Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
NATURE AND NURTURE ARE WE MISSING A THIRD OPTION

In light of my own situation, I have been drawn to question whether all experiences can be explained in terms solely of nature and nurture. This has led me to seriously question the notion of genetic determinism. While the interplay of nature and nurture may be far more complicated than we currently understand, the uniqueness of my situation suggests there may be more to the story which led me to wonder whether, in fact, there may be a third option: nature + nurture + ‘? ’. This thesis focuses on two areas. Firstly, genetic determinism—the notion that our genes determine who and what we are—is examined. Genetic determinism is the basis of the ‘nature’ part of the dichotomy. Secondly, if the genetic determinism component of the nature and nurture equation is found lacking, what is it that might be missing? There are two possible candidates for the third option: emergence and chaos. Emergent properties are those which arise out of the interactions of the components of a system. These properties are an “extra piece” that is present when the system (such as the human body) functions as a whole but which cannot be identified when the system is examined in its component parts (such as organs or tissues). Chaos is behaviour within a system that we cannot predict from looking at the system’s initial conditions. For example, fluctuations in the levels of regulatory molecules within a cell can result in fluctuations in gene output or the increased variation in dendrite formation of melanocytes due to an organism having only one functional copy of the tumoursuppressor gene neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), instead of two (haploinsufficiency). Both of these concepts represent new areas of scientific inquiry. While the evidence for emergence is interesting, this thesis concludes it is too early to be drawing any significant conclusions about its role. The evidence supporting the role of chaos is also limited but it is compelling. This thesis concludes that chaos may be the third option in the nature and nurture debate, although its role is likely very small. Many arguments in bioethics are launched from a position of genetic determinism on the assumption that after an assessment of an individual’s genes, we can draw
Apoptotic Cells Induce Immunosuppression through Dendritic Cells: Critical Roles of Interferon‐gamma and Nitric Oxide

Apoptotic cells induce immunosuppression through unknown mechanisms. To identify the underlying molecular mediators, we examined how apoptotic cells induce immunoregulation by dendritic cells (DC). We found that administration of DC exposed to apoptotic cells (DCap) strongly inhibited expansion of lymphocytes in draining lymph nodes (dLNs) in vivo and subsequent antigen‐specific activation of dLN lymphocytes ex vivo. Unexpectedly, DCap supported T cell activation to a similar extent as normal DC in vitro, leading to proliferation and IL‐2 production, except DCap did not support T cell production of IFNgamma. Surprisingly, when DCap were co‐cultured with normal DC, they completely lost their ability to support T cell activation, an effect reversed by anti‐IFNgamma or inhibitors of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). As expected, exposure to apoptotic cells rendered DCap capable of producing much more nitric oxide (NO) in response to exogenous IFNgamma than normal DC. Furthermore, DCap from iNOS−/− or IFNgammaR1−/− mice were not inhibitory. Therefore, the IFNgamma‐induced production of NO by apoptotic cell‐sensitized DC plays a key role in apoptotic cell‐mediated immunosuppression.
Hepatoprotective and hypolipidemic effects of Spirulina platensis in rats administered mercuric chloride

In the present study Spirulina platensis has been investigated as a possible modifier of mercury induced hepatic damages and alteration of lipid profile in albino rats. The results revealed that the rats treated with mercuric chloride (HgCl2) showed a significant increase in levels of blood hydroperoxide, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C). Moreover, hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration of HgCl2 group elevated significantly. On the other hand, plasma protein, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and hepatic glutathione (GSH) of HgCl2 treated following administration of HgCl2 shows necrosis and cytoplasmic vacuolization by Mercury intoxication induces some pathological alterations in the liver as necrosis and cytoplasmic vacuolization. The rise in plasma hepatic enzymes, cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, hydroperoxide, and histopathological changes were significantly attenuated by Spirulina. Moreover, the levels of plasma HDL-C and protein and hepatic glutathione in Spirulina+HgCl2 group showed a significant increase as compared with HgCl2 group. Spirulina significantly alleviated the hepatotoxicity induced by HgCl2 and modified the lipid profile through its antioxidant properties. Key words: Spirulina platensis, mercuric chloride, hydroperoxide, liver enzymes, glutathione, cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL.
Red aviation lights on wind turbines do not increase bat–turbine collisions

