Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of nifedipine, imipramine and sertraline on the antidepressant-like actions of furosemide in forced swim (FST) and tail suspension (TST) tests models of depression in mice

The objective of the study was to determine the effect of nifedipine, imipramine and sertraline on the acute and long-term antidepressant-like responses of furosemide in the forced swim (FST) and tail suspension (TST) tests in mice. Groups of mice of six in each group were treated for 30 days with Tween 80, furosemide (10 mg/kg) + nifedipine (5 mg/kg), furosemide (10 mg/kg) + imipramine (10 mg/kg) and furosemide (10 mg/kg) + sertraline (5 mg/kg), respectively. Experiments were done on day 1, 15 and 31 in the FST and TST. In the FST and TST, results showed that in the test groups, sertraline, imipramine and nifedipine enhanced the reduction of immobility of furosemide significantly when 15days values were compared with acute values (F(3, 20) = 14.21, P < 0.05, < 0.01) and when 30-days values were compared with 15-days values (F(3, 20) = 24.26, P < 0.05, < 0.01). Duncan multiple range (DMR) post-hoc test showed that the furosemide + sertraline combination gave the most significant response. In conclusion, results show that the antidepressant-like action of furosemide is enhanced in the FST and TST models of depression in mice by co-administration of imipramine, sertraline and nifedipine.
Wheat Arabinoxylan Structure Provides Insight into Function

ABSTRACT Recent attention to dietary fiber in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) has invigorated research in the nonstarch carbohydrate arabinoxylan (AX). AX molecules are composed of a linear xylose backbone with arabinose substitutions along the backbone. These arabinose substituents can also carry a ferulic acid moiety. AX molecules can be fractionated into two categories based on extraction properties that have a structural and conformational basis: water-extractable (WEAX) and water-unextractable (WUAX) molecules. The ferulic acid moieties also allow for oxidative cross-linking between AX molecules or the tyrosine residues of proteins. The contents of total AX and WEAX molecules are primarily influenced by genetic differences; however, there is also evidence of environmental influence on content. There are several useful methods for quantifying AX molecules, providing varying levels of structural information as well as accuracy and precision. The high water-absorption capacity of AX molecules results in a .
TGFβ gene transcription in normal and neoplastic liver growth

TGFβ is a potent, nontoxic inhibitor of mitogen‐induced DNA synthesis in primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes. Using a cDNA probe, we investigated TGFβ gene expression in quiescent, regenerating, and neoplastic liver, and several hepatoma lines by Northern gel analysis. We found that regenerating liver had increased TGFβ gene transcripts beginning at about 8 h, with a broad peak of 48–120 h and return to normal after 9 days. Separation of the regenerating liver into its constituent cell types, followed by RNA extraction and reprobing, revealed that increased TGFβ gene transcripts were confined to the enriched endothelial‐cell population and not the hepatocytes. Increased hepatic TGFβ expression was also found in fetal liver and in rats immediately after birth. Elevated TGFβ mRNA levels were also found in primary cultures of oval cells and an established bile ductular cell line, as well as in carcinogen‐altered liver epithelial cell lines. Transcripts were undetectable in normal human liver but were abundant in the human hepatoma lines Hep G2, Hep 3B, PLC/PRF/5, and SK‐Hep‐1. Elevated levels were also found in the normal rat liver–derived lines BRL‐3A and clone 9 and the H4IIE rat hepatoma, but not in the HTC, MH1C1, and MH7777 rat hepatomas. The hepatocarcinogen diethylnitrosamine induced high transcript levels after single injections in a time‐ and dose‐dependent manner. These results suggest that the liver may be a paracrine organ with respect to TGFβ gene expression, which can be induced by carcinogens and by growth stimulation.
Isolation of 6-Pyruvoyl-tetrahydropterin Synthase cDNAs from Human Brain

