Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The dual role of astrocytes in myelination

Astrocytes are the most abundant cell within the central nervous system (CNS) and yet despite this, the true extent of their role in health and disease has not been fully elucidated. In the undamaged CNS, they are termed quiescent, where they maintain homeostasis. However, after injury or disease astrocytes become reactive where they are described as a physical and molecular barrier to regeneration. Emerging literature has suggested the existence of an additional phenotype of astrocyte, termed the activated astrocyte. These astrocytes are thought to enhance regeneration by creating a more growth-permissive environment for repair. In addition, it has also been reported that astrocytes may play a role in regulating myelination; however, it is unclear how the phenotype of the astrocytes may affect this process. Therefore, this thesis will focus on the variable phenotypic state of astrocytes and subsequently how this relates to their ability to support myelination. Using an in vitro myelinating culture, where dissociated spinal cord cells were plated on a monolayer of astrocytes, myelination can be followed over time. Since it is hypothesised that astrocytes can affect myelination we used two protocols known to affect the reactive status of the astrocyte, i) activate the astrocytes by treating with ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) or ii) induce a quiescent astrocyte state by plating them on Tenascin C (TnC). It is hypothesised that CNTF changes the activation state of the astrocyte therefore making it more supportive to myelination. The addition of the astrocyte derived factor ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) was shown to enhance myelination. My results demonstrate that CNTF addition does not lead to an increase in oligodendrocyte or microglia cell numbers or an increase in the diameter of the neurites, thus suggesting that this CNTF-induced increase in myelination is mediated via the astrocyte. Conversely, culturing astrocytes on the extracellular matrix molecule Tenascin-C (TnC), a method to make the astrocytes quiescent (Holley et al., 2005), resulted in a reduction in myelination. Astrocytes cultured on TnC were shown have decreased expression of nestin, which is typically a marker for reactivity. A microarray gene study comparing gene expression of the various astrocyte phenotypes identified CXCL10 to be upregulated in astrocytes on TnC. Furthermore, the addition of CXCL10 into the myelination cultures resulted in a decrease in myelination. Conversely, the addition of anti-CXCL10 to myelinating cultures on quiescent astrocytes increased myelination. Taken together, these data indicate that the astrocyte phenotype has considerable influence on myelination; where activated astrocytes support myelination whilst quiescent astrocytes do not. The identification of factors which may modify astrocyte phenotypes could lead to potential therapeutic strategies for CNS pathologies.
Increasing the water use efficiency (WUE) of tomato(S. lycopersicum) via manipulation of the abscisic acid(ABA) biosynthesis pathway

Breeding plants that produce equivalent growth with reduced water input (improved water use efficiency (WUE)) is necessary for sustained future crop production. Water deficit induces redistribution and synthesis of the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) thereby restricting transpiration. ABA is synthesised via cleavage of oxygenated carotenoids (xanthophylls). This work involved two approaches and three key ratelimiting enzymes in the ABA biosynthesis pathway: 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED) β-carotene hydroxylase (BCH); and phytoene synthase (PSY). Increasing ABA production under optimal conditions by overexpressing SlNCED1 has been shown to reduce stomatal conductance and improve WUE. The first approach, part of a larger programme exploring the allelic variation of NCED1 in wild tomato species, describes the introgression of S. galapagense and S. neorickii NCED1 alleles into the cultivated tomato background S. lycopersicum cv. Ailsa Craig. Plants homozygous for SgNCED1, SnNCED1 and SlNCED1 alleles were compared for water use gravimetrically. It was concluded that SgNCED1 and SnNCED1 did not improve WUE. The second approach involved creating a transgenic rootstock that might provide sufficient extra root-sourced ABA under non-stressed conditions to improve WUE of a non-transgenic scion. Root tissues contain less carotenoids than photosynthetic tissues, which may limit increases in root ABA biosynthesis. To increase precursor flux through the pathway, transgenic lines simultaneously over-expressing SlPSY1, SlBCH2, and SlNCED1 were created by crossing two double transgenic lines. Isolated roots of a selected triple line (H-22-8-8) accumulated increased concentrations of carotenoids, ABA and ABA catabolites. Gravimetric water use trials revealed that WT/H-22-8-8 (scion/rootstock) grafts frequently showed improved; TEp, δ13C, exudate flow rate and ABA concentration. H-22-8-8 rootstock conferred a consistent, modest, daily water saving; significant in the absence of water stress. This indicates that the triple rootstock is capable of restricting stomatal opening and water use, without reducing biomass production.
Reduction of fat content during frying using dried egg white and fiber solutions

