Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The evolutionary ecology of senescence

Summary 1Research on senescence has largely focused on its underlying causes, and is concentrated on humans and relatively few model organisms in laboratory conditions. To understand the evolutionary ecology of senescence, research on a broader taxonomic range is needed, incorporating field, and, where possible, longitudinal studies. 2Senescence is generally considered to involve progressive deterioration in performance, and it is important to distinguish this from other age-related phenotypic changes. We outline and discuss the main explanations of why selection has not eliminated senescence, and summarise the principal mechanisms thought to be involved. 3The main focus of research on senescence is on age-related changes in mortality risk. However, evolutionary biologists focus on fitness, of which survival is only one component. To understand the selective pressures shaping senescence patterns, more attention needs to be devoted to age-related changes in fecundity. 4Both genetic and environmental factors influence the rate of senescence. However, a much clearer distinction needs to be drawn between life span and senescence rate, and between factors that alter the overall risk of death, and factors that alter the rate of senescence. This is particularly important when considering the potential reversibility and plasticity of senescence, and environmental effects, such as circumstances early in life. 5There is a need to reconcile the different approaches to studying senescence, and to integrate theories to explain the evolution of senescence with other evolutionary theories such as sexual and kin selection.
Stoichiometry and population dynamics

Population dynamics theory forms the quantitative core from which most ecologists have developed their intuition about how species interactions, heterogeneity, and biodiversity play out in time. Throughout its development, theoretical population biology has built on variants of the Lotka–Volterra equations and in nearly all cases has taken a single-currency approach to understanding population change, abstracting populations as aggregations of individuals or biomass. In this review, we explore how depicting organisms as built of more than one thing (for example, C and an important nutrient, such as P) in stoichiometrically explicit models results in qualitatively different predictions about the resulting dynamics. Fundamentally, stoichiometric models incorporate both food quantity and food quality effects in a single framework, allow key feedbacks such as consumer-driven nutrient recycling to occur, and generally appear to stabilize predator–prey systems while simultaneously producing rich dynamics with alternative domains of attraction and occasionally counterintuitive outcomes, such as coexistence of more than one predator species on a single-prey item and decreased herbivore performance in response to increased light intensity experienced by the autotrophs. In addition to the theoretical background, we also review recent laboratory and field studies considering stoichiometric effects on autotroph–herbivore systems, emphasizing algae–Daphnia interactions. These studies support the predictions of stoichiometric theory, providing empirical evidence for alternative stable states under stoichiometric constraints, for negative effects of solar radiation on herbivores via stoichiometric food quality, and for diversity-enhancing effects of poor food quality. Stoichiometric theory has strong potential for both quantitative and qualitative improvements in the predictive power of population ecology, a major priority in light of the multivariate anthropogenic and natural perturbations experienced by populations. However, full development and testing of stoichiometric population dynamics theory will require greater intellectual tolerance and exchange between researchers working in ecosystem and population ecology.
Sesquiterpene coumarins from the fruits of Ferula badrakema

From the fruits of Ferula badrakema (Kos.-Pol.) (Umbelliferae), five known sesquiterpene coumarins (conferone, mogoltacin, feselol, ferocaulidin and ligupersin A) were isolated for the first time, using silica gel column chromatography and preparative thin-layer chromatography. The structures were characterized by 1D and 2D NMR experiments.
α-Subunit selective modulators of GABAA receptor function as CNS therapeutics

γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter within the CNS. Many drugs, including the benzodiazepines, exert their effects by modulating the GABAA receptor complex, but side effects are common and reflect, in part, poor subunit selectivity. The subunits are arranged into heteropentamers and this produces a rich diversity of GABAA receptor subtypes, which are potential targets for treating a variety of CNS disorders including epilepsy, anxiety and insomnia, as well as for ameliorating deficiencies arising from neurodegeneration, such as cognitive impairment. The identification of new ligands with improved subunit selectivity should reduce or abolish some of the side effects observed with current drugs, such as tolerance, dependence and withdrawal. This article focuses on new ligands that are reported to selectively recognise particular α-subunits of GABAA receptors and may thereby offer improved treatments for CNS disorders. Only patents and literature since 1998 are necessarily included, although some earlier reports and reviews are also cited. Several publications and patent applications since 1998 disclose new compounds that modulate GABAA receptor function without mentioning whether they have α-subunit selectivity; these compounds, like those known to interact with sites on other GABAA subunits (particularly β), are not within the scope of this review.
DYNAMIC MODELS OF ENERGY ALLOCATION AND INVESTMENT

