Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mapping of antigenic and functional epitopes on the alpha- and beta- subunits of two related mouse glycoproteins involved in cell interactions, LFA-1 and Mac-1

Mouse Mac-1, a complement receptor-associated surface structure on macrophages, and LFA-1, a function-associated structure on lymphocytes, comprise a novel family of leukocyte differentiation antigens participating in adhesive cell interactions. Mac-1 and LFA-1 contain alpha-subunits of 170,000 and 180,000 Mr, respectively, and beta- subunits of 95,000 Mr noncovalently associated in alpha 1 beta 1 complexes. The structural relation between the alpha- and between the beta-subunits, and the location of functionally important sites on the molecules, have been probed with antibodies. Both non-cross-reactive and cross-reactive monoclonal antibodies (MAb) and antisera prepared to the purified molecules or the LFA-1 alpha-subunits were used. Reactivity with individual subunits was studied by immunoprecipitation after dissociation induced by high pH treatment, or by immunoblotting after SDS-PAGE. Cross-reactive epitopes on Mac-1 and LFA-1 were found to be present on the beta-subunits, which were immunologically identical. Non-cross-reactive epitopes that are distinctive for Mac-1 or LFA-1 were localized to the alpha-subunits. MAb to LFA-1 alpha- subunit epitopes inhibited CTL-mediated killing. Two MAb to Mac-1 alpha- subunit epitopes but not a third MAb to a spatially distinct alpha- epitope inhibited complement receptor function. Neither function was inhibited by a MAb binding to a common beta-subunit epitope. Therefore, sites of Mac-1 and LFA-1 involved in their respective adhesion-related functions, as well as distinctive structural features, have been localized to the alpha-subunits.
Role of desiccation in the termination of expression of genes for storage proteins

Abstract The final stage of development of orthodox seeds is maturation drying, a process often accompanied by a dramatic decline in storage-protein synthesis. When desiccation is imposed prematurely at certain stages prior to the completion of development, a switch in synthetic events is elicited. events unique to development, such as synthesis of storage protein, are terminated, while syntheses associated with germination and growth are initiated. We investigated whether desiccation plays a key role in effecting a decline in expression of genes for storage proteins by acting directly upon the regulatory regions of these developmental genes. The desiccation responsiveness of the 5′ and 3′ regulatory regions of the gene for the pea storage protein vicilin was tested in transgenic tobacco seed. Chimaeric genes were introduced into tobacco, these genes consisted of the coding region of the reporter gene for β-glucuronidase (GUS) and 5′ and 3′ regions from the vicilin gene, or, as controls, the same regions derived from constitutively expressed genes, presumed to be desiccation-insensitive – those from the cauliflower mosaic virus (35S) and nopaline synthase genes. In transgenic seed expressing the gene constructs containing the vicilin 5′ upstream region, GUS activities declined dramatically after imbibition in mature seed and after rehydration of prematurely dried tobacco seed. In contrast, GUS activities increased after seed rehydration when the constitutive viral (35S) promoter replaced the vicilin 5′ upstream region. The 3′ downstream region of the gene construct did not significantly affect the patterns of changes in GUS activities after seed rehydration. In studies of transient gene expression in castor bean cotyledons, premature desiccation led to termination of GUS gene expression only when the gene construct contained the vicilin 5′ upstream region. This region may respond directly to desiccation; alternatively, changes to trans-acting factors important for expression of genes for storage-proteins may occur as a result of drying.
THE INFLUENCE OF NEST TEMPERATURES AND MATERNAL BROODING ON HATCHLING PHENOTYPES IN WATER PYTHONS

