Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Structural and cytochemical analysis of female reproductive development in Ornithogalum sigmoideum Freyn & Sint

Abstract In the present study, after the determination of karyological characteristics of Ornithogalum sigmoideum, the development of female gametophyte, embryo and endosperm was investigated, and cytochemical features were identified. The diploid chromosome number is 16 in O. sigmoideum. The ovule is anatropous, bitegmic and crassinucellate. The ovular structures such as obturator and nucellar epidermis secrete insoluble polysaccharides, and play a role as the guidance and growth of the pollen tubes. The tissue differentiation called hypostase is located at the chalazal part of the ovule. This tissue is stained deeply with PAS, and it stores a large quantity of starch grains. The embryo sac development is Polygonum type. In the mature embryo sac, the egg cell and synergids are surrounded by a complete cell wall. The synergids show a similar polarization to the egg cell, and their cell walls form a prominent filiform apparatus at the base of cells. Cytoplasm of the egg cell is not rich in insoluble and acidic polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids whereas cytoplasm of the synergids and antipodals are rich in insoluble polysaccharides, proteins but is not rich acidic polysaccharides and lipids. The starch grains are peripherally located in the central cell. The embryo development is Asterad type. The endosperm is helobial.
Taxonomic studies on Acrididae (Orthoptera: Acridoidea) from Rajasthan (India)

Thirty seven species of locusts and grasshoppers representing twenty five genera and eleven subfamilies belonging to the family Acrididae are reported from different localities of Rajasthan. Localities surveyed and distribution of each species collected from Rajasthan is discussed. Their distinguishing characters and keys to subfamilies, genera and species wherever necessary are given. A comprehensive report of Acridid fauna of this region is given for the first time.
Adipocyte-specific Gene Expression and Adipogenic Steatosis in the Mouse Liver Due to Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor γ1 (PPARγ1) Overexpression*

Peroxisome proliferator activated-receptor (PPAR) isoforms, α and γ, function as important coregulators of energy (lipid) homeostasis. PPARα regulates fatty acid oxidation primarily in liver and to a lesser extent in adipose tissue, whereas PPARγ serves as a key regulator of adipocyte differentiation and lipid storage. Of the two PPARγ isoforms, PPARγ1 and PPARγ2 generated by alternative splicing, PPARγ1 isoform is expressed in liver and other tissues, whereas PPARγ2 isoform is expressed exclusively in adipose tissue where it regulates adipogenesis and lipogenesis. Since the function of PPARγ1 in liver is not clear, we have, in this study, investigated the biological impact of overexpression of PPARγ1 in mouse liver. Adenovirus-PPARγ1 injected into the tail vein induced hepatic steatosis in PPARα−/− mice. Northern blotting and gene expression profiling results showed that adipocyte-specific genes and lipogenesis-related genes are highly induced in PPARα−/− livers with PPARγ1 overexpression. These include adipsin, adiponectin, aP2, caveolin-1, fasting-induced adipose factor, fat-specific gene 27 (FSP27), CD36, Δ9desaturase, and malic enzyme among others, implying adipogenic transformation of hepatocytes. Of interest is that hepatic steatosisper se, induced either by feeding a diet deficient in choline or developing in fasted PPARα−/− mice, failed to induce the expression of these PPARγ-regulated adipogenesis-related genes in steatotic liver. These results suggest that a high level of PPARγ in mouse liver is sufficient for the induction of adipogenic transformation of hepatocytes with adipose tissue-specific gene expression and lipid accumulation. We conclude that excess PPARγ activity can lead to the development of a novel type of adipogenic hepatic steatosis.
Development of a Physiological Activity Monitoring Platform

Physiology is the scientific study of an organism’s vital functions. The need to study the physiological activity of the human body is growing and is vital to the advancement of understanding how the human body handles the stress of various situations. This is particularly true in the field of athletics and the military where the human body is deliberately pushed beyond its normal operation. Being able to study what external conditions the body is being subjected to at any moment is crucial to understanding why the human body behaves the way it does and could ultimately lead to the development of technologies to help manage the body under these conditions.
사과 과피 추출물의 염증 관련 효소 억제 효과

