Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ATP and Adenosine

The in vitro preparation of a single cotyledon from human term placenta, perfused via both fetal and maternal circuits, was used to study the action of ATP, adenosine, and adenosine analogues on human fetoplacental vascular resistance. Perfusion was performed at constant flow at 37 "C using Earle's salt solution containing 4 g% dextran, gassed with 95% 0,-5% CO, for the maternal circuit or with 94% N,-6% CO, for the fetal circuit. ' Flow rate of maternal perfusate (QM) was adjusted to achieve a fetal venous perfusate pH of 7.30-7.38, a PO, equal to or above 170 mm Hg, and a pC02 of 39-47 mm Hg. The fetal perfusion pressure (PP,) was 40-50 mm Hg, and the mean QM ( 2 S D ) was 1.15 2 0.39 ml-rnin-l-g-' (N = 21 cotyledons). PP, was used as an index of vascular resistance. Bolus doses of adenine derivatives were administered by close arterial injection; after baseline recovery 2 min were allowed before injection of the next dose. Antagonists were infused for 10 min before injection of agonists. ATP caused reversible pressor responses (FIG. 1 ) that were dose dependent over the range 1 160 nmoles (N = 6 cotyledons). Adenosine and adenosine analogues elicited reversible dose-dependent increases in PP, that were antagonized by the adenosine receptor antagonists p-sulfophenyltheophylline (SPT) and aminophylline (AMI). FIGURE 2 shows dose-response relationships of increases in PP, to 5'-Nethylcarboxamidoadenosine ( NECA) and N"-phenylisopropyladenosine (R-PIA ), and to adenosine and 2-chloroadenosine in the presence and absence of 54 p,M SPT.
Chitinolytic activities of Eucalyptus pilularis and Pinus sylvestris root systems challenged with mycorrhizal and pathogenic fungi

SUMMARY The chitinolytic activities of Pinus sylvestris L. and Eucalyptus pilularis Sm. roots were measured after an exposure for 24 h to either ectomycorrhizal (Pisolithus tinctorius (Pers.) Coker and Couch) or root-infecting pathogenic fungi (Heterobasidion annosum (Fr.) Karst. and Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands. ). P. sylvestris roots not exposed to fungal hyphae had low levels of β-N-acetylglucosaminidase. This activity greatly increased after exposure to H. annosum but not P. cinnamomi or P. tinctorius. β-N-Acetylglucosaminidase activity in E. pilularis roots was unchanged after exposure to P. cinnamomi or P. tinctorius. Exo- and endochitinase activity increased after P. sylvestris roots were challenged with H. annosum, but not by the other fungi. These results suggest that β-N-acetylglucosaminidase might be an important early response to chitinous pathogens.
Leafhopper and planthopper transmission of plant viruses.

were thought to be viruses, including the frequently studied pathogens that cause aster yellows, com stunt, and potato witches' -broom. The pathogens responsible for these yellows diseases were overlooked by investigators in electron microscopic studies of diseased plants and vectors (l 30) until workers in Japan discovered that phloem-limited, mycoplasmalike organisms (MLO), not viruses, were most probably the causal agents (38). Certain of these MLOs have been well characterized and classified as spiro­ plasmas (145). Other plant diseases formerly thought to be caused by hopper­ transmitted viruses have subsequently been shown to be associated with phloem-limited, rickettsial ike organisms (33) or xylem-limited bacteria (122).
Effect of benzoate on microbial decomposition of fulvic acids in Tjeukemeer (the Netherlands)

Abstrud The addition of benzoic acid to water from Tjeukemeer stimulated bacterial growth and decreased both the fluorescence and the color of the water, indicating disappearance of fulvic acids. This stimulation of bacterial growth is shown to result most likely from a priming effect of bcnzoic acid on the slow microbial decomposition of fulvic acid. During growth of an Arthrobucter from the lake on benzoic acid in the presence of fulvic acid, fulvic acid of relatively small molecular size was formed from fulvic acid of relatively large molecular size, suggesting that microbial activity may play a role in the seasonal fluctuations in the molecular size distribution of fulvic acids in Tjeukemeer.
Polyploidy in arctic plants

