Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mutualism Within a Simulated Microgravity Environment - Piriformospora indica Promotes the Growth of Medicago truncatula

Abstract The endophytic fungus, Piriformospora indica, developed a subepidermal infection within Medicago truncatula at 1 g and at simulated microgravity over a period of 15 days, resulting in intracellular colonization of mature host tissue. At 1 g, P. indica inoculation affected the growth and morphology of M. truncatula, predominantly roots. Inoculated M. truncatula had a significantly greater number of roots (102%), total root length (88%), and dry root weight (25%) than non-inoculated plants. Effects on shoot morphology of P. indica inoculated M. truncatula included longer (31%) and heavier (30%) shoots, along with increased leaf surface area (98%). P. indica retained the ability to promote the growth of M. truncatula under simulated microgravity conditions upon two dimensional clinostatic rotation, significantly increasing root number by 51% and root length by 48%. These physiological and morphological changes may mitigate biotic and abiotic stresses that would otherwise limit crop productivity.
Diversity and activity of free-living diazotrophic and total bacterial communities in organic and conventionally managed soil

Agricultural soils are heterogeneous environments in which conditions affecting microbial growth and diversity fluctuate widely in space and time. In this study, the molecular ecology of the total bacterial and free-living nitrogen fixing communities in soils from the Nafferton factorial systems comparison (NFSC) study in North East England were examined. The field experiment is factorial in design with organic versus conventional crop rotation, crop protection and fertility management factors. Soils were sampled on three dates (March, June and September) in 2007. Total RNA was extracted from all soil samples and reverse transcribed. DGGE and qPCR were used to analyse nifH and 16S rRNA genes in order to study free-living diazotrophs and the total bacterial community respectively. Crop rotation was shown to have a significant effect on total bacterial diversity (and that of free-living N fixers) (P=<0.001). On all three dates nifH activity was higher in the conventional crop rotation. In contrast, qPCR analysis of free-living N fixers indicated significantly higher levels of activity in conventionally fertilised plots in June (P=0.0324) and in plots with organic crop protection in September (P=0.0143). To our knowledge the effects of organic and conventional farming systems on free-living diazotrophs have never been studied. An increased understanding of the impacts of management practices on free-living N fixers could allow modifications in soil management practices to optimize the activity of these organisms.
Glutathione Levels in Erythrocyte and Aqueous Humor of Dogs with Cataracts and Dogs with Normal Lenses

The aims of the clinical study were to modify and simplify a detection method for the antioxidant, reduced glutathione (GSH), and to evaluate the levels of GSH in erythrocytes and aqueous humor in dogs with normal and cataractous lenses. One hundred and fifty eight dogs were included in this study. Erythrocytes from all 158 dogs were analyzed for GSH levels; 108 had normal lenses and 50 dogs had cataracts. Aqueous humor from thirty-two dogs was assayed for GSH levels; ten had normal lenses and 22 had cataracts. The average erythrocyte GSH level was 1,338.0±487.5 μM (mean±S.D.) in normal dogs and 927.4±504.5 μM in dogs with cataracts (p＜0.05). The average aqueous GSH level in normal dogs was 90.3±70.9 μM and 92.5±80.0 μM in dogs with cataracts (p＞0.05). This study served two purposes: to develop a sensitive assay for the detection of erythrocyte and aqueous humor GSH in dogs and to compare these values in dogs with and without cataracts. Dogs with cataracts demonstrated significantly lower erythrocyte GSH level than dogs without cataracts. Systemic GSH levels in dogs without cataracts may be one of the protective mechanisms against chronic oxidative stress and its resultant sequella such as cataractogenesis. However, aqueous humor GSH levels did not differ in dogs with or without cataracts. This may be explained by differences in endogenous levels of GSH or other antioxidants in the lens epithelial cells which may be different than that shown in aqueous humor.
Effect of Spinosad (a bioinsecticide) and other insecticides against pest complex and natural enemies on eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)

