Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Responses to stress of Caenorhabditis elegans populations with different reproductive strategies

Summary 1Hermaphroditic and gonochoric reproduction are essentially different reproductive strategies that may lead to diverging population responses to adverse environmental conditions. Each strategy implies different physiological mechanisms, which affect life-history traits and represent different ways of dealing with stress. 2We studied the performance of hermaphroditic vs gonochoric strains in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans exposed to cadmium stress at the individual and population level. 3Under control conditions, the gonochoric strain started reproduction earlier than the hermaphroditic strain at a smaller size. This was due to an earlier switch from sperm to oocyte production triggered by male sperm availability. Under cadmium stress hermaphrodites showed a decrease in the size at onset of reproduction, presumably as a strategy to maintain a high population growth rate. In contrast the body size of gonochoric nematodes was not affected. 4A process-based model (DEBtox) was used as a tool for analysing life-history data and calculating population growth rates. The model fitted the data well using physiologically relevant parameters such as ageing, survival or reproduction related parameters. The simultaneous fit of all life-history traits was used to obtain populations growth rate estimates. 5The differences between the two C. elegans strains were reflected at the population level. Lower population growth rates, as calculated by DEBtox, were found in the gonochoric strain, largely determined by the proportion of males in the offspring. 6From the overall results we suggest that the differences found between both populations are due to the reproductive strategy. Under control conditions, CB strain (with gonochoric reproduction) does not favour population growth rates in the short term due to faster ageing and copulation costs on survival. Furthermore, in response to stress this strain also showed lower performance than the N2 hermaphroditic strain, mainly due to a higher sensitivity of survival to the stressor.
Tending Ants Protect Honeydew-Producing Whiteflies (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae)

Abstract We investigated the interaction between the honeydew-producing whitefly Aleurothrixus aepim and tending ants on shrubs of Croton floribundus (Euphorbiaceae) in a semideciduous forest in southeast Brazil. Whitefly eggs underside leaves were tagged during early March 1998 and randomly divided into two experimental groups: control (ants present, n = 75) and treatment (ants excluded, n = 52). During the 75-d experiment, honeydew-collecting ants visited 79% of the control groups of A. aepim. Adults emerged in significantly greater numbers from control than from treatment groups, the latter being heavily attacked by fungi due to accumulation of honeydew. Complete contamination by fungi was three times more frequent at ant-excluded (39%) than at ant-tended (13%) groups. Control groups with low levels of ant-tending produced significantly fewer adults than those more frequently tended by ants. Encarsia parasitoid wasps were more frequently seen on ant-excluded than on control A. aepim groups. Predatory arthropods, however, were equally frequent in either experimental group. This is the first experimental study to demonstrate ant-derived protection in honeydew-producing whiteflies. Given that aleyrodid honeydew can cause considerable damage to the host plant, our results suggest that the honeydew-gathering activity by tending ants is an important factor mediating such multitrophic interaction.
Modifications des amplitudes des potentiels évoques auditifs précoces observées dans les acouphènes

AbstractBrainstem evoked response audiometry has been performed in 139 patients complaining of tinnitus, unilateral or bilateral. Amplitudes of I, III, V waves and the amplitude relations I/III, I/V, III/V have been compared with those obtained in a normal population (n = 20). Amplitudes of waves I and III decreased according to their localization : decrease of left I and III for left tinnitus, decrease of left I and right III for right tinnitus, and for I and III both left and right for bilateral tinnitus.Recording of brainstem evoked response before any therapeutical treatment, especially study of amplitudes, could therefore provide information an localization of tinnitus.ResumeCette etude a permis d'observer des modifications d'amplitudes des potentiels evoques auditifs chez les patients qui se plaignaient d'acouphenes. Les amplitudes des ondes I et III sont diminuees suivant la localisation de ceux-ci : diminution de 1G et III G lors d'un acouphene G, de IG et III D lors d'un acouphene D, et de IG, ID.
Assessment of risk of Diabetes Mellitus among National highway truck drivers in Tamil Nadu

