Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Aspects of avian thermal physiology and frugivory of indigenous and invasive fruits in South Africa.

Indigenous and invasive plants have long been recognised as an important food source for avian frugivores worldwide. It has been suggested that seed germination success can vary amongst avian and plant species and that ingestion by avian frugivores can enhance, reduce or have no effect on seed germination. Few studies have looked at the role of both invasive and indigenous avian species on the germination success of invasive and indigenous plants in South Africa. Therefore the first aim of this study was to determine the effects of invasive rose-ringed parakeets (Psittacula krameri) and indigenous Knysna (Tauraco corythaix) and purple-crested (Gallirex porphyreolophus) turacos on seed germination of invasive alien plant species (Solanum mauritianum, Cinnamomum camphora, Psidium guajava, and Morus alba). The second aim was to determine the effect of invasive rose-ringed parakeets on seed viability and germination of indigenous Ficus species (i.e. F. lutea, F. burkei, F. sur and F. natalensis). Previous studies have shown that many avian frugivores prefer invasive alien fruits suggesting that they may be able to efficiently assimilate energy from these fruits. However few studies have focused on the consumption and digestive efficiency of invasive fleshly fruits by indigenous and invasive birds simultaneously in one study. Consequently this study also investigated the digestive efficiency of invasive and indigenous avian frugivores feeding on invasive fleshy fruits. Finally, this study assessed the seasonal effects on the thermoregulation of invasive rose-ringed parakeets. As invasive bird species are spreading in South Africa, understanding the physiological responses that equip them to tolerate a wide range of climatic conditions would be useful for modelling potential distributions and effectively managing them. Seed ingestion by Knysna and purple-crested turacos resulted in significantly higher germination success than those from whole fruits for all invasive alien plant species in this study. Germination success of manually pulp-removed seeds did not differ from that of turacos ingested seeds, suggesting that seed coat abrasion was not important for germination of these invasive alien plants. Seed passage through the digestive tract of rose-ringed parakeets resulted in significantly reduced germination success and viability of all ingested plant species, suggestion that seed ingestion by this species is disadvantageous to these plant species. These results suggest that Knysna and purple-crested turacos are legitimate seed dispersers of the four fleshy-fruited invasive plants, while rose-ringed parakeets are mainly seed predators. Results obtained from this study also suggest that rose-ringed parakeets are mainly seed predators of Ficus fruit, as none of the ingested seeds managed to germinate. In addition, all three avian species investigated managed to meet their energetic demands by feeding on invasive alien fruit only, suggesting that these plant species may sustain avian frugivores especially during periods of…
Ventral pallidal regulation of motivated behaviors and reinforcement

The interconnected nuclei of the ventral basal ganglia have long been identified as key regulators of motivated behavior, and dysfunction of this circuit is strongly implicated in mood and substance use disorders. The ventral pallidum (VP) is a central node of the ventral basal ganglia, and recent studies have revealed complex VP cellular heterogeneity and cell- and circuit-specific regulation of reward, aversion, motivation, and drug-seeking behaviors. Although the VP is canonically considered a relay and output structure for this circuit, emerging data indicate that the VP is a central hub in an extensive network for reward processing and the regulation of motivation that extends beyond classically defined basal ganglia borders. VP neurons respond temporally faster and show more advanced reward coding and prediction error processing than neurons in the upstream nucleus accumbens, and regulate the activity of the ventral mesencephalon dopamine system. This review will summarize recent findings in the literature and provide an update on the complex cellular heterogeneity and cell- and circuit-specific regulation of motivated behaviors and reinforcement by the VP with a specific focus on mood and substance use disorders. In addition, we will discuss mechanisms by which stress and drug exposure alter the functioning of the VP and produce susceptibility to neuropsychiatric disorders. Lastly, we will outline unanswered questions and identify future directions for studies necessary to further clarify the central role of VP neurons in the regulation of motivated behaviors. Significance: Research in the last decade has revealed a complex cell- and circuit-specific role for the VP in reward processing and the regulation of motivated behaviors. Novel insights obtained using cell- and circuit-specific interrogation strategies have led to a major shift in our understanding of this region. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the VP in which we integrate novel findings with the existing literature and highlight the emerging role of the VP as a linchpin of the neural systems that regulate motivation, reward, and aversion. In addition, we discuss the dysfunction of the VP in animal models of neuropsychiatric disorders.
APROXIMACIÓN IN SILICO A LA ESTRUCTURA 3D DE LA PROTEÍNA ANTIVENENO DM64 DE LA ZARIGÜEYA (MAMMALIA: MARSUPIALIA: DIDELPHIDAE)

