Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prostaglandin receptor distribution and function in the rat peripheral and central nervous system

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a chemical mediator of nociception that can evoke characteristic pain behaviour in animals after peripheral and spinal administration. The prostanoid is synthesised during tissue injury through activation of the arachidonic acid cascade, and its effects are mediated through binding to a family of specific G-protein coupled prostaglandin E (EP) receptors. The aim of the present study was to elucidate which EP receptors have an involvement in mediating the pro­ nociceptive effects of PGE2 within the rat peripheral and central nervous system. Western blotting was used to characterise novel and commercially available EP receptor antibodies in EP receptor expressing cells to create a distribution of EP receptor subtypes present in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and spinal cord of the rat A highly selective EP4 receptor antibody was identified, which immunocytochemically localised the EP4 receptor to small diameter (<1000pm2) DRG neurons of a nociceptor phenotype. In contrast, EP4 receptor expression within the spinal cord was widespread and was not restricted to any of the laminae associated with nociceptive processing. Cultured rat DRG neurons were used to study the direct and sensitising effects of PGE2 on sensory neurons. PGE2 was seen to evoke reproducible increases in intracellular calcium in a small proportion of capsaicin-sensitive DRG neurons following direct application. Conversely, PGE2 reproducibly enhanced the capsaicinelicited calcium response in a substantial proportion of DRG neurons and sensitised silent neurons to become capsaicin responsive, consistent with the prostanoid having a major sensitising effect on nociceptors. With the use of novel potent and selective EP receptor compounds, the EP3 and EP4 receptors were identified as the key receptors responsible for mediating the sensitising effects of PGE2 on sensory neurons. The present study provides new evidence for PGE2-mediated peripheral nociception being brought about via activation of EP3 and EP4 receptors, which identifies these two receptors as novel targets for the development of more efficacious treatment strategies for chronic pain states. Prostaglandin receptor distribution and function in the rat peripheral and central nervous system
A note on noise suppression in cell-size control

Diverse cell types employ mechanisms to maintain size homeostasis and minimize aberrant fluctuations in cell size. It is well known that exponential cellular growth can drive unbounded intercellular variations in cell size, if the timing of cell division is size independent. Hence coupling of division timing to size is an essential feature of size control. We formulate a stochastic model, where exponential cellular growth is coupled with random cell division events, and the rate at which division events occur increases as a power function of cell size. Interestingly, in spite of nonlinearities in the stochastic dynamical model, statistical moments of the newborn cell size can be determined in closed form, providing fundamental limits to suppression of size fluctuations. In particular, formulas reveal that the magnitude of fluctuations in the newborn size is determined by the inverse of the size exponent in the division rate, and this relationship is independent of other model parameters, such as the growth rate. We further expand these results to consider randomness in the partitioning of mother cell size among daughters at the time of division. The sensitivity of newborn size fluctuations to partitioning noise is found to monotonically decrease, and approach a non-zero value, with increasing size exponent in the division rate. Finally, we discuss how our analytical results provide limits on noise control in commonly used models for cell size regulation.
Comparison of Platelet Storage Lesions between Leukoreduced and Non-leukoreduced Canine Platelet Concentrates

