Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Colonization of decomposing Sphagnum moss litter by mycorrhizal roots in two types of peatland ecosystems

Abstract During a 35-month study on the decomposition of Sphagnum moss litter in poor fen and pine bog forest, an intensive colonization of litter-bags by mycorrhizal roots was observed during the decomposition process. Content of mycorrhizal roots in litter-bags, expressed as % mass of roots, was generally increasing during the decomposition in pine bog forest, and fluctuating during decomposition on poor fen, although in both cases the results were statistically insignificant. Two morphotypes of ericoid roots and two morphotypes of ectomycorrhizal roots were recorded from litter-bags on poor fen during the decomposition experiment, while in pine bog forest one morphotype of ericoid and nine morphotypes of ectomycorrhizal roots were recorded. Molecular identification of mycorrhizal roots succeeded only in the case of one ericoid and six putatively ectomycorrhizal morphotypes. Most morphotypes were recorded only once during the whole 35-month decomposition period, and only one ericoid and one ectomycorrhizal morphotypes were shared between the poor fen and pine bog forest communities Streszczenie Podczas blisko trzyletnich badań nad rozkładem mchu torfowca na torfowisku przejściowym oraz w borze bagiennym w północno-wschodniej Polsce zaobserwowano kolonizację materiału roślinnego w woreczkach ściółkowych przez silnie zmykoryzowane korzenie. Procentowa zawartość tych korzeni, wyrażona jako stosunek ich suchej masy do suchej masy rozkładających się szczątków roślinnych, generalnie zwiększała się wraz z upływem czasu w borze bagiennym, natomiast w przypadku torfowiska przejściowego nie wykazała wyraźnych tendencji; z racji niewielkiej liczby powtórzeń zaobserwowane różnice nie były jednak istotne statystycznie. W materiale roślinnym rozkładającym się na torfowisku przejściowym odnotowano obecność dwóch morfotypów korzeni wrzosowatych oraz dwóch morfotypów korzeni ektomykoryzowych, natomiast w borze bagiennym odnotowano jeden morfotyp korzeni wrzosowatych i 9 morfotypów korzeni ektomykoryzowych. Tylko jeden morfotyp wrzosowatych i jeden ektomykoryzowy były odnotowane w obu typach siedlisk; różnice wynikały z zasadniczych różnic w składzie zbiorowisk roślinnych pomiędzy badanymi powierzchniami. Większość (7 z 10) morfotypów ektomykoryz pojawiła się tylko raz podczas całego okresu trwania eksperymentu. Badania molekularne uzyskanych morfotypów powiodły się jedynie w siedmiu przypadkach: zidentyfikowano jeden gatunek tworzący mykoryzę erikoidalną, trzy gatunki tworzące ektomykoryzy (w tym jeden tworzący dwa morfotypy) oraz dwa gatunki grzybów wielkoowocnikowych znanych jako saprotrofy, prawdopodobnie wtórnie infekujących korzenie. Sekwencje uzyskane z pozostałych badanych morfotypów należały do grzybów mikroskopijnych najprawdopodobniej kolonizujących korzenie jako saprotrofy lub endofity. Pomimo że badania niniejsze stanowią jedynie szkicowe studium, to jednoznacznie wskazują na możliwość udziału grzybów mykoryzowych w procesach rozkładu materii roślinnej w ekosystemach torfowiskowych.
Study of effect of magnetized water on growth of wheat (Triticum vulgare linn.)

Water is the most important element for all the metabolic activities of a plant body occupying major part of the weight in a living plant. All the plants contain water inside them in the form of a sap which is an electrical conductor. Plants need nutrient elements from the soil to function and photosynthesize properly. However, plants do not use the majority of nutrients that are in soil. With normal water, only a small amount of nutrient elements dissolve in the soil and are available to the plants. Deficit of these elements results in low productivity of the crop. The deficit of nutrients in the soil is the main reason for a decreased growth rate, quantity and quality of the crop. It has been recently studied that magnetized water has a positive effect on plants to enhance their growth and development to improve the crop in terms of quantity and quality. That is the reason why magnetized water should be used for irrigation. In the present studies, effect of magnetized water was tested on Wheat ( Triticum vulgare Linn.) by exposing the plants to magnetized water for a period of 14 days. The differences between treated and untreated plants were estimated in terms of morphological changes such as shoot length and biochemical tests viz. estimation of chlorophyll, carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids such as DNA, RNA etc. by using spectrophotometric analysis. The results were analyzed to study the differences.
La protéine eFF-1DELTA et le développement précoce de l'oursin Sphaerechinus granularis

