Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Novel Role for Integrin Linked Kinase in Breast Cancer

Abstract : Allelic loss at the short arm of chromosome 11 is one of the most common and potent events in the progression and metastasis of breast cancer. Here, we present evidence that the Integrin-Linked Kinase (ILK) gene maps to the commonly deleted chromosome 11p15.5 and suppresses malignant growth of human breast cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. ILK is expressed iii normal breast tissue but not in metastatic breast cancer cell lines or in advanced breast cancers. Transtection of wild-type ILK into the MDA-MB-435 mammary carcinoma cells potently suppressed their growth and invasiveness in vitro, and reduced the cells ability to induce tumors and metastasize in athymic mice. Conversely, expression of the ankyrin repeat or catalytic domain mutants of ILK failed to suppress the growth of these cells. Growth suppression by ILK is not due to apoptosis but is mediated by its ability to block cell cycle progression in the Gl phase. These findings directly demonstrate that ILK deficiency facilitates neoplastic growth and suggest a novel role for the ILK gene in tumor suppression.
Latitudinal gradients in species diversity and Rapoport's rule revisited: a review of recent work and what can parasites teach us about the causes of the gradients?

A review is given of recent work on latitudinal gradients in species diversity and their explanations, including Rapoport's rule. Energy input, measured by temperature or potential evapotranspiration. correlates best with the gradients. However, such a correlation does not “explain” them. It merely suggests explanations, which may be either different ceilings to diversity set by different energy levels under equilibrium conditions, recent historical events, or a gradient in effective evolutionary time (determined by speed of evolution directly driven by temperature, and by relative constancy of conditions over evolutionary time) under non-equilibrium conditions. Marine parasites are used to show that equilibrium conditions are the exception rather than the rule among animals, It is concluded that latitudinal gradients in species diversity result from a gradient in effective evolutionary time modulated by several other factors. Dispersal abilities of many marine invertebrates are likely to be greater at low than at high latitudes, suggesting an opposite Rapppoport effect. This is an invited Minireview on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Nordic Ecological Society Oikos.
PARTIAL PURIFICATION OF A BASIC GUAIACIOL PEROXIDASE FROM FAVA BEAN (VICIA FABA L.): CHARACTERIZATION OF ENZYME STABILITY FOLLOWING ELICITOR TREATMENT

Previous research in our lab investigated the stimulatory effects of phenolic elicitors on plant seed development and the production of phenolics for lignification and nutraceutically relevant antioxidants. Metabolic flux of metabolites through the pentose-phosphate pathway towards eventual lignin formation might be driven by regulated activity of the rate-limiting enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) in response to phenolic-scavenging peroxidase activity. Through regulated activity of such enzymes, the metabolism for plant recovery and defense may be optimized under stressful conditions. As of yet, no direct correlation between stress-inducing treatments in plant cultures and possible stimulatory effects on purified enzymes involved inlignification and phenolic antioxidant pathways (specifically, peroxidases) has been reported. In order to investigate our hypothesis of an elicitor-induced stimulatory effect on peroxidase activity, we studied partially-purified guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) enzyme extracts from fava bean (Vicia faba L.) following treatment with proline and a proline analogue, azetidine-2-carboxylic acid (A2C), and six days of dark-germination. Using preparative isoelectric focusing, GPX enzyme was purified from crude extract to a purification factor of 11.1 and a specific activity of 1.25 U/mg protein at pH 10.39. The purified basic peroxidase (pI<9.6) showedsignificant changes in an acidic shift of the enzyme's pH optimum (pH 6.1, broad, to pH 4,6, and 8), as well as a decrease in temperature stability by 25% activity following elicitor treatment in comparison to untreated extracts. These results may support the hypothesis that an ability of the peroxidase enzyme, and other enzymes perhaps, to tolerate a stress-inducedintracellular acidification may help the plant to survive periods of metabolic instability and generate phenolic compounds during stress responses.
The effects of pH and disturbance on the bryophyte flora in calcareous sandy grasslands

