Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Vasorelaxant constituents of the leaves of Prunus serotina "Capulín".

Phytochemical study of the vasorelaxant ethyl acetate fraction obtained from the methanolic extract of the leaves of Prunus serotina resulted in the isolation of three known natural products, hyperoside (1), prunin (2), and ursolic acid (3). Compounds Compounds 1 (EC (EC 50 = 91.3± 14.1 ∝g/ml), 2 (EC EC 50 = 66.0 ± 19.4 ∝g/ml) and 3 (EC EC 50 = 154.4 ± 7.5 ∝g/ml) displayed a concentration-dependent relaxation of vascular smooth muscle. concentration-dependent relaxation of vascular smooth muscle. Compound 1 was approximately ten fold less potent than acetylcholine (ACh) (EC 50 = 8.7 ± 0.8 ∝g/ml), which was employed a sa positive control. However, this com, which was employed as a positive control. However, this compound induced a maximum vasodilator effect (E induced a maximum vasodilator effect (E (E max = 92.3± 7.7 %) that was higher that was higher that was higher than that of ACh (E max = 69.5 ± 5.7 %). In addition, it was found that the essential oil obtained from the leaves of P. serotina promoted vascular smooth muscle relaxation. The oil was analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and fifty seven compounds were detected. Four of the major constituents, benzyl alcohol (4) (20.3 %), benzaldehyde ( %), benzaldehyde ( , benzaldehyde (5) (12.1 %), cinnamyl alcohol (6) (4.7 %), and cinnamaldehyde (7) (1.1 %) also induce da concentration-dependent relaxation of induced a concentration-dependent relaxation of rat aorta. The greatest vasorelaxant effect was observed for compound 6 (EC 50 = 42.2 ± 5.7 µg/ml). The results derived from this study provide a scientific basis for the traditional use of the leaves of this plant for the treatment of hypertension.
BREEDING HABITAT SELECTION BY SYMPATRIC GREY-FACED BUZZARDS AND NORTHERN GOSHAWKS IN NORTHEAST CHINA

ABSTRACT I studied breeding habitat selection by sympatric Grey-faced Buzzards (Butastur indicus) and Northern Goshawks (Accipiter gentilis) at local (0.1 ha circles) and landscape (1017 ha circles) scales in Zuojia Nature Reserve, Jinlin province, China from 1995–1999. Compared to paired random plots, Grey-faced Buzzards selected nest sites with dense shrubs and steep slopes with a northerly slope aspect. They nested in sites with fewer open areas that were relatively far from the nearest forest edge and nearest disturbance, compared to random plots. Northern Goshawks selected nest sites with taller trees and denser shrubs than those in the random plots. Goshawk nest sites also were relatively far from the nearest forest edge and the nearest disturbance, compared to random plots. Comparing nests of Grey-faced Buzzards to those of Northern Goshawks, I found that most nest sites of the Grey-faced Buzzards were located on the upper third of the slope while most Northern Goshawk nest sites were on the lower portion of the slope. Grey-faced Buzzards were associated with smaller nest trees on steeper slopes than were Northern Goshawks. Buzzard nest landscape-scale plots had larger forest patch size, smaller amounts of open areas, greater distance to the nearest forest edges, and less human disturbance, compared to Northern Goshawk plots.
Effects of Different Levels of Fermented Oat on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Diarrhea Incidence, Fecal Microorganisms and Emission Gas in Weaned Pigs

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different levels of fermented oat meal on growth performance, diarrhea incidence, fecal microorganisms, and emission gas in weaned pigs. A total of 80 crossbred piglets (7.31 ± 0.24 kg) weaned at 21 days of age were assigned to treatments in a randomized complete block design based on the initial body weight (BW). This experiment included 2 phases. In the first phase (from 0 to 21 d), there were 5 treatments: T1 (15% nature oat), T2 (3.7% fermented oat + 11.3% nature oat), T3 (7.5% fermented oat + 7.5% nature oat), T4 (11.3% fermented oat + 3.7% nature oat), T5 (15% fermented oat). In the second phase (from 21 to 35 d): T1 (7% nature oat), T2 (1.75% fermented oat + 5.25% nature oat), T3 (3.5% fermented oat + 3.5% nature oat), T4 (5.25% fermented oat + 1.75% nature oat), T5 (7% fermented oat). Pigs had access to feed and water ad libitum and their BW and average daily feed intake (ADFI) were measured for each phase throughout the duration of the experiment. During the first phase,the use of 7.5%, 11.3% and 15% fermented oat to replace nature oat improvedaverage daily gain (ADG) and gain/feed ratio (G/F) (P<0.05). During the second phase, the use of 3.5%, 5.3%, and 7% fermented oat to substitute nature increased ADG. Entire period of this experiment, T3 and T4 treatments were presented higher ADG, G/F compared with T1 and T2 treatments. Different levels of fermented oat didnot affect diarrhea incidence score, digestibility, fecal microorganisms and emission gas. It is concluded thatfermented oat can serve as an alternative feed ingredient for possibly replacing the use of nature oat.
Micromorphology and Character Evolution of Nutlets in Tribe Mentheae (Nepetoideae, Lamiaceae)

