Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Protective Effect of Ambrosia maritima Plant Extract Against Renal alterations induced by Leiurus quinquestriatus Scorpion envenoming

hm e present study examined the safety of using Ambrosia aritima plant extract in protecting renal tissues of rats envenomed with Leiurus quinquestriatus scorpion venom. The study included a control group, plant group (orally treated daily with 100 mg of the plant methanolic extract /kg body weight for 15, 30 or 45 days), envenomed group (intramuscularly injected with either 1/3 LD50, 2/3 LD50 or LD50 of the venom and sacrificed after 3, 6, 12 or 24 hr. from envenoming) and plantenvenomed group (treated as in the plant group followed by envenoming as in the envenomed group then sacrificed after 24 hr.). Microscopic examination of renal tissues showed few changes in rats treated with the plant extract. However, the envenomed rats revealed dose and time dependant pathological changes including glomerular congestion at early stages of envenoming developed to glomerular hypertrophy and hypercellularity followed by mesangiolysis. The epithelial cells of the renal tubules were severely swollen and suffered from necrobiotic changes or cellular damage and their lumina contained eosinophilic masses or hyaline casts. At the ultrastructure level, the envenomed tissues revealed disintegrated Bowman’s capsules, ruptured parietal cells and fragmented visceral cells. The renal tubules revealed dilated endoplasmic reticulum, increased lysosomal structures, mitochondrial and nuclear changes, dilated brush borders and distorted basal membrane infoldings. Less changes were recorded in tissues of envenomed rats pretreated with the plant T
Effect of cerium (Ce) on the redox states of ascorbate and glutathione through ascorbate-glutathione cycle in the roots of maize seedlings under salt stress

This study investigated the effect of cerium (Ce) on the ascorbate-glutathione (AsA-GSH) cycle in the roots of maize seedlings under salt stress. The results showed that salt stress significantly increased the activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), malondialdehyde (MDA) content and electrolyte leakage (EL) in the roots of maize seedlings, compared to the control. However, salt stress significantly decreased plant height, dry weight of root and shoot, the activities of glutathione reductase (GR) and dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), and the ratios of AsA/DHA and GSH/GSSG in the roots of maize seedlings, compared to the control. Pretreatment with cerium nitrate (Ce(NO3)3) significantly increased plant height, dry weight of root and shoot, the activities of above four enzymes, and the ratios of AsA/DHA and GSH/GSSG under salt stress, compared to salt stress alone. Pretreatment with Ce(NO3)3 significantly decreased MDA content and EL induced by salt stress, compared to salt stress alone. Meanwhile, application of Ce(NO3)3 to the control also significantly increased plant height, dry weight of root and shoot, the activities of above four enzymes and the ratios of AsA/DHA and GSH/GSSG, and decreased MDA content and EL, compared with control. Our results suggested that Ce(NO3)3 alleviated salt stress-induced oxidative damage by improving AsA-GSH cycle in maize roots.
A simple and fast sampling method for chemical analyses and densitometry of bones through rib biopsies in cattle

We developed and evaluated a fast and simple method to obtain suitable bone samples for densitometry and chemical analysis through biopsies of the 12th rib of cattle. The postoperative recovery, dry matter intake (DMI) and average daily weight gain (ADG) was evaluated in 36 Nellore steers, nine of which were randomly selected for the control group and 27 others were rib biopsied. Every 30 days, rib biopsy was performed in nine steers, using a corded-electric pistol-grip drill coupled with a hole saw of a 3mm diameter pilot drill bit. This rib biopsy technique provided a suitable sample obtained in a fast way and allowed the surgeon to work alone with the animal slightly sedated and restrained in the crush. Dry matter intake (DMI) was not affected in biopsied animals. At the end of the experimental period (116 days) the average daily weight gain (ADG) was similar in the steers biopsied or not. The described method provided rib samples from cattle suitable for densitometry and chemical analysis of bone tissue without effects on health and performance. This information could greatly increase the accuracy for the diagnosis of phosphorus deficiency in cattle raised on pasture and allow the evaluation of bone metabolism in experimental animals.
Thermal resistance analysis of Buried-Heterostructure and Shallow-Ridge lasers

