Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effects of hypoxia on fishes: from ecological relevance to physiological effects

Hypoxia is an ever increasing threat to aquatic systems. While fluctuating levels of dissolved oxygen (DO) can be a natural phenomenon, hypoxia caused by eutrophication and organic pollution is now considered to be amongst the most pressing and critical water pollution problems in the world, particularly in densely populated regions. The effects of low DO on fishes are an area of great concern and thriving study. Researchers have examined the effects of low DO on fishes from the cellular to community level. The purpose of the current paper is to review the effects of low DO on complex fish behaviour, community and fish physiology. Our review will also highlight studies in which DO is known to interact with a known contaminant. Throughout the paper we will highlight areas in need of future research such as chronic exposure, interactive effects of DO and contaminants, an increased understanding of how hypoxia affects communities of organisms, and finally a need for an increase in freshwater studies.
Detecting the non-native Grateloupia turuturu (Halymeniales, Rhodophyta) in southern Brazil

Abstract: Grateloupia turuturu is a Pacific native species with invasive behaviour that leads to a wide distribution around the world. This study reports collections of fertile tetrasporophytes and female gametophytes of G. turuturu on southern Brazilian coasts and constitutes its first record for the south-western Atlantic. The identity of G. turuturu was confirmed through molecular (COI-5P and rbcL markers) and morphological assessments. Putative paths of introduction are discussed.
Biosynthesis of pectin

Pectin consists of a group of acidic polysaccharides that constitute a large part of the cell wall of plants. The pectic polysaccharides have a complex structure but can generally be divided into homogalacturonan, rhamnogalacturonan I, rhamnogalacturonan II (RGII) and xylogalacturonan (XGA). These polysaccharides appear to be present in all cells but their relative abundance and structural details differ between cell types and species. Pectin is synthesized in the Golgi vesicles and its complexity dictates that a large number of enzymes must be involved in the process. The biosynthetic enzymes required are glycosyltransferases and decorating enzymes including methyltransferases, acetyltransferases and feruloyltransferases. Biochemical methods successfully led to the recent identification of a pectin biosynthetic galacturonosyltransferase (GAUT1), and recent functional genomics and mutant studies have allowed the identification of several biosynthetic enzymes involved in making different parts of pectin. Strong evidence has been obtained for two xylosyltransferases (RGXT1 and RGXT2) with documented in vitro activity and apparently involved in making a side chain of RGII. Strong circumstantial evidence has been obtained for a putative glucuronosyltransferase (GUT1) involved in making RGII, a putative arabinosyltransferase (ARAD1) involved in making arabinan, and a putative xylosyltransferase (XGD1) involved in making XGA. In several other cases, enzymes have been identified as involved in making pectin but because of ambiguity in the cell wall compositions of mutants and lack of direct biochemical evidence their specific activities are more uncertain.
Two variants of wild emmer (Triticum dicoccoides) native to Israel: morphology and distribution

A detailed morphological comparison between the narrow-spiked and the wide-spiked variants of Triticum dicoccoides growing in Israel revealed significant differences that became evident in almost all organs, both vegetative and reproductive, in juvenile and adult stages, on macro- and micro-morphological levels. Phenologically the two variants are also distinct, the narrow-spiked one usually heading later. While the narrow-spiked form is widely distributed in Israel, covering the entire range of T. dicoccoides in this country, the wide-spiked form is restricted to the vicinity of Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) and to Mt. Gilboa. Spike color was not found to be a stable character in either variant of T. dicoccoides and therefore cannot be used as a criterion for infraspecific taxonomy. A tendency to increase grain number in a spikelet to three was observed in both variants, but it was expressed more strongly in the wide-spiked one. Key words: Triticum dicoccoides, wild emmer, intraspecific variation.
La diversité génétique du VIH1

