Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PUVA Bath Therapy Strongly Suppresses Immunological and Epide.iial Activation in Psoriasis: A Possible Cellular Basis for Remittive Therapy By Val Pierre Vallat, Patricia Gilleaudeau, Lisa Battat,

Summary Psoriasis is characterized by alterations in both the epidermis and dermis of the skin. Epidermal keratinocytes display marked proliferative activation and differentiate along an "alternate" or "regenerative" pathway, while the dermis becomes infiltrated with leukocytes, particularly interleukin 2 (IL-2) receptor-bearing "activated" T cells. Psoralens, administered by the oral route, have therapeutic effects in psoriasis when photochemically activated by ultraviolet A light (PUVA therapy). Recently psoralen bath therapy has been introduced to more effectively deliver this agent to the diseased skin. We have correlated the efficacy of PUVA bath therapy with its effects on specific molecular and cellular parameters of disease, in 10 consecutive patients with recalcitrant psoriasis. Rapid clearing of lesions occurred in 8 out of 10 patients. Biopsies were taken from lesional and nonlesional skin before and after a single round of therapy, and observation was continued in our Clinical Research Center at The Rockefeller University. Enumeration of cycling keratinocytes with the Ki-67 monoclonal antibody showed that PUVA reduced cell proliferation by 73%. The pathological increase in insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1) receptors was reversed, whereas epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors, which are also increased in psoriasis, remained unchanged. Keratinocyte proteins that are expressed in abnormal sites of the epidermis during psoriasis, i.e., keratin 16, filaggrin, and involucrin, were, after PUVA treatment, localized to their normal sites. Epidermal and dermal T-lymphocytes (CD3 +), as well as CD4 +, CD8 +, and IL-2 receptor + subsets, were strongly suppressed by PUVA, with virtual elimination of IL-2 receptor + T cells in some patients. Consistent with diminished lymphocyte activation, HLADR expression by epidermal keratinocytes was markedly reduced in treated skin. In comparison to cyclosporine treatment of psoriasis, PUVA therapy leads to more complete reversal of pathological epidermal and lymphocytic activation, changes which we propose to be the cellular basis for a more sustained remission of disease after PUVA treatment.
Effects of short-term rain events on mobile macrofauna living on seawalls

The distribution and abundance of intertidal organisms can be affected by short-term events, such as rain. We compared the effects of rain on intertidal mobile invertebrates in four common microhabitats with differing amounts of shelter (namely beds of oysters, coralline turf, bare patches and crevices) on sea walls in Sydney Harbour. There was an effect of rain on some, but not all taxa, although this was not consistent between locations or times. Effects of rain were observed for some species of gastropods and crustaceans, but not for polychaetes. Manipulative experiments using artificial rain indicated that rain, without the presence of run-off and independent of potential temporal confounding from differences in weather conditions, has a negative effect on abundances of amphipods in coralline turf. Pulse responses by mobile organisms to short-term rain events should be considered when designing experiments looking at temporal variability and processes responsible for observed patterns of distribution of marine organisms.
Habitat use by vicuña Vicugna vicugna in Laguna Pozuelos Reserve, Jujuy, Argentina

Vicuña Vicugna vicugna are an emblematic species of one of the major arid ecosystems of the neotropics: the puna or altiplano. Excessive commercial hunting of vicuña for their valuable fleece in the past caused a severe decline in the population, with the vicuña almost becoming extinct by the mid 20th century. Effective protection resulted in the recovery of some populations and, recently, limited vicuña exploitation has been allowed. Research is urgently required to underpin the design of the management systems used for this exploitation. We present the results of a 2-year study on habitat utilization of vicuña in Laguna de Pozuelos UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in Argentina. Vicuña did not use the study area homogeneously but preferred vegetation communities dominated by grasses (known locally as pajonal and esporal) and with high overall plant cover. Vicuña were less selective in 2003, when overall habitat quality decreased, than in 2002. This change is predicted by habitat selection theory. We also found that members of family groups spend more time foraging than members of non-reproductive groups. Solitary vicuña spend more time standing up than members of groups, consistent with the observation that herding behaviour is related to protection against predators. Heterogeneous use and habitat selectivity suggest that exploitation of vicuña needs to take spatial behaviour into account in the establishment of the optimal location of capturing sites.
Control of Integration and Excision

