Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A novel potato microRNA stu-miR856 regulates mitogen-activatedprotein kinase genes contributing to drought tolerance

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are significant components of MAPK cascades, which play versatile roles in different transduction pathways to mediate stress adaptation. However, little information is known about post-transcriptional regulation of MAPK genes in plant under drought stress. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of newly identified, short non-coding RNAs, regulate the expression of target genes in plant growth, development, and stress responses. In order to investigate the mechanism of miRNA regulating MAPK genes in potato, we identified a novel potato miRNA with the sequence CGGCCTTAATAAGATGGTGAAG and named it as stu-miR856 depending on miRNA deep sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. Target prediction indicates that it can bind to the coding sequence region of two potato MAPK-like genes, and cleavage positions of them were also effectively validated by RNA ligase-mediated 5' rapid amplification of cDNA ends assay. In addition, expressional analysis shows that stu-miR856 and its targets exhibited an opposite expression pattern: stu-miR856 expression significantly decreased while its target genes greatly increased in the different stages of drought treatment. The results indicate that a decreased expression of stu-miR856 might drive overexpression of two StMAPK genes family members, which may contribute to regulation of the drought adaptation of potato plants.
The effect of subminimal inhibitory concentrations of antibiotics on the adherence ability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to epithelial cells in vitro

Background and purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the influence of subminimal inhibitory concentrations (subMICs) of ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin and gentamicin on the adherence ability and morphology of wild-type Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains to the Buffalo green monkey kidney cell line, using indirect immunofluorescence staining. Materials and methods: Bacterial adherence changes were tested before and after exposure to 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16 and 1/32 MIC of antibiotics. Results: A statistical difference in the number of attached bacteria after exposure to all subMICs of ceftazidime and ciprofloxacin was observed (p<0.05), even after only 1/2 MIC of gentamicin. Conclusion: The results of this study have shown that antibiotics in much lower concentrations than those necessary for inhibition of bacterial multiplications could damage the adherence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to the epithelial cell line.
Triple visual hemifield maps in optic chiasm hypoplasia

In humans, each hemisphere comprises an overlay of two visuotopic maps of the contralateral visual field, one from each eye. Is the capacity of the visual cortex limited to these two maps or are plastic mechanisms available to host more maps? Using an integrative approach of submillimeter fMRI, diffusion-weighted imaging and population receptive field mapping, we found three hemiretinal inputs to converge onto the left hemisphere in a rare individual with chiasma hypoplasia. This generates extremely atypical responses in striate and extrastriate cortices, specifically an overlay of three hemifield representations. Unexpectedly, the effects of this large abnormality on visual function in daily life are not easily detected. We conclude that developmental plasticity including the re-wiring of local intra- and cortico-cortical connections is pivotal to support the coexistence and functioning of three hemifield maps within one hemisphere.
Adrenergic C1 neurons are part of the circuitry that recruits active expiration in response to hypoxia

Breathing results from the interaction of two distinct oscillators: the preBötzinger Complex (preBötC) driving inspiration and the lateral parafacial region (pFRG) driving active expiration. The pFRG is silent during resting and become rhythmically active during high metabolic demand such as hypoxia. Catecholaminergic C1 cells are activated by hypoxia, which is a strong stimulus for active expiration. We hypothesized that the C1 cells and pFRG may constitute functionally distinct but interacting populations in order to contributes to control expiratory activity during hypoxia. We found that: a) C1 neurons are activated by hypoxia and project to pFRG region; b) active expiration elicited by hypoxia was blunted after blockade of ionotropic glutamatergic antagonist at the level of pFRG and c) selective depletion of C1 neurons eliminated the active expiration elicited by hypoxia. The results suggest that C1 cells may regulate the respiratory cycle including the active expiration under hypoxic condition.
Complete mitochondrial genome of blunt slipper lobsters Scyllarides squammosus (H. Milne Edwards, 1837)

