Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF MUSSEL BYSSUS THREADS

The byssus threads of the common mussel, Mytilus edulis L. , have been tested mechanically and the results from the tests related to the ecology of the animal. The threads are mechanically similar to other crystalline polymers such as polyethylene having a modulus of about 108N m−2 and a long relaxation time. Resilience of 60% is similar to tendon; ultimate strain is about five times that of tendon at 0.44. The thread is laid down with a prestrain of 10% and so guys the mussel in position. Calculation shows that a mussel with 50 byssus threads would be able to resist all but severe winter storms.
Structural studies of large architectural nucleoporins and coat proteins

The Nuclear Pore Complex (NPC) is a ~50 MDa protein complex that forms the sole conduit for macromolecular transport across the nuclear envelope. It assembles from ~30 proteins, termed nucleoporins or nups, symmetrically arranged about a central 8-fold axis. Some nucleoporins also contribute to other structures or perform diverse other functions. A subset forms a stably-associated core scaffold for the NPC, organized into two large subcomplexes, the Y-complex and the Nic96-complex. Studies using electron microscopy and X-ray crystallography have begun to elucidate the architecture of the NPC scaffold. To better understand the NPC and related proteins, two studies were performed: 1. The crystal structure of the C-terminal α-helical domain of Nup133 in complex with the C terminus of Nup107 revealed (with a prior structure of the N-terminal β-propeller domain of Nup133) the complete structure of Nup133 and its connection to the Y-complex. This contributes to a nearly complete molecular model of the Y-complex. Nup107•Nup133 forms the distal half of the stalk of the Y-complex. Sequence similarity between Nup133 and another nucleoporin, Nup170, was detected, and structural similarity proven by solving the structure of the α-helical domain of Nup170. Nup170 is a member of the Nic96-complex. Similarity between Nup133 and Nup170 suggests that the Y-complex and the Nic96-complex employ the same architectural principles. 2. Four nucleoporins contain an α-helical domain structurally related to the COPII coat protein Sec31. This domain is called the ancestral coatomer element 1 (ACE1). Sec13•Sec31 and Nup84•Nup145C•Sec13 complexes form analogous edge elements for the COPII coat and the NPC. A sequence-based search for other ACE1s identified the COPII accessory protein Sec16. Sec16 and Sec13 were shown to form a 2:2 heterotetramer. A crystal structure of Sec13•Sec16 revealed similarities to the Sec13•Sec31 edge element. Together with other structural and in vivo data, this result suggests that Sec13•Sec16 is a template for the Sec13•Sec31 coat. These studies demonstrate that duplication of multiple classes of architectural proteins occurred in the evolution of the NPC and COPII coat, and support the hypothesis that these systems evolved from a common, ancestral membrane-coating complex. Thesis Supervisor: Thomas U. Schwartz Title: Associate Professor of Biology
Nectria haematococca causing root rot in olive greenhouse plants

This is the first report of Nectria haematococca Berk. & Br. in Argentina. It was isolated from 8 to 12 month greenhouse olive Olea europaea L. plants. The anamorph, Fusarium solani (Mart.) Sacc. , was frequently isolated while the teleomorph was rare in culture. Perithecia developed on plated olive root segments and around the PDA medium. Two isolates of F. solani produced orange perithecia, which remained immature for several months. A third isolate developed perithecia containing asci with 2-cell light brown and longitudinally striated ascospores, at maturity. Young olive plants inoculated with F. solani showed leaf browning, root rot, wilting and plant death. Controls remained healthy. The presence of the sexual stage is responsible for the genetic variability of this pathogen.
Revisiting the relationship between ability and sheepskin effects of schooling on individual earnings: The case of Pakistan

