Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optimization of a sperm-oviduct binding assay mimicking in vivo conditions. Adoption of sperm separation methods and protocols for analysing sperm motility and intracellular Ca2+ level

11 1. BACKGROUND . 12 1.1 ORIGINS OF THE PROJECT . 12 2. INTRODUCTION . 13 2.1 THE BOVINE SPERMATOZOON . 13 General structure and function . 13 2.1.1 Spermatogenisis . 14 2.1. 2 2.2 THE FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE TRACT . 15 Anatomy and physiology . 15 2.2.1 Bovine oestrous cycle . 17 2.2.2 2.3 BOVINE SPERMATOZOA WITHIN THE FEMALE GENITAL TRACT . 18 Sperm filtration in the female genital tract . 18 2.3. 1 Role of the oviduct and the formation of a sperm reservoir . 19 2.3. 2 Molecules responsible for sperm-oviduct binding . 20 2.3. 3 Capacitation, hyperactivation and sperm-oviduct release . 21 2.3. 4 Fertilization . 24 2.3. 5 2.4 FLOW CYTOMETRY FOR ANALYSIS OF SEMEN QUALITY . 26 Viability and acrosome integrity . 27 2.4. 1 Calcium influx . 28 2.4. 2 2.5 SPERM MOTILITY ANALYSIS BY CASA . 28 2.6 ATP MEASURMENT BY LUMINISCENCE ASSAY . 31
Probabilità e Statistica

Conoscenza e capacità di comprensione: Tra gli obiettivi fondamentali del corso vi è la comprensione degli enunciati e delle dimostrazioni dei teoremi fondamentali del calcolo delle probabilità e della statistica. L'obiettivo è quello teorico di poter costruire dimostrazioni rigorose al fine di migliorare le abilità matematiche nel ragionamento e nel calcolo nonchè l'acquisizione della capacità di modellizzare i fenomeni naturali e non, ovvero di tradurre in termini matematici problemi comuni al fine di trattarli agevolmente e poterli risolvere.
Butterflies (Lepidoptera) of Konza Prairie Biological station: An annotated checklist

Konza Prairie Biological Station is a native tallgrass prairie preserve in Riley and deary Counties. Kansas, where seventy-eight species of butterflies (Lepidoptera) were collected or sighted from 1997 through 1999. Basedon known larva] hosts, 65% were from prairie or open field habitats with 24% grass feeders, 25% from woodland or woodland borders and approximately 10% from mixed or unknown habitats. There were 1I new records for Riley County: Northern Cloudy Wing, Thorybes pylades (Scudder) (Hesperiidae), Funeral Dusky Wing, Erynnis funeralis (Scudder & Burgess) (Hesperiidae), Little Glassywing, Pompeius verna (W. Edwards) (Hesperiidae), Byssus Skipper, Problema byssus kumskaka (Scudder) (Hesperiidae), Hobomok Skipper, Poanes hobomok (T. Harris) (Hesperiidae), Dusted Skipper, Atrytonopsis hianna turneri H. A. Freeman (Hesperiidae), Coral Hairstreak, Harkenclenus titus (Fabricius) (Lycaenidae), Banded Hairstreak, Satyrium calanus falacer (Godart) (Lycaenidae) and Hickory Hairstreak, Satyrium caryaevorum (McDunnough) (Lycaenidae), Summer Azure, Celastrina neglecta (W. Edwards) (Lycaenidae) and Northern Pearly Eye. Enodia anthedon A. H. Clark (Satyridae). The larvae of Reakirt's Blue, Hemiargus isola ah-e (W. Edwards) (Lycaenidae) were found feeding on the flowers of Catclaw Sensitive Briar, Shrankia nuttallii (DC.) Standl. (Mimosaceae), a new host record A checklist is given for species found during the survey period and those whose host, habitat or distribution make it likely they may be found on Konza Prairie in the future.
Population Genetics, Distributions and Phenology of Bombus Latreille, 1802 and Xylocopa Latreille, 1802 (Hymenoptera:Apidae)

