Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stem hydraulic supply is linked to leaf photosynthetic capacity: evidence from New Caledonian and Tasmanian rainforests

A strong relationship between hydraulic supply of water to leaves and maximum photosynthetic capacity was found in a group of seven conifers and 16 angiosperm species, including two vessel-less taxa, from similar rainforest communities in New Caledonia and Tasmania (Australia). Stem hydraulic supply was expressed as the hydraulic conductivity of branches in terms of leaf area supplied (KL) and leaf photosynthetic capacity was measured as the mean quantum yield of PSII (OPSII) in leaves exposed to full sun, as determined by chlorophyll fluorescence analysis. A single, highly significant linear regression (r2= 0·74) described the relationship between hydraulic conductivity and quantum yield in all species. This suggests that the maximum photosynthetic rate of leaves is constrained by their vascular supply. In both rainforest locations, the KL of conifer wood overlapped broadly with that of associated vessel-bearing and vessel-less angiosperms indicating a degree of hydraulic convergence in these forests.
Image-guided modified deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) corneal transplant using intraoperative optical coherence tomography

Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) is an alternative to full-thickness corneal transplant and has advantages including the absence of allograft rejection; shortened duration of topical corticosteroid treatment and reduced associated risk of glaucoma, cataract, or infection; and enables use of grafts with poor endothelial quality. DALK begins by performing a trephination of approximately 80% stromal thickness, as measured by pachymetry. After removal of the anterior stoma, a needle is inserted into the residual stroma to inject air or viscoelastic to dissect Descemet’s membrane. These procedures are inherently difficult and intraoperative rates of Descemet’s membrane perforation between 4-39% have been reported. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) provides high-resolution images of tissue microstructures in the cornea, including Descemet’s membrane, and allows quantitation of corneal layer thicknesses. Here, we use crosssectional intraoperative OCT (iOCT) measurements of corneal thickness during surgery and a novel micrometeradjustable biopsy punch to precision-cut the stroma down to Descemet’s membrane. Our prototype cutting tool allows us to establish a dissection plane at the corneal endothelium interface, mitigates variability in cut-depths as a result of tremor, reduces procedure complexity, and reduces complication rates. iOCT-guided modified DALK procedures were performed on 47 cadaveric porcine eyes by non-experts and achieved a perforation rate of ~5% with a mean corneal dissection time <18 minutes. The procedure was also successful performed on a human donor eye without perforation. Our data shows the potential for iOCT-guided precision anterior segment surgery without variability as a result of tremor and improvements to standard clinical care.
Absence of blood parasites in indigenous and introduced birds from the Cook Islands, South Pacific.

: We found no protozoan parasites in 79 blood smears of birds from the Cook Islands, South Pacific. Our sample consisted of 55 smears from nine indigenous species of land and aquatic birds, and 24 smears from one introduced land bird The absence or scarcity of avian hematozoa in the Cook Islands is probably due to a very low prevalence of infection among introduced and naturally colonizing species of birds, rather than a scarcity of insect vectors. On one hand, the apparent absence or extreme scarcity of avian hematozoa, particularly the malaria-causing Plasmodium spp. , is fortunate from a conservation standpoint, considering the devastating impact that Plasmodium from human-introduced mosquitoes and birds has had on the indigenous avifauna of Hawaii during the past century. On the other hand, our results suggest that the indigenous birds of the Cook Islands, much like those of Hawaii, would have little natural resistance to avian malaria should it be introduced. Thus precautions should be taken to prohibit the introduction of potentially infected nonnative birds or mosquitoes in the Cook Islands and elsewhere in Polynesia Resumen: No encontramos parasitos protozoarios en 79 frotis de sangre de las aves de las islas Cook, Pacifico Sur. Nuestra muestra consistio de 55 frotis de nueve especies de aves nativas acuaticas y terrestres, y 24 frotis de un ave terrestre introducida. La ausencia o escasez de hematozoarios en estas aves de la islas Cook se deben probablemente a una muy baja prevalencia de infecciones entre los especies de aves introducidas y colonizadoras naturales, mas que de la escasez de insectos vectores. Por un lado la ausencia aparente o la extrema escasez de hematozoarios en aves, particularmente el que ocasiona la malaria Plasmodium spp. , es afortunada desde el punto de vista de la conservacion considerando el impacto devastante que el Plasmodium de los moscos, introducidos por los humanos y las aves, ha tenido en la avifauna nativa de Hawaii durante el ultimo siglo. Por el otro lado, nuestros resultados sugieren que las aves nativas de las islas Cook, mucho como las de Hawaii podrian tener muy poca resistencia a la malaria de las aves en el caso de que esta sea introducida Por lo tanto se deben de tomar precauciones para prohibir la introduccion de aves no natives potencialmente infectadac, o de moquitos en las islas Cook y en todos los otros lados de la Polinesia
Culling wildlife hosts to control disease: mountain hares, red grouse and louping ill virus

