Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Involvement of Elongation Factor-1α in Cytokinesis without Actomyosin Contractile Ring in the Primitive Red Alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae

Cytokinesis is a pivotal event in cell division in all living organisms. In mammals, cytokinesis progresses via constriction of the contractile ring, a bundle of actin filaments and myosin that is located on the equatorial plane. The eukaryotic elongation factor 1α (eEF-1α) is associated with the contractile ring in sea urchin eggs. Although eEF-1α is a ubiquitous protein translation factor and is highly conserved in eukaryotes, archaea, and prokaryotes, the archaebacterial EF-1α and the prokaryotic EF-1α ortholog EF-Tu do not function in cytokinesis, suggesting that the association between the contractile ring and EF-1α appeared at about the same time as the establishment of eukaryotic cells. However, the role of EF-1α in cytokinesis in primitive cells is unclear. In this study, we show that the primitive alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae elongation factor-lα (CmEF-1α) is localized in the contractile division plane, but not in the actomyosin contractile ring. The genome of C. merolae contains 2 unexpressed actin genes and lacks a myosin gene. Immunoblotting analyses revealed that the protein level of CmEF-1α remained constant during the G1 to M phase, and then peaked during cytokinesis. Immunofluorescent microscopy revealed 2 patterns of localization of CmEF-1α during the cell cycle: it was dispersed throughout the cytoplasm from G1 to early M phase, and then localized to the contractile region during cytokinesis. From the results of current study on cytokinesis in the primitive red algae C. merolae, our findings led us to hypothesize that when first established in the lower eukaryotes, cytokinesis fundamentally relied on eEF-1α, and the actomyosin system was acquired later during evolution.
Field Tests of the Size-Fitness Hypothesis in the Egg Parasitoid Trichogramma Pretiosum

The hypothesis that fitness following dispersal from the natal host increases with body size was tested under field conditions in the egg parasitoid Trichogramma pre- tiosum. In one experiment, size distributions of males and females at emergence were compared to those of males successful in locating mates and females successful in locating hosts. Mate and host location success increased with size in smaller parasitoids but were constant with respect to size in larger parasitoids. Selection intensities were 3.5-5.4 times greater in males than females, possibly reflecting the small contribution of postdispersal matings to total male fitness in this partially sibmating species. In a second experiment using field releases of genetically marked lines, the number of trap hosts parasitized by "large" females reared from Helicoverpa zea eggs and "small" females reared from Si- totroga cerealella eggs was compared. Large females parasitized more hosts than small females in one trial but the reverse was observed in a second trial. Acceptance and suitability of the trap host species were not influenced by marker line or rearing host. We hypothesize that a genotype-environment interaction based on host age, host species, and wasp genotype accounts for the heterogenous results of the second experiment. Our main conclusion is that average postdispersal fitness of adult T. pretiosum increases with size in smaller wasps and is constant with respect to size in larger wasps. Contrary to general expectation, average wasp fitness does not increase linearly with size. Most importantly, wasp size is not a reliable predictor of individual or average cohort fitness; consistent size-fitness relationships emerge only when fitness is averaged over many ge- notypes and environments. Systematic factors such as host age and wasp genotype can have a strong influence on wasp fitness without strongly affecting size. The implications of these results for progeny and sex allocation in Trichogramma and for the mass production of parasitoids in biological control programs are discussed.
Individual flowering schedule, fruit set, and flower and seed predation in Vaccinium hirtum Thunb. (Ericaceae)

Flowering phenology is a trait that determines, in part, the reproductive success of plants. In this study, the variation in flowering schedule among individuals in four subpopulations of Vaccinium hirtum Thunb. (Ericaceae) and the effects of pollinators, flower predators, and predispersal seed predators on fruit production of individuals for 2 years were investigated. To describe variation in the flowering schedule among individuals, new methods for calculating two quantitative indices, rank order and degree of synchrony with others, are presented. The methods are suitable for quantifying between-individual differences in the synchronous schedule of a temperate spring-bloom species. The 2-year phenological census showed that there was variation in flowering schedule within local subpopulations. In all subpopulations, the flowering rank was retained for 2 years, and in two subpopulations, the relative synchrony of individuals was also retained. Correlation analysis between flowering schedule and fruit set.
Effects of fluquinconazole and silthiofam, applied as seed treatments to single or consecutive crops of wheat, on take-all epidemic development and grain yields

