Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Aging: Minimizing Free Radical Damage

Aging is the accumulation of changes that increase the risk of death. The major contributors after age 28 years are the endogenous chemical reactions that, collectively, produce aging changes that exponentially increase the chances for disease and death with age. These reactions constitute the "inborn aging process. " This process is the major risk factor for disease and death of the 98% to 99% of cohorts still alive at age 28 in developed countries, where living conditions are now near optimum. The Free Radical Theory of Aging (FRTA) and, simultaneously, the discovery of the ubiquitous, important involvement of endogenous free radical reactions in the metabolism of biologic systems, arose in 1954 from a consideration of aging phenomena from the premise that a single common process, modifiable by genetic and environmental factors, was responsible for the aging and death of all living things. The FRTA postulates that the single common process is the initiation of free radical reactions. These reactions, how.
ABA-deficiency and molecular mechanisms involved in the dehydration response and ripening of citrus fruit

The aim of this work has been to unravel the influence of the phytohormone ABA in the molecular mechanisms underlying the postharvest dehydration response and the development and ripening of citrus fruit, taking advantage of the spontaneous fruit-specific ABA-deficient 'Pinalate' mutant, which is more prone to dehydration and to develop non-chilling peel pitting (NCPP) than its wild-type 'Navelate' orange. A comparative transcriptomic analysis highlighted the ability of parental fruit to induce early molecular responses aimed to reduce water loss and its detrimental effects. ABA application to mutant fruit modulated relevant transcriptomic changes but did not substantially modify either dehydration rate or NCPP incidence, which suggested that 'Pinalate' mutant could be insensitive to ABA. Therefore, the ABA perception system components in Citrus were identified and their regulation under developmental and stressful conditions was investigated. Minor differences between varieties were found in the CsPYR/PYL/RCAR ABA receptors and the CsSnRK2s downstream protein kinases transcript levels, whereas CsPP2CAs negative regulators accumulation was lower in the mutant fruit. ABA receptors and CsSnRK2s gene expression patterns depended on the tissue, the stress severity and the source of the ABA signal from a developmental or stressful stimulus, whilst CsPP2CAs displayed a consistent pattern. Overall, this work suggest that the ABA-deficient 'Pinalate' fruit may sense ABA although the hormone signal could be impaired because reduced CsPP2CAs levels causing altered water stress response and higher NCPP susceptibility.
OMEGA-3 FATTY ACID LEVELS AND PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKENS FED REDFISH MEAL OR REDFISH OIL

Arbor Acre broiler chickens were fed six different diets to determine if the omega-3 fatty acid content of broiler chicken carcasses could be enhanced by feeding additional redfish meal (RFM) or redfish oil (RFO). The six diets were: control (no fish meal or fish oil); 7.5% RFM, 15.0% RFM, 30.0% RFM, 2.1% RFO and 4.2% RFO. Mortality at 28 d and 42 d was lower (P 0.05) effect on mortality, but resulted in lower body weights (P < 0.01) and feed consumption (P < 0.05) and poorer (P < 0.05) feed conversion. Additions of RFM or RFO to the diets resulted in a substantial dietary enrichment of omega-3 fatty acids (especially eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA or 20:5n-3; and docosahexaenoic acid, DHA or 22:6n-3). Analyses (wt/wt %) revealed that breast meat was lower (P < 0.001) in lipid and triglyceride but higher in cholesterol esters (P < 0.005), free cholesterol (P < 0.001) and phospholipid (P < 0.001) than thigh meat. Lip.
Ras oncogene induces β‐galactoside α2,6‐sialyltransferase (ST6Gal I) via a RalGEF‐mediated signal to its housekeeping promoter

