Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adhesion Performance in the Eggs of the Philippine Leaf Insect Phyllium philippinicum (Phasmatodea: Phylliidae)

Leaf insects (Phasmatodea: Phylliidae) exhibit perfect crypsis imitating leaves. Although the special appearance of the eggs of the species Phyllium philippinicum, which imitate plant seeds, has received attention in different taxonomic studies, the attachment capability of the eggs remains rather anecdotical. We herein elucidate the specialized attachment mechanism of the eggs of this species and provide the first experimental approach to systematically characterize the functional properties of their adhesion by using different microscopy techniques and attachment force measurements on substrates with differing degrees of roughness and surface chemistry, as well as repetitive attachment/detachment cycles while under the influence of water contact. We found that a combination of folded exochorionic structures (pinnae) and a film of adhesive secretion contribute to attachment, which both respond to water. Adhesion is initiated by the glue, which becomes fluid through hydration, enabling adaption to the surface profile. Hierarchically structured pinnae support the spreading of the glue and reinforcement of the film. This combination aids the egg’s surface in adapting to the surface roughness, yet the attachment strength is additionally influenced by the egg’s surface chemistry, favoring hydrophilic substrates. Repetitive detachment and water-mediated adhesion can optimize the location of the egg to ensure suitable environmental conditions for embryonic development. Furthermore, this repeatable and water-controlled adhesion mechanism can stimulate further research for biomimeticists, ecologists and conservationalists.
UTILIZATION OF WHOLE TOWER RAPESEED BY LAYING HENS AND BROILER CHICKENS

Laying hens received diets containing 10% Tower rapeseed which was fed either as raw whole seed, autoclaved whole seed or autoclaved and ground seed. Performance was measured over ten 28-day periods. Broiler diets contained 10 or 20% Tower rapeseed either as raw whole seed, dry-heated whole seed or autoclaved whole seed. Laying hens consuming 10% dietary raw whole rapeseed produced significantly (P < 0.05) more eggs than did birds fed an isocaloric, isonitrogenous corn–soybean meal control diet. Egg production of birds fed either the control diet, autoclaved whole rapeseed or autoclaved ground rapeseed was not significantly (P < 0.05) different. Birds fed rapeseed produced smaller eggs (P < 0.01), while those birds offered autoclaved ground rapeseed produced eggs with significantly (P < 0.05) superior shell quality compared to eggs from the control birds. Broiler chickens consuming raw rapeseed had larger thyroids than did control birds, while autoclaving, and to a lesser extent dry-heating, corrected thi.
Intranasal Leptin Prevents Opioid Induced Sleep Disordered Breathing in Obese Mice.

Respiratory depression is the main cause of morbidity and mortality associated with opioids. Obesity increases opioid-related mortality, which is mostly related to co-morbid obstructive sleep apnea. Naloxone, a μ-opioid receptor blocker, is an effective antidote, but it reverses analgesia. Similar to obese humans, diet-induced obese mice hypoventilate during sleep and develop obstructive sleep apnea, which can be treated with intranasal leptin. We hypothesized that intranasal leptin reverses opioid-induced sleep disordered breathing in obese mice without decreasing analgesia. To test this hypothesis, diet-induced obese mice were treated with morphine at 10 mg/kg subcutaneously and with leptin vs placebo intranasally. Sleep and breathing were recorded by barometric plethysmography and pain sensitivity was measured by the tail flick test. Excitatory post-synaptic currents were recorded in vitro from hypoglossal motor neurons following application of the μ opioid receptor agonist [D-Ala2, N-MePhe4, Gly-ol]-enkephalin (DAMGO) and leptin. Morphine dramatically increased the frequency of apneas and greatly increased severity of hypoventilation and obstructive sleep apnea. Leptin decreased the frequency of apneas, improved obstructive sleep apnea and completely reversed hypoventilation, whereas morphine analgesia was enhanced. Our in vitro studies demonstrated that DAMGO reduced the frequency of excitatory post-synaptic currents in hypoglossal motoneurons and that application of leptin restored excitatory synaptic neurotransmission. Our findings suggest that intranasal leptin may prevent opioid respiratory depression during sleep in obese patients receiving opioids without reducing analgesia.
CHDGKB: a knowledgebase for systematic understanding of genetic variations associated with non-syndromic congenital heart disease

