Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Molecular phylogeny of Asiatic Short-Tailed Shrews, genus Blarinella Thomas, 1911 (Mammalia: Soricomorpha: Soricidae) and its taxonomic implications

The classification and phylogenetic relationships of the genus Blarinella have been traditionally based on morphologicalcharacteristics, and there have been no studies published about the molecular phylogenetic relationships and biogeographyfor this genus. Here, we reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships of the genus Blarinella based on one nuclear (ApoB)and two mitochondrial (cyt-b, 16S rRNA) genes. Our results supported the monophyly of the genus Blarinella and thevalid species status of Blarinella wardi. Nevertheless, two morphologically defined Blarinella species, B. quadraticauda and B. griselda, were poorly differentiated by molecular data; B. quadraticauda was found embedded within B. griselda making the latter a paraphyletic group. These results indicate that B. quadraticauda might be under a budding speciationscenario or is a restricted geographical subspecies of B. griselda. Phylogeographic analyses suggest that diversificationand speciation of Blarinella might have been promoted by vicariance events associated to the complex topography of Southwest China. Further morphological, genetic and ecological studies are necessary to examine these hypotheses.
MODELO ESPACIAL BAYESIANO PARA LA DINÁMICA DE TRANSMISIÓN DE DENGUE EN PUERTO RICO PARA DATOS DEL 2014

El propósito del presente estudio, ha sido investigar la dinámica de transmisión de dengue en los 76 municipios que componen la isla principal de Puerto Rico, para las semanas 1 a 4 y 32 a 36 del año 2014. Se utilizó un modelo espacial bayesiano para estudiar la relación posible entre incidencia, variables socioeconómicas, climáticas y ambientales. Una vez propuestos los modelos, se comparan los ajustes con índices como el WAIC (Watanabe, 2010), para determinar cual representa mejor a los datos. Además se determina con el índice I-Moran si existe correlación espacial en los residuos, ya que la existencia de la misma es un indicador de que el ajuste no es bueno en alguna medida. Los datos de temperatura y precipitaciones se debieron interpolar previamente, ya que las estaciones que los recolectan no están en los centros poblacionales, para ver los cálculos el lector puede referirse a (Hernández-González, 2017).
7α-Iodine-125-Iodo-5α-Dihydrotestosterone: A Radiolabeled Ligand for the Androgen Receptor

UNLABELLED We describe the preparation of 7 alpha-[125I]iodo-5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (7 alpha-[125I]IDHT) and its characterization as a ligand for the androgen receptor. METHODS We designed a route to prepare the radioiodine-labeled androgen on microscale through treatment of the 7 beta-tosylate of 7 beta-hydroxy-5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone-17 beta-p-nitro-benzoate with Na125I, followed by alkaline hydrolysis. The radiolabeled steroid was tested as a ligand for the androgen receptor in cytosol from MCF-7 cells, and for its in vivo tissue distribution in the rat. In addition, we tested 7 alpha-[125I]IDHT as a ligand in a novel assay for the detection and quantification of the ligand activated androgen receptor by in vitro autoradiography. RESULTS The above synthetic route produced the 17 beta-p-nitrobenzoate of 7 alpha-[125I]IDHT in carrier-free form and in good yield. The 17 beta-ester was removed with alkali and the resulting 7 alpha-[125I]IDHT was purified by HPLC. 7 alpha-[125I]IDHT bound with high affinity, Kd = 0.26 nM, to the androgen receptor and showed low nonspecific binding. Since the ligand was carrier free and thus of very high specific activity, approximately 2,200 Ci/mmole, the sensitivity of the assay was much greater than with [3H]R1881, the classical androgen receptor ligand with which it was compared. When tested as a ligand for in vitro autoradiography, 7 alpha-[125I]IDHT produced excellent autoradiograms of the activated receptor with very low nonspecific binding and with only overnight exposure of the film. CONCLUSION These studies demonstrate that 7 alpha-[125I]IDHT is an excellent ligand for the androgen receptor.
Protein engineering of human properdin

