Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
European Starling Fidelity to Diurnal Activity Centers: Role of Foraging Substrate Quality

ABSTRACr. -The information center hypothesis, the most commonly cited explanation for communal roosting behavior, assumes a roost-centered foraging distribution. Nonetheless, European Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), as well as several other communally roosting species, have a foraging distribution centered on a single diurnal activity center (DAC) which is central to the distribution of roosts they use. The "patch-sitting hypothesis" integrates DAC-based foraging behavior into an alternate explanation for communal roosting behavior. One prediction of this hypothesis is that foraging substrate quality should decline on DAC's as increasing proportions of the local roosting population become associated with large roosting congregations, i.e., when more individuals leave their DAC's to forage elsewhere. I examined this prediction by assessing foraging substrate quality on DAC's through measures of feeding success on the most commonly used DAC-based foraging substrate-lawns. My goals were to determine the importance of foraging substrate quality in DAC fidelity and to identify the factors contributing to the decline in use of lawns during late summer. I found a substantial seasonal decline in foraging success, suggesting lower foraging substrate quality on DAC's when (1) use of lawn habitats normally declines, and (2) starlings leave their DAC's to forage and roost at distant sites. These results agree with the prediction that foraging substrate quality declines when starlings leave their DAC's to forage elsewhere, and thereby provide new support for the patch-sitting hypothesis. Received 19 Sept. 1989, accepted 27 Aug. 1990.
Una prueba de latex en lamina para el diagnóstico de la paracoccidioidomicósis

Para el diagnóstico serológico de la paracoccidioidomicosis se empleó una prueba de aglutinación con látex. Dos de los cuatro antígenos utilizados, los productos derivados de la fase levadura, ofrecieron buenas perspectivas. La sensibilidad osciló entre 60.8 Y 69.5%; entre las muestras positivas, más del 70.0% dieron títulos altos. Las reacciones cruzadas con los sueros de casos de histoplasmosis fueron prominentes y no pudieron distinguirse de las reacciones homólogas. En los enfermos de tuberculosis se observaron algunas reacciones positivas no específicas; los testigos normales no reaccionaron cuando el suero fue diluido al 1:16 ó más.
Phylogeographic Studies Depict the Role of Space and Time Scales of Plant Speciation in a Highly Diverse Neotropical Region

ABSTRACT Phylogeographic studies have merged different disciplines to explain speciation processes at both spatial and time scales. Although the number of phylogeographic extant studies has increased almost exponentially, few have been conducted in tropical countries, especially using plants. Plants are interesting models for such studies because their responses to different habitat conditions are reflected directly in the size and distribution of populations, enabling direct tests of alternative demographic scenarios. Here, we review phylogeographic studies using plant species occurring in different vegetation domains within Brazil, which has the greatest number of plant species in the world. Based on a detailed examination of 41 published articles, we synthesized the current knowledge and discussed the main processes driving the high levels of plant diversity within Brazilian domains. General patterns of diversification could be inferred due to the number of species studied, especially in the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest, the most intensively studied domains (34.1% and 17.1% of the studies, respectively). Distinct vegetation types within both biomes were affected differently by the Pleistocene climatic oscillations. Edaphic conditions and geographical barriers (rivers and mountains) have also influenced the phylogeographical patterns of plants species from Amazonia and the Atlantic Forest. Other Brazilian domains, such as the Caatinga, Pantanal, and Pampas, have been studied to a lesser extent and no common phylogeographic pattern across species could be inferred. Issues regarding past connections between distinct domains also remain unclear, including those affecting the two main forest domains in South America. Future research on plant species will fill these information gaps, improving our understanding of the complex diversification processes affecting the South American biota.
Correlates of adoption of composite fish culture practices by fish farmers of Assam, India

