Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Scale-dependent dispersal and distribution patterns of spiders in agricultural systems: A review

A conceptual framework is presented for the study of the factors affecting the distribution, dispersal and abundance of spiders in agricultural systems. It is useful to consider how factors operate at three levels of a spatial hierarchy, namely micro-habitat, habitat and landscape. The size and distribution of spider populations are determined by factors influencing survival, reproduction and dispersal. Modes of dispersal vary in terms of the efficiency of sampling new habitats and the level of risk. A literature survey of proximal factors (micro-climate, habitat structure, disturbance, prey availability, predation, and territoriality) affecting micro-habitat usage by spiders showed that the relative importance of these factors varied according to spider species. Spider abundance and diversity were found, in general, to be positively correlated with environmental diversity at different spatial scales. Within-field habitat diversifications were found to be more effective in increasing spider populations when interspersed throughout the crop (e.g., polycultures and reduced tillage) than when spatially segregated (e.g., strip management). Two approaches (modeling and experimental) to studying the effects of landscape level phenomena on spider distribution and abundance are discussed. Manipulation of habitats at the edge of fields has not, in the main, resulted in increased spider density within fields. Opportunities were identified for increasing regional populations of spiders, and optimizing pest control, by management of the annual shift in the crop mosaic to maximize spider transfer rates from senescing crops to young crops.
Exploiting homogeneous oxacillin resistance in methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus to Identify novel anti-virulence therapeutic targets

Exploiting Homogeneous Oxacillin Resistance in Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus to Identify Novel Anti-Virulence Therapeutic Targets Nikki S. Black, BSc MSc The number of antibiotic resistant bacterial infections have continued to increase in recent years and have drawn global concern to the potential future of living in a post-antibiotic era. These infections are of major concern being a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, including in developed countries. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus, can have a mortality rate more than double that of methicillin-sensitive S. aureus strains, and treatment can be morethan twice as expensive. With an ever decreasing list of antibiotic therapeutic options at our disposal we must invest not only into the development of novel antibiotic compounds but alternative non-bactericidal alternative therapeutic options. Homogeneous oxacillin resistance selection has the potential to be used as an anti-virulence therapeutic, as well as a use in identifying novel targets in pathways associated with attenuation of virulence. Comparative bacterial genomics of heterogeneous (HeR) oxacillin resistant MRSA and their isogenic homogeneous(HoR) oxacillin derivatives identified multiple novel mutations in genetic loci associated with the c-di-AMP and stringent response nucleotide signalling pathways. In homogeneous oxacillin resistant isolates derived from a one step plating method with oxacillin 100 μg/ml and USA300 HoR isolates derived from a continuous chemostat culture, novel gene amplification events were reported associated in some cases with increased copy number of the SCCmec. Mutation of the gene gdpP (encoding the c-di-AMP phosphodiesterase) and hpt (encoding hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase) were identified as contributing to homogeneous oxacillin resistance. gdpP -dependent homogeneous oxacillin resistance was observed to have phenotypic changes in cytotoxicy, glycosylation of wall teichoic acid, and cell wall biosynthesis. These observations promote the c-di-AMP signalling pathway as a potential novel anti-virulence target. In contrast the hpt-dependent homogeneous oxacillin resistant phenotype was associated with a neutral effect on cytotoxicity and limited impact on biofilm production and autolysis. Homogeneous oxacillin resistance selection can have pleiotrophic effects on the physiology of S. aureus and is dependent on the associated chromosomal modifications. Through developing our understanding of these pathways we can identify novel targets for anti-virulence therapeutic strategies.
Unravelling the resistance mechanism of lettuce against Nasonovia ribisnigri

