Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stability of cyclin B protein during meiotic maturation and the first mitotic cell division in mouse oocytes

This report examines in detail the metabolism of the cyclin protein B1 during meiotic maturation and following the activation of mature mouse oocytes using immunoprecipitation of the radiolabelled protein. The net synthesis of cyclin B increases progressively during meiotic maturation, reaching its maximum levels at least 1 h before oocytes exit into metaphase of meiosis II (MII). This increase correlates with the rise in cdc2 kinase activity reported previously and suggests an association between the length of the first meiotic M phase (MI) and the net synthesis of cyclin B, that seems to regulate the time required for the cdc2 kinase to reach its maximum activity. Moreover, no marked degradation of cyclin B was observed before the MI to MII transition and that which occurs does so independently of the presence of microtubules, which are essential for cyclin degradation during metaphase II arrest and exit of oocytes into interphase of the first mitotic cell cycle. Cyclin B is degraded rapidly during the transitions MI to MII, MII to the first mitotic interphase and MII to an abortive third metaphase state (MIII). However, whilst its degradation was incomplete during the MI to MII transition, virtually no cyclin B protein was detected following both the MII to interphase and MII to MIII transitions. Thus, the decision of oocytes to exit into MIII, or interphase is not controlled at the level of cyclin B degradation. Lastly, in aging, non‐activated oocytes, the net synthesis of cyclin B declines. Whereas, in activated eggs cultured in parallel although the rate of net synthesis declines initially, it is effectively ‘rescued’ being two‐fold greater than in non‐activated oocytes of an equivalent age. This gradual fall in the net synthesis of cyclin B observed in aging oocytes may contribute to the increasing ease with which they become activated, compared to recently ovulated oocytes.
Aphid saliva

Within the Aphidoidea, most species of Aphididae, as long as they are in small numbers and not carrying plant viruses, do little perceptible damage to their food plants. In species that cause toxicoses, it is usually assumed that some component of the saliva must be responsible. Paradoxically, however, the salivary enzymes of Aphididae are similar to those that already occur in plants – oxidases and enzymes that depolymerize polysaccharides – and the salivary enzymes are injected in very small amounts relative to their counterparts in the plant. Damage to plants triggers defensive, biochemical responses, and it is suggested that the injected enzymes serve mainly to divert or counter responses at the immediate interface of stylets and plant tissues. The saliva of Aphididae contains non‐enzymic, reducing compounds which, in the presence of oxidases, can combine with and inactivate defensive phytochemicals – including those released in response to damage and transported in the phloem sieve tube sap on which Aphididae feed. Salivary and gut oxidases deactivate ingested phytochemicals by oxidative polymerization. Aphididae inject saliva into sieve tubes before sustained ingestion of sap, and this saliva has been presumed to condition the sieve tubes, but in what way remains unclear. It is suggested that there is a dynamic biochemical interaction between aphids and plants; that the interaction is usually well balanced for most of the Aphididae; hence, no outcome is readily observable. Where a significant imbalance occurs, however, either the aphid is unable to feed, i.e. the plant is resistant, and/or the aphid does not effectively counter a hypersensitive response. Not all plant responses are disadvantageous to aphids. Gall‐forming Aphidoidea trigger and control abnormal growth in the plant to the insects' advantage, possibly by eliciting vigorous oxidation in selective meristematic tissues, thereby limiting supply of molecular oxygen and inhibiting oxygen‐dependent growth‐controls. Current problems and possible approaches for further research are reviewed.
The Influences of Meadow Degradation on the Resource Allocation of Oxytropis Plants in Haibei Region

