Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
DEADEND1 GENETICS IN MOUSE MODELS OF TESTICULAR GERM CELL TUMOURS AND THEIR METASTASES

by JENNIFER LYNN ZECHEL Testicular germ cell tumours (TGCTs), which comprise 95% of all testicular cancers, are a group of neoplasms that affect young men. In the last 40 years, the incidence of this cancer has steadily risen throughout the world. Despite the strong heritability of the disease, few genetic or epigenetic risk factors have been identified. Metastases are a prominent feature of the human disease and are responsible for most of the morbidity and mortality associated with TGCTs. The 129 strain family of mice develop spontaneous TGCTs and are a useful organism to study this disease, but the applicability to human disease is subject to debate. We discovered that the mouse model also develops spontaneous metastases in approximately 11% of affected males, suggesting that TGCTs in mice may be more relevant to human TGCTs than previously thought. Moreover, metastasis rates remain consistent between 129 strains with TGCT modifier genes, even when TGCT rates vary. This suggests that the TGCT genetic susceptibility found in 129 strain mice may include a predisposition to metastasis. In order to further characterize one of these genetic modifiers, Dnd1, we created Dnd1 knockout mice and have found several new functions for DND1. Surprisingly, we found that complete loss of DND1 is embryonically lethal, and that intercrossing animals with Dnd1 alleles reveals a Dnd1 segregation bias. We have also
Intracellular fate of AAV particles in human Dendritic Cell and impact on Gene Transfer

Vectors derived from the Adeno-associated virus (AAV) have emerged as an efficient system for in vivo gene transfer. However, despite their low immunogenicity and good tolerance in vivo, a better characterization of the host-AAV interaction is required to be able to fully exploit AAV’s potential fora gene therapy or gene vaccination. In this PhD project, we have used an in vitro directed evolution strategy to select an AAV capsid variant able to transduce human dendritic cell (DC), a non-permissive cell type which plays a critical role in the initiation of immune responses and, consequently, on the persistence of the expression of transgene in vivo. This procedure allowed us to identify an AAV variant characterized by a decreased stability of the capsid in vitro. The use of this mutant as a vector to transduce human DC resulted in an improved uncoating of the vector genome in the cell nucleus, thus identifying this step as major barrier toward DC transduction. Interestingly, the selected variant also displayed an increased transduction efficiency not only in DC but also in different primary human and animal cell types, poorly or non-permissive to AAV. Finally, when injected in mice, this AAV variant resulted in a higher expression of the transgene, associated to a low level of immune responses, suggesting the induction of tolerant state. The remarkable features suggest that our selected variant capsid is a promising candidate for medical applications.
Computerized electrocardiography in healthy conscious guinea pigs ( Cavia porcellus ) 1

Botelho A.F. M. , Oliveira M.S., Soto-Blanco B. & Melo M.M. 2016. Computerized electrocardiography in healthy conscious guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus). Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 36(12):1203-1208. Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinárias, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Presidente Antônio Carlos 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG 31275-013, Brazil. E-mail: anaflaviamabo@gmail.com The purpose of this study is to evaluate healthy conscious guinea pigs as a model for electrophysiology assessment and to describe normal electrocardiographic patterns in controlled laboratory environment, establishing the best QT formula for this method. Electrocardiographic recordings of fifty adult conscious guinea pigs were obtained using a computerized electrocardiography. The electrocardiographic measurements of three different tracings were analyzed. The results obtained established normal mean and range values for the parameters: heart rate, waves and intervals of P-QRS-T deflections, as well as the mean cardiac axis. Groups were separated by body weight: group 1 gathered animals with 500-699g and group 2 with animals 700-900g. No differences were found when measurements were compared between groups, showing no significant difference between weight/ body sizes to the electrocardiographic parameters (P<0.05). The mean corrected QT values (QTc) obtained using diverse formulae were significantly different (P<0.05), were the most consistent was Van der Water (QTcV). QTcV values were strongly correlated (r=98) and 95% confidence interval 185.7 to 195.2ms. Considering its simplicity and reliability, the QTcV was deemed the most appropriate to be used for the correction of QT interval in conscious guinea pigs.The results of this study also suggest that the values found can be used as reference for the species.
Chemical and Physical-Chemical Properties, Antioxidant Activity and Fatty Acids Profile of Red Pitaya [Hylocereus Undatus (Haw.) Britton & Rose] Grown In Brazil

