552 results
Search Results
2. Announcement of the 17th Plant Species Biology Best Paper Award (PSB Award).
- Author
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Miyake, Takashi
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PLANT species , *AWARDS , *BIOLOGY , *MYCORRHIZAL fungi , *ORCHIDS ,REPRODUCTIVE isolation - Abstract
The Society for the Study of Species Biology has announced the recipient of the 17th Plant Species Biology Best Paper Award. The winning paper, titled "Environmental and genetic effects on phenotypic differences between Elaeocarpus photiniifolia ecotypes in dry and mesic habitats on a Japanese oceanic island," explores how different environmental conditions have led to reproductive isolation and genetic differentiation in a specific plant species. Another paper, titled "The epiphytic orchid Vanda falcata is predominantly associated with a single Tulasnellaceae fungus in adulthood, and Ceratobasidiaceae fungi strongly induce its seed germination in vitro," investigates the symbiotic relationships between orchids and mycorrhizal fungi at different stages of growth. Both papers are featured in recent issues of Plant Species Biology. [Extracted from the article]
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- 2024
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3. Announcement of the 16th Plant Species Biology Best Paper Award (PSB Award).
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PLANT species , *BIOLOGY , *AWARDS , *LEAF-cutting ants , *FLORAL morphology - Abstract
Not only leaf cutting (imitation of damage by leaf-cutting ants, I Crematogaster i ) but also experimental fire induced more extrafloral nectaries and nectar production in new leaves, implying an adaptive response following rapid regrowth that produces tender leaves prone to be attacked by herbivores. B Marina Neves Delgado, Helena Castanheira de Morais, and Davi Rodrigo Rossatto, 37(4): 268-277 b Title: The role of leaf cutting and fire on extrafloral nectaries and nectar production in I Stryphnodendron adstringens i (Fabaceae, Mimosoideae) plants https://doi.org/10.1111/1442-1984.12373 The authors aimed to clarify the effect of leaf damage on extrafloral nectaries and nectar production (Figures 1 and 2). (b) and (c) Crematogaster ants visiting the extrafloral nectary (EFN) at the base of the petiole. [Extracted from the article]
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- 2023
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4. Announcement of the 15th Plant Species Biology Best Paper Award (PSB Award).
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PLANT species , *BIOLOGY , *LIFE history theory , *POLLINATION , *ASSORTATIVE mating , *INDUSTRIAL location - Published
- 2022
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5. Toolkit article: Approaches to measuring social inequities in health in human biology research.
- Author
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Thayer Z, Uwizeye G, and McKerracher L
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- Humans, Vulnerable Populations, Biology
- Abstract
Across populations, human morbidity and mortality risks generally follow clear gradients, with socially-disadvantaged individuals and groups tending to have higher morbidity and mortality at all life stages relative to those more socially advantaged. Anthropologists specialize in understanding the proximate and ultimate factors that shape variation in human biological functioning and health and are therefore well-situated to explore the relationships between social position and health in diverse ecological and cultural contexts. While human biologists have developed sophisticated methods for assessing health using minimally-invasive methods, at a disciplinary level, we have room for conceptual and methodological improvement in how we frame, measure, and analyze the social inequities that might shape health inequities. This toolkit paper elaborates on some steps human biologists should take to enhance the quality of our research on health inequities. Specifically, we address: (1) how to frame unequal health outcomes (i.e., inequalities vs. disparities vs. inequities) and the importance of identifying our conceptual models of how these inequities emerge; (2) how to measure various axes of social inequities across diverse cultural contexts, and (3) approaches to community collaboration and dissemination. We end by discussing (4) future directions in human biology research of health inequities, including understanding the ultimate causes of sensitivity to social inequities and transitioning from research to action., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)
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- 2022
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6. Announcement of the 14th Plant Species Biology Best Paper Award (PSB Award).
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PLANT species , *BIOLOGY , *ORCHIDS , *FLORAL morphology - Published
- 2021
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7. Applied ecological research is on the rise but connectivity barriers persist between four major subfields.
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Staples, Timothy L., Dwyer, John M., Wainwright, Claire E., Mayfield, Margaret M., and Louzada, Júlio
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BIBLIOMETRICS ,BIBLIOGRAPHICAL citations ,CLIMATE change ,CONSERVATION biology ,BIOLOGY ,LITERATURE reviews - Abstract
Climate change, land clearing and invasive species are affecting ecosystems in concert, so effective management requires knowledge sharing and collaboration across multiple fields of applied ecological research.We provide an examination of the growth and interconnectivity of four major subfields of applied ecology: climate change biology, conservation biology, invasion biology and restoration ecology; estimated using citations from the entire population of peer‐reviewed journal articles published between 1990 and 2017.Over this period applied ecological research has grown from 2% of new ecology papers to over 20%. The subfields each represented c. 6% of new ecology publications in 2017, with the exception of restoration ecology at c. 3%. Inter‐subfield citation probabilities also increased consistently over our study period.Despite these positive trends, we identified apparent barriers to future integration of these research areas. While the probability that citations in one subfield would include at least one paper from another subfield was high, the magnitude of cross‐subfield citations was low. Subfields also exhibited segregated publishing habits, asynchronous research foci and a strong preference for citing application over theory.Synthesis and applications. Despite strong overall growth in applied ecological research, segregation of subfields in papers and journals may limit opportunities to identify co‐benefits and complementary theoretical frameworks. This has the potential to result in suboptimal ecological management outcomes. Despite strong overall growth in applied ecological research, segregation of subfields in papers and journals may limit opportunities to identify co‐benefits and complementary theoretical frameworks. This has the potential to result in suboptimal ecological management outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2019
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8. Tracking species recovery status to improve U.S. endangered species act decisions.
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Davis, Olivia N., Molano‐Flores, Brenda, Li, Ya‐Wei, Allen, Maximilian L., Davis, Mark A., Mengelkoch, Jean M., Parkos, Joseph J., Porreca, Anthony Paul, Fournier, Auriel M. V., Tiemann, Jeremy, Bried, Jason, Marcum, Paul B., Carroll‐Cunningham, Connie J., Janssen, Eric D., Ulaszek, Eric F., McIntyre, Susan, Price, Edward P. F., Nieset, Julie, Beveroth, Tara, and Di Giovanni, Alexander
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BIOLOGICAL extinction ,ENDANGERED species ,LISTING of securities ,SPECIES ,BIOLOGY - Abstract
Currently 1677 species are listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA), yet only a small percentage have been delisted due to recovery. In the fall of 2021, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed delisting 23 species due to extinction. Tracking changes in species 'recovery status over time is critical to understanding species' statuses, informing adaptive management strategies, and assessing the performance of the ESA to prevent further species loss. In this paper, we describe four key obstacles in tracking species recovery status under the ESA. First, ESA 5‐year reviews lack a standardized format and clear documentation. Second, despite having been listed for decades, many species still suffer major data gaps in their biology and threats, rendering it difficult if not impossible to track progress towards recovery. Third, many species have continued declining after listing, yet given the above (1 & 2), understanding potential causes (proximate and/or ultimate) can be difficult. Fourth, many species currently have no path to clear recovery, which represents a potential failing of the process. We conclude with a discussion of potential policy responses that could be addressed to enhance the efficacy of the ESA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
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9. Fine-scale empirical data on niche divergence and homeolog expression patterns in an allopolyploid and its diploid progenitor species
- Author
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Jianqiang Sun, Miltos Tsiantis, Hiroshi Kudoh, Roman Briskine, Kentaro Shimizu, Angela Hay, Masahiro M. Kanaoka, Masaomi Hatakeyama, Reiko Akiyama, Heidi E. L. Lischer, Rie Shimizu-Inatsugi, Xiangchao Gan, Jun Sese, University of Zurich, Shimizu, Kentaro K, and Shimizu-Inatsugi, Rie
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0106 biological sciences ,0301 basic medicine ,Cardamine hirsuta ,Physiology ,Range (biology) ,temporal fluctuation ,Niche ,Plant Science ,water availability ,01 natural sciences ,UFSP13-7 Evolution in Action: From Genomes to Ecosystems ,Polyploidy ,10127 Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies ,03 medical and health sciences ,Cardamine amara ,Polyploid ,1110 Plant Science ,Ecosystem ,allopolyploid ,Cardamine flexuosa ,Full Paper ,biology ,Research ,fungi ,1314 Physiology ,Full Papers ,15. Life on land ,biology.organism_classification ,Diploidy ,030104 developmental biology ,homeolog expression ,Evolutionary biology ,570 Life sciences ,590 Animals (Zoology) ,Cardamine ,Ploidy ,Corrigendum ,transcriptome ,010606 plant biology & botany - Abstract
Summary Polyploidization is pervasive in plants, but little is known about the niche divergence of wild allopolyploids (species that harbor polyploid genomes originating from different diploid species) relative to their diploid progenitor species and the gene expression patterns that may underlie such ecological divergence. We conducted a fine‐scale empirical study on habitat and gene expression of an allopolyploid and its diploid progenitors.We quantified soil properties and light availability of habitats of an allotetraploid Cardamine flexuosa and its diploid progenitors Cardamine amara and Cardamine hirsuta in two seasons. We analyzed expression patterns of genes and homeologs (homeologous gene copies in allopolyploids) using RNA sequencing.We detected niche divergence between the allopolyploid and its diploid progenitors along water availability gradient at a fine scale: the diploids in opposite extremes and the allopolyploid in a broader range between diploids, with limited overlap with diploids at both ends. Most of the genes whose homeolog expression ratio changed among habitats in C. flexuosa varied spatially and temporally.These findings provide empirical evidence for niche divergence between an allopolyploid and its diploid progenitor species at a fine scale and suggest that divergent expression patterns of homeologs in an allopolyploid may underlie its persistence in diverse habitats.
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- 2021
10. Demonstrate and evaluate lab activity about antimicrobial sensitivity.
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Koumpena, Valentina E. and Stasinakis, Panagiotis K.
