Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
15-Deoxy-Δ12,14-prostaglandin J2 inhibits IL-1β–induced cyclooxygenase-2 expression in mesangial cells

15-Deoxy-Δ 12,14 -prostaglandin J 2 inhibits IL-1β–induced cyclooxygenase-2 expression in mesangial cells . Background Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), a key enzyme in the synthesis of prostaglandins, is induced in mesangial cells in response to proinflammatory cytokines. Recently, 15-deoxy-Δ 12,14 -prostaglandin J 2 (15d-PGJ 2 ), one of the natural ligands of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), has been reported to have an anti-inflammatory effect. Therefore, we examined the effect of 15d-PGJ 2 on COX-2 expression in cultured rat mesangial cells. Methods Mesangial cells were incubated with 15d-PGJ 2 for 30 minutes and then exposed to interleukin-1β (IL-1β). The expression of COX-2 mRNA and proteins was determined by Northern blot and immunoblot analyses, respectively. Accumulation of prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) was measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Activities of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) were evaluated by an immunoblot analysis. DNA binding activities of activator protein-1 (AP-1) or nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) were examined by an electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). The activities of PPAR responsive elements (PPRE) and COX-2 promoter were measured by a luciferase reporter assay. Results 15D-PGJ 2 significantly suppressed IL-1β–induced COX-2 expression and PGE 2 production, but thiazolidinediones, synthetic PPARγ ligands, did not affect COX-2 expression. Moreover, the cells transfected with a PPRE luciferase reporter did not respond to 15d-PGJ 2 . IL-1β rapidly activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and c-Jun NH 2 -terminal kinase (JNK), which were involved in the up-regulation of COX-2 induction, but 15d-PGJ 2 inhibited the activation of these kinases. 15d-PGJ 2 inhibited the IL-1β–induced increase in binding activities of nuclear proteins to consensus AP-1 site and AP-1–like site of COX-2 promoter but not of NF-κB. IL-1β was unable to activate the COX-2 promoter when the AP-1–like site was mutated. Conclusions These data suggest that 15d-PGJ 2 inhibits IL-1β–induced COX-2 expression, independent of PPARγ activation, by suppression of ERK and JNK pathways and AP-1 activation in mesangial cells. Thus, 15d-PGJ 2 may play an important role in the negative feedback mechanism of COX-2 expression in renal inflammation and may be useful as an anti-inflammatory agent.
Studies on Diapause and Female Fecundity in Aedes atropalpus

Either high temperature or long photoperiods effectively terminate embryonic diapause in Aedes atropalpus . Diapausing eggs hatch after a 20-day exposure to 30°C, or a 90-day exposure to L:D 16:8. A high percentage of diapausing eggs will hatch even after 5 days at 30°C, provided they are 60–90 days old. High temperature acts independently of photoperiod, and eggs will hatch at short as well as long photoperiods. Light enters the egg via the anterior end, probably through the micropyle. Eggs with the anterior end hidden from the light did not respond to long photoperiod. The critical photoperiod for the induction of diapause for a population of A. atropalpus from 44°N.L. was 14.25 h light/day. High and low levels of protein in the larval diet affected both the size of adults and the fecundity. Exposure of larvae and adults to different photoperiods affected egg production as well. Fecundity was greatest at L:D 16:8, whereas adult size was greatest under continuous light.
Studies on the systematics of ectomycorrhizal fungi in axenic culture. IV. The effect of some selected fungitoxic compounds upon linear growth.

