Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genetic characterization of the partial restorer of fertility gene, Rf8 , in T cytoplasm maize

Texas (T) cytoplasm maize (Zea mays L.) is a model system for studying cytoplasmic male sterility and fertility restoration. The mitochondrial gene responsible for male sterility is T-urf13. Fertility is restored to T cytoplasm maize by the combined action of two nuclear genes, Rf1 and Rf2a. Rf1 is associated with the accumulation of additional 1.6/0.6 kb Turf13 transcripts while Rf2a is an aldehyde dehydrogenase and not involved in transcript accumulation. There are also partial restorers of fertility for T cytoplasm. Rf8 and Rf*, with the combined action of Rf2a, restore partial fertility and are associated with the accumulation of additional 1.42/0.42and 1.4/0.4-kb T-urf13 transcripts, respectively. Rf8 was positioned on the long arm of chromosome 2 near white pollen (whp1) using a segregating backcross population. PCR markers were developed to map Rf8. Flanking PCR markers that span a physical distance of 4.56 Mb in the B73 maize genome sequence correspond to a genetic distance of 8.28 ± 3.25 cM. This region includes seven pentatricopeptide repeat genes. Partially male-fertile plants segregated for the presence or absence of the Rf8-associated transcripts, indicating that presence of the 1.42/0.42-kb transcript is not necessary for anther exertion. Fertility phenotypes decreased with successive generations of backcrossing to (N) W64A, where as re-introducing the (N) wx1-m8 background increased fertility. The day after planting to the first flowering was observed for partially fertile and mostly fertile plants. Mostly male-fertile plants flowered 2.7 to 3.4 days earlier than partially male-fertile plants. These results demonstrate the flanking region rf8 is located in and the possibility that male fertility is under the control of more than one nuclear locus.
The behaviour and ecology of the buffy-headed marmoset, Callithrix flaviceps (O. Thomas, 1903)

This thesis presents the results of the first long-term field study of the buffy-headed marmoset, Callirhrix flaviceps, a rare primate species with a small natural range in southeastern Brazil. The introductory discussion presents the species in the context of a review of the available literature on the taxonomy, evolution, behaviour and ecology of the primates of the family Callitrichidae. The study animals, study site and methodology are then described. A detailed description of seasonal fluctuations in the abundance and distribution of dietary resources at the site provides a frame of reference for the analysis of the study group's behaviour. General patterns in the group's use of time and space are outlined in the context of these variables and comparisons are made with other callitrichid species. A number of behavioural strategies are identified. A more detailed analysis of seasonal patterns in the group's foraging and feeding behaviour emphasizes the systematic nature of its exploitation of resources. The gum-feeding adaptation of the marmosets is seen as having far-reaching implications for many aspects of their behaviour and ecology. Behavioural specialisations for the capture of certain types of prey and the exploitation of secondary and disturbed forest habitats are also proposed. It is concluded that most features of the group's foraging behaviour support predictions drawn from optimality models, in the context of an overall 'time-minimising' strategy in particular. As much of the behavioural repertoire of this species appears to be broadly similar to that of other callitrichids, these findings offer a number of important insights into their ecological adaptations.
Climate change and Manipur: Preparations, problems and awareness to face it

Climate change in recent decades is a global phenomenon arising out of human activities due to disturbance in the natural balance of greenhouse gases which maintains the temperature of earth at a normal habitable level. It is unfortunate that human activities have been making the blanket of greenhouse gas thicker, resulting in enhanced greenhouse effect. Carbon emissions from fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil burnings in factories, power stations and industries have been increasing from about 1600 million tones of CO2 in 1950 to 6000 million tonnes in 2000. The resulting thickness has disturbed the global climate system resulting in global warming and drastic changes in food production, distribution of mineral wealth, availability of drinking water and forest yields have been forecasted. It also would affect the health, agriculture, forest and bio-diversity sectors to a great extent. Floods, draughts, famine, species extinction, rise in sea level, sinking of low lying areas are projected. Climate change being a global phenomenon requires global efforts to control it. Manipur as a unit in line with the national objectives has prepared a state action plan to face it. Already the changing trends in temperature, humidity, rainfall have been found out and projected outcomes had already been calculated. The problem areas have been identified and an institutional mechanism had been set up with concerned ministers and top bureaucrats of the government. Besides the general problems of population growth, urbanization, industrialization, deforestation, elevation of lakes, lacunae in the administration of laws, it is felt that there is lack of awareness. It is the role of media to create a public perception to control the climate change by limiting his activities that are harmful to the environment and by doing environment friendly activities.
DEGRADASI BAHAN KERING DAN BAHAN ORGANIK DENGAN BERBAGAI LEVEL JERAMI PADI SECARA IN SACCO PADA KAMBING JAWARANDU

