Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multidecadal Trends in Atmospheric and Ocean Conditions in Offshore Waters Near Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Abstract Climate change is influencing the ocean environment in myriad ways and many of its effects can directly or indirectly impact coastal ecosystems. In this study, I analyzed data for a number of variables describing atmospheric and ocean conditions (AOC) from a National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) data buoy located near the Cape Cod, MA, peninsula. The data suggest that a number of significant trends have occurred during the period of data collection spanning 1982–2015. Changes include up to a 2 °C and 3 °C warming of air and water temperatures in summer, reduced barometric pressure in the summer/fall, declining wind speeds in the spring, shorter average wave-periods in the winter and spring, a clockwise change in wind direction in the summer, and increased wave heights in the summer and fall. The AOC variables also exhibited a number of relationships with each other, which helped explain some mechanisms of change. With the exception of barometric pressure and fall wave-height, none of the variables exhibited significant correlations with the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) indices, which themselves have exhibited a declining trend over the last several decades. The analyses indicate that greenhouse gas emissions may be the primary driver of these changes. Herein, I further discuss the results in the context of potential consequences for coastal ecosystems of the Cape Cod region.
A Study on Bacteriocin Producing Lactic Acid Bacteria with Antibacterial and Antioxidant Properties Isolated from Plant Wastes

Lactobacilli are important organisms which are recognized for their fermentative ability as well as their health and nutritional benefits. Antimicrobial properties of Lactobacilli are of special interest in food industry. Lactobacillus sp. , was isolated from plant sources. The isolate was biochemically identified and confirmed by 16SrRNA sequencing. The partial sequence was submitted in GenBank and was assigned with the accession number KX098332. The isolate was screened for antibacterial activity against several pathogenic organisms viz E.coli, Staphylococcus and Bacillus. The antibacterial activity was measured statistically and the results were significant. Further antioxidant activity and their bacteriocin activity was checked under normal mesophilic conditions. The isolate showed less inhibitory effect in the presence of 1% bile salt Sodium Deoxy Cholate in a 4 hour delay of growth. The crude extract containing the bacteriocin was extracted and subjected to FTIR. The functional groups were compared with standard Lactobacilli extract and was confirmed with the presence of relevant peaks that matched with the standard. The present study describes the possible ability of the Lactobacillus and is evident that it can be used as a probiotic that could withstand bile acids, a potent antioxidant and in controlling pathogenic forms of bacteria.
The influence of nest site selection on the population dynamics of Africanized honey bees in an urban landscape

Urban landscapes provide habitat for many species, including domesticated and feral honey bees, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae). With recent losses of managed honey bee colonies, there is increasing interest in feral honey bee colonies and their potential contribution to pollination services in agricultural, natural, and urban settings. However, in some regions the feral honey bee population consists primarily of Africanized honey bees. Africanized honey bees (AHB) are hybrids between European honey bees and the African honey bee, Apis mellifera scutellataLepeletier, and have generated economic, ecological, and human health concerns because of their aggressive behavior. In this study, we used two long‐term datasets (7–10 years) detailing the spatial and temporal distribution of AHB colonies in Tucson, AZ, USA, where feral colonies occupy a variety of cavities including water meter boxes. A stage‐structured matrix model was used to elucidate the implications of nest site selection and the effects of colony terminations on the structure and dynamics of the AHB population. Our results suggest that Tucson's AHB population is driven by a relatively small number of ‘source’ colonies that escape termination (ca. 0.165 colonies per km2 or 125 colonies in total), although immigrating swarms and absconding colonies from the surrounding area may have also contributed to the stability of the Tucson AHB population. Furthermore, the structure of the population has likely been impacted by the number and spatial distribution of water meter boxes across the city. The study provides an example of how urban wildlife populations are driven by interactions among landscape structure, human management, and behavioral traits conferred by an invasive genotype.
Grupos de diversidade genética em Manihot esculenta Crantz com base na análise discriminante de componentes principais.

