Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Food-web regulation by a planktivore : exploring the generality of the trophic cascade hypothesis

The trophic cascade hypothesis currently being tested in north temperate systems may not apply to open-water communities in lower latitude U.S. reservoirs. These reservoir communities differ dramatically from northern lakes in that an open-water omnivore, gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum), often occurs in abundance. Neither controlled by fish predators (owing to high fecundity and low vulnerability) nor by their zooplankton prey (following the midsummer zooplankton decline, gizzard shad consume detritus and phytoplankton), gizzard shad regulate community composition rather than being regulated by top-down or bottom-up forces. In experiments across a range of spatial scales (enclosures, 1–9 m2; ponds, 4–5 ha; and reservoirs, 50–100 ha), we evaluated the generality of the trophic cascade hypothesis by assessing its conceptual strength in reservoir food webs. We reviewed the role of gizzard shad in controlling zooplankton populations and hence recruitment of bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus (via exploitative c.
Design and docking of novel series of hybrid xanthones as anti- cancer agent to target human DNA topoisomerase 2-alpha

Topoisomerase (topo) IIα is a homodimeric protein catalyzes topological vicissitudes by adding or by soothing super coiling transpiration, occurs in human DNA during DNA replication as an outcome chromosome segregation and condensation occurs during meiosis I and recombination. To prevent the cleavage and religation activity we administered novel hybrid substituted Xanthone series of drugs. The toxicity prediction showed outstanding results which impetus to study its anticancer activities by targeting topoisomerase (topo) IIα. We developed the homology model of the topoisomerase (topo) IIα due to the unavailability of 3D structure in the Protein Data Bank. Structural assessment of the modeled protein and confirmed the quality of the model. The ligands were docked using Autodock4.2 software and binding energy was reported. The compound XM9, XN2, XM7, XLNU and XNS scored lowest binding energy and highest binding affinity. The interaction sites and the hydrogen bond were observed.
Listeria monocytogenes dans le lait pasteurisé

An haemolytic Listeria monocytogenes strain pathogenic to mice was isolated from 6 out of 28 (21.4%) pasteurized milk samples (3.2% fat milk treated at 78 °C for 15 s) marketed by a Madrid processing plant. Listeria grayi was recovered from 25 of the samples (89.2%) and L. innocua from 3 samples (10.7%). One milk sample was contaminated with L. welshimeri. No strains of L. ivanovii, L. seeligeri, L. murrayi, or L. denitrificans were isolated. These results show that pathogenic Listeria strains can be isolated from pasteurized milk and reinforce the hypothesis that this food product may be the source of numerous human listeriosis. [Translated by the journal]
SELECTION FOR COOKING QUALITY IN FIELD PEAS

In a cross of Weitor 702 (a good cooking pea) and Kapuskasing 3880-4 (a poor cooking pea), grown from the F2 to F5 generations in the field, it was found that cooking quality was weakly related to the Ca/phytin-P ratio and to the phytin-P content of the pea. The desirable cooking quality of the Weitor parent was retained to the F0 generation when selection was made from single F2 plants. The data suggest, however, that selection for good cooking quality may be more efficient if started in the F4 generation. The inheritance of good cooking quality appeared to be controlled by two recessive genes, although there was some indication of a gene–environmental interaction.
Repression oflacPromoter as a Function of Distance, Phase and Quality of an AuxiliarylacOperator

