Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development and Characterization of Affinity- and Pseudo-affinity-based Methods for Cell Culture-derived Influenza Virus Capturing

Influenza is one of the most worldwide-spread diseases, which infects several million people every year. Besides antiviral medical treatments, prophylactic vaccinations are crucial for controlling seasonal influenza epidemics. Hence, every year large amounts of vaccine doses have to be produced. Conventionally, embryonated chicken eggs are used for human influenza vaccine production. However, this production process has only a limited scalability. In addition, these vaccines contain egg-derived proteins, which may cause allergic reactions. Hence, cell culture-based vaccine production processes have been developed, which require an adapted downstream processing strategy for virus purification. The scope of this dissertation was the development of affinityas well as pseudoaffinity-based chromatographic unit operations for the downstream processing of cell culture-derived influenza virus particles. Therefore, two major approaches were investigated: lectin-based affinity chromatography and sulphated cellulose matricesbased pseudo-affinity chromatography. In both fields membraneand bead-based techniques were considered and compared. Lectin affinity chromatography was developed first for the Madin Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell culture-derived human influenza virus A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1). This dissertation showed that the 1,3-galactose-specific Euonymus europaeus lectin (EEL), immobilized on polymer beads, is a suitable ligand for affinity purification of glycosylated viral envelope proteins such as the hemagglutinin. The dissociation of the virus-ligand complex was done by competitive elution with lactose. More than 90% of the influenza virus hemagglutination activity was recovered in the product fraction, while the majority of host cell proteins and nucleic acids were depleted. For chromatography, matrix selection plays an important role regarding purification efficiency. Therefore, different matrices for EEL as ligand were screened. These supports included stabilized reinforced cellulose membranes, polymer and porous glass particles, cellulose and agarose beads. Strong virus binding was achieved by EEL-modified cellulose membranes and polymer beads. Furthermore, reinforced cellulose membranes had a far better binding capacity than other tested adsorbents. To determine the general applicability of EEL-affinity chromatography, studies were extended for two other MDCK cell-derived influenza virus strains
Delineating hazardous material without touching — AEM mapping of Norwegian alum shale

Alum shale is a particular type of metamorphic clay that occurs in Cambro-Ordovician metasediment units throughout southern Scandinavia. Owing to its geochemical composition, it is considered a large environmental challenge in Norway (Endre and Sormo, 2015) and poses a significant site hazard for infrastructure projects (Endre, 2014). Swedish alum shale has such a high Uranium content, that is was mined as a Uranium ore during the mid-1900s (Dyni, 2006). Norwegian alum shale typically contains more than 15 g/kg sulphides and 60-200 mg/kg Uranium. It is consequently a source for radon gas posing a risk to human health. The sulphides oxidize to produce sulphuric acid with pH down to 2-1 once the shale is exposed to air and water, posing a hazard to concrete and metal constructions and the environment. Finally, the most critical geotechnical risk connected to alum shale is its intense swelling owing to oxidation that has damaged properties in the vicinity of building sites that exposed alum shale units and consequently initiated swelling. Prior knowledge of the existence and extent of this hazardous shale is consequently a major risk management factor for underground building activities in areas prone to alum shale. The state of practice for identifying alum shale and other acid producing black shales classified by the Norwegian Environment Agency (Endre and Sormo, 2015), is primarily based on geochemistry and an understanding of the local geology. Geochemical identification is based on the balance between acidification- and neutralisation potential (Pabst et al., 2016) the geological risk for projects in alum shale prone areas is consequently high. In the worst case, a project may have to be abandoned, for example if the excavated shale volume exceeds the capacity of special waste landfills in the area. Geophysical delineation can decrease the geological risk and increases the efficiency of detailed volume assessments. Since 2014, we have been studying how sulphide and uranium content of various black shale types relate to electrical properties. Sulphide-rich alum shale has very low resistivity (~0.1 Ωm) (Lysdahl et al., 2015) and a strong induced polarization signature (Lysdahl et al., 2016). In the following we show the relationship between geochemically classified shale types and resistivity measurements directly on drill cores as well as surface electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) data. Two case histories show black shale units even at depths exceeding 80 metres based on airborne electromagnetic (AEM) surveying. Here we only focus on resistivity, for further studies on the polarization behaviour of alum shale please see Bazin et al. (2015) and (2017).
Snare Removal for Conservation of Chimpanzees in the Kalinzu Forest Reserve, Uganda

