Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fungi colonizing and damaging different parts of some medicinal plants

Summary Introduction: Many fungal species infect medicinal plants during their cultivation, causing great damage to the yield and decreasing the quality of raw material. Objective: Due to the increase in contamination of raw material and the damage caused by pathogenic fungi, the main species of medicinal plants cultivated in Poland were subject to the investigation. Methods: In 2012–2014, an experiment was conducted on eight medicinal plant species breeding nurseries grown in the field in Plewiska. The following species and cultivars were investigated: lemon balm, peppermint, St. John’s wort cv. ‘Topaz’, lovage cv. ‘Amor’, valerian cv. ‘Polka’, caraway cv. ‘Kończewicki’, sweet basil cv. ‘Wala’, marjoram cv. ‘Miraż’. Results: Fourteen species of eleven genera of pathogenic fungi were isolated from the investigated medicinal plants: Fusarium avenaceum, F. culmorum, F. equiseti, F. oxysporum, Botrytis cinerea, Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium sp. , Rhizoctonia solani, Septoria sp. , Boeremia exiqua, Golovinomyces cichoracearum, Penicillium sp. , Ramularia sp. , and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. The most severe infection was caused by Fusarium sp. and Botrytis cinerea. Also Cladosporium sp. (4 species), A. alternata and Septoria sp. (3 species) infected plant tissue. Leaves and stems were the most infected parts of the tested plants. Lemon balm, lovage and valerian were the most infected species, while marjoram was infected only with Fusarium sp.
Visually driven neuropil activity and information encoding in mouse area V1

Spontaneous calcium fluorescence recorded from large cortical neuropil patches strongly correlates with the electro-corticogram, and is thought to arguably reflect primarily pre-synaptic inputs. Here we used in vivo 2-photon imaging with Oregon Green Bapta (OGB) to study neuropil visual responses to moving gratings in layer 2/3 of mouse area V1. We found neuropil responses to be more reliable and more strongly modulated than neighboring somatic activity. Furthermore, stimulus independent modulations in neuropil activity, i.e. noise correlations, were highly coherent across the cortical surface, up to distances of at least 200 μm. Pairwise neuropil-to-neuropil-patch noise correlation strength was much higher than cell-to-cell noise correlation strength and depended strongly on brain state, decreasing in quiet wakefulness relative to light anesthesia. The profile of neuropil noise correlation strength decreased gently with distance, dropping by ~12% at a distance of 200 μm. This was comparatively slower than the profile of cell-to-cell noise correlations, which dropped by ~30% at 200 μm. Interestingly, in spite of the “salt & pepper” organization of orientation and direction encoding across mouse V1 neurons, populations of neuropil patches, even of moderately large size (radius ~100μm), showed high accuracy for discriminating perpendicularly moving gratings commensurate to the accuracy of corresponding cell populations. These observations underscore the dynamic nature of the functional organization of neuropil activity. Conflict of Interest The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Analysis of the Allergenic Potential of the Ubiquitous Airborne Fungus Alternaria Using Bioinformatics

Analysis of the allergenic potential of the ubiquitous airborne fungus Alternaria using bioinformatics Mihaela Corina Babiceanu Among the environmental airborne fungi one of the most common is Alternaria alternata. From a clinical perspective Alternaria has long been associated with IgE-mediated, histamine-dependent mold allergy, allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), and asthma. Recently it has been shown that an abnormal immunological response to Alternaria most likely contributes to the pathogenesis of upper respiratory airway disorders. In this body of work, we present for the first time results of several sets of experiments including, 1) the analysis of A. alternata spore germination expressed sequence tags (ESTs), 2) the survey of global allergen homologues in fungal genomes, and 3) the first microarray experiment investigating airway epithelial cell responses to spores of this fungus. In the first project, the analysis of the EST dataset offered a first look into the gene content of A. alternata and represents the beginning of future research of this ubiquitous fungus. Annotation and classification of ESTs revealed a number of genes that could be involved in the immunomodulation process of the human immune response toward fungi. We also discovered that the majority of known allergens are expressed during the spore germination phase of A. alternata. For investigating the allergenic potential of fungi in the second project we developed a whole genome approach by querying fungal genome sequences (A. alternata, A. brassicicola, and Aspergillus fumigatus) with a database of all known allergenic proteins from a taxonomically diverse group of organisms. Interestingly, we identified homologues of diverse types of allergens in these fungal genomes and also many homologues of allergens from other organisms including those from pollen, insects, and venoms. Finally, in the third project we investigated global gene expression changes of human airway cells in response to A. alternata and an alt a 1 deletion mutant. We found that wild type Alternaria spores induced significant changes in gene expression patterns in human airway epithelial cells, especially known immune response genes. Furthermore, results of these analyses revealed that Alt a 1 is a major factor in inducing epithelial inflammatory responses.
Dynamic Cognition Applied to Value Learning in Artificial Intelligence

