Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reproductive ecology of Impatiens platyadena Fischer, a critically endangered balsam of Western Ghats

Impatiens platyadena is a critically endangered balsam occurring in isolated pockets of the Western Ghats of Kerala. In order to understand its narrow distribution and endangerment, we studied reproductive ecology covering floral phenology, pollination, pollen–pistil interactions and breeding systems. The creamy-redcoloured flowers bloom in the early morning between 0600 and 0830 h, but the anther dehisces one day before anthesis. The pollen–ovule ratio (2346 : 1) revealed that the species is adapted to entomophilous pollination. Pollen viability and stigma receptivity are temporally isolated; stigma is receptive on the third day and pollen viability is highest (75%) on the day of anthesis. Field observations confirmed that the flowers offer both pollen and nectar to the visitors. The visitors include honey bees and butterflies, but the former served as better pollinators. Manual pollinations revealed that the species permits both geitonogamous and xenogamous pollination. The fruit set rate in natural pollination is low (38%), but manual xenogamous pollination enhanced the fruit set up to 65%. Its dependence on specialized habitats, fragmentation of populations, narrow environmental niche, scarcity of pollinators, delayed stigma receptivity and low percentage of seed germination could be the reasons for its limited distribution and endangerment in the Western Ghats.
Taxonomy of the New World checkered beetle genus Akonesis Opitz (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Peloniinae)

Abstract The genera Akonesis Opitz, Crusbatus Opitz, and Diutius Opitz, which comprise a monophyletic group within Peloniinae (Coleoptera: Cleridae), are discussed. The species of Akonesis are reviewed. There are five recognised species of Akonesis: A. pictipennis (Gorham), A. privoatus Opitz new species, A. ridens (Gorham), A. strictus Opitz new species, and A. vittatus (Spinola). According to the morphological analysis performed herein, the species treated in this work are thought to be predatory. Colour patterns of the elytra and field observations suggest that members of Akonesis and Diutius are involved in Batesian mimicry with Chrysomelidae (Coleoptera), and in particular with Galerucinae. Included in this treatise are: a brief discussion of the natural history and evolution of Akonesis species, one Bootstrap consensus tree, a key to Akonesis species, a phylogenetic tree generated by WINCLADA in conjunction with NONA, 15 line drawings, 10 electron micrographs, one distribution map, four photographs of male terminalia, and five colour habitus photographs.
Regulatory networks of gene expression in maize (Zea mays) under drought stress and re-watering

Drought can severely limit plant growth and production. However, few studies have investigated gene expression profiles in maize during drought/re-watering. We compared drought-treated and water-sufficient maize plants by measuring their leaf relative water content, superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activities, proline content, and leaf gas exchange parameters (photosynthetic rates, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rates). We conducted RNA sequencing analyses to elucidate gene expression profiles and identify miRNAs that might be related to drought resistance. A GO enrichment analysis showed that the common DEGs (differently expressed genes) between drought-treated and control plants were involved in response to stimulus, cellular process, metabolic process, cell part, and binding and catalytic activity. Analyses of gene expression profiles revealed that 26 of the DEGs under drought encoded 10 enzymes involved in proline synthesis, suggesting that increased proline synthesis was a key part of the drought response. We also investigated cell wall-related genes and transcription factors regulating abscisic acid-dependent and -independent pathways. The expression profiles of the miRNAs miR6214-3p, miR5072-3p, zma-miR529-5p, zma-miR167e-5p, zma-miR167f-5p, and zma-miR167j-5p and their relevant targets under drought conditions were analyzed. These results provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of drought tolerance, and may identify new targets for breeding drought-tolerant maize lines. Abbreviations leaf relative water content: RWC, superoxide dismutase activity: SOD, peroxidase activity: POD, proline content: Pro, photosynthetic rates: Pn, stomatal conductance: Cond, transpiration rates: Tr. ; quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction: qPCR; abscisic acid; ABA; polyethylene glycol :PEG; Principal component analysis :PCA; polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis :PAGE Highlight The study of physiology and molecular mechanism of maize laid a theoretical foundation for drought resistance breeding under drought stress and re-watering.
Helminths of some tree frogs of the families Hylidae and Phyllomedusidae in an Atlantic rainforest fragment, Brazil