The unique flora and fauna of calcareous sandy grasslands is threatened by acidification, eutrofication and changed land use. Restoration experiments in such grasslands in southern Sweden, including deep and shallow soil perturbation, allowed us to examine the effects of pH and disturbance on the bryophyte flora. We also studied natural pH and disturbance gradients in order to compare the natural pH and disturbance variation with the responses of experimental manipulation. We found that increased pH due to soil perturbation resulted in increased species richness. However, in naturally disturbed areas, pH seemed to have a lower effect, and instead, the location of the site and possibly the site history had a larger influence on species richness. We also found that some of the species that were common at naturally high pH (mainly acrocarps) were favoured by experimental pH manipulation. Our results pointed out Syntrichia ruraliformis as a sensitive pH indicator, being almost exclusively restricted to pH values above 7. The species can also serve as an indicator of sand steppe vegetation.
Use of stable isotope probing to identify bacterial species involved in CO2 fixation in the water just below the oxycline of the meromictic Lake Suigetsu, Japan

: In this study, stable isotope probing was used to identify a bacterial community involved with bicarbonate ﬁxation in the water just below the oxycline of the meromictic Lake Suigetsu, Japan. Water samples were incubated with 13 C-labeled bicarbonate under either light or dark conditions. The identity of active bicarbonate-ﬁxing bacteria was revealed by 16S rRNA gene clone library analysis of 13 C-labeled DNA fractions. Bacterial clones closely related to the green sulfur bacterial genus Chlorobium were detected under light conditions. Clone sequences phylogenetically af ﬁliated with the genera Arcobacter and Desulfocapsa were also detected under light conditions. In the dark incubation, clones belonging to the class Epsilonproteobacteria were detected. Clone sequences belonging to a clade containing the genus Thiomicrospira were also retrieved from dark incubation samples. These results indicated that phylogenetically diverse bacteria might ﬁx CO 2 in the water below the oxycline of Lake Suigetsu.
The morphology and morphogenesis of the choroid plexuses with especial reference to the development of the lateral telencephalic plexus in chrysemys marginata

In a recent communication, the author (Bailey, '15) presented an interpretation of the lateral telencephalic choroid plexus in the human embryo based on ontogenetic and phylogenetic evidence. The phylogenetic evidence presented consisted of the most accurate descriptions available of the development of this structure in the lower vertebrates, viz., Warren's ('05) account of Necturus maculatus and Tandler and Kantor's ('07) account of Platydactylus mauritanicus. With a view to confirming, and strengthening if possible, the phylogenetic evidence it was determined to investigate more definitely the development of the prosencephalic choroid plexuses in others of the lower vertebrates. The following scheme taken from Wilder was accepted
Assessing effects of flow alteration on macroinvertebrate assemblages in Australian dryland rivers

Summary 1. Possible impacts of water-resource development on assemblages of freshwater macroinvertebrates were investigated in the upper Darling River and some of its tributaries in north-western New South Wales (Australia), an arid and semi-arid region of low relief where alteration of river flows has intensified through expansion of irrigated agriculture. 2. Study sites were grouped into four hydrological regimes resulting from impoundment, flow regulation, water abstraction and natural variation, namely (i) intermittent flow with relatively little hydrological alteration from water-resource development, (ii) intermittent flow with substantial alteration, (iii) near-perennial flow with substantial alteration but unimpounded and (iv) near-perennial flow with substantial alteration plus impoundment by weirs that stabilise water levels. 3. Macroinvertebrates were sampled with three methods (a quantitative cylinder sampler, handnet sampling and baited traps) in three periods with differing hydrology (recessional low flow in June 2003, high flow in March 2004 and increasing flow after drought in December 2004). 4. Taxonomic richness, assemblage composition and catch per unit effort of the crayfish Cherax destructor differed significantly among the site groups, but total macroinvertebrate density and the AUSRIVAS O/E (Australian River Assessment System observed-over-expected) index did not. The principal spatial differences were between the intermittent and near-perennial rivers, and apparent effects of water-resource development and impoundment were more subtle. Temporal differences in richness, abundance and composition were substantial and appeared to be related mainly to variations in discharge and temperature. 5. Current macroinvertebrate-based methods for assessing the ‘condition’ or ‘health’ of Australian dryland rivers are inadequate. Such assessments might be improved with (i) reference data that take adequate account of antecedent hydrological conditions, (ii) consideration of long-term taxonomic richness as well as richness on individual sampling occasions, (iii) evaluation of invertebrate population sizes, (iv) analysis of assemblage data by trait composition and (v) adoption of the genus as the default level of taxonomic resolution.
Aroma in Origanum vulgare L.: A Perceivable Criterion for Delimitation of Infraspecific Taxa

