Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Physiological role of exogenously applied glycinebetaine to improve drought tolerance in fine grain aromatic rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Rice performance under drought stress is mainly impeded by oxidative damage and hampered plant water status, which may be improved by exogenous use of osmoprotectants. In this study, the role of glycinebetaine (GB) to improve drought tolerance in rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivar Super-basmati was evaluated. GB was used both as seed and foliar application. For priming, seeds were soaked in 50, 100 and 150 mg l -1 aerated solution of GB for 48 h. At four-leaf stage, one set of plants was subjected to drought stress, while the other set kept at full field capacity. Drought was maintained at 50 % of field capacity by watering when needed. For exogenous application, 50, 100 and 150 mg l -1 GB levels were applied at five-leaf stage. Drought stress greatly reduced the rice growth while GB application improved it both under well-watered and drought conditions. Drought tolerance in rice was strongly related to the maintenance of tissue water potential and antioxidant system, which improved the integrity of cellular membranes and enabled the plant to maintain high photosynthesis. Foliar treatments were more effective than the seed treatments, while among the GB treatment, foliar application with 100 mg l -1 was the most effective.
Pileated Gibbon Density in Relation to Habitat Characteristics and Post‐logging Forest Recovery

ABSTRACT Although it is known that forest loss and degradation negatively impact most forest‐dwelling primates, such relationships are difficult to quantify because many primates are difficult to survey over large areas. Furthermore, recovery times are also difficult to assess due to a lack of long‐term data. Here, we determined how forest characteristics and habitat disturbance correlate with the abundance of pileated gibbons, Hylobates pileatus. We studied a population in Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary in southeastern Thailand, assessed its density using an auditory method combined with distance sampling at 24 randomly placed sample sites. In addition, we determined how simple forest structural characteristics and habitat disturbance correlate with the gibbon abundance. Average gibbon density per site was 1.02 ± 0.16 (SE) groups/km2 (range 0–2.74). Bivariate analyses indicated that densities depended on food tree biomass, level of disturbance, evergreen forest cover, time since protection, and distance to the sanctuary boundary. Multiple regression analysis suggested evergreen forest cover and distance to boundary were the most influential factors. Because evergreen forest cover, time since protection, and habitat disturbance are correlated, these results suggest a direct dependence of gibbon densities on mature, undisturbed evergreen forest. While gibbons can persist in disturbed areas if the forest is protected, it appears that recovery to previous densities may take decades. We suggest that this is due to the slow pace of forest regeneration and/or poor recovery potential of gibbons.
Interference of Yellow Nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) in ‘Beauregard' Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas)

Field studies were conducted in 2013 at Houlka, MS and 2014 at Houston and Pontotoc, MS to determine the influence of yellow nutsedge density on 'Beauregard' sweet potato yield and quality. Treatments established 2 wk after transplanting (WAP) were yellow nutsedge densities of 0, 5, 10, 15, 30, 40, 50, and 90 shoots m−2 within the planted row. No. 1 and marketable yield loss were fit to a rectangular hyperbola model. In 2013 predicted yield loss of no. 1 and marketable grades ranged from 23 to 96% and 18 to 80%, respectively for yellow nutsedge densities of 5 to 90 shoots m−2. In 2014 predicted yield loss of no. 1 and marketable grades ranged from 7 to 74% and 6 to 67%, respectively for yellow nutsedge densities of 5 to 90 shoots m−2. Yellow nutsedge shoot density increased linearly from 2 WAP to harvest. At Houston and Pontotoc, yellow nutsedge shoot density increased 2.3 and 7.6 times, respectively, for every one shoot present at 2 WAP. Nomenclature: Yellow nutsedge, Cyperus esculentus CYPES; sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas L. Lam. ‘Beauregard' IPOBA. Estudios de campo fueron realizados en Houlka, Mississippi en 2013, y en Houston y Pontotoc, Mississippi en 2014, para determinar la influencia de la densidad de Cyperus esculentus sobre el rendimiento y calidad de la batata ‘Beauregard’. Los tratamientos establecidos 2 semanas después del trasplante (WAP) fueron densidades de C. esculentus de 0, 5, 10, 15, 30, 40, 50, y 90 plantas m−2 en la línea de siembra. La pérdida de rendimiento comercializable y no. 1 fue descrita con un modelo hiperbólico rectangular. En 2013 la pérdida de rendimiento predicha de los grados no. 1 y comercializable varió de 23 a 96% y 18 a 80%, respectivamente para las densidades de C. esculentus de 5 a 90 plantas m−2. En 2014 la pérdida de rendimiento predicha de los grados no. 1 y comercializable varió de 7 a 74% y 6 a 67%, respectivamente para las densidades de C. esculentus de 5 a 90 plantas m−2. La densidad de plantas de C. rotundas aumentó linealmente desde 2 WAP hasta la cosecha. En Houston y Pontotoc, la densidad de plantas de C. esculentus aumentó 2.3 y 7.6 veces, respectivamente, para cada una de las plantas presentes a 2 WAP.
Targeting eIF4F in cancer

