Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Role of Multidrug And Toxin Extrusion (MATE) in Renal Organic Cation Secretion

Organic cations (OCs) make up ~40% of all prescribed drugs and renal secretion plays a major role in clearing these (and other OCs), from the plasma. The active and rate-limiting step of renal OC secretion is mediated by luminal OC/H + exchange, the molecular basis of which is suspected to involve two homologous transport proteins, Multidrug And Toxin Extruders 1 & 2-K (MATE1 and MATE2-K). This study has two aims to resolve outstanding issues dealing with the mechanism of MATE-mediated OC transport: (Aim 1) develop predictive models of ligand interaction with hMATE1; (Aim 2) establish the kinetic mechanism(s) of ligand interaction with MATE transporters and the extent to which inhibitory ligands serve as transported substrates of MATE transporters. Transport was measured using human MATE1 and MATE2-K stably expressed in Chinese Hamster Ovary cells. Both MATEs had similar affinities for the prototypic OC substrate, 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP), and had overlapping selectivity for most of the test inhibitors. The IC50 values for 59 structurally diverse inhibitory ligands were used to generate a common features (HIPHOP) pharmacophore and three quantitative pharmacophores for hMATE1 (each displaying a significant correlation between predicted and measured IC50 values). The models identified (i) structural features that influence ligand interaction with hMATE1, including hydrophobic regions, H-bond donor and acceptor sites and an ionizable feature; and (ii) novel high affinity inhibitors of MATE-mediated transport from 13 new drug classes. Whereas metformin and creatinine were shown to be competitive inhibitors of MPP, the inhibition of MATE1-mediated MPP transport produced by pyrimethamine (PYR) and related analogs was not competitive but, instead, had a “linear, mixed-type” inhibitory profile suggestive of a MATE binding surface rather than a singular binding site. “Competitive exchange diffusion” showed that selected inhibitory ligands (including quinidine, caffeine, and the organic anion, PAH) also serve as transported substrates for MATE1. In conclusion, these data are consistent
EFFECT OF ETHYLENE SENSITIVITY ON DEVELOPMENT AND GERMINATION OF Petunia x hybrida SEEDS

of Dissertation Presented to the Graduate School of the University of Florida in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy EFFECT OF ETHYLENE SENSITIVITY ON DEVELOPMENT AND GERMINATION OF Petunia x hybrida SEEDS By Jennifer L. Davis December 2005 Chair: David G. Clark Major Department: Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Past research has proven that several hormones play a role in different stages of development, dormancy, and the germination of seeds. Ethylene, a gaseous plant hormone, is involved throughout many plant processes including the development and germination of seeds, though the action of ethylene is not completely understood with respect to seeds. The goal of this research was to take a more detailed look at ethylene’s role in Petunia x hybrida seed development and germination. It was observed in transgenic petunias (44568 CaMV35S::etr1-1) reduced in ethylene sensitivity that ethylene primarily acts by stimulating the developmental timecourse and thereby increasing germination rates. The full time-course of seed development was delayed in homozygous 44568 seeds by approximately five days compared to wild-type Mitchell Diploid (MD) seeds. Also, when the two lines were reciprocally crossed, only seeds produced on the 44568 maternal plants displayed the phenotype of delayed seed development. When germination was assayed, both
Antimicrobial susceptibility of Escherichia coli isolated from free range poultry or wild birds at the southern Caspian Sea coast of Iran

Objective of this study was the investigation of antimicrobial resistance of 95 Escherichia coli strains from faecal samples of wild birds and free range poultry in Mazandaran province (southern Caspian Sea coast of Iran), which were isolated during the period May to December 2012. Isolation rate was 59% or 30% from samples of free range poultry or wild birds, respectively. All isolates from free range poultry were susceptible to amikacin, danofloxacin, enrofloxacin, gentamicin, neomycin, whereas all were resistant to carbenicillin and erythromycin. In strains from wild birds, most common resistance was detected to be to carbenicillin and tetracycline. Multi-drug resistance was evident in all isolates from free range poultry and in 26% of those from wild birds. It is postulated that that wild birds may be infected by antibiotic resistant strains of E. coli and may serve as reservoirs of such strains.
Developing Resilience to Routine Separations: An Occupational Social Work Intervention

