Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Xylella fastidiosa subspecies: X. fastidiosa subsp piercei, subsp. nov., X. fastidiosa subsp. multiplex subsp. nov., and X. fastidiosa subsp. pauca subsp. nov.

Summary Xylella fastidiosa, a fastidious bacterium causing disease in over 100 plant species, is classified as a single species, although genetic studies support multiple taxons. To determine the taxonomic relatedness among strains of X. fastidiosa, we conducted DNA-DNA relatedness assays and sequenced the 16S‐23S intergenic spacer (ITS) region using 26 strains from 10 hosts. Under stringent conditions (Tm ‐15 °C), the DNA relatedness for most X. fastidiosa strains was ≥70%. However, at high stringency (Tm ‐8 °C), three distinct genotypes (A, B, and C) were revealed. Taxon A included strains from cultivated grape, alfalfa, almond (two), and maple, interrelated by 85% (mean); taxon B included strains from peach, elm, plum, pigeon grape, sycamore, and almond (one), interrelated by 84%; and taxon C included only strains from citrus, interrelated by 87%. The mean reciprocal relatedness between taxons A and B, A and C, and B and C, were 58, 41, and 45%, respectively. ITS results also indicated the same grouping ; taxons A and B, A and C, and B and C had identities of 98.7, 97.9, and 99.2%, respectively. Previous and present phenotypic data supports the molecular data. Taxon A strains grow faster on Pierce’s disease agar medium whereas B and C strains grow more slowly. Taxon B and C strains are susceptible to penicillin and resistant to carbenicillin whereas A strains are opposite. Each taxon can be differentiated serologically as well as by structural proteins. We propose taxons A, B, and C be named X. fastidiosa subsp. piercei, subsp. nov, subsp. multiplex, subsp. nov., and subsp. pauca, subsp. nov., respectively. The type strains of the subspecies are subsp. piercei ICPB 50025 (=ATTC 35879 T and ICMP 15197), subsp. multiplex ICPB 50039 (= ATTC 35871 and ICMP 15199), and subsp. pauca ICPB 50031 (= ICMP 15198).
Morphological and Taxonomic Studies on Mammalian Trypanosomes

This paper is devoted to a critical analysis and revision of the systematics of the mammalian trypanosomes. It is shown that there is no justification for the recognition of more than one genus, Trypanosoma. The trypanosomes are subdivided into two sections, each with distinct morphological and biological characteristics. In the section corresponding to the lewisi group the method of reproduction is used as a criterion for the specific differentiation of the trypanosomes.
The effect of Citrullus colocynthis extract on cutaneous leishmaniasis lesion in human.

Citrullus colocynthis fruits and leaf has long been used for industrial , commercial and medical purpose. The present study was performed to determine the efficacy of Citrullus colocynthis on cutaneous leishmaniasis lesion in human. Sufficient amount of Citrullus colocynthis fruits were prepared and dissolved in 80 Methnol and prepared in ointment baseat 80% concentration. At the alternate time 2 groups of human, which have been infected by leishmaniasis, and 2 experimental groups receiving 80% concentrates of C. colocynthis extract. Citrullus colocynthis extract: every 3 days they receiving leaf powder of C. colocynthis. C. colocynthis extract reduced the rate of disease.
The cultural economy: a call for spatialized ‘production of culture' perspectives

This article argues that the analytical pendulum has swung too far in prioritizing consumption in analyses of the cultural economy. The article adopts a version of the ‘production of culture’ perspective and is illustrated through discussion of three interrelated fields of the cultural economy: the new economy, creativity and consumption. The article argues in favour of studies of the material culture of production (redefined to take in the whole ‘cycle’ of the making and shaping of cultural commodities) and recommends this as a basis of policy development.
Absorption, distribution and excretion of 14C‐levofloxacin after single oral administration in albino and pigmented rats: binding characteristics of levofloxacin‐related radioactivity to melanin in vivo