eIF4F is composed of eukaryotic translation initiation factors of cap-binding protein eIF4E, scaffolding protein eIF4G and RNA helicase eIF4A [3]. eIF4F complex assembly is essential for the recruitment of mRNAs to the ribosomes during the initiation stage, the rate-limiting step in translation [4,5]. Many oncogenic mRNAs, which encode oncoproteins with low abundance while important for cancer cell survival, proliferation and growth, contain long and /or highly structured 5’-untranslated regions (5’-UTRs) with low translational efficiency (Figure 1) [6]. The increased eIF4F activities is critical for the upregulation of translation of oncogenic mRNAs to produce sufficient proteins to support cancer cells’ apoptosis escaping, resistance to radio-/chemical therapy, uncontrolled proliferation, and aggressive metastasis [7]. Therefore, interfering eIF4F activities provides unique opportunities to selectively suppress the translation of oncogenic mRNAs with low translational efficiency while leave the non-oncogenic mRNAs with high translational efficiency. Indeed, studies have found that inhibiting eIF4F complex assembly preferentially suppresses cancerous cells. The translation initiation factors eIF4E-eIF4G interaction inhibitor 4EGI-1 binds to eIF4E,induces allosteric effects to the eIF4G interacting sites on eIF4E, and therefore prevents eIF4G recruitment to eIF4E and enhances 4E-BP1 binding to eIF4E [8]. 4E-BP1 binding to eIF4E further prevents eIF4F assembly [9]. 4EGI-1consistently inhibits multiple cancer cell lines as well as cancer stem cells with enhanced drug resistance [10,11].
The decay of similarity over geographical distance in parasite communities of marine fishes

Aim We evaluate, for the first time, the decay of similarity over distance in four species of marine fishes with different vagility: Trachurus murphyi (pelagic, highly vagile), Merluccius gayi (demersal, highly vagile), Sebastes capensis (demersal, low vagility) and Hippoglossina macrops (benthic, non‐vagile).
Environmental risk assessment on aquatic-terrestrial gradients in a freshwater tidal area

Environmental risk assessments are generally performed for either terrestrial or aquatic systems, while these systems sometimes exist in close proximity. The objective of this study is to compare environmental risks along gradients from aquatic to terrestrial conditions. The assessment involved chemical analysis (including bioavailable fractions), as well as bioassays and bioaccumulation experiments using aquatic and terrestrial organisms. The results demonstrate that sediments and soils from neighbouring aquatic and terrestrial systems may render different assessments in terms of environmental risks. Metal availability for oligochaetes appeared to be limited in the aquatic environment as compared to the terrestrial environment, while the reverse was observed for organic contaminants. This paper aims to illustrate the use of various assessment techniques within a framework to compare ecological risks in aquatic and terrestrial environments. The obtained results are useful when considering (a prioritisation of) remedial actions.
On the evolutionary adjustment of spontaneous mutation rates

