Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reproductive anatomy of three Mediterranean species of Coralliophilidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Neogastropoda)

The functional reproductive system of three Mediterranean species of Coralliophilidae (Gastropoda: Prosobranchia), Coralliophila brevis, Coralliophila meyendorffii and Babelomurex cariniferus, was compared with that of Coralliophila squamosa and three Leptoconchus species. Differences chiefly in the pallial section of the female reproductive tract separate the Indo-Pacific genus Leptoconchus from the Mediterranean species, and subdivide the latter into three different anatomical groups. Polyphyly of the genus Coralliophila is suggested. Comparison of the reproductive system of coralliophilids with that of the related Muricidae allows identifying characters of Coralliophila brevis, Coralliophila meyendorffii and Babelomurex cariniferus that are unknown in Muricidae. The comparison also reveals a closer similarity of Coralliophila squamosa with Ocenebrinae, suggesting that this species might represent a less derived evolutionary line within Coralliophilidae. The reproductive system of some individuals of Coralliophila meyendorffii and Babelomurex cariniferus undergoing penis reduction in the laboratory is also studied. It sheds some light in the ontogeny of the female pallial reproductive tract, and provides direct evidence for the existence of protandry in these species.
Synergistic expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase by phorbol ester and interferon‐γ is mediated through NF‐κB and ERK in microglial cells

A proinflammatory cytokine IFN‐γ stimulates microglia in the injured brain; however, signaling pathways for IFN‐γ‐mediated microglia activation are not well characterized. In the present study, a protein kinase C (PKC) activator phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate (PMA) acts in concert with IFN‐γ to enhance nitric oxide (NO) production in murine microglial BV2 cells by synergistically increasing expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS). The synergistic NO production by PMA was in part decreased by a PKC inhibitor Gö6976. PMA alone induced activation of nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB) and extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) of mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs) subtypes, whereas IFN‐γ alone had little effect. PMA and IFN‐γ synergistically enhanced activity of NF‐κB, but not ERK. The inhibitors of NF‐κB (pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, PDTC) and ERK (1,4‐diamino‐2,3‐dicyano‐1,4 bis[2‐aminophenylthio]butadiene; U0126) markedly decreased synergistic NO production in BV2 cells treated with IFN‐γ and PMA in combination. We found further that co‐treatment with IFN‐γ and PMA synergistically induced interferon regulatory factor‐1 (IRF‐1), which is the major transcription factor for IFN‐γ‐mediated iNOS expression. The present results demonstrate the cooperative interaction of multiple signaling pathways in the induction of NO production in activated microglial cells, and suggest that the functional interplay of these pathways may be important for the onset of microglia‐mediated inflammatory responses in brain. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Transgenic mice: What are we learning about gene function and neurological disease?

dated. At this point, one can only speculate that the disproportionate number of genes affecting cell-cell interaction and signal transduction might be a reflection of functions not necessarily required for embryonic survival but might be especially critical to nervous system development or physiology. The importance of deciphering gene function has been especially highlighted by the discovery of the genes without known functions causing the majority of early onset familial Alzheimer’s disease and trinucleotide repeat diseases such as Huntington’s disease. The lack of recognizable sequence motifs in many disease genes suggests that new functional categories are yet to be discovered. In the case of trinucleotide repeat genes,
Effects of Low Concentration of Selected Analgesics and Successive Bioaugmentation of the Activated Sludge on Its Activity and Metabolic Diversity

In this study, we evaluated the impact of the successive bioaugmentation of the activated sludge (AS) with the defined bacterial consortium on the activity and functional capacity of the AS microorganisms. In parallel, the removal of low concentrations of the selected non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac) and analgesic paracetamol was studied. We found that the addition of the bacterial consortium consisting of three pharmaceuticals-degrading strains Bacillus thuringiensis B1 (2015b), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia KB2, and Pseudomonas moorei KB4 into the AS did not cause any significant changes in the biomass abundance and metabolic activity of the AS microorganisms. Although, the successive bioaugmentation of the AS caused a slight increase in the metabolic diversity, the intensity of carbohydrates usage, and metabolic richness. Microorganisms in the bioaugmented and non-bioaugmented AS were able to degrade the mixture of the analyzed drugs with similar efficiency, however, diclofenac was removed more effectively in the bioaugmented AS. Several metabolites were identified and efficiently utilized, with the exception of 4-OH diclofenac. Two new diclofenac-degrading strains assigned as Serratia proteamaculans AS4 and Rahnella bruchi AS7 were isolated from the diclofenac-treated AS.
Open-label, multicenter, randomized phase II study on docetaxel plus bevacizumab or pemetrexed plus bevacizumab for treatment of elderly (aged ≥75 years) patients with previously untreated advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer: TORG1323