L'analyse phylogenetique de nombreuses souches du VIH1 d'origine geographique diverse a revele trois grands groupes distincts de virus nommes M, N et O. La grande majorite des souches responsables de la pandemie appartiennent au groupe M, dans lequel on distingue plusieurs sous-types et pres de 20 % des isolats sont recombinants, avec des parties du genome appartenant a des sous-types differents. Certains virus mosaiques sont uniques ou limites a des petits groupes de transmission ; cependant, d'autres jouent un role majeur dans l'epidemie globale du sida. Ils sont actuellement appeles : circulating recombinants forms ou CRF. Les sous-types ou CRF doivent se ressembler entre eux sur le genome entier. Sur cette base, il y aurait seulement neuf sous-types au sein du groupe M (A, B, C, D, F, G, H, J et K) puisque les virus des prototypes E et I dans l'enveloppe sont recombinants. La designation des sous-types est un marqueur moleculaire puissant pour suivre l'evolution de l'epidemie du VIH1. Globalement, les formes virales qui predominent dans le monde sont les sous-types A et C, suivi des recombinants CRF01-AE (initialement sous-type E) et CRF02-AG (identique a la souche prototype IBNG du Nigeria) et le sous-type B. La plus grande diversite genetique du VIH1 est observee en Afrique ou tous les sous-types et groupes circulent. La repartition geographique des sous-types est evolutive, l'apparition des virus recombinants continuera d'augmenter tant que les differents sous-types du VIH1 se propageront a travers tous les continents et que les virus recombinants continueront a se recombiner.
Variation in Dry Mass Concentrations and Protein Contents in DNA Puffs

SUMMARYVariations on total dry mass concentrations and relative amounts of histones and non-histone proteins were estimated in the chromosome C of Bradysia hygida salivary glands by means of interferometric, cytophotometric and cytofluorometric procedures.Unpuffed region, C3, used as a control, showed a dry mass value equal to 29.3 × 10−12 g in the various larval phases studied. The regions C4, C5, and C7 displayed dry mass values increased during formation of the DNA puffs and subsequently decreased during puff regression. The region C4 exhibited the largest dry mass values, namely 41.73 times; 10−12 g (m5 phase), 184,50 × 10−12 g (m7+ phase), and 86,53 × 10−12 g (m7+ phase). In this case there was a 53.1% dry mass loss during puff regression, but proteins are not involved in such phenomenon. The data are discussed in terms of the function ascribed for the non-histone proteins concerned with gene activity and chromosome structure.
Factores de explotación asociados a la duración del anestro postparto en vacas nodrizas de razas Parda de Montaña y Pirenaica

Management factors associated to the duration of postpartum anoestrus interval in Brown Swiss and Pirenaica beef cows A global analysis of several productive indicators and the postpartum anoestrous interval (PPI) of 549 beef cows was carried out to determine the management factors related with postpartum ovarian reactivation in extensive mountain farming systems. Multivariate statistic methods (Multiple Correspondence Analysis and Cluster Analysis) were used to analyse the data due to the multifactorial nature of the processes involved. PPI was associated to four factors that explained 59% of the total inertia of the sample and were defined as follows: «Prepartum feeding level» (19% of the inertia), «Postpartum feeding level-Parity» (16.4%), «Suckling frequency» (13%) and «Calving difficulty» (10.5%). These factors were introduced into a Cluster Analysis that identified five types of cows: «Primiparous cows», «Twicedaily suckling», «Ad libitum suckling-Brown Swiss», «Autumn calving season» and «Spring calving season». Cow breed was not related to PPI, although the Cluster Analysis associated the suckling-induced prolonged PPI with Brown Swiss animals. In Brown Swiss breed, PPI was longer in the spring than in the autumn due to nutritional differences rather than to a seasonal effect. Autumn calving was better adapted to dry mountain conditions.
Reactive oxygen species in legume and actinorhizal nitrogen-fixing symbioses: the microsymbiont’s responses to an unfriendly reception

The plant responses to infection by pathogenic bacteria have been extensively reviewed in recent years, including the spatial and temporal production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The immediate and localized release of ROS upon infection, known as the oxidative burst, was shown not only to be part of the hypersensitive response but also likely responsible for mediating, directly or via signal transduction pathways, other plant defence strategies. This paradigm inspired studies in nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbioses, and a parallelism is unavoidable. In rhizobia–legume symbioses, histochemical data revealed the presence of ROS in the host infection threads and in the root nodules primordia. On the other hand, in actinorhizal infections, it has been shown that Alnus glutinosa root exudates induce several oxidative stress response-related proteins in compatible Frankia. These data suggest that the nitrogen-fixing microsymbionts must have had to evolve adaptations to overcome and possibly regulate an unfriendly environment. In this review, particular emphasis will be given to the bacteria antioxidant mechanisms at different developmental stages of the nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbioses.
Interaction of Methoxychlor and Related Compounds with Estrogen Receptor α and β, and Androgen Receptor: Structure-Activity Studies