Usaha peningkatan produksi ruminansia perlu diimbangi dengan penyediaan pakan hijauan secara kontinyu baik dalam segi kuantitas maupun kualitas. Namun sering kali peningkatan usaha produksi dihadapkan oleh ketersediaan jumlah pakan terutama pada saat musim kemarau. Oleh karena itu, perlu dicari pakan alternatif yang dapat digunakan untuk memenuhi kebutuhan ternak tersebut salah satunya dengan pemanfaatan limbah pertanian. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah mengetahui degradasi nutrien ransum dengan berbagai level jerami padi dan menentukan imbangan terbaiknya sebagai pakan ternak. Data a, b, c dan DT yang diperoleh selanjutnya dianalisis secara statistik berdasarkan rancangan acak lengkap (RAL) adanya pengaruh antar perlakuan pakan dilanjutkan dengan uji jarak berganda Duncan. Ransum perlakuan disusun iso protein kasar (PK) dan total digestyble nutrients (TDN) dengan kandungan 12% PK dan 64% TDN. Perlakuan level jerami padi yang digunakan yaitu P1=25%, P2=30%, P3=35% dan P4=40%. Ransum standar (P0) untuk pakan sehari-hari (PK 12% dan TDN 60%) digunakan sebagai pembanding nilai a, b, c dan DT dari keempat perlakuan tanpa diujikan secara statistik. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa terdapat pengaruh yang nyata (P< 0,05) fraksi a, b dan DT degradasi bahan kering ransum perlakuan sedangkan pada nilai c tidak terdapat pengaruh nyata. Pada degradasi bahan organik menunjukkan bahwa terdapat pengaruh yang nyata (P<0,05) pada fraksi a, fraksi b, nilai c dan DT. Kata Kunci : jerami padi, ransum, degradasi, in sacco
The structure of the male proboscis in the New Guinean tree frogs, Litoria pronimia and Litoria havina (Anura : Hylidae)

Abstract. At least three species of New Guinean tree frogs (Litoria) are sexually dimorphic in that the snout of the male is projected into a proboscis, which is poorly developed or absent in females. In this paper the anatomy of the proboscis in the male Litoria pronimia is described and compared with the structure of the smaller proboscis of Litoria havina, described previously. We note that it appears to be erectile, speculate on the possible method of erection and suggest directions for future research.
Small cell lung cancer and cancer stem cell-like cells

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly aggressive malignancy with extreme mortality and morbidity. Although initially chemoand radio-sensitive, almost inevitable recurrence and resistance occurs. SCLC patients often present with metastases, making surgery not feasible. Current therapies, rationally designed on underlying pathogenesis, produce in vitro results, however, these have failed to translate into satisfactory clinical outcomes. Recently, research into cancer stem cells (CSCs) has gained momentum and form an attractive target for novel therapies. Based on this concept, CSCs are the cause of neoplastic tissue development that are inherently resistant to chemotherapy, explaining why conventional therapies can shrink the tumour but are unable to eliminate the tumour completely, leading to eventual recurrence. Here I demonstrate that SCLC H345 and H69 cell lines contain a subset of cells expressing CD133, a known CSC marker. CD133+ SCLC sub-population maintained their stem cell-like phenotype over a prolonged period of culture, differentiated in appropriate conditions and expressed the embryonic stem cell marker Oct-4 indicating their stem-like phenotype. Additionally, these cells displayed augmented clonogenic efficacy, were chemoresistant and tumorigenic in vivo, distinct from the CD133cells. Thus, the SCLC CD133 expressing cells fulfil most criteria of CSClike definition. The molecular mechanisms associated with CD133+ SCLC chemoresistance and growth is unknown. Up-regulated Akt activity, a known promoter of resistance with survival advantage, was observed in CD133+ SCLC cells. Likewise, these cells demonstrated elevated expression of Bcl-2, an anti-apoptotic protein compared to their negative counterpart explaining CD133+ cell chemoresistance phenotype. Additionally, CD133+ cells revealed greater expression of neuropeptide receptors, gastrin releasing peptide (GRP) and V1A receptors compared to the CD133cells.
Understory dynamics in cut and uncut western juniper woodlands

