Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
IL-15 Does Not Affect IEL Development in the Thymus but Regulates Homeostasis of Putative Precursors and Mature CD8αα+ IELs in the Intestine1

Mice devoid of the IL-15 system lose over 90% of CD8αα+ TCRαβ and TCRγδ intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (iIELs). Previous work revealed that IL-15Rα and IL-15 expressed by parenchymal cells, but not by bone marrow-derived cells, are required for normal CD8αα+ iIEL homeostasis. However, it remains unclear when and how the IL-15 system affects CD8αα+ iIELs through their development. This study found that IL-15Rα is dispensable for the thymic stage of CD8αα+ TCRαβ and TCRγδ iIEL development but is required for the maintenance and/or differentiation of the putative lineage marker negative precursors in the intestinal epithelium, especially for the most mature CD8 single positive subset. Moreover, the IL-15 system directly supports the survival of mature CD8αα+ iIEL in vivo. Taken together, this study suggests that regulation of CD8αα+ iIEL homeostasis by the IL-15 system does not occur in the thymus but involves mature cells and putative precursors in the intestine.
Dynamic of fruit growth and internal fruit quality of apricot trees grafted on rootstock or with interstem.

This study was carried out to investigate impacts of Myrobalan rootstock and Blackthorn interstem on fruit growth, physico-chemical features and bioactive compounds of two apricot cultivars (‘Harcot’ and ‘Roksana’) in 2010 and 2011. Fruits of both cultivars on Myrobalan and/or Blackthorn grew with a classic double sigmoid curve from full bloom time to harvest. During growth and development periods, average fruit weight of both cultivars significantly increased, but differences between rootstock and interstem were not found. Myrobalan induced higher values of most fruit physical features (fruit thickness, sphericity, aspect ratio, surface area, fruit volume, flesh firmness) and some chemical attributes (soluble solids content and titratable acidity), whereas Blackthorn induced only higher ripening index values. Regarding cultivars, ‘Roksana’ possessed better physical features, except flesh firmness, and higher soluble solids content, ripening index value, total flavonoids content and total antioxidant capacity. Present results confirm the better adaptation of Myrobalan rootstock with ‘Roksana’ and ‘Harcot’ scion cultivar to sandy loam and acidic soil than Blackthorn
EFFECT OF PROLONGED ADMINISTRATION OF NICOTINE ON THE MEDULLARY VOLUME AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF NORADRENALINE IN THE ADRENALS OF THE RAT, THE MOUSE AND THE GUINEA PIG1

Rats, mice and guinea pigs were daily injected with sublethal doses of nicotine for 6.5–9 months. Formalin-induced fluorescence and iodate reaction were used to demonstrate the noradrenaline-containing adrenomedullary cells, chromaffin reaction to demonstrate both catechol amines. The medullary volume and the volume of the noradrenaline-containing tissue were determined plani metrically. In the rat, treatment with nicotine did not affect the adrenal weight but caused an 110% increase of the medullaiy volume. This increase was mainly due to a 470% increase in the volume of the noradrenaline-containing adrenomedullary parenchyma. No changes in the adrenal weight, the medullary volume or the distributions of the histochemical reactions were detected in the adrenals of the guinea pig and the mouse.
Tests of standard diagrams for field use in assessing the tarspot disease complex of maize (Zea mays)

Abstract Zea mays in Latin America is affected by a disease complex known as tarspot caused by Phyllachora maydis, Monographella maydis and Coniothyrium maydis. Two series of pictorial standard diagrams were developed for field assessment, one for P. maydis and the other for P. maydis + M. maydis. The disease severity depicted on the 72 diagrams was assessed for the number of lesions and the percentage disease severity by 36 volunteers of diverse professional backgrounds without prior experience in assessing crop diseases. The assessment error for the P. maydis diagrams included a 17–38% underestimation of number of lesions and a 184–330% overestimation of disease severity. For the P. maydis × M. maydis diagram, overestimation for the classes with 1.0–4.5% disease severity was relatively high, whereas the error diminished with a higher proportion of larger lesions. In general, regular distribution of disease tends to be overestimated, in this case by 10–71%. The greatest assessment error was, however, rel.
Effect of deletion of the major brain G‐protein α subunit (αo) on coordination of G‐protein subunits and on adenylyl cyclase activity

