Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reproductive strategies of philopatric and immigrant blue tits

Nous avons compare la date de ponte, la taille de ponte, la proportion d'oeufs donnant des jeunes a l'envol, le poids des jeunes produits, la probabilite de recrutement local des jeunes, et la survie des mesanges bleues immigrantes et philopatriques (nees dans la population d'etude) dans une population Corse. Nous n'avons pas trouve de difference entre mâles immigrants et philopatriques. En revanche, si l'on examine la date de ponte et la taille des individus, les femelles immigrantes ont une taille de ponte reduite par rapport aux femelles philopatriques. La proportion de jeunes a l'envol est la meme pour les deux groupes, mais du fait de la taille de ponte reduite, le poids des jeunes a l'envol produits par des femelles immigrantes est superieur d'en moyenne 0.5 g. Les jeunes produits par les femelles immigrantes ont une plus faible probabilite d'etre recrutes localement. L'effet du poids a l'envol sur la probabilite de recrutement locale n'est pas lineaire : les plus petits et les plus gros poussins ont une plus faible probabilite d'etre recrutes. Ce resultat n'est pas nouveau dans les populations de mesanges et a ete interprete precedemment comme la consequence d'une selection stabilisante. Nous suggerons que les plus gros poussins pourraient s'etre etablis plus loin et que les femelles immigrantes pourraient avoir reduit la taille de leur ponte, creant ainsi les conditions d'une dispersion potentielle.
Un exemple de spécialisation trophique chez les Lépidoptères : les Cymothoe camerounaises inféodées aux Rinorea (Violacées) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae)

Les recherches effectuees au Cameroun sur les premiers etats des Cymothoe (J.-L. A.) et sur la systematique des Rinorea (G. A.) montrent que les especes de Cymothoe dont les plantes-hotes sont connues (41 especes) se nourrissent soit de diverses Flacourtiacees (13 especes), soit de Violacees du genre Rinorea (28 especes). Dans le second cas, la specialisation trophique est tres etroite : les deux tiers des especes sont strictement monophages, les autres stenophages (avec de 2 a 6 especes de Rinorea-hotes, en general etroitement affines). Les rapports entre la distribution geographique des Rinorea et celle des Cymothoe sont analyses. Diverses observations sur le comportement de ponte des femelles et quelques experiences de choix faites en laboratoire sont rapportees : elles confirment la specificite trophique et montrent que, des l'eclosion, les larves savent reconnaitre leur plante nourriciere, bien que dans la nature elles n'aient pas a trouver celle-ci. La signification ecologique de cette specialisation est discutee ; elle parait sans rapport avec un eventuel phenomene de competition interspecifique.
Applications of liposome technology in modulating p-glycoprotein mediated multidrug resistance

This thesis tested the hypothesis that the inadequate tumor delivery of anticancer agents and selectivity of PGP modulation are primarily responsible for the attenuated therapy of extravascular MDR solid tumors overexpressing PGP. PSC 833 was selected as the MDR modulator for in vivo applications, based on potency, extent of MDR reversal and latent modulating activity. Whereas co-administration of PSC 833 with nonencapsulated DOX required a 3-fold reduction in anticancer drug dose due to increased toxicity, the toxicity of DOX encapsulated in 100 nm diameter DSPC/Chol vesicles was comparable in the presence and absence of PSC 833. Efficacy studies in P388/ADR solid tumor bearing mice revealed that co-administration of non-encapsulated DOX and PSC 833 at the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) resulted in modest MDR modulation and antitumor activity. However, significant tumor growth suppression was observed when DSPC/Chol DOX was co-administered with PSC 833. Pharmacokinetic studies indicated a PSC 833-induced increase in terminal elimination phase and a concomitant 10-fold increase in plasma DOX AUC following treatment with non-encapsulated DOX whereas minimal pharmacokinetic alterations were observed with DOX encapsulated in DSPC/Chol liposomes. The relative toxicities and degree of MDR reversal were also examined using leaky and non-leaky liposomal DOX in the presence and absence of PSC 833. While PSC 833 necessitated a 3-fold dose reduction for the leaky EPC/Chol DOX in the multiple dosing schedule, no dose reductions were required for the non-leaky PEG-DSPE/DSPC/Chol DOX. In human breast carcinoma MDR xenograft tumor bearing mice, co-administration of EPC/Chol DOX and PSC 833 resulted in modest modulation and antitumor activity.
The mammalian rod synaptic ribbon is essential for Cav channel facilitation and ultrafast fusion of the readily releasable pool of vesicles

