Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multiple layers of inhibition in the direction coding circuit in mouse retina

Supervisory Committee Dr. Gautam B. Awatramani, Department of Biology Supervisor Dr. Robert L. Chow, Department of Biology Departmental Member Local and global forms of inhibition control directionally selective ganglion cells (DSGCs) in the mammalian retina. Specifically, local inhibition arising from GABAergic starburst amacrine cells (SACs) strongly contributes to direction selectivity. In this thesis, I demonstrate that increasing ambient illumination leads to the recruitment of GABAergic wide-field amacrine cells (WACs) endowing the DS circuit with an additional feature: size selectivity. Using a combination of electrophysiology, pharmacology and light/electron microscopy, I demonstrate that WACs predominantly contact presynaptic bipolar cells, which drive direct excitation and feed-forward inhibition (through SACs) to DSGCs, therefore maintaining the appropriate balance of inhibition/excitation required for generating DS. This circuit arrangement permits highfidelity direction coding over a range of ambient light levels, over which size selectivity is adjusted. Together, these results provide novel insights into the anatomical and functional arrangement of multiple inhibitory interneurons within a single computational module in the retina.
03. A comparison of survey methods for crested newts ( Triturus cristatus ) and night counts at a secure site, 1983-1993

In Britain the crested newt (Triturus cristatus) re­ ceives protection as a Schedule 5 species under Part I of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. In addi­ tion, exceptional populations may be protected under Part II of the Act by their breeding sites and immediate terrestrial habitat being notified as Sites of Special Sci­ entific Interest (SSSis). This latter approach requires the ability to recognise populations worthy of protec­ tion in SSSis. Counting in the breeding site at night with a powerful torch is frequently used as an assess­ ment technique and has enabled at least some of the best populations to be identified (Oldham & Nicholson, 1986; Swan & Oldham, 1993). Night counting is an example of a visual encounter survey technique (Crump & Scott, 1994). One problem dur­ ing the 1980s, when guidelines for SSSI selection were being formulated, was that little information was avail­ able on population stability as indicated by night counting. The guidelines (Nature Conservancy Coun­ cil, 1989) eventually recommended that populations in sites that exceeded the appropriate threshold (I 00 newts counted at night) should be checked for stability over three breeding seasons. Numbers and ranging of a population of crested newts at Shillow Hill in Cambridgeshire were studied in 1984 and 1985 (Cooke, 1985, 1986). During the pe­ riod 1984-1986, night counting was compared with other survey techniques, particularly bottle trapping (Griffiths, 1985) and netting. From 1986, it was de­ cided to continue with night count surveillance of this population to monitor gross changes in the long-term. The site is privately owned and is free from most of the urban, agricultural and other pressures that affect many British crested newt sites (Hilton-Brown & Oldham, 1991). This work has assumed extra impor­ tance in view of the recent global interest in declines of amphibian species and long-term monitoring to look into the perceived problem (Wake, 1991; Pechmann et al. , 1991; Beebee, 1992; Griffiths & Beebee, 1992). The decline of the crested newt in Britain continues to give cause for concern (Hilton-Brown & Oldham, 1991; Griffiths & Beebee, 1992). This is the first re­ port of a population of this species being monitored annually for a period of ten or more years. Published population studies on crested newts on the European mainland extend to four (Glandt, 1982) or six consecu­ tive years (Hagstrom, 1979; Arntzen & Teunis, 1993).
Size, sex and reproductive biology of seven pelagic sharks in the eastern Arabian Sea

Studies on reproduction in sharks are important for their management, since the attainment of sexual maturity has a substantial impact on their distribution, behaviour and biology. However, reproductive biology of large oceanic sharks is poorly studied in the Indian seas. In this study, the size structure, sex and maturity of pelagic thresher (Alopias pelagicus), bigeye thresher (A. superciliosus), oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus), tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier), shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus), longfin mako (I. paucus) and blue shark (Prionace glauca) in the eastern Arabian Sea are described based on 1449 specimens collected from gillnet-cum-longline landings at the Cochin fisheries harbour during 2013–2014. Sex ratios of sampled specimens were biased to males in pelagic thresher, bigeye thresher, tiger shark and blue shark, while females dominated in the specimens of oceanic whitetip shark. Females matured at greater lengths than males in all species except oceanic whitetip shark. Lengths at maturity for males were in the range of 189.05–286.56 cm, whereas those of females were in the range of 187.74–310.69 cm. Litter sizes of both the thresher shark species were always two, while in oceanic whitetip shark, litter size was 3–9 and 22–51 in tiger shark. Seasonal reproduction was noticed in oceanic whitetip shark and tiger shark. Pregnant females were not found in the blue shark, shortfin and longfin makos sampled during the study period. Reproductive aspects of pelagic thresher, bigeye thresher, oceanic whitetip shark, tiger shark, shortfin mako, longfin mako and blue sharks in the eastern Arabian Sea are generally consistent with earlier reports from other regions of the world's oceans. These preliminary findings should be useful to identify suitable management measures for the above shark species.
Does fire maintain symbiotic, fungal endophyte infections in native grasses?