When cultures of ectomycorrhizal fungi were grown on potato dextrose agar supplemented with either benomyl (10 μg/mL), cycloheximide (2 μg/mL), rose bengal (10 μg/mL), malachite green (2 μg/mL), or sodium chloride (10 mg/mL), characteristic differences in linear growth rate reduction were exhibited. These fungitoxic compounds were able to differentiate ectomycorrhizal fungi into three growth-response categories, namely sensitive, semitolerant, and tolerant, which reflected taxonomic affinity. Linear growth of the Russulaceae and species of Hebeloma, for example, was inhibited by benomyl (10 μg/mL), whereas members of the Boletaceae and most species of Cortinarius were tolerant and species of Tricholoma were semitolerant at this concentration. Lactarius, Leccinum, and most Suillus species were sensitive to cycloheximide (2 μg/mL); Laccaria, Rhizopogon, and most Hebeloma species showed tolerance. Hygrophorus and most Lactarius species showed sensitivity to rose bengal (10 μg/mL), whereas Cortinarius, Laccar.
Rainfall and food availability as factors influencing the migration and breeding activity of Namaqua Sandgrouse, Pterocles namaqua

This study examines whether rainfall and its effects on food availability control the timing of migratory movements and breeding activity in the Namaqua Sandgrouse, Pterocles namaqua. Namaqua Sandgrouse exhibit a pattern of partial migration between two late-summer-rainfall regions, birds spending the summer months in the Nama Karoo and the winter months in the Kalahari. Across southern Africa, the breeding season for this species is unexpectedly variable, and not consistently correlated with periods of peak food availability. The main egg-laying periods in the late-summer-rainfall regions are: (a) in northwestern Namibia from January–May with a peak in May, (b) in southwestern Namibia in any month with a peak in July, (c) in the Kalahari from June to December, and (d) in the Nama Karoo from September to December. Breeding in the Nama Karoo often starts five months after food becomes abundant, and extends into the start of the rainy season, when food availability can reach the lowest levels in the annual cycle. This suggests that some factor(s) other than proximate food availability is/are involved in determining the timing of movements and breeding in this species, at least in some regions. The possible complicating influences of biannual breeding, moulting, adult nutritional reserves and seasonal variation in nest predation pressure are discussed. We conclude that further long-term monitoring throughout the range of the Namaqua Sandgrouse is required to unravel the potential contribution of three factors (food availability, pottern of migratory movement and risk of nest predation) to the timing of migratory movements and breeding seasons in this species.
Etude des possibilités d'emploi de la drêche de brasserie dans l'alimentation des monogastriques. I. Expériences chez des rats et des poulets, concernant la qualité nutritive de la protéine de deux fractions de la drêche de brasserie

Résumé En vue d’adapter la drêche desséchée de brasserie à l’alimentation des animaux monogastriques, on la sépare en deux fractions, l’une, la fraction fine, riche en protéines (34,4-37,6 p. 100) et contenant peu de cellulose (11,8 p. 100), qui représente 65,1 p. 100 du sous-produit, et l’autre, la fraction grossière, à cellulose abondante (29,3 p. 100) et à moindre teneur en protéines (15,9 p. 100). Dans le présent travail, on a étudié, en premier lieu, la qualité de la protéine de ces fractions chez des rats, en déterminant la digestibilité apparente et réelle, la valeur biologique, le coefficient d’utilisation protéique nette et le coefficient de rétention de l’azote. Les résultats obtenus pour la fraction fine sont dans tous les cas significativement supérieurs à ceux obtenus pour la fraction grossière. Chez des poulets de chair, on a étudié comparativement la digestibilité apparente de la protéine et le coefficient de rétention de l’azote de deux régimes semi-synthétiques iso-azotés et isocaloriques comportant comme seule et unique source protéique la fraction fine de la drêche ou de la farine de tourteau de soja, à deux âges différents, 30 et 60 jours. Les résultats font ressortir une meilleure utilisation de la protéine de la farine
Irrigation water and Phytophthora cactorum in a forest nursery

Abstract Phytophthora cactorum (Lebert and Cohn) J. Schröt is known to cause stem lesions on Betula pendula Roth in Finnish nurseries. It has been suggested that irrigation water may be one source of infection. Therefore, P. cactorum was baited from pond water used for irrigation and direct isolations were made from necrotic stem lesions in a forest nursery during the years 2004–2006. Morphological characteristics, as well as sequencing of the β-tubulin gene and ITS1 region, confirmed the isolates as P. cactorum. The pathogen was present in the pond every year, but no diseased seedlings were found in 2005. The cultural and morphological characteristics showed high variation among the isolates, but it was not possible to identify the origins of the isolates according to them. In random amplified microsatellite (RAMS) analysis and DNA sequencing, the isolates from the pond and from the stem lesions were genetically similar, and the tested isolates were pathogenic. The results indicate that irrigation water is one source of stem lesion disease, and the microbe can overwinter in the pond. Two separate forms of the β-tubulin gene were detected in all the studied isolates, suggesting that the P. cactorum here carries two β-tubulin gene loci in its genome.
Phosphorus removal from wastewater by microalgae in a greenhouse in Sweden.

