Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Protein interactions with cyanidin-3-glucoside and its influence on α-amylase activity

BACKGROUND: Recent studies indicate that the bioavailability of anthocyanins is extremely low. One of the possible reasons could be their binding to proteins. Therefore, the binding affinity of cyanidin-3-glucoside (Cy3glc) to HSA and alpha-amylase was investigated by the quenching of protein tryptophan fluorescence. From data obtained, the binding constants and the free Gibbs energy were calculated. The changes in conformation of the proteins tested were studied with circular dichroism and the influence of binding on alpha-amylase activity determined. RESULTS: Cy3glc quenched the tryptophan fluorescence and upon ligand binding a change in protein structure was observed related to the corresponding decrease in the et-amylase activity. The association constants of 25 to 77 x 10(3) L mol(-1) were calculated for different proteins, indicating weak interactions of non-covalent nature. Competitive binding with HSA in the presence of 8-anilino-1-naphthalene sulfonic acid suggest involvement of hydrophobic interactions, in the case of HSA the possible site being subdomain IIA. CONCLUSION: The strongest affinity of Cy3glc for HSA being at pH 7 underlines its potential in transport and distribution of the phenolic compounds in organisms. An influence on salivary amylase activity is possible when drinking berry juices with high anthocyanins content.
Scallop Size does not Predict Amount or Rate of Induced Sperm Release

Within populations of broadcast spawning marine invertebrates such as scallops, larger animals typically have larger gonads. Presumably, this means those larger males have more sperm to release than small males. However, there has never been a direct test of whether larger males actually release more sperm, at a higher rate, during spawning. To address this, we compared the allometry of induced sperm release with that of reproductive investment (gonad weight) in ripe males of 2 species of scallops, Chlamys bifrons and Chlamys asperrima. We did not find that larger scallops released more sperm or released it faster than small scallops, and were able to reject the hypothesis that instantaneous sperm release was related to body size in the same way as gonad weight. Consequently, we speculate that if larger broadcast spawning males do release more sperm, they may do so by spawning on more occasions within a reproductive season.
Relação entre a flexibilidade do caule de seringueira e a carência de boro

In some boron deficient crops, less lignin build up has been observed in xylem elements, which have thinner and weaker walls and also a lower translocation of carbohydrates from leaves to other plant organs. In order to detect these anatomical changes in the xylem of very flexible stem of rubber trees (Hevea spp.) displaying boron deficiency symptoms, a comparative anatomical study was made of the wall thickness, the degree of lignin and cellulose deposition as well as starch grain concentration in the wood parenchyma. No difference was found in thickness and lignin deposition in the walls of xylem elements of normal and boron deficient plants. However, the middle lamella of deficient plants was much thinner, with less intensive staining, reflecting a low supply of calcium pectate, which promotes the adhesion between cells and has its synthesis impaired by boron deficiency. The cause of the flexibility was considered to be due to a lower cohesion between cells.
Replacement of chroococcales and nostocales by oscillatoriales caused a significant increase in microcystin concentrations in a dam reservoir

Abstract A two-year study on cyanobacterial development and the dynamics of intracellular microcystins was carried out in a shallow dam reservoir. Potentially toxic cyanobacteria (Microcystis wesenbergii, M. aeruginosa, Woronichinia naegeliana, Anabaena spp., Planktothrix agardhii) were observed to be the main component (70-94% total biomass) of the phytoplankton community, in which species composition was unstable and was very different between the 2005 and 2006 summer seasons. Generally, total phytoplankton, cyanobacterial biomass and total microcystin (MC) concentrations in the reservoir were much higher in 2006 than in 2005. The highest MC concentration (173.8 μg MC-LR equivalent dm-3) was seen in 2006 during P. agardhii (Oscillatoriales) domination (max. fresh biomass 50.3 mg dm-3; above 91% of phytoplankton biomass). Positive correlations between microcystin concentrations and cyanobacterial biomass suggest that populations of Nostocales and Oscillatoriales in 2005 and Oscillatoriales (P. agardhii) in 2006 may have been the main producers of MCs in the reservoir. The strong increase in P. agardhii biomass concomitant with a decrease in the total biomass of Chroococcales and Nostocales was responsible for the increase in MC concentration in the Siemianówka dam reservoir.
Adaptive Inertia Caused by Hidden Pleiotropic Effects

