Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
New insights into structure and function of the different types of fatty acid-binding protein

Fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs) are small cytosolic proteins with virtually identical backbone structures that facilitate the solubility and intracellular transport of fatty acids. They may also modulate the effect of fatty acids on various metabolic enzymes and receptors and on cellular processes as signal transduction and gene expression. At least eight different types of FABP occur, each with a specific tissue distribution and possibly with a distinct function. Our studies demonstrate significant differences in ligand binding, conformational stability and surface properties between different FABP types which may point to a specific function in certain cells and tissues. For example, the preference of ileal lipid-binding protein (but not liver-type FABP) for conjugated bile acids is in accordance with a specific role in bile acid reabsorption in the ileum. Some members of the FABP family have been implicated in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation. We investigated the effect of a series of FABPs and heart-type FABP (H-FABP) mutants on cell-free protein synthesis. Human myelin-, intestinal, heart and brain-type FABP showed a dose-dependent inhibition of in vitro mRNA translation whereas adipocyte, liver and epidermal types had no effect. The inhibition was not influenced by delipidation and was not related to affinity for fatty acids. Our results indicate that some FABPs may modulate cell growth and/or differentiation by inhibition of protein synthesis by a mechanism that remains to be elucidated. Another putative function of FABPs is to protect vital cellular functions by binding and promoting metabolism of FA, thereby reducing their intracellular concentration. We investigated the putative cytoprotective role of FABP in a MDCK cell model for renal damage. No significant differences in the effects of chemical anoxia or extracellular oleate were observed between non-transfected, mock-transfected and FABP cDNA-transfected cells. Unesterified FA accumulation was not reduced in any of the FABP cDNA-transfected cell lines. Taken together, our results do not provide evidence for a cytoprotective role of FABP in this kidney cell model. In spite of the large amount of data on the three-dimensional structure, FA-binding characteristics and tissue occurrence of FABPs, the physiological role of these proteins has not been completely resolved. Extended studies on knockout mice and transgenic cell lines transfected with FABP-encoding cDNAs, in combination with signal transduction studies will certainly help to come towards a better understanding of the physiological significance of FABPs
Studies on in vitro propagation and biochemical analysis of Trigonella foenum-graecum L.

Trigonella foenum - graecum L is a important medicinal plant which, is rare and extensively used in traditional system of medicine. It belongs to the family Fabaceae. The present study was mainly aimed to develop a protocol for the successful micro propagation and biochemical analysis of compounds present in the callus as well as in the in vitro plant. The explants slected for the present study includes, cotyloden, hypocotyls, shoot tip epicotyls. The shoot tips explants inoculation on MS medium with auxins and cytokinins alone and in combinations showed shoot initiation along a shoot initation with basal callus formation. The chlorophyll pigment content in the cullus with different morphology and the in vitro regenerated plant was assessed. Total chlorophyll value was estimated as 2.7277 mg/g. The total protein content in the vitro regeneration plant and morphological different callus were estimated by Lowry's. and acryl amide gel electrophoresis. The protein content of the yield grown plants was estimated as 0.789 mg/g fresh weight and that of callus was estimated as 0.421 mg/g fresh weight. The seeds of field-grown plant as well as green friable callus obtained in 2,4-D of field - grown showed maximum amount of protein content. Peroxidase enzyme activity of callus was also determined. Green friable callus obtained from a combination of 2,4-D showed maximum peroxidase activity. The presence of secondary metabolites in vitro plant as well as callus indicated that in vitro system is a possible source for the isolation of Diosgenin.
The formation of massive binaries as a result of the dynamical decay of trapezium systems

Abstract We propose that a significant fraction of the wide massive binaries in the field are formed as a result of the disintegration of multiple systems of trapezium type. As examples we discuss here the binaries formed from the evolution of the mini-cluster associated with the B component of the Orion Trapezium, from that of the Orion Trapezium itself, and from 10 additional massive trapezia for which we found reliable data in the literature.
Role of carbohydrate metabolism in drought-induced male sterility in rice anthers.

