Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lectin Labeling of Surface Carbohydrates on Gametes of Three Bivalves: Crassostrea virginica, Mytilus galloprovincialis, and Dreissena bugensis

ABSTRACT The distribution of carbohydrates on the surface of freshwater and marine bivalve gametes was examined based on labeling by 5 lectins. The 3 species of interest were Dreissena bugensis, Mytilus galloprovincialis, and Crassostrea virginica. The lectins used to identify the surface carbohydrates are Arachis hypogaea (PNA), concanavalin A, Griffonia simplicifolia, Lens culinaris (LcH), and wheat germ agglutinin. Live eggs and sperm from each species were examined for lectin affinity. Lectin labeling differed greatly between the 3 species, with very few, if any, conserved trends. Furthermore, there was no obvious difference in labeling between marine and dreissenid species. Of particular interest were LcH labeling of M. galloprovincialis sperm that labeled the tip of the outer sperm acrosome and PNA labeling of C. virginica gametes that was specific only to the sperm inner acrosomal membrane. Fertilization series looking at the distribution of PNA labeling of the sperm acrosome showed localization to the basal ring associated with sperm-egg binding.
A comparison of artificial neural networks and multiple regression methods for the analysis of pilot-scale data

Pilot-scale testing is widely used in the drinking water supply industry to test treatment theories, develop new processes, and enhance process operations. The data sets derived from pilot testing are usually small owing to financial and time considerations. The analysis of such data is extremely complex, since treatment processes are highly complex and nonlinear. Multiple regression analysis is widely considered to be the best available technology for analysing data collected from pilot-scale experiments in the drinking water supply industry. Unfortunately, this technique is limited in its ability to handle the combinations of fixed and random variables that are characteristic of water treatment processes. This paper demonstrates the applicability and advantages of artificial network modelling for pilot-scale data analysis. Data collected at two separate pilot-scale facilities are analysed using the artificial neural network (ANN) technique and multiple regression methods, and performance assessments of .
MDM2 Enhances the Function of Estrogen Receptor α in Human Breast Cancer Cells

Overexpression of the oncoprotein MDM2, a negative feedback regulator of p53, is often observed in breast cancer tissue and cell lines, particularly in those which express estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha). In this study, we report a novel function of MDM2, i.e., as a positive regulator of ERalpha. This function does not involve p53. MDM2 overexpressing clones derived from the breast cancer cell line, MCF-7 cells, showed a remarkable growth advantage only in estradiol supplemented conditions, and this profile coincided with increased transcriptional activity of ERalpha in these cells. Though p53 has been reported to be an inhibitor of ERalpha function, p53 protein in MDM2 overexpressing clones was more abundant than in the parental cells. When ERalpha was exogenously expressed in p53-null cells, its activity was enhanced by coexpression of MDM2. Mammalian two-hybrid assays and GST pull-down assays indicated that MDM2 could interact with ERalpha. These results indicate that MDM2 is a direct activator of ERalpha function, and suggest such a role for MDM2 in ERalpha-positive breast cancer.
Dynamics of sigmaCO2 in a surficial sandy marine sediment: the role of chemoautotrophy

Net consumption and production of CO2 in the surface layers of a sandy marine sediment were examined with a depth resolution of 1 mm. A transient state diagenetic model fitted to measured porewater profiles of total inorganic carbon (ZCOz) in open incubated sediment plugs revealed 3 distinct zones. The first was an upper oxic/suboxic zone of 5 to 8 mm depth with high net XCO, production rates (4910 to 5570 nmol cm-3 d-l). The second zone (8 to 9 mm) below the suboxic layer showed a net CO2 uptake (161 to 191 nmol d-l) which coincided with the zone of maximum "C-labeled bicarbonate fixation (R114Cp.0C). This implies that anoxic CO2 fixation is associated with anoxic processes probably involving sulfur species, since both NO3and metal oxides are absent. The CO, fixation processes were, however, dependent on supply of oxidation equivalent from above, since they were completely inhibited under anoxic conditions in the overlying water. A third zone, situated below 16 mm in the deepest reduced sediment, had low net production rates of ZCO, (55 to 97 nmol cm-3 d-l). The role of SzO3,in CO2 fixation was examined in completely anoxic and closed sediment incubations (jars). The presence of 0.5 mM S203' did not induce higher CO2 fixation rates than S203,--free controls. When thiosulfate was increased to 2 mM, a stimulation of CO2 fixation occurred, indicating chemoautotrophy by e.g. disproportionation. The fact that significant CO2 fixation also occurred initially in thiosulfate-free, anoxic control sediment indicated that hetero-/chemolithotrophic CO2 fixatlon may be higher in marine sediment than previously thought.
Confirmation of chloride deficiency as the cause of leaf spotting in durum wheat grown in the Australian northern grains region

