Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
HepG2/C3A 3D spheroids exhibit stable physiological functionality for at least 24 days after recovering from trypsinisation

Primary human hepatocytes are widely used as an in vitro system for the assessment of drug metabolism and toxicity. Nevertheless a cell system with higher stability of physiological functions is required for the investigation of drugs’ mode of action, pathway analyses and biomarkers evaluations. We recently discovered that the human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, HepG2/C3A, cultured as spheroids in a 3D system can recover their main functions after trypsinisation within about 18 days. The objective of this study was to investigate whether the spheroids’ metabolic functions remained stable after this recovery period. Therefore we evaluated physiological capabilities of the spheroids (cell survival, growth rate, glycogenesis, ATP, cholesterol and urea synthesis and drug metabolism) and the expression of key genes related to the main liver pathways in spheroids cultured for an additional 24 days after full recovery (day 18). Here we show that after the recovery period, the 3D spheroid culture can provide a metabolically competent homeostatic cell model which is in equilibrium with its culture environment for more than 3 weeks. Such a stable system could be used for the assessment of the drugs’ mode of action, for biomarkers evaluation and for any systems biology studies which require medium- to long-term stability of metabolic functions.
Contrasted breeding strategies in four sympatric sibling insect species: when a proovigenic and capital breeder copes with a stochastic environment

1. The evolution of strategies of resource acquisition and allocation is often considered to be closely dependent on the degree of environmental variability. Within this framework, female insects that experience stochastic fluctuations in the availability of their egg-laying sites in time or space can be expected to be fully synovigenic (i.e. they start maturing eggs after a delay once reaching adulthood), which allows them to tailor their reproductive investment to variations in the resource. Proovigenic females (that have most of their eggs already mature at the onset of their adult life, which corresponds to a capital breeding strategy), on the contrary, should have an advantage when the availability of the egg-laying sites is predictable. There is, however, a dearth of empirical studies testing these predictions. 2. Here, we tested the hypothesis that four phytophagous insect species of the genus Curculio, which coexist on a strongly fluctuating resource that they exploit for egg-laying purposes, would all be synovigenic as strict proovigeny should be counterselected. The resource consisted of the acorns of oak trees Quercus spp. We conducted field surveys to determine the date of adult emergence in each weevil species and the ability of newly emerged females to produce eggs. We also analysed the stable isotope profile of wild-caught females as a proxy for their feeding activity. Finally, we tested females under laboratory conditions for their ability to produce mature eggs when not fed and investigated whether dietary intake influenced their longevity. 3. Taken together, our results show that, contrary to the usual predictions, the four weevil species that were all exposed to a markedly fluctuating environment exhibited sharply contrasting strategies of resource acquisition and allocation: three species were synovigenic, while the fourth was proovigenic. Unexpectedly, therefore, our findings show that a strict capital breeding species might not always be counterselected in a temporally stochastic environment. They further suggest that fluctuations in the environment should not promote a sole, optimal strategy of energy acquisition and allocation to reproduction but instead should favour their diversification.
Effect of dietary pantothenic acid supplement on growth, body composition and intestinal enzyme activities of juvenile Jian carp (Cyprinus carpio var. Jian)

A 9-week feeding trial was carried out with juvenile Jian carp to study the effect of dietary pantothenic acid (PA) on growth, body composition and intestinal enzyme activities. Semi-purified diets with seven levels (4.0, 15.5, 25.6, 36.1, 45.9, 56.1 and 65.9 mg PA kg−1) of supplemental calcium d-pantothenate were fed to Jian carp (13.0 ± 0.0 g). PA improved specific growth rate (SGR), protein productive value (PPV), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and lipid production value (LPV) (P < 0.05). Fish fed the control diet had significantly lower feed efficiency (FE) than that in any other group (P < 0.05). Body protein content increased with increasing PA levels (P < 0.05), but moisture, lipid and ash of fish carcasses were negatively related to the graded PA levels (P < 0.05). Intestine protein content (IPC), hepatopancreas protein content (HPC) and activity of α-amylase, lipase, trypsin, Na+,K+-ATPase, alkaline phosphatase (AKP) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT) were all positively affected by the dietary PA levels (P < 0.05), while intestine index (ISI) and hepatopancreas index (HSI) decreased with the increment of supplemental levels of PA (P < 0.05). These results suggested that PA could enhance fish growth and intestinal enzyme activities. The dietary PA requirement of juvenile Jian carp, Cyprinus carpio var. Jian (13.0–73.0 g), for optimal growth estimated by the broken-line analysis was 23.0 mg PA kg−1 diet.
Regeneration of virus-free grapevines using in vitro apical culture