Summary 1. Culling wildlife hosts is often implemented as a management technique to control pathogen transmission from wildlife to domestic or other economically important animals. However, culling may have unexpected consequences, can be expensive and may have wider implications for biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. 2. We assess the evidence that culling mountain hares Lepus timidus is an effective and practical way to control louping ill virus in red grouse Lagopus lagopus scoticus. 3. Evidence from the available literature is limited, restricting our ability to reliably assess the effectiveness of culling mountain hares to control ticks, louping ill virus, or increase red grouse densities. Furthermore, the information required to assess the cost-benefit of this management strategy is lacking. The population response of mountain hares to culling is not well understood and the possible effects on their conservation status and the upland ecosystem remain unexplored. 4. We conclude that there is no compelling evidence base to suggest culling mountain hares might increase red grouse densities. 5. Synthesis and applications. Widespread culling of wildlife is not necessarily effective in reducing disease or improving economic returns. The use of wildlife culls for disease control should be proposed only when: (i) the pathogen transmission cycle is fully understood with all host-vector interactions considered; (ii) the response of wildlife populations to culling is known; and (iii) cost-benefit analysis shows that increased revenue from reduced disease prevalence exceeds the cost of culling.
Relative effects of climate change, isolation and competition on body‐size evolution in the Japanese field mouse, Apodemus argenteus

Aim This paper examines body size variation in both recent and Quaternary populations of the Japanese field mouse Apodemus argenteus in order to assess the relative effects on body size of climate change, isolation and competitive interactions with its congeneric A. speciosus. Both temporal (since the Last Glacial Maximum, LGM) and spatial (over the Japanese archipelago) scales are considered.
Cathepsin B inhibition by Z-FA.FMK blocks TNF-a/D-GalN-induced oxidative damage through increasing antioxidant defence in the brain of mice

Cathepsin B is a cysteine lysosomal protease which takes place in many inflammatory diseases. Inflammatory processes within the brain represent a potential pathogenetic factor in neurodegenerative diseases and inhibiton of cathepsin B, which is an inflammation-related enzyme, can be a potential therapeutic utility in neuroinflammatory diseases. Thus, we researched the effect of benzyloxycarbonyl-phenilalaninealanine fluoromethylketone (Z-FA.FMK), which is a pharmacological inhibitor of cathepsin B, on tumour necrosis factor-I± (TNF-I±) and D-galactosamine (D-GalN)-induced brain damage. Because oxidative damage accompanies inflammatory processes we aimed to research the alteration in some markers of oxidative damage and antioxidant defence system. For this investigation mice were treated with 700 mg/kg D-GalN and 15 I¼g/kg TNF-I± one hour after administration with 8 mg/kg Z-FA.FMK. Treatment with Z-FA.FMK before TNF-I±/D-GalN injection resulted in decreased lipid peroxidation levels, while catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, paraoxonase 1 activities and glutathione levels were increased in the brain tissue of mice. These results showed that cathepsin B inhibition by Z-FA. FMK could be a potential therapeutic utility in neuroinflammatory diseases because of its ability to block TNF-I±/D-GalN-induced oxidative damage by increasing antioxidant defence in the brain of mice. Keywords: Benzyloxycarbonyl-Phenyl-Alanine-fluoromethylketone (Z-FA.FMK), Cathepsin B, Dgalactosamine, Oxidative damage, Tumour necrosis factor-I± (TNF-I±).
Genetic regulation of Kranz anatomy