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SCORING rubrics ,SECONDARY education ,PRIMARY education - Abstract
Lab activities in primary and secondary education are essential to promote students' scientific skills. In this article, we propose a lab activity where different antimicrobial agents are used to the microorganisms' susceptibility to them. Moreover, we produce a rubric, a scoring tool, to quantify students' replies and evaluate the whole activity. We concluded that using the scoring rubric, we have been able to evaluate students' replies and students' benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2022
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11. Transgenic LQT2, LQT5, and LQT2-5 rabbit models with decreased repolarisation reserve for prediction of drug-induced ventricular arrhythmias
- Author
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Gideon Koren, László Hiripi, P. Major, Michael Brunner, Christoph Bode, Zsuzsanna Bősze, Gerlind Franke, Stefanie Perez-Feliz, Tibor Hornyik, Katja E. Odening, István Baczkó, András Varró, Alessandro Castiglione, and Manfred Zehender
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0301 basic medicine ,Drug ,medicine.medical_specialty ,congenital, hereditary, and neonatal diseases and abnormalities ,Heart Ventricles ,Transgene ,media_common.quotation_subject ,hERG ,Action Potentials ,610 Medicine & health ,Animals, Genetically Modified ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,In vivo ,Internal medicine ,medicine ,Animals ,Humans ,In patient ,Channel blocker ,cardiovascular diseases ,media_common ,Pharmacology ,biology ,business.industry ,Arrhythmias, Cardiac ,Research Papers ,Blockade ,Long QT Syndrome ,030104 developmental biology ,Pharmaceutical Preparations ,biology.protein ,Cardiology ,Rabbits ,business ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery ,Ex vivo ,Research Paper - Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Reliable prediction of pro-arrhythmic side effects of novel drug candidates is still a major challenge. Although drug-induced pro-arrhythmia occurs primarily in patients with pre-existing repolarisation disturbances, healthy animals are employed for pro-arrhythmia testing. To improve current safety screening, transgenic long QT (LQTS) rabbit models with impaired repolarisation reserve were generated by overexpressing loss-of-function mutations of human HERG (HERG-G628S, loss of IKr ; LQT2), KCNE1 (KCNE1-G52R, decreased IKs ; LQT5), or both transgenes (LQT2-5) in the heart. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Effects of K+ channel blockers on cardiac repolarisation and arrhythmia susceptibility were assessed in healthy wild-type (WT) and LQTS rabbits using in vivo ECG and ex vivo monophasic action potential and ECG recordings in Langendorff-perfused hearts. KEY RESULTS LQTS models reflect patients with clinically "silent" (LQT5) or "manifest" (LQT2 and LQT2-5) impairment in cardiac repolarisation reserve: they were more sensitive in detecting IKr -blocking (LQT5) or IK1 /IKs -blocking (LQT2 and LQT2-5) properties of drugs compared to healthy WT animals. Impaired QT-shortening capacity at fast heart rates was observed due to disturbed IKs function in LQT5 and LQT2-5. Importantly, LQTS models exhibited higher incidence, longer duration, and more malignant types of ex vivo arrhythmias than WT. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS LQTS models represent patients with reduced repolarisation reserve due to different pathomechanisms. As they demonstrate increased sensitivity to different specific ion channel blockers (IKr blockade in LQT5 and IK1 and IKs blockade in LQT2 and LQT2-5), their combined use could provide more reliable and more thorough prediction of (multichannel-based) pro-arrhythmic potential of novel drug candidates.
- Published
- 2020
12. Effects of Inferred Gender on Patterns of Co‐Authorship in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Publications.
- Author
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Frances, Dachin N., Fitzpatrick, Connor R., Koprivnikar, Janet, and McCauley, Shannon J.
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ECOLOGY ,GENDER ,AUTHORSHIP collaboration ,BIOLOGY - Abstract
Senior positions in academia such as tenured faculty and editorial positions often exhibit large gender imbalances across a broad range of research disciplines. The forces driving these imbalances have been the subject of extensive speculation and a more modest body of research. Given the central role publications play in determining individual outcomes and progress in academic settings, unequal patterns of authorship across gender could be a potent driver of observed gender imbalance in academia. Here, we investigate patterns of co‐authorship across four journals in ecology and evolutionary biology at four time‐points spanning four decades. Co‐authorship patterns are of interest because collaborations are important in scientific research, affecting individual researcher productivity, and increasingly, funding opportunities. Based on inferred gender from set criteria, we found significant differences between male and female researchers in their tendency to publish with female co‐authors. Specifically, compared to women, male researchers in the last author position were more likely to co‐author papers with other males. While we did find that the proportion of female co‐authors has increased modestly over the last thirty years, this is strongly correlated with an increase in the average number of authors per paper over time. Additionally, the proportion of female co‐authors on papers remains well below the proportion of PhDs awarded to females in biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
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13. Agriculture, biology, and environment: Twenty first century challenges and opportunities.
- Author
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Khondker, Moniruzzaman, Mikihisa Umehara, Hisayoshi Hayashi, and Abd-El-Mageed Omar, Mohamed Nabil
- Subjects
TWENTY-first century ,PLANTATIONS ,LIFE sciences ,COVID-19 pandemic ,BIOLOGY - Abstract
The 6th International Conference on Agricultural and Biological Sciences (ABS 2020), was planned to be held in the People's Republic of China. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ABS 2020, "Agricultural and Biological Sciences: Plant, Soil, Animal, and Environment", was the first online conference in Agricultural and Biological Sciences history. Each paper addressed a slightly different topic and provided identifiable challenges and research key questions in agriculture, agronomy, food production and security, and environmental hazards. The role of Agricultural and Biological Sciences of China is the generation of research knowledge that influence everyday activities. There were 41 manuscripts submitted, of which 25 were accepted for publication. The research domains varied and included the role of specific plant on soil C-cycling, haploid induction, and natural doubling of Zea mays L.; plant species and soil rhizosphere microflora; forest tree biomass succession and dynamics relevant to C-sequestration; making sandy land agriculture friendly; plantation age on C, N, and P stoichiometry; codon uses pattern of Gnetum luofuoense C.Y. Cheng using transcriptome data; suitability of plant landscape unit and natural parks; regeneration protocol of Jatropha curcas L., etc. The purpose of this special section is to generate an improved communication among international scientists that we hope will lead to enhanced food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2021
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14. Overcompensation of herbivore reproduction through hyper-suppression of plant defenses in response to competition
- Author
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Robert C. Schuurink, Bernardus C. J. Schimmel, Juan M. Alba, Merijn R. Kant, Lívia Maria Silva Ataíde, Carlos A. Villarroel, Rachid Chafi, Evolutionary and Population Biology (IBED, FNWI), and Plant Physiology (SILS, FNWI)
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0301 basic medicine ,Male ,Physiology ,media_common.quotation_subject ,overcompensation ,Zoology ,Plant Science ,Cyclopentanes ,Biology ,Competition (biology) ,03 medical and health sciences ,Solanum lycopersicum ,Plant Growth Regulators ,Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ,Plant defense against herbivory ,Animals ,defense suppression ,Tetranychus urticae ,Jasmonate ,Herbivory ,Oxylipins ,plant‐mediated interactions ,media_common ,Phaseolus ,Herbivore ,Full Paper ,Effector ,Host (biology) ,Research ,spider mites ,Tetranychus evansi ,fungi ,food and beverages ,Full Papers ,biology.organism_classification ,Plant Leaves ,030104 developmental biology ,Female ,Solanum ,Salicylic Acid ,Tetranychidae ,competition ,tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) - Abstract
Spider mites are destructive arthropod pests on many crops. The generalist herbivorous mite Tetranychus urticae induces defenses in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and this constrains its fitness. By contrast, the Solanaceae‐specialist Tetranychus evansi maintains a high reproductive performance by suppressing tomato defenses. Tetranychus evansi outcompetes T. urticae when infesting the same plant, but it is unknown whether this is facilitated by the defenses of the plant.We assessed the extent to which a secondary infestation by a competitor affects local plant defense responses (phytohormones and defense genes), mite gene expression and mite performance.We observed that T. evansi switches to hyper‐suppression of defenses after its tomato host is also invaded by its natural competitor T. urticae. Jasmonate (JA) and salicylate (SA) defenses were suppressed more strongly, albeit only locally at the feeding site of T. evansi, upon introduction of T. urticae to the infested leaflet. The hyper‐suppression of defenses coincided with increased expression of T. evansi genes coding for salivary defense‐suppressing effector proteins and was paralleled by an increased reproductive performance.Together, these observations suggest that T. evansi overcompensates its reproduction through hyper‐suppression of plant defenses in response to nearby competitors. We hypothesize that the competitor‐induced overcompensation promotes competitive population growth of T. evansi on tomato.
