Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Triclosan, Triclocarban, and Caffeine Exposure on the Development of Amphibian Larvae.

Triclosan and triclocarban are antimicrobials found in numerous consumer products, while caffeine is the most commonly consumed stimulant by humans. This study was undertaken to determine the effects of triclosan, triclocarban, and caffeine on the development and physiology of amphibian larvae. LC50 values of triclosan and triclocarban were determined after 96 hours for three North American larval species: Acris crepitans blanchardii, Bufo woodhousii woodhousii, Rana sphenocephala, and for a common amphibian developmental model: Xenopus laevis. Amphibian larvae were most sensitive to triclosan and triclocarban exposure during early development based upon 96-hour LC50 values. Heart rates for X. laevis and North American larvae exposed to triclosan were variable throughout development. However, significantly lower heart rates were observed in all larvae exposed to triclocarban. Metabolic rates of X. laevis and R. sphenocephala larvae exposed to triclosan were significantly affected in larvae exposed to ½ LC50 and the LC50 concentration. Metabolic rates of X. laevis larvae exposed to triclocarban were significantly affected by exposure to ½ LC50 concentrations in three of four stages investigated. No significant differences were observed in North American larvae exposed to triclocarban. Tissue uptake, lipid uptake, tissue bioconcentration factor (BCF) and lipid BCF of triclosan and triclocarban were investigated in three developmental stages of X. laevis, and in one developmental stage of B. woodhousii woodhousii, and R. sphenocephala. For most tissue and lipid uptake values, a significant increase was observed as exposure concentration increased. Tissue and lipid BCF values were dependent upon both stage and species. Chronic and acute effects of caffeine were determined in X. laevis larvae. Acute 96-hour LC50 values in four developmental stages were > 75,000 ug L-1 caffeine and heart rates were significantly different at the two earliest developmental stages. Larvae chronically exposed to caffeine reached metamorphosis at the same time as controls. Changes in chronic heart rate were dependent upon stage of development and exposure concentration. This research indicates that the toxicity of amphibian larvae exposed to triclosan, triclocarban, and caffeine appears to be dependent upon species and developmental stage, with early developmental stages being most sensitive to contaminant exposure.
Characterisation of virulence in populations of Meloidogyne chitwoodi and evidence for a resistance gene in pepper Capsicum annuum L. line PM 217

Doubled haploid lines of pepper from the F1 hybrid of PM 217 × Yolo Wonder were tested for their resistance to different populations of Meloidogyne chitwoodi. PM 217 has the Me1 gene for resistance to Meloidogyne incognita, M. arenaria, M. javanica and Me2 gene for resistance to M. hispanica. With two European populations a clear segregation was observed. The necrotic reactions and the resistant: susceptible segregation of 1 : 1 suggested the occurrence of a major gene, different from but close to Me1. With another European population of M. chitwoodi and with M. fallax, no resistance was observed. Two American and two southern European M. chitwoodi populations were totally avirulent to the two pepper parents. These results demonstrate the existence of great polymorphism in M. chitwoodi populations and of a major gene in pepper controlling a specific resistance against some populations.
Metal Selectivity of Exocytosis in α‐Toxin‐Permeabilized Bovine Chromaffin Cells

Abstract: Metal selectivity of exocytosis was analyzed by comparing the effects of polyvalent metal cations Ca2+, Ba2+, Sr2+, Pb2+, La3+, Cd2+, Co2+, Tb3+, Mn2+, and Zn2+ on the release of norepinephrine (NE) from staphylococcal α‐toxin‐permeabilized bovine chromaffin cells. Pb2+, La3+, Cd2+, Sr2+, and Ba2+ activated NE secretion accompanied by the release of intragranular dopamine β‐hydroxylase but not cytosolic lactate dehydrogenase, indicating the activation of the mechanism of exocytosis. The release triggered by saturating concentrations of Pb2+, La3+, Cd2+, and Sr2+ was nonadditive with Ca2+, indicating a common site of action. In contrast, the Ba2+‐evoked NE release was additive with Ca2+ and the Ca2+ agonists Pb2+, La3+, Cd2+, and Sr2+, suggesting that Ba2+ activates secretion at a site distinct from the Ca2+ receptor. In distinction to the NE release evoked by Pb2+, La3+, Cd2+, and Ba2+, the Sr2+‐evoked NE release was associated with a significant elevation of Ca2+ concentration in the medium and abolished by Ca2+ chelation. This indicates that the secretagogue effect of Sr2+ was indirect and secondary to the displacement of bound Ca2+. Co2+ and Mn2+ inhibited the NE release evoked by Ca2+, Sr2+, Pb2+, La3+, and Cd2+ but had no effect on the Ba2+‐dependent secretion. Tb3+ and Zn2+ were without effect on exocytosis.
The peach (Prunus persica) defensin PpDFN1 displays antifungal activity through specific interactions with the membrane lipids

