Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Methyl anthranilate attracts males of Thaumatomyia glabra (Meigen) (Diptera: Chloropidae).

Thaumatomyia glabra (Meigen) flies were observed at a blueberry-scented can dle at an open window. Significant numbers of males of this fly subsequently were captured in traps baited with a piece of the same type of candle, compared to numbers captured in un baited traps. GC-MS analysis of a volatile collection made from air passed over a blueberry scented candle revealed the presence of a number of chemicals, including methyl anthranilate. In field tests, significant numbers of male T. glabra were captured in traps baited with methyl anthranilate applied to a filter paper. Numbers of males captured in traps increased significantly with the dose of methyl anthranilate applied to a filter paper in the trap, through the highest dose tested (140 jig per paper). In a direct comparison of methyl anthranilate (140 [lg) and scented candle, greater numbers of flies were captured in traps baited with methyl anthranilate.
Report on a collection of Crustacea Decapoda and Stomatopoda from Turkey and the Balkans

Under the auspices of Leiden University and with the financial aid of various organisations and institutions, Messrs. E. Hennipman, P. Nijhoff, C. Swennen, A. S. Tulp, W. J. M. Vader, and W. J. J. O. de Wilde, most of whom are biological students of Leiden University, made a collecting trip to Turkey from March to July 1959. Extensive collections of plants and animals from Turkey were brought together, while moreover incidental collecting was done on the way home in Greece and Jugoslavia. A narrative of this trip will be published by Nijhoff & Swennen. The Decapod and Stomatopod Crustacea brought home by the expedition form an extensive and well preserved collection, which contains many very interesting items. It is gratifying to see that notwithstanding the short duration of the expedition and the limited means available these important results could be obtained. Most of the material was collected either in fresh water or in littoral marine habitats (0-5 m depth); on two occasions a trip with a commercial fishing boat could be made, during these trips material from deeper water was obtained. The accompanying map (fig. 1) shows the localities whence Decapoda and Stomatopoda were taken by the expedition, and other Turkish localities mentioned in the present paper. As extremely little is known about the Decapod fauna of Turkey, even the most common species in the present collection proved to be of interest. A number of Mediterranean species are now reported for the first time from Turkish waters. In addition, the Turkish south coast proved to lodge also several Indo-West Pacific species originating from the Red Sea which have entered the Mediterranean by way of the Suez Canal and went northward along the coasts of Egypt, Israel, the Lebanon and Syria. Several of
Ocorrência de anticorpos anti-Neospora caninum em bubalinos da região oeste do estado de São Paulo

Serum samples from 404 water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) were tested to verify occurence of anti Neospora caninum antibodies from the west of Sao Paulo State, Brazil.The technique used was indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT), in dilutions 1:100. It was observed anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in 38,1% (154/404) about tested animals, with frequency variating 100 12800. Observed a significant diference between cities (P>0,05) with minimum variation of 16,2% and maximum of 61,4%. Age influenced in Lucelia, the animals with more five years old were more infected (P<0,05). This results alarm for the infection in water buffaloes from this region because the ocurrence antibodies is bigger than cattle, expose with a high level N. caninum intensity.
Signaling from matrix elasticity and TGF-beta1 to cells of the cardiac valve

Coordinated movement of cardiac valves controls unidirectional flow of the blood with every heart beat. Cardiac valves are composed of thin, pliable leaflets that withstand compressive tension, fluid shear stress, and bending stress as blood flows through them. The structure and the mechanical properties of the valves render them durable during the lifetime of human beings. However, changes in hemodynamic environment, inflammatory responses, and congenital valvular defects can all cause valves to undergo irreversible structural changes, one of which is calcific aortic stenosis (CAS). CAS affects 2-3% of the population over 65 years old in the western world, and the only effective treatment is valve replacement surgery. CAS is characterized by tissue stiffening and the formation of calcified nodules, the development of which is associated with abnormal differentiation of resident fibroblasts known as valvular interstitial cells (VICs). Upon tissue injury, VICs are activated to myofibroblasts which deposit excessive collagen and stiffen the matrix. Understanding how the pathogenic phenotype of VICs is regulated by cues from the matrix may lead to new therapeutic treatments for CAS. In this thesis, I examined how matrix elasticity and TGF-β1 regulate VIC phenotypes. First, I characterized the VIC population from porcine aortic valves and showed that this population is relatively homogeneous. When I cultured these primary cells on different substrates, I found that
Plant Regeneration from Leaf Explants of Kalanchoe daigremontiana Hamet & Perrier