La synthese proteique est composee de trois phases : l'initiation, l'elongation et la terminaison. Le facteur eFF-1 intervient dans la phase d'elongation de la synthese proteique. Il est constitue de deux elements : d'une proteine G : eFF-1A et d'un complexe d'echange de GDP/GTP : eEF-1B. La composition du complexe eFF-1B est differente selon les especes : eEF-1sy ou eEF-1syδ associe a la valyl-ARNt synthetase chez les animaux et eEF-1ss'y chez les vegetaux. Nous avons clone et sequence deux ADNc de 2,0 et 2,7 kb codant pour eEF-1δ chez l'oursin Sphaerechinus granularis. Ils codent pour une proteine de 35 kDa identifiee a eEF-1δ sur trois criteres : la presence d'un domaine leucine zipper dans la partie N-terminale, d'un domaine d'echange de GDP/GTP dans la partie C-terminale et son integration dans un complexe eEF-1 heterologue. Les deux ADNc sont identiques dans leurs sequences 5' non codante et codante, ils different par la longueur de leur region 3'UTR. Leur expression est regulee au cours du developpement. L'expression des ARNm codant pour eEF-1δ est decouplee de celle de son partenaire eEF-1A au cours du developpement precoce. L'analyse phylogenetique des sequences des proteines de type eEF-1s/s' et eEF-1δ a montre que eEF-1δ et s' etaient des genes paralogues et que eEF-1s provenait de la fusion d'un domaine C-terminal d'un gene ancestral s avec un domaine leucine zipper. Nous avons utilise la proteine recombinante eEF-1δ pour etudier la regulation de(s) activite(s) eEF-1δ kinase(s) au cours du developpement precoce. Nous avons montre une activite transitoire eEF-1δ kinase atteignant son maximum d'activite 24 a 30h apres la fecondation. La eEF-1δ kinase a ete identifiee a la CK2, kinase phosphorylant les facteurs d'echange de nucleotides : eEF-1s et eEF-1δ. Les inhibiteurs de la CK2 affectent la transition blastula-gastrula, suggerant un role de la kinase dans le developpement precoce. La regulation de l'expression de eEF-1δ au cours du developpement ainsi que la phosphorylation de la proteine par plusieurs proteines kinases (PKA, PKC, CDK1/cycline B, S6 kinase multipotentielle, CK2, U (L)13) laissent presager un role d'integrateur de signaux pour la regulation de l'activite du complexe eEF-1B dont eEF-1δ est un constituant chez les animaux.
Dimorphism in bud regeneration in flax (Linum usitatissimum)

The study of the expression of morphogenetic potential in stem segments of flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) was undertaken as a function of donor plant age and level (basal, median, or apical) on the stem axis and in the absence of growth regulatory substances. Neoformation of normal buds (resembling seedlings) gave rise to shoots with no visible axillary buds, and a few roots were obtained from explants taken from young, vegetative plants; these organs were more numerous on basal than on apical explants. If the donor plant was in a prefloral or floral state, thus older and at a different physiological stage, a "modified" bud was formed, characterized by its slow growth, short thick stem and leaves, and sometimes with visible axillary buds. This type of bud was more numerous in apical than in basal segments. Callus was also formed and was reduced in size and limited to the cut extremities of explants when the donor plant was young, but was large and covered almost all the explant when the plant was older.
SONG SPARROW (MELOSPIZA MELODIA) SONG VARIES WITH URBAN NOISE

Abstract In urban environments, anthropogenic noise may mask bird song, especially the notes occurring at lower frequencies (1–2 kHz). Birds living in urban environments may modify their songs, particularly the low-frequency portions, to minimize masking by anthropogenic noise. Such modifications have been observed in Great Tits (Parus major) in The Netherlands, as well as in some mammals. We studied Song Sparrows (Melospiza melodia), which are common in both urban and rural environments in much of North America, and recorded the songs of 28 free- living males in Portland, Oregon. We also measured the amplitude and spectrum of ambient noise at singing locations. Song Sparrows singing at noisier locations exhibited higher-frequency low notes and had relatively less energy (amplitude) in the low-frequency range of their songs (1–4 kHz), where most anthropogenic noise also occurred. Although the mechanism(s) producing the correlation are as yet undetermined, the observed match between song and noise may result from behavioral plasticity. We discuss explanations for these patterns and how to test them. Le Chant de Melospiza melodia Varie avec le Bruit Urbain
Behavior of Cape fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) in response to spatial variation in white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) predation risk