Several oncogenic proteins are known to influence cellular glycosylation. In particular, transfection of codon 12 point mutated H-Ras increases CMP-Neu5Ac: Galbeta1,4GlcNAc alpha2,6-sialyltransferase I (ST6Gal I) activity in rodent fibroblasts. Given that Ras mediates its effects through at least three secondary effector pathways (Raf, RalGEFs and PI3K) and that transcriptional control of mouse ST6Gal I is achieved by the selective use of multiple promoters, we attempted to identify which of these parameters are involved in linking the Ras signal to ST6Gal I gene transcription in mouse fibroblasts. Transformation by human K-Ras or H-Ras (S12 and V12 point mutations, respectively) results in a 10-fold increase in ST6Gal I mRNA, but no alteration in the expression of related sialyltransferases. Using an inducible H-RasV12 expression system, a direct causal link between activated H-Ras expression and elevated ST6Gal I mRNA was demonstrated. The accumulation of the ST6Gal I transcript in response to activated Ras was accompanied by an increase of alpha2,6-sialyltransferase activity and of Neu5Acalpha2,6Gal at the cell surface. Results obtained with H-RasV12 partial loss of function mutants H-RasV12S35 (Raf signal only), H-RasV12C40 (PI3-kinase signal only) and H-RasV12G37 (RalGEFs signal only) suggest that the H-Ras induction of the mouse ST6Gal I gene (Siat1) transcription is primarily routed through RalGEFs. 5'-Rapid amplification of cDNA ends analysis demonstrated that the increase in ST6Gal I mRNA upon H-RasV12 or K-RasS12 transfection is mediated by the Siat1 housekeeping promoter P3-associated 5' untranslated exons.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BLOOD MEAL VOLUME AND OVARIAN DEVELOPMENT IN CULEX NIGRIPALPUS (DIPTERA: CULICIDAE)

In both mated and unmated females, increases in blood meal size resulted in corresponding increases in the proportion that developed eggs and in the number of eggs per female. Sibling females showed as much variation as did females of mixed origin. More sugar‐fed females developed eggs from partial blood meals than did individuals with depleted energy reserves.
TERRESTRIAL–AQUATIC LINKAGES: RIPARIAN ARTHROPOD INPUTS ALTER TROPHIC CASCADES IN A STREAM FOOD WEB

Dynamics of headwater stream ecosystems are generally regarded as occurring at the interface of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Terrestrial arthropod inputs can provide an energy subsidy and increase the abundance of predatory fish, and the ensuing effects potentially can cascade through the food web and ultimately affect primary producers. Nevertheless, the community-based effects of such inputs on stream food web dynamics are still poorly understood. We present experimental evidence that terrestrial arthropod inputs have an indirect but prominent effect on a stream benthic community by altering the intensity of fish predation in the food web. Two key elements of the stream food web, terrestrial arthropod inputs and the presence of predatory fish, were experimentally manipulated by using greenhouse-type covers and enclosures (or exclosures) in a forest stream located in northern Japan. When terrestrial arthropod inputs to the stream were experimentally reduced, fish predation pressure shifted dramatically from terrestrial to aquatic arthropods. The ensuing depletion of aquatic arthropods resulted in a subsequent increase in periphyton biomass. This field experiment revealed that terrestrial arthropod inputs were a primary factor controlling cascading trophic interactions among predatory fish, herbivorous aquatic arthropods, and benthic periphyton. These results provide empirical support for the perspective that transfers of energy and biomass from donor systems are frequently significant for the maintenance of biotic communities in recipient systems.
Loma salmonae-associated growth rate suppression in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), occurs during early onset xenoma dissolution as determined by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry

Experimental infection of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), juveniles with Loma salmonae at a water temperature of 15 °C yielded detectable parasite DNA within the gills by week 2 post-exposure (PE) and detectable spore-wall antigen within developing xenomas by week 3 PE, as determined by in situ hybridization and monoclonal antibody (Mab) based immunohistochemistry, respectively. The microsporidian was most commonly located within endothelial cells of lamellar basal channels. Whereas the onset of xenoma formation appeared to be relatively synchronous, as expected from previous studies, xenoma dissolution followed an unexpected biphasic pattern with peaks at weeks 4 and 9 PE. The onset of significant growth rate suppression, at week 4 PE in exposed fish, was temporally associated with the appearance of gill lesions which, in turn, were centred about sites of premature xenoma dissolution. The latter was determined by the detection of spore-wall antigen within lesions. Co-habitant control fish began developing xenomas by week 10, indicating the infective potential of those spores released from the principal fish during early xenoma dissolution. Although infection with L. salmonae significantly affects fish growth rates, the time-course of this suppression is limited, and as an unexpected finding, growth rate recovery commences prior to the infection’s resolution.
EXCHANGE RATE PASS — THROUGH TO DOMESTIC PRICES: EVIDENCE FROM PAKISTAN

