Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improving canopy variables estimation from remote sensing data by exploiting ancillary information. Case study on sugar beet canopies

Etude appliquee au cas de la betterave sucriere. En principe, la resolution du probleme inverse permet l'estimation de la valeur des variables du couvert a partir de donnees de teledetection. Les valeurs estimees peuvent etre significativement modifiees par les incertitudes liees au modele inverse ainsi qu'aux mesures. Des informations supplementaires caracterisant le couvert vegetal sont necessaires pour ameliorer la precision des estimations. Un algorithme permettant l'exploitation a la fois de l'information de nature radiometrique et d'informations supplementaires a ete teste pour estimer le LAI, le contenu en chlorophylle des feuilles et du couvert, le contenu en eau des feuilles et du couvert, et la fraction de couverture. Differentes hypotheses d'information supplementaire ont permis de montrer que la teledetection des valeurs des variables du couvert doit etre mise en relation avec d'autres sources d'information afin d'ameliorer les estimations.
Morphometric change, distribution, and habitat use of Cook Strait giant weta (Deinacrida rugosa: Orthoptera: Anastostomatidae) after translocation to Matiu-Somes Island

Giant weta (Orthoptera: Anostostomatidae) are large flightless New Zealand insects in the genus Deinacrida. They usually survive in the absence of introduced rats and many have now been transferred to islands and areas after rodent eradications. One such transfer of the Cook Strait giant weta, D. rugosa was made from Mana Island to Matiu-Somes Island in 1996 and we investigated the sex ratio, morphometrics, growth, distribution, habitat use, nocturnal activity pattern and incidence of natural injury in February, May, September and December 2007 and February 2008. Most weta found were adults (82%), more adult females (74%) were seen than males but more male juveniles (61%) were seen than females. Weta from Matiu-Somes Island had slightly longer metatibiae than those from Mana Island. Cohorts of different-sized insects become larger in most successive samples indicating a 2-year development period following eclosion. Adults were always present but were most frequently seen in February when the smallest juveniles were also found, and large juveniles were common in September and December. Weta have spread throughout the island but were abundant over the northern half of the island with few found at the southern end. Adults and large juveniles were usually found on or near the ground whereas small juveniles were above ground on vegetation. Most adult weta were seen during the fi rst two hours of darkness in February on the ground or on short grass, and only five were on bushes. Overall, 22% of adults were injured, usually with damaged antennae or legs. Cook Strait giant weta are now so well established on Matiu-Somes Island that we consider this translocation a success.
Munnopsidid isopod attracted to bait in the DISCOL area, Pacific Ocean

An isopod of the subfamily Bathyopsurinae (Munnopsididae) was photographed approaching a bait in 4185 m depth in the Peru Basin (South Pacific) three days after lowering. Judging from the characters and the geographic distribution of the four known species of the Bathyopsurinae, the specimen may belong to the genus Paropsurus. Whereas most species of the Munnopsididae are believed to be detritivorous, the images suggest that this specimen is attracted to the bait.
Use of amino acid composition to investigate settling and resuspension of a spring bloom in the southern Skagerrak

Short‐term changes in amino acid composition of near‐bed particulate flux were studied at an upper shelf location in the southern Skagerrak, 55 m deep. Sediment trap samples were collected with a 3‐d sampling interval from late April to late June 1992. A high settling rate (85 g m−2 d−1) was intercepted in May, coinciding with high shear velocity and settling of fresh phytoplankton. During the peak in the settling rate, a decrease in the mole percentage of glycine was noticed. At the end of June, smaller peaks of high flux corresponded to periods of increased shear velocity; during this time, the amino acid composition did not change. A Q‐mode factor analysis on the amino acid variation of collected particles showed a relation between certain samples consisting of fresh phytoplankton material. If organic carbon is compared to the shear velocity, the related phytoplankton samples had a positive correlation, whereas the more degraded samples had a negative correlation. The observed patterns suggest a coupling between food web dynamics and particle composition on the one hand and availability of benthic fluff at the sediment surface on the other. The length of the period affected by fresh material could be sorted out by using the amino acid composition and be made comparable to samples influenced by more degraded material.
Quantitative trait loci underlying hatching weight and growth traits in an F2 intercross between two strains of Japanese quail

