Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Novel LMNA mutation in a patient with progeroid phenotype

Abstract Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome is an autosomal dominant condition, which presents in early childhood with symptoms of premature aging and early death. The allelic disorder, mandibuloacral dysplasia is a disorder with progeroid facial appearance, mandibular hypoplasia and acro-osteolysis. These two diseases have been considered different clinical entities based on differences in phenotype and inheritance pattern but are both due to mutations in the lamin A/C (LMNA) gene. Differentiating the diseases clinically can be difficult due to their overlapping features and yet has important life expectancy implications as well as vastly different genetic counseling requirements. Our patient presents with a mixed clinical picture. The desire for diagnostic certainty is not only to understand his prognosis but also to determine the risk to his siblings and assist in family planning. Based on the clinical overlap between the Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome and mandibuloacral dysplasia, we analyzed the LMNA gene in this patient. When a heterozygous change was identified, the parents were analyzed for the mutation. Deoxyribonucleic acid analysis for the LMNA gene revealed a heterozygous G to A change at nucleotide 412 in exon 2 of the LMNA gene resulting in replacement of glutamic acid with lysine at codon 138 (412 G>A; glu138lys). Neither parent had a mutation. Our results show that codon 138 (412 G>A; glu138lys) is a newly identified mutation of LMNA gene that results in a progeroid syndrome which is phenotypically similar to mandibuloacral dysplasia.
Chronic renal failure does not affect the mouse locomotor activity in darkness conditions

Circadian rhythms regulate blood pressure, hormonal release, and sleeping patterns. Chronic renal failure (CRF) is associated with a loss of nocturnal blood pressure decrease, and dialyzed patients experience sleep disturbances. We induced CRF in mice (thermocauterization-nephrectomy) and compared their rest-activity rhythm with sham-operated animals over a 12‐week period. Mice were housed individually in constant darkness. An infrared motion sensor continuously recorded their behavioral activity. Actograms were generated and subsequent periodogram analysis quantified the free-running period (FRP) and the strength of the circadian rhythm. Chronic renal failure mice compared to sham had high levels of serum urea, anemia, and a slight increase in the rhythm strength. However, the FRP was comparable in both groups. Twelve weeks of CRF do not decrease the strength or alter the period of the endogenous circadian rest-activity rhythm in mice. Our results suggest that uremic toxins do not impair the central circadian pacemaker.
Performance of broilers fed with different levels of methionine hydroxy analogue and DL-methionine

One-day-old male Ross chicks were used in an experiment designed to compare two methionine sources, DL-methionine and methionine hydroxy analogue free acid (MHA-FA), and four different levels: 0.41; 0.47; 0.53; 0.59% (starter diet); 0.35; 0.41; 0.47; 0.53% (grower diet); and 0.30; 0.36; 0.42; 0.48% (finisher diet). One thousand two hundred and eighty chicks were housed in 32 experimental floor-pens (40 birds each) and fed 8 experimental diets based on corn and soybean meal for 47 days. The effects of methionine sources and levels were evaluated by performance data, carcass and cut yields, feather yield and abdominal fat content. Data were analyzed as a completely randomized design in a 2x4 factorial arrangement (2 sources and 4 levels), with 8 treatments and 4 repetitions. Analysis of variance was performed using PROC GLM of SAS©. Data indicated DL-methionine to be more effective in promoting growth than MHA-FA, and weight gain increased numerically in response to increasing levels of methionine in all phases.
Modelling genetic covariance structure across ages of mean fibre diameter in sheep using multivariate and random regression analysis

Mean fibre diameter measurements from yearling to 5-year-old Australian fine- and medium-wool Merino sheep were analysed using several multivariate models that varied in covariance structure. A pre-structured multivariate model was found to be the most parsimonious model in comparison with the other models fitted such as banded, autoregressive and random regression. In the preferred model, the ages of mean fibre diameter for fine-wool data were genetically partitioned into yearling, 2 years, 3 years and later ages and for medium-wool data into hogget, 2 years and later ages. The estimates of genetic correlations between mean fibre diameter measured at different ages for medium-wool sheep were higher (0.89–1.00) than those for fine-wool Merino (0.75–1.00).
Factors affecting oral regurgitation by larval spruce budworm

