Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Caspase Inhibition Sensitizes Inhibitor of NF-κB Kinase β-deficient Fibroblasts to Caspase-independent Cell Death via the Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species*

Cells lacking functional NF-κB die after ligation of some tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor family members through failure to express NF-κB-dependent anti-apoptotic genes. NF-κB activation requires the IκB kinase (IKK) complex containing two catalytic subunits named IKKα and IKKβ that regulate distinct NF-κB pathways. IKKβ is critical for classical signaling that induces pro-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic gene profiles, whereas IKKα regulates the non-canonical pathway involved in lymphoid organogenesis and B-cell development. To determine whether IKKα and IKKβ differentially function in rescuing cells from death induced by activators of the classical and non-canonical pathways, we analyzed death after ligation of the TNF and lymphotoxin-β receptors, respectively. Using murine embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) lacking each of the IKKs, the caspase inhibitor benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethyl ketone, and dominant negative Fas-associated death domain protein, we found that deletion of these kinases sensitized MEFs to distinct cell death pathways. MEFs lacking IKKα were sensitized to death in response to both cytokines that was entirely caspase-dependent, demonstrating that IKKα functions in this process. Surprisingly, death of IKKβ–/– MEFs was not blocked by caspase inhibition, demonstrating that IKKβ negatively regulates caspase-independent cell death (CICD). CICD was strongly activated by both TNF and lymphotoxin-β receptor ligation in IKKβ–/– MEFs and was accompanied by loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and the generation of reactive oxygen species. CICD was inhibited by the anti-oxidant butylated hydroxyanosole and overexpression of Bcl-2, neither of which blocked caspase-dependent apoptosis. Our findings, therefore, demonstrate that both IKKα and IKKβ regulate cytokine-induced apoptosis, and IKKβ additionally represses reactive oxygen species- and mitochondrial-dependent CICD.
Sleep and cognitive performance in children and pre-adolescents: a review

Sleep is an active brain process that contributes to an efficient execution of everyday tasks. The biological features of sleep start to undergo intense changes during childhood and adolescence. These biological features may conflict with schedules and environmental changes, and lead to sleep-phase delays that may influence the performance of cognitive processes essential for learning during school years, visuo-spatial perception, working memory, and attention, for example. This study examines the literature discussing the relation between sleep and cognitive processes in children and pre-adolescents. The papers indicate an association between sleep and cognitive performance, sleep changes compromising intelligence, as well as visuo-spatial skills and other cognitive processes; but, there might be other factors involved, such as socioeconomic status. This review discusses the findings, drawing attention to areas of disagreement as well as agreement.
Classifying white inbred lines into heterotic groups using yield combining ability effects

The classification of maize inbred lines into heterotic groups is an important undertaking in hybrid breeding. This study aimed to evaluate the field performance of 42 white maize test crosses and classify the 21 inbred lines into two heterotic groups. Twenty-one white inbred lines were crossed to two line testers representing the dent and flint heterotic pattern. The resulting test crosses were evaluated for their yield and other agronomic traits. The entries were arranged in alpha lattice design with three replications. Highly significant differences were noted in grain yield and plant height among the test crosses. Three test crosses were identified as promising single cross hybrids with yield potential greater than 6 t/ha having yield advantage of 60% over the hybrid check. Highly significant GCA and SCA effects for grain yield were detected among the inbred lines. Three inbred lines were identified as good general combiners. Three test crosses were noted as good specific combiners. The tester inbred lines classified 11 of the 21 tested lines into heterotic groups based on SCA effects and test crosses mean grain yield. This study demonstrates the usefulness of combining ability effects in classifying inbred lines.
THE 6‐HYDROXYLATION OF TRYPTAMINE DERIVATIVES: A WAY OF PRODUCING PSYCHOACTIVE METABOLITES

