Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Physical fluxes, pelagic ecosystem structure, and larval fish survival in Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand

The ecosystem supporting snapper (Pagrus auratus) larvae was studied during three springsummer (NovemberJanuary 19851988) spawning seasons in Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand. Upwelling-favourable winds caused more incursion of shelf water into the Gulf in 19851986 and 19861987 than in 19871988, but in the first two seasons, the winds were relatively weak. Stronger winds in 19871988 drove greater vertical diffusivity and correlated with greater mixed-layer primary biomass and productivity. Effects of vertical mixing appeared to dominate horizontal incursion of upwelled shelf water in supporting upper water column productivity. The more productive 19871988 season had greater abundances of nauplii, copepodites, adult copepods, cladocerans, chaetognaths, hydromedusae, decapod larvae, and numerous larval fish taxa (including snapper). There was much higher survival of snapper between the late-stage egg and post-first-feeding larval stages in 19871988, which correlated spatially and temporally with high larv.
A Novel Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity Mechanism Involved in Defense against Malaria Requires Costimulation of Monocytes FcγRII and FcγRIII1

Clinical experiments have shown that the Ab-dependent cell-mediated inhibition of Plasmodium falciparum is a major mechanism controlling malaria parasitemia and thereby symptoms. In this study, we demonstrate that a single merozoite per monocyte (MN) is sufficient to trigger optimal antiparasitic activity. Using particulate Ag as pseudomerozoites, we show that only Ags, and no other parasite-derived factor, are required to trigger MN activation and that a single Ag is as potent as the complex combination of Ags constituting the merozoite surface. Moreover, we found that soluble Ags binding at least two Abs are as effective as the parasite at stimulating MN and that nonmalarial Ags are as efficient provided they are targeted by cytophilic Abs. Indeed, only cytophilic IgGs are potent and, in agreement with immunoepidemiological findings, IgG3 is superior to IgG1. Very low Ab concentrations (>700 pM), i.e., in the range of molecules having a hormonal effect, are effective, in contrast to Abs having a direct, neutralizing effect. Finally, Ab-dependent cell-mediated inhibition proved to require the synergistic activation of both FcγRIIa and FcγRIIIa which both distinguish it from other Ab-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and implies that all MN are not equally effective. These findings have both fundamental and practical implications, particularly for vaccine discovery.
THE RELEASE OF BOUND β-AMYLASE BY MACROMOLECULES

The aim of this study was to clarify the roles of endogenous proteases and higher molecular weight thiols in the release of bound β-amylase, which occurs during barley germination. In resting barley grains (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Torrent) five major β-amylase monomers were found in the thiol reduced, salt soluble extract. Only the two smallest monomers were present in large amounts in the bound form of the enzyme that had been released with 2-mercaptoethanol. In vitro, bound β-amylase was solubilised by “releasing factors” extracted from the endosperm of decorticated grains germinated for three days. The releasing factors were in the higher molecular weight fraction (>5 kDa) and their formation was induced in degermed grains by gibberellic acid. When an endosperm extract, containing only higher molecular material (>5 kDa) prepared from three day germinated grain, was incubated with a preparation of bound β-amylase, about 75% of the release of the enzyme could be prevented by a mixture of proteolytic inhibitors. The dominant class of proteases in malt were the sulphydryl proteases. These were not fully active when extracted, but could be activated approximately six fold by the addition of 2-mercaptoethanol. Heating the extract to a limited extent destroyed all the proteolytic activity, but 10% of the bound β-amylase could still be released by the extract.
Morphology echolocation and resource partitioning in insectivorous bats

Cette etude a pour but de tester l'hypothese selon laquelle la morphologie de l'aile des chauves-souris determine la selection du site d'alimentation et les differences de morphologie entrainent le partage des ressources au niveau spatial. L'utilisation de l'habitat apparait comme lie a la manœuvrabilite de l'animal. Une interrelation avec les appels d'echolocation est mise en evidence
Hyperspectral reflectance features of water hyacinth growing under feeding stresses of Neochetina spp. and different heavy metal pollutants

