Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of pollution‐induced habitat disturbance on the response of willows to simulated herbivory

1 Stress may affect compensatory plant growth and plant responses to herbivory may therefore be modified by pollution. We compared the effects of leaf clipping on growth, reproduction and developmental stability of two willow species (Salix borealis and S. caprea) growing at different distances from two copper‐nickel smelters (Monchegorsk, NW Russia and Harjavalta, SE Finland). 2 In unpolluted sites, the defoliation of both willow species adversely affected sexual reproduction and increased the formation of epicormic shoots, but did not change either shoot growth or leaf size. Timing and extent of clipping had little effect on the responses. 3 Compensatory responses to leaf clipping in polluted habitats were reduced, especially in S. borealis, as reflected by decrease in shoot growth and fruit production and an increase in leaf fluctuating asymmetry, a non‐specific indicator of stress. 4 Activation of dormant buds was a common compensatory response to herbivory in unpolluted sites. The lack of an increase in epicormic shoots in polluted sites may be due to already weakened apical dominance. 5 Compensatory abilities may be affected both by direct damage caused by pollutants and pollution‐induced increases in environmental stress. Although S. borealis shows no visible sign of stress in polluted sites, regrowth from dormant buds and enhanced shoot growth were seen under these conditions. Resources were not therefore available for further compensation of damage caused by defoliation. Our results fit the hypothesis that fast growing plants have low compensative abilities. 6 Salix caprea shows more pollution‐induced stress than S. borealis, expressed as increased developmental instability near the weaker and shorter shoots near the stronger pollution source. This may explain the differences in their compensatory responses in polluted sites.
The Distal Part of the Transition Zone Is the Most Aluminum-Sensitive Apical Root Zone of Maize

For a better understanding of Al inhibition of root elongation, knowledge of the morphological and functional organization of the root apex is a prerequisite. We developed a polyvinyl chloride-block technique to supply Al (90 μm monomeric Al) in a medium containing agarose to individual 1-mm root zones of intact seedlings of maize (Zea mays L. cv Lixis). Root elongation was measured during a period of 5 h. After Al treatment, callose (5 h) and Al (1 h) contents of individual 1-mm apical root segments were determined. For comparison, callose and Al levels were also measured in root segments after uniform Al supply in agarose blocks to the 10-mm root apex. Only applying Al to the three apical 1-mm root zones inhibited root elongation after 1 h. The order of sensitivity was 1 to 2 > 0 to 1 > 2 to 3 mm. In the 1- to 2-mm root zone high levels of Al-induced callose formation and accumulation of Al was found, independently of whether Al was applied to individual apical root zones or uniformly to the whole-root apex. We conclude from these results that the distal part of the transition zone of the root apex, where the cells are undergoing a preparatory phase for rapid elongation (F. Baluska, D. Volkmann, P.W. Barlow [1996] Plant Physiol 112: 3–4), is the primary target of Al in this Al-sensitive maize cultivar.
Morphological, physiological and biochemical responses of biofuel plant Euphorbia lathyris to salt stress

Abstract Saline lands are characterized by salinity and nutrient deficiency and there is an ever increasing need for economical, adaptable plant species to rejuvenate these lands. In this study, we determined the suitability and tolerance of Euphorbia lathyris L. (Caper spurge), a well-known biofuel plant, as a sustainable candidate to colonize saline lands. We investigated the germination rate, seedling growth, solute change and anti-oxidative enzyme activities etc. under salt stress conditions. Our results showed that Caper spurge seeds prefer to germinate under nonsaline environments and high salt stress induced temporary dormancy during germination, but did not completely hamper the viability of the seeds. The seedling biomass increased without any visible distress symptoms in the presence of NaCl not over 171 mM. Further increase in NaCl concentration had a negative impact on the seedling growth. These demonstrate that Caper spurge seedlings have the potential to grow in saline lands. The salinity tolerance of Caper spurge seedlings was closely associated with the regional distribution of Na+ in roots, stable absorption of Ca2 + , K+ and Mg2 + , accumulation of organic solutes, and increased activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzymes. However, excessive accumulation of Na+, sharp increase of superoxide (O2 −), H2O2, malonaldehyde (MDA) and cell membrane leakage, reduction of osmoprotectants, and decreased activities of CAT and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) etc. under high salinity might be the reasons for the restrained seedling growth.
Prospects for the Xenopus embryo model in therapeutics technologies