Spinosad 45 SC alongwith six chemical insecticides viz., emamectin benzoate 5 WSG, cypermethrin 10 EC quinalphos 25 EC, endosulfan 35 EC, lambda cyhalothrin 5 EC, chlorpyrifos 20 EC was evaluated against shoot and fruit borer (Leucinodes orbonalis), leafhopper (Amrasca biguttula biguttula), whitefly (Bemisia tabaci), lace bug (Urentius hystericellus), mealy bug (Phenacoccus solenopsis) and hadda beetles (Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata and Epilachna dodecastigma) and also against natural enemies (Encarsia, lutea Chrysoperla carnea and ladybird beetles) on eggplant (Cv., BR-112 and plant growth parameters). Spinosad @ 162.5 ml/h was most effective against shoot and fruit borer, affording the minimum damage on shoots, flower buds and fruits and getting the maximum fruit yield and highest cost-benefit ratio. This insecticide was not found effective against sucking pests and hadda beetles but was safe to natural enemies whereas the chemical insecticides proved toxic to them.
Pliocaenicus costatus: an emended species description

(Loginova, Lupikina et Khurs.) Flower, Ozornina & A.I.Kuzmina, has been studied in the past years mainly from three regions: the Lake Baikal region (Flower et al. 1998, Genkal et al. 2001), Lake El’gygytgyn (Cremer & Van de Vijver 2006, Cremer et al. 2005), and Lake Jana in the Verkhojansk Mountains (Stachura-Suchoples 2006). These studies demonstrated that
Geographic patterns of low‐polymorphic enzyme‐encoding genes allelic variation in Aegilops tauschii

Allele variation of ten low‐polymorphic enzyme‐encoding genes were analyzed among 349 accessions of Aegilops tauschii Coss. , 183 of ssp. tauschii and 166 of ssp. strangulata (Eig) Tzvelev, representing all the species area. The data obtained indicated that both of these subspecies had originated and occupied their areas in ancient times. In ssp. tauschii and ssp. strangulata geographic occurrence of rare allozymes was sporadic and rather even through the subspecies areas. The probability of finding a rare allele of some of the ten loci studied in Ae. tauschii accession was also similar in the two subspecies and made up 0.066 and 0.060 for ssp. tauschii and ssp. strangulata, respectively. In both ssp. tauschii and ssp. strangulata an accession was found (k‐1954 and t‐91s, respectively) having more than one rare allele. Both accessions are of Caucasian origin, indicating that Ae. tauschii originated in this geographic region. Geographic distribution of rare allozymes occurrences reveals that genetic exchange between ssp. tauschii and ssp. strangulata takes place. Also this distribution indicates that in Ae. tauschii the same allozymes could have originated independently in different local populations: there are examples when the same rare allele was found in local populations located geographically very far from one another and belonging to different subspecies. Therefore it seems that the genetic system of Ae. tauschii local populations are in stochastic steady state. This makes this species a perfect model object for the studies of genetic basis of adaptive divergence.
Neopterin and kynurenine concentrations in aqueous humour of the anterior chamber of the eye and in serum of cataract patients with pseudoexfoliation

Summary In 40 cataract patients and in 51 patients without pseudoexfoliation (PES) we determined serum concentrations of neopterin, kynurenine, and selenium and concentrations of neopterin in aqueous humour from the anterior chamber of the eye. In addition, selenium content in lenses was determined. Significantly increased kynurenine and neopterin concentrations in serum and neopterin concentrations in aqueous humour were observed in mature cataract patients with PES compared to those without. These patients also presented with the lowest content of selenium in serum and lens, compared with cataract patients without PES. Increased concentrations of neopterin in serum and aqueous humour of the anterior chamber of eyes suggest an increased degree of oxidative stress in patients with PES. Thus, the results support the role of oxidative stress in the development of PES in cataract patients. The decreased content of selenium may elicit immune system activation via an increased oxidative stress as it is indicated by the increased formation of kynurenine and neopterin.
Separation, subcellular location and influence of sulphur nutrition on isoforms of cysteine synthase in spinach

