Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Two New Genera of Agathidiini from the Nearctic and Neotropical Regions (Coleoptera: Leiodidae)

Abstract Two new genera of Agathidiini are described and revised: Gelae Miller and Wheeler, new genus and Decuria Miller and Wheeler, new genus. Gelae differs from other agathidiines by having 11 antennomeres, a distinctly 3-segmented antennal club, no supraocular carina, no postocular temporum, 5–4–4 female tarsal formula and obsolete dorsal punctation, or, if present, inconspicuous and not serially arranged. Decuria differs from other agathidiines by having 10 antennomeres. The dramatically poor taxonomic condition of genera in the Agathidiini is discussed and problems are identified. A key to the genera of Agathidiini is presented. The following new combinations are proposed: Gelae parile (Fall), new combination, G. parvulum (LeConte), new combination, and G. cognatum (Matthews), new combination. Each are transferred from Agathidium Panzer. The following new species are described: Gelae rol, new species, G. fish, new species, G. donut, new species, G. baen, new species, G. belae, new species, and Decuria newtoni, new species. A lectotype is designated for Agathidium parile Fall.
Native American Ethnobotany of Cane (Arundinaria spp.) in the Southeastern United States: A Review

Abstract Cane (Arundinaria spp.) was one of the most important plant resources for Native Americans living in the southeastern United States prior to Euro-American settlement. The use of cane permeated virtually every aspect of tribal life. Cane was used to make houses and village structures, military and hunting weapons, fishing gear, furniture and domestic implements, personal adornments, baskets, musical instruments, and watercraft. Medicines were prepared from cane, and parts of the plant furnished food and fuel. Canebrakes provided agricultural land, livestock forage, and habitat for wild game. Although large numbers of canes were harvested each year, there is no historic evidence that Native Americans actively managed canebrakes for the production of culms. The cultural importance of cane to Native Americans declined dramatically following Euro-American settlement of the southeast because: 1) trade goods were deemed superior and replaced articles made from cane in local economies; 2) the rapid disappearance of canebrakes deprived Native Americans of raw material and forced them to seek alternatives; and, 3) many of southeastern tribes were eventually relocated to regions peripheral to or outside of the geographic range of cane.
Adaptive significance of maternal induction of density‐dependent phenotypes

Density has been demonstrated to impact life history traits such as growth, fecundity and survival. Some authors have proposed that morphological and behavioral traits have evolved in response to density conditions. To escape the adverse effect of density, individuals can either adapt to crowding or avoid crowding by dispersing. The aim of this work is to study the interplay between local adaptation and dispersal in four populations of the common lizard, Lacerta vivipara, where densities of both the maternal and juvenile environment have been experimentally manipulated. Density was decreased in the spring by removing a quarter of the population at two sites and was un-manipulated in two other sites. One month later, we caught some pregnant females and kept them in the laboratory until parturition. To manipulate density of postnatal neonates and juveniles, we divided each clutch into two, and released half of the juveniles either in a reduced density site or in a control one. We then recaptured individuals a year after release and recorded their size and weight. When density was reduced, females increased their clutch size, but produced offspring of lower body condition than in the control sites. The conspicuous ventral color of females was likewise increased when density was reduced. However, offspring growth rate, local survival and dispersal were not influenced by maternal density. Juvenile females released in the reduced-density site had lower survival rate than those released in the control density site. Contrary to expectations, offspring dispersal was significantly higher at the reduced compared to control density sites. There was no interaction between maternal density habitat and the juvenile release habitat indicating that maternal effects did not influence juvenile life history traits in a different way according to the level of density. Moreover, clutch size and offspring size had no effect on juvenile growth or survival.
SOURCES OF EGG-SIZE VARIATION IN HOUSE WRENS (TROGLODYTES AEDON): ONTOGENETIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONENTS

Abstract Evolutionary theory predicts that heritability of fitness-related traits should be low. Egg size in birds is a fitness-related trait, but exhibits high heritability. One possible explanation for the apparent failure of natural selection to exhaust variability is that variation in egg size is mediated by female condition. In this study, we estimated repeatability of egg size within and between successive clutches in a wild, double-brooded population of House Wrens (Troglodytes aedon) in central Illinois, and examined the relationship of egg size with female size and condition. Repeatability of egg volume and mass in individual birds was high within years and between successive years (>0.77), suggesting a substantial heritable component to variation in egg size. However, egg mass was also significantly correlated with female condition. We suggest that the high repeatability values largely reflect permanent but nongenetic (ontogenetic) variation in egg size among females, which is reflected in the positive correlation of egg size with female condition. If variation in egg size is attributable to a combination of nonheritable, ontogenetic variation and variation due to current environmental conditions among females, then selection may not produce an evolutionary response in egg size.
The relationship between hive productivity and honeybee flight activity.

SummaryA relationship between daily honey production, as reflected in increased hive weight, and the flight activity of honeybees Apis mellifera L. was identified. This relationship confirmed that productivity mainly depends on bee activity (R2 = 0·79). Experiments were conducted in the summer of 1987 with digital honeybee counters at hive entrances, which detected incoming and outgoing bees. The minimum activity rate to get a positive daily honey gain was 14 000 bees/h. At 20 000 bees/h, the estimated daily honey gain was 0·34 kg and at 60 000 bees/h, the gain reached 5·7 kg. A three-fold increase in activity rate resulted in a 17-fold increase in honey production.
Socioeconomic and parasitological factors that limits cocoa production in Chiapas, Mexico.

The main goal of this research was to identify the socioeconomic and parasitological factors that limit cocoa production in Chiapas, Mexico. One hundred and nine cacao-growers were visited and interviewed in the two main cocoaproducing regions. According to results only 14.7 % farmers grow white-almond cacao. The average production unit is 2.6 hectares. Cacao growers are 59 years-old on average and 56 % of them did not finish elementary school. Only 19.3 % of the production units are under woman responsibility. Average yield is 118 kg ha-1 and 60.5 % growers sell cacao to intermediaries. Pests that affect the crop and their occurrence include Moniliophthora roreri (100 %), Phytophthora capsici (67%), Fusarium sp. (10.1 %), Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (3.7 %), Ceratocystis cacaofunesta (0.9 %), Atta sp. (33.9 %), Toxoptera aurantii (11 %), squirrels (7.3 %), Xyleborus ferrugineus,
Effect of Supplementation of Rumen Protected Lipids at Varying Levels of Feed Restriction on Intake, Growth Rate and Nutrient Utilization in Deccani Ram Lambs

Eighteen Deccani ram lambs with an average body weight of 19.45±1.06 kg were randomly distributed into 3 groups of 6 animals each to study the effect of supplementation of bypass fat in the form of calcium soap of red palm oil on intake, growth rate and nutrient utilization at different feed restriction levels. The lambs in group T1 were fed complete ration ad lib. The lambs in groupT2 and T3 were provided 85 and 70% of feed compared to group T1. However, both these groups were supplemented with calcium soap of red palm oil at 10% of total dietary DM. The DMI (g/d) or (g/kg w0.75) was significantly (P<0.05) lower in group T3 compared to T1 and T2. There was no significant difference in digestibility of nutrients and cell wall constituents except EE. The digestibility of EE was significantly (P<0.05) higher in groups T2 and T3 compared to group T1. Nitrogen and phosphorus balances (g/d) were higher (P<0.05) in groups T1 and T2 compared to T3. The intake of DCP and TDN (g/d) in group T3 was lower (P<0.05) than in groups T1 and T2. The average daily gain (g) in group T3 was significantly (P<0.05) lower compared to other two groups. It was concluded that calcium soap of red palm oil can be used as energy supplement to the extent of 10% of dietary DM when lambs are restricted to 85% of feed intake without any adverse effect on feed intake, growth rate and nutrient utilization.
SCREENING OF MEDICINAL PLANTS FOR IRON CHELATING AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY

A study was carried out to determine the iron chelating and antioxidant activity of methanolic extracts of five medicinal plants from Uttarakhand, India. The antioxidant property was studied using ABTS radical scavenging, phosphomolybdenum and iron chelating potential assays. A strong correlation was found between antioxidant potential with that of phosphomolybdenum potential in the methanolic plant leaves extracts. A satisfactory correlation was calculated between total phenolic content and antioxidant potential but no satisfactory relationship was found with iron chelating potential indicating that polyphenols are not main chelating particles. The values of ABTS and iron chelating assay indicate that all the five plants were good sources of antioxidants.
THREE-DIMENSIONAL MICROVESSEL ARRAY FOR TUMOR ANGIOGENESIS ASSAY

We present a microfluidic platform to mimic different stages of tumor angiogenesis. We have developed reliable in-vitro model where microvessel array formed by co-culture of HUVEC (Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cell) and NHLF (Normal Human Lung Fibroblast) form angiogenic sprouts in response to U87MG (Human Glioblastoma cell line). When placed inside the blood vessels, SNB19 (Human Glioblastoma cell line) were observed extravasating outward from the vessels. This platform allows investigation of tumor angiogenesis and extravasation with higher structural and functional similarity compared to other conventional in vitro blood vessel models.
EVALUATION OF NOOTROPIC ACTIVITY OF CARICA PAPAYA IN MICE

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder primarily manifesting as a loss of memory, senile dementia, and intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangle formation. C. papaya has a very long history of medicinal use in Chinese and Indian herbal traditions. The objective of this study is to evaluate the nootropic activity of Carica papaya by using animal model mice. The dried seeds of papaya fruits were used for the extraction by cold maceration method using ethanol as solvent. Preliminary Phytochemical study was performed. Estimation of anti-oxidant enzymes like super oxide dismutase, glutathione peroxide and glutathione reductase were done in extract treated mice. Estimation of acetylcholinestarase levels was also done. The ethyl acetate extract gave positive results for alkaloids, flavanoids, carbohydrates, tannins, glycosides, and absence of proteins, saponins, steroids, terpenes, phenols, gums and mucilage. In the present study, we have found a significant decrease in the level of antioxidant enzymes and the elevated of AChE in mice brain after a single injection of Scopolamine. EECP at 200 mg/ kg and 400 mg/kg had shown the significant reduction in the elevated enzyme level of acetylcholine esterase. The oxidative stress involved by the administration of Scopolamine produced neurotoxicity indicated the decreased levels of super oxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase. Treatment of EECP shows the protection of these antioxidant enzymes on both 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg dose level respectively due to the rejuvenating property of the extract.
Molecular Distribution ofROB-11-Lactamase in Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae

distribution. Ampicillin resistance couldalsobe transferred by transformation via electroporation. Allresistant isolates bearing plasmids hybridized with theprobe,indicatingthattheampicillin resistance in ourisolateswasdue to only the ROB-1 ,B-lactamase. TheblaROBlgenewasfound to be distributed in A. pleuropneumoniae largely
Effects of Forest Roads on Spatial Distribution of Boreal Carabid Beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

Abstract The total network of Finnish forest roads has increased from a few hundred km in 1950 to currently over 120,000 km, but the ecological consequences of that process on invertebrates are poorly understood. I pitfall-trapped carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) at roadsides and in adjacent forests along six forest roads in Finland. I carried out two studies on whether roads function as obstacles to the movement of forest carabids, or dispersal corridors for generalist and open-habitat species. In addition to these two studies, I compiled carabid observations from national entomologists to get an overview on carabid richness and on life-history traits associated with roadside carabids. A forest carabid Calathus micropterus (Duftschmid) was less abundant on the roadsides, compared to the adjacent forests. However, species richness and the abundance of a habitat generalist Pterostichus niger (Schaller) showed the opposite, and open-habitat species were solely caught on the roadsides. At the roadsides, generalists decreased in abundance with increasing distance to the nearest large open-habitat area along the road. This result may indicate that roadsides are dispersal corridors and/or “sink” habitat for these carabids. I did not detect such a trend for open-habitat species, which may indicate that roadsides are habitats, not just dispersal corridors for these carabids. Multivariate Regression Trees showed that the roadside and forest carabid assemblages were different. Forest type played a key role in shaping carabid assemblages of forests, whereas roadside carabid assemblages were mostly affected by factors related to lighting conditions (road width, proximity of open habitat, and compass direction). I caught several forest carabids between the ruts of forest roads, indicating that these beetles frequently cross forest roads. The 97 carabid species found by Finnish entomologists from different kinds of roadsides, reported here, indicate that roadsides host rich carabid assemblages of relatively common species mostly associated with open and man-made habitats.
A wide variety of putative extremophiles and large beta-diversity at the Mars Desert Research Station (Utah)