Seed treatments containing fluquinconazole, silthiofam or a standard fungicide mixture with no activity against take-all were compared in all combinations of sequences in successive second and third winter wheat crops in five field experiments and second to fourth crops in a sixth experiment. Compared with the standard treatment, silthiofam decreased take-all more effectively than fluquinconazole when crops were sampled at tillering. In samples taken in summer, during grain filling, silthiofam often decreased the incidence of take-all (percentage of plants with root symptoms) more than fluquinconazole, but fluquinconazole more effectively decreased the incidence of severe take-all (percentage of plants with more than 75% of their root systems blackened). It is suggested that these differences are a consequence of more effective control of primary infection of roots by silthiofam and of secondary, root-to-root, infection by fluquinconazole. Silthiofam usually increased yield more than did fluquinconazole, perhaps as a consequence of better early protection during tiller and/or spikelet formation. Treatment with either of the fungicides affected epidemic development in the treated crop and in crops grown subsequently. In particular, decreased take-all had the effect of delaying the year-to-year epidemic, so that nontreatment of a subsequent crop resulted in an upsurge in disease. Treatment with either take-all fungicide of a crop grown after a treated crop was relatively effective if the epidemic in the comparable nontreated crop sequence was continuing to increase. It was, however, detrimental if the disease was approaching its peak in the first treated crop, particularly if a treated (fourth wheat) crop was being compared with a similar crop in a nontreated sequence in which take-all decline had developed. These results provide a basis for recommendations for the use of seed treatment fungicides in sequences of wheat crops.
Interactions of antibiotics with Pseudomonas fluorescens strain A506 in the control of fire blight and frost injury to pear.

Pseudomonas fluorescens strain A506 and the antibiotics streptomycin and oxytetracycline, to which this antagonist is resistant, were evaluated individually and in combination in field trials over a 16-year period to assess the interactions and relative efficacy of bactericides and antagonistic bacteria in the control of fire blight and frost injury to pear. Strain A506 maintained population sizes of greater than about 10 5 cells per fruiting spur for over 30 days on trees inoculated once with this strain. Over 90% of the flowers on inoculated trees harbored detectable populations of strain A506. The population sizes of strain A506 were as high on inoculated trees, to which streptomycin was applied, as on trees sprayed only with strain A506. The population sizes of ice nucleation active bacteria were about 100-fold lower on trees treated with strain A506 than on untreated control trees or trees sprayed only with antibiotics. The incidence of frost injury to pear fruit in natural frosts and of fire blight was reduced to about 40 and 50%, respectively, of that on untreated trees. The incidence of frost damage and fire blight was lower on trees treated both with strain A506 and antibiotics than with either agent alone. Strain A506 and antibiotics acted additively in the control of frost and disease.
Inbreeding depression in Vriesea gigantea, a perennial bromeliad from southern Brazil

Inbreeding depression is a reduction of fitness in the progeny of closely related individuals and its effects are assigned to selfing or biparental inbreeding. Vriesea gigantea is a self-compatible bromeliad species distributed in the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest and habitat destruction and fragmentation and collection have decreased the natural populations. We aim to describe the occurrence of inbreeding depression (δ) in three natural populations of V. gigantea and to correlate this phenomenon with previous studies of fertility, genetic diversity, population genetic structure, gene flow, mating system and seed dispersal in this species. Fifty-four adult plants were sampled and 108 flowers were used for pollination treatments (selfing, outcrossing and control). For adult plants, we analysed plant and inflorescence height, flower numbers and seed set. In the progenies, evaluated parameters included seed germination and seedling survival rate. The results indicated low to moderate levels of inbreeding depression in V. gigantea (δ = 0.02 to 0.39), in agreement with molecular data from a previous study. Vriesea gigantea populations tolerate some degree of inbreeding, which is consistent with previous results on fertility, mating system, genetic diversity and gene flow. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 169, 312–319.
Effects of the phenethanolamine clenbuterol on protein and lipid metabolism in growing rats

