Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
GENETIC BENEFITS OF A FEMALE MATING PREFERENCE IN GRAY TREE FROGS ARE CONTEXT‐DEPENDENT

Abstract “Good genes” models of sexual selection predict that male courtship displays can advertise genetic quality and that, by mating with males with extreme displays, females can obtain genetic benefits for their offspring. However, because the relative performance of different genotypes can vary across environments, these genetic benefits may depend on the environmental context; in which case, static mating preferences may not be adaptive. To better understand how selection acts on the preference that female gray tree frogs (Hyla versicolor) express for long advertisement calls, I tested for genetic benefits in two realistic natural environments, by comparing the performance of half‐sibling offspring sired by males with long versus short calls. Tadpoles from twelve such maternal half‐sibships were raised in enclosures in their natal pond at two densities. In the low‐density treatment, offspring of long‐call males were larger at metamorphosis than were offspring of short‐call males, whereas in the high‐density treatment, offspring of males with long calls tended to metamorphose later than offspring of males with short calls. Thus, although the genes indicated by long calls were advantageous under low‐density conditions, they were not beneficial under all conditions, suggesting that a static preference for long calls may not be adaptive in all environments. Such a genotype‐by‐environment interaction in the genetic consequences of mate choice predicts that when the environment is variable, selection may favor plasticity in female preferences or female selectivity among environments to control the conditions experienced by the offspring.
Estructura poblacional y parámetros demográficos de Juniperus flaccida Schltdl.

The purpose of this work was to compare the population structure and some demographic parameters of Juniperus flaccida between two populations in order to contribute for a better understanding of the management practices, as well as the use and conservation of this species. Two permanent plots of1ha each one were settled down under different perturbation conditions to compare both, the population structures and demographic parameters of Juniperus flaccida . Perturbation conditions were: for plot P1, with selective wood extraction and presence of cattle grazing, and for plot P2 with neither selective wood extraction nor cattle grazing but natural disturbances. In each plot all individuals of J. flaccida were marked, numbered and measured in their height, diameter to breast height (dbh) and survival, growth and fecundity were estimated on an annual basis in both plots. Population density and sex ratio (males:females) were estimated for each plot, and based on height and dbh individual parameters each population was structured in 8 size categories. The densities of the categories of both population sizes showed differences statistically significant between them. The sex ratio did not present significant differences from a theoretical 1:1 ratio in the population with selective wood extraction and cattle grazing. On the other hand, there were significant differences in the population without wood extraction. The frequencies of mortality by size categories showed significant differences into populations. The absolute rate growth of mature individuals and their fecundities were higher in the plot with wood extraction and cattle grazing. The differences in both population structures and demographic parameters of the population were associated with the perturbation conditions.
A comparison of the age, growth rate and burrowing behaviour of the razor clams, Ensis siliqua and E. ensis

Two razor clam populations from two shores in North Wales were identified on morphological grounds as Ensis siliqua (L.) and E. ensis (L.). Ensis siliqua occurs in fine sand on the exposed south-westerly facing shore of Newborough beach, whilst E. ensis inhabits the coarser sediment of Penmon beach, a sheltered north-easterly facing shore in the Menai Strait. At Penmon smaller E. ensis (<100 mm) inhabited sediments at mean low water of spring fides, whereas larger individuals (>100 mm) occurred almost subtidally at extreme low water springs. No small E. siliqua (<110 mm) were found on Newborough beach, where there has been a noticeable decline between 1990 and 1992 in the number of individuals larger than 175 mm. Growth of the two species was different. The von Bertalanffy growth constant, k, was similar in the two species, but E. siliqua had a larger asymptotic length than E. ensis.
Prevalencia de miopía en escolares de una zona suburbana

