Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Role for the β Isoform of Protein Kinase C in Fear Conditioning

The protein kinase C family of enzymes has been implicated in synaptic plasticity and memory in a wide range of animal species, but to date little information has been available concerning specific roles for individual isoforms of this category of kinases. To investigate the role of the β isoform of PKC in mammalian learning, we characterized mice deficient in the PKCβ gene using anatomical, biochemical, physiological, and behavioral approaches. In our studies we observed that PKCβ was predominantly expressed in the neocortex, in area CA1 of the hippocampus, and in the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala. Mice deficient in PKCβ showed normal brain anatomy and normal hippocampal synaptic transmission, paired pulse facilitation, and long-term potentiation and normal sensory and motor responses. The PKCβ knock-out animals exhibited a loss of learning, however; they suffered deficits in both cued and contextual fear conditioning. The PKC expression pattern and behavioral phenotype in the PKCβ knock-out animals indicate a critical role for the β isoform of PKC in learning-related signal transduction mechanisms, potentially in the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala.
Factors Associated with Intestinal Parasites among Households in Ratchaburi Province, Thai-Myanmar Border Area

Abstract Intestinal parasitic infections are still widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions.This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on the Thai-Myanmar border, and focusedon factors associated with intestinal parasites among households. The formalin-ether concentrationtechnique was employed to identify parasites from 1,953 stool samples; structured questionnaireswere also used. The generalized estimation equation method was used to determine correlated riskfactors and infections at the household level, to account for household members sharing the sameenvironment.It was found that the older age group had a higher risk of E. histolytica/E. dispar, T. trichiuraand hookworm infections; this might be associated with immunosuppression, in contrast,A. lumbricoides and G. lamblia infections had lower risk, which might be due to raised immunologicstatus. Gender was significantly associated with hookworm infection. Infections found in differentareas of residences may probably be due to geographical differences in the contaminated source.Improper personal hygiene, dirty nails and lack of water treatment, implied higher risk of infection.The structural material of the house, an indirect indicator of economic status, was related toinfection risk. Keywords : intestinal parasites; Thai-Myanmar Border; households; stool samples; Ratchaburi
Beneficios del diseño de una ruta turística de interpretación cultural para la promoción y el desarrollo local de la etnia Enxet Sur, en el departamento de Presidente Hayes

Within the five linguistic families of Paraguay, the Enxet Sur ethnic group corresponds to the Maskoy language linguistic family. There are currently 15 communities of the Enxet Sur people within the department of Presidente Hayes, distributed in 48 villages, with a total population of 7,284 inhabitants, of which 7,173 are in the department of President Hayes. Within this context, tourism is one of the economic sectors that shows greater dynamism and growthworldwide. The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) defines it as: “a social, cultural and economic phenomenon related to the movement of people to places outside their usual place of residence for personal or business / professional reasons”. Cultural tourism is originated by the desire to visit and learn about the diverse manifestations of heritage, historical, monumental and cultural heritage of the different regions and countries that make up the planet. A Tourist Route is defined as the path or itinerary by which tourists or travelers can visit the different tourist attractions of a place. Currently, there are no tourism development projects in the region, nor programs to promote the Enxet Sur culture in the department of Presidente Hayes. The general objective of this research is to present the benefits of the design of a tourist route of cultural interpretation for the promotion and local development of the Enxet Sur ethnicgroup in the department of President Hayes, where the specific objectives consist of; to theoretically base the design resources that the Enxet Sur ethnic group possesses in the department of President Hayes and diagnose the tourism potential presented by the department of President Hayes. The research is qualitative non-experimental descriptive, using a bibliographic investigation of the subject and then a field investigation based on observation records and interviews. According to the objectives set, the project aims to demonstrate the benefits that the Enxet Sur ethnic group could bring to the design of a tourist route of cultural interpretation, which allows for the knowledge and promotion of their culture and the economic and local development of their villages. It is intended that in the not too distant future, this research project may serve as an instrument for decision making by local and national authorities in orderto achieve an operational and practical execution of it.of tourist routes as a cultural product, identify the cultural
Deer-predator relationships: a review of recent North American studies with emphasis on mule and black-tailed deer