The tetrameric Lac repressor can bind simultaneously to twolacoperators on the same DNA molecule, thereby including the formation of a DNA loop. We investigated the phasing dependence of DNA loop formation betweenlacoperator O1and an auxiliary ideallacoperator (Oid) on the bacterial chromosome, with inter-operator distances varying from 57.5 to 1493.5 bp. Repression of a CAP-independentlacUV5 promoter by O1at its natural position increased up to 50-fold in the presence of an optimally positioned auxiliary Oid. Repression values alternated between local maxima and minima with a periodicity of 11.0 to 11.3 bp, suggesting that the chromosomal helical repeat is in this rangein vivo. Repression increased significantly with decreasing inter-operator DNA length, indicating that the local Lac repressor concentration at O1is crucial for tight repression. Maximal repression, attributed to stable DNA loop formation, was obtained at an operator spacing of 70.5 bp. Other repression maxima occurred at operator distances of 92.5 and 115.5 bp, corresponding to natural operator spacings in thelacand in thegaloperon, respectively. Substitution of the auxiliary Oidwith the weaker bindinglacoperator O3lowered repression efficiency, presumably due to the reduced local concentration of Lac repressor.
TOXICITY OF ARSENATE IN SILENE VULGARIS, ACCUMULATION AND DEGRADATION OF ARSENATE-INDUCED PHYTOCHELATINS

The results presented in this paper describe the short- and long-term toxicity of arsenate in Silene vulgaris. Short-term toxicity, measured as inhibition of root elongation, depended on phosphate nutrition, arsenate being much less toxic at high phosphate supply. At low phosphate levels more arsenic was taken up by the plants. Under chronic exposure, toxicity (measured as inhibition of biomass production) did not increase with time. In addition, the accumulation of phytochelatins (PCs) as a function of toxicity and duration of exposure was studied. Short-term PC accumulation (over a 3 d period) was positively correlated with exposure. Isolation of peptide complexes from prolongedly exposed plants showed that PC
The evolution and function of pattern diversity in snakes

Species in the suborder Serpentes present a powerful model for understanding processes involved in visual signal design. Although vision is generally poor in snakes, they are often both predators and prey of visually oriented species. We examined how ecological and behavioral factors have driven the evolution of snake patterning using a phylogenetic comparative approach. The appearances of 171 species of Australian and North American snakes were classified using a reaction-diffusion model of pattern development, the parameters of which allow parametric quantification of various aspects of coloration. The main findings include associations between plain color and an active hunting strategy, longitudinal stripes and rapid escape speed, blotched patterns with ambush hunting, slow movement and pungent cloacal defense, and spotted patterns with close proximity to cover. Expected associations between bright colors, aggressive behavior, and venom potency were not observed. The mechanisms through which plain and longitudinally striped patterns might support camouflage during movement are discussed. The flicker-fusion hypothesis for transverse striped patterns being perceived as uniform color during movement is evaluated as theoretically possible but unlikely. Snake pattern evolution is generally phylogenetically conservative, but by sampling densely in a wide variety of snake lineages, we have demonstrated that similar pattern phenotypes have evolved repeatedly in response to similar ecological demands.
Evaluation of a Crop Simulation Model that Incorporates Gene Action

Crop simulation models are receiving increasing use in agricultural research. However, applications to plant breeding have been limited, in part due to the restricted capabilities of models to represent genetic differences. A gene-based simulation model, GeneGro, has been developed that integrates action of seven genes into a common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) model. The genes for physiological traits identified in the model include Ppd, Hr, Fin, Fd, Ssz-1, Ssz-2, and Ssz-3. Evaluation of GeneGro was performed by comparison of measured field data vs. simulated data, and through a sensitivity analysis of the model. The experimental data set for model comparison was comprised of 14 field trials conducted in Canada, the USA, Mexico, and Colombia, representing 213 treatment combinations and including 39 cultivars. GeneGro explained 75% of variation in days to flower, 68% in days to maturity, and 39% in seed mass, but only 11% of variation in seed yield. Most of the variation in simulated seed yield was accounted for by the model when mean effects of site and cultivars were removed through regression analysis. This suggests that the poor simulation of seed yield was partially due to errors in simulating differences among sites rather than from simulating the response of genotypes to sites. Seed yield simulations were made for 96 genotypes that represented all expected phenotypic combinations of the seven genes included in the model. Simulations were conducted using historical weather data from Fargo, ND; Madero, Mexico; and Palmira, Colombia. GeneGro predicted that photoperiod sensitivity, conferred by Ppd and Hr, would result in zero seed yields at Fargo, a slight seed yield increase at Madero, and no effect at Palmira. Testing effects of maturity on seed yield, the genotypes fin and Fd resulted in lower seed yields due to shorter growth cycles, in agreement with field trials. The predicted effects of the three genes related to seed size varied among the sites. These results support the use of genetic information to represent cultivar differences in simulation models. They also emphasize the need for a better understanding of the physiological genetics of traits such as phenology, seed size, and growth habit.
Does transpiration have an essential function in long-distance ion transport in plants ?

