Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Studies on the Catabolism of γG Subunits and Chains

The catabolism of I131 labeled H- and L-chain of RGG and HGG, Bence Jones protein and H-chain protein was studied in rabbits. Evidence is presented that the molecular structure responsible for the persistence in the circulation of γG is localized in the H-chain. The H-chain was slowly eliminated from the circulation similar to reduced and alkylated γG. The H-chain protein, obtained from patients with H-chain disease, was eliminated from the circulation with a half-life not significantly different from that of HGG. Two populations of H-chain protein with different electrophoretic mobilities were separated by DEAE-cellulose chromatography. Both populations were catabolized at the same rate. The rabbits did not excrete the H-chain protein in the urine. The L-chain and the Bence Jones protein were very rapidly eliminated from the circulation. A significant amount of the L-chain obtained from RGG but not from HGG was excreted in the urine as protein bound radioactivity. Sialic acid was shown not to be an important part of the structure necessary for the persistence in the circulation of γG. Removal of sialic acid did not change the rate of elimination of HGG, HGG papain Fc fragment and an H-chain protein preparation with a low sialic acid content. In contrast, a large portion of the H-chain protein preparations with a high sialic acid content was rapidly eliminated and catabolized after removal of sialic acid.
Cambios en la forma de la pata posterior entre roedores sigmodontinos según su locomoción y hábitat

Changes in the shape of the hind foot among Sigmodontine rodents according to locomotion and habitat. Changes in the shape of the hind feet among nine genera of sigmodontine rodents from the Venezuelan Guyana were correlated and compared, using the 'Thin Plate Spline' geometric technique. The results demonstrate that three types of shape can be distinguished among these taxa, according to their adaptations: terrestrial of forest (Neacomys, Oryzomys), terrestrial of open vegetation (Necromys, Sigmodon, Zygodontomys) and climber-arboreal (Oecomys, Rhipidomys). The first group is characterized by a lengthened plantar surface, long fingers and short claws; the second have short fingers and long claws; and the third group is characterized by the reduction of the plantar surface and claws, and enlargement of the fingers. The semiaquatic form (Nectomys), is similar to the terrestrial of forest, while Oligoryzomys, considered as a terrestrial form, is similar to the climber-arboreal. Palabras clave. Adaptacion. Locomocion. Sigmodontinae. Thin-plate-spline. Venezuela.
The value of Collembola from agricultural soils as food for a generalist predator

Summary 1. The Collembola is one of the important prey groups for generalist arthropod predators in agro-ecosystems. Differences in the quality of available species may play a significant role in the build-up of a community of natural enemies. The value of some common epigeic and hemi-edaphic Collembola as prey for adults and larvae of the carabid beetle Bembidion lampros was assessed in laboratory experiments. 2. Consumption capacity, egg production and the efficiency of converting prey into eggs were used as quality criteria for beetle adults, kept on diets of the collembolans Isotoma anglicana, Isotoma notabilis, Isotomurus prasinus, Folsomia fimetaria and Lepidocyrtus cyaneus, with fruit flies Drosophila melanogaster used as a high quality comparison prey. Survival, developmental time and teneral adult weight were used as quality criteria for beetle larvae on diets of Isotoma anglicana, Isotoma notabilis, F. fimetaria, D. melanogaster and a starvation treatment. 3. Collembola were offered to adults in dead and live treatments to assess the cost of prey capture and handling in relation to prey quality. 4. Bembidion lampros ate more dead than live Collembola. Egg production declined over time on all collembolan diets, indicating a lower quality of all species compared with D. melanogaster, but there was considerable variation between species. The highest food conversion efficiency occurred on F. fimetaria, L. cyaneus and D. melanogaster, while Isotoma notabilis could not be utilized by B. lampros for egg production. 5. Larvae completed development with low mortality on Isotoma anglicana and F. fimetaria, although there were differences in developmental time. The two Collembola seemed to be of relatively higher quality for larvae than for adults. Significantly higher teneral weight occurred on a diet of D. melanogaster compared with the Collembola. 6. The effect of Collembola quality on the beetle fecundity and larval developmental time suggests that agricultural management for natural enemies, should aim to benefit the species composition of the prey population.
Mimicry of cytokine pathways by human herpesviruses