Abstract Pleiotropic effects among quantitative characters are believed to be extensive and universal, although their actual amount and pattern remains to be determined. Theoretical studies have shown that pleiotropic effects can influence the dynamics of a character under stabilizing selection and mutation through genetic correlations as well as hidden pleiotropic effects. It is further known that pleiotropic effects on fitness can cause an apparent stabilizing selection for an otherwise neutral character. The response to directional selection also depends on genetic correlations to other characters via correlated selection responses and deleterious side effects. In this paper we analyze a class of models for the adaptation of complex organisms based on three assumptions: (1) pleiotropic effects among characters are extensive, even in the absence of genetic correlations (hidden pleiotropic effects); (2) directional selection only acts on one or a small number of characters simultaneously (mosaic evolution); (3) the remaining characters are either neutral or under stabilizing selection. We show that the response to directed natural selection is strongly influenced by hidden pleiotropic effects on a second uncorrelated character which is under stabilizing selection. The hidden pleiotropic effects are inducing apparent stabilizing selection which interacts with the directional selection acting on the first character. The apparent stabilizing selection is mediated through the dynamics of the genetic variance associated with a change in the mean genotypic value. The result can be either inhibitory or accelerating, depending on the frequency of the alleles. The inhibitory effect can even completely prevent a response to directional selection if apparent stabilizing selection is strong compared to directional selection. In finite populations, the asymptotic rate of evolution is also influenced by hidden pleiotropic effects. This is mostly caused by a reduction of the asymptotic genetic variance maintained by mutation under sustained directional selection. It is concluded that hidden pleiotropic effects lead to adaptive inertia even in the absence of genetic correlations.
Effect of N-(n-butyl) Phosphoric Triamide (NBPT) and Linalool or Pine Oil Extract on Urea Concentration, Odorants, and Coliform Bacteria in Cattle Feedlot Manure

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the influence of a urease inhibitor (NBPT) in combination with plant oils for their ability to maintain urea in feedlot manure, control odor production, and reduce pathogens. Initially, NBPT (40 ppm) and a linalool extract (LE; 4000 ppm) were sprayed once per week (Friday) on three pens (area 15 x 1.2 m behind concrete apron) for four weeks, while another three alternating pens were untreated. Each pen was 30 x 150 m and contained seventy 300 kg animals. After treatment, manure samples from six locations of the experimental area in each pen were collected twice weekly (Monday and Wednesday), analyzed, and results are expressed on a manure dry matter (DM) basis. Following this four-week treatment, NBPT and pine oil extract (POE) were applied for an additional four-week period at the same concentrations as in the first experiment. The NBPT increased (P < 0.01) manure urea concentration (1 to 6 g/kg) in pens treated with either LE or POE. There was a tendency for volatile fatty acid (VFA, odorants) to be reduced (P = 0.09) and L-lactate accumulation to be increased (P< 0.05), with concomitant numerically lower pH values with the POE treatment. Both LE and POE reduced (P < 0.01) butyrate concentrations and reduced (P < 0.01) total coliform bacteria and Eschericheria coli. It is concluded that these treatments applied once per week can conserve urea on the feedlot surface, and reduce odorant concentrations and pathogens in cattle manure; although the environment, especially manure DM, greatly influences these parameters.
Expectations and experiences of adopting robots in elderly care in Finland

Care robotics is a growing field of innovation and commercial robot applications are little by little entering in the daily care work. This study explores the process and criteria of adopting robots in elderly care in Finland. In particular, we are interested in the expectations that decision-makers in care have for robots, how the decision to purchase a robot is made, and which criteria is used to assess the success (or failure) of the robot in real use. We supplement our interview data from two decision-makers with the perspective of caregivers who have experience of taking a robot (Paro) into use in their daily care work. The results indicate that the interest in care robots is shared by decision-makers and care workers but their expectations of suitable applications may vary. The motivation behind the purchase and use of the current applications in dementia nursing homes is related to quality of life and positive PR value (and not to increasing cost-efficiency in elderly care). In practice, the expected benefits of the new applications may not realise due to the requirements of the daily work as well as lack of encouragement and training.
Comparative Evaluation of the Morphological Aspects and the Nutritional Values of Urera trinervis and Gnetum africanum in Wild Medium and Domestic Medium

