Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interaction of Extracellular Potassium and Cesium with the Kinetics of Inward Rectifying K+ Channels in the Plasma Membrane of Mesophyll Protoplasts of Avena sativa

Using the patch-clamp technique the kinetics of whole-cell and single channel inwardly rectifying K+ currents were measured in enzymatically -isolated protoplasts from Avena sativa mesophyll leaf cells. The hyperpolarization-activated whole-cell current had an initial K+ component (I|d) and a time-dependent K+ component which reaches steady state (IKss) within 500 ms. After an initial delay, the activation of I Kss and the deactivation of the tail K+ current (IKT) followed an exponential time course. The time-constants of activation (ra), at 10 mM and 50 mM [K+]o, and of deactivation (rd) could be described by exponential and sigmoidal dependence on membrane voltage (Vm), respectively. The relative number of the activated K+ channel population increased sigmoidally as a function of hyperpolarized Vm. On the other hand, the relative number of the deactivated K+ channel population decreased exponentially as a function of hyperpolarize d V m. The kinetics of the inward rectifying K+ current were dependent on V m but not on extracellular K+ concentration, [K+]o. The presence of Cs+ in the bathing medium reduced r, at voltage steps less negative than —125 mV and increased r, for voltage steps between —150 mV and — 200 mV. By comparison, the dependence of r d on V m was not altered significantly by changing [Cs+]o. Cs+ reversibly blocked the voltage-dependent sigmoidal rise of K+ current activation and the voltage-dependent exponential decrease of current deactivation. The Cs+-induced block of K+ current was both voltage and concentration dependent. Single channel current (IK), the probability of the channel being open (Po) and the mean open-time (ro) increased as a function of hyperpolarize d potentials. The mean closed-time (rc) and the mean lag time before the channel opened were exponentially dependent on voltage and they became shorter as the membrane was hyperpolarized. The kinetics of single K+ channels i.e. activation, deactivation and lag time, and the absence of outward single K+ channel currents were consistent with whole-cell current measurements. The inward rectification of single channel currents and simulated cell currents suggest that this current rectification is an intrinsic nature of the inward rectifying K+
Preleminary Studies on Cryopreservation of Common Tench, Tinca tinca, Embryos

Vitrification could provide a promising tool for the cryopreservation of fish embryos. However, in order to achieve cryopreservation using vitrification, chilling sensitivity and cryoprotectants toxicity were determined using tench embryos at four developmental stages (11, 17, 23 and 29-h). Embryos treated with alcalase (2mL 998ml 2mm at 22°C) were exposed to chilling with/without warming. Other embryos were exposed to methanol and glycerol at the concentration of 10% and 20% for periods of 20 min. Thereafter, embryos were incubated at special incubator to determin the hatching rates. Regarding chilling sensitivity, the hatching rates of embryos decreased significantly (P <0.001) after exposure to 0°C at all developmental stage except 29-h stage. The same results were reported after exposure to chilling followed by warming. It was found that the 11-h embryonic stage was most sensitive to chilling preservation. Whereas, the 29-h stage exhibited the least sensitivity, while 17-h and 23-h stages were intermediate in their sensitivity to chilling. The toxicity of methanol increased significantly (P <0.001) with developmental stage for 11-h, 17-h and 23-h stages. The largest change was a reduction in the toxicity of methanol in 29-h embryos. The highest hatching rates of tench embryos were obtained with 29-h embryos using various concentrations of methanol. The survival trends of different stages of tench embryos exposed to glycerol concentrations were approximately similar to those embryos exposed to methanol concentrations except for 11-h embryos which showed no hatching with both glycerol concentrations. Concerning the viability of embryos after vitrification, unfortunately, it could not obtained any viable embryos in any of conditions examined. In conclusion, as it was quite difficult to vitrify the tench embryos during this study using various vitrifying solutions and the method reported by Chen and Tian (2005) and so further studies using other developmental stages, basic, washing and vitrifying solutions are needed to achieve successful cryopreservation.
Localization and phosphorylation of Semfiki Forest virus non-structural protein nsP3 expressed in COS cells from a cloned cDNA

