Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of modified bioactive pectins on colon cancer cells in vitro

Pectin is a complex structural polysaccharide present in the cell walls of terrestrial plants, fruit and vegetables. Modified pectin (MP), pectin treated with pH, heat or enzymes, has been shown to have anti-cancer activity in several cancer cell lines. The galactan chains of MP are postulated to be essential for bioactivity due to their ability to bind and inhibit the pro-metastatic protein galectin-3 (Gal3) on cancer cells. However, the structural requirements for bioactive MP, as well as interactions with Gal3 in vitro, have rarely been addressed. In this study several pectins from citrus, sugar beet and potato were screened for their biological effects on colon cancer cells, their structures characterised in detail to assess the structure-function relationship and the molecular mechanisms of action investigated. Alkali-treated sugar beet pectin (SSBA) reduced viability of HT29 cells via induction of apoptosis. The enzymatic removal of galactan side chains abolished activity indicating their importance for anti-proliferative action. Additionally, potato rhamnogalacturonan I (P-RGI) reduced viability of DLD1 cells and the homogalacturonan backbone, not the galactan side chains, was shown to be essential for bioactivity. siRNA-mediated knockdown of Gal3 expression in cells showed that bioactivities of SSBA and P-RGI are independent of Gal3, prompting an investigation into alternative mechanisms of action. Expression of the adhesion molecule ICAM1 was shown to be significantly reduced by P-RGI, suggesting a novel potential mode of action. Results presented in this thesis suggest that MPs of varying structures can exert anti-proliferative activity in colon cancer cells via Gal3-independent mechanisms and in a cell-specific manner. This study is also the first to report the anti-cancer activity of sugar beet pectin. The structural complexity of pectin makes it a potential multi-functional therapeutic agent, and results highlight the need for extensive structural characterisation of bioactive pectins as well as further exploration of Gal3-independent mechanisms of action.
Large‐scale diversity patterns of parasitoid insects

Parasitoids, which mainly include taxa belonging to the Hymenoptera, play an important role in the maintenance of other arthropod populations, acting as regulators of host densities. However, the large‐scale patterns of these insects and the factors that shape them are still not well established. In this review we focus on several aspects of the biology and macroecological patterns of parasitoids that have received some attention in the past, including recent studies on island parasitoid faunas. Parasitoid latitudinal gradients have been widely analyzed, with most studies apparently showing the anomalous pattern of species richness decreasing towards the tropics, particularly in the Ichneumonidae. This pattern has been proposed to be related to host feeding niche and parasitoid attack strategy. However, it is quite possible that these latitudinal gradients might be artifacts of sampling or description biases. Island parasitoid faunas also show latitudinal gradients in species richness, with the proportion of generalist species increasing towards the tropics. Island communities are in fact biased towards generalist species, being highly influenced by the communities of the surrounding territories and by the existence of rainforests. We conclude by briefly discussing the need for the development of future studies on parasitoid large scale diversity patterns, and proposing new research lines.
A practical guide to membrane protein purification

Strategies and Techniques: G. von Jagow, T.A. Link, and H. Schagger, Purification Strategies for Membrane Proteins. H. Schagger, Chromatographic Techniques and Basic Operations in Membrane Protein Purification. H. Schagger, Denaturing Electrophoretic Techniques. H. Schagger, Native Gel Electrophresis. Discussion of Selected Isolation Protocols: H. Schagger, Isolation of Complex III, of Subcomplexes, and of Protein Subunits from Bovine Heart: Triton X-100/Hydroxylapatite. S.K. Buchanan and J.E. Walker, Chromatographic Purification of F1F0-ATPase and Complex I from Bovine Heart Mitochondria: FPLC-Anion Exchange and Dye-Ligand Chromatography. M. Bodicker and H. Weiss, Isolation of Ubiquinol: Cytochrome c Oxidoreductase (Complex III) from Fungal and Plant Mitochondria: Affinity Chromatography. A. Kroger, V. Geisler, and A. Duchene, Isolation of Wolinella succinogenes Hydrogenase: Chromatofocusing. G. Tsiotis, Photosystem I From Cyanobacteria Isolated in Crystallizing Form by Preparative Isoelectric Focusing. Subject Index.
Effects of intercropping switchgrass with Loblolly pine on the diet and trophic position of Peromyscus leucopus