Significant amount of recent research continues to produce evidence in support of the presence of sheepskin effects in returns to schooling both for developed and developing countries. However, researchers have not made many attempts to identify or empirically test the possible mechanisms that may generate such effects. A few noteworthy exceptions are Flores-Lagunes and Light (2010) for the U. S. , Riddle (2008) for Canada and Shabbir & Ashraf (2011) and Shabbir (2013) for Pakistan. Shabbir and Ashraf (2011) summarily reports that the sheepskin effects for rural Pakistan persist in the face of controls for measures of innate and cognitive ability. The present paper revisits this issue and adds value by presenting and discussing all of the relevant empirical estimates in full detail. Further, the present analysis fully updates the review of the literature as well as the various aspects of the pertinent debate surrounding the nature of the sheepskin effects. This study reconfirms that significant sheepskin effects exist for rural Pakistan for diplomas obtained by completing primary, high school and perhaps also FA and BA levels. Further, according to the detailed empirical regression results presented and discussed in this paper, the sheepskin effects prove to be robust both to an inclusion of measure of innate ability (Raven Progressive Matrices) and „cognitive‟ ability (specially administrated tests of literacy and numeracy). This implies that sheepskin effects „signal‟ individual characteristics unrelated to these measures of ability. The findings have significant policy implications about the nature of the private vs. social returns to schooling.
BioBricks++: Simplifying Assembly of Standard DNA Components

Construction of complex biological systems can require assembling many modules together. However, existing assembly schemes are lacking in generality, ease of use, or power to perform some desirable operations. Currently, biological modules are most easily specified and manipulated as DNA sequences. A general system, called BioBricks++, for assembling and manipulating DNA modules is proposed. BioBricks++ was inspired by the BioBricks assembly scheme but provides for more possible module operations. BioBricks++ uses commercially available restriction enzymes and standard biological techniques for assembling modules. The key to the method is in the specification of the standard DNA module. Modules are packaged with a standard prefix and suffix DNA sequence containing several restriction enzyme sites, which are used for different module operations. The following operations can be performed on all BioBricks++ modules. The most fundamental operation is the arbitrary assembly of any two modules. In addition, the assembly of the two modules can be made seamless, with no extra intervening sequence inserted between the modules. Modules can also be easily reversed with no extra bases added during the operation. Another useful capability is being able to remove bases from either end of a module, allowing for operations such as protein fusions or addition of tags.
Characterising heterogeneity of glioblastoma using multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging

A better understanding of tumour heterogeneity is central for accurate diagnosis, targeted therapy and personalised treatment of glioblastoma patients. This thesis aims to investigate whether pre-operative multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can provide a useful tool for evaluating inter-tumoural and intra-tumoural heterogeneity of glioblastoma. For this purpose, we explored: 1) the utilities of habitat imaging in combining multi-parametric MRI for identifying invasive sub-regions (I & II); 2) the significance of integrating multiparametric MRI, and extracting modality inter-dependence for patient stratification (III & IV); 3) the value of advanced physiological MRI and radiomics approach in predicting epigenetic phenotypes (V). The following observations were made: I. Using a joint histogram analysis method, habitats with different diffusivity patterns were identified. A non-enhancing sub-region with decreased isotropic diffusion and increased anisotropic diffusion was associated with progression-free survival (PFS, hazard ratio [HR] = 1.08, P < 0.001) and overall survival (OS, HR = 1.36, P < 0.001) in multivariate models. II. Using a thresholding method, two low perfusion compartments were identified, which displayed hypoxic and pro-inflammatory microenvironment. Higher lactate in the low perfusion compartment with restricted diffusion was associated with a worse survival (PFS: HR = 2.995, P = 0.047; OS: HR = 4.974, P = 0.005). III. Using an unsupervised multi-view feature selection and late integration method, two patient subgroups were identified, which demonstrated distinct OS (P = 0.007) and PFS (P < 0.001). Features selected by this approach showed significantly incremental prognostic value for 12-month OS (P = 0.049) and PFS (P = 0.022) than clinical factors. IV. Using a method of unsupervised clustering via copula transform and discrete feature extraction, three patient subgroups were identified. The subtype demonstrating high inter-
Small gtp-binding proteins in insulin secretion

Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion [GSIS] involves interplay between small G-proteins and their regulatory factors. Herein, we tested the hypothesis that Arf nucleotide binding site opener [ARNO], a guanine nucleotide-exchange factor [GEF] for the small G-protein Arf6, mediates the functional activation of Arf6, and that ARNO/Arf6 signaling axis, in turn, controls the activation of Cdc42 and Rac1, which have been implicated in GSIS. Molecular biological [i.e., expression of inactive mutants or siRNA] and pharmacological approaches were employed to assess the roles for ARNO/Arf6 signaling pathway in insulin secretion in normal rat islets and INS 832/13 cells. Degrees of activation of Arf6 and Cdc42/Rac1 were quantitated by GST-GGA3 and PAK-1 kinase pull-down assays, respectively. ARNO is expressed in INS 832/13 cells, rat islets and human islets. Expression of inactive mutants of Arf6 [Arf6-T27N] or ARNO [ARNO-E156K] or siRNA-ARNO markedly reduced GSIS in isolated b-cells. SecinH3, a selective inhibitor of ARNO/Arf6 signaling axis, also inhibited GSIS in INS 832/13 cells and rat islets. Stimulatory concentrations of glucose promoted Arf6 activation, which was inhibited by secinH3 or siRNA-ARNO, suggesting that ARNO/Arf6 signaling cascade is necessary for GSIS. SecinH3 or siRNA-ARNO also inhibited glucose-induced activation of Cdc42 and Rac1 suggesting that ARNO/Arf6 might be upstream to Cdc42 and Rac1 activation steps, which are necessary for GSIS. Lastly, co-immunoprecipitation and confocal microscopic studies suggested increased association between Arf6 and ARNO in glucosestimulated b-cells. These findings provide the first evidence to implicate ARNO in the sequential activation of Arf6, Cdc42 and Rac1 culminating in GSIS. Published by Elsevier Inc. Abbreviations: Arf6, ADP-ribosylation factor 6; ARNO, Arf nucleotide binding site opener; GAP, GTPase activating protein; GDI, GDP-dissociation inhibitor; GEF, guanine nucleotide-exchange factor; GGA3, Golgi-localized c-ear homology domain Arf-binding protein-3; GSIS, glucose-stimulated insulin secretion; PA, phosphatidic acid; PIP2, phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate; PLD, phospholipase-D. * Corresponding author. Tel. : +1 313 576 4478; fax: +1 313 576 1112. E-mail address: akowluru@med.wayne. edu (A. Kowluru).
Plant sexual systems correlated with morphological traits: Reflecting reproductive strategies of alpine plants

Plant sexual systems can be affected by various environmental factors, and thus show a range of morphological differences. The associations between plant sexual systems and morphology are unique, for example, the subnival belt of the Hengduan Mountains has harsh climatic conditions, but hosts remarkable biodiversity. However, these associations have received surprisingly little attention. We analyzed the associations in this region, and compared the pattern of sexual systems with that of other floras, and we also reviewed the breeding system of 36 alpine species. Information on plant sexual systems and these traits were mainly based on published information, herbarium collections, and field observations. The results showed that there was a high proportion of hermaphroditic species and a low proportion of dioecious and monoecious species. Hermaphroditism was strongly associated with showy floral displays, specialist entomophily, and perennial forbs. Dioecy was strongly associated with inconspicuous, pale‐colored flowers, anemophily, and shrubs, whereas monoecy was strongly associated with inconspicuous, pale‐colored flowers, generalist entomophily, and perennial grasses. Although no association was found between sexual systems and fruit type, plants with dry fruits (98.1%) were predominant in our study region. With respect to the plant breeding systems in the alpine region of southwest China, we predicted that pollination service might be particularly low; most of the plants lacked enough outcrossing pollinators. Our data revealed that 97.1% of the hermaphroditic species were self‐compatible, and 88.2% of them showed autonomous or facilitated selfing. The plant sexual systems identified might serve to optimize the probability of pollination and thus ensure reproductive success.
Cortical plasticity LTP and LTD

1. Introduction and overview 2. The role of amino acid receptors in synaptic plasticity 3. Second messengers in LTP and LTD 4. The locus of expression of NMDA receptor-dependent LTP in the hippocampus 5. Post-translational mechanisms which could underlie the postsynaptic expression of LTP and LTD 6. Postsynaptic gene expression and long-term potentiation in the hippocampus 7. Neuromodulators of synaptic strength 8. Epileptogenesis 9. Bidirectional plasticity of cortical synapses 10. Synaptic plasticity in the cerebellum 11. Roles of LTP and LTD in neuronal network operations in the brain
Studies on effect of post harvest treatments on quality and shelf life of custard apple (Annona squamosa L) cv. Balanagar.