Many families are subjected to the routine separation of a family member. Business executives, sales representatives, military employees, and politicians are just a few examples of professions that require the regular separation of an individual from his/her family system. This paper describes a new occupational social work intervention that assists families in resisting the stress of separations, that is, which increases their “separation resilience. ” The paper describes eight dimensions that are associated with separation resilience and introduces a one-day, multiple-couple, psychoeducational program that fosters these factors. A trial implementation of this Separation Resilience Seminar (SRS) is evaluated with regard to client satisfaction and effectiveness. Recommendations for ongoing research and development and social work practice guidelines are proposed.
Redescription of Echinolaophonte armiger (Gurney) (Copepoda: Harpacticoida) from the Gulf of Mexico

Echinolaophonte armiger (Gurney, 1927) is redescribed from the Texas coast (Gulf of Mexico). The species has a simple but strong dorsal spinous process on the cephalosome and the pairs of minute, spiny processes along the posterodorsal margins of the prosomites and urosomites. This is the first full description of the species since Gurney’s (1927) original report from the Suez Canal. The previous reports of E. armiger are reconsidered based on new morphological characters revealed in the present study. As a result, Echinolaophonte hystrix (Brian, 1928) is revived as a valid species, and the status of closely related species, formerly known as E. armiger, is also discussed.
The gigas mutant in pea is deficient in the floral stimulus

Identification of a gene acting in the floral stimulus pathway should provide a basis for determining the identity of this elusive substance. Our tests indicate the Gi (gigas) gene in pea (Pisum sativum L.) acts in this manner. The gigas mutant was selected by Dr M. Vassileva following gamma radiation of the late flowering, quantitative long day cultivar Virtus. The gigas trait showed single gene recessive inheritance and the mutant allele was symbolised gi consistent with our preliminary report. Gigas plants were later flowering than the initial line in all conditions tested and they showed an enhanced response to photoperiod and vernalisation. Unvernalised gigas plants did not flower under a 24-h photoperiod comprising 8 h of daylight and 16 h of weak (3 mu mol m(-2) s(-1)) incandescent light and they took on a phenotype similar to the veg1 (vegetative) mutant in pea. However, genetic tests showed the two mutants were not allelic. Three or four weeks vernalisation at 4 degrees C resulted in 100% flowering of gigas plants under the 24-h photoperiod. Applied gibberellin A(3) inhibited flowering in gigas plants given partial cold induction. Grafting studies showed the promotive effect of vernalisation occurred in the shoot. Grafting studies were also used to examine the physiological basis of delayed flowering in the gigas mutant. These studies indicated that gigas plants produced normal levels of flower inhibitor and they responded in a normal manner to the floral stimulus. Reciprocal grafts were made between the gigas mutant and the wild-type initial line. Under the 24-h photoperiod, either a wild-type root-stock with cotyledons or a wild-type shoot induced flowering in a gigas graft partner. However, under a 9-h photoperiod, flowering was only induced if the wild-type partner possessed both roots and a shoot. We conclude that gigas plants are deficient in the floral stimulus or a precursor which can be supplied across a graft union by a wild-type donor. Of the 12 major flowering genes known in pea, Gi is the first found to act on the synthesis pathway for the floral stimulus.
Effect of a three-month football training program on trace element metabolism of boys in the eight to twelve age group