The nsP3 protein of Semliki Forest virus is a phosphoprotein, which is processed from a large nonstructural polyprotein. The nsP3 gene was isolated from the large coding region by the polymerase chain reaction technique and cloned into a eukaryotic expression vector. Using the constructed pSVNS3 expression vector it was shown that nsP3 could be phosphorylated in the absence of other virus-specific proteins. This suggests that the formation of a complex with the other non-structural proteins is not required for the phosphorylation of nsP3. About half of the synthesized nsP3, in pSVNS3-transfected COS cells, could be fractionated into the mitochondrial pellet fraction indicating that nsP3 is associated with large intracellular structures. Immunofluorescence microscopy of pSVNS3-transfected COS cells showed that nsP3 was found in the cytoplasm localized to vesiclelike structures. These results suggest that nsP3 contains information for specific interaction with large intracellular vesicular structures.
Evolutionary considerations of claims for physical dormancy-break by microbial action and abrasion by soil particles†

Abstract Books and review articles in various areas of ecology and seed and plant biology continue to report that dormancy-break in seeds (and fruits) with water-impermeable coats (i.e. physical dormancy) occurs via soil-microbial action and/or abrasion by soil particles. However, there is little evidence in the scientific literature to support these assumptions, which, in fact, do not make good evolutionary sense for two related reasons. First, several types of anatomically specialized water-restriction structures have evolved as part of the seed or fruit coat of taxa with physical dormancy. These structures act as ‘signal detectors’ of physical-environmental changes that cause seeds (and fruits) to become water-permeable only at these sites, in seasons and habitats in which there is a good chance that some seedlings will become established. Second, seed (and fruit) coat breakdown by microbial action or by abrasion likely would occur in seasons and habitats in which seedlings could not survive, thus lowering the fitness (λ) of the plant taxa in question.
A variant of DNA polymerase b acts as a dominant negative mutant (expression in tumorsybase-excision repairyDNA binding)

In eukaryotic cells, DNA polymerase b (polb) carries out base-excision repair (BER) required for DNA maintenance, replication, recombination, and drug re- sistance. A specific deletion in one allele in the coding sequence of the polb gene occurs in colorectal and breast carcinomas. The 87-bp deleted region encodes amino acid residues 208-236 in the catalytic domain of the enzyme. Here, we report evidence for expression of the wild-type (WT) and the truncated polb proteins in colorectal tumors. To elucidate the potential functional consequences of polb truncation, stable HeLa cell lines were established from cloned WT and variant polbD208-236. Cells expressing the variant protein exhibited substantially decreased BER activity. To test our hypothesis that truncated polb may disrupt the function of the WT enzyme, we stably transfected mouse embryonic fibro- blast 16.3 cells with polbD208-236 cDNA. Reverse transcrip- tion-PCR and Western blot analyses showed that the new cell line, 16.3DP, expresses the WT and the truncated polb mRNA and proteins. BER and binding activities were undetectable in these cells. Furthermore, in vivo the 16.3DP cells were more sensitive to N-methyl-N*-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine than the 16.3 cells. On adding increasing amounts of 16.3DP protein extracts, the BER and DNA binding activities of extracts of the parent 16.3 cell line progressively declined. These results strongly suggest that truncated polb acts as a dominant negative mutant. The defective polb may facilitate accumu- lation of mutations, leading to the expression of a mutator phenotype in tumor cells.
Attachment and stress regulation in socioeconomically disadvantaged children: Can public childcare compensate?

Abstract Children growing up in families experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage (SED) are at greater risk for deficits in attachment and stress regulation as compared to peers in families with more socioeconomic resources. The present study hypothesized that care providers in out‐of‐home care might help these children to compensate. We therefore investigated 60 children (n = 30 from SED, n = 30 matched counterparts from middle class) and assessed children's Attachment Q‐Sort (AQS) toward the mother and the primary care provider in childcare centers. Moreover, children's diurnal cortisol rhythm was measured based on 12 saliva samples taken across three days a week. The disadvantaged children showed lower AQS scores with their mothers than their care providers. Compared to their counterparts, disadvantaged children also displayed heightened cortisol release and flatter cortisol profiles reflecting overall high hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenocortical activities and lower capacities to regulate stress. Most notably however, multilevel path modeling linked higher care provider AQS scores to decreasing cortisol release throughout the week.
Normative data for tests of attention and executive functions in a sample of European Portuguese adult population