Rod photoreceptors (PRs) use ribbon synapses to transmit visual information. To signal ‘no light detected’ they release glutamate continually to activate post-synaptic receptors, and when light is detected glutamate release pauses. How a rod’s individual ribbon enables this process was studied here by recording evoked changes in whole-cell membrane capacitance from wild type and ribbonless (RIBEYE-ko) rods. Wild type rods created a readily releasable pool (RRP) of 92 synaptic vesicles (SVs) that emptied as a single kinetic phase with a τ < 0.4 msec. Lowering intracellular Ca2+-buffering accelerated Cav channel opening and facilitated release kinetics, but RRP size was unaltered. In contrast, ribbonless rods created an RRP of 24 SVs, and lacked Cav channel facilitation; however, Ca2+ channel-release coupling remained tight. The release deficits caused a sharp attenuation of rod-driven light responses measured from RIBEYE-ko mice. We conclude that the synaptic ribbon facilitates Ca2+-influx and establishes a large RRP of SVs.
VOLTAGE-GATED POTASSIUM CHANNELS CONTROL THE GAIN OF ROD-DRIVEN LIGHT RESPONSES IN MIXED-INPUT ON BIPOLAR CELLS

To achieve high sensitivity at scotopic levels, vision sacrifices spatial and temporal resolution. The detection of dim light, however, depends crucially on the ability of the visual system to speed up rod signals as they advance towards the brain. At higher light levels, gain control mechanisms are necessary to prevent premature saturation of second-order neurons. We investigated how goldfish mixed-input ON bipolar cells (ON mBCs) manage to partially compensate for the intrinsically slow kinetics of rod signals in the dark-adapted state, and at the same time control the gain of rod signals. Rod-driven responses of axotomized ON mBCs become faster and more transient than those of rod horizontal cells as stimulus intensity increases. This transientness has a voltage-dependency consistent with the activation of a voltage-gated K+ conductance. Simulations with NEURON indicate that the voltage-gated K+ channels responsible for speeding up responses are concentrated at the distal tips of the bipolar cell dendrites, close to the glutamate receptors. These channels act as a gain control mechanism, by shunting the effect of tonically hyperpolarized rods onto the ON mBC. Further activation of K+ channels accelerates the ON mBC response by decreasing the membrane time constant as light levels increase. Therefore, the presence of voltage-gated K+ channels at the dendritic tips of ON mBCs extends the dynamic range of these neurons, and at the same time generates a transient signal already at the first visual synapse. Key Points Summary Here we show that voltage-gated potassium channels can adjust the gain of the rod input to mixed-input ON bipolar cells and generate a transient signal already at the first visual synapse. These channels are activated during the light-induced depolarization, making bipolar cell light responses smaller, faster, and more transient, effects that can be abolished by the K+ channel blocker TEA. Mathematical simulations suggest that these channels are concentrated at the bipolar cell dendritic tips, close to the site of rod input. This kind of gain control happens at all levels in the retina and is especially important for cells that receive mixed input from rods and cones, in order to prevent premature saturation with increasing light levels and remove the temporal redundancy of the photoreceptor signal.
A dominant-negative variant in the dopamine transporter PDZ-binding motif is linked to parkinsonism and neuropsychiatric disease

