Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of Enantiomerically Enriched 2‐Hydroxymethylalkanoic Acids by Oxidative Desymmetrisation of Achiral 1,3‐Diols Mediated by Acetobacter aceti

The stereoselective desymmetrisation of achiral 2‐alkyl‐1,3‐diols is performed by oxidation of one of the two enantiotopic primary alcohol moieties by means of Acetobacter aceti MIM 2000/28 to afford the corresponding chiral 2‐hydroxymethyl alkanoic acids (up to 94 % ee). The procedure, carried out in aqueous medium under mild conditions of pH, temperature and pressure, contributes to enlarge the portfolio of enzymatic oxidations available to organic chemists for the development of sustainable manufacturing processes.
Systematics of the North American menhadens: molecular evolutionary reconstructions in the genus Brevoortia (Clupeiformes: Clupeidae)

Evolutionary associations among the four North American species of menhadens (Brevoortia spp.) have not been thoroughly investigated. In the present study, classifications separating the four species into small-scaled and large-scaled groups were evaluated by using DNA data, and genetic associations within these groups were explored. Specifically, data from the nuclear genome (microsatellites) and the mitochondrial genome (mtDNA sequences) were used to elicit patterns of recent and historical evolutionary associations. Nuclear DNA data indicated limited contemporary gene flow among the species, and also indicated higher relatedness within the small-scaled and large-scaled menhadens than between these groups. Mitochondrial DNA sequences of the large-scaled menhadens indicated the presence of two ancestral lineages, one of which contained members of both species. This result may indicate genetic diver-gence (reproductive isolation) followed by secondary contact (hybridization) between these species. In contrast, a single ancestral lineage indicated incomplete genetic divergence between the small-scaled menhaden. These results are discussed in the context of the biology and demographics of each species.
Evolucao de propriedades físicas do solo em funcao dos sistemas de manejo em culturas anuais

Soil management must keep the soil physical properties next to the original conditions in natural systems to assure the sustainability of agricultural systems. This review synthesizes the effects of conventional tillage, minimum tillage and no-tillage systems of annual crops, on soil physical properties as bulk density, porosity, soil resistance to root penetration, infiltration speed, hydraulic conductivity,compressibility, organic matter level, soil aggregate size and stability. No-tillage presents advantages on organic matter level, size and stability of aggregates, compressibility and hydraulic conductivity but has limitations on bulk density and resistance to root penetration. Minimum tillage with chisel plow is specially efficient in relation to infiltration speed and hydraulic conductivity, and intermediate between conventional and no-tillage in other aspects. Conventional tillage with total pulverization of soil surface,mainly on tropical conditions, presents the less favorable scores on soil physical properties, close to minimum tillage and no-till only in few circumstances, and frequently the most different from the natural conditions. The conservation systems by their side, despite of similarities in some aspects with natural conditions, are not able to reproduce the conditions of natural forests, savannas or natural pastures, but are in the sustainability direction.
Radioprotective effects of ultra-small citrate-stabilized cerium oxide nanoparticles in vitro and in vivo

A comprehensive study of the radioprotective action mechanisms of ultra-small, citrate-stabilized, nanocrystalline cerium oxide (CeO2 nanoparticles, nanoceria) in vitro and in vivo was carried out. CeO2 nanoparticles were shown to significantly reduce the levels of hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals in aqueous solutions under X-ray irradiation. Pretreatment of primary mouse fibroblasts by CeO2 nanoparticles in a wide range of concentrations (10−5 to 10−9 M) protects cells from radiation-induced oxidative stress, maintaining a high level of dehydrogenase activity. A protective effect of CeO2 nanoparticles is also manifested in a decrease in the number of apoptotic cells and the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in a culture of primary mouse fibroblasts in vitro, as well as in a significant reduction (up to 50% of the control) of cytogenetic damage of mouse bone marrow in vivo. The intraperitoneal administration of CeO2 nanoparticles (200 nM) increased the rate of survival of mice exposed to X-ray radiation at a lethal dose, both in the prophylactic and the therapeutic schemes of administration, testifying the protection at the molecular, cellular and organism levels. The physical, chemical and biological origins of the protective action of CeO2 nanoparticles upon exposure of living systems to ionizing radiation in vitro and in vivo are discussed.
A Study of Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (AM) Root Colonization in the Herbaceous Vegetation of Different Age Series Sponge Iron Solid Waste Dumps

