Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Short‐ and long‐term effects of capsaicin on the pulmonary anti‐oxidant enzyme system in rats

The effect of capsaicin treatment (intraperitoneally) on the pulmonary anti‐oxidant enzyme system has been studied using rats as experimental animals. Short‐term treatment with capsaicin has been found to cause a significant increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) activities. On the other hand, long‐term treatment with capsaicin produced a significant decrease in CAT and POD activities. This result has been interpreted in terms of the already reported ‘activation’ and ‘densensitization’ action of capsaicin on short‐ and long‐term treatment respectively.
Quantitative Tracheid Anatomy Reveals a Complex Environmental Control of Wood Structure in Continental Mediterranean Climate

A detailed understanding of how the climate models the hydraulic system of trees is still lacking, in spite of the need to understand tree response to the ongoing process of climatic change. A systematic correlation of tracheid anatomical features with climate has not been implemented in Mediterranean ecosystems, where climatic change is expected to be particularly intense. We measured ring width and cell number—in addition to intraring position, lumen size, and wall thickness of tracheids—in 10 Juniperus thurifera individuals from north-central Spain. We used this information to perform an exploratory analysis of how these parameters correlated with climatic variables in 1965–2004. Cell number and ring width shared a relatively similar climatic signal, whereas the anatomical variables provided differentiated and diverse signals about climatic conditions during their formation. Earlywood and latewood tracheids differed in controlling factors, with earlywood tracheid size and wall thickness being positively related to rainfall during early summer and latewood tracheid size being positively related to August temperature. Tracheid anatomical variables improved our understanding of climate effects on tree growth and wood formation under harsh environmental conditions, as those experienced in continental Mediterranean climates, where limiting factors show multiple shifts across the year.
Anadromous Sea Lampreys Recolonize a Maine Coastal River Tributary after Dam Removal

Abstract Sedgeunkedunk Stream, a third-order tributary to the Penobscot River, Maine, historically supported several anadromous fishes, including the Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar, Alewife Alosa pseudoharengus, and Sea Lamprey Petromyzon marinus. However, two small dams constructed in the 1800s reduced or eliminated spawning runs entirely. In 2009, efforts to restore marine–freshwater connectivity in the system culminated with removal of the lowermost dam, thus providing access to an additional 4.6 km of lotic habitat. Because Sea Lampreys utilized accessible habitat prior to dam removal, they were chosen as a focal species with which to quantify recolonization. During spawning runs of 2008–2011 (before and after dam removal), individuals were marked with PIT tags and their activity was tracked with daily recapture surveys. Open-population mark–recapture models indicated a fourfold increase in the annual abundance of spawning-phase Sea Lampreys, with estimates rising from 59±4 () before dam removal (2008) t.
Preliminary Results On The Use Of Clay To Control Pyrodinium Bloom - A Mitigation Strategy

The frequent and expanded occurrence of Pyrodinium bahamense var compressum blooms in the Philippines since 1983 has prompted the need to find mechanisms to control the harmful effects of these toxic dinoflagellates. A promising method now being explored is the use of powdered clay minerals which when added to the growth media is capable of flocculating with the algal cells. In this study, the efficiency of ball clay, brown bentonite, and Malampaya Sound sediments to remove Pyrodinium cells in seawater was tested. The addition of 1 g/L of suspended ball clay to 50 mL of cultured Pyrodinium cells (~1.037 x106 cells/L) removed 99.56% of the algal cells after 2.5 hours. Prolonging the exposure time to 5 and 24 hours showed no significant increase in flocculation. Brown bentonite and Malampaya Sound sediments showed low to moderate removal efficiency not exceeding 70% and 50%, respectively. The effect of ball clay addition on seawater chemistry showed no change in ammonia concentration but nitrate decreased after 5 and 24 hours of clay addition. Results for nitrite and phosphate were however more variable.
Annual mapping of large forest disturbances across Canada’s forests using 250 m MODIS imagery from 2000 to 2011

