Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The diagnostic of gastrointestinal nematodes and coccidiosis in llamas from intensive and extensive agriculture systems in different areas of Argentina

There are four species of South American Camelids (SACs): the domestic alpaca (Lama pacos), the domestic llama (Lama glama), the wild vicuna (Lama vicugno) and the wild guanaco (Lama guanicoe). The social and economic importance of the SACs in the population of the high Andes is mainly due to the climatic and high altitudes limitations. The anatomy of the gastrointestinal tract of the llama is different from that of ruminants. The forestomach of llamas is comprised of three compartments, called C1, C2 and C3. Gastrointestinal nematodes are the most numerous and most detrimental of the llama parasites. The most important are: Haemonchus contortus, Ostertagia ostertagia, Trichostrongylus and Lamanema chavezi. Eimeria spp. is the most important pathogenic protozoa of the llamas. To treat the llamas against gastrointestinal nematods and coccidiosis, antihelmintic and anticoccidial treatment can be used, management changes are even or more important. The aim of this study was to learn more about gastrointestinal nematode and coccidian in the llamas in intensive and extensive agriculture systems in different regions in Argentina. The provinces sampled were: Jujuy, Buenos Aires and Entre Rios. Those regions have different climatic measurements. In two farms, the llamas are kept under intensive agriculture systems and in five farms the llamas are kept under extensive agriculture systems. Individual faecal samples were taken directly from the rectum of the llamas and processed by the parasitological techniques; faecal eggs count, faecal oocyst count, coproculture and flotation Willis. The farms in Castelar, Villaguay, La Plata, Carlos Keen and Cieneguillas were positive for gastrointestinal nematodes, eggs per gram ranged from 20 to 1800. The genera identified were Haemonchus, Ostertagia, Trichostrongylus, Oesophagostomun, Nematodirus lamae and cestode. All the farms were positive for coccidian. The gene identified was Eimeria lamae. There is no significant difference between intensive and extensive agriculture systems in Eggs Per Gram (EPG). The Oocysts Per Gram (OPG) in the intensive agriculture is significantly higher than the OPG in the extensive agriculture. The EPG from the province of Entre Rios (Villaguay) and the provencie of Buenos Aires (Castelar, Carlos Keen and La Plata) have significant more eggs than the province of Jujuy (Pucara de Tilcara, Cieneguillas and Santa Catalina). The province of Entre Rios and the province of Buenos Aires have a lot of rain and a low altitude. There is no significant difference in OPG in the four regions.
RNA editing in African trypanosomes requires a 3' nucleotidyl phosphatase - the biochemical consequences of the exoUase activity of TbMP42

Mitochondrial transcripts in African trypanosomes are post-transcriptionally modified by a process known as RNA editing. The reaction transforms cryptic pre-mRNAs into functional mRNAs and is characterized by the insertion and deletion of exclusively uridylyl residues. RNA editing is catalyzed by subcellular machines, so called editosomes. Editosomes are protein complexes consisting of ~20 polypeptides. In addition, the process relies on small, non-coding RNAs termed guide (g) RNAs. gRNAs are trans-acting molecular components, which specify the insertion and deletion events via basepairing. TbMP42 (Trypansoma brucei mitochondrial protein, MW: 42kDa) is an integral protein of the editosomal machinery. Chapter one and two of the thesis describe the endo/exoribonuclease activity of TbMP42 and characterize the reaction pathway that leads to pre-mRNA substrate cleavage. Experiments using recombinant (r) protein show that TbMP42 is a topology-dependent ribonuclease that is sensitive to base-stacking. The protein has a preference for single stranded uridylyl residues and the ribonuclease activity depends on Zn2+-ions and Zn2+-coordinating amino acids within the oligonucleotide/oligosaccharide binding site (OB-fold) at the C-terminus of the protein. RNAi-mediated gene silencing of TbMP42 is lethal for T. brucei and results in reduced endo/exoribonuclease and RNA editing activities in vitro. However, all three activities can be restored by the addition of rTbMP42. Chapter three addresses the biochemical consequences of the in vitro exoribonuclease activity of TbMP42 and its implication for the editing cycle. The data suggest that RNA editing includes an additional enzymatic reaction step that is conducted by a 3’-specific nucleotidyl phosphatase. Evidence is presented that the nucleotidyl phosphatase activity is part of the editosome and that it is mediated by two editosomal protein components: TbMP99 and TbMP100. Both polypeptides have endo-exo-phosphatase (EEP) domains and the simultaneous knockdown of the two proteins results in a reduction of the phosphatase activity in vitro. A final chapter deals with the identification of novel gRNAs, including gRNAs that potentially direct “alternative” editing events. “Alternative” RNA editing is a source for the generation of protein diversity within T. brucei mitochondria and thus, provides an additional regulatory layer for the editing machinery.
Studies on Radula Tooth Mineralization in the Polyplacophora