This study evaluated factors that influence the regurgitation behaviour of sixth instar spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana Clemens (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), reared on balsam fir, Abies balsamea (L.) Mill. (Pinaceae), under various experimental conditions in the laboratory. Upon physical disturbance, larvae discharged a median volume of regurgitant of 0.4 μl when fed and 1.6 μl when food‐deprived. Larvae deprived of food for 24 or 48 h disgorged more regurgitant than larvae feeding on balsam fir foliage, and the effect was consistent for laboratory‐reared and field‐collected larvae. The water content of the foliage fed upon by larvae had no immediate impact on the volume of regurgitant; following a 24‐h period of food deprivation, however, larvae that previously fed on fresh foliage discharged >2.5 times more regurgitant than larvae that previously fed on dry foliage. Self‐regulated regurgitation by larvae, measured using the number of regurgitant stains on filter paper, was >10 times higher when larvae had access to balsam fir foliage than when they were starved. The number of larvae confined inside the Petri dish (one or four individuals) had a relatively small effect on regurgitation. Larvae were deterred from feeding when balsam fir needles were entirely covered with regurgitant, but not when only a portion of the foliage was treated. These results suggest that the regurgitant does not serve as resource marking or spacing pheromone. The high level of regurgitation by larvae after contact with ants suggests that the regurgitant has evolved in part as a defence mechanism against natural enemies.
Growth of largemouth bass in a dynamic estuarine environment: an evaluation of the relative effects of salinity, diet, and temperature

Some freshwater fishes occur regularly in estuarine areas that experience spatial and seasonal variation in marine influence. These dynamic abiotic and biotic conditions potentially influence food consumption and growth. We found that effects of an estuarine environment on the growth of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) in Alabama's Mobile–Tensaw River Delta depended on body size, distance from the marine source, and amount of freshwater inflow. Incremental growth analyses demonstrated that young largemouth bass (<age-3) grew more rapidly downstream in the estuarine environment declining with distance upstream; this relationship was reversed for older fish with faster growth in fresher, upstream areas. The magnitude of freshwater inflow influenced the relationship between age-specific growth and proximity to Mobile Bay. Bioenergetics simulations suggest that interactions among size-specific metabolic cost of salinity, maximum water temperature, and spatial differences in both salinity and prey energ.
Efecto del fotoperiodo sobre el crecimiento de la diatomea Chaetoceros calcitrans (clon c-cal) en cultivos estáticos

Growth of Chaetoceros calcitrans was evaluated in a static system at 35 ppt salinity and different photoperiods 0:24, 6:18, 10:14 y 24:0 hours light:dark. Bioassays were performed in bottles of 200 ml in quadruplicate under controlled laboratory conditions, using the medium F/2. Light, temperature, pH and direct cell counts, were monitored every 48 hours. The photoperiod directly affected cell concentration and growth rate of C. calcitrans, being higher with 24 h/light, with values of 2'713,333 cel.ml-1 and 0.17 div.day-1, while the low cell concentration and growth rate were 0 cel.ml-1 and -0.03 div.dia-1, respectively with 0 h/light. A positive linear relationship (r= 0.567; F(1,10)=4.754; P>0.05) was observed between photoperiod and algal growth rate. The pH ranged between 6.7 and 7.5 with values tended to decrease in all treatments with the time. A negative correlation between pH and cell density of C. calcitrans (r2= -0.369) was detected. The results indicate that the growth of C. calcitrans is determined by photoperiod with optimal growth at continuous light.
Effect of protease treatment before hydrolysis with α-amylase on the rate of starch and protein hydrolysis of maize, whole sorghum, and decorticated sorghum.