Disturbances such as fire and harvesting shape forest dynamics and must be accounted for when modelling forest properties. However, acquiring timely disturbance information for all of Canada’s large forest area has always been challenging. Therefore, we developed an approach to detect annual forest change resulting from fire, harvesting, or flooding using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) imagery at 250 m spatial resolution across Canada and to estimate the within-pixel fractional change (FC). When this approach was applied to the period from 2000 to 2011, the accuracy of detection of burnt, harvested, or flooded areas against our validation dataset was 82%, 80%, and 85%, respectively. With FC, 77% of the area burnt and 82% of the area harvested within the validation dataset were correctly identified. The methodology was optimized to reduce the commission error but tended to omit smaller disturbances as a result. For example, the omitted area for harvest blocks greater than 80 ha was l.
Behavioral Ecology Symposium--'85: First Steps into Eusociality: The Sweat Bee Dialictus Lineatulus

The primitively eusocial halictid bee Dialictus lineatulus has two generations per year in New York. Spring nests are initiated by one to six female bees; in multifoundress nests all bees are potentially reproductive but the largest individual doesn't forage. Summer nests contain an average of seven female bees which occur in reproductive castes, with workers almost the same size as queens. Some summer nests briefly form eusocial colonies where the foundress queen lives with her worker daughters. Foundress bees soon die in the summer, and most nests are then semisocial and contain only summer generation bees. The replacement queens are the dominant and older sisters of the workers. I hypothesize that reproductive castes first evolved in such sister associations due to environmental factors that prohibit subordinate bees from leaving and successfully starting their own nests.
Influence of preparation conditions on the properties of Eudragit microspheres produced by a double emulsion method

The aim of the present work was to study the preparation and characteristics of sustained‐release microspheres. As a model drug, sodium diclofenac was encapsulated in microspheres of the polymer Eudragit RS by using a double emulsion–solvent evaporation method. Investigations were carried out on the effects of the preparation method, the rate of the first step of emulsification, and the phase volume and composition (drug and additives) on the physical parameters of the product: its drug encapsulation, and the drug release. We evaluated the resulting microsphere structure [by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)], the particle size, the surface area (by scanning electron microscopy), the entrapment and encapsulation efficiency (applying a novel method, energy‐dispersive x‐ray fluorescence analysis), the viscosity of the primary emulsion, and the organic solvent residue (by gas chromatography). We also evaluated and compared the samples by means of the kinetic data relating to drug release. The particle size could be decreased to one third by increasing the external aqueous phase ratio. In the first step of emulsification, elevation of the stirring rate led to microspheres with unfavorable characteristics. Increase of the active agent content and the plasticizer concentration had opposite effects. We applied a covalently not bound plasticizer, which was shown to influence the structure of the microspheres considerably. Drug Dev. Res. 64:41–54, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Role of human gamma-delta T lymphocytes in the instruction of the adaptive immune response against Plasmodium falciparum infection.

P. falciparum derived phosphoantigens (P‐Ag) induce potent activation and expansion of Vγ9Vδ2 T-cells by a poorly described mechanism. Activated Vγ9Vδ2 T cells inhibit the Plasmodium falciparum blood cycle through soluble cytotoxic mediators, abrogating merozoite invasion capacity. In vitro, P-Ag activated Vγ9Vδ2 T lymphocytes have been shown to present antigens and induce αβ T lymphocyte responses, i.e. to act as an antigen presenting cell (APC). Whether this activity can be involved in a pathophysiological context is unknown. The aim of this PhD project is to a) investigate the mechanisms of Vγ9Vδ2 T cell activation by blood stage P. falciparum and b) assess the potential of P. falciparum activated Vγ9Vδ2 T cells to display APC functionality. We show that Vγ9Vδ2 T-cell activation by intact iRBCs is independent of iRBC contact and butyrophilin expression. Blood stage culture supernatants can potently activate Vγ9Vδ2 T-cells and bioactivity is found to be attributable to P-Ags released at the time of parasite egress from the RBC. In vitro iRBC stimulated Vγ9Vδ2 T cells up-regulate surface expression of APC associated markers and can cross-present a model antigen to specific CD8 T cell responders. In vivo we demonstrate an increase in surface expression of APC makers on Vγ9Vδ2 T cells from P. falciparum infected patients.Altogether, these data outline a framework whereby P‐Ag release by iRBC into extracellular milieu can promote activation of distant Vγ9Vδ2 T cells, and opens the door to a new aspect of Vγ9Vδ2 T cell contribution to P. falciparum adaptive immune responses.
Occurrence of aflatoxin M1 in commercial powdered milk in Bangkok, Thailand

