Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
RED PALM OIL: A NATURAL GOOD SAMARITAN FOR SPERM APOPTOSIS?

Cumene hydroperoxide (cHP) and t-butyl hydroperoxide (tbHP) have been implicated in lipid peroxidation of sperm plasma membranes, DNA damage and apoptosis. This study aimed to investigate the in vivo effects of these hydroxides on rat sperm apoptosis, specifically caspase 3/7, and the possible protective effect offered by red palm oil (RPO). Rats (n=54) were divided into three groups receiving either standard rat chow (SRC; n=18), 2mL RPO (in 25g SRC/day; n=18) and 4mL RPO (in 25g SRC/day; n=18), respectively. Furthermore, each group was divided into three subgroups (n=6). These subgroups consisted of rats injected with saline (control), 10µM cHP or 20µM tbHP. Rats fed with SRC and injected with 10µM of cHP or 20µM of tbHP showed a significant increase (P<0.05) in caspase 3/7 activity compared to the control group (injected with 0.5mL saline). On the other hand, animals fed with SRC in addition to 2mL or 4mL of RPO and injected with 10µM of cHP or 20µM of tbHP showed a significant decrease (P<0.05) in the production of caspase 3/7 activity compared to those fed with SRC only. It can be concluded that RPO possibly reduces caspase 3/7 activity, thereby, inhibiting apoptosis caused in rat sperm by the in vivo induction of hydroperoxide.
Suitability of different mealybug species as hosts to solitary endoparasitoid, Aenasius arizonensis (Girault) ( = Aenasius bambawalei Hayat)

ABSTRACT We investigated the suitability of six mealybug species, namely Phenacoccus solenopsis, Saccharicoccus sacchari, Paracoccus marginatus, Drosicha mangiferae, Nipaecoccus viridis and Ferrisia virgata as hosts to Aenasius arizonensis ( = Aenasius bambawalei). The study was conducted to ascertain a viable parasitic relationship between a parasitoid species and different mealybug hosts. Successful parasitization, complete development of immature stages within the host and adult emergence was observed only in P. solenopsis, whereas, other mealybug species were not found suitable as hosts by the parasitoid in both choice and no-choice tests. The development studies of A. arizonensis on P. solenopsis showed that the mean duration from oviposition to mummy formation was 6.13 days, while, from mummy formation to adult emergence, it was 5.43 and 7.05 days for male and female, respectively. The total development period from oviposition to adult emergence was 11.28 days for males and 13.13 days for females. Female adults (19.96 days) live longer as compared to male adults (7.83 days). Among different mealybug species, P. solenopsis was observed to be the only ecological and fundamental host of A. arizonensis.
Morpho-physiological response of Acacia auriculiformis as influenced by seawater induced salinity stress

Aim of the study: To evaluate the morpho-physiological changes of Acacia auriculiformis in response to seawater induced salinity stress along with its tolerance limit. Area of study: Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Bangladesh. Material and methods : Three saline treatments (4, 8, 12 dS m -1 ) were applied to six-month aged Acacia auriculiformis seedlings from January 2014 to June 2014 and the tap water was used as control treatment. To observe salinity effects, the following parameters were measured by using various established techniques: plant height and leaf number, plant biomass, shoot and root distribution as well as shoot and root density, water uptake capacity (WUC), water saturation deficit (WSD) and water retention capacity (WRC), exudation rate, and cell membrane stability. Main results: Diluted seawater caused a notable reduction in shoot and root distribution in addition to shoot and root density, though plant height, leaf number and plant biomass were found to be decreased to some extent compared to control plants. Water status of the plant also altered when plants were subjected to salinity stress. Nevertheless, membrane stability revealed good findings towards salinity tolerance. Research highlights: Considering the above facts, despite salinity exerts some negative effects on overall plant performance, interestingly the percent reduction value doesn’t exceed 50% as compared to control plants, and the plants were successful to tolerate salinity stress till the end of the experiment (150 days) through adopting some tolerance mechanisms. Additional key words: Salt stress; halophytes; growth parameters; WUC; exudation rate; membrane stability. Abbreviations used: BSMRAU (Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University); RCBD (randomized complete block design); DATI (days after treatment imposition); RWC (relative water content); WUC (water uptake capacity); WSD (water saturation deficit); WRC (water retention capacity); FW (fresh weight); DW (dry weight); TW (turgid weight); ROS (reactive oxygen species).
Splenic Marginal Zone Lymphoma Shows a Distinct Pattern of DNA Copy Number Aberrations That Correlates with Tumor Characteristics and Predicts Disease Outcome.

Splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL) is an indolent B cell malignancy whose diagnosis is based on lymphocyte morphology, immunophenotype and marrow and/or splenic histology. Unlike other lymphomas, there is not a common chromosomal translocation specific for SMZL, and genetic prognostic factors are poorly defined. To investigate the pattern of genomic aberrations in SMZL, we applied comparative genomic hybridization to BAC microarrays (array CGH) to a well characterized series of 75 SMZL specimens. We applied two different 1 Mb-resolution BAC arrays: UCSF HumArray 3.2 and a novel array CGH platform developed at Univ. of Salamanca. These arrays allowed us to detect DNA copy number changes across the genome with high accuracy in 67 of 75 patient samples. Data were compared with our previous array CGH studies of 170 samples from different B-cell lymphoma subgroups. FISH studies for IGH, IGK and IGL translocations and 7q deletion were performed on tissue microarrays in 24 cases. Of the 67 samples, 19 (28%) showed a normal genomic profile. The median number of genomic aberrations per tumor was 2.2 (1.3 gains and 0.9 losses), which was lower than the rates detected in other lymphoma subgroups (diffuse large cell lymphoma, 6.4; mantle cell lymphoma, 6; follicular lymphoma, 4.5) and comparable to MALT lymphomas (2 abnormalities per tumor). SMZL cells showed a genomic pattern characterized by gain of chromosomes 3q24-q29 (18%), 6p (9%), 12q (9%), and 18q (4%) and loss of 7q32 (34%), 8p21-p23 (13%), 17p13 (10%) at P53 locus and 6q21-q27 (9%). Notably, no alterations of the P16/ARF (9p21) or MYC loci (8q24) were detected. Correlation of array CGH data with conventional cytogenetics, FISH and LOH studies revealed a high concordance. Detailed mapping of 7q deletions delineated a consensus region of loss of 3 Mb in 7q32. This 7q deletion was almost exclusive to SMZL, being observed in only 5 of 170 non-SMZL B-cell lymphomas (p=0.0000001). Four cases presented IG-translocation. Mutation of IGH was observed in 62% and correlated with a complex karyotype (61 vs. 13%; p=0,0008) whereas unmutated IGH correlated with the deletion of 7q (56 vs. 23%; p=0,01). Among the various genomic abnormalities, only the deletion of 8p or the presence of a complex karyotype correlated with inferior overall survival (OS) (median OS, 58 vs. 110 months, p=0,004; and 60 vs. 105 months, p=0,01; respectively). In summary, array CGH has defined a pattern of genomic aberrations in SMZL that differs from other B-cell lymphoma subgroups and that may predict overall survival. Because the deletion of 7q32 is the most distinctive genetic marker in SMZL, the identification of a putative tumor suppressor gene inactivated within the region of deletion seems mandatory.
Influência da faixa etária nos valores de enzimas hepáticas e de uréia e creatinina em bezerros Holandeses do nascimento até os 365 dias de vida

