Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ModulationbyBrainNatriureticPeptideofGABAReceptors onRatRetinalON-TypeBipolarCells

NPR-A antagonist anantin. The NPR-C agonist c-ANF [des(Gln 18 , Ser 19 , Gln 20 , Leu 21 , Gly 22 )ANF4‐23-NH2] did not suppress GABAA currents.TheBNPeffectonGABAAcurrentswasabolishedwithpreincubationwiththepGC-A/BantagonistHS-142-1butmimickedby applicationof8-bromoguanosine-3,5-cyclomonophosphate.TheseresultssuggestthatelevatedlevelsofintracellularcGMPcausedby activation of NPR-A may mediate the BNP effect. Internal infusion of the cGMP-dependent protein kinase G (PKG) inhibitor KT5823 essentially blocked the BNP-induced reduction of GABAA currents. Moreover, calcium imaging showed that BNP caused a significant elevationofintracellularcalciumthatcouldbecausedbyincreasedcalciumreleasefromintracellularstoresbyPKG.TheBNPeffectwas blocked by the ryanodine receptor modulators caffeine, ryanodine, and ruthenium red but not by the IP3 receptor antagonists heparin andxestospongin-C.Furthermore,theBNPeffectwasabolishedafterapplicationoftheblockerofendoplasmicreticulumCa 2 -ATPase thapsigarginandgreatlyreducedbythecalmodulininhibitorsW-7andcalmidazolium.Wethereforeconcludethattheincreasedcalcium releasefromryanodine-sensitivecalciumstoresbyBNPmayberesponsiblefortheBNP-causedGABAAresponsesuppressioninON-type BCsthroughstimulatingcalmodulin.
Allosteric Approaches to the Targeting of Neuronal Nicotinic Receptor for Drug Discovery

ii DEDICATION . iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . v VITA . vii LIST OF TABLES . xiv LIST OF FIGURES . xv LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS . xvii STATEMENT OF PROBLEM . xviii
Crop 3D: a platform based on LiDAR for 3D high-throughputcrop phenotyping

With the growth of population and the reduction of arable land, breeding has been considered as an effective way to solve the food crisis. As an important part in breeding, high-throughput phenotyping can accelerate the breeding process effectively. Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) is an active remote sensing technology that is capable of acquiring three-dimensional (3D) data accurately, and has a great potential application in crop phenotyping. Given that crop phenotyping based on LiDAR technology is not common in China, we developed a high-throughput crop phenotyping platform, named Crop 3D, which integrated LiDAR, high-resolution camera, thermal camera and hyperspectral imager. Compared with traditional crop phenotyping techniques, Crop 3D can acquire the multi-source phenotypic data in the whole crop growing period and extract plant height, plant width, leaf length, leaf width, leaf area, leaf inclination angle and other parameters for plant biology and genomics analysis. In this paper, we described the designs, functions and testing results of the Crop 3D platform. Then, the potential applications and future development of the platform in phenotyping were briefly discussed. We concluded that platforms integrating LiDAR and traditional remote sensing techniques might be the future trend of crop high-throughput phenotyping.
Comparison of conventional and synchrotron X-ray microCT scanning of thin membranes in the inner ear

Aims Sensing head movements is essential for balance during locomotion. Angular accelerations of the head are sensed by the membranous labyrinth in the inner ear. Little is known, however, about the anatomy of the membranous labyrinth. This lacuna is caused by the difficulty to visualize the membranes by conventional microCT: a) the membranes are very thin (about 1015 μm), b) contrast is limited because the X-ray density difference of the membranes and the fluid surrounding them is very small and c) the surrounding dense bone obliges using a high voltage X-ray beam. Other visualization methods, such as histological sections and serial grinding, are not appropriate because of the artefacts they inevitably incur.
Impacts of variable versus fixed phytoplankton stoichiometry on the dynamics of biogeochemical models = Der Einfluss von variabler versus fixer Phytoplankton-Stöchiometrie auf die Dynamik biogeochemischer Modelle

