Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The influence of maternal length and age on the size and weight of the eggs and the relative fecundity of the haddock, Melanogrammus aeglefinus, in British waters

The diameter and dry weight of the eggs of haddock, Melanogrammus aeglefinus, are positively correlated with fish length. The correlations are largely due to the fact that many of the smaller fish that were sampled were 2 years old, and the eggs of these young haddock, which can be regarded as precocious spawners, are significantly smaller and lighter than those of older fish. The relative fecundity of 2–year–old haddock (274 eggs g−1) is also lower than that of the other age classes (493 eggs g−1); this has important implications for the estimation of egg production from female spawning stock biomass. It is pointed out that in some years precocious spawners represent a large component of the North Sea haddock spawning stock. When the annual egg production of this stock is calculated, it may be appropriate to apply a weighting factor to the number of eggs contributed by the 2–year–olds, on the assumption that the small eggs of these fish produce larvae that are less viable than those of older haddock.
THE ROLE OF CALCIUM IN PLANTS' SALT TOLERANCE

High concentrations of sodium (Na) are toxic to most plant species, making soil salinity a major abiotic stress in plant productivity world wide. It has been shown that, calcium (Ca2+) is an important determinant for plant salt tolerance and confers protective effects on plants under growing in sodic soils. Calcium plays an essential role in processes that preserve the structural and functional integrity of plant cell membranes, stabilizes cell wall structures, regulates ion transport and selectivity, and controls ion-exchange behavior as well as cell wall enzyme activities. The nature of these responses will vary depending on the plant genotype. One of the essential functions of Ca2+ is acting as a second messenger in stress signaling. Genetic evidence suggests that perception of salt stress leads to a cytosolic calcium-signal that activates the calcium sensor protein SOS3. SOS3 binds to and activates a ser/thr protein kinase SOS2. The activated SOS2 kinase regulates the activities of SOS1, a plasma membrane Na+/H+ antiporter, and NHX1, a tonoplast Na+/H+ antiporter. This results in either Na+ efflux out of cytosol or its compartmentation in vacuole.
Insights into the consequences of grana stacking of thylakoid membranes in vascular plants: a personal perspective

The striking structural architecture of thylakoid membranes of higher plant and some green algal chloroplasts that house the light harvesting and energy transducing functions of chloroplasts have evoked many hypotheses concerning the significance of grana. The differentiation of the thylakoids into grana and stroma membrane regions is a morphological reflection of the non-random distribution of the photosystems II and I between appressed and non-appressed membrane domains, which became known as lateral heterogeneity. In this overview, the first section deals with changing concepts regarding the distribution of the photosystems between stacked and unstacked thylakoid domains from a personal historical perspective. The remaining section describes some functional implications of the lateral separation of most PSII complexes in appressed membrane regions of grana stacks from PSI complexes, ATP synthase and auxiliary proteins located in non-appressed membrane domains.
PREDICTING BIRD SPECIES RICHNESS USING REMOTE SENSING IN BOREAL AGRICULTURAL‐FOREST MOSAICS

One of the main goals in nature conservation and land use planning is to identify areas important for biodiversity. One possible cost-effective surrogate for deriving appropriate estimates of spatial patterns of species richness is provided by predictive modeling based on remote sensing and topographic data. Using bird species richness data from a spatial grid system (105 squares of 0.25 km2 within an area of 26.25 km2), we tested the usefulness of Landsat TM satellite-based remote sensing and topographic data in bird species richness modeling in a boreal agricultural-forest mosaic in southwestern Finland. We built generalized linear models for the bird species richness and validated the accuracy of the models with an independent test area of 50 grid squares (12.5 km2). We evaluated separately the modeling performance of habitat structure, habitat composition, topographical-moisture variables and all variables in the model-building and model-test areas. Areas of high observed and predicted bird species ri.
Influence of Replacement Time and Rate of Soybean Oil by Flax Oil in the Leghorn Hens＇ Diet on Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Profile in Eggs

