Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stage I High-Grade Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

We report long-term survival and prognostic factors in 252 patients with stage I high-grade lymphoma. Median patient age was 64 years and 49% of patients had extranodal lymphoma. Premenopausal women had less risk of extranodal lymphoma than older women or males (p < 0.002). Disease specific 5 and 15 years' survival in patients > 64 years was 83% and 76%, respectively; compared to 54% and 46% in patients > 64 years of age. Age, non-centroblastic histology, B-symptoms, and increased serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were independently negative prognostic factors (p < 0.01), while extranodal, testicular, or bulky (> 6 cm) lymphoma presentation were of no prognostic significance. A radiation dose of 40 Gy in 2 Gy fractions to the primary site prevented in-field relapse in 159 of 173 irradiated patients (92%) and only three of 173 patients (1.7%) had local relapse in the absence of systemic dissemination.
Effects of pH-sensitive nanoparticles prepared with different polymers on the distribution, adhesion and transition of Rhodamine 6G in the gut of rats

To investigate the effect of different enteric polymers on the characteristics of pH-sensitive nanoparticles, Rhodamine 6G (Rho) was incorporated in various pH-sensitive nanoparticles. The different patterns of pH-dependent release profiles were observed, although some polymers have the same dissolving pH. The distribution, adhesion and transition of different nanoparticles in rat gut showed significant difference, closely related to the release characteristics of nanoparticles, and their release behaviour are dependent on the dissolving pH and the structure of the polymers, as well as the drug property. Most nanoparticle formulations decreased the distribution and adhesion of Rho in the stomach but increased these values in the intestine. The nanocarriers also control the drug release sites and release rate in the GI tract. In conclusion, pH-sensitive nanoparticles seem favourable for drug absorption and it is important to choose the proper materials to obtain the suitable characteristics for the oral pH-sensitive nanoparticles.
The effects of climate data precision on fitting and projecting species niche models

Biosecurity agencies are particularly concerned to know the potential distribution of invasive alien species under present, and to a lesser extent, future climates; expensive decisions can hinge upon the degree of perceived threat a pest species poses. Climate-based niche modelling techniques are available to inform these decisions. These tools now regularly employ gridded climate datasets of moderate spatial resolution (0.5 degree), though biosecurity decision-makers continually seek greater spatial precision in the risk map products. Various splining techniques are capable of generating gridded climate datasets approaching the precision limits imposed by the availability of digital elevation model data. As the spatial precision of climate datasets increases, more detailed effects of topographic relief become apparent in the climatic data. When these datasets are used to develop and apply species niche models, the climate data is spatially intersected with species location data to infer relationships between the climate and the species' geographic distribution. Here we investigate the effect of changing climate precision on projections of species' niche models developed with CLIMEX, including the effect of upscaling and downscaling the outputs. We found that there were noticeable increases in sensitivity in models developed using more precise climate datasets. The largest differences in projections were noted where species range limits coincided with regions of strong climatic gradients such as where there was marked topographic relief in relation to the spatial precision of the climatic dataset. Upscaling (fitting a model with a fine resolution dataset and then projecting the results with a coarser grid), tended to produce smaller potential ranges for a species, albeit at the cost of model sensitivity. Downscaling had the opposite effect, identifying additional, mostly marginally climatically suitable habitat. It remains unclear how sensitive the fine resolution results are to the number and spatial arrangement of input location records used to build the model. The results indicate some benefits of improving the spatial resolution of climate datasets, though not at the expense of climatic data accuracy. Decision-makers should be mindful of the inherent uncertainties in these models, and modellers have a responsibility to identify and convey these uncertainties to their intended audience.
Toward Molecular Understanding of In Vitro and In Planta Shoot Organogenesis