This work addresses multiple knowledge gaps in bee ecology, population health and phylogeography in order to provide insights into the changing distributions of native bees. A comparison of Arkansas bumble bee records mirrors range-wide surveys, with records of stable species (Bombus bimaculatus Cresson, 1863 and B. impatiens Cresson, 1863) increasing threefold, and records of the declining B. pensylvanicus (DeGeer, 1773) dropping to 60% of historical levels. However, nationally-recommended conservation-genetics tools did not mirror these results on a regional level. Stable and declining species had equivalent genetic diversity in samples from Arkansas and Tennessee (HS range: 0.46–0.63). Diploid males, which indicate inbreeding, were only detected in the species known to be stable, B. bimaculatus and B. impatiens. This could be an indication of broad similarity of these taxa in the region, or it could indicate that recommended microsatellite-based tools are less likely to detect genetic signatures of declines at a localized level. A three-year survey of floral associations and seasonality in a community of eight bee species across Northwest Arkansas found that local and landscape factors had no effect on the differential abundances of this community, but overall abundance increased with increasing plant richness at each site (F(1,11)=45.62, p<0.001), as did the abundance of each bumble bee species. Bumble bees with long glossae, a group usually thought to be at higher risk of decline, were more specialized in their flower use, and although their food choices overlapped (O12=0.54), they skirted potential competition by maintaining different phenologies. Subspecies status was maintained for Xylocopa virginica texana Cresson, 1872, but not for X. v. krombeini Hurd, 1961. This morphological east-west differentiation is additionally supported by mitochondrial phylogeographic analyses which suggest that X. virginica expanded from multiple glacial refugia. On the other hand, X. micans haplotypes are consistent with a single origin, likely west of the Mississippi River. In spite of its interpopulation homogeneity, X. micans is quite genetically diverse (Hd=0.91±0.03) compared to X. virginica and (Hd=0.78±0.02), consistent with Hewitt’s leading-edge hypothesis for range disparity. Together, these results highlight the importance of an ecological perspective in the quest to understand bee distributions and decline.
Molecular docking approach to identify potential anticancer compounds from Begonia (Begonia sp)

Our interest to search for anticancer bioactive compounds from Benalu Batu (Begonia sp), we applied molecular docking approach to identify the natural product compounds that might be responsible for anticancer activity with a specific target and selective inhibition mechanism. Our goal is to identify the potential anticancer compounds based on virtual screening on the protein of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinase (EGFR-TK) as virtual inhibition target from reported chemical constituents of Begonia species. Molecular docking was performed by using open babel, SPORES, and PLANTS1.2 software under Fedora Linux operation system and validated based on Root Mean Square Deviation (RMSD) value. The 62 compounds from 9 species of Begonia were docked to the pocket of erlotinib binding site in EGFR-TK protein. The docking result showed that the compound type of alkaloid, steroidal glycoside, triterpenoid glycoside and flavonoid glycoside (polyphenol) have higher chemPLP docking score than other compoun.
Short‐term climate change manipulation effects do not scale up to long‐term legacies: effects of an absent snow cover on boreal forest plants

Despite time‐lags and nonlinearity in ecological processes, the majority of our knowledge about ecosystem responses to long‐term changes in climate originates from relatively short‐term experiments. We utilized the longest ongoing snow removal experiment in the world and an additional set of new plots at the same location in northern Sweden to simultaneously measure the effects of long‐term (11 winters) and short‐term (1 winter) absence of snow cover on boreal forest understorey plants, including the effects on root growth and phenology. Short‐term absence of snow reduced vascular plant cover in the understorey by 42%, reduced fine root biomass by 16%, reduced shoot growth by up to 53% and induced tissue damage on two common dwarf shrubs. In the long‐term manipulation, more substantial effects on understorey plant cover (92% reduced) and standing fine root biomass (39% reduced) were observed, whereas other response parameters, such as tissue damage, were observed less. Fine root growth was generally reduced, and its initiation delayed by c. 3 (short‐term) to 6 weeks (long‐term manipulation). Synthesis. We show that one extreme winter with a reduced snow cover can already induce ecologically significant alterations. We also show that long‐term changes were smaller than suggested by an extrapolation of short‐term manipulation results (using a constant proportional decline). In addition, some of those negative responses, such as frost damage and shoot growth, were even absolutely stronger in the short‐term compared to the long‐term manipulation. This suggests adaptation or survival of only those individuals that are able to cope with these extreme winter conditions, and that the short‐term manipulation alone would overpredict long‐term impacts. These results highlight both the ecological importance of snow cover in this boreal forest, and the value of combining short‐ and long‐term experiments side by side in climate change research.
Resource distribution mediates social and mating behavior in a family living lizard