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- 2017
15. Genetic architecture of plant stress resistance: multi-trait genome-wide association mapping
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Thoen, Manus P M, Davila Olivas, Nelson H., Kloth, Karen J., Coolen, Silvia, Huang, Ping Ping, Aarts, Mark G M, Bac-Molenaar, Johanna A., Bakker, Jaap, Bouwmeester, Harro J., Broekgaarden, Colette, Bucher, Johan, Busscher-Lange, Jacqueline, Cheng, Xi, Fradin, Emilie F., Jongsma, Maarten A., Julkowska, Magdalena M., Keurentjes, Joost J B, Ligterink, Wilco, Pieterse, Corné M J, Ruyter-Spira, Carolien, Smant, Geert, Testerink, Christa, Usadel, Björn, van Loon, Joop J A, van Pelt, Johan A., van Schaik, Casper C., van Wees, Saskia C M, Visser, Richard G F, Voorrips, Roeland, Vosman, Ben, Vreugdenhil, Dick, Warmerdam, Sonja, Wiegers, Gerrie L., van Heerwaarden, Joost, Kruijer, Willem, van Eeuwijk, Fred A., Dicke, Marcel, Sub Plant-Microbe Interactions, Dynamics of Innovation Systems, Sub Plant-Microbe Interactions, Dynamics of Innovation Systems, Plant Hormone Biology (SILS, FNWI), Plant Cell Biology (SILS, FNWI), and Plant Physiology (SILS, FNWI)
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,0301 basic medicine ,genome‐wide association mapping ,Physiology ,Arabidopsis ,Inheritance Patterns ,Genome-wide association study ,Plant Science ,01 natural sciences ,Wiskundige en Statistische Methoden - Biometris ,Laboratorium voor Plantenveredeling ,Plant Growth Regulators ,Laboratorium voor Plantenfysiologie ,Laboratory of Entomology ,PBR Groei & Ontwikkeling ,Abiotic component ,Genetics ,PBR Kwantitatieve aspecten ,Full Paper ,Entomology & Disease Management ,Chromosome Mapping ,food and beverages ,Full Papers ,PBR Breeding for growth and development ,PE&RC ,Phenotype ,ddc:580 ,Biometris ,Plant Production Systems ,BIOS Applied Metabolic Systems ,Laboratory of Plant Physiology ,DNA, Bacterial ,PBR Non host and insect resistance ,abiotic stress ,genome-wide association mapping ,Quantitative Trait Loci ,Single-nucleotide polymorphism ,Quantitative trait locus ,Biology ,Genes, Plant ,PBR Quantitative aspects of Plant Breeding ,03 medical and health sciences ,biotic stress ,Stress, Physiological ,Groep Koornneef ,BIOS Plant Development Systems ,Mathematical and Statistical Methods - Biometris ,Laboratorium voor Nematologie ,Genetic Association Studies ,Models, Genetic ,Abiotic stress ,Research ,Reproducibility of Results ,Robustness (evolution) ,Biotic stress ,Laboratorium voor Entomologie ,genetic architecture ,Genetic architecture ,Plant Breeding ,030104 developmental biology ,Plantaardige Productiesystemen ,Mutation ,multiple stresses ,EPS ,Laboratory of Nematology ,PBR Non host en Insectenresistentie ,Genome-Wide Association Study ,010606 plant biology & botany - Abstract
The new phytologist 213(3), 1346-1362 (2017). doi:10.1111/nph.14220, Published by Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford [u.a.]
- Published
- 2017
16. In Memory of Anthony Stevens: A Career Retrospective with Emphasis on His Formative Role in the Archetype Debate.
- Author
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Swogger, Benjamin J.
- Subjects
- *
ARCHETYPES , *ARCHETYPE (Psychology) , *PSYCHIATRISTS , *INFANTS , *PSYCHIATRY , *DEDICATIONS - Abstract
This paper celebrates the life and legacy of psychiatrist and Jungian author Anthony Stevens, who passed away at age 90 on July 13, 2023. It outlines Stevens's origins as a research fellow in Greece, where his work on infant attachment led to a lifelong dedication to establishing the biological and evolutionary foundation of psychiatry. It details his instrumental role in the debate about the theory of archetypes and describes the current state of the literature including the responses and reactions to Stevens's biological innatist position. The paper concludes with a career retrospective in which Stevens's major works are introduced and briefly described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
17. TRM4 is essential for cellulose deposition in Arabidopsis seed mucilage by maintaining cortical microtubule organization and interacting with CESA3
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Holger Klose, Sabine Dieluweit, Lanbao Fu, Bo Yang, Cătălin Voiniciuc, and Björn Usadel
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0106 biological sciences ,0301 basic medicine ,Physiology ,Cortical microtubule organization ,Arabidopsis ,Plant Science ,Microtubules ,01 natural sciences ,Cell wall ,Plant Mucilage ,03 medical and health sciences ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Cell Wall ,Microtubule ,Cellulose ,Alleles ,mucilage ,cellulose synthase (CESA) ,Full Paper ,biology ,Arabidopsis Proteins ,microtubule organization ,Research ,Full Papers ,biology.organism_classification ,Cell biology ,030104 developmental biology ,Tubulin ,ddc:580 ,chemistry ,Mucilage ,Glucosyltransferases ,Seeds ,biology.protein ,Pectins ,TONNEAU1 recruiting motif (TRM) ,cellulose deposition ,Microtubule-Associated Proteins ,Secondary cell wall ,010606 plant biology & botany - Abstract
The new phytologist 221(2), 881-895 (2019). doi:10.1111/nph.15442, Published by Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford [u.a.]
- Published
- 2019
18. Nutrient exchange in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis from a thermodynamic point of view
- Author
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Alga Zuccaro, Ingo Dreyer, Stephan Schott-Verdugo, Marco A. Molina-Montenegro, Sabahuddin Ahmad, María E Rubio-Meléndez, Lutz Schmitt, Olivia Spitz, Kerstin Kanonenberg, Maria Handrich, Petra Bauer, Antonella Succurro, Holger Gohlke, Janin Riedelsberger, Sven B. Gould, Karolin Montag, Carlos Navarro-Retamal, and Judith Lucia Gomez-Porras
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0106 biological sciences ,0301 basic medicine ,Nitrogen ,Physiology ,chemistry.chemical_element ,Plant Science ,Models, Biological ,01 natural sciences ,modelling ,03 medical and health sciences ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Nutrient ,nutrient transport ,Symbiosis ,Mycorrhizae ,plant biophysics ,Diffusion (business) ,Mycorrhiza ,Full Paper ,biology ,Chemistry ,Research ,Phosphorus ,Cell Membrane ,fungi ,Biological Transport ,computational cell biology ,Full Papers ,Phosphate ,biology.organism_classification ,plant–fungus interaction ,030104 developmental biology ,Membrane ,ddc:580 ,Chemical physics ,Symporter ,Thermodynamics ,010606 plant biology & botany - Abstract
To obtain insights into the dynamics of nutrient exchange in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, we modelled mathematically the two‐membrane system at the plant–fungus interface and simulated its dynamics. In computational cell biology experiments, the full range of nutrient transport pathways was tested for their ability to exchange phosphorus (P)/carbon (C)/nitrogen (N) sources. As a result, we obtained a thermodynamically justified, independent and comprehensive model of the dynamics of the nutrient exchange at the plant–fungus contact zone. The predicted optimal transporter network coincides with the transporter set independently confirmed in wet‐laboratory experiments previously, indicating that all essential transporter types have been discovered. The thermodynamic analyses suggest that phosphate is released from the fungus via proton‐coupled phosphate transporters rather than anion channels. Optimal transport pathways, such as cation channels or proton‐coupled symporters, shuttle nutrients together with a positive charge across the membranes. Only in exceptional cases does electroneutral transport via diffusion facilitators appear to be plausible. The thermodynamic models presented here can be generalized and adapted to other forms of mycorrhiza and open the door for future studies combining wet‐laboratory experiments with computational simulations to obtain a deeper understanding of the investigated phenomena.
- Published
- 2019
19. Autophagic receptor p62 protects against glycation-derived toxicity and enhances viability
- Author
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Malene Hansen, Carol Renneburg, Masaaki Komatsu, Jonathan Volkin, Sarah G Francisco, Paula Daza, Gemma Aragonès, Michael Workman, Allen Taylor, Opeoluwa Olukorede, Jose A. Rodriguez-Navarro, Helena Dominguez-Martín, Michael A. Brownlee, Caroline Kumsta, Wenxin Yang, Shun Kageyama, Xue Liang Du, Diego Ruano, Kalavathi Dasuri, Sheldon Rowan, Eloy Bejarano, Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Biología Celular, UCH. Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Producción Científica UCH 2020, National Institutes of Health (US), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (US), Edward N. and Della L. Thome Memorial Foundation, BrightFocus Foundation, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (España), Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (US), and Department of Agriculture (US)
- Subjects
Glycation End Products, Advanced ,0301 basic medicine ,Proteínas - Aspectos bioquímicos ,Aging ,Cell Survival ,Proteolysis ,Biology ,Pharmacology ,Kidney ,Proteotoxicity ,Cell Line ,Mice ,03 medical and health sciences ,Cells - Aging ,Proteins - Biochemical aspects ,0302 clinical medicine ,In vivo ,Glycation ,Lens, Crystalline ,medicine ,Autophagy ,Animals ,Humans ,Receptor ,Células - Envejecimiento ,P-glycoprotein ,Mice, Knockout ,Original Paper ,Retinal pigment epithelium ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,p62 ,RNA-Binding Proteins ,Epithelial Cells ,Original Articles ,Cell Biology ,Glicoproteína P ,Glycative stress ,Rats ,Mice, Inbred C57BL ,030104 developmental biology ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,Toxicity ,Molecular biology ,Biología molecular ,Lysosomes ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery - Abstract
Diabetes and metabolic syndrome are associated with the typical American high glycemia diet and result in accumulation of high levels of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), particularly upon aging. AGEs form when sugars or their metabolites react with proteins. Associated with a myriad of age‐related diseases, AGEs accumulate in many tissues and are cytotoxic. To date, efforts to limit glycation pharmacologically have failed in human trials. Thus, it is crucial to identify systems that remove AGEs, but such research is scanty. Here, we determined if and how AGEs might be cleared by autophagy. Our in vivo mouse and C. elegans models, in which we altered proteolysis or glycative burden, as well as experiments in five types of cells, revealed more than six criteria indicating that p62‐dependent autophagy is a conserved pathway that plays a critical role in the removal of AGEs. Activation of autophagic removal of AGEs requires p62, and blocking this pathway results in accumulation of AGEs and compromised viability. Deficiency of p62 accelerates accumulation of AGEs in soluble and insoluble fractions. p62 itself is subject to glycative inactivation and accumulates as high mass species. Accumulation of p62 in retinal pigment epithelium is reversed by switching to a lower glycemia diet. Since diminution of glycative damage is associated with reduced risk for age‐related diseases, including age‐related macular degeneration, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's, discovery of methods to limit AGEs or enhance p62‐dependent autophagy offers novel potential therapeutic targets to treat AGEs‐related pathologies., AGEs are toxic compounds formed by non‐enzymatic reactions between sugars and proteins. AGEs are prone to aggregate. Insoluble AGEs are efficiently removed via p62‐selective autophagy. The autophagic removal of AGEs is a conserved pathway, and the lack of p62 leads to accumulation of toxic AGEs in mouse and worms. Enhanced autophagy is protective against glycation‐derived damage. p62‐dependent autophagy offers novel potential therapeutic targets to treat AGEs‐related pathologies.
