Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chemical Composition of Some Browse Species of Bundelkhand

Eight browse species of Bundelkhand region of India were assessed for their proximate constituents and tannin content. Crude protein content varied from 8.9–25.2 per cent in these shrubs in different seasons. There was less variation in cell wall constituents (NDF, ADF, cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin) round the year. However, the total phenolics and condensed tannin content showed significant changes with seasons as they were maximum in spring and minimum mostly in summer. None of the browse species was found to contain tannin beyond the harmful level (~5%) except in Grewia flavescens (6.74%) in spring and in all the season in Acacia catechu (6.65–13.6%). These shrub species may be used as source of forage during lean period.
Reelin Functions, Mechanisms of Action and Signaling Pathways During Brain Development and Maturation

During embryonic development and adulthood, Reelin exerts several important functions in the brain including the regulation of neuronal migration, dendritic growth and branching, dendritic spine formation, synaptogenesis and synaptic plasticity. As a consequence, the Reelin signaling pathway has been associated with several human brain disorders such as lissencephaly, autism, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, mental retardation, Alzheimer’s disease and epilepsy. Several elements of the signaling pathway are known. Core components, such as the Reelin receptors very low-density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR) and Apolipoprotein E receptor 2 (ApoER2), Src family kinases Src and Fyn, and the intracellular adaptor Disabled-1 (Dab1), are common to most but not all Reelin functions. Other downstream effectors are, on the other hand, more specific to defined tasks. Reelin is a large extracellular protein, and some aspects of the signal are regulated by its processing into smaller fragments. Rather than being inhibitory, the processing at two major sites seems to be fulfilling important physiological functions. In this review, I describe the various cellular events regulated by Reelin and attempt to explain the current knowledge on the mechanisms of action. After discussing the shared and distinct elements of the Reelin signaling pathway involved in neuronal migration, dendritic growth, spine development and synaptic plasticity, I briefly outline the data revealing the importance of Reelin in human brain disorders.
Photosynthetic Rate, Stomatal Conductance and Leaf Area in Two Cotton Species (Gossypium barbadense and Gossypium hirsutum) and their Relation with Heat Resistance and Yield

Gossypium barbadense L. (Pima) and Gossypium hirsutum L. (upland) cottons are the two major fibre producing species grown in the south-western United States, where lint yields are adversely affected by high temperatures. In these environments, heat-adapted upland cultivars show higher yields and heat resistance than advanced Pima cultivars. Recent studies with an historical series of commercial Pima cultivars have shown that increases in lint yield and heat resistance are tightly coupled to increases in stomatal conductance and photosynthetic rate, and to decreases in leaf area. In the present study, Pima S-6 and Pima S-7 (advanced Pima cultivars) and Deltapine 90 (advanced upland cultivar) were compared under field and laboratory conditions to determine whether the physiological and morphological gradients found in the Pima historical series extrapolate to upland cotton. In the field, Deltapine 90 showed 25–35% higher stomatal conductance, 35–50% higher photosynthetic rate and 45% smaller leaf area than Pima S-6. The higher photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance of Deltapine 90 leaves were partially related to their sun-tracking ability. In gas exchange experiments that prevented sun-tracking, the two cultivars had comparable photosynthetic rate as a function of incident radiation, while stomatal conductance was higher in upland cotton. In the 25–35°C range, photosynthetic rate as a function of temperature remained nearly constant in both cultivars, and was higher in upland cotton at all temperatures. Stomatal conductance showed a strong temperature-dependence, and conductance value and the slope of the stomatal response to temperature were higher in Deltapine 90. In progeny from a cross between Deltapine 90 and Pima S-7, the segregation of stomatal conductance in F1 and F2 populations showed a clear genetic component. These results indicate that the differences in photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and leaf area associated with increases in lint yield and heat resistance in the Pima historical series are also evident in a comparison between advanced cultivars of upland and Pima cotton. Upland cotton could be used as a source of genetic variation for high stomatal conductance in Pima breeding programs.
Pulmonary Toxicity and Inflammatory Response of Vape Cartridges Containing Medium-Chain Triglycerides Oil and Vitamin E Acetate: Implications in the Pathogenesis of EVALI