A three-generation resource population was developed using two distinct Japanese quail strains, wild and white, to map quantitative trait loci underlying hatching weight and growth traits. Eight pairs of white and wild birds were crossed reciprocally and 34 F1 birds were produced. The F1 birds were intercrossed to generate 422 F2 offspring. All of the animals from three generations (472 birds) were genotyped for eight microsatellite markers on chromosome 1. Liveweight data from hatch to 5 weeks of age were collected on the F2 birds. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis was conducted applying the line-cross model and the least-squares interval mapping approach. The results indicated QTL affecting hatching weight and several growth related traits on chromosome 1. The F2 phenotypic variance explained by the detected additive QTL effects ranged from 1.0 to 3.7 for different traits. Modelling both additive and dominance QTL effects revealed additional QTL with significant dominance mode of action affecting pre-slaughter weight. However, there was no evidence for imprinting (parent-of-origin) effects. The variance due to the reciprocal cross effect ranged between 3.0 and 19.1% for weight at 1 week of age and hatching weight, respectively.
The Importance of Survey Timing on Shorebird Density Estimates at East Bay, Nunavut, Canada

Abstract. Accurate estimates of population size and trends are often necessary for wildlife conservation, but imperfect and variable rates of detection can lead to substantially biased counts during surveys. The influence of survey timing relative to timing of breeding on the counts recorded for five shorebird species during transect surveys at East Bay, Nunavut, Canada, from 2000 to 2010 was examined. Transect counts varied widely among species and years, and transect counts were most strongly predicted by the density of nests found during more intensive surveys. However, after accounting for this variation, survey counts were influenced substantially by survey timing. Surveys carried out shortly after the median date of nest initiation (∼2 days after) corresponded most closely to the densities of found nests, and if surveys were not within several days of the median date, the discrepancy between the two estimates was large. Although neither nest densities nor transect surveys are believed to be a perfect indication of local population status, these results suggest that the nearly inevitable variation in survey timing could introduce substantial bias into density estimates.
Ants that associate with Lycaeninae butterfly larvae: diversity, ecology and biogeography

Field data on associations of butterfly larvae with ants were collated for 435 species of the subfamily Lycaeninae to analyse patterns in the identity, diversity and ecology of attendant ants. Worldwide, members of at least fifty‐three ant genera from six subfamilies associate with Lycaeninae larvae. All these ant genera also forage for other liquid carbohydrate food sources. Species of Crematogaster and Camponotus constitute by far the most important ant associates of Lycaeninae larvae. Diversity of butterfly–ant associations, as measured by Hurlbert rarefaction, is highest in the Oriental, Australian and Nearctic faunal regions, and lower in Africa and the Palaearctic. The Neotropical region could not be assessed separately due to paucity of data. Multiple regression analyses revealed that the number of Lycaeninae species associated with a particular ant genus in a facultatively mutualistic manner is largely determined by the ecological prevalence and geographical distribution, but does not correlate with species richness, of an ant genus. This opportunism is suggested to be the key variable supporting the geographically and taxonomically widespread occurrence of ant–caterpillar mutualism in the Lycaeninae. Obligate interactions are much more specific and almost exclusively involve ecologically dominant ants with long‐lived colonies. Neither species richness nor geographical distribution of an ant genus are significant predictors. In such associations, the role of ants shifts from visitors to hosts, and patterns of host use and specificity resemble those known from inquiline ant guests.
Micropropagation through somatic embryogenesis of Cyclamen persicum Mill. genotypes for cut flower production - feasibility study.

1Institute of Floriculture and Woody Plant Science, Leibniz Universitaet Hannover, Herrenhaeuser str. 2, D-30419 Hannover, Germany, *Fax: + 49 511 762 3608, *E-mail: traud.winkelmann@zier.uni-hannover.de 2Department of Ornamental Plants, Faculty of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Warsaw University of Life Science, 159 Nowoursynowska str. , 02-776 Warsaw, Poland 3Saxon State Office for Environment, Agriculture and Geology, Department of Horticulture, Dresden-Pillnitz, Soebrigener str. 3a, 01326 Dresden, Germany
Characterization of leukemia - associated minor histocompatibility antigens as targets in anti-leukemic immunotherapy.

This thesis describes the characterization and identification of CTL-defined leukemia-associated minor histocompatibility antigens (mHAg) for the development of novel cellular immunotherapeutic approaches to successfully treat patients with relapsed hematopoietic malignancies after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT). Previously, a leukemia-associated mHAg, HB-1, was identified. Expression analysis showed restricted HB-1 gene expression in B-ALL and Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B cells. Therefore, additional studies were conducted to provide information regarding its potency as a T cell target for cellular immunotherapy. Experimental data indicated that mHAg HB-1 can induce bi-directional CTL responses. Furthermore, TCR-specificity analysis of HB-1 peptide variant-specific CTL revealed that differential recognition o is the result of TCR discrimination. In addition, the potential use of the HB-1 antigen as an autologous T cell target for immunotherapy was investigated. In vitro CTL induction experiments resulted in the generation of autologous cytotoxic and helper T cell responses against the HB-1 antigen. Furthermore, a novel human mHAg, LRH-1, was molecular identified. The immunogenicity for LRH-1 is due to differential protein expression between recipient and donor as a result of a homozygous frameshift polymorphism in the P2X5 gene. Expression analysis of P2X5 showed selective expression in leukemic and normal CD34+ progenitor cells, lymphoid cells, lymphoid tissues and in tumor cells from all stages of lymphoid development. Furthermore, a clear correlation between the emergence of CTL and complete remission of the CML was demonstrated. mHAg HB-1 and LRH-1 represent potent antigens to induce specific GVL reactivity in a significant number of patients in the setting of mHAg-based immunotherapy. The studies described in this thesis provide novel insights and perspectives in mHAg immunobiology. In the future, this knowledge provides a solid basis for the development of specific cellular immunotherapeutic strategies to successfully treat patients with relapsed hematopoietic malignancies after allogeneic SCT
The homozygosity verification for doubled haploid Japanese flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus , by microsatellite DNA markers

