Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An investigation into the role of Rab-Coupling Protein and EphA2 during cancer cell migration

The gene encoding Rab-Coupling Protein (RCP), a Rab11 GTPase effector, is found on a chromosomal locus that is frequently amplified in cancer. We have previously shown that RCP drives alpha5beta1-integrin and EGFR recycling to the plasma membrane, thus contributing to the invasive migration of tumour cells. Using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, I have identified EphA2 and two Rab GTPases, Rab6 and Rab14, as novel RCP-associated proteins. Immunoprecipitation-based studies confirm these associations using several different cancer cell lines. EphA2 is a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) that is required for contact inhibition of locomotion (CIL), and this process is thought to contribute to cancer cell invasion. To determine whether the EphA2-RCP association has functional significance, I tested whether RCP, Rab GTPases and other Rab11 effector proteins are required for CIL. siRNA knockdown of either RCP or Rab14 prevented efficient CIL, but depletion of Rab11 or Fip2 expression was ineffective in this regard. Likewise, HGF-induced scattering of cell colonies was opposed by suppression of EphA2, RCP or Rab14 expression. Since RCP and Rab14 are involved in RTK trafficking, EphA2 internalisation kinetics were investigated. HGF increased EphA2 trafficking in an RCP- and Rab14-dependent fashion. Live cell imaging demonstrated that EphA2 is delivered to an RCP and Rab14 positive compartment upon HGF treatment. Furthermore, HGF drove phosphorylation of RCP on Serine435, which enhanced the association between EphA2, RCP and Rab14. Indeed, mutating the phosphor-acceptor site on RCP (RCPS435A) reduced its association with EphA2 and Rab14, and blocked HGF-driven cell scattering. EphA2 is frequently overexpressed in human pancreatic cancer and this is associated with poor patient prognosis. The role of EphA2 and RCP in metastasis was investigated in an autochthonous model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) by crossing EphA2-/- and RCPfl/fl mice into the KPC (Pdx1-Cre, KrasG12D/+, p53R172H/+) PDAC model. Indeed, ablation of EphA2 or RCP expression in the mouse pancreas reduced the formation of liver metastases. Furthermore, PDAC lines from KPC EphA2-/- and KPC RCPfl/fl mice had a less scattered phenotype and were less invasive in vitro thus corroborating the observations indicating that EphA2 and RCP have an important role in cell-cell repulsion.
Los árboles que la selva dejó átras

El paisaje del tropico humedo de toda America, se senala por la creciente deforestacion y fragmentacion de las selvas y los bosques, que dan como resultado un paisaje con una gran superficie de campos de cultivo y potreros rodeando los fragmentos forestales de extension y composicion floristica variables. Sin embargo, las areas desmontadas que estan cubiertas de vegetacion herbacea, no estan del todo desprovistas de arboles. Es comun encontrar en ellas con distinta frecuencia y densidad, arboles solitarios dejados en pie, remanentes de la selva o de vegetacion forestal sucesional. Estos arboles aislados en potreros o campos de cultivo, ademas de estar ampliamente distribuidos y ser componentes estructurales del paisaje neotropical actual, desempenan un papel fundamental en la dinamica ecologica del paisaje fragmentado. Este ensayo, esta dedicado a explicar la funcion de los arboles aislados en la regeneracion de la selva, la conectividad del paisaje y el mantenimiento de la biodiversidad local en un paisaje fragmentado del tropico humedo de Mexico.
Effects of the 2000 southern Mozambique floods on a marginal coral community: the case at Xai-Xai

In early 2000 the southern part of Mozambique suffered the worst flooding in 50 years, causing fatalities and considerable material loss. This study aimed to investigate the impact of this flood on the coral communities in Xai-Xai lagoon. Benthic cover was assessed in January 2000 (before the floods) and September 2000 (after the floods) using the line intercept transect technique. A decrease in hard coral cover of the order of 58.5% was observed. The soft coral community was significantly affected, with a decrease in percentage cover of 90.4%. Coralline algae also decreased by 85.1%. All other categories increased in percentage cover: turf algae (164.4%), other invertebrates (e.g. sponges, sea urchins — 111.1%), fleshy algae (80.4%), rubble (34.4%) and dead coral (379.0%). The main causes of this degradation were the reduced water salinity and the large amount of sediment discharged by the Limpopo River. Some massive (e.g. Porites, Favia, Favites and Goniopora) and encrusting (e.g. Echinopora) hard coral genera seemed less affected, suggesting an elevated capacity to cope with this kind of stress through mucus-sheet formation. The extent of the flood effect on other reefs on the southern Mozambique coast is discussed and a monitoring programme is proposed.
Laboratory studies on aggregation, size and fecundity in the black bean aphid, Aphis fabae Scop.

