Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Knockdown by pyrethroids: Its role in the intoxication process†

Using techniques for treating the insects unanaesthetised, knockdown of aduit Musca domestica by pyrethrin I applied topically to or injected into the thorax was assessed by measuring the ED50s on 13 occasions 1 min-48 h after treatment. From 1 min to approximately 1 h after treatment, ED50s for topical application decreased quickly with increasing time. During this “knockdown phase” ED50 values were probably determined mainly by rate of penetration of the insecticide into the insect, but the rate of elimination of the insecticide probably determined the increasing ED50 values during the “recovery phase” which followed. ED50s for injected pyrethrin I were initially much smaller than after topical application but increased continuously until 24 h after treatment. From 100 min onwards ED50s by topical application and injection were similar. These results indicate (1) that the site affected during knockdown is within the insect rather than superficial, and (2) that detoxication and excretion processes determine the ultimate toxicity of the insecticide apparently independently of the method of treatment. Additional tests with a strain of flies having the penetration delaying factor and with the cockroach Periplaneta americana L. supported these conclusions. Speed of knockdown after topical treatment was also affected by the site of application and the solvent in which pyrethrin I was applied. Bioresmethrin was about as effective as pyrethrin I in knocking down flies when applied topically or when injected, but because the ED50 increased very little during the recovery phase it was ultimately much more toxic.
Lime-chlorosis and the Effect of Fire on the Growth of Three Seedling Populations of Eucalyptus obliqua L'Herit.

A field experiment confirmed the existence of intraspecific variation in E. obliqua in relation to edaphic factors. A population from an acidic soil showed severe chlorosis, slow growth and low survival when grown on more alkaline calcareous soils, but was the fastest-growing population on fertile acidic soils. Seedling deaths in the field suggested that an interaction between mineral-nutrient and drought stress may be important in the survival of E. obliqua on the calcareous soils. Foliar analysis of seedlings from the acidic populations grown on calcareous soil in the field showed that chlorosis was closely correlated with high levels of phosphorus, low levels of iron and increased phosphorusliron ratios. In contrast, seedlings from the calcareous population showed only a mild chlorosis when grown on alkaline calcareous soils, with seedlings maintaining low levels of phosphorus. higher levels of iron and correspondingly low phosphorus/iron ratios. I t is suggested that lime-chlorosis exhibited by the acidic population may be the result of either an internal inactivation or reduced uptake of iron. A glasshouse experiment showed that the effects of the calcareous soil could be ameliorated by burning. Seedlings from both the acidic and calcareous populations showed increased growth, alleviation of chlorosis and reduced mycorrhizal infection when grown on burnt calcareous soil. Furthermore, the alleviation of chlorosis in seedlings from the acidic population was concomitant with a reduction in phosphorus content and phosphorushron ratios. However, in this experiment trends indicated higher levels of iron in chlorotic tissue compared with green tissue. Seedling establishment and survival on calcareous soils are likely to depend on both the seedling genotype and direct environmental factors, e.g. fire, operating at the time of regeneration.
Book Review: Professional Capital: Transforming Teaching in Every School

J O U R N A L O F E D U C A T I O N • V O L U M E 1 9 2 • N U M B E R S 2 / 3 • 2 0 1 1 / 2 0 1 2 Johnston opens Chapter 8 with a quote from Charles Darwin: “In the long history of humankind (and animal kind, too) those who have learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed” (p. 93). Here, Johnston revisits the themes of collaborative learning introduced in Chapter 5, stating that despite the wealth of research on the effectiveness of this practice, teachers do not do enough to leverage its power in the classroom or in society. Johnston cites the compelling research of Mercer and colleagues who found that the experience of working successfully in a group to solve a problem increased not only the collective intellectual capital of the group, but also of the individuals when they later worked independently. Johnston concludes with the observation that, “Thinking well together leads to thinking well alone” (p. 96). In response to detractors’ concerns that more students are spending their learning time teaching their less able peers, Johnston offers reviews of the collaborative learning studies of Topping and Trickey that show that when children are taught how to think together, improvements are made in reasoning ability, comprehension, expressive language, creative thinking, use of text evidence, confidence, self-esteem, and persistence.
Uncovering the role of defective HIV-1 in spreading viral infection