Abstract Congenital heart disease (CHD) is one of the most common birth defects, with complex genetic and environmental etiologies. The reports of genetic variation associated with CHD have increased dramatically in recent years due to the revolutionary development of molecular technology. However, CHD is a heterogeneous disease, and its genetic origins remain inconclusive in most patients. Here we present a database of genetic variations for non-syndromic CHD (NS-CHD). By manually literature extraction and analyses, 5345 NS-CHD-associated genetic variations were collected, curated and stored in the public online database. The objective of our database is to provide the most comprehensive updates on NS-CHD genetic research and to aid systematic analyses of pathogenesis of NS-CHD in molecular level and the correlation between NS-CHD genotypes and phenotypes. Database URL: http://www.sysbio. org.cn/CHDGKB/
Implantation and early pregnancy: Endometrial Th2 cytokine expression throughout the menstrual cycle and early pregnancy

Embryonic implantation and maintenance of pregnancy is influenced by the maternal immunological response. Type 2 T-helper (Th2) cells secrete interleukins 4, 5, 6 and 10 and are associated with suppression of cell-mediated immunity. Temporal changes in the expression of these cytokines were detectable by immunohistochemistry throughout the menstrual cycle. In pregnancy, 10-fold or greater increases in interleukin 6 and 10 secretion were detectable by enzyme-linked immunoassay compared with the non-pregnant state. The pattern of expression of Th2 cytokines suggests that progesterone may influence endometrial cytokine secretion. During pregnancy, Th2 expression paralleled that of vimentin, a stromal cell marker, suggesting that these cells may be a principal source of these cytokines in the gravid uterus. Increased secretion of Th2 cytokines may be a mechanism of suppressing cell-mediated immunity in the endometrium, which may in turn enhance embryonic implantation and maintenance of pregnancy.
Bogusława Dobek-Ostrowska and Michał Głovacki (eds), Democracy and Media in Central and Eastern Europe 25 Years On

Muslims separatists movements in Iraq, Pakistan, India, Indonesia and the Philippines, Mabry argues that the presence or absence of Islamism correlates closely with the presence or absence of a strong vernacular print culture: where a strong vernacular print culture emerged, it helped forge ethno-national bonds which ultimately proved more binding than religious beliefs. Rather than being inherently resistant to the ethno-national identity, Islam therefore merely acted as an alternative social bond in situations where strong ethno-national belonging was absent. From the perspective of a media and communication scholar, Mabry’s conclusions raise several questions that deserve to be examined further: If vernacular print cultures have indeed played such a decisive role in deciding the balance of religious versus ethno-national allegiances, then what does this mean for the impact of other means of mass communication, including broadcasting and digital media? Given the proliferation of transnational broadcasters in the Arab world, is it at all possible to expect, as Mabry suggests in his conclusion, that Islamic fundamentalism could be countered by promoting nationalism?
Analysis and Application of Drought Characteristics Based on Theory of Runs and Copulas in Yunnan, Southwest China

Drought is a complex natural disaster phenomenon. It is of great significance to analyze the occurrence and development of drought events for drought prevention. In this study, two drought characteristic variables (the drought duration and severity) were extracted by using the Theory of Runs based on four drought indexes (i.e., the percentage of precipitation anomaly, the standardized precipitation index, the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index and the improved comprehensive meteorological drought index). The joint distribution model of drought characteristic variables was built based on four types of Archimedean copulas. The joint cumulative probability and the joint return period of drought events were analyzed and the relationship between the drought characteristics and the actual crop drought reduction area was also studied. The results showed that: (1) The area of the slight drought and the extreme drought were both the zonal increasing distribution from northeast to southwest in Yunnan Province from 1960 to 2015. The area of the high frequency middle drought was mainly distributed in Huize and Zhanyi in Northeast Yunnan, Kunming in Central Yunnan and some areas of Southwest Yunnan, whereas the severe drought was mainly occurred in Deqin, Gongshan and Zhongdian in Northwest Yunnan; (2) The drought duration and severity were fitted the Weibull and Gamma distribution, respectively and the Frank copula function was the optimal joint distribution function. The Drought events were mostly short duration and high severity, long duration and low severity and short duration and low severity. The joint cumulative probability and joint return period were increased with the increase of drought duration and severity; (3) The error range between the theoretical return period and the actual was 0.1–0.4 a. The year of the agricultural disaster can be accurately reflected by the combined return period in Yunnan Province. The research can provide guidelines for the agricultural management in the drought area.
Design, modification of phyllanthone derivatives as anti-diabetic and cytotoxic agents