For marine biogeochemical models used in simulations of climate change scenarios, the ability to account for adaptability of marine ecosystems to environmental change is crucial. Biogeochemical models commonly include a single all--encompassing phytoplankton that does not exhibit any physiological flexibility, e.g. in stoichiometry. Hence, dynamics emerging from adaptation can not be simulated. As an alternative, more adaptive models exist that (1) increase physiological detail, or (2) resolve communities. Both approaches are investigated in this thesis, particularly with respect to the representation of phytoplankton elemental composition and its effect on model performance. It is shown that fixed phytoplankton stoichiometry impedes the adaptive potential of per se adaptive models. Consequently, allowing for stoichiometric variation provides a means of significantly improving model capabilities.
Identification of N-acylethanolamine Hydrolyzing Enzyme in Solanum lycopersicum

Identification of N-acylethanolamine Hydrolyzing Enzyme in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) by Derek A. Stuffle N-acylethanolamines (NAEs) are fatty acid derivatives that occur naturally in plant and animal systems. In mammals, they regulate physiological functions, including neurotransmission, immune responses, vasodilation, embryo development and implantation, feeding behavior, and cell proliferation. NAEs are metabolized by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), which belongs to the amidase signature (AS) family. It is hypothesized that putative FAAH functions as the catalyst in the metabolism of N-acylethanolamine in tomato plants. To test the hypothesis, FAAH protein homologs were identified in tomato via in silico analysis. Among the six homologs identified, FAAH1 and FAAH2 were selected for further validation. This study is focused on 1) in silico analyses of SlFAAH2, 2) quantification of transcript levels for SlFAAH2, 3) determination of FAAH activity at various developmental stages of tomato, and 4) isolation of and synthesis of SlFAAH2 cDNA for cloning. Putative SlFAAH2 showed high homology to Arabidopsis FAAH1. Transcript levels, as measured by qPCR using RNA extracted from various developmental stages, were highest at 0 days and lowest at 4 days. Enzyme activity at certain developmental stages coincided with SlFAAH2 transcript levels. In order to confirm that putative SlFAAH2 encodes for an enzyme that hydrolyzes NAEs, SlFAAH2 gene was isolated from total RNA of tomato, cDNA was synthesized by reverse transcription and the gene was amplified by PCR for further cloning in a heterologous expression system for biochemical characterization. To gain better molecular and biochemical understanding of FAAH and determine its broader functions, it is pertinent to characterize FAAH in other plant species.
Geographic shifts in the effects of habitat size on trophic structure and decomposition

Habitat size is known to affect community structure and ecosystem function, but few studies have examined the underlying mechanisms over sufficient size gradients or in enough geographic contexts to determine their generality. Our goal in this study was to determine if the relationship between habitat size and leaf decomposition varied across geographic sites, and which factors may be driving the differences. We conducted replicated observations in a coastal forest in Brazil, and in rainforests in Costa Rica and Puerto Rico. We used leaf litter decomposition and macroinvertebrate composition in bromeliad phytotelmata of varying sizes to determine the relationships between habitat size, trophic structure and decomposition over a wide geographical range. We experimentally disentangled the effects of site and litter quality by quantifying invertebrate control of decomposition of a native and a transplanted litter type within one site. We found that the relationship between bromeliad size and decomposition rates differed among study sites. In rainforests in Costa Rica and Puerto Rico, decomposition was strongly linked to macroinvertebrate trophic structure, which varies with bromeliad size, driving strong bromeliad size-decomposition relationships. However, in Brazil there was no relationship between bromeliad size and decomposition. Our manipulative experiment suggests that within coastal forest in Brazil, the poor quality of native litter resulted in little invertebrate control of decomposition. Furthermore, the key detritivore in this site builds a predator-resistant case, which likely prevented effects of bromeliad size on trophic structure from being transmitted to decomposition even when litter quality was increased. We conclude that differences in both leaf litter quality and macroinvertebrate traits among sites determine the link between decomposition and macroinvertebrates, and consequently the decomposition-bromeliad size relationship. These results show that the response of decomposition to habitat size is context-dependent, and depends on which component of the food web is the main driver of the function. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Forecasting the Garlic Production in Bangladesh by ARIMA Model

