Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Candidates’ use of informal communication on social media reduces credibility and support: Examining the consequences of expectancy violations

ABSTRACT This experiment (N= 476) investigates how individuals evaluate political candidates who use informal communication on social media. We use expectancy violations theory (EVT) to predict that informal communication will lead to negative evaluations. Our results suggest that politicians’ use of informal communication on social media leads to expectancy violation, which decreases perceived credibility and lessens intention to support a candidate. This effect was not moderated by sex (male versus female) or age (young versus old) of the candidate, nor of participants being the same sex as the candidate. These findings suggest that political figures should use informal communication on social media with caution.
The relationship between linear type traits and stayability of Czech Fleckvieh cows

The relationship between linear type traits and stayability was analyzed in 34 492 Czech Fleckvieh cows. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated between linear type traits and stayability of cows. The observed correlations were r = -0.04 for stature, r = -0.08 for muscularity, r = -0.14 for rump angle, r = -0.03 for rump width, r = -0.01 for rear legs set and r = -0.18 for foot angle. The following correlations were found for udder traits: r = 0.18 for fore udder, r = 0.12 for rear udder, r = 0.16 for central ligament, r = -0.06 for teat place - ment, r = 0.06 for teat length and r = 0.18 for udder depth. Udder traits can be used for predicting the longevity of cows.
Suppression of Powell Amaranth (Amaranthus Powellii), Shepherd's-purse (Capsella Bursa-pastoris), and Corn Chamomile (Anthemis Arvensis) by Buckwheat Residues: Role of Nitrogen and Fungal Pathogens

Abstract Buckwheat residues can suppress both emergence and growth of weeds, but the mechanisms of this suppression are not well understood. The main objectives of this research were to evaluate the possible role of (1) low initial nitrogen (N) availability and (2) fungal pathogens in this suppression for three sensitive weed species: Powell amaranth, shepherd's-purse, and corn chamomile. Growth chamber experiments were conducted comparing weed emergence and growth in bare soil or soil with freshly incorporated buckwheat residue at multiple rates of N fertilization with or without fungicide seed treatment. In the absence of N or fungicide addition, emergence of all weed species was reduced 40 to 70%, and dry weight was reduced 85% in buckwheat residue compared with bare soil. For all three weed species, suppression of growth by buckwheat residue was completely overcome with the addition of N. For shepherd's-purse and corn chamomile (2005 only), suppression of emergence was also overcome with the addition of N. In 2006, treatment of corn chamomile seeds with fungicide resulted in a higher emergence in buckwheat residue than in bare soil. In contrast, suppression of Powell amaranth emergence was not overcome with N fertilization or fungicide treatment. The results suggest that buckwheat-mediated changes in N dynamics account entirely for suppression of weed growth but that the mechanisms responsible for suppression of emergence by buckwheat residue vary by species. Fungal and N effects account for suppression of emergence of corn chamomile and shepherd's-purse, but the mechanism of suppression for Powell amaranth remains obscure. Nomenclature: Corn chamomile, Anthemis arvensis L. ANTAR; Powell amaranth = green pigweed, Amaranthus powellii S. Wats. AMAPO; shepherd's-purse, Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medicus CAPBP; buckwheat, Fagopyrum esculentum Moench
Use of a two-frequency algorithm to determine size and abundance of plankton in three widely spaced locations

The application of a two-frequency algorithm to the in situ estimation of large zooplankton is explored in an eVort to use information from more than one acoustic frequency. To accomplish this, 38 and 120 kHz echo-sounders, found on mostfisheries research vessels, were utilized. A two-frequency method using a highpass fluid sphere scattering model was employed to estimate the mean size (length) and the density per m 3 of the dominant acoustic scatterers (mainly euphausiids and shrimps), by selected depth layer. Three locations were surveyed: the Gulf of St Lawrence, the Antarctic, and the Irish Sea. Ground-truth samples were collected from various plankton net systems, the catches being compared to the acoustic estimates. Results are discussed with regard to conditions that apply to the method, the ground-truth performance and the relative complexity of the zooplankton composition at the diVerent study sites. The conclusion is that this method has provided satisfactory results but still has a capacity for refinement. 1996 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea
Dung beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) diversity and community structure across three disturbance regimes in eastern Amazonia