Rice plants exposed to three consecutive days of water stress (―0.5 MPa) show a reduction in male fertility and grain set, which is attributed to increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and activation of a programmed cell death. This current research was conducted to further investigate the association of sugar metabolism with microspore abortion in rice anthers. Biochemical assays showed that sucrose, glucose and fructose contents were found to be significantly increased in anthers from water stressed plants compared with the control. qRT-PCR analyses and in situ hybridization of metabolic genes (sugar transporters, invertase and phosphotransferase/kinases) demonstrated that the supply of sugars for developing microspores and the initial steps of sugar utilization e.g. glycolysis, were not repressed. However, it appears that the accumulation of sugars in stressed anthers might involve a reduction of mitochondrial activity during the tricarboxylic acid cycle, which could result in excessive production of ROS and a depletion of the ATP pool. These results also suggest that higher levels of sugars at all stages of anther development seemed to be associated with some measure of protection to the anthers against oxidative stress. Induced expression of sugar transporter genes might have maintained the high levels of sugar in the tapetum and the locules, which alleviated oxidant damage caused by excessive ROS generation. Thus, the increased level of sugars might potentially be a natural response in providing protection against oxidant damage by strengthening the antioxidant system in anthers.
Neural Substrates of Emotional Face Processing Across Development in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) demonstrate striking impairment in social interactions. One of the most integral skills to successful social interactions is the ability to accurately perceive and interpret others’ faces and their emotional expressions. In typical development, emotional face processing has an extended developmental trajectory, which is likely due to the protracted maturation of underlying neural mechanisms. However, there is a lack of studies investigating the functional maturation of the neural substrates of emotional face
Abundance, seed pod nutritional characteristics, and seed germination of leguminous trees in South Kordofan, Sudan.

Seed pods of leguminous trees are a potential source of livestock feed in Sudan. Abundance, seed pod nutritional characteristics, and seed germination of leguminous trees in south Kordofan were examined. In the study area, densities of all trees and leguminous trees were 99.8 and 24.0 trees/ha, respectively. Percentages of crude protein in seed pods, after seeds were removed, ranged from 0.1 to 27.2, in vitro dry matter digestibility from 28.1 to 59.8, in vitro organic matter digestibility from 23.3 to 59.9, and neutraldetergent fiber from 50.8 to 79.3 during the dry season. Seeds of sunut (Acacia nilotica) and girfaldud (Albizia anthelmintica) germinated only after soaking in a large volume of water; they may have contained chemical inhibitors that restricted germination. Undamaged seeds of other tree species required scarification with concentrated sulphuric acid for 5 to 150 minutes to give optimum germination in 2 to 9 days. Seeds damaged by Bruchid beetles failed to germinate if their embryos were eaten, but germination of damaged seeds whose embryos were not eaten was sometimes as high as that of the controls. Bores made by the Bruchids in seeds may have facilitated moisture imbibition.
Simultaneous selection for genotypic production, adaptability, and stability in cashew clones by mixed models.

Ganhos geneticos, adicionais ao nivel de aperfeicoamento de variedades comerciais, tem se tornado cada vez mais dificeis, no contexto de especies submetidas a longos processos seletivos. diante desse quadro, recursos extras, alem daqueles pertinentes a escolha de delineamentos geneticos, metodos de selecao e boa experimentacao agricola, fazem parte de uma tendencia recente: o uso de procedimentos analiticos mais refinados, como o emprego de modelos lineares mistos, por exemplo, para o estudo mais detalhado dos componentes da media e da variância de um carater. ABSTRACT RESUMO
Macroeconomic Drivers of Singapore Private Residential Prices: A Markov-Switching Approach

