Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 5 Activation Is Sufficient to Drive Transcriptional Induction of Cyclin D2 Gene and Proliferation of Rat Pancreatic β-Cells

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) activation plays a central role in GH- and prolactin-mediated signal transduction in the pancreatic β-cells. In previous experiments we demonstrated that STAT5 activation is necessary for human (h)GH-stimulated proliferation of INS-1 cells and hGH-induced increase of mRNA-levels of the cell cycle regulator cyclin D2. In this study we have further characterized the role of STAT5 in the regulation of cyclin D expression and β-cell proliferation by hGH. Cyclin D2 mRNA and protein levels (but not cyclin D1 and D3) were induced in a time-dependent manner by hGH in INS-1 cells. Inhibition of protein synthesis by coincubation with cycloheximide did not affect the hGH-induced increase of cyclin D2 mRNA levels at 4 h. Expression of a dominant negative STAT5 mutant, STAT5aΔ749, partially inhibited cyclin D2 protein levels. INS-1 cells transiently transfected with a cyclin D2 promoter-reporter construct revealed a 3- to 5-fold increase of transcriptional act.
Does the spatiotemporal distribution of livestock influence forage patch selection in Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx?

Abstract Depredation on livestock is one of the main conflicts associated with Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx conservation in Norway. Our study investigates how Eurasian lynx utilise high-density patches of free-ranging and unguarded livestock (domestic sheep Ovis aries and semi-domestic reindeer Rangifer tarandus) as compared to patches associated with low-density wild ungulate prey, roe deer Capreolus capreolus. We monitored 10 radio-collared lynx in central Norway in two seasons that differed in ungulate distribution and density. According to the 'optimal foraging theory' an animal should preferentially utilise areas with more abundant food if not constrained by other factors; therefore we predicted that lynx should select patches containing livestock. Contrary to our prediction the results indicate no selection for livestock patches in any season. In contrast, a clear preference was shown for roe deer patches in both seasons. Our findings support the hypothesis that lynx depredation on livestock seems to be affected by chance encounter rates, rather than by active selection for livestock-dense patches. We conclude that habitat selection by lynx seemed to be governed by a number of other factors than food alone, and that lynx predation on livestock, especially on sheep, should not be regarded as being ecologically equivalent to predation on wild prey.
Monitoring of Acaricide Resistance in Field-Collected Populations of Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) in Korea

Eight field-collected populations of the two-spotted spider mites, Tetranychus urticae (Koch) from apple orchards of different geographical areas were tested for resistance to seven acaricides by leaf disk method in comparison with a susceptible strain. Marked regional variations of susceptibility were observed. Only low to moderate resistance to azocyclotin, fenpropathrin, propargite, and abamectin was obtained. However, high resistance to dicofol, fenpyroxymate, and pyridaen by eight field-collected populations was produced. Resistance to dicofol and fenpyroxymate was widespread. All of the strains tested were susceptible to one or more o the acaricides used. These results indicate that careful selection of the chemical used against any population of the two-spotted spider mite might result in satisfactory control.
A STUDY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ROOT SURFACE MICROFLORA DURING THE INITIAL STAGES OF PLANT GROWTH

SUMMARY: A study of the development of the microfloras on the seeds and roots of tomatoes and oats during germination and subsequent root development showed a rapid selective multiplication on the seed during the initial stages of germination and also on the root almost immediately after emergence. Evidence is presented that further development of the root surface population after the initial high rate of multiplication was dependent on the normal development of the plant. Direct microscopic observations of the micro-organisms of the root surfaces showed interesting differences between the roots of tomatoes and oats. In the former, the root hairs of young plants were free from bacteria but in the oats even young root hairs supported large numbers of organisms. In both plants the root tips were invariably free from organisms.
Changes in the serum profiles of lipids and cholesterol in sheep experimental model of acute African trypanosomosis

