Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spatially explicit ecological modeling improves empirical characterization of dispersal

Dispersal is a key ecological process, but remains difficult to measure. By recording numbers of dispersed individuals at different distances from the source one can acquire a dispersal gradient. Although dispersal gradients contain information on dispersal, they are influenced by the spatial extent of the source. How can we separate the two contributions to extract knowledge on dispersal? One could use a small, point-like source for which a dispersal gradient represents a dispersal kernel, which quantifies the probability of an individual dispersal event from a source to a destination point. However, the validity of this approximation cannot be established before conducting measurements. We formulated a theory that incorporates the spatial extent of sources to estimate dispersal kernels from dispersal gradients. We re-analyzed published dispersal gradients for three major plant pathogens. We also demonstrated using simulations that this approach provides more accurate estimates of dispersal kernels across biologically plausible scenarios. We concluded that the three plant pathogens disperse over substantially shorter distances compared to conventional estimates. Using this method, a significant proportion of published dispersal gradients can be re-analyzed to improve our knowledge about spatial scales of dispersal. Thus, our results can boost progress in characterization of dispersal across taxa.
Abstract 772: The Highly Prevalent 25bp Intronic Deletion in
 MYBPC3
 is Benign Under Baseline Conditions

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) affects at least 1 in 500 people worldwide, and results in the thickening of the ventricular walls and reduced cardiac function. Mutations in MYBPC3 , encoding cardiac myosin binding protein-C, are the most common cause of HCM. Previously, a highly prevalent 25bp deletion within intron 32 of MYBPC3 was described in the South Asian population. The MYBPC3 d25bp variant is present in approximately 100 million people, and encompasses a splicing branch point predicted to result in abnormal splicing of exon 33. Thus, there is a critical need to understand the mechanism by which MYBPC3 d25bp may cause cardiomyopathy. Methods: To determine the role of the 25bp deletion in vivo , knock-in humanized mice were created in which intron 32 was replaced with the human intron 32, with or without the MYBPC3 d25bp mutation. Mice were characterized at 3- and 6-months of age by echocardiography, histological, and protein analysis. The presence of aberrant exon splicing was also determined in mice carrying the MYBPC3 d25bp variant through RT-PCR and mini-gene assays. Finally, exon trapping experiments were performed to understand the mechanism behind exon skipping. Results: Under baseline conditions, MYBPC3 d25bp displayed no changes in cardiac function or morphology as measured by echocardiography (FS (%): NTG 35.3%, WT 32.8%, Het 33.7%), heart weight to body weight ratio, or histology. While exon 33 skipping was not detected by RT-PCR, the presence of an alternative splice site within exon 33 was identified in MYBPC3 d25bp mice. However, this did not affect the protein levels of cMyBP-C. Furthermore, mini-gene experiments demonstrated that the MYBPC3 d25bp mutation significantly reduced the percentage of correctly spliced transcripts (86.2% vs. 77.5%). Conclusions: These data demonstrate that the presence of the highly prevalent 25bp deletion is not sufficient to cause disease under baseline conditions. However, it is possible that the increased levels of aberrant splicing may increase the risk for developing HCM.
MICU1 regulates mitochondrial cristae structure and function independent of the mitochondrial calcium uniporter channel

