Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The development in vitro of the blood of the early chick embryo

In a series of tissue cultures of fragments taken from different parts of young chick embryos, at various stages, it was found that differentiation frequently occurred, the characteristic cells of highly specialised tissues appearing in cultures in which they could not possibly have been present at explantation. The most striking differentiations were the development of red blood corpuscles, capillary vessels, nerve cells with axons and of rhythmically contracting cardiac muscle. This paper describes a simple method by which may be obtained regularly and quickly the development of very large numbers of red cells, and an account is given of the histology of the cultures. It is intended to be introductory to a physiological study, now in progress, of the conditions of haematopoiesis Literature. Erythropoiesis in vitro has been reported by several authors, but it has not been thoroughly investigated and, with the exceptions of the works of Slonimski (1930, a , 1931) and Shipley (1915-16), the earlier papers have con­cerned the somewhat sporadic appearance of small numbers of erythrocytes. In the earlier works, also, the explants were derived from haematopoietic organs, or from that part of the embryo in which blood would normally have developed at latest quite soon after the time at which the experiment was made. The present paper, on the other hand, is based principally upon cultures of fragments of the primitive streak—that is, upon explants of presumptively haematopoietic cells isolated before they had arrived at the normal haematopoietic region of the embryo. The literature may be very briefly summarised as follows : Shipley (1915-16) made plasma cultures from the area opaca of chick embryos at a time prior to the formation of the blood islands, and obtained the differen­tiation of erythrocytes from amœboid cells. Erythropoiesis is reported by N. G. and A. L. Ghlopin (1925) in cultures of Axolotl spleen; by Erdmann, Eisner, and Laser (1925-26), in cultures of embryonal rat spleen; by Freifeld and Ginsburg (1927) in cultures of rabbit adrenals; by de Haan (1928-29) in cultures of blood cells of the horse; by Timofejewsky and Benewolenskaja (1929) in cultures of blood from a case of acute myeloid leukaemia, and by Benewolenskaja (1930) in cultures of embryonal human liver. Slonimski (1930 a , 1931), using Rana fusca and Axolotl embryos, excised the blood island zone at early stages, and kept it as a culture enclosed in a sheath of epiblastic epithelium. The little cyst became full of red blood in an abundant plasma, and there were vessels with endothelial walls.
Electron microscopy of two nematode-destroying fungi, Meristacrum asterospermum and Zygnemomyces echinulatus (Meristacraceae, Entomophthorales)

Infection of nematodes by Meristacrum asterospermum and Zygnemomyces echinulatus was initiated by conidia adhering to the nematode's cuticle. Each conidium developed an infection peg to penetrate the nematode after adhesion. In M. asterospermum, an infection peg just under the penetration was found in ultrathin sections, in which the peg's cell wall was broken into several lobes that were covered entirely with an amorphous mass of electron-opaque substance. Septa formed in the apical portion of aerial conidiophore under conidiation. The septal wall was nonperforate and often contained electron-opaque inclusions. Vegetative hyphae of Z. echinulatus had typical bifurcate septa, but septa at both ends of the pedicel of conidia were often slightly deformed. Key words: infection of nematodes, Meristacrum asterospermum, septum, Zygnemomyces echinulatus.
Avoiding errors in rhythm analysis

