Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Random Movement and Orientation in Pink Salmon (Oncothynchus gorbuscha) Migrations

The homing migration of pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) from the open ocean towards their natal rivers was studied by a mathematical model using data from tagging experiments. In this model fish migration was considered to be the resultant of fish orientation and random movement. The mean migration speed and dispersion coefficient (an index of random movement) evaluated from regression analysis were 19.6 km∙d−1 and 739 km2∙d−1 for the North American group and 47.1 km∙d−1 and 863 km2∙d−1 for the East Kamchatkan group, respectively. The results indicated that pink salmon migration has more oriented movement than had been suggested by a previous computer simulation by other workers. The results also indicated that there is a distinct difference in the migratory behavior of North American and East Kamchatkan pink salmon.
Airway Epithelial versus Immune Cell Stat1 Function for Innate Defense against Respiratory Viral Infection1

The epithelial surface is often proposed to actively participate in host defense, but evidence that this is the case remains circumstantial. Similarly, respiratory paramyxoviral infections are a leading cause of serious respiratory disease, but the basis for host defense against severe illness is uncertain. Here we use a common mouse paramyxovirus (Sendai virus) to show that a prominent early event in respiratory paramyxoviral infection is activation of the IFN-signaling protein Stat1 in airway epithelial cells. Furthermore, Stat1−/− mice developed illness that resembled severe paramyxoviral respiratory infection in humans and was characterized by increased viral replication and neutrophilic inflammation in concert with overproduction of TNF-α and neutrophil chemokine CXCL2. Poor control of viral replication as well as TNF-α and CXCL2 overproduction were both mimicked by infection of Stat1−/− airway epithelial cells in culture. TNF-α drives the CXCL2 response, because it can be reversed by TNF-α blockade in vitro and in vivo. These findings pointed to an epithelial defect in Stat1−/− mice. Indeed, we next demonstrated that Stat1−/− mice that were reconstituted with wild-type bone marrow were still susceptible to infection with Sendai virus, whereas wild-type mice that received Stat1−/− bone marrow retained resistance to infection. The susceptible epithelial Stat1−/− chimeric mice also exhibited increased viral replication as well as excessive neutrophils, CXCL2, and TNF-α in the airspace. These findings provide some of the most definitive evidence to date for the critical role of barrier epithelial cells in innate immunity to common pathogens, particularly in controlling viral replication.
Life-history variation in closely related generalist predators living in the same habitat: a case study with three Cyclosa spiders

1. Generalist predators sharing similar food resources and phenologies as well as having no competitive interactions are expected to have a similar life-history pattern, but some closely related web spiders show different life-history traits. The present paper clarifies possible selection pressures affecting life-history traits of the three coexisting Cyclosa spiders and explores the significance of the life-history variation. 2.Cyclosa argenteoalba had lower daily survival rate and higher growth rate, C. sedeculata had higher daily survival rate and lower growth rate, and C. octotuberculata showed intermediate levels. This implies that the selection pressures these spiders experience differ appreciably even in the same habitat. 3. The significance of the life-history characteristics of the three species was evaluated by general life-history theories. Cyclosa argenteoalba showed distinguishing reproductive traits: shorter time to maturation, larger reproductive effort, larger relative clutch size, decreased clutch size with the number of clutches, and smaller egg size. These characteristics may have evolved in response to the larger ratio of juvenile to adult survivorship. Cyclosa octotuberculata had a clutch size much larger than the other two species, but relative clutch sizes accounting for body size were similar between C. octotuberculata and C. sedeculata. Also, the two species showed a similar time to maturation despite having different selection pressures. Probably, higher growth rate compensates for lower survivorship, leading to the similarity in some reproductive traits.
Molecular Cloning and Expression Analysis of TH Gene in the Ant Polyrhachis vicina (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) plays an important role in the synthesis of L-DOPA. In this report, a TH homologue was isolated from Polyrhachis vicina Roger (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The full –length cDNA of PvTH is 2429bp, which contains an open reading frame of 1713 bp. The 5’-and 3’- UTR s are 357 and 359 bp long, respectively. The open reading frame encodes a deduced 570 amino-acid peptide with a calculated molecular mass of 65.09 kilodaltons and an isoelectric point of 5.26. To compare PvTH mRNA expression during P. vicina development and the heads of different castes, real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used. The results show that PvTH mRNA is differentially expressed in the ant development, in whole bodies and in the heads of different castes. During the development, the highest expression level is in pupae. The levels also vary among castes, the highest level is in workers. The investigation revel that PvTH is related with the developmental and caste-specifically at the level of transcription.
Physicochemical characteristics and fatty acid profile of yarrow (Achillea tenuifolia) seed oil

