Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chemical Composition, Insecticidal Effect and Repellent Activity of Essential Oils of Three Aromatic Plants, Alone and in Combination, towards Sitophilus Oryzae L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Essential oils of aromatic plants with insecticidal properties are nowadays considered as alternative insecticides to protect stored products from attack by insect pests. A combination of some of these plants in the granaries is a current practice in certain localities of northern Cameroon. The aim of the present work was to analyze the impact of the combinations of the essential oils of Vepris heterophylla (Rutaceae), Ocimum canum, and Hyptis spicigera (both Lamiaceae), the three most used local aromatic plants because of their insecticidal activity and their repellent effect on Sitophilus oryzae. The present work revealed that these plants are rich in monoterpenoids. The GC/MS analyses have shown that monoterpenoids represented 65.5% for H. spicigera, 92.1% for O. canum and 47.0% for V. heterophylla. The crude essential oil of O. canum was the most insecticidal with a LD50 of 42.9 ppm. The most repellent effect was obtained by a combination of the essential oils of H. spicigera and O. canum, with a repellent percentage at 77.5%. These results suggest a suitable strategy for pest management of stored products.
Determination of a novel bitter amino acid, pulcherrimine, in the gonad of the green sea urchin Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus.

SUMMARY: A novel bitter amino acid, pulcherrimine was analyzed by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography using a linear gradient elution consisting of methanol/aqueous/acetic acid and methanol/acetic acid mixture, after being labeled with dimethylaminoazobenzenesulfonyl chloride (Dabs-Cl). Linearity of the calibration curve for pulcherrimine was high (r = 0.994) in the tested range from 0 to 4 μg/mL. By this method, the pulcherrimine content in the ovary and testis of the green sea urchin Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus, collected in the sea off Iwaki in November 1998, was analyzed. The mean pulcherrimine content in the ovary was 1.37 mg/100 g. In contrast, no pulcherrimine was detected in all testes examined. Correlation between the bitterness and the pulcherrimine content was statistically significant. These results strongly support that pulcherrimine is a bitter principle in the green sea urchin ovaries.
Maize Landraces are Less Affected by Striga hermonthica Relative to Hybrids in Western Kenya

Production of maize in western Kenya is severely constrained by the parasitic weed striga. Although productivity of maize can be improved through adoption of improved varieties, adoption of such varieties remains low in the region, as the majority of smallholder farmers still grow unimproved open-pollinated varieties (landraces). The performance of two improved hybrid varieties was evaluated against six landraces in striga-infested soils in western Kenya. The varieties were planted in plots under natural striga infestation and were supplemented with pot experiments under artificial infestation. Striga emergence was lower in landraces than in the hybrid varieties in both field and pot experiments. Similarly, height of maize plants at harvest and grain yields were higher in the landraces than in the hybrids. After three continuous cropping seasons, in all treatments, striga seedbank density increased two to seven times. Seedbank increase was higher with hybrids and two of the landraces, ‘Rachar' and ‘Endere'. These results provide an insight into the potential role landraces could play in efforts toward an integrated management approach for striga in smallholder cropping systems. They also highlight the need to develop hybrid maize lines with local adaptation to biotic constraints, specifically striga. Nomenclature: Striga, Striga hermonthica (Delile) Benth. ; maize, Zea mays L. , Zea mays L. ‘Rachar', Zea mays L. ‘Endere'. La producción de maíz en el oeste de Kenya está severamente limitada por la maleza parasítica Striga hermonthica. Aunque la productividad del maíz puede ser incrementada con la adopción de variedades mejoradas, la adopción de estas variedades sigue siendo baja en la región, ya que la mayoría de los pequeños productores todavía producen variedades no-mejoradas de polinización abierta (autóctonas). El desempeño de dos variedades mejoradas híbridas fue evaluado y comparado con seis variedades autóctonas en campos infestados con S. hermonthica en el oeste de Kenya. Las variedades fueron sembradas en parcelas con infestaciones naturales de S. hermonthica y en potes con infestaciones artificiales. La emergencia de S. hermonthica fue más baja con variedades autóctonas que con híbridos. Después de tres temporadas continuas de producción, la densidad del banco de semillas de S. hermonthica aumentó de dos a siete veces en todos los tratamientos. El aumento del banco de semillas fue mayor con variedades híbridas y con las autóctonas 'Rachar' y 'Endere'. Estos resultados brindan una idea del rol potencial que pueden jugar las variedades autóctonas en los esfuerzos para el manejo integrado de S. hermonthica en sistemas de cultivos de pequeños productores. Además, los resultados resaltan la necesidad de desarrollar líneas híbridas de maíz con adaptaciones a las limitaciones bióticas locales, especialmente S. hermonthica.
A proteo-liposome system for the analysis of the intracellular interactome of membrane proteins using amyloid precursor protein as a model

