Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
BETWEEN LUMPERS AND SPLITTERS, WHICH TAXONOMICAL APPROACH TO MEDITERRANEAN SMALL TUNA OF GENUS AUXIS?

SUMMARY Systematic studies (Collette e Aadland, 1996) have assigned the Mediterranean tuna of genus Auxis to the subspecies Auxis rochei rochei, but the diagnostic characters proposed for this taxon fit only in part Mediterranean material. A research, supported by MIUR (Ministero dell’Universita e della Ricerca), was carried out both on morphological characteristics and genetic diversity of samples of Auxis obtained both in the Mediterranean and in the adjacent Atlantic. From Atlantic Morocco to the Central Mediterranean only one species was found; its main morphological characteristics are illustrated, taking into account, for sake of comparison, those of A. thazard. The peculiarities of Mediterranean Auxis deserve appreciation on a taxonomical basis.
Wnt-11 signalling, its role in cardiogenesis and identification of Wnt/β-catenin pathway target genes

Wnt genes encode secreted signalling molecules that control embryonic development including organogenesis, while dysregulated Wnt signalling is connected to many diseases such as cancer. Specifically, Wnts control a number of cellular processes such as proliferation, adhesion, differentiation and aging. Many Wnt proteins activate the canonical β-catenin signalling pathway that regulates transcription of a still poorly characterized set of target genes. Wnts also transduce their signaling in cells via β-catenin-independent “non-canonical” pathways, which are not well understood. In this study, Wnt-11 signalling mechanisms in a mammalian model cell line and roles of Wnt-11 in heart development were analyzed in detail. In addition the aim was to identify new Wnt target genes by direct chromatin immunoprecipitation and Affymetrix GeneChip assays in the model cells exposed to Wnt-3a. Our studies reveal that Wnt-11 signalling coordinates the activity of key cell signalling pathways, namely the canonical Wnt/β-catenin, the JNK/AP-1, the NF-κB and PI3K/Akt pathways in the CHO cells. Analysis of the Wnt-11-deficient embryos revealed a crucial role in heart organogenesis. Wnt-11 signalling coordinates cell interactions during assembly of the myocardial wall and Wnt-11 localizes the expression of N-cadherin and β-catenin to specific cellular domains in the embryonic ventricular cardiomyocytes. Collectively these studies reveal that the mammalian Wnt-11 behaves as a non-canonical Wnt and that it is a critical factor in the coordination of heart development. Specifically, it controls components of the cell adhesion machinery. Analysis of the Wnt target genes revealed a highly context-dependent profile in the Wnt-regulated genes. Several new putative target genes were discovered. Out of the candidate Wnt target genes, Disabled-2 was identified as a potential new direct target for Wnt signalling.
The effect of citric acid and ascorbyl palmitate in palm oil enriched with heme iron: A model for iron fortification in bakery products

Iron fortification in food products is a common strategy used to prevent iron deficiency. This is important because a large proportion of the population, mainly young children and women (of childbearing age) are at risk of developing iron deficiency anemia. Certain baked goods (biscuits, cookies) are regularly consumed by children making their iron fortification an effective strategy to prevent this deficiency. Although heme iron has high bioavailability it promotes oxidation, as other iron forms. In the present study, a model consisting of a refined palm oil, enriched with heme iron, was used to optimize the dose of ascorbyl palmitate (0, 100, 200, or 400 mg/kg) and citric acid (0, 250, or 500 mg/kg) to prevent oxidation in baked products. Both antioxidants were combined using a factorial design. Iron enriched samples were heated at 220°C for 10 min to mimic typical baking conditions. Primary (peroxide value and lipid hydroperoxide content) and secondary (p-anisidine value and hexanal content) oxidation were measured over 1 year of storage at room temperature in the darkness. Results of primary and secondary oxidation indicated that ascorbyl palmitate delays oxidation during storage. Conversely, citric acid acted as prooxidant and no synergistic effect between the two antioxidants was observed. Practical applications: The fortification of food with iron represents a potentially effective strategy to overcome iron deficiency. A heme iron ingredient was used in this study because it has higher bioavailability than that of inorganic iron. As heme iron is a dark ingredient it could be disguised in baked products that contain chocolate. The heme iron ingredient was mixed with palm oil, which is a fat widely used in bakery. Nevertheless, as with inorganic iron, heme iron induces oxidation, and affects nutritional value, organoleptic properties and the shelf-life of fortified foods. This study demonstrates that ascorbyl palmitate could be useful to prevent such undesired changes in iron fortified baked products.
Cytotoxicity correlations of puerto rican plants using a simplified brine shrimp lethality screening procedure

