Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
BLUE‐GREEN ALGAE AND CARBONATES—SCHIZOTHRIX CALCICOLA AND ALGAL STROMATOLITES FROM BERMUDA1

Algal stromatolites (laminated sedimentary structures) have been studied in the process of formation in subtidal areas of Bermuda. The primary organism responsible for forming these structures is the blue-green alga, Schizothrix calcicola. Laboratory studies of the formation of nonlaminated algal mats by unialgal cultures of S. calcicola showed that this species could bind sediment particles. The roles of S. calcicola and a secondary species, Oscillatoria submembranacea, in stromatolite formation have been examined. Since S. calcicola exists planktonically, it can be cultured from water samples. These cultures, and the presence of this species on various substrates in subtidal, intertidal, and supratidal areas indicate its wide distribution in Bermuda inshore waters. The distribution of S. calcicola and other filamentous cyanophytes, as well as consideration of physical factors of the subtidal environments, indicates that the latter probably control distribution of the Bermudian algal stromatolites. Reports of developing algal stromatolites from intertidal areas in other parts of the world indicate that S. calcicola is of major, if not primary, importance in the formation of stromatolites everywhere.
Toxic Proteins

Prions are proteins that can produce transmissible neurodegenerative diseases in humans, sheep, goats, and cows. Fabrizi et al. provide a potential mechanism by which misfolding might lead from prion misfolding to activation of microglial cells and to the production of large amounts of nitric oxide, which are believed to be neurotoxic and part of the prion disease progression. Fabrizi et al. treated microglial cells in culture with the synthetic human prion protein fragment (PrP106-126), which reproduces many of the characteristics of the native misfolded prion protein, and determined that the cells were stimulated to secrete tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and to express nitric oxide synthase II (NOS II), producing high levels of nitrite. Blocking the activity of the secreted TNF-α with an antibody resulted in the loss of the induction of NOS II expression in response to PrP106-126. PrP106-126 treatment led to the activation of nuclear factor NF-κB, a known transcriptional activator of TNF-α. Inhibition of NF-κB activation and TNF-α secretion could be achieved by treating the cells with a selective p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor. Thus, prion proteins appear to activate the p38 stress pathway resulting in activation of NF-κB, which stimulates TNF-α expression, which in turn stimulates NOS II expression, leading to the production of toxic reactive nitrogen radicals, which may contribute to the cytotoxicity of the misfolded prion. C. Fabrizi, V. Silei, M. Menegazzi, M. Salmona, O. Bugiani, F. Tagliavini, H. Suzuki, G. M. Lauro, The stimulation of inducible nitric-oxide synthase by the prion protein fragment 106-126 in human microglia is tumor necrosis factor-α-dependent and involves a p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. J. Biol. Chem. 276, 25692-25696 (2001). [Abstract] [Full Text]
Synthesis and dopamine receptor modulating activity of novel peptidomimetics of L-prolyl-L-leucyl-glycinamide featuring α, α-disubstituted amino acids

In the present study, l-prolyl-l-leucyl-glycinamide (1) peptidomimetics 3a−3d and 4a−4d were synthesized utilizing α,α-disubstituted amino acids. These analogues were designed to explore the conformational effects of constraints at the φ3 and ψ3 torsion angles. Constrained conformations were verified by the use of X-ray crystallography and circular dichroism. The effects of Pro-Leu-Gly-NH2 analogues 3a−3d and 4a−4d on enhancing rotational behavior induced by apomorphine in the 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned animal models of Parkinson's disease were studied. The ability of these peptidomimetics to increase the binding of agonist N-propylnorapomorphine (NPA) to the dopamine D2 receptor was also examined. Extended analogue Pro-Leu-Deg-NH2 was the most active compound of this series. It was 10 times more potent and almost 2 times more effective than 1 in increasing apomorphine-induced rotations (56 ± 15% at 1.0 mg/kg ip) and in enhancing [3H]NPA specific binding (40%).
Degradation of S‐2‐di‐isopropylaminoethyl O‐ethyl methylphosphonothioate in soil. Sulphur‐containing products