Systemic endophytic fungi in agronomic and turf grasses are well known for conferring increased resistance to herbivores and to abiotic stresses, such as drought, and increasing competitive abilities. Many native grasses also harbor high frequencies of the asexual and vertically-transmitted endophyte, Neotyphodium. In Festuca arizonica (Arizona fescue), frequency of Neotyphodium-infected plants is often high, but variable, within and among populations. However, Neotyphodium infections in native Arizona fescue, unlike infected agronomic grasses, do not increase resistance to herbivores, do not generally increase drought resistance and do not increase competitive abilities. Native grasses, however are often subjected to another important abiotic stress, fire, which is not normally associated with turf and pasture grasses. Endophyte-related resistance to frequent fires is an alternative explanation for the maintenance of high frequencies of this endophyte in native grasses. We tested the hypothesis that infection by Neotyphodium increases resistance to the direct and indirect effects of fire.
CD34+ or CD34−: Does it Really Matter?

T HE CELL SURFACE glycoprotein CD34 has been the focus of intense interest ever since its discovery on a small fraction of human bone marrow cells. [1][1] The CD34+population appears responsible for most, if not all, of the hematopoietic activity in bone marrow, including colony formation in short-
Isolation and optimization of IAA producing Burkholderia seminalis and its effect on seedlings of tomato

The present study was carried out to isolate Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) strain from rhizosphere. Isolated strain was identified as Burkholderia seminalis using 16s rDNA. This strain was subjected to screening for indole acetic acid (IAA) production followed by optimization using statistical approach namely response surface methodology. IAA production from B. seminalis in nutrient broth supplemented with tryptophan was confirmed through thin layer chromatography (TLC). The effect of cell free culture medium (CFCM) obtained from isolated strain was examined on tomato seeds with Murashige and Skoog 2 (MS2) medium and it had a positive impact on germination of seeds. Further the IAA produced by B. seminalis in nutrient broth was purified and different concentrations were checked on tomato seed. It was observed that the germination index was similar to the control but the lateral roots development increased in the presence of 1 and 3 mg/mL of IAA in the medium.
Découverte d'Awaous ocellaris (Gobiidae) en Nouvelle-Calédonie et au Vanuatu

Deux exemplaires d'Awaous ocellaris (Broussonet, 1782) ont ete peches recemment dans deux rivieres de la Province Nord de Nouvelle-Caledonie et un dans une riviere de l'ile de Maewo (Vanuatu). Il s'agit des premieres captures certaines de l'espece dans ces regions. L'espece etait principalement connue de la province Pacifique, des iles de la Societe et des iles Australes en Polynesie francaise jusqu'aux iles Salomon vers l'Ouest. La Nouvelle-Caledonie devient la partie la plus meridionale de l'aire de repartition de l'espece, et, avec les iles Fidji et le Vanuatu, l'une des rares regions qui possede les deux especes d'Awaous endemiques du Pacifique.
AN ANALYSIS OF LAND USE AND LAND COVER DYNAMICS AND CAUSATIVE DRIVERS IN A THICKLY POPULATED YAMUNA RIVER BASIN OF INDIA