The six varieties of Origanum vulgare L. of the tribe Menthae under family Lamiaceae possess remarkably different aroma in field which is easily decipherable without overlapping. This chemotaxonomic character, if retained permanently, at least to some extent, in the holotype specimens, can serve as a significant diagnostic feature in delineation of all variants of the species and can be useful in solving the existing Taxonomic complexity.
Plastic growth response of European beech provenances to dry site conditions

Due to projected global warming, there is a great concern about the ability of European beech to adapt to future climate conditions. Provenance trials provide an excellent basis to assess the potential of various provenances to adjust to given climate conditions. In this study we compared the performance of four European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) provenances growing in a provenance trial at the Fruska Gora Mountain, Serbia. Three of the investigated provenances (Hollerbach and Hasbruch from Germany and Vrani Kamen from Croatia) originate from moist sites, with annual precipitation sums being twice as high as at the provenance trial in Serbia. The performance of these provenances are compared to the growth of the local provenance Fruska Gora which is well adapted to dry site conditions. We analysed tree-ring width, mean vessel area, vessel density and water-conductive area for the period from 2006 to 2012. In spite of differences in climate conditions at their place of origin all beech provenances showed a similar pattern in radial increment. Also the wood- anatomical variables showed similar inter-annual patterns for all provenances and no significant differences between the provenances. This indicates that beech provenances from moist environments can adjust to the relatively dry temperate climate in Serbia.
Vacina contra o HIV

Muitos outros estudos foram realizados depois deste, alguns chegando mesmo a utilizar R144 outros utilizando antigénios e regimes de vacinação diferentes (HVTN092), mas sempre objectivo: obter uma vacina o mais rapidamente desta doença. ABSTRACT Since it was discovered, HIV has been the subject of many investigations. The structural analyzes, which permitted to create reproductions of the viral envelope, allowing
Species Diversity of Nocardiae Isolated from Lake and Moat Sediment Samples

We investigated the taxonomic diversity of Nocardia strains freshly isolated from six sediment samples taken from Lake Suwa, Nagano Prefecture, and from the moat surrounding Takeda Shrine, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. A restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of 16S rDNA was used for species-level identification. Of the 25 test isolates, 23 strains were identified as N. asteroides, N. carnea, N. flavorosea, N. nova, N. uniformis, or identified as belonging to the N. africana-N. veterana group. Based on RFLP patterns, the remaining two strains were differentiated from the known Nocardia species.
Generic revision of the Dioptinae (Lepidoptera, Noctuoidea, Notodontidae). (Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, no. 321)

970, [1] p., 48 p. of plates : ill. (some col.), maps ; 26 cm. "Issued June 30, 2009. " Includes bibliographical references (p. 884-903) and indexes. Contents: pt. 1. Dioptini; pt. 2. Josiini.
Fundamental energy cost of quantum measurements

Measurements and feedback are essential in the control of any device operating at the quantum scale and exploiting the features of quantum physics. As the number of quantum components grows, it becomes imperative to consider the energetic expense of such elementary operations. Here, we derive energy requirements for general quantum measurement, extending previous models and obtaining stronger bounds in relevant situations, and then study two important classes of measurements in detail. One is the projective measurement, where we obtain the exact cost rather than a lower bound, and the other is the so-called inefficient measurement, in which we explicitly show that energy extraction is possible. As applications, we derive the energy-precision trade-off in quantum Zeno stabilisation schemes and the exact energy expense for quantum error correction. Our results constitute fundamental energetic limitations against which to benchmark implementations of future quantum devices as they grow in complexity.
A Granulosis Virus Disease of the Western Grape Leaf Skeletonizer and its Transmission