Evolutionary factors which tend to decrease the mutation rate through natural selection and those which tend to increase the mutation rate are discussed from the standpoint of population genetics. The author's theory of optimum mutation rate based on the principle of minimum genetic load is re-examined, assuming that mutation rate is adjusted in the course of evolution in such a way that the sum of mutational and substitutional load is minimized. Another hypothesis is also examined that only selection toward lowering the mutation rate is effective and the present mutation rate in each organism represents the physical or physiological limit that may be attained by natural selection.The possibility cannot be excluded that the spontaneous mutation rate is near the minimum that may be attained under the present mode of organization of the genetic material, and at the same time is not very far from the optimum in the sense of minimizing the genetic load.
Iκβα Is Essential for Maintaining Basal c-Jun N-Terminal Kinase (JNK) Activation and Regulating JNK-Mediated Resistance to Tumor Necrosis Factor Cytotoxicity in L929 Cells

Abstract Early activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) is believed to block apoptosis in response to death signals such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Brief exposure of murine L929 fibroblasts to anisomycin for 1 hr to activate JNK resulted in resistance to TNF killing. TNF rapidly induced cytoplasmic shrinkage in control cells, but not in the anisomycin-pretreated L929 cells. However, the induced TNF resistance was suppressed in the L929 cells which were engineered to stably inhibit Iκβα protein expression by antisense mRNA (∼80% reduction in protein expression). No constitutive NF-κB nuclear translocation and increased TNF resistance were found in these Iκβα antisense cells. Notably, these cells had a significantly reduced basal level of JNK activation (50–70%), compared to vector control cells. Furthermore, brief exposure of L929 cells to wortmannin, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase), resulted in resistance to TNF killing, probably due to preconsumption of caspases by wortmannin. Nonetheless, wortmannin-induced TNF resistance was suppressed in the Iκβα antisense cells. Thus, these observations indicate that Iκβα is essential for maintaining the basal level of JNK activation and regulating the JNK-induced TNF resistance.
Do avian predators select for seasonal polyphenism in the European map butterfly Araschnia levana (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)?

Seasonal polyphenism in animal colour patterns indicates that temporal variation in selection pressures maintains phenotypic plasticity. Spring generation of the polyphenic European map butterfly Araschnia levana has an orange–black fritillary-like pattern whilst individuals of the summer generation are black with white bands across the wings. What selects for the colour difference is unknown. Because predation is a major selection pressure for insect coloration, we first tested whether map butterfly coloration could have a warning function (i.e. whether the butterflies are unpalatable to birds). In a following field experiment with butterfly dummies we tested whether the spring form is better protected than the summer form from predators in the spring, and vice versa in the summer. The butterflies were palatable to birds (blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus) and in the field the spring and summer form dummies were attacked equally irrespective of season. Therefore, we found no evidence that the map butterfly is warning-coloured or that seasonal polyphenism is an adaptation to avian predation. Because insect coloration has multiple functions and map butterfly coloration is linked to morphology, life history and development it is likely that the interplay of several selection pressures explains the evolution of colour polyphenism. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, ••, ••–••.
In vitro studies on cytochrome c biogenesis