RESUMO: Para determinar o efeito da faixa etaria sobre a atividade de aspartato aminotransferase (AST), gama glutamiltransferase (GGT), fosfatase alcalina (FA) e as concentracoes de ureia e creatinina, 40 bezerros Holandeses submetidos a ingestao natural de colostro foram utilizados desde o nascimento ate 1 ano de vida. Houve uma grande variacao na atividade serica da GGT e na concentracao de FA em decorrencia da idade dos bezerros, principalmente nas primeiras horas de vida. A maior media para a atividade de GGT no soro de bezerros submetidos a mamada de colostro (890,90 ± 632,40 UI/L) foi observada 12 horas apos a primeira mamada. Constataram-se elevacoes nos valores sericos de AST a partir das 6 horas de idade, atingindo valores maximos medios as 24 horas de vida. Estes valores decresceram ate os 15 dias de idade, apresentando, a partir de entao, variacoes crescentes ate os 365 dias de idade. As concentracoes sericas de ureia e creatinina nao apresentaram variacao acentuada em relacao a ingestao colostral e ao fator etario. Termos para indexacao: bioquimica serica, gama glutamiltransferase, ureia, creatinina.
Herring submesoscale dynamics through a major spawning wave: duration, abundance fluctuation, distribution, and schooling

In this study, a series of 17 repeated acoustic trawl surveys within a ca. 1500 km area covering the major spawning location for Norwegian spring-spawning herring (Clupea harengus) was conducted over a period of about 1 month. Local herring abundance increased from ca. 25 000 to 237 000 t, a significant proportion of the total spawning stock, in just 3 d and subsequently decreased to<30 000 t over the next 7 d. The abundance change was due to a single major spawning wave developing over the observation period, and an estimated 46 000 t of eggs and milt were deposited during the short time spent at the spawning ground. There was no difference in spawning activity between day and night, but herring were more associated with deep trenches and also generally stayed deeper in more dense schools during daylight than night-time. Schooling behaviour and distribution were also strongly state-dependent, and both school swimming depth and school height decreased as spawning progressed, as did the bottom depth where the schools were located. The massive herring spawning events seem to be low-risk adaptations to an environment where predators are abundant, with rapid spawning in huge aggregations as a strategy for predator swamping.
STEROIDS AND TRITERPENOIDS FROM GREY MANGROVE AVICENNIA MARINA

Phytochemical investigation on the pneumatophores (aerial roots) of Avicennia marina (Forssk.) Vierh. , resulted in the isolation of two sterols, Stigmasterol-3-O-β-D galactopyranoside (1) and Stigmasterol (2) and three triterpenoids, Lupeol (3), Taraxerol (4) and Betulinic acid (5). Compound (1) is reported for the first time from this plant, whereas, the remaining four other compounds have already been reported but not from the mangroves of Pakistan. Compound (1) was also found to possess anti-glycation activity which is reported here also for the first time.
SOUND PRODUCTION IN THE SPINY LOBSTER PANULIRUS ARGUS (LATREILLE)

1. The intricate stridulatory mechanism of the West Indian spiny lobster Panulirus argus, and the sounds it produces are described. The sounds are related to various patterns of behavior.2. On the basis of behavioral evidence it is suggested that a slow rattle is characteristic of spiny lobsters when contained in groups, and that a rasp is a usual component of defensive behavior.3. The characteristics of the sounds of P. argus are compared to those of other marine sounds of biological origin. On the basis of this comparison, an attempt is made to generalize(a) the type of sound which accompanies defensive behavior of marine fishes and crustaceans, and (b) the type of sound stemming from marine fishes and crustaceans when undisturbed.4. It is concluded that the intricacy of the sound-producing mechanism of P. argus, and of other palinurids, justifies a conclusion of a significance of sound to the biology of spiny lobsters. While certain suggestions of a possible value of the rasp to survival of spiny lobst.
Effects of Dietary Semen Vaccariae and Soy Isoflavones on Lactation Performance and Antioxidation Capacity of Lactating Sows

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary soy isoflavones and semen vaccariae on lactation performance, antioxidation capacity and hormone level of lactating sows. A 2 ×2 factoral random design was adopted, and sixty-four Yorkshire sows were randomly allotted into four treatments with sixteen replicates per treatment. The main factors consisted of dietary addition of VAC(0 vs. 100 mg/kg) and ISF(0 vs. 20 mg/kg). The experiment was carried out from d 3 to 21 of lactating sows. The results showed that: dietary VAC or ISF significantly increased serum T-AOC and decreased serum MDA content at d 21 of lactation(P 0.05). Dietary ISF significantly increased serum T-SOD, CAT and prolactin content at d 21 of lactation(P 0.05). The addition of ISF and VAC significantly increased ADG of piglets at d 10 to 21 of lactation(P 0.05). The interaction between ISF and VAC significantly effected serum T-AOC at d 10 and 21 of lactation, GSH-Px at day 10 of lactation and MDA content at d 21 of lactation(P0.05). In conclusion, The addition of ISF or VAC enhanced antioxidation capacity, and ISF+VAC increased ADG of piglets at lactation、antioxidation capacity and prolactin content of lactation.
Influence of Sodium Substitution with Potassium on Microbial and Organoleptic Spoilage Patterns in Sliced Vacuum-Packed Pasteurized Pork Loin.

