Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Agronomic and Molecular Evaluation of Six Lablab Bean (Lablab Purpureus L.) Cultivars

The experiment was done to assess the genetic diversity of six lablab varieties and determine their growth and productivity during the season 2014/2015. Field experiment was arranged in Randomized Complete Block Design with four replications. Seven different parameters for each variety and yield quality were taken (plant height,/cm, stem diameter/mm , number of leaves, yield of green fodder, ton/ha), analysis of crude protein and crude fiber were taken for each variety. Soil analysis for N, K, pH, EC was taken before and after cultivation. Molecular Analysis using four ISSR markers was done for the six varieties. Results showed that Cultivar 11640T was the tallest (91.87Cm) while cultivars (11609T) and (147T) were the lowest at late stages (60day). Number of leaves at 60 days showed that cultivar 11609T had the highest (127.41). Cultivar (11609T) had the highest fresh matter yield, whereas, the local cultivar gave the lowest yield. Cultivar (11640T) showed the highest crude fiber and cultivar (11609T) the lowest crude fiber. The result of protein revealed that cultivar (147I) contained the highest crude protein and cultivar (11640I) contained the least. Molecular diversity using inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) analysis generated polymorphic alleles. The clustering of genotypes was done using the UPGMA method, which gave 3 clusters. ISSR was suitable for discriminations of the studied lablab bean.
La régulation et la fonction des protéines Argonaute dans les dendrites des neurones hippocampiques

iv Table des matières. vi Liste des tableaux . xvi Liste des figures . xvii Liste des abréviations et sigles . xix Remerciements . xxv CHAPITRE 1 : INTRODUCTION . 1 1.1) Les bases cellulaires des fonctions nerveuses . 2 1.1.1) Les caractéristiques fondamentales d’un système nerveux . 2 1.1.1.1) L’évolution et la diversité des systèmes nerveux . 2 1.1.1.2) L’organisation biologique du système nerveux . 3 1.1.1.3) Les composantes cellulaires du système nerveux . 4 1.1.2) Le neurone . 5 1.1.2.1) La morphologie compartimentée des neurones . 5 1.1.2.2) La structure cellulaire générale des neurones . 7 1.1.2.3) Le caractère excitable des neurones . 8 1.1.2.4) Principes généraux de la transduction intracellulaire des signaux extracellulaires . 9 1.1.2.4. 1) Le rôle de second messager du calcium . 11 1.1.2.5) L’expression génique . 11 1.1.3) La synapse . 13 1.1.3.1) Classification générale des synapses . 13 1.1.3.1.1) Types d’arrangements synaptiques . 13 1.1.3.1.2) Les deux grands types de transmission synaptique . 13
Do carotenoid‐based ornaments entail resource trade-offs? An evaluation of theory and data

Carotenoidbased displays have become textbook examples of honest signals of individual quality (Dugatkin, 2013). Although some studies have failed to find consistent evidence that carotenoidbased traits are related to physiological performance (Dale, 2000; Dowling & Mulder, 2006; Smith, Raberg, Ohlsson, Granbom, & Hasselquist, 2007), behavioural ecologists have generally embraced the idea that carotenoidbased coloration can serve as a conditiondependent signal of quality (AlonsoAlvarez et al., 2004; Hill, 1991; Kemp, Herberstein, & Grether, 2012; McGraw & Ardia, 2003; Peters, Denk, Delhey, & Kempenaers, 2004; Velando, BeamonteBarrientos, & Torres, 2006). Accordingly, recent research on carotenoidbased ornamentation has focused on the mechanisms by which coloration can be a reliable signal of fundamental aspects of performance, such as immune system function or avoidance of oxidative stress. Current discussions of the mechanisms that might create a link between carotenoid coloration and performance have been dominated by the resource tradeoff hypothesis, which proposes that carotenoid coloration is an honest signal of individual quality because only highquality individuals can allocate sufficient carotenoid resources away from critical physiological processes to achieve fullcolour ornamentation (Figure 1). The resource tradeoff hypothesis is founded on three key assumptions: (1) carotenoid pigments are limited resources such that most individuals do not possess sufficient carotenoids to maximize performance in all avenues simultaneously; (2) carotenoid pigments play important roles in physiological processes, particularly in immune response and/or antioxidant defence; and hence, (3) carotenoidbased ornaments reflect quality because only highquality individuals can allocate to both sides of the tradeoff associated with carotenoid pigments. The main purpose of this synthesis was to provide a critical assessment of these three major assumptions of the resource tradeoff hypothesis for explaining honesty in carotenoidbased coloration. We limit the scope of our discussion to studies of birds, which are the group of animals that have been most extensively studied with regard to carotenoid signalling. Received: 6 October 2017 | Accepted: 17 April 2018 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13122
Microbiological Stability of Cosmetics by using Challenge Test Procedure

