Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phytoremediation of Explosives

Referee: Dr. C. Neal Stewart, Jr., Department of Plant Science and Landscape Systems, The University of Tennessee, 2431 Center Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 There is major international concern over the widescale contamination of soil and associated groundwater by persistant explosives residues. The development of methods to remediate these contaminants has been a significant research interest for several decades. In the last 10 years, phytoremediation has emerged as a focus for explosives remediation because of its low cost, low energy requirements, and promising research observing explosives removal from contaminated groundwater and soil. More recent work has focused on the modes of transformation and metabolism of energetic compounds by plants. These biochemical studies and the experimental conditions enabling the degradation and uptake of explosives by different plant species are discussed.
Foraging ecology of black-backed woodpeckers (Picoides arcticus) in unburned eastern boreal forest stands

Managed coniferous forest dominates much of the black-backed woodpecker’s (Picoides arcticus Swainson) breeding range. Despite this, little is known about the fine-scale foraging behaviour of this focal species in unburned managed forest stands in the absence of insect outbreaks. To investigate the foraging substrates used in such a habitat, we employed radio-telemetry to track a total of 27 black-backed woodpeckers. During two successive summers (2005–2006), 279 foraging observations were recorded, most of which were on dying trees, snags, and downed woody debris. Individuals frequently foraged by excavation, suggesting that in the absence of insect outbreaks the black-backed woodpecker forages mainly by drilling. The majority of foraging events occurred on recently dead snags with a mean dbh (±SE) of 18.3 ± 0.4 cm. Our results suggest that in unburned boreal forest stands, substrate diameter and decay class are important predictors of suitable foraging substrates for black-backed woodpeckers. We suggest.
NEW SPECIES OF THAIS (NEOGASTROPODA, MURICIDAE) FROM SINGAPORE, WITH A RE-DESCRIPTION OF THAIS JAVANICA (PHILIPPI, 1848)

The intertimdal gastropod Thais malayensis n.sp. (Neogastropoda, Muncidae) is described from Singapore and peninsular Malaysia. Although a common species, it may have been previously overlooked or mistaken for other species found in and near mangroves. Another poorly known species, T javanica (Phdippi) may also have been confounded with the new species. New data on their soft parts, radulae, opercula, and egg capsule morphology are presented to distinguish between these closely related species.
Molecular insights into the taxonomic status of Coris atlantica (Pisces: Labridae)

A molecular genetic analysis of Coris julis from different sites in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic and C. atlantica from the Cabo Verde Islands was applied to infer phylogenetic relationships between the taxa. More precisely, partial 12S mitochondrial rDNA sequence data were used in maximum parsimony, neighbour-joining, and maximum likelihood analysis to generate phylogenetic trees. The polymorphism observed indicated an important differentiation between the C. atlantica and C. julis specimens and supported the existence of two different species.
Designing and Utilizing Biofeedback Games for Emotion Regulation: The Case of Nevermind

Biofeedback games have the potential to make gaming a deeply personal experience by linking the gamespace to each player's physiological state. First, this paper describes the psycho-educational potential of the horror-themed biofeedback game Nevermind. In Nevermind, players' heart rate is continuously read into the game which in turn adapts to the player's momentary levels of negative affective arousal. Greater negative arousal causes the game and its horror-themed settings to become more disturbing. As a result, Nevermind challenges players to improve their emotion regulation skills by encouraging them to healthily down-regulate their negative affective states in the face of stressful situations. Second, Nevermind implements valuable design practices, practices which we share here. Finally, we describe a recent study conducted on 47 players. We discuss potential physiological metrics which may be useful for understanding how behaviors in the real world relate to those in biofeedback games like Nevermind.
Aggregation of β‐Amyloid Peptide Is Promoted by Membrane Phospholipid Metabolites Elevated in Alzheimer's Disease Brain