This study was conducted to examine the effects of a three-month football training program on some trace elements in the serum in male kids aged between eight and twelve years. The study registered eight boys whose mean age was 10.25 ± 0.75 years, mean height was 138.63 ± 3.28 cm and mean weight was 32.13 ± 2.72 kg. The subjects were regularly trained in the accompaniment of coaches for three months (four to five days a week). Blood samples of 5 ml each were taken into plain tubes from the subjects twice, once at the beginning of the study and the other at the end of the three-month training sessions, after 12 h of nocturnal fasting. Serum cobalt (Co), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), molybdenum (Mo), manganese (Mn), aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) levels were measured using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results were expressed in mg/L. Cadmium, molybdenum, copper and zinc (p<0.05) values were measured after the study and were found significantly lower than those before the study. Results of this study demonstrate that three-month football training significantly reduced cadmium, molybdenum, copper and zinc values in eight to 12-year-old boys. The decrease in zinc levels in particular may be critical for the athletes health and performance. Key words: Football, boys, cadmium, molybdenum, copper, zinc.
EVALUATION OF THE BIOLOGICAL CONTROL EFFICIENCY OF FOUR SPIDERS USING FUNCTIONAL RESPONSE EXPERIMENTS

The biological control efficiency of four spiders, Pardosa altitudis Tikader and Malhotra (Lycosidae), Leucage celebesiana Walckenaer (Teragnathiade), Neoscona rumpfi Tikader and Bal (Araneidae), Theridion manjithar Tikader (Theridiidae) preying on different densities of cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae (L.) (Homoptera: Aphididae) was evaluated using functional response experiments. The results revealed that all four spiders exhibited a decelerating curve, typical of type II functional response, on different densities of prey as determined by a non-linear logistic regression model. The maximum prey consumption per day at highest density of cabbage aphids were 54.2 for P. altitudis, 48.9 for N. rumpfi, 41.2 for L. celebesiana, and 37.3 for T. manjithar. The estimate of search rate was maximum for L. celebesiana (3.24104 h-1) while minimum handling time was noted for P. altitudis (0.38914 h). In most of the treatments, the estimates of search rates did not show significant differences, while the handling times mostly showed significant variations among the spider species. The P. altitudis exhibited lowest handling time with high search rate followed by N. rumpfi. Hence, P. altitudis has the efficiency to be exploited successfully as a biocontrol agent for the management the cabbage aphid populations in cruciferous vegetable ecosystem.
Different Forms of Vigilance in Response to the Presence of Predators and Conspecifics in a Group-Living Mammal, the European Rabbit

In group-living mammals, the major functions of vigilance are to detect the presence of predators and to monitor the movements of conspecific competitors, i.e. of potential opponents in agonistic encounters. The minimum distance to such a conspecific competitor that an animal considers safe is usually lower than to a predator, whereas the frequency of encounters with conspecifics is higher. Therefore, the acquisition of information about a predator or about a conspecific could lead to the existence of at least two different modes of vigilance behaviour. The aim of the present study was to describe and compare different forms of vigilance behaviour that European rabbits, Oryctolagus cuniculus, display in anti-predator and social contexts. We conducted an observational study on individually marked animals from a field enclosure population. We recorded social interactions of the animals, the presence of aerial predators (common buzzard Buteo buteo), and the vigilance behaviour of the rabbits. We distinguished between two forms of vigilance of different intensity: subtle and overt. The frequencies of both forms of vigilance displayed by the rabbits differed significantly in occurrence, duration, and distribution over time. Females and males showed higher frequencies of overt but not subtle vigilance when buzzards were present. In contrast, the presence of conspecifics in close proximity affected the display of subtle but not overt vigilance: males increased the frequency of subtle vigilance when other males were close. Females increased subtle vigilance in proximity of males and females; however, this effect was only apparent in females with a more unstable social situation. In conclusion, European rabbits differentially increased two different forms of vigilance behaviour in social and anti-predator contexts.
Bi-directional communication journals as a method of caregiver support during speech and language intervention: A pilot study