MICU1 is an EF-hand-containing mitochondrial protein that is essential for gating of the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter channel (mtCU) and is reported to interact directly with the pore-forming subunit, MCU and scaffold EMRE. However, using size-exclusion proteomics, we found that MICU1 exists in mitochondrial complexes lacking MCU. This suggests that MICU1 may have additional cellular functions independent of regulating mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake. To discern mtCU-independent MICU1 functions, we employed a proteomic discovery approach using BioID2-mediated proximity-based (<10nm) biotinylation and subsequent LC-MS detection. The expression of a MICU1-BioID2 fusion protein in MICU1-/- and MCU-/- cells allowed the identification of total vs. mtCU-independent MICU1 interactors. Bioinformatics identified the Mitochondrial Contact Site and Cristae Organizing System (MICOS) components MIC60 (encoded by the IMMT gene) and Coiled-coil-helix-coiled-coil helix domain containing 2 (CHCHD2) as novel MICU1 interactors, independent of the mtCU. We demonstrate that MICU1 is essential for proper proteomic organization of the MICOS complex and that MICU1 ablation results in altered cristae organization and mitochondrial ultrastructure. We hypothesize that MICU1 serves as a MICOS calcium sensor, since perturbing MICU1 is sufficient to modulate cytochrome c release independent of mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake across the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM). Here, we provide the first experimental evidence suggesting that MICU1 regulates cellular functions independent of mitochondrial calcium uptake and may serve as a critical mediator of Ca2+-dependent signaling to modulate mitochondrial membrane dynamics and cristae organization.
Analysis of physiological races and genetic diversity of Setosphaeria turcica (Luttr.) K.J. Leonard & Suggs from different regions of China

Abstract Setosphaeria turcica causes Northern corn leaf blight (NCLB). In this study, 92 isolates of S. turcica were collected from naturally infected corn fields at 57 sites within China to determine physiological race composition and genetic diversity. Based on the reaction of differential hosts, isolates were divided into 14 physiological races (0, 1, 2, 12, 3, 13, 23, N, 1N, 2N, 3N, 13N, 23N, 123N). Races 0 and 1 were dominant, found with frequencies of 34.78% and 28.26%, respectively. This study was the first to identify race 123N in Heilongjiang province, implying possible loss of corn variety resistance to the NCLB pathogen. A total of 64 loci were obtained from eight pairs of primers by sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP), of which 44 were polymorphic, accounting for 68.75% of the loci. Molecular markers showed that 92 isolates could be categorized into four groups with a similarity coefficient of 0.82, indicating abundant genetic diversity. Further analysis of genetic similarity and genetic distance of each geographical population revealed that the populations from Northeast, North, and Northwest China exhibited high similarities to each other, while exhibiting a large genetic distance with those from Southwest China. Analysis of molecular variance indicated that 81.54% of the genetic variation among isolates was derived from individuals within the geographical population (P < 0.001). The cluster analyses suggested that there was no distinct correlation among physiological races, genetic variation and geographic sources. This study provides a basis for understanding trends in S. turcica distribution and control of NCLB in China.
Unexpected harvesting-induced evolution of collective behavior in a fish

AF T Unexpected harvesting-induced evolution of collective behavior in a fish Valerio Sbragagliaa,b,1,2, Pascal P. Klamserc,d,1, Pawel Romanczukc,d,3, and Robert Arlinghausa,e Department of Biology and Ecology of Fishes, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany Department of Marine Renewable Resources, Marine Science Institute (ICM-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain Department of Biology, Institute for Theoretical Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience, 10115 Berlin, Germany Division of Integrative Fisheries Management, Department of Crop and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Life Science, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Invalidenstrasse 42, 10115 Berlin, Germany
KLEBSIELLA MASTITIS: PREVENTION AND TREATMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

Klebsiella mastitis is an important cause of economic loss on dairy farms, particularly in the USA. The aim of this paper is to review results from recent research on prevention and treatment of Klebsiella mastitis. Despite low levels of resistance, success of antimicrobial treatment is often poor, with the possible exception of extended intramammary therapy of mild or moderate clinical mastitis. The prevalence of Klebsiella spp. in bedding, feces and the farm environment is discussed and the importance of farm hygiene for mastitis prevention is emphasized.
Book review: mHealth in practice: mobile technology for health promotion in the developing world

"mHealth in Practice: Mobile Technology for Health Promotion in the Developing World. " Jonathan Donner and Patricia Mechael. Bloomsbury Academic. November 2012. --- There has recently been an explosion of interest around mHealth: the application of mobile communication technologies to support health initiatives in developing countries. This book aims to share research for better informed policy, programming, and investment in this area. Kate Saffin finds that this is a focused volume with contributions from leading researchers and practitioners, which aims to identify best practices in using mobile technologies to promote healthy behaviours and reduce unhealthy ones. Particularly useful for those working in the field attempting to design new campaigns, and academics involved in best practice and research.
Excessive drinking and checking in the rat model of Schedule-Induced Polydipsia reveal impaired bi-directional plasticity at BNST GABA synapses