COMPARISON OF PLATELET STORAGE LESIONS BETWEEN LEUKOREDUCED AND NON-LEUKOREDUCED CANINE PLATELET CONCENTRATES Marja Astrid Oscos Snowball Advisor: University of Guelph, 2016 Dr. Robert Darren Wood Background and objectives: Platelet storage lesions (PSL) are the sum of deleterious changes that platelets undergo during storage, affecting platelet concentrate viability for transfusion. In veterinary medicine, transfusion medicine has gained popularity and recent advances have been made. There is a continuous effort to prolong the shelf life and improve the quality of platelet concentrates. Removal of leukocytes has been proven to reduce febrile posttransfusion reactions and decrease platelet premature activation and apoptosis in humans. The present study objectives were to determine if leukoreduced canine platelet concentrates have fewer and delayed onset of in vitro storage lesions compared with non-leukoreduced concentrates and to determine which variable best predicts in vitro platelet viability. Methods: Platelet concentrates from twelve dogs were stored between 22°C – 24°C under continuous agitation for 7 days. Each sample was equally divided into leukoreduced (LR), leukoreduced control (LR-C), non-leukoreduced (NLR) and non-leukoreduced control (NLR-C) concentrates. Platelet count, platelet indices, platelet morphology; pH, glucose, HCO3, pO2, pCO2, and lactate levels; platelet aggregation, and P-selectin and Annexin V expression were assessed on days 1, 3, 5 and 7. All samples were sent for aerobic bacterial culture on day 7. Results: All bacterial cultures were negative and platelet counts did not change significantly over time. There was an earlier onset of decreased pH in NLR samples compared with LR but both decreased over time. All the other variables showed greater deleterious changes in NLR samples compared with LR samples except for platelet morphology and platelet aggregation, which did not have significant changes between LR and NLR, concentrates. No parameter clearly predicted platelet viability. Conclusion: The changes overtime were greater in NLR concentrates than in LR samples. These findings may correlate with a longer shelf life and better in vivo recovery and function of platelets in LR samples compared to NLR samples, but an in vivo study would be needed to confirm this. No single parameter was identified as a predictor of functional shelf life, but leukoreduction clearly improved platelet concentrate in vitro viability.
Evaluation of interactions between coffee and cardamom, their type, and strength in relation to interactions in a model system

ABSTRACT This paper presents a study on determination of antiradical potential, ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), chelating power (CHEL), OH∙ scavenging capacity (OH), superoxide dismutase-like activity, lipoxygenase (LOXi), and xanthine oxidase (XOi) inhibitory potential and also interactions between the phytochemicals from coffee and cardamom based on their bioaccessibility in vitro. Evaluation of interactions between coffee and cardamom in a model system showed that phenolic compounds may be responsible for the analyzed activity of the tested extracts. It was observed for FRAP, CHEL, and XOi that raw and digested extracts showed the same interactions as chemical standards. However, the LOX inhibitors present in raw extracts acted synergistically like chemical standards, but due to the changes during the simulated digestion process the kind of interaction between active compounds changed. Correlation between tested extracts and model system, despite the high bioaccessibility of the compounds with this capacity, was not only found for OH∙ radical neutralization.
Degradación de la vitamina C en un producto de mango (Mangifera indica L.) y lactosuero

This study aimed to determine the kinetics of vitamin C degradation in a product made from mango pulp (Mangifera indica L.) and whey protein powder, in order to determine the effect of temperature on its conservation and further evaluate the behavior of the L*, a*, b* and the total color difference (ΔE) in the powder product. Vitamin C was determined by the aoac 967.21/90 method using 2,6-dichlorophenol indophenol, and the color was quantified with a HunterLab Color Flex EZ colorimeter. Vitamin C showed greater stability in the powder product stored at 4 °C with a concentration at the end of the eighth sampling week of 13.94 ± 1.2 mg/10 0 g-1 sample and showing a first order degradation kinetics with k1 values of 0.014 and 0.041 mg/100 g/week at temperatures of 4 °C and 28 °C, respec-tively. The greatest variations in color occurred in samples stored at 28 °C, indicating the influence of the temperature change on the product compo-nents. In addition, L*, a* and b* parameters were less affected under storage temperature of 4 °C, and their values correspond to a second degree polynomial.
New systematic and phylogenetic data about the early Barremian Iguanodon galvensis (Ornithopoda: Iguanodontoidea) from Spain