Anthropogenic disturbance in Amazonian forests has increased dramatically since the early 1980s and forest disturbance is expected to continue in the early twenty-first century. Logging and conversion to pasture for cattle are two of the largest causes of forest disturbance and destruction. This study examined the distribution and diversity of dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in intact forest and under three disturbance regimes (selective logging, clear-cutting and pasture) in a forest tract in southern Pará state, Brazil. Dung beetles were collected using faeces-baited pitfall traps, then identified, measured and weighed. Principal Components Analyses and the Sørensen's Index indicated that the intact and selectively logged areas were similar in terms of species composition but that the pasture areas and clear-cut areas had substantially different groups of species. Beetle size and diversity (as measured by species richness, Shannon index and Simpson's index) were lower in clear-cuts and pasture than in intact forest. The selectively logged forest was no less diverse than intact forest, and beetles were the same size or larger than those in intact forest. Total beetle biomass, however, was highest in the pasture due to the abundance of small-bodied beetles in this habitat. While the fact that selective logging has a relatively minor impact on the dung beetle community is heartening, the projected increase in the amount of highly disturbed landscape in Amazonia is expected to have a severe impact on dung beetle biodiversity in the region.
Genetic variability and reproductive strategies in Nordic dogroses, Rosa section Caninae.

In the present thesis, I investigate the morphological variation among and within Nordic dogrose species (Rosa section Carzirzae), and the transmittal of morphological characters and molecular markers to interspecific progeny plants. The occurrence of apomixis within the section is also investigated. All species within section Caninae are polyploid and characterised by their unique meiosis with unequal distribution of maternal and paternal chromosomes to their progeny. The pollen parent contributes only seven chromosomes, whereas the seed parent contributes 21, 28 or 35 chromosomes depending on ploidy level. The dogrose species are morphologically rather distinct. Both reproductive and vegetative morphological characters could differentiate among the investigated taxa, with the exception of the two subspecies of R. dumalis, subsp. corifoliia and subsp. dumalis. Rosa rubiginosa appeared to be the most homogeneous of the species, both within and among populations, and R. dumalis the most heterogeneous, both within and among populations. Rosa villosa was heterogeneous among populations but showed high within-population homogeneity. Morphological characters could also separate interspecific hybrids from progeny groups representing the parental species and the influence from the seed parent was apparent as expected from the skewed distribution of chromosomes. The matroclinal inheritance of molecular markers is also very pronounced, since all but two maternal markers were transmitted to all the interspecific progeny plants. In contrast, only approximately half of the paternal markers were transmitted to the progenies. The degree of homology between the constituent genomes in the parents decide to what extent the genetic contribution of the pollen parent will be recognizable in the progeny plant, both in morphological characters and in molecular markers. The genomes could be separated by size polymorphism in their respective NOR sites. Apparently two of the five consituent genomes in one pentaploid plant were never involved in the bivalent formation. Apomixis appears to occur to a limited extent within the dogroses, indicated by elevated pollen via- bility compared to the experimentally derived hybrid plants, and a complete lack of paternal parent-specific molecular marke
Double filtration plasmapheresis: Review of current clinical applications