Compulsions, defined by debilitating repetitive actions, permeate many mental illnesses and are challenging to treat partly because of a limited understanding of their neurobiological underpinnings. Accumulating evidence suggests the rodent model of Schedule-Induced Polydipsia (SIP) as a promising pre-clinical assay to elucidate the neurobiological and behavioural manifestations of compulsivity. In the rodent SIP paradigm, susceptible rats develop adjunctive excessive drinking when they are chronically food restricted and presented with food pellets according to a fixed-time schedule. We found that normally, bi-directional plasticity of GABA synapses in the oval bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (ovBNST) tightly followed the rats’ satiety state where low-frequency stimulation-induced potentiation (LTPGABA) prevailed in sated rats whilst food restriction uncovered long-term depression (LTDGABA). In rats that developed excessive drinking during SIP, removing the caloric restriction failed at reverting LTDGABA to LTPGABA whereas bi-directional plasticity at ovBNST GABA synapses was unaltered in low-drinking SIP-trained rats. Excessive drinking ceased in polydipsic rats removed from their caloric restriction; however, these rats retained a form of compulsive schedule-induced checking (SIC) and impaired plasticity at ovBNST GABA synapses for several days following termination of the caloric restriction. We conclude that altered bi-directional plasticity at ovBNST GABA synapses is a neurophysiological trace of compulsivity in susceptible rats in the SIP model.
Reduction of aflatoxin production by exposing Aspergillus flavus to CO2

Aspergillus flavus is a saprophytic fungus contaminating different food and nut products by aflatoxin which is a major problem worldwide. Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) could be an effective method for control of saprophytic fungi and their toxins and secondary metabolites production. This study gives the consequences of fungal isolates growing under MAP condition on potato dextrose agar (PDA). Two isolates of A. flavus (A42 and CHAO50) were packed under 100% CO2, 100% O2 and vacuum conditions. The mycelial growth of fungal isolates on PDA was controlled up to 80% with CO2 treatment. Under the vacuum condition, mycelial growth of the isolates was inhibited up to 30%, while 100% oxygen had no inhibition on mycelial growth. Examination of isolates A42 and CHAO50 under UV light showed that both isolates produced yellow pigments on aflatoxin producing ability (APA) medium after 10 days. The levels of aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, G2 and total aflatoxin were analyzed chromatographically. The results revealed that the highest concentration of total aflatoxin was produced by fungal isolates grown in an atmosphere of 100% O2, while the level of aflatoxins was significantly reduced in 100% CO2.
Impacts of temperature on metabolic rates of adult Extatosoma tiaratum reared on different host plant species

Access to balanced nutrition enables optimum health and development, body repair, fat storage, increased fecundity and longevity. In the present study, we assessed the responses of a generalist leaf feeder (the phasmid Extatosoma tiaratum) reared continuously on one of three host plants, tree lucerne (Chamaecyisus palmensis), bramble (Rubus fruticosus) and Eucalyptus species, in a low fluctuating temperature environment until adulthood. Once all individuals reached adulthood, we exposed each individual to a ramping temperature event (starting at 25 °C and ramping the temperature at 0.25 °C min−1) and assessed their metabolic rates ( V˙CO2 ) responses at specific temperature 'bins' (25, 30, 35, 40 and 42 °C). Sex but not diet influenced respiration and metabolic rate. Male individuals, on average, had a higher V˙CO2 than females. Sex and diet were significant influences on V˙CO2 at different temperatures. Metabolic rates at lower temperatures were not affected by sex or diet type. At 35 °C, metabolic rates were influenced by sex and diet, with males reared on bramble and tree lucerne having a higher metabolic rate than females reared on the same foodplant, whereas Eucalypt reared animals showing an opposite trend. Lifetime egg production by females was 150% higher on bramble compared with the other host plants. Incorporating fluctuating temperature ranges into experiments will further help to understand the impact that thermal stress will have on the growth, development, performance and survival of insects in a more variable climatic and nutritional landscape.
Research advances of adipocyte differentiation in poultry