INTRODUCTION Phage λ controls integration and excision as a crucial aspect of regulated development along the lysogenic or lytic pathways (Echols 1980; Herskowitz and Hagen 1980). The lysogenic response to infection requires two coordinated events: establishment of repression and integrative recombination. The lytic response to infection utilizes an alternative switch to a virus-producing late stage of productive growth, and integration and c I-mediated repression do not occur. The lytic pathway after prophage induction requires, in addition, the excision of the viral DNA. In terms of these three aspects of λ development, we can define three states of the integration-excision switch: integration, excision, and no response. Control of the integration-excision reaction depends on the existence of two pathways for catalysis of site-specific recombination: (1) the forward (insertion) reaction, which requires only Int among phage-specified proteins (Gingery and Echols 1967; Zissler 1967; Gottesman and Yarmolinsky 1968), and (2) the reverse (excision) reaction, which requires the phage-coded Int and Xis proteins (Fig. 1) (Guarneros and Echols 1970; Kaiser and Masuda 1970). Thus, differential synthesis of Int with respect to Xis should favor insertion. In this paper we summarize information about mechanisms for control of Int and Xis production that explain quite well the three stages of the integration-excision switch noted above. We also consider some additional regulatory features of the reaction. In closing, we comment on properties of this biological system that may be pertinent to other creatures. GENERAL FEATURES OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL Phage λ uses differential expression of the tightly linked, partially overlapping.
Poor water quality suppresses the cortisol response of salmonid fish to handling and confinement

Confinement of brown trout in small troughs of static water for 1 h at a density of six fish per 25L stimulated the hypothalamic-pituitary-interrenal axis and resulted in an elevation of plasma cortisol from basal levels (less than 2 ng/ml) to about 100 ng/ml, the degree of stimulation being dependent upon water temperature. Confinement at a density of 30 fish per 25L resulted in a 50% suppression of this response. It is demonstrated that this effect is mediated by changes in water chemistry and not by crowding per se. Experimental manipulation of the water chemistry showed that reduced pH (7.1 to 6.3), elevated free CO2 (63 to 520 μmol/L) or elevated ammonia (8 to 1300 μg/L as total ammonia nitrogen) had no individual effects on the interrenal response to acute confinement. Elevated ammonia in combination with reduced pH significantly increased the plasma cortisol levels in response to acute confinement, whereas a combination of reduced oxygen (100 to 20% saturation), elevated free CO2 and elevated ammonia markedly suppressed (∼ 50%) the cortisol response of both brown trout and rainbow trout to acute confinement in a manner similar to that observed with trout at high densities. A compensatory increase in plasma cortisol levels was observed during the subsequent recovery of fish which had been confined for 1 h in water of poor quality. These findings are discussed in relation to the exposure of fish to multiple stresses and to the role of corticosteroids in the stress response.
Effects of Cumin (Cuminum Cyminum L.) Seed and Wild Mint (Mentha Longifolia L.) Leaf Extracts on the Shelf Life and Quality of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus Mykiss) Fillets Stored at 4C ± 1

The effects of Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) seed and Wild mint (Mentha longifolia L.) leaf extracts on microbiological, chemical and sensory changes of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fillets stored at 4C ± 1 were investigated. The results showed that lipid oxidation and spoilage of the samples were significantly delayed in samples treated with a plant extract in comparison with the controls (P < 0.05). The psychrophilic bacterial counts and total viable count values were above the acceptability limit (7 log10 colony-forming unit/g) by the 6, 12, 15, 12 and 18th day of storage for the control: Cumin (3.0 %), Cumin (6.0 %), Wild mint (3.0 %) and Wild mint (6.0 %) treatments, respectively. The application of 6.0 % Wild mint leaf extract gave the best antioxidative and antimicrobial activities, as well as sensory scores, up to 18 days of storage. Sensory analysis results showed the treatment with a Wild mint extract had high quality and improved the beneficial effects on sensory properties. This research demonstrated that the Cumin and Wild mint extracts had significant effects on shelf-life extension of fresh rainbow trout up to 12–18 days at refrigerated storage conditions and could be applied as natural preservatives for extending shelf life of fish products. Practical Applications Consumer's awareness of well-being and the demand for healthy and natural food products have caused much attention on using natural extract as preservative in food products. In this work, we investigated the effects of two natural extracts from Cumin Seed and Wild mint leaf on the quality of fish product, including chemical, microbiological and sensory qualities during refrigerated storage. To our knowledge, the application of Cumin Seed and Wild mint leaf extracts to extend the shelf life of fish product has not been studied previously.
MAPK p38α Is Dispensable for Lymphocyte Development and Proliferation1