The Arctic is an excellent model system for the study of polyploidy. It is one the Earth's most polyploid-rich areas, in particular of high-level and recently evolved polyploids. Here we re-address previous hypotheses on arctic polyploidy based on a new analysis of the circumarctic flora, and review recent molecular, cytological and reproductive studies. The frequency and level of polyploidy strongly increase northwards within the Arctic. We found no clear-cut association between polyploidy and the degree of glaciation for the arctic flora as a whole, which contains many widespread species. However, for ‘arctic specialist’ taxa with restricted distributions, the frequency of diploids is much higher in the Beringian area, which remained largely unglaciated during the last ice age, than in the heavily glaciated Atlantic area. This result supports the hypothesis that polyploids are more successful than diploids in colonizing after deglaciation. There is abundant molecular evidence for recurrent formation of arctic polyploids at different scales in time and space. Examples are given of low-level polyploids formed after the last glaciation and of repeated and successively more high-level polyploidizations throughout the Quaternary. Recurrent polyploid origins, followed by interbreeding within and across ploidal levels, provide a major explanation for the taxonomic complexity of the arctic flora. In the well-studied, recently deglaciated archipelago of Svalbard, most species are mainly self-fertilizing or clonal. All Svalbard polyploids examined so far are genetic allopolyploids with fixed heterozygosity at isozyme loci. The level of heterozygosity in 65 taxa increases dramatically from diploids to high-level polyploids. In the circumarctic area, there is evidence for numerous recently evolved sibling species within diploid taxonomic species. Rapid evolution of crossing barriers at the diploid level promotes further diversification after expansion from different refugia, and may provide new raw materials for allopolyploid formation. We conclude that the evolutionary success of polyploids in the Arctic may be based on their fixed-heterozygous genomes, which buffer against inbreeding and genetic drift through periods of dramatic climate change. © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2004, 82, 521–536.
Antimicrobial And Phytochemical Screening Activities Of Ficus Sur (Forssk)

The antimicrobial activity and chemical constituents of the leaves and stem bark extract of Ficus sur were investigated. The extracts at crude level were shown in vitro to inhibit Staphylococus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Candida pseudotropicalis of the six test organisms at 2mg/ml. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhimorium were not inhibited at the same concentration. The stem bark extract had a wide spectrum of activity against some micro-organisms at minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.5mg/ml. The leaf extract also had activity on the micro organisms but at 1.0mg/ml. Saponins, saponin glycosides, tannins, phenols and volatile oils were the important phytochemical components found in the plant parts which may be responsible for the biological properties of this plant. The biological screening result is indicative of the potential of Ficus sur as antimicrobial substance. (G. O. Solomon -Wisdom; G. A. Shittu And Y. A. Agboola. Antimicrobial And Phytochemical Screening Activities Of Ficus Sur (Forssk). New York Science Journal 2011;4(1):15-18). (ISSN: 1554-0200). http://www.sciencepub. net/newyork.
An Experimental Study of Plant Community Invasibility

A long—term field experiment in limestone grassland near Buxton (North Derbyshire, United Kingdom) was designed to identify plant attributes and vegetation characteristics conducive to successful invasion. Plots containing crossed, continuous gradients of fertilizer addition and disturbance intensity were subjected to a single—seed inoculum comprising a wide range of plant functional types and 54 species not originally present at the site. Several disturbance treatments were applied; these included the creation of gaps of contrasting size and the mowing of the vegetation to different heights and at different times of the year. This paper analyzes the factors controlling the initial phase of the resulting invasions within the plots subject to gap creation. The susceptibility of the indigenous community to invasion was strongly related to the availability of bare ground created, but greatest success occurred where disturbance coincided with eutrophication. Disturbance damage to the indigenous dominants (particularly Festuca ovina) was an important determinant of seedling establishment by the sown invaders. Large seed size was identified as an important characteristic allowing certain species to establish relatively evenly across the productivity—disturbance matrix; smaller—seeded species were more dependent on disturbance for establishment. Successful and unsuccessful invaders were also distinguished to some extent by differences in germination requirements and present geographical distribution.
The maize lilliputian mutation is responsible for disrupted morphogenesis and minute stature