Managed pine plantations have been recognized as potentially suitable land for producing biofuel feedstocks. Intercropping biofuel feedstocks, particularly switchgrass (( Panicum virgatum L. , a native C4 grass), in existing loblolly pine ( Pinus taeda ) plantations is a potentially sustainable alternative to land conversion for feedstock production. However, little is known about how biofuel feedstock intercropping could affect biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in a managed forest system. I conducted a study of a common native omnivore, the white-footed mouse ( Peromyscus leucopus ), to examine if they would use planted switchgrass as a food source, or if they would use existing food resources associated with pine. This study was one of the first to examine ecological effects of forest management of biofuel feedstocks on a key forest consumer. Rodents were live trapped in four replicates of three different treatments planted with: (1) pine only, (2) pine intercropped with switchgrass and (3) switchgrass-only. I assessed the diet sources and trophic position of mice using stable isotopes of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N), respectively, in tissue samples collected in 2009 and 2010. I tested the hypothesis that switchgrass in intercropped landscapes would affect the dietary preference and trophic position of ( P. leucopus . In terms of intercropping, my main prediction was that diet and trophic position of mice in intercropped treatments would reflect a C3/C4 signal and trophic position would be lower than treatments with pine only, indicating a change in functional role. In 2009 there was no effect of treatment, but there was an effect of season on diet and trophic position of ( P. leucopus . Across both seasons, mice consumed a combined C3/C4-based diet. However, in the summer, diet in all treatments was slightly more C4-influenced, whereas in the fall diet was slightly more C3-influenced. However, the influence was not dramatic in either season. Additionally, trophic position was higher in the fall and lower in the summer. In 2010, mouse diets in all treatments reflected a combined C3/C4-based diet. There was no effect of treatment or season on diet, but δ13C of mouse tissue in switchgrass only treatments was pulled slightly toward a C4 signal. In terms of trophic position, d15N values indicated that mice remained functionally omnivorous. While these findings did not suggest an influence of switchgrass on diet or trophic position of ( P. leucopus , results are based on only the first two years of the intercropping study. As treatments become more established, further study should be conducted to ensure that ecological roles of consumers remain intact.
Building a glucosylation platform in E. coli through Metabolic Engineering

Glycosyltransferases are powerful enzymes for the regioselective glycosylation of various secondary metabolites. Addition of a sugar residue to these molecules greatly alters the solubility, stability or bioactivity which are desirable properties when glycoconjugates are applied as nutraceuticals, therapeutics or cosmetics. A constraint to the use of glycosyltransferases in biocatalysis is the need for activated sugar donors (often nucleotide sugars) which are expensive and rarely available in large quantity. An efficient solution is the use of microbial whole-cell systems that overexpress glycosyltransferases and form their own expensive nucleotide sugars from cheap substrates.
Investigation of genetic and developmental defects in the L11Jus8 mutant mouse