Transmembrane proteins play crucial roles in many important physiological processes. The intracellular domain of membrane proteins is key for their function by interacting with a wide variety of cytosolic proteins. It is therefore important to examine this interaction. A recently developed method to study these interactions, based on the use of liposomes as a model membrane, involves the covalent coupling of the cytoplasmic domains of membrane proteins to the liposome membrane. This allows for the analysis of interaction partners requiring both protein and membrane lipid binding. This thesis further establishes the liposome recruitment system and utilises it to examine the intracellular interactome of the amyloid precursor protein (APP), most well-known for its proteolytic cleavage that results in the production and accumulation of amyloid beta fragments, the main constituent of amyloid plaques in Alzheimer’s disease pathology. Despite this, the physiological function of APP remains largely unclear. Through the use of the proteo-liposome recruitment system two novel interactions of APP’s intracellular domain (AICD) are examined with a view to gaining a greater insight into APP’s physiological function. One of these novel interactions is between AICD and the mTOR complex, a serine/threonine protein kinase that integrates signals from nutrients and growth factors. The kinase domain of mTOR directly binds to AICD and the N-terminal amino acids of AICD are crucial for this interaction. The second novel interaction is between AICD and the endosomal PIKfyve complex, a lipid kinase involved in the production of phosphatidylinositol-3,5-bisphosphate (PI(3,5)P2) from phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate, which has a role in controlling ensdosome dynamics. The scaffold protein Vac14 of the PIKfyve complex binds directly to AICD and the C-terminus of AICD is important for its interaction with the PIKfyve complex. Using a recently developed intracellular PI(3,5)P2 probe it is shown that APP controls the formation of PI(3,5)P2 positive vesicular structures and that the PIKfyve complex is involved in the trafficking and degradation of APP. Both of these novel APP interactors have important implications of both APP function and Alzheimer’s disease. The proteo-liposome recruitment method is further validated through its use to examine the recruitment and assembly of the AP-2/clathrin coat from purified components to two membrane proteins containing different sorting motifs. Taken together this thesis highlights the proteo-liposome recruitment system as a valuable tool for the study of membrane proteins intracellular interactome. It allows for the mimicking of the protein in its native configuration therefore identifying weaker interactions that are not detected by more conventional methods and also detecting interactions that are mediated by membrane phospholipids.
Glacial survival in northern refugia? Phylogeography of the temperate shrub Rosa pendulina L. (Rosaceae): AFLP vs. chloroplast DNA variation

Identification of postglacial migration patterns and localization of possible glacial refugia are the main tasks of phylogeographical studies. Analyses of AFLPs in the European temperate shrub Rosa pendulina L. provided an insight into this issue. Similarly to a previous study of chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) haplotype variation in this species, we detected two widely distributed groups of AFLP genotypes that probably contributed to the postglacial colonization of Central Europe. The first group comprises populations from most of the Alps, the Balkans, and the Apennines. The second group includes populations from the Carpathians, the Bohemian Massif, and part of the Alps. However, geographical delimitation of the contact zone between these two lineages was situated slightly southward from the zone defined by cpDNA haplotypes. This might reflect different dispersal abilities of seeds and pollen. Populations from the Iberian Peninsula represent a separate genetic subgroup within the Alpine–Balkan group that apparently did not contribute to the most recent postglacial expansion of the species. Indications for glacial survival (defined by higher-than-average frequency-down-weighted marker values) were identified in the Balkan Peninsula and in the Southern Alps. However, one population at the northern edge of the Alps and one in the Western Carpathians also possessed very high values. This finding might be an indication of full-glacial survival in these regions and points out the importance of the Carpathians for the historical distributional changes of R. pendulina.
Sugar in the Intercellular Spaces of White Mustard Roots