In this paper,researches were conducted into the influences of meadow degradation disturbance on the resource allocation of Oxytropis plants in the Haibei Station of Alpine Meadow Ecosystem in the East Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.The data were collected in degraded meadow,a 13-year wasteland having a succession to Elymus nutans community,and Kobresia humilis community(un-degraded meadow),an important type of alpine meadow.The degraded meadow and un-degraded meadow had different coverage and light condition,with a 95% coverage in an E.nutans community and 100% coverage in a K.humilis community,and 30 cm height averagely in both communities.There were more flower shoots,deeper and thinner roots and earlier flowering anthesis in the degraded meadow than those in the un-degraded meadow.Oxytropis plants in the degraded meadow had more root allocation and more branch and leave allocation in the un-degraded meadow,but no obvious difference in reproduction allocation in these two habitats.These results demonstrated that these resource allocation strategies were the consequence that Oxytropis plants are adapted for the ecological and environment factors of two different meadows.The resource allocation of Oxytropis plants in both degraded and un-graded meadows were size-dependent,indicating that the absolute and relative resource allocation increased with the increasing of individual size.The size-dependent resource allocation was not affected by the environment condition.The resource allocations of Oxytropis plants were also influenced by the trade-off between individual organs,which made the reproduction allocation no difference between two habitats.Totally speaking,the meadow degradation disturbance had important influences on the resource allocation strategy of Oxytropis plants.Attention should be paid to how scientifically measuring the value of annual allocation resource in the reproduction allocation study of future.
Severe gastritis due to pembrolizumab treatment in a lung cancer patient

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are known to induce gastrointestinal adverse events. Colitis occurs most frequently, and gastritis is less common. A few case reports of gastritis induced by ICIs have indicated that colitis induced by cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte antigen‐4 (CTLA‐4) resembles inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and that programmed death‐1/programmed death ligand‐1 (PD‐1/PD‐L1) inhibitor can also induce the same type of colitis. We herein encountered a case of gastritis arising after 25 cycles of pembrolizumab administration in which the pathological and endoscopic findings resembled those of IBD. ICIs may induce gastritis in a manner similar to the pathogenesis of IBD.
A family based association study of T102C polymorphism in 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 2A gene and schizophrenia

Objective To Detect the genetic association between schizophrenia and a T C polymorphism at nucleotide 102 of the 5 hydroxytryptamine receptor 2A(5HTR 2A ) gene Methods Observed in a sample of 92 parent/offspring trios where the proband net the Chinese Classification and diagnostic Criteria for Mental Disorders, the Second Revised Edition, criteria for schizophrenia using transmission/disequilibrium test (TDT) analysis The polymorphism of 5HTR 2A gene was detected with PCR methods and RFLP typing in all nucleus families. Results Using a family based association design we obtained evidence of an association between schizophrenia and allele 2 (C102) of the T102C polymorphism in the 5HTR 2A gene( RR =1 88, χ 2 ( RR ) =5 60, P 0 05) Moreover the fact that transmission disequilibrium was observed when one affected offspring was selected at random from each family, suggesting that the results are due to association rather than linkage (McNemar χ 2=4 63, P 0 05) Conclusions It shows an association between schizophrenia and the C allele of a T C polymorphism at nucleotide 102 of the 5HTR 2A gene in Chinese
VAMP subfamilies identified by specific R‐SNARE motifs

Summry— In eukaryotes, interactions among the α‐helical coiled‐coil domains (CCDs) of soluble N‐ethylmaleimide‐sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) play a pivotal role in mediating the fusion among vesicles and target membranes. Surface residues of such CCDs are major candidates to regulate the specificity of membrane fusion, as they may alter local charge at the interaction layers and surface of the fusion complex, possibly modulating its formation and/or the binding of non‐SNARE regulatory factors. Based on alternate patterns in surface residues, we have identified two motifs which group vesicular SNAREs in two novel subfamilies: RG‐SNAREs and RD‐SNAREs. The RG‐SNARE CCD is common to all members of the widely conserved family of long VAMPs or longins and to yeast and non‐neuronal VAMPs, possibly mediating “basic” fusion mechanisms; instead, only synaptobrevins from Bilateria share an RD‐SNARE CCD, which is likely to mediate interactions to specific, yet unknown, regulatory factors and/or be the landmark of rapid fusion reactions like that mediating the release of neurotransmitters.
Effects of disassembly of actin microfllaments on the AVP‐induced regulation of sodium channel densities in frog skin epithelium

