Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Beyond the defaults: functional response parameter space and ecosystem-level fishing thresholds in dynamic food web model simulations

Dynamic food web models are increasingly used to investigate the ecosystem effects of fishing; however, key unknown functional response parameters describing predator-prey interactions strongly influence model behavior. We explored functional response parameter uncertainty and its effect on fishing simulation results using a dynamic food web model of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) with14 fishing fleets, 104 consumer groups, four primary producer groups, and five detritus pools. After generating millions of potential ecosystems with randomly selected functional response parameters, we assigned groups of these randomly parameterized systems to one of five increasingly intense ecosystem-wide fishing treatments. For each fishing treatment, we counted and compared resulting ecosystems with no extinctions. Surprisingly, the model GOA ecosystems were robust to a wide range of functional response parameters. However, we found an abrupt threshold effect between moderate and heavy exploitation rates, beyond which a much .
Varíola em suínos no Nordeste do Brasil

This article describes five outbreaks of swinepox in backyard pigs in Northeastern Brazil. It affected backyard pigs from herds of poor hygienic-sanitary conditions with severe fly and lice infestations. The morbidity ranged from 33.3 to 100% among affected herds, with mortality reaching up to 60%. The affected pigs developed multifocal to coalescent gray to white papules and blisters in the skin, with eventual eruptions, evolving to erosions and crusts. In addition to skin lesions, affected piglets presented apathy, anorexia and fever. The disease was auto-limiting, resolving within 15 to 25 days. Histological examination revealed proliferative and ulcerative vesiculopustular dermatitis with ballooning degeneration of epithelial cells, perivascular inflammatory infiltrates of lymphocytes, plasma cells, neutrophils, eosinophils and some macrophages in the dermis. Intracytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusions were consistently observed in keratinocytes. Total DNA extracted from fresh tissue fragments obtained from one outbreak and formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue from the other four outbreaks was submitted to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Swinepox virus (SWPV) and Vaccinia virus (VACV). Genetic SWPV material was identified by PCR in fresh material from one outbreak. Nucleotide sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the PCR amplicons (viral polymerase gene) demonstrated 100% homology with sequences from SWPV. All tissues were PCR negative for VACV. Swine poxvirus is present in backyard pigs in Northeastern Brazil, indicating the need of including SWPV in the differential diagnosis of dermatitis in pigs.
Early ontogeny of the spotted wolffish (Anarhichas minor Olafsen)

This study illustrates the embryo development of the spotted wolffish (Anarhichas minor Olafsen), an interesting candidate for cold-water aquaculture. The egg morphology (semitransparent, yellow-white with numerous oil droplets in the yolk), size (5.4–6.5 mm) and long embryogenesis (c. 800–1000 d°, depending on temperature) of A. minor are very similar to Anarhichas lupus. Cleavage is slow, and the first cell divisions take place at 12 h at 8°C. After 12 days the 2-mm embryo with the first somites is laid down and the blastopore starts closing. The fat globules in the yolk fuse into one after 22 days, and after 30 days eye pigmentation is noticeable. After 44 days, eye pigmentation is strong, the digestive tract folded and a green gall bladder can be noted in the now 11-mm-long embryo. One week later the blood is brightly red, the intestine is pigmented and the lower jaw is well developed. Premature hatching may occur from this stage. After 58 days vascularization of the yolk is complete, capillaries are noted in the fin fold, the first ray rudiments are established in the tail and pectoral fins, and the four gill arches are covered by the operculum. The preanal finfold is reduced after 72 days, stomach and gill filaments are formed, and six pigmented rows are noted on the 17-mm-long embryo body. After 86 days all fin rays are seen and the digestive tract is intensely pigmented and folded. Hatching (normal) starts after 110 days and may last for 2–3 weeks. Late embryos and early larvae of A. minor have more distinct bands of pigment along the body compared with the closely related A. lupus. An increase in both length and weight of the embryos in individual batches occurs during the hatching period.
Parallel evolutionary divergence in Arctic char Salvelinus alpinus complex from Transbaikalia: variation in differentiation degree and segregation of genetic diversity among sympatric forms