While hunting of primates, particularly chimpanzees, is not common in Uganda, hunting of other forest mammals, such as duikers and bushpigs is known to occur. This hunting has an indirect impact on chimpanzees and other primates as most of the hunting in Uganda is done by setting snares or jaw traps. As chimpanzees walk through the forest, their hands or feet may become trapped in the snare made of metal wire
Role of serotonergic signaling in GABAA receptor phosphorylation and functional expression

γ-aminobutyric acid type-A (GABAA) receptors are heteropentameric ligand-gated chloride channels that mediate the majority of fast synaptic inhibition in the brain. Emerging evidence indicates that their functional expression is subject to dynamic modulation by phosphorylation. However, the cell signaling molecules responsible for regulating GABAA receptor phosphorylation and thus the efficacy of neuronal inhibition remain to be identified. The β subunits are of particular interest in this context as their intracellular domains contain conserved serine residues (S409 in β1, S410 in β2 and S408/9 in β3), known substrates for a number of protein kinases, including PKA and PKC. In vitro binding experiments showed that phosphorylation and/or mutation of these residues confers a reduction in binding of GABAA receptor β subunits to the μ2 adaptin of the clathrin adaptor protein (AP)-2 complex - a critical regulator of GABAA receptor endocytosis and surface number. Consistent with this, coimmunoprecipitation of AP2-μ2 adaptin with endogenous GABAA receptor β3 subunits was significantly reduced in cultured neurons treated with a potent inhibitor of S408/9 dephosphorylation that was accompanied by an increase in the stability of GABAA receptor β3 subunits at the cell surface. Interestingly, recent studies have implicated PKA and PKC in the mediation of serotonergic modulation of GABAA receptor activity in the prefrontal cortex, suggesting that phosphorylation of GABAA receptor β subunits may underlie this regulation. To address this, a phospho-specific antibody directed against β3 at S408/9 was developed. Immunoblotting with anti-pS408/9-β3 demonstrated a PKC-dependent increase in the phosphorylation state of GABAA receptor β3 subunits following enhanced 5-hydroxytryptamine type-2 (5-HT2) receptor activation ex vivo. Moreover, in vivo biochemical and immunohistochemical studies revealed region-specific increases in GABAA receptor β3 subunit phosphorylation in mice dosed with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) fluoxetine (Prozac™), a commonly prescribed antidepressant. Together, the results presented herein suggest that the phospho-dependent increase in GABAA receptor functional expression may underlie the therapeutic action of SSRIs.
Cellular responses to jasmonate in Arabidopsis roots

Higher plants respond to biotic and abiotic stress through activation of the JA pathway, which suppresses growth and activates defence. This project describes the expression and subcellualr localisation of two of the JA signalling proteins, and the mechanism of MeJA-mediated root growth inhibition. By using immunolocalisation and reporter gene expression, localisation of COI1 was shown at the subcellular and tissue level. Although COI1 was constitutively expressed in the root and shoot, increased expression of COI1 in MeJA-treated roots suggested that the COI1 gene and the COI1 protein were also regulated by the JA pathway. Co-localisation of COI1 and JAZ3 protein in the nucleus confirmed that the previously-reported interaction between COI1 and JAZ3 took place in the nucleus. To investigate the morphological basis of root growth inhibition by MeJA, time-lapse and still imaging by confocal microscopy was used to compare root growth parameters in untreated and MeJA-treated roots. MeJA inhibited root growth by reducing the number of dividing cells and rapidly-elongating cells, and causing earlier maturation of the elongating cells, so that they ceased elongating before reaching normal mature cell length. However, the rate of individual cell elongation was unaltered. The physiological basis of MeJA-mediated growth inhibition was investigated by examining the orientation of microtubules, acid efflux from the root elongation zone, and the effect of low water potential on root elongation. MeJA-treated roots had reduced acid efflux and water uptake in the elongating cells, while microtubule orientation was not required for the inhibitory effect. The crosstalk between JA, auxin, GA and ABA was studied by measuring the change of morphological growth parameters in mutants under different hormone treatment. The impaired MeJA-mediated growth inhibition in aux1 indicated that MeJA reduced root growth by altering auxin transportation. However, MeJA-mediated growth inhibition was DELLAand ABAindependent. In summary, MeJA reduced cell division by decreasing rate of mitosis, and inhibited cell elongation by reducing acid efflux, which reduced water uptake, possibly by regulating the auxin transportation, in the Arabidopsis root.
6 Growth Regulation by Insulin and TOR Signaling in Drosophila