The recent update summary of tetrahydrobiopterin deficiency due to autosomal recessive mutations in 6-pyruvoyl-tetrahydropterin synthase (PTPS) compiled 186 cases in total, i.e. 156 cases with the more common severe form and 30 cases with the rare mild or peripheral form (1). Patients with the mild type of deficiency, as opposed to the severe form, do not show any abnormalities of monoamine neurotransmitter metabolites in CSF and thus do not require replacement therapy with L-DOPA and 5-0H-typtophan. Genetic as well as biochemical properties of the normal human PTPS in comparison with mutant alleles might be a key to the understanding of these phenotypical differences. As an example, tissue-specific splicing was uncovered for the Drosophila purple gene that expresses the fly PTPS activity (2). The single purple gene was shown to express two transcripts with the same putative coding region from two different promoters; i.e. a weak constitutive body promoter and a strong transient head-specific promoter, expressing the alternatively spliced mRNAs with exon structures a-bl-c-d-e and b2-c-d-e, respectively. Interestingly, the molecular characterization of the first patient with the mild form of PTPS deficiency revealed one allele, RI6C, with the corresponding mutation located in exon 1 in the single human gene (3,4). In the case of a similar tis-
Spatial and trophic niche differentiation in two sympatric lizards (Tropidurus torquatus and Cnemidophorus ocellifer) with different foraging tactics

In a ‘restinga’ habitat of southeastern Brazil, we studied the food habits and the microhabitat use of two lizards with distinct foraging modes: the tropidurid Tropidurus torquatus, a sit-and-wait predator, and the teiid Cnemidophorus ocellifer, a wide forager. The diet of the two species differed strongly, indicating a low level of similarity in their trophic niche. The sit-and-wait predator fed mainly on mobile prey, whereas the wide forager fed mainly on sedentary prey (larvae). The spatial niche breadth of T. torquatus was larger than that of C. ocellifer. Despite interspecific differences, the two species overlapped greatly in micro-habitat use. The data indicate that at Linhares the two lizard species differed more in food resources than in microhabitat, and that most of the food differences reflect the foraging patterns of the species.
Design and Synthesis of a New Furanosic Sialylmimetic as a Potential Influenza Neuraminidase Viral Inhibitor

A furanosic derivative has been identified as a simple sialylmimetic and synthesized, representing the first step in the development of a new series of furanosic sialic acid's mimetics as potential inhibitors of influenza virus neuraminidase. The structure was tested on a molecular simulating environment before proceeding with synthetic pathways. NA of both virus A and B is highly conserved in amino acid sequence variation. New and specific NA inhibitors, anti influenza drugs effective against both A and B influenza virus strains, have been implemented by developing transition state mimic molecules of the cleavage (13) mechanism of terminal sialic acid from any glycoconjugates that allow the infective process to take place. The difficulty in designing specific inhibitors is related to the necessity of building ex novo a molecule that could establish binding interactions in the NA active site, the same which sialic acid
Seasonal Patterns in Soil Moisture, Vapour Pressure Deficit, Tree Canopy Cover and Pre-dawn Water Potential in a Northern Australian Savanna

The wet–dry tropics of northern Australia are characterised by extreme seasonal variation in rainfall and atmospheric vapour pressure deficit, although temperatures are relatively constant throughout the year.This seasonal variation is associated with marked changes in tree canopy cover, although the exact determinants of these changes are complex. This paper reports variation in microclimate (temperature, vapour pressure deficit (VPD)), rainfall, soil moisture, understorey light environment (total daily irradiance), and pre-dawn leaf water potential of eight dominant tree species in an area of savanna near Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. Patterns of canopy cover are strongly influenced by both soil moisture and VPD. Increases in canopy cover coincide with decreases in VPD, and occur prior to increases in soil moisture that occur with the onset of wet season rains. Decreases in canopy cover coincide with decreases in soil moisture following the cessation of wet season rains and associated increases in VPD. Patterns of pre-dawn water potential vary significantly between species and between leaf phenological guilds. Pre-dawn water potential increases with decreasing VPD towards the end of the dry season prior to any increases in soil moisture. Decline in pre-dawn water potential coincides with both decreasing soil moisture and increasing VPD at the end of the dry season. This study emphasises the importance of the annual transition between the dry season and the wet season, a period of 1–2 months of relatively low VPD but little or no effective rainfall, preceded by a 4–6 month dry season of no rainfall and high VPD. This period is accompanied by markedly increased canopy cover, and significant increases in pre-dawn water potential, which are demonstrably independent of rainfall. This finding emphasises the importance of VPD as a determinant of physiological and phenological processes in Australian savannas.
The contribution of symbiotic yeast to toxin resistance of the cigarette beetle (Lasioderma serricorne)

