Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modulation of antioxidant and detoxification responses induced by lipoic acid in the Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931) subjected to hypoxia and re-oxygenation

The effect of lipoic acid supplementation and moderate hypoxia (3 mg/L), followed by re-oxygenation, was analyzed in terms of antioxidant and oxidative damage responses in juvenile shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei. Lipoic acid (LA)-enriched rations (D1: 76.4 ± 6.4; D2: 196.4 ± 70.2; and D3: 397.2 ± 79.97 mg LA/kg) were offered to shrimps. A control group without LA adding was also run. After 45 days, LA-enriched ration increased the activity of the detoxifying enzyme glutathione-S-transferase in gills. Total antioxidant capacity against peroxy radicals was augmented in gills and hepatopancreas at doses D2 and D3. Doses D1 and D2 of LA reduced the levels of oxidative damage (lipid peroxidation) in gills and hepatopancreas. The results showed that certain LA doses (particularly D2) improved not only antioxidant responses but also weight gain. It can be concluded that LA triggered antioxidant and detoxification protection in L. vannamei, allowing the shrimp to cope with environmental stressful factors.
Resistance to complete submergence in Rumex species with different life histories: the influence of plant size and light

Resistance to complete submergence was tested in three Rumex species that occur in the Dutch river forelands. The species differ in both habitat and life history characteristics. The annual or biennial R. maritimus and the biennial or short lived perennial R. palustris grow on frequently flooded mud flats of low elevation, while the perennial R. thyrsiflorus can be found on dykes and river dunes that are seldom flooded. The flooding characteristics of the habitats of the three species were determined. These data were used to design experiments to determine the survival and biomass development of the three species during submergence and the influence of plant size and light level on these parameters. It was shown in all three species that plants submerged during daytime were much more resistant to flooding than those submerged at night. This is most probably due to the generation of oxygen or carbohydrates by underwater photosynthesis. Mature plants of the three species showed higher survival after submergence than juvenile plants, which might be caused by higher carbohydrate levels in the taproots of mature plants. In addition, the three species clearly differed in survival and biomass development during submergence. Rumex thyrsiflorus, the species least subjected to flooding, is least tolerant to complete submergence. Rumex maritimus, which can avoid the floods by having a short life cycle, is less tolerant to submergence than R. palustris, which has to survive the floods as a vegetative plant. It was noted that some plants that survived the flooding period itself, still died in the following period of drained conditions, possibly due to post-anoxic injury.
Oral hygiene practices of doctors in a tertiary hospital in North-West Nigeria

Introduction: Oral hygiene is an important aspect of personal hygiene. Doctors are expected to be in the forefront in promoting the general well-being of the populace. However, oral and dental health are areas that are often neglected by nondental doctors during patient consultation; therefore, for a doctor to give an effective advice, his/her knowledge and practice of good oral hygiene should be optimal according to the laid down guidelines. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Medical doctors in the hospital were consecutively recruited, and a pretested self-administered questionnaire was employed. The questionnaire contained information on their oral hygiene and their care for patient oral hygiene. Results: There were 36 (66.7%) males and 18 (33.3%) females, with a male-to-female ratio of 2:1. Toothpaste and toothbrush were the most common materials used for oral cleansing; majority of the respondents change their toothbrush within 2–3 months. Most respondents brushed their mouth/teeth twice (66.7%) in a day; however, other oral cleansing materials were documented in 66.7% of the respondents; their use were mostly after meals and majority (44.4%) used wooden toothpicks. Use of dental floss was reported in only 41.7% of the respondents; lack of information on the need for dental flossing was the main reason among respondents who did not floss. Conclusion: Toothpaste and toothbrush are the most common oral cleansing materials; the respondents in this study frequently changed their toothbrush and most respondents cleaned their mouth twice in a day and use of dental floss was less reported among the respondents.
The effect and site of action of potassium upon magnesium absorption in sheep

The effect of potassium chloride infusion to the rumen or duodenum of sheep upon the absorption of magnesium from the stomach and intestinal regions has been examined. Three Merino ewes, each prepared with a cannula into the rumen and a re-entrant cannula into the duodenum, were offered a basal diet (control) which provided 46.3–51.1 mmoles magnesium and 299–320 mmoles potassium per day. Potassium chloride (500–800 mmoles/day) was infused continuously to either the rumen or duodenum. Digesta fluid flows were estimated from the dilution of a Cr-EDTA solution continuously infused to the rumen. Potassium infusion to either gastrointestinal site led to a comparable increase in the water intake, urine volume and levels of plasma and urinary potassium. Infusion to the rumen caused a marked increase in the potassium levels and a decrease in sodium levels in rumen fluid, as well as an increase in the rumen fluid to blood bioelectrical potential. No effect of treatment on digesta fluid flows was observed. Net magnesium absorption was lowered only when potassium was infused to the rumen, and the reduction was almost entirely due to reduced absorption of magnesium from the stomach. There was no consistent effect on absorption of magnesium from the intestines. Plasma magnesium levels were lowered by both the intraruminal infusion and, to a lesser extent, the duodenal infusion of potassium. The results indicate that although one consequence of potassium ingestion by sheep may be an enhancement of the urinary excretion of magnesium, the major effect on magnesium metabolism is a substantial reduction of absorption of magnesium from the reticulorumen.
Inflorescence Formation in Olive as Influenced by Low Temperature, Photoperiod, and Leaf Area

