Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Trehalose accumulation in the tardigrade Adorybiotus coronifer during anhydrobiosis

Changes in the trehalose level in the tardigrade Adorybiotus coronifer were ob- served during induction of, and arousal from, anhydrobiosis. A trehalose accumulation surpassing 1.6% dry weight (d.w.) in anhydrobiotic animals collected dry on their biotope was rapidly reduced on rehydration, reaching the level of active animals (0.1-0.2% d.w.) after 6 hours. Tardigrades dried while embedded in sand in the laboratory accumulated trehalose from 0.1% to 2.3% d.w. within 5-7 hours. Induction of aerobic acidosis in arousing tardigrades by CO, perfusion reversibly arrested re- activation for at least 36 hours and induced a reduction in anabolic and catabolic activities, mea- sured as a significant reduction in trehalose degradation, and a sevenfold reduction in the rate of protein synthesis. These data support the hypotheis that trehalose generally serves a protective role in desiccation- tolerant Metazoa, but indicate that tardigrades require only a moderate level for efficient pro- tection. Trehalose accumulation A positive correlation between the survival of the cryptobiotic state and the accumulation of the disaccharide trehalose has been demonstrated for a number of anhydrobiotic organisms, and con- centrations as high as 13-18% dry weight have been reported in anhydrobiotic cysts of the crusta- cean Artemia salina' (Clegg, '64; '65) and in the nematode Aphelenchus avenae (Madin and Crowe, '75; Crowe et al., '77). Moreover, trehalose reduces damage, induced by freeze-drying, to iso- lated liposomes (Crowe et al., '861, microsomes from sarcoplasmatic reticulum (Crowe et al., '83), and the enzyme phosphofructokinase (Carpenter et al., '87; '88). Other data such as the physical properties of nearly dry Artemia salina cysts (Clegg et al., '82; Clegg, '86) and computerized modeling of molecular interactions between tre- halose and a phospholipid bilayer (Gaber et al., '86) indicate that trehalose is a likely candidate for the polyhydroxy compound that, according to the water replacement hypothesis (Webb, '65; Crowe, '711, replaces the structural water of the cellular compounds during desiccation. Anhydrobiosis is widespread in the phylum Tardigrada, but quantification of trehalose accu- mulation during the induction of anhydrobiosis has not yet been made in this phylum. Crowe ('75) reported that paper chromatography analysis of ethanol extracts of the tardigrade Macrobiotus
Práticas de gestão de recursos humanos e processo de trabalho na estratégia saúde da família: uma interface necessária - um estudo em Belo Horizonte

O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar como se processa a associacao entre as praticas de gestao de recursos humanos em saude e a eficiencia no cumprimento do processo de trabalho das equipes de saude da Estrategia Saude da Familia, levando-se em conta seus diversos principios ordenadores. Para tanto, foi realizado um estudo censitario com as equipes de Saude da Familia de Belo Horizonte, de forma a analisar de que maneira diversos indicadores de recursos humanos em saude se relacionavam com uma medida de eficiencia no cumprimento de acoes de oferta de cuidado. O modelo de analise utilizado baseou-se no trabalho de Avedis Donabedian que concebe as dimensoes de estrutura, processo e resultado como fontes de informacoes sobre a qualidade das acoes de oferta de cuidado. Os resultados indicam que investimentos em treinamento e capacitacao de profissionais e na fixacao de medicos podem contribuir de modo significativo para melhorar os indices de eficiencia obtidos pelas equipes da cidade. Apesar dos avancos realizados em termos de gestao de recursos humanos em saude, ainda pesam diversos desafios para que esta estrategia seja consolidada como ferramenta capaz de tornar a Estrategia Saude da Familia mais efetiva.
Fact and artifact in copepod feeding experiments1