Recently, there has been an outbreak of a condition named e-cigarette or vaping products-associated lung injury (EVALI). The primary components of vaping products include tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), vitamin E acetate (VEA) and medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), may be responsible for acute lung toxicity. Currently, little information is available on the physiological and biological effects of exposure to these products. We hypothesized that these CBD/counterfeit vape cartridges and their constituents (VEA and MCT) induce pulmonary toxicity, mediated by oxidative damage and inflammatory responses, leading to acute lung injury. We studied the potential mechanisms of CBD/counterfeit vape cartridge aerosol induced inflammatory response by evaluating the generation of reactive oxygen species by MCT, VEA, and cartridges and their effects on the inflammatory state of pulmonary epithelium and immune cells both in vitro and in vivo. Cells exposed to these aerosols generated reactive oxygen species, caused cytotoxicity, induced epithelial barrier dysfunction, and elicited an inflammatory response. Using a murine model, the parameters of acute toxicity to aerosol inhalation were assessed. Infiltration of neutrophils and lymphocytes was accompanied by significant increases in IL-6, eotaxin, and G-CSF in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). In mouse BALF, eicosanoid inflammatory mediators, leukotrienes, were significantly increased. Plasma from e-cig users also showed increased levels of hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETEs) and various eicosanoids. Exposure to CBD/counterfeit vape cartridge aerosols showed the most significant effects and toxicity compared to MCT and VEA. In addition, we determined SARS-CoV-2 related proteins and found no impact associated with aerosol exposures from these tested cartridges. Overall, this study demonstrates acute exposure to specific CBD/counterfeit vape cartridges induces in vitro cytotoxicity, barrier dysfunction, and inflammation and in vivo mouse exposure induces acute inflammation with elevated proinflammatory markers in the pathogenesis of EVALI.
Studies on Fungal Communities Associated with Litter of Plant Cover at Al-Taif Province, Saudi Arabia

Twenty one fungal species belonging to ten genera were isolated from the litter of eight dominant plants cover of Al-Taif province, Saudi Arabia. The most frequently isolated fungal species were Fusarium oxysporum (100%), Aspergillus alutaceus, A. niger, and Macrophomina phaseolina (87.5%), F. solani, Mucor racemosus, Penicillium glaburum (75%), and P. jaczewskii (62.5%). The influ- ence of temperature and pH on selected eleven isolates, representing the dominant fungal species, was estimated. The representative moulds failed to grow at 55oC temperature. A flavipes, A. niger and Emericella nidulans showed thermotolerant activity (optimum growth at 35oC). The selected fungal species responded differently to the tested pH values of Czapek-Dox medium; some appeared to be acido- philic (P. jaczewskii, T. harzianum, F. niveus, A. flavipes and A. melleus, pH 3.5-4.5), some alkaliphilic (Emericella nidulans and Gliocladium roseum, pH 8.1) and a third group attained their best growth values around neutral pH (5.9-6.8). The selected moulds were capable of producing cellulytic, pectinolytic and amylolytic enzymes, which indicate their major role in litter decomposition.
Translational approach to understanding momentary factors associated with alcohol consumption

Multiple interindividual and intra‐individual factors underlie variability in drinking motives, challenging clinical translatability of animal research and limiting treatment success of substance use‐related problems. Intra‐individual variability refers to time‐dependent continuous and discrete changes within the individual and in substance use research is studied as momentary variation in the internal states (craving, stressed, anxious, impulsive and tired) and response to external triggers (stressors, drug‐associated environmental cues and social encounters). These momentary stimuli have a direct impact on behavioural decisions and may be triggers and predictors of substance consumption. They also present potential targets for real‐time behavioural and pharmacological interventions. In this review, we provide an overview of the studies demonstrating different momentary risk factors associated with increased probability of alcohol drinking in humans and changes in alcohol seeking and consumption in animals. The review also provides an overview of pharmacological interventions related to every individual risk factor.
Discrimination and Hypertension Risk Among African Americans in the Jackson Heart Study