Background The effectiveness of bevacizumab monotherapy in elderly patients with non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is unclear. The efficacy of the combinations for elderly patients was explored. Methods Untreated patients (≥75 years; performance status 0–1) with stage IIIB, IV, or recurrent non-squamous NSCLC were included. Patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation or anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangements were eligible even if they received tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive docetaxel (50 mg/m2) (DB) or pemetrexed (500 mg/m2) (PB) with bevacizumab (15 m/kg). The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Treatment was administered every 3 weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Results Overall, 103 patients (DB: n=51; PB: n=52) were enrolled. In the DB and PB arms, median ages [range] were 78 [75–88] and 79 [75–94] years, respectively; median PFS were 6.1 and 4.6 months, respectively [hazard ratio (HR), 1.03; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.66–1.61]; and response rates were 43%, and 40%, respectively (P=0.840). Grade ≥3 leukopenia, neutropenia, and fatigue incidences were significantly higher in the DB arm. Febrile neutropenia incidence did not differ significantly (16% vs. 12%, P=0.578). One patient in the PB arm died from a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. Quality of life (QoL) analysis revealed less deterioration in the PB arm. Conclusions In previously untreated elderly patients with non-squamous NSCLC, PB shows feasibility, better QoL, and promising efficacy in terms of PFS, and an objective response rate for further analysis (UMIN000012786).
Strain induced variability study in Gate-All-Around vertically-stacked horizontal nanosheet transistors

Using physics-based predictive technology CAD simulations, we show the improvements possible in device performance via strain engineering in vertically-stacked horizontal gate-all-around nanosheet Field-Effect transistors (NSFETs), which may outperform conventional FinFETs beyond 7 nm technology node. Effects of mechanical strain on NSFET variability is reported for the first time. We present a novel simulation approach for the analyses of random dopant fluctuation (RDF) and metal grain granularity (MGG) dependent variability in nanosheet transistors. The study encompasses topography simulation, which realistically reproduces a reported experimental nanosheet transistor. Device simulations are based on sub-band Boltzmann transport with 2D Schrödinger equation in the nanosheet cross-section and 1D Boltzmann transport along the nanosheet channel. The effects of mechanical stress and geometry dependence of the electrical characteristics are also reported. Critical design issues are outlined.
Phenoloxidase Activity in Hemolymph of Plasmodium‐Melanizing and Nonmelanizing Strains of Anopheles gambiae

ABSTRACT Phenoloxidase (PO) activity was compared in two strains of the mosquito, Anopheles gambiae, one of which melanotically encapsulates and kills malaria parasites (Plasmodium spp.) and a second which permits normal development of these parasites. The enzyme assay, based on the formation of dopachrome from L‐dopa, was linear with respect to enzyme concentration and time and was as inhibitable by phenylthiourea. There were no significant differences in the Km or Vmax of hemolymph samples taken from 3 days old naive mosquitoes of each strain. An age course demonstrated that PO activity was slightly higher in the refractory strain on Days 1 and 2 after emergence but decreased to similar stable levels in both strains by Day 3. PO activity differed in the two strains following an uninfected blood meal. While PO activity significantly increased by 48 h post blood feeding in Plasmodium‐susceptible strain, activity remained level or slightly decreased in the Plasmodium‐refractory strain. Finally, protease inhibitors and proteases were tested for effects on PO activity. Leupeptin, TLCK, and TPCK all inhibited PO activity in both strains. PO in both strains was activated by bovine trypsin but not by bovine chymotrypsin.
PHOTOSYNTHETIC PIGMENT ORGANIZATION IN DIATOMS (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE) 1

