Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
FUNGAL ENDOPHYTES: A Continuum of Interactions with Host Plants

▪ Abstract Endophytic fungi living asymptomatically within plant tissues have been found in virtually all plant species. Endophytes are considered plant mutualists: They receive nutrition and protection from the host plant while the host plant may benefit from enhanced competitive abilities and increased resistance to herbivores, pathogens, and various abiotic stresses. Limited evidence also indicates that endophytes may influence population dynamics, plant community diversity, and ecosystem function. However, most of the empirical evidence for this mutualism and its ecological consequences has been based on a few agronomic grass endophytes. More recent studies suggest that endophyte-host plant interactions are variable and range from antagonistic to mutualistic. A more comprehensive view of the ecology and evolution of endophytes and host plants is needed. This article discusses how life history traits—such as fungal reproduction and pattern of infections and genotypic variation and ecological factors—in.
NEWAPPROACHES TO THEUNDERSTANDING OFTHEMOLECULARBASISOFORALCANCER

Cancers oftheoral cavity, salivary glands, larynx, andpharynx, collectively referred toassquamous cell carcinomas of theheadandneck(HNSCC), arethesixth mostcommoncancer amongmeninthedeveloped world. Theprognosis ofHNSCC patients isstill poor, which reflects thefact that although therisk factors forHNSCCarewell-recognized, very little isknownabout themolecular mechanisms responsible forthis malignancy. Thisreview describes someofthecurrent efforts andtechnological advances that havefocused onthecreation ofacomplete information infrastructure forgenes expressed during squamous cell car- cinogenesis. These include: therecently described HNSCC-specific chromosomal alterations (cCAP); theHeadandNeckCancer GenomeAnatomy Project (HN-CGAP), whosegoalisthesystematic identification andcataloguing ofknownandnovel genes expressed during tumor development; andtheuseoflaser-capture microdissection (LCM), which ispivotal forthecomprehensive molecular characterization ofnormal, pre-cancerous, andmalignant cells bymeansofDNA-array technology. Thelatter provides the meansfor theanalysis ofexpression patterns ofthousands ofgenes simultaneously. TheuseofLCMforproteomics andDNAanaly- sisisalso included inthis review. These revolutionary approaches arelikely tohaveanunprecedented impact oncancer biology, andprovide exciting opportunities tounravel thestill-unknown mechanisms involved insquamous cell carcinogenesis. Theyare also expected toprovide amolecular blueprint forHNSCC, thushelping toidentify suitable markers fortheearly detection ofpre- neoplastic lesions, aswell asnovel targets forpharmacological intervention inthis disease.
Occurrence and distribution of fungal endophytes in tropical forests across a rainfall gradient

Fungal endophytes occur in leaves of angiosperm and gymnosperm trees. The occurrence and distribution of fungal endophytes in the leaves of trees growing in four different types of tropical forests in the Western Ghats were studied. One thousand five hundred leaf segments from five different hosts were screened for each forest type. Endophyte communities of trees of the semi-evergreen forest showed the highest species diversity. More endophyte isolates were recovered during the wet season. Although several genera of endophytes were common for different hosts growing in different forests, the dominant endophyte was different for different forest types. Our results suggest that although tropical trees individually may be endophyte rich, the overall endophyte diversity of the entire plant community is not exceptional.Key words: tropical forests, fungal endophytes, fungal diversity, foliar endophytes.
Electrospun Polyacrylonitrile Nanofibrous Membranes Tailored for Acetylcholinesterase Immobilization

Nanofibrous polyacrylonitrile membranes (PANNFM) were obtained by electrospinning and then prepared for immobilizing acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Initially, the chemical modification of PANNFM with ethylenediamine produced reactive groups to overcome their inertness and hydrophobicity. The natural polymer, chitosan, was then tethered on the nanofibrous membranes to improve their biocompatibility. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and cross-section SEM were used to determine morphological and porosity changes of the membranes. The immobilized AChE had greater relative activity as well as thermal and storage stability compared to the free enzyme. The bound AChE showed excellent reusability. Chitosan-modified PANNFM was shown to be a suitable strategy for facile immobilization of AChE to produce a promising system that effectively supports biocatalysts.
A new British species, Senecio eboracensis (Asteraceae), another hybrid derivative of S. vulgaris L. and S. squalidus L.