As part of a research project aiming to develop and evaluate a hydroponic system for wastewater treatment in Sweden, extended nutrient removal by microalgae was tested. The hydroponic/microalgal wastewater treatment system was built in a greenhouse in order to improve growth conditions for plants and algae. Studies on the treatment step with microalgae showed that phosphorus removal could be successfully accomplished owing to the cmbined effect of phosphorus assimilation and biologically mediated chemical precipitation of calcium phosphates. This precipitation was mainly induced by the increased pH in the algal cultures, and the pH increase was in turn a result of the inorganic carbon assimilation by the algae. The results showed that the algal growth was mainly light limited which resulted in higher algal biomass density and also lowe residual nutrients in the water at longer hydraulic retention times (HRT). In contrast the phosphorus removal rate was load limited, i.e. shorter HRT gave higher removal rates. This load dependency was due to the chemical precipitation, whereas the phosphorus assimilation was dependent on algal growth. Furthermore, results from an intensive study during summer showed that culture depths of 17 cm gave higher removal efficiencies (78% - 92%) than cultures of 33 cm (66% - 88%). On the other hand, the removal rate per area was higher in the deeper cultures, which implies that these may be preferred if area is of concern. Nitrogen removal was achieved mainly by the assimilation of nitrate to algal biomass, and removal efficiencies of around 40% (nitrate) could be reached for most parts of the year although the nitrogen removal performance was quite uneven. Up to 60% - 80% could however be reached during summer in the shallow cultures. A net removal in total nitrogen of up to 40% was observed in the shallow cultures during summer, which was most probably a consequence of grazing zooplankton and subsequent urea excretion and ammonia volatilisation as a reslt of the high pH values. Over the year, there were large fluctuations in algal growth and removal efficiency as a result of the seasonal variations in light and tempeature. During winter, phosphorus removal efficiencies lower than 25% were observed in the shallow tanks and lower than 10% in the deep tanks. Additional illumination during winter improved the phosphorus removal in the shallow cultures but did not have a significant efect on the deep cultures. Such additional illumination increases the total energy demand of the system, and hence alternative methods for phosphorus removal during winter would probably be more economical unless the algal biomass roduced had great commercial value.
Muscle protein loss in laying House Sparrows Passer domesticus

In a study of female House Sparrows Passer domesticus, it was established that almost all of the lean dry material lost from the flight muscles during the period of egg formation and laying was protein. The two large fractions of muscle protein, the sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar fractions, were measured biochemically. Protein in the myofibrillar fraction, which formed the greater part of the total protein, decreased during the study period. There was no evidence to support the proposal that sarcoplasm in muscle acts as the main reserve of proteins.
Assessing global biome exposure to climate change through the Holocene–Anthropocene transition