SUMMARY A method is described by which it is possible to test directly for the presence of translocated radioactive sugar in the apical meristem of white mustard roots. Transverse sections of frozen root tips, following treatment of living seedlings with radioactive glucose are examined by radioautography. Radioactivity is concen trated in the conspicuous intercellular spaces and to a lesser degree in the inter vening cell walls. These results are in harmony with the theory of Priestley that the intercellular spaces and cell walls are the channels of transport of soluble nutrients from the ends of differentiating vascular strands to the dividing cells in the root meristem.
Alterations in TP53 gene – Implications in Tumorigenesis Process and Prognosis in Central Nervous System Cancer

Central nervous systems (CNS) malignancies, as others cancers, are formed by the uncontrol‐ led cell growth that involves the sequential accumulation of alterations in genes controlling cell proliferation, lifespan, responses to stress, relationships with neighbors, and gene homeo‐ stasis. These genetic alterations can be achieved by intragenic mutations, chromosome alterations or epigenetics modifications, all playing important role in the activation or inactivation of key genes, such as oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. Some of these mutations can be most frequently encountered in specific cancers or group of cancers and correlated with tumor biologic behavior and have implications on diagnosis, prognosis or treatment [1].
Transforming Growth Factor β1 Promotes Cell Cycle Exit through the Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 in the Developing Cerebral Cortex

During cortical neurogenesis, cell proliferation and cell cycle exit are carefully regulated to ensure that the appropriate numbers of cells are produced. The antiproliferative agent transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) and its receptors are endogenously expressed in proliferative zones of the developing cerebral cortex, thus implicating the growth factor in cell cycle regulation. The present study tested the hypothesis that TGFβ1 promotes cell cycle exit in the cortical ventricular zone (VZ) through modulation of cell cycle protein expression, in particular cyclin D1 and the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p27 and p21. Although it did not affect the length of the cell cycle, TGFβ1 decreased the fraction of VZ-cycling cells by 21% and increased the number of VZ cells exiting the cell cycle a commensurate 24%. TGFβ1 selectively increased the expression of p21 in the VZ. In addition, high p21 expression levels were observed in VZ cells as they exited the cell cycle, and TGFβ1 increased the number p21-positive cells exiting the cell cycle. Collectively, these data show the following: (1) TGFβ1 promotes cell cycle exit, (2) p21 upregulation is correlated with cell cycle exit, and (3) TGFβ1-induced cell cycle exit is mediated by p21.
Marine mammal cognition and captive care: A proposal for cognitive enrichment in zoos and aquariums

Marine mammals, particularly cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) and pinnipeds (seals, sea lions and walruses) are popular in zoos and aquariums worldwide. Bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions have also been popular study species in animal cognition research since the 1950s, and many dolphin cognitive skills are on par with great apes. This paper proposes that ‘cognitive challenges’ can enhance the wellbeing of marine mammals, in line with previous studies on farm animals and great apes. While most captive marine mammals are trained and this challenges their social-cognitive skills to a moderate or high level, their physical-cognitive skills are not being challenged to a high level by floating ‘toys’ in the pool. This paper suggests that tasks originally developed to test the limits of dolphin and sea lion cognitive skill could be modified and implemented as ‘cognitive enrichment’ in zoos and aquariums. To be enriching, cognitive challenges should be relevant, motivating, controllable, and possible to master.
Responses of Photosynthesis and Photosystem II to Higher Temperature and Salt Stress in Sorghum