A new species of Senecio from York, England, is described and named as Senecio eboracensis. Evidence is reviewed that this fully fertile, tetraploid species (2n = 40), which was first discovered in 1979, is a hybrid product of S. vulgaris (2n = 40) and S. squalidus (2n = 20), and is distinct from another tetraploid hybrid product, the stabilized introgressant, S. vulgaris var. hibernicus, and also from the hexaploid hybrid product, S. cambrensis. Other studies have shown that S. eboracensis is reproductively isolated from its parents due to a high level of selfing, phenological separation, sterility of products of back crosses to S. squalidus and reduced fertility of products of back-crosses to S. vulgaris. The morphological similarity of S. eboracensis to partially fertile, intermediate hybrid plants collected from other locations in the British Isles is discussed, and would indicate that it could arise polytopically following hybridisation between the two parent species. However, other such intermediate hybrid products do not appear to have persisted at their site of origin.
Synthèse bibliographique : problématique de la jacinthe d’eau, Eichhornia crassipes, dans les régions tropicales et subtropicales du monde, notamment son éradication par la lutte biologique au moyen des phytopathogènes

La jacinthe d’eau probablement originaire d’Amerique du Sud se developpe actuellement entre les 35e paralleles nord et sud de la planete. Elle a ete introduite dans plusieurs regions du monde comme plante ornementale, ou elle est devenue plus tard l’une des plus dangereuses adventices aquatiques d’eau douce du monde. Son infestation peut etre controlee par le biais de traitements physiques et chimiques. Cependant, ces techniques de lutte sont souvent couteuses et dangereuses pour la sante humaine et l’environnement. D’autre part, a l’instar des legislations occidentales, celles des pays en voie de developpement sont de plus en plus restrictives sur les substances chimiques autorisees. Des lors, un interet grandissant a ete porte aux luttes alternatives parmi lesquelles la lutte biologique. Cette lutte au moyen d’insectes, de poissons et de mammiferes contre la jacinthe pourrait etre renforcee par l’application de mycoherbicides. Ces derniers sont en principe plus respectueux vis-a-vis de l’environnement et de la sante humaine et sembleraient constituer une alternative credible supplementaire pour une gestion durable de la jacinthe.
Predation and other factors currently limiting New Zealand forest birds.

Holdaway (1989) described three phases of historical extinctions and declines in New Zealand avifauna, the last of which (Group III, declining 1780-1986) was associated with European hunting, habitat clearance, and predation and competition from introduced European mammals. Some forest bird species have continued to decline since 1986, while others have increased, usually after intensive species-specific research and management programmes. In this paper, we review what is known about major causes of current declines or population limitation, including predation, competition for food or another resource, disease, forest loss, and genetic problems such as inbreeding depression and reduced genetic variation. Much experimental and circumstantial evidence suggests or demonstrates that predation by introduced mammals remains the primary cause of declines and limitation in remaining large native forest tracts. Predation alone is generally sufficient to explain the observed declines, but complex interactions between factors that vary between species and sites are likely to be the norm and are difficult to study. Currently, the rather limited evidence for food shortage is mostly circumstantial and may be obscured by interactions with predation. Climate and food supply determine the number of breeding attempts made by herbivorous species, but predation by introduced mammals ultimately determines the outcome of those attempts. After removal of pest mammals, populations are apparently limited by other factors, including habitat area, food supply, disease or avian predators. Management of these, and of inbreeding depression in bottlenecked populations, is likely to assist the effectiveness and resilience of management programmes. At the local or regional scale, however, forest area itself may be limiting in deforested parts of New Zealand. Without predator management, the number of native forest birds on the New Zealand mainland is predicted to continue to decline.
Genetics of quantitative resistance to fungal diseases