Analise das relacoes geneticas existentes em diferentes especies constitui-se em uma importante etapa para o desenvolvimento de programas de melhoramento, pois fornece informacoes sobre a diversidade genetica e estratificacao das populacoes de melhoramento. Avaliacao precisa dos padroes de diversidade genetica contribui para a geracao de informacoes sobre: a) a variabilidade genetica em cultivares; b) identificacao de combinacoes parentais que permitam a geracao de progenies segregantes com maxima variabilidade genetica; e c) introgressao de genes desejaveis presentes nos diversos tipos de germoplasma disponivel.
Disentangling the effects of genetic architecture, mutational bias and selection on evolutionary forecasting

Predicting evolutionary change posses numerous challenges. Here we take advantage of the model bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens in which the genotype-to-phenotype map determining evolution of the adaptive wrinkly spreader (WS) type is known. We present mathematical descriptions of three necessary regulatory pathways and use these to predict both the routes that evolution follows and the expected mutational targets. To test predictions, mutation rates and targets were determined for each pathway. Unanticipated mutational hotspots caused data to depart from predictions but the new data were readily incorporated into refined models. A mismatch was observed between the spectra of WS-causing mutations obtained with and without selection due to low fitness of previously undetected WS-causing mutations. Our findings contribute toward the development of mechanistic models for forecasting evolution, highlight current limitations, and draw attention to challenges in predicting locus-specific mutational biases and fitness effects.
POTENSI BIOLOGIS BAHAN BIOAKTIF INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTOR-I ASAL SERUM KUDA CROSSBREED G3-G4 BUNTING PADA FERTILISASI IN VITRO PADA SAPI : Penelitian Eksperimental Laboratorik

Background: In order to meet the needs of the animal protein, one of the efforts is incresing cattle population using reproductive biotechnology. In vitro fertilization is a technique that is expected to provide superior livestock mass production, but the problem is that the materials needed still have to be imported at a high price as well. Optimization of in vitro fertilization technique can be implemented by supplementing materials which are cheap and easily available in the country. Indonesia has a national racehorse, the G3-G4 crossbreed. In pregnant mare serum there is insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) which is expected to be utilized to improve the outcome of in vitro fertilization. Objective: This study aimed to verify the effect of pregnant G3-G4 crossbreed mare serum derived IGF-I supplementation into in vitro fertilization media on the increase of oocyte maturation and embryo cleavage rates. Methods: IGF-I was obtained from pregnant G3-G4 crossbreed mare serum after separation by means of sodium duodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and specificity confirmation by means of western blot using IGF-I antibody, rabbit polyclonal IgG IGF-I (G17) followed with elution. Oocyte maturation with the supplementation of IGF-I eluate were compared to those of the patent IGF-I, each with a concentration of 5, 10 and 20 ng/ml as well as to those of the negative control (oocyte maturation without supplementation) and the positive control (oocyte maturation supplemented with 15 IU pregnant mare serum gonadotropin, PMSG). Matured oocytes were then inseminated with frozen semen of elite bull. The observed variables were the percentage of matured oocytes and cleaved embryos at 48 hours after fertilization. Results: SDS-PAGE and western blot visualized the presence of IGF-I protein band at the molecular weight of 7.65 kDa. Elution of IGF-I protein band yielded a concentration of 250 ng/ml. Results of in vitro fertilization showed that the percentage of oocyte maturation and embryo cleavage were not significantly different (p>0.05) between oocyte maturation group supplemented with IGF-I eluate, patent IGF-I and the positive control (PMSG), but were significantly different (p 0.05) to increased the percentage of bovine oocyte maturation and embryo cleavage.
Distribution and abundance of muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) and Peary caribou (Rangifer tarandus pearyi) on Graham, Buckingham, and southern Ellesmere islands, March 2015