SUMMARY Fragmented shoot apex culture of grapevine has been demonstrated to regenerate plants free from the graft-transmissible diseases leafroll, yellow speckle, fleck and summer mottle. This technique in combination with heat therapy of the cultures has also produced vines free from fanleaf virus. Regenerated plants free of yellow speckle were consistently obtained if cultures were incubated at 27/20 °C but not if incubated at 35 °C. The possible ways that the in vitro elimination of these diseases was achieved are considered.
A Compact Tri-band Miniaturized Antenna with Parasitic Elements Loading

─ A compact tri-band miniaturized antenna with parasitic element loading is proposed for small form factor devices. Firstly, the dual-band antenna is proposed. Based on the theory of characteristic mode (TCM), the resonant of the metal loop decreases by adding three identical square monopole on the other side of the substrate. By exciting one of three square monopoles, the other two monopole treating as parasitic units, can lower the Q factor of the monopole and enhance the bandwidth of the antenna. Then, the tri-band antenna is proposed. By adding metal patches on the side of the parasitic elements, the higher order of the metal loop is excited and the new resonant point is created. With the adoption of the TCM, two degenerate modes are separated by adding metal strips on the metal loop to enhance the bandwidth of the low band. Also, the same way is carried out to decrease the electric size of the antenna and the size of the proposed structure meets the requirement of the electric small antenna. To verify the performance, the proposed antenna is fabricated and tested. The measured results are in agreement with simulated results. Index Terms ─ Bandwidth enhancement, electrically small antenna (ESAs), miniaturized size, tri-band.
Effect of Cold Storage of Mummies of Aphis craccivora Koch Subjected to Different Pre-storage Temperature on Per Cent Emergence of Trioxys indicus Subba Rao & Sharma

Trials for cold storage of the mummies of Aphis craccivora Koch parasitized by Trioxys indicus Subba Rao & Sharma were made. Newly formed mummies having fourth instar larvae of the parasitoid were put either at 20–25°C or at 12–15°C, 10 hr photoperiod for 24–72 hr before storage inside the refrigerators (4–8°C) for 10–40 days. A higher proportion of adult emergence was usually associated with the group of mummies passed at 12–15°C before storage and practically good emergence was recorded even if the mummies were stored for a month at 4°C if kept at 12–15°C for 72 hr prior to storage. RésuméUne etude de l’effet de la conservation à froid des momies de TAphis craccivora Koch infectées par le Trioxys indicus Subba Rao et Sharma a été faite. Les nouvelles momies en formation sont infectées par des larves du quatrième stage du Trioxys indicus. Ces mêmes momies ont été mis sous 20-25°C ou 12-15°C, 10 heures de photoperiode pendant 24 a 72 heures avant d’etre conserver dans le rifrigerateur (4-8°C) pour une durée de 1 (MO jours. Une proportion élevée des adultes qui emergent fût associée avec le groupe qui a été soumis a 12-15°C avant d’être conserver. Il a été possible d’obtenir une moyenne raisonable d’émergence même si les mummies furent conservées a 4°C pendant un mois après avoir été soumises a 12–15°C pendant 72 heures.
Shags in Antarctica: their feeding behaviour and ecological role in the marine food web

