Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interleukin-1 in fish

It has been known for over a decade that IL-1 bioactivity exists in fish. Recently IL-1 has been cloned in several teleost species using two different approaches; homology cloning or a suppression subtractive PCR technique. One of the most important differences of the fish sequences compared with mammalian IL-1 is the lack of a clear ICE cut site, and it remains to be determined whether the fish molecule is processed to a mature peptide. The IL-1 gene organisation has also been determined for rainbow trout, and Southern blot analysis suggests at least one related gene is present in this species. Expression of the IL-1 transcript can be induced in vitro by stimulation of head kidney leucocytes with LPS or PHA, or in vivo by challenge with Gram-negative bacteria. A number of incompletely spliced transcripts have also been detected in tissues from challenged fish.
The family Alestidae (Ostariophysi, Characiformes): a phylogenetic analysis of a trans-Atlantic clade

The overall most parsimonious hypothesis of relationships based on 200 characters indicates that the Alestidae is the closest relative of Chalceus, a genus previously assigned to the Neotropical Characidae. Chalceus is shifted into the Alestidae, which becomes the only trans-Atlantic family level group within the Characiformes. Various previously proposed suprageneric assemblages within the Alestidae (e.g. Petersiini) failed to delimit monophyletic groups under the intrafamilial phylogenetic analysis. The evaluation of fossil alestids within the context of the phylogeny indicates that the ancestors of Alestes, Arnoldichthys, Brycinus, Bryconaethiops and Hydrocynus evolved prior to the early Eocene (Cuisian of Upper Ypresian), 49–54.8 million years ago, with the fossil Alestoides most closely related to Alestes. The phylogenetic information further indicates a minimum age of 90–112 million years for the Alestidae. Contrary to previous hypotheses, the fossil African Sindacharax was found to be most similar to the clade including the alestid genus Bryconaethiops rather than most closely related to the South American subfamily Serrasalminae. Evaluation of the fossil Mahengecharax carrolli fails to support its hypothesized placement as the sister group to all Recent members of the Alestidae. Two separate episodes of miniaturization and one episode of gigantism occurred within the evolution of the Alestidae. © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2005, 145, 1−144. No claim to original US government works.
Abstract 4885: Changes in abundance of oral microbiota associated with oral cancer

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Individual bacteria and shifts in the composition of the microbiome have been associated with human diseases including cancer. To investigate changes in the microbiome associated with oral cancers, we profiled cancers and anatomically matched contralateral normal tissue from the same patient by sequencing 16S rDNA hypervariable region amplicons. In cancer samples from both a discovery and a subsequent confirmation cohort, abundance of Firmicutes (especially Streptococcus) and Actinobacteria (especially Rothia) was significantly decreased relative to contralateral clinically normal samples from the same patient. Significant decreases in abundance of these phyla were observed for pre-cancers, but not when comparing samples from contralateral sites (tongue and floor of mouth) from healthy individuals. Patients with cancer or dysplasia, however, could be distinguished from healthy normal individuals by increased abundance of Prevotella. Weighted UniFrac principal coordinates analysis based on 12 taxa separated most cancers from other samples with greatest separation of node positive cases. Citation Format: Donna G. Albertson, Justin Kuczynski, Aditi Bhattacharya, Bing Huey, Patricia M. Corby, Erica L. S. Queiroz, Kira Nightingale, Alexander R. Kerr, Mark D. DeLacure, Ratna Veeramachaneni, Adam Olshen, Brian L. Schmidt. Changes in abundance of oral microbiota associated with oral cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 4885. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-4885
STUDIES ON THE TRANSPORT OF OXYGEN THROUGH THE STEMS AND ROOTS OF VEGETABLE SEEDLINGS