Abstract Iguanodon galvensis is the second valid species in the European and Barremian large-ornithopod genus Iguanodon. In the present work, the I. galvensis holotype and referred material from the lower Barremian of Spain are described and discussed in detail. As a result, emended diagnoses of Iguanodon, I. galvensis and I. bernissartensis are proposed; I. galvensis can now be identified by three autapomorphies in the dentary, ischium and femur as well as a unique combination of characters. Moreover, I. galvensis is compared with other European Early Cretaceous large styracosternans. Finally, a new phylogenetic hypothesis is proposed that resolves Iguanodon (I. bernissartensis, I. galvensis) with the Valanginian Barilium dawsoni into a monophyletic clade (Iguanodontoidea).
Seasonal fluctuation of photosynthetic pigments of most common red seaweeds species collected from Abu Qir, Alexandria, Egypt

espanolSe investigaron los cambios estacionales en la composicion de pigmentos [Clorofila a (Cl-a), carotenoides totales (Car.), ficobiliproteinas (ficoeritrina (PE), ficocianina (PC), aloficocianina (APC))], en 5 especies de Rhodophyta. Los niveles de clorofila a, carotenoides y ficobiliproteinas presentaron altos contenidos durante invierno, y disminuyeron en verano, mostrando decoloracion de tejidos de rojo a verde o amarillo. Los resultados muestran que los contenidos de pigmentos variaron estacionalmente con respecto a las especies de algas, y a los cambios de los parametros fisico-quimicos, mientras que el pH, oxigeno disuelto, NO3-, NO2-, NH4+, nitrogeno total (TN) y fosfato total (TP) tuvieron un impacto directo sobre el contenido de pigmentos fotosinteticos, y la temperatura tuvo una correlacion negativa significativa sobre los pigmentos fotosinteticos. EnglishSeasonal changes of pigment composition [Chlorophyll a (Chl-a), total carotenoid (Car.), phycobiliproteins (phycoerythrin (PE), phycocyanin (PC), allophycocyanin (APC))], in the 5 species of Rhodophyta were investigated. Chl-a, carotenoids and phycobiliproteins levels showed high contents during winter, whereas decreased in summer showing discoloration tissue from deep red to green or yellow. The results show that the pigment contents were varied seasonally with respect to the algal species and physical and chemical parameters changes, while pH, dissolved oxygen, NO3-, NO2-, NH4+, total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) had direct impact on photosynthetic pigments content, and temperature had significant negative correlation on photosynthetic pigments.
SEISMOSAURUS HALLORUM: OSTEOLOGICAL RECONSTRUCTION FROM THE HOLOTYPE

The Late Jurassic sauropod dinosaur, Seismosaurus hallorum, from the Morrison Formation of New Mexico, is reconstructed as a full-scale replica using casts of the holotype. We document the osteology of prepared elements from the thoracic, pelvic and caudal regions in comparison to related diplodocids. The thoracic vertebrae are described pending further preparation. A sauropod femur, collected with this material and believed to have been from the same individual, is also described. Using osteo-morphological comparisons with closely related diplodocids, pre- vious axial length estimates of 39-52 meters for Seismosaurus hallorum are questioned, and the overall length is reinterpreted to have been approximately 33 meters.
Growth Performance, Proximate Muscle Composition and Dress-Out Percentage of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), Blue Tilapia (Oreochromis aureus) and their Interspecific Hybrid (♂ O. aureus X ♀ O. niloticus) Cultured in Semi-Intensive Culture System

O. niloticus and O. aureus and their interspecific hybrid (♂ O. aureus x ♀ O. niloticus), frys were produced in early September 2008 from a mass spawning of brooders in earthen spawning ponds. Frys for each genotype were nursed and overwintered in deep nursery ponds. Thereafter; six earthen growout ponds were used for communal stocking of each genotype (two replicates genotype -1 ). The growth performance of purebred O. niloticus, O. aureus and their interspecific hybrid (♂O. aureus x ♀O. niloticus) were studied. The highest records (P 0.05); however; it should be noted that value of the crude lipid content was lower in the interspecific hybrid (♂O. aureus x ♀O. niloticus) than in purebred genotypes. Meanwhile, the hybrid dress-out% was intermediate to the purebred parental genotypes. These advantages of hybrid (♂O. aureus x ♀O. niloticus) together with its characteristics for salinity, cold tolerance and disease resistance as reported in previous works are highly indicative for the commercialization of hybrid tilapia farming in Egypt. It should also pointed out that it is not an intention to promote hybridization as the only method of genetic improvement, but simply as one method of improvement that has potential for some immediate gains. Desirable traits can usually be passed to the hybrid in one generation but it should be appreciated that hybridization can be a hit and miss proposition. Additionally; it may be desirable to backcross to either parental line or to breed the hybrids together and then select the best animals, thus combining hybridization and selective breeding.
Incidence of Bacterial Disease and Yield of Broccoli as Influenced by Different Rain Protectors and Varieties during the Rainy Season in Southern Thailand