Abstract. During the 2007 winter cropping season in Australia, severe leaf-spotting (necrosis) symptoms resembling chloride (Cl–) deficiency found in North America were reported in the newly released durum wheat variety Jandaroi. Testing for bacterial, fungal and viral pathogens all proved negative. Four Australian durum and four Australian bread wheat varieties were grown, along with a North American variety of each, in a glasshouse experiment using a sterile sand–vermiculite mix and nutrient solutions containing 0 (nil), 0.5, 1.0 or 2.0 mm Cl–. When grown in the nil Cl– solution, all durum and some bread wheat varieties produced leaf-spotting symptoms the same as observed in the field. Nil Cl– also delayed flowering, reduced biomass, decreased grain size, and depressed grain yield in most durum and bread wheat varieties. In field experiments, additions of Cl– fertiliser as KCl at sowing provided no biomass or yield response from a range of wheat varieties, probably because the plants accessed sufficient Cl– from below 0.9 m depth in the soil. Chloride concentrations in whole-plant tissue sampled at head emergence suggested that unfertilised plants were borderline deficient in Cl– according to critical values established in North America. An in-crop foliar Cl– application experiment showed linear uptake of applied Cl–, as MgCl2, until the end of tillering. However, because leaf-spotting symptoms typically appear only after tillering, it is not possible to correct Cl– deficiency by adding Cl– fertiliser to the affected crop after symptoms appear. Managing Cl– in susceptible crops therefore needs to be preventative rather than curative. Among commercial varieties, Jandaroi was highly sensitive to low Cl–, Caparoi was moderately sensitive, and EGA Bellaroi was tolerant. Several elite durum breeding lines grown in 2010 showed considerably reduced leaf spotting compared with Jandaroi under low Cl– conditions, indicating potential for conventional breeding to reduce the potential impact of low Cl– soils on durum production in northern Australia.
Effects of Various Iron Fertilizers and Rates on Some Micro Nutrients Contents of Peach Trees

This research was implemented in order to determine the effects of various iron fertilizers and doses on some micronutrients contents of peach leaves. The filed experiments were established in randomized plots experimental design with six replications in three different orchards at Karabalcik, Caglayankoy and Barakfaki districts in Bursa plain. As iron fertilizers, Sequestrene 138 Fe (100, 200 and 300 grams per tree) and iron sulphate (500 and 1000 grams per tree) in combination with 10 kg of FYM were applied to soils in early spring. According to the results, Sequestrene 138 Fe applied trees had significantly lower Mn levels than control and iron sulphate applied trees. Zn and Cu contents of the leaves were not affected by the treatments. Differences among the treatments for active and total Fe in the leaves were found to be statistically significant.
Yield, Yield Components, and Forage Nutritive Value of Alfalfa as Affected by Seeding Rate under Irrigated Conditions

Persistence is a critical component of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) crop yield. Our objective was to determine the effect of seeding rate on alfalfa persistence, yield, and yield components and how they evolved over time in irrigated areas with long growing seasons. Two alfalfa cultivars were seeded at four seeding rates (10, 20, 30, and 40 kg ha -1 ), in three consecutive experiments, and evaluated over a 3-yr period to provide total data for nine location years. Seed rates of 10 kg ha -1 [8.75 kg ha -1 of pure live seed (PLS)] produced total 3-yr dry matter (DM) yields of between 50.8 and 58.9 Mg ha -1 . Seed rates only affected total 3-yr DM yields in one of the three experiments. The mean number of shoots per m -2 was 488 and this was not affected by seed rates. The effect of seed density on mean shoot weight depended on the experiment. The annual average crude protein (CP) concentration varied from 159 g kg -1 to 224 g kg -1 while the leaf to stem ratio varied from 0.87 to 1.17. The results suggest that CP and leaf to stem ratios (LSR) were either little influenced or not influenced by seed density. The DM yields and yield components indicate that 8.75 kg ha -1 of PLS could be sufficient to ensure adequate DM production. Results also suggest that in a Mediterranean climate in which sprinkler irrigation is applied, there is little justification for high seeding rates under good establishment conditions.
Climate and satellite‐derived land cover for predicting breeding bird distribution in the Great Lakes Basin