The study was aimed to evaluate the effect of replacement time and rate of soybean oil by flax oil (FO) on polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) profile in egg of laying hens. Two hundred White Leghorn hens with 30 weeks of age were divided into five treatments with four replicates of 10 birds each. Treatments were assigned randomly and consisted of 0.00%, 0.75%, 1.50%, 2.25% and 3.00% FO in commercial corn-soybean meal diets, in which the soybean oil was partially replaced. The experiment was conducted for 90 d. The main research findings were that feed intake, egg production rate, egg weight and feed conversion were not influenced by time and dietary treatment. Fatty acid content was significantly altered (P < 0.05) by FO, showing a progressive increase in egg n-3 fatty acid (especially docosahexaenoic acids (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acids (EPA)) when FO was added. Levels of EPA and DHA were higher (P < 0.05) in the egg lipids of FO fed hens than those in the control group. However, no significant differences were observed either in egg weight or egg production among groups. The highest incorporation (P < 0.05) of total n-3 fatty acid content in eggs was obtained with 3% FO/kg. This increase was proportional to FO inclusion levels in the diets.
Walking the Natural-History Trail

Abstract: Natural-history studies represent the observational stage of the scientific method, and the single greatest discovery in biological sciences, evolution by natural selection, was based largely on a vast amount of natural-history information collected by Charles Darwin. I briefly review natural-history observations that I have made during my career that led to discoveries in life-history theory, placentation in New World Mabuya that rivals that of eutherian mammals, social behavior in the North American clade of five-lined skinks, and the relationship of ecological traits of lizards globally to their evolutionary history (phylogeny). Gifted collaborators provided the intellectual interplay that led to these discoveries, and they certainly deserve as much credit as I do. I briefly comment on what I consider to be frontiers in herpetology that involve combining phylogenetic hypotheses with natural-history data. In a final comment, I encourage those among us who are able to spend extended time periods in the field to collect as much natural-history data as possible, because these data describe reality, and, as theories and phylogenies evolve, the kinds of basic data that led to Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection can be applied again and again.
Questioning the effectiveness of the Natura 2000 Special Areas of Conservation strategy: the case of Crete

Aim This study examines the effectiveness of the selected 'network' of Natura 2000 Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) at a regional scale in Greece, in terms of its representativeness of plant biodiversity. Location The island of Crete is used as a case study because it is considered to be one of the 10 hotspots for biodiversity in the Mediterranean Basin. Methods Hotspot analysis and complementarity algorithms are used to define priority areas for conservation and calculate their spatial overlap with the Natura 2000 SACs in Crete. Results The various categories of hotspots contain subsamples of plant categories, used for their definition. Spatial overlap among different categories of hotspots, areas of complementary diversity and Natura 2000 SCAs is low. Main conclusions The results show that the Natura 2000 SACS 'network' in Crete seems insufficient to ensure satisfactory representation of the regional plant biodiversity elements.
Distribution of Anopheline Mosquito Bites Among Different Age Groups

thought seems to be corroborated by the results of a pilot experiment carried out in collaboration with Dr. C. E. Thornton some years ago. We had the impression that a daily supplement of 40,000-50,000 i.u. of vitamin A given to rheumatic children during the phase of relapse was beneficial (Thornton, 1946). Only scanty information exists regarding the effect of fever on the vitamin-A level in pregnancy. Bicknell (1950) suggested that in those cases of pregnant women suffering from German measles in which the termination of pregnancy was not considered vitamin A should be given. I extended this suggestion, proposing that vitamin A should be administered in every case of pregnancy complicated by infection or fever, especially during the first trimester, which approximately corresponds to the organogenic period (Leitner, 1950, 1951).
Effect of Silencing Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin in Ovarian Cancer Cells on Epithelio-Mesenchymal Transition