ABSTRACT Despite the fact that Brazil is the most-studied country regarding helminths of amphibians, only around 8% of Brazilian anurans have had at least one study made of their helminth fauna. Therefore, the aim of this study was to describe the helminth community of nine species of Atlantic Rainforest anurans of two different families, eight of them with no previous study, and six of which are endemic to Brazil. The analysed hosts for their parasites were: Dendropsophus minutus (n = 48), Scinax auratus (n = 36), D. branneri (n = 33), D. elegans (n = 26), Hypsiboas albomarginatus (n = 22), Pithecopus nordestinus (n = 19), D. decipiens (n = 12), D. haddadi (n = 11) and S. x-signatus (n = 11). A total of 781 helminths were collected from 106 (48.6%) of 218 analysed hosts, 656 Centrorhyncus sp. cystacanths and 125 nematodes: 76 adults (25 Cosmocerca sp.; three Cosmocerceidae gen. sp.; 20 Cosmocerca parva, 20 Cosmocercella phyllomedusae, five Aplectana sp., two Oswaldocruzia sp. and one Rhabdias sp.), 43 encysted larvae (nine Porrocaecum sp. and 34 Brevimulticaecum sp.) and six Physaloptera sp. larvae. Anurans may display many roles within the helminth life cycles, as they act as both predator and prey to a wide variety of animals. Consequently, we have found helminths that use anurans as definitive, intermediate and paratenic hosts. Opposing other surveys in which nematodes are the most prevalent and abundant parasites, acanthocephalans were the most prevalent taxa. These findings highlight the lack of knowledge regarding the helminth fauna of anurans and reveal many gaps with respect to their infection patterns in amphibians.
Genetic diversity and evolutionary history of four closely related Aquilegia species revealed by 10 nuclear gene fragments

The genus Aquilegia is emerging as the new model system for plant development, ecology, and evolution studies. Previous research showed that pollinator shift might drive the diversification of North American Aquilegia species, and natural selection on the length of petal nectar spur might play a crucial role. In this genus, A. ecalcarata Maxim. is the only taxon that has lost nectar spurs. Previous phylogenetic results indicated that A. ecalcarata, A. yabeana Kitag. , A. oxysepala var. kansuensis Bruhl. , and A. rockii Munz comprised a monophyletic group. However, their pattern of genetic diversity remains unknown. In addition, little is known about the evolutionary relationship among the four species on the population level. We carried out a population genetics study with 21 representative populations based on 10 single‐copy nuclear gene fragments and found that: (i) A. yabeana conserved the highest genetic diversity (both πsil and θsil) and A. oxysepala var. kansuensis had the lowest level; (ii) A. ecalcarata split into two groups, with one population clustered with A. rockii and the other five populations clustered with A. oxysepala var. kansuensis; and (iii) the allele frequency spectrum showed an excess of low frequency alleles in all four species, implying that they may undergo the mutation‐drift equilibrium. Our findings provide the first investigation of genetic diversity and evolutionary relationships in A. yabeana, A. oxysepala var. kansuensis, A. rockii, and A. ecalcarata. They lay the foundation for future evolutionary studies, such as speciation mediated by pollinators.
Identifying elite rhizobia for soybean (Glycine max) in Kenya