The oil extracted from Yarrow (Achillea tenuifolia L.) seed was analyzed for its chemical and physical characteristics such as acid, iodine, peroxide and saponification values as well as specific gravity, refractive index and color. Fatty acids composition of the oil was determined by gas chromatography (GC). Linoleic (69.4%) and oleic (14.5%) acids were the most abundant fatty acids. The oil also contained 1.7% linolenic acid as another polyunsaturated fatty acid. High content of the seed oil rich in linoleic acid (essential fatty acid) is promising to develop this plant and use its seed oil for nutritional and pharmaceutical purposes.
Assessing Historical and Current Threats to Common Frog (Rana temporaria) Populations in Ireland

Abstract Ponds are an ephemeral feature of the landscape but their large-scale loss can have profound implications for biodiversity and the persistence of amphibian populations. We quantified rates of pond loss throughout Ireland over a period of approximately 125 yr. Environmental parameters and perceived risk factors associated with the current occurrence and density of the Common Frog, Rana temporaria, were also analyzed. The numbers of farmland ponds declined by 54% between 1887–1913 and 2005–11, with most ponds and the greatest losses in the East, coincident with agricultural intensification and human habitation. The decline of pond numbers was significant but, at approximately 0.5% per annum, was substantially less than losses recorded in other European countries. Losses were coincident with major changes to the agricultural landscape including extensive land drainage. However, losses of pond and natural wetland habitats throughout Ireland may have been partially or wholly mitigated by a synchronous expansion of artificial field margin ditches associated with drainage projects during the mid-20th Century. The ecology of the Common Frog in Ireland was similar to its ecology elsewhere and it appears largely unaffected by pollution and disturbance. Consequently, the conservation status of the frog in Ireland was judged “favorable” and should remain so for the foreseeable future.
Network-based analysis of protein mass spectrometry expression data

Most of the bioinformatics researchers working in proteomics, concentrate on the analysis of mass spectrometry data. The next logical step lays in the higher-level analysis of normalized protein expression data. Networks are natural models to represent proteomics data with proteins being nodes and edges being the connections between them. Network-based approaches seem to be better than classical clustering techniques for the following reasons: 1. Network structure reflects a natural organization of biological entities, in this case genes/proteins. 2. Clustering techniques are limited in the way that genes must be assigned to only one cluster (or module); while networks can capture more complicated types of interrelationships.
Importance of the Support Properties for Immobilization or Purification of Enzymes

Immobilization and purification of enzymes are usual requirements for their industrial use. Both purification and immobilization have a common factor: they use a solid activated support. Using a support for enzyme purification means having mild conditions for enzyme release and a selective enzyme–support interaction is interesting. When using a support for immobilization, however, enzyme desorption is a problem. The improvement of enzyme features through immobilization is a usual objective (e.g., stability, selectivity). Thus, a support designed for enzyme purification and a support designed for enzyme immobilization may differ significantly. In this review, we will focus our attention on the requirements of a support surface to produce the desired objectives. The ideal physical properties of the matrix, the properties of the introduced reactive groups, the best surface activation degree to reach the desired objective, and the properties of the reactive groups will be discussed.
Effects of increased salinity on tadpoles of two anurans from a Caribbean coastal wetland in relation to their natural abundance