Los accidentes por mordeduras de serpientes venenosas producen más de 50 mil muertes al año, particularmente en los trópicos donde se han convertido en un problema de salud pública. Estos accidentes producen, entre otros síntomas, hemorragias (SVMPs), mionecrosis (PLAs) y dolor, y las seroterapias convencionales son solo parcialmente efectivas y pueden producir efectos inmunes adversos. Por todo esto, recientemente se están investigando proteínas antiveneno naturales de mamíferos [DM43 (antihemorragina) y DM64 (antimiotóxica) de la zarigüeya] que han demostrado ser más efectivas. Adicionalmente las SVMPs y PLAs venosas tienen sus contrapartes endógenas normales no venenosas (MMPs y PLAs), y cuando el balance entre estas últimas y sus inhibidores se rompe, se producen patologías como: artritis, arterioesclerosis, asma, diabetes, choques sépticos, neoplasias, inflamaciones, psoriasis, reumatismo, etc. Por todo esto se hizo una aproximación in silico y por homología a la estructura 3D de DM64, con el sistema Swiss Model-Deep View. Además de obtener un modelo similar al previamente logrado por otro grupo para DM43, este proceso permitió estandarizar esta técnica de modelamiento de proteínas como una herramienta muy útil en nuestro medio por su eficiencia y bajo costo (SM-DV se puede utilizar gratuitamente).
Miocene divergence, phenotypically cryptic lineages, and contrasting distribution patterns in common lichen-forming fungi (Ascomycota: Parmeliaceae)

Despite the recent advancements in recognizing diversity in lichen-forming fungi, assessing the timing of diversification remains largely unexplored in these important fungal symbionts. To better understand the evolutionary processes driving diversification in common lichen-forming fungi, we investigated the phylogeny and biogeography of the broadly distributed Melanelixia fuliginosa/M. glabratula group, using molecular data from six nuclear markers. Phylogenetic analyses of individual gene alignments and combined data provide strong evidence for five species-level lineages within this species complex. Three of these lineages correspond to the previously described species M. fuliginosa, M. glabratula, and M. subaurifera. The remaining two lineages, ‘M. sp. 1’ and ‘M. sp. 2’, merit species recognition based on genealogical concordance. Both M. glabratula and M. subaurifera had broad intercontinental distributions, sharing identical haplotypes among intercontinental populations. Based on the current sampling, M. fuliginosa s.s. was represented exclusively by European material and was not collected in North America. ‘M. sp. 1’ was represented by collections from Scotland and Spain; and ‘M. sp. 2’ was represented by collections in California, USA. Environmental factors driving the contrasting distribution patterns in this group remain unknown. Divergence times estimated using a coalescence-based multilocus species-tree approach suggest that diversification within the M. fuliginosa/M. glabratula group occurred exclusively during the Miocene. The results of the present study indicate that phenotypically cryptic lichen-forming fungal species-level lineages may be relatively ancient and do not necessarily reflect recent divergence events. Furthermore, diagnosable phenotypic differences may be absent even millions of years after the initial divergence. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, ●●, ●●–●●.
Overview on brain function enhancement of Internet addicts through exercise intervention: Based on reward-execution-decision cycle

