Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Detritus as food for grazing fishes on coral reefs

Algal turf assemblages of the northern Great Barrier Reef, Australia, were sampled to determine the nutritional value of detritus and algae. Samples were collected with a suction apparatus across an exposure gradient from (1) the reef crest at highly exposed outer barrier reefs, (2) the reef crest of moderately exposed midshelf reefs, and (3) the reef slope of sheltered midshelf reefs. The biomass of algae and detritus decreased from sheltered midshelf reefs to moderately exposed midshelf reefs to highly exposed outer barrier reefs. This decrease was significant only for detritus (P < 0.005). Wave energies were calculated across the exposure gradient with the wave model WAMGBR. Detrital mass was inversely correlated with predicted wave energies and fitted a polynomial relationship (P < 0.001) and explained 52.8% of the variation. A similar relationship was also found between algal mass and wave energy (P < 0.001) but only explained 30.0% of the variation. The nutritional value of samples in protein amino acids and starch was assessed. The amino acid composition of detritus and algae was similar and not considered nutritionally different, whereas the concentration of protein amino acids was significantly (P < 0.001) higher in detritus (21.2 ± 2.0 mg g−1) than in algae (11.8 ± 1.0 mg g−1). Starch content was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in algae (7.7 ± 0.9 mg g−1) than in detritus (6.0 ± 1.0 mg g−1). These results demonstrate that detritus is a potentially valuable food source to grazing fishes on coral reefs.
Quantitative Assessment of the Effects of IL-1ß -511 C>T Variant on Breast Cancer Risk: An Updated Meta-Analysis of 3331 Cases and 3609 Controls.

OBJECTIVE Growing evidence suggests that IL-1β -511C>T, as a functional variant, affects the risk of developing breast cancer (BC); however, the results have not been conclusive. This meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the link between this variant and BC risk. METHODS We retrieved available publications on IL-1β -511C>T polymorphism by conducting a comprehensive literature search on the Web of Science, MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, and Google scholar databases (last search on February 25, 2020). RESULTS The overall analysis indicates that IL-1β -511C>T polymorphism conferred an increased risk of BC under a recessive TT vs CT+CC model by 1.14-fold and showed protection against BC under an overdominant CT vs TT+CC genetic contrast model (odds ratio = 0.84). Stratified analysis based on ethnicity revealed the protective effect of this single-nucleotide polymorphism against BC risk in Caucasian patients. CONCLUSION Our data results provide a proof of concept for the association of IL-1β -511C>T with BC risk. Larger, well-designed population-based studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Biopharmaceutical Assessment of Dexamethasone Acetate-Based Hydrogels Combining Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrins and Polysaccharides for Ocular Delivery

We previously developed two optimized formulations of dexamethasone acetate (DXMa) hydrogels by means of special cubic mixture designs for topical ocular administration. These gels were elaborated with hydroxypropyl-β-CD (HPβCD) and hydroxypropyl-γ-CD (HPγCD) and commercial hydrogels in order to enhance DXMa water solubility and finally DXMa’s ocular bioavailability and transcorneal penetration. The main objective of this study was to characterize them and to evaluate in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo their safety, biopermanence, and transcorneal permeation. Gels A and B are Newtonian fluids and display a viscosity of 13.2 mPa.s and 18.6 mPa.s, respectively, which increases their ocular retention, according to the in vivo biopermanence study by PET/CT. These hydrogels could act as corneal absorption promoters as they allow a higher transcorneal permeation of DXMa through porcine excised cornea, compared to DEXAFREE® and MAXIDEX®. Cytotoxicity assays showed no cytotoxic effects on human primary corneal epithelial cells (HCE). Furthermore, Gel B is clearly safe for the eye, but the effect of Gel A on the human eye cannot be predicted. Both gels were also stable 12 months at 25 °C after sterilization by filtration. These results demonstrate that the developed formulations present a high potential for the topical ocular administration of dexamethasone acetate.
Exposure of great egret (Ardea albus) nestlings to mercury through diet in the everglades ecosystem