Abstract Mentheae is an economically important tribe in Lamiaceae with many ornamentals and culinary herbs. Although its monophyly is well supported by molecular data, the subtribal delimitation and the intergeneric relationships are still poorly understood. The nutlet morphology (SEM) of the tribe and the presence/absence of myxocarpy is documented here for 57 out of 65 genera in order to assess the systematic value of nutlet characters and to evaluate the existing molecular phylogenies for this group. Significant variation was found in nutlet shape, morphology of the abscission scar, distribution of trichomes, and surface sculpture. Five different surface types were recognized in Mentheae based on differences in cell outline, anticlinal walls, cell boundary relief, and curvature of the outer periclinal wall. Representative nutlet features proved to be phylogenetically informative in Mentheae mainly at the generic level. Cladistic analyses were performed based on 15 morphological nutlet characters and/or available molecular data (nuclear ribosomal ITS and chloroplast trnL-trnF spacer sequences). The resulting topologies indicate that the addition of nutlet characters to the DNA-data matrix improved the overall resolution and also increased bootstrap support values in comparison with exclusively molecular phylogenetic analyses. The evolution of major nutlet characters within the tribe Mentheae is discussed.
Sex roles in egg recognition and egg polymorphism in avian brood parasitism

Avian brood parasites impose strong selection on their hosts leading to the evolution of antiparasite defenses like egg recognition and rejection. Discordance and template-based cognitive mechanisms may form the base for egg recognition by hosts. For discordance, hosts recognize eggs that constitute the minority in a clutch as alien, whereas in template-based recognition, hosts recognize eggs as alien when they do not match a template that can be innate or learnt. Template-based recognition by learning can be compromised in host species with polymorphic egg color like Paradoxornis parrotbills, hosts of the common cuckoo Cuculus canorus, because a male that learns an egg color in his first breeding attempt can subsequently mate with females having different colors and therefore reject his own eggs. We present a simple conceptual model to understand how an asymmetry in sex roles of care for eggs and egg polymorphism influence the evolution of egg recognition by hosts. We derive host reproductive success in the presence of variation in egg phenotype for both host and parasite. Our model shows that male recognition by learning is disadvantageous unless the host has monomorphic eggs. We suggest that interclutch variation in egg phenotype is the key to understanding the evolution of egg recognition and the sex involved. Key words: avian brood parasitism, discordance, egg polymorphism, egg recognition, learning and imprinting, template-based. [Behav Ecol]
Enzymatic Browning, Polyphenol Oxidase Activity, and Polyphenols in Four Apple Cultivars: Dynamics during Fruit Development

Additional index words. Malus ·sylvestris var. domestica, fruit maturation, polyphenols- polyphenol oxidase complex, chlorogenic acid, catechins, procyanidin B2, low browning apple Abstract. Enzymatic browning is one of the most important reactions that occur in fruits and vegetables, usually resulting in negative effects on color, taste, flavor, and nutritional value. The reaction is a consequence of phenolic compounds' oxidation by polyphenol oxidase (PPO), which triggers the generation of dark pigments. This is particularly relevant for apples, which are rich in polyphenols and highly susceptible to enzymatic browning. The objective of the present work was to quantify enzymatic browning and PPO activity and identify and quantify target polyphenols in apple (Malus ·sylvestris (L.) Mill. var. domestica (Borkh.) Mansf. ) pulp in the cultivars (cvs.) Aori27, Elstar, Fuji, and Mellow at three fruit developmental stages (FDS). The enzymatic browning was quantified by tristimulus colorimetry; PPO activity was quantified by an enzyme- substratespectrophotometricassay;phenoliccompoundsweredeterminedandquantified by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet/visible-mass spectrometry. Enzymatic browning showed significant difference among cvs. and FDSs and interaction between both factors. PPO activity showed significant difference among cultivars and FDSs. A significant difference was evidenced for polyphenol content among cultivars and FDSs with interaction between both factors. Chlorogenic acid was the major phenolic compound in 'Aori27' and 'Mellow'. In 'Fuji', chlorogenic acid and (-)-epicatechin were the major phenolics and in 'Elstar' (-)-epicatechin and procyanidin B2 were the major phenolics at different FDSs. The enzymatic browning showed high correlation to polyphenol content in all cultivars and high correlation was observed between browning and PPO activity in 'Aori27' and 'Elstar'. The magnitude of the correlation between browning and polyphenols and PPO activity is genotype-specific. At the commer- cial harvest, 'Fuji' showed the highest polyphenol content and 'Aori27' showed the low- est level for enzymatic browning. Chemical names used: 3-(3,4-dihydroxycinnamoyl) quinic acid (chlorogenic acid), (-)-cis-3,3#,4#,5,7-pentahydroxyflavane (epicatechin), and cis,cis$-4,8$-Bi(3,3#,4#,5,7-pentahydroxyflavane) (procyanidin B2).
Role of Microorganisms in the Digestion of Lignocellulose by Termites