- Published
- 2020
20. Whole-genome duplications followed by tandem duplications drive diversification of the protein modifier SUMO in Angiosperms
- Author
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Harrold A. van den Burg, M. Eric Schranz, Valentin Hammoudi, Georgios Vlachakis, and Molecular Plant Pathology (SILS, FNWI)
- Subjects
0301 basic medicine ,Physiology ,Evolution ,Neofunctionalization ,genetic processes ,Plant Science ,SUMO2 ,Ubiquitin-like modifier ,Genome ,environment and public health ,Evolution, Molecular ,Magnoliopsida ,03 medical and health sciences ,Gene Duplication ,Arabidopsis ,Gene duplication ,Copy-number variation ,Ubiquitins ,Genetics ,Full Paper ,biology ,Arabidopsis Proteins ,Research ,Immunity ,Full Papers ,biology.organism_classification ,ubiquitin‐like modifier ,Biosystematiek ,Protein modification ,Paralogue ,030104 developmental biology ,Palaeoploidy ,SUMO ,Brassicaceae ,Subfunctionalization ,Biosystematics ,Tandem exon duplication ,EPS ,Genome, Plant - Abstract
The ubiquitin-like modifier (UBL) SUMO (Small Ubiquitin-Like Modifier) regulates protein function. Structural rather than sequence homology typifies UBL families. However, individual UBL types, such as SUMO, show remarkable sequence conservation. Selection pressure also operates at the SUMO gene copy number, as increased SUMO levels activate immunity and alter flowering time in Arabidopsis. We show how, despite this selection pressure, the SUMO family has diversified into eight paralogues in Arabidopsis. Relationships between the paralogues were investigated using genome collinearity and gene tree analysis. We show that palaeopolyploidy followed by tandem duplications allowed expansion and then diversification of the SUMO genes. For example, Arabidopsis SUMO5 evolved from the pan-eudicot palaeohexaploidy event (gamma), which yielded three SUMO copies. Two gamma copies were preserved as archetype SUMOs, suggesting subfunctionalization, whereas the third copy served as a hotspot for SUMO diversification. The Brassicaceae-specific alpha duplication then caused the duplication of one archetype gamma copy, which, by subfunctionalization, allowed the retention of both SUMO1 and SUMO2. The other archetype gamma copy was simultaneously pseudogenized (SUMO4/6). A tandem duplication of SUMO2 subsequently yielded SUMO3 in the Brassicaceae crown group. SUMO3 potentially neofunctionalized in Arabidopsis, but it is lost in many Brassicaceae. Our advanced methodology allows the study of the birth and fixation of other paralogues in plants.
- Published
- 2016
21. Different experimental approaches for Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy applications in biology and biotechnology: A selected choice of representative results.
- Author
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Errico S, Moggio M, Diano N, Portaccio M, and Lepore M
- Subjects
- Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared methods, Biotechnology, Biology
- Abstract
Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is a powerful tool for analyzing the biochemical properties of biological samples such as proteins, cellular materials, and tissues. It provides objective information on samples and has been adopted in many research areas of biomedical and biotechnological interest. FTIR spectroscopy can be performed using different approaches at the macro and micro levels allowing the examination of an incredibly broad class of materials. However, it has become evident that the choice of proper spectra acquisition geometries and the modalities of sample preparation in FTIR spectroscopy analysis require special consideration, especially for certain classes of materials such as cells and tissues. In the present paper, we described the different procedures used for preparing and analyzing different types of biological and biotechnological samples when the more largely available approaches are employed using a commercial FTIR spectrometer. Some basic aspects of data analysis procedures are presented in an Appendix. A certain number of our previous experimental results are reported for demonstrating once more the versatility and the potentiality of FTIR spectroscopy., (© 2022 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.)
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
22. Evolution of precopulatory and post-copulatory strategies of inbreeding avoidance and associated polyandry
- Author
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A. Bradley Duthie, Ryan R. Germain, Jane M. Reid, and Greta Bocedi
- Subjects
Male ,0106 biological sciences ,0301 basic medicine ,relatedness ,Biology ,Models, Biological ,010603 evolutionary biology ,01 natural sciences ,Sexual Behavior, Animal ,03 medical and health sciences ,Copulation ,Inbreeding depression ,Animals ,Inbreeding avoidance ,Inbreeding ,Mating ,mate choice ,Evolutionary dynamics ,inbreeding avoidance ,Selection (genetic algorithm) ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,Feed back ,reproductive strategy ,Functional redundancy ,Research Papers ,Biological Evolution ,030104 developmental biology ,Mate choice ,Evolutionary biology ,Female ,Research Paper ,Adaptive evolution ,inbreeding depression - Abstract
Inbreeding depression is widely hypothesised to drive adaptive evolution of pre-copulatory and post-copulatory mechanisms of inbreeding avoidance, which in turn are hypothesised to affect evolution of polyandry (i.e., female multiple mating). However, surprisingly little theory or modelling critically examines selection for pre-copulatory or post-copulatory inbreeding avoidance, or both strategies, given evolutionary constraints and direct costs, or examines how evolution of inbreeding avoidance strategies might feed back to affect evolution of polyandry. Selection for post-copulatory inbreeding avoidance, but not for pre-copulatory inbreeding avoidance, requires polyandry, while interactions between pre-copulatory and post-copulatory inbreeding avoidance might cause functional redundancy (i.e., ‘degeneracy’) potentially generating complex evolutionary dynamics among inbreeding strategies and polyandry. We used individual-based modelling to quantify evolution of interacting pre-copulatory and post-copulatory inbreeding avoidance and associated polyandry given strong inbreeding depression and different evolutionary constraints and direct costs. We found that evolution of post-copulatory inbreeding avoidance increased selection for initially rare polyandry, and that evolution of a costly inbreeding avoidance strategy became negligible over time given a lower cost alternative strategy. Further, fixed pre-copulatory inbreeding avoidance often completely precluded evolution of polyandry and hence post-copulatory inbreeding avoidance, but fixed post-copulatory inbreeding avoidance did not preclude evolution of pre-copulatory inbreeding avoidance. Evolution of inbreeding avoidance phenotypes and associated polyandry are therefore affected by evolutionary feedbacks and degeneracy. All else being equal, evolution of pre-copulatory inbreeding avoidance and resulting low polyandry is more likely when post-copulatory inbreeding avoidance is precluded or costly, and evolution of post-copulatory inbreeding avoidance greatly facilitates evolution of costly polyandry.
- Published
- 2018
23. Plant Species Biology – Editorial.
- Author
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Ohara, Masashi
- Subjects
PLANT species ,BIOLOGY ,BIOLOGICAL classification ,BOTANY ,BOTANISTS ,BIOLOGICAL networks ,POLLINATION - Abstract
From this portal page, our readers can choose the journals they want to read, and manuscript authors can select the most suitable journals for their submissions by comparing the journal scopes, objectives, and recent papers. Furthermore, the editors of the three journals can recommend authors to transfer their manuscripts to another of the three journals if the submitted manuscript better matches their scopes and targets. Early View articles are complete full-text articles published online in advance of their publication in a printed issue. [Extracted from the article]
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
24. Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta‐analyses in ecology and evolutionary biology: a PRISMA extension.
- Author
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O'Dea, Rose E., Lagisz, Malgorzata, Jennions, Michael D., Koricheva, Julia, Noble, Daniel W.A., Parker, Timothy H., Gurevitch, Jessica, Page, Matthew J., Stewart, Gavin, Moher, David, and Nakagawa, Shinichi
- Subjects
BIOTIC communities ,BIOLOGY ,ACQUISITION of manuscripts ,BIOLOGISTS ,SUSTAINABLE development reporting - Abstract
Since the early 1990s, ecologists and evolutionary biologists have aggregated primary research using meta‐analytic methods to understand ecological and evolutionary phenomena. Meta‐analyses can resolve long‐standing disputes, dispel spurious claims, and generate new research questions. At their worst, however, meta‐analysis publications are wolves in sheep's clothing: subjective with biased conclusions, hidden under coats of objective authority. Conclusions can be rendered unreliable by inappropriate statistical methods, problems with the methods used to select primary research, or problems within the primary research itself. Because of these risks, meta‐analyses are increasingly conducted as part of systematic reviews, which use structured, transparent, and reproducible methods to collate and summarise evidence. For readers to determine whether the conclusions from a systematic review or meta‐analysis should be trusted – and to be able to build upon the review – authors need to report what they did, why they did it, and what they found. Complete, transparent, and reproducible reporting is measured by 'reporting quality'. To assess perceptions and standards of reporting quality of systematic reviews and meta‐analyses published in ecology and evolutionary biology, we surveyed 208 researchers with relevant experience (as authors, reviewers, or editors), and conducted detailed evaluations of 102 systematic review and meta‐analysis papers published between 2010 and 2019. Reporting quality was far below optimal and approximately normally distributed. Measured reporting quality was lower than what the community perceived, particularly for the systematic review methods required to measure trustworthiness. The minority of assessed papers that referenced a guideline (~16%) showed substantially higher reporting quality than average, and surveyed researchers showed interest in using a reporting guideline to improve reporting quality. The leading guideline for improving reporting quality of systematic reviews is the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Here we unveil an extension of PRISMA to serve the meta‐analysis community in ecology and evolutionary biology: PRISMA‐EcoEvo (version 1.0). PRISMA‐EcoEvo is a checklist of 27 main items that, when applicable, should be reported in systematic review and meta‐analysis publications summarising primary research in ecology and evolutionary biology. In this explanation and elaboration document, we provide guidance for authors, reviewers, and editors, with explanations for each item on the checklist, including supplementary examples from published papers. Authors can consult this PRISMA‐EcoEvo guideline both in the planning and writing stages of a systematic review and meta‐analysis, to increase reporting quality of submitted manuscripts. Reviewers and editors can use the checklist to assess reporting quality in the manuscripts they review. Overall, PRISMA‐EcoEvo is a resource for the ecology and evolutionary biology community to facilitate transparent and comprehensively reported systematic reviews and meta‐analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
25. A Circular Economy Approach to Fish Oil Extraction
- Author
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Giuseppe Avellone, Rosaria Ciriminna, Antonino Scurria, Mario Pagliaro, Ciriminna R., Scurria A., Avellone G., and Pagliaro M.