Steel is a vital component of any country's economy and is considered amongst the driving force of modernization. Sponge iron or direct reduced iron (DRI) is mostly used for steel making through secondary sector. India has emerged as the world‟s largest producer of sponge iron, accounting for 33% of the global production and the coal based sponge iron production contributes about 80% of the total capacity of the country (IBM, 2013). From the coal based sponge iron industry huge amount of solid waste is generated in form of char, dust, accretion material and fly ash (CPCB, 2007). Majority of these solid wastes are dumped on land which creates large areas of black calcareous derelict land (Roy et al., 2002). In developing country like India, reclamation of derelict land is an urgent necessity and one of the effective strategies for the International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 5 Number 10 (2016) pp. 968-979 Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas. com
Volatile organic compounds released by maize following herbivory or insect extract application and communication between plants

To protect themselves from herbivory, plants have evolved an arsenal of physical and chemical defences and release a variety of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). By releasing these VOCs, a signalling plant can both reduce herbivory, sometimes by more than 90%, and also warn neighbouring plants about an attack. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of herbivory and insect extract application on VOC release by damaged/treated and nearby undamaged/untreated maize plants. We confirmed that European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) larvae attack or larvae extract application induced maize VOC release. Greater amounts of (Z)‐3‐hexenal, (E)‐2‐hexenal, (Z)‐3‐hexen‐1‐ol, (E)‐2‐hexen‐1‐ol, β‐myrcene, (Z)‐3‐hexen‐1‐yl acetate, 1‐hexyl acetate, (Z)‐ocimene, linalool, benzyl acetate, methyl salicylate, indole, methyl anthranilate, geranyl acetate, β‐caryophyllene, (E)‐β‐farnesene and (Z)‐3‐hexenal, (Z)‐3‐hexen‐1‐ol, (Z)‐3‐hexen‐1‐yl acetate, (Z)‐ocimene, linalool, indole, methyl anthranilate, geranyl acetate, β‐caryophyllene and (E)‐β‐farnesene were released as a result of biotic stress after insect attack or insect extract application. The amounts of each VOC released were qualitatively and quantitatively distinct and dependent on time after biotic stress exposure. However, for all biotic stresses, significantly lower VOC induction was measured when leaves were damaged/treated for three days, as compared to seven days. Our work also demonstrated that undamaged/untreated neighbouring plants also release significant amounts of VOCs. This suggests that VOC emission by a damaged/treated plant stimulates VOC induction in nearby undamaged/untreated plants. However, the concentrations of all VOCs released by neighbouring undamaged/untreated maize plants were lower than those from damaged/treated plants and were negatively correlated with distance from a damaged/treated plant. Still, significant VOC induction occurred in undamaged/untreated plants even at 3 m distance from a damaged/infected plant. Our work suggests that maize plant protective defence responses (VOC emission) can be induced via application of European corn borer extracts.
On the analysis of pharmacological experiments in terms of an allosteric receptor model.