The purpose of this study was to investigate the biological benefits of apple peel. The antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities of a 70% ethanol extract of apple peel were examined. The total phenolic compound and flavonoid contents of apple peel were 6.8±0.5 ㎎ gallic acid equivalent/g of fresh weight and 3.3±0.3 ㎎ catechin equivalent/g of fresh weight, respectively. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by measuring 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of apple peel was 18.9±1.6, 46.3±2.3 and 58.1±3.9% at concentrations of 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 ㎎/mL, respectively (p＜0.05). The anti-inflammatory effect was investigated by measuring the inhibition of inflammatory enzymes. Apple peel significantly inhibited secretory phospholipase, cyclooxygenase-1, cyclooxygenase-2, and lipoxygenase activity by up to 53.5±2.3, 13.4±1.8, 64.8±5.4 and 44.4±4.5%, respectively (p＜0.05). Taken together, these findings suggest that apple peel may act as an antioxidant by radical scavenging and may possess potential anti-inflammatory properties for suppressing the activity of inflammatory enzymes. These results also suggest that apple peel can be utilized as a health functional food ingredient possessing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.
Abscisic acid produced in dehydrating roots may enable the plant to measure the water status of the soil

Abstract. Maize plants were grown in 1-m-long tubes of John Innes No. 2 potting compost. From the start of the experimental period, half of the plants were unwatered. Stomatal conductance of these plants was restricted 6 d after last watering and continued to decline thereafter. This was despite the fact that as a result of solute accumulation, unwatered plants showed consistently higher leaf turgors than well-watered plants. Leaf water potentials of unwatered plants were not significantly lower than those of plants that were watered well. Main seminal and nodal roots showed solute regulation in drying soil and continued to grow even in the driest soil, and plants growing in drying soil showed consistently higher root dry weights than did well-watered plants, water potentials and turgors of the tips of fine roots in the upper part of the column decreased as the soil dried. Soil drying below a water content of around 0–25 g cm−3 (a bulk soil water potential of between -0.2 and -0.3 MPa) resulted in a substantial increase in the ABA content of roots. As soil columns dried progressively from the top, ABA content increased in roots deeper and deeper in the soil. These responses suggest that ABA produced by dehydrating roots and which was subsequently transported to the shoots provided a sensitive indication of the degree of soil drying.
Seven forms of rarity in mammals

Conservation biologists have identified threats to the survival of about a quarter of the mammalian species; to identify patterns of rarity and commonness of mammals, we studied a global sample of 1212 species (about 28% of the mammals) using the ‘7 forms of rarity’ model (in which species are roughly divided into above and below the median for local population density, species’ range area, and number of habitat types).
Using iBooks Author to produce course material

The Language Teacher (TLT) is the bimonthly publication of the Japan Association for Language Teaching (JALT). It publishes articles and other material related to language teaching, particularly in an Asian context. TLT also serves the important role of publicizing information about the organization and its many events. As a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting excellence in language learning, teaching, and research, JALT has a rich tradition of publishing relevant material in its many publications.
Etude des bases moléculaires du déterminisme sexuel et de la différenciation chez une espèce hétérogamétique femelle ZZ-ZW : Schistosoma mansoni

Parmi plus de 20000 especes de trematodes hermaphrodites, les Schistosomatidae ont un statut particulier car ils sont gonochoriques (i.e. deux sexes separes). Le gonochorisme chez ces especes, et leur dimorphisme sexuel, seraient en fait une strategie d’adaptation a leur habitat : le systeme veineux des vertebres a sang chaud, dont l’Homme. Malgre un mode chromosomique de determinisme du sexe (i.e. heterogametie femelle ZW), les individus mâles et femelles demeurent phenotypiquement identiques durant tous les stades larvaires de leur cycle de vie heteroxene. La differenciation sexuelle n’a lieu qu’apres l’infestation de leur hote definitif. Dans ce travail, nous nous sommes interesses aux facteurs moleculaires declenchant cette differenciation chez Schistosoma mansoni. Nous avons etabli le profil d’expression sexe-dependant de genes conserves de la cascade de determination/differenciation chez les animaux : les DMRT (Double-sex and Male-abnormal-3 Related Transcription Factors). Nous avons par ailleurs genere un transcriptome comparatif mâle/femelle (RNA-seq) sur 5 stades de developpement in vivo, dont 3 stades « schistosomules » inedits. Cela nous a permis d’identifier de potentiels genes « cles » de la differenciation sexuelle et de souligner l’importance de l’interaction hote-parasite. Enfin, par la combinaison de cette approche transcriptomique et d’une analyse epigenomique (ChIP-seq), nous avons montre une dynamique de la compensation de dose genique au cours du cycle de vie chez les femelles ainsi que la mise en place d’une strategie transcriptionnelle particuliere chez les mâles, optimisant leur developpement dans l’hote et ainsi, leur succes reproducteur.
Estimating Chlorophyll-a of Inland Water Bodies in Greece Based on Landsat Data