Spectral signatures of water hyacinth grown with biocontrol agents (Neochetina eichornia and N. bruchi) and various heavy metal pollutants were collected at the plant canopy level using a hand-held spectrometer to detect the biocontrol agent and heavy metal-induced plant stresses and the interaction between the two stressors. Water hyacinth was grown in 65l tubs, each with a single element from one of: As (1 mg l−1), Au (1 mg l−1), Cu (2 mg l−1), Fe (0.5, 2 and 4 mg l−1), Hg (1 mg l−1), Mn (0.5, 2, and 4 mg l−1), U (1 mg l−1), and Zn (4 mg l−1), with the exception of the control treatment. Three weeks after the metal treatments, the weevils were added to each tub, including those of the control treatment. Spectral measurements were taken before and after the addition of the weevils. Several spectral indicators of plant stress including red edge normalized difference vegetation index (RE-NDVI), modified red edge NDVI (mNDVI705), modified simple ratio (mSR), photochemical reflectance index (PRI), and red edge position (REP) calculated using first derivative and linear extrapolation and water band index (WBI) were used to identify the plant stresses of water hyacinth. The spectral indicators of both metal and weevil plant stressors were correlated with the leaf chlorophyll content from the SPAD-502 readings at the end of the experiment. Correlations of mNDVI705 with SPAD-502 readings were the highest followed by the indicators of REP. Cu-, Hg-, and Zn-treated plants showed significantly lower chlorophyll contents compared with the control treatment. A similar trend with four additional treatments (As, Fe-M, Mn-L, and Mn-H) was seen after the release of the weevils, indicating plant stress due to feeding by the biocontrol agent. However, adult and larval feeding was significantly reduced by Cu, Hg, and Zn elements, of which Cu was the most stressful. These results indicate that hyperspectral remote sensing has potential as a tool to determine the health status of water hyacinth from a remote location, to inform management interventions in control of the weed. However, its usage at a larger scale requires further studies.
Morfología e inmunofenotipo del cáncer de mama y ovario en pacientes portadoras de mutaciones BRCA-1 y BRCA-2

SUMMARY The objective was to define morphology and immunophenotype in hereditary breast-ovarian carcinomas of BRCA-1-BRCA-2 germline mutation carriers. Macroscopy and optical definition were done according Bloom-Richardson score. Immunohistochemistry (IHCH) methods include ENVISION variation and heat antigen retrieval; a complete panel of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against hormone receptors, bcl-2, p53, proliferation (MIB-1), c-erb-2 oncogene and BRCA-1, was performed, adding CEA, Ca 19.9 and Ca 125 in ovarian tumours. Nineteen cases of hereditary breast-ovary carcinomas were reviewed, eleven BRCA-1 germline mutated (all female patients, eight breast and three ovarian tumours) and eight with BRCA-2 germline mutation (five female and two male patients, all breast tumours and one ovarian carcinoma). BRCA-1 group corresponds to young female patients with invasive ductal
The breeding behaviour of the endangered regent honeyeater, Xanthomyza phrygia, near Armidale, New South Wales

The regent honeyea ter, Xanthomyza phrygia, is an endangered woodland bird whose range and population size have decreased in the last thirty years. Suggested reasons for this decline include abnormal breeding behaviour, poor reproductive output, and excessive inter- and intra-specific aggression. This study investigated the breeding behaviour and aggressive interactions of regent honeyeaters during the nest construction, incubation, nestling, and fledgling stages in two consecutive breeding seasons in the Bundarra–Barraba region near Armidale, New South Wales. The female was entirely responsible for nest construction and incubation, which is typical of many honeyeaters. Both parents fed the nestlings, and at a similar rate, although only the female brooded chicks on the nest. Both parents fed the fledglings. The mean frequency at which nestlings (23 times per hour) and fledglings (29 times per hour) were fed is the highest published rate of any non-cooperative honeyeater. Breeding males were involved in significantly more aggressive interactions with conspecifics and other nectarivores than were females, although the overall percentage of day-time spent in aggression for both sexes was low (2.5%). It appears that abnormal breeding behaviour, poor reproductive effort, or excessive aggression are not experienced by this species in northern New South Wales, and that other factors are likely to be responsible for its current low population level.
Prey selectivity of wolves in Banff National Park. II: Age, sex, and condition of elk