Foraging and predation risk are often separated at rookeries of marine central place foragers, thus offering an opportunity to gain insight into how predator-avoidance shapes the behavior of prey. Here we compare the behavior of Cape fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) at two island rookeries with and without white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) predations, and assess seal behavior in relation to marked spatiotemporal variation in risk at the high-risk site (Seal Island, South Africa). Our results show that seal behavior at the two sites is comparatively similar in summer, when predation risk is low at both sites, but not in winter. Compared to seals at the “low-risk” site, seals at Seal Island avoided deep-water habitat around the island at high risk times and restricted their use of this habitat in favor of safe, shallow waters when engaging in social and thermoregulatory behaviors. Seals increased their frequency of jostling, porpoising, and diving when moving through the danger zone and seals in groups were safer than single individuals. Overall, our results suggest that seal behavior around the high-risk site is strongly affected by predation risk, and show this rookery to be an excellent predator-prey system at which to evaluate long-standing ecological hypotheses.
Tablet Formulation and Enhancement of Aqueous Solubility of Efavirenzby Solvent Evaporation Co-Crystal Technique

Improvement in the aqueous solubility,physicochemical and micromeritics property of insoluble and slightly soluble drugs is of major concern in pharmaceutical formulations. It is commonly observed in the drug industry that on average more than 35% of newly discovered drugs are poorly water-soluble. Poor “drug like” properties of lead compounds led to ineffective absorptionfrom the site of administration, less bioavailability which has been designated as an important part of the high clinical failure. In the present work, Efavirenz, nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) in first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) belongs to BCS class II drug (highly permeable and low soluble). A simultaneous DSC, FT-IR, SEM, XRPD micro spectroscopy, dissolution study and micromeritics properties studies was used to quickly investigate the co-crystal. Tablet formulation was developed by direct compression method and there evaluation was performed.
Morphology of the palate and braincase of Dimetrodon milleri

The palate and partial braincase of the holotype of Dimetrodon milleri (MCZ 1365) are preserved in three dimensions, but have yet to be described in detail. Here, we describe these structures for the first time for this species, and compare them with the better-known specimens of D. limbatus. Interesting characteristics of the morphology include the patterns of articulation of the palatal elements, including the palatine and vomer, and anatomy of the pterygoid in the posterior region of the palatal vacuities. Dimetrodon milleri is found to differ from D. limbatus in the lack of teeth on the ectopterygoid, the shape of the basal process of the epipterygoid, and the anterior extent of the palatine and pterygoid. The two species are similar in the relative position of the basicranial articulation, but differ significantly from that in other sphenacodontids, including Secodontosaurus and Sphenacodon. The evolution of these cranial features will be the subject of future phylogenetic analyses of sphenacodontids.
Tamarillo (Cyphomandra betacea): Effect of field-applied fungicides and post-harvest fungicide dips on storage rots of fruit

Abstract A regular field spray programme of captafol reduced the incidence of fungal rots and enhanced storage longevity of tamarillo (Cyphomandra betacea (Cav.) Sendt. ) fruit. Captafol and benomyl field sprays in combination with a prochloraz + imazalil post-harvest dip treatment enhanced fruit appearance after storage by preventing breakdown of the calyx. The prochloraz + imazalil post-harvest dip was the most effective single treatment, giving complete control of tamarillo rots after 6 weeks cool storage followed by 1 week at ambient temperatures. Bitter rot (Glomerella cingulata (Stonem.)) was responsible for most rejection of fruit. Diaporthe phaseolorum (Cke. & Ell.) and Phoma exigua Desm. became increasingly important in causing the rejection of dipped fruit as the storage interval was increased.
Inhibition of Selected Microorganisms in Marinated Chicken by Pimento Leaf Oil and Clove Oleoresin