OBJECTIVE: an epidemiological study was carried out to assess the prevalence of myopia among school age children of suburban population. METHODS: a cross sectional and descriptive study was applied, we stratified a randomized clusters of samples, using a representative proportion of the population. There were 1138 students enrolled, including 612 boys and 524 girls. Visual acuity with Snellen card was assessed; the refractive status and corneal radius of each student were measured with an autorefractometer which did not include cycloplegic refraction. All status refractive values were confirmed by another optometrist. Specific questionnaires were used in order to collect data on the refractive condition of students. The criterion for classifying the myopia status was > or = 0.5 diopters. RESULTS: the mean age was 10.2 + or - 2.43 years; lower prevalence rates were found significatively in male subjects. CONCLUSIONS: the myopia prevalence was 33.0 %, and the probability of myopia increases with age, sex, parental history of myopia, and history of premature children and low birth weight.
Evaluation of future developments in agrobiotechnology: the potential roles of protein nitrogen and sulfur for better crop plants.

Die landwirtschaftliche Biotechnologie stellt eine Vielzahl neuer und die Zuchtung erganzender Ansatze zur Verbesserung von Nahrungspflanzen zur Verfugung. Zusatzlich zu den bereits kommerziell verwendeten Merkmalen der Herbizid- und Insektenresistenz sowie den gegenwartig entwickelten Sorten fur die Erzeugung erneuerbarer Energien stellt die Entwicklung ernahrungsbasierter Merkmale eine innovative Strategie dar. Die ausbalancierte Versorgung mit Schwefel und Stickstoff in Kombination mit geeigneten transgenen Merkmalen hat das Potential den Ernahrungswert von Saatgut zu erhohen und daruber hinaus die Abwehr gegen Pathogene zu verbessern.
Frugivory in European Laurel: how extinct seed dispersers have been substituted

Capsule Extinction of ancient frugivores during the Quaternary has led to a depauperated seed disperser community for Laurus nobilis and a tight mutualism between the plant and the Blackbird Turdus merula. Aims To describe a present-day frugivore assemblage of natural Laurel populations in southern Spain. Methods Eight fruiting trees of different size were monitored with binoculars during 52 hours spread across one ripening season, and the identity and behaviour of foraging birds were recorded. Additional point counts were used to record the avifauna of the surroundings. Results Despite a diverse frugivore community being present, Laurel fruits are almost exclusively (99%) consumed by Blackbird and rarely (1%) by Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla. Blackbirds concentrate at fruiting trees and individuals may remain there for several days. Birds usually forage in small groups and return at intervals of 12–14 minutes. Conclusion The Blackbird population of the study area forages extensively on the energy-rich Laurel fruits, while the plants depend exclusively on this bird species for seed dispersal. Consequences of the depauperate frugivore community and the tight mutualism between Blackbirds and Laurels on plant recruitment and conservation are discussed.
Recombination Breakpoints in the Human β-Globin Gene Cluster

The human β-globin gene complex spans a region of 70 kb and contains numerous sequence variants. These variant sites form a 5′ cluster (5′ β-haplotype) and a 3′ cluster (3′ β-haplotype) with strong linkage disequilibrium among the sites within each cluster, but not between the two clusters. The 9-kb region between the 5′ and 3′ clusters has been estimated to have rates of recombination that are 3 to 30 times normal, and the region has therefore been proposed as a ‘hotspot’ of recombination. We describe three families with evidence of meiotic recombination within this ‘hotspot’ of the β-globin gene cluster and in which the cross-over breakpoints have been defined at the sequence level. In one family, the recombination has occurred in the maternal chromosome within a region of 361 bp between positions −911 and −550 5′ to the β-globin gene. In the other two families, the recombination has occurred in the paternal chromosome within a region of approximately 1,100 bp between positions −542 and +568 relative to the β-globin gene cap site. Both regions occur within the 2-kb region of replication initiation (IR) in the β-globin gene domain with no overlap. The IR region contains a consensus sequence for a protein ( Pur ), which binds preferentially to single-stranded DNA, a role implicated in recombination events.
Tests for adaptive RAPD variation in population genetic structure of wild barley, Hordeum spontaneum Koch.