Mutagenesis screening in mice is an effective means of identifying essential genes in cardiovascular development. The l11Jus8 (L8) mutant mouse line was originally isolated from a region-specific N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) chemical mutagenesis screen and exhibited an autosomal recessive mid-gestational embryonic lethal phenotype characterised by haemorrhage in the thoracic cavity, blood pooling in the heart, right ventricular dysmorphology and yolk sac vascular degeneration. Prior work mapped the L8 mutation to a ~2.77Mb region on mouse chromosome 11. The aim of this study was to further characterise the L8 mutant phenotype and identify the L8 causative mutation.Phenotypic characterisation conducted here confirmed mid-gestational lethality, haemorrhage and yolk sac vascular degeneration in L8 mutants. Histological analysis of L8 mutants demonstrated presence of fragmented cell nuclei and loss of myocardial integrity in embryonic atrial myocardium. Areas of fragmented cell nuclei did not exhibit positive staining for apoptosis. Furthermore, L8 mutants did not appear to experience typical cardiac defects in aspects including myocardial or smooth muscle differentiation, cell proliferation, ECM production, myocardial hypoplasia/hyperplasia, basement membrane components or observable aberrations in cardiac conduction. L8 mutants exhibited atypical cardiac defects including sudden cessation of heartbeat with morphological indicators of necrosis such as swelling of mitochondria and release of microparticles both from atrial myocardial cells. The L8 mutant appears to represent a novel combination of cardiac defects or novel defects with secondary cardiac phenotypes.Sequencing of the coding exons and splice junctions of 22 candidate genes within the ~2.77Mb L8 locus did not identify the causative mutation. The L8 locus was therefore further refined to a ~1.16Mb region including 20 genes. Sanger sequencing of 10 of these genes plus targeted sequence capture and SOLiD sequencing of the region did not identify a potential L8 mutation. Given the refinement of the candidate locus and advances in sequencing technology and analysis, further sequencing will likely identify the L8 mutation and confirm the cause of the embryonic lethal phenotype.
Biological control of alien, invasive pine trees (Pinus species) in South Africa.

We briefly describe an ambitious, far-reaching initiative, the Working for Water Programme (costing US$70 million per annum and employing 42 000 people), which has strong conservation objectives and the main aim of increasing water supply in South Africa. The plan is to increase water run-off and stream flow by the removal of alien, invasive trees (mainly acacias and Pinus species) from catchments and river courses. In this context we discuss the ecological, economic and political dimensions of the biological control of invasive pine trees in South Africa. The emphasis is on the use of seedand cone-feeding insect and mite agents: (i) because seed reduction has the potential of decreasing the invasiveness of alien plants; (ii) because of the problem of regrowth of the trees, mainly from seeds, in areas previously cleared; and (iii) because the exclusive use of seedand cone-destroying agents may lessen conflicts of interest between the main role players, namely, conservationists and the Working for Water Programme, on the one hand, and the Forestry Industry, on the other.
Strategies for controlling Argentine ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).

The Argentine ant, Linepithema humile (Mayr), is an important invasive pest species of agricultural, urban and natural environments in Mediterranean climates worldwide. Current strategies to control them include habitat modification and the use of exclusion techniques, insecticidal spray and granules, and baits. No one strategy has proven entirely successful in managing or controlling them in agricultural or urban settings. Only a few attempts have been made to control them in natural settings. There are still no natural biological means of controlling them. This paper reviews these current strategies and discusses promising areas for future research and development.
Sustainable tourism policies and tourism institutions in protected areas : an evolutionary perspective

Sustainable tourism has become a major paradigm for both tourism researchers and those charged with planning and managing tourism. Protected areas and National Parks are no exception. Governance and institutional structures within these domains are now required to incorporate a broader set of objectives relating to widening socioeconomic opportunities and increasingly greater engagement in decision making processes. Sustainable development and subsequent forms of sustainable tourism have now been evident since the early 1990's, and the tourism research community has provided a wealth of academic studies on the manifestations of sustainable development in the context of protected areas. Here, my Article Based PhD study provides new contributions and insight into the evolution and temporality of sustainable tourism policies and institutional arrangements within the English National Park context, through three published papers and a doctoral thesis. The doctoral inquiry allows us to reflect upon historical trajectories of tourism policies and institutions through a range of evolutionary approaches and perspectives. Ultimately, the research demonstrates how through exploring historical paths and the application of such approaches in tourism research, we are in a better position to understand how a multitude of influences directly and indirectly impact tourism institutions and policies and how we can learn from previous actions and inactions.
Giant Pandas: Nutrition and dietary husbandry