After single oral administration of 14C‐levofloxacin at a dose of 20 mg kg−1 under non‐fasting conditions, the absorption, distribution and excretion of radioactivity were studied in albino and pigmented rats. Good penetration of radioactivity into tissues was indicated by higher concentrations in most tissues compared with serum and there were no quantitative differences in the distribution of radioactivity between albino and pigmented rats except for melanin‐containing tissues such as the uveal tract of eyes and hair follicles. There was selective and strong binding of drug‐related radioactivity to these tissues in pigmented rats. The uveal tract concentrations reached the maximum value (Cmax) of 26.33 + 0.75 μg eq.g−1 at 24 h after dosing and declined slowly with a terminal half‐life of 468.1 h (19.5 days). The uveal tract concentration at 12 weeks was 0.73 + 0.12 μg eq.g−1, which is c. 1/36 of Cmax. The AUC0‐∞ for the uveal tract was 12.58 mg h−1 g−1. The uveal tracts separated from one eye of each rat were extracted with 0.067 m phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) and 1m HCl/EtOH (30:70), successively. In pigmented rats, approximately 85–48% of radioactivity bound to the uveal tract was released from the tissue by the washing procedures. Most of the eluted radioactivity was released with 1m HCl/EtOH (30:70), indicating that the binding to melanin is reversible, and hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions play an important role in the binding of levofloxacin and/or its metabolites with melanin‐containing ocular tissues. Only unchanged drug was detected in the extracts of the uveal tracts. The concentrations and half‐life of radioactivity in the uveal tract after dosing of 14C‐levofloxacin were found to be much lower and shorter than those after dosing of 14C‐chloroquine. It is unlikely that levofloxacin causes toxicity because of its much lower affinity to melanin‐containing ocular tissues and shorter duration of therapy compared to chloroquine.
Joint PP and PS stratigraphic inversion for prestack time migrated multicomponent data

The goal of this paper is to improve the determination of a target zone located in a slowly laterally varying background, by jointly inverting PP and PS waves available in prestack time migrated multicomponent data, while taking into account a priori information (well log data, geological knowledge.) in the inversion process: an optimal elastic model is estimated together with an optimal correspondence between PP and PS events. The methodology and results are illustrated on a 2D realistic synthetic example.
Critical Thermal Tolerances and Heating and Cooling Rates of Lizards from Diverse Habitats

Critical Thermal Maxima and Minima (CTMax and CTMin) were determined for four lizard species which represent a wide range of environmental and behavioral diversity, thereby defining the range of thermal tolerance for each species. Specimens of Anolis carolinensis, Sceloporus occidentalis, and Phrynosoma cornutum, all members of the family Iguanidae, exhibited panting responses during heating. This response was absent in Xantusia vigilis. Living animals heated and cooled more rapidly and more erratically than did dead individuals in all four species. The CTMax of P. cornutum (46.8-48.1? C) was significantly higher than that of the other species at all acclimation temperatures. In X. vigilis acclimated to 15? and 25? C the CTMax (40.1 and 40.7? C, respectively) were lower than those of the other species held at the same acclimation temperatures. The lowest CTMin recorded was that of X. vigilis acclimated at 25? C (4.3? C); the highest was that of A. carolinensis acclimated at 35? C (16.5? C). Acclimation temperature significantly affected the CTMin of all species at some experimental conditions and had a significant effect upon the CTMax of A. carolinensis and X. vigilis. P. cornutum had a range of thermal tolerance of approximately 40? C; other species had thermal tolerance ranges of about 30? C. These ranges are correlated with the distribution and ecology of the species studied.
Developing a novel method for detecting transient protein-protein interactions in mammalian cells