The isolation and characterization of six pigment‐protein complexes from five diatom species (Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin, Chaetoceros gracilis Schutt, Nitzschia sp. Mono Lake, Nitzschia laevis Hust. and Thalassiosira pseudonana (Hust.) Hasle and Heimdal) was accomplished by membrane dissociation with digitonin followed by gel electrophoresis. Six analogous complexes obtained from all species were correlated in spectral characteristics and relative mass with complexes from higher plants obtained by the same procedure. The largest of these complexes, comprising about 15% of the total Chl a, contained reaction centers of Photosystem I (PSI) and antenna pigments (LHC1). Some PSI complexes also separated from LHC1 in the gel. For the first time in diatoms, a Photosystem II complex was isolated and identified from its position in the gels, absorption and fluorescence spectra, lack of P700, and enrichment carotene. Three antenna pigment‐protein complexes in addition to LHC1 occurred in varying proportion under different experimental conditions but in sum, they accounted for 70% of the total Chl a. All three bands were highly enriched in Chl c and fucoxanthin, although the ratio of Chl c/ xanthophyll decreased between the slowest migrating LHC2 and fastest moving LHC4 LHC3 contained the highest proportio of pigment‐protein and was composed primarily of polypeptides of about 18,000 D. Essentially all α‐ and β‐carotene was bound to the reaction center complexes. The Nitzschia from Mono Lake differed from the other species in that PSI complexes could not be readily dissociated from its membrane by digitonin treatment, a characteristic which may reflect a different chloroplast membrane structure in this alga.
Potential Phytochemicals as Efficient Protease Inhibitors of 2019-nCoV

The novel coronavirus 2019 (nCov-2019/Covid-2019/2019-nCov) has become a pandemic in a very short span of time. It has caused significant loss to human lives, economy, daily life. The key development against the nCov-2019 remains apprehended when it comes to discovery of its vaccine or medicines for the treatment. Drugs used for the treatment of HIV ( inhibitors of HIV protease) are being largely used for the treatment of nCov-2019. Therefore, we conducted a study by docking a set of natural compounds with reported protease activity against HIV or SARS coronavirus against the protease of nCov-2019. The Bavachinin ranked the top among natural compounds with binding energy of -7.74±0.152 Kcal/mol, RMSD 0.823±0.024 Å, predicted pKd 5.59 and predicted dG of -7.56 Kcal/mol. The finding infers that these three compounds could have the potential to inhibit the nCov-2019 protease. The finding was supported with reputed research publications.
Characterization of virus species associated with sweetpotato virus diseases in Burkina Faso

Abstract Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) production in sub‐Saharan Africa is severely affected by viral diseases caused by several interacting viruses, including sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV), sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus (SPCSV), and sweet potato leaf curl virus (SPLCV). However, the aetiology of viral symptoms on sweetpotato is rarely established in most countries in Africa. Here, we aimed to investigate and characterize the incidence of sweetpotato viruses in Burkina Faso. We performed a countrywide survey in 18 districts of Burkina Faso and collected 600 plants, with and without symptoms, from 80 fields. Viral strains were identified using nitrocellulose membrane‐ELISA, PCR, and reverse transcription‐PCR. Three scions from each of 50 selected plants with symptoms were grafted to healthy Ipomoea setosa and then serological and molecular tests were performed on the 150 recorded samples. Three viruses were detected: 24% of samples were positive for SPFMV, 18% for SPLCV, and 2% for SPCSV. Across all diagnostic tests, 40% of all plant samples were virus‐negative. Coinfections were found in 16% of samples. Partial sequences were obtained, including 13 that matched SPFMV, one that matched SPLCV, and one that matched SPCSV. All identified SPFMV isolates belonged to either phylogroup B or A‐II. The SPCSV‐positive isolates had 98% gene sequence homology with SPCSV‐West Africa for the coat protein. Begomovirus‐positive isolates clustered with SPLCV‐United States. This first study of sweetpotato viral diseases in Burkina Faso indicates widespread occurrence and suggests a need for further epidemiological investigations, breeding programmes focused on virus‐resistant varieties, and improved farming practices to control disease spread.
Performance analysis of a membrane dehumidifier system subject to component characteristics – a numerical model