Access to suitable animal models is essential in the field of therapeutics technologies. Recently, lower vertebrates have emerged as attractive low-cost animal models which offer new exciting applications in functional genomics and therapeutics technologies. Amphibian embryos of the genus Xenopus have long served as important models for the study of vertebrate development. Xenopus is evolutionary significantly less distant to humans than fish models, which suggests that experimental findings gained with Xenopus will more accurately predict human biology. Numerous experimental advantages, including external development, large size, identifiable blastomeres, and their ability to withstand extensive surgical intervention and culture in vitro, have favored the use of the Xenopus model in the past. More recently, the introduction of a simple efficient method to disrupt gene functions and the rapid development of genomic resources has further increased the attractiveness of this low-cost, high-throughput model for the analysis of vertebrate gene functions. Using the Xenopus embryo as the primary animal model, our research in the field of therapeutics technologies has focused on the identification and validation of novel drug targets by employing genomic and transcriptomic information in the analysis of the molecular and cellular processes underlying kidney organogenesis and vascular development. Furthermore, our research on signaling pathways controlling cellular differentiation of embryonic tissues provides important insights that may ultimately lead to the development of novel cell-based therapies in regenerative medicine. Finally, we are exploring the possibility of employing the Xenopus embryos in chemical library screens to identify novel chemical modulators of organogenesis.
Stabilization of Cytosine Deaminase from Bakers’ Yeast by Immobilization

Cytosine deaminase (EC 3.5.4.1) from bakers’ yeast, which is labile to heat, the half-life being about 30 min at 37°C, was stabilized through immobilization by various techniques. Our purpose was to prepare implantable enzyme capsules for long-term use in cancer chemotherapy [J. Biotechnol. , 2, 13 (1985)]. When the enzyme was immobilized on Eupergit C, a commercial epoxy-acrylic resin, the highest yield of apparent enzymic activity was about 80% of the starting activity, and the enzymic activity decayed exponentially at 37°C over a few weeks, the half-life being about 10 days. With lower yields, other commercial adsorbents resulted in good stability; with yields of 20~67 and 21 %, and half-lives of 15 and 24 days for Formyl-Cellulofine and CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B, respectively.
Evolutionary ecology of colonial reef‐organisms, with particular reference to corals

Sedentary reef-organisms such as sponges, colonial coelenterates, bryozoans and compound ascidians produce repeated modules (aquiferous systems, polyps, zooids) as they grow. Modular construction alleviates constraints on biomass imposed by mechanical and energetic factors that are functions of the surface area to volume ratio. Colonies thus may grow large whilst preserving optimal modular dimensions. Among corals, optimal polyp size is smaller in the more autotrophic than in the more heterotrophic species. Modular construction allows flexibility of growth form, which can adapt to factors such as water currents, silting, light intensity and proximity of competitors. Modular colonies have great regenerative capacities, even separated fragments may survive and grow into new colonies. All fragments from a parental colony are genetically identical and large branching corals frequently undergo clonal propagation through fragmentation during storms. Soft corals can also fragment endogenously. By spreading the risk of mortality among independent units, the generation and dispersal of fragments lessens the likelihood of clonal extinction. In spite of their ability to propagate asexually, most benthic colonial animals also reproduce asexually. The selective advantages of the genetic diversity among sexually produced offspring seem not to be linked with dispersal, but probably lie in the biological interactions with competitors, predators and pathogens in the parental habitat. Age at first sexual maturity and the proportional investment of resources in sexual reproduction are related to colonial survivorship. Small branching corals on reef flats grow quickly, attain sexual maturity within 1–4 years, planulate extensively, but reach only small sizes before dying. Massive corals are longer lived and have the opposite characteristics of growth and reproduction. Most sessile reef organisms compete for space, food or light. Faster growers can potentially outcompete slower growers, but are often prevented from doing so by several forms of aggression from competitors and by the damage inflicted by storms. Competitive interactions among sedentary organisms on coral reefs are unlikely to be linear or deterministic, and so the co-existence of diverse species is possible.
Effect of K‐Casein Deglycosylation on the Acid Coagulability of Milk