Exchange Rate Pass — Through is the phenomena that explains to what extent the movements in exchange rate affect macroeconomic variables of any economy. This paper analyses the movements of exchange rate that has affected on wholesale price index, consumer price index, large scale manufacturing, fuel and lightening and the growth of money supply. The data from June 2005 to June 2011 is analyzed by using the econometric framework. In this study, the econometric model, recursive VAR, suggested by McCarthy (2000), is applied in order to measure the movements of exchange rate pass — through to domestic prices by using the impulse response function and variance decomposition. In this study, the results of the impulse response have shown that impact of exchange rate pass through is high on wholesale price index. While the results of the impulse response have shown that the impact of exchange rate pass through is much lower for Consumer Price Index. The result of the variance decomposition has shown that the variance decomposition is indicating that for the CPI variance decomposition is as much as the 5.48 percent. For the WPI the variance decomposition is as much as 10.15 percent and the other variations are explained by the other independent variables.
Biological Control of the Potato Tuber Moth (Phthorimaea operculella Zeller) in the Republic of Yemen Using Granulosis Virus: Biochemical Characterization, Pathogenicity and Stability of the Virus

A granulosis virus infecting the potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella, has been identified, isolated and purified from diseased potato tuber moth larvae collected from potato fields in the highland basin Qa al-Boun of the Republic of Yemen. The granulosis virus was propagated by feeding potato tuber moth larvae with potatoes treated with a concentration of one granulosis virus-infected fourth instar larva to 5l of water (corresponding to an occlusion body (OB) concentration of 2 106 OB ml-1). Restriction enzyme analysis of viral DNA revealed that the isolated virus seemed to correspond to an isolate from the Lima region of Peru. A median LC 50 value of 7.3 104 OB ml-1 was calculated for a purified virus preparation. Different preparations of the granulosis virus were investigated for their persistence in the field on tubers and leaves. A purified virus preparation (PoGV) applied to potato tubers and exposed in the open had a half-life of 1.3 days. On leaves, the activity of granulosis virus spray de.
Estudo genético da precocidade sexual de novilhas em um rebanho Nelore

The objectives of this research were to estimate heritability (h2) of heifer pregnancy and its genetic correlation (rg) with age at first calving (AFC) in a Nellore herd. Heifer pregnancy evaluated as three different definitions: pregnancy at 16 months (Pr16) - heifers calving before 31 months received 1 (success) and those calving after 30.99 months or that failed received 0 (failure); pregnancy at 24 months (Pr24) - heifers calving until 46 months of age (including Pr16) received 1 and those which fail 0; and heifer pregnancy (PrN) - was attributed the classification 2 for those calving before 31 months, 1 for those calving from 31 to 46 months and 0 for failure. The data-set, including 30,802 weaned heifers, was analyzed by method R and Bayesian Inference. The heritability estimates were 0.52, 0.12 and 0.16 for Pr16, Pr24 and PrN, respectively, by method R. The mean value obtained by Bayesian Inference was of 0.45 for Pr16. The estimate of rg between Pr16 and AFC was -0.32. The results indicate that to select for sexual precocity is necessary to expose all females to breeding at a young age. Moreover, the pregnancy rate evaluated by Pr16 is indicated, since this trait presents high genetic variability and efficient response to selection. The analysis also indicates that Pr16 and AFC are determined by different genes.
Towards an understanding of resilience in isolated coral reefs

