Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nuevo registro de Scalpellum projectum (Crustacea: Cirripedia: Thoracica: Scalpellidae) para el talud continental de Chile

The pedunculate barnacle Scalpellum projectum Nilsson-Cantell, 1930, was described based on benthic material from a telegraph cable recovered from deep waters off Antofagasta (~23oS). No new records have been reported for this species worldwide since its original description. Six adult females of S. projectum were collected during recent studies of communities associated with methane seeps. The material was taken from three stations located between 34o42' and 36o22'S and at depths of 846 to 922 m. We provide taxonomic information based on the external morphology of the specimens, whose sizes coincide in general terms with those of the original description. No male specimens were observed; these are smaller, aberrant in form, and live within the scuta in the capitulum of the females. With this second finding, the distributional range of this species, previously only reported for the slope off Chile, is extended about 17o latitude southwards (1,800 km) and its bathymetric range is expanded by 200 m.
First record of the invasive bumblebee Bombus terrestris (L.) (Hymenoptera, Apidae) in Argentina

Abstract A recent (March 2006) field survey of plant-pollinator interactions in North Patagonia, Argentina, revealed the presence of Bombus terrestris as flower visitors to several plant species in a natural environment. This is the first record of this invasive bumblebee in Argentina. The available evidence suggests that B. terrestris entered Argentina from Chile, where it was introduced in 1998, through low-altitude passes across the Andes.
Current Perspective on Auto-antibodies in Type 1 Diabetes

Aberrant immune responses against specific β-cell autoantigens generates Islet autoantibodies (IA), like Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase (GADA), insulinoma antigen-2 (IA-2A), insulin (IAA), and most recently Zinc Transporter 8 (ZnT8A). IA are biomarkers of autoimmune Type 1 diabetes (T1DM) and help in its diagnosis. [1] IA can be present very early in the natural history of T1DM from normoglycemic and preT1DM to overt diabetes stage. IA can distinguish Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA) from phenotypically type 2 diabetes. [1]
Nest-site characteristics and breeding biology of the Black-cheeked Lovebird Agapornis nigrigenis in Zambia

The nest-site characteristics and breeding biology of the Black-cheeked Lovebird Agapornis nigrigenis in their natural habitat and in captivity were investigated as part of a wider study of the ecology of the species. Seventy-eight nests were found. Black-cheeked Lovebirds nested inside naturally formed cavities in live Mopane trees Colophospermum mopane, in localities which were used for roosting during the non-breeding season. Nest-site fidelity was suspected. Most nests were found in a loosely clumped distribution. Nest-site characteristics including cavity dimensions, height from ground, distance to three nearest nest trees, cavity entrance orientation and nest shape are presented. No nesting requirement appeared to be limiting, or to affect the population's reproductive output. Reproductive data were necessary to elucidate factors affecting reproductive success and to assist with the development of a conservation management plan for this Vulnerable species. Breeding occurred from January to May, coinciding with annual maximum rainfall and the early dry season, when a single clutch was raised by most pairs. Nesting chronology was correlated with mean monthly rainfall and major food source availability. Behavioural data on nest building, location, defence and breeding success are presented. Courtship, copulation, parental care and juvenile behaviours are reported, and clutch size, laying intervals and hatching successes of captive birds are discussed.
Colour choice behaviour in the pollen beetle Meligethes aeneus (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae)