6Trypanosoma congolense organisms. Another five uninfected sheep served as control group. Blood samples were collected from all the animals every other day from the day of infection (day 0) up to the termination of the experiment. The samples were used for haematological and parasitological analyses and determination of serum concentrations of total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol) and low density lipoproteincholesterol (LDL-cholesterol). All animals in the infected group showed parasitaemia by day 11 postinfection (PI) and the infection caused a gradual decline in the values of packed cell volume (PCV) and those of serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. Values of all these parameters in the control group remained fairly normal, relative to the pre-infection ones on day 0, throughout the experimental period. The PI mean values of serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDLcholesterol and LDL-cholesterol, measured in mmol/l, in the infected group were 3.44 ± 0.71, 1.62 ± 0.40, 0.78 ± 0.20 and 1.92 ± 0.40, respectively, while those in the control group were 4.32 ± 0.18, 2.24 ± 0.11, 1.15 ± 0.10 and 2.26 ± 0.30, respectively. The differences between the PI mean values in the two groups of animals were significant (P<0.05). T. congolense utilization of the molecules could, among other factors, be the cause of the reduced serum levels of these parameters and this could be a contributory factor in the pathophysiology of some of the disorders observed in trypanosome-infected animals.
Variation in fungi toxicant sensitivity of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides isolates infecting fruit crops

Thirty Colletotrichum gloeosporioides isolates from nine fruit hosts grown in different agro ecological zones of Maharashtra (India) expressed significant variation in their sensitivity to fungicides. All isolates expressed sensitive to highly sensitive reaction to prochloraz. Benomyl tolerance was also not detected except the isolate C. gloeosporioides (Cg) 42 from mandarin orange which was found to be insensitive to Benomyl. Cg 82 from pomegranate exhibited insensitive reaction to carbendazim with highest mean IC50 value of 330.15 µg/ml. This was followed by Cg 21 (243.77 µg/ml) from cashew nut, Cg 62 (218.7 µg/ml) from mango and Cg 83 (256.62 µg/ml), Cg 84 (261.22µg/ml) and Cg 86 (246.97µg/ml) isolated from pomegranate. Cg 82, Cg 84 and Cg 86 recorded sporulation up to 500 µg/ml level of carbendazim. In general, C. gloeosporioides isolates from pomegranate are tending towards carbendazim tolerance. One isolate Cg 43 was moderately insensitive to tricyclazole with mean IC50 value of 222.75 µg/ml and all remaining isolates recorded sensitive to highly sensitive reaction with tricyclazole. Key words: Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, carbendazim, benomyl, prochloraz, sensitivity.
Underice grazing by planktonic, calanoid copepods in relation to a bloom of ice microalgae in southeastern Hudson Bay

A spring bloom of ice microalgae was observed at a station on southeastern Hudson Bay. Levels of pheopigments in guts of females of Calanus glacialis and Pseudocalanus spp. , the dominant calanoid copepods in this region, increased by an order of magnitude after onset of the bloom. Feeding had a diel cycle and was associated with a nighttime migration of females to the ice-water interface. Fragments of pennate, ice diatoms were observed microscopically in most guts of Calanus and Metridia, but only rarely in Pseudocalanus, which may have been feeding on flagellates associated with the ice-water interface. The results suggest that ice microalgae in Hudson Bay are a regular and significant source of nutrition for planktonic copepods before the phytoplankton bloom. The structure of the layer at the ice-water interface may influence feeding behavior on ice microalgae by arctic copepods.
Modern dinoflagellate cysts in hypertrophic coastal waters of Tokyo Bay, Japan

