Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Apparent survival, territory turnover and site fidelity rates in Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis populations close to the northern range limit

ABSTRACT Capsule: Mark–recapture data suggest low apparent survival and sex- and population-specific site fidelity and territory turnover in adult Northern Goshawks Accipiter gentilis breeding in northern Europe. Aims: To understand how species cope with global environmental change requires knowledge of variation in population demographic rates, especially from populations close to the species’ northern range limit and from keystone species such as raptors. We analyse apparent survival and breeding dispersal propensity of adult Northern Goshawks breeding in northern Europe. Methods: We used long-term mark–recapture data from two populations in Finland, northern Europe, and Cormack–Jolly–Seber models and binomial generalized linear models to investigate sex- and population-specific variation in apparent survival, territory turnover and site fidelity. Results: We report low apparent survival (53–72%) of breeding adult Goshawks. Breeding dispersal propensity was higher in females than males, especially in northern Finland, contrasting with previous studies that suggest high site fidelity in both sexes. Conclusion: Low apparent survival in females may be mainly due to permanent emigration outside the study areas, whereas in males the survival rate may truly be low. Both demographic aspects may be driven by the combination of sex-specific roles related to breeding and difficult environmental conditions prevailing in northern latitudes during the non-breeding season.
Agrobacterium-Mediated Insect Resistance Gene (cry1Aa) Transfer Studies Pertaining to Antibiotic Sensitivity on Cultured Tissues of Broccoli

ABSTRACT Successful plant transformation requires an efficient regeneration protocol and a suitable selection method. A genetically engineered, disarmed Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain containing a binary vector pBin-1Aa with cry1Aa (insect resistance) and npt-II (neomycin phosphotransferase-II) genes was used for genetic transformation studies. Effects of antibiotics kanamycin and cefotaxime were studied to determine the aptness of kanamycin resistance as a selectable marker and for cefotaxime in controlling excessive bacterial growth during genetic transformation studies using cultured hypocotyl, cotyledon, leaf, and petiole tissues of Broccoli (Brassica oleracea L var. italica). Leaf and petiole explants exhibited decreased fresh weight as kanamycin concentration increased, resulting in full or partial inhibition of shoot regeneration. A significant or nonsignificant negative correlation occurred between kanamycin concentration and explant fresh weight over the time. Cefotaxime had little effect on regeneration potential. Growth of Agrobacterium cells was controlled at a concentration of 400 mg·L−1 cefotaxime in explants, and maximum putative transgenic shoot regeneration in explants of hypocotyls (44.88%) and cotyledons (36.29%) was obtained on MS (Murashige and Skoog)-selective shoot regeneration medium. Polymerase chain reaction analysis of genomic DNA using specifically designed primers detected the presence of the cryIAa and npt-II genes in kanamycin-resistant broccoli plantlets. Of five randomly selected putative transgenic shoots, three were positive for presence/integration of cryIAa and npt-II genes during T-DNA transfer and integration into the plant genome. Kanamycin and cefotaxime act as effective selective agents during genetic transformation pertaining to antibiotic sensitivity on cultured tissues of broccoli.
Biotype Formation and Sympatric Speciation in Aphids (Homoptera: Aphidinea)

Miiller, F. P. [Lab. Phyto-EntomoI . , BioI. Sect . , Univ . , DDR-2500 Rostock ] : Biotype For­ mation and Sympatric Speciation in Aphids (Homoptera : Aphidinea : Aphididae) . Ento­ mol. Gener. 1 0 (3 /4) : 1 6 1 1 8 1 ; Stuttgart 1 9 8 5 . [Article ] . Biotypes accomplish genetic variation within aphid populations and may be good for the first step of evolutionary divergence without spatial separation of incipient species , i e by sympatric speciation . Following J ermy's theory of sequential evolution mutational changes in host selection represent enough reproductive isolation for sympatric speciation . The author reports on his experimental work on hybridization experiments with closely related aphids species including host races (or biotypes) which occur in the same habitat close together on various species of host plants . The experiments reveal prezygotic and postzygotic reproductive isolation mechanisms even between closely related host alter­ nating aphid species , the sexuales of which meet each year on a mutual primary host .
On Effective Biodiversity Conservation, Sustainability of Bioeconomy, and Honesty of the Finnish Forest Policy