Assessing chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) pigments in complex inland water systems is of key importance as this parameter constitutes a major ecosystem integrity indicator. In this study, a methodological framework is proposed for quantifying Chl-a pigments using Earth observation (EO) data from Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) and 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) sensors. The first step of the methodology involves the implementation of stepwise multiple regression (MLR) analysis of the available Chl-a dataset. Then, principal component analysis (PCA) is performed to explore Greek lakes’ potential interrelationships based on their Chl-a values in conjunction with certain criteria: their characteristics (artificial/natural), typology, and climatic type. Additionally, parameters such as seasonal water sampling and the date difference between sampling and satellite overpass are taken into consideration. Next, is implemented a stepwise multiple regression analysis among different groups of cases, formed by the criteria indicated from the PCA itself. This effort aimed at exploring different remote sensing-derived Chl-a algorithms for various types of lakes. The practical use of the proposed approach was evaluated in a total of 50 lake water bodies (natural and artificial) from 2013–2018, constituting the National Lake Network Monitoring of Greece in the context of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). All in all, the results evidenced the suitability of Landsat data when used with the proposed technique to estimate log-transformed Chl-a. The proposed scheme resulted in the development of models separately for natural (R = 0.78; RMSE = 1.3 μg/L) and artificial lakes (R = 0.76; RMSE = 1.29 μg/L), while the model developed without criteria proved weaker (R = 0.65; RMSE = 1.85 μg/L) in comparison to the other ones examined. The methodological framework proposed herein can be used as a useful resource toward a continuous monitoring and assessment of lake water quality, supporting sustainable water resources management.
Flexible Fibreoptic Laryngoscopy versus Simple Voice Assessment in a Routine Clinical Setting to Predict Vocal Cord Paralysis after Thyroid Surgery

Backgrounds: Thyroid disease has a high prevalence in the general population, with a female predominance. Thyroidectomy is a very frequently performed surgical procedure for the treatment of benign and malignant nodules. The intricate and delicate anatomical structures for voice production lie in proximity to the thyroid gland and are vulnerable during operations on the thyroid. Aims and objectives: To find predictive value of vocal cord palsy as observed by simple voice assessment following thyroid surgery using flexible fibreoptic laryngoscopy as gold standard. Materials and Method: This was a prospective observational study. 42 diagnosed cases of thyroid swelling that were undergone different modalities of thyroidectomy from February 2009 to January 2010 were enrolled in study. Age, sex, geographical distribution, vocal cord status and post operative voice changes at 5th and 30th days were recorded and analyzed. Results: Age range was 15 to 63 yrs. Female to male ratio was 5:1. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value of subjective and objective voice change to predict vocal cord palsy at 5th postoperative day were 70% and 80%, 75% and 81.3%, 46.67% and 57.14%, 88.89% and 92.85% respectively, at 30th postoperative day were 71.42% and 85.71%, 88. 57% and 85.71%, 55% and 54.54%, 93.93% and 96.77% respectively. Conclusions: Prediction of postoperative vocal cord palsy could not be done with simple voice assessment.
Encounter rates of cetaceans in the Mediterranean Sea and contiguous Atlantic area

A series of visual–acoustic surveys were carried out in the Mediterranean Sea between 2003 and 2007 from RV ‘Song of the Whale’. Almost 21,000 km of trackline were surveyed between the longitudes of 14°W and 36°E with an emphasis on regions with low survey effort. Survey tracklines were designed to provide even coverage probability with random start points. Ten cetacean species were positively identified (sperm whale, fin whale, Cuvier's beaked whale, false killer whale, long-finned pilot whale, Risso's dolphin, common bottlenose dolphin, rough-toothed dolphin, striped dolphin and short-beaked common dolphin). Several of these species, plus sei whale and harbour porpoise, were also encountered in the Atlantic contiguous area (the entrance waters of the Mediterranean between the Iberian Peninsula and north-west Morocco). These surveys expand and clarify the known distributions of cetaceans within the Mediterranean basin. New species documented from Libyan waters include sperm whale, striped dolphin and rough-toothed dolphin. False killer whales and rough-toothed dolphins were documented for the first time off Cyprus. Live harbour porpoises were seen for the first time on Morocco's Atlantic seaboard. It is suggested that the status of rough-toothed dolphins in the Mediterranean be revised from visitor to regular species. Substantial new information on encounter rates is now available for the planning of a basin-wide systematic survey of cetaceans within the Mediterranean Sea and contiguous Atlantic waters.
Résistances aux fluoroquinolones: la situation actuelle