Aphids are serious pests of crop plant species, and host plant resistance is often the most effective and environmentally friendly control strategy to control these pests. One of these aphid pests is the black currant - lettuce aphid, Nasonovia ribisnigri (Mosely), an economically important pest of cultivated lettuce, Lactuca sativa L. Host plant resistance has been used since 1982 to control this aphid species and is mediated by the Nr-gene, originating from wild lettuce Lactuca virosa L. However, this resistance is not effective anymore, since N. ribisnigri aphids virulent to the Nr-resistance have been reported since 2007. The aim of this thesis was to unravel the mechanism of resistance mediated by the Nr-gene against N. ribisnigri, by behavioural studies on the aphids on both resistant and susceptible lettuce, to allow lettuce breeders to accelerate their resistance breeding programmes. Although the exact mechanism of Nr-mediated resistance remains unknown, the data in this thesis provide insight into this mechanism. The active site of the Nr-mediated resistance is mainly located in the phloem and some resistance might be encountered by the aphids along the pathway to the phloem. The inability of the avirulent aphids to feed from the resistant plant could be caused by the failure of aphids to suppress the wound response of the sieve element. The resistance factor(s) are only produced in the shoot, because grafts with resistant shoots and susceptible roots were resistant, whereas grafts with susceptible shoots and resistant roots remained susceptible. An intact vascular system is needed for full resistance, because both detached leaves and leaf disks of resistant lettuce plants were less resistant. Variation in virulence was observed among populations of different geographical origin. Aphids from a highly virulent population performed equally well on both resistant and susceptible lettuce plants, whereas semi-virulent aphids performed better on susceptible lettuce plants. Both short-term and long-term virulence loss were observed for virulent aphid populations differing in virulence level, which indicates this virulence is associated with fitness costs. A possible mechanism underlying virulence in N. ribisnigri to the Nr-resistance is the presence of an effector protein in the salivary secretion of the aphids suppressing resistance. Virulent aphids seemed to actively suppress the resistance in lettuce against the avirulent aphids. The original donor or the Nr-resistance, L. virosa accession IVT 280, was tested as possible source of new resistance against the virulent biotypes of N. ribisnigri and was foundfully resistant against virulent aphids, and can be exploited as a source of resistance in breeding for new resistance in cultivated lettuce.
Elucidating the Ligand-Specific Role of Tetraspanin12 as an Essential Co-Activator in Norrin/Frizzled4 Signaling and Retinal Vascularization

A summary accessible for the general audience is part of this dissertation. Genetic evidence indicates that specific combinations of accessory proteins and ligands mediate vascular Frizzled (FZD) signaling via beta-catenin in different CNS structures. Accessory proteins in FZD receptor complexes are thought to determine ligand-selectivity and signaling amplitude. In the retina, TSPAN12 is an essential coactivator in Norrin/FZD4 signaling to mediate angiogenesis. The genes encoding mediators of Norrin/FZD4 signaling are linked to familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR), an inherited retinal disease that can lead to blindness. Yet, the molecular function of TSPAN12 and the specific cell type in which TSPAN12 functions in the retina remains poorly understood. Here, I utilized binding experiments and cell-based assays to demonstrate that TSPAN12 is an essential component of the Norrin receptor complex and physically interacts with FZD4 and Norrin via its extracellular loops, consistent with an action as co-receptor that enhances FZD4 ligand-selectivity for Norrin. I established that FEVR-linked missense mutations in TSPAN12 prevent the incorporation of TSPAN12 into the Norrin receptor complex. In vitro and in Xenopus embryos, TSPAN12 alleviates defects of FZD4 M105V, a mutation that destabilizes the Norrin/FZD4 interaction. Results from mouse conditional genetic studies reveal the requirement for iv TSPAN12 function in endothelial cells and for endothelial cell/mural cell interactions, artery-vein specifications, and blood-retina barrier maintenance. This study sheds new light on the poorly understood function of accessory proteins as mediators of ligandspecificity in FZD signaling.
Juvenile recruitment, early growth, and morphological variation in the endangered Santa Catalina Island Rattlesnake, Crotalus catalinensis

Life-history information constitutes the raw data for building population models used in species conservation. We provide life-history data for the endangered Santa Catalina Island Rattlesnake, Crotalus catalinensis. We use data from 277 observations of C. catalinensis made between 2002 and 2011 on the island. Mean snout-vent length (SVL) of adult C. catalinensis was 643 mm for males and 631 mm for females; the difference was not significant. The degree of sexual size dimorphism (SSD; using SVL) was -0.02. However, sexes were dimorphic in total length (SVL + tail length), relative tail length, and stoutness. Juvenile recruitment occurs during late-summer. In their first year of life, juveniles seem to grow at a rate of about 1.7 cm/mo. Females seem to become mature around 570 mm SVL, probably in the year when they become 2 y old. Scattered literature data corroborates the time of juvenile recruitment described herein. Growth in C. catalinensis seems to be slower than that of C. ruber, its sister taxa, but similar to other rattlesnakes.
THE ROLE OF FAMILY INTERVENTION IN EARLY DETECTION OF CONGENITAL DEAFNESS: A CASE STUDY

