Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Brutfürsorge, Brutpflege, Verhaltensontogenese und Tagesperiodik beim Europäischen Wildschwein (Sus scrofa L.)1

Zusammenfassung 1In verschiedenen Wildgattern und in einem Grosgehege (Lainzer Tiergarten) wurde das Brutfursorge- und Brutpflegeverhalten, die Ontogenese des Verhaltens sowie die Aktivitatsperiodik des Europaischen Wildschweines untersucht. 2Grundeinheit der sozialen Organisation ist die Mutterfamilie. Mehrere Mutterfamilien vereinigen sich zu groseren Familienverbanden. Zu Beginn der Wurfzeit sondern sich die beschlagenen Bachen von den Gruppen ab. 3Die Bachen bringen ihre Frischlinge in Wurfnestern zur Welt. Sie haben durchschnittlich 5 Jungtiere pro Wurf. Neben den Wurfnestern werden Ruhe- oder Schlafnester angelegt. 4Die Bachen gebaren und saugen ihre Frischlinge in Seitenlage, was fur die Nesthocker typisch ist. 5In den ersten Tagen nach der Geburt bleiben die Muttertiere mit ihren Jungen im Wurfnest. Die Bindung an das Nest vermindert sich danach allmahlich. Die wichtigste Mutter-Kind-Beziehung sind das Saugen und der Nasenkontakt zwischen den Frischlingen und der Bache. 6Der Saugakt gliedert sich in Vormassage, Milchflus und Nachmassage. Den Jungen fehlen die fur die Nesthocker typischen Suchautomatismen; sie finden die Zitzen mit einem “oralen Einstellmechanismus”. Das Saugen ist ein Lecksaugen. 7Die Entwicklung der Verhaltensweisen in den verschiedenen Funktionskreisen wird beschrieben. Auser dem Walzen und dem Suhlen sind alle Verhaltenselemente bereits in den ersten Tagen nach der Geburt entwikkelt oder reifen bald heran. Selbst das Paarungsverhalten und die Grundelemente des Nestbauverhaltens laufen bei wenige Tage alten Tieren voll koordiniert ab. Die Entwicklung des Kampfverhaltens durchlauft verschiedene Phasen. Die Verhaltensweisen des Fusstemmens und des Totschuttelns, die dem Funktionskreis der Nahrungsaufnahme angehoren, sowie das Gahnen und Schutteln im Sitzen sind formal mit denen der Raubtiere zu vergleichen. 8Wildschweine sind in storungsfreien Gebieten vorwiegend tagaktiv. Ruheund Aktivitatsphase sind klar getrennt. Der entscheidende Zeitgeber durfte der Licht-Dunkel-Wechsel sein. 9Der Ubergang von der Ruhe zur Aktivitat und umgekehrt vollzieht sich in verschiedenen Stufen, denen typische Verhaltensweisen zugeordnet sind.
Foraging ecology of the thermophilic Australian desert ant, Melophorus bagoti

The paper describes the foraging ecology of the Australian desert ant, Melophorus bagoti, a thermophilic, diurnal scavenger with ground-nesting colonies. Overlapping foraging ranges, low foraging success rates, and intercolony aggression suggest intense competition for food between colonies. Daily foraging starts when soil surface temperatures approach 50°C. Workers search individually and collect predominantly dead insects. Occasionally, they consume plant secretions. Foraging activity peaks on mid-summer days. On cloudy days the onset of foraging is delayed, and the foraging activity is low. Ants do not forage on rainy days. Typically, workers start their above-ground activities with a few short exploration runs. On average, they perform one foraging run on the first day of their outdoor lives. With age they gradually increase foraging site fidelity and daily foraging effort. Individual foraging efficiency is low at the beginning but grows with experience. However, due to a high mortality rate and, hence, high forager turnover, average rates of foraging success for a colony remain rather low. The outdoor activity gradually decreases towards the end of summer and appears to stop completely during the winter months.
Characterization of the exonuclease Eri1 in the binding and processing of RNA targets and analysis of its function in mouse development