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. African Americans have a higher risk of hypertension compared with other racial or ethnic groups in the United States. One possible explanation for this disparity is discrimination. Few studies have examined the association between discrimination and incidence of hypertension. We examined whether everyday discrimination, lifetime discrimination, and stress from discrimination were associated with incident hypertension and whether these associations differed by gender, age, discrimination attribution, and coping responses to discrimination among African Americans in the Jackson Heart Study. Discrimination was self-reported by 1845 African Americans aged 21 to 85 years without hypertension at baseline (2000–2004). Participants completed 2 follow-up study visits from 2005 to 2008 and 2009 to 2013. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate associations of discrimination with incident hypertension. Overall, 52% (n=954) of the participants developed hypertension over the follow-up period. After adjustment for age, gender, socioeconomic status and hypertension risk factors, medium versus low levels of lifetime discrimination (hazard ratio, 1.49 [95% CI, 1.18–1.89]), and high versus low levels of lifetime discrimination (hazard ratio, 1.34 [95% CI, 1.07–1.68]) were associated with a higher incidence of hypertension. No statistically significant interactions with gender, age, attribution, or coping were present. Higher stress from lifetime discrimination was associated with higher hypertension risk after adjustment for demographics (hazard ratio for high versus low, 1.19 [95% CI, 1.01–1.40]), but the association was attenuated after adjustment for hypertension risk factors (hazard ratio, 1.14 [95% CI, 0.97–1.35]). Lifetime discrimination may increase the risk of hypertension in African Americans.
Life history of Aphis pomi de Geer (green apple aphid) on apple plantations in Jammu province, J&K, India.

In the present study, life history of green apple aphid was studied during July to November months on apple host and the data on total life period (pre reproductive, reproductive and post reproductive periods) was recorded. Total progeny produced and total nymphal period was also calculated. The detailed biology of the pest has been recorded for the first time in Jammu province of J&K state on apple plants.
Heregulin β1-activated Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase Enhances Aggregation of MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells Independent of Extracellular Signal-regulated Kinase

Heregulin (HRG) is a family of polypeptide growth factors derived from alternatively spliced genes. HRG can bind to receptor tyrosine kinases erbB3 and erbB4, thereby inducing erbB3 and erbB4 heterodimerization with erbB2, leading to receptor tyrosine phosphorylation and activating downstream signal transduction. Cell-cell homophilic adhesion (cell aggregation) is important in determining the structural organization and behavior of cells in tissues. In addition, tumor cell homophilic adhesion may affect invasive and metastatic potentials of cells. We report that HRG-β1 can enhance aggregation of MCF-7 and SKBR3 human breast cancer cells. While investigating the downstream signals involved in HRG-β1-enhanced cell aggregation, we observed that HRG-β1 induced tyrosine phosphorylation of erbB2 and erbB3 receptor heterodimers and increased the association of the dimerized receptors with the 85-kDa subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K). HRG-β also increased the kinase activities of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) and PI3K in these cells. By using the mitogen-activated protein kinase/ERK 1 (MEK1) inhibitor PD98059 and PI3K inhibitors wortmannin and LY294002, we found that blocking the MEK1-ERK pathway had no effect on HRG-β1-enhanced cell aggregation; however, blocking the PI3K pathway greatly inhibited HRG-β1-mediated cell aggregation. Our study indicated that the HRG-β1-activated MEK1-ERK pathway has no demonstrable role in the induction of cell aggregation, whereas HRG-β1-activated PI3K is required for enhancing breast cancer cell aggregation. Because aggregation can contribute to invasion/metastasis phenotype of cancer cells, our results have provided one mechanism by which HRG-β1-activated signaling of erbB receptors may affect invasive/metastatic properties of MCF-7 and SKBR3 breast cancer cells.
Increase in Cliona delitrix Infestation of Montastrea cavernosa Heads on an Organically Polluted Portion of the Grand Cayman Fringing Reef