We estimated exposure of great egret (Ardea albus) nestlings to mercury in food in the Florida Everglades, USA, by collecting regurgitated food samples during the 1993 to 1996 breeding seasons and during 1995 measured concentrations of mercury in individual prey items from those samples. Great egret nestlings had a diet composed predominantly of fish (>95% of biomass), though the species composition of fish in the diet fluctuated considerably among years. Great egrets concentrated on the larger fish available in the marsh, especially members of the Centrarchidae. The importance of all nonnative fish fluctuated from 0 to 32% of the diet by biomass and was dominated by pike killifish (Belonesox belizanus) and cichlids (Cichlidae). Total mercury concentrations in prey fish ranged from 0.04 to 1.40 mg/kg wet weight, and we found a significant relationship between mass of individual fish and mercury concentration. We estimated the concentration of total mercury in the diet as a whole by weighting the mercury concentration in a given fish species by the proportion of that species in the diet. We estimate that total mercury concentrations in the diets ranged among years from 0.37 to 0.47 mg/kg fish (4‐year mean = 0.41 mg/kg). We estimated total mercury exposure in great egret nestlings by combining these mercury concentrations with measurements of food intake rate, as measured over the course of the nestling period in both lab and field situations. We estimate that, at the 0.41 mg/kg level, nestlings would ingest 4.32 mg total mercury during an 80‐day nestling period. Captive feeding studies reported elsewhere suggest that this level of exposure in the wild could be associated with reduced fledging mass, increased lethargy, decreased appetite, and, possibly, poor health and juvenile survival.
Thermogenesis in three Philodendron species (Araceae) of French Guiana

Spadix temperature was measured in three species of Philodendron: P. acutatum Schott, P. pedatum (Hooker) Kunth, and P. solimoesense A. C. Smith. These species showed two different patterns of spadix temperature during their flowering cycle. In P. acutatum and P. pedatum (subgenus Philodendron), the spadix warmed up twice during the beginning of each flowering night with a temperature not significantly different from that of the ambient air between the two peaks. In P. solimoesense (subgenus Meconostigma), the spadix temperature rose to 14°C above that of the ambient air during the first night, then it progressively cooled down but remained 3-6°C above the ambient air temperature. We propose that the heat production and the spadix temperature patterns observed may reflect different physiological processes and have a taxonomic significance in the genus Philodendron.Key words: Araceae, flowering cycle, flower temperature, heating flower.
Demographic Responses of Middle Spotted WOODPECKERS (Dendrocopos medius) to Habitat Fragmentation

Abstract We examined the demographic response of Middle Spotted Woodpeckers (Dendrocopos medius) to habitat fragmentation in an 880-km2 study area in the Cantabrian Mountains (northwest Spain), 2000–2005. We used a set of reproductive parameters to examine 26–72 nests in 10–14 habitat patches. Fifty-nine of 72 nests (81.9%) were successful (i.e., at least one fledgling was produced). Average clutch size was 5.1. Seventy of 94 hatchlings (74.4%) survived to fledging. Mean number of fledglings for successful nests was 3.1, average fledgling mass was 50.6 g, and mean fledging date was 21 June. Generalized linear mixed models showed no significant correlations between patch sizes and any of the reproductive parameters, which suggests that habitat fragmentation did not increase nest predation and parasitism pressures or reduce food in small habitat patches during the breeding season. In 33 habitat patches inspected (4.2 years on average), 190 of 228 territorial males (83.8%) were paired. Pairing success varied strongly across years (77.1–97.4%) and was lower in smaller and more isolated patches. Low pairing success in isolated patches may be associated with disruption in connectivity between habitat patches. On the other hand, the presence of unpaired males in small patches with low numbers of territories suggests that females may use the abundance of conspecifics as an indicator of habitat quality when deciding to mate. Respuestas Demográficas de Dendrocopos medius a la Fragmentación del Hábitat
Models Contribution to the Understanding of Sarcoidosis Pathogenesis: “Are There Good Models of Sarcoidosis?”