Expansion of western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis spp. occidentalis Hook.) woodlands in the sagebrush steppe has the potential to change composition, structure, and productivity of understory vegetation. Cutting of western juniper woodland can potentially restore understory productivity and diversity. Understory responses were assessed after cutting a juniper woodland in southeastern Oregon in 1991. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with eight, 0.8 ha sized blocks and 2 treatments, cut and uncut woodland. Understory cover, density, diversity, biomass, and nitrogen (N) status were compared between treatments after cutting Plants were separated into S functional groups: bluegrass (Poa spp.), perennial bunchgrass, perennial forte, annual forte, and annual grass. Cutting of juniper reduced below ground interference for soil water and N. Leaf water potentials were less negative (p<0.01) and understory N concentration and biomass N were greater (p<0.05) in the cut versus woodland treatment. Cutting of juniper trees was effective in increasing total understory biomass, cover, and diversity. In the second year post-cutting total understory biomass and N uptake were nearly 9 times greater in cut versus woodland treatments. Perennial plant basal cover was 3 times greater and plant diversity was 1.6 times greater in the cut versus woodland treatments. In the cut, perennial bunchgrass density increased by 1 plant m-2 in both duff and interspace zones and bluegrass increased by 3 plants m-2 in interspaces. Plant succession was dominated by pants present on the site prior to juniper cutting suggesting that pre-treatment floristics may be useful in predicting early successional understory response. Early plant dynamics on this site supports the multiple entrance point model of succession as perennial grasses and bluegrass made up the majority of total herbaceous biomass and cover. DOI:10.2458/azu_jrm_v53i1_bates
Modeling the Effects of Chronic Toxicity of Pharmaceutical Chemicals on the Life History Strategies of Ceriodaphnia Dubia: a Multigenerational Study

Trace quantities of pharmaceuticals (including carbamazepine and sertraline) are continuously discharged into the environment, which causes concern among scientists and regulators regarding their potential long-term impacts on aquatic ecosystems. These compounds and their metabolites are continuously interacting with the orgranisms in various life stages, and may differentially influence development of embryo, larvae, juvenile, and adult stages. To fully understand the potential ecological risks of two candidate pharmaceutical chemicals (carbamazepine (CBZ) and sertraline (SERT)) exposure on survival, growth and reproduction of Ceriodaphnia dubia in three sucessive generations under static renewal toxicity test, a multigenerational approach was taken. Results indicate that SERT exposure showed higher sensitivity to chronic exposure to C. dubia growth and reproduction than CBZ exposure. The lowest concentration to affect fecundity and growth was at 50 µg L-1 SERT in the first two generations. These parameters become more sensitive during the third generation where the LOEC was 4.8 µg L-1. The effective concentrations (EC50) for the number of offspring per female, offspring body size, and dry weight were 17.2, 21.2, and 26.2 µg SERT L-1, respectively. Endpoints measured in this study demonstrate that chronic exposure of C. dubia to SERT leads to effects that occur at concentrations an order of magnitude higher than predicted environmental concentrations indicating potential transgenerationals effects. Additionally, a process-based dynamic energy budget (DEB) model is implemented to predict the simulated effects of chronic toxicity of SERT and CBZ to C. dubia individual behavior at laboratory condition. The model‘s output indicates the ecotoxicological mode of action of SERT exposure, which acts on feeding or assimilation with an effect that rapidly saturates at higher concentrations. Offspring size decreases with the toxic effects on feeding, and offspring number is thus less affected than total investment in reproduction. Consequently, CBZ affects direclty in reproduction which are captured by DEBtox model as increased embryonic hazard and reproduction cost as well as growth and maintenance costs. Furthermore, stress factor linearly increased not only with increasing chemical concentrations but also with exposure time. The DEBtox model establishes a cumulative life history consequence of multigenerational exposure to CBZ and SERT. This approach provides a tool to which to understand the effect of chemical to the individual organism and predict the population level effects in ecological risk assessment of the emerging contaminants.
EPIDEMIOLOGÍA MOLECULAR DE LA PESTE PORCINA CLÁSICA EN COLOMBIA

