Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of rotary cell culture system-simulated microgravity environment on the expression of lncRNA in mouse fibroblasts

Objective To investigate the effects of simulated microgravity by rotary cell culture system (RCCS) on expression profiles of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in mouse fibroblasts L929 cell line. Methods L929 cells were cultured in vitro and randomly divided into simulated microgravity (SMG) group and normal gravity (NG) group. Each group had three samples, the rotator axis of SMG group was paralleled to the ground rotation, while the rotator axis of NG group was vertical to the ground rotation, and the speed of rotation was consistent for the two groups. The samples of two groups were collected on 7th day of culture and the total RNAs were extracted, labeled and hybridized in sequence. The lncRNA and mRNA were detected by Agilent Mouse lncRNA Chips respectively. Differentially expressed lncRNA were identified and then validated by RT-qPCR. GO and Pathway analysis were applied to determine the functional distribution of these target genes. The integration predictions of the lncRNA and mRNA co-expression had been proposed to refine the functional lncRNA-mRNA relationships. Results There were 238 differentially ex-pressed lncRNAs including 134 lncRNAs up-regulated and 104 lncRNAs down-regulated, and 237 differentially expressed mRNAs including 53 mRNAs up-regulated and 184 mRNAs down-regulated significantly in mouse fibroblasts L929 cell line under simulated microgravity by RCCS. The RT-qPCR showed a high concordance with chip microarray results in 4 differentially expressed lncRNA. GO analysis showed that the differentially expressed lncRNAs were related to the biological processes such as negative regulation of megakaryocyte differentiation and negative regulation of wound healing. Pathway analysis showed that these target genes were related to the signal pathways of systemic lupus erythematosus and TGF-β. The lncRNA-mRNA co-expression networks were also established. Conclusion The simulated microgravity by RCCS could significantly affect the expression profiles of lncRNA and mRNA in mouse fibroblasts L929. The lncRNA target genes prediction and functional enrichment analysis based on gene chip technology may provide the theoretical basis for illustrating the mechanism and management of weightlessness stress injury. DOI: 10.11855/j.issn. 0577-7402.2017. 10.07
Produção de rúcula sob estresse salino em sistema hidropônico

A salinidade e um dos estresses abioticos que mais limita a produtividade das culturas em todo o mundo. Os estresses abioticos provocam aumento na producao de especies reativas de oxigenio (ROS) que, quando acumuladas, produzem danos ao metabolismo. Para combater as ROS as plantas desenvolveram um complexo sistema de defesa que inclui mecanismos enzimaticos e nao enzimaticos de desintoxicacao, interrompendo as cascatas de oxidacao descontrolada. No presente trabalho, duas cultivares de rucula (Cultivada e Folha Larga), cultivadas em sistema hidroponico (fluxo laminar de nutrientes) foram submetidas a seis tratamentos, o controle foi constituido pela solucao nutritiva sem a adicao de sal, e os demais mediante a adicao de NaCl a solucao nutritiva resultando nas seguintes condutividades eletrica: 1,8; 3,8; 5,8; 7,8; 9,7 e 11,8 dS m -1 . O delineamento experimental utilizado foi inteiramente casualizado (6x2) com seis niveis de sal e duas cultivares de rucula, com quatro repeticoes por tratamento. O incremento da salinidade reduziu o peso fresco e seco das folhas e raiz, e o teor de proteina, porem o conteudo de prolina foi aumentado. As enzimas catalase (CAT), peroxidase do ascorbato (APX) e polifenoloxidase (PPO) tiveram suas atividades aumentadas com o incremento da salinidade. Esses resultados foram observados nas duas cultivares indicando uma resposta de protecao ao estresse oxidativo mediante a ativacao de enzimas do sistema antioxidativo e acumulo do osmoprotetor prolina mostrando a viabilidade da producao desta hortalica sob cultivo com agua salina.
Floods affect the abundance of invasive Impatiens glandulifera and its spread from river corridors

