Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dimorphism in adult male Japanese mitten crab Eriocheir japonica (de Haan)

ー T w o morphological types of terminal moult male Japanese mitten crab Eriocheir jα:ponicαsampled from the sea were distinguished from the hair distribution o n and relative growth of the chelae. The mating behaviour of the two morphs w a s observed in the laboratory. Larger males (more than 52 m m in carapace width) in small numbers had proportionally larger chelae with dense hair. Smaller males (less than 62 m m in C W ) which were m o r e numerous h a d relatively small chelae with thin hair. The range in size of the two morphological phases overlapped in carapace and chelar sizes, but were separated into two different growth phases金o m regression analysis. Both male phases are mature, have spermatophores in the vas deferens, pursue females, copulate, and fertilize eggs. Previous studies have shown that most males die without moulting after the seaward migration and reproduction, suggesting that smaller phase males die without moulting to the larger phase. Further, males of the larger phase do not participate in reproduction while they are small. The significance of the dimorphism in relation to the life history is disC U 8鵠 d.
Microbiological and physicochemical properties of commercial seal tampered refrigerated fruit juices

Microbial and physicochemical properties of seven branded, seal tampered refrigerated fruit juices were carried out in this study using standard methods. Coliform counts ranged from 2.079 to3.093 log 10 cfu/ml over the storage period with pineapple juice and citrus juice having the highest and least coliform count respectively. Total bacteria count in the juice ranged from 7.009 to 8.243 log 10 cfu/ml. Citrus fruit juice however had the highest staphylococcal count while pineapple juice had the least (2.344 to 3.881log 10 cfu/ml). Also, osmophilic yeast count ranged from 2.017 to 3.903log 10 cfu/ml, having the highest load in orange fruit juice and lowest load in citrus fruit juice. The pH of the juice samples ranged from 2.9 to 4.2 during the period of refrigeration. Conductivity was highest in apple fruit juice and lowest in orange nectar pulp fruit juice. The total dissolved solids ranged from 0.29 to 1.95 over storage and was recorded highest in apple juice and lowest in orange nectar pulp fruit juice. Turbidity ranged from 5.8-200. These results indicate a reduction in the quality of fruit juices after 5 days of opening and thus reveals that both spoilage and pathogenic organisms could proliferate in juices despite refrigeration.
Evaluation of biocontrol agents and organic amendments against onion basal rot caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cepae.

Efficacy of biocontrol agents and soil organic amendments was evaluated for their potential to manage the basal rot of onion caused by Fusarium oxysporum.f. sp.cepae. Trichoderma viride, Trichoderma harzianum and Pseudomonas sp. were collected from different onion growing areas of Tamil Nadu and were tested for their antagonistic activity against the pathogen by dual culture technique. Among the tested isolates of Trichoderma sp. , T. harzianum (TH3) recorded the maximum (82.77%) inhibition. Among the sixty two isolates of Pseudomonas sp. , Pf 12 significantly exerted the highest (74.68) per cent reduction of mycelial growth of pathogen. Among the organic amendments, mahua cake (10%) significantly recorded maximum 61.00 per cent reduction of mycelial growth over control.
Mutagenicity of two species of the genus Alchornea measured by Salmonella microsome assay and micronucleus test

Some species of the plant genus Alchornea (family Euphorbiaceae) are widely used in popular medicine, mainly in South America and in Africa. Several kinds of biological activity have been seen in the species: antioxidant, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, cytotoxic against tumor cell lines and inhibitory to the replication of HIV-1 and HIV-2. In Brazil, the species Alchornea castaneaefolia Willd. A. Juss. and Alchornea glandulosa Poepp. & Endl. are used by the local population to treat rheumatism, arthritis and muscular pains. In view of the popular use of these plants as medicines and the potential risks from their consumption, we assessed the mutagenic potential of chloroform and methanol extracts of the leaves of these plant species, employing the in vivo micronucleus test and the Ames assay. The data obtained showed that the chloroform extracts were not mutagenic. The methanol extract of A. castaneaefolia was mutagenic to strain TA98 of Salmonella typhimurium and the methanol extract of A. glandulosa to strains TA98 and TA97a. The methanol extracts of both species of Alchornea were mutagenic in vivo at the largest dose employed. The probable mutagenic agents involved were the aglycone quercetin and amentoflavone, present in both species.
Nucleic acid approaches to toxin detection

