Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Photosynthetic Development of Micropropagated Strawberry Plantlets following Transplanting

Leaves from plantlets of Fragaria × ananassa Duch. cv. Gento cultured in vitro do not fix sufficient carbon to maintain the plantlets without an added carbon source. Following transplanting to glasshouse conditions these leaves fail to develop significant photosynthetic ability and degenerate. Those leaves developing subsequent to transplanting are photosynthetically capable. The possible transitory, nutritive function of leaves produced in vitro is discussed.
Distributed Multi-target Tracking in Camera Networks Using Multi-step Consensus

—In this paper problem of distributed multi-target tracking in large scale camera networks is discussed and a new algorithm based on consensus is proposed. The considered networks are characterized by sparse communication and coverage topologies, as well as the presence of clutter and multiple targets, which make the application of distributed frameworks challenging. The proposed algorithm uses Joint Probabilistic Data Associations (JPDA) methodology to address the clutter and multi-target problem. It applies a novel multi-step consensus strategy which adapts network communication weights to reﬂect differences between the nodes caused by the adopted network setting. Compared to the existing state of the art algorithms, in spite of having reduced communication requirements, the proposed scheme achieves the same performance quality in terms of the mean estimation error and much better performance in terms of the disagreement between the nodes’ estimates due to its speciﬁc consensus design.
Diurnal and Seasonal Variation in the Water Relations of Some Deciduous and Evergreen Trees of a Deciduous Dry Forest of the Western Coast of Mexico

(1) Diurnal and seasonal water relations were determined in leaves of Couepia colyandra Aubl. , Thouinidium decandrum Radlk. , Randia armata L. (evergreens); Trichilia trifolia L. , Thouiniapaocidentata Poit. (dry season deciduous); Jacquiniapungens A. Gray, Coccoloba liebmannii Lindau, and Forchhammeria pallida Liebm. (wet season deciduous) in a tropical dry-deciduous forest of the western Coast of Mexico, where the rainy season is from June to October. (2) The difference in the minimal value of leaf water potential (0) experienced by the wet-deciduous species between the dry and the rainy season was on average -142 MPa, with absolute values of -14 and-3 -0 MPa for February and April, respectively. This difference was only 0 48 MPa in the evergreen species. The minimum value of I of the wetdeciduous species fell from 2 5 MPa and -12 MPa in February for J. pungens and C. liebmannii, respectively, to -3 7 and-3 0 MPa in April. The difference in the minimum values of turgor potential registered between the wet and the dry season was considerably less than the difference registered in A. (3) The maximum value of the modulus of elasticity (emax) varied widely between species and time of the year. The three wet-deciduous species showed the highest values of Emax ranging from 35-50 MPa in November to 20-25 MPa in February. The seasonal change in Emax of the evergreen species showed a similar trend but at a lower level (23-25 MPa in November, to 8-12 in July). The dry-deciduous species showed the lowest Bmax ranging from 7 to 11 MPa in November but with little change in February. (4) Evergreen and wet-deciduous species showed a higher capacity to tolerate water stress than the dry-deciduous species.
Designate Speculate Rapid Reviewers for Successful Product Marketing in Online Websites

In today developed world, every minute, people around the globe express themselves via various platforms on the Web. And in every minute a mass amount of unstructured data is generated. We find that users with long-term purchasing intent tend to save and click through on more content. However, as users approach the time of purchase their activity becomes more topically focused and actions shift from saves to searches. We propose a novel Long-Short Demands-aware Model (LSDM), in which both user’s interests towards items and user’s demands over time are incorporated. We create different clusters to group the successive product purchases together according to different time spans, and use recurrent neural networks to model each sequence of clusters at a time scale.
Hemolymph Ecdysone and Electrolytes during the Molting Cycle of Crayfish: A Comparison of Natural Molts with Those Induced by Eyestalk Removal or Multiple Limb Autotomy

