Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adherence to and invasion of epithelial cells by Neisseria gonorrhoeae

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), about 88 million infections with gonococci occur worldwide each year. However, the so far prevailing attitude in western industrialized countries is to consider these infections as negligible. A reporting obligation for N. gonorrhoeae infections in Germany was abolished in 2001. New findings now show that multi-resistant variants are emerging which are unsusceptible even to third generation cephalosporin antibiotics. Thus, one of the most common sexual transmitted diseases that also facilitates HIV infections is about to become untreatable. This development underlines the need of intensifying efforts that help to answer open questions in N. gonorrhoeae pathogenicity such as type VI pilus-mediated adherence with its sole natural host.
The Flowering Process of Vitis vinifera: A Review

The flowering of Vitis vinifera spreads over two seasons. Tendrils and inflorescences have a common origin known as anlage or uncommitted primordia. The fate of the uncommitted primordia depends on the cytokinin-gibberellin balance, with cytokinins promoting transition to flowering and gibberellins inhibiting it. High temperature and high light are induction stimuli for flowering. Neither photoperiod nor vernalization is very relevant for flowering induction. Inflorescence primordia development in latent buds stops after the formation of secondary and tertiary branches, approximately one month before shoot periderm formation. Buds resume growth after dormancy, with further branching of inflorescences before differentiation of individual flowers. Warm weather at budburst favors further inflorescence differentiation, resulting in more clusters per shoot, while cool weather favors differentiation of more flowers per clusters and fewer clusters per shoot. Environment and cultural practices influence flowering, either directly or indirectly via their impact on photosynthesis and nutrient availability. Cultural practices encouraging light penetration into the canopy favor flower initiation, while practices resulting in shading have a detrimental impact. Flower formation occurs through a series of sequential steps under hormone-mediated genetic control. The first genetic change involves the switch from the vegetative to the floral state, in response to different environmental and developmental signals, through the activity of floral-meristem identity genes. Second, the floral meristem is patterned into the whorls of organ primordia through the activity of floral-organ identity genes. Third, the floral-organ identity genes activate downstream effectors that specify the various tissues which constitute the different floral structures. The flowers are hermaphroditic and most are self-pollinated but cross-pollination also occurs. Fertilization is hindered by cool rainy weather and favored by warm dry weather.
Glutamate release mechanisms from megakaryocytes.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the main causes of death in western society. Platelet activation, thrombus formation and plaque rupture are all central events in the pathogenesis of acute coronary syndromes, therefore therapies targeted at controlling platelet numbers and aggregation are likely to be beneficial in the treatment of CVD. Megakaryocytes (MKs) which are the precursors to platelets are an ideal target for these therapies, however the intrinsic factors that regulate the production and shedding of platelet precursors are poorly understood. Recent studies identified that MKs express functional NMDA-type glutamate receptors similar to those found in the CNS and that antagonism of these receptors prevents normal MK differentiation and platelet function. This thesis investigates glutamate signalling within MKs further, focusing on the glutamate release capability of MK cells and the mechanisms involved. Using molecular and cellular techniques it was demonstrated that MK cells expressed numerous regulatory proteins required for vesicular glutamate release, including core SNARE proteins, VAMP, SNAP-23 and syntaxin; specific glutamate-loading vesicle proteins, VGLUTI and VGLUT2; and glutamate transporters, EAATI and EAAT2. Active vesicle recycling was observed in MK cells using a fluorescent reporter and an enzyme-linked fluorimetric assay confirmed that MK cells constitutively released glutamate and that glutamate release levels increased significantly following MK differentiation. Transient transfection of the human cell line MEG-Ol with tetanus toxin, which disables vesicle recycling, induced a 30% decrease (P<O.OOI) in released glutamate compared to empty vector controls. In contrast, over-expressing VGLUTI caused a 41% increase (P<O.OO1) in glutamate release activity of MEG-O1 cells compared to controls. These data demonstrate that MK cells regulate glutamate exocytosis through specific vesicular proteins, indicating that glutamate signalling may be a potential target for CVD therapies. Also the observations that MKs both release and recycle glutamate indicates an important role for glutamate signalling from these cells in autocrine and paracrine interactions within the bone marrow microenvironment.
Bedeutung des Hitzeschockproteins cHsp60, groEL-1 von Chlamydophila pneumoniae für die Aktivierung humaner Endothelzellen