The degradation of [35S]-labelled and [32P]-labelled S-2-di-isopropylaminoethyl O-ethyl methylphosphonothioate has been studied in humic sand, humic loam and clayey peat under laboratory conditions. Radioactivity, which proved to be tightly bound to the soil, was extracted by alkaline methanol. N,N'-Dithiodiethylenebis(di-isopropylamine) was identified as the only sulphur-containing product in the extract.
The normal developmental stages of the zebrafish, brachydanio rerio (hamilton‐buchanan)

The zebrafish or zebra danio, Brachydanio rerio (HamiltonBuchanan), used extensively in ornamental aquaria, is a member of the family Cyprinidae and is native from Bengal to the Coromandel Coast of India (Axelrod and Schultz, '55). This oviparous species can be bred with ease in captivity. Since the eggs are transparent and the development is rapid, only 96 hours being required from fertilization to hatching at 26"C, they are eminently suitable for investigations on growth and development. Roosen-Runge ( '36, '38, '39) has described the early development of the zebrafish. Two time lapse motion pictures have also been produced, one by Lewis and Roosen-Runge ('44) using the light microscope and another by Hisaoka, Ott and Marchese ( '57) employing phase contrast microscopy. Usefulness of fish embryos for studies in experimental embryology has been shown by many investigators including Luther ('35, '37), Pasteels ( '36)' Solberg ('38), Waterman ( '39, '40)' Oppenheimer ( '47) and Rugh ( '48). I n particular, the zebrafish has been selected for experimental studies by Oppenheimer ( '36), Battle and Hisaoka ( '52)' Hisaoka ( '53, '55), and Hisaoka and Hopper ( '57). Its employment for bio-
The origin and occurrence of subaqueous sedimentary cracks

Abstract The rock record attests that sediments have cracked at or below the sediment–water interface in strictly subaqueous settings throughout Earth history. In recent decades, a number of hypotheses have been advanced to explain this phenomenon, but these are widely regarded as being mutually exclusive and there is little consensus about which model is correct. In this paper, we first review the geometries, lithologies and range of facies in which subaqueous sedimentary cracks occur in the geological record, with particular attention to cracks in carbonates. We then evaluate current models for subaqueous cracking, emphasizing that different models may be correct with respect to different sets of cracks, but that cracking is generally a two-step process involving sediment stabilization prior to disruption. We also present the results of some simple new experiments designed to test the dominant models of crack formation. These results demonstrate for the first time that microbial mats can produce thin, shallow cracks at the sediment–water interface. We conclude that the presence of cracks in marine, brackish and lacustrine rocks should not be used uncritically to infer fluctuations in salinity in the depositional environment. Supplementary material: A video showing a micro-CT scan of a hand-sample from the Monteville Formation, South Africa is available at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare. c.3580673
Postcranial remains and the origin of modern humans

The nature, timing, and location of the origin of modern humans has been the subject of intense controversy for the last 15 years.1–4 Genetic data and new radiometric dates for key fossils that lie beyond the range of radiocarbon dating have substantially added to the knowledge derived from the fossil evidence documenting the transition from archaic to modern humans. These new data, however, have failed to resolve the problem in its entirety. Most authorities now accept that Africa played an important, and probably central, role in the origin of modern humans.7–13 The genetic evidence seems to be particularly emphatic that an African population that existed between 200,000 and 100,000 years ago (100 ka) is ancestral to all living humans.6,7 Controversy still surrounds the question of how much, if at all, archaic humans from outside of Africa, such as Neandertals, late archaic Chinese hominins such as Jinniushan, and the Indonesian Ngandong hominins, may have contributed to the morphological and genetic diversity present in living populations and the morphology of the earliest fossils of modern humans.10
Larix laricina (tamarack): somatic embryogenesis and genetic transformation.