Abstract Twelve benzylidene derivatives, one Baeyer-Villiger oxidative, six imine derivatives were successfully designed and synthesised from phyllanthone. In the search for potential new anti-diabetic agents, phyllanthone along with its benzylidene and oxidation analogues were evaluated for enzyme inhibition against α-glucosidase. In the benzylidene series, most analogues displayed stronger activity than the mother compound. Compound 1c revealed the strongest activity, outperforming the acarbose positive control with an IC50 value of 19.59 µM. Phyllanthone and its derivatives were then tested for cytotoxic activity against the K562 cell line. The imine analogues displayed the most powerful cytotoxic activity with 3cand 3d having IC50 values of 57.55 and 68.02 µM, respectively. Graphical Abstract
Control of cellular adhesiveness in hyaluronic acid-based hydrogel through varying degrees of phenol moiety crosslinking.

Current hyaluronic acid-based hydrogels often cause cytotoxicity to encapsulated cells and lack the adhesive property required for effective biomedical and tissue engineering applications. Provision of the cell-adhesive surface is an important requirement to improve its biocompatibility. An aqueous solution of hyaluronic acid possessing phenolic hydroxyl (HA-Ph) moieties is gellable via a horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-catalyzed oxidative crosslinking reaction. This study evaluates the effect of different degrees of crosslinked Ph moieties on cellular adhesiveness and proliferation on the resultant enzymatically crosslinked HA-Ph hydrogels. Mechanical characterization demonstrated that the compression force of engineered hydrogels could be tuned in the range of 0.05-35 N by changing conjugated Ph moieties in the precursor formulation. The water contact angle and water content show hydrophobicity of hydrogels increased with increasing content of crosslinked Ph groups. The seeded mouse embryo fibroblast-like cell line and human cervical cancer cell line, on the HA-Ph hydrogel, proved cell attachment and spreading with a high content of crosslinked Ph groups. The HA-Ph with a higher degree of Ph moieties shows the maximum degree of cell adhesion, spreading, and proliferation which presents this hydrogel as a suitable biomaterial for biomedical and tissue engineering applications. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
INDUCTION OF OVERCOMPENSATION IN THE FIELD GENTIAN, GENTIANELLA CAMPESTRIS

We present field evidence for the induction of overcompensation, or increased fruit and seed yield as a consequence of damage, in the grassland biennial field gentian, Gentianella campestris (Gentianaceae). We compared equally sized clipped and unclipped plants in two populations in central Sweden during three years, 1992-1994, and plants clipped at different occasions, from 20 June to 2 August. Clipping once, by removing half of the biomass, significantly increased fruit production without affecting the number of seeds per fruit or seed mass. The degree of compensation was sensitive to the timing of clipping. Damage induced overcompensation only during a restricted inductive time period (ITP) in July. Plants clipped before about 1 July or after about 22 July achieved no overcompensation. The early limit of ITP was presumably determined by the availability of resources that could be mobilized for regrowth after damage. The late limit, on the other hand, depended primarily on the differentiation of meristems close to flowering in early August. The effects of clipping varied between years, presumably due to drought in 1994. During 1992-1993, plants consistently overcompensated for clipping on 1-20 July, whereas in 1994 only early clipping from 1 to 12 July induced overcompensation. In 1994, plants clipped in late July compensated less well, due to delayed fruit maturation leading to a high proportion of immature fruits at the end of the season. Because of this between-year variation, we used geometric mean fitness to calculate the expected long-term effects of damage over generations. The analysis suggests that the long-term effects can vary from positive to negative, depending on the frequency of bad fruiting years. The time limits of ITP fit well the hypothesis that predictable damage in July may have selected for a capacity of overcompensation in the field gentian. Because the ultimate limits of ITP are set by the length of the vegetation period, we expect overcompensation in this species to be more common in regions with a longer growing season.
High Infectivity of Salmonella typhimurium newly infected by the colI factor