According to the usual drug-receptor model, developed by Clark, Gaddum, and Stephenson, one can determine drug-receptor dissociation equilibriun constants and relative efficacies experimentally, by analyzing the drug concentrations which cause equal responses under various conditions. Underlying this analysis is the concept of the "stimulus," which is directly proportional to the fraction of receptors activated the proportionality constant being characteristic of each drug, and being known as the "efficacy. " Equal biological responses are assumed to correspond to equal stimuli. Such experiments to determine equieffective drug concentrations circumvent the problem presented by the fact that there is no generally valid theory to interpret the shapes of concentration-response curves. This paper discusses the interpretation of these experiments according to the allosteric receptor model proposed by Karlin. In this model the receptor is assumed to have two conformational states, R and T , normally present in the ratio T/R = L. A drug A is assumed to combine reversibly with each of these two forms, with dissociation equilibrium constants K AR and K AT , respectively, and the biological response is assumed to depend on the proportion of receptors in the R form. The present analysis shows that for competitive drug interactions a "stimulus" can be defined which has exactly the same algebraic form as the "stimulus" in the Clark-Gaddum-Stephenson model; hence the two models are experimentally indistinguishable with respect to competitive drug interactions. The drug-receptor dissociation constant determined by these methods is K AT , and the "efficacy" depend-on the relative affinities of the drug for the R and T forms; i.e., the "efficacy" is K AT /K AR -1. On the other hand, the experimental method utilizing partial irreversible receptor inactivation yields a different apparent dissociation constant, namely, [ K AT -1 + ( K AR L ) -1 ] -1 . By doing different kinds of experiments on two or more drugs, one can in principle determine all the equilibrium constants in the allosteric model. Both models allow for the possibilities of negative efficacy and of nonparallel log concentration-response curves for competitive antagonists with nonzero efficacy. Experimental evidence to date does not clearly rule out either model.
Evaluation of Four Commercial Composts on Strawberry Plant Productivity and Soil Characteristics in California

ABSTRACT Composts can have beneficial effects on strawberry production and these benefits can be dependent on the type of compost used. Four commercial composts were evaluated: cow manure, spent mushroom, yard trimmings, and vermicompost. The nutrient composition, abundance of fungi and bacteria, and microbial activity were determined. Five field trials assessed effects on plant growth, root development, soil microbial activity, nutrient availability, and yield during one growing season. Manure and mushroom compost significantly increased soil electrical conductivity levels to 9.9 ± 1.7 dS/m and 7.3 ± 0.8 dS/m, respectively. Manure, yard trimmings, and mushroom composts shifted soil pH toward optimal levels for up to 7 months. Mushroom compost had the greatest effect on soil nitrate, which was up to 32 mg/kg of soil higher than non-amended soil. Significant effects on yield were more likely to occur where environmental conditions and management practices were less than optimal or compost was not routinely added. Several factors important to plant production were significantly affected by compost: soil salinity, plant establishment, soil nitrate, production curves, soil microbial activity, and soil pH.
MicroRNAs are involved in the toxicity of microcystins

Abstract In this paper, miRNA expressions and their possible functions evaluated by using the qPCR, miRNA microarray and transcriptome in microcystins (MCs)-toxicity in fish, mammal and in vitro models were reviewed. In general, expressions of most miRNAs determined were altered in animal tissues or in vitro cells after MCs-exposure. Studies have also provided a pivotal understanding of miRNAs involved in the potential MCs-toxicity mechanism. These works suggest that further investigation, particularly in humans, is required to better understand the relationship between development of disease and MCs-exposure. Finally, the revealed miRNA pathways associated with MCs hepatotoxicity may provide therapeutic targets for a variety of human liver diseases.
Observational field studies are not appropriate tests of consumer stoichiometric homeostasis

Stoichiometric homeostasis is a key concept of ecological stoichiometry theory that describes organisms’ ability to maintain internal elemental composition given variable resource elemental composition. Observational field studies are used frequently to examine homeostasis, and >½ of studies assessing homeostasis in the last 15 y were based on field data. We explored whether field surveys are appropriate to assess consumer homeostasis. We used examples from benthic macroinvertebrates to argue that most field data are inappropriate to assess homeostasis because investigators using field studies: 1) face difficulty accurately characterizing consumer and resource stoichiometry, 2) rarely use sufficient range and replication across discrete levels of resource stoichiometry, and 3) are challenged by great variation of consumer stoichiometry resulting from confounding factors (body size, ontogeny, sex, and others) across study sites. We used a simple modeling approach to show how ontogeny and tissue-specific turnover time can change consumer stoichiometry over time to confound homeostasis assessments. This situation is a pitfall in many field studies in which instantaneous measures of body stoichiometry are used without control for body size. We used power analyses combined with literature meta-analysis to show that most field studies possess limited or no statistical power to test homeostasis because of their low sample sizes and greater variation in consumer stoichiometry compared to laboratory assessments. Laboratory experiments better control consumer and resource stoichiometry, decrease effects of body size, ontogeny, and other confounding factors to reduce model variation, and increase replication for robust tests of homeostasis. Our concluding recommendations for appropriate design and interpretation of laboratory experiments will help scientists resolve factors driving consumer stoichiometry in the field.
The consequences of stigma for the self-esteem of people with mental illnesses : On Stigma as a Barrier to Recovery