Introduction The need for high-bandwidth-density photonic devices and circuits is driving photonic devices with lower consumption and more effective heat-sinking. Photonic integrated circuits such as the COBRA platform use either deep or shallow ridge waveguides to define active and passive photonic devices [1]. While this is sufficient to ensure optical waveguiding, a significant proportion of the charge carriers can laterally diffuse and recombine without providing optical gain thus reducing the efficiency of the device [2]. Deep etch devices improve confinement, but with a greater sensitivity to surface recombination and roughness. Buried-heterostructure (BH) lasers offer both charge carrier and photon confinement [3], [4]. Recently we have been studying the incorporation of buried hetero-structure (BH) lasers within the COBRA integration platform [5], [6]. Importantly, BH lasers are expected to enable excellent thermal performance [7], [8] enabling further performance improvements and energy efficiency. To date there has been only limited comparative work [9]. In this work, we provide the first quantitative experimental and theoretical comparison of the thermal behavior of SR and BH lasers. We propose a finite difference thermal model to predict temperature distribution, heat flux, and thermal resistance (Rth) inside the laser with different waveguide geometries, and use this to interpret differences in experimental data.
Antioxidant and immunostimulating activities of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) autolysates

The objective of the present study was to investigate the antioxidant and immunostimulating activities of two yeast autolysates (baker's yeast and active dry yeast) using various methods. In this study, total glutathione content was determined in both yeast autolysates. Antioxidant activity of both yeast autolysates was evaluated by various assays, including total antioxidant capacity, reducing power, DPPH radical scavenging, nitric oxide scavenging, hydroxyl radical scavenging and metal ion chelating activities.The immunostimulating activity of both yeast autolysates was evaluated using rat splenocyte proliferation by the colorimetric MTT assay. The obtained results showed that active dry yeast autolysate (ADYA) contains higher concentration of glutathione compared with baker's yeast autolysate (BYA). The ADYA possessed antioxidative activity higher than BYA. Both yeast autolysates had stimulating activity of splenocyte proliferation. Therefore, the yeast autolysates have the potential to be explored as novel natural antioxidants and immunostimulating agents for using in functional foods or medicine.
Analysis of population-genetic processes in different cattle breeds by microsatellite loci of DNA

Aim. The aim of our research was to analyze the population-genetic processes in different dairy breeds using highly polymorphic molecular and genetic markers (DNA microsatellites). Methods. We used 10 loci recommended by the International Society for Animal Genetics (ISAG) to analyze 88 DNA samples of the two most abundant dairy breeds of cattle in Ukraine – Ukrainian red-motley dairy and Ukrainian black-and-white dairy breeds. Using formulae that related the expected linkage disequilibrium (LD) to the effective population size (Ne), Ne was estimated. Results. The work presents the results of the study on genetic processes in the populations of Ukrainian red-and-motley breed using 10 microsatellite loci of DNA. It was shown that, being highly polymorphic multilocus genetic systems, microsatellites of DNA are highly informative markers of populationgenetic processes, occurring in the populations of cattle. Conclusions. The studied populations of Ukrainian dairy cattle breeds are impacted by population-genetic and genetic-automatic processes. In particular, the effect of the latter on Ukrainian red-and-motley dairy breed was noted. These animals had notable signifi cant loss of rare alleles and the manifestation effect of “bottle neck”. The values obtained testify to a low level of inbredness in these populations. The effective population size in the studied Ukrainian dairy cattle breeds was estimated in the approximate range of 397–555 heads which testifi ed to a favorable condition of the population of Ukrainian red-and-motley dairy cattle and a critical condition of the Ukrainian black-and-white dairy breed.
Taxonomy of the Cuscuta salina californica complex (Convolvulaceae)

The Cuscuta californica complex (Cuscuta subsect. Calijornicae) is recircumscribed to include the species from subsect. 5ubi)^clusae. The species include C. sallna, C. susksdorfii, C. californica, C. occidentalis. , C. suhlnclusa, and C. howcJUanch A summary of relevant taxonomic information is provided, along with a key to species and varieties, synonymy, distribution, host range, and conservation status. Morphology and micromorphology of flowers, seeds, and capsules are analyzed and illustrated. RESUMEN
Detection of Giardia lamblia in River Water Samples Using PCR and RT-PCR