In several recent papers dealing with the feeding of copepods on natural particle assemblages investigators have claimed to show types of behavior more complex than simple sieving by the animals. We question these interpretations because first, the sensing-zone counters used in these experiments size particles on the basis of their volumes, so that the equivalent spherical diameters thus obtained bear little relationship to the linear dimensions of many algal cells; and second, sieves remove particles from water on the basis of their linear dimensions, not necessarily on the basis of their volumes. If mixtures of phytoplankton of diverse shapes are passed through a sieve and sized with a sensing-zone counter, the sieve will appear to have “behavior. ” Two other sources of artifact-the breakage of phytoplankton cells by experimental agitation and by the feeding of the copepods-add to the difficulties of interpreting natural particle experiments. Proper control experiments to evaluate the contribution of these sources of artifact to experimental results have not yet been done.
Efficient support of DNA replication functions by DNA ligase 3 in vertebrate cells

The results show a remarkable and hitherto unexpected functional flexibility in DNA replication of LIG1 and LIG3 in vertebrates. While the lethality of the LIG3 knockout is solely due to the mitochondrial function and not due to an essential function in the nucleus, it was conclusively shown that LIG3 can backup replication in the absence of LIG1 and that LIG4 is not capable to do so. The results in this thesis conclusively show that the ZnFn domain of LIG3 is essential for the DNA replication function of LIG3, although it is not essential for maintaining mitochondrial integrity. Furthermore, the BRCT domain with which LIG3 interacts with XRCC1 is also essential for the replication function of LIG3. In colocalization experiments it could be shown that LIG3 is recruited to DNA replication sites when LIG1 activity is impaired, and that the recruitment of PCNA is weakened. The results, therefore, point to a different recruitment system of LIG3 to replication factories compared to the one required for LIG1 recruitment. Furthermore the mutants used were characterized with regard to their ability to activate checkpoint responses after induction of DNA damage. Apoptosis complicates analysis of the S-phase checkpoint which requires high doses of radiation for reliable quantification. On the other hand, DT40 cells display a normal G2 checkpoint that remains unaffected by ligase deletion.
Mixing ratio and species affect the use of substrate-derived CO2 by Sphagnum

Abstract Question: Can mixing ratio and species affect the use of substrate-derived CO2 by Sphagnum? Location: Poor fen in south Sweden and greenhouse in Wageningen, The Netherlands. Methods: Two mixing ratios of Sphagnum cuspidatum and S. magellanicum were exposed to two levels of CO2 by pumping CO2 enriched and non-enriched water through aquaria containing the species mixtures in the greenhouse. Results: Enhanced CO2 stimulated the production of S. cuspidatum, but only in aquaria co-dominated by S. magellanicum, coinciding with higher CO2 concentrations in the water layer. The denser growing S. magellanicum seemed to reduce gas escape from the water, resulting in accumulation of dissolved CO2. Adding CO2 did not affect species replacement. Conclusions: The use of substrate-derived CO2 for Sphagnum production depended on species identity and mixing ratio. The effect of mixing ratio on CO2 concentrations in the water layer suggests that species composition may affect both the efficiency with which substrate-derived CO2 is trapped and subsequently used. This could result in hitherto unexplored feedbacks between vegetation composition and gas exchange. Nomenclature: Daniels & Eddy (1990).
Feeding Levels of the Southern Brown Shrimp Penaeus subtilis in Response to Food Dispersal