SummaryA recessive maize mutant disrupted in seedling develop-ment was isolated following transpositional mutagenesiswith Mutator. This mutant, lilliputian (lil1), exhibits aphenotype consisting of a large primary root, extremelyreduced stature, crinkly leaves and has been mapped byTB-A translocations on the short arm of chromosome 2.Comparative histological analyses revealed an increase incell number in the mutant root and leaves, as well as anirregularity in cell shapes, suggesting that the alteredmorphology of lil1 roots and leaves is related to anuncoordinated increase in cell divisions and to a defect indivision plane alignment. On the other hand, the reducedstature of the mutant plant may be ascribed to a defectin cell elongation. In situ hybridization of primary roottissues reveals higher levels of a-tubulin transcripts in thepericycle and in cells surrounding vascular elements inmutant rather than in wild-type tissues. These featuressuggest a role of the Lil1gene in the correct functioningof microtubules. Moreover, the fact that the mutation isrecognizable even in the dormant embryo and that mutantseedlings are obtained from immature (12 DAP) lil1embryos indicates that the defect in cell division patternaccounting for the disrupted seedling morphology mani-fests itself even during embryo development.Introduction
Production of Microbial Lipases Isolated From Curd Using Waste Oil as a Substrate

Lipase (triacyl glycerol acylhydrolases, EC 3.1.1.3) catalyses hydrolysis of long chain acyl glycerol at an oil water interface. Microbial lipase has various applications in industries so microorganism producing lipase was isolated and screened for the lipolitic activity from curd and was biochemically characterised. Organism from curd sample was found to be of Lactobacillus sps. It was subjected to submerge fermentation process using waste oil as an substrate. The extracellular enzyme obtained was partially purified using ammonium sulfate precipitation & the purified enzyme was used to carry out titrimetric assays, the molecular weight was found to be 29 kDa for Lactobacillus sps & the specific activity was found to be 0.082 U/mg.
DEVELOPMENTAL REGULATION AND FUNCTION OF AMPA RECEPTOR SUBUNITS IN CHICKEN LUMBAR MOTONEURONS

Ca 2+ influx through ionotropic glutamate receptors regulates a variety of developmental processes including neurite outgrowth and naturally occurring cell death. In the CNS, NMDA receptors were originally thought to be the sole source of Ca 2+ influx through glutamate receptors; however, AMPA receptors also allow a significant influx of Ca 2+ ions. The Ca 2+ permeability of AMPA receptors is regulated by the insertion of one or more edited GluR2 subunits into the receptors. Although Ca 2+ -permeable AMPA receptors are a familiar feature in developing neurons, the developmental function of these receptors during the formation of the nervous system has yet to be established. This study was designed to investigate the expression and functional role of Ca 2+ -permeable AMPA receptors in developing chicken spinal motoneurons. Our results demonstrate that chicken lumbar motoneurons express functional AMPA receptors as early as embryonic day (E) 5. Electrophysiological recordings of kainate-evoked currents indicate a significant reduction in the Ca 2+ permeability of AMPA receptors between E6 and E11. During this developmental period, the Ca 2+ permeability of AMPA receptors decreases three-fold. Reduction in the Ca 2+ permeability of AMPA receptors is accompanied by increased expression of GluR2 mRNA in the spinal motoneuron pool. Changes in GluR2 mRNA expression occur in parallel to changes in GluR2 protein expression in the chicken ventral spinal cord. Changes in the Ca 2+ -permeability of AMPA receptors are not mediated by age-dependent changes in the editing pattern of GluR2 subunits. At early stages of development, functional AMPA receptors were composed of a combination of GluR3 and GluR4 subunits. mRNA analysis indicates that GluR4 is the most abundant subunit in the chicken ventral spinal cord between E6 and E11. Immunohistochemistry analysis of spinal cord sections also demonstrated that both GluR3 and GluR4 proteins are expressed at E6 and E11. Expression of Ca 2+ -permeable AMPA receptors regulates the maturation of dendritic outgrowth in developing spinal motoneurons. Measurements of dendritic length and branching pattern demonstrate significant changes in the dendritic morphology of spinal motoneurons between E6 and E11. Blockade of AMPA receptor activation with CNQX between E5 and E8 causes a significant increase in dendritic outgrowth in lumbar motoneurons, when compared with vehicle-treated embryos. Treatment of chicken embryos with CNQX between E8 and E11, when AMPA receptors become Ca 2+ impermeable, has no affect on dendritic morphology. However, blockade of NMDA receptor activation with MK-801 causes a significant reduction in dendritic outgrowth of lumbar motoneurons by E11. These findings indicate that AMPA receptor activation between E5 and E8 limits dendritic outgrowth in developing motoneurons, whereas NMDA receptor activation is involved in dendritic remodeling after the establishment of synaptic contacts with sensory afferents.
Functional phage display of two murine α/β T-cell receptors is strongly dependent on fusion format, mode and periplasmic folding assistance