ABSTRACT We studied the effect of sorghum decortication and protease treatment on starch hydrolysis before liquefaction with thermoresistant α-amylase and the generation of free amino nitrogen (FAN) in preparation for subsequent steps of ethanol production. A bifactorial experiment with a level of confidence of P < 0.05 was designed to study differences among maize, whole sorghum, and decorticated sorghum and the effectiveness of the protease treatment before starch liquefaction. Sorghum was decorticated 9.7% to remove most of the pericarp and part of the germ and increase starch concentration. Starch concentration increased in decorticated kernels, whereas total phenols, fiber, and fat decreased. The decorticated sorghum had significantly higher starch and protein hydrolysis compared with the whole kernel. Protease treatment before liquefaction improved the rate of starch hydrolysis, especially in mashes from whole and decorticated sorghums. Whole and decorticated sorghum hydrolyzates treated with protea.
Gene expression analysis of Flrt1, Flrt2 and Flrt3 in the murine midface during early embryogenesis

The Fibronectin leucine-rich transmembrane (Flrt) gene family has been implicated inFGF signaling, which is crucial for coordinating craniofacial morphogenesis and epithelial mesenchymal interactions (EMI). The gene expression patterns of Flrt1, Flrt2 and Flrt3 were analyzed during critical stages of murine midfacial development from 9.5-15.5 dpc. Flrt2 and Flrt3 were observed to have unique expression patterns in the midface, whereas Flrt1 did not. From 10.5-12.5dpc, Flrt2 was expressed in the mesenchyme of the medial nasal process(MNP). Flrt3 was expressed in the mesenchyme of the lateral nasal process (LNP) and MNP. From 13.5-15.5dpc, Flrt2 was expressed in the oral ectomesenchyme of the palatal shelves, whereas Flrt3 was expressed in the medial edge and oral epithelium. Both Flrt2 and Flrt3 were expressed in different sites of the developing tooth buds and hair follicles. This suggests that Flrt2 and Flrt3have unique roles during craniofacial morphogenesis, whereas Flrt1 may have a moregeneralized role.
Postembryonic maturation and putative modulation of the central pattern generator for flight in Manduca sexta

The biogenic amine octopamine modulates a variety o f aspects of insect motor behavior, including direct action on the flight central patte rn generator. A number of recent studies demonstrate that tyramine, the biological precursor of octopamine, also affects in vertebrate locomotor behaviors, including insect flight. Howev er, it is not clear whether the central pattern generating networks are directly affected b y both amines, octopamine and tyramine. In this study, we tested whether tyramine affected the central pattern generator for flight in the moth, Manduca sexta. Fictive flight was induced in an isolated ventral nerve cord preparation by bath application of the octopamine a gonist, chlordimeform, to test potential effects of tyramine on the flight central pattern g enerator by pharmacological manipulations. The results demonstrate that octopam ine but not tyramine is sufficient to induce fictive flight in the isolated ventral nerve cord. During chlordimeform induced fictive flight, bath application of tyramine select ively increases synaptic drive to depressor motoneurons, increases the number of depressor spik es during each cycle and decreases the depressor phase. Conversely, blocking tyramine rece ptors selectively reduces depressor motoneuron activity, but does not affect cycle by c ycle elevator motoneuron spiking. Therefore, octopamine and tyramine exert distinct e ffects on the flight central pattern generating network.
Sporogenic and vegetative tissues of Saccharina latissima (Laminariales, Phaeophyceae) exhibit distinctive sensitivity to experimentally enhanced ultraviolet radiation : photosynthetically active radiation ratio

