Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The autism and schizophrenia associated genes CYFIP1 and Ahi1 in synaptic signalling and neuronal development

Correct regulation of synaptic function is essential for normal brain activity. Disrupted synaptic signalling can result in a loss of neuronal contacts and altered morphology, leading to deficits in network activity and transmission; features of neuropsychiatric disorders. Indeed, defects in neuronal and synapse morphology are detected in autism and schizophrenia and thought to contribute to the characteristic behavioural abnormalities observed in these conditions. In this thesis the role of two neuropsychiatric disease associated proteins, CYFIP1 and Ahi1, in the regulation of synaptic function and neuronal morphology were investigated. First, this study revealed that CYFIP1 and CYFIP2 were enriched at excitatory synapses. Altering CYFIP1 gene dosage to model disease states showed that CYFIP1 affected dendritic complexity, spine morphology and spine actin dynamics. Inhibitory synapse integrity was also disrupted with increased CYFIP1 or CYFIP2 dosage. Secondly, genetic studies revealed a significant association of CYFIP1 with schizophrenia, contributing to the evidence that CYFIP1 is a risk locus for this condition. However, CYFIP1 schizophrenia-associated mutations identified here did not interfere with CYFIP1 localisation or protein interactions. Novel CYFIP1 knockout (KO) systems were characterised to further understand CYFIP1 function. Initial observations revealed CYFIP1 KO reduced viability and impaired F-actin levels in fast dividing cells while conditional KO of CYFIP1 in adult CA1 neurons disrupted dendritic complexity. Lastly, a novel Ahi1/HAP1/KIF5 trafficking complex was identified in brain. However, the trafficking of GABAARs, known HAP1/KIF5 cargo, was unaffected by altered Ahi1 expression. Nevertheless, Ahi1 was localised to synapses and Ahi1 knockdown enhanced dendritic complexity. In summary, this thesis provides evidence that altered expression or disease associated mutations in CYFIP1 and Ahi1 led to changes in synapse integrity and dendritic complexity, both of which may contribute to the development of the neurological symptoms observed in autism and schizophrenia.
Growth, Survival, Digestive Enzyme Activities, and RNA/DNA Ratio in Japanese Flounder Paralichthys olivaceus Larvae Fed Live Food and Casein Peptide- and Fish Meal-Based Microdiets

A feeding experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding live food (LF) and two microdiets [MDs; commercial MD (CD) and peptide-based MD (PMD)] on the growth, survival, digestive enzyme activity, and RNA/DNA ratio in Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus larvae. Flounder larvae at 21 days post hatching (dph) were fed two types of MDs with 1/6 LF or LF for 18 days. At 38 dph, significantly higher survival was observed in larvae fed LF than those fed CD + 1/6 LF and PMD + 1/6 LF. At 38 dph, significantly higher body weight was observed in larvae fed CD + 1/6 LF than LF and PMD + 1/6 LF. Significantly higher RNA/DNA ratios were observed in larvae fed LF than CD+1/6 LF or PMD + 1/6 LF during 23-32 dph. However, there was no difference in RNA/DNA ratios in larvae fed CD+1/6 LF and PMD+1/6 LF at all time examined. Significantly higher amylase, lipase and trypsin activities were observed in fish fed 1/6 LF at 29 and 32 dph. Protease activity of fish fed 1/6 LF was significantly higher at 35 dph. No marked difference was observed in enzyme activities in fish fed two MDs.
Changes in Amino-acid Content of Tomato Xylem Sap Following Infection with Strains of Verticillium albo-atrum

Xylem exudates of four tomato cultivars showing resistance and susceptibility to the vascular pathogen Verticillium albo-atrum, were analysed for amino acids and amides by column chromatography 42 days after inoculation with different isolates of the fungus. Analysis of the exudate from healthy, resistant Loran Blood showed a substantial reduction in amino compounds compared with the healthy, susceptible Potentate and Bonny Best . Resistant Moscow , however, gave similar results to Potentate. Infection in all cultivars except Moscow led to a general increase in the concentration of amino acids and predominantly in aspartic and glutamic acids, threonine, serine, proline, tyrosine, ornithine, lysine, histidine, and phenylalanine. A reduction in proline content of up to 90 per cent occurred in the resistant plants in both pathogenic and nonpathogenic combinations. The results are discussed in relation to previously published data on vascular colonization and disease development with the same tomato cultivars and fungal strains.
The effects of growth regulators on spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) morphological indicators and grain contamination with fungi and mycotoxins