This study is mainly focused on evaluating the effects of different rain protectors and broccoli varieties to find out whether rain protector and variety is suitable or not for broccoli production during rainy season. Broccoli was experimented at Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, southern Thailand. Study revealed that broccoli growing under plastic sheet and green shade net had lower incidence of soft rot disease (1.62 and 3.75%, respectively) than those grown in open field (13.33%) while their growing under plastic sheet (1.50%) had lower incidence of black rot disease than those grown under green shade net and open field (18.75 and 32.88%, respectively). All broccoli varieties were found to be statistically different in their response towards soft rot and black rot diseases. However, the Top Green had the highest diseases incidence (8.33 and 21.08%, respectively) while the Yok Kheo had the lowest diseases incidence (4.62 and 0.00%, respectively). The highest total yield was obtained from the Yok Kheo when those grown under plastic sheet (13.48 t/ha) while the Top Green had lowest yield when those grown in open field (3.94 t/ha). Therefore, the most suitable method for broccoli production during rainy season in southern Thailand was to grow under plastic sheet and green shade net by using the three varieties of broccoli.
Effect of inactivated yeast on rumen dry matter degradation and fermentation of low concentrate feed

Life yeast is known to improve rumen fermentation characteristics and performance, especially with high concentrate diet, while reports on inactivated yeast are ambiguous. Therefore, the present study focused on short-term effects of inactivated yeast (Levabon) with an inclusion rate of 0 or 50 g per head per day on in situ rumen dry matter degradability (ISDMD) of a total mixed ration (66.6% grass silage, 14.5% maize silage, 6.3% soybean meal, 6.3% wheat and 6.3% barley) and its individual feedstuffs at low level of feed intake (7 kg/day) and at low concentrate diet. Eight non lactating rumen fistulated dairy cattle were used in a 4 × 2 Latin square designs in two identical periods (each period extended for 23 days) to measure in situ rumen degradation characteristics. Samples from the ruminal fluid were collected for further investigation (ruminal pH value, volatile fatty acids (VFAs), and ammonia nitrogen as well as acetate propionate ratio). The obtained results of this experiment indicated that Levabon had no effect on rumen dry matter degradability of the total mixed ration and its individual feedstuffs. Levabon had no effect on rumen dry matter degradability parameters and effective rumen dry matter degradability of the different feedstuffs. Moreover, rumen physiological parameters (rumen pH values, volatile fatty acid (VFAs) and ammonia nitrogen, as well as acetate propionate ratio), was not affected due to the addition of Levabon. In conclusion, under the present feeding conditions (low level of feed intake and high proportion of structured roughage), Levabon had no effect on rumen dry matter degradability or rumen physiological parameter due to absence of dietary factors challenging rumen fermentation.
Direct and context-dependent effects of light, temperature, and phytoplankton shape bacterial community composition

