Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A chromosomally encoded type III secretion pathway in Yersinia enterocolitica is important in virulence

Numerous Gram‐negative bacteria use a type III, or contact dependent, secretion system to deliver proteins into the cytosol of host cells. All of these systems identified to date have been shown to have a role in pathogenesis. We have identified 13 genes on the Yersinia enterocolitica chromosome that encode a type III secretion apparatus plus two associated putative regulatory genes. In order to determine the function of this chromosomally‐encoded secretion apparatus, we created an in frame deletion of a gene that has homology to the hypothesized inner membrane pore, ysaV. The ysaV mutant strain failed to secrete eight proteins, called Ysps, normally secreted by the parental strain when grown at 28°C in Luria–Bertani (LB) broth supplemented with 0.4 M NaCl. Disruption of the ysaV gene had no effect on motility or phospholipase activity, suggesting this chromosomally encoded type III secretion pathway is distinct from the flagella secretion pathway of Y. enterocolitica. Deletion of the ysaV gene in a virulence plasmid positive strain had no effect on in vitro secretion of Yops by the plasmid‐encoded type III secretion apparatus. Secretion of the Ysps was unaffected by the presence or absence of the virulence plasmid, suggesting the chromosomally encoded and plasmid‐encoded type III secretion pathways act independently. Y. enterocolitica thus has three type III secretion pathways that appear to act independently. The ysaV mutant strain was somewhat attenuated in virulence compared with the wild type in the mouse oral model of infection (an approximately 0.9 log difference in LD50). The ysaV mutant strain was nearly as virulent as the wild type when inoculated intraperitoneally in the mouse model. A ysaV probe hybridized to sequences in other Yersinia spp. and homologues were found in the incomplete Y. pestis genome sequence, indicating a possible role for this system throughout the genus.
Perspectives of Heat Stroke Shield: An IoT based Solution for the Detection and Preliminary Treatment of Heat Stroke

Heat stroke is considered a major problem in Karachi, with a considerable number of people recorded as victims each year. The proposed Internet-of-Things (IoT) based heat stroke shield works under heat stroke conditions, depending on a heat index value (atmospheric temperature and humidity). The system comprises of a wristband, a hardware kit and an alert system which can pre-notify a wearer regarding his body parameter readings. Moreover, the system can also work as a problem solver, in heat stroke condition, by showering water on the victim. In both cases, an alert will also be generated to the wearer’s caretakers with his GPS location.
Recognition of Intracellular Measles Virus Antigens by HLA Class II Restricted Measles Virus‐Specific Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes

Measles virus-specific cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) are predominantly T4+ and are restricted by HLA class I1 determinants. ’ It is not yet known which viral antigens are presented to the CTLs or which antigen presentation pathway is used. HLA class Irestricted CTLs recognize endogenously synthesized proteins on target cells, whereas it has been shown in the influenza system that HLA class I1 restricted CTLs recognize exogenous proteins that have been endocytosed and processed by the target cell? In establishing a system to answer these questions we generated stable murine DAP.3 fibroblast cell lines transfected with expressible cDNAs for the alphaand beta-chains of HLA D R l and HLA DR4. Full-length cDNAs encoding the intracellular nucleocapsid or matrix proteins of measles virus were cloned into expression vectors carrying the hygromycin resistance marker and co-transfected into the HLA-DR expressing murine L cells. When polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies specific for these measles virus antigens are used, it appears that these cells do not express “native” measles virus proteins. Immunofluorescence or immunoprecipitation of cells pulse-labeled with ”S-methionine failed to detect viral antigens in these transfectants. Northern blot analysis, however, demonstrated RNA of the appropriate size for measles virus nucleocapsid and matrix genes. Moreover, these transfectants were efficiently lysed by measles virus-specific, T 4 ’ CTLs in an HLA-restricted manner. Therefore, there appears to be no obligate requirement for cell surface expression of viral antigen in this HLA class I1 restricted CTL response. These experiments demonstrate that the cellular immune response can recognize viral antigens in the apparent absence of “detectable” protein. The only requirement is the genetic information of the appropriate viral gene. The capacity of measles virus-specific T4+ CTLs to lyse cells transfected with measles virus genes also serves to define the role of the HLA-restricted antigenpresenting cell to CTL. Recent reports suggest that the pathways for HLA class I and class I1 restricted antigen presentation are Influenza virus-specific HLA class I restricted CTLs recognize viral antigens that have been degraded in the
Mouse Sperm Cryopreservation and Effective Embryo Production Using Cryopreserved C57BL/6 Mouse Sperm

