Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative studies of epididymal morphology and sperm distribution in dasyurid marsupials during the breeding season

The structural features of the epididymis and the number and distribution of spermatozoa along the duct, during the breeding season, were examined in two semelparous and three iteroparous dasyurid marsupials. Total numbers of epididymal spermatozoa were extremely low in all of these species when compared with epididymal sperm numbers in most other marsupials and eutherian mammals. Although semelparous dasyurids had significantly more epididymal spermatozoa than itcroparous species, very few spermatozoa were seen in the distal cauda epididymidis of any of the species examined. This coincided with distinct changes in duct shape and the surface area of the lumen in caudal regions which resulted in a reduced sperm storage capacity in the cauda epididymidis of these species. The data suggest that, like Antechinus stuartii (Taggart & Temple-Smith, 1990a), sperm content of the ejaculates in these species will be extremely low, and that sperm motility and/or transport in the female tract is highly efficient. The functional and evolutionary significance of the reproductive strategies of semelparous and iteroparous dasyurid marsupials is still obscure and further study is needed to determine if the length of sperm storage in the female and sperm competition for storage sites is related to sperm distribution in the male and mating activities. This study does, however, clearly indicate that large numbers of spermatozoa are not required to ensure successful fertilization in either semelparous or iteroparous members of the family Dasyuridae.
Photoprotection mechanisms against ultraviolet radiation in Heterocapsa sp. (Dinophyceae) are influenced by nitrogen availability: Mycosporine‐like amino acids vs. xanthophyll cycle

The photoprotective and acclimation capacity against ultraviolet radiation (UVR) was assessed for the dinoflagellate Heterocapsa sp. We examined the effect of UVR and N availability on photosynthetic activity and on the accumulation of photoprotective substances such as mycosporine‐like amino acids (MAAs) and xanthophyll cycle pigments. Cells were cultivated under two different light treatments, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and PAR + UVR, and at two NaNO3 concentrations, mid nitrogen (MN, 0.1 mmol L−1) and high nitrogen (HN, 1 mmol L−1) for 6 d. MAA and photosynthetic pigment contents as well as maximum quantum yield of fluorescence (Fv : Fm) and electron transport rate were analyzed at the initial time and after 3 and 6 d of experimentation. Fv : Fm decreased because of UVR and N limitation. N enrichment reduced the deleterious effect of UVR on photosynthesis. The content of photosynthetic pigments and MAAs was higher at HN than at MN supply and a positive effect of UVR on MAA and pigment accumulation was observed, suggesting that under HN conditions the deleterious UVR effect is counteracted by MAAs. Under N limitation thermal energy dissipation takes place by the xanthophyll cycle, i.e., an increase of the de‐epoxidation degree was observed under these culture conditions. However, UVR seems to favor diadinoxanthin accumulation; thus, no photoprotection through the xanthophyll cycle seems available in cells exposed to PAR + UVR and MN. We conclude that not only MAA accumulation but also N availability is very important to determine the photoprotective capacity against UVR of Heterocapsa sp.
Support for decision making in conservation practice: an evidence-based approach

Abstract Conservation managers are challenged with the task of compiling management plans in which they have to decide on appropriate actions to meet specific objectives. We argue that support for such decision-making is poor and that decision-makers have little opportunity to capture and evaluate the evidence for effectiveness of alternative management options. The result is that decisions are often made without access to the best quality evidence thus increasing the probability that inappropriate management options will be adopted. The aim of this paper is to propose a mechanism for increasing support by improving information flow to decision-makers within an evidence-based framework. The model of evidence-based practice in medicine and public health is used to explore possibilities for parallel practice in conservation. The processes of management plan and action plan formulation are used as examples of how this model provides opportunities to enhance information flow between scientists and practitioners and to encourage formation of productive partnerships and decision support systems, thereby improving effectiveness. Accessibility of evidence is a key issue addressed through the production of systematic reviews and their results being actively disseminated, in a usable format, to the point of need. The role of funding bodies and particularly governments in catalysing this process is seen as key to achieving more evidence-based conservation practice.
Phonetic inventories of young Arabic-speaking children