Heterotrimeric G‐proteins, composed of α and βγ subunits, transmit signals from cell‐surface receptors to cellular effectors and ion channels. Cellular responses to receptor agonists depend on not only the type and amount of G‐protein subunits expressed but also the ratio of α and βγ subunits. Thus far, little is known about how the amounts of α and βγ subunits are coordinated. Targeted disruption of the αo gene leads to loss of both isoforms of αo, the most abundant α subunit in the brain. We demonstrate that loss of αo protein in the brain is accompanied by a reduction of β protein to 32 ± 2% (n = 4) of wild type. Sucrose density gradient experiments show that all of the βγ remaining in the brains of αo−/− mice sediments as a heterotrimer (s20,w = 4.4 S, n = 2), with no detectable free α or βγ subunits. Thus, the level of the remaining βγ subunits matches that of the remaining α subunits. Protein levels of α subunits other than αo are unchanged, suggesting that they are controlled independently. Coordination of βγ to α occurs posttranscriptionally because the mRNA level of the predominant β1 subtype in the brains of αo−/− mice was unchanged. Adenylyl cyclase can be positively or negatively regulated by βγ. Because the level of other α subunits is unchanged and αo itself has little or no effect on adenylyl cyclase, we could examine how a large change in the level of βγ affects this enzyme. Surprisingly, we could not detect any difference in the adenylyl cyclase activity between brain membranes from wild‐type and αo−/− mice. We propose that αo and its associated βγ are sequestered in a distinct pool of membranes that does not contribute to the regulation of adenylyl cyclase. J. Neurosci. Res. 54:263–272, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Gβγ Activation of Src Induces Caveolae-mediated Endocytosis in Endothelial Cells*

Caveolae-mediated endocytosis in endothelial cells is stimulated by the binding of albumin to gp60, a specific albumin-binding protein localized in caveolae. The activation of gp60 induces its cell surface clustering and association with caveolin-1, the caveolar-scaffolding protein. This interaction leads to Gi-induced Src kinase activation, which in turn signals dynamin-2-mediated fission and directed migration of caveolae-derived vesicles from apical to basal membrane. In this study, we investigated the possible role of the Gβγ heterodimer in signaling Gi-induced Src activation and subsequent caveolae-mediated endocytosis. We observed using rat lung microvascular endothelial cells that expression of the C terminus of β-adrenergic receptor kinase (ct-βARK), an inhibitor Gβγ signaling, prevented gp60-dependent Src activation as well as caveolae-mediated endocytosis and transcellular transport of albumin and uptake of cholera toxin subunit B, a specific marker of caveolae internalization. Expression of ct-βARK also prevented Src-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of caveolin-1 and dynamin-2 and the resultant phosphorylation-dependent association of dynamin-2 and caveolin-1. Also, the direct activation of Gβγ using a specific cell-permeant activating peptide (myristoylated-SIRKALNILGYPDYD) simulated the effects of gp60 in inducing Src activation, caveolin-1, and dynamin-2 phosphorylation as well as caveolae-mediated endocytosis of cholera toxin subunit B. The myristoylated-SIRKALNILGYPDYD peptide-induced responses were inhibited by the expression of ct-βARK. Taken together, our results demonstrate that Gβγ activation of Src signals caveolae-mediated endocytosis and transendothelial albumin transport via transcytosis.
Breeding Biology of the Southern House Wren on Chiloé Island, Southern Chile

Abstract We studied the breeding biology of a Southern House Wren (Troglodytes aedon chilensis) population using nest boxes on Chiloé Island, southern Chile (41° S) to make latitudinal comparisons at the intraspecific level. There were no significant differences in body size between adult males and females, although wings were significantly longer in males. Clutch size averaged 4.3 eggs per nest, and brood size was 3.9 nestlings. Egg size averaged 17.3 mm in length and 13.2 mm in width. Incubation and nestling periods averaged 16 days each. The Southern House Wren on Chiloé Island has a larger clutch size than in the tropics, but a smaller clutch size than populations at the same latitude in the Northern Hemisphere. The Southern House Wren has larger eggs and a longer incubation period but a similar nestling period as House Wrens in the Northern Hemisphere.
Ecological differentiation in relation to bill size amongst sympatric, genetically undifferentiated crossbills Loxia spp.