The protozoan pathogen Giardia lamblia has been major cause of waterborne enteric disease. In this study, we tried to identify G. lamlbia of human infectious species and to detect viable G. lamblia in river water samples including three sites of Han River mainstream and an its creek using PCR and RT-PCR technique. The PCR/RT-PCR methods were performed by using giardin primer based on the giardin gene targeting ventral disk of Giardia. Sensitivity testing in the DNA/RNA extraction and PCR/RT-PCR amplification steps showed that it was possible to detect a single cyst of G. lamblia and viable G. lamblia. The PCR/RT-PCR methods were compared with immunofluorescence(IF) assay by analyzing 48 samples collected from the mainstream water and the creek water. The mean concentration of the total cysts were 6.3 cysts/10 L(arithmetic mean, n = 48) and the positive detection rate were 62.5%(30/48). And the mean concentration of the cysts excluding empty cysts were 4.5 cysts/10 L and the positive detection rate were 52.1%(25/48). It resulted that 24 of 48 samples included Giardia lamblia by PCR assay and 10 of 48 samples included viable G. lamblia by RT-PCR assay. It resulted that the PCR/RT-PCR technique would be available to river water samples with low concentration of Giardia cysts. And it could support the Korean protozoan standard method, which provides useful information for species and viability.
Examining inducible defenses to novel predators across native and introduced populations

: An invading species should be more likely to establish if it can successfully identify and defend against predators in the recipient range, such as through the expression of inducible defenses. Inducible defenses are behavioral or physiological changes induced by the presence of the predator or related cues that reduce an organism’s susceptibility to predation. The few studies that have examined inducible defenses in the context of biological invasions used introduced species that invaded many generations before rather than newly introduced prey naïve to predator cues. Therefore, we examined if inducible defenses may have benefited the purple varnish clam Nuttallia obscurata during the early stage of its introduction from Asia to the Northeast Pacific. Once we established that non-native N. obscurata in creased burrowing depth in the presence of invaded-range predators, in particular Dungeness crabs Metacarcinus magister , we compared burrowing depth in aquaria of tethered N. obscurata collected from 2 introduced populations, viz. Oregon, USA, and British Columbia, Canada, versus those collected from a native population in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. The physical presence of M. magister caused N. obscurata from the USA and Canada to increase their burrowing depth, while specimens from Japan did not. Whereas these findings suggest that inducible defenses may contribute to the continued success of N. obscurata in the Northeast Pacific, they do not support the idea that N. obscurata expressed inducible defenses in the early stage of invasion. Nonetheless, this mechanism may be important for the initial establishment of some species and population growth and expansion for other species once they learn the cues of local predators.
Differential predation drives the geographical divergence in multiple traits in aposematic frogs

Lay SummaryWe investigated geographical variation in multiple traits in the oriental fire-bellied toad and tested whether local adaptation to predators has affected the observed divergence of these traits. Our field surveys and experiments revealed that mainland and island frogs were distinguishable in morphology and behavior, most likely due to marked differences in predation pressure between locations. Our study therefore shows how differential predation pressure can affect the geographical divergence of multiple traits.
The Hydration of Grains: A Critical Review from Description of Phenomena to Process Improvements.

Hydration is a crucial step during grain processing. It is performed prior to many other processes, such as germination, cooking, extraction, malting and fermentation. The number of publications on this topic studying the description of the mechanisms involved and recent technologies for processing enhancement has increased recently. However, due to the complexity of the hydration process, there are still many aspects that are little understood. For that reason, this review provides not only an overview of recent developments in this field, but also a critical discussion of publications from the last 2 decades, as well as suggestions for future innovative studies. This review discusses the importance of hydration in the grain industries, the pathway for water entry into the various grains, the mass transfer and fluid flow mechanisms in the process, the behavior of the hydration kinetics, the mathematical modelling, the technologies used to accelerate the process and other necessary requirements that must be performed to complement and complete our knowledge of this process.
Analytical approaches to subspecies delimitation with genetic data

