Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A taxonomic review of the southern African millipede genus, Bicoxidens Attems, 1928 (Diplopoda: Spirostreptida: Spirostreptidae), with the description of three new species and a tentative phylogeny

The eight species of Bicoxidens were studied in order to verify their taxonomic validity and determine the status of new material. Two new synonymies are established: B. grandis Lawrence, 1965 = B. matabele (Schubart, 1966) and B. flavicollis Attems, 1928 = B. nasti Mwabvu, 2000. B. polyptychus, incorrectly placed in Bicoxidens, on the basis of morphological characters, including gonopods, is moved to Brevitibius Attems, 1950. Three new species, B. matopoensis Mwabvu, B. nyathi Mwabvu and B. gokwensis Mwabvu are described. An identification key to the species, a phylogenetic analysis based on gonopod morphology and distribution data for each species are also presented.
In vitro antimicrobial activity of Garhwal Himalaya medicinal plant Dioscorea deltoidea tuber.

The antimicrobial activity of the all extracts of Dioscorea deltoidea were studied against ten (gram negative and gram positive bacteria) and three fungal stain. The results showed that the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Dioscorea deltoidea tubers extract was 50 μg/ml against P. aeruginosa. The ethanolic tubers extract of Dioscorea deltoidea showed significant activity 19±1 mm, 17±1 mm and 15±1 mm against S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and E. coli against food poisoning bacteria and phytochemical screening for the presence of glycosides, flavonoids, phenols, resin and tannins.
Observations of the free‐swimming behavior of Acartia tonsa: Effects of food concentration and turbulent water motion

The free-swimming behavior of the Calanoid copepod Acartia tonsa is described as a function of food concentration and quantified turbulence. In still water, Acartia spent most of its time feeding. Time allocated to feeding bouts did not change much as a function of food concentration (from 98% to 81%). Functional response to food was mainly determined by the duration of feeding bouts and the proportion of time spent in them. Lengthy feeding bouts might be involved with the actual capture and ingestion of food, while brief feeding bouts might be involved in the search for an optimum food density and the discrimination of food quality. Turbulence did not affect the amount of time allocated to feeding bouts but induced a significant shift to bouts of shorter duration at low food concentration. Computed encounter rates were 2.5 times higher in the presence of turbulence and indicated that turbulence intensity might have been enough to increase realized food concentrations to levels comparable to satiation at some of the low food concentrations tested.
Occurence of Elaphoidella grandidieri (Guerne and Richard, 1893) (Crustacea: Copepoda: Harpacticoida) in Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, Colombia

The occurrence of Elaphoidella grandidieri (Guerne and Richard 1893) in Cienaga Grande de Santa Marta, Colombia, is reported for the first time. The specimens are described and compared with literature data. The Colombian specimens are similar to those of previously described from Japanese populations, presenting strong spinulation of P2 exopod and absent inner seta on the first endopodal segment of P4. Nevertheless, this species presents some differences with the previous report. The present observations support the theory that Elaphoidella grandidieri might be a complex of species, reinforcing the necessity of a revision of the species.
Total apparent digestibility and nitrogen balance in Cinta Senese pigs: utilization of field bean (Vicia faba I.)

Abstract This work aimed to study the digestive capacity and the nitrogen balance in Cinta Senese pigs in comparison with Large White pigs, employing field bean and soybean as protein sources. Twelve 5-month old barrows, 6 Cinta Senese (CS) and 6 Large White (LW), were submitted to trials in metabolism cage to determine apparent digestibility and nitrogen balance of diets containing soybean meal (S diet) or field bean (F diet), 10% and 20% respectively, as the protein source. CS showed lower digestibility coefficients for all the nutritive fractions than LW pigs (DM: 85.33% vs. 82.87%; CP: 86.38% vs. 84.17%; ADF 51.35% vs. 43.31%). Nitrogen retention, also, was less favorable in CS pigs, which showed a 20% higher excretion (fecal + urinary) value of total N ingested (59.88% vs. 48.60%). Differences between the diets were limited. Field beans, containing only 0.25% of tannin as used here, appear a valuable protein source in pig nutrition, even in local breeds such as CS.
Proposal of Vibrio mediterranei sp. nov.: A New Marine Member of the Genus Vibrio

