Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Antihypertensive and Antioxidant Efficacy of Sesame Cake Extract (SCE) on Uninephrectomized DOCA-Salt Rats.

Summary Hypertension is one of the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), the leading cause of death in developed countries. This study was specifically carried out to evaluate the effect of crude ethanolic extract of sesame cake on hypertensive rats. Thirty six male Wistar rats were uninephrectomized and randomly divided into six groups. Hypertension was induced by injecting DOCA-salt, 25 mg/kg BW subcutaneously, twice a week for six weeks, with NaCl 1% instead of tap water for drinking throughout the study. Blood pressure was measured every week and the toxic effect of DOCA-salt was determined using lipid peroxidative markers (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH)). We also assessed the activity of enzymatic antioxidants superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and measured the non-enzymatic antioxidants vitamin C, vitamin E and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in erythrocytes, plasma and tissues. The hypertensive rats showed significantly higher value of blood pressure and plasma lipid peroxides. Oral administration of SCE significantly decreased the blood pressure and enhanced antioxidant capacity in DOCA-salt hypertensive rats.
How Does Self-Pollination Evolve? Inferences from Floral Ecology and Molecular Genetic Variation

The automatic selection and reproductive assurance hypotheses provide the two most general explanations for the evolution of self-pollination. Under automatic selection, self-pollination is mediated by pollen vectors and the mating system modifier experiences a transmission bias through the pollen that leads to its selection. Under reproductive assurance, self-pollination is autonomous and the mating system modifier is selected as it allows seed production when pollinators are scarce. We present phenotypic selection models that examine the selection of floral traits influencing several modes of selling simultaneously. Inferences from these models suggest that reproductive assurance may be more important than has been appreciated. Additional insight into the importance of automatic selection versus reproductive assurance may be gained by considering the distribution of neutral genetic diversity among populations within selfing species. A number of approaches are outlined for analysing patterns of neutral diversity as they pertain to the mechanism of the evolution of selfing.
Characteristics of γ-H2AX foci at DNA double-strand breaks sites

Phosphorylated H2AX (gamma-H2AX) is essential to the efficient recognition and (or) repair of DNA double strand breaks (DSBs), and many molecules, often thousands, of H2AX become rapidly phosphorylated at the site of each nascent DSB. An antibody to gamma-H2AX reveals that this highly amplified process generates nuclear foci. The phosphorylation site is a serine four residues from the C-terminus which has been evolutionarily conserved in organisms from giardia intestinalis to humans. Mice and yeast lacking the conserved serine residue demonstrate a variety of defects in DNA DSB processing. H2AX Delta/Delta mice are smaller, sensitive to ionizing radiation, defective in class switch recombination and spermatogenesis while cells from the mice demonstrate substantially increased numbers of genomic defects. gamma-H2AX foci formation is a sensitive biological dosimeter and presents new and exciting opportunities to understand important biological processes, human diseases, and individual variations in radiation sensitivity. These potentialities demonstrate the importance of understanding the parameters and functions of gamma-H2AX formation.
Evolutionary coordination between offspring size at independence and adult size

1 Rees & Venable (2007 ; Journal of Ecology, 95, 926–936) correctly identified scaling relations across species between offspring size at independence and adult size as patterns needing theoretical explanation. They also correctly identified that Charnov's (1993 ; Life History Invariants, Oxford University Press) model did not provide an adequate explanation. 2 Rees and Venable attacked several opinions which they attributed to us, but which we do not hold, and which we did not express in the papers they cited. Here we clarify the main points where we agree and where we disagree with Rees and Venable. 3 Rees and Venable claimed that we interpreted cross‐species correlations between traits as constraints on the evolution of life histories. This claim is wrong. We interpret correlation between traits as arising from coordinated evolution, just as Rees and Venable do. Our papers cited by Rees and Venable consciously avoided the terminology of constraints, and passages in them show clearly that we see coordination between traits as arising from natural selection. 4 A model we have been developing independently ( Falster et al. 2008 ; American Naturalist, 172, 299–317) agrees with Rees and Venable in concluding that longer times to adulthood are not, in themselves, sufficient to predict a positive relationship between offspring size and adult size. Falster et al. (2008) shows that density dependence later during growth, together with size advantage persisting from offspring size, can in principle provide an explanation for a positive relationship, and for differences in the slope of this relationship between plants and mammals.
Plant diversity affects culturable soil bacteria in experimental grassland communities