Riparian habitats are amongst the most invaded ecosystems world‐wide. The great abundance of invasive species in river corridors is attributed to the efficient transport of alien species’ propagules and reduced competition from native plants due to regular flooding. Once an invasive species has become established, river corridors can serve as stepping stones for spread into other habitats. We have chosen the Himalayan balsam Impatiens glandulifera Royle, highly invasive annual in riparian areas, as a model for spread of invasive species from linear river corridors.
Rôle de l’architecture racinaire dans le contrôle génétique de la diminution des symptômes de pourriture racinaire dus à Aphanomyces euteiches chez le pois (Pisum sativum)

Dans un contexte d’agriculture durable, la creation de varietes combinant des facteurs genetiques de resistance et d’architecture de la plante presente un interet majeur pour limiter le developpement des maladies. La these a vise a analyser l’interdependance des determinants genetiques de l’architecture racinaire et de la resistance a A. euteiches, agent pathogene tellurique majeur du pois. Une analyse de genetique d’association conduite sur tout le genome, a partir d’une collection de 266 lignees de pois, a permis d’identifier 150 locus de resistance et d’architecture et de les comparer aux QTL precedemment etudies. Une region commune a effet majeur a ete associee a la resistance et a un caractere de developpement racinaire intrinseque. Plusieurs regions ont ete detectees a la fois pour la resistance et des caracteres de vigueur racinaire en reponse a l’infection.La combinaison de la resistance et de caracteres d’architecture dans une selection de lignees a ete associee a une reduction des pertes de rendement au champ. Les resultats ont permis d’apporter des connaissances originales sur la genetique comparative de la resistance aux maladies et de l’architecture des plantes au niveau racinaire. Ils fournissent des outils, geniteurs et elements de choix de QTL de resistance et d’architecture racinaire a combiner pour la selection de futures varietes de pois resistantes a A. euteiches.
Status of the invasive wasp species, Vespula germanica and Polistes dominula in South Africa, and the feasibility of various management strategies

Vespula germanica and Polistes dominula are known to represent a significant threat to the biodiversity of ecosystems that they invade. In South Africa, their range of distribution seems to be geographically restricted to certain regions, which make these invasive wasps good candidates for control, or eradication. The susceptibility of wasp larvae to presumably indigenous species of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN), Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, H. noenieputensis, Steinernema yirgalemense, and a presumably indigenous entomopathogenic fungus (EPF), Beauveria bassiana, was tested. Bioassay results indicate that both P. dominula and V. germanica larvae are highly susceptible to the three EPN and one EPF screened. All larvae of both wasp species were dead and infected with EPN within 96 hours (four days) after inoculation. Similar results were obtained 168 hours (7 days) after inoculation with B. bassiana. Significant differences did, however, occur in the rate of infection achieved between the EPN and EPF species. Results suggest that all of the selected EPN and EPF species have the potential to be effective inundative biological control agents used within an integrated management programme for the control of P. dominula and V. germanica in South Africa.
Some egg quality traits of two laying hybrids kept in different cage systems

Yumurtaci tavuklari ve ureticileri etkileyen zenginlestirilmis kafeslere olan ilgi artmaktadir. Yumurta kalite ozellikleri ekonomik oneme sahiptir. Bu nedenle bu arastirmanin amaci geleneksel ve zenginlestirilmis kafeslerde barindirilan iki yumurtaci hibritte farkli yaslarda yumurta kalite ozelliklerini arastirmaktir. Toplam 532 Lohmann Kahverengi (LB) ve 532 Lohmann Beyaz (LW) yumurtaci tavuk 16 haftalik yastan 73 haftalik yasa kadar geleneksel ve zenginlestirilmis kafeslerde barindirildi. Yumurta kalite ozelliklerinin incelenmesi icin 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 ve 70 haftalik yaslarda saat 8.00-10.00 arasinda her bir genotip ve kafes grubundan 28 yumurta rastgele secildi. Bu amacla toplam 672 yumurta kullanildi. Yumurta agirligi, sekil indeksi, kirilma mukavemeti, kabuk kalinligi, ak indeksi, sari indeksi ve Haugh birimi belirlendi. Geleneksel kafeste yetistirilen tavuklarin yumurtasinda sari indeksi, ak indeksi ve Haugh birimi zenginlestirilmis kafeste yetistirilenlerinkine gore daha dusuk bulundu. Yumurta agirligi, sekil indeksi ve kabuk kalinliginin kahverengi yumurtacilardan elde edilen yumurtalarda daha yuksek oldugu goruldu. Yumurtaci tavuklarin yasi, incelenen tum yumurta kalite ozelliklerini etkiledi. Sonuc olarak, zenginlestirilmis kafesler ak indeksi, sari indeksi ve Haugh birimini arttirmistir ve kafes tipi, hibrit ve yas arasindaki interaksiyonlar yumurta kalitesi bakimindan dikkate alinmalidir
Phytochemical constituents and nutrient evaluation of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera, L.) pollen grains