The development of efficient feed management strategies in shrimp farming involves the investigation of aspects related to time of feed distribution, feeding rates, feeding frequency, and feed dispersal methods. This work examined the feeding levels of Penaeus subtilis in response to food dispersal method under semi-intensive culture conditions. The study consisted of two treatments: 1) a uniform feed dispersal over the culture area, and 2) concentration of feed in 0.2-m(2) circular feeding trays. For each, three 105-m(2) rectangular enclosures were installed in a single shrimp grow-out pond and stocked with P. subtilis at a density of 14.29 postlarvae/m(2). Shrimp were fed daily at 0600, 0930 and 1430 h and sampled 30 min after feed distribution at 12-d intervals. After collection, shrimp weight was determined, their stomachs dissected and weighed. A total of 2,160 stomachs of P, subtilis were collected during a 89-d rearing cycle. Relative occurrence of artificial versus natural food in stomach contents was determined by stable carbon isotope mass spectrometry, Density of polychaetes in the substrate was monitored at each sampling period, After harvest, sediment samples were collected for physical and chemical analyses. In general, differences in shrimp growth between feeding methods were not significant. Final shrimp survival rates were between 69.0 +/- 6.9% and 71.9 +/- 3.7%. Stomach content weight of P. subtilis was significantly higher when feed was broadcast than for feed concentration. Average stomach content weight remained constant throughout the rearing cycle, although progressive increases in feed occurrence were detected in P. subtilis diet. No periodicity in food intake along sampling periods could be related to increases in shrimp carapace length. Food intake was significantly lower at 0600 h than at 1430 h and at 0930 h, respectively. In both treatments, over half of the food contained in the stomach contents of shrimp was derived from artificial food. Sediment chemical analysis indicated statistically lower levels of sodium in the pond bottom of concentrated treatment. However, no short-term detrimental effects were detected on sediment chemical quality. Results indicated that feed broadcasting resulted in a greater access and a higher consumption of food among the cultured shrimp population, a lower number of empty stomachs, and a greater occurrence of artificial food in P. subtilis stomach contents.
Structure des acides corynomycoliques de Corynebacterium hofmanii et leur implication biogénétique

The three main components of the mixture of corynomycolic acids (α-branched, β-hydroxy acids of the general formula R1—CHOH—CHR2—COOH) isolated from a strain of Corynebacterium hofmanii are: C32H64O3 (corynomycolic acid); C34H66O3 (corynomycolenic acids); C36H68O3 (corynomycoldienic acid). By thin-layer chromatography on silver nitrate-impregnated Silicagel G, we were able to separate the hydroxy acids having 0, 1 or 2 double bonds. The pyrolytic chromatography of their methyl esters indicates that the mono-unsaturated acids form a mixture of C34-acids containing the double bond either in the main chain or in the side chain; the di-unsaturated acid fraction is constituted solely by a C36-acid with a double bond in each fragment arising from pyrolysis. By oxidative cleavage, we find that the position of the double bond is 9, 10 (as in oleic acid). According to the nature of the main chain (aldehyde fragment of pyrolysis) and of the side chains (ester fragment of pyrolysis), some suggestions are made about the selective use of fatty acids in the biosynthesis of corynomycolic acids.
Discordant patterns of population structure for two co‐distributed snake species across a fragmented Ontario landscape

Aim The goal of our study was to investigate the effects of a fragmented landscape on the genetic population structure of two sympatric snake species that differ in habitat preference. The eastern garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) is a common, habitat generalist, whereas the endangered eastern foxsnake (Mintonius [Elaphe] gloydi) is rarer, geographically restricted, and a marsh‐specialist. We were most interested in comparing the genetic population structure of both species and identifying any natural and human‐created features of the landscape that overlap with genetic disjunctions.
Enhancement of photodetector responsivity in standard SOI CMOS processes by introducing resonant grating structures

A new photodetector concept is described which is fully compatible with the standard SOI CMOS process and does not require any post-processing steps. Our simulations are based on two-dimensional RCWA (Rigorous Coupled Wave Analysis) and local absorption theory (K.-H.Brenner, "Aspects for calculating local absorption with the rigorous coupled-wave method" Optic Express 2010, accepted). The simulations show that optimized lateral grating structures are able to enhance the absorption efficiency of thin semi-conductor detectors by a factor of 32 compared to nonenhanced approaches.
Isolation and characterization of simple sequence repeat markers for the tetraploid forage grass Dactylis glomerata

With 1 table Abstract To isolate simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers from Dactylis glomerata, four SSR-enriched genomic libraries for different repeat motifs from genomic DNA of a Japanese orchardgrass variety, ‘Akimidori II’, were constructed. A total of 969 unique SSR-containing clones were identified and used for primer design. A BLAST search revealed that 63 of the sequences showed significant homology with sequences of other plant species including 18 that showed significant gene homology. After screening of a panel consisting of eight orchardgrass individuals, 606 SSR markers showed polymorphism, 70 generated monomorphic bands and the other primers either generated multiple bands or did not provide any amplification product. In the 606 polymorphic SSR markers, most had a large number of alleles, ranging from 1 to 13 with an average of 4.5 alleles per SSR primer pair. The number of alleles per individual ranged from 1 to 4. These SSR markers developed in this study will have broad utility for genotyping applications in this species, including gene targeting, quantitative trait locus mapping, variety or species identification and marker-assisted selection.
Association between individual retinal layer thickness and visual acuity in patients with epiretinal membrane: a pilot study

