Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genetic improvement of cold‐water fish species

Carnivorous fish are two to three times as efficient as pigs and broilers in converting energy and protein to edible food for humans. As the domestication of fish continues, they will become more and more efficient and competitive with these industries. In the future, this will be very important, as more efficient utilization of available food resources is required to supply the growing human population with enough food. Today, about 1% of aquaculture production is based on genetically improved fish and shellfish. For salmonid fishes, we have the necessary knowledge to establish efficient breeding programmes. Large genetic variation has been associated with important economic traits. For growth rate, heritability ranges from 0.2 to 0.3, with a coefficient of variation of 20–30%. This implies that it is possible to obtain large responses from selection for growth rate. In several large-scale experiments and in breeding programmes, 10–15% genetic change has been obtained per generation, which is much higher than that reported for other farm animals. In Norway, extensive breeding experiments with Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout were started in 1971. For the first two generations of selection, the breeding goal was growth rate. Age at sexual maturation (measured as frequency of grilse) was then included. From the fifth generation, disease resistance (measured by challenge test for furunculosis and the virus ISA) and meat quality (measured as fat percentage, fat distribution and flesh colour) were included. Today, Norsk Lakseavl AS (Norwegian Salmon Breeding Company Ltd) or NLA runs the National Breeding Programme and has two breeding stations where 400 full-sib and half-sib families of Atlantic salmon are tested in each of four year classes. For rainbow trout, the number of families totals 120 in each of three year classes. In 1997, the Norwegian production was 310 000 tons of Atlantic salmon and 33 000 tons of rainbow trout. At present, about 65% of the salmon and trout produced in Norway use genetically improved fish from NLA and multipliers. The cost–benefit ratio for the National Breeding Programme in Norway is estimated to be 1:15.
ESTUDIOS CROMOSOMICOS EN ESPECIES DE HYPOCHAERIS L. (ASTERACEAE, LACTUCEAE) DE CHILE

The genus Hypochaeris (Asteraceae, Lactuceae) contains twelve species in Europe, three in Asia, and approximately 50 in South America. In this paper, we worked with mitotic chromosomes of three different species of Hypochaeris from Chile: H. acaulis, H. incana and H. scorzonerae. The species are very different in morphology and geographic distribution. The aim of this work was to compare the chromosome morphology of these species. We found that the chromosomes are different in size and morphology in H. acaulis (smaller than 6 µm and only chromosome 3 having a secondary constriction on the short arm). In H. incana and H. scorzonerae the chromosomes are very similar in size, and chromosomes 2 (on the long arm) and 3 (on the short arm) contain secondary constrictions. A tetraploid is reported for H. scorzonerae
QTL mapping of a partial resistance to the corn delphacid-transmitted viruses in Lepidopteran-resistant maize line Mp705

A partial resistance to maize mosaic virus (MMV) and maize stripe virus (MStV) was mapped in a RILs population derived from a cross between lines MP705 (resistant) and B73 (susceptible). A genetic map constructed from 131 SSR markers spanned 1399 cM with an average distance of 9.6 cM. A total of 10 QTL were detected for resistance to MMV and MStV, using composite interval mapping. A major QTL explaining 34–41% of the phenotypic variance for early resistance to MMV was detected on chromosome 1. Another major QTL explaining up to 30% of the phenotypic variation for all traits of resistance to MStV was detected in the centromeric region of chromosome 3 (3.05 bin). After adding supplementary SSR markers, this region was found to correspond well to the one where a QTL of resistance to MStV already was located in a previous mapping study using an F2 population derived from a cross between Rev81 and B73. These results suggested that these QTL of resistance to MStV detected on chromosome 3 could be allelic in maize genome.
Aggrecan catabolism during mesenchymal stromal cell in vitro chondrogenesis