Background: Diabetes mellitus, type II, is a major public health concern worldwide. The recent World Health Organization report suggests that over 19% of the world’s diabetic population currently resides in India. Indian Diabetes Risk Score (IDRS) developed by Dr.Mohan and his colleagues (Mohan, 2005) is a simplified risk score for identifying undiagnosed diabetic subjects using four simple parameters (age, waist circumference, family history of diabetes and physical activity) in which the minimum score is 0 and maximum is 100 & score 60 and above is indicative of diabetes risk. Objectives: To assess the risk of Diabetes mellitus among national highway truck drivers using an IDRS score. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted during December 2018 to January 2019 among truck drivers aged 18 years and above in the Lay-By, Padalam, Maduranthagam, Kancheepurm District, Tamil Nadu. The particpants were interviewed using a structured questionnaire consisting of socio-demographic details and Anthropometric measurement and Indian Diabetic Risk Score (IDRS). Result: Among 117 study participants, 71 (60.6) were 35 to 49 years 81 (69.3%) were literate and 106 (90.6%) were full time drivers. On evaluating the risk status of study subjects using IDRS, 42.7% had moderate risk, 35.8% had high risk score and 21.3% had low risk. With increase in age and waist circumference and not doing physical activity was increase in the risk status for diabetes. Conclusion: Majority of the subjects in our study belonged to the moderate risk and high risk category. A statistically significant association was seen between the age, occupation, type of family, Waist circumference and Physical activity. (p<0.005)
The influence of substrate bias and sputtering pressure on the deposited aluminium nitride for magnetoelectric sensors

A residual stress of Aluminium nitride (AlN) thin films has been a problem in the magnetoelectric (ME) composites that are used in the AC magnetic field sensors. The present work aims to optimize the deposition process of AlN in order to fabricate a nearly-zero stress of AlN thin films as well as ME composites without losing the microstructural and piezoelectric properties. The influences of RF bias power and sputtering pressure on the residual stress, microstructure, and piezoelectric response have been investigated. Two different stacks are deposited on Si/SiO2 substrates: Ta/Pt/AlN and Ta/FeCoSiB/Ta/Pt/AlN. Pulsed DC reactive sputter depositions have been performed to deposit AlN films. With increasing the substrate bias, stress of the AlN films and the stacks with the magneto strictive layer are augmented. A variation of the sputtering pressure is a promising way to fabricate nearly zero stress of the AlN films and the stacks without the magneto strictive layer. A transition from tensile to compressive stress has been observed at the low sputtering pressure. Sputtering pressure also affects the stress of AlN films and the stacks with the magneto strictive layer. FWHM of AlN (0002) peaks are nearly constant within the ranges of the substrate bias. By reducing the sputtering pressure, FWHM is broadened due to lower ionization degree associated with AlN formation and greater number of micro-arcs. However, the magnitude of e31,f is increased due to a lower residual stress at the low sputtering pressure.
Designing parallel computing using raspberry pi clusters for IoT servers on apache Hadoop

The community has widely used the IoT tool because it makes it easy for users in various sectors. The implementation of IoT does not only require connectivity and devices but also requires a server. Servers that are accessed by many devices will have more and more computing processes on the server. The computing process on the server requires a high-performance but small-sized server device that is easy to connect with other devices. Raspberry Pi, known as an IoT server, is a computer with a small size, cheap, and very energy efficient. The parallel machine was built based on Raspberry Pi using parallel computing technology to have high performance. Nowadays, one of the parallel computing tools is Apache Hadoop. This research using clusters method with four pieces of Raspberry Pi with parallel computing technology using Apache Hadoop tools. Testing is done using Siege tools. The number of requests that used to test web server performance in this research was 10, 50, 100, and 150. The most optimal results are on requests by 50 with an increase of about 260% from a single node to cluster in the measurement of transactions, transaction rates, and throughput. Testing with 150 requests can only increase by 50% to 60%.
Notes on Nests and Behavior of the Hawaiian Crow

AMONG THE SCANTY WRITINGS on the Hawaiian crow (Corvus tropicus Gmelin), there is no detailed record of its nest and eggs or of its habits associated with the breeding cycle. Berger (in press) lists and reviews the literature and reports that the current total population of this species may be as small as 25 birds. This present paper describes the final example of use by crows of a traditional nesting ground on the lower northeast flank of the Hualalai volcano, Hawaii County, Hawaii, in 1964. A nest discovered under construction on March 26 was observed at intervals of 6 to 9 days, through April 26, when it failed; a single infertile egg remained from the original clutch of five and the crows were then in the process of abandoning the nest.
Heterogeneous data analysis for annotation of microRNAs and novel genome assembly

