Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of feeding T‐2 toxin and deoxynivalenol on DNA and GSH contents of brain and spleen of rats supplemented with vitamin E and C and selenium combination

Zusammenfassung Der Einfluβ von T-2 Toxin und Deoxynivalenol auf den DAN- und GSH-Gehault des Gehirnes und der Nieren bei Ratten nach Erganzung der Ration mit Vitamin E und C sowie mit Selen Einige Mykotoxine verursachen Membranschaden durch eine verstarkte Fettperoxidation, die die Funktion der Gewebe einschranken konnen. In der vorliegenden Arbeit soll die Schutzfunktion von Vitamin E und C sowie von Selen gegen den Einfluβ von T-2 Toxin und Deoxynivalenol (DON) im Gehirn- und Nierengewebe bei Ratten untersucht werden. Dazu erhielten normal ernahrte Ratten Vitamin E, C und Selen-supplementierte Rationen sowie Vitamin E, C und Selen-unterversorgte Ratten eine einmalige Dosis T-2 Toxin (3,6 mg/kg Korpergewicht) oder DON (28 mg/kg Korpergewicht). Danach wurde der GSH- und DNA-Gehalt im cerebralen Cortexgewebe und Nierengewebe bestimmt. Die Supplementierung mit Vitamin E, C und Selen fuhrte zu einem Anstieg des GSH- und DNA-Gehaltes im Gehirn- und Nierengewebe, wahrend die Unterversorgung mit Vitamin E, C und Selen einen Abfall des GSH- und DNA-Gehaltes verursachte, Die Verabreichung von T-2 Toxin bzw. DON fuhrte bei normal versorgten Ratten zu einer leichten, nicht signifikanten Erniedrigung der GSH- und DNA-Gehalte. Demnach scheinen Vitamin E, C und Selen positiv auf das antioxidative System zu wirken und vor Schaden, die durch Mykotoxine verursacht werden, zu schutzen.
Antibiotic production by strains of Gliocladium virens and its relation to the biocontrol of cotton seedling diseases

Strains of the fungal antagonist Gliocladium virens were separated into two distinct groups on the basis of secondary metabolite production in vitro. Strains of the ‘P’ group produced the antibiotics gliovirin and heptelidic acid but not the antibiotic gliotoxin and its companion, dimethylgliotoxin. Strains of the ‘Q’ group produced gliotoxin and dimethylgliotoxin but not gliovirin or heptelidic acid. Strains from both groups produced the antibiotic viridin and phytotoxin viridiol. Gliovirin was very inhibitory to Pythium ultimum but had no activity against Rhizoctonia solani, and strains that produce it were more effective seed treatment biocontrol agents of disease incited by P. ultimum. Conversely, gliotoxin was more active against R. solani than against P. ultimum, and strains that produced it were more effective seed treatments for controlling disease incited by R. solani. These results indicate that the antibiotic profiles of strains should be considered when screening strains for biocontrol efficac.
Effect of Dietary Lipid Type on the Enhancement of Swimming Endurance of Mice by L-Lactic Acid

Mice fed either a diet containing 6% lard, fish oil or Erabu sea snake lipids for 16 weeks were intraperitoneally injected L-lactic acid or glucose (25 mg/kg) following injection of physiological saline and subjected to swimming tests at 30 min after each injection. The swimming time ratio of lactic acid to saline injections was greater in mice fed sea snake lipids than those fed lard (p < 0.01) or fish oil (p < 0.05), and significantly greater than that of glucose to saline injections only in mice fed sea snake lipids (p < 0.01) but not those fed lard or fish oil. Increased endurance by injected glucose was not observed in mice fed any of the diets. These results indicate that dietary lipid type affects the endurance of mice injected with L-lactic acid, and Erabu sea snake lipids may contain factors that regulate lactic acid metabolism effectively.
Radiation balance in a soybean ecosystem in the Amazon