Despite the growing recognition of an important role of ecological speciation in evolution, the mechanisms driving sympatric divergence within a single population are not fully understood. We documented a series of parallel divergence events and tried to assess general regularities of the diversification of the ancestral gene pool. For that we analysed variation at microsatellite loci in populations of a highly polymorphic complex species Salvelinus alpinus from 14 Transbaikalian lakes, 10 of them hosting two or three forms: dwarf, small, and large. Our results suggest sympatric or parapatric origin of forms in all 10 lakes (in one lake, two forms out of three). Gene diversity and allelic richness of form populations are positively correlated with lake size and negatively correlated with modal length of mature fish, so that the dwarf form typically has the highest, and the large form, the lowest indices of genetic variation. The latter effect might be caused by differences in life histories, thus reflecti.
Additions to and revision of the South African echinoid fauna (Echinodermata: Echinoidea)

The last major taxonomic review of the South African Echinoidea was published in 1976 and there have been very few additions to the fauna since that time, although numerous unidentified samples have continued to accumulate in the Iziko South African Museum. This study documents all additions to the fauna reported since the late 1970s. Most of these derive from our examination and identification of specimens in the Iziko South African Museum collections. Also included, though, are new records reported via the EchinoMap Virtual Museum, those published in the non-taxonomic literature and those derived from taxonomic revisions. For each new record we present an image of the species, key references, a brief diagnosis and detailed locality records. These sources together have resulted in 19 additions to the regional echinoid fauna, raising the total number of echinoid species known from the South African Exclusive Economic Zone to 71.
Isolation and Characterization of Human scFv Molecules Specific for Recombinant Human Heat Shock Protein (HSP) 70.1

Background: The heat shock proteins (HSPs) play an important role in cellular protection mechanisms against physical or chemical stresses. In this study scFv antibodies specific for human HSP70.1 were isolated from a semi-synthetic human scFv library with the ultimate goal of developing anti-HSP70.1 intracellular antibody (intrabody) that may offer an attractive alternative to gene targeting to study the function of the protein in cells. Methods: A semi-synthetic human scFv display library ( size) was constructed using pCANTAB-5E vector and the selection of the library against bacterially expressed recombinant human HSP70.1 was attempted by panning. Results: Three positive clones specific for recombinant HSP70.1 were identified. All three clones used subgroup III. On the other hand, of two clones belonged to the kappa light chain subgroup I, but the other utilized subgroup IV Interestingly, these scFv molecules specifically reacted to the recombinant HSP70.1, yet failed to recognize native HSP70 induced in U937 human monocytic cells by heat treatment. Conclusion: Our results indicated that affinity selection of an scFv phage display library using recombinant antigens produced in E. coli might not guarantee the isolation of scFv antibody molecules specific for a native form of the antigen. Therefore, the source of target antigens needs to be chosen carefully in order to isolate biofunctional antibody molecules.
EFFICACY OF BACTERIAL AND FUNGAL BIOCONTROL AGENTS AS SEED TREATMENTS AGAINST FUSARIUM OXYSPORUM f. sp. LACTUCAE ON LETTUCE

Several antagonist strains of Pseudomonas spp. , including Pseudomonas putida, and Fusarium oxysporum were evaluated on seeds of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) cv. Crispilla Blanca as treatments against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae in comparison with standard chemical treatments and biological products available in commerce. Assessment of the efficacy of the seed treatments was done in vivo under controlled conditions in a glasshouse. Seed treatments with Pseudomonas strains showed in most cases a limited efficacy but were statistically comparable with those obtained by chemical treatments with Prochloraz and Thiram, in terms of infected plants and disease index. Seed treatments with Fusarium oxysporum strain MSA35 were slightly phytotoxic as they affected the germination rate of treated seeds. The efficacy of the tested seed treatments with biocontrol agents for controlling the pathogen was not totally satisfactory but amenable to improvements and combination with other strategies of seed sanitization.
Conservation Threat of Increasing Fire Frequencies in the Western Ghats, India

