Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Endothelial cell-derived semaphorin 3A inhibits filopodia formation by blood vascular tip cells

: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A is a well-known major chemoattractant driver of angiogenesis–the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones. However, the repellent factors that fine-tune this angiogenic process remain poorly characterized. We investigated the expression and functional role of endothelial cell-derived semaphorin 3A (Sema3A) in retinal angiogenesis, using genetic mouse models. We found Sema3a mRNA expression in the ganglion cell layer and the presence of Sema3A protein on larger blood vessels and at the growing front of blood vessels in neonatal retinas. The Sema3A receptors neuropilin-1 and plexin-A1 were expressed by retinal blood vessels. To study the endothelial cell-specific role of Sema3A, we generated endothelial cell-specific Sema3A knockout mouse strains by constitutive or inducible vascular endothelial cadherin-Cre-mediated gene disruption. We found that in neonatal retinas of these mice, both the number and the length of tip cell filopodia were significantly increased and the leading edge growth pattern was irregular. Retinal explant experiments showed that recombinant Sema3A significantly decreased VEGF-A-induced filopodia formation. Endothelial cell-specific knockout of Sema3A had no impact on blood vessel density or skin vascular leakage in adult mice. These findings indicate that endothelial cell-derived Sema3A exerts repelling functions on VEGF-A-induced tip cell filopodia and that a lack of this signaling cannot be rescued by paracrine sources of Sema3A. ABSTRACT Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A is a well-known major chemoattractant driver of angiogenesis – the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones. However, the repellent factors that fine-tune this angiogenic process remain poorly characterized. We investigated the expression and functional role of endothelial cell-derived semaphorin 3A (Sema3A) in retinal angiogenesis, using genetic mouse models. We found Sema3a mRNA expression in the ganglion cell layer and the presence of Sema3A protein on larger blood vessels and at the growing front of blood vessels in neonatal retinas. The Sema3A receptors neuropilin-1 and plexin-A1 were expressed by retinal blood vessels. To study the endothelial cell-specific role of Sema3A, we generated endothelial cell-specific Sema3A knockout mouse strains by constitutive or inducible vascular endothelial cadherin-Cre-mediated gene disruption. We found that in neonatal retinas of these mice, both the number and the length of tip cell filopodiawere significantly increased and the leading edge growth pattern was irregular. Retinal explant experiments showed that recombinant Sema3A significantly decreased VEGF-A-induced filopodia formation. Endothelial cell-specific knockout of Sema3A had no impact on blood vessel density or skin vascular leakage in adult mice. These findings indicate that endothelial cell-derived Sema3A exerts repelling functions on VEGF-A-induced tip cell filopodia and that a lack of this signaling cannot be rescued by paracrine sources of Sema3A.
Nephelolejeunea pappilosa, a new liverwort species from New Zealand, with notes on the distribution of Kymatolejeunea bartlettii grolle

Abstract Nephelolejeunea pappilosa is described as a new species endemic to New Zealand. It is an epiphyll on the moss Dendroligotrichum dendroides. Further distribution records of Kymatolejeunea bartlettii, a species that shares the same host, are given.
Nest composition and worker relatedness in three slave‐making ants of the genus Rossomyrmex Arnoldi and their Proformica Ruzsky hosts (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Abstract In this paper, we analyze and compare nest composition and architecture as well as worker relatedness in three related species of slave‐making ants: Rossomyrmex anatolicus, R. minuchae, and R. quandratinodum. Colony structure within nests is an important trait in ants, especially in the case of mixed societies, when host and parasite coexist in the same nest. Data for their respective free‐living hosts, Proformica korbi, P. longiseta and P. sp. , are also provided. For our study, we integrated a meticulous excavation procedure with a genetic method. We conclude that the average number of parasites, as well as of slaves, is species‐specific, whereas nest depth depends on the nest architecture of the host. The genus Rossomyrmex seems to be monogynous and monandrous, whereas Proformica shows differences in the number of queens and mating frequency. R. quandratinodum shows different traits in nest composition (host/parasite ratio: P/R) and architecture. The difference in traits may account for some differences in parasitism: raid process or avoidance of parasitism.
Bacterial Recognition of Mineral Surfaces: Nanoscale Interactions Between Shewanella and α-FeOOH

