Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factors Influencing Mating Success, Mating Frequency, and Fecundity in Phthorimaea operculella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

Abstract The adult potato tuberworm, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller), is a primary pest of potato plants. Studies were conducted to assess the possibility of applying sterile insect technique as an alternative control method against this pest. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of adult age, weight, female mating status, and sex ratio on success and frequency of mating in P. operculella. The relationship between number of matings, fecundity, and fertility of females was also studied. A negative correlation was found between mating success and adult age. Female and male weights had an effect on the number of times individuals mate, but male weight only influenced mating success. Males mated more than once when confined with three virgin females for 24 h. Females did not mate more than once, even when they were confined with three virgin males. Males were more likely to mate with virgin females than with previously mated females. Multiply mated females and those which did not accept a second mating showed higher fecundity and fertility than their counterparts which were not given the opportunity to remate. Our results provide essential information necessary to increase the effectiveness of sterile insect technique as a control method against P. operculella.
Notch signaling in blood and lymphatic vessel development

Mammals have two parallel vascular systems, the blood and the lymphatic vascular system. The blood vascular system transports oxygen and nutrients to tissues and metabolic wastes from the tissues to excretory organs. Lymphatic vessels collect excess fluid from the interstitial space and return it back into the bloodstream, thus maintaining fluid homeostasis. Like veins, lymphatic collecting ducts contain intraluminal valves that ensure unidirectional flow. Notch signaling is an evolutionary conserved signaling pathway that mediates cell fate decisions and regulates cellular functions through its modulation of downstream targets. Using transgenic mouse models, we studied the role of Notch in embryonic lymphatic development and postnatal blood vascular development. Better understanding of these basic mechanisms is crucial for developing new treatments for diseases associated with abnormal blood or lymphatic vessels function. Embryonically, the lymphatic system develops as a subset of endothelial cells in the cardinal veins start expressing Prox1 and other lymphatic markers and become committed to the lymphatic lineage. We show that loss of Notch during the initiation phase leads to an increase in lymphatic progenitor cells emerging from the cardinal vein and lymphatic overgrowth. Thus, Notch is required in the cardinal vein to limit the number of endothelial cells adopting the lymphatic endothelial fate. Lymphatic valve development occurs during collecting duct maturation as subsets of lymphatic endothelial cells in the lymphatic duct walls adopt a lymphatic valve fate. We show that loss of Notch signaling in lymphatic endothelial cells at the time of valve initiation results in a decrease in the number of valves, abnormal valve morphology and reduced expression of valve-specific markers in valve-forming lymphatic endothelial cells. Thus, Notch signaling is required for proper lymphatic valve development. Blood endothelial cells interact with contractile smooth muscle cells and non-contractile pericytes, which are collectively called mural cells. Endothelial cell-mural cell interactions provide mechanical support to vessels as well as regulate many vessel functions that are crucial for vascular integrity such as permeability, sprouting and quiescence. Notch1 is expressed in both endothelial cells and mural cells while Notch3 is restricted to vascular mural cells. We show that global Notch1 heterozygocity combined with global Notch3 deficiency results in impaired vascular smooth muscle cell recruitment in the mouse retina leading to abnormal vascular development. We also demonstrate that biological inhibition of Notch signaling using soluble Notch1 decoys results in defective vascular smooth muscle coverage in the mouse retina. Our data show that both Notch1 and Notch3 are required for proper vascular smooth muscle cell function during vascular development and thus report a novel role for Notch1 in mural cells. %%%%Nisakkailla on kaksi rinnakkaista suonistoa, verisuonisto ja imusuonisto, joilla on omat tehtavansa…
SPANX Control of Lamin A/C Modulates Nuclear Architecture and Promotes Melanoma Growth

