Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The potential effect of exotic Pacific rats Rattus exulans on vectors of scrub typhus

Summary 1. The role and influence of exotic species in indigenous vector-borne diseases are important but remain understudied. Ascertaining whether disease vectors prefer exotic vs. native hosts has important implications for human health. Moreover, evaluating whether exotic hosts are intrinsically less susceptible to vectors, or whether vector loads can vary with environment, is instructive for possible disease dynamics in the face of range expansion of exotic species. Rattus exulans has recently been recorded for the first time in eastern Taiwan, where scrub typhus is prevalent. We assessed the role of R. exulans as a host for chiggers (larval trombiculid mites), and the degree to which vector loads of R. exulans exhibited spatial variation. 2. We deployed live traps in two villages in Taiwan that differed in human population density and in the incidence of scrub typhus. We recovered and tallied chiggers from small mammals, and identified over one-fifth of chiggers from each host to species. Chiggers were assayed for Orientia tsutsugamushi (OT) infection with nested-PCR. 3. R. exulans was the most common small mammal species captured (31AE4% total captures), and supported about one-fifth of total chiggers recovered. Leptotrombidium imphalum dominated the chigger assemblage of most native species (>90%), but Gahrliepia spp. was commonly found in R. exulans (39AE1%). We detected OT in the genus Leptotrombidium (39%) but not in the Gahrliepia. Prevalence and loads of chiggers in R. exulans were about 5· and 17· higher, respectively, in the less densely populated village; a similar trend also occurred with native R. losea. 4. Synthesis and applications . C urrently,R. exulans appears to play a relatively minor role in supporting chiggers. However, the fact that both prevalence and loads of chiggers in R. exulans vary greatly with environment, along with the abundance of most exotic species and the ecological flexibility of R. exulans, implies a potential health risk as this species expands to areas with more chiggers. Our study suggests that a clearer understanding of interactions among native and exotic hosts and native parasite species can facilitate prediction of the impact of exotic hosts on the dynamics of vector-borne diseases.
Beyond value: biodiversity and the freedom of the mind

Circumstances have conspired to render the conservation movement curiously diffident in the expression of the fundamental beliefs that underpin it. ‘Oppositional’ activists assume their case as proven, while ‘institutional’ tacticians tend to adopt the point of view of those they oppose, deploying utilitarian/economic arguments. The latter arguments represent an unstable long-term option because they are an inadequate defence against compelling forces of corrosion and corruption. On present evidence, in a few hundred years the planet will be devoid of major natural areas, and the quality of human life will have been utterly compromised. A more honest admission that the natural world is an inalienable component of the human capacity to experience freedom (which is also a mental circumstance) would transform the way we treat the natural environment and hence the prospects for the long-term survival of biological diversity.
Patterns of change in the size spectra of numbers and diversity of the North Sea fish assemblage, as reflected in surveys and models

Trends were analysed over two decades in the size spectra of numbers and diversity of the North Sea fish assemblage. In trawl survey data, the abundance spectrum was smoothly linear each year. Both slopes and intercepts increased significantly over the period, reflecting the eVects offishing. The diversity size spectrum was curvilinear, with diversity increasing among smaller sizes and decreasing linearly over larger sizes. The slope of the linear component of the spectrum varied with a multi-year pattern, but without an overall trend. The much greater stability of the diversity spectrum compared with the abundance spectrum suggests that thefish community structure has remained fairly stable over the period, despite significant increases in harvesting on component populations. To explore the hypothesis that the regulation of the community structure arises from trophic interactions, the same community metrics were calculated from the output of a multi-species virtual population analysis of the major exploitedfish predators and prey, parameterized with extensive catch data and feeding habits. Although many fewer species were included in the modelled assemblage than in the survey data, overall patterns were very similar. Annual abundance spectra were linear and slopes increased significantly and fairly smoothly over the 20 years, indicating significant eVects of fishing on the size composition of the exploited fish assemblage. The annual diversity spectra were more dome-shaped than in the survey data. The shape showed no overall trend, but diversity of smaller size classes showed ad i Verent temporal pattern from the diversity of intermediate and large size classes. The patterns in modelled output are consistent with, but do not prove, the hypothesis that trophic interactions are an important factor in thefish community structure in the North Sea. 1996 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea
Chorion Structure of Diapause and Subitaneous Eggs of Four Diaptomid Copepods (Calanoida, Diaptomidae): SEM Observations