Abstract The complete mitochondrial genome of Scyllarides squammosus was first determined and characterized. With a length of 15,644 bp, it consists of 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), and 1 control region. The nucleotide composition is significantly biased with AT contents of 65.6%. Among these PCGs, five of them used an unusual initiation codon, and nine genes ended with an incomplete or abnormal stop codon. Two microsatellites were identified and located in COX3 gene and D-loop region. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that S. squammosus was first clustered with Scyllarides latus, which was consistent with the previous work.
Gomphonella olivacea (Bacillariophyceae) – a new phylogenetic position for a well-known taxon, its typification, new species and combinations

Background and aims – Within the project “German Barcode of Life – Diatoms” common diatoms of German waters were routinely isolated and cultivated. In order to understand the taxonomy and phylogeny of the genus Gomphonema, one of the most common taxa of Central Europe, known currently either under the name Gomphonema olivaceum in Europe or Gomphoneis olivacea in America, was studied. Methods – Twenty unialgal strains were established from five different water bodies in Germany and one from Lake Balaton, Hungary, which supplied molecular data (18S V4 and rbcL) besides morphometric and ultrastructural data. In addition, on eight populations from different water bodies including the type from Denmark, morphometric and micromorphological studies by light and scanning electron microscopy were performed. Key results – Molecular and micromorphological data show that the target taxon neither belongs to Gomphonema Ehrenb. nor to Gomphoneis Cleve. By reinstating the genus name Gomphonella Rabenh. , the nomenclatural and taxonomic enigma of this taxon is solved, and with the presentation of the type by Hornemann the authorship of the epithet is clarified. Molecular data for the unialgal strains and several environmental clones show that there is more diversity in the Gomphonella olivacea clade than can be identified morphologically. In addition, the establishment of the new species Gomphonella coxiae and Gomphonella acsiae is supported. The molecular data classified Gomphonella species as belonging to the Cymbellales but not to the Gomphonemataceae. In addition, molecular data put Gomphoneis tegelensis R.Jahn & N.Abarca also into Gomphonella. In order to make the genera Gomphoneis and Gomphonema monophyletic, their astigmate members are transferred to Gomphonella. Conclusions – The results clarify that the gomphonemoid outline is not restricted to the family Gomphonemataceae but seem to be distributed across the entire order Cymbellales. This is shown in this paper for the revived genus Gomphonella, which contains the astigmate group of Gomphoneis and Gomphonema besides the longly disputed G. olivacea. Only a polyphasic approach, combining molecular and micromorphological data for taxonomy, nomenclatural evaluation, and observations from clonal cultures can reveal the full intricacies of evolutionary relations.
An Exploration of Protein and DNA Components in Fingerprint Residue

The main focus of this project was to investigate the protein and DNA components in both sebaceous and eccrine fingerprints. This study investigated the relative content of DNA and proteins in eccrine fingerprints to sebaceous fingerprints. All volunteers were instructed to wash and dry their hands prior to depositing parallel thumbprints. Twenty volunteers were instructed to touch their face to produce sebaceous prints, and 5 volunteers were instructed to wear gloves over a heat source to produce sweaty or eccrine prints. Microscopy was used to score the cellular debris of the right fingerprint on a scale of 1-4 based on density of cellular debris. The score was then compared to the DNA yield and proteins detected in the left fingerprint(s). The results of the study illustrated that sebaceous samples had an average DNA yield of 1101.4 ± 1344.0 pg and eccrine samples had an average DNA yield of 131.7 ± 219.5 pg. The difference in DNA yield between the two sample types was significant (p=0.023). The sebaceous samples (n=20) had an average count of 26 ± 22 proteins, and the eccrine samples (n=5) had an average count of 39 ± 20 proteins. The difference in the number of proteins detected was not significant (p=0.153). The sebaceous samples had better STR quality resulting in 75% full profiles compared to the 20% full DNA profiles of eccrine samples. Linear regression results indicate a lack of correlation between cellular debris scores and DNA yields in sebaceous samples (R=0). A strong correlation between the cellular debris and DNA yield in eccrine samples (R=0.80) needs to be confirmed with more samples. Linear regression results show a moderate correlation between the cellular debris and number of proteins detected for sebaceous and eccrine samples (R=0.39, 0.55, respectively). The results of this study provide additional information about donor variability/shedder status, and the content of DNA and proteins in fingerprint samples
Effect of Different Levels of Germinated Barley on Performance and Egg Quality in Laying Hen