Force microscopy has been used to quantitatively measure the infinitesimal forces that characterize interactions betweenShewanella oneidensis (a dissimilatory metal-reducing bacterium) and goethite (α-FeOOH), both commonly found in Earth near-surface environments. Force measurements with subnanonewton resolution were made in real time with living cells under aerobic and anaerobic solutions as a function of the distance, in nanometers, between a cell and the mineral surface. Energy values [in attojoules (10−18 joules)] derived from these measurements show that the affinity between S. oneidensis and goethite rapidly increases by two to five times under anaerobic conditions in which electron transfer from bacterium to mineral is expected. Specific signatures in the force curves suggest that a 150-kilodalton putative iron reductase is mobilized within the outer membrane of S. oneidensis and specifically interacts with the goethite surface to facilitate the electron transfer process.
Do Alternative Leaders Affect Fish Catch in Pound Nets at the Mouth of Chesapeake Bay

Abstract More than 60 stranded bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus exhibiting marks consistent with interactions with pound nets have been documented in the lower Chesapeake Bay since 1997. Given this high rate of bycatch, action is needed to mitigate bottlenose dolphin mortality. However, for any such modification to the pound net to be acceptable to fishers, a clear demonstration of no reduction in the targeted finfish catch will be required. Working with fishers, we evaluated the effect of an experimental pound net leader on finfish catch. The experimental leader entailed similar or greater catches of finfish than did the traditional leader. Further, catches of Batoidea (cownose ray Rhinoptera bonasus, bullnose ray Myliobatis freminvillei, southern stingray Dasyatis americana and Atlantic stingray D. sabina) and clearnose skates Raja eglanteria were reduced with the experimental leader. This example demonstrates that working with fishers to devise alternative harvest strategies can result in the imp.
Application of comparative genomics in chicken gene mapping

Abstract The NDRG4 gene is a member of the N‐myc downregulated gene family which belongs to the alpha/beta hydrolase superfamily. The protein encoded by this gene is a cytoplasmic protein that may be involved in the regulation of mitogenic signalling in vascular smooth muscle cells. To map this gene in the chicken chromosome, a 6000 rads chicken‐hamster radiation hybrid panel (ChickRh6) was used. primers were designed according to the published human sequence for amplification of the chicken NDRG4 gene by comparative genomics. We compared the corresponding human mRNa sequence with the predicted coding sequence of the chicken NDRG4 gene, and found that the assembled contig shared a high percentage of similarity with that of the human gene. PCR of samples from the ChickRh6 revealed the locations of the NDRG4 gene to be linked to the marker PARD6G (5 cR away) with a LOD score of 20.46. Our present results support the idea that the RH technique is indeed a powerful tool for mapping genes due to its rapidity, precision, convenience and reproducibility.
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms Provide Rapid and Accurate Estimates of the Proportions of U.S. and Canadian Chinook Salmon Caught in Yukon River Fisheries

Abstract As anadromous Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha bound for U.S. and Canadian spawning grounds migrate through the U.S. portion of the Yukon River, they are targeted by several fisheries. To fulfill treaty obligations between the two countries, fishery managers need to know what portion of fish caught in the United States are of Canadian origin. Allozyme markers have been used to assign individuals in mixed fishery samples to U.S. and Canadian portions of the Yukon River; however, these markers are limited by sampling difficulties and by the number of available loci. Microsatellite DNA markers have been considered as an alternative; however, microsatellite data are not readily transportable among laboratories or countries. Here we present the use of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers that combine the ease of sampling and large potential number of loci of other DNA markers with universally transportable data. Simulations and analyses of known fish suggest that the SNP baseline can be.
Rapid and coupled phenotypic and genetic divergence in Icelandic Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus)