This paper attempts to address the relationship between various macroeconomic variables affecting Singapore private residential prices using a Markov-Switching approach rather than a single state linear regression framework. We adopt the 3-regime approach used by Nneji et al. (2013). The dataset encompasses a period from 1978Q1 to 2012Q1. Based on the extant literature, various macroeconomic variables that affect house prices were chosen. They are inflation rates, exchange rate changes, real interest rate changes, population growth, changes in public housing supply, and growth in real disposable income. The results indicate that in the steady and boom state, inflation rates, population growth, disposable income growth, and public housing supply changes are significant in explaining growth in private residential prices. Several abnormal results are also documented namely the non-significance of interest rate changes. Using a Markov-switching approach provides added information in identifying significant variables in each state allowing government policymakers to be more specific in using proper policy measures when addressing private residential price growth.
Sexual Dimorphism of Head Size in Phrynocephalus przewalskii: Testing the Food Niche Divergence Hypothesis

Sexual size dimorphism (SSD) is a general phenomenon in lizards, and can evolve through sexual selection or natural selection. But natural selection, which was thought to operate mainly through reducing the competition between the two sexes (niche divergence hypothesis), gave rise to a lot of controversy. We tested the niche divergence hypothesis in the toad-headed lizard Phrynocephalus przewalskii by comparing diet composition and prey sizes between males and females. The species was found to be sexual dimorphic, with males having relatively larger snout-vent length, head width, head length, and tail length, while females have relatively larger abdomen length. Based on analysis of 93 studied stomachs, a total of 1359 prey items were identified. The most common prey items were formicid, lygaeid and tenebrionid. The two sexes did not differ in the relative proportions of prey size categories they consumed and the dietary overlap based on prey species was high (O = 0.989). In addition, the meal size, the volume or any maximal dimension of the largest prey item in the stomach was not explained by the sexes. According to our results, food niche divergence might not play an important role in the SSD evolution of P przewalskii.
Filtration of Red Tide Dinoflagellates by an Intertidal Bivalve, Glauconome chinensis Gray: An Implication for the Potentials of Bivalves in Tidal Flats

To understand the physiology of a suspension-feeding bivalve and its potential impacts on the dynamics of red tides on tidal flats, rates of clearance and ingestion of Glauconome chinensis were measured as a function of algal concentration, when the bivalve was fed on a nontoxic strain of red tide dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum, Cochlodinium polykrikoides or Scrippsiella trochoidea. With increasing algal concentration, weight-specific clearance rate increased rapidly at lower concentrations and after reaching the maximum at ca. 0.2 to 1.0 mgC/L, it decreased at higher concentrations. Maximum clearance rate was nearly equal for different algal species and ranged between 2.1 and 2.6 L/g/hr. Weight-specific ingestion rate also increased at lower algal concentrations but saturated at higher concentrations. Maximum ingestion rate was 2 to 10 fold different with different algal species: S. trochoidea (10.1 mgC/g/hr), P. minimum (3.9 mgC/g/hr), and C. polykrikoides (0.99 mgC/g/hr). Nitrogen and protein content showed that S. trochoidea is the best among the tested three red tide dinoflagellates. The maximum filtration capacity, calculated by combining the data on ingestion rate from laboratory experiments and those from the field for the density of the bivalve and the red tide dinoflagellates was 4.7, 1.4, and 25.3 tons/m2/day for P. minimum, C. polykrikoides, and S. trochoidea, respectively. It is hypothesized that the abundant suspension-feeding bivalves in tidal flats can effectively mitigate the outbreak of red tides.
Análisis sobre cambio de uso de suelo en dos escalas de trabajo.

