Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Control of Quackgrass (Elytrigia repens) and Broadleaf Weeds and Response of Potato (Solanum tuberosum) Cultivars to Rimsulfuron1

Studies were conducted from 1992 to 1995 to determine the effect of rimsulfuron on corn spurry, wild radish, narrowleaf goldenrod, and quackgrass and potato cultivars. Rimsulfuron alone gave 100% control of wild radish, 68 to 70% control of corn spurry, and 75 to 90% control of narrowleaf goldenrod. Rimsulfuron plus metribuzin gave 99 to 100% control of wild radish and 85 to 100% control of corn spurry. Quackgrass control varied from 51 to 90% between experiments, indicating that environmental and plant factors affected the activity of the herbicide. Tank mixes with metribuzin slightly reduced the control of quackgrass but resulted in greater foliar injury than that of rimsulfuron to potato. Slight injury to potato plants disappeared within 2 to 3 wk, and tuber yields were not reduced. Russet Burbank, Shepody, and Kennebec potato cultivars had slight (2 to 8%) injury from rimsulfuron. Injury to Shepody (14 to 20%) and Russet Burbank (11%) increased when rimsulfuron was applied with metribuzin. Rimsulfuron had no effect on the number or the fresh weight of sprouts on daughter tubers tested the next spring after application. Nomenclature: Metribuzin; rimsulfuron; corn spurry, Spergula arvensis L. #3 SPRAR; narrowleaf goldenrod, Solidago canadensis L. # SOLCA; quackgrass, Elytrigia repens Nevski # AGRRE; wild radish, Raphanus raphanistrum L. # RAPRA; potato, Solanum tuberosum L. # SOLTU ‘Russet Burbank’, ‘Shepody’, ‘Kennebec’. Additional index words: Daughter tuber sprouting, DPX E-9636. Abbreviations: GC, ground crack; lf, leaf; PEI, Prince Edward Island; POST, postemergence; PRE, preemergence; RH, relative humidity.
Corn as trap crop to control Helicoverpa zea in tomato fields: importance of phenological synchronization and choice of cultivar

Trap cropping is an environmentally friendly “alternative” pest management strategy. To maximize the efficiency of corn, Zea mays L. (Poaceae), as a trap crop for Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), we (i) tested the trap crop potential of corn varieties that are not a source of infestation, and (ii) determined the best corn planting time so as to concentrate H. zea in this trap crop and divert the pest from tomato, Solanum lycopersicum L. (Solanaceae). When corn silk emergence was synchronized with tomato flowering and fresh corn silk was present during the tomato flowering stage, H. zea infestation was lower in the tomato field with a corn border than in those without a corn border. Sugar Jean and Java corn varieties were good trap crops because few larvae persisted on the silks and their growth was low. These two varieties could reduce the risk of H. zea development and dispersion from corn borders.
Simulation of elastic-plastic material behaviour with uncertain material parameters : a spectral stochastic finite element method approach

In this PhD thesis, an approach for the simulation of non-linear elastic-plastic threedimensional structures, including random material parameters, is presented. The material parameters, which are assumed to be uncertain are the Young’s modulus, yield stress and the hardening parameters. These parameters are represented by independent random fields, which are realized with the Karhunen-Loève Expansion as well as the Spectral Representation Method. The former approach is coupled with the Polynomial Chaos (PC), which leads to the well known Spectral Stochastic Finite Element Method. The Spectral Representation Method on the other hand is coupled with a simple Monte Carlo Sampling (SPRM-MCS). First, the basic theories are presented. In particular, these are: the continuum mechanics, the finite element method, the numerical realization of elastic-plastic material behaviour and the probability theory. Afterwards, some remarks on the characterization of uncertainties and its stochastic realization by random fields/processes are discussed. With the introduction of the Polynomial Chaos, the linear Spectral Stochastic Finite Element Method (SSFEM) is presented in the next step. First of all, the stochastic counterpart of the deterministic weak form of equilibrium is derived. This is realized by transferring the deterministic weak form into the so-called spectral form. To be more specific, a stochastic discretization of the deterministic weak form is applied and projecting it via the Galerkin method onto an orthogonal expansion basis. Such a basis is spanned by polynomials, for instance, Hermite polynomials when a Gaussian distribution is applied. Afterwards, the extension of the linear SSFEM for solving non-linear problems is presented. The developed approach is an extension of the deterministic radial return mapping. To allocate the random variables, in the subsequent solution process with each other, some special mathematically algebraic rules and methods are necessary, which are presented first. In particular, these are the PC-algebra as well as the collocation method. Then, the coupling of the developments of the previous sections (resp. chapters) are presented for the solution of stochastic non-linear problems by applying the SSFEM. The developed approach, for the stochastic radial return mapping, is an intrusive purely algebraic formulation, which are evaluated with the introduced methods in this thesis. Finally, the presented formulation is tested with two numerical examples and the results are compared with those obtained from the coupled SPRM-MCS as well as a Latin Hypercube Sampling.
First record of the common house gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) in Ecuador

