Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ESTUDO DA AÇÃO DE OSMOPROTETORES NA FLUORESCÊNCIA DA CLOROFILA a EM PLANTAS DE FEIJÃO SUBMETIDAS À SUPRESSÃO HÍDRICA

The use of osmoprotectants in agriculture has been shown to be a beneficial strategy to mitigate the deleterious effects of water deficit on cultivated plants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the osmoprotectants application on the chlorophyll a fluorescence characteristics of bean plants subjected to water suppression. The experiment was conducted in field, under a randomized block design, in split plots, arranged in a 4x7 factorial scheme, with three replications. The treatments consisted of different periods of irrigation suppression (0, 7, 14 and 21 days) and seven types of osmoprotectants based on seaweed extracts. Osmoprotectors were applied at the R6 stage and three days later the irrigation was suspended. Potential (Fv/Fm) and effective (∆F/Fm’) quantum yields of photosystem II, the electron transport rate (ETR) and the non-photochemical dissipation coefficient (NPQ) were evaluated. Significant reductions in the ∆F/Fm’ and ETR of the bean were observed whit 21 days of water deficit. The application of the osmoprotectants, however, did not allow the maintenance of these parameters. Thus, the use of osmoprotectants was not effective to minimize the effects of water stress in bean plants under the conditions evaluated.
Utility of forced expiratory time as a screening tool for identifying airway obstruction and systematic review of English literature

Setting: This study was conducted at a pulmonary function laboratory of a tertiary care hospital in North India. Objective: The objective was to study the diagnostic characteristics and clinically useful threshold of forced expiratory time (FET, measured by auscultation over trachea) as a screening tool for identifying airway obstruction and to substantiate the diagnostic utility of FET through a systematic review of English literature. Methods: FET was compared in seventy patients with airway obstruction (Group A) and seventy controls with normal spirometry (Group B). Within-subject reproducibility of FET, and its correlation with spirometric parameters, was assessed. Diagnostic accuracy of FET in detecting airway obstruction was evaluated at various time thresholds. A systematic review of English literature on FET was also carried out. Results: Median FET was significantly longer in Group A (7.04 s [interquartile range (IQR) 6.67–7.70 s] vs. 4.14 s [IQR 3.60–4.68 s], P < 0.001). At a threshold of 5 s, FET had high sensitivity (0.943) and reasonable specificity (0.814) in detecting airway obstruction. FET measurements were reproducible and correlated negatively with forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1), FEV1/forced vital capacity, and peak expiratory flow. The systematic review yielded 13 publications. At a widely used threshold of 6 s to describe airway obstruction, pooled sensitivity and specificity from five datasets were 0.802 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.668–0.890) and 0.837 (95% CI 0.570–0.952), respectively. Conclusion: FET of 5 s or more, rather than the commonly recommended threshold of 6 s, should be regarded as abnormal.
Computer‐assisted Relief Modelling: A Comprehensive Survey

As an art form between drawing and sculpture, relief has been widely used in a variety of media for signs, narratives, decorations and other purposes. Traditional relief creation relies on both professional skills and artistic expertise, which is extremely time‐consuming. Recently, automatic or semi‐automatic relief modelling from a 3D object or a 2D image has been a subject of interest in computer graphics. Various methods have been proposed to generate reliefs with few user interactions or minor human efforts, while preserving or enhancing the appearance of the input. This survey provides a comprehensive review of the advances in computer‐assisted relief modelling during the past decade. First, we provide an overview of relief types and their art characteristics. Then, we introduce the key techniques of object‐space methods and image‐space methods respectively. Advantages and limitations of each category are discussed in details. We conclude the report by discussing directions for possible future research.
The Shroud of Turin through the microscope