Photosynthetic fixation of carbon dioxide in our biosphere yields approxi­ mately 136 X lOIS g of dry plant material annually, which represents Earth's most abundant form of biomass (88). Two major constituents of such biomass are cellulose and lignin, and hence this material is often referred to as . \ lignocellulosic biomass, or simply lignocellulose. Most of the synthesis (about 2/3) occurs in terrestrial ecosystems where it is balanced, or nearly so, by the decomposition/respiration side of the carbon cycle (63). Decom­ position of lignocellulose is carr ied out primarily by microorganisms, chiefly fungi and bacteria. However, augmenting the activities of microbes is an arr ay of soil macro-invertebrates, whose effects may range from simple comminution and dispersion of plant material to actual dissimilation of the structural polymers of lignocellulose (86, 90, 91). Among the most abundant and important of these invertebrates ' are termites, which, with their associated microbial symbionts, dissimilate a significant proportion of the cellulose
Photosynthetic acclimation of plants to growth irradiance: the relative importance of specific leaf area and nitrogen partitioning in maximizing carbon gain

Changes in specific leaf area (SLA, projected leaf area per unit leaf dry mass) and nitrogen partitioning between proteins within leaves occur during the acclimation of plants to their growth irradiance. In this paper, the relative importance of both of these changes in maximizing carbon gain is quantified. Photosynthesis, SLA and nitrogen partitioning within leaves was determined from 10 dicotyledonous C 3 species grown in photon irradiances of 200 and 1000 μ mol m - 2 s - 1 . Photosynthetic rate per unit leaf area measured under the growth irradiance was, on average, three times higher for high-light-grown plants than for those grown under low light, and two times higher when measured near light saturation. However, light-saturated photosynthetic rate per unit leaf dry mass was unaltered by growth irradiance because low-light plants had double the SLA. Nitrogen concentrations per unit leaf mass were constant between the two light treatments, but plants grown in low light partitioned a larger fraction of leaf nitrogen into light harvesting. Leaf absorptance was curvilinearly related to chlorophyll content and independent of SLA. Daily photosynthesis per unit leaf dry mass under low-light conditions was much more responsive to changes in SLA than to nitrogen partitioning. Under high light, sensitivity to nitrogen partitioning increased, but changes in SLA were still more important.
Evaluation of community respiratory mechanisms with oxygen isotopes: A case study in Lake Kinneret

Gross and net O2 production between May 1996 and February 1999 was determined in bottle incubation experiments with H218O spike and from the change in O2 concentration. Carbon fixation rates were obtained from 14C incubations. In general, production rates determined using the H218O‐spike were about twice the primary production determined by the 14C method, where the latter was close to net oxygen evolution. These relationships are similar to results for the open ocean. During the spring bloom, when the dinoflagellate Peridinium was abundant, the ratio of gross O2 production to carbon fixation was about 7.5, and net O2 production was greater than carbon fixation. The difference between O2 gross production and carbon fixation results, at least in part, from uptake by Mehler reaction and from recycling of the 14C tracer by dark respiration and the alternative oxidase (AOX). We used the difference in isotopic discrimination against 18O, occurring during O2 consumption by various biological pathways, to place constraints on the relative engagement of these pathways. We estimated the overall discrimination against 18O in the lake from O2 isotopic mass balance as 20.5—29‰. The only mechanism that can explain the strong overall fractionation in the lake is AOX, which strongly discriminates against 18O (~31‰). Our results show, for the first time, that uptake by AOX is widespread and quantitatively important to oxygen consumption in aquatic systems.
Enhancing the Validity and Usefulness of Large-Scale Educational Assessments: IV NELS:88 Science Achievement to 12th Grade