Excised, immature zygotic embryos of Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch (tamarack) gave rise to embryogenic cultures on modified Murashige and Skoog (MSG) medium supplemented with growth regulators. Three lines of embryonal masses were maintained for 1 year by biweekly subcultures prior to the maturation experiments. All of these lines showed the ability to produce mature somatic embryos. Both elevated medium osmolality (315.0n543.6 mmol·kg n1 ) and presence of abscisic acid (ABA) at 40 μM stimulated the maturation process when applied simultaneously. Sucrose was most effective at 0.4 M, and polyethylene glycol (PEG) at 5 or 10% was effective only in combination with 0.2 or 0.4 M sucrose. The germination frequency of somatic embryos depended on both osmolality and ABA concentration in the maturation medium. Over 90% of mature somatic embryos were capable of secondary somatic embryogenesis when placed on the induction medium. This particular ability was exploited in order to achieve genetic transformation. Four vectors were delivered to the embryonal masses and somatic embryo cells via bombardment of DNA-coated gold particles. The vectors pBI426 and pRT99gus carried a gene encoding resistance to kanamycin, pRT66gus to hygromycin, and pRT55gus to methotrexate. All vectors carried the gene coding for β-glucuronidase (GUS) and were over 6 kilobases in size. Assays for both transient and stable transformation were carried out. The only vector that yielded two transgenic lines was pBI426. These lines of embryonal masses, designated as 2D1 and 2D2, were analysed by hybridization of the plasmid to the genomic Southern blots and revealed several insertions of the vector. Line 2D1 gave rise to young germinants that expressed the GUS gene uniformly throughout the root, hypocotyl, and cotyledons but failed to develop further. Line 2D2 gave rise to transgenic plants that displayed random and ipatchyi expression of the GUS gene. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the GUS insert in 6-month-old 2D2 transgenic plants showed the presence of diagnostic fragment in all parts of the plants. Resume : Des embryons zygotiques immatures de Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch (mOlze laricin) ont donnO du tissu embryogne sur un milieu Murashige et Skoog modifiO (MSG) par liajout de rOgulateurs de croissance. Trois lignOes embryognes ont OtO maintenues pendant 1 an par sous-cultures bihebdomadaires avant les expOriences de maturation. Ces trois lignOes ont dOmontrO leur aptitude ‡ produire des embryons somatiques matures. Une osmolalitO OlevOe (315,0n
Conspecific familiarity and shoaling preferences in a wild guppy population

In nature, social groups of animals are typically nonrandom associations of individuals. Such group associations may in part be based on social familiarity among individuals, acquired through repeated past encounters and behavioural experiences with each other. The factors that potentially affect the tendency to associate with familiar individuals remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated whether shoaling preferences based on presumed familiarity occur in wild adult guppies (Poecilia reticulata) originating from a Trinidadian population that experiences relatively low predation intensity from fishes and whether any such preferences differ between the sexes. When tested shortly after being collected in the field, neither males nor females clearly preferred to shoal with familiar same-sex conspecifics (collected from the same pool in the river) over unfamiliar ones (from different pools). Importantly, our results differ from those previously reported for guppies originating from the same population as.
Nuptial Colour Loss and Signal Masking in Gasterosteus: an Analysis Using Video Imaging

Threespine stickleback vary greatly in male nuptial display, from full red expression between the throat and pelvis to total melanism without any traces of red. The dominant expression for any population is correlated with the underwater spectral irradiance and many populations with melanistic nuptial colour occur in bog habitats where the aquatic spectrum is shifted to long wavelengths. Field observations indicate that in these bog habitats, the typical red nuptial signal is 'spectrally masked' and this might reduce the effectiveness of display during male-male and male-female interactions. We used video imaging techniques to test whether the spectral composition of the visual background influences female preference for nuptial colouration in male threespine sticklebacks. Throat colour preference tests were carried out in which females chose between video images of red and black-throated males superimposed on either a blue or a red background. Despite belonging to a red-throated population, females were found to respond preferentially to the black-throated male image viewed against a red background, indicating that preference was not determined by throat patch hue. This suggests that preference for an epigamic optical signal is likely a function of its efficacy in generating visual contrast rather than its intrinsic spectral characteristics.
Treatment of Data for Duplicated Gene Loci in Mixed-Stock Fishery Analysis