Many hypotheses have been proposed to explain why bat–wind turbine collisions occur; however, most of these hypotheses have yet to be tested and with high numbers of bat fatalities reported annually at wind resource facilities globally, there is a real need to understand this phenomenon. In this study, we tested whether aviation lighting influenced the number of bat fatalities at wind turbines. Thus, at a utility‐scale wind facility in north‐central Texas, we explored whether bat fatalities were higher at wind turbines with red flashing aviation lighting compared with turbines without such lighting. Over a 5‐year period, we recorded fatalities at wind turbines as part of a long‐term fatality monitoring programme. During standardized searches, we collected 916 bat carcasses representing all six species known to be present at the site. We found that bat fatalities were higher at wind turbines without aviation lighting compared with those with; a pattern that was driven by one species, Lasiurus borealis, and there was no significant difference between fatalities at wind turbines with or without aviation lighting for any other species. Our study demonstrates that wind turbines should continue to be fitted with synchronized, flashing red aviation lights, as this form of lighting does not appear to be one of the potential causes of bat fatalities at wind resource facilities. We therefore support further research that explores possible alternative causes of bat–wind turbine interactions. More specifically, we reiterate that there is still a pressing need to determine the aspects of bat ecology that result in individuals coming into contact with wind turbines.
Expression of a full length Arabidopsis vacuolar H+-pyrophosphatase (AVP1) gene in tobacco (Nicotiana tabbacum) to increase tolerance to drought and salt stresses.

Among various abiotic stresses salinity and drought are the two major factors limiting the crop productivity. Genetically engineered salt and drought tolerant plants could provide an avenue to the reclamation of farmlands lost to agriculture because of salinity and a lack of rainfall. The Arabidopsis gene AVP1 encodes a vacuolar pyrophosphatase that functions as a proton pump and generates an electrochemical gradient in vacuole, thereby activating vacuolar membrane-antiporters including Na + /H + antiporter, which helps in sequestration of Na + into vacuole. In addition, over-expression of AVP1 gene increase vegetative growth by auxin transport and enhances auxin mediated root development, consequently achieving higher water absorption and retention capacities. The goal of present work is amplification of full length AVP1 (3.2kb) gene, from Arabidopsis thaliana genomic DNA through PCR, its cloning into a suitable plant expression vector and transformation in tobacco through Agrobacterium mediated transformation method for its characterization. PCR analysis showed the successful transformation of this gene in Nicotiana tabaccum . Screening of these putative transgenic plants against different salinity levels (50-250mM NaCl) showed that transgenic plants were tolerant to 250mM NaCl whereas the control plants showed wilting within 36-48 hours of salt treatment. Under periodic drought stress treatment transgenic ( AVP1 ) plants were significantly more tolerant than wild type plants. Similarly the results of salinity and drought tolerance experiment in sand under saline and water regime conditions confirmed that introns play a key role in gene expression and regulations and improve the growth of plants. These resistant phenotypes are associated with increased internal stores of solutes.
The Eects of Feedback Loops and Signalling Complexes in the Induction of Postsynaptic Plasticity: A Systems Biology Approach

Synaptic plasticity is the activity-dependent modification of the strength of connections between neurons, which supports learning and memory by selectively strengthening some connections while weakening others. Neural activity generates biochemical signals that activate a complex network of signalling proteins affecting synaptic change by increasing or decreasing the number of receptors present at the synapse. A key feature of this process of induction is that it requires the activation of feedback loops with sharp thresholds to sustain signalling and filter out fluctuations. Also present at the synapse are specialized proteins called scaffolds that bind members of signalling pathways and shape their dynamics in a variety of ways. Recent research has shown that scaffolds can variously strengthen and weaken the threshold properties of these pathways, depending on context. The aim of this thesis is to determine the qualitative effects of combining feedback loops and scaffold proteins in computational models of synaptic plasticity. In agreement with previous results in the literature, we found that the effect of scaffolds on threshold properties is highly dependent on biochemical context, but we did not find evidence of an interactive effect of feedback loops and scaffold proteins in this regard.
Shrub biomass production following simulated herbivory: A test of the compensatory growth hypothesis