Fertile Saccharina latissima sporophytes, collected in the Kongsfjorden, Ny‐Ålesund, Spitsbergen, Norway (78°56.87′ N, 11°51.64′ E) were investigated in relation to its sensitivity to experimentally enhanced ultraviolet radiation : photosynthetically active radiation (UVR : PAR) ratios. Irradiance of UVR were 4.30 W m−2 of UV‐A (320–400 nm) and 0.40 W m−2 of UV‐B (280–320 nm), and PAR (400–700 nm) was ∼4.30 W m−2 (=20 µmol photons m−2 s−1). Excised soral (sporogenic) and non‐soral (vegetative) tissues were separately irradiated for 16 h at 7°C. Transmission electron microscopy showed abundant occurrence of physodes, electron dense particles (∼300–600 nm) in the sorus. Paraphysis cells, with partly crystalline content, large mitochondria and abundant golgi bodies were towering over the sporangia. In soral tissue, cells were not visibly altered by the PAR + UVR irradiation. The chloroplasts, flagella and nucleus of unreleased meiospores inside the sporangial parent cells were visibly intact. Severe changes in the chloroplast structure of vegetative tissue occurred after PAR + UVR irradiation. These changes included wrinkling and dilatation of the thylakoid membranes, and appearance of electron translucent areas inside the chloroplasts. In vegetative cells exposed to PAR + UVR, the total amount of physodes, was slightly higher as in cells exposed to PAR only. Initial values of optimum quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) were 0.743 ± 0.04 in non‐soral and 0.633 ± 0.04 in soral tissue. Vegetative tissue was observed to be more sensitive to radiant exposure of PAR and PAR + UVR compared to reproductive tissue. Under PAR, a 20% reduction in Fv/Fm was observed in non‐soral compared to no reduction in soral tissue, whereas under PAR + UVR, 60% and 33% reduction in Fv/Fm was observed in non‐soral and soral tissues, respectively. This can be attributed to the corresponding three times higher antiradical power (ARP) capacity in soral compared to non‐soral tissue.
Factors affecting livestock water productivity: animal scale analysis using previous cattle feeding trials in Ethiopia

Availability and access to fresh water will likely constrain future food production in many countries. Thus, it is frequently suggested that the limited amount of water should be used more productively. In this study we report the results of our investigation on effects of feed, age and weight on livestock water productivity (LWP). The main objective is to identify technologies that will help enhance LWP. We combined empirical knowledge and literature values to estimate the amount of water depleted to produce beef, milk, traction power and manure. We estimated the LWP as the ratio of livestock products and services to the depleted water. In the feeding trials, various combinations of maize and oat stover, vetch, lablab and wheat bran were combined in different proportions to make 16 unique rations that were fed to the experimental animals of different age and weight groups. We observed differences of LWP across feed type, age and weight of dairy cows. The value of LWP tended to increase with increasing age and weight: the lowest LWP (0.34 US$/m3) for cows less than five years whereas the highest LWP value was 0.41 US$/m3 for those cows in the age category of 8 years and above. Similarly, there was an increase in LWP as weight of the animal increased, i.e. LWP was lowest (0.32 US$/m3) for lower weight groups (300–350 kg) and increased for larger animals. There were apparent impacts of feed composition on LWP values. For example, the highest LWP value was observed for oat, vetch and wheat bran mixes. Taking livestock services and products into account, the overall livestock water productivity ranged from 0.25 to 0.39 US$/m3 and the value obtained from a cow appeared to be higher than for an ox. In conclusion, some strategies and technological options such as improved feeds, better herd management, appropriate heard structure can be adapted to enhance LWP.
Can grazing sheep compensate for a daily foraging time constraint

1. Theoretical studies of large herbivore foraging assume that total daily grazing time is a key constraint on daily intake and diet choice. We experimentally tested this assumption and investigated the effects of food availability on the ability of grazing sheep to compensate for restriction of available daily grazing time. 2. Foraging behaviour, intake and diet digestibility by sheep, were measured on grass pastures in a replicated 2 × 2 factorial experiment, in which overnight access to pasture was varied (restricted overnight and continuous access) on two sward heights (5·5 and 3·0 cm), representing high and low food availability. 3. Regardless of food availability, the overnight-restricted sheep fed for almost all of the available grazing time by grazing for fewer, longer foraging bouts, but still had much shorter total daily grazing time than the continuous access sheep. 4. In response to overnight penning, the sheep had a significantly higher instantaneous rate of intake achieved mainly via larger bites. The continuous access sheep were hence not maximizing their short-term rate of intake, whilst grazing according to the daily schedule considered normal for sheep. 5. The behavioural responses to overnight food restriction were able to counteract the reduction in daily grazing time only where food availability was high. In contrast on short swards overnight grazing restriction led to a reduction in total daily intake. We suggest that the interactions between the factors considered as constraints on foraging behaviour of herbivores are, as yet, only poorly quantified.
Identification of quantitative trait loci for partial resistance to Phytophthora sojae in soybean

