatic mutations, polyspecificity and physiological autoreactivity with housekeeping function. Previously, probing this repertoire with a set of immunodominant self-proteins provided only coarse information on repertoire profiles. In contrast, here we describe the rational selection of a peptide mimotope set, appropriately sized as a potential diagnostic, that also represents optimally the diversity of the human public IgM reactivities. a 7-mer random peptide phage display library was panned on pooled human IgM. Next generation sequencing of the selected phage yielded a non-exhaustive set of 224087 mimotopes which clustered in 790 sequence clusters. A set of 594 mimotopes, representative of the most significant clusters, was used to demonstrate that this approach samples symmetrically the space of IgM reactivities. When probed with diverse patients’ sera in an oriented peptide array, this set produced a higher and more dynamic signal as compared to 1) random peptides, 2) random peptides purged of mimotope-like sequences and 3) mimotopes from a small subset of clusters. In this respect, the representative library is an optimized probe of the human IgM diversity. Proof of principle predictors for randomly selected diagnoses based on the optimized library demonstrated that it contains more than 1070 different profiles with the capacity to correlate with diverse pathologies producing well separable data. Thus, an optimized small library of IgM mimotopes is found to address very efficiently the dynamic diversity of the human IgM repertoire, providing informationally dense, structurally interpretable, IgM reactivity profiles.
Improving biodiversity surrogates for conservation assessment: A test of methods and the value of targeted biological surveys

Conservation assessment and planning across extensive regions rely on the use of mapped or modelled surrogates because direct field‐based inventories of biodiversity rarely provide complete spatial coverage. Surrogates are assumed to represent spatial patterns in the distribution of biodiversity, yet the validity of this assumption is rarely evaluated. Here, we use data from new biological surveys targeting poorly known taxonomic groups across sparsely surveyed landscapes to test: (1) the performance of established and novel surrogates; and (2) the value of targeted survey data in further improving surrogate effectiveness.
Moderating effect of optimum stimulation level on the relationship between satisfaction and revisit intention: the case of Turkish cultural tourists

The purpose of this study is to determine the optimum stimulation levels (OSLs) of cultural tourists within the context of their novelty seeking tendencies and to determine whether their OSLs have a moderating effect on the relationship between their satisfaction and revisit intentions. ,To collect data, an online survey was conducted for Turkish cultural tourists (n = 563) in May 2018, and the data were analysed with PROCESS by Hayes. ,The study’s findings demonstrated that Turkish cultural tourists were high-level novelty seekers and that novelty seeking has a moderating effect on the relationship between their satisfaction and short-term revisit intentions. ,This study contributes to the literature by revealing the moderator effect of novelty seeking tendency on the relationship between satisfaction and revisit intention within the scope of cultural tourism, which has not been examined before.
Anxiety and Attitudes Toward Statistics and Research Among Younger and Older Nontraditional Adult Learners

Abstract Individuals who are 50 years or older are the largest growing demographic among adult learners. However, we still are in the initial stages of investigating their attitudes and anxieties regarding specific areas of study. The current study explored differences between 92 younger (26–49 years) and older (50+ years) nontraditional-aged, degree-seeking undergraduate and graduate students’ attitudes and anxieties regarding statistics and research. The Attitudes Toward Research (ATR) and Statistics Anxiety Rating Scale (STARS) scales were completed via an online survey. Younger nontraditional-aged students generally expressed significantly higher anxiety and more negative beliefs regarding both statistics and research than their older counterparts. Differences were not explained by level of study nor by related experience. Results are discussed in relation to further consideration of student- and cohort-centered applications of andragogical and heutagogical principles for targeted educational practices.
The bioclimatic extent and pattern of the cold edge of the boreal forest: the circumpolar taiga-tundra ecotone