Congenital deafness is a hearing loss disorder that occurs at birth and is one of the disorders that can cause complications when it is not treated.1 Children with hearing loss will face difficulties such as poor development outcomes, including poor speech and language skills and face difficulties with cognition and social-emotional interactions. Early intervention has been proven to be one of the most important factors leading to good outcomes for children with congenital hearing loss.2 This case study is intended to highlight the importance of early case detections, early interventions and how family support plays a crucial role in the development of children with hearing loss. With the support of her family, Ms. DRP has gone through several speech and hearing therapies since her surgery and has proven to have an above-average linguistic abilities, showing that early problem detection does not hinder the development and achievement of children with congenital hearing loss.
Extraocular vision in the sea urchin Diadema setosum

Abstract In most organisms, specific structures are responsible for detecting light patterns and vision. Several species of sea urchins appear to have a diffuse photoreceptor system that enables them to detect light and in some cases objects. The presence of extraocular vision was investigated on a sea urchin common in northern Oman, Diadema setosum. Urchins from 8- to 10-m deep coral communities were used in controlled experiments that quantified the orientation response of the urchins to various visual cues: size, contrast and colour of circular targets simulating urchins’ outlines. Urchins responded to black discs down to 11° initial visual angle but not to smaller discs. The minimum grey-scale value triggering a response was between 50 and 37% black. Urchins responded to red targets but not to green or blue ones. An average angular distance between spines of 5.3° suggested a visual acuity of about 10.6°. D. setosum thus showed extraocular vision allowing them to detect objects of different sizes, contrasts and to some extent colour, supporting the hypothesis that the whole sea urchin’s body acts as a single large compound eye.
A New Paradigm for EU Diplomacy? EU Council Negotiations in a Time of Physical Restrictions

Can diplomacy work without physical presence? International relations scholars consider the European Union (EU) the most institutionalised case of international co-operation amongst sovereign states, with the highest density of repeated diplomatic exchange. In a year, the Council of Ministers hosts on average 143 ministerial and 200 ambassadorial meetings, along with hundreds of working group meetings. These intense diplomatic interactions came to an abrupt halt in mid-March 2020, when the spread of COVID-19 forced the Council to approve — in a manner unprecedented in European integration history — the temporary derogation from its rules of procedures to allow votes in written form, preceded by informal videoconferences between ministers or ambassadors. This argumentative essay reflects on how we can use these extraordinary months of intra-European diplomacy to assess the viability of virtual diplomacy in the EU context and what lessons it provides as we seek more sustainable means of international engagement.
Applicability of Wordnet Architecture in Lexical Borrowing Studies

The aim of the paper is to present a new, wordnet-based method of studying lexical borrowing. In contrast to the two-dimensional (micro- and macrostructure) organization of traditional dictionaries, describing each unit in isolation, wordnets introduce an additional dimension of inter-word relations in the entire lexicon. The ability to connect wordnets cross-linguistically allows in turn for juxtaposing, comparing, and visualizing a broad spectrum of lexical relations between loanwords within the recipient language and their cognates in the source language for which the term cross-linguistic mapping has been used. The method was applied to a wordnet-based, yet differently structured network of Polish loanwords in Yiddish. This allowed to supplement the traditional typology of transferred words by introducing the notion of ‘rootedness’, that is the degree of their interconnectedness in the source and recipient systems. This in turn has provided a promising means for distinguishing inherited from acquired vocabulary.
On the bioconversion of dietary carotenoids to astaxanthin and its distribution in the marine copepod, Tigriopus californicus

Red carotenoid-based coloration is widely distributed across marine and terrestrial animals and has taken a prominent role in studies of how phenotypic traits evolve in response to natural and sexual selection. Key to these studies is an understanding of the physiological mechanisms that give rise to red coloration, yet an ideal model system for such work has not been identified. The red marine copepod Tigriopus californicus is used as a model system for studies in ecotoxicology, genetics, and physiology, but the mechanisms involved in its bright red coloration have not been well studied. Like nearly all animals that display red carotenoid coloration, T. californicus likely convert yellow carotenoids present in their algal diet to red carotenoids. We conducted precursor/product feeding experiments to demonstrate that T. californicus bioconverts dietary carotenoids to the red carotenoid, astaxanthin. In separate treatment groups, copepods were fed carotenoids that are precursors to specific astaxanthin bioconversion pathways. We found that copepods from each precursor pigment group produced astaxanthin, and that the amount produced depended on which carotenoid was supplemented. We also describe the distribution of astaxanthin in developing egg sacs and show that the red color of the naupliar eyespot is not due to astaxanthin. We briefly discuss the potential of Tigriopus californicus to serve as a model system for the study of carotenoid metabolism in animals.
Residual Analysis of Predictive Modelling Data for Automated Fault Detection in Building’s Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Systems

