Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transcription-Based Molecular Imaging and Gene Therapy for Castration-resistant and Metastatic Prostate Cancer in Translational Models

The advanced stage of prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death for American men. Novel, effective treatment options and more cancer-specific diagnostic tools are urgently needed to facilitate patient management. Here, we explored the construction and application of an array of gene-based molecular imaging and therapeutic vectors in a variety of clinically relevant settings. These vectors exploit prostate cancer-specific promoters to control the transcription of imaging reporter genes or therapeutic genes, and thus can achieve stringent cancer selectivity. We showed that gene-based imaging vectors can detect prostate cancer metastasis earlier than conventional imaging modalities; we also developed a dual-reporter imaging system that can specifically interrogate the activation/inhibition status of androgen receptor, and thus monitor the efficacy of androgen deprivation and androgen receptor blockade therapies. Further, we explored the applicability of gene-based vectors in detecting circulating tumor cells and have obtained promising results. Moreover, we employed two strategies to improve the clinical usability of viral vectors in immunocompetent hosts (such as humans). In the first strategy, we used a broad-acting immunosuppressant, rapamycin, to reduce the scale of adenovirus-induced inflammatory responses and also to decrease the eliminating effects of host adaptive immune system on viral vectors and viral-infected, transgene-expressing cells. Rapamycin significantly augmented the magnitude and prolonged the duration of virus-delivered transgene expression, and thus enhanced the diagnostic capability of these imaging vectors. The second approach took advantage of the versatile surface modifying ability of non-viral reagents. We designed a polypeptide coating that can non-covalently bind to adenoviral particles and confer protections against blood components such as neutralizing antibodies and coagulation factors. The coating significantly decreased the inhibitory effects of neutralizing antibodies on adenoviral transduction and markedly abrogated coagulation factors-mediated hepatocyte infection. Furthermore, this polypeptide coating reduced the antigenicity of adenoviral vectors in vivo, greatly diminished anti-adenovirus antibody production, and therefore could facilitate repeated administration of viral vectors in immunocompetent hosts. Overall, we herein present a substantial amount of evidence supporting the pre-clinical and translational use of gene-based imaging and therapeutic vectors to assist the management of patients with advanced, treatment-refractory prostate cancer.
The contribution of Globular Clusters to the stellar halo using APOGEE and GAIA

Abstract Over the last decade, much of the key questions in Galactic Archaeology have been asnwered by studying the Milky Way’s globular cluster (GC) system. Following on this, it has been shown that a substantial fraction of the Milky Way’s stellar halo field arises from GC dissolution. In this work, we make use of the latest data release fromn the APOGEE survey to study GC dissolution ratios in different spatial regions of the Galaxy. Our results will allow us to constrain many astrophysical questions, such as: the origin of N-Rich stars, the mass contribution from GCs to the stellar halo of the Galaxy, the origin of the Galactic GC system and the mass assembly of the Milky Way.
Areas of potential abundance of Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae), vector of the citrus greening disease in Mexico)

The presence of the citrus greening disease (HLB) and its vector: Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae) in Mexico, coupled with the large spread of the citrus industry, impede the detection, control and management. In order to generate tools that facilitate the implementation of strategies to confront the problems associated with HLB and its vector, this study was developed with the goal of implementing a practical and easy way to use a methodology for classifying the presence and potential of vector abundance and generate a map, showing the delineation of potential risk areas within the country. Three indices were modeled, two temperature-based (index of potential generations, IGP, and days with favorable conditions, IDCF), and another one on the availability of the host (citrus plantings, ISPC). On the final map, each index was weighted with respect to its maximum, interpolated using the inverse distance optimized method and averaged with others for the Egalitarian Risk Index (IRPM). We found that, the municipalities with the highest IDCF were Tuzantan, Chiapas, and Atoyac de Alvarez, Guerrero. Concerning IGP, the municipalities
The extraordinary journey of Peperomia subgenus Tildenia (Piperaceae): insights into diversification and colonization patterns from its cradle in Peru to the Trans‐Mexican Volcanic Belt

