Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regulatory Genotoxicity Testing: A Critical Appraisal

This review considers current approaches to regulatory genotoxicity testing, focusing on how the use of animals can be further replaced, reduced and refined. The complementary roles of in vitro and in vivo testing, and the justification for using animals, are discussed in detail. Recommendations are made for improvements and further work, in the light of the considerable current controversy surrounding the composition and deployment of testing strategies, and the interpretation of the data generated, particularly for carcinogenicity prediction. The major problems are the oversensitivity of in vitro tests and the insensitivity of in vivo assays. On the basis of an analysis of some published databases, it is concluded that there is insufficient support for using in vivo genotoxicity assays for screening. Also, it is questionable whether the scientific benefits of using such assays always outweigh the costs to the animals involved. The considerable efforts being made to harmonise in vivo protocols and to develop improved methods for detecting genotoxicity are discussed. It is recommended that more emphasis be placed on characterising genotoxins in vitro, especially for mechanisms of activity, to optimise the benefits of any confirmatory animal tests. Also, regulatory agencies are urged to require better-designed and more-scientifically sound protocols, in which animal numbers are minimised and data interpretation, particularly that of negative results, is facilitated. Lastly, in the development and validation of transgenic rodent systems, emphasis should be placed on developing protocols in which other acute toxicity and metabolism endpoints can be measured simultaneously with in vivo mutagenesis, while minimising animal numbers.
Application of an improved method of two-dimensional electrophoresis to the systematic study of horseshoe crabs

Protein constituents of skeletal and cardiac muscles of extant horseshoe crabs, Tachypleus tridentatus, T. gigas, Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda, and Limulus polyphemus, were examined by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis in order to investigate the applicability of this technique in systematics and to obtain more data on phylogenetic relationships of the four species. Electrophoretic patterns were analyzed by both comparison ofspot positions only and that of presumed protein groups (positions and shapes). Our phenetic analyses confirmed the disparate position of the North American species, L. polyphemus, and the similarity of the three Asian species. Our cladistic analysis suggested a sister-group relationship of T. tridentatus and C. rotundicauda. This suggestion, however, was based on a small number of characters.On the basis of this electrophoretic study, we suggest that conventional native (non-denaturing) gel electrophoresis for enzymes is optimal for measuring genetic differences among organisms at l.
EVALUATION OF PHYTOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF THE ROOTS OF LICORICE , INDIAN GINSENG , INDIAN MADDER AND INDIAN SARSAPARILLA

Ethanolic extracts of the dried roots of Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (Licorice),Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (Indian Ginseng) , Rubia cordifolia L. ( Indian Madder) and Hemidesmus indicus (L.) R.Br. (Indian sarsaparilla) were analysed for their phytochemical constituents. The qualitative analysis showed the presence of various phytochemicals like alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, HCN, indoles, juglones, phenols, saponins, steroids, tannins and terpenoids. Further, Some of these phytochemicals were also quantitatively estimated. The paper deals with the significance of these roots in traditional medical systems with respect to their phytochemicals.
Reliability of stained placental-scar counts in European hares

We present a method to improve detection and aging of placental scars in the European hare (Lepus europaeus), along with its calibration on hand-reared does. The fecundity of these females was first established by a breeder counting the number of leverets delivered in each litter (reference values). The does were euthanized at the end of the breeding season, and their uteri were collected and stained. Two observers counted placental scars and grouped them by litter (estimated values) according to minimum differences in the following variables: 1) depth and 2) color of the crater at the implantation site, 3) sharpness of its outlines, 4) abundance and 5) color of macrophages, 6) size and 7) color of the antimesometrial depression. Atypical scars, possibly due to resorption of embryos, were not included in the estimated number of leverets delivered. A strong relation was found between the age of scars and categories of variables using a factorial correspondence analysis. Estimated values of fecundity and the number of litters were highly correlated with the reference values (r 2 =0.84 and 0.70, respectively). However, we slightly underestimated the variance in the frequency distribution of litter sizes as compared to the reference distribution. The method is therefore robust for estimating mean values of breeding parameters within a population. With adequate adult survival rates, it can also be used to compute an indirect index of survival of leverets by comparing mean number of leverets produced per female to age structure of the population in the autumn harvest.
Observations on foods of kiore (Rattus exulans) found in husking stations on northern offshore islands of New Zealand