Representative plant allelochemicals were tested for toxicity to larvae of the cigarette beetle Lasioderma serricorne (F.) that were either untreated, treated with fungicides, or treated to render them free of symbiotic yeast (‘aposymbiotic’) through surface sterilization of eggs. Insects rendered symbiont‐free had higher mortality and/or developmental rates than controls when fed diets containing flavone, resorcinol or tannic acid. Fungicides reduced symbiont populations and/or caused morphological abnormalities. Two hydrolytic enzymes, which made up a significant portion of mycetome hydrolytic activity, were absent when symbionts were not present, as indicated by gel electrophoresis. This information indicates symbionts do contribute to the survival of their host by detoxifying toxins.
Life history of Bicyclus anynana mutants: Can they serve as internal controls?

Correction for environmental effects in quantitative genetics experiments is often achieved by use of separate control populations. However, this method may not always correct accurately for environmental fluctuations in rearing conditions. A more suitable approach could be rearing mutants together with experimental groups, provided that these mutants are clearly distinguishable phenotypically and have similar life histories. We tested whether two mutants (yellow and Spotty) available for the tropical butterfly Bicyclus anynana could serve as such true internal controls. The yellow butterflies had lower survival and longer development time than the wild type animals they were reared with, whereas Spotty individuals were equivalent in those respects to their wild type counterparts. Moreover, heritability estimates for development time in the Spotty stock were mostly significantly different from zero and fell within the range found for wild type butterflies. Therefore, we conclude that a backcrossed stock homozygous for the Spotty mutant of B. anynana can reliably serve as an internal control in life‐history studies and we discuss potential advantages of this method.
Microsatellite analysis of multiple paternity and male reproductive success in the promiscuous snowshoe hare

Few genetic studies have addressed patterns of paternity in promiscuous mammals. I used microsatellite DNA primers developed in the European rabbit to analyze paternity in the promiscuous snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus). Sixty-five offspring, their 12 mothers, and their 24 putative fathers were genotyped at seven polymorphic loci (322 alleles/locus). Paternal allele counts and likelihood-based paternity assignments confirmed that multiple paternity occurs in snowshoe hare litters. However, the estimated frequency of multiple paternity was lower than expected in an unstructured promiscuous mating system. A relatively low variance in male reproductive success indicated that no males dominated paternity. A few males did achieve significantly more paternities than average, largely by fathering one or two complete litters rather than a few offspring in many litters. The results suggest that successful multiple mating is limited among both male and female snowshoe hares. An important role for pre- and (or) po.
Plant and Soil Responses to Created Microtopography and Soil Treatments in Bottomland Hardwood Forest Restoration

Although microtopographic heterogeneity is common in bottomland hardwood forests, it is rarely considered in bottomland restoration efforts. The objective of this study was to determine the responses of hydrologic condition, soil physiochemical properties, and introduced and colonizing vegetation to created microtopography and soil treatments at a landfill borrow pit in northern Texas. A series of mounds and pools were created and planted with fast‐growing pioneer species as well as more desirable, later‐successional species. Erosion control mats were installed on half the plots as a source of organic matter. Erosion control mats had little influence on introduced seedling survival or colonizing species abundance, but microtopography strongly influenced hydrologic condition, soil properties, seedling survival and growth, and colonizing species abundance and distribution. Pools were flooded during much of the summer months and had significantly higher nitrate and total nitrogen concentrations than mounds. Topographic position had little effect on survival of pioneer species, but mortality of most later‐successional species was highest in pools. Colonizing species distribution and abundance were also strongly related to topographic position. Despite differences in soil nutrient concentration among topographic zones, hydrologic condition likely had the strongest influence on growth and survival of planted species and distribution of colonizing species. Creating microtopography resulted in a spatially heterogeneous system that reflected variations in natural bottomlands, and introducing a mix of species (pioneer and later‐successional) across topographic and hydrologic gradients may improve the establishment and survival of a diverse community when hydrologic condition is highly variable or difficult to predict.
Regional Species Pools and the Assembly of Local Ecological Communities