Continuous variation of a trait is usually caused by the simultaneous segregation of many genes that affect the trait and by a multitude of nongenetic factors. However, continuity as such does not unequivocally indicate polygenic inheritance, since small differences between genotypic values may be blurred by nongenetic variation.
EFFECTS OF DUAL INOCULATION WITH MYCORRHIZA AND RHIZOBIUM ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF SOYABEANS IN ACIDIC SOILS IN GATANGA, KENYA

Small land holdings and poverty in Central Kenya have made it difficult for farmers to adequately conserve and replenish soil nutrients in their farms. Soil erosion and leaching of nutrients leading to soil acidity have been the inevitable outcome. This study was designed to determine the effect of inoculating soyabeans (Glycine max) with both mycorrhiza and rhizobium as a biological means of improving soil fertility in the acidic soils in Gatanga, Thika District. Field experiments were carried out in Gatanga and at Kenyatta University (on-station) in sterilized and non-sterilized soils collected from Gatanga. The field experiments were laid out in complete randomized block design while the on-station ones were laid out in complete randomized design. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted on the data and means separated using LSD at 5% significance difference using Genstat for Windows Version 8.11. The growth parameters; height, root collar diameter, shoots and root dry weight all increased as a result of dual inoculation with mycorrhiza and rhizobium. Dual inoculation also led to increased nitrogen fixation by soyabeans, evidenced by increased nodulation, and grain yields. Dual inoculation with mycorrhiza and rhizobium did not have any significant effect (p<0.05) on germination of soyabeans. Height of soyabeans as a result of dual inoculation increased significantly over the control by 88% in the long rains while in the short rains the increment was not significant. In the on-station experiments, height increment over the control in sterilized and non-sterilized soil was not significant. Dual inoculation increased root collar diameter by 80% and 8.6% in the long and short rains respectively. Shoots dry weight in the on-farm long rains 2005 season increased by140% as a result of dual inoculation while in the short rains season and the on-station experiments, the differences were not significant. Dual inoculation increased grain yields by 356% in the on-farm long rains 2005 season, while in the on-station experiments grain yield increased by 76% and 107% in the sterilized and non-sterilized soils respectively. Though nodulation was poor in all the experiments, the number of nodules increased significantly by 676% over the control in the long rains 2005 season. In the on-station experiments the control (S) had no nodules. The short rains crop performed poorer than the long rains crop as a result of insufficient rains. In conclusion, the biological organisms; mycorrhiza and rhizobium, could be utilized to increase productivity of the legume soyabean, in acidic soils. However, technologies to avail the microorganisms to the farmers need to be developed as the obligate nature of mycorrhizal fungi makes it difficult to culture and commercialize while the low shelf life of rhizobium at room temperature is a hindrance for its use by resource poor farmers.
VARIATION IN FORAGING AND PARENTAL BEHAVIOR OF KING CORMORANTS

Abstract We studied sexual and individual differences in foraging and parental behavior of King Cormorants (Phalacrocorax albiventer) during the brood-rearing period at Macquarie Island. King Cormorants exhibit sexual dimorphism in size, with males being 16% heavier than females. Females foraged mainly in the morning and males in the afternoon. Five females were shallow divers (1.9 to 6.8 m), and seven females were deep divers (19.6 to 28.0 m); males dived deeper (15.6 to 44.2 m) than both groups of females. The amount of time spent on the bottom (“bottom time”) relative to the dive cycle was higher for shallow-diving females (x̄ = 40 ± SD of 13%) than for males (x̄ = 26 ± 4%) and deep-diving females (x̄ = 27 ± 3%). Total daily dive time and bottom time per day did not differ significantly among groups because shallow-diving females dived more often (x̄ = 211 ± 81 dives per day) than males (x̄ = 68 ± 21) and deep-diving females (x̄ = 70 ± 7). Provisioning rate, trip duration, and proportion of time at sea did not differ significantly for males, deep-diving females, and shallow-diving females. Females, especially shallow divers, compensated for their shallow and short dives with more frequent dives. Consequently, male and female King Cormorants provisioned their chicks at similar rates despite large individual variation in foraging behavior.
Performance of New Zealand White and Californian male weaned rabbits in the subtropical environment of Egypt

