Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The synaptonemal complex and analysis of sex chromosomes in the genus Oreochromis

Four species of fish from the genus Oreochromis (Cichlidae) were studied cytogenetically through meiotic prophase I using TEM. The female synaptonemal complex complement length (SCCL) in these species was around 1.4 times longer than that of the males. The SCCL of neomales (hormonally masculinized genetic females) was reduced significantly compared to control females, while the SCCL of genetic males given the standard hormonal masculinization treatment was increased slightly compared to control males. Unpaired lateral elements were observed in the heterogametic sex of O. niloticus (XY: unsynapsed sub-terminal and terminal region of bivalent 1). In O. aureus, two distinct regions of restricted pairing were present only in the heterogametic sex. The first, a subterminal region of the largest bivalent, was located near to the region of unpairing found in the closely related O. niloticus, while the second was in a small bivalent, most of which was unpaired. These results suggest that O. aureus has two pairs of sex chromosomes. In O. mossambicus, unpaired lateral elements were not observed, nevertheless, a region of bivalent 1 with diffuse chromatin and differential staining was observed in one XY male, perhaps near to the kinetochore. A similar pattern was observed in female O. niloticus x male O. mossambicus hybrids. The recombination rates between the centromere and sex loci in O. mossambicus also suggested that sex genes in this species are located close to the centromere. An autosomal influence on sex determination was also observed. During meiosis in the female O. niloticus (2n = 44) x male O. karongae (2n = 38) hybrid (2n = 41), three trivalents were observed in some spreads. In other spreads failures in chromosome synapsis were observed as aberrant pairing and multivalents. The O. karongae karyotype appears to have arisen from the typical Oreochromis one by three fusions. Rafael Campos Ramos PhD Thesis, Institute o f Aquaculture, University o f Stirling iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Declaration. i Acknowledgements. ii Abstract. iv Table of
Most influenza A virus-specific memory cytotoxic T lymphocytes react with antigenic epitopes associated with internal virus determinants

This paper shows that most murine (C57BL/6) influenza A virus-specific memory cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) clones tested in limiting dilution did not react with the influenza A virus surface glycoproteins, hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). This lysis of syngeneic target cells infected with the influenza A virus strains, Aichi (H3N2), PR8 (H1N1), or recombinant strain X31 (H3N2) indicates that most antigenic epitopes recognized are associated with internal virus determinants. X31 and PR8 share the internal, and X31 and Aichi the external, viral determinants. Extensive CTL cross-reactivity was observed in experiments with target cells infected with virus carrying internal determinants homologous with the priming virus. In contrast, when the internal viral determinants differed between the priming virus and the virus used to infect the target cells, and although HA and NA were homologous, we found almost complete CTL-specificity for the priming virus. Thus, the predominant reactivity of influenza A virus- specific CTL differs from that of anti-influenza A antibodies, which are primarily directed towards epitopes on the virus surface glycoproteins. This finding may be relevant for the role of influenza A virus-specific CTL in recurrent infections with different influenza A viruses.
Combination of IFN-α and 5-Fluorouracil Induces Apoptosis through IFN-α/β Receptor in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

Purpose: Several studies showed the effectiveness of combination therapy with IFN- α and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. However, only little is known about the underlying mechanism of combination therapy. In the present study, we examined whether apoptosis through IFN-α/β receptor (IFN-α/βR) was associated with the effects of combination therapy. Experimental Design: HuH7, PLC/PRF/5, HLE, and HLF were treated with IFN- (500 units/mL), 5-FU (0.5 μg/mL), or their combination for 10 days. In addition, IFN-α/βR gene transfer with combination therapy was done. Results: Ten-day treatment by combination therapy resulted in >80% cell growth inhibition. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase–mediated dUTP nick end labeling analysis showed synergistic effects for combination therapy on PLC/PRF/5, HLE, and HLF. Concordant results were obtained with DNA fragmentation. Moreover, there was an evidence showing that changes in the expression of Bcl-2 family lead to apoptosis. On the other hand, the expression of IFN-α/βR and up-regulation of α-phospho–signal transducer and activator of transcription 1, IFN regulatory factor-1 by combination therapy were observed in all cell lines. Furthermore, IFN-α/type 2 IFN receptor long form–transfected HuH7 cells treated with combination therapy showed strong DNA fragmentation compared with nontransfected or transfected with IFN-α- and 5-FU-treated HuH7. Conclusions: Our results showed that combination of IFN- α plus 5-FU strongly induced cell growth inhibition of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells and indicated that oneof the direct mechanisms of combination therapy may in part be attributable to alterations in induction of apoptosis through IFN-α/βR.
EFFECT OF FERMENTED CHUB MACKEREL EXTRACT ON LIPID METABOLISM OF DIABETIC RATS