Adults of Aphis fabae Scop. can weigh from as little as 200 μg to as much as 1 800 μg (Way & Banks, 1967), a remarkable range in size for a single species. An extensive range in size also occurs among the adults in other species of aphid (Murdie, 1969 a , b ; Dixon, 1970). Small individuals result when aphids develop either under crowded conditions or on a mature host-plant; large aphids result when the nymphs are reared in isolation or on young or senescent host-plants (Way & Banks, 1967; Murdie, 1969 a , b ; Dixon, 1970). A small adult produces fewer nymphs and also smaller nymphs than average (Murdie, 1969 b ; Dixon, 1970). When aphids are overcrowded or feed on host-plants of poor quality, many aphids reach maturity that might otherwise fail to mature because of the ability of the species to produce viable adults of a great variety of size, including very small adults (Way & Banks, 1967).
Microphytoplankton and ciliate communities’ structure and distribution in a stressed area of the south coast of Sfax, Tunisia (eastern Mediterranean Sea)

The environmental parameters, microphytoplankton and ciliate communities in the area were studied in spring and autumn at 20 stations along the coast south of Sfax over two seasons during 2011. The results showed that the environmental parameters indicated high nutrient levels and their concentrations ranges reported as criteria of eutrophication in coastal waters. A total of 78 microphytoplankton species were identified, belonging to Diatoms, Dinoflagellates, Cyanobacteriae, Euglenophyceae, Dictyochophyceae and Chlorophyceae. The numerical density of phytoplankton was high over the whole area, with season averages between 44.10×102 ±41.93×102 and 103.55×102 ± 107.33×102 cells L–1. A total of 58 ciliate species were identified at all of the stations. Tintinnids abundance was generally higher than naked ciliate abundance reported for autumn and spring seasons, both at the surface layer and water–sediment interface. One striking point was that ciliate abundance was unchanged in autumn (4×102 cells L–1) but was still higher in spring (6×102 cells L–1). Some species reported in this study are commonly found in the stressed coastal waters.
Diet and Feeding Ecology of the Royal Albatross Diomedea epomophora—King of the Shelf Break and Inner Slope

Diet samples, mainly regurgitations by Royal Albatross Diomedea epomophora nestlings, were obtained at Chatham Islands (34), Taiaroa Head (151) and Campbell Island (79), New Zealand, between 1973 and 1997. Cephalopods and fish were the main items of food, with only small amounts of crustaceans and tunicates. Being completely digested faster, fish are likely to be under-represented in the samples, but most identified were fisheries targets or by-catch. Prevalent cephalopods eaten were Histioteuthidae, Onychoteuthidae, Cranchiidae and, at Taia-roa Head, Octopodidae. Although Histioteuthis atlantica was generally the most commonly taken species, Moroteuthopsis ingens adults contributed most biomass and this indicates that most feeding was possibly on post-spawning cephalopods. While partly similar to the diet of the Wandering Albatross D. exulans species-group, the relative absence of oceanic species in the diet of Royal Albatross indicates that it feeds closer to land, or over shallower waters, than the former, and that it avoids Antarctic waters. The preference of Royal Albatross forM. ingens could explain their migration between two apparent centres of distribution of M. ingens: the continental shelf break and inner slope of southern New Zealand and of southern Chile—Argentina. These feeding areas also keep Royal Albatross away for much of the time from most seas where tuna long-lining occurs, rendering them less vulnerable than Wandering Albatross to such by-catch mortality. Scavenging at fishing vessels may now provide an increased food supply, and partly account for the increase in some populations.
X-ray crystal structure and mechanism of action of oestrone 3-O-sulphamate, a synthetic active site-directed inhibitor of oestrone sulphatase