PCR is commonly used for detecting contamination of foods by toxigenic bacteria. However, it is unknown whether it is suitable for detecting toxins in samples which are unlikely to contain bacterial cells, such as purified biological weapons. Quantitative real-time PCR assays were developed for amplification of the genes encoding Clostridium botulinum neurotoxins A to F, Staphylococcal enteroxin B (SEB), ricin, and C. perfringens alpha toxin. Botulinum neurotoxins, alpha toxin, ricin and V antigen from Yersinia pestis were purified at Dstl using methods including precipitation, ion exchange, FPLC, affinity chromatography and gel filtration. Additionally, toxin samples of unknown purity were purchased from a commercial supplier. Q-PCR analysis showed that DNA was present in crudely prepared toxin samples. However, the majority of purified or commercially produced toxins were not detectable by PCR. Therefore, it is unlikely that PCR will serve as a primary toxin detection method in future. Immuno-PCR was investigated as an alternative, more direct method of toxin detection. Several iterations of the method were investigated, each using a different way of labelling the secondary antibody with DNA. It was discovered that the way in which antibodies are labelled with DNA is crucial to the success of the method, as the DNA concentration must be optimised in order to fully take advantage of signal amplification without causing excessive background noise. In general terms immuno-PCR was demonstrated to offer increased sensitivity over conventional ELISA, once fully optimised, making it particularly useful for biological weapons analysis. Finally, genetic methods for the differentiation of toxigenic Ricinus communis strains were examined, including SSR, RAPD, RFLP and SNP analysis using next generation sequencing. The results showed that the species has low genetic diversity, making genotyping a particularly difficult task, however SSR analysis was able to provide a degree of differentiation and 454 Sequencing™ identified six SNP targets that warrant further investigation in future.
Evaluation of NMR structural studies on a family of membrane active channel forming peptides

As part of the ongoing development of a channel forming peptide with the potential to be used clinically to treat cystic fibrosis, a number of structural studies using solution NMR spectroscopy have been carried out on a number of the test sequences. Given their structural similarities of the monomers it is important to evaluate whether or not there is a compelling need to determine the solution NMR structure of next-generation peptides. The determination of the NMR monomeric solution structure of peptides NK4-M2GlyR-p22 and NK4-M2GlyR-p20 T17R S20W in TFE solution and SDS micelles sample shows predominantly -helical conformations for both sequences with an extended conformation for the N-terminal lysine residues. The Imax, K1/2 and Hill coefficient, derived from data on ion conductance across monolayers of MDCK cells, were used to compare the ion conductance properties of the peptide sequences. Peptide NK4-M2GlyR-p20 T17R S20W has both a higher IMAX (43.8 ± 2.8 μA/cm 2 ) and a lower K1/2 (58 ± 8 μM) compared to other M2GlyR derived peptides with calculated NMR structures. All available molecular structures calculated by NMR for M2GlyR derived peptides were compared and the correlation of the structural changes observed in the NMR structures with the ion conductance changes was evaluated. The NMR structures were found to have limited predicting potential over the ion conduction data. NMR determined structures have provided an experimentally based starting point for studies of the channels formed by the family of M2GlyR peptides. Computer simulations account for inter peptide interactions and packing effects that are not experienced by the monomeric form of the peptides in the NMR samples that have been used until now. The determination of the structure of the oligomeric peptide channels is deemed needed to improve the relevance of future use of NMR in this project. The use of larger membrane mimicking agents, isotopically labeled ( 15 N, 13 C) samples, 3D NMR experiments and potentially solid state NMR would be required to accomplish that task. EVALUATION OF NMR STRUCTURAL STUDIES ON A FAMILY OF MEMBRANE ACTIVE CHANNEL FORMING PEPTIDES
Temporary stock market bubbles: further evidence from Germany