The effects of growth regulators Modus 250 EC (trinexapac-ethyl 250 g l -1 ) and Cerone 480 (etefon 480 g l -1 ) on the morphological characteristics of the spring barley varieties Henni and Luoke and on grain contamination with fungi and mycotoxins were studied at the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture in 2004 and 2005. Spring barley was sprayed with the retardant Modus at growth stages 32-33 BBCH and with the retardant Cerone at - 39-43 BBCH. Plant morphological measurements were made before harvesting. Percent of internal grain contamination with fungi was determined. The concentrations of the mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON), T-2 toxin and zearalenone (ZEN) in grain were measured by ELISA method, using Neogen diagnostic mycotoxin determination tests. The retardants reduced plant height from 66.0 to 58.0 cm, length of the last node from 19.4 to 17.9 cm for the variety Henni, and from 74.1 to 63.8 cm, and from 22.4 to 16.9 cm, respectively, for the variety Luoke compared with the unsprayed plants. The content of Fusarium-affected grain in the retardant-sprayed and not applied treatments was similar, however, Fusarium avenaceum (Fr.) Sacc was more prevalent in the barley sprayed with retardants. F. avenaceum, F. sporotrichioides Sherb. , F. poae (Peck) Wollenw, F. tricinctum (Corda) Sacc. , F. culmorum (W. G. Smith) Sacc. dominated in the grain samples in 2005. The contents of DON, ZEN and T-2 toxin determined were low, however, higher contents were identified for barley sprayed with the retardants.
Diverse evolutionary pathways shaped 5S rDNA of species of tribe Anemoneae (Ranunculaceae) and reveal phylogenetic signal

Anemone sensu lato (including Pulsatilla and Hepatica ), tribe Anemoneae (Ranunculaceae), is arranged into two subgenera, Anemone and Anemonidium , with basic chromosome numbers x = 8 and x = 7, respectively. We elucidated the level of divergence of 5S rDNA unit arrays between the subgenera, determined intra-individual and interspeciﬁc sequence variation and tested 5S rDNA phylogenetic signal in revealing the origin of polyploid species. High intra-individual nucleotide diversity and the presence of 5S rDNA unit array length variants and pseudogenes indicate that weak homogenization forces have shaped 5S rDNA in the investigated species. Our results show that 5S rDNA evolved through two major changes: diversiﬁcation of 5S rDNA into two lineages, one with long (subgenus Anemone ) and one with short 5S rDNA unit arrays (subgenus Anemonidium ); and subsequent contraction and expansion of 5S rDNA unit arrays. Phylogenetic analysis based on 5S rDNA supports the hypothesis that A. parviﬂora could be a parental species and donor of the subgenome D to the allopolyploids A. multiﬁda (BBDD) and A. baldensis (AABBDD). In A. baldensis interlocus exchange possibly occurred, followed by subsequent replacement of the 5S rDNA from subgenome D with those from subgenome B. Here we present evidence that both models, concerted and birth-and-death evolution, were probably involved in the evolution of the 5S rDNA multigene family in subgenera Anemone and Anemonidium . © 2016 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2016, 182 , 80–99
Seasonal variability in soil-surface CO2 efflux in selected young tree plantations in semi-arid eco-climate of Madurai

