Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigating the role of downy mildew effectors in host resistance and susceptibility

Through specialised structures called haustoria, filamentous eukaryotic plant pathogens such as rusts and mildews can deliver “effector” proteins directly into plant cells in order to manipulate specific defence responses and processes. Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis (Hpa) is a haustorium-producing biotrophic oomycete pathogen that causes downy mildew on Arabidopsis. Over 100 candidate effectors (called “HaRxLs”), carrying a characteristic RxLR protein motif, have been predicted from the Hpa genome sequence. This PhD work focused on the characterisation of some of these effectors and their interaction with plant defences. First, the Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst) strain DC3000 type III secretion system was used to examine the effect of single oomycete effectors in planta. One of these, ATR13 from Hpa isolate Emco5 (ATR13Emco5) has been shown to be recognised in some Arabidopsis accessions by the RPP13 protein, preventing Hpa Emco5 from completing its life cycle on such resistant plants. Hpa Emco5 can however complete its life cycle on Ws-0 but paradoxically, ATR13Emco5 is also recognised in this accession. Here, I show that ATR13Emco5 is weakly recognised in Ws-0 by a single RPP13-independent, EDS1-independent dominant gene called RHA13, shown by rough mapping to position on Arabidopsis chromosome 4. Second, I contributed to two independent functional screens performed in our laboratory to experimentally characterise the Hpa effectorome. The first screen focused on HaRxLs effects on bacteria virulence using the EDV system. The second screen was based on HaRxLs subcellular localisation using Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression. As presented in this work, I showed that both screens identified putative interesting effectors which increased plant susceptibility to Pst and Hpa and localised to various plant subcellular compartments. One particular effector candidate, HaRxL79, localised to microtubules in planta and interacted with two microtubule-associated proteins in a yeast-two-hybrid assay. HaRxL79 was also found to interact with Arabidopsis histone chaperones (AtNAP1s) in the plant cytoplasm, which were observed to play a role in plant susceptibility to Hpa and partially to the necrotroph Botrytis cinerea, but not to the hemibiotrophs Pst and Phytophthora parasitica. AtNAP1s also interact with HaRxL67, a vacuole-associated Hpa effector. From this, I propose that AtNAP1s are susceptibility factors for Hpa, specifically targeted by Hpa effectors HaRxL67 and HaRxL79 in order to promote susceptibility and maintain biotrophy.
Potential of trophy hunting to create incentives for wildlife conservation in Africa where alternative wildlife‐based land uses may not be viable

There is a lack of consensus among conservationists as to whether trophy hunting represents a legitimate conservation tool in Africa. Hunting advocates stress that trophy hunting can create incentives for conservation where ecotourism is not possible. We assessed the hunting preferences of hunting clients who have hunted or plan to hunt in Africa (n=150), and the perception among African hunting operators (n=127) of client preferences at two US hunting conventions to determine whether this assertion is justified. Clients are most interested in hunting in well‐known East and southern African hunting destinations, but some trophy species attract hunters to remote and unstable countries that might not otherwise derive revenues from hunting. Clients are willing to hunt in areas lacking high densities of wildlife or attractive scenery, and where people and livestock occur, stressing the potential for trophy hunting to generate revenues where ecotourism may not be viable. Hunting clients are more averse to hunting under conditions whereby conservation objectives are compromised than operators realize, suggesting that client preferences could potentially drive positive change in the hunting industry, to the benefit of conservation. However, the preferences and attitudes of some clients likely form the basis of some of the problems currently associated with the hunting industry in Africa, stressing the need for an effective regulatory framework.
Canopy development and tillering of field-grown crops of two contrasting cultivars of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) in response to CO2 and temperature