Bio-prospecting was conducted in Kenya to identify elite isolates of rhizobia capable of effectively nodulating promising soybean varieties. One hundred isolates were recovered from nodules of wild and cultivated legume hosts. These isolates were authenticated and tested for effectiveness on soybean (Glycine max) var. SB 19 in sterile vermiculite, and the twenty-four most promising isolates screened in potted soil to assess their competitive abilities on two varieties ("promiscuously nodulating" SB 19 and specific SC Safari). The six best performing isolates were then evaluated under field conditions, comparing them to strain USDA110. Test isolates were classified into; non-infective, ineffective, partly effective, effective and highly effective based on their performance relative to controls and industry standards. In potted soil, native rhizobia isolates nodulated promiscuous soybean (SB19) but only 46% of them nodulated specific soybean (Safari). In the field experiment, isolate NAK 128 performed best on both promiscuous and specific soybean varieties, significantly (p<0.05) outperforming USDA110 by 29% and 24%, respectively. Partial economic return to inoculation with NAK 128 was about 21:1, justifying inoculation as a field practice and producing up to 2.5 million nodules (334 kg) ha -1 , significantly (p<0.05)
Drivers of macrofungal composition and distribution in Yulong Snow Mountain, southwest China

Although environmental factors strongly affect the distribution of macrofungi, few studies have so far addressed this issue. Therefore, to further our understanding of how macrofungi respond to changes in the environment, we investigated the diversityand community composition of fungi based on the presence of fruiting bodies in different environments along an elevation gradient in a subalpine Pine forest at Yulong Snow Mountain in southwest China. Two-hundred and twenty-eight specimens of macrofungi from twelve plots were identified using macro-morphological characteristics. We found that soil temperature had a significantly positive influence on total macrofungal and ectomycorrhizal species richness and diversity, while elevation gradients had a significantly negative influence. Furthermore, total macrofungal and ectomycorrhizal species community composition were significantly influenced by soil temperature and elevation gradients. No significant relationships were found between environment variables and the diversity and community composition of saprotrophic fungi in subalpine pine forest.
Habitat segregation by breeding origin in the declining populations of European Robins wintering in southern Iberia

Mediterranean woodlands and associated shrub formations of southern Iberia are key habitats for conservation of migratory birds. In some bird species, migratory and sedentary conspecifics meet in these areas during winter, but our understanding of how each population group is distributed over available habitats and the factors that determine their spatial organization are still unclear. This seriously limits our ability to assess their vulnerability to ongoing environmental changes affecting wintering habitats in this region. We used hydrogen isotopic signatures of feathers (dDf) to shed light on the habitat distribution of seasonally sympatric European Robin Erithacus rubecula populations wintering in Campo de Gibraltar that are currently facing a drastic decline. In contrast to previous studies that used morphological methods to distinguish the migratory behaviour of wintering Robins in this area, our isotopic approach revealed that sedentary Robins were not outcompeted upon the arrival of migrants and remained in the woodlands where they reproduce, which agrees with results obtained in other regions. Interestingly, we also found that migratory Robins with a closer breeding origin (higher dDf values) had a higher probability of occupying woodlands than did migrants coming from further away. Overall, our results suggest that the role of breeding origin in shaping the distribution of Robins during winter in Campo de Gibraltar is more relevant than the effects of sex, age or body size, which might facilitate the evolution of local adaptations for the exploitation of each habitat type.
COMPARISON OF THE EFFECTS OF CANOLA OIL WITH SUNFLOWER OIL ON BLOOD PRESSURE, LIPID PROFILE, APOPROTEINS, LIPOPROTEIN (A), TOTAL ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY, AND CRP IN HYPERLIPIDEMIC POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