Mechanisms regulating nuclear organization control fundamental cellular processes, including the cell and chromatin organization. Their disorganization, including aberrant nuclear architecture, has been often implicated in cellular transformation. Here, we identify Lamin A, among proteins essential for nuclear architecture, as SPANX (sperm protein associated with the nucleus on the X chromosome), a cancer testis antigen previously linked to invasive tumor phenotypes, interacting protein in melanoma. SPANX interaction with Lamin A was mapped to the immunoglobulin fold-like domain, a region critical for Lamin A function, which is often mutated in laminopathies. SPANX downregulation in melanoma cell lines perturbed nuclear organization, decreased cell viability, and promoted senescence-associated phenotypes. Moreover, SPANX knockdown (KD) in melanoma cells promoted proliferation arrest, a phenotype mediated in part by IRF3/IL1A signaling. SPANX KD in melanoma cells also prompted the secretion of IL1A, which attenuated the proliferation of naïve melanoma cells. Identification of SPANX as a nuclear architecture complex component provides an unexpected insight into the regulation of Lamin A and its importance in melanoma. Implications: SPANX, a testis protein, interacts with LMNA and controls nuclear architecture and melanoma growth.
Iranian Cunaxidae (Acari: Prostigmata: Bdelloidea). Part III. Subfamily Cunaxoidinae

This third part on Iranian mites of the subfamily Cunaxoidinae discusses eight species. Five are new: Cunaxoides decastroae sp. nov., Cunaxoides lootsi sp. nov., Pulaeus razanensis sp. nov., Lupaeus iranensis sp. nov. and Lupaeus sativae sp. nov. Lupaeus martini (Den Heyer, 1981), Lupaeus valentinae Sergeyenko and the male of Pulaeus krama (Chaudhri, 1977) are recorded for the first time from Iran. Descriptions, figures and a key to the Iranian Cunaxoidinae are provided. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:6462FED6-9314-4FD7-A524-44666B40A64F
The development of the dorsal fin of Polypterus delhesi

Tlie dorsal fin of Polypterus is composed of a row of independent finlets, which in Polypterus delhesi begin behind the ends of the pectoral fins and reach the region of the so-called caudal fin1 (fig. 1, D l to D g ) , where the last of the finlets of the dorsal type is joined by the web to the first ray of the caudal fin, o r rather of the caudal region of the dorsal fin. Polypterus delhesi has nine finlets of such type, as we see in figure 1 ( D l to 09). The structure of the finlets is shown in figure 1 and still better in figure 2, in which the finlet is represented more enlarged. Each finlet consists of the following parts : first, of a strong osseous spine (sp) lying upon a corresponding pterygiophore. This spine is movable and is apt, . cr.hen the muscles of the finlet act, 1) to rise almost vcrtically and, 2) to adjoin the dorsal surface of the body; in the latter case it covers the fin-rays articulated with its posterior surface. This spine is flat and its upper or anterior surface is covered with a sculpture like that of the scales of the body; its posterior surface bears two longitudinal shafts, between which passes a ridge in which the bases of the rays ( re ) are disposed; the proximal end of the spine is thickened (fig. a ) , the distal part is bifurcated and ends with two sharp edges (sp’). The distal part of each spine bears segmented bony rays (figs. 1 and 2, r d ) or lepidotrichia; each finlet is composed of four or five rays, and the most distally situated ray is usually branched at its free end (figs. 1 and 2). Each
Oxidative stability and physico-chemical properties of meat from broilers fed with dietary neem leaf powder, spirulina and their combination.

This 6 week study was conducted to evaluate the antioxidant potential, maintaining quality and sensory properties of broiler meat from birds fed on dietary neem leaf powder (NLP). A total of 90 Vencobb broiler chicks were randomly allotted to 6 groups of 15 birds in each. Dietary treatments consisted of normal diet (control Group I), feed containing terramycin-200 (TM-200*) at the concentration of 0.05% (Group II), feed containing NLP of 0.2% (Group III), feed containing NLP of 0.2% and spirulina of 1% (Group IV), feed containing TM-200 at 0.05% and spirulina of 1% (Group V) and feed containing spirulina of 1% (Group VI). At the end of the experiment liver, kidney and muscle samples were collected to evaluate the tissue peroxidation (TBARS and protein carbonyls) and antioxidant markers (SOD). Physico-chemical quality determinants of both fresh and preserved meat viz. extract release volume (ERV), water holding capacity (WHC) and pH were also studied. TBARS protein carbonyls indicated a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in all the treated groups when compared to control. Superoxide dismutase levels were found to be significantly increased in all the treated groups, in all the tissues collected. Compared to control group, favorable physico-chemical quality determinants were recorded in all the treated groups. The sensory attributes did not show significant (P < 0.05) differences for color, flavor, juiciness, tenderness and overall acceptability. This study indicates enhanced stress tolerance levels, improved meat quality with unaffected consumer acceptance levels of the meat observed in the study, from broilers fed with neem and spirulina either alone or in combinationsș this points out that neem at 0.2% level can be used in poultry diets instead of antibiotic growth promoters (AGP).
Relative growth and photosynthetic response of water-seeded rice and Echinochloa oryzoides (Ard.) Fritsch to shade

