Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Histometric analysis of vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) testicles treated with coumestrol by oral route

The vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) is a hematophagous species, and is considered the main transmitter of rabies to cattle in Latin America. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of coumestrol (COU; 5 µg per g body weight, administered orally for 30 d) on the histoarchitecture of vampire bat testicles. A total of 10 male vampire bats were divided randomly into two groups: COU-treated and control (N = 5 per group). Testis samples were obtained for histometric evaluation. The numbers of epididymal sections containing spermatozoa for each bat were counted by light microscopy and fluorescent signal detection was performed by confocal microscopy. We found significant group differences in germinal epithelium thickness, seminiferous tube diameter, intertubular space, number of spermatogenia, Sertoli cell counts, spermatid cell counts, Leydig cell counts, and the number of epididymal sections with spermatozoa. Based on our results, we conclude that COU, when administered orally for 30 d, can modify the histoarchitecture of vampire bat testicular tissue in a manner that would be expected to impair fertility.
Estimating dry-matter accumulation in soybean

Equations to estimate gross photosynthesis, respiration, and dry-matter accumulation for soybean from daily estimates of intercepted, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) were developed from field measurements. We found that gross photosynthesis was a function of intercepted PAR and that 24-h dark respiration was a function of gross photosynthesis. In addition, we developed equations relating intercepted PAR to leaf area index (LAI) and solar radiation. We assumed that gross photosynthesis was reduced when soil-water depletion was greater than 65%. The growth model predicted accumulated dry matter for soybean in 1974, 1975, and 1976 to within 2.7 mg cm−2 of observed values.
Digestive tract dimensions and body mass of elephant shrews (Macroscelididae) and the effects of season and habitat

Macroscelidids have relatively short digestive tracts, consistent with their insectivorous diet. Compared with five species of Elephantulus, Macroscelides proboscideus had a relatively long large intestine and Petrodromus tetradactylus had a relatively short large intestine. These differences may reflect varying requirements for water conservation. E. myurus showed no seasonal changes in body weight but a significant reduction in the length of the small and large intestine in winter, the nonbreeding season.
Host plant and ants influence the honeydew sugar composition of aphids

Summary 1 Honeydew composition is an important factor in mediating ant–homopteran mutualisms. The trisaccharide melezitose is especially significant in this interaction. Honeydew of three Chaitophorus aphids (Homoptera: Aphididae), reared on two species of Populus (Salicaceae), was analysed to investigate factors that may influence honeydew composition. 2 Honeydew of Chaitophorus populialbae and C. populeti contained high proportions of the melezitose. These species are typically tended by ants. In contrast, C. tremulae honeydew contained low proportions of melezitose. This species is typically untended. 3 Chaitophorus populeti and C. populialbae produced higher proportions of melezitose when reared on Populus tremula than on P. alba. 4 Chaitophorus populeti and C. populialbae reduced their production of melezitose when reared in the absence of ants. The reverse was true in C. tremulae. 5 These results show that honeydew composition differs not only between aphid species but also within aphid species. They support known differences in ant preference for the different aphid species, and produce further predictions for ant preference for aphids on different host plants. In particular they show for the first time that ant tending may itself influence honeydew composition. They suggest that maintaining a honeydew composition attractive to ants may incur metabolic costs on aphids.
Immune Tolerance in Murine Islet Transplantation Across HY Disparity

Background: Minor histocompatibility HY antigen, as a transplantation antigen, has been known to cause graft rejection in MHC (major histocompatibility complex) matched donor-recipient. The aim of our study is to investigate the role of male antigen (HY) disparity on MHC matched pancreatic islet transplantation and to examine the mechanism of the immune reaction. Methods: Pancreatic islets were isolated and purified by collagen digestion followed by Ficoll gradient. The isolated islets of male C57BL6/J were transplanted underneath the kidney capsule of syngeneic female mice rendered diabetic with streptozotocine. Blood glucose was monitored for the rejection of engrafted islets. After certain period of time, tail to flank skin transplantation was performed either on mouse transplanted with HY mismatched islets or on sham treated mouse. The rejection was monitored by scoring gross pathology of the engrafted skin. Results: HY mismatched islets survived more than 300 days in 14 out of 15 mice. The acceptance of second party graft (male B6 islets) and the rejection of third party graft (male BALB/c islets) in these mice suggested the tolerance to islets with HY disparity. B6 Skin with HY disparity was rejected on day . However, HY mismatched skin transplanted on the mice tolerated to HY mismatched islets survived more than 240 days. Tetramer staining in these mice indicated the CTL recognizing MHC Db/Uty was not deleted or anergized. Conclusion: The islet transplantation across HY disparity induced tolerance to HY antigen in C57BL6 mouse, which in turn induced tolerance to HY mismatched skin, which otherwise would be rejected within 25 days. The MHC tetramer staining suggested the underlying mechanisms would not be clonal deletion or anergy.
Photosynthetic efficiency, and photodamage by UV and visible radiation, in red versus green leaf coleus varieties

