Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neuromuscular properties in serially homologous lobster limbs

The lobster Homarus americanus has five pairs of serially homologous thoracic limbs, the most anterior being the paired chelae followed by four pairs of walking limbs (WLs). We have examined the opener and closer muscles of the WLs in terms of their fiber composition, axonal branching pattern, and synaptic properties. The opener muscle is similar in these serially homologous limbs being composed of all slow fibers. The closer muscle, however, differs in fiber composition amongst the limbs. In the small, nonchelate 3rd and 4th WL, it consists of only slow fibers, while in the much larger, chelate 1st and 2nd WL it has 40% fast and 60% slow fibers. In the chelae, which are bilaterally asymmetric, the closer muscle is known to consist of 70% fast and 30% slow fibers in the cutter chela and all slow fibers in the crusher chela. These differences in the closer muscle reflect differences in the function of the thoracic limbs. Differentiation in the serially homologous limbs occurs to a lesser extent in the pattern of axonal branching and excitatory innervation. Thus bifurcation of the motor axons into two primary branches each supplying one-half of the bipinnate muscle is found in the anterior limbs but tends to disappear in the most posterior limb. Fast axon synapses are more prevalent in the closer muscle of the 1st WL than in the 4th WL. Such differences in distribution between 1st and 4th WLs are also found for the single excitor axon synapses to the opener muscle.
Life history of the reindeer sinus worm, Linguatula arctica (Pentastomida), a prevalent parasite in reindeer calves

Three hypotheses of life cycle have been tested. A direct transmission to reindeer hosts with monoxenous development is the most probable. Abundant parasites are generally thought to have much impact on host populations. When assessing potential damage in reindeer calves, it is essential to look at the total parasitic effect on infracommunity level.
Denervation Effects on Limb Regeneration in Postmetamorphic Xenopus laevis

The effects of denervation on limb regeneration of postmetamorphic Xenopus laevis in the early to late stages of regeneration were studied. Limbs that were denervated immediately after amputation did not show any signs of regeneration. Moreover regenerating limbs denervated 20, 30, 40 and 60 days after amputation showed significant regression of regenerates. After this regression of regenerates, the regenerative capacity was not restored during a long observation period. Denervation reduced both protein synthesis (3H leucine autoradiography) and mitotic activity of regenerating limbs even in later stages of regeneration. These results on the role of the nerve in limb regeneration of Xenopus were compared with results in Xenopus and urodeles reported previously.
The Frameshift Infidelity of Human DNA Polymerase λ

DNA polymerase λ (Pol λ) is a member of the Pol X family having properties in common with several other mammalian DNA polymerases. To obtain clues to possible functions in vivo, we have determined the fidelity of DNA synthesis by human Pol λ. The results indicate that the average single-base deletion error rate of Pol λ is higher than those of other mammalian polymerases. In fact, unlike other DNA polymerases, Pol λ generates single-base deletions at average rates that substantially exceed base substitution rates. Moreover, the sequence specificity for single-base deletions made by Pol λ is different from that of other DNA polymerases and reveals that Pol λ readily uses template-primers with limited base pair homology at the primer terminus. This ability, together with an ability to fill short gaps in DNA at low dNTP concentrations, is consistent with a role for mammalian Pol λ in non-homologous end-joining. This may include non-homologous end-joining of strand breaks resulting from DNA damage, because Pol λ has intrinsic 5′,2′-deoxyribose-5-phosphate lyase activity.
Effect of Sex, Level and Period of Feed Restriction During the Starter Stage on Productivity and Carcass Characteristics of Ross 308 Broiler Chickens in South Africa

The effects of sex, level and period of feed restriction during the starter period on productivity and carcass characteristics of Ross 308 broiler chickens were evaluated. A 2 (male and female chickens) x 3 (feeding levels: Ad-libitum, 75% and 50% of ad libitum) x 3 (restriction periods of 5, 7 and 9 days) factorial arrangement in a complete randomized design was used. The effects of interactions were not included in the results because earlier analyses including all the interactions showed that they were not important. Level and period of feed restriction during the starter stage had an effect (P<0.05) on live weight of the chickens at 21 days of age. Chickens on 75% ad libitum feeding attained complete live weight compensation with those on ad-libitum feeding at the age of 42 days. However, chickens on 50% ad libitum feeding did not ‘catch-up’ with those on ad libitum feeding. Differences due to the period of feed restriction during the starter stage were maintained up to the age of 42 days. Male chickens had higher (P<0.05) live weights at 42 days of age. Abdominal fat pad was not affected (P>0.05) by level and period of feed restriction and sex of chickens at 42 days of age.
Zooplankton Communities of Adirondack Lakes: Changes in Community Structure Associated with Acidification

