Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Novel Cytokine p43 Induces IL-12 Production in Macrophages via NF-κB Activation, Leading to Enhanced IFN-γ Production in CD4+ T Cells1

Recently, we determined that p43, an auxiliary factor of mammalian multiaminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, is secreted, and functions as a novel pleiotropic cytokine. In this study, we have attempted to characterize the effects of p43 on the generation of IL-12 in mouse macrophages. p43 was determined to induce significant IL-12 production from mouse macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. The stimulatory effect of p43 on the activation of IL-12p40 promoter was mapped to a region harboring an NF-κB binding site. The nuclear extracts from the p43-stimulated macrophages exhibited profound NF-κB DNA-binding activity, as determined by the EMSA. In addition, the p43-stimulated IL-12 induction and NF-κB DNA-binding activity were significantly suppressed by caffeic acid phenethyl ester and BAY11-7082, both inhibitors of NF-κB activation, indicating that p43 induced the production of IL-12 in macrophages mainly via the activation of NF-κB. Importantly, p43 increased the level of IFN-γ production in the Ag-primed lymph node cells, but had no effect on IL-4 levels. The addition of a neutralizing anti-IL-12p40 mAb to the cell cultures resulted in a decrease of the production of p43-enhanced IFN-γ by the keyhole limpet hemocyanin-primed lymph node cells. Furthermore, coincubation with p43-pretreated macrophages enhanced the production of IFN-γ by the keyhole limpet hemocyanin-primed CD4+ T cells, thereby indicating that p43 may enhance IFN-γ expression in CD4+ T cells via the induction of IL-12 production in macrophages. These results indicate that p43 may play an essential role in the development of the Th1 immune responses associated with cancer immunotherapy and protective immunity against intracellular pathogens.
Structure and Properties of Wine Pigments and Tannins

Grape phenolics are structurally diverse, from simple molecules to oligomers and polymers that are usually designated “tannins,” referring to their ability to interact with proteins. Anthocyanin pigments and tannins are particularly important for red wine quality. Their extraction depends on their location in the berry and their solubility. All phenolic compounds are unstable and undergo numerous enzymatic and chemical reactions. Color and taste changes during red wine aging have been ascribed to anthocyanin-tannin reactions. The structures and properties of tannins and pigmented tannins from these reactions are often misunderstood. Current research on wine phenolic composition is reviewed, with emphasis on the following issues: (1) reactions of tannins yield both larger polymers and smaller species; (2) anthocyanin reactions can generate colorless species as well as polymeric and small various pigments; (3) some polymeric pigments undergo sulfite bleaching while some low molecular weight pigments do not; (4) polymers are both soluble and astringent, so the astringency loss during aging may involve cleavage rather than polymerization; and (5) sensory properties of anthocyanins and tannins are modulated by interactions with other wine components.
Transactivation of Fibronectin Promoter by HTLV-I Tax through NF-κB Pathway

Abstract The facts that fibronectin (FN) mRNA is elevated in cells expressing human T cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) Tax protein and that Tax is known to transactivate the cellular cAMP-response element (CRE) prompted us to examine whether Tax activates the FN promoter of which CRE is thought to play an important role. We showed that Tax transactivated the FN promoter in Jurkat cells. Deletion analyses showed that the response-element resides within the promoter region of −69 bp and that an NF-κB-binding site at −41 bp is involved in the Tax-activation of the FN promoter. Gel-shift assays showed that DNA-protein complexes binding to the NF-κB site, composed of NF-κB p50/p65, were induced on the NF-κB motif at −41 bp by Tax. Overexpression of NF-κB enhanced the Tax-activation of the FN promoter. Our study shows that the FN promoter is transactivated by Tax through the NF-κB pathway.
Isolation and identification of bacteria from the root canal of the teeth diagnosed as the acute pulpitis and acute periapical abscess