The maximum quantum yield for photosynthetic O2 evolution in red leaf coleus varieties having anthocyanin in their upper epidermis is much lower in green light and slightly lower in white light than in a green leaf variety lacking anthocyanin. A similar degree of photoinhibition occurred under excess visible light in the red versus green varieties; whereas, the red leaf varieties were less damaged by UV-B and UV-C radiation suggesting protection by anthocyanin in their epidermal tissue.
Development of a microtitre plate indirect ELISA for measuring cortisol in teleosts, and evaluation of stress responses in rainbow trout and gilthead sea bream

A microtitre plate indirect enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) was developed for measuring plasma cortisol levels in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss, gilthead sea bream Sparus auratus sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax and Senegalese sole Solea senegalensis. Covalink microplates pretreated with disuccinimidyl suberate were coated with bovine serum albumin (BSA) conjugated to cortisol-3-carboxymethyl oxime. After blocking with BSA, competition was started by addition of plasma samples and anti-cortisol antibody raised in rabbit. Goat anti-rabbit IgG conjugated-peroxidase was added as second antibody and then incubated with orthophenyle-nediamine as substrate. Reaction was stopped with 0·1 M HCl and absorbance was read at 450 nm in an automatic plate reader. The standard curve was linear from the lower limit of sensitivity of the assay (c. 0·3 ng ml -1 ) to c. 3000 ng ml -1 . Dose-response inhibition curves using serially diluted plasma samples of four species consistently showed parallelism with the standard curve using cortisol. The ELISA satisfied the strictest criteria of specificity (cross-reactivity of anti-cortisol antibody with testosterone, progesterone and 17β-oestradiol was negligible, cross-reactivity with cortisone, corticosterone and 11-deoxycortisol, was 1·5, 1 and 0·1%, respectively), reproducibility (interassay CV 98%). Plasma cortisol concentration in rested fishes was in the range of 5-30 ng ml -1 . To physiologically validate the technique, changes in plasma cortisol concentrations were also measured in plasma of rainbow trout and gilthead sea bream following an acute 15 min chasing or 3 min air-exposure stress, respectively. In both species plasma concentrations of cortisol, glucose and lactate rose significantly with respect to controls, showing concentrations similar to those reported previously for these species under similar stress conditions. Furthermore, gilthead sea bream chronically stressed by maintaining for 14 days under increased stocking density conditions also showed increased concentrations of plasma cortisol and glucose. These results validate the indirect ELISA technique developed for use in the evaluation of plasma cortisol concentration of at least four fish species.
Molecular Mechanism of Calcium Channel Regulation in the Fight-or-Flight Response

