Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The impact of aerial baiting for control of the yellow crazy ant, Anoplolepis gracilipes, on canopy-dwelling arthropods and selected vertebrates on Christmas Island (Indian Ocean)

Large supercolonies of the yellow crazy ant (YCA) (Anoplolepis gracilipes) on Christmas Island (Indian Ocean) have had a major impact on the land crabs on the island, and an aerial baiting programme using Fipronil™ was trialed in 2002 to reduce YCA populations. To assess the potential for non-target impacts of this baiting programme, canopy-dwelling arthropods and selected vertebrates were sampled in four forest treatments: uninfested by YCA; infested but aerially baited several days earlier; infested but hand-baited 12-24 months previously; and, infested but untreated. Canopy arthropods from the lower canopy of five species of tree were sampled immediately after aerial baiting to determine the abundance and diversity of the arthropod fauna in infested and uninfested areas and the potential impact of the insecticide on the arthropod fauna. Relative abundances of terrestrial, diurnal bird species and the nocturnal Christmas Island gecko were estimated at replicate sites within the four treatments in September 2002 and April 2003 to detect the potential for immediate and medium-term effects of the baiting programme on habitat use. Non-baited infested sites and those that had recently been aerially baited showed significantly elevated levels of both YCA and scale insects in the canopy, and the relative abundances of these two taxa were highly correlated. After counts of YCA and scale insects had been removed, no significant differences in the overall abundance of arthropods or the number of orders encountered could be detected across the four treatments. Estimates of relative abundance of vertebrates immediately after baiting indicated that the only sampled species to respond to Fipronil™ was the Christmas Island white-eye, whose abundance was lower in non-baited control areas than in uninfested sites, or aerially baited sites with supercolonies of YCA. The Christmas Island imperial pigeon exhibited a response to baiting when sampled eight months after the initial baiting. The abundance of this species was significantly reduced in the aerially baited sites compared with that in uninfested sites, and overall abundance of this species declined between 2002 and 2003. Although our samples and counts were small, we conclude that, with the exception of reductions in abundance in the imperial pigeon, the immediate to medium-term impacts of the aerial baiting strategy on vertebrates and immediate impact on canopy arthropods were minimal and that, given the importance of control of YCA for the conservation of terrestrial fauna, such baiting programmes should be supported.
Assessment of acute phase response in turkeys experimentally infected with Escherichia coli or haemorrhagic enteritis virus

Acute phase responses in turkeys infected with a pathogenic strain of E. coli or haemorrhagic enteritis virus (HEV) were evaluated on the basis of levels and dynamics of selected acute phase proteins. Two groups of 20 6-week-old turkeys each were infected through their abdominal air sacs with 4x10 CFU/ml of O78:K80:H9 E. coli serotype or injected intravenously with 103.6EID50 of the HEV. Another group of 20 birds formed an uninfected control group. Blood samples were taken from all the birds prior to infection and 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, 168, and 240 hrs after the infection. Serum levels of ceruloplasmin, haptoglobin, albumin, TIBC, UIBC and total iron were determined and blood fibrinogen level was assayed. The obtained results revealed a higher response enhancement in the case of experimental colibacillosis than in the case of HEV infection. This was manifested with more significant changes in the levels of caeruloplasmin, haptoglobin, fibrinogen, albumin and TIBC.
The effect of a Rho–kinase inhibitor (Y-27632) on the relaxation of thromboxane a 2 mimetic (U-46619) induced contraction in the presence and absence of the endothelium