Abstract Humankind's innate curiosity makes us wonder whether life is or was present on other planetary bodies such as Mars. The EuroGeoMars 2009 campaign was organized at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) to perform multidisciplinary astrobiology research. MDRS in southeast Utah is situated in a cold arid desert with mineralogy and erosion processes comparable to those on Mars. Insight into the microbial community composition of this terrestrial Mars analogue provides essential information for the search for life on Mars: including sampling and life detection methodology optimization and what kind of organisms to expect. Soil samples were collected from different locations. Culture-independent molecular analyses directed at ribosomal RNA genes revealed the presence of all three domains of life (Archaea, Bacteria and Eukarya), but these were not detected in all samples. Spiking experiments revealed that this appears to relate to low DNA recovery, due to adsorption or degradation. Bacteria were most frequently detected and showed high alpha- and beta-diversity. Members of the Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Gemmatimonadetes phyla were found in the majority of samples. Archaea alpha- and beta-diversity was very low. For Eukarya, a diverse range of organisms was identified, such as fungi, green algae and several phyla of Protozoa. Phylogenetic analysis revealed an extraordinary variety of putative extremophiles, mainly Bacteria but also Archaea and Eukarya. These comprised radioresistant, endolithic, chasmolithic, xerophilic, hypolithic, thermophilic, thermoacidophilic, psychrophilic, halophilic, haloalkaliphilic and alkaliphilic micro-organisms. Overall, our data revealed large difference in occurrence and diversity over short distances, indicating the need for high-sampling frequency at similar sites. DNA extraction methods need to be optimized to improve extraction efficiencies.
Osmolyte-Induced Folding of an Intrinsically Disordered Activation Function Subdomain of Glucocorticoid Receptor

Intrinsically disordered (ID) regions are disproportionately higher in cell-signaling proteins, suggesting an important role in their regulatory capacity. Activation domains of many transcription factors exist in ID conformation(s). It has been suggested that large flexible regions in ID activation domains have an advantage over proteins with ordered conformations such that ID regions/domains can make more efficient interactions with their target partners. The major activation function-1 (AF1) region, located in the N-terminal domain of several steroid receptors, including the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) possess ID sequences. Recently, we reported that osmolytes fold AF1 into functionally active conformation. Most of known AF1:coregulatory proteins interactions take place in a core subdomain (AF1C) that is indispensible for AF1-mediated GR activity. However, it is not known whether osmolytes can induce functionally folded conformation in AF1C. In this study we have found that a naturally occurring osmolyte, trimethylamine-N-oxide, can cooperatively fold AF1C into a compact structure.
First in the Cycles Review Series

The daily recurrence of activity and rest are so common as to seem trivial. However, they reflect a ubiquitous temporal programme called the circadian clock. In the absence of either anatomical clock structures or clock genes, the timing of sleep and wakefulness is disrupted. The complex nature of circadian behaviour is evident in the fact that phasing of the cycle during the day varies widely for individuals, resulting in extremes colloquially called ‘larks’ and ‘owls’. These behavioural oscillations are mirrored in the levels of physiology and gene expression. Deciphering the underlying mechanisms will provide important insights into how the circadian clock affects health and disease.
Mutation in (GJB3 and GJB4) Genes involved in Deafness in two Sudanese Families Using Next Generation Sequencing