Recent evidence of genetic homogeneity across morphologically diverse crossbill taxa Loxia spp. suggests that strong directional natural selection sustains morphological differences. If so, we would expect that, in sympatry, persistent crossbill morphs will be associated with the ecological circumstances that select for particular features. Here we report on a field study of niche differentiation in sympatric crossbills, showing correlation between bill size and habitat use, foraging and movements. In Deeside, north-east Scotland, crossbills occupied three ecological niches. Small-billed birds L. curvirostra were itinerant and migratory. They switched between conifer species in relation to the phenology of cone ripeness, feeding on spruce or larch from summer through winter and Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris in spring and early summer. Large-billed birds L. pytyopsittacus were more sedentary, feeding on pine seed year round in semi-natural pine forest. Birds with intermediate bills L. scotica were also sedentary but switched seasonally between conifer species. Deeside crossbills thus occupied three niches in line with the current designation of three species, but in the study years (1990-1997) there was no shortage of conifer seed and no evidence of strong selection for optimal bill size. Bill sizes did not fall precisely into three distinct modes so other factors were involved. These could have included the immigration of two sizes of L. curuirostra, and introgression (and possibly phenotypic plasticity) amongst the more sedentary larger-billed birds. The origin of L. scotica is discussed within the context of novel habitat, introgression, niche shift and competition for pine seed.
A contribution to taxonomy of Centaurea including Psephellus (Asteraceae) based on anatomical and molecular data

Seven Centaurea L. s.l (Asteraceae) taxa endemic to Turkey were examined in terms of anatomical and molecular aspects to contribute to their taxonomic positions. Numerical analysis of the 13 anatomical traits showed that average row number of collenchyma and the arrangements of the vascular bundles in the stem, leaf type, and abaxial surface of leaf epidermal tissue were important to determine the investigated taxa. It was also found that the 7 investigated taxa were grouped into 2 distinct clusters based on anatomical traits and combined nrDNAITS/cpDNA data.
Dorylaimoidea From Some Subantarctic Islands

Nine new species of Dorylaimoidea are described, collected by Mr. V. W. Spaull on ten subantarctic islands. Enchodelus signyensis is close to E. teres Thorne, 1939, but differs from it by shape of lip region, location of S2N, egg size, tail shape and shorter rectum. Eudorylaimus verrucosus is a large species, characterized chiefly by the verrucose egg shell; males have 13-14 supplements. E. isokaryon is also large; it has a very short tail and the two S1N are of equal size. Males have 13-17 supplements. E. spaulli, E. coniceps and E. pseudocarteri form a group of medium-sized species close to E. carteri (Bastian, 1865) and E. antarcticus (Steiner, 1916) in that the tail is conoidarcuate and the males possess a series of 6-13 spaced supplements beginning anterior to the spicules. All three have a shorter odontostyle than E. carteri and the lips less strongly offset than E. antarcticus. E. spaulli has a transverse vulva and a truncate lip region. E. coniceps has a transverse vulva, a narrow, high lip region, and longer spicules than the two other species. E. pseudocarteri has a longitudinal vulva and a truncate lip region. E. paradoxus is a large species, characterized by shape of lip region, odontostyle shorter than lip region width, finger-shaped tail and wrinkled advulvar cuticle; males have 22-27 supplements. This species resembles Rhyssocolpus, a genus whose validity is doubted. Mesodorylaimus signalus has a "flag" near the apex of the spicules; the vulva is longitudinal. M. imperator has spicules without flag, shorter than in M. signatus; the vulva is transverse and the odontostyle shorter; the advulvar cuticle is wrinkled. In both Mesodorylaimus species males are rare and non-functional. A list of sampling sites with species found is given.
Flower and Nectar Characteristics of Nine Species of Labiatae and their influence on Honeybee Visits