The continuous advance of the agricultural border in the Amazon has been worrying the scientific community due to the possible environmental impacts caused by this change in land use. The present work evaluated the behavior of the radiation balance components over the soybean crop (Glycine Max (L.) Merryl) in an Amazon area of continuous advance of the agricultural border. The radiation components were continuously monitored during the soybean cycle in 2006 and 2007 in an area of 200 ha. The soybean cultivation in the Amazon presented an abrupt change in t he radiation balance components, with the consequent reduction in the energy available to the environment due to the increase in the surface reflection. There was a significant contribution of the diffuse radiation component in the soybean interception during cloudy conditions, even under incomplete canopy covering. Moreover, after the canopy closure, a similar interaction between soybean and solar radiation occurs, regardless of the cloud condition.
Morphometrics, ovary structure, and parasites of Chiasmodon harteli (Actinopterygii: Trachiniformes: Chiasmodontidae) from off south-eastern Greenland

Chiasmodon Johnson, 1864 is a genus of mesoand bathypelagic fishes commonly known as swallowers, due to their ability to swallow prey larger than their own body (Johnson and Keene 1986). The genus was recently revised by Melo (2009), who recognized seven valid species. Wiley and Johnson (2010) placed Chiasmodontidae in the order Trachiniformes. The fishes of this genus have a wide distribution in the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian-, and Southern Oceans, with some species having endemic areas of distribution. For instance, Chiasmodon harteli Melo, 2009—a rarely captured deepwater fish species—is restricted to the cold waters of the North Atlantic and is the only species occurring off Greenland (Melo 2009, Moller et al. 2010). Even though the taxonomy of this genus is fairly well resolved, very little is known about the biology of individual Chiasmodon species. No information was published on reproductive biology of C. harteli and no parasites, identified to the species level, have been reported from swallowers. The objective of presently reported study was to provide new information on biology of C. harteli.
The Specificity of Food-Plants in the Evolution of Phytophagous Insects

THE great variety of foodstuffs acceptable to the insect palate is well known and accounts in part for the great abu-ndance and variety of this group of animals. Coupled with their catholic tastes as a group is the anomalous condition that the vegetarian members of the series not only show far less latitude in selecting their food than do other herbivorous animals, but are as definitely restricted in their choice of food as are parasitic animals. These facts are so self-evident and have been so frequently commented upon that their evolutionary significance has been very generally overlooked. In fact, the present interdependence of insects and plants is so complex that the simpler relations of individual species to particular food plants seem by comparison to offer little to interest the present student of biology. If we inquire more closely into the matter, however, it is seen that they offer not only an interesting field for speculation, but opportunities for the application of ? xperimental methods. Quite naturally almost all our knowledge of the specificity of food-plants and their selection by phytophagous insects is based on direct observations of the behavior of a great many species in nature. Deductions drawn therefrom emphasize particularly the g-reat nicety of adaptation exhibited by the insects, their fixed and almost immutable behavior, the delicacy of their senses in recognizing certain plants, and, finally, the coordination between the egg-laying instincts of the mother and the food-appetites of her larval offspring, however greatly their food may differ from her own.
Large Amplitude Free Vibration of Shallow Spherical Shell on a Pasternak Foundation

Large amplitude free vibrations of a clamped shallow spherical shell on a Pasternak foundation are studied using a new approach by Banerjee, Datta, and Sinharay. Numerical results are obtained for movable as well as immovable clamped edges. The effects of geometric, material, and foundation parameters on relation between nondimensional frequency and amplitude have been investigated and plotted.
Cytoplasmic microtubule assembly-disassembly from endogenous tubulin in a Brij-lysed cell model

We studied the characteristics of cytoplasmic microtubule reassembly from endogenous tubulin pools in situ using a Brij 58-lysed 3T3 cell system. Cells that were pretreated in vivo with colcemid retain endogenous tubulin in the depolymerized state after lysis. When lysed cells were removed from colcemid block and incubated in GTP-PIPES reassembly buffer at pH 6.9, microtubules repolymerized randomly throughout the cytoplasm, appeared to be free-ended and were generally not associated with the centrosomes. However, tubulin could be induced to polymerize in an organized manner from the centrosomes by increasing the pH to 7.6 in the presence of ATP and cAMP. Microtubules polymerized in ATP had significantly longer lengths than those assembled in GTP or UTP. When cells not treated with colcemid were lysed, the integrity of the cytoplasmic microtubule complex (CMTC) was maintained during subsequent incubation in reassembly buffer. However, in contrast to unlysed, living cells, microtubules of lysed cells were stable to colchicine. A significant fraction of the CMTC was stable to cold- induced disassembly whereas microtubules reassembled after lysis were extremely cold-sensitive. When cells not treated with colcemid were lysed and incubated in millimolar Ca++, microtubules depolymerized from their distal ends and a much reduced CMTC was observed. Ca++ reversal with EGTA rapidly resulted in a reformation of the CMTC apparently by elongation of Ca++ resistant microtubules.
Effects of extraction conditions on the recovery of phenolic compounds and in vitro antioxidant activity of carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) pulp

