Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Electricity Pylons on Plant Biodiversity in Intensive Farmland in Poland

In 2013 we surveyed 116 plots under electricity pylons and 116 reference plots. The basal areas of pylons were 6 m2, 21 m2 or 32 m2. Plots under pylons had higher total numbers of species than reference plots, with grassland plots as an exception. Herbaceous species occurring exclusively within pylon plots were more numerous than those exclusively in reference plots (with the exception of grassland). Pylon plots also had a higher Shannon's diversity index (H′) of herbaceous plant species, again with the exception of grassland plots. Species number and H′ increased with increasing plot area under pylons among cereal and maize fields. A different trend was recorded in grassland; with increasing plot size the differences in species richness and diversity between pylon and reference plots became less distinct. Regardless of plot area, the Jaccard index was usually low and did not exceed a value of 0.20. It may be concluded that electricity pylons act as refuges for many plant species, which makes them biodiversity hotspots in farmland. Species richness and diversity under pylons differs markedly from those of nearby farmland. Such vegetation patches under electricity pylons form a substantial network of floristically diverse refuges within an unfavourable matrix.
Efficacy of surgical sterilization for managing overabundant suburban white-tailed deer

Based on decades of increasing deer effects on local biodiversity, agricultural damage, and deer–vehicle collisions, we implemented a suburban white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) research and management program in 2007 on Cornell University lands in Tompkins County, New York, USA. We attempted to reduce deer numbers by surgically sterilizing female deer in the 445-ha suburban core campus via tubal ligation and ovariectomy. From 2007 to 2013, we sterilized 93 deer and radiocollared 67 adult females to monitor fawning. Tubal ligation and ovariectomy surgeries appeared to prevent birth in 96% and 100% of treated female deer, respectively. We implemented a camera survey, used a mark–resight model in Program NOREMARK to estimate annual deer abundance, and observed no reduction in female abundance by winter 2013. Conversely, we noted a 38% and 79% decrease of total adult females and fawns visible in sampled photographs, respectively, and an 873% increase in adult male visitation to camera traps on core campus. Surgical sterilization appeared to be ineffective for reducing the abundance of a geographically open population of white-tailed deer in the absence of lethal management. We do not recommend surgical sterilization as a stand-alone method for communities wishing to pursue mitigation of deer impacts with nonlethal approaches. © 2016 The Wildlife Society.
Short-term migration of transplanted Lin-Sca-1+c-kit+ hematopoietic stem cells after hippocampal ischemic injury of mice

Issues of migration potential and plasticity of different types of stem cells continue to arouse considerable interest among researchers in terms of improving the regenerative properties of cell and tissue transplantation [1]. First of all study in this area concerned the scope of bone marrow transplantation, which has been used in clinics for a long time [2, 3]. The ability of hematopoietic cell migration between niches and their transdifferentiation into other germ layer derivatives are the subject of scientific discussions. Mechanisms of attracting hematopoietic stem cells in the repair of damaged nerve tissue are of particular interest. According to animal experiments and results of the retrospective analysis of some clinical studies of bone marrow recipients there has been demonstrated not only the presence of donor cells in areas of brain damage, but their expression of a number of markers characteristic for neurons and glia [4-8]. These studies suggest that transplanted cells come from blood flow to ischemic areas and differentiate into neural cells. However, there are researches with opposite results that cast doubt on these findings. Although the possibility of fusion of donor cells with recipient cells also remains relevant [9]. Therefore, many factors should be taken into account, including the source, methods of cell’s obtaining, preparation and method of transplantation. In particular, the source of stem cells may influence on their maturity and, therefore, the potential for migration and differentiation. The presence of multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells fraction among transplanted bone marrow mononuclear cells does not allow to prove the ability of hematopoietic cells to transdifferentiation. To characterize hematopoietic stem cells in mice there have been developed a group of immunophenotypic attribute that allow identification of LSK-cells populations expressing stem cell antigen Sca-1 and stem cell growth factor receptor c-kit, with no expression of linearity Lin markers SUMMARY
The Effects of Polyphenol Oxidase and Cycloheximide on the Early Stage of Browning in Phalaenopsis Explants

