Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intraspecific and temporal variability in the diet composition of female polar bears in a seasonal sea ice regime

Predator foraging behaviour is influenced by a suite of intrinsic and extrinsic factors, including energetic requirements, resource availability, and habitat conditions. Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) are specialized predators of marine mammals and are adapted to a seasonal sea ice regime in much of their range. We used quantitative fatty acid signature analysis to estimate the diet composition of 374 female polar bears from 2004 to 2014 in western Hudson Bay, Canada. Ringed seal (Pusa hispida) was the dominant prey species followed by bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus) and harbour seal (Phoca vitulina), with minimal consumption of beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas), harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandica), and walrus (Odobenus rosmarus). Solitary adults and females supporting yearling cubs consumed more bearded seal than did subadults or females with cubs-of-the-year (COY). Subadults may be too small or inexperienced to capture bearded seals and females with COY may avoid offshore pack ice where densities o.
Screening of anticancer medicinal plants for secondary metabolites

Anticancer medicinal plants contain cancer healing property due to their bioactive secondary metabolites. In the present work, 23 anticancer medicinal plant species representing 10 families of Metachlamydeae were considered for qualitative assessment of the secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids, sterols, tannins, glycosides and saponins. All plant parts except the leaf of Leucas aspera gave positive responses to different alkaloid detecting reagents. For 6 other secondary metabolites 13, 14, 9, 15, 9 and 15 cases gave positive responses for flavonoid, sterol, resin, tannin, glycoside and saponin tests, respectively. Results of the screening work for secondary metabolites were discussed in relation to their abundance and distribution in different test plants and their organs.
Ouabain activation of MAPK not dependent of caveolae: involvement on adherens junctions redistribution

Previous studies have reported that the Na,K‐ATPase interacts with E‐cadherin to stabilize adherens junctions (AJ) and maintain the cell‐cell adhesion. In the other hands, several papers have demonstrated that the activation of signaling pathway through the cardiotonic steroids is dependent of caveolin‐1 and caveolae. Here, we have used ouabain and Caco‐2 cells, a human colorectal cancer cell that not express caveolin‐1 and not develop caveolae. We have showed that ouabain treatment (6 and 8h) resulted in significant redistribution of AJ proteins, E‐cadherin and β‐catenin from the cell‐cell contacts to the cytoplasm, concomitantly with decreased protein levels of the β1Na,K‐ATPase. Besides, ouabain treatment induced an increase of the phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2 protein, and the treatment with PD98059, a specific MAPK inhibitor abrogated this effect. Additionally, the MAPK inhibitor blocked the effect of ouabain treatment on AJ disassembly, indicating that activation of this kinase was the final event in this signaling cascade. Our findings strongly suggest that downregulation of the β1 Na,K‐ATPase and MAPK activation induced by ouabain cooperate together to mediate cell‐cell adhesion loss in Caco‐2. Also, we have demonstrated that the modulation of Na,K‐ATPase signaling pathway can be independent of caveolin‐1 and caveolae content. Supported: CNPq, FAPERJ, FAPEMIG, CAPES
Serum short chain fatty acids mediate hippocampal BDNF and correlate with decreasing neuroinflammation following high pectin fiber diet in mice

Introduction Dietary components, such as prebiotic fiber, are known to impact brain chemistry via the gut-brain axis. In particular, short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) generated from excessive soluble fiber consumption are thought to impact neuroimmune signaling and brain function through increased production of neurotropic factors. Given reports that high dietary fiber intake is associated with increased mental health and improved quality of life scores, we set out to identify whether changes in SCFA levels as a result of a high soluble fiber diet mediate hippocampal neuroinflammation and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in mice. Methods Adult male and female C57BL/6 mice were fed a 1-month high pectin fiber or cellulose-based control diet. Following 1 month of excessive pectin consumption, serum SCFAs were measured using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and hippocampal cytokines and BDNF were assessed via multiplex magnetic bead immunoassay. Results Pectin-based fiber diet increased circulating acetic acid in both sexes, with no effect on propionic or butyric acid. In the hippocampus, a high fiber diet decreased TNFa, IL-1ß, IL-6, and IFNγ and increased BDNF levels. Furthermore, increased SCFA levels were inversely correlated with neuroinflammation in the hippocampus, with acetic acid revealed as a strong mediator of increased BDNF production. Conclusion Collectively, these findings highlight the beneficial effects of fiber-induced molecular changes in a brain region known to influence mood- and cognition-related behaviors. Dietary composition should be considered when developing mental health management plans for men and women with an emphasis on increasing soluble fiber intake.
Development of new kabuli large-seeded chickpea materials with resistance to Ascochyta blight