Abstract: Increased amounts of β‐amyloid (Aβ) peptide deposits are found in Alzheimer's disease brain. These amyloid deposits have been implicated in the pathophysiology of this common dementing illness. Aβ peptides have been shown to be toxic to neurons in cell culture, and this toxicity is critically dependent on the aggregation of the peptide into cross‐β‐pleated sheet fibrils. Also, in vivo and postmortem NMR studies have shown changes in certain brain membrane phospholipid metabolites in normal aging and more extensive alterations in patients with Alzheimer's disease. The finding that membrane phospholipids affect the aggregation of Aβ suggests that the abnormalities in membrane metabolism found in Alzheimer's disease could affect the deposition of Aβ in vivo. Therefore, we examined the effect of membrane phospholipid metabolites that are altered in Alzheimer's disease brain on the aggregation of Aβ(1–40) using a light scattering method. Certain metabolites (glycerophosphocholine, glycerophosphoethanolamine, and α‐glycerophosphate) augment the aggregation of Aβ. Other membrane phospholipid metabolites (phosphocholine, phosphoethanolamine, and inositol‐1‐phosphate) have no effect. We conclude that increased membrane phospholipid metabolite concentrations may play a role in the deposition of Aβ seen in normal aging and the even greater deposition of Aβ observed in Alzheimer's disease.
Hemolymph Metabolic Variables in Response to Experimental Manipulation Stress and Serotonin Injection in Penaeus vannamei

— The effects of serotonin (5-HT) and the stress of repeated sampling on Penaeus vannamei hemolymph levels of glucose, lactate, triacylglycerol, cholesterol, and total protein were examined. For this purpose, a baseline hemolymph sample was taken and then shrimp were injected with 5-HT (50 μg/shrimp) or saline after which repeated individual samples were taken at 30, 60, and 120 min. Glucose levels tripled in both saline- and serotonin-treated shrimp when compared to baseline values, without any difference between both groups. In contrast, lactate level rose significantly only in the 5-HT group. The levels of this metabolite were significantly higher than in the salineinjection group for all time points. Triacylglycerol decreased in both groups and no substantial differences were observed in cholesterol and protein levels. The results indicate that repeated sampling stress produces strong hyperglycemia and that 5-HT does not produce an additional increase in glucose levels. However. this monoamine strongly increased lactate levels, a response that can be distinguished from stress and probably attributed to glycolysis.
Surface distribution and recycling of the low density lipoprotein receptor as visualized with antireceptor antibodies

For more than 45 years biologists have known that cells internalize extracellular fluid and its contents by fluid-phase endocytosis, an inefficient process for the uptake of molecules that are present at low concentrations . More recently, animal cells have been found to express surface receptors that bind, and thereby concentrate, certain molecules so that they can be taken up in large amounts even when they are present at low concentrations outside the cell . Ligands that are internalized in this way include plasma transport proteins, hormones, and other macromolecules that fulfill nutritional and regulatory roles in cells . In many cases this process, called receptormediated endocytOsis, takes place in specialized regions of the plasma membrane called coated pits (reviewed in references 1 and 2) . One of the most extensively studied model systems for receptor-mediated endocytosis is the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor system . LDL, the major cholesterol carrying protein in human plasma, delivers cholesterol to cells (3) . Delivery is accomplished by cell surface receptors that bind LDL and lead to its internalization by receptor-mediated endocytosis . The LDL is carried to lysosomes where it is degraded to liberate cholesterol, which is used for the synthesis ofplasma membranes (most cells), steroid hormones (steroid-secreting cells), and bile acids (hepatocytes) . In 1976 we described the mechanism of internalization of LDL in human fibroblasts . Using LDL that was covalently coupled to ferritin as a specific electron microscopic probe, we showed that LDL binds to receptors that are associated with coated pits on the cell surface (4) . Coated pits (5), which represent 2% of the cell surface, contain about 70% of the LDL receptors (4,6). Immediately after binding, these pitsinvaginate and the LDL-ferritin is internalized into coated endocytic vesicles (6) . Within 1 min, the endocytic vesicles lose their coat and become larger and irregularly shaped, apparently as a
The fate of soil-derived phosphorus in mycelial cord systems of Phanerochaete velutina and Phallus impudicus.

