Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Melatonin for Prevention of Radiation Myelopathy in Irradiated Cervical Spinal Cord

Received: 13/Jul/2008, Accepted: 14/Oct/2008 Objective: Radiation myelopathy (RM) is known as a serious complication of head and neck radiation therapy. Furthermore, the radioprotective roles of melatonin have been investigated on different tissues. The aim of this study was to assess the radio protective effects of melatonin on biochemical, histopathological and clinical manifestations of RM in the rat cervical spinal cord. Materials and Methods: Four groups of rats were investigated as follows: The control group was treated with vehicle. The second group (melatonin only) was intraperitoneally injected with 100 mg/kg melatonin. The third group's (radiation) cervical spinal cord area was irradiated with 22 Gy cobalt-60 gamma-rays. The fourth group (melatonin plus irradiation) received 100 mg/kg melatonin intraperitoneally, and after 30 minutes their spinal cord area was irradiated with 22 Gy gamma radiation. Five animals from each group were randomly selected. 72 hours, 8 and 22 weeks after irradiation for analysis of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels, and underwent histopathological studies. Results: The MDA levels in the irradiation group were significantly higher than in the control group (p<0.001). Furthermore, the GSH levels in this group were significantly lower than that of those in the control group (p<0.001). Administration of melatonin markedly reduced MDA (p<0.001) and increased GSH (p<0.05) levels in this group. Demyelination and clinical signs of myelopathy were decreased in the melatonin plus irradiation group in comparison to the irradiated group. Conclusion: Our study confirms the radioprotective effects of melatonin at early stages of biochemical, as well as late histological and clinical changes in the spinal cord.
Genetic improvement of sugar maple for high sap sugar content. I. Clone selection and seed orchard development.

A grafted seed orchard of Acersaccharum Marsh, was established in Ohio in 1957 as part of a program of genetic improvement of sugar yield. During the 3rd decade, the orchard trees averaged 4.2% sap sugar. Although environmental sources of variance in sugar concentration were large, clonal differences were evident and generally consistent over the years; the clone × year interaction was negligible. Sap sugar concentration varied from year to year, but after an increase coinciding with early crown development in the 1st decade, there was no upward or downward trend with age. Inclusion of one seedling family in the orchard made it possible to obtain an approximation of within-family variance by comparison with within-clone variance. It was estimated to be about one-third of total family variance. The clone–family comparison also suggested that about 11% of total clonal variance was a rootstock effect. Sap tests over 3 years in a plantation of seed-orchard offspring showed that an initial thinning to an avera.
Behavior and Food Habits at a Bald Eagle Nest in Inland South Carolina

Abstract Parental behavior and prey deliveries at a Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) nest were monitored (628 observation hours) during three breeding attempts from 1997–1999 at a nest in inland south-central South Carolina. Attendance patterns varied between adults and among breeding attempts, with reduced attendance and incubation observed during a failed attempt. During the three nesting attempts, the female was most often in attendance and incubated more than the male. The eagle pair averaged approximately 4 foraging trips per day during the successful 1997 season, but only 3 trips per day during the 1999 season. Fish and waterfowl comprised 56% and 34% of diet in 1997, respectively, with largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) the major fish prey and American Coots (Fulica americana) the major avian prey. Fish (primarily bass and sunfish) comprised 91% of the diet in 1999. Later nesting and reduced waterfowl populations may have contributed to increased fish prey in 1999.
Quality standard labeling information on meat packs demanded by consumers and relationships with purchasing motives

Worldwide, food-safety crises debates have come forward as an important aspect and apart from all debated food items, meat is accounted at top. Hence, a study was conducted to identify public awareness and adoption toward food certification standards and the factors that associate to Halal, SLS, ISO and HACCP purchase intention of meat. Purposive sampling approach was adopted and data were collected from 100 consumers who purchase meat products for their consumption through pre-tested structured questionnaire by personnel interview. The model explained R²= 0.69 and R²= 0.61 of the variability in awareness and adoption, respectively about the factors motivate consumers toward food certificate logo on meat packs. Around 80%, 46% and 30% of respondents have recorded as high awareness group with regard to SLS, ISO and HACCP standards respectively. Despite that utility of same information always or sometime on purchasing decision reported as low level. A significant relationship was observed for knowledge and utilizes logo of SLS, ISO, Halal and HACCP with socio demographic profiles including religion, gender, net income, education, occupation, interpersonal and mass media. Key words: Certificate standards; Meat packs; Awareness; Adoption DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.4038/jas.v6i2. 3863 The Journal of Agricultural Sciences , 2011, vol . 6, no 2, pp85-90
Changes of Membrane Lipids in Apple Buds During Dormancy and Budbreak

