Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Supportive Breeding on the Genetically Effective Population Size

The genetically effective population size (Ne) is a key parameter in conservation biology, because the rate of inbreeding (AF), and thereby the rate of loss of genetic heterozygosity, is proportional to the inverse of the effective number (AF = 1/2Ne; e.g., Crow & Kimura 1970). The importance of maintaining large effective sizes of natural and captive populations is reflected by the considerable fraction of the literature on biological conservation that focuses on that issue (e.g., Flesness 1977; Ryman & St'ahl 1980; Ryman et al. 1981; Frankel & Soule 1981; Soule et al. 1986; Allendorf & Ryman 1987; Lande & Barrowclough 1987). This note addresses a problem in conservation genetics that, to our knowledge, has not been previously recognized: the reduction of the genetically effective population size that may result from breeding-release programs aimed at supporting natural populations. Typically, in such programs a fraction of the wild parents (or their offspring) are brought into captivity for reproduction or preferential survival, and the offspring are released into the natural habitat where they mix with wild conspecifics. We refer to this practice as supportive breeding, stressing the fact that no exogenous genes are introduced into the overall population. The logic of supportive breeding is generally to increase survival through breeding in a protected captive environment. However, this process also implies that the reproductive rate of one segment of the overall population is favored, which results in an increase in the total variance of family size, a parameter of critical importance to the genetically effective size of the population. The amount of change of effective population number that may result from manipulating the variance of family size can be derived from the distributions of family size among the wild and captive breeders (Crow & Kimura 1970), but in many situations either or both of those distributions are unknown. Rather, the manager may have some rough idea of the approximate effective sizes of the wild and captive populations and of their relative contributions to the combined offspring population. Such a situation is frequently encountered in, for example, the field of fishery management; hatchery records provide a basis for estimating the effective number of parents of the released fish, the effective size of the wild population may be at least crudely approximated from field counts of the number of spawners, and tagging data contribute information on the proportion of hatchery fish in the offspring generation. To facilitate the theoretical treatment of such a situation where the total population is subdivided into segments with different reproductive rates, we present a method for estimating the overall effective size from the effective sizes of the contributing segments. Paper submittedJuly 30, 1990; revised manuscript acceptedJanuary 17, 1990.
The rgg Gene of Streptococcus pyogenes NZ131 Positively Influences Extracellular SPE B Production

ABSTRACT Streptococcus pyogenes produces several extracellular proteins, including streptococcal erythrogenic toxin B (SPE B), also known as streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin B and streptococcal proteinase. Several reports suggest that SPE B contributes to the virulence associated with S. pyogenes; however, little is known about its regulation. Nucleotide sequence data revealed the presence, upstream of the speB gene, of a gene, designatedrgg, that was predicted to encode a polypeptide similar to previously described positive regulatory factors. The putative Rgg polypeptide of S. pyogenes NZ131 consisted of 280 amino acids and had a predicted molecular weight of 33,246. To assess the potential role of Rgg in the production of SPE B, the rgggene was insertionally inactivated in S. pyogenes NZ131, which resulted in markedly decreased SPE B production, as determined both by immunoblotting and caseinolytic activity on agar plates. However, the production of other extracellular products, including streptolysin O, streptokinase, and DNase, was not affected. Complementation of the rgg mutant with an intactrgg gene copy in S. pyogenes NZ131 could restore SPE B production and confirmed that the rgg gene product is involved in the production of SPE B.
Standardization of planting time and spacing in broccoli cv Green Head for lower hills of Northern India

The 45 days old healthy seedlings of broccoli cv Green Head were transplanted on four planting times at ten days interval viz P1: 5 Oct, P2: 15 Oct, P3: 25 Oct and P4: 5 Nov at three spacings viz S1: 60 x 30 cm, S2: 60 x 45 cm and S3: 60 x 60 cm during two consecutive Rabi seasons of 2005-06 and 2006-07 at the experimental farm of Regional Horticultural and Forestry Research Station, Bhota, District Hamirpur, HP in a Randomized Block Design with three replications in the plots of size 3.00 x 1.80 m. The recommended doses of manures and fertilizers and all agronomic practices were adopted for raising a healthy and normal crop. The data on gross yield (q/ha), yield per plant (g), primary head weight (g), secondary head weight (g), secondary heads per plant (number), plant height (cm) and days to head initiation, maturity and harvest duration were recorded. Significant differences were observed for all the traits studied except days to head initiation, maturity and harvest duration during both the years. The broccoli seedlings transplanted during the first fortnight of October at a spacing of 60 x 60 cm produced maximum gross yield. The delayed planting markedly reduced the yield whereas days to head initiation, maturity and harvest duration were least influenced by the planting time and spacing.
EVALUATING WELFARE OF AMERICAN BLACK BEARS (URSUS AMERICANUS) CAPTURED IN FOOT SNARES AND IN WINTER DENS