Key data Hemidactylus frenatus; Gekkonidae; Common House Gecko; Ecuador; Provincias Esmeraldas and Manabi; population; San Lorenzo & Pedernales. UTA R-55986–88 & DHMECN 04606; verified by Carl J. Franklin, Amphibian and Reptile Diversity Research Center, University of Texas at Arlington, and Cecilia Tobar, Division de Herpetologia, Museo Ecuatoriano de Ciencias Naturales, Quito, Ecuador. © Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2009
Abstract 3295: Inhibiting vascular morphogenesis in tumors: EGFL7 as a novel therapeutic target

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL EGFL7 is a vascular restricted extracellular matrix protein that is up-regulated during angiogenesis (Campagnolo et al., 2005; Fitch et al., 2004; Parker et al., 2004; Soncin et al., 2003). EGFL7 supports endothelial cell adhesion (Parker et al., 2004; Schmidt et al., 2007) and protects endothelial cells from stress-induced apoptosis (Xu et al., 2008). Inhibition of Egfl7 expression in zebrafish embryos abolished vascular lumen formation and reduced sprouting angiogenesis (Parker et al., 2004). We developed a panel of anti-EGFL7 monoclonal antibodies that block the adhesive and pro-survival activities of EGFL7. Anti-EGFL7 in combination with anti-VEGF resulted in significant tumor regression in multiple murine xenograft models, whereas anti-VEGF alone only slowed tumor growth in the same models. Anti-EGFL7 monoclonal antibodies also demonstrated prolonged survival and anti-tumor angiogenesis effects in stringent murine genetic tumor models when used as a single agent, and enhancement of anti-VEGF therapy in the combination setting. An ongoing Phase I study is being conducted to evaluate clinical safety, PK, PD and efficacy of anti-EGFL7. References: Campagnolo, L. , Leahy, A. , Chitnis, S. , et al. EGFL7 is a chemoattractant for endothelial cells and is up-regulated in angiogenesis and arterial injury. Am J Pathol (2005) 167, 275-284. Fitch, M. J., Campagnolo, L. , Kuhnert, F. , et al. Egfl7, a novel epidermal growth factor-domain gene expressed in endothelial cells. Dev Dyn (2004) 230, 316-324. Parker, L. H. , Schmidt, M. , Jin, S. W. , et al. The endothelial-cell-derived secreted factor Egfl7 regulates vascular tube formation. Nature (2004) 428, 754-758. Schmidt, M. , Paes, K. , De Maziere, et al. EGFL7 regulates the collective migration of endothelial cells by restricting their spatial distribution. Development (2007) 134, 2913-2923. Soncin, F. , Mattot, V. , Lionneton, F. , et al. VE-statin, an endothelial repressor of smooth muscle cell migration. Embo J (2003) 22, 5700-5711. Xu, D. , Perez, R. E. , Ekekezie, I. , et al. Epidermal growth factor-like domain 7 protects endothelial cells from hyperoxiainduced cell death. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol (2008) 294, L17-L23. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3295. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-3295
THE POTENTIAL OF ZOOPLANKTON COMMUNITIES FOR ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF LAKES: REDUNDANT CONCEPT OR POLITICAL OVERSIGHT?