ABSTRACT Viruses have evolved to subvert host cell pathways to enable their replication and persistence. In particular, virus-encoded gene products target the host's immune system to evade elimination by antiviral immune defenses. Cytokines are soluble, secreted proteins, which regulate many aspects of immune responses, by providing signals through cell surface receptors on target cells. Cytokine pathways are therefore attractive targets for modulation by viruses during their replication cycle. This review deals with modulation of cytokine pathways by the human herpesvirus, a family of viruses that are capable of life-long persistence in the host and cause severe disease particularly in immunocompromised individuals.
Relationship between phytoplankton paleoproduction and diversity in contrasting trophic states

With the increasing rate of species extinctions following anthropogenic perturbation, there is a growing interest in biodiversity research. Although productivity and species richness relationships have been tested and applied in contemporary aquatic ecological studies, none have been applied to paleoecology with contrasting trophic states. The present study explores the applicability of a contemporary production and species richness relationship in high-resolution paleoecological records with low, intermediate and mid to high productive aquatic systems. Results from our study reveal that diatom species richness was positively correlated in low to intermediate productive lakes. In contrast, the relationship was hump shaped (unimodal) in a mid to high productive system concurrent with the species diversity analyses. Contrasting relationships between diatom species richness and stable isotope records (δ 13 C and δ 15 N) suggested that the nutrient biogeochemical cycle might play an important role in controlling species richness. From fossil pigment records we show that the variations in algal functional group signatures were highest in intermediate state. Collectively, these results suggest that the hump shaped (unimodal) relationship between diatom species richness and production might be limited to high productive systems with maximum richness and diversity in intermediate states, which is also supported in contemporary studies. Moreover, fossil pigment records as proxies for algal functional groups reveal that in a mid to high productive system with intense watershed scale disturbances, community composition of algal functional groups declined favoring certain diatoms. Our results demonstrate the applicability of production and diversity relationship theory in paleo-perspective and that recent watershed scale land use changes might affect the species diversity in aquatic systems.
The body clock and athletic performance

Athletes train and compete at different times of the day according to personal preferences, schedule of team training or timing of competition. Many human performance variables follow the circadian rhythm in physiological measures, in phase with the rhythm in core body temperature. This correspondence applies to components of performance, physiological determinants of performance with high power output, psychophysical loading and competitive time trials. There is evidence that circadian rhythms in exercise performance are, in part, endogenously driven. Human performance rhythms are disrupted when athletes travel rapidly across multiple meridians, or are engaged in nocturnal shift-work. Few sports participants maintain high-performance standards when operating shift-work regimens. In contrast, travelling across time-zones is a contemporary feature of competitive sport for sojourns and training camps and participating in international contests. Athletes like all travellers experience jet lag symptoms when crossing multiple time-zones. Symptoms are worse and last longer following flights to the east compared to flying westwards. Performance rhythms re-adjust to the new local time at about the same time as that of core temperature. Experience with Olympic athletes travelling between Europe and Australia is that adjustment may be by phase advance or phase delay depending on timing of departure and disembarkation, time of arrival and exposure or avoidance of natural light, and activity in the early days in the new time-zone. Adjustment can be assisted by means of a behavioural strategy that combines the body clock and the homeostatic drive to sleep. Exclusion of long naps, the diurnal timing of physical training and social events form part of this strategy, as do eating and drinking behaviour. Exercise is a potential resynchronising agent when utilised at the correct time of day. Pharmacological treatments, including use of melatonin, have found favour in some contexts but their phase response curves pose difficulties for their administration in athletes travelling on long-haul flights. In view of the national governing bodies' stances on use of pharmacological agents and supplements by athletes, the behavioural strategy to cope with jet lag has been advocated.
IPM strategy for rodent control in alfalfa crops.