Growth, defined as increase in mass, is a fundamental biological process that influences organism, tissue, and cell size. Thus, growth must be regulated to ensure that animals grow to optimal sizes and that their composite tissues are both appropriately sized and correctly proportioned. For example, if the heart were too small or the limbs too long, the circulatory system would fail. Likewise, although cell size can vary considerably, there are both minimum and maximum sizes at which individual cells will become nonviable or unable to perform their biological function. For example, neurons that are too small may fail to make the required connections, and differentiating cells that are too large may contact too many other cells and therefore receive multiple inductive signals. The observation that individuals of the same species and genotype tend to grow to a highly predictable size suggests that growth is under genetic control. However, growth and final body size are also influenced by external factors, including nutrient levels and temperature. Thus, growth is an essential process that is under genetic control and can be modulated in response to environmental influences. Tissue growth is accompanied by increases in cell size and/or cell number and/or the accumulation of extracellular matrix (e.g., accretion during bone growth). The term cell growth has been defined as an increase in cell mass and can be used to discuss the growth of unicellular organisms or cells in culture. However, during metazoan tissue growth, individual cells within growing tissues can actually become progressively smaller.
Experimental Studies on Lymphomatosis of Mice

Introduction Transmissible lymphomatosis of mice offers an excellent means of investigating problems connected with leukemia of men because the disease in man and in this rodent is essentially the same. The properties of the various strains of lymphomatosis used in these investigations differ so widely that it is advisable to describe each of the transmissible strains. In the transmission of leukemia advantage was taken of the observations of Murphy and his associates on the effect of x-rays in enhancing the susceptibility to transmissible tumors (1). It has been necessary to determine how x-rays affect susceptibility to lymphomatosis and influence the disease caused by transmission. Leukosis of chickens, like certain chicken tumors, is caused by a filterable agent. Previous workers have believed that trans-mission of lymphomatosis of guinea-pigs (2, 3) and mice (4) is dependent on the transfer of live lymphocytes. The disease in this respect resembles mammalian tumors. In view of the many difficulties of demonstrating the transmissibility of avian tumors and leukosis of fowls by cell-free material, the possibility of cell-free transmission of lymphomatosis of mice was thoroughly reinvestigated.
Revealing unexpected uses of space by wintering Aquila pomarina : how does satellite telemetry identify behaviour at different scales?

CITATION: Meyburg, B. , Mendelsohn, S. , Mendelsohn, J. & De Klerk, H.M. 2015. Revealing unexpected uses of space by wintering Aquila pomarina: How does satellite telemetry identify behaviour at different scales? Journal of Avian Biology, 46(6):648–657, doi:10.1111/jav.00670.
Genetic Variation and Relatedness of Freshwater Pearl Mussel Margaritifera margaritifera L. populations

