Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Brain evolution in Homo: The “radiator” theory

Abstract The “radiator” theory of brain evolution is proposed to account for “mosaic evolution” whereby brain size began to increase rapidly in the genus Homo well over a million years after bipedalism had been selected for in early hominids. Because hydrostatic pressures differ across columns of fluid depending on orientation (posture), vascular systems of early bipeds became reoriented so that cranial blood flowed preferentially to the vertebral plexus instead of the internal jugular vein in response to gravity. The Hadar early hominids and robust australopithecines partly achieved this reorientation with a dramatically enlarged occipital/marginal sinus system. On the other hand, hominids in the gracile australopithecine through Homo lineage delivered blood to the vertebral plexus via a widespread network of veins that became more elaborate through time. Mastoid and parietal emissary veins are representatives of this network, and increases in their frequencies during hominid evolution are indicative of its development. Brain size increased with increased frequencies of mastoid and parietal emissary veins in the lineage leading to and including Homo, but remained conservative in the robust australopithecine lineage that lacked the network of veins. The brain is an extremely heatsensitive organ and emissary veins in humans have been shown to cool the brain under conditions of hyperthermia. Thus, the network of veins in the lineage leading to Homo acted as a radiator that released a thermal constraint on brain size. The radiator theory is in keeping with the belief that basal gracile and basal robust australopithecines occupied distinct niches, with the former living in savanna mosaic habitats that were subject to hot temperatures and intense solar radiation during the day.
Measuring science

When you can measure what you are speaking about and express it in numbers, you know something about it. Otherwise your knowledge is a meagre and unsatisfactory kind; it may be the beginning of knowledge but you have scarcely in thought advanced to the stage of science. Lord Kelvin, 1824-1904
Transcriptional Activation bytheAcidic DomainofVmw65 Requires theIntegrity oftheDomainandInvolves Additional Determinants Distinct fromThose Necessary forTFIIBBinding

Inthis workwe haveexamined therequirements foractivity oftheacidic domainofVmw65(VP16) by deletion andsite-directed mutagenesis oftheregion inthecontext ofGAL4fusion proteins. Theresults indicate thatthepresent interpretation ofwhatactually constitutes theactivation domainisnotcorrect. We demonstrate, using a promoter withone target site whichisefficiently activated bythewild-type (wt) fusion protein, that aminoacids distal toresidue 453arecritical foractivity. Truncation ofthedomain orsubstitution ofresidues inthedistal region almost completely abrogate activity. However, inactivating mutations within the distal regionarecomplemented byusing apromoter containing multiple target sites. Moreover, duplication of theproximal region, butnotthedistal region, restores theability toactivate a promoter witha single target site. Theseresults indicate some distinct qualitative difference between theproximal anddistal regions. We havealso examined thebinding ofnuclear proteins tothewtdomainandtoa variant withthedistal region inactivated bymutation. Thelackofactivity ofthis variant isnotexplained bya lackofbinding ofTFIIB, a protein previously reported tobethelikely target oftheacidic domain. Therefore some additional function is involved intranscriptional activation bytheaciddomain, anddeterminants distinct fromthose involved in TFIB binding arerequired forthis function. Analysis ofthetotal protein profiles binding tothewtandmutant domains hasdemonstrated theselective binding tothewtdomainofa 135-kDa polypeptide, whichistherefore acandidate component involved inthis additional function. Thisisthefirst report toprovide evidence forthe proposal ofamultiplicity ofinteractions within theacidic domain, byuncoupling requirements foronefunction fromthose foranother. Transcription ofRNA polymerase IIpromoters isbrought aboutbytheorchestrated assembly ofa large initiation complex whichhasa numberofcomponents including the RNA polymerase IIsubunits, theTATA-binding protein (TBP)andtightly boundTBP-associated factors, andthe transcription factors TFIIA, TFIIB, TFIIE, TFIIF, TFIIH, andTFIIJ(for reviews, seereferences 30,42,44,48). The proposed mechanisms oftranscriptional stimulation byactivation domains ingeneral andacidic activation domains in particular can broadly bedivided intowhether thephysiologically relevant target isa memberofthecomplement of basal factors oftheinitiation complex or an adaptor species notrequired forbasaltranscription butnecessaryforacti
Ecological characteristics of modern diatom assemblages from Axel Heiberg Island (High Arctic Canada) and their application to paleolimnological inference models