generation sequencing (NGS) technology becomes the premier tool in genetic and genomic analysis by offering high-throughput sequencing.The identification of causer variant of genetic disease became a great challenge. Various in silico bioinformatics tools have been used to predict deleterious effect of mutation associated with hearing impairment among Sudanese patients. Our aim was to explore whether other genes, than those reported single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), associated with deafness are found among Sudanese patients using multiple algorithms tools. NGS data of two Sudanese families were analyzed in silico. The potentially functional nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (nsSNPs) and their effect on protein was predicted by Polymorphism Phenotype (PolyPhen) and Sort Intolerant from Tolerant (SIFT) softwares, respectively. Protein stability change was calculated using I-Mutant 2.0. University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) chimera software was used to compare between the 3D structure of wild and mutant type of proteins. Our analysis showed deleterious nsSNP's in GJB3 and GJB4 genes ranging from 0.00-0.05 (SIFT), >1.50 (Polyphen) and decrease protein activity (I-mutant), and accordingly the candidate genes were selected as a causative variant of hearing impairment in two Sudanese families. In conclusion, NGS provides data to facilitate the discovery of variants associated with hearing impairment. The accuracy of deleterious nsSNPs predicted can be increased by combining different computational methods as SIFT, Polyphen2 and I-Mutant 2.0.
Are Locomotor Performances Coadapted to Preferred Basking Temperature in the Northern Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica)?

Abstract We tested a common prediction of the thermal coadaptation hypothesis in the Northern Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica), an aquatic emydid with pronounced aerial basking. We measured the effect of body temperature on two locomotor performances (swimming and righting) to determine optimal temperature of performance (To) for each trait. According to the thermal coadaptation hypothesis, the preferred body temperature range (Tset) of ectotherms should match To of thermally sensitive traits that influence fitness. However, we predicted that preferred basking temperature and locomotor performance of Northern Map Turtles would not be coadapted, given that basking occurs on land and locomotion in water. We also tested for an ontogenetic shift in performance curves. We found that adult Northern Map Turtles have a wide Tset (19–30°C), both hatchlings and adults can achieve near-maximum performance over a wide range of temperatures, and an ontogenetic shift is present for swimming but not for righting. Although To for the two locomotor performances of adult turtles were within Tset, the large range of Tset coupled with the wide breadth in locomotor performance makes falsifying or supporting the coadaptation hypothesis difficult for these traits in Northern Map Turtles. Other metabolic and physiological processes need to be considered to understand more fully thermal coadaptation in aquatic emydids.
Critical factors of vanillin assay for catechins and proanthocyanidins

Several parameters mostly affecting the precision and accuracy of vanillin assay were reexamined and optimized. The reexamination was performed both by vanillin reaction with catechins and by vanillin reaction with purified proanthocyanidins. In addition to the acid nature and concentration, the reaction time, the temperature, and the vanillin concentration, other factors such as the water content, the presence of interfering substances, and the standard utilized, for both vanillin reaction with catechins and vanillin reaction with proanthocyanidins, were also important. However, the kinetics of the two types of reactions were markedly different. For estimating accurately catechins or proanthocyanidins that exist simultaneously in plant tissues, it is necessary to preliminarily separate them from each other. Keywords: Catechins; proanthocyanidins; vanillin assay
Improvement of economic characters of mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori L. by a phytohormone, abscisic acid

The effect of abscisic acid (ABA), a sesquiterpenoid plant hormone, on the growth and economic traits of silkworm, Bombyx mori L. , was studied. Six concentrations, viz, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 5 ppm of the hormone were separately applied topically and administered orally through leaf to different batches of V instar silkworm larvae at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours. The exogenous administration of ABA resulted in substantial increase in the major economic traits (P<0.05). Oral treatment of 5 and 0.5 ppm ABA at 48 h resulted in highest improvement in cocoon (13.01%) and shell weight (12.56%), respectively. Extension in the feeding period was not noticed as in the case of other juvenoid type compounda The effective rate of rearing (ERR)by weight was enhanced significantly, whereas ERR by number was not much affected. Shell ratio, filament length and denier were stable, irrespective of the treatments. Further, the JH type activity of ABA accelerated the rate of DNA synthesis and enhanced the economic characteristics of silkworm.