The present study carried out during 1999 - 2000 in the purposively selected Sonitpur district of Assam focused on the factors influencing adoption of composite fish culture practices by the fish farmers. The data were gathered using a structured and pre-tested interview schedule from 60 randomly selected fish farmers. The findings revealed that majority (63%) of fish farmers belonged to medium category of adoption. The adoption behaviour of composite fish culture practices was positively influenced by the factors like extension participation, economic motivation, cosmopoliteness, scientific orientation and knowledge of fish farmers, and negatively by their age. In view of the above findings, the study recommends that efforts should be made by extension agencies through their various programmes to highlight the economic benefits of composite fish farming to promote large-scale adoption of this technology. Study tours, exposure visits, participation in fairs and exhibitions could be the ideal methods for promoting adoption of composite fish culture
The Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Effector YbcL Modulates the Innate Immune Response in the Urinary Tract

Uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) suppress the acute inflammatory response in the urinary tract to ensure access to the intracellular uroepithelial niche that supports the propagation of infection. Our understanding of this initial cross-talk between host and pathogen is incomplete. Here we report the identification of a previously uncharacterized periplasmic protein, YbcL, encoded by UPEC that contributes to immune modulation in the urinary tract by suppressing acute neutrophil migration. In contrast to wild-type UPEC, an isogenic strain lacking ybcL expression (UTI89 ΔybcL) failed to suppress transepithelial PMN migration in vitro, a defect
Lepidopteran richness patterns in North America

AbstractA long-standing objective of ecology has been to explain the basis for diversity patterns. Empirical evidence suggests that regional variation in richness of both animals and plants depends strongly on energy availability. The generality of the richness-energy hypothesis is limited by the paucity of analyses of invertebrates, which are much more diverse than the more thoroughly investigated vertebrate taxa. In this study, we consider two groups of North American Lepidoptera for which large-scale distribution data are available: the Papilionidae (swallowtail butterflies) and forest lepidopterans (moths based on the Canadian Forest Insect Survey). Energy, as measured by potential evapotranspiration (PET), statistically explains between 61 and 72% of the variability in the richness patterns of the Lepidoptera we have examined. It is the single best predictor of the richness of these groups, and the relationships have a very similar form to richness-PET relationships observed earlier in vertebrate tax.
Phylogeny, classification and divergence times of pygmy leaf‐mining moths (Lepidoptera: Nepticulidae): the earliest lepidopteran radiation on Angiosperms?

Nepticulidae represent one of the early diverging Lepidoptera lineages, and the family currently comprises over 850 described species. The larvae of the vast majority of the species are leaf miners on Angiosperms and highly monophagous, which has led to persistent ideas on coevolution with their plant hosts. We present here a molecular phylogeny based on eight gene fragments from 355 species, representing 20 out of 22 extant Nepticulidae genera. Using two fossil calibration points, we performed molecular dating to place the origin of the family in the Early Cretaceous, before the main Angiosperm diversification. Based on our results we propose a new classification, abandoning all ranks between family and genus, as well as subgenera to allow for a stable classification. The position of Enteucha Meyrick within Nepticulidae remains somewhat ambiguous, and the species‐rich cosmopolitan genus Stigmella Schrank, with nearly half of all described Nepticulidae, requires further study. Ectoedemia Busck, Zimmermannia Hering, Acalyptris Meyrick, Etainia Beirne, Parafomoria Borkowski, Muhabbetana Koçak & Kemal and Fomoria Beirne appear to have diversified in a relatively short evolutionary period, leading to short branches in the molecular phylogeny and unclear suprageneric relations. Otherwise support values throughout the phylogeny are mostly high and the species groups, genera and higher clades are discussed in respect of their supporting morphological and life‐history characters. Wing venation characters are confirmed to be mostly reliable and relevant for Nepticulidae classification, but some other previously used characters require reinterpretation. The species groups of most genera are recovered, but only partly so in the large genus Stigmella. The molecular dating results are compared with existing knowledge on the timing of the Angiosperm radiation and reveal that the diversification of Nepticulidae could largely have been contemporaneous with their hosts, although some of the genera restricted to a single plant family appear to have begun to diversify before their hosts.
Factors influencing infection risk in endurance athletes