A cosmetic product is a substance or mixture intended to be applied on the outer surfaces of the human body or on teeth, on the mucous membranes of the mouth, with the purpose of cleaning, smelling, modifying, protecting, maintaining them in good condition. In order to prevent microbial proliferation in cosmetics, substances with antimicrobial activity are used, to inhibit the development of microorganisms. Among the most commonly used cosmetic contaminants, there are spore-forming bacteria, molds, yeasts and bacteria. In the following study through the challenge test, four cosmetics products were analyzed, including an ultra-moisturizing anti-aging facial cream, a biphasic tonic, an aqueous tanning gel and a hair wax. The main goal was to evaluate the conservative properties of products in catching any microbial contamination, that may occur as a result of use. The Challenge Test has proved to be useful and appropriate to predict the behavior of cosmetics in the event of bacterial contamination. Starting from a high microbial charge for all products, microbial growth after 7 days is stopped, thus demonstrating the good conservative properties of the analyzed products.
Dissecting cancer resistance to therapies with cell-type-specific dynamic logic models

Therapies targeting specific molecular processes, in particular kinases, are major strategies to treat cancer. Genomic features are commonly used as biomarkers for drug sensitivity, but our ability to stratify patients based on these features is still limited. As response to kinase inhibitors is a dynamic process affecting largely signal transduction, we investigated the association between cell-specific dynamic signaling pathways and drug sensitivity. We measured 14 phosphoproteins under 43 different perturbed conditions (combination of 5 stimuli and 7 inhibitors) for 14 colorectal cancer cell-lines, and built cell-line-specific dynamic logic models of the underlying signaling network. Model parameters, representing pathway dynamics, were used as features to predict sensitivity to a panel of 27 drugs. This analysis revealed associations between cell-specific signaling pathways and drug sensitivity for 14 of the drugs, 9 of which have no genomic biomarker. Following one of these associations, we validated a drug combination predicted to overcome resistance to MEK inhibitors by co-blockade of GSK3. These results underscore the value of perturbation-based studies to find biomarkers and combination therapies complementing those based on a static genomic characterization.
Contributions toward understanding the biodiversity of Passiflora in North America: Updates and a new combination from the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico and vicinity

The Baja California Peninsula and surrounding landmasses harbor an abundant flora in an otherwise harsh and arid environment. Of the many plant groups native to this peninsular and insular region, passionflowers (Passiflora, Passifloraceae) are represented by several conspicuous taxa that all belong to a single lineage, section Dysosmia. Basic questions remain regarding this group, particularly the taxonomic status among the Passiflora arida complex. Therefore, we investigated the claims of endemism, habitat characteristics, and taxon boundaries with in section Dysosmia in the Baja California region using extensive sampling of herbarium specimens and iNaturalist observations. We confirmed that only one of the native Passiflora taxa (P. fruticosa) was endemic to the Baja California Peninsula, with an additional taxon (P. palmeri) considered near‐endemic. Environmental data revealed significant distinctions between the habitats of many of the native taxa as well as within the P. arida complex, especially with respect to precipitation and temperature tolerances. Geometric morphometric analyses of leaf shape were largely not successful at separating taxa, indicating leaf shape may not be a good indicator of taxon identity in this particular group. Based on ecological differences and discrete macro‐ and micromorphological features, a varietal name is here synonymized and a new combination is proposed: Passiflora pentaschista.
Formin3 regulates dendritic architecture via microtubule stabilization and is required for somatosensory nociceptive behavior

