Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Age-Specific Variation in Male Breeding Success of a Territorial Ungulate Species, the European Roe Deer

Abstract We investigated age-specific variation in male yearly breeding success (YBS) using genetic estimates obtained from 2 populations of a territorial ungulate, the European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). YBS in both populations was markedly age-structured, with 3 distinct stages, supporting the dome-shaped pattern of variation commonly reported for age-dependent variation in life-history traits of ungulates. YBS was low at 2 years of age, peaked at 3–8 years of age, and tended to decline afterwards (senescence). Most males successfully reproduced for the 1st time at 3 years of age, which is well after their physiological maturity. The few successful young males (i.e., 2 year olds) were likely fast-growing individuals that could successfully hold a territory. The high variance in YBS and antler size for old males at Bogesund, Sweden, suggests that only some males of this age class are able to maintain large antlers and, hence, retain their territories.
TAXONOMIC STATUS OF WHITE-BACKED HOG-NOSED SKUNKS, GENUS CONEPATUS (CARNIVORA: MEPHITIDAE)

Abstract The taxonomic status of white-backed hog-nosed skunks (genus Conepatus, subgenus Oryctogale) was examined using external and cranial morphology as well as mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid sequence. Two species, Conepatus leuconotus and C. mesoleucus, and their subspecies were determined to represent only a single species, C. leuconotus. Within this species there are 3 management units, or subspecies, recognized conservatively. These subspecies are C. l. leuconotus (including C. l. texensis, C. m. mearnsi, C. m. mesoleucus, C. m. nelsoni, C. m. venaticus, C. m. nicaraguae, C. m. sonoriensis, and C. m. filipensis); C. l. figginsi (=C. m. figginsi and including C. m. fremonti); and C. l. telmalestes (=C. m. telmalestes). In the case of C. l. figginsi and C. l. telmalestes, further genetic research may indicate that these taxa are not valid, but the populations that they represent (if not extinct) will require different management strategies from the wide-ranging C. l. leuconotus.
Ontogenic and glucocorticoid-regulated gene expression in the developing neuroendocrine system

Title of Dissertation: ONTOGENIC AND GLUCOCORTICOID-REGULATED GENE EXPRESSION IN THE DEVELOPING NEUROENDOCRINE SYSTEM Laura E. Ellestad Doctor of Philosophy, 2010 Directed by: Professor Tom E. Porter, Ph.D Department of Animal and Avian Sciences Biological Sciences Graduate Program The neuroendocrine system is a critical regulator of vertebrate homeostasis that includes five hypothalamic-pituitary axes which develop during embryogenesis. Adrenal glucocorticoids play an important role in functional maturation of the anterior pituitary through initiation of growth hormone (GH) production. These studies were aimed at characterizing ontogenic and glucocorticoid-regulated changes in gene expression during neuroendocrine system development in the chick. First, to ascertain timing of initiation and establishment of each neuroendocrine axis, we measured mRNA levels of hypothalamic regulatory factors, their pituitary receptors, and pituitary hormones from embryonic day (e) 10 through post-hatch day (d) 7. We found that the adrenocorticotropic axis is the first to be established (e12), followed by establishment of the thyrotropic (e18), somatotropic (e20), lactotropic (d1), and gonadotropic (d5) axes. Next, we examined in detail mechanisms through which glucocorticoids initiate pituitary GH expression during embryogenesis. We determined that glucocorticoids elevate GH mRNA levels on e11 by increasing transcriptional activity of the GH gene rather than enhancing mRNA stability, and protein synthesis, histone deacetylase activity, ras signaling, and ERK1/2 signaling are required for this activation. Conversely, sustained activation of ERK1/2 and p38MAPK pathways reduced glucocorticoid stimulation of GH expression, indicating the requirement for ERK1/2 activity is transitory. Finally, we identified ras-dva as a novel Pit-1 and glucocorticoid-regulated gene in the chicken embryonic pituitary gland. Pituitary ras-dva mRNA levels increased between e10 and e18, decreased just prior to hatch, and remained low or undetectable post-hatch. Ras-dva expression was highly enriched within the pituitary gland on e18, and glucocorticoids rapidly induced ras-dva mRNA in cultured pituitary cells through a mechanism involving transcriptional activation. Potential regulatory elements within the 5’-flanking region of chicken ras-dva responsible for pituitary-specific expression were identified, as was a 2 kb fragment necessary for its glucocorticoid induction in embryonic pituitary cells. These results enhance our understanding of neuroendocrine system development and establishment during embryogenesis, reveal mechanisms underlying glucocorticoid initiation of GH expression in somatotrophs, and identify a new Pit-1 and glucocorticoid target gene that may play an important role in pituitary development. ONTOGENIC AND GLUCOCORTICOID-REGULATED GENE EXPRESSION IN THE DEVELOPING NEUROENDOCRINE SYSTEM
Universality Revisited

