Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pathogenicity and Infection Events of a Beauveria bassiana Native Strain in Tobacco Budworm, Heliothis virescens1

Abstract. Pathogenicity of a native strain of Beauveria bassiana Vuill. (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) was evaluated on third-and fifth-instar larvae of tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Larvae were immersed in 1×108 conidia ml-1. After 72 hours, the percentage of each treated larval instar that died was 71 and 55%, respectively, while mortality of the nontreated check was 8 and 11%. The fungus was found across the cuticle and grew in the hemocoel 48 to 60 hours after inoculation of third-instar larvae and 60 to 72 hours for fifth instars. Fungal infection events also were studied in tobacco budworm larvae. The microscope and staining procedure showed mycelia grew as filamentous hyphae on the surface and penetrated the cuticle and spiracles; this phenomenon killed larvae. Inside the larvae, fungus grew as filamentous hyphae, but blastospores were not noticed. Results showed many young larval stages died and specific infection events in tobacco budworm compared to other data reported. Results suggested this native strain has potential as a bioinsecticide for tobacco budworm.
Hemorrhagic Colitis and Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome

Genetic relatedness of 100 strains of Escherichia coli, isolated mostly from patients with hemorrhagic colitis or hemolytic uremic syndrome, was determined for chromosomal genotypes on the basis of allelic variation at 17 enzyme-encoding loci detected by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis. Fifteen of the 17 loci were polymorphic, with an average of 3.5 alleles per locus. Comparison of the observed combinations of alleles among strains revealed 25 distinct multilocus genotypes, which were used to define naturally occurring cell lineages or clones. Cluster analysis of the genotypic data revealed that isolates of serotype 0157:H7 fall into a well-defined group of clonal genotypes that share alleles, on average, at 90^0 of their enzyme loci. The 0157:H7 clonal group is only distantly related to other Verotoxin-producing strains belonging to other serotypes of E. coli. The results strongly support the hypothesis that isolates of E. coli 0157:H7 obtained from geographically separate outbreaks and sporadic cases of hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome belong to a pathogenic clone that occurs throughout North America.
Phytochemical Analysis of Rhododendron Species

This research was successful in creating a polyphenolic profile of the leaves of 100 Rhododendron species from six subgenera. The polyphenolic profile of the fruits and flowers of a few Rhododendron species was also studied. This was achieved by using the technique of liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Compounds were identified based on their retention time, UV absorption, fragmentation pattern and high resolution mass data. The leaves of Rhododendron species were determined to be a good source of polyphenolic secondary metabolites with a total of 348 polyphenols identified. Out of 348 compounds, 221 compounds were novel in Rhododendron species and 7 compounds were novel in nature. The most abundant compounds included quercetin derivatives, protocatechuic acid-O-hexoside, catechin, epicatechin, procyanidin A and B dimers, kaempferol-O-rhamnoside, p-coumaric acid-O-hexoside, 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid and 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid. From the identified secondary metabolites in Rhododendron species, a few marker compounds were identified for some individual Rhododendron species and also for the six subgenera. The use of polyphenolic secondary metabolites as chemotaxonomic markers needs to be assessed. Multivariate statistical analysis was carried out to investigate whether phytochemistry, phylogeny and biological activity showed any correlation. The relative quantities of polyphenolic compounds were compared using box plots. Some compounds were found in higher intensity in certain subgenus. Some isomers of these compounds were found to be relatively more abundant than others. PCA plots and hierarchical clustering plot were generated using LC-TOF-MS data and it was determined that the genetically similar Rhododendron species produces a diverse variety of secondary metabolites. The number of compounds present in Rhododendron species was found to have no correlation to the ploidy level or their anti-bacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis.
Hepatoprotective effect of Amaranthus hypochondriacus seed extract on sodium arsenite-induced toxicity in male Wistar rats

The hepatoprotective effect and antioxidant activity of ethanol extract of Amaranthus hypochondriacus seed (ESAH) were evaluated in sodium arsenite (SA) treated rats. Animals were divided into eight groups. The first group was used as control, group II was administered SA (2.5 mg/kg body weight). Groups III, IV and V were administered different doses of ESAH (100, 200 or 300 mg/kg b.w., respectively); groups VI, VII and VIII were administered ESAH at 100, 200, 300 mg/kg b.w. plus 2.5 mg SA/kg; respectively. Rats were orally administered different doses of ESAH daily for fourteen days. The SA was administered on the 7th and 14th day. Results showed that sodium arsenite-induced elevation of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels were substantially reduced by pre-treatment with 200 and 300 mg/kg b.w. of ESAH. Histopathological observations also showed hepatic protective activity of ESAH. Sodium arsenite increased the concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide and reduced the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and increased frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes. Pre-treatment with 200 and 300 mg/kg of ESAH reduced the levels of MDA and H2O2; increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPx) and reduced frequency of induction of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (mPCEs) in bone marrow cells of the rats. Treatment with SA decreased body weight and increased relative liver weight compared to control and ESAH. Thus ESAH mitigates arsenic-induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative damage in rats. Key words: Amaranthus hypochondriacus, antioxidant enzymes, hepatoprotective effect, sodium arsenite.
Marketplace of Ideas, Privacy, and the Digital Audience