Abstract Explant browning is one of the major problems in the tissue culture process, and polyphenol oxidase (PPO), is the major proteases involved in plant tissue browning. We investigated the effects of polyphenol oxidase on the early stage of browning in explants of the orchid Phalaenopsis . Our results show that PPO activity was significantly higher in explants cultured for 3 d than in the 0 h control. The levels of PPO transcripts and PPO protein were significantly higher in explants cultured for 6 h compared to the 0 h control; these high expression levels were maintained over increasing cultivation time. Cycloheximide (CHX) treatment reduced PPO transcript levels, PPO protein levels, and PPO enzyme activity. High levels of PPO mRNA and PPO protein were detected in the cytoplasm and vascular bundles of Phalaenopsis explants cultured for 6 h compared to explants cultured for 0 h, 24 h, and 3 d. CHX treatment did not significantly affect the distribution of PPO mRNA and PPO protein in explant tissues, but their levels were significantly lower than those of the untreated control.
Is phylogenetic diversity a good proxy for functional diversity of plant communities? A case study from urban habitats

Question: It is often assumed, but poorly tested, that patterns of phylogenetic diversity reflect functional diversity in plant communities. Here we test whether phylogeny can be used as a proxy for functional diversity in general and specifically for diversity in plant niche preferences, dispersal strategies and competitiveness- related traits. Location: Central Europe, Belgiumand the Netherlands. Methods: We used a species composition data set from seven urban habitats, each sampled in 32 large cities of ten countries, and combined thiswith information about species phylogeny and functional traits, the latter divided into categories representing niche preferences, dispersal strategies and competitiveness. Results: We found positive significant, yet very weak, relationships between phylogenetic diversity and overall functional diversity, and between phylogenetic diversity and diversity in both species dispersal strategies and competitiveness. The relationship between phylogenetic diversity and diversity in species niche preferences was not significant. Conclusions: We suggest that the combination of multiple trait states that coexist in urban plant communities and even within the same lineages weakens the phylogeny–function relationship. Phylogenetic diversity is a weak proxy for functional diversity of urban plant communities. For some facets of functional diversity, the phylogeny–function relationshipmay not apply at all.
Interactive Precipitation Between Phenolic Fractions and Peptides in Wine-Like Model Solutions: Turbidity, Particle Size, and Residual Content as Influenced by pH, Temperature and Peptide Concentration

Four gelatin preparations (whole gelatin of average MW 70 000 and gelatin peptides of average MW 10 000, 5000, and 2000), three synthetic peptides (MW 2531, 1354, and 1274) composed of a repeating sequence of amino acid residues (proline, proline or hydroxyproline, and glycine), and soluble and insoluble polyvinylpyrrolidone were used. They were mixed with four phenolic fractions (dimeric, oligomeric, polymeric, and total phenol fractions from grape seeds) in aqueous 10% ethanol solutions of pH 2.5 to 4.0. After four days at 4°C, 15°C, or 25°C, the turbidity, residual phenol and peptide contents, and particle sizes of the precipitates formed in the mixtures were determined. The turbidity increased with increasing particle size and with decreasing residual phenol and peptide. Increasing the pH from 2.5 to 3.0 - 3.3 (depending on the phenolic fraction) or lowering the storage temperature resulted in increased turbidity and decreased residual phenol and peptide, but the degrees of the changes in turbidity and residual contents varied with the phenolic fraction. Increasing the amounts of large MW whole gelatin and the 2000 MW gelatin peptide from 25 to 150 mg/L resulted in increasing turbidity, increasing particle size, and decreasing residual phenols. The turbidity with the small gelatin peptide was higher than that with the large gelatin below pH 3.0 to 3.3, but above these pH values the turbidity with the latter was larger than that with the former. The phenol adsorption capacity of the small synthetic peptides was higher than that of large MW whole gelatin or the other gelatin preparations when added at the same weights, but other effects were similar. The results on the interaction between the small peptides and the phenolic fractions showed that the gelatin peptides and the synthetic peptides of low molecular weight were very effective for fining wines, at least at the same levels as whole gelatin or soluble polyvinylpyrrolidone with high affinity for phenols. The mode of association for phenol-peptide interaction and the properties of peptide chains effective for the adsorption of phenols are discussed.
Possible lack of association between E469K polymorphism of ICAM-1 and non-obstructive azoospermia in south-east Turkey