Experts in Artificial Intelligence (AI) development predict that advances in the development of intelligent systems and agents will reshape vital areas in our society. Nevertheless, if such an advance isn't done with prudence, it can result in negative outcomes for humanity. For this reason, several researchers in the area are trying to develop a robust, beneficial, and safe concept of artificial intelligence. Currently, several of the open problems in the field of AI research arise from the difficulty of avoiding unwanted behaviors of intelligent agents, and at the same time specifying what we want such systems to do. It is of utmost importance that artificial intelligent agents have their values aligned with human values, given the fact that we cannot expect an AI to develop our moral preferences simply because of its intelligence, as discussed in the Orthogonality Thesis. Perhaps this difficulty comes from the way we are addressing the problem of expressing objectives, values, and ends, using representational cognitive methods.
Expresión de la Interleucina 10 (IL-10) y el Factor de Crecimiento Transformante Beta (TGF-ß) en Mucosa Intestinal de Crías de Alpaca (Vicugna pacos)

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relative expression levels of cytokines IL-10 and TGF-β in the intestinal mucosa of clinically healthy alpacas from 2 to 47 days old. The animals were classified in three age groups (six animals per group): 2-8 days old (group 1), 10-21days old (group 2) and 26-47-days old (group 3), regardless sex or breed. The midportion of jejunum of each animal was collected; total RNA was extracted and then analyzed by real-time RT-PCR technique using IL-10 and TGF-β specific primers. The relative mRNA expression analysis was done using the comparative 2-ΔΔCt method. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) was used as housekeeping gene and jejunum of three 11-month-old fetuses were used as calibrators. The results showed that IL-10 mRNA expression levels were 7.21±1.02 (group 1), 13.53±1.26 (group 2), and 18.77±1.48 (group 3) times as expressed by the calibrate group with significant difference between age groups (p<0.05). Also, TGF-β mRNA expression levels were 2.18±0.23 (group 1), 3.03±0.18 (group 2), and 4.06±0.15 (group 3) times as expressed by the calibrate group with significant difference between age groups (p<0.05). The expression of IL-10 and TGF-β mRNA was age dependent, increasing significantly in older animals.
Late Summer Ornithological Inventories of Mt. Shunhuang and Mt. Dawei in Hunan,China

We inventoried the avifauna of two nature reserves in Hunan Province,China,from 21 August to 14 September 2002,recording 58 species at Shunhuang Shan Nature Reserve in southwest Hunan,and 43 species at Dawei Shan Nature Reserve in northeast Hunan. A voucher collection of 186 specimens representing 51 bird species was deposited at the University of Kansas Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center,with photographs documenting an additional 8 taxa. Most taxa had recently completed breeding,and 14 species of Palearctic migrants used the study sites as stopover areas or wintering grounds. We report range or elevational extensions for Grey-chinned Minivet (Pericrocotus solaris),Little Forktail (Enicurus scouleri),and Spotted Forktail (Enicurus maculatus).
Transformación genética mediada por Agrobacterium tumefaciens de suspensiones celulares embriogénicas del cultivar híbrido de plátano FHIA 21(AAAB)