- Subjects
Omega-3 ,Limonene ,biology ,Circular economy ,Settore CHIM/10 - Chimica Degli Alimenti ,Extraction (chemistry) ,General Chemistry ,Fish oil ,biology.organism_classification ,Pulp and paper industry ,Fishery discards ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,chemistry ,Anchovy ,Environmental science - Abstract
Fish oil rich in polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids is extracted in high yield from anchovy filleting waste using d-limonene as green biosolvent in a simple solid-liquid extraction performed by mechanically stirring and maceration followed by limonene removal via evaporation under reduced pressure. As limonene is renewably obtained from waste orange peel, this method closes the materials cycle and establishes a circular economy process to obtain high quality fish oil from biowaste available worldwide in several million t/year amount. Significant economic, social and environmental benefits are anticipated.
- Published
- 2019
26. Commentary: Visual Cultures, Publication Technologies, and Legitimation in the Life Sciences.
- Author
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Nyhart, Lynn K.
- Subjects
VISUAL culture ,LIFE sciences ,CONTENT analysis ,NATURAL history ,GEL electrophoresis - Abstract
This paper comments on five articles in the special issue "Circulating Images in the Life Sciences." It sees the papers as unified by two themes. The first is their attention to the processes of legitimation. The second is the embedding of the images in textual cultures, which changed over time from the mid‐nineteenth century to the very recent past, most notably with the recent advent of digital culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
27. Plant Species Biology – Editorial.
- Author
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Batol, EdenP.
- Subjects
PLANT species ,BIOLOGY ,BIOLOGICAL classification ,BOTANY ,STANDARDS - Abstract
Dear colleagues, I Plant Species Biology i is published jointly with two international journals, namely, I Ecological Research i and I Population Ecology i . Our readers can choose the journals they want to read from this portal page, and manuscript authors can select the most suitable journals for their submissions by comparing the journal scopes, objectives, and recent papers. The three journal editors can also recommend authors to transfer their manuscripts to another of the three journals if the submitted manuscript better matches their scopes and targets. [Extracted from the article]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
28. Organisms, agency and Aristotle.
- Author
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Lennox, James G.
- Subjects
- *
TELEOLOGY , *BIOLOGY , *ARTISANS , *LANGUAGE & languages - Abstract
There is a tension at the heart of Aristotle's understanding of organic activities, created by his appeals to the productive activities of craftsmen and his use of normative language to characterize the goals of such activities. In this paper I discuss two ways of interpreting Aristotle's teleology aimed at resolving this tension, and discuss a closely analogous tension at the heart of a number of contemporary defenses of teleological reasoning in biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
29. Incorporating hands‐on experiments into an online science course.
- Author
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Ye, Dan, Pennisi, Svoboda, and Naranjo, Leynar Leyton
- Subjects
- *
INTELLECT , *T-test (Statistics) , *DATA analysis , *EDUCATIONAL outcomes , *UNDERGRADUATES , *INTERVIEWING , *UNDERGRADUATE programs , *BIOLOGY , *LABORATORY equipment & supplies , *HOME environment , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *EXPERIENCE , *STUDENTS , *ONLINE education , *ABILITY , *RESEARCH methodology , *STATISTICS , *STUDENT attitudes , *COMPUTER assisted instruction , *DATA analysis software , *PLANT physiology , *TRAINING - Abstract
Background: With the rapid proliferation of online education, it is incumbent upon teachers to find ways to provide online students with science laboratory experiences. Existing research on online labs focuses heavily on computer‐supported inquiry learning environments, such as virtual laboratories and remote laboratories. There are limited studies on kitchen labs or home labs. Objectives: This study investigated the effectiveness of home labs using lab kits from two perspectives: students' perceptions and experiences of labs conducted in a home environment, as well as whether home labs help with students' knowledge acquisition. Methods: This study employed lab quizzes to assess students' performance and lab reports to evaluate students' ability to interpret the lab results accurately in the authentic home lab contexts. Surveys and semi‐structured interviews were used to collect students' perceptions and experience data regarding these hands‐on experiments at home. Results and Conclusions: We found that students' perceptions of home labs are similar to that of face‐to‐face labs, but they generally perceive home labs to be less complex. Students' performances on lab quizzes and lab reports indicate that the majority of them were able to apply the key scientific concepts to accurately interpret lab results in authentic home lab contexts. Students perceived that home labs provide flexibility and help in connecting learning to the real world. However, they also face challenges such as unexpected results and ambiguity during the process. Implications: Based on the key findings from this study and our reflections, four practice guidelines were provided for teaching hands‐on experiments online. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: Science‐laboratory activities play a critical role in science education. The lack of best practices for teaching science laboratory activities online has become one of the most significant barriers to online education.Existing online labs research focuses heavily on computer‐supported inquiry learning environments, such as virtual laboratories and remote laboratories. There are limited studies on kitchen labs or home labs and some research has mainly an exploratory nature. What this paper adds: The value of authentic hands‐on learning experience is more than the acquisition of laboratory design skills, but also the acquisition of problem‐solving skills in real‐world.This study reported findings of the evaluation of hands‐on home laboratory activities in an online science course from both students' perception and their knowledge acquisition perspectives.This study also explored the benefits and challenges students faced in home labs. Implication for practice and/or policy: Practical guidance and implications for teaching and learning science online using laboratory activities were provided by sharing our experience and lessons learned through the whole process.We recommend that practitioners incorporate more scaffolding and peer collaboration opportunities as well as key concept reflection as teaching strategies to improve the effectiveness of home lab activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
30. Expanding the understanding of telomere biology disorder with reports from two families harboring variants in ZCCHC8 and TERC.
- Author
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Nitschke, Nikolaj Juul, Jelsig, Anne Marie, Lautrup, Charlotte, Lundsgaard, Malene, Severinsen, Marianne Tang, Cowland, Jack Bernard, Maroun, Lisa Leth, Andersen, Mette Klarskov, and Grønbæk, Kirsten
- Subjects
- *
TELOMERES , *BIOLOGY , *PULMONARY fibrosis , *BLOOD diseases , *LIVER enzymes , *BONE marrow - Abstract
Telomere biology disorder (TBD) can present within a wide spectrum of symptoms ranging from severe congenital malformations to isolated organ dysfunction in adulthood. Diagnosing TBD can be challenging given the substantial variation in symptoms and age of onset across generations. In this report, we present two families, one with a pathogenic variant in ZCCHC8 and another with a novel variant in TERC. In the literature, only one family has previously been reported with a ZCCHC8 variant and TBD symptoms. This family had multiple occurrences of pulmonary fibrosis and one case of bone marrow failure. In this paper, we present a second family with the same ZCCHC8 variant (p.Pro186Leu) and symptoms of TBD including pulmonary fibrosis, hematological disease, and elevated liver enzymes. The suspicion of TBD was confirmed with the measurement of short telomeres in the proband. In another family, we report a novel likely pathogenic variant in TERC. Our comprehensive description encompasses hematological manifestations, as well as pulmonary and hepatic fibrosis. Notably, there are no other reports which associate this variant to disease. The families expand our understanding of the clinical implications and genetic causes of TBD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
31. Unveiling the pedagogical advantage of tutoring‐style videos in an authentic biology class.
- Author
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Ding, Lu, Yoon, Meehyun, and Kim, Dongho
- Subjects
- *
RESEARCH funding , *UNDERGRADUATES , *QUESTIONNAIRES , *BIOLOGY , *TEACHING methods , *REFLECTION (Philosophy) , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *EXPERIENCE , *STUDENTS , *SURVEYS , *ACADEMIC achievement , *STUDENT attitudes , *LEARNING strategies , *VIDEO recording - Abstract
Background: While the effectiveness of tutoring‐style videos has been reported in previous studies conducted in laboratories, how these types of videos facilitate students' learning experiences and achievement has not been much explored in prior studies, which prevents discussion on how to design such tutoring‐style videos. Objectives: In this study, we addressed the limitations reported in studies conducted in authentic classes and attempted to explore students' learning patterns and experiences with tutoring‐style videos involving interactions between the instructor and agents. In addition, we attempted to reveal what instructional strategies can be used in tutoring‐style videos to enhance students' engagement and achievement. Methods: The study took place in an undergraduate introductory biology class offered at a university located in the Midwest of the United States. The same instructor taught two sections of this course which lasted for 15 weeks during a Spring semester. The two sections were randomly assigned to an experimental group in which participants watched tutoring‐style videos and a control group with participants watching traditional videos. The experiment was administered in a module lasting two and a half weeks focused on microbiology. Surveys and tests were conducted to determine whether the tutoring‐style videos had a positive impact on student engagement and achievement. In addition, a video content analysis was carried out to elicit insights on how to design effective tutoring‐style videos. Results: For students' emotional engagement and perceived usefulness, no significant difference was found between the two groups, even though the descriptive statistics indicated slightly higher scores from the experimental group than the control group on both subscales. In terms of achievement, the participants reported significantly more learned concepts from watching rich‐interactions in the tutoring‐style videos than the participants in the control group; and they also reported a significantly smaller number of learned concepts from watching one‐interactions in the videos than the control group participants. We also found that instruction in the tutoring‐style videos used effective strategies for facilitating students' participation and cognitive processing. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that tutoring‐style videos can be effective learning materials by allowing students to engage in interactions between instructors and agents in the videos. The more instructional strategies used to facilitate the interactions between the instructor and the agents, the higher engagement can be expected from viewers. Our study would inform the design and development of effective tutoring‐style videos. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: One‐on‐one tutoring is the gold standard in teaching.Tutoring‐style videos are found to be effective in teaching as well. What this paper adds: Tutoring‐style videos that film rich interactions lead to better learning.Tutoring‐style videos that film limited interactions are ineffective.Students who see agents in tutoring‐style videos as helpful perform better. Implications for practice and/or policy: Tutoring‐style videos should film rich interactions of tutoring sessions.Strategies should be used in videos to facilitate perceived agents' usefulness.Tutoring sessions filmed in videos should encourage a participatory atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