ABSTRACT Defective HIV-1 genomes populate blood cells of HIV-1 infected patients, especially during HAART treatment. They can express viral proteins which, if released, may induce bystander effects favoring viral spread. Here, we review recent literature regarding the effects of extracellular HIV-1 proteins which can act as effectors of transcriptionally active, defective HIV-1, including Gag p17, Env gp120, Vpr, Tat and Nef. It has been very recently described that, different to the other HIV products, the bystander effects of Nef can be mediated by exosomes, that is, nanovesicles constitutively released by all cell types. Exosomes from Nef-expressing cells induce cell activation and HIV-1 susceptibility in resting CD4+ T lymphocytes in a TNF-α-dependent way. This mechanism likely contributes to virus persistence in HAART-treated patients.
Wearable LED-based device for phototherapy applications

Phototherapy with UVA/B or visible wavelengths is used to treat skin disorders such as psoriasis, eczema and vitiligo. Traditionally, phototherapy is carried out in a clinical environment and utilises large fluorescent lamps. hese are now being replaced with more efficient light-emitting diodes (LEDs), a trend that is set to continue thanks to the progress of UV LED technology. LEDs are also facilitating the emergence of at-home devices to improve patient convenience and decrease de mand on the healthcare system [1] . Current at-home devices consist of inflexible LED arrays, which limits their conformability and produces non-uniform light distribution over the treatment area, in turn limiting their efficacy and wearability [2] . As a solution to this problem, we are engineering a flexible light therapy device that combines LEDs and a sub-mm-thick polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) light sheet in an edge-lit configuration. PDMS has previously been shown as an effective flexible light guide [3 ]; its high transparency from 290 nm upwards and its biocompatibility make it an ideal substrate for a wearable phototherapy device. We will describe the effect of coupling LEDs to our PDMS sheet and discuss design strategies for efficient and uniform light extraction to the treatment area. The PDMS acts as a waveguide and the light diffused through the top surface of the sheet is measured as irradiance (μW/cm2). By adding scattering particles for light extraction a 10-fold enhancement in irradiance has been demonstrated. Utilising a UV LED (385 nm) at an optical power of 25 mW, this approach produces a uniform emission of 140 μW/cm2 over a treatment area of 225 mm2 ( fig. 1). Simulations have shown that the addition of diffractive patterns to the sheet also produces an increased uniform emission.
Moths: Myths and mysteries of stress resistance

A cabbage looper's job, in many respects not unlike our own, is to survive its early developmental period and grow up healthy, metamorphose into an adult moth, and beget the next generation of loopers. Given its numerous predators, exposure to the continuous barrage of toxic physical, chemical and biological agents delivered by humans in an effort to eradicate it, as well as nature's own hazards, such as the ultraviolet component of sunlight and hazardous natural chemicals in plants that serve to deter ingestion by the looper, it is not difficult to view the looper as a highly stressed organism. However, the looper and its lepidopteran ancestors have been quite successful at resisting such hazards since the Mesozoic Era. The purpose of this brief review will be to examine some of the potential mechanisms by which the looper and its relatives have been able to be so successful over these past 200 million years.
Ecological Aspects of the Geographical Distribution and Diversity of Mammalian Species