Current configurations of forest structure at the cold edge of the boreal may help understand the future of ecosystem functioning in high northern latitudes. The circumpolar biome boundary at the boreal (taiga) forest and tundra interface is an ecological transition zone (taiga-tundra ecotone; TTE) experiencing changes that affect its forest structure. We accounted for the TTE’s horizontal forest structure with an estimate of its extent and pattern as represented by tree canopy cover (TCC). We quantified TCC patterns with an algorithm that describes its spatial gradient, and summarized landscape patterns of structure to represent heterogeneity, capturing abrupt, diffuse, and uniform forest at mesoscales. We used these landscape patterns to constrain the spatial extent of sparse and open canopy forest, and non-forest (forest-adjacent) edge that defines the TTE extent. The resulting map of the TTE extent is based on forest structure spatial patterns resolved at 30 m, highlights structural variability across landscapes, and helps distinguish tundra from boreal domains. We classified 14 594 landscapes as those associated with the TTE within a circumpolar bioclimatic envelope (11.575 million km2), where 44.83% of the area of these landscapes were forest and non-forest edge, yet 36.43% contributed to the TTE extent. We report the overall extent of the TTE (3.032 million km2) across North America and Greenland (53%), and Eurasia (47%), where 0.697 million km2 is non-forest edge, 0.549 million km2 is sparse forest, and 1.787 million km2 is open canopy forest. Diffuse forest landscapes dominate the TTE (79%), and abrupt landscapes (∼19%) indicate portions of the TTE where sparse forest and non-forest edge are the prevailing structural patterns. This account of the TTE quantifies the area of the cold edge of the boreal forest where previous global estimates show high discrepancies, and can help target monitoring and prediction of circumpolar dynamics.
Kinase activity simultaneously determines the constitutive and the orthosteric gating in α4β1/3δ GABAA receptors in hippocampal granule cells

A subset of the GABAA receptors expressed in recombinant systems and neurons is known to exhibit both constitutive- and agonist-induced gating. Two such receptors are the δ-subunit containing GABAA receptors α4β1δ and α4β3δ, which are expressed in adult rodent hippocampal dentate gyrus granule cells (DGGCs). Here we show that the GABAA receptor mediated tonic current recorded in the presence of tetrodotoxin in adult rodent DGGCs is almost exclusively mediated by constitutively active δ-subunit containing GABAA receptors and that the constitutive current is absent in recordings at 24 °C or in recordings at 34 °C including an intracellular inhibitor of protein kinase C. These factors simultaneously govern the efficacy of an orthosteric agonist at α4β1/3δ receptors, Thio-THIP, in a reciprocal manner. In the absence of constitutive receptor activity, the efficacy of Thio-THIP was increased approximately four-fold relative to recording conditions that favors constitutive activity. Further, only under conditions of an absent constitutive current, the classified neutral antagonist gabazine (GBZ) alone, induced a tonic current in DGGCs (EC50 2.1 μM). This effect of GBZ was not seen in recording conditions of high constitutive activity, was inhibited by picrotoxin (PTX), potentiated by DS2, completely absent in δ-/- mice and reduced in β1-/- mice, but could not be replicated in human α4β1/3δ receptors expressed recombinantly in HEK cells. We hypothesize that specific intracellular components in neurons interact with receptors to determine constitutive gating and receptor responsiveness to orthosteric ligands. Significance statement The presented data highlight how recording conditions for whole cell patch clamp analysis of α4β1/3δ GABAA receptors can mask important pharmacological effects. Specifically, orthosteric agonists appear with reduced efficacy, and other ligands, here exemplified with the well-known antagonist GBZ, are misinterpreted as being inactive/neutral, although they could have effect in constitutively silent receptors. Unmasking of potential hidden effects are easily done using recording conditions of reduced kinase activity in a relevant neuronal context. It follows that in pathologies with changes in phosphorylation level of δ-subunit containing GABAA receptors, the efficacy of an agonist of these receptors, measured by whole-cell recordings in vitro, will not match the efficacy of the same agonist in an unperturbed neuron in vivo.
Profile of interleukin-2 production in human mononuclear cells and T-cell lines

Introduction: Interleukin-2 (IL-2) as a T helper type 1 (Th1) cytokine has an important role Background and Objective: Interleukin-2 (IL-2) as a T helper type 1 (Th1) cytokine has an important role in activation, growth and differentiation of several immune cells. Moreover IL-2 is known as a pro-inflammatory and anti-tumoral cytokine. In addition deysregulation of IL-2 in some diseases such as autoimmunity has been shown. The present study was conducted to evaluate the patterns of IL-2 production in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and human leukemic T cells lines (Molt-4 and Jurkat). Materials and Methods: Human PBMCs and leukemic T cells were cultured in complete RPMI-1640 medium. The cells were then seeded at a density of 106 cells/ml and were incubated with different concentrations of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) (1-25 ng/ml) or phytoheamagglutinin (PHA) (2-10 μg/ml) for 48 hours. Then the cell-conditioned media were collected and used for IL-2 assay. Statistical comparisons between groups were made by analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: PHA/PMA significantly and dose-dependently increased IL-2 level in human PBMCs and leukemic T cells (Molt-4 and Jurkat) after 48 hours of incubation compared with untreated control cells. Conclusion: We conclude that human PBMCs and leukemic T cells (Jurkat and Molt-4) could potentially secrete IL-2 with different degrees. Thus, these cells could offer a proper system to study the mechanisms regulating IL-2 production in diseases in which IL-2 production is disregulated. Also these cells could be useful for screening the IL-2 modulators.
insecticide associated with adjuvant application in soybean plants

