Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CRUDE OIL DEGRADATION BY FILAMENTOUS FUNGI

The common occurrence of tar lumps in littoral areas, floating on the open ocean and inland seas, has been well documented (1, 2 ). These oil pollutants are an immediate hazard to water fowl and other marine life ( 3 4). Persistent tars might also be oxidized to substances that are a peril to food chains in the sea. It is inevitable with the increased off-shore drilling and shipping of oil that accidents occur and mandatory that these pollutants be removed from the environment as quickly and safely as possible. The natural pathway for pollutant mineralization is through microbial action. More efficient biodegradation of oil in the environment might be accomplished by increasing the number of pollutant-utilizing microbes and/or altering the environment to favor the growth of hydrocarbon-degrading microbes present in the biosphere. We have been investigating the microbes in marine areas that utilize hydrocarbons as a source of carbon and energy. During these studies we isolated several fungi by enrichment culture that grew extensively on crude oils. Three of these isolates, identified as Cunninghamella elegans, Aspergillus versicolor, and a Eupenicillium sp. , grew readily on paraffin-base crude oil resulting in a virtually complete disappearance of the oil within 7 days at 26°. Enrichment for crude oil-degrading microbes was carried out by placing marine mud in a 12.5 x 6.5 cm crystallization dish to a depth of 1.5 to 2 cm and adding 5 ml of crude oil to the surface. Sea water was added periodically to prevent drying. After incubation at 26° for 3-4 weeks samples were taken from the oil/soil interface and streaked on the surface of agar in Felsen (quadrant) perri dishes. The perri dishes were prepared with sea water agar (2.0%) supplemented with phosphate and nitrate to the level previously described (5). The sea water agar and minerals were sterilized separately.
Benthic and planktonic primary production along a nutrient gradient in Green Bay, Lake Michigan, USA

Abstract Primary production in lakes occurs in both planktonic (water column) and benthic (bottom) habitats. How whole-lake primary production is distributed between these 2 habitats—referred to as autotrophic structure—is a key ecosystem property. Empirical research examining the balance between benthic and planktonic primary production in lakes is scarce, and how autotrophic structure changes across depth, nutrient, water clarity, and biological invasion gradients is unclear. Therefore, we are ill equipped to anticipate ecosystem-level responses to environmental change. We assessed the magnitude of offshore planktonic, nearshore planktonic, and nearshore benthic gross primary production (GPP) along a gradient of nutrients, water clarity, and Cladophora biomass in Green Bay, Lake Michigan, USA, during summer 2010, 2011, and 2012. Benthic and planktonic GPP varied strongly along the trophic gradient. Planktonic GPP increased with nutrients status, whereas benthic GPP decreased. From shore to 10 m depth, autotrophic structure shifted from planktonic dominance near the mouth of the Fox River (95% planktonic) to a mix of benthic and planktonic GPP 35 km from the mouth of the Fox (∼40% benthic). The steep bathymetry at more-distant sites reduced the relative importance of benthic GPP at the whole-ecosystem level. Our work highlights the dual-pathway (i.e., benthic and planktonic) nature of lentic food webs from the perspective of GPP, and shows how both trophic status and bathymetry affect autotrophic structure.
A survey of the effects of high temperature during grain filling on yield and quality of 75 wheat cultivars

The responses of 75 cultivars of wheat to a short (3 day) period of very high temperature (40¦C max.) applied at either 10 or 30 days after anthesis were examined under controlled conditions. The effect of high temperature on a number of yield (grain number, individual kernel mass and N per kernel) and quality components (protein composition, apparent amylose content and noodle swelling power) is described for the sample population and for a number of varieties which were either particularly heat tolerant or sensitive. Genotypic variation of response to high temperature of the order of 20% was recorded for the majority of yield and quality components. The fact that responses of this magnitude were caused by exposure to high temperatures lasting only 5 to 6% of the grain filling period demonstrates the extent to which short periods of very high temperature may affect wheat yield and quality.
An Acetic-Acid Type Climax Community and its Changes Aroused by COD/SO42- Ratio in an Acidogenic Sulfate-Reducing Reactor

