Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rapid shift in thermal resistance between generations through maternal heat exposure

Given the current rapid climate change, understanding the mechanisms underlying heat tolerance and its plasticity is an important goal of global change biology. Soil fauna communities are especially vulnerable because of their limited dispersal ability. It is generally recognized that transgenerational effects can contribute to the expression of phenotypic plasticity. Nevertheless, transgenerational plasticity in belowground organisms has received relatively little attention in the context of climate change, despite their major role in soil functioning. Here we test for transgenerational effects of heat shock exposure in the soil arthropod Orchesella cincta, a springtail species that regularly experiences heat stress conditions in its natural environment. We exposed females to heat stress, and subsequently investigated the effects of the same stress on the survival of their offspring. Thermal resistance of the progeny from treated and untreated mothers was compared at three life stages: egg, juvenile and adult. We provide evidence that exposure to heat shock induces a life stage-dependent increase in thermal resistance in the subsequent generation. The induced adaptive maternal effect persisted into the adult stage of the progeny. However, there is also a tradeoff resulting in reduced clutch size of treated females. These results are of broad significance to understanding the potential of organisms to cope with a changing climate.
Relative stability, toxicity, and penetrability of abamectin and its 8,9-oxide

Experiments have been conducted to compare abamectin and its 8,9-oxide derivative in terms of ingestion toxicity to two-spotted spider mites, stability on Petri dishes, and penetration into bean leaves. The observed higher miticidal potency of the 8,9-oxide is explained by greater penetrability and stability. For both compounds, the lethal dose by ingestion is about 0.8 pg/mite
Insecticidal Alkaloid Against Drosophila Melanogaster from Tubers of Corydalis Bulbosa

Abstract Insecticidal alkaloid, (−)-canadine was isolated under bioassay guide of Drosophila melanogaster Meigen. from MeOH extract of tubers of Corydalis bulbosa. Insecticidal activity against larvae; (−)-canadine showed 99.7% of larvae were dead at 1.40 μ mol/ml diet concentration, and the LC50 value was 0.9 μmol/ml diet concentration. Acute toxicity against adults; (−)-canadine showed 75% of adults were dead at 5.0 μg /adult, and the LD50 value was 2. 5μg/adult.
The oxidative 4-dechlorination of polychlorinated phenols is catalyzed by extracellular fungal lignin peroxidases

The extracellular lignin peroxidases (ligninases) of Phanerochaete chrysosporium catalyzed H/sub 2/O/sub 2/-dependent spectral changes in several environmentally significant polychlorinated phenols: 2,4-dichloro-, 2,4,5-trichloro-, 2,4,6-trichloro-, and pentachlorophenol. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of reduced and acetylated reaction products showed that, in each case, lignin peroxidase catalyzed a 4-dechlorination of the starting phenol to yield a p-benzoquinone. The oxidation of 2,4-dichlorophenol also yielded a dechlorinated coupling dimer, tentatively identified as 2-chloro-6-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)-p-benzoquinone. Experiments on the stoichiometry of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol oxidation showed that this substrate was quantitatively dechlorinated to give the quinone and inorganic chloride. H/sub 2//sup 18/O-labeling experiments on 2,4,6-trichlorophenol oxidation demonstrated that water was the source of the new 4-oxo substituent in 2,6-di-chloro-p-benzoquinone. The results indicate a mechanism whereby lignin peroxidase oxidizes a 4-chlorinated phenol to an electrophilic intermediate, perhaps the 4-chlorocyclohexadienone cation. Nucleophilic attack by water and elimination of HCl then ensue at the 4-position, which produces the quinone. Lignin peroxidases have previously been implicated in the degradation by Phanerochaete of several nonphenolic aromatic pollutants. It appears likely from their results that these peroxidases could also catalyze the initial dechlorination of certain polychlorinated phenols in vivo.
Floral variation in Eichhornia paniculata (Spreng.) Solms (Pontederiaceae): I. Instability of stamen position in genotypes from northeast Brazil