A study was made to ascertain both the organ or organs of perception of low temperatures and the degree of localization of the flowering response to low temperatures, and to determine the relation of photoperiod and leaf area to the low-temperature requirement for flowering in the olive (Olea europaea L.). It was found that the flowering response to low temperatures is localized in the portion of the tree exposed to such temperatures. Localized chilling treatments show that it is not necessary to chill the leaf blades in order to stimulate inflorescence formation, provided the stem and buds are chilled. With respect to inflorescence formation, experiments indicate that the olive is a day-neutral plant, with an obligate low-temperature requirement. Leaf area is important for inflorescence formation, but as little as 10% of the leaf area on small girdled shoots is sufficient to promote normal numbers of inflorescences. The influence of leaves on inflorescence formation is not translocated from one scaffold branch of a tree to another. Inflorescence formation on a small shoot, however, is influenced by the leaves on the surrounding parts of the tree, and this influence is intercepted by removing a ring of bark which includes the phloem. Darkened leaves, under certain conditions, promote inflorescence formation. Even though the leaves do not seem to be involved in the perception of low temperatures, it appears that low temperatures and the leaf influence must act concurrently in order to stimulate inflorescence formation.
Keratins (Kl6 and Kl7) as markers of keratinocyte hyperproliferation in psoriasis in vivo and in vitro

Summary Keratinocyte differentiation in psoriasis was examined using a panel of monospecific monoclonal antibodies to keratins (K), including two recently dcveloped monoclonal antibodies raised to carboxy terminal peptides of K6 (LL020) and Kl6 (LL025). Keratinocytes from normal skin, untreated psoriatic plaques and non‐lesional psoriatic skin, were cultured using multiple in vitro Systems. Timelapse cinephotography was used to measure the intermitotic time of normal and psoriatic keratinocytes in both low calcium‐defined and serum‐containing media. The intermitotic time did not differ significantly between psoriatic and normal keratinocytes. Keratin expression of psoriatic and normal keratinocytes in vitro was examined by both gel electrophoresis and immunocytochemistry. K6. K16 and Kl7 were detected suprabasally in all culture Systems in vitro, but only in interfollicular psoriatic epidermis in vivo. and not in normal skin. Small subpopulations of keratinocytes expressed simple epithelial keratins K7, K8, Kl8 and K19 in cultures on plastic Substrates, but these keratins were absent in skin equivalents of normal or psoriatic skin. No psoriasis‐spesfic pattern of differentiation was found in vitro. As the K6 peptide antibody reacted with basal cells of normal skin. probably due to K5 cross‐reactivity. K16 expression determined by LL025 was found to be the most sensitive indicator of the psoriatic state of differentiation. and this antibody is recommended for future work on psoriasis. Kl7 had a distinct pattern of tissue distribution in normal skin: Kl7. but not K16. was present in basal myoepithelial cells in sweat glands. and the dccp outer root shealh. but Kl 7 distribution parallelcd that ol'Klfi in suprabasal psoriatic epidermis. As keratins K6. Kid and Kl 7 are expressed in keratinocyte hyperproliferation. when high Ievels of certain cytokines are also expressed. the role of growth factors and regulalory nuclear transcription factors in the control of K6, K16 and Kl7 cxpression in psoriasis requires further study, in order to provide insight into the relationship between proliferation and differentiation.
Vocalizations of the Aldabra white-throated rail Dryolimnas cuvieri aldabranus

Ten categories of vocalization of the Aldabra white-throated rail were recognized from sonagraphic analysis. The behavioural contexts for each call were described and call structure related to function. Intermediates were noted between some of the calls and most calls had elements common to other calls. The calls were divided into two groups, one group of calls relating to alarm and interspecific aggression, and the other containing calls which occurred predominantly within a sexual context. One call, the ’mp, could be assigned to either group for the ’mp element is common to both groups. Each group appeared to represent a graded system within which the calls could be placed on a continuum which reflected an increasing level of arousal of the calling bird.
Injury Profile of Male and Female Senior and Youth Handball Players: A Systematic Review