Resource polymorphism has been proposed as an important phase of diversification and speciation in vertebrates. Studies of fish in young lakes of the Northern Hemisphere indicate variably advanced cases of adaptive trophic diversification. We have previously proposed a scheme describing this variation in terms of a gradient of resource-based polymorphic traits, emphasizing flexible behaviour in early phases and morphological divergence in more advanced phases. Here, we present data on Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) in Icelandic lakes exhibiting a variable degree of phenotypic and genotypic segregation. We show that (i) the morphs are at different levels of phenotypic segregation and reproductive isolation and in one case completely reproductively isolated, ( ii) morphs within lakes appear to be of intralacustrine origin, and ( iii) the morphological and genetic divergence of morphs is correlated, suggesting a role for trophic adaptation as a driving force in morph segregation.
Inhibited Oxidation of Lipids II: Comparison of the Antioxidative Properties of Some Hydroxy Derivatives of Benzoic and Cinnamic Acids

The antioxidative properies of p-hydroxy-benzole acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid, 3,4-dihydroxy-benzoic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, sinaptic acid and caffeic acid in lard autoxidation at 100 o C are compared. It is proved that the derivatives of the benzoic acid have weaker inhibiting properties than is the case of the corresponding analogues of the cinnamic acid due to the more active participation of the inhibitor in the elementary reactions of propagation and initiation of the radical chain process
Locality and Orchard Management Influence Fruit Quality of Low Temperature Stored Mangoes

To investigate the impact of locality and orchard management on fruit quality, ‘Samar Bahisht Chaunsa’ fruit harvested from two commercial orchards were stored at 11°C and 80%–85% RH for 4 weeks. Physical fruit quality, fruit rot, and disorders were not influenced by locality. However, at the ripe stage, fruit harvested from orchard-1 exhibited reduced respiration rate (5.84 mmole kg−1 h−1), higher peel color (3.35), pulp color (7.33), aroma (6.66), taste (7.33), flavor (7.33), SSC:TA ratio (139.1), reducing (4.06%), non-reducing (10.38%), and total sugar (14.99%) contents. In conclusion, quality of mango fruit following cold storage is significantly influenced by locality and orchard management.
Karyotypic Diversity of Some Freshwater Fish Species in Rural Ponds of Orissa, India

Study on chromosomes of fish has become a priority area of research in recent years. Chromosome analysis can be useful for addressing a variety of evolutionary and genetic questions about fishes. The global fish fauna consists of about 28,900 species of fishes of which 2,200 species are cytogenetically studied. India's contribution so far was around 220 species. Fish chromosome studies of freshwater fishes are further sporadic in Orissa. Therefore, the present study is proposed for a systematic cytogenetic investigation of some freshwater fishes of Orissa.Karyotypic study of 5 species namely Labeo fimbriatus (Fam. Cyprinidae), Puntius sophore (Fam. Cyprinidae), Osteobrama cotio cotio (Fam. Cyprinidae), Chanda nama (Fam. Chandidae), and, Xenentodon cancila (Fam. Benonidae) from rural ponds of Bhubaneswar, India, was carried out. The diploid chromosome number in Labeo fimbriatus was 50 with a chromosomal formula of 10m+10sm+30T (FN=70), Puntius sophore 2n=48, 2m+46T (FN=50), Osteobrama cotio cotio 2n=54, 10m+8sm+8st+28T (FN=72), Chanda nama 2n=50, 8m+6sm+10st+26T (FN=64) and Xenentodon cancila, 2n=48 with chromosomal formula of 22m+10sm+6st+10T (FN=80). The evolutionary significance of these karyotypes of 5 species has been discussed.
Mortality of Walleyes Angled from the Deep Waters of Rainy Lake, Minnesota

Abstract Existing models of hooking mortality for walleyes Sander vitreus in large polymictic lakes are inadequate for estimating the number of catch-and-release mortalities in deeper, stratified lakes where fish are predominantly caught from depths greater than 10 m. To improve the understanding of how water depth affects catch-and-release mortality, logistic regression was used to investigate how depth of capture, fish length, and epilimnetic water temperature affect hooking mortality rates. In 2006 and 2007, 319 walleyes were caught by anglers at 5.8–17.1-m depths during a total of 10 angling events (July–September) on Rainy Lake, Minnesota. Fish were released into holding cages that allowed them the opportunity to reestablish themselves at their depths of capture; survival was recorded after 5 d (2 d for one cage). After accounting for the effects of experimental handling time (i.e., the time between hook removal and fish placement in the holding cage), capture depth had the largest effect on mortalit.
Understanding the use of decision support tools by conservation professionals and their education and training needs: An application of the Reasoned Action Approach