The genetic improvement of plantain and banana is of great importance for its level of consumption on a world-wide scale. Genetic transformation constitutes one alternative for genetic improvement and has complemented traditional techniques. In this work some parameters of genetic transformation of plantain were studied by means of transient expression of â-glucoronidase in the hybrid cultivar FHIA-21(AAAB) by Agrobacterium tumefaciens. A study with the β -Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains AT-2260 and EHA-105, both with the plasmid pCAMBIA-3301 was done. A comparison between the time of infection and time of co-culture was studied. The strain of better behavior was EHA-105. In the study of the time of infection and co-culture, the best combination resulted to be the one with two hours of infection and six days of co-culture. Key words: At-2260, EHA-105, β -glucoronidase , Musa
Social Interaction in Fish: A Brief Review

Social behavior is a common phenomenon among vertebrates, notably in fish, birds and mammals. It has been evolved within the species purposefully to support effective foraging, predation avoidance and fitness. Although all animals have predilection to live in a group, it is very intense in a few species. In many fish species it is an obligatory behavior, whereas in many other fish species it is opportunistic during group foraging and predator avoidance. Fish express their social behavior by enhancing the locomotor activity. The synchronization in locomotor activity reflects their social behavior based on interaction among members of the same species through sensory cues, like vision and olfaction (pheromones); and also is based on phenotypic characters, such as body size, body color and gender. It has also been reported that day and night cycle affects their social behavior. Study of inter-individual interaction under laboratory conditions often helps to understand intricacies of social behavior. The factors, such as group and group size may influence circadian periodicity in fish under different environmental conditions. In summary, such studies come under the fold of interesting researches in the realm of fish biology.
Untersuchung der Kationenfiltermechanismen in Aquaporin-1

In the present work, the role of two highly conserved constrictions (ar/R-region and NPA-region) in Aquaporin-1 (AQP1) cation exclusion mechanism is described by mutational analysis of rat AQP1. New mutations in the NPA-region were characterized and combined with mutations in the ar/R-region previously shown to cause proton leaks. Permeability for protons, (methyl-) ammonium, potassium and sodium was tested using phenotypic Saccharomyces cerevsiae growth assays. Measurements for permeability of water, urea and glycerol were performed in Xenopus laevis oocyte swelling assays. Asparagine to aspartate exchange in the NPA-region caused a sodium leak. Combined mutations in both regions showed permeability for H+, Na+, K+ and NH4+; water permeability was decreased by 80%. It was shown that cation exclusion in AQP1 is a synergistic process of both constrictions whereby the NPA region filters K+ and Na+ as well as H+ to a certain extent and the ar/R-region completes the proton filtration.
Scaling Femininity: Production of Semiotic Economy in the South Korean Cosmetics Industry

The practice of attaching inventive labels for things with a wide spectrum of selections to choose from is a widespread marketing practice. This article examines how unusual “fancy” color names are used in the South Korean cosmetics industry. Selecting and comparing the semiotic composition of color names of four companies operating within a single cosmetics corporation, this article reveals how fancy color term formations ideologically constructed in order to represent color function so as to lay the ground for social semiosis. Color terms in contemporary mediatized interactional settings work to mark and distinguish shades but, further, to provide basis for the characterization of commodities. What is shown is that commodity color terms for female cosmetics entail a scaling of femininity and that this scaling also relates a rescaling of those who can purchase such verbalizable colors.
MOLECULAR FINGERPRINTING AND MARKER-ASSISTED SELECTION IN CITRUS SPECIES

Nineteen citrus cultivars were collected; their fingerprint and molecular markers were developed to assist selection for these cultivars. In this study, RAPD was used for the identification of markers associated with Citrus taxa genotypes using 18 arbitrary 10-mer primers. Primers OPA19, OP-C09, OP-D15, OP-G17, OP-L13 and OP-L16 showed monomorphic fragments with no detected polymorphism. The results of primers OP-B07, OP-B11, OP-12, OP-C10, OP-C13 and OP-L20 gave polymorphic fragments with different molecular sizes. No taxa- specific markers were observed for these primers. Primers OP-C15, OP-D01, OP-D07, OPF06, OP-L12 and OP-Z03 showed taxaspecific markers. PCR reaction was conducted using five ISSR primers. Only two primers HB14 and HA98 showed 100% polymorphic differences among the cultivars, while three primers exhibited high polymorphism such as HB12 (94%) and HA99 (93%). Two types of pairs of restriction enzymes, Mse1 and PstI, MseI and EcoRI, were used to digest the genomic DNA which was used for AFLP analysis. The three Citurs taxa were separated into two clusters; the first cluster included Balady mandarine and Lime, while the second cluster included Balady orange in all four AFLP combinations.
Clearance of senescent decidual cells by uterine natural killer cells drives endometrial remodeling during the window of implantation