INTRODUCTION Nutrition involves a series of processes whereby an animal uses items in its external environment to support internal metabolism (Robbins, 1993). The nutrition and consequent nutritional status of an animal are basic to all aspects of health, including growth, reproduction and disease resistance. Thus, appropriate nutrition and feeding are essential to a comprehensive animal management and preventative medicine programme. The giant panda's obligate dependence upon bamboo as a primary energy and nutrient source has been well described (Sheldon, 1937; Schaller et al ., 1985). Many aspects of panda biology are directly related to its adaptations for utilisation of this highly fibrous, low energy density food, thus demonstrating the inseparable influence of nutrition on behaviour, reproduction and other physiological functions. There may be few other species that more effectively illustrate how an understanding of nutritional adaptations helps us interpret the species ecology. This chapter describes insights into the nutritional adaptations of the giant panda while identifying priority research that will fill gaps in our understanding of these unique abilities. Historical and current strategies on feeding giant pandas in captivity are presented along with recommendations for improving nutrition and dietary husbandry to promote health and feeding behaviours. ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY, GUIDELINES AND ASSESSMENT Feeding ecology and anatomical adaptations to a herbivorous diet More than 99% of the food consumed by the free-ranging giant panda consists of bamboo (Schaller et al ., 1985). Yet the giant panda is unique in that it has the relatively simple gastrointestinal tract of a carnivore.
Studies on the evaluation of different sources of proteins, carbohydrates and mineral requirements for juvenile penaeid prawn Penaeus Indicus H. Milne Edwards

Penaeid prawn farming is being practiced in the coastal water impounments in India to supplement the production of prawns from the capture fishery resources. Adequate seed and appropriate feed are the important requisites for the culture of prawns. For preparing balanced and low cost feeds, knowledge on the nutritional requirements of the candidate species and the evaluation of locally available raw-materials are essential. In this context, evaluation of different sources of proteins and carbohydrates and the requirement fo minerals in the diet of the prawn Penaeus indicus, an important species for culture along the entire Indian coast, has been undertaken in the present study. The data obtained are presented in four different chapters.
Regulation of neural differentiation in mouse embryonic stem cells using small molecules

Embryonic stem (ES) cells are a potential source of neural derivatives that can be used in stem cell-based therapies. To generate specific cell types in a predictable manner, a detailed understanding of cell fate specification is required. To address this, this study employed mouse ES cells as a model to explore how neural identity was acquired and how regional identities were specified in ES cell-derived neural progenitor cells (NPCs). Chemical inhibitors are more stable than recombinant proteins, hence they give more reproducible biological responses. This is crucial when generating specific cell types from ES cells for large-scale analysis. This study explored the effect of two newly discovered small molecule inhibitors of BMP signalling, dorsomorphin (DM) and LDN193189 (LDN) on the neural induction of ES cells, and compared their capabilities with those of recombinant noggin. Both DM and LDN treatments increased the expression of neural markers to levels that were comparable to that achieved by noggin treatment, suggesting that both LDN and DM can potentially substitute recombinant noggin in the generation of NPCs in vitro. Retinoic acid (RA) is an important regulator of regional specification in vivo, but the underlying mechanisms for giving region-specific response are unclear. Here, early and late NPCs were exposed to RA at specific periods and were analysed for neural and positional markers. Results showed that region-specific responses were produced by RA at specific periods, indicating that NPCs display temporal changes in patterning responsiveness to morphogenic cues. The ability of morphogens to impose positional response is lost in late cultures. Since Sox1 expression is associated with a naive neural progenitor state and neural commitment, the expression of Sox1 was examined over time to test whether it was associated with the responsiveness to patterning cues. Both caudal and ventral markers were induced by RA and, because it plays an essential role in ventral patterning, Hedgehog (Hh) agonist purmorphamine respectively in early NPCs but not in late NPCs in both Sox1 positive and negative populations. This suggested that the expression of positional markers was not dependent on a temporally-defined Sox1 progenitor state.
Studies on the Localization of Dyes and Foreign Proteins in Normal and Malignant Tissues