Producers of deep-fried foods seek new methods to lower the fat content of these foods. The effectiveness of edible films of proteins and carbohydrates and the addition of prefrying dips of egg white lower fat absorption. Common additions of chemicals to films called plasticizers allow them to improve distribution when coating a substrate and improve their water vapor permeability and mechanical properties. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the addition of corn or oat fiber to an egg albumin solution will increase fat absorption inhibition that occurs in deep-fat frying compared to an egg albumin solution alone. Dipping chicken fritters in an egg white dip with no fiber present produced samples with the highest lipid reductions compared to the control. The addition of fiber to any of the dips did not produce a synergistic effect to reduce lipid absorption. The egg dip, 1%, and 2% fiber dip amounts were successful in reducing the lipid content compared to control, but not the 5% fiber dip amount. As the fiber dip concentration decreased for corn and oat fiber, lipid levels decreased. The addition of egg white, corn fiber, or oat fiber affected the color and texture of the fritters. Practical applications: Reducing the oil content of chicken fritters could provide lower fat alternatives to normal deep fried foods that still retain the desirable characteristics that full fat foods provide. If fat reduction below 35% calories from fat can be achieved, markets such as schools and healthcare that are currently restricted to these types of products could be opened.
New Middle Palaeolithic Hominin Dental Remains from Qafzeh, Israel

L’article presente une description et une analyse paleobiologique de dents decouvertes a Qafzeh en Basse-Galilee lors des fouilles menees par R. Neuville et M. Stekelis dans les annees 1930, puis par une equipe dirigee par B. Vandermeersch durant les annees 1960 et 1970, qui n’ont jamais ete publiees. A cet echantillon dentaire viennent s’ajouter une dent et un fragment de mandibule d’enfant provenant d’une courte campagne conduite en 1996 sous les auspices de la municipalite de Nazareth, afi n de nettoyer le site. L’ensemble de ces nouveaux vestiges humains provient de niveaux mousteriens qui ont ete precedemment dates ca 90-100 ka BP ou du stade isotope marin 5b-c. Cet ensemble represente un minimum de six adultes et trois enfants. La presence d’hypoplasies lineaires de l’email peut etre relevee sur deux dents, dont une d’enfant, representant ainsi le premier cas chez un sujet immature dans le site. La documentation anthropologique mise au jour a Qafzeh est actuellement la plus riche connue pour les premiers hommes modernes du Paleolithique moyen au Levant.
Crecimiento de Sardinops sagax caerulea en Bahía Magdalena, México

El crecimiento individual de Sardinops sagax caerulea fue estimado para cada ano, durante 1981 a 1987. Las determinaciones de edad se hicieron por medio de lecturas de otolitos. Se observo un crecimiento muy rapido en las primeras etapas, alcanzando 153 mm en el primer ano de vida. La estimacion global de los parametros del modelo de Bertalanffy para el periodo de estudio fueron los siguientes: I.00 = 176.9 mm K = 0.99681 k = - 0.01342.
Optimisation du diagnostic et épidémiologie de la maladie de l'anneau brun sur la côte Atlantique