Abstract. Long-term effects of transpiration on growth and on long-distance ion transport were investigated in maize over a whole growth cycle. Maize plants were grown with nutrients supplied at adequate levels in hydroculture or in soil at 50–60% and at >95% relative humidity. Although the amount of water lost by the plants under these conditions differed by a factor 2 to 3, there was neither a decrease in growth (fresh weight and dry weight) nor in ash content of the ‘humid’plants. This was also found when the upper part of the shoot (70–150 cm) was tested separately. It is suggested that transpiration is not essential for long-distance transport of mineral elements in plants. Alternatives are discussed.
Streptococcal Antibody Probe Crosses the Blood Brain Barrier and Interacts within the Basal Ganglia

Within the brain, the basal ganglia (basal nuclei) regulates wanted movement and inhibits unwanted movement. This area of the brain is intertwined with capillary beds that bring nutrients to the brain and form the blood brain barrier. During disease state, antibodies are increased in circulation and movement of these antibodies into the basal ganglia can occur. Streptococcal infection can lead to the generation of antibodies that have autoimmune activity within the brain. These antibodies have been implicated in neurological disorders. In our laboratory, an in vitro study of a monoclonal mouse antibody generated against the class 1 epitope of the M6 protein has demonstrated binding within the basal ganglia of Lewis rat brains. Here we present an in vivo study using Lewis rats injected with either the streptococcal antibody or an anti-myosin positive control. The interaction and movement of the antibody from blood vessels into the tissues of the basal ganglia was determined through the use of immunofluorescence and fluorescent microscopy and is contrasted with IgG injected and uninjected controls. Our data demonstrates that the streptococcal antibody penetrates the blood brain barrier within 24 hours (as determined by the presence of immunofluorescence outside of blood vessels) and remains significantly elevated above control values even 72 hours after injection (p < 0.05). In contrast, the anti-myosin positive control was not visualized in the interstitial fluid until 48 hours post injection and was no longer significantly above control levels by 72 hours. IgG injected controls did not display movement of antibody into the brain. Therefore, the streptococcal antibody is capable of crossing the blood brain barrier and interacting with tissues of the basal ganglia.
Impacts of domestication on angling vulnerability of common carp, Cyprinus carpio: the role of learning, foraging behaviour and food preferences

Domestication in fish selection increases vulnerability to angling. Two common garden-reared genotypes of common carp, Cyprinus carpio L. , differing in degree of domestication (highly domesticated mirror carp and less domesticated scaled carp) were exposed to fishing in two environments (i.e. ponds and laboratory tanks) to quantify vulnerability to angling. Foraging behaviour and food preferences were quantified to explain variation in angling vulnerability in a mechanistic manner. Domesticated mirror carp were more vulnerable to angling gear than scaled carp in both environments, which was related to greater food intake and bolder-foraging behaviour. Independent of genotype, catchability decreased and time until first capture increased over fishing time, indicating learned hook avoidance. No differences were observed in food preferences among genotypes, rendering bait-selective feeding an unlikely explanation for differential vulnerability to angling. It was concluded that vulnerability to angling has a genetic basis in carp and that boldness plays a paramount role in explaining why more domesticated genotypes are more easily captured by angling.
The Efficacy of Midwater Artificial Structures for Attracting Pelagic Sport Fish

