Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Field observations on growth and development of Morchella rotunda and Mitrophora semilibera in relation to forest soil temperature

In the upper Rhine forests, ascocarps of Morchella rotunda (Pers.) Boudier and Mitrophora semilibera (DC.) Lev. develop at the expense of preexisting subterranean mycelial structures (connective mycelium and mycelial muffs) associated with higher plants. Field data correlate the initial extent of springtime reheating of soil with ascocarp maturation and suggest that mycelial muffs may be storage and resistance structures formed as early as the summer preceding the spring fruiting. This suggests morels are biennial.
Life cycle environmental sustainability of lignocellulosic ethanol produced in integrated thermo‐chemical biorefineries

There is a growing interest in producing biofuels and bio‐chemicals from lignocellulosic feedstocks in integrated biorefineries. However, the sustainability implications of integrated biorefineries are still poorly understood. Using a life cycle approach, this paper examines environmental impacts of second‐generation ethanol produced in thermo‐chemical refineries together with chemicals and energy. Four feedstocks are considered: wheat straw, poplar, Miscanthus and forest residue. The results suggest that the production of ethanol from these feedstocks offers significant savings in eight out of 12 environmental impacts when the system is credited for the avoided impacts from producing the co‐products from fossil resources. Ethanol from forest residue is the best and wheat straw the worst option for most impacts. Land use change has a significant effect on the global warming potential (GWP) of ethanol. For example, conversion of forest to grow Miscanthus increases the GWP from –234 to 6685 g CO2 eq./l of ethanol. The effect is opposite when grassland is converted to grow poplar: the GWP is reduced by two times because of carbon sequestration by poplar. The thermo‐chemical route for producing ethanol from poplar and forest residue is more sustainable for most impacts than the bio‐chemical conversion with the same feedstocks. Although ethanol saves up to 83% of GHG emissions per MJ of fuel compared to petrol, the savings are much smaller (~3%) for current ethanol blends of 5%. Therefore, unless a much higher proportion of ethanol was used, the contribution of second‐generation ethanol to climate change mitigation would be small. © 2015 The Authors. Biofuels, Bioproducts, Biorefining published by Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ocorrência de aglutininas anti-Leptospira em ovinos do estado do Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil

Foram pesquisadas aglutininas anti-Leptospira em ovinos do estado do Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil. De agosto a outubro de2001, foram examinados 115 soros de ovinos provenientes de 11 rebanhos situados em quatro municipios, pela prova desoroaglutinacao microscopica, utilizando-se 12 sorovares de Leptospira spp. como antigenos. Foram considerados comotitulos positivos os maiores ou iguais a 100. A caracterizacao dos sorovares mais provaveis levou em conta a titulacao e afrequencia. Os resultados encontrados indicam uma soropositividade de 3,5% (4/115). A distribuicao dos sorovares maisprovaveis foi: castellonis (57,1%), autumnalis (28,6%) e pomona (14,3%).
Shell growth, reproduction and life cycles of Lymnaea peregra and L. palustris (Pulmonata: Basommatophora) in oligotrophic turloughs (temporary lakes) in Ireland

The life cycles and shell growth rates of populations of the freshwater basommatophoran snails, Lymnaea palustris (Muller) and L. peregra (Miiller), were studied over a year's period in two oligotrophic turloughs (temporary lakes) in Ireland. The vast majority of individuals in these populations were annuals, though in one L. peregra and the two L. palustris populations a few rare individuals survived to a second year of life and reproductive effort. Lymnaea palustris populations were completely univoltine, while there was evidence of very limited bivoltinism in one of the L. peregra populations, the other being purely univoltine. Mean generation shell growth rates were the lowest yet reported for either species (≅ 30–35% of maximal mean shell growth rate reported for other natural populations) and were apparently the result of the low productivity and temperature, and highly variable water levels. In these species, there is a direct correlation between shell growth rates and habitat productivity. The vast majority of interpopulation growth rate variation appears to result from non–genetic ecophenotypic environmental influences. Such plasticity allows both species to grow and reproduce over a wide range of trophic conditions of which the studied turloughs represent the lower extreme. In L. peregra, oviposition was limited to spring and early summer and followed closely by near complete adult mortality. In L. palustris, adults survived through, and oviposition periods extended into late summer or early autumn. This extended adult survival and oviposition is a life history trait adaptation that allows L. palustris to survive in marginal, unstable habitats subject to periodic drying and other catastrophic perturbations. In contrast, the contracted spring oviposition of L. peregra appears to be an adaptation for life in more stable and permanent aquatic habitats as it allows newly recruited generations maximal time for pre–reproductive growth and minimizes competition with adults.
PROTECTIVE ACTION OF DIFFERENT NATURAL FLAVAN-3-OLS AGAINST AFLATOXIN B1-RELATED CYTOTOXICITY