Abstract. Appearance and size of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) seeds are key factors for the market in the Mediterranean Basin driven by consumer preferences. Hence, kabuli large seeds are sold on the market at higher price than the desi seeds. In this crop, Ascochyta blight (caused by Ascochyta rabiei (Pass.) Lab. ) is a serious disease causing major losses in yield. Thus, developing large-seeded kabuli cultivars resistant to blight would be of great importance to farmers. In this study, the use of transgressive inheritance to select new allelic combinations for seed size was applied to develop new chickpea materials with large seeds and resistance to blight. Crosses between five different advanced lines of kabuli chickpea genotypes with medium–large seed size and resistant to blight were performed. As a results of the selections carried out during 10 successive years, 11 F5:9 lines resistant to blight and with large seed size were selected to be released as future varieties. The markers SCY17590 and CaETR were employed to confirm blight resistance of the material developed.
Short Note: Cross-Species Amplification and Characterization of Pinus Chloroplast Microsatellite Markers in Cedrus deodara Roxb.

Abstract The study reports the transferability of chloroplast microsatellite markers developed for Pinus species to Cedrus deodara. A total of 49 primer pairs (both nuclear and chloroplast) of Pinus species were tested in C. deodara out of which 21 chloroplast primers showed positive amplification and 20 were found polymorphic. The primers were screened on 100 adult trees of two natural populations of C. deodara. Using twenty cpSSR primers, a total of 64 variants were found which combined in 70 different haplotypes. The total haplotype diversity in two populations was 0.860 and 0.876 with a mean of 0.868. These sets of markers can further be used for population genetic studies and characterization in C. deodara for which no cpSSR markers have been reported till date.
3D grid cells in human entorhinal cortex: Theoretical and methodological considerations and fMRI findings

Recent human functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and animal electrophysiology studies suggest that grid cells in entorhinal cortex are an efficient neural mechanism for encoding knowledge about the world, not only for spatial location but also for more abstract cognitive information. The world, be it physical or abstract, is often high-dimensional. However, grid cells have been mainly studied on a simple two-dimensional (2D) plane and little is known about how grid cells encode the three-dimensional (3D) physical space in which we live. This dearth of knowledge is partly due to the technical difficulty of recording freely moving animals in 3D. Here, we first developed interactive software to help researchers visualize 3D grid cells and predict their activity. This relies on the known property of grid cells where their activity is modulated by the movement direction of animals relative to the grid axis. We then searched for 3D grid cells in human entorhinal cortex using a novel 3D virtual reality paradigm and a new fMRI analysis method. We found that signals in the left entorhinal cortex were best explained by one particular 3D grid cell model a facecentred cubic lattice model. This is the first empirical evidence for 3D grid cells in the human brain, notwithstanding the inherent methodological limitations of fMRI. We believe that our findings and software serve as a useful initial stepping-stone for studying grid cells in realistic 3D worlds and also, potentially, for interrogating abstract high-dimensional cognitive processes.
The CLAVATA receptor FASCIATED EAR2 responds to different CLE peptides by signaling through different downstream effectors

Meristems contain groups of indeterminate stem cells that are critical for organ initiation throughout plant development. The shoot apical meristem (SAM) maintains itself and initiates all shoot organs, such as leaves, floral organs and axillary branch meristems. Development and balanced proliferation of the SAM is regulated by a feedback loop between CLAVATA (CLV) and WUSCHEL (WUS) signaling. CLV signaling is initiated by secretion of the CLV3 peptide ligand, which is perceived directly or indirectly by a number of Leucine-Rich-Repeat (LRR) receptor-like kinases, including CLV1 and BARELY ANY MERISTEM (BAM) 1-3, and RECEPTOR-LIKE PROTEIN KINASE 2 (RPK2), as well as the receptor-like protein CLV2 in a complex with the CORYNE (CRN) pseudokinase. However, CLV2, and its maize ortholog FASCIATED EAR2 (FEA2) appear to function in signaling by several related CLV3/EMBRYO-SURROUNDING REGION (CLE) peptide ligands, including CLV3. Nevertheless, it remains unknown how CLV2 or FEA2 transmit specific signals from distinct CLE peptides. Here we show that FEA2 is involved in signaling from at least 2 distinct CLE peptides, ZmCLE7, a maize CLV3 ortholog, and ZmFON2-LIKE CLE PROTEIN1 (ZmFCP1), a newly identified CLE peptide functioning in SAM regulation. Signaling from these 2 different CLE peptides appears to be transmitted through 2 different candidate downstream effectors, COMPACT PLANT2 (CT2), the alpha subunit of the maize heterotrimeric G protein, and maize CRN. Our data provide a novel framework to understand how diverse signaling peptides can activate different downstream pathways through common receptor proteins.
Impact of Wnt signalling on multipotent stem cell dynamics during Clytia hemisphaerica embryonic and larval development