Evidence does not support the claim that observers universally recognize basic emotions from signals on the face. The percentage of observers who matched the face with the predicted emotion (matching score) is not universal, but varies with culture and language. Matching scores are also inflated by the commonly used methods: within-subject design; posed, exaggerated facial expressions (devoid of context); multiple examples of each type of expression; and a response format that funnels a variety of interpretations into one word specified by the experimenter. Without these methodological aids, matching scores are modest and subject to various explanations.
Modeling how false beliefs spread

Effective political decision making, like other decision making, requires decision-makers to have accurate beliefs about the domain in which they are acting. In democratic societies, this often means that accurate beliefs must be held by a community, or at least a significant portion of a community, of voters. Voters are tasked with scrutinizing candidates and possible policy proposals and, considering their own experiences, interests, goals, knowledge, and values, with deciding which of various ballot measures is most likely to bring about their desired outcomes.
Reproductive Traits of the Brazilian Salamander Bolitoglossa paraensis (Urodela: Plethodontidae)

Abstract The reproductive characteristics of many tropical amphibian species are poorly known, and the populations of many of these species are in decline. They occur in a variety of habitats and microhabitats. We investigated the reproductive biology of a tropical salamander, Bolitoglossa paraensis, in mature forest habitat in the Gunma Ecological Park, in the Brazilian state of Pará. During 12 nocturnal surveys between December 2005 and May 2007, we collected 104 salamanders (59 females/45 males) in order to compare microhabitat use in adults and juveniles, and assess the reproductive condition of males and females in relation to body size. Maturity was determined in females by the presence of enlarged, yolk-rich follicles >1.5 mm in diameter, and in males by the presence of distinct mental glands. A total of 18 females and 14 males were considered adult (mature). Adult females were significantly larger and heavier than adult males. Microhabitat use was similar between adults and juveniles, with 67% of specimens being found on the upper surface of the leaves of broad-leaved understory plants at heights of 0.2–2.8 m above the ground. The remaining specimens were found on trunks and branches at heights of 0.5–2.2 m. Clutch sizes varied from 8 to 14 eggs, but there was no significant relationship with female body size (SVL). Adult males and females were active mainly during the rainy season. The abundance of adults was related significantly to precipitation levels, indicating greater activity levels during the rainy season. Bolitoglossa paraensis is similar to other tropical species of this genus in terms of sexual dimorphism and patterns of microhabitat use and reproductive biology.
Association studies in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench).