This report is concerned with several aspects of the process of iron mineralization of the radula teeth of chitons (Polyplacophora. In Part I, the cusp cells of the radula sac, which are responsible for the deposition of iron into the major lateral teeth, are studied with the electron microscope. In Mopalia muscosa and Lepidochitona (Cyanoplax) hartwegi, it is found that these cells extend from a dorsal blood sinus to the surface of the teeth. The basal ends of the cusp cells, near the dorsal sinus, contain numerous rhopheocytotic vesicles filled with ferritin. Near the apical ends of the cells, there is a high concentration of iron-containing membrane-bound granules. Some granules contain ferritin, others are filled with ferruginous particles of electron-dense material, and others contain ferritin cores with an outer layer of ferruginous particles. In each cusp cell, the granule region is separated from the tooth surface by a bundle of microvilli that arises from a layer of mitochondria-rich cytoplasm and terminates on the tooth surface. No electron-dense material is found in the microvilli. Double-membrane structures are observed in regions where iron-containing granules occur near the microvilli. A model of the pathway of iron through the cusp cells is deduced from the observations on their ultrastructure. In Part II, it is shown that at least 90% of the iron contained in the blood of Mopalia muscosa (40 to 110 μg Fe per ml) occurs in the form of the protein-iron complex, ferritin. The blood ferritin is purified and compared with ferritin isolated from the superior epithelial cells and with vertebrate ferritins. In Part III, it is determined, by Fe59-labeling experiments, that the radula replacement rate of Mopalia muscosa is approximately 0.6 rows per day. The amount of iron contained in the major lateral teeth of Mopalia muscosa radulas is measured.
Attraction of Stoeberhinus testaceus to Oriental Fruit Moth Pheromone

During pheromone-based mating disruption studies for suppression of the koa seedworm, Cryptophlebia illepida, and litchi fruit moth, Cryptophlebia ombrodelta , in macadamia nuts, it became apparent that Stoeberhinus testaceus Butler (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) responds to the same pheromone. In plots where mating disruption was being performed, S. testaceus was rarely caught in pheromone traps, while large num- bers were caught in adjacent control plots. Response to nonspecific pheromones can result in false trail following. Production of similar pheromones is an indirect method by which an introduced species may affect the population dynamics of other species in a shared habitat. Stoeberhinus testaceus Butler (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is one of the most common moths in Hawaii and can often be collected around lights in lowland areas (Zimmerman 1978). S. testaceus is an immigrant species that is widespread in Oceania, but was first described from Hawaii collections. Little is known about its life history, but the larvae are known to feed in silken tunnels among decaying leaves or grasses (Zimmerman 1978). In studies conducted on macadamia nuts for management of koa seedworm (KSW), Cryptophlebia illepida (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), and litchi fruit moth (LFM), Cryptophlebia ombrodelta, we routinely use suspended sticky traps baited with the commercially avail- able pheromone for the oriental fruit moth, Grapholitha molesta (Busck) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) for monitoring. It is unlikely that the oriental fruit moth pheromone (a mixture of (Z)-8-dodecenyl acetate (93%), (E)-8-dodecenyl acetate (6%), and (Z)-8-dodecenol (1%)) is exactly the same composition as pheromones produced by either Cryptophlebia species. However, both Cryptophlebia species respond well enough that this pheromone can be used for monitoring and potentially for mating disruption. This note reports that S. testaceus also appears to respond to the same pheromone.
Competition between grass‐cutting Atta vollenweideri ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and domestic cattle (Artiodactyla: Bovidae) in Argentine rangelands