This thesis is the collection of four published papers demonstrating annotation of genes and microRNAs with the aid of bioinformatics, in particular using heterogeneous data integration. Gene annotation is the process of detecting the structure and biological function of the raw DNA sequences; while microRNA annotation is mainly about identifying its regulatory targets since microRNA modify gene expression by binding to their targets. In order to efﬁciently and accurately annotate microRNAs and coding region of a novel genome, we developed several complex workﬂows which integrate the current most relevant data sources and tools. The essence of integration is not to produce even more data but to increase the sensitivity and/or speciﬁcity of the algorithm and system. Currently, in life sciences high-throughput experiments, multiple platforms, and multiple model or non-model species are very commonly applied in different studies. In line with this trend heterogeneous data integration is no doubt an important strategy for the analysis of biological data.
A Comparison of in Vivo and in Vitro Rates of Aging of Somaninhibited Erythrocyte Acetylcholinesterase in Different Animal Species

ABSTRACTThis study was conducted to assess differences in the rate of aging of soman-inhibited erythrocyte (RBC) acetylcholinesterase (Am) fm different species and to determine whether the rate of aging in vitro approximates that in vivo following a single exposure to soman. The logarithm of the percentage FU3C AChE reactivated by 2–PAM after soman exposure was plotted as a function of time. Linear regression analysis was used to determine the half-time (t1/2) for aglng. In the in vivo experiments, the rapidity of aging increased from rat to guinea pig to marmoset; the corresponding t1/2 values (mean ± standard error) were 8.6 (± 0.94) min, 7.5 (±1.7) min and 0.99 (± 0.10) min. The in vitro values of t1/2 in marmoset and guinea pig were 1.1 (± 0.08) min and 8.0 (± 0.82) rnin, respectively. Other t1/2 values computed for in vitro experiments were 1.4 (±0.11) rnin for cynomolgus monkeys and 0.88 (± 0.03) mln for squirrel monkeys. The results indicate that, for marmoset and guinea pig, the in vitro values cl.
GAS EXCHANGE AND VENTILATORY RESPONSES TO HYPOXIA AND HYPERCAPNIA IN AMPHISBAENA ALBA (REPTILIA: AMPHISBAENIA)

SUMMARY 1. Total and cutaneous gas exchange and ventilatory responses to breathing hypoxic and hypercapnic gases were studied in Amphisbaena alba (Linnaeus), a burrowing squamate reptile. 2. This species shows a very low oxygen uptake rate (VQ2) compared with other squamates of the same size (Vo2 = 15-4, 36-2 and 49-Omlkg" 1 h~ \ at 20, 25 and 30°C, respectively). Cutaneous gas exchange represents a large fraction of the total uptake. Oxygen uptake was strongly affected by temperature [Qio = 5-5 (20-25°C); 1-8 (25-30°C); 3-2 (20-30°C)]. 3. A. alba shows a biphasic ventilatory pattern under hypoxic and hypercapnic conditions. A single breathing cycle, consisting of expiration-inspiration, includes a ventilatory period (VP) followed by a non-ventilatory (breath hold) period (NVP) of variable duration. When breathing air at 25"C the NVP typically occupied about 2min. The ventilatory period occupied only 0-075 parts of a complete breath-tobreath cycle. Breathing hypoxic gases caused a pronounced rise in ventilation volume (VE) from an increase in tidal volume (VT) and frequency (f) at inspired O2 concentrations below 7%. Breathing hypercapnic gas mixtures induced a minor change in VT at CO2 concentrations below 3 %, and VE increased mostly because of increases in f. End tidal O2 (PETO2) and CO2 (PETCO2) tensions changed with increasing VE while breathing hypoxic and hypercapnic gas. 4. The results are discussed in relation to the fossorial habits of A. alba, and are compared with data from other squamates.
Ultrasonic Sensor Application As A Performance Enhancement Of Robot Two Wheels