Double filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP) is a semi‐selective blood purification modality derived from the plasma exchange (PE) modality. In the DFPP treatment, two types of filters with different pore sizes are used: a plasma separator and a plasma component separator. Blood is separated into plasma and blood cells using a plasma separator. The separated plasma is fractionated into large and small molecular weight components by a plasma component separator. Large molecular weight components, including pathogenic substances, are discarded. Small molecular weight components, including valuable substances such as albumin, are returned to the patient. The advantage of DFPP is that the volume of replacement fluid can be significantly reduced compared to PE. By selecting the optimal pore size model for the plasma component separator, DFPP can be applied to various disorders. The clinical applications of DFPP are reviewed based on recent articles on metabolic disorders, organ transplants, rheumatic disorders, neurological disorders, and dermatologic disorders.
A novel pH-dependent dimerization motif in β-­lactoglobulin from pig (Sus scrofa)

β-Lactoglobulin (BLG) is a lipocalin and is the major protein in the whey of the milk of cows and other ruminants, but not in all mammalian species. The biological function of BLG is not clear, but a potential role in carrying fatty acids through the digestive tract has been proposed. The capability of BLG to aggregate and form gels is often used to thicken foodstuffs. The structure of the porcine form is sufficiently different from other known BLG structures that SIRAS phases had to be measured in order to solve the crystal structure to 2.4 A resolution. The r.m.s. deviation of Cα atoms is 2.8 A between porcine and bovine BLG. Nevertheless, the typical lipocalin fold is conserved. Compared with bovine BLG, the tilted α-­helix alters the arrangement of surface residues of the porcine form, completely changing the dimerization behaviour. Through a unique pH-dependent domain-swapping mechanism involving the first ten residues, a novel dimer interface is formed at the N-terminus of porcine BLG. The existence of this novel dimer at low pH is supported by gel-filtration experiments. These results provide a rationale for the difference in physicochemical behaviour between bovine and porcine BLG and point the way towards engineering such dimerization motifs into other members of the lipocalin family.
Clinical and prognostic significance of preoperative lymphocyte-monocyte ratio, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and neutrophil-monocyte ratio on esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients

Background The interaction between tumor cells and inflammatory cells has not been systematically investigated in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether preoperative lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and neutrophil-monocyte ratio (NMR) could predict the prognosis of ESCC patients undergoing esophagectomy. Methods A total of 1,883 patients with histologically diagnosed ESCC who underwent radical esophagectomy from May 2005 to May 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Besides clinicopathological factors, “Survminer” package in R® was applied to determine the optimal cut-off point for LMR, NLR and NMR. Meanwhile, we evaluated the prognostic value of LMR, NLR, and PLR using Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression models. Results The median follow-up was 28.77 months (range, 1.60–247.90 months). The optimal cut-off point of LMR, NLR and NMR is 3.83, 2.06 and 7.21, respectively. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis of patients with low preoperative LMR demonstrated a significant worse prognosis for 5-year OS (P<0.001) than those with high preoperative LMR. The high NLR cohort had lower 5-year OS (P<0.001). No significant difference with 5-year OS was found in NMR (P=0.405). On multivariate analysis, preoperative LMR (P=0.018; HR =0.786, 95% CI: 0.645, 0.959) and NLR (P=0.028; HR =1.247, 95% CI: 1.024, 1.519) were the independent prognostic factors in ESCC patients. Integrating LMR and NLR, we divided the ESCC patients in four groups according to their cut-off points and we found the patients in LMR ≥3.83 and NLR <2.06 group received the best prognosis while the prognosis of patients in LMR<3.83 and NLR ≥2.06 group was the worst. The difference was statistically significant. Conclusions Preoperative LMR and NLR better predicts cancer survival in patients with ESCC undergoing esophagectomy, especially under the circumstances of LMR ≥3.83 and NLR <2.06.
Gaming-gambling convergence: evaluating evidence for the ‘gateway’ hypothesis