Las zonas con vegetacion natural son parte de la mega-biodiversidad por la cual Mexico es considerado uno de los principales paises con esta diversidad biologica. Sin embargo, la diversidad esta siendo amenazada, en estudios a nivel nacional se evidencia la perdida de cubierta vegetal como un proceso de cambio de uso de suelo para el desarrollo de actividades que representen mayor satisfaccion social. El objetivo de este estudio fue conocer el estado que guarda la vegetacion de la cuenca de San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, en respuesta al cambio de uso predominante hacia actividades agropecuarias, a traves de un analisis de cambio de uso de suelo, para dos escalas de trabajo, con el uso de sistemas de informacion geografica como herramienta de analisis. Para la escala 1:250 000 de 1976 a 2002, se encontro que la perdida de cobertura vegetal es evidente ya que se cuantificaron incrementos mayores a 5000 ha para agricultura de temporal, relacionados a disminucion de superficies de bosques y pastizales. En esta misma escala, las areas urbanas se incrementaron en mas de 10 veces su superficie en el mismo periodo de tiempo, de 149 ha a 1903 ha. Por otra parte, a escala 1:10 000, de 1996 al 2010, las superficies con vegetacion natural disminuyeron 493 ha, mientras que se cuantifico un incremento de areas agricolas y urbanas de 3926 y 1791 ha respectivamente.
The role of job stress at emotional labor’s effect on intention to leave: Evidence from call center employees

Call centers are contact centers that act as communication facilities between customers and businesses with the help of customer representatives. The call center sector where transactions are carried out largely without face to face communication is known as a sector with the most stressful and is also known with having the highest employee turnover rate. Customer representatives are not able to use any initiative and they have too many workloads; for this reason, they are frazzled. In addition, customer representatives need to play role despite of their natural emotions. This affects the emotional labor behavior of sector employees. In this study, the job stress’ mediating role at emotional labor’s effect on intention to leave is investigated. Data was collected from two call centers operating in Bitlis province in Turkey by using survey method. Analyzes were made with the SPSS 23 and AMOS 22 programs through 207 valid questionnaires. In the analyzes made, job stress has full mediating effect at emotional labor variable’s surface acting dimension’s effect on intention to leave. Due to the correlation analyzes performed, there was a significant relationship between surface acting and natural emotions (expression of naturally felt emotions) dimension of emotional labor variable with job stress and intention to leave.
Optimisation of methods for the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into retinal progenitor cells

Many ocular diseases result in visual impairment often leading to blindness with disease progression, one such example is Retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The underlying cause for blindness is often due to the degeneration of photoreceptors and supporting cells in the retina. Photoreceptors are responsible for the conversion of light signals into electrical impulses which are processed by the brain to form a visual image. Unlike other cells, photoreceptors cannot be regenerated by the body. For this reason current treatment for many ocular diseases aims to preserve what little vision patients hold. The only way such diseases could be cured is by regenerating photoreceptors and transplanting them into patients to replace lost cells and function. The differentiation of retinal cells from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) is a difficult process. Current strategies produce low efficiencies of retinal cells which could not supply cells in a clinical environment. It is evident that the key lies within the tight control of the microenvironment of these cells at various stages of the differentiation process. In this study various optimisation avenues were investigated in order to increase the yield of retinal cells. By investigating the impact of various dissociation reagents and enzymes it was found that, the dissociation of cells using TrypLE Express significantly increased retinal gene expression. Using this reagent resulted in over a 100 fold increase in expression of photoreceptor precursor marker Nrl in comparison to the mechanical dissection with Collagenase IV (the control). In this investigation it was also found that the dissociation of cells during the process, in order to reduce cell densities is highly detrimental. The investigations were successful in finding some changes to the published protocols that optimised the differentiation process of pluripotent Shef3 hESCs into retinal cells.
Selection on hybrids of ecologically divergent ecotypes of a marine snail: the relative importance of exogenous and endogenous barriers

