Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ecohydrological and Climate Change studies at the Konza Prairie Biological Station

Konza Prairie Biological Station (KPBS) is a 3,487-ha preserve managed by the Division of Biology at Kansas State University (KSU) and dedicated to a three-fold mission of longterm ecological research, science education, and grassland conservation. The station is located 15 km south of KSU in Manhattan, KS (39°05’ N 96°35’ W) on lands jointly owned by The Nature Conservancy and KSU. KPBS is a unique outdoor laboratory that provides opportunities for the study of grassland (tallgrass prairie), riparian woodland, and stream ecosystems and for basic biological research on a wide range of taxa and processes. It also serves as a benchmark for comparison with areas affected by human activities and as a regional environmental education facility for students and the public. More information about the station and its programs can be found at kpbs.konza. ksu.edu/.
Adenosine-5′-Phosphosulfate- and Sulfite Reductases Activities of Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria from Various Environments

A comparative study of the kinetic characteristics (specific activity, initial and maximum rate, and affinity for substrates) of key enzymes of assimilatory sulfate reduction (APS reductase and dissimilatory sulfite reductase) in cell-free extracts of sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB) from various biotopes was performed. The material for the study represented different strains of SRB from various ecotopes. Microbiological (isolation and cultivation), biochemical (free cell extract preparation) and chemical (enzyme activity determination) methods served in defining kinetic characteristics of SRB enzymes. The determined affinity data for substrates (i.e., sulfite) were 10 times higher for SRB strains isolated from environmental (soil) ecotopes than for strains from the human intestine. The maximum rate of APS reductase reached 0.282–0.862 µmol/min×mg−1 of protein that is only 10 to 28% higher than similar initial values. The maximum rate of sulfite reductase for corrosive relevant collection strains and SRB strains isolated from heating systems were increased by 3 to 10 times. A completely different picture was found for the intestinal SRB Vmax in the strains Desulfovibrio piger Vib-7 (0.67 µmol/min × mg−1 protein) and Desulfomicrobium orale Rod-9 (0.45 µmol/min × mg−1 protein). The determinant in the cluster distribution of SRB strains is the activity of the terminal enzyme of dissimilatory sulfate reduction—sulfite reductase, but not APS reductase. The data obtained from the activity of sulfate reduction enzymes indicated the adaptive plasticity of SRB strains that is manifested in the change in enzymatic activity.
RESEARCH ARTICLE IN VITRO PROPAGATION OF CYATHEA GIGANTEA (WALL EX. HOOK) - A TREE FERN

Cyathea is a genus of tree fern, Cyatheaceae is the scaly tree fern family and includes the World’s tallest tree fern which reach heights upto 20m (Large & Braggins, 2004). According to Beniwal (1994) Cyathea gigantea is treated as one of the endangered plants of India. In this study an attempt was made to standardize the in vitro protocol for mass multiplication and conservation of threatened tree fern Cyathea gigantea Wall. ex. Hook, using spore as explants. Spores were found to germinate in Fern Propagation media and MS media. Spores cultured on MS medium showed 72% germination. Sporophytes were induced from the gametophytes on the MS media supplemented with 0.8mg/L IAA and 5mg/L kinetin with highest root length 20.29 cm. Period of germination, Fresh weight of prothallus and length of sporophytes were recorded. In Vitro raised shoots rooted on MS media supplemented with IBA. The well rooted micropropagated plants were transferred to hardening medium for acclimatization where 81% survival percentage was observed. Abbreviations : MS – Murashige and Skoog, IAA – Indole 3- acetic acid, IBA - Indole 3- butyric acid.
Technological Approaches for Improving Vaccination Compliance and Coverage