Abstract: Mouse sperm cryopreservation has greatly developed and spread throughout the world since it was the first successfully performed in 1990. The technology of sperm cryopreservation is widely used for storage of genetically engineered mice produced by global large-scale knockout mice or mouse mutagenesis projects in mouse banks. There are several benefits to using sperm cryopreservation. These include the ability to archive a great number of genetically engineered mice at a low cost in a small space; the ease with which freezing and thawing procedures can be carried out; and the convenience of performing mouse reproduction via in vitro fertilization. Sperm cryopreservation provides the research community with permanent access to genetically engineered mice and as such is an essential part of research activities. Many researchers have actively been investigating the techniques surrounding mouse sperm cryopreservation and embryo production using cryopreserved sperm. In particular, the topic of improving the low fertility rate of cryopreserved sperm in the C57BL/6 strain of mouse, the most common inbred strain used as a base for genetically engineered mice, has been garnering much attention. This review focuses on recent work regarding various attractive technologies in the fields of sperm cryopreservation and efficient embryo production using cryopreserved C57BL/6 mouse sperm.
Confrontation of cryptic diversity and mate discrimination within Gammarus pulex and Gammarus fossarum species complexes

Summary Freshwater amphipods Gammarus fossarum and Gammarus pulex are widespread in Europe, with some evidence of cryptic diversity in the former. We used DNA barcoding to assess genetic diversity within and among amphipod populations and examined mate discrimination and pre-copulatory pair formation between genetically divergent individuals. Eight distinct G. fossarum and four distinct G. pulex molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) were detected. Among the 33 amphipod populations sampled, 11 contained a single MOTU, 11 had two and 11 were composed of three sympatric MOTUs. Genetic divergences between sympatric MOTUs (G. fossarum and G. pulex MOTUs combined) ranged up to 28% (Kimura two parameter estimates). In amphipod populations containing sympatric MOTUs, pre-copulatory pair formation was random between MOTUs diverging by 4% were rare, suggesting mate discrimination between sympatric, highly divergent MOTUs. Although the likelihood decreased with genetic distance between partners, pre-copulatory pair formation in the laboratory can occur between MOTUs diverging by c. 16% and led to successful mating: most female amphipod carried viable, fertilised eggs 48 h post-mating. Data showed high cryptic diversity in the G. fossarum/G. pulex groups, even at a small spatial scale. Mate discrimination between genetically divergent amphipods in natural populations suggests that some of the MOTUs found in G. fossarum and G. pulex may be separated into (sub)species. However, amphipods from different MOTUs can still form pre-copulatory pairs and females produce viable eggs. Overall, data suggest that cryptic diversity is common in the G. fossarum/G. pulex groups and that pre-zygotic isolation through mate discrimination, rather than post-zygotic incompatibility, is likely to drive cryptic speciation.
Virus movement in infected plants

Abstract The movement of plant viruses from cell to cell is controlled by the action of virus‐encoded proteins. With the realization that understanding the mechanism involved will lead to a broad comprehension of virus disease and may open new ways to engineer virus resistance, this phenomenon has recently received much attention. Sequence homologies between different movement proteins indicates that they may share a common origin and some functional similarities. However, groupings based upon protein structure, function as determined by complementation in double infections or host range, are not correlated. The proteins influence plasmodesmatal structure to allow the passage of viral genomes or virus particles, and one protein has been shown to have single‐stranded nucleic acid binding properties. Transgenic plants, heterologous protein‐expression systems, and cell biological approaches will determine how these proteins interact with host components to elicit complex structural changes which result in sy.
Invasive crayfish in Europe: the impact of Procambarus clarkii on the littoral community of a Mediterranean lake