Declaration Erklärung Hiermit erkläre ich, Nicola Rath, dass die vorliegende Arbeit mit dem Titel: "Characterization of the exonuclease Eri1 in the binding and processing of RNA targets and analysis of its function in mouse development" von mir selbstständig und ohne unerlaubte Hilfsmittel angefertigt wurde und ich mich dabei nur der ausdrücklich bezeichneten Quellen und Hilfsmittel bedient habe. Diese Arbeit wurde weder in der jetzigen noch in einer abgewandelten Form einer anderen Prüfungskomission vorgelegt.
Antimicrobial Activity of Stem Bark of Faidherbia albida

Authors' contributions ABSTRACT This study was aimed at evaluating the antimicrobial activity of stem bark extract of Faidherbia albida on E. Coli, Salmonella typhi and Shigella sp . The study was conducted in laboratory of Biochemistry department of Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, Adamawa, Nigeria, between July and October, 2012. The antimicrobial activity was carried out using agar disc diffusion method and the crude extract was separated using column chromatography. The phytochemical analysis of the crude methanolic stem bark extract of Faidherbia albid a revealed the presence of tannins, saponins and alkaloids. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of the crude methanolic extract of the stem bark showed highest activity on Salmonella typhi with zone of inhibition of 12.0±0.17mm compared to E. coli and Shigella sp . Column chromatography of the crude extract eluted with benzene/methanol, acetic acid/methanol and ethylacetate/methanol gave three fractions designated: I, II and III; of which fraction III showed highest activity against the test organisms. Minimum inhibitory concentration of the most active fraction is 60mg/ml on E. coli and Salmonella typhi and 80mg/ml on Shigella sp. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of the crude methanolic stem bark extract of Faidherbia albida was also compared to some standard antibiotics. The results showed that azithromycin had highest activity ranging from 17.0 ± 0.11mm to 23.0 ± 0.12mm against the test organisms with no significance difference (P<0.05) compared to the activity of fraction III. There was also no significant
Utilization by cattle of a pasture including aged hilly sections

Utilization by cattle of a pasture with a heterogeneous environment was assessed from early May to late October 2005 based on the behavior of two cows fitted with GPS units and bite counter collars as members of a group of 10 animals. The pasture (7.6 ha; established in 1967 with five temperate species) consisted of three subunits (almost identical sizes) differing in renovation history, vegetation and terrain: Subunit 1, a relatively flat section renovated by over-seeding a grass in 2002; Subunit 2, a sloped section (no renovation); and Subunit 3, a sloped section including woods (no renovation). Spatial distributions and the number of bites of the two collared cows were obtained at 10 min intervals during five 10 day trials in each month except July. The two cows showed similar tendencies in choosing locations and in the number of bites per day and per hour among the subunits in each month. The cows spent most of their time in Subunit 1 in May and June, but as the months went by, the time in Subunit 1 became short and was limited to daytime. In contrast, they stayed predominantly in Subunits 2 and 3 at night in the latter half of the season. Throughout the season, the number of bites taken in Subunit 1 was the greatest among all of the subunits. Our results suggested that the aged, hilly sections (Subunits 2 and 3) were mainly utilized as resting sites in the nighttime and were supplementarily grazed in the latter half of the season. To prevent early deterioration of the relatively flat, renovated section, an increase in grazing use of the aged, hilly sections will be needed.
Cardiac Na+-Ca2+ Exchange Molecular and Pharmacological Aspects

Abstract—The Na+-Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) is one of the essential regulators of Ca2+ homeostasis in cardiomyocytes and thus an important modulator of the cardiac contractile function. The purpose of this review is to survey recent advances in cardiac NCX research, with particular emphasis on molecular and pharmacological aspects. The NCX function is thought to be regulated by a variety of cellular factors. However, data obtained by use of different experimental systems often appear to be in conflict. Where possible, we endeavor to provide a rational interpretation of such data. We also provide a summary of current work relating to the structure and function of the cardiac NCX. Recent molecular studies of the NCX protein are beginning to shed light on structural features of the ion translocation pathway in the NCX membrane domain, which seems likely to be formed, at least partly, by the phylogenetically conserved α-1 and α-2 repeat structures and their neighboring membrane-spanning segments. Finally, we discus.
Evaluation of existing spatial repellents for the control of malaria vectors in rural Tanzania