Aim We examined relationships between breeding bird distribution of 10 forest songbirds in the Great Lakes Basin, large‐scale climate and the distribution of land cover types as estimated by advanced very high resolution radiometer (AVHRR) and multi‐spectral scanner (MSS) land cover classifications. Our objective was to examine the ability of regional climate, AVHRR (1 km resolution) land cover and MSS (200 m resolution) land cover to predict the distribution of breeding forest birds at the scale of the Great Lakes Basin and at the resolution of Breeding Bird Atlas data (5–10 km2). Specifically we addressed the following questions. (1) How well do AVHRR or MSS classifications capture the variation in distribution of bird species? (2) Is one land cover classification more useful than the other for predicting distribution? (3) How do models based on climate compare with models based on land cover? (4) Can the combination of both climate and land cover improve the predictive ability of these models.
Fatty Acid Composition within Each Structural Part and Section of a Soybean Seed

Seed coat, axis, sections of cotyledons, and the whole seed of six soybean genotypes were analyzed by gas chromatography. Relative percentages of fatty acids were homogeneous within cotyledons but varied greatly among structural parts. The axis had highest percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids, whereas the coat had highest percentage of saturated fatty acids. Due to the cotyledons representing the largest proportion, the fatty acid composition of cotyledons represented that of the whole seed, suggesting that slicing a portion of cotyledons for breeding screen of fatty acids is a reliable sampling technique. Furthermore, regardless of the great variation in fatty acid profile of the six genotypes selected, the ratio in relative percentage of an individual fatty acid between the axis and cotyledons was highly conserved, implying that (1) events of lipid metabolism in maturing seeds may be correlated between axis and cotyledons, and (2) given a fatty acid composition of one tissue, one can predict that of the other
Comparison of Juvenile Alewife Growth and Movement in a Large and a Small Watershed

Abstract The freshwater behaviors of juvenile alewives Alosa pseudoharengus and the variables affecting their survival to recruitment are relatively unknown, even though recruitment to marine populations is critical to sustaining and restoring populations. Fish were collected in fall 2009 from a large watershed (the Hudson River, New York; N = 10) and a small watershed (the Peconic River, New York; N = 14), otolith chemistry was used to associate the fish to groups, and growth rates were compared both within and between rivers. Otolith Sr:Ca and Ba:Ca were measured along growth transects, and significant changes in these values were determined. In many instances, changes in these values are associated with changes in daily otolith growth increments. More variation was observed in the Ba: Ca ratios and daily growth rates of Hudson River alewives, possibly because they had more available nursery habitats. While there was variation in otolith chemistry and daily growth within Peconic River fish, fewer otolith chemistry patterns were observed in this group. Comparison of cumulative daily growth rates between the two groups showed that Hudson River alewives were smaller at younger ages but that their growth rate increased and their size at age eventually surpassed that of the Peconic River alewives. The results presented here provide the foundation for future work investigating the abiotic and biotic variables influencing juvenile alewife growth, behavior, and survival in different-size watersheds.
Use of Diabetes Data Management Software Reports by Health Care Providers, Patients With Diabetes, and Caregivers Improves Accuracy and Efficiency of Data Analysis and Interpretation Compared With Traditional Logbook Data