Abstract We model the sequential assembly of species into communities, using a notion of permanence from dynamical-systems theory, to investigate effects of species pools on the development of local communities. The results show that communities built from species-rich pools develop more slowly to invasion-resistant states. Fewer basal species are found locally where species are rich in consumers, although specialization by the consumers for different kinds of prey enables more basal species to exist locally. The invasion-resistant states eventually achieved by such an assembly process may be single communities or cyclic sequences of communities uninvadable by species not in the cycle. These endstates of assembly are properties of the species pool, and the form they take depends on the nature of the pool. If made rich enough, species pools cause saturation of local communities such that the number of species present locally becomes uncoupled from the richness of the pool.
Disorders of the Menstrual Cycle in Elite Female Ice Hockey Players and Figure Skaters

The purpose of this study was to assess and compare the incidence of delayed menarche and menstrual dysfunction among elite ice hockey players and figure skaters. Forty-three ice hockey players (23.5 ± 4.8 years, 68.2 ± 1.2 kg, 1.68 ± 0.01 m) and 39 figure skaters (17.5 ± 3.4 years, 53.7 ± 5.8 kg, 1.64 ± 0.05 m) completed a self-administered questionnaire on their menstrual status and history, training regimens and lifestyle. Age at menarche did not differ significantly between ice hockey players (13.3 ± 1.3 years) and figure skaters (13.7 ± 1.4 years). Menarche was unrelated to nationality, vigorous training premenarche or age at which the athlete began her sport, but was correlated with the age at menarche of the athletes’ mothers (r = 0.39, p < 0.05). Hormonal contraceptives were used by 35% of ice hockey players and 15% of the figure skaters. Amenorrhea and oligomenorrhea were experienced by 7.1% and 38.7% of postmenarcheal, ice hockey players and figure skaters respectively not using hormonal contraceptives. Menstrual dysfunction was associated with both age and age at menarche in the ice hockey players only. Training factors, and psychological pressure were perceived by the athletes to contribute to menstrual dysfunction. A greater training volume, younger age at commencing sport, lower body mass, greater subjective body image pressure and younger biological and gynaecological age were reported among the figure skaters, and were proposed to explain the higher incidence of menstrual dysfunction among the figure skaters compared with the ice hockey players. Figure skaters appear at increased risk of amenorrhea and oligomenorrhea compared with ice hockey players, which may be linked to training and physical characteristics of the sports.
Production of Two Types of Lipases with Opposite Positional Specificity by Geotrichum sp. FO401B

A fungus, FO401B, was isolated as a microorganism capable of assimilating sardine oil as a sole carbon source and producing a large amount of extracellular lipase; it was identified as Geotrichum sp. The fungus produced a lipase mixture that was more specific towards the 2 position, as judged by the positional specificity index, when the initial pH of a rice bran medium was raised. The lipases in the broth were purified by ion exchange and hydrophobic interaction chromatographies and termed Lipases A, B, and C. A and C gave a single band each by SDS–PAGE, but fraction B was presumed to be a mixture of Lipases A and C. A was incompletely 1,3-specific towards triolein (able to hydrolyze the 2-positioned ester at a slower rate) and, in contrast with A, C was incompletely 2-specific. The positional specificity of B was completely non specific. The optimum pHs of A and C were 7.0 and 8.5 and their molecular weights were 62,000 and 58,000, respectively.
The Carolina Parakeet: Glimpses of a Vanished Bird

An interesting anecdote from this chapter concerns the 2002 vote in California for a $2.6 billion park and environmental bond issue. According to Los Angeles Times exit polling, 77% of black voters, 74% of Latinos, 60% of Asians, and 56% of whites supported the bond. “Three in four voters whose family income was less than $20,000 supported the measure—the highest percentage of any income group—and 61% of those with a high school education or less voted for the park bond, the highest percentage among education levels. ” Perhaps we have been directing our campaign efforts at the wrong populations.
Growth and reproduction of Tetranychus turkestani and Tetranychus truncatus (Acari: Tetranychidae) on cotton and corn