Leafcutter ants are considered the most important herbivores in the Neotropics. Atta vollenweideri is a rangeland pest that competes with cattle for grass, reducing the carrying capacity of pastures. However, there is much controversy regarding their degree of herbivory, pest status and competition with cattle. Furthermore, their economic injury level (EIL) has not been determined. We studied A. vollenweideri in competition with cattle in a natural pasture in Argentina, quantifying primary productivity, as well as herbivory by ants alone and together with cattle. Productivity and herbivory by ants were contrasted with cattle dietary requirements under two grazing regimes. We estimated the first EIL for leaf‐cutting ants in rangelands. Productivity was highly variable throughout the seasons. Competition between ants and cattle was evident during the low productivity periods, with evidence of ants being more affected by cattle unless ants store food during the productivity peak in summer and autumn. The EIL was 0.29 ant nests per hectare, although it likely overestimates the importance of these ants as pests. We discuss the shortcomings of a classic EIL formula for estimating the damage potential of social insects.
Reducing range uncertainty in proton therapy

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Respiration rates in Littorina littorea infected with three species of digenean parasite

The gastropod Littorina littorea shows increased mortality in the summer months when infected with digenean parasites. One possible cause of this mortality is impaired respiration in infected hosts. Respiration rates of L. littorea infected with three species of digenea of varying pathogenicity were measured: Cryptocotyle lingua, Himasthla elongata and Renicola roscovita. No evidence of altered respiration rates in infected snails was found.
Blight-resistant American chestnut trees: selection of progeny from a breeding program

Introduction of the fungus Cryphonectria parasitica into North America in early 1900s resulted in the demise of the American chestnut, which was once the most dominant forest tree in the eastern United States. While the American chestnut (Castanea dentate) is susceptible, its counterpart from Asia, the Chinese chestnut, is resistant to the blightcausing fungus. Researchers attempting to restore the American chestnut have focused both on the eradication of the fungus as well as on breeding blight-resistant chestnut trees. Although crosses between the American and the Chinese yield a blight-resistant progeny, often the hybrids have the characteristics of the Chinese tree, which is a dwarf and lacks the superior timber qualities associated with the American chestnut. Therefore, researchers have been using a “back-crossing” technique where the resistant hybrids are successively backcrossed to the original American tree in order to fl ood more American genes into the hybrid. By repeated back-crosses, it will be possible to generate a blight-resistant chestnut having all the superior traits of the American chestnut. The American Chestnut Foundation has developed progeny from the third backcross, which by estimation is 15/16 American. However, traditional techniques of determining resistance (by inoculation of the pathogen and assessment) and growth characteristics (waiting to see morphological traits in the mature tree) have proved to be great hindrances to both the pace as well as the degree of success of the program. Progeny selection procedure can be greatly enhanced by utilizing genetic analysis techniques such as PCR and RAPD analyses. Genetic maps of the American and Chinese chestnut trees have been developed and several markers associated with resistance and other traits have been identifi ed. We are using RAPD-PCR analyses to screen progeny for blight resistance and suitable American traits. This method has the capability of precise identifi cation of true resistant types and potentially suitable progeny for use in restoration. Progeny containing none or only a few of the undesirable Chinese traits (0-2) have been selected from the pool and will be used in further analyses. This technique of screening progeny would be a valuable addition to the breeding program and will greatly contribute to the success of the program.
Territorial song and song neighbourhoods in the Scarlet Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus

Throughout the range of the Scarlet Rosefinch, its territorial song consists of 3–9 (usually 4–5) elements, of which there are 5 different types. The differences lie in the way the pitch of the element changes in time (frequency “slope”) and the width of the frequency band. Within a given type of song, the various elements can be present in almost any combination. Therefore, so many song types can be formed that the songs in even small parts of the species’ area are clearly distinct from one another. Despite this capacity for variation, however, by chance identical songs may be sung in widely separated parts of the area, in some cases by different subspecies. The species has not developed large-scale dialects or regiolects based on a song tradition acquired during an early imprinting phase. Scarlet Rosefinches tend to breed in small colonies, groups of up to about 15 pairs characterized by the same type of song (song neighbourhoods, formed by the development of a microlect). Microlects develop by a founder effect. When males, near one-year old or older, join one another to form isolated colonies after arrival in the breeding region, they adopt (“learn”) the song type that will eventually characterize the colony from the first male to arrive at the site. After the colony has been founded, in most cases each male uses only one type of song during a breeding season, with practically no variation of the temporal and frequency parameters. Singing the same type of song, the members of a colony accept one another sufficiently to allow the breeding territories to be closely packed. It appears that a long-lasting capacity for acoustic learning, in combination with colony-like breeding and great ecological flexibility, has allowed the Scarlet Rosefinch to become the most successful species of the genus Carpodacus.
Trophic cascades linking wolves (Canis lupus), coyotes (Canis latrans), and small mammals

When large carnivores are extirpated from ecosystems that evolved with apex predators, these systems can change at the herbivore and plant trophic levels. Such changes across trophic levels are called cascading effects and they are very important to conservation. Studies on the effects of reintroduced wolves in Yellowstone National Park have examined the interaction pathway of wolves (Canis lupus L., 1758) to ungulates to plants. This study examines the interaction effects of wolves to coyotes to rodents (reversing mesopredator release in the absence of wolves). Coyotes (Canis latrans Say, 1823) generally avoided areas near a wolf den. However, when in the proximity of a den, they used woody habitats (pine or sage) compared with herbaceous habitats (grass or forb or sedge)– when they were away from the wolf den. Our data suggested a significant increase in rodent numbers, particularly voles (genus Microtus Schrank, 1798), during the 3-year study on plots that were within 3 km of the wolf den, but we did n.
Reproductive biology and induced sterility as determinants for genetic control of mosquitoes with the Sterile Insect Technique

Malaria remains an important health issue in sub-Saharan Africa, and new methods to reduce the disease are needed. In this thesis, the use of the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) against the African malaria vector Anopheles arabiensis was explored. The SIT relies on the releases of large numbers of sterilised males. If the sterile males are successful in competing for mates and the females use their sperm for fertilisation, the wild population is reduced. Ultimately, this can lead to a reduction in disease incidence. Sterilisation of the sperm cells occurs by ionising radiation, resulting in the death of the developing embryo after fertilisation. Somatic cells are also damaged, which can lead to a reduced mating competitiveness of the males. In this thesis I investigated 1) the relationship between dose and induced sterility for pupal or adult stage irradiation, 2) sperm quantity and sperm length polymorphism and the influence of irradiation, 3) the use of stable isotopes to determine mating in mosquitoes, 4) the incidence of multiple mating in relation to irradiation, 5) the fitness of irradiated males in terms of survival and mating competitiveness, and 6) the use of a field cage for mating studies, and the small-scale feasibility of the SIT in Sudan. Results showed that even though the dose-response curves between dose and induced sterility were largely similar for pupae and adults, irradiation of adults resulted in a better competitiveness compared to pupal irradiation. A negative relationship between dose and competitiveness was observed for pupal stage irradiation. In addition, radiation during the pupal stage affected the number of spermatozoa in the testes and the distribution of sperm lengths, but no impact on the incidence of multiple mating could be observed. Stable isotopes were used successfully to determine paternity in mating. Mating competitiveness of males irradiated as pupae could be improved by a three-fold increase in their number compared to un-irradiated males, but only for the partially-sterilising dose. The small-scale irradiation and transportation of insects in Sudan was feasible, and the preparation of the field cage for experiments successful. It is concluded that from a biological viewpoint the irradiation of adults would be recommended; however, the feasibility of adult irradiation on a large scale is questionable. The next steps would be to scale up irradiation procedures to accommodate much larger numbers of insects, and to determine male competitiveness in the semi-field system in Sudan. However, many other factors including mass rearing, sexing, and release methodology, are of importance for an SIT programme and only when all components are in place can the true feasibility of the SIT in Sudan be determined.
ANALYSES OF EXPRESSED SEQUENCE TAGS FROM SARGASSUM BINDERI (PHAEOPHYTA) 1