The changes of membrane lipids in apple (Malus domestics Borkh. CV. Delicious) auxillary and terminal buds from August to April were determined. The predominant lipids were monogalactosyl diglyceride (MGDG), digalactosyl diglyceride (DGDG), phosphatidylcholine (PC), and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). An increase in mem- brane polar lipids was associated with budbreak and bud growth from August to April. Linolenic acid was the predominant fatty acid in MGDG, DGDG, and PC, while linoleic acid was predominant in PE. Phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and phosphatidylinositol (PI) contained a high amount of palmitic acid. The ratio of (18:2 + 18:3) to 18:1 fatty acids in galactolipids in apple buds increased from August to April. s-Sitosterol and sitosteryl ester were the pre- dominant sterols in apple buds. An increase in sitosterol, a decrease in sitosteryl ester, and a decline in the ratio of free sterols to phospholipids occurred during budbreak in spring. A decrease in sitosterol was associated with bud expansion in spring. Temperate fruit trees require a period of low temperature in winter to break bud dormancy. Temperature during growth in- fluences membrane fatty acid composition and unsaturation (Lyons, 1973). The physical state of the membrane lipids plays an important role in determining the physiological function of plant tissue (Brenner, 1984; Raison and Chapman, 1976; Wang, 1982). Lipid molecules are essential building blocks for every membrane of the living cell, and membranes are sites for many specific enzymatic activities, transport ions and metabolizes, and hormonal receptors (Brenner, 1984). Certain plant hormones and growth regulators can substitute for chilling to induce bud- break (Wang and Faust, 1988). The plant bioregulants thidiazu- ron and nitroguanidines released lateral buds from dormancy and induced an increase in galacto- and phospholipids and the ratio of unsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids (Wang and Faust, 1988, 1989a, 1989b). A decrease in the percentage of the sitosterol and sitosteryl ester was accompanied by an increase in campesterol and stigmasterol at the beginning of rapid growth. A decrease in the ratio of free sterol to phospho- lipids and an increase in the ratio of campesterol + stigmasterol to sitosterol upon breaking dormancy was also found in apple buds induced by thidiazuron and nitroguanidines (Wang and Faust, 1988, 1989a, 1989b). However, no information is avail- able about the changes of membrane lipids under natural grow- ing conditions during budbreak and bud growth of deciduous fruit trees. The objectives of this research are to quantify the changes of the membrane lipids during natural growing condi- tions and to determine whether they are similar to those induced by growth regulators as reported by Wang and Faust (1988, 1989a, 1989b). This information would be helpful in under- standing the role of membrane lipids in breaking dormancy and in improving the regulation of the time of budbreak.
Ecological and evolutionary consequences of variation in aristolochic acids, a chemical resource, for sequestering specialist Troidini butterflies

13 INTRODUCTION 15 MATERIALS AND METHODS 18 RESULTS 23 DISCUSSION 25 REFERENCES 29 APPENDIX II: FIGURES 34 CHAPTER III. LARGER CLUTCHES OF CHEMICALLY DEFENDED BUTTERFLIES REDUCE EGG MORTALITY: EVIDENCE FROM BATTUS PHILENOR 38 ABSTRACT 40 40 INTRODUCTION 41 MATERIAL AND METHODS 42 RESULTS 46 DISCUSSION 47 REFERENCES 50 APPENDIX III: FIGURES 53
Synthesis of a new conceptual model to facilitate management of ephemeral deflation basin lakes

Ephemeral deflation basin lakes are widespread throughout arid and semiarid regions of the Murray-Darling Basin in Australia. Although they are diverse, productive habitats, the water resources development has generally caused significant declines in their ecological condition. Managers are currently trying to protect or restore these systems, however, without an adequate theoretical framework on which to base management decisions. This is because the existing conceptual models provide little insight into the effects of any component of the flow regime except flooding. This paper reviews the effects of flooding and drying on lakes, using the information and conclusions therein to propose a conceptual model that identifies five stages in the flooding and drying cycle. This conceptual model incorporates elements of the Flood Pulse Concept, Trophic Cascade models and the Geomorphic-Trophic model, as they apply to these highly variable water systems.
Degradation of fungal cell walls of phytopathogenic fungi by lytic enzyme of Streptomyces griseus.

In vitro tests of interactions between Streptomyces griseus strains and some soil-borne plant pathogens (Fusarium oxysporum, Alternaria alternate, Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium solani) and 2 isolates of Aspergillus flavus were studied on PDA medium. Strains tested produced a metabolite that inhibited growth of plant pathogenic fungi on PDA medium (dual culture test). When grown in liquid medium having fungal cell walls as sole carbon source, S. griseus produced chitinase enzyme in the medium. Higher levels of this enzyme were induced by cell wall of Aspergillus flavus and the crude chitinase enzyme extracted showed zone of inhibition on all pathogens inoculated PDA plates at all tested concentrations. When lytic enzyme produced by S. griseus was incubated with hyphal wall of the test fungi treated with 2 M NaOH and chloropharm: Methanol, the release of glucose and N acetyl glucosamine significantly increased relative to the untreated one. This result suggests that proteins in the cell walls of pathogens may make these walls more resistant to degradation by the extracellular lytic enzymes. Ionic strength of NaOH on lytic activity was tested, where as the enzymes lysed fungal cell wall best at ionic concentration of 2 M treatment. Pretreatment with alkali or proteolytic enzyme increases their susceptibility for lysis. In vitro lytic activity provides an appropriate condition and the effect of biocontrol organism in field level treatment.
A genomic-scale search for regulatory binding sites in the integration host factor regulon of Escherichia coli K12.