Integral pest management (IPM) emphasizes the growth of a healthy crop with the least possible disruption to agro-ecosystems and encourages natural pest control mechanisms. Support to IPM development in agricultural fields is the use of natural compounds to control rodent pests (Kogan, 1998; Cumming 2006). Over the past several years we have witnessed increasing occurrences of resistance. This is why attention was focused in the 1990s on products based on vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). For the first time we have introduced a rodenticide based on Se (0.1% sodium selenite) and for the first time we tried to control common voles and field mouse in alfalfa crops with another such compound, cellulose, i.e. a naturally-occurring substance with a mode of action different from other rodenticide active ingredients. The efficacy of vitamin D3, Se and cellulose in controlling voles (Microtus arvalis) and field mouse (Apodemus agrarius) in alfalfa fields was compared to the efficacy of products based on bromadiolone and brodifacoum. The trial complied with the PP 1/114(2) method (OEPP/EPPO, 1999). The new Se-based products, cellulose based products and vitamin D3 based products achieved good efficacy against voles, M. arvalis, and field mouse, A. agrarius, compared to products based on bromadiolone and brodifacoum. These products have good toxicological and ecological properties and the fact that there have been no known cases of resistance make them recommendable for use against rodents in agricultural fields, especially alfalfa crops.
Reduction of shoot hyperhydricity in micropropagated potato plants via antisense inhibition of a chCu/ZnSOD gene

The occurrence of hyperhydricity in transgenic potato plants, which carry a chloroplastic Cu/ZnSOD gene of the lily in either a sense or antisense orientation, was investigated during in vitro culturing. Hyperhydric symptoms included curled leaves with a succulent appearance that were mainly observed in Cu/ZnSOD sense plants. By contrast, antisense plants showed a low frequency of hyperhydricity and a high rate of ex vitro survival. Therefore, a knockdown approach for a chCu/ZnSOD gene could be a practical method to reduce hyperhydricity in plant micropropagation.
Nuclear receptors in metabolic diseases

Nuclear receptors (NR) are transcription factors that are regulated by ligand binding. Several members of this family regulate glucose and lipid metabolism in vivo and consequently play a major role in the overall energy balance of the host. Serendipitously, some of these NRs were found to bind to known drugs for the treatment of dyslipidaemia, insulin resistance and diabetes, proving that these receptors may also play a role in these diseases. Because of this historical success as a target for clinically acceptable drugs, there is now renewed effort at discovering further receptor modulators for the metabolic diseases. This review will summarise the current understanding and treatment of the metabolic diseases, describe the role of specific NRs and evaluate their potential as therapeutic targets.
Synergistic effects of heat and diatomaceous earth treatment for the control of Plodia interpunctella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Plodia interpunctella is a major economic pest that commonly infests most stored and processed agricultural products. Currently, heating at 50–60°C for at least 48 h is applied in facilities for disinfestation. However, this condition requires a great deal of time and expense. To improve the control efficiency of this system, we conducted combined treatments with heating and diatomaceous earth (DE), which is known to be toxic to pest insects. The DE effect was compared to heating at 25°C or 40°C to wandering fifth instar larvae, which is the stage most tolerant to heat. When larvae were brushed with DE powder, mortality was only 15.0–18.3% at 25°C for 10 days, but rapidly increased to 100% at 40°C within 4 h post‐treatment. In addition, when larvae were kept in a plastic cage with DE [4 mg/L (w/v)], their mortality was 100% in 24 h at 40°C post‐treatment; otherwise mortality was only 8.8% without DE. Thus, the control efficiency of heating significantly improved with the combination of DE. These effects increased further at higher temperatures and with longer exposure. Our results clearly showed that DE treatment showed synergistic effects with heating systems for the control of P. interpunctella.
liver vitamin d receptor, cYP2r1 and cYP27a1 expression related to progression of metabolic and viral chronic liver damage