SUMMARY: In 18 hr. incubation of broth inoculated with a majority of bacteria of Salmonella typhimurium LT2 col -, i.e. non-colicinogenic, and a minority of strain LT2 (colI), i.e. carrying colicine factor colI, 30--70% of the col - bacteria acquired colI; this increased to 50--90% after 2 hr. of secondary incubation after tenfold dilution with broth. These cultures, containing a high proportion of bacteria newly infected by colI, transmitted colI to about 50% of the bacteria of a col - strain in 1 hr. (whereas pure cultures of LT2 (colI) transmitted to only 0.01%); they are termed HFC (high-frequency colicinogeny-transferring). An inoculum containing 1--3 recently infected bacteria from an HFC preparation of a streptomycin-sensitive strain sufficed to transmit colI to a resistant strain in streptomycin broth. We infer that 30--100% of bacteria newly infected by colI are ‘competent donors’, able to transmit colI. By the same test the proportion of competent donors in LT2 (colI) strains was only 0.02%. Inoculum size, ratio of inoculum components, motility, aeration and secondary incubation affected the HFC property of mixed cultures in a way explicable by the need for the epidemic spread of colI in the col - component to reach a peak at the time of testing. The rate of loss of the HFC property on further growth indicated that for 3--7 generations the progeny of newly infected bacteria are competent donors. Transmission was associated with clumping and pairing. Bacteria of an HFC preparation pair with 10% of an acceptor population within 2 min. of mixing; completion of transfer requires 2 1/2--30 min. Non-availability of nutrients and some growth inhibitors interfere with transfer. We conclude that colI multiplies autonomously in newly infected bacteria and their immediate progeny and enables them to conjugate, but does not confer ability to conjugate in established colicinogenic strains; perhaps it is then integrated into the host chromosome.
Using reinforcement learning models in social neuroscience: frameworks, pitfalls and suggestions of best practices

Abstract The recent years have witnessed a dramatic increase in the use of reinforcement learning (RL) models in social, cognitive and affective neuroscience. This approach, in combination with neuroimaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging, enables quantitative investigations into latent mechanistic processes. However, increased use of relatively complex computational approaches has led to potential misconceptions and imprecise interpretations. Here, we present a comprehensive framework for the examination of (social) decision-making with the simple Rescorla–Wagner RL model. We discuss common pitfalls in its application and provide practical suggestions. First, with simulation, we unpack the functional role of the learning rate and pinpoint what could easily go wrong when interpreting differences in the learning rate. Then, we discuss the inevitable collinearity between outcome and prediction error in RL models and provide suggestions of how to justify whether the observed neural activation is related to the prediction error rather than outcome valence. Finally, we suggest posterior predictive check is a crucial step after model comparison, and we articulate employing hierarchical modeling for parameter estimation. We aim to provide simple and scalable explanations and practical guidelines for employing RL models to assist both beginners and advanced users in better implementing and interpreting their model-based analyses.
MUTATIONS IN CODON 315 OF THE KATG GENE ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH-LEVEL RESISTANCE TO ISONIAZID

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the significance of mutation in codon 315 of katG gene and its correlation with high-level of resistance to isoniazid, nuclotide and amino acid changes in mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) isolates randomly collected from sputums of 42 patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis in different regions of Belarus. Materials and Methods: Drug susceptibility testing was determined using the CDC standard conventional proportional method. DNA Extraction, katG gene amplification, and DNA sequencing analysis were performed. Results: Six isolates (14%) bearing multi-mutations in three codons (309,315 and 316), 26 Isolates (61.9%) demonstrated multi-mutations in all or two of the above codons, and 8 (19%) were found to have a single mutation in 315. Four types of mutations were identified in codons 315: AGC→ACC (n=36)85%, AGC→AGG (n=1) 2.3%, AGC→AAC (n=2) 4.7%, AGC→GGC (n=1) 2.3%, one type of mutation in 316: GGC→AGC (n=18)41.4%, and four types of mutations in 309: GGT→GGT (n=7)16.1%, GGT→GCT (n=4)9.2%, GGT→GTC (n=3)6.9%, GGT→GGG (n=1)2.7%. In 2 (4.7%) isolates mutations were identified in codons 463, 357, and in codons 454, 357 respectively. Conclusion: MTB in patients from Belarus were found to have high-level resistance to isoniazid in the isolates with mutations in codon 315 (> 10 µg/mL). (Tanaffos 2007; 6(3): 11-19)
NF-κB Suppression by the Deubiquitinating Enzyme Cezanne