During skeleton formation, mesenchymal cells condense and differentiate into chondrocytes in a process known as chondrogenesis. Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), main components of aggrecan in the extracellular matrix (ECM), have an important role in this process. An in vitro simplified system has been devised to study chondrogenesis using mesenchymal progenitor cells. Although the capacity of mesenchymal stromal cells to differentiate into the chondrogenic lineage is well established, there is a lack of knowledge with respect to lysosomal enzyme activity during the chondrogenic process. To further understand GAG's catabolic activities during in vitro chondrogenesis, we evaluated three lysosomal enzymes. Chondrogenic differentiation was demonstrated by Alcian blue positive stain quantified by a grading system using ImageJ. Enzyme activity for N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfate-sulfatase during chondrogenic induction decreased significantly with time of culture; β-galactosidase enzyme activity had a similar tendency of temporal activity. On the contrary, β-glucuronidase enzyme activity decreased from the first to second week of induction, but remained the same during the third week of culture. Aggrecan's immunohistochemistry values for aggregates under chondrogenic induction revealed a similar temporal pattern to that of N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfate-sulfatase and β-galactosidase enzyme activity. This work has contributed to the evaluation of enzyme activities associated with GAG degradation, critical component of cartilage ECM. These findings are relevant in understanding the role of enzymes responsible for degradation of molecules predominantly synthesized in the chondrogenic differentiation process. A better understanding of the roles of these enzymes during development could help elucidate further association of deficiencies of these enzymes in skeletal pathologies, primarily chondrodysplasias.
Effects of Season, Rainfall, and Hydrogeomorphic Setting on Mangrove Tree Growth in Micronesia

Seasonal patterns of tree growth are often related to rainfall, temperature, and relative moisture regimes. We asked whether diameter growth of mangrove trees in Micronesia, where seasonal changes are minimal, is continuous throughout a year or conforms to an annual cycle. We installed dendrometer bands on Sonneratia alba and Bruguiera gymnorrhiza trees growing naturally within mangrove swamps on the islands of Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Pohnpei, FSM, and Butaritari, Republic of Kiribati, in the eastern Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean. Trees were remeasured monthly or quarterly for as long as 6 yr. Annual mean individual tree basal area increments ranged from 7.0 to 79.6 cm2/yr for all S. alba trees and from 4.8 to 27.4 cm2/yr for all B. gymnorrhiza trees from Micronesian high islands. Diameter increment for S. alba on Butaritari Atoll was lower at 7.8 cm2/yr for the one year measured. Growth rates differed significantly by hydrogeomorphic zone. Riverine and interior zones maintained up to seven times the annual diameter growth rate of fringe forests, though not on Pohnpei, where basal area increments for both S. alba and B. gymnorrhiza were approximately 1.5 times greater in the fringe zone than in the interior zone. Time‐series modeling indicated that there were no consistent and statistically significant annual diameter growth patterns. Although rainfall has some seasonality in some years on Kosrae and Pohnpei and overall growth of mangroves was sometimes related positively to quarterly rainfall depths, seasonal diameter growth patterns were not distinctive. A reduced chance of moisture‐related stress in high‐rainfall, wetland environments may serve to buffer growth of Micronesian mangroves from climatic extremes.
The effects of artificial lighting on adult aquatic and terrestrial insects

Summary There is a growing concern that artificial light might affect local insect populations and disrupt their dispersal across the landscape. In this study, we investigated experimentally the effect of artificial light on flying insects in the field, with an emphasis on aquatic insects. We asked whether lights prevented the ability of insects to disperse across the landscape, a process that is crucial in colonising restored habitats. We set up six, c. 3.5 m high downward facing high-pressure sodium streetlights along a permanently connected oxbow in the Spree River of eastern Germany. We collected insects using 12 flight intercept traps, each with trays at three different heights (0.5, 1.5 and 2.5 m), placed at distances 0, 3, 40 and 75 m from the lights and 5, 8 and 80 m from water. The number of emerging aquatic insects in the study area was measured with six emergence traps. We emptied the traps 22 times between June and September 2010; the lights were on for 11 of these nights and off for the other 11. In total, we caught almost 27 times as many insects at traps 0 m from the lights when the lights were on than when they were off. Most insects caught when the lights were on were aquatic, with Diptera being the most common order. Furthermore, the proportion of aquatic insects caught at traps 0, 3 and 40 m from the lights when they were on was significantly higher than when they were off. On lit nights, more aquatic insects were captured per hour and m2 (area in which flying insects were intercepted) at traps 0 m from the lights than emerged from per square metre per hour from the Spree River. Our results suggest that adult aquatic insects can be negatively affected by artificial light and that city planners should take this into account when designing lighting systems along rivers.
Catalase- and Superoxide Dismutase-induced Morphological Changes and Growth Inhibition in the Red Tide Phytoplankton Chattonella marina