Vasopressin (AVP) stimulates the absorption of Na+ across frog skin epithelium by increasing the number of open apical channels (No) mainly through a large expansion of the total number of channels (NT) at the membrane. This study investigates with blocker‐induced noise analysis the potential role of actin in the regulation of AVP‐induced changes in channel densities. Particularly we examined the idea that actin regulates the insertion of channels into apical cell membranes, consistent with the model for its hydrosmotic action. Treating cells with cytochalasin B (CB) for 2 h to disassemble the prominent subapical actin network did not significantly alter the stimulation of the Isc by AVP. Importantly, the treatment had no significant effect on the AVP‐induced activation of Na+ channels, nor on the increases in NT indicating that an intact actin network is not required for the natriferic actions on the channels. This result is disparate from well known effects of CB on the AVP‐induced hydrosmotic response and we assume that these distinct responses are produced by different mechanisms. Other mechanisms need to be considered to explain the mechanism whereby new Na+ channels are recruited to the apical membrane. In particular, mechanisms of intracellular trafficking involved in the redistribution of epithelial Na+ channels remain unresolved and need to be refined.
Letter to the editor

Tubbs et al. (2005) recently reported in this Journal on a case of contrahentes digitorum muscle. I was happy to discover two references unknown to me and I have no problems with the sober description of this variant of the adductor pollicis muscle. My only remark concerns the Latin name of this anomalous muscle. Although it is used by all authors I read, including the reference work of Bergman et al. (1988), ‘‘contrahentes digitorum muscle’’ is grammatically incorrect. ‘‘Contrahentes’’ is a plural form, whereas ‘‘muscle’’ is singular. In animals there are several ‘‘musculi contrahentes digitorum’’ or contrahentes muscles, like there are several ‘‘musculi lumbricales. ’’ In the context of the present description however, the authors refer to a single muscle, a remnant of the contrahentes muscles, hence ‘‘contrahens digitorum muscle’’ would be grammatically correct. ‘‘Digitorum’’ is also somewhat debatable. In animals the contrahentes muscles insert on several digits, so the digitorum form is justified. In the human cases, the remnant contrahens muscle is inserting on the thumb only, so digitorum no longer reflects the reality and ‘‘contrahens pollicis muscle’’ would be more appropriate. I can however understand the desire to maintain the reference to the original animal form of the group of muscles leading to the conservation of ‘‘digitorum. ’’ ‘‘Contrahens digitorum belly to the thumb’’ would be grammatically and anatomically correct while maintaining the reference to animal anatomy.
Personal response systems through the prism of students' experiences

Personal response systems (PRSs) today offer an opportunity to the field of education in terms of improving teaching and learning outcomes through active engagement in classrooms. The present paper investigates students' attitudes to different types of PRSs, namely, Socrative and Clickers. Both qualitative and quantitative data are gathered and classified. The performed thematic analysis reveals major categories within the framework of this study, namely educational efficacy, psychological aspects, technology‐related issues, and administrative issues. It has been found that Socrative fares better in the “educational efficacy” and “administrative issues,” whereas Clickers outperforms Socrative in the “technological‐related issues. ” It is worth pointing out that both Socrative and Clickers are tantamount in “psychological aspects” yielding no negative experiences. The results of this study reveal that two main factors, cost and technological infrastructure, are determinative in the incorporation and appreciation of such systems in an educational setting.
Reorganization of the Somatosensory Cerebral CortexAfter Peripheral Damage

If a sensory nerve is sectioned, it is expected that the centrally deprived projection area should be reduced to silence and atrophy. However, in recent years the capacity of the central nervous system for reorganization has received increasing attention. This article concerns elimination of input from the tactile system on the head of rodents, which has two components, the long vibrissae and the common fur. After early destruction of the vibrissae in newborn rats, the deprived cortex unexpectedly was not significantly reduced because substitution occurred. If only the vibrissae were destroyed, small fur hairs substituted for them. If both vibrissae and small hairs on the muzzle were destroyed, fur hairs of other head regions took over. This shows that early deprivation leads to reorganization in the somatosensory cortex that reveals greater than expected plasticity. Thus the principle of specificity of neural connections, a basic principle of neurology, must be reappraised.
Maturation promoting factor activation in early amphibian embryos: Temporal and spatial control