Background and aim: Low serum 25(OH)vitamin D3 levels were associated with the presence and prognosis of liver diseases [1]. The biological effects of 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3 are mediated by the vitamin D receptor (VDR) and VDR has been widely detected in liver, but its expression in the course of liver disease has never been investigated [2]. We aimed to evaluate the hepatic expression of VDR and vitamin D 25-hydroxylases in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and its relationship with liver histology and serum 25(OH) vitamin D3 levels. Methods: Patients affected by CHC or NASH who had undergone liver biopsy and subjects without liver disease were included. Expression of VDR, CYP2R1 and CYP27A1 was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Results: In CHC subjects, fibrosis stage was associated with low hepatic CYP27A1 expression, whereas in patients with VDR-negative inflammatory cells and low VDR expression on hepatocytes, the portal inflammation was significantly higher (p<0.009 and p<0.03). In NASH patients, VDR expression on cholangiocytes was inversely correlated with steatosis severity (p<0.02), lobular inflammation (p<0.01) and NAS score (p<0.03). Conclusions: The liver of patients with viral and metabolic chronic liver disease expresses VDR in a manner inversely proportional to the severity of histological lesions and a role of the vitamin D/VDR system in the progression of chronic liver damage is suggested.
Territoriality in an Ambystoma Salamander? Support for the Null Hypothesis

Territoriality is well-documented in the salamander Plethodon cinereus (Plethodontidae), but no experiments have been performed to test for territoriality in other salamander families. We hypothesized that adult Ambystoma texanum (Ambystomatidae) establish feeding territories during their above-ground season (Nov.-May in southern Louisiana), when they are congregated near the breeding site. Two experiments were performed to test for two characteristics of territoriality: avoidance of a substrate possibly marked with pheromones by a conspecific of the same sex and aggressive behavior by an established resident toward an intruder of the same sex. Neither males nor females avoided substrates that may have been previously marked by conspecifics; this indicates either that intruders were insensitive to pheromonal advertisement of residents or that residents produced no such pheromonal signals. Also, neither male nor female residents showed more agonistic behavior toward a conspecific than toward a control surrogate. Thus, there is no evidence for the existence of terrestrial feeding territories in A. texanum. Selection for territoriality in P. cinereus may be a consequence of high densities and low food availability for that species. The ecological density of adult A. texanum, even during the above-ground season, may be insufficient for interference competition through defense of territories to be selected for. NDIVIDUALS of many species of vertebrates and invertebrates maintain territories in defense of some resource. Although a territory may be defined simply as "a defended space" (Brown and Orians, 1970), Gergits (1982) proposed that there are four essential characteristics of territoriality: 1) individuals must exhibit site tenacity; 2) defense of the area must occur; 3) the individual's presence in the area must be advertised; and 4) one individual can exclude a potential competitor from the defended site. All of these characteristics have been found to be employed by the terrestrial redbacked salamander, Plethodon cinereus (see Jaeger et al., 1982, for a summary of data). This evidence has led to the conclusion that intraspecific territoriality occurs among P. cinereus for a food resource that is limited in availability in forest-floor habitats of eastern North America (aeger, 1980). Almost nothing has been reported concerning territoriality in other salamander families. The family Ambystomatidae, like the Plethodontidae, consists of species that have a terrestrial adult stage. However, most Ambystoma, in contrast to Plethodon, oviposit in ponds. As a consequence, breeding is restricted geographically and the salamanders must either remain in proximity to the breeding sites year-round or migrate to them seasonally. It is generally accepted that most individuals of Ambystoma species are fossorial for the greater part of the year, with surface activity highly seasonal and always associated with breeding. It is well established that certain species of Ambystoma migrate to their breeding sites seasonally (Semlitsch, 1981; Shoop, 1968; Spotila and Beumer,
From random walks to informed movement

