Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
In Vitro Human Engineered Myocardium: A Study into both Pathological and Physiological Hypertrophy

The ability to generate cardiomyocytes from either embryonic stem cells or induced pluripotent stem cells provides an unprecedented opportunity to establish human in vitro models of cardiovascular disease as well as to develop platforms for the testing of novel cardiac therapeutics. We designed two different platforms, a biowire platform and post deflection platform, to generate engineered heart tissues (EHTs) to study a fundamental process in cardiomyocytes: hypertrophy. Both pathological and physiological hypertrophy was studied in order to garner a better understanding of each process. Physiological hypertrophy characteristics were observed using the biowire platform seen in improved myofibril alignment and downregulation of fetal genes. When electrical stimulation was added, a rate dependent effect on sarcomere maturation was observed by the increased frequency of I-bands and H-zones. Certain hallmark features of pathological hypertrophy, such as upregulation of brain natriuretic
Spectrum of Pollen Stored by Melipona mandacaia (Smith, 1863) (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Meliponini) in an Urban Arid Landscape

The objective of this study was to identify the species of pollen supplying plants that constitute the trophic niche of Melipona mandacaia in an urban area in the Caatinga domain (a tropical arid landscape). The collection of pollen in the colonies was carried out every 15 days, from October 2014 to September 2015. The pollen was removed directly from the storage pots in three distinct colonies. A total of 24 samples were analyzed and compared with the reference pollen collection, pollen catalogs and specialized literature. For the quantitative analysis, at least 1000 pollen grains per sample were identified. A total of 39 pollen types were identified, distributed in 17 botanical families, being one an indeterminate type. The most represented family was the Fabaceae (n = 16). The most frequent types were Leucaena leucocephala , Mimosa pudica and Melochia sp. There was a significant positive correlation between temperature and the number of pollen types throughout the study. Relative humidity and rainfall were abiotic variables that did not present a significant correlation. The rarefaction curve showed that probably most of the pollen types collected by the bees studied were sampled, since the accumulation curve showed a progressive tendency to stabilization, indicating that there was sample adequacy of the pollen types. The analysis of similarity revealed a high sharing of pollen sources between colonies.
Physiologie du coccolithophoridé Emiliania huxleyi en co-limitation de nutriments et de lumière

Les coccolithophorides sont des microalgues unicellulaires calcifiantes qui jouent un role important dans le cycle du carbone oceanique via leurs processus cellulaires de photosynthese (puits de CO2) et de calcification (source de CO2). L'espece la plus abondante dans l'ocean moderne est l'espece cosmopolite Emiliania huxleyi, qui est caracterisee par une forte tolerance a de larges gammes de temperature, d'irradiance et de concentrations en nutriments. La distribution d'E. huxleyi qui s'etend des regions subarctiques aux regions subequatoriales et des eaux eutrophes aux eaux oligotrophes en fait l'espece de coccolithophorides la plus etudiee jusqu'a present. Cependant, sa reponse physiologique a des conditions environnementales cles comme la co-limitation en lumiere et en nutriments reste peu etudiee, que ce soit in situ, ou ces conditions sont rencontrees dans les niches profondes de coccolithophorides des gyres oligotrophes, ou en laboratoire. J'ai ainsi realise des experiences de culture et une approche de modelisation numerique afin d'etudier la reponse physiologique d'E. huxleyi en conditions de limitation en nutriments et en lumiere, avec pour objectif d'ameliorer notre comprehension du controle environnemental des niches profondes de coccolithophorides.
Phylogeny of Hibiscus (Malvaceae) in Taiwan Based on Molecular Markers

By 2014, 10 Hibiscus species in Taiwan publications have been reported, including H. tiliaceus, H. surattensis, H. cannabinus, H. asper, H. syriacus, H. indicus, H. makinoi, H. taiwanensis, H. liu and H. panduriformis.These Hibiscus species are classified into four sections, sect. Azanzae, sect. Furcaria, sect. Hibiscus and sect. Venusti. In sect. Venusti, H. indicus, H. makinoi, H. taiwanensis and H. liu made a H. taiwanensis complex. In our study, we choose ITS, trnL-F and matK sequences to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships for Hibscus in Taiwan. Our results show that Hibiscus was paraphyly, because the genus Abelmoschus is nested within. Sect. Azanzae, sect. Furcaria, sect. Hibiscus and sect. Venusti was monophyletic group respectively. Accroding to our data, H. makinoi in the east of Taiwan and H. makinoi in Japan have close relationshiops. H. makinoi was misidentified as H. taiwanensis or H. mutabilis in past decades. In H. taiwanensis complex, H. makinoi and H. indicus could be distinguished by the shape of epicalyx lobes, distribution and molecular information. Our results does not support the H. liu to be a new species. Further data will be necessary to achieve a clearer understanding of phylogenetic relationships in H. taiwanensis. Keyword: Hibiscus, Hibiscus taiwanesis complex, Hibiscus makinoi, Hibiscus indicus, Phlogeny, ITS, trnL-F, matK
A Method for the Specific Detection of Phomopsis destruens in Sweet Potato by PCR