All material supplied via JYX is protected by copyright and other intellectual property rights, and duplication or sale of all or part of any of the repository collections is not permitted, except that material may be duplicated by you for your research use or educational purposes in electronic or print form. You must obtain permission for any other use. Electronic or print copies may not be offered, whether for sale or otherwise to anyone who is not an authorised user. On effective biodiversity conservation, sustainability of bioeconomy, and honesty of the Finnish forest policy Kotiaho, Janne Sakari
A comparative study of ecophysiological traits of the invasive species Lemna minuta Kunth and the native Lemna minor Linnaeus

Chapter 1 General introduction 3 Chapter 2 A comparative study of the nutrient responses of the invasive duckweed Lemna minuta Kunth, and the native, co-generic species Lemna minor Linnaeus. 17 Chapter 3 The invasive duckweed Lemna minuta Kunth displays a different light utilisation strategy than native Lemna minor Linnaeus. 39 Chapter 4 A comparative study of the performance of Lemna minuta Kunth and Lemna minor Linnaeus in stressful environments; an alien species is not necessarily more stress-sensitive. 65 Chapter 5 Seasonal fluctuations, in the invasiveness of Lemna minuta Kunth and Azolla filiculoides Lamarck, relative to native L. minor Linnaeus, and their consequences for abundance in natural water bodies. 105 Chapter 6 Discussion 117
A multivariate morphometric study of Senecio paludosus(Compositae) in Central and Western Europe

Analysis of three quantitative and two qualitative morphological characters. Three taxa within Senecio paludosus are recognized: subsp. paludosus (north and east part of the area), subsp. angustifolius (west and south parth of it) and subsp. lanatus (a few localities in central part of it). There are found some transitionl between them.
Identification of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitory and antioxidant peptides in a whey protein concentrate hydrolysate produced at semi‐pilot scale

Summary Antioxidant and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptides were identified in a 5 kDa ultrafiltration permeate of a whey protein hydrolysate generated at semi-pilot scale. Further laboratory scale ultrafiltration of this 5 kDa permeate resulted in a 0.65 kDa permeate with antioxidant, (1.11 ± 0.074 μmol TE per mg dry weight, oxygen radical absorbance capacity, ORAC) and ACE inhibitory (ACE IC50 0.215 ± 0.043 mg mL−1) activities. Semi-preparative (SP) reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) of the 0.65 kDa permeate resulted in a fraction (SP_F3) with a 4.4-fold increase in ORAC activity (4.83 ± 0.45 μmol TE mg dry weight) and a 1.3-fold increase in ACE inhibitory activity (84.35 ± 1.36% inhibition when assayed at 0.28 mg mL−1). Peptides within SP_F3 were identified using UPLC-ESI-MS/MS. Met-Pro-Ile had the highest ORAC activity (205.75 ± 12.08 μmol TE per mmol peptide) while Met-Ala-Ala and Val-Ala-Gly-Thr had the highest ACE inhibitory activities (IC50:515.50 ± 1.11 and 610.30 ± 2.41 μm, respectively).
ACTIVE AND PASSIVE IMMUNISATION AGAINST CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE DIARRHOEA AND COLITIS

SUMMARY Clostridium difficile, a Gram-positive bacterium, is the major cause of hospital-acquired infectious diarrhoea and colitis in industrialised nations. C. difficile colonisation results from antibiotic administration and subsequent loss of protection provided by intestinal flora. C. difficile-induced colitis is caused by the release of two exotoxins, toxin A and B. Host factors including advanced age, pre-existing severe illness and weakened immune defences predispose individuals to symptomatic infection. The generation of antibody responses to toxin A through natural exposure is associated with protection from disease. In addition, an inability to acquire immunity to toxin A puts individuals at risk for recurrent and/or severe disease. Immunological approaches for the management of this disease are being developed which could reduce the reliance on antibiotics for treatment and allow for re-establishment of the natural barrier provided by an intact commensal flora. An active vaccine and various immunotherapeutic strategies under evaluation may prove to be effective against severe or relapsing C. difficile infection.
Post-transcriptional modulation of Dscam1 enhances axonal growth in development and after injury