Au terme de six décennies d’utilisation des antimicrobiens, les bactéries pathogènes humaines et animales ont atteint des niveaux alarmants de résistance vis-à-vis de nombreux antibiotiques. Les fluoroquinolones, antibiotiques dont l’usage en derniers recours tant en médecine humaine qu’en médecine vétérinaire aurait dû être privilégié, n’ont d’ailleurs pas été épargnées par ce phénomène. Deux mécanismes chromosomiques sont responsables des résistances cliniques aux fluoroquinolones : l’accumulation de mutations au sein des gènes qui codent pour l’ADN gyrase et la topoisomérase IV, et la diminution de leur concentration intracellulaire par une augmentation de l’activité de pompes à efflux et/ou la diminution de la perméabilité membranaire. Depuis quelques années, des souches sont apparues, qui présentent des niveaux sub-cliniques de résistance médiée par des gènes à localisation plasmidique nommé PMQR pour « Plasmidmediated quinolone resistance ».
Regulation of Immunity by Dendritic Cells in the Setting of Liver Transplantation

textabstractThe immune system is the defense mechanism of the human body for protection against infections and other unwanted biological invasions. There are two types of immune responses: the innate immune response and the adaptive immune response. Innate immune recognition relies on a limited number of germline-encoded innate immune receptors that recognize conserved products of microbial metabolism produced by pathogens, but not by the host. Recognition of these molecules allows the immune system to distinguish infectious nonself from noninfectious self (1). Antigen presenting cells (APC) form the bridge between the innate and the adaptive immune system, which has more variability and specificity. B en T cells are the mediators of the adaptive immune system. B-cells are the precursors of antibody secreting cells and can directly recognize antigens via their B-cell receptors, however T cells need the antigen to be processed and presented to them by an APC. The T-cell receptor (TCR) recognizes fragments of antigen in combination with molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Two types of MHC molecules exist: MHC class I that is expressed by all nucleated cells in the human body and MHC class II that is expressed exclusively by APC, which present antigenic peptides to cytotoxic T cells and Thelper cells, respectively.
BIO ACTIVITY OF TINOSPORA CORDIFOLIA CRUDE METHANOLIC EXTRACT IN EXPIREMENTAL DIABETES

Summary The traditional system of the medicine remains the major source of the health care. It is safe alternative, lesser cost and better tolerance and its complications. The major defense against free radicals found in medicinal plants is in the form of natural antioxidants. The present investigation is an attempt to asses the bioactivity of daily oral administration of methanolic extract of Tinospora cordifolia stem (T.C.S) (500mg/kg body weight) for 6weeks in normal and alloxan induced diabetic rats. A significant decrease in blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin, cholesterol (p<0.05), and increase in body weight, protein (p<0.01) were observed in diabetic rats on treatment with T.C. S. methanolic extract when compared to normal. The activity of the hepatic enzyme hexokinase was significantly increased where as glucose 6-phosphatase and fructose 1, 6- bisphosphatase were significantly decreased (p<0.01) by the oral administration of T.C. S. methanolic extract in diabetic rats when compared to normal. The six weeks treatment of T.C. S. methanolic extract was proved natural antioxidant present in the plant, because the activity of erythrocytes lipid peroxide and catalase (CAT) was significantly (p<0.01) increased whereas superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced glutathione (GHS- Px) were significantly (p<0.01) decreased when compared to normal rats.
The role of experiments in investigating the taphonomy of exceptional preservation

In the last 20 years, much taphonomic experimentation has focused on the interpretation of exceptionally preserved fossils. Decay experiments have been used to interpret the features preserved in soft‐bodied fossils and to determine the sequence of character loss and its impact on phylogenetic position. Experiments on the impact of microbial communities on decay and mineralization have started to illuminate the processes involved in the fossilization of soft tissues, including embryos. The role of decay in promoting authigenic mineralization has been used to investigate the formation of Ediacaran macrofossils and concretions. Maturation experiments have shown how the constituents of animals and plants are transformed over time to a macromolecular material that converges on a similar stable composition. Other maturation experiments have explained how structural colours in fossils are altered from the original. A major area requiring investigation is the role of specific types of microbes in decay and their impact on sediment and pore water chemistry, as well as the environmental controls that determine their presence and level of activity. Microbial activity has received less attention than other factors in attempts to explain why the occurrence and nature of exceptional preservation varies in time and space through the fossil record.
Data Wrangling in Database Systems: Purging of Dirty Data

Researchers need to be able to integrate ever-increasing amounts of data into their institutional databases, regardless of the source, format, or size of the data. It is then necessary to use the increasing diversity of data to derive greater value from data for their organization. The processing of electronic data plays a central role in modern society. Data constitute a fundamental part of operational processes in companies and scientific organizations. In addition, they form the basis for decisions. Bad data quality can negatively affect decisions and have a negative impact on results. The quality of the data is crucial. This includes the new theme of data wrangling, sometimes referred to as data munging or data crunching, to find the dirty data and to transform and clean them. The aim of data wrangling is to prepare a lot of raw data in their original state so that they can be used for further analysis steps. Only then can knowledge be obtained that may bring added value. This paper shows how the data wrangling process works and how it can be used in database systems to clean up data from heterogeneous data sources during their acquisition and integration.