SUMMARY This study demonstrated the direct uptake of [32P]phosphorus from soil by ‘foraging’ cord systems of Phanerochaete velutina (DC: Pers.) Parmasto and Phallus impudicus (L.) Pers. , grown from 4 cm3beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) wood inocula. Total uptake was independent of, but ‘allocation’ within cord systems dependent on, species, the state of decay of wood inocula, and phosphorus availability in different parts of cord systems. Cords were shown to be functional pathways for translocation of 32P between distant resource units and more than 90 % of accumulated phosphorus was translocated to the inocula or to new resource units. Allocation of opportunistically-scavenged phosphorus was in preferential order of the potential of new resource units as carbon sources and in proportion to the mass of like resource units. Non-destructive 32P determination, using a scintillation probe, showed that significant differences (P 0.05) in allocation to combinations of new resource units could be detected within 12 d and corresponded with the results of destructive total 32P determination after nine weeks. The results are discussed in terms of the role of saprotrophic cord-forming basidiomycetes in nutrient cycling and the efficiency of nutrient allocation within their cord systems.
Correlation between radical scavenging capacity and carotenoid profile during Pleoticus muelleri larval development

The purpose of this study was to measure the concentration of carotenoids and properties which occur in tissues to neutralize free radicals during ontogeny of Pleoticus muelleri. The stages of nauplius, protozoea, mysis and postlarvae of 1, 6, 10, 26, 30 days were examined from hatchery raised postlarvae from wild females. The β-carotene and the astaxanthin from the lyophilized tissue were quantified using a ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometer. Free radicals scavenging properties of tissues extracts were evaluated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). The reaction of protective substances was followed with the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) radical. The concentration of carotenoids of the whole larvae and postlarvae ranged from 1.72 to 87.04 µg g−1 for β-carotene, and 2.26 to 19.86 µg g−1 for astaxanthin. All the larval and postlarvae stages showed a protective capacity. In the stages of mysis, postlarvae 1 and 30 the homogenates were monitored without DPPH. The undefined EPR signal was quantified and considered as a “pool” of persistent radicals, with a concentration about 10−5 M. A relationship was observed between the concentration of carotenoids and the protective capacity of the homogenate. The postlarvae stages had a high concentration of carotenoids and the greatest protective capacity.
Radiocesium patterns in wood duck eggs and nesting females in a contaminated reservoir

Radionuclide releases from nuclear industry are an important ecological issue, particularly because these contaminants may directly affect animals and may be transferred to the hunting public through consumption. During 1991-92, we collected 13 clutches of wood duck eggs from nest boxes established in an abandoned reactor cooling reservoir. We examined whole-egg radiocesium ({sup 137}Cs) levels and apportionment within egg components (albumen, yolk, and shell). Whole-egg concentrations averaged 0.113 Becquerel (Bq)/g wet mass (SE=0.01, n = 137) over 2 years. Albumen had the highest concentration of {sup 137}Cs (x = 1.096 Bq/g dry mass), followed by shell (x = 0.132 Bq/g dry mass) and yolk (x = 0.098 Bq/g dry mass). Levels of potassium (K), a chemical analog of Cs, suggested that contamination levels in yolk were disproportionally lower than those in albumen. Levels of {sup 137}Cs that appeared in these components may reflect temporal differences in the sythesis of yolk and albumen. Laying order did not relate to whole-egg {sup 137}Cs concentrations within clutches, but {sup 137}Cs concentrations in post-laying females were positively related to mean egg {sup 137}Cs levels in their respective clutches (r{sup 2} = 0.97). While female ducks and their eggs examined in this study would notmore » have posed a health hazard to persons consuming them as food, we suggested that {sup 137}Cs levels in breeding female wood ducks and their clutches may be indicators of foraging habitat selection (both contaminated and uncontaminated) during the laying cycle. 23 refs., 2 figs., 2 tabs. « less
Diet of pygmy sperm whales (Kogia breviceps) in the Hawaiian Archipelago

). Despite the high frequency of strandings,sightings of this species in Hawaiian waters are rare (Baird 2005). Given the lownumber of sightings, examination of stranded animals provides virtually the onlymeans to study the biology and ecology of pygmy sperm whales in the area.Pygmy sperm whales are recorded as feeding primarily on cephalopods from mostlocationswherestomachcontentshavebeenexamined(Wang
Movements, distribution pattern and density in a population of Salamandra atra aurorae (Caudata: Salamandridae)

