Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ROLE OF SKELETAL PARACRINE SIGNALS IN THE PROLIFERATION AND CHONDROGENIC DIFFERENTIATION OF INTERZONE CELLS

OF DISSERTATION ROLE OF SKELETAL PARACRINE SIGNALS IN THE PROLIFERATION AND CHONDROGENIC DIFFERENTIATION OF INTERZONE CELLS Articular cartilage in mammals has a limited intrinsic capacity to repair structural injuries and defects, a fact that contributes to the chronic and progressive nature of osteoarthritis. Current treatment modalities do not enable articular cartilage to achieve a complete and permanent restoration of normal structure and function with large or partial thickness lesions. In contrast to mammals, Mexican axolotl salamanders (Ambystoma mexicanum) have demonstrated the remarkable ability to spontaneously and completely repair even large joint cartilage lesions, an intrinsic healing process that involves interzone cells in the intraarticular space. Further, when interzone tissue is transplanted into critical sized diaphyseal defects, it forms an entirely new diarthrodial joint in these amphibians, demonstrating a multi-differentiation potential. Cellular and molecular mechanisms of this repair process, however, remain unclear. This thesis examined whether paracrine signals are an important variable in the interaction between interzone cells and the skeletal microenvironment. In vivo experiments in axolotl salamanders compared the outcomes of interzone tissue transplants placed in either a skeletal or non-skeletal site within the same individual. The hypothesis tested was that the interzone-mediated repair of skeletal defects is regulated by mechanisms that are localized to the skeletal microenvironment. Interzone cell proliferation and differentiation was only observed in skeletal transplant sites, suggesting that local signals from the skeletal microenvironment played a vital role in the interzone-mediated repair process. In a second series of experiments, paracrine regulation of the proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation of equine interzone cells was evaluated in an in vitro co-culture system. The results of cellular proliferation studies indicated a mitogenic effect of skeletal paracrine signals on interzone cells. Expression of cartilage biomarker genes, evaluated at both RNA and protein levels, were used to assess chondrogenic differentiation. The in vitro findings suggested that paracrine signals may have a role in the chondrogenic differentiation of interzone cells, but were not compelling. The response may have been limited by levels of paracrine factor accumulation achieved in the co-culture system used for these experiments. Taken together, however, the data support a model that paracrine factors from skeletal tissues are important regulators of interzone cell proliferation and differentiation. This knowledge advances the assessment of interzone cells as a potential cell-based therapy for the repair of articular cartilage injuries.
Gradient Of Genetic Diversity Of Erigeron Annuus In The Part Of Invasive European Range

Abstract Erigeron annuus (L.) Pers. (Asteraceae) is native species to eastern North America, but has been introduced to Europe and many other temperate regions of the world. In order to assess the impact of spreading history and settlement time on the genetic diversity of invasive populations of E. annuus, individual plants were sampled from 16 populations located in Switzerland, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia along the south-northern expansion direction of this species in Europe. One population was collected in native range (New Brunswick, Canada). The analysis of ISSR polymorphism in 253 plants revealed 161 polymorphic bands. The highest genotype variation and genetic diversity parameters were revealed in the populations from Switzerland and Poland, the least – in Latvian populations. All 37 plants from Latvia were clones of the same genotype. The comparison of genetic diversity parameters of populations from different countries showed the decrease of genetic diversity on the south-north direction.
Developing a framework of minimum standards for the risk assessment of alien species