Abstract: The acceleration of processes such as forest fragmentation and forest fires in landscapes under intense human pressures makes it imperative to quantify and understand the effects of these processes on the conservation of biodiversity in these landscapes. We combined information from remote‐sensing imagery and ground maps of all fires in the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary (MWLS) in the Western Ghats of India over 14 years (1989–2002). These spatial data on fire occurrence were integrated with maps of vegetation types found in the MWLS to examine fire conditions in each. We calculated the average fire‐return interval for each of the vegetation types individually and for the MWLS as a whole. Using vegetation data from the larger Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and the entire Western Ghats region, we conservatively estimated fire‐frequency information for these larger regions. Because the MWLS does not contain tropical evergreen or montane forests, we were unable to estimate fire conditions in these forest types, which represent 31% of all Western Ghats vegetation cover. For the MWLS, all vegetation types had average fire‐return intervals of <7 years, and the sanctuary as a whole had a fire‐return interval of 3.3 years. Compared with a 13‐year MWLS fire data set from 1909–1921, this represents a threefold increase in fire frequency over the last 80 years. We estimated average fire‐return intervals of roughly 5 years for both the larger Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and the entire Western Ghats region. Given other recent reports, the estimated fire frequencies for the Western Ghats forests outside protected reserves are conservative. We conclude that the current fire regime of the Western Ghats poses a severe and persistent conservation threat to forests both within and outside protected reserves.
A Chiffchaff Phylloscopus c. collybita with mixed Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler Ph. trochilus song—genetic evidence

also reports of dead or injured birds as results of fights with other Bitterns (Percy 1932). L. Broberg has studied Bitterns during 50 years at Söderfjärden and at this site aggressive behaviour has been very rare. According to Broberg second year males are tolerated within the territory of a breeding male. My first observation was most likely a fight between two males since both birds were of the same size and the attacks very aggressive. The second observation may have involved a male and a female since the birds were much different in size. But if so, this observation is not in line with Percy’s statement that only territorial males fight each other. Since there is considerable size variation among males, it is hence likely that the second chase also involved two males. The fact that I saw two fights in 2000 but none in any previous year is probably explained by the higher number of individuals at the locality in this year. The locality is probably not very good for the Bittern since only one male has been recorded in any year before, and hence the competition for a good territory may have been particularly strong. The two observations of Bitterns passing over also indicate that the number of birds searching a territory in this year may have been unusually large.
NMR Conformational Analyses on (des-bromo) Neuropeptide B [1–23] and Neuropeptide W [1–23]: The Importance of α-helices, a Cation-π Interaction and a β-Turn

Abstract The preferred conformations of the orphan G-protein coupled receptor agonists (des-bromo) neuropeptide B [1–23] and neuropeptide W [1–23], referred to as NPB and NPW, have been determined by 1H NMR, CD, and molecular modeling. The sequences of NPB and NPW are WYKPAAGHSSYSVGRAAGLLSGL and WYKHVASPRYHTVGRAAGLLMGL, respectively. These are hypothalamic peptides that exert their biological actions on GPR7 and GPR8 receptors. Micellar solutions using the membrane mimetic, sodium dodecylsulphate-d25 (SDS), were used to mimic a physiological environment for the peptides. The secondary structure of NPB consists of a type II β-turn involving residues Lys3 to Ala6. The C-teminal region of NPB exists in a conformational equilibrium between different secondary structures, including an a-helix from residues Arg15 to Ser21, and a 310-helix from residues Ser12 to Ser21. The N-teminus of NPW exhibits a cation-π interaction between the Lys3 side chain and the quadrupole moment of the Trp1 indole group. At the C-temiinus of NPW, a well-defined α-helical conformation exists from Arg15 to Met21. As NPB and NPW have 91% sequence homology from residues Val13 to Leu23, with only residue 21 differing between the two peptides, the similar C-terminal secondary structures of these two peptides are consistent with the sequences. This is supported by the similar CD spectra. The different secondary structures at the N-termini for NPB and NPW point to the importance of the N-terminus in receptor binding. This is consistent with the work of Fujii et al. [J. Biol. Chem. 277, 34010–34016 (2002)] who observed that iodination of the NPB Tyr2 resulted in decreased agonistic activity at GPR7. In addition, Tanaka et al. [Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 100, 6251–6256 (2003)] showed that deletion of Tip1 from NPB or NPW drastically decreased activity at GPR7 for NPB and GPR7 and GPR8 for NPW. Therefore, we postulate that the N-terminus is involved in membrane recognition and receptor binding.
Understanding the Regulation of Body Weight: A Focus on Eating Patterns, Energy Intake, and Metabolic Rate