The pollen of date palm -DPP (Phoenix dactylifera L. variety El- Ghannmi Ahmar.) has been analyzed for the main phytochemical composition , nutrient and mineral composition. The phytochemical screening of chemical constituents of the plant showed that the DPP grains contains phytosterols, flavonoids, alkaloids, protein, carbohydrates, glycosides, phenolic compounds, tannins, terpenoids, saponins, coumarins, lignin, oil and fats, with absent of quinones. The quantitative contents of alkaloids, tannin, phenolic compounds and sterols were (2416±0.034, 2279.6±35.769, 115±5 and 110.1±0.87) mg/100g in DPP grains. While the moisture content of palm pollen grains was 8.041 ± 0.1%, and 91.959 ± 0.1 % for the total solids. Values 0.113±0.003 % and 5.585 ± 0.144 % were estimated for crude fiber and ash contents respectively. Crude fat content of DPP grains was 7.678 ±0.149%, 19.45%, for crude protein and 26.25±0.315 g/100g for carbohydrates ,the energy value was 291.902 Kcal/100g. The predominant minerals were potassium 73.5 mg/g, followed by magnesium 19.6 mg/g , calcium 10.8 mg/g and iron 8.5 mg/g. Comparable amounts of sodium 4.34 mg/g and copper 3.658 mg/g with equal amounts of molybdenum, nitrogen and boron (3.169, 3.11 and 3.024) mg/g respectively were found in DPP grains. Palm pollen also contain useful amount of zinc 2.799 mg/g, manganese 2.702 mg/g, selenium 2.51 mg/g, cobalt 1.986 mg/g, nickel 1.698 mg/g and cadmium 0.12 mg/g. From all the results we can conclude that the date palm pollen was as rich source of antioxidant, energy, and important minerals, so its suitability as a regular component in human diet.
Mycotoxins and oxidative stress: where are we?

Mycotoxins are the most common contaminants of food and feed worldwide and are considered an important risk factor for human and animal health. Oxidative stress occurs in cells when the concentration of reactive oxygen species exceeds the cell’s antioxidant capacity. Oxidative stress causes DNA damage, enhances lipid peroxidation, protein damage and cell death. This review addresses the toxicity of the major mycotoxins, especially aflatoxin B1, deoxynivalenol, nivalenol, T-2 toxin, fumonisin B1, ochratoxin, patulin and zearalenone, in relation to oxidative stress. It summarises the data associated with oxidative stress as a plausible mechanism for mycotoxin-induced toxicity. Given the contamination caused by mycotoxins worldwide, the protective effects of a variety of natural compounds due to their antioxidant capacities have been evaluated. We review data on the ability of vitamins, flavonoids, crocin, curcumin, green tea, lycopene, phytic acid, L-carnitine, melatonin, minerals and mixtures of anti-oxida.
The crazy ant 'Anoplolepis gracilipes' (Smith) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in East Arnhem Land, Australia

'Anoploiepis gracilipes' (Smith) was first recorded from the Australian mainland in East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, in May 1990. In a survey during November 1999, it was found over five river drainage systems covering an area of approximately 2,500 km squared but was mainly confined to thin strips of monsoon rainforest bordering perennial springs and streams. It was found only once in dry open 'Eucalyptus' woodland. Highest populations were found in a disturbed habitat, although the ant was absent from Nhulunbuy town and aboriginal communities. The large area infested with 'A. gracilipes' suggests that an eradication campaign would be extremely difficult.
Raman Spectroscopy Studies of Prostate Cancer andStreptomyces Bacteria