Dopaminergic dysfunction is central to movement disorders and mental diseases. The dopamine transporter (DAT) is essential for the regulation of extracellular dopamine but the genetic and mechanistic link between DAT function and dopamine-related pathologies remains elusive. Particularly, the pathophysiological significance of monoallelic missense mutations in DAT is unknown. Here we identify a novel coding DAT variant, DAT-K619N, in a patient with early-onset parkinsonism and comorbid neuropsychiatric disease and in 22 individuals from exome-sequenced samples of neuropsychiatric patients. The variant localizes to the critical C-terminal PDZ-binding motif of DAT and causes reduced uptake capacity, decreased surface expression, and accelerated turnover of DAT in vitro. In vivo, we demonstrate that expression of DAT-K619N in mice and dropsophila imposes impairments in dopamine transmission with accompanying changes in dopamine-directed behaviors. Importantly, both cellular studies and viral overexpression of DAT-K619N in mice show that DAT-K619N has a dominant-negative effect which collectively implies that a single dominant-negative genetic DAT variant can confer risk for neuropsychiatric disease and neurodegenerative early-onset parkinsonism.
The Synergism between DHODH Inhibitors and Dipyridamole Leads to Metabolic Lethality in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Background Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase (DHODH) is a key enzyme of the de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis, whose inhibition was recently found to induce differentiation and apoptosis in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). DHODH inhibitors were previously investigated in solid tumors, where they showed promising antiproliferative activity, both in vitro and in vivo. However, their effectiveness was not confirmed in clinical trials, probably due to the pyrimidine salvage pathway that cancer cells could exploit to survive. In this study we investigated the pro-apoptotic activity of MEDS433, the DHODH inhibitor developed by our group, against AML. Learning from previous failures, we challenged our model mimicking in vivo conditions, and looked for synergic combination to boost apoptosis. Methods We evaluated the apoptotic rate of multiple AML cell lines and AML primary cells treated with MEDS433 or other DHODH inhibitors, alone and in combination with classical antileukemic drugs or with dipyridamole, a blocker of the pyrimidine salvage pathway. Experiments were also performed mimicking in vivo conditions, i.e., in the presence of physiological uridine plasma levels (5 μM). Results MEDS433 showed a strong apoptotic effect against multiple AML cell lines, which was at least partially independent from the differentiation process. Its combination with classical antileukemic agents resulted in a further increase of the apoptotic rate. However, when MEDS433 was tested in the presence of 5 μM uridine and/or in primary AML cells, results were less impressive. On the contrary, the combination of MEDS433 with dipyridamole resulted in an outstanding synergistic effect, with a dramatic increase of the apoptotic rate both in AML cell lines and AML primary cells, which was unaffected by physiological uridine concentrations. Preliminary analyses show that the toxicity of this treatment should be limited to proliferating cells. Conclusions The combination of a DHODH inhibitor and dipyridamole is characterized by differentiating and pro-apoptotic features and induces metabolic lethality on a wide variety of AMLs with different genetic backgrounds.
Distribution patterns of the ghost crab Ocypode cursor on sandy beaches of a tropical island in the Cabo Verde archipelago, Eastern Central Atlantic

The spatial distribution of the ghost crab Ocypode cursor was determined for beaches on eastern Boa Vista Island, Cabo Verde Archipelago. The main objectives were to analyse the across-shore distribution by means of burrow counts and to identify preferential zones and spatial segregation. Six beaches were investigated using 20 across-shore beach transects. It was demonstrated that ghost crabs occur throughout the entire intertidal zone, with higher densities in a 9–13 m band above the waterline. There was an exponential relationship between the carapace length of captured crabs and the diameter of their burrows. Mean burrow diameter was correlated with burrow density and increased linearly with distance from the waterline, although small burrows, representing individuals smaller than the median size, occurred across the beach. Burrow diameter and depth were positively correlated, with larger holes indicating larger crabs and deeper burrows. Deeper burrows were more common in the upper intertidal zone. These results are similar to those described for ghost crab populations elsewhere and contribute to an understanding of the ecology of the species in the local context.
Novel Targets for Reducing Nicotine Withdrawal-induced Phenotypes: Contribution of the AMPK Pathway and BDNF Val66met Polymorphism