Abstract : The clinically observed eating pattern of gorging (eating fewer, larger meals later in the day) is ill defined in the literature and inconsistently linked to metabolic rate suppression and body composition. The purpose of this study was to further understand the relationship between gorging, metabolic rate, and body composition with a consideration of daily physical activity and purposeful exercise. Gorging was defined as two or fewer meals per day with at least seven hours between waking and the first meal for at least three days per week. It was hypothesized that gorgers would have 1) lower metabolic rates, 2) more body fat, 3) lower energy and higher fat intakes, and 4) more pathological eating attitudes than non-gorgers. Participants were 12 obese gorging (OG), 11 obese non-gorging (ON), 14 normal weight gorging (NG), and 14 normal weight non-gorging (NN; age-matched), non-smoking, otherwise healthy women. Metabolic testing included assessment of resting metabolic rate (RMR), active metabolic rate (AMR) while riding a stationary bicycle at a rate of 50 rpm and workload of 1kg, and dietary induced thermogenesis (DIT) where postprandial metabolic rate was assessed. Results were partially supported. Contrary to the first hypothesis, the eating pattern groups did not differ by RMR F(1,47) = 3.96, p = 0.05, AMR F(1, 47) = 2.03, p = 0.16, or DIT F(1, 47) = 0.40, p = 0.53 after covarying lean body mass. Lean body mass was the best predictor of metabolic rate accounting for 72% of the variance. These findings are limited by the small effect sizes for these analyses.
Density‐dependence of growth characteristics and maturation in stream‐dwelling resident brown trout, Salmo trutta, in Serbia

Breakpoints in both length and weight that represent the onset of first maturation, revealed that growth and maturation were correlated with density-related parameters in stream-dwelling resident brown trout, Salmo trutta L. , from nine different rivers in Serbia. The determination of density dependence of growth is not simple, as both river width and depth, as single variables of habitat and relative biomass, and density were not significantly correlated with breakpoints. The significant relationship between breakpoints and the mean weight of brown trout (xp) suggests that differences in breakpoints were inversely related to brown trout density. The implications of density dependence for management of streams holding resident brown trout are discussed.
SCHISTOSOMES OF NEPAL

Globally, digenetic trematodes called schistosomes (Family Schistosomatidae) have enormous public and veterinary health significance because they cause debilitating and chronic infections collectively called schistosomiasis. Schistosomes have a life cycle featuring a bird or mammal definitive host in which adult worms are found, and freshwater snail intermediate hosts in which larval stages are found and free-swimming cercariae are produced which infect the definitive host. Although schistosomes are known to be common in tropical and subtropical Asia, their presence in Nepal, a small south Asian country situated between India and China, was almost completely unknown at the beginning of this study. Consequently, from 2007-2014, we investigated the presence of schistosomes in and around Chitwan National Park (CNP) in the Terai and hilly regions of Nepal. We sampled both the dung of selected mammals for schistosome eggs, and screened 19,360 freshwater snails for cercariae of schistososmes. As reported in Chapter 2 and published in the Journal of Helminthology, because elephants are known hosts for schistosomes elsewhere, dung samples from both domestic and wild Indian elephants (Elephus maximus) were examined, and were found to be
Microsatellite paternity analysis on captive Lake Malawi cichlids supports reproductive isolation by direct mate choice