ABSTRACT Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), a member of the large immunoglobulin superfamily of cell adhesion molecules, is a constituent component of the blood–testis barrier, and it plays a significant role in the homeostasis of spermatogenesis. The E469K polymorphism in the human ICAM-1 gene has been previously associated in various inflammatory/autoimmune disorders. However, the role of the ICAM-1 E469K polymorphism in spermatogenesis remains unclear. The aim of the present study is to analyse the possible association between the ICAM-1 E469K polymorphism and male infertility with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) patients within a group of men from Turkey. We included 111 infertile male with NOA and 114 fertile male as control subjects to the study. Genotyping was made by polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism. The frequency of the genotype and the allele of ICAM-1 E469K were not significantly different between the control group and the patients (P > 0.05). This is the first study to investigate the role of the ICAM-1 gene polymorphism in male infertility with NOA. We conclude that the E469K polymorphism of ICAM-1 is not a risk factor for NOA in the Turkish population.
Infectious diseases of Indochinese refugees.

: The recent Mayo Clinic experience in the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases in Indochinese refugees is discussed. One hundred patients from whom stool and blood specimens were submitted for parasitic examination showed a high percentage of parasitic infection, often with multiple agents. An outline for the initial medical examination and treatment of the parasitic agents found is presented.
Characterization and Antibacterial Mode of Action of Lactic Acid Bacterium Leuconostoc mesenteroides HJ69 from Kimchi

This study characterized a lactic acid bacterium Leuconostoc mesenteroides HJ69 at biochemical and molecular level, isolate from traditional Korean fermented food Kimchi. Cell free supernatant (CFS) of L. mesenteroides HJ69 exhibited significant (P < 0.05) antibacterial effect as diameters of inhibition zones (14.34 ± 0.31 – 18.21 ± 0.23 mm) against the tested foodborne pathogenic bacteria with minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration values found in the range of 250–2,000 and 500–2,000 μg/mL, respectively. Further, CFS of L. mesenteroides HJ69 revealed its mode of action on membrane integrity as confirmed by the increased release of potassium ions (800 and 750 mM/L), loss of 260-nm absorbing materials (3.85 and 3.77 OD), and increase in relative electrical conductivity (8.6 and 8.2%) against two selected bacteria L. monocytogenes KCTC-3569 (Gram-positive) and Escherichia coli O157:H7 (Gram-negative), respectively. The above findings hypothesize that L. mesenteroides HJ69 compromised its mode of action on membrane integrity, suggesting its enormous potential in the food industry. Practical Applications Asian countries have enormous use of fermented food products enriched with large populations of health-beneficial lactic acid bacteria (LAB). This study describes the isolation of a LAB strain Leuconostoc mesenteroides HJ69 from traditional Korean fermented food Kimchi along with its biochemical and molecular characterization. The cell free supernatant of L. mesenteroides HJ69 displayed remarkable antibacterial effect against various foodborne pathogenic bacteria with a hypothesized mode of action in several assays. These findings suggest that L. mesenteroides HJ69 could be an effective candidate for its practical application in food industry to control the proliferation of foodborne pathogenic bacteria as a natural antimicrobial agent.
Evaluation of the Effect of Four BacterialIsolates on the Plant Growth Promoting andthe Reduction of Dry Rot of Potatoes

The purpose of the following study is to evaluate the potential of four bacterial antagonists to reduce the development of the Fusarium dry rot and evaluate their role in growth promotion efficacy (plant height, fresh weight and dry weight) of the potato. After the screening in vitro, four antagonistic strains caused an inhibition of the fungi with a diameter greater than 27 mm, namely Fr43, Fr52, F101 of Pseudomons sp gender, and F31 of Acinetobacter gender. These strains were selected to study their effect in vivo. The treatment of tubers by successive immersions in the spores and in the bacterial suspensions showed the ability of the latter to protect the tubers during the storage. Concerning the growth promotion, all the applied antagonistic isolates exhibit a significant difference compared to the control. Consequently, the Fr43 strain is the most active. It has a height of 110.17cm, a fresh weight of 100,77cm and a dry weight of 44.27cm with a respective correspondence of 52.53%, 60.71 and 25.31% of the test GPE%. For the reduction of the Disease incidence, the isolate Fr43 also demonstrated a significant reduction in the incidence of the disease with 15.3%, which corresponds to a significant effectiveness of biological control of up to 79.92% against Fusarium oxysporum. On the contrary, the isolate F101 has the lowest value of the effectiveness of biological control versus control which can reach only 15.7%. Consequently, the isolates Fr43, Fr52 and F31 have a potential use not only in the bio-protection of potato but also in the integrated management of Fusarium wilt. They are also considered as PGPR.
Comparative Evaluation of Antioxidative Properties and Effects of Aqueous Extracts of Cola Nitida and Vitex Doniana on Fe2+ - Generated Oxidative Stress in Rat Testes in Vitro