ABSTRACT The structure of the zooplankton (rotifers + crustaceans) community of Adirondack lakes was evaluated relative to generalizations derived from the literature on the impacts of acidification. The generalization that the number of zooplankton species is reduced in acid lakes was strongly supported by the results of Adirondack studies. Acidity status appeared to be the most important factor determining zooplankton species richness in Adirondack lakes. Generalizations regarding community composition were not strongly supported. Although the relative biomass of daphnids and cyclopoid copepods tended to be reduced in acidic lakes they were also frequent dominants of the communities of acidic lakes. Only two of the “generalist” species of the Adirondack region, Diaptomus minutus and Keratella taurocephala, increased in relative importance in acidic lakes. Acidification had a significant effect on zooplankton biomass.
Vom Jagdgift zur neuen Schmerztherapie: Tiergifte in der biomedizinischen Forschung

Die Jagd‐ und Verteidigungsgifte vieler Tierarten enthalten Toxine, die mit hoher Spezifität gegen Ionenkanäle oder andere Proteine im Beuteorganismus gerichtet sind. Unter den Toxinen findet man Proteine, kleine Peptide, Steroide und viele andere Verbindungen. Ihre Wirksamkeit und Spezifität sind unter starkem evolutionärem Druck in fast unvorstellbarem Maße optimiert worden. Damit verhelfen sie der biomedizinischen Forschung zu aussagekräftigen Experimenten, und eine große Zahl von Toxinen wird heute als Werkzeug in der biologischen Grundlagenforschung eingesetzt. Proteinreinigung, Untersuchung von Expressionsmustern und Strukturaufklärung sind nur einige Beispiele für ihren vielfältigen Nutzen in der Forschung. Wegen ihrer hohen Spezifität bieten sie das Potential für gezielte Anwendung als therapeutische Wirkstoffe mit wenigen Nebenwirkungen. Ein Beispiel für die therapeutische Anwendung ist das ω‐Conotoxin aus dem Gift einer marinen Kegelschnecke, das erfolgreich zur Schmerztherapie eingesetzt wird.
Influence of stand density on log quality of lodgepole pine

We examined the relationship between stand density and stem quality characteristics for lodgepole pine (Pinuscontorta). The influence of initial stand density on end of rotation log quality was inferred by analyzing data from unmanaged, rotation-age stands. Quality characteristics examined included first log branch diameters, taper, wood density, and the proportion of sapwood. After differences in diameter at breast height were accounted for, only branch size was strongly influenced by stand density. A strong negative exponential relationship was found between the mean of the five largest branches per first log and number of trees per hectare.
Timing in Chenopodium rubrum of export of the floral stimulus from the cotyledons and its action at the shoot apex

When the cotyledons of 6-day-old seedlings of Chenopodium rubrum were removed at various intervals after exposure to a single 13.5-h dark period, defoliation during the first 6 h after darkness prevented flowering. If the cotyledons remained on the plant for a further 5 or more hours flowering gradually increased. Within 20 h after the end of the dark period, the cotyledons had completed their essential role and subsequent defoliation had no influence on flowering. A cotyledon area of about 30 mm2 was required for maximal floral induction.It can be concluded that a transmissible factor—often termed floral stimulus—was produced in the cotyledons following a short-day exposure. It is also apparent that flowering in Chenopodium rubrum depends on the generation of a floral stimulus in short days, rather than on control by a transmissible inhibitor of flowering produced under long days.After arrival of the floral stimulus at the apex there was a doubling from 2% to 4% in the percentage of cells undergoing mito.
A field method for screening maize cold to lerance

Screening of cold-tolerant genotypes is hampered by the lack of a reliable field-evaluation method. A study was conducted to develop a field screening method for cold tolerance by recreating seedbed conditions limiting seed growth and quantifying the effect of those limiting parameters on the germination and emergence of two maize hybrids. By comparing maize germination and emergence in uncovered control plots with those covered with reflective insulation, differences were monitored in soil temperature, soil water content, oxygen and air content. Maize germination and emergence were monitored, and rate of radicle and coleoptile growth was measured. Soil temperature was significantly reduced by covering with reflective insulation. The average soil temperature at 5 cm depth was 5.5 and 7.4°C in late April, 11.0 and 16.0°C in May and 14.0 and 16.6°C in early June for the covered and uncovered treatments, respectively. In addition, day-to-day fluctuation in maximum and minimum temperatures was much smaller un.
Egg production rates of Calanus helgolandicus females reared in the laboratory: variability due to present and past feeding conditions