Background: We assessed users’ proficiency and efficiency in identifying and interpreting self-monitored blood glucose (SMBG), insulin, and carbohydrate intake data using data management software reports compared with standard logbooks. Method: This prospective, self-controlled, randomized study enrolled insulin-treated patients with diabetes (PWDs) (continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion [CSII] and multiple daily insulin injection [MDI] therapy), patient caregivers [CGVs]) and health care providers (HCPs) who were naïve to diabetes data management computer software. Six paired clinical cases (3 CSII, 3 MDI) and associated multiple-choice questions/answers were reviewed by diabetes specialists and presented to participants via a web portal in both software report (SR) and traditional logbook (TL) formats. Participant response time and accuracy were documented and assessed. Participants completed a preference questionnaire at study completion. Results: All participants (54 PWDs, 24 CGVs, 33 HCPs) completed the cases. Participants achieved greater accuracy (assessed by percentage of accurate answers) using the SR versus TL formats: PWDs, 80.3 (13.2)% versus 63.7 (15.0)%, P < . 0001; CGVs, 84.6 (8.9)% versus 63.6 (14.4)%, P < . 0001; HCPs, 89.5 (8.0)% versus 66.4 (12.3)%, P < . 0001. Participants spent less time (minutes) with each case using the SR versus TL formats: PWDs, 8.6 (4.3) versus 19.9 (12.2), P < . 0001; CGVs, 7.0 (3.5) versus 15.5 (11.8), P = . 0005; HCPs, 6.7 (2.9) versus 16.0 (12.0), P < . 0001. The majority of participants preferred using the software reports versus logbook data. Conclusions: Use of the Accu-Chek Connect Online software reports enabled PWDs, CGVs, and HCPs, naïve to diabetes data management software, to identify and utilize key diabetes information with significantly greater accuracy and efficiency compared with traditional logbook information. Use of SRs was preferred over logbooks.
Sex Ratio, Population Density and Home Range of the Desert Monitor (Varanus griseus) in the Southern Coastal Plain of Israel

During a two-year study of the desert monitor (Varanus griseus) in a sand dune area south of the greater Tel Aviv area 21 adult monitors (8 males and 13 females) were captured and marked. Nine of the above monitors were equipped with radio transmitters, and were followed telemetrically for one year. The telemetered monitors maintained definite home ranges: 0.984 ± 0.165 km 2 , n = 4 for males and 0.319 ± 0.18 km 2 , n = 5 for females. The home range areas increased with the number of locations, reaching maxima after 30-70 locations. A considerable overlap of home ranges, between and within sexes, indicated that the species is not territorial. Varanus griseus forages over distances of 2 km or more. These forays often take the lizard through several habitats: unstabilized dunes, dense vegetation, construction areas, ruderal areas and a municipal garbage dump. A sex ratio of 1:1.6 (males:females) differs from that found in many previous Varanus studies.
Normal pulsed wave Doppler echocardiographic parameters of Turkmen horses of Iran

Summary Turkmen horse is one of the oldest and purest breeds in the world, but there is no information on Doppler echocardiographic parameters in this horse. In the present study, pulsed-wave (PW) Doppler echocardiography was performed on 42 clinically normal 3- to 15-year-old racing Turkmen horses. No cardiac disease was detected with two-dimensional (2-D) real-time, M-mode, and colour flow mapping. Doppler echocardiographic parameters and indices of tricuspid, mitral, pulmonary and aortic flows were measured in this study. Tricuspid inflow velocities during rapid filling (E) and atrial contractions (A) were significantly higher than mitral inflow (P<0.05). The Doppler waveforms, obtained from the aortic outflow, showed a significantly longer pre-ejection period (PEP) and shorter ejection time (ET) than the pulmonary artery waveforms (P=0.001 and P=0.028, respectively). The time taken from the onset of the QRS complex to the onset of the A wave for tricuspid flow, pulmonary PEP, and pulmonary PEP/ET, had a significant positive correlation with age. These values can be used as standard and reference values for evaluation of cardiovascular disorders in Turkmen horse.
Mixed Mating in Banksia brownii Baxter ex R. Br. (Proteaceae)

Mating system parameters of the rare and endangered species Banksia brownii were estimated for two populations using both the mixed mating and effective selfing models. Estimates of outcrossing rate were similar in both populations for both models (mixed mating t Pop. 1=0.68, Pop. 2=0.75; effective selfing t Pop. 1=0.65, Pop. 2=0.73) and were among the lowest reported for undisturbed Banksia populations. Banksia brownii is killed by fire and the high level of selfing found may be associated with this trait. Multilocus and minimum variance mean i estimates were similar and the covariance of selfing with gene fixation (D) was not significantly different from zero indicating that populations were not structured and that most of the inbreeding was the result of self-fertilisation. The absence of structure was attributed to gene dispersal through pollen disperse by birds, and selection against inbred seed. It is suggested that several entire, large populations of this species together with habitat sufficient to support pollinators be reserved to conserve this species.
Double-Stranded RNA and TGF-α Promote MUC5AC Induction in Respiratory Cells