: The relationship between the content of N-acetylneuraminic acid residues of micellar K-casein and acid coagulability of milk was investigated. At 30 °C, partial deglycosylation of micellar K-casein does not significantly affect the content of micellar proteins, micellar surface charge, and micellar solvation. Casein micelles modified by the release of part of the N-acetylneuraminic acid residues showed a shorter acid gelation time, a higher rate of gel strengthening, and a higher final firmness. This enhancement in the gelation ability of the neuraminidase-treated casein micelles of milk should appear as the result of increase in number of hydrophobic sites on the surface of casein micelle due to enzymatic deglycosylation of micellar K-casein.
Pseudo Amino Acid Composition and its Applications in Bioinformatics, Proteomics and System Biology

With the avalanche of protein sequences generated in the post-genomic age, it is highly desired to develop automated methods for efficiently identifying various attributes of uncharacterized proteins. This is one of the most im- portant tasks facing us today in bioinformatics, and the information thus obtained will have important impacts on the de- velopment of proteomics and system biology. To realize that, one of the keys is to find an effective model to represent the sample of a protein. The most straightforward model in this regard is its entire amino acid sequence; however, the entire sequence model would fail to work when the query protein did not have significant homology to proteins of known char- acteristics. Thus, various non-sequential models or discrete models were proposed. The simplest discrete model is the amino acid (AA) composition. Using it to represent a protein, however, all the sequence-order information would be com- pletely lost. To cope with such a dilemma, the concept of pseudo amino acid (PseAA) composition was introduced. Its es- sence is to keep using a discrete model to represent a protein yet without completely losing its sequence-order informa- tion. Therefore, in a broad sense, the PseAA composition of a protein is actually a set of discrete numbers that is de- rived from its amino acid sequence and that is different from the classical AA composition and able to harbour some sort of sequence order or pattern information. Ever since the first PseAA composition was formulated to predict protein sub- cellular localization and membrane protein types, it has stimulated many different modes of PseAA composition for studying various kinds of problems in proteins and proteins-related systems. In this review, we shall give a brief and sys- tematic introduction of various modes of PseAA composition and their applications. Meanwhile, the challenges for find- ing the optimal PseAA composition are also briefly discussed.
Pollination and breeding system in Adesmia bijuga Phil. (Fabaceae), a critically endangered species in Central Chile