Many amphibians depend on wetland ecosystems for reproduction and survival, and coastal wetlands are not the exception. Recent advances on climate change research predict a reduction in land cover of coastal wetlands due to sea-level rise in response to global warming. Although this scenario will contribute to further amphibian population declines worldwide the impacts of sea-level rise and its related salt water intrusion on anuran assemblages in coastal wetlands remain largely unknown. I documented patterns of abundance of the native Caribbean white-lipped frog ( Leptodactylus albilabris ) and the introduced marine toad ( Bufo marinus ) along an inland-to-coastal salinity gradient in Puerto Rico. In addition, I investigated the effects of increasing salinity on larval growth and survival to metamorphosis in L. albilabris and B. marinus in laboratory experiments. In the field, relative abundance of adults of L. albilabris decreased with increasing salinity, while B. marinus showed the opposite pattern. Laboratory experiments with L. albilabris and B. marinus revealed that percentage of larvae surviving to metamorphosis in both species was greatly reduced in 22-25% seawater (8 ppt), which is within salinity levels found in their natural distribution. In this salinity level, the native L. albilabris showed ∼100% metamorphosis failure while the introduced B. marinus showed ∼60% metamorphosis failure. The reduction in metamorphosis was due to high mortality in L. albilabris and was accompanied with morphological abnormalities in B. marinus . Tadpoles of only L. albilabris reared for four weeks showed significant weight loss at 8 ppt, but showed no difference in length. These results suggest that anuran tadpoles may be living near their physiological limit for salinity in the studied wetland. Conservation implications are profound, however, as salt water intrusion and urban encroaching inland may result in anuran population replacement, from native species to introduced species in this wetland.
Behaviour of Chromonemata in Mitosis:IV. Double refraction of chromosomes in Tradescantia reflexa

Behaviour of Chromonemata in Mitosis IV. Double refraction of chromosomes in Tradescantia reflexa 1) By Yoshinari Kuwada and Takeshi Nakamura (With one plate) Received July 25, 1934 SCHMIDT (1932a, b) has found that even in the nucleus which appears optically isotropic in the living state anisotropy becomes evident when the material is dehy drated by means of alcohol or by dry ing. According to him, the chroma tin is a substance consisting of optically uniaxial, rod-shaped micel lae which are characterized by the negative proper double refraction (Eigendoppelbrechung). If the chromatin is a substance characterized by the negative double refraction, it is highly probable that the chromonema is a body which presents the negative double refrac tion with respect to its length. If the chromonema is coiled into a spiral to form the chromosome, each turn of the spiral or the length of the chromonema is disposed perpendicu lar to the length of the chromosome and, therefore, the double refraction which the chromosome presents will be positive with respect to its length (Text-fig. 1). If the chromonema Text-fig. 1. Schema showing expected changes in interference colours of the chromonema according to differ ence in its manner of coiling. In the fi gure blue is shown in solid black and yellow in lighter colour. I, chro monema. II, chromosome of single coiled structure. III, chromosome of double-coiled structure.
Farmacologia e Toxicologia de Peumus boldus e Baccharis genistelloides

There are a great number of medicinal plants without any scientific confirmation about their efficacy and safety. This paper is a short review about two medicinal plants, "boldo do chile" (Peumus boldus) and "carqueja" (Baccharis genistelloides). Pharmacological studies have confirmed several popular indications for P. boldus and B. genistelloides, besides have established a relationship between isolated compounds from these extracts and the pharmacological effects observed. On the other hand, toxicological researches have pointed out that P. boldus tea should not be consumed during a long period (potential hepatotoxicity) and by pregnant, especially during the first three months. Moreover, B. genistelloides tea must be prohibited for pregnant because of confirmed abortive action, and for patients using medicines for blood pressure disorders. These studies point out the continuous necessity of more studies about medicinal plants; only with this knowledge it will be possible a safe and efficient use.
Bone weight, meat yield estimates and cod (Gadus morhua): A preliminary study of the weight method