Understanding the land use and land cover (LULC) change processes is of great importance for formulating the land use policy. In the present study, Remote Sensing, Geographic Information System (GIS) and statistical techniques are used to understand the LULC dynamics and possible driving forces in a thickly populated Yamuna river basin of India. The National Capital Territory of Delhi, one of the world's largest urban agglomerations, occurs in this river basin. The LULC maps on 1:250,000 scales prepared at decadal interval (1985, 1995 and 2005) using satellite images are used for studying the LULC dynamics. The major LULC changes observed during the study period are increase in cropland (65.7% to 67.9%) and built-up (0.9% to 1.9%) and decrease in forest (17.1% to 16.4%) and water bodies (2.3% to 1.9%). The dominant processes of the LULC changes include transitions from forest, grassland, shrub land, water bodies and wasteland to cropland; transitions from cropland, shrub land, wasteland, grassland and forest to built-up; conversion of forest to cropland, shrub land, plantation and built-up; and transitions from water bodies to cropland, shrub land and wasteland. Most of the transitions are reversible in nature. The statistical analysis (logistic regression) between decadal LULC maps and drivers indicates that LULC changes are driven by a multitude of factors in different combinations and with different importance. Socioeconomic, demographic and proximity drivers mainly influence the LULC change processes in the study area in decreasing order of importance. The insights gained are important for simulating future
Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation (BIFC) Protocol for Rice Protoplast Transformation

[Abstract] After the plant cells are removed the cell walls by digestive enzyme, the plant protoplasts still have good cell activity. The protoplasts can be used to transiently express proteins of target genes in living plant cells through polyethylene glycol (PEG) mediated transformation. The purpose of this method is to employ the rice protoplasts and Green fluorescent protein (GFP) as an experimental system to observe the protein interactions in vivo. Meanwhile a 505~530 nm emission filter is used in confocal microscope to eliminate the interference of the autofluorescence from plant cells. The phenomenon of plant cell body spontaneous fluorescence can be eliminated by confocal observation.
Revision of the costata-group of Alona s. lato (Cladocera: Anomopoda: Chydoridae) confirms its generic status

By taking Flavalona gen. nov. out of Alona s.l. (Cladocera: Anomopoda: Chydoridae), the last major clade has now been removed from this polyphyletic assemblage. Flavalona gen. nov. is a monophylum defined by having three, rarely two connected head pores and slit-shaped, rarely rounded lateral head pores. Postabdomen rather long, distally narrowed, with robust marginal denticles and weakly developed lateral fascicles of setules. End-claw weakly curved and with short basal spine. Male postabdomen with gonopores opening at the end of a penis-like outgrowth. Trunk limbs: exopodite of P2 with seta; inner portion of P4 with flaming-torch shaped setae; P5 with filter plate of three setae; P6 a large simple lobe. The relationship of the new genus with other Aloninae remains to be determined. A key to the 11 species of the genus is provided and a discussion of their geographic distribution and habitat type is given.
Potential of Utilization of Selected Organic Compounds by the Mi- croflora Inhabiting the Effluent Nutrient Solution of Closed Green- house Irrigation Systems

Summary The potential for break-down of organic substrates by the microflora inhabiting the nutrient solution effluent from closed systems was studied in a fruit-bearing tomato crop grown in small scale systems adopting nutrient film technique with respect to selected phenolic acids (benzoic acid, ferulic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, salicylic acid, vanillic acid) and eleven substrate groups expected in rhizodeposition (carbohydrates, amino acids, carboxylic acids, polymers, amines, amides, alcohols, aromatic compounds, brominated compounds, esters, phosphorylated compounds). Factors essential for mediating the break-down (microflora, oxygen content and demand, total organic carbon, pH, electrical conductivity) were described for the studied growing system. Phenolic acids added to the nutrient solution or tap water samples and followed during 54 h, disappeared after a short lag phase when incubated in the colonized effluent, whereas when incubated in non-sterile tap water, the tested phenolic acids were significantly more persistent. Of the substrate groups assessed using Biolog GN-panel, carbohydrates, amino acids, carboxylic acids, polymers and amines were the most consistently utilized substrates during an observation period of 96 h. However, not all of the compounds on the GN-panel included in these classes were metabolized. Remaining six substrate groups were utilized inconsistently and beyond the threshold of 0.5 absorbance units. Viable count of all scrutinized microbial groups (general bacterial and fungal flora, fluorescent pseudomonads, actinomycetes, Trichoderma) was higher during the second out of two years of observation. Passage through the growing system indicated an increase in pH and electrical conductivity as compared to set values. Oxygen saturation and – content decreased from the first to the last sampling whereas the total organic carbon content (TOC), the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) and the chemical oxygen demand (COD) remained unaffected. Zusammenfassung Mikrobielle Verwendung von organischer Substanz im Drain von geschlossenen Kultursystemen im Gewachshaus. Das Umsatzpotential von organischen Substanzen im Drain von geschlosse
Bovine herpesvirus-1 infection of cattle: kinetics of antibody formation after intranasal exposure and abortion induced by the virus.