The pollen beetle Meligethes aeneus Fabricius (Coleoptera, Nitidulidae), a pest of oilseed rape (Brassica napus), is known to respond to coloured stimuli; however, current understanding of the underlying mechanisms of colour choice in this species is limited. In the present study, physiological and behavioural experiments are conducted to determine the response of the pollen beetle to colours in the field. Spectral sensitivity is measured in 10 animals using the electroretinogram technique. Light flashes (100 ms) at varied wavelengths (340–650 nm, 10‐nm steps) and at different light intensities are applied to the eye after dark adaptation. In behavioural experiments in the field, 100 water traps of varying colours (from yellow to green to blue with varying amounts of white and black added, and with known spectral reflectance) are set out on a bare soil field in May 2008. The mean spectral sensitivity curve of M. aeneus peaks at 520 nm; however, a model template fitted to the long wavelength tail of the observed curve reveals a peak at approximately 540 nm (green). A secondary sensitivity peak is observed in the ultraviolet (UV) range (370 nm). A total of 2482 pollen beetles are captured in the coloured traps. The results show that the pollen beetles' preference for yellow over other colours can be modelled as a colour opponent mechanism (green versus blue); however, further experiments are needed to specify responses to colours with higher UV reflectance. These findings may be used to optimize trap colours for monitoring to help develop integrated pest management strategies for pollen beetle control.
Biochemical evidences for M1-, M17- and M18-like aminopeptidases in marine invertebrates from Cuban coastline

Abstract Metallo-aminopeptidases (mAPs) control many physiological processes. They are classified in different families according to structural similarities. Neutral mAPs catalyze the cleavage of neutral amino acids from the N-terminus of proteins or peptide substrates; they need one or two metallic cofactors in their active site. Information about marine invertebrate’s neutral mAPs properties is scarce; available data are mainly derived from genomics and cDNA studies. The goal of this work was to characterize the biochemical properties of the neutral APs activities in eight Cuban marine invertebrate species from the Phyla Mollusca, Porifera, Echinodermata, and Cnidaria. Determination of substrate specificity, optimal pH and effects of inhibitors (1,10-phenanthroline, amastatin, and bestatin) and cobalt on activity led to the identification of distinct neutral AP-like activities, whose biochemical behaviors were similar to those of the M1 and M17 families of mAPs. Additionally, M18-like glutamyl AP activities were detected. Thus, marine invertebrates express biochemical activities likely belonging to various families of metallo-aminopeptidases.
Exercise increases nuclear AMPK α2 in human skeletal muscle

An acute bout of exercise increases skeletal muscle glucose uptake, improves glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity, and enhances muscle oxidative capacity. Recent studies have shown an association between these adaptations and the energy-sensing 5' AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), the activity of which is increased in response to exercise. Activation of AMPK has been associated with enhanced expression of key metabolic proteins such as GLUT-4, hexokinase II (HKII), and mitochondrial enzymes, similar to exercise. It has been hypothesized that AMPK might regulate gene and protein expression through direct interaction with the nucleus. The purpose of this study was to determine if nuclear AMPK alpha(2) content in human skeletal muscle was increased by exercise. Following 60 min of cycling at 72 +/- 1% of VO(2peak) in six male volunteers (20.6 +/- 2.1 years; 72.9 +/- 2.1 kg; VO(2peak) = 3.62 +/- 0.18 l/min), nuclear AMPK alpha(2) content was increased 1.9 +/- 0.4-fold (P = 0.024). There was no change in whole-cell AMPK alpha(2) content or AMPK alpha(2) mRNA abundance. These results suggest that nuclear translocation of AMPK might mediate the effects of exercise on skeletal muscle gene and protein expression.
Limnology of Pavilion Lake, B. C., Canada - characterization of a microbialite forming environment.

The objectives of this study are two-fold: (1) to describe and quantify the seasonal physical and chemical limnological properties of Pavilion Lake, a microbialite-rich lake in British Columbia, Canada, and (2) to gain a broader limnological context of Pavilion Lake by examining the limnology and hydrology of the lakes and groundwater systems in the area (∼30 km radius). Pavilion Lake is a dimictic lake with annual ice-cover. It is a hard water (mean CaCO 3 = 181.8 mg L -1), ultra-oligotrophic (mean Total Phosphorus [TP] = 3.3 μg L -1) lake, that is groundwater fed most likely through diffuse, low velocity local and regional sources. Principal Components Analysis (PCA) separated Pavilion Lake from the other groundwater, stream and lake samples along a conductivity and pH gradient on Axis 1 (λ 1 =0.392), and a nutrient (Total Nitrogen [TN], TP) and K +, Mg 2+, Si gradient on the second axis (λ 2 = 0.160). Pavilion Lake has the lowest Ca 2+ and TP concentrations, and the highest Na + concentrations and optical transmissivity amongst all sampled sites. Furthermore, the lake is characterized by low sedimentation rates. These characteristics are potentially important factors in supporting the past and on-going development of microbialites within the lake. Our study provides a limnochemical reference to consider in the conceptualization of ideal environments supporting large-scale microbialites. © E. Schweizerbart'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung 2009.
La diversité insoupçonnée du monde microbien