The aim of this study was to identify the bacteria isolated from acute endodontic lesions by cell culture and 16S rDNA sequencing. The necrotic pulpal tissue was collected from 17 infected root canals, which were diagnosed as being either an acute pulpitis or acute periapical abscess. Samples were collected aseptically from the infected pulpal tissue of the infected root canals using a barbed broach and a paper point. The cut barbed broaches and paper points were transferred to an eppendorf tube containing 500 ul of 1 XPBS. The sample solution was briefly mixed and plated onto a BHI-agar plate containing sheep blood. The agar plates were incubated in a anaerobic chamber for 7 days. The bacteria growing on the agar plate were identified by 16S rRNA coding gene (rDNA) cloning and sequencing at the species level. Among the 71 colonies grown on the agar plates, 56 strains survived and were identified. In dental caries involving the root canals, Streptococcus spp. were mainly isolated. Actinomyces, Clostridia, Bacteroides and Fusobacteria were isolated in the periapical lesion without dental caries. Interestingly, two new Actinomyces spp. (ChDC B639 and ChDC B631) were isolated in this study. These results showed that there was diversity among the species in endodontic lesions, This suggests that an endodontic infection is a mixed infection with a polymicrobial etiology. These results may offer the bacterial strains for pathogenesis studies related to an endodontic infection.
Application de marqueurs moléculaires pour l’analyse de la diversité génétique chez l’amandier (Prunus dulcis Mill.)

Plus de 100 cultivars d’amandier plantes en Tunisie pourraient constituer une source de variation genetique adaptee au milieu mediterraneen, a condition de realiser une classification appropriee, identifiant les differences et similitudes entre les cultivars ainsi que les synonymies. Des essais reposant sur l’emploi de caracteres moleculaires pourraient complementer les classifications traditionnelles fondees sur la morphologie. La technique RAPD (Random amplified polymorphic DNA) a ete adoptee pour l’analyse de la diversite genetique des varietes tunisiennes d’amandier et de leurs relations avec d’autres varietes etrangeres. A partir de 50 amorces testees, dix ont ete choisies pour leur reproductibilite et leur polymorphisme eleve. Sur les 137 bandes detectees, 85 (soit 62 % de la totalite des bandes) se sont revelees polymorphes. Les correlations entre les cultivars ont ete evaluees a travers des analyses multivariees (analyses en composantes principales, ACP ; analyse factorielle des correspondances, AFC) utilisant les donnees de la RAPD. Les resultats obtenus indiquent une forte proximite genetique entre les cultivars, malgre des origines geographiques parfois tres differentes. La technique RAPD s’est averee etre un outil efficace pour l’evaluation de l’organisation du germoplasme dans un objectif d’amelioration genetique.
The behavioural ecology of personality: consistent individual differences from an adaptive perspective

Individual humans, and members of diverse other species, show consistent differences in aggressiveness, shyness, sociability and activity. Such intraspecific differences in behaviour have been widely assumed to be non-adaptive variation surrounding (possibly) adaptive population-average behaviour. Nevertheless, in keeping with recent calls to apply Darwinian reasoning to ever-finer scales of biological variation, we sketch the fundamentals of an adaptive theory of consistent individual differences in behaviour. Our thesis is based on the notion that such ‘personality differences’ can be selected for if fitness payoffs are dependent on both the frequencies with which competing strategies are played and an individual's behavioural history. To this end, we review existing models that illustrate this and propose a game theoretic approach to analyzing personality differences that is both dynamic and state-dependent. Our motivation is to provide insights into the evolution and maintenance of an apparently common animal trait: personality, which has far reaching ecological and evolutionary implications.
C2 Domains of Protein Kinase C Isoforms α, β, and γ: Activation Parameters and Calcium Stoichiometries of the Membrane-Bound State

The independently folding C2 domain motif serves as a Ca2+-dependent membrane docking trigger in a large number of Ca2+ signaling pathways. A comparison was initiated between three closely related C2 domains from the conventional protein kinase C subfamily (cPKC, isoforms α, β, and γ). The results reveal that these C2 domain isoforms exhibit some similarities but are specialized in important ways, including different Ca2+ stoichiometries. In the absence of membranes, Ca2+ affinities of the isolated C2 domains are similar (2-fold difference) while Hill coefficients reveal cooperative Ca2+ binding for the PKCβ C2 domain but not for the PKCα or PKCγ C2 domain (H = 2.3 ± 0.1 for PKCβ, 0.9 ± 0.1 for PKCα, and 0.9 ± 0.1 for PKCγ). When phosphatidylserine-containing membranes are present, Ca2+ affinities range from the sub-micromolar to the micromolar (7-fold difference) ([Ca2+]1/2 = 0.7 ± 0.1 μM for PKCγ, 1.4 ± 0.1 μM for PKCα, and 5.0 ± 0.2 μM for PKCβ), and cooperative Ca2+ binding is observed for all three C.
Molecular mediators of pulp inflammation and regeneration