32. The extended evolutionary synthesis: An integrated historical and philosophical examination.
- Author
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Shan, Yafeng
- Subjects
DEVELOPMENTAL biology ,TWENTIETH century ,BIOLOGISTS ,EVOLUTIONARY theories ,PHILOSOPHERS ,BIOLOGY - Abstract
Among biologists and philosophers, there is an ongoing debate over the Modern Synthesis and the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis. Some argue that our current evolutionary biology is in need of (at least) some substantial revision or nontrivial extension, while others maintain that the Modern Synthesis remains the foundational framework for evolutionary biology. It has been widely debated whether the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis provides a more promising framework than the Modern Synthesis. The nature and methodological implications of the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis were also examined. This paper offers an integrated historical and philosophical examination of the debate over the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis. It reviews the development of evolutionary biology of the twentieth century. It argues that there are substantial conceptual and theoretical differences between the Modern Synthesis and the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis, but they are not incommensurable paradigms in the Kuhnian sense. It also argues for a functional approach to the debate over these two frameworks of evolutionary theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
33. A randomized DBPC trial to determine the optimal effective and safe dose of a SLIT-birch pollen extract for the treatment of allergic rhinitis
- Author
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J. D. Boot, R. van Ree, Dirk-Jan Opstelten, E van Twuijver, Oliver Pfaar, Zuzana Diamant, P. Panzner, Piotr Kuna, Ludger Klimek, AII - Amsterdam institute for Infection and Immunity, APH - Amsterdam Public Health, and Experimental Immunology
- Subjects
Male ,0301 basic medicine ,SYMPTOMS ,Phases of clinical research ,nasal provocation ,medicine.disease_cause ,Immunoglobulin E ,Gastroenterology ,DOUBLE-BLIND ,0302 clinical medicine ,Allergen ,Immunology and Allergy ,birch pollen ,Betula ,biology ,dose finding ,Middle Aged ,Slit ,Treatment Outcome ,Tolerability ,Pollen ,Female ,Original Article ,POSITION PAPER ,Adult ,Allergen immunotherapy ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Adolescent ,Airway Diseases ,Immunology ,DIAGNOSIS ,sublingual immunotherapy ,PARAMETERS ,Medication Adherence ,Young Adult ,03 medical and health sciences ,Internal medicine ,Immune Tolerance ,medicine ,Humans ,CLINICAL-EFFICACY ,Skin Tests ,Asthma ,Plant Extracts ,business.industry ,Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal ,Allergens ,medicine.disease ,RHINOCONJUNCTIVITIS ,030104 developmental biology ,030228 respiratory system ,Desensitization, Immunologic ,biology.protein ,allergen immunotherapy ,ASTHMA ,ORIGINAL ARTICLES ,business ,FOLLOW-UP - Abstract
Background: Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is a potential efficacious and safe treatment option for patients with respiratory, IgE-mediated allergic diseases. A combined tolerability, dose-finding study with a sublingual liquid birch pollen preparation (SB) was conducted.Methods: Two hundred and sixty-nine adults with birch-pollen-induced AR were randomized to placebo, SB: 3333, 10 000, 20 000 or 40 000 AUN/ml. Differences in symptom scores following a titrated nasal provocation test (TNPT) at baseline and after 5 months of treatment were determined. Safety, tolerability, birch-pollen- specific immunoglobulin levels and peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) were also measured (all measures determined outside the birch pollen season).Results: In all treatment groups, an improvement in symptom scores after treatment compared to baseline was observed, with an additional stepwise improvement in the active groups compared to placebo, which was significant in high-dose groups (P = 0.008 and P Conclusions: A multicentre trial evaluated the dose-response and tolerability of SB. All active treatment groups showed better responses than placebo for both primary and secondary parameters. The results indicate that, within the studied dose range, SB 40 000 AUN/ml is the most optimal effective and safe dose (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01639768).
- Published
- 2016
34. Circumventing senescence is associated with stem cell properties and metformin sensitivity
- Author
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Xavier Deschênes-Simard, Marie Camille Rowell, Karine Moineau-Vallée, Benjamin Le Calvé, Nabeel Bardeesy, Sebastian Igelmann, Filippos Kottakis, Maxime Parisotto, Gerardo Ferbeyre, Paloma Kalegari, Emmanuelle Saint-Germain, and Véronique Bourdeau
- Subjects
0301 basic medicine ,Senescence ,Aging ,endocrine system diseases ,Context (language use) ,Mitochondrion ,Mice ,Structure-Activity Relationship ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Tumor Cells, Cultured ,Animals ,Humans ,STAT3 ,Cellular Senescence ,Original Paper ,Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ,biology ,Oncogene ,Stem Cells ,Cell Differentiation ,Cell Biology ,Original Papers ,Metformin ,3. Good health ,Telomere ,030104 developmental biology ,biology.protein ,Cancer research ,Signal transduction ,Stem cell ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery - Abstract
Most cancers arise in old individuals, which also accumulate senescent cells. Cellular senescence can be experimentally induced by expression of oncogenes or telomere shortening during serial passage in culture. In vivo, precursor lesions of several cancer types accumulate senescent cells, which are thought to represent a barrier to malignant progression and a response to the aberrant activation of growth signaling pathways by oncogenes (oncogene toxicity). Here, we sought to define gene expression changes associated with cells that bypass senescence induced by oncogenic RAS. In the context of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), oncogenic KRAS induces benign pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasias (PanINs), which exhibit features of oncogene‐induced senescence. We found that the bypass of senescence in PanINs leads to malignant PDAC cells characterized by gene signatures of epithelial‐mesenchymal transition, stem cells, and mitochondria. Stem cell properties were similarly acquired in PanIN cells treated with LPS, and in primary fibroblasts and mammary epithelial cells that bypassed Ras‐induced senescence after reduction of ERK signaling. Intriguingly, maintenance of cells that circumvented senescence and acquired stem cell properties was blocked by metformin, an inhibitor of complex I of the electron transport chain or depletion of STAT3, a protein required for mitochondrial functions and stemness. Thus, our studies link bypass of senescence in premalignant lesions to loss of differentiation, acquisition of stemness features, and increased reliance on mitochondrial functions.
- Published
- 2019
35. Plant Species Biology—Editorial.
- Author
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Miyake, Takashi
- Subjects
PLANT species ,BIOLOGY - Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
36. Bringing livestock back into the fold: Animal research in the Annals of Applied Biology—Past, present and future.
- Subjects
BIOLOGY ,SHEEP breeds ,SCIENTIFIC literature ,LABORATORY animals ,HUMAN-animal relationships ,ANIMAL welfare ,LIVESTOCK - Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
37. Methods in molecular biogeography: The case of New Caledonia.
- Author
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Heads, Michael
- Subjects
BIOGEOGRAPHY ,BIOTIC communities ,VICARIANCE ,GEOLOGY ,ISLAND arcs ,BIOLOGY - Abstract
Aim: To examine the different methods currently used in molecular biogeography. Methods of interpreting evolution in space (ancestral‐area algorithms) always find a centre of origin for a group in the region of a paraphyletic basal grade, although regionally restricted basal grades can also be generated by simple vicariance. Current analyses of the timeline of evolution are usually based on the conversion of fossil‐calibrated ages (minimum clade ages) into maximum clade ages by imposing arbitrary, subjective priors. Thus, methods of analysing both space and time in evolution are flawed in theory. They are also inefficient in practice, as indicated by recent papers on the history of the New Caledonian biota, examined here as a case‐study. Work using current methods has left the phenomena as unexplained 'conundrums' and 'enigmas'. Location: New Caledonia and surrounding areas. Taxon: Various plants and animals. Methods: The method favoured here is a synthesis of biogeography and geology. Tectonic features that coincide spatially with phylogenetic breaks (nodes) are identified. Fossils are used to provide estimates of minimum clade age, while the age of the tectonic features provides estimate of actual clade age. If the sequence of nodes in the phylogeny and the chronological sequence of the tectonic events match, a coherent sequence of vicariance events is indicated. Results: Several critical studies on New Caledonian biogeography have been published in the last 5 years. The results from these can be analysed using revised methodology and integrated to give an alternative model of regional history. Main Conclusions: The synthesis of geology and biology suggests a new interpretation of the New Caledonian biota, one in which the key processes are tectonic history, vicariance and metapopulation dynamics, rather than chance dispersal (as a mode of speciation), adaptation and radiation. The new model recognises the autochthonous, Mesozoic roots of many New Caledonian lineages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
38. Biological functions and structural biology of Plasmodium falciparum autophagy‐related proteins: The under‐explored options for novel antimalarial drug design.