Phonetic inventory studies may be undertaken to consider the influence of the ambient language on the sounds produced by young children, to describe the characteristics of the inventories themselves, or to provide support for language universals. This study addresses each of these issues in relation to Arabic, a language that has not been described extensively in recent literature. Spontaneous speech samples were collected from 13 Arabic-speaking children between the ages of 14-24 months. The samples were analysed to determine the consonant inventories of these children in four word positions (SIWI, SIWW, SFWW and SFWF), as well as the frequencies of occurrence and rank order of consonants, consonants that were 'preferred' by some children, and the frequency of occurrence of vowels in the samples. Several characteristics of these inventories closely match those reported for other languages; however, the frequent occurrence of sounds carrying a high functional load in the language strongly suggests that the ambient language is influencing the sounds used even as early as 14 months.
Primeros estadios del ciclo de vida de peces nativos del Río San Pedro (Cuenca del Rio Valdivia, Chile)

Los estadios de huevos, larvas y juveniles de los peces de agua dulce nativos de Chile son practicamente desconocidos. Conocer su estacionalidad, morfologia y uso de habitat es relevante para comprender su biologia y permitir la conservacion de esta ictiofauna altamente amenazada. Asimismo, los primeros estadios del ciclo de vida de los peces determinan la persistencia de las poblaciones en el tiempo. Dado esto, el objetivo del presente trabajo fue dar a conocer y describir los resultados de intensivos muestreos (465 dias) destinados a encontrar los primeros estadios de las 14 especies nativas que habitan el rio San Pedro (cuenca del Valdivia). Los muestreos se efectuaron desde octubre de 2005 a marzo de 2008. Se encontraron huevos, larvas y juveniles de Galaxias maculatus, Basilichthys australis y Percilia gillissi; larvas y juveniles de Geotria australis y Trichomycterus areolatus, y juveniles de Diplomystes camposensis, Percichthys trucha y Cheirodon australe. En cada caso se describe la epoca y habitat de ocurrencia, asi como sus caracteristicas morfologicas generales, lo cual para P. gillissi constituye la primera descripcion de sus estadios de desarrollo embrional y larvario. En general, se aprecia una segregacion espaciotemporal de las epocas de desove y crianza de larvas marcada por el uso de las planicies de inundacion como sitios de crianza. La extension temporal de este estudio a escala de ambientes riberenos sugeriria que los esfuerzos de busqueda de aquellos primeros estadios no detectados podrian enfocarse en ambientes mas profundos o correntosos.
Intracemetery Genetic Analysis at the Nakazuma Jomon Site in Japan by Mitochondrial DNA Sequencing

DNA was extracted from human teeth samples excavated from the Nakazuma Jomon shell midden (BC 2500) which is located north of the Kanto Plain. Part of the mitochondrial control region (233 bp) was amplified by a polymerase chain reaction. Mitochondrial DNA sequences determined from 29 individuals were classified into 9 different haplotypes defined by 17 segregating sites. The most frequent haplotype was observed in 17 individuals (58.6%). Most individuals shared the same sequence, suggesting the possibility of close maternal relationships at this site. On the other hand, the sequence diversity at the Jomon site was almost the same as the mitochondrial sequence diversity observed in modern Japanese. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the Jomon haplotypes were scattered among modern Japanese haplotypes and did not fall into specific clusters. Both the extensive sequence divergence and the results of phylogenetic analysis showed that the Jomon people at the Nakazuma site were not a genetically homogenous population. Moreover, the magnitude of the mitochondrial. diversity observed within the Nakazuma Jomon people may indicate that severe genetic bottleneck did not occur during the formation of the Jomon population.
Likelihood‐Based Analysis of Genotype–Environment Interactions

Variation of genotype-environment interactions can be divided to determine whether or not the interactions involve change in genotype or cultivar ranks across environments. However, no sound statistical tests are available for such determination. In this study, the restricted maximum likelihood (REML) analysis based on the mixed models theory was used to estimate genetic parameters and to test statistically for causes of genotype-environment interactions in two wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crosses, Potam × Ingal and RL4137 x Ingal. The data with each cross consisted of the measurements of five quantitative traits for 144 F 3 -derived F 5 and F 6 lines from 48 F 2 families evaluated at Saskatoon in 1986 and 1987, respectively. The causes of family × year or line × year interactions were tested by comparing log likelihoods of reduced and full models (i.e., the family or line covariance structures with and without constraints). The REML estimation guaranteed that an estimated family or line covariance matrix was positive definite. Significant line × year interactions were detected in three traits in RL4137 × Ingal only and none involved rank changes. Significant family × year interactions were found in seven of 10 cross-trait cases, but four of those seven cases involved change in family ranks across the 2 yr. The REML analysis allows the development of sound statistical tests for the different causes of interactions and constraining estimated genetic variances and covariances within acceptable ranges, thereby effectively removing the deficiencies with the conventional multivariate analysis of variance method.
Effets d'une réduction de la teneur en fibres alimentaires sur le transit digestif du lapin. Comparaison et validation de modèles d'ajustement des cinétiques d'excrétion fécale des marqueurs