Kiore (Rattus exulans) carry food to husking stations to feed, where they are sheltered from predators, competitors and rain. On four northern offshore islands of New Zealand remains of plant foods left in husking stations and in the open included seeds, leaf laminae, shoots, bark, flowers and root bases. A wide variety of animal remains were identified in husking station material, from habitats as diverse as tree tops and below the ground. All stages of both small social and large solitary insects were eaten. Use of husking station material is a new technique; the advantages and limitations of which are discussed.
Factors affecting variation in the vase life response of waxflower cultivars (Myrtaceae: Chamelaucium Desf. and Verticordia spp. Desf.) tested under various vase solutions

Abstract The effects of genotype and vase solutions on the vase lives of waxflower cultivars were studied. The vase life of 16 cultivars derived from different genetic backgrounds showed a variation. The vase life of Chamelaucium uncinatum cultivars held in deionised water was generally the shortest, with four cultivars averaging 9.5 and 8.9 days for flowers and leaves while the vase lives of C. uncinatum × megalopetalum hybrids were on average 16.0 and 25.0 days for flowers and leaves, respectively. The hybrid ‘Southern Stars’ with C. uncinatum × Verticordia plumosa as parents had the longest flower vase life of 24.9 days, although another Verticordia × Chamelaucium had a 9.5-day flower vase life and other hybrids of the cultivars of C. uncinatum and Verticordia grandis Desf. (‘WX73’), C. sp. Gingin Marchantii (‘WX97’) and C. floriferum (‘Lady Stephanie’) as a parent had intermediate to short vase lives of 11.4 to 15.5 days. The cultivars responded most to 8-hydroxyquniline sulphate (HQS) + sucrose or HQS + sucrose + silver thiosulphate (STS), being 1.5- to 1.6-folds higher than in deionized water. The cultivars showed a varied response to a vase solution of sucrose + HQS + STS, with which C. uncinatum vase life increased 1.9-fold compared to 1.7-fold for C. megalopetalum. Waxflowers were found to be susceptible to water stress, causing flowers to close and shortening vase life. On average for the 80 cultivar-vase solution combinations tested, flower vase life ended when the stems reached 75.5 ± 5% fresh weigh. Longer vase life cultivars had a greater ability of maintaining a water balance at or above 75% for longer.
Effect of Adding Biomin as a Natural Growth Promoter on Productive Performance, Some Haematological and Immunological Traits of Broiler Chicks

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of adding Biomin as a natural growth promoter in drinking water on the productive performance, some hematological and immunological parameters in broiler chicks. A total of 180 unsexed, one day old, broiler chicks (Hubbard) were weighed, wing banded and randomly classified to three equal groups. All chicks in the 1st group were watered fresh tap water during the experiment, while those in the 2nd and 3rd groups were orally received fresh tap water including 20 and 30 mg Biomin/chick during the first three days of age. All chicks were fed on commercial basal diets ad libitum and daily exposed to 24 lighting hours allover experimental period. All birds were reared on a partitioned deep litter floor. The obtained results could be concluded as follow: The oral administration of Biomin to broiler chicks increased (p<0.05) body weight and body weight gain from 2 to 6 weeks of age in the treated groups than those of the control. The treated broilers chicks with Biomin at 20 and 30 mg/chick consumed less feed intake and had better feed conversion ratio all over experimental period than those of the control. Hemoglobin, hematocrit (%), globulin, total lipids, glucose and ALT for chicks orally received biomin at 20 and 30 mg/bird insignificantly affected as compared to control. Total cholesterol level in the treated group decreased significantly (p<0.05) at 2 and 4 weeks of age as compared with those of control. Creatinine and AST levels for treated chicks were significantly affected by the Biomin administration at 4 and 6 weeks of age. Humoral immune response for treated chicks against sheep red blood cell (SRBC, s) insignificantly increased as compared with control chicks. Similarly, the immune response (Antibody titer) for Newcastle disease (ND) was insignificantly affected with Biomin treatment.
Larval recruitment processes of Japanese spiny lobsters : A hypothesis