In this study, a detailed modeling applicable for membrane dehumidifying system is proposed. This system contains a membrane module, 2-stage vacuum pumps, a condenser, and a regulating valve. The proposed model does not need any prior setting of the vacuum level of the permeate side, and the predictive results are in line with the benchmark. It is found that the COP (coefficient of performance) is 55% higher while the EF (energy factor) is almost 150% higher than the conventional one having the same dehumidifying capacity. For inlet with a fixed relative humidity, both COP and EF are increasd gradually when raising the inlet temperature. Yet the COP and EF reaches the peak values of 5.29 and 6.80 kg/kWh, respectively at a dry bulb temperature near 25.6 °C. Once surpassing this threshold temperature, a pronounced flip-over is seen for both COP and EF. The optimal COP can be obtained by simultaneously adjusting volumetric flowrate and condenser size rather than only adjusting each one individually.
Disentangling the Microphysical Effects of Fire Particles on Convective Clouds Through A Case Study

Aerosol emissions from forest fires may impact cloud droplet activation through an increase in particle number concentrations (“the number effect”) and also through a decrease in the hygroscopicity κ of the entire aerosol population (“the hygroscopicity effect”) when fully internal mixing is assumed in models. This study investigated these effects of fire particles on the properties of simulated deep convective clouds (DCCs), using cloud‐resolving simulations with the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry for a case study in a partly idealized setting. We found that the magnitude of the hygroscopicity effect was in some cases strong enough to entirely offset the number/size effect, in terms of its influence on modeled droplet and ice crystal concentrations. More specifically, in the case studied here, the droplet number concentration was reduced by about 37% or more due solely to the hygroscopicity effect. In the atmosphere, by contrast, fire particles likely have a much weaker impact on the hygroscopicity of the pre‐existing background aerosol, as such a strong impact would occur only if the fire particles mixed immediately and uniformly with the background. We also show that the differences in the number of activated droplets eventually led to differences in the optical thickness of the clouds aloft, though this finding is limited to only a few hours of the initial development stage of the DCCs. These results suggest that accurately and rigorously representing aerosol mixing and κ in models is an important step toward accurately simulating aerosol‐cloud interactions under the influence of fires.
Dietary analysis of regurgitates and stomach samples from free-living Australian sea lions

Dietary remains recovered from Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea) digestive tracts and regurgitate samples from Seal Bay (Kangaroo Island, South Australia) were used to identify prey species consumed. Four of eight digestive tracts collected (50%) contained prey items located only in the stomach. On the basis of biomass reconstruction of cephalopod prey remains, octopus contributed 40% of the biomass in the samples, giant cuttlefish (Sepia apama) contributed 30% and ommastrephid squids contributed 14% biomass. The remains of several fish species were found in the samples: leatherjacket (Monocanthidae), flathead (Platycephalus sp.), swallowtail (Centroberyx lineatus), common bullseye (Pempheris multiradiata), southern school whiting (Sillago flindersi) and yellowtail mackerel (Trachurus novaezelandiae). Southern rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) and swimming crab (Ovalipes australiensis) carapace fragments, little penguin (Eudyptula minor) feathers and bones and shark egg cases (oviparous species and Scyliorhinidae sp.) were also identified.
İzmir‐Ankara Suture as a Triassic to Cretaceous Plate Boundary—Data From Central Anatolia