A survey of dinoflagellate resting cysts in surface sediment samples was carried out in Tokyo Bay, Japan, to document their horizontal distribution. At least 21 different cyst types were found. Dominant cyst types allowed the recognition of assemblages which form three different dinoflagellate cyst communities: the innermost part of the Bay, the central area and the mouth area. In all stations in Tokyo Bay, heterotrophic dinoflagellate cysts always occupied more than half of the cyst populations. Cysts of Polykrikos schwartzii/kofoidii are the most abundant heterotrophic species. These assemblages may reflect highly nutrient-enriched (hypertrophic) and turbulent water conditions. Among the cyst types found were probable ellipsoidal cysts of Alexandrium tamarense. This is the first record of toxic Alexandrium species cysts in Tokyo Bay sediments.
Morphological and Molecular Diversity of a Collection of Cucurbita maxima Landraces

ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS. germplasm collection, squash, SRAP markers, AFLP markers, morphological type ABSTRACT. Cucurbita maxima Duch. is one of the most morphologically variable cultivated species. The Center for Conservation and Breeding of the Agricultural Diversity (COMAV) holds a diverse germplasm collection of the Cucurbita genus, with more than 300 landraces of this species. Morphological and molecular characterization are needed to facilitate farmer and breeder use of this collection. With this aim, the morphological variation of a collection of 120 C. maxima accessions was evaluated. The majority of these accessions originated from Spain, which has acted as a bridge since the 16th century for spreading squash morphotypes between the Americas and Europe. South American landraces (the center of origin of this species) were also included. Eight morphological types were established based on this characterization and previous intraspecifi c classifi cations. A subset of these accessions, selected from these classifi cation and passport data, was employed for molecular characterization. Two marker types were used; sequence related amplifi ed polymorphism (SRAP), which preferentially amplifi es open reading frames (ORF), and amplifi ed fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). In the main, SRAP marker analysis grouped accessions in accordance to their type of use (agronomic traits) and AFLP marker analysis grouped accessions as to their geographical origin. AFLP marker analysis detected a greater genetic variability among American than among Spanish accessions. This is likely due to a genetic bottleneck that may have occurred during the introduction of squash into Europe. The disparity of the results obtained with the two markers may be related to the different genome coverage which is characteristic of each particular marker type and/or to its effi ciency in sampling variation in a population. Cucurbita maxima Duch. is an extremely diverse species. It has been suggested that it has more cultivated forms than any other
Comparative Performance of Air-induction and Conventional Nozzles on an Axial Fan Sprayer in Medium Density Apple Orchards

ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS. Malus ·domestica, spray drift, spray coverage, biological efficacy, spray application technology, chemical thinning, sooty blotch, flyspeck SUMMARY. A series of experiments was undertaken to compare the performance of an axial fan air blast sprayer equipped with air induction (AI) or conventional (C) nozzles in medium density apple (Malus ·domestica) orchards. Performance was compared by assessing 1) spray coverage within the canopy at four levels of acrossrow wind speeds, 2) ground deposits from airborne drift under still conditions, and 3) biological efficacy of a postbloom thinning spray and a seasonal ‘‘high-risk’’ fungicide program where thiophanate methyl was not included. Spray coverage was reduced by up to 50% with increasing across-row wind speeds, the most dramatic reductions occurring between 0 and 4 mph and at heights greater than 8 ft in the canopy. AI nozzles resulted in a 2-fold increase in spray coverage in the canopy of trees in the row immediately adjacent to the sprayer compared with C nozzles regardless of across-row wind speed. AI nozzles resulted in significantly less airborne drift compared with C nozzles under still conditions in an open field and within a mature ‘Cripps Pink’/ ‘M.7’ orchard planted in rows 20 ft apart. Sprayer efficiency, measured as the proportion of total spray volume that was intercepted by the tree canopy, was higher for an airblast sprayer fitted with AI nozzles (38%) than for C nozzles (26%). The efficacy of a postbloom thinning spray (100 ppm benzyladenine plus carbaryl at 1 lb/100 gal) applied to ‘Morgan Spur Red Delicious’/‘M.111’ trees planted at a between-row spacing of 15 ft was slightly greater when applied with AI nozzles compared with C nozzles. However, application of a ‘‘high-risk’’ fungicide program with AI nozzles resulted in a higher incidence of fruit with flyspeck (Zygophiala jamaicensis) at harvest compared with C nozzles. These inconsistencies were related to the combined effects of nozzle type, orchard row spacing, and canopy density on spray deposition on trees in the second row from the sprayer or to possible effects of nozzle type on droplet density on the target. AI nozzles should provide equivalent or possibly improved coverage and biological efficacy compared with C nozzles in well-managed orchards planted at distances of 18 ft or less between rows. However, when orchard rows are spaced greater than 18 ft apart, AI nozzles will result in reduced spray coverage and chemical efficacy comparedwithCnozzles because ofa reductionin spraycarry-over to adjacent rows as a result of reduced airborne drift.
Three bovine α2-fucosyltransferase genes encode enzymes that preferentially transfer fucose on Galβ1-3GalNAc acceptor substrates