Abstract Field experiments were conducted in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico off Panama City, Florida to evaluate the feasibility of using man-made midwater structures for attracting pelagic game fish to improve sportfishing catch rates. Significantly greater catches of little tunny (Euthynnus alletteratus), king mackerel (Scomberomorus cavalla), and dolphin (Coryphaena hippurus) were made around experimental structure sites than in adjacent control areas when equal experimental fishing effort was used. Multiple structures attracted larger numbers of coastal pelagic bait fish and produced larger catches of pelagic game fish than single-structure units. The distance offshore or water depth of structure locations affected both the species of fish attracted and the number of fish caught. Charter fleet vessels fished around one of the experimental structures for several hours and reported total numbers of pelagic game fish caught and catch rates at least double those in “other areas” for that day.
Long‐Lived αMUPA Transgenic Mice Exhibit Increased Mitochondrion‐Mediated Apoptotic Capacity

Abstract: Caloric restriction (CR) is currently the only therapeutic intervention known to attenuate aging in mammals, but the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are still poorly understood. To study this issue, the transgenic model of αMUPA mice, which previously were reported to spontaneously eat less and live longer compared with their wild‐type (WT) control mice, were used. Currently, two transgenic lines that eat less are available, thus implicating the transgenic enzyme, that is, the urokinase‐type plasminogen activator (uPA), in causing the reduced appetite. Recently, several changes in the αMUPA liver were noted, at the mitochondrial and cellular level, which consistently pointed to an enhanced capacity to induce apoptosis. In addition, αMUPA mice showed a reduced level of serum IGF‐1 and a reduced incidence of spontaneously occurring or carcinogen‐induced tumors in several tissues. Overall, the αMUPA model suggests that long‐lasting, moderately increased apoptotic capacity, possibly linked in part to modulation of serum IGF‐1 and mitochondrial functions, could play a role in the attenuation of aging in calorically restricted mice.
Effect of Crossbred Korean Native Ducks on the Retail Cut Yield, Meat Quality, and Sensory Evaluation of Duck Meats

This work was carried out to investigate on the retail cut yield and the meat quality of crossbred ducks. A total of 360 pullets that were produced from 4 mating methods used in this work. Four mating method were A) native ducks ( ) × native ducks ( ), B) meat-type ducks ( ) × native ducks ( ), C) native ducks ( ) × meat-type ducks ( ), and D) meat-type ducks ( ) × meat-type ducks ( ). Ducks were bred at the flat house, and selected nine ducks with similar weights from each treatment at the certain weeks (A, B, C 8 weeks; D 6 weeks). Selected ducks were slaughtered, calculated the retail cut yield(wing, back, neck, breast, leg), analyzed the physico-chemical compositions, and tested the sensory evaluation. Wing and neck meat ratios of D treatment were lowest (P<0.05), and breast meat ratio of B treatment was high (P<0.05) compared to other treatments. pH of duck meat was no difference among treatments, fat and protein contents of B treatment was highest, and collagen contents of D treatment was highest among all treatments. Meat color and physical compositions was no difference among treatments. Juiciness of D treatment meats was highest, and there was no difference between B and D treatments. Finally, mating method of native duck and meat-type duck affected on the retail cut yield,
Determining the Methoxypyrazine Biosynthesis Variables Affected by Light Exposure and Crop Level in Cabernet Sauvignon

Methoxypyrazines are sensorially potent volatile compounds responsible for herbaceous/vegetal attributes in wines made from certain grape varieties. The biosynthesis of these compounds in grape berries is known to occur via a pathway that involves the methylation of hydroxypyrazine intermediates. Certain viticultural management regimes can be used to alter methoxypyrazine concentrations in fruit of those varieties that have the genetic capability of producing them. This study explored the effect of light exposure and crop level on 3-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine (IBMP) concentrations in Cabernet Sauvignon fruit to better understand the effect of these variables on the concentration of the precursor 3-isobutyl-2-hydroxypyrazine (IBHP) and the expression of a methyltransferase gene (VvOMT3) responsible for the final step in methoxypyrazine biosynthesis. Light was found to reduce the expression of VvOMT3 and the concentration of IBHP, suggesting that a combination of these factors reduces IBMP concentration when fruit has greater light exposure. In contrast, reducing the crop level of vines to less than half of that of controls did not have a significant effect on IBHP concentration or VvOMT3 expression, despite the treatment causing a significant increase in IBMP concentration. IBMP appears to be synthesized in the flesh of the berry which suggests differences in berry size may explain the crop level effect on IBMP concentrations.
Cell secretion and membrane fusion: highly significant phenomena in the life of a cell