Les methodes traditionnelles d’identification bacterienne par la determination de quelques caracteristiques phenotypiques et l’appreciation de quelques proprietes physiologiques ont montre leurs limites, en particulier pour la detection des micro-organismes non ou difficilement cultivables. Elles ont conduit a la description d’une tres faible partie de la diversite bacterienne existante et a la sous-estimation meme de la richesse du monde vivant qui nous entoure. En medecine, plusieurs maladies - a l’evidence infectieuses - sont restees sans etiologie jusqu’a l’avenement des methodes moleculaires fondees sur l’analyse phylogenetique des sequences d’ARNr 16S ou de genes de proteines. Ces methodes permettent, aujourd’hui, une detection et une reconnaissance fiable des pathogenes difficilement cultivables et la mise en oeuvre de traitements appropries. Le suivi des maladies infectieuses (legionelloses, cholera) dont les agents sont en etat de « non-cultivabilite » dans l’environnement est egalement facilite. Au-dela des pathogenes, notre environnement contient des milliers de bacteries non ou difficilement cultivables, qui ont suscite le developpement de nouvelles strategies de culture et, plus recemment, de techniques dites de « meta- ou ecogenomique ». Un apercu de la diversite metabolique et du potentiel genetique tout a fait insoupconnes de ces bacteries nous est promis dans les annees a venir.
Chemotropic studies on the blow-flies Lucilia sericata (Mg.) and Lucilia caesar (L.)

1. Oviposition by L. sericata has been induced on a moist clipped fleece by incorporating ammonium carbonate and indole, hence attraction is not completely dependent on some factor produced by the living animal. 2. Chemistry of attractants. A new method for determining small amounts of hydrogen sulphide is described. Larval excreta contains hydrogen sulphide but no indole or skatole. Following incubation the ammonia and sulphydryl contents of various natural attractants are markedly increased. 3. Field trials on sheep. 0·002% ethyl mercaptan in conjunction with 0·1% ammonium carbonate was able to induce oviposition by L. sericata. The mercaptan concentration could be reduced to 0·001%, providing 0·0001% hydrogen sulphide was present. 0·01% mercaptan and aqueous solutions of hydrogen sulphide alone are not attractive. 4. The results obtained support the hypothesis that attraction is the result of the breakdown of cystine, with the production of sulphur compounds, coupled with the presence of ammonium carbonate (or of some putrefactive material). 5. Chemical baits. During the period 17 August–21 September 1943, various combinations of ammonium carbonate, hydrogen sulphide and indole in conjunction with sheep wool proved to be attractants for females of L. caesar.
Evoked Release of Endogenous Norepinephrine in the Canine Saphenous Vein

SUMMARY Most of the information concerning adrenergic neurotransmission in the blood vessel wall has been obtained from isolated blood vessels previously incubated with radiolabeled norepinephrine. In the present study, we determined the tissue content of norepinephrine and dopamine in the dog's saphenous vein using a radioenzymatic assay; tissue content of dopamine was 30 times less than tissue content of norepinephrine, and no epinephrine could be detected. During superfusion of isolated canine saphenous vein preparations, superfusate samples were collected for subsequent radioenzymatic analysis of norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine. The basal efflux of endogenous norepinephrine declined slightly with time. Nerve stimulation caused frequency-dependent increases in tension, paralleled by increases in efflux of endogenous norepinephrine. The changes in tension were correlated significantly with the changes in norepinephrine overflow. Acetylcholine at 5 x 10~ 7 M had no effect on basal tension or basal norepinephrine overflow. During nerve stimulation at 2 Hz and at 5 Hz, it significantly depressed the contractile response and the evoked overflow of endogenous norepinephrine. Neither dopamine nor epinephrine was detected during these superfusion studies. The present experiments introduce the means for measuring endogenous norepinephrine overflow in the canine saphenous vein, validate earlier work on this blood vessel, and, in particular, provide direct evidence for the inhibitory effect of acetylcholine on adrenergic neurotransmission in the blood vessel wall. Circ Res 45: 608-614, 1979
Beyond the Paclitaxel and Vinca Alkaloids: Next Generation of Plant-Derived Microtubule-Targeting Agents with Potential Anticancer Activity