Summary Experiments were carried out to determine whether oxygen could enter the leaves of vegetable seedlings and be transported through the tissues to the roots. The technique involved embedding seedlings in agar/potassium phosphate gel to exclude oxygen; the atmosphere around the leaves was varied and oxygen concentrations were measured at points on the root surface 0.5–2.0 cm from the junction of stem and root system. When the gas around the leaves was changed from nitrogen to oxygen, the oxygen concentration at the root surfaces increased rapidly. The rates of increase agreed approximately with those calculated by assuming that the plants contained continuous non-tortuous gas-filled channels, the view that diffusion through these channels was the means by which oxygen was transported through the plant, and that the gas channels were within about 12 μ of the root surfaces. Experiments were also carried out to determine whether the roots of seedlings could grow in oxygen-free media. Seedlings were grown in an atmosphere of air with their roots in columns of agar-gel containing yeast and glucose. Depending on the amount of yeast and glucose in the gel, the oxygen concentration fell to zero at depths of between 0.5 and 2.0 cm from the gel surface. Seedling roots rapidly penetrated oxygen-free zones in the gel but the extent of penetration appeared to be unrelated to the depth of zero oxygen concentration. A similar pattern of results was obtained with seedlings of twelve different species and it was concluded that the stems and roots of most seedlings contain continuous, non-tortuous gas channels through which oxygen diffused. When the plants were grown under anaerobic conditions such diffusion could satisfy all the roots’requirements for oxygen.
The use of multiple measurement techniques to refine estimates of conifer needle geometry

Knowledge of foliar surface area is important in many fields, but estimating the area of nonflat conifer needles is difficult. The primary goal of this study was to use optical scanning and immersion methods to test and refine the standard cross-sectional geometries assumed for black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) and jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) needles. Projected leaf area (PLA, measured using a flatbed scanner), and hemisurface leaf area (HSLA, estimated from water immersion) were compared for conifer samples from a 37-year-old even-aged stand in northern Manitoba, Canada. The HSLAPLA relationship was used to infer information about needle cross-sectional geometry after assuming a basic form (rhombus for black spruce and hemiellipse for jack pine). The cross section of black spruce needles was best approximated as a rhombus with a major/minor diagonal ratio of 1.35. Jack pine needles were best described by a hemiellipse with major/minor axis ratio of 1.30. Minor but incorrect assumptions of n.
A fluorescence-staining method for microscopically counting viable microorganisms in soil

A fluorescence-staining method using the magnesium salt of 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonic acid is described. It allows the numbers and types of viable microorganisms in soil sections to be determined by direct microscopy. About 8% of the bacteria in the soils studied were able to divide when a nutrient solution was applied. A higher percentage of the fungal propagules in these soils were viable. The effects of environmental factors, chemical compounds, and soil amendments on the ability of soil microorganisms to undergo division or mycelial extension in situ can also be determined.
Variable Outcomes of Protist-Rotifer Competition in Laboratory Microcosms

A laboratory experiment examined competition for bacterial food between a protist and a rotifer. The experiment utilized a randomized 2 x 2 factorial design (+/0 rotifer sp., +/0 protist sp.). When grown monospecifically, the rotifer Philodina sp. and the protist Paramecium multimicronucleatum were similar in terms of mean efficiency of bacterial grazing in batch culture. When cultured together, the identity of the dominant species varied: Philodina dominated 3 of 5 replicates, while Paramecium dominated the remaining 2 replicates. The variable competitive outcome is predicted by variation in mean grazing efficiency when each species is raised alone.
An Analysis of Background Color‐Matching in Amphibians and Reptiles