Optimum culture conditions for high frequency plant regeneration from leaf explants of Kalanchoe daigremontiana Hamet &Perrier were established. Shoot regeneration was achieved from leaf explant cultures using MS medium supplemented with indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and thidiazuron (TDZ) or benzyladenine (BA). Percent regeneration was influenced by plant growth regulators and source of explants. MS medium supplemented with TDZ (1.0 mg/l) and IAA (0.4 mg/l) was the most effective, providing shoot regeneration for 76.7 % of ex vitro leaf explants associated with a high number of shoots per explant (9.5 mean shoots per explant), whereas 100% shoot regeneration associated with 12.4 shoots per explant occurred from in vitro leaf explants on the same medium. Clusters of shoots were multiplied and elongated on MS medium containing several concentrations of BA. MS medium supplemented with 0.25 mg/l BA was proved as the most effective shoot elongation medium. Elongated shoots (2-3 cm) were rooted at 100% on half-strength MS medium. Rooted plantlets were then transferred to potting soil. Regenerated plants were established in the soil with 90% success.
EFEITO DA ADIÇÃO DA ENZIMA FITASE EM RAÇÕES PARA FRANGOS DE CORTE COM REDUÇÃO DOS NÍVEIS DE FÓSFORO NAS DIFERENTES FASES DE CRIAÇÃO

Four hundred one-day-old male chicks were distributed at random in four treatments, with four repetitions of 25 birds per treatment. Treatments were constituted by different levels of available phosphorus (Pd) on different phases. In the control treatment (T1), the levels of Pd in the initial, growth and final phases were 0.45; 0.41 and 0.38%, respectively. In the treatments 2, 3 and 4 the reductions occurred respectively, in the final phase (0.14%Pd), in the growth and final phases (0.17 and 0.14%Pd), and in all phases (0.21; 0.17 and 0.14%Pd). When reduction of Pd levels occurred in the different phases, diets were supplemented with the phytase enzyme (500 FTU/kg of diet). In the different phases of production the reduction of Pd levels, using phytase, had effect upon the performance, the poultry litter and bone characteristics. In the growth phase, the reduction of Pd level from 0.41 to 0.17%, using phytase worsened feed conversion and the productivity efficiency index. However, on the final phase the reduction of Pd level from 0.38 to 0.14% with the inclusion of phytase, established similar performance and bone characteristics to the control treatment. KEY-WORDS: Coefficient of residue, performance, poultry litter.
Heficobacter pylori Biofilm Formation and Gene Expression on Abiotic Surfaces Using a Cyanobacterial Extract

The effects of a cyanobacterial extract (CE) on Helicobacter pylori biofilm formation onto hydrophobic and hydrophilic abiotic surfaces and the expression of luxS, flaA, omp18, lpxD and ureA genes associated to biofilm were studied. NCTC11638 reference strain and HP796, a resistant clinical isolate, were grown in Mueller-Hinton broth supplemented with 5% fetal calf serum (FCS) or 1% CE. The ability to form biofilm, viability, morphological changes and gene expression of adhered H. pylori cells were determined. The strains were able to form biofilm on both surfaces with the nutritional supplements analyzed. H. pylori conserved a characteristic bacillary morphology and viability with CE. Cells attachment was higher with CE than FCS regardless of strains and surfaces. The most remarkable increase in gene expression was observed with the omp18 gene using the CE supplement, indicating the important participation of outer membrane proteins in biofilm establishment. The clinical isolate showed similar and even greater gene expression than the reference strain. The results obtained indicated that the nutrients provided by CE favored biofilm formation with retained pathogenicity that under certain conditions can occur in natural aquatic environments.
Identification and Functional Characterization of Novel Ionotropic Glutamate Receptor Subunits at Drosophila Neuromuscular Synapse