ABSTRACT Similarities between video-games and gambling have led to the proposition that video-gaming could act as a ‘gateway’ activity for gambling. In this paper, we review the major lines of evidence advanced to support this idea, including evidence for the co-occurrence of the two activities; the relationship between problem gambling and problem gaming; and, studies of gambling and loot boxes. Our review suggests that, at best, only a small correlation exists between overall gambling and video-game engagement and this may often be accounted for by underlying demographic and personality variables. We find even less evidence to support a direct relationship between problem gaming and problem gambling. However, problem gambling symptoms appear to be positively related to loot-box purchases. Gamblers who play video-games may be attracted to features that enable them to engage in risk-taking via familiar systems of variable reinforcement. Less evidence supports the view that loot-boxes encourage gambling or facilitate an entry point into other types of gambling, including those associated with gaming (e.g. esports betting). Overall, this review found little convincing evidence in support of the ‘gateway hypothesis’ and suggests that further longitudinal research is necessary to strengthen our understanding of the links between video-gaming and gambling.
An Emerging Therapeutic Approach by Targeting Myoferlin (MYOF) for Malignant Tumors.

Myoferlin (MYOF), as a member of the ferlin family, is a type II transmembrane protein with a single transmembrane domain at the carbon terminus. Studies have shown that MYOF is involved in pivotal physiological functions related to numerous cell membranes, such as extracellular secretion, endocytosis cycle, vesicle trafficking, membrane repair, membrane receptor recycling, and secreted protein efflux. Recently, the studies have also revealed that MYOF is overexpressed in a variety of cancers such as colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, melanoma, gastric cancer, and non-smallcell lung cancer. High expression of MYOF is associated with the high invasion of tumors and poor clinical prognosis. MYOF medicates the expression, secretion, and distribution of proteins which were closely related to cancers, as well as the energy utilization of cancer cells, lipid metabolism and other physiological activities by regulating the physiological processes of membrane transport. In this short article, we briefly summarize the latest progress related to MYOF, indicating that small molecule inhibitors targeting MYOF-C2D domain can selectively inhibit the proliferation and migration of cancer cells, and MYOF may be a promising target for the treatment of malignant tumors.
Weed Infestation and Health of the Soybean Crop Depending on Cropping System and Tillage System

This study evaluated weed infestation and health of the soybean crop grown in crop rotation (CR) and monoculture (CM) under conventional tillage (CT) and no-tillage (NT) conditions. The research proved that growing soybean in monoculture and under no-tillage conditions increases weed infestation and infection of soybean with fungal diseases. In these treatments, increased numbers of most of the dominant species were also found. A significantly higher percentage of monocotyledonous species and a much lower percentage of dicotyledonous ones in total weed dry weight were shown in the CR treatment relative to CM and in the NT system compared to CT. The biodiversity of the weed community was similar in monoculture and crop rotation, and slightly greater in the NT system in comparison with CT conditions. In both tillage systems, Amaranthus retroflexus was the weed species that most infested the soybean crop. In soybean grown after itself, Amaranthus retroflexus was the weed that occurred in the greatest numbers, while, in crop rotation, this was Echinochloa crus-galli. In all years of the study, soybean was infected with Septoria glycines to the highest degree, which was followed by Cercospora sojina, whereas infection with Ascochyta sp. was the lowest. Weather conditions in individual years of the study were proven to affect weed infestation and infection of soybean with fungal diseases. The study results prove that cropping systems and tillage systems significantly affect weed infestation and health of the soybean crop.
Whole-body protein turnover and nitrogen balance in growing pigs supplied with an antibiotic feed additive (Avilamycin)