Adesmia bijuga Phil. es una especie arbustiva endemica de Chile central, clasificada como especie en peligro critico. Despues de mas de 100 anos desde su descripcion original por R.A. Philippi (1884), la especie fue redescubierta exclusivamente en dos localidades de la Region del Maule. Una de ellas, en el Fundo San Pedro-Las Canas, se encuentra cercana a la extincion, en un habitat perturbado debido a plantaciones de Pinus radiata. Este estudio examino la biologia de la polinizacion y el sistema reproductivo de A.bijuga, que podrian explicar su restringido numero de plantas. Se estimo la composicion de polinizadores atraidos por las flores y la tasa de visita. Con el objetivo de caracterizar el sistema reproductivo en A. bijuga se realizaron tratamientos manipulativos para cuantificar la capacidad de autofertilizacion, el nivel de aseguramiento reproductivo y la limitacion de polen. Los resultados de este estudio indican que A. bijuga es visitada solamente por polinizadores que pertenecen al orden himenoptera. El ensamble de polinizadores no vario temporalmente durante el periodo de floracion, siendo Bombus dahlbomii el visitador mas frecuente. A. bijuga presento un sistema reproductivo mixto, con polinizacion cruzada y autopolinizacion. El rango de fructificacion vario entre 20% a 60% en ausencia y presencia de polinizadores, respectivamente. Esta capacidad de autopolinizacion podria proveer de aseguramiento reproductivo cuando los polinizadores fallan. Tratamientos con suplemento de polen no incrementaron el exito reproductivo, sugiriendo que la especie no se encuentra limitada de polen. El taxon mostro capacidad de formar semillas asexualmente sin la ocurrencia de fertilizacion (agamospermia). Todos estos factores podrian ayudar a explicar como esta especie es capaz de persistir en el tiempo en una poblacion pequena y aislada. Finalmente, este trabajo discute como los resultados de este estudio pueden ser aplicados en futuras medidas para la conservacion de A. bijuga.
In vivo studies of the release of adenine 5′‐nucleotides, adenosine, and its metabolites from the rat brain

Adenosine 5′ ‐triphosphate (ATP) and adenosine function as an excitatory neurotransmitter and a neuromodulator, respectively, in the central nervous system. Neuroexcitatory effects of ATP are mediated by P2X receptors: neuromodulator effects of adenosine by A1, A2, or A3 receptors. There is also evidence that ATP, acting a P2Y receptor, is involved in osmoregulatory responses to cell swelling. Studies on the release of ATP and/or adenosine into the interstitial fluid of the brain have served to clarify their roles in cerebral function. ATP release occurs during electrical or K+‐induced depolarization of cerebral tissues. Released ATP is rapidly hydrolyzed by ectonucleotidases, which may be released concurrently, to form adenosine 5′‐diphosphate (ADP) and adenine 5′‐monophosphate (AMP). In addition to synaptic release from neurons, there is evidence of glial release via gap‐junction hemichannels. Hydrolysis of AMP to adenosine initiates a further metabolic cascade with the formation of inosine, hypoxanthine, xanthine, and uric acid by adenosine deaminase, purine nucleoside phosphorylase, and xanthine oxidase. Hypoxanthine can be converted to inosine monophosphate by hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase and thus used to replenish ATP. Cerebral ischemia causes ATP utilization, and adenosine formation. Adenosine can then be transported across the plasma membrane and released into the interstitial space. Hypoxemia‐evoked adenosine release from the cerebral cortex is inhibited by blockers of adenosine transport. Inhibition of purine metabolism by blockers of adenosine deaminase, purine nucleoside phosphorylase, and xanthine oxidase elevates upstream levels of adenosine and its metabolites. Exposure of the in vivo rat cerebral cortex to cerebrospinal fluid containing swelling‐inducing monocarboxylic acids elevated interstitial fluid levels of ADP and AMP, but not of adenosine. Taken together, these studies have led to a greater understanding of the metabolism and release of adenosine and the adenine nucleotides in the normoxic and ischemic brain. Drug Dev. Res. 58:412–419, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Nutrient transfer in arbuscular mycorrhizas: how are fungal and plant processes integrated?