The colors of living amphibians and reptiles have been studied, using a General Electric recording reflectance spectrophotometer. The animals were brought to activity tempera- ture levels and the appropriate surface pressed over the reflectance port of the machine while a color record was taken. Background samples from the localities at which the animals were taken were also recorded. Reptiles and amphibians living on backgrounds of relatively uniform color tend to matcl that background through superposition with considerable fidelity. The animal's color curve is superimposed over that of the background. Ventral color in most forms tested was lighter than the dorsal surfaces of the same animal. It was darker only in some forest-dwelling salamanders and in desert lava-dwelling species. The difference results primarily from the highly reflective ventral surfaces of these forms. The ventral surfaces of white-bellied amphibia show clear oxyhaemoglobin absorption peaks, as do the dorsal surfaces of some amphibia. These effects are entirely absent in curves recorded from reptiles. It is concluded that the degree of background color-matching is related to: (a) the degree of color uniformity of the animal's background, (b) the degree of exposure of the color-matched species to predators, (c) the illumination level prevalent in the habitat, (d) the size range of the color-matched species, (e) the ecological restriction of the species, (f) the qualities of the visual apparatus of predators upon the species, and (g) the adaptive compromise struck by the species. The size of a color-matched animal, or the size of the part of its body that is normally exposed, is related to the point at which such color-matching breaks down. This point of just noticeable difference between animal and background is also determined by the wave-length discrimination curves of the predators, the closeness of the match involved, the uniformity of the background color and its texture, and the presence or absence of concealing patterns. Back- ground color-matching varies greatly in its degree of perfection. This variation is the result of adaptive compromise and balance between this adaptive characteristic and many others that in one way or another affect its complete expression.
Ecology and comparison of coastal and offshore bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in California

Populations of coastal and offshore bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are considered to differ ecologically, with implications for their protection and management. We assessed occurrence, distribution and behaviour of coastal and offshore populations of dolphins during a photo-identification study in Santa Monica Bay and nearby areas (1997–2007). Bottlenose dolphins occurred year-round and were encountered on 44.2% of all surveys (n = 425). We photo-identified 647 individuals; of these, 375 (58.0%) were coastal ( 1 km from shore, contrary to what has been previously reported.
The invasion and expansion of three North American species of goldenrod (Solidago canadensis L. sensu lato. S. gigantea Ait. and S. graminifolia (L ) Salisb) in Poland

The geographical distributions of three adventive species of North American goldenrods ( S. canadensis L. s.l., S. gigantea Ait. and S. graminifolin (L.) Salisb. ) throughout Poland are presented. The history of escape, initial establishent and subsequent spread are documented on the basis of almost 1400 herbarium collections and site records of the authors. Of the three species S. gigantea is the most aggressive S. cunadensis has continued to spread vigorously. but S. graminifolia has barely moved beyond its initial area of establishment. The first two species occur essentially throughout Poland. having expanded from centers in southwestern Poland in the decade between 1840 to 1850. Both of these plants are spreading rapidly and producing vigorous populations which thrive in disturbed and semi-disturbed environments and S. gigantea seems to have now attained the capability of invading stabilized habitats and communities. They are in the process of becoming a serious threat to many natural environments and ecosystems in Poland.
Will protection of 17% of land by 2020 be enough to safeguard biodiversity and critical ecosystem services?

Abstract To stem the loss of biodiversity and ensure continued provision of essential ecosystem services world leaders adopted the 20 Aichi Biodiversity Targets in 2010, to be fulfilled by 2020. One key target (Target 11) prescribes an expansion of the global protected area system to at least 17% of land surface and 10% of oceans by 2020. Given that these targets are predominantly based on political feasibility rather than scientific evidence, it remains unclear whether fulfilment of Target 11 will suffice to safeguard biodiversity and ensure continued provision of essential ecosystem services. Despite many data gaps, in particular for ecosystem services, we can use existing global data to estimate the required protected area on land for biodiversity (a minimum of c. 17%) and biomass carbon storage (a minimum of c. 7–14% additional area to protect 75–90% of the unprotected carbon stock), which illustrates that the target of 17% of land will probably fall short in meeting these goals. As crossing thresholds or tipping points in ecosystems could trigger non-linear, abrupt change in delivery of ecosystem services, we need a science-driven understanding of how much protected, intact nature is needed to avoid unforeseen transgression of planetary boundaries.
Nutrition and Broiler Breeder Performance: A Review with Emphasis on Response to Diet Protein