Elevated CO 2 (691 cf. 371 μmol CO 2 mol -1 air) and warmer temperatures (over the range 1.0°C below to 1.6°C above ambient) increased light interception by crops of two contrasting cultivars (Hereward and Soissons) of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) during winter growth in the field. The fractional interception of light by the canopy increased more rapidly initially in Soissons than in Hereward, but Hereward showed a much greater response to CO 2 (35% increase in Hereward but only 7% in Soissons) at 500°Cd after sowing. By terminal spikelet formation, in contrast, fractional interception was greater in Hereward than in Soissons, while the effect of CO 2 was the same in both cultivars (9%). Thus, although differences in the relative response of canopy development to CO 2 were detected between cultivars initially, differences were negligible during later development. The greater interception of light by the canopy in elevated CO 2 , at any one temperature, resulted from increased tillering. The number of tillers plant -1 at terminal spikelet was a linear function of main stem dry mass at this developmental stage but with a greater response in elevated CO 2 , viz 2.3 and 3.8 tillers g -1 main stem dry mass at 371 and 691 μmol CO 2 mol -1 air, respectively; these relations were unaffected by cultivar.
The response of bird populations to habitat loss

Environmental change through altered climate and land use could have a severe impact on bird populations. Predicting the consequences for the size of bird populations is one of the crucial problems for their conservation. We show how a population model based on the behaviour of individuals can be used to predict the consequences of habitat loss. For a wide range of conditions, loss of either wintering or breeding habitat results in population reduction. The approach is then extended to consider the impact of habitat loss in the wintering area on bird species with complex migratory systems. This shows that ‘knock-on’ effects may occur, so that habitat loss in a wintering area may affect populations which did not initially use that area. The ability to alter migration routes in response to environmental change may be crucial to the future viability of populations. Using a simple model combining genetics and population dynamics, we show that aspects of the biology of a species may affect whether or not its migration strategy is flexible enough to shift in response to habitat change. Some species may be able to adopt new migration routes and avoid the catastrophic consequences of habitat loss in traditional wintering areas; however, other species may lack this flexibility and may suffer severe population declines as a consequence.
Yangtze finless porpoises along the main channel of Poyang Lake, China: Implications for conservation

Poyang Lake is the largest freshwater lake in China and flows into the Yangtze River. It is a traditional habitat for the endangered Yangtze finless porpoise, which has not been well investigated. To reveal the distribution of the porpoise in Poyang Lake, 12 passive acoustic surveys were conducted along 123 km of the main channel of the lake during different seasons (spring transition season, wet season, autumn transition season, and dry season) from 2008 to 2012. We counted the number of phonating porpoises encountered and calculated the detection rate (encountered individuals detected per kilometer). The median porpoise detection rates ranged from 0 to 0.65 individuals per kilometer during the different surveys. The highest median detection rate of 0.50 was detected in the autumn transition season. The seasonal shrinking of the lake during the dry season may cause a concentration of porpoises in the narrow channels and a high incidence of collisions with cargo ships and fishing boats. Conservation actions should be focused on the main channel of the lake during the dry and transition seasons. In addition, the expansion of the existing reserve to include areas with high porpoise detection rates is necessary.
A survey of plants sold by traders at Zululand muthi markets, with a view to selecting popular plant species for propagation in communal gardens

A survey of medicinal plants sold at muthi markets of northern KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa was conducted by questioning 63 plant traders to identify unthreatened and threatened plants for cultivation purposes. From a total of 163 plants sold at local markets, 32 are reported based on their inclusion in four categories, namely (1) scarce and not threatened, (2) abundant and not threatened, (3) scarce and threatened and (4) abundant and threatened. Species that were scarce and threatened include Ansellia africana, Bauhinia bowkeri, Encephalartos natalensis, Encephalartos villosus, Eucomis autumnalis, Haworthia limifolia, Huernia hystrix, Mondia whitei and Warburgia salutaris. A workshop was held with plant traders, government officials and researchers at the University of Zululand to disseminate information on the propagation of selected species for conservation purposes. Plant traders undertook to propagate medicinal plants in collaboration with researchers and establish medicinal gardens in communal areas.
Fungi occurring the pericarp and yield of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum) cultivated in the field