Faults in Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems affect the energy efficiency of buildings. To date, there rarely exist methods to detect and diagnose faults during the operation of buildings that are both cost-effective and sufficient accurate. This study presents a method that uses artificial intelligence to automate the detection of faults in HVAC systems. The automated fault detection is based on a residual analysis of the predicted total heating power and the actual total heating power using an algorithm that aims to find an optimal decision rule for the determination of faults. The data for this study was provided by a detailed simulation of a residential case study house. A machine learning model and an ARX model predict the building operation. The model for fault detection is trained on a fault-free data set and then tested with a faulty operation. The algorithm for an optimal decision rule uses various statistical tests of residual properties such as the Sign Test, the Turning Point Test, the Box-Pierce Test and the Bartels-Rank Test. The results show that it is possible to predict faults for both known faults and unknown faults. The challenge is to find the optimal algorithm to determine the best decision rules. In the outlook of this study, further methods are presented that aim to solve this challenge.
Does development reduce damage risk from climate extremes? Empirical evidence for floods in India

Using a dataset on reported loss and damage (L&D) from flood-affected Indian states between 1953 and 2011, this paper inquires whether development makes states become flood resilient. Although the disaster-specific and the generic adaptation measures have been largely researched, there are limited empirical studies, particularly those that conducted an analysis at the sub-national level and used a dataset of more than 50 years. Considering human development and different loss and damage indicators is another advantage. Employing zero-inflated negative binomial and fixed effects models, this study produces three major findings. First, an increasing trend is observed for the reported loss and damage indicators across the states. Second, both human development and income are mostly found as statistically insignificant, indicating that the states are not becoming flood-resilient with respect to the present development. Third, there is a lack of evidence of learning effect, however, disaster risk management programme mitigates risk. Therefore, the paper suggests that the ongoing development strategies must take into account climate risk and address the persistent adaptation deficit. These findings could have larger policy implications since Indian states are likely to encounter such events frequently, and they also provide inputs to several states’ action plans on climate change.
Direct detection of "methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus" from buffalo raw milk in Al-Qadissiya province using Polymerase Chain Reaction assay

The shedding of "methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus" in raw buffalo milk causes a potential risk if consumed without maintaining sufficient hygienic criteria due to numerous clinical implications to human infection. The present study was used the Polymerase chain reaction technique as highly specific molecular procedures for direct detection of "methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus" (MRSA) of buffalo raw milk samples that compiled from animals owners of different areas in the province of Diwaniyah during the period from July 2016 to December 2016. PCR technique was dependent on used specific primers that amplification of mecA gene in Staphylococcus aureus. This primer was designed in this study by using NCBI-Genk data base (KM505043.1) and primer 3 plus for primers design. The PCR results were shown that buffalo infected with (MRSA) at 8 positive samples at percent (16%) out of 50 milk samples.The purpose of this research was to establish a rapid and specific PCR Technique for the diagnosis of "methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus" in buffalo raw milk that will be used as alternative to the currently available convention detection methods and makes it possible to identify the foods at risk for MRSA contamination to public health.
Controlling Segregation Behavior of Primary Si in Hypereutectic Al-Si Alloy by Electromagnetic Stirring

Controlling the segregation behavior of primary Si in the solidification process of hypereutectic Al-Si alloy is crucial for enhancing the design ability of the solidification structure. To explore the separation condition and morphological evolution of primary Si in detail, a series of experiments concerning the coupling effect of a temperature field and electromagnetic stirring on the segregation behavior of primary Si were carried out. Experimental results show that the temperature field and fluid flow in the melt are two key points for controlling the segregation behavior of primary Si. The establishment of a temperature gradient in the Al-Si melt is a precondition for realizing the separation of primary Si. On the basis of the temperature gradient, the electromagnetic stirring can further strengthen the separation effect for primary Si, forming a Si-rich layer with 65~70 wt. % Si content. The formation of the Si-rich layer is a continuous growth process of primary Si by absorbing Si atoms from Al-Si melt with the help of electromagnetic stirring. The separation technology for primary Si is proposed to realize the segregation control of primary Si, which not only broadens the application of Al-Si alloys in the functionally gradient composites but also provides a low-cost supply strategy of Si raw materials for the solar photovoltaic industry.