Floral instability in the mid‐styled morph of tristylous Eichhornia paniculata (Spreng.) Solms (Pontederiaceae) was investigated in 14 genotypes from three Brazilian populations of contrasting morph structure (trimorphic, dimorphic, and monomorphic) and levels of inbreeding. Floral instability was described using uni‐ and multivariate methods, in terms of the degree and pattern of variation and covariation in 14 floral measurements from plants grown under uniform glasshouse conditions. The greatest variability was exhibited by filaments of the two lateral short‐level stamens, within and between genotypes from the dimorphic and monomorphic populations. Elongation of one of the stamens to a position adjacent to the stigma results in automatic self‐pollination of flowers. Genotypes were found to differ more in the pattern of covariation between measurements than in multivariate variability. Differences between genotypes in the correlation structure of floral traits were most pronounced in the monomorphic population, and primarily involved measurements of unmodified, rather than modified, stamens. There was no consistent relationship between multivariate variability and whether genotypes produced modified flowers. This pattern suggests that short‐stamen modification arises from changes at specific loci rather than through generalised floral instability brought about by genome‐wide homozygosity.
Isolation and characterization of endophytic bacteria from Plectranthus tenuiflorus medicinal plant in Saudi Arabia desert and their antimicrobial activities

Abstract The diversity and beneficial characteristics of endophytic microorganisms have been studied in Plectranthus tenuiflorus medicinal plant. However, information regarding naturally occurring P. tenuiflorus plant associated endophytes among different organs of host is limited. Endophytic bacteria were isolated from root, stem, and leaves of P. tenuiflorus plant. Among 28 endophytic bacterial isolates from different organs of P. tenuiflorus plant, 8 isolates were identified by partial sequencing of their 16S rRNA gene. The isolated endophytic bacteria were Bacillus sp. , Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus licheniformis, Micrococcus luteus, Paenibacillus sp. , Pseudomonas sp. , and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus. The most isolates that exhibited extracellular enzymatic activity were belonged to the genus Bacillus. Furthermore, Bacillus sp. (HE613660) exhibited the stronger activities in extracellular enzymes such as amylase, esterase, lipase, protease, pectinase, xylanase, and cellulase than other strains. Considerable antimicrobial activities against a panel of human pathogenic microorganisms (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus agalactiae, Proteus mirabilis, and Candida albicans) were recorded using crude extracts of the collected endophytic strains.
Die gesellschaftlichen Formen des Kapitals. Reflexionen zum Kapital-Begriff jenseits von Ökonomie und Marxismus

Societal Forms of Capital. Thinking about the concept of Capital beyond Economics and Marxism Abstract: Today, every realm of social life is being watched through the lens of Capital. In order to fight this Economic Imperialism, we must take the most basic assumptions of economic thinking as objects of critique. This contribution refers to Marxian theory of value form and fetish, following the intention to use such concepts as powerful means of a contemporary critique of Economics. The author reads Marx in a way which deviates from traditional Marxist interpretations. He looks at the intrusion of economic concepts into social sciences. With regards to work and education, the author analyzes how Capital exerts power by way of imposing specific societal forms on people ’ s everyday life.
Achievements and Challenges in Legume Breeding for Pest and Disease Resistance

Yield stability of legume crops is constrained by a number of pest and diseases. Major diseases are rusts, powdery and downy mildews, ascochyta blights, botrytis gray molds, anthracnoses, damping-off, root rots, collar rots, vascular wilts and white molds. Parasitic weeds, viruses, bacteria, nematodes and damages caused by chewing and sap-sucking insects add to this long list of constraints for legume production. Their incidence and relative importance together with current understanding of their interactions with the host plants are presented. State of the art of current achievements and limitations for breeding for biotic stress resistance are listed and critically discussed. The recent development of large scale phenotyping, genome sequencing and analysis of gene, protein and metabolite expressions can be of great help to further decipher plant-pathogen interactions and identify key resistance components that may be introgressed into crop plants through breeding.
The lactic acid bacteria involved in the production of bee pollen and bee bread