Vibrio strains isolated from plankton, sediments, and seawater in two coastal areas south of Valencia, Spain, were genotypically and phenotypically different from other Vibrio species. The guanine-plus-cytosyine content of the strains was 43 mol%. Deoxyribonucleic acid-deoxyribonucleic acid hybridization studies revealed that the strains were genetically homogeneous and exhibited very low levels of genetic relatedness to Vibrio parahaemolyticus ATCC 17802T(T = type strain) (0%), Vibrio harveyi NCMB 1280T(11%), Vibrio vulnificus NCMB 2046T(7%), Vibrio nereis NCMB 1897T(0%), Vibrio natriengens NCMB (9%), and Vibrio splendidus NCMB 1T(0%). Strain CECT 621 of the Coleccion Espanola de Cultivos Tipo was designated the type strain of the proposed new species Vibrio mediterranei.
New Liphistius species (Araneae, Mesothelae) from southern Thailand and northern Malaysia

Four new Liphistius species are described from southern Thailand: L. rufipes (also occurring in northern Malaysia), L. fuscus, L. castaneus and L. albipes. The males of L. bicoloripes Ono and L. schwendingeri Ono are described for the first time. Zoogeography and taxonomic relationships are discussed, notes are given on the natural history of each species.
PHYTOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS AND BIOACTIVITY OF DIFFERENT PLANTS FROM GULMI DISTRICT OF NEPAL

Phytochemical and biological screenings of some medicinal plants like Schima wallichii, Psidium guajava, Bauhinia variegata, Rubia cordifolia and Artocarpus lakoocha of Gulmi district were performed. Potent pharmacological activities were revealed by bark of S. wallichii and leaves of P. guajava. Methanol extracts of bark of S. wallichii and leaves of P. guajava exhibited high toxicity against brine shrimp nauplii at LC50 (μg/ml) values of 31.612 and 25.174 respectively. Similarly, leaves of P. guajava (94.391 mM Fe +2 /liter) and bark of S. wallichii (73.669 mM Fe +2 /liter) were found to have strong antioxidant power. In addition, S. wallichii leaves, P. guajava and B. variegate exhibited high antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.
Diet breadth of Gynaephora groenlandica (Lepidoptera: Erebidae): is polyphagy greater in alpine versus Arctic populations?

Abstract Gynaephora groenlandica (Wocke) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) is a cold-adapted species, whose life history traits are dictated by cold and short Arctic summers. We used a recently discovered alpine tundra population in southwestern Yukon, Canada to investigate local adaptations to habitats with different environmental conditions (alpine versus Arctic). Using cafeteria-type experiments and field observations we examined the diet breadth of alpine populations of G. groenlandica beringiana Schmidt and Cannings, and compared these to published data on High Arctic populations of G. groenlandica groenlandica and to the closely related G. rossii Curtis. Gynaephora groenlandica beringiana appears to have a broader diet than High Arctic populations, but similar to that exhibited by alpine populations of G. rossii. Such trends could emerge from reduced synchrony between herbivores and their host plants in less extreme environments, and possibly from a reduced incidence of parasitoids in the life cycle of these populations. Our findings indicate the larval host plant plasticity of G. groenlandica in different environments, and are relevant to predictions regarding the fate of these populations under climate warming scenarios. Résumé Gynaephora groenlandica (Wocke) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) est une espèce adaptée au froid, dont les traits d’histoire de vie sont dictés par des étés Arctiques froids et courts. Nous avons utilisé une population de toundra alpine récemment découverte dans le sud-ouest du Yukon (Canada) pour étudier les adaptations locales à des environnements différents (alpins vs. arctiques). Utilisant des expériences de type « cafeteria » et des observations de terrain, nous avons examiné l'amplitude alimentaire de populations alpines de G. groenlandica beringiana Schmidt and Cannings, et nous les avons comparées aux données publiées sur des populations de G. groenlandica du Haut Arctique et des populations de G. rossii Curtis, espèce qui lui est étroitement apparentée. Gynaephora groenlandica beringiana semble avoir une amplitude alimentaire plus large que celle de populations du Haut Arctique, mais similaire à celle de populations alpines de G. rossii. De telles tendances pourraient résulter d'une synchronisation réduite entre herbivores et leurs plantes hôtes dans des environnements alpins, moins extrêmes, et éventuellement d'une incidence plus réduite des parasitoïdes dans le cycle de vie de ces populations. Nos résultats indiquent la plasticité du choix de la plante hôte par la chenille de G. groenlandica dans des environnements différents. Ces résultats ont une importance pour des prédictions quant à l’avenir de ces populations sous des scénarios de réchauffement climatique.
Short Communication Evidence of ancient papillomavirus recombination