The C₄ photosynthetic cycle acts to concentrate CO₂ around the enzyme Rubisco. By doing so, C₄ photosynthesis leads to increased radiation, water and nitrogen use efficiencies. As such, C₄ photosynthesis is the most productive form of photosynthesis known. Because it enables such high levels of productivity there are large international efforts to introduce C₄ photosynthesis into non-C₄ crop species such as rice. Kranz anatomy is a characteristic leaf cellular arrangement of concentric rings of bundle sheath and mesophyll cells around closely spaced veins and is crucial to C₄ photosynthesis in almost all known examples. Despite the fact that Kranz has evolved on over 60 times independently little is known about the genetic regulation of Kranz development, as attempts to elucidate Kranz regulators using conventional mutagenesis screens have provided few insights. However, the advent of next generation DNA sequencing technologies has enabled the interrogation of genetic networks at a previously unprecedented scale. The work in this thesis describes a genome-wide transcriptomic analysis of leaf development in maize, a C₄ species, that develops both Kranz-type and non-Kranz-type leaves. Detailed bioinformatics analyses identified candidate regulators of both Kranz development and additional aspects of maize leaf development. Three of the identified Kranz candidates were functionally characterised in both C₄ and non-C₄ species. Furthermore, expression and phylogenetic analyses of GOLDEN2-LIKE (GLK) genes, a small transcription factor family previously implicated in C₄ development in maize, were extended to determine the generality of GLK function in C₄ evolution.
Liste préliminaire des Abeilles de Saint-Barthélemy (Antilles françaises) et leurs relations avec la flore butinée (Hymenoptera : Apoidea : Megachilidae, Apidae).

Summary. Preliminary checklist of bees from St. Barthelemy (French West Indies) and their relations with visited flowers (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Megachilidae, Apidae). An annotated checklist of bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila), excluding Halictidae, is compiled for St Barthelemy, an island located in the Lesser Antilles of the eastern Caribbean. The list has eight species, including three exotic species to the Caribbean, four others known only from the Caribbean and three that occur both on mainland and the West Indies. The list is constituted with data from literature and from our field researches carried out by Karl Questel between 2006 and 2013. A list of visited flowers, along with ecological notes for each species is also given.
Juvenile Hormone and the Physiological Basis of Insect Polymorphisms

Juvenile hormone (JH) is a developmental hormone of insects. It has become evident in recent years that JH is involved in the control of gene switching and that it exerts this control only during certain critical periods. Such JH-sensitive critical periods occur periodically during the life cycle of an insect. As a rule one or more critical periods exist during each pre-reproductive instar. The presence or absence of JH during any given critical period somehow causes the insect to "choose" between alternative developmental pathway. Using this model for the action of JH, we discuss the endocrine control of metamorphosis, phase determination in locusts and aphids, caste determination is social insects, and certain color polymorphisms.
Évaluation des bonnes pratiques d'antibiothérapie au service d'accueil des urgences du centre hospitalier universitaire de Nancy

Objectifs de l’etude : Decrire les pratiques de prescriptions d’antibiotiques du SAU et de l’UPUP du CHU de Nancy, en evaluant leur pertinence et leur conformite aux regles d’utilisations et secondairement etudier les facteurs susceptibles d’influencer cette conformite. Methodes : Etude retrospective et observationnelle des prescriptions antibiotiques effectuees initialement au sein du SAU, chez des patients secondairement transferes vers l’UPUP. Tous les patients examines entre le 1er novembre 2014 et le 30 avril 2015, pour lesquels une antibiotherapie etait instauree et secondairement hospitalises a l’UPUP, ont ete inclus. L’analyse de la conformite des prescriptions aux recommandations a ete faite a posteriori, avec l’utilisation des referentiels infectiologiques, en vigueur pendant la periode d’inclusion. Resultats : 128 patients ont ete inclus, avec une moyenne d’âge de 80 ans et un temps de passage moyen de 12 heures. 60,9% des prescriptions d’antibiotiques realisees au SAU du CHU de Nancy etaient jugees conformes aux preconisations. Le sexe feminin et la presence d’une infection autre que celles des voies respiratoires basses ont ete identifies comme associes aux prescriptions hors recommandations de facon statistiquement significative. Discussion : Le suivi des recommandations au SAU de Nancy est dans la moyenne francaise. Une nouvelle evaluation, a distance de la prise en charge initiale, soumis aux memes referentiels, ameliore la conformite aux recommandations. Un delai existe, entre parution de nouvelles recommandations et assimilation dans la pratique medicale quotidienne, et pourrait etre diminue grâce a un referent infectiologue au SAU. La vigilance du medecin semble accrue lorsque le patient lui apparait comme fragile mais aucun depistage fiable de ce facteur n’est effectue au SAU. L’utilisation d’echelles validees pourrait etre une solution afin d’adapter les urgences aux patients geriatriques.
Effect of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids and related nutrients on sebum lipids, and skin and hair coat condition in canines