Shoot organogenesis, one of the in vitro plant regeneration processes that occur during in vitro micropropagation, is used in the study of plant development. Morphological, physiological, and molecular aspects of in vitro shoot organogenesis have been extensively studied for over 50 years. Because of the research progress in plant genetics and molecular biology, our understanding of in planta and in vitro shoot meristem development, the cell cycle and cytokinin signal transduction has advanced significantly. These research advances provide useful information as well as molecular tools to study further the genetic and molecular aspects of shoot organogenesis. A number of key molecular markers, genes, and pathways have been shown to play a critical role in the process of in vitro shoot organogenesis. Furthermore, these studies reveal that in vitro shoot organogenesis, as with in planta shoot development, is a complex, well-coordinated developmental process, given that the induction of a single molecular event is likely to be insufficient to induce the entire process. Continued study is required to identify additional molecular events that trigger dedifferentiation and act as developmental switches for de novo shoot development. *This article is dedicated to the memory of Shibo Zhang, who continues to inspire our interests in this topic.
Potent, AnCE Endopeptidase‐resistant, Aib‐containing Analogues of the Diuretic Insect Kinin Neuropeptides a

The insect kinin neuropeptide family shares the common C-terminal pentapeptide Phe-Xaa'-XaaZ-Trp-Gly-NH2 (Xaa' = His, Asn, Phe, Ser, or Tyr; Xaa2 = Ser, Pro, or Ala) and has been isolated from such diverse sources as the cockroach Leucophaea maderae, cricket Acheta domesticus, locust Locusta migratoria, corn earworm Helicoverpa zea as well as mosquitoes Culex salinarius and Aedes aegypti. '. ' The leucokinins influence transepithelial membrane potential and rate of fluid secretion in isolated Malpighian tubules from the mosquito, Aedes aegypti. ' Coast et al.3 have shown that the achetakinins at M double the rate of fluid secretion by isolated Malpighian tubules of the cricket, Acheta domesticus, and demonstrate EC,, values between lo-', and lo-" M. Therefore, this family of peptides may regulate water and ion balance in insects. Recent experiments demonstrate that several members of the insect kinin family are hydrolyzed, and thereby inactivated, by angiotensin-converting enzyme (AnCE) from the housefly via removal of the C-terminal dipeptide amide fragment (FIG. l). 4 Inactivation results because the hydrolysis site is located within the insect kinin C-terminal pentapeptide active core. In mammals, the Zn2+ metallopeptidase AnCE is responsible for the conversion of angiotensin I to the active form angiotensin 11, involved in the control of blood pressure. In addition, AnCE inactivates a wide range of mammalian peptide hormones such as bradykinin, cholecystokinin, [Leu'], and [Mets]enkephalinamides, substance P, and LH-RH. The broad substrate specificity and widespread distribution of AnCE in mammalian tissues suggest that it plays multiple roles in addition to controlling blood pressure, although these roles have yet to be defined. Similarly, the precise role of AnCE has not been
Evolution of the Australasian songbird fauna

Abstract DNA analyses have revolutionised our understanding of the origin and evolution of the world's avifauna, and have identified a central role for the Australasian region in the evolutionary history of the Aves. The Australasian region has been conclusively shown to be the centre of origin for the songbirds, or oscines. The long endemic history of the oscine fauna in Australia provides an excellent opportunity to investigate how lineages radiate and adapt through major long-term changes in climatic and environmental conditions. DNA studies have revealed that the Australasian oscines are over-lumped and that the number of small genera being recognised is increasing. This contrasts with the presence of a larger number of highly speciose genera in the northern hemisphere. These contrasting patterns suggest that following the initial establishment and diversification within a region, lineages undergo a period of adaptation and evolutionary divergence with limited diversification or speciation. DNA analyses have also revealed intricate links between songbird lineages across the Indo-Pacific region. These studies have shown that dispersal has played a major role in speciation across the island archipelagos, whereas biogeographical barriers and vicariant events have been more important in shaping diversity within the continental land-masses. Long-distance, bidirectional trans-oceanic dispersal, involving Africa and Australasia has been found to have featured in explaining the distribution of several oscine lineages in the ‘core’ Corvoidea.
Differential effects of toremifene on doxorubicin, vinblastine and Tc-99m-sestamibi in P-glycoprotein-expressing breast and head and neck cancer cell lines