Wolf predation on elk was studied in Banff National Park, Alberta. Overall, wolves took a higher proportion of adult males and calves than occurred in the population. However, wolves encounter elk as herds rather than individuals, and when the herd is considered to be the unit of available prey, calves are highly selected for compared with both adult males and females. Adult elk killed by wolves were older than those killed on the road or railway, but a simple model showed that this result can be caused by a bias in obtaining the population age distribution from a mortality source. Jaw lengths and antler characteristics of wolf kills did not differ from those of road and rail kills. Adult elk, but not calves, killed by wolves had lower reserves of marrow fat than elk killed on the road and railway.
Review: Bacteriocins of Lactic Acid Bacteria

During the last few years, a large number of new bacteriocins produced by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have been identified and characterized. LAB-bacteriocins comprise a heterogeneous group of physicochemically diverse ribosomally-synthesized peptides or proteins showing a narrow or broad antimicrobial activity spectrum against Gram-positive bacteria. Bacteriocins are classified into separate groups such as the lantibiotics (Class I); the small (<10 kDa) heat-stable postranslationally unmodified non-lantibiotics (Class II), further subdivided in the pediocin-like and anti Listeria bacteriocins (subclass IIa), the two-peptide bacteriocins (subclass IIb), and the sec-dependent bacteriocins (subclass IIc); and the large (>30 kDa) heat-labile non-lantibiotics (Class III). Most bacteriocins characterized to date belong to Class II and are synthesized as precursor peptides (preprobacteriocins) containing an N-terminal double-glycine leader peptide, which is cleaved off concomitantly with externalization of biologically active bacteriocins by a dedicated ABC-transporter and its accessory protein. However, the recently identified sec-dependent bacteriocins contain an N-terminal signal peptide that directs bacteriocin secretion through the general secretory pathway (GSP). Most LAB-bacteriocins act on sensitive cells by destabilization and permeabilization of the cytoplasmic membrane through the formation of transitory poration complexes or ionic channels that cause the reduction or dissipation of the proton motive force (PMF). Bacteriocin producing LAB strains protect themselves against the toxicity of their own bacteriocins by the expression of a specific immunity protein which is generally encoded in the bacteriocin operon. Bacteriocin production in LAB is frequently regulated by a three-component signal transduction system consisting of an induction factor (IF), and histidine protein kinase (HPK) and a response regulator (RR). This paper presents an updated review on the general knowledge about physicochemical properties, molecular mode of action, biosynthesis, regulation and genetics of LAB-bacteriocins.
Ecology and genomics of microorganisms reducing the greenhouse gas N₂O

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is a potent greenhouse gas and the major ozone depleting substance in the stratosphere. One major source of N₂O is incomplete denitrification, whereas the only known tropospheric sink of N₂O is the microbial enzyme nitrous oxide reductase. Denitrification is defined as the stepwise reduction of nitrite to dinitrogen via nitric oxide and N₂O by facultative anaerobic microorganisms. This thesis aims to elucidate the phylogenetic diversity of the N₂O reductase encoding gene nosZ and its context in microbial genomes in relation to other genes in the denitrification pathway, as well as the relative influence of plants and soil on the activity, abundance and structure of N₂O-reducing communities in the rhizosphere. Phylogenetic analysis of publicly available nosZ gene sequences revealed that its genetic diversity is divided into two distinct clades termed clade I and clade II, the latter having not been accounted for in previous studies. Newly developed molecular tools revealed that it is abundant in a wide range of environments. Analysis of microbial genomes showed that co-occurrence patterns of nosZ with other denitrification genes were neither randomly distributed among taxonomic units nor among habitats. Many genomes had truncated pathways as organisms possessing nosZII often lacked other genes involved in denitrification, suggesting these organisms may act as N₂O-sinks in the environment. Pot experiments with sunflower and barley indicated a niche differentiation between the two nosZ gene variants, as nosZI showed an affinity for plant roots while nosZII was more abundant in the surrounding soil. However, denitrification and N₂O-production activity in soil were controlled by edaphic factors. Moreover, an intercropping experiment with cocksfoot and lucerne showed that intercropping had a negative influence on nosZII abundances on cocksfoot roots which in conjunction with phylogenetic placement of sequencing reads indicated the presence of organisms with only nosZ lacking a denitrification pathway. In conclusion, the development of new molecular tools combined with comparative genomic analysis sheds new light on the ecology of biological N₂O reduction in the rhizosphere.
The Invertebrates: A Synthesis

