Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Molecular phylogeny of the spiny lobster genus Panulirus (Decapoda: Palinuridae)

Phylogenetic relationships among all described species and four subspecies (total of 21 taxa) of the spiny lobster genus Panulirus White, 1847, were examined with nucleotide sequence data from portions of two mitochondrial genes, large-subunit ribosomal RNA (16S) and cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI). Multiple sequence alignments were subjected to maximum-parsimony, neighbour-joining, and maximum-likelihood analysis with Jasus edwardsii as the outgroup. Two major lineages within Panulirus were recovered by all three methods for both the 16S and COI alignments analysed separately and for the combined alignment. The first lineage included all species of Panulirus classified as Groups I and II by previous morphologically based definitions. The second included all species classified as Groups III and IV. Relationships within major lineages were not well resolved; the molecular phylogeny did not support separation of Group I from Group II or of Group III from Group IV. The degree of sequence divergence between different pairs of species was higher in pairwise comparisons between species in Group I/II (16S: 2.8–19.4%; COI: 12.4–31.8%) than in those between species in Group III/IV (16S: 5.3–13.2%; COI: 12.6–19.6%). This pattern suggests that the Group I/II lineage may represent an earlier radiation of species within Panulirus.
In situ nutrient enrichment experiment in the Bohai and Yellow Sea

Nutrient concentrations and N : P ratios have changed significantly in the past 40 years in the Bohai and Yellow Sea. How do these changes influence or contribute to the growth of phytoplankton Nutrient enrichment experiments were conducted in 1998 and 1999 to shed light on which was the first nutrient to limit algal growth and uptake rates of nitrogen and phosphorus. Significant variance analysis, together with nutrient concentration and ratio, demonstrated that phosphorus was the first nutrient to limit the growth of phytoplankton in the Laizhou Bay (South Bohai); nitrogen was the first, whilst phosphate might be the potential, nutrient to limit the growth of phytoplankton in the West Yellow Sea; the Central Yellow Sea was oligotrophic and any one of nitrogen, phosphorus and silicon would limit the growth of phytoplankton; and silicon was confirmed not to limit the growth of phytoplankton, although the silicate concentration decreased acutely, in the Laizhou Bay. Moreover, the ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus in phytoplankton uptake was smaller than that in seawater, which suggested that phosphorus was preferentially used before nitrogen by the phytoplankton. The preference of phosphorus over nitrogen indicates a further limitation of phosphorus in the Laizhou Bay, and increases the high possibility that phosphorus, rather than nitrogen, is the first nutrient to limit the growth of phytoplankton in the West Yellow Sea. Half-saturation constants (K s ) of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and phosphate in the Bohai and Yellow Sea were 1.80 μM and 0.13 μM, respectively. Compared with other sea areas, the K s value of DIN in the Bohai and Yellow Sea was located at the high end of the spectrum.
Survival and development of larvae of two decapod crustaceans under limited access to prey across a thermal range

We evaluate the potential for decapod larvae to develop under temporally limited daily access to food across a broad thermal range. Larvae of the European lobster Homarus gammarus and velvet swimming crab Necora puber were successfully reared to juvenile and megalopa stages, respectively, at four temperatures (range 15–24°C) under both permanent (24 h) and limited (4 h) daily access to prey. Survival was high in both species with no consistent effect of food limitation. Larvae developed faster with increasing temperature. Model selection indicated that limited access to food in N. puber slowed development from zoea III onwards by 10–25% depending on stage and temperature. Food limitation slowed development of H. gammarus in zoea III and stage IV by 6–30%, with significant interactions of food × temperature. Dry mass, carbon and nitrogen content of H. gammarus all decreased with temperature and were lower under limited access to food. Decapod larvae of the tested species show a high potential to survive and develop with a temporally patchy food resource, although a longer development and smaller body mass at the time of settlement may lead to fitness costs.
Retroviral oncoprotein Tax induces processing of NF‐κB2/p100 in T cells: evidence for the involvement of IKKα