Previous work on phenotypic plasticity in hatchling reptiles has dealt almost exclusively with lizards and turtles from temperate zone habitats, in taxa where the only maternal control over incubation regimes is exerted via nest site selection. In contrast, water pythons (Liasis fuscus) in northern Australia are tropical snakes that show facultative maternal brooding, with shivering thermogenesis to warm the clutch. Thus, incubation temperatures of this species are influenced both by nest site selection and by maternal care. We experimentally simulated three thermal regimes typical of different types of natural nests in our study population. These were (1) hot, stable temperatures typical of nests laid in the burrows of varanid lizards (constant 32°C); (2) lower and more variable temperatures typical of nests laid inside tree root boles, either with maternal attendance (diel range 27.1°–32.9°C); or (3) in root boles but without maternal attendance (24.3°–32.9°C). We incubated 187 eggs from 15 clutches obt.
Field body temperatures, activity levels and opportunities for thermoregulation in an extreme microhabitat specialist, the girdled lizard (Cordylus macropholis)

The girdled lizard Cordylus macropholis inhabits semi-desert areas along the west coast of South Africa. Unlike many other small diurnal lizards living in open habitats, it exhibits extreme low levels of above-ground activity and does not show overt thermoregulatory behaviours, such as basking or shuttling. It has an extreme low movement rate and confines routine activity to the microhabitat of the succulent Euphorbia caput-medusae. We document this restriction of activity in time and space in relation to aspects of this lizard's thermal biology. Throughout the day, a majority of the lizards was found sheltering (‘covered’) among the branches of E. caput-medusae plants, and surface-active (‘exposed’) individuals were seen during only a restricted time period (i.e. 1100–1700 h). Mean body temperatures (Tbs) of both ‘exposed’ (29.4 °C) and ‘covered’ (28.4 °C) individuals were surprisingly low for a lizard inhabiting a hot and dry climate zone. This similarity of the Tbs of both groups, as well as the correspondence between the ambient temperatures in the plant microhabitat and the Tbs of ‘exposed’ lizards indicate that, for a considerable part of day, thermal conditions under plant cover allow achievement of Tbs at a similar level as that maintained by the ‘exposed’ lizards. Moreover, the absence of sightings of overtly basking lizards supports the view that C. macropholis warm up by adopting the ambient temperature in their shelters thereby reducing the time spent in surface activity. All lizards observed were within the periphery of E. caput-medusae plants, indicating that C. macropholis is an extreme microhabitat specialist. The succulent provides more and safer hiding places than other common shrubs in the environment. In addition, estimates of ambient temperatures indicate that these plants offer superior opportunities for thermoregulation compared with other available shrub microhabitats.
Identification of Resistance to the Large Raspberry Aphid in Black Raspberry

ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS. Amphorophora agathonica, blackcap, Rubus occidentalis, black raspberry necrosis virus, BRNV ABSTRACT. The large raspberry aphid (Amphorophora agathonicaHottes) is an important vector of viruses inRubusL. across North America. Although breeding for aphid resistance has long been recognized as an important tool for protecting red raspberries (Rubus idaeus L.) from viral infection, this is the first report of resistance to A. agathonica in black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis L.). Seedlings from 132 wild populations of black raspberries, representing the species' native range, were screened for resistance to A. agathonica. Strong resistance was found in three of these populations, one from Ontario (ORUS 3778), one from Maine (ORUS 3817), and one from Michigan (ORUS 4109). Resistance to the large raspberry aphid in ORUS 3778 and ORUS 3817 is dominant and appears to be conferred by different genes. We propose that the genes for resistance in ORUS 3778 and ORUS 3817 be designated Ag4 and Ag5, respectively. Resistance to A. agathonica in ORUS 4109 also appears to be controlled by a dominant allele at a single locus, but cannot be differentiated from Ag4 at this time.
Evaluation of the Insecticidal Activities of Three Eucalyptus Species Cultivated in Iran, Against Hyphantria Cunea Drury (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae)