Relationships between modern surface sediment diatom assemblages and measured water chemistry variables were examined from 30 lakes and ponds on Axel Heiberg Island (Nunavut) in the Canadian High Arctic. Canonical corre- spondence analysis with forward selection and Monte Carlo permutation tests identified dissolved organic carbon, dis- solved inorganic carbon, specific conductance, and pH as the measured environmental variables explaining significant proportions of the diatom variance. Canonical correspondence analysis axis 1 represented a gradient of specific conduc- tance, and axis 2 was influenced primarily by pH. To increase the signal-to-noise ratio in our reconstructions, the species data sets were refined to include only taxa that had significant responses to either conductivity or pH, as determined by Huisman Olff Fresco models of species-environment relationships. Diatom-based inference models were subsequently de- veloped for both lakewater specific conductance (r 2 boot = 0.75, root mean square error of prediction = 0.22) and lakewater pH (r 2 boot = 0.31, root mean square error of prediction = 0.57) using weighted averaging techniques. These data contribute to our understanding of diatom biogeography throughout the Canadian Arctic and have implications for regional paleocli- matic reconstructions in these climatically and environmentally sensitive regions.
Birth of a healthy infant following trophectoderm biopsy from blastocysts for PGD of β-thalassaemia major: Case report

: PGD is a well accepted reproductive choice for couples at genetic risk and involves the diagnosis and transfer of unaffected IVF embryos. PGD for monogenetic diseases is most commonly accomplished by the biopsy of one or two blastomeres from cleavage stage embryos, followed by PCR-based protocols. However, PCR-based DNA analysis of one or two cells is subject to several problems, including total PCR failure, or failure of one allele to amplify. Trophectoderm biopsy at the blastocyst stage enables the removal of more than two cells for diagnosis while being non-invasive to the inner cell mass which is destined for fetal development. The aim of this study was to develop a safe, reliable technique for the biopsy of trophectoderm cells from human blastocysts. This case report demonstrates that removal of trophectoderm cells prior to blastocyst transfer is compatible with implantation and development to term. Here we report successful PGD for beta-thalassaemia following trophectoderm cell biopsy from blastocysts and the birth of a healthy infant.
SCREENING OF THE BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY FROM ESSENTIAL OILS OF NATIVE SPECIES FROM THE ATLANTIC RAIN FOREST (SÃO PAULO - BRAZIL)

Summary The essential oils from Symphyopappus itatiayensis (Asteraceae), Myrciaria floribunda (Myrtaceae), Talauma ovata (Magnoliaceae), Psidium cattleyanum (Myrtaceae) and Nectandra megapotamica (Lauraceae) were assayed for antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities. All the oils tested were active towards S. aureus and P.aeruginosa and none of them could be considered active against E. coli. The oil of P. cattleyanum was the only one which significantly inhibited the growth of C. albicans (42%). In the anti-inflammatory assay, only oils active were those from P. cattleyanum and N. megapotamica and three of them caused toxic effects to the leukocytes, M. floribunda, S. itatiayensis and T. ovata. The antitumor assay showed that only the oils of N. megapotamica and M. floribunda were able to cause lethality higher than 50% to at least one of the cell line. The results indicated that the essential oils have a pharmacological potential as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antitumoral agents.
ANEMIA: A PHYSIOLOGICAL MECHANISM UNDERLYING THE COST OF EGG PRODUCTION.