This thesis will examine the use of Raman spectroscopy (RS) to probe biomolecular information from biological samples. The research is comprised of two main studies, a prostate cancer study and a Streptomyces bacteria study. The prostate cancer study used live cell samples from two different patients (H517{15 and H554{15), containing normal and Gleason seven cancer cells and two standard cell lines, PNT2{C2 (normal) and P4E6 (Gleason four cancer). The Raman spectra of each cancer/normal matched pair were analysed using principle component analysis (PCA). PCA was able to distinguish the normal cells from the cancer cells for the H517{15 and standard cell line samples. However, the H554{15 cancer and normal cells comparison proved to be too similar for PCA to separate. Peak intensity ratio (PIR) analyses were used to probe biomolecular differences between the normal and cancer cell samples. PIR results for the H554{15 sample showed that the cancer and normal cell samples were similar. PIR results for H517{15 revealed several biomarkers, which are consistent with the biological literature on cancer. The PIR results for the standard cell lines suggested that the samples may not be representative of patient biology due to the PIR biomarkers showing opposite trends to both the H517{ 15 primary patient sample, and the literature. The second aim of this research was to assess changes in lipid content between three samples of Streptomyces bacteria. The three bacteria samples comprised the wild type (J1929), a strain which had undergone a mutation causing a loss of intrinsic antibiotic resistance (DT3017), and a treated form of the mutated strain (PDT16). The Raman study in this work corroborated known biological information about the samples, showing an increase in unsaturated fatty acid (lipid) content from the J1929 sample to the DT3017 sample, followed by a recovery to the J1929 lipid content, upon treatment, for the PDT16 sample.
Controlling Prefrontal Attention Circuits: Neuromodulation of Cortical Layer 6 and its Local Outputs

The prefrontal cortex is critical for mediating attention. Neuromodulation by acetylcholine and serotonin exerts opposing effects on attention. Layer 6 of prefrontal cortex is an important source of cortico-thalamic and cortico-cortical output, and this layer expresses both cholinergic and serotonergic receptors. The capacity of prefrontal layer 6 to influence attention through its cortical and thalamic connections highlights the necessity to understand its neuromodulation and the underlying cellular mechanisms involved. This thesis examines the modulation of prefrontal layer 6 by acetylcholine and serotonin, and the consequences of layer 6 activity on its downstream cortical targets. Is the cholinergic modulation of layer 6 in medial prefrontal cortex distinct? Contrasting layer 6 neurons of associative and primary regions of cortex, I find significant differences in the receptor composition and strength of cholinergic responses. The stronger cholinergic response in medial prefrontal layer 6 appears driven by high affinity nicotinic receptors of the α4β2α5 subtype with a modest contribution by muscarinic receptors. Functional disruptions in specific nicotinic receptor subunits are linked to attentional disruption, but what are their consequences for cholinergic modulation of layer 6? In mice with genetic deletion of key nicotinic receptor subunits, I demonstrate a compensatory upregulation in iii the muscarinic response, inversely proportional to the impairment of nicotinic receptor function. This compensatory plasticity partially rescues the excitatory response to cholinergic stimulation at near-threshold membrane potentials. Unlike acetylcholine, serotonin impairs attention, yet the underlying mechanisms are unclear. In medial prefrontal cortex, I show, for the first time, that serotonin suppresses of layer 6 excitability through 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors. Using transgenic mice that allow for lightmediated activation of layer 6, I identify a direct, excitatory, local connection between layer 6 and layer 5 interneurons of medial prefrontal cortex. Finally, I show that suppression of layer 6 activity by serotonin inhibits the activation of downstream layer 5 interneurons. The findings in this thesis probe the receptor mechanisms underlying the modulation of prefrontal layer 6 by acetylcholine and serotonin. Furthermore, new insight is provided into the consequences of modulating layer 6 activity on its downstream cortical targets.
How communication with teachers, family and friends contributes to predicting climate change behaviour among adolescents