Summary 1. Despite the growing number of non-indigenous crayfish species introduced worldwide, little scientific attention has been given to their effects on the recipient communities. Here, we quantified the impact of adult red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) on key components of the littoral community of a mesotrophic lake in central Italy. We used two densities of crayfish plus a no-crayfish control, and two complementary methods –in situ enclosures and a laboratory study. 2. Both experiments showed that P. clarkii strongly affects the community even at a low density (4 m−2), although a high crayfish density (8 m−2) showed a more pronounced impact in a shorter time. 3. In enclosures, P. clarkii quickly consumed the pond snail Haitia acuta, notwithstanding its anti-predator behaviour, but not the mosquitofish Gambusia affinis. The biomass of the hydrophytes Nymphoides peltata and Potamogeton spp. was strongly reduced by crayfish grazing, coupled with their non-consumptive plant clipping and uprooting, which were particularly intense in the case of Potamogeton crispus. In contrast, Utricularia australis was avoided by P. clarkii, even when other resources were exhausted. 4. The introduction of P. clarkii could reduce biodiversity and increase biotic homogenisation in a short time.
Binding of GSK3β to the APC-β-Catenin Complex and Regulation of Complex Assembly

The adenomatous polyposis coli gene (APC) is mutated in most colon cancers. The APC protein binds to the cellular adhesion molecule β-catenin, which is a mammalian homolog of ARMADILLO, a component of the WINGLESS signaling pathway in Drosophila development. Here it is shown that when β-catenin is present in excess, APC binds to another component of the WINGLESS pathway, glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β), a mammalian homolog of Drosophila ZESTE WHITE 3. APC was a good substrate for GSK3β in vitro, and the phosphorylation sites were mapped to the central region of APC. Binding of β-catenin to this region was dependent on phosphorylation by GSK3β.
ON THE MOLECULAR STRUCTURE OF STARCH GRANULES

A B S T R A C T It is a problem how to fit the molecules of amylose and amylopectin into the ultrastructural apposition layers of starch granules which have a width of only 0.1 ,. Stretched amylose chains with a length up to 1 A can be ruled out. In addition to the proposal of Miihlethaler, who visualizes folded amylopectin chains, a model with a helical amylose chain is discussed. A helix with six glucose residues per turn would be compatible with the crystal lattice found by Kreger; and the disorder caused by this helix in the hexagonal lattice of the parallel side chains of the amylopectin would account for the low optical anisotropy of the starch granules as compared to the parallel B-polyglucosan chains in cellulose. The proposed model, fitted into the 0.1 u apposition ring of the starch granule, shows tangential strata with a layer repeat of about 80 A and a radial chain lattice with the fibre period 10.6 A; i.e., it shows a combination of a lamellar and a fibrous structure. ALTHOUGH STUDIES on the ultrastructure of starch granules date back as far as the last century (Naigeli, 1858; Meyer, 1895), the precise arrangement and conformation of the starch molecules in the apposition rings of the granules are still unknown. Indirect methods yielded the following results:
Healthier lobsters in a marine reserve: effects of fishing on disease incidence in the spiny lobster, Jasus edwardsii.

Comparison of the health of spiny lobsters (Jasus edwardsii) within and adjacent to a New Zealand marine reserve revealed marked differences in the incidence of a handling-related bacterial infection. Lobsters outside the reserve were significantly more affected by tail fan necrosis than lobsters within the reserve, with up to 17% of the males caught outside the reserve over a 3-year period showing signs of tail fan necrosis, compared with less than 2% within the reserve. The incidence of tail fan necrosis changed abruptly at the marine reserve boundaries, strongly implying repeated handling as the causal agent. The incidence of tail fan necrosis in males increased up to the minimum legal size, consistent with a handling effect. Female lobsters, which comprise only a small proportion of the catch in this area, were comparatively unaffected by tail fan necrosis. There was no significant difference in the recapture rates of individuals tagged either with or without tail fan necrosis, but tagged individuals outside the reserve were more likely to develop tail fan necrosis than tagged individuals within the reserve. These findings have implications for both the dynamics of the lobster populations and their management, and highlight the role of marine protected areas in providing a baseline against which such effects of fishing can be assessed.
Pathogenicity of bacterial isolates to Cyclocephala signaticollis (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

