Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Supporting cells and ERK signalling: determining their roles in hair cell death

Hearing impairment is a growing problem in the human population with increased life expectancy meaning more people will be affected. Much impairment is sensorineural, arising from loss of receptor hair cells in the inner ear. Work in the neonatal cochlea and the avian inner ear has suggested that the supporting cells surrounding the hair cells may play a role in hair cell death. The cell signalling molecules ERK1/2 have been implicated in this, with their activation localised to supporting cells following hair cell damage. However, the roles of supporting cells and ERK1/2 signalling in hair cell death remain relatively uncharacterised and this thesis aims to advance characterisation. In this work, a new laser-damage paradigm has been developed to target damage to different cell types within the sensory epithelia of the inner ear. This technique has been used to demonstrate supporting cell ERK1/2 activation in both neonatal and adult epithelia following damage. Use of the protocol in MDCK monolayers revealed similar ERK1/2 activation surrounding a damage site, indicating a potentially conserved mechanism. The adult utricle preparation has been used to show that aminoglycoside-induced hair cell damage activates ERK1/2 in the nearest neighbouring supporting cells. Pharmacological inhibition of the upstream kinase MEK1/2 produced a small but significant protection of hair cells, suggesting ERK1/2 activation may play a role in hair cell death. Recent work has shown that adenoviral infection in the same utricle preparation can be used to manipulate gene activation, specifically in supporting cells (Brandon, Voelkel-Johnson et al. 2012). A constitutively-active MEK1 construct has been used to show that activating ERK1/2 exclusively in supporting cells results in hair cell phagocytosis and death. This finding supports the idea that supporting cells play a significant role in mediating hair cell death, and that activation of the ERK1/2 signalling pathway is sufficient for this.
Pedestrian-Based Variational Bayesian Self-Calibration of Surveillance Cameras

Pedestrian-based camera self-calibration methods are suitable for video surveillance systems since they do not require complex calibration devices or procedures. However, using arbitrary pedestrians as calibration targets may result in poor calibration accuracy due to the unknown height of each pedestrian. To solve this problem in the real surveillance environments, this paper proposes a novel Bayesian approach. By assuming known statistics on the height of pedestrians, we construct a probabilistic model that takes into account uncertainties in both the foot/head locations and the pedestrian heights, using foot-head homology. Since solving the model directly is infeasible, we use variational Bayesian inference, an approximate inference algorithm. Accordingly, this makes it possible to estimate the height of pedestrians and to obtain accurate camera parameters simultaneously. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm is robust to noise and provides accurate confidence in the calibration.
Phytochemical investigation and antiplasmodial activity of leaf extract of Cassia obtusifolia Linn.

Accepted : May, 2008 SUMMARY The methanol extract of fresh leaves of Cassia obtusifolia Linn. (Caesalpiniaceae) was investigated for its antiplasmodial activity against chloroquine-resistant strains of Plasmodium faliciparum (Malaria causing protozoan). In vitro activity against P. falciparum strain K-1 was assessed using the Parasite Lactate Dehydrogenase assay method. The main anti-plasmodial compound 1, 3, 8, trihydroxy-6 methyl-9, 10 anthracenedione has been isolated from Cassia obtusifolia Linn. leaves. Concentration of the compound in the leaf was 1.5%. The leaf extract was effective to check the incidence of disease about 80%.
Innate Immune Receptors in Atherosclerosis

The inflammatory response is an important process, aiming to restore tissue homeostasis following tissue injury or infection. Acute inflammation is a tightly controlled process. If an inflammatory stimulus persists or if normal immune function is perturbed, inflammation may become chronic. Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disorder involving components of both the innate and adaptive immune systems (Ross, 1999). The innate immune system provides the first line of defence against invading pathogens. Innate immune detection of pathogens relies on a set of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that recognise and respond to conserved pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Growing evidence supports roles for PRRs in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. In this chapter, the agonists, signalling pathways, expression and functions of PRRs, in particular in reference to atherosclerosis, will be discussed. The potential therapeutic benefit of targeting PRRs for treatment of atherosclerosis will also be explored.
Swelling and dissolution of oil palm biomass in ionic liquids.

