Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SCARE TACTICS IN A NEOTROPICAL WARBLER: WHITE TAIL FEATHERS ENHANCE FLUSH–PURSUIT FORAGING PERFORMANCE IN THE SLATE-THROATED REDSTART (MYIOBORUS MINIATUS)

Abstract Flush–pursuit foragers use exaggerated and animated foraging movements to flush potential prey that are then pursued and captured in flight. The Myioborus redstarts comprise 12 species of flush–pursuit warblers found in montane forests of the American tropics and subtropics. All members of the genus have contrasting black-and-white tail feathers that are exposed by spreading the tail during animated foraging displays. Plumage pattern and tail-spreading behavior were examined to see how they affected flush–pursuit foraging performance of the Slate-throated Redstart (Myioborus miniatus) in Monteverde, Costa Rica. Although flycatching was the most common foraging tactic used by Slate-throated Redstarts, flush–pursuit foraging increased in both frequency and intensity when birds were feeding nestlings. Flush–pursuit prey attacks occurred more frequently following hops in the spread-tail foraging posture than hops in more typical warbler-like posture, suggesting that tail-spreading behavior assists in startling and flushing potential prey. The hypothesis that the white tail feathers enhance flush–pursuit foraging was tested by means of a plumage-dyeing experiment. After locating nests containing young 5–7 days old, I captured the male and female at the nest and assigned one member of each pair to the experimental treatment group; its mate served as a control. For experimental birds, a permanent marker was used to blacken the white tips of the three outer retrices. For sham-darkened controls, the naturally black tips of the three inner retrices were also “blackened”. Experimental birds with darkened tail feathers were significantly less successful in flush–pursuit foraging, showed a significantly lower overall rate of prey attack, and fed their nestlings at a significantly lower rate than did their sham-darkened mates. For experimental birds, only 7.6% of hops in the spread-tail posture were followed by an attack on a prey item, compared to 20.9% of hops for controls. These experimental results, similar to those obtained recently by Jabłoński (1999) for the congeneric Painted Redstart (Myioborus pictus), indicate that white tail feathers are critically important in startling potential prey and raise questions about interspecific and intraspecific geographic variation in plumage pattern in the genus.
The Effects of Sound on the Escape Locomotor Performance of Anole Lizards

Abstract We quantified the effects of different auditory stimuli on the locomotor performance during the escape responses of two species of arboreal lizard, Anolis sagrei and Anolis carolinensis, with two different groups per each species, that were either long-term captives or recently caught. Other than the presence or absence of a loud sound, we used conventional methods for handling the lizards and eliciting an escape. For both species and times in captivity, the addition of a loud sound significantly increased the escape running speed, in part by decreasing the amount of pausing. Although the trends were similar for the recently caught individuals and the long-term captives, the magnitude of the effect of the loud sounds was less for the recently caught individuals. Anolis sagrei was faster than A. carolinensis regardless of the stimulus, and the rank order of individuals based on performance within each experimental group and species did not change significantly with different auditory stimuli. Our results suggest the auditory system may be important for detecting and evading threats despite the lack of vocalization in these lizards.
Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Expression of 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Types 1 and 2 Messenger RNA and Glucocorticoid Receptor Protein in the Murine Placenta and Uterus During Late Pregnancy1

Abstract To gain insight into the role of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD) enzymes and actions of glucocorticoids in the murine placenta and uterus, the expression pattern of the mRNA for 11β-HSD1 and 11β-HSD2 and the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) protein were determined from Embryonic Day 12.5 (E12.5, term = E19) to E18.5 by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Consistent with its putative role in regulating the transplacental passage of maternal glucocorticoid to the fetus, 11β-HSD2 mRNA was highly expressed in the labyrinthine zone (the major site of maternal/fetal exchange) at E12.5, and its level decreased dramatically at E16.5, when it became barely detectable. Remarkably, the silencing of 11β-HSD2 gene expression coincided with the onset of 11β-HSD1 gene expression in the labyrinth at E16.5 when moderate levels of 11β-HSD1 mRNA were detected and maintained to E18.5. By contrast, neither 11β-HSD1 mRNA nor 11β-HSD2 mRNA were detected in any cell types within the basal zone from E12.5 to E18.5. Moreover, the expression of 11β-HSD1 and 11β-HSD2 in the decidua exhibited a high degree of cell specificity in that the mRNA for both 11β-HSD1 and 11β-HSD2 was detected in the decidua-stroma but not in the compact decidua. A distinct pattern was also observed within the endometrium where the mRNA for 11β-HSD1 was expressed in the epithelium, whereas that for 11β-HSD2 was confined strictly to the stroma. By comparison, the expression of GR in the placenta and uterus was ubiquitous and unremarkable throughout late pregnancy. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates for the first time remarkable spatial and temporal patterns of expression of 11β-HSD1 and 11β-HSD2 and GR in the murine placenta and uterus and highlights the intricate control of not only transplacental passage of maternal glucocorticoid to the fetus but also local glucocorticoid action during late pregnancy.
Scenarios of freshwater fish extinctions from climate change and water withdrawal

