Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterization of mice deficient in interleukin‐1β converting enzyme

Interleukin‐1β converting enzyme (ICE) processes the inactive proIL‐1β to the proinflammatory mature IL‐1β. ICE belongs to a family of cysteine proteases that have been implicated in apoptosis. To address the biological functions of ICE, we generated ICE‐deficient mice through gene targeting technology. ICE‐deficient mice developed normally, appeared healthy, and were fertile. Peritoneal macrophages from ICE‐deficient mice underwent apoptosis normally upon ATP treatment. Thymocytes from young ICE‐deficient mice also underwent apoptosis when triggered by dexamethasone, gamma irradiation, or aging. ICE‐deficient mice had a major defect in the production of mature IL‐1β and had impaired IL‐1α production on LPS stimulation in vitro and in vivo. ICE‐deficient mice were resistant to LPS‐induced endotoxic shock. J. Cell. Biochem. 64:27–32. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Where did the northern peatland species survive the dry glacials: cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus) as an example

Aim During the last ice age large parts of the north boreal and subarctic zones were covered by ice, while the climate in ice‐free regions of northern Asia was extremely cold and dry. The extensive peatlands of these zones with their characteristic vegetation developed at the beginning of the Holocene. We combine a phylogeographical approach with maps of pollen records to identify regions where Rubus chamaemorus, a plant of moist, peaty soils, was likely to grow during this period.
A study on clinical correlation of EEG in neonates with perinatal asphyxia

Background: Perinatal asphyxia is the most common and important cause of preventable cerebral injury occurring in the neonatal period. The WHO has estimated that 4 million babies die during the neonatal period every year. According to WHO, perinatal asphyxia is defined as the failure to initiate and sustain breathing at birth. The objective is to study the electroencephalographic changes and correlation between severity of Perinatal asphyxia with EEG changes.Methods: It is prospective observational study, which includes 40 term neonates admitted in NICU with perinatal asphyxia in GMCH Aurangabad. EEG analysis focused on background activity and classified into four categories.Results: The EEG was normal in 45%, mild abnormal in 25%, intermediate in 15%, and severely abnormal in 15%. Outcome at discharge was normal in 19(47.5%) and abnormal in 21(52.5%) including 1 death. Abnormal outcome was seen in 27% of newborns with normal EEG and 72% of abnormal EEG.Conclusions: Severity of perinatal asphyxia correlated well with abnormality of EEG. EEG changes and severity showed good correlation with immediate outcome of newborn in terms of duration of hospitalization and normal neurological examination.
Shade‐cloth Microclimate of Soybeans1

A shade cloth tent was erected over a crop of soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ], in a micrometeorological CO2 enrichment experiment, to restrict eddy diffusivity and vertical turbulent transport. This barrier was tried because earlier studies had shown that CO2 released in crops under natural conditions was rapidly dispersed by turbulence. The objectives were to evaluate plant response to the modified microclimate and the effectiveness of the shade cloth tent in reducing losses of applied CO2. Profiles of air temperature, CO2 concentration, water vapor concentration, and wind were measured both above and below the shade cloth and in an adjacent open field. Total solar, visible, and net radiation were also measured. Less light reached the shaded crop, but the plants grew larger and gave about the same dry-matter yield. However the shaded crop lodged severely. Soil water was extracted at a slower rate by the shaded crop for two reasons: a) because less radiation reached the crop to supply energy for evapotranspiration and b) because a “humidity blanket” developed under the cloth barrier giving a smaller leaf-to-air vapor pressure gradient. The “humidity blanket” resulted from lower turbulent transport under the shade cloth. The shade cloth wind screen decreased water stress and water use, increased the amount and improved the distribution of diffuse irradiance, and increased the diffuse to direct-beam irradiance ratio. Therefore shade culture might have potential beyond present-day tobacco (Nicotiana tubacum L.) culture, for high value crops with low light saturation of photosynthesis, especially in arid climates with high solar radiation. Eddy diffusivity was reduced to about 16% at the height of the shade cloth, but CO2 concentration increases at the crop's top during releases were only about twice as large with the shade cloth in place as they were with the shade cloth removed. Therefore the shade cloth was moderately effective in trapping released CO2 but much still escaped
Impact of deer browsing on plant communities in cutover sites on Anticosti Island