Malaysia is amongst the world’s top producers of palm oil and the current planted area is around 4.5 million hectares. The palm oil industry generates vast amounts of palm biomass, especially empty fruit bunches (EFB) (from the mills), oil palm fronds (OPF) and oil palm trunks (OPT) (during routine pruning and from the field during replanting). Oil palm biomass can be used efficiently after further treatment, either by physical or chemical means. In this study, the swelling and dissolution mechanisms of the lignocellulosic biomass by ionic liquids were compared. There are five modes in describing the swelling and dissolution for cotton and wood cellulose fibre, and these were compared to the results obtained. Depending on the quality of the solvent, disintegration into rod-like fragments and ballooning, followed subsequently by dissolution were all observed among the oil palm fibre. In a typical dissolution trial, 5 wt % of oil palm biomass and cellulose fibre from EFB, OPF and OPT were treated with two different ionic liquids: 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride/dimethyl sulphoxide ([bmim]Cl)/DMSO and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride/dimethyl sulphoxide ([emim]Cl)/ DMSO at a ratio of 80:20 wt %. They were heated at different fixed times, namely 4, 6, 8, 16 and 24 hr for untreated oil palm biomass, and 1, 2 and 3 hr for cellulose fibre. The mechanisms of swelling and dissolution were monitored by optical microscopy. * Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang,
Assessment of eating disorders among early adolescents (10 – 15 years)

Introduction: Eating disorders are complex illnesses that affect people of all ages; the onset of eating disorders typically occurs during pre-adolescence or adolescence. Aim of the study: to assess eating disorders among early adolescents (1015years). Subjects and method: Design: Cross sectional descriptive design was utilized in this study. Setting: The study was conducted at all primary and preparatory schools in Dairout city, then selected randomly 10% from the total number of students in each preparatory schools as well as fifth and sixth grade of primary schools. Sample: The total number of sample are 843 students were included in this study. Tools: Two tools were used for this study. Eating habits questionnaire to assess adolescents eating habits and Body Mass Index (BMI) scale to assess body-weight and healthy body image. Results: findings in this study, cleared that more than half (53.0%) of the studied sample had eating disorders, 54.1% of them had anorexia and 45.9% of them had bulimia. Conclusion: Eating disorders have high prevalence among early adolescents, that characterized by a disturbance in eating habits and behavior. Recommendation: education program for preadolescents about eating disorders to increase their awareness.
Morphological and molecular data reveal cryptic speciation in Lasiodiplodia theobromae.

Lasiodiplodia theobromae is a common pathogen that Occurs on a large number of hosts in the tropics and subtropics. A collection of isolates identified as L. theobromae was studied on the basis of sequence data from the ITS regions and EF1-alpha gene. Phylogenetic analyses identified three well-supported clades within this group of isolates, one corresponding to L. theobromae and two others corresponding to potential cryptic species. The distinct phylogenetic position of the two clades is supported by differences in conidial morphology and these are, therefore, described as Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae sp. nov. and Lasiodiplodia parka sp. nov.
Stoichiometric flexibility in response to fertilization along gradients of environmental and organismal nutrient richness

Ecosystems globally are undergoing rapid changes in elemental inputs. Because nutrient inputs differently impact high- and low-fertility systems, building a predictive framework for the impacts of anthropogenic and natural changes on ecological stoichiometry requires examining the flexibility in stoichiometric responses across a range of basal nutrient richness. Whether organisms or communities respond to changing conditions with stoichiometric homeostasis or flexibility is strongly regulated by their species-specific capacity for nutrient storage, relative growth rate, physiological plasticity, and the degree of environmental resource availability relative to organismal demand. Using a meta-analysis approach, we tested whether stoichiometric flexibility following nutrient enrichment correlates with the relative fertility of terrestrial and aquatic systems or with the initial stoichiometries of the organism or community. We found that regardless of limitation status, N-fertilization tended to significantly reduce biota C:N and increase N:P, and P fertilization reduced C:P and N:P in both terrestrial and aquatic systems. Further, stoichiometric flexibility in response to fertilization tended to decrease as environmental nutrient richness increased in both terrestrial and aquatic systems. Positive correlations were also detected between the initial biota C:nutrient ratio and stoichiometric flexibility in response to fertilization. Elucidating these relationships between stoichiometric flexibility, basal environmental and biota fertility, and fertilization will increase our understanding of the ecological consequences of ongoing nutrient enrichment across the world.
Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA for Tracing and Molecular Epidemiology of Listeria Contamination in a Cheese Plant.

