Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Histochemical Reactivity of Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase in the Matrix of Developing Medullary Bone

The distribution pattern of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) in matrices of developing medullary bone was histochemically examined and compared with the calcifi cation pattern of the matrix employing estrogen-induced medullary bone of male Japanesequail. Medullary bone trabeculae extended inward toward the marrow cavity and the calcification of bone matrix had begun by 4 and 7 days treatment of estrogen. The bone matrix located near the cortical bone was calcified and thin osteoid was observed. On medullary bone trabeculae more distant from cortical bone, the calcification was seen in deeper areas of the matrix with wide osteoid, and frequently the extending tips consisted solely of osteoid. Medullary bone trabeculae were more extended and the calcified areas were also increased in quails treated with estrogen for 7 days. TRAP activity was mostly positive in the matrix near the cortical bone and extending trabeculae, but surface areas and peripheries of the trabeculae were negative for the activity. The TRAP-positive area of medullary bone matrix had increased by 7 days treatment compared to that of 4 days treatment. The similarity between the distribution patterns of TRAP-positive areas in the matrix and the distribution patterns of calcified matrix suggests that the TRAP accumulated in the matrix during medullary bone formation became an active form with calcification of matrix.
Factors affecting the performance of acaricides used for control of the cattle tick, Boophilus microplus

Abstract Factors affecting the performance of acaricides in the control of ticks are reviewed. A survey of studies on the deposition of acaricides on the hair of dipped or sprayed cattle shows that acaricides in suspension form metastable systems. Their physical instability is initiated or accelerated by additives, ageing, fouling and replenishment and is manifested as marked changes in the size of the deposit. Greater changes occur in suspensions produced by emulsion and melt‐type formulations, than in those produced from wettable powder type formulations. The method of application—whether by dipping or spraying—and the breed of cattle used, also cause changes in deposition. It is concluded that the requirements for an optimal formulation for tick control could best be met by a flowable paste. Insolation resulting in decreased persistence of deposits is seen as the reason for the shorter protection against infesting ticks observed in summer. Fouling was responsible for most of the chemical decomposition .
Metal-triggered Structural Transformations, Aggregation, and Fibrillation of Human α-Synuclein

Parkinson's disease involves the aggregation of α-synuclein to form fibrils, which are the major constituent of intracellular protein inclusions (Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites) in dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra. Occupational exposure to specific metals, especially manganese, copper, lead, iron, mercury, zinc, aluminum, appears to be a risk factor for Parkinson's disease based on epidemiological studies. Elevated levels of several of these metals have also been reported in the substantia nigra of Parkinson's disease subjects. We examined the effect of various metals on the kinetics of fibrillation of recombinant α-synuclein and in inducing conformational changes, as monitored by biophysical techniques. Several di- and trivalent metal ions caused significant accelerations in the rate of α-synuclein fibril formation. Aluminum was the most effective, along with copper(II), iron(III), cobalt(III), and manganese(II). The effectiveness correlated with increasing ion charge density. A correlation was noted between efficiency in stimulating fibrillation and inducing a conformational change, ascribed to formation of a partially folded intermediate. The potential for ligand bridging by polyvalent metal ions is proposed to be an important factor in the metal-induced conformational changes of α-synuclein. The results indicate that low concentrations of some metals can directly induce α-synuclein fibril formation.
Bioactive and Taste-related Compounds in Defatted Freeze-dried Chicken Soup Made from Two Different Chicken Breeds Obtained at Retail

1 Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 305-764, Republic of Korea 2 Department of Animal Science, Uva Wellassa University, Badulla 90000, Sri Lanka 3 Department of Animal Science and Technology, Sunchon National University, Suncheon 540-742, Republic of Korea 4 Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Center for Food and Bioconvergence, Research Institute for Agriculture and Life Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-921, Republic of Korea
Fermentation of non‐dairy foods