Four egg production experiments were performed under controlled conditions on Calanus helgolandicus females from laboratory cultures with a known history of feeding conditions. Two of the experiments were run with females from a cohort reared at a low concentration of Proro- centrum micans (77.5 µgC l -1 , Cohort L). One of the egg production experiments was run at the same low food concentration (females called LL) and the other one at high food concentration (females LH). Another 2 experiments were performed with females from a cohort reared at a high P. micans con- centration (278 µgC l -1 , Cohort H). One of these experiments was run at the same high food level (females HH) whereas the other one was run at the low food concentration (females HL). These 4 experiments allowed us to estimate the influence of both present and past feeding conditions on the egg production rates of the females. The catabolism of the internal resources in terms of carbon (lipid) and nitrogen (protein) of the females was more important for those held at the low concentration and it also varied with the origin of the females. Females L, which had been food-limited during their growth (LL and LH), were apparently deficient in nitrogen since they lost twice as much carbon as nitrogen, whereas females H (HH and HL) drew equally on their carbon and nitrogen resources. After 7 to 10 d, the egg production of females L was significantly lower than that of females H, at both food concentrations (LL < HL and LH < HH). To explain these results, we propose that females L had a lower assimilation efficiency than females H and that, even if they had a higher specific ingestion rate at the beginning of the experiment, they were not able to compensate for metabolic deficiencies (e.g. in protein). Our results indicate that the feeding history of the females may be important in explaining the egg production values found in the field since in situ food conditions are unlikely to remain optimal during an entire generation.
Abstract 600: Maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) as a tumor suppressor in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a distinctive type of head and neck cancer arising from the nasopharynx. Although rarely occurring worldwide, the incidence and mortality rates of this tumor are remarkably high among Southern China including Hong Kong. The distinct geographical distribution highlights the significance of several etiologic factors in NPC tumorigenesis, including Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, genetic predisposition and intake of preserved food. However, the understanding of NPC development is still unclear. In our previous genome-wide analysis, chromosome 14q32 has been suggested as a tumor suppressor region where loss of heterozygosity (LOH) was detected in >80% of NPCs. Hence, some novel candidate genes involving in NPC development may be located within this region. By microarray study in NPC samples, consistent down-regulation of a putative tumor suppressor gene, maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) within the 14q32 deletion region was identified. MEG3 is an imprinted gene with preferential maternal expression and encodes for a long non-coding RNA. The silenced expression of MEG3 gene in NPC cell lines and xenografts was further confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR. Subsequent DNA methylation analysis in a panel of NPC samples demonstrated that densely methylation at a CpG island on the MEG3 promoter region was observed in all tested NPC cell lines, xenografts and 50% of primary NPCs, while normal imprinting pattern was found in non-cancerous nasopharyngeal epithelium. Interestingly, the presence of demethylation agent in culture medium could successfully rescue MEG3 expression in available NPC cell lines, indicating that promoter hypermethylation is one of the mechanisms to control MEG3 expression. On the other hand, fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) also showed the loss of DNA copy number at chromosome 14q32 in 60% of primary NPCs, suggesting an alternative MEG3 regulation mechanism in NPC. In our functional studies, ectopic MEG3 expression in NPC cell lines could significantly inhibit cell propagation, colony and foci formation. A series of reporter assays further suggested that MEG3 might contribute to regulate both p53 and TGF-β signaling pathways. In conclusion, we have found that MEG3 is a novel tumor suppressor gene in NPC. Further investigation the function of MEG3 in NPC pathogenesis may have potential implications to improve NPC treatment in the future. Citation Format: Wing Po Chak, Joanna Hung-Man Tong, Raymond Wai-Ming Lung, Yat Yee Chan, Kwok Wai Lo, Ka Fai To. Maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) as a tumor suppressor in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 600. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-600
GLUTATHIONE S-TRANSFERASE THETA (GSTT1) GENETIC POLYMORPHISM AMONG CHINESE, MALAYS AND INDIANS IN INGAPORE

Glutathione S-transferase-theta (GSTT1) is subject to a genetic polymorphism where approximately 50% of a Caucasian population are homozygous for the null allele. Because of the possible association of the polymorphism with increased cancer risk in individuals, we genotyped by polymerase chain reaction 187 normal Chinese, 167 normal Malays and 152 normal Indians from Singapore and Malaysia. The proportion of Chinese, Malays and Indians with the null genotype were 58%, 38% and 16% respectively and mirrored previously reported frequencies of the GSTM1 null genotype in these populations. The frequency of the combined GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes among Chinese, Malays and Indians were 37%, 22% and 5% respectively. The similarity with predicted frequencies indicated no interaction between the two genetic polymorphisms.
SITE OF EINKORN WHEAT DOMESTICATION IDENTIFIED BY DNA FINGERPRINTING

The emergence of agriculture in the Near East also involved the domestication of einkorn wheat. Phylogenetic analysis that was based on the allelic frequency at 288 amplified fragment length polymorphism molecular marker loci indicates that a wild group of Triticum monococcum boeoticum lines from the Karacadag mountains (southeast Turkey) is the likely progenitor of cultivated einkorn varieties. Evidence from archeological excavations of early agricultural settlements nearby supports the conclusion that domestication of einkorn wheat began near the Karacadagmountains.
Biocatalysis, Cofactor Regeneration