Oestrone 3-O-sulphamate, wherein a sulphamate moiety is a sulphate group surrogate relative to oestrone sulphate, is the most potent oestrone sulphatase inhibitor developed to date and inhibits oestrone sulphatase in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, showing that it is acting as an active site-directed irreversible inhibitor. It also inhibits dehydroepiandrosterone sulphatase, the enzyme which regulates the synthesis of androstenediol. Oestrone 3-O-sulphamate has also been shown to inhibit these enzymes in-vivo. We report here its crystal structure and the synthesis and inhibitory activites of analogues in which the 3-O atom is replaced by other heteroatoms (N and S). Oestrone 3-N-sulphamate and oestrone 3-S-sulphamate were found to inhibit placental microsome oestrone sulphatase weakly, i.e. 53% and 12%, respectively, at 50 μM (compared with >99% for oestrone 3-O-sulphamate), but none of these compounds appears to behave as a time-dependent inhibitor.
Studies on the thymine–mercury–thymine base pairing in parallel and anti-parallel DNA duplexes

The stable T–Hg–T base pair in nucleic acids has been widely applied for Hg2+ biosensors. Based on the N–Hg binding mechanism for a mercury ion to nucleobases, the N–Hg–N bond was studied in other base pairs (T–T, T–G, G–G, C+–C+) with two imino groups within the base pairing face, in the context of parallel DNA duplexes. In the six C+–C+ pairs – defined parallel DNA duplexes at pH 5.0, the parallel T–Hg–T was suggested to be a very weak base pair, as it was not stable enough to support a long T–Hg–T stem, unlike the anti-parallel T–Hg–T base pair. No interactions between Hg2+ and the parallel T–G, G–G, and C+–C+ pairs were observed. In the anti-parallel dsDNA, the stabilizing effect of T–Hg–T was significant, but with position and sequence dependence, it was mostly less stable than the natural A–T base pair. An anti-parallel T–Hg–T stem is preferred over a parallel stem in the functional nucleic acids for the design of Hg2+ biosensors. It seems that the N–Hg–N bond is only accommodated in the T–T pair within the DNA duplex, different from the free bonding mode between individual nucleobases, nucleosides, or nucleotides. These results are helpful for the design of the T–Hg–T stem in Hg2+ biosensors based on functional nucleic acids.
Organization of a taxonomically diverse lizard assemblage in Amazonian Ecuador

Of 22 lizard species studied in eastern Ecuador, 21 were diurnal. Ten were active foragers and 12 were sit-and-wait foragers. Considerable variation existed in habitat and microhabitat distribution and body temperatures among species. Body size varied over an order of magnitude (20–270 mm snout–vent length). Most morphological (size-free) variation among species (77%) was accounted for by two principal component axes and appears tied to phylogeny. Prey size was correlated with lizard size and species were separated by prey size. Low overlaps in microhabitat, habitat, and prey type also separated species. Pseudocommunity analysis indicated structure in the consumer–resource matrix. In some comparisons, prey overlaps among species were greater within than between higher taxa, and closely related species tended to be found in similar habitat patches and microhabitats, suggesting that resource-use patterns are determined to some extent by phylogeny. Ecology, morphology, and phylogeny appear tied together in a.
ESTUDO DA PREVALÊNCIA DE ANTICORPOS ANTI-Babesia bovis E ANTI-Babesia bigemina EM BOVINOS DE LEITE DA MICRORREGIÃO DE GOIÂNIA DETERMINADA PELOS TESTES DE IMUNOFLUORESCÊNCIA INDIRETA E ELISA

O trabalho teve por objetivo estudar a prevalencia de anticorpos anti-Babesia bigemina e anti-Babesia bovis no rebanho bovino de leite da microrregiao de Goiânia por meio da reacao de imunofluorescencia indireta (RIFI) e ELISA. Para o delineamento experimental o mapa da microrregiao foi dividido em 47 quadrantes, dos quais 25 foram sorteados para a colheita de material. Em cada propriedade visitada foi colhido sangue aleatoriamente em cerca de 10% dos animais. Colheram-se 180 amostras de sangue, numero estatisticamente representativo para a populacao bovina em estudo. Do total das amostras, 94,4% e 93,3% foram positivas para Babesia bigemina ao teste de RIFI e ELISA respectivamente, sendo que os metodos apresentaram uma concordância de 97,8%. Para Babesia bovis, 100% das amostras foram positivas pela RIFI e 98,9% pelo ELISA, com uma concordância de 98,9% entre eles. Nao foi constatada nenhuma diferenca estatisticamente significativa (P<0,05) entre as provas de RIFI e ELISA. A microrregiao de Goiânia pode ser caracterizada como uma area de estabilidade enzootica para babesiose bovina causada tanto por B. bigemina quanto por B. bovis, portanto oferece risco em potencial de perdas economicas na introducao de animais suscetiveis procedentes de regioes livres. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Babesiose, bovinos, reacao de imunofluorescencia indireta, ELISA, Babesia bovis, Babesia bigemina.
Familiar concepts and relationships in the conifers based on rbcL and matK sequence comparisons

