Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
IL‐4‐stimulated NF‐κB activity is required for Stat6 DNA binding

IL‐4 is a critical cytokine in the regulation of immune responses. In B lymphocytes, IL‐4 signaling promotes the Stat6‐dependent cell surface expression of several proteins including MHC Class II and CD86. However, the requirement for other transcription factors in IL‐4‐induced B cell gene expression has not been studied extensively. Here, we show that IL‐4 induces NF‐κB p100 processing to NF‐κB p52 in B cells but not in T cells or macrophages. IL‐4 induced NF‐κB p52 production requires PI‐3K activity and correlates with IκB kinase phosphorylation and TNF receptor‐associated factor 3 degradation. Blocking NF‐κB activity eliminates IL‐4‐stimulated gene expression in B cells by reducing IL‐4‐induced DNA binding but not phosphorylation or nuclear localization of Stat6. These results describe a novel role for NF‐κB in IL‐4‐induced signaling and gene expression.
High Tunnel and Organic Horticulture: Compost, Food Safety, and Crop Quality

High tunnels and protected horticultural structures provide organic and conventional growers with an economic means for extending the harvest season of fresh fruits and vegetables in a wide range of climate zones in North America and elsewhere. This report focuses on benefits associated with high tunnel production of fresh organic produce, including recent data on phytonutrient quality. In addition, this report discusses concerns and knowledge gaps associated with the use of composts and manures relative to food safety of fresh produce and survival of enteric pathogens in the moist, cool, reduced ultraviolet conditions often prevalent in high tunnels during cool-season production. The role of preplant and production elements of Good Agricultural Practices and Good Handling Practices applicable to high tunnel systems is provided.
Sublethal effects of industrial chemicals on fish fingerlings (Tilapia guineensis)

Tilapia guineensis commonly found in the Niger Delta ecological zone of Nigeria was exposed to sublethal concentrations (1.56, 3.13 mg/l) of neatex (industrial detergent) and norust CR 486 (corrosion inhibitor) using the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) # 203 protocol. At test termination on the 28th day, the rate of bioaccumulation of surfactants in the fish gills, gut and muscle tissues were measured. The levels of surfactant in the gills, gut and muscle tissues were significantly different at levels of p < 0.05 in fish exposed to neatex and norust CR 486. Surfactant levels in the fish also increased significantly with increase in concentrations. Surfactant accumulation in the test treatments may be an indication that the observed effects on the exposed fish may have been due to the chemicals. This study demonstrates the sublethal effects of surfactant-containing industrial chemicals on T. guineensis, an economic and ecologically important sentinel.
Review and analysis of computational techniques and methods for body condition score estimation on cows

BCS (Body Condition Score) is a method used to estimate body fat reserves and accumulated energy balance of cows. BCS heavily influences milk production, reproduction, and health of cows. Therefore, it is important to monitor BCS to achieve better animal response, but this is a time-consuming and subjective task performed oftentimes visually by expert scorers. These problems are the motivation behind several studies, which have tried to automate BCS of dairy cows by applying image analysis and machine learning techniques. This work analyzes these studies pointing out their main advantages and drawbacks, which allow us in turn to identify new research and development opportunities to improve overall automatic BCS estimation.
Effects of carrier matrix and dosing frequency on digestive kinetics of even‐chain alkanes and implications on herbage intake and rate of passage studies