ABSTRACT Objective: The main goal of this study was to produce normative data for the Portuguese population on five neuropsychological tests frequently used to assess executive functions and attention: the Modified Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (M-WCST), the Stroop Color and Word Test, the Trail Making Test (TMT), the Brief Test of Attention (BTA), and the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). Method: The study included 300 individuals aged between 18 and 93 years, who had educational backgrounds ranging from 3 to 25 years. Results: The influence of age, education, and sex was explored for each measure, as well as their contribution to explain the performance variance. Conclusions: The normative data are presented as regression-based algorithms to adjust direct and derived test scores for sex, age, and education. This study provides a calculator of normative data, derived from the results of the regression models.
Hybridization and the origin of new yeast lineages

ABSTRACT Hybrids originate from the mating of two diverged organisms, resulting in novel lineages that have chimeric genomes. Hybrids may exhibit unique phenotypic traits that are not necessarily intermediate between those present in the progenitors. These unique traits may enable them to thrive in new environments. Many hybrid lineages have been discovered among yeasts in the Saccharomycotina, of which many have industrial or clinical relevance, but this might reflect a bias toward investigating species with relevance to humans. Hybridization has also been proposed to be at the root of the whole-genome duplication in the lineage leading to Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Thus, hybridization seems to have played a prominent role in the evolution of Saccharomycotina yeasts, although it is still unclear how common this evolutionary process has been during the evolution of this and other fungal clades. Similarly, the evolutionary aftermath of hybridization, including implications at the genomic, transcriptional, physiological or ecological levels, remains poorly understood. In this review, I survey recent findings from genomic analysis of yeast hybrids of industrial or clinical relevance, and discuss the evolutionary implications of genomic hybridization for the origin of new lineages, including when such hybridization results in a whole-genome duplication.
Platelet-Activating Factor Induces Up-regulation of Antiapoptotic Factors in a Melanoma Cell Line through Nuclear Factor-κB Activation

In this study, we investigated the influence of platelet-activating factor (PAF) on the induction of apoptosis-regulating factors in B16F10 melanoma cells. PAF increased the expression of mRNA and the protein synthesis of antiapoptotic factors, such as Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, but did not increase the expression of the proapoptotic factor, Bax. A selective nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) inhibitor, parthenolide, inhibited the effects of PAF. Furthermore, PAF inhibited etoposide-induced increases in caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9 activities, as well as cell death. p50/p65 heterodimer increased the mRNA expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL and decreased etoposide-induced caspase activities and cell death. In an in vivo model in which Matrigel was injected s.c. , PAF augmented the growth of B16F10 cells and attenuated etoposide-induced inhibition of B16F10 cells growth. These data indicate that PAF induces up-regulation of antiapoptotic factors in a NF-κB-dependent manner in a melanoma cell line, therefore suggesting that PAF may diminish the cytotoxic effect of chemotherapeutic agents. (Cancer Res 2006; 66(9): 4681-6)
SOME OBSERVATIONS OF PASTURE MANAGEMENT EFFECTS ON GRASS GRUB, PORINA AND EARTHWORM POPULATIONS

Changes in management practices will automatically alter the equilibrium between organisms making up the pasture ecosystem with results not necessarily beneficial to the economic production of the system. Indications of these interactions were observed and monitored in pasture management pasture species trials at Palmerston North. Grass grub attack developed more rapidly, and populations reached higher levels under rotational grazing than set stocking. Porina caterpillar populations tended to show the reverse with higher populations under set stocking than rotational grazing. Earthworm populations were higher under set stocking with a greater proportion of burrowing types, compared to rotational grazing which favoured more of the surface feeding species. These changes are discussed in terms of differences in pasture structure and defoliation patterns affecting microclimate and food supplies for the survival of these organisms.
Gastrointestinal stromal tumors and second primary malignancies: a retrospective monocentric analysis.