Abstract Fresh skin-on and bone-in chicken breast were marinated with solutions containing 0.2 and 0.5% clove oleoresin (CLO) and pimento leaf oil (PLO) by soaking or immersion for 1 hr and by injection marination. The antimicrobial activity of these spices at two storage temperatures (4 and 12°C) was investigated against Listeria monocytogenes, pseudomonads, yeasts, and psychrotrophs that were either inoculated on the chicken breast surface or part of the natural bioburden. In general, 0.5% CLO and 0.5% PLO significantly (P 2.0 logs for some treatments at 4°C even after one week of storage. This, however, was not observed for those kept at 12° since the samples started spoiling at approximately 4 days of storage. None of the treatments showed significant activity against L. monocytogenes.
Zellschdigungen und Mechanismen des Zelltodes in Oligodendrozyten nach oxidativem Stress

Oxidativer Stress ist an der Pathogenese von neurodegenerativen Erkrankungen beteiligt. Oligodendrozyten (ODC) sind die myelin-bildenden Zellen des ZNS und reagieren auf oxidativen Stress besonders empfindlich. Vor kurzem konnte gezeigt werden, dass neben der Bcl-2-Familie vor allem die Mitochondrien eine wichtige Rolle in der Koordinierung des programmierten Zelltodes (PCD) spielt. Um die molekularen Mechanismen zu uberprufen, die dem H2O2-vermittelten PCD in ODC zugrundeliegen, wurden die mitochondriale Funktion und Signaltransduktionswege untersucht. Die Experimente zeigten eine fruhe Freisetzung von Cytochrom C aus den Mitochondrien in das Cytosol und in einen Zusammenbruch des mitochondrialen Membranepotentials (Psi m) nach Behandlung mit H2O2. Die Behandlung ergab ferner eine Aktivierung der Caspase-9 und Caspase-3. Oxidativer Stress fuhrt weiter zu einer Aktivierung von ERK-1,2, einer Kinase die an der Regulierung des Zelltodes und Uberlebens beteiligt ist. Die Daten zeigen, dass der mitochondriale Weg am durch oxidativen Stress ausgelosten PCD in ODC beteiligt ist.
Natural Cross‐Pollination in Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

Three sesame genotypes with contrasting characters were grown in alternate rows to estimate the degree of natural cross-pollination (NCP) at two locations. Capsules from the lower (first-formed five capsules), upper (last five fully-developed capsules) and middle portions were harvested separately and the frequency of appearance of progenies with dominant markers was used as the criterion for NCP. The degree of inter-genotypic NCP was similar in the three genotypes and at the two locations (4.02—5.10 % NCP) when the total number of hybrid seeds per plant was considered. The lower portion of the early (1.03—1.31 % NCP) and medium (1.51—2.08%) flowering genotypes and the upper portion of the late-flowering genotype (2.27—2.49 % NCP) recorded less NCP than the total plant. The NCP in the lower portion of the early-flowering genotype due to pollen from the late-flowering genotype was negligible (0—0.7 %). The results indicate the need for controlled self-pollination for purity maintenance in sesame. However, contamination due to NCP can be reduced by sampling seeds from the lower capsules of early and medium-flowering genotypes and from the upper capsules of late-maturing genotypes when pollination control is not practised.
Growth and chemical composition of chicory and performance of lambs grazing chicory relative to grass–clover mixtures

Abstract We report results from trials on chicory growth (experiment 1) and lamb growth on chicory (experiment 2). In experiment 1, we assessed yield and chemical composition on swards established under organic conditions as perennial ryegrass/red clover, perennial ryegrass/chicory, chicory/red clover (CHRC), pure perennial ryegrass (RG-alone) and pure chicory (CH-alone) over two years. Chicory/red clover and CH-alone showed improved crude protein, Ca, Mg, P, Cu and net energy contents compared to other mixtures. However, dry matter yield was the lowest for CHRC and CH-alone compared to others. In experiment 2, 48 weaned lambs grazed swards sown as chicory alone (CHA), chicory–grass–clover mix (CGC) or grass–clover mix (GCM) for 45 days. Lamb body weight (BW) gain and final BW were higher on CHA and CGC than on GCM. The results suggest that chicory can complement conventional grass/clover swards especially in macro- and micro-nutrients for improved lamb growth with a proper grazing management in place.
Vertical Transmission in a Two-Strain Model of Dengue Fever

