Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hypometabolism and basking: the strategies of Alpine ibex to endure harsh over-wintering conditions

Summary 1. The extent to which free-ranging large north-temperate mammals seasonally adjust thermoregulation and their energy expenditure under fully natural conditions are unknown. 2. Therefore, using telemetry we measured the heart rate (as a proxy for metabolic rate), rumen temperature (Tr) and locomotor activity (LA) over 2 years for 20 free-ranging Alpine ibex (Capra ibex ibex) living at high altitudes in the Alps. 3. Ibex showed strong seasonal changes in mean daily heart rate with a winter nadir of about 60% below the summer peak. Only 40% of this variation could be attributed to the changes in daily mean Tr, LA, wind chill, body size and snowfall. The unexplained residual variation in heart rate still showed a strong seasonal pattern. 4. The amplitude of daily rhythms in Tr was twice as high during the winter when compared with summer. This was predominantly due to lower daily minimum Tr. Thus, the substantial down-regulation of endogenous heat production during winter – as indicated by heart rate – had surprisingly small effects on Tr, indicating decreased thermal conductance. 5. Rewarming from the daily Tr minimum during the morning hours was independent of heart rate throughout the year, and occurred phase-delayed to the increase in black bulb temperature (BBT). The effects of BBT and LA on the rate of rewarming were maximized within a small range of BBT around 0 °C. This suggests that the ibex moved at sunrise to the closest sunny spot to facilitate extensive basking. 6. The energetic benefits of basking can explain the strong residual seasonality of heart rate in Alpine ibex. This partially ectothermic strategy – together with metabolic depression – apparently enables a thrifty use of body fat reserves, the major metabolic fuel during winter, and thus survival of extremely harsh winter conditions despite the virtual absence of food. Therefore, hypometabolism and passive rewarming by basking may be of general importance as a strategy for non-hibernating mammals to survive winter in strongly seasonal habitats.
Database optimization techniques applied to a database contain soy and corn based products to ensure a quick search in this database.

Data management has become the most important factor in databases optimizing. Due to therapid development of information technology today is very easy to collect and store huge informationfor a low cost. Database optimization techniques have been derived to address this issue that mayotherwise limit the performance of a database to an extent of vulnerability. In this paper we discuss theaspects of optimization performance related to data access in a database which contain soy and cornbased products in order to ensure a quick search in this database.
Adaptations in the common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) to host eggs in a multiple‐hosts system of brood parasitism

The common cuckoo Cuculus canorus parasitism greatly reduces the reproductive success of its hosts and imposes strong selection pressure for hosts to evolve defences against parasitism, such as the ability to recognize and reject dissimilar parasitic eggs, which, in turn, selects for better egg mimicry by the cuckoo. In the co-evolutionary interaction, however, it remains unknown how the cuckoo successfully expanded its range of host usage and how they developed egg mimicry. Most previous studies were conducted in areas where a very few number of host species (i.e. one or two at most) are sympatric with the cuckoo. Several host species, however, breed sympatric with the cuckoo and have been parasitized in the study site in Nagano, central Japan. Such a multiple-hosts system will provide valuable insights for understanding the cuckoo–hosts interactions in the past. In the present study, we report quantitative profiles of eggs based on spectrometer reflectance for four major host species and the corresponding cuckoo gentes. The hosts include the oriental reed warbler (Acrocephalus orientalis), bull-headed shrike (Lanius bucephalus), azure-winged magpie (Cyanopica cyana), and black-faced bunting (Emberiza spodocephala). We show that (1) egg morphs of each host and corresponding cuckoo gens can be categorized by two chromatic components of reflectance spectra and (2) there is a significant difference in a particular chroma component between hosts and the cuckoo. We suggest that the cuckoo parasitism in central Japan originated from parasitism on the black-faced bunting. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 98, 291–300.
Manure increase the leaching risk of soil extractable organic nitrogen in intensively irrigated greenhouse vegetable cropping systems