Pitaya is a cactaceae originally from Tropical and Subtropical America which belongs to the exotic fruit group, little explored to date by the food and pharmaceutical industries. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the chemical and physical-chemical properties, antioxidant activity and the fatty acid profile of the red pitaya fruit (pulp and peel) [Hylocereus undatus (Haw.) Britton & Rose], grown in Brazil. These analyses have shown that pitaya pulp has high moisture content (86.03%) and low lipid (0.16%) and protein (2.27%) content, which ensures a low fruit calorie value (53.68%). Among the highlighted minerals are potassium (3.090 mg / 100 g), manganese (2.230 mg / 100 g), chromium (1.250 mg / 100 g), sodium (0.140 mg / 100 g), calcium (0.040 mg / 100 g) and, at lower concentrations, phosphorus (0.003 mg / 100 g). On the other hand, the antioxidant activity of pitaya pulp (1266.3 μg mL–1) was lower than in the pitaya peel (445.2 μg mL–1). In the fatty portion of the fruit, we verified that the predominant fatty acid is linoleic acid (50.869% of total fatty acids in the fruit), followed by oleic acid (21.551%) and palmitic acid (12.632%). The antioxidant potential and the chemical properties of pitaya fruit can contribute to maintaining a healthy diet.
BACTERIOLOGICAL AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL STUDIES ON PULMONARY ABSCESSES IN CAMELS (Camelus dromedarius) SLAUGHTERED AT NYALA SLAUGHTERHOUSE, SOUTH DARFOUR STATE, SUDAN

A total of 712 camels were presented for slaughter at Nyala slaughterhouse during March 2009 to May 2010. Ninety five camels revealed presence of abscess lesions in their lungs with a prevalence rate of 13.3%. Ninety five specimens were collected from the lung abscesses and processed for bacterial isolation and histopathological examination. Bacterial growth was observed in 70 (73.7%) samples, 60 (85.7%) of them showed pure growth, while 10 (14.3%) showed mixed growth on cultured media. Total of 82 bacterial isolates were Staphylococcus spp. 27(32.9%), Streptococcus spp. 18(21.9%), Corynebacterium spp. 10(12.2%), Pseudomonas spp. 5(6.0%), Arcanobacterium pyogenes 4(4.9%), Proteus spp. 4(4.9%), Micrococcus spp. 3(3.8%), Pasteurella multocida 3(3.8%), Enterococcus spp. 2(2.4%), Enterobacter aerogenes 2(2.4%), Klebsiella pneumoniae subsp.pneumoniae 2(2.4%), Bacillus cereus 1(1.2%), Rhodococcus equi 1(1.2%). In 10 samples, more than one species were isolated from a single abscess. For example, C. renale was isolated with S. aureus, Pseud.aeruginosa with C. pseudotuberculosis, and Enter. aerogenes with A. pyogenes. The histopathological sections of the lung abscesses revealed central necrotic areas, acute interstitial pneumonia, chronic interstitial pneumonia, bronchopneumonia, oedema and emphysema. Most the lungs abscesses contained S. aureus, Strept. pyogenes, C. pseudotuberculosis, A. pyogenes and Pseud. aeruginosa. In addition, K. pneumoniae subsp.pneumoniae and S. aureus were isolated from acute interstitial pneumonia and oedema while Strept. pyogenes, Past. multocida and Pseud. aeruginosa were isolated from chronic interstitial pneumonia and bronchopneumonia. This study showed a high incidence of pulmonary abscesses and we recommend working to avoid this infection in order to ensure access to safe meat for human consumption.
Demographics of Eucalyptus grandis and implications for invasion