A l'echelle nationale, la conchyliculture a connu des epizooties catastrophiques ; l'huitre portugaise (Crassostrea angulata) a disparu des cotes francaises, suite a des infections impliquant des iridovirus. L'huitre plate (Ostrea edulis) a vus sa production fortement reduite suite a l'introduction de deux maladies parasitaires, la bonamiose et la marteiliose. La maladie de l'anneau brun, maladie d'origine bacterienne due a Vibrio tapetis a engendre depuis 1987 en Europe des mortalite allant de 60 a 80% dans les elevages, ecloseries et bancs naturels de palourdes japonaises Ruditapes philippinarum et de palourdes europeennes R. decussatus, compromettant le developpement de cette filiere aquacole. Cette etude a pour but d'obtenir une image de la maladie de l'anneau brun chez les palourdes ans les principaux bassins de la cote atlantique, en periode automnale par recherche de Vibrio tapetis, par PCR (amplification par polymerisation en chaine). Les etapes suivies seront les suivantes : extraction d'ADN a partir d'echantillons de liquide extrapalleal de palourdes, verification de l'etat de l'ADN extrait par PCR en utilisant des amorces universelles, determination du statut de chaque echantillon vis-a-vis de la bacterie par PCR en utilisant des amorces specifiques de Vibrio tapetis.
Autoacylation of G Protein α Subunits*

The palmitoylation or S-acylation of at least some G protein α subunits is a dynamic process that is regulated in vivo by the activation of associated receptors. Highly purified, myristoylated Giα1 and other G protein α subunits react spontaneously with palmitoyl-CoA in vitro to form thioesterified proteins. This reaction requires native Giα1 and occurs exclusively at Cys3, the same residue that is palmitoylated in vivo. The reaction proceeds to completion, and its rate is roughly equal to the rate of loss of palmitate observed in pulse-chase experiments in vivo. The rate of autoacylation is significantly enhanced by the G protein βγ subunit complex. Autoacylation may play a role in the dynamic thioesterification of some cellular proteins.
Evaluation of amino acid conversion method for calculating whey protein content in infant formula powder.

Objective To evaluate amino acid conversion method for calculating the whey protein content in infant formula powder. Methods Using the self-made mobile phase, amino acid content in infant formula powder was determined by automatic amino acid analyzer of acid hydrolysis. The percentage of whey protein in total protein in infant formula powder was converted according to the empirical formula of the content of four characteristic amino acids, including asparagine/aspartic acid, alanine, phenylalanine, and proline in whey protein. Results Hydrolyzed amino acids in infant formula powder from a variety of commercially available brands were detected, and then the whey protein content was calculated. It was found that only one stage of milk-based infant formula powder reached the national standard of above 60%. Conclusion The amino acid conversion method provided reference values for the quantitative research of whey protein content in infant formula powder, but it could not provide accurate detection for products mixed with soybean protein.
Issue of Identity and Boundary between Applied Linguistics and English Language Teaching

This paper examines debate in applied linguistics stemming from disputes surrounding its nature, scope and relationship with theoretical linguistics and English language teaching. The paper inspects radical ideas on applied linguistics and the discipline’s connection with linguistics and English language teaching, through an examination of conflicting definitions and contemporary research interests. Set against the theoretical frames of post-modernist and post structuralist perspectives, the discipline of applied linguistics presents a wide spectrum of perceptions and models, ranging from the restricted to the open field. The current crisis of identity and boundary between applied linguistics and English language teaching is traced to historical and conceptual premises. The historical development of the field and the main changes affecting its focus are correlated with the global spread of English and the ensuing concerns. The conceptual premise is addressed with respect to the changes in the linguistic theory. The position adopted in this paper is that applied linguistics is not an extension of English language teaching. Applied linguistics incorporates English language teaching or language in the classroom perspective and with the same clarity and precision offers through disciplined and methodological enquiry a macro frame that incorporates all aspects of language in communication. The paper concludes with the proposition of two frames in applied linguistics, each with specific concerns and possibilities: a macro applied linguistic frame which considers applications of language within the large area of interdisciplinary language-related studies, and a micro applied linguistic frame which considers pedagogic and educational concerns and is reserved for ELT.
Terrestrial fishes: rivers are barriers to gene flow in annual fishes from the African savanna

We compared the genetic variability and phylogeographical structure of three sympatric clades of annual killifishes (the Nothobranchius furzeri complex, N. orthonotus complex and N. rachovii complex) inhabiting annually desiccating savanna pools. Hypotheses on the mechanisms affecting intraspecific structure and speciation were tested.
Models of Molecular Self-Assembly for RNA Viruses and Synthetic DNA Cages