We examined the adaptive importance of RAPD variation in the population genetic structure of wild barley, Hordeum spontaneum. The test involved (1) a nested sampling design with four population groups representing four distinct environments; and (2) a comparison of observed variation with that expected as a result of natural selection. Analyses of selection on fitness-related traits by reciprocal introductions served as guidelines for the expected pattern of RAPD variation. We found no concordance between the observed pattern of population genetic structure and that expected under the null hypothesis of environment-specific natural selection. There was no relationship between genetic distance and environmental similarity; none of 54 putative loci exhibited an allele distribution in accordance with that expected and no favoured epistatic allele combinations were detected across the four environments. The fact that environmentally induced adaptation, detected by fitness-related traits, was not reflected in inter-population RAPD structure (1) strongly enhances the neutralist viewpoint and (2) casts doubt on the notion that significant correlations between some environmental parameters and allele frequencies in one or more loci are evidence of selection on the latter.
Facilities and barrier of physical activity in elderlies in Kashan, Iran

BACKGROUND: The supplements and decreasing the limitations are important for suitable physical activity. These factors are different in various environments. Objectives: The current study aimed to evaluate the facilities and barriers for physical activity in elderlies in Kashan, Iran, during 2014. Patients and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The sample included 400 elderly people (aged more than 60 years) living in Kashan, Iran. The subjects were selected by multistage cluster sampling. They were selected randomly from healthcare centers in three regions of Kashan. The sample size was different according to gender and living area. The demographic characteristics were recorded and the exercise benefits/barriers scale (EBBS) was used. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16. Descriptive statistics, Chi-squared test, Pearson's correlation, Student t-test, and ANOVA were used for data analysis. The significance level for all the tests was considered P Results: Of the total elderly, 237 (59.2%) were females. The average age was 67.6 ± 6.8 years. The mean of barrier and facility scores were 103.17 ± 21.08 and 70.82 ± 18.27, respectively. The most important facilitating factor in 88 subjects (22%) was related to cardiovascular system health. In addition, the most important barrier was lack of suitable location, mentioned by 113 elderly (28.2%). There was a significant relationship between facility and barrier scores and the physical activity level (chi-squared = 19.91, P = 0.0001), age (P = 0.001 r = 0.01), gender (P = 0.000), marital status (P = 0.000), educational status (P = 0.000), personal independence (P Conclusions: The influences of various facilities and barriers were different in the physical activity of elderly in Kashan. The promotion of active life style should be a part of health care planning in elderly. Keywords: Physical Activity; Aging; Barrier; Facility Language: en
Resveratrol Biosynthesis Up-Regulates the Ascorbate/Glutathione Pathway in Transgenic Tomato Fruit

There is a growing interest in producing food plants with increased amounts of antioxidants because of their potential health benefits. Polyphenolic secondary metabolites, such as flavonoids and stilbenes, have been investigated for their significant antioxidant activity, important both for plant physiology and human nutrition. With the aim to verify whether the synthesis of resveratrol in tomato fruit affected the redox status of transformed tomato tissues, in the present work we took advantage of the availability of two different transgenic tomato lines in which a grape stilbene synthase gene was expressed under a constitutive or a tissue specific promoter, respectively. The induction of resveratrol synthesis in tomato affected the redox status of transformed tomato fruit. In particular, ascorbate and glutathione pool increased, significantly and proportionally to the amount of the resveratrol synthesised in transformed tissues. Noteworthy, the increase in ascorbate and glutathione pool paralleled with a significant increase in the activities of the main enzymes involved in redox homeostasis, i.e. catalase, ascorbate peroxidase as well the enzymes responsive for ascorbate recycling. Furthermore, lipoxygenase activity and levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids hydroperoxides, were reduced in fruit tissues from transgenic tomato lines. The synthesis of resveratrol, together with the global redox status had an impact on the total antioxidant activity of transgenic fruits. Again the total antioxidant capability increased proportionally to the amount of synthesised resveratrol with the most remarkable increase recorded from the lipophilic-resveratrol containing-fraction of transgenic fruits. Overall, our results pointed a higher nutritional value of resveratrol synthesizing tomato fruits.
Expression of c-myb and B-myb, but not A-myb, correlates with proliferation in human hematopoietic cells