﻿ Properdin is a serum glycoprotein that upregulates the alternative pathway of complement by stabilizing the C3bBb complex. It also binds sulphated glycoconjugates, such as sulphatide, in vitro . Properdin is composed of cyclic dimers, trimers and tetramers of a 53 kDa monomeric subunit. The monomer contains an N-terminal region of no known homology and six thrombospondin type 1 repeats (TSRs) of approximately sixty amino acids. The sixth TSR of properdin contains an insertion of approximately 30 amino acids which corresponds to the position of an intron in the human properdin gene. In order to identify the regions of properdin important for function, human properdin, and mutant forms each lacking a single TSR, were expressed in Chinese Hamster Ovary cells. In addition, limited tryptic digestion yielded "nicked" properdin by the cleavage of one peptide bond in TSR5. The structural and functional properties of the normal and altered forms of properdin were investigated. Wild type recombinant properdin is similar to properdin purified from plasma in size, immunoreactivity, N-terminal sequence, possession of N-linked sugar, oligomerization (as determined by electron microscopy and gel exclusion chromatography), and functional activity in an alternative pathway haemolytic assay, and in C3b and sulphatide binding assays. Properdin "nicked" in TSR5 is unable to bind C3b, while retaining its overall structure and its ability to bind sulphatide. The removal of TSRS prevents C3b and sulphatide binding. Properdin lacking TSR4 is unable to stabilize the C3bBb complex, but is able to bind C3b and sulphatide, and shows the presence of monomers and dimers in the electron microscope. Properdin without TSR3 is able to stabilize the C3bBb complex, to bind CSb and sulphatide, and forms dimers, trimers and tetramers. Properdin lacking TSR6 is unable to form oligomers. The N-linked carbohydrate of properdin is not required for oligomerization or stabilization of the C3bBb complex. Monoclonal antibodies which bind to the N-terminal region, TSR1, or TSR2 are able to inhibit properdin binding to CSb. A monoclonal antibody which binds TSR4 is able to inhibit properdin binding to sulphatide, but not to CSb. The results confirm that TSRs are folded as independent units. The N-terminal end and TSR5 of properdin are implicated in CSb binding. The vertices of properdin oligomers may be important for interaction with CSb. TSR4 may also be involved in stabilization of the C3bBb complex. The sulphatide binding site is distinct from the CSb binding site, but TSR5, which contains many basic residues, may be important for both activities.
Vamsapriya (Xylariaceae) Re-Described, with Two New Species and Molecular Sequence Data

Abstract Vamsapriya comprises two species from bamboo and is characterized by erect, rigid, dark brown, synnematous conidiophores, monotretic conidiogenous cells and brown to dark brown, septate, conidia in chains. Vamsapriya indica, the generic type of Vamsapriya, was recollected and isolated from bamboo culms in Chiang Rai Province, Thailand and is described, illustrated and epitypified in this paper. Two new species in the genus were also discovered and are introduced as V. khunkonensis and V. bambusicola. The new species differs from the type and the other known species, V. mahabaleshwarensis, in the shape and size of the conidia. Maximum-parsimony (MP) analysis of combined LSU, SSU and RPB2 sequence data and Bayesian analysis based on multi-gene data set of betatubulin, ITS, LSU, and RPB2 show Vamsapriya belongs in Xylariaceae, Xylariales.
IN-SILICO PREDICTION OF STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL ASPECTS OF A HYPOTHETICAL PROTEIN OF CAPNOCYTOPHAGA CANIMORSUS CC5

Large-scale sequence analysis has increased the number of accessible genes tremendously in the last few years. An in-silico technique was initiated to characterize a hypothetical protein to deduce its structural and functional information. With the advent of functional genomics and the availability of comprehensive publicly accessible Capnocytophaga canimorsus Cc5 genomic sequence database, the present study has been carried out in-silico to predict the structure and function of a hypothetical protein of Capnocytophaga. The hypothetical protein analyzed in the present study showed conserved domain characteristics of Osmotically inducible protein C (OsmC) superfamily which include characteristics of OsmC/Ohr family. OsmC is a stress–induced protein. This family also contains an organic hydroperoxide (Ohr) detoxification protein that has a novel pattern of oxidative stress regulation. The modelled protein exhibited a maximum number of random coils (47.06%) with alpha helix (36.03%) and extended strands (16.91%) as secondary structural elements. The existence of OsmC like domains in the hypothetical protein showed the importance as stress– induced protein of the organism.
Evaluation of intracellular Ca2plus concentration by Fura 2 ratiometry in encystment-induced Colpoda cucullus