The aim of this study is to investigate the ability of flavan-3-ols: catechin, epigallocatechin, epigallocatechin gallate, and epicatechin gallate to prevent aflatoxin B1 (AB1)-induced cytotoxicity in A2780 cell line. The treatment with AB1 (0.35 µM) gives an increased level of cytotoxicity versus control (30–50%). Flavan-3-ols are more efficient against AB1 cytotoxicity at 24 h after treatment than after 48 h. AB1-induced dichlorofluorescin diacetate fluorescence intensity was significantly reduced even after 1 h incubation with flavan-3-ols. Concerning the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) release, comparing with the control, AB1 induces a down-expression of this factor. All the flavan-3-ols induced a higher level of TNF-αrelease in the cellular supernatant comparing with the AB1 group, but much lower than the control group. The present study demonstrates the potent protective effect of flavan-3-ols against AB1 cytotoxicity in A2780 epithelial cell line. This protective effect may be due to the inhibitory effect of flavan-3-ols on AB1-induced reactive oxygen species formation and oxidative damage. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS There is a delicate balance between antioxidants and pro-oxidants, generally and specifically, in the cell. They are responsible for regulation of various metabolic pathways, immunosuppression, growth and development and protection against stress. Mycotoxins have negative impact on this antioxidant/pro-oxidant balance. This balance can be regulated by dietary antioxidants like flavan-3-ols. There are various approaches to control or combat mycotoxin problems; one is by developing new oxidant strategies by improving the natural defense mechanism against mycotoxins at cellular level. Considering the role of reactive oxygen species in chemically induced carcinogenesis, the ability of aflatoxins to induce cytotoxicity to cells may play an important role in aflatoxin-induced carcinogenicity. Chemopreventive strategies designed to limit the several toxic effects, caused by these mycotoxins, are important public health goals for reducing the incidence of aflatoxin-induced diseases. Flavan-3-ols, a class of phenolic compounds ubiquitous in plants and widely found in a number of fruits, vegetables and beverages, can be a choice of preventing the mycotoxin-related toxicity as we reported in this study.
Effects of different processes on the carbohydrates of lima bean

Changes which occurred in the concentrations of free sugars, high-molecular weight carbohydrates (water-soluble carbohydrates, starch, hemicellulose, cellulose), and lignin in 3 differently processed varieties of lima bean have been studied. Samples were boiled, autoclaved or soaked in water and germinated for 3 days. Available carbohydrates (starch + sugars) which initially ranged from 53.3 to 54.8 g/100 g dry matter in the raw varieties, decreased very drastically with germination whilst raffinose disappeared and stachyose + verbascose were reduced to trace levels. Cooking as well as autoclaving brought about slight decrease in glucose, fructose and sucrose levels and increased oligosaccharide content of all the varieties. Changes in the content of the structural carbohydrates of all processed varieties were small. Cooking and germination, however effected some reductions in total unavailable carbohydrate content. The effect of these processes on improving the nutritional value of lima beans was discussed.
Spatial distribution and feeding habits of the shrimp Crangon uritai as a predator on larval and juvenile marbled sole Pleuronectes yokohamae

: To examine predation on larval and juvenile Pleuronectes yokohamae by Crangon uritai, the spatial distribution and feeding habits of C. uritai were studied. Crangon uritai fed on various prey, including P. yokohamae. Density-dependent predation on juvenile Crangon spp. , larval and juvenile gobiid fish Chaenogobius heptacanthus, mysids, and gammarids was observed. The abundance of alternative prey might, therefore, play an important role in reducing the pressure of predation on P. yokohamae. In each year, C. uritai migrated from depths of 10 m in March to depths of 3 m in May. There was a significant negative correlation between the weighted mean depth (WMD) of C. uritai and the weighted mean bottom water temperature (WMBWT). The migration was, therefore, delayed in the cold spring, during which C. uritai occupied depths of approximately 10 m. In contrast, no significant correlation was found between the WMD of P. yokohamae and WMBWT. Settlement of P. yokohamae began at depths of 15 m, mainly during early April. The spatial distributions of these two organisms show greater overlap during the cold spring, resulting in increased opportunities for predation.
Zum Wirkungstyp von Imidazol‐Antimykotika: Konsequenzen für die Empfindlichkeitsbestimmung: * The Mode of Action of Imidazole Antimycotics: Implications for Sensitivity Testing