Aim Peperomia subgenus Tildenia consists of c. 60 species growing in seasonal habitats of Neotropical mountain areas from Mexico to Argentina. The subgenus can be split geographically, with almost equal diversity in the Northern Hemisphere (centred in Mexico and Guatemala) and in the Southern Hemisphere (centred in Peru and Bolivia). Only a few species are known from a limited number of localities between these two hotspots. As such, Tildenia is an ideal candidate with which to test time, direction and mode of migration of high mountain taxa against the background of the ‘Great American Biotic Interchange’.
THE EFFECTOF GRADED LEVELS OF RAW PIGEON PEA [cajanus cajan} SEEDMEAL ON THE PERFORMANCE OF WEANER RABBITS

A five-week study was conducted to determine the effects of feeding graded levels of raw pigeon pea seed meal on the performance of weaner rabbits. Sixteen rabbits with initial liveweight of 576.25g were used in a completely randomised design. Four experimental diets were formulated such that diet 1 (control) was maize soybean based, while diets 2, 3 and 4 had 10, 20 and 30% Raw pigeon pea seed meal respectivelyreplacing the maize in the diets. Measurements taken were liveweight gain, feed and protein efficiency ratios and feed cost per kg weightgain. Results showed that raw pigeon pea seed meal (RPPM) was a satisfactory protein ingredient in weaner rabbit diets. Rabbit fed 20%raw PPSMdiet was significantly better (P<0.05) than the rest fed other diets in terms of body weight gain, feed and protein efficiency ratios, and feed cost per kg weight gain. It was concluded that raw PPSMcould be included up to 20% in rabbit diets without any adverse effecton the performance of the Rabbits.
Taxonomy, phylogeography and climate relations of the Western Palaearctic spurge hawkmoth (Lepidoptera, Sphingidae, Macroglossinae)

Hundsdoerfer, AK. , Mende, MB. , Kitching, IJ. & Cordellier, M. (2011). Taxonomy, phylogeography and climate relations of the Western Palaearctic spurge hawkmoth (Lepidoptera, Sphingidae, Macroglossinae). —Zoologica Scripta, 40, 403–417.
Evaluation of different chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium) genotypes under mid hill conditions of Garhwal Himalaya

Fifteen chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.) genotypes were assessed for their performance under mid hill conditions of Garhwal Himalaya during 2009–10. Uniform healthy suckers were planted at a spacing of 30 cm×20 cm in randomized block design with three replications. Significant differences were obtained among the genotypes for all morphological and floral characters studied. Genotype Saifali recorded maximum (149.71 cm) plant height, followed by Terry (132.92 cm) but plant spread was maximum in genotype Paris White (45.04 cm), followed by Suneel (44.50 cm), however it was minimum in Saifali (25.96 cm). Genotype Paris White produced maximum number of primary (15.16) and secondary branches (19.16)/plant while minimum, i e 4.41 and 8.16 was recorded in genotype Saifali, respectively. Earliest bud burst (9.33 days) was observed in genotype Red Queen, whereas genotype Charming was late (30.00 days). The highest number of flowers/branch (10.43) was produced by genotype White Anemone followed by Gauri (9.08) and Appu (7.66), but number of flowers/plant was higher (301.00) in Paris White and minimum (66.33) was recorded with genotype Suneel. Extended period of vase life was recorded in Gauri (24.66 days), followed by Shanti (22.00 days), while it was low with Red Queen (5.33 days). Keeping these characters in view, genotypes White Anemone, Shanti and Charming were found to be highly suitable to grow under these conditions for cut and loose flowers.
Man, the promising primate: The conditions of human evolution

"A fascinating monograph on the conditions of human evolution and the conditions required by it . This is first-rate scientific speculation -- lucid and straightforward. " -The New Yorker "This is an excellent analysis, and though it goes to the heart of issues in genetics and anthropology, it is eminently accessible for the general reader. " -ALA Booklist
Relationship of Stage of Ripeness to Composition and Keeping Quality Highbush Blueberries1