The study on yield and health of fruits of some pepper cultivars was carried out in 2007–2009, on eight cultivars in the field: ‘Barbórka’, ‘Caryca F1’, ‘Mercedes’, ‘Ożarowska’, ‘Podstolina’, ‘Roberta F1’, ‘Robertina’ and ‘Rumba F1’. The fruits were collected several times during vegetable seasons to estimate mean total yield. At full fruiting (first decade of September), 60 randomly selected fruits of sweet pepper were sampled from each plot and analyzed in laboratory. Marketable yield of studied cultivars of pepper ranged from 0.7 kg/m2 to 3.3 kg/m2. The predominating species of pepper pericarp were: Alternaria alternata, Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium avenaceum, F. culmorum and Trichoderma spp. The lowest number of colonies was obtained from ‘Rumba F1’ and ‘Robertina’ and the highest one from ‘Ożarowska’ and ‘Roberta F1’. Alternaria alternata and B. cinerea were isolated most frequently from sweet pepper pericarp.
EFECTOS DE LA ILUMINACIÓN RELATIVA Y LA FERTILIZACIÓN SOBRE EL CRECIMIENTO DE PLÁNTULAS DE ROBLE ANDINO EN VIVERO

Quercus humboldtii is a native plant species of great importance in Colombia for use in reforestation and restoration of degraded Andean highlands. The species is highly threatened and it is necessary to establish programs of propagation and planting. However, little is known about their nutritional and light requirements. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of single and combined relative illumination (IR) and fertilization on the growth of seedlings of Q. humboldtii at nursery. For this purpose three contrasting IR regimes (high, medium, and low IR) and nine fertilization treatments were established: complete (TC), a missing nutrient (-N,-P,-K,-Ca,-Mg, -S,-B) and a control without fertilization (T0). The best development of seedlings was showed in the medium IR condition. All treatments with a lacking nutrient showed decreases in seedling development regarding TC, except in the –B treatment. Nitrogen was the most limiting nutrient yielding biomass similar to that of T0. The impact of nutrient limitation on seedling performance was in the following order:-N>-Ca,-K,-P>-Mg,-S>-B. No significant interaction IR x Fertilization was detected on seedling development. EFECTOS DE LA ILUMINACION RELATIVA Y LA FERTILIZACION SOBRE EL CRECIMIENTO DE PLANTULAS DE ROBLE ANDINO EN VIVERO Quercus humboldti i es una especie vegetal nativa de mucha importancia en Colombia por su uso en repoblamiento forestal y restauracion de tierras altoandinas degradadas. La especie se encuentra fuertemente amenazada y es necesario establecer programas de propagacion de la misma. Sin embargo, poco se conoce sobre sus exigencias nutricionales y luminicas. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar los efectos simples y combinados de la iluminacion relativa (IR) y la fertilizacion sobre el crecimiento de plantulas de Q. humboldtii en vivero. Para esto se establecieron en combinacion tres condiciones contrastantes de iluminacion relativa (alta, media y baja IR) y nueve tratamientos de fertilizacion: completa (TC), con un elemento faltante (-N, -P, -K, -Ca, -Mg, -S, -B) y un testigo sin fertilizacion (T0). La condicion de IR media presento el mejor desarrollo de las plantulas. Todos los tratamientos con deficiencias nutricionales produjeron disminuciones en el desarrollo de las plantulas con respecto a TC, excepto en el tratamiento -B. El N fue el elemento mas limitante, con rendimientos similares a los del tratamiento testigo. El orden de limitacion que produjeron los tratamientos aplicados siguio la secuencia: T0,-N > -Ca, -K, -P > -Mg, -S > TC,-B. No se detecto interaccion significativa IR x Fertilizacion sobre el desarrollo de las plantulas.
Morphology, life history and development of the acanthocephalan Mediorhynchus grandis Van Cleave, 1916.

Synonyms: Heteroplus grandis (Van Cleave, 1916) of Van Cleave, 1918. Heteroplus grandis (Van Cleave, 1916) of Baer, 1925. Empodius grandis (Van Cleave, 1916) of Travassos, 1924. Mature females 27 to 51 mm in length by 0.8 to 1.4 mm in width. Mature males 7 to 12 mm in length by 0.6 to 0.8 mm in width. Anterior and posterior ends of body flexed ventrally. Body slightly expanded just posterior to proboscis. Fully extended proboscis, cone-shaped, 0.57 to 0.86 mm in length, divided into anterior and posterior regions by insertion of proboscis receptacle. Anterior region 0.28 to 0.42 mm long, posterior region 0.29 to 0.44 long. Diameter of proboscis near apex (level of most anterior hooks) 0.14 to 0.21 mm; at level of insertion of proboscis receptacle 0.28 to 0.43 mm; at base 0.35 to 0.79 mm. Anterior region of proboscis possesses 18 more or less longitudinal rows of hooks with 4 to 5 hooks per row, each hook provided with posteriorly directed root. Average total number of hooks
Development of γδ T‐cell Subsets from Fetal Hematopoietic Stem Cells a