The response of soil respiration (SR) to varying soil temperature and soil moisture was studied in three-year-old plantation sites of Dalbergia sissoo, Dalbergia latifolia, Albizia lebbeck, Hardwickia binata and Cassia siamea during 2005-06. Significant seasonal differences in SR rates were observed in each site (P <= 0.001). The highest rates of soil CO2 efflux were generally found during the rainy season and the lowest during summer in all the study sites. Highest SR rates were found in A sissoo, 9.89 +/- 0.78 mu mol m(-2) s(-1) in November and December, followed by H. binata, 9.68 +/- 0.45 mu mol m(-2) s(-1) in September and October 2005, A. lebbeck, 8.84 +/- 0.43 mu mol m(-2) s(-1) between November 2005 and January 2006, A latifolia, 7.6 +/- 0.12 mu mol m(-2) s(-1) in November and December 2005 and C siamea, 7.3 mu mol m(-2) s(-1) in December 2005. There was a positive and significant (P <= 0.001) relationship between SR rates and soil moisture in all the sites (r(2) above 0.60), except C. siamea (r(2) = 0.30). A poor relationship was observed between SR and soil temperature in all the sites (r(2) below 0.2). Examination of the seasonal pattern of SR rates suggests that much of the variability could be attributed to variations in soil moisture. There was a strong indication suggesting that the soil-water deficits served to reduce SR rates during summer and after subsequent rain events. Overall sensitivity of SR rate to soil moisture seems to be good for this semi-arid ecosystem.
Environmental drivers of voltinism and body size in insect assemblages across Europe

Aim General geographical patterns of insect body size are still a matter of considerable debate, mainly because the annual number of generations (voltinism) and its relationship with body size have largely been ignored. We present the first analyses of voltinism and body size of insect assemblages at a continental scale using lepidopteran and odonate species. We hypothesize that voltinism is strongly driven by environmental conditions and constrains body size on macroecological scales. Location Europe. Methods We compiled the distribution, voltinism and body size of 943 lepidopteran and odonate species within a 50 km × 50 km grid system, thereby presenting a novel method for estimating the body volume of species from digital images. Regressions and structural equation modelling were applied to distinguish the effects of temperature, productivity and season length on mean voltinism and body size within grid cells. We accounted for spatial autocorrelation with autoregressive models and analysed the possible effect of species richness and intraspecific variability. Results Voltinism consistently decreased with latitude for both lepidopterans (r2 = 0.76) and odonates (r2 = 0.86), with species having on average fewer generations per year in northern Europe and more generations per year in southern Europe. The effects of temperature, productivity and season length on body size contrasted in sign between lepidopterans and odonates, leading to opposing geographical patterns across Europe. Main conclusions Voltinism in insect assemblages is strongly driven by environmental temperature, and trade-offs between voltinism and body size influence the occurrence of species at macroecological scales. Insects with the ability to extend their generation time over multiple years can overcome this constraint, allowing for a relatively large body size in cold areas. Our results furthermore support the idea that body sizes of terrestrial and aquatic insects form contrasting geographical patterns because they are differently affected by temperature and resource constraints.
Induced Polyploidy in Legumes III:Phaseolus vulgaris L

Meiotic chromosomes were studied by fixing the flower buds between 7.00 to 8.00 hours in propiono-alcohol (1:1) for 30 minutes and preserved in 70% alcohol. Anthers were smeared in 1% propiono-carmine solution. Fertility of pollens was also studied by staining the pollens in 1% propiono-carmine solution. Excess stain was avoided by passing 45% propionic acid between the slide and the cover slip. Stomatal studies were made by peeling off the surface layer of the leaf. Figures were drawn with the magnification of •~1400, and •~300. Photomicro
Genetic Variability among Yield and Yield Related Traits in Selected Upland Rice (Oryza sativa L. and Oryza glaberrima Steud) Genotypes in Northwestern Ethiopia

This study was carried out to assess the extent of variability for yield and yield related traits in upland rice genotypes. Twenty-two selected rainfed upland rice varieties were evaluated in randomized complete block design with three replications during 2014 cropping season. The analysis of variance revealed significant differences between the genotypes for all traits except harvest index, indicating the presence of a considerable amount of variability among the genotype. The disease reaction of different genotypes showed a significant variation for blast and brown spot. The highest disease severity was scored by variety Andaasa which is moderately susceptible to leaf blast. Tana, Andassa, Getachew, FOFIFA-4129 and FOFIFA-3730 showed moderately susceptible response to panicle blast. Severity of brown spot ranged from 1.13-6.03. The highest disease severity value was scored by variety Andasa followed by Tana, Getachew and FOFIFA-3730 which showed moderate resistance to brown spot.
Barcoding the actin track: Differential regulation of myosin motors by tropomyosin