‘Wolcott’ blueberries were harvested at 8 stages of development (small, deep green to overripe) on 3 dates in 1963 and on 4 dates in 1964 from 2 plantings in eastern North Carolina. As the fruit developed, per cent acid decreased while pH, per cent soluble solids, sugar (per cent of fresh weight and mg/berry), soluble solids/acid ratio (SS/A), anthocyanin content and berry weight increased. Acid content (mg/berry) increased during early stages but decreased rapidly during later stages of development. Anthocyanin content (mg/cm2 of berry surface) was significantly correlated with sugar/acid ratio and SS/A ratio. An increase in incidence of decay of 10 punctured or bisected fruit samples after 9 to 11 days at 70°F, or 21 days at 32° plus 6 days at 70°, was associated with an increase in ripeness. In culture solutions with acid and sugar levels paralleling those of fruit of various degrees of ripeness, growth of both Alternaria and Botrytis spp. decreased as the level of acid in culture solution increased. Thus, the acid composition of blueberry fruit appears to afford a mechanism of resistance to decay-producing organisms. This indicates a potential for selecting varieties with high-keeping quality through selection of clones high in acid. The increase in anthocyanin (Acy) content as berries develop indicates a potential means of sorting blueberries electronically, according to their Acy content.
The Dividend Policy of German Firms

German firms pay out a lower proportion of their cash flows, but a higher proportion of their published profits than UK and US firms. We estimate partial adjustment models and report two major findings. First, German firms base their dividend decisions on cash flows rather than published earnings as (i) published earnings do not correctly reflect performance because German firms retain parts of their earnings to build up legal reserves, (ii) German accounting is conservative, (iii) published earnings are subject to more smoothing than cash flows. Second, to the opposite of UK and US firms, German firms have more flexible dividend policies as they are willing to cut the dividend when profitability is only temporarily down.
Phylogeny and Conservation

1. Phylogeny and conservation Andy Purvis, John L. Gittleman and Thomas M. Brooks Part I. Units and Currencies: 2. Molecular phylogenetics for conservation biology Elizabeth A. Sinclair, Marcos Perez-Losada and Keith A. Crandall 3. Species: demarcation and diversity Paul-Michael Agapow, 4. Phylogenetic units and currencies above and below the species level John C. Avise 5. Integrating phylogenetic diversity in the selection of priority areas for conservation: does it make a difference? Ana S. L. Rodrigues, Thomas M. Brooks and Kevin J. Gaston 6. Evolutionary heritage as a metric for conservation Arne O. Mooers, Stephen B. Heard and E. Chrostowski Part II. Inferring Evolutionary Processes: 7. Age and area revisited: identifying global patterns and implications for conservation Kate E. Jones, Wes Sechrest and John L. Gittleman 8. Putting process on the map: why ecotones are important for preserving biodiversity Thomas B. Smith, Sassan Saatchi, Catherine Graham, Hans Slabbekoorn and Greg Spicer 9. The oldest rainforests in Africa: stability or resilience for survival and diversity? Jon C. Lovett, Rob Marchant, James Taplin and Wolfgang Kuper 10. Late Tertiary and Quaternary climate change and centres of endemism in the southern African flora Guy F. Midgley, Gail Reeves and C. Klak 11. Historical biogeography, diversity and conservation of Australia's tropical rainforest herpetofauna Craig Moritz, Conrad Hoskin, Catherine H. Graham, Andrew Hugall and Adnan Moussalli Part III. Effects of Human Processes: 12. Conservation status and geographic distribution of avian evolutionary history Thomas M. Brooks, J. D. Pilgrim, Ana S. L. Rodrigues and Gustavo A. B. da Fonseca 13. Correlates of extinction risk: phylogeny, biology, threat and scale Andy Purvis, Marcel Cardillo, Richard Grenyer and Ben Collen 14. Mechanisms of extinction in birds: phylogeny, ecology and threats Peter M. Bennett, Ian P. F. Owens, Daniel Nussey, Stephen T. Garnett and Gabriel M. Crowley 15. Primate diversity patterns and their conservation in Amazonia Jose M. Cardoso da Silva, Anthony B. Rylands, Jose S. Silva Junior, Claude Gascon and Gustavo A. B. da Fonseca 16. Predicting which species will become invasive: what's taxonomy got to do with it? Julie Lockwood Part IV. Prognosis: 17. Phylogenetic futures after the latest mass extinction Sean Nee 18. Predicting future speciation Timothy G. Barraclough and T. Jonathan Davies.
Wave propagation in staggered-grid finite-difference models with boundaries