This review brings together recent work on the coordination of transport processes between fungus and plant symbionts in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbioses, and focuses on new information on the diversity in structure and function of interfaces and their potential roles in transport processes. We consider the way that fungal activity is polarised to absorb mineral nutrients (especially phosphorus, P) in soil, transport them to the root and release them to the plant. Conversely, the fungal structures within the root appear to be specialised to absorb sugars, which the external mycelium cannot do. The external mycelium depends on a supply of lipid, transported from within the root. High affinity P transporters expressed in the root apices and root hairs of non-mycorrhizal roots, and most probably mycorrhizal roots, absorb P actively. This can result in the development of P depletion zones, so that a low concentration of P at the absorbing surfaces limits further uptake. The external hyphae of AM fungi extend well beyond the depletion zone, accessing supplies of P at a distance and in narrow soil pores, that is absorbed actively by a high affinity P transporter expressed in these small diameter hyphae. Translocation of P within the hyphae and transfer to the plant results in much higher rates of uptake (inflows) by mycorrhizal than non-mycorrhizal roots. The possible role of polyphosphate (polyP) in this process is discussed in the light of new data. Within the root, P is lost from the fungal structures to the interfacial apoplast by an unknown mechanism, and is absorbed by the root cortical cells. The expression of a high affinity P transporter and H + -ATPase in arbuscule-containing cells indicates that these are probably the sites of fungus/plant P transfer. The site of sugar transfer from plant to fungus has not yet been established. At the whole plant level, plant uptake systems located in the youngest regions of the root are positioned to absorb P from undepleted soil, into which the root apex has just grown. In older regions of the roots, colonised by mycorrhizal fungi, the external mycelium will take over the absorptive role and overcome the difficulties posed by the slow diffusion of P in soil.
Antimicrobial cotton cloth immobilized with chemicals derived from plants

Cotton cloths combined with chemicals of plant origin were prepared and their antimicrobial activities were investigated. Tannic acid and berberine, respectively, were fixed onto aminoethylated and carboxymethylated cotton cloths. Escherichia coli W3110 and Staphylococcus aureus IFO 13276 were used as the representatives of bacteria. Both aminoethylated- and carboxymethylated clothes, by themselves, showed a considerable antibacterial activity. Fixation of tannic acid and berberine onto the cloths enhanced the antibacterial activity. The cloths showed higher antibacterial activities against E. coli than against S. aureus. SEM observation after the test revealed that E. coil cells were totally collapsed on the surface of the cloth, while some S. aureus cells were observed to remain in the normal shape. The cloth fixed with tannic acid withstood 20 times of washing by acloths-washer with laundry soap.
Do Rapoport's rule, the mid-domain effect or the source-sink hypotheses predict bathymetric patterns of polychaete richness on the Pacific coast of South America?

Aim We evaluated the bathymetric gradient of benthic polychaete species richness from the Chilean coast, as well as its possible underlying causes. We tested three possible hypotheses to explain the richness gradient: (1) Rapoport’s effect; (2) the mid-domain effect (MDE); and (c) the source‐sink hypothesis. Location South-eastern Pacific coast of Chile. Methods The bathymetric gradient in richness was evaluated using the reported ranges of bathymetric distribution of 498 polychaete species, from the intertidal to abyssal zone ( c. 4700 m). Rapoport’s effect was evaluated by examining the relationship between bathymetric mid-point and bathymetric range extent, and species richness and depth. The MDE was tested using the Monte Carlo simulation program. The source‐sink hypothesis was tested through nestedness analysis. Results Species richness shows significant exponential decay across the bathymetric gradient. The pattern is characterized by a high presence of short-ranged species on the continental shelf area; while only a few species reach abyssal depths, and they tend to show extremely wide bathymetric ranges. Our simulation analyses showed that, in general, the pattern is robust to sampling artefacts. This pattern cannot be reproduced by the MDE, which predicts a parabolic richness gradient. Rather, results agree with the predictions of Rapoport’s effect. Additionally, the data set is significantly nested at species, genus and family levels, supporting the source‐sink hypothesis. Main conclusions The sharp exponential decay in benthic polychaete richness across the bathymetric gradient supports the general idea that abyssal environments should harbour fewer species than shallower zones. This pattern may be the result of colonization‐extinction dynamics, characterized by abyssal assemblages acting as ‘sinks’ maintained mainly by shallower ‘sources’. The source‐sink hypothesis provides a conceptual and methodological framework that may shed light on the search for general patterns of diversity across large spatial scales.