Time series (spectral) analysis is a valuable tool for detecting rhythms in any set of biological data (e.g. Hamilton 1994; Madsen 2008). The next step is then to determine what correlations can be made between the data and other natural phenomena, to infer functional relationships. To do this, it is necessary to relate the data to some well-defined natural statistic. We have been studying the relationship between certain physiological events and the phases or other features of the Moon (W. Burke, J. Leung, and D.F. Davey, in preparation). A common method of elucidating this relationship is to graph the event (or amplitude of the event) on a synodic or anomalistic time base, e.g. plotting the data against ‘‘days before or after the full moon (or new moon, apogee, or perigee)’’. This practice must be conducted carefully in order to avoid misleading conclusions. The synodic cycle of the Moon has a duration of about 29.5 days (time from one full Moon to the next full Moon), while the anomalistic cycle has a duration of about 27.3 days (time for the Moon to orbit the Earth). The perigee is the time when the Moon is closest to the Earth, while the apogee is the time when the Moon is furthest from the Earth. Consider the following situation. Figure 1(a) shows an event (a vertical peak) occurring at the time of the full moon in each of three synodic cycles. The graph of a single event is shown in Figure 1(b). In a real recording, there will be noise and so for clarification the data are averaged. If the data in Figure 1(a) are replotted on a synodic time base (‘‘days before or after the full moon’’) and averaged, we get the result shown in Figure 1(c), which is the correct result, i.e. the same as the graph in Figure 1(b). Now consider the effect of graphing the same data with an abscissa labelled ‘‘days before or after the perigee’’. For convenience, let us assume that in the first synodic cycle the perigee occurs at the same time as the full moon. This result is shown in Figure 1(d), an incorrect result. Note that the vertical scales in Figure 1(c) and 1(d) are different, because the averaging in Figure 1(d) has reduced the amplitude of the events. As explained in Figure 2, this is because of the difference between the synodic and sidereal time bases. The record shown in Figure 1(a) is reproduced at the top of Figure 2, just below the scale for the synodic time base. Below this is the scale for the anomalistic time base. In (a), (b) and (c) are shown the alignment of the traces used in the averaging process, and at the bottom the average of these three traces. The vertical scales for these four traces are the same, so the averaged amplitudes are reduced to one-third. If four traces are averaged, the result will be a record with four peaks and the amplitude is now reduced to one-quarter of a single event. The results of averaging Biological Rhythm Research Vol. 42, No. 5, October 2011, 363–366
Tool-set for termite-fishing by chimpanzees in the Ndoki forest, Congo

Observations strongly indicate chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) of the Ndoki forest use two types of tools, 'perforating sticks' and 'fishing probes' in combination for termite (Macrotermes muelleri) fishing. Perforating sticks were always made of small, stout branches or young saplings of Thomandersia laurifolia (Acanthaceae), about 10 mm in diameter, with lengths of about 50 cm. Fishing probes were made from the flexible stems of Marantaceae species, and were about five mm in diameter, with lengths of about 50 cm. Approximately 15 cm of one end of the tool was usually shaped into a brush. It is likely that chimpanzees make small holes in the termite mound wall to attain access into the termite nest inside, then they insert the probe into the holes and eat the major and minor soldier termites which bite the brush-like end. Of 214 chimpanzee feces collected, 50% contained termite remains of this species, and this fecal analysis shows that termite-eating behavior occurred all the year around, and did not correspond to the seasonality of rainfall or termite activity on the ground. Chimpanzees in the Ndoki forest seem to be able to obtain termitcs from the deep subterranean nest throughout the year by using their tool-set. Such a tool-set might be responsible for the higher frequency of termite-eating in Ndoki chimpanzees than those of chimpanzees in other sites who fish for termites using only probes. This newly described behavior shows that chimpanzees habitually manipulate a tool on an object which they previously modified with another type of tool.
Evaluation of cation-anion diets in calcium metabolism in ruminants

The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of the dietary cation-anion balance (DCAB) on the calcium metabolism in male Nellore steers with a mean age of 10 months. Three experimental diets were tested: a cationic diet, a diet consisting of Tifton hay only, and an anionic diet with +15.2, +23.9 and −10.0 mEq/100 g DM of DCAB values in the diet. The anionic diet was calculated as the addition of salts of ammonium chloride and magnesium sulfate. Based on the isotope dilution technique, the negative DCAB value used in this study (−10.0 mEq/100 g DM) does not affect calcium metabolism, especially endogenous losses and true absorption.
Corn Yield Response to Nitrogen at Multiple In-Field Locations