Vaccination has been well recognised as a critically important tool in preventing infectious disease, yet incomplete immunisation coverage remains a major obstacle to achieving disease control and eradication. As medical products for global access, vaccines need to be safe, effective and inexpensive. In line with these goals, continuous improvements of vaccine delivery strategies are necessary to achieve the full potential of immunisation. Novel technologies related to vaccine delivery and route of administration, use of advanced adjuvants and controlled antigen release (single-dose immunisation) approaches are expected to contribute to improved coverage and patient compliance. This review discusses the application of micro- and nano-technologies in the alternative routes of vaccine administration (mucosal and cutaneous vaccination), oral vaccine delivery as well as vaccine encapsulation with the aim of controlled antigen release for single-dose vaccination.
The Cardiac Lipidome in Models of Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. There are numerous factors involved in the development of CVD. Among these, lipids have an important role in maintaining the myocardial cell structure as well as cardiac function. Fatty acids (FA) are utilized for energy, but also contribute to the pathogenesis of CVD and heart failure. Advances in mass spectrometry methods have enabled the comprehensive analysis of a plethora of lipid species from a single sample comprised of a heterogeneous population of lipid molecules. Determining cardiac lipid alterations in different models of CVD identifies novel biomarkers as well as reveals molecular mechanisms that underlie disease development and progression. This information could inform the development of novel therapeutics in the treatment of CVD. Herein, we provide a review of recent studies of cardiac lipid profiles in myocardial infarction, obesity, and diabetic and dilated cardiomyopathy models of CVD by methods of mass spectrometry analysis.
Influence of Mining and Vegetation Restoration on Soil Properties in the Eastern Margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Mining causes serious destruction of the surface morphology and soil structure of lands, and vegetation restoration on post-mining lands provides an effective way for soil and water conservation. To determine the influence of mining and vegetation restoration on soil properties in the eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, four land sites, including two vegetation restoration sites (restorated by Elymus nutans and Picea crassifolia, respectively), one non-vegetated mining site and one native grassland site, were selected. Fifty-two topsoil (0–10) samples were collected from these four sites, and then soil properties, trace metals and soil enzyme activities were analyzed. The results showed that there was an increase in soil pH (>8.0) after mining, while vegetation restoration decreased the soil pH compared with native grassland; the soil organic matter and total nitrogen in the site restored with E. nutans increased by 48.8% and 25.17%, respectively, compared with the site restored with P. crassifolia. The soil enzyme activities decreased after mining, and there were no significant increases in urease, phosphatase, β-glucosidase and β-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminidase activities after five years of restoration. In addition, the contents of soil trace metals (cadmium, chromium, mercury, lead and zinc) after mining were lower than the Chinese threshold (GB 15618/2018), but the content of arsenic in non-vegetated soil and P. crassifolia-restored soil exceeded the threshold by 22.61 times and 22.86 times, respectively. Therefore, As-contaminated land areas should be accurately determined and treated in a timely way to prevent arsenic from spreading, and plant species with tolerance to alkaline soil should be selected for vegetation restoration on post-mining lands.
The Impact of the Ubiquitin System in the Pathogenesis of Squamous Cell Carcinomas

The ubiquitin system is a dynamic regulatory pathway controlling the activity, subcellular localization and stability of a myriad of cellular proteins, which in turn affects cellular homeostasis through the regulation of a variety of signaling cascades. Aberrant activity of key components of the ubiquitin system has been functionally linked with numerous human diseases including the initiation and progression of human tumors. In this review, we will contextualize the importance of the two main components of the ubiquitin system, the E3 ubiquitin ligases (E3s) and deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs), in the etiology of squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). We will discuss the signaling pathways regulated by these enzymes, emphasizing the genetic and molecular determinants underlying their deregulation in SCCs.
The events that may contribute to subgingival dysbiosis: a focus on the interplay between iron, sulfide and oxygen.

This minireview considers the disruption of the host-microbiota harmless symbiosis in the subgingival niche. The establishment of a chronic infection by subversion of a commensal microbiota results from a complex and multiparametric sequence of events. This review narrows down to the interplay between oxygen, iron and sulfide that can result in a vicious cycle that would favour peroxigenic and glutathione producing streptococci as well as sulfidogenic anaerobic pathogens in the subgingival niche. We propose hypothesis and discuss strategies for the therapeutic modulation of the microbiota to prevent periodontitis and promote oral health.
Genomic Structural Diversity in Local Goats: Analysis of Copy-Number Variations