In recent years mule (Odocoileus hemionus) and black-tailed (0. h. columbianus) deer appear to have declined in many areas of the western United States and Canada, causing concern for population welfare and continued uses of the deer resource. Causes of the decline have not been identified, but predation by coyotes (Canis latrans), mountain lions (Puma concolor), and wolves (Canis lupus) has been proposed as one of many factors. We reviewed results of published studies conducted since the mid-1970s concerning predator-deer relationships to determine whether predation could be a factor in the apparent deer population declines and whether there was evidence that predator control could be a viable management tool to restore deer populations. We reviewed 17 published studies concerning mule deer. We found only 4 pub- lished studies of the effects of predation on black-tailed deer. A larger database exist- ed for white-tailed deer (0. virginianus), with 19 studies examining effects of preda- tion on white-tailed deer. Study results were confounded by numerous factors. A deer population's relation- ship to habitat carrying capacity was crucial to the impacts of predation. Deer popu- lations at or near carrying capacity did not respond to predator removal experiments. When deer populations appeared limited by predation and such populations were well below forage carrying capacity, deer mortality was reduced significantly when predator populations were reduced. Only one study, however, demonstrated that deer population increases resulted in greater harvests, although considerable data indicat- ed that wolf control resulted in greater harvests of moose (Alces alces) and caribou (Rangifer tarandus). The most convincing evidence for deer population increases occurred when small enclosures (2-39 km2) were used. Our review suggests that predation by coyotes, mountain lions, or wolves may be a significant mortality factor in some areas under certain conditions. Relation to habi- tat carrying capacity, weather, human use patterns, number and type of predator species, and habitat alterations all affect predator-prey relationships. Only through intensive radiotelemetry and manipulative studies can predation be identified as a major limiting factor. When it is identified, deer managers face crucial decisions.
Characterization of embryonic stem cell transplantation immunobiology using molecular imaging

Given their self-renewing and pluripotent capabilities, embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are well-poised as a cellular source for tissue regeneration therapy. Successful in vitro differentiation of both mouse (m) and human (h) ESCs into multiple somatic cell types has been reported, including cardiomyocytes, neurons and pancreatic islet cells. However, the host immune response against transplanted ESCs is not well characterized. In fact, controversy remains as to whether ESCs have immune-privileged properties. The scope of the current thesis is to gain insight into immunological aspects of transplantation of embryonic stem cells or their differentiated progeny by using molecular imaging techniques to follow cell fate. Specifically, this thesis presents evidence that: (1) molecular imaging can be used to quantify organ and ESC survival following transplantation and non-invasively follow donor graft fate; (2) ESCs express MHC and co-signaling molecules that are upregulated upon differentiation; (3) mESCs and hESCs can trigger potent cellular and humoral immune responses following allogeneic and/or xenogeneic transplantation, leading to rejection; and (4) immunosuppressive drugs can significantly mitigate the host immune response to prolong hESC survival in immunocompetent mice. These results clearly indicate that ESC immunogenicity is a significant hurdle that must be overcome before successful clinical application can be accomplished.
Effect of climatic environment on feed efficiency in swine

Since feed costs comprise about 60 to 70% of the total costs of production, efforts to reduce feed costs is then a major preoccupation for increasing competitiveness of the pig industry. Understanding the factors that affect feed conversion in pigs can enable producer to more effectively combine various inputs in order to achieve a low feeding cost. There are many factors involved in reaching good feed efficiency including genetic, diet, feed, management, housing and environment. Temperature is the single most important environmental factor affecting the global farm feed efficiency. In ad libitum fed animals, changes in metabolic heat production are essential mechanisms to maintain body temperature within a physiologically safe range under cold or heat stress. These adjustments have direct consequences on energy intake and/or maintenance requirements which in turn could reduce energy efficiency as conversion of feed to tissue or other products. However, the low level of performance related to a thermal challenge can also be attributed to a direct effect of ambient temperature (independent of feed intake) on reproductive physiology, health, and energy metabolism. Finally, thermal stress could also be a major cause of pig mortality at birth, during the nursing period or thereafter, and could predispose pigs to mortality or morbidity by other causes (starvation, diseases, etc.). High mortality rates in nursing piglets or in finishing pigs have a significant impact on overall farm feed efficiency. The chapter describes how climatic environment impacts feed efficiency in pigs and reviews solutions that can be used in order to attenuate the effect of environmental temperature on feed efficiency.
Detection of viral pathogens of swine using oral fluid specimens