Using the comprehensive collection of range maps compiled for 679 species of North American mammals by Hall, we compute the distribution in the sizes of the geographical ranges of these mammalian species. The distribution is roughly lognormal. This corresponds to high skewing on a linear scale toward small geographical ranges, with a median geographical range of around 1% of the area of North America; only about 2% of the species have ranges exceeding 50% of this area. There are differences among taxa; skewing is high for bats, rodents, insectivores, and lagomorphs and less pronounced for carnivores and artiodactyls. In contrast to Rabinowitz et al.'s study of "seven forms of rarity," which found most of the British flora in the study to be widely distributed throughout Britain, we find that most mammalian species in North America have relatively restricted geographical ranges. This difference may derive from systematic differences between plants and animals, or from the small size and relative homogeneity of Britain, or from other causes. The fact that half or more of North American mammals have ranges smaller than the combined size of Nicaragua and Honduras has implications for conservation biology, especially because such restricted patterns are more pronounced in the tropics, where deforestation is currently most severe. As mentioned by earlier authors, there are both latitudinal and longitudinal gradients in range size, with average ranges increasing to the North and to the East. At any one latitude, however, there is wide variability in range size. Corresponding to these gradients in range size are latitudinal and longitudinal gradients in species density, with density increasing as average range size decreases. These latitudinal gradients have long been appreciated, but we think that the longitudinal gradients may ultimately prove more illuminating because they are less confounded by the kinds of systematic changes (in temperature, etc.) that accompany latitudinal change. Following Aldrich and Loftas, we identify 23 distinct habitat types in North America and show that patterns both in geographical range and in species density are correlated with the number of different habitats a species range includes: high density of species and small geographical range sizes occur in areas of high habitat diversity. Correlations between the number of habitats (and the average geographical range of habitats) versus latitude and longitude explain some, but not all, of the geographic variation in species' range patterns noted in this article. Finally, we show that species are more habitat specific (having ranges embracing fewer distinct habitat types) toward more southern latitudes and toward more western longitudes.
Heritability of milk yield and composition at different levels and variability of production

Analyses of variance were conducted on first lactation milk, fat and protein production records in England and Wales of daughters of British Friesian sires. Herds were split on milk yield into high and low levels of mean production and, in subsequent analyses, into high and low levels of within herd variance and coefficient of variation using all first lactation records. Data were then extracted on daughters of 798 young sires undergoing progeny test and on 118 widely used proven sires to generate connections. Least squares analyses were conducted within levels and genetic correlations estimated from the covariance of sire effects. W ith data split on mean yield, the heritability of milk yield was 0·24 at the low level and 0·30 at the high level, that of log transformed yield being 0·25 and 0·35 respectively. With data split on variance the corresponding figures were 0·24, 0·30, 0·27 and 0·36 respectively, and when split on coefficient of variation, 0·22,0·26,0·26 and 0·32. There were similar increases for fat and protein yield, proportionately smaller increases for fat and protein content. Genetic correlations were close to 1·0 between high and low levels for all traits on all criteria of data splitting. As a consequence progeny testing of bulls is rather more accurate at high mean or variance of production levels and data can be combined optimally without scaling. Cows of the highest predicted value using an index will be found in high variance herds.
Guidelines for species descriptions of diplomonad flagellates from fish

Diplomonad flagellates are common commensals of the digestive tract, and less common pathogenic parasites occurring in the digestive tract and systemically in numerous fish species. Many aspects of infections are poorly understood, including host-flagellate specificity, geographic ranges, and pathogenicity of different species. Much confusion is attributable to inadequate determination of genus and species. Although older literature reports Hexamita, Octomitus and Spironucleus from fish, recent studies confirm only Spironucleus. To address this problem, we describe ultrastructural features of trophozoites permitting reliable identification to genus and species, and techniques for their elucidation. Pioneering work by Brugerolle and colleagues established that genera can be distinguished by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). We now demonstrate that at the species level, surface ornamentations (especially at the posterior end of the body), and the pattern of bands of microtubules accompanying the flagellar pocket (in transverse section through the middle of the body), are of particular taxonomic value. Both scanning and TEM are essential for robust species descriptions and type material must be deposited in a recognized reference collection. Taxonomic studies are enhanced by in vitro culture, with tolerance and optimum for different conditions providing important supplementary information. Molecular characterization of fish diplomonads is in its infancy.
Ratoon growth and development in rice (Oryza sativa L.) under various temperature regimes