Effect of Dietary Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Related Nutrients on Sebum Lipids, and Skin and Hair Coat Condition in Canines. (December 2004) Naomi Anne Kirby, B.S., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. John E. Bauer A study was performed to investigate the effect of diets rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids and other related nutrients, in the effort to improve skin and hair coat conditions in canines. The study included 24 dogs fed a baseline diet (Ol’Roy®), with an acclimation period of 12 weeks (Phase I). Nine female beagles and 15 male hound mixed-bred dogs were used. For the next 12 weeks (Phase II) the dogs were randomly divided into three groups and fed one of three specially formulated complete and balanced diets. Differences among the three diets were as follows: Diet A contained lower but adequate amounts of dietary zinc and linoleic acid than Diet B. Diet C was similar to Diet B with respect to zinc but contained less linoleic acid and more alphalinolenic acid. In the beginning, a preliminary study assessing skin lipids showed that hair is a suitable material to analyze. This study lead to the subsequent investigation, using plucked and shed hair samples obtained on weeks 3, 7, and 11 (Phase I) and again on weeks 1, 3, 7, and 11 (Phase II). One objective of this research was to investigate the dietary effects of the combination of linoleic acid in combination with zinc on canine
Poromitra crassiceps (Teleostei, Melamphaidae) associated with the 500 fathoms fauna off Argentina

We established the presence of Poromitra crassiceps on the slope off Argentina (49°29.8′S; 55°27.4′W, 941 m depth) during a research cruise in 1978. The report is based on a single specimen 130.09 mm total length.
Determination of α-2,6 sialic acid in developmental stages of Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera)

Summary Sialic acids are the terminal glycan structures of many glycoproteins and glycolipids, and they play a key role in many biological processes. Sialic acids can be classified according to their linkages to underlying glycans as α-2,3-, α-2,6-, and α-2,8 sialic acids. In this study, the expression level and distribution of α-2,6 linked sialic acid in the third and final larval, mature prepupa, and pupa stages of Galleria mellonella were investigated by SNA (Sambucus nigra agglutinin) lectin immunofluorescence and lectin blot analysis. The immunofluorescence analysis showed that levels of α-2,6 linked sialic acid were high in larval stages, especially the last larval stage, lower in mature prepupa and absent in pupa. The results of lectin blotting with SNA were consistent with immunofluorescence results. From these results, it could be inferred that the level of α-2,6 linked terminal sialic acid in insect tissues declines during development and aging.
Quantitative Analysis of In Vivo Cell Proliferation

Two similar techniques, [3H]thymidine autoradiography and 5‐bromo‐2'‐deoxyuridine (BrdU) immunohistochemistry, have been developed to label dividing cells and identify them following survival times of up to several years, so that different aspects of their fate can be examined. Both techniques use markers that are incorporated into the DNA of proliferating cells as it is synthesized during the S phase of mitosis. The techniques differ in the markers used and the detection systems used to recognize them. In the first method described in this unit, tritiated thymidine is injected into animals and is incorporated into dividing cells. These cells can then be identified using emulsion autoradiography. In the second method presented, BrdU, a halogenated thymidine analog, is similarly injected and incorporated into cells in S phase, and then detected immunohistologically with an antibody specific for DNA containing BrdU.
Phosphoinositides – The Seven Species: Conversion and Cellular Roles