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) were isolated from mouse fetus, and their developmental potential was compared with adult HSC. Donor-derived V gamma 3+T cells were detected in fetal thymic lobes, repopulated in vitro with fetal liver HSC, but not in those with adult bone marrow HSC. Single clonogenic fetal HSC gave rise to thymic progeny that include V gamma 3+, other gamma delta+, and alpha beta+ T cells. No V gamma 3+ T cells were detected in adult thymus injected intrathymically with either fetal or adult HSC. These results support a hypothesis that only fetal HSC have the capacity to differentiate into V gamma 3+ T cells in the fetal thymic microenvironment, and that the developmental potential of HSC may change during ontogeny.
Quinoxalinium 2,6-dihydroxy­benzoate

In the title salt, C8H7N2+·C7H5O4−, one of the quinoxaline N atoms is protonated. The cation and anion are nearly coplanar and are connected into a cyclic R22(7) motif generated by N—H⋯O and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The hydrogen-bonded ionic pairs are arranged into double stacks, in which quinoxalinium and 2,6-dihydroxy­benzoate ions alternate.
Effect of nitrate and phosphate concentration on production of microcystins by Microcystis viridis NIES 102

The effects of nitrate and phosphate concentrations on the production of three microcystins, namely, types LR, RR and YR by Microcystis viridis NIES 102, were determined in batch culture experiments at in situ level concentrations. The yield of microcystin-RR during the exponential growth phase increased favorably in nitrate concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 0.8 mg l -1 of NO 3 -N. The effect plateaued at 1.0 mg l -1 . This tendency was similar to the effect of nitrate on the specific growth rate. There was no significant correlation between the amounts of intracellular microcystins at exponential growth phase and nitrate concentrations. On the other hand, the specific growth rate was constant regardless of the phosphate concentrations. However, the yield of the three types of microcystins in the culture broth and the amounts of intracellular microcystins decreased with increasing the phosphate concentration. Furthermore, it was found that the correlation between total yield of microcystins (LR, RR and YR) and the ratio of microcystins during the exponential growth phase showed almost constant values, as follows: microcystin LR (0.24), RR (0.66) and YR (0.10).
Characterization of Two Light‐Harvesting Subunits Isolated from the Brown Alga Pelvetia canaliculata: Heterogeneity of Xanthophyll Distribution

The main light‐harvesting fraction from Pelvetia canaliculata was isolated on a sucrose density gradient from digitonin‐solubilized chloroplasts. After further solubilization by dodecyl maltoside, the bulk fraction was separated into two subunits by preparative isoelectric focusing. The more acidic brown fraction was mainly composed of 22 kDa polypeptides having an apparent pI of 4.55. Its pigment composition was very simple, containing chlorophyll (Chi) a, Chi c and fucoxanthin. The in vivo spectral properties of fucoxanthin, namely a shift in light absorption to the green and efficient energy transmission to Chi a, were conserved in this subunit. No xanthophyll associated with photoprotection was found in this band, even when obtained from photoinhibited thalli. The less acidic green band contained predominantly 22 kDa polypeptides that were resolved into numerous components by denaturing isoelectric focusing. Its pigment composition was more complex, containing, in addition, pigments of the so‐called xanthophyll cycle. In photoinhibited thalli, about half of the violaxanthin was converted into antheraxanthin and zeaxanthin. All the pigments of the xanthophyll cycle were specifically associated with this subunit, and it may thus have a central role in the thermal dissipation of the absorbed light energy as postulated for light‐harvesting complex II isolated from green plants.
Altered species interactions at forest edges: contrasting edge effects on bumble bees and their phoretic mite loads in temperate forest remnants