The 6-hydroxylation of tryptamine and its various derivatives is a recently discovered enzymatic reaction. Depending upon the structure of the substrate, this process plays a more or less important role in the metabolism of indole derivatives in the intact The most intriguing aspect of this reaction is the greater central-nervous-system effect of the 6-hydroxy metabolites as compared to the nonhydroxyhted parent compounds. In this presentation we describe some of our joint biochemical-behavioral efforts to learn more about this possibly significant reaction. TABLE 1 lists a variety of simple N-alkylated tryptamine derivatives that have psychotropic activity in man. Available evidence indicates that tryptamine alone (that is, not in combination with Marsilid or other enzyme inhibitors) does not produce psychological symptoms? It is interesting, therefore, that several alkyl derivatives of tryptamine can be classed as hallucinogenic. As reported by Szara in Milan in 1957, administration of diethyltryptamine (DET) and dimethyltryptamine (DNIT) leads to rapidly developing sympathomimetic effects, as well as to perceptual, emotional, and thinking disturbances similar to those that result after administration of LSD-25 or me~caline. ~ However, these psychological effects persist for only 1 hour in the case of DMT and for about 2.5 hours in the case of DET; in contrast LSD and mescaline have a much longer (6or 8-hour) duration. The dipropyl and diallyl derivatives have similar hallucinogenic activity in man, as we found recently. The psychotropic activity of a-methyltryptamine has been reported by Murphree et aL6 Because all of the derivatives listed in TABLE 1 are 6-hydroxylated in the body, we studied this metabolic reaction in detail, first in animals and then in humans. The 6-hydroxylation reaction takes place in the microsomes of the liver and requires TPNH and On. The 6-hydroxy metabolite is excreted in the urine partly free, partly conjugated to glucuronic acid. ' If we incubate the urine with bacterial P-glucuronidase the liberated 6-hydroxy derivative, together with the free form, can be extracted into organic solvents a t alkaline pHs. Since we did most of the animal and human studies with DET, we now describe the quantitative determination of its major metabolite, 6-HDET. FIGURE 1 shows that 6-HDET is stable between pHs of 3 and 8.5, so we developed a procedure for the extraction of 6-HDET within this pH range. An aliquot (15 ml.) of the urine sample, containing 5 to 500 pg of 6-HDET (free and glucuronide), is incubated with approximately 100 mg. of bacterial P-glucuronidase* in the presence of 3 ml. phosphate buffer (PH 7.0) and 0.2 ml. of chloroform at 37" C. in a stoppered flask and subjected to shaking for 2 hours. Five milliliters of the incubated sample is shaken with 15 ml. of n-butanol after * From the Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, Mo.
Comparison of Apparent Amino Acid Digestibilities in Anesthetized Versus Sacrificed Chickens Using Diets Containing Soybean Meal and Canola Meal

Abstract Four-week-old male broiler chicks were used to test whether the apparent amino acid digestibility (AAAD) of feeds would be affected by using anesthetized instead of sacrificed chickens. To measure AAAD, samples of digesta were collected from segments of the terminal third of the ileum as well as the large intestine of chickens fed three diets containing varying levels of soybean meal or canola meal alone or in combination. Except for alanine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, lysine, and serine, no significant differences in AAAD were found between anesthetized and sacrificed chicks, although the anesthetized chicks showed consistently higher values. The overall means were 83.9 and 82.9%, respectively. No significant differences in AAAD resulted from taking digesta samples from different segments of the terminal ileum and the large intestine. Overall digestibility values of 83.1, 83.4, 83.1, and 84.2% were observed for segments 12 to 18, 12 to 6, and 0 to 6 cm anterior to the ileocecal junction and the large intestine, respectively. The diet containing canola meal as the only protein supplement had lower AAAD than diets with either soybean meal or soybean meal and canola meal as the protein supplement. From the results of the experiment, it was concluded that because of the small differences in AAAD between anesthetized and sacrificed chickens, the time and expense associated with anesthetizing birds would not be justified. In addition, because the site of sampling in the terminal ileum had no effect on AAAD, the terminal third of the ileum should be used for digesta collection.
TREATMENT OF WATER FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES FOR SAFE DRINKING OF RURAL POULTRY AND LIVESTOCK OF BANGLADESH