High training loads or prolonged bouts of acute exercise can increase susceptibility to opportunistic infections. Such infections, although generally medically innocuous, can have profound negative implications for athletic performance. This thesis presents a series of studies investigating which factors influence infection risk in athletes, as well as exploring potential strategies to maintain immunocompetence during heavy training. In Chapters 2 and 3, a large cohort of elite winter endurance athletes were followed over a number of years to determine patterns and frequency of illness in this population, and to identify training- and competition-related predictors of infection. Incidence rates and seasonal patterns of illness were found to be broadly similar to elite athletes from summer sports, and to the general population. Competition, air travel, greater day-to-day fluctuations in training load and lower performance level were significant predictors of illness. When high training loads are combined with insufficient recovery, athletes may become overreached or overtrained. Previous studies suggest that increasing carbohydrate intake can be an effective means of preventing overreaching during periods of intense training. In Chapter 4 we therefore investigated the efficacy of carbohydrate supplementation in reducing immune disturbances and symptoms of overreaching. The lower carbohydrate does (20 g/h during exercise) was found to be equally effective in preserving immunity and power output as the higher dose (60 g/h), with modest immune and performance changes observed in both groups following eight days of intensified training. Many athletes fail to ingest sufficient fluid to maintain euhydration during exercise. However, Chapter 5 found that moderate hypohydration, elicited by a 24 h period of fluid restriction, had little effect on immune responses to prolonged exercise. Altitude training is an important component of the training process of most of today s elite endurance athletes. Chapters 6 and 7 explored the effects of acute and prolonged hypoxic training on immunity. Despite a somewhat augmented stress hormone response to exercise in hypoxia, altitude training was found to have little negative effect on host defence, providing relative exercise intensity at altitude and sea-level was matched.
A long-term vegetable crop rotation study to determine effects on soil microbial communities and soilborne diseases of potato and onion

ABSTRACT A rotation trial spanning nine consecutive growing seasons was established in 2004 to study cumulative effects of specific onion- and potato-focused crop rotations on soil nutrient levels, soil biological communities, plant productivity and soilborne diseases. Soil microbial activity, as determined by fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis, was greatest in the ‘sustainable’ potato rotation in five of the 6 years that the test was carried out. Rhizoctonia solani anastomosis group 3 DNA was first detected in potato monoculture soils in the fifth year, with numbers increasing from then on, but was not detected in the onion monoculture throughout the trial period. Potato yields were greater when a crop other than potato was grown in the previous year compared with when potatoes were the preceding crop. After 2005, mean annual onion yields from the onion monoculture were less than yields from the other rotations. Black scurf on potato tubers was the primary soilborne disease observed during the study, and the incidence of this disease was greater in the potato monoculture than the other rotations after the second year, and least when potatoes had not been grown in the same ground the three previous seasons. This long-term crop rotation study has demonstrated the benefits of a ‘sustainable’ rotation where potatoes or onions were grown every fourth growing season, with different crops (oat, broccoli, cabbage, squash) grown in the intervening years, compared with the conventional consecutive biennial crops of potato and onion.
Examining the roles of the pyruvate kinase isoforms, PKMI1 and PKM2, in systemic metabolism and tumor development