A hypothesis is constructed that explains the larval recruitment processes of P. japonicus and P. longipes femoristriga in Japanese waters. According to the hypothesis, larvae of the two species which are released in coastal waters inshore of the Kuroshio Current disperse into (and/or are transported to) the Kuroshio-Counter Current subgyre, re-enter the Kuroshio probably in the region northeast of the Ryukyu Archipelago, and then recruit through the Kuroshio to Japanese coastal habitats of their benthic stages.
Effect of Soluble Sugars and Gibberellic Acid in Breaking Dormancy of Excised Wild Oat (Avena fatua) Embryos

Dormant line M73 wild oat caryopses were utilized to develop a system for the culture of excised embryos, to evaluate whether embryo dormancy exists, and to investigate the physiological basis for breaking dormancy. Dormant embryos cultured on N6 medium solidified with 0.25% Bacto agar displayed 70% germination in 2 d compared with approximately 20% for the other gelling agents. The non-plant-based gelling agent gellum at a concentration of 0.25% was selected for further experiments on breaking dormancy after it was determined that concentrations ≥ 0.5% decreased the rate of germination. Amending N6 medium with concentrations of 0.1 to 10 μM gibberellic acid (GA) increased the rate and extent of germination. Embryos treated with 0 to 0.01 μM GA required 6 d to attain 90% germination. Germination of dormant embryos on N6 medium without GA suggested that either true embryo dormancy did not exist in M73 or some constituent of the N6 medium promoted breaking of dormancy. Subsequent experiments indicated that the 88 mM sucrose was the constituent in the N6 medium responsible for breaking dormancy. Concentrations of sucrose from 40 to 200 mM were effective in breaking dormancy. Ten μM GA increased the rate and extent of germination of embryos cultured with 88 to 200 mM sucrose. At 88 mM, fructose, maltose, glucose, and sucrose all broke embryo dormancy. Fructose was the most active soluble sugar for breaking embryo dormancy, promoting nearly 100% germination in 4 d. As with sucrose, there was an interaction between GA and the soluble sugars in breaking dormancy. Ten μM GA with 88 mM fructose provided nearly 100% germination in 1 d. Amylose, but not amylopectin or pullulan, may substitute for soluble sugars. However, with 10 μM GA amylose, amylopectin and pullulan were equally effective in breaking dormancy. Breaking dormancy of embryos on N6 medium was independent of temperatures from 12 to 24 C in the presence of GA, but in its absence the optimum was 12 C. Application of GA to dormant caryopses significantly increased and decreased the level of glucose and sucrose, respectively, in the embryo. Gibberellic acid had a similar effect on glucose and sucrose in the endosperm tissue, except the differences were not significant at all times after treatment. The change in carbohydrate metabolism, especially in embryo tissue, may be important when considered in context with the observation that soluble sugars and GA act independently in breaking dormancy in excised M73 embryos. Breaking wild oat embryo dormancy with GA may be mainly a substitution for sugar requirement.
Community structure of gut microbes in Busseola fusca (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

i PREFACE . ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . iii TABLE OF CONTENTS . iv LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS . vii LIST OF FIGURES . ix LIST OF TABLES . xii CHAPTER 1 .
Antimicrobial activity of extracts from Crotalaria bernieri Baill. (Fabaceae)