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether stigma affects the self-esteem of persons who have serious mental illnesses or whether stigma has few, if any, effects on self-esteem. Methods: Self-esteem and two aspects of stigma, namely, perceptions of devaluation-discrimination and social withdrawal because of perceived rejection, were assessed among 70 members of a clubhouse program for people with mental illness at baseline and at follow-up six and 24 months later. Results : The two measures of perceptions of stigma strongly predicted self-esteem at follow-up when baseline self-esteem, depressive symptoms, demographic characteristics, and diagnosis were controlled for. Participants whose scores on the measures of stigma were at the 90th percentile were seven to nine times as likely as those with scores at the 10th percentile to have low self-esteem at follow-up. Conclusions: The stigma associated with mental illness harms the self-esteem of many people who have serious mental illnesses. An important consequence of reducing stigma would be to improve the self-esteem of people who have mental illnesses.
Faecal collector for field studies of digestive responses in forest tortoises

Over the years, many studies have been conducted on passage of digesta through the vertebrate gut, particu­ larly in species considered to be important endozoochorous agents, i . e. species that disperse seeds in their faeces (Karasov et al. , 1 986; Hume, Morgan & Kenagy, 1 993; Martinez Del Rio & Restrepo, 1 993). In endozoochorous seed dispersal, seed survival depends largely on how well the seeds are adapted to pass safely through the digestive tract. Gut passage is a delicate but necessary stage for seeds that are dispersed endozoochorously (Stevens & Hume, 1 995). Many au­ thors consider zoochory to be a means for seeds to ( 1 ) be deposited in microsites with physical and biological characteristics that increase the probability of successful germination and establishment (Augspurger, 1 984; Howe, 1 993a, b) ; (2) escape from natural predators (Schupp, 1 988; Hulme, 1 998; Hulme, Lins E Silva & Sousa, 2000); and (3) reduce intraspecific competition (Loiselle, 1990; Notrnan, Gorchov & Cornejo, 1 996). In some plant species, seed passage through a dispersal agent's gut significantly increases the proportion of seeds germinating and/or their speed of germination (in chelonians: Braun & Brooks, 1 987, Cobo & Andreu, 1988 ; in lizards: Willson et al. , 1 996; in birds: e .g. Izhaki & Safriel, 1 990; in mammals: e .g . Julliot & Sabatier, 1 993 ) . The great majority of studies on digestive processes have been conducted on animals in captivity, under con­ trolled conditions. These studies have shown that digestive processes, particularly digesta transit rate, de­ pend on a variety of factors, such as temperature (Parmenter, 1 9 8 1 , Spencer, Thompson & Hume, 1 998) and the composition and volume of digesta (Bjorndal, 1 989; Clench & Mathias, 1 992; Brand, Lanyon & Limpus, 1 999). The combined effects of these factors make the understanding of how they affect the fate of seeds a complex matter (Bjorndal, 1 99 1 ) .
Metallodrugs as protein modulators

Metal-based drugs have been used in medicine for millennia, and some of them are still in use in current medicine. For example, in the treatment of diseases like cancer (Cisplatin) or rheumatoid arthritis (Auranofin), as well as used as antimicrobial agents (silver sulfadiazine) or radiopharmaceuticals. Some of the pharmacological properties of these metal compounds are due to their interactions with protein targets. In this thesis, the potential of novel metal-based compounds as proteins/enzymes inhibitors is highlighted, which may infer them promising anticancer properties. In Part A, gold(III) compounds are presented, which showed to potently inhibit the human membrane protein channels aquaglyceroporins (AQPs) and that can be used as chemical tools to understand the roles of AQPs in physiology and pathophysiology. The studies were conducted via different biophysical, biological and computational methods and unraveled the mechanisms of AQPs inhibition by gold compounds at a molecular level. Additionally, in Part B, we present the study of different families of gold compounds as anticancer agents. Specifically, a new series of bifunctional fluorescent compounds (gold-ruthenium) showed promising anticancer effects in vitro and could be studied in cells via fluorescence microscopy. Moreover, an other series of organometallic gold(I) N-heterocyclic carbenes with a fluorescent coumarin moiety showed promising anticancer effects which are most likely due to the inhibition of the seleno-enzyme thioredoxin reductase (TrxR). Overall, our results demonstrate that gold compounds have great potential for applications in chemical biology and medicine.
Identification and selection of low-phosphate-tolerant germplasm in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