Zusammenfassung Einflus des Phenylethanolamins Clenbuterol auf den Protein- und Fettstoffwechsel wachsender Ratten Es wurden Untersuchungen an weiblichen Wistar-Ratten von unterschiedlicher Lebendmasse mit der Referenzsubstanz Clenbuterol durchgefuhrt, um die ernahrungsphysiologische Attraktivitat der β-Agonisten zu beurteilen und um Erkenntnisse uber ihren Wirkmechanismus zu gewinnen. Die stimulierenden Effekte von Clenbuterol (25 ppm in der Diat) auf den Zuwachs und die N-Retention stiegen mit der Lebendmasse zu Behandlungsbeginn. Die ernahrungsphysiologische Wirkung der β-Agonisten scheint also bei hohem Korperfettgehalt und entsprechend geringem Proteinretentionsvermogen am ausgepragtesten zu sein. Den Eingriff der Substanz in den intermediaren Protein- und Fettstoffwechsel belegen direkte und indirekte Parameter. Ein gesteigerter Proteinansatz wurde im Stoffwechselversuch (N-Bilanz) sowie durch die vergleichende Schlachtkorperanalyse nachgewiesen. Der Korperproteingehalt war tendenziell erhoht, die Serumharnstoffkonzentration nach 24 h Fasten signifikant angestiegen. Der Korperfettgehalt und der tagliche Fettansatz wurden dagegen stark reduziert, wie die Schlachtkorperanalyse und die Sektion des perirenalen Fettgewebes zeigten. Entsprechend waren die Blutspiegel an unveresterten Fettsauren im Fastenzustand erniedrigt. Nach 14-tagiger Verabreichung von Clenbuterol mit dem Futter (25 ppm) waren die Serumkonzentrationen an Glucose, unveresterten Fettsauren und insbesondere an Insulin im Vergleich zur unbehandelten Kontrolle deutlich reduziert. Es wird vermutet, das geringe Insulinspiegel, verbunden mit einer verminderten Insulinsensivitat der Fettzellen (Insulinresistenz), zumindest teilweise fur die antilipogenen Effekte der β-Agonisten verantwortlich sind. Die Messung einiger relevanter NADPH-abhangiger lipogener Enzyme (MDH, G-6PDH, 6-PGDH) konnte in dieser Arbeit eine Lipogenesehemmung durch Clenbuterol nicht bestatigen.
Algorithms for analyzing intraspecific sequence variation

Analysis of human genetic variation has gained significant momentum due to the success of many large-scale sequencing projects. Within the last five years, about 4 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been genotyped over hundreds of individuals belonging to several ethnic groups. Recently, researchers have made significant progress in detecting and cataloging copy number polymorphisms (CNPs) as well. These large-scale efforts have now made it possible to analyze genetic variation within a single species, mainly humans, at very fine-scales. In our work, we address a fundamental question: how can we use these genetic differences to make inferences about the recent history of a species and its genome? In this work, we primarily focus on two methods to analyze SNP variation data within humans. We develop maximum parsimony phylogenetic tree reconstruction algorithms that are specifically catered to work on SNP data. Such a phylogeny should cluster closely related individuals (perhaps an ethnic group) together. Therefore, these techniques are widely used to answer questions of human migration. Recently, these methods have also been applied to find regions in the human genome that are rapidly evolving. A second method to understand genetic variation is to directly cluster the SNP data based on the property that individuals within a cluster would share similar genotypes (and phenotypes). Mathematically, we work with two variants of the phylogeny reconstruction problem, both of which are NP-complete. The first variant is equivalent to finding a Steiner minimum tree on a hypercube and the second is a generalization of this problem. We solve the two variants in polynomial time when the size of the phylogeny (Steiner minimum tree) is 'small' (near-perfect). We also develop integer linear program based algorithms that find the optimal solution fast in practice. We provide extensive empirical analysis to demonstrate the methods' usefulness on large-scale genomic data. For the clustering part, we work with two related problems. We solve the first problem by finding the max-cut of a graph, a well-known NP-complete problem. We can show that if the graph is generated with the clusters 'planted', then our algorithm returns the max-cut in polynomial time given enough data. The second problem is more general in that individuals (vertices) can fractionally belong to either of the clusters. We solve this problem by attempting to maximize the likelihood function using an initial solution that we show to be analytically correct under some theoretical assumptions.
The Relationship Between Copper-Related Damage and Population Growth of the Rock Anemone, Aiptasia spp.