Reductions in river discharge (water availability) like those from climate change or increased water withdrawal, reduce freshwater biodiversity. We combined two scenarios from the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change with a global hydrological model to build global scenarios of future losses in river discharge from climate change and increased water withdrawal. Applying these results to known relationships between fish species and discharge, we build scenarios of losses (at equilibrium) of riverine fish richness. In rivers with reduced discharge, up to 75% (quartile range 4–22%) of local fish biodiversity would be headed toward extinction by 2070 because of combined changes in climate and water consumption. Fish loss in the scenarios fell disproportionately on poor countries. Reductions in water consumption could prevent many of the extinctions in these scenarios.
ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTS OF JOGGING ON SELECTED RISK FACTORS AND BIOMARKERS OF CARDIO-METABOLIC SYNDROME OF ADOLESCENTSIN KANO METROPOLIS, NIGERIA

A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (PhD) IN EXERCISE AND SPORT SCIENCE DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL AND HEALTH EDUCATION, FACULTY OF EDUCATION, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
Metabolic engineering of carotenoid levels for improvement of plants as food

Carotenoids are ubiquitous isoprenoid pigments that are synthesized by archaea, bacteria, fungi, algae and higher plants: in these organisms, they have fundamental ecological, biochemical and physiological functions. Carotenoids also play a crucial role in human health by improving normal vision and by preventing degenerative diseases and cancer. Mammals do not produce carotenoids and therefore need to assume them through the diet. Most major crops (including rice, wheat and potato) contain little a- and b-carotene, which are the main carotenoids with provitamin A activity. For this reason, during the last 10 years, increasing carotenoid (especially b-carotene) levels in major crops through genetic transformation has been one of the main goals of plant metabolic engineering. This review will focus on past and recent advances in this field, with particular attention to the modification of carotenoid biosynthesis in rice, tomato and potato. ‘Golden Rice’ is probably the most widely known result of metabolic engineering; in tomato, expression of carotenoid genes, both of bacterial and plant origin, resulted in an increase of b-carotene and/or total xanthophylls in transgenic fruits. In the past 3 years several metabolic engineering efforts have also focused on potato, resulting in the obtainment of ‘golden tubers’, with the highest b-carotene content reported for the four major crops.
Recent progress in the development of sortase A inhibitors as novel anti-bacterial virulence agents

Sortase A (SrtA) is a membrane-associated enzyme responsible for the covalent anchoring of many virulent factors of Gram-positive bacteria onto the cell wall. It has been shown that SrtA plays a pivotal role in the pathogenic processes of bacterial infection. Additionally, SrtA is not essential for microbial growth and viability, and its inhibition does not therefore place pressure on bacteria to develop drug-resistant mechanism. As an extracellular membrane enzyme, it can more readily be targeted by drugs relevant to intracellular enzymes. SrtA is thus an excellent target for the design and development of novel anti-virulence drugs against the drug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria that have become a major worldwide health problem. A number of SrtA inhibitors have so far been identified by techniques such as the rational design of substrate mimetic inhibitors based on the structure of the enzyme and enzyme substrates, identification of novel inhibitors among natural products, the discovery and development of SrtA inhibitors via high-throughput, and in silico screening of small molecule libraries followed by structural optimization. The present article reviews the progress made recently in the development of SrtA inhibitors as new antibacterial agents using similar techniques.
Cloning and Characterization of a Novel Integrin β3Subunit*

We have identified a novel integrin β3 subunit, termed β3C, from a human osteoclast cDNA library. The COOH-terminal sequence and 3′-untranslated region of the β3C subunit differs from the previously reported β3A (platelet) and β3B (placenta) sequences, while the regions coding for the transmembrane and extracellular domains are identical. The β3C cytoplasmic domain contains 37 amino acids, the last 17 of which are encoded by a novel exon located about 6 kilobase pairs downstream of exon 14 of the β3A gene. HEK 293 cells were stably co-transfected with αV and either β3C (HEKβ3C) or β3A(HEKβ3A). The viability of HEKβ3C cells was lower than that of HEKβ3A cells, and HEKβ3Ccells in culture grew as clusters rather than as a monolayer. The novel cytoplasmic domain did not affect receptor binding affinity; both αVβ3A and αVβ3Cisoforms exhibited high affinity binding to 125I-echistatin and cyclic and linear RGD peptides. However, in contrast to HEKβ3A, HEKβ3C cells failed to adhere to osteopontin, an αVβ3 matrix protein. The data provide further support for the key role of the cytoplasmic domain of the β3 integrin in cell adhesion and suggest a potential role for the β3C integrin subunit in modulating cell-matrix interactions.
Practical Android Test Recording with Espresso Test Recorder