Chattonella is one of the most toxic red tide phytoplankton and causes severe damage to fish farming. Recent studies demonstrated that Chattonella sp. generates superoxide and hydroxyl radicals, which may be responsible for the toxicity of this plankton. However, little is known about the mechanism of the production of oxygen radicals by Chattonella, and the role of oxygen radicals in Chattonella themselves is also unclear. In this study, we found that superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase inhibited the growth of Chattonella marina concomitant with their morphological changes. In the presence of these enzymes, the shape of vegetative C. marina cells changed from spindle to round. Furthermore, the generation of oxygen radicals by C. marina depended on the growth phase ; the rate of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide generation was the highest during exponentially growing phase and subsequently decreased to one-fifth of the maximal level in the stationary growth phase. These results suggest that oxygen radicals generated by C. marina play an essential role in their own survival, especially in cell division.
Exclusion at the heart of preferred teaching techniques: English in Action development project in Bangladesh

The paper reports findings of a study in Bangladesh on teachers’ and students’ perceptions and attitudes to learning English. The study links to English in Action (EIA), a large-scale UKaid-funded English language development project, and aims to provide learning opportunities to 25 million people. The project includes a professional development programme for Government teachers of English, which introduces new communicative teaching methodologies. Results show teachers and students feel confident using English in their classes. Although teachers feel they encourage communication, they also embrace more traditional teaching techniques, which appear to fulfil examination requirements. However, such practices appear socially-exclusive because only ‘star pupils’ are engaged. The concepts of social inclusion and exclusion are used in the classroom context, as a social environment, with individuals with diverse backgrounds and needs. The paper explores teachers’ exclusive approaches – stemming from more traditional methodologies – and looks at how EIA could address these issues more specifically.
Activation of Human T Lymphocytes Is Inhibited by Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor γ (PPARγ) Agonists

T lymphocyte activation is highlighted by the induction of interleukin-2 (IL-2) gene expression, which governs much of the early lymphocyte proliferation responses. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily of ligand-activated transcription factors. PPARγ mRNA expression was found in human peripheral blood T lymphocytes, raising the possibility of PPARγ involvement in the regulation of T cell function. Here we show that PPARγ ligands, troglitazone and 15-deoxy-Δ12,14 prostaglandin J2, but not PPARα agonist Wy14643, inhibited IL-2 production and phytohemagglutinin-inducible proliferation in human peripheral blood T-cells in a dose-dependent manner. This inhibitory effect on IL-2 was restricted to the PPARγ2-expressing, not the PPARγ-lacking, subpopulation of transfected Jurkat cells. The activated PPARγ physically associates with transcriptional factor NFAT regulating the IL-2 promoter, blocking NFAT DNA binding and transcriptional activity. This interaction with T-cell-specific transcription factors indicates an important immunomodulatory role for PPARγ in T lymphocytes and could suggest a previously unrecognized clinical potential for PPARγ ligands as immunotherapeutic drugs to treat T-cell-mediated diseases by targeting IL-2 gene expression.
Etude du comportement de l'eudémis de la vigne Lobesia botrana Den. et Schif. (Lep., Tortricidae) à l'intérieur et l'extérieur d'une ceinture de diffuseurs