We flew a survey of southern Ellesmere Island, Graham Island, and Buckingham Island in March 2015 to obtain estimates of abundance for muskoxen and Peary caribou. Generally, muskoxen were abundant north of the Sydkap Ice Cap along Baumann Fiord, north of Goose Fiord, west and north of Muskox Fiord, and on the coastal plains and river valleys east of Vendom Fiord. Although few, they were also present on Bjorne Peninsula and the south coast between the Sydkap Ice Cap and Jakeman Glacier. We observed a total of 1146 muskoxen. Calves (approximately 10-months old) made up 22% of the observed animals. The population estimate was 3200 ± 602 SE (standard error) muskoxen, the highest muskox population size ever estimated for southern Ellesmere, Graham and Buckingham islands. This could be because previous efforts typically surveyed only a portion of our area or focused elsewhere, or the results were provided only as minimum counts rather than estimates of abundance. Regardless, our results indicate that the muskox population has recovered from low levels in 2005 of 312-670 (95% confidence interval [CI]) individuals. Peary caribou abundance appears to be low. We only saw 38 Peary caribou during our 2015 survey. This confounds appraisal of possible abundance change since 2005, when 109-442 caribou (95% CI) were estimated to inhabit the same surveyed area. We estimated 183 ± 128 SE Peary caribou, and suggest that their numbers are likely stable at low density on southern Ellesmere Island.
The Interplay of Synaptic Plasticity and Scaling Enables Self-Organized Formation and Allocation of Multiple Memory Representations

It is commonly assumed that memories about experienced stimuli are represented by groups of highly interconnected neurons called cell assemblies. This requires allocating and storing information in the neural circuitry, which happens through synaptic weight adaptations at different types of synapses. In general, memory allocation is associated with synaptic changes at feed-forward synapses while memory storage is linked with adaptation of recurrent connections. It remains, however, largely unknown how memory allocation and storage can be achieved and the adaption of the different synapses involved be coordinated to allow for a faithful representation of multiple memories without disruptive interference between them. In this theoretical study, by using network simulations and phase space analyses, we show that the interplay between long-term synaptic plasticity and homeostatic synaptic scaling organizes simultaneously the adaptations of feed-forward and recurrent synapses such that a new stimulus forms a new memory and where different stimuli are assigned to distinct cell assemblies. The resulting dynamics can reproduce experimental in-vivo data, focusing on how diverse factors, such as neuronal excitability and network connectivity, influence memory formation. Thus, the here presented model suggests that a few fundamental synaptic mechanisms may suffice to implement memory allocation and storage in neural circuitry.
Caulerpa racemosa (Chlorophyta, Caulerpaceae) extract increases growth and biomass production of Gracilaria verrucosa (Rhodophyta, Gracilariaceae)

Low production of Gracilaria verrucosa, a seaweed widely cultivated in tropical countries, is often due to slow growth caused by disease called ice-ice. Green algae Caulerpa racemosa has been utilized as fertilizer and bactericide in horticulture and farming. The objectives of this study were to determine the effectiveness of C. racemosa extract in preventing ice-ice, stimulating growth and promoting biomass productivity of G. verrucosa. The Analysis of Variance showed no significant difference in daily growth rate in G. verrucosa treated with 62.5 ppm and 125 ppm C. racemosa extract, however daily growth rate increased significantly with increased soaking time. Daily growth rate was highest (2.47%) with 5 h soaking time, followed by 4 h (2.16%), 3 h (1.93%) and 2 h (1.80%). Extract concentration of 125 ppm resulted in higher biomass productivity (273.89 g m) compared to 62.5 ppm (229.50 g m). The control (soaked in distilled water) suffered from ice-ice caused by Pseudomonas sp. infection, resulting in loss of biomass from an initial weight of 177g m to 103.72 g m. Biomass productivity was highest (325.22 g m) for the 5 h soaking time treatment, followed by the 4 h, 3 h and 2 h treatments (259.2 g m, 220.33 g m, and 200.93 g m, respectively). These findings showed that exposure to C. racemosa metabolites could improve G. verrucosa productivity and hence increase production. Since both species are cultured in brackishwater fishpond, we recommend polyculture trials of G. verrucosa with C. racemosa in brackishwater fishponds and in controlled environments to investigate whether bactericidal metabolites exuded by C. racemosa can be absorbed by G. verrucosa.
Ampithoe bizseli n. sp. (Crustacea, Amphipoda) from the west coast of Turkey