Objectives: Previously, we reported that neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is present in epithelial ovarian cancer cells, but not mesenchymal cancer cells. Furthermore, we reported that epithelial growth factor (EGF) induced epithelio-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in epithelial ovarian cancer cells and concomitantly suppressed NGAL expression. We hypothesised that inhibition of NGAL expression induces EMT in these cells. Methods: NGAL knockdown was achieved using siRNA in ovarian cancer cell line OVCA 429. NGAL siRNAtreated cells [n=3] were assayed for EMT markers such as migration and invasion assays, and E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Snail, β-catenin and vimentin expression by Western blot. Results: There were no significant differences between NGAL siRNA-treated cells and controls for the protein markers. There was an increase in cell migration for NGAL siRNA-treated cells compared to control (96 h post transfection), however there was no change in cell invasiveness between treatments. Conclusions: We conclude that direct NGAL inhibition by siRNA does not induce a mesenchymal transition of
Dietary variation in chick-feeding and self-provisioning Cape Petrel Daption capense and Snow Petrel Pagodroma nivea at Signy Island, South Orkney Islands, Antarctica

Food web knowledge is a prerequisite for adequate resource management in the Antarctic ecosystem. Accurate dietary specifications for the major consumers within the Antarctic ecosystem are needed. Procellariid species are the most numerous avian species in Antarctica and account for 20% to 40% of the overall consumption by seabirds in the area. Diet composition of two important procellariids, Cape and Snow Petrels, was studied at Signy Island during the breeding season 2005–2006. Food samples were obtained by stomach flushing of both chick-feeding birds and self-provisioning birds. Original prey mass was reconstructed from identifiable remains in the stomach samples. Significantly different diet compositions were found between chick-feeding and self-provisioning Cape Petrels based on reconstructed weight (chick-feeders 39:61:0:0, fish:crustacean:squid:other; self-provisioning birds 28:65:7:1, F:C:S:O). By contrast, no significant differences were found between chick-feeding Snow Petrels (66:34:0:0, F:C:S:O) and self-provisioning birds (68:32:0:0, F:C:S:O). Dominant prey items were Antarctic Krill Euphausia superba and the myctophid fish Electrona antarctica. Compared with findings undertaken at other locations, Cape Petrels at Signy Island had higher dietary fractions of crustaceans. Similarly, this study shows higher fractions of krill and lower fractions of fish in Snow Petrels at Signy Island than at other locations. A reasonable explanation for the high crustacean fraction in both seabird species might be the local high abundance of Antarctic Krill. This emphasises that local differences in diets need to be taken into account in modelling studies. Also, fish is an abundant prey item in both species, showing that, even in a strongly krill-dominated region, fish may remain an important part of the diet of Antarctic petrel species. The differences in diet between chick-feeding and self-provisioning Cape Petrels also show the importance of studying both groups in overall dietary research.
Human T-cell Lymphotropic Virus Type 1 Tax Induction of Biologically Active NF-κB Requires IκB Kinase-1-mediated Phosphorylation of RelA/p65*

Activation of the NF-κB/Rel family of transcription factors proceeds through a catalytic complex containing IκB kinase (IKK)-1 and IKK2. Targeted disruption of each of the IKK genes suggests that these two kinases may mediate distinct functions in the activation pathway. In our studies of the human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) Tax oncoprotein, we have uncovered a new function of IKK1 required for complete activation of the NF-κB transcriptional program. In IKK1–/– murine embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs), Tax normally induced early NF-κB activation events. However, NF-κB induced by Tax in these IKK1–/– cells was functionally impaired. In IKK1–/– (but not wild-type) MEFs, Tax failed to activate several different κB reporter constructs or to induce the endogenous IκBα gene. In contrast, Tax normally activated the cAMP-responsive element-binding protein/activating transcription factor pathway, leading to full stimulation of an HTLV-1 long terminal repeat reporter construct in IKK1–/– cells. Furthermore, reconstitution of IKK1–/– cells with kinase-proficient (but not kinase-deficient) forms of IKK1 restored the Tax induction of full NF-κB transactivation. We further found that the defect in NF-κB action in IKK1–/– cells correlated with a failure of Tax to induce phosphorylation of the RelA/p65 subunit of NF-κB at Ser529 and Ser536. Such phosphorylation of RelA/p65 was readily detected in wild-type MEFs. Phosphorylation of Ser536 was required for a complete response to Tax expression, whereas phosphorylation of Ser529 appeared to be less critical. Together, these findings highlight distinct roles for the IKK1 and IKK2 kinases in the activation of NF-κB in response to HTLV-1 Tax. IKK2 plays a dominant role in signaling for IκBα degradation, whereas IKK1 appears to play an important role in enhancing the transcriptional activity of NF-κB by promoting RelA/p65 phosphorylation.
Role of complement in tumour formation : Friend or foe?