Abstract Browsing by Anticosti Island's large white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) population reduces the abundance of the deer's preferred species and increases the abundance of less preferred species. This alteration of plant communities can lead to degradation of deer habitat. However, the centres of large clear-cuts may be spared from deer browsing given that this animal's instincts regarding predation risk impel it to remain near escape cover. This project assessed the impact of high deer populations on plant communities in large clear-cuts harvested by cutting with protection of regeneration and soils (CPRS). To this end, vegetation growing within fenced-off areas was compared with that growing in adjacent unfenced plots following application of large CPRS in 1995 and 1996. The results show that deer browsing does not have an impact on the number of plant species but does dramatically reduce total species cover. Furthermore, although the number of species was the same in the fenced and unfenced plots, some species were only found in one or the other type of plot. Rubus idaeus, Betula papyrifera, Epilobium angustifolium, Abies balsamea, Maianthemum canadense, Cornus Canadensis, and Prunus pensylvanica were all associated with fenced plots, while the cover of true grasses and Cirsium arvense increased in the unfenced plots. We conclude that large CPRS-harvested clear-cuts cannot serve to preserve the initial plant communities on Anticosti Island.
Interannual Variability in Early Marine Growth, Size-Selective Mortality, and Marine Survival for Prince William Sound Pink Salmon

Abstract The main objective of this study was to use scale patterns to compare the early marine growth of the average pink salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha with that of fish from the same year-class that survived to adulthood to gain insight on critical periods for growth and survival. During 2001–2004, pink salmon that survived to adulthood were larger and grew faster than the average juvenile throughout the first growing season, indicating that larger, faster-growing juveniles experienced higher survival. Growth rate declined from mid–late June to early–mid-July for both juveniles at-large and fish that survived to adulthood. The adult survivors then grew at a faster rate than the average juvenile through September. Both the juvenile pink salmon population at-large and all cohorts that survived to adulthood grew at a faster rate during high-survival years than low-survival years from mid–late June to mid–late August. Greater variability in the growth trajectories of surviving adults was observed during high-survival years, potentially a result of diversified feeding or distribution strategies. This study supports findings that significant size-selective mortality of juvenile pink salmon occurs after the first growing season. Investigating the timing and magnitude of size-selective mortality on juvenile pink salmon during their first growing season is an initial step toward understanding the processes regulating growth and survival.
Case studies towards the analysis of total social construction

Case study is an irreplaceable sociological strategy for research on social construction. Different from either hypothesis tests or descriptive accounts of social life, case study aims to make a long chain of interpretations from a typical case to the construction of the whole society, by linkages of concrete people, conditions, and situations in a case with other related social, political, and cultural elements all the way through. In other words, the case is not only influenced by the policies made by central or local governments at different levels, but also located in grassroots customs and mores at the bottom. To find these multiple relations horizontally and vertically clustered in a case study, various methods of -graphy must be used, such as geography, cartography, demography, historiography, biography, autobiography, lexicography, and, finally, ethnography. At the same time, however, all these elements and their relations should be activated by eventalization having happened in daily life. Through the types of stimulation of abnormal processes or sublimation of normal rituals in eventalization, the complicated, correlative, and sustainable relationships among social elements are presented as many social mechanisms in different dimensions. On all accounts, the whole scene of society will be opened out as a solid structure by the various points (events), lines (linkages), and plane (mechanism) in three dimensions. As Max Weber said, ‘The causal relations in sociological research would be satisfied as a special explanatory demonstration’.
Variation of digestibility and intake by sheep of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) hays cut at sunrise or sunset

SUMMARY An experiment was carried out in 2006 in the Ebro Valley of Spain to test the differences in chemical composition, ruminal degradation, in vivo digestibility and intake between lucerne hays cut at sunrise (AM) or at sunset (PM). Measurements were carried out at 0·50 flowering during spring, summer and autumn growth cycles. PM hays showed higher contents of soluble carbohydrates, starch and total non-structural carbohydrates than AM hays. No significant differences between times of cutting were found for crude protein, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre or acid detergent lignin. Effective degradability of dry matter (DM) was higher in autumn PM hay (0·57±0·008) than AM hay (0·47±0·008). No differences between times of cutting were found for hays cut in spring or summer. Effective degradability of nitrogen was significantly higher in summer and autumn PM hays than in AM hays. However, degradability did not differ significantly between times of cutting for the hays cut in spring. Differences in organic matter digestibility averaged 0·02±0·008 in spring and 0·05±0·008 in autumn, but no differences were found between cutting times for lucerne hays in summer. For DM intake, differences between PM and AM hays were significant in spring (57±2·0 v. 46±2·0 g/kg BW0·75, respectively) and summer (60±2·0 v. 52±2·0 g/kg BW0·75, respectively), but not significant in autumn (55±2·0 v. 51±2·0 g/kg BW0·75, respectively). Finally, digestible organic matter intake in sheep was higher for PM (34±1·3, 36±1·3 and 32±1·3 g/kg BW0·75) than for AM hays (27±1·3, 30±1·3 and 27±1·3 g/kg BW0·75) in spring, summer and autumn, respectively. In conclusion, cutting lucerne at sunset could be a simple management strategy for improving the feed value of hays.
Ginger extract (Zingiber officinale) triggers apoptosis and G0/G1 cells arrest in HCT 116 and HT 29 colon cancer cell lines.