The present study was undertaken on 163 genotypes including 43 parents and 120 crosses of okra to determine the genetic variability, nature of association among different yield attributes and their direct and indirect contribution towards yield. From the analysis of variance, it was observed that mean squares due to genotypes were significant for all the traits, indicating the presence of genetic variability in the experimental material. The values of PCV were higher than that of GCV values for all the ten characters indicating influence of environmental effects in the expression of these characters. The GCV, heritability and genetic advance as percentage of mean were higher for plant height, fruit yield per plant, fruit weight and days to 50 per cent flowering which might be attributed to additive gene action of inheritance. The Fruit yield has significantly positive correlation with plant height, number of branches per plant, inter nodal length, fruit length, fruit weight and number of fruits per plant at both genotypic and phenotypic level, indicating mutual association of these traits. Path coefficient analysis revealed that fruit weight had maximum direct contribution (0.884) towards fruit yield followed by number of fruits per plant (0.852), plant height (0.024) and number of branches per plant (0.020). However, days to 50 per cent flowering exhibited highest negative direct effect (- 0.013) followed by test weight (-0.009) and fruit diameter (-0.003). These important traits may be viewed in selection programme for the further improvement of okra.
Investigating the mechanisms of telomeric mutation in human cells

Telomeres are nucleoprotein structures that contain non-coding (TTAGGG) tandem repeats and associated telomere binding proteins at the end of chromosomes. As a consequence of end-replication losses, telomeres undergo gradual erosion with ongoing cell division. It is hypothesised that in addition to the end-replication problem, mutational mechanisms may contribute to telomere erosion by generating large-scale telomeric deletion events. As short dysfunctional telomeres are capable of fusion to other chromosome ends, large-scale telomeric deletions can lead to genomic instability which in turn may drive tumour progression. The primary aim of this thesis was to investigate putative mutational mechanisms that could lead to large-scale telomeric deletion. The role of oxidative stress and it potential contribution to telomere dynamics was assessed. The induction of fragility and replication inhibition at telomeres was also examined. Furthermore, the role that G-quadruplex structure within telomere repeat sequences and the possible induction of replication fork stalling and resolution as single or double stranded breaks was also considered as a mutational mechanism that could lead to telomere deletion. High-resolution analysis of telomere dynamics using Single Telomere Length Analysis (STELA), following the induction of oxidative stress in IMR90 fibroblasts, revealed that oxidative damage does not appear to affect the rate of telomere erosion, or the frequency of large-scale telomeric deletion. The data are more consistent with the view that premature senescence does not arise as a consequence of accelerated telomere erosion, but instead more likely results from stochastic DNA damage across the rest of the genome. The analysis of telomere dynamics following the induction of chromosome fragility, showed that telomere length in Seckel cell (SCK) fibroblasts were significantly different from those of untreated cells following treatments with aphidicolin with an increase in stochastic telomeric deletion. Whilst in MRC5 fibroblasts, the induction of the telomere fragility impacted on the upper to lower allele ratio, with a loss of the longer telomere length distributions. The stabilisation of G-quadruplex structures using the G-quadruplex ligand (RHPS4), together with ATRX knockdown, showed that an absence of ATRX sensitised cells to the ligand, but that the stabilisation of G-quadruplexes, did not significantly affect the telomere dynamics as determined using STELA. Taken together, the data presented in this thesis are not consistent with a role for oxidative stress, or the formation of G-quadruplex structures, in generating large-scale telomeric deletion; however telomeric mutational events may occur following the induction of chromosome fragile sites, specifically in the context of an ATR deficiency.
Insecticidal effects of some Streptomycetes strains isolated from soil samples against the larvae and adults of the Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say, 1824) (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae)

Thirty-seven Streptomycetes strains isolated from different soils and geographical areas in Turkey were used in this study to investigate the insecticidal effects of their three different solutions (A, B, C) on 1-4 th instar larvae and adults of the Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). The solutions (A, B, C) of 37 strains were given to larvae (1-4 instar) and adults of L. decemlineata through the food plant (potato leaves). Following eight days of bioassay, larvae showed different signs before death; generally the larvae displayed sluggishness, loss of appetite and depth of color. As in larvae, during bioassays, adults showed different signs before death; generally the adults displayed sluggishness, loss of appetite and depth of color. According to this study; considerable lethal effect of some Streptomycetes sp. were observed on the larvae (1-4 instar) of L. decemlineata, 93.1% larval mortalities caused by (C) solution of Streptomycetes strains M1483 and M1282; 96.6% larval mortalities caused by (B) solution of Streptomycetes strain M3024 and 98.3% larval mortalities caused by (A) solution of Streptomycetes strain M4010. On the other side, no significant mortality effect of Streptomycetes strains was observed on adults of L. decemlineata. Only Streptomycetes strains (B) solution showed 56.4% mortality at M7002. Results of this study indicate that some Streptomycetes strain solutions have a potential use in the bio-control of L. decemlineata.
Evolution of Angiosperm Pollen. 3. Monocots1

