Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reproductive correlates of mating system variation in Eichhornia paniculata (Spreng.) Solms (Pontederiaceae)

Comparative studies of related plant species indicate that evolutionary shifts in mating systems are accompanied by changes in reproductive attributes such as flower size, floral morphology, and pollen/ovule ratio. Recent theoretical work suggests that patterns of investment in reproduction should also change with the mating system. In a glasshouse study, we investigated the extent to which mating system differences among populations of Eichhornia paniculata (Pontederiaceae) were correlated with changes in allocation to male and female function, floral display, and the regulation of investment in reproduction through fruit and ovule abortion.
The Effects of CO2 Enrichment, Increased Light Irradiance, and Reduced Sucrose Concentration on Acclimatization of Micropropagated American Ginseng Plantlets

ABSTRACT American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) plantlets produced by somatic embryogenesis were pre-acclimatized for four weeks inside growth chambers in a factorial design. The three factors of the experiment were CO2 concentration (400 and 3000 μL L−1), photosynthetic photon flux (30 and 50 μmol m−2 s−1) and sucrose concentration (0 and 15 g L−1) in the culture medium. The plantlets were subsequently transferred into a greenhouse where they were acclimatized for two weeks. Regardless of photosynthetic photon flux and sucrose levels, CO2 enrichment during the pre-acclimatization phase significantly increased (6.3%) the fresh mass of American ginseng plantlets in the growth chambers. This positive effect resulted in a 26.4% increase in fresh mass after the acclimatization phase in the greenhouse. CO2 enrichment during the pre-acclimatization phase also significantly increased (32%) leaf area after acclimatization, but had no significant effect on dry mass, height nor survival. Increased light irradiance and reduced sucrose concentration had no significant effects on the growth parameters and survival of American ginseng plantlets. Despite the biological and ecological constraints that limit growth and development of this species, CO2 enrichment could enhance its acclimatization.
Simulating the effects of dominance and epistasis on selection response in the CIMMYT wheat breeding program using QuCim

Plant breeders use many different breeding methods to develop superior cultivars. However, it is difficult, cumbersome, and expensive to evaluate the performance of a breeding method or to compare the efficiencies of different breeding methods within an ongoing breeding program. To facilitate comparisons, we developed a QU-GENE module called QuCim that can simulate a large number of breeding strategies for self-pollinated species. The wheat breeding strategy Selected Bulk used by CIMMYT's wheat breeding program was defined in QuCim as an example of how this is done. This selection method was simulated in QuCim to investigate the effects of deviations from the additive genetic model, in the form of dominance and epistasis, on selection outcomes. The simulation results indicate that the partial dominance model does not greatly influence genetic advance compared with the pure additive model. Genetic advance in genetic systems with overdominance and epistasis are slower than when gene effects are purely additive or partially dominant. The additive gene effect is an appropriate indicator of the change in gene frequency following selection when epistasis is absent. In the absence of epistasis, the additive variance decreases rapidly with selection. However, after several cycles of selection it remains relatively fixed when epistasis is present. The variance from partial dominance is relatively small and therefore hard to detect by the covariance among half sibs and the covariance among full sibs. The dominance variance from the overdominance model can be identified successfully, but it does not change significantly, which confirms that overdominance cannot be utilized by an inbred breeding program. QuCim is an effective tool to compare selection strategies and to validate some theories in quantitative genetics.
Microsatellite marker-based genetic diversity among quality protein maize (QPM) inbreds differing for kernel iron and zinc

Quality Protein Maize by virtue of opaque2 mutation is known to possess high lysine and tryptophan which help in improving biological value of maize protein. Improvement of these genotypes for kernel Fe and Zn holds immense promise. We report here wide variation for kernel -Fe and -Zn among 46 diverse Quality Protein Maize inbreds. Promising inbreds with high kernel -Fe (>40 mg/kg) and -Zn (>35.0 mg/kg) were identified. Profiling of inbreds using 75 microsatellite markers distributed throughout the genome produced a total of 256 alleles with a mean of 3.41 alleles per locus. Seven unique- and 26 rare- alleles were identified. The average polymorphism information content was 0.50, with a range of 0.11-0.79. Genetic dissimilarity coefficient varied from 0.38-0.86 with a mean of 0.72. Cluster analysis grouped the inbreds into three major clusters; and principal coordinate analysis depicted diverse genetic nature of inbred lines. Genetically diverse inbred lines with high kernel -Fe and -Zn can be used for development of Quality Protein Maize hybrids enriched with micronutrients. Phenotypically contrasting inbreds with high genetic divergence can serve as ideal parents in developing mapping population(s) for identifying loci underlying accumulation of Fe and Zn in maize kernel.
Recombinant vaccines: experimental and applied aspects