The research work was under taken to find out the effect of various treatments on water of different sources with a view to supply safe drinking water for rural poultry and livestock. For that, water of four different sources (lake, river, tap, tube well of BAU campus) were collected during the period from December 2006 to June 2007 and subjected to several treatments with physical (heat) and chemical (Hello tab, bleaching powder, potassium permanganate, alum and acetic acid) means in the Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202 with a view to get water free from deleterious microorganisms those are easily transmitted through drinking water of the above mentioned sources. Water of all the sources were subjected to microbiological examination before and after treatment. No bacteria was found in the water samples collected from tube well of five places of BAU campus following cultural examination. Gram positive rod shaped bacteria were isolated from the river and tap water of Ishakhan Hall Lake (IHL), Brahmaputra river (BR), Taposhi Rabeya Hall (TRH), Teacher staff quarter (TSQ), Microbiology laboratory (ML) and Bangabandhu Hall (BBH) whereas Gram negative rod shaped bacteria (E. coli) were isolated from the water of IHL, BR and from the tap water of ML and BBH. Gram positive cocci was found only in the tap water of ML. The pre-treatment culture of water samples revealed that the TVC (387 CFU/ml) and TCC (75 CFU/ml) were highest in the water of lake compare to those of other water samples collected from river and taps. As a physical means heat treatment (100 0 C for 4 to 8 minutes) was highly effective. No single colony was found in all the water samples following treatment with heat. No changes in colour, taste and odour were noticed before and after heat treatment of all the water samples. Among the chemical agents, Hello tab (0.05 g/100 ml) was found to be the most effective to make the water free from all the microbial contamination. The taste, colour and odour of the Hello tab treated water samples were found as normal as safe drinking water. The colour, taste and odour of water treated with bleaching powder, potassium permanganate, alum and acetic acid were also examined and it was found that the colour, taste and odour were not normal after treatment of the water samples. Therefore, it may be concluded that the water treated with Hello tab was found superior compare to the water of other treatments in this study which was found free from microbial contamination and unpleasant taste and order.
A rapid method for isolation of mesophyll protoplasts

Pectolyase Y23, a new maceration enzyme from Aspergillus japonicus, combined with Cellulase Onozuka R10 liberated protoplasts from tobacco mesophyll in less than 25 min. The protoplasts divided to form cell colonies. This combination of enzymes also liberated protoplasts from mesophyll of rice and oat. The enhanced macerating activity of Pectolyase Y23 was found to be due not only to the high activity of pectin lyase and polygalacturonase, but also to a factor which stimulated maceration.
Biological aspects of Tetranychus marianae McGregor (Acari, Tetranychidae) reared on yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa Deg.) leaves

The passion fruit plant is a host for several different phytophagous mites, mainly those belonging to the Tarsonemidae, Tenuipalpidae and Tetranychidae families. Among the Tetranychidae species are Tetranychus mexicanus (McGregor, 1950) and Tetranychus desertorum Banks, 1900. The occurrence of Tetranychus marianae McGregor, 1950 was detected on yellow passion fruit Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa Degener plants under field and greenhouse conditions at the headquarters of Embrapa Cassava & Fruits Tropical Research in Cruz das Almas County, State of Bahia, Northeast Brazil. Prior records of T. marianae on the passion fruit crop in Brazil as well as the biological aspects of this species are unknown. The study on the biology of T. marianae on P. edulis f. flavicarpa was carried out under controlled environmental condition of 25 ± 1oC temperature, 80 ± 10% RH and 12 hours photophase. The egg to adult time span lasted 10.73 ± 0.18 days, with a 92% survival figure. The sexual ratio was 81% females. The mean female longevity was 24.53 days and the daily mean oviposition was 3.69 eggs/female. The intrinsic rate of increase (rm) was 0.172; the finite rate of increase (l) was 1.187 individuals/female/day; the mean time span of one generation (T) was 22.81 days; and the net rate of reproduction (Ro) was 50.14.
Activation of NF-κB by PM10 Occurs via an Iron-Mediated Mechanism in the Absence of IκB Degradation