Abstract We describe the isolation and identification of pathogenic bacteria obtained from haemolymph of Cyclocephala signaticollis larvae. Two pathogenic bacteria, a Bacillus thuringiensis and an Arthrobacter sp. caused 90–100% mortality to C. signaticollis in 4 days after hemocoel injection, suggesting they might be useful as biological control agents.
Age Composition of the Spawning Stock Does Not Always Influence Recruitment

The concept that the age composition of the spawning stock is an important determinant of recruitment is wide-spread. However, the number of populations and species where this has actually been studied is fairly limited. This study explores the effect of age composition on recruitment in one American plaice (Hippoglossoides platessoides) and three Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) populations. Both the effect of age diversity and the effect of the presence of first time spawners are explored. No consistent relationship between age composition of the spawning stock and recruitment was found for the populations examined. We conclude that age composition of the spawning stock may not be universally important. Further research is needed to explore how common the effect of age composition on recruitment is and under which conditions age composition exerts an important influence on recruitment.
The Free-Living Hormosira banksii (Turner) Decaisne Associated with Mangroves in Temperate Eastern Australia

In the mangrove swamps of Botany Bay, there is an extensive development of free-floating Hormosira banksii. The Hormosira is restricted to the lower portion of the mangrove zone, which in this region fringes a well-developed salt marsh. The unattached plants lie on the open mud surface and appear to be trapped amongst the pneumatophores. At this level the population is subjected to tidal influence and can be considered as occurring in the lower eulittoral. In a habitat sense this Hormosira is thus comparable to some of the unattached fucoids of the northern hemisphere. In comparison to attached plants of Hormosira on adjacent rocky coasts, the free-living form exhibits the following characteristics: absence of sexual reproduction; absence of a holdfast; generally smaller thallus; and compact form with a close-set branching pattern. The biomass shows marked fluctuations, with a summer maximum followed by a marked depletion in autumn. On the basis of such changes alone a conservative measure of productivity is estimated to be of the order of . 4 kg nT year".
Modelling & Simulation of 19-level Cascaded Hybrid Multilevel Inverter with less number of Switches

In 21st century, we can't imagine a single day without electrical appliances and the most important thing is to get uninterrupted power supply. Inverter is the essential part to design an uninterrupted power supply system. This paper presents the modelling and simulation of 19-level cascaded hybrid multilevel inverter (MLI) having less number of switches. MLI is one of the most efficient power converters which are especially suited for high power applications with reduced harmonics. MLI not only achieves high output power but also used in renewable energy sources such as photovoltaic, wind and fuel cells. The main objective of this paper is to get alternating quantity by using cascaded MLI with unequal DC sources called asymmetric cascaded MLI which requires reduced number of power switches. The proposed technology is based on the concept of the ratio of weights in weight box as 5:2:2:1. As it provides a multi stage alternating output based on predefined frequency, so this proposed one can be used for UPS, HVDC transmission system for getting higher efficiency.
Quantification of ToxB gene expression and formation of appressoria by isolates of Pyrenophora tritici-repentis differing in pathogenicity

