Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Near Real-Time Assessment of Student Learning and Understanding in Biology Courses

Abstract Computer technologies have transformed biology research, but the application of instructional technology tools to better connect teaching with learning has proceeded at a far slower pace. Especially in large-enrollment classes where many undergraduates are first introduced to biology, faculty can use computer-assisted instructional technologies to help gauge student understanding (and misunderstanding) of core science concepts and to better evaluate their own teaching practices. In this article, I report on two instructional technology tools, which prompt students to reflect on their learning and allow faculty to gauge student understanding of material almost simultaneously: (1) off-the-shelf personal response systems, modified for in-class assessment in introductory biology classes, and (2) a custom-designed Web-based assessment for use between lectures (Bio-Bytes). On the whole, both faculty and students reported that these technologies helped to improve students' overall understanding of biological principles and concepts.
Assessment of Cardiac Remodeling—A Chance for Novel Cardiac Biomarkers?

Biomarkers are defined as "cellular, biochemical or molecular alterations that are measurable in biological media such as human tissues, cells, or fluids", providing "biological characteristics that can be objectively measured and evaluated as an indicator of normal biological processes, pathogenic processes, or pharmacological responses to a therapeutic intervention "according to Hulka et al [. ].
Black Falcon Taken by Peregrine Falcon

Remains of a Black Falcon Falco subniger wing, among superficially similar wing remains of Australian Ravens Corvus coronoides, were found as prey at a Peregrine Falcon F. peregrinus eyrie in December 2006 at high altitude near Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. This item was among other large, dangerous prey items taken by Peregrine Falcons at this altitude and habitat, where small prey species are less available.
Dual-Motor-Task of Catching and Throwing a Ball During Overground Walking in Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality is a versatile platform to study human behavior in simulated environments and to develop interventions for functional rehabilitation. In this work, we designed a dual-task paradigm in a virtual environment where both tasks demand motor skills. Twenty-one healthy adults (mean age: 24.1 years) participated in this study. The experiment involved three conditions - normal overground walking, catch and throw a ball while standing, and catch and throw a ball while walking overground —all in the virtual environment. We investigated the dual-task gait characteristics and their correlations with outcomes from cognitive assessments. Results show that subjects walk conservatively with smaller stride lengths, larger stride widths and stride time while catching and throwing. However, they are able to throw the balls more accurately at the target and achieve higher scores. During the dual-task throw, we observed that the participants threw more balls during the stance phase of the gait when the foot was in the terminal stance and pre-swing region. During this region, the body has forward momentum. In addition, the changes in gait characteristics during dual-task throw correlate well with outcome measures in standardized cognitive tests. This study provides a new and engaging paradigm to analyze dual-motor-task cost in a virtual reality environment and it can be used as a basis to compare strategies adopted by different population groups with healthy young adults to execute coordinated motor tasks.
SURVIVAL OF POSTFLEDGING GRASSLAND BIRDS IN MISSOURI

Abstract We describe survival patterns during the postfledging period for two species of grassland birds in Missouri. We monitored 155 radio-marked juvenile Dickcissels (Spiza americana) and 107 juvenile Eastern Meadowlarks (Sturnella magna; hereafter meadowlark) in southwestern Missouri, from 2002 to 2004. We used an information theoretic approach to evaluate support for biological, temporal, and spatial covariates on survival estimates using Cox proportional hazards models, and also identified cause-specific mortality. For Dickcissels, the model with biological covariates containing body mass had the lowest score using Akaike's information criterion, corrected for small sample sizes (AICc) and almost twice the support of the second-best model. For meadowlarks, the null model had the lowest AICc score, but the second-best model containing body mass was also competitive (within 2 AICc units), so we used the latter model for inference. Hazard ratios indicated that a 1 g increase in body mass was associated with a 3% (Dickcissels) and 2% (meadowlarks) reduction in the risk of death. The cumulative probability of surviving the study period (Dickcissels, 58 days, meadowlarks, 72 days) was 0.56 (95% CI: 0.49–0.65) for Dickcissels and 0.63 (95% CI: 0.54–0.74) for meadowlarks. Predation was the largest source of cause-specific mortality for both species and responsible for 56% (Dickcissels) and 70% (meadowlarks) of deaths. Snakes were the numerically dominant predator of juvenile Dickcissels, but there was not a numerically dominant predator of juvenile meadowlarks. Our results emphasize the importance of body condition on postfledging survival. Future studies should consider estimating postfledging survival rates within species across systems to understand the potential impacts of different predator communities on juvenile survival.
Dorsomedial Prefrontal Cortex Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Tinnitus: Promising Results of a Blinded, Randomized, Sham-Controlled Study.