In the current study, the larvicidal activity of leaf essential oils from three eucalyptus species (Eucalyptus largiflorens Meull, Eucalyptus oleosa Meull, and Eucalyptus spathulata Hook) against American white moth, Hyphantria cunea Drury 1773 (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae), was investigated. Mortality was recorded daily for three days after treatment. Leaf disc bioassays revealed that all three oils had strong insecticidal activity on the experimental insects insofar as 50% lethal concentrations (LC 50 ) for E. oleosa, E. spathulata, and E. largiflorens at 24 h exposure time were 0.36, 0.61, and 1.24%, respectively. The time needed to kill 50% (LT 50 ) values were cal- culated as 9.09 h with E. largiflorens, 11.03 h with E. oleosa, and 13.03 h with E. spathulata at the highest concentrations (2.5% for E. largiflorens, 2% for E. oleosa, and 2.5% for E. spathulata). Based on probit analysis, an increase in the susceptibility of the insect was associated with an increase in the different concentrations of all oils and the increase in the time of exposure. The results of this study show that leaf essential oils of E. largiflorens, E. oleosa, and E. spathulata might be considered as a potent source for the production of fine natural larvicides.
Adaptive immunity to Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus: new insights into antigenic determinants

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) is one of the most studied infectious disease models in mice. Human infection with LCMV can result in severe disease, ranging from aseptic meningitis in immunocompetent individuals, hydrocephalus, chorioretinitis or microcephaly in fetal infection, or to a highly lethal outcome in immunosuppressed individuals. This review examines recent advances in our understanding of the adaptive immune response to LCMV and how the cell-mediated and humoral immune responses contribute to protective immunity. New insights into the antigenicity of the LCMV proteome and the complexity of the cell-mediated immune response are addressed. We also discuss state-of-the-art approaches for T-cell epitope discovery in murine and human backgrounds and their recent application to LCMV. New findings regarding CD4+ T-cell dysregulation during chronic LCMV infection, and potential avenues for the treatment of chronic viral infection through modulation of the programmed cell death-1 receptor an.
Date fiber, a byproduct of date syrup (Debis) extraction influences serum lipid concentrations in rats fed 0.2% cholesterol

Dietary fiber has been recognized as an important dietary constituent, which posses a wide range of positive properties. It was found that some components of dietary fiber, particularly soluble in water, might influence lipid metabolism. Many sources of dietary fiber have been tested in animals and humans. The scientific community continues to search for new sources of dietary fiber. Date is one of the most important fruit crops in the United Arab Emirates. Dates are a good source of fiber and other nutrients. They are commonly eaten with milk, yogurt or coffee. They are also used to produce Debis, a date syrup extraction. The effect of date fiber (DF), a by-product of date syrup (Debis) extraction on lipid metabolism was investigated in male Sprague Dawley rats adapted to 0.2% cholesterol (CHO) diets. The rats were divided in four groups of 5 animals. The basal diet consisted of AIN 76 diet. The control group (C) consumed the basal diet with 0.2% of cholesterol. To the control diet 2, 3 or 5% of DF were added. Plasma total cholesterol (TC), LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG) and the ration HDL-C/LDL-C were measured. The results showed that the addition of 2, 3 and 5% of DF did not affect weight gain, feed intake and feed efficiency. The addition of 5% DF to the diet significantly (P< 0.05) increased HDL-C (40.2 vs 21.9 mg/100 ml; +83%), lessened the rise in plasma LDL-C (24 vs. 47.3 mg/100 ml; -97%) and increased the HDL-C/LDL-C ratio (1.6 vs. 0.5; 220%). The addition of DF to diets containing 0.2% CHO did not affect total cholesterol and triglycerides. These results demonstrate that DF possesses hypolipidemic effects that are evident when it is added to the diet of rats fed cholesterol. Date fiber can be used to develop functional foods with health benefits for consumers. The advantage becomes more economically sound if these food can be developed from by-products.
Soil surface lichens on a 1500 kilometre climatic gradient in subtropical eastern Australia

Soil lichens are taxonomically diverse in subtropical eastern Australia. A total of 61 species in 25 genera is reported from a transect 1500 km long, running from the humid sub-tropical coast to the arid interior of the continent. The distribution of the lichen species and genera is associated with climatic pattern and with the growth form of the species. The total number of species found in bands of one degree of longitude along the transect decreases from the wet coastal region to the arid interior. Fruticose and foliose species dominated the flora in wetter regions and squamulose species in the dry interior.
Are-examination of NaCI effects on phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase at high (physiological) enzyme concentrations