ABSTRACT Phosphorus (P) deficiency is one of the major constraints to crop yield worldwide, and genotypes or cultivars with high phosphate use efficiency (PUE) sustain growth when exposed to phosphate stress. Therefore, it is imperative to develop the genotypes or cultivars with high PUE. A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the PUE among 150 barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) genotypes. Two high-tolerant and -sensitive accessions were selected. These two candidate materials were used to investigate the differences among the root morphology characteristics, antioxidant enzyme activity, inorganic phosphate (Pi) content and gene expression of HvPT5 under P-deficiency and P-sufficiency conditions. The values of these parameters were higher in the low-P-tolerant genotype than in the sensitive one. In pot experiment 1, all genotypes showed a significant difference in low-P tolerance, with variety GN121 achieving the highest tolerance, and GN42 being most sensitive. The results of this study may provide elite genetic germplasms for future work on isolation of P-related genes, and the improvement of PUE in barley. Abbreviations: PUE: phosphate use efficiency; CAT: catalase; POD: peroxidase; SOD: superoxide dismutase; DMSO: dimethyl sulphoxide; MDA: malondialdehyde; TOPSIS: technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution; MCDM/MADM: multi-criteria (or attribute) decision making
A Simple Method for Extracting and Cleaning Seeds of Rhipsalidopsis and Schlumbergera (Cactaceae)

A simple, vacuum-filtration method was developed for extracting and cleaning seeds from the fleshy fruits of Rhipsalidopsis Britt. & Rose and Schlumbergera Lem. (Cactaceae). The method uses readily available equipment and supplies, and is suitable for extracting seed from small quantities of fruit, as is commonly the case in commercial breeding programs. Seeds are extracted onto disks of coarse-porosity filter paper and rinsed thoroughly to remove the fruit pulp and to reduce clumping. Seeds from one fruit can be extracted and cleaned in ≈30 s.
Exogenous ascorbic acid scarcely ameliorates inhibition of photosynthesis in rice leaves by O3

Abstract The role of ascorbic acid on acute O3-induced inhibition of photosynthesis in solution-cultured paddy rice was evaluated. As pre-treatment, ascorbic acid (0, 5, and 10 mM) was added to the culture solution for 5 d before 5 h of O3 exposure (0, .1, and .3 cm3 m−3 O3) during daytime. O3 decreased photosynthesis-related parameters, total ascorbic acid content, and the redox state (RDS) of ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid treatment enhanced the total ascorbic acid contents and its RDS level of rice leaves, but scarcely ameliorated O3-induced inhibition of photosynthesis-related parameters. Inhibition of net photosynthetic rate (PN) by O3 was slightly ameliorated by exogenous ascorbic acid only at 1 d after O3 exposure. These results indicate that ascorbic acid is a component of protection from O3 injury but has a marginal role in the acute inhibition of PN by O3 in rice leaves.
Reference gene validation for gene expression studies using quantitative RT-PCR during berry development of ‘Aki Queen’ grapes

In order to understand the gene regulation during berry development and examine the effect of abscisic acid (ABA) on gene expression related to berry maturation, we evaluated the validity of four housekeeping genes, elongation factor 1-α (EF1-α), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (UBC), and 60S ribosomal protein L40-1 (VvUbiquitin1), as references by using 'Aki Queen' grapes with and without ABA treatment. The main contribution of this study is that a gene expression analysis using GAPDH as a reference gene will help to elucidate the berry development process and the physiological effects of ABA on berry maturation of 'Aki Queen' grapes.