We previously demonstrated differential interactions of the methoxychlor metabolite 2,2-bis( p -hydroxyphenyl)-1,1,1-trichloroethane (HPTE) with estrogen receptor α (ERα), ERβ, and the androgen receptor (AR). In this study, we characterize the ERα, ERβ, and AR activity of structurally related methoxychlor metabolites. Human hepatoma cells (HepG2) were transiently transfected with human ERα, ERβ, and AR plus an appropriate steroid-responsive luciferase reporter vector. After transfection, cells were treated with various concentrations of HPTE or structurally related compounds in the presence (for detecting antagonism) and absence (for detecting agonism) of 17β-estradiol and dihydrotestosterone. The monohydroxy analog of methoxychlor, as well as monohydroxy and dihydroxy analogs of 2,2-bis( p -hydroxyphenyl)-1,1-dichloroethylene, had ERα agonist activity and ERβ and AR antagonist activity similar to HPTE. The trihydroxy metabolite of methoxychlor displayed only weak ERα agonist activity and did not alter ERβ or AR activities. Replacement of the trichloroethane or dichloroethylene group with a methyl group resulted in a compound with ERα and ERβ agonist activity that retained antiandrogenic activities. This study identifies some of the structural requirements for ERα and ERβ activity and demonstrates the complexity involved in determining the mechanism of action of endocrine-active chemicals that simultaneously act as agonists or antagonists through one or more hormone receptors.
Effect of fungus inoculation on the number of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae) carried by Monochamus alternatus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

Blue-stain fungi were mainly isolated from the wood of pine wilt-killed Pinus densiflora. Intense blue-stain on the pupal chamber walls of the Japanese pine sawyer (Monochamus alternatus) increased the number of pinewood nematodes (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) aggregating around such chambers and the number carried by the beetles that emerged from the chambers. There were differences in the numbers of nematodes carried by beetles among individual trees from which the beetles emerged. The beetles emerging from dry chambers carried relatively few nematodes.
The Role of Proprioceptive Signals in the Crayfish Escape Circuit

Abstract A single proprioceptor in the tailfan of the crayfish, Procambarus clarkii (Girard), innervated by only twelve sensory neurones encodes the position and the direction and velocity of movement of the exopodite relative to the endopodite. Most of the sensory neurones project to, and terminate in, the terminal abdominal ganglion where they form a map in which projection position is based on the velocity threshold of the sensory neurone. The sensory signals from this small proprioceptor have significant effects on the neuronal circuits mediating escape swimming and activate the lateral giant interneurone directly through monosynaptic connections and indirectly via a disynaptic pathway involving a number of interposed intersegmental interneurones. The lateral giant interneurones are activated through electrical synapses whereas the ascending interneurones in the disynaptic pathway are excited through both electrical and chemical synapses. The proprioceptive signals are also responsible for evoking widespread presynaptic inhibition of exteroceptive afferents that reduces the efficacy of their outputs. This pathway therefore reduces afference caused by water movement as a result of an animals own escape movements. Movements of the chordotonal organ also lead to a delayed input to giant motor neurone that is timed to occur during flexion movements of the abdomen. Thus not only do the proprioceptive signals activate the escape pathway leading to a tail-flip, but they also protect it from unwanted sensory input, and may also prevent depression of its neuromuscular synapses.
Primary Hepatocytes from Mice Treated with IL-2/IL-12 Produce T Cell Chemoattractant Activity that Is Dependent on Monokine Induced by IFN-γ (Mig) and Chemokine Responsive to γ-2 (Crg-2)1