Viral infection is a major trigger for exacerbation of asthma and induces overproduction of mucins. We investigated whether dsRNA could amplify the induction of mucin by TGF-α in human bronchial epithelial cells, as well as the molecular mechanisms regulating MUC5AC expression. Human pulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinoma (NCI-H292) cells and normal human bronchial epithelial cells were exposed to polyinosinic-cytidyric acid (poly(I:C)) and TGF-α. Then, MUC5AC protein production, mRNA expression, and promoter activity were evaluated. Cells were pretreated with a selective inhibitor of ERK, and phosphorylation of ERK was examined by Western blotting. Furthermore, the expression of MAPK phosphatase 3 (MKP3) mRNA was evaluated and the effect of MKP3 overexpression was assessed. Poly(I:C) synergistically increased MUC5AC induction by TGF-α in both NCI-H292 and normal human bronchial epithelial cells. This increase was dependent on MUC5AC gene transcription. A MEK1/2 inhibitor (U0126) significantly inhibited MUC5AC production. Phosphorylation of ERK was enhanced by poly(I:C). TGF-α stimulation up-regulated MKP3 mRNA expression, while costimulation with poly(I:C) inhibited this up-regulation dose-dependently. Enhanced expression of MUC5AC mRNA by poly(I:C) in wild-type cells was completely suppressed in cells transfected with the MKP3 expression vector. dsRNA can synergistically amplify the induction of MUC5AC mucin by TGF-α. This synergistic effect on MUC5AC production may be due to enhanced activation of ERK through inhibition of MKP3 by poly(I:C).
Preliminary examination of thinning strategies on young ‘Jonagold’ and ‘Pink Lady’ apples

Summary. Strategies were examined for thinning 5-year-old apple trees of ‘Jonagold’ and ‘Pink Lady’ with chemical thinners. Both cultivars were left unthinned (control), hand-thinned at 20 days after full bloom (DAFB) or chemically thinned. The chemical treatments consisted of full bloom (FB) sprays of naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) at 2.5, 5 or 10 mg/L or ethephon at 25, 50 or 100 mg/L or combination treatments of 2.5, 5 or 10 mg NAA/L at FB followed by 50 mg ethephon/L at 7 DAFB. In addition 5 mg NAA/L or 50 mg ethephon/L were followed by 150 mg CyLex/L (6-benzyladenine, Abbott Laboratories) at 20 DAFB. Neither NAA, ethephon alone or NAA followed by ethephon were effective at the 2 lower concentrations. The highest level of NAA with ethephon did some thinning of ‘Pink Lady’ but overthinned ‘Jonagold’. The CyLex combination treatments were the most effective. Combining NAA and CyLex did not thin enough to increase fruit size in ‘Pink Lady’ and slightly overthinned ‘Jonagold’. The most effective treatment of ethephon and CyLex removed about half the crop load compared with the control for both cultivars. This resulted in a 29% increase in fruit weight and a 48% increase in fruit size for ‘Jonagold’. ‘Pink Lady’ increases were less, being 16% for fruit weight and 38% for fruit size. All mean fruit weight and size outcomes for the ethephon–CyLex treatment exceeded provisional targets. The ethephon–CyLex combination had important fruit quality outcomes other than fruit weight and size. Fruit soluble solids were increased by this treatment by 10% for ‘Jonagold’ and 6% for ‘Pink Lady’ and fruit firmness by 11% for ‘Jonagold’ and 5% for ‘Pink Lady’. The overall results for the ethephon–CyLex combination were most encouraging for both cultivars. Further work is required to substantiate these results.
Registration of ‘BIOINTA 2004’ Wheat

'BIOINTA 2004' (Reg. No. CV-1030, PI 655312) is a hard red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) developed and released by the Marcos Juarez Experimental Station from the National Wheat Breeding Program of the National Institute of Agricultural Technology, Argentina. BIOINTA 2004, previously designated R4001, was selected for its excellent grain yield potential, resistance to leaf rust (caused by Puccinia triticina Eriks.) conferred mainly by the Lr47 gene selected by marker assisted selection (MAS), and its good bread-making quality. © Crop Science Society of America.