Male sexual dysfunction (MSD) might be produced by multifactorial determinants which include psychological disorders, androgen deficiencies, chronic medical conditions, vascular insufficiency, penile disease, pelvic surgery, neurological disorders, drugs, life style, aging and systemic diseases. This study sought to assess the antioxidant properties of the water-extractable component of the leaves of Black plum (Vitex doniana) and bark of Kola nut (Cola nitida),evaluate their effect on pro-oxidant generated lipid peroxidation in ratâ€™s testes; and examine the effect on arginase which is among the major enzymes associated with Erectile dysfunction. The results of the total phenol, total flavonoid of aqueous extracts of Cola nitida and Vitex doniana revealed that Cola nitida (10.64 mgGAE/g) had significantly (P<0.05) more total phenol content than Vitex doniana (4.68 mgGAE/g). The result also revealed that Vitex doniana (2.1 mgQE/g) had significantly (P<0.05) higher total flavonoid content than Cola nitida (1.3 mgQE/g). Also, Vitex doniana (20.24 mgAEE/g) had significantly (p<0.05) higher reducing property than Cola nitida (17.43 mgAEE/g). The results of the 2, 2â€™-azino-bis (3-ethylbenthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS*) radical mopping up capacity of the water extractable component of Vitex doniana and Cola nitida also showed that the extracts are able to scavenge ABTS* radicals, however, Vitex doniana (1.8 Mmol TEAC/100g) had significantly (P<0.05) higher ABTS* mopping up capability than Cola nitida (1.2 Mmol TEAC/100g). Furthermore, the DPPH* result revealed that Cola nitida and Vitex doniana extracts scavenged DPPH* radicals in a concentration-dependent pattern. However, Vitex doniana (IC50 = 1.28mg/ml) had a significantly (P<0.05) higher DPPH* mopping up capability than Cola nitida (IC50 = 0.83 mg/ml). Both extracts were able to inhibit FeSO4-generated lipid peroxidation at a dose-dependent manner; however, Vitex doniana (IC50 = 1.07 mg/ml) had a higher inhibitory action of Fe2+ induced lipid peroxidation than Cola nitida (IC50 = 1.01 mg/ml). Vitex doniana (IC50 = 0.38mg/ml) has the higher arginase inhibitory activity than Cola nitida (IC50 = 0.34mg/ml). High phenolic content and strong antioxidant properties could be part of the mechanisms through which the water extractable phytochemicals of Cola nitida (bark) and Vitex doniana (leaves) exhibits its preventive measure of erectile function. However, Vitex doniana displayed a stronger effect on Male reproductive function than Cola nitida.
Treatability of oil palm frond and rubber wood chips with urea for the development of slow release fertiliser.

Treatability of a material is fundamental in determining how much chemicals or fillers are retained in the material before it can be used for slow release fertiliser. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of urea retention in oil palm frond and rubber wood chips treated at different urea concentrations using pressure and non-pressure treatments. Treatability of the materials was calculated based on weight percent gain. Comparative nutrient contents of the impregnated chips were also determined. Oil palm frond and rubber wood chips were treated separately with three different concentrations of urea solution (5%, 10% and 15% w/v) using vacuum-pressure or soaking process. The results showed that type of material, treatment process and urea concentration significantly affect weight percent gain. Regardless of treatment combinations, oil palm frond chips had higher urea retention compared to rubber wood chips. For nutrient contents, treated rubber wood chips attained higher carbon content while treated oil palm frond chips had higher N content. Within the range of urea concentration studied, treatment with 15% urea using vacuumpressure process was found to be the most efficient treatment combination in the development of wood waste slow release fertiliser. The release pattern of nitrogen from both oil palm frond chips and rubber wood chips proved that these materials are suitable for the development of slow release fertiliser.
Localization of Na+, K+-ATPase in brain.