The 'cost of reproduction' (i.e. trade-offs between current reproduction and future fecundity and/or survival) is a central concept in life history theory, yet the physiological mechanisms underlying such costs remain unknown. Recently it has been recognised that physiological mechanisms regulating reproduction might result in costs, for example, hormones may have antagonistic pleiotropic effects in non-reproductive organs and tissues. Here we investigate the development of anemia during egg production, which may be due to estrogenic inhibition of erythropoiesis. Anemia could function as a cost via reducing oxygen carrying-capacity of the blood, compromising aerobic performance during subsequent reproductive stages. In this thesis, we provide evidence that the development of anemia is not strictly dependent on resource level (e.g. diet quality), but is directly dependent on endogenous estrogens. Therefore, this mechanism is a good candidate for a regulatory-network based trade-off involving antagonistic pleiotropic effects of estrogens, which otherwise have essential reproductive functions.
EFFECT OF FERTILIZER LEVELS AND PLANT DENSITIES ON YIELD AND PROTEIN CONTENTS OF AUTUMN PLANTED MAIZE

-1 and 0 kg Zn ha -1 and crop was sown at plant density of 57100 plants ha -1 . Increasing fertilizer levels and plant densities linearly increased plant height and grain yield. Application of Zinc accelerated tasseling and silking of maize crop, however the application of nitrogen had no significant effect on tasseling and silking. The fertilizer levels and plant densities also significantly affected protein contents of maize grain. Application of nitrogen at higher levels improved protein contents of grain however, opposite was true for protein contents of grains collected from the crop sown under higher plant densities. It was concluded that application of fertilizer at 250 kg N ha -1 and 15 kg Zn ha -1 and the sowing of crop at plant density of 99900 plants ha -1 showed
Bathyal benthic polychaetes from the N.E. Atlantic Ocean, S.W. of the British Isles

From bathyal depths in the Bay of Biscay, southwest of the British Isles, 89 species of polychaetes are described, among which are two new species, one new genus, and one new Combination, i.e. Pholoe fauveli sp. nov., Paracapitella southwardi n.gen., n. sp. , and Galathowenia oculata, new combination. Of the species taken, 52 % are also known from abyssal depths. The bathyal polychaete fauna of the North Atlantic seems to be common with that of the Arctic and the North Pacific.
Networking clusters and sequence characteristics of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) direct repeats and their evolutionary comparison with cas1 genes in lactic acid bacteria

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) widely spread in Archaea and bacteria are an acquired immunity system, which resisted on the infection of exogenous chromosome according to a mechanism similar to RNA interference. In this study, evolutionary origin and sequence feature of totally 211 CRISPRs in 192 of 588 lactic acid bacteria genomes covered 18 genera of 5 phyla were employed, and comparative analysis of direct repeats (DRs), cas1 (CRISPR-associated) genes and 16s rRNA were performed as well. In summary, 11 clusters of CRISPRs were identified based on DRs, and sequence similarity among genera even species were determined. In GC content investigation, complementary sequences and the symmetry in DRs of all clusters can opportunely construct the stem-loop secondary structure, moreover, the GC% level of spacers in one CRISPR locus was comparable, which suggested that foreign sequences with similar GC% were more likely to be inserted into the LAB genomes as a new spacer.cas1 coevolved with DRs as a whole phylogenetic cassette, while it was slightly more conservative. Besides, the distribution of cas1 and DRs was found very different with 16s rRNA in clusters, and it implied the possibility of horizontal gene transfer of LAB CRISPR loci. Key words: Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR), lactic acid bacteria, network clustering, evolutionary comparison.
Light and Electron Microscope Study of Urosporidium cannoni N. Sp., a Haplosporidian Parasite of the Polyclad Turbellarian Stylochus sp.

ABSTRACT. Urosporidium cannoni n. sp. was found in most tissues of a polyclad turbellarian associated with commercial oyster farms from eastern Moreton Bay, Australia. Mature spores had 11 to 13 episporal tails at irregular intervals around the spore wall. The spherule, prominent in development, dispersed as the spores matured. Spores were found within cysts that contained up to a few hundred spores at the same stage of development. Mature cysts occurred in groups and their masses of dark, golden spores resulted in black patches on the otherwise red‐brown turbellarian. The infection may have commercial importance.
Delayed Plumage Maturation Correlates with Testosterone Levels in Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros Males