Dental tissue infection results in immune and inflammatory responses mediated by molecular and cellular events that, if unchecked, result in tissue breakdown. The tooth, like other tissues and organs within the body, will attempt to repair and regenerate its own hard and soft tissues given the appropriate conditions and environment. However, unchecked infection and inflammation will have a significant impact on the natural regenerative responses of the dental tissues. Thus far, there have been limited studies addressing the inter-relationship between these two processes, which are clearly linked by molecular and cellular events. Indeed, locally derived growth factors, cytokines, and chemokines, which are all sequestrated within the dental tissue extracellular matrix and are also expressed by pulpal cells, immune cells, and/or necrotic host tissue, will have considerable impact on the cellular events within the tissue. In addition to the molecular signaling, there will be important cellular interactions that will occur as stem cells, resident or recruited to the pulp, have known immuno-modulatory activity with significant implications for regenerative events. In this review, we aim to explore how the pulpal tissue responds to the invading bacteria and the signaling mechanisms that are now being described and are important in regulating both the immune/inflammatory and regenerative responses.
High-Content Imaging in Human and Rat Hepatocytes Using the Fluorescent Dyes CLF and CMFDA Is Not Specific Enough to Assess BSEP/Bsep and/or MRP2/Mrp2 Inhibition by Cholestatic Drugs

Abstract Inhibition of hepatic efflux transporters (BSEP, MRP2) is one of the important mechanisms in drug-induced liver injury and in particular cholestasis. The inhibitory effect of compounds on these two hepatic transporters is commonly delineated using inverted membrane vesicles from Sf9 insect cells overexpressing the BSEP or MRP2 protein. However, due to lack of bioactivation and metabolism of the compound, and the lack of the expression and functionality of other sinusoidal efflux and uptake transporters in the cell-free assay system, it is difficult to fully understand the role of a given hepatic transporter in cholestasis. Therefore, our aim was to characterize and develop a competent cell-based bile canalicular imaging assay for measuring the overall inhibitory effects of compounds on biliary transport. Since species differences have been reported for some compounds, we developed the assay using both rat and human hepatocytes. Two fluorescent dyes, cholyl-lysyl-fluorescein (CLF) and carboxymethy.
Discriminación de variedades de olivo a través del uso de caracteres morfológicos y de marcadores moleculares

En el mundo se conocen cerca de 2000 variedades de olivo (Olea europea L). En Argentina las variedades mas cultivadas provienen de Espana e Italia, introducidas en ocasiones por inmigrantes europeos. La mayoria de las variedades introducidas mantuvieron su nombre original, sin embargo existen dudas sobre las denominaciones de algunos genotipos. Con el fin de esclarecer posibles confusiones en las denominaciones de las variedades en Argentina, se procedio a la caracterizacion de las 10 variedades mas cultivadas en Argentina a traves deluso de caracteres del endocarpo y de marcadores moleculares. Mediante el analisis de 5 caracteres del endocarpo se pudo diferenciar 8 variedades de olivo,mientras que con 10 productos de amplificacion RAPD, altamente reproducibles, fue posible discriminar cada una de las variedades ensayadas. Los patrones RAPD de 7 variedades de la Coleccion de Olivo del INTA-Junin fueron comparados con los patrones de las mismas variedades nominales procedentes del Banco de Germoplasma de Olivo de Espana. La variedad Manzanilla de Carmona fue la unica que compartia el 100% de los marcadores con la muestra de Espana. Las restantes variedades compartieron menos del 90% de los marcadores,indicando que los ejemplares locales analizados corresponden a genotipos diferentes a las muestras del Banco de Germoplasma de Espana.
Special issue of International Journal of Human Resource Management: Leadership in global knowledge-intensive firms