: We examined general aspects of the DNA-protein interaction between the integration host factor (IHF) global regulator and its regulatory binding sites in the Escherichia coli K12 genome. Two models were developed with distinct weight matrices for the regulatory binding sites recognized by IHF. Using these matrices we performed a genome scale scan and built a set of computationally predicted binding sites for each of the models. The sites found by the model associated with repetitive sequences had a higher score in the sequence to matrix alignment. They were also more rare than the other sites. The sites not associated with repeats rapidly tended to become undistinguishable from the background as statistical stringency was relaxed. We compared our results to the known sites documented in RegulonDB and found new members of the IHF Regulon. The two models exhibit clearly distinct affinity patterns (scores in the sequence to matrix alignments and in the number of regulatory sites), as we vary the stringency of the statistical confidence parameters. We suggest that these differences may play an important role in the dynamics of the network. We concluded that IHF may regulate two genes encoding ATP-dependent RNA helicases. This interaction is not described in RegulonDB, even as a computational prediction. IHF may also regulate RNA modification processes.
A note on conception rates and litter sizes following the intrauterine insemination of ewes at an induced oestrus during seasonal anoestrus

Priming with a progestagen-impregnated vaginal pessary followed by an injection of 750 i.u. pregnant mare serum gonadotropin at pessary withdrawal was used to induce oestrus and ovulation during anoestrus (13 June, latitude 57°N) in 58 Border Leicester × Scottish Blackface ewes that had lambed previously in late March/early April. At 54 to 58 h after pessary withdrawal the uterus of each ewe was viewed by laparoscopy and 50 × 10 6 viable sperm deposited into each uterine horn. Mean ovulation rate was 2·9 (s.d. 0·12; range 1 to 5). Plasma progesterone concentrations remained >1·5 μg/l in 54 (93%) of the ewes until at least day 21 after insemination implying a high fertilization rate. After allowing for three ewes that were observed to abort between 39 and 55 days after insemination and another three, carrying nine normally developed lambs, that died between 102 and 136 days of gestation, 40 of the remaining 48 ewes (i.e. 69% of the original 58) produced 76 viable lambs in early November. These conception and lambing rates obtained following the intrauterine insemination of 100× 10 6 viable sperm per ewe are more than double those obtained following natural mating or conventional cervical insemination with four times the number of viable sperm and imply that intrauterine insemination may enhance lamb production from ewes induced to breed during seasonal anoestrus.
Multiplex PCR for Differentiation of Mycoplasma mycoides Cluster from other Mycoplasma

Abstract Das, S. and Singh, V.P. 2003. Multiplex PCR for differentiation of Mycoplasma mycoides cluster from other mycoplasma. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 24: 95–100. A multiplex PCR was standardized for detection of various members of Mycoplasma mycoides cluster and their differentiation from other mycoplasma as well as some other bacteria. Using mycoplasma group specific primers GPO-1/MGSO and Mycoplasma mycoides cluster specific primers MC 323/MC 358 simultaneously, two amplified products of 1.5 kbp and 715 bp were found only in members of M. mycoides cluster whereas, a single band of 715 bp was detected in all other non cluster mycoplasma and acholeplasma while no amplified product was detected in any other bacterial strain tested.
Partial replacement of fishmeal by brewer's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) in the diets of Thai Panga (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus × Pangasius bocourti)

Feeding trials were carried out to evaluate the efficacy of the replacement of fishmeal with brewer's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) in the diets of Thai Panga (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus × Pangasius bocourti). Thai Panga juveniles with an average initial weight of 36.4 ± 0.07 g were randomly stocked in cages (1 × 1 × 1.5 m3) at a rate of 40 fish per cage. Experimental diets were formulated to provide isonitrogenous (320 g kg−1 CP) and isocaloric (15.30 kJ g−1) diets, by increasing brewer's yeast levels to replace 30%, 45%, 60% or 75% of dietary fishmeal. The control groups were comprised of the commercial feed (CA) and the basal diet without brewer's yeast (CB). Fish were rearing for 9 months. The final weights, weight gains, specific growth rate and daily growth rate showed that brewer's yeast can be used effectively as a substitute for up to 45% of the fishmeal. The replacement of fishmeal by brewer's yeast did not affect the feed efficiency, blood haematology and meat quality (P > 0.05). Alternative complement activity (ACH50), lysozyme activity and total immunoglobulin (Ig) in the fish in groups that had replacement feed diets were significantly higher than those of control group. Replacing 45% of fishmeal with brewer's yeast can improve the growth performance and immune response of the Thai Panga.
Abundance and Community Composition of Waterbirds Using the Channelized Kissimmee River Floodplain, FL