SUMMARY Engaging adolescents is critical to encouraging future climate change adaptation and mitigation behaviours. Adolescents are typically more receptive to climate change messages than adults, but educators and communicators need research-based strategies for optimizing engagement, including information about what factors are most influential in changing behaviours. To better understand how communication with teachers, friends and family, climate change knowledge and climate change concern predict climate change behaviour, we administered a survey to a random sample of middle school students in North Carolina, USA (n = 1371). We measured climate change behaviour with a multi-item scale asking respondents about energy conservation, alternative transportation and engagement with environmental issues. We found that climate change concern and discussing climate change with family and friends predicted climate change behaviour. We also found that students from urban, high socioeconomic status schools were more likely to engage in climate change behaviour than students in urban, low socioeconomic status schools or rural schools. These results suggest that education efforts should leverage communication with family and friends in programming designed to encourage climate change behaviour. Further, efforts to promote climate change behaviour among low socioeconomic status urban and rural adolescents may be warranted, but would benefit from further investigation into the ideological, physical and knowledge-based drivers of behaviour differences documented in this study.
Effect of exogenous leukemia inhibitory factor on reparative regeneration of the peripheral nerve in mice

The role of trophic and growth factors in the regeneration of the damaged peripheral nerve is known. The leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) exhibits properties not only of the polyfunctional cytokine, but also the neurotrophic factor. Regeneration of the peripheral nerve is impaired during oxidative stress in the area of injury. The PURPOSE of the work was to investigate the effect of recombinant human LIF (rhLIF) on the efficacy of reparative regeneration of the sciatic nerve. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Adult male FVB/N mice were divided into the following groups: sham-operated; trauma (neurotomy) of the right sciatic nerve; nerve injury and subcutaneous injection of rhLIF at a dose of 1 μg per animal daily from the third day after the nerve injury. The study was conducted 4 weeks after the injury. At morphometry, the density of nerve fibers in distal nerve segments after impregnation with nitric oxide silver was evaluated. The motor function was evaluated in the «open field» test by the number of crossed squares, and in footprint test by the distance between the extreme toes of the right foot. In the area of muscle injury, the content of malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase was estimated. RESULTS. The total number of nerve fibers in the distal segment of the nerve of mice with trauma and injection of rhLIF is greater (p < 0.05) than in mice with only nerve injury and does not differ from sham-operated animals. Horizontal motor activity in mice with nerve injury is lower (p <0.05) than in sham-operated and cytokine injected mice. The distance between the extreme toes of the sham-operated mice is greater (p < 0.05) than in mice with nerve injury, as well as injuries and injections of rhLIF, but after the injection of cytokine, the rates are higher (p < 0.05) than in the group of mice without it. After the injury, the content of malondialdehyde and catalase activity increases in muscle tissue, while the activity of glutathione reductase decreases (p < 0.05). Under the influence of rhLIF, the parameters change to the values of sham-operated mice, and, in addition, the activity of the glutathione peroxidase is significantly increased. CONCLUSIONS. Injection of rhLIF to mice with a sciatic nerve injury promotes a more complete restoration of the structural organization of the damaged nerve and improves the motor function of the injured limb. At the same time, the balance between the factors of oxidative stress and antioxidant system is improved in the muscle tissue in the area of the nerve injury.
Update Opportunistic Infections of the Central Nervous System in Patients with Iatrogenic Immunosuppression

Abstract Opportunistic infections of the central nervous system (CNS) with bacteria, parasites, fungi or viruses due to iatrogenic immunosuppression are of immense importance because of rising numbers of organ transplantations and immunomodulating treatments. Besides transplantation medicine, the most frequently involved medical subspecialties are dermatology (interferons, rituximab, fingolimod, among others), hematology/oncology (rituximab, among others), neurology (beta-interferon, glatiramer acetate, natalizumab, rituximab, teriflunomide, fingolimod, alemtuzumab, daclizumab, among others) and rheumatology (rituximab). In Europe, typical infections affecting the immunocompromised host are due to herpes viruses and, especially in immunomodulated patients, JC virus (JCV); frequently occurring fungi are Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans. An important parasite is Toxoplasma gondii (TG). Typical bacterial infections of the immunocompromised patient are caused by Nocardia asteroides, Listeria monocytogenes and Mycobacterium tuberculosis.Modern diagnostic and therapeutic procedures will be described.