Analysis of sequence data for the chloroplast encoded genes rbcL and matK for 40 taxa representing all conifer families and subfamilies, rooted on Ginkgo biloba, provides robust support for the family concepts of Araucariaceae, Cupressaceae sensu lato, Pinaceae and Sciadopilyaceae. Whereas Phyllocladus and Cephalotaxus are robustly linked with, but separated from Podocarpaceae sensu stricto and Taxaceae, respectively, these distinctions decay at far fewer steps (+3.7 and +1.7 steps, respectively) than do any of the other families (>25 steps). It is argued that neither of these monogeneric families, Phyllocladaceae and Cephalotaxaceae, is warranted, and that recognition of a more broadly defined Podocarpaceae and Taxaceae is more informative of the relationships among conifers. The analysis provides strong support for Wollemia being sister to Agathis, rather than it being the first diverging lineage within the family. It also strongly supports sister relationships between Araucariaceae and Podocarpaceae, between Cupressaceae sensu lato and Taxaceae sensu lato, and between the latter clade and Sciadopityaceae. Pinaceae are strongly supported as the first lineage of extant conifers to diverge.
X-ray views of neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries

A neutron star low-mass X-ray binary is a binary stellar system with a neutron star and a low-mass companion star rotating around each other. In this system the neutron star accretes mass from the companion, and as this matter falls into the deep potential well of the neutron star, the gravitational potential energy is released primarily in the X-ray wavelengths. Such a source was first discovered in X-rays in 1962, and this discovery formally gave birth to the "X-ray astronomy". In the subsequent decades, our knowledge of these sources has increased enormously by the observations with several X-ray space missions. Here we give a brief overview of our current understanding of the X-ray observational aspects of these systems.
Effects of recombinant adenoviral vector containing IRE1α gene on proliferation and apoptosis of ATDC5 stem cells

Objective To construct the recombinant adenoviral vector containing human IRE1α (type I transmembrane protein kinase/endoribonuclease)gene, and investigate its effects on proliferation and apoptosis of ATDC5 stem cells. Methods By using pAdEasyTM adenovirus vector system, the recombinant shuttle vectors of IRE1α full-length gene(pAdTrack-IRE1α)and RNase+Kinasedomain(pAdTrack-R+K)were constructed, and then transferred with pAdEasy-1 to generate recombinant adenovirus plasmid pAd-IRE1α and pAd-R+K by electroporation method. Subsequently, the plasmids were transfected into HEK-293 cells to pack and amplify the recombinant adenovirus Ad-IRE1α and Ad-R+K. The expression of recombinant adenovirus was detected by PCR. The ATDC5 cells wereinfected in vitro by recombinant adenovirus Ad-IRE1α and Ad-R+K, the infection efficiency of green fluorescent protein(GFP)was observed, and the influence of Ad-IRE1α and Ad-R+K on the proliferation and apoptosis of ATDC5 cells under endoplasmic reticulum stress(ERS) or non-ERS was detected by flow cytometry(FCM). Results Restriction endonuclease digestion analysis and PCR indicated that the recombinant adenovirus vector Ad-IRE1α andAd-R+K was successfully constructed. FCM detection showed that under ERS conditions, the G1 phasedcreased and S phase increased in ATDC5 cells after transfected by Ad-IRE1α and Ad-R+K, meanwhile the apoptosis rate increased significantly(P<0.05). Conclusion Infection of recombinant adenovirus containing IRE1α gene may promote the proliferation and apoptosis of ATDC5cells.
Mancha areolada da seringueira (Hevea brasiliensis) na Amazônia: evolução do patógeno (Thanatephorus cucumeris/Rhizoctonia solani grupo de anastomose AG 2-2 Hb) num patossistema tropical