1 Utilization of carbon sources by culturable soil bacteria can be assessed with BIOLOG microtiter plates (contain 31 C sources). We used this technique to investigate bacterial community structure at various levels of plant diversity. Plant diversity levels were replicated and we investigated the influence of three plant functional groups, grasses, legumes and non‐leguminous herbs, as well as the influence of individual plant species.
Brittlestar Color-Change and Phototaxis (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea: Ophiocomidae).

In the first decisive study of color-change in brittlestars, four Caribbean species, Ophiocoma echinata, 0. paucigranulata, O. pumila, and O. wendti are reported to change color from day to night. Color-change is most striking in O. wendti, which is dark brown during the day, and is banded gray and black from dusk to dawn. The transformation occurs over a 3 to 4 hour period and is effected by chromatorphores which appear to respond to illumination, independently of the central nervous system. Color-change may also be mediated by an endogenous rhythm. Ophiocoma wendti is more responsive to light than the other 3 species tested. It reacts to lower levels of illumination at night than during the day, exhibiting negative phototaxis in moonlight as well as in sunlight. I suggest that color-change may expose (or shield) photosensitive tissues that control the brittlestar's detection of shaded fissures in the reef. Thereby, chromatophore activity may be connected with the brittlestar's chief defense from predators, the ability to detect shadow and escape into darkened crevices. Although experiments to date with predacious fish are equivocal. the color patterns of Ophiocoma species mav provide protective camouflage.
Paleoecologic Megatrends in Marine Metazoa

Since their appearance in the Neoproterozoic, marine metazoan ecosystems have increased in ecological diversity, complexity, energy use, motility, predation, infaunality, and biological disturbance. A common theme is an increase in organismal control over internal physiology and the external environment. Often, these changes have been examined in the context of discrete events (e.g., the Cambrian Explosion, Mesozoic Marine Revolution), but they may represent linked, ongoing megatrends. This review examines changes in ecological composition in the context of changes in taxonomic composition, as represented by a more detailed version of Sepkoski's evolutionary fauna analysis. Ecological change occurred during major radiations and extinctions, as well as between them. Due to its ecological selectivity, the Permian-Triassic extinction had particularly significant ecological effects on the biota. Recoveries from mass extinctions may be important episodes of ecological change. Further research could help elucid.
Correspondence

later, when nothing was said by the doctor, they repeatedly ignored opportunities to find out about their second son. The parents in family II, even in the period of stress soon after their first son's diagnosis, made the same decision. The actions of these parents actually exposed to the situation seem to me to speak louder than the words of the parents who replied to Professor Beckmann's questionnaire (Dubowitz, 1976a) by saying that they would want to know at birth whether their son was affected. However, the mother in family III suffered uncertainty and fear for a year because of our inexperienced interpretation of an apparently abnormal result. Deliberately leaving the matter unsettled can clearly work both ways. (3) The intelligent, experienced, and informed parents in family I illustrate the difference between genetic counselling to which, after a late start, they were exposed in full measure and compulsory eugenics from which it is tempting to think they might have profited. If they could ignore advice given on the basis of early diagnosis, one must not assume that parents whose child is detected by total population screening, and who will generally not have heard ofmuscular dystrophy, will react differently. There is no precedent for total population screening of infants with the sole purpose of giving genetic counselling. If it is introduced, its effectiveness will depend on more than just the reliability of the tests. The need for prevention, however, is illustrated by another family.
A freezing method for purification and storage of akinete suspensions of the cyanobacterium Nostoc PCC 7524