Signals mediated by the p38α MAPK have been implicated in many processes required for the development and effector functions of innate and adaptive immune responses. As mice deficient in p38α exhibit embryonic lethality, most analyses of p38α function in lymphocytes have relied on the use of pharmacologic inhibitors and dominant-negative or constitutively active transgenes. In this study, we have generated a panel of low passage p38α+/+, p38α+/−, and p38α−/− embryonic stem (ES) cells through the intercrossing of p38α+/− mice. These ES cells were used to generate chimeric mice by RAG-deficient blastocyst complementation, with the lymphocytes in these mice being derived entirely from the ES cells. Surprisingly, B and T cell development were indistinguishable when comparing chimeric mice generated with p38α+/+, p38α+/−, and p38α−/− ES cell lines. Moreover, proliferation of p38α−/− B and T cells in response to Ag receptor and non-Ag receptor stimuli was intact. Thus, p38α is not an essential component of signaling pathways required for robust B and T lymphocyte developmental, nor is p38α essential for the proliferation of mature B and T cells.
BMR Biotechnology-Lipid Composition of Afromomum melegueta, Zingiber officinale, Afromomum melegueta & Xylopic aethiopica

Lipid composition of four different plant products used as spices: Afromomum melegueta (small and big alligator peppers), Zingiber officinale (ginger) and Xylopic aethiopica (Ehiopian pepper) were analyzed for lipid composition. Crude fat levels ranged between 0.42 – 8.92 g/100g. SFA levels ranged from 17.5 – 50.0 % of total fatty acids. The most concentrated SFA in all the samples was C16:0 (12.0 – 26.1 %), with the highest level occurring in Afromomum melegueta. MUFA values were in the range of 17.3 – 33.6 %, highest MUFA was petroselinic fatty acid in big and small alligator peppers (17.2 and 16.5 % respectively). Among the PUFAs, C18:2 cis - 9, 12 (LA) had the highest concentrations in all the samples with a range of 27.5 – 52.7 %. In all the samples, n-6 PUFA constituted the largest group: 27.8 – 56.3 %. Phytosterol levels showed sitosterol as the most concentrated in all the samples (19.3 – 351 mg/100g). Phosphatidylcholine constituted the highest concentrated phospholipid in all the samples with values ranging between 2.60 – 27.4 mg/100g. Chi-square (X2) analysis showed that significant differences occurred at α = 0.05 among the quality parameters from the fatty acids except in MUFA/SFA, EPSI and PUFA/SFA ratios. The plant samples were generally low in total fatty acids, hence their consumption, as food sources may not result in the consumers consuming fats above the recommended healthy guidelines.
Soil seed banks in a mature coniferous forest landscape: dominance of native perennials and low spatial variability

Abstract Soil seed banks are important to vegetation recruitment, ecosystem functioning and land management. We evaluated composition of 0–5 cm soil seed banks and relationships of seed banks with forest community types (ranging from low-elevation pinyon–juniper to high-elevation bristlecone pine), vegetation cover and environmental variables within a 40,000-ha relatively undisturbed coniferous forest landscape in Nevada, USA. We collected samples from 36 sites and used the emergence method to assay seed banks. Seed density averaged 479 seeds m− 2 across sites and a total of 39 taxa were detected. Most (79%) of these taxa were perennials and 35 of 39 (90%) were native. Moreover, 62% of seed-bank taxa were in the vegetation of mature forests, an uncommon finding in studies of forest soil seed banks. Seed-bank density, species richness and composition did not display strong relationships with forest community types, vegetation cover or environmental variables. Weak relationships likely arose from the relatively uniform seed-bank density among sites, where 50% of sites had seed densities in the range of 106–282 m− 2. Results suggest that while seed banks on this landscape are not large, they provide recruitment potential for some native perennial species of mature, relatively undisturbed communities.
Effects of Variety, Altitude, and Undersowing with Legumes on the Nutritive Value of Wheat Straw