Screening of the dichloromethane partition of the ethanol extract of over 100 Puerto Rican plants has been achieved resulting in 29 extracts active in the brine shrimp lethality assay (LC 50 < 1000 µg/ml). These were subjected to further biotesting in two cytotoxicity tests: against HeLa and CHO cells. The plants active in both cytotoxicity assays were: Annona glabra L. , Simarouba tulae Urban, Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A. Gray, Dendropanax arboreus (L.) Decne. & Planch. , Piper jacquemontianum Kunth, Annona montana Mafad, and Polygala hecatantha Urban. The plants selectively active in the HeLa assay were Cassine xylocarpa Vent. and Capparis flexuosa (L.) L. ; in the CHO assay, Amyris elemifera L.
Diel variation in the catchability of gadoids and its influence on the reliability of abundance indices

Present management of the north-east Arctic cod and haddock stocks is based on scientific assessments of stock abundance. The assessment procedures apply acoustic and bottom-trawl survey indices of abundance for tuning of the VPA (virtual population analysis). The reliability of the survey indices is strongly dependent on the precision and accuracy of thefish sampling conducted with trawls. Variation in bottom trawl catches and vertical distribution of cod and haddock from a small area were studied with the aim of finding environmental factors of explanatory importance for the observed variation. Data were obtained over a period of three days from two vessels trawling in parallel, one of which simultaneously collected acoustic information on vertical distribution. Variation in catch size and length composition was analysed and related to the observed vertical distribution. The results show that tidal currents aVect the vertical distribution of cod and haddock and, hence, the availability to the bottom trawl. On the other hand, light intensity apparently aVects the catch eYciency of the sampling trawl. Consequently, the abundance estimates from acoustic and bottom-trawl surveys are aVected by the interaction of diel rhythms in tidal current and light intensity. This illustrates the importance of monitoring the environmental factors that influence fish behaviour in order to increase the reliability of the abundance estimates. 1996 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea
Studies on the helminth fauna of Alaska. XLVII. Sobolevingylus micron sp.nov. (Nema-toda: Pseudaliidae), a lungworm of rodents.

Sobolevingylus microti sp. nov. occurs in the pulmonary tissue of the northern vole, Microtus oeconomus Pallas (type host), and other rodents in east-central Alaska. The third species of Sobolevingylus Romanov, 1952, to be described, and the first from North America, S. microti is distinguished from S. petrovi Romanov, 1952, a parasite of mustelids, by its longer spicules and by the presence of a gubernaculum, and from S. rodentius Gubanov, 1964, a parasite of rodents, by its smaller size, much larger gubernaculum, smaller eggs, and a much longer oesophagus in the first-stage larva. A laboratory-reared northern vole was infected experimentally by larvae which developed in slugs, Deroceras laeve (Muller).
Population Genetic Structure of the Asian Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus) within and Across Management Units in Northern Japan

Abstract. We examined the population genetic structure of the Asian black bear (Ursus thibetanus) in a large continuous habitat in northern Japan. To determine how population subdivision relates to management units (MUs) proposed by the Ministry of the Environment, genetic variation in the mitochondrial DNA control region (mtDNA-CR) and seven autosomal microsatellite loci was assessed in bears captured in southern Tohoku. Geographical distribution of the subpopulations was assessed using landscape analyses to find the best-fit model based on maximum entropy (MaxEnt) prediction and cost of movement. Genetic differentiation analyses revealed unique mtDNA-CR haplotypes in the study population. Bayesian population assignment of autosomal loci inferred four genetically distinct subpopulations in the study area (pop 1–4). The main distribution areas of pop1 and pop4 were separated by a high-cost zone for bear movement as a result of land use. Another high-cost zone was identified between pop2 and pop4, while the distribution of pop4 overlapped that of pop3. These results indicate that genetically distinct subpopulations are localized to areas that correspond roughly to MUs. The presence of subpopulations within an MU suggests that each MU is not always a single demographic unit.
Comparison of detection ability of learned odors between males and females in the larval parasitoid Microplitis croceipes