Alternative splicing of the Pkm gene product generates the PKM1 and PKM2 isoforms of pyruvate kinase, and PKM2 expression is closely linked to embryogenesis, tissue regeneration, and cancer. PKM1 expression, on the other hand, is restricted mostly to skeletal muscle, heart, and brain. To interrogate the functional requirement for PKM1 or PKM2 during development and tissue homeostasis, we generated germline PKM1 (Pkml) or PKM2 null mice (Pkm2). Unexpectedly, despite being the primary isoform expressed in most wild-type adult tissues, we found that Pkm2' mice are viable and fertile. Thus, PKM2 is not required for embryonic or postnatal development. Loss of PKM2 leads to compensatory expression of PKM1 in the tissues that normally express PKM2. We found that Pkmf' mice are also viable and fertile. Thus, neither PKM isoform is required for embryonic or postnatal development. In Pkm1* mice, loss of PKM1 leads to compensatory expression of PKM2 in the tissues that normally express PKM1. Aside from distinct changes in the plasma metabolite profiles of Pkm1' mice compared to wild-type (WT) mice, germline loss of PKMI appears to be of little phenotypic consequence. In contrast, PKM2 loss leads to a striking phenotype: spontaneous development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with high penetrance that is accompanied by progressive changes in systemic metabolism characterized by altered systemic glucose homeostasis, inflammation, and hepatic steatosis. Therefore, in addition to its role in cancer metabolism, PKM2 plays a role in controlling systemic metabolic homeostasis and inflammation, thereby preventing HCC by a non-cellautonomous mechanism. To interrogate the cell-autonomous functional requirement for PKM2 during tumor initiation, we used a conditional Pkm2 allele (Pkm2f') to abolish PKM2 expression in the context of two Kras driven mouse models for lung adenocarcinoma and softtissue sarcoma (STS). In the sarcoma model, where the presumed tumor cell-of-origin expresses PKM1, deletion of PKM2 led to delayed tumor formation. In contrast, in the lung cancer model the presumed tumor cell-of-origin expresses PKM2 and deletion of PKM2 had no effect on tumor latency or tumor area. PKM2-null sarcomas expressed
Population Dynamics of Fish Species in a Marine Ecosystem: A Case Study in the Bohai Sea, China

Abstract There were rapid shifts of the dominant species in the Bohai Sea from the 1950s to the 1990s, with large-sized, high-valued species (e.g., Small Yellow Croaker Larimichthys polyactis and Largehead Hairtail Trichiurus lepturus) being replaced by small-sized, low-valued species (e.g., Japanese Anchovy Engraulis japonicus and Hairfin Anchovy Setipinna taty). From the 1990s to the present, the Small Yellow Croaker and some of the small-sized species (Hairfin Anchovy and Dotted Gizzard Shad Konosirus punctatus) have become the dominant species. The food web is now simple, with species from relatively low trophic levels controlling the energy flow within the fishery ecosystem. Along with the shift in community structure, the abundance of dominant species changed, the diversity of fish species and species number density decreased, and interannual and seasonal variations in species number density were found. Fish abundance had a decreasing trend and fish interannual and seasonal distribution greatly changed. Variation in the sizes of the ecological niches of the dominant species regulated the succession of the fish community, and the alteration of ecological niches caused changes in the fishery community.
Additive effects of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and hypertension on inflammatory reaction

Both obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and hypertension are risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. New study showed that arteriosclerosis in OSAS patients with hypertension (HT) is much severe than those patients with only HT or only OSAS. We assume that inflammatory reaction is involved in the pathogenesis in aggravation of arteriosclerosis of OSAS patients with HT. Based on apnea hypopnea index (AHI) , 118 persons were divided into four groups: OSAS+HT group (n=58), HT group(n=20), OSAS group (n=20) and control group (n=20). Full polysomnography (PSG) monitoring was performed in all the patients. The serum level of IL-6(interleukin-6), sCD40L, hsCRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein), sICAM-1 (soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1), and VCAM-1 (vascular cell adhesion molecule-1) were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The serum level of IL-6, sCD40L, hsCRP, sICAM-1, VCAM-1 of the OSAS+HT group was higher than that of the OSAS, HT and the control group (P < 0.05). The serum level of the above-mentioned inflammatory factors of OSAS or HT groups was higher than those of the control group. The serum level of hsCRP, sICAM-1, and VCAM-1 was positively related with AHI and the degree of oxygen desaturation. Inflammatory reaction participate in the pathogenesis of hypertension and OSAS. Inflammatory reaction was aggravated in hypertension patients with OSAS. Key words: Hypertension, arteriosclerosis, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, risk, inflammatory processes.
Neuroprotective Effect of Jobelyn in the Hippocampus of Alcoholic Rat Is Mediated in Part by Alterations in GFAP and NF Protein Expressions