In dynamic models of energy allocation, assimila ted energy is alloc ated to reproduction, somatic growth , maintenance or storage, and the allocation pattern can change with age . The expected evolutionary outcome is an optimal allocation patte rn, but this depends on the environment experienced during the evolutiona ry pro cess and on the fitness costs and benefits incurred by allocating resources in dif ferent ways. Here we review existing treatments
Synthesis of α-gal epitopes (Galα1-3Galβ1-4GlcNAc-R) on human tumor cells by recombinant α1,3galactosyltransferase produced in Pichia pastoris

This study describes the processing of human tumor cells or cell membranes to express alpha-gal epitopes (Galalpha1-3Gal-beta1-4GlcNAc-R) by the use of New World monkey (marmoset) recombinant alpha1,3galactosyltransferase (ralpha1,3GT), produced in the yeast Pichia pastoris. Such tumor cells and membranes may serve, in cancer patients, as autologous tumor vaccines that are targeted in vivo to antigen-presenting cells by the anti-Gal antibody. This ralpha1,3GT lacks transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains, ensuring its solubility without detergent. It is effectively produced in P. pastoris under constitutive expression of the P(GAP) promoter and is secreted into the culture medium in a soluble, truncated form fused to a (His)(6) tag. This tag enables the simple affinity purification of ralpha1,3GT on a nickel-Sepharose column and elution with imidazole. The purified enzyme appears in SDS-PAGE as two bands with the size of 40 and 41 kDa and displays the same acceptor specificity as the mammalian native enzyme. ralpha1,3GT is very effective in synthesizing alpha-gal epitopes on membrane-bound carbohydrate chains and displays a specific activity of 1.2 nM membrane bound alpha-gal epitopes/min/mg. Incubation of very large amounts of human acute myeloid leukemia cells (1 x 10(9 )cells) with neuraminidase, ralpha1,3GT, and UDP-Gal resulted in the synthesis of approximately 6 x 10(6 )alpha-gal epitopes per cell. Effective synthesis of alpha-gal epitopes could be achieved also with as much as 2 g cell membranes prepared from the tumor of a patient with ovarian carcinoma. These data imply that ralpha1,3GT produced in P. pastoris is suitable for the synthesis of alpha-gal epitopes on bulk amounts of tumor cells or cell membranes required for the preparation of autologous tumor vaccines.
Interactions between Ants and Non‐myrmecochorous Fruits in Miconia (Melastomataceae) in a Neotropical Savanna

The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of ants as secondary seed dispersers of six primarily bird‐dispersed Miconia species in the cerrados of southeastern Brazil. Vertebrate exclosure and seed germination experiments were performed for M. albicans, M. alborufescens, M. corallina, M. ferruginata, M. ibaguensis, and M. irwinii. Excluding vertebrates did not significantly alter fruit removal rate for any of the Miconia species relative to open controls. Fruits on stalks and fallen fruits were removed and transported to nests mainly by species of Atta, Acromyrmex, and Ectatomma (dispersal distance ranging from 0.1 to 45.2 m), while Camponotus ants tended to be observed removing the fruit pulp (seed cleaning) where the fruits were found. Seed manipulation by Atta decreased germination of M. irwinii, but not M. ferruginata. Germination did not occur in intact fruits, and thus seed cleaning was an important service provided by the ants. Ant nest soils did not inhibit germination of any of the Miconia species, suggesting they are a good substrate for long‐lived Miconia seeds. We conclude that ant activity could have important effects on the fate of Miconia seeds adapted for bird dispersal.
Combinations of plant-derived compounds against Campylobacter in vitro

Campylobacter occur in fresh retail poultry products as a result of their colonization of the gastro-intestinal tract of chickens during growth. Feed additives could be used for suppression of Campylobacter levels in the chickens prior to slaughter. To address this opportunity, feed manufacturers are targeting natural antimicrobials from plant material as new forms of consumer-accepted feed additives. However, to be practical, these natural antimicrobials must be effective at low concentrations. The current study has validated an improved laboratory method to study minimal inhibitory concentrations of plant compounds and their combinations against Campylobacter. The assay was shown to be valid for testing lipid-soluble and water-soluble plant extracts and byproducts from the food industry. The study screened 29 extracts or plant-derived compounds and their mixtures for anti-Campylobacter activity using a laboratory assay. Combinations of oregano, lactic acid, and sorghum byproduct showed effective synergy in anti-Campylobacter activity. The synergies allowed a large reduction in the concentration of the individual compounds needed to kill the bacteria with an 80% reduction in concentration being achieved for oregano essential oil. The assay gives rise to further opportunities for the testing of a greater range of combinations of plant-derived compounds and other natural antimicrobials. The method is robust, simple, and easily automated, and it could be used to adjust the cost of feed formulations by reducing costs associated with antimicrobial feed additives.
Etude quantitative de composes terpeniques, norisoprenoides et de leurs precurseurs dans diverses varietes de raisins [carotenoides].