With 3 figures and 3 tables Abstract Partial resistance to Phytophthora sojae in soybean may provide effective protection against all isolates of the pathogen, thus reducing yield losses. Better understanding of partial resistance has, therefore, become an important goal for the improvement of soybean (Glycine max). The aim of the present study was to identify the potential quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for partial resistance to P. sojae. A population of 176 F7:11 recombinant inbred lines derived from the cross of Su88-M21 × Xinyixiaoheidou, was evaluated for Phytophthora partial resistance using slant board assays. The heritability estimate on an entry basis was 0.87. Two QTLs (qPR-15-1 and qPR-10-2) were detected in the same flanking marker region, Satt598–Satt651 on chromosome (Chr) 15 with molecular linkage group (MLG) E and Satt420–Sat_274 on Chr 10 with MLG O, respectively, by both composite interval mapping and multiple interval mapping (MIM) of Windows QTL Cartographer (version 2.5). One QTL (qPR-6-3) on Chr 6 with MLG C2, which was only identified under MIM, was closely linked to marker Satt520, and was positioned 0.01 cM away from Satt520. The newly identified QTLs would be beneficial for marker assistant selection aimed at improving the resistance to P. sojae and reducing disease-related mortality in soybean.
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF PHYSIOLOGIC RACES OF PUCCINIA TRITICINA AND POSTULATION OF RESISTANCE GENES IN NEW WHEAT CULTIVARS IN EGYPT

Knowledge of the geographical distribution for physiologic races of Puccinia triticina and identification of leaf rust resistance genes (Lr ,s) in the recent Egyptian wheat cultivars are essential for maximizing resistance in future- bred cultivars. The aim of this study was to know the status of resistance in Egyptian wheat cultivars against wheat leaf rust and the most frequent race distributed . Infected samples were collected from five Governorates, i.e., Dakahlia, Kafr el- Sheikh, Beheira, Sharqia and Sohag comprised the wheat growing area in Egypt. These samples were isolated, purified and identified on the differential stes. Gene postulation was done using fifteen identified races on Egyptian wheat cultivars correlated with Lr genes. Thirty three races identified during three seasons 2009/2010, 2010/2011 and 2011/2012. The most frequent race was TK (10%) followed by race BB (7.58%), PK (6.55%), TT (4.82%), PT (3.79%) and MT (3.44%). Moreover, races; BB, TT and PT were present during three seasons while these races appeared in some Governorates and disappeared in other Governorates. On the other hand, the most frequently occurring gene in ten Egyptian wheat cultivars was Lr35 (70%), followed by Lr22 (60%), Lr27 (40%), Lr34 (30%), Lr19 (30%), Lr18 (10%) , Lr36 (10%) and Lr46 (10%), eight out of sixteen Lr genes were not present in the tested cultivars. It is concluded that there was a good variation in Lr genes carried by wheat cultivars commercially grown in Egypt. Therefore, strategies for deploying resistance genes to prolong effective disease resistance are suggested to control wheat leaf rust disease.
Carbon Storage of Dipterocarpus tuberculatus, Terminalia tomentosa and Pentacme

In a deciduous forest of Seima Protection Forest, Cambodia biomass and carbon storage of vegetation, litter layer, and soil were assessed. Allometric equations for estimating the total aboveground biomass were developed based on the direct measurements of 75 individuals of the three dominant species, Dipterocarpus tuberculatus Roxb. , Terminalia tomentosa Mart. ex Eichler, and Pentacme siamensis Kurz. The total biomass and carbon content of D. tuberculatus was highest (91 tons ha-1 and 45.50 tons ha-1, respectively) followed by T. tomentosa (19 tons ha-1and 9.50 tons ha-1, respectively) and P. siamensis (17.90 tons ha-1 and 9 tons ha-1, respectively). Moreover, the carbon content of undergrowth vegetation and litter layer was 0.40 tons ha-1 and 1.5 tons ha-1, respectively. In addition, the soil organic carbon (SOC) up to 50 cm depth was 178.10 tons ha-1. The best fi t equations for the total aboveground biomass of the three study species based on combinations of diameter at breast height (DBH) and height (H) as independent variables were highly signifi cant (P Key words: allometric relationships, biomass, carbon storage, REDD, tropical deciduous forest