Abstract The high standard of starter technology in the dairy field affects the development of the fermentation technology in various other fields. For the production of fermented sausages, acid reduced wine or sour dough the use of starters is on the way to become an accepted part of the process. However, the special nature of the various substrates, the high initial load with the competitive microflora and special technological requirements cause problems which are unique for each single product. Starter organisms are in use which are either of limited competitiveness but are effective by virtue of their high initial inoculum, or are highly competitive and adapted to the special substrate. Examples for the latter groups of organisms applied in the respective fields are Lactobacillus sake (and L. curvatus), Leuconostoc oenos and Lactobacillus sanfrancisco. For economical reasons and safe performance of the fermentation process, these organisms appear to be candidates for optimum starter cultures and also.
A comparative survey of the freshwater copepods of two different regions of the Central Palaearctic: European and Siberian

We studied the taxonomic composition and the ecological characteristics of freshwater copepods collected from two lakes and 41 water bodies of the European northeast tundra and from 39 lakes in the northern taiga of Central Siberia. Both regions are situated beyond the Arctic Circle (Russia). Up to seven planktonic and 13 benthic species were recorded in the European tundra lakes and 27 species occurred in the small tundra water bodies. The taiga lakes of the Siberian region harboured 31 species. We confirmed the exclusively European distribution of Bryocamptus zschokkei komi Borutzky and the restricted distribution of Leptodiaptomus angustilobus (Sars) and Neutrodiaptomus pachypoditus (Rylov) in Asian ponds. Overall, we found a higher diversity of calanoids in the Siberian taiga than in the European tundra region. In addition, our results show that the biomass of particular copepod species, but not the total copepod biomass, is related to the surface area of lakes, size of small water bodies, the ecological category, pH, temperature, oxygen concentration and metal content.
Reversible decreases in the bulk elastic modulus of mature leaves of deciduous Quercus species subjected to two drought treatments

Changes in leaf water relations under water stress were examined. In experiment 1, water stress was imposed by withholding irrigation to potted seedlings of deciduous oak, Quercus crispula and Q. serrata. Changes in the pressure-volume (P-V) curve in mature leaves were followed. The leaf water potential at turgor loss (Ψ l,tip ) significantly decreased after 13 d of drought treatment. The bulk elastic modulus (e) significantly decreased, which contributed to the maintenance of cell turgor together with the decrease in osmotic potential. In experiment 2, water stress was imposed by notching a branch of a Q. serrata tree. After the notching, the daily minimum leaf water potential (Ψ 1 ) decreased, and a significant decrease in Ψ l,tlp was observed 15 d after notching. The osmotic potential at water saturation (Ψ π,sat ) did not decrease significantly until 25 d after notching whereas, e had already decreased significantly within 15 d after notching and increased promptly after substantial precipitation. It was confirmed that e of mature leaves decreased reversibly in water stress. This response of e was more rapid than that of the osmotic potential and, thus, effectively maintained cell turgor when water stress was suddenly imposed on the leaves.
The Physicochemical, Biochemical and Pasting properties of forty one cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz.) Landraces

Forty one cassava landraces received from CTCRI, Thiruvanathapuram were evaluated for their physicochemical, biochemical and pasting properties to find their industrial applications. In the present study, amylose content ranged between 15.2–32.4 per cent and starch content between 10.8–38.52 per cent. Among the 41 landraces studied, paste clarity was high for nineteen landraces. Swelling of cassava flours increases with increasing temperature and was measured from 50–80°C. Correlation study revealed that the amylose content was positively correlated to starch content and peak viscosity while it was negatively correlated to paste clarity suggesting its importance in food, textile and paper industries. Peak viscosity showed significant positive correlation with BDV, HPV, CPV and SBV. The identified two landraces viz., Manjettan and Thukkuvella 6 possess low amylose content with high paste clarity. The landraces Mysore and Kavaram Kutty recorded high swelling power with high amylose and starch content and the landrace Attukomban had low final viscosity, pasting time with acceptable amylose and starch content. These genotypes are selected for their suitability to food based industries.
Comparative studies on the immune system of fishes and amphibians: antigen localization in the carp Cyprinus carpio L.