: Enzyme activity, representing the sites of K+-stimulated p-nitrophenylphosphatase, a component of the sodium, potassium-stimulated-adenosinetriphosphatase system, has been localized in the somatosensory cortex of the rat brain. The reaction product is most obviously associated with fibers that are thought to be axons and dendrites. Large dendrite-like fibers appear to arise in layer 5 of the cortex and arborize in layers 1 through 4. Smaller, reactive fibers are found throughout the cortical layers. Neuron cell bodies did not exhibit substantial enzymatic activity. It did not appear that glia contributed significantly to the activity in cerebral cortex.
REPRODUCTION IN TWO NAMIB DESERT LACERTID LIZARDS (APOROSAURA ANCHIETAE AND MEROLES CUNEIROSTRIS)

decline are not totally clear, but appear to be related to decreased rainfall, to lower productivity of insects, and to lower levels of stored fat. The average clutch of 85 females was 1.3 eggs (range 1-2), and 2-4 clutches are produced yearly. Meroles cuneirostris has a reproductive cycle typical of temperate zone species, with spermiogenesis occurring May-February (spring-summer), followed by autumnal regression (March) and then recrudescence (April). Oviducal eggs were found over a 5-mo period (Sep-Mar). Clutch size of 29 females averaged 2.9 eggs (range 1-4), and females can produce two clutches each year. Both species have seasonal fat cycles typical of temperate zone lizards, in which fat bodies enlarge in autumn and are depleted by spring, but the relative amounts of fat stored by each species differ considerably.
The contribution of raptorial birds to patterning in small mammal assemblages

Seven taxa of raptorial birds were experimentally fed a controlled sample of 50 house mice (Mus musculus). Bones recovered from the pellets were examined for interspecies variability in preservation to assess the potential contribution of specific raptors to patterning in fossil assemblages. Quantitative analyses demonstrate that patterns in bone fragmentation may assist in the identification of particular raptor species as depositional agents in small mammal assemblages.
IMPACT OF WATER QUALITY (BOTTOM-UP) VARIABLES ON SPECIFIC GROWTH RATE OF PLANKTONIC BACTERIA IN THE RIVER CAUVERY AND ITS FOUR UPSTREAM TRIBUTARIES IN KARNATAKA

The planktonic heterotrophic bacteria by their virtue of abundance, ability to use dilute substrate, high assimilation efficiencies and rapid growth rates represent significant resources available to support the next higher trophic level. The bacterial specific growth rates should relate closely to environmental factors regulating growth. Different combinations of bottom-up (water quality) factors control bacterioplankton dynamics and growth potential. Mid stream surface water samples from the rivers Lakshmanatheertha, Harangi, Hemavathy, Lokapavani and Cauvery were collected in a sterile glass bottles and were transported back to the laboratory on ice. Water samples were screened through Whatman GF/A (1.63 �m nominal pore size) glass micro fibre filters. The SGR was calculated by taking only the abundance of bacterioplankton at the beginning (0 h) and at the end (48 h) incubation period. In result, the mean value of specific growth rate of heterotrophic bacteria was comparatively more and was also significantly different in the river Lakshmanatheertha (mean 0.0042, range -0.0009 0.009 h-1). The significantly less SGR during summer season may be due to physiological stress caused by seasonal environmental changes, and grazing pressure. Further, mineral limitation of bacterioplankton occurs in summer due to elevated metabolic rates. In the present investigation temperature did not show any relation with the bacterial growth rate, suggests that substrate supply limiting bacterial growth in summer and its effect is probably temperature dependent. Calculations of Pearson�s correlation coefficients (p<0.01) and the study of regression analysis revealed that, several key environmental variables were potentially responsible for much of the SGR of bacterial variations, notable are Calcium, DO, CO2, Rainfall, Conductivity, Total Anions of Strong Acids, and Chloride. keywords Specific growth rate, Bottom-up regulation, river Lakshmanatheertha, TASA, Bacterial abundance.