Isoloci (pairs of duplicated loci with a predominance of shared alleles of identical electrophoretic mobility) are common in salmonid fishes and present special problems for the analysis of mixed-stock fisheries. The method currently used to treat isolocus data (which assumes that allele frequencies at both loci are the same) leads to bias if the true frequencies (P, Q) are not identical. Using simulated mixtures drawn from populations with (1) hypothetical allele frequencies and (2) allele frequencies observed at four isolocus systems in samples of chinook salmon from the Fraser River system, we show that a better method is to use the maximum likelihood estimates (, ) of allele frequencies at the individual loci. In simulations in which the population frequencies at the two loci of an isolocus pair differed, use of (, ) resulted in less error in estimating the true mixture proportions than did use of a single average frequency, whereas the two methods produced very similar results if population frequenci.
Inhibitors of ethylene responses in plants at the receptor level: Recent developments

A number of organic molecules that appear to block the ethylene receptor have been discovered recently. For example, on irradiation with visible light, diazocyclopentadiene (DACP), gives rise to some potent but as yet unidentified inhibitor compounds. Some synthetic cyclopropenes have been shown to bind to the ethylene receptor and prevent the physiological action of ethylene for extended periods. Cyclopropene (CP), 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) and 3,3-dimethylcyclopropene (3,3-DMCP) have been shown to prevent ethylene effects in a number of plants. As low a concentration as 0.5 nl l -1 of 1-MCP is sufficient to protect carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus) flowers for several days against ethylene, and 0.7 nl l -1 1-MCP or CP will prevent the ripening of banana (Musa sapientum) for 12 days at 24°C. Some plant organs require higher concentrations of these inhibitors. Complete inhibition of ethylene effects in pea seedlings requires treatment with 40 nl 1 -1 of 1-MCP. These novel inhibitors appear to be suitable for many commercial applications including extending the vase life of cut flowers and the display life of potted plants. Since 1-MCP apparently is non-toxic at concentrations that are active, it may in future be available for regulating the ripening of fruits and preventing the deleterious effects of ethylene in vegetables.
Effects of Plant Extracts on Conidial Germination, Mycelial Growth and Sporulation of Fungi Isolated From Poultry Feed

Effect of ethanolic extracts of Lawsonia inermis, Azadirachta indica, Vinca rosea, Tagetes patula, Ocimum sanctum, Colocasia antiquorum, Adhatoda vasica, Moringa oleifera, Datura metel and Curcuma longa leaf on conidial germination, mycelial growth and sporulation of Aspergillus flavus, A. niger and A. fumigatus were examined. The conidial germination of A. flavus and A. fumigatus were most inhibited by the extract of L. inermis, while that of A. niger was inhibited by A. indica. Other tested plant extracts have a good effect on conidial germination on the selected fungi. The highest mycelial growth of A. flavus (37 mm) was found in V. rosea, but in case of A. niger and A. fumigatus it (38 and 39 mm) was found in D. metel. The lowest (4, 9 and 6 mm) respectively mycelial growth of these fungi found in L. inermis. The highest sporulation (75 × 104/ ml) of A. flavus was counted in V. rosea, but in case of A. niger and A. fumigatus those (45 × 104 and 55 × 104/ml) were in D. metel and the lowest (5 × 104, 12 × 104 and 9 × 104/ml) respectively sporulation of these fungi counted in L. inermis plant extract medium.
Genetic differentiation among the sympatric brown trout (Salmo trutta) populations of Lough Melvin, Ireland

Three morphotypes of brown trout have been described from Lough Melvin in north-west Ireland: gillaroo; sonaghen; ferox. The extensive genetic differences among the three types indicate that they are reproductively isolated, i.e. separate stocks of trout. For example, only gillaroo possess the Ldh-1(n) allele. Ferox show a high frequency of the Ldh-5(100) allele and this allele does not exceed a frequency of 0.02 in the other two types. Sonaghen are characterized by relatively much higher frequencies for Ck-2(115) and Gpi-2(135) alleles. Sampling over a period of 7 years and experiments with artificial stocks of gillaroo and sonaghen have demonstrated that these differences are temporally stable. On the basis of observation of mature adults and the genetic composition of fry samples, it has been shown that the three types maintain their genetic integrity as the result of their distinctive spawning habits with gillaroo spawning in the lake and outflowing river, sonaghen in the smaller inflowing rivers and ferox in the deep downstream section of the largest inflowing river. The ferox is a relict population of an early post-glacial trout colonist while gillaroo and sonaghen are representative of a more recent independent colonization. However, it cannot be determined at present whether or not gillaroo and sonaghen were already differentiated prior to colonizing Melvin although the weight of evidence favours a sympatric split. It is proposed that the three types of trout be designated as separate subspecies to highlight the need for independent management and urgent requirement for conservation action.
Synergistic Effect on Reactive Oxygen Scavenging Activity of Fermented Okara and Banana by XYZ System