An experiment was carried out to investigate the digestive kinetics of various even-chain alkanes adsorbed into different carrier matrices and to assess their potential use to estimate faecal output, herbage intake and rate of passage in goats. The carrier matrices (alkanes) tested were cellulose powder (C 24 and C 28 alkanes), paper bungs (C 26 alkanes), Gilson paper filters (C 30 alkanes) and shredded paper (C 32 alkanes). Effects of carrier matrix and dosing frequency (once or twice daily) on diurnal fluctuations of faecal marker concentrations were simulated by modelling the faecal excretion curves of each marker. C 32 alkanes adsorbed into shredded paper showed the longest transit time (TT) and the slowest fractional outflow rate from a fast compartment (k 2 ) and consequently a greater total mean retention time (TMRT) than the other markers. In contrast, both C 24 and C 28 alkanes absorbed into cellulose powder showed the fastest k 2 and the shortest TT and TMRT. Our results suggest that relative differences in rate of passage associated with different nutritional treatments can be investigated using even-chain alkanes as rate of passage markers for comparative studies. Faecal outputs measured or estimated using C 28 , C 30 or C 32 alkanes as external markers were not significantly (P > 0.05) different, but the accuracy of estimation was higher with C 28 and C 32 alkanes (r = 0.81 and 0.83 respectively). On average, faecal output was significantly (P 0.05) differences between observed and estimated herbage intakes when pairs C 31 /C 30 and C 33 /C 32 were used, this latter pair of alkanes giving the best prediction. With the other alkane pairs (C 25 /C 24 , C 27 /C 26 and C 29 /C 28 ), estimates were biased, although actual and predicted values were significantly (P 0.05) differences between even-chain alkanes in the amplitude of the diurnal fluctuation of their faecal concentrations. However, when the marker administration was as a single dose per day, C 32 alkane absorbed into shredded paper resulted in the narrowest range of variation, with no significant differences among the other carrier matrices.
Estimativas da composição anatômica da carcaça de frangos de corte com base no nível de proteína da ração e peso da carcaça

An experiment was carried out to estimate the relations between broiler carcass weight and thighs+drumsticks, breast+bone+skin, and breast meat by the linear model. Eight hundred and sixty and four male poultry of Arbor Acres strain, from 22 to 42 days of age, were assigned to a completely randomized design in 3x4factorial scheme. Corn and soybean meal based diets were prepared to contain 2900 kcal ME and 15.43; 17.26; 19.60; and 22.60% CP; 3,100 kcal ME and 16.49; 18.45; 20.95; and 24.22%CP; and 3300 kcal ME and 17.55; 19.64; 22.30; and 25.78% CP, resulting in twelve treatments. Each treatment was constituted of four replicates of 18 birds. High correlations were observed between live weight at 42 days old and carcass weight (r = 0.958), carcass weight and thighs+drumsticks (r = 0.991), breast+bone+skin (r = 0.965) and deboned breast meat weight (r = 0.950). The lipid percentage was negatively correlated to the moisture percentage (r = -0.880). The linear equation is recommended to estimate carcass anatomical components in broiler chickens.
Genetic and Functional Analysis of R5X4 Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Envelope Glycoproteins Derived from Two Individuals Homozygous for the CCR5Δ32 Allele

ABSTRACT We characterized human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope glycoproteins (Env) isolated from two HIV-1-infected CCR5Δ32 homozygotes. Envs from both subjects used CCR5 and CXCR4 for entry into transfected cells. Most R5X4 Envs were lymphocyte-tropic and used CXCR4 exclusively for entry into peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), but a subset was dually lymphocyte- and macrophage-tropic and used either CCR5 or CXCR4 for entry into PBMC and monocyte-derived macrophages. The persistence of CCR5-using HIV-1 in two CCR5Δ32 homozygotes suggests the conserved CCR5 binding domain of Env is highly stable and provides new mechanistic insights important for HIV-1 transmission and persistence.
European Stroke Organisation (ESO) – European Society for Minimally Invasive Neurological Therapy (ESMINT) Guidelines on Mechanical Thrombectomy in Acute Ischaemic StrokeEndorsed by Stroke Alliance for Europe (SAFE)