Phosphoinositides are phospholipids that contain a phosphorylated inositol head group. The position and number of phosphate groups varies, which results in seven phosphoinositide species. A large family of enzymes have evolved to specifically modify phosphoinositides. Phosphoinositide kinases and phosphatases modify the phosphorylation state of the inositol head group, whereas phospholipases hydrolyse phosphoinositides to release the soluble head group into the cytosol. The combined action of these enzymes produces the phosphoinositide signature of a cell, where certain membrane compartments are enriched or depleted of specific phosphoinositides. The cellular response of a certain phosphoinositide signature is mediated by phosphoinositide effectors. These effectors contain phosphoinositide recognition domains, which guide the effector to the appropriate location and in many cases also modulate their activity. Phosphoinositides play crucial roles in many cellular processes, including cell signalling, cytoskeletal rearrangements, vesicle transport and control of ion channels. Key Concepts: Phosphoinositides are phospholipids that contain a negatively charged phosphoinositol head group. Phosphoinositides are modified by phosphoinositide kinases, phosphatases and phospholipases. Specific phosphoinositides are enriched in different membrane compartments. Specific phosphoinositide recognition modules are linked to effectors. Tight regulation of generation and depletion of phosphoinositides allows spatio-temporal control of complex cellular processes. PI3KI and PTEN, which control PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 levels, belong to the most frequently mutated genes in cancer. Keywords: phosphoinositides; phosphoinositide kinase; phosphoinositide phosphatase; phospholipase; PH domain; PX domain; FERM domain; signalling; cytoskeleton; vesicular trafficking
The effect of plant competition and simulated summer browsing by deer on tree regeneration

Summary 1 During the last decade the use of natural regeneration has become an accepted method of restocking British woodlands after harvesting. However, in many broadleaved woodlands there are insufficient numbers of established tree seedlings of adequate size to ensure that restocking is successful. This lack of seedlings may be related to a number of factors, including competition from the ground flora and browsing by deer. 2 The numbers of deer (Capreolus capreolus, Cervus elaphus and Dama dama) are rising throughout Britain and population densities frequently exceed those known to have a significant impact on broadleaved trees. This experiment, which took place at four sites over a 5-year period, studied the effects of competition from the ground flora and severe, simulated, browsing by deer during summer, on the growth and mortality of naturally occurring Acer pseudoplatanus, Fraxinus excelsior, Fagus sylvatica and Quercus robur seedlings. 3 The seedlings were initially 30–40 cm tall with stem diameters of 2·6–6·2 mm. Competition from the ground flora was removed by maintaining circular areas, 1 m in diameter, free of vegetation using a general herbicide. Browsing was simulated by clipping new shoots that were longer than 1 cm in June and August. 4 The control of the ground flora had little effect on the growth and survival of seedling trees. 5 In general, the number of tree seedlings producing sufficient growth to receive the simulated browsing treatment decreased with time, but for those seedlings that were clipped there were no consistent trends in either numbers or weights of shoots removed. Unclipped seedlings continued to grow. The height and stem diameter increments varied with species and site, but after 5 years unclipped plants were 50–200% taller with stem diameters 20–130% greater than at the start of the experiment. 6 The mortality of unclipped seedlings was low and 80% or more survived. Clipping significantly reduced the survival of Fraxinus excelsior and A. pseudoplatanus, but Q. robur and Fagus sylvatica were unaffected. On an annual basis, there was no relationship between mortality and accumulated number or dry weight of shoots clipped, initial stem diameter or height, and whether or not the seedling was under the overstorey canopy. 7 The results from this study indicate that established seedlings of A. pseudoplatanus, Fraxinus excelsior, Fagus sylvatica and Q. robur that are > 30 cm tall can survive several years of severe browsing under the shade provided by overstorey canopy covers of 50% or more. This suggests that management should aim to improve survival during the first 1–2 years of growth. This may be achieved by exclusion of animals by fencing, protection of individual seedlings using tree shelters, or culling to control herbivore numbers.