In Colpoda cucullus, the signaling pathways for encystment induction involving protein phosphorylation have been believed to be triggered by an increase in the intracellular Ca 2+ concentration promoted by cell-to-cell mechanical contact due to overpopulation. By means of fura 2 ratiometry, the present study showed that the intracellular Ca 2+
Zero Bias Electron Transport Properties of Molecular Junctions Formed from Smallest Fullerenes C20 and C24

Using density functional theory and the non-equilibrium Greens function formalism, we compare the zero bias electronic properties of two molecular junctions formed from the smallest fullerenes: C20 and C24. The results show that both junctions exhibit superconducting properties of the order of 2.5G0 and 3.12G0, respectively. The C24 junction exhibits a smaller HOMO-LUMO gap and higher zero bias conductance. The electronic wave functions are examined to understand the origin of the transmission peaks and resulting conductance. We find that for the C24 junction, the electrodes donate charge to the molecule giving rise to an occupied and unoccupied state very close to the Fermi level, resulting in a high and broad transmission peak that is responsible for the high conductance. For the C20 junction, the molecule loses some electron density and transmission is via unoccupied orbitals close to the Fermi level.
Reevaluation of the breakpoint estimates for the NRC (2001) required concentrations of lysine and methionine in metabolizable protein for maximal content and yield of milk protein

• To avoid the biases of prediction of content of EAA in duodenal protein encountered with true factorial AA submodels [e.g., CNCPS (O’Conner et al., 1993) and the AA submodel of Rulquin et al. (1998)], a multivariate regression approach was used to predict content of EAA in duodenal protein. In contrast to true factorial models, in which both the structure and the parameters are determined on theoretical grounds, the multivariate regression (semi-factorial) approach allows for some of the parameters to be determined by regression. This allows the model (i.e., equations) to adapt to the measured data, and allows for at least partial correction of the errors of the mechanistically determined variables (e.g., RUP). While this approach requires the development of an equation for each of the EAA and one for predicting flows of total EAA, it has the potential for increased accuracy of prediction. It also eliminated the need to assign “unsure” values of AA composition to predicted supplies of microbial protein and endogenous protein.
Numerical analysis of a steady flow in a non-uniform capillary

Fluids in porous media driven by the capillary force are greatly affected by capillary? s geometrical structure. The steady flow in a non-uniform capillary is numerically analyzed by the finite element method. With the given initial and boundary conditions, the flow velocity distribution with different geometrical parameters is obtained, and the result is in a good agreement with the experimental data.
'Cascade nectar' red raspberry

‘Cascade Nectar’ is a new floricane fruiting red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) jointly released by Washington State University (WSU), University of Idaho, and the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture–Agriculture Research Service (USDA–ARS). ‘Cascade Nectar’ has been noted for high yields of medium size, soft fruit with an excellent tart raspberry flavor. The fruit has been successfully machine harvested. The fruit has been used commercially in the production of a raspberry liqueur. Because of its high productivity, some additional uses of the fruit may be found, but most likely ‘Cascade Nectar’ will have a small, specialized market.
Influence of Root Zone Calcium on Subapical Necrosis in Potato Shoot Cultures: Localization of Injury at the Tissue and Cellular Levels

ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS. micropropagation, shoot tip, apical dominance, axillary shoot growth, tip necrosis, Solanum tuberosum, calcium deficiency ABSTRACT. Shoot tip necrosis has been attributed to calcium deficiency in in vitro cultures, resulting in death of the stem tip, the loss of apical dominance, and axillary branch development. Using an in vitro shoot culture system with Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Dark Red Norland, we studied the development of injury symptoms at the microscopic and tissue levels at a range of media calcium concentrations varying from 6.8 to 3000 mM. Light and electron microscopic studies revealed that the primary injury due to calcium deficiency was the death and collapse of expanding pith cells below the shoot apex. The structure and organization of the shoot apical meristem was the same when plants were cultured on sufficient or suboptimal media calcium concentrations. However, the apical meristem senesced following subapical shoot tissue collapse. Death of the shoot apical meristem was a secondary effect of calcium deficiency, resulting in loss of apical dominance. Studies with 45 Ca indicated that calcium was distributed in a gradient along the shoot, with highest concentration at the base and the lowest at the apex. Shoot tip necrosis developed after 20 days of culture on the suboptimal calcium concentration medium. The development of these symptoms and axillary shoot growth was associated with the lack of calcium accumulation in the shoots. Our results provide evidence that a primary injury of calcium deficiency is localized in the expanding pith cells below the shoot apical meristem and this injury results in the collapse of subapical cells. Death of the shootapical meristem is asecondary injury resulting from calcium deficiency.
PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES IN SALINITY TOLERANT AND SALINITY SENSITIVE RICE VARIETIES GROWN IN KHAZAN FIELDS OF GOA