The objective of this experiment was to test the hypotheses that 1) simulated herbivory stimulates increased biomass production in spiny hackberry (Celtis pallida), but decreases biomass production in blackbrush acacia (Acacia rigidula) compared to unbrowsed plants and 2) thorn density and length increase in blackbrush acacia to a greater extent than in spiny hackberry in response to tissue removal. Blackbrush acacia shrubs defoliated repeatedly at the 75 percent level produced about 66 percent more biomass than control shrubs, while shrubs receiving 100 percent repeat defoliation treatments produced double the biomass as control shrubs (p < 0.05), suggesting overcompensation. Spiny hackberry repeat defoliated shrub biomass production was double control shrub production at 25 percent treatment levels and 81 percent higher in repeat defoliated shrubs at 50 percent defoliation levels relative to control shrubs (p < 0.05). Biomass production during the third and fourth defoliation events was 90 percent lower than (p < 0.05) biomass removed in the initial defoliation. New twig and thorn production occurred only in 2003, but only in blackbrush acacia. These results suggest that spiny hackberry, a highly palatable shrub, is negatively impacted at high defoliation intensity, while the less palatable shrub, blackbrush acacia, responds to intense defoliation with increased biomass production.
A Possible Heptaxodontine and Other Caviidan Rodents from the Quaternary of Jamaica1

Abstract New World hystricognath rodents (parvorder Caviida) easily qualify as the most diversified members of the nonvolant Quaternary land mammal fauna of the West Indies. This paper describes three intriguing but problematic representatives of this group from Jamaican cave deposits. The first is the holotype (and still the only) specimen of Alterodon major from Wallingford Roadside Cave, a taxon that continues to generate controversy because specialists disagree as to its placement within Caviida. We reject the argument that it should be placed in Octodontidae and reaffirm the high probability that it is a clidomyine. The second fossil is a large proximal femur, apparently recovered from Sheep Pen locality near Windsor (Trelawney Parish) in the 1960s. Much larger than the femur of Clidomys (previously thought to be Jamaica's largest Quaternary mammal), in size and morphology the new fossil somewhat resembles femora of the eastern Caribbean heptaxodontine Amblyrhiza. Although firm allocation is not possible, the Sheep Pen femur is possibly that of a megafaunal caviidan. The third fossil described in this paper is the jaw of a previously unknown caviidan from a dated end-Pleistocene cave context in Portland Ridge (Jackson's Bay, Clarendon Parish). Xaymaca fulvopulvis, new genus and species, differs from all West Indian caviidan species presently known. The jaw is well preserved but retains only the incisor and premolar (the latter in a very worn state). The few features for which the new species can be usefully analyzed and compared to caviidan groups represented in the West Indian Cenozoic (capromyids, heteropsomyines, heptaxodontines, and clidomyines) are largely indecisive from a systematic perspective. However, on balance the strongest indicators seem to lie with the “giant” heptaxodontines of the central and eastern Caribbean (the grouping composed of Amblyrhiza, Elasmodontomys, and possibly Quemisia), and despite its diminutive size Xaymaca is tentatively placed within that group. It is increasingly apparent that much still remains to be learned about the origin and history of the land mammal fauna of Jamaica.
BIOLOGICAL MOTORS IN LIVING SYSTEMS

Biological motors in living systems, from human beings to bacteria, are responsible for movement at molecular level as well as cellular level. These movements form the very basis of life, without which existence is not possible. The size of these motors is much smaller (about 1,000 to 100 times smaller) than any existing d evices. They are biocompatible and do not need any enormous external power source, because they utilize the energy of ATP present in their ambient aqueous environment. Molecular motors consist of two functional domains, which are head domain containing the ATPase and microtubule-binding motor activity and nonmotor tail domains. They move unidirectionally along actin filaments or microtubules and compete with each other for the transportation of cargo within the cell. Inspite of various limitations, different studies have been undertaken to develop nanomachines based on these biological motors to tap their vast potential.
Daucosterol pretreatment ameliorates myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury via ROS-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation

Purpose: To determine the involvement of NLRP3 signaling pathway in the preventive role of daucosterol in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods: H9C2 cells were pretreated with daucosterol before hypoxia/reoxygenation (HR) injury. Myocardial ischemia reperfusion (IR) was established in male SD rats, followed by reperfusion. Myocardial infarct size was measured. The serum levels of creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined using commercial kits. NLRP3 inflammasome activation was assessed by western blotting.Results: Myocardial infarct size was smaller after IR injury in rats pretreated with daucosterol (10 and 50 mg/kg) than that pretreated with daucosterol (0 and 1 mg/kg). The increase in LDH, CK, and MDA levels after IR injury was reduced following daucosterol pretreatment. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production increased, whereas T-SOD activity decreased after IR injury. These changes were prevented by pretreatment of daucosterol (10 and 50 mg/kg). Protein expression of NLRP3 inflammasome increased after IR injury in H9C2 cells while pretreatment with daucosterol inhibited the upregulation of NLRP3 inflammasome.Conclusion: The cardioprotective effect of daucosterol pretreatment appears to be mediated via the inactivation of ROS-related NLRP3 inflammasome, suggesting that daucosteol might be a potential therapeutic drug for AMI. Keywords: Daucosterol, Myocardial ischemia, Reperfusion injury, Reactive oxygen species, NLRP3 inflammasome
Toxicological Studies in Albino Rats Maintained on Fish Smoked with Firewood and Waste Tyre Materials

Tyres are a mixture of vulcanized or cross-linked polymers, carbon black, dispersing oil, sulphur, synthetic fibres, pigments, processing chemicals and steel/fiberglass. Burning of tyre materials produces smoke and toxic air pollutants, including benzene, dioxins, furans, heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). We investigated the effects of the accumulation of these toxicants on fish smoked with waste tyre materials as fuel source on liver function and oxidative stress parameters in Albino Wistar rats. In this toxicological study, some of the rats were exposed to diet formulated with the smoked fish and some were allowed diets formulated with smoked fish and/or Solanum lycopersicum and Allium cepa. At the end of the study period, the liver function parameters (total protein, albumin, AST, ALP, ALP, bilirubin and cholesterol) indicated negative hepatic changes with adverse fluctuations in oxidative stress parameters (GPx, catalase, SOD, GSH and MDA). Incorporation of S. lycopersicum and A. cepa in the diets ameliorated these adverse biochemical changes in rats exposed to fish smoked with these toxic materials.
Neutralizing Antibodies to Epstein Barr Virus in the Rhesus Macaque Animal Model and in Humans

iii Acknowledgements v Chapter One: Introduction 1 Herpesvirus classification 2 EBV and Humans: Infection, Disease, and Vaccines 2 EBV life cycle in a human host 3 EBV-associated diseases 4 EBV vaccine attempts 7 EBV infection of B cells and epithelial cells: entry, replication, and latency 9 EBV entry 9 Events following entry: lytic replication or establishment of latency 12 EBV glycoproteins and glycoprotein specific antibodies 13 Gp350 15 Gp42 16 gH/gL 17 gB 18 BMRF2/BDLF2 19 gM/gN 19 Gp150 and gp78 20 EBV neutralizing antibodies 20 Antibodies to EBV glycoproteins in infected humans 22 EBV animal models 22
GC-MS ANALYSIS OF BIOACTIVE CONSTITUENTS OF CARALLUMA TRUNCATO- CORONATA (SEDGW.) GRAVELY & MAYUR. (ASCLEPIADACEAE).