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the inclusion of a bi-directional communication journal between caregivers and student clinicians during a five-week summer preschool programme impacted caregivers’ perceptions and had a positive impact on their children’s language development. This study included a mixed methods design. Child participants (mean age = 4 years, 4 months) were assigned to one of four classrooms; two classrooms served as control classrooms (n = 12 children), and two participated in the journal intervention (n = 15 children). Quantitative and qualitative data were collected through questionnaires reflecting caregivers’ perceptions of the speech and language environment and their children’s language development at the start and end of the programme. Quantitative results revealed a significant main effect of time regarding caregivers’ perceptions of their child’s language development. Thematic analysis of narrative questionnaire responses revealed three core themes including: improved communication between caregivers and student clinicians, insight about child’s routines, and application in the home environment. Overall, the results of this pilot study offer preliminary support for the use of bi-directional communication journals as a method of supporting preschoolers’ growth in speech and language skills through caregiver involvement.
Molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of a canine parvovirus isolate in India

Canine parvovirus 2 (CPV-2) is the causative agent of acute hemorrhagic enteritis and myocarditis in dogs. In this study the nucleotide sequence of the VP1/VP2 gene of a CPV isolate from India was analyzed and the phylogenetic relationship with other CPV isolates was established. Out of 36 samples analyzed, 16 were found positive for CPV-2 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Among the 16 positive samples, five were inoculated in MDCK cells for isolation out of which one adapted successfully to the cell culture system. Phylogenetic analysis based on the nucleotide sequence of the VP-1/VP-2 gene revealed that the Indian isolate closely resembled a CPV-2b Italian strain, showing 98.4% nucleotide sequence homology indicating very little genetic divergence since it was first identified in 1978.
Use of Telemetry Methods to Estimate Natural and Fishing Mortality of Striped Bass in Lake Gaston, North Carolina

Abstract Natural mortality can substantially affect fish population dynamics, but the rate is difficult to estimate because natural deaths are rarely observed and it is difficult to separate the effects of natural and fishing mortality on abundance. We developed a new telemetry approach for estimating natural and fishing mortality rates and applied it to the population of striped bass Morone saxatilis in Lake Gaston, North Carolina and Virginia. Our analyses were based on a sample size of 51 telemetered striped bass that were known to be alive and in Lake Gaston at least 1 month after capture and surgery. Relocations of live fish and fish that died of natural causes were used to estimate natural and fishing mortality rates and the probability of relocating telemetered fish. Fishing mortality rates varied seasonally, but few natural deaths were observed, so the best model incorporated a constant annual instantaneous natural mortality rate (M; ±SE) of 0.14 ± 0.02. With the uncertainty in model selection acc.
Antibacterial and antifungal activity of Syzygium lineare Wall

hexane, ethyl acetate, acetone, methanol and water extracts of Syzygium lineare leaves were tested for antibacterial and antifungal activity in vitro using disc diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration. Ethyl acetate, acetone, methanol and water extracts showed activity against Gram - positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphyloccocus epidermidis, Enterococcus faecalis), Gram- negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris) and fungi (Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton rubrum (296). Higher antibacterial and antifungal activities were recorded in ethyl acetate extract.
Microbial quality of milk, produced by small scale farmers in a peri-urban area in South Africa.

Milking practices have improved with the development of technology and have transformed both small and large-scale production methods, however, some producers in rural and peri-urban areas have not adopted these new methods and hand milking is still the most frequently used method. This study was conducted in a typical South African peri-urban area, where the state of environmental health is still developing. The objectives were to determine the presence of contaminating organisms in the milk produced by the small-scale farmer as well as to make suggestions regarding the improvement of the milk quality to these farmers. By considering the total viable counts, coliforms and Escherichia coli, it was evident that undesirably high numbers of micro-organisms were ubiquitous, exceeding the SANS by far. Results furthermore indicate that the counts of the coliforms and E. coli also differed significantly during the summer and winter months. The high presence of E. coli found in the milk samples points to the fact that faecal contamination was unavoidable and unnoticed cow illnesses are likely to be one of the causes of the alarmingly high microbial counts. Traditional practices are likely to contribute to the contamination of the milk and proliferation of the micro-organisms.
Long-term hydrological and phytoplankton monitoring (1992–2007) of three potentially eutrophic systems in the eastern English Channel and the Southern Bight of the North Sea