Gas exchange and chlorophyll a fluorescence transient were examined in leaves of sorghum under salt stress and high temperature. During salt treatment with 50 and 150 mm NaCl, photosynthetic rate (Pn) decreased, which could be ascribed to stomatal limitation. Salt stress had no effect on photosystem II (PSII) activity. At high temperatures, PSII function was inhibited in leaves of sorghum, indicated by the decrease in PSII performance index on absorption base and PSII maximal photochemistry efficiency (Fv/Fm); however, the decrease was lower in salt-treated sorghum, suggesting that salt adaption enhanced heat tolerance of PSII. The enhanced heat resistance can be expressed on all the components of PSII including reaction centre, donor side and acceptor side. Consistently, a slight decrease in Pn was found in salt-treated sorghum at high temperatures, indicating that salt adaption also enhanced heat tolerance of photosynthesis. Proline plays an important protective role in plant response to environmental stress, and its large accumulation in salt-treated sorghum might be the underlying reason leading to the enhanced heat tolerance. As for this pattern of photosynthetic response, sorghum seems to be a reliable crop species for human beings in the face of global warming and increasing salinity of agricultural land.
Spermiogenesis and spermatozoon ultrastructure of the dilepidid cestode Molluscotaenia crassiscolex (von Linstow, 1890), an intestinal parasite of the common shrew Sorex araneus

Marigo, A.M., Bâ, C.T. and Miquel, J. 2011. Spermiogenesis and spermatozoon ultrastructure of the dilepidid cestode Molluscotaenia crassiscolex (von Linstow, 1890), an intestinal parasite of the common shrew Sorex araneus. —Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 92: 116–125. Spermiogenesis in Molluscotaenia crassiscolex begins with the formation of a differentiation zone containing two centrioles. One of the centrioles develops a flagellum directly into the cytoplasmic extension. The nucleus elongates and later migrates along the spermatid body. During advanced stages of spermiogenesis, a periaxonemal sheath appears in the spermatid. Spermiogenesis finishes with the appearance of a single helicoidal crested body at the base of the spermatid and, finally, the narrowing of the ring of arched membranes causes the detachment of the fully formed spermatozoon. The mature spermatozoon of M. crassiscolex exhibits a partially detached crested body in the anterior region of the spermatozoon, one axoneme, twisted cortical microtubules, a periaxonemal sheath, and a spiralled nucleus. The anterior spermatozoon extremity is characterized by the presence of an electron-dense apical cone and a single spiralled crested body, which is attached to the sperm cell in the anterior and posterior areas of region I, whereas in the middle area it is partially detached from the cell. This crested body is described for the first time in cestodes. The posterior extremity of the male gamete exhibits only the disorganizing axoneme. Results are discussed and compared particularly with the available ultrastructural data on dilepidids sensu lato.
Expression of the integrin αEβ7 identifies unique subsets of CD25+ as well as CD25− regulatory T cells

Regulatory CD25+CD4+ T cells are considered as important players in T cell homeostasis and self-tolerance. Here we report that the integrin αEβ7, which recognizes epithelial cadherin, identifies the most potent subpopulation of regulatory CD25+ T cells. Strikingly, CD25-negative αE+CD4+ T cells displayed regulatory activity. Both αE+ subsets, CD25+ and CD25−, express CTLA-4, suppress T cell proliferation in vitro, and protect mice from colitis in the severe combined immunodeficient model (SCID) in vivo. Whereas αE+CD25+ T cells produce almost no cytokines, αE+CD25− T cells represent a unique subset in which high IL-2, IFN-γ and T helper 2-cytokine production is linked with suppressive function. Thus, the integrin αEβ7 can be regarded as a novel marker for subsets of highly potent, functionally distinct regulatory T cells specialized for crosstalk with epithelial environments.
The effect of sprint training on human skeletal muscle purine nucleotide metabolism