In studies of crustacean molting, eyestalk removal (ER) or multiple limb autotomy (MLA) has traditionally been used to precipitate ecdysis. This study was undertaken to determine whether the general physiological condition of the crayfish Procambarus clarkii, at 23° C, induced to molt either by ER or MLA, is comparable to that of animals molting naturally. Hemolymph was sampled every 2 d up to and for 3 wk following ecdysis. Samples were assayed for ecdysone (as an endocrine measure) and inorganic electrolytes (Ca, Na, Cl, K, Mg), which were selected for study since regulatory hormones originate in the eyestalk. Following surgery, ER crayfish underwent lethal ecdysis within 13 d, sooner than MLA crayfish (36 d). In the control group, ecdysone peaked approximately 5 d before ecdysis. For induced molts, the ecdysone peak was two times larger and was more protracted. Calcium was elevated 15 d before natural molts as a result of cuticular reabsorption, then returned to baseline level and exhibited a transitory decrease at ecdysis as a result of water loading. The MLA crayfish had a similar Ca profile, except that the peak occurred earlier and in advance of the ecdysone peak. A premolt Ca peak was not observed in ER crayfish; levels of all ions were greatly reduced at ecdysis because of excessive water uptake. The ecdysone and Ca profiles did not appear to be linked in any treatment. Sodium and Cl profiles were very similar in all treatments, essentially decreasing as a result of water uptake around the time of ecdysis. Potassium remained constant in control crayfish. In MLA crayfish it decreased around the time of ecdysis, and in ER crayfish it exhibited both a postsurgical decrease and a more pronounced decrease at ecdysis. Magnesium in control and MLA crayfish decreased in premolt and remained low, possibly contributing to exoskeletal mineralization; however, levels were elevated in ER crayfish. Collectively, the data demonstrate that ER crayfish experience severe hemolymph dilution at ecdysis as a result of increased water influx, which may contribute to death. The eyestalks appear to contain factors that regulate water and electrolyte balance. Although MLA crayfish molted successfully, the profiles for ecdysone and electrolytes, while superficially similar to those of control crayfish, were sufficiently different that the two groups cannot be considered physiologically or metabolically equivalent.
Effect of 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide on the expressions of CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP3A4, and GSTP1, and the receptors AhR, ARNT, and PXR in HepG2 cells

Abstract This study aims to evaluate the effects of 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([C8mim]Br) on the expressions of phase I and phase II enzymes in the human hepatoma (HepG2) cells. The results showed that [C8mim]Br-exposure significantly up-regulated the transcription of CYP1A1, AhR, and ARNT, whereas it down-regulated CYP1A2 expression. However, transcription of CYP3A4 and PXR was suppressed at an early time of exposure (6 h) but subsequently increased. GSTP1 transcription in the cells increased from 6 to 12 h of [C8mim]Br-exposure; however, it was almost completely repressed at the end of the experiment. Additionally, [C8mim]Br-exposure increased the protein content of CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP3A4, and GSTP1 in HepG2 cells. The result indicates that [C8mim]Br disrupts cellular metabolism by altering the enzymes of CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP3A4 and GST in HepG2 cells.
Establishing and application of a syngeneic cerebral metastasis mouse model

Metastases are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in breast cancer patients. However, current treatments are of limited efficiency because so far very little is known about the colonisation of breast cancer cells into the metastatic organs, in particular the brain. It has been demonstrated that epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) facilitates tumour metastasis with poor prognosis. Moreover, the tumour cell progression might properly be dynamic: EMT during invasion and a reversal (MET) during growth of metastasis. Consequently, EMT and MET might be a promising target as a possible therapeutic cancer treatment. Therefore, the aim of this study was to establish a syngeneic mouse model to investigate the colonization at the distant organs, in this case the brain, of metastatic breast cancer cells and the impact of EMT and MET on this part during the metastasis process. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that dysregulation of Wnt signalling is associated with metastasis and also plays an important role in tumour genesis. Furthermore, the Wnt signalling pathway is known to induce EMT and MET and is dysregulated in several cancers, with different Wnt molecules being up regulated. If the Wnt pathway is important in cancer proliferation and metastasis, inhibitors of Wnts may be valuable for a therapeutic strategy. However, because of the multiple receptor combinations and no-central kinase activity the inhibition of the Wnt pathway is not trivial. Therefore, to inhibit the secretion of the Wnt-molecules seemed a very promising strategy. One of the key enzymes during secretion is the membrane bound O-acetyltransferase Porcupine. Inhibition of Porcupine leads to the inhibition of Wnt palmitoylation and Wnt secretion, and therefore, indirect inhibition of receptor binding and activation of the pathway. One Porcupine inhibitor, LGK974, is believed to block initiation of tumours through this mechanism suggesting LGK974 is a good treatment approach for cancer patients. The second aim of this study was now to investigate the inhibitory effects of LGK974, not in tumour initiation, we wanted to study the effect during cerebral colonization in vitro and in vivo. Finally, we wanted to investigate the role of the immune system, microglia and astrocytes, during the invasion of breast cancer in the brain. The established immune-competed mouse model provides an opportunity to address this question. Here, the response of microglia and astrocytes to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to trigger an immune response. In conclusion, a syngeneic cerebral metastasis mouse model was established and different treatment strategies were proved on this. Moreover, the process of colonization of the brain, and the impact of the immune systems on in this progress were investigated.
Disentangling the Tillandsia capillaris complex: phylogenetic relationships and taxon boundaries in Andean populations