Abstract Development of vaccines for aquaculture fish represent an important applied functional aspect of fish immunology research. Particularly in the case of recombinant vaccines, where a single antigen is usually expected to induce immunity to a specific pathogen, knowledge of mechanisms involved in induction of a protective immune response may become vital. The few recombinant vaccines licensd so far, despite much research during the last decade, illustrate that this is not a straightforward matter. However, as vaccine technology as well as our knowledge of the fish immune system is steadily improved, these fields will open up a number of interesting research objectives of mutual benefit. Recent aspects of recombinant protein vaccines, live recombinant vaccines and DNA vaccines are discussed.
Mating in aphidophagous ladybirds: costs and benefits

Abstract: Mating costs and benefits were studied in three aphidophagous ladybirds, viz. Cheilomenes sexmaculata, Coccinella septempunctata and Propylea dissecta by subjecting them to different numbers of matings. Longevity, fecundity and percent egg viability were regressed with number of matings to determine the costs and trade‐offs, if any. Longevity decreased with increasing number of matings in both C. sexmaculata and P. dissecta indicating a cost of mating. The lack of such a cost in C. septempunctata has been ascribed to spermatophore consumption by females of this ladybird. Both fecundity and percent egg viability increased with increasing number of matings and are probably indicative of the benefits. Short‐lived females distributed their reproduction uniformly in their lifetime while long‐lived females showed a high burst of reproductive activity followed by a gradual decline. Percent egg viability decreased after the completion of the requisite number of matings.
A new species of Brush-Finch (Arremon; Emberizidae) from western Mexico

Abstract A new highland species of chestnut-capped Arremon brush-finch is described from the Sierra Madre del Sur of central Guerrero. This form, although indistinguishable in external phenotype from adjacent populations to the east in Oaxaca, is dramatically differentiated in mitochondrial DNA sequence characters, and quite unexpectedly is the sister lineage to the very distinct (phenotype and genotype), central-Mexican-endemic A. virenticeps. Nuclear sequence differentiation in the new lineage is more subtle than in mitochondrial DNA, but is on par with that in the well-marked A. virenticeps. The new species is thus distinct from its sister lineage in genotype and phenotype, and clearly distinct from all other forms in genotype; however, it has retained an ancestral external phenotype similar to other members of the broader A. brunneinucha complex.
Aldose reductase inhibitory activity and anti catraract potential of some traditionally acclaimed antidiabetic medicinal plants

SUMMARY Aldose reductase (AR) has been reported to play an important role in sugar-induced cataract. Inthe present study, the AR inhibitory activity of Enicostemma hyssopifolium (EH), Gymnema sylvestre ,Eclipta alba, and Tinospora cordifolia (TC) were studied along with their effect on sugar-inducedcataractogenic changes in sheep lenses in vitro. AR inhibitory activity of the aqueous extracts ofplants and their anticataract potentials were evaluated in vitro in sheep lenses, considering theactivity of normal sheep lenses as 100%. The concentration of the plant extract that showed maximumactivity was selected to further study its effect on galactose-induced polyol accumulation in vitro.The IC 50 values of EH and TC were calculated to be 102 and 85 µg/ml, respectively. EH showed asignificant inhibition (61.3%) in polyol accumulation followed by TC (53.1%). EH and TCpossesses a significant anticataract activity in vitro and its anticataract potential could be relatedwith its AR inhibitory effect. Key words: Aldose reductase; Cataract; Eclipta alba; Enicostemma hyssopifolium; Gymnema sylvestre;Polyol; Tinospora cordifolia
An examination of saltatory predation strategies employed by fish larvae foraging in a variety of different turbulent regimes