OBJECTIVES Tinnitus is the perception of sound in ears or head without corresponding external stimulus. Despite the great amount of literature concerning tinnitus treatment, there are still no evidence-based established treatments for curing or for effectively reducing tinnitus intensity. Sham-controlled studies revealed beneficial effects using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). Still, results show moderate, temporary improvement and high individual variability. Subcallosal area (ventral and dorsomedial prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortices) has been implicated in tinnitus pathophysiology. Our objective is to evaluate the use of bilateral, high frequency, dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (DMPFC) rTMS in treatment of chronic subjective tinnitus. DESIGN Randomized placebo-controlled, single-blinded clinical trial. Twenty sessions of bilateral, 10 Hz rTMS at 120% of resting motor threshold of extensor hallucis longus were applied over the DMPFC. Fourteen patients underwent sham rTMS and 15 were submitted to active stimulation. Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), visual analog scale, and tinnitus loudness matching were obtained at baseline and on follow-up visits. The impact of intervention on outcome measures was evaluated using mixed-effects restricted maximum likelihood regression model for longitudinal data. RESULTS A difference of 11.53 points in the THI score was found, favoring the intervention group (p = 0.05). The difference for tinnitus loudness matching was of 4.46 dB also favoring the intervention group (p = 0.09). CONCLUSIONS Tinnitus treatment with high frequency, bilateral, DMPFC rTMS was effective in reducing tinnitus severity measured by THI and matched tinnitus loudness when compared to sham stimulation.
Shared up-regulation and contrasting down-regulation of gene expression distinguish desiccation-tolerant from intolerant green algae

Significance The well-established up-regulation of genes coding for protective proteins during drying of desiccation-tolerant taxa has been central to previous efforts to understand (and manipulate) desiccation tolerance. Using comparative transcriptomics in closely related desiccation-tolerant (desert-derived) and intolerant (aquatic) green algae in the family Scenedesmaceae, here we show, however, that both desiccation-tolerant and intolerant algae up-regulated expression of common protective genes during desiccation. The feature distinguishing desert green algae from their aquatic relative was an extensive, controlled down-regulation of gene expression associated with diverse growth and energy-acquiring metabolic pathways during desiccation. These data suggest a new perspective on desiccation tolerance may be warranted, recognizing both up-regulation of genes coding for protective proteins and extensive down-regulation of diverse metabolic genes. Among green plants, desiccation tolerance is common in seeds and spores but rare in leaves and other vegetative green tissues. Over the last two decades, genes have been identified whose expression is induced by desiccation in diverse, desiccation-tolerant (DT) taxa, including, e.g., late embryogenesis abundant proteins (LEA) and reactive oxygen species scavengers. This up-regulation is observed in DT resurrection plants, mosses, and green algae most closely related to these Embryophytes. Here we test whether this same suite of protective genes is up-regulated during desiccation in even more distantly related DT green algae, and, importantly, whether that up-regulation is unique to DT algae or also occurs in a desiccation-intolerant relative. We used three closely related aquatic and desert-derived green microalgae in the family Scenedesmaceae and capitalized on extraordinary desiccation tolerance in two of the species, contrasting with desiccation intolerance in the third. We found that during desiccation, all three species increased expression of common protective genes. The feature distinguishing gene expression in DT algae, however, was extensive down-regulation of gene expression associated with diverse metabolic processes during the desiccation time course, suggesting a switch from active growth to energy-saving metabolism. This widespread downshift did not occur in the desiccation-intolerant taxon. These results show that desiccation-induced up-regulation of expression of protective genes may be necessary but is not sufficient to confer desiccation tolerance. The data also suggest that desiccation tolerance may require induced protective mechanisms operating in concert with massive down-regulation of gene expression controlling numerous other aspects of metabolism.
Phase II clinical trial of pazopanib for patients with unresectable or metastatic malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) often does not respond well to chemotherapy and develops against a background of NF1. The purpose of our study was to examine the efficacy of pazopanib against MPNST. Our study was designed as a physician‐initiated phase II clinical trial in patients with advanced MPNST. Patients were registered from 11 large hospitals. The primary endpoint was set to clarify the clinical benefit rate (CBR) at 12 weeks according to response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST). Progression‐free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and the CBR based on modified Choi evaluation at week 12 were set as secondary endpoints along with treatment‐related safety. The study enrolled 12 patients. Median age was 49 years. Seven had Grade 2 and five Grade 3 according to the FNCLCC evaluation. Median follow‐up period was 10.6 months. CBR at 12 weeks was both 50.0% (RECIST and Choi). The median PFS was 5.4 months for both RECIST and Choi, and the median OS was 10.6 months. Of special interest, the median PFS was 2.9 months for patients with FNCLCC Grade 2 and 10.2 months for Grade 3 (both RECIST and Choi). Grade 4 adverse events of neutropenia and lipase elevation were noted in one patient each. The results of this pazopanib therapy were generally better than those of any of the other single molecular targeted therapies reported previously. Although accumulation of more cases remains necessary, we conclude pazopanib treatment for MPNST to be a safe and promising treatment after doxorubicin‐based chemotherapy.
Selection Indices for Seed Yield in Indian Mustard (Brassica Juncea (L.) Czern & Coss), I. Based on Physiological Attributes