Improving N management for corn (Zea mays L.) production with precision agriculture technologies requires that spatial N recommendations adequately represent in-field variability in N availability. Our objective was to evaluate corn response to increasing N rates in several in-field locations that represented the range of soil organic matter (OM) content in the field. In a 2-yr study, three center pivot-irrigated fields were selected in south-central Kansas and south-central Nebraska. Four or five locations were selected within each field. At each location, five or six N treatments (0-336 kg N ha -1 ) were surface-applied early in the growing season. The minimum N rate to achieve maximum yield varied by as much as 130 kg N ha -1 among in-field locations at three site-years. The least amount of N to achieve maximum yield did not coincide with locations representing greater soil OM. Yield response at two site-years was the same among in-field locations; however, mean yield among in-field locations varied by as much as 4.2 Mg ha -1 , representing potential for improvement in N use efficiency. Leaf tissue N was below the critical threshold for 60 to 100% of observations at three different in-field locations but below the critical threshold for <35% of the observations at all other in-field locations. The reason for the discrepancy in N availability among in-field locations was not conclusively identified but was not only related to soil OM content. Variable N recommendations based only on soil OM is too simplistic to reflect variability in N availability within a field.
Inheritance of resistance of PI 372129 wheat to the Russian wheat aphid

Knowledge of the inheritance of resistance to pests in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is important to plant breeders. A study was conducted to determine the inheritance of resistance to the Russian wheat aphid (RWA), Diuraphis noxia (Mordvilko), in a wheat line, PI 372129, that was previously identified as a good source of RWA resistance. The susceptible wheat cultivars Carson, Lamar, and TAM 107 were crossed with PI 372129. The parents and progenies from these three crosses were artificially infested with RWA in the greenhouse
On intersexuality in the crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus: an inducible sexual plasticity model

Summary Sexual differentiation is a plastic process. The plasticity may be manifested during embryo-genesis, when one set of primordial reproductive ducts develops while the other degenerates. In adults, many normal (e.g., sequential hermaphroditism) and abnormal (e.g., endocrine disorders or exposure to endocrine disrupters such as estrogenic pollutants) cases are known in which sexual plasticity may be expressed as various degrees of feminization. In crustaceans, the androgenic gland (AG) regulates the development of male characteristics; its absence results in feminization, often including the onset of vitellogenesis. A unique model of intersexuality was found in the crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus, in which some degree of natural sexual plasticity is observed. Two to 14% of the population are intersex individuals, having both male and female genital openings. Intersex specimens always function as males but may also contain an ovary in a permanently arrested, pre-vitellogenic state. This sexual plasticity model was recently characterized and investigated with respect to the role of the AG and the onset of vitellogenesis. Removal of the AG in intersex individuals induced the reproductive system to shift from a permanently active male state to a female state. This shift included changes in morphology, cessation of spermatogenesis and onset of secondary vitellogenesis manifested by a change in the ovarian protein profile, translocation of protein kinase C (PKC) in the ovary and appearance of secondary vitellogenic high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in the hemolymph. The vitellogenin gene was found to be induced in the hepatopancreas of AG ablated intersex individuals suggesting that the AG represses transcription of this gene in intact intersex individuals. The experimentally inducible sex shift in the crayfish provides a unique and controlled model system for the study of sexual differentiation and plasticity at the physiological and molecular levels. The findings presented here also illustrate the central role of the AG in the regulation of sexual differentiation in sexually plastic as well as gonochoristic crustacean species.
The occurrence and viability of Giardia cysts in Scottish Raw and final waters

The occurrence of Giardia cysts in Scottish raw and potable waters was investigated. Giardia cysts were detected in 49% of raw waters, with concentrations of up to 1.05 cysts per litre, and in 19% of final waters, with concentrations of up to 1.67 cysts per litre. In some of the positive water samples the viability of the cysts was assessed by viewing the cyst morphology and inclusion/exclusion of propidium iodide. Viable cysts were detected in a proportion of both raw waters and positive final waters studied. Further investigations at 21 water-treatment plants revealed cysts in 9 (43%) of the raw waters, and in 4 (19%) of the final waters. Cysts were only detected in the final waters of plants in which cysts were also detected in the raw water. These data indicate that viable Giardia cysts may be ingested with potable water in Scotland.
Heterogeneity in Preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease Trial Cohort Identified by Image-based Data-Driven Disease Progression Modelling