Preface. Part I: Evolutionary Introduction. 1. Introduction: Basic Approach and Principles. 2. The Evolutionary History and Phylogeny of the Invertebrates. Part II: The Invertebrate Phyla. 3. Parallel Approaches to Animal Multicellularity. 4. The Worms. 5. The Molluscs. 6. The Lophophorates. 7. The Deuterostomes. 8. Invertebrates with Legs: The Arthropods and Similar Groups. Part III: Invertebrate Functional Biology. 9. Feeding. 10. Mechanics and Movement (Locomotion). 11. Respiration. 12. Excretion Ionic and Osmotic Regulation and Buoyancy. 13. Defence. 14. Reproduction and Life Cycles. 15. Development. 16. Control Systems. 17. Basic Principles Revisited. Glossary. Illustration Sources. Index.
Avaliação de progênies de meios-irmãos da população de milho CMS-453 no Nordeste brasileiro

Three cycles of selection among and within the progenies of half-sibs were realized in the corn population CMS-453, for high protein quality, in the period of 1995 to 1997, in the Northeastern Brazil, with the objective of obtaining more productive germplasm, well adapted, with good agronomic characters, high percentage of tryptophan and lysine the protein to be utilized in the region. The 196 progenies, in each cycle, were evaluated in a 14 x 14 lattice, with two repetitions, doing the combination of the selected progenies in the same agricultural year, in the way of obtaining a cycle each year. The magnitude of the estimated genetic parameters decreased from the original cycle to the selection cycle I, increasing from cycle I to cycle II. The high values of these magnitudes associated with the high productivity means of the progenies and with the expected and obtained averaged gain from the selection among and within progenies per selection cycle of 11.62% and 3.0%, respectively, show the high potential of the population to respond to selection which will permit to attain a higher production and a material better adapted to the regional environment. The percentages of tryptophan and lysine in the protein, in average of the three cycles of selection were 0.88% and 3.91% giving a high genetic quality for the CMS-453 population.
Ethanol accumulation during severe drought may signal tree vulnerability to detection and attack by bark beetles

Tree mortality from temperature-driven drought is occurring in forests around the world, often in conjunction with bark beetle outbreaks when carbon allocation to tree defense declines. Physiological metrics for detecting stressed trees with enhanced vulnerability prior to bark beetle attacks remain elusive. Ethanol, water, monoterpene concentrations, and composition were examined in the phloem and sapwood of drought-stressed Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.) freshly attacked by mature Mediterranean pine shoot beetles (Tomicus destruens (Wollaston, 1865)) and in neighboring unattacked trees. The attacked trees were more water-stressed and contained, on average, 2.1 and 2.4 times more ethanol in the phloem and sapwood, respectively, than the neighboring attack-free trees. This response is consistent with the known attraction of T. destruens to ethanol. Most monoterpene concentrations in the phloem, but not sapwood, were greater in tissues of attacked trees, whereas compositional differences were minor b.
Chromatographic Separation of Anthocyanins in Cowberry (Lingonberry) Vaccinium vites‐idaea L

The analysis of anthocyanins by a combination of droplet counter-current chromatography, thin-layer chromatography and on-line high-performance liquid chromatography was applied to the acidified ethanol extract of cowberry (lingonberry), Vaccinium vitesidaea L, In addition to 3-galactoside (88.0%), 3-arabinoside (10.6%), and 3-glucoside (1.4%) of cyanidin, delphinidin-3-glucoside (less than 0.1%) was identified. The total anthocyanin content was determined to be 174 mg/100g fresh fruit.
An in vivo RNAi screen identifies evolutionary conserved Drosophila fat storage regulators.