Simple Summary Copy-number variations (CNVs) are one of the widely dispersed forms of structural variations in mammalian genomes and are known to be present in genomic regions that regulate important physiological functions. In this study, CNV detection was performed starting from genotypic data of 120 individuals, belonging to four Sicilian dairy goat breeds, genotyped with the Illumina GoatSNP50 BeadChip array. Using PennCNV software, a total of 702 CNVs were identified in 107 individuals. These were merged in 75 CNV regions (CNVRs), i.e., regions containing CNVs overlapped by at least 1 base pair. Functional annotation of the CNVRs allowed the identification of 139 genes/loci within the most frequent CNVRs, which are involved in local adaptation, mild behaviour, immune response, reproduction, and olfactory receptors. This study provides insights into the genomic variations within these Italian goat breeds and should be of value for future studies to identify the relationships between this type of genetic variation and phenotypic traits. Abstract Copy-number variations (CNVs) are one of the widely dispersed forms of structural variations in mammalian genomes, and are present as deletions, insertions, or duplications. Only few studies have been conducted in goats on CNVs derived from SNP array data, and many local breeds still remain uncharacterized, e.g., the Sicilian goat dairy breeds. In this study, CNV detection was performed, starting from the genotypic data of 120 individuals, belonging to four local breeds (Argentata dell’Etna, Derivata di Siria, Girgentana, and Messinese), genotyped with the Illumina GoatSNP50 BeadChip array. Overall, 702 CNVs were identified in 107 individuals using PennCNV software based on the hidden Markov model algorithm. These were merged in 75 CNV regions (CNVRs), i.e., regions containing CNVs overlapped by at least 1 base pair, while 85 CNVs remained unique. The part of the genome covered by CNV events was 35.21 Mb (1.2% of the goat genome length). Functional annotation of the CNVRs allowed the identification of 139 genes/loci within the most frequent CNVRs that are involved in local adaptations, such as coat colour (ADAMTS20 and EDNRA), mild behaviour (NR3C2), immune response (EXOC3L4 and TNFAIP2), reproduction (GBP1 and GBP6), and olfactory receptors (OR7E24). This study provides insights into the genomic variations for these Sicilian dairy goat breeds and should be of value for future studies to identify the relationships between this type of genetic variation and phenotypic traits.
Social bats: the males' perspective

Abstract Almost all bat species worldwide are, despite pronounced differences in ecology and life history, social. This makes them ideal organisms for studying the diversity and evolution of sociality. However, almost all work has focused on maternity colonies and most studies have been done on temperate species. Although simple density-dependent factors such as thermoregulatory benefits to the offspring or limited availability of roost sites have been refuted as the main driving forces behind sociality, it remains often impossible to disentangle factors associated with breeding from other potential actors on social organization. The study of multimale associations, a hitherto neglected social organization in bats, could provide a solution to this dilemma. Using data from male colonies of particolored bats (Vespertilio murinus, Linnaeus, 1758) in Switzerland I explain how sociality for male particolored bats is likely to be the best of a bad job and that competition over future matings determines when individuals leave the colony. Although multimale associations could potentially yield important insight into the mechanisms shaping social organization, we currently lack information about many aspects of such associations, which we need in order to understand social organization in its full detail.
Bodies that birth: Vitalizing birth politics Rachelle Chadwick

over its management can be experienced as reinforcing an ill identity, rather than producing the envisaged freedom. These measures can also produce anxiety, depression, and fear of physical deterioration when out of the acceptable range. A key thread running through much of the book is how little people know where their data goes or have input into the design of digital technologies they are invited to use, as well as the problematic interaction of commercial interests, neoliberal healthism, government health promotion and individualistic psychological theories of health behaviour – for example, the way sharing heath data is presented as an altruistic act to support other people or enhance future treatments, yet people sharing their data rarely have a say in how these data are used, or are informed of who benefits from it commercially. The possibilities of these data being used to exclude people from health care in countries where health care is operated through private insurance companies are also discussed. Lupton highlights the potential for data mining and data profiling practices, and inadequate measures to protect data security, as well as ownership of personal data and the way in which data may be used to perpetuate social disadvantage. She also shows the way that companies use social media to promote services, sharing with us the industry term “unbranded social media engagement” used to describe clandestine social media interactions by those working for pharmaceutical companies who, in starting online conversations about illness or treatments without stating their commercial interest, are “seeding disease education” and “priming the market” for a new product (p. 71). The book finishes with directions for further research and critical digital health studies. In particular, Lupton highlights, for example, a paucity of research on digital health activism or on the working practices and ideas of the commercial interests involved in the development, production and marketing of digital health technologies – research on technology developers, coders, designers and those who commission them to build software and hardware is clearly needed. In Digital Health, Lupton is recruiting for the next wave of researchers to contribute to the emerging field of “Critical digital health studies”.
Ptychochromis inornatus: A New Cichlid (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from Northwestern Madagascar, with a Discussion of Intrageneric Variation in Ptychochromis

Abstract Ptychochromis inornatus, n. sp. , is described from the Ankofia basin, northwestern Madagascar. The new species is diagnosed from congeners by the absence of large, black midlateral blotches or bars, and the presence of only two rows of teeth on the second pharyngobranchial toothplate, a robust uncinate process of the first epibranchial bone that is at least twice the diameter of the anterior arm, anterior chest scales that are reduced in size and embedded, a rounded and truncate postero-dorsal margin on the supraoccipital crest, and red fin coloration in life. Ptychochromis inornatus is endemic to the Ankofia drainage basin, with a geographic range extending from the Anjingo River northward to Lake Andrapongy and its surrounding drainages. Intrageneric variation within Ptychochromis is also discussed and comparisons made to the new species.
Diversity of wheat phyllosphere fungi in different agricultural production systems