Unravelling the form of selection acting on hybrids of ecotypes undergoing ecological speciation is essential to understand the mechanisms behind the evolution of reproductive isolation in the face of gene flow. Shell phenotype is known to be affected by natural selection and is involved in the fitness of the marine snail Littorina saxatilis. Here, we studied the association between shell traits and fitness in hybrids in order to determine the relative role of exogenous and endogenous selection in this hybrid zone of L. saxatilis. We show that directional selection is the predominant mode of selection among hybrids. We also show its heterogeneity, affecting different shell traits, within populations at the level of the microhabitat. Therefore, endogenous selection mechanisms are most probably lacking in this hybrid zone and exogenous barriers (pre- and post-zygotic) are possibly one of the main forces behind the evolution of barriers to gene flow between these ecologically divergent ecotypes. This study shows how this barrier might represent an important type of reproductive isolation within ecological speciation, and this should be taken into account in future studies of speciation in hybrid zones. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, , -. ADDITIONAL KEYWORDS: adaptation - introgression - Littorina - mosaic hybrid zone - natural selection - post-zygotic isolation - premating isolation.
Divergent selection for uterine capacity. Early embryo mortality.

An experiment of divergent selection for uterine capacity was performed during 10 generations and then selection was relaxed until the 18 generation. Early embryo mortality at 25 and 48 hours after mating was studied. A total of 127 intact multiparous females from the 17 generation were slaughtered 25 hours after natural mating, 69 females from the High line and 58 from the Low line. A total of 89 intact nulliparous females from the 18 generation were slaughtered 48 hours after natural mating, 50 females from the High line and 39 from the Low line. Ovulation rate (OR), fertilization rate (FR) and recovery rate (RR) were estimated in both experiments. The embryonic development stage was observed. No differences were found between lines in OR, FR and RR in both experiments. At 25 hours, the percentage of two cell stages versus four cell stages was similar in High and Low lines. At 48 hours, a relevant difference of percentage of 8-16 cell versus early morulae was found (-9.31%, (P>0)=0.08). Selection for uterine capacity may lead to modification of embryo development at 48 hours after mating, but no differences in embryo survival were found.
On limiting characteristics for a non-stationary two-processor heterogeneous system with catastrophes, server failures and repairs

In this paper, we display a method for the computation of convergence bounds for a non-stationary two-processor heterogeneous system with catastrophes, server failures and repairs when all parameters varying with time. Based on the logarithmic norm of linear operators, the bounds on the rate of convergence and the main limiting characteristics of the queue-length process are obtained. Finally a numerical example is presented to show the effect of parameters.
Comparative electron microscopic study of chromosomes and interphase nuclei in cells of Cyclops kolensis (Copepoda, Crustacea) before and after chromatin diminution

Using light and electron microscopy, several characteristics of the interphase nuclei and mitotic chromosomes in embryonic cells Cyclops kolensis (Lill) before and after chromatin diminution were studied. We detected a reduction, as a result of chromatin diminution, of one of the two nucleoli in somatic cells. However, the ratio of the total diameter of the nucleoli to the diameter of the nucleus or to the diameter of the cell remained unchanged. Granules of the chromatin to be eliminated became visible in the somatic cells of the C. kolensis embryos at the interphase of the fourth cleavage division. The structure of interphase nuclei and mitotic chromosomes of somatic cells of C. kolensis embryos is different before and after chromatin diminution. Possible mechanisms underlying these differences are discussed. 13 refs., 6 figs., 1 tab.
Application of FTA®cards to sample microbial plant pathogens for PCR and RT-PCR.

For the detection of microbial plant pathogens, like fungi, bacteria, viruses and viroids, methods based on nucleic acids have gained importance as the availability of sequence information increased. This requires well-established extraction procedures that are cheap, e non-laborious, safe and reliable. The paper cards introduced by Flinders Technology Associates, acronym FTA ® cards, offer a simple tool to sample and preserve nucleic acids from many kinds of biological specimen and have been already tested for their poten- s tial to sample and process several plant pathogens in PCR and RT-PCR. We have tested FTA cards for the i sample preparation of a broader range of plant pathogens with different NA contents and subsequent amplification by PCR, RT-PCR as well as multiplex PCR. r.