The aims of this thesis were to investigate and build on recent reports implicating the complement (C) system in tumour growth and progression. The respective contributions of specific C components and regulators to this effect were assessed by the use of two tumour induction protocols. Firstly, the chemical carcinogen 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MCA) was used to induce tumours in wild type mice and in animals deficient in C1q, C3 or double deficient in CD55 and CD59. Deficiency in the classical pathway of activation (C1q"7') or in the central component (C3"7') conferred a statistically significant protective effect against 3-MCA-induced tumourigenesis, suggesting that a fully functional C system was important for promotion of tumour progression in vivo. Additionally, a protective effect was observed in CD55"7". CD59"7' mice indicating an important role for C-regulatory proteins (CRegs) in tumour progression. In the second approach, novel fibrosarcoma lines were generated from 3- MCA-induced tumours. WT, C1q"7", C3"7" and CDSS.CDS lines were cloned and tested for specific characteristics including CReg expression, synthesis of C3 and susceptibility to C-attack. Few differences were observed between lines of different genotypes though expression of terminal pathway regulator CD59 was observed in C3"7" lines only. Re-inoculation of WT and C3 lines showed no differences between the groups with comparable tumour incidence and growth rates observed. Additionally, the effect of C on progression of a pre-characterised WT fibrosarcoma line was tested by inoculation into WT and C-deficient mice. Tumours inoculated into C1q"7", C3"7" and CD55"7'. CD59"7" mice were shown to exhibit comparable growth characteristics to those in WT controls. However, depletion of the terminal pathway component C5 using a monoclonal antibody (mAb) was shown to inhibit tumour progression. Treatment of mice with anti- C5 mAb conferred a statistically significant protective effect to these mice and suggests a role for C in driving tumour pathology. In conclusion, work in this thesis demonstrates an important pro-tumour role for C whereby activation of C can result in enhanced tumour progression. Additionally, expression of the CRegs CD55 and CD59 on host cells rather than tumour cells contributes to tumour proliferation. A pro-tumour role for C is contrary to current dogma but supports an alternative hypothesis whereby cell activating effects may provide a selective advantage to tumour cells following C-activation.
Efecto antagónico de lactobacillus plantarum aislado de pastizal de finca lechera