Injury to the adult central nervous systems (CNS) results in severe long-term disability because damaged CNS connections rarely regenerate. Although several axon regeneration regulators have been proposed, intrinsic regenerative mechanisms remain largely unexplored. Here, we use a Drosophila CNS injury model to identify a novel pro-regeneration signaling pathway. We conducted a genetic screen of approximately three hundred candidate genes and identified three strong inducers of axonal growth and regeneration: the Down Syndrome Cell Adhesion Molecule (Dscam1), the de-ubiquitinating enzyme Fat Facets (Faf)/Usp9x and the Jun N-Terminal Kinase (JNK) pathway transcription factor Kayak (Kay)/Fos. Genetic and biochemical analyses link these genes in a common signaling pathway whereby Faf stabilizes Dscam1 protein levels, by acting on the 3’-UTR of its mRNA, and Dscam1 acts upstream of the growth-promoting JNK signal. The mammalian homolog of Faf, Usp9x/FAM, shares both the regenerative and Dscam1 stabilizing activities, suggesting a conserved mechanism.
RELATIONSHIP OF PERIPHERAL BLOOD LYMPHOCYTES IMMUNE ALTERATION PHENOTYPE TO DISEASE ACTIVITY IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENTS.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disorder causing synovitis of diarthroidal joints in which activated T-lymphocytes has a prominent position in RA pathology and may be important in prediction of disease outcome. Objective: To evaluate cellular expression of certain activation marker on PBLs and their relevance to disease activity pattern of RA patients. Patients and methods: this study included forty six RA patients, seven patients with Osteo-arthritis (OA) and 10 apparently healthy individuals. The collection of our baseline data based on routine laboratory and clinical assessment of disease activity Score (DAS). Blood sample was taken from each subject in all groups, at the time of attendance. Lymphocytes were separated; slides were prepared fixed on charged slides, foiled, and kept at -20oC until assayed. CD3 and CD54 expression was detected using Immunocytochemistry staining, while CD71was detected using direct immunoflouresence staining. Results: The results of CD3 and CD54 revealed a statistically higher percentage of expression in rheumatoid arthritis patients when compared with that of the apparently healthy and OA control groups. The CD71 showed statistically significant higher expression in minimum disease activity group without any correlation with clinical and laboratory disease activity indices. Conclusions: we provide further evidence of a T-cell differentiation defect in RA, which could explain some of the well-characterized immunologic features of the disease but it is not related to the disease activity state.
Complete mitochondrial genome of the smallmouth hardyhead (Atherinosoma microstoma) and its phylogenetic position among the Atheriniform fishes

Abstract In this paper, I report the full mitochondrial genome sequence of the smallmouth hardyhead (Atherinosoma microstoma), an endemic marine fish from the shallow coastal waters of southeastern Australia. The mitogenome is 16,573 bp-long with the standard 37 genes all included, with a genomic structure typical of a vertebrate mitogenome. In order to confirm the phylogenetic position of this species, phylogenetic trees were inferred using a data set including publicly available 28 atherinomorph, nine percomorph, and two outgroup mitogenome sequences. The complete mitogenome data of A. microstoma reported here will be useful for further genetics, phylogeography, and phylogenetics studies involving this species.
Two new species in the annelid genus Stygocapitella (Orbiniida, Parergodrilidae) with comments on their biogeography

Many interstitial species with limited dispersal capacity are in fact complexes of cryptic species showing a seemingly cosmopolitan distribution. The interstitial annelid Stygocapitella subterranea (Orbiniida, Parergodrilidae) is such a complex with populations in Northern America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand and a tropical distribution gap. Herein we present new records of Stygocapitella from South Africa, which is morphologically substantially different from S. subterranea . Additionally, using specimens from both hemispheres and morphological, nuclear and mitochondrial data as well as principal component analyses and a newly developed measurement for morphological disparity we show furthermore that the cryptic species complex of S. subterranea is not as cryptic as assumed as the Australian populations are morphologically and genetically different from the European population. Hence, we herein describe two new species, S. minuta and S. australis , within this complex from the Southern hemisphere. Additionally, we assigned a neotype for S. subterranea . This increases numbers of species known for Stygocapitella from one to three and for Parergodrilidae from two to four. Moreover, our results support an origin of this species complex on the Southern hemisphere and that both the split of S. minuta from the other two and S. subterranea from S. australis was several tens of millions years ago. Hence, the distribution of this complex was not driven by recent events, but rather it represents a strong case of decelerated morphological evolution as only slight differences in the morphology could be observed after all.
Molecular data and distribution dynamics indicate a recent and incomplete separation of manakins species of the genus Antilophia (Aves: Pipridae) in response to Holocene climate change