The objective of this study is to investigate the microbial community and its characteristics changes aroused by the ratios of COD/SO42- in the acidogenic-phase reactor of two-phase anaerobic process. A continuous-flow lab-scale test was conducted in an acidogenic sulfate-reducing reactor with molasses wastewater as sole organic carbon source and sodium sulfate as the electron acceptor. The experimental results showed that Acetic-acid Type Microbial Metabolism resulted in the formation of An Acetic-acid Type Climax Community. The change of the COD/SO42- ratio caused an ecological succession from a stable climax community at moderate and high COD/SO42- ratios to a sub-stable climax community at a lower COD/SO42- ratio. But Acetic-acid Type Microbial Metabolism kept unchanged during this course, which indicated the stability of Acetic-acid Type Climax Community. The Acetic-acid Type Microbial Metabolism and Acetic-acid Type Climax Community were of typical characteristics in the acidogenic sulfate-reducing reactor.
Determinants of Dominance in Male Sticklebacks (Gasterosteus Aculeatus L.)

When two males of the three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus L.) in reproductive condition are placed in a tank of small size, one becomes dominant over the other in a very short time. In this way a group of isolated reproductive males were tested pairwise on their capacity to become dominant. It appeared that the males could be arranged in a linear order of dominance. Their rank was to some extent correlated with their territorial aggressiveness as assessed in other tests. Their experience in previous dominance tests played a more important role. The brightness of their colouration, however, was probably the most consistent and decisive determinant of dominance. The interaction of colour and experience could be traced in the outcome of the dominance tests. The occurrence of roundabout fighting is discussed.
The effects of arbuscular mycorrhizas on soil aggregation depend on the interaction between plant and fungal species.

• Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and roots mediate soil stabilization, although the mechanisms and how their interactions affect soil stabilization are not known. We tested the effects of specific plant-fungus combinations on aggregate stabilization, and whether hyphal length and root biomass determine stabilization, predicting that fungi producing more hyphae, and plants with higher root biomasses, would better stabilize soils. • The percentage of water-stable aggregates (%WSA1-2 mm ), hyphal lengths, and root biomass were measured from a five AMF × nine plant factorial experiment. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi with greater extradical mycelium production were represented by the Gigasporaceae and plants of high root biomass by grasses. Other taxa represented lower hyphal lengths and root biomass. • An interaction between symbionts with respect to %WSA1-2 mm was observed. Root biomass and total hyphal lengths were not positively correlated with %WSA. Combinations of grasses with Gigasporaceae fungi had the lowest %WSA. • Mechanisms underlying aggregation were not elucidated by measuring root biomass and total hyphal lengths alone, suggesting other physiological or architectural mechanisms may be responsible.
Toxic Effects of Cadmium on Three Generations of Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)

Abstract Three generations of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) were exposed to several concentrations of total cadmium (0.06–6.4 μg Cd/liter). Significant numbers of first- and second-generation adult males died during spawning at 3.4 μg Cd/liter. This concentration also significantly retarded growth of juvenile second- and third-generation offspring. The maximum acceptable toxicant concentration (MATC) for brook trout exposed to cadmium in Lake Superior water (hardness 44 mg/liter as CaCO 3, pH 7–8) lies between 1.7 and 3.4 μg Cd/liter. Cadmium-residue analyses of kidney, liver, gill, gonad, spleen, muscle, and red blood cells frown first- and second- generation trout indicated that kidney, liver, and gill tissue accumulated the greatest amounts of cadmium at each water exposure concentration. No significant increases in cadmium were measured in edible muscle at any of the cadmium water concentrations tested. Cadmium residues in kidney, liver, and gill tissue of fish frown all exposure concentrations .
Diversity of Floodplain Forests in the Igneada Region (NW Thrace - Turkey)