Past approaches to the Weight Method (use of the weight of excavated bone assemblages to evaluate the relative potential meat yield of the animals from which they came) are critically reviewed. They do not account for both inter-taxon and intra-taxon variability in the relationship between bone weight and total body or soft tissue weight. Critics of the Weight Method have assumed that these problems are insurmountable. It is argued here that they can be overcome practically. Solutions lie in the integration of classic Weight Method approaches, which assume a consistent ratio of bone weight to body weight between different taxonomic and size groups, with the understanding of animal scaling provided by studies of skeletal mass allometry. Allometric equations derived from original data (regarding cod, Gadus morhua) and available from published sources (regarding mammals and birds) are used to illustrate this argument. Three practical approaches to the Weight Method are suggested and briefly explored, using bone weight data from Earls' Bu, a Norse site in Orkney, Scotland, as a case study.
A revision of Nereimyra (Psamathini, Hesionidae, Aciculata, Annelida)

Nereimyra Blainville, 1828 (Psamathini, Hesionidae, Aciculata, Annelida) is revised based on examination of all available types and newly collected specimens. We assessed the phylogeny of Nereimyra in an analysis based on cytochrome oxidase c subunit I (COI), 16S rDNA, 18S rDNA, and 28S rDNA. The genus is delineated to include the three species Nereimyra aphroditoides (Fabricius, 1780), Nereimyra punctata (O.F. Muller, 1776), and Nereimyra woodsholea (Hartman, 1965), which are redescribed. Nereimyra punctata has a characteristic pigmentation, but otherwise there are no clear morphological characters for separating the species. Based on the molecular data we obtained strong support both for the monophyly of Nereimyra and for each of the three included species. Nereimyra punctata and N. woodsholea are sister species, and the Kimura two-parameter (K2P)-corrected COI distances between the three species are 16–23%. Syllidia Quatrefages, 1866, is sister group to Nereimyra. Previous uncertainties regarding the type species of the genus are settled to Nereis rosea Fabricius, 1780, junior synonym of N. aphroditoides. A neotype is designated for N. aphroditoides. The distribution of Nereimyra is at present restricted to the Arctic and the boreal parts of the North Atlantic, possibly extending to the Gulf of Mexico on the United States east coast. Records outside this area require verification. Castalia multipapillata Theel, 1879, and Nereimyra alvinae Blake, 1985, are of uncertain affinity and are treated as nomina dubia. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 164, 36–51.
Climatic discrimination of Mediterranean broad‐leaved sclerophyllous and deciduous forests in central Spain

Climatic differences between three types of deciduous (Quercus pyrenaica) and three types of sclerophyllous (Quercus rotundifolia) Mediterranean forests in the Spanish Sistema Central were analyzed by means of Canonical Discriminant Analysis and Jancey's Discriminant Analysis, applied in successive steps to data from 252 meteorological stations. Climatic data included temperature and precipitation records as well as bioclimatic indices. Discriminant analysis was applied to broad-leaved sclerophyllous and deciduous forest communities sampled at each meteorological station using phytosociological methods. Annual and seasonal (summer, spring) water availability are the most important factor controlling the distribution of the two physiognomic forest types; southwestern associations of Quercus pyrenaica and Q. rotundifolia differ from their colder homologues by annual and monthly temperatures; western associations were separated from eastern ones in terms of annual and seasonal precipitation gradients. Discriminant analysis was a good technique to explore climatic gradients not shown by other general ordination or classification methods.
Intermittent Lighting and Broiler Production .1. Effect On Female Broiler Performance