Selection indices based on the relative importance of four physiological attributes were used in non-segregating populations of two crosses of Indian mustard, namely RH 30 × RC 781 and Prakash × RC 1425. It was observed that leaf area duration and leaf area index at reproductive phase, when selected simultaneously, resulted in the highest genetic gain in seed yield. Selection indices based on leaf area duration and leaf area index exhibited superiority over straight selection for yield in both crosses. However, leaf area duration combined with any other character satisfactorily improved the expected genetic gain in both crosses. The genotypes having persistent green leaves till physiological maturity reflected long leaf area duration, hence selection for tins physiological attribute at this stage would be desirable for seed yield improvement in this crop.
Effect of Dietary and Animal Factors on Milk Fatty Acids Composition of Grazing Dairy Cows: A Review

In pasture-based milk production systems, using available farm resources in order to reduce feeding costs, the composition and functional properties of dairy cows’ milk are of considerable importance to the dairy farmer, manufacturer and consumer. Basically, there are three options for altering the composition and/or functional properties of milk: 1) cow nutrition and grazing management, 2) cow genetics and 3) dairy manufacturing technologies. At the farm levels, manipulation of milk composition only occurs when it is perceived to be more profitable, normally, processing options are the option most considered. Nevertheless, opportunities exist for manipulation of milk composition on the farm to improve the human and physiological properties of milk and dairy products, such as enhanced concentrations of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), or to improve its milk fatty acids (FA) composition for more efficient processing into a range of dairy products. This review considers the effect of dietary (pasture feeding, lipid feed supplements, seasonal and regional variations) and animal (breed, stage of lactation, parity and animal to animal) factors on milk FA composition of grazing dairy cows. Furthermore, it highlights the relevance that these factors, in the context of an integrative-view, might play on the sustainability of pasture-based milk production systems in humid areas in terms of milk differentiation and higher added value which profit would be directly reached for the milk producer on the farm.
A TALE OF TWO SPECIES: HABITAT CONSERVATION PLANS AS BOUNDED CONFLICT

Abstract Worldwide human population expansion and rising standards of living place increasing pressure on wildlife populations and their habitats. Conflict regarding conservation and preservation of endangered species is among the greatest challenges of the 21st century. Endangered species management on private lands magnifies the problems encountered by natural resource policy-makers and managers. Given that conservation of endangered species increasingly depends on securing cooperation of private property owners in local communities, understanding how to secure that cooperation is important. We used an ethnographic approach to critically review the Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) processes used in attempts to develop regional HCPs to benefit the Houston toad (Bufo houstonensis) and the Florida Key deer (Odocoileus virginianus clavium; hereafter, Key deer). In both cases, the process was framed as a search for the optimum solution through collaboration and consensus building, and in neither case was the solution achieved. The paradoxical nature of liberal democracy precluded the possibility of a single, ideal solution. Failing to find the optimal solution led to disillusionment and pessimism with the process among HCP participants. We suggest that within democratic political contexts, approaches to conservation planning that center around bounded conflict, which is rooted in acknowledgment of the paradox inherent to the ideals of liberty and equality, are more likely to produce satisfactory results than are consensus-based approaches.
Inactivation of Scrapie Prions by the Electrically Charged Disinfectant CAC-717

Previous studies have revealed that the electrically charged disinfectant CAC-717 has strong virucidal and bactericidal effects but is safe for humans and animals. In this study, CAC-717 was further evaluated for its potential effects as a disinfectant against scrapie prions. Western blotting showed that CAC-717 reduced the amount of the abnormal isoform of prion protein (PrPSc) in prion-infected cell (ScN2a) lysates. Furthermore, the reduction of prion transmissibility was confirmed by a mouse bioassay, in which mice injected with scrapie prions pre-treated with CAC-717 survived longer than those injected with untreated scrapie prions. Lastly, to evaluate the seeding activity of ScN2a cell lysates treated with CAC-717, quantitative protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) was performed directly on ScN2a cell lysates treated with CAC-717, which showed that the median dose of PMCA (PMCA50) dropped from log9.95 to log5.20 after CAC-717 treatment, indicating more than a 4 log reduction. This suggests that the seeding activity of PrPSc is decreased by CAC-717. Collectively, these results suggest that CAC-717 has anti-prion activity, reducing both PrPSc conversion activity and prion transmissibility; thus, CAC-717 will be useful as a novel disinfectant in prion diseases.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE DIET QUALITY INDEX IN NURSING MOTHERS AND THE FATTY ACID PROFILE OF MATURE BREAST MILK