Abstract:Zooplankton communities are an important component of the pelagic food web, but they are absent from the list of biotic elements to be considered for the assessment of ecological status in Annex V of the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC). We report here on an assessment of zooplankton populations across 32 lakes that represent a gradient of alkalinity and anthropogenic impact, primarily owing to nutrients and/or acidity. Acidic and oligotrophic lakes were typified by a high relative abundance of cladocerans, but with some key taxa groups absent from the most acidified lakes. Zooplankton total abundance increased across the trophic gradient. This interplay between acidity and productivity provides the potential to assess effects of anthropogenic pressure on zooplankton communities. Incorporation of ecological function, as opposed to structure, can additionally be evaluated through community attributes, particularly fecundity and size distribution. The assessment of the zooplankton can be cost-effective and related to reference conditions. Reasons for this omission from the requirements of monitoring under the Water Framework Directive are unclear, but this should not preclude the use of zooplankton communities if they can provide a valuable component for ecological assessment.
Caracterización metabólica de Diplodon chilensis (Gray, 1828) (Bivalvia: Hyriidae) expuesto a anoxia experimental

Diplodon chilensis es un bivalvo dulceacuicola que habita desde el norte de Chile hasta Tierra del Fuego, posee una alta capacidad de filtracion y gran tolerancia a ambientes hipoxicos. Por esta razon, el objetivo de este estudio fue caracterizar por primera vez el metabolismo anaerobico de D. chilensis a traves de la actividad enzimatica de las piruvato oxidoreductasas y malato dehidrogenasa analizadas en dos grupos de organismos. El primer grupo (G1) correspondio a organismos analizados inmediatamente despues de su recoleccion desde el lago Lleu-Lleu (36oS) y el segundo grupo (G2) correspondio a organismos expuestos a condiciones experimentales extremas de anoxia. Se determino la actividad enzimatica involucrada en el catabolismo anaerobico en cinco tejidos (musculo abductor, pie, branquias, hepatopancreas y manto-gonada). Se detecto actividad positiva para las piruvato oxido reductasas (PORs: lactato dehidrogenasa (LDH), octopina dehidrogenasa (OPDH), strombina dehidrogenasa (STRDH), alanopina dehidrogenasa (ALPDH)) y malato dehidrogenasa (MDH). MDH mostro la mayor actividad dehidrogenasa observada en todos los tejidos en los dos grupos analizados. No obstante, solo en los organismos del grupo G2 se observo una correlacion significativa entre las actividades de MDH y LDH, asi como un mayor valor para la razon MDH/LDH. Todas estas caracteristicas enzimaticas determinadas en D. chilensis corresponden a una especie con un metabolismo anaerobico que le permite enfrentar exitosamente condiciones anoxicas extremas
Development of Chromosome Segment Substitution Lines Derived from Backcross between indica Donor Rice Cultivar ‘Nona Bokra’ and japonica Recipient Cultivar ‘Koshihikari’

1) National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, 2-1-2 Kannondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8602, Japan 2) Institute of the Society for Techno-innovation of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 446-1 Ippaizuka, Kamiyokoba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0854, Japan 3) Present address: Northeast Institute of Geography and Agricultural Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Gaoxin Road 3195, Changchun, Jilin 130012, P.R. China 4) Present address: Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fenglin Road 300, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
Effects of discharge regulation on slackwater characteristics at multiple scales in a lowland river

The spatial and temporal dynamics of physical habitat in rivers is driven by the interaction between channel morphology and discharge. However, little is known about how altered discharge affects the dynamics of habitat patches such as slackwaters. This study investigated the influence of discharge on the availability, stability, quality, and diversity of slackwaters in a southeastern Australian lowland river. The area, spatial configuration, permanence, and within-patch characteristics of slackwaters of two reaches in a regulated section and two reaches in a largely unregulated section of the river were compared. There was less slackwater area and it was less permanent at higher discharges and in the two regulated reaches than at lower discharges and in the largely unregulated reaches. Individual slackwaters were more homogenous in relation to within-patch characteristics in the regulated than in the largely unregulated reaches. However, variability in the spatial configuration of slackwaters and within-.
Innate immune response to respiratory viruses