Among the species grown in Bangladesh, garlic is undoubtedly one of the important crops cultivated during cool season. It has been considered as a rich source of carbohydrates, proteins and phosphorus. It also helps eliminating waste materials and dangerous free radicals from the human body. The production of garlic is insufficient in Bangladesh. The main purpose of this study is to identify the Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model that could be used to forecast the production of garlic in Bangladesh. This study considered the published secondary data of yearly garlic production in Bangladesh over the period 1971-2013. The best selected Box-Jenkin’s ARIMA model for forecasting the garlic productions in Bangladesh is ARIMA (0, 2, 1). From the comparison between the original series and forecasted series shows the same manner indicating fitted model are statistically well behaved to forecast the garlic productions in Bangladesh i.e., the models forecast well during and beyond the estimation period to a satisfactory level.
Editorial [ Carbonic Anhydrases as Drug Targets Executive Editor: Claudiu T. Supuran ]

: Carbonic anhydrases (CAs), the metalloenzymes that catalyze the conversion between carbon dioxide and bicarbonate, continue to be surprising targets, as many exciting new discoveries related to them emerge constantly. This is indeed unprecedented as these are quite "old" enzymes, which were discovered in 1933, and thoroughly investigated since then as drug targets. Furthermore, their inhibitors are in clinical use since the 50s. However, in the last years, a host of interesting reports were made regarding the catalytic/inhibition mechanism as well as isolation/characterization of new isozymes belonging to this family, as well as of CAs of non-vertebrate origin.
Machine Learning for Topic Classification and Prediction on Twitter

Machine Learning for Topic Classification and Prediction on Twitter Kasra Safari Masters of Applied Science Graduate Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering University of Toronto 2019 The rise of social media networks such as Twitter presents us with a massively distributed portal of information covering every topic from social and political news to entertainment. However, this coverage of different topics coupled with the high rate of content generation on Twitter results in an overwhelming volume of content that makes it difficult to detect and retrieve information relevant to a specific topic. Access to efficient methods for retrieval and analysis of this topical content can be of great value in a lot of different domains from social sciences to marketing analysis. Hence, the concept of learning topical classifiers and predictors for Twitter has become an important area of research. This thesis aims to address the challenges of topical content retrieval and analysis via efficient ways that will allow users to have real-time access to insights on their desired topics.
SHORT COMMUNICATION IN VITRO REGENERATION OF GARCINIA INDICA USING LEAF EXPLANTS

Regeneration of plantlets via adventitious bud differentiation on leaf explants of Garcinia indica (Thouars) Choisy, a medicinally important apomictic tropical tree species was done. Leaves were cultured on Murashige and Skoog’s medium supplemented with cytokinins (6-Benzylaminopurine, BAP, kinetin and Thidiazuron, TDZ) alone and in combination with auxin (α-Napthaleneacetic acid, NAA) for direct shoot proliferation. Maximum number of shoots were formed in 63.89% explants on MS medium supplemented with 1.0 μM TDZ after 2-4 weeks of culture. Elongation of the induced shoots was achieved on MS basal medium containing 0.2% activated charcoal. Maximum rooting (83.33%) was observed in shoots cultured on half-strength MS medium supplemented with 10 μM IBA. The plantlets were successfully transferred to soil after hardening.
cDNA cloning, heterologous expression and characterization of a cell wall invertase from copper tolerant population of Elsholtzia haichowensis

Abstract The main objective of the present study was to clone, heterologously express and characterize a novel cell wall invertase (FCWI) from a Cu tolerant population of Elsholtzia haichowensis. The full-length FCWI cDNA contained an open reading frame (ORF) of 1671 bp which encoded a 556-amino-acid protein. The theoretical molecular mass and pI of the deduced protein were 62.5 kDa and 9.29, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis showed that FCWI had a closer evolutionary relationship to cell wall invertase of dicot. FCWI was expressed in methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris and purified to near homogeneity. Recombinant FCWI enzyme had pH optima of 4.0 and temperature optima of 50◦C. Activity analyses in the presence of various metal cations indicated that FCWI was completely inhibited by Hg2+ (0%), while retained 77.4% activity when exposure to Cu2+. The Km and Vmax values of FCWI for hydrolyzing sucrose were 0.282 mM and 1.576 μkat/mg, respectively. This is the first report that the heterologous expression and characterization of a cell wall invertase from a Cu tolerant population of E. haichowensis. These results helped to understanding the characteristics of FCWI and its physiological role in the resistance mechanisms of Cu tolerant plants
Habitat-Related Variation in Body Size and Reproductive Output and an Examination of Reproductive Allometry in the Sabine Map Turtle (Graptemys sabinensis) across Three River Drainages