The steady-state expression of three members of the myb family of genes, c-myb, B-myb, and A-myb, was studied in four purified normal human hematopoietic cell types, ie, T and B lymphocytes, monocytes, and granulocytes. The c-myb proto-oncogene is low to undetectable in resting T and B lymphocytes and shows a biphasic induction in both cell types after mitogenic stimulation, with a first peak at 3 hours and a second and stronger induction at 44 to 72 hours. Study of the B-myb gene showed that this gene is low to undetectable in resting T or B cells and is strongly induced after mitogenic stimulation with a peak between 44 and 72 hours in both cell types. Finally, the A-myb gene shows a pattern of expression in lymphocytes different from that of c- myb and B-myb. It is expressed in resting T lymphocytes and its levels gradually decrease after mitogenic stimulation to become undetectable at 48 hours. It is also expressed in a subpopulation of large B lymphocytes but not in in vitro activated B cells. Neither of the three members of the myb family of genes was expressed in monocytes and granulocytes, even after functional activation of these cells. Taken together, these data bring further evidence for the role of c-myb in cellular proliferation and on the basis of the kinetics of its induction relative to thymidine uptake, we hypothesize that it may have a role during G1 progression in addition to that already documented for entry into S phase. Furthermore, our studies indicate that another member of the myb family of genes, B-myb, may also be involved in cellular proliferation, because its expression correlates with the induction of mitogenesis.
Nest defence, enemy recognition and nest inspection behaviour of experimentally parasitized Reed Warblers Acrocephalus scirpaceus

Capsule Reed Warblers in a regularly parasitized population do not recognize Cuckoo Cuculus canorus as a special enemy and do not change their behaviour at nest immediately after being parasitized. Aims To assess if an intruder near the nest influences the behaviour of the Cuckoo host. Methods Host responses to Cuckoo, control Pigeon dummies and human intruder were observed. Host behaviour at 71 nests was video-recorded for 30 minutes at four experimental groups of nests: Cuckoo dummy, Cuckoo dummy + Cuckoo egg, Pigeon dummy, human intruder. Results Reed Warblers did not respond differently to the Cuckoo and the control species. The experimental procedure had no significant effect on the behaviour of hosts during the study period. We were unable to find any differences in the time spent at the nest, clutch inspection behaviour and nest defence behaviour between morning and afternoon experimental groups. Our results do not support the hypothesis that afternoon laying by the Cuckoo is maintained by a selection pressure from the host. We observed no ejection or egg-pecking during the 30-min period after the experimental parasitism. Conclusions Low aggression and non-specificity of host responses in our study area are in line with the fact that the Reed Warbler is an intermediate rejecter of Cuckoo eggs as expected from the spatial habitat structure hypothesis.
Mulberry (Morus alba, Linn.): a species of interest for livestock production