The acquisition, maintenance and modulation of dendritic architecture are critical to neuronal form, plasticity and function. Morphologically, dendritic shape impacts functional connectivity and is largely mediated by organization and dynamics of cytoskeletal fibers that provide the underlying scaffold and tracks for intracellular trafficking. Identifying molecular factors that regulate dendritic cytoskeletal architecture is therefore important in understanding mechanistic links between cytoskeletal organization and neuronal function. In a neurogenomic-driven genetic screen of cytoskeletal regulatory molecules, we identified Formin3 (Form3) as a critical regulator of cytoskeletal architecture in Drosophila nociceptive sensory neurons. Form3 is a member of the conserved Formin family of multi-functional cytoskeletal regulators and time course analyses reveal Form3 is cell-autonomously required for maintenance of complex dendritic arbors. Cytoskeletal imaging demonstrates form3 mutants exhibit a specific destabilization of the dendritic microtubule (MT) cytoskeleton, together with defective dendritic trafficking of mitochondria, satellite Golgi and the TRPA channel Painless. Biochemical studies reveal Form3 directly interacts with MTs via FH1-FH2 domains and promotes MT stabilization via acetylation. Neurologically, mutations in human Inverted Formin 2 (INF2; ortholog of form3) have been causally linked to Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease. CMT sensory neuropathies lead to impaired peripheral sensitivity. Defects in form3 function in nociceptive neurons results in a severe impairment in noxious heat evoked behaviors. Expression of the INF2 FH1-FH2 domains rescues form3 defects in MT stabilization and nocifensive behavior revealing conserved functions in regulating the cytoskeleton and sensory behavior thereby providing novel mechanistic insights into potential etiologies of CMT sensory neuropathies. Significance Statement Mechanisms governing cytoskeletal architecture are critical in regulating neural function as aberrations are linked to a broad spectrum of neurological and neurocognitive disorders. Formins are important cytoskeletal regulators however their mechanistic roles in neuronal architecture are poorly understood. We demonstrate mutations in Drosophila formin3 lead to progressive destabilization of the dendritic microtubule cytoskeleton resulting in severely reduced arborization coupled to impaired organelle and ion channel trafficking, as well as nociceptive sensitivity. INF2 mutations are implicated in CMT sensory neuropathies, and INF2 expression can rescue microtubule and nociceptive behavioral defects in form3 mutants. While CMT sensory neuropathies have been linked to defects in axonal development and myelination, our studies connect dendritic cytoskeletal defects with peripheral insensitivity suggesting possible alternative etiological bases.
Development of a Cholera Toxin CTA 2 /B Based Staphylococcus aureus Vaccine to Prevent Bovine Mastitis

viii LIST OF TABLES . xv LIST OF FIGURES . xvi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS . xxii CHAPTER ONE: CHARACTERIZATION OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS INFECTION AND ITS PREVENTION BY VACCINE . 1 Background and Introduction . 1 Staphylococcus Aureus “the super bug” . 1 Virulence and Pathogenicity of S. aureus . 3 S. aureus Vaccine Antigens and Vaccines . 10 Current Vaccines Against S. aureus Human Disease . 15 Bovine Mastitis . 16 Treatments and Prevention of Bovine Mastitis . 21 Cholera Toxin as an Adjuvant for Subunit Vaccines . 24 Native Ct: Immunostimulatory Effects . 26 Non-Toxic CT Derivatives . 28 Summary and Objectives . 30
Identification of a post-transcriptional regulatory element that responds to glucose in the African trypanosome