Within the framework of rational bubbles the authors examine the existence of temporary bubbles in the German equity market between 1973 and 2014. Moreover, the bubbles are distinguished between rational price bubbles and intrinsic bubbles that arise from overreaction to fundamentals. Over the last 40 years, four prolonged periods are identified with sharp price increases in the stock market that were not matched by appropriate earnings rises. The “dotcom” boom and the run-up to the 1987 stock market crash are well documented in the literature and the empirical findings support the existence of bubbles during these periods in the German stock market. While the “dotcom” exuberance indicates a rational and an intrinsic bubble, there is only evidence of an intrinsic bubble before the 1987 crash. Furthermore, the researchers are the first to report another rational bubble process between 2009 and 2011 that has not been documented in the literature before and was followed by a 32% fall in the DAX index. However, there is no statistical evidence of a temporary bubble in the German stock market today (March 2013-March 2014). The findings might help portfolio managers to avoid investing into financial bubbles and enable central banks to counteract bubbles at an early stage by tightening monetary policy.
Interactions between hawkmoths and flowering plants in East Africa: polyphagy and evolutionary specialization in an ecological context

Hawkmoths (Lepidoptera, Sphingidae) are considered important pollinators in tropical regions, but the frequency and degree of reciprocal specialization of interactions between hawkmoths and flowers remain poorly understood. Detailed observations at two sites in Kenya over a two-year period indicate that adult hawkmoths are routinely polyphagous and opportunistic, regardless of their proboscis length. About 700 individuals of 13 hawkmoth species were observed visiting a wide range of plant species at the study sites, including 25 taxa that appear to be specifically adapted for pollination by hawkmoths. We estimate that 277 plant species in Kenya (c. 4.61% of the total angiosperm flora) are adapted for pollination by hawkmoths. Floral tube lengths of these plants have a bimodal distribution, reflecting the existence of two hawkmoth guilds differing in tongue length. Hawkmoths exhibited strongly crepuscular foraging patterns with activity confined to a 20-min period at dusk and, in some cases, a similar period just before dawn. Corolla tube length appears to act as a mechanical filter as the longest-tubed plants were visited by the fewest hawkmoth species and these were exclusively from the long-tongued guild. Tube length showed a strong positive relationship with nectar volume, even after phylogenetic correction, which implies that plants with long corolla tubes are under selection to offer relatively large amounts of nectar to entice visits by polyphagous long-tongued hawkmoths. Our study shows that diffusely co-evolved pollination systems involving long-tongued hawkmoths are clearly asymmetrical, with plants exhibiting a high degree of floral specialization, while hawkmoths exhibit polyphagous behaviour. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, 110, 199–213.
Influence of body size on fecundity and sperm management in the parasitoid wasp Anisopteromalus calandrae

A large body size is considered to be advantageous to the reproductive success of females as a result of several factors, such as the allocation of more resources to reproduction and the efficient management of sperm transferred by males. In the present study, the effects of female body size, female mating status and additional food availability on fecundity and the offspring sex ratio are investigated in the parasitoid wasp Anisopteromalus calandrae Howard (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae). Because of haplodiploid sex determination, females must fertilize eggs to produce female offspring but not to produce male offspring. As predicted, female fecundity and the number of female offspring are positively correlated with body size. However, although the volume of the spermatheca increases with female body size, the amount of sperm stored in the spermatheca is relatively constant, irrespective of body size. Consequently, larger females produce a greater proportion of male offspring, especially at the end of the oviposition sequence, suggesting that larger females that possess more resources for reproduction and produce a larger number of offspring are more likely to suffer sperm depletion. The results of the present study also show that mated females have an increased fecundity compared with virgin females, although the opportunity to feed on honey along with host feeding has no impact upon fecundity or the sex ratio.
Analysis of propolis: some parameters and procedures for chemical quality control