Alien invasive species can have negative impacts on the functioning of ecosystems. Plantation species such as pines have become serious invaders in many parts of the world, but eucalypts have not been nearly as successful invaders. This is surprising considering that in their native habitat they dominate almost all vegetation types. Available theory on the qualities that characterise invasive species was used to assess the invasive potential of Eucalyptus grandis – a common plantation species globally. To determine rates of establishment of E. grandis outside plantations, we compared population demographics and reproductive traits at two locations in Mpumalanga, South Africa: one at higher elevation with more frost. Eucalyptus grandis has a short generation time. We found no evidence that establishment of E. grandis was limiting its spread into native grassland vegetation, but it does appear that recruitment is limited by frost and fire over much of its range in Mpumalanga. Populations at both study locations displayed characteristics of good recruitment. Size class distributions showed definite bottlenecks to recruitment which were more severe when exposed to frost at higher elevations. Generally, the rate of spread is low suggesting that the populations are on the establishing populations’ invasion stage. This research gives no indication that there are any factors that would prevent eucalyptus from becoming invasive in the future, and the projected increase in winter temperatures should be a cause for concern as frost is currently probably slowing recruitment of E. grandis across much of its planted range. Conservation implications: Eucalyptus plantations occur within indigenous grasslands that are of high conservation value. Frost and fire can slow recruitment where they occur, but there are no obvious factors that would prevent E. grandis from becoming invasive in the future, and monitoring of its rates of spread is recommended.
Development of Resistant Gene-Pyramided Japonica Rice for Multiple Biotic Stresses Using Molecular Marker-Assisted Selection

Advances in plant molecular techniques have dramatically widened the applicability of gene identification and pyramiding valuable genes. This study was carried out to pyramid five resistance genes for biotic stress into the japonica rice cultivar using marker-assisted selection (MAS) and marker-assisted background analysis of selected progenies using SSR markers. The Pi40, Xa4, xa5, Xa21 and Bph18 genes were combined in Jinbubyeo, a Korean japonica rice variety using MAS. Gene specific co-dominant PCR-based markers were used to select for homozygous recombinant lines in a segregating population derived from a cross between the parental homozygous resistant gene introgression lines. We had successfully developed multiple gene pyramided breeding lines (GPLs) for bacterial blight, blast, and brown planthopper using MAS in rice. The GPLs exhibited high resistance against biotic stress and had around 93% of the genetic background of the recurrent parent Jinbubyeo based on SSR graphical mapping. The yield and agronomic traits of the GPLs were similar to those of the recurrent parent, indicating that there is no apparent agronomic trait penalty associated with the presence of the resistance genes. The strategy of simultaneous foreground and phenotypic selection to introduce multiple R genes is very useful to reduce the cost and the time required for the isolation of desirable recombinants with target resistance genes in rice. The GPLs could be useful to enhance effective resistance for biotic stress and produce stable grain yield in japonica rice breeding programs.
A review of diagnostic approaches to medullary thyroid carcinoma

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), occurring sporadically or as an autosomal dominant trait, accounts for 5-10% of all thyroid gland neoplasms. While the sporadic variant originates from somatic rearranged-during-transfection (RET) mutations, the inherited variant is preceded by germ-line mutations of the RET proto-oncogene. Analysis of the transformations of this certain gene is the cornerstone of diagnostic and prognostic approaches in MTC. Additionally, a panel of histopathological evaluations, biochemical markers, and imaging procedures play a pivotal role in the management of MTC. The survival rate of MTC is relatively low compared to differentiated thyroid neoplasia and is highly influenced by the stage of tumors. Improvement in MTC surveillance significantly depends on early diagnosis as well as implementation of proper screening modalities in hereditary subtypes. The present review addresses medullary thyroid carcinoma, and in particular, the current diagnostic approaches to this challenging malignancy.
Determining the Minimum Number of Pollen Grains Needed for Accurate Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Colony Pollen Pellet Analysis