The availability of almost limitless sets of digital information has opened a vast marketplace of ideas. Information service providers like Facebook and Twitter provide users with an array of personal information about products, friends, acquaintances, and strangers. While this data enriches the lives of those who share content on the internet, it comes at the expense of privacy. Social media companies disseminate news, advertisements, political messages, while also capitalizing on consumers’ private shopping, surfing, and travel habits. Companies like Cambridge Analytica, Amazon, and Apple rely on algorithmic programs to mash-up and scrape enormous amounts of online and otherwise available personal data to micro-target audiences. By collecting and then processing psychometric data sets, commercial and political advertisers rely on emotive advertisements to manipulate biases and vulnerabilities that impact audiences’ shopping and voting habits. The Free Speech Clause is not an absolute bar to the regulation of commercial intermediaries who exploit private information obtained on the digital marketplace of ideas. The Commerce Clause authorizes passage of law to regulate internet companies that monetize intimate data and resell it to third parties. Rather than applying strict scrutiny to such proposed regulations as one would to pure speech, judges should rely on intermediate scrutiny to test statutes limiting the commercial marketing of data. Legislative reforms are needed to address the substantial economic effects of massive, commercial agglomeration of data files containing histories, daily routines, medical conditions, personal habits, and the like. To address this logarithmically expanding cyber phenomenon, Congress should temporally restrict the retention and trade in private data. Internet intermediaries should not be immune from such a restriction on private data storage. For such a policy to be effective, safe harbor provisions shielding internet intermediaries should be modified to allow for civil litigation against internet companies that refuse a data subject’s request to remove personal information no longer needed to accomplish the transaction for which it was originally processed.
The use of virus induced gene silencing to investigate Septoria leaf blotch in wheat

Septoria leaf blotch, caused by the fungal pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici, is one of the most damaging diseases of wheat (Triticum aestivum), a crop plant of significant worldwide importance. Using the system of Virus-Induced Gene Silencing, to create transient knockdowns of target genes, a novel wheat gene, TaR1, was identified as playing a key role in the host response to this pathogen. Silencing this gene leads to the earlier onset of disease symptoms, but reduced reproduction of the causal pathogen. Sequence analysis, confocal microscopy and protein-protein interaction assays were used to determine that the protein TaR1 localises the nucleus, where its function involves the binding of histones. Precisely, TaR1 is able to bind the Histone 3 subunit, specifically methylated on Lysine 4. Through this action, the host defence response is delayed, and successful pathogen colonisation is promoted. It is hypothesised that this is an example of the pathogen ‘hi-jacking’ TaR1 from its original function, in order to complete its lifecycle.
Regulation of mast cell function by TIM-1 and TIM-3 signaling

The T cell (or transmembrane) immunoglobulin and mucin domain (TIM) family proteins have attracted significant attention as novel immune regulators. Tim-3 is expressed on chronically stimulated, often dysfunctional, T cells. Antibodies to Tim-3 can enhance anti-viral and anti-tumor immune responses. It is also constitutively expressed by mast cells, NK cells and specific subsets of macrophages and dendritic cells. There is ample evidence for a positive role for Tim-3 in these latter cell types, which is at odds with the model of Tim-3 as an inhibitory molecule on T cells. On the other hand, polymorphisms in the TIM-1 gene, particularly in the mucin domain, have been associated with atopy and allergic diseases in mice and human. Genetic- and antibody-mediated studies revealed that Tim-1 functions as a positive regulator of Th2 responses, while certain antibodies to Tim-1 can exacerbate or reduce allergic lung inflammation. Tim-1 can also positively regulate the function of B cells, NKT cells, dendritic cells and mast cells. At this point, little is known about the molecular mechanisms by which Tim-1 and Tim-3 regulate the function of T cells or other cell types. We have focused on defining the effects of Tim-1 and Tim-3 ligation on mast cell activation, since these cells constitutively express both proteins and are activated through an ITAM-containing receptor for IgE (FcRI), using signaling pathways analogous to those in T cells. Employing a variety of gain- and loss-of-function approaches, we find that Tim-3 acts at a receptor-proximal point to enhance Lyn kinase-dependent signaling pathways that modulate both immediate-phase degranulation and late-phase cytokine production downstream of FcRI ligation. Using a Tim-1 mouse model lacking the mucin domain (Tim-1mucin), we show for the first time that the polymorphic Tim-1 mucin region is dispensable for normal mast cell activation. We further show that Tim-4 cross-linking of Tim-1 enhances select signaling pathways downstream of FcRI in mast cells, including mTOR-dependent signaling, leading to increased cytokine production but without affecting degranulation. Thus, Tim-1 and Tim-3 are promising targets in development of therapeutics against mast cell-mediated allergic and autoimmune diseases.
Preliminary Identification of a Novel Sanming Dominant Male Sterile Gene in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