The vast and remote distributions and large body size of most cetaceans make it difficult to obtain and maintain morphological collections adequate for advancing sound taxonomic arguments. Consequently, genetic data are playing an increasingly important role in cetacean species and subspecies delimitation. We review seven categories of analytical methods useful in delimiting subspecies based on genetic data. For each category, we summarize its utility in evaluating putative subspecies, the types of markers to which it can be applied, and potential challenges in interpreting results in a taxonomic context. We focus on the utility of each type of method to evaluate the critical features distinguishing subspecies from populations and species: the degree of diagnosability between putative taxa and the extent to which the putative taxa have diverged along separate evolutionary pathways. We conclude that diagnosability is best estimated with either assignment tests or multivariate methods, while evaluating the degree of divergence requires a synthesis of multiple lines of evidence derived from different analytical methods and different data types, including nongenetic data.
Regioselective synthesis of rapamycin derivatives

The present invention provides a method of producing a directed selective 42-silyl ether 31-ester or ether with an intermediate of rapamycin. Rapamycin, rapamycin 42-ester, rapamycin 42-ether, orientation selectivity, silylation, immunosuppressants, 2,2,5- trimethyl [1,3-dioxane] -5-carboxylic acid.
Leishmanias of neotropical porcupines: Leishmania hertigi deanei nov. subsp

Abstract these cultures into hamsters produced relatively short-term infections in which small A leishmanial parasite was isolated from 11 of f . b . 18 . f th I f P t d numbers O parasltes could e seen In smears porcupmes Tom e genera area o on a e . Pedras, Island of Maraj6, Pará State, north Brazil. from the slte of Inoculatlon for only a few Two of the infected animaIs were identified as weeks. They could be demonstrated for ionger Coendou prehensilis (Linnaeus), and the other 9 are periods by the culture of skin from the point of considered as a hitherto undescribed species of inoculation, on rare occasions Up to one year Coendou. The organism is clearly related to L. later. No parasites were found elsewhere in hertigi Herrer, of the Panamanian porcupine C. th h OId O Th b t h I . I I . I the skln or vlscera of the Infected hamsters. ro sc 1 1 ornas, u morp o oglca, gero oglca and biochemical differences necessitate taxonomic The incidence of infection in the Panamadistinction. The Brazilian parasite is therefore nian porcupines was very high, with 83 (88%) named Leishmania hertigi deanei novo subsp. , in of 94 specimens positive. The infection was ~o~our' of ~r. Leonida~ ~ane ~hO. first recor~e~ cons~dered to be of long duration and confiro lt m porcupmes from Plaul, Brazll. Like L. h. hertlgl, ' . L. h. deanei produces no visible pathological effects med 'to be up to 30 months In one captlve in its natural host. Scanty amastigotes are animal. scattered, often singlY, throughout the skin and in Herrer gave a new specific name to the the viscera; usually they can be detected only after parasite Leishmania hertigi on the grounds of the in vitro culture of tissues in blood-agar medium, ' h . f . ' . h. h L h d o d.l Att t t ItS apparent ost-specl IClty In nature, fallure m W lC . eanel grows rea 1 y. emp s o infect hamsters and a uinea-pig with amastigote of Intectlon In hamsters to protect these
Growth Response and Heat Shock Protein (Hsp) Expression in Chlorella vulgaris Exposure to Elevated Temperatures

The present paper deals with the impact of various sublethal levels of temperature (26, 31, 33, 36, 39, 42 and 45 o C) on growth and heat shock protein (Hsp) expression in freshwater green alga Chlorella vulgaris . Impact of select levels of temperature on growth rate (based on optical density), population count, chlorophyll-a and biomass, of the alga was evaluated in artificial growth medium for a period of 15 days. To determine the induction of Hsp in the alga, it was exposed to select temperature levels for 3 hrs. and further kept for 6 hrs at culturing conditions at 26 o C. Induction of Hsp was confirmed by immuno detection followed by SDS-Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The select growth parameters of the alga were reduced drastically at 39, 42 & 45 o C. Temperatures below 39 o C may be considered as the limit of safe exposure for thermal stress of the alga. The Hsp 70 expression was also observed only at 39 o C.
Additives in Powder Based formulation for Enhanced Shelf Life of Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus sp.