An attempt was made to determine the most effective post harvest treatment to extend the storage life of custard apple fruits. The results revealed that the application of the wax emulsion at 10 per cent recorded significantly minimum PLW (7.51%) as compared to other treatments. The treatment also recorded the highest acidity (0.34%), lowest TSS (20.73%), lowest rotting (16.15%) and maximum marketable fruits (71.38%) after five days of storage. The organoleptic scores for colour , flavour, texture and taste also superior in the treatment. However, application of wax emulsion 12 per cent also recorded at par values for the above parameters.
Academic Spin-off Managers as Builders of Resources

The paper focuses on the financial and non-financial resources of university spin-off companies. It explores how spin-off managers with prior business experience use causal and effectual logics when building finance-related resources for their companies. The research draws from narrative interviews and documentary data from five case companies, which were submitted to qualitative content analysis. The managers’ report diverse ways of building finance-related resources over time. Causal logic dominated their narratives, whereas effectuation logic was demonstrated in narratives in particular concerning the early stages of the spin-offs when experienced outsiders helped the company build resources and the utilization of resources available through academic or professional contacts. The paper contributes to discussions of how financerelated resources are built-up over time in academic spin-off companies.
Aplicación de procesos de control óptimo y optimización en la evolución de modelos tumorales

En esta tesis se han estudiado tres modelos matematicos diferentes, dos de ellos constituidos por ecuaciones diferenciales ordinarias y otro basado en un modelo estocastico, analizando la dinamica y la estabilidad de cada uno de ellos. Dos de los modelos se centran en la evolucion de los gliomas de bajo grado, que son un tipo de tumor cerebral de crecimiento lento, y otro se centra en un carcinoma pulmonar de Lewis. Hemos formulado problemas de control optimo en cada modelo y, bajo diferentes funcionales objetivo, hemos probado la existencia de controles optimos y hemos derivado la expresion explicita para los controles singulares. En el analisis numerico de los modelos hemos considerado datos relacionados con cada una de las poblaciones tumorales en estudio. Para resolver nuestros problemas de control optimo con restricciones, hemos utilizado metodos numericos, bajo el enfoque "primero discretizar, despues optimizar". El objetivo es aplicar los tratamientos de quimioterapia, asi como una combinacion de los mismos, de manera optima, es decir, conseguir la mayor eficacia con la menor toxicidad posible, tratando de hacer del cancer una enfermedad cronica. Con este fin, hemos analizado la aplicacion optima de terapias en diferentes intervalos de tiempo y bajo diferentes objetivos.
The Swiss agri-environment scheme enhances pollinator diversity and plant reproductive success in nearby intensively managed farmland

Summary 1. Agri-environment schemes attempt to counteract the loss of biodiversity and associated ecosystem services such as pollination and natural pest control in agroecosystems. However, only a few studies have evaluated whether these attempts are successful. 2. We studied the effects of managing meadows according to the prescriptions of ecological compensation areas (ECA), the most widely adopted agri-environment scheme in Switzerland, on both pollinator species richness and abundance, and the reproductive success of plants in nearby intensively managed meadows (IM). 3. We established arrays of four pots, each containing individuals of three insectpollinated, non-autogamous ‘phytometer’ species ( Raphanus sativus , Hypochaeris radicata and Campanula glomerata ), in ECA and adjacent IM at increasing distances from the ECA at 13 sites. 4. Species richness and abundance of hoverflies, solitary bees and large-sized pollinators (mainly social bees and butterflies) were significantly higher in ECA than in adjacent IM. Species richness and abundance of small-sized pollinators in IM declined significantly with increasing distance from ECA, whereas large-sized pollinators were not significantly affected by distance. Plant species richness and flower abundance were the major drivers of pollinator species richness and abundance; the area of an ECA had no significant influence. 5. Individual plants of R. sativus and C. glomerata produced more and heavier seeds in ECA than in IM. Furthermore, the number of seeds of these two phytometer species was positively correlated with species richness and abundance of bees. No such effects were observed for individual plants of H. radicata . The number of fruits and seeds per plant of R. sativus in IM decreased with increasing distance from ECA. 6. Synthesis and applications. We conclude that establishing ECA is an effective method of enhancing both pollinator species richness and abundance and pollination services to nearby intensely managed farmland. Our study emphasizes the importance of connectivity between ECA in maintaining diverse pollinator communities and thereby providing pollination services in agricultural landscapes.
Use of DNA from bite marks to determine species and individual animals that attack humans