The innate immune system has a variety of ways of recognizing infection from pathogens such as viruses and bacteria. One of its first lines of defence is to detect Pattern Associated Molecular Patterns (PAMPs) using Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRRs) such as the Toll-Like Receptors (TLRs), the RIG-Like Helicases (RLHs) and the Nod-Like Receptors (NLRs). These receptors recognize certain molecular structures from the pathogens and lead to first line of defence which includes increased cytokines and IFNs. This study delineate the human body’s innate immune responses to human respiratory viruses such as HRV (Human Rhinovirus), RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) and IAV (Influenza A virus). In Vitro experiments carried out on various kinds of lung tissues suggest that respiratory disease pathogenesis is related to inflammatory mediators including interleukins and cytokines produced by the host’s innate immune system. Virus induced respiratory tract infection are known to trigger bronchiolitis, wheezing and acute asthma exacerbations, as a result of inflammation of lung tissues and excessive release of pro- inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β. This study identifies that intracellular macromolecular complexes called inflammasomes assemble as a result of viral trigger. Inflammasomes convert the inactive forms of the pro-inflammatory cytokines to their active forms. Although the exact mechanism of activations of these complexes was unknown. This study identified that Virus encoded proteins such as the 2B protein of HRV, the SH protein from RSV and the Influenza M2 which are also termed viroporins can activate the inflammasome by causing ion imbalance (across cells membranes and organelles). Thus providing a trigger for inflammasome assemblage. v Drugs which act as Ion channel blockers have been shown to block viroporin activity and hence reduce IL-1β production. Therefore in the future the use of ion inhibitors could be a possible therapeutic intervention in order to reduce lung inflammation and prevent associated respiratory disease such as COPD and Asthma.
USING STEFIN B AS A MODEL AMYLOIDOGENIC PROTEIN –OVERVIEW

Our in vitro studies of human stefin B are described. Human stefin B (cystatin B) genewas reported as the first gene of the two known genes, whose mutations cause progressivemyoclonus epilepsy of type 1 (EPM1), also known under the name Unverricht-Lundborgdisease. The product of the gene, stefin B, is a globular protein of 98 amino acids and nodisulphide bonds. We have characterized this protein thoroughly: from structure, tofolding, stability and aggregation. The main focus of this review is on the protein’s ability toundergo amyloid fibril formation. This is not something special to stefin B (any proteincan under certain circumstances transform into amyloid-fibrils) yet this protein proved asa very suitable model system showing all the characteristics of other more well knownsystems. It may have some advantages over amyloid-beta or prion peptide studies, forexample, it is easier to isolate its oligomers and its aggregates are not infectious. In theIntroduction, connection of the process of amyloid-fibril formation to neurodegenerativedisease is discussed. Relevance of the molecular, in vitro studies to understand the molecular basis of neurodegenerative pathology is explained. What is known about the structureand function of cystatins and what has been learnt from studies of amyloid-fibril formation of stefin B, is described next. The final chapter is devoted to EPM1. An observation wasmade that some of the EPM1 mutants have changed aggregation properties, which mayhave implications for pathology.
Etude de la fonction du facteur de transcription Dmrt5 dans le développement du système olfactif

The Dmrt (doublesex and mab-3 related transcription factor) genes encode a large family of evolutionarily conserved transcription factors whose function in sex specific differentiation has been well studied in all animal lineages. In vertebrates, their function is not restricted to the developing gonads. For example, Xenopus Dmrt4 is essential for neurogenesis in the olfactory system. Here we have isolated and characterized Xenopus Dmrt5 and found that it is coexpressed with Dmrt4 in the developing olfactory placodes. As Dmrt4, Dmrt5 is positively regulated in the ectoderm by neural inducers and negatively by proneural factors. Both Dmrt5 and Dmrt4 genes are also activated by the combined action of the transcription factor Otx2, broadly transcribed in the head ectoderm and of Notch signaling, activated in the anterior neural ridge. As for Dmrt4, knockdown of Dmrt5 impairs neurogenesis in the embryonic olfactory system and in neuralized animal caps. Conversely, its overexpression promotes neuronal differentiation in animal caps, a property that requires the conserved C-terminal DMA and DMB domains. We also found that the sea anenome Dmrt4/5 related gene NvDmrtb also induces neurogenesis in Xenopus animal caps and that conversely, its knockdown in Nematostella reduces elav-1 positive neurons. Together, our data identify Dmrt5 as a novel important regulator of neurogenesis whose function overlaps with that of Dmrt4 during Xenopus olfactory system development. They also suggest that Dmrt may have had a role in neurogenesis in the last common ancestor of cnidarians and bilaterians. & 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
A review of the genus Homopholis Boulenger (Reptilia: Squamata: Gekkonidae) in southern Africa