SUMMARYA set of parameters and respective procedures for the establishment of chemical profiles of samples of tinctures and crude propolis is presented. It is proposed that estimations of the content of total phenolic substances, flavonoids, waxes, ash, volatile substances and dry residue be used as parameters to characterize samples of crude propolis. For tinctures, the estimations of total phenolic substances, flavonoids, waxes, specific gravity and ethanol are proposed. Total phenolic substances and flavonoids are measured by spectrophotometric methods, waxes gravimetrically and ethanol by gas chromatography. The accuracy of the spectrophotometric procedures was tested by assaying a mixture with a known composition of phenolic acids and flavonoids. The use of the procedures is exemplified by the analyses of six samples of crude propolis from different localities in Brazil and of tinctures prepared with absolute and 70% aqueous ethanol. The contents of total phenolic substances, flavonoids, waxes and vo.
Influences of ecology and biogeography on shaping the distributions of cryptic species: three bat tales in Iberia

To determine what shapes the distributions of cryptic species, we aimed to unravel ecological niches and geographical distributions of three cryptic bat species complexes in Iberia, Plecotus auritus/begognae, Myotis mystacinus/alcathoe and Eptesicus serotinus/isabellinus (with 44, 69, 66, 27, 121 and 216 records, respectively), considering ecological interactions and biogeographical patterns. Species distribution models (SDMs) were built using a presence-only technique (Maxent), incorporating genetically identified species records with environmental variables (climate, habitat, topography). The most relevant variables for each species’ distribution and respective response curves were then determined. SDMs for each species were overlapped to assess the contact zones within each complex. Niche analyses were performed using niche metrics and spatial principal component analyses to study niche overlap and breadth. The Plecotus complex showed a parapatric distribution, although having similar biogeographical affinities (Eurosiberian), possibly explained by competitive exclusion. The Myotis complex also showed Eurosiberian affinities, with high overlap between niches and distribution, suggesting resource partitioning between species. Finally, E. serotinus was associated with Eurosiberian areas, while E. isabellinus occurred in Mediterranean areas, suggesting possible competition in their restricted contact zone. This study highlights the relevance of considering potential ecological interactions between similarly ecological species when assessing species distributions. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 112,150–162.
Gynoecium Patterning in Arabidopsis: A Basic Plan behind a Complex Structure

The Arabidopsis gynoecium consists of two congenitally fused carpels that, at maturity, form a bilocular chamber protecting the ovules and placentae produced by the meristematic regions of the carpel margins. This meristematic region also gives rise to a style capped with stigmatic papillae at the apical end of the developing gynoecia and a transmitting tract that connects the stigma to the ovule-bearing chambers. Most data point towards a common evolutionary origin of leaves and carpels and suggest that leaves can be transformed to carpels by expressing only a few carpel identity genes. In this review, we have therefore approached the carpels from the leaf-like organ hidden within by stressing the parallels between leaf and carpel development. Many of the genes with a role in leaf development were first identified by the effect their mutations cause in carpel development, suggesting that the regulatory networks may be more robust in leaves than in the more complex and evolutionary younger carpels. Similar genetic networks ensure the maintenance of adaxial-abaxial, proximal-distal and medial-lateral dichotomies in leaves and carpels. Data have emerged showing that crosstalk and redundancies are characteristics of these pathways, as well as a general interplay of hormonal balances, with auxin as a major morphogen.
Arabidopsis : a laboratory manual