1 University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila”, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, 8, Eroilor Sanitari Blvd., 050474, Bucharest, Romania 2 “Victor Babes” National Institute of Pathology, 99101, Splaiul Independentei, 050096, Bucharest, Romania 3 University of Bucharest, Research Center for Applied Ethics, 204, Splaiul Independentei, 060024, Bucharest, Romania 4 Department of Molecular Pathology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, California, 92647 USA
Effects of temperature on aphid phenology

Daily samples between 1964 and 1991 from suction traps throughout Great Britain were used to study the migration phenologies of five aphid species: Brachycaudus helichrysi, Elatobium abietinum, Metopolophium dirhodum, Myzus persicae and Sitobion avenae, and their relationship with temperature. Regression relationships have been established between characteristics of aphid phenology and temperature, latitude and longitude for each species. There were differences between species in the period for which temperature was most strongly associated with aphid phenology. The study indicates that temperature, especially winter temperature, is the dominant factor affecting aphid phenology, for all five species. A 1 degrees C increase in average winter temperature advanced the migration phenology by 4-19 days depending on species. Effects of temperature on the aphid phenology are similar between holocyclic and anholocyclic species, unlike the effects of temperature on date of first flight record which have been previously shown to be important only in anholocyclic species.
Passive acoustic tomography: new concepts and applications using marine mammals: a review

This paper presents the new concept of passive acoustic tomography which allows ocean data collection with a passive acoustic remote sensing process. The originality lies in using acoustic sources of opportunity such as surface noise, radiated ship noise and marine mammal calls. Such use of passive tomography is a promising way to reduce acoustic emissions in oceans. A review is first presented, including the description of new concepts of covert active, assisted passive and autonomous tomography, followed by applications on real world data. Under the assumptions of multipath propagation and measurements performed by a sparse network of hydrophones, a time–frequency processor is proposed to simultaneously estimate the source location and the impulse response of the propagation channel for marine mammal calls used as opportunistic sources (multipath structure, time delay and attenuation are estimated). Promising results are obtained on real data coming from the Laurentian channel where wideband beluga calls (1 to 3 kHz) are measured by a sparse network of 6 bottom hydrophones.
Bacterial communities associated with lionfish in their native and invaded ranges.

Lionfish, which are native to the Indo-Pacific, were introduced into the Western Atlantic Ocean, where they have become highly successful invaders. Previous work has demonstrated the presence of distinct lionfish populations within both the invaded and native ranges, but little is known about the specificity of the bacterial communities associated with lionfish surfaces. This study was designed to evaluate whether lionfish-associated bacterial communities reflected the geographical distribution patterns of their host. To this end, fin-associated bacterial communities from sites throughout the native and invaded ranges were analyzed. Lionfish were collected from 9 locations in the invaded Western Atlantic Ocean and 8 locations throughout their native Indo-Pacific. The composition of lionfish-associated bacterial communities was examined by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses following amplification of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene with universal prokaryotic primers 8F and 1392R. Lionfish-associated external bacterial communities were not significantly different between the native and invaded ranges, but differences were found between collection locations within each range. Although bacterial communities on lionfish skin demonstrated a greater similarity within collection site than between collection sites, a core group of bacteria dominated by members of the γ Proteobacteria were found in lionfish-associated communities from both ranges. It is likely that lionfish maintain a core group of external bacteria throughout both the native and invaded ranges, but are differentially colonized by other bacteria from their local environments.