Biocatalysis and biotransformation could provide valuable chemicals for the industry via eco-friendly processes. Among the biocatalysts, except cofactor-independent hydrolases, the cofactor-dependent enzymes are the second class to perform the bioreactions. However, the complexity and high costs of cofactors limit the application of such enzymes in a wider field. Thus, it is necessary to regenerate cofactors in situ. Regeneration of cofactors, such as NADH, NADPH, ATP, sugar nucleotides, 3′-phosphoadenosine-5′-phosphosulfate (PAPS), have been studied extensively in the past 30 years. Different methodologies for cofactor regeneration including chemical, electrochemical, photochemical, enzymatic and permeabilized cells methods have been developed. These methods are reviewed in this chapter, along with some successful examples in industrial application. Keywords: biocatalysis; cofactor; in situ regeneration; PAPS; enzymatic method
ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A VIRUS INFECTING PHAEOCYSTIS POUCHETII (PRYMNESIOPHYCEAE) 1

A virus infecting the haptophyte Phaeocystis pouchetii (Hariot) Lagerheim was isolated from Norwegian coastal waters in May 1995 at the end of a bloom of this phytoplankter. The virus was specific for P. pouchetii because it did not lyse 10 strains of P. globosa Scherffel, Phaeocystis sp. , and P. antarctica Karsten. It was a double‐stranded DNA virus, and the viral particle was a polyhedron with a diameter of 130–160 nm. The virus had a main polypeptide of about 59 kDa and at least five minor polypeptides between 30 and 50 kDa. The latent period of the virus when propagated in cultures of P. pouchetii was 12–18 h, and the time required for complete lysis of the cultures was about 48 h. The burst size was estimated to be 350–600 viral particles per lysed cell.
Assessing the impact of management unit design and adjacency constraints on forestwide spatial conditions and timber revenues

Spatial considerations in ecosystem management are addressed within the framework of the forest management scheduling adjacency problem. Emphasis is on both the effectiveness of adjacency regulations and the consequences of strategies for management unit design. Four strategies are presented that subdivide stands into maximum-sized harvest units. A dynamic-programming heuristic is used to plan harvest schedules that comply with adjacency constraints over temporal horizons extending up to eight 10-year periods. The impact of stand design and adjacency constraints upon the output of the forest management problem is assessed. Specifically, timber revenues and spatial conditions generated by combining adjacency constraints with alternative strategies are analyzed. Results from test computer runs are discussed for applications in nine scenarios. Results suggest that timber adjacency costs are not overly sensitive to alternative strategies for management unit design that emphasize the generation of specific spa.
Uncouplers and activated sludge—the impact on synthesis and respiration

Halogenated organics are among the most commonly‐encountered anthropogenic compounds accumulating in the environment. These compounds have many behavioral characteristics in common. Many are carcinogenic; many are toxic; almost all resist biodegradation; all undergo bioconcentration and concentration in sediments. One group of halogenated materials, the halogenated phenols, interact with microbial cell tissue and higher‐life forms in a way not seen with the other compounds in this broad category. That is, they will uncouple oxidative phosphorylation, the energy transfer process which permits the accumulation of the energy of substrate oxidation as adenosine triphosphate which is subsequently used in synthesis. The present study reports on laboratory work which serves to quantify the various results of energy uncoupling. These are an increase in oxygen use, a decrease in synthesis and a decrease in the rate of normal substrate uptake. The work is carried out utilizing four common types of organics as growt.
RNA-Binding Proteins in Metazoans

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are the proteins which associate with RNAs in cells and play an important role in post-transcriptional process to create the spatiotemporal diversity of proteome in muticellular organisms. They recognize specific sequence in the RNA stretch and are tissue-specific transcription of alternative splicing. In all metazoans, RBPs regulate and control gene expressions by promoting or repressing mRNA targets in many tissues; examples include brain, heart, gonads bone and muscle. Therefore, the aim of present paper is the subject to document and summarize the recent information and basic mechanisms of RBPs in metazoans.
Light intensity as a factor in the choice of an oviposition site by Drosophila pseudoobscura and Drosophila persimilis

Light preferences for ovipositing of the sibling species Drosophila pseudoobscura and D. persimilis were measured in a multichoice chamber. Behavioral differentiation was found among sympatric populations of D. pseudoobscura and D. persimilis and between allopatric populations of D. pseudoobscura. Differences among isofemale lines within populations indicated genetic variability for the behavior. Both D. pseudoobscura populations were less fecund in a uniform light environment than in the multichoice environment while D. persimilis showed no difference in fecundity in the two environments. The patterns for general photoresponse and ovipositional light response were shown to be different for each population. Thus, the motivation to oviposit may affect photopreference differentially in each population.