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of fermented chub mackerel extract(FCME) on lipid metabolism in diabetic rats. Four week-old male Wistar rats were divided into threegroups based on weight. All rats were induced with diabetes mellitus by single intraperitoneal injectionof streptozotocin at 45 mg/kg body weight. Thereafter, they were randomly distributed to threetreatments with 7 rats assigned to each treatment. One group was the control with no additive, and twotreatmentgroups were given the purified diets supplemented with 1% or 2% FCME. Experimentalresults showed that in comparison to the control, diabetic rats fed FCME increased feed intake (P<0.01)and body weight gain (P<0.05). FCME inclusion significantly reduced the activities of acetyl-CoAcarboxylase (P<0.01) and fatty acid synthetase (P<0.05) in diabetic rats. FCME significantly increasedcholesterol 7 -hydroxylase with no effect on HMG-CoA reductase activity. FCME had no effect onhepatic triglyceride, free cholesterol and phospholipid. FCME inclusion at 1% level significantlyreduced serum triglyceride. FCME significantly increased HDL-cholesterol (P<0.05) with no effect onLDL + VLDL-cholesterol, and significantly reduced atherogenic index. FCME did not significantlyaffect serum insulin and glucose concentration. In conclusion, FCME supplementation altered lipidmetabolism in diabetic rats. FCME supplementation reduced the risk of atherosclerosis in diabetic rats.
Genetic evaluation of linear type traits for Swiss Braunvieh

In summer 1992, the Swiss Brown Cattle Breeders’ Federation has introduced a linear type classification system for the classification of daughters of young unproven bulls and for potential dams of the next bull generation. In 1994, the classification system was modified and some type traits were defined in a new way. All other cows were classified regional with an old, non linear system. Between 1995 and 1997, this old regional system was replaced step by step by the linear type classification system. Now the Swiss Brown Cattle Breeders’ Federation is in charge of the type classification of all young females in registered herds.
The Influence Of Feedback Environment Towards Job Satisfaction In Tvet Education Organization

This was a study descriptively identifying relationship between feedback environment and job satisfaction conducted in Polytechnic Malaysia. A total of 105 lecturers via random sampling method were chosen from local Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) education organization in Sarawak. The questionnaire consisted of three parts including the modified items of Job Satisfaction Scale (Ling, 2016; Quinn & Shepard, 1974). The extent of organization support on feedback process was diagnosed using feedback environment questionnaires by Ling (2016). The findings displayed that there is a significant influence in feedback environment towards job satisfaction. Regression analysis also shown that the best combination of feedback credibility, feedback quality and feedback delivery contributed greater change in job satisfaction. In conclusion, this study recommends that feedback environment factors should be prioritized not only to create job satisfaction but to maintain the effectiveness of the organization in the long run.
Histidine 271 has a functional role in pig α-1,3galactosyltransferase enzyme activity

