Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Properties of gelatin from seabass (Lates calcarifer) skin and swim bladder as influenced by extraction conditions and hydrocolloids

Gelatin is obtained by thermal denaturation or partial hydrolysis of collagen. Acid soluble collagens (ASCs) from skin and swim bladder of seabass (Lates calcarifer) were isolated and comparatively characterised. ASCs from both skin and swim bladder were identified to be type I. Both αand β-chains constituted were the major components with MW of 112-122 kDa and 187 kDa, respectively. ASC from both sources contained imino acids (proline and hydroxyproline) of 194– 195 residues/1000 residues). Thermal transition temperature of swim bladder ASC (35.0 °C) was slightly higher than the skin counterpart (33.3 °C). Based on zeta potential analysis, ASCs from skin and swim bladder had a net charge of zero at pH 6.46 and 6.64, respectively. Gelatin from seabass skin was extracted under various extraction conditions. The yield of gelatin increased when the extraction temperature and time increased (P<0.05). All gelatins contained β-chain and α–chains as the predominant components and showed a high imino acid content (198-202 residues/1000 residues). Generally, gel strength of gelatins decreased as extraction temperature and time increased. At the same extraction time, gel strength of gelatin extracted at 45 °C (303.4-369.2 g) was higher than that of gelatin extracted at 55 °C (282.0-322.6 g) (P<0.05). Gelatin from the seabass skin could be set at 25 °C within 30 min. When gelatin was extracted from the skin of seabass with different average sizes (2, 4 and 6 kg/fish), termed G2, G4 and G6, respectively, yields were 38.22, 40.50 and 43.48% (based on dry weight), respectively. G2 contained α-chains as dominant component, while G4 and G6 comprised α-, βand γ-chains with a larger content of high MW cross-links. Net charge of G2, G4 and G6 became zero at pHs of 6.73, 6.41 and 7.12, respectively. Among all gelatin samples, G6 exhibited the highest gel strength (321.5 g) (P<0.05). Gelling and melting temperatures of all gelatins were 17.09-19.01 and
Competition between T-box transcription factors contributes to developmental dynamics of the mouse embryo

Tbx6 is a member of the T-box family of transcription factors that is expressed within the primitive streak and presomitic mesoderm of the developing mouse embryo and is critical for the patterning and specification of the paraxial mesoderm. This work has investigated how Tbx6 interacts with other T-box transcription factors both in its endogenous expression domain and when it is ectopically expressed. To this end, we have used a combined genetic, transcriptional, and biochemical approach to investigate potential competition between Tbx6 and T, a T-box transcription factor co-expressed with Tbx6 in the primitive streak and tailbud. Additionally, we have developed a 3-component transgenic system to ectopically express Tbx6 outside of its endogenous domain, driving expression in the formed somites and limb buds. Three-component embryos displayed vertebral, rib, and limb anomalies resembling those in Tbx15 and Tbx18 null embryos. We showed that ectopic Tbx6 in these embryos could compete with Tbx15 and Tbx18 at the level of DNA binding. This suggested that the dynamic interplay of co-expressed T-box transcription factors might contribute to observed congenital birth defects resulting from heterozygous loss of a particular family member. While this work focused on one specific family of transcription factors, it implies that transcription factor family members that are related via a conserved DNA binding domain may also compete for downstream targets in vivo and that this then contributes to the overall developmental dynamics of the organism.
Evidence for a New Mechanism of Cytotoxicity of 1-β-d Arabinofuranosylcytosine