1. Biological invasions are a threat to biodiversity, society and the economy. There is an urgent need to provide evidence-based assessments of the risks posed by inva-sive alien species (IAS) to prioritize action. Risk assessments underpin IAS policies in many ways: informing legislation; providing justification of restrictions in trade or consumer activities; prioritizing surveillance and rapid response. There are benefits to ensuring consistency in content of IAS risk assessments globally, and this can be achieved by providing a framework of minimum standards as a checklist for quality assurance. 2. From a review of existing risk assessment protocols, and with reference to the r equirements of the EU Regulation on IAS (1143/2014) and international agreements including the World Trade Organisation, Convention on Biological Diversity and International Plant Protection Convention, coupled with consensus methods, we identified and agreed upon 14 minimum standards (attributes) a risk-assessment scheme should include. 3. The agreed minimum standards were as follows: (1) basic species description; (2) likelihood of invasion; (3) distribution, spread and impacts; (4) assessment of intro-duction pathways; (5) assessment of impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems; (6) Assessment of impact on ecosystem services; (7) assessment of socio-economic impacts; (8) consideration of status (threatened or protected) of species or habitat under threat; (9) assessment of effects of future climate change; (10) completion possible even when there is a lack of information; (11) documents information sources; (12) provides a summary in a consistent and interpretable form; (13) includes uncertainty; (14) includes quality assurance. In deriving these minimum standards, gaps in knowledge required for completing risk assessments and the scope of exist-ing risk assessment protocols were revealed, most notably in relation to assessing benefits, socio-economic impacts and impacts on ecosystem services but also inclu-sion of consideration of climate change. 4. Policy implications. We provide a checklist of components that should be within in-vasive alien species risk assessments and recommendations to develop risk assess-ments to meet these proposed minimum standards. Although inspired by implementation of the European Union Regulation on invasive alien species, and as such developed specifically within a European context, the derived framework and minimum standards could be applied globally.
Synthesis and in vitro assessment of novel water‐soluble dextran‐docetaxel conjugates as potential pH sensitive system for tumor‐targeted delivery

Docetaxel is a potent taxane agent mostly used in breast, lung, and prostate cancers. Its low water solubility is the major drawback that leads to use of Tween 80 as surfactant and ethanol as solvent in market formulation. But, these excipients cause severe hypersensitivity reactions. In this study, docetaxel was conjugated to biocompatible polymer, dextran 70 kDa, via a pH sensitive linker to enhance solubility and diminish the need of surfactants. Folic acid was also conjugated to dextran to provide targeted delivery. Synthesized conjugates were examined for solubility, hemo-compatibility, stability, and cytotoxicity on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines. Results showed about 1200-fold enhancement in water solubility by dextran and 280-fold by dextran-folate conjugation. Conjugates released the drug in a pH-dependent manner and faster hydrolysis was observed in pH 5.4 than physiological pH 7.4. Docetaxel-dextran conjugates showed proper hemo-compatibility and presented greater cytotoxicity than docetaxel solution. Higher cytotoxicity was seen in folate conjugated samples and the final conjugates targeted by folate would be suitable novel substitutions for currently marketed formulation. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 45457.
Food Habits of Flightless American Eiders (Somateria mollissima dresseri) in Québec, Canada

Abstract We provide the first quantitative study on the diet of Somateria mollissima dresseri (American Eider) undergoing the flightless wing molt. Twenty-nine adult females in wing molt were collected in the St. Lawrence Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence, QC, Canada. We identified a total of 510 prey items comprising 6 species of molluscs, echinoderms, and crustaceans from the esophagus and proventriculus of 15 birds. Mytilus edulis (Blue Mussel) was the most important prey for eiders as it occurred in 80% of the gullets and represented nearly 95% of the total aggregate prey mass, confirming the importance of this prey item for American Eiders throughout the annual cycle. The mean length of mussels consumed by eiders in the Estuary was nearly 4 times that of mussels ingested by birds in the Gulf; factors driving this difference remain unknown. Accordingly, we suggest that future work on the foraging ecology of flightess American Eiders examine how the size of mussels consumed by birds may be influenced by the distribution of various mussel size classes available on molting grounds in the St. Lawrence Estuary and in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
A review of traditional micronesian high island horticulture in belau yap chuuk pohnpei and kosrae micronesia pacific ocean