Tests for mobile apps can be difficult to write, are often fragile, unreliable, and come with a significant maintenance burden. As a result, many developers write few or no tests and instead rely on expensive and error-prone manual testing. We present Espresso Test Recorder, a practical approach to test creation for Android. Espresso Test Recorder employs a novel technique based on the Java Debugger to reliably capture UI interactions and generate robust well-formed instrumentation tests, which can be used across a wide range of devices. In this paper, we report on how we designed, built, and productionized Espresso Test Recorder in Android Studio, where it has been employed by thousands of users throughout the world to record tests with minimal effort.
Influence of relative humidity and temperature on development of Didymella rabiei on chickpea debris

Didymella rabiei grew saprophytically on pieces of artificially and naturally infected chickpea stem debris under artificial incubation conditions, and formed pseudothecia and pycnidia. The extent of growth was not significantly affected by temperature of incubation within the range 5-25°C, but was significantly reduced as relative humidity (RH) decreased from 100% to 86%, when no growth occurred. Pseudothecia matured at 10°C and constant 100% RH, or at 5 and 10°C and alternating 100%/34% RH. Under these conditions, pseudothecial maturation, assessed by a pseudothecia maturity index, increased over time according to the logistic model. For temperatures higher than 10°C or RH lower than 100%, pseudothecia either did not form ascospores, or ascopores did not mature and their content degenerated. When pseudothecia that initially developed to a given developmental stage were further incubated at a constant 100% RH, temperature became less limiting for complete pseudothecial development as the developmental stage was more advanced. Pycnidia of the fungus developed and formed viable conidia in all environmental conditions studied, except at 86% RH. However, the density of pycnidia formed and the number of viable conidia per pycnidium were significantly influenced by temperature, RH and the type of debris (artificially or naturally infected) used.
Biosynthesis and accumulation of D-ononitol in Vigna umbellata in response to drought stress

Metabolic responses to water deficit that lead to an accumulation of cyclitols, have been examined in rice bean (Vigna umbellata [Thunb.] Ohwi et Ohashi). Imposition of drought stress by withholding water from the soil for 9 days led to an accumulation of D-ononitol (1D-4-O-methyl-myo-inositol) which was most pronounced in leaves (from 33 to 88 μmol g -1 dry mass). However, the activity of the enzyme myo-inositol 6-O-methyltransferase (m60MT, EC 2.1.1.X), which catalyzes the synthesis of ononitol from myo-inositol and S-adenosyl-L-methionine (AdoMet), increased in stems but not in leaves during the drought stress experiment. Detailed analysis of different plant parts revealed that the accumulation of ononitol in leaves was linearly related to stem m60MT activity during drought stress, indicating that m60MT may control the in vivo biosynthetic rate of this cyclitol. The availability of myo-inositol, required for enhanced rates of ononitol synthesis by m60MT, increased during the stress experiment, while the capacity to synthezise AdoMet by S-adenosyl-L-methionine synthetase (SMS, EC 2.5.1.6) decreased. However, the high capacity for degradation of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine (AdoHcy; a potent competitive inhibitor of m60MT) by the enzyme S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase (SHH, EC 3.3.1.1) provided favourable conditions for ononitol biosynthesis during the whole stress treatment.
Determination of cell viability of superoxide dismutase knockout Escherichia coli strains using oxidative stress assays

Cell viability of superoxide dismutase knockout Escherichia coli strains using oxidative stress assays was determined for three strains: Periplasmic knockout (AS393), cytoplasmic knockout (PN134), and periplasmic/cytoplasmic knockout (AS391). The cytoplasmic or endogenous superoxide was generated using the redox-cycling agent paraquat, while the periplasmic or exogenous superoxide was generated using the xanthine/xanthine oxidase enzyme. It was hypothesized that exogenous superoxide produced in the xanthine/xanthine oxidase assay would have the largest effect on the periplasmic knockout (AS393) while endogenous superoxide produced in the paraquat assay would effect the growth of the cytoplasmic knockouts (AS391, PN134). Cell growth was determined using optical density for the three knockout strains along with four additional strains: ATCC4157, DH10B, MG1655, and W3110. Using total cell counts obtained with a hemacytometer, the relationship between optical density and cell number was determined for all seven strains. Fluorescence assays using the nucleic acid dyes SYTO9 and PI were used to obtain the percentage of live cells for each strain, which was essential for the xanthine/xanthine oxidase assay. Each strain had a different optimal concentration of nucleic acid dyes necessary to obtain the highest fluorescence intensity. Using fluorescence dyes required the investigation of the inner filter effect. It was determined that inner filter effects are present and need to be accounted for. The paraquat assay inhibited the growth of the three knockout strains with the periplasmic knockout (AS393) being more affected than the others. The total time of aeration altered the effectiveness of paraquat. Specifically, as aeration time increased, growth inhibition increased. The xanthine/xanthine oxidase assay showed little to no effect on the cell viability of the knockout strains. Alteration of pH from 7.5 to 6.5 showed similar results. Other alterations to the xanthine/xanthine oxidase assay obtained similar results as well.
Benzodiazepine usage and patient preference for alternative therapies: A descriptive study