Internet addiction (IA) has become an impulse control disorder included in the category of psychiatric disorders. The IA trend significantly increased after the outbreak of the new crown epidemic. IA damages some brain functions in humans. Emerging evidence suggests that exercise exerts beneficial effects on the brain function and cognitive level damaged by IA. This work reviews the neurobiological mechanisms of IA and describes the brain function impairment by IA from three systems: reward, execution, and decision-making. Furthermore, we sort out the research related to exercise intervention on IA and its effect on improving brain function. The internal and external factors that produce IA must be considered when summarizing movement interventions from a behavioral perspective. We can design exercise prescriptions based on exercise interests and achieve the goal of quitting IA. This work explores the possible mechanisms of exercise to improve IA through systematic analysis. Furthermore, this work provides research directions for the future targeted design of exercise prescriptions.
The Human Rad52 Protein: a Correlation of Protein Function with Oligomeric state: a Dissertation

The regulation of protein fuction though oligomerization is a common theme in biological systems. In this work, I have focused on the effects of the oligomeric states of the human Rad52 protein on activities related to DNA binding. HsRad52, a member of the RAD52 epistasis group, is thought to play an important and as yet undefied role in homologous recombination. HsRad52 preferentially binds to ssDNA over dsDNA and stimulates HsRad51-mediated strand exchange (Benson et al., 1998). In either the presence or absence of DNA HsRad52 has been observed to form both 10 nm ring-like structures as well as higher order oligomers consistig of multiple 10 nm rings (Van Dyck et al., 1998; Van Dyck et al. 1999). Earlier protein-protein interaction studies mapped the domain responsible for HsRad52 self-association in the N-terminus (residues 85159) (Shen et aI. 1996). Data presented here identifies a novel self-association domain in the C-terminus of HsRad52 that is responsible for the formation of higher order oligomers. VanDyck et al. observed DNA ending binding complexes consistig of multiple rings (Van Dyck et al. 1999). They proposed that these higher order oligomers may be functionally relevant. In this work, we demonstrate that DNA binding depends on neither ring shaped oligomers nor higher order oligomers but that activities of HsRad52 that require simultaneous interaction with more
Distribution of White Shark in Japanese Waters

The white shark was thought to be rare in Japanese waters except Okinawa, but the author doubted its rarity because of its coastal and temperate habitat and eurythermal nature. Therefore, records of large sharks were collected since 1992 and closely examined. Nineteen of sharks were the white shark Carcharodon carcharias, and such a high incidence in catches or sightings in only 18 months is surprising , because previous published records indicate for fewer numbers. Since many of the larger sharks are not landed because of their low commercial value, and since smaller specimens were not included in this survey, the white shark is not a rare species in Japan.
Análise do desempenho da função de distância em linhas de transmissão que utilizam o unified power flow controller.

This work presents the analysis behavior of the distance protection function in power transmission systems that use unified power flow controllers. The proposed analysis is based on voltage and current measurements provided by instrument transformers, positioned on the buses where this equipment is installed, to an intelligent electronic device. The study was elaborated in a computational routine in the MATLAB R © software suite and was tested via simulations of a transmission system in the Simulink R © environment. The results reveal the impact of this equipment on the protection function and provide information about the best choice for the positioning of the instrument transformers.
Overall Transport Capabilities of Bacillus subtilis

Membrane transport systems play important roles in enabling the uptake of essential nutrients, ions, and metabolites, as well as the expulsion of toxic compounds, cell envelope macromolecules, secondary metabolites, and the end products of metabolism. Transporters also enable communication between cells and their environments and participate in energy generation and interconversion. Secondary active transporters use chemiosmotic energy in the form of transmembrane ion or solute electrochemical gradients to drive transport. Primary active transporters use chemical, electrical, or solar energy to drive transport. ATP hydrolysis provides the energy for the majority of chemically driven active transporters, but decarboxylation or methyltransfer can drive uptake or extrusion of solutes via other such systems. Whole-genome sequencing allows comparison of cellular processes such as membrane transport at the organismal level. B. subtilis encodes within its genome six recognized channel proteins, and these proteins belong to four distinct families. Two uncharacterized Trk family paralogues, YkrM and YubG, are present in B. subtilis. They may be K+/Na+ symporters. B. subtilis encodes a large number of efflux pumps responsible for the extrusion of drugs, metabolites, and a variety of natural products. Families of sugar-transporting permeases have been tabulated and discussed, and structure-function relationships of phosphotransferase system (PTS) permeases (also known as enzyme II complexes) have been reviewed in this chapter. Although only a small fraction of the recognized B. subtilis transporters have been functionally characterized, rational functional predictions have been made for a majority of these proteins.
How to Make a Rod Photoreceptor: The Role of bZIP Transcription Factor NRL in Retinal Development.