Phage display has been instrumental for the success of antibody (Ab) technology. The aim of the present study was to explore phage display of soluble T-cell receptors (TCRs). A library platform that supports engineering and selection of improved TCRs to be used as detection reagents for specific antigen presentation will be very useful. In such applications, high, equal and clone independent display levels are a prerequisite for 'fair' selection. Therefore, we explored how different pIII fusion formats and modes affected the display levels of two murine alpha/beta TCRs. Both are derived from T-cell clones associated with the MOPC315 myeloma model. The results show that the design of the pIII fusion particle significantly affects the subsequent display levels. Furthermore, successful display may be obtained both in phagemid and phage versions. Importantly, improvement of poor display can be achieved by over-expressing the periplasmic chaperone FkpA.
A spatio‐temporal framework for efficient inventories of natural resources: A case study with submersed macrophytes

Questions: Does a reduced nutrient load in open water increase species richness and the importance of regional and local site characteristics for species abundance and spatial distribution? Can we build lake-specific models of macrophyte abundance and distribution based on site characteristics in order to prepare a cost-efficient framework for future surveys? Location: Lake Constance, 47°39' N, 9°18' E. Methods: Generalized additive models (GAMs) were used to predict the potential distributions of eight species and overall species richness. Submersed macrophyte distribution in 1993 was compared with corresponding data from 1978, when eutrophication was at its maximum. Results: Spatial predictions for eight species and overall species richness were relatively accurate and independent of water chemistry. Depth was confirmed as a main predictor of species distribution, while effective fetch distance was retained in many models. Mineralogical variables of sediment composition represent allogenic and autogenic sediment sources and their east-west gradient in Lake Constance corresponded to east-west gradients of species distribution and richness. GAMs appeared more efficient than generalized linear models (GLMs) for modelling species responses to environmental gradients. Conclusions: Reduced trophic status increases species richness and the importance of regional and local site characteristics for species abundance and distribution. Our models represent a spatio-temporal framework for future lake monitoring purposes and allow the development of effective monitoring; this could be generalized for many ecosystem types and would be particularly efficient for large lakes such as Lake Constance.
Molecular Analysis of CPRα, a MATα-Specific Pheromone Receptor Gene of Cryptococcus neoformans

ABSTRACT The putative Cryptococcus neoformans pheromone receptor gene CPRα was isolated and studied for its role in mating and filamentation. CPRα is MATα specific and located adjacent to STE12α at the MATα locus. It encodes a protein which possesses high sequence similarity to the seven-transmembrane class of G-protein-coupled pheromone receptors reported for other basidiomycetous fungi. Strains containing a deletion of the CPRα gene exhibited drastic reductions in mating efficiency but were not completely sterile. Δcprα cells displayed wild-type mating efficiency when reconstituted with the wild-type CPRα gene. Hyphal production on filament agar was not affected in the Δcprα strain, indicating no significant role for CPRα in sensing environmental cues during haploid fruiting. The wild-type MATα CPRα strain produced abundant hyphae in response to synthetic MATa pheromone; however, the hyphal response to pheromone by Δcprα cells was significantly reduced. Exposure of wild-type cells to synthetic MATa pheromone for 2 h induced MFα pheromone expression, whereas unexposed cells showed only basal levels of the MFα transcript. The Δcprα cells, however, exhibited only basal levels of MFα message with or without pheromone exposure, suggesting that CPRα and MFα are components of the same signaling pathway.
Microclimatic Distribution Analysis of Bird Cherry Oat Aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi L. on Wheat