To determine a hypothetical scenario that accounts for the diversification of the two species of the genus Antilophia, we conducted multilocus molecular comparisons and species distribution modeling for the two taxa, which have distinct male plumage coloration patterns and allopatric geographic distributions, despite the high degree of genetic similarity indicated by recent studies. Three mitochondrial and three nuclear fragments were analyzed. The results indicate clear differences in the genetic diversity of the two species, but with ample sharing of haplotypes in all the markers analyzed, reflecting the absence of reciprocal monophyly, presumably due to the relatively recent and still incomplete separation of the two species. The paleoclimatic distribution models, together with the observed genetic profile indicate a recent process of divergence by geographic isolation in the ancestral populations of the two species. This scenario coincides with the recent climatic events of the South American dry diagonal, which involves the gallery forests of the Cerrado biome and the cloud forest enclaves of the seasonal tropical dry forest of the Caatinga between the late Pleistocene and the mid Holocene.
The Recycling GTPase, RAB-10, Regulates Autophagy Flux in Caenorhabditis elegans

The recycling GTPase, RAB-10, regulates autophagy flux in Caenorhabditis elegans by Nicholas J. Palmisano Advisor: Dr. Alicia Meléndez Autophagy and endocytosis are two cellular pathways that are vital to cell growth and homeostasis. Autophagy is a dynamic and catabolic process involving the formation of a double-membrane vesicle called the autophagosome, which engulfs long-lived proteins and damaged organelles. Endocytosis involves the uptake of extracellular material into the cell through the formation of intracellular vesicles termed endosomes. Although both endocytosis and autophagy are interconnected processes, the extent to which endocytic proteins and/or compartments contribute to autophagy, and how these endocytic components do so, is still unknown. To improve our understanding of the connections that exist between autophagy and endocytosis, we conducted an RNAi screen for endocytic genes that altered GFP::LGG-1 expression and blocked tissue remodeling in daf-2/IIR mutants. The goal of this screen was to identify new or previously characterized endocytic genes that function in autophagy, further elucidate the mechanism by which these genes control autophagy, and enhance our understanding as to how distantly related processes are interconnected. daf-2 encodes the insulin-like receptor (IIR) and daf-2/IIR loss of function mutants have elevated levels of autophagy, measured by an increase in puncta labeled with the autophagosome reporter, GFP::LGG-1. RNAi-mediated knockdown of autophagy genes in daf-2/IIR mutants results in the formation of GFP::LGG-1-positive aggregates, exemplifying defects in autophagosome formation. Thus, using daf2/IIR loss of function mutants, we screened for endocytic genes that when depleted by RNAi, altered GFP::LGG-1 expression.
The complete mitochondrial genome of Paramesotriton chinensis (Caudata: Salamandridae) and phylogenetic studies of Paramesotriton

Abstract The complete mitochondrial genome of the Asian warty newt Paramesotriton chinensis was sequenced. The complete mitogenome of P. chinensis is a circular double-stranded DNA sequence that is 16,361 bp long and was biased toward A + T content at 61.3% (33.0% A, 28.3% T, 23.9% C, and 14.7% G). The complete mitogenome of P. chinensis consists of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), 1 ribosomal RNAs (16S rRNA), and 1 putative control region. This study presented the complete mitogenome of P. chinensis and provided essential and important DNA molecular data for further phylogenetic and evolutionary analysis for genus Paramesotriton.
Patterns of morphological and mitochondrial diversity in parapatric subspecies of the Thick-billed Grasswren (Amytornis modestus)