Kurzlebige Protein-Protein Interaktionen spielen eine zentrale Rolle in den meisten zellularen Signalkaskaden. Es besteht daher ein groses Interesse, die beteiligten Proteine einer solchen Interaktion zu identifizieren um ein besseres Verstandnis der Regulierungsmechanismen der Zelle zu ermoglichen. Unglucklicherweise konnen derartige Interaktionen mit den momentan verfugbaren Methoden nur unzureichend nachgewiesen werden. Hauptziel dieser Arbeit war daher die Entwicklung einer neuen Methode, welche zum Nachweis von kurzlebigen Protein-Protein Interaktionen in Saugetierzellen geeignet ist. Diese Methode, genannt der "preScissionTM assay", verwendet die Proteolyse eines Substratpeptids, fusioniert an ein "Prey"-Protein, durch eine "Human rhinovirus typ 14 3C" protease (preScissionTM protease), welche an ein "Bait"-Protein fusioniert wurde, um die Interaktion zwischen den "Bait"- und "Prey"-Proteinen nachzuweisen. Laut unserem Modell sollten die kinetischen Parameter dieser proteolytischen Reaktion idealerweise eine hohe turnover number (kcat) sowie eine hohe Michaeliskonstante (Km) aufweisen Daher verglichen wir zuerst kinetische Parameter von preScissionTM-Reaktionen in vitro, um ein ideales Substrat fur den preScissionTM Assay zu finden. Hierfur wurden zwei Methoden angewandt: Ein auf Forster Resonanzenergietransfer basierender Ansatz sowie ein diskontinuierlicher Enzym-Assay kombiniert mit in-gel western blotting. Das aussichtsreichste Substrat, C3S6, wurde daraufhin benutzt um zu testen, ob Interaktionen zwischen zwei stabil interagierenden Untereinheiten der Protein Phosphatase 2A, genannt PP2A-B55alpha und PP2A-Calpha, nachgewiesen werden konnen, mit dem Ziel, kurzlebige Interaktionen in weiteren Studien nachzuweisen. Die Ergebnisse zeigten, dass der preScissionTM Assay, unter Verwendung von C3S6 als Substrat, nicht dafur geeignet ist, Protein-Protein-Interaktionen zwischen PP2A- B55alpha und PP2A-Calpha zu erkennen. Weiterfuhrende Experimente zeigten, dass hohe Mengen an endogenen PP2A-Untereinheiten in den Zellen vorhanden waren. Diese konnten durch Binduing an die ektopisch exprimierten PP2A-Untereinheiten die Interaktionen zwischen den "Bait"- und "Prey"-Fusionsproteinen verhindert haben. In Weiterfuhrende Experimente sollten darauf abzielen, die Expression der endogenen PP2A-Untereinheiten zu verringern oder darauf, Enzym-Substratpaare mit optimalen kinetischen Parametern zu identifizieren.
Effect of Prairie Voles on Vegetation and Soils in Central Kentucky

-Mass, height and foliar concentrations of N, P and K were higher in fescue (Festuca elatior) growing on prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster) colony sites than in fescue growing on reference areas. Conventional measures of fertility for the 0-30 cm depth of soil did not differ between colony sites and reference areas, but mineralizable N concentrations were higher in the 5-20 cm depth on colony sites. The effect of voles on grass productivity and nutrient concentrations faded rapidly after abandonment of burrow systems. The simplest interpretation of these results is that elements, especially N, released from feces, urine and organic materials deposited belowground in burrow systems were directly taken up by roots without measurable changes in amounts stored in the soil.
Developing a Needs-Based Library Service

"Some are vital agents of change in their communities, reaching out to the people who need them most whether they are long standing users or not. Others are much more passive they lend books and they respond to the demands of their regular public. So I think we need to define libraries' modern mission. The future success of libraries depends on their renewing and communicating a sense of mission which is relevant to the needs of society today. What individual library authorities do must reflect the needs of their local communities".
Studies investigating evolutionary transitions in plant reproduction

In this thesis I explore several topics related to the evolution of plant reproductive characters. First, I consider mating system evolution at a single locus that simultaneously affects multiple fitness components, including pollen export, selfing rate, and viability (i.e., survival or a similar change in male and female function). I use two approaches. First, I assume frequency-independent mating, so the model characterizes prior selfing (Chapter 2). Second, I assume that selfing rates are determined by a ”mass action” process, which characterizes several additional modes of selfing (Chapter 3). For both approaches, pleiotropy between increased viability and selfing rate reduces opportunities for the evolution of pure outcrossing, can favor complete selfing despite high inbreeding depression, and notably, can cause the evolution of mixed mating despite very high inbreeding depression. These results suggest that selection by non-pollinating agents may help explain mixed mating, particularly in species with very high inbreeding depression. Second, I analyze the potential for different genome regions to harbor intra-locus sexually-antagonistic polymorphism. Such polymorphism, involving one allele that benefits fitness in males but decreases fitness in females, and a second allele with opposite effects, is believed to influence the evolution of sexual dimorphism and sex chromosome evolution; both have evolved repeatedly among plant lineages, so understanding the potential for sexually-antagonistic variation informs the evolution of dioecy. Numerical analyses confirm the previous major conclusion that sexually-
Mechanism of DNA Homologous Recombination through Studies of DNA Sliding Clamps, Clamp Loaders, and DNA Polymerases