Abstract Inhibition of DNA synthesis by a pulse of 1-β-d-arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C) results in reinitiation of DNA replication in DNA segments replicated earlier in that S phase and hence double replication of some DNA segments. Experiments were with tissue culture cell lines of human origin. DNA replicated early in S phase was labeled with a pulse of [ 3 H]deoxycytidine with the cells pulsed later in S phase with ara-C. The DNA replicated after the time of the ara-C pulse was density labeled with 5-bromodeoxyuridine. Reinitiation of DNA replication in the already replicated [ 3 H]DNA segments was demonstrated using CsCl density gradient analysis by an increase in the 3 H label present in the light-heavy peak of semiconservatively replicated DNA. Also, in DNA of control cells, all of the 3 H was in the same strand of the light-heavy DNA duplex as was the 5 -bromodeoxyuridine, as shown by alkaline CsCl density gradient analysis of purified light-heavy DNA. However, after a pulse of ara-C, utilization of [ 3 H]DNA strands as template strands was demonstrated by the presence of 3 H label at the density of unsubstituted DNA chains in alkaline CsCl gradients of the purified light-heavy DNA. This double replication phenomenon can explain certain chromosomal abnormalities induced by ara-C.
Effect of supplemental methionine and lysine on performance and carcass yield characteristics in broiler chicks.

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of different levels of lysine and methionine in a factorial arrangement on 432 male chickens' performance and carcass traits. Three levels of lysine and methionine [100, 110 and 115% of NRC (1994) recommendation] were included in two corn-soybean diets (starter: 1 to 21 d; grower: 22 to 49 d) and fed to chickens from 1 to 49 of age. All diets were isocaloric and isonitrogenous. In broilers receiving 110% of NRC methionine, body weight gain was increased by 110g and feed conversion ratio (FCR) was improved (P<0.05) compared with controls. Decreased proportion of breast and increased thigh to carcass ratio were also obtained by increasing the level of methionine from 100 to 110% of NRC (1994) recommendation at 49 d of age (P<0.05). Both levels of supplemental methionine (110 and 115% of NRC recommendation) decreased (P<0.01) abdominal fat pad at the end of trial. Supplementing the diets with lysine (110% of NRC) led to an increase of 178g in BW gain but it had no effect (P<0.05) on FCR in the whole of the trial. Carcass traits were not affected (P<0.05) by both levels of supplemental lysine at 21d of age. Significant increase (P<0.05) in breast muscle weight was obtained in chickens receiving 110 and 115% of NRC lysine, however, no effect on abdominal fatpad and decrease in thigh weight were observed at the end of the experiment. The results of this study suggest that additional methionine and lysine at the level of 110% of NRC (1994) may improve performance and carcass traits in broiler chicks.
Fighting HIV infection by defining mechanisms to remodel semen-derived amyloid fibrils

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a major public health threat worldwide, with 80% of infections acquired through sexual transmission. Semen is the principal vector for the transmission of HIV and several endogenous peptides in semen, including fragments of prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP248-286 and PAP85-120) and semenogelins (SEM1 and SEM2), assemble into amyloid fibrils that promote HIV infection. Semen-derived amyloid fibrils enhance infectivity by capturing HIV virions and facilitating their attachment and fusion to target cells. Deciphering methods to dissolve seminal amyloid fibrils would provide a novel preventative strategy for reducing HIV infection via sexual transmission. Three previously described anti-amyloid agents were used to disassemble and/or counteract seminal amyloid fibrils: 1) Hsp104, an amyloid-remodeling factor from yeast, 2) CLR01, a lysine-specific molecular tweezer, and 3) EGCG, a small molecule polyphenol from green tea. Each strategy was found to antagonize seminal amyloid activity through diverse mechanisms. For instance, Hsp104 and a potentiated Hsp104 variant, Hsp104A503V, remodeled seminal amyloid fibrils into non-fibrillar aggregates and catalytically inactive Hsp104 scaffolds clustered fibrils into larger assemblies. Additionally, Hsp104 was modified to interact with the chambered protease ClpP, to enable coupled remodeling and degradation of seminal amyloid. CLR01 remodeled pre-formed amyloid fibrils through disruption of critical lysine residues, neutralized the cationic fibril surface charge, and exhibited a direct anti-viral effect via disruption of the viral membrane. Finally, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is the first small molecule that can eradicate all four classes of seminal amyloid. Thus, all three strategies were highly effective at antagonizing seminal amyloid fibrils and could have therapeutic utility. Altogether, these findings provide insight into developing microbicidal agents that can abolish the infection-enhancing capabilities of seminal amyloid and counter HIV transmission. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Group Pharmacology First Advisor James Shorter
Recuperação de Nódulos Pulmonares por Conteúdo: uma abordagem Radiomics em Pesquisa Reprodutível