Soil extractable organic nitrogen plays an important role in nitrogen transformation and migration in many ecosystems. However, it is generally ignored due to its low content in agricultural soils. The objective of this study was to evaluate the leaching risk of soil extractable organic nitrogen affected by manure application in an intensively irrigated greenhouse vegetable cropping system through investigating its spatial (vertical profile) and temporal dynamics. Results showed that extractable organic nitrogen was present in appreciable quantities, despite that nitrate was the main soluble nitrogen form in 0–60 cm soil profile. Both the extractable organic and inorganic nitrogen were enriched in the surface and subsurface soils, and showed a high temporal variability throughout the cucumber growing season. Manure application increased the stocks of extractable organic nitrogen significantly in the soil profile. Average extractable organic nitrogen reserves in 0–60 cm layer were 47, 71, and 131 kg ha−1 for the treatments of 0, 20, and 30 t dry chicken-manure application ha−1, respectively, during the cucumber growing season. As a result, while extractable organic nitrogen only accounted for a small part of total extractable nitrogen, its high contents and large temporal variation demonstrated its leaching risk in intensively irrigated vegetable cropping systems. Soil extractable organic nitrogen should be taken into account when an advanced environment management strategy is to be developed in greenhouse vegetable planting practice.
The interplay between biomaterial degradation and tissue properties : relevance for in situ cardiovascular tissue engineering

• A submitted manuscript is the version of the article upon submission and before peer-review. There can be important differences between the submitted version and the official published version of record. People interested in the research are advised to contact the author for the final version of the publication, or visit the DOI to the publisher's website. • The final author version and the galley proof are versions of the publication after peer review. • The final published version features the final layout of the paper including the volume, issue and page numbers. Link to publication
Explaining the Performance of Decentralized Recruitment in Tanzania Local Government Authorities on Institutional Context Perspective

Decentralized recruitment and selection has been advocated by many developing countries as an alternative means for increasing efficiency, effectiveness and fairness in the recruitment of local government personnel. Like others, in the past two decades, Tanzania government also engaged on local government reforms program which aimed at among other things increasing efficiency in the recruitment and management of local personnel through empowering local councils to recruit and discipline their own personnel. Contrary to the expectation, practically, the central government still retains the power to hire and fire local government staff due to poor performance of decentralized system. Although a theory predicts the positive effects of decentralization such as effectiveness, fairness and efficiency in recruitment and selection, these effects have not been realized. One of the arguments which has been advanced in the main stream literature concerning its failure is the existence of corruption and nepotism in the local council and lack of capacity of the local council to recruit the required number and quality of local staff. Nevertheless, other factors related to informal institutions which have impact on the quality of recruitment have received little attention. The objective of this article is to explicate these institutional factors which have impacts on the performance of decentralized recruitment and selection. In order to achieve this objective, I conducted qualitative research with Tabora Municipality in Tanzania as a case study design in which the research started with review of policy and guidelines. Then, the interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with heads of department, other key officials and the councilors. Based on these findings, I argue that to better understand why decentralized recruitment fall short, we should study the entire institutional context because formal rules and procedure provide the guidelines but the existing informal social rules and values shape the way these guidelines are interpreted by the actors involved in recruitment and selection process.
NOTES ON THE WHARF BORER (NACERDA MELANURA L.)

September 23, 1935, the writer exaimined the wharf of the Atlantic Sugar Refineries Limited at Saint John, N.B., which was under reconstruction owing to “decay” of the timbers. The officials of the company had discovered that these timbers had been riddled by borers which proved to be the larvae of an oedemerid beetle, Nacerda melanura L. As the references to this insect in the literature are scant and there is uncertainty as to its economic importance, the following notes are presented.
Synergistic effects of temperature, diet and colony size on the competitive ability of two ant species