Abstract The nutritional requirements of broiler breeders and the effect of feed makeup on their performance has been the subject of considerable research. The present paper reviews the literature available on the subject, examining the effects on parameters such as egg production, egg weight, egg composition, fertility and hatchability, offspring performance, and body weight. The importance of amino acid intake (especially of lysine and methionine) and its relationship with dietary protein is discussed. Special emphasis is given to literature dealing with the effects of diet protein on fertility and hatchability and of the effects of egg weight on offspring performance. The impact of body weight on broiler breeder performance is described.
Observation d'une femelle de tacon de saumon atlantique (Salmo salar L.) parvenue à maturité sexuelle en rivière

On a observe (decembre 1979) dans une trappe de comptage situee a la confluence d'un ruisseau de l'Elorn (riviere de Bretagne Nord) une femelle de tacon de saumon atlantique parvenue a maturite sexuelle. Cette femelle, âgee de 3 ans, mesurant 22,5 cm pour un poids de 150 g, a ete transportee en pisciculture ou ses œufs ont ete fecondes par la laitance d'un tacon mâle. Le nombre d'œufs par kg de poids frais etait estime a 1 760. Le nombre de degre-jour necessaire au developpement complet des œufs (fecondation jusqu'a la fin de l'eclosion) etait de 515 degres-jours. Le pourcentage de survie de la fecondation jusqu'a la fin de la resorption etait de 46,1 % puis de 88,1 % durant les 2 mois suivants.
The understorey palm Licuala (Arecaceae) suppresses tree regeneration in a lowland forest in Asia

The establishment and growth of a young tree requires a microsite that falls within a range of specific environmental conditions. Microsites will to some degree be modified by such neighbouring plants as are already established, a circumstance that will in turn lead to either a positive or negative spatial association among the individuals. Such patterns of spatial interactions are amenable to statistical inference. Positive associations may result when one species ameliorates overall hostile conditions, such as the shade and moisture provided the seedlings of long-leaf pine by the canopy of the saw palmetto (Allen 1956). Indeed, positive associations appear widespread in arid and cold habitats (reviewed in Tirado & Pugnaire 2003). However, on the forest floor of the humid tropics, negative associations are presumably more likely (Montgomery 2004). Harms et al. (2004) recently found a correlation between high density of small palms and a low density of tree saplings across four Neotropical sites, while Wang & Augspurger (2004) demonstrated that dwarf palms and cyclanths reduce seedling recruitment on the forest floor in Costa Rica.
AMELIORATION OF ANXIOLYTIC BEHAVIOR IN INTRACEREBROVENTRICULAR COLCHICINE INJECTED RATS BY NAPROXEN

Objective: Anxiety behavior in experimental model of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in rats by intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of colchicine is important to characterize this animal model, but it has not been sufficiently investigated in this animal model. The different attributes of anxiety behavior in ICV colchicine injected rats (ICIR) was studied, and the effects of naproxen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug on the anxiety status of these AD animals were assessed since in earlier studies naproxen protected cognitive impairments and neurodegeneration in ICIR. Methods: The anxiety status was assessed in an elevated open field with a novel object in two study durations (14-day and 21-day study). After measuring the anxiety behavior in two study durations, rats were sacrificed, and blood was collected for measuring the serum corticosterone (CORT) level. Results: Anxiolytic behavior along with lower CORT level was observed in ICIR in both the 14- and 21-day studies. After p.o. administration of different doses of naproxen (5, 10, 20 mg/kg body wt.) in ICIR, this anxiolytic behavior along with low serum CORT level showed gradual recovery and eventually both the parameters attained normal level at the dose of 20 mg/kg body weight in 21-day study. Conclusion: The present study showed an anxiolytic behavior in ICIR, and which may result from the colchicine induced neurodegeneration along with the impaired activity of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis. Some parameters appeared to be sensitive for determination of anxiety status in this model. Keywords: Colchicine, Anxiolytic, Naproxen, Corticosterone, Alzheimer’s disease.
Evaluation of Antimicrobial Potential of Stems of Cissus quadrangularis(Linn) Using Two Gram Positive and Negative Bacteria