Echinochloa oryzoides is a serious weed of rice worldwide and one of the most important weeds of water-seeded rice in California, USA, where resistance to most available herbicides has been detected. Developing new integrated weed management strategies that include rice suppression of E. oryzoides growth requires understanding their relative responses to resource limitation. The effects of shade on the growth, morphology and CO 2 exchange rates (CER) of E. oryzoides and rice (cv. M-202) were assessed in glasshouse and growth chamber experiments. Plants were grown at 100, 50 or 18% of full sunlight (glasshouse) or at 500 and 250 µmol PPFD m-2s-1 (growth chamber) within a completely randomized design with two factors and four replicates. Shade was imposed at 21 days after seeding (d.a.s.) (glasshouse) and at 14 d.a. s. (growth chamber). Height, leaf area, tillers, and leaf, stem, root and seed dry weights were determined for both species. CER were determined for plants in the growth chamber. Both species increased dry-matter allocation to leaves and maintained CER when subjected to low light. However, in contrast to rice, E. oryzoides maintained or increased leaf area, specific leaf area and leaf area ratio (LAR) in response to shade. E. oryzoides tiller number and seed output were reduced only at 18% sunlight. Rice lacked such adaptive ability and tiller number and seed were reduced at 50% sunlight. Shade alone may not prevent the seed production of E. oryzoides. However, E. oryzoides increased LAR at the expense of allocation to roots. Thus, for substantial E. oryzoides control, early nutrient deprivation by rice roots may be as relevant as improving rice ability to intercept light.
LOCAL PRODUCTION OF TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR a

Experimental studies have demonstrated that TNFa/cachectin is an important mediator in septic shock (1-3), and that IL-1 synergizes withTNFa in producing lung tissue damage and lethal shock (4, 5). Furthermore, previous studies haveshown that the systemic release ofTNFa (6), IL-1 (7, 8), and IL-6 (8) is associated with septic shock and fatal outcome in patients with meningococcal disease. However, many of the activities ofTNFa, IL-1, and IL-6 indicate a local rather than a systemic production and function of these cytokines. TNFa and IL-1 may recruit granulocytes to the site of inflammation by margination of granulocytes in the blood stream (9, 10) and chemotactic effect (11, 12). TNFa induces the production oftoxic oxygen radicals (13)and augments the phagocytosis by neutrophils (14), which may be important in the inflammatory response . IL-6 is locally produced in arthritis (15) and in bacterial meningitis (16), and induces growth ofB lymphocytes (17) . Furthermore, IL-6 sharesmany ofits biological activities withTNFaand IL-1 (18), andprobably, allthree cytokines actinanetworkof factorsdirectingthe inflammatory reaction . Meningococcal.disease includes avarietyof clinical syndromes ofwhich thedominantmanifestations arelocalmeningitis, andbacteremia with or withoutseptic shock . Whereas the roles of TNFa and in part IL-1 in septic shock have been clarified, their functions in meningococcal meningitis remain unclear. In this study we demonstrate that TNFa, IL-1, and IL-6 can be detected in cerebrospinal fluid (CF)' in patients with meningococcal meningitis, and that meningococcal LPSor viable meningococci trigger thesequential releaseofTNFa, IL-1, and IL-6 activities in CF in rabbits before infiltration of leukocytes . The subarachnoid space and systemic circulation are functionally separate compartments with respect to production of TNFa, IL-1, and IL-6 .
Identification of small molecules and genetic factors that alter cellular aging