The effect of toremifene on P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance (MDR) in breast and head and neck cancer cell lines was measured in vitro and in vivo. Pgp expression was low and high, respectively, in drug-sensitive (MCF7-S, KB) and drug-resistant (MCF7-R, MCF7-R1, KBV1) cell lines. Toremifene (7.5 μM) significantly enhanced cytoplasmic and nuclear accumulation of doxorubicin in drug-resistant cells. Toremifene (10 μM) increased the in vitro cytotoxicity of doxorubicin in drug-resistant breast cancer cells (13-fold and 21-fold for MCF7-R and MCF7-R1, respectively) without affecting the sensitivity of MCF7-S cells. Similarly, toremifene (10 μM) caused a 12-fold increase in the sensitivity of KBV1 cells to vinblastine. In contrast, toremifene (5 μM) reduced the net uptake of the radiolabelled Pgp substrate, Tc-99m-sestamibi, in the Pgp-overexpressing cell lines by factors of 0.32 and 0.42 for MCF7-R1 and KBV1 cells, respectively (p<0.01), and, to a lesser extent, by corresponding factors of 0.89 and 0.86 in the drug-sensitive cell lines (p<0.05 and p>0.05, respectively). In nude mice bearing both KB and KBV1 xenograft tumours, significantly higher tumour levels of Tc-99m-sestamibi were recorded in KB tumours compared with KBV1 tumours. After 3 days of treatment with intraperitoneal toremifene (25 mg/kg), tumour levels of Tc-99m-sestamibi were reduced in KB and KBV1 tumours but only statistically significantly for KB tumours. Toremifene is a potent MDR modulating agent with respect to chemotherapeutic agents but has the opposite effect with respect to Tc-99m-sestamibi. This finding is of importance in view of the widespread use of Tc-99m-sestamibi as an imaging surrogate for a chemotherapeutic agent.
Densities of the Milfoil Weevil (Euhrychiopsis Iecontei) on Native and Exotic Watermilfoils

ABSTRACT We compared the densities of the milfoil weevil (Euhrychiopsis lecontei) on Eurasian (Myriophyllum spicatum, exotic host) and northern watermilfoil (M. sibiricum, native host). Two lakes in Washington, Corral Lake (northern watermilfoil) and Sawyer Lake (Eurasian watermilfoil), were surveyed throughout the summer in 1998. In addition, we surveyed 17 lakes once during the summer of 1999 to determine instantaneous densities of the weevil. Summer densities (all life stages) in Corral Lake ranged from 0.2 to 0.6 weevils/stem in 1998, with the greatest numbers of weevils observed the end of June and mid August. In Lake Sawyer, summer densities ranged from 0.0 to 0.8 weevils/stem in 1998; density was highest in June and declined during the summer. The weevil appears to have at least two generations during the summer on Eurasian and northern watermilfoil. The instantaneous density of weevils (all life stages) ranged from 0.0 to 0.6 weevils/stems in 1999. Densities were greater on northern than on Eurasian watermilfoil, but these differences were not statistically significant. Weevil density, however, was positively correlated with the percentage of stems with larval damage, but negatively correlated with the length (parallel to shore) of the watermilfoil bed. No significant relationships were found between weevil density and water quality or watermilfoil frequency of occurrence. Results indicate that neither density nor the number of summer generations differ significantly between the weevil's native and exotic host.
Effect of seed priming on maize (Zea mays L.) seedling emergence under different sowing dates.