: Alpha(1,3)Galactosyltransferase (GT) is a Golgi-localized enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of a terminal galactose to N-acetyllactosamine to create Galalpha(1,3)Gal. This glycosyltransferase has been studied extensively because the Galalpha(1,3)Gal epitope is involved in hyperacute rejection of pig-to-human xenotransplants. The original crystal structure of bovine GT defines the amino acids forming the catalytic pocket; however, those directly involved in the interaction with the donor nucleotide sugars were not characterized. Comparison of amino acid sequences of GT from several species with the human A and B transferases suggest that His271 of pig GT may be critical for recognition of the donor substrate, UDP-Gal. Using pig GT as the representative member of the GT family, we show that replacement of His271 with Ala, Leu, or Gly caused complete loss of function, in contrast to replacement with Arg, another basic charged residue, which did not alter the ability of GT to produce Galalpha(1,3)Gal. Molecular modeling showed that His271 may interact directly with the Gal moiety of UDP-Gal, an interaction possibly retained by replacing His with Arg. However, replacing His271 with amino acids found in alpha(1,3)GalNAc transferases did not change the donor nucleotide specificity. Thus His271 is critical for enzymatic function of pig GT.
Long-term tree fern dynamics linked to disturbance and shade tolerance

Question: Do New Zealand tree ferns have recognizable shade tolerance niches? Location: Lowland temperate rain forest of New Zealand (41°20′S, 174°58′E). Methods: Growth, death and recruitment of five tree fern species were estimated from a 38-year record of stem heights, collected within a 2.25-ha block of forest, and electron transport rates (ETR) of photosystem II of fronds were measured. Results: Two species of Cyathea were comparatively common (603 and 351 stems in total) and two were comparatively rare (155 and 17 stems in total) on the site. The common species had lower rates of growth, recruitment and mortality than the rare species, had skewed age distributions typical of shade-tolerant species and were probably recruited soon after a catastrophic earthquake in 1855. The two rare species were failing to recruit under closed forests; their age distributions indicated that all had regenerated long after the earthquake. ETR were higher for faster-growing than for the shade-tolerant species. A tree fern that regenerates vegetatively from aerial buds, Dicksonia squarrosa, was common on the site (361 stems in total). Its age distribution suggested it was relatively shade tolerant, but its mortality and recruitment rates were much higher than those of the two shade-tolerating Cyathea species, suggesting that this multi-stemmed species functions differently from the monopodial Cyathea species. Conclusions: New Zealand Cyathea tree ferns occupy distinct niches along a shade tolerance spectrum and their relative abundances are strongly influenced by disturbance history. The study provides evidence that tree fern species differ strongly in their responses to canopy disturbance and are not ecologically equivalent.
The T-Cell Receptor β Variable Gene Promoter Is Required for Efficient Vβ Rearrangement but Not Allelic Exclusion

ABSTRACT To investigate the role of promoters in regulating variable gene rearrangement and allelic exclusion, we constructed mutant mice in which a 1.2-kb region of the Vβ13 promoter was either deleted (P13−/−) or replaced with the simian virus 40 minimal promoter plus five copies of Gal4 DNA sequences (P13R/R). In P13−/− mice, cleavage, rearrangement, and transcription of Vβ13, but not the flanking Vβ gene segments, were significantly inhibited. In P13R/R mice, inhibition of Vβ13 rearrangement was less severe and was not associated with any apparent reduction in Vβ13 cleavage. Expression of a T-cell receptor (TCR) transgene blocked cleavages at the normal Vβ13-recombination signal sequence junction and Vβ13 coding joint formation of both wild-type and mutant Vβ13 alleles. However, a low level of aberrant Vβ13 cleavage was consistently detected, especially in TCR transgenic P13R/R mice. These findings suggest that the variable gene promoter is required for promoting local recombination accessibility of the associated Vβ gene segment. Although the promoter is dispensable for allelic exclusion, it appears to suppress aberrant Vβ cleavages during allelic exclusion.
Maternal compensation for hatching asynchrony in the collared flycatcher Ficedula albicollis

Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain the adaptiveness of hatching asynchrony for the parents, but delayed hatching is generally detrimental for the late hatched young. These offspring often experience competitive disadvantage and delayed development. If hatching asynchrony has a reason other than producing competitive differences among offspring, it would be advantageous, not only for the offspring but even for the parents, to compensate for its detrimental effects. In some species, increasing investment into later laid eggs has been reported and discussed as a compensation mechanism, but its effect on nestling growth and fledging size has not been examined in details. In this study we investigated nestling growth and size at fledging in terms of body mass and length of primaries in relation to the accurate laying and hatching order in collared flycatcher Ficedula albicollis broods. We found that females laid larger eggs at the end of the laying sequence, and this helped to decrease the disadvantages for the last offspring. The last offspring had lower body mass growth rate and fledged with shorter feathers, but in both cases the larger the last egg was, the smaller the lag of the offspring was. We conclude, that even if females were not able to fully compensate for the detrimental effects of hatching asynchrony, larger eggs may improve the survival prospects of late hatched nestlings.
A study of tetracycline resistant Escherichia coli in impala (Aepyceros melampus) and their water sources