The ability to adapt to varying nutrient availability in changing environments is critical for successful parasitism. The lifecycle stages of the African trypanosome, Trypanosoma brucei, that infect the host mammalian bloodstream utilize glucose exclusively for ATP production. The finding that trypanosomes also inhabit other tissues that frequently contain lower glucose concentrations suggests blood stage parasites may have to respond to a dynamic environment with changing nutrient availability in order to survive. However, little is known about how the parasites coordinate gene expression with nutrient availability. Through transcriptome analysis, we have found blood stage parasites deprived of glucose alter gene expression in a pattern similar to transcriptome changes triggered by other stresses. A surprisingly low concentration of glucose (<10 μM) was required to initiate the response. To further understand the dynamic regulation of gene expression that occurs in response to altered glucose availability in the environment, we have interrogated the 3’UTR of cytochrome c oxidase subunit VI, a known lifecycle stage regulated gene, and have identified a stem-loop structure that confers glucose-responsive regulation at the translational level.
Prioritizing Small Molecule as Candidates for Drug Repositioning using Machine Learning

Drug repositioning, i.e. identifying new uses for existing drugs and research compounds, is a cost-effective drug discovery strategy that is continuing to grow in popularity. Prioritizing and identifying drugs capable of being repositioned may improve the productivity and success rate of the drug discovery cycle, especially if the drug has already proven to be safe in humans. In previous work, we have shown that drugs that have been successfully repositioned have different chemical properties than those that have not. Hence, there is an opportunity to use machine learning to prioritize drug-like molecules as candidates for future repositioning studies. We have developed a feature engineering and machine learning that leverages data from publicly available drug discovery resources: RepurposeDB and DrugBank. ChemVec is the chemoinformatics-based feature engineering strategy designed to compile molecular features representing the chemical space of all drug molecules in the study. ChemVec was trained through a variety of supervised classification algorithms (Naïve Bayes, Random Forest, Support Vector Machines and an ensemble model combining the three algorithms). Models were created using various combinations of datasets as Connectivity Map based model, DrugBank Approved compounds based model, and DrugBank full set of compounds; of which RandomForest trained using Connectivity Map based data performed the best (AUC=0.674). Briefly, our study represents a novel approach to evaluate a small molecule for drug repositioning opportunity and may further improve discovery of pleiotropic drugs, or those to treat multiple indications.
Assessment of anticholinesterase contaminants in Ruvu river using cholinesterase biomarker in African sharptooth Catfish

A cross sectional study was conducted to assess the extent of exposure of anticholinesterase contaminants in Ruvu river using cholinesterase biomarker in African Sharptooth Catfish. Questionnaire interviews were used to collect sociological data from 200 respondents, also Ellman‟s method and 5, 5‟-dithiobis-2-nitrobenzoic acid chromophore was used to establish cholinesterase activities in plasma and brain of 40 Claria gariepinus. The sociological findings showed that all respondents (100%) use pesticides in agriculture and 62.5% were males with primary level of education (69%). Organophosphates pesticides were mentioned to be mostly used in the area. With regards to the proper use, awareness on the effects and disposal of pesticides, it was observed that most farmer know how to use the pesticides and were aware of the effect of pesticides in human and pests but not to the environment. Also mishandling and poor disposal of pesticides and their leftovers were reported. There was no significant difference between the levels of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) in plasma. AChE and BChE activities in brain showed insignificant difference (P > 0.05) among fish from the study sites and the control. The brain AChE activities were significantly lower (P ˂ 0.05) in fish from Ruvu Darajani compared to the control. This study revealed differences in AChE and BChE activities in the study area. Such differences could be ascribed to the environmental contamination due to agrochemicals used by the farmers around Ruvu river basin.
Characterization of SPX exclusive family members in plant Pi sensing and regulation