The insecticide use on insect pest control is an important tool to keep high yields on soybeans. However, little is known about the behavior of the insecticide in adverse conditions, such as spraying followed by precipitation. The use of adjuvants associated with insecticides is another factor that can be related to improvement of its effi ciency. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the infl uence of four precipitation periods after the pulverization of the insecticide clorantraniliprole (2g of the active ingredient ha -1 ). A mixed of different adjuvants on the control of caterpillars on soybeans were evaluated. The assay was performed using two cultivars in six pots (2 plants/pots) for a factor scheme of 5x5. The factor adjuvants consisted of one untreated (without adjuvants) and four adjuvants (Assist ®
Effect of varietal attributes on the adoption of an orange-fleshed sweetpotato variety in Upper East and Northern Ghana

Despite sustained economic growth and reduction in some of forms of malnutrition, Ghana still faces a national prevalence rate of 20.8% vitamin A deficiency (VAD) among for children 6–59 months old. Orange-fleshed sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L.) (OFSP) can significantly improve vitamin A intake and contribute toward reducing VAD, especially in Northern Ghana where VAD is 31% among young children. Several poverty and nutrition projects in Ghana have promoted the use of OFSP for its health benefits. This study assesses the effect of three varietial attributes on adoption of the first released OFSP variety in Northern Ghana namely, Apomuden. The study concluded that sweetness, taste and dry matter have joint significant effects on adoption of an OFSP variety. The positive and negative traits highlighted will inform the on-going breeding effort.
Analysis of Cavitation Processes in Xylem

Cavitation in plants is caused by development of air bubbles, which is related to their equilibrium and development. There is a univariate cubic equation for bubble balance. New root formula of this kind of equation was proposed by Shenjin Fan, which is simpler than the Caldan’s. Using Shenjin formulas and taking water pressure P1 as an independent variable, this paper gives the exact solution of the equation under certain conditions. The stability of the equilibrium of an air bubble in its different radius ranges is obtained by the way different from the previous. This kind of cavitation includes two types: First type may be caused by the growth of pre-existent air bubbles; Second type is air seeding, here defined as the sucking of air bubbles from already gas-filled conduits. For air seeding three ways of cavitation have been proposed. For the first type this paper puts forward that two ways of cavitation can occur, which are the same with the first two ways of air seeding except of air reservoirs. Moreover, for the first way of the first type, the range of water pressures is the same with that of the first way of air seeding. For the second way of the first type the range of water pressures is much wider, or the pressure range equals the pressure sum of the second and third ways of air seeding. Through the specific data the relationship between the two types is given.
The potential of antioxidant rich essential oils against avian coccidiosis

The poultry industry is currently facing a serious problem of controlling coccidiosis, owing to the development of drug resistance against commonly available anticoccidials. Furthermore, an increasing demand in the consumers for drug residue free poultry and poultry products has led to the development of alternative strategies for the treatment and control of avian coccidiosis. In response to the invasion of Eimeria species in coccidiosis, oxidative stress is created by host cellular response which imparts pathology to the host tissue besides damaging the parasite. Hence, in order to alleviate the damage caused by oxidative stress during coccidiosis, the use of essential oils (EOs) rich in antioxidant compounds is being considered as an appealing approach. However, results are very divergent and often not as satisfactory as expected. Essential oils, as natural products, obtained from aromatic plants have the potential to serve as an alternate to anticoccidials. The present work aims to review the current state of knowledge, informative collection of results obtained over the years and to attain a critical decision in aspects of the use of EOs as anticoccidials.
EFFECTS OF BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE SUBSTANCES USED IN SOYBEAN SEED TREATMENT ON OIL, PROTEIN AND FIBRE CONTENT OF HARVESTED SEEDS

In 4-year trials, soybean seeds were treated with biologically active substances: Lignohumate B (a mixture of humic acids and fulvic acids), Lexin (a mixture of humic acids and fulvic acids enriched with auxins), brassinosteroid (a synthetic analog of natural epibrassinolide 24) and so-called â€œComplex seed treatmentâ€ (a mixture of a saturated solution of sucrose, Lexin, the fungicide Maxim XL 035 FS and adjuvant on the base of pinolene). After harvesting soybean seeds from the individual variants, they were analyzed for oil, protein and fibre contents. The results show that the most effective method was Complex seed treatmentâ€ which, compared to the untreated variant, significantly increased not only the yield but also the oil content of the seeds.