Zusammenfassung: Die minimalen Hemmkonzentrationen der Imidazol‐Derivate variieren sehr stark in Abhängigkeit von den gewählten In‐vitro‐Versuchsbedingungen. Dies hat mehrfach zu Kontroversen über die Relevanz der MHK‐Werte geführt. Wir haben deshalb die Hemmwirkung verschiedener Antimykotika quantitativ anhand der Keimdichten im Reihenverdünnungstest erfaßt. Dabei zeigte sidi, daß Azole in subinhibitorischen Ronzentrationen die Wachstumsrate von Sproßpilzen beträchtlich reduzieren können, ein Zehntel bis Hundertstel der MHK kann noch zu einer Wachstumshemmung um mehr als 80% führen. Im Gegensatz dazu endet die Hemmwirkung der Polyen‐Antimykotika abrupt, sobald die MHK unterschritten wird.
Nutrient constraint of rainfed rice production in foot slope soil of Guinea Forest in Côte d’Ivoire

Soil nutrient deficiencies can affect rice yield and grain mineral content wherever they occur, but an understanding of their effect on upland rice production in humid forest zone of West Africa is still limited. Therefore, a nutrient omission trial was conducted on foot slope soil in 2003, 2004 and 2005 in Côte d’Ivoire using rice variety WAB 56–104. The effect on rice grain yield (GY) and nutrient content of complete fertilizer (Fc with nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and zinc (Zn)) was compared with Fc from which a specific nutrient was excluded (Fc – N, Fc – P, Fc – K, Fc – Ca, Fc – Mg and Fc – Zn). Before the trial, soil K (0.10 cmol kg−1) and Mg (0.20 cmol kg−1) contents were suitable, but available P-Bray I (4.2 mg kg−1) was found to be deficient. In course of the study, K, Mg and P deficiencies were observed. An antagonistic effect was observed between rice GY and grain concentrations in P, Mg and Ca for treatments Fc – Mg, Fc – P and Fc – K, respectively. Therefore, the use of P, K and Mg fertilizers is recommended for successive cropping seasons in order to rich stable and high rice yield while decreasing of grain concentrations in P, Mg and Ca can be observed.
Expression of β‐catenin in basal cell carcinoma

Summary Background β‐Catenin is a crucial member of the E‐cadherin/catenin complex, which plays a major role in cell–cell adhesion. β‐Catenin is also known to be involved in signal transduction pathways. Many studies have demonstrated changes in the expression of β‐catenin in colorectal carcinomas, suggesting a role for β‐catenin in neoplastic development.
Efficacy of Electrofishing to Assess Plasma Cortisol Concentration in Juvenile Chinook Salmon Passing Hydroelectric Dams on the Columbia River

Abstract We tested the efficacy of using electrofishing to collect juvenile fall chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha to assess their plasma cortisol concentrations. In laboratory experiments, plasma cortisol titers offish sampled immediately (<4 s) after a 1.5-s, 500-V DC electroshock were not different from controls (mean ± SE, 28.8 ± 5.2 ng/mL), but within 15 min they were significantly higher (148.2 ± 19.0 ng/mL) than controls. Plasma cortisol levels of fish released through turbines and of those released through the juvenile-bypass system at Bonneville Dam, Oregon-Washington, and collected by electrofishing did not differ from each other or from prerelease samples (about 70 ± 7 ng/mL). Our results indicate that electrofishing can be used to collect fish for stress assessment in the wild, provided fish are sacrificed immediately after capture, We are concerned, however, that the small number of fish we captured by electrofishing may not be representative of the majority of fish that pass through tu.
Microgravity affects the photosynthetic apparatus of Brassica rapa L.