The rate of passage (RP) in several digestive compartments was studied in 4 adult female rabbits cannulated at ileum, and receiving ad libitum 3 diets with decreasing fibre content (40, 30 and 22% NDF). The RP values in the whole digestive tract and between ileum and rectum were simultaneously measured by following the fecal kinetics of 2 markers (169Yb and 141Ce adsorbed on the NDF fraction of the diets) given as single doses. The mean retention time (MRT) in the whole tract provided by modelling methods (models: Grovum and Williams or Ellis) were similar to those obtained by reference method (numeric integration). MRT values in the caecum and the stomach were provided by models and were in good agreement with those deduced from reference measurements. Compared with the Ellis model, the Grovum and Williams model estimated more precisely the RP in tubular compartments (ie small intestine and distal colon); but the increasing part of the kinetics was better fitted using the Ellis model, particularly for low-fibre diets. The decrease in fibre intake (-50%) led to a 12 h increase (+72%) of the whole tract MRT, originating mainly from a 2-fold increase of ileo-rectal MRT. The MRT in the stomach decreased from 3 to 1 h, whereas the RP in the small intestine increased. Therefore, the oro-ileal MRT (mean 5 h) was not affected. A low dietary fibre induces a longer cecal MRT of large particles, without significant change for fine particles.
Immunolocalization of Nidogen in Rat Uterus, Oviduct and Ovary

This study was designed to determine the distribution patterns of nidogen-1 (N-1) and -2 (N-2) in the rat uterus, oviduct and ovary. For this purpose, 6 female Wistar-albino rats found in proestrous period were used. The tissue samples fixed in 10% neutral formalin were examined immunohistochemically. Sections were incubated with primary goat-polyclonal N-1 and -2 antibody. Both the N-1 and -2 immunoreacted strongly with the uterine luminal and gland epithelium, many cells in the uterine stroma, the oviduct epithelium, the follicular cells of the unilaminar primary follicles, interstitial cells, and atretic follicles. They were moderately expressed in the follicular epithelium of primary and secondary follicles. The immunostaining intensity of N-1 was higher than that of N-2 in theca interna cells of graafian follicles. N-1 and -2 immunostaining were weakly detected in some of the primordial follicles, and in the granulosa lutein cells of corpus luteum. Neither theca externa nor zona pellucida immunoreacted with N-1 and -2. In conclusion, the present study showed that the nidogen are synthesized by the uterine luminal and the endometrial gland epithelium, the oviduct epithelium and ovarian follicles in the rats.
Linear declines in exotic and native plant species richness along an increasing altitudinal gradient in the Snowy Mountains, Australia

Declines in plant species richness with increasing altitude are common, but the form of the relationship can vary, with both monotonic decreasing relationships and humped relationship recorded. However, these different richness to altitude relationships may be due to methods that used different plot sizes /areas and survey efforts. To explore native and exotic plant richness along an altitudinal gradient in the Snowy Mountains of Australia, we consistently surveyed plots that were 120-m2 in area at 39 sites ranging from 540 m to 2020 m. To relate exotic plant richness to disturbance, we surveyed plots at 16 sites along main roads and 23 sites along minor roads, and also compared these 39 roadside plots to 120-m2 plots located in undisturbed vegetation adjacent to the roadside (native plant richness was only surveyed in 25 of these 39 adjacent plots). We found a negative linear relationship between total, exotic and native species richness and altitude for plots on the side of main roads (16 sites) and minor roads (23 sites). For adjacent plots negative linear relationships were significant for all measures of species richness except for native species adjacent to major roads. As the pattern occurred for exotics it is less likely to be due to historical constraints on the species pools. The pattern could be influenced by difference in levels of disturbance along the gradient, although any such gradient in disturbance would have to apply to roadside and adjacent plots on major and minor roads. Therefore it may be due to other factors such as changes in climate along the altitudinal gradient, although additional sampling including direct measures of climatic conditions, soil, and disturbance factors would be needed to determine if this was the case.
Defective radiation signal transduction in ataxia-telangiectasia cells