Feeding behaviour, ecological role in the marine food web and population trends of the Antarctic shag Phalacrocorax bransfieldensis and the South Georgia shag P. georgianus in Antarctica are analysed. The diving depths and duration recorded for these shags are the deepest and longest among all flying birds in Antarctica and match deep dives performed by small Antarctic penguins. Individual shags of both sexes partition foraging depths and food resources, which might diminish intra-specific competition. Like other sub-Antarctic shags, P. bransfieldensis and P. georgianus are bottom feeders that prey predominantly on demersal fish. In the southern Scotia Arc and west Antarctic Peninsula, nototheniids, mainly Notothenia coriiceps, constitute their main prey. Shag partners alternate the time at sea and, as the energy requirements at the nest increase, they increase the number but reduce the duration of the feeding trips. A steady declining trend in the number of breeding pairs of both species has been observed in the last decade at several Antarctic localities; this phenomenon at the South Shetland Islands might be at least partially explained by the effect of the commercial fishery on their prey. In inshore shallow waters shags occupy the trophic niche of main predators of demersal fish and play an important ecological role as regulators of populations of particular fish prey that have marked site fidelity. The potential use of shags as biomonitors in Antarctica is discussed.
Testing for the accumulation of deleterious mutations in asexual eukaryote genomes using molecular sequences

It remains unclear why obligately asexual eukaryotes are rare compared to sexual ones (Barton and Charlesworth, 1998). Apparently the rate of extinction of asexual lineages is higher than that of sexual lineages (Maynard Smith, 1978), but the explanation for this is uncertain. Prominent among the suspected causes are deleterious mutations. According to the mutational hypotheses of sex, deleterious mutations are less e ciently eliminated from asexual populations than from sexual ones ( Kondrashov, 1993); hence, they accumulate in asexual lineages, ultimately causing extinction. Under Muller’s ratchet (Muller, 1964; Charlesworth and Charlesworth, 1997), this accumulation can be very gradual and can ultimately aŒect a large proportion of nucleotide sites, as has been seen in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) (Lynch, 1996; Lynch and Blanchard, 1998) and intracellular bacterial endosymbionts of insects (Moran, 1996; Lambert and Moran, 1998). Both of these lineages are specialized mutualistic inhabitants of the cytoplasm of eukaryotes, and both have escaped extinction in spite of having been primarily or entirely clonal for over one hundred million years (Moran et al., 1993). However, in the case of asexual multicellular eukaryotes, which appear to be most susceptible to extinction as a consequence of their asexuality, molecular evidence of an accumulation of deleterious mutations has not yet been reported. Here we present results of a molecular sequence analysis designed to test for mutation accumulation in two obligately asexual insect lineages. We detected a statistically signi® cant speed-up in a nuclear gene of one asexual lineage but not in the other, a result that is consistent with the predicted eŒects of Muller’s ratchet. We then consider the range of consequences, potentially con ̄ icting, that loss of sexuality may have for the evolution of DNA sequences (summarized in table 1). Finally, we discuss how molecular phylogenetic approaches might be used to discriminate among these consequences and to provide rigorous tests of mutational hypotheses for the maintenance of sex in eukaryotes.
Development of a Babesia bigemina Specific Probe from Monomorphic Fragment of RAPD-PCR

Abstract Ravindran, R. , Mishra, A.K. and Rao, J.R. 2007. Development of a Babesia bigemina specific probe from monomorphic fragment of RAPD-PCR. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 31: 173–176. A highly species specific Dig labeled DNA probe has been developed for detection of Babesia bigemina with an analytical sensitivity of 2 μg B. bigemina DNA from a monomorphic fragment of RAPD-PCR.
Ethnozootechnical characterization and analysis of the genetic situation of the Chato Murciano pig breed.