El proposito de esta investigacion fue realizar en Colombia un estudio de epidemiologia molecular es Peste Porcina Clasica (PPC) para analizar aislados circulantes en el pais relacionados con brotes de enfermedad entre 1997-2002. Este trabajo incluyo Aislamiento viral, Inmunoperoxidasa Directa, inmunofluorescencia Directa, Transcriptasa Reversa.
Effects of Fusarium T-2 toxin on avian aspergillosis

Shaoji Li was born on February 7, 1982, in Xinhui County (Currently Xinhui District of Jiangmen City), on the beautiful subtropical coast of Guangdong Province, China. He studied in Hongwei Primary School and went to Xinhui No. 1 Middle School for his primary and secondary educations. From 2001, he studied Biological Engineering at Northeastern University, in Shenyang, the capital city of Liaoning Province, and obtained a bachelor’s degree in 2005. He continued his study on the same major in the graduate school of Inha University, Incheon, South Korea, where he was supervised by Prof. Jae‐Seong So and specifically studied probiotic Lactobacillus. After graduation in 2007, he worked as a researcher in Gil Medical Center shortly and then in the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) until 2009. After that, he was employed as a product specialist by Tegent Technology in Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, China until 2010.
Global pattern and local variation in species–area relationships

Aim We conducted a meta-analysis of species–area relationships (SARs) by combining several data sets and important covariates such as types of islands, taxonomic groups, latitude and spatial extent, in a hierarchical model framework to study global pattern and local variation in SARs and its consequences for prediction. Location One thousand nine hundred and eighteen islands from 94 SAR studies from around the world. Methods We developed a generalization of the power-law SAR model, the HSARX model, which allows: (1) the inclusion of multiple focal parameters (intercept, slope, within-study variance), (2) use of multiple effect modifiers based on a collection of SAR studies, and (3) modelling of the between- and within-study variability. Results The global pattern in the SAR was the average of local SARs and had wide confidence intervals. The global SAR slope was 0.228 with 90% confidence limits of 0.059 and 0.412. The intercept, slope and within-study variability of local SARs showed great heterogeneity as a result of the interaction of modifying covariates. Confidence intervals for these SAR parameters were narrower when other covariates in addition to area were accounted for, thus increasing the accuracy of the predictions for species richness. The significant effect of latitude and the interaction of latitude, taxa and island type on the SAR slope indicated that the ‘typical’ latitudinal diversity gradient can be reversed in isolated systems. Main conclusions The power-law relationship underlying the HSARX model provides a good fit for non-nested SARs across vastly different spatial scales by taking into account other covariates. The HSARX framework allows researchers to explore the complex interactions among SAR parameters and modifying variables, to explicitly study the scale dependence, and to make robust predictions on multiple levels (island, study, global) with associated prediction intervals. From a prediction perspective, it is not the global pattern but the local variation that matters.
R factors: plasmids conferring resistance to antibacterial agents.

: Antibiotic sensitivity and resistance are often under the control of the bacterial chromosome. Frequently, however, an organism may exhibit resistance to one or several antibiotics as a dominant character determined by genes located on a plasmid, a relatively small, circular DNA molecule which replicates, with some degree of autonomy, in the bacterial cytoplasm. Such plasmids, termed drug-resistance (R) factors, generally also specify the formation of sex pili, filamentous appendages on the cell surface. These promote bacterial conjugation, and hence permit the transfer of a copy of the plasmid from the resistant organism to one which may previously have been drug-sensitive. Each ex-conjugant is then capable of acting as a plasmid donor during subsequent pairings, so that R factors are commonly responsible for the epidemic spread of multiple drug-resistance throughout an entire bacterial population. This can present serious problems in antibiotic therapy, particularly as plasmids are often transmissible between organisms of different species, and even different genera. The molecular nature, classification and behaviour of R factors is discussed.
Homologous Recombinational DNA Repair: from Prokaryotes to Eukaryotes: a Dissertation