The macronutrient phosphorus is vital to plant growth but the readily absorbed form of inorganic phosphate (Pi) is often environmentally limited. To increase Pi acquisition and use efficiency, plants have developed strategies involving a group of proteins, characterized by a highly conserved N-terminal SPX domain, which play critical roles. In this project, 14 SPX domain-containing proteins were identified in potato (Solanum tuberosum) and classified into four plant SPX domain-containing protein families. Gene expression analysis of SPX-exclusive family members using quantitative real-time PCR showed StSPX2, StSPX3 and StSPX5 are transcriptionally up-regulated during Pi starvation responses, suggesting the pervasive involvement of SPX proteins in Pi regulation among different plant species. The P1BS cis-element was also found in the promoter region of potato SPX genes, suggesting these genes are likely to be regulated by a potato homologue of AtPHR1, a Myb-CC family transcription factor which binds this sequence in other plant species. Recent studies in Arabidopsis demonstrated the SPX exclusive family protein AtSPX1 can compete with DNA to physically interact with the transcription factor AtPHR1 in a Pi-dependent way. However, the interaction mechanism is poorly understood. To investigate this, Glutathione-S-transferase-SPX1 and Maltose-binding-protein-PHR1 fusion proteins were expressed and purified from E. coli. AtPHR1 was shown to be a monomeric protein in solution that dimerizes upon associating with P1BS. SPR data also showed that AtSPX1 cannot displace AtPHR1 associated with DNA, but only interact with monomeric AtPHR1 in the presence of either 5 mM Pi or 500 µM InsP6. Therefore I propose a new model that in the Pi restored condition, AtSPX1 can bind to monomeric AtPHR1 and therefore regulate PSI gene expression by tuning the AtPHR1-DNA binding equilibrium. This regulation also generates a negative feedback loop on the expression of AtSPX1 itself, providing a tight control of PSI gene expression under Pi sufficient conditions.
A cost–benefit evaluation of direct seeding with and without protector for two native tree species in a tropical rainforest

A priority in restoration research is to seek methods that reach high levels of plant establishment at the lowest possible cost. Here, we test how direct seeding works with and without a plastic protector that covers seeds and seedlings in an early‐successional rainforest in Veracruz (Mexico). Two native species, Calophyllum brasiliense (barí) and Vochysia guatemalensis (corpo), at three topographic positions, were used. Germination rates with and without the protector were 84 versus 79% for C. brasiliense, and 98 versus 89% for V. guatemalensis, respectively. The protector significantly improved the germination only of V. guatemalensis. Plant survivorship of V. guatemalensis 27 months after seeding was significantly higher with the protector (78%) than without it (46%). For C. brasiliense, there were no differences in survivorship after 22 months with (61%) and without (54%) protector. In both species, the protector had no effect on height growth, which was significantly larger for seedlings located at the toeslope position. We developed a cost–benefit model that provides a threshold value at which the investment for protectors is justified by a resulting higher survivorship: If 27 months after seeding a treelet of V. guatemalensis is worth at least 0.83 USD on our sites, then the effect of the protector is worth the cost of its implementation (for C. brasiliense, survivorship was statistically undistinguishable with and without protector). We suggest that direct seeding with a plastic protector could be a promising alternative for forest restoration with suitable tree species.
What about cultural ecosystems? Opportunities for cultural considerations in the “International Standards for the Practice of Ecological Restoration”

The Society for Ecological Restoration's 2016 (SER) “International Standards for the Practice of Ecological Restoration” is a living document intended to guide restoration projects “anywhere in the world. ” Given its intended global scope and in hopes of informing future editions, this document is critically assessed in light of the role people have played in ecosystems around the world. We argue that the Standards has an underlying nature–culture dichotomization that limits its applicability; in qualifying what it calls “cultural ecosystems” for rehabilitation, rather than restoration, the Standards privileges colonial visions of ecological restoration. We also discuss the Standards' representation of the ecological impacts and practices of indigenous groups. Whereas the Standards claims that preindustrial cultural ecosystems exist in states similar to unmodified areas, many historians, anthropologists, and paleoecologists would point out that preindustrial people sometimes had massive environmental impacts through agriculture, hydrological engineering, over‐hunting, living in dense urban environments, transporting species, burning on a scale capable of changing the climate, and other practices. Furthermore, the Standards does not discuss how the cultural goals of indigenous groups fit into the overall picture of ecological restoration. Future drafts of the Standards should more accurately frame the diverse roles people play in nature, and create global standards that account for the validity of cultural goals for ecological restoration.