Inhibition of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (EC 4.1.1 31) from the C4-halophyte Salsola soda L. by NaCI is compeutive to phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP). Physiological (betaine, glycerol) and synthetic (polyethylene glycol) osmotica and the allosteric activator glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) increase the apparent affinity of the enzyme for PEP and also alleviate the inhibition by NaCl. Physiological osmotica that either increase the Km(PEP) (proline) or are neutral (sorbitol), do not protect the enzyme against NaCI attack. In the absence of cosolutes and, G6P, the enzyme is self-protected when its concentration in the assay medium is increased to more physiological values. In addition, the amount of betaine needed for complete protection is inversely related to native protein concentration in the assay. Exogenous protein (bovine serum albumin or bovine skin gelatin) have no effect on either Km(PEP), or extent of NaCl inhibition. These results can be better explained with the exclusion volume theory and the inferred assumption that both cosolutes and high protein concentration strengthen intrinsic aggregation properties of enzymes. It is suggested that the extremely high phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase concentration in the cytoplasm and the accumulation of compatible solutes in response to water stress fully protect the enzyme in vivo against the chaotropic effects of NaCI.
Mate choice copying and mate quality bias: different processes, different species

Mate choice copying is the most studied type of nonindependent mate choice, in which the probability of a male being chosen by a female increases if he has previously been chosen by other females and decreases if he has been rejected. Recent studies suggest that what can sometimes influence females is not so much a male’s success at securing mates but the quality of the females that choose him. Here, we show that, though hitherto described as mate choice copying, this type of nonindependent mate choice is characterized by distinct evolutionary dynamics and ecological requirements, will have usually evolved in different species, and must therefore be urgently distinguished from mate choice copying. The term mate quality bias is suggested as an appropriate description of this phenomenon. Key words: evolutionary psychology, mate choice, mating skew, serial monogamy. [Behav Ecol]
Effects of Mulches on Soil Properties and Tomato Production II. Plant-Available Nitrogen, Organic Matter Input, and Tilth-Related Properties

ABSTRACT Potential contributions several mulches to soil organic matter (OM), and their effects on crop-available nitrogen (N), earthworm activity and tilth-related soil properties, were evaluated on five working vegetable farms in Virginia. A 100-mm thick hay mulch added sufficient organic carbon (C) and N to replace seasonal soil OM losses expected for temperate zone soils. Paper and plastic mulches contributed little or no OM, but mulching alleys between film-mulched beds helped replenish soil OM in these mulching systems. At one site, soil NO3-N was higher under plastic and oiled-paper mulches than under organic mulches or without mulch, probably because plastic and oiled paper reduced leaching of NO3-N. Mulch treatment did not affect soil NO3-N at other sites, and generally did not affect tomato foliar TKN, except when the treatment reduced soil moisture levels. Hay and compost mulches had C:N ratios ranging from 24 to 48, but high foliar TKN in these treatments indicated that the mulches did not red.
Does runaway sexual selection work in finite populations?

Fisher's runaway process is an explanation for the origin of conspicuous features which make one sex more attractive to the other. It has been suggested that it could lead to the evolution of sexual characters that significantly impair viability. Runaway selection requires a genetic correlation between alleles affecting the sexual character and alleles affecting the preference. Correlations may be expected because of assortative mating when there is variation in both the sexual character and sexual preferences. We contend that such genetic correlations are unlikely to persist in finite populations. We present simulations which confirm our expectations. They suggest that assortative mating is inefficient at generating correlations, especially if sexual selection maintains characters away from their viability optimum. In finite populations, such weak correlations will be overwhelmed by drift.
Geographical partitioning of microsatellite variation in the sarus crane