vii DISSERTATION ORGANIZATION . 1 CHAPTER 1. THE DEVELOPMENT OF ORAL FLUID-BASED DIAGNOSTICS AND APPLICATIONS IN VETERINARY MEDICINE . 2 Introduction . 2 Basic concepts . 3 Historical developments leading to oral fluid diagnostics . 4 Sources of oral fluid antibodies . 5 Oral fluid diagnostics in human medicine . 6 Oral fluid diagnostics in veterinary medicine . 7 Future applications of oral fluid diagnostics in veterinary medicine . 11 References . 13 Tables . 25 CHAPTER 2. DETECTION OF PORCINE REPRODUCTIVE AND RESPIRATORY SYNDROME VIRUS (PRRSV) INFECTION IN PORCINE ORAL FLUID SAMPLES: A LONGITUDINAL STUDY UNDER EXPERIMENTAL CONDITIONS . 26 Abstract . 26 Introduction . 27 Materials and Methods . 27 Experimental design . 27 Animals and animal care . 28 PRRSV . 28 Preparation of PRRSV inoculum . 28 Collection of biological samples . 28 PRRSV real-time qRT-PCR . 29 PRRSV indirect fluorescent antibody . 30 PRRSV ELISA . 30 Statistical methods . 31 Results . 31 PRRSV real-time qRT-PCR . 31 PRRSV ELISA . 33 PRRSV indirect fluorescent antibody . 33 Discussion . 33
MODIFICATION OF THE ESCHERICHIA coli NISSLE 1917 env Z GENE TO IMPROVE ITS PROBIOTIC POTENTIAL

The pathogenic Escherichia coli EDL933 is known to cause infection in the intestine. E. coli Nissle 1917 is used as a probiotic strain to prevent infection (63). When the mouse intestine is pre-colonized with E. coli Nissle 1917 it prevents E. coli EDL933 from growing up in the intestine. E. coli EDL933 is not eliminated from the intestine; it stays at the level in which it was fed to the mice. The P41L envZ missense mutation was previously shown to causes an increase in the level of phosporylated OmpR (OmpR~P) produced (67). E.coli MG1655 with the P41L missense envZ mutation is referred to as E. coli MG1655 mot-1. These changes result in an improvement of E. coli MG1655 colonization ability in the mouse intestine. The EnvZ/OmpR system positively regulates the small RNAs omrA and omrB (29). omrA and omrB were shown to negatively regulate a number of outer membrane genes including ompT, cirA, fepA, and fecA, (29). omrA and omrB work by hybridizing to mRNA thereby preventing translation from occurring (28). The mutant envZ gene was transferred to E. coli Nissle 1917 to create E. coli Nissle 1917 envZ(mot-1). The mutant envZ gene results in E. coli Nissle 1917 having improved colonization ability. E. coli Nissle 1917 envZ(mot-1) grows slower than E. coli Nissle 1917 wildtype on many sugars and in cecal mucus. The E. coli Nissle 1917 envZ(mot-1) mutant grows slower on galactose than E. coli Nissle 1917 wildtype. When the ability to utilize galactose is eliminated from E. coli Nissle 1917 envZ(mot1) it can no longer grow up in the mouse intestine in the presence of E. coli Nissle 1917 wildtype. This displays the importance of galactose utilization in the intestine for E. coli Nissle 1917 envZ(mot-1). E. coli Nissle 1917 envZ(mot-1) may have access to a niche where galactose is being utilized that E. coli Nissle 1917 is unable to inhabit. If E. coli Nissle 1917 was able to inhabit that niche then it would seem likely that E. coli Nissle 1917 would out compete E. coli Nissle 1917 envZ(mot-1) due to its superior ability to utilize galactose. E. coli Nissle 1917 envZ(mot-1) was then colonized against E. coli EDL933 to see if its improved colonization ability also results in improved probiotic potential. After performing multiple colonization experiments it is evident that E. coli Nissle 1917 envZ(mot-1) is not a better probiotic than E. coli Nissle 1917 wildtype.
Maturity and Fecundity of Spiny Dogfish (Squalus acanthias L., 1758) in the Eastern Black Sea