Preadipocytes are distinct precursor cells with the ability to generate and differentiate into adipocytes - a process that is regulated by a variety of genes. Adipocyte differentiation has been extensively studied in mammals; however, little is known about adipocyte differentiation in poultry. This review summarises the isolation, in vitro culture and characterisation of poultry preadipocytes. The most commonly used method for isolating primary preadipocytes is collagenase digestion and the cells are cultured in an incubator with 5% CO2 at 37°C. Preadipocytes of most species can differentiate into mature adipocytes using a combination of growth factors (a so-called ‘hormone cocktail’), which include 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), dexamethasone (DEX) and insulin. Only the addition of a fatty acid mixture, transferrin, insulin and albumin induced primary preadipocyte differentiation, indicating that exogenous fatty acids are key factors that influence this process in chickens. As for the molecular regulation of poultry preadipocytes, studies have found several transcription factors that regulate adipose differentiation, which included peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), CCAAT/enhancer binding proteins (C/EBPs) and sterol response element-binding proteins (SREBPs). These transcription factors have been shown to regulate adipocyte differentiation by affecting the expression levels or activity of target genes.
Multi-glomerular projection of single olfactory receptor neurons is conserved among amphibians

Individual receptor neurons in the peripheral olfactory organ extend long axons into the olfactory bulb forming synapses with projection neurons in spherical neuropil regions, called glomeruli. Generally, odor map formation and odor processing in all vertebrates is based on the assumption that receptor neuron axons exclusively connect to a single glomerulus without any axonal branching. We comparatively tested this hypothesis in multiple fish and amphibian species by applying sparse cell electroporation to trace single olfactory receptor neuron axons. Sea lamprey (jawless fish) and zebrafish (bony fish) support the unbranched axon concept, with 94% of axons terminating in single glomeruli. Contrastingly, axonal projections of the axolotl (salamander) branch extensively before entering up to six distinct glomeruli. Receptor neuron axons labeled in frog species (Pipidae, Bufonidae, Hylidae and Dendrobatidae) predominantly bifurcate before entering a glomerulus and 59% and 50% connect to multiple glomeruli in larval and post-metamorphotic animals, respectively. Independent of developmental stage, lifestyle and adaptations to specific habitats, it seems to be a common feature of amphibian olfactory receptor neuron axons to frequently bifurcate and connect to multiple glomeruli. Our study challenges the unbranched axon concept as a universal vertebrate feature and it is conceivable that also later diverging vertebrates deviate from it. We propose that this unusual wiring logic evolved around the divergence of the terrestrial tetrapod lineage from its aquatic ancestors and could be the basis of an alternative way of odor processing.
IL2 enhances ex-vivo expanded regulatory T cell persistence after adoptive transfer

As regulatory T cell (Treg) adoptive therapy continues to develop clinically, there is a need to determine which immunomodulatory agents pair most compatibly with Tregs to enable persistence and stabilize suppressor function. Prior work has shown that mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibition can increase stability of thymic Tregs. In this study we investigated the transcriptomic signatures of ex-vivo expanded Tregs after adoptive transfer in the setting of clinically relevant immunosuppression using a non-human primate (NHP) model as a prelude to future transplant studies. Here, we found that adding interleukin-2 (IL2) to rapamycin in vivo supported a logarithmic increase in the half-life of adoptively transferred CFSE-labeled, autologous NHP Tregs, effectively doubling the number of cells in the peripheral blood Treg compartment compared to Treg infusion with rapamycin alone. Using single cell transcriptomics, we found that transferred ex-vivo expanded Tregs initially exhibit a gene expression signature consistent with an activated state. Moreover, those cells with the highest levels of activation also expressed genes associated with p53-mediated apoptosis. In contrast, transferred Tregs interrogated at Day +20 post-transfer demonstrated a gene signature more similar to published profiles of resting Tregs. Together, these preclinical data further support combining IL2 and rapamycin in vivo as adjunctive therapy for ex-vivo expanded adoptively transferred Tregs and suggest that the activation status of ex-vivo expanded Tregs is critical to their persistence.
THERAPEUTIC EQUIVALENCE IN SURVIVAL DATA