A number of filamentous cyanobacteria differentiate akinetes (spores), probably representing resting structures [1-3] . In Nostoc strain PCC 7524, a heterocystous species, akinete differentiation starts at the end of exponential growth and is recognized by the accumulation of cyanophycin granules in the pro-akinetes. These cells eventually mature into isolated akinetes after synthesis of an extracellular envelope [4] and breakage of the filaments. Since differentiation does not start simultaneously in all the cells [4], all degrees of maturation are found even in late stationary populations. Mature isolated akinetes represent only 70% of the colony-forming units (cfu) of a 4-day-old stationary suspension. The separation of individual cells from a filamentous organism greatly assists the isolation of mutants, and the recognition of recombinants. Thus a purely akinete suspension would facilitate mutagenesis experiments and cloning of genetically altered populations. We describe here a rapid process providing enrichment of isolated akinetes based on their resistance to freezing [4].
Arsenic uptake and metabolism in arsenic resistant and nonresistant plant species

Summary Elevation of arsenic levels in soils causes considerable concern with respect to plant uptake and subsequent entry into wildlife and human food chains. Arsenic speciation in the environment is complex, existing in both inorganic and organic forms, with interconversion between species regulated by biotic and abiotic processes. To understand and manage the risks posed by soil arsenic it is essential to know how arsenic is taken up by the roots and metabolized within plants. Some plant species exhibit phenotypic variation in response to arsenic species, which helps us to understand the toxicity of arsenic and the way in which plants have evolved arsenic resistances. This knowledge, for example, could be used produce plant cultivars that are more arsenic resistant or that have reduced arsenic uptake. This review synthesizes current knowledge on arsenic uptake, metabolism and toxicity for arsenic resistant and nonresistant plants, including the recently discovered phenomenon of arsenic hyperaccumulation in certain fern species. The reasons why plants accumulate and metabolize arsenic are considered in an evolutionary context.
Antimicrobial activity of plant natural extracts and essential oils

The use of natural products with curative aims is a common practice in any culture worldwide. It is mainly due to the activity of some extracts that they contain (terpens, essential oils, coumarines, flavonoids, etc.). The main aim of this chapter is to describe the techniques that allow evaluating the antimicrobial activity of plants extracts and their essential oils against bacteria and fungi. The different methodologies will be differentiated in: Techniques on broth culture media, techniques on solid culture media, microwell techniques, aromatogram technique and bioautographies. These techniques also allow establishing the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of the assayed products.
Factors regulating germination of resting cysts of the spring bloom dinoflagellate Scrippsiella hangoei from the northern Baltic Sea

The role of cyst germination as a factor in bloom initiation was investigated for the dino- flagellate Scrippsiella hangoei (Schiller) Larsen from the northern Baltic Sea. This species blooms in very cold, often ice-covered waters, and is responsible for a significant fraction of the production in that region. Dormancy, temperature, oxygen and light were studied as factors potentially controlling the germination of S.hangoei resting cysts. Laboratory-stored and field-collected cysts began to germinate in December following a mandatory dormancy period lasting 6 months. Germination after this maturation interval was maximal when temperatures were within a 0-9°C 'window'. Mandatory dormancy is therefore the primary factor regulating the timing of germination in this species, as temperatures in the natural environment normally fall within this range at the time when S.hangoei cysts deposited the preceding year have matured. Non-optimal temperatures, darkness and low oxygen conditions all maintain a state of quiescence in the cysts. Cysts could germinate in darkness, but the rate of excystment was significantly higher in the light. Likewise, excystment was completely inhibited in anoxic conditions and was reduced under severe hypoxia, with normal germination under moderate hypoxic concentrations. Temporary exposure to high sulfide concentrations permanently reduced germination potential, indicating that S.hangoei cysts have low resistance to oxygen deficiency. Prolonged periods of anoxia at the sediment surface, as frequently occurs in the study area, might reduce the size of the viable cyst pool and thus, alter the magnitude of the inoculum for S.hangoei bloom initiation. Together, these internal and external regulatory factors play important roles in the bloom dynamics of this important dinoflagellate.
Red Imported Fire Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Populations in Texas Highway Rights-of-Way and Adjacent Pastures