Abstract Monocots, with ca. 65,000 species in 78 families and 12 orders as classified by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (Angiosperm Phylogeny Group III, 2009), have traditionally been known as a distinct assemblage from dicots within angiosperms and are now seen as a lineage that diverged from within the more basal of the angiosperm groupings. In this study, the third in a series analyzing pollen characters across the angiosperms, we illustrate the pollen morphological diversity of monocots and analyze 19 palynological and two ecological characters for 120 taxa in 71 families covering the 12 monocot orders and 16 taxa of nine orders in basal angiosperms. Pollen morphological data from previous works and our investigations were optimized onto a new maximum likelihood tree reconstructed from an existing DNA matrix of Chase et al. (2006) using Fitch parsimony, maximum likelihood, and hierarchical Bayesian analysis. From these analyses we infer evolutionary patterns in palynological characters, assess their systematic value, and investigate two aspects (pollination type and habitat moisture) of their ecological adaptation. The highest levels of pollen variation were shown to exist in the Alismatales and Commelinales, with lower levels seen in the Asparagales, Dasypogonales, and Zingiberales; the most variable characters across the phylogeny were found to be pollen outline in polar view, size, and tectum extent. We infer unambiguous plesiomorphic states for monocots and report significant transitions in character states at various levels within the monocot assemblage. Analyses of correlated evolution reconfirmed the hypothesis of an association between exine reduction (or complete loss) and habitat moisture and found significant correlations between various states of exine loss and habitat for hydrophytic–helophytic plants. The presence or absence of the exine itself was found to be more significantly correlated than individual structures, in terms of association with hydrophytic–helophytic plants. The most rapid rate of state changes in pollen characters, in the evolutionary history of monocots, is estimated to have occurred during the Albian-Turonian stage; our work may provide insights into the identification of enigmatic fossil pollen grains from this geological time.
Faunistic Study on Megachilini, Osmiini and Anthidiini Tribes (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) in Central Anatolia

In this study, a total of 37 species belonging to the following, Creightonella, Chalicodoma, Megachile, Coelioxys, Osmia, Chelostoma, Hoplitis, Heriades, Anthocopa, Archianthidium, Paraanthidium, Anthidiellum, Rhodanthidium, Pseudoanthidium, Icteranthidium and Anthidium are recorded. Anatolian and world distributions, and floral associations of each species are presented. Hosts of cleptoparasitic species are reported. Chalicodoma parietina, C. ericetorum, Megachile deceptoria, M. giraudi, M. pilicrus, M. pyrenaea, Heriades crenulatus, Hoplitis adunca, H. manicata, Chelostoma florisomne, Osmia aurulenta are the first records for Central Anatolia.
Incorporating Shrub and Snag Specific LiDAR Data into GAP Wildlife Models

Abstract The U.S. Geological Survey’s Gap Analysis Program (hereafter, GAP) is a nationally based program that uses land cover, vertebrate distributions, and land ownership to identify locations where gaps in conservation coverage exist, and GAP products are commonly used by government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and private citizens. The GAP land-cover designations are based on satellite-derived data, and although these data are widely available, these data do not capture the 3-dimensional vegetation architecture that may be important in describing vertebrate distributions. To date, no studies have examined how the inclusion of snag- or shrub-specific Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data might influence GAP model performance. The objectives of this paper were 1) to assess the performance of the National GAP models and Northwest GAP models with independently collected field data, and 2) to assess whether the inclusion of 3-dimensional vegetation data from LiDAR improved the performance of.
Differential Cytotoxicity and DMACross-Linkingin Normal and Transformed Human FibroblastsTreated with c/s- Diamminedichloroplatinum(ll)1