- Author
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Usman, Mohammed Aliyu, Salman, Abdulmalik Abdullahi, Ibrahim, Mohammed Auwal, Furukawa, Koji, and Yamasaki, Kazuhiko
- Subjects
PLASMODIUM falciparum ,DRUG design ,PROTEIN-protein interactions ,PROTEINS ,BIOLOGY ,WORLD health - Abstract
Malaria remains a threat to global public health and the available antimalarial drugs are undermined by side effects and parasite resistance, suggesting an emphasis on new potential targets. Among the novel targets, Plasmodium falciparum autophagy‐related proteins (PfAtg) remain a priority. In this paper, we reviewed the existing knowledge on the functions and structural biology of PfAtg including the compounds with inhibitory activity toward P. falciparum Atg8‐Atg3 protein–protein interaction (PfAtg8‐PfAtg3 PPI). A total of five PfAtg (PfAtg5, PfAtg8, PfAtg12, PfAtg18, and Rab7) were observed to have autophagic and/or non‐autophagic roles. Available data showed that PfAtg8 has conserved hydrophobic pockets, which allows it to interact with PfAtg3 to form PfAtg8‐PfAtg3 PPI. Additionally, 2‐bromo‐N‐(4‐pyridin‐2‐yl‐1,3‐thiazol‐2‐yl) benzamide was identified as the most powerful inhibitor of PfAtg8‐PfAtg3 PPI. Due to the dearth of knowledge in this field, we hope that the article would open an avenue to further research on the remaining PfAtg as possible drug candidates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
39. Sketching Biological Phenomena and Mechanisms.
- Author
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Sheredos, Benjamin and Bechtel, William
- Subjects
DRAWING ,BIOLOGY ,CIRCADIAN rhythms ,CYANOBACTERIA ,VISUAL communication - Abstract
In many fields of biology, both the phenomena to be explained and the mechanisms proposed to explain them are commonly presented in diagrams. Our interest is in how scientists construct such diagrams. Researchers begin with evidence, typically developed experimentally and presented in data graphs. To arrive at a robust diagram of the phenomenon or the mechanism, they must integrate a variety of data to construct a single, coherent representation. This process often begins as the researchers create a first sketch, and it continues over an extended period as they revise the sketch until they arrive at a diagram they find acceptable. We illustrate this process by examining the sketches developed in the course of two research projects directed at understanding the generation of circadian rhythms in cyanobacteria. One identified a new aspect of the phenomenon itself, whereas the other aimed to develop a new mechanistic account. In both cases, the research resulted in a paper in which the conclusion was presented in a diagram that the authors deemed adequate to convey it. These diagrams violate some of the normative 'cognitive design principles' advanced by cognitive scientists as constraints on successful visual communication. We suggest that scientists' sketching is instead governed by norms of success that are broadly explanatory: conveying the phenomenon or mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2017
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
40. Minimally invasive biomarkers in human and non-human primate evolutionary biology: Tools for understanding variation and adaptation.
- Author
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Urlacher SS, Kim EY, Luan T, Young LJ, and Adjetey B
- Subjects
- Animals, Humans, Phenotype, Biomarkers, Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors, Primates physiology, Biology
- Abstract
Background: The use of minimally invasive biomarkers (MIBs - physiological biomarkers obtained from minimally invasive sample types) has expanded rapidly in science and medicine over the past several decades. The MIB approach is a methodological strength in the field of human and non-human primate evolutionary biology (HEB). Among humans and our closest relatives, MIBs provide unique opportunities to document phenotypic variation and to operationalize evolutionary hypotheses., Aims: This paper overviews the use of MIBs in HEB. Our objectives are to (1) highlight key research topics which successfully implement MIBs, (2) identify promising yet under-investigated areas of MIB application, and (3) discuss current challenges in MIB research, with suggestions for advancing the field., Discussion and Conclusions: A range of MIBs are used to investigate focal topics in HEB, including energetics and life history variation/evolution, developmental plasticity, and social status and dominance relationships. Nonetheless, we identify gaps in existing MIB research on traits such as physical growth and gut function that are central to the field. Several challenges remain for HEB research using MIBs, including the need for additional biomarkers and methods of assessment, robust validations, and approaches that are standardized across labs and research groups. Importantly, researchers must provide better support for adaptation and fitness effects in hypothesis testing (e.g., by obtaining complementary measures of energy expenditure, demonstrating redundancy of function, and performing lifetime/longitudinal analyses). We point to continued progress in the use of MIBs in HEB to better understand the past, present, and future of humans and our closest primate relatives., (© 2022 The Authors. American Journal of Human Biology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
41. The cocoa bean fermentation process: from ecosystem analysis to starter culture development
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L. De Vuyst, Stefan Weckx, Department of Bio-engineering Sciences, and Industrial Microbiology
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0301 basic medicine ,Microorganism ,030106 microbiology ,Flavour ,engineering.material ,Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology ,03 medical and health sciences ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,food ,Starter ,Yeasts ,Lactic acid bacteria ,Food science ,Anaerobiosis ,Cloning, Molecular ,Acetic acid bacteria ,Acetic Acid ,Gene Library ,Cacao ,biology ,Bacteria ,Pulp (paper) ,food and beverages ,Agriculture ,General Medicine ,COCOA BEAN ,biology.organism_classification ,food.food ,functional starter cultures ,Lactic acid ,030104 developmental biology ,chemistry ,Fermentation ,engineering ,cocoa bean fermentation ,Biotechnology - Abstract
Cocoa bean fermentation is still a spontaneous curing process to facilitate drying of nongerminating cocoa beans by pulp removal as well as to stimulate colour and flavour development of fermented dry cocoa beans. As it is carried out on farm, cocoa bean fermentation is subjected to various agricultural and operational practices and hence fermented dry cocoa beans of variable quality are obtained. Spontaneous cocoa bean fermentations carried out with care for approximate four days are characterized by a succession of particular microbial activities of three groups of micro-organisms, namely yeasts, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and acetic acid bacteria (AAB), which results in well-fermented fully brown cocoa beans. This has been shown through a plethora of studies, often using a multiphasic experimental approach. Selected strains of several of the prevailing microbial species have been tested in appropriate cocoa pulp simulation media to unravel their functional roles and interactions as well as in small plastic vessels containing fresh cocoa pulp-bean mass to evaluate their capacity to dominate the cocoa bean fermentation process. Various starter cultures have been proposed for successful fermentation, encompassing both cocoa-derived and cocoa nonspecific strains of (hybrid) yeasts, LAB and AAB, some of which have been implemented on farms successfully.
- Published
- 2016
42. Merging of synchrotron serial crystallographic data by a genetic algorithm
- Author
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Alejandro de Maria, Chloe Zubieta, Catarina S. Silva, Michele Cianci, Max H. Nanao, Ulrich Zander, Nicolas Foos, Luca Mazzei, European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), European Molecular Biology Laboratory [Hamburg] (EMBL), Physiologie cellulaire et végétale (LPCV), Université Grenoble Alpes [2016-2019] (UGA [2016-2019])-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Institut de Recherche Interdisciplinaire de Grenoble (IRIG), Direction de Recherche Fondamentale (CEA) (DRF (CEA)), Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Direction de Recherche Fondamentale (CEA) (DRF (CEA)), Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA), Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Viale Giuseppe Fanin, 40, 40127 Bologna, Italy, Unit for Virus Host-Cell Interactions [Grenoble] (UVHCI), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-European Molecular Biology Laboratory [Grenoble] (EMBL)-Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF), K. Diederichs, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA)-Institut de Recherche Interdisciplinaire de Grenoble (IRIG), Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-European Molecular Biology Laboratory [Grenoble] (EMBL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Grenoble Alpes [2016-2019] (UGA [2016-2019])-Institut de Recherche Interdisciplinaire de Grenoble (IRIG), Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna [Bologna] (UNIBO), and Nanao, Max H.
- Subjects
0301 basic medicine ,030103 biophysics ,genetic algorithms ,cluster analysis ,serial crystallography ,Sporosarcina ,[SDV]Life Sciences [q-bio] ,Arabidopsis ,Thermolysin ,Crystallographic data ,Bacillus ,Nanotechnology ,LUX-DNA complex ,Biology ,Crystallography, X-Ray ,law.invention ,Bacterial protein ,03 medical and health sciences ,Bacterial Proteins ,Structural Biology ,law ,ddc:570 ,Genetic algorithm ,Insulin ,[SDV.BBM]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Biochemistry, Molecular Biology ,Glucose isomerase ,Aldose-Ketose Isomerases ,ComputingMilieux_MISCELLANEOUS ,GENETIC ALGORITHMS ,Data collection ,Arabidopsis Proteins ,Protein ,Macromolecular crystallography ,Proteins ,Research Papers ,Urease ,Synchrotron ,Data set ,030104 developmental biology ,Algorithm ,Algorithms ,Synchrotrons ,Transcription Factors - Abstract
Acta crystallographica / D 72(9), 1026 - 1035(2016). doi:10.1107/S2059798316012079, Recent advances in macromolecular crystallography have made it practical to rapidly collect hundreds of sub-data sets consisting of small oscillations of incomplete data. This approach, generally referred to as serial crystallography, has many uses, including an increased effective dose per data set, the collection of data from crystals without harvesting (in situ data collection) and studies of dynamic events such as catalytic reactions. However, selecting which data sets from this type of experiment should be merged can be challenging and new methods are required. Here, it is shown that a genetic algorithm can be used for this purpose, and five case studies are presented in which the merging statistics are significantly improved compared with conventional merging of all data., Published by Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford
- Published
- 2016
43. Evolutionary developmental biology and sustainability: A biology of resilience.
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EVOLUTIONARY developmental biology ,DEVELOPMENTAL biology ,ABIOTIC environment ,CLIMATE change ,BIOLOGY ,CORAL reefs & islands ,HERBICIDES ,SUSTAINABILITY - Abstract
Evolutionary developmental biology, and especially ecological developmental biology, is essential for discussions of sustainability and the responses to global climate change. First, this paper explores examples of animals that have successfully altered their development to accommodate human‐made changes to their environments. We next document the ability of global warming to disrupt the development of those organisms with temperature‐dependent sex‐determination or with phenologies coordinating that organism's development with those of other species. The thermotolerance of Homo sapiens is also related to key developmental factors concerning brain development and maintenance, and the development of corals, the keystone organisms of tropical reefs, is discussed in relation to global warming as well as to other anthropogenic changes. While teratogenic and endocrine‐disrupting compounds are not discussed in this essay, the ability of glyphosate herbicides to block insect development is highlighted. Last, the paper discusses the need to creatively integrate developmental biology with ecological, political, religious, and economic perspectives, as the flourishing of contemporary species may require altering the ways that Western science has considered the categories of nature, culture, and self. Research Highlights: Knowledge of developmental biology is critical for discussions of sustainability and for the possibilities of multispecies flourishing. Endangered coral reefs and turtle species highlight the developmental interactions between the biotic and abiotic portions of the environment. Developmental biology must interact creatively with philosophy, economics, religion, politics in order for environmental survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
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44. The Simulated Classroom Biology—A simulated classroom environment for capturing the action‐oriented professional knowledge of pre‐service teachers about evolution.