Sliced, cured, cooked and smoked pork loin was produced with sodium chloride or a mixture of sodium and potassium chloride, with each preparation of pork loin having the same water activity (0.967-0.968). The pork loins were sliced, vacuum packaged and stored at 2, 5 and 10°C. Microbial spoilage was determined using selective and nonselective media to enumerate total aerobic bacteria, lactics, Brochothrix thermosphacta , gram-negative bacteria and yeasts. Spoilage was also determined using sensory evaluation. Generally, the influence of sodium substitution on microorganisms was minimal. Organoleptic scores were similar for the two preparations of pork loin, hence no adverse effect of sodium substitution was observed.
RIDING ON THE CREST OF THE WAVE - POSSIBILITIES AND LIMITATIONS FOR A THRIVING POPULATION OF MIGRATORY CORMORANTS PHALACROCORAX-CARBO IN MAN-DOMINATED WETLANDS

This paper summarises the general findings of the scientific contributions to this special issue of Ardea on Cormorant biology in Europe. After a brief historical introduction setting the main traditional questions that arise whenever man and a species of a free-living animal compete for the same resources in the same habitat, an overview is given of how Cormorant populations have recovered after protective measures were taken over most of Europe. This recovery, particularly spectacular in the continental population, has brought the species once again into direct conflict with human interests. Research has been aimed at unravelling the principal natural factors limiting population growth. Surface area, productivity and accessability of fishing grounds for breeding birds seem to set the extent to which the population may increase but the end of the population growth seems not yet to be at hand. Because of their migratory behaviour birds spread all over western Europe outside the breeding season, showing often site tenacity to stop-over sites as well as predictable migration patterns. Factors influencing the non-breeding distribution include age, sex and probably individual experience of the birds concerned. Local conflicts between human interests and breeding as well as non-breeding Cormorants seem impossible to cope with satisfactorily on a local level, without consideration of the population as a whole. Not every possible impact of Cormorants on fish stocks is bound to be treated as negative: recent studies tentatively indicate that the birds may serve as an 'aid' to fisheries management, keeping eutrophic waters free from dense Bream stocks. Finally, the position of top-predator that Cormorants occupy in aquatic ecosystems, makes them vulnerable to the accumulation of micropollutants. These may hamper breeding success in various ways and, in larger concentrations, may even cause death. Monitoring breeding success as well as pollutant contents in adult and juvenile Cormorants as well as in their eggs may serve as a means to check on trends in environmental quality of aquatic ecosystems.
The Little Penguin Eudyptula Minor in Victoria, II: Breeding

Little Penguins were studied in the main breeding colony at Phillip Island, Victoria, on weekly and, later, monthly visits during eleven years. The birds were present all the year but numbers built up towards the onset of the breeding season, showing a three-week cycle of attendance. Breeding numbers varied slightly from year to year with a more marked drop in 1978 and perhaps 1973. The timing of breeding also differed from year to year, varying within a year and from year to year much more than in other seabirds of temperate latitudes. Study of breeding success showed that on average August to November each produced about the same number of young, though in any one year these could be differences between these months. There were individual differences in breeding efficiency associated with the length of time a bird was recorded in the area. These reflected differences in in- dividual 'quality' rather than in age or experience. Pair bonding and divorce are described. Birds that had bred before and changed mates nested earlier in the next season than they did in the previous season with the old mate. Failure to breed by adults was exceptional but may occur in some years. Few birds banded as chicks have been found breeding but those that have have apparently been at least three or four years old. There were some marked differences between the breeding of the species at Phillip Island and in Tasmania. Various features of the breeding of the Little Penguin are considered from the point of view of strategies to enhance reproductive success: choice of burrow, size of clutch, age of first breeding, pattern of pair bonding, timing of the breeding season. Regarding the last, the population on Phillip Island is intermediate between 'typical' penguins of polar and sub-polar regions and those of some of the tropical genus Spheniscus, which show opportunistic breeding throughout the year.
Impact of light and alarm pheromone on immediate early gene expression in the European honeybee, Apis mellifera