In the post-Imatinib era, the median survival of patients diagnosed with GIST has reached almost 5 years. Prolonging GIST-specific survival, GIST patients have an increased incidence of secondary neoplasia. Data on the prognostic impact of second tumors in GIST patients are very poor with few and small retrospective analyses available in the literature. We conducted a retrospective monocentric analysis on 145 patients diagnosed with GIST between April 2001 and October 2018. Kaplan-Meier and Cox hazard methods were used for survival analysis. A total of 154 GIST patients were included and 31 patients of them (21%) were diagnosed with at least one additional malignancy. The most common second tumors associated with GIST were gastrointestinal tumors. GIST patients with additional malignancies showed to have lower size (>5 cm: 35% vs 45%; p = 0.75), higher mitotic rate (> 5/50 HPFs: 42% vs 29%; p = 0.24), higher presence of cKIT mutation (85% vs 69%), a lower presence of PDGFRα mutation (8% vs 17%; p = 0.05) and shorter survival (mOS: 9.6 vs 15.5 years; p = 0.30). In conclusion, our study did not find any significant correlation between clinicopathological characteristics and the development of a second tumor in GIST patients. Further analyses and strict follow up protocols are needed in order to early diagnose and promptly treat a second primary tumor in the GIST population.
Cellular antioxidant activities and cytotoxic properties of ethanolic extracts of four tropical green leafy vegetables

The present investigation sought to evaluate cellular antioxidant activities of some green leafy vegetables: Vernonia amygdalina, Asteraceae (Va,); Manihot utilissima Pohl . , Euphoriaceae (Mu);Corchorous olitorius L. , Malvaceae (Co) and Occimum gratissimum L. , Lamiaceae (Og) against peroxyl radical-induced oxidation in HepG2 cells and also evaluate their cytotoxic properties against drug sensitive and drug resistant Lovo and Lovo/Adr cancer cell lines respectively. HPLC/DAD/MS investigation of the ethanolic extract of the vegetal matter revealed the presence of 4, 5, 6, and 7 phenolic compounds in Mu, Co, Og and Va respectively. The cellular antioxidant activity was tested with different concentrations (0.1, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.00 mg/ml dried weight) of the extracts. At a concentration of 1.00 mg/ml, the quenching of peroxyl radical in HepG2 cells as shown by the fluorescence units revealed that Og has the best inhibition capacity, followed by Co, Va respectively and with the least inhibition capacity recorded for Mu. However, pro-oxidant activities were observed at lower concentrations of Va (0.1 mg/ml) and Mu (0.1, 0.25 and 0.5 mg/ml). Cytotoxic investigation revealed that the extracts were active against both cell lines with EC50 (µg/ml) ranging from 1.3 to 2.6 for Lovo and 1.5 to 2.7 for Lovo/Adr respectively, and that Va was the most active, while the least activity was recorded for Mu and Co for Lovo and Lovo Adr respectively. The observed cytotoxic properties and the elicited antioxidant activities would be due to the phytochemical constituents among which could be the rich content of flavonoids and cynammoyl derivatives as revealed by the chromatographic investigations.
Adherence to the Mediterranean diet among Italian adults: results from the web-based Medi-Lite questionnaire

Abstract The adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) was assessed in a sample of 1820 non-selected individuals (1099 females and 721 males aged ≥18 years) who have completed the web version of the Medi-Lite score during the year 2019. Adherence to the MD was found to have a normal distribution and, on a scale from 0 to 18, the mean score was 12.2 ± 2.4. Significantly (p < 0.001) higher adherence scores were observed in females compared to males, in elderly people compared to young people, and in individuals with a university degree compared to those with a primary or a secondary school diploma. At the multivariate analysis, female gender, advanced age (>45 years), and higher education level were associated with a higher probability of being in the highest quartile of the Medi-Lite distribution. In conclusion, we found that some sub-groups of our population (males, younger individuals, and those with lower levels of education) need to improve their diet for reaching higher adherence scores to the MD.
Cross-cultural validation of the Mood Questionnaire in three Spanish-speaking countries Argentina, Ecuador, and Spain