The major focus of this thesis was to examine the effect of sprint training on skeletal muscle purine nucleotide (PnN) metabolism. Specifically, this thesis studied the effects of sprint training on skeletal muscle PnN and metabolites of purine catabolism at rest, during a 30 s "all out" cycle bout and after 3 min of recovery. Furthermore, the accumulation of purine degradation prcducts in the plasma (ammonia, hypoxanthine) during exercise, and in recovery from a 30 s "all out" sprint was also examined. Finally, this thesis studied the influence of sprint training on performance variables pertinent to sprint exercise.
Absolute quantification of oxygen metabolism in the human brain using FMRI

To produce energy and maintain healthy function the brain requires a steady supply of oxygen which if interrupted results in impaired function and tissue damage. Oxygen metabolism is therefore presented as a desirable physiological function to measure as it is closely linked with brain tissue function and health. Recently an MRI method was introduced capable of measuring absolute oxygen metabolism in the brain. The technique is based on using both hypercapnic and hyperoxic respiratory challenges to calibrate the blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) functional MRI (FMRI) signal. The aim of this thesis is to further develop this promising technique, referred to here as dual calibrated FMRI (dcFMRI), proving its suitability for application in further studies of oxygen metabolism in the brain. Initially, in this thesis, the role of oxygen metabolism in energy production, brain function and disease is discussed. To motivate the development of dcFMRI a review of current measurement techniques is presented followed by an introduction to the basic MRI concepts underpinning the dcFMRI approach. The dcFMRI technique is then described in detail. The optimal ASL acquisition available in our centre for application in the dcFMRI measurement was experimentally investigated, allowing a dcFMRI protocol to be implemented. A comparison of dcFMRI respiratory designs, for detecting regional changes in oxygen metabolism, was made and the within and between session repeatability of these measurements were assessed. In order to make the technique more clinically feasible, reductions in acquisition time were assessed using a retrospective analytical approach. The ability of dcFMRI to detect global flow related changes in oxygen metabolism was demonstrated and a novel dcFMRI approach was implemented. This availed of an R2' based measure to replace the hypercapnic respiratory challenge in the dcFMRI protocol. Potential areas for future work and further application of the dcFMRI technique are then considered.
Factors affecting phytotoxic activity of allelochemicals in soil

Allelopathy is the inhibitory or stimulatory effect of a plant (donor) on other plants (receivers) through the chemicals released from the donor plant to the environment, mostly into the soil. These chemicals may reach the receiver plants in various ways, including leaching from plant foliage, exudation from the roots, and decomposition of dead residue of the donor plants. However, allelopathy in soil is a complicated phenomenon that is affected by soil condition, growth condition of the donor and receiver plants and climatic condition. Allelochemicals in soil are adsorbed on soil solids, and metabolized by chemical and biological reactions during the movement in soil. This behavior is affected by various soil factors, such as soil texture, organic and inorganic matter, moisture and organisms, which affect the phytotoxic activity in soil. If an allelochemical can directly affect the growth of receiver plants in soil, then the allelochemical might be present in the soil water so that it is directly available for absorption by the plant. Thus, it is suggested the concentration of an allelochemical in soil water is a dominant factor directly determining the phytotoxic activity in soil, and the concentration is controlled by soil factors that affect the behavior of adsorption, desorption and degradation in soil.
Structure and Function of Two Antarctic Terrestrial Moss Communities

Two bryophyte-dominated communities in the maritime Antarctic are analyzed in terms of the transfer and standing crops of organic matter within them. A moss turf dominated by Polytrichum alpestre and Chorisodontium aciphyllum and a moss carpet composed of Calliergon sarmentosum, Calliergidium austro-stramineum, and Drepanocladus uncinatus with the liverwort Cephaloziella varians were investigated at Signy Island, South Orkney Islands. Biomass, respiration, and production data for the primary producers (mosses, lichens, liverworts, and algae), for the fauna (Protozoa, Rotifera, Tardigrada, Nematoda, Acari, and Collembola), and for the microflora were synthesized, and annual rates of consumption, egestion, assimilation, and production were derived. The two communities showed similar levels of productivity, trophic structure, and efficiencies of organic matter transfer, but different Collembola and Acari standing crops, turnover of mosses, and accumulation of dead organic matter. These features are discussed in relation to the role of biotic and abiotic variables in determining community structure and function.