Saltatory or pause-travel predation strategies are exhibited by a wide variety of different species of fish larvae (e.g. Atlantic cod Gadus morhua and herring Clupea harengus, white crappie Pomoxis annularis and red drum Sciaenops ocellatus), usually classified as visual predators. Given the frequency that saltatory predation behaviour is observed, one would expect that this type of foraging provides an optimal balance between the energy expended whilst swimming, as against the potential energy to be gained upon successfully capturing some suitable prey. However, visual predators must live and forage in the upper 10s of metres of the ocean mixed layer, where light levels are relatively high, which means that their ability to find and capture prey is strongly influenced by small-scale turbulence. The strength of the turbulence regime characterising the water motion of the mixed layer is subject to considerable variation, but given the commonalty of saltatory predation, one would suspect that it remains a robust strategy under a variety of different conditions. This paper seeks to address this issue by studying the impact of saltatory predation over a wide cross section of turbulent environments. By means of a combination of kinematic simulations and theoretical predictions, the paper demonstrates that saltatory predation is indeed a robust and optimal strategy in the sense described, provided the larva’s travel speed is not too high. However, when subject to very high levels of turbulence a larva’s net energy gain peaks and then falls, leading to a prediction that it would either cease foraging altogether, or seek an escape from such an environment.
Plasma Profiles of Growth Hormone, Prolactin and Insulin-like Growth Factor-I during Gestation, Lactation and the Neonatal Period in Goats

The objectives of this research were to characterize plasma profiles of growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) during gestation and the lactation period in goats, as well as in their suckling growing kids. There were no obvious changes in the GH or PRL profiles during gestation, but secretion of both GH and PRL increased acutely after parturition. The elevated GH concentrations were maintained until 3 months after parturition, whereas the PRL concentrations decreased gradually after parturition. The elevated hormone concentrations are thought to be caused mainly by an increase in the secretory pulse amplitudes. In contrast to the GH and PRL profiles, the plasma IGF-I concentrations during late gestation were significantly higher than the post-parturition concentrations, and the IGF-I concentrations in late gestation decreased gradually until the day of parturition. The plasma GH, PRL and IGF-I concentrations in kids 1 week after birth were high, and concentrations of each hormone decreased thereafter. These results show that the increased secretory potencies of pituitary GH and PRL after parturition are caused mainly by an increase in the secretory pulse amplitudes and that plasma GH is inversely related to plasma IGF-I compared over gestation and the lactation period in goats.
Barriers to Hydride Transfer in Wild Type and Mutant Dihydrofolate Reductase from E. coli

We have calculated the distribution of activation energies for the key hydride transfer step in the reduction of dihydrofolate by the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase in wild-type DHFR as well as the G121S and G121V variants of the Escherichia coli enzyme using combined quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical methods. Comparison of the activation energy distributions present in the three protein systems demonstrates that the ensemble of energy barriers differs in each. The features of these energy barrier distributions are consistent with experimentally determined reaction rates for the three proteins and support experimental observations demonstrating time-dependent variation in the reaction rate of individual enzyme molecules. This occurrence suggests that several distinct conformational substates in the proteins modify the potential energy surface for the reaction. A select set of distances and dihedral angles was observed to correlate well with the progress of the reaction or with the presence of protei.
Isolation and purification of intralamellar vesicles from Lemna minor L. chloroplasts

SUMMARY Intralamellar vesicles (IV) from chloroplasts of Lemna minor L. have been isolated and purified on a sucrose gradient, following sonication. Electron microscopy studies and lipid composition analyses suggest that IV are different in structure and in lipid composition from plastoglobuli. The presence of a high galactolipid composition (70%) suggests that IV are surrounded by a membrane (unit or half-unit). The ratio of diacylgalactosylglycerol/diacyldigalactosylglycerol (3.9) of IV is similar to that of thylakoid membranes facing the stroma.
Reduced oxidation of fresh pork in the presence of exogenous hydrolases and bacteria at 2°C

Exogenous lipase and phospholipase A2 added to ground pork released free fatty acids (FFA) and reduced lipid oxidation as indicated by TBA values during storage at 2°C. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) added to ground pork to bind FFA accelerated lipid oxidation. Both lipase and phospholipase‐producing bacteria increased in numbers, and pseudomonads that produced lipase and phospholipase became the predominant bacteria growing in pork stored at 2°C. The TBA values of ground pork, which were exposed to the growth of natural microbial flora, were reduced up to 84% during storage at 2°C for 16 d. Pseudomonas fragi K1 inoculated into sterilized ground pork reduced TBA values and oxidation volatiles including saturated aldehydes, unsaturated aldehydes, alcohols and ketones.
Evolution of length variation and heteroplasmy in the chloroplast rDNA of symbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium, Dinophyta) and a novel insertion in the universal core region of the large subunit rDNA