Handball is a team sport in which players are exposed to high physical conditioning requirements and several contacts and collisions, so they must face various musculoskeletal injuries throughout their career. The aim of this study was to summarize the characteristics of handball injuries both in training and in competition contexts, differentiating by gender and age. A systematic review was conducted and a total of 15 studies (33 cohorts) met the inclusion criteria. Higher injury incidence was reported during matches compared to training sessions in all groups (i.e., male and female senior and youth players), with male senior players presenting the greatest values. Lower extremities were more frequently injured, being contusions and sprains the most common type of injuries. Females reported more serious injuries than males, who presented a higher percentage of acute injuries caused by direct contact, while in female players these injuries were not caused by direct contact actions. Wings and backs presented the highest injury incidence; additionally, players registered higher match incidence during international championships compared to national leagues. Due to the differences in the injury profile of handball players, specific preventive strategies should be implemented for each group to optimize the injury prevention process.
Natural Oscillations of the Bay of Fundy

The one-dimensional channel equations are integrated numerically to determine the periods and structures of the lowest three longitudinal modes of free oscillations of the Bay of Fundy. It is found that the period of the lowest mode is 9.047 hr rather than somewhere in the vicinity of the M2 tidal period of 12.42 hr, as has been supposed hitherto. This estimate of the free period is obtained without considering the effects of rotation and friction, but an approximate treatment of these effects shows that their effect on the period is very small — rotation tends to decrease the period by less than 3% and friction tends to increase it by 1% at the most. The periods of the second and third modes are found to be 5.383 and 3.475 hr. The modal structures and their modification produced by rotational effects are presented.
Interleukin-7 Receptor is Indispensable for Proliferation and Survival in Thymic γδT Cell Development

Interleukin-7 receptor (IL-7R) α-deficient mice have small numbers of B cells and αβT cells in periphery, they totally lack γδT cells. In addition, the V-J recombination and transcription of TCR γ genes is also severely impaired in IL-7R α-deficient mice. Stat5, a signaling molecule of the IL-7R, induces germline transcription in the TCR γ locus, and promotes V-J recombination and γδT cell development. However, the roles for IL-7R signaling pathway in thymic or extrathymic γδT cell development are largely unknown. Methods: To clarify the role of the IL-7 receptor in proliferation and survival of γδT cells, we introduced the TCR γδ transgene, V γ2 /Vδ 5 , into IL-7R α-deficient mice, and investigated the development of γδT cells. Results: We found that V γ2 /Vδ 5 transgene restored γδT cells in the epithelium of the small intestine (IEL) but not in the thymus and the spleen. Further addition of a bcl-2 transgene resulted in partial recovery of γδT cells in the thymus and the spleen of these mice. Conclusion: Taken together, this study revealed that the IL-7R α is indispensable for proliferation and survival mainly in thymic γδT cell development.
A critical assessment of the form of the interspecific relationship between abundance and body size in animals

1. Despite a wealth of studies for a wide variety of animal assemblages, the form of the interspecific relationship between abundance and body size is still contentious. At least three different patterns have been suggested, which can broadly be characterized as negative and linear, negative but non-linear, and polygonal. At least eight different mechanisms have been suggested whereby the linear (or non-linear) and polygonal patterns can be reconciled. 2. We collated data from the literature on over 500 interspecific plots of the abundance-body size relationship with two aims. First, to examine the extent to which published studies support the different forms proposed for the relationship; and secondly, to test whether any of the mechanisms that have been suggested to reconcile linear and polygonal patterns actually do so. 3. The data revealed that abundance-body size relationships commonly assume both linear negative and polygonal forms. Around 25% of all plots of the relationship show a positive regression slope. 4. Of the eight mechanisms that have been suggested to reconcile linear and polygonal patterns, we were able to test five. Of these, only the measure of density used by a study explains none of the observed variation in abundance-body size relationships. Variation in the regression slope between studies is only explained by the type of data used (compilations vs. samples) and the scale of study (local vs. regional): compilation studies at regional scales show more linear negative relationships, while sample studies performed at local scales show more polygonal patterns. General linear modelling indicates that study scale is the most important factor influencing when different relationships are likely to arise. 5. Our results show that different patterns tend to arise at different scales of study, but say nothing about whether the patterns are real or artefactual. Polygonal relationships potentially contain an artefactual component, resulting from sampling methodology inadequate to elucidate the abundances of the less common species in any given assemblage. However, the presence of a sampling artefact does not indicate the shape of the underlying relationship from which a sample is taken, or indeed whether samples would exhibit any other shape were artefacts excluded. 6. Linear and polygonal patterns are not necessarily mutually exclusive, but may both indicate the 'true' abundance-body size relationship at different spatial scales. We conclude by suggesting that much more attention be paid to the effect of spatial scale on this relationship, especially given that scale of measurement can have subtle but severe consequences.
Extinction and isolation gradients in metapopulations: the case of the pool frog (Rana lessonae)