Since 1950 the University of California has maintained a program designed to evaluate the effectiveness of certain insect parasites in the control of the western grape leaf skeletonizer, Harrisina brillians B. & McD. , in San Diego County, California. During this time, all sustained efforts to produce parasites in quantities for field release have failed because of recurrent outbreaks of a disease of the skeletonizer larvae. The causative agent of this disease was identified by Steinhaus and Hughes (1952) as a granulosis virus.
Growth and development of wild and captive Nile rats, Arvicanthis niloticus (Rodentia: Muridae)

Summary Reproduction and post-natal development of Arvicanthis niloticus was studied in the laboratory. The gestation period was 22–24 days with a post-partum oestrus. Mean litter size was 3.7 ± 1.0. Young animals developed rapidly relative to other African murids and attained sexual maturity at 36–52 days. The growth of animals under laboratory conditions was compared with that of wild Arvicanthis in Kenya. Laboratory reared young gained up to 40g month-1 while the maximum recorded in the wild was 30g month-1. This rate was reduced during the dry season and adults virtually ceased growing at that time. A comparison of natural and laboratory growth curves showed the limitations of applying data obtained in the laboratory to wild populations. Resume La reproduction et le developpement post-natal de Arvicanthis niloticus fut etudiee en laboratoire. La duree de gestation est de 22–24 jours avec un oestrus de post partum. La portee moyenne est de 3.7 ± 1.0. Les jeunes animaux se developpent rapidement en comparaison d'autres murides africains et atteignent la maturite sexuelle vers 36 a 52 jours. La croissance des animaux en conditions de laboratoire fut comparee avec celle d'Arvicanthisa l'etat sauvage au Kenya. Les jeunes eleves en laboratoire croissent de 40 g mois-1 alors que le maximum observea l'etat sauvage est de 30 g mois-1. Ce taux est ralenti en saison seche et les adultes ont une croissance pratiquement nulle a cette epoque. La comparaison des courbes de croissance naturelles et en laboratoire met en evidence les limitations de l'application de donnees obtenues en laboratoire a des populations sauvages.
Genetic and biochemical characterization of the α and β components of a propionyl-CoA carboxylase complex of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2)

Two genes, accA1 and accA2, with nearly identical nucleotide sequences were cloned from Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2). The deduced amino acid sequences of the product of these two genes showed high similarity to BcpA2 of Saccharopolyspora erythraea and other biotin-containing proteins from different organisms assumed to be the α subunit of a propionyl-CoA carboxylase. A gene, pccB, encoding the carboxyl transferase subunit of this enzyme complex was also characterized. Strains disrupted in accA1 did not show any change in acetyl- or propionyl-CoA carboxylase activity, whilst cell-free extracts of a pccB mutant strain contained a reduced level of propionyl-CoA carboxylase. No mutants in accA2 could be isolated, suggesting that the gene may be essential. Heterologous expression of accA1, accA2 and pccB in Escherichia coli and in vitro reconstitution of enzyme activity confirmed that PccB is the β subunit of a propionyl-CoA carboxylase and that either AccA1 or AccA2 could act as the α component of this enzyme complex. The fact that accA2 mutants appear to be inviable suggests that this gene encodes a biotinylated protein that might be shared with other carboxyl transferases essential for the growth of S. coelicolor.
EFFECTS OF MYOSIN MUTATIONS CAUSING HUMAN DISTAL ARTHROGRYPOSIS IN THE DROSOPHILA MODEL