Abstract The role of vertical transmission in vectors has rarely been addressed in the study of dengue dynamics and control, in part because it was not considered a critical population-level factor. In this paper, we apply the pioneering modeling ideas of Ross and MacDonald, motivated by the context of the 2000–2001 dengue outbreak in Peru, to assess the dynamics of multi-strain competition. An invading strain of dengue virus (DENV-2) from Asia rapidly circulated into Peru eventually displacing DENV-2 American. A host-dengue model that considers the competing dynamics of these two DENV-2 genotypes, the resident or the American type and the invasive more virulent Asian strain, is introduced and analyzed. The model incorporates vertical transmission by DENV-2 Asian a potentially advantageous trait. Conditions for competitive exclusion of dengue strains are established. The model is used to show that lower transmission rates of DENV-2 Asian are sufficient for displacing DENV-2 American in the presence of vertical transmission.
Pathogenesis of Atherosclerosis: From Cell Biology to Therapeutics

Abstract Download Free Sample The circulatory system provides the tissues of the body with oxygen and nutrients for survival, allows for the dissemination of inflammatory cells, and clears metabolic waste from building up and damaging tissue. Atherosclerotic disease, the build-up of fat, inflammatory cells, and fibrotic tissue in the vessel wall, hinders this function, resulting in inadequate perfusion of the target tissue. Hypoxia, or lack of oxygen, rapidly results in cellular dysfunction that profoundly affects the functionality of the overall tissue. Atherosclerosis-associated tissue ischemia and hypoxia because of loss of blood flow underlies several significant disease pathologies including ischemic heart disease, stroke, and peripheral artery disease. In this eBook, we examine the process of atherosclerotic plaque formation both at the cellular level and the level of clinical presentation. Through this book, we hope to impart to the reader a better understanding of how vessel structure, environment.
Modelling the Collective Building of Complex Architectures in Social Insects with Lattice Swarms

Abstract In this paper we present a formal model of distributed building inspired by wasp colonies. We characterize a set of distributed stigmergic algorithms that allow a swarm of simple agents to build coherent nest-like structures. The agents that constitute the swarm of builders move randomly on a 3D lattice and can deposit elementary bricks. The agents do not communicate, have no global representation of the architecture they are building, do not possess any plan or blueprint and can only perceive the local configuration of matter surrounding them. Only a few of these configurations are stimulating, that is, trigger a building action. The aim of this paper is not to prove that this model is an accurate model of how wasps behave, but rather to show (i) that such behavioural algorithms can produce coherent biological-like architectures, (ii) that these architectures, if they are to be generated with these behavioural algorithms, require algorithms with specific “coordination” properties, and (iii) finally that algorithms possessing these specific properties produce in turn only very specific, coherent architectures. In effect, we found an empirical one to one correspondence between biological-like architectures and “coordinated algorithms”. Coordinated algorithms rely on a partition of the shape to be built into modular subshapes; if a swarm of agents is to build a given coherent architecture, the shape has to be decomposed into a finite number of? building steps, with the necessary condition that the local stimulating configurations that are created at a given stage differ from those created at a previous or a forthcoming building stage so as to avoid disorganization of the whole building activity. Moreover, shapes generated with non-coordinated algorithms, for instance when stimulating configurations corresponding to the subshapes overlap and may subsequently affect the overall building process, are unstable, the same given rule table will produce very dissimilar architecture in different stimulations. Finally, architectures generated under such conditions were found not to resemble any known biological architecture. We believe that our study constitutes a first step towards a deeper understanding of the origins of natural shapes in terms of the logical constraints that may have affected the evolutionary path.
Novel therapeutic strategies for impaired endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation

Impaired vascular relaxation is a common aetiology in many cardiovascular diseases and, in most cases, disequilibria in the amounts of endothelium-derived relaxing and constricting factors is the root of problem. Endothelium-derived vasoactive factors modulate vascular tone, smooth muscle cell proliferation, blood coagulation and fibrinolysis, lipoprotein metabolism and the interaction of platelet and leukocyte with the vascular wall. Although the synthesis and release of endothelium-derived vasoactive substances are vulnerable to pathogenic insults, endothelial dysfunction can be corrected pharmacologically using inhibitors of the renin–angiotensin system, endothelin antagonists, inductors of angiogenesis and other compounds. Many recent patents have provided novel formulations of drugs targeting dysfunctional endothelium. Optimised pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties of these drugs would greatly improve their clinical applications.