In this study, the bioactive compounds of Caralluma truncato-coronata have been evaluated using GC-MS. The chemical compositions of the whole plant ethanol extract of c. truncato-coronata were investigated using Perkin-Elmer Gas Chromatography- Mass Specroscopy. GC-MS revealed the existence of the major compound The results revealed that the presence of Thunbergol (68.05%), Vitamin E (9.45%), Squalene and Lupeol (5.67%), β Tocopherol (4.91%), Acetic acid,5-(dimethyle-6-oxocyclohexylidene) -3-methyl-pent-3-enyl ester (3.78%), β-Sitosterol(1.89%) and Furan,2-butyltetrahydro- (0.57%). Further isolation and biological screening will be providing the therapeutic potential of the compounds.
Phytotoxicity Assay to Assess Plant Species for Phytoremediation of Petroleum-Contaminated Soil

A phytotoxicity bioassay was used to select plant species for phytoremediation that were able to germinate and grow in petroleum-contaminated soil from an industrial site in Canada. Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne var. “Affinity”) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) were more successful at germination and root growth than were little bluestem (Schizachyrum scoparium) and crown vetch (Coronilla varia). The phytotoxicity assay provides a rapid, efficient mechanism of prescreening potential plant species and eliminating those not able to germinate and establish in soil conditions present at the contaminated site. This bioassay can potentially reduce the number of pot or greenhouse degradation studies that need to be conducted before plant species can be chosen for petroleum phytoremediation.
A note on the conservation characteristics of physiologically immature forage maize ensiled with different additives.

The effects of different silage additives on the conservation characteristics of physio logically immature forage maize (Zea mats L.) were studied using two hybrid varieties (LG 2080 and Ema) that were harvested separately on 28 October. Each was precision-chopped and ensiled in triplicate in laboratory silos (6 kg/silo) either alone or with the manual addition of formic acid (3 ml/kg), sulphuric acid (3 ml/kg), sucrose (6 g/kg) or urea (3 g/kg). There were no significant differences in composition at ensiling or in conservation characteristics between hybrids, and there were no interactions between hybrid and additive treatment. The mean (s.d.) compo sition of maize at ensiling was 181 (2.2) g dry matter (DM)/kg, 118 (3.7) g crude protein/kg DM, in vitro DM digestibility 706 (6.1) g/kg, 43 (5.8) g water-soluble carbohydrate /kg aqueous extract, buffering capacity 298 (10.0) mEq/kg DM and no starch. Maize ensiled without additives underwent a lactic-acid-dominant fermenta tion. Formic acid restricted fermentation (P < 0.001) considerably, whereas sulphuric acid partially restricted (P < 0.01) fermentation but also reduced (P < 0.05) DM digestibility and DM recovery. Sucrose increased (P < 0.05) ethanol concentration while urea increased (P< 0.001) crude protein concentration and the extent of fermentation. Only formic acid increased (P < 0,05) effluent output. Formic acid improved (P < 0.05) indicators of aerobic stability, with sucrose and urea having progressively less consistent effects, and sulphuric acid causing a disimprovement.
Critical analysis of the glutaraldehyde fixation of the thyroid gland: a double-labelling experiment

Glutaraldehyde is commonly used as fixative for electron microscopy. The loss of iodinated molecules in this fixative was studied in the rat thyroid gland. Glands were sliced in blocks and incubated at 4 deg C in a 2% glutaraldehyde solution. Iodine pools ($sup 127$I) were measured by the isotopic equilibrium method with $sup 125$I and iodine SRA ($sup 131$I/$sup 127$I) were calculated after short-term labellings with $sup 131$I. Iodoproteins were separated by precipitation with TCA. Results were compared between two groups of rats adapted to a daily iodine intake of 5 $mu$g (group 5) and 50 $mu$g (group 50), respectively. In the rat thyroid gland fixed with glutaraldehyde: about 5% of the total iodine, essentially in the form of iodoproteins, is solubilized in the fixative whatever the iodine diet of the rat. A preferential solubilization of the youngest molecules of iodoproteins is observed. This preferential solubilization is dependent on the physiological state of the gland since it depends on the iodoproteins turnover. Glutaraldehyde introduces artefacts in the electron radioautographies of thyroid for short-term labelling with iodide. The error introduced is also dependent on the origin of the solubilized molecules of iodoproteins which is discussed. (FR)