Abstract The extraction of phenolic compounds from carob pulp was studied. The effects of solvent nature (acetone, ethanol, methanol and water), solvent concentration (40–100%), solid-to-solvent ratio (15/10 to 75/10 mg/ml), extraction time (60–120 min) and extraction temperature (25–90°C) were investigated. Total phenolic content and total flavonoid content were used for determination of phenolic compounds of carob pulp extract, whereas the antioxidant activity was assessed by measuring the free radical-scavenging activity and the ferric-reducing power. Experimental results showed that all examined parameters had statistically significant (p < 0.05) effects on phenolic compound extraction and antioxidant activities of extracts. The best extraction conditions were 70% acetone, 25 mg/10 ml, 90 min and 90°C with values of 3554 mgGAE/100 gDW, 1700 mgQE/100 gDW, 4032 mgAAE/100 gDW and 3929 mgAAE/100 gDW for the total phenolic content, the total flavonoid content, the free radical-scavenging activity and the ferric-reducing power, respectively. As a function of investigated extraction parameters, phenolic compound contents were positively correlated with antioxidant activities.
Genetic Diversity of Cultivated Tropical Plants

It was in the 1960s that the scientific community first became aware of the threat that disruption of natural environments posed to the germplasm of numerous cultivated species. It began working to collect that germplasm, and a multitude of collections were set up worldwide. These collections are now so large that they are proving difficult to maintain and characterize, and their management has become a crucial issue. Germplasm conservation, evaluation, and use all need to be rethought. In response to those concerns, Frankel and Brown introduced the idea of core collections in the 1980s: a sample of accessions from a larger collection is taken to provide as accurate a picture as possible of the existing range of diversity. However, what criteria and tools should be used to put together the sample? Agronomic criteria are primordial for breeders but are sometimes difficult to evaluate, and their genetic determinism is often complex. Molecular genetic markers, which are of no direct use, reveal the structure of the existing diversity, which can be used as the basis for setting up a core collection. Little is known about the relationships between these two levels of variability: Are the different types of molecular markers equivalent? Does a strong molecular structure systematically mean a strong structure based on agronomic criteria as well? Do the two types of structure necessarily tally? Statistical tools, which can be used to analyse the resemblances between individuals or populations, are essential in identifying the structure of diversity, if indeed it is structured. But which method is most appropriate for each type of marker? How reliable is the picture it gives of diversity and what biological significance can it be assumed to have? This work goes some way towards answering those questions on the basis of a study of the genetic diversity of eleven tropical plants. Three methodological chapters-on biochemical and molecular markers, data analysis, and setting up core collections-complement the study. (Resume d'auteur)
Applying thresholds to identify key biodiversity areas for marine turtles in Melanesia

This study trials the Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) approach to conservation planning on a wide‐ranging marine species. We used marine turtle nesting data to test the global thresholds and criteria devised for terrestrial systems and adapted to the marine environment. Data were collated for the Melanesian region and used in the first region‐wide marine application of the KBA approach. Using the standard criteria, we tested a range of population thresholds to identify and delineate KBAs for five marine turtle species. A series of decision rules were devised during this analysis specific to marine turtles. The study showed that the standard KBA thresholds could be applied to marine turtles in Melanesia, with some modifications. Using the threshold of 10 breeding females, 54 preliminary marine turtle KBAs were identified and delineated for six Melanesian nations. A threshold of 1% of a species genetic stock aggregating at a site was trialled and showed that it made no difference to the identification of KBAs, with the exception of Lepidochelys olivacea. The study demonstrates that this approach to conservation planning, which is most suited to site‐associated species, can also be applied to wide‐ranging species displaying seasonal congregatory behaviour, such as marine turtles.
Rebirth of synthetic hexaploids with global implications for wheat improvement