Aim To analyse global patterns of climate during the mid-Holocene and conduct comparisons with pre-industrial and projected future climates. In particular, to assess the exposure of terrestrial biomes and ecoregions to climate-related risks during the Holocene–Anthropocene transition starting at the pre-industrial period. Location Terrestrial ecosystems of the Earth. Methods We calculated long-term climate differences (anomalies) between the mid-Holocene (6 ka cal bp, mH), pre-industrial conditions and projections for 2100 (middle-strength A1B scenario) using six global circulation models available for all periods. Climate differences were synthesized with multivariate statistics and average principal component loadings of temperature and precipitation differences (an estimate of climate-related risks) were calculated on 14 biomes and 766 ecoregions. Results Our results suggest that most of the Earth's biomes will probably undergo changes beyond the mH recorded levels of community turnover and range shifts because the magnitude of climate anomalies expected in the future are greater than observed during the mH. A few biomes, like the remnants of North American and Euro-Asian prairies, may experience only slightly greater degrees of climate change in the future as compared with the mH. In addition to recent studies that have identified equatorial regions as the most sensitive to future climate change, we find that boreal forest, tundra and vegetation of the Equatorial Andes could be at greatest risk, since these regions will be exposed to future climates that are well outside natural climate variation during the Holocene. Conclusions The Holocene–Anthropocene climate transition, even for a middle-strength future climate change scenario, appears to be of greater magnitude and different from that between the mH and the pre-industrial period. As a consequence, community- and biome-level changes due to of expected climate change may be different in the future from those observed during the mH.
New data on the poorly-known European Late Jurassic turtles "Thalassemys" and "Enaliochelys" and description of a new basal eucryptodiran taxon

One of the most abundant clades of turtles in the Late Jurassic record of Europe is Eucryptodira, represented by Plesiochelyidae, Eurysternidae, Hylaeochelys and Thalassemys . The detailed study of a British specimen preliminarily attributed to the plesiochelyid “ Pelobatochelys ” allows this attribution to be refuted. Rather, it is recognized as the only confirmed specimen of the genus Thalassemys outside Central Europe. The diversity of Eucryptodira in the Late Jurassic of Europe is here increased, thanks to the revision of two problematic specimens, not assignable to any of the four above mentioned taxa. Enaliochelys chelonia , is a poorly-known British taxon ignored since the late nineteenth century because of its putative synonymy with Thalassemys hugii . The validity of this taxon is supported here and a diagnosis for it is proposed for the first time. The other specimen, from France (Oleron Island), was previously attributed to “ Thalassemys moseri ”, which is currently considered invalid. It is recognized as a representative of a new taxon, Jurassichelon oleronensis gen. et sp. nov.
A Study on the Zooplanktonic Fauna of the Dam Lakes Kunduzlar and Çatören (Kırka-Eskişehir)

In the present study, the zooplanktonic fauna of the Kunduzlar and Catoren dam lakes (Kirka basin-Eskisehir) was investigated during August 1994-June 1995. Eight species of Rotifera, five species of Cladocera and two species of Copepoda were identified in both dam lakes. In addition, the mean zooplankton abundance (ind. m -3 ) and physical and chemical parameters of dam lakes were given.
Estudo comparativo entre o método convencional e o método da peroxidase anti-peroxidase na pesquisa do parasitismo tissular na cardiopatia chagásica crônica

In most patients with chronic Chagas disease the Trypanosoma cruzi has been shown to be present in extremely scanty numbers in all tissues extensively studied using conventional non-specific histologic techniques presently available. The present work was carried out in order to compare the immunocytochemical method of peroxidase anti-peroxidase (PAP) with the Haematoxilin and Eosin (HE) technique in the quantification of the parasitism in formalin fixed tissues from chronic chagasic patients. Using the same tissue fragment from each one of 3 cases of chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy, sections were obtained for HE (average: 100 sections per fragment) and for PAP (average: 70 sections per fragment). The fragment from case Nip. 1 was first studied in 1952 and presented with relatively great number of parasites. The results, expressed as amastigotes nests per 100 sections stained by HE and PAP were, respectively (HE — PAP): case No. 1, 80 — 171; case No. 2, 5-116 and case No. 3, 1-2. The present results show that the immunocytochemical method improves the quantitative evaluation of the parasitism in tissues of chronic Chagas disease. Furthemore. it should be preferred not only for the specific diagnosis taut also for quantitative studies on the tissular parasitism even in those tissues included in paraffin wax for long periods of time.
Phylogeny of New Zealand hepialid moths (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae) inferred from a cladistic analysis of morphological data