In this paper, Robot Two Wheels are developed further to improve performance or intelligence. A Robot Two Wheels is a robot that can move and balance itself on two wheels, maintain its position upright of the earth’s surface on a flat plane. The design includes the Arduino Mega 2560, accelerometer and gyroscope sensors, as well as proportional Integral Derivative (PID) control as the controlling method. Proportional Integral Derivative control is used to determine the magnitude of the DC Motor’s speed and rotary direction as the driver, based on the robotic body’s tilt angle to the surface of the flat plane. The angle of inclination is taken into consideration and the robot moves either in the forward or backward direction to balance itself. When operated, the self-balancing robot continuously rotates its motor in its efforts to balance at upright position. The self-balancing robot movement is not mapped to its range, where the robot will still move randomly to achieve balanced conditions. The concept of this paper is expand the ability of the robot to sense objects around it which is by adding an ultrasonic sensor as an object detector around it, including obstacles or walls around self balancing robots. Detection of obstructions by ultrasonic sensors will maintain the movement of the robot in the safe area to avoid the impact that can occur when the robot is trying to maintain balance.
Mathematical modelling of the impact of vaccination on malaria epidemiology

This paper presents a mathematical model for human malaria trans- mission caused by Plasmodium falciparum which incorporates the effects of pre- erythrocytic vaccine on the transmission dynamics of the disease. This model is extended to incorporate the effects of erythrocytic and transmission blocking vaccines. Analysis of the reproductive number for the extended model R�(γ, θ 1,2, ǫ ), shows that effectiveness of the vaccine depends critically on its efficacy, infection blocking, disease modification, transmission blocking, proportion vaccinated and duration of its effec- tiveness. The minimum vaccination rate required to eradicate malaria depends on its endemicity in each region. We deduce that pre-erythrocytic vaccine works faster than transmission blocking vaccine in reducing the number of infectious humans. In our analysis, we were able to quantify the effectiveness of combining two or more subunits over using only one subunit. Our analysis shows that a vaccine that reduces the infec- tious period of an infected human always reduces the number of secondary infections. Numerical simulations are also performed to compare the general behaviour of the models.
A Novel Parathyroid Protein in Chicken: Origin, Expression and Function

s in Proceedings: Pinheiro P, Downie H. , Fuentes J., Power DM & Canario AVM (2009) “Functional Activity and Gene Expression of Parathormone”, XXXVIth International Union of Physiological Sciences (IUPS), Kyoto, Japan. Communications in meetings Oral: Pinheiro P, Cardoso J., Fuentes J., Power DM & Canario AVM (2008) “A Novel Member and Comparative Analysis of the Parathyroid Hormone Family in Chicken”, 24th Conference of European Comparative Endocrinologists (CECE), Genova, Italy. Pinheiro P, Fuentes J., Power DM & Canario AVM (2009) “The Parathormone and Related Peptides Activity and Expression in Chicken”, 7o Congresso da Associacao Iberica de Endocrinologia Comparada (AIEC), Porto, Portugal.
Adenine Nucleotide Ratios and Adenylate Energy Charge in Energy Metabolism

CONTROL OF ENZYME ACTIVITIES 201 Photosynthetic CO2 Fixation 202 Starch Metabolism 204 Glycolysis . 204 Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle 205 Other Enzymes 205
OCCURRENCE OF CITRUS NEMATODE (TYLENCHUS SEMIPENETRANS) IN SARGODHA DISTRICT

In a survey during the year 2002 on the occurrence of citrus nematode, Tylenchus semipenetrans (Cobb) 57 soil and root samples were collected from 36 localities of district Sargodha in Pakistan. The analysis revealed that 54.38% of the samples were infested with the nematode. Maximum infestation (61.11%) was recorded in Tehsil Bhalwal followed by Sillanwali, Sargodha, Shahpur and Sahiwal showing 57.14, 53.33, 50.00 and 44.44% infestation, respectively.
Effect of chronic administration of chloroquine on the gastrocnemius muscle, spleen and brain of Swiss albino mice