Large proportions of agricultural land in Goa are low lying saline fields and are called Khazan soils. Jaya (hybrid salinity tolerant), Jyoti (hybrid salinity sensitive) and Korgut (non-hybrid salinity tolerant) are the major rice varieties grown in these Khazan soils. Experiments were carried out with 50, 100 & 150 mM concentrations of sodium chloride (NaCl) to determine the changes in photosynthetic pigments sugar content, proline & Protein content. Damage due to membrane lipids were also studied as TBA-MDA adduct formation. The study showed that salinity stress resulted in physiological and biochemical changes in rice varieties compared to their control. Jyoti rice variety shows better adaptation to salt stress in comparison to Jaya rice variety. The leve l of Proline content was significantly higher in Jyoti at 150mM salt stress than in Jaya variety. Korgut however is much more tolerant in comparison to hybrid rice varieties.
Are age and height correlated in Chamaedorea tepejilote (Palmae)?

Estimates of the lifespans of plants are essential to understanding their life histories. For tropical plants (Clark 1986), they have been poorly documented because of the lack of clear annual growth rings (Bormann & Berlyn 1981). Lifespans of some species have been inferred from long-term surveys on forest dynamics conducted in some tropical areas (Lieberman & Lieberman 1987, Whitmore 1988). Palms have been one of the plants groups most studied by tropical researchers. Particularly, studies on demography of palms have been conducted because their growth patterns of continuous leaf production form a single terminal meristem that potentially allows age determination of individual stems (Bannister 1970, Bullock 1980, De Steven 1989, Martinez-Ramos et al. 1988b, Oyama 1987, 1990, Sarukhan 1978, Sarukhan et al. 1984, Tomlinson 1963, Van Valen 1975). An individual palm bears a known number of compound leaves each year that abscise some years later, leaving distinct leaf scars on the stem of the palm. The age of adult plants can be estimated if the number of leaves produced per year and the number of leaf scars on the trunk is known (Corner 1966, Bullock 1980, Lugo & Rivera-Batlle 1987, Sarukhan 1978, Van Valen 1975). The age of the establishment phase (e.g., seedling and sapling stages) and the turnover rate of leaves in the palm crown must also be considered (Corner 1966). One of the assumptions of these estimations is that growth rate is constant or nearly so. Recently, this way of age estimation was applied to estimate the time of gap formations in a tropical rain forest. This was done by calculating the age of palms of Astrocaryum mexicanum after a kink was formed, produced by fallen trees or large branches from the canopy (MartinezRamos et al. 1988a).
Evaluation of in vitro cytotoxicity of Andrographis paniculata, Duranta serratifolia and Albizzia lebbeck whole plant extracts by MTT assay against MCF-7 and HT-29 cell lines

the past few years, plants were known to possess anticancer activities against different cancer cell lines. In this paper, we report a study based on anticancer properties of three plants Andrographis paniculata, Duranta serratifolia, Albizzia lebbeck respectively. The leaves of plant material were collected, shade dried and extracted with methanol using soxlet extraction procedure. Anticancer activities are assayed with standard MTT colorimetric procedure against MCF-7 and HT-29 cell lines. From the analysis it was found that Duranta seeratifolia and Albizzia lebbeck showed nearly 50 % MCF-7 and HT-29 cell line inhibition at 200µg/ml tested dose, where as Andrographis paniculata did not display much anticancer activities against MCF-7 breast and HT- 29 colon cancer cell lines. Further work is in progress to evaluate the chemical constituents present in these plants.
THE MEDIATING ROLES OF SUPPLY CHAIN COLLABORATION AND LOGISTICS FLEXIBILITY ON SUPPLY CHAIN PERFORMANCE OF AUTO_PARTS MANUFACTURING FIRMS IN THAILAND.