Ashridge Business School, Berkhamsted, Herts, UK, and Department of Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Strategy & International Management, Faculty of Management & Governance, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands; Faculty of Business and Law, Newcastle Business School, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia; Ashridge Centre for Research in Executive Development, Ashridge Business School, Berkhamsted, Herts, UK
Review of the genus Eupholidoptera (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae): different genitalia, uniform song

The bush cricket genus Eupholidoptera, distributed across the northern Mediterranean Basin from Southern France to Israel, is reviewed. An illustrated key for males is presented. Two new species are described: Eupholidoptera helina Çiplak sp. n. and Eupholidoptera kykladica Heller & Fer Willemse & Luc Willemse sp. n. Four species are synonymised: Eupholidoptera raggei Salman with Eupholidoptera marashensis Salman, Eupholidoptera karatolosi Mofidi-Neyestanak & Quicke and Eupholidoptera kinzelbachi Harz with Eupholidoptera megastyla (Ramme) and Eupholidoptera mirzayani Mofidi-Neyestanak & Quicke is synonymised with Apholidoptera kurda (Uvarov). Based on the male genitalia two large species groups can be distinguished within Eupholidoptera: the Eupholidoptera chabrieri group with 20 species and the Eupholidoptera prasina group with 26 species. Data relating to the male calling song of 25 species are presented. Contrary to other genera of Pholidopterini male calling songs in Eupholidoptera are relatively invariable and consist of series of isolated syllables. Since morphology is variable and the calling songs are rather invariable, radiation within the genus is the result of divergence in genitalia.
Extirpation and Tribal Reintroduction of Coho Salmon to the Interior Columbia River Basin

ABSTRACTHarvest of anadromous salmonids in the Columbia River basin has been fundamental to the nutrition, economy, and cultural and religious beliefs of the regional Native American tribes. Agricultural development, dam construction, urbanization, and overharvest following colonization by European-origin settlers, however, resulted in dramatic reductions in salmon runs and negative impacts to the well-being of tribal peoples. Federal and state fishery agencies attempted to mitigate for the loss and to rebuild some salmonid populations but deemed Coho Salmon of lesser importance for upriver fisheries and allowed them to go functionally extinct. In the mid-1990s, fishery agencies of the Columbia River Treaty tribes spearheaded efforts to reestablish the extirpated Coho Salmon, beginning in the Yakima, Wenatchee, Methow, and Clearwater rivers. The programs were initiated with juveniles from composite lower Columbia River hatchery stocks, acclimated or direct released near potential spawning habitat, then we.
Bystander Effects During Synchrotron Imaging Procedures

Using monochromatic beam and synchrotron phase‐contrast technique at the biomedical beamline of the Italian synchrotron facility Elettra (SYRMEP), we have shown in a small animal model of malignant brain tumor that it is possible to obtain high‐resolution images of very small tumors when they have developed from implanted tumor cells loaded with colloidal gold nanoparticles (GNP). All previous experiments were conducted in post‐mortem samples. We have now designed a cell culture experiment to investigate the effects of synchrotron radiation with an energy and dose profile similar to that expected in our first in vivo imaging studies according to the protocol developed at SYRMEP.Materials and Methods: Culture flasks containing either gold‐loaded or naive C6 glioma cells were exposed to a dose of 0.5 Gy at 24 keV. The irradiated medium was aspirated and replaced with fresh growth medium. Twenty‐four hours later this non‐irradiated medium exposed to irradiated cells was aspirated, then added to non‐irradiate.
Ultrastructure and development during meiosis and the tetrad period of sporogenesis in the leptosporangiate fern Alsophila setosa (Cyatheaceae) compared with corresponding stages in Psilotum nudum (Psilotaceae)

Abstract The pre-meiotic, meiotic and tetrad stages of development in microsporangia of Alsophila setosa were studied with particular emphasis on the early establishment of patterning in the microspore wall and the subsequent development of the sporoderm. The data obtained were compared with corresponding ontogenetic stages of Psilotum nudum. Tapetal behaviour was also examined. During the tetrad period, only one layer, a thin undulating sheet, appeared alongside the plasma membrane of the tetraspores, and this was evidently formed on a pre-patterned structure – a fibrillar layer, corresponding to a kind of primexine matrix. The early free microspores had a wavy plasma membrane with a parallel, sinusoidal, thin initial sporoderm layer. The proximal apertural fold was observed to be an extended outgrowth of this initial spore envelope. Sporoderm ontogeny during the tetrad period in Alsophila and Psilotum show some common points, but also fundamental differences, mainly in the relative timing of events: in Alsophila the end of the tetrad period is the starting point for exospore development, whereas in Psilotum the exospore is already complete at this stage. Considerable differences were also observed in the tapetum of the two species.
ULTRASTRUCTURE OF UNICELLULAR N2 FIXING CYANOBACTERIA FROM THE TROPICAL NORTH ATLANTIC AND SUBTROPICAL NORTH PACIFIC OCEANS 1