Plants are an important source of chemically diverse natural products that target microtubules, one of the most successful targets in cancer therapy. Colchicine, paclitaxel, and vinca alkaloids are the earliest plant-derived microtubule-targeting agents (MTAs), and paclitaxel and vinca alkaloids are currently important drugs used in the treatment of cancer. Several additional plant-derived compounds that act on microtubules with improved anticancer activity are at varying stages of development. Here, we move beyond the well-discussed paclitaxel and vinca alkaloids to present other promising plant-derived MTAs with potential for development as anticancer agents. Various biological and biochemical aspects are discussed. We hope that the review will provide guidance for further exploration and identification of more effective, novel MTAs derived from plant sources.
Supermolecular Structure of Poly(Butylene Terephthalate) Fibers Formed with the Addition of Reduced Graphene Oxide

Nanocomposite fibers based on poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) were prepared using a method able to disperse graphene in one step into a polymer matrix. The studies were performed for fibers containing four different concentrations of rGO at different take-up velocities. The supermolecular structures of the fibers at the crystallographic and lamellar levels were examined by means of calorimetric and X-ray scattering methods (DSC, WAXS, and SAXS). It was found that the fiber structure is mainly influenced by the take-up velocity. Fibers spun at low and medium take-up velocities contained a crystalline α-form, whereas the fibers spun at a high take-up velocity contained a smectic mesophase. During annealing, the smectic phase transformed into its α-form. The degree of transformation depended on the rGO content. Reduced graphene mainly hindered the crystallization of PBT by introducing steric obstacles confining the ordering of the macromolecules of PBT.
An adaptive solution to the chemical master equation using quantized tensor trains with sliding windows

To cope with an extremely large or even infinite state space when solving the chemical master equation in biological problems, a potent strategy is to restrict to a finite state projection (FSP) and represent the transition matrix and probability vector in quantized tensor train (QTT) format, leading to savings in storage while retaining accuracy. In an earlier adaptive FSP–QTT algorithm, the multidimensional state space was downsized and kept in the form of a hyper rectangle that was updated when needed by selectively doubling some of its side dimensions. However, this could result in a much larger state space than necessary, with the effect of hampering both the execution time and stepping scheme. In this work, we improve the algorithm by enabling sliding windows that can dynamically slide, shrink or expand, with updates driven by a number of stochastic simulation algorithm trajectories. The ensuing state space is a considerably reduced hyper rectangle containing only the most probable states at each time step. Three numerical experiments of varying difficulty are performed to compare our approach with the original adaptive FSP–QTT algorithm.
Serine, threonine and tyrosine o-acetylation in the chromatin landscape

iii List of Figures.viii List of Tables.ix Acknowledgments.x Prior Presentations and Publications.xii Chapter 1: Histone Post-Translational Modifications in the Chromatin Mosaic.1 Chapter 2: Identification of Novel Histone Post Translational Modifications Using Mass Spectrometry.6 Abstract.7 Introduction.8 Results and Discussion . 11 Methods . 26 Chapter 3: H3S10ac and Cell Cycle. 31 Abstract . 32 Introduction.33 Results and Discussion . 35 Methods . 40
ARE LARGE MALE ROOSEVELT ELK LESS SOCIAL BECAUSE OF AGGRESSION?