In an attempt to determine authenticity, the world-famous Shroud of Turin has been subjected to intensive examination, including microchemical analysis, fluorescence, radiography, infrared radiometry, optical microscopy, ultraviolet fluorescence photography, visible, ultraviolet and infrared spectroscopy and multispectral narrowband photography. Some of the problems involved in undertaking the analysis, as well as some of the findings, such as the authenticity of the blood stains, are described. See AATA 16-2, 17-875, 17-1205, 17-1237, 17-1267, 17-1284, 17-1288, 17-1309, 18-10, 18-38, and 18-52.
Sexual conflict over mating system: the case of a pair-territorial filefish without parental care

Abstract We studied the optimal mating system from the male's and female's point of view in the longnose filefish, Oxymonacanthus longirostris , which is predominantly monogamous but can also be polygynous, and lacks parental care. This fish typically moves about in closely coordinated heterosexual pairs, which share a feeding territory throughout the year. We conducted two types of male removal experiment involving manipulation of male and female mating status to examine whether the fitness consequences for each sex are influenced by mating status, and we estimated the fitness components for naturally monogamous and polygynous individuals. Polygyny was advantageous to males because of higher reproductive success, but monogamy was advantageous to females because they produced fewer eggs when their mates mated polygynously. This was due to polygynous males spending less time on territorial defence with their mates than monogamous males, resulting in a decrease in female feeding frequency. Thus, there was a sexual difference in the optimal mating system. The cost of polygyny to females led to intense female–female competition over the male in a polygynous group. However, two factors, a slightly female-biased sex ratio in the population and interference by males in the aggression between females, made it difficult for some females to form the optimal mating system. Females in a polygynous group, therefore, make the best of a bad situation. Thus, the resulting mating system of O. longirostris seems to be an outcome of sexual conflict over the mating system: males gain from polygyny, whereas monogamy increases female fitness.
Why individual vigilance declines as group size increases

A reduction in individual vigilance with an increase in group size is one of the most frequently reported relationships in the study of animal behaviour. It has been argued that this phenomenon may not be a direct consequence of an increase in group size but may be due to other factors relating to increased group size, such as increased foraging competition. However, there is evidence for a direct relationship between group size and vigilance where other variables have been controlled. The aim of this review is to highlight the fact that the functional explanation of the group size eVect remains unclear. Some authors have considered just one hypothesis, the group vigilance or 'many eyes' hypothesis. This states that, by taking advantage of the vigilance of other group members, individuals can reduce their own vigilance. However, there is an alternative, or additional, possibility that if individual vigilance declines with a reduction in individual predation risk, the group size eVect could be accounted for by a reduction in individual risk at higher group sizes, as is widely thought to occur through encounter, dilution and confusion eVects. In this review, it is shown that evidence previously interpreted in terms of one hypothesis may also be interpreted in terms of the other. Future research should be directed towards explicit consideration of the two eVects and empirical tests to distinguish their relative importance. It is proposed that the individual risk hypothesis, with group vigilance as one element, provides a more general framework for understanding variation in vigilance behaviour with group size and with other factors. 1996 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour
Decentralized Full-Waveform Inversion

With the advent of efficient seismic data acquisition, we are having a surplus of seismic data, which is improving the imaging of the earth using full-waveform inversion. However, such inversion suffers from many issues, including (i) substantial network waiting time due to repeated communications of function and gradient values in the distributed environment, and (ii) requirement of the sophisticated optimizer to solve an optimization problem involving non-smooth regularizers. To circumvent these issues, we propose a decentralized full-waveform inversion, a scheme where connected agents in a network optimize their objectives locally while being in consensus. The proposed formulation can be solved using the ADMM method efficiently. We demonstrate using the standard Marmousi model that such scheme can decouple the regularization from data fitting and reduce the network waiting time.
Silencing of retrotransposon-derived imprinted gene RTL1 is the main cause for postimplantational failures in mammalian cloning