The cytoplasmic localisation of factors capable of influencing the behaviour of nuclei has long been considered a potential mechanism for generating cell differences during development. Yoshio Masui was instrumental in identifying two cytoplasmic factors, maturation promoting factor (MPF) and cytostatic factor (CSF), defining the first biological assay for their isolation and characterisation. These biological assays involved the transfer of cytoplasm between amphibian oocytes, MPF being able to promote meiotic maturation (progression to MII) and CSF to stabilise the MII state. Masui was subsequently involved in developing a ‘cell‐free’ system with the potential for analysis not just of MPF and CSF, but many aspects of nucleo‐cytoplasmic interaction. Masui and Markert initially showed that MPF activity could be generated in enucleate oocytes following progesterone stimulation, indicating a cytoplasmic origin. Masui subsequently showed that MPF activity was distributed unevenly through the egg of Rana pipiens during maturation. In this review we will consider the historical context in which the MPF assays were established, then briefly consider some of the molecular components that are now known to influence MPF activation. We will then consider evidence for the asymmetric activation of MPF and the possibility that the nucleus contributes to MPF activation in early embryos.
Calcium‐induced calcium increase in secretory vesicles of permeabilized rat neurohypophysial nerve terminals

Digitonin‐permeabilized isolated neurohypophysial nerve terminals are known to release their secretory vesicle content under calcium challenge. On this preparation, we monitored intra‐organelle Ca2+ concentration using digital fluorescence microscopy of Fura‐2. The superfusion of artificial intracellular solution containing 10 to 50 μM Ca2+ induced an intra‐organelle [Ca2+] increase. Two major organelles are candidates for this increase: secretory vesicles and mitochondria. In an attempt to detect calcium changes in the vesicles, ruthenium red was used to impair mitochondrial calcium uptake. Part of the ruthenium red‐insensitive intra‐organelle [Ca2+] increase was abolished by raising sodium in the solution. Removing sodium boosted the intra‐organelle [Ca2+] increase. These results taken together suggest the participation of Na/Ca exchange, known to exist in the membrane of these secretory vesicles. In addition to Na/Ca exchange, there would be at least another mechanism of vesicular calcium intake, as suggested by the partial inhibition of intra‐organelle [Ca2+] increase obtained under acidic compartments: neutralization with NH4Cl. This mechanism remains to be defined. The main conclusion presented here, that an intravesicular [Ca2+] increase takes place at the rate of secretion, was predicted by the hypothesis that intravesicular Ca2+ changes would be involved in stimulus‐secretion coupling.
Analysis of quantitative trait loci for starch properties of rice based on an RIL population

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) eating and cooking quality is mainly influenced by its starch properties. Mapping quantitative trait loci (QTL) for starch properties not only helps us understand their genetic basis leading to acceleration of quality improvement, but also helps us find possible genes participating in the synthesis of starch. A recombinant inbred line (RIL) population consisting of 107 lines, derived from an indica (Zaiyeqing 8, ZYQ 8) and a japonica (Jingxi 17, JX 17) rice, was used to investigate the genetic factors affecting starch quality parameters, such as apparent amylose content (AAC), gel consistency (GC), starch pasting viscosity parameters, gel textural properties, gelatinization temperature (GT) and starch retrogradation properties. A total of 44 QTLs covered chromosomes 2-6, 8, 9 and 11 were detected for the 22 traits, with at least one QTL and as many as four QTLs for each individual trait. The results indicated that two major genes were responsible for most starch property traits. The Wx gene that encodes granule bound starch synthase on chromosome 6 was significant for AAC, GC, starch pasting viscosity parameters, gel textural properties and starch retrogradation properties. The alk gene linked with Wx on chromosome 6 was significant for starch gelatinization temperature characteristics. All other QTLs were minor genes. One QTL on chromosome 9 flanked by RZ404 and G295 was significant for gel hardness (HD), gumminess (GUM), chewiness (CHEW), peak temperature of retrogradated starch (RTρ), and percentage retrogradation (R%) and all these traits were not tested before.
NUCLEAR RECEPTORS