Immediate early genes (IEGs) are a group of rapidly and transiently expressed genes that are induced by cellular stimulation, such as neuronal activation, and do not rely on de novo protein synthesis. Based on these characteristics, IEGs are used as markers for localizing neuronal activation in vertebrate brains. However, whether their orthologs in insects are functioning in a similar way is still an open question. We report findings on the expression profiles of two IEGs in honeybee workers, encoding the honeybee orthologs of the vertebrate transcription factors Egr and c‐Jun, after exposure to light and alarm pheromone. While Amjra, the c‐jun ortholog, becomes upregulated in various brain parts following stimulation with either stimulus, the expression of the X1 isoform of Amegr, the egr ortholog, is not affected. These findings suggest different roles and molecular pathways for both IEGs within the neuronal network of the honeybee and provide first data on an isoform‐specific analysis of Amegr expression.
HETEROSIS STUDIES USING DIALLEL ANALYSIS FOR YIELD AND COMPONENT CHARACTERS IN MUNGBEAN (VIGNA RADIATA L. WILCZEK)

Twenty one hybrids of mungbean along with their seven parental lines in diallel fashion excluding reciprocal were studied to assess the extent of standard heterosis over standard check i.e. Samrat for yield and seven component characters. Out of 21 F 1 hybrids, two crosses SML382 x WGG37 and PUSA9871 x WGG37 exhibited highly significant positive standard heterosis for number of clusters per plant, number of pods per cluster, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, 100-seed weight and seed yield per plant. The hybrid SML382 X WGG37 was excelled for number of primary branches per plant. The crosses SML382 x WGG37 and PUSA9871 x WGG37 exhibited high standard heterosis for seed yield per plant which could be an excellent source for developing high yielding mungbean genotypes.
Role of DNA methylation in transcriptional regulation

In mammals, the correct spatio-temporal patterns of gene expression are coordinated by transcription factor networks in combination with epigenetic signalling pathways. CpG methylation is an epigenetic modification of DNA involved in the heritable transmission of gene silencing patterns. Increasing evidence suggest a primary role for CpG methylation in the direct regulation of gene expression, at least for a subset of promoters. An example of this direct regulation is represented by the ectopic expression of genes involved in genome defence pathways upon global loss of methylation. However, the mechanistic relationship between CpG methylation and transcriptional regulation is not well understood. To explore this, we have applied Cap Analysis of Gene Expression (CAGE), to cells deficient in CpG methylation (Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts with hypomorphic mutation of Dnmt1 ) and matched controls. This provides a quantitative, single nucleotide resolution, genome wide map of methylation responsive transcription initiation. Integrating this with RNA-seq, genome wide measures of CpG methylation and ChIP-seq for histone modifications in the same system, provides a detailed view of how reduced CpG methylation alters the chromatin and transcriptional landscape of the genome. Our results show dramatic shifts in the cellular RNA pool, with the pronounced upregulation or de-repression of promoters in a specific sub-family of transposable elements. Tens of other genic and non-coding RNA promoters similarly show dramatic inductions. Contrary to a prior hypothesis, we found no evidence for increased rates of transcriptional initiation from anonymous genomic sites not previously implicated in promoter activity. Transcription initiation at CpG island promoters is generally unaffected by hypomethylation, however a set of TSSs located in CpG island shores and a class to transposable element overlapping TSSs do appear to be sensitive to methylation and are significantly up-regulated upon hypomethylation.