Studies were carried out to evaluate the effect of adding nutrient additives to talc based formulations on the shelf life of bacteria stored under room temperature. Two organisms namely, Pseudomonas fluorescens (PDBCAB2) and Bacillus sp. (MTCC6534 - chickpea endophyte), a spore forming bacterium, were tested. A gradual increase in P. fluorescens population up to 90 days was observed in almost all the treatments that were amended with nutrients. At 90 days highest population of log 10.38 cfu g −1 was noticed in talc amended with 2 per cent tryptone and glycerol. Decline in the population was observed from 90 days onwards and was rapid from 150 days onwards. At 240 days highest count of log 1 x 10 4.2 cfu g −1 was obtained with formulations amended with 2% tryptone and 2% glycerol and the results indicated that 2% peptone or 2% tryptone supplemented with 2% glycerol helped P. fluorescens in its better survival. The spore forming Bacillus sp. survived well throughout the study period. At 240 days all talc formulations amended with nutrient sources showed a population of log 9.0 cfu g −1 or above and the population declined to below log 7.0 cfu g −1 only in non amended treatments. Slow decline started from 240 days but high cfu of log 9.30 to 9.38 g −1 were noticed in yeast extract or tryptone treated treatments. Hence talc formulations that had yeast extract or tryptone supplemented with glycerol enhanced shelf life of Bacillus spp.
Caracterização de um Complexo de Espécies do Nematoide das Galhas Parasitando Arroz Irrigado na Região Sul do Brasil.

O arroz e um dos cereais mais produzidos no mundo, e o Brasil destaca-se no mercado orizicola como nono maior produtor e oitavo exportador mundial. O Sul do Brasil detem a maior area cultivada com arroz irrigado do pais. Entretanto, a producao pode ser limitada por varios agentes fitopatogenicos, dentre eles o nematoide das galhas (Meloidogyne spp.). Dessa forma, o objetivo da pesquisa foi caracterizar diferentes especies do nematoide das galhas, nas regioes orizicolas dos estados do Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Santa Catarina (SC) e Parana (PR). As populacoes obtidas foram identificadas, bioquimicamente, atraves das isoenzimas esterase (Est) e malato-desidrogenase (Mdh). Detectaram-se seis fenotipos esterasticos (Est) de Meloidogyne spp. em 51 populacoes do RS, 31 de SC e 23 do PR, sendo M. graminicola com o fenotipo Est VS1 (Rm: 0,70), M. javanica, Est J3 (Rm: 1,0, 1,20, 1,35), M. oryzae com fenotipo Est R1 (Rm:1,02), Meloidogyne sp.2, Est R2 (Rm: 0,85, 0,91), Meloidogyne sp.3, Est R3 (Rm: 0,74, 0,80, 0,82), e um ultimo fenotipo relativo a Meloidogyne sp.0 ( Est R0, sem banda de esterase). No estado do RS predominou a especie M. graminicola, seguida por Meloidogyne sp.2 e Meloidogyne sp.3; em SC M. graminicola, seguida por Meloidogyne sp.0, M. oryzae, M. javanica, Meloidogyne sp.2 e Meloidogyne sp.3. No estado do Parana Meloidogyne sp.3 foi a especie mais distribuida, seguida por M. graminicola e por Meloidogyne sp.2, e uma unica populacao de Meloidogyne sp.0. Marcadores AFLP e RAPD confirmaram a separacao em clusters de especies de acordo com os perfis das esterases. Varias populacoes apareceram puras ou em misturas de mais de uma especie. Dessa maneira, fica registrado um complexo de especies de Meloidogyne ocorrendo na cultura do arroz na regiao sul do Brasil, havendo necessidade de pesquisas avancadas em taxonomia classica e molecular para identificacao dessas especies.
Increased anxiety and decreased sociability in adulthood following paternal deprivation involve oxytocin in the mPFC

Early adverse experiences often have devastating consequences on adult emotional and social behavior. However, whether paternal deprivation (PD) during the pre-weaning period affects brain and behavioral development remains unexplored in socially mandarin vole (Microtus mandarinus). We found that PD increased anxiety-like behavior and attenuated social preference in adult males and females; decreased prelimbic cortex OT-immunoreactive fibers and paraventricular nucleus OT positive neurons; reduced levels of medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) OT receptor protein in females and OT receptor and V1a receptor protein in males. Intra-prelimbic cortical OT injections reversed anxiety-like behavior and social preferences affected by PD, whereas injections of OT and OT receptor antagonist blocked this reversal. These findings demonstrate that PD leads to increased anxiety-like behavior and attenuated social preferences with involvement of the mPFC OT system. The prelimbic cortex OT system may be an important target for the treatment of disorders related to early adverse experiences.