The objective of this study was to evaluate a modified random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique as a tool to determine routes of Listeria contamination in dairy production facilities. Fifty-two strains of L. monocytogenes and L. innocua were isolated from an Austrian cheese factory, and the isolates were analyzed by the RAPD technique. Initially, DNA from all the Listeria strains was subjected to RAPD with 20 arbitrary 10-mer oligonucleotide primers, and the strains were grouped into 10 RAPD groups. In a further step, 200 more primers were evaluated by comparing RAPD patterns of several pools of DNA from each of the subgroups. This approach established that (i) the RAPD was capable of identifying a single polymorphic strain in a pool of 10 closely related strains, and (ii) that no more polymorphic strains of Listeria could be identified with 200 additional primers. We also compared our RAPD differentiation to previously published RAPD methods of Listeria typing, and found them less accurate. Forty-eight of the isolates were serotyped as L. monocytogenes serotypes 1/2a, 1/2b, 3c and 4b; of these, 41 strains clustered into a single group with identical RAPD fingerprints comprising both 1/2a and 1/2b serotypes; six more strains were grouped into four more RAPD groups. The single L. monocytogenes serotype 4b isolate also constituted a unique RAPD group. The remaining four isolates were all L. innocua 6b, and each represented a separate RAPD group. Thus, different serovars of L. monocytogenes composed a single RAPD group, and the same serovars were found in different RAPD groups, indicating a possible recombinational mechanism for generations of serovars. Conversely, a similar mechanism might not be operational in L. innocua , since serovar and RAPD typing was concordant in this species. Initially, PCR detection of the hly locus encoding listeriolysin O, the major virulence factor, in all strains of L. monocytogenes but not in L. innocua suggests that all L. monocytogenes field isolates are potentially pathogenic.
The role of the folate and methylation cycles in neural tube closure

Neural tube defects (NTD) are congenital malformations caused by abnormalities in the developmental process of neurulation. Folate metabolism appears to be a determinant of risk of NTD since periconceptional supplementation with folic acid has been shown to reduce the frequency of NTD in humans while sub-optimal folate levels are a risk factor. The mechanisms underlying prevention of NTD by folic acid or susceptibility owing to reduced levels are not known. The aims of this thesis were to understand the role of the folate and, the closely linked, methylation cycle in the cause and prevention of NTD. The effect of methylation cycle intermediates, homocysteine and methionine, on cranial neural tube closure were investigated in cultured mouse embryos. Homocysteine exposure was embryotoxic but did not increase the incidence of NTD, which suggests that increased levels of homocysteine are not a direct cause of cranial NTD. Embryos cultured with high levels of methionine or methylation cycle inhibitors specifically developed cranial NTD in the absence of other developmental defects. These results suggest that the integrity of the methylation cycle is essential for cranial neural tube closure to occur. Mouse embryos that are homozygous for the Splotch211 mutation exhibit NTD that are preventable by folic acid. In Splotch mice, increased apoptosis has been suggested to be responsible for the production of NTD in homozygous embryos. However, in this study immunohistochemical measurement of apoptosis and proliferation in the neuroepithelium in the cranial region of neurulation-stage embryos suggest that the Splotch mutation does not result in increased apoptosis. Finally, in order to test whether there is an underlying defect in folate metabolism in human NTD fetuses, a series of human embryonic cell lines were analysed. The deoxyuridine monophosphate (dUMP) suppression test was modified for use with mammalian fibroblast cell lines and the efficiency and sensitivity of the modified test were analysed by the use of inhibitors of one-carbon metabolism. The test was then applied to human NTD and control cell lines and the results indicate that a subset of the NTD cases have a diminished response, suggestive of an abnormality of folate metabolism.
Assessing genetic diversity in cultured aquatic species : the Sydney Rock Oyster (Saccostrea glomerata) stock improvement program as a model