The early studies of the English school on cancer transplantation disclosed the paramount importance of the vascular reaction of the host as an indispensable condition for the success of the grafting (1). The rapid growth of the vascular stroma, paralleling the growth of the cancer tissue proper, may be responsible for functional alterations in the blood capillaries and account for an increased permeability. That such is the case is indicated by the observation that a Shwartzman-like phenomenon takes place in both transplanted and spontaneous tumors following the intravenous injection of bacterial toxins (2–5). Investigators have long sought substances which would localize in tumors after intravenous injection, with the hope that some influence could be exerted on the growth. Dyestuffs seem to have been most generally used. Cruickshank (6) has reviewed the extensive earlier literature on the subject, which need not be gone into here except for observations on certain dyes. It was observed by Weil (7) and Simpson and Marsh (8) that the azo-dyes, injected in small amounts, stained the necrotic parts of the tumor but the whole tumor did not take up the color until sufficient dye had been injected to discolor many of the normal tissues. Ludford (9) showed that trypan blue, which appeared to localize in the tumor, was not taken up by the cancer cells but by the fibroblasts, histiocytes, monocytes and lymphocytes present in the stroma and surrounding tissue. The present investigation has been undertaken from the point of view of the possible role of vessel permeability in the localization of materials in tumors.1
Etude structurale de PBP3 et localisation des six "Penicillin-binding proteins" de Streptococcus pneumoniae : implication dans la croissance et la division bactérienne

L'objectif de ma these etait de realiser une etude de la synthese de la paroi de Streptococcus pneumoniae, paroi qui participe a la croissance et la division bacterienne et fait intervenir les « Penicillin-Binding Proteins » (PBPs). J'ai etudie la localisation du repertoire complet des six PBPs au cours du cycle cellulaire de S. pneumoniae, ce qui a revele des similitudes inattendues entre les mecanismes de division des bacteries de type bacille et coque. J'ai determine le role specifique de chaque PBP dans la synthese de la paroi et mis en valeur la contribution de PBP3, une D,D-carboxypeptidase, dans la regulation de la division bacterienne. J'ai par ailleurs determine la structure tridimensionnelle de PBP3 a 2.8 A de resolution, ce qui m'a permis de contraindre les modeles de synthese de la paroi chez le pneumocoque.
Molecular phylogeny of venus clams (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Veneridae) with emphasis on the systematic position of taxa along the coast of mainland China

Chen, J., Li, Q. , Kong, L. & Zheng, X. (2011). Molecular phylogeny of venus clams (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Veneridae) with emphasis on the systematic position of taxa along the coast of mainland China. —Zoologica Scripta, 40, 260–271.
Ecology of plant-parasitic nematodes.

Offers an impressively broad treatment of the ecology of nematodes that parasitize plants. Ties together what is known of plant nematode ecology, using extensive documentation as building blocks for knowledge of the ecosystems. Important because it treats nematodes as animals in their habitat and not only as plant pathogens or parasites. Documented with more that 850 references and 26 figures.
Repeated Coronal Condensations Caused by Magnetic Reconnection between Solar Coronal Loops

We recently presented coronal condensations, caused by magnetic reconnection (MR) between coronal loops from extreme ultraviolet observations, over the course of one day, on 2012 January 19. In this paper, by investigating the loops over an extended period of time from January 16 to 20, we present a case for repeated coronal condensations caused by repeated MR between them. In these five days, MR between higher-lying open loops and lower-lying closed loops occurs repeatedly, forming magnetic dips in the higher-lying open loops. During the MR process, cooling and condensation of coronal plasma occur repeatedly. Early on January 16, cooling, but not condensation, of coronal plasma happens. Later, condensation appears at the edge of the dips and falls down along the loops as coronal rains. On January 17, a similar condensation happens at the edge of the higher-lying dips and falls down along the loops. However, another condensation appears in the lower-lying dips and rains down across them. From January 18 to 19, multiple condensations mostly occur at the edge of the dips and fall down both along the loops and across the dips. On January 20, five condensations sequentially appear and rain down across the dips. Overall, 15 condensation events occur in five days, lasting from 0.5 to 15.6 hr. We suggest that the formation of coronal condensations by MR between loops is common in the solar corona. The repeated MR between loops thus plays an essential role in the mass cycle of coronal plasma by initiating repeated catastrophic cooling and condensation.