One main goal for all organisms, in order to survive under environmental changes, is to maintain energy homeostasis. Energy homeostasis depends mainly on three processes, the energy uptake, energy storage and energy consumption, respectively. An impairment of energy homeostasis or the lipid metabolism can cause body fat accumulation, which could finally lead to obesity. Since the outspread of obesity widely increased over the last years, the need to unveil new regulators of body fat storage rises. In order to identify novel body fat storage regulators, we used the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster to do a conditional in vivo RNAi knockdown (KD) screen in the fat storage tissue of adult flies. Hereby, lethality due to developmental impairment can be excluded, which allows to screen for novel regulators in adult flies. By this approach, 6796 genes were down-regulated directly in the fat storage tissue of the fly and the body fat levels were determined. By further validations, I was able to identify 77 gene KDs, which resulted in obese or lean flies. Notably, most of the identified genes and processes are conserved up to humans. A Gene Ontology analysis of these genes revealed several processes, including store-operated calcium entry (SOCE), which was so far unrelated to body fat storage control. Interestingly, modulations of SOCE genes, which resulted in decreased intracellular Ca2+ levels (iCa2+) causes obesity in flies. Controversial, modulations that leads to increased iCa2+ resulted in lean flies. In order to reveal the role of SOCE for body fat storage control, I characterized the effects of the central component known as the Stromal interaction molecule (Stim). A Stim KD in the fat storage tissue of mature adult flies resulted in decreased iCa2+ and obese flies, which also showed an increase in fat cell mass, likely driven through hypertrophy and hyperplasia. Further characterization of these flies revealed no effects on the activity or the metabolic rate, indicating that the body fat accumulation is independent from the energy expenditure. On the other hand, Stim KD flies show hyperphagia, which is driven by up-regulation of the orexigenic short neuropeptide F (sNPF) in the central nervous system of the fly. This regulation and the enriched energy intake drives an obesogenic program in the fat storage tissue of Stim KD flies, by up-regulation of the lipogenic mdy/DmDGAT1 and down-regulation of the lipolytic bmm/DmATGL genes. These findings suggest a control of the energy storage, which is driven by SOCE via an inter-organ communication signaling pathway.
Simulating viability of a spadefoot toad Pelobates fuscus metapopulation in a landscape fragmented by a road

A stochastic simulation model allowing for demographic and environmental stochasticity was developed in order to predict the dynamics of a Pelobates fuscus metapopulation. The metapopulation (consisting of ca 1000 adult individuals) was intensively studied in the field for a period of four years and the simulation model was parameterised (sex ratio, age-specific survival rates, fecundity and dispersal between subpopulations) using field data. A sensitivity analysis revealed that a change in the juvenile yearly survival rate has a relatively larger effect on subpopulation persistence than adult survival rate and fecundity rate have. The probability of subpopulation persistence for one hundred years increased from 0 to 0.6 with a change in juvenile yearly survival rate from 0.35 to 0.40. Varying dispersal rate (from 0 to 1% of the individuals in a subpopulation moving to another subpopulation within a year) showed that four of the five subpopulations are dependent on the last one for persistence, indicating a source-sink structure of the metapopulation. The subpopulation with the highest estimated juvenile survival has a far higher persistence probability than the others; they in turn would go extinct were it not for the occasional input of individuals from the source subpopulation. The source-sink structure was also apparent when simulating the isolation effect of the road: persistence of the subpopulation isolated by the road decreases markedly with only a 20% decrease in the number of individuals dispersing to this pond. Environmental stochasticity decreases persistence time of the source subpopulation, but increases persistence time of the unstable ones. This is probably due to the presence of overcompensating density-dependent factors affecting the subpopulations and to the more general effect of stochasticity: it may temporarily change reproduction and mortality rates, increase time to extinction for unstable subpopulations through a rescue effect; and decrease time to extinction for the more stable subpopulations.