A significant number of RNA viruses assemble their protein containers and genomic material simultaneously. Here the implications of this protein-RNA co-assembly are investigated using an extended version of a model first proposed by Adam Zlotnick in 1994 (Zlotnick, 1994). The inspirations for this extended model are the cases of bacteriophage MS2 and the STMV virus, viruses that have been well characterised experimentally. Example pathways of RNA virus assembly have been enumerated and kinetic simulations have been run on these networks. The results show the most likely pathways of virus assembly and the concentrations of the intermediates. This work will also demonstrate how kinetic traps may be avoided when proteins are able to bind RNA during assembly. Additionally modelled are DNA cages, which are three-dimensional shapes made from double-helical DNA molecules. Such cages have been seen within viruses but may also be constructed artificially. This model has been used to produce energetically optimised designs for icosidodecahedron-shaped DNA cages.
Immunohistochemical detection of estrogen and progesteron receptors in the bovine uterus and their relation to serum sex steroid hormone levels during the follicular and luteal phase.

reproductive physiology in the female animals. Both oestradiol and progesterone mediate dramatic changes in bovine reproductive tissues during the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy. The actions of these steroid hormones are mediated through receptors located in the nuclei of cells . Steroid hormones bind to receptors, and these ligand-receptor complexes serve as transcription Kafkas Univ Vet Fak Derg 15 (3): 447-454, 2009 DOI:10.9775/kvfd.2009. 039-A RESEARCH ARTICLE
Variance-based Learning Classifier System without Convergence of Reward Estimation

Learning Classifier System (LCS) [2] is an evolutionary machine learning method that is constituted by reinforcement learning and genetic algorithm. As an important feature of LCS, LCS can acquire generalized rules that match multiple states using # symbol. Among LCSs, Accuracybased LCS (XCS) [4] can acquire“accurate”generalized rules by reducing the difference between the predicted reward and the acquired reward, but XCS is hard to correctly estimate such difference in noisy environments. To address this issue, our previous research proposed XCS-SAC (XCS with Self-adaptive Accuracy Criterion) [3] for noisy environments. Since the estimated standard deviation of the rewards of the inaccurate rules is larger than that of the accurate ones, the fitness of rules in XCS-SAC is calculated according to the estimated standard deviation of the rewards. However, XCS-SAC needs to wait until convergence of the estimated standard deviation of all state-action pairs. This paper pays attention that the average value of rewards is distributed around a true value. To overcome this problem, this paper proposes XCS without Convergence of Reward Estimation (XCS-CRE) that can determine the accuracy of rules according to the distribution range of the average value of rewards of the matched state-action pair.
Light interaction with resonance

Thanks to an efficient and intuitive quasi-normal mode formalism valid for micro and nanoresonators made of dielectric as well as lossy and dispersive materials, we shine new light on the physics and modelling of light interaction with electromagnetic resonances [1]. In particular in the present context, we will discuss the role of quenching for light emission in metallic nanogap devices and will revisit the perturbation theory of electromagnetic resonance.
Investigating genetic determinants of phenotypic variation in natural isolates of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The causal link between genotype and phenotype is one of the fundamental principles of modern biology; yet there remain significant challenges to successfully identifying and validating the effect of a specific genetic variant on an organism. Much of the tremendous diversity observed in nature, even among individuals of the same species, remains unexplained. Here, we used the model eukaryote, Saccharomyces cerevisiae , to investigate naturally occurring variation and employ a candidate gene approach, through a combination of genome sequence analysis and mining functional gene annotations, to identify genetic determinants of the phenotypes observed. First, we took a look at morphological variation, a major source of biological diversity, in an environmental isolate of S. cerevisiae and found that its allele of CDC28 underlies multiple phenotypes: linearly arranged spores after meiosis, elongated cell shape during mitosis, and branching filaments during filamentous growth. Second, we studied a wild yeast population, using a comparative transcriptomics approach, which revealed divergence in iron metabolism that exhibited itself as slow growth in a high iron environment. We again identified two of the genetic determinants, YAP5 and CCC1 , both essential for resistance to iron toxicity, that contribute to the phenotype and show evidence that genes involved in iron homeostasis have undergone non-neutral evolution. Our work illustrates the viability of using genomic data to successfully predict the genes responsible for phenotypes of interest as well as the power of yeast a model system for investigating natural variation.
The Biology of Horticulture: An Introductory Textbook

