Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Perinatal exposure to maternal obesity: Lasting cardiometabolic impact on offspring

Evidence from epidemiological, clinical, and animal model studies clearly demonstrates that prenatal and lactational maternal obesity and high‐fat diet consumption are associated with cardiometabolic morbidity in offspring. Fetal and offspring sex may be an important effect modifier. Adverse offspring cardiometabolic outcomes observed in the setting of maternal obesity include an increased risk for obesity, features of metabolic syndrome (hypertension, hyperglycemia and insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, increased adiposity), and non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease. This review article synthesizes human and animal data linking maternal obesity and high‐fat diet consumption in pregnancy and lactation to adverse cardiometabolic outcomes in offspring. We review key mechanisms underlying skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, pancreatic, liver, and central brain reward programming in obesity‐exposed offspring, and how such malprogramming contributes to offspring cardiometabolic morbidity.
A model‐independent test for the presence of regulatory equilibrium and non‐random structure in island species trajectories

Aims To test a key prevision of the dynamic equilibrium theory of island biogeography, namely that changes in species numbers on islands over time (hereafter, species trajectories) are equilibrial, and to characterize aspects of the dynamical properties of species change over time using a model‐independent test.
Fabrication and characterization of ultrathin spin-coated poly(L-lactic acid) films suitable for cell attachment and curcumin loading

In the present study, ultrathin poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) films were fabricated using the spin-coating technique. Physicochemical properties of the formed materials, including their morphology, thickness, transparency, and contact angle, have been studied. We determined that the morphology of PLLA films could be regulated by changing the polymer concentration and humidity. By altering the humidity, microporous and flat PLLA films can be fabricated. The obtained samples were subsequently used for culturing mesenchymal stem cells and fibroblasts. It has been determined that cells effectively adhered to prepared films and formed on them a monolayer culture with high viability. It has been shown that PLLA films are suitable for the entrapment of curcumin (up to 12.1 μm cm−2) and provide its sustained release in solutions isotonic to blood plasma. The obtained PLLA films appear to be prospective materials for potential application in regenerative medicine as part of cell-containing tissue engineered dressings for chronic wound treatment.
Phenology and the production of seeds and wasps in Ficus microcarpa in Guangzhou, China.

Ficus microcarpa, a large monoecious fig, is widely cultivated as a street tree in Guangzhou, South China, where only one species of active pollinating wasp, Eupristina verticillata, is associated with it. We recorded the flowering phenology, and the production of seeds and wasps, in F. microcarpa over a period of 18 months at the South China Botanical Garden. Plants produced 1-4 crops in the year. The production of seeds and wasps varied significantly between seasons, with extremely low production of seeds and wasp offspring in syconia sampled during particularly cool dry months. Most individual trees exhibited intra-tree asynchronous flowering, and typically bore many synconia at different developmental phases. Moreover, within asynchronous crops, earlier ripening syconia were often much larger than normal later ripening figs. These early-ripening syconia were occupied by non-pollinators with very large galls, and fewer seeds were produced. Therefore, it appears that early ripening was not adaptive for F. microcarpa. We discuss the implications of these findings for the occurrence of asynchronous flowering in monoecious figs in seasonal environments.
Potential effects of supplemental feeding of deer on nest predation.