The new species Ampithoe bizseli from the west coast of Turkey is described. It can be distinguished by a circular ischiumlobe on gnathopod 2 in the male sex from the similar species Ampithoe ramondi where this lobe is slender. Ampithoe bizseli n. sp. appears to occur also on the coast of Tansania.
Novel Methods for Interrogating Cryptic Heterogeneity in Pluripotent Stem Cells

Human embryonic stem cells display several features of heterogeneity in culture. This heterogeneity is poorly understood and may impair differentiation protocol efficiency. There is increasing evidence that stem cell heterogeneity is dynamic and affects lineage fate decisions whilst cells are still pluripotent. The aim of this project was to develop new approaches for understanding the heterogeneity of cells within the pluripotent stem cell compartment that influences stem cell fate decisions. Understanding the rules governing stem cell heterogeneity would open up opportunities to manipulate these features for the improved application of differentiation protocols or within regular cell culture maintenance. Two novel methods for the interrogation of pluripotent stem cell heterogeneity have been developed in this thesis. The first approach examines pluripotent stem cell dynamics by modelling the population fluctuations of the sensitive pluripotency marker SSEA3 of a pluripotent Embryonal Carcinoma (EC) cell line, NTera2. The model generated explained the heterogeneity dynamics of SSEA3 within NTera2 and in a predictive manner that also revealed candidate substate populations. The second approach developed was the application of Raman spectroscopy for the non-invasive assessment of heterogeneity within and between stem cell populations according to biochemical signatures. These studies showed that a hyperspectral, grid based, approach proved sensitive for examination of cell biochemistry and furthermore, this approach was used to address biological questions. Raman Spectroscopy proved sensitive enough to notice differences between cell lines, between differentiated and undifferentiated cells, between intracellular compartments, and could discriminate between different pluripotent cells associated with differing lineage biases. This work therefore represents a development in both our understanding of pluripotent stem cell dynamics and the potential for using both modelling and Raman spectroscopy to analyse this phenomenon.
Trypanosoma spp en Ratas (Rattus rattus y Rattus norvegicus) de Dos Medioambientes: Mercados de Abasto y Granjas Porcinas

The aim of the study was to determine the presence of Trypanosoma spp in Rattus spp from food markets and pig farms in Lima, Peru, to identify the species of Trypanosoma spp by morphological and biometric characterization, and to correlate the presence of the parasite with the variables sex, age (juvenile and adult), origin and species. The study was conducted in eight food markets of six districts (n = 62 rats) and three pig farms (n = 99) from three districts of Lima. Blood samples were collected and analysed using the thin blood smear technique and stained with «Hemacolor» to determine the presence of the parasite. The identification of the Trypanosome species was based on international keys based on the morphological and biometric characteristics of the trypomastigotes present in blood smears stained with Giemsa. T. lewisi was the only species found in a frequency of 22.5 and 21.2% in rats from the food markets and pig farms, respectively. The frequency of T. lewisi in R. norvegicus and R. rattus was 10.2 and 26.7%, in male and female rats was 21.1 and 22.0%, and in adults and juveniles was 17.0 and 26.5%, respectively. There was no significant association with the variables of origin, sex, and age. R. rattus showed a significant risk factor (OR: 3.77) against R. norvegicus for the presentation of T. lewisi.
Female reproductive conflict and prenatal investment