Abstract Do disturbed habitats along highway rights-of-way encourage the establishment and spread of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, in Texas? The objective of this study was to determine if highway rights-of-way harbored S. invicta populations that were significantly different from those in adjacent pastures. Data on S. invicta populations were collected from three transects along highways within S. invicta-infested areas of Texas. One north–south transect, a southern east–west transect, and a northern east–west transect were established in Texas and extended 1,678 km. Twenty-eight sites, ≈80 km apart along transects, were visited between 14 May and 1 June 1996. Numbers of S. invicta mounds, mound vitality ratings, ants collected in bait cups, and vegetative characteristics were measured in rights-of-way and in adjacent pastures at each site. No significant differences in pooled (n = 28) mean numbers or vitality of S. invicta mounds were detected in rights-of-way as compared with those of adjacent properties. However, significantly more S. invicta colonies than expected were found on roadbeds (≤1.0 m from paved surfaces) as compared with the remainders of rights-of-way and to adjacent pastures. Roadbed colonies were also smaller, which suggested that colonies were more recently founded than in the remainders of rights-of-way. Mound population densities and numbers of ants in bait cups were not well correlated with vegetative characteristics measured in this study. In Texas where S. invicta is well established, S. invicta is in a population equilibrium between highway rights-of-way and adjacent pastures. However, highway roadbeds may offer an early successional habitat for S. invicta colonies and may require special survey and pest management attention, especially along the frontiers of infestation in Texas.
Daily routines and predator encounters in Yellowhammers Emberiza citrinella in the field during winter

Diurnal and seasonal variation in foraging behaviour of Yellowhammers Emberiza citrinella and activity of their avian predators were studied in an unmanipulated winter field situation around Uppsala, Sweden. In December, when time available for foraging was lowest, Yellowhammers seemed to be time-stressed. In order to meet their energetic needs, they reduced the time allocated to vigilance and increased the time allocated to foraging. Yellowhammers did not systematically change the time spent foraging during the day in December, which indicates time-stress, while they decreased the time spent foraging during the day in both November and February. Predator activity was highest in the afternoon, when Yellowhammers spent the least time foraging. Yellowhammers may have adopted a routine with decreasing foraging rates over the day in November and February, when time available for foraging was longer, in order to avoid foraging during periods of high predator activity. The diurnal activity pattern of predators together with daylength and energetic needs are factors that might be important in shaping daily foraging routines in small birds.
Maturation of the human oocyte in vitro: nuclear events during meiosis (An ultrastructural study)

States of meiotic maturation have been traced in human oocytes cultured in vitro from prophase I to telophase II, using electron microscopy. Two hundred ten oocytes, aspirated at laparoscopy after appropriate hormonal stimulation, were cultured for 1–72 h and examined. Most oocytes were inseminated and the final phases of maturation were studied in fertilized ova. The majority of oocytes had resumed meiosis and had matured to metaphase II. Some were arrested at metaphase I, and a few remained inactive at the germinal vesicle stage. Maturation of oocytes to metaphase II was achieved 3 h after laparoscopy; to telophase II, 3 h after insemination. Maturation of some oocytes to metaphase II may have occurred in the ovary. Immature oocytes had eccentric nuclei containing dense fibrillar nucleoli. Corona cell processes formed complex junctions with the oolemma and a type of interaction analogous to neural transmission was observed. Maturing oocytes showed typical barrel-shaped spindles, but no centrioles or asters. Chromosomes were attached to microtubules via kinetochores. Midbodies were elaborated in the ooplasm and determined the plane of cleavage of polar bodies. Some aspects of oocyte degeneration, aberrations of oocyte maturation, and consequences of aging are also reported. The significance of cytoplasmic maturation that occurs concurrently with nuclear maturation is discussed in relation to assessment of oocytes for in vitro fertilization.
AB1091-HPR Sexual Disturbances in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and It's Relation with Disease Activity

