Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bats and moths: what is there left to learn?

Abstract. Over 14 families of moths have ears that are adapted to detect the ultrasonic echolocation calls of bats. On hearing a bat, these moths respond with an escape response that reduces their chances of being caught. As an evolutionary response, bats may then have evolved behavioural strategies or changes in call design to overcome the moth's hearing. The nature of this interaction is reviewed. In particular, the role of the echolocation calls of bats in the shaping of the structure, neurophysiology and behavioural responses of moths is discussed. Unresolved issues, such as the structural complexity of the moth's auditory system, the nature of temporal integration and the role of the non‐auditory B cell, are described. Issues in which the interactions between bats and moths may be of more general interest to biologists, such as noise filtering within the central nervous system, protean behaviours and coevolution between predator and prey, are also discussed. The interaction between bats and moths has much to interest general biologists, and may provide a useful model in understanding the neurophysiological basis of behaviour, including protean escape behaviours. The validity of the term coevolution as applied to this system is discussed, as there is no doubt that the auditory system of moths is a response to the echolocation calls of bats, although the evolutionary response of bats to moths is more ambiguous.
In vitro propagation and cryopreservation of Prunus avium using vitrification and encapsulation dehydration methods

The present study aims to develop a reliable method for in vitro micropropagation and long-term storage of shoot tips in Prunus avium using vitrification and encapsulation dehydration methods. For micropropagation, maximum number of shoots per explant was obtained on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L BA (benzyl amino purine). Several pretreatments prior to cryogenic storage were conducted to enhance shoot tips recovery after cryostorage. Using vitrification method, two different preculture treatments were tested to enhance regrowth after both dehydration and cryopreservation. Further accumulation of sucrose and glycerol was tested. The highest regrowth using this method was (up to 77.8%) when shoot tips were exposed to 60 min PVS2 at 0oC. Growth recovery of cryopreserved shoot tips using encapsulation dehydration was (up to 76.3%) obtained when encapsulated shoot tips were pregrown for 3 d in liquid medium containing 0.75 M sucrose, desiccated to 20-22% moisture content and immersed in liquid nitrogen. Recovery of whole plantlets from cryopreserved shoot tips took place directly without transitory callus formation. Both methods are promising techniques for in vitro propagation and germplasm preservation of P. avium shoot tips.
Depletion of exosomal circLDLR in follicle fluid derepresses miR-1294 function and inhibits estradiol production via CYP19A1 in polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine and metabolic disorder in reproductive women and is characterized by polycystic ovaries, hyperandrogenism and chronic anovulation. Abnormal folliculogenesis is considered as a common characteristic of PCOS. Our aim is to identify the altered circRNA expression profile in exosomes isolated from follicular fluid (FF) of PCOS patients to investigate the molecular function of exosomal circRNA, as a vital mediator in follicular microenvironment, in the aetiology and pathobiology of PCOS. In this study, the circRNA expression profile of FF exosomes were compared between PCOS and control patients by RNA sequencing (N=5 vs 5). Sixteen circRNAs showed significantly different expression. GO and KEGG pathway analyses indicated that their parental genes were enriched in PCOS-related pathways, including ovarian steroidogenesis, aldosterone synthesis and secretion, and Jak-STAT signaling. Among sixteen differentially expressed circRNAs, hsa_circ_0006877 (circLDLR) was processed from its parental LDLR (low density lipoprotein receptor) transcript, which participated in ovarian steroidogenesis. Its depletion in PCOS FF exosomes was further verified in an additional cohort (N=25 vs 25) by qRT-PCR. And a circLDLR-miR-1294-CYP19A1 competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network was predicted by cytoscape software, and confirmed by luciferase assay and correlative expression in the cumulus cells of PCOS patients. Mechanistically, the intercellular transfer of functional circLDLR assay and its withdrawal experiments in KGN cells showed that depleting circLDLR in exosomes increased miR-1294 expression and inhibited CYP19A1 expression in recipient cells, as well as reduced their estrogen (E2) secretion. Our findings revealed a ceRNA network of circLDLR and provided new information on abnormal follicle development in PCOS.
Agrobacterium-mediated Genetic Transformation for Local Cultivars of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Using Marker Genes

