Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transporte diferencial de polen por colibríes en una planta diestílica: no es lo mismo picos cortos que largos

Las poblaciones de plantas diestílicas usualmente tienen individuos que producen flores con estigmas largos y anteras cortas (flores longiestiladas, Pin), o individuos con estilos cortos y anteras largas (flores breviestiladas, Thrum). Estas características promueven la polinización cruzada asumiendo hercogamia recíproca. Sin embargo, se ha sugerido que cuando el forrajeo de sus polinizadores es selectivo hacia algún morfo, el flujo del polen se puede tornar altamente asimétrico. Asimismo, la correspondencia entre anteras y estigmas de ambos morfos puede desviarse de la reciprocidad perfecta, y promover un éxito reproductivo diferencial entre los morfos, y como consecuencia llevar a la especie a evolucionar otros sistemas reproductivos tales como la dioecia. Estas características hacen que las plantas diestílicas sean un modelo interesante para estudiar procesos relacionados con la especialización de las funciones sexuales y evaluar el papel de los polinizadores en promoverla. Bouvardia ternifolia es una planta herbácea distílica presente en el Parque Nacional La Malinche, Tlaxcala, cuyos principales visitantes son cinco especies de colibríes. En el presente estudio, evaluamos el nivel de reciprocidad de los órganos sexuales (anteras y estigmas) de los morfos de esta planta y se realizaron pruebas cualitativas y cuantitativas sobre los sitios de deposición de polen en sus colibríes visitantes. Asimismo, llevamos a cabo pruebas de polinización con colibríes de las cinco especies en ambos morfos, y la producción de semillas fue cuantificada. Los resultados obtenidos sugieren que las flores de B. ternifolia no son completamente recíprocas en sus estructuras sexuales, lo cual afecta la forma en que el polen de ambos morfos es depositado al ser visitado por el gremio de colibríes. Asimismo, se mostró que la deposición diferencial de polen podría ser producto tanto de la falta de reciprocidad total como de las diferencias en la talla del pico de los colibríes visitantes. Aunado a esto, la deposición diferencial de polen parece tener consecuencias desde el punto de vista del éxito reproductivo de los morfos visitados.
Identification of Novel Molecular Targets for Pleckstrin Homology (PH) Domains Found in Oncogenes Implicated in Breast Cancer

Abstract : Plecktrin Homology (PH) domains are commonly thought of as membrane-targeting modules involved in signaling pathways that bind phosphoinositides with high affinity and specificity. In a recent study of all PH domains in S. cerevisiae, only one bound Pl(4,5)P2 with high affinity and specificity, while another six bound 3- phosphoinositides with moderate affinity and promiscuity; the remainder showed little or no affinity or specificity for phosphoinositides (Yu et al, 2004). The results of our human PH domain sudy thus far are comparable, with only one confirmed high affinity and Pl(4,5)P2-specific and several moderate affinity and promiscuous PH domains, while the remainder are low affinity and promiscuous for phosphoinositides. Two PH domains of the moderate affinity and promiscuous class (those of FAPPI and OSBP) possess comparable affinities for Golgi- and plama membrane-enriched phosphoinositides in vitro, although they both localize to the Golgi, not the plasma membrane in vivo. One reason for this in vivo selectivity appears to be the result of a direct interaction with the Golgi small GTPase Arf1. Moreover, the strong binding affinity of these PH domains for the monophosphoinositide Ptdlns(4)P versus the diphosphoinositide Ptdlns(4,5)P2 also suggests an additional phosphoinositide determinant that is currently under investigation.
Genetic characterisation of post harvest spoilage in lettuce