2 Abstract: Alcohol induced neurodegeneration drives the progression of an alcohol use disorder. Unfortunately, in the adults' brain, the hippocampus that could compensate for neurodegeneration with neurogenesis is particularly susceptible to alcohol induced neurodegeneration. The objective of this work was to determine if Jobelyn, a nutraceutical, could protect the hippocampus from neurodegeneration in a binge alcohol rat model of alcohol use disorders. Three groups of Wister rats were used: control, alcohol exposed with no supplement and alcohol exposed with Jobelyn supplementation. Rats were given alcohol thrice a day at 8 hours interval for 4 days. The control rats received isocaloric non alcoholic diet for equivalent days. H&E stains, glia fibrilary acidic protein and neurofilament immunolabellings were obtained for pathological and immunohistochemical studies. Results showed thatafter 4 days of binge treatment, the histological index of neurodegeneration was significantly lower in the Jobelyn treated rats compared with the rats that received only alcohol. GFAP immunohistochemistry showed that Jobelyn prevented astrocyte death in the DG, CA3 and CA1 regions of the hippocampus. Except in the DG, this was not accompanied by a reduction in GFAP expression. NF immunohistochemistry showed that Jobelyn can reduce neuroinflammation in these three regions of the hippocampus. In the CA3 region, Jobelyn prevented a reduction in NF proteins expression in alcohol exposed rats. However, Jobelyn supplementations lead to NF protein overexpression in the CA1 region. Conclusively, this study indicates that moderate activation of astrocytes and NF protein expression are critical for neuronal survival in alcohol toxicity. It is opine that the neuroprotective effect of Jobelyn in the hippocampus of alcoholic rats is mediated in part by modulation GFAP and NF protein expressions in the DG, CA3 and CA1 regions of the hippocampus.
Belowground impacts of perennial grass cultivation for sustainable biofuel feedstock production in the tropics

Perennial grasses can sequester soil organic carbon (SOC) in sustainably managed biofuel systems, directly mitigating atmospheric CO2 concentrations while simultaneously generating biomass for renewable energy. The objective of this study was to quantify SOC accumulation and identify the primary drivers of belowground C dynamics in a zero‐tillage production system of tropical perennial C4 grasses grown for biofuel feedstock in Hawaii. Specifically, the quantity, quality, and fate of soil C inputs were determined for eight grass accessions – four varieties each of napier grass and guinea grass. Carbon fluxes (soil CO2 efflux, aboveground net primary productivity, litterfall, total belowground carbon flux, root decay constant), C pools (SOC pool and root biomass), and C quality (root chemistry, C and nitrogen concentrations, and ratios) were measured through three harvest cycles following conversion of a fallow field to cultivated perennial grasses. A wide range of SOC accumulation occurred, with both significant species and accession effects. Aboveground biomass yield was greater, and root lignin concentration was lower for napier grass than guinea grass. Structural equation modeling revealed that root lignin concentration was the most important driver of SOC pool: varieties with low root lignin concentration, which was significantly related to rapid root decomposition, accumulated the greatest amount of SOC. Roots with low lignin concentration decomposed rapidly, but the residue and associated microbial biomass/by‐products accumulated as SOC. In general, napier grass was better suited for promoting soil C sequestration in this system. Further, high‐yielding varieties with low root lignin concentration provided the greatest climate change mitigation potential in a ratoon system. Understanding the factors affecting SOC accumulation and the net greenhouse gas trade‐offs within a biofuel production system will aid in crop selection to meet multiple goals toward environmental and economic sustainability.
Acceleration of Begonia × semperflorens-cultorum growth using supplemental irradiance

Plug flats of Begonia × semperflorens-cultorum Hort. Pizzazz Red', Vodka', and Viva' were provided 0,50, 125, or 200 μmol. s −1 m −2 metal-halide supplemental irradiance in the greenhouse for 0,2,4,6, or 8 weeks. Treatments were initiated when seedlings were in the first true leaf stage (2 weeks after sowing). Plug-grown begonias reached transplantable dry weight and leaf area after 4 weeks of 125 μmol. s −1 m −2 supplemental exposure, while those under 0 and 50 μmol. s −1 m −2 require 6 to 8 weeks. Fewest number of days to visible bud and anthesis and the fewest number of nodes for all cultivars occurred after 2 weeks of 125 μmol. s −1 m −2 supplemental exposure (.)