Finite-difference numerical models are widely used in acoustics, electrodynamics and fluid dynamics. In particular, the so-called C-grid (or Yee grid) is a popular staggered-grid formulation, with excellent conservation properties and a natural positioning of nodes. However, domain boundaries are typically treated as staircases, and these degrade the accuracy of the numerical solutions. Here that degradation is quantified for various linear wave propagation problems in idealised geometries. Here, the discrete solution is studied for three important models: (i)wave propagation along a channel, (ii)wave reflection at a planar wall, (iii)the long-time dynamics of waves sloshing in two simple closed domains (square and circle). The first two problems are solved analytically, using asymptotics to examine the limit of small grid spacing h, with expressions for the wavespeed reduction (in (i)) and a phase error (in (ii)) being derived. The third problem is examined numerically, using a high-order time-stepping scheme so that the effects of the staircase boundaries can be isolated. We typically find first-order convergence in grid spacing h, although there are some variations, according to whether we consider convergence in velocities or pressure, and also whether we use L_2 or L_infinity-norm. Some extensions to the propagation of internal waves in a density stratified medium are also considered, which is a less standard scenario, but which has considerable significance in geophysical fluid dynamics.
An overview of the jumping spiders of Lesotho (Araneae: Salticidae), with descriptions of six new species : arachnida

The first overview of the jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) of Lesotho is presented. Twenty-eight species are recorded for the first time, to add to three recently described species of Euophryinae. Among these, six species are described as new to science: Belippo attenuata sp. n. , Dendryphantes acutus sp. n. , Heliophanus furvus sp. n. , H. maluti sp. n. , H. transversus sp. n. and Massagris mohale sp. n. , all known from both sexes. The Lesotho fauna shows considerable overlap with the grassland fauna of the adjacent Free State Province of South Africa (15 of 31 species), indicating the importance of vegetation in shaping salti­cid assemblages, but highlighting the role of the considerable differences in altitude and geology in the two areas. To cite this paper: Wesolowska, W. & Haddad, C.R. 2014. An overview of the jumping spiders of Lesotho (Araneae: Salticidae), with descriptions of six new species. African Invertebrates 55 (2): 229–268. Published electronically: 16 September 2014. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:20997FAA-CE3B-4952-8E2C-1DED9DBE6CEB
A deep view into the nucleus of the Sagittarius dwarf spheroidal galaxy: M54

Abstract Nuclear star clusters hosted by dwarf galaxies exhibit similar characteristics to high-mass, metal complex globular clusters. This type of globular clusters could, therefore, be former nuclei from accreted galaxies. M54 resides in the photometric center of the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy, at a distance where resolving stars is possible. M54 offers the opportunity to study a nucleus before the stripping of their host by the tidal field effects of the Milky Way. We use a MUSE data set to perform a detailed analysis of over 6600 stars. We characterize the stars by metallicity, age, and kinematics, identifying the presence of three stellar populations: a young metal-rich (YMR), an intermediate-age metal-rich (IMR), and an old metal-poor (OMP). The evidence suggests that the OMP population is the result of accretion of globular clusters in the center of the host, while the YMR population was born in-situ in the center of the OMP population.
Molecular Cloning and Expression Profile of a Jasmonate Biosynthetic Pathway Gene for Allene Oxide Cyclase

Hyoscyamus niger L. is a medicinal plant which produces a class of jasmonate-responsive pharma- ceutical secondary metabolites named tropane alkaloids. As a family of signaling phytohormones, jasmonates play significant roles in the biosynthesis of many plant secondary metabolites. In a jasmonate biosynthetic path- way of plants, allene oxide cyclase (AOC, EC 5.3.99.6) catalyzes the most important step. Here we cloned a cDNA from H. niger , named HnAOC (GenBank accession no.: AY708383), which was 1044 bp long, with a 747-bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a polypeptide of 248 amino acid residues. Southern blot analysis indicated that it was a multicopy gene. RT-PCR analysis revealed that the expression of HnAOC was regulated by various stresses and elicitors, with methyl-jasmonate showing the most prominent inducement. The charac- terization of HnAOC would be helpful for improving the production of valuable secondary metabolites by reg- ulating the biosynthesis of jasmonates. DOI: 10.1134/S0026893308030047
The Effect of Modification Methods on the Properties of Lentinus Tuber Regium Powders