Supplemental feeding of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) has become an increasingly popular management activity, particularly on private lands. Raccoons (Procyon lotor) and other small carnivores are very attracted to deer feeders and are potential predators of ground-nesting birds such as wild turkeys. We tested the hypothesis that predation on artificial ground nests was greater near deer feeders due to the increased presence of nest predators. We selected 2 ponds and 2 artificial water sources (windmills with troughs) on the basis of habitat similarity. We provided supplemental food in the form of shelled corn at one of each of the pond and windmill sites during 1997, 1998, and 1999. At each site we placed 50 artificial nests (3 chicken eggs) along a 800x 40-m transect centered on the water source. We monitored the fate of these nests over 28 days. We identified nest predators through patterns of eggshell breakage, hair traps, and automatic cameras. We analyzed nest survival using a logit model and by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Raccoons and striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) were the most common predators of the artificial nests. In years with adequate ground cover to conceal the nests, presence of supplemental deer feeders at the site significantly decreased survivorship of the artificial nests. In dry years with sparse ground cover, nest survivorship was extremely poor at all sites. The lack of cover for the nests outweighed any deleterious effects of the deer feeders. Previous studies have suggested that supplementing predators may be a way to reduce nest predation; our results suggest the contrary. We suggest that managers concerned with production of wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) and other ground-nesting birds should avoid placing deer feeders in nesting habitat or avoid supplemental feeding during the nesting season.
In Silico Prediction of Human Leukocytes Antigen (HLA) Class II Binding Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Peptides in Botswana

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the primary cause of liver-related malignancies worldwide, and there is no effective cure for chronic HBV infection (CHB) currently. Strong immunological responses induced by T cells are associated with HBV clearance during acute infection; however, the repertoire of epitopes (epi) presented by major histocompatibility complexes (MHCs) to elicit these responses in various African populations is not well understood. In silico approaches were used to map and investigate 15-mers HBV peptides restricted to 9 HLA class II alleles with high population coverage in Botswana. Sequences from 44 HBV genotype A and 48 genotype D surface genes (PreS/S) from Botswana were used. Of the 1819 epi bindings predicted, 20.2% were strong binders (SB), and none of the putative epi bind to all the 9 alleles suggesting that multi-epitope, genotype-based, population-based vaccines will be more effective against HBV infections as opposed to previously proposed broad potency epitope-vaccines which were assumed to work for all alleles. In total, there were 297 unique epi predicted from the 3 proteins and amongst, S regions had the highest number of epi (n = 186). Epitope-densities (Depi) between genotypes A and D were similar. A number of mutations that hindered HLA-peptide binding were observed. We also identified antigenic and genotype-specific peptides with characteristics that are well suited for the development of sensitive diagnostic kits. This study identified candidate peptides that can be used for developing multi-epitope vaccines and highly sensitive diagnostic kits against HBV infection in an African population. Our results suggest that viral variability may hinder HBV peptide-MHC binding, required to initiate a cascade of immunological responses against infection.
A SIMPLE AND CONVENIENT INOCULATION METHOD USING SMALL WOODEN CHIPS MADE OF DISPOSABLE CHOPSTICKS FOR ROSELLINIA NECATRIX , THE CAUSAL FUNGUS OF WHITE ROOT ROT DISEASE ON FRUIT TREES

A simple and convenient inoculating method for Rosellinia necatrix , the causal fungus of white root rot disease of fruit tree, was developed. The R. necatrix W563 was incubated on potato dextrose agar medium (PDA) plate for 1 - 2 weeks at 25 o C. The wooden chips (ca. 30 x 5 x 5mm) made of disposable chopsticks were autoclaved at 120 o C for 20 minutes and placed on the colony of W563 and incubated for 1 week at 25 o C. Each infected wooden chip was cut off into uniform length of 20mm, and was attached onto the stem base of one year old of Chinese crab apple ( Malus prunifolia ) seedling grown in the small plastic pot and tightly fixed with a Parafilm tape. The inoculated region was covered with soil and the seedling was incubated in the air-conditioned greenhouse at 25 o C. Three weeks after inoculation, four of five seedlings inoculated with W563 showed decline in newly developed twigs followed by wilt and fall of the leaves resulting in total death by 6 weeks after inoculation. In another trial, the small wooden chips (ca. 10 x 5 x 5mm) placed and incubated on W563 colony for 2 weeks were perpendicularly inserted into the soil nearby the stem base of the seedlings of yellow lupine ( Lupinus luteus ), apple ( Malus x domestica ) and Japanese pear ( Pyrus pyrifolia ). All the plants inoculated through the insertion of wooden chips showed almost the same symptoms as those of the first experiment, by 6 weeks after inoculation. The above mentioned inoculation methods, especially by means of infested wooden chip insertion, were very stable in their pathogenic effect, simpler and more convenient than the traditional way using the infested soil prepared by mixing with infested wheat bran.
Emergent Antipolar Phase in BiFeO3-La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 Superlattice.