Decision support tools (DSTs) are a means to facilitate science-based conservation planning. Technical advancements in conservation science, the pragmatic needs of conservation planning, and government support for collaborative initiatives such as the Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP), have contributed to evaluation and development of both existing and new DSTs. Much of current scholarship on DSTs, however, focuses on their uptake by farmers and their crop advisors. Limited, to almost no, attention has been paid to the education and training needs of conservation agency staff—the primary users of these tools. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted an online survey of staff in conservation agencies that are located in counties that either currently include or included a CEAP Watershed Assessment Study site. We found that agency staff did not use all DSTs, and not all DSTs we surveyed were equally popular with respect to their usage and awareness. The desired technical roles of DSTs included conservation targeting, watershed assessment and planning, and quantifying environmental and financial benefits of conservation practices. The desired stakeholder engagement roles of DSTs included facilitating engagement with watershed stakeholders, educating farmers about areas of concern in the watershed, and facilitating engagement with farmers one-on-one and in a group setting. By applying the Reasoned Action Approach framework, we found that DST users and nonusers are not only differently skilled, but also perceive barriers related to learning about and using DSTs differently. Taken together, our findings suggest the need for future research on establishing a deeper understanding of conservation agency staffs' skills, attitudes, perceived norms, behavioral limitations, and intentions toward using DSTs, in order to refine future training and education to better meet needs.
Métodos para controle de plantas exóticas invasoras

Especies exoticas invasoras sao uma das maiores ameacas a conservacao da biodiversidade e devem ser manejadas com base em metodos de controle adequados a condicoes ambientais locais ou regionais. Foram conduzidos experimentos de controle quimico de dez especies exoticas invasoras em Santa Catarina, incluindo as especies arboreas Casuarina equisetifolia, Hovenia dulcis, Psidium guajava, Syzygium cumini e Terminalia catappa, e as especies herbaceas Furcraea foetida, Hedychium coronarium, Impatiens walleriana, Rubus fruticosus e Tradescantia zebrina. Para especies arboreas foram utilizados metodos de corte do tronco, cortes intercalados e anelamento associados a aplicacao de herbicida e aspersao basal de herbicida. Ja para especies herbaceas foram utilizados a aspersao de herbicida em folhas e raizes, corte da parte aerea seguido de aplicacao de herbicida e injecao de herbicida. Os principios ativos testados foram Triclopir, Glifosato e Triclopir + Fluroxipir, em concentracoes que variaram de 2 a 6%. O controle de todas as especies arboreas foi eficaz com corte e aplicacao de herbicida nos tocos, enquanto os tratamentos de anelamento e cortes intercalados seguidos de aplicacao de herbicida e aspersao basal de herbicida apresentaram resultados de eficacia diferenciados entre as especies testadas. Para especies herbaceas, o metodo mais eficaz foi aspersao foliar de herbicida.
Role of allelopathy, heat and charred wood in the germination of chaparral herbs and suffrutescents