Cysteine synthase (O-acetylserine (thiol) lyase, EC 4.2. 99.8) and β-cyanoalanine synthase (EC 4.4.1.9) have been isolated from leaves of Spinacea oleracea L. and separated by anion-exchange chromatography. Further separation of one minor and two major isoforms of cysteine synthase was achieved by hydrophobic interaction chromatography and high resolution native electrophoresis (PAGE). Analysis of root material indicated that amongst the multiple isoforms present, a single isoform predominated. Subcellular fractionation studies indicated that one of the major leaf forms, cysteine synthase B, was located in the chloroplast and the other, cysteine synthase A, occurred in the cytoplasm. No specific isoform of cysteine synthase was resolved in the mitochondria, while cyanoalanine synthase was predominantly located in the mitochondrial fraction. Sulphur deprivation decreased cysteine synthase activity, but not cyanoalanine synthase activity in both young and mature leaves, although cysteine synthase activity in the roots increased slightly. A selective decrease in cysteine synthase B (chloroplastic) abundance was observed in mature leaves. Patterns of expression of cysteine synthase in response to S-availability are discussed in relation to possible roles for this enzyme in controlling S-flux through the S-assimilatory pathway.
Ecological speciation in a cyclic parthenogen: Sexual capability of experimental hybrids between Daphnia pulex and Daphnia pulicaria

Daphnia pulex and Daphnia pulicaria are cyclically parthenogenetic crustaceans that are distributed widely in North American freshwaters. Hybrids of D. pulex and D. pulicaria are common in the wild, where population genetic analyses have indicated that they are invariably obligately asexual. In this study, we characterize three sexual aspects (sexual egg production, male production, and sexual offspring production) of life history in experimentally bred hybrids to determine the degree of reproductive isolation. In striking contrast to natural hybrids, out of the 53 F1 hybrids we bred, none were obligately asexual. Neither male production nor sexual egg production was limited by hybridization. Our experimental crosses showed that there was little difficulty in generating or backcrossing the F1 generation. In addition, we were able to intercross F1s successfully to produce F2 progeny. We found no evidence that these taxa are reproductively incompatible, despite other reports of apparent adaptive genetic divergence. We conclude that reproductive isolation between D. pulex and D. pulicaria is due to ecological separation, not genetic incompatibility. In light of our results and published data on the biogeography and breeding system of these taxa, neither sterility due to hybridization nor direct inheritance of a sex‐limited meiosis suppressor appears to provide a satisfactory explanation for the asexuality of wild hybrids. We propose an alternate hypothesis in which one parental taxon invades a population of the other, the resulting F1 hybrids cross back to a carrier of a meiosis suppressor, and out of the resulting progeny, a high‐fitness asexual clone eventually displaces the rest of the population.
Implications of Climatic Warming for Conservation of Native Trees and Shrubs in Florida

Abstract: Ecological process models and empirical envelope models have been used to relate climatic‐change predictions to effects on plant species and vegetation. Climatic‐envelope models are useful for simultaneous investigation of many plant species whose range‐limiting mechanisms are poorly known. They are most effectively applied in regions with strong temperature and moisture gradients and low relief. Their required databases are often relatively easy to obtain. We provide an example involving the effect of six annual warming scenarios, ranging from +1° C to +2° C and from +10% to −20% annual precipitation (some have greater warming in winter than in summer), on 117 native woody species in Florida (U.S.A.). Tree species at their southern range boundaries in several parts of Florida are likely to be negatively affected by as little as 1° C warming if it is greater in winter than in summer or is accompanied by a 20% decrease in annual precipitation. Potential species responses to an identical type of 1° C warming may be different for some conservation areas in the same region of Florida. Potentially extensive disruption of some major woody ecosystems is predicted under certain types of 1° C annual warming and under all types of 2° C annual warming that were investigated. Additional consideration of nonclimatic factors suggests that many potential effects on species and ecosystems are not underestimates of actual effects over a 100‐year period of warming. We recommend monitoring for decreased fertility and viability of ecologically important, temperate woody species near their southern range limits in Florida. Early detection of such changes in fitness might then provide time for mitigations designed to alleviate more serious subsequent effects on biodiversity. Control of invasive, non‐native plant species and prevention of their additional introduction, human‐assisted translocation of native subtropical plant species into previously temperate parts of Florida, and restoration of more natural hydrological regimes are examples of potentially useful mitigations if climatic warming continues.
Comparações entre os valores genéticos para características de crescimento de bovinos da raça Nelore preditos com modelos de dimensão finita ou infinita