Importance: Undetected biological heterogeneity adversely impacts trials in Alzheimer's disease because rate of cognitive decline --- and perhaps response to treatment --- differs in subgroups. Recent results show that data-driven approaches can unravel the heterogeneity of Alzheimer's disease progression. The resulting stratification is yet to be leveraged in clinical trials. Objective: Investigate whether image-based data-driven disease progression modelling could identify baseline biological heterogeneity in a clinical trial, and whether these subgroups have prognostic or predictive value. Design: Screening data from the Anti-Amyloid Treatment in Asymptomatic Alzheimer Disease (A4) Study collected between April 2014 and December 2017, and longitudinal data from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) observational study downloaded in February 2022 were used. Setting: The A4 Study is an interventional trial involving 67 sites in the US, Canada, Australia, and Japan. ADNI is a multi-center observational study in North America. Participants: Cognitively unimpaired amyloid-positive participants with a 3-Tesla T1-weighted MRI scan. Amyloid positivity was determined using florbetapir PET imaging (in A4) and CSF A{beta}(1-42) (in ADNI). Main Outcomes and Measures: Regional volumes estimated from MRI scans were used as input to the Subtype and Stage Inference (SuStaIn) algorithm. Outcomes included cognitive test scores and SUVr values from florbetapir and flortaucipir PET. Results: We included 1,240 A{beta}+ participants (and 407 A{beta}- controls) from the A4 Study, and 731 A4-eligible ADNI participants. SuStaIn identified three neurodegeneration subtypes --- Typical, Cortical, Subcortical --- comprising 523 (42%) individuals. The remainder are designated subtype zero (insufficient atrophy). Baseline PACC scores (A4 primary outcome) were significantly worse in the Cortical subtype (median = -1.27, IQR=[-3.34,0.83]) relative to both subtype zero (median=-0.013, IQR=[-1.85,1.67], P<.0001) and the Subcortical subtype (median=0.03, IQR=[-1.78,1.61], P=.0006). In ADNI, over a four-year period (comparable to A4), greater cognitive decline in the mPACC was observed in both the Typical (-0.23/yr; 95% CI, [-0.41,-0.05]; P=.01) and Cortical (-0.24/yr; [-0.42,-0.06]; P=.009) subtypes, as well as the CDR-SB (Typical: +0.09/yr, [0.06,0.12], P<.0001; and Cortical: +0.07/yr, [0.04,0.10], P<.0001). Conclusions and Relevance: In a large secondary prevention trial, our image-based model detected neurodegenerative heterogeneity predictive of cognitive heterogeneity. We argue that such a model is a valuable tool to be considered in future trial design to control for previously undetected variance.
Development of multiple dominant markers by using Vectorette PCR‐based nonradioactive transposable element display

Transposable element (TE) display is a method exhibiting the insertion site variations of TE, serving for multiple dominant markers. We report an improved TE display method evaluated by testing inheritance pattern of the TE insertion sites in two different piggyBac-like elements in a lepidopteran insect tobacco budworm. The specificity of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method was confirmed by sequencing randomly chosen a total of 15 bands all revealing the junctions between TE-end and the flanking sequence. The improved method removes the steps in the conventional TE display method using radiolabelled primers and running denaturing gel, saving time and costs.
Genetic variation in Danish populations of Erysiphe graminis f.sp. hordei: estimation of gene diversity and effective population size using RFLP data

Genetic variation of the barley powdery mildew fungus (Erysiphe graminis f.sp. hordei) was estimated in three Danish local populations. Genetic variation was estimated from the variation amongst clones of Egh, and was therefore an estimate of the maximum genetic variation in the local populations. The average gene diversity, H, was estimated as 0.84. The effective population size was estimated as: logio (N e ) = 0.64 - log 10 (μL), or 4.4 x 10 9 , assuming a nucleotide mutation rate (μ) of 10 -9 per base per generation. There was no significant genetic differentiation between locations.
Diversity patterns of temporary wetland macroinvertebrate assemblages in the south-western Cape, South Africa