The New Zealand White (NZW) was superior significantly (P < 0.05) to the Californian (Cal) breed in final body weight, final total body solids and preslaughter weight. In contrast, Cal showed greater plasma creatinine (P < 0.001) than the NZW. The differences in the other traits were not significant. NZW also showed higher dressing percentage and Cal showed higher mortality percentage. The Temperature-humidity Index (THI) values indicated absence of heat stress in the first period (mild period) and exposure to moderate (very close to severe) heat stress in the second one (hot period). The heat stress conditions caused significant (P < 0.001, 0.01 or 0.05) decreases in each of final body weight, daily body gain, daily feed intake, final total body solids, solids daily gain, plasma total protein, albumin, globulin, total lipids, glucose, thyroid hormone T3, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus and preslaughter weight. At the same time, significant (P < 0.001 or 0.01) increases occurred in each of water intake, water/feed ratio, total body water (mL/100 g body solids), blood urea-N, creatinine, respiration rate and rectal, skin and ear temperatures. The interaction of breed x period effects was significant (P < 0.01 or 0.05) on plasma creatinine and hind-limb cut. Estimations of 'adaptability' to the subtropical environment of Egypt were found to be 83.1% for NZW and 82.6% for Cal breeds.
Phytochemistry and Antibacterial Activity of Senna alata Flower

Phytochemistry and antibacterial potency of some crude and partially purified fractions of Senna alata flower was examined against 22 bacterial strains. The crude plant extracts, containing steroids, anthraquinone glycosides, volatile oils and tannins, exhibited a high minimum inhibitory concentration of 500 µg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus faecalis, Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas putida, but was generally inactive against Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, and Pseudomonas fluorescens (above 1000 µg/mL). However, the partially purified plant extract was bacteriostatic at a low concentration of 100 µg/mL, with a minimum bactericidal concentration of 500 µg/mL, primarily against the Gram positive organisms. At a concentration slightly above the minimum inhibitory concentration, the purified extract was nearly as potent as standard antibiotics, exhibiting zones of bacterial growth inhibition ranging from 10 to 25 mm, even against multiple antibiotic resistant local isolates that were not susceptible to methicillin, penicillin and streptomycin.
Feeding Patterns of Scirpophaga incertulas (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) on Wild and Cultivated Rice During the Booting Stage

Abstract Rice plants are vulnerable to the yellow stem borer, Scirpophaga incertulas (Walker), during the booting phase, when infestations cause the greatest yield loss. Although the moth is ubiquitous in rice-growing regions, S. incertulas feeding patterns on booting plants have been poorly characterized. We studied the early-instar feeding patterns of S. incertulas on wild and cultivated rice accessions to determine where larvae feed and if feeding route influences larval survival and development. Three cultivated (Taichung Native 1, IR64, and IR72) and three wild rice accessions (two accessions of Oryza nivara and one accession of O. rufipogon) were chosen for the study. Larvae were introduced onto booting plants and sampled after 6 h, 1 d, 2 d, 4 d, and 7 d. Approximately 25% more larvae survived on cultivated accessions than on wild accessions. Larvae were also 15% more likely to feed on the panicle of cultivated accessions than wild accessions, and panicle-feeding improved larval survival and development. Stem borer feeding route depended on plant phenology; larvae were more likely to feed on the panicle than on vegetative structures on booting, heading, and flowering tillers. Because all stems were cut by the seventh day if larvae fed on the panicle, resistance during the booting phase may be effective if it reduces the likelihood of panicle feeding or if strong antibiotic resistance can be found in the panicle.
Effects of long-term administration of recombinant bovine somatotropin on milk production and plasma insulin-like growth factor and insulin in crossbred Holstein cows