The IFN-γ-inducible proteins monokine induced by IFN-γ (Mig) and chemokine responsive to γ-2 (Crg-2) can contribute to IL-12-induced antiangiogenic and leukocyte-recruiting activities, but the extent to which leukocytes vs parenchymal cells in different organs contribute to the production of these molecules remains unclear. The results presented herein show that IFN-γ-dependent induction of Mig and Crg-2 gene expression can occur in many nonlymphoid organs, and these genes are rapidly induced in purified hepatocytes isolated from mice treated with IL-2 plus IL-12, or from Hepa 1-6 hepatoma cells treated in vitro with IFN-γ. In addition to depending on IFN-γ, the ability of IL-12 or IL-2/IL-12 to induce Mig and Crg-2 gene expression in purified hepatocytes also is accompanied by the coordinate up-regulation of the IFN-γ R α and β-chains, in the absence of IL-12R components. Supernatants of primary hepatocytes obtained from mice treated in vivo with IL-2/IL-12 or from hepatocytes treated in vitro with IFN-γ contain increased chemotactic activity for enriched human and mouse CD3+ T cells, as well as mouse DX5+ NK cells. The hepatocyte-derived chemotactic activity for mouse T cells but not NK cells was ablated by Abs specific for Mig and Crg-2. These results suggest that parenchymal cells in some organs may contribute substantially to initiation and/or amplification of inflammatory or antitumor responses.
Balanço de energia e controle biofísico da evapotranspiração na Caatinga em condições de seca intensa

The objective of this work was to determine seasonal variation in energy balance components and to evaluate the biophysical control of evapotranspiration in a preserved Caatinga area, under intense drought conditions. The experiment was conducted in 2012, using the eddy covariance system, installed at 16.9 m above soil surface. In addition, temperature, humidity, solar radiation, net radiation, soil heat flux, and soil temperature were measured. Data on the sensible and latent heat fluxes were processed with the Alteddy software and analyzed on daily and seasonal scales. Using the latent heat flux data, the evapotranspiration rates were determined, as well as the indicators of their sensitivity to environmental conditions: decoupling factor, and aerodynamical and surface resistances. The net radiation showed a strong seasonality, with behavior dependent on solar radiation. The partition of the energy balance components revealed that the occurrence of intense drought maximizes the destination of the available energy to sensible heat flux, and that evapotranspiration under this condition is specifically dependent on the vapor pressure deficit and on the surface resistance.
In vitro evidence for the ionoregulatory role of rainbow trout mucus in acid, acid/aluminium and zinc toxicity

Rainbow trout body mucus dialysed with acidified distilled water at pH 7,5 and 3 experienced ion depletion which was greatest at pH 3 and minimal between pH 7 and 5. Mucus Na+ loss is exacerbated in the presence of 1 mg I−1 aluminium as A12(SO4), at pH 5 and 7. Al2(SO4), causes greater depletion of Na+ from mucus than A1C13. A lethal level of zinc (2 mg 1−1) does not deplete mucus Na− or K+, unlike a lethal level of aluminium (1 mg 1−1) at pH 7. The results are discussed in terms of the ionoregulatory role of mucus in heavy metal and acid toxicity.
Bacterial diversity and functionalities in food fermentations

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) play a central role in several food fermentations, producing lactic acid besides other metabolic actions. Popular fermented foods that rely on the use of LAB include fermented meats, sourdoughs, and fermented dairy products. During fermentation, LAB are frequently accompanied by other microorganisms, such as coagulase‐negative staphylococci (CNS), yeasts, and filamentous fungi. Whereas fermentation was originally a spontaneous and empiric process, most industrial processes make now use of starter cultures to speed up the fermentation process and standardise the end products and to reduce the risks on misfermentation. A drawback of using commercial starter cultures is their suboptimal selection, which is often solely based on mere technological features. Currently, functional starter cultures are being developed to further optimise the process and to yield additional nutritional, safety, and quality benefits. Specific metabolic properties are being sought for, with a focus on novel, interesting molecules that may, for instance, inhibit undesirable microorganisms, display nutraceutical properties, or contribute to flavour and texture attributes.
Hydrolysis kinetics of thifensulfuron methyl in aqueous buffer solutions