The Sabine Map Turtle (Graptemys sabinensis) inhabits the Sabine-Neches, Calcasieu, and Mermentau river drainages of southwestern Louisiana and east Texas. Sparse data in the literature mark it as having among the smallest body sizes and smallest clutch sizes among the 14 species of the genus Graptemys. All available data on life history originate from the upper Sabine and upper Calcasieu drainages, which are relatively high-gradient rivers with fast currents and numerous sandbars. Downstream segments of these drainages and the entire Mermentau drainage have almost no gradient, with little perceptible current and no sandbars. We sampled G. sabinensis from the Mermentau River and upper and lower portions of both the Sabine and Calcasieu drainages. We collected data on body size and radiographed gravid females in the lower Calcasieu and Mermentau drainages to examine clutch size and egg width and compared our data to literature records and measurements of museum specimens. Both males (to 104 mm in midline plastron length) and females (to 202 mm) were considerably larger in the Mermentau and lower reaches of the Sabine and Calcasieu drainages than in the upper Sabine and upper Calcasieu drainages (to 92 mm and 176 mm, respectively). Clutch sizes were also significantly larger in the Mermentau and lower Calcasieu (mean 5.3 eggs, range 3–7) compared to previously reported clutch sizes for the upper Sabine and upper Calcasieu drainages (mean 2.3 eggs, range 1–4). Comparison with recent findings for other species of Graptemys indicates that it is typical for populations in faster-current habitats to be smaller in body size, although no previous report has shown the magnitude of differences exhibited by G. sabinensis in the present study. Examination of the allometry of reproductive output complemented previous studies of Graptemys in that both egg width and clutch size were hypoallometrically related to female body size, consistent with the hypothesis of anatomical constraints on egg width. The difference between egg width and pelvic aperture width grew larger as females increased in size, suggesting that anatomical constraints may have applied only to smaller females, leaving egg-size optimization possible in larger females. We could not determine the reason for a significant difference in egg width between the Mermentau and lower Calcasieu after correction for female body size, as pelvic aperture width did not vary between the drainages; however, other potential anatomical constraints on egg width were not measured.
A Practical Evaluation of the Delvotest P Multi Plate Test in Screening Raw Milk for Antibiotics.

The Delvotest P Multi plate test was evaluated by screening 100 milk samples for total antibiotic residues (penicillin G, streptomycin and neomycin). The samples were taken in conjunction with an antibiotic depletion study in milk derived from six cows treated with a multiple antibiotic, intramammary infusion product. Within the limits of sensitivity of the Delvotest, only penicillin G persisted in milk samples taken beyond 60 h, whereas in some samples, the other antibiotics appeared to be depleted as early as 48 h. More sensitive tests, however, detected neomycin ( Staphylococcus epidermidis , ATCC 12228) in 50% of samples taken at 60 h and streptomycin ( Bacillus subtilis , ATCC 6633) at 14.5 d after discontinuation of infusion.
Population dynamics and secondary production of Scolelepis squamata (Polychaeta : Spionidae) in an exposed Sandy Beach of southern Brazil

Scolelepis squamata is a common component of sandy beach environments. It is the most abundant species on some Brazilian intertidal beaches, but little is known about its population dynamics and secondary production. The distribution, population dynamics and secondary production of this species on Atami Beach (Southern Brazil) was studied from February 1992 to February 1993. The organisms were concentrated in a narrow band along the middle intertidal beach, reaching mean maximum densities of 20,277 m -2 . Ovigerous females were present throughout the year with the highest percentages in February and August. Two peaks of recruitment were identified, one in April and the other in October. This population produced two identified cohorts during the year. The life span was of 0.66 and 0.49 yrs, and the mortality was 2.52 and 5.52 y -1 , for each cohort respectively. Mean annual biomass was 0.21 g m -2 (AFDW), and mean annual production was 0.57 g m -2 y -1 (AFDW). The P/B ratio was low, 2.70 y -1 , in particular when compared with species of similar life span. Data suggested that this species presented r-strategist characteristics (sensu McArthur), with a short life span, great reproductive effort, and an opportunistic behavior.
Switchgrass Biomass Composition Traits and their Effects on its Digestion by Ruminants and Bioconversion to Ethanol