The molecular mechanisms triggering the formation of synapses in vivo are crucial for understanding the development as well as the activity dependent remodelling of synaptic circuits. The Drosophila neuromuscular junction (NMJ) provides an excellent platform for investigating fundamental aspects of how glutamatergic synapse form in vivo. The molecular mechanisms relevant to synaptogenesis and growth control of the Drosophila NMJ were addressed by combining genome-wide transcript analysis with functional genetics. This allowed the identification of two novel postsynaptic muscle expressed ionotropic glutamate receptor subunits, GluR-IID and GluR-IIE. Genetic elimination of either of the two novel subunits resulted in paralyzed lethal embryos, indicating that both new subunits are essential for forming the postsynaptic glutamate receptor complex. Further genetic, cell biological and electrophysiological studies then uncovered a tight interdependence of all NMJ glutamate receptor subunits for synaptic localization and function. These results imply that the NMJ glutamate receptor complex has strictly hetero-tetrameric stoichiometry. This so far was not described for mammalian ionotropic glutamate receptors which are usually considered to be dimers of dimers. In the second part of the thesis, glutamate receptor deprived synapses were closer inspected. Surprisingly, depleting glutamate receptors (but not depleting synaptic neurotransmission activity) provoked severe ultrastructural and molecular defects of postsynaptic membrane organization and compartment formation. Thus, the glutamate receptor complex per se but not its ligand-gated ion channel activity seemingly plays an instructive role for assembling mature postsynaptic specializations. Such a structural role of glutamate receptor complexes in synaptic differentiation is novel. It might be relevant for the role ionotropic glutamate receptors play during synaptic plasticity of the mammalian brain, which is considered to be a cellular correlate of learning and memory processes.
Capacity-building in relation to human activities affecting the marine environment

The oceans provide various ecosystem services or what are also referred to as the "benefits that people desire from ecosystems" (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005). It is therefore necessary to know the types or nature of services that humans receive from the oceans and the scale or level of human activities that can be exerted without causing imbalances that could affect sustainability. Achieving sustainability requires strong public understanding of the importance of the ocean. This therefore calls for enhanced outreach and communication efforts through the development of mechanisms and partnerships to build capacity for outreach and awareness programmes. The major types of ecosystem services are described in Chapter 3. For sustainability the following are needed: scientific understanding of the services; assessment of the level of food production which results from various ecological processes, in order to address food security and safety; assessment of aesthetic uses of the ocean environment; and the level and type of capacity for studying and managing human activities and their impacts arising from exploitation of the ecosystem services. The level of capacity-building reflects, among other things, the efforts at identifying knowledge gaps in science, technological advances, human skills development and infrastructure.
EGF Prevents Hydrogen Peroxide‐Induced Tyrosine Phosphorylation and Redistribution of Tight Junction and Adherens Junction Proteins in Human Colonic Mucosa