Background: Current malaria vector control programmes rely on insecticides with rapid contact toxicity. However, spatial repellents can also be applied to reduce man-vector contact, with the ultimate goal of reducing malaria transmission. Objectives and methods: The overall goal of my PhD thesis was to evaluate existing spatial repellents as potential tools for malaria control. This thesis focused on characterizing the effect of pyrethroid spatial repellents on mosquito behaviour indoors and outdoors. Emphasis was placed on the effect on entomological parameters that influence malaria transmission. Experiments were conducted in experimental huts in a malaria endemic village in rural south eastern Tanzania and in a semi-field system against laboratory reared Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto mosquitoes. Results and conclusions: Transfluthrin and Metofluthrin coils and DDT reduced human vector contact through deterrence, irritancy/excito-repellency and blood-feeding inhibition. Pyrethroid coils were shown to cause excitation and increased activity of mosquitoes in the presence of humans. Transfluthrin coils did not hinder attraction of mosquitoes to humans but prevented mosquitoes from biting and blood feeding. This way coils provided area wide protection for up to 15m and prolonged anti-feeding for 12 hours. There was no evidence of Transfluthrin induced repellency (directional movement of mosquitoes away from humans) under outdoor conditions. Locally developed Transfluthrin hessian strips also prevented mosquitoes from biting. This thesis elucidates the mode of action of spatial repellents: spatial repellents reduce human – vector contact and induce mortality, hence directly affect ma: human biting rate, m: mosquito density and p: mosquito survival which are among the most important parameters of the vectorial capacity of a mosquito population. This information is critical for the development of target product profiles for spatial repellent products. This study shows that spatial repellents may be a suitable complementary option where mosquitoes feed in the early evening and rest outdoors.
Metabolismo del hierro

Se hace una revision sobre el metabolismo del hierro en la que se abordan su absorcion y los factores que la afectan, su transporte, captacion celular, almacenamiento y excrecion. Se tratan los mecanismos que intervienen en la homeostasis intracelular de este mineral y se exponen los requerimientos nutricionales de los principales grupos de riesgo que desarrollan una deficiencia de este micronutriente. (AU) A review is made on iron metabolism in which iron absorption, factors affecting this process, iron transportation, cell uptake, storage and excretion are dealt with. The mechanisms acting in the intracellular homeostasis of this mineral and the nutritional requirements of the main risk groups that develop an iron deficiency are set forth. (AU)
Composición y dinámica del fitoplancton en un lago urbano hipertrófico

Taxonomic composition and temporal fluctuation of the phytoplankton community inhabiting the urban, hypertrophic shallow lake Tezozomoc, D.F. was analyzed. Water samples were taken monthly at the littoral and limnetic areas of the lake, from September 2003 to August 2004. Temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity (K25), chlorophyll a, and nutrients (N and P) concentrations were measured. Phytoplankton was identified and counted including the fraction smaller than 2 µm. Fifty phytoplankton species were identified, being Chlorophyta the dominant group. Two species belonging to the genus Microcystis showed high abundances in the lake from September to December 2003. Merismopedia punctata, Selenastrum minutum, Chlamydomonas globosa and Monoraphidium caribeum, as well as picophytoplankton, were dominant. Environmental and biological data clearly reflected two different seasons in the lake: one cold and dry season (September to March) and the second, warm and wet (April to August). Along the first season, mean values of water temperature (17.6 oC), nutrients (P-PO4 = 2.21, N-NO3 = 0.4 mg L-1) and chlorophyll a (200 ? g L-1) were lower, while K25 (985 µS cm-1) and dissolved oxygen (10.1 mg L-1) concentrations were the higher. Dominant species along the period were C. globosa, Cyclotella meneghiniana, M. griffithii, Cryptomonas ovata and Microcystis spp. The second period had the higher mean values of water temperature (21 oC), nutrients concentration (P-PO4 = 3.31, N-NO3 = 3.3 mg L-1) and clorophyll a (295 ? g L-1), while K25 (808 µS cm-1) and dissolved oxygen concentrations (6.8 mg L-1) decreased. S. minutum, M. caribeum, Chlorogonium minimum and the picophytoplankton were dominant. Identified species and the environmental conditions values indicated the hypertrophic state of the Tezozomoc lake.
Alternative sites for ecdysteroid production in insects