Diversity of Floodplain Forests in the Igneada Region (NW Thrace - Turkey) The work deals with the floodplain forests of the Igneada region (NW Trace, Turkey). 69 relevés were sampled from wet to mesic sites according to the Braun-Blanquet approach and analyzed using different multivariate methods. The dataset was divided into five groups (associations), which demonstrate the diversity of forests in the region. In the wettest sites, forests dominated by Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus angustifolia appear; on wet and nutrient rich sites along rivers there are forests dominated by Ulmus laevis and Fraxinus angustifolia; on wet and less nutrient rich sites Ulmus minor and Fraxinus angustifolia appear; on humid sites Fraxinus angustifolia and Carpinus betulus forests thrive and on mesic sites Carpinus betulus forests appear. The ecological conditions are estimated by bioindicator values and the gradient from wet and nutrient rich forests to mesic and nutrient poor forests is presented by numerical analysis. The species richness and geo-elemental structure for each community is evaluated. Finally, a syntaxonomical scheme is proposed and the following associations were determined Leucojo aestivi-Fraxinetum angustifoliae, Fraxino angustifoliae-Ulmetum laevis, Smilaco excelsae-Fraxinetum angustifoliae (Alno-Quercion roboris, Populetalia albae) and Geranio robertiani-Carpinetum betuli, Trachystemo orientalis-Carpinetum betuli (Castaneo-Carpinion betuli, Rhododendro pontici-Fagetalia orientalis) all within Querco-Fagetea. V delu obravnavamo vegetacijo poplavnih gozdov v Igneadi (SZ Trakija - Turčija). Opravili smo 69 popisov gozdov, ki se pojavljajo na mokrih, vlažnih in mezofilnih rastiščih. Gozdna vegetacija je razdeljena na pet skupin (asociacij), ki predstavljajo raznolikost teh gozdov v regiji. Na dobro namočenih rastiščih se pojavljajo gozdovi, kjer dominirata vrsti Alnus glutinosa in Fraxinus angustifolia; na mokrih in bogatih rastiščih najdemo gozdove vrst Ulmus laevis in Fraxinus angustifolia, na namočenih, vendar manj bogatih se pojavljajo gozdovi vrst Ulmus minor in Fraxinus angustifolia; na vlažnih rastiščih uspevajo gozdovi vrst Fraxinus angustifolia in Carpinus betulus, gozdovi vrste Carpinus betulus pa uspevajo na mezofilnih rastiščih. Ekološke razmere so bile opredeljene z bioindikatorskimi vrednostmi, gradient vlažnosti pa je predstavljen na podlagi numeričnih analiz. Primerjava obsega tudi bogastvo vrst različnih združb in njihovo geoelementno sestavo. Predlagana je tudi sintaskonomsko uvrstitev obravnavanih združb: Leucojo aestivi-Fraxinetum angustifoliae, Fraxino angustifoliae-Ulmetum laevis, Smilaco excelsae-Fraxinetum angustifoliae (Alno-Quercion roboris, Populetalia albae) in Geranio robertiani-Carpinetum betuli, Trachystemo orientalis-Carpinetum betuli (Castaneo-Carpinion betuli, Rhododendro pontici-Fagetalia orientalis) vse v okviru razreda Querco-Fagetea.
Relations between social rhythm, sleep phase, and minor psychiatric symptoms in healthy workers

The objective of this study was to determine the correlation of social rhythm, sleep phase, and exposure to light with in healthy workers exhibiting minor psychiatric symptoms. This was a cross-sectional study that included 143 healthy workers. Minor psychiatric symptoms, evaluated by SRQ-20; social rhythm by the SRM Scale; exposure to light and sleep variables, by MCTQ; correlations, analyzed by Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multivariate regression analysis utilized. Quantity of activities correlated with schooling and mean duration of sleep and, inversely, Mid-Sleep-on Free Days (MSF) and minor psychiatric symptoms; daily regularity correlated with age, minor psychiatric symptoms, and number of days worked; minor psychiatric symptoms correlated inversely with quantity of activities and regularity. Social rhythm variables had an inverse correlation with minor psychiatric symptoms. Minor psychiatric symptoms were explained by low levels of activity rather than by low regularity of social rhythm. Age, number of days worked per week, and minor psychiatric symptoms interfere with the regularity of social rhythm.
Reinforcement, Species, and Speciation: A Reply to Butlin