The kinetics of antibody formation in Holstein heifers after primary and secondary intranasal inoculation of bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1) and after BHV-1-induced abortion was determined. Sera were fractionated by gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography. The antibody activity within serum immunoglobulin (Ig) isotypes was assessed, using a plaque-reduction neutralization assay. The primary immune response to BHV-1 infection was characterized by the appearance of IgM and IgG antibodies in serum by postinoculation day (PID) 7. Maximal IgG antibody activity occurred at PID 35 in nonpregnant heifers and at PID 14 in pregnant heifers. Thereafter, IgG antibody activity declined slowly in both groups of heifers. Maximal IgM antibody activity occurred at PID 14 in both groups of heifers and declined rapidly thereafter. The IgG antibody activity during primary immune responses was restricted to the IgG1 subclass. Secondary responses were characterized by anamnestic IgG antibody responses. Antibody activity was present within the IgG1 and IgG2 subclasses during secondary immune responses, but the increase in antibody activity during this period was primarily in the IgG2 subclass. Secondary IgM antibody formation was elicited by abortion induced by the intra-amniotic inoculation of BHV-1, but not by reexposure by the intranasal route. Abortion occurred in 1 heifer 28 days after intranasal BHV-1 inoculation. Abortion in this heifer was not associated with a secondary antibody response. The nature of BHV-1 antigenic exposure in the bovine determined the relative distribution of anti-BHV-1 antibody activity in serum IgM, IgG1, and IgG2. The formation of IgM antibody, with the exception of secondary intranasal exposure, indicated recent BHV-1 antigenic exposure. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Selection of Plants for Sap Feeding by the White-Fronted Woodpecker Melanerpes cactorum in Chaco Dry Forest, Argentina

Abstract. Woodpeckers feed primarily on insects, larvae and other arthropods; however, several members of this family include plant products in their diets, such as sap. Among them, the genera Sphyrapicus and Melanerpes include the most species that specialize in sap consumption. In semiarid forests of Argentina, sap is an important food item in the diet of the White-fronted Woodpecker, Melanerpes cactorum. The aim of this study is to investigate why White-fronted Woodpeckers only consume sap from certain plants while avoiding other available plants of the same species and explore seasonality of their plant selection. We expected that combinations of plant traits (i.e. sugars concentration of sap, sap flow intensity, plant size, plant health and plant microhabitat), rather than one particular trait, determine which tree they select for sap feeding in different seasons. We examined five plant species: Sarcotoxicum salicifolium, Prosopis ruscifolia, Ziziphus mistol, Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco and Stetsonia coryne that were used most frequently for sap consumption and were consumed in all seasons by ten groups of White-fronted Woodpecker in semiarid Chaco, Argentina. Plants selected by White-fronted Woodpeckers for sap consumption were mainly larger plants that yield high sugar concentration. Of the plant species we studied, individual plant selection in all seasons was more evident in those plant species that constitute an important part of their diet (i.e. Prosopis ruscifolia and Stetsonia coryne). The selection of plants offering a greater reward in sap quality strongly suggests that the White-fronted Woodpecker maximizes food energy intake as a response to the seasonality that characterizes semiarid climates of temperate regions and conditions of food resources availability. Our results show that large trees are selected as sap trees by White-fronted Woodpecker, therefore, we recommend activities that promote retention of large trees in Chaco region.
Sicyonia (Crustacea, Decapoda, Penaeoidea, Sicyoniidae) de l'Indo-ouest Pacifique