At present, 40 adult animals share the total population of the Chato Murciano pig breed. This is one of the most endangered native pig breeds of Spain. This paper, develops the morphological characterization of this breed studying thirteen quantitative variables and six qualitative variables from a sample of 24 male and female adult animals. It has also been carried out the evaluation of individuals and the population inbreeding levels of the breed.
A comparative analysis of distinctness, uniformity and stability (DUS) data in discriminating selected Southern African maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines

The ability to discriminate germplasm is important for plant breeding as well as for plant variety protection. To achieve this, plant breeders have been using molecular, physiological and biochemical markers in discriminating and grouping of genotypes. Breeders have been looking for effective, quick and cheaper ways of grouping germplasm. Therefore this study was carried out to assess the ability of the traits used for determining the distinctness, uniformity and stability (DUS) of new plant varieties and agro-morphological characteristics for differentiating Southern African maize inbreds. In this study, 18 maize inbred lines were assessed for their variation based on 25 agronomic and 12 DUS traits. The maize inbred lines were grouped differently based on qualitative or quantitative traits or when combined. The correlation between the qualitative and quantitative similarity matrices was low (r=0.048) and non-significant. This indicated that both qualitative and quantitative traits should be used for effective maize inbred line discrimination. Both qualitative and quantitative similarity matrices were highly significantly (p<0.001) and highly correlated to mixed data (r=0.82 and r=0.61 respectively). The grouping of the inbred lines based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was similar to the similarity matrix of the mixed data. The first principal component, which explained 27.8% of the total variation, was due to grain yield and productive parameters. The second component, explaining 13.2% of the total variation was due to number of tassel branches (TBNo) and tassel length (TL). The Shannon diversity index showed that the inbred lines were diverse in days to silking, ear diameter, days to maturity, shelling percentage and leaf colour. It is concluded that for effective discrimination of maize inbred lines both agro-morphological and DUS traits should be used especially when few inbreds are being considered.
Self-esteem, Acculturative Stress, and Marijuana Use Among Hispanic College Students

Previous research has found mixed results regarding the association between acculturation and substance use in Hispanic populations. Additional research is warranted to examine relations among facets of acculturation, particularly acculturative stress, and marijuana use. The purpose of this study was to examine whether self-esteem mediates the relation between acculturative stress and a lifetime history of marijuana use among a sample of Hispanic college students. Hispanic college students (N = 204; Mean age = 20.3 years) from a large southwestern university participated in an online study and reported on lifetime marijuana use, self-esteem, and acculturative stress. We evaluated the hypothesis that self-esteem would mediate the relation between acculturative stress and the likelihood of reporting a history of marijuana use, utilizing Hayes’ SPSS macro, which provides estimates of boot-strapped confidence intervals for the indirect effect. Results showed that self-esteem did not significantly mediate the relation between acculturative stress and likelihood of marijuana use [b = . 157, 95% CI (−.003, .017)]. Future studies might examine other facets of acculturation in relation to substance use, utilizing a longitudinal approach to better understand these associations.
Biology of a marine estuarine-opportunist fish species in a microtidal estuary, including comparisons among decades and with coastal waters

The biological characteristics of a marine and macrophyte-associated species (Pelates octolineatus) in a large microtidal, eutrophic estuary in 2008-10 were determined. Comparisons are made with those of individuals remaining in coastal waters and during two earlier periods in the estuary when plant biomass differed markedly. P. octolineatus start entering the Peel-Harvey Estuary in mid-summer, soon after metamorphosis, with many remaining there until autumn when they are ∼15 months old. These individuals, and older fish that re-entered the estuary in summer, then return to the sea where they spawn from late spring to early summer. Most P. octolineatus in the estuary were less than or equal to the length at maturity and all were <4 years old, whereas individuals up to 10 years old were caught in coastal embayments, emphasising that the estuary acts mainly as a nursery for this terapontid. Growth in the estuary was seasonal and peaked earlier and was greater than in marine waters. Abundance of P. octolineatus in the estuary was greater in 2008-10 and 1980-81 than in 1996-97, when macrophytes were less abundant. The results demonstrate how a marine estuarine-opportunist can benefit from using both estuaries and coastal waters as a nursery area and capitalise on variations in environmental conditions.
Characterizing aquatic ecological risks from pesticides using a diquat dibromide case study. II. Approaches using quotients and distributions