Significance To investigate the epigenetic mechanism of pregnancy failure in mammals, we exploited the high rate of fetal loss in pig induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) nuclear transfer. We generated methylomes of pig iPSCs and associated nuclear transfer embryos from reciprocal crosses between two distinct pig breeds. Our methylome analysis revealed that misregulation of RTL1 as the principal basis of pregnancy failure using pig iPSCs. Remarkably, RTL1 has broad fertility implications across mouse, rat, pig, cattle, and human from nuclear transfer cloning, tetraploid complementation, and artificial insemination, to natural fertilization. In all of these procedures, low RTL1 expression consistently corresponds to pregnancy failures. Substantial rates of fetal loss plague all in vitro procedures involving embryo manipulations, including human-assisted reproduction, and are especially problematic for mammalian cloning where over 90% of reconstructed nuclear transfer embryos are typically lost during pregnancy. However, the epigenetic mechanism of these pregnancy failures has not been well described. Here we performed methylome and transcriptome analyses of pig induced pluripotent stem cells and associated cloned embryos, and revealed that aberrant silencing of imprinted genes, in particular the retrotransposon-derived RTL1 gene, is the principal epigenetic cause of pregnancy failure. Remarkably, restoration of RTL1 expression in pig induced pluripotent stem cells rescued fetal loss. Furthermore, in other mammals, including humans, low RTL1 levels appear to be the main epigenetic cause of pregnancy failure.
The effect of group membership on hiding behaviour in the northern rock barnacle, Semibalanus balanoides


Animals living in groups are thought to gain fitness through decreased predation risk, while often paying a cost in terms of increased competition in foraging. Thus, the balance struck between predator avoidance and foraging should be affected by group membership. For animals that avoid predation by withdrawing into a refuge (i.e. ‘hiding’), such as the northern rock barnacle, Semibalanus balanoides, that balance should be particularly important since predator avoidance excludes foraging altogether. We tested the hypothesis that barnacles living in groups should spend less time hiding when faced with a perceived threat than should solitary barnacles. We presented group-living and solitary barnacles with a simulated threat and measured hiding time with the prediction that barnacles in groups would return to foraging more quickly than solitary barnacles. Hiding time for group-living barnacles was significantly less than for solitary barnacles. We then manipulated barnacle group size with the prediction that an individual barnacle's behaviour would change based on group membership alone. We tested individual barnacles three times in an A–B–A design in which barnacles were tested in one of two sequences, solitary–group–solitary, or group–solitary–group. We found that group membership had a significant effect on barnacle foraging behaviour in that individuals emerged from hiding sooner when tested in a group than when tested alone. We conclude that, as predicted by optimality theory, group membership strongly affects foraging decisions by this refuge-using animal. We argue that the proximate mechanism for such behaviour may involve a simple binary reaction to living in a group.
Magnetic Isotropy/Anisotropy in Layered Metal Phosphorous Trichalcogenide MPS3 (M = Mn, Fe)Single Crystals

Despite the fact that two-dimensional layered magnetic materials hold immense potential applications in the field of spintronic devices, tunable magnetism is still a challenge due to the lack of controllable synthesis. Herein, high-quality single crystals MPS3 (M= Mn, Fe) of millimeter size were synthesized through the chemical vapor transport method. After systemic structural characterizations, magnetic properties were studied on the bulk MPS3 layers through experiments, along with first principle theoretical calculations. The susceptibilities as well as the EPR results evidently revealed unique isotropic and anisotropic behavior in MnPS3 and FePS3 crystals, respectively. It is worth noting that both of these materials show antiferromagnetic states at measured temperatures. The estimated antiferromagnetic transition temperature is 78 K for bulk MnPS3 and 123 K for FePS3 crystals. The spin polarized density functional theory calculations confirmed that the band gap of the antiferromagnetic states could be generated owing to asymmetric response all over the energy range. The ferromagnetic state in MnPS3 and FePS3 is less stable as compared to the antiferromagnetic state, resulting in antiferromagnetic behavior. Additionally, frequency-dependent dielectric functions for parallel and perpendicular electric field component vectors, along with the absorption properties of MPS3, are thoroughly investigated.
Fathead minnows, Pimephales promelas, learn to recognize northern pike, Esox lucius, as predators on the basis of chemical stimuli from minnows in the pike's diet