Antigen localization studies in the mirror carp Cyprinus carpio were carried out using a soluble antigen, human gamma globulin and a cellular bacterial antigen, Aeromonas salmonicida. Antigen was detected using direct single layer and indirect double layer immunofluorescent techniques, respectively. A study of the spleen, pronephros, mesonephros, liver and thymus at various times after administration of the antigen showed that fluorescence occurs mainly in the ellipsoids of the spleen and in the haemopoietic parenchyma of the pronephros and mesonephros and reaches its greatest intensity when antibody titres are relatively high. A direct comparison with antigen localization in the clawed toad Xenopus laevis, has enabled us to analyse possible evolutionary trends towards the complex dendritic retention of antigen seen in the higher vertebrates.
A field study of settlement behaviour in Balanus balanoides and Elminius modestus (Cirripedia: Crustacea) in relation to competition between them

There can be little doubt that competition for space, both inter- and intraspecific is a major factor in barnacle ecology. Southward & Crisp (1956) first pointed out the role of competition between Balanus balanoides (L.) and Chthamalus stellatus (Poli) in south-west Britain which Connell (1959, 1961) later demonstrated experimentally. Crisp (1958) discussed competition between the indigenous B. balanoides and the immigrant Elminius modestus Darwin in the intertidal zone, and measurements of growth rates, using manipulated populations of these two species, indicated that inter- and intraspecific competition for space after settlement is intense (Crisp, 1964).
Antisense inhibition of c‐myc expression reveals common and distinct mechanisms of growth inhibition by TGFβ and TNFα

Downregulation of the c‐myc gene in HL‐60 cells is associated with growth inhibition and induction of differentiation. Previous studies have reported that the growth inhibitors TGFβ and TNFα downregulate c‐myc mRNA levels, suggesting the possibility that these agents may exert some of their phenotypic effects via c‐myc downregulation. Our study demonstrates that although both growth inhibitors produce a similar decrease in c‐myc protein synthesis, TNFα produces a greater growth inhibition and differentiation induction in HL‐60 cells. Combined addition of anti‐myc oligomer with either growth inhibitor produces no additive effect. In fact, 4 μM anti‐myc oligomer produces the same growth and differentiation effects as does 10 ng/ml TGFβ1. We conclude that downregulation of c‐myc expression represents a common mechanism of growth inhibition by TGFβ and TNFα, but that TNFα possesses an additional effect that is independent of c‐myc expression.
Conditional helping and evolutionary transitions to eusociality and cooperative breeding

The nonreproductive helpers of many arthropod, bird and mammal species are a perennial puzzle for evolutionary biologists. Theory and evidence suggests that helping is favored by high relatedness between social partners and by certain ecological factors. I suggest that the availability of information on reproductive value may be another important factor predicting whether helping evolves. Using simple models, I show that conditional helping strategies, in which individuals assess the reproductive value of themselves and their relatives and then help conditionally, evolve more easily than unconditional helping strategies. The models also identify conditions that cause parent–offspring conflict over helping strategy and produce predictions regarding the evolution of honest signaling and parental effects. Crucially, the evolution of facultative helping can select for specialization in helping, which in turn selects for more frequent helping, creating positive feedback. Facultative helping might thereby act as stepping-stone to advanced forms of obligate helping.
Light-Level Geolocators Reveal Strong Migratory Connectivity and Within-Winter Movements for a Coastal California Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) Population