Multiple biotic and abiotic factors influence species coexistence and co-occurrence patterns. In a competitive environment, for example, temperature and diet variation may modify both foraging behaviour and aggression, thereby changing competitive interactions and species co-occurrence patterns. In New Zealand, two endemic ant species (Prolasius advenus and Monomorium antarcticum) often form allopatric distributions; though also periodically do co-occur in the same habitat. Here, we performed a long-term laboratory experiment in an attempt to understand how diet, colony size and environmental conditions may influence these co-occurrence patterns. The consequences of temperature and diet variation differed between P. advenus and M. antarcticum. Colonies of P. advenus exhibited increased aggression and foraging activities at higher temperatures. In addition, P. advenus colonies augmented their foraging activities when deprived of a carbohydrate-rich food source. Conversely, small M. antarcticum colonies exhibited higher aggression than when in large colonies, and increased their foraging activities at lower temperatures. The modulation of aggression and foraging behaviour may influence the likelihood of small P. advenus and M. antarcticum colonies persisting in the long term. Our results are compatible with the hypothesis that the environment is likely to be a strong filter for the negative co-occurrence patterns we observe between P. advenus and M. antarcticum in New Zealand. Furthermore, this study provides a mechanistic explanation for potential impacts of climate warming on community structure. Environmental modification of aggression and foraging behaviour could potentially alter competitive interactions and influence community assembly.
Evaluation of genetic diversity among some wild populations of Achillea bieberstenii Afan. from Iran using morphological and agronomical traits

In this study, genetic diversity among 25 populations (each population 6 plants) of Achillea bieberstenii Afan. collected from 12 provinces of Iran using a total of 35 morphological and agronomical characteristics including 31 quantitative and 4 qualitative traits was evaluated as an important step for possible use in the breeding programs of this medicinal plant. According to the results of analysis of variance, there were significant differences among the studied populations for some important characters. Also, results of simple correlation analysis were shown the significant positive and negative correlations among some important characters. Factor analysis was also used for defining of the determinant factors and the characters constituted in each factor. In Principal component analysis (PCA), 10 main and independent factors with over Eigen values than two explained 85.36% of the total variation related to main effective characters. Based on the constructed dendrogram, 25 populations of A. biebersteinii were clearly divided into 11 main clusters. Groups mainly have differences in yield and yield components. In this investigation not only was observed high variation for studied morphological characteristics but also some native populations were clearly shown their valuable breeding potential in some agronomical traits for breeding programs and medicinal purposes.
SUBSPECIES CHARACTERIZATION OF UREASE-POSITIVE THERMOPHILIC CAMPYLOBACTER (UPTC) ISOLATED FROM SHELLFISH EMPLOYING MODIFIED FLAGELLIN (flaA) RESTRICTION FRAGMENT LENGTH POLYMORPHISM (RFLP) TYPING

Abstract Shellfish including oysters (Crassostrea gigas), cockles (Cerastoderma edule) and mussels (Mytilus edulis), have previously been described as an important source of thermophilic campylobacters, with the potential of causing acute bacterial gastroenteritis in humans. Previous genotyping studies employing the polymerase chain reaction—restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) typing, based on the flagellin (flaA) gene have been unable to generate an amplicon for the urease-positive thermophilic Campylobacter (UPTC), which are the predominant taxa associated with shellfish, largely caused by sequence diversity between the UPTC group and C. jejuni. Hence the aim of this study was to develop a modified PCR-RFLP genotyping assay, employing polymorphisms within the flagellin (flaA) gene of UPTC organisms, which would now allow the successful amplification and typing of previously nontypable UPTC isolates obtained from natural marine environments. A novel primer pair (UPTC flaF/UPTC flaR) was designed based on conserved regions within the flaA gene locus of UPTC organisms to generate a 1,358 bp amplicon for all UPTC organisms tested. RFLP analysis with DdeI in combination with computational analysis of genetic relatedness using BioNumerics software demonstrated the presence of four distinct flaA genotypes, among the seven UPTC isolates. In conclusion, this study describes a PCR-RFLP method, based on modified primers from UPTC flaA gene sequences that may be successfully applied to examine subspecies relatedness of UPTC organisms from natural environments, including shellfish.
Effect of Seed-borne Fungi on the Germinating Seeds and their Bio-control in Maize