(1) Herbaceous and suffrutescent species are uncommon in mature chaparral but dominate after fire. Colonization is largely from dormant seeds in the soil. This study examined the role of allelopathic inhibitors and fire-related cues in the control of germination of species in the major life-history groups. (2) Herbaceous perennials are often dormant under the chaparral canopy and their presence in burnt areas is due to sprouts from bulbs or rhizomes. Their seeds germinated readily without any treatment and they were not inhibited by leachate from living Adenostoma fasciculatum foliage, but high temperatures were lethal to seeds of many species. (3) Suffrutescents are not present under the chaparral canopy and their presence in burnt areas is due entirely to seed. Their germination was stimulated by heat, or powdered charred wood, or both, although a portion of the seeds of some species germinated without treatment. (4) Opportunistic annuals have polymorphic seeds; a portion germinated readily whereas others germinated only after heat or charred wood treatment. The non-refractory seeds account for colonization into gaps in the canopy and the refractory portion accounts for their abundance immediately after a fire. Whether or not the non-refractory seeds are inhibited by allelopathic leachate from the A denostomafasciculatum canopy is equivocal; leachate did inhibit the germination of two of the twenty-two annual species investigated, but the germination of one-third of the species was stimulated by leachate. (5) Fire-annual species are largely restricted to recently burnt chaparral sites and the seeds of these species remain dormant in the soil between fires. There is little germination without cues relating to fire. Some species responded to heat but the highest germination was with the charred wood or heat plus charred wood treatments.
The influence of weather on habitat use by small mammals

Summer habitat use by three species of forest small mammals was determined using tracking stations Nocturnal weather influenced habitat selection by deer mice and woodland jumping mice but not by red-backed voles Deer mice used all habitats equally on clear nights but were most active in mixed forest on cloudy, rainless nights and most active in a coniferous habitat on rainy nights Jumping mice were most active in mixed forest on clear and rainy nights but shifted to coniferous forest on cloudy dry nights Red-backed voles were most active in the coniferous habitat regardless of weather Microhabitat references within habitats reflected the same preferences as habitat selection Microhabitat selection by jumping mice also changes with weather The mechanism most likely responsible for the observed habitat selection changes is changing insect abundance associated with cloud cover and rainfall
Evaluation of the quality attributes of wheat composite (wheat-cassava, wheat-plantain and wheat-rice) flours in bread making

Composite flour was produced with wheat and other crops like rice, plantain and cassava at 20% substitution. The flour mixes were evaluated for proximate, physico-chemical properties and sensory evaluation was carried out on bread samples produced from these mixes. The moisture contents of these flours ranged from 11.00 to 12.30%. Also, ash and crude fibre contents ranged from 1.03 to 1.50% and 0.70 to 1.17%, respectively. The protein content ranged between 9.30 - 10.90% with wheat- cassava flour mixes having the lowest while the sample with 100% wheat had the highest protein content. The fat content ranged from 1.50 to 1.93%. Water absorption capacity and pasting viscosity of the flours ranged from 59.50 to 66.60% and 466 to 893 RVU, respectively. The bulk density of the samples ranged between 0.48 and 0.88 g/ml while pH values ranged from 6.57 to 6.70. The sensory analysis reflected that bread produced from 100% wheat flour was much accepted by the panelists but the ratings were close indicating a probability at 20% substitution. Keywords: Bread, composite flour, proximate composition, physico-chemical properties, sensory evaluation. African Journal of Biotechnology , Vol 13(38) 3907-3911
Factors controlling in vitro development of sunflower embryos

Des embryons de tournesol (Helianthus annuus L.) âges de 3 jours a 14 jours a compter de la pollinisation ont ete cultives in vitro sur HD, une formulation du milieu de Murashige & Skoog etablie par Huff & Dybing (1980) et sur B5, le milieu de Gamborg (1968). Chacun des constituants de HD a tour a tour ete modifie de facon que HD et B5 soient identiques pour ce constituant. Des embryons representant la meme gamme de developpement ont alors ete mis en culture. Les embryons de moins de 2 mm et sans cotyledon developpe requierent une forte pression osmotique, assuree par la forte concentration en saccharose (9 p. 100) associee a une concentration en azote relativement peu elevee en comparaison pour se developper in vitro. La meilleure forme sous laquelle fournir l'azote n'a pu etre determinee. Les fortes concentrations en saccharose et inositol inhibent la formation de racines et les embryons doivent etre transferes sur un milieu d'enracinement avant la transplantation en serre. Seulement 10 a 20 p. 100 des petits embryons (moins de 2 mm au moment de la mise en culture) et au plus 59 p. 100 des gros embryons (plus de 2 mm au moment de la mise en culture) ont donne des plantes adultes a l'issue de la culture in vitro