Although macroinvertebrates are potentially useful for assessing the condition of temporary wetlands, little is yet known about them. Macroinvertebrate assemblages were assessed in 138 temporary wetlands in the south-western Cape, recording 126 taxa. However, predicted richness estimates were all higher than the observed richness. Five new species were collected—three hydraenid beetles, one streptocephalid fairy shrimp and one hydryphantid acarine—indicating the current paucity of knowledge about temporary wetland macroinvertebrates. The occurrence of the invasive snail Aplexa marmorata (Physidae) in this region was recorded for the first time. Assemblages were dominated by a few widespread taxa. Only four out of 73 genera accounted for more than half the total relative abundance and only two of these occurred in more than half the wetlands. Vegetated biotopes supported a higher relative abundance than open-water biotopes, but no difference existed between wetlands with one, two or three biotopes, indicating the conservation potential of wetlands with homogeneous biotopes. Wetlands from the different wetland regions did not show a clear separation based on their assemblage composition.
Smilax jiankunii , a new synonym in Chinese Smilax (Liliales: Smilacaceae)

Smilax Linnaeus (1753: 1028), the only genus of Smilacaceae, consists of over 200 species (with ca. 90 in China), and is widely distributed from tropical to temperate areas (Qi et al . 2012). Li (1992: 21) published Smilax jiankunii H.Li, based on specimens collected in the Dulongjiang Valley, Gongshan County, northwestern Yunnan Province, China. Smilax jiankunii was characterized by having a smooth stem, abaxially glaucous leaves, slender peduncles 9 to 10 cm long, densely flowered umbels (with 60–100 flowers), and the whole plant becoming blackish when dried (Li 1992), a feature shared with Smilax pottingeri Prain (1900: 174). Since Wang & Tang (1978) transferred S. pottingeri to the genus Heterosmilax Kunth (1850: 270) as H. pottingeri (Prain) Wang & Tang (1978: 245), based on the leaf shape and flattened peduncles, it is understandable that Li failed to compare her new species with it at that time. However, the name Smilax pottingeri was more recently accepted under Smilax again, due to more collections and knowledge of this plant becoming available (Chen & Koyama 2000), and the genus Heterosmilax having been merged with Smilax based on morphological and molecular studies (Judd 1998, Cameron & Fu 2006, Qi et al. 2012, 2013). After comparing the descriptions of both, we recognized that Smilax pottingeri appears to be similar to S. jiankunii , which has smooth stems, abaxially glaucous leaves, a slender peduncle 3 to 6 cm long and densely flowered umbels (with 40–70 flowers), but a more southern distribution in eastern Myanmar, southeastern Yunnan, Vietnam, northern Laos and northern Thailand (Koyama 1975, Chen & Koyama 2000, Nguyen 2007).
Species delimitation in Pleurotus eryngii species-complex inferred from ITS and EF-1α gene sequences

Taxon delimitation in Pleurotus eryngii species-complex was investigated using an independent loci-based approach. A collection of 47 Pleurotus strains was analyzed through nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1, 5.8S and ITS2) and M13 minisatellite fragments. A sub-sample made of 12 clones representative of the ITS phylogenetic clusters was sequenced to elucidate variations in the elongation factor 1 alpha gene (EF1-α). A unique clade made of three evolutionary units, i.e. Chinese nebrodensis, Sicilian nebrodensis and eryngii-ferulae from the Mediterranean region, was revealed. The evolutionary genetic divergences were highly correlated (r = 0.86) for both genes. The average number of base substitutions per site was higher for EF1-α gene (0.013) than for ITS (0.001). M13 minisatellite polymorphism marked a clear association between strains and geographic origin but its resolution in taxa delimitation was low. Data from ITS and EF1-α genes supported the hypothesis that the species-complex is a unique gene-pool. Within the species-complex, the nebrodensis type is characterized by a level of nucleotide substitutions lower than as expected for its ranking at a species level.
The Murine GABAA Receptor δ-Subunit Gene: Structure and Assignment to Human Chromosome 1

The murine chromosomal gene for the GABAA receptor delta subunit was isolated and characterized by high-resolution mapping and DNA sequencing. Spanning 13 kb, it comprises nine exons and displays an intron pattern comparable, but not identical, to that seen in members of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor family. Notably, the second transmembrane domain thought to line the ion channel and conserved among different GABAA receptor subunits, is interrupted by an intron. The 5'-flanking region of the delta gene displays features characteristic of a CpG island and lacks canonical promoter elements such as TATA and CCAAT consensus sequences in proximity to the transcriptional initiation site. The human delta subunit gene was localized on the short arm of chromosome 1.