ABSTRACT This study validates the Mood Questionnaire for adults in three Spanish-speaking countries: Argentina, Ecuador, and Spain. It then analyzes the influence of gender and cultural differences on mood, and whether there is a relationship between mood, emotional intelligence, and the Avoidance of Responsibility. A convenience sample of 1048 adults, with a middle-class socioeconomic background, was selected from three Spanish-speaking countries (Spain, Argentina, and Ecuador). The psychometric properties of the Mood Questionnaire are adequate, which is particularly interesting given the need for transcultural tools to evaluate moods. Moreover, the mood was associated with avoidance of responsibility and emotional intelligence. In addition, differences in mood were observed according to country and gender. These findings are interesting because the Spanish version of the Mood Questionnaire has been validated for children but not for adults, and it compares three Spanish-speaking countries. The use of this diagnostic tool with Spanish adults can be justified according to these results.
EFFECT OF MELATONIN ON NF‐κB DNA‐BINDING ACTIVITY IN THE RAT SPLEEN

It was recently demonstrated that the pineal neurohormone melatonin is a hydroxyl radical scavenger and antioxidant, and that it plays an important role in the immune system. In studies reported herein, we have investigated the relationship of the melatonin level and the NF‐κ B DNA binding activity in the spleen of Sprague—Dawley rats. These in vivo results indicate that NF‐ κB DNA binding activity in the spleen is lower at night, when endogenous melatonin levels are elevated, than during the day, when endogenous melatonin levels are lower. Furthermore, exogenously administered melatonin (10mg/kg) was shown to cause a significant decrease in NF‐κB DNA binding activity in the spleen at 60min after intraperitoneal injection (as compared with vehicle‐treated rats). These new findings suggest that the normal night time rise which can be expected for melatonin may be associated with increased NF‐κB DNA binding activity in the spleen. The melatonin, therefore, could potentially act to modulate spleen function and/or the immune system by regulating the NF‐κB DNA binding activity in the spleen.
THE EVOLUTION OF THE IMMUNE RESPONSE

1. Studies of the immune response have been carried out in more than 1700 lampreys representing three stages in the life cycle of these animals. 2. Lampreys used in this study were unable to clear certain soluble protein antigens and bacteriophage and were unable to make antibodies to these antigens. Hemocyanin was cleared from the circulation. 3. The immune responses demonstrated in lampreys include the production of specific antibody to killed Brucella cells, the rejection of skin homografts, and the development of a delayed allergic response to old tuberculin. 4. A responsive proliferation of lymphoid cells occurred in the protovertebral arch following antigen-adjuvant stimulation. 5. Electrophoretic and immunoelectrophoretic analysis of lamprey serum revealed gamma globulin. Ultracentrifugal analysis of serum revealed proteins with sedimentation coefficients of 17S, 8S, 7S, and 3S. 6. The antibodies thus far observed in the lamprey are of relatively high molecular weight and destroyed by 2-mercaptoethanol. 7. In the lamprey it would appear that there is reflected the coordinate evolution of a primitive thymus, primitive spleen containing lymphoid foci, a family of lymphocytes in the peripheral blood and capacity for gamma globulin synthesis and expression of adaptive immunity.
Facultative Specialization in the Diet of the Twelve-lined Whiptail, Aspidoscelis lineatissima

Abstract We studied dietary composition and seasonal dietary patterns of the Méxican Twelve-lined Whiptail (Aspidoscelis lineatissima) in Chamela, Jalisco, México. We removed stomach contents and identified them as to the order to which they belonged. We calculated an importance value, food niche breadth, and food niche overlap indexes. Termites were the most important prey item. They were consumed throughout the year, particularly during the dry season, suggesting that A. lineatissima is a facultative specialist during the driest period of the study. Other important food items were lepidopteran larvae, coleopterans (adults and larvae), hymenopterans, orthopterans, and arachnids. Dietary composition was similar between the sexes. However, we found dietary differences among lizard size classes and seasons, indicating opportunistic use of temporally abundant arthropods.