Post harvest discolouration in lettuce is an increasingly important problem due to the shift in the market for prepacked processed salads. Variation in post harvest discolouration was recorded in a lettuce diversity set of 28 accessions representative of the lettuce genepool. The parents of the WHRI lettuce mapping population, Saladin and Iceberg were included in the diversity set. They showed significantly different responses for discolouration and the difference between them was representative of a major part of the variation seen in the diversity set. F7 RILs derived from a cross between Saladin and Iceberg were suitable for genetic analysis of post harvest discolouration. As a precursor to the genetic analysis, a good quality linkage map based on the F7 Sal x Ice population was generated. Significant genetic variation in the post harvest response was demonstrated for these RILs. Twenty-one significant QTL were identified for post harvest discolouration traits, and the markers linked to the QTL can be used for marker assisted selection. Significant but weak correlations were recorded between discolouration and important agronomic traits, however as these were not highly correlated this means that post harvest discolouration and agronomic traits can generally be independently selected for by breeders without having to compromise on other traits. Research was also initiated to understand the metabolic changes underlying the phenotype change. Significant variation in levels of metabolites related to post harvest discolouration including phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and total phenolic content (TPC) was observed in RILs with extreme phenotypes. The differences in metabolite levels were significantly correlated with the discolouration phenotypes. Work was also initiated to identify candidate genes associated with the biosynthetic pathway responsible for discolouration (phenylpropanoid pathway) in an attempt to identify genes underlying QTL. Twenty-three genes have been placed on the Sal x Ice map using comparative genomic approaches. Some of these co-locate within the region of a discolouration QTL and are therefore candidate genes for the QTL effect. Mutants with altered post harvest discolouration phenotypes were also confirmed in this study; however the point of mutation could not be identified although it is thought to be downstream of PPO. This indicates that a desired phenotype with reduced levels of post harvest discolouration can be achieved by two approaches to breeding; using natural and induced variation. This study has provided the tools and knowledge to do this.
INFLUENCIA DEL COMPORTAMIENTO HUMANO EN LA EFECTIVIDAD DE INTERCAMBIO DEL CONOCIMIENTO EN LA EMPRESA

The objective of this work is to identify and analyze the influence that behavior and human relations have on knowledge sharing in the company for two types of workers: newcomers or ‘newbie’ and experienced ones or ‘veterans’. The effects of three specific variables are explored: the hostility of knowledge, understood as the refusal of workers to share their knowledge; dispensability of the worker or perceived loss of relevance to transmit knowledge to others; and interest in knowledge, which is the motivation for acquiring new knowledge. In order to overcome the difficulty of testing such relationships in the reality of the company, a simulation methodology with multi-agent in Netlogo has been used. The study was set on three types of simulation with three options for each one, generating 2000 simulations with 250 movement cycles in each simulation. This methodology has allowed representing and getting valuable conclusions, opening a wide field of possibilities for research related to Knowledge Management phenomena. The paper presents two important developments: the identification of the variables analyzed and the methodology used. Results show that hostility promotes the exchange of knowledge when experienced workers increase and the opposite in the case of the novice workers; the feeling of expendability hinders knowledge sharing between veterans and newcomers; and interest always leads to increased knowledge sharing, regardless of the number and category of workers.
THE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF A TRYPANOSOMA VIVAX ISOLATE ADAPTED TO LABORATORY RODENTS.

Este trabajo describe la morfologia ultraestructural de un aislado de Trypanosoma vivax adaptado a roedores. El analisis subcelular muestra caracteristicas representativas de la celula eucariota. Ademas, evidencia peculiaridades propias de los tripanosomas. Se describe la interaccion macrofago-tripomastigote, cuyas caracteristicas indicarian reacciones autoinmunes inducidas por el parasito. Este es el primer trabajo realizado en Venezuela con un aislado de T. vivax adaptado a murinos
Forum: Use of Leaf Domatia on Wild Grape (Vitis Munsoniana) by Arthropods in Central Florida

Pocket-like domatia on the underside of the leaves of wild grape, Vitis munsoniana Simpson, were occupied by fungivorous (47.0@%), predatory (7.8%), and rarely herbivorous (0.8%) arthropods, primarily mites. At two sites in Orlando, FL, fungivorous taxa increased from low levels during the spring dry season to high levels (40-96% of domatia occupied by fungivores) after the onset of the rainy season in late May. These results support the hypothesis that leaf domatia are used primarily by mites that are potentially beneficial to the plant, and suggest that there may be a mutualistic relationship between the plant and fungivorous mites.
Role of the cellular decapping activator LSM1-7 complex in the replication of positive-strand RNA viruses