The experiment was carried out at the research field of Regional Agricultural Research Station, Jessore during 2009-10 and 2010-2011 to find out the effect of priming and ambient temperatures due to different sowing dates on emergence of maize seedlings. The experiment consisted of two priming methods viz., i) Priming, ii) Non-priming, and ten sowing dates viz., i) 15 November, ii) 30 November, iii) 15 December iv) 30 December v) 14 January vi) 29 January vii) 13 February viii) 28 February, ix) 15 March, and x) 30 March. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Results showed that germination percentage, germination index, mean germination time and dry matter/plant were influenced significantly by priming. The highest germination percentage, germination index, dry matter/plant and lowest mean germination time were recorded from primed seed sown in March followed by February and November sowings but those were very poor in December and January sowings. So, primed seeds should be sown in November and February for better stand establishment of maize. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3329/bjar.v39i4. 22549 Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 39(4): 693-707, December 2014
Odors influencing foraging behavior of the California spiny lobster, Panulirus interruptus, and other decapod crustacea

Trapping experiments were conducted in the More Mesa coastal area of Santa Barbara, California, 4 km east of the U.C. Santa Barbara campus. Live intact and injured prey and excised tissues were placed in traps, in containers allowing odor release but preventing contacts with entering animals. Individuals of six prey species failed to attract lobsters when alive and intact, but some became attractive once injured. Excised tissues were the most effective baits. Abalone and mackerel muscle were attractive to lobsters but relatively nonattractive to crabs, while angel shark muscle was attractive to crabs but not to lobsters. Shrimp cephalothoraces were repellent to lobsters. Naturally occurring attractant and repellent tissues are thus identified and chemo‐sensory abilities of lobsters and sympatric crabs are demonstrated to differ. Abalone muscle increased in attractivity following 1–2 days field exposure. Molecular weights of stimulants released by both weathered and fresh abalone were < 10,000 daltons with.
The otic region of Doleserpeton (Temnospondyli) and its implications for the evolutionary origin of frogs

There is increasing evidence that the Palaeozoic temnospondyl amphibians had a frog-like tympanic hearing system. For this reason, the otic region of Doleserpeton is described and compared with modern anurans. The otic capsules are expanded laterally and ventrally relative to other temnospondyls. The opisthotic has a bulbous ventral region resembling the ventrolateral ledge in modern frogs. Two lateral processes are located on the paroccipital process. Comparison with the condition in modern anurans with a tympanic hearing system shows that this may have been the attachment site for the tympanic annulus. Parts of the osseous labyrinth are also described. The inner ear shows numerous features resembling the condition found in frogs. These include strong evidence for the presence of a lissamphibian-type perilymphatic duct most closely resembling that of anurans. This is the first time such a perilymphatic system has been described in any Palaezoic form. The posterior part of the braincase shows a jugular foramen closely associated with the perilymphatic foramen, as in anurans. Although the distribution of these traits among other temnospondyl groups remains little known, the sum of the evidence points to affinities between anurans and temnospondyls, and adds to the evidence for a close relationship between anurans and the Permian amphibamid Doleserpeton. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 154, 738–751.
Characterization of Italian Isolates of Fusarium semitectum from Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) by AFLP Analysis, Morphology, Pathogenicity and Toxin Production

Fusarium semitectum is a widespread species often isolated from plants with complex disease and also known to be toxigenic. Twenty-seven isolates of F. semitectum obtained from wilted plants of Medicago sativa grown in northern Italy were analysed by Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLP). The isolates were divided in two distinct clusters, coded A and B. Investigations were carried out on morphology, pathogenicity on alfalfa seedlings and toxin production of 18 isolates representative of the two AFLP clusters. Isolates from cluster A showed fast growth and pale peach colour of the colonies on potato-dextrose-agar, whereas those from cluster B showed slow growth and orange pigmentation, changing to brown with age. Length of 5-septate macro-conidia was higher in isolates from cluster A and the frequency of classes of conidia septation was statistically different between the two clusters. All isolates from cluster A were pathogenic to alfalfa, whereas those from cluster B were mostly non-pathogenic. The mycotoxigenic profiles were distinct between the two clusters and similar within the same cluster: isolates from cluster A produced zearalenone, alone or together with diacetoxyscirpenol, whereas isolates from cluster B produced deoxyfusapyrone. The results showed that there is a good correspondence between the AFLP clustering and the distinction of F. semitectum isolates from alfalfa into two groups based on morphology, pathogenicity and toxin-production.
Competition between a planktonic diatom and a dinoflagellate during enclosure experiments in a mountain lake