DNA interstrand cross-linking had been found previously to correlate with differences in sensitivity among human cell strains treated with chloroethylnitrosoureas. These differences had been attributed to the presence or absence of a specific DNA repair mechanism. The current work addressed the ques tion of whether another DNA cross-linking agent, c/s-diamminedichloroplatinum(ll) (c/'s-Pt), would exhibit analogous differ ences between cell types. A normal human embryo cell strain (IMR-90) was compared with an SV40-transformed line (VA13). Interstrand cross-linking and DNA-protein cross-linking were assayed by alkaline elution. As in the case of chloroe thylnitrosoureas, the cytotoxicity differences with c/s-Pt corre lated with differences in interstrand cross-linking. The relative sensitivity of the cell lines to c/'s-Pt, however, was reversed. Similar DNA-protein cross-linking levels in the two cell lines excluded a difference in c/s-Pt uptake or intracellular metabolic drug activation or inactivation prior to DNA interaction. It was concluded that the DNA repair mechanism that prevents inter strand cross-linking by chloroethylnitrosoureas does not pre vent interstrand cross-linking by c/'s-Pt. Interstrand cross-link ing by c/s-Pt may be prevented by an independent mechanism.
Partial purification of elicitors from Lentinula edodes basidiocarps protecting cucumber seedlings against Colletotrichum lagenarium

The shiitake mushroom (Lentinula edodes) has been used in research involving the prevention and the control of human and plant diseases. In cucumber plants, treated with aqueous extracts from mushroom basidiocarps, there was a reduction in anthracnose severity caused by Colletotrichum lagenarium, and an increase in peroxidase activity in the leaves. With the aim of obtaining molecules of agronomic interest, the crude aqueous extract from L. edodes basidiocarp was fractioned with ammonium sulfate. The fraction corresponding to 40-80% of saturation (p40-80), the most effective in reducing anthracnose on cucumber cotyledons, was submitted to anion exchange chromatography (AEC). After AEC, six protein peaks were obtained and the peak V, containing 34% of the proteins present in p40-80, induced peroxidase increase in the cucumber cotyledons besides reducing anthracnose severity. Separation of peak V proteins by SDS-gel electrophoresis revealed the presence of more than one band in the gel. Thus, a partial purification of elicitors present in the L. edodes basidiocarp was achieved.
Trans-Carotid and Trans-Radial Access for Mechanical Thrombectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective We aim to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of extra-femoral endovascular access for mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke patients whose vascular anatomy precludes safe or maneuverable trans-femoral access. Methods Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis with articles published until March 2018. The search protocol, including research questions and inclusion and exclusion criteria, were developed a priori. Our own institutional retrospective data were included in the cohort of case series. Results Eleven studies including 51 patients were included. Age ranged from 4th to 10th decade of life (average: 9.3rd decade) and 40.1% received IV tissue plasminogen activator. Initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score ranged from 1 to 36, (average: 17.6). Of the 51 patients, 39 (76%) patients suffered from anterior circulation large vessel occlusions versus 12 (24%) from posterior circulation occlusions. Site of access included 26 (51%) radial artery punctures, 23 (45%) direct percutaneous cervical carotid punctures, 1 brachial artery puncture, and 1 direct extradural vertebral artery puncture. Technical success was achieved in 43/51 (84%) of patients. The average modified Rankin Scale at discharge was 2.93 (n=26). There were no complications in 25 patients who underwent radial arterial access. Two (7.4%) of 27 cervical access patients developed hematoma. Conclusions Trans-carotid and trans-radial access for intervention in acute ischemic stroke is safe and effective. There may be instances in which these approaches should be considered first line before standard femoral approaches.