IκB kinase (IKK) is a key mediator of NF‐κB activation induced by various immunological signals. In T cells and most other cell types, the primary target of IKK is a labile inhibitor of NF‐κB, IκBα, which is responsible for the canonical NF‐κB activation. Here, we show that in T cells infected with the human T‐cell leukemia virus (HTLV), IKKα is targeted to a novel signaling pathway that mediates processing of the nfκb2 precursor protein p100, resulting in active production of the NF‐κB subunit, p52. This pathogenic action is mediated by the HTLV‐encoded oncoprotein Tax, which appears to act by physically recruiting IKKα to p100, triggering phosphorylation‐dependent ubiquitylation and processing of p100. These findings suggest a novel mechanism by which Tax modulates the NF‐κB signaling pathway.
Photosynthetic physiology and growth as a function of colony size in the cyanobacterium Nostoc sphaeroides

Algal size can affect the rate of metabolism and of growth. Different sized colonies of Nostoc sphaeroides were used with the aim of determining the effects of colony size on photosynthetic physiology and growth. Small colonies showed higher maximum photosynthetic rates per unit chlorophyll, higher light saturation point, and higher photosynthetic efficiency (α) than large colonies. Furthermore, small colonies had a higher affinity for DIC and higher DIC-saturated photosynthetic rates. In addition, small colonies showed higher photosynthetic rates from 5 – 45°C than large colonies. There was a greater decrease in Fv/Fm after exposure to high irradiance and less recovery in darkness for large colonies than for small colonies. Relative growth rate decreased with increasing colony size. Small colonies had less chl a and mass per unit surface area. The results indicate that small colonies can harvest light and acquire DIC more efficiently and have higher maximum photosynthetic rates and growth rates than large colonies.
Ca2+/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase II Is a Modulator of CARMA1-Mediated NF-κB Activation

ABSTRACT CARMA1 is a central regulator of NF-κB activation in lymphocytes. CARMA1 and Bcl10 functionally interact and control NF-κB signaling downstream of the T-cell receptor (TCR). Computational analysis of expression neighborhoods of CARMA1-Bcl10MALT 1 for enrichment in kinases identified calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) as an important component of this pathway. Here we report that Ca2+/CaMKII is redistributed to the immune synapse following T-cell activation and that CaMKII is critical for NF-κB activation induced by TCR stimulation. Furthermore, CaMKII enhances CARMA1-induced NF-κB activation. Moreover, we have shown that CaMKII phosphorylates CARMA1 on Ser109 and that the phosphorylation facilitates the interaction between CARMA1 and Bcl10. These results provide a novel function for CaMKII in TCR signaling and CARMA1-induced NF-κB activation.
Current recommended levels of dietary lysine in finisher pig diets are sufficient to maximise the response to ractopamine over 28 days but are insufficient in the first 7 days