Abstract. Black Redstart males usually have female-like (olive-brown) feathers during their first breeding season. This subadult coloration contrasts sharply with the grey and black feathers of the adults. To examine the proximate mechanisms of this phenomenon, known as delayed plumage maturation, we assessed levels of testosterone in circulating blood of subadult and adult males captured in Prague, Czech Republic. Analysis of 23 blood samples (performed by radioimmunoassay) collected during the molt, i.e., at the time of plumage development, revealed significantly higher testosterone levels in males molting to the adult color than in those molting to the subadult one. This may suggest a certain role played by testosterone in the regulation of delayed plumage maturation. However, there were no marked differences between males of different coloration and/or age during the breeding season. Analysis of 46 blood samples collected outside the molting period confirmed the seasonal testosterone pattern (spring peak and winter minimum) typical of most temperate passerines.
Incidence of diabetic retinopathy in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus attending the Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Service for Wales: retrospective analysis

Objectives To determine the incidence of any and referable diabetic retinopathy in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus attending an annual screening service for retinopathy and whose first screening episode indicated no evidence of retinopathy. Design Retrospective four year analysis. Setting Screenings at the community based Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Service for Wales, United Kingdom. Participants 57 199 people with type 2 diabetes mellitus, who were diagnosed at age 30 years or older and who had no evidence of diabetic retinopathy at their first screening event between 2005 and 2009. 49 763 (87%) had at least one further screening event within the study period and were included in the analysis. Main outcome measures Annual incidence and cumulative incidence after four years of any and referable diabetic retinopathy. Relations between available putative risk factors and the onset and progression of retinopathy. Results Cumulative incidence of any and referable retinopathy at four years was 360.27 and 11.64 per 1000 people, respectively. From the first to fourth year, the annual incidence of any retinopathy fell from 124.94 to 66.59 per 1000 people, compared with referable retinopathy, which increased slightly from 2.02 to 3.54 per 1000 people. Incidence of referable retinopathy was independently associated with known duration of diabetes, age at diagnosis, and use of insulin treatment. For participants needing insulin treatment with a duration of diabetes of 10 years or more, cumulative incidence of referable retinopathy at one and four years was 9.61 and 30.99 per 1000 people, respectively. Conclusions Our analysis supports the extension of the screening interval for people with type 2 diabetes mellitus beyond the currently recommended 12 months, with the possible exception of those with diabetes duration of 10 years or more and on insulin treatment.
Pollination ecology of acacias (Fabaceae, Mimosoideae)

We review the pollination ecology of acacias worldwide, discussing (1) the rewards provided to flower visitors, (2) the temporal patterns of flowering and reward provision and (3) the taxonomic composition of flower visitor assemblages. The flowers of most acacias (including all members of the subgenus Phyllodineae) offer only pollen to flower visitors and floral nectar is limited to a minority of species in the subgenera Acacia and Aculeiferum. The most important pollinators of acacias are social and solitary bees, although other insects and nectar-feeding birds are important in specific cases. Acacias that secrete nectar attract far more species-rich assemblages of flower visitors, although many of these are probably not important as pollinators. Most acacias in the subgenus Phyllodineae have long-lived protogynous flowers, without clear daily patterns in reward provision and visitation. In contrast, most members of the other two subgenera have flowers that last for a single day, appear to be protandrous and have clear daily patterning in reward provision and visitation. The generality of these patterns should not be assumed until the pollination ecology of many more phyllodinous acacias has been studied, particularly in arid environments. The accessibility of the floral rewards in acacia flowers makes them important examples of two general issues in plant communities—the partitioning of shared pollinators and the evolution of floral ant repellents. SBogy as G. N.
Between-year variation in determinants of offspring survival in the Sand Lizard, Lacerta agilis

Summary 1. Life-history theory predicts that clutch size and offspring size should evolve to an optimal offspring size vs number (OSN) equilibrium. 2. Offspring size in Swedish Sand Lizards ( Lacerta agilis ) decreases up to 60% during a female’s life with a concomitant increase in clutch size; why do female Sand Lizards not produce an offspring of approximately equal size through life, while adjusting clutch size in accordance with available resources? 3. Our results show that there is year-to-year variation in what factors determine female reproductive success, estimated by the number or proportion of recruits into the second year cohort. 4. In a year with relatively poor female growth rate, poor female condition and probably relatively low potential for resource acquisition, females mating with many partners did relatively better than females mating with fewer partners. 5. In the poor year, relatively larger offspring survived better than smaller ones. 6. In a year with relatively high resource levels, females producing both relatively large young and large clutches were favoured by selection. 7. Depending on environmental conditions, female ‘optimal tactics’ may differ between episodes of selection.
Weak Trophic Interactions among Birds, Insects and White Oak Saplings (Quercus alba)