ABSTRACT Honey bee (Apis mellifera) colony maintenance depends on foraging workers to obtain food resources from flowering plants year round. Because diverse floral diets have a positive impact on honey bee health, identifying the plants preferred by foragers provides valuable information to manage bee-friendly habitats. Recent studies have utilized palynology to better understand honey bee nectar foraging preferences. Futhermore, the International Honey Commission has established standards for analyzing honey samples. However, standards for studying the plant taxonomic composition of honey bee pollen pellets have not been established. The goal of this project was to determine the minimum number of pollen grains that need to be counted to obtain an accurate floral taxonomic representation in a pollen pellet sample. To do this, pollen samples were collected from pollen traps placed outside honey bee hives, and a pollen subsample foraged by each colony was acetolyzed and identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible. Cohorts of 100 pollen grains obtained from homogenized pollen samples from three different colonies were counted successively 5 times for a total count of 500 pollen grains per colony. This was repeated for each of the replicates from the three separate colonies. We found no statistically significant differences in the number or proportion of floral taxa found between the 200 and 500 pollen grain counts in two out of the three colonies sampled. Species diversity index analysis suggested that the higher number of floral taxa found in some 500-grain counts were attributed to a relatively low presence of minor pollen types. Thus, a 200 pollen grain count seems sufficient to assess the predominant, secondary and important minor plant taxa present in a pollen sample, while a 500-grain count may be needed to elucidate a more specific taxonomic assessment of additional minor taxa floral types to determine a sample's geographic origin.
Multiple models guide strategies for agricultural nutrient reductions

In response to degraded water quality, federal policy makers in the US and Canada called for a 40% reduction in phosphorus (P) loads to Lake Erie, and state and provincial policy makers in the Great Lakes region set a load-reduction target for the year 2025. Here, we configured five separate SWAT (US Department of Agriculture's Soil and Water Assessment Tool) models to assess load reduction strategies for the agriculturally dominated Maumee River watershed, the largest P source contributing to toxic algal blooms in Lake Erie. Although several potential pathways may achieve the target loads, our results show that any successful pathway will require large-scale implementation of multiple practices. For example, one successful pathway involved targeting 50% of row cropland that has the highest P loss in the watershed with a combination of three practices: subsurface application of P fertilizers, planting cereal rye as a winter cover crop, and installing buffer strips. Achieving these levels of implementation will require local, state/provincial, and federal agencies to collaborate with the private sector to set shared implementation goals and to demand innovation and honest assessments of water quality-related programs, policies, and partnerships.
Novel Formulations of Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Drugs to Ameliorate Ischemic Damage Measured In Vitro

The two of major pathways that cause ischemic damage are oxidative stress and inflammation. To decreasing oxidative stress and inflammation, new anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory agents are tested in ischemic models. In order to study ALRX828C anti-inflammatory properties, an in vivo six-day old air pouch model of inflammation was used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory potential of ALRX828C. Also, the dose response of ALRX828C for TNFα (IC50 = 30 μM) and IL-17 (IC50 = 1.3 μM) were determined by using human peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures stimulated with ionomycin and PMA. To examine ALRX828C anti-inflammatory effect in neuroinflammation, a neurodegenerative model was used to evaluate its potential. I also showed that reducing oxidative stress with a potent antioxidant, Idebenone in nano-emulsion form, can effectively reduce tissue damage during ischemia in organotypic slice culture subjected to oxygen-glucose depravation (OGD). In conclusion, reducing oxidative stress and inflammation after stroke can reduce ischemic damage substantially.
Agaricales of indonesia. 3. New records of the genus Lactarius (Basidiomycota, Russulales) from Java.

Verbeken, A. , E. Horak & D. E. Desjardin (2001). Agaricales of Indonesia. 3. New records of the genus Lactarius (Basidiomycota, Russulales) from Java. Sydowia 53(2): 261-289. Based upon fresh material evaluated and annotated by E. Horak and D. E. Desjardin in Java (Indonesia), seven new species of Lactarius Pers. are described and illustrated. Three species, recently recorded from Papua New Guinea, are reported for the first time from Java. According to field data, all species of Lactarius described in this contribution have fagaceous trees (Castanopsis, Lithocarpus, Quercus) as their putative ectomycorrhizal hostpartners. A key to eleven species (including the enigmatic L. sublignyotus Henn. & E. Nyman) is provided to aid in identifying Javanese Lactarius.
The functional role of planktonic mixotrophs in altering seston stoichiometry