Ferroelectric-paraelectric superlattices show emerging new states, such as polar vortices, through the interplay and different energy scales of various thermodynamic constraints. By introducing magnetic coupling at BiFeO3-La0.7Sr0. 3MnO3 interfaces epitaxially grown on SrTiO3 substrate, we find, for the first time in thin films, a sub-nanometer thick lamella-like BiFeO3. The emergent phase is characterized by an arrangement of a two unit cell thick lamella-like structure featuring antiparallel polarization, resulting an antiferroelectric-like structure typically associated with a morphotropic phase transition. The antipolar phase is embedded within a nominal R3c structure and is independent of the BiFeO3 thickness (4-30 unit cells). Moreover, the superlattice structure with the morphotropic phase demonstrates azimuth-independent second harmonic generation responses, indicating a change of overall symmetry mediated by a delicate spatial distribution of the emergent phase. This work enriches the understanding of a metastable state manipulated by thermodynamic constraints by lattice strain and magnetic coupling.
Contribution of sports science to performance : swimming

Part of the esteemed IOC Handbook of Sports Medicine and Science series, this new volume on Training and Coaching the Paralympic Athlete will be athlete-centred with each chapter written for the practical use of medical doctors and allied health personnel. The chapters also consider the role of medical science in the athlete’s sporting career and summarize current international scientific Paralympic literature. Provides a concise, authoritative overview of the science, medicine and psycho-social aspects of training and coaching disabled and Paralympic athletes Offers guidance on medical aspects unique to the training and coaching of Paralympic athletes Endorsed by both the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Written and edited by global thought leaders in sports medicine
CatecholaminergicControlofMitogen-ActivatedProtein KinaseSignalinginParaventricularNeuroendocrine NeuronsInVivoandInVitro:AProposedRoleduring GlycemicChallenges

Paraventricularhypothalamic(PVH)corticotropin-releasinghormone(CRH)neuroendocrineneuronsmountneurosecretoryandtranscriptional responses to glycemic challenges [intravenous 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) or insulin]. Although these responses require signals from intact afferents originating from hindbrain CA (catecholaminergic) neurons, the identity of these signals and the mechanisms by which they are transduced by PVH neurons during glycemic challenge remain unclear. Here, we tested whether the prototypical catecholamine,norepinephrine(NE),canreproducePVHneuroendocrineresponsestoglycemicchallenge.Becausetheseresponsesinclude phosphorylation of p44/42 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases [extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2)], we also determinedwhetherNEactivatesERK1/2inPVHneuronsand,ifso,bywhatmechanism. We show that systemic insulin and 2-DG, and PVH-targeted NE microinjections, rapidly elevated PVH phospho-ERK1/2 levels. NE increased Crh and c-fos expression, together with circulating ACTH/corticosterone. However, because injections also increased c-Fos mRNA in other brain regions, we used hypothalamic slices maintained in vitro to clarify whether NE activates PVH neurons without contribution of inputs from distal regions. In slices, bath-applied NE triggered robust phospho-ERK1/2 immunoreactivity in PVH (including CRH) neurons, which attenuated markedly in the presence of the 1 adrenoceptor antagonist, prazosin, or the MAP kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor, U0126 (1,4-diamino-2,3-dicyano-1,4-bis[2-aminophenylthio]butadiene). Therefore, at a systems level, local PVH delivery of NE is sufficient to account for hindbrain activation of CRH neuroendocrine neurons during glycemic challenge. At a cellularlevel,thesedataprovidethefirstdemonstrationthatMAPkinasesignalingcascades(MEK3ERK)areintracellulartransducers of noradrenergic signals in CRH neurons, and implicate this transduction mechanism as an important component of central neuroendocrineresponsesduringglycemicchallenge.
A GLYCOALKALOID IN RIPE FRUIT DETERS CONSUMPTION BY