The aim of this work was to extend our understanding of the mechanisms regulating stem cell formation, specification and differentiation by studies in the non-bilaterian metazoan model Clytia hemisphaerica. Clytia, like other hydrozoan cnidarians, possess a particular population of multipotent stem cells called interstitial cells (i-cells), present during larval development and in the adult medusa, which are able to give rise both to somatic cell types and to gametes.In bilaterian animals Wnt/β-catenin signalling regulates fundamental developmental processes such primary body axis specification, but also regulates stem cell proliferation, lineage specification and differentiation. I investigated the role of Wnt/β-catenin signalling in i-cell specification and differentiation. The results obtained suggest that Wnt/β-catenin signalling is involved in the last step of differentiation for certain neuronal cell types, but not for somatic cell fate choice. In the second part of my study I investigated the role of Wnt/β-catenin signalling in i-cell formation during embryogenesis. The results indicated that during normal development i-cell formation is Wnt/β-catenin independent and probably driven by inheritance of germ plasm containing localised mRNAs from the egg animal pole. In contrast in embryo re-patterning following embryo bisection, Wnt/β-catenin signalling appears to be necessary for de novo i-cell formation in the absence of germ plasm. Thus two distinct mechanisms can lead to i-cell formation during embryogenesis. Overall the results obtained provided a better picture of how i-cells and their derivatives arise during embryogenesis and larval development.
Broadband resonant elements for 5G reflectarray antenna design

The performance investigation of two novel resonant elements is presented in this work for 5G reflectarray antenna design. Two dual resonance elements with wide reflection phase range have been developed from a square patch element by a novel corner bending tactic. The reflection loss and reflection phase range performance of the proposed elements have been compared with conventional square patch element at 26 GHz. The results have shown a reflection phase swing of 629° and 632° for Bent Width and Bent Length elements respectively. The broadband features of proposed elements can radically improve the bandwidth performance of a reflectarray antenna.
Earthworms affect plant growth and resistance against herbivores: A meta-analysis

Subterranean detritivores such as earthworms can increase soil nutrient availability through their burrowing and casting activities. A number of recent studies have explored whether these changes caused by earthworms may in turn affect plant performance and resistance to herbivores, but no formal synthesis of this literature has been conducted to date. We tested for the effects of earthworms on plant growth, resistance and chemical defences against insect herbivores by performing a meta-analysis of the existing literature up to 2016. We also explored ecological factors that might explain among-studies variation in the magnitude of the earthworm effects on plant growth and resistance. We found that earthworm presence increases plant growth (by 20%) and nitrogen content (by 11%). Overall, earthworms did not affect plant resistance against chewing herbivores (caterpillars, slugs and rootworms), and even led to a 22% decrease in plant resistance against phloem-feeding herbivores (aphids). However, earthworm presence increased production of chemical defences by 31% when plants where attacked by cell-feeders (thrips), and resulted in an 81% increase in resistance against thrips. The magnitude of earthworm effects was stronger when earthworm inoculations consisted of a mix of species and ecological types, and when densities of earthworms were high. These results suggest that earthworm presence is an important factor underlying natural variation in plant defences against herbivores, and call for a better integration of the soil fauna in the studies of plant-herbivore interaction, both for applied and fundamental research. A plain language summary is available for this article.
Plant geographical range size and climate stability in China: Growth form matters

State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, Shanghai, China Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment, State Forestry Administration, Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
Diagnóstico genético na síndroma de Lynch: implicações da localização de mutações germinais em genes de reparação do ADN

Introdução: O diagnóstico clínico da Síndroma de Lynch (SL) baseia-se nos critérios de Amesterdão (CA); adicionalmente, algumas famílias são identificadas com base nos critérios de Bethesda (CB). A SL resulta de mutações germinais em genes de reparação do ADN, sobretudo no MLH1 e MSH2, mas também no MSH6, PMS1 e PMS2. Não foram ainda identificadas localizações preferenciais das mutações nestes genes que permitam orientar o diagnóstico genético. Objectivos: Em doentes de famílias com SL com mutações identificadas nos genes MLH1, MSH2 ou MSH6, correlacionar as características clínicas com a localização das mutações. Doentes e Métodos: Incluíram-se 58 doentes (21 H/37 M) pertencentes a 33 famílias com CA e 7 famílias com CB, todos com mutação germinal identificada num dos genes de reparação do ADN. Registou-se o tipo de tumor desenvolvido, a idade de diagnóstico e as características patológicas dos carcinomas do cólon e recto (CCR). A análise mutacional nos genes MLH1, MSH2 e MSH6 foi efectuada por DGGE, seguida de sequenciação directa a partir do produto de PCR. Nas famílias cujo diagnóstico genético foi inconclusivo por DGGE, procedeu-se a MLPA para identificação de grandes delecções. Resultados: Desenvolveram CCR 48/58 (83%) doentes, com uma média de idades de 45 anos (25-74). Os restantes 10 doentes apresentaram outros tumores do espectro da SL (6 endométrio, 2 ovário, 1 urotélio e 1 estômago). Foram identificadas 22 famílias com mutações no gene MLH1, 17 no gene MSH2 e uma no gene MSH6. A maioria (76%) das mutações patogénicas no gene MLH1 encontrava-se entre os exões 10 e 19, sendo neste grupo a média de idades de desenvolvimento do CCR mais tardia, 49,8 versus 32,5 anos (p=0,01) e mais frequente a presença de tumores extra-cólicos. No gene MSH2, 71% das mutações patogénicas encontravam-se entre os exões 1 e 8, tendo também estas predominado em famílias com tumores extra-cólicos. Conclusões: Os resultados observados sugerem que, de acordo com as características das famílias, se deva iniciar o diagnóstico genético pelos exões mais frequentemente mutados em cada gene. Summary
Bacterial prey food characteristics modulate community growth response of freshwater bacterivorous flagellates