Aging is a multifaceted process that is regulated by several factors and pathways, among which the best known are the nutrient signalling pathways. As the amount of people suffering from age-related diseases increases, it is of special interest to identify compounds and genetic factors that delay aging, thereby displaying promising indications for the development of anti-aging therapeutics. In this study, a novel high-throughput method was developed to screen for compounds that extend the CLS of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Eight of the final 20 candidates that increased CLS were further characterized. We found that their life-extending effect was independent of caloric restriction as well as of the TOR signalling pathway. Furthermore, six compounds lead to an increased resistance against oxidative stress. Individual analyses revealed that the CLS-extending effect of prostaglandin J2 depended on the mitochondrial fission protein Dnm1 as well as on components of the Git3/PKA signalling pathway. In contrast, monensin and nigericin required V-ATPase activity to promote longevity. The molecular targets of the other compounds remain to be determined. Additionally, we used our new CLS assay to screen an S. pombe deletion library for gene deletions that extend the CLS of fission yeast. However, in later experiments, we found that the observed increase of CLS was caused by an unknown factor in the strain background of the deletion library rather than by the indicated gene deletions. In another approach, we used a new high-throughput method established within this study to screen approximately 19,000 compounds for their impact on the telomeric silencing of the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, as this has been associated with RLS. We found that nicotine increased silencing at all heterochromatic loci in budding yeast, namely the telomeres, the rDNA locus, and the HM loci. In vitro experiments indicated that nicotine might act by activating Sir2. This hypothesis was supported by the finding that nicotine extended the CLS of S. pombe in a Sir2-dependent manner.
Expression screen for Wnt signaling-like phenotypes identifies Fam132b as a novel inhibitor of BMP signaling in Xenopus

The canonical Wnt signaling pathway is known to regulate multiple developmental events,including development of the digestive tract. In this study, we wanted to systematically analyze the role of the Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway during early and late phases of endodermal organogenesis. We generated a set of putative hormone-inducible activators or repressors of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway. Analysis of Wnt target gene expression and axis formation assays revealed that only a subset of these GR-fusion proteins is indeed inducible. These constructs were overexpressed in the endoderm of Xenopus embryos and protein activity was induced before or after specification of endodermal precursor cells. Analysis of pancreatic marker gene expression revealed that activation as well as repression of canonical Wnt signaling, early and late, inhibit exocrine pancreatic development. Expression cloning was used to identify novel regulators of early embryonic patterning.We indentified Fam132b as a factor that induces hyperdorsalization and secondary axis formation in Xenopus embryos. Analysis of Wnt and BMP target gene expression as well as luciferase reporter experiments revealed that Fam132b does not regulate Wnt signaling activity, but antagonizes the BMP signaling pathway. Fam132b contains a conserved C-terminal C1q domain and an N-terminal signal peptide. Overexpression studies in oocytes demonstrate that Fam132b is indeed a secreted factor. Analysis of endogenous target gene expression and promoter reporter studies indicated that Fam132b selectively inhibits BMP and not activin or FGF induced signaling, and that inhibition occurs at the extracellular level. Fam132b strongly interacts with BMP type I receptors, and weakly with BMP4 itself, as demonstrated by CoIP experiments. Fam132b deletion analysis demonstrated that the C1q domain is dispensable for the BMP antagonizing activity. Sequence analysis and axis duplication assays revealed that Fam132b protein sequence and protein function are only weakly conserved in a comparison ofXenopus and other vertebrate species. Fam132b is expressed in the ventral blood islands and later in circulating blood cells. In animal cap explants Fam132b is induced by Etv2/er71, which is known to activate expression of endothelial and hematopoietic genes in this system.Analysis of hematopoietic and vascular marker gene expression in Etv2/er71 expressing animal cap explants using multiplex Nanostring nCounter analysis revealed that Fam132b can enhance endothelial development at the expense of blood cell lineages.
Monitoring resistance in different strains of pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saund.) to profenofos and its relationship of some biochemical aspects