Inqilab-91 wheat variety was sown in the experimental fields of the Crop Science Institute, NARC in Islamabad in winter 2003 under Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Data were collected on weekly basis through visual count method. Overall aphid morphs distribution of all three species of aphid was significantly different during 2003 on week basis. Population of Rhopalosiphum padi L. nymphs peaked to 9.141±1.847 / plant during 11 th week in March 2003. Apterous population peaked to 1.228±0.131 / plant during 4 th week in January and secondly peaked in 11 th week in March (2.128±0.808 / plant). Alates were peaked to 3.625±1.04 / plant 4 th week in January. Aphids plant distribution showed that they mostly preferred the leaf and spike parts of
Variation in the Durations of the Photoperiod-sensitive and Photoperiod-insensitive Phases of Post-first Flowering Development in Maturity Isolines of Soyabean [Glycine max(L.) Merrill] ‘Clark’

Plants of eight isolines of soyabean [Glycine max(L.) Merrill], comprising all combinations of two alleles at the three lociE1/e1,E2/e2andE3/e3in the cultivar ‘Clark’ background, were transferred after different periods following first flowering from long days (LD, 14 h d−1) to short days (SD, 12 h d−1) andvice versain a reciprocal-transfer experiment in a plastic house maintained at 30/24 °C (day/night). Photoperiod (0.10>P>0.05), transfer time (P isoline (P<0.001), and their interactions (P<0.001) all affected flowering duration, i.e. the period from first flowering until the appearance of the last flower. The flowering duration comprised two distinct phases: a photoperiod-sensitive phase beginning at first flowering, and a subsequent photoperiod-insensitive phase. The duration of the photoperiod-sensitive phase varied much more among the isolines in LD than in SD. Only the dominant alleleE1increased the sensitivity of the photoperiod-sensitive phase of flowering duration to photoperiod singly, but positive epistatic effects were detected betweenE1andE2,E1andE3, and especially among all three dominant alleles. The increases in flowering duration resulting from the combined effects of gene and environment (i.e. photoperiod) were associated with considerable increases in biomass and seed yield at harvest maturity.
Is›t›lan ve Sodyummetabisülfit ile ‹fllem Gören Tamyal› Soyan›n Broyler Rasyonlar›nda Kullan›lma Olanaklar›*

This study was carried out to determine the effects of heat and sodiummetabisulfite treated soybeans in broiler rations on live weight, feed consumption, feed efficiency, and the weights of the liver, pancreas, kidney, spleen and heart and the severity of lesions in these organs. A total of 160 one- day - old Hysex Brown broiler chicks were used in the experiment. There were eight groups each containing 20 chicks. The experiment lasted seven weeks. In the group which was fed the ration containing raw soybean, live weight decreased 49.08% compared to the control group. While the raw soybean caused considerable pancreatic hypertrophy and hyperplasia, fatty liver and passive hyperemia, and tubulonephritis in the kidney were detected in all the groups excluding the control group. There were no pathological alterations in the heart or spleen.
Recreational Demand Functions for Different Categories of Beach Visitor

This paper addresses the estimation of the recreational use value of a beach for different categories of beach visitor and its determinants. According to economic theory, it is generally expected that income and the number of beach visits affect the value of a recreational visit. The recreational value should increase as income increases and should decrease as the number of beach visits increases. Nevertheless, anomalies such as the Veblen effect are admitted. The data used for this research were obtained from a questionnaire carried out in Lido di Dante, a coastal tourist resort in Italy. The contingent valuation method (CVM) in the value of enjoyment (VOE) version was applied. Beach visitors were asked to give a monetary value to informal recreational beach use (such as sunbathing, walking and swimming) in three different scenarios: status quo, erosion and artificial defence. Beach services are modelled in private goods terms, because each individual may make a different number of visits, and different categories of beach visitor (all beach visitors, day visitors and residents, and tourists) are described by presenting their respective use value functions. It is shown that household income explains the recreational beach value of all visitor categories considered, while the number of beach days explains only that of day visitors and residents. The coefficients of these two independent variables do not have the expected sign, thus suggesting that the preferences of beach visitors at Lido di Dante belong to the category of anomalies in the economic theory of demand.