Utilizando la capacidad del BMV, un virus de ARN de cadena positiva (ARN(+)), para replicar en levaduras se ha demostrado previamente que las subunidades del anillo LSm1-7, asi como Pat1 y Dhh1, desempenan un papel esencial en la transicion del genoma del virus de BMV desde traduccion a replicacion. En celulas no infectadas, estas proteinas median la transicion de ARNm celulares de la traduccion a un estado de no-traduccion mediante la activacion del proceso de decapping en la via 5'-3' de degradacion de los ARNs celulares dependiente de deadenilacion. Teniendo en cuenta la conservacion de esta via desde levaduras a humanos y la necesidad comun de todos los virus ARN(+) para regular la transicion de sus genomas desde un estado activo de traduccion a otro no activo para permitir la replicacion, una posibilidad interesante, y nuestra hipotesis de trabajo, es que LSm1-7, Dhh1 y Pat1 son utilizadas no solo por BMV para replicar en levaduras, sino tambien por otros virus ARN(+) que infectan a humanos, como el virus de la hepatitis C, para replicar en celulas de mamiferos. Por otra parte, dado el papel clave de estas proteinas en un paso comun en todos los virus de ARN(+), es esencial caracterizar los mecanismos moleculares aun no conocidos y asociados a dicha funcion. En este sentido, tambien estudiamos la hipotesis de que el complejo LSm1-7, como miembro de la familia de proteinas Sm, pueda interactuar directamente con los genomas virales de virus de ARN(+) con el fin de desempenar su papel en el ciclo de vida del virus de una manera similar a la que otros miembros de su familia interactuan con sus ARN con el fin de lograr sus diferentes funciones celulares. En este trabajo hemos podido confirmar ambas hipotesis demostrando que los homologos humanos de las proteinas anteriormente mencionadas, LSm1-7, Rck/p54 y PatL1, son necesarios para la traduccion y replicacion del ARN del virus de la Hepatitis C. Por otra parte, los anillos reconstituidos de LSm1-7 reconocen especificamente senales importantes, tanto en el genoma de BMV como en el de la Hepatitis C que regulan su traduccion y/o replicacion. Estas observaciones constituyen la primera evidencia de que el complejo LSm1-7 es capaz de interactuar directamente con genomas virales y representan tambien novedosos patrones de interaccion de este complejo con ARN. Teniendo en cuenta las estrategias de replicacion en comun de los virus de ARN de cadena positiva y las funciones celulares conservadas de LSm1-7, Pat1 y Dhh1 de levaduras a humanos, nuestros resultados senalan la posibilidad de explotar estas proteinas para la generacion de medicamentos antivirales de amplio espectro.
GHS-POP Accuracy Assessment: Poland and Portugal Case Study

The Global Human Settlement Population Grid (GHS-POP) the latest released global gridded population dataset based on remotely sensed data and developed by the EU Joint Research Centre, depicts the distribution and density of the total population as the number of people per grid cell. This study aims to assess the GHS-POP data accuracy based on root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) and the correlation coefficient. The study was conducted for Poland and Portugal, countries characterized by different population distribution as well as two spatial resolutions of 250 m and 1 km on the GHS-POP. The main findings show that as the size of administrative zones decreases (from NUTS (Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics) to LAU (local administrative unit)) and the size of the GHS-POP increases, the difference between the population counts reported by the European Statistical Office and estimated by the GHS-POP algorithm becomes larger. At the national level, MAPE ranges from 1.8% to 4.5% for the 250 m and 1 km resolutions of GHS-POP data in Portugal and 1.5% to 1.6%, respectively in Poland. At the local level, however, the error rates range from 4.5% to 5.8% in Poland, for 250 m and 1 km, and 5.7% to 11.6% in Portugal, respectively. Moreover, the results show that for densely populated regions the GHS-POP underestimates the population number, while for thinly populated regions it overestimates. The conclusions of this study are expected to serve as a quality reference for potential users and producers of population density datasets.
Antibacterial Activity of Sappan Wood (Caesalpinia Sappan L.) against Aggregatibacter Actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas Gingivalis