Objective: The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different levels of germinated barley on performance and egg quality in laying hen. Methods: One hundred and twenty laying hens, 44-weeks old, Lohmann LSL hens were used in this experiment. Birds were assigned randomly to the groups, each of which consisted of 20 birds (4 replicate cages each containing 5 birds). The experiment was conducted as a randomized complete block design. Six experimental diets were used, diets that contained: corn-soybean meal, barley, barley plus enzyme supplementation (safizym: β-glucanases, Xylanases and Celluloses) and germinated barley replaced barley at 33, 66 and 100 percent. Experimental period was 10 weeks. The performance of laying hens measured weekly, but biweekly for egg quality. Results: The results of experiments indicated, by increasing of germinated barley in diets of laying hens feed convention ratio egg production and egg mass production significantly improved as compared to barley treatment (P
Genetic diversity and population structure of small yellow croaker (Larimichthys polyactis) in the Yellow and East China seas based on microsatellites

Small yellow croaker (Larimichthys polyactis), a member of family Sciaenidae, is mainly distributed in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. To assess the genetic diversity and population structure of this species across its range, we genotyped 150 L. polyactis individuals sampled in five locations along the coast of the Yellow and East China seas using 20 polymorphic microsatellites. A total of 499 alleles were detected at 20 loci across all individuals, and a relatively high level of genetic diversity was observed, with observed heterozygosity (Ho), expected heterozygosity (He) and polymorphic information content (PIC) ranging from 0.233 to 1.000, from 0.438 to 0.955, and from 0.367 to 0.953 per locus-location combination, respectively. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) (FST = 0.00915, P < 0.001), pairwise FST, and corrected average pairwise differences indicated that there was extremely low, but statistically significant genetic differentiation among the studied populations. However, Bayesian assignment analysis revealed a high number of immigrants among populations and no obvious genetic differentiation. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test and mode-shift indicator of allele frequency distribution support the inferrence that L. polyactis had not experienced a recent genetic bottleneck. Overall, the results suggest that, despite low genetic differentiation in this species, the small yellow croaker forms a single panmictic population with high genetic variation and gene flow in the studied area. This study will provide useful information for conservation and sustainable exploitation of this important aquatic living resource.
Enabling use of cybernetic control systems in a knowledge-intensive organization

The main purpose of this doctoral thesis is to enhance our understanding, through an in-depth case study, on how to reach enabling formalization with the help of which control systems and related processes could concurrently facilitate efficiency and innovation. In the current knowledge economy, how to better manage such tensions is a key issue in many organizations. To solve this ambidextrous dilemma of formalization, Adler and Borys (1996) introduced the theoretical notion of enabling bureaucracy with four specific characteristics, namely internal transparency, global transparency, repair, and flexibility. Despite the existence of the four enabling features in the case organization’s cybernetic control systems (see Malmi & Brown 2008, 291; Green & Welsh 1988, 289), counterevidence regarding the postulated associations between the four specific characteristics of Adler & Borys (1996) and innovation, and especially its critical component of motivation was obtained. Notions from the psychological self-determination theory (e.g. Deci & Ryan 1985) were thereby brought into the analysis. The theory contends that for autonomous forms of motivation to arise, individual’s three basic needs – competence, autonomy, and relatedness – must be fulfilled (Deci & Ryan 1985). By using abduction in interpreting the acquired case study evidence, I came to appreciate many of the findings of Adler and Borys (1996) as well as Adler and Chen (2011) as the four enabling features supported innovation and autonomous motivation in several ways. While the findings support their view about the encouragement of motivation through internalization of both goals and of the discipline necessary to reach them, they concurrently indicate that the four features may not always be sufficient to support such processes. The basic psychological need of relatedness is in prior literature argued to be highly important for such processes of internalization and, to support it, cybernetic control system systems with relative evaluation processes and pressures can play an important part. I suggest that in the knowledge-intensive case organization, the failure in the internalization of values was associated with relatedness – due to an absence of right kind of pressure through the cybernetic control systems. The organizational members were in a relatively passive way engaged in using prior knowledge rather than enthusiastically creating new knowledge, although the latter was realised to be critical for the company’s future success. It is thereby argued that for managers to adequately support their subordinates’ motivational orientations and subsequent activities of innovation, introducing a right amount of pressure may be critical. However, managers should simultaneously acknowledge the delicate balance of such processes.
Soil fauna responses to invasive alien plants are determined by trophic groups and habitat structure: a global meta‐analysis