This study concerns the evaluation morphological and nutritional of two wild vegetable-sheets domesticated by the northern population of the districts of Brazzaville, in particular Urera trinervis and Gnetum africanum. A physical analysis was made on the morphological aspects of the sheets of the two plants according to the zone of harvest and the chemical analyses relate to the content of dry matter, proteins, lipids, glucids, ashes et mineral elements. The results show that the sheets of domestic Urera trinervis are broader than those of wild Urera trinervis (p<0.05) and have petioles longer than wild Urera trinervis (p<0.001). As for the length of sheets and the number of ribs, the difference is not significant between the two samples (p>0.05). The Sheets of wild Gnetum africanum are broader than the sheets of domestic Gnetum africanum (p<0.001) and have the petioles longer than those of Gnetum africanum domestic (p<0.05). As for the length of the sheets and the number of ribs, the two samples do not present any significant difference (p>0.05). Being nutritional quality, the results show that the contents of proteins of the sheets of Urera trinervis wild and domestic presents no difference significant (p>0.05), 15.06±0.36/100 g of dry matter for Urera trinervis wild and 14.50±0.25 g/100 g of matter dry for Urera trinervis domesticated. The contents of proteins of Gnetum africanum are of 20.80±0.2/100 g of mS for the wild sample and 19.03±0.22 g 100 g dry matter for domesticated sample (p<0.0 5). The two vegetable-sheets are rich in calcium, potassium and iron with contents respectively 3990±0.02, 1820±0.03 and 4.98±0.01 mg/100 g dry matter for Urera trinervis and 950±00.00 mg; 1680±00.00 g and 29±00.00 mg/100 g of dry matter for Gnetum africanum. The domestication of Urera trinervis and Gnetum africanum does not modify in a significant way nutritional qualities of studied vegetables. These results appear adapted to promote and integrate certain wild vegetables in agrarian truths systems in order to fight against their disappearance and to contribute to the food safety of the populations.
The Application of Structural Equation Modelling Approach to Assess the Relationships between Psychosocial Elements and Intention to seek Therapy among Obstetric Fistula Women in North-west Nigeria

This study applied the structural equation modeling (SEM) approach to the study of obstetric fistula disease. The main objective of this study is to carry out a feasibility study of 321 OF patients to assess if there would be significant relationships between psychosocial variables and intention to seek therapy among the victims of fistula disease. A total of 321 questionnaires was administered, 302 were valid for further analysis. The result of the study indicated significant relationships between psychosocial elements and intention to seek therapy. Specifically, there was a meaningful positive relationship between decision-making and the plan to seek therapy (β=0.18, t=4.33, p<0.01). Conversely, the result indicated no significant relationship between the attitude of health personnel and the intention to seek therapy (β=0.06, t=1.29, p<0.10). Furthermore, the result of the study established a significant positive relationship between low-stigma and intention to seek therapy (β=0.11, t=3.15, p<0.01). Also, this study showed a significant positive relationship between social support and intention to seek therapy (β=0.11, t=2.00, p<0.02). Moreover, the finding of the study established that transportation is positively related to the intention to seek therapy (β=0.29, t=3.91, p<0.01). Furthermore, the study confirmed that there is a significant positive relationship between the quality of health and intention to seek therapy among obstetric fistula women (β=0.35, t=4.31, p<0.01). Thus, this study concludes that SEM is a more significant model, which performs estimations superior to first-generation and some other covariance based regression models for examining variables, and that the assessment based on the SEM approach did examine the latent variables and their relationship as well as tested the relationship between the latent variables. Consequently, this study recommends that for accurate predictions, attention should be focused on thorough data screening and preliminary data analysis of all the latent constructs that would be employed in future researches.
Ontogeny of Ca -induced Ca release in rabbit ventricular myocytes