The aim of this study was to find the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of sappan wood ethanol extract (Caesalpinia sappan L.) toward the growth of A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis. The randomized post test only control group design was applied to this study. The sappan wood ethanol extract was conducted with maceration method using 96% ethanol. Diluted to 50%, 25%, 12.5%, 6.25%, 3.125%, 1.56%, 0.78%, and 0.39% concentration. The MIC and MBC values of sappan wood ethanol extract toward A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis was then known via the evaluation for Colony Forming Units (CFUs) In MH medium. The MIC and MBC of sappan wood ethanol extract toward A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis was at 1.56% and 3.125% concentration. The ethanol extract of sappan wood reduces the number of bacterial colonies significantly at p=0.00. This study concluded that the growth of A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis can be inhibited by sappan wood ethanol extract (Caesalpinia sappan L.) at MIC 1.56% and MBC 3.125% concentration.
La eficiencia media-varianza de un portafolio sobreponderado en acciones socialmente responsables de México y Estados Unidos

En este articulo se hace una revision de los beneficios para un inversionista con un portafolio que invierte tanto en un indice de mercado como en acciones de inversion socialmente responsables (ISR) y que esta diversificado en Estados Unidos y Mexico. Al emplear el modelo estandar de Markowitz con historicos diarios de los rendimientos de los indices S&P 500, Dow Jones Sustainability, Indice de Precios y Cotizaciones (IPC) e IPC sustentable, se encontro que sobreponderar en acciones de inversion socialmente responsables conlleva mejores resultados en terminos de eficiencia media-varianza en ambos paises, en comparacion con un portafolio que replica el nivel de inversion de acciones ISR de los indices de mercado previamente citados. Los resultados presentados contribuyen a refutar la posicion teorica de que se pierden beneficios y rentabilidad si se da preferencia a la inversion socialmente responsable, en comparacion a una cartera o indice de mercado convencional
Efficacy of ranibizumab combined with photodynamic therapy on wet age-related macular degeneration

Efficacy and safety of intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) combined with photodynamic therapy (PDT) in treating wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD) were studied. A total of 130 eyes were collected from 130 wAMD patients treated in Affiliated to Qingdao University Yuhuangding Hospital of Yantai, of which 65 were given IVR combined with PDT (combination therapy group) and the remaining 65 were treated with simple IVR (ranibizumab group). The differences in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT), intraocular pressure, choroidal neovascularization (CNV) leakage, levels of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) as well as complication rate were compared before and after treatment between the two groups. At 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment, combination therapy group had remarkably better BCVA and notably smaller CMT than ranibizumab group. Fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) showed that the area of macular degeneration was reduced markedly after treatment in both groups, and the area in combination therapy group was evidently smaller than that in ranibizumab group at 1, 3 and 6 months after treatment. At 3 months after treatment, the levels of serum VEGF and TGF-β1 declined obviously in the two groups compared with those before treatment. The IVR combined with PDT can effectively improve the visual acuity, decrease CMT and prominently reduce the area of macular degeneration of wAMD patients, and its therapeutic effects are long-standing and tolerable for the patients, so it is worthy of clinical popularization.
Factors Influencing Net Primary Production in Red Spruce