The distribution of resources should influence mate availability and the costs and benefits of pursuing different mating strategies. Where resources are dispersed, males may be constrained in the extent to which they can monopolize more than 1 partner, resulting in social and genetic monogamy. There is abundant correlational evidence that resource distribution influences social and mating systems, but experiments that demonstrate a causal link between these variables are relatively rare. Here, we used a replicated experiment involving 160 animals to examine how the distribution of a key resource, crevice sites used as nesting habitat, shapes social and mating behavior of a family living lizard, Liopholis whitii. The distribution of crevice sites had significant effects on several important aspects of the social and mating system. When habitat was aggregated, adults had larger home ranges and overlapped with more individuals of the opposite sex, resulting in increased opportunity for social polygyny. Aggressive female territoriality appears to impose upper limits on opportunities for polygyny by restricting female–female home range overlap. Despite this, males in aggregated habitats still formed polygynous social groups more often than males in dispersed habitat. Aggregated habitat also increased the opportunity for sexual selection, resulting in greater variance in male reproductive success and a steeper Bateman gradient compared with males occupying dispersed habitat. These effects were independent of the increase in social polygyny. Overall, our study is consistent with the hypothesis that habitat structure is fundamentally important to the evolution of social and mating systems.
Growth in encrusting cheilostome bryozoans: I. Evolutionary trends

Growth of the colony is a basic element of morphological evolution and life history in cheilostome bryozoans. Here we consider the occurrence of different modes of growth in encrusting cheilostomes through geologic time and in well-studied living associations. We assess patterns of zooid formation by direct examination of skeletal characters in species from nearly all diverse fossil assemblages reported from North America and quantify within-assemblage diversities and abundance rankings for fossil encrusting species with different modes of growth. These data document macroevolutionary trends showing a transition from dominance of an apparently primitive mode of budding in the Early Cretaceous to derived modes through the Tertiary. The trends are characterized by their long duration and apparent convergence among systematic subgroups within the Cheilostomata. We then consider the validity of our observations as adaptive trends. Patterns of ecological dominance among living and fossil species indicate that different patterns of zooid formation are important determinants of success of colonies as reflected by their abundance, competitive ability, survivorship, and recovery from injury or predation. The consistency of the long-term trends and evidence for the existence of ecological mechanisms in fossil assemblages suggest a major evolutionary role for biotic interactions.
Systems understanding of plant–pathogen interactions through genome-wide protein–protein interaction networks

Plants are frequently affected by pathogen infections. To effectively defend against such infections, two major modes of innate immunity have evolved in plants; pathogen-associated molecular pattern-triggered immunity and effector-triggered immunity. Although the molecular components as well as the corresponding pathways involved in these two processes have been identi ﬁ ed, many aspects of the molecular mechanisms of the plant immune system remain elusive. Recently, the rapid development of omics techniques (e.g., genomics, proteomics and transcriptomics) has provided a great opportunity to explore plant – pathogen interactions from a systems perspective and studies on protein – protein interactions (PPIs) between plants and pathogens have been carried out and characterized at the network level. In this review, we introduce experimental and computational identi ﬁ cation methods of PPIs, popular PPI network analysis approaches, and existing bioinformatics resources/tools related to PPIs. Then, we focus on reviewing the progress in genome-wide PPI networks related to plant – pathogen interactions, including patho-gen-centric PPI networks, plant-centric PPI networks and interspecies PPI networks between plants and pathogens. We anticipate genome-wide PPI network analysis will provide a clearer understanding of plant – pathogen interactions and will offer some new opportunities for crop protection and improvement.
Electrospun fibers for wound healing and treatment of hyperglycemia: A review