Background and Objective: Substituting dietary saturated fatty acid (SFA) with monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), especially omega-3 fatty acids, both found in canola oil, can reduce the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases, particularly in postmenopausal women. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of canola oil with sunflower oil on blood pressure, lipid profile, apoproteins, lipoprotein(a), total antioxidant capacity, and CRP in hyperlipidemic postmenopausal women. Materials and Methods: We performed a double-blind randomized clinical trial on 44 hyperlipidemic postmenopausal women randomly divided into two groups receiving, daily for 8 weeks, either 30gr of canola oil or 30gr of sunflower oil. Blood samples were collected at baseline and after intervention and analyzed for serum triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), LDL-c, HDL-c, lipoprotein a [Lp(a)], apoproteinB (APOB) , apoprotein A-I[APOA-I] ، CRP, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were also measured and compared between the 2 groups at baseline and after intervention. Results: There was a statistically significant decrease in diastolic pressure in the canola group , as compared to sunflower group, at the end of the period. The treatment also brought about a significant increase in HDL-c and significant decreases in the systolic blood pressure and TG/HDL-c in the canola group, whereas in the sunflower group mean serum LDL-c, TAC, and ApoB decreased significantly. The levels of A po A-I, TC/HDL-c, and LDL-c/HDL-c decreased significantly in both groups. Further analysis of the data showed that there were no significant differences in Lp(a), CRP, and TAC between the two groups at the end of study. Conclusion: As compared to sunflower oil, canola oil has more desirable effects on diastolic blood pressure in hyperlipidemic postmenopausal women.
Inactivation of Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus on chickpea, Cicer arietinum L.

Insect specific viruses like nucleopolyhedrosisvirus (NPV) can provide an alternative and effective insect pest control compared to conventional chemicals; however, on certain crops like chickpea efficacy of the virus is limited. Previous studies have demonstrated that inactivation on chickpea was leaf surface based and rapid, however, the compound identified (isoflavonoid, sissotrin) could not account for the total inactivation that was recorded on chickpea leaves. The present study investigated further the legume-NPV insect interaction, with aim of identifying conclusively the compound(s) responsible for NPV inactivation on chickpea, and also to determine if the same plant chemistry also occurs on two other major African and Asian legumes, cowpea and pigeonpea, and to understand the mechanism involved. Laboratory results showed that chickpea leaf surface was more inactivating to NPV than cowpea or pigeonpea. Although both cowpea and pigeon also reduced the efficacy of NPV the effect was relatively small. Bioassays with the isoflavonoids (biochanin A and formononetin), identified to be present or induced at higher levels after spraying with HearNPV, showed that although both compounds significantly reduced NPV efficacy, the effect was modest compared to that recorded on chickpea leaves. When the most abundant chickpea acids (malic and oxalic) were mixed with different concentrations of the isoflavonoids and tested on NPV, significant inactivation was observed which was comparable to that obtained on chickpea leaves. The inactivation of NPV by the combination of chickpea acids plus isoflavonoids was not dependent on high concentrations of isoflavonoid tested, suggesting that chickpea acids alone could be responsible. Therefore, further tests were carried out to determine the role of the acids alone on NPV. The most abundant chickpea acids were prepared at different concentrations and tested with the virus at high lethal concentration. The results showed that chickpea acids alone were responsible for the inactivation of NPV, and among the two acids tested, oxalic was found to be more active against the virus. Although the inactivation was shown to correlate negatively with pH of the acids, the results suggest that oxalic acid was exerting its effect independently of the pH. This is the first study to demonstrate that organic acids of chickpea were responsible for inactivation of NPV. The findings from this study will be helpful in identifying suitable formulation additives to improve the field persistence of NPV on chickpea and other crops.
Investigation of Altered Cell-Cell Interactions and Signaling Mechanisms in Drosophila Tumor Models

iii DEDICATION.vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.vii LIST OF FIGURES.xiv LIST OF TABLES.xviii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS.xix CHAPTER 1: OVERVIEW OF CANCER.1 1.1 Signaling Pathways in Cancer.4 1.1.1 Hippo Signaling in Cancer.4 1.1.2 JNK Signaling in Cancer.9 1.1.3 Wingless Signaling in Cancer.14 1.1. 4 Caspases in Cancer.24 1.1. 5 Ras Signaling and Tumorigenesis.31 1.2 Intercellular Interactions in Drosophila and Mammals.37 1.3 Specific Aims of the Study.42 CHAPTER 2: GENETIC ANALYSIS OF scribble LOSS OF FUNCTION MUTATION IN DIFFERENT COMPETITIVE BACKGROUNDS.45 2.
The Effects of Types of Manure and Mycorrhizal Applications on Sandy Soils on the Growth and Yield of Curly Red Chili (Capsicum annum L.)