Dietary ractopamine increases lean tissue deposition and responses increase as dose is increased provided sufficient dietary lysine is supplied. In Australia, diets supplemented with ractopamine (RAC) are formulated with 0.56 g available lysine per MJ digestible energy. The present study was conducted to investigate the interactions between dietary RAC and lysine on growth and carcass characteristics in ad libitum fed (13.8 MJ/kg) boars and gilts. The study involved 108 individually penned pigs at 17 weeks of age (64.1 ± 0.57 kg) in a 2 by 2 by 3 factorial design, with the respective factors being sex (gilt or boar), dietary lysine (low and high, i.e. 0.56 or 0.65 g available lysine/MJ digestible energy, respectively) and dietary RAC (0, 5 or 20 mg/kg) for 28 days. Over the 28-day study duration, both lysine diets containing dietary RAC were sufficient to elicit a response in average daily gain (ADG) (+5.8%, P = 0.026) and carcass weight (3%, P = 0.045), but not in feed efficiency (FE) (P = 0.555). However, over the period of the first 7 days, there were interactions between the effects of RAC and lysine for FE (P = 0.025) and ADG (P = 0.023), with both traits being responsive only to dietary RAC containing the high lysine, which increased FE (+9.1%, P = 0.002) and ADG (+7.2%, P = 0.068). Dietary RAC improved FE in the latter stages of the study, namely Days 15–21 (+5.7%, P = 0.031) and Days 22–28 (+4.9%, P = 0.040). The high RAC diet reduced carcass P2 backfat (–16.5%, P < 0.001) and fat tissue deposition (–6.2%, P = 0.074) and high lysine tended to reduce fat tissue deposition (–13.3%, P = 0.072). A sex by lysine interaction (P = 0.043) was observed for lean tissue deposition at 28 days, such that only the high-lysine diet increased lean deposition in boars (+11%, P < 0.05) but not in gilts. Dietary RAC tended to increase lean deposition (+14.0%, P = 0.067) in the first 14 days; however, only the high RAC diet increased lean deposition (+9.6%, P < 0.05) over 28 days. In conclusion, the current recommended supplementation levels of lysine for commercial gilts and boars fed RAC may limit the response to dietary RAC if the feeding regime is for short durations and boars will not maximise their lean tissue deposition rates.
Community Perception and Attitude towards people with Depression among Adults Residing in Arba Minch Health and Demographic Surveillance Site (AM-HDSS), Southern Ethiopia

Abstract Background: Negative perception and attitude of community prevents many people with depression and their caregivers from seeking help and receiving adequate treatment due to fear of social reaction and may try to hide the illness. The reasons for negative attitudes are not consistent across communities or cultures. Therefore, understanding the level of community perception and attitude towards people with depression is important to develop an intervention to reduce the impact of mental illness. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 617 randomly selected adults. The data was collected using structured, pre-tested, and interviewer-administered questionnaires. Descriptive statistics like frequency, mean, and median were performed. Bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the factors that affect the community attitude towards people with depression. Results: Of the study population, 325(52.7%) had a good perception and 246(39.9%) had a positive attitude towards people with depression. The majority of study participants frequently identified as the perceived cause of depression was substance misuse, loss of loved one, and conflict within a family. In addition, psychosocial treatment was the most preferred treatment for people with depression in the study area. Marital status and educational status were significantly associated with the community attitude towards people with depression Conclusion: Giving special attention to people with substance misuse, loss of loved one, and conflict within a family is very vital for the prevention of depression. In addition, future mental health promotion activities should focus on cause and common manifestation of depression to improve the attitude toward people with depression.
RESPONSE OF CO2 AND CH4 EMISSIONS FROM PEATLANDS TO WARMING AND WATER TABLE MANIPULATION

Projected changes in climate could shift northern peatlands from their current status as net C sinks toward that of being net C sources by changing soil temperatures and hydrology. We assessed the importance of water table and soil temperature as controls over ecosystem respiration in a bog and sedge fen in northern Minnesota, USA, by means of a manipulative mesocosm experiment. Fifty-four intact monoliths were removed from a bog and a fen and installed in insulated tanks that permitted control of the water table and were heated by overhead infrared heaters. The experimental design was a fully crossed factorial combination of two communities, three water tables, and three heat levels. Ecosystem respiration as indicated by emission of CO2 and CH4, dissolved nutrient fluxes, and productivity were measured and summarized for each growing season from 1995 to 1997. Seasonal ecosystem respiration (ER) as indicated by CO2 emissions responded almost exclusively to soil temperature and did not differ between community types (∼630 g C/m2) or with water table level. These results suggest that community type, within certain limits, will not be an important factor in predicting temperature-driven increases in ER. The response of CH4 flux to soil temperature and water table setting became progressively stronger in each succeeding growing season. Seasonal CH4 emissions were on average three times higher in the bog than in the fen mesocosms (21 vs. 7 g C/m2). Aboveground net primary productivity and dissolved N retention were also higher in the bog mesocosms. There were strong correlations between CH4 flux and N retention, but generally weak correlations between CH4 and plant primary production. The relatively lower CH4 emissions from the fen mesocosms appear to result mainly from higher rates of methanotrophy in the aerated zone, possibly reinforced by the effects of higher porewater N concentrations and lower primary productivity compared to the bogs. The results confirm the existence of strong environmental controls over ER and methanogenesis, which are modulated by complex interactions between plant community and soil nutrient dynamics. The differential responses of these ecosystem functions to climate change may complicate efforts to predict future changes in C dynamics in these important repositories of soil C.
Acceleration data reveal the energy management strategy of a marine ectotherm during reproduction