Networks of transcriptional regulatory proteins dictate specification of neural lineages from multipotent retinal progenitors. Rod photoreceptor differentiation requires the basic motif-leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor NRL, as loss of Nrl in mice (Nrl) results in complete transformation of rods to functional cones. To examine the role of NRL in cell fate determination, we generated transgenic mice that express Nrl under the control of Crx promoter in post-mitotic photoreceptor precursors of wild type and Nrl retina. We show that NRL expression, in both genetic backgrounds, leads to a functional retina with only rod photoreceptors. The absence of cones does not alter retinal lamination, though cone synaptic circuitry is now recruited by rods. Ectopic expression of NRL in developing cones can also induce rod-like characteristics and partially suppress cone-specific gene expression. We show that NRL is associated with specific promoter sequences in Thrb (encoding TRβ2 transcription factor required for M-cone differentiation) and S-opsin, and may therefore directly participate in transcriptional suppression of cone development. These studies establish that NRL is not only essential but is sufficient for rod differentiation and that post-
ANAGENETIC EVOLUTION OF THE EARLY TITHONIAN AMMONITE GENUS SEMIFORMICERAS TESTED WITH CLADISTIC ANALYSIS

Abstract: The Early Tithonian ammonite genus Semiformiceras represents a lineage that lasted almost 3 myr. Previously, a gradual, anagenetic evolutionary pattern has been proposed on the basis of both biostratigraphic data and the interpretation of morphological changes in successive species, subspecies or morphotypes. The existence of two almost homeomorphic species, S. birkenmajeri and S. gemmellaroi, at two separate stratigraphic intervals in the early Tithonian contrasts with the transformation of characters suggested by the stratigraphic distribution of others. New descriptions of 18 specimens of the poorly known species Semiformiceras gemmellaroi (Zittel) allow a more accurate analysis of its characters. Cladistic analysis of a taxon‐character matrix is based on nine Semiformiceras phena (species, chronosubspecies and morphotypes) and two outgroup taxa (Taramelliceras and Streblites), using 14 morphological characters. The phyletic relationships inferred from these do not fit the anagenetic pattern and question the adequacy of the fossil record in reconstructing phyletic lineages.
New record of the smalleye stingray, Dasyatis microps (Myliobatiformes : Dasyatidae), from the western Indian Ocean

Members of the Dasyatidae (stingrays) range in width from very small ( 200 cm, e.g. the smooth stingray Dasyatis brevicaudata) (Last & Compagno, 1999; White & Dharmadi, 2007). The dasyatids are represented worldwide by more than 70 currently recognised extant species which occur in a variety of habitats, e.g. marine, estuarine and freshwater. They are typically demersal on insular and continental shelves, but one species (the pelagic stingray Dasyatis violacea) is pelagic in oceanic waters (Last & Compagno, 1999). In this paper we report the first occurrence of the smalleye stingray Dasyatis microps (Annandale) in the western Indian Ocean and provide information on the fresh colouration of this rare species.
Ocean distribution and habitat associations of yearling coho (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and Chinook (O. tshawytscha) salmon in the northern California Current