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable illness and death in the United States. Despite this, current pharmacological treatments for nicotine withdrawal remain partially effective and the abstinence rate remains low. The development of novel pharmacotherapies that can mediate the aversive symptoms of nicotine withdrawal will contribute to improved cessation outcomes. To this end, the studies in this dissertation had two objectives: oneto identify novel molecular pathways underlying nicotine withdrawal and twoto examine the contribution of genetic variants to withdrawal symptoms. To address the first objective we used functional genomic approaches (chromatin immunoprecipitation and whole genome sequencing (ChIPSeq)) to identify pathways that are altered following withdrawal from nicotine. Through these means we identified the AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) signaling pathway as one such target. In addition, we demonstrated that the AMPK pathway is activated following chronic nicotine, an effect that is reversed by 24-hour withdrawal. Maintaining AMPK activation during withdrawal via the preclinical AMPK activator AICAR or the FDA approved diabetes drug metformin attenuated anxiety-like behavior during nicotine withdrawal in preclinical animal models. Further, the reduction in anxiety-like behavior was through a mechanism dependent on the AMPKα subunit within the hippocampus, as determined by a genetic AMPKα loss-of function animal model. Metformin treatment also reversed withdrawal-induced deficits in contextual fear conditioning. In our final study we examined the contribution of genetic variants to the affective phenotypes of nicotine withdrawal. We utilized a BDNF knock-in mouse containing the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism to examine the effect of this single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) on anxiety-like behavior following withdrawal. Using this model we found blunted anxiety-like behavior in mice homozygous for the SNP (BDNFMet/Met) following withdrawal. We also observed an increase in expression of the BDNF prodomain in BDNFMet/Met mice following nicotine withdrawal, highlighting the potential role of this ligand in mediating withdrawal behavior. Together, research from this dissertation provide the first evidence of a direct effect of AMPK modulation on behavior following nicotine withdrawal, and provides the first example of using a mouse genetic variant model to examine withdrawal behavior. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Group Pharmacology First Advisor Julie A. Blendy
Hunting mortality and overwinter survival of northern bobwhites relative to food plots in Kansas

Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) populations have been declining significantly throughout much of their North American range. Food plots are a management tool that might alleviate the bobwhite's winter stress, improving population sustainability, but their positive effect could be negated by increased hunter harvests near food plots. Food plots have been used to increase available winter food sources for northern bobwhites on the Fort Riley Military Reservation since the early 1960s. We hypothesized that food plots increased hunting mortality of bobwhites by concentrating hunters and bobwhites around food plots. We monitored 554 radiomarked bobwhites during the 1994-1995, 1995-1996, and 1996-1997 winters to estimate survival and cause-specific mortality near and far from food plots. Effect of hunting mortality near food plots was weak and inconsistent. Feeding in food plots by nontarget wildlife compromised the comparison of overwinter survival of bobwhites near and far from food plots during all years and study sites. Avian and mammalian predators accounted for 55% of overwinter mortality of radiomarked bobwhites during the study. We provide recommendations to reduce mortality and increase survival of bobwhites on Fort Riley during winter. These strategies might apply to other bobwhite populations in North America.
Minimally processed ready-to-eat baby-leaf vegetables: Production, processing, storage, microbial safety, and nutritional potential

ABSTRACT The market for minimally processed ready-to-eat (RTE) baby-leaf vegetables (BLVs) has been rapidly growing and offering to consumers convenient and appealing products, rich in health beneficial bioactive compounds. These vegetables are harvested at a very early stage of maturation and prepared with minimal processing methods such as cutting, washing, rinsing, and packaging with the modified atmosphere of O2, CO2, and relative humidity (RH). Maintenance of microbial safety, color, texture, aroma, and nutrients are the major problems associated with commercial production and marketing of BLVs. This review discusses the theoretical aspects and recent developments in the maintenance of nutritional quality and microbial safety during production, processing, sanitization, packaging, and storage of BLVs. The varietal improvements in BLVs for wider adaptability and disease resistance are also discussed. Additionally, future research challenges in these contexts are identified.
Perlesta napacola, a new species in the Perlesta frisoni species group (Plecoptera: Perlidae)

Perlesta napacola, a new species of nearctic stonefly (Plecoptera: Perlidae), is described from a single location in eastern Illinois. This species is most closely related to those in the Perlesta frisoni species group, the male members of which exhibit patches of sensilla basiconica on the tenth tergite and an aedeagus without a caecum. This group at present includes P. etnier, P. frisoni, P. nelsoni, and P. teaysia. It differs from its group members by the combination of a spineless paraproct, subgenital plate with rounded lobes and U-shaped notch, and in having a sessile egg collar and shallow follicular cell impressions. The new species was found in a springbrook draining a relict beech and maple forest in a ravine in eastern Illinois. A key to the group is provided.
Infestation of Apis mellifera colonies by Megaselia scalaris (Loew, 1866) in Abruzzo and Molise regions, central-southern Italy