A case control study was performed in the conservancy area of the Kruger National Park (KNP), South Africa to find out whether the faeces of impala (Aepyceros melampus) were more likely to contain tetracycline resistant Escherichia coli (TREC) when they drank from rivers that contained these bacteria, compared to rivers that were uncontaminated with TREC.
Growth and carcass characteristics of crossbred and straightbred Hereford steers. III. Post-weaning growth in seven environments in New South Wales

Post-weaning growth, liveweight and body condition at slaughter were examined in 289 steers comprised of straightbred Hereford and first cross Brahman x Hereford, Simmental x Hereford and Friesian x Hereford. The steers were grown from weaning in seven environments throughout New South Wales. All steers were slaughtered when the average fat cover of the Herefords was in the range of 6-10 mm at the 12/13th rib. Brahman crossbreds were in similar body condition to Herefords at slaughter, which in turn were generally in better condition than both Simmental and Friesian crossbreds. Crossbred steers were heavier than Herefords at slaughter. Simmental crosses and Friesian crosses were 53 kg (12%) heavier on average over all environments, and Brahman crosses 41 kg (10%) and 83 kg (16%) heavier in inland and coastal environments respectively. Mean average daily gain (ADG) of the crossbred steers was always greater than that of the Hereford steers. There was a trend for ADG to be greater among the Brahman crosses earlier in the post-weaning period, but for the Simmental and Friesian crosses to grow faster later in the post-weaning period. Simmental crosses maintained a constant ADG advantage relative to Friesian crosses throughout the post-weaning period in environments where growth was favoured. Significant genotype x environment interactions occurred. Relative to Herefords, Simmental and Friesian crossbreds responded more to improved conditions, while Brahman crossbreds maintained a constant growth advantage regardless of environmental conditions. Bos taurus crosses grew faster than Brahman crosses, and Simmental crosses faster than Friesian crosses, only when environments were highly favourable.
Credit Risk Management of Commercial Banks in Nepal

The study is primarily focused on credit risk assessment practices in commercial banks on the basis of their internal efficiency, assessment of assets and borrower. The model of the study is based on the analysis of relationship between credit risk management practices, credit risk mitigation measures and obstacles and loan repayment. Based on a descriptive research approach the study has used survey-based primary data and performed a correlation analysis on them. It discovered that credit risk management practices and credit risk mitigation measures have a positive relationship with loan repayment, while obstacles faced by borrowers have no significant relationship with loan repayment. The study findings can provide good insights to commercial bank managers in analysing their model of credit risk management system, policies and practices, and in establishing a profitable and sustainable model for credit risk assessment, by setting a risk tolerance level and managing credit risks vis-a-vis the prevailing market competition.
Mechanism of radiosensitization by hyperthermia (43°C) as derived from studies with DNA repair defective mutant cell lines

All biochemical and cytogenetic data on radiosensitization by heat treatment at and above 43°C indicate that inhibition of DNA repair plays a central role. There are several DNA repair pathways involved in restoration of damage after ionising irradiation and the kinetics of all of them are affected by heat shock. This, however, does not imply that the inhibition of each of these pathways is relevant to the effect of heat on cellular radiosensitivity. The current review evaluates the available data on heat radiosensitization in mutant or knockout cell lines defective in various DNA repair proteins and/or pathways. The data show that thermal inhibition of the non-homologous end-joining pathway (NHEJ) plays no role in heat radiosensitization. Furthermore, limited data suggest that the homologous recombination pathway may also not be a major heat target. By deduction, it is suggested that inhibition of base damage repair (BER) could be the crucial step in radiosensitization by heat. While a lack of mutant cell lines and redundancy of the BER pathway have hampered efforts toward a conclusive study, biochemical and correlative evidence support this hypothesis.
Is brood parasitism related to host nestling diet and nutrition?