Genetic transformation using nodal and internodal segments from three economically important potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) varieties namely, Diamant, Cardinal and Granola was conducted using an Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA4404 harbouring binary plasmid pBI12 containing the GUS and nptII genes. Node and internodal segments were used for direct regeneration as well as regeneration with the intervention of callus. best responses were obtained for direct regeneration of shoots when the explants were cultured on MS supplemented with 4.0 mg/l BAP +1.0 mg/l IAA, 1.5 mg/l BAP + 0.5 mg/l IAA and 5.0 mg/l BAP +1.0 mg/l IAA in Diamant, Cardinal and Granola, respectively. In Diamant spontaneous in vitro microtuberization was obtained from these proliferated shoots. Further culturing of these in vitro grown green microtubers regenerated a large number of shoots on MS containing 4.0 mg/l BAP +1.0 mg/l IAA. By combining the best treatments, this protocol yielded an average transformation rate of 87% of treared explants. Stable expression of GUS gene was visualized in the various parts of transformed shoots through histochemical assay. Genomic DNA was isolated from transformed shoots and stable integration of the GUS and nptII genes was confirmed by PCR analysis. Key words: Potato, in vitro regeneration, transformation D.O. I. 10.3329/ptcb.v20i2. 6894 Plant Tissue Cult. & Biotech. 20(2): 145-155, 2010 (December)
Pathological and immunohistochemical in- vestigations in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum, 1792) experimentally in- fected with Vibrio anguillarum

The objectives of the study were to investigate and to compare the clinical, pathological and immunohistochemical data observed in rainbow trouts experimentally infected with Vibrio anguillarum according to the inoculation route (intraperitoneal injection vs. immersion). For that, 20 fishes were intraperitoneally inoculated with 5.5x10 7 cfu V. anguillarum serotype O1 and 20 other animals were exposed to 50 mL of bacterial inoculum (5.5x105 cfu/mL) diluted in water (30 L) for 30 minutes whereas 2 groups of control fishes (n = 8 in each group) were similarly manipulated and only exposed to the vehicle. Mortality and clinical signs were daily recorded and necropsy, histopathology using conventional staining and immunohistochemistry using polyclonal chicken antibodies targeted against the V. anguillarum antigens were performed on fishes spontaneously died or killed. Mortality rates were 55% when trouts were inoculated intraperitoneally and 40% when they were exposed to bacteria by immersion. The majority of deaths have occurred between the 3rd and the 9th days and between the 5th and the 11th days, respectively. Hyperaemia and haemorrhages associated to oedema were predominantly observed in skin, muscles and gills, and at a lesser extend in visceral organs (liver, heart, spleen, stomach) and in the abdominal fat tissues in intraperitoneally inoculated trouts. Histopathological investigations have also confirmed the nature of the lesions and have also evidenced cellular degeneration and necrosis associated to bacteria clumps as well as the increase in eosinophilic granular cells (EGCs) and degranulation in gills and in stomach. In trouts inoculated by immersion, similar but milder lesions were observed on a smaller number of infected fishes except that the gill lesions were systematically present and well marked. Immunopositivity to bacterial antigens in injuried tissues was observed only during the acute phase of the disease (e.g. until the 15th and the 11th days according to the inoculation route). These results clearly demonstrate the pathogenecity of V. anguillarum in rainbow trouts mainly after intraperitoneal inoculation and suggest that gills during immersion may be the primary site of the bacterium entry.
Bilioenteric Reconstruction Techniques in Pediatric Living Donor Liver Transplantation

Biliary complications (BCs) are still a major cause of morbidity following liver transplantation despite the advancements in the surgical technique. Although Roux‐en‐Y (RY) hepaticojejunostomy has been the standard technique for years in pediatric patients, there is a limited number of reports on the feasibility of duct‐to‐duct (DD) anastomosis, and those reports have controversial outcomes. With the largest number of patients ever reported on the topic, this study aims to discuss the feasibility of the DD biliary reconstruction technique in pediatric living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). After the exclusion of the patients with biliary atresia, patients who received either deceased donor or right lobe grafts, and retransplantation patients, data from 154 pediatric LDLTs were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were grouped according to the applied biliary reconstruction technique, and the groups were compared using BCs as the outcome. The overall BC rate was 13% (n = 20), and the groups showed no significant difference (P = 0.6). Stricture was more frequent in the DD reconstruction group; however, this was not statistically significant (P = 0.6). The rate of bile leak was also similar in both groups (P = 0.6). The results show that the DD reconstruction technique can achieve similar outcomes when compared with RY anastomosis. Because DD reconstruction is a more physiological way of establishing bilioenteric integrity, it can safely be applied.
A molecular and morphological revision of genera of Asterinidae (Echinodermata: Asteroidea)