Genetic variation is the resource animal breeders exploit in stock improvement programs. Both the process of selection and husbandry practices employed in aquaculture will erode genetic variation levels overtime, hence the critical resource can be lost and this may compromise future genetic gains in breeding programs. The amount of genetic variation in five lines of Sydney Rock Oyster (SRO) that had been selected for QX (Queensland unknown) disease resistance were examined and compared with that in a wild reference population using seven specific SRO microsatellite loci. The five selected lines had significantly lower levels of genetic diversity than did the wild reference population with allelic diversity declining approximately 80%, but impacts on heterozygosity per locus were less severe. Significant deficiencies in heterozygotes were detected at six of the seven loci in both mass selected lines and the wild reference population. Against this trend however, a significant excess of heterozygotes was recorded at three loci Sgo9, Sgo14 and Sgo21 in three QX disease resistant lines (#2, #5 and #13). All populations were significantly genetic differentiated from each other based on pairwise FST values. A neighbour joining tree based on DA genetic distances showed a clear separation between all culture and wild populations. Results of this study show clearly, that the impacts of the stock improvement program for SRO has significantly eroded natural levels of genetic variation in the culture lines. This could compromise long-term genetic gains and affect sustainability of the SRO breeding program over the long-term.
Effect Of Non-Thermal Air Plasma Treatment On Shear Bond Strength Of Adhesive Resin Cement To Zirconia

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to analyze the effect of non-thermal air plasma treatment on shear bond strength and failure mode of self-adhesive resin cement to zirconia. Materials& Methods: Forty eight zirconia plates were prepared from IPS e.max ZirCad blocks (Ivoclar Vivadent, Schaan, Liechtenstein) and classified into four groups (n=12) according to surface treatment; group CO (control) without any surface treatment, group SD was treated with 50 µm alumina sandblasting, group PL used air atmospheric pressure plasma device (Piezobrush® PZ2, Relyon plasma GMBH, Regensburg, Germany) & group SP which was a combination of 50 µm alumina sandblasting followed immediately with atmospheric plasma treatment. Zirconia specimens were immediately centered with Relay X Unicem (3M ESPE) resin cylinders of 3.7 mm diameter and 2 mm height. Shear bond strength test was performed 8 days after water storage at 37˚C using a computer controlled materials testing machine (Model 3345; Instron Industrial Products, Norwood, USA). A scanning electron microscope (Quanta 250 Field Emission Gun, Netherlands) was used to determine failure mode with all morphological and structural changes. Average surface roughness (Ra) was calculated with different surface treatments. Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis was used for chemical changes evaluation. Data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc test when the ANOVA test was significant. Results: A significant difference between different surface treatments (P=0.010) was recorded with the highest shear bond strength value in SP group and the lowest value with untreated surface CO gp. All groups showed mixed failure mode which was mainly cohesive except for CO gp. Surface roughness was increased with sandblasting and decreased after plazma treatment. EDX analysis showed increase oxygen on plazma treated surface.Conclusion: Non thermal air plasma treatment can be used for increasing zirconia surface treatment especially when accompanied with 50 µm AL2O3 sandblasting.Clinical significant: Non thermal air plasma treatment alone or in combination with sandblasting can be considered as a good clinical protocol for cementing zirconia restorations.
Profile of producers regarding the knowledge of pests and beneficial insects in soybean and maize in Bandeirantes-Paraná.