This work was designed to study the antimicrobial activity of Crotalaria bernieri Baill. (Fabaceae). Extracts from leaf, root, pod and seed using hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol were tested in vitro for their activity against 17 bacteria, 5 fungi (3 yeasts and 2 molds) using disc diffusion and micro dilution methods. At the concentration of 1 mg/disc, all the extracts exhibited antimicrobial activity depending on the plant part and the extraction method used. The most sensitive germs were Salmonella enteridis, Streptococcus pyogenes and Candida guilliermondii with inhibition zone diameter (IZD) of 11 mm, 15 mm and 13 mm respectively. Most of extracts showed, broad activity spectrum varying from one extract to another. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of all extracts were recorded. Ten extracts displayed an excellent effect (MIC 1000 µg/ml). Leaf methanol extracts were the most efficient and Gram positive bacteria the most sensitive. All extracts had bactericidal (MBC/MIC ≤ 4) or fungicidal action (MFC/MIC ≤ 4) in certain microorganisms and bacteriostatic (MBC/MIC > 4) or fungistatic action (MFC/MIC > 4) in others. Antimicrobial activity might be due to tannins, polyphenols, steroids, triterpenes and flavonoids that were present in most of the plant organs, but alkaloids in leaf and pod and saponosides in root might also be involved. C. bernieri with the effectiveness of all its parts, the variety of its secondary metabolites, the great number of sensitive pathogen microorganisms and its ubiquity make this plant species an interesting source of antimicrobial agents. Key words: Crotalaria bernieri, antimicrobial activity, disc diffusion method, microdilution method, minimum inhibitory concentration, minimum bactericidal concentration, minimum fungicidal concentration.
Photothermal effects on the ovarian cycle of the musk turtle, Sternotherus odoratus

Temperature and photoperiod were manipulated at various times of year (for differing lengths of time) to determine the effects of these exogenous cues on the ovarian cycle of the musk turtle, Sternotherus odoratus. Generally, prolonged exposure to high temperature (28 C) inhibited follicular growth whereas a lower temperature (18 C) promoted it. Photoperiod had no apparent effect in any season. High temperature (28 C) was initially stimulatory in the fall when follicles were partially enlarged: ovarian mass increased due to an increase in number of preovulatory follicles. However, after 10 wk of 28 C, follicles, instead of ovulating, became atretic. In the spring, high temperature was not as stimulatory as low temperature (18 C) and prolonged exposure to 28 C was again inhibitory. If females were continuously exposed to high temperature for 7 mo, they exhibited an increase in ovarian mass, but this gain was due to a higher number of smaller follicles rather than preovulatory ones, indicating abnormal growth. The response of female S. odoratus to elevated temperature may explain latitudinal differences in duration of quiescence.
The rotifers of Spanish reservoirs: Ecological, Systematical and zoogeographical remarks

This article covers the rotifer data from a 1987/1988 survey of one hundred Spanish reservoirs. From each species brief information is given, focused mainly on ecology, morphology, zoogeography and distribution both in Spain and within reservoirs. New autoecological information on each species is also established giving conductivity ranges, alkalinity, pH and temperature for each. Original drawings and photographs obtained on both optical and electronic microscopy are shown of the majority of
Protein fining agents : Characterization and red wine fining assays

The physico-chemical characteristics of protein fining agents are important for optimizing the fining treatment which affects wine quality. The aim of this study was to characterize nineteen commercial fining products. Furthermore, a fining trial was done to evaluate the influence of different fining proteins on some phenolic characteristics of red wine. The results show that the molecular weight (MW) distribution of caseins and potassium caseinate products are characterized by a band at 30.0 kDa and egg albumins by a band close to 43.0 kDa. Isinglass (swim bladder) has bands at 20.1, between 94.0-43.0 and above 94.0 kDa. In addition, two of the gelatins studied do not have any band in the MW range studied. The other fining agents displayed polydispersion. The isoelectric point (IEP) of the proteins ranged from 4.20 to 6.48. The effects of egg albumin (AS,), isinglass (IL 1 and IS 4 ), potassium caseinate (CKS 1 ), casein (CS 4 ) and gelatin (GS 2 , GS 4 and GL 1 ) on red wine phenolic compounds are discussed.
Bryophyte traits explain climate‐warming effects on tree seedling establishment