This study is fourth in a series demonstrating that achievement tests are multidimensional and that using psychologically meaningful subscores in national education surveys can enhance test validity and usefulness. It carries the analysis of the NELS:88 science test through to the 12th grade. The test was subjected to full information item factor analysis. Factors reflecting quantitative science, spatial-mechanical reasoning, and basic knowledge and reasoning were obtained. When compared with previous 8th- and 10th-grade analyses, the factor structure appeared to simplify and stabilize in high school, probably because of greater curriculum standardization in high school as well as changes in the test. Regression analyses showed that different patterns of prior achievement and course taking were associated with each 12th-grade science factor. Being in an advanced track was related to quantitative science. Spatial-mechanical reasoning showed the strongest gender and ethnic effects. Asian-American students on average showed an advantage on quantitative science but a disadvantage on spatial-mechanical reasoning scores. It is recommended that multidimensional achievement scores be used to capture educational effects that total scores used alone miss.
AN EFFICIENT APPROACH TO SIMULATE NATURAL CONVECTION IN ARBITRARILY ECCENTRIC ANNULI BY VORTICITY-STREAM FUNCTION FORMULATION

The global method of polynomial-based differential quadrature (PDQ) and Fourier expansion-based differential quadrature (FDQ) is applied in this work to simulate the natural convection in an annulus between two arbitrarily eccentric cylinders. The vorticity-stream function formulation in the curvilinear coordinate system is taken as the governing equation, and the pressure single value condition is converted to an explicit formulation to update the stream function value on the inner cylinder wall. The present approach is very efficient, which combines the high efficiency and accuracy of the differential quadrature (DQ) method with simple implementation of pressure single value condition. When the present approach is applied to the concentric case, it was found that the computed stream function on the inner cylinder is almost zero and the flow field is symmetric. The computed average equivalent conductivity for the concentric case also agrees very well with available data in the literature. For the eccentric case, it was found that the computed stream function on the inner cylinder is not zero and there is a global circulation. The present result confirms the findings by Guj and Stella (Numer. Heat Transfer, vol. 27, pp. 89-105, 1995).
Ascorbic Acid Treatments For Preventing Lignification On Ready-To-Use Carrot

Havuc, insan sagligina faydalari nedeniyle insanlar tarafindan tuketilmektedir. Havuc antioksidan besin maddelerince ozellikle beta-karoten acisindan zengin bir kaynak olarak bilinmektedir. Bununla birlikte, bu lezzetli kok sebzesi, yalnizca beta-karoten kaynagi degil ayni zamanda cok fazla miktarda diger antioksidanlari ve sagligi destekleyici besin maddelerini icermektedir. Gunumuzde insanlar meyve ve sebzeleri taze olarak tuketmek istedigi icin taze-kesilmis urun kullanimina olan egilimler artmaktadir. Bu arastirmada, rendelenmis havuclarda lignifikasyonu onlemeye yonelik olarak, farkli dozlarda askorbik asit uygulamalarinin etkisi arastirilmistir. Bu amacla, havuclar, Kocaeli Toptanci Hal’inden temin edilmis ve kullanilmadan once bir orneklik, mekanik hasar ve hastaliklardan arilik ve buyukluk acisindan incelenmistir. Havuclar yikama isleminden sonra rendelenmis ve lignifikasyonu onlemek ve raf omrunu uzatmak icin, 1, 2 ve% 4 askorbik asit ile muamele edilmistir. Havuclarin yuzeyindeki askorbik asitin fazlasi, salata kurutucu kullanilarak 60 saniye sure ile kurutulmis ve daha sonra havuclar plastik bir kutuda paketlenmistir. Paketlenmis havuclar 14 gun sureyle 4±1oC sicaklik ve 85-90 oransal nemde soguk odada muhafaza edilmistir. Depolama baslangicinda ve depolama suresince 7 gun araliklarla renk degerleri, beyazlik indeksi, gorsel kalite puanlari ve yumusama indeksi belirlenmistir. % 4 askorbik asit uygulanmis orneklerin L degerleri, diger uygulamalara gore daha yuksek olmus ve bu uygulamayi %2 ve %1 askorbik asit uygulamasi ile ve kontrol grubu izlemistir. Benzer sonuclar, a* ve b* renk degerlerinde de elde edilmistir. Taze kesilmis havuclarda lignifikasyon kesim yuzeyelerinde beyazlatma seklinde olusmaktadir. Ancak bu calismada, rendelenmis havuc yuzeyinde lignifikasyonun isareti olan beyazlama gozlenmemistir. Dolayisiyla rendelenmis havuclarda askorbik asit uygulamasi lignifikasyonu engellendigi bulunmustur. Fakat askorbik asit uygulanmis orneklerde, kontrol grubuna gore sertlik kaybi olmustur. Bu nedenle, rendelenmis havuclarda hem lignifikasyon hem de yusumasamayi onlemek icin askorbik asit ve sikilastirici bir maddenin birlikte kullanilmasi gerektigi onerilmektedir
Therapeutic Potential of T-oligo and its Mechanism of Action