Background: These experiments investigated mechanisms responsible for the slow relaxation of aortic rings following contraction elicited by the thromboxane mimetic, U46619. In this study we hypothesized that blocking only the Rho-kinase pathway with the Rho-kinase inhibitor (Y-27632) will shorten the extended relaxation time induced by U46619 and that production of NO contributes to the relaxation of blood vessels treated with the Rho kinase inhibitor. Methodology: Aortic rings were obtained from a euthanized rabbit and placed in heated organ baths and contractile responses to the thromboxane mimetic, U46619 measured. After removal of the endothelium or inhibition of NO production, we subjected the U46619 induced vessels to the Rho kinase inhibitor (Y-27632), so as to determine if Y-27632 causes relaxation of U46619 induced vessels by acting through NO, which is the relaxing factor in the endothelium. Vessels exposed to U46619 relaxed at a significantly slower rate compared to other agonists such as phenylephrine (1.0 uM) or high KCl solutions (60 uM). Result: Inhibition of Rho-kinase significantly reduced the relaxation time; i.e., the rate of relaxation was higher (0.13 ± 0.07 g/min) in the presence of a Rho kinase inhibitor (Y-27632; 1 uM) compared to vehicle-treated vessels (0.02 ± 0.01 g/min) (P< 0.05). We then investigated whether the enhanced rate of relaxation following inhibition of Rho kinase was dependent on the release of NO from the endothelium. Vessels treated with an inhibitor of NO production (L-NAME) or vessels where the endothelium was mechanically removed showed the same response to inhibition of Rho-kinase as vessels treated with the vehicle of L-NAME or vessels in which the endothelium was not denuded. Conclusion: We conclude that Rho kinase plays an essential role in sustaining the contractile phase of vessels treated with the TxA2 mimetic U46619. The faster rate of relaxation of vessels following inhibition of Rho-kinase does not involve release of NO from the endothelium. Keywords: Thromboxane A 2 mimetic (U46619), Rho-kinase inhibitor (Y-27632), Vascular Smooth Muscle (VSM), Endothelium and Nitric oxide (NO)s
A consensus map of barley integrating SSR, RFLP, and AFLP markers

A consensus map of barley combining simple sequence repeat (SSR), restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers has been developed by combining 5 Australian barley linkage maps, Galleon × Haruna Nijo, Chebec × Harrington, Clipper × Sahara, Alexis × Sloop, and Amaji Nijo × WI2585, using the software package JOINMAP 2.0. The new consensus map consists of 700 markers, with 136 being SSRs, and has a total genetic distance of 933 cM. The consensus map order appears to be in good agreement with the Australian barley linkage maps, with the exception of a small inversion located close to the centromere of chromosome 5H. Similarly, the SSR map orders are in good agreement with SSR markers integrated into the doubled haploid linkage map of Lina × Hordeum spontaneum, Canada Park. The new consensus map provides a framework to cross examine and align partial and complete barley linkage maps using markers common to many barley maps. This map will allow researchers to rapidly and accurately select SSR markers for chromosome regions of interest for barley genetic and plant breeding studies.
EVALUATION OF EFFICIENT RHIZOBIUM STRAINS FOR GROUNDNUT

Fifteen isolates of Rhizobium from groundnut crop were evaluated. Five isolates viz. SMGNR3, SMGNR-8, PGNR-1, PGNR-8 and SGNR-5 performed significantly better to nodulation (40 to 49/plant), dry weight of nodules (106 to 124 mg/plant), shoot (10.4 to 11.6 g/plant), root (3.2 to 3.8 g/plant), pod yield (22.0 to 25.8 q/ha) and dry matter yield (36.8 to 45.0 q/ha) over untreated control. An average increase in yield of pods and dry matter due to inoculation was 20.6 and 34.8 per cent respectively over control. The isolate SMGNR-8 and PGNR-8 produced maximum yield of pods 25.8 q/ha and dry matter 45.0 q/ha respectively over control 17.3 and 26.1 q/ha. The isolates SMGNR 3 and 8, PGNR l and 8 and SGNR 5 from sub-montane, plain and scarcity rainfall zone of Maharashtra were considered most efficient strains of Rhizobium for groundnut in their respective zone.
Effect of different salinity levels on the fertilization and hatching of Heterobranchus bidorsalis