Profenofos resistance was found in field strains of the pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) collected at late season of 2013 from four Governorates in Egypt. Resistance was high in regions where profenofos were frequently used. Resistance ranged between 31.31 and 59.60% in the tested strains. Profenofos resistance was the highest in the individuals collected from Gharbia Governorate as compared with the other field strains; whereas the lowest resistance percentage was noticed in individuals collected from Kafrel-Sheikh Governorate. Studies carried out through estimation of the detoxification enzymes activity indicated that enhanced acetylcholinesterase, alkaline & acid phosphatases and α & β nonspecific esterases as well as total protein contents were probably important mechanisms for profenofos resistance in field strains. Colorimetric assays showed a significant positive correlation between increased resistance to profenofos in strains of P. gossypiella examined and the hydrolytic enzymes activity. The information presented illustrates the importance of proper Integrated Pest Management programs (IPM) to avoid the consequences associated with improper insecticide used.
Experiments comparing ‘break crops’ as a preparation for winter wheat followed by spring barley

Summary Oats, clover, beans (Vicia) and maize were tested as ‘break crops’ in three experiments on land cropped frequently with wheat or barley. Barley was used as a ‘no-break’ control treatment. Test crops were winter wheat followed by spring barley; they received N-fertilizer at four rates. After barley wheat had much take-all (Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici); all the break crops decreased the take-all effectively and equally. Other soil-borne diseases were unimportant. N-fertilizer required for best yields was less, by 100 kg N/ha after clover and by 50 kg after beans, or maize, than after barley or oats. Best yields after oats, beans, clover were respectively I·O, 1·2, 1·4 t/ha better than after barley. Differences in take-all explain much of these effects. Ploughed-in trefoil did not affect take-all but gave small increases in yield. Percentage N in wheat grain was increased by fertilizer-N; it was greater after barley, maize or clover than after oats. Effects on the following barley, except those of N-fertilizer, were small.
REPRODUCTIVE BARRIERS DISTRIBUTED IN MELILOTUS SPECIES AND THEIR GENETIC BASES

In order to look into species relationships, crosses were made in all possible combinations between 9 species belonging to the subgenus Eumelilotus; 504 crosses were made among 53 strains in total. The reproductive barriers found among the species were a crossing barrier (death of young F1 zygotes), F1 inviability and weakness due to chlorosis, F2 breakdown due to the occurrence of chlorotic segregants (classified into lethal and weak types), partial F1 sterility, and a segmental interchange. All the hybrids within species were normal. In crosses between M. alba and M. suaveolens, the hybrids of annual strains showed more pronounced F1 and F2 chlorosis than those of biennial strains. The hybrids of self-fertile species or forms tended to have a low reproductive potential. The F1 chlorosis between the above two species appeared to be controlled by a set of complementary dominant lethals, or by alleles at one locus which express a disharmonious interaction in heterozygote. The F2 chlorosis in the same speci.
Provisioned, Produced, Procured: Slave Subsistence Strategies And Social Relations At Thomas Jefferson'S Poplar Forest

Abstract Enslaved African and African Americans in the American South during the 17th through 19th centuries lived within a social order established by plantation owners and reinforced through the control of food. Therefore, the ways slaves acquired their food and other subsistence goods demonstrates aspects of the plantation's social relations. This article examines the connection between slaves' subsistence strategies and plantation social relations at Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest through the analysis of macrobotanical remains. Excavations at Poplar Forest uncovered a sub-floor pit of an antebellum slave cabin that was occupied from the 1840s through 1858 and possibly as late as the abolition of slavery. The seeds and wood indicate that the slaves' subsistence strategies included provisioning or receiving food from the plantation owner, production or slaves growing their own food, and procurement or the gathering of wild plants. By comparing the results from this sub-floor pit to analyses of macrobotanicals dating to Thomas Jefferson's ownership, I investigate aspects of plantation social relations at Poplar Forest and offer a better understanding of the social and natural environment in which the enslaved African Americans lived.