In cycling human endometrium, menstruation is followed by rapid estrogen-dependent growth. Upon ovulation, progesterone and rising cellular cAMP levels activate the transcription factor Forkhead box O1 (FOXO1) in endometrial stromal cells (EnSCs), leading to cell cycle exit and differentiation into decidual cells that control embryo implantation. Here we show that FOXO1 also causes acute senescence of a subpopulation of decidualizing EnSCs in an IL-8 dependent manner. Selective depletion or enrichment of this subpopulation revealed that decidual senescence drives the transient inflammatory response associated with endometrial receptivity. Further, senescent cells prevent differentiation of endometrial mesenchymal stem cells in decidualizing cultures. As the cycle progresses, IL-15 activated uterine natural killer (uNK) cells selectively target and clear senescent decidual cells through granule exocytosis. Our findings reveal that acute decidual senescence governs endometrial rejuvenation and remodeling at embryo implantation, and suggest a critical role for uNK cells in maintaining homeostasis in cycling endometrium.
IN-VITRO PERMEATION OF ANTIOXIDENT ANALOGS FOR DIABETIC VASCULAR DISEASE

1 General Introduction Oxidative stress damages lipids, protein, enzymes, carbohydrate and DNA that could lead to cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and aging. Antioxidant neutralizes free radicals by donating one of their own electrons and stopping the chain reaction. Antioxidant themselves do not become free radicals by donating an electrons because they are stable in either form. The supposed mechanisms for prophylaxis may include enhanced enzymatic detoxification of harmful compounds and inhibition of their binding to cellular DNA [1]. Many of the benefits derived from intake of such diets may be the result of synergism between natural antioxidants and the better known vitamin antioxidants. Necessity and superiority of formulated antioxidants over dietary antioxidants is well described; however, the oral bioavailability issues remain unaddressed. The dietary antioxidant bioavailability is dependent on a number of factors like food processing, food deprivation, stability of the antioxidant, stabilizing effect of food matrix to restrain the release of lipophilic antioxidants, the isomeric form present in it especially in case of carotenoids and the conjugated form in which it is present apart from the physicochemical and biopharmaceutical properties of the active agent. The problems associated with diabetes are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease involves nephropathy and retinopathy complications resulting cardiovascular disease leading cause of death in the diabetic population [2, 3]. The diabetes control and complications needed alternative treatment strategies, many researchers demonstrate oxidative stress induced by hyperglycemia generation of free radicals leads to development and progression of diabetes [4]. Excess production of these free radicals results in vascular dysfunction, damage to cellular proteins, membrane lipids and nucleic acids. It clears that antioxidants might be an effective strategy for reducing these problems. Therefore, for effective approach with new strategies the antioxidants should be implemented in the treatment of diabetes [5]. Transdermal drug delivery offers an alternative route for free radical scavenger administration by the help of chemical penetration enhancers [6]. Novel drug delivery systems (NDDS) have an enormous impact on medical technology, significantly improving the performance of drugs in terms of efficacy, safety and patient compliance. NDDS can greatly improve the delivery of drugs which are poorly bioavailable due to their unfavorable physicochemical or pharmacokinetic parameters. The presented works have utilized homogenizer to produce -Carotene nanoemulsion from biologically inspired biopolymer Hyaluronic acid (HA) and poly lactic acid (PLA) composite with active biomolecule (Beta-carotene) by the help of emulsifier (Tween20) with chemical permeation enhancer ((CPE) oleic acid). The traditional permeation experimental apparatus using Franz diffusion cells provides a reliable in vitro technique for estimating the permeation of drugs through the membrane.
Development of tools for tracebility and for assessing the genetic impact of aquaculture