Background Sexuality is an important dimension of personality and human body, therefore any involvement in this area should be considered as important. Sexual disturbances in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients are poorly described in literature. Objectives The aim of this study was to describe sexual disturbances using CIE-10 in population with RA and a possible correlation with disease activity. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed in a specialized clinic dedicated to care patients with RA. 1298 patients were included in the study, which were seen by the area of psychology, which information was collected through semi-structured interviews and non-probability sampling. Descriptive epidemiology was applied for continuous variables, using measures of central tendency and dispersion for categorical and qualitative variables by averages and percentages. We used chi2 test to stablish a relationship between disease activity severity and sexual disturbances. Results Total sample of patients was 1298, 1048 (80%) were women and 250 (19%) were men. Patients had a DAS28 2.6 in average ± 1.1; mean age was 55.1 ± 8.8 years; According to CIE-10 739 patients (57%) had psychological disorders, 279 patients (21%) had sexual and 373 (28%) had sleep disorders. Regarding entire cohort, 338 (26%) of the total of participants reported any sexual disturbances. Regarding women, 421 (40%) reported no sexual activity, while 627 (67%) reported sexual activity; from reporters of sexual activity 377 (60%) reported satisfactory sexual activity, while 101 (16%) reported no-satisfactory sexual activity, 49 (7%) reported lack or loss of sexual desire, 86 (13%) reported dyspareunia, and 14 (2.9%) orgasmic dysfunction. Regarding men, 77 (30%) of men reported no sexual activity, while 173 (69%) reported sexual activity; of these, 21 (12%) premature ejaculation, 85 (49%) reported satisfactory sexual activity, 23 (13%) reported no-satisfactory sexual activity, 10 (5%) reported lack or loss of sexual desire, 28 (16%) orgasmic dysfunction, 6 (3%) reported dyspareunia. When we analized these results with any factor that could precipitate any sexual disturbance (infidelity, wrong information about sexuality, insecurity in the sexual role, and biological or physical causes) we found that 117 of 338 patients with any sexual disturbance had insecurity in the sexual rol and this relationship was statistically significant (p<0.00). The relationship between having a sexual disturbance and disease activity severity was not statistically significant. Conclusions We found that patients with AR a high percentage reported not having any sexual activity and between patients with sexual activity there are many (one fourth) reporting any sexual disturbances. The level of disease activity has no relationship with having a sexual disturbance, but having any sexual disturbance had relationship with insecurity in the sexual role. Disclosure of Interest None declared
SELF‐STERILE AND MATURATION‐DEFECTIVE MUTANTS OF THE HOMOTHALLIC ALGA, CHLAMYDOMONAS MONOICA (CHLOROPHYCEAE). 1

Homothallic sexual reproduction in Chlamydomonas monoica Strehlow culminated in the formation of mature, chloroform‐resistant zygospores (zygotes) in clonal culture. Early in the zygote maturation process, a distinctive “primary zygote wall” was released into the culture medium where it remained stable for at least several days. This wall appeared as a rigid, darkly‐outlined, and often multilayered structure, as viewed by phase contrast microscopy. From a sample, of 2500 individual clones isolated after ethyl methanesulfonate mutagenesis, five maturation‐defective strains (zym) produced abnormal zygotes which failed to release a primary zygote wall, failed to develop the normal reticulate zygospore wall, and disintegrated within five days. These strains were utilized to identify additional mutants which were sexually competent, but self‐sterile (het). Mixed cultures of the zym and het mutant strains were found to contain numerous, fully‐matured, chloroform‐resistant zygospores and discarded primary zygote walls. In combination, the two types of mutants provided a useful system for the selective recovery of heterozygous zygospores, thus facilitating genetic studies on a homothallic Chlamydomonas.