The contamination of milk with aflatoxin M 1 (AFM 1 ), a possible carcinogen to humans, is a serious problem. In Thailand, there are few reports on AFM 1 contamination in powdered milk. In this study, we investigated the occurrence of AFM 1 in 79 commercial powdered milk products in Bangkok, Thailand over five years (2010–2014). An in-house immunoaffinity column-HPLC (IAC-HPLC) method was developed. Reconstituted powdered milk (10 mL) was applied to our IAC. The recoveries from 0.005–0.15 ng/mL AFM 1 spiked reconstituted milk were 73.6–86.3% with 5.2–7.4% of RSD. Twelve samples (15%) were contaminated with 0.005–0.135 ng/mL of AFM 1 (aver-age 0.024 ng/mL, overall average 0.004 ng/mL) in reconstituted powdered milk. Our data indicated that the risk of AFM 1 in commercial powdered milk in Bangkok, Thailand was sufficiently low.
Structural Studies of a Subunit of the Murine Cytomegalovirus Nuclear Egress Complex

The Herpesviridae family of viruses includes a number of human pathogens of clinical importance. Like other herpesviruses, cytomegaloviruses require a heterodimeric nuclear egress complex (NEC) consisting of a membrane-bound protein and a soluble nucleoplasmic protein, termed in murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) M50 and M53, respectively. Genetic, electron microscopic, and immunocytochemical studies have revealed the importance of this complex for viral replication, most predominantly in facilitating egress of viral nucleocapsids across the nuclear membrane. Despite the significance of the NEC to the herpesvirus life cycle, there is a dearth of structural information regarding the components of the complex. We present here an NMR-determined solution-state structure of the conserved, structured, soluble portion of M50 (residues 1-168), which exhibits novel structural character. We mapped the binding site of a highly conserved minimal binding domain of the M53 homologue from human cytomegalovirus (HCMV; UL53) required for heterodimerization onto the structure and identified specific residues in a groove within the M50 protein fold that interact with the UL53 peptide. This site was verified biophysically and biologically: single amino acid substitutions of the corresponding residues of the homologous protein from HCMV (UL50) resulted in decreased UL53 binding in vitro, as measured by isothermal titration calorimetry, and substitutions that had the greatest
Landscape fluidity – a unifying perspective for understanding and adapting to global change

Rapid, human‐induced global change presents major challenges to researchers, policy‐makers and land managers. Addressing these challenges requires an appreciation of the dynamics of ecological systems. Here, we propose ‘landscape fluidity’ as a perspective and research agenda from which to consider landscapes in the process of changing rapidly through both time and space. We define landscape fluidity as the ebb and flow of different organisms within a landscape through time. A range of existing ideas, themes and practical approaches are relevant to landscape fluidity, and we use a case study of scattered tree landscapes in south‐eastern Australia to illustrate the benefits of a landscape fluidity perspective. We suggest that a focus on landscape fluidity can bring a renewed emphasis on change in landscapes and so help unify a range of currently separate research themes in biogeography, ecology, palaeoecology and conservation biology.
Variability of Structural and Biomechanical Parameters of Pelophylax Esculentus (Amphibia, Anura) Limb Bones