Overview: Nuclear receptors are specialized transcription factors with commonalities of sequence and structure, which bind as homoor heterodimers to specific consensus sequences of DNA (response elements) in the promoter region of particular target genes. They regulate (either promoting or repressing) transcription of these target genes in response to a variety of endogenous ligands. Endogenous agonists are hydrophobic entities which when bound to the receptor promote conformational changes in the receptor to allow recruitment (or dissociation) of protein partners, generating a large multi-protein complex.
Bioinformatic Analysis of virulence regulator PrfA and Antimicrobial Resistance of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from artisan cheeses in Cundinamarca

Several studies have demonstrated the presence of L. monocytogenes in non industrialized cheeses in Colombia. In Cundinamarca one of the main products is artisan cheese, which is highly consumed by tourist and native population. Previously, molecular serotyping was consider as a determinant test to establish L. monocytogenes virulence, however today it is consider that this test is not sufficient and efforts have been made in the characterization, molecular study and function of PrfA regulator in the expression of the virulence of this microorganism.
Correspondence

Brain Pathology, an interesting and well done study on HIV-1 encephalitis was published (Cosenza MA, Zhao M-L, Si Q, Lee SC [2002] Human brain parenchymal microglia express CD14 and CD45 and are productively infected by HIV1 in HIV-1 encephalitis. Brain Pathol 12:442-455). The authors reported activated microglia to be the major target of HIV-1 infection. Microglial cells are considered bone marrowderived cells that populate the CNS parenchyma early in embryonic development. In contrast to perivascular microglia that are constantly replaced by blood-derived monocytes, under adult physiologic conditions, there is little or no repopulation of parenchymal microglia. Activation of microglial cells is considered to be a hallmark of various pathological conditions of the CNS, including infection and inflammation, neurodegenerative disorders, ischemia and trauma. Cosenza and co-workers analyzed differences in microglial subpopulations due to their localization (parenchymal versus perivascular) and mentioned, that no marker would exist to distinguish microglia from monocytes. In fact this is only true for the distinction of activated parenchymal microglia and blood-derived monocytes/macrophages. As described by the authors, microglial CD14 expression in normal human CNS differs depending on localization (resting parenchymal microglia CD14-, perivascular microglia/macrophages CDl4+) and in diseased CNS on the state of activation (resting parenchymal microglia CD14-, activated parenchymal microglia CD14+, perivascular microglia CD14+). The authors claimed that in their study “unlike previous reports” they “report for the first time the expression of CD14 in activated parenchymal microglia. ” However, the CD14 expression pattern in normal and in diseased human brain was previously described. Several studies have reported: i) resting parenchymal microglia to lack CD14 in vivo (6, 7) and ii) activated microglia/ macrophages to express CD14 in multiple sclerosis lesions (4, 8), in acute bacterial or viral CNS infections (3, 5) and in HIV-1 encephalitis (6). Cellular sources and time kinetics of CD14 expression was also recently reported by our group following stroke (1), and traumatic brain injury (2).
Distribution of a centrosomal antigen during morphogenesis in the ciliated protozoan Euplotes

Ciliates assemble basal bodies in great number at many stages of the life‐cycle. In order to understand their assembly mechanisms, we screened a library of monoclonal antibodies directed against pericentriolar material. One of these antibodies, CTR210, was used previously to follow steps of this assembly process: in Paraurostyla, new basal bodies appear along a scaffold of linear structures recognized by this antibody. The very unusual behavior of this antigen deserved confirmation in other species. In the present study, we show by immunofluorescence that, in another phylogenetically very distant species, Euplotes, basal bodies are assembled in the same pathway during division. In addition, this antibody recognizes a filamentous ring located at the division furrow and linking many basal body assemblages. By cell fractionation and cytoskeletal extraction, we obtained fractions enriched in basal bodies and associated material. Such fractions still display a high complexity in protein composition. These fractions were used to characterize the main target of the antibody as a doublet of 45 kDa. These results confirm previous results in terms of functionality of the protein recognized by the antibody, but raise new questions in terms of the assignment of the recognized protein to the HSP70 family as hypothesized previously.