Despite increasing frequency of invasions by alien plant species with widespread ecological and economic consequences, it remains unclear how belowground compartments of ecosystems are impacted. In order to synthetize current knowledge and provide future directions for research we performed a meta‐analysis assessing the impact of invasive alien plant species on soil fauna abundance. Compared to previous synthesis on this topic, we included together in our model the trophic group of each soil faunal taxa (from herbivores to predators) and habitat structure, namely open and closed habitats (i.e. grass and shrub dominated areas versus forested areas). In doing so, we highlighted that both moderators strongly interact to determine the response of soil fauna to the presence of invasive alien plants. Soil fauna abundance increase in the presence of invasive species only in closed habitats (+18.2%). This pattern of habitat‐dependent response (positive effect in closed habitats) was only found for primary consumers (i.e. herbivores +29.1% and detritivores +66.7%) within both detritus‐based and live root‐based trophic pathways. Abundances of predators and microbivores did not respond to the presence of IAS irrespective of habitat structure. For several groups, the habitat structure (open or closed) significantly drove their responses to the presence of invasive alien species. In addition, we carefully considered potential sources of bias (e.g. geographic, taxonomic and functional) within the collected data in an attempt to highlight gaps in available knowledge on the subject. Our findings support the conclusions of previous studies on the subject by demonstrating 1) that soil fauna abundance is impacted by biological invasions, 2) that initial habitat structure has a strong influence on the outcome and 3) that responses within the soil fauna differ between trophic levels with a stronger response of primary consumers.
Eye Movements in Frogs and Salamanders—Testing the Palatal Buccal Pump Hypothesis

Synopsis In frogs and salamanders, movements of the eyeballs in association with an open palate have often been proposed to play a functional role in lung breathing. In this “palatal buccal pump,” the eyeballs are elevated during the lowering of the buccal floor to suck air in through the nares, and the eyeballs are lowered during elevation of the buccal floor to help press air into the lungs. Here, we used X-Ray Reconstruction of Moving Morphology to investigate eye movements during lung breathing and feeding in bullfrogs and axolotls. Our data do not show eye movements that would be in accordance with the palatal buccal pump. On the contrary, there is a small passive elevation of the eyeballs when the buccal floor is raised. Inward drawing of the eyeballs occurs only during body motion and for prey transport in bullfrogs, but this was not observed in axolotls. Each eye movement in bullfrogs has a vertical, a mediolateral, and an anteroposterior component. Considering the surprisingly weak posterior motion component of the eyeballs, their main role in prey transport might be fixing the prey by pressing it against the buccal floor. The retraction of the buccal floor would then contribute to the posterior push of the prey. Because our study provides no evidence for a palatal buccal pump in frogs and salamanders, there is also no experimental support for the idea of a palatal buccal pump in extinct temnospondyl amphibians, in contrast to earlier suggestions.
Cryptogams signify key transition of bacteria and fungi in Arctic sand dune succession