Many biologists would probably concede that there is little general agreement on the nature of sexually reproducing species. Similarly, as we noted in the opening paragraph of our recent paper on speciation by reinforcement (Spencer et al. 1986), there is probably little general agreement on the subject of speciation. Butlin (1987) made a number of criticisms of the species concept we use (the recognition concept of Paterson 1980), as well as of our model and its applicability to speciation theory. We deal first with the questions raised by Butlin about the relevance of our model and then turn to the more fundamental, but less immediate, debate about species concepts. Because we modeled the situation in which the hybrids between the two strains have zero fitness (what Butlin calls reproductive character displacement), Butlin considered our results "irrelevant" to the debate about reinforcement. We disagree with his distinction between reproductive character displacement and reinforcement (see below), viewing them as part of a single continuum to which we apply the name reinforcement. He then quoted papers by Crosby (1970), Caisse and Antonovics (1978), and Felsenstein (1981) as support for his definition of reinforcement. Even though their models did not permit he extinction of either population, the latter two papers, as well as Bossert (1963), showed that with greater hybrid fitness, reinforcement is much less likely. Thus, in order to give reinforcement every advantage and to test it where it is most likely to occur, we deliberately chose to model the subproblem in which the hybrid fitness is zero. This in no way reduces the model's relevance to reinforcement; indeed, it enhances it. Our model gave reinforcement the best-case situation (a hybrid fitness of zero, no interstrain competition, etc.), and even then we found that several additional conditions were necessary for reinforcement to occur. Crosby (1970) also found extinction to be a likely outcome: he was continually forced to add individuals to the rarer of the two strains in order to prevent its extinction. Moreover, he did so in a way that cannot be considered analogous to migration from outside the zone of sympatry. Hence, adding these results to our own, we feel completely justified in saying that when some of the hybrids urvive, reinforcement is even less likely than it is when hybrid fitness is zero. This is true whether one subscribes to a recognition species concept or not. Our model also did not cover parapatry (hybrid or tension zones). We agree that it would be interesting tomodel this, but on the basis of current evidence we do not expect such a model to provide support for speciation by reinforcement (see
Restoring Population Balance through Natural Enemy Introductions

Abstract This paper concentrates on biological control as a tool for restoring natural balance to disturbed populations. The focus is on using natural enemies against adventive pests. Of 1200 cases of biological control worldwide, ca. 200 have proved completely successful. In these cases, pest population densities have been reduced 100- to 10,000-fold. These reductions in density required from 6 to 13 host generations. Addition of natural enemies to pest-dominated systems also improves system diversity by reducing unnatural competition from the pest species.
Sporidial Mating-Type Ratios of Teliospores from Natural Populations of the Anther Smut Fungus Microbotryum (= Ustilago) violaceum

In the fungal plant pathogen Microbotryum violaceum, infection is achieved by the dikaryotic conjugation product between two haploid sporidia differing in mating type. Each diploid teliospore, the transmission unit, is heterozygous for the mating-type locus; therefore, germination and meiosis should produce haploid sporidia of both mating types. We investigated the mating-type ratios generated by growing sporidial colonies from single teliospores collected from six populations in two regions of northern Switzerland. One-third of the teliospores produced strongly or totally biased mating-type ratios. Usually, teliospores from a single fungal collection showed bias in both directions; however, in one population a consistent bias in one direction was found. Either more rapid replication of one mating type, perhaps on account of deficiency mutations, or a head start in replication can lead to the loss of one of the mating types after several cell cycles on laboratory medium. An experiment on replication rates of sporidia with the two different mating types confirmed that differential replication could lead to mating-type bias, although the observed difference in replication rates did not correlate with mating-type biases recorded from the teliospore from which these sporidial colonies originated. Teliospore collections from which we obtained only totally biased teliospore colonies in our survey formed conjugation hyphae when suspended on leaf tissue. Therefore, we suggest that, early after germination, meiotic products of both mating types must be present, and early self-conjugation is possible. A comparison of mating-type bias from colonies isolated 4 and 24 d after teliospore germination showed a significant change in the degree of bias, indicating that bias develops over time. Mating-type bias may influence the breeding system and the probability of self compared with outcross conjugations. However, infection initiation must take place quickly, before the flowers where spores arrive fall off the plant. Therefore, processes occurring early after spore deposition may be far more important for disease production than those that develop over several cycles of replication of the haploid sporidia.
EFFECTS OF THE SURFACTANTS ON THE CLEAVAGE AND FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE SEA URCHIN EMBRYOS II. DISTURBANCE IN THE ARRANGEMENT OF CORTICAL VESICLES AND CHANGE IN CORTICAL APPEARANCE