Bandeirantes e um municipio essencialmente agricola destacando-se entre varias culturas na producao de soja e milho. Buscou-se definir o perfil dos produtores desses graos no tocante ao conhecimento sobre insetos pragas e uteis na lavoura. Utilizou-se um formulario dividido em quatro partes abordando-se aspectos sociais, forma de conducao da lavoura, ocorrencia de pragas e reconhecimento de insetos prejudiciais e beneficos as plantas de soja e milho. Concluiu-se que os agricultores estao atentos as inovacoes tecnologicas, entretanto o controle de pragas e feito exclusivamente com inseticidas quimicos. Poucos reconhecem os inimigos naturais comuns as pragas que ocorrem em soja e milho. Normal 0 21 false false false PT-BR X-NONE X-NONE
Quantifying the geographic range of Pinus patula var longipedunculata in Southern Mexico using morphologic and RAPD marker data

Synopsis Pinus patula var. longipedunculata occurs in southern Mexico, but the extent of its geographic range is poorly defined. Trees from some populations are morphologically similar to P. tecunumanii, which adds to the confusion over the variety's geographic range. Recent field explorations have identified six new populations of supposed P. patula var. longipedunculata in the Sierra Madre del Sur of Oaxaca and Guerrero. In an effort to determine the validity of these sightings, botanical samples were collected from 79 trees in these six populations and were assessed for ten cone and needle morphology traits. Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analyses were conducted on 73 trees from the six populations, 38 of which were in common to 79 trees used in the botanical study. Species control lots for both the botanical and RAPD studies were P. herrerae, P. oocarpa, P. patula, P. pringlei and P. tecunumanii. Morphologic assessment indicated trees in the Manzanal population were predominantly patula-related, but trees in the other five populations grouped into two clusters that were significantly different from P. patula and P. tecunumanii and not strongly relatedto the other control species. Conversely, molecular markerresults indicated that four of the populations, Manzanal, San Mateo, Tlacuache (Oaxaca) and Yextla (Guerrero) were genetically indistinguishable or closely related to P. patula. There maining two populations, Juquila (Oaxaca) and Palo Blanco (Guerrero), were closely related genetically to P. herrerael P. pringlei. The morphologic study indicated that 5% of the trees in the six populations were indistinguishable from P. tecunumanii, but marker analyses indicated that the trees in question were of either P. patula or P. herreraei/P. pringlei origin. Pinus tecunumanii does not appear to occur in the Sierra Madre del Sur of Oaxaca and Guerrero, but a four-needle type ofP. herrerae that can be very easily confused withP. patula var. longipedunculata does. The geographic range of P. patula var. longipedunculata is defined as occurring from northeastern Oaxaca to central Guerrero. The existence of populations of the variety in Chiapas needs to be verified using molecular techniques. The genetic relationship between P. pringlei and P. herrerae is much closer than heretofore thought, even though the morphology of each species is very distinctive.
Novel Use of Helicobacter pylori Nitroreductase (rdxA) as a Counterselectable Marker in Allelic Vector Exchange to Create Legionella pneumophila Philadelphia-1 Mutants

This chapter tests the feasibility of replacing the sacB gene with another suicide gene, rdxA, from Helicobacter pylori, which encodes an NADPH oxygen insensitive nitroreductase. The authors show that the improved suicide vector pKBOXR (rdxA) and use of metronidazole in counterselection is superior to the sacB in Legionella pneumophila. Helicobacter pylori rdxA encodes an oxygen insensitive NADPH nitroreductase which exhibits high substrate specificity for the prodrug metronidazole, which is rapidly reduced to DNA damaging adducts of hydroxylamine, a bactericidal agent, thereby acting as a potential and novel counterselectable marker To create a gene knockout construct, flanking regions of ~500 bp of the targeted gene were individually PCR amplified and ligated into the multiple cloning site of an appropriate high-copy cloning vector (i.e., pBluescript, pUC19), after which an antibiotic cassette (kanamycin or gentamicin) was inserted between the two flanking regions. To date, utilization of the novel allelic exchange vector pKBOXR in our laboratory has generated several successful chromosomal gene knockouts of ahpC1, ahpC2D, ihfA, and ihfB in L. pneumophila Lp02. The pKBOXR vector appears to be more efficient than pBOC20 in generating knockout gene mutant strains, with the additional benefit that L. pneumophila is not subjected to osmotic stress during the counterselectable process.