Summary Several evidences have been obtained in various insect species demonstrating that, besides prothoracic glands and ovaries, other tissues could be alternative sites of moulting hormone production. After a detailed review on the various methods of investigation and criteria required to validate such observations, the nature of these sites, namely oenocytes, epidermis and testes, is discussed. Their possible involvement in moulting and/or reproduction is analyzed, giving the opportunity to put forward several new hypotheses. In particular, autocrine and paracrine secretions of ecdysteroids could play a role in localized developmental events, more difficult to control from endocrine glands possibly mitosis, meiosis, reprogramming, regeneration or early steps of embryogenesis).
Nuclear Receptor Genes: Evolution

Nuclear receptor superfamily members are metazoan innovations which are present in all living metazoan phyla. These genes, presumably originating from a common ancestor in an extinct phylum that predates the sponge (Porifera), has evolved, and is still evolving, to mediate nearly every facet of metazoan life. Representatives of all six classical nuclear receptor superfamily members were present before the protostome–deuterostome split, more than 700 million years ago. Nuclear receptor sequence and structure diversification to accommodate ligand binding has occurred numerous times, with the earliest report of steroid-hormone binding occurring in the Annelid and of retinoic acid in the lower metazoan phylum Cnidaria. During the Cambrian period a quadruplication of the genome leading to jawed vertebrates gave rise to many of the nuclear receptor paralogues present today. Key Concepts: The evolutionary origins and diversification of the nuclear receptor superfamily gene structure in the Metazoa. Nuclear receptors are unique to the metazoan kingdom. Members of the nuclear receptor superfamily are present in all extant phyla of metazoans. Representatives of six classical nuclear receptor superfamily members were present before the proteosome–deutrosome division more than 700 million years ago. During the Cambrian period a quadruplication of the genome giving rise to jawed vertebrates occurred producing many of the nuclear receptor paralogues present today. Keywords: nuclear receptor; steroid hormone; Cambrian period; molecular exploitation; Metazoa; placozoa
Regulation of Germinal Center Reactions by B and T Cells

Abstract: Break of B cell tolerance to self-antigens results in the development of autoantibodies and, thus, leads to autoimmunity. How B cell tolerance is maintained during active germinal center (GC) reactions is yet to be fully understood. Recent advances revealed several subsets of T cells and B cells that can positively or negatively regulate GC B cell responses in vivo . IL-21-producing CXCR5 + CD4 + T cells comprise a distinct lineage of helper T cells—termed follicular helper T cells (T FH )—that can provide help for the development of GC reactions where somatic hypermutation and affinity maturation take place. Although the function of T FH cells is beneficial in generating high affinity antibodies against infectious agents, aberrant activation of T FH cell or B cell to self-antigens results in autoimmunity. At least three subsets of immune cells have been proposed as regulatory cells that can limit such antibody-mediated autoimmunity, including follicular regulatory T cells (T
Population structure in an inshore cetacean revealed by microsatellite and mtDNA analysis: Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp.) in Shark Bay, Western Australia

We examined population substructure of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp). in Shark Bay, Western Australia, using 10 highly polymorphic microsatellite loci, and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). For microsatellite analysis, 302 different animals were sampled from seven localities throughout the bay. Analysis of genetic differentiation between sampling localities showed a significant correlation between the number of migrants (Nm) calculated from FST, RST and private alleles, and distance between localities–a pattern of isolation-by-distance. For mtDNA, 220 individuals from all seven localities were sequenced for a 351 base pair fragment of the control region, resulting in eight haplotypes, with two distinct clusters of haplotypes. Values of FST and (φ)ST for mtDNA yielded statistically significant differences, mostly between localities that were not adjacent to each other, suggesting female gene flow over a scale larger than the sampled localities. We also observed a significant correlation between the number of female migrants calculated from FST and φST and the distance of sampling localities. Our results indicate that dispersal in female dolphins in Shark Bay is more restricted than that of males.
A 20‐year census of a rocky littoral fish community in Lake Tanganyika