Many ripe fruits contain toxic chemicals that presumably protect them against attacks by frugivores that do not disperse seeds. These secondary metabolites may be generally toxic, representing an evolutionary compromise between defense from patho- gens and attraction of seed dispersers (the General Toxicity hypothesis). Alternatively, they may be nontoxic to seed dispersers and simultaneously toxic to vertebrate frugivores that do not disperse seeds (the Directed Toxicity hypothesis). To tease apart these hypotheses, we tested whether consumption of artificial fruit agar by captive Cedar Waxwings (Bomby- cilla cedrorum) was reduced by the presence of c-solamargine, a glycoalkaloid common in solanaceous fruits. We recorded consumption of three artificial fruit types differing in c- solamargine concentration and a control fruit that lacked c-solamargine. Waxwings were strongly and equally deterred by all concentrations of c-solamargine. These concentrations, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3% wet mass, are commonly found in some Solanum fruits. In a second trial, we addressed another hypothesis, the Nutrient-Toxin Titration hypothesis, which predicts that the deterrent effects of c-solamargine can be overridden by highly nutritious fruit pulp. We offered waxwings three types of artificial fruits that varied in nutrient concentration but not in c-solamargine concentration. Nutrient content had no effect on consumption when c-solamargine was present. In summary, our results are inconsistent with both the Directed Toxicity and the Nutrient-Toxin Titration hypotheses. Received 24 June 1996, accepted 27 Au- gust 1997.
Dalmatian toadflax (Linaria dalmatica) response to wildfire in a southwestern USA forest

ABSTRACT Severe wildfires often facilitate the spread of exotic invasive species, such as Dalmatian toadflax (Linaria dalmatica). We hypothesized that toadflax growth and reproduction would increase with increasing burn severity in a ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa)-dominated forest. We measured toadflax density, cover, flowering stalks, and native species richness and cover on 327 plots for 3 y after a 2001 wildfire. Toadflax stem density, cover, and flowering stalks increased in 2003, then decreased in 2004 in all burn severity classes, but remained higher than initial 2002 values. Toadflax spread to previously uncolonized areas, though stem density decreased in unburned plots. Transition matrices showed that more plots on moderately (73%) and severely (74%) burned areas classified as high toadflax density in 2002 remained high density in 2004. Deterministic matrix modeling using 2002 to 2004 transition probabilities projected that the percentage of high-density plots would stabilize on moderately and severely burned sites at 41 and 61%, respectively. In contrast, 20-y rates of change (λ) for unburned and low-severity burn sites were <1.0, and stabilizing at 2% for unburned plots and 19% for low-severity burn plots. Post-wildfire conditions in high-severity burned areas favour increased density, cover, reproduction, and spread of Dalmatian toadflax, while native species richness was reduced, suggesting that the invasive species would persist, at least in the short term, at the expense of natives. Nomenclature: USDA NRCS, 2007.
Adaptation du dromadaire à la déshydratation

Dans des conditions extremes, le dromadaire montre des qualites d'adaptation exceptionnelles. L'adaptation a la secheresse est assuree au travers de deux mecanismes : la reduction de pertes hydriques et le maintien de l'homeostasie. Le premier mecanisme inclut la diminution de la diurese, l'arret de la sudation, la diminution du metabolisme de base et les changements de la temperature corporelle. L'homeostasie est maintenue par le controle de la concentration des principaux mineraux (calcium, potassium) et en assurant l'excretion des dechets metaboliques par une forte concentration dans l'urine, ainsi que par une diminution de l'excretion des parametres qui necessitent beaucoup d'eau (glucose, uree) pour leur elimination.
Divergent Role for TNF-α in IFN-γ-Induced Killing of Toxoplasma gondii and Salmonella typhimurium Contributes to Selective Susceptibility of Patients with Partial IFN-γ Receptor 1 Deficiency1