Huang J, Hove-Madsen L, Tibbits GF. Ontogeny of Ca -induced Ca release in rabbit ventricular myocytes. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 294: C516–C525, 2008. First published December 19, 2007; doi:10.1152/ajpcell.00417. 2007. —It is commonly accepted that L-type Ca channel-mediated Ca -induced Ca release (CICR) is the dominant mode of excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling in the adult mammalian heart and that there is no appreciable CICR in neonates. However, we have observed that cell contraction in the neonatal heart was significantly decreased after sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca depletion with caffeine. Therefore, the present study investigated the developmental changes of CICR in rabbit ventricular myocytes at 3, 10, 20, and 56 days of age. We found that the inhibitory effect of the L-type Ca current (ICa) inhibitor nifedipine (Nif; 15 M) caused an increasingly larger reduction of Ca transients on depolarization in older age groups [from 15% in 3-day-old (3d) myocytes to 90% in 56-day-old (56d) myocytes]. The remaining Ca transient in the presence of Nif in younger age groups was eliminated by the inhibition of Na /Ca exchanger (NCX) with the subsequent addition of 10 M KB-R7943 (KB-R). Furthermore, Ca transients were significantly reduced in magnitude after the depletion of SR Ca with caffeine in all age groups, although the effect was significantly greater in the older age groups (from 40% in 3d myocytes up to 70% in 56d myocytes). This SR Ca -sensitive Ca transient in the earliest developmental stage was insensitive to Nif but was sensitive to the subsequent addition of KB-R, indicating the presence of NCX-mediated CICR that decreased significantly with age (from 37% in 3d myocytes to 0.5% in 56d myocytes). In contrast, the ICa-mediated CICR increased significantly with age (from 10% in 3d myocytes to 70% in 56d myocytes). The CICR gain as estimated by the integral of the CICR Ca transient divided by the integral of its Ca transient trigger was smaller when mediated by NCX ( 1.0 for 3d myocytes) than when mediated by ICa ( 3.0 for 56d myocytes). We conclude that the lower-efficiency NCX-mediated CICR is a predominant mode of CICR in the earliest developmental stages that gradually decreases as the more efficient L-type Ca channel-mediated CICR increases in prominence with ontogeny.
GROWTH OF BARLEY, BROMEGRASS AND ALFALFA IN THE GREENHOUSE IN SOIL CONTAINING RAPESEED AND WHEAT RESIDUES

Under greenhouse conditions, incorporating ground straw in the soil at rates between 2,240 and 8,970 kg/ha reduced the emergence of alfalfa (Medicago media Pers. cv. Beaver) significantly (P < 0.05) and bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss cv. Magna) slightly, but had no effect on barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Conquest). Rape (Brassica napus L. cv. Target and B. campestris L. cv. Echo) straws were more damaging than wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Manitou) straw. Symptoms of severe nitrogen deficiency appeared early in the growth of barley where straw had been added to the soil. The effect on tillering varied. In one experiment tillers were smaller, in one tillers were larger; but in both, total leaf area produced was much less where 8,970 kg/ha of straw had been added to the soil. Bromegrass showed the same effects but to a lesser degree, probably because of slower growth requiring a smaller supply of nitrogen. Alfalfa growth was apparently unaffected. There was no evidence that the straw of either rapeseed.
Study of genetic polymorphism of various chicken breeds using microsatellite markers.