An open question amongst papillomavirus taxonomists is whether recombination has featured inthe evolutionary history of these viruses. Since the onset of the global AIDS epidemic, the questionis somewhat less academic, because immune-compromised human immunodeﬁciency viruspatients are often co-infected with extraordinarily diverse mixtures of human papillomavirus (HPV)types. It is expected that these conditions may facilitate the emergence of HPV recombinants,someofwhichmighthavenovelpathogenicproperties.Here,arangeofrigorousanalysesisappliedto full-genome sequences of papillomaviruses to provide convincing statistical and phylogeneticevidence that evolutionarily relevant papillomavirus recombination can occur.
Minimum classification error rate method using genetic algorithms

Hidden Markov models (HMM) is one the most common statistical matching methods used for speech recognition, especially for continuous speech utterances. One major problem in HMM is that the training process that aims to generate a set of HMM models (recognizer) for matching the speech source usually is based on a set of limited training data. The minimum classification error (MCE) training approach (Juang et al., 1997) is regarded as a discriminative method that is proven to be superior to other traditional probability distribution estimation approaches, such as the maximum likelihood (ML) approach. The main drawback in the MCE is to formulate the error rate estimate function as a smooth loss function for applying a gradient search technique that subsequently leads to a local optimal solution. In this paper, a genetic algorithm based approach (GA-MCE) for the MCE is proposed to solve these problems. In our experiments, the results demonstrated that the GA-MCE is superior to the original MCE method. It can also significantly increase the performance of voice input systems.
Longbone histology of the Tendaguru sauropods: implications for growth and biology

Abstract A new sampling technique for fossil bone (coring with a 5/8” bit) was used to sample longbones of all four sauropod genera from the Upper Jurassic Tendaguru beds of Tanzania for paleohistological study. Brachiosaurus and Barosaurus are represented by growth series of humeri and femora, while Dicraeosaurus could be sampled in fewer specimens and only one bone of Janenschia was available. Although all samples are dominated by fibrolamellar bone tissue, taxa can be distinguished by the degree and nature of bone remodeling and the presence and spacing of a peculiar kind of growth line (here termed “polish lines”). In addition, Barosaurus bone revealed two types of histology, tentatively interpreted as sexual morphs. The Tendaguru sauropods show a common growth pattern in which growth is determinate but sexual maturity is achieved well before maximum size is reached. For Brachiosaurus and Barosaurus, size at sexual maturity can be estimated and was reached at about 40% and 70% maximum size, respectively. Quantification of growth is possible in Janenschia using polish lines: the specimen studied reached sexual maturity at ≥11 years, attained maximum size at ≥26 years, and died at ≥38 years.
Bat Mobility and Roosts in a Fragmented Landscape in Central Amazonia, Brazil

In spite of the important role played by bats in tropical ecosystems, little is known about how they are affected by habitat fragmentation. By using a mark/recapture protocol and radiotelemetry techniques in a naturally fragmented landscape composed of primary forests and forest fragments surrounded by savannas in Alter do Chao, Para State, Brazil, we were able to track the movements of various species of bats, calculate the size of the area used, locate roosts and potential feeding areas, and determine preferred flight routes. We marked 3440 bats belonging to 44 species and recaptured 151 belonging to 14 species. The average distance between extra‐site recaptures was 2.2 km. With the exception of bats marked in fragments and recaptured in forests, all other possible inter‐habitat recaptures were observed. We selected 23 bats of 8 species for radiotelemetry and the areas used by them varied from 65 to 530 ha. Some species restricted their activity to the vicinity of their roosts, rarely moving more than 500 m away, but others traveled greater distances between roosts and foraging areas. All tracked bats flew over savannas, crossing distances from 0.5 to 2.5 km. Roost location and type varied among species, from individuals roosting alone in the foliage to colonies in buildings. Bats were highly mobile and savannas did not appear to inhibit the movements of some species, suggesting that a persistent biological flow may be maintained among isolated fragments, with bats acting as pollinators and seed dispersers.
Smad4 Dependency Defines Two Classes of Transforming Growth Factor β (TGF-β) Target Genes and Distinguishes TGF-β-Induced Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition from Its Antiproliferative and Migratory Responses