The maturity and fecundity of Squalus acanthias spiny dogfish sampled from the south-eastern Black Sea were studied. Age and length at 50% maturity were 10.49 years and 87.57 cm for males, and 11.99 years and 102.97 cm for females, respectively. Mean biennial fecundity was 19.4 eggs and 12.9 pups. A linear relationship between fecundities and length was found: Fe = 0.09 x TLp + 2.12 (r = 0.5) for pups and Fo = 0.27 x TLp - 21.59 (r = 0.7) for eggs.
Nanopartículas de lignina para controle de processos oxidativos .

A crescente preocupacao com a protecao ambiental e a reducao do consumo de combustiveis fosseis levou a busca por combustiveis mais sustentaveis e menos poluentes. Neste cenario, o biodiesel surge como potencial substituto para o diesel de petroleo. Contudo, o biodiesel e susceptivel a oxidacao, pois apresenta variacao na quantidade de insaturacoes nas cadeias de acido graxo. Para evitar a oxidacao se faz necessario o uso de antioxidantes. Substâncias essas que, adicionadas em pequenas quantidades ao biodiesel, retardam ou previnem os processos oxidativos. Neste contexto, avaliou-se o desempenho da lignina Kraft de eucalipto, obtida por precipitacao acida, como agente antioxidante para o biodiesel. Inicialmente uma solucao de lignina em acetona foi produzida por extracao solido-liquido em tres efeitos. Em seguida, a solucao de lignina em acetona foi adicionada ao biodiesel metilico de soja, formando uma mistura homogenea, de modo a se obter concentracoes de 500, 2000 e 5000 ppm de lignina no biodiesel. Apos a homogeneizacao, a acetona foi removida por evaporacao em rotaevaporador. A mistura foi filtrada em filtro com abertura de 0,22 µm. A quantidade de lignina efetivamente incorporada no biodiesel ao final do processo foi determinada por metodos gravimetricos. A estabilidade a oxidacao do biodiesel com lignina foi avaliada pelo Metodo RANCIMAT (EN14112-16). Em carater comparativo, avaliou-se a estabilidade a oxidacao do biodiesel com a adicao do antioxidante comercial hidroxitolueno butilado (BHT). Durante o processo de incorporacao da lignina ao biocombustivel, ocorreu a formacao de particulas de lignina, sendo que as maiores que 220 nm foram retidas no filtro. Assim, as concentracoes reais obtidas foram de 200, 400 e 920 ppm de lignina no biodiesel. Por meio de microscopia eletronica de transmissao observou-se a presenca de nanoparticulas de lignina na ordem de 20 nm, as quais ficaram em suspensao no biodiesel. As analises de estabilidade a oxidacao mostraram que a adicao de 500 ppm de hidroxitolueno butilado foi suficiente para atender ao tempo minimo de oito horas de estabilidade a oxidacao do biodiesel de soja avaliado (8,2 h). Dentre as concentracoes testadas de lignina, a adicao de 400 ppm ao biodiesel (8,1 h) garantiu o atendimento a especificacao. Portanto, a lignina apresentou grande potencial para a utilizacao como agente antioxidante para biocombustiveis sujeitos a oxidacao.
Microbial Ecology: An Evolutionary Approach

SECTION I. Ecology and Evolution Chapter 1. Introduction Chapter 2. Molecules and Origins of Life Chapter 3. Species concepts and speciation SECTION II. Ecology of Individuals Chapter 4. The Individual Chapter 5. Growth and Feeding Chapter 6. Ecology of Sex SECTION III. Living Together in Populations Chapter 7. Fundamentals of microbial population ecology Chapter 8. Metapopulations, Multicellularity, and Modular Growth Chapter 9. Effects of Habitats, Genome Size, Diversity and Bacterial Communication on Population Processes Chapter 10. Population Spatial Stability SECTION IV. Living Together in Communities Chapter 11. Characteristics of Communities and Diversity Chapter 12. Concepts in Community Ecology Chapter 13. Microbes and the Processing of Nutrients Chapter 14. Species Interactions and Processes Chapter 15: More Species Interactions Bibliography Glossary Figure Legends
Analysis of National Animal Health Monitoring System Tonsil Samples for Presence of ail-bearing Yersinia enterocolitica by using a 5´ Nuclease Fluorogenic PCR (TaqMan) Assay