SUMMARY Wheat was planted at different altitudes in the Ethiopian highlands. Increased altitude led to a lower neutral detergent fibre (NDF) content and a higher in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) of the leaf blades, leaf sheaths and stems. The varieties tested did not differ in NDF content, however, because of the improved NDF digestibility of all three straw fractions. The semi-dwarf varieties had a higher IVOMD than the standard tall wheats. The local durum wheat variety showed a much higher sodium content and a more favourable Na:K ratio. Undersowing with an equal mixture of Trifolium ruepellianum (Fres.) and Trifolium steudneri (Schwf.) led to a small reduction in straw yield but increased the crude protein content of the crop residues from 2.3 to 7.1% and the IVOMD from 44 to 51% as compared to the sole wheat stand.
The effect of row spacing and weed density on yield loss of chickpea

The adoption of no-till farming and the desire to maintain stubble cover when sowing legumes in northern New South Wales and southern Queensland have resulted in an increase in commercial row spacing for chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). This paper examines the effects of increasing crop row widths on weed competition in chickpea crops. Weed densities of 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 plants/m 2 of wild oats (Avena sterilis ssp. ludoviciana) and turnip weed (Rapistrum rugosum) were established with chickpea crops planted with either 32 or 64 cm row configurations in northern New South Wales during 1996 and 1997. A rectangular hyperbolic model adequately represented the loss in chickpea yield with increasing density of either weed. Even low densities of <10 plants/m 2 caused large (approx. 50%) reductions in yield, particularly with turnip weed. In these experiments, weed-free yields were higher when chickpea was sown in 32 cm rows compared with 64 cm rows, but weeds caused no greater loss in crop yield with the wider row spacing. The results of this work show that the use of wide rows has minimal impact on weed competion in northern chickpea crops. Aowwns d c J
The importance of body reserves accumulated in spring staging areas in the temperate zone for breeding in Dark-bellied Brent Geese Branta b. bernicla in the high Arctic

Seasonal changes in body mass of Arctic-nesting Brent Geese are characterized by a depression in early April, followed by a sharp increase during pre-migratory fattening. Both male and female Brent Geese increased their body mass by 25-35% in the Wadden Sea in April/May. Paired females reach on average higher body masses than single females. Female Brent Geese that returned with offspring to the wintering quarters in western Europe had on average been heavier at spring departure from the staging grounds in the Wadden Sea, than those failing to raise offspring. This difference remained significant after correcting for body size (i.e. wing length). In males, corrected spring body mass had no effect on subsequent breeding success. Measurements of changes in body mass of incubating female Brent Geese, coupled to estimated flying costs (based on data on body mass, wing span and total wing area) showed that body reserves stored in the Wadden Sea were insufficient to accomplish both migration and successful breeding. Presumably the geese refuelled in the White Sea, in order to complete their spring migration and arrive on the breeding grounds in Taymyr in the condition necessary for successful breeding.
Shoal choice and ultraviolet reflections in stickleback populations from different photic habitats