Structural and functional characteristics of the photosynthetic apparatus in 15-day old Brassica rapa plants grown aboard the space shuttle Columbia (STS-87) have been studied. Maintaining of the same growth conditions for control plants was realized using the Orbiter Environmental Simulator in Kennedy Space Center. The main differences in spaceflight plants in comparison with control ones have been shown to be the following. An average volume of one mesophyll palisade cell increased approximately twice and the chloroplast number per cell by 69.8%. Partial volumes of stromal thylakoids, starch grains and plastoglobuli also increased by 19.4%, 20.6% and 2 times accordingly. At the same time, the grana number per chloroplast decreased. Greater diversity of the thylakoid length in grana and a decrease in thylakoid membrane stacking were revealed. A decrease of PSII and PSI light-harvesting antennae has been detected, for PSII by an increase of Chl a/b ratio and kinetics delay in chlorophyll fluorescence induction, and for PSI by a decrease of integral intensity in the excitation spectrum of fluorescence at 735 nm, which indicated a decline of PSI absorption cross-section. Some distortion of PSI complexes have been displayed by fluorescence spectra. A slight decrease in PSII photochemistry yield was detected for the spaceflight material. PSI is concluded to be more susceptible to the microgravity conditions.
Characterization of Plant Alcohol Dehydrogenase

The final activity of the alcohol dehydrogenase (E.C.1.1.1.1, abbreviated ADH) from germinating pea, isolated by fractionating with ammonium sulphate, chromatography on DEAE cellulose and gel filtration, was 80,000, from bean 25,000 and from lentil 13,500 units per mg protein. Molecular weights of the ADHs are close to each other: pea and bean ADH 60,000, lentil ADH 70,000. The Km values are mutually similar with three enzymes, i.e. of the order of 10−4M for NAD and 10−2M for ethanol. The pH optima lie in the alkaline region. These enzymes catalyse oxidation of a number of monovalent alcohols. At temperatures above 60°C the enzymes are thermally unstable. Stability is enhanced slowly by ethanol but not by NAD. Pyrazol, imidazol and pyridine inhibit plant ADH similarly to the enzyme from horse liver. There is a similarity between plant alcohol dehydrogenases and animal and yeast enzymes.
Efecto de Trichoderma harzianum y compost sobre el crecimiento de plántulas de Pinus radiata en vivero

La industria forestal en Chile representa la segunda fuente de divisas, donde Pinus radiata es la principal especie cultivada, lo que ha generado la busqueda de nuevas alternativas para incrementar tanto la produccion como la calidad de las plantulas. Entre estas se encuentran el uso de fuentes organicas de fertilizacion y el uso de hongos como Trichoderma harzianum. Este estudio pretende determinar la capacidad estimulante de una cepa nativa de T harzianum sobre plantulas de Pinus radiata y el efecto del uso de compost como sustrato sobre esta interaccion, tanto desde el punto de vista de la planta (vigor) como del hongo (poblacional). Los resultados obtenidos indican que la presencia conjunta de compost y T harzianum permite un incremento significativo en altura y biomasa de las plantas, asi como el desarrollo del sistema radical. Por su parte, la presencia de compost estimula un incremento poblacional del hongo T harzianum, indicando que la inoculacion de los sustratos utilizados para produccion de plantulas de P. radiata con T harzianum generaria un incremento significativo en el vigor de las plantulas producidas. Los mecanismos involucrados no han sido dilucidados
Obesity and Disturbed Lipoprotein Profile in Estrogen Receptor-α-Deficient Male Mice

Clinical case reports have documented disturbances of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in aromatase deficient and estrogen resistant males. The aim of the present study was to explore the metabolic functions of estrogens in male mice and to dissect the estrogen receptor (ER) specificity of such effects. Total body fat content and serum levels of leptin were followed in ERα knockout (ERKO), ERβ knockout (BERKO), and ERα/β double knockout (DERKO) mice. Neither the total body fat nor serum leptin levels were altered in any group before or during sexual maturation. However, after sexual maturation ERKO and DERKO, but not BERKO, demonstrated a clear increase in total body fat and enhanced serum leptin levels. Serum cholesterol was increased and a qualitative change in the lipoprotein profile, including smaller LDL particles, was observed in ERKO and DERKO mice. In conclusion, ERα but not ERβ-inactivated male mice develop obesity after sexual maturation.
The Role of the Palm Weevil, Rhynchophorus palmarum, as a Vector of Red Ring Disease of Coconuts. I. Results of Preliminary Investigations