Summary Recently a large flora of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) was identified in the honey stomach of the honey bee Apis mellifera. In this study, the presence of this flora in bee pollen and bee bread was investigated. Pollen was collected from the legs of honey bees, and both two week old and two month old bee bread were also obtained for the study. Bacterial isolates cultivated from these bee products were identified using 16S rRNA gene analyzes. The majority of the honey stomach LAB flora was recovered in a viable state from both the pollen and the two week old bee bread, but not from the two month old bee bread. It is demonstrated for the first time that bee bread is probably fermented by the honey stomach LAB flora that has been added to the pollen via regurgitated nectar from the honey stomach. This discovery helps to explain how honey bees standardize the production of bee bread and how it is stored. The presence of the honey stomach LAB and its antimicrobial substances in bee bread also suggests a possible role in the defence against honey bee diseases since the bee bread is consumed by both the larvae and the adult bees.
Olfactory orientation responses of the eucalyptus woodborer, Phoracantha semipunctata, to host plant in a wind tunnel

The eucalyptus woodborer, Phoracantha semipunctata Fabricius (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), attacks mainly species of Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae). This study investigated walking and flight behaviour of P. semipunctata males and females exposed to an odour plume originating from a log of E. globulus placed vertically in the upwind end of a wind tunnel. In control experiments, beetles were exposed to a PVC drainpipe in the same position as the log, providing a visual stimulus without host‐tree odour. No statistical differences were found between behavioural responses of either sex when exposed to the log or PVC pipe. No beetles landed on the PVC pipe, whereas 49% of the beetles exposed to host‐tree odour plume landed on the log. Beetles aged over 24 days after emergence from the host tree were more responsive than beetles aged 20–24 days, and accounted vor 86% of the beetles that landed on the log. While walking, host‐tree odour affected the behaviour of the beetles that landed on the log as follows: upwind movement and path linearity increased, whereas turning rate, stopping frequency, mean stopping time and time to take‐off flight decreased. During flight, host‐tree odour affected the behaviour of the beetles that landed on the log as follows: increased upwind flight, turning rate, flight time, flight distance, and decreased flight speed. For beetles that never lost contact with the odour plume, flight progressed upwind with narrow zigzags, and showed higher directedness upwind, path linearity, faster flight speed and lower turning rate than for beetles that lost contact with the odour plume. After loosing contact with the plume, beetles tended to decrease their upwind progression, exhibiting a sharp turn or quick counterturns followed by crosswind or downwind excursions. This led to regaining contact with the odour plume and resumed upwind progression at higher speed provided they flew within the boundaries of the plume. The results showed that host‐tree odour affects both walking and flight behaviour of P. semipunctata beetles, inducing a more directed upwind movement and landing on the visual stimulus of a tree trunk.
Understanding Resistance to β-Lactams and β-Lactamase Inhibitors in the SHV β-Lactamase

Bacterial resistance to β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations by single amino acid mutations in class A β-lactamases threatens our most potent clinical antibiotics. In TEM-1 and SHV-1, the common class A β-lactamases, alterations at Ser-130 confer resistance to inactivation by the β-lactamase inhibitors, clavulanic acid, and tazobactam. By using site-saturation mutagenesis, we sought to determine the amino acid substitutions at Ser-130 in SHV-1 β-lactamase that result in resistance to these inhibitors. Antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed that ampicillin and ampicillin/clavulanic acid resistance was observed only for the S130G β-lactamase expressed in Escherichia coli. Kinetic analysis of the S130G β-lactamase demonstrated a significant elevation in apparent Km and a reduction in kcat/Km for ampicillin. Marked increases in the dissociation constant for the preacylation complex, KI, of clavulanic acid (SHV-1, 0.14 μm; S130G, 46.5 μm) and tazobactam (SHV-1, 0.07 μm; S130G, 4.2 μm) were observed. In contrast, the kinacts of S130G and SHV-1 differed by only 17% for clavulanic acid and 40% for tazobactam. Progressive inactivation studies showed that the inhibitor to enzyme ratios required to inactivate SHV-1 and S130G were similar. Our observations demonstrate that enzymatic activity is preserved despite amino acid substitutions that significantly alter the apparent affinity of the active site for β-lactams and β-lactamase inhibitors. These results underscore the mechanistic versatility of class A β-lactamases and have implications for the design of novel β-lactamase inhibitors.
Rape embryogenesis I. The proembryo development