Background Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) has become the cornerstone of acute ischaemic stroke management in patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO). The aim of this guideline document is to assist physicians in their clinical decisions with regard to MT. Methods These Guidelines were developed based on the standard operating procedure of the European Stroke Organisation and followed the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. An interdisciplinary working group identified 15 relevant questions, performed systematic reviews and meta-analyses of the literature, assessed the quality of the available evidence, and wrote evidence based recommendations. Expert opinion was provided if not enough evidence was available to provide recommendations based on the GRADE approach. Results We found high quality evidence to recommend MT plus best medical management (BMM, including intravenous thrombolysis whenever indicated) to improve functional outcome in patients with LVO-related acute ischaemic stroke within 6 hours after symptom onset. We found moderate quality of evidence to recommend MT plus BMM in the 6-24h time window in patients meeting the eligibility criteria of published randomized trials. These guidelines further detail aspects of prehospital management, patient selection based on clinical and imaging characteristics, and treatment modalities. Conclusions MT is the standard of care in patients with LVO-related acute stroke. Appropriate patient selection and timely reperfusion are crucial. Further randomized trials are needed to inform clinical decision making with regard to the mothership and drip-and-ship approaches, anesthaesia modalities during MT, and to determine whether MT is beneficial in patients with low stroke severity or large infarct volume.
Biomass production and essential oil of Plectranthus neochilus Schlechter cultured in field under increasing doses of organic manure

With the purpose of evaluate increasing doses of organic manure in Plectranthus neochilus Schlechter plants, this work studied dry biomass production from vegetal material, content and essential oil yield. The experiment was conducted in an experimental field at the Federal University of Lavras (UFLA) in 2006. The scions, after been acclimatized were taken to field and transplanted to beds. It was used randomized complete block design with three replications of five parcels each. The parcels were made of 16 plants; the four central ones were considered the useful parcel. The treatment had 5 cattle manure doses: 0.0; 2.5; 5.0; 7.5; 10.0 kg m -2 . The plants were harvested at 180 days old, part of the fresh leaves were for essential oil extraction and the rest of the vegetal material were sent to an oven to dry until they had a constant mass for the dry biomass verification. The essential oil content and yield calculation were done from the mass from the oil extraction. The increasing doses of cattle manure tested gave a linear increase in biomass production and essential oil yield in Plectranthus neochilus plants; it was not observed the maximum curve in the studied period of time. The different cattle manure dosages used did not modify the volatile oil content.
Analysis of Patent Citation Network for Identifying Development Trends of Convergence Technologies of Self-Driving Truck Industry

Technology convergence among different industries is critical in terms of creating high-value by providing new products or services. Recently, technology convergence between self-driving technology implemented in trucks and different industries is expected to be the driving force of technological innovation, and the importance of the analysis of the convergence technologies between self-driving technology implemented in trucks and different industries is increasing. In this study, we try to identify the main technology convergence between the truck industry and different industries and observe the characteristics of the change in convergence technology. In particular, this study used the forward citation method to overcome the limitation of the concept of Technology Cycle Time (TCT) which does not reflect the influence of technology. Then, community detection was conducted on the series of citation networks of patents formed over TCT period used a moving window size by one year. Next, we calculated the similarity of two consecutive communities over adjacent windows to investigate the overlap of the communities. When we analyzed the most frequently cited self-driving technology patents implemented in the truck industry and the IPC code that cited those patents in the community, we found that the main technology convergence between the truck industry and different industries are the railway power monitoring system, air purification system of fire industry, systems supporting medical activities. The results of this study will provide meaningful information to companies seeking to establish R & D related to the convergence technology of truck industry in which self-driving technology is implemented.
Pyridines, pyridazines and guanines as CDK2 inhibitors: a review

Cell cycle progresses by the activation of cyclin and cdk complexes. They act as check points and regulate the transition of cell cycle from one phase to another. Cdk2 inhibitors decrease the kinase activities by blocking the transition from G1 to S phases. In this article, we present a review on purine based cdk2 inhibitors. The review covers in great detail the different structures and the effects on cdk2 inhibition by various substitutions. The substitutions that most greatly influence the orientation and binding towards the ATP binding site are discussed and the effects of several substituents that explored the active site region of cdk2 with bound inhibitor has provided a rationale to review four relatively new families of purine based cdk2 inhibitors such as imidazo(1,2-a)pyridines, imidazo(1,2-b)pyridazines, 1H-pyrazolo(3,4-b)pyridines and O 6 - substituted guanines, respectively. The orientation and hydrogen bond interactions of analogues with Leu83, Asp86 and Lys33 residues influence the binding and the major features responsible for effective cdk2 inhibitor discovery and design are presented.
Global climate change and the thermal tolerance of corals