Introduction Antibiotic feed additives like Avilamycin (Maxus®) exert a well-documented stimulatory effect on growth rate and feed efficiency in pig production (reviewed by, e.g., Roth and Kirchgessner 1990; Kamphues and Meyer 1992). The benefits to production performance seem to originate mainly from an enhanced gain of body protein as has been demonstrated in nitrogen balance trials with piglets and fattening pigs (Roth and Kirchgessner 1993a,b; Windisch et al. 1998). However, the primary mode of action of antibiotic feed additives is not clarified completely. The growth-stimulating effect is assumed to originate from an enhanced absorptive capacity of the digestive tract for essential nutrients due to an improved microbial ecosystem in the gut (reviewed by, e.g., Greife and Berschauer 1988). However, metabolic effects may contribute to the higher protein accretion capacity also, as for example a reduced immune defense stress at the small intestine for example (discussed by, e.g., Schole et al. 1985). In order to elucidate possible metabolic effects of antibiotic feed additives it was the aim of the present study to combine a nitrogen balance experiment on Avilamycin-treated growing pigs with measurements on whole-body protein turnover.
Improved purification and some properties of a novel phospholipase C from Bacillus mycoides strain 970

A novel microbial phospholipase C from Bacillus mycoides strain 970 was purified to apparent homogeneity by an improved purification process, in which DEAE-Cellulose adsorption was first used to remove bulk of dark brown impurities and then a combination of DEAE-Cellulose ion-exchange, Phenyl Sepharose hydrophobic interaction and Sephacryl S-100 gel filtration chromatography was used to separate the enzyme from remained contaminants. The enzyme appeared to be a single peptide of 75.1 kDa on SDS-PAGE. The optimum temperature and pH of the enzyme were 60°C and 7.0 - 7.5, respectively. The enzyme was stable at temperatures lower than 50°C and pH 5 - 9.5. This purified phospholipase C was characterized as a metallophospholipase C and Ca2+, Mg2+, Zn2+ , Ba2+ were essential for its PLC activity. The enzyme showed no lecithinase activity on egg yolk agar and also no hemolytic activity on blood agar. Key words: Phospholipase C, purification, metalloenzyme, nonhemolytic activity,Bacillus mycoides.
Combiner des recherches en agroécologie et des dispositifs participatifs pour construire des outils d’évaluation des prairies permanentes

L’objectif de cet article est de montrer comment, partant des concepts et methodes de l’ecologie fonctionnelle, le travail en partenariat au cours d’une decennie avec des eleveurs et des conseillers agricoles a permis de construire pas a pas une boite a outils pour caracteriser la valeur d’usage des prairies permanentes. La base commune aux cinq outils de cette boite est la caracterisation de la composition fonctionnelle de la vegetation. Nous montrons comment les differents types de partenariat, et la mise en situation des connaissances avec les partenaires, ont oriente les choix faits et permis de passer d’un concept a plusieurs prototypes, puis a un ensemble d’outils actionnables. Les differents types d’apprentissage pour les chercheurs et les praticiens sont analyses. Enfin, sont discutes des enseignements methodologiques pour coconstruire des outils pour l’action lorsque les connaissances scientifiques et pratiques sur les processus a piloter font defaut.
Resilience to extreme temperature events: acclimation capacity and body condition of a polymorphic fish in response to thermal stress

Considerable attention has been given to the potential impacts of global climate change on biodiversity. In the present study, we combine understudied themes by examining the ability of a freshwater fish (polymorphic for heat-sensitivity) to respond to short-term thermal stress mimicking an extreme temperature event. We simultaneously measured the effect of thermal stress on the body condition of heat-sensitive and heat-tolerant forms to evaluate an existing hypothesis regarding the underlying mechanism by which temperature affects the maintenance of genetic variation in this species. Surprisingly, the heat-sensitive allelic variant increased in body condition equally as much as a heat-tolerant variant under acute heat stress. More importantly, the heat-sensitive variant exhibited a significant response to thermal stress, with an upward shift of greater than 2 °C in critical thermal maximum. Our findings suggest a complexity to the relationship between thermal stress and male body condition that may depend on an interaction with other factors such as resource level. Although the evolutionary fate of species with respect to climate change is typically evaluated in terms long-term adaptive response, short-term selection events could drastically reduce fitness and reduce evolutionary potential. Our results suggest that heat-sensitive species may have considerably greater resilience to the short-term, extreme perturbations to the environment that are expected under climate change. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 111, 504–510.