Chorion Structure of Diapause and Subitaneous Eggs of Four Diaptomid Copepods (Calanoida, Diaptomidae): SEM Observations Scanning electron microscopic examination of diapause eggs of freshwater Calanoida Hemidiaptomus amblyodon Marenzeller, Eudiaptomus vulgaris (Schmeil), E. graciloides (Lilljeborg) and subitaneous one s of E. gracilis (Sars) is described. The chorion surface ornamentation and number of coated layers are revealed. Diapause eggs have a thick (0.6-4.8 μ), at least two-layered chorion with patterned surface, whereas subitaneous eggs have a thin (0.13-0.25 μ), single-layered chorion with smooth surface. The mean number of eggs in egg sac, diameter of eggs and thickness of chorion were measured. The significance of the egg chorion thickness for diaptomid species inhabited temporary and/or permanent water-bodies is discussed. Структура хориона диапаузирующих и субитанных яиц четырех видов диаптомидных копепод (Calanoida, Diaptomidae): СЭМ-исследования Сканирующая электронная микроскопия яиц пресноводных каланоид Hemidiaptomus amblyodon Marenzeller, Eudiaptomus vulgaris (Schmeil), E. graciloides(Lilljeborg) и E. gracilis (Sars) дала возможность показать особенности покровов и количество оболочек у диапаузирующих и субитанных яиц этих видов. Диапаузирующие яйца имеют толстую (0,6-4,8 мкм), двухслойную оболочку с орнаментом на поверхностном слое, в то время как субитанные яйца имеют тонкую (0,13-0,25 мкм), однослойную оболочку c гладким поверхностным слоем. Среднее количество яиц в яйцевом мешке, диаметр яиц и толщина хориона указаны. Обсуждается значение толщины оболочки яиц в связи с обитанием диаптомид во временных и постоянных водоемах.
Inertia and slip effect on a single textured hydrodynamic thrust bearing using CFD methods

Increasing bearing performance in load support can be done by adding texture and artificial slip on one of the bearing surfaces. In this paper, a study is presented on fluid inertia and slip effect on the performance of textured hydrodynamic thrust bearings in load support by considering both cavitation and without cavitation. The results obtained indicate that cavitation needs to be considered in the bearing analysis. Moreover, the greater the fluid inertia force is, the less load support will be produced in a slip condition, but in a no-slip condition, adding artificial slip can increase the load support in thrust bearings at a certain sliding speed.
Zoeal stages of Hiplyra variegata (Rüppell, 1830) (Crustacea: Brachyura: Leucosiidae) reared in the laboratory and collected from plankton at Al-Kharrar creek, central Red Sea

Abstract The zoeal stages of Hiplyra variegata are described and illustrated for the first time. Zoea I was obtained from an ovigerous female, and the zoea II and zoea III stages were captured in the plankton (their identity was confirmed by rearing some of them from earlier stages). Comparisons are made with the only other species of the genus of which larvae are known, i.e. H. platycheir. The presence of a lateral spine on the carapace of zoea I is one of the most important characters that can be used for easy recognition of H. variegata. It is important to note that the third zoea of H. variegata has four small spines at each posterolateral margin of the carapace, in contrast to three spines in other species.
Determination of Proteolytic Activities of Bacillus species Isolated From Traditional Fermented Oil Bean Seed (UGBA: Pentaclethra macrophylla, Benth)