During the summer of 2008, 6 documented attacks and close encounters with brown bears (Ursus arctos) occurred in the greater Anchorage, Alaska (USA) area. We discuss findings from 2 incidents in which people were mauled within 2 km of each other over a 6-week period and in which it was assumed that a single animal was responsible. To ensure public safety, authorities killed a brown bear implicated in the attacks by circumstantial evidence, though it was not known a priori that the animal was responsible. We extracted DNA from hairs and bite sites on the clothing of both victims and determined species and individual identity of the animal(s) involved in both incidents. Genetic data indicated the brown bear killed by authorities was responsible for one of the maulings, but not both. This research demonstrates that DNA-based techniques, with appropriate sampling, can provide unambiguous identification of animals involved in attacks, as well as provide reasonable justification for excluding others. Because DNA-based techniques can unequivocally identify individual bears carrying out attacks, they should be considered a standard method employed in wildlife attack investigations. © 2014 The Wildlife Society.
Los pichones de Darwin y la evolución de los columbiformes: recapitulación de genes ancestrales

To commemorate the sesquicentennial of Charles Darwin´s “On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection”, we address an essential topic in this publication. Domestic pigeons were extremely important in shaping Darwin’s theory of evolution: pigeons featured prominently not only in his “Origin of Species”, but also in his treatise on “Variation under Domestication”, in his “Descent of Man” and finally in his “Expression of Emotions”. Darwin saw the process of domestication as solid evidence demonstrating the power of selection. He argued convincingly that all domestic pigeon breeds (some 150 in his day) descended from one ancestral species, the Rock Dove (Columba livia), and that from this single species, humans selected directionally for colors, sizes, shapes, peculiarities of bill shape and length, plumage characteristics and voice qualities. While these domestic races achieved remarkable morphological differentiation under selection in the course of human generations, extant genera of pigeons (Columbiformes) have attained similar traits during the course of natural selection in the wild. We present a comparison of such characters between modern domestic breeds of the Rock Dove, the original Darwin´s Pigeons plus new breeds, and wild pigeon species to encourage further studies on their evolution in the light of molecular techniques not available at Darwin´s time.
Vicariance biogeography and terrane tectonics in the South Pacific: analysis of the genus Abrotanell

The species ofAbrotanella(Compositae) form mats and cushions a few centimetres high and up to a metre or more in diameter. The flowers are less complex than those of most Compositae and lack a pappus, the usual means of dispersal in the family. There are 20 species, all restricted to mountains of Australasia and southern South America. The putative affinities ofAbrotanellainvolve several tribes of Compositae and the genus is not considered derived within the family. A comparative analysis of areas of endemism inAbrotanellashows clear patterns of vicariance and disjunction shared with many plants and animals, and long-distance dispersal is rejected as an explanation.Abrotanellaand the three genera related to it are all restricted to lands bordering the Pacific. Areas previously accepted as areas of endemism, such as New Guinea, Tasmania, New Zealand and southern South America, are shown to be polyphyletic complexes, rather than simple areas. Use of such areas in area cladograms leads to the erroneous interpretation of taxa-area relations as incongruent. Distributions of the taxa inAbrotanellaare correlated with tectonic features such as plate margins, transform faults and fracture zones, and processes such as continental rifting, terrane accretion, granite emplacement and orogeny.Abrotanella patearoasp. nov., a high-alpine cushion-plant, is described from mountains of eastern Central Otago: Rock and Pillar Range, Lammerlaw Range, Umbrella Mountains and Garvie Mountains.