Data consisting of 20,065 weights of 3,016 Nellore animals recorded from birth to 630 days of age were used to compare random regression on Legendre polynomials of age (LP) and on Legendre polynomials associated to a parametric correlation structure (PC) models for breeding value prediction of growth traits. Results from Standard bivariate analyses (SBA) using weights at standard ages were also compared to those from random regression models. Dependent variables in random regression analyses were Legendre polynomials of age at recording and the models included contemporary groups as fixed effects, and age of dam with linear and quadratic components as covariates. Mean trends were modeled through a cubic regression on orthogonal polynomials of age and genetic direct and maternal and direct and maternal permanent environmental effects were modeled by polynomials of orders of 4, 4, 6 and 3 respectively. Measurement errors were modeled through a variance function or by considering seven classes of residuals. Also, a non stationary parametric correlation function was used to model correlations between different weights on the same animal. The rank of animals based on breeding values predicted by SBA differed from those predicted by infinite dimension models. Rank correlations between breeding values predicted using LP for animal permanent environmental effects and those predicted using PC were close to unity.
Stealing Like Artists: Using Court Records to Conduct Quantitative Research on Corporate Environmental Crimes

A major challenge in conducting quantitative analyses in the field of corporate environmental crime is the lack of a readily accessible data set. At least in the United States, currently the best available datasets regarding environmental crime generally are produced and disseminated by government agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”). However, these datasets have multiple limitations that force researchers to “scour” through the informational landscape for other primary and secondary sources to conduct more robust quantitative analyses. In this article, we document the attempts researchers have made to create broader datasets for corporate environmental crime analysis, with the hope that it will assist researchers working to create useful bodies of data for analysis.
Use of starter cultures of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts as inoculum enrichment for the production of gowé, a sour beverage from Benin

Lactobacillus fermentum, Weissella confusa, Kluyveromyces marxianus and Pichia anomala, previously isolated during natural fermentation of traditional gowe, were tested as inoculum enrichment for controlled fermentation of gowe. The final product was subjected to chemical analysis and sensory evaluation. Growth of the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeasts were verified by determination of colony forming units (CFU) and molecular biology techniques. A significant decrease in pH from 6.1 to 3.3, with a concomitant increase in titratable acidity (11 to 60 g/kg as lactic acid, dry weight), was observed after 24 h of fermentation when LAB was used either alone or in combination with yeasts. The LAB count increased significantly from 6.1 to 9.4 log CFU/ml, while the yeast count remained constant throughout fermentation. Repetitive-polymerase chain reaction (rep-PCR) assays performed on isolates during the fermentation confirmed the dominance of the added LAB strains. Sensory evaluation revealed that the product fermented for 7 h with L. fermentum alone or in combination with K. marxianus was as acceptable as the traditional product normally obtained after a minimum of 24 h of fermentation. Consequently, gowe can be obtained by controlled fermentation, using L. fermentum as inoculum enrichment, in a small scale industry.
Substance Abuse Comorbidity in Bipolar Affective Disorder

Abstract The co-occurrence of bipolar disorder and substance abuse has been little studied. The authors reviewed the literature in order to clarify the current state of knowledge of this subject and to identify possible areas of future research. Introduction The term comorbidity is defined as any distinct additional clinical entity that has existed or that may occur during the clinical course of a patient who has the index disease under study ( Feinstein, 1970). Studies of comobidity in SUBSTANCE ABUSE psychiatry is difficult because of the lack COMORBIDITY of clearly defined etiology and the limitaIN BIPOLAR AFFECTIVE tion in establishing a distinct psychiatric DISORDER diagnosis. However, it is because of these limitations that studies of cooccurrence in psychiatry are important. Psychiatric symptoms that share many signs and symptoms and that occur together may simply reflect the variable presentation of same psychopathology or may share a common pathophysiolo gical mechanism. For example, syndromes like panic disorder, major depression and obsessive compulsive disorder may have many of the symptoms in common and respond to similar treatment suggesting a common underlying pathophysiological mechanism (Hudson et al, 1990). Alternativel) a syndrome or illness may represent a risk factor for another. For example. alP.N. SWIESH KUMAR, M.D, D.P.M,D.N.B.(Rsych.), S.S. RAJU,M.D.
Composição de amebas testáceas (Protozoa-Rhizopoda) de dois córregos do Estado de São Paulo, incluindo novos registros para o Brasil - DOI: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v27i2.1319