Les composes terpeniques et norisoprenoides en C 13 libres et glycosyles sont doses dans les baies de six varietes de Vitis vinifera de cuve apres extraction et separation sur Amberlite XAD 2. Les composes libres sont analyses directement par chromatographie en phase gazeuse (CPG). Les composes glycosyles sotn soumis a une hydrolyse enzymatique, les aglycones liberes sont egalement ananlyses par CPG
Life history strategy and impacts of environmental variability on early life stages of two marine fishes in the North Sea: an individual-based modelling approach

We employed a suite of coupled models to estimate the influence of environmental variability in the North Sea on early life stages of sprat (Sprattus sprattus), a small pelagic clupeid, and Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), a demersal ga- doid. Environmentally driven changes in bottom-up processes were projected to impact the survival and growth of eggs and larvae of these marine fish species in markedly different ways. We utilized a spatially explicit, individual-based model (IBM) to estimate larval fish survival and a 3D ecosystem model (ECOSMO) to provide variable prey fields. The model was applied to each of 3 years (1990, 1992, 1996) specifically characterized by interannual differences in water tempera- ture in late winter and spring. Our results indicated that an important mechanism connecting environmental factors to larval fish survival was the match-mismatch dynamics of first-feeding larvae and their prey, which was species-specific because of (i) differences in the timing and locations of spawning, (ii) the duration of endogenously feeding life stages, and (iii) prey thresholds required for larval survival. Differences in transport processes also played an important role for the potential survival of larvae of both species.
Seasonal dynamics of the cabbage armyworm (Mamestra brassicae (L.)) and the bright-line brown-eyes moth ( Mamestra oleracea (L.)) in Slovenia

Devetak M. , Bohinc T. , Kac M. , Trdan S. , 2014. Seasonal dynamics of the cabbage armyworm ( Mamestra brassicae [L.]) and the bright-line brown-eyes moth ( Mamestra oleracea [L.]) in Slovenia . Hort. Sci. (Prague), 41: 80–88. The cabbage armyworm ( Mamestra brassicae L.) and the bright-line brown-eyes moth ( Mamestra oleracea L.) are polyphagous insect species. From 2008 to 2010, we monitored the seasonal dynamics of both pests in two locations in Slovenia, Ljubljana and the Nova Gorica region. Pheromone traps (VARL + type) were used to precisely determine the occurrence of adults, i.e., the beginning and end of generations and the peaks of the populations. This allowed us to examine the relationship between the quantity of pests, average daily air temperature and average daily precipitation. Our results established that there were two generations of Mamestra brassicae per year in both locations; however, the seasonal dynamics of Mamestra oleracea was not as clear due to low trap catch. During 2008–2010 in Ljubljana, the average temperature during the peaks of the first generation of M. brassicae ranged from 16–19°C (sum of effective temperatures (SET) from 250°C to 375°C) and 20°C (SET from 986°C to 1,290°C) during the peaks of the second generation. We found no correlation between the average number of cabbage armyworm adults during the peaks of both generations and the mean air temperature 35 and 70 days prior to the peaks.
Penerapan Sistem Olah Tanah dan Pemulsaan Pada Tebu untuk Pengendalian Nematoda Parasit Tumbuhan Dominan Application of Tillage and Mulching Systems on Sugarcane to Control the Dominant Plant Parasitic Nematodes

Conventional tillage system practices for a long time can reduce soil qualities because of soil erosion, soil compaction and depleting of soil organic matter. Conservation tillage such as No-tillage system can be applied as an alternative technique to rehabilitate soil degradation problems. This research is a part of a long term study of soil rehabilitation that was conducted from 2010 till now, in PT GMP, Central Lampung. Sampling of nematodes was done on April 2013 when the second ratoon RGM 00-838 variety of sugarcane was 9 months old. The aim of this research was to study the effect of tillage and mulching systems on the abundance of several dominant plant parasitic nematodes. Split plot experimental design was applied on this research. Tillage system as the main plots consisted of intensive tillage and no-tillage systems, while mulching system as the sub-plots consisted of no-mulch and mulching with 80 ton ha -1 of fresh bagasee. Nematodes were collected from 0-20 cm deep of soil and extracted by sieving and centrifugation with sugar solution methods at the Plant Pest and Disease Laboratory, University of Lampung. The results of this research showed that there were eleven plant parasitic and seven free-living nematode genera inhabited the PT GMP sugarcane plantation. The three plant parasitic nematode genera dominant were Hoplolaimus, Xiphinema, and Hemicriconemoides. No-tillage system effectively reduce the abundance of Xiphinema and , mulching with bagasse reduced the abundance of Hemicriconemoides. Meanwhile, mulching on No-tillage system more effective to reducing the abundance of Hoplolaimus compared to intensive tillage system. This results suggested that the No-tillage with bagasse mulching system was one of alternative techniques to control plant parasitic nematodes pest of sugarcane plantation. Keywords : Tillage, mulching, sugarcane, plant parasitic nematodes, abundance.
Compensatory mechanisms for reproductive costs in the dioecious tree Salix integra.