﻿ C -type cytochromes are essential for almost all organisms and are mainly involved in electron transport; they are characterised by the covalent attachment of heme to protein through two thioether bonds to a CXXCH peptide motif. This thesis describes the development of in vitro systems to establish chemical aspects of the process of cytochrome c maturation. Initially, the uncatalysed reaction of heme and apocytochrome c from Hydrogenobacter thermophilus cytochrome c 552 was studied in vitro , yielding the desired thioether bonds under mild conditions and in the absence of any biosynthesis apparatus. The reaction proceeded via a b -type cytochrome intermediate, showing the ability of the apoprotein to bind heme noncovalently prior to thioether bond formation. It was also determined that the two cysteine residues of the CXXCH motif can form a disulfide. Optimal reaction conditions for thioether bond formation required both the heme and the cysteine residues to be reduced. Mechanistic insights were gained by showing that the thioether bonds can form independently from one another. Furthermore, it was shown that, in the case of H. thermophilus apocytochrome, thioether bonds can form stereoselectively with respect to the α, 𝛾 mesoaxis of heme. These findings were extended to a broader range of apocytochromes. It was discovered that mitochondrial apocytochromes c from horse heart and yeast also formed thioether bonds with heme, as well as the bacterial Paracoccus denitrificans apocytochrome c 550 . It was established that apocytochromes show a trend to bind hydrophobic ligands or heme to yield b -type cytochromes. Thioether bonds can form in vitro in these heme-protein complexes. In the second part of this thesis the heme chaperone CcmE, which is part of the cytochrome c biogenesis apparatus in many Gram-negative bacteria, was studied as an extension to the establishment of in vitro systems. It was discovered that CcmE can bind heme initially non-covalently and then covalently upon reduction of the heme. However, CcmE seems to have a preference for ferric rather than ferrous heme. The involvement of the vinyl groups of heme is suggested. Mutation of the heme-binding histidine residue of CcmE established the involvement of this residue in the covalent binding of heme for the in vitro reaction; mechanistic insights were gained from the observation that a histidine to cysteine mutant could still bind heme covalently in vivo and in vitro . Effects of the presence of a His tag on CcmE were shown and are discussed. Furthermore, in vitro heme transfer from CcmE to certain apocytochromes c was achieved. All these in vitro results mimic, and thus have implications for, the molecular pathway of heme transfer during the complex process of c -type cytochrome maturation in vivo .
LA FALTA DE UN PLAN DE SUCESIÓN GENERACIONAL EN LAS EMPRESAS FAMILIARES Y LA CREACIÓN DE UN PROTOCOLO FAMILIAR

El trabajo se encuentra dirigido a analizar la ausencia de un plan de sucesion en aquellas empresas que son de tipo familiar, debido a dificultad que suele presentarse al momento de traspasar el cargo generacional a otra persona de la misma familia. En el seno familiar, se puede distinguir la finalidad, de crear riquezas, por lo que se puede desarrollar la obtencion de este fin, siempre y cuando que una autoridad inferior se someta a las ordenes de una autoridad superior, y que el bien comun sea el objetivo de aquellos colaboradores de la empresa, por el contrario sino se presta atencion a estas direcciones, la empresa familiar se vera afectada en todas y cada una de las trampas que le acecharan. Es por esto, el objetivo de este trabajo, es recomendar a estas empresas y darles la oportunidad a los miembros de la familia para formar un buen protocolo familiar para el bien en general. Para esto, el proyecto se ha enfocado en realizar estudios a personas que formen partes de empresas familiares, y sus opiniones de como han experimentado los casos ya expuestos.
Molecular Mechanisms of IL-2 Gene Regulation Following Costimulation Through LFA-11

The integrin LFA-1 serves as an accessory molecule in T cell activation. In addition to its well-known role as an adhesion molecule, LFA-1 can contribute to T cell activation and up-regulation of IL-2 gene expression. However, the specific mechanisms by which LFA-1 influences T cell activation have not been elucidated. Therefore, we examined the impact of LFA-1:ICAM-1 interactions on transcriptional and posttranscriptional IL-2 gene regulation, using a costimulation-negative cell line transfected with MHC class II alone, or in combination with ICAM-1 or B7-1. IL-2 transcription was assessed utilizing transgenic mice expressing an IL-2 promoter luciferase reporter construct crossed to DO11.10 TCR-transgenic mice, and IL-2 mRNA stability was evaluated by real-time RT-PCR. Comparison of naive and previously activated T cells demonstrates a dramatic increase in IL-2-luciferase transcription in activated T cells that can, in part, be attributed to downstream signaling events. Costimulation through LFA-1 enhances transcription of the transgenic reporter construct across a wide Ag dose range, but does not affect IL-2 mRNA stability. In contrast, CD28 costimulation is clearly mediated through up-regulation of IL-2 transcription and through enhancement of mRNA stability. These results indicate that the primary pathway whereby engagement of LFA-1 through its ligand ICAM-1 up-regulates IL-2 gene expression is through enhanced IL-2 transcription, in the absence of any effect on IL-2 mRNA stabilization.
Effect of egg incubation temperature on the occurrence of skeletal deformities in Solea senegalensis