The contribution of maturation-related changes in meristem behavior to agerelated decline in forest productivity is poorly understood. While changes in morphological and physiological attributes associated with transition from juvenile to reproductively-mature phases have been described for many woody species, few studies have examined maturational changes that occur after the onset of reproductive development. We studied age-related needle morphology and gas exchange in a population of red spruce growing in a multicohort stand where tree ages ranged from firstyear germinants to over 150 y, as well as grafted scions from these trees. Age-related trends in foliar morphology were evaluated, and differences in gas exchange characteristics were compared between 60and 120-y age-classes in a field investigation. This was followed by a common-rootstock study, where scions from trees representing 20-, 60-, and 120-y cohorts were grafted onto juvenile rootstock and maintained for three growing seasons, after which morphological and physiological foliar attributes were evaluated. The field study demonstrated significant age-related trends in foliar morphology, including decreasing SLA and increasing needle width, projected needle area, and needle width-to-length ratio. Similar trends were apparent in foliage from the grafted scions. Both in situ foliage and shoots resulting from grafted scions from the oldest cohort showed significantly lower photosynthetic rates than their counterparts from younger
Thyme: The Genus Thymus

The genus Thymus consists of about 350 species of perennial, aromatic herbs and subshrubs native to Europe and North Africa. Various types of thyme are used all over the globe as condiments, ornamentals and sources of essential oil. Thyme oil (distilled from its leaves) is among the world's top ten essential oils, displaying antibacterial, antimycotic, antioxidative, food preservative and mammalian age-delaying properties. Because of the wide variety of its applications, the demand for thyme oil is growing; hence thyme commands an important place in an expanding world market. Commercial supply of thyme originates mainly from European countries, but recently this increased demand has lead to new winter-hardy, high yield cultivars being developed for commercial cultivation in Canada and North America.This comprehensive volume covers all aspects of the biology, cultivation, pharmacology, chemistry and industrial processing of the genus Thymus. It is the most up to date overview of current knowledge in thyme use, and will be an invaluable reference source to those interested in medicinal plants, natural products, pharmacy, pharmacognosy and agronomy.
Longevity of Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti) Seeds in Soil under Agricultural Practices

A field experiment involving seven cultural practices was begun in 1974 in an area heavily infested with velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medic.) seed. Our objective was to determine the time required to eradicate velvetleaf seed from the soil. This paper reports the results of the first 4 yr of a long-term study. A cultural practice is repeated on the same plot year after year. Since the experiment was begun, no velvetleaf plants have been allowed to produce seed in any plots. The number of viable velvetleaf seeds is monitored by yearly soil sampling. In 1978, after 4 yr of a fallow treatment involving intensive tillage (two plowings per yr plus monthly tillage throughout the growing season), only 10% of the original seed population remained. However, that 10% was 1,300 viable seeds per m2 (to a depth of 23 cm). Four other practices that involved tillage gave generally similar results. Under undisturbed, continuous alfalfa, 56% of the original seed population remained after 4 yr, and under undisturbed, continuous chemical fallow, 37% remained. The results thus far demonstrate the extreme difficulty of eradicating velvetleaf seeds from the soil, and generally agree with reports in the literature, which primarily include studies conducted under more artificial conditions than we used. Our results also suggest that, in soil, velvetleaf seeds that have become water permeable (nonhard) may later again become water impermeable (hard).
Sustainability and Optimization: From Conceptual Fundamentals to Applications

In recent years, both sustainability and optimization concepts have become inseparable developing topics with diverse concepts, elements, and aspects. The principal goal of optimization is to improve the overall sustainability including the environmental sustainability, social sustainability, economic sustainability, and energy resources sustainability through satisfying the objective functions. Therefore, applying optimization algorithms and methods to achieve the sustainable development have significant importance. This paper represents a considerable review on the employed optimization methodologies to sustainability and the sustainable development including sustainable energy, sustainable buildings, and sustainable environment. Since energy optimization is one of the major necessities of sustainability, sustainable development is investigated from the energy perspective. In addition, the concept, definitions, and elements of the sustainability and optimization have been presented, and the review of the optimization metaheuristic algorithms used in recent published articles related to sustainability and sustainable development was carried out. Thus, it is believed that this paper can be appropriate, beneficial, and practical for students, academic researchers, engineers, and other professionals.