Abstract On the basis of molecular data, the gekkonid lizard Homopholis arnoldi Loveridge is revived as a full species. Morphologically it is usually distinguishable from H. wahlbergii on the basis of its striped dorsal colour pattern. Homopholis arnoldi has a wide distribution from south-eastern Botswana through Zimbabwe to central Mozambique, and the southern margin of its range covers the western and northern parts of Limpopo Province, South Africa north of the Soutpansberg (where it is at least parapatric, and possibly sympatric with both H. wahlbergii and H. mulleri), extending east to the Mozambique coast north of the Limpopo. A key is provided for the four currently recognised species of Homopholis and a neotype from KwaZulu-Natal is designated for H. wahlbergii, helping to stabilise the use of this name in light of the resurrection of H. arnoldi.
Structural and functional studies on secreted glycoside hydrolases produced by clostridium perfringens

Supervisory Committee Dr. Alisdair B. Boraston, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology Supervisor Dr. Stephen V. Evans (Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology) Departmental Member Dr. Paul J. Romaniuk (Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology) Departmental Member Dr. Cornelia Bohne (Department of Chemistry) Outside Member Clostridium perfringens is a gram positive spore forming anaerobe and a causative agent of gas gangrene, necrotic enteritis (pig-bel) and food poisoning in humans and other animals. This organism secretes a battery of exotoxins during the course of infection as well as a variety of virulence factors which may help to potentiate the activities of the toxins. Among these virulence factors is the μ-toxin, a family 84 glycoside hydrolase which acts to degrade hyaluronan, a component of human connective tissue. C. perfringens has 53 open reading frames encoding glycoside hydrolases. About half of these glycoside hydrolases are predicted to be secreted. Among these are CpGH84C, a paralogue of the μ-toxin, and CpGH89. CpGH89 shares sequence similarity to the human α-N-acetylglucosaminidase, NAGLU, in which mutations can cause a devastating genetic disease called mucopolysaccharidosis IIIB. One striking feature of the secreted glycoside hydrolase enzymes of C. perfringens is their modularity, with modules predicted to be dedicated to catalysis, carbohydratebinding, protein-protein interactions and cell wall attachment. The extent of the modularity is remarkable, with some enzymes containing up to eight ancillary modules. In order to help understand the role of carbohydrate-active enzymes produced by bacterial pathogens, this thesis will focus on the structure and function of the modular extracellular glycoside hydrolase enzymes secreted by the disease causing bacterium, C. perfringens. These structure function studies examine two family 32 CBMs (carbohydrate-binding modules), one from the μ-toxin and the other from CpGH84C. As well we examine the complete structure of CpGH84C in order to help further our understanding of the structure of carbohydrate-active enzymes as a whole. Finally, the iv catalytic module of CpGH89 is characterized and its relationship to the human NAGLU enzyme is discussed.
Ontogenetic niche feeding partitioning in juvenile of white sea catfish Genidens barbus in estuarine environments, southern Brazil

Ontogenetic diet changes (prey species richness and size) in juveniles of white sea catfish (Genidens barbus) were tested in three southern Brazilian estuaries: Mampituba (29°12′S), Tramandaí (30°02′S), Chuí (33°44′S). Cluster analysis revealed that white sea catfish juvenile populations in the three estuaries are composed of two feeding groups. These two feeding groups are coincident with a bimodal size–age distribution of the juveniles of white sea catfish. In small catfish (5 to 10 cm TL) copepods were the most numerous prey (Chuí = 86.66%N, Tramandaí = 85.52%N and Mampituba = 52.34%N). In large catfish (10 to 20 cm TL) the most abundant and frequent prey was fish (Chuí: 73.19%N and 74.56%FO; Tramandaí: 85.92%N and 73.33%FO; Mampituba: 52.34%N and 61.54%FO). The Morisita overlap index among small and large fish was low in all estuaries; high values of Morisita's similarity index were observed among same size catfish groups. In all cases, no differences were observed among prey bio-volume curves of same size predator groups (small, F = 0.41, P = 0.65; large, F = 2.19, P = 0.11). In all estuaries, prey size increased significantly with increasing predator size. The 90th regression quantile estimated with most precision the predator–prey size relationship.