A total of 845 doubled haploids Japanese flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus from three spawns were produced by utilizing hydrostatic pressure treatments on eggs fertilized with ultraviolet (UV)-irradiated sperm of red sea bream ( Pagrus major ). 481 polymorphic microsatellite markers were used to identify the homozygosity of these doubled haploids, of which, only 31% (265 out of 845) individuals were fully homozygous at all loci tested, while, the rest 580 offspring were homozygous at 183 to 320 loci. Additionally, the embryonic development and external morphology of doubled haploids were also observed and recorded. The whole process of embryonic development was divided into 19 stages based on the morphological characteristics of the developing embryo. Hatching took place 73 to 74 h after fertilization. The means of body weight, body length and body depth in 360 days old fishes were always small in doubled haploids and large in normal diploids, but, the standard deviations and coefficients of variation of doubled haploids were significantly higher than those of normal diploids. Keywords: Doubled haploids, gynogenesis, Japanese flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus
Growth-dependent recruitment of Pacific bluefin tuna Thunnus orientalis in the northwestern Pacific Ocean

To estimate the survival process of Pacific bluefin tuna Thunnus orientalis during the larval period, estimated growth histories were compared between larvae collected in late spring and juveniles collected in the boreal summer of 2004, which were considered to be survivors of the larval cohorts. Larval tuna (3.3 to 9.6 mm standard length, SL) were collected from mid-May to early June around the Ryukyu Islands, northwestern Pacific Ocean, and juvenile tuna were collected offshore of Kochi and Nagasaki prefectures in July-August. Preflexion, flexion and postflexion larvae were col- lected, and their ages ranged from 4 to 18 d. Back-calculated SLs by the biological intercept method showed that larval tuna in the postflexion phase were larger-at-age than preflexion and flexion larvae, suggesting that only larger and faster growing larvae were able to survive to the postflexion phase. The logarithms of otolith radii (ln OR: proportional to SL) of larvae with slower growth and development were smaller than the minimum ln OR of surviving juvenile tuna, which indicated the smallest possible size required for larvae to successfully recruit to the fishery. These results indicate that the survival of larvae of Pacific bluefin tuna depends largely on size and growth rates during early life history.
An example of segregation between age and sex classes only weakly related to habitat use in mouflon sheep (Ovis gmelini)

Sexual segregation reported in many wild ruminants is generally assumed to result from either different habitat choices by adult males and females or ‘social factors’. In this framework, we studied group composition and habitat use of mouflon sheep (Ovis gmelini) over an annual cycle in the low-mountain range of Caroux-Espinouse (continental France). The analysis of group composition revealed segregation outside the rut, not only between the sexes, but also between the young (2-3 years) and old rams ( 4 years). Moreover, ewes, young rams, and old rams exhibited some differences in patterns of habitat use in the mid-rutting and lambing seasons, but showed similar patterns in winter and summer. These results, juxtaposed with those of studies of interactions and proximity between individuals within groups, suggest that segregation between age-sex classes has a strong social basis in mouflon sheep.
Coproduction of thermostable amylase and beta-galactosidase enzymes by Geobacillus stearothermophilus SAB-40: aplication of Plackett-Burman design to evaluate culture requirements affecting enzyme production.

: A locally isolated thermophile, Geobacillus sp. SAB-40, producing thermostable extracellular amylase constitutively and an induced intracellular beta-galactosidase was characterized and identified based on 16S rRNA sequencing. A phylogenetic analysis then revealed its closeness to Geobacillus stearothermophilus. To evaluate the effect of the culture conditions on the coproduction of both enzymes by G. stearothermophilus SAB-40, a Plackett-Burman fractional factorial design was applied to determine the impact of twenty variables. Among the tested variables, CaCl2, the incubation time, MgSO4.7H2O, and tryptone were found to be the most significant for encouraging amylase production. Lactose was found to promote beta-galactosidase production, whereas starch had a significantly negative effect on lactase production. Based on a statistical analysis, a preoptimized medium attained the maximum production of amylase and beta-galactosidase at 23.29 U/ml/min and 12,958 U/mg biomass, respectively, which was 3- and 2-fold higher than the yield of amylase and lactase obtained with the basal medium, respectively.
Proprotein convertases as therapeutic targets