ABSTRACT The relationship between condition and population growth of the rock anemone, Aiptasia, was determined after exposure to different copper levels ranging from 0 to 199 μg/L Cu. Coinciding with an increase in mortality, most specimens exposed to Cu had retracted heads and a reduced base and exhibited loss of symbiotic photosynthesizing algae. Population growth was affected at 106 μg/L Cu and mortality of adult Aiptasia was first observed at exposure to 154 μg/L Cu for 3-4 weeks or 199 μg/L Cu for at least 18 days. Since the effect of Cu on marine organisms is difficult to predict due to its interactions with other water quality parameters, it is suggested that behavior and condition of Aiptasia could be used as an indicator to predict their population growth in marine hatchery systems.
Freshwater ostracodes of Canada. Part I. Subfamily Cypridinae

The subfamily Cypridinae is represented in Canada by 21 species belonging to the eight genera Cypris, Chlamydotheca, Cypricercus, Megalocypris, Cyprinotus, Dolerocypris, Eucypris, and Isocypris. Of note is the presence of the neotropical species Chlamydotheca arcuata (Sars) in Holocene sediments at a latitude of 54°. The genus Cypricercus is represented by five species of which one, Cypricercus deltoidea, is a new form.
Comportamiento de 23 accesiones de Leucaena spp. en condiciones de vivero

Con el objetivo de caracterizar las accesiones de mejor comportamiento en condiciones de vivero, se evaluo una coleccion de Leucaena spp. , representada por 23 accesiones de cinco especies. Para ello se midio: la altura de la plantula, el grosor del tallo y el numero de ramas, la biomasa seca de la parte aerea, la longitud y la masa seca de la raiz, los cuales sirvieron como indicadores del momento optimo de trasplante; estas se sembraron en bolsas de polietileno negro, de 26 x 14 cm. Se observo que estos caracteres tuvieron marcada influencia en el desarrollo de la planta y, al aplicar un analisis de componentes principales, mostraron una gran variabilidad (63,10%) en la primera componente. Se encontro relacion entre la altura de la planta, el numero de brotes foliares, la biomasa seca de la parte aerea, la masa seca de la raiz y la longitud de la raiz, y para estos caracteres se destacaron las accesiones L. leucocephala cv. Cunningham, cv. Peru, CIAT-9119, CIAT-9438, CIAT-751, CIAT-7988, CIAT-7384, CIAT-7929, CIAT-17480, cv. Ipil-Ipil, cv. CNIA-250, L. lanceolata CIAT-17255, CIAT-17501 y L. diversifolia CIAT-17270. Se concluye que existio variabilidad en la coleccion dentro de las especies y dentro de las accesiones de cada especie, y que es necesario tomar en consideracion los caracteres estudiados para definir el momento optimo de trasplante.
Significant Pattern Discovery in Gene Location and Phylogeny