Abstract Much research on wild mammals requires trapping, especially livetrapping, yet few methods used to capture wild mammals have been tested against an accepted standard for animal welfare and few data exist regarding physiological responses to capture. My coworkers and I livetrapped 208 American black bears (Ursus americanus) 356 times between May 1981 and August 2001 in the Pisgah National Forest in the Southern Appalachian Mountains by using Aldrich-type foot snares modified for bear safety with automobile hood springs and swivels spliced into cables. We outfitted most bears with transmitter collars and followed 18 bears to their winter dens. We outfitted 8 bears with transponder collars mounted with remotely dischargable darts loaded with anesthesia. We recorded the physical injuries of all bears handled and obtained 186 standard blood chemistry profiles from 112 bears. I compared the blood chemistry profiles of snared bears to profiles of bears in dens, to profiles for healthy, captive bears, and to profiles for wild bears that were collar-darted. Aldrich-type foot snares modified for bear safety, as we used them, and den handling met the accepted standard for trap injuries. Blood chemistry profiles indicated that bears captured in snares experienced high levels of physical exertion and were dehydrated. Blood chemistry parameters responsive to exertion increased with increasing injury scores.
Antidiarrhoeal effects of the root extracts of Guiera senegalensis in male mice

The antimicrobial activities of aqueous and methanol extracts of Guiera senegalensis were studied against some enteropathogens by agar-well diffusion method. Both extracts inhibited the growth of Streptococcus Pneumonia, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter cloacae, Salmonella sppand Pseudomonas euroginosa. The methanol extract was more effective on S. Pneumonia, E. coli, S. aureus, E. cloacae, Salmonella spp, while the aqueous extract was more active on Salmonella spp and P. euroginosa. The methanol extract showed quicker curative action in experimentally induced diarrhoea in adult male mice when administered once or twice at a dose of 556 mg/kg daily. From this work, G. senegalensis root appears to be an effective measure for treating diarrhoea. Where food poisoning or metal poisoning are the causative agents. The phytochemical screening results of the aqueous extract, showed the presence of tannins, saponins, alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, coumarine and anthraquinones.However anthraquinones were not detected in the methanol extract and cardiac glycosides where not detected in the aqueous extract. Ethno medicinal use of this plant in the treatment of diarrhoea is justified by this work and is encouraged. Keywords: Diarrhoea, root extracts, stool formation, antimicrobial activity, packed cell volume (PCV).
Multi-Virulence-Locus Sequence Typing Identifies Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms Which Differentiate Epidemic Clones and Outbreak Strains of Listeria monocytogenes

Volume 45, no. 3, p. 835– 846, 2007. In this article, isolate BL0027 was identified as a nonoutbreak isolate, and the sequencing analysis also clustered this isolate into nonoutbreak clusters (Table 1 and Fig. 1). Recently obtained information revealed that BL0027 was an isolate associated with the pâté outbreak in the United Kingdom in 1989. A reexamination of the original sequences of BL0027 and a resequencing of inlB revealed that in the original article, an extra nucleotide was mistakenly inserted close to the end of the inlB loci, which caused a shift in the rest of the nucleotides. After correcting this error, we found that the sequence type of BL0027 is identical to that of the isolates from the pâté outbreak and therefore that BL0027 should be identified as part of epidemic clone IV. In addition, isolate BL3102 (Table 1) was isolated from one sporadic case in the United States in 1989 and thus is not part of an outbreak.
Prevalence of SCCmec types in methicillin resistant Staphylococcus intermedius in healthy pets from Southeastern United States

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus intermedius (MRSI) are both major causes of skin and wound infections in humans and domesticated animal populations respectively. In order to investigate the colonization rates in pets, nose, mouth, or skin swabs were taken from 74 healthy pets (61 dogs and 13 cats) in south Louisiana, USA. Staphylococci were isolated by routine culture, speciated based on biochemical tests and confirmed by polymerase chain reactions. Our results show a 93% (69/74) colonization rate of domesticated pets by coagulase positive Staphylococci, with 50% (37/74) of animals harboring S. aureus, 43% (32/74) being colonized with S.intermedius and 5.4% (4/74) of pets carrying MRSI. Two of the MRSI contained Staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec type III while one isolate contained a type V genetic element. The fourth MRSI isolate did not show any of the SCCmec types I - V tested. All of the 4 mecA positive strains were isolated from dogs. Antibiotic susceptibility patterns were determined for the MRSI. Our results indicate that pets harbor pathogens that have zoonotic capability and suggest that domesticated animals have the potential to serve as vectors for the transfer of methicillin resistance.
NEST SITE CHARACTERISTICS IN THE SONG SPARROW AND PARASITISM BY BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS

Abstract We studied populations of Song Sparrows (Melospiza melodia) on 11 islands near Victoria, British Columbia, to evaluate the relationship between nest site characteristics and parasitism by Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater). For all nests we recorded their height, the height of vegetation above the nest, the percentage of overhead and side exposure, the number of perches in trees and shrubs within 10 m of the nest, and the distance to the nearest tree or shrub perch. Song Sparrow nests within 10 m of trees were parasitized more often than those farther from trees. Estimates of overhead and side exposure also were lower for parasitized nests than unparasitized nests. Our results support the hypotheses that the proximity of trees, and the amount of concealing cover around host nests, influence the success of cowbirds searching for nests to parasitize.
Essential Role of Transcription Factor Nuclear Factor-κB in Regulation of Interleukin-8 Gene Expression by Nitrite Reductase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Respiratory Epithelial Cells

ABSTRACT Persistent infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosaincreases interleukin-8 (IL-8) levels and causes dense neutrophil infiltrations in the airways of patients with chronic airway diseases. Recently, we have reported that nitrite reductase from P. aeruginosa induces the production of IL-8 in respiratory cells, including bronchial epithelial cells. To determine the molecular mechanism(s) of nitrite reductase-induced IL-8 expression in respiratory cells, A549 epithelial cells were transfected with plasmids containing serial deletions of the 5′-flanking region of the IL-8 gene and then exposed to nitrite reductase. Nitrite reductase significantly enhanced IL-8 gene promoter-driven reporter activity. This increased IL-8 gene expression was inhibited by mutating the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) binding element. Nitrite reductase enhanced nuclear localization of the NF-κB binding complex. Furthermore, nitrite reductase induced the degradation of IκBα, the major cytoplasmic inhibitor of NF-κB, and the expression of IκBα mRNA. These data support the critical role of the activation of NF-κB in nitrite reductase-induced IL-8 gene expression in airway epithelium.
Cytosolic Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase-ε Is a Negative Regulator of Insulin Signaling in Skeletal Muscle

Whereas positive regulatory events triggered by insulin binding to insulin receptor (IR) have been well documented, the mechanism by which the activated IR is returned to the basal status is not completely understood. Recently studies focused on the involvement of protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) and how they might influence IR signaling. In this study, we examined the possibility that cytosolic PTPe (cytPTPe) is involved in IR signaling. Studies were performed on L6 skeletal muscle cells. cytPTPe was overexpressed by using pBABE retroviral expression vectors. In addition, we inhibited cytPTPe by RNA silencing. We found that insulin induced rapid association of cytPTPe with IR. Interestingly, this association appeared to occur in the plasma membrane and on stimulation with insulin the two proteins internalized together. Moreover, it appeared that almost all internalized IR was associated with cytPTPe. We found that knockdown of cytPTPe by RNA silencing increased insulin-induced tyrosine phosphorylatio.
Effects of Temperature and Composition on the Thermal Conductivity and Thermal Diffusivity of Some Food Components

식품의 주요 구성 성분의 현탁액에 대한 열전도도와 열확산도를 $-40^{\circ}C\;-150^{\circ}C$ 의 온도 범위와 10%-60%의 농도 범위애서 측정하였다. 세 종류의 서로 다른 농도에서 측정된 실험값으로부터 가정된 모델에 의해 순수 성분의 열전도도와 열확산도를 각각의 온도에서 구한 다음 컴퓨터 프로그램을 이용하여 모델의 상수들을 구하였다. 본 연구에서 발전시킨 모델을 사용하여 얻은 식품의 열전도도와 열확산도 수치를 기발표된 모든 액체식품의 데이타와 비교해 본 결과 3.8%의 오차가 있었다. 식품의 주요 구성 성분의 함량과 온도가 주어지면 본 연구에서 발전시킨 모델을 이용하여 열전도도와 열확산도 수치를 위의 오차 한계에서 구할 수 있다. 【The thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of food are heavity dependent on temperature and composition. The thermal properties of pure component solids were determined by the proposed model at a temperature range of $-40^{\circ}C\;to\;150^{\circ}C$ from the experimental values of 10%, 30% and 60% solid content suspensions. The major components of food products were proteins(albumin, casein, whey protein, meat protein and gluten), lipids (milk fat, vegetable oil, lard and corn oil), carbohydrates (dextrose, lactose, sugar and starch), fibers (cellulose and pectin), all milk salts. A modified probe method was used to measure these properties of pure component suspensions of each major component of food products. General mathematical models which were developed by an optimization technique can be applied to predict the properties of food products. 】
Advanced Biomaterials Accumulation of Citrate‐Coated Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles by Cultured Brain Astrocytes

Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe‐NP) are considered for various applications in the brain. However, little is known so far on the uptake and the metabolism of such nanoparticles in brain cells. Since astrocytes are strategically localized between capillaries and neurons, astrocytes are of particular interest concerning uptake and fate of nanoparticles in the brain. Using astrocyte‐rich primary cultures as model system we have investigated the accumulation of citrate‐coated Fe‐NP by astrocytes. Viable cultured astrocytes accumulate iron from citrate‐coated Fe‐NP in a time‐, concentration‐, and temperature‐dependent manner. The cellular iron content determined after 4 h of incubation increases proportional to the concentration of Fe‐NP, if the particles were applied in concentrations of up to 1000 × 10−6 M of total iron. The iron accumulation from 500 or 1000 × 10−6 M iron as Fe‐NP is significantly slowed by lowering the incubation temperature from 37 to 4 °C. Transmission electron microscopy of the cells revealed that most of the cellular Fe‐NP are present in intracellular vesicles. These data demonstrate that astrocytes accumulate efficiently citrate‐coated Fe‐NP, most likely by an endocytotic pathway.
Cemented soils: small strain stiffness

Most undisturbed natural soils have experienced some degree of post-depositional digenesis often leading to a cemented structure. Cemented soils display distinctly different characteristics from freshly remolded soils, including high small-strain stiffness, weakened stiffness-stress dependency, higher dilative tendency, stiffness loss after cementation breakage, proneness to strain localization, decreased liquefaction potential, and pronounced sampling effects particularly on small strain stiffness. Unsaturation often coexists with cemented soils, and in some cases the development of cementation is linked to diminishing saturation. At the microscale, the behavior exhibited by cemented soils can be analyzed in terms of simple yet robust micromechanical concepts to create a coherent physical-mechanical framework that explains deviations from the conventional understanding of soil behavior which centers on effective stress dependent stiffness. In view of cemented soils, proper site characterization must consider in situ measurements of shear wave velocity, and careful sampling techniques.
Environmental factors affecting the cracking of greenhouse-grown bell pepper fruit

SummaryThe cracking of bell pepper fruit is one of the main physiological disorders that reduce marketable yield. Understanding the environmental and endogenous factors that influence this disorder may help to reduce its severity. Plants grown in three greenhouses were subjected to differing potential transpiration (Tp) at night, with identical daytime Tp. Measurements included climatic variables in the greenhouses, soil water content, sap flow, transpiration, leaf temperature, surface and internal fruit temperatures, fruit and stem diameters, stomatal conductance, and leaf area. The results show that at night pepper plants transpired at a rate proportional to the vapour pressure difference (leaves to air; VDPla) in the respective greenhouses. The percentage of cracked fruits was highest in the greenhouse with the lowest night vapour pressure deficit (VPD) and lowest in the greenhouse with the highest VPD. Both increased direct radiation reaching the fruit surface and decreased soil water content reduced .
Morphological Effects of Lipopeptides against Aspergillus fumigatus Correlate with Activities against (1,3)-β-d-Glucan Synthase

The lipopeptide antifungal agents, echinocandins, papulacandins, and pneumocandins, kill Candida albicans by inhibiting glucan synthesis. For this fungus, there is a good correlation of in vitro enzyme inhibition with in vitro assays of MICs. Semisynthetic lipopeptides such as cilofungin, LY303366, L-693,989, and L-733,560 have activity in vivo against Aspergillus infections but appear to be inactive in broth dilution in vitro tests (MICs, > 128 ,ug/ml). To understand how compounds which lack activity in vitro can have good in vivo activity, we monitored the effect of pneumocandins on the morphology ofAspergillusf migatus and A. flavus strains by light microscopy and electron microscopy and related the changes in growth to inhibition of glucan synthesis. Pneumocandin Bo caused profound changes in hyphal growth; light micrographs showed abnormally swollen germ tubes, highly branched hyphal tips, and many cells with distended balloon shapes. Aspergillus electron micrographs confirmed that lipopeptides produce changes in cell walls; drug-treated germlings showed very stubby growth with thick walls and a conspicuous dark outer layer which was much thicker in the subapical regions. The rest of the hyphal tip ultrastructure was unaffected by the drug, indicating considerable specificity for the primary target. The drug-induced growth alteration produced very compact clumps in broth dilution wells, making it possible to score the morphological effect macroscopically. The morphological changes could be assayed quantitatively by using conventional broth microdilution susceptibility assay conditions. We defined the endpoint as the lowest concentration required to produce the morphological effect and called it the minimum effective concentration to distinguish it from the no-growth endpoints used in MIC determinations. The minimum effective concentration assay was related to inhibition of glucan synthase activity in vitro and may provide a starting point for development of susceptibility testing methods for lipopeptides.