The two papers presented in this thesis focus on population genetic study on freshwater pearl mussel populations in Sweden, using RAPD method. In paper I, I examine genetic variation within and between 5 populations in a single drainage area in south western Sweden. In paper II, I study the evolutionary relationship, and how genetic variation is related to population size, age structure and geographic isolation in 14 populations of freshwater pearl mussel in south central Sweden. In both papers I and II, I found that genetic variation was larger than found in previous studies using other techniques, and variation was larger between than within populations. I did not found any correlation between geographic and genetic distance, which indicates that mussel populations have been adapted locally to environmental factors in a relatively short time. In paper I, I found that genetic distance between populations was greater than found in other studies, despite small geographic distances. In paper II, I found that populations were highly differentiated indicating little gene flow between them. There was no significant positive relation between genetic variation and population size or age structure but there was a significant positive relation between mean age and population size indicating that many populations have gone through bottlenecks recently.
Pedagogical practices of lecturers in automotive mechanics in vocational training in Swaziland: three institutional case studies.

This thesis explores the pedagogical practices used by lecturers in vocational training programmes for automotive mechanic students in Swaziland. It seeks to determine the process which training institutions use to specialize students into automotive mechanics, the levels of practical abilities students acquire during training and how this can be analysed using existing theories for vocational training. The research involves case studies of three vocational institutions offering automotive mechanics as a specialization in Swaziland, with a focus on the first year of training. Evidence is obtained from semi-structured interviews with lecturers, observations of classroom and workshop activities and course documents, as well as other relevant documents, such as those from the directorate dealing with trade testing. The research is qualitative and follows the descriptive and interpretive research paradigm, using a combination of deductive and inductive reasoning to relate themes that arise from the data to existing theory and to allow new themes that emerge to be explored in their own terms. The research uses the framework for vocational pedagogy developed by Lucas, Spencer and Claxton (2012) as well as other tools found in the literature which facilitate analysis of the theoretical aspects of vocational pedagogy. Using a thematic analysis approach, the research found that lecturers typically relied on exploratory and demonstrative approaches in their lessons. Applying Lucas et al.’s (2012) conceptual framework of six desired vocational outcomes to the pedagogical practices observed in these lessons, the study found that the lecturers’ exploratory and demonstrative approaches focussed primarily on achieving the vocational outcome of routine expertise, while half of the lessons also addressed the vocational outcomes of resourcefulness and craftsmanship. Aspects of the vocational outcome of business-like attitudes were documented to a smaller extent, while the outcomes of wider skills for growth and functional literacies
Host range of Meloidogyne arenaria (Neal, 1889) Chitwood, 1949 (Nematoda: Meloidogynidae) in Spain.

Lopez-Perez, J. A. , M. Escuer, M.A. Diez-Rojo, L. Robertson, A. Piedra Buena, J. Lopez-Cepero, and A. Bello. 2011. Host range of Meloidogyne arenaria (Neal, 1889) Chitwood, 1949 (Nematoda: Meloidogynidae) in Spain. Nematropica 41:130-140. The distribution of Meloidogyne arenaria in Spain was revised and new samples collected from representative areas. Species and races of the populations were determined by morphometrics, differential host tests and SCAR-PCR. Meloidogyne arenaria was found most often in warm areas, but it can occur in Northern Spain in greenhouses. A total of 125 citations were found, corresponding to 45 different host plants, of which 41 new reports (32.8%) are from this study. The populations studied belong to race 2, which reproduces on tomato plants carrying the Mi gene, or race 3, which reproduces on both resistant pepper and tomato. The most frequent hosts were vegetables, fruit trees, tobacco, grapevine, and weeds. Lopez-Perez, J. A. , M. Escuer, M.A. Diez-Rojo, L. Robertson, A. Piedra Buena, J. Lopez-Cepero y A. Bello. 2011. Hospedadores de Meloidogyne arenaria (Neal, 1889) Chitwood, 1949 (Nematoda: Meloidogynidae) en Espana. Nematropica 41:130-140. Se reviso la distribucion de Meloidogyne arenaria en Espana y se estudiaron nuevas muestras tomadas de areas representativas. Para la determinacion de la especie y razas de las poblaciones se realizaron estudios morfometricos, ensayo de hospedadores diferenciales y SCAR-PCR. Meloidogyne arenaria muestra preferencia por areas termofilas, aunque puede encontrarse en el norte de Espana bajo invernadero. Se han encontrado un total de 125 citas, que corresponden a 45 plantas hospedadoras, de las cuales 41 (32.8 %) son citas nuevas. Las poblaciones estudiadas pertenecen a la raza 2, que parasita a tomates portadores del gen Mi, y a la raza 3, capaz de parasitar tanto a plantas de pimiento como de tomate resistentes. Los principales hospederos incluyen hortalizas, frutales, tabaco, vinedos y plantas adventicias.
A revision of the holarctic spider genus Callilepis (Araneae, Gnaphosidae)