Above the alpine tree line, bryophytes cover much of the tundra soil surface in dense, often monospecific carpets. Therefore, when climate warming enables tree seedling establishment above the tree line, interaction with the bryophyte layer is inevitable. Bryophytes are known to modify their environment in various ways. However, little is known about to which extent and by which mechanisms bryophytes affect the response of tree seedlings to climate warming. We aimed to assess and understand the importance of bryophyte species identity and traits for tree seedling performance at tree line temperatures and their response to warmer conditions. Seedlings of two common, tree line‐forming tree species (Betula pubescens and Pinus sylvestris) were planted into intact cushions of eight common tundra bryophyte species and bryophyte‐free soil and grown for 18 weeks at current (7·0 °C) and near‐future (30–50 years; 9·2 °C) tree line average growing‐season temperatures. Seedling performance (biomass increase and N‐uptake) was measured and related to bryophyte species identity and traits indicative of their impact on the environment. Tree seedlings performed equally well or better in the presence of bryophytes than in bryophyte‐free soil, which contrasts to their usually negative effects in milder climates. In addition, seedling performance and their response to higher temperatures depended on bryophyte species and seedlings of both species grew largest in the pan‐boreal and subarctic bryophyte Hylocomium splendens. However, B. pubescens seedlings showed much stronger responses to higher temperatures when grown in bryophytes than in bryophyte‐free soil, while the opposite was true for P. sylvestris seedlings. For B. pubescens, but not for P. sylvestris, available organic nitrogen of the bryophyte species was the trait that best predicted seedling responses to higher temperatures, likely because these seedlings had increased N‐demands. Synthesis. Climatically driven changes in bryophyte species distribution may not only have knock‐on effects on vascular plant establishment, but temperature effects on seedling performance are themselves moderated by bryophytes in a species‐specific way. Bryophyte traits can serve as a useful tool for understanding and predicting these complex interactions.
Recovery of hand function after stroke: separable systems for finger strength and control

Loss of hand function after stroke is a major cause of long-term disability. Hand function can be partitioned into strength and independent control of fingers (individuation). Here we developed a novel paradigm, which independently quantifies these two aspects of hand function, to track hand recovery in 54 patients with hemiparesis over the first year after their stroke. Most recovery of both strength and individuation occurred in the first three months after stroke. Improvement in strength and individuation were tightly correlated up to a strength level of approximately 60% of the unaffected side. Beyond this threshold, further gains in strength were not accompanied by improvements in individuation. Any observed improvements in individuation beyond the 60% threshold were attributable instead to a second independent stable factor. Lesion analysis revealed that damage to the hand area in motor cortex and the corticospinal tract (CST) correlated more with individuation than with strength. CST involvement correlated with individuation even after factoring out the strength-individuation correlation. The most parsimonious explanation for these behavioral and lesion-based findings is that most strength recovery, along with some individuation, can be attributed to descending systems other than the CST, whereas further recovery of individuation is CST dependent.
Preliminary investigations into the trait of residual energy intake in sheep

Residual energy intake (REI), also referred to as residual feed intake, is one way of describing feed effi ciency, and is an estimate of whether or not an animal is eating more or less than expected for its weight and growth rate. The REI trait has been investigated in a number of production-animal species, but only pilot study data exists for New Zealand sheep. This paper investigates phenotypic variability in the trait of REI for a cohort of 197 growing ewe lambs. The animals were approximately nine months old at the commencement of the trial. Their daily intake of a lucerne pellet-diet was measured for 56 days using an automated feeder that recorded weight of feed consumed in real time. The animals were weighed twice weekly. The standard REI model involves fi tting metabolic mid-test live weight and live weight gain to predict energy intake. Both measurements fi tted were signifi cant (P<0.001), with an overall R2 for the model of 0.78. Grouping of the animals in to Low-, Midand High-effi ciency groups revealed a 24% difference in energy intake between the low and high groups which is consistent with studies in other species. The comparison of attributes of the effi ciency groups did reveal differences in fatness with the high-effi ciency animals fatter at the start of the data collection, but they did not lay down as much fat during the trial as the low-effi ciency group. Given the phenotypic variability is consistent with that observed in other production-animal species, additional cohorts will be measured in the coming years to generate a data set to investigate the genetics of the trait, and further investigate the role of fat within the REI model.