The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of chloroquine on some vital tissues of mice (Mus musculus). Healthy adult male Swiss albino mice weighing between 30-40 g were used for the study. Treated group was exposed to 200 mg/kg body weight/day of chloroquine phosphate given orally for 45 days. Control animals were given distilled water for the same period. Gastrocnemius muscle, spleen and brain tissues were biochemically investigated post-treatment. The results obtained showed a significant increase in protein levels of the gastrocnemius muscle ( P<0.001), brain (P<0.001) and spleen (P<0.05). The total lipid content of both muscle and brain showed a highly significant increase ( P<0.001) while the cholesterol level was increased significantly (P<0.05) only in spleen. Ascorbic acid also exhibited a significant increase ( P<0.001) in muscle. Histological examination of muscle and spleen also revealed concomitant changes in histoarchitecture. Thus the use of choloroquine for longer periods requires strict monitoring as chronic usage may lead to the development of many detrimental effects in the host.
High yielding organic crop management decreases plant-available but not recalcitrant soil phosphorus.

Phosphorus is a nonrenewable resource, raising concerns that agricultural practices may deplete reserves. Organic farming with low P inputs can result in deficient levels of plant-available phosphorus (available-P). The purpose of this study was to determine if common organically managed rotations are depleting P reserves or iflarge reserves still exist in unavailable forms. The research was performed in the 13th year of the Glenlea Long-term Crop Rotation and Management study in southern Manitoba. The site has three 4-yr rotations under Organic and Conventional management: spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)-alfalfa-flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) (forage grain) with and without manure compost, and spring wheat-field pea (Pisum sativum L.)-spring wheat-flax (grain only), as well as a restored prairie grass planting (Prairie). Conventional treatments received synthetic fertilizers and herbicides whereas the Organic received no inputs other than a one-time application of manure compost. The modified Hedley sequential P extraction procedure revealed organic management to have lower concentrations of readily available P than conventional but recalcitrant forms were similar between systems. The Prairie had P concentrations similar to conventional in all forms. Estimated cumulative P balance indicated that organic grain-only rotations compared to conventional had low P removal resulting in slightly lower concentration of available-P forms. The high yielding and P removal rotation of forage-grain decreased available-P forms to below an agronomic response threshold. Only high yielding, high P export organic rotations are a concern for developing P deficiency depending on initial reserves and the length of time without additional inputs.
Challenges and opportunities for mitigating nitrous oxide emissions from fertilized cropping systems

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is often the largest single component of the greenhouse-gas budget of individual cropping systems, as well as for the US agricultural sector as a whole. Here, we highlight the factors that make mitigating N2O emissions from fertilized agroecosystems such a difficult challenge, and discuss how these factors limit the effectiveness of existing practices and therefore require new technologies and fresh ideas. Modification of the rate, source, placement, and/or timing of nitrogen fertilizer application has in some cases been an effective way to reduce N2O emissions. However, the efficacy of existing approaches to reducing N2O emissions while maintaining crop yields across locations and growing seasons is uncertain because of the interaction of multiple factors that regulate several different N2O-producing processes in soil. Although these processes have been well studied, our understanding of key aspects and our ability to manage them to mitigate N2O emissions remain limited.
BIOGENESIS OF ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM MEMBRANES

The development of the endoplasmic reticulum of rat hepatocytes was studied during a period of rapid cell differentiation, i.e., from 3 days before to 8 days after birth. Before birth, the ER increases in volume, remaining predominantly rough surfaced; after birth, the increase continues but affects mainly the smooth-surfaced part of the system. These changes are reflected in variations of the RNA/protein and PLP/protein ratios of microsomal fractions: the first decreases, while the second increases, with age. The analysis of microsomal membranes and of microsomal lipids indicates that the PLP/protein ratio, the distribution of phospholipids, and the rate of P32 incorporation into these phospholipids show little variation over the period examined and are comparable to values found in adult liver. Fatty acid composition of total phosphatides undergoes, however, drastic changes after birth. During the period of rapid ER development in vivo incorporation of leucine-C14 and glycerol-C14 into the proteins and lipids of microsomal membranes is higher in the rough-than in the smooth-surfaced microsomes, for the first hours after the injection of the label; later on (∼10 hr) the situation is reversed. These results strongly suggest that new membrane is synthesized in the rough ER and subsequently transferred to the smooth ER.