Although female parasitic wasps are known to learn to associate odors with hosts and food, the ability of males to learn and detect odors has been neglected. We conducted laboratory experiments to compare the detection ability of learned odors between males and females in the larval parasitoid Microplitis croceipes (Cresson) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). We first conditioned males and females to associate sucrose water with methyl benzoate, 3‐octanone, or cyclohexanone, and then observed their behavior toward various concentrations (40 ng l−1−4 mg l−1) of the trained odors. Conditioned male wasps responded as well as female wasps to various concentrations of the three odors. Response times by wasps to these three odors were not significantly different between sexes. For the three odors, response times of both sexes were longer at the intermediate concentrations (40–400 µg l−1) than the higher or lower concentrations. The present study suggests that M. croceipes males can learn and respond to the three chemicals tested as well as the females, and conditioned males are as sensitive to learned odors as conditioned females. By using their sensitive learning and odor‐detection capabilities, M. croceipes males could search for food sources as efficiently as females under natural conditions.
From genes to patterns: Auxin distribution and auxin-dependent gene regulation in plant pattern formation

It has long been recognized that the plant hormone auxin plays integral roles in a variety of plant processes. More recently, it has become clear that these processes include some of the most basic pattern formation mechanisms needed to establish a functional plant body. Considerable insight into how this regulation plays out at the molecular level has been attained in recent years. Of special note are the complementary actions of the auxin efflux carrier proteins responsible for the formation of instructive auxin concentration gradients and the transcription factor complexes required for the appropriate interpretation of such instructions. The numerous players involved and the complexity of their regulation provide insight into how a single plant hormone can operate in such a multifunctional fashion. Many new features of auxin action can now be quantified and visualized, and three-dimensional models of auxin patterning can be tested and mathematically modeled. With these new advances, the developmental b.
Análisis multimétrico para evaluar contaminación en el río Lerma y lago de Chapala, México

Techniques for monitoring the water quality should have low costs and consider several parameters in order to obtain more efficient analysis of data. This study proposes an application of a multimetric system for the bioassessment of the contamination during dry (May), rainy (July) and post-rainy conditions (November) in the main stream of the LermaChapala basin. It included seven physiochemical determinations for the Water Quality Index (WQI), an Extended Biotic Index (EBI) based on the macrobenthos communities and the application of bioassays on sorghum seeds. The results indicated that according to the levels of the WQI there was a big difference between the river and the lake; during the dry season, the river figures in the scale of polluted to highly polluted, including its entrance to Chapala Lake, the rest of the lake was placed within the interval between low pollution and acceptable. In rainy and post-rainy periods, the river improved and was found within the range of polluted to not very polluted, in the mean time the entire lake was mantained within not very polluted and acceptable. According to the IBE, which was only applied to the river, the upper basin was placed within the range of polluted to severe pollution, while the intermediate and lower basin maintained their highly polluted conditions; for rainy and post-rainy seasons, the conditions improved smoothly. According to the WQI, EBI and the bioassays on dry conditions, the most polluted area in the river was the intermediate basin.
Measuring 3D Arm Movements for Activities of Daily Living

Typical movements of the upper extremity in everyday life show a large variability between different, healthy subjects. In order to find reference arm movements for monitoring the progress of rehabilitation after stroke, we investigated the similarity of arm movement patterns on both sides of the body in healthy subjects for typical activities of daily living. The movements of the upper extremity and the trunk, respectively, were recorded with a video-based 3D motion analysis system. Different statistical analyses of these data showed that the variability between the left and right body side of a subject is of the same size as the variability between different subjects. In other words, taking the movement trajectory of the healthy arm as a reference for the affected arm is not better than using the mean trajectory of a population as a reference, and simpler assessment criteria should be used. Author
Generic‐level relationships within the ant subfamily Dolichoderinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