Transcription factors belonging to the NF-κB family regulate inflammation by inducing pro-inflammatory molecules (e.g. interleukin (IL)-8) in response to cytokines (e.g. tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α, IL-1) or other stimuli. Several negative regulators of NF-κB, including the ubiquitin-editing enzyme A20, participate in the resolution of inflammatory responses. We report that Cezanne, a member of the A20 family of the deubiquitinating cysteine proteases, can be induced by TNFα in cultured cells. Silencing of endogenous Cezanne using small interfering RNA led to elevated NF-κB luciferase reporter gene activity and enhanced expression of IL-8 transcripts in TNFα-treated cells. Thus we conclude that endogenous Cezanne can attenuate NF-κB activation and the induction of pro-inflammatory transcripts in response to TNF receptor (TNFR) signaling. Overexpression studies revealed that Cezanne suppressed NF-κB nuclear translocation and transcriptional activity by targeting the TNFR signaling pathway at the level of the IκB kinase complex or upstream from it. These effects were not observed in a form of Cezanne that was mutated at the catalytic cysteine residue (Cys209), indicating that the deubiquitinating activity of Cezanne is essential for NF-κB regulation. Finally, we demonstrate that Cezanne can be recruited to activated TNFRs where it suppresses the build-up of polyubiquitinated RIP1 signal adapter proteins. Thus we conclude that Cezanne forms a novel negative feedback loop in pro-inflammatory signaling and that it suppresses NF-κB activation by targeting RIP1 signaling intermediaries for deubiquitination.
Nondestructive Acoustic Measurement of Firmness for Nectarines, Apricots, Plums, and Tomatoes

A nondestructive, acoustic method was applied to evaluate firmness of nectarines (Prunus persica Batch.), apricots (Prunus mume Sieb. et Succ.), plums (Prunus salicina Lindl.), and tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. 'Beiju'). Sound with frequencies from 200 to 2000 Hz, generated by a miniature speaker attached to the fruit surface, was received by a small microphone attached to the opposite side. The signal was monitored by an oscilloscope. Sound frequency did not change during propagation in the fruit. However, as the microphone was moved along the circumference of the fruit, a phase shift in the received signal was observed. When the distance the microphone was displaced along the surface of the fruit corresponded to a shift of exactly one wavelength, the sound wavelength propagated within the fruit could be determined. The number of sound waves within the fruit over half its circumference was calculated as a function of this distance. Mature fruit propagated shorter wavelengths and consequently more sound waves than immature fruit, indicating that the sound velocity in the mature fruit was lower than in immature fruit. This relatively simple method for measuring lower frequency suggests that the sound velocity propagated through fruit can be determined without measuring the absolute velocity.
A Generalized Threat Model for Visual Sensor Networks

Today, visual sensor networks (VSNs) are pervasively used in smart environments such as intelligent homes, industrial automation or surveillance. A major concern in the use of sensor networks in general is their reliability in the presence of security threats and cyberattacks. Compared to traditional networks, sensor networks typically face numerous additional vulnerabilities due to the dynamic and distributed network topology, the resource constrained nodes, the potentially large network scale and the lack of global network knowledge. These vulnerabilities allow attackers to launch more severe and complicated attacks. Since the state-of-the-art is lacking studies on vulnerabilities in VSNs, a thorough investigation of attacks that can be launched against VSNs is required. This paper presents a general threat model for the attack surfaces of visual sensor network applications and their components. The outlined threats are classified by the STRIDE taxonomy and their weaknesses are classified using CWE, a common taxonomy for security weaknesses.