In 1998, seawater temperature anomalies led to unprecedented levels of coral bleaching on reefs worldwide. We studied the direct effects of this thermal event on benthic communities and its indirect effects on their associated coral reef fish communities at a group of remote reefs off NW Australia. Long‐term monitoring of benthic and fish assemblages on these reefs allowed us to compare the responses of these communities to coral bleaching using a data series that included 4 years before, and 6 years following, this bleaching event. While bleaching mortality was evident to >30 m depth, it was patchy among the shallower survey sites with decreases in live coral cover ranging from 30% to 90% across seven surveyed locations Within 2 years of the bleaching, hard coral recovery had begun at all sites and by 2003 reef‐wide coral cover had increased to ∼39% of its preimpact levels. We exploited this pattern of differential survival of corals among sites, the associated changes in these benthic communities, and their patterns of recovery, to better understand links between benthic community dynamics and their associated fish communities. Temporal changes in the resident fish communities strongly reflected the differential shifts in the benthic communities, but were lagged by 12–18 months. Five years after the bleaching event, the fish communities on five of the seven surveyed locations showed evidence of recovery, however, none had regained their preimpact structures. Analyses of these communities by taxonomic family revealed a range of responses to the disturbance reflective of their life‐histories and trophic and habitat affiliations. The slow but recognizable recovery of this isolated reef system has parallels with other relatively isolated systems that displayed resilience to the 1998 bleaching event, e.g. the Chagos archipelago, but it also contrasts sharply with low levels of resilience documented in other isolated reef systems subject to the same disturbance, e.g. the Seychelles. In this context, our results highlight the significant knowledge gaps remaining in understanding the resilience of these ecosystems to disturbance.
Registration of Six Tropical Maize Germplasm Lines with Resistance to Aflatoxin Contamination

Six tropical maize (Zea mays L.) germplasm lines, TZAR101 (Reg. No. GP-568, PI 654048), TZAR102 (Reg. No. GP-569, PI 654049), TZAR103 (Reg. No. GP-570, PI 654050), TZAR104 (Reg. No. GP-571, PI 654051), TZAR105 (Reg. No. GP-572, PI 654052), and TZAR106 (Reg. No. GP-573, PI 654053), with resistance to afl atoxin contamination were developed by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture through a collaborative breeding project with Southern Regional Research Center of the USDA-ARS. The lines were derived from biparental crosses and backcross populations involving afl atoxinresistant tropical elite and temperate inbred lines as parents. These lines had afl atoxin levels similar to or lower than a resistant U.S. inbred check, MI82, in both preliminary and confi rmation tests conducted in the laboratory using a kernelbased screening assay. Further fi eld tests of the six lines under artifi cial inoculation with an African strain of Aspergillus fl avus in Nigeria revealed that these lines had lower levels of afl atoxin compared with elite tropical commercial inbred lines used as checks. These lines also had good agronomic traits and resistance to important diseases in the lowlands, including southern corn leaf blight [caused by Bipolaris maydis (Nisikado & Miyake) Shoemaker], southern corn rust (caused by Puccinia polysora Underw.), and ear rot.
Maternal effects in an insect herbivore as a mechanism to adapt to host plant

Summary 1. Maternal effects may play an important role in shaping the life history of organisms. Using an insect herbivore, the winter moth (Operophtera brumata) feeding on oak (Quercus robur), we show that maternal effects can affect seasonal timing of egg hatching in an herbivore in an adaptive way. 2. Winter moth egg-hatching needs to coincide with oak bud opening, as only freshly emerged leaves are suitable as food for the caterpillars. However, there is spatial variation in the timing of bud opening among oaks to which the winter moth needs to adapt. 3. We show experimentally that the generation time between the mother’s and her offsprings’ hatching dates was shorter for mothers who hatched late relative to bud opening of the tree they had to feed on (and hence had to feed on older leaves) than for mothers’ who hatched on time. Maternal feeding conditions affected both the larval and the pupal development time of the mother as well as the egg development time of her offspring: at all three stages developmental time was shorter for the mistimed treatment. 4. We thus show that adaptation to spatial variation may be achieved via maternal effects. While this is a mechanism selected to adapt to spatial variation, it may now also play a role in adaptation to climate change induced shifts in host phenology, and allow insect herbivores to adapt to changes in the seasonal timing of their food availability without the need for genetic change.
Sexual reproduction of Pinus contorta. II. Postdormancy ovule, embryo, and seed development

Postdormancy development of the ovule, fertilization, and embryo and seed development of Pinus contorta (Dougl.) are described. Reproductive development in lodgepole pine (P. contorta var. latifolia) growing within and outside its natural range is described in detail and compared with the phenology of shore pine (P. contorta var. contorta) growing within its natural range. The female gametophyte of lodgepole pine overwinters at the free nuclear stage, resumes development in early April, and is mature by mid-June. Fertilization occurs in mid-June and the embryo and seed are mature by early August. Seed cones of lodgepole and shore pines growing in the coastal region resume development in late March, develop more slowly at first, then complete each subsequent stage of development about 1 month earlier than lodgepole pine grown in the interior of British Columbia. Stages of the reproductive cycle as they affect potential seed production are discussed.
Über die Kupfferschen Sternzellen und die “Fettspeicherungszellen” (“fat storing cells”) in der Blutkapillarenwand der menschlichen Leber.