Oxidative stress destabilizes intercellular junctions and promotes tumor metastasis. Previous studies demonstrated that H2O2 disrupts tight junctions (TJs) and adherens junctions (AJs) by a Tyr‐kinase‐dependent mechanism in Caco‐2 cells. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of H2O2 on TJs and AJs in human colonic mucosa. These studies were conducted according to the approved IRB protocol. Human colonic biopsies were incubated with 30 nM epidermal growth factor (EGF) 10 min prior to H2O2 (20 μM) for 1 hour. TJ and AJ integrity was evaluated by analyzing the distribution of occludin, ZO‐1, E‐cadherin and β‐catenin by immuofluorescence confocal microscopy. Triton‐insoluble and soluble fractions were immunoblotted for TJ and AJ proteins. Tyr‐phosphorylation of was determined by immunoprecipitation and immunoblot analysis. Results show that H2O2 induces a redistribution of occludin, ZO‐1, E‐cadherin and β‐catenin from the intercellular junctions into the intracellular compartments. H2O2 induced a significant reduction of these TJ and AJ proteins in the Triton‐insoluble fraction, while increasing the levels of these proteins in Triton‐soluble fraction. Tyr‐phosphorylation of TJ and AJ proteins was increased by H2O2. Pretreatment of tissues with EGF attenuated H2O2‐induced Tyr‐phosphorylation and redistribution of TJ and AJ proteins from the intercellular junctions and Triton‐insoluble factions. These results indicate that oxidative stress induces Tyr‐phosphorylation and redistribution of TJ and AJ proteins in human colonic mucosa and EGF prevents these effects of H2O2.
Intake of zinc from human milk and complementary foods by 7 month old infants from the Sidama Zone in Southern Ethiopia

The objective of this study was to determine the zinc (Zn) concentrations of human milk and the intake of Zn from human milk and complementary foods (CF) by 7 mo old infants in rural Southern Ethiopia. A convenience sample of 20 maternal‐infant dyads was studied in the rural community of Alamura. Maternal Zn intakes in the community were very low relative to recommendations. Median infant age was 7.5 mo. Intakes of breast milk were determined by 24 hr test weighing; weighed records of CF were compiled concurrently. Daily milk samples were collected with precautions to avoid Zn contamination; Zn concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Zn content of CF was calculated from Ethiopian food table augmented by laboratory analyses. Mean (S.D.) milk Zn concentration was 1.05 (0.47) μg Zn/ml; milk intake was 524 (147) g/d, resulting in Zn intake from human milk of 0.57 (0.29) mg/d. Twelve infants consumed CF, which contributed an average of 0.69 (0.07) mg Zn/d. Total Zn intake for those infants receiving CF was 1.3 (0.03) mg Zn/d, compared to 0.41 (0.22) for those receiving human milk alone.
Characterization of bacterial RND efflux systems via transcriptional regulator CmeR and outer membrane channels CusC and MtrE

The TetR family of transcription regulators are diverse proteins capable of sensing and responding to various structurally dissimilar antimicrobial agents. Upon detecting these agents, the regulators allow transcription of an appropriate array of resistance markers to counteract the deleterious compounds. Campylobacter jejuni CmeR is a pleiotropic regulator of multiple proteins, including the membrane-bound multidrug efflux transporter CmeABC. CmeR represses the expression of CmeABC and is induced by bile acids, which are substrates of the CmeABC tripartite pump. The multiligand-binding pocket of CmeR has been shown to be very extensive and consists of several positively charged and multiple aromatic amino acids. Here we describe the crystal structures of CmeR in complexes with the bile acids, taurocholate and cholate. Taurocholate and cholate are structurally related, differing by only the anionic charged group. However, these two ligands bind distinctly in the binding tunnel. Taurocholate spans the novel bile acid binding site adjacent to and without overlapping with the previously determined glycerol-binding site. The anionic aminoethanesulfonate group of taurocholate is neutralized by a charge-dipole interaction. Unlike taurocholate, cholate binds in an anti-parallel orientation but occupies the same bile acidbinding site. Its anionic pentanoate moiety makes a water-mediated hydrogen bond
Bayesian Computational Inference of Species Trees and Population Sizes