A marked increase in the biomass of Cliona delirrix infesting Monfusrrea cavernosa substrate occurred in a portion of the Grand Cayman fringing reef affected by the discharge of untreated fecal sewage. It is suggested that the six-fold increase in bacteria biomass (both "coliforms" and natural marine bacterioplankton) in reef waters receiving the sewage effluent is linked to a five-fold increase in sponge biomass at the polluted site relative to a control site. The elevated density of C. delitrix biomass signifies a similar increase in the amount of M. cavernosa skeleton that has been eroded by this sponge and reduced to silt-sized sediment. Thus, the proliferation of a bioeroding organism in the sewage-stressed environment has caused a shift in the carbonate balance on the reef. Problem Reefs are highly diverse and complex biological communities that have evolved in the relatively stable environment of warm, shallow marine waters. They occur along the majority of the world's tropical coastlines, generating considerable attention from both the tourist industry and ecological and geological research. The continued welfare of the world's present reefs requires a more complete understanding of the potentially detrimental effects of anthropogenic distur- bances, in particular sewage loading. In considering how coral reefs respond to environmental stress, it has been suggested that maintenance of the highly diverse reef fauna requires either constant environmental conditions (FUTWMA, 1973) or periodic natural distur- bances at intermediate scales of intensity and frequency (CONNELL, 1975). In either event, the result of an excessive natural or anthropogenic disturbance is a
Promoting and Preventing Alzheimer's Disease in a Transgenic Mouse Model: Apolipoprotein E and Environmental Enrichment

Besides age, inheritance of the apoE-e4 allele is the main risk factor for late-onset AD. To determine the role of apoE in amyloid deposition, we studied mice expressing both mutant human amyloid s-protein precursor (APP) and presenilin 1 (PS1) that were either normal or knocked-out for apoE. By 7 months, amorphous As deposition developed equally in both lines, indicating that As alone is sufficient for deposition to occur. In contrast, filamentous amyloid deposition was catalyzed at least 3000 fold by apoE. Electron micrographs further illustrate the filamentous nature of these plaques. These results and other, behavioral, data indicate that the primary function of apoE in AD is to promote the polymerization of As into mature, neurotoxic, amyloid. ApoE is also synthesized in the liver and is crucial in cholesterol metabolism, for mice lacking apoE exhibit hypercholesterolemia. We investigated neuropathology in mice using an uncommon technique, parabiosis, vi to determine whether apoE in the peripheral circulation influences brain amyloid formation. This surgical procedure allows exchange of proteins via peripheral circulation. We show that plasma apoE is found in parabiosed PS/APP/apoE-KO mice, rescuing their hypercholesterolemia. Unexpectedly, amyloid deposition is reduced in parabiosed PS/APP/apoE-KO mice compared to PS/APP controls. ApoE in the periphery seems to slightly reduce amyloid burden, by likely promoting efflux of As from the brain. These findings reinforce that the mechanisms whereby apoE affects As metabolism are complex, and the modulation of peripheral apoE metabolism is not likely to impact AD neuropathology. Since cognitive stimulation is associated with lower risk of AD, we sought to investigate the preventative potential of environmental enrichment (EE) using our mouse model. At weaning, mice were placed into either enriched or standard housing (SH). Behavioral testing at 41⁄2-6 months showed that EE-PS1/APP mice outperformed mice in SH, and were behaviorally indistinguishable from nontransgenic mice. PS1/APP mice given both EE and behavioral testing had 50% less brain s-amyloid (As), but did not exhibit changes in dendritic morphology. Microarray analysis of hippocmapal RNA revealed large EEinduced changes in the expression of genes/proteins related to memory, neuroprotection, and As sequestration. Inhibition of one such protein, PDE4, a cAMP-phosphodiesterase, by Rolipram, mimicked the cognitive benefits of EE.
A stationary visual census technique for quantitatively assessing community structure of coral reef fishes