Tan spot, caused by the fungus Pyrenophora tritici-repentis, is an important foliar disease of wheat. The pathogen produces at least three host-specific toxins, including Ptr ToxB, a 6·6 kDa protein that causes chlorosis in sensitive wheat genotypes and is encoded by the ToxB gene. Using quantitative reverse transcriptase (qRT)-PCR, transcript levels of ToxB homologues found in virulent (≡ pathogenic) and weakly virulent (≡ weakly pathogenic) race 5 isolates and an avirulent (≡ nonpathogenic) race 4 isolate of the fungus were compared in conidia, mycelia, and in host tissues after inoculation of resistant and susceptible wheat genotypes. Abundance of the ToxB transcript was greatest in the virulent isolate, followed by the weakly virulent and avirulent isolates, and was positively correlated with the development of chlorosis in the susceptible wheat genotype; transcript was detectable in mycelia and conidia of all isolates tested, and levels peaked at 24 h after inoculation of the race 5 isolates onto resistant and susceptible wheat hosts, before disease symptoms developed. Although all isolates could penetrate host epidermal cells to varying degrees, transcript abundance was positively correlated with the greater and more rapid development of appressoria. Therefore Ptr ToxB may have other roles in the basic pathogenic fitness of the fungus and/or in pre-penetration processes, suggesting that quantitative variation in the virulence of P. tritici-repentis is related to the extent of ToxB gene expression.
Co‐evolution of male and female reproductive traits across the Bruchidae (Coleoptera)

1. Despite the obvious importance of spermatozoa to individual reproductive success a general explanation of variation in spermatozoan form and function is still lacking. In species with internal fertilization, sperm not only have to interact with the physical and biochemical environment of the female reproductive tract, but frequently face competition from the sperm of rival males. Both sperm competition theory and adaptation to the selective environment of the female reproductive tract have been implicated in the evolution of spermatozoan morphological diversity. 2. Using the comparative method, we examine variation in sperm length in relation to (i) sperm competition intensity (as measured by relative testis size) and (ii) female reproductive characters, across 15 species of beetle belonging to the family Bruchidae. 3. Stepwise multiple regression within a phylogenetic framework revealed sperm length to be positively correlated with female spermathecal duct length and negatively related to spermathecal volume, but not testes size, indicating that the female reproductive environment rather than sperm competition per se exerts selection on sperm length in this taxonomic group. 4. A positive association between testes volume and the volume of the female spermatheca was also evident suggesting correlated evolution of these traits. 5. A number of models of sexual selection could lead to the correlated evolution of male and female reproductive characters, although the underlying mechanisms of cause and effect remain elusive. Divergence between species (and populations) in primary reproductive traits is likely to present a significant barrier to hetero-specific fertilization, and thus contribute to reproductive isolation.
CORRELATIVE STUDY OF VIDEO COMPRESSION TECHNIQUES-H.264/AVC

H.264/AVC is an as of late finished video compression standard together created by ITU-T and ISO MPEG committees. The standard is turning out to be more mainstream as it guarantees much higher compression than that conceivable with prior benchmarks. The expectation of the H.264/AVC task was to make a standard ,equipped for giving good video quality at significantly bring down bit rates than previous norms i
Beyond fragmentation: the continuum model for fauna research and conservation in human‐modified landscapes

Animal distribution patterns in human-modified landscapes are often examined from the basis of the “fragmentation model”, which recognises habitat patches located within an inhospitable matrix. The fragmentation model can establish correlations between landscape pattern and animal distribution patterns. However, it is limited in its ability to generate a process-based understanding of species distribution patterns. Here we propose a process-based conceptual landscape model. The “continuum model” is derived from continuum theory, and recognises the importance of space-related ecological variables alongside other factors, such as the availability of suitable food, shelter, and climatic conditions. The continuum model allows for gradual changes in these variables through space, and assumes species respond individualistically to their environment. We contrast the continuum model with the fragmentation model, and outline how it can be used to interpret and design empirical studies. While the fragmentation model may provide a satisfactory description of ecological patterns where many species are confined to human-defined “patches”, the continuum model can help to establish links between fundamental ecological processes and individualistic species distribution patterns. Conservation guidelines arising from the fragmentation model will emphasise the importance of large and well-connected pre-defined “habitat” patches. Conversely, the continuum model recognises potentially large discrepancies between different species’ ecological requirements. Conservation guidelines arising from the continuum model therefore will focus on habitat heterogeneity at multiple spatial scales to enhance the number of niches available to different species.