Aegilops tauschii (syn.Triticum tauschii (Coss.) Schmalh. , syn. Ae. squarrosa auct. Non L. , 2n = 2x = 14, DD genome), with its numerous accessions and wide distribution, provides unparallelled genetic diversity for addressing global wheat production constraints through genetic improvement. From our working collection of ~750 Ae. tauschii accessions, hybridisation efforts produced 1014 synthetic hexaploid combinations (2n = 6x = 42, AABBDD), resulting from chromosome doubling of the F1 hybrids between elite Triticum turgidum L. s. lat. cultivars and Ae. tauschii accessions. The extensive production of synthetic hexaploids represents a step-wise progression over 2 decades in the generation of a valuable resource of user-friendly genetic diversity. The synthetic germplasm has been validated, maintained, screened, formed into targetted stress-related subsets for focused utilisation, and been allowed global distribution for use in pre-breeding/breeding with advent into molecular technologies. Abundant synthetic hexaploids with different Ae. tauschii accessions have been identified from their screening for yield per se, and various biotic/abiotic stresses. Encouraging diversity data have been obtained for key abiotic constraints such as drought, salinity, heat, and water-logging. A similar response was prevalent for the salient biotic stresses such as fusarium head scab, spot blotch, septoria leaf blotch, and karnal bunt. Global distribution of the selected synthetics has further added valuable information for several other stress constraints and led to utilisation of the synthetic diversity for molecular investigations. The superiority of the primary synthetics has been transferred with ease via pre-breeding/breeding to conventional bread wheat cultivars and varietal releases have started globally. The success and status of the D genome diversity are the focus of this paper and we are optimistic that researchers will devise additional strategies to harness other genomes as efficiently by adding on new technologies that ensure wheat production security in the decades ahead.
Structure and Dynamics of a Namaqualand Speckled Tortoise (Homopus signatus signatus) Population over 5 Years of Rainfall Variation

Abstract Homopus signatus signatus is a small tortoise that is endemic to arid northwestern South Africa, where its range is threatened by aridification. It is not clear how the taxon will respond to an aridifying habitat, emphasizing the need for population monitoring. I conducted a mark–recapture study over 5 years with above- and below-average rainfall to analyze population structure, abundance, apparent survival, and effects of rainfall. The population had a continuous size-class distribution and contained similar frequencies of males, females, and juveniles, indicative of a viable population with reproduction and recruitment into adulthood. It consisted of transient and resident individuals, with an abundance of 16–21 resident tortoises/ha. High spring activity levels appeared to result in high (0.35–0.94) recapture rates, which differed among years as a result of different search efforts. Apparent annual survival rates of residents depended on group and increased with shell volume, ranging from 0.74 to 0.99. Although females were the larger sex, their apparent survival tended to be slightly lower than male survival, possibly because of high female activity to accumulate nutrients for the production of large eggs. Rainfall had little effect on apparent survival, suggesting that physiological responses to drought exploited by H. s. signatus are effective in helping them survive. Consequently, mortality during current, periodic droughts does not seem to oppose recommended conservation measures to improve adult survival and delay detrimental effects of aridification on growth and reproduction.
HORSERADISH PEROXIDASE-GLUTARALDEHYDE (HRP-GLA) REACTION ON THE PLASMA MEMBRANE OF FROG UROTHELIAL CELLS

In the presence of glutaraldehyde (GLA), horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was found to bind to the basolateral cell membrane, but not to the apical membrane, of dissociated frog urothelial cells. To clarify the mechanism of the binding, the effect of various modifications to the reaction was studied. The binding of HRP, i.e. "the HRP-GLA staining or reaction", revealed the following characteristics: 1) The staining was observed only in the cells dissociated with cation chelation or enzyme treatment, and not in the cells scraped mechanically. 2) GLA should coexist in the same solution with HRP. Paraformaldehyde (FA) or dimethyl suberimidate (DMS) could not replace GLA. 3) Prefixation with GLA, FA or DMS could prevent the staining. 4) Diazotization of amino groups by prolonged sodium nitrite incubation abolished the reaction totally. 5) Pretreatment of cell with poly-L-lysine caused the apical membrane to show positive staining. These results indicate that the HRP-GLA reaction stains the amino groups, which are exposed only after some dissociating treatments, and can be used as a cell membrane marker at an electron microscopic level.
Effects of Resident Soil Fungi and Land Use History Outweigh Those of Commercial Mycorrhizal Inocula: Testing a Restoration Strategy in Unsterilized Soil