Market demand for chilies continues to increase, so efforts are needed to increase the productivity of the chili plants. One of the efforts is by intensifying production factors such as applying fertilizers on beach sand which contain low nutrients and organic matter so that manure input is needed and also utilizes soil microbial technology in the form of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi which are relatively cheap economically and environmentally friendly. The purpose of this research was to study the effect of types of manure and mycorrhizal applications on the growth and yield of curly red chili. The research was arranged in a strip-plot Randomized Completely Block Design (RCBD) consisting of two factors with three replications. The first factor is the type of fertilizer (cow manure, chicken manure, guano fertilizer, quail manure and urea fertilizer) and the second factor is the application of mycorrhizae (with and without). This study concludes that quail manure increases plant height. The addition of chicken manure, guano fertilizer and quail manure multiplies the total fruit production. The application of mycorrhizae gives the same results on the growth and yield of chili.
Comparison of different concurrent protocols of lipid profile, insulin resistance index and some white fat tissue hormones. Fats inactive men overweight

Sport and physical activities play important role in disease prevention and health; and an integral approach to controlling cardiovascular disease and obesity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 8 weeks of concurrent training on serum leptin, adiponectin, blood lipid profiles and some white adipose tissue hormones in overweight non-athletic men. Materials & Methods: In this study, 30 young men aged 19 to 25 years old with body mass index of 25 to 28 kg / m 2 were randomly divided into three groups of concurrent training. Subjects completed 3 sessions per week of periodic, continuous and strength aerobic workouts on odd days; and then 2 sessions per week they had sauna sessions on even days for 20-30 minutes without any activity in the dry sauna at 80° C. Fasting blood test was taken from subjects in twice before and after 8 weeks of intervention. Changes in serum levels of leptin, adiponectin, lipid profile, insulin, glucose and insulin resistance index were assessed by enzymatic method. The results were analyzed using variance test. Results: The results showed that concurrent exercises there was a significant decrease in serum leptin, low density lipoprotein, triglyceride, body composition, glucose concentration, insulin sensitivity index (P≤0.05), serum concentration of adiponectin and lipoprotein lipid peroxidase significantly And the difference between groups was not significant (P≤0.05). Conclusion: The findings indicate that concurrent exercises cause significant changes in the level of some of the secreted hormones from white adipose tissue and other organs associated with the secretion of these hormones and improve some of the indexes of body composition and lipid profiles
Phylogeny of Onobrychis sect. Hymenobrychis (Fabaceae) based on chloroplast DNA sequence data

Phenetic analysis of morphological characters in different species of Onobrychis Miller sect. Hymenobrychis DC. (Fabaceae), classified them in two main groups based on corolla features. To determine the phylogenetic relationships among the 13 species, chloroplast DNA sequences were used. Analysis of these data resulted in a well-resolved and well-supported phylogeny. Phylogenies generated by maximum likelihood show monophyly of O. sect. Hymenobrychis and the division of the section into two major clades. The first branching clade was formed by all the species of the section with large flowers, a yellowish corolla with or without venation and some species having a larger chromosome number (x=8 vs x=7). The second major clade includes the remaining species studied, all of which have small flowers, a yellowish corolla with or without venation or purple maculae and the common number of chromosomes (x=7). The compliance of the molecular, morphological and cytogenetic data indicates that x=8 is ancestral in the section and x=7 are derived through an aneuploid loss of a chromosome. The resulting phylogeny suggests the Zagros area as an origin of evolution in the sect. Hymenobrychis, followed by a radiation to the Alborz area in Iran.