The sarus crane (Grus antigone) ranges across two continents and is the only species of crane (Gruidae) that breeds in India and Southeast Asia. Four subspecies, the Indian sarus (G. a. antigone), the eastern sarus (G. a. sharpii), the Australian sarus (G. a. gillae) and the extinct Philippine sarus (G. a. luzonica) were originally described through morphological, plumage, and/or geographical differences. The ranges of the Indian and eastern sarus converge in eastern India and Myanmar, but the Australian sarus has a disjunct Australian distribution. This study assesses population genetic structure of the current sarus populations utilising 13 DNA microsatellite loci. Population structure within this species was investigated utilising traditional FST and Bayesian clustering methods. While significant divergence was observed among populations when individuals were assigned to geographical populations, analyses based solely on individual genotypes demonstrated a clinal nature to the variation. The results of this study suggest that the Indian and eastern sarus cranes represent two major breeding groups within Asia and that the birds from Myanmar probably reside in an introgression zone between them. Lastly, because of genetic similarities shown to the eastern sarus, the results support recent theories contending that the Australian sarus was derived from mainland Asian birds.
An investigation into the wound healing potential of Welsh honeys

Summary Honey is an ancient wound remedy that has gained acceptance in modern medicine with the development of modern wound care products. Its therapeutic attributes are thought to be related to its antimicrobial activity as well as its ability to stimulate rapid healing, yet it is not known whether these properties are correlated. Using 139 local Welsh honeys collected by amateur beekeepers and one manuka honey, we determined physical and chemical characteristics to establish authenticity. Antibacterial activity was estimated using an agar well diffusion bioassay and wound healing potential was estimated by quantifying the release of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) from monocytic cells exposed to honey. The manuka honey had total and non-peroxide activity equivalent to 18.5 % (w/v) phenol; 71 of the Welsh samples possessed total activity, with 6.9 % (w/v) the highest phenol equivalent, and none possessed non-peroxide activity. The mean TNF-α response following exposure of a monocytic cell line (Monomac 6) to manuka honey was 320 pg/ml ± 39.9 (SEM) and for the Welsh honeys it was 547.5 pg/ml ± 26.5 (SEM), ranging from 7.6 to 1437 pg/ml. Antibacterial activity and TNF-α response were not associated. Although the antiseptic potential of Welsh honeys was weak, their wound healing potential merits further investigation.
SMALL RUMINANT PRODUCTION IN TWO MIXED-FARMING SYSTEMS OF SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA: STATUS AND PROSPECTS FOR IMPROVEMENT

SUMMARY Small ruminants are an integral part of mixed-farming systems throughout southern Ethiopia. Yet, they have received little research attention or institutional support. Characterizing the existing small ruminant production systems and analysing their production constraints are important tools to diagnose the status and trends of the systems, and thus to identify areas for future interventions. A survey was conducted between April and July 2004 in the Adilo and Kofele areas of the southern mixed-farming systems of Ethiopia to explore reasons for keeping small ruminants and to evaluate the existing status of and the prospects for the small ruminant sector. Additional information was obtained during discussions with key informants who had experience of small ruminant keeping. Small ruminants fill several roles in the study area. However, the principal purpose of keeping sheep and goats was to generate cash income. Sheep milk consumption was widespread around Kofele unlike most agricultural systems in the country. Nearly all respondents in Adilo reported fattening their sheep before sale, while such a practice was uncommon in Kofele. Informal insurance schemes were evolving among the sheep keepers in Adilo, and these can be considered as entry points for future interventions. The common problem identified from both individual interviews and group discussions was feed shortage. The identification of alternative feed resources and strategic feeding management might be options for development. Small ruminant disease was the major constraint in Kofele, where marshy areas are increasingly assigned for grazing in the rainy season as suitable land is more and more used for cropping. The growing demand for meat from small ruminants, the improving transportation infrastructure and the experience of farmers in small ruminant keeping are providing opportunities to enhance the contribution of the sector. A thorough monitoring of the productive and economic performance of small ruminants is required to capture the full picture of their contribution thereby directing possible intervention areas to maximize benefits to the farmers.