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a disease affecting cereals world-wide caused by Fusarium fungi. The disease is of great economic importance especially since it is associated with contamination by harmful mycotoxins produced by Fusarium spp. In recent years, several studies have reported lower mycotoxin contamination of organically produced cereals compared with those produced conventionally. An unexplored factor is differences in the microbial communities on cereal crops between the organic and conventional systems, which may exert a biocontrol effect on FHB. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the effect of different environmental and agricultural factors on Fusarium communities and fungal phyllosphere communities in wheat in different agricultural production systems. New primers for amplifying Fusarium communities, in conjunction with 454 se-quencing, were evaluated, and Fusarium communities associated with soil and wheat kernels were successfully characterised. Comparison of fungicide-treated and untreated wheat leaves from 18 fields in Sweden in 2011 revealed that fungicide use was associ-ated with decreased evenness of fungal communities. Furthermore, organic farming was associated with increased fungal species richness on wheat leaves when pairs of 22 organically and conventionally managed fields in Sweden were compared in 2012. There was no difference in the abundance of leaf pathogens between cropping systems. Several fungal species were consistently found regardless of geographical location, year and cropping system, while fungal abundance was highly variable between fields. Both Fusarium and fungal communities were affected by agricultural intensity. How-ever, there was no difference in Fusarium community composition in wheat kernels from organically and conventionally managed fields. The method evaluated in this thesis can be used to monitor Fusarium communities in the field, which is important in order to develop strategies for limiting FHB and mycotoxin contamination. The present thesis demonstrates that fungicide use and organic farming are associated with differen-tial fungal communities in the wheat phyllosphere. This indicates that there is an oppor-tunity for the farmer to manage these communities with the aim of enhancing their biocontrol potential against plant pathogens such as Fusarium.
An Introduction to Light-emitting Diodes

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are semiconductor devices that produce noncoherent, narrow-spectrum light when forward voltage is applied. LEDs range in wavelength from the UVC band to infrared (IR) and are available in packages ranging from milliwatts to more than 10 W. The first LED was an IR-emitting device and was patented in 1961. In 1962, the first practical visible spectrum LED was developed. The first high-power (1-W) LEDs were developed in the late 1990s. LEDs create light through a semiconductor process rather than with a superheated element, ionized gas, or an arc discharge as in traditional light sources. The wavelength of the light emitted is determined by the materials used to form the semiconductor junction. LEDs produce more light per electrical watt than incandescent lamps with the latest devices rivaling fluorescent tubes in energy efficiency. They are solid-state devices, which are much more robust than any glass-envelope lamp and contain no hazardous materials like fluorescent lamps. LEDs also have a much longer lifetime than incandescent, fluorescent, and high-density discharge lamps (U.S. Dept. of Energy). Although LEDs possess many advantages over traditional light sources, a total system approach must be considered when designing an LED-based lighting system. LEDs do not radiate heat directly, but do produce heat that must be removed to ensure maximum performance and lifetime. LEDs require a constant-current DC power source rather than a standard AC line voltage. Finally, because LEDs are directional light sources, external optics may be necessary to produce the desired light distribution. A properly designed LED light system is capable of providing performance and a lifetime well beyond any traditional lighting source.
Intrinsic competition between two secondary hyperparasitoids results in temporal trophic switch

Interspecific competition amongst parasitoids is important in shaping the evolution of life-history strategies in these insects as well as community structure. Competition for hosts may occur between adult female parasitoids (‘extrinsic’ competition) or their progeny (‘intrinsic’ competition). Here, we examined intrinsic competition between two solitary secondary hyperparasitoids, Lysibia nana and Gelis agilis in cocoons of a primary parasitoid, Cotesia glomerata. Each species was allowed to sting hosts previously parasitized by the other at 24 h time intervals over the course of 144 h (6 days). When hosts were attacked simultaneously, neither species was dominant although the species to attack first won most encounters when it had a 24–48 h head start. However, after this time there was dramatic shift in the outcome with G. agilis dominating in all hosts > 72-h old, regardless of which species had parasitized C. glomerata first. G. agilis larvae, which initially had competed with L. nana for control of C. glomerata resources, began attacking the larvae of L. nana, whereas L. nana rejected hosts with older G. agilis larvae or pupae. Effects of multiparasitism also affected the development time and adult mass of the winning parasitoid. Our results reveal a shift in the trophic status of G. agilis from C. glomerata (in younger hosts) to L. nana (in older hosts), the first time such a phenomenon has been reported in parasitoids.