Base sur les recoltes faites par les chercheurs de l'IRD (ex ORSTOM) et du Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris, et sur les collections de 28 museums, ce travail porte sur 31 especes de Sicyonia H. Milne Edwards, 1830. Dix-neuf especes sont reconnues comme valides: S. australiensis Hanamura & Wadley, 1998; S. benthophila de Man, 1907; S. bispinosa de Haan, 1850; S. curvirostris Balss, 1913; S. fallax de Man, 1907; S. furcata Miers, 1878; S. inflexa (Kubo, 1949); S. japonica Balss, 1914; S. laevis Bate, 1881; S. lancifer (Olivier, 1811); S. longicauda Rathbun, 1906; S. nasica Butukovsky, 1990; S. ocellata Stimpson, 1860; S. parafallax Crosnier, 1995; S. parvula de Haan, 1850; S. rectirostris de Man, 1907; S. trispinosa de Man, 1907; S. truncata (Kubo, 1949) et S. vitulans (Kubo, 1949). Quatre especes sont mises en synonymie: S. cristata (de Haan, 1844) = S. lancifer; S. formosa (Chan & Yu, 1985) = S. furcata; S. ommanneyi Hall, 1961 = S. ocellata; S. nebulosa Kubo, 1949 = S. revis. Douze especes sont decrites comme nouvelles: S. abathophila n. sp. , S. adunca n. sp. , S. altriotrum n. sp. , S. dejouanneti n. sp. , S. komai n. sp. , S. longicornis n. sp. , S. metavitulans n. sp. , S. parajaponica n. sp. , S. robusta n. sp. , S. rocroi n. sp. , S. rotunda n. sp. et S. taiwanensis n. sp. Certaines formes, proches de S. australiensis et de S. dejouanneti n. sp. , sont mentionnees mais non nommees car le materiel dont nous disposons est insuffisant. Un essai de classification, en huit groupes, des especes indo-ouest pacifiques de Sicyonia est presente. Certains groupes sont coherents, d'autres probablement artificiels. Quelques especes resistent a toute integration. Plusieurs especes n'etant connues que par un seul sexe, leur integration dans un groupe demeure incertaine. Une cle d'identification est proposee. Une attention particuliere a ete portee a la representation des pieces genitales qui fournissent des caracteres specifiques essentiels. Des photographies en couleurs montrent la coloration, sur le vivant, de 17 especes. Des tableaux montrent les repartitions bathymetrique et geographique des especes. On peut y constater, une fois de plus, la grande richesse en especes de l'ensemble Philippines-Indonesie et la diminution du nombre des especes lorsqu'on s'eloigne de cette zone, sauf pour la region neo-caledonienne du fait de la densite exceptionnelle des recoltes.
Photosynthetic response of Bromus inermis in grasslands of different altitudes

In Greece, grasslands constitute an important component of montane areas. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the photosynthetic responses of the forage species Bromus inermis at two montane grasslands (Filippaioi, Grammatiko) and a lowland grassland under differential irradiation and CO2 concentration levels. In each area, gas exchange parameters were calculated under: a) ambient conditions along with the measurement of variable to maximal fluorescence, b) low (300 µmol m-2 s-1) and high (1400 µmol m-2 s-1) radiation, and c) ambient (380 µmol mol-1) and high (800 µmol mol-1) CO2 concentrations. In addition, assimilation response curves to different levels of irradiation and intercellular CO2 partial pressure were recorded. The photosynthetic machinery of B. inermis responded better to changes in irradiation in the montane area of Filippaioi, while it was more sensitive to changes in CO2 concentration in the lowland area. Photosynthesis in the montane area of Grammatiko could be subject to novel ecological pressures shaped by lower grazing intensity. No effect of altitude on physiological responses of B. inermis was found. Instead, plants from each area may use different adaptive mechanisms to persist and thrive in the environmental conditions of each area.
The dynamics of peak shifts and the pattern of morphological evolution

Recent theoretical results demonstrate that a phenotypic version of Wright's shifting balance theory generates the dynamical pattern of punctuated equilibria. Thus, classical mechanisms of random genetic drift and selection for multiple adaptive peaks produce geologically long periods of relative stasis interrupted occasionally by very brief intervals of rapid change. A simple extension of this theory is made here to encompass developmental constraints between quantitative characters, manifested as phenotypic and genetic correlations between characters. Developmental constraints do not qualitatively alter the dynamical pattern of phenotypic evolution produced by selection and random genetic drift. A quantitative definition of stasis is proposed, based on a common taxonomic practice for recognizing subspecies. From this it is concluded that stasis is not the rule for quantitative measurements of detailed sequences for fossil species throughout most of their existence. Instead, periods of relative stasis are interspersed with gradual fluctuating trends, short intervals of rapid change, and discontinuities of subspecific magnitude.