Wie bekannt, besteht die Blutkapillarenwand der Leber aus dem Gitterund Endothelrohr. Die Kupf f erschen Sternzellen schwimmen in dem Kapillarenoder Sinusoidlumen, indem sie mittels der Fortsàtze mit dem Endothelrohr in Zusammenhang stehen. In der diinnen Kapillarenwand ist auBerdem das Vorkommen einiger Zellarten angegeben, wie der Perizyten von Zimmermann (1923), der Sc hwannschen Zellen der dort verlaufenden Nervenfasern usw. Solche Zellen kommen aber in normalen histologischen PrAparaten kaum zum Vorschein, so daB sie gewöhnlich der Aufmerksamkeit der Fordcher entgehen. Die Ku p f ferschen Sternzellen stellen dagegen eine der funktionell wichtigsten Zellarten dar, und sind demnach von vielen Forschern von verschiedenen morphologischen Standpunkten studiert worden. Was aber ihre zytologischen Strukturen angeht, so bekommt man in der Literatur dariiber fast keine Kenntnisse. Die vorligende Untersuchung haben wir vorgenommen, urn zuerst lediglich Mitochondrien, Go lgiapparat und daran verkniipfte verschiedene zytologische Erscheinungen in den Sternzellen der gesunden menschlichen Leber zu erforschen. Im Jahre 1950 hat I t o,l) einer von uns, wAhrend der Studie der Sternzellen zufallig bis dahin unbekannte Zellen in der Kapillaren-
HBV X protein: elucidating a role in oncogenesis

Chronic HBV infection is associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HBV contributes to tumorigenesis by encoding hepatitis B x antigen (HBxAg), which is a trans-regulatory protein that appears to contribute to HCC by altering patterns of host gene expression. In this review, recent data is presented that outlines some of the putative mechanisms whereby HBxAg contributes to HCC. With the development of animal models of HBxAg-mediated HCC, the relevance and temporal order of putative steps in this process can now be dissected to elucidate what is rate limiting and when. This will have a profound impact on the design of novel and specific therapeutics for HCC.
Pre‐MPF is absent in immature oocytes of fishes and amphibians except Xenopus

Maturation‐promoting factor (MPF), a final trigger for initiating oocyte maturation, is activated in the oocyte cytoplasm, in response to maturation‐inducing hormone (MIH) secreted from follicle cells surrounding the oocyte. MPF consists of cdc2 and cyclin B. We investigated the state of cdc2 and cyclin B in immature and mature oocytes of fishes (carp, catfish and lamprey) and amphibians (Xenopus, frog [Rana] and toad [Bufo]) using monoclonal antibodies raised against mouse cdc2, which also recognize fish and amphibian cdc2, and monoclonal antibodies against goldfish cyclin B1 and polyclonal antibodies against Xenopus cyclins B1 and B2. Anti‐cdc2 and anti‐cyclin B immunoblotting of oocyte extracts fractionated by gel filtration chromatography showed that immature oocytes from all of these species with the exception of Xenopus contained only monomeric cdc2. Cyclin B‐bound inactive cdc2 (pre‐MPF) was present only in immature Xenopus oocytes. Cdc2‐cyclin B complex was, however, found in mature oocytes from all the species examined. After the oocyte is induced to mature by MIH, cdc2 should therefore bind to cyclin B in all of these species, except Xenopus. These results suggest that the complex formation of cdc2 and cyclin B in response to MIH stimulation at the oocyte surface is a critical step for initiating oocyte maturation in fishes and amphibians, with the exception of Xenopus, in which pre‐MPF already exists in immature oocytes and only its chemical modification is required for MPF activation.