甘藷基腐病(foot rot)是由Phomopsis destruens所引起，為近年來台灣甘藷生產的主要限制因子之一。 目前P. destruens之鑑定仍依賴傳統方法，以病原菌之組織分離及形態特徵為主，不但耗時費力且成功分離出病原菌之比率不高。 本研究依據P. destruens之去氧核醣核酸的內轉錄區(internal transcribed spacer; ITS)序列設計專一性引子對，並利用聚合酶連鎖反應(polymerase chain reaction; PCR)建立甘藷基腐病菌之檢測技術。 結果顯示，本研究開發之檢測方法可專一性檢測P. destruens，且對經常可於甘藷塊根上分離之Lasiodiplodia theobrome (B2225)、Phomopsis sp. (Ph735)、Rhizopus sp. 、Athelia rolfsii (Sc-3)及Fusarium sp. (Fu245)等其他真菌並無誤檢反應。 此法之靈敏度可達1 ng之菌絲DNA，若利用巢式PCR (nested PCR)則靈敏度可提高至10 pg之菌絲DNA。 此外，本檢測方法亦可運用於分析受感染之甘藷莖部與塊根組織。 而此技術於感染植物組織之檢測成效良好，93%之受感染植物樣本可檢測出病原菌，相較於傳統鑑定法之38%，可大幅提升其檢測成功率。 此專一性PCR檢測法具有快速、專一性及靈敏度高之優點，未來可將此技術應用於檢測甘藷是否感染基腐病。
Carborane Analog of Dopamine D3 Receptor Antagonist Eticlopride

Dopamine, a small neurotransmitter released by the brain, plays a major role in the body’s reward and motivation systems. Dopamine interacts with a class of G-Protein coupled receptors – D1R through D5R – to propagate or mitigate the dopamine signaling effect. Specifically, D2R and D3R play a role in the perpetuation of cocaine addiction. Due to the high sequence similarities between D2R and D3R, it represents a major challenge to develop selective ligands for each type of receptor. Carboranes are neutral and lipophilic icosahedral clusters composed of BH and CH vertices with the general formula C2B10H12. The carborane moiety has been demonstrated to be bioisosteric to the phenyl group. It is robust, stable to metabolism, and is capable of forming multiple Hbonding interactions with the biological target. In this project we determined to justify the use of a carborane moiety in design of dopamine receptor ligands. The known D3R antagonist eticlopride combines the ethylpyrrolidinelmethyl moiety and substituted phenyl group via the amide linkage. Recently reported crystal structure of the D3 receptor with its antagonist eticlopride revealed a range of crucial interactions within the orthosteric binding site, the most important of which is a salt bridge between tertiary amine in the ethypyrrolidine ring and the carboxylate of Aspartic Acid. By keeping the ethylpyrrolidinemethyl moiety and replacing the phenyl group of eticlopride with the carborane, we prepared the first boron-containing analog of eticlopride. Our docking studies showed that carborane-containing eticlopride analog fits well within the orthosteric site. The biological tests showed that carborane analog displays improved selectivity towards the D3R as compared to eticlopride.
BAP1 deubiquitinase is a potent repressor of fetal hemoglobin biosynthesis

Human globin gene production transcriptionally “switches” from fetal to adult synthesis shortly after birth, and is controlled by macromolecular complexes that enhance or suppress transcription by cis-elements scattered throughout the locus. The DRED repressor is recruited to the ε- and γ-globin promoters by the orphan nuclear receptors TR2 (NR2C1) and TR4 (NR2C2) to engender their silencing in adult erythroid cells. Here we found that nuclear receptor corepressor-1 (NCoR1) is a critical component of DRED that acts as a scaffold to unite the DNA binding and epigenetic enzyme components (e.g. DNMT1 and LSD1) that elicit DRED function. We also describe a potent new regulator of γ-globin repression: the deubiquitinase BAP1 is a component of the repressor complex whose activity maintains NCoR1 at sites in the β-globin locus, and BAP1 inhibition in erythroid cells massively induces γ-globin synthesis. These data provide new mechanistic insights through the discovery of novel epigenetic enzymes that mediate γ-globin gene repression.
Analysis of genetic diversity and population structure of a worldwide collection of Corchorus olitorius L. germplasm using microsatellite markers