The thermal environment of reef-building corals is critical to their distribution and survival. Recent evidence has revealed that the mean global temperature has increased by 1 degree Celsius over the past century. Examination of tropical sea temperatures reveal that they have also increased by almost 1°C over the past 100 years and are currently increasing at the rate of approximately 1-2°C per century. Japanese waters are no exception. Waters off Okinawa have increased by 1.4°C since 1930 and are currently increasing at the rate of 2.3°C per century (95% confidence interval, 1.4-3.1°C). Coral bleaching occurs when the thermal tolerance of corals and their zooxanthellae are exceeded, probably due to an increased sensitivity of the zooxanthellae to chronic photoinhibition. The consequences of bleaching can be devastating, with corals dying in vast numbers and such aspects as coral reproduction being severely curtailed. In 1998, the world's coral reefs experienced the worst bleaching on record. Japanese reefs were severely effected, with bleaching coinciding with a massive temperature anomaly in July-August 1998. Vast numbers of corals died. The intention of this paper is collect what we know about coral bleaching from biochemical, physiological and ecological perspectives and to discuss to how reefs (especially around Okinawa) might change in the next century. A single important issue surfaces in these deliberations. If temperatures continue to increase, then corals will experience greater incidences of bleaching and mortality unless they can acclimate physiologically or adapt genetically. The conclusions that stem from this issue are of great concern. Firstly, available evidence suggests that corals are not acclimating physiologically to any really extent to the sporadic and seasonal changes in sea temperature. Secondly, the rate of change in sea temperature arguably exceeds the capacity of coral populations to genetically adapt fast enough. The third conclusion is the most worrying. If corals are not changing fast enough, then coral reefs will experience more frequent and more intense bleaching. Given the outcome for many coral reefs across the planet during the 1998 episodes of bleaching, this has to be of great concern to coral reef users and managers everywhere.
A Fourth Component of the Fission Yeast γ-Tubulin Complex, Alp16, Is Required for Cytoplasmic Microtubule Integrity and Becomes Indispensable When γ-Tubulin Function Is Compromised

-Tubulin functions as a multiprotein complex, called the -tubulin complex (-TuC), and composes the microtubule organizing center (MTOC). Fission yeast Alp4 and Alp6 are homologues of two conserved -TuC proteins, hGCP2 and hGCP3, respectively. We isolated a novel gene, alp16, as a multicopy suppressor of temperature-sensitive alp6-719 mutants. alp16 encodes a 759-aminoacid protein with two conserved regions found in all other members of -TuC components. In addition, Alp16 contains an additional motif, which shows homology to hGCP6/Xgrip210. Gene disruption shows that alp16 is not essential for cell viability. However, alp16 deletion displays abnormally long cytoplasmic microtubules, which curve around the cell tip. Furthermore, alp16deleted mutants are hypersensitive to microtubule-depolymerizing drugs and synthetically lethal with either temperature-sensitive alp4-225, alp4-1891 ,o ralp6-719 mutants. Overproduction of Alp16 is lethal, with defective phenotypes very similar to loss of Alp4 or Alp6. Alp16 localizes to the spindle pole body throughout the cell cycle and to the equatorial MTOC at postanaphase. Alp16 coimmunoprecipitates with -tubulin and cosediments with the -TuC in a large complex (20 S). Alp16 is, however, not required for the formation of this large complex. We discuss evolutional conservation and divergence of structure and function of the -TuC between yeast and higher eukaryotes.
Identification and functional expression of a second human β-galactoside α2,6-sialyltransferase, ST6Gal II