- Author
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Fischer, Julian, Machts, Nils, Bruckermann, Till, Möller, Jens, and Harms, Ute
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TEACHER education ,SCHOOL environment ,PROFESSIONS ,BIOLOGICAL evolution ,BIOLOGY ,UNIVERSITIES & colleges ,DESCRIPTIVE statistics - Abstract
Background: The professional knowledge of pre‐service teachers is highly important for effective and successful teaching. In recent years, many research groups have been engaged in developing simulated classroom environments to capture especially the pedagogical knowledge (PK) of pre‐service teachers, neglecting the content‐related facets of professional knowledge such as pedagogical content knowledge (PCK). Objectives: In the present study, we describe the development of a simulated classroom environment—the Simulated Classroom Biology (SCRBio)—and provide evidence regarding its validity to assess pre‐service biology teachers' action‐oriented PCK in the area of evolution. Methods: This study examined the evidence supporting the validity of using the SCRBio to investigate action‐oriented PCK of pre‐service biology teachers. The (1) evidence based on test content (expert ratings) and the (2) evidence based on relation to other variables (known‐groups comparison) was obtained. We tested the SCRBio with N = 76 German pre‐service biology teachers. Results and Conclusions: Our results show the successfully operationalized PCK in the SCRBio through explicit allocation of specific misconceptions to each virtual student's answer and the valid measurement of pre‐service biology teachers' action‐oriented PCK. This results in a validated simulated classroom environment for pre‐service but also in‐service teachers. In the future, the SCRBio will be developed from an assessment instrument to a training tool to simulate explicit teaching situations. This allows to complement the predominantly theoretical components of university‐based teacher education with practice‐based simulated classroom environments. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: The professional knowledge of pre‐service teachers is a prerequisite for quality teaching in the future, as well as student achievement.Simulated classroom environments are already being used, primarily to examine and train the pedagogical knowledge of pre‐service teachers.The action‐oriented character of simulated classroom environments can bridge the theory‐practice gap of university‐based education programs. What this paper adds: Description of an innovative simulated classroom environment—the Simulated Classroom Biology.Ability to capture several domains of professional knowledge in an action‐oriented setting.Validation of the Simulated Classroom Biology using various validity aspects.Implications of study findings for practitioners.Description of validation steps for developing simulated classroom environments.A validated simulated classroom environment is provided to capture various knowledge domains of professional knowledge in an actionable setting.The Simulated Classroom Biology can be adapted to new subjects and teaching topics by changing the content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
45. The value of broad taxonomic comparisons in evolutionary medicine: Disease is not a trait but a state of a trait!
- Author
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Pavličev, Mihaela and Wagner, Günter P.
- Subjects
TAXONOMY ,DARWINIAN medicine ,PREGNANCY ,BIOLOGY ,GENETIC disorders - Abstract
In this short paper, we argue that there is a fundamental connection between the medical sciences and evolutionary biology as both are sciences of biological variation. Medicine studies pathological variation among humans (and domestic animals in veterinary medicine) and evolutionary biology studies variation within and among species in general. A key principle of evolutionary biology is that genetic differences among species have arisen first from mutations originating within populations. This implies a mechanistic continuity between variation among individuals within a species and variation between species. This fact motivates research that seeks to leverage comparisons among species to unravel the genetic basis of human disease vulnerabilities. This view also implies that genetically caused diseases can be understood as extreme states of an underlying trait, that is, an axis of variation, rather than distinct traits, as often assumed in GWAS studies. We illustrate these points with a number of examples as diverse as anatomical birth defects, cranio‐facial variation, preeclampsia and vulnerability to metastatic cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
46. A sting in the spit: Widespread cross-infection of multiple RNA viruses across wild and managed bees
- Author
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Matthias A. Fürst, Robert J. Paxton, Dino P. McMahon, Jesicca Caspar, Panagiotis Theodorou, and Mark J. F. Brown
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,Pollination ,DEFORMED-WING-VIRUS ,BUMBLE BEES ,01 natural sciences ,decline ,POLLINATORS ,Pollinator ,Deformed wing virus ,Bumblebee ,2. Zero hunger ,0303 health sciences ,biology ,Ecology ,Bees ,Parasite and Disease Ecology ,VIRAL PATHOGEN ,Apis ,VARROA-DESTRUCTOR ,APIS-MELLIFERA ,Emerging infectious disease ,Standard Paper ,spillover ,TRANSMISSION ,Molecular Sequence Data ,Insect Viruses ,Context (language use) ,010603 evolutionary biology ,03 medical and health sciences ,BOMBUS-TERRESTRIS ,PARALYSIS VIRUS ,Species Specificity ,SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being ,Animals ,RNA Viruses ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,030304 developmental biology ,DECLINE ,RNA virus ,15. Life on land ,biology.organism_classification ,United Kingdom ,Bombus ,Bombus terrestris ,570 Life sciences ,Animal Science and Zoology ,Beekeeping ,pathogen - Abstract
Summary Declining populations of bee pollinators are a cause of concern, with major repercussions for biodiversity loss and food security. RNA viruses associated with honeybees represent a potential threat to other insect pollinators, but the extent of this threat is poorly understood. This study aims to attain a detailed understanding of the current and ongoing risk of emerging infectious disease (EID) transmission between managed and wild pollinator species across a wide range of RNA viruses. Within a structured large-scale national survey across 26 independent sites, we quantify the prevalence and pathogen loads of multiple RNA viruses in co-occurring managed honeybee (Apis mellifera) and wild bumblebee (Bombus spp.) populations. We then construct models that compare virus prevalence between wild and managed pollinators. Multiple RNA viruses associated with honeybees are widespread in sympatric wild bumblebee populations. Virus prevalence in honeybees is a significant predictor of virus prevalence in bumblebees, but we remain cautious in speculating over the principle direction of pathogen transmission. We demonstrate species-specific differences in prevalence, indicating significant variation in disease susceptibility or tolerance. Pathogen loads within individual bumblebees may be high and in the case of at least one RNA virus, prevalence is higher in wild bumblebees than in managed honeybee populations. Our findings indicate widespread transmission of RNA viruses between managed and wild bee pollinators, pointing to an interconnected network of potential disease pressures within and among pollinator species. In the context of the biodiversity crisis, our study emphasizes the importance of targeting a wide range of pathogens and defining host associations when considering potential drivers of population decline.
- Published
- 2015
47. Exploring the molecular genetic foundations of cancer biology and how biomedical advances are made in an advanced undergraduate course.
- Author
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Alexander, Stephen and Hannink, Mark
- Subjects
SCIENTIFIC literacy ,SCIENTIFIC knowledge ,BIOLOGY ,CYTOLOGY ,UNDERGRADUATES ,MOLECULAR biology - Abstract
We describe an advanced, inquiry driven undergraduate course in Cancer Biology that combines faculty lectures typical of undergraduate courses with literature‐driven discussions typical of graduate courses. As a capstone course, one goal of this course is to integrate knowledge from previous coursework in physiology, cell and molecular biology, genetics, and chemistry, so that students acquire a state‐of‐the‐art understanding of cancer and cancer treatment. A related goal is for students to learn, from the primary literature, how science is performed and how new scientific knowledge is used to improve cancer treatment. We report on the development of this course and the methods used to accomplish the course goals. We present the results of a 5‐year survey that provides a detailed picture of the demographics of the class and demonstrates that the course results in improved understanding of both cancer biology and how science is performed. Student responses to our survey strongly support the use of original literature as a teaching tool. We suggest that incorporation of primary literature into advanced undergraduate science courses is an effective approach for improving scientific literacy. © 2019 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 47(4):408–416, 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
48. Plant Species Biology—Editorial.
- Subjects
PLANT species ,BIOLOGY ,COMPETITION (Biology) ,BIOLOGICAL classification ,POLLINATION - Published
- 2022
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- View/download PDF
49. In memoriam: Thomas Cavalier‐Smith (1942–2021).
- Author
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Langlois, Gaytha A. and Rueckert, Sonja
- Subjects
- *
ENDOSYMBIOSIS , *MOLECULAR biology , *BIOLOGY - Abstract
Thomas Cavalier‐Smith, born in London, U.K., on October 21, 1942, was a Professor of Evolutionary Biology in the Department of Zoology at the University of Oxford at the time of his death on March 19, 2021. Credited with at least 235 research works and over 20,000 citations, Cavalier‐Smith was a well‐known and widely respected scientist who took a bold and detailed approach to understanding major transitions in evolution, including the role of endosymbiosis. He was noted for his willingness to question theories and constantly accumulate and evaluate data, motivated by science for the sake of science. This paper reviews Thomas Cavalier‐Smith's major accomplishments, examines his theoretical approaches, and provides highlights from the "Tree of Life Symposium" sponsored by the International Society of Protistologists (ISOP) and the International Society of Evolutionary Protistology (ISEP) on June 21, 2021, to celebrate Tom's life and work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
50. Do thrifty genes exist? Revisiting uricase.
- Author
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Johnson, Richard J., Sánchez‐Lozada, Laura G., Nakagawa, Takahiko, Rodriguez‐Iturbe, Bernardo, Tolan, Dean, Gaucher, Eric A., Andrews, Peter, Lanaspa, Miguel A., Sánchez-Lozada, Laura G, and Rodriguez-Iturbe, Bernardo
- Subjects
GENES ,URIC acid ,BIOLOGY ,GENOTYPES ,GENETICISTS ,TUMOR lysis syndrome ,OBESITY ,BIOLOGICAL evolution ,OXIDOREDUCTASES - Abstract
Sixty years ago, the geneticist James Neel proposed that the epidemics of obesity and diabetes today may have evolutionary roots. Specifically, he suggested that our ancestors may have accumulated mutations during periods of famine that provided a survival advantage at that time. However, the presence of this "thrifty genotype" in today's world, where food is plentiful, would predispose us to obesity and diabetes. The "thrifty gene" hypothesis, attractive to some, has been challenged over the years. The authors have previously postulated that the loss of the uricase gene, resulting in a rise in serum and intracellular uric acid levels, satisfies the criteria of a thrifty genotype mutation. This paper reviews and brings up-to-date the evidence supporting the hypothesis and discusses the current arguments that challenge this hypothesis. Although further studies are needed to test the hypothesis, the evidence supporting a loss of uricase as a thrifty gene is substantial and supports a role for evolutionary biology in the pathogenesis of the current obesity and diabetes epidemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
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