Partial table of contents: HORTICULTURAL BIOLOGY. Plant Classification. Plant Structure. THE AMBIENT ENVIRONMENT. Light. Temperature. THE RHIZOSPHERE (ROOT ZONE). Soils and Soil Management. Mineral Nutrition. PLANT GROWTH SUBSTANCES. Plant Hormones. Chemical Control of Plant Growth. HORTICULTURAL PRACTICES. Pruning. Plant Propagation. PLANT PROBLEMS. Plant Pests and Other Problems. Appendix. Glossary. Index.
The Biology of the Honey Bee

1. Introduction 2. The Origins and Evolutionary History of Bees 3. Form and Function: Honey Bee Anatomy 4. Development and Nutrition 5. Nest Architecture 6. The Age-Related Activities of Worker Bees 7. Other Worker Activities 8. The Chemical World of Honey Bees 9. Communication and Orientation 10. The Collection of Food 11. Reproduction: Swarming and Supersedure 12. Drones, Queens, and Mating 13. The Biology of Temperate and Tropical Honey Bees Reference Author Index Subject Index
Functions of the Cdc14-Family Phosphatase Clp1p in the Cell Cycle Regulation of Schizosaccharomyces pombe : A Dissertation

In order to generate healthy daughter cells, nuclear division and cytokinesis need to be coordinated. Premature division of the cytoplasm in the absence of chromosome segregation or nuclear proliferation without cytokinesis might lead to aneuploidy and cancer. The cyclin dependent kinases, CDKs, are a main regulator of the cell cycle. Timely increase and decrease in their activity is required for cell cycle progression. To enter mitosis, mitotic CDK activity needs to rise. CDK activity stays elevated until chromosome segregation is completed and exit from mitosis requires decrease in CDK activity. Observations in several experimental systems suggest that coordination of cytokinesis with the nuclear cycle is regulated through CDK activity. Prolonged high CDK activity, as it occurs when chromosome segregation is delayed, was found to oppose cytokinesis. Prevention of cytokinesis through high CDK activity may therefore provide a mechanism to prevent precocious cell division in the absence of chromosome segregation. To prevent polyploidy when cell division is delayed, progression through the next nuclear cycle should be inhibited until cytokinesis is completed, presumably by the inhibition of CDK activity. In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, a signaling cascade called Septation Initiation Network (SIN) is required for the coordination of cytokinesis with the nuclear cycle. The SIN is essential for cytokinesis, triggering the execution of cell division through constriction of the actomyosin ring. The activation of the SIN signaling cascade, and thus cytokinesis, is opposed by high CDK activity, preventing precocious cytokinesis. S. pombe delay entry into the next nuclear division in response to delayed cytokinesis due to defects in the contractile ring until cytokinesis is completed thereby preventing the accumulation of multinucleate, non viable cells. This safeguard against multinucleate cells is termed the cytokinesis checkpoint. The cytokinesis checkpoint keeps CDK activity low, preventing nuclear cycle progression. The SIN is required for the cytokinesis checkpoint and therefore is a key coordinator between nuclear cycle and cytokinesis. How the SIN functions in the cytokinesis checkpoint was not known. Cdc14-family phosphatases are highly conserved from yeast to humans, but were only characterized in Saccharomyces cerevisiae at the time this thesis was initiated. Cdc14 had been identified as the effector of a signaling cascade homologous to the SIN, called the mitotic exit network (MEN), which is required for exit from mitosis. This thesis describes the identification of the S. pombe Cdc14-like phosphatase Clp1p as a component of the cytokinesis checkpoint. Clp1p opposes CDK activity, and Clp1p and the SIN activate each other in a positive feedback loop. This maintains an active cytokinesis checkpoint and delays mitotic entry. We further found that Clp1p regulates chromosome segregation. Concluding, this thesis describes discoveries adding to the…