Abstract Abstract. Predator recognition by naive prey may be facilitated if a predator's diet chemically 'labels' the predator. In laboratory experiments, naive fathead minnows, exhibited a fright response to chemical stimuli from unfamiliar predators, northern pike, that had recently eaten conspecific minnows, but not to chemical stimuli from the same predators that had eaten heterospecific prey (swordtails, Xiphophorous helleri ). Minnows exposed to chemical stimuli from pike that had eaten conspecifics responded with a fright reaction to subsequent exposures, under identical conditions to the original exposure, to both tap water (a presumably neutral stimulus) and to chemical stimuli from pike that had eaten swordtails. However, when the minnows were re-tested in an experimental set-up that was different from that in the first exposure, they did not respond to the neutral stimulus but did exhibit a fright response to chemical stimuli from pike that had eaten swordtails. These results suggest that: (1) fathead minnows may initially recognize unfamiliar predators based solely on the predator's diet, (2) fathead minnows can learn to associate some characteristics of the stimulus introduction technique with a potentially dangerous situation, and (3) fathead minnows can learn to recognize the predator's chemical stimuli irrespective of the predator's recent feeding regime on the basis of the initial association between the predator's chemical stimuli and the stimuli from the minnows in its diet. These findings add a new mechanism for the learning of predator recognition.
Multiple effects of brood parasitism reduce the reproductive success of prothonotary warblers, Protonotaria citrea


Abstract Avian brood parasitism often has multiple negative effects on the reproductive success of the host. Most studies have focused on one or two of these effects, but rarely have they all been studied simultaneously for one species. I studied prothonotary warblers to quantify the effects of different intensities of (i.e. multiple) brood parasitism by brown-headed cowbirds, Molothrus ater, on the production of host and cowbird young and on the between-year returns of adult warblers. Host clutch size decreased with an increase in the number of cowbird eggs laid in nests. The hatching success of warbler and cowbird eggs decreased with increased cowbird eggs in nests, but was always higher for cowbird eggs than warbler eggs. The survival of warbler nestlings, but not cowbird nestlings, decreased with increased cowbird nestlings in the brood. An increase in the number of cowbird nestlings in broods resulted in a reduction in the average mass of warbler nestlings but not cowbird nestlings. The number of cowbird eggs or nestlings present did not affect nest predation, and the fledging of cowbirds did not influence the renesting interval of female warblers. In addition, the between-year returns of adult warblers were not negatively affected by brood parasitism. Decreased hatching success and nestling survival reduced the reproductive output of the warblers the most. These effects were substantial and appear to favour the evolution of behavioural responses that reduce the effects of brood parasitism on prothonotary warblers. Copyright 2003 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd on behalf of The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour
Spindlin‐1 recognizes methylations of K20 and R23 of histone H4 tail

Using methods combining cross‐linking, pull‐down assays, and stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture with mass spectrometry, we identified that the Tudor domain‐containing protein Spindlin‐1 recognizes trimethylation of histone H4 lysine 20 (H4K20me3). The binding affinity of Spindlin‐1 to H4K20me3 is weaker than that to H3K4me3, indicating H4K20me3 as a secondary substrate for Spindlin‐1. Structural studies of Spindlin‐1 in complex with the H4K20me3 peptide indicate that Spindlin‐1 attains a distinct binding mode for H4K20me3 recognition. Further biochemical analysis identified that Spindlin‐1 also binds methylated R23 of H4, providing new clues for the function of Spindlin‐1.
Effect of In Vitro Digestion on Water-in-Oil-in-Water Emulsions Containing Anthocyanins from Grape Skin Powder