ASL-R1789 Summary and Implications The fluorogenic 5′ nuclease polymerase chain reaction (TaqMan) assay, which was developed in this laboratory, was further optimized and used to screen hogs for Yersinia enterocolitica (4). Tonsil samples (n = 1,647) collected during the National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) Swine 2001 program were tested for the presence of the ail gene, which is present in virulent Y. enterocolitca. Tonsil swabs were collected on farms (n = 101) located in Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin. Of the 1,647 tonsil samples, 11.4% (n = 188) were positive.
Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes: Maturity and Electrophysiology

Human pluripotent stem cells comprise embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells. Both of these are able to give rise to all cell types of an individual, including heart muscle cells or cardiomyocytes. First stable human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines were derived in 1998 by James A. Thomson and his co-workers (Thomson et al., 1998). First cardiomyocytes derived from hESCs were made in 2001 by Kehat and co-workers (Kehat et al., 2001) and after that many research groups have derived and studied human pluripotent stem cell derived cardiac cells and their properties. In 2007 the first human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) were produced by Shinya Yamanaka’s (Takahashi et al., 2007) and James A. Thomson’s (Yu et al., 2007) groups from dermal fibroblasts, and hiPSCs have subsequently also been shown to be able to give rise to cardiomyocytes (Zhang et al., 2009, Zwi et al., 2009). Pluripotent stem cell derived cardiac cells have a great potential for cardiotoxicity testing, for preclinical testing of new chemical entities for the pharmaceutical industry and hopefully in the future for cell therapy in myocardial infarction and heart failure. However, before these goals are achieved thorough characterization of the cardiomyocytes is needed to ensure their feasibility for these applications.
Comparative morphology of Van der Vecht's organ in Polistes social parasites: host ecology and adaptation of the parasite

Camouflage strategies are common in insect social parasites. Being accepted into an alien colony as a dominant nestmate favours behavioural and morphological adaptations to mimic a specific odour. In Polistes social parasites, abdominal tegumental glands are involved in this camouflage strategy. These glands secreting cuticular hydrocarbons are connected with a modified cuticular area of the last gastral sternite of female wasps, named Van der Vecht’s organ, whose secretion is involved in rank and dominance recognition. The size of this exocrine area has been demonstrated to be under selective pressure in Polistes, as a response to an efficient dominance recognition. Because chemical and behavioural integration differs between parasitic species, we carried out a comparison of Van der Vecht’s organ size between the three Polistes social parasites and their respective hosts. The parasites Polistes sulcifer and Polistes semenowi, capable of a rapid chemical mimicry and specialized to exploit a lowland host, also show an enlarged Van der Vecht’s organ. Conversely, the parasite Polistes atrimandibularis, specialized on a mountain species and showing a slow chemical integration, has a smaller organ. The time available for the parasite to tune up its chemical mimicry, before the emergence of workers to be accepted as a dominant nestmate, appears to be the most important selective pressure acting on the size of this abdominal organ. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, , ••‐••.
Multiscale distribution models for conserving widespread species: the case of sloth bear Melursus ursinus in India

Information on patterns and determinants of spatial distributions remains poorly available for many widespread species of conservation importance. The sloth bear Melursus ursinus in the Indian subcontinent exemplifies this requirement. We aimed at assessing (1) distribution patterns of sloth bears at two spatial scales, (2) ecological and anthropogenic factors that determine bear occupancy.
Medicinal use of plants by the peasant community of San Jacinto, northern Colombia

I studied the medicinal use of plants by the peasant community of the town of San Jacinto, located in the savanna of Bolivar, northern Colombia. Fifty-five families, 138 genera, and 118 species were scientifically identified from 249 specimens collected of the modern-day vegetation of San Jacinto. From these, 198 uses were recorded for 190 (76%) of the specimens. The 54 uses recorded for human medicine (27%) and the five uses recorded for animal medicine (2%) are discussed. Vernacular names, parts used, method of preparation, and medicinal uses are listed.