In dioecious plants, females often incur greater reproductive costs than males, owing to the production of seed. This has led to evolution of cost-compensatory mechanisms in females. In trees, however, reproductive cost and compensatory mechanisms are not always detectable, probably because costs and compensation traits change with time, plant size, and modular level (i.e., individual shoots and whole plants). Herein we investigated sex-specific reproductive allocation, growth, and carbon acquisition mechanisms at different hierarchical levels in a dioecious tree, Salix integra Thunb. At both shoot and whole-plant levels, females invested more resources into reproduction than males, but without an associated reduction in vegetative growth, suggesting compensatory mechanisms in females. Females had greater biomass allocation to photosynthetic organs and higher photosynthetic rates than males. Although photosynthetic rates decreased with age, higher shoot turnover in females maintained higher productivity b.
The population genetics of haplo-diploids and X-linked genes

From the available electrophoretic data, it is clear that haplodiploid insects have a much lower level of genetic variability than diploid insects, a difference that is only partially explained by the social structure of some haplodiploid species. The data comparing X-linked genes and autosomal genes in the same species is much more sparse and little can be inferred from it. This data is compared with theoretical analyses of X-linked genes and genes in haplodiploids. (The theoretical population genetics of X-linked genes and genes in haplodiploids are identical.) X-linked genes under directional selection will be lost or fixed more quickly than autosomal genes as selection acts more directly on X-linked genes and the effective population size is smaller. However, deleterious disease genes, maintained by mutation pressure, will give higher disease incidences at X-linked loci and hence rare mutants are easier to detect at X-linked loci. Considering the forces which can maintain balanced polymorphisms, there are much stronger restrictions on the fitness parameters at X-linked loci than at autosomal loci if genetic variability is to be maintained, and thus fewer polymorphic loci are to be expected on the X-chromosome and in haplodiploids. However, the mutation-random drift hypothesis also leads to the expectation of lower heterozygosity due to the decrease in effective population size. Thus the theoretical results fit in with the data but it is still subject to argument whether selection or mutation-random drift are maintaining most of the genetic variability at X-linked genes and genes in haplodiploids.
Interactive effects of high temperature and elevated carbon dioxide concentration on cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]

Limitations in carbohydrate supplies have been implicated as a factor responsible for reproductive failure under heat stress. Heat stress affects two stages of reproductive development in cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. ], and genotypes are available with tolerance and sensitivity to heat during these different stages. The objectives of this study were to determine the responses of these cowpea lines to ambient and elevated [CO2], under heat stress and optimal temperature, and test whether differences in carbohydrate supplies due to genotypes, CO2 enrichment and heat stress are associated with differences in sensitivity to heat during reproductive development. Plants were grown in reach-in growth chambers and subjected to day/night temperatures of either 33/20 or 33/30°C, and [CO2] levels of either 350 or 700 μmol mol-1. Under intermediate night temperature (33/20°C), all lines set substantial numbers of pods. Under high night temperature (33/30°C) with either ambient or elevated [CO2], one heat-sensitive line produced no flowers and the other set no pods, whereas the heat-tolerant line abundantly set pods. High night temperature reduced the overall carbohydrate content of the plants, especially peduncle sugars, and caused decreases in photosynthetic rates. The high pod set of the heat-tolerant line, under high night temperature, was associated with higher levels of sugars in peduncles compared with the heat-sensitive lines. The heat-tolerant line accumulated substantial shoot biomass, exhibited less accumulation of starch in leaves, and possibly had less down-regulation of photosynthesis in response to CO2 enrichment and heat stress than the heat-sensitive lines. Elevated [CO2] resulted in higher overall carbohydrate levels in heat-sensitive lines (starch in leaves, stems and peduncles), but it did not increase their heat tolerance with respect to flower production or pod set. Heat-induced damage to floral buds and anthers in the sensitive lines was associated with low sugars levels in peduncles, indicating that heat had greater effects on assimilate demand than on leaf assimilate supply. The heat-tolerant line was the most responsive genotype to elevated [CO2] with respect to pod production under either high or intermediate temperatures.