ABSTRACT Jute (Corchorus spp.) is the second most important global natural fiber crop after cotton. Analyses of the genetic diversity and population structure of the germplasm are useful for improving Corchorus breeding. Recently, limited studies on genetic diversity and population structure in jute have been carried out. In the present study, the genetic diversity and population structure of 453 accessions in Corchorus olitorius L. , including cultivars, landraces, genetic materials and wild germplasm, were analyzed using 39 SSR markers. The results showed that C. olitorius populations have moderate genetic diversity with an average gene diversity (he) value of 0.322 and polymorphic information content (PIC) value of 0.270 in all accessions. Regarding the geographic distribution, the average he and PIC values were highest in Kenya (0.332, 0.273), followed by Nepal (0.307, 0.259), and China (0.303, 0.253). Among the different germplasm types, the wild germplasm showed higher genetic diversity with an average he value of 0.362 and PIC value of 0.299. The population structure analysis revealed two populations, Pop1 and Pop2; Pop1 was further divided into three subpopulations, and Pop2 was further divided into two subpopulations. These populations were verified by FST statistics, principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) and neighbour-joining trees. This study contributes to the knowledge about levels and distribution of genetic diversity of C. olitorius worldwide and provides clues about the origin of C. olitorius.
Characterisation of the Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) from South Africa

Phylogenetic analyses based on the COI gene region, for 19 South African specimens of the fall armyworm (FAW), separated them into two well-supported clades. These clades indicated significant intraspecific variation and support the hypotheses that maize and rice strains of FAW are present in South Africa.
Yellow Squash and Zucchini Cultivar Evaluation in Georgia

Ten yellow squash (Cucurbita pepo) and nine zucchini (C. pepo) cultivars were evaluated in southwest Georgia during spring and fall growing seasons in 2014 and 2015. Plants were grown using plastic mulch and drip irrigation following standard production practices for squash in Georgia. Plants were harvested 10 to 13 times during each study season. Fruit were graded into fancy, medium, and culls. Virus pressure was low during the trials. For yellow squash yields, there were significant cultivar by season interactions; however, Solstice, a straightneck yellow squash, and Gentry, a crookneck cultivar, were consistently among the highest yielding yellow types. Despite having no documented virus resistance, ‘Gentry’ performed well during the fall season. However, ‘Precious II’, a yellow straightneck cultivar with the presence of the precocious yellow gene, experienced high cull rates in the fall due to virus effects on the fruit. There was a year by season by cultivar interaction for zucchini yield. Despite this interaction, ‘Respect’ was ranked among the highest yielding cultivars in all four seasons of the trial. Differences were also observed between seasons for yellow and zucchini squash, with fall yields generally being lower than those in the spring. The results of this study suggest significant differences in the adaptability of squash cultivars for spring and fall production in Georgia. In addition, virus resistance, while important, should not be the exclusive factor for determining cultivars for fall-planted squash in Georgia.
Antimicrobial activity and membrane interaction mechanism of the antimicrobial peptides derived from Rana chensinensis with short sequences

Abstract The antimicrobial peptide chensinin-1b is a potential therapeutic agent against bacterial infection, which was derived from chensinin-1, a naturally occurring antimicrobial peptide derived from Chinese brown frog Rana chensinensis. In a membrane environment, the NMR structure of chensinin-1b showed an α-helical segment between the residues Arg8 to Arg13. To characterize the relationship between the structure and activity of chensinin-1b, the α-helical segment was truncated from the whole sequence, and the new peptides P-1 and P-3 were obtained with sequences of HWRRFWHR and WRRFWHR, respectively. The peptides showed antimicrobial activities against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. To improve the antimicrobial activities of P-1 and P-3, histidine residues in the sequence were replaced by arginines to increase their cationicity, which enhanced the antimicrobial activities of the new analogs P-2 (RWRRFWRR) and P-4 (WRRFWRR) by approximately 4-fold. The helicity of the peptides was completely disrupted, and the peptides did not show the regular secondary structural conformations in a membrane environment. Membrane depolarization studies demonstrated that the four peptides exerted their antimicrobial effects by damaging the cytoplasmic membrane. Of these peptides, P-4 exhibited the strongest depolarization ability, which indicated a strong ability to permeabilize the outer membrane and damage the integrity of the cytoplasmic membrane. Dynamic-light-scattering experiments demonstrated that P-1, P-3 and P-4 could dissociate lipopolysaccharide (LPS) micelles, which indicated that the peptides were able to traverse the LPS leaflet. These data suggest that the peptide P-4 could be a promising molecule for the development of peptide antibiotics with short sequences.
The Effect of Hypothermic and Cryogenic Preservation on Engineered Neural Tissue