The İzmir‐Ankara suture represents part of the boundary between Laurasia and Gondwana along which a wide Tethyan ocean was subducted. In northwest Turkey, it is associated with distinct oceanic subduction‐accretion complexes of Late Triassic, Jurassic, and Late Cretaceous ages. The Late Triassic and Jurassic accretion complexes consist predominantly of basalt with lesser amounts of shale, limestone, chert, Permian (274 Ma zircon U‐Pb age) metagabbro, and serpentinite, which have undergone greenschist facies metamorphism. Ar‐Ar muscovite ages from the phyllites range from 210 Ma down to 145 Ma with a broad southward younging. The Late Cretaceous subduction‐accretion complex, the ophiolitic mélange, consists of basalt, radiolarian chert, shale, and minor amounts of recrystallized limestone, serpentinite, and greywacke, showing various degrees of blueschist facies metamorphism and penetrative deformation. Ar‐Ar phengite ages from two blueschist metabasites are ca. 80 Ma (Campanian). The ophiolitic mélange includes large Jurassic peridotite‐gabbro bodies with plagiogranites with ca. 180 Ma U‐Pb zircon ages. Geochronological and geological data show that Permian to Cretaceous oceanic lithosphere was subducted north under the Pontides from the Late Triassic to the Late Cretaceous. This period was characterized generally by subduction‐accretion, except in the Early Cretaceous, when subduction‐erosion took place. In the Sakarya segment all the subduction‐accretion complexes, as well as the adjacent continental sequences, are unconformably overlain by Lower Eocene red beds. This, along with the stratigraphy of the Sakarya Zone, indicates that the hard collision between the Sakarya Zone and the Anatolide‐Tauride Block took place in Paleocene.
Structure of a plant–flower‐visitor network in the high‐altitude sub‐alpine desert of Tenerife, Canary Islands

Confined within a volcanic caldera at 2000 m a.s. l. , the sub-alpine desert of Tenerife, Canary Islands, harbors a distinct biota. At this altitude the climate is harsh and the growing season short. Hence, plant and animal communities, constituting the sub-alpine plant-flower-visitor network, are clearly delimited, both spatially and temporally. We investigated species composition and interaction structure of this system. A total of 11 plant species (91% endemics) and 37 flower-visiting animal species (62% endemics) formed 108 interactions. Numbers of interactions among species varied ten-fold within both plant and animal communities. Generalization level of a species was positively correlated with its local abundance. Two separate network analyses revealed a significantly nested structure. In relation to a plant-flower-visitor system, nestedness implies that specialized species (animals or plants) interact with a subset of the species pool visiting (animals) or being visited (plants) by more generalized species. Therefore, specialized, locally rare plants tend to be visited by generalized, locally abundant animals, and specialized, locally rare animals tend to utilize generalized, locally abundant food plants. Such patterns could have implications for conservation of the sub-alpine network, and stress the importance of preserving not only rare species, but also the more abundant ones, which may be key food resources or pollinators in the plant-flower-visitor network.
Crossbreeding Jersey with Ghana Shorthorn and Sokoto Gudali cattle in a tropical environment: Additive and heterotic effects for milk production, reproduction and calf growth traits

Crossbreeding data involving Ghana Shorthorn, Sokoto Gudali and their Jersey F1s and backcrosses collected over a 16-year period were analysed to estimate additive and heterotic effects for milk production, reproduction and calf growth traits. Sokoto Gudali was significantly better than Ghana Shorthorn in all milk production traits. Calving interval and annualized milk production were better in Gudali than in the Shorthorn. The F1s had higher lactation milk yield, milked longer, produced their first calves earlier and had shorter dry periods and calving intervals than their corresponding purebreds. However, genotype was not significant for number of services per conception. Both F1s had higher average daily gain and weaning weight than their corresponding purebreds. Sokoto Gudali backcross (Jersey × F1) was significantly (P < 0·05) better than the F1 in lactation length. However, in Gudali crosses, there was no advantage in increasing the proportion of Jersey genes beyond 0·5 for milk production traits. Additive effects were significantly (at least P < 0·05) lower in the Shorthorn and the Gudali than in Jersey for milk production traits except proportion of butterfat. Heterosis estimates were significant (P < 0·01) for milk production traits for the Shorthorn but not for the Gudali. Heterotic effects were large and significant (at least P < 0·05) in improving annualized milk production in Shorthorn crosses, whilst none of the heterotic effects for reproductive traits was significant. At both 0 and 0·5 levels of Jersey inheritance, the Gudali was superior (P < 0·01) to the Shorthorn in birth weight, weaning weight and pre-weaning average daily gain. Heterotic effects for calf traits were positive and much larger in Gudali crosses than in Shorthorn crosses. In general, backcrosses were, at best, similar to the F1s implying that upgrading these indigenous breeds beyond 0·5 European inheritance may not be desirable.