Exposureto particulate air pollution (PM10) is associated with exacerbations of respiratory diseases and increased cardiopulmonary mortality. PM10 induces lung inflammation in rats, which has been attributed to many factors, including the ultrafine components of PM10, endotoxins, and transition metals. In this study, we investigated in alveolar epithelial (A549) cells whether PM10 could activate nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), a transcription factor stimulated in response to many proinflammatory agents. Our results show that PM10 samples from various sites within the United Kingdom cause nuclear translocation, DNA-binding, and transcriptional activation of NF-κB in A549 cells. Furthermore, increased NF-κB activity was observed in the absence of IκB degradation. To evaluate the role of iron, A549 cells were exposed to PM10 previously treated with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), deferoxamine mesylate, or deferoxamine plus ferrozine. PBS-treated and, to a lesser extent, deferoxamine-treated PM10 were able to activate NF-κB, whereas this response was completely abrogated in cells exposed to PM10 treated with both deferoxamine and ferrozine. Moreover, we studied the effects of soluble components of PM10 on NF-κB activation by exposing alveolar epithelial cells to soluble fractions from PM10 treated with PBS or the metal chelators. We found that, compared with fractions from PBS-treated PM10 which activated NF-κB, fractions from PM10 treated with deferoxamine and ferrozine did not stimulate NF-κB activity above background levels. Coincubation of polymixin B, an endotoxin-binding compound, and PM10 did not inhibit NF-κB. In summary, PM10 activates NF-κB in A549 cells by an iron-mediated mechanism in the absence of IκB degradation.
Physiological and biochemical responses of the cowpea bean (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) under a water deficit

El fríjol caupí contribuye a la alimentación humana y animal en muchas regiones del mundo, especialmente en aquellos lugares donde la sequía restringe la producción agrícola. El objetivo de este trabajo fue identificar algunas respuestas fisiológicas y bioquímicas de esta especie, bajo condiciones de estrés hídrico en fase reproductiva. Se experimentó bajo un diseño completamente aleatorizado en un arreglo factorial 2x6 (2 niveles de humedad del suelo y 6 genotipos) con tres repeticiones. Se analizó la respuesta de la especie evaluando el rendimiento de la planta mediante la cuantificación del rendimiento de grano/planta, el número de vainas/planta, el número de semillas/vaina, y la longitud de la vaina; se estimó la reducción relativa del rendimiento y la susceptibilidad a la sequía. También se analizó el intercambio gaseoso, la actividad de las enzimas catalasa y ascorbato peroxidasa, así como los contenidos de clorofila, carotenoides, proteínas libres, prolina y malondialdehído. El estrés por sequía causó una disminución en el rendimiento de grano/planta del 57,72%, número de vainas/planta del 49,40% y número de semillas/vaina del 32,07%. A los 17 días de sequía, la fotosíntesis empezó a registrar valores cercanos a cero cuando el contenido de humedad del suelo se redujo alrededor del 40% de la capacidad de campo, lo cual pudo ser ocasionado por limitaciones estomáticas y, posiblemente, por limitaciones no estomáticas. La proporción de clorofila a/clorofila b (Chla/Chlb), fue significativamente más baja, mientras que el contenido de malondialdehído fue significativamente más alto, en plantas bajo estrés hídrico.
Molecular co‐evolution of Gonadotropin‐releasing hormones and their receptors

Abstract Gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH), synthesized in the hypothalamus, plays a pivotal role in the regulation of vertebrate reproduction. Since molecular isoforms of GnRH and their receptors (GnRHR) have been isolated in a broad range of vertebrate species, GnRH and GnRHR provide an excellent model for understanding the molecular co‐evolution of a peptide ligand‐receptor pair. Vertebrate species possess multiple forms of GnRH, which have been created through evolutionary mechanisms such as gene/chromosome duplication, gene deletion and modification. Similar to GnRHs, GnRH receptors (GnRHR) have also been diversified evolutionarily. Comparative ligand‐receptor interaction studies for non‐mammalian and mammalian GnRHRs combined with mutational mapping studies of GnRHRs have aided the identification of domains or motifs responsible for ligand binding and receptor activation. Here we discuss the molecular basis of GnRH‐GnRHR co‐evolution, particularly the structure‐function relationship regarding ligand selectivity and signal transduction of mammalian and non‐mammalian GnRHRs.
Paying for Restoration

The question of how society is going to pay for restoration has received little open discussion. We review existing literature and examples to explore two questions: How should ecological and economic considerations be balanced in determining expenditures on restoration projects? and How is society going to pay for the substantial costs involved? We discuss a number of different techniques for determining the amount of money to allocate to restoration efforts, including ecosystem replacement costs, quantifying ecosystem services, contingent valuation, and surrogate market price techniques. We then review different strategies for paying for restoration including private funding by the party responsible for the damage, public funding through taxes, voluntary contributions, and various public/private partnerships. We conclude by discussing other considerations in developing strategies to pay for restoration, including uncertainty, time‐scale, evaluating success, and regional planning.
Seed Source Effect on Field Emergence of Soybean Lines with Reduced Phytate and Raffinose Saccharides