An archival review supplemented by the author's field observations of traditional horticulture in five Micronesian high island groups is presented. Geographic, ethnographic, and archaeological aspects are considered, and a demographic/climatic model of initial human settlement and changes in land use over prehistoric time is proposed. Tentative associations are seen between basic geographic factors such as rainfall, slope, and soil types and the differential emphasis on tree or root crops in the study islands. Ecologically-oriented ethnographic field work to document withinand between-island variations in these tropical island farming systems is recommended for a better understanding of the environmental and cultural controls that have shaped Micronesian horticulture past and present.
Knock down of Calcineurin-B2, a calcium binding regulatory subunit of Calcineurin, gives rise to hypercontraction myopathy in indirect flight muscles of Drosophila through dysregulation of calcium homeostasis

Muscle is a calcium responsive tissue and requires calcium for initiation of muscle contraction. Calcium concentration in muscle is tightly regulated by calcium binding proteins. Calcineurin-B2 (canB2), a calcium binding, regulatory subunit of calcineurin, is the isoform maximally expressed in the indirect flight muscles (IFMs) of Drosophila. The developmental and functional roles of CanB2 particularly in the maintenance of calcium homeostasis are not understood. In this study, we show that the loss of canB2 causes hypercontraction of IFMs. Genetic interaction studies with hypercontraction mutants suggest a synergistic interaction between Calcineurin-B2 and structural protein Troponin-T. Similarly, interaction studies with dSERCA mutant reveal that Calcineurin-B2 is important for regulating calcium homeostasis in muscles. In vivo calcium imaging showed that Calcineurin-B2 deficiency leads to arrhythmicity in the calcium oscillations. We show that Calcineurin-B2 knockdown causes deregulation of calcium homeostasis, which results in unregulated acto-myosin interaction. However, overexpression of Calcineurin-A, which inhibits calcium oscillations, had no effect on myofibrillogenesis suggesting that calcium activation is dispensable for myofibrillar assembly. Our findings contribute to the understanding of muscle physiology in normal as well as pathophysiological conditions.
Cell-type heterogeneity in the zebrafish olfactory placode is generated from progenitors within preplacodal ectoderm

Vertebrate olfactory placodes consists of a variety of neuronal populations, which are thought to have distinct embryonic origins. In the zebrafish, while ciliated sensory neurons arise from preplacodal ectoderm (PPE), previous lineage tracing studies suggest that both Gonadotropin releasing hormone 3 (Gnrh3) and microvillous sensory neurons derive from cranial neural crest (CNC). We find that the expression of Islet1/2 is restricted to Gnrh3 neurons associated with the olfactory placode. Unexpectedly, however, we find no change in Islet1/2+ cell numbers in sox10 mutant embryos, calling into question their CNC origin. Lineage reconstruction based on backtracking in time-lapse confocal datasets, and confirmed by photoconversion experiments, reveals that Gnrh3 neurons derive from the anterior/medial PPE. Similarly, all of the microvillous sensory neurons we have traced arise from preplacodal progenitors. Our results suggest that rather than originating from separate ectodermal populations, cell-type heterogeneity is generated from overlapping pools of progenitors within the preplacodal ectoderm.
A cell culture Model of MRPS2-related cutis laxa

Cutis laxa (CL) is a disorder with multiple etiologies characterized by defective or deficient production of elastin. Previous research has suggested that a significant portion of cases of CL are due to some type of mitochondrial dysfunction. Recent clinical cases implicate mitochondrial ribosomal protein S2 (MRPS2) as a possible cause of autosomal recessive CL. Despite this, in vitro tissue culture knockout of MRPS2 has not been seriously investigated as a model for studying the pathology of mitoribosomal mutation-caused wrinkly skin at a cellular and tissue level. In this study, we used CRISPR/Cas9 to lower the activity of MRPS2 in rat lung fibroblasts. We generated one heterozygous mutant with a mutation in one allele of exon 4, and two biallelic mutants, each with unique mutations in both alleles of exon 3. The biallelic mutations resulted in aberrant mRNA products, including skipping of exon 3 in both biallelic mutants and insertion/deletion mutations unique to each mutant. Analysis of secreted protein and lysate by immunoblotting revealed two MRPS2 fragments, around 8 and 33 kilodaltons in mass, respectively. Immunostaining of biallelic mutant cell lines revealed altered organization and reduced abundance of elastic fibers along with alterations in nuclear and cellular morphology and cell growth rates. Public Health Significance: The study of the importance of mitoribosomal assembly for fibroblast health has consequences for both the study of cutis laxa and the more general study of the molecular pathogenesis of skin wrinkling.
Carbon budget of a shallow, lagoonal estuary: Transformations and source‐sink dynamics along the river‐estuary‐ocean continuum