In the studies on the fertility in Fengyuan village, Xicheng town, Youxi county, Fujian province in 2001, a special sterile plant was found in the F2 populations of No. S221 from combination SE21S/Basmati 370. Its pollen abortion type was different from others. From the studies of test-crossing, back-crosses and sib-crossing, sterile and fertile plants segregated in a 1:1 ratio in the descendant populations. When the sterile plant was used as female parent and crossed to normal variety, sterile and fertile plants segregated in a 1:1 ratio in the descendant populations also, and no sterile plants cound be separated from fertile plants. All of the results proved that the male sterility of S221 is controlled by one pair of dominant male sterility gene.
Effects of astragalan on neurotransmitters and expression of c-fos mRNA in hippocampus after ischemic brain injury in rats

AIM: To explore the effects of astragalan(AG) on the neurotransmitters,acetylcholine(ACh),norepinephrine(NE) and 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT),and the expression of c-fos mRNA in hippocampus after ischemic brain injury in rats.METHODS: Male Wistar rats(180~220 g) were randomly divided into 10 groups(n=10): sham-operated group(SOG),3 model groups(MG 1 d,3 d,7 d) and 3 low-or high-dose AG treatment groups(L/H-AGTG 1 d,3 d,7 d),respectively.The middle cerebral artery of the rats in MG group and AGTG group were blocked by operation to induced brain injury.The cerebral blood vessels of the animals were blocked on day 1,day 2 and day 7,respectively,after the L/H-AGTG were treated with AG(5 mg/kg and 15 mg/kg,ip). The content of ACh,5-HT and NE was determined using their respective ELISA kits,and the expression of c-fos mRNA in the hippocampus homogenate was semiquantitative analyzed by RT-PCR after neurologic impairment(NIP) was scored.RESULTS: AG attenuated the injury in hippocampus by cerebral ischemia in a dose-dependent manner.The content of ACh,5-HT and NE in L-AGTG 7 d,H-AGTG 3 d and 7 d groups was significantly higher than that in MG group,but was lower in SOG group(P0.05 or P0.01). The mRNA expression of c-fos in SOG group was lower than that in MG group(P0.05 or P0.01),indicating that reinforcement expression of c-fos mRNA by cerebral ischemia and the expression of downstream genes may be beneficial for protecting the neurons.The mRNA expression of c-fos in H-AGTG 3 d/7 d groups was higher than that in MG group(P0.05). CONCLUSION: AG attenuates the damage of neurons and improves the functions of hippocampus under the condition of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion by increasing the content of ACh,NA and 5-HT,and the mRNA expression of c-fos in hippocampus.
Comprehensive development and application of ostrich oil

Introduced the composition and nature of the ostrich oil and status of the development, focusing on an overview of strong permeability,anti–inflammatory,cardiovascular protection,and promote wound healing,gastric mucosal protection,moisturizing,anti–oxidation,anti–ultraviolet functions. Ostrich oil is one of the most hot developmental products,as a result of unique composition of saturated fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids,making it has a special biochemical and physicochemical properties. Ostrich oil has extensive application prospects in medicine and chemical industries.
Niche-based cellular automata for sustainable land use planning