Mulberry is a multipurpose plant which originated in China. For more than 5 000 years it has been the only feedstuff for the silkworm, due to its excellent nutritional qualities, especially its high content of protein and energy. In addition, it is used in several regions of the world for livestock feeding. For such reasons, in 1996 the researchers of the Experimental Station of Pastures and Forages "Indio Hatuey", taking into consideration the need to search for new sources of forages for animal feeding, re-considered the possibility of introducing to the country four mulberry varieties from Costa Rica, based on relationships established with the Tropical Agronomic Center of Research and Training (CATIE) from that country, with the objective of evaluating their performance under different edaphoclimatic conditions and carrying out trials with different animal species. In order to achieve these objectives a multidisciplinary group was created involving specialists from several institutions and studies were performed which have allowed to characterize the bromatological and phytochemical composition of the varieties introduced, learn the effect of the factors of agronomic management for determining the production potential of total and edible biomass, as well as the intake, digestibility and animal response. Thus, this plant was demonstrated to have great adaptive capacity to different edaphoclimatic conditions all over the country; it can produce between 10 and 12 t DM/ha/year (edible biomass), has a DM digestibility higher than 80%, and the values of live weight gain and milk production are similar to the ones obtained with the use of imported concentrates. Nowadays mulberry has become a species known and used all over the country by entrepreneurs and farmers and has great acceptance, especially for feeding small species in the different livestock subprograms of urban agriculture.
Ryanodine Receptors: Structure and Function*

Ryanodine receptors (RyRs) are huge ion channels that are responsible for the release of Ca2+ from the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum. RyRs form homotetramers with a mushroom-like shape, consisting of a large cytoplasmic head and transmembrane stalk. Ca2+ is a major physiological ligand that triggers opening of RyRs, but a plethora of modulatory proteins and small molecules in the cytoplasm and sarco/endoplasmic reticulum lumen have been recognized. Over 300 mutations in RyRs are associated with severe skeletal muscle disorders or triggered cardiac arrhythmias. With the advent of high-resolution structures of individual domains, many of these can be mapped onto the three-dimensional structure.
Lived experience in the initial period of adaptation: a longitudinal multi-case study of the experience of recent immigrant students at a Canadian secondary school

While educators have recognized that students from other countries often face traumatic experiences in their initial period of adaptation to the receiving country's schools and society, little attention has been devoted to understanding the nature or educational significance of these experiences. Traditionally, educators have equated adaptation difficulties with host language deficits, while other, possibly more consequential dimensions of the adaptation experience have gone unrecognized, and have not been represented in educational policy and funding decisions. Accordingly, this study is directed toward providing a more comprehensive understanding of the adaptation experiences of adolescent students who have recently arrived in Canada from other countries, and addresses a critical need for understanding these experiences from the perspectives of the students themselves. Inquiry is advanced within a descriptive, exploratory, and explanatory study which predominantly utilizes a phenomenological, qualitative methodology. The study's principal methodology builds upon Edmund Husserl's philosophical foundation by incorporating the existential perspectives of Maurice Merleau-Ponty, the life-world social dimensions of Alfred Schutz, and the historical-contextual and interpretive elements of Max van Manen's hermeneutic phenomenology. Fieldwork occurred over a six month period in a suburban Canadian secondary school. Study findings and recommendations derive from analysis of interviews, observations, and self-reports of three male and three female grade 10 students who arrived in Canada not more than 20 months prior to the outset of the study. Initial adaptation experiences of study participants point to three principal findings. The study's finding that despite adaptation challenges, students from abroad often achieve at or above receiving society norms within a short period after arrival, suggests that educators should consider how successful academic patterns of newcomers might be adopted by receiving society members. Participant experience indicates that host language acquisition is but one dimension of a multidimensional adaptation experience, and that it is seldom the student's most critical adaptation concern, even in terms of host communication skills. Participants experienced establishing
A Draft Sequence of the Rice Genome (Oryza sativa L. ssp. indica)

We have produced a draft sequence of the rice genome for the most widely cultivated subspecies in China, Oryza sativa L. ssp.indica, by whole-genome shotgun sequencing. The genome was 466 megabases in size, with an estimated 46,022 to 55,615 genes. Functional coverage in the assembled sequences was 92.0%. About 42.2% of the genome was in exact 20-nucleotide oligomer repeats, and most of the transposons were in the intergenic regions between genes. Although 80.6% of predicted Arabidopsis thaliana genes had a homolog in rice, only 49.4% of predicted rice genes had a homolog in A. thaliana. The large proportion of rice genes with no recognizable homologs is due to a gradient in the GC content of rice coding sequences.