Local extinction along the intrinsic isolation gradient within metapopulations is reviewed with particular referenceto a study of the pool frog ( Rana lessonae ) on the northern periphery of its geographical range. As inthe pool frog, many other different taxa show significantly increased extinction probabilities with increased interpopulationdistance. Present data imply that the relative impact of demographic and genetic factors in such stochastic extinctionsdepends on the genetic history of the metapopulation; data also imply that populations fluctuate more greatly in size thanpredicted from demographic models which have been commonly referred to. By mitigating such fluctuations and inbreeding, andcompensating for emigration, immigration undoubtedly “rescues” local populations from extinction. In this way, andnot just in terms of recolonization, connectivity is concluded to be a key to metapopulation persistence. Implications forconservation are also presented.
A Robust DNA Amplification Fingerprinting System Applied to Analysis of Genetic Variation Within Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense

Genetic variation among isolates of F. oxysporum f sp. cubense (Foc) was analysed using a DNA amplification fingerprinting (DAF) system modified to improve reproducibility and transportability This analysis was done after determining the widest tolerance range (or 'window of reproducibility') for each component in amplification reaction. Reproducible polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) were achieved with between 25 and 250 ng of template DNA, 9-15 μM primer, 4-6 mM MgCl and 2-4 units of Stoffel Fragment enzyme For experimental work we used the middle value of these ranges which allowed at least 20% error tolerance for each component. Similarly, thermocycling and electrophoresis conditions were also improved. Manual scoring of the DNA fingerprints was compared to analysis of scanned gel images using the Gel Compar program (Applied Maths, Kortrijk, Belgium). The data were clustered by unweighted pair group method analysis (UPGMA) based on the Jaccard similarity coefficient. Isolates of Foc representing all known vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs) were examined and the genetic relationships between the VCGs were determined Isolates of Foc were divided into two major groups with 30% genetic similarity. These optimized DNA amplification, thermocycling, and electrophoresis conditions were suitable for analysis of other organisms and should be applicable to other techniques that use arbitrary primers such as random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and arbitrarily primed-PCR (AP-PCR).
The function of endogenous cathepsin in quality deterioration of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) fillets stored in chilling conditions

Summary Changes of textural properties and cathepsin activity of grass carp fillets during storage in superchilling (−1.5 ± 0.2 °C) and ice (0.2 ± 0.1 °C) was investigated, and the function of cathepsin in quality deterioration of grass carp fillets was discussed. Results showed that shear force of superchilled and ice-stored fillets decreased by 50% and 55% after 6 days of storage, respectively. The cathepsin activies in different fractions changed significantly during storage at both conditions. Cathepsin B, B+L activities in sarcoplasma, myofibrillar and heavy mitochondrial fraction significantly increased during the early 3 days postmortem, accompanied by remarkable reduction of corresponding activity in lysosome. Cathepsin D activity in sarcoplasma and myofibrillar significantly increased during 6 days of storage with corresponding decrease in lysosome and heavy mitochondria. Correlation analysis showed that changes of shear force of grass carp fillets were significantly correlated with integration of cathepsin B, D and B+L throughout storage time (r2 > 0.94). As derived from the first-order exponential decay model, the enzyme efficiencies (ka) of cathepsin B and B+L were more than twofold higher than those of cathepsin D, suggesting the major role of cathepsin B and B+L in textural deterioration of grass carp fillets in chilling storage.
Carboxylesterase genes in nitenpyram‐resistant brown planthoppers, Nilaparvata lugens

Carboxylesterases (CarEs) represent one of the major detoxification enzyme families involved in insecticide resistance. However, the function of specific CarE genes in insecticide resistance is still unclear in the insect Nilaparvata lugens (Stål), a notorious rice crop pest in Asia. In this study, a total of 29 putative CarE genes in N. lugens were identified, and they were divided into seven clades; further, the β‐esterase clade was significantly expanded. Tissue‐specific expression analysis found that 17 CarE genes were abundantly distributed in the midgut and fat body, while 12 CarE genes were highly expressed in the head. The expression of most CarE genes was significantly induced in response to the challenge of nitenpyram, triflumezopyrim, chlorpyrifos, isoprocarb and etofenprox. Among these, the expression levels of NlCarE2, NlCarE4, NlCarE9, NlCarE17 and NlCarE24 were increased by each insecticide. Real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and RNA interference assays revealed the NlCarE1 gene to be a candidate gene mainly involved in nitenpyram resistance, while simultaneously silencing NlCarE1 and NlCarE19 produced a stronger effect than silencing either one individually, suggesting a cooperative relationship in resistance formation. These findings lay the foundation for further clarification of insecticide resistance mediated by CarE in N. lugens.