An experiment was conducted in Seed Pathology Center, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh to determine the efficacy of biocontrol means (BAU-Biofungicide, Garlic extract and Neem extract) in controlling seedborne fungal diseases of maize ( Zea mays ). In laboratory experiment, the seeds of maize cultivars cv. Badsha-1, Khai Bhutta, Bornali, Mohor, BARI Bhutta- 5 and BARI Bhutta- 6 were tested by blotter method. The identified fungi associated with the seeds were A. niger, A. flavus, Fusarium sp . , P. oxalicum , C. lunata and R. stolonifer . The seed samples were treated with BAU-Biofungicide @ 2.5% of seed weight, neem extract@ 1:2 w/v and 1:3 w/v and garlic extract @ 1:2 w/v and 1:3 w/v to control the seed-borne pathogens. The effective results were recorded as regards to the highest germination (84.5%) reflected the lowest disease incidence (4.0%) recorded in BAUBiofungicide treated seeds followed by other treatment. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3329/jesnr.v5i1. 11564 J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 5(1): 117 - 120, 2012
Characterization of polysaccharide from longan pulp as the macrophage stimulator

Longan is one of the most popular subtropical fruits in Southeast Asia, because of its flavor and benefits to health. As one of the important active ingredients of longan pulp, polysaccharide LPIIa was obtained by hot water extraction, ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration chromatography. Its physicochemical characterization and immunostimulatory effects on macrophages were then investigated. Structural analyses indicated that LPIIa was a 44.7 kDa heteropolysaccharide mainly composed of →6)-Glc-(1→, →5)-Ara-(1→, →4)-Man-(1→ and →6)-Gal-(1→. It enhanced macrophage phagocytosis and nitric oxide production in the dose range of 100–400 μg mL−1. Moreover, it significantly increased the inducible nitric oxide synthase activity, tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 secretion of macrophages at 200 μg mL−1. However, these effects were obviously weakened after toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) or TLR2 was blocked. Likewise, the specific inhibitors of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), protein kinase C, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, protein tyrosine kinase and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) selectively depressed the immunostimulatory activities of LPIIa on macrophages. LPIIa stimulated macrophage activation partly via TLR4 and TLR2, followed by p38 MAPK- and NF-κB-dependent signaling pathways. The results suggested that LPIIa possessed potent immunomodulatory activity by stimulating macrophages and could be used as an immunotherapeutic adjuvant.
Berry Ripening and Evapotranspiration in Vitis vinifera L

Based on the observation that the allometric situation, i.e . , the ratio between berry volume and skin area (smaller vs. larger fruit), and the physical intactness of the skin are paramount in determining final sugar content of mature grapes, water efflux ( Jw ) by evapotranspiration is hypothesized to be the driving force of berry sugar import and accumulation. This reduction of the physiological process of hexose accumulation to non-metabolic variables allows an assessment and prediction of berry assimilate uptake by relatively simple mathematical equations. Measurements of hexose concentrations and berry diameter in three consecutive years were used to test the model. The post-veraison period was found to separate into two distinct phases with different water flux characteristics. From this emerges that the water status of vine and particularly the conditions in the grape zone must be of practical importance in determining the rate of sugar accumulation during grape ripening.
Hb Bart's Levels in Cord Blood and α-Thalassemia Mutations in Cyprus