JIAN, LI, Ph.D., August 2013, Molecular and Cellular Biology Mechanism of DNA Homologous Recombination through Studies of DNA Sliding Clamps, Clamp Loaders, and DNA Polymerases Director of Dissertation: Tomohiko Sugiyama DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are introduced into the genome by several factors including ionizing radiation, mutagenic chemicals, reactive oxygen species, and stalled DNA replication. Without appropriate repair, DSBs may lead to cell lethality or cancer. Homologous recombination (HR) is a widely conserved essential mechanism for highfidelity repair of DSBs. Available evidence suggests that DNA sliding clamps and DNA polymerases are playing important roles in HR, but the biochemical details of their roles are unclear. This study focused on the functions of two DNA sliding clamps, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and the DNA damage checkpoint clamp (9-1-1 complex), and three DNA polymerases (Pol), Pol δ, Pol η, and Pol ζ, in HR processes. PCNA is required for DNA homologous recombination, but its exact role is unclear. The loading of PCNA onto a synthetic D-loop intermediate of HR and the functional interactions of PCNA with Rad51 recombinase and Pol δ, η, and ζ were investigated. PCNA was loaded onto the synthetic D-loop as efficiently as it was loaded onto a primed DNA substrate. Efficient PCNA loading requires Replication Protein A (RPA), which is associated with the displaced single-stranded DNA loop and provides a binding site for the clamp-loader Replication Factor C (RFC). Loaded PCNA greatly stimulates DNA synthesis by Pol δ within the D-loop, but does not affect primer recognition by Pol δ. This suggests that the 4 essential role of PCNA in HR is not recruitment of Pol δ to the D-loop, but is stimulation of Pol δ to displace a DNA strand during D-loop extension. Both Pol η and Pol ζ extended the D-loop more efficiently than Pol δ in the absence of PCNA, but little or no stimulation was observed in the presence of PCNA. Rad51 strongly inhibited both the loading of PCNA onto the D-loop and the extension of the D-loop by Pol δ and η. However, pre-loaded PCNA on the D-loop counteracts the Rad51-mediated inhibition of the D-loop extension. This suggests that the inhibition of post-invasion DNA synthesis by Rad51 occurs mostly at the step of PCNA loading. Even though the 9-1-1 complex has been suggested to be potentially involved the post invasion synthesis of HR, neither its loading on the DNA substrate nor the stimulation of polymerase activity were detected in this study. This study contributes to our understanding of the mechanisms of HRmediated DNA repair and maintenance of genome integrity.
A Study On A Parabolıc Partıal Dıfferentıal Equatıons And Restrıctıve Taylor Approxımatıons

In this paper we solved parabolic partial differential equation using restrictive Taylor’s approximations. We use the restrictive Taylor approximation to approximate the exponential matrix exp(xA). The advantage is that has the exact value at certain point.We shall develop a new approach for an explicit method to solve the parabolic partial differential equation. The results of numerical testing show that the numerical method based on the restrictive Taylor approximation discussed in the present paper produce good results.
A System-Wide Approach to Identify the Mechanisms of Barnacle Attachment: Toward the Discovery of New Antifouling Compounds

A System-Wide Approach to Identify the Mechanisms of Barnacle Attachment: Toward the Discovery of New Antifouling Compounds Sarah Abdulrahman Al-Aqeel Biofouling is a significant economic problem, particularly for marine and offshore oil industries. The acorn barnacle (Amphibalanus (Balanus) amphitrite) is the main biofouling organism in marine environments. Environmental conditions, the physiology of the biofouling organism, the surrounding microbial community, and the properties of the substratum can all influence the attachment of biofouling organisms to substrates. My dissertation investigated the biological processes involved in B. amphitrite development and attachment in the unique environment of the Red Sea, where the average water surface temperature is 34°C and the salinity reaches 41‰. I profiled the transcriptome and proteome of B. amphitrite at different life stages (nauplius II, nauplius VI, and cyprid) and identified 65,784 expressed contigs and 1387 expressed proteins by quantitative proteomics. During the planktonic stage, genes related to osmotic stress, salt stress, the hyperosmotic response, and the Wnt signaling pathway were strongly up-regulated, whereas genes related to the MAPK pathway, lipid metabolism, and cuticle development were down-regulated. In the transition from the nauplius VI to cyprid stages, there was up-regulation of genes involved in blood coagulation, cuticle development, and eggshell formation, and down-regulation of genes in the nitric oxide pathway, which stimulates the swimming and feeding responses of marine invertebrates. This system-wide integrated approach elucidated the development and attachment pathways important in B. amphitrite.
Cross-Cultural Differences of Online Store Image Perception and Customer Purchasing Intention