Mixotrophic protists are widespread and relevant primary producers and consumers in planktonic food webs. Given their dual mode of nutrition, mixotrophs face different constraints in allocating resources to cellular structures compared to strict photoautotrophs. However, little is known about their stoichiometric requirements and their flexibility in nutrient content and thus food quality, or how this affects consumer performance and nutrient recycling. In the present study, we tested for systematic differences in elemental composition between photoautotrophic and mixotrophic protists. We compiled intracellular nutrient ratios of mixotrophic and photo trophic species from culture experiments and from 2 lake surveys. Overall, both laboratory and field data indicated that mixotrophy has a stabilizing effect on the nutrient stoichiometry of primary producers under changing nutrient supply. In laboratory experiments, mixotrophs showed a lower variability in intracellular N:P ratios compared to strict phototrophs and were more stable in their elemental composition in response to a gradient of dissolved N:P availability. With increasing contributions of mixotrophic phytoplankton taxa to total lake phytoplankton, both the mean and variance in seston C:P ratios decreased, i.e. communities with higher proportion of mixotrophs overall exhibited more constrained seston stoichiometry. Our results show that mixotrophy may have direct implications for nutrient cycling and secondary production through regulation of seston stoichiometry, buffering stoichiometric constraints for herbivores and enabling a more stable secondary production compared to systems dominated by phototrophic specialists.
Application of Salicylic Acid and Zinc Improves Wheat Yield through Physiological Processes under Different Levels of Irrigation Intervals

Water stress, one of the environmental stresses, is the most significant factor restricting plant production on majority of agricultural fields of the world. Wheat is grown on arid-agricultural fields and drought often causes serious problems in wheat production in these fields. So, the present study was conducted to investigate whether the application of salicylic acid (SA) and zinc (Zn) could regulate the relative water content (RWC), membrane stability index (MSI%), electrolyte leakage (EL), soluble carbohydrate content, soluble protein content, proline content, activities of antioxidant non enzymes and enzymes as well as ameliorate the adverse effects of drought stress on wheat. The magnitude of reduction, increased by increasing the drought level. Drought stress at grain filling stage significantly decreased plant height, spike length, number of grains/spike, 1000-grain weight, relative water content, but significant increases were observed in the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POX), catalase (CAT) and glutathione reductase (GR) in wheat plants. Both salicylic acid or zinc treatments had greater changes in most of the assayed parameters. The adverse effects of drought as regards the growth characters and yield components were significantly mitigated by SA and Zn supplement. Application of SA or caused great variations in the activities of antioxidant enzymes. Under the normal irrigation condition, addition of SA or Zn markedly increased the activity of both SOD and CAT, however the activity of both POX and GR was significantly decreased. Addition of SA or Zn markedly reduced the increases in the activities of SOD, POX, CAT and GR observed in drought stressed plants. Statistically, Pearson correlation showed there were positive correlations between weight of 1000 grains and morphology, biochemical assay. However, there was no correlation between weight of 1000 grains with proline content and GR activity. Generally, it could be concluded that SA or Zn has (to more extent) a beneficial regulatory role in plants grown under drought stress conditions.
Meristic character variability among populations of Silurus triostegus Heckel, 1843 from the Euphrates, Tigris, and Shatt al-Arab Rivers, Iraq

Abstract Variation in the numbers of pectoral fin spines and rays, pelvic fin rays, gill rakers on the first gill arch, anal fin rays, and the number of vertebrae of Silurus triostegus Heckel were examined in specimens from 16 localities that span its entire distribution range in the Tigris, Euphrates, and Shatt al-Arab rivers in Iraq. The mean number of the six meristic traits increases toward high latitudes with maximum and minimum values in the north and south of Iraq. Based on cluster analysis and PCA, the Mesopotamian river samples were clearly separated into three distinct groups. The upper Tigris populations were isolated from those of the middle and southern populations of this river and from those of the Euphrates River. Possible reasons for such differentiation among populations are discussed, and the integration of research on this species among the countries neighboring Iraq is required.