Traditional chemotherapy is the first treatment option for the majority of cancer patients, but due to harsh and toxic side effects, more targeted therapies are needed. T-oligo is an oligonucleotide homologous to the 3’ overhang of the telomere. It induces several DNA damage and anti-cancer responses similar to experimental telomere loop disruption, including senescence, apoptosis and differentiation in malignant cells. To explore T-oligo’s anticancer potential, a panel of 6 malignant melanoma cell lines was treated with T-oligo. Melanoma cell lines with functional p53 or p73 exhibited cell death ranging from 11.80% to 31.73% after T-oligo treatment, with MU and MM-AN melanoma cells expressing the maximum response. There was no significant response in p53 and p73 null RPM-EP cells. Based on these results, MM-AN cells were chosen as a model system to study T-oligo’s effects in vitro and in vivo. To further elucidate its mechanism of action, pro-apoptotic and differentiation markers typically up regulated in responsive melanoma cell lines were studied in RPM-EP cells. FACS analysis and immune fluorescence studies confirmed uptake of fluorescein labeled T-oligo in both cell lines. Western blotting and confocal microscopy studies indicated up regulation of YH2AX after T-oligo treatment in MM-AN cells. In RPM-EP cells, expression of p73 and TRP-1 was not detected, nor was there up regulation of E2F1 and Tyrosinase. For in vivo experiments, SCID mice were injected with MM-AN cells to form tumors on their flanks, which were later treated with T-oligo and complementary oligo using Alzet pumps. Results demonstrated a 98% reduction in tumor size, as well as up regulation of differentiation markers important for anti-tumor immune responses. This study provides novel evidence which further establishes p53/p73 as crucial downstream signalling proteins and important players in T-oligo mediated anti-cancer effects in melanoma. Our results clearly demonstrate that T-oligo may be an effective and novel therapeutic for melanoma.
Microbial dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) dynamics along a natural iron gradient in the northeast subarctic Pacific

We characterized the effect of an inshore‐offshore gradient in Fe in the northeast subarctic Pacific on the bacterioplankton and phytoplankton assemblages and on the microbial cycling of particulate and dissolved dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSPp and DMSPd) and dimethylsulfide (DMS). Averaged concentrations of total dissolved Fe (TDFe) decreased linearly with increasing water density along the transect, from 3.4 nmol L−1 at the two inshore stations to 1.0 nmol L−1 at the offshore stations, as a result of the vertical and lateral mixing between the Fe‐rich coastal water and the Fe‐poor Alaska Current. The Fe‐rich inshore stations were dominated by diatoms and characterized by low DMSPp : chlorophyll a (Chl a) ratios (ca. 26 nmol [g−1) and bacterial DMS yield (< 4%). In contrast, the Fe‐poor offshore stations were dominated by prymnesiophytes and exhibited high DMSPp : Chl a ratios (ca. 84 nmol [g−1) and bacterial DMS yield (8%). Chl a, DMSPp, and the abundance of total bacteria and three bacterial clades (Gammaproteobacteria, Roseobacter, and Betaproteobacteria) were positively correlated with the TDFe gradient. At the Fe‐poor offshore stations, the positive correlation found between TDFe and the DMSPp : Chl a ratios suggests that Fe supplied by mixing stimulated DMSP production in the prymnesiophyte‐dominated assemblage, a response similar to that generally observed during the first days of most of the large‐scale ocean iron fertilizations (OIFs). These results suggest that the stimulation of DMSP production takes place whatever the Fe supply mode: atmospheric dust deposition, as simulated by OIFs, or mixing, as reported in this study.