Myosins and tropomyosins represent two types of actin filament-associated proteins that often work together in contractile and motile processes in the cell. While the role of thin filament troponin-tropomyosin complexes in regulating striated muscle myosin II is well characterized, the role of tropomyosins in non-muscle myosin regulation is not well understood. Fission yeast has recently proved to be a useful model with which to study regulation of myosin motors by tropomyosin owing to its tractable genetics, well-defined actin cytoskeleton, and established actin biochemistry. A hallmark of type V myosins is their processivity – the ability to take multiple steps along actin filaments without dissociating. However, the fission yeast type V myosin (Myo52) is a nonprocessive motor whose activity is enhanced by the sole fission yeast tropomyosin (Cdc8). The molecular mechanism and physiological relevance of tropomyosin-mediated regulation of Myo52 transport was investigated using a combination of in vitro and in vivo approaches. Single molecules of Myo52, visualized by total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, moved processively only when Cdc8 was present on actin filaments. Small ensembles of Myo52 bound to a quantum dot, mimicking the number of motors bound to physiological cargo, also required Cdc8 for continuous motion. Although a truncated form of Myo52 that lacked a cargo-binding domain failed to support function in vivo, it still underwent actindependent movement to polarized growth sites. This result suggests that truncated Myo52 lacking cargo, or single molecules of wild-type Myo52 with small cargoes, can undergo processive movement along actin-Cdc8 cables in vivo. These findings outline a mechanism by which tropomyosin facilitates sorting of transport to specific actin tracks within the cell by switching on myosin processivity. To understand the broader implications of actomyosin regulation by tropomyosin we examined the role of two mammalian tropomyosins (Tpm3.1 and Tpm4.2) recently implicated in cancer cell proliferation and metastasis. As previously observed with Cdc8, Tpm3.1 and Tpm4.2 isoforms significantly enhance non-muscle myosin II (Myo2). Additionally, the mammalian tropomyosins enable Myo52 processive movement along actin tracks. In contrast to the positive regulation of Myo2 and Myo52, Cdc8 and the mammalian tropomyosins potently inhibit skeletal muscle myosin II, while having negligible effects on the highly processive mammalian myosinVa. Thus, different motor outputs favoring functional specification within the same myosin class are possible in the presence of certain tropomyosins. In support of a conserved role for certain tropomyosins in regulating non-muscle actomyosin structures, Tpm3.1 rescued normal contractile ring dynamics, cytokinesis, and fission yeast cell growth in the absence of functional Cdc8. This work has broad implications with regard to regulation of non-muscle and muscle actomyosin function in complex cellular environments such as developing muscle tissue and metastatic cancer cells.
A new species of Dactylonia fransen (Crustacea: Decapoda: Pontoniinae) from East Africa

Une nouvelle espece de crevette de la sous-famille des Pontoniinae, Dactylonia franseni sp. nov., recoltee a Mombasa, Kenya est decrite et illustree. Cette description est basee sur un seul specimen trouve en association avec un tunicier, Ascidia sp. La nouvelle espece est tres proche de D. ascidicola mais peut etre separee de cette derniere par plusieurs caracteres subtils. On constate chez les especes du genre Dactylonia une forte tendance a l'association avec des ascidies du genre Ascidia.
The in vitro antifungal effects of chlorine dioxide on water molds

Chlorine dioxide possesses antifungal activity against three species, Saprolegnia diclina, Achlya bisexualis and Aphanomyces sp. Chlorine dioxide was more effective against Aphanomyces sp. than S. diclina and A. bisexualis. Three days of immersion in chlorine dioxide >100 ppm inhibited hyphal growth of S. diclina and A. bisexualis, and concentrations >50 ppm inhibited growth of Aphanomyces sp. Immersion in 500μg/ml chlorine dioxide for 1-4 h killed the hyphae and concentrations of 32 to 63μg/ml inhibited germination and killed zoospores of all three strains. The result suggest that treatment of hatchery water with 63μg/ml of chlorine dioxide for 10 min can control the zoospores but does not inhibit the growth of fungal hyphae of these strains. We conclude chlorine dioxide is an effective antifungal agent on both the hyphal and zoospore stages of S. diclina, A. bisexualis and Aphanomyces sp.
Historical and Future Relations Between Large Storms and Droughts in California