Chlamydophila pneumoniae has been linked to several severe illnesses and is discussed in context with numerous acute and chronic pulmonary, neurological and cardiovascular diseases. However, the importance of different chlamydial virulence factors still remains uncertain. The 60-kDa heat-shock protein groEL-1 has been suggested to be important for target cell activation. The purpose of our study was to investigate signal transduction pathways activated in groEL-1-stimulated endothelial cells. The 60-kDa heat-shock protein groEL-1 induced a timeand dose-dependent phosphorylation of the endothelial mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) p38 and ERK1/2, maximum effects were seen after 15 minutes using 20 μg/ml, followed by a subsequently activation and translocation of NF-κB into the cell nucleus as well as a timeand dose-dependent expression of endothelial IL-8. Kinetics and efficiency of the activation of endothelial cells were comparable to a stimulation with viable C. pneumoniae. Activation of different signal transduction pathways in groEL-1-stimulated endothelial cells has been demonstrated: phosphorylation of MAPK p38 and ERK1/2, and NF-κB activation/translocation. Increased expression of neutrophil chemotactic factor IL-8 was noted within hours. Stimulation with groEL-1 induced a strong activation of different signal transduction pathways in endothelial cells and thus may be a key virulence factor in C. pneumoniae mediated target cell activation.
ACCUMULATION AND DEPOSITION OF INORGANIC AND ORGANIC COMPOUNDS BY MICROCOLONIAL FUNGI

A seemingly unique feature of desert varnish is its worldwide association with microcolonial fungi (MCF). The surface environments on rock coatings are some of the most hostile on Earth. High temperatures, low humidity, high incidence of UV light and low nutrients require microorganisms that have evolved special survival skills. MCF contain melanin, microsporines, carotinoids and probably other as yet unidentified pigments that help protect them from UV light. During the hottest and driest months, few bacteria are observed on specimens we have examined from several desert regions of the world. The survivability in these extreme conditions sets MCF apart from bacteria. Sporulating bacteria have developed survival mechanisms but must expend energy to create spores. MCF in contrast survive and flourish where only few bacteria are present and lichens are unable to survive.
Inhibition of ethylene action prevents root penetration through compressed media in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) seedlings

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L. cv. Rutgers) seedlings germinated on 2% agar containing the inhibitor of ethylene action, silver thiosulfate (STS), failed to insert their radicles into the agar. The growing seedlings developed a corkscrew morphology because of their inability to develop a gravitropic axis. Treatment with STS increased root length, and decreased hypocotyl elongation. These effects were also observed in seedlings germinated in atmospheres containing 2 000 µl 1−1 2,5-norbornadiene (NBD), another inhibitor of ethylene action. Neither of the inhibitors suppressed root penetration by seedlings grown on soft agar (0.5%). The altered pattern of growth appears to be due to restricted water uptake, since water application restored normal growth but not root penetration. Under low impedance, the rate of ethylene production was higher on STS- or NBD-treated roots. Increasing the concentration of agar in the growing medium increased ethylene production in untreated roots, and reduced that of those treated with inhibitors. The inability of roots to penetrate impeding agar surfaces was also observed in seedlings of an ethylene-resistant mutant (er) of Arabidopsis thaliana. These data indicate that ethylene plays a role in the response of roots to mechanical impedance, and that inhibition of their action impaired root insertion through compressed media. Possible mechanisms involved in these processes are discussed.
Eficacia y actividad residual del regulador de crecimiento pyriproxyfen sobre larvas de Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) en condiciones de laboratorio

Pyriproxyfen es un analogo sintetico de la hormona juvenil ampliamente usado para el control de mos quitos. Esta investigacion describe bioensayos realizados en condiciones de laboratorio con una formulacion granulada del producto, utilizando larvas del IV instar de Aedes aegypti. Este producto (Sumilarv G-0,5%) fue formulado en Brasil, con 0,5 % del ingrediente activo (Pyriproxyfen: S-31183). El objetivo fue determinar la eficacia del producto y evaluar su accion residual a tres concentraciones (0,002; 0,01 y 0,05 ppm) sobre larvas de Ae. aegypti. Para tal fin, se realizaron seis ensayos sucesivos: El ensayo inicial (semana 0) y despues a 1, 2, 4, 6 y 8 semanas post-tratamiento al agua. Segun los resultados obtenidos, la actividad residual del producto con la concentracion de 0,05 ppm, fue bastante satisfactoria durante 8 semanas (60 dias) post-tratamiento, obteniendose valores del porcentaje de Inhibicion de la Emergencia (% IE) de 77%. Sin embargo, tanto a 0,002 ppm como a 0,01 ppm, su eficacia disminuyo considerablemente a partir de la primera y segunda semana post-tratamiento. La mortalidad en la fase de pupa fue mucho mayor que la mortalidad larval a todas las concentraciones probadas. Asimismo, en otro experimento se evaluo el efecto del aumento de la densidad de larvas expuestas, sobre la eficacia del producto a la misma concentracion de 0,05 ppm. La densidad larvaria no afecto la eficacia del producto; ya que no hubo diferencias estadisticamente significativas entre tratamientos o densidades probadas. El analisis estadistico no revelo ninguna relacion significativa entre densidad larvaria y mortalidad de pupas o inhibicion de la emergencia de adultos de Ae. aegypti. Segun lo cual, se concluye que al aumentar progresivamente la cantidad de larvas a tratar, no disminuye la mortalidad de pupas, ni la inhibicion de emergencia de adultos, por lo que no se afecta negativamente la eficacia del producto.
Who eats whose eggs? Intra- versus inter-specific interactions in starving ladybird beetles predaceous on aphids.