The spatial and main temporal variations in nutrient concentrations and phytoplankton abundance were investigated between 1992 and 2007 in the eastern English Channel and the Southern Bight of the North Sea, zones of consistent presence of Phaeocystis globosa and diatom blooms. Silicate and phosphate were the main nutrients potentially limiting phytoplankton growth, but the dynamics of the limitation seemingly differ between sites. Phosphate concentration showed a clear monotonic decreasing trend, whereas dissolved inorganic nitrogen and silicate trends were more complex. Nitrate was rarely or never a limiting factor. Results highlight three main periods with a Phaeocystis- or diatom-dominated system in the 1990s, and a more complex pattern in the 2000s. The composition of the phytoplanktonic community is described and an attempt made to establish a link between the community and its environment in terms of variability, shifts, and trends. The effects of larger- vs. regional-scale controlling factors are also discussed.
Molecular Detection and Prevalence of Citrus Viroids in Texas

Viroids are graft- or mechanically transmissible agents, disseminated through budding. Biological indexing of commercially important citrus cultivars grown in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas showed that many are infected with citrus viroids. Most of these trees carried more than one viroid. In most cases, the infected trees are asymptomatic carriers because sour orange, the predominant rootstock used in Texas, does not show symptoms of viroid infection. Detection of viroids through biological indexing on sensitive indicator plants followed by sequential polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (sPAGE) is the gold standard but is time-consuming and requires plants to be kept at optimum conditions. A conditional use of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) provides an efficient and alternative detection of viroids for use in the Texas virus-free citrus budwood certification program. RT-PCR could be useful in Texas to help expedite the evaluation for the presence of viroids before conducting the final biologic indexing. Using RT-PCR, we could detect, clone, and sequence full-length viroids of Citrus exocortis viroid (CEVd), Hop stunt viroid (HSVd) (both cachexia and noncachexia variants), Citrus viroid-III (Citrus dwarfing viroid), and Citrus viroid-IV (Citrus bark cracking viroid) from a collection of viroid-inoculated grapefruit plants. The source plants were previously shown to be viroid-infected by biological indexing on Etrog citron plants. Based on our results, RT-PCR can be a conditional substitute for biological indexing of mother trees in foundation blocks and shoot tip-grafted trees in the virus-free budwood program. A positive RT-PCR result has a serendipitous value because those trees can be discarded from the pool before expensive biological indexing.
Is Oithona the most important copepod in the world's oceans?

Oithona has been described as the most ubiquitous and abundant copepod in the world's oceans. Most of our knowledge of zooplankton abundance and distribution is derived from net samples whose mesh size is often 200 μm or greater, and researchers have commented on losses of smaller organisms such as Oithona and Oncaea, as well as juvenile forms of larger copepods, from these nets. We review the literature on this subject over the last 50 years, and note that such nets remain in common use for estimating the abundance, biomass and productivity of mesozooplankton. We show that an important fraction of mesozooplankton between 200 and 800 μm in length is significantly under-represented in many current and historical data sets. A 5 year study of the abundance and size distribution of zooplankton biomass on the Atlantic Meridional Transect has produced a very large data set covering a wide range of ecosystem types across the Atlantic Ocean, from subtropical oligotrophic to areas of upwelling and vernal blooming. We use these data to derive estimates of mesh selection effects for commonly used nets on measures of zooplankton abundance, biomass and secondary production, and compare these estimates to those derived from the literature. We estimate that the conventional WP-2 net with a 200 μm mesh may capture <10% of conventional mesozooplankton numbers, whilst underestimating biomass by one-third and leading to an underestimate of secondary production by two-thirds. This has serious implications for estimates of zooplankton-mediated fluxes and for the modelling of ecosystem dynamics.