The development of the proembryo of rape Brassica napus L. from the zygote to the young embryo proper is described. A number of regularities were found in the direction, succession, and distribution of segmental and differentiating divisions of the proembryo. The direction of the divisions seems to foe determined by the direction of growth and the shape of the cells. The termyoung embryo proper is proposed to denote the globular embryo which already possesses separate plerome and periblem mother-cells and mother-cells of the iec layer and of clumella. The body of the embryo proper is derived from the apical cell ca which arose from the first division of the zygote and from the hypophysis - the only suspensor cell which closes the spheroid of the embryo. The development of the Brassica napus L. proembryo follows the sub-archetype Capsella bursa-pastoris in the IV megarchetype of Soueges.
Effect of chitosan coating in preventing deterioration and preserving the quality of fresh‐cut papaya ‘Maradol’

BACKGROUND: Chitosan can form antimicrobial, semi-permeable barriers that limit gas exchange and reduces water loss in fruits. Consumer interest in fresh-cut papaya fruit is leading to increasing demand because of its sensorial and antioxidant properties. However, papaya is a highly perishable product that is prone to loss of weight, loss of firmness and microbial attack. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of chitosan coatings on the overall quality of fresh-cut papaya. Chitosan coatings of low (LMWC), medium (MMWC) and high (HMWC) molecular weights, at concentrations of 0.01 and 0.02 g mL −1 , were applied to fresh-cut papaya cubes. The treated cubes were stored at 5 ◦ C and changes in quality were evaluated. RESULTS: MMWC maintained the highest color values (L ∗ and b ∗ ) and firmness. Chitosan coatings suppressed mesophilic plate count, and the growth of molds and yeast, compared to controls. The MMWC coatings at 0.02 g mL −1 resulted in the highest antimicrobial activity and decreased the activity of the enzymes polygalacturonase and pectin methylesterase, followed by low and high MW chitosan coatings at 0.02 g mL −1 . CONCLUSION: The application of the MMWC treatment at 0.02 g mL −1 could be used to reduce deteriorative processes, maintain quality and increase the shelf life of fresh-cut papaya stored at 5 ◦ C. c � 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Reproduction, diet and habitat use of leopard sharks, Triakis semifasciata (Girard), in Humboldt Bay, California, USA

A total of 312 female leopard sharks (Triakis semifasciata) was sampled in Humboldt Bay, California, USA, an important nursery ground for this species, during the spring month of May from 1983 to 1985. Sexual segregation is strong as only three males were observed in the study area. Females ranged in size from 120 to 154 cm total length, and all examined were determined to be mature. Overall, 130 out of 153 females examined in early May contained term embryos. The number of embryos per female ranged from 1 to 37 with larger females tending to possess more embryos. Of the 159 individuals examined in late May, no females were found carrying embryos and most were ovulating. Diet analyses revealed that, overall, fish eggs (Atherinopsis californiensis) at 48.0%, had the highest percentage Index of Relative Importance (%IRI), followed by the cancrid crabs, Cancer antennarius (29.8%) and C. magister (11.6%). All other prey were of relatively minor importance, cumulatively representing 10.6% of the overall diet. Adults shift their diet after parturition: early May sharks fed almost exclusively on fish eggs, while crabs were more important in those examined in late May.
Genetics of osmoregulation in Escherichia coli: Uptake and biosynthesis of organic osmolytes

Escherichia coli cells growing under osmotic stress activate systems for the transport or synthesis of several organic osmolytes. Glutamate and trehalose syntheses seem to represent mechanisms for achieving a low level of osmotic tolerance. The uptake and synthesis of betaines represent mechanisms of achieving a high level of osmotic tolerance. The osmotically-controlled ProP and ProU systems are involved in the uptake of glycine betaine and proline. However, glycine betaine synthesis occurs only in the presence of the precursor molecule choline. The osmotically controlled genes governing the high-affinity uptake of choline are located in close proximity to those encoding the dehydrogenases involved in the oxidation of choline to glycine betaine, but represent a different transcriptional unit. It is not known if each of these systems has its own osmotic sensor or whether a common osmotic sensor regulates all cell osmolytes.
Quantitative floral development in Pseudolysimachion (Scrophulariaceae): intraspecific variation and comparison with Veronica and Veronicastrum