Species interactions, environmental conditions, and stochastic processes work in concert to bring about changes in community structure. However, the relative importance of specific factors and how their combined influence affects community composition remain largely unclear. We conducted a multi-factorial experiment to 1) disentangle the direct and interaction-mediated effects of environmental conditions and 2) augment our understanding of how environmental context modulates species interactions. We focus on a planktonic system where interactions with phytoplankton effect changes in the composition of bacterial communities, and light and temperature conditions can influence bacteria directly as well as through their interactions with phytoplankton. Epilimnetic bacteria from two humic lakes were combined with phytoplankton assemblages from each lake (“home” or “away”) or a no-phytoplankton control and incubated for 5 days under all combinations of light (surface, ∼25% surface irradiance) and temperature (5 levels from 10°C to 25°C). Observed light effects were primarily direct while phytoplankton and temperature effects on bacterial community composition were highly interdependent. The influence of temperature on aquatic bacteria was consistently mediated by phytoplankton and most pronounced for bacteria incubated with “away” phytoplankton treatments, likely due to the availability of novel phytoplankton-derived resources. The effects of phytoplankton on bacterial community composition were generally increased at higher temperatures. Incorporating mechanisms underlying the observed interdependent effects of species interactions and environmental conditions into modeling frameworks may improve our ability to forecast ecological responses to environmental change.
Molecular systematics of Sander, and hybridization between walleye and sauger

Sander and its percid relatives have been the subject of several phylogenetic inquiries. The purpose of this chapter is to focus on efforts to elucidate the intragenus and familywide relationships using molecular genetic techniques. In addition to the currently recognized phylogenetic relations among Sander and other Percidae, a review of previous research is presented outlining the various methods and findings from key research into their evolution. A preview of future techniques and efforts is provided. The last half of this chapter is focused on hybridization between walleye and sauger and includes the occurrence of natural hybrids and methods used to detect the hybrids effectively, as well as brief reference to other Sander species hybrids.
The mesozooplankton of the Patos Lagoon Estuary, Brazil: trends in community structure and secondary production

ABSTRACT The zooplankton abundance and composition of the Patos Lagoon Estuary (PLE) reflects the local hydrological regime with alternating periods of flood, freshwater run-off and mixing of water. However, little is known about the interannual zooplankton variations and secondary productivity of this community. We sampled zooplankton monthly at two stations within the estuary from April 2009 to March 2013. The brackish/marine calanoid copepod Acartia tonsa was found to play an important role in the PLE, with secondary production values of 1.17 mg C m−3 day−1 being comparable with the high values achieved in other estuaries worldwide. During the study period, the greatest change in the community structure was observed in the spring-summer under El Niño influence when the prolonged terrestrial run-off combined with higher temperatures allowed the establishment of a freshwater community that was largely composed of the calanoid copepod Notodiaptomus incompositus, cyclopoids and cladocerans. The freshwater copepod N. incompositus, which replaced A. tonsa, was second in importance with regard to production (mean 0.13 C m−3 day−1). Our work emphasizes the ecological importance of long-term zooplankton monitoring studies and provides the first assessment of N. incompositus production.
A Student-Centric Research and Education Programme on Heavy Metal Pollution of Water Bodies from Selected Indian Cities

A research and education programme on environmental chemistry has been initiated to train a few selected undergraduate students so that they can take up environment-related issues and challenges for longterm sustainability of the ecosystem. The main goal of this programme is to instill 'responsible citizenship behaviour' in them in order to carry forward the huge task of environmental protection through research activities and community awareness programmes. Here we report spectrophotometer-based estimation of hexavalent chromium (9.5-337 μg l -1 ), lead (20-158 μg l -1 ), cadmium (from below detection limit to 34 μg l -1 ) and nickel (from below detection limit to 19 μg l -1 ) concentrations in different rivers, surface and groundwater bodies collected from selected cities of India. Our results indicate that with the exception of nickel, majority of the studied water bodies and aquifers are contaminated to variable degrees with the analysed dissolved heavy metals. In view of low geochemical baseline values for chromium, cadmium and lead, the origin of heavy metal pollution is inferred to be anthropogenic, mainly originating from industrial activities and indiscriminate dumping of waste material. The toxicological data are integrated with published health data and it is found that the heavy metalpolluted water bodies pose serious threat to the human population and the ecosystem. At certain sites, we suggest that remediation measures need to be taken up immediately. We also briefly highlight the novelty of this student-centric research programme.