ABSTRACT In response to transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), Smad4 forms complexes with activated Smad2 and Smad3, which accumulate in the nucleus, where they both positively and negatively regulate TGF-β target genes. Mutation or deletion of Smad4 is found in about 50% of pancreatic tumors and in about 15% of colorectal tumors. As Smad4 is a central component of the TGF-β/Smad pathway, we have determined whether Smad4 is absolutely required for all TGF-β responses, to evaluate the effect of its loss during human tumor development. We have generated cell lines from the immortalized human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT or the pancreatic tumor cell line Colo-357, which stably express a tetracyline-inducible small interfering RNA targeted against Smad4. In response to tetracycline, Smad4 expression is effectively silenced. Large-scale microarray analysis identifies two populations of TGF-β target genes that are distinguished by their dependency on Smad4. Some genes absolutely require Smad4 for their regulation, while others do not. Functional analysis also indicates a differential Smad4 requirement for TGF-β-induced functions; TGF-β-induced cell cycle arrest and migration, but not epithelial-mesenchymal transition, are abolished after silencing of Smad4. Altogether our results suggest that loss of Smad4 might promote TGF-β-mediated tumorigenesis by abolishing tumor-suppressive functions of TGF-β while maintaining some tumor-promoting TGF-β responses.
Hypoxia-inducible Factor-1α Is a Positive Factor in Solid Tumor Growth

Deficiencies in oxygenation are widespread in solid tumors. The transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α is an important mediator of the hypoxic response of tumor cells and controls the up-regulation of a number of factors important for solid tumor expansion, including the angiogenic factor vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). We have isolated two cell lines nullizygous for HIF-1α, one from embryos genetically null for HIF-1α, and the other from embryos carrying loxP-flanked alleles of the gene, which allows for cre-mediated excision. The loss of HIF-1α negatively affects tumor growth in these two sets of H- ras -transformed cell lines, and this negative effect is not due to deficient vascularization. Despite differences in VEGF expression, vascular density is similar in wild-type and HIF-1α-null tumors. The evidence from these experiments indicates that hypoxic response via HIF-1α is an important positive factor in solid tumor growth and that HIF-1α affects tumor expansion in ways unrelated to its regulation of VEGF expression.
Effects of Unripe Rubus coreanus Miquel Extract on Improvement of Lipid Metabolism in C57BL/6 Mice Fed a High-Cholesterol Diet

† Jeonnam Bioindustry Foundation, Institute of Natural Resources Research (JINR), Jeonnam 529-851, Korea ABSTRACT Hypercholesterolemia is the presence of high levels of cholesterol in the blood, and it is regarded as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease due to the effects of cholesterol. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of unripe Rubus coreanus Miquel (uRC) extract on lipid metabolism in hypercholesterolemic mice fed a high cholesterol diet (HC). uRC 50 (unripe R. coreanus 5% ethanol extract 50 mg/kg/day), uRC 100 (unripe R. coreanus 5% ethanol extract 100 mg/kg/day), uRC 300 (unripe R. coreanus 5% ethanol extract 300 mg/kg/day), and BO (borage seed oil containing minimum of 20% γ-linolenic acid 30 mg/kg/day) were orally administered for 60 days after HC. Oral administration of uRC 50, uRC 100, uRC 300, and BO significantly reduced serum total-cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, atherogenic index, and cardiac risk factor levels. Similarly, uRC treatment elevated serum HDL-cholesterol levels. These results suggest that unripe R. coreanus extract could be established as a functional food for the improvement of lipid metabolism.
COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF PEDESTRIAN BEHAVIOUR UNDER MIXED FLOW CONDITIONS AT GRADIENTS