Six generations of divergent breeding in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) for forage in vitro digestibility (IVDMD) resulted in significant changes in 20 biomass composition traits. Stepwise multiregression was used to determine which of the 20 composition traits had the largest significant effects on forage IVDMD and potential ethanol yield (EToH) in a biorefinery. Switchgrass biomass samples from a field nursery containing the divergent switchgrass populations and families were harvested after flowering, dried, ground, and analyzed for composition traits by nearinfrared reflectance analyses using previously developed near-infrared reflectance calibrations. After nonsignificant variables were eliminated, the resulting multiple regression models were highly significant (P < 0.001) and accounted for 95 and 96%, respectively, of the total variation for both IVDMD and EToH. Standardized partial regression coefficients were used to estimate the relative importance of each significant variable. The biomass composition factors that had the largest impact on both IVDMD and EToH were esterified ferulates, p-coumarate esters, specific cell wall sugars that are involved in the linkage of cell wall lignin to hemicellulose, N, and extracted fats. Klason lignin was not a significant variable in either regression analysis, even though it was strongly negatively correlated with both IVDMD and EToH. The IVDMD test, which acted as a biological selection index in a longterm population breeding program, impacted an array of switchgrass biomass composition traits whose relative effects on both IVDMD and EToH had not been previously quantified. K.P. Vogel (retired), USDA–ARS, Grain, Forage, and Bioenergy Research Unit, 251 Filey Hall, Dep. of Agronomy and Horticulture, Univ. of Nebraska–Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583-0937; M.D. Casler, USDA–ARS, US Dairy Forage Research Center, 1925 W. Linden Dr., Madison, WI 53706-1108; B.S. Dien, USDA–ARS, Fermentation Biotechnology Bioenergy Research Unit, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, 1815 N. University St., Peoria, IL 61604. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely to provide specific information and does not imply recommendations or endorsement by the USDA. The USDA is an equal opportunity employer. Received 25 July 2016. Accepted 15 Sept. 2016. *Corresponding author (vogelkp61@neb.rr.com, kvogel1@unl.edu). Assigned to Associate Editor Steve Larson. Abbreviations: ETOH, ethanol yield from biomass saccrification and fermentation; IVDMD, in vitro dry matter digestibility; NIRS, nearinfrared reflectance spectrometry; see Table 1 for an extensive listing of abbreviations for biomass composition and conversion traits. Published in Crop Sci. 57:275–281 (2017). doi: 10.2135/cropsci2016.07. 0625 © Crop Science Society of America | 5585 Guilford Rd., Madison, WI 53711 USA All rights reserved. Published January 19, 2017
Identity of the limiting nutrient (N vs. P) affects the competitive success of mixotrophs

: Empirical and theoretical evidence predicts that mixotrophic bacterivores dominate over specialized heterotrophic bacterivores and specialist photoautotrophs under conditions of high light and low loss rates. Here we extend this concept towards nutrient limitation and ask whether the identity of the limiting nutrient affects the competition of mixotrophs with their specialist competitors. Due to their photosynthetic machinery, mixotrophs should have higher cellular N contents than heterotrophs and, following this assumption, a higher demand for N. Conversely, heterotrophs, with their potential high growth rates compared to mixotrophs, may have a higher demand for P (‘growth rate hypothesis’). Simplified, mixotrophs should be more prone to N-limi-tation, while heterotrophs should be more prone to P-limitation. We tested these predictions in artificial food webs studying the competitive success of mixotrophic bacterivores under a range of light intensities and loss rates and under either P- or N-limitation. Under low-light conditions, mixotrophs were more successful than heterotrophs under P-limitation, whereas the heterotrophs were more successful under N-limitation. At higher light intensity, mixotrophs had an advantage over photoautotrophs, due to the acquisition of nutrients ingested with prey. Overall, the effects of the limiting nutrient on the competitive success of mixotrophs were stronger under conditions already unfavorable for mixotrophs (low light). Further, our results suggest that communities dominated by mixotrophs might have low and relatively stable seston C:nutrient ratios. The results presented here supplement existing data well and help to define the ecological niche of mixo trophic protists.