Takeuchi Y, Ochi H, Kohda M, Sinyinza D, Hori M. A 20-year census of a rocky littoral fish community in Lake Tanganyika. Ecology of Freshwater Fish 2010: 19: 239–248. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S Abstract – Tropical fish communities are highly diverse with large numbers of allied species coexisting. Concerns have been raised about changes in such communities caused by anthropogenic disturbances, but little is known about long-term changes. We investigated changes in the littoral fish community of Lake Tanganyika. A 10 × 40-m quadrat was placed on a rocky shore in the southern part of the lake, and fish censuses were conducted once a year during most years in 1988–2008. In total, 54 cichlid and 6 non-cichlid species were recorded. Aufwuch feeders were most abundant, followed by plankton feeders, detritus feeders, piscivores, shrimp eaters, zoo-benthos eaters, and scale eaters. Species richness and abundance were sustained over the study period, with biodiversity, as evaluated by the Shannon–Wiener index, remaining high. However, Mantel tests between the Bray–Curtis index and the difference in years between compared censuses revealed that the species composition of the community gradually changed with time. The fish community gradually underwent a change that may be due to low anthropogenic impacts on food condition. Our results promote awareness about the conservation of diversity in Lake Tanganyika.
Transcription factor NF-κB is activated in primary neurons by amyloid β peptides and in neurons surrounding early plaques from patients with Alzheimer disease

Amyloid β peptide (Aβ)-containing plaques are a hallmark of Alzheimer disease. Here, we show that the neurotoxic Aβ, a major plaque component, is a potent activator of the transcription factor NF-κB in primary neurons. This activation required reactive oxygen intermediates as messengers because an antioxidant prevented Aβ-induced NF-κB activation. Maximal activation of NF-κB was found with 0.1 μM Aβ-(1–40) and 0.1 μM Aβ-(25–35) fragments, making a role for NF-κB in neuroprotection feasible. Using an activity-specific mAb for the p65 NF-κB subunit, activation of NF-κB also was observed in neurons and astroglia of brain sections from Alzheimer disease patients. Activated NF-κB was restricted to cells in the close vicinity of early plaques. Our data suggest that the aberrant gene expression in diseased nervous tissue is at least in part due to Aβ-induced activation of NF-κB, a potent immediate–early transcriptional regulator of numerous proinflammatory genes.
Identification, quantitation and sensory evaluation of methyl 2‐ and methyl 3‐methylbutanoate in varietal red wines

Background and Aims Esters are the most important class of volatile compounds contributing to fruity and berry-like aroma notes in wine. In this study, we identified aroma-active compounds in Carmenere red wine with a focus on fruity smelling compounds. Methods and Results Application of an aroma extract dilution analysis to an aroma isolate obtained from Carmenere red wine by solvent-assisted flavour evaporation revealed, apart from well-known wine aroma compounds, two additional fruity smelling compounds, which were identified as methyl 2-methylbutanoate (M2MB) and methyl 3-methylbutanoate (M3MB). Quantitation of M2MB and M3MB in 16 different varietal red wines by stable isotope dilution assays resulted in a concentration below (M2MB) and close to or slightly above (M3MB) the respective odour threshold values. Spiking experiments based on a synthetic wine aroma model in combination with triangle tests did not result in significant sensory differences. Conclusions Methyl 2-methylbutanoate and M3MB are two novel volatile compounds that were identified in all red varietal wines. At the concentration found, they do not contribute significantly to the fruity aroma of these red wines. Significance of the Study This is the first report on the occurrence, concentration and sensory impact of M2MB and M3MB in red wines.