Nitrogen fixing unicellular marine cyanobacteria may have a major role in the global biogeochemistry of N; nevertheless, little is known about their phylogeny and morphology. We isolated N2 fixing unicellular cyanobacteria from the tropical North Atlantic and subtropical North Pacific Oceans and examined ultrastructural dynamics during dark:light cycles when grown in incubators. The isolate from the subtropical North Pacific was larger and showed a size variation from 3 to 7 μm but had similar morphology and cell division‐plane characteristics as the isolate from the North Atlantic (2.5 μm). Nitrogen fixation only occurred during the dark phase, and ultrastructural analysis demonstrated changes in the appearance and quantity of large carbohydrate‐like granules present in the cells. To verify the composition of these carbohydrate‐like granules, staining with periodic acid, thioacetic acid, and silver was carried out, and a positive reaction was obvious in all cells. The cells from the Atlantic seemed to empty their polysaccharide granules during the night, whereas those from the Pacific showed a decrease in the number of their granules. Our work suggests that phylogenetically related strains of unicellular N2 fixing cyanobacteria from different oceans showed similar carbohydrate‐like granules that could be used to fuel N2 fixation during darkness.
Etude de l'écosystème fromager par une approche biochimique et moléculaire

Identifier le role et la contribution de chaque flore au sein de l'ecosysteme fromager a deja fait l'objet de nombreux travaux, mais les modes d'investigation sont restes trop souvent descriptifs par manque d'outils moleculaires. L'objectif principal de cette etude etait d'elucider les voies metaboliques impliquees dans la desacidification et la production de composes soufres chez trois levures (Debaryomyces hansenii, Kluyveromyces marxianus et Yarrowia lipolytica) et une bacterie de surface (Brevibacterium linens) par une approche transcriptomique. La conception et l'utilisation d'une puce a ADN dediee a ces quatre micro-organismes ont permis de mettre en evidence une divergence des voies cataboliques de la L-methionine entre les levures et la bacterie d'affinage. L'ensemble des resultats obtenus a montre que la transamination est l'etape essentielle du catabolisme de la L-methionine chez les levures. Elle s'accompagne d'une accumulation transitoire de l'acide α-ceto-γ- methylthiobutyrique chez Y. lipolytica, et essentiellement de sa forme reduite, l'acide α- hydroxy-γ-methylthiobutyrique, chez K. marxianus et D. hansenii. La degradation de ces composes se traduit par une augmentation de la production de methanethiol et des composes soufres volatils qui en resultent. Une etude plus approfondie realisee sur Y. lipolytica a montre que les genes ARO8 et BAT2 jouent un role preponderant dans l'etape de transamination de la L-methionine chez cette levure. En revanche, chez la bacterie B. linens, l'enzyme clef du catabolisme de la L-methionine est la L-methionine γ-lyase. L'apport de L-methionine dans le milieu de culture induit fortement l'expression du gene mgl et genere une large gamme de composes soufres volatils. L'etude des voies de degradation du lactose et du lactate chez les levures a egalement permis d'obtenir des informations sur la part fonctionnelle de chaque espece au cours de l'affinage. Ainsi, il semblerait qu'en culture mixte, K. marxianus soit plus implique dans la consommation du lactose via l'induction des genes LAC12 et LAC4, D. hansenii dans le metabolisme du pyruvate puis le catabolisme du lactate en fin de culture, et Y. lipolytica dans la degradation de la L-methionine via l'induction des genes ARO8 et BAT2. De facon plus globale, l'ensemble de nos resultats permet de mettre en evidence la possibilite de complementarites metaboliques entre les levures d'affinage.