This study explored different approaches to preserve engineered neural tissue (EngNT), a stabilized, cellular collagen hydrogel containing columns of aligned Schwann cells for nervous system repair. The ability to preserve EngNT without disrupting cellular and extracellular components and structures is important for clinical translation and commercialization. Stabilized cellular gels and EngNT constructs were preserved under various conditions and cell survival assessed using live/dead microscopy and metabolic assay. Optimal survival was recorded in hypothermic (4°C) conditions for 2–3 days using Hibernate®-A media and, for longer-term cryogenic storage (liquid nitrogen), using a mixture of 60% Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium, 30% fetal bovine serum, and 10% dimethyl sulfoxide. Functionality and structure of preserved EngNT were assessed in coculture with dorsal root ganglion neurons, which indicated that alignment of Schwann cells and the ability of EngNT to support and guide neuronal regeneration were not disrupted. The identification of conditions that preserve EngNT will inform development of storage and transport methodologies to support clinical and commercial translation of this technology and other therapies based on cellular hydrogels.
Reduced Translocation is Associated with Antagonism of Glyphosate by Glufosinate in Giant Foxtail (Setaria faberi) and Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti)

Previous reports have underscored antagonism that may result from mixing glyphosate and glufosinate across a wide range of application rates and for various broadleaf and grass weed species, but no investigation has been conducted to characterize glyphosate absorption and translocation when combined with glufosinate. The objectives of this study were to evaluate herbicide efficacy and assess herbicide interaction and physiological response with combinations of glyphosate and glufosinate on common lambsquarters, velvetleaf, and giant foxtail. Greenhouse studies to determine interaction resulted in strong and persistent antagonism between glyphosate at 110 and 220 g ae ha-1 and glufosinate at 20 or 40 g ae ha-1 in giant foxtail, whereas only transient and reduced antagonism was noted for velvetleaf and common lambsquarters. Combining glyphosate and glufosinate increased the maximum absorption of glyphosate by 9% and 23% in velvetleaf and giant foxtail, respectively, compared with glyphosate alone. In velvetleaf, averaged over time, only 2.6% of the applied radioactivity translocated out of the treated leaf when glufosinate was mixed with glyphosate compared with 9.9% when glyphosate was applied alone. In giant foxtail, 21.6% of the [14C]glyphosate translocated out of the treated leaf when glufosinate was mixed with glyphosate compared with 52.4% when glyphosate was applied alone. Conversely, no change in the radioactive pattern of translocation was noted for common lambsquarters. These results suggest that reduced translocation of glyphosate is the physiological mechanism responsible for the antagonism observed between glyphosate and glufosinate in giant foxtail and, to a lesser extent, in velvetleaf. Nomenclature: Glufosinate; glyphosate; common lambsquarters, Chenopodium album L. CHEAL; giant foxtail, Setaria faberi Herrm. SETFA; velvetleaf, Abutilon theophrasti Medik. ABUTH.
Mechanism of cell death in drug resistant human breast cancer cells.