Three sympatrically occurring members of a cichlid fish species complex from Lake Malawi have previously been reported to show assortative mating in the field. Offspring from three experimental tanks each housing both sexes of all three members of this complex were screened at one to four microsatellite loci to determine paternity. Reproductive isolation was found to persist without exception under laboratory conditions, providing strong evidence for behavioural barriers to mating. Direct mate choice is suggested as the process preventing interbreeding. The results are interpreted with reference to the rapid and explosive evolution of the cichlid group.
Identification of an indole–triazole–amino acid conjugate as a highly effective antifungal agent

Compounds constructed by the grafting of amino acid and triazole with an indole moiety were synthesized and investigated for antifungal activities wherein one of the compounds gave highly promising results. Although the compound has a high MIC80 value in liquid medium, it shows significant antifungal activity against Candida albicans in solid plate assays. The compound is found to target chitin in the cell wall and lanosterol 14α-demethylase of the ergosterol biosynthesis pathway. The inhibitory effect of the compound becomes more pronounced in combination with azoles and CFW. The compound is also found to significantly affect chitin levels, cell morphology and cell viability in combination with ketoconazole.
Climate impacts on radial growth and vegetation activity of two co-existing Mediterranean pine species

Improved knowledge of the time scales at which drought stress mostly influences tree growth is crucial for the early detection of forest dieback. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of climate (temperature and precipitation) on vegetation activity (normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and enhanced vegetation index (EVI)) of Pinus halepensis Mill. and Pinus pinea L. mixed forest located in western Albania and to assess the drought impact (standardized precipitation index (SPI) and standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI)) calculated at different time scales (1–12 months) on radial growth (earlywood width, latewood width, and tree-ring width) and vegetation activity of these species. Both vegetation indices showed a negative response to August temperatures, and the EVI responded positively to September precipitation. NDVI and EVI were significantly affected by the SPI in spring and late summer. All tree-ring features in P. halepensis were positively related with EVI in August,.
Clarification of the Taxonomy of Bacillus mycoides

Because of the very similar physiological properties and base sequences of the 16S rRNAs of Bacillus cereus, Bacillus mycoides, and Bacillus thuringiensis, some taxonomists question the validity of separating these organisms into distinct species. DNA relatedness studies based on spectrophotometrically measured renaturation rates were carried out to determine the taxonomic relationships of the three species. A study of 58 strains revealed that the levels of relatedness between B. cereus and B. mycoides and between B. cereus and B. thuringiensis ranged from 22 to 44% and from 59 to 69%, respectively. On the basis of the moderately high levels of DNA relatedness which we determined, B. cereus and B. thuringiensis appeared to be genetically related but taxonomically distinct entities. The B. mycoides group was genetically distantly related to the B. cereus group and represented a separate taxon. Furthermore, our data indicated that the B. mycoides group consists of two genetically distinct groups, each of which represents a distinct species. In addition to rhizoidal colonial morphology and lack of motility, the B. mycoides group could be distinguished from B. cereus by differences in fatty acid profiles and acetanilide-producing activities.
Presence of a Na+-activated ATPase in the Plasma Membrane of the Marine Raphidophycean Heterosigma akashiwo

Isolement de membranes plasmiques hautement purifiees et d'une ATPase membranaire activee par les ions sodium dans les cellules de Heterosigma akashiwo. Deux formes intermediaires de l'ATPase sont detectees. La premiere forme est phosphorylee en presence d'ions sodium et magnesium et la seconde en presence d'ions magnesium uniquement. La signification physiologique de ces 2 sortes d'ATPases dans la membrane plasmique de cette algue marine est discutee