Purpose We investigated the correlation between visual acuity (VA) and individual retinal layer thickness in the foveal, parafoveal, and perifoveal regions of patients with an idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM). Methods One hundred and five subjects presenting with unilateral idiopathic ERM were included in this study. We segmented each patient’s optical coherence tomography (OCT) image into seven layers and calculated the mean layer thickness in the foveal, parafoveal, and perifoveal regions using the Iowa Reference Algorithm. In 105 patients with ERM, we detected correlations between their macular regions’ individual retinal layer thickness and their best corrected VA. Thirty-one of the 105 patients with ERM underwent vitrectomy and completed six months of follow-up. We then compared the 31 surgical patients’ preoperative and postoperative individual retinal layer thickness in each macular region. Additionally, the association between preoperative individual retinal layer thickness in each macular region and VA six months post-surgery in patients with ≥ two Snellen lines of visual improvement was determined. Results Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the inner nuclear layer (INL) thickness in the foveal, parafoveal, and perifoveal region were all associated with VA in the 105 patients (R2 = 0.344, P < 0.001; R2 = 0.427, P < 0.001; and R2 = 0.340, P < 0.001, respectively). Thirty-one surgical patients 6 months post-surgery showed significantly decreased thicknesses (P ≤ 0.012) of the foveal INL, inner plexiform layer (IPL), and outer nuclear layer (ONL); the parafoveal retina nerve fiber layer (RNFL), IPL, INL, and ONL; and the perifoveal RNFL, IPL, INL, ganglion cell layer (GCL), outer plexiform layer (OPL), and photoreceptor layer (PRL). We found a weak correlation between postoperative VA and preoperative foveal and perifoveal RNFL thickness (r = 0.404 and r = 0.359, respectively), and a moderate correlation between postoperative VA and preoperative foveal and parafoveal INL thickness (r = 0.529 and r = 0.583, respectively) in the 31 surgical patients (P ≤ 0.047). The preoperative INL thickness in the foveal, parafoveal, and perifoveal regions showed a moderate to strong correlation (r = 0.507, 0.644, and 0.548, respectively), with postoperative VA in patients with ≥ 2 lines of visual improvement (P ≤ 0.038). Conclusion We detected a correlation between retinal damage and VA in the parafoveal, perifoveal, and foveal regions. Our results suggest that INL thickness in all macular regions may be a prognostic factor for postoperative VA in ERM patients.
Influence of seasonality, group size, and presence of a congener on activity patterns of howler monkeys

Abstract Ecologically similar and closely related species in sympatry may differ in their activity patterns to avoid interspecific contest competition. We here present the 1st study aimed at evaluating the effects of seasonality, group size, and presence of a congener on the activity patterns of 2 syntopic species of howler monkeys, the brown howler (Alouatta guariba clamitans) and the black-and-gold howler (A. caraya), in northeastern Argentina. During 12 months, we collected activity data on 2 groups of each species characterized by different sizes and degrees of home-range overlap, together with data on food availability. We analyzed seasonal variation in activity budgets and daily activity patterns, as well as the relationships between monthly activity budget and food availability, diet, and climate, both within and between species. Black-and-gold howlers, more clearly than brown howlers, adopted an energy-minimization strategy, reducing costly activities such as moving and traveling, during the lean season. Within each howler species, individuals in the largest group showed a greater proportion of time spent moving or traveling, or both, compared to individuals in the smallest group, suggesting the existence of within-group food competition. Juveniles of both species rested less and moved and socialized more than adults. Overall, black-and-gold howlers spent proportionately more time moving and traveling, and less time resting, probably due to their larger mean group size, than brown howlers. Daily feeding peak times diverged only slightly among groups in the lean season, but differences between groups of different species with overlapping home ranges were not larger than those among scarcely or nonoverlapping groups (of same or different species). In conclusion, even though the 2 howler species showed differences in activity patterns, mainly related to differences in their response to food seasonality, and in group size, we found no evidence of time partitioning.
Everything in Moderation: Principles of Parasite Control for Wildlife Conservation