Purpose : The product of the gene ATM mutated in the human genetic disorder ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) is predominantly present in the nucleus compatible with a role in DNA-damage recognition and cell-cycle control. However, ATM is also present outside the nucleus in cytoplasmic and membrane associated vesicles, which may explain the more general signalling defect in A-T. This led us to investigate signalling events initiated by ionizing radiation, remote from the nucleus. Materials and Methods : A-T and control lymphoblastoid cells were employed to study radiation-induced signalling at the level of protein activation using immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting. Flow cytometry was used to determine mobilization of intracellular Ca 2. Results : Lymphoblastoid cells from A-T patients were found to be defective in the radiation-induced activation of protein tyrosine kinase p53/p56lyn. In control cells Ca 2 was mobilized in response to gamma-radiation largely from internal stores, and increased significantly over a 20 min period. This mobilization of Ca2 was either absent or increased very slowly in A-T cells post-irradiation. The same pattern of release was observed after treatment with the radiometric agent, streptonigrin. In addition the phospatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) inhibitor wortmannin suppressed the release of Ca 2. Conclusion : These data demonstrate that ionizing radiation activates lyn kinase and leads to the release of Ca 2, and-for the first time-that these steps are ATM-dependent.
Determination of the initial DNA damage and residual DNA damage remaining after 12 hours of repair in eleven cell lines at low doses of irradiation

Purpose : To determine the relationship between DNA damage and radiosensitivity at low doses (1-10Gy) for the initial DNA damage and residual DNA damage remaining after 12-h repair. Materials and methods : Eleven cell lines, normal human lung epithelial L132, HT29 human colon carcinoma, ATs4 human ataxia telangiectasia, normal CHO-K1 hamster, repair-deficient xrs1 and xrs5 mutants, repair-deficient SCID rodent cell line, the human normal fibroblast 1BR.3, human ataxia telangiectasia fibroblast AT1BR and the repair-deficient fibroblasts 180BR.B and 46BR.1 were irradiated with 60 Co γ-rays. Radiosensitivity was measured by clonogenic survival assay. DNA damage was measured by fluorometric analysis of DNA unwinding (FADU). Results : The radiosensitivity in the 11 cell lines ranged from SF2 of 0.02-0.61. By FADU assay, the undamaged DNA at 5-Gy ranged from 56 to 93%. The initial DNA damage and radiosensitivity were highly correlated (r 2 =0.81). After 5-Gy irradiation and 12-h repair, two groups of cell lines emerged. Group 1 restored undamaged DNA to a level ranging from 94 to 98%. Group 2 restored the undamaged DNA to a level ranging from 77 to 82%. No correlation was seen between residual DNA damage remaining after 12-h repair and radiosensitivity. Conclusion : It is shown that the initial DNA damage correlates with radiosensitivity at low doses of irradiation. This suggests that the initial DNA damage must be considered as a determinant for radiosensitivity.
Seasonal abundance and vertical distribution of crab larvae in Delaware Bay

Larvae of 15 species or genera of crabs were collected and identified during a six month (May 26 to October 28, 1978) study in the mouth of Delaware Bay. Seasonal abundance and vertical distribution of each species were investigated. Most species studied had peak abundance in July and August except forCancer irroratus andOvalipes ocellatus which showed peak occurrence in May and June, respectively. Larvae of species strongly dependent on estuarine habitats, such asUca spp. ,Pinnixa chaetopterana, andP. sayana, showed a tendency to congregate in near-bottom waters where net flow of water is landward, thus favoring retention within the estuary. Larvae ofOvalipes ocellatus, Cancer irroratus, andCallinectes sapidus were more common at the surface. This vertical distribution suggests that these larvae are flushed out of the estuary. The mechanisms of recruitment and replenishment of adult populations within the estuary would therefore depend on migration of megalopa and juveniles. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A01BY019 00006
U2 snRNA variants are differentially incorporated into spliceosomes