Grouping is a widespread phenomenon in the animal kingdom and the decision to join a group is a function of individual and environmental conditions, meaning that any advantages and disadvantages have to be pondered constantly. Shoaling decisions in fishes are communicated via a variety of factors, such as colour signals, amongst other ultraviolet (UV) signals. The sensitivity for ultraviolet signals is assumed to be costly and a function of the predominant ecological conditions. The island of North Uist, Scotland, comprises bodies of water that possess great variation in their spectral distribution, especially in the UV spectral range. We examined different populations of three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus L.), which is known to use UV for visual tasks, consisting of three populations from tea-stained lakes and four from clear-water lakes, concerning their preferences to join a shoal viewed under UV-present and UV-absent conditions. Nonreproductively active sticklebacks from tea-stained lakes significantly preferred the shoal under UV-absent conditions, whereas sticklebacks from clear-water lakes did not show a significant preference. Reflection measurements showed that the UV chroma (intensity) of sticklebacks from tea-stained lakes was higher than that of sticklebacks from clear-water, most likely contrasting maximally against the UV-poor background or compensating for a stronger attenuation of the signal.
Effect of Neem extract against opportunistic bacterial and fungal pathogens associated with AIDS

Having HIV is not the same thing as having AIDS. With the right treatment, of AIDS patient’s life quality and life expectancy could be raised. This study aims to examine the effect of Neem plant parts extract against HIV related opportunistic bacterial and fungal pathogens. Opportunistic infections are most common in immunocompromised patients which are the leading cause of death in HIVinfected patients. Antimicrobial activity of the acetone and chloroform extract of Neem leaf, fruit and bark respectively was investigated by Agar well-diffusion methods against 8 bacterial and 2 fungal pathogens. Neem bark and leaf with acetone and chloroform extract showed highest inhibitory activity as compared with all treatments; most of the pathogens were inhibited by 30mg extract concentration on disc. Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were found to be sensitive bacteria against most of the plant extract as compared to the other bacteria. Candida albicans was inhibited more often by plant extract of Neem leaf, bark and fruit as compared to Cryptococcus neoformans, which was inhibited by Neem bark extract only. The side effects of the synthetic antibiotic drugs would be eliminated by replacing it with the use of medicinal bioactive compounds which could be taken throughout lifetime. K e y w o r d s
A Photographic Method for Accurately Measuring the Growth of Crustose and Foliose Saxicolous Lichens

The methods that have been used for measuring crustose and foliose lichen growth are varied and have not been standardized. Even when the methods of different studies have been clearly stated the data are not always comparable because growth has been expressed in terms of area or radial increase (Hale, 1967). Some studies, e.g. Nienburg (1919), Beschel (1961), Andrews and Webber (1964) and Burrows and Orwin (1971), have attempted to determine lichen growth rate by substratum dating (for a recent synopsis of such studies see Webber and Andrews, 1973). However, because the pre-colonization period is not known these methods have an inherent error of unknown magnitude. For any accurate assessment of growth the lichens need to be measured directly. Methods of directly measuring lichen size for growth determinations have been varied. Vallot (1896), Fink (1917), Hausman (1948), Hale (1954) and Frey (1959) measured only the diameter of thalli. Linkola (1918), Hale (1970) and Armstrong (1973, 1974 and 1975) measured many radii or lobes on each thallus to assess uniformity of growth within the lichen. Studies based on area include those of Hale (1959), Rydzak (1956, 1961), Brodo (1965) and Seaward (1976) who traced the thallus outline onto clear celluloid. However, the lichen needs to be flat and sufficiently fast growing for the width of the traced line, which may be as much as 1 mm, to present a negligible error in growth measurements (Hale, 1974). Armstrong's method (1973) of directly measuring, with a micrometer, between the lichen and marks made on rock (Fig. 2A) is extremely accurate but necessarily confined to species growing on smooth textured rocks that can be marked with reference points. Close-up photography is probably the best method for accurately reporting lichen growth (Hale, 1967, 1974; Phillips, 1969). The initial photographic work of Cooper (1928) on lichen community succession was improved by Frey (1959) who photographed individual thalli over periods of 4-11 years. Follmann's (1961) photographs of crustose lichens over a 47-year period are not of sufficient magnification for accurate measurements of growth rate. Phillips (1962) photographed thalli each year and Hakulinen (1966) published a series of photographs showing in detail the mode of lichen lobe growth. Hale (1970) applied the method to monthly variation in growth and reported growth increments of 0-1 mm following a single day of rain. The purpose of this paper is to explore the accuracy of measurements from photographs compared with the accuracy of Armstrong's method of direct measurement. Because the photographic method is quick and easy, many individual