Active control equivalence trials (ACETs), conducted with the goal of demonstrating therapeutic equivalence, are of growing importance to the pharmaceutical industry, clinical medicine, government, and academia. In this paper, therapeutic equivalence is defined in terms of equivalent clinical outcome (e.g., survival) without regard to assessment of bioequivalence. The likelihood-ratio-based asymptotic fiducial and Bayesian methods for therapeutic equivalence assessment (TEA) are developed in the context of survival analysis, using the Weibull distribution. The methods are illustrated using leukemia remission data.
Activity of the liver mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase and malate dehydrogenase in rats with toxic hepatitis under conditions of alimentary protein deficiency

Nutritional demands in proteins depend on the life stage and health status of organisms. Both humans and experimental animals under stress conditions and especially drug processing become to be more sensitive to the protein deficit in the food. In this study, we examined some acetaminophen-induced metabolic effects potentiated by alimentary protein deprivation (APD) in rat liver. In particular, activities of the liver mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase and malate dehydrogenase in rat liver were studied in conditions of balanced and imbalanced by protein diets of isocaloric content. It has been found that acute acetaminophen-induced hepatitis in comparison to control does not change the activity of mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase causing simultaneous 4-fold reduction in activity of mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase and 2.5-fold reduction of mitochondrial oxaloacetate content. Interestingly, alimentary protein deprivation enhances the effects of acetaminophen on the described parameters. Finally, in order to confirm these associations between amount of the protein in the rat diet and physiological measures in their liver with toxic injury, principal component analysis (PCA) was performed. Two principal components characterize changes in physiological measures in our study. Principal component 1 explains about 86 % of the variation among whole dataset mainly related to control group and group subjected to acetaminophen treatment with simultaneous APD. It reveals the tight association of scores for AST activity and oxaloacetate level with control group, which might indicate the high efficiency in the oxaloacetate conversion by AST lacked in both groups with hepatitis. Similarly, principal component 1 explaining the variance in MDH activity shows its linkage to the control group, indicating the importance of MDH for the health status of control animals. On the other side, principal component 2 reveals close association between lactate and pyruvate levels as well as cytosolic NAD + /NADH ratio with acetaminophen-treated group of animals subjected to APD, confirming that toxic liver injury associated with low protein consumption leads to increased lactate-pyruvate turnover in cytosol affecting. This potentially might be associated with energy-generating dysfunction in liver under toxic hepatitis on the background of dietary protein deficiency.
Gewinner und Verlierer des Klimawandels

Die geographische Verbreitung von Tier‐ und Pflanzenarten wird ganz wesentlich vom Klima bestimmt. Veränderungen in den Temperatur‐ und Niederschlagsverhältnissen sowie in der Häufigkeit von Extremereignissen haben einen direkten Einfluss auf Jahresrhythmus, Verhalten, Fortpflanzung, Konkurrenzfähigkeit und Nahrungsbeziehungen von Arten. Hierdurch kann es zu starken Verschiebungen in deren Verbreitungsgebieten sowie in Artenzusammensetzung und Struktur ganzer Ökosysteme kommen. Schon heute sind entsprechende Entwicklungen durch zahlreiche Beobachtungen weltweit auch aus unterschiedlichsten Lebensraumtypen vom Meer bis ins Hochgebirge belegt. Dabei werden die bisher nachgewiesenen Klimaveränderungen noch deutlich geringer eingeschätzt, als das, was für die nächsten Jahrzehnten zu erwarten ist.