Eighty samples of traditional fermented “ugba” ( Pentaclethra macrophylla , Benth) wraps collected from eight markets in Umuahia were analyzed for proteolytic activities (by zone of inhibition in mm) of Bacillus species using two protein-based substrates: Skim Milk Agar and Nutrient Agar supplemented with 1% gelatin. 51 isolates were identified as B. subtilis , 18 as B. licheniformis and 11 as B. pumilus with Ariam Market having the highest mean count (mm) of 1.93±0.16. B. subtilis had the highest proteolytic activity (28.00±0.55) on Skim Milk Agar (P=.05) but together with B. licheniformis had the same level of proteolytic activity (26.00±0.00 and 26.00±0.55 respectively at P=.05) which is higher than B. pumilis (13.00±0.55) on Nutrient agar supplemented with 1% gelatin. Original However, B. licheniformis and B. pumulis had better proteolytic activities (26.00±0.55 and 13.00±0.55: P=.05) respectively on Nutrient agar supplemented with 1% gelatin than on Skim Milk Agar. The two potential protease producers that showed higher proteolytic activity were incubated at high temperature and result showed that B. subtilis proteolytic activity was optimum at (29.00±0.71) at 50°C while that of B. licheniformis was optimum (28.00±0.00) at 40°C (P=.05). Antimicrobial susceptibility of the Bacillus species showed that the three Bacillus species were most sensitive to Chloramphenicol (21.00±0.51) without any statistical difference followed by Gentamycin (20.00±0.31) but completely resistant to Rifampicin (0.00±0.0; P=.05). B. subtilis showed better proteolytic activity at a higher temperature and will be better suited for production processes in industries where thermophilic temperatures are needed.
Cytogenetic and biochemical effects of imazethapyr in wheat (Triticum durum)

Mitotic abnormalities, chromosomal behavior, and protein content in wheat (Triticum durum) due to imazethapyr (IM) treatment were determined. Wheat seeds (variety HI-8663) were exposed to 5 IM concentrations (0.5, 0.89, 1.58, 2.81, and 5 ppm) according to the between paper method, in laboratory conditions. The protein content in the root-shoot axis and endosperm decreased significantly with the dosage increase. Cytological observations showed that the mitotic frequency in the root meristematic cells decreased parallel to the increase in concentrations. The most common types of the observed anomalies were sticky chromosomes, lagging chromosomes, scattered chromosomes, chromatin bridges, and micronuclei. The results revealed that the herbicide IM could affect biochemical parameters, mitotic frequency, and chromosomal behavior in wheat seeds.
An actin gene as the internal control for gene expression analysis in herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.)

As an internal control gene, actin plays an important role in gene expression analysis. In this study, the full length cDNA and genomic DNA sequences of an actin gene were isolated from Chinese herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.) for the first time. Sequence analysis indicated that the full length of cDNA was 1657 bp, containing one open reading frame (ORF) of 1134 bp that encodes 377 amino acids, and the genomic DNA sequence was 1817 bp, containing three exons and two introns. They all had been submitted to GenBank and obtained the accession number JN105299 and FJ713744, respectively. Homology analysis showed that the cDNA and its deduced protein of P. lactiflora actin (Plactin) shared high similarities with those from other plants. Protein structure prediction showed that the deduced protein did not have signal peptide and transmembrane topological structure, and was a hydrophilic and stable protein. Temporal and spatial expression analysis of Plactin, which was performed by semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), displayed its stable expression which conformed to the regulation of using as an internal control gene. The results suggested that actin of herbaceous peony could be used as an alternative internal control gene for the study of the targeted genes expression and regulation characteristics in herbaceous peony. Key words: Paeonia lactiflora, actin, internal control gene, gene expression.
Comparison of prochloron from different hosts i. structural and ultrastructural characteristics

Summary Prochloron cells from a variety of ascidian hosts and from sites throughout the tropical Pacific and Indian Oceans have been studied by optical and electron microscopy. With a few exceptions, they can be placed into three typological groups which correlate closely with the type of host–symbiont relationship. This grouping is also compatible with the limited biochemical taxonomic data so far published on Prochloron. Some inferences can be drawn about the evolution of Prochloron and its symbiosis with ascidians.
Phylogeographical history of the white seabream Diplodus sargus (Sparidae): Implications for insularity