A cladistic analysis was undertaken to determine relationships among extant genera of the ant subfamily Dolichoderinae. Twenty‐one of the twenty‐two currently recognized genera within the subfamily were examined using 104 morphological characters. A single fully resolved, most‐parsimonious tree was found when a combination of ordered and unordered characters was used. When all characters were coded as unordered, seventy most‐parsimonious trees were found. The following results were found with both character coding methods. Leptomyrmex was placed basal to the remainder of the subfamily and the monophyletic sets Dolichoderus+Liometopum+Axinidris+Tapinoma+Technomyrmex, Froggattella+Iridomyrmex+Ochetellus+Papyrius+Philidris+Turneria, and Bothriomyrmex+Dorymyrmex + Forelius + Loweriella were suggested. The genera Linepithema and Doleromyrma showed a small amount of instability in moving between neighbouring sister groups when the character coding method changed. The genera Anillidris and Anonychomyrma were difficult to place as they showed major differences in their positions between the two character coding methods.
A LONG~ERM STUDY OF "MICROCELL" DISEASE IN OYSTERS WITH A DESCRIPTION OF A NEW GENUS, MIKROCYTOS (Go No), AND TWO NEW SPECIES, MIKROCYTOS MACKINI (SP. No) AND MIKROCYTOS ROUGHLEYI (SP. No)

ABSTRACf Continuing long-tenn studies of oyster disease problems have been carried out over the past 26 years using field monitoring, gross, histologic, and ultrastructural pathologic methods. A microorganism of uncertain taxonomy was discovered in 1963 by J. G. Mackin in association with lesions and mortalities of Japanese oysters, Crassostrea gigas, from Denman Island, Britisll Columbia, Canada. Mackin coined the tenn "microcell" for this organism and described the parasite as 1-3,. m cells with small nuclei which occurred within vesicular connective tissue cells adjacent to characteristic abscesses. We are describing this organism as Mikrot:ytos mac1cini sp. n. in his honor. Similar appearing organisms were seen by the senior author in flat oysters, Ostrea edulis, from Milford, Connecticut, on three different occasions: 1) in oysters transferred from Milford. Connecticut, to Chincoteague Bay. Virginia; 2) in oysters transferred from Milford to Elkhorn Slough, California; and 3) in oysters trans­ ferred from Milford to Oxford, Maryland, and held in recirculated sea water. The causative organism in these three episodes has been sIlown by electron microscopy to be Bonamiaostreae, the parasite that was implicated in recent mortalities in flat oysters in Europe. Similar organisms have also been seen in Olympia oysters, Ostrea lurida, from Oregon and in the Sydney rock oyster, Saccostrea commercialis, from Australia. Presence of the organism in the latter species is associsted with the winter mortalities originally described by T. C. Roughley, and the pathogen is here described as Mikrot:ytos roughleyi (sp. n.) in his honor. "Microcell" type parasites of oysters are associated with a complex of diseases that occur in Japanese oyster, Crassostrea gigas; Sydney rock oyster, Sac­ costrea commercialis; flat oyster, Ostrea edulis; and Olympia oyster, O. lunda, in North America, Europe, and Australia. Severity of disease varies from an acute, highly lethal form to a chronic, seasonally recurring disease that does not produce massive mortalities. The etiologic agents are small, morphologically simple, and very difficult to com­ pare and characterize taxonomically at light micro­ scope levels of resolution. Associated lesions vary according to species affected and provide some of the differences that may be used to distinguish the agents involved. The complexity of this group and the difficulties involved in achieving an understand­ ing regarding whether we are dealing with one or a group of organisms and how they were transferred to new locations, the long time span involved in
Recurrent Fusion of TMPRSS2 and ETS Transcription Factor Genes in Prostate Cancer