The hydrolysis of thifensulfuron methyl and thifensulfuron were investigated in buffered aqueous solutions with pH values of 4, 5, 9, and 10. Hydrolysis of thifensulfuron methyl was pH dependent and relatively fast both in acidic and alkaline buffer solutions. In the case of thifensulfuron, hydrolysis rates were of the same order of magnitude as thifensulfuron methyl at acidic pH, but very low at alkaline pH. In acidic solutions, cleavage of the sulfonylurea bridge and O-demethylation of the methoxy group of the triazine ring occurred concurrently. The resulting intermediates gave two parallel reactions: cleavage of the sulfonylurea bridge and opening of the triazine ring. The relative rates of the different hydrolysis pathways were influenced by the pKa of compounds. At alkaline pH, thifensulfuron methyl hydrolyzed to thifensulfuron, which was slowly transformed by cleavage of the sulfonylurea bridge and O-demethylation. Keywords: Sulfonylurea herbicide; hydrolysis; thifensulfuron methyl
To sink or float: the fate of dormant offspring is determined by maternal behaviour in Daphnia

SUMMARY 1. As the ephippia (chitinous shells enclosing diapausing eggs) of pelagic crustaceans of the genus Daphnia have been occasionally reported to float at the water surface, we considered that this might be an adaptation promoting their passive dispersal. We investigated the mechanisms by which ephippia appear at the water surface. 2. While field surveys revealed that floating Daphnia ephippia are often numerous in various freshwater habitats, laboratory tests showed that newly formed ephippia are not buoyant initially. Once transferred to the surface by whatever means, however, they may remain there due either to surface tension or gas absorption. 3. Video recordings showed that all ephippia at the water surface in laboratory vessels were shed there by ephippial females when moulting (despite the attendant risk of exposure to UV radiation). This implies that the moulting behaviour of female Daphnia may determine the fate of their dormant offspring, predetermining whether they remain in the natal environment (when the ephippium is released into the water column) or disperse (when it is deposited at the water surface). 4. Our findings reveal a potential mechanism underlying the high dispersal capacity of freshwater cladocerans inhabiting island-like aquatic habitats.
Inheritance of the Number of Ovules per Ovary and Selection of Cacao Genotypes

We have characterized the number of ovules per ovary (NoOV) in cacao plants originated from crossing the clones CCN 51 and TSH 1188 (segregating progeny) and determined the heritability of this characteristic in order to select plants with higher NoOV in this progeny. The NoOV was calculated as the average of 10 flowers per plant and ranged from 44.8 to 58.6 between the six clones (two parents and four clones belonging to their genealogy). In the progeny (n = 209 plants) the NoOV averaged 54.3 (range 44.1 to 67.8). The NoOV was distributed uniformly among the progeny indicating that this trait is conditioned by polygenes. Its heritability was estimated at 67.7%. The 32 plants with NoOV similar or superior to the genitor CCN 51 (highest amount among clones) were selected for use in the genetic improvement program. We showed that this population is suitable for genetic mapping, molecular marker identification and selection of superior cacao genotypes.
The effect of pH on the population growth of three species of duckweed: Spirodela oligorrhiza, Lemna minor and Wolffia arrhiza

Summary Three species of duckweed, Spirodela oligorrhiza, Lemna minor and Wolffia arrhiza were grown under aseptic conditions on both buffered and unbuffered solutions of Jacob's media. Media with manually regulated pH levels were also used. Growth on unbuffered media is initially rapid but eventually inhibited, probably by increased pH levels. On buffered media growth is poor and effects of buffers cannot be separated out. These media give inadequate pictures of the species’ responses to changes in pH. Growth is most successful on media with regulated pH where sustained logarithmic population increases were achieved. Spirodela and Lemna rates are symmetrical about an almost neutral, optimal pH, declining fairly rapidly away from the optimum. Wolffia has an optimum at pH 5 and growth declined with increasing pH. All three species have optima at, or below, the neutral point. The range of tolerance of duckweeds is broader than has previously been suspected. Estimated lower limits, optimum and upper limits for each species are: Wolffia, pH 4·5–0·10, Lemna pH 4–6·2–10, Spirodela pH 3·7–0·10. Growth rate along a pH gradient is best described by means of polynomial equations: second-degree equations are sufficient for Spirodela and Lemna but a fifth-degree equation is required for Wolffia. Rates of population growth are similar for all species. In decreasing order they are: Wolffia, Lemna, Spirodela. However, in biomass units Lemna grew more than six and Spirodela seventeen times faster than Wolffia.