Maintaining a high and stable body temperature is often critical for female ectotherms during reproduction. Yet this strategy may be energetically costly, and therefore challenging, during this period of already high-energy demand. 2. Here, the 6-week deployment of tri-axial accelerometers (n = 6) on a marine ectotherm, the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), reproducing at the northern limit of the species' breeding range (i.e. in a thermally dynamic environment) revealed the behavioural mechanisms underly- ing its energy management strategy during the breeding season. 3. The estimated activity levels of female loggerheads using overall dynamic body acceleration (ODBA) were high during the breeding season, suggesting that marine turtles may not be able to remain inactive for long periods in the same manner as terrestrial ectotherms, because of the thermally dynamic nature of their environment. 4. However, activity levels were not constant throughout the season, being impacted by both ambient water temperature and female reproductive status. In cold water at the beginning of the nesting season, high levels of activity suggested that females behaviourally thermoregulated by seeking out warm water patches along the shoreline. Interactions with male turtles (courtship and ⁄ or avoidance) may also explain this high level of activity. As sea temperatures warmed up and the amount of energy devoted to reproduction probably increased, the turtles spent more time resting during long sequential flat-bottomed dives, and reduced any unnecessary locomotory activity. 5. Turtles may therefore adjust their activity patterns in response to seasonal variations in abi- otic (i.e. ambient temperature) and biotic (i.e. reproductive status) factors. This may help minimize activity-linked metabolic rate and maximize reproductive output over a season while breeding in thermally dynamic environments. 6. A mechanistic model gave support to these empirical results. The model revealed that actively maintaining high and stable body temperature is of clear benefit to female turtles at temperate breeding sites. While energetically costly, such active thermoregulatory behaviour may speed up egg maturation, allowing turtles to initiate nesting earlier in the season, and hence maximize reproductive output.
Effect of Crop Volume on Contraction Rate in Adult House Fly

ABSTRACT The functional aspects of the adult house fly crop have not been studied even though various human and domestic animal pathogens have been discovered within the crop lumen. The average volume consumed (midgut and crop) by flies starved for 24 h was 3.88 µl by feeding both sexes on a sucrose phosphate glutamate buffer. In addition, various volumes of a solution (0.125 M sucrose plus Amaranth dye) were fed to 3-d-old adult female house flies to quantify the crop contraction rate as affected by crop volume. As crop volume increased, the contraction rate increased until it reached a peak at 2 µl, after which it declined. It is hypothesized that the high contraction rate of the crop, which in house fly is almost twice the rate of three other fly species, is one of the factors that makes house fly an excellent vector. The mechanism for such a high contraction rate needs to be investigated.
GENETIC VARIABILITY OF XANTHOMONAS FRAGARIAE STRAINS OBTAINED FROM FIELD OUTBREAKS AND CULTURE COLLECTIONS AS REVEALED BY REPETITIVE-SEQUENCE PCR AND AFLP