O’Loughlin, P.M. , and Waters, J.M. , 2004. A molecular and morphological revision of genera of Asterinidae (Echinodermata: Asteroidea). Memoirs of Museum Victoria 61(1): 1‐40. A molecular phylogeny has inspired a reappraisal of the systematics of the Asterinidae. New morphological characters are defined and illustrated and used to diagnose all genera. A table of the distribution of morphological characters among genera and key for genera of Asterinidae are provided. New genera of Asterinidae are erected: Aquilonastra O’Loughlin, Indianastra O’Loughlin, Parvulastra O’Loughlin and Pseudopatiria O’Loughlin. Patiria is raised out of synonymy with Asterina. Allopatiria is a junior synonym of Asterina, Manasterina is a junior synonym of Disasterina, and Paxillasterina is a junior synonym of Asterinides. The genus Asterinopsis and the genus and species Desmopatiria flexilis are nomina nuda. Patiriella tangribensis is a nomen dubium. Genera reviewed are: Anseropoda, Asterina, Asterinides, Callopatiria, Cryptasterina, Disasterina, Kampylaster, Meridiastra, Nepanthia, Paranepanthia, Patiria, Patiriella, Pseudasterina, Pseudonepanthia, Stegnaster, Tegulaster and Tremaster. Asterina cephea var. iranica is raised to species status. Enoplopatiria siderea is a junior synonym of Asterina stellifera. Disasterina leptalacantha var. africana is no longer recognised as a subspecies. Disasterina spinulifera is a junior synonym of Disasterina praesignis. A synonymy of Tremaster novaecaledoniae with Tremaster mirabilis is formalised. Asterinid species reassigned on the basis of molecular evidence and morphological congruity are new combinations: Aquilonastra anomala, A. batheri, A. burtoni, A. coronata, A. minor, A. scobinata, Meridiastra calcar, M. gunnii, M. medius, M. mortenseni, M. occidens, M. oriens, Paranepanthia aucklandensis, Parvulastra calcarata, P. exigua, P. parvivipara, P. vivipara, Patiria chilensis, P. miniata, P. pectinifera. Species reassigned on the basis of morphological evidence are new combinations: Aquilonastra cepheus, A. corallicola, A. heteractis, A. iranica, A. limboonkengi, A. rosea, Asterina ocellifera, Asterinides hartmeyeri, A. pilosa, A. pompom, Disasterina ceylanica, D. longispina, Indianastra inopinata, I. sarasini, Nepanthia pedicellaris, Parvulastra dyscrita, Pseudonepanthia briareus, P. gracilis, P. grangei, P. nigrobrunnea, P. reinga, P. troughtoni, Pseudopatiria obtusa, Tegulaster alba, T. leptalacantha, T. praesignis. Three species remain incertae sedis: Asterina lorioli, Asterina novaezelandiae and Nepanthia brachiata. A table of asterinid species is provided, with original and current combinations. It is concluded that Asterinidae is a cosmopolitan family, mainly of shallow-water narrow-range genera but including some more widespread in deeper waters of all oceans.
Intestinal Virome Signature Associated With Severity of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Alterations in the gut microbiome have been associated with the severity of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). These studies focused exclusively on the bacteria in the microbiome; we investigated changes in the viral microbiome (virome) in patients with NAFLD. METHODS In a prospective, cross-sectional, observational study, we extracted RNA and DNA virus-like particles from fecal samples from 73 patients with NAFLD: 29 patients had a NAFLD activity score (NAS) of 0-4, 44 patients had a NAS of 5-8 or cirrhosis (NAS 5-8/LCI), 37 patients had F0-F1 fibrosis, and 36 patients had F2-F4 fibrosis. As controls, 9 subjects without liver disease and 13 patients with mild primary biliary cholangitis were included in the analysis. We performed shotgun metagenomic sequencing of virus-like particles. RESULTS Patients with NAFLD and NAS 5-8/LCI had a significant decrease in intestinal viral diversity compared with patients with NAFLD and NAS 0-4 or controls. The presence of more advanced NAFLD was associated with a significant reduction in the proportion of bacteriophages (phages) compared with other intestinal viruses. Using multivariate logistic regression analysis with leave-1 out cross validation, we developed a model, including a viral diversity index and simple clinical variables, that identified patients with NAS 5-8/LCI with an area under the curve of 0.95 (95% CI, 0.91-0.99) and F2-F4 fibrosis with an area under the curve of 0.88 (95% CI, 0.80-0.95). Addition of data on viral diversity significantly improved multivariate models, including those based on only clinical parameters or bacterial diversity. CONCLUSIONS In a study of fecal viromes from patients with NAFLD and controls, we associated histologic markers of NAFLD severity with significant decreases in viral diversity and proportion of bacteriophages. We developed a model based on fecal viral diversity and clinical data that identifies patients with severe NAFLD and fibrosis more accurately than models based only on clinical or bacterial data.
Differential plasticity of metabolic rate phenotypes in a tropical fish facing environmental change