Realistic and reliable methods are needed for the accurate characterization of the potential ecological risks posed by pesticides. This study presents a sequence of risk assessment methods that are based on the comparison of exposure concentrations to laboratory‐derived toxicity data for representative species of aquatic organisms exposed to pesticides. The sequence of methods progresses from single‐value quotient calculations to comparison of cumulative distributions of exposure and toxicity data and culminates with the use of Monte Carlo methods to estimate distributions of quotients. To illustrate the sequence of increasingly quantitative methods, we used a case study of the ecological risks posed by diquat dibromide in U.S. regional lakes and farm ponds. Diquat dibromide is a well‐studied aquatic herbicide and is one of only a few pesticides registered for direct use in aquatic systems. The exposure concentration for the farm pond scenario used in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reregistration eligibility decision for diquat dibromide was used. In addition, exposure concentrations were developed for several regional lake and farm pond scenarios using the Exposure Analysis Modeling System (EXAMSII) methodology with separate, region‐specific parameter values and simulated diquat dibromide application rates. Except for the results obtained in the conservative quotient method, the calculations for diquat dibromide were consistent with its demonstrated high safety. This suggests that a minimal ecological impact to benthic invertebrates and fish exists. Aquatic plants in the vicinity of application to surface waters appear to be at risk, and this is expected, as diquat dibromide kills aquatic plants. Comparisons of cumulative distributions of exposure and toxicity data provided the most quantitative approach to characterizing risks. The probabilistic quotient approach does not specifically estimate ecological risk. However, the implicit correlation between increasing values of quotients and increased potential risk does suggest the utility of these methods for identifying pesticides as acceptable for registration and use (i.e., minimal risk compared to benefits) or unacceptable.
Environmental harshness and global richness patterns in glacier-fed streams

Aim To test for a possible effect of environmental harshness on large-scale latitudinal and elevational patterns in taxon richness of macrofauna in arctic and alpine glacier-fed streams. Location Svalbard (79° N), Iceland (65° N), Norway (62° N), Switzerland and Italy (46° N), France (43° N), New Zealand (43° S) and Ecuador (0°), covering an elevational gradient from sea level to 4800 m a.s. l. Methods We gathered data from 63 sites along 13 streams and created an index of glacial influence (the glacial index, GI) as an integrative proxy for environmental harshness. The explicative power of the GI, environmental variables, latitude and elevation on taxon richness was tested in generalized linear models. Taxon richness along geographical gradients was analysed at standardized levels of GI in contour plots. Beta diversity and assemblage similarity was calculated at different GI intervals and compared with a null-model. Results Overall, taxon richness decreased exponentially with increased GI (r 2 = 0.64), and of all included factors, GI had the highest explicative power. At low values of GI we found that local taxon richness varied along the coupled gradients of latitude and elevation in a hump-shaped manner. However, this pattern disappeared at high values of GI, i.e. when environmental harshness increased. Beta diversity increased, while similarity among assemblages decreased towards high GI values. Main conclusions In our study system, the number of taxa able to cope with the harshest conditions was largely independent of the regional taxon pool, and environmental harshness constituted a ‘fixed’ constraint for local richness, irrespective of latitude and elevation. Contrary to expectations, we found that beta diversity was highest and similarity lowest among the harshest sites, suggesting that taxon richness was not solely driven by niche selection based on environmental tolerances, but also stochastic ecological drift, leading to dispersal-limited communities.
A Comprehensive Review of the Challenges and Opportunities Confronting Cache Memory System Performance

In computer systems, the cache memory architecture has a significant impact on both, system performance and system cost. Further, the gap between processor performance and cache memory performance is widening at the disadvantage of the overall system performance. In this paper, we explore the important aspects that impact cache memory architecture performance and cost, including: (1) An overview of present state-of-the-art cache memory architectures. (2) We examine the latest advances in cache controllers and energy management. (3) We explore important aspects of cache memory organization, including cache mapping, spatial cache and temporal cache techniques. (4) We provide an analysis of performance of state-of-the-art cache memory architecture implementations including new promising memory technologies. (5) We end by considering future research areas that may prove promising in narrowing the performance gap between cache memory performance and processor performance. Overall, improvements in cache memory architectures stand to make a significant impact in unlocking major improvements in high performance computer