A comprehensive carbon budget was constructed to quantify carbon flows through the freshwater‐marine continuum of a temperate, microtidal estuary. We performed coordinated measurements of dissolved inorganic carbon and total organic carbon fluxes to resolve spatial variability between and along the channel and shoals and diel variability across the entire estuary for 2 yr. Net ecosystem metabolism (NEM) was the most significant control on carbon flow within estuary regions. However, metabolic rates were spatially coupled such that counteracting fluxes across the channel‐shoal gradient or along the river‐ocean gradient resulted in system‐wide NEM that was closely in balance (–3.0 ± 3.3 to 1.1 ± 4.4 molC m−2 yr−1). Similarly, large diel and seasonal variability in air–water CO2 fluxes were observed during 72 spatial surveys, but these short‐term variations generally cancelled out when aggregated to annual budget terms. Although atmospheric exchanges were small (–0.2 ± 0.1 to 2.0 ± 0.4 molC m−2 yr−1), they were subject to large errors (± 4 molC m−2 yr−1) if diel variability was neglected. Internal mechanisms that maintained balanced carbon flows were strongly impacted by river discharge and were only apparent by separately quantifying channel and shoal fluxes. Notably, metabolic responses of the shoal to river forcing outweighed the responses of the channel, and the net impact was contrary to prior relationships derived from synthesis of lower‐resolution carbon budgets. Our budget demonstrates that resolution of carbon fluxes at appropriate scales, including channel‐shoal and diel variability, is critical to characterizing ecosystem function and the fate of carbon within the river‐ocean continuum.
Response of mangrove propagules in the presence of oil and hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria during an experimental oil spill.

The aim of this work was investigate the effect of marine diesel oil on the development and survives of three different species of mangrove propagules with and without hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria consortium and the possible use of propagules for recovery of mangroves impacted by oil. The study was conducted in a greenhouse, near the mangrove where they collected samples of sediments and propagules of A. schaueriana, L. racemosa and R. mangle. The bacterial consortium used was compounded by Bacillus spp. , Rhizobium spp. , Pseudomonas spp. , Ochrobactrum spp. and Brevundimonas spp. Results suggested that Bacillus species are more tolerant to high levels of hydrocarbons. After six months, L. racemosa and A. schaueriana only survived in the control treatment and R. mangle showed the highest survival rates among the three species. The results indicate that different mangrove species do not respond uniformly to oil spill. In fact, the propagules of R. mangle are much more resistant to dispersed and undispersed oil and t he hydrocarbon-degrading bacterial consortium can be applied in the phytoremediation of pollutants .
Comparative Assessment of the Antioxidant Activities among the Extracts of Different Parts of Clausena lansium (Lour.) Skeels in Human Gingival Fibroblast Cells