This thesis documents the investigation into the acquisition of knowledge from biological data using computational methods for the discovery of significantly frequent patterns in gene location and phylogeny. Beginning with an initial statistical analysis of distribution of gene locations in the flowering plant Arabidopsis thaliana, we discover unexplained elements of order. The second area of this research looks into frequent patterns in the single dimensional linear structure of the physical locations of genes on the genome of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This is an area of epigenetics which has, hitherto, attracted little attention. The frequent patterns are patterns of structure represented in Datalog, suitable for analyses using the logic programming methodology Prolog. This is used to find patterns in gene location with respect to various gene attributes such as molecular function and the distance between genes. Here we find significant frequent patterns in neighbouring pairs of genes. We also discover very significant patterns in the molecular function of genes separated by distances of between 5,000 and 20,000 base pairs. However, in complete contrast to the latter result, we find that the distribution of genes of molecular function within a local region of ? 20, 000 base pairs is locationally independent. In the second part of this research we look for significantly frequent patterns of phylogenetic subtrees in a broad database of phylogenetic trees. Here we investigate the use of two types of frequent phylogenetic structures. Firstly, phylogenetic pairs are used to determine relationships between organisms. Secondly, phylogenetic triple structures are used to represent subtrees. Frequent subtree mining is then used to establish phylogenetic relationships with a high confidence between a small set of organisms. This exercise was invaluable to enable these procedures to be extended in future to encompass much larger sets of organisms. This research has revealed effective methods for the analysis of, and has discovered patterns of order in the locations of genes within genomes. Research into phylogenetic tree generation based on protein structure has discovered the requirements for an effective method to extract elements of phylogenetic information from a phylogenetic database and reconstruct a single consensus tree from that information. In this way it should be possible to produce a species tree of life with high degree of confidence and resolution.
Alternative Methods for Measuring Energy Content in Winter Flounder

Abstract Indices of energy reserves may represent interesting parameters that can be used as bioindicators in environmental studies. The goal of this study was to identify a water–energy model that could predict energy reserves in winter flounder Pseudopleuronectes americanus. Winter flounder kept in captivity and fed different food types (either capelin Mallotus villosus or Atlantic herring Clupea harengus, amphipods Anonyx sarsi, and wet pellets) for 2, 5, and 14 months and wild fish captured in May, July, and October were used to show a large range in energy content. High levels of correlation were observed between water and energy contents in fish carcasses (r 2 = 0.82) and muscle (r 2 = 0.75). However, the biochemical composition of the liver remained relatively constant, despite changes in the hepatosomatic index. The condition factor (somatic weight/length3) was associated with energy reserves (i.e., water contents), but the coefficients of determination were smaller (0.18 < r 2 < 0.34). We found t.
Bisoniana LXII. The digestibility of nutrients of natural diet by European bison in different seasons

W doświadczeniach przeprowadzonych w Puszczy Bialowieskiej na dwoch 3-4 letnich zubrach określono wspolczynniki strawności skladnikow pokarmowych oraz energii dawek zlozonych z roślin pobieranych przez zubry zyjące na wolności w trzech sezonach roku.
Resistance levels of Spanish conifers against Fusarium circinatum and Diplodia pinea

Summary Pitch canker, caused by Fusarium circinatum, and Diplodia shoot blight, caused by Diplodia pinea, are both damaging to pines (Pinus spp.) grown in plantations throughout the world, including Spain. To assess the potential for interspecific differences in susceptibility to contribute to the management of pitch canker and Diplodia shoot blight in the Atlantic region of Spain, the present study was undertaken to characterize the susceptibility of six pine species (P. sylvestris, P. nigra, P. pinaster, P. radiata, P. halepensis and P. pinea) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) to F. circinatum and D. pinea. Based on inoculations of 2-year-old trees, Ps. menziesii, P. pinea and P. nigra were the most resistant to F. circinatum, with lesion lengths ranging from 3.7 to 21.5 mm, 2.2 to 12.6 mm and 2.8 to 30.9 mm, respectively. At the other extreme, Pinus radiata was the most susceptible, sustaining lesions that ranged from 8.5 to 74.8 mm in length. Pinus sylvestris, P. pinaster and P. halepensis showed an intermediate response to F. circinatum. Broadly similar results were observed in inoculations with D. pinea, with Ps. menziesii being relatively resistant and P. radiata being highly susceptible. Consistent with these results, field surveys revealed no pitch canker in stands of Ps. menziesii and low severity of Diplodia shoot blight, whereas P. radiata was severely affected by both diseases. Our findings suggest that selection of appropriate species can greatly reduce the risk of damage from two important canker diseases affecting pine plantations in the Atlantic region of Spain. Furthermore, intraspecific variation in susceptibility implies that selection may allow for the enhancement of resistance in otherwise susceptible species.