ABSTRACT. We used light-level geolocators to describe the migratory geography of Swainson's Thrushes (Catharus ustulatus) from a breeding population in central coastal California. Between 11 June and 20 July 2010, we attached geolocator tags to 35 Swainson's Thrushes at three sites in Marin County, California, and recovered 12 in the following two breeding seasons. All 12 birds spent the winter in Mexico, north of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. Eleven of the birds went to the Jalisco region in western Mexico, but two of those birds (18% of total) moved east in midwinter to either the Sierra Madre Oriental or Sierra Madre del Sur; the 12th bird went directly to one of the latter regions. The return rate over the next 2 years for tagged birds (34%) was not statistically lower than that for control birds (45%). We combined our results with the results of an earlier study that used geolocators on Swainson's Thrushes from British Columbia to quantify the strength of migratory connectivity using Mantel's correlation coefficient. Our estimate of the strength of migratory connectivity for Swainson's Thrushes (rm = 0.72) was much stronger than that reported using band returns of Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica) in the Eastern Hemisphere (rm = 0.03). To our knowledge, this is the first quantitative measure of migratory connectivity derived from geolocators.
Serine Racemase Modulates Intracellular D-Serine Levels through an α,β-Elimination Activity*

Mammalian brain contains high levels of d-serine, an endogenous co-agonist of N-methyl d-aspartate type of glutamate receptors. d-Serine is synthesized by serine racemase, a brain enriched enzyme converting l- to d-serine. Degradation of d-serine is achieved by d-amino acid oxidase, but this enzyme is not present in forebrain areas that are highly enriched in d-serine. We now report that serine racemase catalyzes the degradation of cellular d-serine itself, through the α,β-elimination of water. The enzyme also catalyzes water α,β-elimination with l-serine and l-threonine. α,β-Elimination with these substrates is observed both in vitro and in vivo. To investigate further the role of α,β-elimination in regulating cellular d-serine, we generated a serine racemase mutant displaying selective impairment of α,β-elimination activity (Q155D). Levels of d-serine synthesized by the Q155D mutant are several-fold higher than the wild-type both in vitro and in vivo. This suggests that the α,β-elimination reaction limits the achievable d-serine concentration in vivo. Additional mutants in vicinal residues (H152S, P153S, and N154F) similarly altered the partition between the α,β-elimination and racemization reactions. α,β-Elimination also competes with the reverse serine racemase reaction in vivo. Although the formation of l- from d-serine is readily detected in Q155D mutant-expressing cells incubated with physiological d-serine concentrations, reversal with wild-type serine racemase-expressing cells required much higher d-serine concentration. We propose that α,β-elimination provides a novel mechanism for regulating intracellular d-serine levels, especially in brain areas that do not possess d-amino acid oxidase activity. Extracellular d-serine is more stable toward α,β-elimination, likely due to physical separation from serine racemase and its elimination activity.
Auxin and plant morphogenesis - a model of regulation

In the presented model cells of the plant body form a spatial medium in which three-dimensional morphogenic waves of auxin are propagated. Points in the same phase of oscillation form isophasic surfaces and the vectors of wave propagation form a three-dimensional vector field. The vectors in the case of local inhomogeneities of the medium deviate from organ polarity, providing positional information recognized by cells. Models of functioning of such a supracellular oscillatory system in regulation of tissue differentiation, tropic responses and plant form are discussed.
Effects of disturbance on old-growth Thuja occidentalis at cliff edges

Thuja occidentalis L. is abundant along cliff edges and cliff faces of the Niagara Escarpment in southern Ontario, Canada, but declines in frequency away from the cliff edge. Hiking and climbing disturbance is intense in such areas, and therefore a study was done to determine the relationship between forest stand structure and disturbance. In eight undisturbed and eight disturbed transects, a total of 441 trees were sampled for height, diameter, age, mass, and average annual productivity. In undisturbed areas most of these characters declined in value away from the cliff edge, whereas in disturbed areas their values increased. Seedlings were almost totally absent from the disturbed areas. It appears that the extensive elimination of ground cover in the disturbed areas results in the release of constraints on the growth of this species, but recruitment of new individuals into the population is stopped. The disturbed parts of the cliff-edge ecosystem are therefore not self-sustaining, and this has considera.
Relationship between Glucose and Pancreatic Hormones during the Embryonic and Postnatal Phase in Chickens