Phoridae, which belong to the Diptera order, were identified as the cause of serious infestations of Apis mellifera colonies in the American continent such as Phoridae from the genus “Melaloncha” in Central America and Apocephalus borealis in the USA. Some authors identified a novel phorid, Megaselia scalaris, as a possible parasitoid of honey bee in Brazil. Recently, in Europe, Diptera from the genus Megaselia was found able to parasitize adults of A. mellifera. So far, in the old continent, such infestation was reported only in bees dead or affected by other diseases, but never in healthy bees. From July through August 2014, the prevalence of myiases affecting A. mellifera was verified in Abruzzo and Molise regions. Most of the selected apiaries showed a great infestation of bees due to M. scalaris, even if they were apparently healthy, during trapping back from their foraging trip. Here, we report the results of our work to stress the impact that this parasitoid might have on health condition of beehive.
Detection of biogenic oil film near aquaculture sites seen by Sentinel-2 multispectral images

Biogenic oil film is a natural surface slick that is mainly derived by sea flora and fauna. The often observation of the film near aquaculture facilities has raised awareness on the possibility of the linkage between the development of the film and the anthropogenic activities taking place on site (i.e. artificial feeding and liquid waste). This study aims to investigate the possibility of the detection of biogenic oil film on optical satellite images and discriminate it from other oceanographic phenomena. For the purposes of the study we have used a Sentinel-2 (S2) dataset consisted of 73 images for the year 2019 to detect the film on three aquaculture areas. An automatic procedure was developed on a Python based algorithm which included the following stages: (a) downloading images, (b) preprocessing the input data, (c) identifying dark formations in the adjacent fish farming area, (d) extracting attribute tables with the statistical characteristics of the formations (shape, area, etc.), (e) classification of formations as biogenic film or other (lookalike) and (f) extraction of biogenic film vectors. The developed algorithm was able to detect biogenic oil film successfully however some misleading results regarding the decision of true or false positive (biogenic oil film or lookalike) was evidenced. The efficiency of the algorithm was tested against manual classification with overall accuracy 82,6%. As further step the results of this study should be validated with in-situ measurements and further work is required to verify the results obtained by testing the methods in other sites.
European and Mediterranean Thalassinidea (Crustacea, Decapoda)

Thalassinidea (Crustacea, Decapoda) d'Europe et de Mediterranee. Une diagnose (ou redescription) de tous les genres et especes d'Europe et de la Mediterranee est presentee et les caracteres differentiels sont figures. Une revue des donnees bibliographiques et biologiques est incluse ; une classification, comportant deux genres nouveaux, et une cle sont proposees. La superfamille Axioidea comprend les Axiidae, avec Axius stirhynchus, Calocarides coronatus, Levantocaris hornungae, et les Calocarididae, avec Calastacus laevis et Calocaris macandreae. Les Callianassoidea se composent des Callianassidae, Ctenochelidae, Laomediidae et Upogebiidae. Les Callianassidae contiennent trois sous-familles. Les Callianassinae ont trois especes placees dans Callianassa: C. acanthura, C. subterranea et C. truncata ; trois autres sont attribuees a un nouveau genre, Pestarella n. gen. : P. candida n. comb. , P. tyrrhena n. comb. et P. whitei n. comb. Les especes de Pestarella n. gen. ont un Mxp3 operculiforme, un telson arrondi dans sa partie posterieure et pas de Plp1-2 chez les mâles. L'espece peu connue, Calliapagurops charcoti, est placee dans les Callichirinae. Les Eucalliacinae contiennent deux especes : Calliax lobata et Calliaxina punica n. comb. , espece type d'un genre nouveau, Calliaxina n. gen. Les especes de Calliaxina n. gen. possedent un rostre a extremite pointue, un Mxp3 operculiforme muni d'exopode, les P1 egaux et les Plpl-2 avec appendix interna dans les deux sexes. Les Ctenochelidae ont une sous-famille, Gourretinae, avec Gourrretia denticulata. Les Laomediidae sont representees par une espece, Jaxea nocturna, et les Upogebiidae par sept especes : Gebiacantha talismani, Upogebia deltaura, U. mediterranea, U. nitida, U. pusilla, U. stellata et U. tipica.