SummaryThe anatomy of the nectary, the relative amount of nectar secreted, the composition of the nectar and its sugar concentration, were studied in 9 species of the family, Labiatae (Coridothymus capitatus, Melissa officinalis, Phlomis viscosa, Rosmarinus officinalis, Salvia fruticosa, S. hierosolymitana, S. judaica, Satureja thymbra, Stachys aegyptiaca). The visitng rate of the honeybees to the various species was investigated. The nectar is secreted from the asymmetrically thick, disc-like nectary, through modified stomata. These occur on the thicker side of the nectary only. There is a correlation between the volume of the nectary and the amount of nectar secreted. The larger the nectary, the more nectar it secretes. No correlation was found between the type of vascular tissue (phloem, xylem) and the sugar concentration in the nectar, Rosmarinus officinalis and Coridothymus capitatus were the species most frequently visited by honeybees. The quantitative relationship between sucrose, glucose and fruc.
DRY MATTER AND NITROGEN ACCUMULATION AND REDISTRIBUTION AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO GRAIN YIELD AND GRAIN PROTEIN IN OATS

Dry matter and nitrogen (nitrate and reduced) accumulation and redistribution in four different spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes grown at field density were studied on a plant part and whole plant basis over the growing season for 2 yr. The four cultivars displayed significant differences in plant part and total plant dry matter, harvest index, nitrogen content, nitrogen concentration, nitrogen harvest index and nitrogen translocated values at most sample dates in both years. Grain yield was highly correlated with dry matter accumulation (r = 0.88**), while grain nitrogen content was highly correlated with plant nitrogen content (r = 0.95**). Nitrogen harvest index and plant nitrogen content were correlated at anthesis (r = 0.61**), while, as a consequence of this, the amount of nitrogen translocated was highly correlated with plant nitrogen content at anthesis (r = 0.87**). Nitrogen harvest index and harvest index were highly correlated (r = 0.83**), indicating that they may be related proce.
Form and function within a phylogenetic framework: locomotory habits of extant predators and some Miocene Sparassodonta (Metatheria)

In this study, we analysed locomotory habits in extant predators and Sparassodonta species through geometric morphometric techniques and discriminant analyses of the distal humerus in anterior view, proximal ulna in lateral view, and tibia in proximal view. We included a wide sample of extant predators, and considered the phylogenetic and allometric structure in the data sets. We also included some Sparassodonta, a group of carnivorous metatherians that inhabited South America during the Cenozoic, and inferred their locomotory habits. Results suggest the presence of a close relationship between shape and locomotory habits, even after removing the shape component explained by phylogeny in the three postcranial elements. Terrestrial habits were inferred for Arctodictis sinclairi, Borhyaena tuberata, ‘Lycopsis’ longirostrus, and Thylacosmilus atrox. Some degree of cursoriality was highlighted in B. tuberata and T. atrox, and climbing abilities in ‘L. ’ longirostrus, and to a lesser degree in B. tuberata. Scansorial habits were inferred for Cladosictis patagonica, Sipalocyon gracilis, Prothylacynus patagonicus, and Pseudonotictis pusillus, and in the case of C. patagonica, some digging ability was also tentatively inferred. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 165, 224–251.
Sesquiterpene glycosides and phenylpropanoid esters from Phonus arborescens (Carthamus arborescens)

The tert-butylmethyl ether extract of the aerial parts of Phonus arborescens (L.) G. Lopez (Carthamus arborescens L.) afforded three new sesquiterpene glycosides, 10-epi-γ-eudesmol β-D-fucopyranoside (1), 10-epi-γ-eudesmol 2'-O-acetyl-β-D-fucopyranoside (2), and 4,5-dioxo-10-epi-4,5-seco-y-eudesmol 2'-O-acetyl-β-D-fucopyranoside (3), together with two new phenylpropanoid esters, 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)propyl myristate (4) and 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)propyl palmitate (5) in addition to a series of known compounds. The structures of the new compounds were established by spectroscopic and chemical methods.
Apparent digestibility coefficients of four feed ingredients for Synechogobius hasta

Apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of dry matter, crude protein, lipid, energy, phosphorus and amino acids in white fish meal, soybean meal, rapeseed meal and peanut meal were determined for Synechogobius hasta (28.65 ± 0.43 g, mean ± SD), using a reference diet with chromic oxide indicator and test diets that contained 70% reference diet, by weight, and 30% of feed ingredients. The juvenile S. hasta were held in 300 L tanks at a density of 30 fish per tank respectively. Faeces were collected from three replicate groups of fish by siphoning. The ADCs of dry matter and energy were the highest in white fish meal and the lowest in rapeseed meal (P 0.05). The highest phosphorus ADC was observed in white fish meal and differences were not marked for other treatments (P>0.05). Lipid ADC were above 90% and showed no significant differences among the treatments (P>0.05). Amino acid availability values for the test ingredients followed similar trend to values of protein digestibility. All amino acids were more available from fish meal than from plant protein ingredients. Among three plant meals, the availability of amino acids was higher in peanut meal and lower in rapeseed meal.
Mechanisms of rainforest persistence and recruitment in frequently burnt wet tropical eucalypt forests

The role of fire in governing rainforest–eucalypt forest ecotone dynamics is of theoretical interest and has conservation management implications. Several eucalypt forests in the Wet Tropics of Australia have an endangered status due to extensive conversion to rainforest. Rainforest plants are known to survive occasional low intensity fires in the eucalypt forest ecotone. However, the ability of rainforest plants to survive frequent fires remains untested. The timing of rainforest expansion is also a subject of interest, and is generally considered to be delayed until fire has been absent for several years. We used 14 years of data collected across 13 plots in the Wet Tropics of north-eastern Australia to test predictions regarding rainforest seedling recruitment and post-fire regenerative capacity. The 13 plots received different numbers of fires, between zero and five, over the 14-year study. The recruitment of new rainforest plants in the ecotone was most abundant in the initial year after fire. If this post-fire pulse of recruitment is left undisturbed, it can facilitate the subsequent germination of additional rainforest species. The removal of grass cover, whether temporarily in the immediate post-fire environment or once a developing rainforest mid strata shades out grasses, appears crucial to abundant rainforest recruitment. A variety of tropical rainforest species can persist under a frequent fire regime through resprouting. The difference in the mode of resprouting, between ground-level coppicing rainforest plants and canopy resprouting eucalypt forest trees, is the critical mechanism that causes regular fire to maintain an open structure in eucalypt forests. The inability of rainforest species to maintain their height when fires fully scorch their crowns, temporarily resets the forest's open structure and delays the rainforest's ability to dominate through shading out grasses to transform the ecosystem into a closed forest.
Dissection of the LXXLL Nuclear Receptor-Coactivator Interaction Motif Using Combinatorial Peptide Libraries: Discovery of Peptide Antagonists of Estrogen Receptors α and β

ABSTRACT Recruitment of transcriptional coactivators following ligand activation is a critical step in nuclear receptor-mediated target gene expression. Upon binding an agonist, the receptor undergoes a conformational change which facilitates the formation of a specific coactivator binding pocket within the carboxyl terminus of the receptor. This permits the α-helical LXXLL motif within some coactivators to interact with the nuclear receptors. Until recently, the LXXLL motif was thought to function solely as a docking module; however, it now appears that sequences flanking the core motif may play a role in determining receptor selectivity. To address this issue, we used a combinatorial phage display approach to evaluate the role of flanking sequences in influencing these interactions. We sampled more than 108 variations of the core LXXLL motif with estradiol-activated estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) as a target and found three different classes of peptides. All of these peptides interacted with ERα in an agonist-dependent manner and disrupted ERα-mediated transcriptional activity when introduced into target cells. Using a series of ERα-mutants, we found that these three classes of peptides showed different interaction patterns from each other, suggesting that not all LXXLL motifs are the same and that receptor binding selectivity can be achieved by altering sequences flanking the LXXLL core motif. Most notable in this regard was the discovery of a peptide which, when overexpressed in cells, selectively disrupted ERβ- but not ERα-mediated reporter gene expression. This novel ERβ-specific antagonist may be useful in identifying and characterizing the ERβ-regulated process in estradiol-responsive cells. In conclusion, using a combinatorial approach to define cofactor-receptor interactions, we have clearly been able to demonstrate that not all LXXLL motifs are functionally equivalent, a finding which suggests that it may be possible to target receptor-LXXLL interactions to develop receptor-specific antagonists.