Abstract Partial sequences of the mitochondrial control region and its comparison with previously published cytochrome b (cyt-b) and microsatellite data were used to investigate the influence of island isolation and connectivity on white seabream genetic structure. To achieve this, a total of 188 individuals from four island localities (Castellamare and Mallorca, Mediterranean Sea; Azores and Canary Islands, Atlantic Ocean) and five coastal localities (Banyuls, Murcia and Tunisia, Mediterranean Sea; Galicia and Faro, Atlantic Ocean) were analysed. Results showed high haplotype diversity and low to moderate nucleotide diversity in all populations (except for the Canary Islands). This pattern of genetic diversity is attributed to a recent population expansion which is corroborated by other results such as cyt-b network and demographic analyses. Low differentiation among Mediterranean/Atlantic and coastal/island groups was shown by the AMOVA and FST values, although a weak phylogeographic break was detected using cyt-b data. However, we found a clear and significant island/distance effect with regard to the Azores islands. Significant genetic differentiation has been detected between the Azores islands and all other populations. The large geographical distance between the European continental slope and the Azores islands is a barrier to gene flow within this region and historic events such as glaciation could also explain this genetic differentiation.
Microbial ecology of fermenting plant materials

The lactic acid fermentation of plant materials is presented from an ecological perspective emphasizing microbial interactions and their influence on the production of fermented plant foods and silage. The plant lactic acid bacteria are discussed in terms of evolution; epiphytic function; physical distribution within fermented material; substrates and products; microbial sequences in fermentation; interactions among species; pure culture fermentation; and starter culture development.
Polymorphism and Discrimination Capacity of Randomly Amplified Polymorphic Markers in an Olive Germplasm Bank

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis was performed on the main Mediterranean cultivars of olive (Olea europaea L.) from the Germplasm Bank of the Centro de Investigacion y Formacion Agraria "Alameda del Obispo" in Cordoba, Spain. One hundred and ninety reproducible amplification fragments were identified using 46 random primers followed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Some 63.2% of the amplification products were polymorphic, with an average of 2.6 RAPD markers obtained for each primer. The combination of polymorphic markers resulted in 244 banding patterns. The high degree of polymorphism detected made identification of all the cultivars (51) possible by combining the RAPD banding patterns of just only four primers: OPA-01, OPK-08, OPX-01, and OPX-03. Cultivar- specific RAPD markers and banding patterns were also found. A dendrogram based on unweighted pair-group method cluster analysis was constructed using a similarity matrix derived from the RAPD amplification products generated by the 46 primers. Three major groups of cultivars could be distinguished by RAPD analysis: 1) cultivars from east and northeast Spain, 2) Turkish, Syrian, and Tunisian cultivars, and 3) the majority of common olive cultivars in Spain. The dendrogram thus showed a good correlation between the banding patterns of olive cultivars and their geographic origin. A higher level of polymorphism was observed when polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to separate the amplification products. Thus, adequate use of RAPD technology offers a valuable tool to distinguish between olive cultivars.
Antifungal and antibacterial activities of different extracts of Harungana madagascariensis stem bark

The antifungal and antibacterial effects of the stem bark extracts of Harungana madagascariensis Lam. ex Poir. (Clusiaceae) were examined against nine microbial pathogens causing infections in both man and animals. Hexane (H), dichloromethane (D), chloroform (C), ethyl acetate (E), acetone (A), methanol (M), and water (W) extracts were tested in vitro through bioautography and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) determination using the serial micro-dilution assays. Bioautographic results revealed the presence of eight different spots. Extract A exhibited the lowest MIC of 0.04 mg/mL against Microsporum canis, while water extract (W) and methanol (M) showed the highest MIC of 2.5 mg/mL against at least one of the tested fungi when compared to amphotericin B with 0.0625–1 g/mL. Sporotrichum schenckii was the most susceptible fungal pathogen with average MIC of 0.06 mg/mL, while the acetone extract (A) was the most active against three fungal organisms when compared with other extracts. Similarly, extracts D, C, E and A exhibited very high activity with low MIC values of 0.156–0.62 mg/mL, while M and W gave the highest values of 0.31–2.5 mg/mL on bacterial pathogens as compared to gentamicin (0.02–0.62 8 g/mL). The dichloromethane extract is the most active against bacteria with average MIC of 0.19 mg/mL, while Staphylococcus aureus is the most sensitive organism; that shows susceptibility at an average MIC of 0.34 mg/mL. These results provide promising information for the potential use of the crude extracts from the stem-bark of H. madagascariensis in the treatment of bacterial and fungal infections similar to what was obtained in the leaves.
DISTRIBUTION OF THE TERMITE GENUS COPTOTERMES (ISOPTERA: RHINOTERMITIDAE) IN FLORIDA

Two non-endemic and highly destructive spe- cies of Coptotermes Wasmann occur in Florida. In 1980, the Formosan subterranean termite, Copto- termes formosanus Shiraki, was ﬁrst discovered in Florida infesting condominiums along the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway in Broward County Later, C. formosanus was found in neighboring Dade Co. and in central Florida Co.) and in the western Panhandle (Escambia Co.) A 1987 survey of structure-infesting termites of Florida showed a low incidence of C. formosanus in urban areas of the peninsula compared with other pest species. Based on published reports and personal communications but no voucher specimens, Woodson et al. added Okaloosa, Hillsborough, Santa Rosa, Palm Beach, Marin, Citrus, and Leon as additional Florida counties where C. formosanus is distributed. The Asian subterranean termite, Coptotermes gestroi (Wasmann), ﬁrst Florida 1996 classiﬁed C. species
Knowledge Base Completion With Analogical Inference on Context Graphs

Knowledge base completion refers to the task of adding new, missing, links between entities. In this work we are interested in the problem of knowledge Graph (KG) incompleteness in general purpose knowledge bases like DBpedia and Wikidata. We propose an approach for discovering implicit triples using observed ones in the incomplete graph leveraging analogy structures deducted from a KG embedding model. We use a language modelling approach where semantic regularities between words are preserved which we adapt to entities and relations. We consider excerpts from large input graphs as a reduced and meaningful context for a set of entities of a given domain. The first results show that analogical inferences in the projected vector space is relevant to a link prediction task.
Actualización terapéutica de la queratopatía bullosa pseudoafáquica

La queratopatia bullosa pseudoafaquica o edema corneal cronico pseudoafaquico del paciente operado por cataratas con implante de lente intraocular es un proceso en el que la cornea se edematiza y pierde su funcion optica, con sintomas dolorosos e irritativos de lagrimeo, ojo rojo, probabilidad de inflamacion y ulceracion corneal por infeccion secundaria. Se observan en esta afeccion multicausal dos grupos de pacientes. En uno de ellos el dano estructural corneal y ocular ha sido excesivo y no existe expectativa de mejora visual. El otro grupo aun conserva la potencialidad de recuperacion de la agudeza visual. En el intento de solucionar esta afeccion se han empleado diversos tratamientos con fundamentos diferentes y resultados acordes con el desarrollo tecnico y cientifico en que fueron aplicados. Es proposito de esta actualizacion describir y adecuar las posibilidades que los oftalmologos puedan aplicar como terapeutica en sus respectivos niveles de actuacion.
La capture d’enveloppe par les rétrovirus

Les retro-elements constituent un moteur de la diversite du monde vivant du fait de leurs proprietes de transposition. Parmi eux se distinguent les retrovirus, dont la « transposition » se propage en une veritable infection de la cellule initiale aux cellules et organismes voisins. Une etape cle de la conversion d’un retrotransposon en agent infectieux est l’acquisition d’une glycoproteine d’enveloppe, designee Env. Nous presentons ici differents exemples ou a pu etre retracee cette « capture d’enveloppe », qui a conduit a la constitution de retrovirus infectieux de mammiferes, et montrons qu’un tel evenement de capture s’est probablement produit dans le cas de la proteine Env du retrovirus humain HTLV. Ces captures expliqueraient l’etroite parente de la proteine Env de differents retrovirus pourtant phylogeniquement distants. L’elucidation des diverses « etymologies » retrovirales devrait aider a mieux comprendre la phylogenie des retrovirus et la physiopathologie des infections retrovirales, voire mener a la decouverte de nouveaux retro-elements.