We studied the genetic diversity and structure of the Tillandsia capillaris complex, a morphologically diverse group of highly specialized epiphytes, across the distribution range in arid mountain regions of central Peru, Chile, Bolivia and central Argentina. To elucidate the phylogenetic relationships in the complex and to explore the taxon boundaries among populations, we used three plastid markers (rpoB-trnC-petN, trnK-matK-trnK, ycf1, c. 8100 bp in total) and one single-copy nuclear gene (PHYC, c. 1200 bp) for 69 populations and 96 individuals of the T. capillaris complex plus 16 outgroup taxa. Bayesian inference of plastid DNA data indicates the existence of two evolutionary core lineages, which can be recognized as two distinct species: T. capillaris and T. virescens (as proposed previously on the basis of morphological characters). Tillandsia capillaris is a monophyletic and homogeneous group, widely distributed and less genetically variable, whereas T. virescens (including T. kuehhasii) is genetically more divergent with most of the forms growing at high elevation in arid areas, except for the small clade including T. virescens s.s. (= T. cordobensis), which grows in lower, more humid habitats. The nuclear analysis resulted in a polytomy with some individuals showing incongruent positions between plastid and nuclear topologies. The high haplotype diversity, consisting of 63 plastid DNA haplotypes in 69 populations, was resolved as two core lineages occurring from north to south, allowing us to establish a preliminary view of the genetic variation overlapping between the two taxa. The results suggest that the genetic differentiation into two main clades is consistent with morphological variation in this Andean complex.
Nonchemical Control of Bed Bugs

American Entomologist • Volume 52, Number 2 Of all the pests that I have dealt with during undergraduate projects, through graduate school, and during five years in the pest control industry, bed bugs are the ultimate in terms of difficulty and intensity of measures needed to achieve satisfactory control. This is the first pest I have encountered for which nonchemical methods are not just an option or substitute for chemical control, but a necessary and mandatory first step for reducing and controlling infestations. When providing control recommendations against bed bugs, nonchemical measures should be foremost in the list of required practices, and chemical measures should be used only as a remedial (or second-line) measure. As I summarize my experiences with current nonchemical measures, keep in mind that supportive research in this area is modest to nonexistent. To date, the development of control measures against bed bugs has been a matter of trial and error, in which a decrease in control failures (and therefore fewer re-treatments) has been the sole measure of the success of the strategy. Several of the nonchemical methods currently used against bed bugs are proper and thorough inspections, vacuuming, steaming, isolation and cleaning of infested garments, thermal treatments, and use of mattress covers. In addition, a few creative measures have been tried or suggested, the merits of which have yet to be rigorously evaluated. A quick summary of nonchemical measures may be useful.
Spatial and temporal changes in water quality along natural and restored side-arms of a large New Zealand river.