Anticancer drug resistance occurs as a result of altered response to cytotoxic insult, via inhibition or inactivation of apoptosis (programmed cell death type I, PCDI), which plays a major role in tumour development and progression. An alternative form of cell death - non-apoptotic, or autophagic cell death (PCD II) has recently emerged as a factor contributing to the cytotoxic response of cancer cells. We studied in vitro cell death in a drug resistant model MCF-7 human breast cancer cells with acquired resistance (c. 10- 20 fold) to paclitaxel, termed MCF-7TaxR. It has been reported that the absence of caspase-3 in parental MCF-7 cells (due to chromosome deletion) may explain why they recruit apoptotic and autophagic cell death following cytotoxic insult. We investigated the induction of apoptosis response to staurosporine and Z-VAD (pan-caspase inhibitor) using the Annexin V-FITC/PI assay and studied the effect of anti-Fas on MCF-7TaxR. Results demonstrated the lack of apoptosis induction in paclitaxel resistant breast cancer cells. The oligo GEAiTayRTM human apoptosis microarray and qPCR analysis confirmed the absence of caspase-7 and caspase-9 genes and many other apoptosis genes in MCF-7TaxR cells and their presence in MCF-7 cells. Western blot analysis also confirmed these results. Therefore, we investigated the presence of autophagic cell death in our MCF-7TaxR model. Flow cytometry using Acridine Orange assay, Beclin 1 and LC-3 protein detection, confocal microscopy and detection of Akt/mTOR expression. Data showed evidence of autophagic cell death in MCF-7TaxR cells in the absence of an apoptotic response. Collectively, these findings indicate the lack of involvement of caspase mediated cell death in a paclitaxel drug-resistant cancer cell line MCF-7TaxR, and presence of autophagic cell death as an alternative cell death mechanism.
Priming Effect Induced by the Use of Different Fertilizers on Soil Functional Diversity

Agricultural practices, such as the use of fertilizers, can change the structure and function of soil microbial community. Monitoring and assessing the soil microbiota and its dynamics related to different factors can be a powerful tool for understanding basic and applied ecological contexts. The main objective of this paper was to assess the changes of carbon turnover rate and the microbial metabolic activity, when different types of fertilizers were used, process called priming effect. A microcosm experiment was designed and performed under controlled temperature and humidity and the soil samples were analyzed using the MicroResp technique. Results show that the integration in soil of different carbon sources, such as green manure, can lead to a positive priming effect and integration of mineral fertilizers can lead to negative priming effect. The carbon sources with the highest respiratory activity were α-ketoglutaric acid, malic acid, oxalic acid, citric acid, while the lowest respiratory activity was obtained in case of arginine.
Valproic Acid Decreases Cell Proliferation and Color Preference in the Zebrafish Larvae

Valproic acid (VPA) is widely used as an antiepileptic drug or mood stabilizer. In this study, we evaluated the effects of treatment with 2 mM VPA for 3 h on cell proliferation in the telencephalic area of zebrafish larvae using bromodeoxyuridine (BRDU) to label dividing cells. It was demonstrated that 2 mM VPA exposure for 3 h at 2 and 3 days post-fertilization (dpf) larvae decreased cell proliferation in the telencephalic area of 5 dpf larvae. The reduced cell proliferation was not restored at 10 dpf larvae. The quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) data indicated that mRNA expression levels of WNT signaling pathway-related factors such as β-catenin, LEF1, and gsk3β were altered in the zebrafish larvae treated with 2 mM VPA at 2 and 3 pdf. It was also demonstrated that 2 mM VPA exposure affected color preference of the zebrafish larvae, reducing blue color preference at 5 dpf larvae. The altered color preference was restored at 10 dpf larvae. These results suggest that VPA exposure may cause molecular, cellular, and behavioral alterations in early developmental stage of the zebrafish.
FLÓRULA DO MORRO DOS PERDIDOS, SERRA DE ARAÇATUBA, PARANÁ, BRASIL: Aquifoliaceae

O estudo da familia Aquifoliaceae e parte do levantamento da Florula do Morro dos Perdidos, Parana,Brasil. Esta familia esta representada na area pelo genero Ilex com seis especies: Ilex chamaedryfolia Reissek; Ilex dumosa Reissek; Ilex microdonta Reissek; Ilex paraguariensis A. St.-Hil. ; Ilex taubertiana Loes. ;Ilex theezans Mart. Sao apresentados chave, descricoes, ilustracoes e comentarios para as especies.
MITES OF THE GENUS PROCTOLAELAPS BERLESE, 1923 (ACARI: MESOSTIGMATA: MELICHARIDAE) ASSOCIATED WITH BARK BEETLES IN ASIAN RUSSIA

Six mite species of the genus Proctolaelaps Berlese, 1923 (Acari: Mesostigmata: Melicharidae) are recorded from bark beetles and in their galleries in Asian Russia. One of them, Proctolaelaps dendroctoni Lindquist and Hunter, 1965, is found for the first time in Palaearctic; its female is redescribed. Proctolaelaps hystricoides Lindquist and Hunter, 1965, P. hystrix (Vitzthum, 1923) and P. scolyti Evans (1958) are recorded for the first time in Russia. A key to females of the genus Proctolaelaps, associated with subcortical beetles, is provided.