The way in which species interactions are altered at habitat edges is an emerging concern in conservation biology, with some theories predicting edge‐affected habitats to be less stable and exhibit intensified species interactions relative to interior habitats. One little‐studied interaction is phoresy, where an individual of one species attaches itself to an individual of another species for the purpose of dispersal. Bumble bees (Bombus spp.) are important crop pollinators around the world and at least 10 species of phoretic mites have been associated with various bumble bee species. Here, we investigated changes in the abundance of the introduced European B. terrestris across forest‐grassland edges in the Southern Alps of New Zealand, and concomitant changes in the phoretic mite loads on these mobile pollinators. Bumble bees penetrated up to 250 m inside forest fragments, with abundance declining with distance from the anthropogenic matrix habitat. By contrast, phoretic mite loads increased towards the forest interior. Overall, phoretic mite loads on B. terrestris were greatest in the forest canopy, suggesting that this species interaction is intensified in natural habitat compared to that in the anthropogenic land use surrounding forest fragments. Our data indicate that phoretic loads on bumble bees are elevated in forest canopies. The functional significance of altered bumble bee – mite interactions for pollination services at forest edges remains to be tested.
Commentary: Outliving the Risk for Cancer: Novel Hypothesis or Wishful Thinking?

Early models examining the age distribution of cancer focused almost exclusively on mortality outcomes in populations ages 25 to 74 (Nordling 1953; Armitage and Doll 1954, 1957). These early studies integrated coherent observations from animal models with an understanding of epidemiological trends for specific cancer sites in order to generate testable models describing carcinogenic processes. Because diagnosis and reporting were considered to be unreliable at older ages, these papers limited their modeling to mortality data for adults under age 75. However, as early as 1969, Cook et al. noted that cancer incidence for some sites either rose more slowly at older ages or reached a peak and then declined (Cook et al. 1969). Moolgavkar, over several decades, has been developing biologically based, two-stage carcinogenesis models that incorporate cell kinetics, including tissue growth and differentiation rates (Moolgavkar and Knudson 1981), and has recently explored modifications that incorporate a decline at older ages (Moolgavkar et al. 1999). In other recent work, extensions that take into account not only cell mutation and kinetic rates, but also corrections for underreporting at older ages and population heterogeneity with regard to genetic susceptibility and environmental exposure, are predicated on achieving an age-specific maximum and a subsequent decline in cancer mortality (Herrero-Jimenez et al. 2000). Pompei and Wilson (2001) have added another analysis to the literature examining the relationship between old age and cancer incidence using data from the United States, the Netherlands, and Hong Kong. They extend the theory beyond the point of declining incidence and propose that there is an age at which the population achieves a cancer incidence of 0. They conclude that “[contrary to conventional wisdom] if a person lives long enough, he or she may avoid cancer entirely”. The authors assert that the age at peak incidence is invariant with respect
Chemical defense of a troglobiont millipede, Tetracion jonesi Hoffman (Diplopoda, Callipodida, Abacionidae)

Tetracion jonesi Hoffman, 1956 is a troglomorphic cave-limited abacionid milliped found in caves in the southern Cumberland Plateau of Alabama and Tennessee, USA. Specimens collected in a cave in Franklin Co., Tennessee, were live-extracted with methanol. Gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy of the extract revealed p-cresol as the sole component of the milliped's chemical defense. Three other callipodidan species have been studied and also produce p-cresol.
Jakość życia pacjentów ze stwardnieniem rozsianym

Introduction. Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. It changes patients’ lives and their families, makes tough choices, loses hope and desire to fight against the disease, reduces the quality of life. Aim. The aim of the study was assessment of quality of life of patients with multiple sclerosis and the factors which can influence this assessment. Material and methods. The study was conducted using a questionnaire, designed for this study and the standard WHOQOL-BREF and Extended Disability Status Scale (EDSS), among 100 patients with multiple sclerosis. Results. In the study group was 32 men (32%) and 68 women (68%). The mean age of patients was 10.3 ± 41.9 years. The mean disease duration was 11.1 ± 8,9lat. The mean EDSS was 2.7 ± 2.0. Overall quality of life and general health assessment in the questionnaire WHOQOL was 3.4 ± 0.9, and general health assessment was equal to 2.9 ± 0.8. Conclusions. Malfunction of patients increased with age of the patient, duration of illness, number of views, and decreased as a result of hospitalization and the appropriate treatment and affect the operation in all areas. The decrease in the overall quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis affect of illness, number of throws and the scale of motor failure and did not affect her diagnosis, the treatment and age of onset.