The phylogeny of the New Zealand hepialid moths was estimated from a cladistic analysis of sixty‐three morphological characters, from all life cycle stages. One hundred and sixteen maximum parsimony trees were produced. The phylogenetic reconstruction indicated that the currently recognized generic concepts, and the four informal lineages hypothesized in a previous morphological taxonomic revision, were monophyletic. The relationships of species within genus Wiseana were not fully resolved. Analysis of a data set of thirty‐nine adult male characters from the New Zealand taxa and the Australian genera Jeana, Oxycanus and Trictena supported the monophyly of the New Zealand ‘Oxycanus’ s.s lineage.
GROWTH AND DIFFERENTIATION OF THE SECONDARY PALATE IN A TELEOSTEAN FISH, ONCORHYNCHUS KISUTCH

A study was undertaken to examine the growth and differentiation of secondary palate in a teleostean fish, Oncorhynchus kisutch. The rate, pattern, and time of synthesis of various macromolecules, which play a crucial role during palate development in higher vertebrates were examined in the developing palate of fish. A spurt in DNA synthesis during midmorphogenesis of fish palate appeared to be related to temporal regulation of palate development. RNA synthesis was high during the time of primordial appearance and increased again from day 4 post hatching (PH) to correspond with differentiation of palate. Protein synthesis remained low initially but its trend paralleled that of RNA synthesis after day 4 PH. Glycosaminoglycan synthesis increased initially with the cartilaginous growth and then with the appearance of mucous cells. An increase in collagen synthesis corresponded with the thickening of collagen layer in the basement membrance. Cyclic AMP activity increased initially prior to the increase in DNA synthesis and subsequently remained high indicating its involvement in both growth and differentiation of fish palate. These profiles of synthesis of various macromolecules in teleostean fish differ considerably from that seen in higher vertebrates. On the basis of comparative analysis, it was suggested that the timing of mesenchymal differentiation may be one of the features in determining the characteristics of palate development in different classes of vertebrates. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The use of decoys to attract Least Terns ( Sterna antillarum ) to abandoned colony sites in New Jersey

A bstract. -The number of Least Tern colony sites in New Jersey has declined in recent years. Decoys were used at two recently abandoned Least Tern colony sites in New Jersey to encourage nesting. The sites were chosen because of their apparent suitability as colony sites and the relative ease of protecting them from human disturbance and predators. Least Terns were observed flying over and landing at both sites, although nesting occurred at only one site. The effect of decoys was statistically significant at the colony site used for nesting. At this site, 44.5% of the landings occurred in the plot containing decoys and only 10.6% of the landings were in the control plot. Nesting was initiated among the decoys. These results indicate that decoys can be used to attract Least Terns to abandoned colony sites and may be useful for managing Least Terns and other colonial nesting birds.
CALCIUM TRANSPORT IN FISH GILLS AND INTESTINE

In calcium-transporting epithelia, calcium can move transcellularly (when it passes inwards, from mucosa to serosa) and paracellularly (when it moves in both an inward and outward direction). An epithelium is considered to be ‘tight’ when the transcellular route dominates and leaky when there is additional significant paracellular transport. The branchial epithelium of the gills of freshwater fish is a good model for tight epithelia, whereas the gills of seawater fish and the intestine present a model for leaky epithelia. Generally, the regulation of transcellular inward calcium transport determines whether net absorption occurs and the regulation of paracellular calcium transport is pivotal to secretion in calcium-transporting epithelia. In its simplest form, transcellular transport requires movement of Ca2+ across the apical membrane, through the cytosol and across the basolateral membrane. At the same time, cellular calcium homeostasis must be maintained and, to this end, calcium is buffered in the cytosol by calcium-binding proteins and sequestered in the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria. Movement of calcium from the exterior of the cell to the cytosol is passive, down an electrochemical gradient, and appears to be regulated through channel or carrier proteins. The apical membrane contains a hormone-regulated carrier mechanism for Ca2+ entry. Movement from the cytosol to the exterior requires energy-consuming extrusion mechanisms, involving Ca2+-ATPase and/or Na+/Ca2+ exchange. The roles of such mechanisms in calcium transport phenomena in fish gills and intestine will be addressed.