Abstract We conducted aerial surveys during 1996–1998 to estimate abundance and species composition of waterbirds using the channelized Kissimmee River to help understand how river channelization has altered bird use. For waterfowl, mean monthly species richness was 1.5 ± 0.3 (mean ± SE, n = 11 surveys); mean monthly abundance was 86 ± 43, 191 ± 70, and 13 ± 16 birds in 1996–97, 1997–98, and 1998–99, respectively. Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors Linnaeus) were the most abundant duck (74%) followed by Mottled Ducks (Anas fulvigula Ridgway, 21%). Mean wading bird species richness was 8.48 ± 0.35 (n = 20 surveys). Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis Linnaeus) were the most abundant wading bird species during the wet season (64 ± 22% of individuals); White Ibis (Eudocimus albus Linnaeus) were most common during the dry season (39 ± 23%). Mean total wading bird abundance was greater during the wet than dry season (F1,15 = 6.29; P = 0.02), with the increase driven by increases in Cattle Egret (F1,15 = 5.46, P = 0.03) and large-prey visual foragers (F1,15 = 5.47, P = 0.03). Compared to the 1950s, waterfowl species richness has declined 70% and abundance has declined 95%. For wading birds, mixed species breeding colonies no longer occur in the floodplain, and the community composition is dominated by the largely terrestrial foraging Cattle Egret during the wet season.
Long‐term variation in the littoral food web of an acidified mountain lake

Evidence of chemical recovery from acidification in European freshwaters has emerged in recent years, with many previously damaged systems responding to decades of reduced acidifying emissions. Biological recovery, however, has often lagged behind, and this has been ascribed to several possible mechanisms, including inertia in the food web. We examined two decades of change in hindcasted food webs for Lochnagar, a Scottish mountain lake, to make inferences about the potential dynamical stability of the system and to assess the prospects for future biological recovery. Although community composition tracked temporal changes in acidity, this was neither sustained nor directional, and mainly manifested as shifts in relative abundances rather than the establishment of more acid‐sensitive species. The food web was highly interconnected and reticulate, especially in years when species richness was low, and subsidized by external inputs of detritus. Among the primary consumers, generalist herbivore–detritivores maintained feeding links with the scant algal resources, which appeared insufficient to support viable populations of specialist grazers. Together, these characteristics, which are shared with many other acidified freshwaters, are likely to make the community dynamically stable and resistant to invasions of potential new colonists, thereby slowing the pace of future biological recovery.
AN INVESTIGATION OF THE SOURCES OF VARIABILITY IN AMERICAN LOBSTER (HOMARUS AMERICANUS) EGGS AND LARVAE: FEMALE SIZE AND REPRODUCTIVE STATUS, AND INTERANNUAL AND INTERPOPULATION COMPARISONS

Abstract From 1997 to 2001, the effects of female size (cephalothorax length [CL]) and reproductive status on egg size (diameter, dry weight) and larva CL at hatching were investigated in two Homarus americanus populations in the Gulf of St. Lawrence (Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Anticosti) and one at Grand Manan (Bay of Fundy), Canada. The estimated size at 50% maturity was used to identify small (likely primiparous) females for each population. Multifactor, mixed-hierarchical ANOVA models were used to investigate the variability of eggs and stage I CL among years and populations. In all comparisons, the main source of variability in the egg and stage I larva size was females (within and among). Nevertheless, for the Îles-de-la-Madeleine population in each year except 2001, the mean stage I larva sizes from small (CL < 79 mm), probably primiparous females were significantly smaller (P < 0.0085) than the mean larva sizes from larger females. However, female CL per se explained very little of the variance in mean larval size at hatching (r2 = 0.23, P < 0.05 and r2 = 0.12, P = 0.22 in 2000 and 2001, respectively, when the entire size range of reproductive females was considered). Hatching larvae tend to be smaller in primiparous females or females maturing at a small size; however, over the entire size range of reproductive females, larval size at hatching is almost independent of female size (CL). It is as if, above a minimum viable size, there is a constant small range of egg/larval sizes produced in H. americanus. Conservation measures dealing with the imposition of a minimum legal size may be a means of increasing the number of females that will spawn at least once or twice within a population. However, the impacts of first-time spawning on quality of eggs and larvae need to be fully investigated to assess the response of the population's egg production and recruitment potential of this measure.