The error free repair of DNA double strand breaks through the homologous recombinational repair pathway is essential for organisms of all types to sustain life. A detailed structural and mechanistic understanding of this pathway has been the target of intense study since the identification of bacterial recA , the gene whose product is responsible for the catalysis of DNA strand exchange, in 1965. The work presented here began with defining residues that are important for the assembly and stability of the RecA filament, and progressed to the identification of residues critical for the transfer of ATP-mediated allosteric information between subunits in the protein's helical filament structure. My work then evolved to investigate similar mechanistic details concerning the role of ATP in the human RecA homolog, Rad51. Results from non-conservative mutagenesis studies of the N-terminal region of one subunit and the corresponding interacting surface on the neighboring subunit within the RecA protein, led to the identification of residues critical for the formation of the inactive RecA filament but not the active nucleoprotein filament. Through the use of specifically engineered cysteine substitutions we observed an ATP-induced change in the efficiency of cross subunit disulfide bond formation and concluded that the position of residues in this region as defined by the current crystal structure may not accurately reflect the active form of the protein. These ATP induced changes in positioning led to the further investigation of the allosteric mechanism resulting in the identification of residue Phe217 as the key mediator for ATP-induced information transfer from one subunit to the next. In transitioning to investigate homologous mechanisms in the human pathway I designed a system whereby we can now analyze mutant human proteins in human cells. This was accomplished through the use of RNA interference, fluorescent transgenes, confocal microscopy and measurements of DNA repair. In the process of establishing the system, I made the first reported observation of the cellular localization of one of the Rad51 paralogs, Xrcc3, before and after DNA damage. In addition we found that a damage induced reorganization of the protein does not require the presence of Rad51 and the localization to DNA breaks occurs within 10 minutes. In efforts to characterize the role of ATP in human Rad51 mediated homologous repair of double strand breaks we analyzed two mutations in Rad51 specifically affecting ATP hydrolysis, K133A and K133R. Data presented here suggests that, in the case of human cells, ATP hydrolysis and therefore binding, by Rad51 is essential for successful repair of induced damage.
12 Budding Yeast Telomeres

Yeast telomere biology emerged in the early 1980s with a seminal study by Szostak and Blackburn (1982). Combining their respective interests in yeast artificial chromosomes and ciliate telomeres, they constructed a trans-kingdom chromosome: a linear yeast episome with ciliate telomeric DNA on its ends. When introduced into budding yeast, these evolutionarily distant ciliate termini were elongated by the direct addition of yeast telomeric DNA. This lent impetus to the hypothesis that cells contained a telomere-specific enzymatic activity, analogous to terminal transferase, that was capable of extending the ends of chromosomes (see the Appendix). Of more immediate importance to the nascent yeast telomere biology field, however, was the molecular cloning of yeast telomeres, which provided a crucial molecular reagent that could be used to monitor the behavior of yeast chromosome termini (Shampay et al. 1984; Walmsley et al. 1984). This prompted a flurry of studies that probed the dynamic nature of chromosome ends in yeast (Dunn et al. 1984; Horowitz et al. 1984; Pluta et al. 1984) and also initiated the process of identifying the genes required for telomere length regulation (Carson and Hartwell 1985; Lustig and Petes 1986). Over the past 20 years, studies from numerous laboratories have greatly expanded our knowledge of the details of yeast telomere structure, as well as the gene products that maintain yeast chromosome ends. This chapter discusses some of the main insights that have resulted from these studies and highlights several major unanswered questions. YEAST TELOMERE STRUCTURE Telomeric DNA: An Irregular repeat Sequence with.
Seals, fur seals, sea lions, and walrus : status survey and conservation action plan

Intended to increase awareness of pinnipeds and their conservation needs. It includes an overview of the status of all pinniped species, followed by recommended actions. It is an important contribution to the further implementation of the Global Plan of Action for Marine Mammals, initiated in 1985 by FAO/IUCN/IWC/UNEP.