BLAST analysis of the human and mouse genome sequence databases using the sequence of the human CMP-sialic acid:beta-galactoside alpha-2,6-sialyltransferase cDNA (hST6Gal I, EC2.4.99.1) as a probe allowed us to identify a putative sialyltransferase gene on chromosome 2. The sequence of the corresponding cDNA was also found as an expressed sequence tag of human brain. This gene contained a 1590 bp open reading frame divided in five exons and the deduced amino-acid sequence didn't correspond to any sialyltransferase already known in other species. Multiple sequence alignment and subsequent phylogenic analysis showed that this new enzyme belonged to the ST6Gal subfamily and shared 48% identity with hST6Gal-I. Consequently, we named this new sialyltransferase ST6Gal II. A construction in pFlag vector transfected in COS-7 cells gave raise to a soluble active form of ST6Gal II. Enzymatic assays indicate that the best acceptor substrate of ST6Gal II was the free disaccharide Galbeta1-4GlcNAc structure whereas ST6Gal I preferred Galbeta1-4GlcNAc-R disaccharide sequence linked to a protein. The alpha2,6-linkage was confirmed by the increase of Sambucus nigra agglutinin-lectin binding to the cell surface of CHO transfected with the cDNA encoding ST6Gal II and by specific sialidases treatment. In addition, the ST6Gal II gene showed a very tissue specific pattern of expression because it was found essentially in brain whereas ST6Gal I gene is ubiquitously expressed.
Polyphyletic origins of yeast-like endocytobionts from anobiid and cerambycid beetles

Cladistic analysis of nucleotide characters derived from partial 18S rDNA sequences has been used to infer phylogenetic relationships among five Candida species that exist in nature strictly as intracellular gut endocytobionts of anobiid or cerambycid beetles. Concordant with their assumed taxonomic status, all five species resolve within Saccharomycetales. For both the anobiid-derived taxa, C. ernobii, C. karawaeiwii and C. xestobii, and the cerambycid-derived taxa, C. tenuis and C. rhagii, this phylogenetic position clearly discriminates Candida yeasts from the anobiid yeast-like endocytobionts in Symbiotaphrina which resolve within filamentous ascomycetes. The analyses provide no evidence for a discrete lineage of Candida endocytobionts within Saccharomycetales. Rather, each of the anobiid symbionts and the cerambycid-derived species resolve in separate clades. These data confirm the polyphyletic origins of intracellular symbioses between ascomycetes and Coleoptera and provide another example of convergent evolution in fungal-arthropod associations. The implications of the phylogenetic data for theories on the origins of endocytobiosis are discussed.
The effect of concentrates on the voluntary intake of roughages by cows

Summary Seven changeover experiments were conducted to examine the effect of giving restricted amounts of concentrates on the voluntary intake of different roughages by non-lactating dairy cows. The addition of up to 6 kg concentrates daily to the diet of cows receiving roughage ad lib. caused little change in the intake of hay and a small increase in the intake of barley straw. Larger amounts of concentrates of 6 and 8 kg daily reduced hay intake by between 0·2 and 0·4 kg dry matter/kg concentrate dry matter given. When concentrates were given to the cows the rate of decline in intake of hay tended to be greatest with the hays of highest digestibility. The daily addition of up to 8 kg concentrates to the diet of cows offered silage ad lib. caused only small depressions in the intake of silage. The results are discussed in relation to recent work on this subject with cattle and sheep.
Female mate preference for males having long and symmetric fins in the bower-holding cichlid Cyathopharynx furcifer

Female mate preference in a bower-holding cichlid, Cyathopharynx furcifer, was studied in Lake Tanganyika. Most males held territories with crater-shaped bowers in sand, but some males held territories without bowers. Territories were distributed adjacently and females visited them to spawn. After engaging in circling behaviour with the male, a female deposited eggs in the bower. Soon after spawning, the female picked the eggs up into her mouth and brooded them in places away from male territories. Female mate choice appeared to follow three steps: 1) females visited only bower-holding male territories, and more frequently visited territories of males that performed courtship displays at a higher frequency and had longer pelvic fins; 2) females preferred to start circling with males having longer and more symmetrical pelvic fins; 3) females chose males with more symmetrical pelvic fins as their mates. Less than 7% of females that visited male territories spawned eggs in the bowers. In contrast to other bower-holding species, bower size did not correlate with male reproductive success in C. furcifer. Bowers may therefore be essential as spawning sites or may function as a species recognition character for females. Female choice may be dependent instead on males having long and symmetrical pelvic fins apparent during the circling behaviour carried out in the bowers.