A total number of 76 randomly selected birds i.e. 20 of Hill fowl (HF), 14 of Rhode Island Red (RIR), 14 of Kadaknath (KN), 14 of White LeghWDDorn (WLH) and 14 of White Cornish (WC) were genotyped using 25 microsatellite markers in the present study. Out of 25 microsatellite loci, 17 (~70%) were found to be polymorphic among these breeds. Across the breeds, total number of alleles ranged from 2 to 3 at polymorphic locus and average number of alleles per locus was 2.41. The allele size ranged between 98 bp and 340 bp. Among all the polymorphic microsatellite loci, observed heterozygosity were 0.441, 0.415, 0.287, 0.296 and 0.376 and expected heterozygosity were 0.435, 0.443, 0.387, 0.384 and 0.442 in HF, RIR, KN, WLH and WC, respectively. Polymorphic Information Content (PIC) estimates, across all the polymorphic loci were 0.346, 0.342, 0.305, 0.297 and 0.330 in HF, RIR, KN, WLH and WC, respectively.
Japanese earthworms revisited a decade on

Abstract This paper summarizes eco-taxonomic progress since 2001. Five new natives were described and five new exotics recorded plus herein Megascolecid Amynthas rodericensis (Grube, 1879) is retrieved from historical records, Acanthodrilid Microscolex dubius (Fletcher, 1887) is a new Asian record and Lumbricid Dendrodrilus rubidus subrubicundus (Eisen, 1874) morph from Lake Biwa is added to checklist a total of 96 Megadrile earthworm species in eight families from Japan. Approximately 33 are natives and same number are exotics with the balance having insufficient information to decide their origins (e.g. for Eisenia japonica hiramoto Blakemore, 2012). Synonyms are provided especially for parthenogenetically affected morphs which can only be separated via their type DNA. Criodrilid Criodrilus bathybates Stephenson, 1917 is restored as originally described in Criodrilidae and its COI nucleotide barcode is for the first time presented on GenBank.
Computer image analysis and classification of giant ragweed seeds

Abstract Giant ragweed exhibits a high degree of polymorphism among individual plants in seed size, shape, spininess, and color. These features may play an important role in giant ragweed seed survival and predation avoidance; however, they are difficult to evaluate because of lack of quantification methods. A computer imaging technique was developed for describing and classifying giant ragweed seeds using digital images of the seed top and side views. Seed samples collected from 20 different giant ragweed plants (classes) were mounted and digitally scanned. Quantitative features were extracted from the seed images, including color, width, height, area, and seed perimeter. A polygon (convex hull) of the seed image based on the seed outline was constructed, from which spininess indices were developed. Fisher's linear discriminant with normalized nearest neighbor classification was used to classify randomly selected images of individual seeds according to class (maternal origin), using the extracted features as a database. The best classification rate achieved was 99%, with 138 out of 140 seeds correctly matched using data from both the top and side views. Seed features were easily extracted and varied from 1.2- to 4.5-fold among classes. Area and perimeter measurements varied least within classes but varied most among classes, suggesting that these features discriminate effectively among seeds from different plants in giant ragweed. Convex hull area : seed area ratio, using the seed top view images, was the best index of seed spininess, aligning well with visual assessment and providing greatest discrimination among classes. This experiment shows that in the case of giant ragweed, seeds from different plants are distinguishable in an objective and quantitative manner. This imaging technique can be applied to identification of seeds from different species and to studies on variable seed morphology within a species. Nomenclature: Giant ragweed, Ambrosia trifida L. AMBTR.
Sodium Transport In the Brook Trout, Salvelinus fontinalis: Effects of Prolonged Low pH Exposure in the Presence and Absence of Aluminum

This study examined the effects of prolonged exposure to low Ca2+ (25 versus 400 μequiv/L), low pH (pH 5.2 versus 6.5) with and without Al (150 μg/L) on Na+ uptake in adult brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). Na+ uptake (JinNa+) was assessed by measuring radiotracer disappearance from the medium at ambient Na+ (79 μequiv/L) and in response to acute increases in ambient Na+. The relationship between JinNa+ and [Na+] was best described by a linear model with the slope of the line a measure of transport activity. Transport activity increased as a result of prolonged low Ca2+ exposure at pH 6.5, but declined in fish maintained at pH 5.2. These fish showed no compensation in response to low pH; there was no recovery in transport activity when pH was acutely raised to 6.5, and lower pH's further inhibited uptake. In contrast, the Na+ transport activity of fish maintained at pH 5.2 and 150 μg Al/L was significantly greater than that of fish acclimated to pH 5.2 alone and indeed greater than pH 6.5 controls. Thi.