The purpose of this study was to examine the frequency of α-thalassemia in the population of Cyprus using cord blood samples. The levels of Hb Bart's were compared with the hematological indices and the results correlated with the presence of α-thalassemia mutations. The protocols for the polymerase chain reaction detection of the six most common α-globin mutations encountered in Cyprus were optimized, and the frequency of each mutation was determined through the screening of 495 random cord blood samples. The total allele frequency for the mutations examined was 10.6%, of which 1% is due to the triplication of the α-globin genes. The -α(3.7 kb) deletion accounts for 72.8% of all detectable mutations, while the –MED-I and -(α)-20.5 kb mutations account for 7.8%. The level of Hb Bart's and the MCV and MCH values incord blood samples were found to correlate closely with the severity of α-thalassemia, although the -α(3.7 kb) deletion and perhaps other mild α-thalassemia mutations may not give detectable Hb Bart's levels. A reasonably accurate estimate of the α-thalassemia carrier frequency may be obtained from cord blood studies if Hb Bart's estimates are combined with hematological indices. When molecular methods are added, these give the best way to use cord bloods to survey populations for α-thalassemia.
Regulation of Autophagy by Acetyl Coenzime A : From the Mechanisms to a Revised Definition of Caloric Restriction Mimetics

Autophagy is a self-digestion process in which cell degrades its own components in order to maintain homeostasis in basal conditions. In absence of nutrients, autophagy is activated and promotes cell survival by providing energetic substrates to sustain stressful condition. Autophagy and metabolism crosstalk at different levels; a drop in energy-rich metabolites, such as ATP and NADH, is detected by cellular sensors (AMPK and SIRT1 respectively) and leads to autophagy activation. Here, we define a further regulatory level of starvation-induced autophagy. In this work, we show that nutrient deprivation is characterized by a rapid depletion of Acetyl CoA, a major integrator of the nutritional status at the crossroads of fat, sugar, and protein catabolism.Decrease in AcCoA is accompanied by the commensurate reduction in overall protein acetylation levels as well as by autophagy induction. Manipulations designed to increase or reduce cytosolic levels of AcCoA, either targeting mitochondrial synthesis or its transport in the cytoplasm, resulted in the suppression or induction of autophagy both in cultured cells and in mice tissues. Depletion of AcCoA directly impacts on the activity of cellular KATs, which use AcCoA as substrate for acetylating proteins. We showed that a drop in AcCoA specifically reduces the activity of EP300; this KAT was indeed required for the suppression of autophagy by high AcCoA levels, thus behaving as the sensor of cytosolic AcCoA levels. In turn, EP300 controls autophagy by inhibiting key autophagic proteins. Altogether, our results indicate that cytosolic AcCoA functions as a central metabolic regulator of autophagy, thus delineating AcCoA-centered pharmacological strategies that allow for the therapeutic manipulation of autophagy. Indeed, nutrient deprivation and caloric restriction are known to play pro-healthy and longevity promoting effects. Nonetheless, CR-based strategies are hardly suitable in clinical settings. Here, we propose a new biochemical definition of Caloric Restriction Mimetics, compounds that mimic the positive effects of nutrient starvation. In our setting, a CRM is a compound able to reduce protein acetylation through distinct but convergent mechanisms: first, by decreasing AcCoA levels, second by directly inhibiting KATs, third by the activation of protein deacetylases. This results in the execution of a cellular program ultimately leading to CR-related pro-healthy effects, including but not limited to autophagy.
The calling songs of male spring field crickets (Gryllus veletis) change as males age

Sexual traits are typically thought to convey information about a male's quality or condition. Female preference for older males has been documented in many taxa, but the evidence that males signal their age is inconclusive. We investigated lifetime patterns of acoustic mate attraction signalling in a longitudinal study of the spring field cricket, Gryllus veletis. We recorded males continuously throughout their lives, such that every pulse of sound produced by every male was analyzed. Our study answers two main questions: (1) Do calls change as males age? Our results reveal that the calls of male spring field crickets change with age; the calls of older males were quieter, with more silent periods within and between chirps, and produced less often than those of younger males. As males aged most of the changes in call structure reflect decreased calling effort. (2) What is the relationship between calling effort and longevity? Lifetime calling effort was positively related to longevity, such that males that called the most over their life also lived longer than males that called less. Together, our findings provide the most thorough exploration of lifetime signalling patterns in crickets to date.