1PG Student, Department of Civil Engineering, Gayatri Vidya Parishad College of Engineering, Visakhapatnam-530 2Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Gayatri Vidya Parishad College of Engineering, Visakhapatnam-530 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------***------------------------------------------------------------------------------Abstract:The present study deals with the analysis of behaviour of pedestrians at different gradients for Visakhapatnam city. The pedestrians behaviour is observed by conducting a videographic survey during the peak hours. Based on the survey the pedestrian flow characteristics were extracted such as gender, age, baggage, movement and usage of phone. The analysis of data extracted is done by considering various combinations, the relation between walking speed and gradient models are developed by using regression analysis
The Hinge-Helix 1 Region of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ1 (PPARγ1) Mediates Interaction with Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase 5 and PPARγ1 Transcriptional Activation: Involvement in Flow-Induced PPARγ Activation in Endothelial Cells

ABSTRACT Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) are ligand-activated transcription factors that form a subfamily of the nuclear receptor gene family. Since both flow and PPARγ have atheroprotective effects and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) kinase activity is significantly increased by flow, we investigated whether ERK5 kinase regulates PPARγ activity. We found that activation of ERK5 induced PPARγ1 activation in endothelial cells (ECs). However, we could not detect PPARγ phosphorylation by incubation with activated ERK5 in vitro, in contrast to ERK1/2 and JNK, suggesting a role for ERK5 as a scaffold. Endogenous PPARγ1 was coimmunoprecipitated with endogenous ERK5 in ECs. By mammalian two-hybrid analysis, we found that PPARγ1 associated with ERK5a at the hinge-helix 1 region of PPARγ1. Expressing a hinge-helix 1 region PPARγ1 fragment disrupted the ERK5a-PPARγ1 interaction, suggesting a critical role for hinge-helix 1 region of PPARγ in the ERK5-PPARγ interaction. Flow increased ERK5 and PPARγ1 activation, and the hinge-helix 1 region of the PPARγ1 fragment and dominant negative MEK5β significantly reduced flow-induced PPARγ activation. The dominant negative MEK5β also prevented flow-mediated inhibition of tumor necrosis factor alpha-mediated NF-κB activation and adhesion molecule expression, including vascular cellular adhesion molecule 1 and E-selectin, indicating a physiological role for ERK5 and PPARγ activation in flow-mediated antiinflammatory effects. We also found that ERK5 kinase activation was required, likely by inducing a conformational change in the NH2-terminal region of ERK5 that prevented association of ERK5 and PPARγ1. Furthermore, association of ERK5a and PPARγ1 disrupted the interaction of SMRT and PPARγ1, thereby inducing PPARγ activation. These data suggest that ERK5 mediates flow- and ligand-induced PPARγ activation via the interaction of ERK5 with the hinge-helix 1 region of PPARγ.
Terrestrial sources and distribution of atmospheric sulphur

The general circulation model ECHAM has been coupled to a chemistry and sulphur cycle model to study the impact of terrestrial, i.e. mostly anthropogenic sulphur dioxide (SO2), sources on global distributions of sulphur species in the atmosphere. We briefly address currently available source inventories. It appears that global estimates of natural emissions are associated with uncertainties up to a factor of 2, while anthropogenic emissions have uncertainty ranges of about +/- 30 per cent. Further, some recent improvements in the model descriptions of multiphase chemistry and deposition processes are presented. Dry deposition is modelled consistently with meteorological processes and surface properties. The results indicate that surface removal of SO2 is less efficient than previously assumed, and that the SO2 lifetime is thus longer. Coupling of the photochemistry and sulphur chemistry schemes in the model improves the treatment of multiphase processes such as oxidant (hydrogen peroxide) supply in aqueous phase SO2 oxidation. The results suggest that SO2 oxidation by ozone (O3) in the aqueous phase is more important than indicated in earlier work. However, it appears that we still overestimate atmospheric SO2 concentrations near the surface in the relatively polluted Northern Hemisphere. On the other hand, we somewhat underestimate sulphate levels in these regions, which suggests that additional heterogeneous reaction mechanisms, e.g. on aerosols, enhance SO2 oxidation.