Summary Heterogeneity of lateral habitats along large rivers can enhance rates of ecological processes such as nutrient transformations and contaminant sequestration. Consequently, construction or reconnection of hydraulic retention zones such as side-arms is being widely promoted in river restoration projects, although limited information is available to quantify the benefits to water quality. We sampled natural side-arms and a reconstructed side-arm at different phases of hydrological connectivity on a large floodplain river in northern New Zealand to quantify changes to water quality within and between side-arms, and to determine changes associated with reconnection. Sampling of seven side-arm outlets during low flow indicated reduced NO3-N concentrations but elevated conductivity and total suspended sediment (TSS) compared with the river. Longitudinal changes within disconnected side-arms were most pronounced at outlet and/or mid-arm locations where total nitrogen and NO3-N declined relative to inlets, while TSS and conductivity increased. Concentrations of dissolved oxygen were also markedly reduced in side-arms during disconnection. The natural and reconstructed side-arms displayed different temporal responses to connectivity, with NH4-N and TSS in particular becoming elevated along the natural side-arm during low connectivity, while TSS declined and PO4-P increased along the reconstructed side-arm. These temporal differences were likely caused by (i) differences in side-arm age (time since formation) affecting substrate composition, riparian vegetation and hydrological pathways, and (ii) bioturbation by large benthic-feeding invasive fish which became trapped in natural side-arms during disconnection. These results suggest potential for side-arm reconstruction to influence water quality at the local scale if (i) large invasive fish that mobilise bottom sediments can be excluded at times of disconnection, and (ii) side-arms are maintained to ensure transformation and attenuation processes persist over time and continue to provide water quality benefits.
The relationship of nucleolar size to protein synthesis in cells of the hair cortex of rats.

The nucleolus is the dense organelle situated inside the nucleus of cells and composed of protein, RNA, and DNA. Since Caspersson (1950) demonstrated that the nucleolus is part of the cell organization concerned with protein synthesis many experiments have been reported which relate changes in the nucleolus to changes in protein synthesis. Often the reports are based on experiments in which the rate of protein synthesis in cells was not measured directly but inferred and the nucleolus was not identified by a reliable method. The conclusion drawn from most of these experiments is that the total amount of nucleolar material per cell increases with an increase in the rate of protein synthesis (Sirlin, 1962). Recently Mintz (1964) has made observations on the early development of the mammalian egg which are compatible with this conclusion.
Structural and biochemical properties of a novel pullulanase of Paenibacillus lautus DSM 3035

The pullulanase gene (pulPL), encoding a novel type I pullulanase (PulPL), was obtained from a Paenibacillus lautus DSM3035 isolate. The gene has an open reading frame of 2355 bp, After optimizing induction conditions in Escherichia coli, we overexpressed recombinant PulPL, purified this enzyme, and assayed its function . The level of functional PulPL-like protein reached its maximum (about 0.28 mg/mL, 15% of total protein) after induction for 16 h at 20°C. Under these optimized harvesting conditions, PulPL activity was 11.1 U/mL. The purified recombinant enzyme with an apparent molecular mass of about 87.9 kDa was able to specifically attack the α-1,6 linkages in pullulan to generate maltotriose as the major product. The purified PulPL exhibited optimal activity at pH 7.0 and 40°C. The PulPL hydrolyzed pullulan, amylopectin, starch, and glycogen, but not amylose. Substrate specificity observations and reaction products identifications indicate that the purified pullulanase from P. lautus DSM3035 is a type I pullulanase. The present report, to our knowledge, the first to identify type I pullulanase in P.lautus, and detail the enzymatic properties of this enzyme after heterologous expression.
High temperature and salt stress response in French bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris )

Abiotic stresses, such as high temp. , and salt stress are major factors which reduce crop productivity. Effects of high temp. (46-​48° C) and salt stress (0.4 M) on French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)​, a major vegetable crop, were evaluated in terms of antioxidants and antioxidant enzymes in S-​9 cultivar. Both stresses caused similar responses in the plant. Oxidative stress indicators such as H2O2, TBARS, glutathione, ascorbic acid, and proline were significantly elevated. Similarly, antioxidant enzyme, guaiacol-​specific peroxidase (POX) was significantly elevated. Other enzymes, β-​amylase and acid phosphatase (AP) activities were marginally enhanced. However, stresses had contrasting effects on glutathione reductase (GR) and catalase (CAT)​, which were drastically reduced in temp. stress, and elevated in salt stress. No variations were obsd. in AP, POX, and CAT isoenzymes. Patterns of GR and β-​amylase isoenzymes differed between temp. and salt stress. SDS-​PAGE indicated entirely different sets of proteins in temp. and salt stressed seedlings. Growth rate and fresh mass were affected to same extent, relative to their resp. controls. DNA damage was more pronounced under temp. stress than under salt stress. Response mechanism of French bean appears to involve some players which are common to both the stresses, and few specific to individual stress.
Effects of ultrasonication on damaged spermatozoa and mitochondrial activity rate