To investigate the synthesis of α2-fucosylated epitopes in the bovine species, we have characterized cDNAs from various tissues. We found three distinct α2-fucosyltransferase genes, named bovine fut1, fut2 ,a ndsec1 which are homologous to human FUT1, FUT2 ,a ndSec1 genes, respectively. Their open reading frames (ORF) encode polypeptides of 360 (bovine H), 344 (bovine Se), and 368 (bovine Sec1) amino acids, respectively. These enzymes transfer fucose in α1,2 linkage to ganglioside GM 1 and galacto-N-biose, but not to the phenyl-βD-galactoside, type 1 or type 2 acceptors, suggesting that their substrate specificity is different and more restricted than the other cloned mammalian α2-fucosyltransferases. Southern blot analyses detected four related α2-fucosyltransferase sequences in the bovine genome while only three have been described in other species. The supernumerary entity seems to be related to the α2-fucosyltransferase activity which can also use type 1a nd phenyl-β-D-galactoside substrate acceptors. It was exclusively found in bovine intestinal tract. Our results show that, at least in one mammalian species, four α2-fucosyltransferases are present, three adding a fucose on α1,2 linkage on type 3/4 acceptor (Galβ1–3GalNAc) and another able to transfer also fucose on phenyl-β-D-galactoside and type 1 (Galβ1–3GlcNAc) acceptors. The phylogenetic tree of the enzymes homologous to those encoded by the bovine fut1, fut2, and sec1 genes revealed two main families, one containing all the H-like proteins and the second containing all the Se-like and Sec1-like proteins. The Sec1-like family had a higher evolutionary rate than the Se-like family.
Ecology of cryptophytes coexisting near a freshwater chemocline

1. A deep chlorophyll maximum dominated by Cryptomonas phaseolus, Cryptomonas undulata and often also by Cryptomonas rostratiformis was observed near the summer chemocline of the dimictic, meso-eutrophic lake Schlachtensee from 1990 to 1996. 2. The cryptophyte populations occupied a stratified water column of about 2 m thickness just below the oxycline. They were never observed in the summer epilimnion. In their habitat, oxygen concentration was always lower than 1 mg L–1 and light was growth-limiting, whereas nitrogen and phosphorus were available at high concentrations. 3. A very large portion of the populations stayed in the anaerobic, sulphide-containing water layer. Below the chemocline, purple and green sulphur bacteria coexisted. 4. The cryptophyte populations were maintained by in situ growth due to low-light adapted photosynthesis and not due to phagotrophy. 5. Short-term changes in the light climate near the chemocline could explain the coexistence of different cryptophyte species.
Tougher and thornier: general patterns in the induction of physical defence traits