Clausena lansium (Lour.) Skeels (wampee) is an outstanding natural plant with medicinal properties. The aim of this study was to compare the cytoprotective effects of four parts of wampee under oxidative stress. The aqueous extracts of leaf, peel, pulp, and seed were tested for the proliferation effects on human gingival fibroblast (HGF) cells and the protective effects in the hydrogen peroxide-induced HGF model. Furthermore, the total glutathione assay and identification of rutin by high-performance liquid chromatography were carried out to attempt to determine whether the cytoprotective effects were related to the total glutathione (GSH) stability and rutin content. The results showed that all of the extracts had no cytotoxicity to HGF at tested concentrations ranging from 50 to 5000 μg/ml during 24 h, and the leaf, pulp, and seed extracts increased proliferation of HGF at relatively high concentrations. All the extracts except for the seed extract significantly decreased the production of reactive oxygen species, and the peel extracts exhibited the most effective antioxidant effect. The leaf extract had the highest anticytotoxicity and GSH stabilization effect in the HGF challenged with hydrogen peroxide. In addition, the relative content of rutin in peel and leaf extracts was higher than that in pulp and seed. The results of GSH assay and rutin identification suggest that different cellular protective effects among the four parts of wampee are partially related to the GSH stabilization and rutin content. These findings provide a scientific basis for the antioxidant effect-related biological activities of wampee extracts.
Multi-compartmental oral delivery systems for silencing intestinal tissue transglutaminase-2 and interleukin-15 genes in the treatment of celiac disease

Celiac disease is caused by an immune response against cereal gluten peptides in the small intestine. The dietary ingestion of gluten triggers a cascade of immune response in genetically susceptible individuals, over time leading to intestinal damage, malabsorption of nutrients, abdominal discomfort and enteropathy. The enzyme tissue transglutaminase-2 (TG2) and the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-15 (IL-15) have emerged as being critical in orchestrating the continuous tissue damage and inflammation in the pathophysiology of celiac disease. Our main objective in this study was to develop a multi-compartmental strategy for the oral delivery of Small Interference Ribonucleic Acid (siRNA) that targets the TG2 and IL-15 genes in the small intestine for the treatment of celiac disease. To achieve this aim, we have formulated and characterized a multicompartmental system that contains siRNA encapsulated within gelatin nanoparticles, performed in vitro evaluations of cellular uptake and gene silencing, evaluate pharmacokinetics and biodistribution aspects of orally delivered multi-compartmental systems and tested the efficacy of silencing of the IL-15 and TG2 genes in an in vitro and in vivo model of celiac disease. In vitro evaluations showed that gelatin nanoparticles are capable of efficiently encapsulating siRNA, deliver siRNA to the cellular cytoplasm, enable RISC loading of delivered siRNA in intestinal epithelial cells (Caco-2), and cause efficient target gene knockdown in the Caco-2 and murine alveolar macrophage
A Proposed Manual for the Efficient Management of Kiwifruit Bacterial Canker in Korea

키위 궤양병은 Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa)에 의해 발생하는 전염병으로 키위 재배에 심각한 피해를 주 는 치명적인 질병이다(Serizawa 등, 1989; Takikawa 등, 1989). 1988년 국내에서 궤양병이 처음 발생한 제주도의 키위 재 배지는 해발 150–250 m에 이르는 한라산 중턱에 위치한 중 산간 지역으로 겨울철에 동해가 상습적으로 발생하는 지 역이기 때문에 궤양병에 대한 정보와 경험이 전혀 없었던 재배자들은 단순한 동해로 판단하고 그 지역에서 키위 재 배를 포기했었다(Koh, 1995; Koh와 Lee, 1992; Koh 등, 1994). 키위 궤양병이 Psa라는 세균에 의해 발생하는 것이 밝혀 진 후에도 궤양병 발생 초기에 적절한 대응에 실패할 경우 에는 과수원이 폐원에 이를 정도로 심각한 피해를 주고 있 어서 일단 궤양병이 발생하면 키위 재배를 포기하는 농가 가 적지 않은 실정이다. 키위 궤양병을 비롯하여 세균에 의 해 발생하는 식물병들은 일단 발생하면 식물체 내에서 빠 르게 진전되고 다른 식물체로 2차감염이 잘 되어 방제가 매 우 어렵기 때문이다(Kim 등, 2016a, 2016b; Son 등, 2016). 암수딴그루인 키위의 암나무 품종은 2005년까지 국내에 서는 그린키위 품종인 헤이워드(Hayward)가 대부분이었다