ABSTRACT Food and nutrient limitation can have negative effects on survival, fecundity, and lifetime fitness of individuals, which can ultimately limit populations. Changes in trophic dynamics and diet patterns, affected by anthropogenic environmental and landscape change, are poorly understood yet may play an important role in population regulation. We determined diets of Wood Thrushes (Hylocichla mustelina), a Neotropical migratory songbird species sensitive to urbanization, and explored how brood parasitism by Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) may be related to Wood Thrush nestling diets. Effects of brood parasitism on host nestling diets is an understudied stressor that may help explain observed population declines. We measured carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) stable isotopes of 7 invertebrate food sources (snails, spiders, isopods, earthworms, myriapods, insects, and caterpillars), blood plasma from adult male and female Wood Thrushes and from Wood Thrush nestlings in nests with and without Brown-headed Cowbird nestlings. Wood Thrush diet compositions were largely composed of high calcium (Ca) foods (51–62%, 95% highest density intervals [HDI]), including snails, isopods, and myriapods, as well as spiders (23–33%, 95% HDI). Caterpillars were the least common food item in Wood Thrush diets (0.01–3 %, 95% HDI). Wood Thrush nestling diets in nests without Brown-headed Cowbirds contained greater proportions of Ca-rich foods and spiders compared to the diet of nestlings in parasitized nests. Our data demonstrate that Wood Thrushes preferred Ca- and protein-rich foods, which may have important implications for adult survival and fecundity as well as nestling nutrition and development. Our results suggest that brood parasitism is related to host nestling diet, which could have potentially negative effects on developing nestlings through nutritional stress that may in turn affect survival, fecundity, and ultimately limit population growth.
Assessing effects of positioning errors and sample plot size on biophysical stand properties derived from airborne laser scanner data.

Canopy height distributions were created from small-footprint airborne laser scanner data with an average sampling density of 1.1 points·m–2 collected over 132 sample plots and 61 stands. Field measurements of each plot were carried out within two concentric circles (200 m2 and 300 or 400 m2). The plot positions were altered randomly with Monte Carlo simulations. For various metrics derived from the canopy height distributions, the mean and the standard deviation (SD) of the differences between incorrect plot positions and ground-truth positions were compared. In general, SD was smaller for large field plots than for small plots, and the variation in SD among the Monte Carlo repetitions was smaller for large sample plots. The combined effects of field plot size and sample plot position error on the accuracy of mean tree height (hL), stand basal area (G), and stand volume (V) predicted at stand level using a two-stage procedure combining field training data and laser data were assessed. Standard deviation .
Zooplankton feeding ecology: does a diet of Phaeocystis support good copepod grazing, survival, egg production and egg hatching success?

The bloom-forming alga Phaeocystis is ingested by a variety of zooplankton grazers, but is thought to be a poor source of food. We examined copepod grazing on solitary Phaeocystis cells by adult females of Temora stylifera, and survival, fecal pellet production, egg production and egg hatching success in Calanus helgolandicus and T. stylifera over periods of 15 consecutive days. Phaeocystis cell concentrations were high (1.2-3.6 X 10 4 cells ml -1 for C. helgolandicus and 2.5-7.9 × 10 4 cells ml -1 for T. stylifera), but within the range of maxima recorded for natural blooms. Both copepods survived well and continuously produced fecal pellets (indicating continuous grazing) on a diet of Phaeocystis. However, egg production rates for both copepods were low, even though hatching success of the few eggs produced was high. Clearance rates for T stylifera were higher than for most previous measurements of other copepods feeding on Phaeocystis solitary cells at lower cell concentrations. We conclude that even though copepods feed well upon Phaeocystis, resulting poor fecundity on this diet may inhibit copepod population increases during blooms, thereby contributing to the perpetuation of blooms. However, the high egg hatching success on this diet argues against Phaeocystis containing chemical compounds that act as mitotic inhibitors reducing copepod egg viability, such as those found in some other phytoplankters.