The success of induced spawning for the production of fish seed depends on many factors which affect hatchery conditions. This paper discusses the results of an investigation on the effects of six different levels of salinity on the fertilization and hatching of Heterobranchus bidorsalis eggs. The results indicate that spermatozoa of H. bidorsalis can survive under a wide range of saline concentrations, with survival increasing with an increase in salinity from 0 to 0.4% and then decreasing as the level of salinity increases. Survival was optimum of 0.4% saline concentration.
Divergência genética entre acessos de mandioca-de-mesa coletados no município de Cianorte, região Noroeste do Estado do Paraná

Com o objetivo de avaliar a divergencia genetica entre 43 acessos de mandioca-de-mesa ( Manihot esculenta Crantz), coletados na zona urbana do municipio de Cianorte-PR, foram utilizados 12 descritores morfo-agronomicos quantitativos. Na analise de agrupamento foram aplicados os metodos de Otimizacao de Tocher e Hierarquico do “Vizinho Mais Proximo”, ambos com base na Distância Euclidiana Media padronizada. A maior divergencia genetica foi observada entre os acessos UEM-38 e UEM-130, bem como UEM-38 e UEM-154, enquanto que a menor divergencia genetica foi observada entre os acessos UEM-53 e UEM-79, e entre UEM-53 e UEM-68. Os dois metodos de agrupamento apresentaram similaridade em discriminar os grupos de acessos avaliados. As caracteristicas que evidenciaram as maiores divergencias geneticas foram o comprimento das raizes tuberosas, o comprimento de peciolos e o numero de raizes tuberosas por planta, enquanto que a altura de plantas e da primeira ramificacao, e o diâmetro de raizes tuberosas mostraram as menores contribuicoes na divergencia genetica.
RhoGTPase signaling in cell polarity and gene regulation.

RhoGTPases are proteins working as molecular switches as they bind and hydrolyze GTP. They are in their active conformation when GTP is bound and are then able to interact with their effector proteins, which relay the downstream signaling. When the GTP is hydrolyzed to GDP, the RhoGTPase is inactivated. RhoGTPases have been shown to be activated by a variety of stimuli and they are implicated in regulation of diverse cellular processes, including cell migration, cell cycle progression, establishment of cell polarity and transformation. We identified mammalian Par6 as a novel effector protein for the RhoGTPases Cdc42 and Rac1. The Caenorhabditis elegans homologue of Par6 had previously been shown to be essential for cell polarity development in the worm embryo. We found that endogenous Par6 colocalized with the tight junction protein ZO-1 in MDCKII epithelial cells. Par6 also interacted with mammalian Par3, another member of the par (for partitioning defective) gene family, first identified in C.elegans. Endogenous Par3 also localized to tight junctions in epithelial cells. This suggested that Par6 and Par3 are part of a complex regulating cell polarity also in mammalian cells. The interaction between Par6 and activated Cdc42 and Rac1 suggested a role for these RhoGTPases in the regulation of this complex.Co-expression of Par6 together with PKCζ, induced a dramatic change in cell morphology. The cells rounded up and long cellular extensions, resembling neurites, were formed. The ability to induce these changes in cell morphology was found to be dependent on the direct interaction between Par6 and PKCζ, as well as on the kinase activity of PKCζ. We observed that cells co-expressing mPar6C and PKCζ contained bundled microtubules and microtubules that hade been acetylated, indicating that the microtubules were stabilized. To investigate the roles of RhoGTPases in PDGF-induced gene expression we performed cDNA microarray analyses on AG01518 human foreskin fibroblasts in which we over-expressed the dominant negative forms of Cdc42, Rac1 and RhoA. We found that the expression of 16 genes, out of the 45 up-regulated by PDGF-BB, were inhibited ≥50% in the presence of dominant negative Cdc42, Rac1 or RhoA. 19 other genes were down-regulated by one or two of the dominant RhoGTPases. Our data implied that the expression of many PDGF-BB induced genes can be affected by RhoGTPase signaling. In conclusion, the work presented here has increased the knowledge of the involvement of RhoGTPase signaling in establishment of cell polarity and gene regulation.
Solubilization, amino acid cmposition and electrophoretic characterization of Conophor nut (Tetracarpidium conophorum) proteins.