Stimulation of cardiac Ca2+ channel activity by PKA in the fight-or-flight response requires an autoinhibitory complex with the distal C-terminal domain and a kinase anchoring protein. The Complex Regulation of Heartbeat The pounding heart associated with moments of intense exercise, stress, or terror depends on activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the consequent increase in calcium influx through cardiac calcium channels. This increase in calcium influx is mediated through stimulation of protein kinase A (PKA) by the β-adrenergic signaling pathway and the ensuing PKA-dependent phosphorylation of the CaV1.2 channel. Fuller et al. reconstituted the CaV1.2 channel signaling complex in non-muscle cells and discovered that PKA-dependent stimulation of channel activity required both the proper ratio of CaV1.2 to the scaffolding protein A-kinase–anchoring protein 15 (AKAP15) and noncovalent association with the distal C-terminal domain of CaV1.2, which is proteolytically processed in vivo. The autoinhibitory effect of noncovalent association of the distal C-terminal domain is relieved by phosphorylation of a serine residue at the interface between the distal and the proximal C-terminal domains, leading to disinhibition of channel activity in the fight-or-flight response. During the fight-or-flight response, the sympathetic nervous system stimulates L-type calcium ion (Ca2+) currents conducted by CaV1 channels through activation of β-adrenergic receptors, adenylyl cyclase, and phosphorylation by adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate–dependent protein kinase [also known as protein kinase A (PKA)], increasing contractility of skeletal and cardiac muscles. We reconstituted this regulation of cardiac CaV1.2 channels in non-muscle cells by forming an autoinhibitory signaling complex composed of CaV1.2Δ1800 (a form of the channel truncated at the in vivo site of proteolytic processing), its noncovalently associated distal carboxyl-terminal domain, the auxiliary α2δ1 and β2b subunits, and A-kinase anchoring protein 15 (AKAP15). A factor of 3.6 range of CaV1.2 channel activity was observed from a minimum in the presence of protein kinase inhibitors to a maximum upon activation of adenylyl cyclase. Basal CaV1.2 channel activity in unstimulated cells was regulated by phosphorylation of serine-1700 and threonine-1704, two residues located at the interface between the distal and the proximal carboxyl-terminal regulatory domains, whereas further stimulation of channel activity through the PKA signaling pathway only required phosphorylation of serine-1700. Our results define a conceptual framework for CaV1.2 channel regulation and identify sites of phosphorylation that regulate channel activity.
GROWTH RESPONSE OF BEEF CATTLE AT PASTURE TO ZERANOL OR PROGESTERONE-ESTRADIOL IMPLANTS

Forty-eight field trials were conducted in 1980 and 1981 on 38 commercial beef herds to determine the effectiveness of zeranol (36 mg/head of the commercial implant Ralgro®) to promote growth in suckling steer and heifer calves and of zeranol and progesterone-estradiol (Synovex-S®) as growth promotants in yearling steers at pasture. In each trial, approximately even numbers of animals were randomly alloted to a control (nonimplant) or an implanted group. Zeranol and progesterone-estradiol groups were implanted once at initial weighing. Animals were re-weighed when the trials were terminated at various times in the fall. Steer calves implanted with zeranol gained 4.2 and 5.0% more (P < 0.01) than controls for 1980 (0.98 vs. 0.94 kg/day) and 1981 (1.06 vs. 1.01 kg/day) trials, respectively. Zeranol-implanted heifer calves gained 3.5% more (P < 0.05) in 1980 trials (0.88 vs. 0.85 kg/day) and 7.4% more (P < 0.01) in 1981 trials (1.01 vs. 0.94 kg/day) than nonimplanted heifer calves. In trials where steer and .
Familial hypercholesterolemia: Defective binding of lipoproteins to cultured fibroblasts associated with impaired regulation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme a reductase activity

Monolayers of cultured fibroblasts from normal human subjects bind 125I-labeled low-density lipoproteins with high affinity and specificity. High affinity binding of similar magnitude was not observed in cells from five unrelated subjects with the homozygous form of familial hypercholesterolemia. In normal cells incubated at 37°, the binding sites were saturated at a low-density lipoprotein concentration of 20 μg/ml. A maximum of approximately 250,000 molecules could be bound to each cell. Whole serum and very-low-density lipoproteins displaced 125I-labeled low-density lipoproteins from the binding sites, but high-density lipoproteins, the lipoprotein-deficient fraction of serum, and abetalipoproteinemic serum did not. This binding appears to be a required step in the process by which low-density lipoproteins normally suppress the synthesis of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, the rate-controlling enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis. The demonstration of a defect in binding of low-density lipoproteins to cells from subjects with the homozygous form of familial hypercholesterolemia appears to explain the previously reported failure of lipoproteins to suppress the synthesis of this enzyme and hence may account for the overproduction of cholesterol that occurs in these cultured cells.
Tracking photosynthetically fixed carbon into the belowground microbial communities using lipid biomarkers