Abstract Variability of Structural and Biomechanical Prameters of Pelophylax esculentus (Amphibia, Anura) Limb Bones. Broshko Ye. O. — Structural and biomechanical parameters of Edible Frog, Pelophylax esculentus (Linnaeus, 1758), limb bones, namely, mass, linear dimensions, parameters of the shaft’s cross-sectional shape (cross-sectional area, moments of inertia, radiuses of inertia) were investigated. Some coefficients were also estimated: diameters ratio (df/ds), cross-sectional index (ik), principal moments of inertia ratio (Imax/Imin.). Coefficients of variation of linear dimensions (11.9-20.0 %) anrelative bone mass (22-35 %) were established. Moments of inertia of various bones are more variable (CV = 41.67-56.35 %) in relation to radii of inertia (CV = 9.68-14.67 %). Shaft’s cross-sectional shape is invariable in all cases. However, there is high individual variability of structural and biomechanical parameters of P. esculentus limb bones. Variability of parameters was limited by the certain range. We suggest the presence of stable norm in bone structure. Stylopodium bones have the primary biomechanical function among the elements of limb skeleton, because their parameters most clearly responsive to changes in body mass.
Cloning and Expression of Human Galβ1,3(4)GlcNAc α2,3-Sialyltransferase

Abstract Here we report the cDNA sequence of human Galβ1,3(4)GlcNAc α2,3-sialyltransferase. The cDNA was isolated from a human placental cDNA library by screening with a 150bp probe generated by PCR using degenerate primers based on the sequences found in the sialyl motif. Comparative analylsis of this cDNA with the rat liver α2,3-sialyltransferase sequence indicates 91% nucleotide similarity between the two sequence in the predicted coding region. On the amino acid level, the degree of conservation is 97%. Surprisingly, Northern analysis indicated that the gene is expressed at low levels in human placenta but is abundantly expressed in skeletal muscle and fetal tissues.
IFN-γ Regulated Chemokine Production Determines the Outcome of Staphylococcus aureus Infection1

Immunomodulatory therapy represents an attractive approach in treating multidrug-resistant infections. Developing this therapy necessitates a lucid understanding of host defense mechanisms. Neutrophils represent the first line of systemic defense during Staphylococcus aureus infections. However, recent research suggests that survival of S. aureus inside neutrophils may actually contribute to pathogenesis, indicating that neutrophil trafficking to the infection site must be tightly regulated to ensure efficient microbial clearance. We demonstrate that neutrophil-regulating T cells are activated during S. aureus infection and produce cytokines that control the local neutrophil response. S. aureus capsular polysaccharide activates T cell production of IFN-γ in a novel MHC class II-dependent mechanism. During S. aureus surgical wound infection, the presence of IFN-γ at the infection site depends upon αβTCR+ cells and functions to regulate CXC chemokine production and neutrophil recruitment in vivo. We note that the reduced neutrophil response seen in IFN-γ−/− mice during S. aureus infection is associated with reduced tissue bacterial burden. CXC chemokine administration to the infection site resulted in an increased survival of viable S. aureus inside neutrophils isolated from the wound. These data demonstrate that T cell-derived IFN-γ generates a neutrophil-rich environment that can potentiate S. aureus pathogenesis by facilitating bacterial survival within the neutrophil. These findings suggest avenues for novel immunomodulatory approaches to control S. aureus infections.
Light for All Reasons: Versatility in the Behavioral Repertoire of the Flashlight Fish

The flashlight fish, Photoblepharon, possesses headlight-like luminous organs situated in the orbit just below the eyes. On the basis ofdirectfield and laboratory studies, it is postulated that the bioluminescence is used by the fish for many different functions: to assist in obtaining prey, to deter or escape predators, and for intraspecific communication. Thefish also uses its light to see by. A biologically generated light may be used by an organism in different specific ways for several distinct functions (1-3). In most of the luminous organisms that have been analyzed, the proposed functions of light emission fall in three major categories. The first is assisting predation (offense). For example, certain of the mesopelagic ceratioid angler fish, such as Melanocetus murrayi (4) and Oneirodes acanthias (5), have a luminous organ (esca) which presumably functions as a lure (1, 2). Similarly, the firefly "femme fatale" (Photuris versicolor), in addition to using her light organ to signal the male of her own species, mimics the courtship signal of other species, attracting males whom she then eats (6). The second major function is Fig. 1. The flashlight fish, Photoblepharon palpebratus, photographed at night along the reefs in the Gulf of Elat, Israel, by the light emitted from its own luminescent organ (A) and with an underwater strobe light (B, C, and D). The reflective areas of the lateral line, the edges of the fin rays, and the operculum are not luminescent. (B) A pair of Photoblepharon in their intertidal territory. (C) Closeup of Photoblepharon with the lid of the luminescent organ open. (D) Closeup with the lid closed. The fish are about 6.5 cm long.
Identification of an FT ortholog in Japanese apricot (Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc.)