The objective of the study was to determine the in vivo relationship between the long-term administration of recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST), circulating levels of IGF-I and insulin, mammary blood flow and other variables relevant to milk synthesis, in crossbred, Holstein cattle. Ten first-lactation, non-pregnant, crossbred, Holstein dairy cattle were divided into two groups of five animals each; an experimental group and a control group. Animals in each group were fed with rice straw, treated with 5 kg urea dissolved in 100 litres water per 100 kg dry rice straw as the source of roughage. Four consecutive study periods were carried out in each group. These consisted of a pretreatment period (45 days postpartum before lactation peak) and three treatment periods during early lactation (105 days postpartum), mid-lactation (165 days postpartum) and late lactation (225 days postpartum). During the treatment periods, animals that had completed 60 days of lactation were injected subcutaneously at fortnightly intervals with 500 mg of recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) (POSILAC, Monsanto, USA) in the experimental group, while animals in the control group were injected subcutaneously at fortnightly intervals with 800 mg of sterile sesame oil, without rbST, as a placebo. During the pretreatment period, there were no significant differences in plasma concentrations of IGF-I, insulin and other parameters between the control group and the experimental group. During the treatment periods, the increase in the concentration of plasma IGF-I in rbST treated animals was significantly higher than in the control animals throughout the lactation period. Plasma glucose, protein and triglyceride concentrations in each group remained stable throughout the study. The total daily dry matter intakes were not significantly different between the groups. Milk yield increased by 20% with rbST treatment and it was 22% greater than that of the control animals receiving placebo in early lactation. Milk yield of rbST treated animals rose to a peak in early lactation and then gradually declined. In late lactation, milk yield of rbST-treated animals decreased by 19% as compared with early lactation. Udder plasma flow and udder blood flow markedly increased with rbST treatment and there were no significant changes in the control animals. The ratio of udder blood flow to the rate of milk production increased in mid- and late lactation in controls and the rbST treated animals. These findings suggest that the short persistency of lactation in rbST treated animals was similar to that in the control animals receiving placebo. Changes in milk production during the progress of lactation in rbST treated animals might not be controlled systemically only but also locally within the mammary gland. The lack of effect of higher plasma IGF-I levels on persistency of lactation in rbST treated animals, may be due to changes in the pattern of IGF-I binding proteins and paracrine production inhibiting IGF-I action.
Receptor-mediated uptake of an extracellular Bcl-xL fusion protein inhibits apoptosis (diphtheria toxinyBaxyBcl-2yimmunotoxinyendocytosis)

Bcl-xL, a member of the Bcl-2 family, inhibits many pathways of apoptosis when overexpressed in the cell cytosol. We examined the capacity of Bcl-xL fusion proteins to bind cells from the outside and block apoptosis. Full-length Bcl-xL protein at micromolar concentrations did not affect apoptosis when added to cell media. To increase uptake by cells, Bcl-xL was fused to the receptor-binding domain of diphtheria toxin (DTR). The Bcl-xL-DTR fusion protein blocked apoptosis induced by staurosporine, g-irradiation, and poliovirus in a variety of cell types when added to media. The potency of inhibition of poliovirus-induced apoptosis by Bcl-xL-DTR was greater than that of strong caspase inhibi- tors. Brefeldin A, an inhibitor of vesicular traffic between the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus, prevented the Bcl-xL-DTR blockade of apoptosis induced by staurosporine, suggesting that Bcl-xL-DTR must be endocytosed and reach intracellular compartments for activity. Many diseases are caused by overexpression or underexpression of Bcl-xL homo- logues. Extracellular delivery of Bcl-2 family member proteins may have a wide range of uses in promoting or preventing cell death.