Within the terrestrial system soil is the main C reservoir. The release of photosynthetically assimilated carbon into soil regulates microbial biomass. Large contributors to soil carbon are Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, which are suggested to play an important role in the carbon cycle of soil. Little is known about details of carbon cycling processes in soil and the role of different microbial groups in it. Better insights into belowground processes of carbon are needed. Microbial community phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) and neutral lipid fatty acids (NLFAs) analyses and stable isotope labeling experiment were combined to identify soil microbial groups involved in incorporation of photosynthetically fixed carbon. Pulse-chase labeling with 13CO2 was performed in greenhouse chambers with Chenopodium ambrosioides, a plant which is known for its AMF symbiosis. Time course sampling was done within hours to weeks after labeling to investigate the temporal dynamics of assimilated carbon into different microbial groups. The extracted lipids from soil were measured with a GC-FID system for quantification and with a GC-c-IRMS system for isotope analysis. C enrichment of PLFAs occurred already immediately after the labeling, but temporal differences were found across microbial groups. Saprophytic fungi, AMF and general biomarkers (18:2ω6,9, 16:1ω5 NLFA, n16:0) showed the highest and fastest enrichment as did the Gram-negative bacterial monounsaturated molecular markers (16:1ω7 and 18:1ω7). In comparison, the Gram-positive bacteria and Actinomycetes had very small C enrichment that appeared later during the sampling period. These results indicate a fast C flux from plants into fungal communities and a delayed processing of plant carbon by bacteria, suggesting the use of dead roots and fungal necromass by Gram-positive bacteria. Additionally two different feeding strategies of bacteria could be identified. Gram-positive bacteria and Actinomycetes employed the saprophytic pathway whereas Gram-negative bacteria (monounsaturated biomarkers 16:1ω7 and 18:1ω7) seem rely on direct plant root exudates. These results suggest an important role of fungi and bacteria in the carbon cycle of soil.
Combined application of Glomus sp. and Pasteuria penetrans for reducing Meloidogyne incognita (Tylenchida: Meloidogynidae) populations and improving tomato growth

The beneficial effects of application of spores of the mycorrhizal fungus Glomus sp. and the nematode parasitic bacterium Pasteuria penetrans to Meloidogyne incognita-infested soil on tomato growth and nematode reproduction were assessed in pot and microplot experiments. Tomato shoot and fruit weights in M. incognita-infected plants receiving a combined application of Glomus sp. and P. penetrans were greater than in untreated nematode-infected plants. In addition, the use of the mycorrhizal fungus and the nematode parasitic bacterium together conferred greater beneficial effects than their use alone. Final densities of M. incognita juveniles in soil were lower than the control by 40% and 18% in mycorrhizal plants (cvs. Kyoryoku-beiju and Pritz, respectively), by 38% and 53% in P. penetrans application, and by 61% and 57%, when both treatments were applied together. M. incognita did not affect root colonization by Glomus sp. when mycorrhizal inoculum was added two or three weeks before nematode inoculum. No significant effects of the mycorrhizal treatment on P. penetrans attachment to M. incognita or number of females infected by P. penetrans were observed.
Heat stability of milk

The heat stability of milk has been the subject of a considerable amount of research for about a century. This research has been aimed mainly at understanding the effects of compositional and processing factors on heat stability and elucidating the mechanisms of protein coagulation. This paper provides an overview of the factors that influence the pH dependence of the heat stability of normal and concentrated milks. The principal heat-induced changes in the milk system that contribute to coagulation are discussed. Current knowledge of the mechanisms of heat coagulation in normal and concentrated milks is also reviewed.
The relationship between species richness and community biomass: the importance of environmental variables.