doi: http://dx.doi. org/10.15447/sfews.2016v14iss2art1 California precipitation varies more dramatically from year to year than elsewhere in the conterminous United States. This paper analyzes the extent to which contributions of the wettest days to overall precipitation dictate the state’s precipitation seasonality and frequent multiyear periods of drought (as precipitation deficit) and plenty is analyzed, historically and in projections of future climates. The wettest 5% of wet days in California contribute about a third of precipitation but about two-thirds of the variance of water-year precipitation. Year-to-year fluctuations in precipitation strongly reflect year-to-year fluctuations of contributions from the largest storms, with the large-storm contributions explaining about twice as much precipitation fluctuation as do contributions from all remaining storms combined. This extreme dominance of large storms is largely unique to California within the United States. In climate-change projections, eight of ten climate models considered here yield increases in precipitation from the largest storms, and when the increases are large, total precipitation follows suit. All of the models project declines in contributions from the smaller storms and models projecting total-precipitation declines reflect this decline. Projected changes in variance of water-year precipitation reflect changes in variance of large-storm contributions. The disproportionately large overall contributions from California’s largest storms, and their outsized year-to-year variability, ensure that the state’s largest storms dictate the state’s regimes of wet and dry spells, historically and in climate-change projections.
What controls the freshwater fish fossil record ? A focus on the Late Cretaceous and Tertiary of Afro-Arabia

L'objectif de cet article est de definir les contraintes exercees par la geologie, le climat, l'eustasie sur le registre des poissons d'eau douce, a travers une analyse qualitative. L'impact de ces facteurs sur l'acces et la connaissance de ce registre fossile est aussi estime. La zone d'interet et la periode de temps considerees sont l'Afro-Arabie pendant les 100 derniers millions d'annees, ce qui correspond a l'emergence et la diversification de l'ichtyofaune moderne sur cette plaque continentale. Apres la revue des principaux changements environnementaux enregistres en Afro-Arabie pendant ce laps de temps, je presente une courte histoire de la decouverte des poissons fossiles et la distribution des sites associes. Ensuite les effets de facteurs environnementaux sur le registre fossile des poissons d'eau douce sont decrits et discutes a partir de cas d'etude choisis. Selon la taille du bassin drainant, la richesse taxinomique fossile varie, en particulier en lien avec l'hydrodynamisme du milieu. Les sites a poissons d'eau douce fossiles sont associes a l'augmentation de l'accommodation dans tous les cas etudies. Enfin, l'environnement influence notre connaissance du registre fossile. Pour l'augmenter, nous devons prospecter les zones toujours negligees, mais aussi porter une attention accrue aux micro-restes et aux os isoles.
Environmental factors that control the germination of five Solanum species from Ethiopia

Les reponses de 5 especes de Solanum a l'alternance constante et diurne de la temperature, de la pleine lumiere, de la lumiere filtree par les feuilles vertes, et de l'obscurite ont ete etudiees en laboratoire et en serre. La germination des graines a ete generalement pauvre (< 20%) pour toutes les especes a des regimes differents de temperatures constantes. Toutefois, le pourcentage de germination etait considerablement eleve pour les graines, de S. incanum, S luteum et S. nigrum incubees a 20/12 et 30/12°C en comparaison avec celles incubees soit a 20 ou a 35/12°C. De meme, les graines de S. dennekense incubees a 30/12°C ont eu un taux de germination superieur a celles incubees a 20, 20/12 ou 35/12°C. La lumiere filtree par les feuilles vertes a empeche la germination des graines pour toutes les especes indiquant que les graines disseminees sous la canopee ont leur germination empechee. Les graines de S. incanum, S. luteum et S. nigrum peuvent germer dans l'obscurite a des temperatures diurnes alternes de 28/12°C Les graines de S. dennekense incubees dans l'obscurite a 28/12°C ont eu un pourcentage de germination aussi eleve que celles incubees a la lumiere du jour aux memes temperatures alternes. Les resultats indiquent que les graines des quatre especes germineraient sur ou dans le sol si la canopee est enlevee. provoquant l'alternance de la temperature. Les graines de S. marginatum ne repondent a aucun des traitements sauf les traitements de scarification. Cette espece necessite des perturbations qui entrainent la scarification des graines pour la germination.