Sargassum is a source for many metabolites, including alginic acid, alginates, sulfated fucoidans, pigments, oils, sterols, and mannitols. The present study is the first attempt to examine Sargassum binderi (Sonder) J. Agardh, a tropical brown seaweed, using an expressed sequence tag (EST) approach. Single‐pass 5′ sequencing of 2304 cDNA clones generated 1876 ESTs of good quality, from which 1270 tentative unique genes (TUGs) consisting of 991 singletons and 279 contigs were obtained. Approximately 39.5% of the TUGs from S. binderi showed significant matches to the existing data bases and were further divided into nine subcategories: metabolism (24.9%); transcription and translation (22.5%); cellular processes (7.2%); protein folding, sorting, and degradation (5.6%); signaling (2.8%); membrane and transport (3%); receptor (1.1%); other functions (4.2%); and unknown proteins (28.7%). The sequences were compared with ESTs from Laminaria digitata (Hudson) J. V. Lamour.
Análisis sectorial de la innovación y sus resultados económicos a nivel empresa en Andalucía

Resumen: La Comisión Europea ha relacionado las divergencias en el crecimiento económico con las diferencias de innovación entre las regiones europeas. La investigación empírica ha dejado patente el valor de la innovación como fuente de ventaja competitiva y su importancia para reducir las divergencias económicas entre regiones. La ineficiencia demostrada por los modelos generales de innovación hace necesario un estudio riguroso del proceso y sus consecuencias económicas en contextos homogéneos. Así, el gap de conocimiento en torno al proceso innovador en regiones económica y tecnológicamente menos desarrolladas (periféricas) ha restado eficacia a la política de innovación de manera sistemática, demandando un mejor conocimiento del fenómeno y nuevos instrumentos para la política de innovación en estos territorios. En esta línea, el presente trabajo pretende un avance en el conocimiento del proceso de innovación y sus resultados económicos en Andalucía, una importante región periférica europea. Para ello, se ha realizado un análisis a nivel empresa de más de 400 empresas de los principales sectores de la región mediante el contraste empírico de un modelo explicativo bietápico. La primera etapa logra explicar satisfactoriamente el nivel de innovación de las empresas, a partir de la capacidad innovadora, los factores contextuales y el entorno, aportando finalmente unos índices de innovación empresarial por sectores. En la segunda etapa se analiza el impacto que ejerce el nivel de innovación sobre la rentabilidad, el crecimiento y la expansión comercial en cada sector. Los resultados obtenidos permiten extraer consideraciones relevantes para los directivos y responsables regionales de la política de innovación.
ISOLAMENTO DE MUTANTES DE Lactobacillus delbrueckii UFV H2B20 COM TOLERÂNCIA ACENTUADA AO CONGELAMENTO E EFEITO DE SUBSTÂNCIAS CRIOPROTETORAS NA SUA VIABILIDADE DURANTE A ESTOCAGEM

O objetivo deste estudo foi obter estirpes mutantes de L. delbrueckii UFV H2b20 com tolerância acentuada ao congelamento e tambem avaliar o efeito de substâncias crioprotetoras na sua viabilidade durante a estocagem. A utilizacao dos crioprotetores sacarose, glutamato monossodico (GMS) e leite desnatado reconstituido a 10 % (LDR) aumentaram a viabilidade de estirpes mutantes durante 15 dias de estocagem a -20 °C em relacao ao controle (sem crioprotetor). Os crioprotetores sacarose e LDR 10 % foram efetivos na manutencao da viabilidade da estirpe selvagem durante o periodo de estocagem. Embora a tolerância ao congelamento tenha sido alcancada, estudos posteriores sao necessarios para avaliar se outras caracteristicas que qualificam Lactobacillus delbrueckii UFV H2b20 como probiotico foram afetadas.