Summary PmFT, a Prunus mume ortholog of FT (FLOWERING LOCUS T) in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. , was isolated and characterised to elucidate the mechanism of floral bud formation in Japanese apricot (P. mume). The Japanese apricot genome contained a single locus of PmFT. PmFT consisted of a 1,473-bp open reading frame with three introns and four exons, which encoded 174 amino acid residues. The PmFT sequence showed high identity to A. thaliana FT and to FT orthologs in other plant species. Wild-type and ft-1 strains of Arabidopsis that were transformed with 35S:PmFT showed precocious flowering, indicating that PmFT has the same function as A. thaliana FT and FT orthologs in other plant species. PmFT transcripts were found in all tissues examined, with more abundant expression observed in tissues from adult trees than from seedlings.
Long-term survivorship of single-needle pinyon (Pinus monophylla) in mixed-conifer ecosystems of the Great Basin, USA

We examined stand structure and development of mixed-conifer ecosystems in the south-central Great Basin where pinyon (Pinus monophylla) and juniper (Juniperus osteosperma) are found together with other species, such as ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), with particular emphasis on pre- and post-settlement conditions. Two study sites (Mt. Irish and the Clover Mountains) were selected based on their relative proximity but different topographic conditions and modern fire regime. Vegetation analysis was conducted on 12 0.1-ha plots per site, where all woody stems were mapped, measured, and cored for age determination, as well as on a systematic grid at 175-m intervals where tree measurements and increment cores were obtained. At Mt. Irish the total basal area was 14.5 m2 ha−1 and the tree density was 324 stems ha−1, while at the Clover Mountains they were 13.8 m2 ha−1 and 342 stems ha−1, respectively. Pre-settlement trees were found throughout each site, with maximum tree ages of 400 years or more, and older .
Gene Characterization of Two Digestive Serine Proteases in Sitodiplosis mosellana: Implications for Alternative Control Strategies

Abstract Two full-length cDNA sequences encoding digestive serine proteases (designated as SmPROT-1 and SmPROT-2) were recovered from the midgut of the orange wheat blossom midge, Sitodiplosis mosellana (Géhin) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), in an ongoing expressed sequence tag project. The deduced amino acid sequences shared homology with digestive serine proteases from insect and non-insect species, including conserved regions such as the catalytic triad, active pocket, and conserved structural motifs. Secretory signal peptides in both proteases at the N-terminals indicate that these proteins could function as midgut digestive serine proteases. A phylogenetic analysis grouped SmPROT-1 and SmPROT-2 with trypsin-like and chymotrysin-like serine proteases, respectively. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed that SmPROT-1 and SmPROT-2 were expressed predominantly in the midgut rather than in other tissues (fat body and salivary glands). Expression analyses revealed high mRNA levels for the feeding instars (1st- and 2nd-instar larvae) compared with other stages (neonate, 3rd instar, pupa, and adult). These results provide new insights into the biology of S. mosellana and are discussed in the context of developing alternative control strategies.
Ancient Gondwana break‐up explains the distribution of the mycoheterotrophic family Corsiaceae (Liliales)

Many plant families have a disjunct distribution across the southern Pacific Ocean, including the mycoheterotrophic family Corsiaceae, which provides a prime example of this biogeographical pattern. A better grasp of the family's evolutionary relationships is needed to understand its historical biogeography. We therefore aimed to (1) test the uncertain monophyly of Corsiaceae, (2) define its phylogenetic position, and (3) estimate divergence times for the family, allowing us to assess whether the distribution of the family is the result of vicariance.