Abstract: Study of the vine moth Lobesia botrana Den. and Schiff. (Lep., Tortricidae) behaviour inside and outside of a dispenser belt: In 1993, BASF ampulla dispensers containing pheromone of grape vine moth L. botrana, were hung exclusively along a 16 ha rectangle in a vineyard situated at Perroy in the Lake Geneva Region. Pheromone and bait traps were distributed inside and outside of the dispenser belt. Virgin females were tethered throughout the vineyard. Tagged males were released inside the dispenser belt.
Farmers' perspectives for the development of a bioenergy industry in Ireland

A survey of Irish farmers was conducted to identify farmers’ opinions on energy crop production and to characterize potential adopters of energy crop cultivation in Ireland. One hundred and seventy‐two surveys were completed from 25 counties in Ireland. Miscanthus (48%) and grass (30%) were the preferred crops for adoption of energy crop production. Potential adopters described themselves as having a significantly greater level of knowledge of energy crop production compared with other respondents. The results indicate that lack of interest in adopting energy crop production may be due to lack of knowledge regarding the economic benefits of adoption and the variety of energy crops available for cultivation in Ireland. The establishment of long‐term contracts and government schemes were identified as important requirements for the development of bioenergy crop production in Ireland. Energy crop adoption was not limited to farmers undertaking specific farm enterprises. Farmers were motivated to adopt energy crop production for both economic and environmental benefits. These results are the first to provide valuable information on the perspectives of potential adopters of bioenergy crop production in Ireland for the promotion and implementation of a national bioenergy industry. Policy requirements and outreach strategies to encourage adoption of energy crops by agricultural producers are suggested.
The Tentacle Cilia of Aglantha digitale (Hydrozoa: Trachylina) and their Control

The tentacles of Aglantha have ciliary bands along the sides. Metachronal waves pass along these bands. The strong ciliary currents produced propel water past the tentacles, increasing the probability of prey capture. The ciliated cells are unusual in having many (up to about 500) cilia per cell, where most cnidarian ciliated cells have only one. The cells are also peculiar in containing numerous axonemes without membrane coverings, lying loose in the cytoplasm. Tentacles show independent, rhythmic, slow flexions in the oral direction and groups of tentacles show coordinated, slow flexions as part of a regularly repeated fishing cycle. In both cases, these slow, graded movements are mediated by a slowly conducting system, probably the network of small neurons present in the ectoderm, and are accompanied by ciliary arrests. Much faster, more powerful, coordinated contractions of the tentacles occur in the context of escape behaviour; these are mediated by giant axons which run down the tentacles and are also accompanied by ciliary arrest. Ciliary and muscle effectors evidently share a common motor innervation. Electron microscopy shows that the giant and non-giant nerves both synapse with muscle cells. The latter are joined to the ciliated cells by gap junctions, and it is suggested that whenever the muscles are excited depolarizations spread to the ciliated cells through the gap junctions and cause ciliary arrests. Neuronal control of ciliary activity has not previously been reported in the Hydrozoa.
OPTIMAL FLIGHT SPEED OF BIRDS