Chapter 1: How to grow Arabidopsis Chapter 2: Obtaining mutants Chapter 3: Genetic analysis of mutants Chapter 4: How to analyze a mutant phenotypically Chapter 5: How to transform Arabidopsis Chapter 6: How to isolate a gene defined by a mutation Chapter 7: How to study gene expression Chapter 8: How to study gene function Appendix 1: Where to find information on Arabidopsis Appendix 2: Critical chi-squared values Appendix 3: Cautions Appendix 4: Suppliers
Genomic Alterations in Experimental Endometrial Adenocarcinoma

Endometrial adenocarcinoma (EAC) is the most common form of malignancy in the female genital tract, ranking as the fourth leading form of invasive tumors that affect women. The BDII inbred rat strain has been used as a powerful tumor model in studies of the genetic background of EAC. Females from the BDII strain are prone to develop tumors with an incidence of more than 90%. Development of EAC in BDII female rats has similarities in pathogenesis, histopathological, and molecular properties to that of human, and thus represents a unique model for analysis of EAC tumorigenesis and for comparative studies in human EACs. In a previous study, a set of rat EAC cell lines derived from tumors developed in female crossprogenies between BDII and nonsusceptible rat strains were analyzed by spectral karyotyping (SKY). Here we present an analysis with specific focus on the impact of different genetic backgrounds on the rate and occurrence of genetic aberrations in experimental tumors using data presented in the previous report. We could reveal that the ploidy state, and the abundance and type of structural as well as numerical change differed between the two genetic setups. We have also identified chromosomes harboring aberrations independent of genetic input from the nonsusceptible strains, which provide valuable information for the identification of the genes involved in the development of EAC in the BDII model as well as in human endometrial tumors. (C) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Mécanismes moléculaires de tolérance des plantes aux xénobiotiques : application à la phytoremédiation des hydrocarbures aromatiques polycycliques (HAPs)

L'ingenierie ecologique a permis l'emergence de nouvelles technologies telles que la phytoremediation, une approche de depollution des sols basee sur l'utilisation des plantes. Cependant, jusqu'a present, les mecanismes physiologiques et moleculaires qui controlent la degradation des polluants organiques, en particulier les HAPs, restent tres mal documentes chez les plantes superieures. Dans ce travail, une approche integrative et un profilage trancriptomique a l'echelle du genome entier ont permis d'etudier les premiers evenements moleculaires impliques dans la reponse, chez les plantes, a un stress provoque par le phenanthrene. Un reseau de genes susceptibles d'intervenir dans la perception, la degradation et/ou la transformation des HAPs en molecules moins dangereuses a ainsi ete identifie. D'autre part, nous avons pu montrer que le saccharose induit une tolerance a ce polluant, qui se traduit (i) par une activite transcriptionnelle tres rapide, ce qui suggere un effet signaletique, (ii) une reconfiguration importante a l'echelle transcriptionnelle du genome exprime, qui conduit a une mise en place des voies metaboliques de production d'energie, de detoxification et de reparation cellulaire. Parallelement, un site pilote de depollution a ete concu et mis en œuvre, en exploitant les donnees obtenues au laboratoire. Cette experimentation, sur deux ans, nous a permis de comparer l'efficacite de plusieurs especes vegetales mais aussi de tester l'effet protecteur du saccharose in-situ. Malgre l'obtention de resultats contrastes, cette etude confirme l'incidence de la nature des especes vegetales et des pratiques culturales sur l'efficacite de cette methode de depollution. Elle souligne egalement le role important de l'interaction plante-microorganismes du sol.
Microsatellite markers for Crocodylus: new genetic tools for population genetics, mating system studies and forensics

Questions of population identification and gene flow have become more important in the conservation and management of crocodilians. Additionally there has long been an interest in understanding crocodilian mating systems. To address such questions we designed nuclear microsatellite markers from the DNA of C. acutus, C. porosus and C. johnstoni. We report on the development and testing of 26 new microsatellite loci for Crocodylus spp. , which represent the first microsatellite loci found in Crocodylus.