In this study, five U2 small nuclear (sn)RNA variants were detected in the posterior silk gland of the Bombyx mori Nistari strain, one of which represents a novel U2 isoform not previously identified in other strains of this species. Following glycerol gradient ultracentrifugation of B. mori silk gland whole cell lysate, the newly isolated variant, U2α, was detected at a greater frequency in total cell lysate than in a high density glycerol gradient fraction rich in spliceosomal complexes. Conversely, previously identified isoforms U2A, U2B, U2D and U2N are abundant in the fraction containing high molecular weight spliceosomal complexes, possibly indicating their greater involvement in splicing. As expected, western blot and semi‐quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction experiments indicate high levels of specific serine and arginine rich (SR) proteins and total U2 snRNA (all variants included) in the fraction enriched in spliceosomes. Free energy values for each U2 isoform, as well as their individual stem‐loops, were estimated to determine their structural stability. Due to the essential role of U2 in the transesterification reactions, it is possible that these isoforms may modulate splicing through differential incorporation into the spliceosome.
Bioinformatic Analysis of Genes Relative to the Carcinogenic Toxicity of Aflatoxin B1

李力,曹以诚,区镜深,毛小帆 (华南理工大学生物科学与工程学院,广东广州 510006) 摘要:黄曲霉毒素是广泛存在于食品中的对人类危害最大的、最常见的霉菌毒素,其中黄曲霉毒素 B1是致癌毒性最强的一种。 为了筛选与黄曲霉毒素 B1 致癌作用密切相关的基因,利用生物信息学技术对从 GEO 数据库中下载的三组相关的人基因组芯片实验 数据集作系统的聚类分析,并对候选基因进行初步的数据库检索。 首先选取数据集中表达比值相差 2倍以上的基因做聚类分析,然后 对聚集结果中表达趋势最为接近的差异基因作生物信息学数据库的检索,最后发现 KRT15、PCNA、MMP1 等多条基因与黄曲霉毒 素 B1 关系紧密。 通过对三组基因组芯片数据的生物信息学分析,找出了多条可能是黄曲霉毒素 B1致癌毒性相关的关键基因,为进 一步研究黄曲霉毒素诱导癌症发生、发展的具体机理提供了新的思路。 关键词:黄曲霉毒素;致癌物;基因表达谱;聚类分析 文章篇号:1673-9078(2013)8-1994-1998
Theme 11 Respiratory and Nutritional Management

Background: The lung volume recruitment (LVR) bag is a device used by physiotherapists to support patients with decreased inspiratory effort and associated symptoms. It enables patients to ‘‘breath stack’’. This is where inspiratory lung volume is increased by stacking several inspiratory breaths together without any exhalation between (the device has a one way valve). The larger inspiratory volume can, in turn, help patients cough, clear secretions, maintain lung and chest wall compliance, and reduce the risk of respiratory infections. The technique can be used in neuromuscular disorders such as MND, and has been introduced locally.
Chromosomal instability induced by heavy ion irradiation

Purpose : To establish the dose-response relationship for the induction of chromosomal instability in GM10115 cells exposed to high-energy iron ions (1 GeV/nucleon, mean LET 146keV/mum) and gold ions (11 GeV/nucleon, mean LET 1450 keV/mum). Past work has established that sparsely ionizing X-rays can induce a long-lived destabilization of chromosomes in a dose-dependent manner at an incidence of ~3% per gray. The present investigation assesses the capacity of High-Z and High-energy (HZE) particles to elicit this same endpoint. Materials and methods : Clonal populations derived from single progenitor cells surviving heavy-ion irradiation were analyzed cytogenetically to identify those clones showing a persistent destablization of chromosomes. Results : Dose-response data, with a particular emphasis at low dose (<1.0 Gy), indicate a frequency of ~4% per gray for the induction of chromosomal instability in clones derived from single progenitor cells surviving exposure to iron ions. The induction of chromosomal instability by gold ions was, however, less responsive to applied dose, as the observed incidence of this phenotype varied from 0 to 10% over 1-8 Gy. Both iron and gold ions gave dose-dependent increases in the yield of chromosomal aberrations (both chromosome- and chromatid-type) measured at the first mitosis following irradiation, as well as shoulderless survival curves having D 0 = 0.87 and 1.1Gy respectively. Conclusions : Based on the present dose-response data, the relative biological e ffectiveness of iron ions is 1.3 for the induction of chromosomal instability, and this indicates that heavy ions are only slightly more efficient than X-rays at eliciting this delayed phenotype.