Recurrent chromosomal rearrangements have not been well characterized in common carcinomas. We used a bioinformatics approach to discover candidate oncogenic chromosomal aberrations on the basis of outlier gene expression. Two ETS transcription factors, ERG and ETV1, were identified as outliers in prostate cancer. We identified recurrent gene fusions of the 5′ untranslated region of TMPRSS2 to ERG or ETV1 in prostate cancer tissues with outlier expression. By using fluorescence in situ hybridization, we demonstrated that 23 of 29 prostate cancer samples harbor rearrangements in ERG or ETV1. Cell line experiments suggest that the androgen-responsive promoter elements of TMPRSS2 mediate the overexpression of ETS family members in prostate cancer. These results have implications in the development of carcinomas and the molecular diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.
Alternatives to regular insecticide applications for control of lepidopterous pests of Brassica oleracea var. capitata.

ABSTRACT Two field trials were performed to assess a variety of control methods for larvae of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) and cabbage white butterfly, Pieris rapae (L.) on cabbage. The possibility of reducing the number of synthetic insecticide applications, by spraying according to action thresholds, was also studied. The plant-based product rotenone, the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner and a lightweight netting barrier successfully controlled the pests and produced cabbage of marketable quality. Pyrethrum, garlic, soap and combinations of these products did not prevent larval feeding damage. Use of action thresholds reduced numbers of synthetic insecticide applications, in one season, without compromising yield or quality. Results of these trials show that there is potential for reducing synthetic insecticide input in the production of quality cabbage crops.
Endocrine regulation of dynamic communication signals in gymnotiform fish

This dissertation, written by Anna Goldina, and entitled Endocrine Regulation of Dynamic Communication Signals in Gymnotiform Fish, having been approved in respect to style and intellectual content, is referred to you for judgment. We have read this dissertation and recommend that it be approved. iii DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated to my parents, Gregory and Emma Goldin, and my husband, Dmitriy Krichevskiy. Without their love, support, and belief in my abilities, I would not have been able to complete this project. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I am so grateful to my committee members; and guidance. Their expertise and constructive criticism has been essential to the success of this project. Especially, I would like to acknowledge my major professor, Philip K. Stoddard. From the beginning to the end of my graduate career, he has been an inspiration. In every conversation he conveyed the passion he has for science, mentorship and service. Through kindness, patience and a never-ending belief in my abilities, Phil gave me room to grow as a scientist and a teacher, helping me recognize my purpose along the way. My labmates were instrumental in the completion of this project. Through all the successes and failures of graduate school, they made the graduate experience unforgettable. Especially, I would like to thank Dr. Michael Markham for his generous invitation to participate in what became chapter II of my dissertation. Without him this dissertation project would not exist. helped me learn new techniques, troubleshoot failed experiments, analyze data and edit manuscripts. The undergraduate students whom I've had the pleasure of training and working with; taught me so much about mentorship and humility. v I would also like to thank my fellow graduate students and faculty on the 2 nd floor of the HLS building. Their humor, support, and friendship made HLS always feel like a seond home. Communication signals are shaped by the opposing selection pressures imposed by predators and mates. A dynamic signal might serve as an adaptive compromise between an inconspicuous signal that evades predators and an extravagant signal preferred by females. Such a signal has been described in the gymnotiform electric fish, Brachyhypopomus gauderio, which produces a sexually dimorphic electric organ discharge (EOD). The EOD varies on a circadian rhythm and in response to social cues. This signal plasticity is mediated by the slow action of androgens and rapid action of melanocortins. My dissertation research tested the hypotheses that (1) signal …
Delimitation of morphologically similar sponge crab species of the genus Pseudodromia (Crustacea, Decapoda, Dromiidae) from South Africa

Stewart, B. A. , Gouws, G. , Daniels, S. R. & Matthee, C. A. (2004). Delimitation of morphologically similar sponge crab species of the genus Pseudodromia (Crustacea, Decapoda, Dromiidae) from South Africa. —Zoologica Scripta, 33, 45–55.