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the relationship between the maternal diet quality and the fatty acid composition of breast milk in the first trimester of lactation. Methods: This is an observational cross-sectional epidemiological study of nursing mothers. The data collection instruments were a semi-structured questionnaire for sample characterization and a recall of usual intake. Diet quality was assessed based on the healthy eating index (HEI). Samples of mature breast milk were obtained by hand milking. Milk fat was extracted using the Bligh-Dyer method and methylated with 0.25 mol/L sodium methoxide in methanol diethyl ether. A gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector determined the milk fatty acid profile. Pearson’s and Spearman’s correlation tests evaluated association between the variables. Subsequently, a multiple linear regression model was built and multivariate regression analysis was applied. Results: Our findings revealed an inverse relationship between the consumption of total fruits and the polyunsaturated fatty acid profile and a direct association of the intake of total fruits and total grains with monounsaturated and saturated fatty acids. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that maternal diet quality affects the fatty acid composition of breast milk.
Comparison of phenology trends by land cover class: a case study in the Great Basin, USA

Direct impacts of human land use and indirect impacts of anthropogenic climate change may alter land cover and associated ecosystem function, affecting ecological goods and services. Considerable work has been done to identify long‐term global trends in vegetation greenness, which is associated with primary productivity, using remote sensing. Trend analysis of satellite observations is subject to error, and ecosystem change can be confused with interannual variability. However, the relative trends of land cover classes may hold clues about differential ecosystem response to environmental forcing. Our aim was to identify phenological variability and 10‐year trends for the major land cover classes in the Great Basin. This case study involved two steps: a regional, phenology‐based land cover classification and an identification of phenological variability and 10‐year trends stratified by land cover class. The analysis used a 10‐year time series of Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer satellite data to assess regional scale land cover variability and identify change. The phenology‐based regional classification was more detailed and accurate than national or global products. Phenological variability over the 10‐year period was high, with substantial shifts in timing of start of season of up to 9 weeks. The mean long‐term trends of montane land cover classes were significantly different from valley land cover classes due to a poor response of montane shrubland and pinyon‐juniper woodland to the early 1990s drought. The differential response during the 1990s suggests that valley ecosystems may be more resilient and montane ecosystems more susceptible to prolonged drought. This type of regional‐scale land cover analysis is necessary to characterize current patterns of land cover phenology, distinguish between anthropogenically driven land cover change and interannual variability, and identify ecosystems potentially susceptible to regional and global change.
Growth and yield of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) in fly ash with nutrient amendments and Mycorrhiza for three-ratoon period

Abstract Environmental and health concerns due to fly ash dumpsite could be prevented by phytostabilization using non-food crops that will prevent pollutants’ migration and provide additional economic returns. The growth and yield of Cymbopogon citratus in the fly ash dumpsite were evaluated in a pot experiment for a three-ratoon period. Application of compost, mycorrhiza, and NPK fertilizer, singly or the combination compost + mycorrhiza, compost + NPK fertilizer, mycorrhiza + NPK fertilizer, and compost + mycorrhiza + NPK fertilizer had increased the dry matter yield and the total essential oil content compared to the control. NPK fertilization regardless of compost and mycorrhiza resulted in more than 5-fold yield over the control. Compost lowered the available heavy metals from fly ash and supplied some essential nutrients while mycorrhiza could have improved water and nutrients acquisition and uptake. However, the nutrients supplied by the compost cannot sustain the requirements for the three-ratoon period. NPK fertilization, compost, and mycorrhiza reduced the concentrations of Cr, Cu, Ni, and Pb in shoots and in essential oil. Overall, the combined application of compost, mycorrhiza, and NPK fertilization at the rate of 120-90-90 kg NPK/ha could enhance the phytostabilization potential of C. citratus in fly ash and produce a high amount of essential oil with a low concentration of heavy metals that could be safe for human use. Novelty Statement Phytostabilization using aromatic plants is a potential alternative for the on-site pollution mitigation strategy of fly ash dumpsite. In this report, the appropriateness of lemongrass as a phytostabilization agent for fly ash dumpsite of the Morupule Power Plant in Botswana was evaluated for a three-ratoon period. This is the first report from Botswana that considered the effect of soil amendments, mycorrhiza inoculation, and NPK fertilization on the growth and yield of lemongrass in fly ash as well as the heavy metal availability and uptake. The results from this study are very useful for identifying site-specific cultural management strategy of using lemongrass in the phytostabilization of fly ash dumpsite in Botswana and elsewhere.