As part of a study of the reuse of waste okara (OC), a residue of soybean products and a kind of industrial wastes, a novel antioxidant food material was prepared in which OC fermented with Rhizopus oligosporus (OT) was combined with banana. A synergistic effect on the reactive oxygen scavenging activity (ROSA) between OT and banana was estimated using the method of photon emission scavenging of reactive oxygen by XYZ system, and the activity of a mixture of fermented OC and banana (OTB) 4/3 (OT: banana ratio 4 : 3 by weight) was found to be approximately 30 times that of OC alone. It was concluded that the effective ROSA of OTB is attributable to components in the extraction residue after extraction with 80% ethanol and water. OTB could be useful as a novel antioxidant food material and/or nutritional supplement.
A method to assess the performance of growth intercept models in British Columbia

An active program of developing growth intercept models in British Columbia is underway. In lieu of a proper validation procedure, we devised a method of assessing the growth intercept models, which we describe and demonstrate for interior spruce. Four sources of error in the site index predictions of the growth intercept models are examined: measurement, sampling, model, and application error. The impact of the measurement errors tend to be intolerably large at young ages, decreasing to acceptable levels as the trees near the index age. Sampling error was small in our example. The tested models were unbiased and have good precision. An analysis of the application error indicated that the growth intercept models may underestimate site index. Key words: Application bias, measurement error, model error, sampling error, spruce, validation
BEHAVIORAL LIMITATION OF ROUND-TAILED GROUND SQUIRREL DENSITY

The two principal hypotheses of behavioral population regulation-territorial limitation and social stress-were tested in a 4-yr study of a high density, free-living population of round-tailed ground squirrels, Spermophilus tereticaudus, in Arizona. After copulation in early March, 22 to 3 1% of the adult squirrels, predominantly d 5, seemed to disperse. In late June, 29 to 45% of the juveniles, predominantly d d again, seemed to disperse. During the 2 yr of intensive study, these dispersal episodes were the major losses from the population, and they were correlated with the onsets of territorial behavior among adults in March and among juveniles in June. This correlation supports the hypothesis that territorial behavior limits population density. However, intensive observation and 2 field experiments involving removal and introduction of juveniles and provision of supplemental food indicate that dispersal was not statistically related to local density, food availability, or aggression. Territorial aggression did not cause emigration of adults or native-born juveniles, though it probably prevented immigration of foreign-born juveniles, during the summer months. Dispersal was not suffi- cient to limit population density increase. There appeared to be an innate sex difference in juvenile dispersal tendency, perhaps including a differential response to food availability and litter size. In 1 yr, spring density was unusually high, and many squirrels were wounded in February and March. The population subsequently showed classical symptoms of physiological stress, including reduced repro- duction and poor survival. This episode supports the hypothesis that high density leads to socially induced physiological stress, which eventually reduces density. However, the stress did not prevent the squirrel density from reaching a much higher level in the following spring. There were relatively few wounds and no signs of stress at the higher density. Physiological stress was not predictably related to denstiy and was not sufficient to limit density increase. In summary, behavioral factors were not sufficient to limit squirrel density when food was abundant and predation rate was low.
Cisplatin-induced elongation of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 cells improves microbe–electrode interactions for use in microbial fuel cells

Here, we present an unusual approach of modifying the growth pattern of electroactive bacteria for improving their communication with electrodes. Cells of a known exoelectrogen, Shewanella oneidensis MR-1, were treated with cisplatin, a drug that inhibits cell division but forces the cells to grow longer resulting in a characteristic elongated growth. Such elongated cells showed up to a 5-fold improvement in current densities compared to normal, untreated cells.