Several studies have used plant community biomass to predict species richness with varying success. In this study we examined the relationship between species richness and biomass for 36 marsh communities from two different watersheds. In addition, we measured several environmental variables and estimated the potential richness (the total number of species known to be able to occur in a community type) for each community. Above-ground living and dead biomass combined was found to be weakly correlated with species richness (R 2 = 0.02). Instead, a multiple regression model based on elevation (R 2 = 0.30) soil organic matter (R 2 = 0.18), and biomass was able to explain 82 % of the variance in species richness (.)
Evaluation of RAPD Analysis for Cultivar Identification of Persimmons

The effectiveness of RAPD analysis for cultivar identification of persimmons (Diospyros kaki) was evaluated by using 10 base primers (Operon Technologies, CA). A protocol of reproducible RAPD analysis for persimmon was established by determining suitable buffer and optimum concentrations of DNA polymerase, MgCl2, primer, and dNTP. The 12.5 μl reaction mixture, found to be reliable for RAPD for persimmon, contains 50 mM Tris-HCI (pH 8.9), 20 mM NaCl, 1.0%Triton-X 100, 0.1% gelatin as a buffer solution (Levi et al., 1993), 0.06 units-μl-1 AmpliTaq DNA polymerase, 2.0 mM MgCl2, 0.28 μM primer, and 0.1 mM each of dNTP per reaction. Among these elements, the kinds of buffer and concentrations of ampliTaq DNA polymerase and MgCl2 were important for reproducibility of RAPD. Amplification was performed by 45 cycles of 1 min at 94°C, 1 min at 45 °C, 2 min at 72°C in the Perkin Elmer Cetus DNA Thermal Cycler. 5 ng•μl-1 DNA were used as a template. By this reproducible protocol, we selected 2 primers (OPA-06 and OPA-08) among 20 primers (OPA-01 to OPA-20) as effective ones for cultivar identification of persimmons. The fifteen cultivars tested were completely distinguishable from each other by RAPDs, using OPA-06 or OPA-08. Furthermore, two bud mutants of 'Hiratanenashi', i. e. 'Tonewase' and 'Sugitawase', showed different DNA patterns with a few additional minor bands by RAPD, using OPA-06 primer. It may be possible to identify persimmon sports by this method. In addition, polymorphisms among 11 Diospyros species were observed by RAPD, using OPA-10 primer. The same method revealed little polymorphisms among intraspecific levels of D. kaki or D. lotus. The potential of RAPD analysis for persimmon identification is discussed.
Adherence of Probiotic Bacteria to Human Colonic Cells

Bifidobacteria showed better adherence to monolayer Ht-29 colonic cancer cells as compared with Lactobacillus acidophilus. Among bifidobacteria, Bifidobacterium infantis 1912 and B. longum 1941 showed highest level of adherence. Among L. acidophilus, strains 2400 and 2415 showed best adherence. Thus, in general, bifidobacteria may be preferred as dietary adjuncts over L. acidophilus. Proteins were found to be present in spent broth of all strains of adhering bacteria involved in adherence of probiotic bacteria to Ht-29 cells. However, involvement of polysaccharides from bacteria and Ht-29 cells for adherence varied from strain to strain of probiotic bacteria. Polysaccharides produced by Ht-29 cell surfaces contributed to adherence than those originating from the bacterial cells. For B. infantis 1912 and B. longum 1941, polysaccharides of both bacterial and Ht-29 origin were involved in adherence . The molecular size of proteins involved in adherence varied among the strains of probiotic bacteria. In B. longum 1941 and B. infantis 1912, a molecular size fraction of 30,000-50,000 kDa was responsible for adherence. Adherence was mediated by a bridging structure (possibly a protein-polysaccharide structure) formed between bacterial and Ht-29 cells.
Varietal Differences in Photosynthetic Rates in Rice Plants, with Special Reference to the Nitrogen Content of Leaves

Abstract The photosynthetic rate in the fl ag leaf of rice at the full heading stage was examined in three japonica varieties, Koshihikari, Aikoku and Asanohikari, and the indica high-yielding variety Takanari at the same level of leaf nitrogen. At an ambient CO2 concentration of 350 µL L-1, Takanari had a higher photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance than the japonica varieties when plants were compared at a leaf nitrogen content of approximately 1.5 g m-2. Stomatal conductance increased considerably with increases in leaf nitrogen content in the japonica varieties. As a result, at a leaf nitrogen content of approximately 2.0 g m-2, differences in terms of the photosynthetic rate among varieties were small. By contrast, there were no clear varietal differences in Rubisco content at any identical nitrogen content of leaves. We conclude that stomatal conductance is responsible for the varietal differences in photosynthetic rate examined at the same leaf nitrogen content.