O diagnostico e o tratamento precoce do câncer de pulmao sao formas efetivas de garantir a vida dos pacientes. Contudo, a deteccao e classificacao dos nodulos pulmonares sao tarefas desafiadoras aos especialistas, pois os nodulos sao pequenos e apresentam baixo contraste. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a precisao dos atributos de Forma 3D e Intensidade 3D associados a atributos de Textura 3D e Nitidez de Borda disponiveis no contexto de pesquisa reprodutivel. Os atributos formaram um vertor Radiomics de 66 dimensoes e foram aplicados a recuperacao de imagens por conteudo. O resultado da precisao do algoritmo foi de 0,841 e 0,803 na recuperacao de nodulos benignos e malignos, respectivamente.
Microbial decontamination of poultry carcasses.

Abstract: The present chapter on the decontamination of poultry carcasses first discusses contamination sources and routes of poultry carcasses as well as major bacterial pathogens of concern, in particular Campylobacter and Salmonella . The main part of the chapter then addresses the antibacterial activity of physical, chemical, or biological intervention treatments applied to poultry carcasses. To appraise the efficacy, Campylobacter and Salmonella reductions after interventions are compared. Basic advantages and disadvantages as well as the present and future application of various methods and substances for the decontamination of poultry carcasses are also described.
14 Neuropathology of Prion Diseases

The discovery of mechanisms of nerve cell dysfunction, degeneration, and death in prion diseases acquired by infection, in dominantly inherited forms, and in sporadic (idiopathic) forms has gone hand in hand with the discovery of the prion and how prions are propagated. The generation of PrP-specific antibodies led to our first immunohistochemical study, in which we discovered that the amyloid plaques in experimental scrapie in Syrian hamsters contain protease-resistant PrP (Fig. 1A) (Bendheim et al. 1984; DeArmond et al. 1985). That finding convinced us that we had a unique opportunity to obtain a better understanding of the pathogenesis of scrapie in animals and the related human disorders that include sporadic, iatrogenic, and familial Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), and the rare familial disorder Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker syndrome (GSS). The overall objective was to test the hypothesis that PrP Sc accumulation in the brain causes the clinically relevant neuronal dysfunction, vacuolation, and death that are the characteristics of prion diseases. The results of many studies have led to the unifying hypothesis that neuronal degeneration in spontaneous, infectious, and genetic prion diseases and the propagation of prions in those diseases are both related exclusively to abnormalities of PrP. Multiple investigators in Great Britain, Europe, Japan, and the US have contributed to our understanding of the mechanisms of CNS degeneration peculiar to prion diseases. We have attempted to identify and acknowledge their many contributions; however, the number of prion disease investigators is increasing logarithmically and, therefore, inevitably we will have missed some and apologize to them for that.
An integrated pest management strategy to manage mammal browsing on state forest in Tasmania.

Browsing of sown and planted tree seedlings by mammalian herbivores (wallabies, pademelons, possums and rabbits) is currently a significant biotic risk faced by production forestry in Tasmania. Use of the poison 1080 has historically been the principal method of managing mammal browsing. However it’s use, particularly against native herbivores, is controversial and in 2004 the Premier of Tasmania announced that the use of 1080 on State Forest would cease from December 2005. New knowledge of the development of browsingdamage over space and time in young eucalypt plantations has now provided the framework to guide implementation of a suite of tactics to manage browsing, each to a particular level of browsing risk. In this paper we outline the strategy being adopted for the replacement of 1080based management of mammal browsing in State Forest in Tasmania with integrated pest management.
Analysis Models for HPV-Related Pathobiology

Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are involved in the aetiology of human carcinomas arising in different anatomical locations such as skin, anogenital region and oropharynx (Marur et al., 2010; Pfister, 2003; zur Hausen, 2002). The virus infects stratified epithelia of these locations, producing new infectious viral particles. HPV life cycle is intimately dependant of a proper squamous cell differentiation, so simple cell culture systems are unable to recapitulate essential processes for a complete virus replication. Mucosal HPVs are responsible of benign lesions and carcinomas of the anogenital region and oropharynx. There are a few types of mucosal HPVs that are present in cancers in these anatomical locations, and they are called high-risk types (mainly HPV types 16 and 18) (de Sanjose et al., 2010). Furthermore, low-risk mucosal HPV types are responsible of frequent benign lesions in the same locations (mainly HPV types 6 and 11) (zur Hausen, 2002). Although these HPV-lesions (condylomas and respiratory papillomatosis) do not evolve normally to overt tumours, they are difficult to treat.
Bone Marrow Transplantation in the Rat

We have analysed the cytological structure of inflammation in the different parenchymal target organs during acute graft‐versus‐host disease after bone marrow transplantation in the rat. Inflammation (recovery of increased numbers of white cells) was recorded in the liver, skin, and lungs of the allograft recipient compared with the syngeneic graft recipient from day 5 onwards, accompanied by reduced recovery of inflammatory cells from the gut. The major cytological manifestation of the disorder was an increase in the total number of blast cells, large granular lymphocytes (LGL), and lymphocytes in the liver and skin, and of the number of blast cells and LGL in the lung. At the same time, a depletion of LGL and lymphocytes was recorded in the blood, suggesting migration of these cell components to the site of inflammation.
Plant Food Preferences of Two Sympatric Rodents and Their Potential Impact on a Great Basin Shrub Community

The plant food preferences and consumption rates of Peromyscus maniculatus ( deer mice) and Perognathus parvus (Great Basin pocket mice) were determined in order to assess the rodents' impact on a l-km 2 shrub-bunchgrass community in Curlew Valley, Utah, where plant and rodent densities were known. The rodents preferred seeds of the grass Sitanion hystrix which composed nearly 80 % by weight of the diet of caged mice presented parts of native plants. The mice ate smaller amounts of Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus and Halogeton glomeratus. They ate little of the dominant shrubs (Artemisia tridentata and A triplex confertifolia). Factors contributing to these results might be size of seeds, ease of husking seeds, ease of locating seeds and absence of secondary plant compounds. In trials in which mice were observed feeding on native plants in outdoor enclosures, 43 % of feeding visits by Peromyscus and 69 % by Perognathus were to Sitanion seeds. Sitanion plants received 22 and 9 % , respectively, of the feeding visits of Peromyscus and Perognathus. The remainder of the visits were distributed among other plants in the enclosures. Peromyscus and Perognathus ate an average of 7 . 40 kcal/ day and 8.30 kcal/ day of plant parts, respectively. These amounts probably represent a majority of the animals' energetic requirements. Peromyscus and Perognathus were the most common rodents on the study site (IBP Desert Biome Curlew Valley Validation Site). Their estimated consumption of plant parts probably did not affect plant community composition. Even if the rodents consumed only the least abundant plant food (Halogeton seeds), they would remove only 60 % of the plant's estimated seed production. However, other activities of the rodents may affect plant distribution and composition. INTRODUCTION Biologists have conducted many studies on rodent food habits and plant productivity, but they have done little to relate one to the other. The data available suggest that rodents generally consume less than 2 % of net primary productivity (Chew and Chew 1970; Colley 1960; Odum et al. 1962). However, Chew and Chew (1970) and Soholt (1973) have documented that rodent granivores may consume nearly 11 % of available primary production in a desert community. Further, since rodents are selective in what they eat, their impact is not uniformly distributed among plant species. Soholt (1973) found that a desert rodent in one community ate 95% of the annual seed production of one plant species. Thus, the influence of rodents on plant communities may vary widely. More information is needed on the relationships between va-rious kinds of rodents and plant communities before reliable generalizations can be made about the impact of rodents on plants. This study attempts to gather this information on two sympatric species, Peromyscus maniculatus and Perognathus parvus, in an arid lands shrub-bunchgrass community.
The coexistence of Bosmina and Ceriodaphnia in a south Andes lake.: An analysis of demographic responses