Yearling juvenile coho and Chinook salmon were sampled on 28 cruises in June and September 1981–85 and 1998–07 in continental shelf and oceanic waters off the Pacific Northwest. Oceanographic variables measured included temperature, salinity, water depth, and chlorophyll concentration (all cruises) and copepod biomass during the cruises from 1998–07. Juvenile salmonids were found almost exclusively in continental shelf waters, and showed a patchy distribution: half were collected in ∼5% of the collections and none were collected in ∼40% of the collections. Variance-to-mean ratios of the catches were high, also indicating patchy spatial distributions for both species. The salmon were most abundant in the vicinity of the Columbia River and the Washington coast in June; by September, both were less abundant, although still found mainly off Washington. In June, the geographic center-of-mass of the distribution for each species was located off Grays Harbor, WA, near the northern end of our sampling grid, but in September, it shifted southward and inshore. Coho salmon ranged further offshore than Chinook salmon: in June, the average median depth where they were caught was 85.6 and 55.0 m, respectively, and in September it was 65.5 and 43.7 m, respectively. Abundances of both species were significantly correlated with water depth (negatively), chlorophyll (positively) and copepod biomass (positively). Abundances of yearling Chinook salmon, but not of yearling coho salmon, were correlated with temperature (negatively). We discuss the potential role of coastal upwelling, submarine canyons and krill in determining the spatial distributions of the salmon.
Reconstruction adaptative optimisée pour la quantification en tomographie de positons couplée à un tomodensitomètre. (Optimized adaptive reconstruction for quantification in PET-CT)

L'etude a ete initiee a l'occasion de la disponibilite d'un algorithme iteratif de reconstruction en tomographie par emission de positons, qui presente l'avantage d'atteindre la convergence grâce a une methode de regularisation. Il a donc fallu evaluer ses performances et son eventuel apport en comparaison aux algorithmes de reference, puis etudier l'influence du seul parametre accessible aux utilisateurs pour une optimisation en clinique. Pour cela, plusieurs tests ont ete realises, sur fantomes d'abord, puis sur patients car les resultats obtenus n'etaient pas directement transposables en clinique. Cet algorithme a de nombreux avantages par rapport au standard actuel OSEM-MLEM (moins de bruit, meilleur contraste, meilleure detectabilite des lesions) mais pourrait encore etre ameliore pour diminuer les artefacts et la surestimation de certaines metriques, grâce a l'utilisation de fantomes plus anthropomorphiques et l'acces a plus de parametres de reconstruction. Des travaux sont encore en cours avec l'editeur.
Připravenost k rodičovství a vztahová vazba

Diplomova prace, ktera je podkladem pro tento přispěvek, se zaměřila na připravenost k rodicovstvi u mladých dospělých v souvislosti s teorii vztahove vazby a s dalsimi faktory (pohlavi, věk, aspekty partnerskeho vztahu a subjektivni vývojový status). Teoreticka cast vychazi z konceptu teorie vztahove vazby, z poznatků vývojove psychologie a z tematicky relevantnich výzkumů. Kvantitativni dotaznikove setřeni realizovane online se uskutecnilo na vzorku mladých dospělých v Ceske republice ve věku 18-35 let, N = 659. Vytvořili jsme dotaznik vlastni konstrukce a ke zjistěni typu vztahove vazby byla použita Zkracena ceska verze skaly Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR-CZ). Pomoci statistickeho testovani jsme dosli ke zjistěni, že jistý typ vztahove vazby je spojen s vyssi mirou připravenosti k rodicovstvi. Naopak rozdil ve vnimane připravenosti k rodicovstvi mezi muži a ženami nalezen nebyl. Z testovani souvislosti dalsich faktorů vyplynulo, že připravenost k rodicovstvi souvisi s věkem, subjektivnim vývojovým statusem i s delkou partnerskeho vztahu, spokojenosti ve vztahu a typem soužiti partnerů.
Does frenotomy improve feeding outcomes in newborn infants with ankyloglossia?

Frenotomy in newbornswith tongue-tie (ankyloglossia) does not consistently improve objective feeding outcomes when compared with no frenotomy or sham frenotomy (SOR: C, based on a systematic review of randomized controlled trials [RCTs] with methodologic shortcomings and a case series). Maternal nipple pain with breastfeeding is modestly reduced after frenotomy (SOR: C, systematic review of RCTs and a case series). Copyright © 2019 by Family Physicians Inquiries Network, Inc. DOI 10.1097/EBP.0000000000000432