Since prehistoric times plants have served human beings as a natural source of treatments and therapies, amongst them attention on medicinal herbs have grown because of their wide use and less side effects. In present times thrust on plant research has increased exponentially throughout the world and increasing amount of evidences are being collected and documented to show the immense potential of medicinal plants employed in various traditional systems, which is reflected from the fact that more than 15000 plants have been studied during the last 5-year period. The fact that most efficient drugs available are directly or indirectly derived from the plant kingdom has instigated scientists recently to focus their full attention on using these renewable resources to harvest new generation of therapeutic solutions. The frugal and pragmatic nature of production of plant-based pharmaceuticals has also attracted more capital investment in the research and development of new plant consequential therapeutics, giving patients access to new drugs faster. This review highlights some of the phytochemical and pharmacological aspects of various species of the Cissus family (Vitaceae) found throughout the world. It is a fleshy, cactus-like climbing plant, commonly found in tropical and subtropical xeric woods and extensively used as a food item in India. Folk literature suggests that the plant has a plethora of therapeutic uses in ameliorating pathological states of helminthiasis, anorexia, dyspepsia, colic, flatulence, skin diseases, leprosy, hemorrhage, epilepsy, convulsion, haemoptysis, tumors, chronic ulcers and swellings amongst others. The present study is an attempt to explore antimicrobial activity of stems of Cissus quadrangularis (Linn) using different microorganisms (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli) by disc diffusion methods. The result shows that out of all extracts tested, methanol extracts were effective against all the four microorganisms when compared to standard 20 μg /disc ampicillin.
THE TRILL OF THE CHASE: EASTERN CHIPMUNKS CALL TO WARN KIN

Abstract The trill vocalization is given by eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus) when being pursued by a predator. To examine the adaptive significance of this vocalization, we assessed the effects of sex, age, and distance from the burrow on the occurrence of the call. Chipmunks were released either 10 or 100 m from their burrow and chased by an experimenter to simulate a terrestrial predator. We found that adult females trill more often when released 10 m from their burrow (67% of 24 chases) than when released 100 m from their burrow (14% of 21 chases). Adult males, on the other hand, showed no significant difference in their probability of trilling based on the distance from their burrows (45% of 20 chases at 10 m and 55% of 20 chases at 100 m). Adult females trilled more than adult males when released 10 m from their burrow (67% compared with 45%) but less than males when released 100 m from their burrow (14% compared with 55%). Juvenile females only trilled when released 10 m from their burrows (45% of 11 chases), and juvenile males did not trill at all. We attributed sex, age, and location differences in giving the trill vocalization to the effects of kin selection on antipredator behavior.
Uma Abordagem Multilíngue para Análise de Sentimentos

Sentiment analysis has been applied in many contexts, including analysis of user’s opinions about products and services, prediction of elections and even market trending. Despite the large interest on this theme and amount of research efforts in the field, most of the existing methods are designed to work with English content. In this paper, we focus at filling this research gap by proposing an approach for the use of several state-of-the-art methods for sentiment analysis in 9 languages. In order to do it, we use many polarity labeled datasets of each language and develop a methodology to compare and validate them. Our results suggest that simply translating the input text on an specific language to English and then use one of the existing English methods has the potential to make sentiment analysis English independent. Resumo. A análise de sentimentos tornou-se uma ferramenta essencial para aplicação em diversos contextos, incluindo análise de opinião do usuário sobre produtos e serviços, previsão durante campanhas polı́ticas e até mesmo em tendências do mercado financeiro. Apesar do grande interesse neste tema e na quantidade de pesquisas na área, a maioria dos métodos foram projetados para funcionar com o conteúdo em inglês. Neste estudo, nos direcionamos a preencher esta lacuna propondo uma abordagem para o uso de determinados métodos estado-da-arte para análise de sentimentos em 9 diferentes linguas. Para isto, nós utilizamos bases de dados previamente rotuladas em cada idioma e uma simples tradução automática para o inglês e desenvolvemos uma metodologia para comparar e validar os resultados. Nossos resultados demonstram o potencial desta abordagem para tornar a análise de sentimentos independente da lı́ngua inglesa.