1. Individual differences in metabolic rate have been linked with variations in behaviour and key life-history traits and can affect ecological patterns within animal populations. Yet, almost nothing is known of the plasticity of the metabolic response under dynamically changing conditions that are representative of the natural environment. This is surprising since the capacity for animals to cope with rapidly changing environments depends on phenotypic variation and plasticity among members of the population. 2. We measured the standard metabolic rate (SMR), maximum metabolic rate (MMR) and aerobic scope (AS) of 60 juvenile barramundi ( Lates calcarifer ) under acclimation conditions (35 ppt salinity, 29 °C, normoxia) and when the fish were sequentially faced with low salinity (10 ppt), high temperature (35 °C) and hypoxia (45% air saturation) with each treatment separated by ∼12 days. 3. The overall degree of interindividual variation in body-mass-standardised SMR, MMR and AS changed with environmental conditions, and a metabolic coupling was revealed between SMR and MMR when the fish were faced with the environmental changes. The metabolic response to environmental change differed widely and predictably at an individual level. Individuals that had elevated metabolic attributes under acclimation conditions showed little change in SMR, MMR or AS in response to low salinity and high temperature, but MMR and AS were greatly depressed by hypoxia. In contrast, individuals with low-metabolic attributes under acclimation conditions displayed a substantial increase in SMR, MMR and AS in response to high temperature and (to a lesser extent) low salinity, but hypoxia had very little effect. 4. These findings reveal how phenotypic diversity in key physiological traits can create differential plasticity towards environmental change within a population by showing how individual fish can remain metabolically insensitive to one environmental stressor at the cost of being highly sensitive to another.
A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION ON THE PARASITES OF WILD ANIMALS AT THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, KERALA

A survey of parasites of wild mammals in the Zoological Garden, Thiruvananthapuram, based on faecal examination revealed that 74 per cent of the wild animals were harbouring helminthic infections including protozoan infections in 23 per cent of the cases. Strongyle, amphistome, Strongyloides and Fasciola in herbivores, Ancylostoma, Toxascaris, Diphyllobothrium and Paragonimus in carnivores and strongyle, Strongyloides and Hymenolepis in omnivores were the infections noted to be specifically present.
Metabolic implication of tigecycline as an efficacious second‐line treatment for sorafenib‐resistant hepatocellular carcinoma

Sorafenib represents the current standard of care for patients with advanced‐stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, acquired drug resistance occurs frequently during therapy and is accompanied by rapid tumor regrowth after sorafenib therapy termination. To identify the mechanism of this therapy‐limiting growth resumption, we established robust sorafenib resistance HCC cell models that exhibited mitochondrial dysfunction and chemotherapeutic crossresistance. We found a rapid relapse of tumor cell proliferation after sorafenib withdrawal, which was caused by renewal of mitochondrial structures alongside a metabolic switch toward high electron transport system (ETS) activity. The translation‐inhibiting antibiotic tigecycline impaired the biogenesis of mitochondrial DNA‐encoded ETS subunits and limited the electron acceptor turnover required for glutamine oxidation. Thereby, tigecycline prevented the tumor relapse in vitro and in murine xenografts in vivo. These results offer a promising second‐line therapeutic approach for advanced‐stage HCC patients with progressive disease undergoing sorafenib therapy or treatment interruption due to severe adverse events.
Expression of the LXR&agr; Protein in Human Atherosclerotic Lesions