Patients with defects in IFN-γ- or IL-12-mediated immunity are susceptible to infections with Salmonella and non-tuberculous mycobacteria, but rarely suffer from infections with other intracellular pathogens such as Toxoplasma gondii. Here we describe macrophage and T cell function in eight individuals with partial IFN-γ receptor 1 (IFN-γR1) deficiency due to a mutation that results in elevated cell surface expression of a truncated IFN-γR1 receptor that lacks the intracellular domain. We show that various effector mechanisms dependent on IFN-γR signaling are affected to different extents. Whereas TNF-α production was normally up-regulated in response to IFN-γ, IL-12 production and CD64 up-regulation were strongly reduced, and IFN-γ-mediated killing of the intracellular pathogens Salmonella typhimurium and T. gondii was completely abrogated in patient’s macrophages. Since these patients suffer selectively from infections with non-tuberculous mycobacteria and Salmonella, but not T. gondii, despite sero-immunity in six of eight patients, which indicates previous contact with this pathogen, we next studied the role of TNF-α as a possible immune compensatory mechanism. IFN-γ-induced killing of T. gondii appeared to be partially mediated by TNF-α, and addition of TNF-α could compensate for the abrogated killing of T. gondii in the patient’s macrophages. In contrast, IFN-γ-mediated killing of S. typhimurium appeared to be independent of TNF-α. We propose that the divergent role of TNF-α in IFN-γ-induced killing of T. gondii and S. typhimurium may at least partially explain the highly selective susceptibility of patients.
Productive and reproductive traits of Japanese quail as affected by two housing system.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of two different housing systems; floor pens vs battery cages on productive and reproductive traits in Japanese quail. One hundred and eighty birds at 6 weeks of age were individually weighted and randomly divided into two equal experimental groups according to housing system (90 birds in each group, 30 male and 60 female), each group was randomly assigned to three replicates. Body weight, egg production and mortality rates were recorded. Fertility, hatchability and embryonic mortality percentages were calculated. Egg quality traits, plumage conditions and cloacal gland area were estimated during the experimental period. The results revealed highly significant differences (P<0.01) between floor pens and battery cages on most of the studied traits. Using floor pens improved laying rate, egg number, egg weight, egg mass, hatchability, yolk index, shell thickness, internal quality unit values compared to battery cages. In contrast, using battery cages increased body weight, plumage deterioration, male cloacal gland area and total mortality rate compared with floor pens during experimental period. It was concluded that floor pens housing system had significant positive effects on productive and reproductive traits of laying Japanese quail as compared with battery cages.
Pre-natal manifestation of systemic developmental abnormalities in spinal muscular atrophy

Abstract Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neuromuscular disease caused by mutations in survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1). SMN-restoring therapies have recently emerged; however, preclinical and clinical studies revealed a limited therapeutic time window and systemic aspects of the disease. This raises a fundamental question of whether SMA has presymptomatic, developmental components to disease pathogenesis. We have addressed this by combining micro-computed tomography (μCT) and comparative proteomics to examine systemic pre-symptomatic changes in a prenatal mouse model of SMA. Quantitative μCT analyses revealed that SMA embryos were significantly smaller than littermate controls, indicative of general developmental delay. More specifically, cardiac ventricles were smaller in SMA hearts, whilst liver and brain remained unaffected. In order to explore the molecular consequences of SMN depletion during development, we generated comprehensive, high-resolution, proteomic profiles of neuronal and non-neuronal organs in SMA mouse embryos. Significant molecular perturbations were observed in all organs examined, highlighting tissue-specific prenatal molecular phenotypes in SMA. Together, our data demonstrate considerable systemic changes at an early, presymptomatic stage in SMA mice, revealing a significant developmental component to SMA pathogenesis.