The effects of intermittent and nearly continuous lighting schedules on the performance of female broilers were compared in 3 experiments. A step-up program provided 23.5 h light (L):0.5 h dark (D) from 1 to 7 days, 1L:3D from 8 to 21 days, 1L:2D from 22 to 35 days and 1L:1D from 36 to 48 days. A step-down program provided nearly continuous light from 1 to 7 days, 1L:1D from 8 to 21 days, 1L:2D from 22 to 35 days 1L:3D from 36 to 48 days or 49 days. A constant intermittent lighting program provided 23L:1D from 1 to 7 days and 1L:3D from 8 to 49 days. Nearly continuous light (either 23.5L:0.5D or 23L:1D) was used as control treatment in each experiment. Depending on the imposed intermittent lighting program, equal (step-down) or heavier (step-up and 1L:3D) slaughter weights compared with continuous lighting were observed. Cumulative feed intake of chickens reared under the 1L:3D program was lower compared to chickens reared in nearly continuous lighting. In contrast, chickens provided the step-up program consumed significantly more feed compared with chickens reared in nearly continuous lighting or provided with step-down lighting program. Compared with nearly continuous lighting, cumulative feed conversion was significantly improved by imposing the 1L:3D lighting schedule while the opposite was true with the step-up lighting program. Abdominal fat pad content was only significantly increased by imposing the step-up lighting program compared with nearly continuous illumination or with step-down lighting program. When changing from continuous lighting to intermittent lighting at 7 days of age, a transient depression in feed consumption and in body weight gain was observed in all experiments. Subsequently, chickens reared in intermittent lighting manifested compensatory growth so that at the same slaughter age, equal (step-down) or heavier (step-up and 1L:3D) slaughter weights compared with continuous lighting were attained. The catch-up growth of the chickens on the step-down program and on the constant 1L:3D program was also realized with an improved feed conversion but not for chickens on the step-up program.
Virulence of two Finnish Gremmeniella abietina types (A and B)

Thirteen Finnish Gremmeniella abietina isolates of types A and B were compared for differences in their virulence. Three kinds of inoculations were made: one with conidia on young Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) seedlings and two with mycelia on the stems and shoots of young Scots pine trees. Inoculations with conidia were carried out in August 1992 and inoculations with mycelia were carried out six times between 11 August and 20 October, 1992. The experiments were evaluated in the late spring and early summer of 1993. The results showed that there was a difference in virulence between the two types. In the conidial inoculations type A infected 34.7% and type B infected 11.0% of the inoculated seedlings. For mycelial inoculations with type A the mean canker (stems) and necrosis (shoots) lengths were 19.3 mm and 8.6 mm longer, respectively, than with type B inoculations. In shoot inoculations there also was a clear difference between the two types in the number of such inoculations where no symptoms were observed. For type B shoot inoculations there was no fungal growth in 21.5% whereas for type A inoculations the figure was only 3.7%.
Rapid range expansion of a wing-dimorphic bush-cricket after the 2003 climatic anomaly

During recent decades, many species have responded to global warming by poleward range expansions. We require a better mechanistic understanding of the nature and extent of such processes to assess how climate change might affect biodiversity. Wing-dimorphic bush-crickets are excellent objects to study dispersal and colonization processes at the range margin because the long-winged morphs (macropters) represent dispersal units of otherwise flightless species. Moreover, these insects produce noisy songs and can easily be mapped. The present study comprised a detailed investigation of the population dynamics and genetics at the edge of the range of Roesel’s bush-cricket, Metrioptera roeselii. We mapped the distribution of this insect in a previously unoccupied area of 185 km 2 and examined the genetic structure at the range margin using four polymorphic microsatellite loci. The results obtained demonstrate that the European heat wave in 2003 induced a strong immigration of macropters in the area stemming from multiple sources, whereas only few immigrants were recorded in the two subsequent years. Macropters were genotyped in a distance of up to 19.1 km from their origin, considerably exceeding the known dispersal distances for this species. Moreover, the data show that strong local founder effects are equalized on a large scale by the high number of immigrants from multiple sources. The present study demonstrates that macropters are of high significance for the range expansion of wing-dimorphic insects because a single-year climatic anomaly can induce strong dispersal processes. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 97, 118‐127.