The aim of this study was to describe an optimal sonication procedure for sperm cells. Therefore, we used several parameters such as damaged spermatozoa rate (%), mitochondrial activity rate (%), levels of lipid peroxidation, and total antioxidant potential. Ejaculates were collected from rams (n = 3) and were divided into aliquots and 3-, 6-, and 10-s duration times; 1, 3, 5, and 8 repetitive application groups were established. In the groups with 3-, 6- and 10-s duration times, with the increasing number of repeated applications, damaged spermatozoa rates increased (P < 0.05) while mitochondrial activity rates decreased (P < 0.05). In relation with sonication duration time, total antioxidant potential levels increased (P < 0.05) in single-application groups compared to those in control groups and gradually decreased as the repetitions increased. The most effective results were obtained in the group with 8 repetitions and 10-s duration based on damaged spermatozoa rate and mitochondrial activity rate.
Population Biology and Production of the Red Swamp Crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard) in the Lower Mondego River Valley, Portugal

ABSTRACT The population of Procambarus clarkii from the lower Mondego River valley, Portugal, was studied for 13 months. Population structure was analyzed and 7 cohorts were identified. The main recruitment period occurred from the second half of October to the end of November, but juveniles were found throughout the year. Tracking recognizable cohorts along size-frequency distributions from successive sampling dates allowed an estimation of growth parameters in order to calibrate a growth model incorporating seasonal adjustments. Average growth rate was estimated at 1.16 mm of total length per week. Production was estimated at 27.22 g m-2 per year, the average biomass at 5.4 g m-2, and the P/B ratio at 5.03. Females outnumbered males throughout the year and the average sex ratio was 0.24.
FLORA APÍCOLA E MANEJO DE APIÁRIOS NA REGIÃO DO RECÔNCAVO SUL DA BAHIA Apicultural flora and apiary management in the reconcavo - south Bahia region

O trabalho foi conduzido nos anos de 1980 a 1982 e 2001, com o objetivo de avaliar a flora produtora de polen e nectar nativa ou exotica visitadas por Apis mellifera, existente nas cidades de Cruz das Almas, Governador Mangabeira, Muritiba, Sao Felix e Cachoeira, Bahia. Semanalmente, foi observada a visitacao das abelhas as flores das plantas que estavam florindo. Trinta e nove especies vegetais, pertencentes a 17 familias e 30 generos, foram visitadas por abelhas. As familias de maior ocorrencia foram: Compositae, Leguminosae e Verbenaceae. Verificou-se que das especies vegetais visitadas 48,7% eram herbaceas. Dois periodos de maior fluxo de secrecao nectarifera foram observados. O periodo de maior expressao foi de julho a setembro, onde ocorreu o pico de floracao das seguintes especies: Vernonia membranaceae, Vernonia fruticulosa, Citrus spp, Eupatorium ballataefolium, Centratherum violaceum, Blanchetia heterotricha, Mikania cordifolia, Cosmo caudatus, Borreria verticillata, Borreria capitata, Eucalyptus spp. , Lantana aculeata, Serjania sp. Portanto, em julho, recomendase fazer uma revisao do apiario: unir familias fracas, introduzir rainhas e preparar melgueiras com cera alveolada. O segundo periodo vai de outubro a dezembro, com a floracao das especies: Anacardium occidentalis, Croton campestris, Struthantus sp. , Turnera subulata, Mangifera indica, Eugenia malaccensis, Vernonia Fruticulosa. O periodo de escassez de flores ocorre de janeiro a marco. Existem especies que florescem o ano todo (Aspilia foliata, Cosmos caudatus, Melissa officinalis, Antigonum lepitopus, Richardia grandiflora, Stachytarpheta bicolor). Essas plantas, somadas aquelas que florescem no periodo de maior fluxo nectarifero sao, provavelmente, as que mais contribuem para a producao de mel nos municipios estudados.