Starving adult beetles of Menochilus sexmaculatus and Coccinella transversalis resorted to intra- and inter-specific predation in the absence of aphid prey. Particularly at high egg densities, predators consumed eggs of their own species much more readily than eggs of the other species. Between the two ladybird species, the eggs of the smaller species, M. sexmaculatus, were less vulnerable to predation from the larger species, C. transversalis than vice versa. Results further indicate that adult female beetles are capable of discriminating eggs of their own species versus eggs of alien species on physical contact. The adaptive significance of this is discussed.
Adventitious rooting in hypocotyls of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) seedlings

The effect of brief application (usually for 3 h) of various growth regulators and their antagonists on the production of adventitious root primordia in sunflower hypocotyls over a 3 day period, was investigated. Gibberellic acid inhibited, while an inhibitor of gibberellin biosynthesis promoted rooting. Low concentrations of cytokinins increased, but higher levels inhibited primordia formation. Auxin was able to stimulate or inhibit root production, depending upon the quantity applied, and triiodobenzoic acid applied to the top of the hypocotyls lowered the rate of root formation. From experiments in which benzyladenine, silver nitrate and benzyl isothiocyanate were supplied to the hypocotyl for various 3 h periods after root removal, we concluded that some of the important events necessary for adventitious root production occur during the first few hours after excision of the original root system. We also suggest that the hypocotyl cells on the first day go through a phase during which primordia production is blocked by endogenous ethylene and on the second day enter a phase during which endogenous ethylene promotes rooting.
The Effect of Ferrum (FeSO4) on Culture Mushroom: Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.) Kumm.

This study was conducted on the growth, ratio of protein and cultivation of Pleurotus ostreatus on local celluosic wastes in different concentrations of the ferrous (Fe++). It was observed that Fe++ had effect on the formation and growth of the basidiocarps. The shortest and longest period of basidiocarps formation and growth were obtained in 100 ppm and 300 ppm Fe++, respectively. The higher total amount of yield was found for 100 ppm Fe++ when compared with control, 200 and 300 ppm Fe++. Significant (P < 0.05) difference was found between the control and 100 ppm Fe++, but the best yield was obtained. Mushroom protein ratio of all concentrations of ferrous (Fe++) were found to be lower than control.
Body Size and Age in Amphibians and Reptiles

We question the widespread assumption that body size and age are strongly correlated in adult amphibians and reptiles. Data for the smooth newt (Triturus vulgaris) suggest that growth rate prior to the age of first breeding is a much more significant source of variance in body size than age. A review of the data available for amphibians and reptiles suggests that this is true for the majority of species. Four methods for determining age are discussed and we conclude that only two of them, skeletochronology and mark-recapture, are reliable. We argue that female choice in anurans that favours larger males may not, as has frequently been suggested, mean that females mate with older males, but with males that have shown rapid juvenile growth. It is widely assumed that amphibians and reptiles show indeterminate growth and that body size and age are therefore posi- tively correlated (Duellman and Trueb, 1985). This assumption has formed the ba- sis of various evolutionary hypotheses, for example, that, if female anurans show a mating preference for larger males, they will mate with older males whose ability to survive a long time may have some her- itable basis (Howard, 1978; Halliday, 1983a, b; Duellman and Trueb, 1985). In this pa- per, we review the evidence that body size and age are correlated in adult amphibians and reptiles, critically evaluate four meth- ods that have been used to estimate age, and discuss the extent to which hypotheses that assume a size-age correlation are ten- able.
Climate change impacts on insect management and conservation in temperate regions: can they be predicted?