Intraspecific variation in floral development was studied in four morphologically distinct strains of Pseudolysimachion longifolium and two of P. spicatum. Size increase of whole buds from living plants of P. longifolium was followed in absolute time. Growth rates were homogeneous within inflorescences and within individual plants, and significantly different between individual plants. Organ growth trajectories (plotted as organ size over gynoecium size) differed little among individuals of Pseudolysimachion belonging to morphologically distinct strains; variation was most pronounced in the calyx. Corolla tube as well as calyx and corolla lobe measurements varied more during the early stages of development than near maturity, suggesting constraints on mature flower form. In addition to intraspecific variation, floral development in Pseudolysimachion was compared with that in related Veronica chamaedrys and Veronicastrum virginicum, using data from a previous study. Mature flowers of Pseudolysimachion have long corolla tubes similar to those of Veronicastrum and long corolla lobes similar to those of Veronica. The trajectories of most organs of Pseudolysimachion were intermediate between those of Veronica and Veronicastrum in position as well as in type of curve, i.e., different trajectories lead to similar end products; thus, the shapes of the mature organs are not strictly homologous and not indicative of close relationship.
Response specificity of male olfactory receptor neurones for the major and minor components of a female pheromone blend

Abstract The sex attractant of the female redbanded leafroller moth, Argyrotaenia velutinana (Walker), is a blend of seven compounds. Specialized olfactory receptor neurones had been found for only two of the compounds, (Z)‐11‐tetradecenyl acetate (Z11‐14:Ac) and (E)‐11‐tetradecenyl acetate (E11–14:Ac). These receptor neurones were always found in pairs within the long trichoid sensilla, which are the most abundant multi‐pored sensilla on the male antenna. A systematic survey of all regions of the male antenna with standard extracellular recording techniques was undertaken to find receptor neurones responsive to the remaining five minor components of the female pheromone. Of the 113 long trichoid sensilla sampled, all contained two receptor neurones, one specialized for Z11–14:Ac and a second specialized for Ell –14:Ac. A comparable number of recordings were then obtained from the less abundant classes of multi‐pored sensilla. Two new receptor neurone types were found, responsive to the minor pheromone components (E)‐9‐dodecenyl acetate (E9‐12:Ac) and (Z)‐9‐dodecenyl acetate (Z9‐12:Ac). Scanning electron micrographs indicated that these recordings were obtained from shorter, narrower trichoid sensilla. The majority of these sensilla appeared to contain three neurones capable of spontaneous action potential production. In each sensillum, only one receptor neurone appeared to respond to stimulation with a minor component of the female blend. The remaining two neurones did not respond to the chemical stimuli evaluated.
A SIMPLE AND RAPID DETECTION BY PCR OF ENTEROPATHOGENIC ESCHERICHIA COLI IN NATURALLY CONTAMINATED VEGETABLES

ABSTRACT Contaminated vegetables have been identified as one of the principal sources of foodborne illnesses. Escherichia coli is one of the bacteria that can contaminate vegetables and cause serious foodborne disease. The development of simple and rapid assays for detection of E. coli would enable official agencies and food industries to identify contaminated foodstuffs in a timelier manner. In this work, we detected E. coli contamination in four types of vegetables using a 24 h procedure. This method is very specific, rapid and simple to use in the laboratory. Indeed, the enrichment, DNA isolation and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification procedures described here can also be used for detection of E. coli in other foods. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Foodborne disease remains an important public health threat worldwide; one of the most important food safety hazards is associated with raw vegetables. Several studies have found that products can support the growth of enteric bacterial pathogens such as Salmonella, Shigella and Escherichia coli. Culture techniques are universally recognized as the standard method for detecting pathogenic bacteria in foods. Bacteria are detected and subsequently identified by growth on solid selective culture media and by analysis of metabolic properties or serotyping. This process is lengthy and may last 5–10 days or more. In our investigation, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection of E. coli in vegetables was realized within 24 h. The pre-enrichment step used in this study did not have any inhibiting effect on the PCR. Therefore, it became possible to rapidly and directly detect E. coli in raw vegetables by the PCR technique just by heating samples.