Twelve monthly samplings were collected in Sao Jose do Rio Preto, Sao Paulo State, Brazil, with the purpose of evaluating the composition and the richness of the testate amoebae assemblage in two creeks. Despite the low richness observed (21 taxa), the results showed that eight taxa had not been recorded before in Sao Paulo State, which points out to the need of increasing the sampling effort in the state as well as the researchers qualification who should be able to identify such organisms. Difflugia corona ecornis and Difflugia lobostoma cornuta , constitute two new records for Brazil
Vertical distribution of cephalopods at 30°N 23°W in the North Atlantic

A total of 618 cephalopods comprising 29 identified species and 98 young unidentified larvae were collected at 30° N 23° W in opening–closing rectangular midwater trawls (RMT combination net), an Isaacs Kidd midwater trawl equipped with an openingclosing bucket and a British Columbia midwater trawl. Discrete horizons were fished between the surface and 2000 m and day and night vertical distribution for the more common species is described. Material is sufficiently abundant to draw tentative conclusions on the vertical distributions of 16 species. These show a wide variety of migratory and non-migratory behaviour including diel migration, ontogenetic migration and static distribution at various depths and over various depth ranges.
Successful Development of a Flow Cytometric Assay to Analyze Cytokine-Induced Phosphorylation Pathways [CIPP] Within Peripheral Blood Leukocytes

Current strategies designed to assess cells in the peripheral blood are limited to evaluation of phenotype or delayed measurement [>6 hours] of function, usually quantifying cytokine production, cytolytic activity, or response to antigens. Furthermore, these assays often do not assess the individual cell types comprising peripheral blood, instead providing a bulk-readout for the total population. We reasoned that functional abnormalities in distinct peripheral blood cells, which act as immune sentinels capable of rapidly reacting to various injurious agents while circulating throughout the body, could serve as migratory biomarkers, reflecting pathological environs that cells experience in the setting of inflammatory states, including cancer. Two major pathways regulating immune responses are the JAK/STAT and MAPK pathways. These pathways are initiated by ligand-receptor binding, and are rapidly propagated by subsequent protein phosphorylation cascades. Additionally, these pathways are often abnormally activated within cancer cells themselves. We applied flow cytometric strategies, evaluating the brief application of cytokines in vitro to interrogate the early phosphorylation events of these signaling pathways in normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Individual cytokine doses and time intervals of treatment were assessed to identify conditions useful in a clinical laboratory and as an initial goal, to induce maximal phosphorylation. Surprisingly, all of the STAT proteins assessed and ERK1/2 are maximally phosphorylated within 15 minutes in human PBMC, simply following addition of cytokines alone. Within two hours, cells typically return to their basal phosphorylation states. Confirmation of these results was achieved by Western blotting. Increased phosphorylation usually correlated with increased concentrations of individual cytokines. Furthermore, we developed conditions to enable simultaneous staining of cell surface proteins, identifiable with distinct PBMC subpopulations: CD4, CD8, CD14, CD19, and CD56, together with intracellular phosphorylated proteins. Of the permeabilizing conditions tested, 75% methanol enabled superior simultaneous detection of both cell surface and intracellular epitopes. Using this technique, we were able to identify differential responsiveness between individual cell types. These strategies will enable robust development of simple blood analyses to identify normal activation as well as impairments in STAT and MAPK signaling pathways associated with various human disease states including acute and chronic inflammatory conditions throughout clinical immunology.