Different bacterioplankton species represent different food quality resources for heterotrophic nanoflagellate (HNF) communities, potentially affecting HNF growth, community dynamics and carbon flow to higher trophic levels. However, our knowledge of such dynamics is still very limited. Here, we describe the results of 11 experiments with natural HNF communities from distinct seasonal phases in two freshwater habitats. The HNF communities were released from predation pressure of zooplankton and incubated with 16 distinct ecologically relevant prey bacterial strains from important Betaproteobacteria genera (Limnohabitans, Polynucleobacter, and Methylopumilus) and one Actinobacteria strain from the Luna 2 cluster. We observed remarkable prey‐ and season‐specific variability in community HNF growth parameters, i.e., doubling time, volumetric gross growth efficiency (GGE), and length of lag phase. All strains, except for the actinobacterium, supported rapid HNF population growth with an average doubling time of 10 h and GGE of 29%. Our analysis revealed that 59% of the variability in flagellate GGE data was explained by the length of lag phase after prey amendments. This indicates a considerable “adaptation time,” during which the predator communities undergo compositional shifts toward flagellate bacterivores best adapted to grow on the offered prey. Importantly, the rapid HNF growth detected on various bacteria tightly corresponds to doubling times reported for fast growing bacterioplankton groups. We propose a conceptual model explaining the tight linkages between rapid bacterial community shifts and succeeding HNF community shifts, which optimize prey utilization rates and carbon flow from various bacteria to the microbial food chain.
Report of the Sub-Committee on Small Cetaceans

Members (M) of the Scientific Committee, invited experts (E), observers (0), and interpreters ( I ) attending the meeting were: Aguilar (M), Balcomb (E), Best (E), Braham (M), Broadhead (M), Brown (M). Brownell (M). Cawthorn (E), Collet (E), Christensen (M), Davis (E), Gaskin (E), Glover (0), Gong (M). P. Hammond (0). T. Hammond (E), Holt (M), Ivashin (M), Jones (E), Kapel (M), Kato (M), Kasuya (M). Klinowska (M), Leatherwood (E) , Makeyev (I), McNamara (M), Mitchell (E), Nielsen (0). Ohsumi (M), Perdomo (M), Perrin (M), Ouiroga (M), Sanpera (M), Shima (M). Some participants did not attend all sessions of the meeting. Perrin chaired the meeting and edited the report. Braham, Brownell, Collet. Gaskin, P. Hammond. Klinowska and Leatherwood served as rapporteurs. The draft agenda was adopted after addition of an item ‘Review of new information on other exploited small cetaceans’ (Appendix 1).
Establishing the Functional Links between Stowaway-like MITEs and Transposases Belonging to the Tc1/Mariner Superfamily in the Yellow Fever Mosquito, Aedes aegypti

Miniature Inverted-repeat Transposable Elements (MITEs) are a type of transposable element (TE) that lacks coding capacity. It has been established that in rice that certain Stowaway MITEs are mobilized by transposases from the Tc1/Mariner superfamily of TEs. To retrieve all Tc1/Mariner TEs from the genome, bioinformatic approaches were performed. A total of 295 Tc1/Mariner TEs that encoded a full or partial transposase were recorded which 100 were newly described. Sequence alignment, and identification of the catalytic motif placed these transposases into eight groups. A functional link was established by comparing the terminal sequences of the Stowaway-like MITEs to the termini of the terminal sequences of Tc1/Mariner TEs. A yeast excision assay was used to experimentally test these functional links. Majority of the Stowawaylike MITE and transposase combinations tested did not indicate a functional link. However, a possible functional link was observed between the AATp3-13 transposase and AAStow-5 Stowaway-like MITEs.
Genome evolution, speciation and molecular population genetics of giant weta

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