Plants exhibited differential response for ratoon growth and development under different temperature regimes before and after main crop harvest. Low temperature (23°/20 °C) before cutting induced ratooning whereas similar temperature after cutting delayed and reduced ratoon tillering. Ratoon grain yield and its attributes were significantly affected under various temperature regimes. Ratoon grain yield under low temperature regime before cutting did not differ from that of the control. Ratoon growth duration was maximum under low temperature regime after cutting. High temperature (37°/27 °C) after main crop cutting resulted in high spikelet sterility in the ratoon crop.
Ferulic acid reduces cell viability through its apoptotic efficacy: an in vitro approach.

Aim: Ferulic acid, a well known dietary phenolic antioxidant, possesses diverse pharmacological and biochemical effects, including anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic and anticancer properties. The present study explores the cytotoxic potential of ferulic acid using Hep-2 cell line by analyzing its effect on cell viability, reactive oxygen species generation, apoptotic induction, nuclear damage, DNA fragmentation and expression of apoptosis related proteins. Materials and Methods: The effect of ferulic acid (2.5, 5, 10, 20 and 40 μg/ml) on Hep-2 cells viability for 24 hr was determined by MTT assay. To substantiate the cytotoxic effect of ferulic acid, the intracellular ROS level was determined using DCFH-DA assay; apoptosis by dual staining; nuclear damage by DAPI staining; DNA fragmentation by using agarose gel electrophoresis; apoptosis related proteins by western blotting. Results: Ferulic acid significantly inhibited the Hep-2 cell growth in a dose dependent manner and ferulic acid treated Hep-2 cells exhibited features of apoptosis and increase in nuclear damage and DNA fragmentation. We also observed excess reactive oxygen species generation in ferulic acid Original Research Article Prabhakar et al.; BJMMR, 5(5): 612-621, 2015; Article no.BJMMR. 2015.065 613 treated Hep-2 cells. Apoptosis related proteins (p53, Bcl-2, Bax, Caspase 3 & Caspase 9) were significantly modulated in favour of programmed cell death in ferulic acid treated cells. Conclusion: We thus conclude that the cytotoxic potential of ferulic acid might be due to its role in apoptosis induction, excessive ROS generation and DNA fragmentation in Hep-2 cells.
Estrogen Regulation of Ion Transporter Messenger RNA Levels in Mouse Efferent Ductules Are Mediated Differentially Through Estrogen Receptor (ER) α and ERβ1

Abstract Earlier studies have shown that the efferent ductules (ED) of the male mouse are a target for estrogen. The loss of estrogen receptor (ER) function through either knockout technology (αERKO mouse) or chemical interference (pure antagonist, ICI 182 780) results in a failure of a major function of the ED, the reabsorption of testicular fluids. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that estrogen controls fluid (water) reabsorption in the ED by modulating ion transporters important for passive water movement through a leaky epithelium such as the ED. Northern blot analysis was used to detect the mRNA levels for key ion transporters in the following experimental groups: 1) wild-type (WT) control for the 14-day experiment, 2) ERα knockout (αERKO) control for the 14-day experiment, 3) WT treated with ICI 182 780 (ICI) for 14 days, 4) αERKO treated with ICI for 14 days, 5) WT control for the 35-day experiment, and 6) WT treated with ICI for 35 days. Estrogen differentially modulated the mRNA levels of key ion transporters. ERα mediated carbonic anhydrase II mRNA abundance, and there was a decrease in Na+/H+ exchanger 3 mRNA levels in the αERKO that appeared to be a cellular effect and not a direct estrogen effect. The loss of ERα control resulted in an increase in mRNA abundance for the catalytic subunit of Na+-K+ ATPase α1, whereas an increase in the mRNA abundance of the Cl−/HCO3− exchanger and the chloride channel cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator was significantly ERβ mediated. Our results indicate for the first time that estrogen acting directly and indirectly through both ERα and ERβ probably modulates fluid reabsorption in the adult mouse ED by regulating the expression of ion transporters involved in the movement of Na+ and Cl−.
Smoke exposure following domestic pollution: Prevention and community medicine improvement