Abstract The biological parameters of Tetranychus turkestani (Ugarov et Nikolskii) and Tetranychus truncatus (Ehara) on cotton and corn were studied in the laboratory at 28±1°C, 70±10% RH and 16L: 8D photoperiod in 2011 and 2012. The differences of the two spider mite species on the same host plant and the effect of different host plants on the same spider mite species were both compared. The results of two spider mite species on the same host plant indicated that the rm values of T. truncatus were higher than those of T. turkestani whether they were reared on cotton or corn. The other results of the effect of different host plants on the same spider mites indicated that T. turkestani achieved higher rm on cotton (0.18, 0.17) than on corn (0.14, 0.15) in both 2011 and 2012, respectively. However, the rm values obtained on cotton for T. truncatus (0.19, 0.19) were smaller than those obtained on corn (0.21, 0.21) in both years. This study showed that the fecundity of T. truncatus is greater than that of T. turkestani on the same plant species. Moreover, corn is the better host plant for T. truncatus, whereas cotton is more suitable for T. turkestani.
Replacing dietary fish oil with increasing levels of rapeseed oil and olive oil – effects on Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) tissue and lipoprotein lipid composition and lipogenic enzyme activities

Six groups of Atlantic salmon, initial weight 142 ± 1 g, were fed increasing dietary inclusion of rapeseed oil (RO) in a regression design and one group was fed a 50% olive oil/50% capelin oil diet. Fatty acid composition was measured in red and white muscle, liver, and fatty acid and lipid class composition was measured in plasma and in the lipoproteins; very low density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein, high density lipoprotein and nonlipoprotein fraction after 22 and 42 weeks of feeding. Further, the activities of liver NADH-isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH), malic enzyme, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase were measured at each sampling point. After 42 weeks of feeding the experimental diets, the tissue and lipoprotein fatty acid composition was highly affected by dietary fatty acid composition. Regressions showed that 22:1n − 11, 18:1n − 9, 18:3n − 3 and 18:2n − 6 are readily metabolized in all tissues analysed. Further, 20:5n − 3 seems to be metabolized in muscle and retained in liver. 22:6n − 3 was selectively retained in all the analysed tissues, and with higher retention in liver and plasma with higher polar lipid/neutral lipid ratio compared to white and red muscle. Liver from salmon fed 100% RO showed decreased G6PDH and increased ICDH activities compared to the other dietary groups; however, no linear relationship related to increased RO inclusion was detected. The amount of plasma lipoproteins, liver monoene fatty acid level and lipogenic enzyme activity decreased from the autumn to the winter sampling with concomitant decrease in temperature.
Variation in quality parameters between and within 14 Nordic tree fruit and berry species

Abstract A 3-year study was carried out to investigate quality parameters in 14 tree fruit and berry species grown in southern Norway. The species were blueberry, apple, aronia, sour cherry, sweet cherry, red raspberry, strawberry, blackcurrant, gooseberry, red currant and elderberry, harvested along with wild bilberry, cloudberry and lingonberry. Significant differences between species were identified for all quality parameters. The coefficient of variation between species was lowest for pH (12.5%), dry matter (18.9%) and soluble solids (25.3%), followed by titratable acids (59.3%), total phenolics (83.8%), antioxidant capacity FRAP (85.7%) and antiradical power by the DPPH-assay (97.8%), total monomeric anthocyanins (132%) and ascorbic acid (137%). Average coefficient of variation within species were lower and ranged from 4 (pH) to 62% (ascorbic acid). Only the FRAP values were significantly affected by harvesting year with lower levels in 2004 than in 2005 and 2006. There were significant interactions between species and harvesting year for dry matter, soluble solids, pH, ascorbic acid and FRAP. The results indicate generic ranges in composition within species independent upon growing location and climate, and the composition of the tree fruits and berries is not likely to deviate from these ranges. It is concluded that desirable composition of tree fruits and berries and their products should primarily be achieved by selection among species rather than searching fors broadened variation within individual species.