Overexploitation of natural food resources, among which marine resources, put in serious risk the survival of many species and its availability as human food. Reduction of harvest, restocking with farmed fish and farming as alternative source of product, are commonly used to grant high quality food in a sustainable way. Nevertheless, the last two solutions have potential side effects, among which the genetic impact on natural populations that are involved in restocking actions or escapees from fattening cages and farms. Study the genetic structure of the species in the wild and farming environment is a key aspect to understand the real risks related to aquaculture. At the same time, genetic tools developed in the process can be used to trace wild and farmed origin of fish product, which is an aspect that is gaining great interest among consumers. In the study presented in the thesis, genetic analysis based on RAD genotyping allowed the study of more than 1000 wild and farmed samples with 1216 SNP. The results obtained suggest a subdivision of natural samples in four genetically distinct groups: Atlantic, West Mediterranean, Ionian Sea and Aegean Sea. The analysis carried out on many European broodstocks revealed a higher genetic differentiation compared to wild groups, probably due to founder effects and genetic drift; broodstocks are characterized by lower genetic variability, that in some cases fell below the minimum threshold to avoid inbreeding; finally, some of the broodstocks showed genetic traits that could make offspring unfit to the natural environment they would find in case of restocking of escapees. Comparing wild and farmed groups stimulated a discussion on the potential impact of aquaculture on natural populations, considering the reduction in fitness and the loss of inter/intra groups genetic variability, that cause a loss in long-term adaptation potential. The analytical techniques used and the results obtained are important for the development of gilthead sea bream aquaculture in Europe and for the correct management and protection of natural populations from the areas involved in production.
The role of Glypican 4 during mouse brain development

To investigate the role of Glypican 4 (Gpc4) during mouse brain development, a loss-of-function line was created which shows severe forebrain defects including holoprosencephaly and cyclopia. The loss of Gpc4 causes a truncation of Sonic hedgehog expression domains in the forebrain and impaired Hedgehog signaling activity in vitro. Furthermore, Gpc4 knockdown in mouse embryonic stem cells impairs the exit from the pluripotent state which is phenocopied by the inhibition of Fgf-signaling. These data suggest a role of Gpc4 as a positive modulator of Hedgehog- and Fgf-signaling during forebrain development.
Pest categorisation of Ips typographus

Abstract The Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of the eight‐toothed spruce bark beetle, Ips typographus L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae), for the EU. I. typographus is a well‐defined and distinguishable species, recognised mainly as a pest of spruce (Picea spp.) in Eurasia. It also attacks other conifers such as Abies spp. , Larix spp. , Pinus spp. and Pseudotsuga menziesii. Native to Eurasia, I. typographus has spread from the native range of spruce to new areas in Eurasia where spruce has been planted, and is now widely distributed throughout the EU (22 Member states). It is a quarantine pest listed in Annex IIB of Council Directive 2000/29/EC for Ireland and United Kingdom as protected zones. Coniferous wood, bark and wood packaging material are considered as pathways for the pest, which is also able to disperse by flight over tens of kilometres. The insects normally establish on fallen trees but can also mass‐attack healthy trees, killing millions of spruces. The males produce pheromones that attract conspecifics of both sexes. Each male attracts one to four females; each female produces 2–80 offspring. The insects also inoculate pathogenic fungi to their hosts. There are one to three generations per year. The wide current geographic range of I. typographus suggests that it is able to establish anywhere in the EU where its hosts are present. Sanitary thinning or clear‐felling are the major control methods. Pheromone mass trapping is presently judged unreliable because of the large dispersal capacity of the pest. Quarantine measures are implemented to prevent entry in yet uncolonised areas. All criteria assessed by EFSA for consideration as potential protected zone quarantine pest are met. The criteria for considering I. typographus as a potential regulated non‐quarantine pest are not met since plants for planting are not a pathway.