The use of electrospun fibers in diabetic wound healing assays represents an extremely important topic for investigation. Electrospun fibers have been applied in the immobilization of drugs, allowing sustained and controlled release of active materials. This review aimed to summarize the state-of-art in the application of electrospun fibers on diabetes, hyperglycemic and diabetic ulcers treatment. Regarding the diabetes control and treatment, electrospinning technique contributes to application of wound healing ( in vitro and in vivo experiments). The glycemic control is favored due to controlled release which has been sustained and improved. The data suggest that the development of encapsulated drugs in electrospun fibers has a promising application in the treatment of diabetes and related complications. Keywords: Electrospun fibers, nanofibers, electrospinning technique, anti-diabetic drugs, hypoglycemic drugs, wound healing
Intracellular transport of very long chain fatty acids in etiolated leek seedlings

Etude du transport intracellulaire des acides gras a tres longues chaines, depuis leur site de synthese jusqu'au plasmalemme, par des experiences in vivo de marquage et de chasse isotopique utilisant des temps courts. La localisation subcellulaire des differentes activites d'elongation (synthetisant les AGTLC) est aussi determinee. Les resultats suggerent l'existence d'une voie RE-Golgi-membrane plasmique pour le transport intracellulaire des AGTCL jusqu'a la membrane plasmique
EVALUATION OFPIGMENTS AS ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIBACTERIAL AGENTS FROM BETA VULGARIS LINN

Objective: The work is aimed to evaluate the health beneficial properties of ( Beta vulgaris ) Beet root . Beet root ranks among the 10 most powerful vegetable as a natural antioxidant and has a potential source of natural food colorant . The present work is therefore organized to evaluate the Total Phenolic Content (TPC), Antioxidant activity and Antibacterial activity of the Ethanolic and Methanolic extracts of Beet root. Methods: In the present work the Total Phenolic Content was determined by using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent methodof the Ethanolic and Methanolic extracts of Beet root ( Beta vulgaris) . The antioxidant scavenging activity of these extracts were determined by applying three different assay methods: (1) (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl) DPPH method, (2) Ferric thio-cyanate (FTC) method and (3) Thio-barbituric acid (TBA). Antibacterial test was examined against gram positive ( B. subtilis, S. aureus ) and gram negative ( E. coli, S. dysenteriae ) bacterial strains. Results: In the present workthe Methanolic extract showed greater TPC value 394.8 mg/g GAE than the Ethanolic extract 316.8 mg/g GAE. A correlation between antiradical capacities of the extracts with TPC value was clearly observed. The Methanolic extract was found to be most effective in all the methods. 50% scavenging power of the Methanolic and Ethanolic extracts were (0.129 mg/ml and 0.254 mg/ml) in DPPH method respectively. Moreover, in TBA and FTC method, both the extracts of Beet root exhibited strong percentage inhibition ranging from 49%-62%. The results of antibacterial test indicated that the Ethanolic and Methanolic extracts of Beet root are significantly effective, both in Gram negative ( E. coli, S. dysenteriae ) and in Gram positive ( B. subtilis, S. aureus ) bacterium. Conclusion: Thus, from the above experimental observations, it can be clearly stated that the Beet root is a promising source of natural antioxidant and antibacterial agent and definitely provides an alternative towards synthetic antioxidant because of its beneficial properties. Keywords : Beet root , Total phenolic content, Antioxidant, Antibacterial
Effect of the levels of transglutaminase in frankfurters: a physical–chemical and Raman spectroscopy study

ABSTRACT Microbial transglutaminase (MTGase) is a kind of enzyme preparation which is used in the processing of emulsified meat products for improving the quality. In this paper, the effect of MTGase content on water-holding capacity, texture and protein structure was studied by using Raman spectroscopy. The results showed that emulsion stability and cooking yield were signiﬁcantly (P < 0.05) improved with increased MTGase content. But when the contents were 0.67% and 1%, the emulsion stability and cooking yield had no significant difference (P > 0.05). The hardness, springiness, cohesiveness and chewiness also were signiﬁcantly (P < 0.05) improved with increased MTGase content. The result of Raman spectroscopy found that the wave peak of amide I shifted from 1658 to 1660, 1661 and 1661 cm−1 when added various amounts of MTGase, β-sheet and β-turn contents were signiﬁcantly (P < 0.05) increased with decreased α-helix content, and random coil was not a significant difference (P > 0.05); the wave peak of 3100–3500 cm−1 shifted from 3226 to 3228, 3229 and 3229 cm−1 that indicated OH stretching motions were stronger. Overall, when added appropriately, MTGase to frankfurters could change the protein conformation, improve the texture and water-holding capacity.
METSAT: a unique mission for weather and climate