Sarcoidosis is a systemic, granulomatous, and noninfectious disease of unknown etiology. The clinical heterogeneity of the disease (targeted tissue(s), course of the disease, and therapy response) supports the idea that a multiplicity of trigger antigens may be involved. The pathogenesis of sarcoidosis is not yet completely understood, although in recent years, considerable efforts were put to develop novel experimental research models of sarcoidosis. In particular, sarcoidosis patient cells were used within in vitro 3D models to study their characteristics compared to control patients. Likewise, a series of transgenic mouse models were developed to highlight the role of particular signaling pathways in granuloma formation and persistence. The purpose of this review is to put in perspective the contributions of the most recent models in the understanding of sarcoidosis.
COMPARISON OF AFLP AND SSR MARKERS FOR GENETIC DIVERSITY STUDIES IN MAIZE POPULATIONS

Using a set of 18 maize populations belong- ing to six different agro-ecological groups we report on a comparison of AFLP and SSR techniques to evaluate their applicability for the study of genetic diversity. Also, a DNA-pooling strategy (bulked samples) that proved to be effective in RFLP analysis of maize populations was em- ployed in order to certify if it could be applied with the same success with SSR and AFLP markers. Twenty-five SSR markers generated a total of 224 polymorphic bands, while three AFLP primer combinations generated 188 bands with 79.2% being polymorphic. The average poly- morphism content (PIC) was higher for SSRs, i.e. 0.79 for SSRs versus 0.28 for AFLPs. Higher genetic similarity (GS) values were estimated for AFLPs. The Pearson's correla- tion coefficient calculated for SSR and AFLP genetic simi- larities was low (0.149) indicating a poor agreement be- tween the two marker systems. The ranking of the agro- ecological groups according to their mean GS values (the average GS calculated for the three populations repre- senting each group) was congruent for both marker sys- tems and the Pearson's correlation coefficient calculated using these values was 0.853. The cluster analysis did not group populations precisely with expectations based up- on their agro-ecological groups, although a much better agreement was accomplished with AFLP analysis. Based on the results in this work it could be concluded that, when using a DNA-pooling strategy, AFLPs are more reli- able in assessing genetic diversity of maize populations.
Characterization of polyphenol oxidase activity in a range of forage ecotypes with different phenol substrates. A new insight for PPO and protein-bound phenol evaluation

Plant phenols can influence utilization of forages by ruminants through binding with proteins either by complexing with oxidized phenols (products of polyphenol oxidase activity or formed in oxidizing conditions) or by hydrogen binding with tannins. These protein-bound phenols (PBPs) affect rumen metabolism by inhibition of both proteolysis and lipolysis. The aim of this work was to assess the level of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity (determined with a range of diphenolic substrates), PBP content, and to identify the main source of variation in different forage ecotypes harvested at different phenological stages. PPO activity was strongly influenced by substrate type with a significant effect of forage ecotype. Forage ecotype and phenological stage also influenced PPO and PBP content. PPO showed a strong relationship with dry matter and phenol content of plants.
Impaired intracellular trafficking of sodium‐dependent vitamin C transporter 2 contributes to the redox imbalance in Huntington’s disease

Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a glutamine expansion at the first exon of the huntingtin gene. Huntingtin protein (Htt) is ubiquitously expressed and it is localized in several organelles, including endosomes. HD is associated with a failure in energy metabolism and oxidative damage. Ascorbic acid is a powerful antioxidant highly concentrated in the brain where it acts as a messenger, modulating neuronal metabolism. It is transported into neurons via the sodium‐dependent vitamin C transporter 2 (SVCT2). During synaptic activity, ascorbic acid is released from glial reservoirs to the extracellular space, inducing an increase in SVCT2 localization at the plasma membrane. Here, we studied SVCT2 trafficking and localization in HD. SVCT2 is decreased at synaptic terminals in YAC128 male mice. Using cellular models for HD (STHdhQ7 and STHdhQ111 cells), we determined that SVCT2 trafficking through secretory and endosomal pathways is altered in resting conditions. We observed Golgi fragmentation and SVCT2/Htt‐associated protein‐1 mis‐colocalization. Additionally, we observed altered ascorbic acid‐induced calcium signaling that explains the reduced SVCT2 translocation to the plasma membrane in the presence of extracellular ascorbic acid (active conditions) described in our previous results. Therefore, SVCT2 trafficking to the plasma membrane is altered in resting and active conditions in HD, explaining the redox imbalance observed during early stages of the disease.
Complete Chloroplast Genome of Rhipsalis baccifera, the only Cactus with Natural Distribution in the Old World: Genome Rearrangement, Intron Gain and Loss, and Implications for Phylogenetic Studies

Rhipsalis baccifera is the only cactus that naturally occurs in both the New World and the Old World, and has thus drawn the attention of most researchers. The complete chloroplast (cp) genome of R. baccifera is reported here for the first time. The cp genome of R. baccifera has 122, 333 base pairs (bp), with a large single-copy (LSC) region (81,459 bp), SSC (23,531 bp) and two inverted repeat (IR) regions each 8530 bp. The genome contains 110 genes, with 73 protein-coding genes, 31 tRNAs, 4 rRNAs and 2 pseudogenes. Twelve genes have introns, with loss of introns being observed in, rpoc1 clpP and rps12 genes. 49 repeat sequences and 62 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were found in the genome. Comparative analysis with eight species of the ACPT (Anacampserotaceae, Cactaceae, Portulacaceae, and Talinaceae) clade of the suborder Portulacineae species, showed that R. baccifera genome has higher number of rearrangements, with a 19 gene inversion in its LSC region representing the most significant structural change in terms of its size. Inversion of the SSC region seems common in subfamily Cactoideae, and another 6 kb gene inversion between rbcL- trnM was observed in R. baccifera and Carnegiea gigantea. The IRs of R. baccifera are contracted. The phylogenetic analysis among 36 complete chloroplast genomes of Caryophyllales species and two outgroup species supported monophyly of the families of the ACPT clade. R. baccifera occupied a basal position of the family Cactaceae clade in the tree. A high number of rearrangements in this cp genome suggests a larger number mutation events in the history of evolution of R. baccifera. These results provide important tools for future work on R. baccifera and in the evolutionary studies of the suborder Portulacineae.
Protective Immunity Induced by Virus-Like Particle Containing Merozoite Surface Protein 9 of Plasmodium berghei

Merozoite surface protein 9 (MSP-9) from Plasmodium has shown promise as a vaccine candidate due to its location and possible role in erythrocyte invasion. In this study, we generated virus-like particles (VLPs) targeting P. berghei MSP-9, and investigated the protection against lethal doses of P. berghei in a mouse model. We found that VLP vaccination induced a P. berghei-specific IgG antibody response in the sera and CD4+ and CD8+ T cell populations in blood compared to a naïve control group. Upon challenge infection with P. berghei, vaccinated mice showed a significant increase in CD4+ and CD8+ effector memory T cell and memory B cell populations. Importantly, MSP-9 VLP immunization inhibited levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ and IL-6 in the spleen and parasite replication in blood, resulting in significantly prolonged survival time. These results suggest that the MSP-9 VLP vaccine may constitute an effective malaria vaccine.
Reactive Oxygen Species and Antioxidant Defense in Plants under Abiotic Stress: Revisiting the Crucial Role of a Universal Defense Regulator