Summary Most plants rely at least in part on physical defence traits to deter herbivores, and yet, very little is known about the inducibility of these traits. A meta-analysis was conducted on data extracted from 57 publications from 1982 to 2014, including 53 species in 20 plant families in which the induction of physical defence traits was examined. Log response ratio effect sizes were calculated for 112 separate responses and analysed to characterize general patterns and test whether induction differed between physical and chemical defence traits (in the same study), among defence traits, and in response to the damage type (artificial, herbivore, jasmonates). Physical defence traits are generally inducible, showing a mean increase of 52% in damaged compared to control plants. The magnitude of increase did not differ between physical and chemical defence traits measured within the same experiments, and nutrients showed no overall response. Physical defence traits varied significantly in their responses, with non-glandular trichomes showing the greatest magnitude of increase, and no induction detected for leaf toughness. Responses induced by real herbivores or by jasmonate application were significantly greater than responses elicited by mechanical damage alone. This suggests that specificity in physical trait induction in response to different kinds of damage may occur. Induction of physical defence traits is common and widespread, but the ecological and evolutionary consequences of this response remain unknown. Future studies examining genetic variation in the inducibility of physical defence traits and their fitness consequences for plants would be particularly informative.
Diversidad y mecanismos de dispersión de árboles de la Isla Gorgona y de los bosques húmedos tropicales del Pacífico colombo-ecuatoriano

The tlora of the continental Island of Gorgona (Colombia) and that 01' the forests on the Choco biogeographical region of Colombia and Ecuador were compared with speeies-area curves and species diversity indexes, either previously published or calculated using the original data oflne vegetation surveys. The curves and the Shannon diversity index showed that the forest of Gorgona is less rieh in tree species than the mainIand sites. Furtherrnore, the Shannon equitability index in five continental lowland forests was higherthat inGorgona, suggesting that the number of trees per species is more evenly distributed in Ihe continental forests. In Gorgona. seed and fruit dispersal was primarily carried out by birds (49.7 % of the species), as repol1ed for the islands 01' Galapagos in Ecuador (60 %) and in the biogeographic island orthe cloud forest of the Serrania de Macuira, Guajira, in the north of Colombia (51 %). In contrast, dispersal by mammals was the main mechanism for tree species in the continental forests 01' Cabo Corrientes, Bajo Calima(Colombia) and Los Tuxtlas (Mexico). Although the fores! a! Gorgona is no! particularly rich on tree species. it plays an important role in the protection of marine ecosystems. A reduction in forest cover would result in an increase in soi! erosion rates and Iandslides that would greatly affeet marine hiota, pm1icularly of coral reefs.
FORUM ARTICLE What's the end-game for biodiversity: is it time for conservation evolution?

Conservation biology emerged in the 1980s to prevent extinctions by intervention and adaptive management. Despite many successes worldwide, the goal of self-sustaining populations of many threatened species without ongoing human assistance remains elusive. This is in part due to novel selection pressures overwhelming the ability of species to adapt to changing ecological circumstances. Evolution was also not considered to occur sufficiently fast to induce the recovery of many species. Recently, however, evolution has been observed in contemporary time frames, often in decades. This has stimulated discussion that evolutionary rescue could be possible for some species, leading to populations becoming self-sustaining. Evolutionary rescue is the ability of species to respond to novel selection pressures by adaptation via natural selection. In this article, I ask whether it is possible to manipulate natural selection to facilitate the ongoing survival of some New Zealand indigenous forest bird species in the presence of introduced predators, using existing management techniques. I suggest that existing management could be reconfigured so that existing and new safe sites, which safeguard evolutionary potential, have adjoining transition zones where predator abundance is suppressed, to provide the conditions for selection of adaptive phenotypic plasticity. Natural selection is theorised to favour phenotypes with plastic behaviour or genetic mutations that enhance survival and reproduction in the face of changing selection pressures, such as introduced predators. The aim is to facilitate the long-term coexistence of some forest bird species with introduced predators, so that populations eventually require little or no human intervention, in the event a predator-free country proves to be insurmountable. I suggest this conservation evolution approach is complementary to, and extends, the current conservation predator control paradigm. This is because it remains essential to continue to protect species that are substantially maladapted to novel selection pressures for evolutionary rescue to occur.