In this study, seven factors affecting consumer perception of online store image are identified based on store image measurement of traditional stores. Enjoyment and trustworthiness are two new antecedents suggested for the online store image. A cultural dimension is also introduced to understand the possible differences of model structure and relationships between online store image perception, attitude toward purchasing at an online store and customer purchasing intention in a cross-cultural setting. Keyword: Online store image, purchasing intention, cross-cultural difference
The potential of flax fibres as reinforcement for composite materials

• A submitted manuscript is the version of the article upon submission and before peer-review. There can be important differences between the submitted version and the official published version of record. People interested in the research are advised to contact the author for the final version of the publication, or visit the DOI to the publisher's website. • The final author version and the galley proof are versions of the publication after peer review. • The final published version features the final layout of the paper including the volume, issue and page numbers.
Novel Translational Regulation of the Proapoptotic bcl2 Member Puma and Its Role During Skeletal Myoblast Apoptosis

Differentiation and apoptosis are coordinately regulated in skeletal myoblasts. During the process of skeletal myoblast differentiation, our lab has determined that roughly 30% of myoblasts undergo apoptosis rather than differentiation. Further, we have reported that cytochrome C is released, and that the expression level of the pro-apoptotic Bcl2 family member PUMA is elevated, when 23A2 myoblasts are cultured in DM. Our long-term goal is to identify targets for manipulation that would abrogate this apoptosis without affecting differentiation. These findings could be significant to the study of myoblast transfer as a therapeutic approach. The goals of this dissertation are to: 1determine the significance of PUMA in apoptosis associated with skeletal myoblast differentaion 2determine the mechanism responsible for the increased expression of PUMA
Evaluation of guar meal as a source of prebiotic galactomannans for laying hens

Evaluation of Guar Meal as a Source of Prebiotic Galactomannans for Laying Hens. (August 2004) Cheng Zhang, B.S., Beijing Agricultural University; M.S., China Agricultural University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Christopher A. Bailey Four experiments were conducted to evaluate guar meal as a source of prebiotic galactomannans for laying hens. In the 1 experiment, late phase laying hens were fed diets with 0, 5, 10% guar meal (GM) for 56 days or 15% GM for 28 days then switched to the 0% GM diet for the final 28 days. In the 2 experiment, young pullets were fed guar germ (GG) or GM at 0, 2.5 or 5% for 20 weeks. In the 1 and 2 experiments, egg production and feed consumption were not affected by feeding up to 5% guar byproducts whereas feed efficiency was decreased by guar feeding. Feeding of GG or GM did not affect egg weight or shell quality, but decreased the egg yolk color and Haugh units. Guar increased absolute and relative liver weight, but did not affect the weights of the pancreas, spleen, or the incidence of fatty liver or liver hemorrhage. Feeding 10% GM depressed feed consumption and increased body weight loss. Feeding 15% GM severely depressed egg production followed by a recovery of production after returning to 0% GM feeding. In the 3 and 4 experiments, late phase laying hens were induced to molt by feed withdrawal (FW) or feeding 15 or 20% GM with or without β-mannanase (Hemicell®). All hens except those fed 15% GM with enzyme obtained a complete
Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Bone Tissue Regeneration andApplication

This synoptic study gives a concise overview of current knowledge of bone healing, the role of mesenchymal stem cells in bone tissue regeneration and contemporary possibilities of supporting regeneration of damaged bone. Attention of research concerning the healing of fractures with extensive loss of bone tissue following trauma, the treatment of belatedly healing or non-healing fractures or the healing of segmental bone defects following tumour resection, is focused on development of three-dimensional scaffolds planted with mesenchymal stem cells that might be used for reconstruction of such large bone lesions. Presented are possibilities of transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells combined with biomaterials into bone defects, including the results of our own experimental studies dealing with the use of stem cells in the treatment of damaged tissues of the musculoskeletal system in animal models.