Female intrasexual competition is intense in cooperatively breeding species where offspring compete locally for resources and helpers. In mammals, females have been proposed to adjust prenatal investment according to the intensity of competition in the postnatal environment (a form of ‘predictive adaptive response’; PAR). We carried out a test of this hypothesis using ultrasound scanning of wild female banded mongooses in Uganda. In this species multiple females give birth together to a communal litter, and all females breed regularly from one year old. Total prenatal investment (size times the number of fetuses) increased with the number of potential female breeders in the group. This relationship was driven by fetus size rather than number. The response to competition was particularly strong in low weight females and when ecological conditions were poor. Increased prenatal investment did not trade off against maternal survival. In fact we found the opposite relationship: females with greater levels of prenatal investment had elevated post-natal maternal survival. Our results support the hypothesis that mammalian prenatal development is responsive to the intensity of postnatal competition. Understanding whether these responses are adaptive requires information on the long-term consequences of prenatal investment for offspring fitness.
The phylogeny of Galerucinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and the performance of mitochondrial genomes in phylogenetic inference compared to nuclear rRNA genes

With efficient sequencing techniques, full mitochondrial genomes are rapidly replacing other widely used markers, such as the nuclear rRNA genes, for phylogenetic analysis but their power to resolve deep levels of the tree remains controversial. We studied phylogenetic relationships of leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) in the tribes Galerucini and Alticini (root worms and flea beetles) based on full mitochondrial genomes (103 newly sequenced), and compared their performance to the widely sequenced nuclear rRNA genes (full 18S, partial 28S). Our results show that: (i) the mitogenome is phylogenetically informative from subtribe to family level, and the per‐nucleotide contribution to nodal support is higher than that of rRNA genes, (ii) the Galerucini and Alticini are reciprocally monophyletic sister groups, if the classification is adjusted to accommodate several ‘problematic genera’ that do not fit the dichotomy of lineages based on the presence (Alticini) or absence (Galerucini) of the jumping apparatus, and (iii) the phylogenetic results suggest a new classification system of Galerucini with eight subtribes: Oidina, Galerucina, Hylaspina, Metacyclina, Luperina, Aulacophorina, Diabroticina and Monoleptina.
Ekoloji ekseninde insan-doğa ilişkisi ve özne sorunu

Ecological crisis, which influences societies deeply and being frequently discussed in recent years, has revealed an important awareness despite all the negativity and the crisis situation. The current crisis has been tried to be solved by applying traditional environment protection approaches and technical precautions, yet it has not been prevented because of failure in getting expected outcomes. It had to be waited until the end of 1960’s for understanding the reality and seriousness of the things that happened and creation of a solution and sensitivity required for the subject. This awareness, which is based on the fact that solutions for the problem should not be sought in crisis but in its roots, starts with the questioning of why people distanced themselves from nature, why they reduced it to a secondary position by alienating it and how they desire to rule nature prevailed. The two main elements of this question, i.e., relational situations and relative positions of human and nature, constituted the reason for the crisis. However, the biggest dilemma of the ecological movement, like other ideologies, was division in themselves and different ideas they came up with. In fact, neither deep ecology’s stance against anthropocentric system and its subjectivation of nature; nor social ecology perceiving hierarchy and domination as the main problem and questioning the human-nature relationship upon this; and even eco-feminism having emerged out of interaction with these two movements and moving from the critique of patriarchal order vis-à-vis identifying the domination and exploitation on nature with the domination and exploitation of women, were all failed to produce an exact solution for this depression. Therefore, this article does not depart from the motive of finding a solution to the ecological crisis. The main objectives are to provide theoretical knowledge through a discussion on related literature and to break the so called legitimacy of the desire of mankind to dominate nature (! ) by drawing attention to the ecological crisis. Since the only common result that all the undercurrents generated is that the crisis varies according to the value given to and the positioning of nature. In other words, it is thought that the value attributed to nature rather than a clear suggestion for solution will make progress for the resolution of the ecological crisis. Therefore, in the context of the positioning of nature within the framework of human-nature relationship, the “subject” problem is analyzed comparatively upon the three aforementioned approaches (deep ecology, social ecology and eco-feminism).