Insulin plays a vital role in the regulation of glucose levels in the bloodstream. Chickens have similar circulating insulin concentrations compared to mammals but still maintain high plasma glucose levels. This phenomenon may be a consequence of the development of insulin resistance early in posthatch life, which may be the result of pertubations in the insulin signalling cascade. In addition, our study demonstrates that the response of plasma glucose and the hepatic glucose transporter 2 mRNA to insulin in broiler chicks during the perinatal period is age-dependent. This review addresses the relationship between glucose and pancreatic hormones in embryonic and posthatch stages in the life cycle of the domestic chicken.
Use of asynchrony in flowering for easy and economical polyhaploid induction in wheat following Imperata cylindrica-mediated chromosome elimination approach

Wheat × Imperata cylindrica-mediated approach of doubled haploidy breeding requires hand emasculation followed by pollination with I. cylindrica pollen. The pace of this endeavour can be enhanced by utilizing asynchronous flowering of wheat spikes by direct pollination without emasculation followed by morphological marker–assisted screening of selfed and crossed seeds. The emasculated and un-emasculated spikes of 13 spring and six winter wheat genotypes and two triticale × wheat derivatives were pollinated with I. cylindrica pollen. The response of different genotypes for production of crossed and selfed seeds with direct pollination varied significantly within and between groups for spring and winter wheats, whereas triticale × wheat derivatives responded similarly to each other but significantly different from spring and winter wheats. Although, the proportion of pseudoseed formation was lower in case of direct pollination, yet in some genotypes, it was comparable to that of pollination after emasculation. Moreover, the response for haploid embryo induction frequency was similar in both the cases. The method of direct pollination can be utilized for easy and economical induction of haploids.
Role of oligosaccharides as biological additives in cultured Oreochromis niloticus.

The present study was carried out on 350 Oreochromis niloticus randomly collected alive from private freshwater fish farms at Eltal Elkbir-Sharkia governorate. The fish were subjected to clinical, postmortem and parasitological examination. The isolated external parasites were found belonging to the protozoa of genera Trichodina, Epistylis and Chilodonella, as well as monogenea of genera Cichlidogyrus and Ancyrocephalus. The efficacy of mannanoligosaccharides (Bio-Mos®) was evaluated on growth performance, haematological parameters, total proteins content and the Serum Lysozyme activity. Bio-Mos® appears to be of importance as growth promoter at level of 4 g/ Kg of fish diet, with consequent improving the general fish health and increasing the total fish gain. The efficacy of Bio-Mos® as a biocontrol agent for present external parasites in examined fish are needed more study to determine the role of mannan-oligosaccharides concerning the specific treatment and control of external parasitic infections in fishes.
Chemical Composition and Antibacterial Activity of Essential Oils from the Leaves, Fruits and Stems of Lantana camara L. from the South China

The chemical composition of the hydrodistilled essential oils from the leaves, fruits and stems of Lantana camara L. from the South China were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The GC/MS analysis revealed the sesquiterpenoids germacrene D (20.0%), trans-caryophyllene (14.8%) and α-humulene (5.8%) as major constituents in the leaf oil, and palmitic acid (22.5%), stearic acid (12.6%) and germacrene D (7.0%) as major constituents in the fruit oil, while the major constituents in the stem oil were germacrene D (31.0%), β-elemene (17.6%) and α-phellendrene (6.7%). The essential oils were tested for antibacterial activity against 6 strains, using broth dilution method. Both the leaf and stem oils showed moderate inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus dysenteriae, B. proteus, and Escherichia coli. High percentage of sesquiterpenes in the oils were primary responsible for the antibacterial activities.