932 BioScience • October 2014 / Vol. 64 No. 10 http://bioscience.oxfordjournals. org BioScience 64: 932–937. © The Author(s) 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Institute of Biological Sciences. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com. doi:10.1093/biosci/biu135 Advance Access publication 3 September 2014 Everything in Moderation: Principles of Parasite Control for Wildlife Conservation
High-Grade Patellar Chondral Defects: Promising Results From Management With Osteochondral Autografts

Background: Patellar chondral defects represent up to 34.6% of defects found during routine arthroscopy. Surgical management has evolved during the past 20 years in an effort to develop techniques to replace hyaline cartilage. Currently, the only technique that achieves this is osteochondral autologous transfer (OAT). Although good and excellent results have often been reported at midterm and long-term follow-up for femoral lesions, little is known about isolated patellar defects. Purpose: To assess clinical and imaging results of patients treated with OAT for high-grade patellar defects. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: This was a retrospective study on all patients who received OAT for high-grade symptomatic patellar chondral defects between 2010 and 2018 at our institution. The study included patients younger than 40 years of age with anterior knee pain and a grade 4 International Cartilage Repair Society patellar chondral defect between 1 and 2.5 cm2. Patients with surgery in other knee compartments, concomitant anterior cruciate ligament ruptures, infection, rheumatoid arthritis, and degenerative lesions were excluded. Six months postoperatively, all patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to allow assessment of graft integrity via the MOCART (Magnetic Resonance Observation of Cartilage Repair Tissue) score to evaluate morphologic features and integration. Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and Kujala scores were used to assess functional outcomes at final follow-up. Results: A total of 26 patients who received a patellar OAT were included. Most patients were male (88.4%), and the mean ± SD age was 28.5 ± 9.7 years. Patellar chondral defects had a median size of 180 mm2 (range, 64-250 mm2), and patients received a median of 1 autograft (range, 1-3). Functional outcomes assessed at a minimum of 1 year after surgery showed a mean Kujala score of 90.42 ± 6.7 and a mean WOMAC score of 95 ± 3.6. MRI revealed a median MOCART score of 75 points (range, 20-90 points). Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the largest series to date regarding isolated patellar OAT. At midterm follow-up, most patients reported good and excellent results regarding symptoms and activity levels. Most autografts showed good osseous integration and excellent filling of the chondral surface, as evidenced on MRI. OAT is a good alternative to treat high-grade patellar chondral defects, especially among young patients.
Interactions of Segmented Filamentous Bacteria (Candidatus Savagella) and bacterial drivers in colitis-associated colorectal cancer development

Colorectal cancer (CRC) risk is influenced by host genetics, sex, and the gut microbiota. Using a genetically susceptible mouse model of CRC induced via inoculation with pathobiont Helicobacter spp. and demonstrating variable tumor incidence, we tested the ability of the Th17-enhancing commensal Candidatus Savagella, more commonly denoted as Segmented Filamentous Bacteria (SFB), to influence the incidence and severity of colitis-associated CRC in male and female mice. To document the composition of the gut microbiota during CRC development and identify taxa associated with disease, fecal samples were collected before and throughout disease development and characterized via 16S rRNA sequencing. While there were no significant SFB-dependent effects on disease incidence or severity, SFB was found to exert a sex-dependent protective effect in male mice. Furthermore, SFB stabilized the GM against Helicobacter-induced changes post-inoculation, resulting in a shift in disease association from Helicobacter spp. to Escherichia coli. These data support sex-dependent SFB-mediated effects on CRC risk, and highlight the complex community dynamics within the GM during exposure to inflammatory pathobionts.