Rapid urbanization has brought about a series of ecological and environmental problems. Urban planning based on the concepts of ecology is useful for alleviating some of these problems. This paper proposes a new method by incorporating the ecological concept of “niche” in cellular automata (CA) for planning purposes, and illustrates its application to the simulation of sustainable land use. There have been many applications of CA for simulating urban development, yielding significant progresses in verifying urban theories and assumptions. However, many of them are limited to the simulation and prediction of urban development based on the “business-as-usual” scenario that assumes further development to follow present patterns. There exists a general lack of CA application in urban planning. Land use planning is required to solve complex land use problems in implementing the initiatives of sustainable land use. Complex natural and social systems are the subject of many studies aimed at understanding their characteristic dynamics and functioning. Scenario analysis is a promising and interesting planning tool for investigating future in such a complex environment. In this study, the planning objectives related to sustainable development are embedded in this proposed CA model. It simulates alternative development patterns under different land use policies. Planning authorities can evaluate these options and choose the best option for implementing the initiative of sustainable development. This model thus provides a powerful exploratory tool for generating alternative development patterns. The novelty of this proposed mode is based on the incorporation of the concept of ecological “niche” in CA. Each cell in cellular automata is assigned with a distinct ecological “niche”, such as “agriculture ecological niche”, “urban development ecological niche” and “sustainable development ecological niche”. The ecological “niche” of each cell will have its own distinct “contribution” to the urban development according to the planning objectives These cells will compete each other according to a biological competition mechanism characterized by selection of the superior and elimination of the inferior for ecological “niche”, assuming cells with higher potentials are more competitive. This competition mechanism will result in urban evolution. This paper presents a new method for simulating sustainable land use by the integration of ecological “niche”, cellular automata and GIS. This ecological cellular automaton can simulate urban development under different land use policies. It can be used to assist decision makers in searching for alternative land development so that land use conflicts can be minimized. This model has been applied to the simulation of development alternatives for a fast growing city, Guangzhou, South China, and produced promising results.
Pathosystem Common Bean-Uromyces appendiculatus: Host Resistance, Pathogen Specialization, and Breeding for Rust Resistance

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is the world’s most important food legume for direct human consumption. This new world crop is adapted to many niches and it is grown in distinct regions and different seasons around the world. The common bean crop is grown by subsistence levels farmers with little technology as well as by farmers in developed nations that use high input technologies. Unfortunately, common bean yields are quite low compared to other grain legumes; e.g., soybeans and peas. One of the several factors contributing to this situation is the high number of pathogens that cause common bean diseases. Among these diseases is the common bean rust, incited by the basidomycete fungus Uromyces appendiculatus F. Strauss (syn. U. phaseoli G. Winter), which can cause great yield losses. We present here relevant information about the common bean rust including its etiology, epidemiology, the rust pathogen infection process, the symptomatology and genetic diversity of the pathogen. We also review progress on the control of the disease using cultural practices, biological and chemical methods. It is also reported and discussed the host resistance and pathogen specialization, genetics of host-pathogen interactions, the available molecular markers linked to rust resistance genes, and its utilization in marker assisted selection (MAS) for the development of rust resistance cultivars.
Espécies associadas e algumas características físicas influindo na presença de Carollia perspicillata em bueiros na região de Manaus, AM (Mammalia, Chiroptera:Phyllostomidae).

This study treats the distribution and association of the species of a bats in culverts along the BR-174 road 25-75 km north of Manaus, AM. The physical characteristics of the culverts varied, and two factors, the presence of stagnant watch, and large free internal space, were significantly correlated with large concentrations of Carollia perspicillata. This paper records the first interspecific associations between Trachops cirrhosus and Macrophyllum, and between T. cirrhosus and Anoura caudifer.
Variation in mitochondrial DNA and phylogeny of six species of pikas (Ochotona)

Phylogenetic relationships of six species of Ochotona were investigated using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) restriction-site analysis. The phylogenetic tree constructed using PAUP was based on 62 phylogenetically informative sites with O. erythrotis designated as an outgroup. Two clades were evident. One contained O. curzoniae, O. huangensis, and O. thibetana. in the second, O. daurica was a sister taxon of O. cansus. The five species appear to come from different maternal lineages. The branching structure of the tree and sequence divergence confirm that huangensis and cansus are distinct species, and that mol-osa is a synonym of O. cansus rather than O. thibetana. Divergence time, estimated from genetic distances, indicates that the ancestors of the two maternal lineages diverged ca. 6.5 x 10(6) years ago. O. curzoniae diverged from O. huangensis, and O. daurica diverged from O. cansus, at about the same time (ca. 3.4 x 10(6) years ago). These data suggest a period of rapid radiation of the genus Ochotona in China, perhaps during the late Pliocene. These calculations correspond roughly to tectonic events and environmental changes in China throughout this period, and appear to be substantiated by the fossil record.
Progress in wilderness fire science: embracing complexity

Wilderness has played an invaluable role in the development of wildland fire science. Since Agee's review of the subject 15 years ago, tremendous progress has been made in the development of models and data, in understanding the complexity of wildland fire as a landscape process, and in appreciating the social factors that influence the use of wilderness fire. Regardless of all we have learned, though, the reality is that fire remains an extraordinarily complex process with variable effects that create essential heterogeneity in ecosystems. Whereas some may view this variability as a management impediment, for others it provides a path forward. As research has shown, embracing fire in all its complexity and expanding its use can help reduce fuels, restore resilient landscapes, and contain costs. Wilderness fire science will continue to play an important role in understanding opportunities for using fire, its role in ecosystems, its risks and benefits, and the influence of risk perception on decisionmaking.