The prevalence of chronic benzodiazepine use in primary care settings remains high despite clear evidence of adverse health outcomes resulting from long‐term use and the availability of effective alternative behavioural therapies. Eliciting factors influencing past or current usage experience of benzodiazepine users and their future behavioural intention regarding discontinuation or alternative behavioural therapy adoption could be useful in developing informed strategies facilitating successful benzodiazepine withdrawal in long‐term users. The aim of this study was to identify patient factors influencing their current long‐term benzodiazepine use, past withdrawal attempt, and future intention to trial safer alternative behavioural therapies. Additionally, the study also aimed to explore patients' preference for information sources on behavioural therapies.
Cool Capitalism

Even if the recent earthquake had not shattered the Haitian capital, this film would be well worth viewing for its generalizability to other poor countries. It now has unanticipated historical significance since it was filmed months prior to the natural disaster, and many of the buildings that are featured were destroyed, probably along with some of the protagonists. Five women are interviewed at length, separated by poetic interludes of repeated material. One sees that their struggles to survive against mighty odds personify the working conditions of women in developing countries around the globe. Despite lack of credentials or much formal education, the women exhibit a sophisticated understanding of Haiti’s political-economy. Where once there were jobs which brought thousands from the countryside into the city, in their place one found, prior to the earthquake, massive unemployment and locked gates of closed factories. International trade agreements destroyed the market for the products these women worked so hard to produce, some of whom, for instance, helped assemble 75 pairs of jeans per hour to earn a few dollars a day. They speak honestly and with an informed skepticism about the future of the Haitian economy, even before disaster struck. There are subtle connections made between chronic and widespread unemployment among the women, and violence perpetrated upon them by men who are in the same dire straits. The great strength of the film is in allowing the five women—Jean-Marie, garment worker, without funds for her childrens’ schooling; Solange, who analyzes violence; Frisline, member of a woman’s labor organization free of dominating men; Thérèse, a victim of poor health care; Hélène, a champion of women’s self-defense against physical attack—to speak from their hearts at length, without moralizing from a narrator. The film should be in all university libraries for classroom use.
Perfiles neuropsicológicos en anorexia y bulimia nerviosa.

Introduction. Eating disorders are severe mental disorders that appear in different diagnostic forms, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. In recent years, a number of studies have highlighted the involvement of neuropsychological processes in anorexia and bulimia nervosa. Aim. To review the evidence on the deficits in the executive functions, attentional biases and central coherence in anorexia and bulimia nervosa in relation to a neuropsychological risk profile, a different neuropsychological profile associated with the aforementioned eating pathologies and the role of variables (body mass index, age, anxiety, impulsiveness, alexithymia, mood, body image) in the presence of neuropsychological deficits. Development. We reviewed the empirical studies conducted in the last seven years found in the Medline and PsycINFO databases for English, and Dialnet and Psicodoc for Spanish. Twenty-eight articles were selected as suitable for the purposes of this study. The documents were chosen on the basis of a set of pre-established criteria. Conclusions. According to the evidence available, there seems to be a risk profile characterised by cognitive rigidity and weak central coherence. The results appear to be more consistent as regards the risk profile in anorexia nervosa. Furthermore, in both anorexia and bulimia nervosa there are attentional biases related to the recognition of emotions and social aspects, and the alexithymia trait is a modulating variable in this difficulty.
Plant Production and Emission of Volatile Organic Compounds

Plant Production and Emission of Volatile Organic Compounds Author(s): Manuel Lerdau, Alex Guenther and Russ Monson Source: BioScience, Vol. 47, No. 6 (Jun., 1997), pp. 373-383 Published by: Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Institute of Biological Sciences Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1313152 Accessed: 17-08-2015 23:56 UTC Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at http://www.jstor.org/page/ info/about/policies/terms.jsp JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org. Oxford University Press and American Institute of Biological Sciences are collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to BioScience. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded from 128.200. 102.124 on Mon, 17 Aug 2015 23:56:19 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions