Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Heparin Modulates Integrin-Mediated Cellular Adhesion: Specificity of Interactions with α and β Integrin Subunits

Heparin is known to influence the growth, proliferation, and migration of vascular cells, but the precise mechanisms are unknown. We previously demonstrated that unfractionated heparin (UH) binds to the platelet integrin αIIbβ3, and enhances ligand binding. To help define the specificity and site(s) of heparin-integrin interactions, we employed the erythroleukemic K562 cell line, transfected to express specific integrins (αvβ3, αvβ5, and αIIbβ3). By comparing K562 cells expressing a common α subunit (Kαvβ3, Kαvβ5) with cells expressing a common β subunit (Kαvβ3, KαIIbβ3), we observed that heparin differentially modulated integrin-mediated adhesion to vitronectin. UH at 0.5–7.5 μg/ml consistently enhanced the adhesion of β3expressing cells (Kαvβ3,KαIIbβ3). In contrast, UH at 0.5–7.5 μg/ml inhibited Kαvβ5adhesion. Experiments using integrin-blocking antibodies, appropriate control ligands, and nontransfected native K562 cells revealed that heparin's actions were mediated by the specific integrins under study. Preincubation of heparin with Kαvβ3cells enhanced adhesion, while preincubation of heparin with the adhesive substrate (vitronectin) had minimal effect. There was a structural specificity to heparin's effect, in that a low molecular weight heparin and chondroitin sulfate showed significantly less enhancement of adhesion. These findings suggest that heparin's modulation of integrin-ligand interactions occurs through its action on the integrin. The inhibitory or stimulatory effects of heparin depend on the β subunit type, and the potency is dictated by structural characteristics of the glycosaminoglycan.
Targeted insertion in well-characterized Drosophila cell lines using φC31 integrase

We describe an adaptation of φC31 integrase-mediated targeted cassette exchange for use in Drosophila cell lines. Single copies of an attP-bounded docking platform carrying a GFP-expression marker, with and without insulator elements flanking the attP sites, were inserted by P-element transformation into the Kc167 and Sg4 cell lines; each of the resulting docking site lines carries a single mapped copy of one of the docking platforms. Vectors for targeted substitution contain a cloning cassette flanked by attB sites. Targeted substitution occurs by integrase-mediated substitution between the attP sites (integrated) and the attB sites (vector). We describe procedures for isolating cells carrying the substitutions and for eliminating the products of secondary off-target events. We demonstrated the technology by integrating a cassette containing a Cu++-inducible mCherry marker, and we report the expression properties of those lines. When compared with clonal lines made by traditional transformation methods, which lead to the illegitimate insertion of tandem arrays, targeted insertion lines give more uniform expression, lower basal expression and higher induction ratios. Targeted substitution, though intricate, affords results that should greatly improve comparative expression assays – a major emphasis of cell-based studies.
Population biology of the ghost shrimps, Trypaea australiensis and Biffarius arenosus (Decapoda: Thalassinidea), in Western Port, Victoria

1 ) Abstract Butler, S.N. , Reid, M. & Bird, F.L. 2009. Population biology of the ghost shrimps, Trypaea australiensis and Biffarius arenosus (Decapoda: Thalassinidea), in Western Port, Victoria. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 66: 43-59. This study compared the population biology of two co-existing species of ghost shrimps, Trypaea australiensis Dana 1952 and Biffarius arenosus (Poore 1975), over a two year period at Warneet and Crib Point in Western Port, Victoria, south-eastern Australia. Overall, the sex ratio in populations of T. australiensis varied considerably (male and female biases were found at different times) whereas the sex ratio of B. arenosus was generally 1:1 or female biased. A male biased sex ratio was found in the juvenile size class of populations of T. australiensis (both years) and B. arenosus (one year only). Both species reproduced in spring and summer in Western Port and juveniles appeared to recruit into the populations all year round. The embryo and clutch size of T. australiensis females was signifi cantly larger than B. arenosus, and a signifi cant relationship between female body size and clutch size (but not embryo size) was found for both species. Comparisons between this and other population studies of T. australiensis and B. arenosus were made to highlight any latitudinal variation in the reproduction and breeding biology of these species along the eastern coast of Australia.
DEVELOPMENT OF ASYMMETRY IN THE NEUROMUSCULAR SYSTEM OF LOBSTER CLAWS

The paired claws of the lobster Homarus americanus which are symmetrical in form and function in the larval and early juvenile stages gradually transform into a slender, fast-acting cutter claw and a stout, slow-acting crusher claw during later juvenile and adult stages. Correspondingly changes occur in the neuromuscular system of the claws. The paired claw-closer muscles are initially symmetrical in their fiber composition and consist of a band of fast fibers sandwiched on either side by slow fibers. During development one of the muscles transforms into a cutter with a majority of fast fibers and a small ventral band of slow fibers and the other muscle transforms into a crusher with only slow fibers. The firing pattern of the juvenile fast closer excitor motoneuron consisting of high frequency, long duration bursts, is essentially retained in the adult crusher but changed in the adult cutter to low frequency, short duration bursts. In the paired juvenile closer muscles almost all fibers receive mixed inn.
Resistance and tolerance of grape rootstocks to South Australian populations of root-knot nematode

Twenty-three grape rootstocks and four commercial varieties were screened in pots for resistance to populations of root-knot nematode from the Barossa Valley, Riverland and Southern Vales regions of South Australia. Four species (Meloidogyne arenaria, M. hapla, M. incognita and M. javanica) were present in the Barossa Valley population, while the other two populations contained only M. hapla and M. javanica. The Barossa Valley population multiplied better and produced more galls than the other populations, but the resistance of each rootstock relative to others was similar for all three nematode populations. The most resistant rootstocks were Ramsey, Dog Ridge, Freedom, Schwarzmann, 16 16, K51-32 and K51-40. Rootstocks with high or moderate nematode resistance in pots also showed good resistance in three field trials. The tolerance of each rootstock to root-knot nematode was evaluated by comparing root growth in the presence and absence of the nematode. Rootstocks with the best nematode resistance were also the most tolerant. Although variations in pathogenicity are often observed between species of Meloidogyne and within populations of the same species, we concluded that nematode resistant grape rootstocks would be useful against the range of pathogenic variation in the nematode likely to be encountered in South Australia.
A National Survey of School Counselors’ Perceptions Of Multiracial Students

A total of 1627 school counselors from all 50 states and the District of Columbia participated in a study designed to investigate their personal perceptions of multiracial individuals. Results indicated that school counselors held a wide variety of perceptions and those with 1 to 5 years of experience were more likely to believe that multiracial students experienced more academic and behavioral problems. Middle school counselors were more likely to believe that multiracial students have a more difficult time adjusting to society. School counselors who were unsure if cultural diversity and awareness programs were promoted in their school were also unsure if the physical appearance of multiracial students impacted how they racially identified themselves. Finally, school counselors in schools with a Very Diverse student body believed that multiracial students would experience fewer problems related to identity development if they lived in a diverse community. They also believed the problems experienced by multiracial students were related to identity conflicts.
Phosphate Solubilizing Microorganisms Associated with Chollangi Mangrove Soil in East Coast of India

Twenty three bacterial strains isolated from the soil of Chollangi mangrove environment and demonstrated Phosphate solubilization potential of isolated bacterial strains. Seven isolates showed phosphate solubilization activity. Morpho physiologically and biochemically identified two isolates (CMB1 and CMB2) as Bacillus subtilis, three isolates (CMFP3, CMFP4 and CMFP5) as fluorescent Pseudomonas and two isolates (CMAZ1 and CMAZ2) as Azotobacter sp. Plant growth promoting ability of seven bacterial strains tested for optimization of P H , carbon source and temperature and estimated phosphate solubilization quantitatively. Isolated strains visualized colonies at P H 8.6 after 72 hrs, where as pure cultures visualized early within 18 hrs at P H 6.8-7.2 range. Observations indicated bacterial isolates of arid mangrove environment can easily adapted to normal soil P H and enhance phosphate content in soil.
Antifungal Activity ofTioconazole (UK-20,349), aNewImidazole Derivative

Tioconazole (UK-20,349), anewantifungal imidazole derivative, wascompared withmiconazole foractivity invitro against Candida spp. , Torulopsis glabrata, Cryptococcus neoformans, Aspergillus spp. , anddermatophyte fungi (Trichophytonspp.andMicrosporum spp.). Tioconazole wasmoreactive thanmiconazole against allthefungal species examined except Aspergillus, against whichboth agents showed similar activity. Bothtioconazole andmiconazole inhibited the growth ofall fungi examined atconcentrations well below their quoted minimum inhibitory concentrations. Their activity against fungi invivo wasinvestigated in miceinfected systemically withCandida albicans. Bothagents significantly reduced thenumbers ofviable Candida cells recoverable fromthekidneys of infected animals, withtioconazole producing agenerally moremarkedreduction. After administration ofasingle oral dose(25mg/kg) tobeagle dogsorwhite mice, higher andmoresustained circulating levels ofbioactive drugweredetectable of tioconazole thanofmiconazole. Theseobservations suggest that tioconazole may havepotential inthetreatment ofbothsuperficial andsystemic mycoses in humans. Superficial fungal infections caused bydermatophytes andyeasts arecommonclinical problems. Someinfections ofthevagina and glabrous skin aretreated satisfactorily bytopical therapy withavariety ofagents, andsomedermatophyte infections aretreated byoral therapy withgriseofulvin (2,10). Thenewerimidazole antifungal drugs, clotrimazole andmiconazole, possess a verybroadspectrum ofantifungal activity (13, 14,17,19,22), andresistance to themisrare(13). Their proven efficacy hasled totheir widespread acceptance fortopical use (5, 8,9,23). Systemic fungal infections, e.g.,coccidioidomycosis, blastomycosis, andhistoplasmosis, are muchless commonandtendtoberestricted to specific parts oftheworld. However, systemic mycoses inthecompromised host, especially in patients undergoing immunosuppressive orcancertherapy, areanincreasing problem (13). The opportunistic fungus ismostcommonly aspecies ofCandida orAspergillus, andtheinfection is frequently life threatening. Thechoice oftherapyislimited, withamphotericin B,introduced in1955, still thedrugofchoice inspite ofthe frequency andseverity ofsideeffects resulting
Effect of body size, photophase, feeding and emersion on the oxygen consumption of the east coast rock lobster Panulirus homarus rubellus

An understanding of the effect of key intrinsic and extrinsic factors on the oxygen consumption of Panulirus homarus rubellus is imperative for the development of optimized transport, holding and growout protocols. This study investigated the effect of body weight, photophase, feeding and emersion on the oxygen consumption rate of P. h. rubellus. Body weight was positively correlated to both standard and active oxygen consumption (mg O₂ h⁻¹) while body weight was negatively correlated to mass-specific standard oxygen uptake (mg O₂ g⁻¹ h⁻¹). Diurnal rhythm exhibited a strong effect on the lobsters' oxygen consumption, with average nighttime values 67% greater than those recorded during the day. This was related to activity driven by intrinsic nocturnal foraging behaviour. Feeding resulted in a classic specific dynamic action response, with postprandial oxygen consumption increasing to a peak before decreasing gradually to preprandial levels. Emersion caused a significant increase in oxygen consumption following re-immersion. Lobsters rapidly recovered to pre-emersion levels after 4 h following a 1-h emersion and after 13.3 h following an emersion period of 6 h. The implications of these results with regard to the holding/culture system and protocol design are discussed.
Vagile but inbred: patterns of inbreeding and the genetic structure within populations of the monsoon rain forest tree Syzygium nervosum (Myrtaceae) in northern Australia

Patterns of gene flow within 21 northern Australian populations of Syzygium nervosum a dominant, mass-flowering, monsoon rain forest canopy tree were investigated using 10 isozyme loci. S. nervosum was found to have relatively high genetic diversity within populations (He = 0.307, AP = 3.7, P = 65) but also to have significantly lower frequencies of heterozygotes than expected (Ho = 0.126) and high allelic fixation (F = 0.512). Heterozygosity and allelic fixation were not correlated with measures of genetic diversity within populations, nor were they correlated with rain forest patch size, plant size or population isolation. Within populations, trees, of the same genotype (at each loci tested) were significantly clumped at short distances (c. 20 m), whereas trees of unlike genotypes were negatively associated. S. nervosum trees however, were not clonal in origin and had unique multilocus genotypes. The results suggest that the high levels of homozygosity recorded are the result of restricted pollination, primarily among flowers within individual trees or among closely related neighbouring trees, rather than rectricted seed dispersal. High homozygosity, the large fruit crop produced by trees of this species and the lack of association between heterozygosity and plant size, indicate that, S. nervosum is self-compatible, its fecundity does not appear to be impaired by inbreeding depression.
PCR-based Assay for the Specific Detection of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tagetis using an AFLP-derived Marker

A PCR method has been developed for the pathovar-specific detection of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tagetis, which is the causal agent of bacterial leaf spots and apical chlorosis of several species within the Compositae family. One primer set, PSTF and PSTR, was designed using a genomic locus derived from an amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) fragment produced a 554-bp amplicon from 4 isolates of P. syringae pv. tagetis. In DNA dot-blot analysis with the PCR product as probe, a positive signal was identified in only 4 isolates of P. syringae pv. tagetis. These results suggest that this PCR-based assay will be a useful method for the detection and identification of P. syringae pv. tagetis.
Viscous Effects on Polar Vibrations in Microtubules

Microtubules form a fundamental organization structure in the cytoskeleton of the cell. Electrical polarity and high deformability at low stress are important physical properties of microtubules. Ions from the cytosol are attracted to tubulin heterodimers with electric dipoles and create a charge layer around the surface of the microtubule. Because of the slip boundary conditions in the surface layers of the microtubule and in the adjacent charge layer dissipative effects of viscous damping on vibrations are diminished. At the frequency 10 MHz the relaxation time may be more than 100 times greater than the period of oscillations. Energy supplied by hydrolysis of GTP (guanosine triphosphate) to GDP (guanosine diphosphate) in the β‐tubulins might, therefore, excite vibrations in microtubular structures.
Assessment of fish species assemblage on mesohabitat scale: A case of middle stretch of Narmada River, India

In river ecosystems, mesohabitat characteristics (i.e. pool, run, riffle, rapids, etc.) act as proximate variables to fish species occurrence. Fish occurrence and mesohabitat data are very often collected independently for different purposes, which invites challenges to characterize the fish species distribution pattern on mesohabitat scale. The present article delineates quantitative assessment of fish occurrence in relation to mesohabitat using secondary data. Middle stretch of the Narmada River of India has been selected for the study. Geographic information system tools have been used for integration of species and mesohabitat data. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling, cluster analysis and analysis of similarity techniques have been used for similarity analysis. Logistic regression model has been applied for model-based inferences on family-mesohabitat relationship. Two separate mesohabitat types, viz., Pool-Run and Run-Riffle, have been characterized by the fish species occurrence pattern. Dissimilarity of fish species composition between Pool-Run and Run-Riffle was statistically significant (p-value < 0.05). The family-mesohabiat model predicted that the occurrence probability of a fish species was 14.49 times more in the Pool-Run than that in the Run-Riffle. The predictive accuracy of the model was 69.8%.
Screening for antibacterial, phytochemical and pharmacognostical properties of Indigofera caerulea Roxb.

) bacterial strains by performing cup plate method. The results highlighted most of the bacteria exhibited better antibacterial activity. Aqueous and hexane extracts exhibited good antibacterial properties in comparison to others. The results of preliminary phytochemical and pharmacological action of this taxon are discussed. This plant may be used for treatment of several diseases caused by pathogenic microbes. This study recommends future research regarding the pharmacological investigations (drug designs) of this plant. Key words:
An evaluation of safflower genotypes ( Carthamus tinctorius L.), seed germination and seedling characters in salt stress conditions

In order to study the effect of salinity stress on germination and early seedling growth of six safflower genotypes namely KM5, KM8, KM12, KM19, KM47 and Kose by using five concentrations of NaCl (0, -0.3, -0.5, -1 and -1.5 MPa) a factorial experiment was designed using Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications in Biotechnology Laboratory, Islamic Azad University-Karaj Branch. Results of ANOVA showed that salt stress adversely affected the germination percentage, germination rate, shoot length, root length, seedling length, root/shoot length ratio, seed vigour, and germination index and mean germination time of all 6 genotypes of safflower, which demonstrates high diversity among genotypes that enabled us to screen salinity tolerant cultivar. At the highest salt level (-1.5 MPa), Kose produced maximum germination percentage and germination rate of all genotypes and they were considered as relatively tolerant. Best level of NaCl concentration in root length, shoot length, seedling length and seed vigour was -0.3 MPa. Seed vigour increased with increase in osmotic potential until -0.3 MPa but decreased in -0.5 MPa. Results of cluster analysis (Ward’s minimum variance method) at the highest salt level (-1.5 MPa) classified all genotypes into three group. According to the obtained results, we found that Kose is the most resistant and KM5, KM8 and KM47 are the most sensitive genotypes. Key words: Cluster analysis, germination indices, NaCl, seed vigour
Use of the esterase phenotype in the taxonomy of the genus Meloidogyne : 2. Esterase phenotypes observed in West African populations and their characterization

Electrophoretic study of the b esterases in 57 populations of Meloidogyne collected in West Africa has shown that eight different phenotypes exist. Eighteen percent of the populations were composed of more than one phenotype. Phenotype PI (M. incognita) is the most prevalent in monospecific as well as in mixed populations. Morphobiometric and host range studies of five single egg-mass populations, characterized each by the phenotype PI, demonstrated that they al1 belong to M. incognita. The same study made on seven other single egg-mass populations, each characterized by a different esterase phenotype, agreed with the results obtained by other workers elsewhere. Electrophoretic determination is easy, accurate and more objective than any other criterion used so far.
Spectral absorption coefficients of living phytoplankton and nonalgal biogenous matter: A comparison between the Peru upwelling areaand the Sargasso Sea

Absorption coefficients of total particulate (biogenous) matter were determined in the mesotrophic waters of the Peruvian upwelling and the oligotrophic waters of the Sargasso Sea. A method based on spectral criteria was used to partition these coefficients into absorption by living algal cells and by nonalgal (mainly detrital) material. This method was tested by independently measuring absorption by nonalgal material for samples from the Sargasso Sea. The average Chl-specific absorption coefficients measured in the Sargasso Sea are significantly higher than in the Peruvian upwelling and also higher in the surface layer than in the deep Chl maximum layer. These systematic variations appear to be mainly due to differences in sizes and intracellular pigment concentrations ofthe cells, inducing differences in the amplitude ofthe package effect. In the open ocean, particulate biogenous matter dominates the optical variability of the water column. This suspended matter includes two types of particles present in variable proportions and having different spectral properties: living pigmented algal cells, and weakly pigmented or unpigmented particles mainly derived from phytoplankton as well as other living heterotrophs such as bacteria. These two categories will hereafter be referred to as the “algal” and “nonalgal” fractions. Unlike the absorption coefficients of the pigments extracted from natural popula
ESTIMATING STAGE-SPECIFIC DAILY SURVIVAL PROBABILITIES OF NESTS WHEN NEST AGE IS UNKNOWN

Abstract Estimation of daily survival probabilities of nests is common in studies of avian populations. Since the introduction of Mayfield's (1961, 1975) estimator, numerous models have been developed to relax Mayfield's assumptions and account for biologically important sources of variation. Stanley (2000) presented a model for estimating stage-specific (e.g. incubation stage, nestling stage) daily survival probabilities of nests that conditions on “nest type” and requires that nests be aged when they are found. Because aging nests typically requires handling the eggs, there may be situations where nests can not or should not be aged and the Stanley (2000) model will be inapplicable. Here, I present a model for estimating stage-specific daily survival probabilities that conditions on nest stage for active nests, thereby obviating the need to age nests when they are found. Specifically, I derive the maximumlikelihood function for the model, evaluate the model's performance using Monte Carlo simulations, and provide software for estimating parameters (along with an example). For sample sizes as low as 50 nests, bias was small and confidence interval coverage was close to the nominal rate, especially when a reduced-parameter model was used for estimation.