The current work considered the influence of methods of modification on the physical characteristics of Lentinus Tuber Regium (LTR) powders. The sclerotia of the LTR was pulverized to 250.0 μm and coded as native Lentinus Tuber Regium (NLTR-A). A 500.0 g of NLTR-A was submerged in 3.5 % w/v sodium hypochlorite and stirred continuously for 30.0 min. The resultant slurry was washed severally with purified water until it was neutral to litmus. The mass was dried in an oven at 60.0 °C for 2.0 h, pulverized (250.0 μm) and was noted as the modified Lentinus Tuber Regiumpowder (MLTR-B). Another 500.0 g of NLTR-A was extracted with 70.0 % v/v ethanol in a Soxhlet extractor. The resultant powder was dried at 60.0 o C for 2.0 h, micronized (250.0 μm) and coded as the modified Lentinus Tuber Regium powder (MLTR-C). Additional 500.0 g of NLTR-A was submerged in 600.0 mL of 0.5 N sodium hydroxide in a 1.0 L beaker and shaken constantly for 30.0 min. The subsequent material was splashed with purified water until the material was neutral to litmus. The mass was freed from water and introduced into 200.0 mL of 0.5 N hydrochloric acid. It was agitated for 30.0 min in a water bath at 100.0 °C. It was flooded in purified water until it was neutral to litmus. The product was dried to constant weight at 60.0 °C and pulverized (250.0 μm). The product was coded as the modified Lentinus Tuber Regium powder (MLTR-D). Generally, NLTR-A, MLTR-B, MLTR-C and MLTR-D were investigated for their organoleptic, solubility, pH, moisture studies, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffractometry (XRD), flow parameters and densities. The results showed that both the native and the modified powders were insoluble in water and most organic solvents. The pH of the derived powders was consistently higher. SEM and XRD revealed morphological differences in each of the derived powders, though, all the powders were non-crystalline. The respective modification methods brought about an improvement in the hydrophilic and flow properties of the modified powders when compared to the native form of LTR
Postemergence Weed Management Systems for Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea)

Field studies were conducted from 1985 to 1987 to evaluate postemergence herbicide systems with preemergence systems to control Texas panicum, Florida beggarweed, sicklepod, and pitted morningglory in peanuts. Adding paraquat at 0.14 kg ai/ha to postemergence herbicide systems reduced fresh weight of Florida beggarweed 92% (18% increase over the same systems without paraquat), sicklepod 95% (21% increase), and pitted morningglory 95% (11% increase). Herbicide systems containing paraquat improved peanut yields by 230 kg/ha and net returns by $52/ha over herbicide systems not containing paraquat. Fluazifop-P and sethoxydim systems reduced Texas panicum fresh weight (at least 96%) more than a preemergence system (92% reduction) that used benefin applied preplant incorporated and alachlor plus naptalam and dinoseb applied at cracking (GC) or a postemergence system that used alachlor and naptalam plus dinoseb GC and paraquat applied early postemergence (86% reduction). Systems containing fluazifop-P provided greater yields (4190 kg/ha) and net returns ($383/ha) than systems containing sethoxydim (4010 kg/ha, $305/ha) when averaged across all rates of application.
Hunting for Globular Clusters in the early universe

Abstract Setting the formation of globular clusters (GCs) within a cosmological context and characterising the properties of proto-GCs at high redshift is currently a major challenge. In this work, we address that challenge by exploring a suit of high-resolution cosmological simulations from the First Billion Years (FiBY) project z at ⩾6 to investigate theoretical scenarios concerning the formation of old, low-mass stellar systems with a particular focus on GCs. Two distinct groups of objects are identified in the simulations. The first group of objects, with a high baryon fraction, we associate with proto-GCs. The second group, that exhibit a high stellar fraction, could be forming ultra-faint dwarf galaxies (UFDs). The objects with high baryon fraction are promising proto-GC candidates because they have little to no dark matter (DM), have number densities consistent with predictions from the literature, are very compact and have a high stellar density. We fit and also assess the redshift-zero globular system mass - halo mass relation and find it provides a reasonable fit to our proto-GC objects, indicating that this relation is likely set at formation.