Abstract Marine dinoflagellates are a diverse and ecologically important group of unicellular protists responsible for events such as ‘red tides’ and for forming mutualistic symbioses with various invertebrates. However, little is known about the evolution of organellar DNA in these organisms. We analysed domain V of the chloroplast large subunit ribosomal DNA (cp23S-rDNA) from a variety of symbiotic dinoflagellates and uncovered several unique features. These included length heteroplasmy of cp23S-rDNA that resulted from deletion mutations and the presence of a 1–13 bp nucleotide insertion in the universal core region. The insertion in the large subunit rDNA is novel across all kingdoms and appears to be a unique derived state for the symbiotic genus Symbiodinium. In addition, analysis of expansion segments (ES) revealed that the cp23S-rDNA domain V of symbiotic dinoflagellates is the most size variable of any known plastid-harbouring organism. Our results demonstrate that the universal core secondary structure and the chloroplast rDNA ES are less constrained in size than previously thought.
The influence of air temperature on the starting date of Quercus pollination in the South of Europe

In temperate zones the air temperature influences many aspects of the plant growth and also the time of flowering is often correlated with this environmental parameter. It is a generally accepted idea that higher temperatures in the period preceding ripening of the flowers determine earlier pollination. To verify if a correlation between the air temperature and the date of onset of the pollination period of Quercus spp. exists, a comparative study was carried out over 7 years (1995–2001) in two South-European towns: Vigo (Spain) and Perugia (Italy). Quercus pollen is released in the atmosphere of Perugia on average in the last two weeks of April while in the Spanish region the pollination occurs on average one month before. In order to overcome the dormancy period Perugia requires 1110 Chilling Hours (CH)-884 Growth Degree-Days (GDD°C) and Vigo 709 CH-861 GDD°C. With the Ashcroft method Perugia needs 1075 CH-1000 GDD°C and Vigo 625 CH-1512 GDD°C. Heat accumulation from the end of winter dormancy to the onset of pollination, showed the highest significance when mean temperature in Perugia and maximum temperature in Vigo were used. Every year we have found that the colder station needed a lower heat accumulation: Perugia required a higher quantity of chilling and heat than Vigo. However, the correlation detected between temperature and flowering was, on average, less significant that those found in the same regions for other arboreal taxa that present winter pollination (e.g. Corylus, Alnus). This preliminary study suggests that there is an effect of air temperature on Quercus pollination, but other environmental factors, such as photoperiod, hours of light, rainfall, relative humidity, may be of great influence in determining the onset of pollination in plants with a spring flowering.
Will the Real Self-Thinning Rule Please Stand Up?--A Reply to Osawa and Sugita

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Analysis of N‐ and O‐linked glycans of glycoproteins

Analysis of glycosylation is an important aspect of the characterization of glycoproteins, which is often overlooked. Over 75% of proteins including the majority of secreted and cell surface proteins that are important in cellular signaling events are potentially glycosylated. The molecular structures and the mechanism of the interactions of glycoproteins cannot be fully appreciated without knowledge of the structure and distribution of the associated glycans. Although glycan analysis still requires some specialized expertise and understanding of glycobiology, the strategies based on HPLC, gel and capillary electrophoresis, and mass spectrometry that are now available allow the analysis to be performed by many laboratories with protein chemistry expertise. Keywords: glycoprotein; glycosylation; glycan analysis; HPLC; mass spectrometry
Cultivo de ostión Crassostrea gigas: Análisis de 40 años de actividades en México

This study is the revision of the culture of the oyster Crassostrea gigas since its introduction in Mexico 40 years ago. The introduction occurred in Baja California during 1973 and then the cultures expanded to other states. There is no juvenile collection from the wild so the spat is produced in national and foreign hatcheries. Current culture systems are; hanging oysters fixed on ropes from racks, oyster trays in long-lines, and plastic mesh bags set on trestles. Mortality outbreaks have been detected since 1997 and today is known that events occur in March-April and November affecting oysters less than 50 mm long. Two diseases related to mortality outbreaks have been confirmed for C. gigas in Mexico; herpesvirus and perkinsosis. Production collapsed due to mortalities leading to a crisis of the activity; signs of recovery are seen until 2010 with a production of 2,858 tonnes. Aquatic animal health agencies as well as state oyster committees in Baja California, Baja California Sur, and Sonora have been key elements for the recovery and organization of oyster industry in the region. At present, studies in genetics are in course to produce disease-resistant oysters and there are promising results using new experimental culture systems. However, problems associated with the activity are diverse and require important efforts from all sectors involved to consolidate the cultivation of the species in the region.