Spatial behaviour of Salamandra atra aurorae Trevisan, 1982, was investigated by a capture-recapture program during a whole season of activity. Salamanders changed their behaviour with growth: while juveniles usually dispersed on the ground, adults showed a strong fidelity to a limited area, a few square metres wide, also from year to year. Each individual frequently changed its diurnal refuge over the course of the whole activity season, choosing among a large variety of potential shelters. The distribution pattern of the home ranges was slightly aggregated, irrespective of age and sex. Under the assumptions of a closed population and an equal catchability among individuals, a density of 475 (±184; 95% confidence interval) salamanders per hectare was estimated in a mature and quite open wood, whereas a density of 97 (±23; 95% confidence interval) salamanders per hectare was estimated in a thicker wood.
Plasma membrane ATPase and H+ transport activities in microsomal membranes from mycorrhizal tomato roots

plants, including many agricultural important crop species (Barea et al., 1993). The fungi biotrophically colonize the ATPase activity, ATP-dependent H+ transport and the cortex of the root to obtain carbon compounds from the amount of antigenic tomato plasma membrane H+- host plant, while assisting the plant with the supply of ATPase have been analysed in membrane vesicles isol- phosphate and other mineral nutrients that the external ated from Glomus mosseae -o rGlomus intraradices- fungal mycelium takes up from the soil (Harley and colonized roots and from non-mycorrhizal tomato Smith, 1983). The transfer mechanisms between symroots. Microsomal protein content was higher in mycor- bionts are of considerable interest and are likely to involve rhizal than in control roots. The specific activity of the specific alterations in membrane transport processes. plasma membrane H+-ATPase was not affected by Woolhouse was the first to suggest that the controlled mycorrhizal colonization, although this activity in- transfer of nutrients required for a functional mycorrhizal creased in membranes isolated from mycorrhizal roots symbiosis is carried out by means of active transport when expressed on a fresh weight basis. Western blot processes ( Woolhouse, 1975). analysis of microsomal proteins using antibodies raised In many cellular systems, transport of solutes into and against the Arabidopsis thaliana plasma membrane H+- out of the cell involves processes driven by the H+ ATPase showed that mycorrhizal colonization did not electrochemical gradient generated by the plasma memchange the relative amount of tomato plasma mem- brane H+-ATPase, which pumps protons out of the cell brane ATPase in the microsomes. However, on a fresh (Serrano, 1989). Therefore, the hypothesis of an active weight basis, there was a greater amount of this protein transport in mycorrhizal symbioses requires the presence in roots of mycorrhizal plants. In addition, mycorrhizal of a H+ pumping activity. This hypothesis has been membranes showed a higher specific activity of the supported by cytochemical, electrophysiological and biovanadate-sensitive ATP-dependent H+ transport than chemical data. In particular, cytochemical studies (Marx membranes isolated from control roots. These results et al., 1982; Smith and Smith, 1990; Gianinazzi-Pearson suggest that mycorrhiza might regulate the plasma et al., 1991) have shown that in arbuscular mycorrhizas membrane ATPase by increasing the coupling effici- ATPase activity is associated with both plant and fungal ency between H+ transport and ATP hydrolysis. The membranes of the arbuscular interface, which is consistent observed effects of mycorrhizal colonization on plasma with active transport processes occurring at this location. membrane H+-ATPase were independent of the AM ATPases represent proton pumps that establish proton motive forces and drive the uptake of P i or hexose against
Taxon delimitation and genetic similarities of the Sphagnum imbricatum complex, as revealed by enzyme electrophoresis