Microbes are the first colonizers of barren soils and an important factor in vegetation establishment. Primary succession models focus on vascular plants, although most soil successions include mosses and lichens. Here, we aim to clarify the role of these cryptogam-dominated stages in plant-microbe interactions by covering the successional trajectory of bacterial and fungal communities in eroded Arctic inland dunes. The earliest successional stages with sparse or no plant cover (bare sand, grass) had low microbial biomass per organic matter. In the cryptogam stages with the moss Polytrichum piliferum and lichens, microbial biomass and community structure shifted towards the vascular vegetated stages (heath, mountain birch forest). Soil chemistry explained microbial community variation better than vegetation, but the transitions in chemistry and in plant and microbial community structure did not align. We detected potential autotrophic and trace gas oxidizing bacteria, such as WD272 (WPS-2), Chloroflexi and Cyanobacteria, which could form the basis of biomass accumulation from bare sand to cryptogam stages. The results indicate that when considering also belowground microbes, the ecosystem transition from vegetation loss to vegetation recovery starts at the moss stage. Polytrichum piliferum and the associated microbes may help stabilize the Arctic dune sand and facilitate vascular vegetation development.
Blood performance of jaundice catfish Clarias gariepinus.

The aim of this research was to study blood performances of jaundice and healthy catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822). Blood samples were collected from fifty fish (25 jaundice and 25 healthy catfish) and blood parameters were analyzed. The blood samples were collected from the caudal vein of the fish by using 2.5 mL syringe, and then collected into two recipients, one recipient with EDTA 1% anticoagulant and the other without anticoagulant. Blood samples in recipients without anticoagulant were used for blood cell counting and blood glucose analysis. Total bilirubin, direct and indirect bilirubin, and transaminase enzymes were determined from the blood serum samples with anticoagulant. Results showed that blood cell levels (leucocytes, erythrocytes, hemoglobin, and hematocrit) of jaundice catfish were lower compared to healthy catfish. The blood glucose concentration of jaundice catfish was higher compared to healthy catfish. The direct and indirect bilirubin concentrations of jaundice fish were also higher, which indicates that jaundice catfish had hyperbilirubinemia. Both jaundice and healthy catfish presented high concentrations of transaminase enzymes in the blood serum. Jaundice fish with hyperbilirubinemia presented liver malfunction and stress symptoms.
GROWTH PERFORMANCE, SOME BLOOD COMPONENTS, CARCASS TRAITS AND INTESTINE HISTOLOGY OF BROILER CHICKS AS AFFECTED BY STOCKING DENSITY

The current investigation was conducted to evaluate the effects of stocking density on growth performance, some blood parameters, carcass characteristics and intestine histology of Evian broiler chicks under Sharkia Governorate conditions. A total number of 234 unsexed one day old Evian broiler chicks were randomly distributed into three treatment groups in completely randomized design to evaluate the influence of three stocking densities (10, 13 and 16 birds /m2). The results of the present work could be summarized as follows: Stocking density significantly (P<0.05 and 0.01) changed body weight at 3 wks of age and daily weight gain, feed consumption and feed conversion ratio through 0-3 wks of age. Broilers kept at 10 birds /m2 showed the heaviest (P<0.01) body weight at 3 wks of age in comparison with the other groups. Birds reared at stocking density of 13 birds /m2 insignificantly gained more than the other densities during 3-6 and 0-6 wks of age. Broilers kept under stocking density of 10 birds /m2 recorded the lowest feed intake and showed the best feed conversion ratio when compared with their counterparts during 0-3 wks of age. All of blood parameters studied were insignificantly changed due to stocking densities used in the present study. Weights of carcass after evisceration, liver and intestine as percentages were significantly changed due to the different stocking densities used in the current study. Broilers kept at 16 birds /m2 had the highest (P<0.05) percentage of weight after evisceration and the lowest (P<0.05) percentages of liver and intestine in comparison with the other groups. Conclusively, it could be concluded that keeping Evian broilers at stocking density of 10 birds/ m2 gave the most acceptable performance under Sharkia Governorate conditions.