El antagonismo de Lactobacillus plantarum contra bacterias indeseables tiene aplicaciones importantes en la bioconservacion de los alimentos y en la terapia probiotica. Con el proposito de estudiar la capacidad antagonica de 6 cepas de Lactobacillus plantarum aisladas de pastizal de una finca lechera e identificadas con los numeros 1, 4, 20, 37, 50, y 58, se evaluo el antagonismo de cada cepa contra Salmonella enteritidis CVCM 446, Salmonella enteritidis aislada de un brote de ETA en Merida-Venezuela, Salmonella typhi aislada de leche cruda de una finca local y Listeria monocytogenes CVCM 497. Con la tecnica de difusion en pocillos se probaron Sobrenadantes de las cepas sometidos a neutralizacion con NaOH 1N, exposicion a 32 μg/ml de peroxidasa, tratamiento con 2 mg/ml de tripsina y calentamiento a 120 °C por 20 minutos, con respectivos controles posteriores de actividad antagonica residual. L. plantarum 1, 4, 20, 37 exhibieron actividad antagonica (AA) contra Salmonella typhi y Listeria monocytogenes con halos de inhibicion de 9-11 mm debido a la presencia de acidos organicos. No pudo determinarse la naturaleza de los compuestos del sobrenadante de L. plantarum 37 activos contra Salmonella typhi;mientras que la AA de L. plantarum 58 contra Listeria monocytogenes evidenciada por halos de 18 mm se perdio con el tratamiento de tripsina, pero no fue afectada por el calor, lo que parece indicar la presencia de molecula(s) de naturaleza proteica estable(s) al calor. La cepas ensayadas poseen capacidad antagonica que debe seguir estudiandose, particularmente, Lactobacillus plantarum 58 por su interesante accion contra Listeria monocytogenesy la cepa 37 por su antagonismo a S. typhi. Palabras claves: Efecto antagonico, Lactobacillus plantarum, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella Antagonist effect, Lactobacillus plantarum, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella
In vitro and in vivo biocompatibility of multi-walled carbon nanotube/biodegradable polymer nanocomposite for bone defects repair

Biomaterials are extensively used in bone defect recovery caused by bone diseases. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes have been reported to reinforce synthetic polymeric materials. The aim of the study is to test poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) loaded with different amounts of multi-walled carbon nanotubes to fabricate nanocomposites. Mechanical, mineralization, and degradation properties were studied in vitro. The proliferation and differentiation of rat bone marrow stem cells were studied to determine biocompatibility in vivo. The incorporation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes greatly increased the mechanical properties of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) and the strongest composite obtained was at 2% multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The 2% nanocomposite also had higher rat bone marrow stem cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation characteristics compared to the pure poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate). The apoptosis in the later stage of rat bone marrow stem cells decreased in the 2% nanocomposites group at different time points. Based on histology and micro-computed tomography tests 6 weeks after in vivo implantation, the 2% multi-walled carbon nanotubes/poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) treated animals had a higher volume of bone formation compared to the pure poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) group. Thus, the presence of multi-walled carbon nanotubes has an apparent positive effect on poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) in assisting osteogenesis.
Leaf litter effects on seed and seedling predation of the palm Astrocaryum murumuru and the legume tree Dipteryx micrantha in Amazonian forest

ABSTRACT The amount of leaf litter fall produced by different tree species in tropical forests varies in space and time. Falling litter may cover seeds and thereby enhance their survival by making their detection by seed predators more difficult. Tests were made to determine whether Astrocaryum murumuru and Dipteryx micrantha seeds survive better in microsites covered by leaf litter. Seed numbers and litter cover on the forest floor were experimentally manipulated. How natural variation in leaf litter cover and thickness affects seed and seedling survival of these two plant species was also examined. Seed survivorship was significantly higher for both plant species in microsites with leaf litter than in those with bare soil. Results from an experiment in which the litter was not disturbed showed that Astrocaryum seed survival was positively correlated with litter thickness (defined as the number of overlying dead leaves). Astrocaryum seedling survival was also significantly affected by leaf litter; more seedlings survived in shallow litter. Leaf litter had no effect on Dipteryx seedling survival. The results of the study suggest that early recruitment of both Astrocaryum and Dipteryx is influenced by the spatial distribution and amount of forest leaf litter.
Fungi of a forest soil nitrifying at low pH values

No autotrophic nitrifying organisms were found in a podzolic brown earth forming nitrate. 350 fungi and aerobic heterotrophic bacteria were isolated from this soil and examined for their nitrifying abilities. About one quarter of the isolates produced 0.05–0.90 mg N·1−1 nitrite or nitrate in peptone solution, soil extract mixture or sterilised soil. The nitrification rate of the most active fungus, Verticillium lecanii, was highest at pH 3.5 in defined media. The results support the significance of heterotrophic nitrification in acid soils.