The incidence of red ring disease was found to be highly correlated with the seasonal abundance of the palm weevil, Rhynchophorus palmarum (L.) Adult insects became contaminated with fragments of diseased tissue containing large numbers of nematodes after visiting diseased palms. The main source of contamination appeared to be the frass in tunnels excavated by the larvae during feeding, but adult weevils also became contaminated by bodily contact with diseased tissue and after walking through suspensions of worms in “pockets” in diseased palms. Internal contamination of the gut and body cavity also occurred following the feeding of insects on infected tissue. Virgin insects were found to be contaminated both externally and internally prior to emergence from their cocoons. The numbers of nematodes picked up by adult weevils was found to vary with the source of contamination, the density, stage, and activity of the worms present, and the age and feeding history of the insect. Longevity of the nematodes on the body surface of the insect varied between 2-6 days and was as long as 10 days in the gut and body cavity. External and internal contamination of the field population was found to be 38.5% and 9.8%, respectively. The incidence of red ring disease was significantly reduced following the application of endrin for palm weevil control.
The assessment of the effect of landfill leachate on ground-water quality: a case study. El-Akader landfill site-north Jordan

In the present study, the effect of the leachate from the major landfill in northern Jordan, El-Akader on the ground-water was investigated. Various physical and chemical parameters were estimated, this includes pH, total hardness, electrical conductivity, and total dissolved solids for the physical parameters. The chemical parameters included are major cations, Ca+2, Mg+2, Na+, and K+. Major anions, HCO−3, NO−23, Cl−, and SO−24, major ions PO−34, and heavy metals, Pb, Fe, Mn, Cd, and Zn. The landfill leachate is a result of both solid waste and septage waste. El-Akader dump site receive both solid waste and waste-water, the average septage volume received at El-Akader site is 2305 m3day−1, and almost 217 tankers with the capacity of 11 m3discharge their loads at El-Akader site. The total volume of solid waste dumped into the site was estimated to about 400 tonnes day−1. An area almost 6 km from the landfill site following the ground-water flow direction towards the north-eastern wards was covered. The results showed that the landfill leachates constitute a serious threat to the local aquifers.
DEMONSTRATION OF SMOOTH MUSCLE CONTRACTILE PROTEIN ANTIGENS IN LIVER AND EPITHELIAL CELLS

The presence of antismooth muscle autoantibodies in the sera of patients with active chronic hepatitis, and also in some other conditions not necessarily associated with liver disease, was discovered by use of cryostat sections from composite tissue blocks for routine immunofluorescent autoantibody tests. On sections that included rat stomach, liver, and kidney, these sera by the indirect test exhibited well-defined staining of smooth muscle fibers in the stomach mucosa and submucosa and of the smooth muscle coat of blood vessels in all three organs. It was noted2 that many such positive sera also displayed definite staining in areas that lack smooth muscle, for example, renal glomeruli and liver parenchymal cells; the latter cells were outlined t o yield a “polygonal” staining pattern. Both the smooth muscle and nonsmooth muscle staining patterns with positive sera were removed by adsorption with crude extracts of human uterine smooth muscle t i ~ s u e . ~ Positive sera often also stain microfilamentous structures in the cytoplasm and near the surface of various different cell types in tissue culture, and this staining is also prevented by prior absorption with smooth muscle e ~ t r a c t . ~ In addition, we have noted the ability of some positive sera t o stain bile ductule cells in liver sections and also the apical regions of epithelial cells in gastric mucosa and kidney tubules, and we have suggested that different contractile proteins present in various cell types are the target antigens. T o elucidate the appearance of smooth muscle antibody (SMA) in a variety of human diseases that d o not primarily affect smooth muscle tissue itself, we have studied the distribution of the different contractile smooth muscle-type proteins in tissues other than smooth muscle by means of antisera raised against the different individual proteins. We have used immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase labeling for this purpose and have obtained additional information about the intracellular localization of contractile proteins in epithelial and liver cells.
Development of some intestinal endocrine cell populations in water buffalo

Abstract The frequency and distribution of 5-hydroxytryptamin (5HT), somatostatin, cholecystokinin (CCK), motilin, gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon/glicentin (glu/gli) endocrine cells were immunohistochemically studied in the intestinal tract of 3, 6, 8 month old buffalo foetuses (m.f.) and of 2 day old (d) animals.