SUMMARY 1. The coexistence of Bosmina and Ceriodaphnia was studied in relation to phytoplankton succession in a small lake (Laguna Ezquerra) in the araucanian region of Argentina. 2. The study involved field sampling and single species cultures of each of the two cladocerans in lake water under laboratory conditions. 3. Ceriodaphnia showed a unimodal cycle while Bosmina had a bimodal pattern during 4 months of coexistence. Ceriodaphnia exhibited a direct relationship between clutch size and biovolume of edible algae, whereas Bosmina's fecundity was related to the density of flagellates. 4. We found that the fecundity of these species responded differently to laboratory and field conditions. The fecundity of Ceriodaphnia followed the same pattern in both the field and laboratory, whereas Bosmina showed higher fecundity values in laboratory experiments. 5. Our results are in good agreement with predictions derived from Northern Hemisphere studies, indicating that food-limited populations of daphnids and Bosmina can coexist for extended periods in spatially homogeneous environments. 6. The variation in food availability, measured as biovolume of edible algae, determines the loss of Ceriodaphnia and the persistence of Bosmina.
Stochastic simulation of cell signaling pathways

1324127 Making tyre inner tubes RUBBERFABRIEK VREDESTEIN NV 11 Oct 1971 [14 Oct 1970] 47153/71 Heading B7C Apparatus for making tyre inner tubes comprises a tubing conveyer 1, means 3, e.g. a supply roll or an extrusion apparatus, for feeding a continuous length of tubing 4, e.g. of natural or synthetic rubber, on to the conveyer 1, and a carriage 5 reciprocably movable parallel to the conveyer 1, the carriage 5 carrying means 9 for forming holes for air valves in the tubing, means 8 for positioning and fitting air valves, and a cutter 10 for periodically cutting the tubing into lengths. The carriage 5 may be formed of two parts 5A, 5B interconnected by a piston and cylinder device 7 whereby, in use, the means 9 may be operated as the carriage moves along the at same speed as the conveyer 1, and then the part 6B of the carriage may be accelerated with respect to the conveyer by actuating the device 7, the means 8 thus being brought over the holes formed during operation of the means 9. Alternatively the means 8 and 9 may be combined such that a hole forming punch is provided which acts through an air valve as it is fitted. The means 8 and 9 may be arranged to operate before or after the cutter 10. A conveyer belt 14 is provided to supply air valves to the means 8, and the valves may have rubber bases to which adhesive is applied by a device 13. A conveyer 12 receives the cut lengths of tubing 4 with air valves fitted, and the ends of each length are then joined and the tube vulcanized.
Effect of preplant seed conditioning treatment on the germination of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.).

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum. L.) is being developed and evaluated as summer forage and for biomass production in eastern Canada. Uneven germination and slow seedling growth in spring are some of the factors limiting its cultivation. A study was conducted to reduce seed dormancy and to improve germination at suboptimal temperatures in switchgrass cultivars Cave-in-Rock (CIR), Dakota (DK) and New Jersey 50 (NJ). Seeds of these cultivars were conditioned either with 0.2% potassium nitrate (KNO 3 ) or 1mM gibberellic acid or osmo-conditioned with polyethylene glycol 8000 (PEG) solution with or without 0.2% KNO 3 or 1 mM gibberellic acid (GA 3 ); or matriconditioned with Micro-Cel E (MC) with either water, 0.2% KNO 3 or 1 mM GA 3 . The seeds were conditioned at 8 or 16°C for 4 days and then germinated at 8, 16 or 24°C. Conditioning treatment and temperature influenced germination. For CIR seeds germinated at 8°C, conditioning with PEG at 8°C increased germination from 0 (control) to 22%. All the conditioning treatments germinated earlier and the proportion of seeds that eventually germinated was higher than for the unconditioned control. In the cultivar NJ conditioning at 16°C with water or 1 mM GA 3 increased germination to 12 and 17% respectively (0 for the control) when seeds were germinated at 8°C. When germinated at 16°C treatments containing 1 mM GA 3 germinated earlier. Osmoconditioning in PEG with 1 mM GA 3 had the highest final germination at 56% (37% for control). Cultivar DK did not significantly respond to the various conditioning treatments. Overall, both osmoconditioning and matriconditioning hastened germination and total germination in switchgrass cultivars CIR and NJ.