OF THE THESIS Effects of Myosin Mutations Causing Human Distal Arthrogryposis in the Drosophila Model by Yiming Guo Master of Science in Biology with a Concentration in Molecular Biology San Diego State University, 2015 Distal arthrogryposis (DA) is a group of autosomal dominant diseases in skeletal muscle. It is characterized by multiple congenital contractures of distal joints of the limbs absent of primary neurological defect. Based on differing severities of muscle contractures, DA can be classified into different types. Freeman-Sheldon Syndrome (FSS) is the most severe DA syndrome categorized as DA2A. Sheldon-Hall Syndrome (SHS) is the most common syndrome categorized as DA2B. The weakest type of DA is called DA1. Recent studies have shown that the most common causes of DA are mutations in the embryonic myosin heavy chain gene (MYH3). Although several such mutations have been identified in patients, the mechanisms of these syndromes are still unknown due to lack of disease models. In this study, I have created transgenic Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) models with MYH3 mutations to recapitulate human DA phenotypes. These mutations included A234T (DA2B mutation) and F437I (DA1 mutation). My results showed that the homologs of human DA mutations caused significant defects in Drosophila flight ability, jump ability, viability and muscle ultrastructure of transgenic flies. DA2B flies showed higher severity of phenotype compared to DA1 flies, and homozygotes had more severe phenotypes versus heterozygotes. Overall, this study used these new Drosophila models of human distal arthrogryposis to identify functional and structural defects caused by DA mutations, and indicated that these specific mutations disrupt myosin function.
Chimerism following fusion in a clonal ascidian (Urochordata)

Many marine invertebrates bud vegetatively to produce a modular colony of individuals derived from a single zygote. Fusion of different colonies to produce a genetically composite entity (a chimera) is known from experiments on sponges, hydroids, corals, bryozoans and ascidians - groups which together dominate sessile faunas on marine hard substrates. Random amplified polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR) analysis was applied to individual modules (zooids) dissected from colonies of a colonial ascidian, Diplosoma listerianum (Milne Edwards), to investigate the presence and extent of chimerism. The technique revealed chimerism in wild material. In total, 288 colonies from eight different natural populations were analysed. Chimeric colonies were present in all populations, at frequencies of up to 61%, with up to six different genotypes present in some colonies. Zooids of different genetic origin often intermingled within a chimeric colony to produce a zooidal mosaic. Although fusion of colonies has been observed directly in the laboratory, an unknown proportion of the chimerism detected in wild populations might have arisen through somatic mutation. To assess this possibility, tissue of 12 clones in culture was sampled repeatedly over a period of 3 years and subjected to RAPD-PCR analysis. RAPD banding patterns were generally very stable; the changes noted mostly involved minor bands that would not, on their own, have been taken as evidence for chimerism under the conservative criteria adopted for the study of wild populations. It was concluded that a large proportion of natural chimerism is attributable to colony fusion.
PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY, PSYCHOSYNTHESIS AND THE SEARCH FOR SELF

In this paper evidence is presented of the many ways we are all connected. Our physical bodies are an intrinsic part of the substance of the planet; the same oxygen that flows through us now also flows through the fishes, birds and beasts, the oceans, and the plants; the same oxygen once flowed through Jesus and all life 2000 years ago, and through the dinosaurs eons earlier. Physically we are totally connected with all living creatures, an integral part of the web of life on our earth. The reality of our psychological connectedness and oneness is now emerging in scientific explorations such as demonstrations of the effects of prayer on healing; researchers mentally influencing the physiology of others; a myriad of ESP experiments; and studies of healing at a distance. At some deep level, we are all connected in the collective unconscious, the planetary field of mind. Applications and implications of these facts, and tools such as neurofeedback and psychosynthesis for their exploration, experiencing, and manifestation in therapeutic settings and practical daily-life are discussed. Defining spiritual factors in energy medicine challenges us to examine the relationship between healing energy and over-arching spiritual experiences common to various healing traditions. Love, connections, unity and oneness are emphasized in every spiritual tradition. At this time in world affairs, there is an urgency that we as a human collective begin to recognize our oneness. In this exploratory process we can become aware of the common bonds of love that cement our connection to the universe, that define the Self for whom we search.