Background: Limited endoproteolysis of precursor proteins is a common mechanism of production of functional proteins and peptides. In the secretory pathway of eukaryotic cells, this endoproteolysis is principally mediated by a family of calcium-dependent serine proteases, generically known as proprotein convertases. Altered expression of these enzymes in experimental animal models and in humans has been associated with numerous pathologies, including infertility, developmental defects, metabolic dysfunctions, cancer, cardiovascular diseases and infectious diseases. Objective: To review experimental evidence of the therapeutic potential of proprotein convertase inhibitors or silencers. Conclusions: Several potent inhibitors have been developed and successfully tested. Their therapeutic use must await further improvements in potency, selectivity, cellular delivery and tissue targeting.
Spread of the introduced species Laurencia caduciramulosa (Rhodomelaceae, Rhodophyta) to the northwest Atlantic: A morphological and molecular analysis

Introduction of species is a common problem in marine environments; marine macroalgae in particular have been reported to be introduced in all oceans, mainly through transport in ballast water, ship fouling and aquarium trade. The majority of the reported alien seaweeds belong to the Rhodophyta. Recently several species of the Laurencia complex have been reported, contributing to an increase of the number of red algae being successfully introduced. Since its description as a new species from Vietnam in 1997, Laurencia caduciramulosa has been spreading steadily with disjunct reports consistently finding specimens close to harbors or major ports. Biscayne Bay, Florida, home to one of the largest ports in USA, and surrounded by the Miami metropolis, is prone to receiving introduced species. This study reports the first introduction of L. caduciramulosa in Biscayne Bay, and its spread to the NW Atlantic. Morphological analysis demonstrated that the specimens collected in Crandon Park, Biscayne Bay, are similar to other specimens of the same species described for Vietnam (original description), Brazil, the Canary Islands and Cuba. Furthermore, molecular analysis using chloroplast-encoded rbc L DNA sequences corroborated the morphological identification. The phylogenetic results suggested that populations in Brazil, Canary Islands and Cuba are recent introductions, while the position of the Florida clade can be interpreted as a distinct and earlier introduction. Due to the level of expertise and knowledge of the Laurencia complex available, we suggest that in the future this group can be used as a model to conduct population genetics analysis of all described introductions in relation to native populations in order to describe patterns of expansion and provide an insight of marine invasions processes.
Characterization of Hematopoietic Transcription Factor Complexes in Erythroid Cells

textabstractEfficient tagging methodologies are an integral aspect of protein complex characterization by proteomic approaches. Due to biotin’s very high affinity for avidin and streptavidin, biotinylation tagging offers an attractive approach for the efficient purification of protein complexes. The very high affinity of the biotin/(strept)avidin system also offers the potential for the single-step capture of lower abundance protein complexes, such as transcription factor complexes. The identification of short peptide tags that are efficiently biotinylated by the bacterial BirA biotin ligase, led to an approach for the single-step purification of transcription factor complexes by specific in vivo biotinylation tagging. A short sequence tag fused Nterminally to the transcription factor of interest is very efficiently biotinylated by BirA co-expressed in the same cells, as was demonstrated by the tagging of the essential hematopoietic transcription factor GATA-1. The direct binding to streptavidin of biotinylated GATA-1 in nuclear extracts resulted in the single-step capture of the tagged factor and associated proteins, which were eluted and identified by mass spectrometry. This led to the characterization of several distinct GATA1 complexes with other transcription factors and chromatin remodeling co-factors, which are involved in activation and repression of gene targets. Thus, BirA-mediated tagging is an efficient approach for the direct capture and characterization of transcription factor complexes.
Functional biomolecules of Antarctic stromatolitic and endolithic cyanobacterial communities

For activity and survival in extreme terrestrial Antarctic habitats, lithobiontic cyanobacteria depend on key biomolecules for protection against environmental stress and for optimization of growth conditions. Their ability to synthesize such molecules is central to their pioneering characteristics and major role as primary producers in Antarctic desert habitats. Pigmentation is especially important in protecting them against enhanced UVB damage during stratospheric ozone depletion (the Ozone Hole) during the Antarctic spring and subsequent photoinhibition in the intense insolation of the summer. To be effective, especially for the screening of highly shade-adapted photosystems of cyanobacteria, protective pigments need to be located strategically. Antarctic lithic cyanobacterial communities are therefore stratified, as in soil biofilms of Alexander Island, the benthic stromatolitic mats of ice-covered hypersaline lakes in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, and the endolithic communities within translucent Beacon s.