Abstract Large males are solitary or occur in small groups in numerous ruminants. I propose that large males may become less social because of differences in costs and benefits of aggression as they age and increase in size and social status. Outside the mating season, large males have little to gain from sparring and interacting aggressively with other large males. I examined if large male Roosevelt elk (Cervus elaphus roosevelti) were more solitary or in smaller groups than other size or sex classes, associated with other large males, directed more aggression to small males, and displayed behaviors that reduced aggression when in groups. Large males were in the smallest groups and solitary more than twice as often as small males and females, and groups with large males had ≥50% of the group composed of large males. In relation to small males, large males sparred less frequently, were more dispersed in groups, and directed more aggressive behaviors toward them. Differences in costs and benefits of aggression between small and large males may help explain the asocial nature of large males.
Effect of Artificial Shading and Temperature on Radical Scavenging Activity and Polyphenolic Composition in Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L.) Leaves

The phenolic content and the radical scavenging activity were compared in leaves of sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L.) cultivars Shimon-1, Kyushu-119 and Elegant Summer grown under different temperature and shading conditions. Compared to cultivar differences, there was less effect of temperature and shading on the total phenolic content in sweetpotato leaves, however certain polyphenolic components differed widely among the treatments. The positive correlation between the radical scavenging activity and the level of total phenolics (r = 0.62) suggests that phenolic compounds are important antioxidant components of sweetpotato leaves. All the reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) profiles of the cultivars tested showed peaks at the same retention times but peak areas of individual phenolic compounds differed with respective temperature and shading treatments. The phenolic compounds identified in the sweetpotato leaf were caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 3,4-di-O- caffeoylquinic acid, and 3,4,5-tri-O-caffeoylquinic acid. Most of the phenolic compounds were highest in leaves from plants grown at 20 °C without shading except 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid. The results indicate that growing leaves under moderately high temperatures and in full sun enhances the accumulation of phenolic components. These phenolic components have possible value in enhancing human health.
Spatio-temporal variation in mortality rates of White-chinned Petrels Procellaria aequinoctialis interacting with longliners in the south-west Atlantic

The White-chinned Petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis is the second most commonly captured species by Argentinean longliners. The severe declines that this species has experienced in some of its populations (e.g. South Georgia Islands) have been principally attributed to incidental mortality associated with longliners. In this study we analyse the spatio-temporal variability in the mortality rates of White-chinned Petrels on the Patagonian Shelf and the effects that environmental and operational variability have on such mortality. The average capture rate (± 1 SD) for the period 1999–2003 was 0.014 ± 0.090 White-chinned Petrels for every 1,000 hooks deployed. Higher capture rates were observed when short longlines were deployed. Capture rates were not affected by the wind speed or by the time to the full moon. The distribution of the captures differed throughout the year. During autumn–winter most captures took place in the north of the Patagonian Shelf, whereas during spring–summer incidental captures occurred principally to the south between 45°S and 50°S. Resumo El Petrel Barba Blanca Procellaria aequinoctialis constituye la segunda especie mas frecuentemente capturada por la flota palangrera Argentina. Los importantes decrecimientos poblacionales observados en algunas poblaciones de esta especie (e.g. Islas Georgias del Sur) han sido principalmente atribuidos a la mortalidad incidental asociada a embarcaciones palangreras. En este trabajo se analizo la variacion espacio- temporal en las tasas de captura incidental del Petrel Barba Blanca a lo largo de la Plataforma Continental Argentina y se estudio el efecto que diferentes variables ambientales y operacionales tienen sobre la mortalidad incidental de esta especie. La tasa de captura promedio (± d.s) durante el periodo 1999–2003 fue de 0.014 ± 0.090 Petreles Barba Blanca cada 1.000 anzuelos. Mayores tasas de captura fueron registradas al utilizar palangres cortos. No se observo un efecto de la intensidad del viento ni de la distancia a la luna llena sobre las tasas de captura. La distribucion de las capturas difirio a lo largo del aao. Durante el otoao-invierno la mayoria de las capturas estuvieron localizadas al norte de la Plataforma Continental Argentina, mientras que durante los meses de primavera-verano las capturas estuvieron localizadas principalmente entre los 45°S y 50°S.