Objective—Liver X–activated receptor &agr; (LXR&agr;) regulates multiple genes controlling cholesterol metabolism and transport. To clarify its role in atherogenesis, we established a monoclonal antibody recognizing native human LXR&agr; protein and studied the expression pattern in human atherosclerotic lesions. Methods and Results—A novel monoclonal antibody PPZ0412 was raised against the ligand-binding domain of LXR&agr;, which can be used for immunostaining of human LXR&agr; protein. LXR&agr; protein was detected in the nucleus of macrophages in the liver, spleen, or lung and also in hepatocytes and adipocytes. In atherosclerotic lesions, the LXR&agr; protein was detected in macrophages positive for scavenger receptor class A and/or CD68. Conclusions—In the human body, the LXR&agr; protein is highly expressed in macrophage lineage cells and foam cells in atherosclerotic lesions and is identified as a target for intervention in atherosclerotic disease.
Genetic Analysis of Growth and Susceptibility to Bacterial Wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum) in Eucalyptus by Interspecific Factorial Crossing

Summary Factorial mating crosses of Eucalyptus urophylla × E. tereticornis (3 x 5), E. urophylla × E. camaldulensis (3 x 3) and E. urophylla × E. exserta (3 x 3) were used for genetic analysis of growth traits and susceptibility to bacterial wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum). Genetic effects including female, male and female × male interaction were examined for height (H) and diameter at breast height (DBH) at age five as well as final bacterial wilt index (BWI) in both nursery inoculation and field assessment by five years of age. Female, male and female x male variances appeared to have a significant role in growth traits H and DBH though their magnitude varied for the factorials studied. For the trait BWI additive (male) and dominant (female x male) effects were both involved in the genetics of bacterial wilt susceptibility, and additive was the major. Estimates of narrow-sense heritability (h2) for H, DBH and BWI ranged from 0.11 ± 0.06 to 0.70 ± 0.09, varying with either trait or factorial. Growth traits (H and DBH) had low and non-significant phenotypic and genetic correlations with BWI in all the three factorials, ranging from -0.10 ± 0.08 to 0.17 ± 0.14 in coefficient of correlation. This indicates that it may be possible to select superior trees with both fast growth and high resistance to bacterial wilt in eucalypt hybrid populations in operational breeding programs.
Gas Price Variations and Urban Sprawl: An Empirical Analysis of the Twelve Largest Canadian Metropolitan Areas

We conduct a multivariate analysis of the potential impact of higher gas prices on urban sprawl in the twelve largest Canadian Metropolitan Areas for the period 1986–2006. Controlling for variables such as income and population, we show that higher gasoline prices have significantly reduced urban sprawl. On average, a 1% increase in gas prices has caused a 0.32% increase in the population living in the inner city and a 0.60% decrease in low-density housing units. Our results also show that higher incomes have played a significant role in increasing urban sprawl.
Inputs and outputs of mercury from terrestrial watersheds: a review

This review focuses on mercury (Hg) inputs and outputs in temperate and boreal terrestrial systems. It covers deposition via throughfall and litterfall, whose sum (ca. 38 µg m2 a1) is greater than that via precipitation (ca. 10 µg m2 a1). Outputs considered include volatilization, soil sequestration, and streamflow. The former is highly uncertain, but the mean rate (11 ng m2 h1) over a growing season is equivalent to about 32 µg m2 a1. Modern rates of soil sequestration (ca. 5 µg m2 a1) and streamflow fluxes (ca. 2 µg m2 a1) balance the annual budget. The majority of the uncertainty in the budget is related to volatilization. Nonetheless, a large fraction of atmospheric Hg is likely a product of continuing deposition and volatilization. Watershed characteristics related to streamflow fluxes of both Hg and methylmercury (MeHg) are discussed. Both runoff concentration and flux of Hg are weakly and inversely related to watershed size. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and particulates are important .