Global environmental change is amongst the greatest long-term threats to humans. We need suf®cient food, clean air and a comfortable environment in which to live and our current way of life threatens all of these. We have thrived as a result of the major changes that we have imposed on the planet, particularly with respect to clearing space for modern agriculture and the development and use of related technologies. However, we now understand suf®ciently the nature of interactions and feedbacks within and between abiotic and biotic components of the environment to realize the potential dangers from perturbation of any of these components. Insects are the most diverse class of organisms on Earth (May, 1990). As insects have many detrimental and bene®cial effects on humans and natural ecosystems, both directly and indirectly, it is not surprising that considerable thought has already been given to the impacts that global environmental change may have on them (e.g. Porter et al., 1991; Cammell & Knight, 1992; chapters in Kareiva et al., 1993; chapters in Harrington & Stork, 1995; Patz & Martens, 1996; Cannon, 1998; Epstein, 2000; Rogers & Randolph, 2000). The reason for trying to predict the impacts of climate change within the context of agriculture and forestry is to help to determine whether present systems will be sustainable. Relevant questions include: will we be able to manage insects and their habitats in the future the way we do today and, if not, what can we do about it; will we need to consider every insect in every situation independently or is there any hope of generalizing; can we expect to develop adequately predictive process-based models of change, and can statistical analyses of long-term data lead to useful predictions? This paper is concerned mainly with predicting the effects of climate change on insect pests and bene®cial insects of agriculture and forestry in the northern hemisphere's temperate zones, although the general principles may be applied more widely. Whilst mindful of interactions with other factors, we concentrate mainly on temperature because, of the climate variables, it is the one for which there is most con®dence in predictions of future climate change scenarios (Houghton et al., 2001) and for which we have most evidence from which predictions of impacts might be derived. The potential rate of increase of many insects is strongly dependent on temperature, and their survival is impaired at low and high temperatures. Changes in both mean temperature and the extent and frequency of extremes can hence have major impacts on insect populations. First we outline what one might intuitively expect to happen to insects as a result of a general rise in temperature and then we look at various complicating factors that have the potential to confound these expectations. Next we give examples of changes that are already occurring and are consistent with expectation. Finally we consider some of the possible implications of these changes for insect pest management and insect conservation.
Maturity, fecundity and reproductive potential of the European lobster (Homarus gammarus) in Ireland

Fecundity and size at maturity of the European lobster Homarus gammarus (Crustacea: Decapoda) was estimated in four coastal regions of Ireland. Egg size increased with carapace length (CL) (egg size=0·9939×ln (CL)−3·0809). The size–fecundity relationship for all coasts combined was (fecundity=0·0044×CL3·1554). Physiological maturity was assessed using ovary colour, ovary factor, ova size, abdomen width/CL ratio, cement gland activity and moult status as criteria. Size at 50% maturity varied from 92·5 to 96 mm depending on region. The size–maturity relationship for all coasts combined was (Maturity= 1/(1+exp(14·595−0·15598×CL))). Over 60% of lobsters in the commercial landings were under the size at 50% maturity. Relative reproductive potential (RRP) of different size-classes was calculated from the size–fecundity and size–maturity models and the numbers by length in the landings. The modal RRP size-class was 98–100 mm. The commercial landings were dominated by the 86–92 mm size-classes.
Further record of Ceratothoa carinata (Isopoda: Cymothoidae) parasitic on Decapterus maruadsi in Japanese waters

The cymothoid isopod Ceratothoa carinata (Bianconi, 1869) was found in the buccal cavity of the Japanese scad Decapterus maruadsi (Temminck & Schlegel, 1843) from the western Seto Inland Sea. This parasite is likely to be common in some local populations of D. maruadsi in Japanese waters.
Directional cues for growing axons forming the retinotectal projection

In the formation of projections that map one area of the nervous system onto another, guidance of axonal growth cones by directional cues encoded in target tissues is well established by observations on misrouted fibres, though other mechanisms contribute to the precision of connectivity patterns. General physical principles indicate that, if there is directional guidance of normally as well as misrouted axons, leading them toward their appropriate target positions, the inference for a role of graded distributions of molecules is a strong one. As explained in this paper, curving, meandering, branching and shifting connections are fully consistent with a crucial role of directional cues encoded by graded molecular distributions. A model is proposed according to which slight directional cues are strongly enhanced within the axonal growth cone; if the proximal part of the growth cone is activated indicating that the growth cone points in an entirely wrong direction, then a discontinuous directional change such as branching is elicited. Pathways are corrected in this way, and near the appropriate target position the terminal arbour is formed because from there all routes point towards less optimal positions, leading to multiple branching.
Reproductive biology of deep-sea soft corals in the Newfoundland and Labrador region

This research integrates processing of preserved samples and, for the first time, long-term monitoring of live colonies and the study of planula behaviour and settlement preferences in four deep-sea brooding octocorals (Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae). Results indicate that reproduction can be correlated to bottom temperature, photoperiod, wind speed and fluctuations in phytoplankton abundance. Large planula larvae are polymorphic, exhibit substratum selectivity and can fuse together or with a parent colony. Planulae of two Drifa species are also able to metamorphose in the water column before settlement. This research thus brings evidence of both the resilience (i.e., extended breeding period, demersal larvae with a long competency period) and vulnerability (i.e., substratum selectivity, slow growth) of deep-water corals; and open up new perspectives on experimental studies of deep-sea organisms.