Summary Temperature is a factor known to have a marked influence on metabolism and consequently on development, inducing ontogenetic plasticity in fish larvae. In this study, three different temperatures (15, 18 and 21� C) were assayed during Solea senegalensis embryonic development prior to hatching. After hatching all larvae were reared at the same temperature (21.0 ± 0.1� C) until 30 days. We observed that lowering the incubation temperature from 21 to 15� C reduced the incidence of skeletal deformities from 80 to 60%. Intermediate incubation temperature (18� C), resulted in larvae that displayed a rate of abnormalities close to that observed at 15� C (64%). A similar typology of deformities was observed in fish from all rearing temperatures, with caudal vertebra being the most affected structures and with a low incidence of cranial and appendicular deformities. The effect of temperature in developmental plasticity will lead to osteological abnormalities mainly affecting the caudal vertebrae at 18� C (30%) and particularly the preural vertebra at 15� C (55%). Our results, clearly demonstrate a significant effect of water temperature during egg incubation on the skeletal development of Senegalese sole, indicating that 18� C is the most appropriated temperature. These findings highlight the importance of tightly controlling temperature regimes during the early development of S. senegalensis, and the need for optimizing rearing protocols in order to avoid skeletal disorders or impaired growth.
Packing of α-Helical Coiled-Coil Myosin Rods in Vertebrate Muscle Thick Filaments

Abstract Muscle myosin filament backbones are aggregates of long coiled-coil α-helical myosin rods, with the myosin heads arranged approximately helically on the filament surface, but the details of the rod packing are not known. Computed Fourier transforms of plausible molecular packing models for the vertebrate striated muscle myosin filament have been compared with observed high-angle X-ray diffraction patterns from plaice fin muscle. Models considered include those in which the coiled-coil rod parts of myosin are packed into various kinds of subfilaments or into a curved molecular crystalline layer. A general conclusion is that if the myosin rods are tilted by less than about 1° or more than about 3° from the filament long axis, very poor agreement is obtained between the computed and observed high-angle diffraction patterns. Qualitative comparison of calculated Fourier transforms, taken together with electron micrograph information, shows that the curved molecular crystal model and a model with hexagonally close-packed 4-nm subfilaments appear to explain the whole set of observations more satisfactorily than the alternatives. It is argued on other grounds that of these two possibilities the curved molecular crystal model is the more plausible.
Effect of essential oils from Eucalyptus on the growth of aflatoxigenic species.

In Brazil, Eucalyptus species has been cultivated as source of energy and cellulose. They represent the most important cultivated forest in the country. In production areas, the leaves from the trees decay on the soil as green fertilizer. In this study were evaluated pure and blends of essential oils from different species of eucalyptus trees grown in Brazil for antifungal activity against aflatoxigenic species Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus . These fungal species can grow and contaminate grains during the storage period under high r.h. conditions, with an eventual production of aflatoxins. Antifungal activity was evaluated by the radial growth measurement of the fungi inoculated on maize meal extract agar basic medium. The eucalyptus oils were evaluated in a contact assay and a fumigant assay using pure and blended oils. Six concentrations of pure and blended oils were evaluated at the following doses: 0, 2, 4, 16, 32 and 84 μL per 20 mL of fungi culture medium. Fungal inocula from conidia suspensions containing 106 spores/mL was inoculated by a needle. Glass Petri dishes were incubated for 9 days at 28°C (± 0.3°C) in the dark. Antifungal activity was observed in all pure and blended oils, in different concentrations of contact and fumigant assay, for both fungi. Eucalyptus stageiriana oil and E. stageiriana + the hybrid E. grandis x E. urophylla oils blend controlled the total fungal growth at the lowest dose (20 μL). Keywords : Essential oil; Eucalyptus spp. ; Aspergillus flavus; Aspergillus parasiticus ; Antifungal activity.