The speed of birds in flapping flight is a behavioural attribute that, when interpreted in the light of optimization theory, may provide important implications about the limitations in time, energy and safety that affect birds in different situations. This study is an evaluation and review of optimal flight speeds of birds, based on foraging, migration and flight mechanical theory. Flight in different ecological contexts is considered, such as foraging flight, food transportation flight, migration flight and aerial display flight. Relevant optimization criteria and immediate currencies are identified for these flight situations, permitting the derivation of optimal flight speeds. Foraging birds are expected to maximize foraging gain ratio (the ratio of gross energy intake rate to the cost of foraging in excess of the resting metabolism) when energy minimization is of imminent importance or when they are constrained by a metabolic ceiling. In other circumstances they are expected to maximize the net energy intake rate. Generally, optimal flight speeds are faster in the latter than in the former case. Thus when the foraging gain ratio is maximized the optimal flight speed between foraging patches is V $\_{\text{mr}}$ (speed of minimum energy cost per unit of distance flown), whereas it is faster than this, to a variable degree depending on the quality of and distance between patches, when net energy intake rate is maximized. Birds should adapt their flight speed differently when transporting food or migrating as compared with flying in pure foraging situations. Cost of transport (energy/distance) or resulting speed of transport or of migration (distance/time) are the immediate currencies relevant for predicting optimal flight speeds depending on whether birds in food transportation flights are metabolically constrained or not and whether migrating birds are energy- or time-selected. Optimal flight speeds for maximizing the resulting speed of transport or of migration exceed V $\_{\text{mr}}$ to an increasing degree with an increasing rate of food/energy gain. Still other optimization criteria apply to further flight situations that are reviewed, and, in addition, flight speed is expected to vary with wind, load, altitude, climb rate and flock size. Optimal flight speed theory provides a possibility to use flight speed measurements of birds in widely different situations for obtaining insights about crucial time and energy limitations.
Suppression of Fusarium wilt of watermelon by nonpathogenic Fusarium oxysporum and other microorganisms recovered from a disease-suppressive soil.

Nearly 400 microorganism isolates, including bacteria, actinomycetes, and fungi, were collected from watermelon roots growing in soils suppressive and nonsuppressive to Fusarium wilt of watermelon. These isolates were screened for their ability to restore suppressiveness to microwave-treated suppressive soil and to reduce disease incidence in conducive field soil. Specific isolates of nonpathogenic Fusarium oxysporum from suppressive soil were the only organisms consistently effective in reducing disease (35 to 75% reduction) in both microwave-treated and natural field soils. Thus, we concluded that F. oxysporum was the primary antagonist responsible for suppression in this suppressive soil, although other organisms may contribute to suppressiveness. Selected isolates of F. oxysporum were effective in reducing disease when added to field soils at inoculum levels as low as 50 to 100 chlamydospores per g of soil, which was comparable to or below pathogen inoculum levels (100 to 200 CFU/ g of soil). Root colonization data indicated that reduction of disease was not directly related to the ability of the antagonist to colonize roots extensively or to reduce colonization by the pathogen. Effective antagonists were not associated with specific vegetative compatibility groups, indicating antagonists represent diverse isolates. In split-root experiments, in which the antagonist and the pathogen were physically separated from each other, root colonization by selected isolates of E oxysporum reduced disease incidence, verifying the mechanism of action as induced systemic resistance. Several isolates of F. oxysporum from this suppressive soil have potential for development as biocontrol agents.
Localised coastal habitats have distinct underwater sound signatures

There is evidence that ambient underwater sound is used by some pelagic larval reef fishes and decapods as a guide to direct them toward coastal areas. It would be advantageous to these organisms if they were also able to use sound to remotely identify suitable settlement habitats. However, it is unknown whether different coastal habitats produce different sounds that would be capable of providing distinctive cues for larvae. This study identified marked differences in the char- acteristics of ambient underwater sound at 3 distinct types of coastal habitat: a macroalgal-dominated reef, a sea urchin-dominated reef, and a sandy beach. The sea urchin-dominated reef habitat pro- duced sound that was significantly more intense overall in a biologically important frequency band (800 to 2500 Hz), compared with that from macroalgal-dominated reefs and beach habitats. The sound produced by snapping shrimp also exhibited marked differences among habitat types, with the sea urchin-dominated reef having significantly more snaps than the macroalgal-dominated reef or beach habitat. Many of the differences in the sound produced by the 2 reef habitats became more apparent at dusk compared with noon. This study provides evidence that there are significant differ- ences in the spectral and temporal composition of ambient sound associated with different coastal habitat types over relatively short spatial scales. An acoustic cue that conveys both directional and habitat quality information that is transmitted considerable distances offshore would have the poten- tial to be of immense value to the pelagic larval stage of a coastal organism attempting to remotely locate a suitable habitat in which to settle.