D. Spitale, M. Tardio and M. Cantonati. 2005. Competition between a planktonic diatom and a dinoflagellate during enclosure experiments in a mountain lake. Phycologia 44: 320–327. Lake Tovel (Trentino, Brenta Dolomites, NE Italy) was renowned for red blooms due to the dinoflagellate Glenodinium sanguineum. These blooms suddenly ceased in 1964. Responses of the summer phytoplankton communities to nutrient enrichments, analysed experimentally in enclosures, identified phosphorus as the factor limiting both G. sanguineum and a dominant Fragilaria tenera. Competitive interactions suggested that the dinoflagellates were favoured by higher temperatures, whereas the diatoms were limited by silica reduction. The ratio between the biovolumes of the two algae was an important parameter for predicting which species would benefit from the phosphorus additions and outcompete the other one under the experimental condition.
Co-infection of bay scallops Argopecten irradians with Perkinsus karlssoni (Apicomplexa, Perkinsea) and an unidentified coccidian parasite

: A comparison of the coinfection of bay scallops with Perkinsus karlssoni and an as yet unidentified coccidian is described. P karlssoni occurred in a range of host tissues including mantle, digestive gland, intestine, gill and gonad. Host tissue response elicited against P kadssoni ranged from focal encapsulation by haemocytes to formation of abscesses filled with ceroid-containing cells. The coccidian was restricted to the kidney in light infections and occurred within the renal cells and the lumen of the renal tubules. In heavy infections the coccidian also occurred in the mantle, digestive gland, intestine, gill and gonad. There was no apparent host response elicited against the coccidian parasite regardless of the tissue in which it occurred or whether the parasite was intra- or intercellular. In dual infections, dense haemocytic encapsulation arid infiltration by ceroid-containing cells masked the causative organism. Ultrastructural examination of lesions from concurrent infections revealed the presence of both parasites. Individual i? karlssoni infections were not found without a host response and the coccidian occurred with no apparent host response. It was therefore assumed that the response elicited in dual infections was caused predominantly by P, karlssoni.
Characterization of di- and tetranucleotide microsatellite markers in rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax)

Twelve tetra- and di–tetra compound microsatellite loci are described for the rainbow smelt ( Osmerus mordax ). These loci were screened among a minimum of 79 individuals and the average number of alleles per locus was 16 with an average heterozygosity of 0.86. These microsatellites are being used to examine population structure and life-history evolution among natural populations of rainbow smelt.
Immune responses of Litopenaeus vannamei to thermal stress: a comparative study of shrimp in freshwater and seawater conditions

The effects of hypothermal (22–16 °C) and hyperthermal (22–28 °C) stress on the immune system responses of the shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei cultured in either freshwater or seawater were measured and compared. The following immune system indicators were measured for comparison: total hemocyte count (THC), activity of phenoloxidase (PO), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), superoxidase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Thermal stress significantly decreased THC in both freshwater and seawater shrimp within 6–12 h (P < 0.05). After hypothermal stress, all shrimp had a significantly lower THC level than their prechallenge levels (P < 0.05). Under both types of thermal stress, the activity of PO, NOS, and SOD first increased and then decreased. After 48 h of thermal stress, shrimp PO and NOS activity decreased in both freshwater and seawater. After 48 h of thermal stress, the reduction in the SOD activity in the hemolymph of freshwater shrimp was greater than that in seawater shrimp. During exposure to stress, the MDA content in freshwater shrimp was significantly higher than in seawater shrimp, which demonstrated that lipids in freshwater shrimp were more susceptible to peroxidation than those in seawater shrimp, particularly at low temperatures. Large temperature fluctuations, particularly sudden cooling, should be avoided when rearing L. vannamei because of high rates of lipid peroxidation and decreased immunity. These effects are more marked in freshwater than in seawater.