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ] lines homozygous for the mips allele (mips lines) have reduced phytate P and raffinose saccharides in the protein meal. Less phytate is desirable for reducing the P content of manure from nonruminant animals and less raffinose saccharides increases the amount of metabolizable energy available to them. Field trials indicated that seedling emergence percentage of mips lines was less for seed produced in a subtropical environment than a temperate environment. The objective of this study was to determine if field emergence of mips lines is influenced by the environment used for seed production. Seed of six mips lines and four commercial cultivars (Mips lines) produced in four temperate and 12 subtropical environments during 2 yr was evaluated for field emergence percentage, seed viability percentage, and germination percentage in warm germination, cold vigor, and accelerated aging tests. The field emergence percentage of mips lines was significantly less than Mips lines for all seed sources. The mips lines had a mean field emergence of 63% for temperate sources and 8% for subtropical sources while Mips lines had a mean field emergence of 77% for temperate sources and 83% for subtropical sources. The mean seed viability percentage for the mips lines based on the tetrazolium test of 88% for temperate sources and 70% for subtropical sources accounted for only part of the differences in field emergence. Differences in field emergence between the mips and Mips lines were not consistently predicted by the warm germination and cold vigor tests for temperate sources. The accelerated aging test effectively differentiated the field emergence potential of the mips and Mips lines for all seed sources. Seed source should be a consideration when evaluating the field emergence of mips lines in a breeding program or for obtaining acceptable plant populations in commercial fields.
Evaluasi Penampilan dan Efek Heterosis Hasil Persilangan Beberapa Aksesi Jarak Pagar (Jatropha curcas L.)

Agronomic performance and heterosis effect of progeny are important criteria for selection of parental hybrid. The agronomic performance evaluation of Jatropha progeny which was derived from crossing of some Jatropha accessions has been carried out for those goals. The study was conducted at Agro Techno Park, Indralaya South Sumatra. The crossing combinations were Pidie x Medan, Curup x Lampung, Pidie x Lampung, Lampung x Pidie, Curup x Medan, Indralaya x Pontianak, Medan x Palembang, Curup x Pidie, and Jogya x Komering. Oil production, nitrate reductase enzyme activity, leaf chlorophyll content and relative plant growth rate were evaluated. The result showed that the relative plant growth rate could be used as early detection parameter for yield potential. Progenies of Pontianak x Indralaya, Palembang x Indralaya and Pidie x Lampung were selected as promising hybrids based on high productivity and heterosis effect. Keywords: Jatropha curcas, heterosis, relative plant growth rate, nitrate reductase activity
Role of gastrointestinal microbiota in fish

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract of an animal consists of a very complex and dynamic microbial ecosystem that is very important from a nutritional, physiological and pathological point of view. A wide range of microbes derived from the surrounding aquatic environment, soil/sediment and feed are found to colonize in the GI tract of fish. Among the microbial groups, bacteria (aerobic, facultative anaerobic and obligate aneraobic forms) are the principal colonizers in the GI tract of fish, and in some fish, yeasts are also reported. The common bacterial colonizers in the GI tract of freshwater and marine fish include Vibrio, Aeromonas, Flavobacterium, Plesiomonas, Pseudomonas, Enterobacteriaceae, Micrococcus, Acinetobacter, Clostridium, Fusarium and Bacteroides, which may vary from species to species as well as environmental conditions. Besides, several unknown bacteria belonging to Mycoplasma, Arthrobacter, Brochothrix, Jeotgailbacillus, Ochrobactrum, Psychrobacter and Sejongia species in the GI tract of different fish species have now been identified successfully using culture-independent techniques. Gnotobiotic and conventional studies indicate the involvement of GI microbiota in fish nutrition, epithelial development, immunity as well as disease outbreak. This review also highlights the need for manipulating the gut microbiota with useful beneficial microbes through probiotic, prebiotic and synbiotic concepts for better fish health management.