Abstract We examined the interactions among insectivorous birds, arthropods and white oak saplings (Quercus alba L.) in a temperate deciduous forest under ‘open’ and ‘closed’ canopy environments. For 2 y, we compared arthropod densities, leaf damage and sapling growth. Saplings from each canopy environment were assigned to one of four treatments: (1) reference, (2) bird exclosure, (3) insecticide and (4) exclosure + insecticide. Sap-feeding insects were the most abundant arthropod feeding guild encountered and birds reduced sap-feeder densities in 1997, but not in 1998. Although there was no detectable influence of birds on leaf-chewer densities in either year, leaf damage to saplings was greater within bird exclosures than outside of bird exclosures in 1997. Insecticide significantly reduced arthropod densities and leaf damage to saplings, but there was no corresponding increase in sapling growth. Growth and biomass were greater for saplings in more open canopy environments for both years. Sap-feeder densities were higher on closed canopy than open canopy saplings in 1997, but canopy environment did not influence the effects of birds on lower trophic levels. Although previous studies have found birds to indirectly influence plant growth and biomass, birds did not significantly influence the growth or biomass of white oak saplings during our study.
Identification of tropical shrimp species by RFLP and SSCP analysis of mitochondrial genes.

Wild and farmed tropical shrimps form an important market share of seafood trade. Many of these species are differing in sensory quality, size and price. PCR-based methods have been developed for differentiation of nine penaeid shrimp species. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of two amplicons (312 bp, 16S rRNA gene; 558 bp, cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene) was used to identify two commercially important species, Penaeus monodon and Litopenaeus vannamei. Differentiation between these two species and seven other species was achieved by single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of PCR products (134 bp and 312 bp) obtained from the 16S rRNA gene. Plasmids containing the 312 bp amplicon were constructed to serve as reference material in SSCP analysis. Whereas the SSCP patterns of the 312 bp amplicon expressed some intra-species variability, the patterns obtained for the short amplicon showed no variation between different specimens of a given species.
Anaerobic respiration in the Rhodospirillaceae: characterisation of pathways and evaluation of roles in redox balancing during photosynthesis

Recent discoveries relating to pathways of anaerobic electron transport in the Rhodospirillaceae are reviewed. The main emphasis is on the organism Rhodobacter capsulatus ∗∗ but comparisons are made with Rhodobacter sphaeroides ∗∗ f. sp. denitrificans and Rhodopseudomonas palustris. The known electron acceptors for anaerobic respiration in Rhodobacter capsulatus are trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO), nitrate and nitrous oxide. In each case respiration generates a proton electrochemical gradient and in some cases can support growth on non-fermentable carbon sources. However, the principal objective of this review is to discuss the possibility that, apart from a role in energy conservation, anaerobic respiration in the photosynthetic bacteria may have a special function in maintaining redox balance during photosynthetic metabolism. Thus the electron acceptors mentioned above may serve as auxiliary oxidants: (a) to maintain an optimal redox poise of the photosynthetic electron transport chain; (b) to provide a sink for electrons during phototrophic growth on highly reduced carbon substrates. Molecular properties of the nitrate reductase, nitrous oxide reductase and a single enzyme responsible for reduction of TMAO and DMSO are discussed. These enzymes are all located in the periplasm. Electrons destined for all three enzymes can originate from the rotenone-sensitive NADH dehydrogenase but do not proceed through the antimycin- and myxothiazol-sensitive cytochrome bc1 complex. It is likely, therefor, that the pathways of anaerobic respiration overlap with the cyclic photosynthetic electron transport chain only at the level of the ubiquinone pool. Redox components which might be involved in the terminal branches of anaerobic respiration are discussed.