The analysis of animal movement is a large and continuously growing field of research. Detailed knowledge about movement strategies is of crucial importance for understanding eco-evolutionary dynamics at all scales – from individuals to (meta-)populations. This and the availability of detailed movement and dispersal data motivated Nathan and colleagues to published their much appreciated call to base movement ecology on a more thorough mechanistic basis. So far, most movement models are based on random walks. However, even if a random walk might describe real movement patterns acceptably well, there is no reason to assume that animals move randomly. Therefore, mechanistic models of foraging strategies should be based on information use and memory in order to increase our understanding of the processes that lead to animal movement decisions. We present a mechanistic movement model of an animal with a limited perceptual range and basic information storage capacities. This ‘spatially informed forager’ constructs an internal map of its environment by using perception, memory and learned or evolutionarily acquired assumptions about landscape attributes. We analyse resulting movement patterns and search efficiencies and compare them to area restricted search strategies (ARS) and biased correlated random walks (BCRW) of omniscient individuals. We show that, in spite of their limited perceptual range, spatially informed individuals boost their foraging success and may perform much better than the best ARS. The construction of an internal map and the use of spatial information results in the emergence of a highly correlated walk between patches and a rather systematic search within resource clusters. Furthermore, the resulting movement patterns may include foray search behaviour. Our work highlights the strength of mechanistic modelling approaches and sets the stage for the development of more sophisticated models of memory use for movement decisions and dispersal.
Participación de las proteínas CRB y proteínas asociadas en el desarrollo de la retina y en distrofias retinianas

[ES] Las proteinas CRB fueron identificadas en Drosophila melanogaster. Hasta la fecha se han identificado tres miembros de esta familia en mamiferos: CRB1, CRB2 y CRB3, que se localizan en diferentes celulas epiteliales, asi como en la retina. En este tejido las tres proteinas CRB se ubican en la region subapical de la membrana limitante externa. CRB1 solo se encuentra en esa estructura en la retina, mientras que se ha postulado la presencia de CRB2 y CRB3 en la capa plexiforme externa, asi como la de CRB3 en el cilio de conexion de los fotorreceptores. Mutaciones en el gen que codifica para la proteina CRB1 provocan dos tipos de degeneraciones retinianas en humanos: Retinosis pigmentaria y Amaurosis congenita de Leber. El raton mutante Crb1rd8 sufre una mutacion en Crb1 que se asemeja a la que ocurre en humanos. En este trabajo de Tesis Doctoral demostramos que las alteraciones en la retina de este raton se manifiestan desde el periodo postnatal de P7, un estadio previo a lo descrito hasta la fecha. Estas modificaciones suponen perdida de integridad de la membrana limitante externa con desaparicion de sus uniones adherentes en areas naso-ventrales de la retina, asi como una temprana reactivacion glial. Todo ello indica que los fallos en CRB1 provocan alteraciones durante el desarrollo de la retina. En las retinas de los ratones adultos las modificaciones morfologicas y la gliosis son mas evidentes, lo que puede afectar, entre otras cosas, al mantenimiento de la homeostasis de la retina. Ademas, detectamos en estadios adultos fallos en el complejo intracelular ensamblado por CRB1, formacion de rosetas de fotorreceptores y degeneracion de este tipo celular, afectando a la transmision sinaptica. Por otro lado, se desconoce que mutaciones en CRB2 y CRB3 sean causa de distrofias retinianas. De hecho, la localizacion de ambas proteinas en la retina silvestre esta poco estudiada. Nosotros hemos analizado la distribucion de CRB3 en este tejido en condiciones control. Demostramos que esta proteina se localiza desde estadios tempranos del desarrollo postnatal en los segmentos internos de los fotorreceptores, especialmente en el area donde se dispone el cilio de conexion, asi como en la capa plexiforme interna y externa de la retina. Dadas las funciones conocidas de CRB3 en otros tipos celulares, nosotros proponemos que en la retina, esta proteina podria estar implicada en el desarrollo y mantenimiento del cilio y el segmento interno del fotorreceptor, asi como de ambas capas plexiformes. ; The CRB proteins were identified in Drosophila melanogaster. So far we have identified three members of this family in mammals: CRB1, CRB3 CRB2 and which are located in different epithelial cells and in the retina. In this tissue CRB three proteins are located in the subapical region of the outer limiting membrane. CRB1 found only in the structure of the retina, while the presence postulated CRB3 CRB2 and outer plexiform layer, and that of CRB3 connecting cilium photoreceptor.