Due to the problems in supply chain management of many businesses in Thailand, it is decisive to understand which determinants may deal with this problem. This research aims to study the influence of supply chain integration (SCI) on supply chain performance (SCP) by considering the mediating effects of supply chain collaboration (SCC) and logistics flexibility (LGF). The study was based on the mixed-methods sequential explanatory design. Using a confirmatory factor analysis, the study investigated relational dimensions of SCP, SCC, LGF, and SCI. The research model comprised 4 latent variables measuring 13 observed variables. The only exogenous latent variable was SCI, while endogenous latent variables were SCC, LGF, and SCP. The respondents were selected using stratified random sampling. Data from a total 321 complete surveys were acquired from top executives working for auto-parts manufacturing firms in Thailand. Moreover, the guidelines to develop SCP were given, based on 5 in-depth interviews from both academicians and auto-parts manufacturer top executives. The hypotheses were tested on data collected by using structural equation modeling. The results supported that SCI enabled auto-parts manufacturing firms to enhance SCP effectively, and that SCC and LGF played a key role in mediating the effects of SCI on SCP. This research suggested that firms should consider policies or practices endorsing SCI, SCC, and LGF as they can improve SCP.
DEMONSTRATION OF A FIBRILLAR IN THE CELL WALL OF THE YEAST S.4CCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE AND ITS CHEMICAL NATURE COMPONENT

The ultrastructure of isolated cell walls of Saccharomyces cerevisiae from the log and stationary phases of growth was studied after treatment with the following enzymes: purified endo-3-(1 -~ 3)-glucanase and endo-3-(l -~ 6)-glucanase produced by Bacillus circulans; purified exo-3-glucanase and endo-3-(1 ~ 3)-glucanase produced by Schizosaccharomyces versatilis; commercial Pronase. While exo-3-glucanase from S. versatilis had no electron microscopically detectable effect on the walls, Pronase removed part of the external amorphous wall material disclosing an amorphous wall layer in which fibrils were indistinctly visible. Amorphous wall material was completely removed by the effect of either endo-3-(l -~ 3)- or endo-3-(l ~ 6)-glucanase of B. circulans or by a mixture of the two enzymes. As a result of these treatments a continuous fibrillar component appeared, composed of densely interwoven microfibrils resisting further action by both of the B. circulans enzymes. The fibrillar wall component was also demonstrated in untreated cell walls by electron microscopy after negative staining. Because of the complete disappearance of the fibrils following treatment with the S. versatilis endo-3-(1 -~ 3)-glucanase it can be concluded that this fibrillar component is composed of 3-(1 --* 3)-linked glucan. Bud scars were the only wall structures resistant to the effect of the latter enzyme.
A Germination Study of Purple Sage

Germination of purple sage [Salvia dorrii (Kellogg) Abrams] seed was evaluated under 21 temperature combinations (day temperatures from 5 to 30C and night temperatures from 5 to 30C) in two experiments: 1) cool-moist stratification; and 2) sandpaper scarification, leaching with water, or gibberellic acid (GA3). The quadratic responses of weighted germination percentage (WGP), a combined index of germination percentage and speed of germination, were significant (P ≤ 0.05) for all treatments. The interaction of day and night temperatures was significant (P ≤ 0.05) only for the 2-week stratification treatments and for the Expt. 2 control. Stratification increased WGP over the control. Optimal WGP for all stratification treatments ranged from 46% to 51%. Optimal WGP was the same for both GA3 treatments. Optimal WGP for 0.29 mmol GA3 occurred at 16C night temperature and 22C day temperature, and for the 1.44 mmol GA3 treatment at 18C night and at 30C day temperature.
Ultrastructural Study of the Midgut and Hindgut in Eight Species of the Genus Dendroctonus Erichson (Coleoptera: Scolytidae)

Abstract Chemical communication mediated by pheromones is a crucial aspect in the life cycle of beetles in the genus Dendroctonus. This communication plays an important role in mate location and in the colonization of host conifers. The study of the alimentary canal of these species is of importance not only because this organ is involved in the processes of digestion, detoxification, nutrient absorption, and transport, but also in the production of semiochemical compounds, such as pheromones. To better understand these functions and where they occur, the ultrastructural differences between the anterior and posterior midgut and the hindgut and their different cellular types were characterized. Adult specimens of both sexes from eight species were dissected and the alimentary canal was removed. It was sectioned into three parts: anterior midgut, posterior midgut, and hindgut, and analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. Results show that the epithelial tissue of the midgut possesses ultrastructural characteristics that permit differentiation of the anterior and posterior midgut. There are no ultrastructural differences within sexes of the same species, but differences exist among species. The ultrastructural characteristics of the hindgut do not differ between sexes or among species, but they do differ from those of the midgut.