Global climate change and associated adverse abiotic stress conditions, such as drought, salinity, heavy metals, waterlogging, extreme temperatures, oxygen deprivation, etc., greatly influence plant growth and development, ultimately affecting crop yield and quality, as well as agricultural sustainability in general. Plant cells produce oxygen radicals and their derivatives, so-called reactive oxygen species (ROS), during various processes associated with abiotic stress. Moreover, the generation of ROS is a fundamental process in higher plants and employs to transmit cellular signaling information in response to the changing environmental conditions. One of the most crucial consequences of abiotic stress is the disturbance of the equilibrium between the generation of ROS and antioxidant defense systems triggering the excessive accumulation of ROS and inducing oxidative stress in plants. Notably, the equilibrium between the detoxification and generation of ROS is maintained by both enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant defense systems under harsh environmental stresses. Although this field of research has attracted massive interest, it largely remains unexplored, and our understanding of ROS signaling remains poorly understood. In this review, we have documented the recent advancement illustrating the harmful effects of ROS, antioxidant defense system involved in ROS detoxification under different abiotic stresses, and molecular cross-talk with other important signal molecules such as reactive nitrogen, sulfur, and carbonyl species. In addition, state-of-the-art molecular approaches of ROS-mediated improvement in plant antioxidant defense during the acclimation process against abiotic stresses have also been discussed.
Small Molecules in the Venom of the Scorpion Hormurus waigiensis

Despite scorpion stings posing a significant public health issue in particular regions of the world, certain aspects of scorpion venom chemistry remain poorly described. Although there has been extensive research into the identity and activity of scorpion venom peptides, non-peptide small molecules present in the venom have received comparatively little attention. Small molecules can have important functions within venoms; for example, in some spider species the main toxic components of the venom are acylpolyamines. Other molecules can have auxiliary effects that facilitate envenomation, such as purines with hypotensive properties utilised by snakes. In this study, we investigated some non-peptide small molecule constituents of Hormurus waigiensis venom using LC/MS, reversed-phase HPLC, and NMR spectroscopy. We identified adenosine, adenosine monophosphate (AMP), and citric acid within the venom, with low quantities of the amino acids glutamic acid and aspartic acid also being present. Purine nucleosides such as adenosine play important auxiliary functions in snake venoms when injected alongside other venom toxins, and they may have a similar role within H. waigiensis venom. Further research on these and other small molecules in scorpion venoms may elucidate their roles in prey capture and predator defence, and gaining a greater understanding of how scorpion venom components act in combination could allow for the development of improved first aid.
Heart Rate Variability Triangular Index as a Predictor of Cardiovascular Mortality in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

Background Impaired heart rate variability (HRV) is associated with increased mortality in sinus rhythm. However, HRV has not been systematically assessed in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We hypothesized that parameters of HRV may be predictive of cardiovascular death in patients with AF. Methods and Results From the multicenter prospective Swiss‐AF (Swiss Atrial Fibrillation) Cohort Study, we enrolled 1922 patients who were in sinus rhythm or AF. Resting ECG recordings of 5‐minute duration were obtained at baseline. Standard parameters of HRV (HRV triangular index, SD of the normal‐to‐normal intervals, square root of the mean squared differences of successive normal‐to‐normal intervals and mean heart rate) were calculated. During follow‐up, an end point committee adjudicated each cause of death. During a mean follow‐up time of 2.6±1.0 years, 143 (7.4%) patients died; 92 deaths were attributable to cardiovascular reasons. In a Cox regression model including multiple covariates (age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, history of diabetes mellitus, history of hypertension, history of stroke/transient ischemic attack, history of myocardial infarction, antiarrhythmic drugs including β blockers, oral anticoagulation), a decreased HRV index ≤ median (14.29), but not other HRV parameters, was associated with an increase in the risk of cardiovascular death (hazard ratio, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.1–2.6; P=0.01) and all‐cause death (hazard ratio, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.02–1.98; P=0.04). Conclusions The HRV index measured in a single 5‐minute ECG recording in a cohort of patients with AF is an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality. HRV analysis in patients with AF might be a valuable tool for further risk stratification to guide patient management. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials. gov; Unique identifier: NCT02105844.