Defatted flour was prepared from whole conophor nut by cold (4°C) acetone extraction. Albumins and globulins were subsequently prepared from the defatted flour by salt extraction. Effects of solubilizing agents and pH on protein solubility were evaluated. Amino acid composition and electrophoretic properties of the flour and protein fractions were also determined. Among the several solubilizing agents tested, the most effective protein solubilizer was 0.1 M NaOH and the least effective was distilled deionized water. Conophor proteins were least soluble at pH 6 and were comprised mostly of globulins (59.50%) and glutelins (33.82%) fractions. The salt extract was separated into true albumins (41.86%) and true globulins (58.14%). Hydrophobic amino acids dominated the amino acid composition of both true albumins and globulins fractions while histidine was found to be the limiting amino acid. Total proteins and globulins were dominated by two polypeptides with estimated molecular weights (MWs) of 31 200 and 59 600. True albumins were composed of only one major polypeptide with estimated molecular weight of 31 200.
Possible roles of introduced plants for native vertebrate conservation: the case of Madagascar

Restoration approaches rely on native plants; yet in some situations, natural vegetation may not grow fast enough to prevent the fragmentation of original vegetation and the consequent negative impacts on fauna. In this context, some introduced plants may grow faster and provide more food than native species, and they may also contribute to human livelihood. We investigate to what extent introduced plant species (1) can serve as habitat and food for endemic vertebrates and (2) provide benefits to local people. We address this question in Madagascar, characterized by high degrees of endemism, long histories of coevolution between endemic species, highly fragmented forests, and a high reliance of the rural population on natural resources. A literature search for interactions between endemic fauna and introduced flora revealed that 100 of 1,379 introduced species recorded for Madagascar are used by endemic vertebrates. They provide food mainly for primates, flying foxes, and birds, and habitat for all terrestrial vertebrate groups. One hundred vertebrate species were reported to use introduced plants, many of which are fast growing and are useful for populations. Although these introduced plants should be approached with caution due to their potentially invasive behavior, many introduced plants can provide services for the native fauna and for humans. For example, trees can provide an interim solution to secure the survival of endemic fauna that otherwise would be lost due to fragmentation effects. These plants could bridge the time lag until native forest regeneration or restoration with native trees will have become effective.
FREEZE AND THAW CREATES OXIDATIVE STRESS AND DNA DAMAGE IN FROZEN HUMAN SPERMATOZOA

Article history Oxidative stress plays a major role in induction of cell structural damage, cellular dysfunction, and loss of cell survival. Semen cryopreservation is an important part of the work of many clinical laboratories, particularly those associated with infertility clinics. Most of the studies conducted on semen storage have demonstrated a beneficial effect of in vitro antioxidant supplements in protecting spermatozoa from exogenous oxidants and cryopreservation. In contrast, the effect of antioxidants in protecting spermatozoa from endogenous ROS and sperm processing have not been established conclusively. The aim of the present investigation was to determine the oxidative stress induced cryopreserved sperm quality, DNA intactness and lipid peroxidation of human semen that was stored at -196 0 C. The semen sample stored at
Accurate Path Integration in Continuous Attractor Network Models of Grid Cells

Grid cells in the rat entorhinal cortex display strikingly regular firing responses to the animal's position in 2-D space and have been hypothesized to form the neural substrate for dead-reckoning. However, errors accumulate rapidly when velocity inputs are integrated in existing models of grid cell activity. To produce grid-cell-like responses, these models would require frequent resets triggered by external sensory cues. Such inadequacies, shared by various models, cast doubt on the dead-reckoning potential of the grid cell system. Here we focus on the question of accurate path integration, specifically in continuous attractor models of grid cell activity. We show, in contrast to previous models, that continuous attractor models can generate regular triangular grid responses, based on inputs that encode only the rat's velocity and heading direction. We consider the role of the network boundary in the integration performance of the network and show that both periodic and aperiodic networks are capable of accurate path integration, despite important differences in their attractor manifolds. We quantify the rate at which errors in the velocity integration accumulate as a function of network size and intrinsic noise within the network. With a plausible range of parameters and the inclusion of spike variability, our model networks can accurately integrate velocity inputs over a maximum of ∼10–100 meters and ∼1–10 minutes. These findings form a proof-of-concept that continuous attractor dynamics may underlie velocity integration in the dorsolateral medial entorhinal cortex. The simulations also generate pertinent upper bounds on the accuracy of integration that may be achieved by continuous attractor dynamics in the grid cell network. We suggest experiments to test the continuous attractor model and differentiate it from models in which single cells establish their responses independently of each other.
What Happens to Gender Diverse Young People Who Are Referred to an Adult Gender Identity Service from a Child and Adolescent Service? a Cross-Sectional Look at Intervention Choices and Outcomes