Result: Smoke pollution is linked to lower-respiratory diseases, heart disease, damage to the brain, liver and kidney, bronchitis and pneumonia. Toxic gases in air due to smoke pollution increases the burden of diseases, including plants getting stunted, water scarcity and water drying up, which could exacerbate domestic poverty and lead to the inability to cover community medicine expenses in many countries. The risks partly arise from inadequately ventilated stoves, burning biomass fuels, such as wood fuel, dung or coal, which impact phenomena that influence the accumulation of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide, and the accompanying weather changes.
Improving Performance and Confidence With Defibrillators for Resuscitation

Summary: This abstract will discuss the global implications of cardiovascular disease and data on survival to discharge after cardiac arrest. An opportunity for improvement in resuscitation performance with the use of defibrillators is identified, along with a strategy used by one hospital. Subsequent outcomes will be described. Content Outline: I. Cardiovascular Disease
Clustering Sports News in Indonesian Using Modified K-Medoid Method

Sports news is a topic with high internet access rankings in Indonesia. The number of documents that must be managed continues to increase. In this research, news documents are grouped using the k-Medoid method. Medoid amount is adjusted to the number of news topics. In the k-Medoid method the cluster initialization process greatly influences the cluster results. Medoid is taken randomly according to the number of clusters desired. If the randomization results in a high degree of similarity, the resulting cluster is not optimal. Modifications are made to the initialization process so that the cluster has a low level of similarity. The test results showed accuracy reached 0.584 with five clusters. Modification of the k-Medoid method by adding the cosine similarity method can increase the average accuracy value from 0.44 to 0.54. Keyword: sport news speak, clustering, k-medoid, modified k-medoid.
Characterization of heat-induced aggregates of β-lactoglobulin, α-lactalbumin and bovine serum albumin in a whey protein concentrate environment

Bovine β-lactoglobulin (β-lg), α-lactalbumin (α-la) and bovine serum albumin (BSA), dispersed in ultrafiltration permeate, that had been prepared from whey protein concentrate solution (100 g/kg, pH 6·8), were heated at 75 °C. The consequent protein aggregation was studied by one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). When 100 g β-lg/kg permeate solution was heated at 75 °C, cooled and examined, large aggregates were observed. These aggregates were partially dissociated in SDS solution to give monomers, disulphide-bonded dimers, trimers and larger aggregates. When mixtures of β-lg and α-la or BSA were heated, homopolymers of each protein as well as heteropolymers of these proteins were observed. These polymer species were also observed in a heated mixture of the three proteins. Two-dimensional PAGE of mixtures demonstrated that these polymers species contained disulphide-bonded dimers of β-lg, α-la and BSA, and 1:1 disulphide-bonded adducts of α-la and β-lg, or BSA. These results are consistent with a mechanism in which the free thiols of heat-treated β-lg or BSA catalyse the formation of a range of monomers, dimers and higher polymers of α-la. It is likely that when whey protein concentrate is heated under the present conditions, BSA forms disulphide-bonded strands ahead of β-lg and that α-la aggregation with β-lg and with itself is catalysed by the heat-induced unfolded BSA and β-lg.
Photosynthetic Activity and N Metabolism of Lettuce as Affected by Humic Acid

The mechanism by which humic substances stimulate plant biological activities is not clear. To study effects of humic acid on N metabolism and growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) a hydroponic experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions. Humic acid (HA) at 0, 100, or 1000 mg·L−1 was added with a nutrient solution to plants. HA accelerated uptake of N and NO3 and accelerated N metabolism by enhancing nitrate reductase activity, which resulted in production of protein. HA did not affect P absorption and proline content of leaves. The photosynthetic activity of lettuce increased with all levels of HA due to enhancement of chlorophyll content and mesophyll conductance. HA can stimulate N metabolism and photosynthesis activity of lettuce to improve yield.