ABSTRACT Divergence is the first phase of speciation and is commonly thought to occur more readily in allopatric populations. Subspecies are populations that are divergent but generally retain the capacity to interbreed should they come into contact. Two subspecies of the Thick-billed Grasswren (Amytornis modestus) are divergent by 1.7% at the mitochondrial ND2 gene and were previously considered to be allopatric. In this study, we discovered that the subspecies were parapatric. We use a larger sample size than previous studies to examine variation in morphology and mitochondrial haplotype across the distribution of each subspecies and within the region of parapatry. The subspecies occurring to the west, Amytornis modestus indulkanna, had larger body size and longer and narrower bill than the subspecies occurring to the east, A. m. raglessi. Within the region of parapatry, females were morphologically similar to A. m. indulkanna but had eastern mitochondrial haplotypes while males had intermediate morphology and either eastern or western haplotypes. Additionally, haplotypes from the western mitochondrial clade were found in A. m. raglessi. These patterns of morphology and mitochondrial diversity reveal discordance within the region of parapatry and to the east. We suggest that the subspecies have undergone asymmetric expansion from west to east, made secondary contact, and are currently hybridising.
Zinc Solubilizing Bacterial Isolates from the Agricultural Fields of Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India

Zinc plays a pivotal role in physiological and biochemical functions of the plant. Both quantitative and qualitative yield of the plant is strongly dependent on this micronutrient. Supplementation of zinc in the form of synthetic fertilizer is proved to be inappropriate due to its unavailability to plants. This crisis can be prevented by the identification of rhizospheric micro- organisms which has the potential to transform various unavailable forms of the metal to available forms. In the present study about thirty five zinc solubilizing bacteria were isolated from eight different agricultural fields (banana, chilli, field bean, ground nut, maize, sugarcane, sorghum and tomato) in and around Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu. Five isolates were selected as best strains based on their solubilization efficacy in the qualitative estimation. The selected five isolates were identified using 16S rRNA as Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (ZSB-1), Mycobacterium brisbanense (ZSB-10), Enterobacter aerogenes (ZSB-13), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ZSB-22) and Xanthomonas retroflexus (ZSB-23). These strains were subjected to further studies such as quantitative estimation influence of the isolates on the pH of the medium and production of gluconic acid as well as IAA. Of the five bacterial isolates, Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed maximum solubilization of zinc in the broth and also maximum decrease in the pH from 7 to 3.3 and recorded highest IAA production. HPLC analysis of gluconic acid production by the selected isolates indicated their potential to solubilize zinc.
Exogenous Salicylic Acid-Mediated Physiological Responses and Improvement in Yield by Modulating Antioxidant Defense System of Wheat under Salinity

Present study investigates the regulatory roles of exogenous salicylic acid (SA) in physiology, antioxidant defense systems and yield of wheat under different salt stress condition. The experiment was conducted with two varieties i.e. BARIGom 21 and BARIGom 25 and ten salt stress treatments viz. control (without salt), SA (1 mMsalicylic acid), S50 (50 mMsalt stress), S50+SA (50 mMsalt stress with 1 mMSA), S100 (100 mMsalt stress), S100+SA (100 mMsalt stress with 1 mMSA), S150 (150 mMsalt stress), S150+SA (150 mMsalt stress with 1 mMSA), S200 (200 mMsalt stress) and S200+SA (200 mMsalt stress with 1 mMSA). Leaf relative water content (RWC) and chlorophyll (chl) content reduced due to salt stress. The malondialdelyde (MDA) and H 2 O 2 were increased under the stress condition. The ascorbate (AsA) content, reduced glutathione (GSH) and GSH/GSSG ratio were reduced by salt stresses (50, 100, 150 and 200 mM, respectively). But the glutathione disulfide (GSSG) amount increased with an increase in the all level of salinity. The ascorbate peroxidase (APX), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) and catalase (CAT) activities showed a significant reduction in response to salt stress but CAT increased only at 100 mM stress condition. The glutathione S -transferase (GST) and glutathione reductase (GR) activity increased significantly with severe salt stress (200 mM). But the activity of peroxidase (POD) was decreased with increasing salinity level. At harvest, salt stresses reduced the effective tiller hill -1 , 1000 grain weight, grain yield, straw yield, biological yield and harvest index for both of varieties. However, number of non-effective tiller hill -1 significantly increased in response of salt stress. Exogenous 1 mM SA application with salt stress improved physiological parameters, yield and reduced oxidative damage in both cultivars whereBARI Gom 25 showed better tolerance. But, SA application could not improve physiological parameters and yield at extreme level of salt stress (200 mM).