SUMMARY The genetic variability of 43 Xanthomonas fragariae strains isolated in Italy during three different field outbreaks was compared with 20 representative strains previously isolated in Australia, USA, Brazil, Greece, New Zealand and Italy, and obtained from international culture collections. Typing was performed by repetitive-sequence PCR (rep-PCR) using BOX, ERIC and REP primer sets and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis. Both techniques revealed that X. fragariae strains can be divided into different subgroups. No correlation between DNA amplification product patterns and geographic areas of origin was found. AFLP analysis revealed the existence of two major groups of strains related at a level of 73%. BOX, ERIC and rep-PCR assays identified five, three and two genotypes, respectively. The grouping of strains inferred by these two techniques was not mutually consistent. The strains of the three outbreaks in Italy showed in general a very similar banding pattern. No host specificity groups could be identified since two X. fragariae strains isolated from Fragaria vesca and one strain obtained from Fragaria chiloensis showed a similar banding pattern, like other strains isolated from Fragaria x ananassa. As determined by pathogenicity tests, no difference in virulence could be observed among strains of the classified groups. For the improvement of X. fragariae detection in strawberry propagative material, the relevant genetic variability of the pathogen should be taken into consideration.
Synthesis and Characterization of Starch Acetates with High Substitution

ABSTRACT Acetylation of high-amylose (70%) maize starch to high degree of substitution (DS) was studied by reacting starch with acetic anhydride using 50% aqueous NaOH as the catalyst. DS increased with increasing reaction times and increasing ratios of acetic anhydride to starch. Reaction efficiency (RE) increased with longer reaction times and decreased with increases in the ratios of acetic anhydride to starch for extended reaction times. Increasing the amount of NaOH increased both DS and RE. A series of starch acetates with DS values of 0.57–2.23 were prepared and their crystalline structures, chemical structures, thermal stability, and morphological properties were investigated. After acetylation, and as DS increased from 0.57 to 2.23, the crystalline structures of starch steadily disappeared. The carbonyl group's peak at 1,740 cm-1 appeared in the FTIR spectra. The intensity of this peak increased with a decrease in the peak intensity of the hydroxyl groups at 3,000-3,600 cm-1, indicating that the .
Screening plants for salt tolerance by measuring K+ flux: a case study for barley

Development of salt-tolerant genotypes is central both to remediation of salinity-affected land and to meet increasing global food demand, which has been driving expansion of cropping into marginal areas. The bottleneck of any breeding programme is the lack of a reliable screening technique. This study tested the hypothesis that the ability of plants to retain K+ under saline conditions is central to their salt tolerance. Using seven barley cultivars contrasting in salt tolerance (CM72, Numar, ZUG293, ZUG95, Franklin, Gairdner, ZUG403), a comprehensive study was undertaken of whole-plant (growth rate, biomass, net CO2 assimilation, chlorophyll fluorescence, root and leaf elemental and water content) and cellular (net fluxes of H+, K+, Na+ and Ca2+) responses to various concentrations of NaCl (20–320 m m). Na+ selective microelectrodes were found to be unsuitable for screening purposes because of non-ideal selectivity of the commercially available Na+ LIX. At the same time, our results show very strong negative correlation between the magnitude of K+ efflux from the root and salt tolerance of a particular cultivar. K+ efflux from the mature root zone of intact 3-day-old seedlings following 40 min pretreatment with 80 m m NaCl was found to be a reliable screening indicator for salinity tolerance in barley. As a faster and more cost-effective alternative to microelectrode measurements, a procedure was developed enabling rapid screening of large numbers of seedlings, based on amount of K+ leaked from plant roots after exposure to NaCl.
Speciation, phenotypic plasticity, or ontogeny, the case of the genus Galkinius (Pyrgomatidae, Cirripedia, Crustacea)

Barnacles of the genus Galkinius occupy a large spectrum of host corals, making it one of the least host-specific genera within the Pyrgomatidae. Molecular analyses show that within the genus Galkinius there are highly supported clades, suggesting that the genus Galkinius is a complex of evolutionarily significant units (ESUs). The morphology of the opercular valves has been used as the basis for the separation of species of Galkinius. In this study, morphological variability was found both between specimens within ESUs extracted from different host species and between specimens extracted from the same colony. Identifications based on the opercular valves cannot therefore be assigned to different species despite being genetically distinguishable. It is proposed that in many cases the differences between valve morphology of different species of Galkinius are the outcome of ontogeny. Allometric growth of the valves has resulted in differences in the proportions of the parts of the valve. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London