The seven Nearctic and three Palaearctic species of Callilepis are diagnosed, described, and assigned to species groups. An attempt is made to reconstruct their phylogeny by a cladistic analysis of genitalic characters. Three new species (chisos, mumai, and gertschi) are described from the southwestern United States. Six specific names are newly synonymized: the American munda Chamberlin, femoralis Banks, and altitudonis Chamberlin with im becilla (Keyserling), pluto Banks, and eremella Chamberlin, respectively; the European wiehlei Bristowe with concolor Simon; and the Asian flavitarsis (Simon) and bipunctata Yaginuma, both with schuszteri (Herman). The female of gosoga Chamberlin and Gertsch is described for the first time. Callilepis grisea Banks is transferred to Eilicina.
The Microalgal Cell

Microalgae are a diverse collection of microorganisms that conduct oxygen-evolving photosynthesis. Their biochemical diversity includes production of a wide array of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins that are commercially valuable. Many produce several different morphologies, for example, flagellate, coccoid, and cyst stages. Many species are capable of sexual reproduction, some microalgae apparently having only asexual reproduction (e.g., Chlorella, Nannochloropsis). Algal ultrastructure is also diverse, paralleling their biochemical and physiological diversity. Many genomes of microalgae have been sequenced, and these are providing new insights into algal diversity. Genomic research has corroborated known endosymbiotic events and has revealed unknown, or cryptic, such events. Endosymbiosis has been a major factor in the production of algal diversity, and once it is better understood, this may be a practical means for producing new combinations of traits that have commercial application. The current state of algal taxonomy is summarized.
Tissue Culture Investigation of Elaeocarpus tuberculatus—a highly valued Rudraksha

The therapeutic, spiritual and ornamental attributes of E. tuberculatus (vern. Rudraksha, family Elaeocarpaceae) made it highly valuable species of South East Asian region especially Himalayas in India and the Nicobar Islands. Its propagation through seed vegetative propagation have not shown very encouraging results and being an endangered species, attempts are being made for its multiplication through tissue culture. In the present study, multiplication of shoots, through axillary bud proliferation of mature nodal explants has been tried.In vitro axillary bud proliferation occurred on MS medium supplemented with 0.5–1.0mg/l BAP and shoot multiplication cultures were maintained on MS medium supplemented with 0.5mg/l each of BAP and Kn.In vitro callus formation has been noticed on 2,4-D supplemented MS medium, which is being continued further to induce organogenesis.
Antifatigue Effect of Chlorella vulgaris in Mice

A unicellular algae, Chlorella vulgaris(CV), was used as a biological response modifier. The effect of CV on forced swimming test and blood biochemical parameters related to fatigue was investigated. Blood urea nitrogen(BUN); creatine kinase(CK); lactic dehydrogenase(LDH); glucose(Glc); total protein(TP); and albumin were determined. CV was orally administered to mice in the range of 0.05 to 0.15 g/kg/day. A forced swimming test results on 3 and 7 day after administration of CV, showed that immobility time was decreased in the CV-administered group(0.15 g/kg). In addition, the contents of BUN in the blood serum were decreased in CV-fed group. The contents of CK and LDH were tended to decrease, but not statistically significant. The plasma Glc level was increased in CV-fed groups(0.05 and 0.1 g/kg) compared to control group. It had no effect on the elevation of TP and albumin level. The results indicate that CV could improve physical stamina.