The recent successful launch of METSAT (meteorological satellite), a dedicated satellite for meteorology, has been unique in many ways. With the heralding of the satellite era in the early 80s with the INSAT series, weather services received impetus in terms of operational meteorological data covering the Indian region. The operational products included cloud cover, sea surface temperature, cloud motion vectors, outgoing longwave radiation, quantitative precipitation estimation, etc. The satellite data also helped in improving the skills in forecasting using weather prediction models. The need for a dedicated satellite for meteorology spurred the Indian Space Research Organization to take up developmental efforts, and the launch of METSAT is the culmination of these efforts. The METSAT payload included water-vapour channel, which is a key parameter for monsoon studies. The future missions with advanced payloads such as atmospheric sounders and radiation budget etc. auger well for the meteorological services in the country.
In vitro and in vivo toxicological evaluation of acyl glucuronides

Glucuronidation is an important phase II metabolic pathway for endogenous and exogenous substrates and is generally considered as a detoxification pathway, but acyl glucuronides (AGs) have been believed to be related with the toxicity of carboxyl acid drugs, because AGs covalently bind to endogenous proteins owing to their instability. However, the theory remains controversial. In this study, first, in vitro assays of half-lives, peptide adducts and immunostimulation of AGs of 21 drugs were performed, and the relationship to toxic categories of drugs was analyzed. Short half-lives, peptide adducts and immunostimulation were observed in AGs of all withdrawn drugs tested in this study. The immunostimulation assay showed higher sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy than half-lives and peptide adducts assays . Second, responsibility of zomepirac acyl glucuronide (ZP-AG) for renal toxicity by zomepirac (ZP) was investigated by in vivo studies. ZP-induced kidney injury mouse model was established by pretreatment with an esterase inhibitor and a glutathione synthesis inhibitor. It was demonstrated that ZP-AG accumulation in kidney was responsible for the renal toxicity. This study provides new insight into the evaluation of AG toxicity in drug development.
Microclimatic characteristics of blue grouse Dendragapus obscurus roost-sites: influence on energy expenditure

Energetic models which incorporate environmental measures have demonstrated that significant thermoregulatory savings are accrued from nocturnal winter roost-sites, usually from reduced wind speed and radiated heat loss. Because blue grouse Dendragapus obscurus occupy high elevation, snowbound coniferous stands in the Rocky Mountains during winter, selection of a favourable microhabitat is likely their primary thermoregulatory behaviour. Therefore, we measured the microclimatic conditions at diurnal and nocturnal roost-sites of blue grouse to determine whether their choice of roost-sites reflects thermoregulatory behaviour. Temperature, wind speed, and solar radiation were measured at 17 diurnal Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga menziesii and 17 nocturnal subalpine fir Abies lasiocarpa roost-sites and compared to those of an open control site in Logan, Utah, 1985–1986. Temperature varied <2°C between the roost-sites and the control site. Wind speed was significantly lower in 15 of 17 diurnal ( = 0.71 m/sec) and all nocturnal roost-sites ( = 0.24 m/sec) than in the control site ( = 1.75 m/sec). Wind speed was reduced >75% at all but one nocturnal roost-site. Solar radiation at the diurnal roost-sites ( = 51 W/m-2) was significantly lower than at the control site (201 W/m-2); however, five roost-sites had maximum values >90% of the control maximum. Douglas-fir roost-sites had significantly greater solar radiation, diurnal, and nocturnal wind speed than subalpine fir roost-sites. Reduction of convective heat loss was the major thermoregulatory contribution of both diurnal and nocturnal roostsites. Diurnal roost-sites also afforded measurable radiant energy and, presumably, grouse could track the sun in roost trees to maximize such heat input. Daily energy costs predicted from metabolic equations incorporating temperature and wind speed were below the metabolizable energy intake of captive blue grouse. Application of the average microclimatic conditions from both roost trees to an energetic model revealed that a blue grouse would realize a 50% greater reduction in convective heat loss, and a 10% greater net energy savings, by roosting overnight in a subalpine fir rather than a Douglas-fir. This difference may explain why blue grouse show affinity to subalpine firs for nocturnal roosting, and points to the energetic importance of specific coniferous habitats to wintering blue grouse.