After fertilization, two types of cortical vesicles ware examined under the electron microscope (the cortical vesicle I and II) and the light microscope (pigment granules and another kind of vesicles). The cortical vesicle I corresponds to the pigment granule and the cortical vesicle II does to the other vesicle.
Editorial: Targeting Angiogenesis to Treat Autoimmune Diseases and Cancer

1 Immunotherapy Laboratory, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, Israel, 2 The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel, 3 Institute of Transfusion Medicine and Immunology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany, German Red Cross Blood Service Baden-Württemberg—Hessen, Mannheim, Germany, 5 Laboratory of Translational Cellular and Molecular Biomedicine, National Research Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russia, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United States
miR-142-3p Regulates BDNF Expression in Activated Rodent Microglia Through Its Target CAMK2A

Microglia, the innate immune effector cells of the mammalian central nervous system (CNS), are involved in the development, homeostasis, and pathology of CNS. Microglia become activated in response to various insults and injuries and protect the CNS by phagocytosing the invading pathogens, dead neurons, and other cellular debris. Recent studies have demonstrated that the epigenetic mechanisms ensure the coordinated regulation of genes involved in microglial activation. In this study, we performed a microRNA (miRNA) microarray in activated primary microglia derived from rat pup’s brain and identified differentially expressed miRNAs targeting key genes involved in cell survival, apoptosis, and inflammatory responses. Interestingly, miR-142-3p, one of the highly up-regulated miRNAs in microglia upon lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated activation, compared to untreated primary microglia cells was predicted to target Ca2+/calmodulin dependent kinase 2a (CAMK2A). Further, luciferase reporter assay confirmed that miR-142-3p targets the 3′UTR of Camk2a. CAMK2A has been implicated in regulating the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and long-term potentiation (LTP), a cellular mechanism underlying memory and learning. Given this, this study further focused on understanding the miR-142-3p mediated regulation of the CAMK2A-BDNF pathway via Cyclic AMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB) in activated microglia. The results revealed that CAMK2A was downregulated in activated microglia, suggesting an inverse relationship between miR-142-3p and Camk2a in activated microglia. Overexpression of miR-142-3p in microglia was found to decrease the expression of CAMK2A and subsequently BDNF through regulation of CREB phosphorylation. Functional analysis through shRNA-mediated stable knockdown of CAMK2A in microglia confirmed that the regulation of BDNF by miR-142-3p is via CAMK2A. Overall, this study provides a database of differentially expressed miRNAs in activated primary microglia and reveals that microglial miR-142-3p regulates the CAMK2A-CREB-BDNF pathway which is involved in synaptic plasticity.
Cross-Education Related to the Ipsilateral Limb Activity on Monopedal Postural Control of the Contralateral Limb: A Review

Cross-education is the effect whereby the ipsilateral limb training generates contralateral effects as part of motor tasks requiring strength and skills. However, it is not yet known if cross-education applies to postural control which could be essential as part of human motricity. Hence, this review addresses the possible effects of acute and chronic unilateral exercises (i.e., fatiguing exercises and regularly repeated/training exercises, respectively) on the contralateral monopedal postural control. Evidence suggests that fatiguing exercises disturb the contralateral monopedal postural control. This disturbance emanates from spinal and supra-spinal alterations which provokes changes to the motor function of the contralateral limb and degrades its postural control. Unilateral training produces cross-education related to postural control, especially when it includes balance exercises, but this remains to be tested when it includes resistance exercises. Mechanistic explanations are proposed to explain how neurophysiological changes operate in the disturbance or improvement of the contralateral monopedal postural control after unilateral fatiguing exercises or training exercises (respectively) of the lower-limb.