Although many studies have shown the antitumor properties of ginger extract (Zingiber officinale), little is known regarding the mechanism of its effects. This study was conducted to determine the mechanism of antitumor effects of ginger extract by evaluating apoptosis rate and cell cycle progression status in colon cancer cell lines HCT 116 and p53 defective HT 29. HCT 116 and HT 29 cells were cultured in the presence of ginger extract at various concentrations for 24 h. The percentage of cell viability was determined by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-di phenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Our results showed that ginger extract inhibited proliferation of HCT 116 and HT 29 cells with an IC50 of 496 ± 34.2 μg/ml and 455 ± 18.6 μg/ml, respectively. We also found that ginger extract at increasing concentrations induced apoptosis dose dependently in both colon cancer cells. Apoptosis rates were 11.15, 35.05 and 57.49% for HCT 116 and 4.39, 19.81 and 28.09% for HT 29 at 200, 500 and 800 μg/ml of ginger extract, respectively. Ginger extract arrested HCT 116 and HT 29 cells at G0/G1and G2/M phases with corresponding decreased in S-phase. This study suggests that ginger extract may exert its antitumor effects on colon cancer cells by suppressing its growth, arresting the G0/G1-phase, reducing DNA synthesis and inducing apoptosis. Key words: Zingiber officinale, HCT 116, HT 29, G0/G1 phase, S phase, apoptosis.
Trophic basis of production for a mayfly in a North Island, New Zealand, forest stream: Contributions of benthic versus hyporheic habitats and implications for restoration

Abstract The leptophlebiid mayfly Acantho‐phlebia cruentata (Hudson) is restricted to the North Island and some associated offshore islands of northern New Zealand where it commonly occurs in benthic and hyporheic habitats of forested streams. We investigated: (1) life history; (2) secondary production in benthic and hyporheic habitats; and (3) major energy sources contributing to nutrition and production of this species in a pristine forest stream. Most nymphal size classes were present throughout the year, and emergence extended over several months, peaking from February to April. Despite apparently having extended emergence and recruitment periods, Acanthophlebia exhibited a predominantly univoltine life history. Annual benthic production (calculated by the size‐frequency method) was 0.318 g dry mass (DM) m–2 year–1, compared to 4.601 g DM m–2 year–1 in high‐density benthic habitats at the tails of pools, and 34.476 g m–3 year–1 for colonisation baskets set at 15–45 cm deep in the substratum. On a habitat weighted basis averaged out over the entire sampling reach, it was estimated that 76% of annual production occurred in hyporheic habitats >10 cm below the streambed surface. Gut contents were dominated by fine particulate matter (FPM) ≤75 μm and larger inorganic material on all dates in individuals from both benthic and hyporheic habitats. Fungi were relatively abundant in guts of benthic animals collected on some dates, whereas spores and pollen were relatively common food items in both habitats on occasions. Analysis of the trophic basis of production, based on gut contents and assumed assimilation and net production efficiencies, indicated that benthic secondary production was supported largely by fungi (48% of production) and FPM (37%), whereas FPM supported a higher level of hyporheic production (52%) than fungi (27%). Although stable carbon isotope values suggested dependence on epilithon, the enriched δ15N values for this food source implicated the involvement of a microbial loop whereby a substantial proportion of Acanthophlebia nutrition appeared to be derived from heterotrophs growing in FPM and epilithon that had assimilated dissolved organic carbon. This study has highlighted the significant role that hyporheic habitats can play in the ecology of Acanthophlebia populations in pristine native forest streams. Re‐establishment of hyporheic function would appear to be an important component of stream restoration work to enable the successful recolonisation of Acanthophlebia populations at sites where they historically occurred.
Eugenol as an efficacious anaesthetic for tambaqui, Colossoma macropomum (Cuvier)

Anaesthetics are important in fish culture to reduce handling stress and mortality. Eugenol is a promising anaesthetic because of its low cost, efficacy, safety margin for fish and lack of toxicity to humans. The goal of this study was to establish a protocol using eugenol as a fish anaesthetic for tambaqui Colossoma macropomum (Cuvier), and provide information for regulating authorities on establishing safety dosage protocols for its use. Juvenile and sub-adult tambaqui were first individually exposed to doses of 35, 50, 65, 85, 100 or 135 mg L(-1) eugenol for 10 min. A second experiment examined the effect of the duration of exposure to eugenol on the time required for recovery and survival of tambaqui. A eugenol dose of 65 mg L(-1) was adequate to induce fish of both sizes into a surgical anaesthetic state, and recovery time was similar for dosages up to 100 mg L(-1). Exposure to the ideal dose (65 mg L(-1)) for up to 30 min did not cause fish mortality. Fish blood glucose values were similar for all the tested eugenol doses as well as with the benzocaine control. The results show that eugenol is an efficient and safe anaesthetic for tambaqui.
The Effect of Fundamental Risk on the Market Pricing of Accruals Quality