Thanatephorus leaf spot is one of the most important diseases of rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) in the Amazon region, Brazil. However, there is fill information available about the biological, pathogenic and genetic diversity of the pathogen. An important question about the actual phylogenetic placement of this pathogen is not answered yet. In this study, we analyzed sequences of the ITS-5.8S rDNA region from a population of T. cucumeris (anamorphase = Rhizoctonia solani AG 2-2) associated to the rubber tree leaf spot obtained in Belém (PA), Manaus (AM) and Xapuri/Rio Branco (AC). This population was also phylogenetically compared with members of AG 2 world-widely described. This study represents an important step to reveal the origin, the patterns of movement and amplification of epidemiologically important genotypes of rubber tree-infecting T. cucumeris. Phylogenetically, through both Bayesiana and maximum parsimony analyses, we found support to nominate a new group of anastomosis associated with the rubber tree foliar spot: the AG 2-2 Hb. This group consisted of a independent evolutionary unit in relation to the world-wide sub-groups of AG 2-2 analyzed. In the gene genealogy built by coalescent analysis, was observed that the population of R. solani AG 2-2 Hb of Belém is relatively older than the other populations analyzed. The oldest most recent common ancestor of all the three populations analyzed was associated with a sample obtained from passion-fruit (Passiflora edulis) leaf blight in Belém and has about 0.8 coalescent evolutionary units of age. No AG 22 Hb ITS-5.8S rDNA haplotype from Belém was observed in any other regions. However, the
Proposed roles of the immune response regulator- ThPOK in human colorectal cancer progression

Solid tumours are commonly infiltrated by several immune cells [1-3]. In cancer, immune cells play conflicting roles with both the potentials to eliminate or to promote malignancy. In contrast to infiltration of cells responsible for chronic inflammation, the presence of high numbers of lymphocytes, especially T cells, has been reported to be important as indicator of good prognosis in many types of cancer [4-7]. The thorough knowledge of both manners and pathways with which tumors are able to evade immune-mediated attack, once established, is therefore of crucial importance. The strategies to escape anti-tumor immune responses include the limited priming or differentiation of antitumor T cells and the role of tumor microenvironment in order to prevent infiltration or activation of effector phase functions. We proposed to evaluate the role of Th inducing POZ-Kruppel Factor (ThPOK), a transcriptional regulator of T cell fate, in tumour-induced immune system plasticity during colorectal carcinogenesis. Data were collected on the amounts of CD4+, CD8+ and CD56+ as well as on ThPOK+ cells infiltrated in normal colorectal mucosa (NM), in dysplastic aberrant crypt foci (microadenomas, MA, the earliest detectable lesions in colorectal carcinogenesis) and in colorectal carcinomas (CRC); moreover, the colocalization of ThPOK with the above-mentioned markers of immune cells was evaluated using confocal microscopy. Interestingly, ThPOK showed a prominent increase since MA. A strong colocalization of ThPOK with CD4 both in NM and in MA was observed, weaker in carcinomas. Surprisingly, there was a peak in the colocalization levels of ThPOK with CD8 in MA, which was evident, although to a lesser extent, also in carcinomas. In conclusion, according to the data of the present study, ThPOK may be considered a central regulator of the earliest events in the immune system during colorectal cancer development. The novelty of the present study is the proposed role of ThPOK in influencing the immune response against cancer cells.
Technology acceptance, social support, and life satisfaction among rural American Indian Elders

ABSTRACT Previous studies examined factors influencing an increase in good health and quality of life among American Indian Elders (AIEs). However, there is a lack of research regarding the role of technology utilization on the quality of life of AIEs. This study explored the role of technology acceptance on social support and life satisfaction among underserved AIEs. Through convenience sampling, this cross-sectional study surveyed 233 AIEs aged 50 years or older. To measure the level of technology acceptance, an independent variable, this study used the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) scale. The first dependent variable, social support, was measured by using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. The second dependent variable, life satisfaction, was measured by employing the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Hierarchical regression indicated that a high level of technology acceptance was significantly related to a high level of social support (β = .05, p ≤ .05) and a high level of life satisfaction (β = .069, p ≤ .01). In addition, a high level of social support was significantly associated with a high level of life satisfaction (β = .325, p ≤ .001). The findings suggest that technology acceptance plays an important role in social support and life satisfaction among AIEs. Computer training programs should be developed to increase the utilization of technology, which may improve the social support system or quality of life.