Background In recent years there has been an explosion of referrals to child and adolescent gender identity services. There is a paucity of research on the experiences and outcomes of young adults referred from child and adolescent services to adult services, and with such large increases in referrals it is vital we understand more about the intervention pathways, satisfaction and longer-term outcomes of these gender diverse young people. The findings will enable better tailoring of gender identity services for young people, and be an important step towards ensuring that the support and intervention provided meets the needs of this diverse and growing population. Aim The aim was to determine the intervention pathways, satisfaction levels and longer-term outcomes of the young people who attended the Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS), and who were referred on to the Charing Cross Adult Gender Identity Clinic (CCGIC). Method All attendees of the GIDS who were referred to the CCGIC between 2011 and 2016 were sent an invite to participate in an online questionnaire, which asked about their emerging gender awareness, prevalence of gender affirming interventions, factors influencing intervention decisions, satisfaction with the intervention process, feelings about gender identity, body image and wellbeing. Results Of the 365 ex-GIDS clients who were referred to CCGIC, 72 completed the questionnaire. Overall, 59% were taking/had taken hormone blockers; 67% were/had taken cross-sex hormones and 27% intended to start taking them in the future; and 34% had undergone top or bottom surgery, with 56% intending to have surgical intervention in the future. Factors influential in the decision-making process were identified. Participants were generally satisfied with their intervention decisions and the decision-making process. However, areas of dissatisfaction were identified and are discussed. Conclusion The study shows that a higher number of young adults who are referred from child and adolescent services to adult services do pursue (or intend to pursue) medical and surgical interventions. Many who do are largely satisfied with the intervention process, but there are areas that require improvement.
Psychopathology and treatment outcomes in a sample of Danish survivors of childhood sexual abuse

ii Abbreviations . iv List of tables. vi List of Figures. viii List of publications and conference presentations relating to this thesis . ix Declaration. xi Chapter 1: Psychopathology and treatment outcomes among survivors of childhood sexual abuse . 1 1.
Individual Canopy‐tree Species Effects on Their Immediate Understory Microsite and Sapling Community Dynamics

Canopy trees are largely responsible for the environmental heterogeneity in the understory of tropical and subtropical species‐rich forests, which in turn may influence sapling community dynamics. We tested the effect of the specific identity of four cloud forest canopy trees on total solar radiation, canopy openness, soil moisture, litter depth, and soil temperature, as well as on the structure and dynamics of the sapling community growing beneath their canopies. We observed significant effects of the specific identity of canopy trees on most understory microenvironmental variables. Soil moisture was higher and canopy openness lower beneath Cornus disciflora. In turn, canopy openness and total solar radiation were higher beneath Oreopanax xalapensis, while the lowest soil moisture occurred beneath Quercus laurina. Moreover, Chiranthodendron pentadactylon was the only species having a positive effect on litter depth under its canopy. In spite of these between‐species environmental differences, only C. pentadactylon had significant, negative effects on sapling density and species richness, which may be associated to low seed germination and seedling establishment due to an increased litter depth in its vicinity. The relevance of the specific identity of canopy trees for natural regeneration processes and species richness maintenance depends on its potential to differentially affect sapling dynamics through species‐specific modifications of microenvironmental conditions.