A new method is described and evaluated for visually sampling reef fish community structure in environments with highly diverse and abundant reef fish populations. The method is based on censuses of reef fishes taken within a cylinder of 7.5 m radius by a diver at randomly selected, stationary points. The method provides quantitative data on frequency of occnrrence, fish length, abundance, and community composition, and is simple, fast, objective, and repeatable. Species are accumulated rapidly for listing purposes, and large numbers of samples are easily obtained for statistical treatment. The method provides an alternative to traditional visual sampling methods. Observations showed that there were no significant differences in total numbers of species or individuals censused when visibility ranged between 8 and 30 m. The reefs and habitats sampled were significant sources of variation in number of species and individuals censused, but the diver was not a significant influence. Community similarity indices were influenced significantly by the specific sampling site and the reef sampled, but were not significantly affected by the habitat or diver (PDF file contains 21 pages.)
Patterns of spatial and temporal variation of macrofauna under boulders in a sheltered boulder field

Spatial and temporal patterns of abundance of animals and plants must be quantified before models to explain distributions can be developed. These patterns also provide essential data for measuring potential effects of environmental disturbances. Studies in many different habitats have shown that most organisms, particularly invertebrates, have highly variable and interactive patterns of abundance, with much variability at the smallest temporal and spatial scales. Intertidal boulder fields in New South Wales, Australia, support a diverse fauna, many species of which are relatively rare. These habitats are commonly found near rock-platforms and in sheltered estuaries and are subjected to many human disturbances. Although there have been a few studies on the fauna in boulder fields, none has documented variability of the assemblage using multivariate and univariate techniques and most studies have not incorporated different spatial and temporal scales. This study quantifies spatial variation at three scales (metres, tens of metres alongshore and tens of metres upshore) and temporal variation at two scales (3 months and 2 years) of the assemblage of molluscs and echinoderms in a sheltered boulder field subjected to little natural or human disturbance. Multivariate analyses revealed that each site contained a distinct assemblage, mainly due to the relative abundances of a few species. Most species, those generally only found under boulders and common, widespread species, had considerable spatial variability in abundances, with more than 90% measured at the smallest scale, that is metre to metre within a site. Changes in abundances over 3 months or 2 years varied among species and sites in unpredictable ways. These data show that sampling designs to measure impacts on these fauna will need to be complex and must incorporate a number of spatial and temporal scales if they are to be able to detect impact against such a variable background.
Quality Evaluation of Products Prepared from Local Mango

Evaluation of local mango fruit (Desi aamb) for preparation of squash, RTS beverage and jam was carried out. The prepared products were evaluated for their chemical characteristics at different storage intervals i.e., 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 days. The TSS, pH, ascorbic acid, α-carotene and total and non-reducing sugars decreased with the increase in storage period whereas acidity and reducing sugars increased. Further studies revealed that overall acceptability slightly decreased after storage of 100 days.
Sex-specific Changes in Walleye Abundance, Size Structure and Harvest Following Implementation of Regulation to Protect Broodstock

Abstract The popularity of walleye Sander vitreus fishing has resulted in the development of specialized regulations that are designed to protect these fisheries. In the case of Sherman Reservoir, Sherman County, Nebraska, the walleye population provides a sportfishing opportunity and serves as broodstock for the state. In 2009, for the primary purpose of protecting female broodstock, the regulation changed from a harvest limit of four walleye with 457-mm minimum length to allowing a reduced harvest limit of two walleye within a harvest slot (381–508 mm) and one walleye more than 711 mm. This study examined existing data sets to assess the percentage of spawning walleye protected with each regulation, sex-specific differences in relative abundance and size structure during broodstock collection and angler effort, total catch, and harvest of walleye. The new regulation has increased protection of female walleye by more than 90%, but decreased protection of male walleye by more than 60%. The relative abunda.