Rapid advances in sequencing technology have allowed researchers to study many fundamental questions about Evolution and Life through the analysis of molecular sequence data. The computational analysis of sequence data can reveal the patterns and processes of speciation, domestication, epidemiology, evolution of traits, biogeography, and host/parasite co-evolution. Such analyses are also central to the systematic classification of life. All of these applications require a mathematical model that characterizes the random processes governing the evolution of DNA sequences over time, subject to the specific conditions of interest. It turns out that evolutionary models also share another common basis: the need to account for the ancestral relationships and sizes of the populations within which the genetic material is being propagated. Historically, those aspects were part of both the area of populations genetics and systematics – the study of biological diversity and its origins. Those two disciplines are experiencing a synthesis in the last few decades under the branch of “Molecular Phylogenetics”. In this thesis we develop two methods; one for estimating the effective size of a single population, the second for estimating the family (species) tree of several populations and their sizes. Both methods utilize multi-gene data from multiple individuals, a key ingredient for reducing the uncertainty of estimates. The methods are Bayesian, utilizing the generic Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithm to compute posterior probabilities for high-dimensional and extremely complex models. Posterior probabilities are direct probabilities of the model under suitable prior assumptions, and uncertainty bounds are an integral part of the Bayesian approach. Uncertainty bounds are especially valuable in analysis of genetic data, which may contain an extremely weak signal. In this thesis we also explore some theoretical issues relating to the tree prior and model violations. Due to the complexity of the models, computer simulations play a major role in investigating model properties and performance as a function of the amount and quality of data. The methods are implemented as part of the software package BEAST and have already been used in several studies.
Susceptibility status of transgenic Aedes aegypti (L.) against insecticides.

Two strains of Aedes aegypti, a RIDL® strain (MyRIDL513A) and a laboratory strain (MyWT), were used in the insecticide-susceptibility study. Two-to-five-day-old female mosquitoes from both strains were tested for their susceptibility against seven insecticides from the class of organophosphate, carbamate, pyrethroids and organochlorine. The adult bioassay was performed according to WHO standard procedures. The 50% lethal time (LT50) value was determined for each strain against the seven insecticides. Both the MyRIDL513A and MyWT strains were resistant to DDT, exhibiting mortality of 48% and 33% respectively, but were susceptible to malathion (5%), permethrin (0.75%), cyfluthrin (0.15%) and lambdacyhalothrin (0.05%). This study shows there is no evidence of altered susceptibility to insecticides in the RIDL strain compared to a WT strain of Ae. aegypti.
Nitrogen uptake response of crops to organic nitrogen

Abstract Sustainability of agriculture became a major issue of global concern during this decade. Agronomic practices aimed at reducing the dependence on inputs such as chemical fertilizers can contribute to sustainability. Nitrogen (N) is the most limiting and commonly applied nutrient for crop production. The development of nutrient-responsive cultivars especially during the past three decades led to an intensive use of N fertilizers in many agricultural systems. Environmental and economic issues associated with such practices have, however, generated an interest in alternative management systems. These include practices such as exploitation of beneficial biological functions (symbiotic nitrogen fixation, etc.) and substitution of chemical fertilizers with farm-generated products.
The Antagonistic Activity of the Lactic Acid Bacteria (Streptococcus thermophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactobacillus bulgaricus) against Helicobacter pylori Responsible for the Gastroduodenals Diseases

The lactic acid bacteria are used in fermentation and the bio conservation of food, because it produces organic acids and other antibacterial substances as the bacteriocin to inhibit certain pathogenic stocks. In order to demonstrate the inhibitory effect of these bacteria, we studied the antagonistic capacity of the two leavens of yoghourt (Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus) and Bifidobacterium bifidum with respect to Helicobacter pylori by the method of diffusion by discs. Their interactions led to the emergence of large zones of inhibition. Bifidobacterium bifidum led the greatest halo with a diameter of 0.8 cm by contribution to Lactobacillus bulgaricus (0.5 cm) and Streptococcus thermophilus (0.3 cm). The additional tests were required to know the exact nature of the inhibitors. The results showed that the antibacterial peptides (bacteriocins) have a narrow spectrum of activity against the species pathogen compared to that caused by acidity.