The effects of in vitro batch digestion on water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) double emulsions encapsulated with anthocyanins (ACNs) from grape skin were investigated. The double emulsions exhibited the monomodal distribution (d = 686 ± 25 nm) showing relatively high encapsulation efficiency (87.74 ± 3.12%). After in vitro mouth digestion, the droplet size (d = 771 ± 26 nm) was significantly increased (p < 0.05). The double W1/O/W2 emulsions became a single W1/O emulsion due to proteolysis, which were coalesced together to form big particles with significant increases (p < 0.01) of average droplet sizes (d > 5 µm) after gastric digestion. During intestinal digestion, W1/O droplets were broken to give empty oil droplets and released ACNs in inner water phase, and the average droplet sizes (d < 260 nm) decreased significantly (p < 0.05). Our results indicated that ACNs were effectively protected by W/O/W double emulsions against in vitro mouth digestion and gastric, and were delivered in the simulated small intestine phase.
Urinary odour preferences of MHC congenic female mice, Mus domesticus: implications for kin recognition and detection of parasitized males

Abstract Previous experiments have shown that some strains of mice prefer mates with a major histocompatibilty complex (MHC) that differs from their own, and urine has been suggested as the olfactory signal used for discrimination. Similarly, it has been proposed that females use MHC-associated cues to choose female nesting partners. The objective of the present study was to clarify the role of urinary odours in recognition of MHC-similar and -dissimilar mice by testing odour preferences of female mice. We used B10 (H-2 b ) and B10.Q (H-2 q ) mice that differ only at the MHC loci. Our hypothesis that female mice would spend more time exploring the urinary odours of MHC-similar females, a mechanism thought to account for communal nesting patterns, was not supported; both strains explored MHC-similar and -dissimilar urinary odours equally. Our hypothesis that females would prefer the urinary odours of MHC-disparate males, as an indication of mate choice, was also not supported; neither B10 nor B10.Q females showed a significant preference for the MHC-dissimilar odour. Finally, we determined whether infection with the intestinal nematode, Heligmosomoides polygyrus , would alter urinary odour preferences. Our supposition that females would prefer the urinary odours of uninfected males, regardless of MHC strain, was supported; both B10 and B10.Q females demonstrated a significant preference for B10 uninfected male urine. Our results suggest that chemical communication through urine may not play as dominant a role in selection of nesting partners and mates as previously thought, but that it may be very important in conveying infection status.
A rare case of squamous cell carcinoma lung with multiple locoregional recurrences and histological transformation

A 52-year-old female nonsmoker with localized squamous cell carcinoma (T3N1M0) of lung underwent lobectomy with adjuvant chemotherapy. Two years later, the patient had her first locoregional recurrence with adenosquamous cell carcinoma, and pneumonectomy with adjuvant chemotherapy rendered her disease free. Subsequent isolated locoregional recurrence with squamous cell carcinoma 18 months later was treated with chemoradiotherapy and had a complete response. Patient yet again had locoregional recurrence after 4 years and had progressive disease despite subsequent multiple line of treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy, stereotactic body radiation therapy, and nivolumab. This case is unique in presentation due to prolonged survival with multiple line of treatment of recurrent locoregional tumor without distant metastasis and alteration in the histology of tumor during illness.
Head lifting by female copperheads,
 Agkistrodon contortrix
 , during courtship: potential mate choice

Abstract Male copperheads fight for priority of access to females in the mating seasons. Fighting behaviour or combat is characterized by a prominent vertical posture (the challenge display) and a high degree of physical contact. During courtship, females frequently show a vertical posture similar to the initial stages of the challenge display of males (head lifting). To test whether head lifting influences the behaviour of courting males, three experiments were conducted. The first experiment recorded the frequency of head lifting in females during courtship and responses of males with no recent social experience to head lifting. Head lifting was frequently shown by females during courtship, and males typically responded to it by giving challenge displays. The second experiment tested responses of males that recently lost fights to head lifting. In trials where courtship occurred, head lifting repelled males in the same manner observed during subordination. The third experiment tested responses of males that recently won fights to head lifting. In these trials, males frequently challenged females that head-lifted. In all cases where males challenged females that head-lifted, fighting never occurred and all males resumed courtship. Previous work and results of this study show that head lifting is not a signal of non-receptivity, because females show receptivity (e.g. cloacal gaping) and will mate. The present results show that males of differing dominance status responded differently to head lifting. We suggest that head lifting is a mechanism of female choice involving intraspecific sexual mimicry.