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have numerous effects on temperate grassland ecosystems, but prairie restorations are frequently located in sites with depauperate AMF communities. In this greenhouse study, four native species (Schizachyrium scoparium, Elymus canadensis, Monarda punctata, and Aster ericoides) and an invasive grass (Bromus inermis) were grown in unsterilized field soils and treated with two types of commercial AMF inoculum. Inocula were applied at one and two times the manufacturers' suggested rate. Soil was collected from a meadow enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), and from an active agricultural field. Inoculum addition had no effect on biomass or percent colonization by AMF for any grass species, regardless of soil type. Inoculum type significantly affected Aster biomass and percent colonization, although pairwise comparisons of treated individuals and controls were not significant. The overall lack of effectiveness of the commercial inocula may reflect the small number of propagules added, even when used at twice the recommended rate. Higher rates of fungal colonization in all three grasses and increased biomass in the native grasses were observed in individuals grown in the CRP soil. Plants were also colonized by dark septate endophytic fungi; for Schizachyrium, endophyte colonization was significantly greater in tilled than CRP soil. Our results indicate that an existing soil fungal community promotes colonization by AMF more than the addition of commercial inocula, and that soil characteristics associated with land use history significantly affect the growth of native species in a restoration setting.
An Inexpensive Image Analysis System for Fish Otoliths

Abstract This paper evaluates the feasibility of using flatbed scanners and free computer software for image analysis of fish otoliths. Scanned images of whole and cross-sectioned otoliths from bluegill Lepomis macrochirus, freshwater drum Aplodinotus grunniens, largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides, warmouth L. gulosus, and white crappie Pomoxis annularis provided adequate resolution for visualizing and counting annuli as well as for measuring interannual growth increments. I found concordant relationships between interannual growth measurements taken with a microscope-based image analysis system and those taken with the scanning technique. The use of flatbed scanners for age and growth analyses could substantially reduce costs, and such scanners may already be available for many persons interested in otolith image analysis. This could widen the access to otolith research for those who previously could not afford imaging equipment. Depending on user experience and computer and scanner speeds, 25–40 alrea.
Down-Regulation of Monocyte Chemotactic Protein-3 by Activated β-Catenin

Accumulation of intracellular beta-catenin, as a result of inactivation of the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene or by mutation of the beta-catenin gene (CTNNB1) itself, is involved in a wide range of human cancers. By means of fluorescent differential display using a murine fibroblast cell line (L-MT), which expresses an activated form of beta-catenin that accumulates in the cells, we found that expression of murine monocyte chemotactic protein-3 (mMCP-3) was suppressed by activated beta-catenin. Inversely, expression of MCP-3 in human colon cancer cells was induced by depletion of beta-catenin after adenovirus-mediated transfer of wild-type APC genes into the cells. A reporter-gene assay indicated that the accumulation of beta-catenin in the nucleus suppressed activity of the MCP-3 promoter through a putative T-cell factor/lymphocyte enhancer factor (Tcf/LEF)-binding site, ATCAAAG; but when the promoter sequence contained a two-base substitution in the binding site, it failed to suppress reporter-gene (luciferase) activity. An electrophoretic mobility-shift assay using the putative Tcf/LEF-binding sequence revealed interaction of the candidate sequence with the beta-catenin complex. Furthermore, induction of MCP-3 cDNA into HT-29 colon cancer cells increased expression of two markers of differentiation: alkaline phosphatase and carcinoembryonic antigen. Our results implied that activation of beta-catenin through the Tcf/LEF signaling pathway may participate in colonic carcinogenesis by inhibiting MCP-3-induced differentiation of colorectal epithelial cells.