Motivated by the theoretical results of Yee (2006), we extend the empirical analysis of Francis, LaFond, Olsson, and Schipper (2005) to test the prediction that the effect of accruals quality on cost of capital increases with fundamental risk. In asset pricing tests, we find that there is essentially no relation between accruals quality and cost of capital as measured by future return realizations for firms with the lowest fundamental risk. In contrast, for firms with the highest fundamental risk, there is a strong relation between accruals quality and future return realizations. Using earnings-price ratios and average implied cost of capital as alternative measures of cost of capital, we find that, as fundamental risk increases, accruals quality has an increasing effect on cost of capital and that the effect of accruals quality on cost of capital is reduced for firms with low fundamental risk. Overall, the results in this paper show that that relation depends critically on the level of fundamental risk, consistent with the model of Yee (2006). The results also serve to qualify the findings of Francis et al. (2005), who document a relation between accruals quality and cost of capital.
Can Soybean Seeding Rate Be Used as an Integrated Component of Herbicide Resistance Management?

Abstract Increased soybean seed cost has generated recent interest in reducing seeding rates to improve economic returns. However, low seeding rates result in reduced established plant stands with slower canopy development, and canopy development is an important element of integrated weed management (IWM). Field studies were conducted in 2012 and 2013 in Wisconsin to determine the trade-off between reduced seeding rates and PRE residual herbicide use for POST herbicide exposure. Soybean was planted in mid May in 38-cm-wide rows at five seeding rates ranging from 148,200 to 469,300 seeds ha−1. A PRE application of metolachlor plus fomesafen was made to half of the plots. One of two POST herbicide programs were sprayed at the V4 soybean growth stage to determine whether blending herbicide-resistant (HR) and non-HR soybean cultivars could be a practical alternative to reduce soybean seed expenses while maintaining the potential benefit of weed suppression before the POST herbicide application. An increase in seeding rate did not reduce the density or size of weeds exposed to the POST herbicide, and furthermore, end-of-season weed density and biomass were not influenced. In contrast, the use of a PRE herbicide reduced total weed density and biomass before POST application by 93 and 95%, respectively, in both years. In 2012, the season was dry early and harvest stands of 161,100 and 264,100 plants ha−1 produced 95% of the maximum yield for the PRE and no-PRE treatments, respectively. The difference was not repeated in 2013 with adequate early season rainfall. In conclusion, PRE herbicide use produced maximum yield with fewer plants per hectare by limiting early season weed competition and reduced weeds exposed to POST herbicide application thus contributing to HR management (HRM). In contrast, higher plant densities generated within the seeding rate range of this study did little to improve IWM or HRM. Nomenclature: Cloransulam; fluazifop; fomesafen; glyphosate; imazamox; metolachlor; soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr.
The Shape of Recruitment Distributions

The shape of recruitment distributions in marine fish is generally assumed to be lognormal on the basis of empirical evidence and theoretical argument. If recruitment is considered to be an outcome of the probability of survival of individuals or groups of individuals which may contribute to the year class, then it can be shown that the underlying distributional shape will depend on the degree of survival independence and may be nearly symmetrical for bet-hedging species. The underlying distributional shape may be obscured by estimation error, which may suggest a greater degree of positive skewness than actually exists.
Oxidative Stress and Iron Homeostasis: Mechanistic and Health Aspects

Iron is an essential cofactor for important biological activities and biochemical reactions, including the transport of oxygen via red blood cells and its reduction to water during respiration. While iron's bioavailability is generally limited, pathological accumulation of the metal within tissues aggravates the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and elicits toxic effects, which are mainly related to oxidative stress. Here, we describe the role of iron in ROS-induced toxicity and discuss molecular mechanisms and physiological aspects of ROS- and iron-mediated signaling. In addition, we review our current understanding of the regulation of iron homeostasis at the cellular and systemic levels, and focus on the pathogenesis and management of iron overload disorders.
Ucides cordatus cordatus (Linnaeus, 1763) (Crustacea, Decapoda): complete larval development under laboratory conditions and its systematic position

Six zoeal stages and the megalopa of the comestible crab Ucides cordatus cordatus (Linnaeus, 1763) are described and illustrated. The larvae were reared in the laboratory at temperature 25 ± 1oC and water salinity of 24‰; duration of stages and survival rates were measured. Comparisons with the descriptions of the zoeal morphologic characters of Ocypodidae and Gecarcinidae permited to include definitively U. c. cordatus in the family Ocypodidae, subfamily Ocypodinae.