Abstract Isozyme electrophoretic studies were used to assess genetic variation in the Sphagnum imbricatum complex in a sample of 1332 plants from 39 populations from western Europe, eastern North America and Japan. Mean pairwise genetic distance among populations clustered and depicted in a UPGMA phenogram correspond to the recognition of four species, viz. Sphagnum portoricense , S. affine , S. imbricatum and S. austinii. The mean pairwise genetic identity among conspecific populations were 0.976, 0.847 and 0.841 for S. austinii , S. affine and S. portoricense, respectively. The mean pairwise genetic identity among taxa was 0.525 (S. austinii–S. affine), 0.476 (S. affine –S. portoricense), 0.600 (S. affine–S. imbricatum), 0.484 (S. imbricatum–S. austinii), 0.629 (S. imbricatum –S. portoricense) and 0.285 (S. austinii–S. portoricense). Populations of S. austinii in Europe are found to be genetically eroded (Hs = 0.001 ± 0.000), (P95 = 0.00), probably due to severe bottlenecks caused by a series of founder effects during postglacial migration from a limited number of glacial refugia in S.W. Europe. The mean genetic diversity of S. affine (Hs = 0.122 ± 0.020) is at the same level as up to now reported for the more variable congeneric species. Among individuals of S. affine, 0.27% displayed mixed markers, indicating that, on rare occasions, hybridization may occur between S. affine and S. austinii. Preliminary genetic analysis of S. steerei supports the recognition of this taxon.
Volatile and Dislodgeable Residues Following Trichlorfon and Isazofos Application to Turfgrass and Implications for Human Exposure

Volatilization can be a major route of pesticide loss following application to turfgrass areas. Consequently, a significant portion of applied pesticide may be available for human exposure via volatile and dislodgeable residues. In this study, volatile and dislodgeable residues were determined following application of triadimefon [1-(4-chlorophenoxy)-3,3-dimethyl-1-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl) butanone], and MCPP [(+/-)-2-(4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy) propionic acid], to an established plot of 'Penncross' creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris Huds.). For each application, a 10-m radius plot was sprayed and the Theoretical Profile Shape (TPS) method of Wilson was used to estimate volatile flux. Dislodgeable residues were concurrently determined by wiping treated turfgrass with a water dampened piece of cheesecloth. Less than 8% of the total applied triadimefon was measured as volatile residues with nearly all volatilization loss occurring within 5 to 7 d of application. Diurnal patterns of triadimefon volatilization were evident. Mid-day (1100-1500 h) triadimefon volatile flux on Days 2 (4.6 g ha -2 h -1 ) and 3 (2.4 g ha -2 h -1 ) was 2 and 1.4 times, respectively, greater than the average of morning and late afternoon volatile flux on these respective days. Less than 1% of the total applied MCPP was measured as volatile residue. Volatile MCPP residues decreased over time to nondetectable levels by Day 5. Both triadimefon and MCPP dislodgeable residues were greatest on Day 1 following application and dissipated over time. By Day 5, triadimefon dislodgeable residues decreased to 0.04% of the initial residue level immediately following application and MCPP dislodgeable residues were nondetectable. Inhalation and dermal exposures to humans were estimated from measured air concentrations and dislodgeable residues, respectively. Hazard quotients (HQs) were calculated for both volatile and dislodgeable residues of each pesticide. Exposures (i.e., doses) divided by reference doses (Rfds) resulted in hazard quotients (HQs). Triadimefon and MCPP volatile and dislodgeable residues resulted in HQs below 1.0 throughout the entire 15-d experimental period indicating that exposures were below any level expected to cause adverse health effects.
Expression of Heat Shock Protein 27 and Alpha B Crystallin in the Retina and Optic Nerve of the Chick Embryo

Heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) and alpha B crystallin (aBC) belong to the small heat shock protein (sHSP) family and have similar amino acid sequences. However, no study has compared the distributional patterns of these two sHSPs in the retina and optic nerve. In this study, we compared the spatiotemporal distributions of the expressions of HSP27 and aBC in the developing chick retina and optic nerve. Both HSP27 and aBC were first expressed in the retina and optic nerve at embryonic day 16 (E16). At E20 the expressions of the two proteins were increased in the retina and optic nerve. Double immunofluorescence demonstrated that HSP27 and aBC were expressed in oligodendrocytes of the retina and optic nerve. In addition, HSP27 was also found to be expressed in ganglion cells in the retina. The findings of this study suggest that HSP27 and aBC act to protect ganglion cells and oligodendrocytes during late development of the chick retina and optic nerve.