Ppdfn1 is a defensin gene previously identified in peach (Prunus persica). The biological role of Ppdfn1 was investigated by analysing its expression profile in leaves, flowers and fruits, either inoculated with the Monilinia laxa fungal pathogen or mock-inoculated. Ppdfn1 expression was highest in flowers and, in fruits, did not vary upon M. laxa inoculation. To characterize the PpDFN1 antifungal activity, the recombinant mature peptide was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified; recombinant PpDFN1 displays antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea, M. laxa and Penicillium expansum, with IC50 values of 15·1, 9·9 and 1·1 μg mL−1, respectively. Treatment of fungal hyphae with FITC-labelled PpDFN1 indicated that the peptide is not internalized by fungal hyphae, but localizes on their external cell surface. At this site, PpDFN1 is capable of membrane destabilization and permeabilization, as demonstrated by SYTOX Green fluorescence uptake by the treated mycelia. Using artificial lipid monolayers, it was shown that PpDFN1 interacts with sphingolipid-containing membranes; however the strongest interaction occurs with monolayers composed of lipids extracted from sensitive fungi, such as P. expansum. These data suggest that the lipid composition of fungal membranes is of key relevance for defensin specificity.
For skin cancer growth, look below: dermal UV damage and skin field cancerization

way members, IKBKB (which encodes IkB kinase B) and TRAF2, which encodes tumor necrosis factor receptorassociated factor 2, using multiple additional BRAF-mutant cell lines. Furthermore, using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis, they observed significant enrichment for multiple independent gene sets associated with NF-kB pathway activation in RAF and MEK inhibitor resistant as compared to sensitive cell lines. Finally, addition of soluble TNFa was sufficient to induce RAF inhibitor resistance. This latter result is of particular interest as stromal-derived HGF was recently shown to confer resistance to RAF inhibitors (Straussman et al., 2012). In sum, the recent report by Wood et al., 2012 adds to the evolving model of RAF inhibitor resistance. In this model, vemurafenib resistance mechanisms can be divided into two general classes. The first of these include alterations that result in a failure of the drug to inhibit RAF signaling to a sufficient degree or for sufficient duration to induce growth arrest or cell death. Upstream activation of RAS (resulting from RAS mutation or RTK activation), increased expression of CRAF or the MEK kinase kinases COT and MOS or expression of RAF splice variants that dimerize in a RAS-independent manner are all resistance mechanisms that attenuate or prevent ERK inhibition by RAF inhibitors (Poulikakos et al., 2011). As resistance in this setting is due at least in part to failure of the drug to effectively inhibit ERK signaling, such tumors may retain sensitivity to inhibitors of MEK or ERK. The second class of RAF inhibitor resistance mechanisms includes alterations that diminish the RAF/MEK/ERKdependence of the tumor. In this scenario, resistance may occur despite effective inhibition of ERK signaling by the drug. Co-mutation of PTEN, AKT activation by other mechanisms, upstream activation of receptor tyrosine kinases with subsequent activation of parallel signaling pathways, loss of RB1 function and alterations in NF-kB signaling are all possible causes for diminished RAF-dependence (Xing et al., 2012). As more than one resistance mechanism may coexist in individual tumors, a detailed molecular analysis of a large cohort of tumor samples collected pre-treatment and at the time tumor progression on RAF inhibitors will be needed to determine their relative frequency and mutual exclusivity. The ultimate goal will be to use these data to guide the development of rational RAF inhibitor-based combination strategies. References
Sperm Competition, Sperm Depletion, Paternal Care, and Relative Testis Size in Birds

Testis mass in birds scales allometrically to body mass, the exponent being significantly smaller than unity. Two hypotheses were formulated in order to account for variation in relative testis size: (1) the sperm competition hypothesis, according to which males of taxa with a high intensity of sperm competition have larger testes than males of other taxa; and (2) the sperm depletion hypothesis, which proposes that taxa in which males copulate often also have large testes. Variation in testis mass after controlling for the effects of body mass and phylogeny was investigated in relation to copulation frequency per female (as a measure of the intensity of sperm competition) and per male (as a measure of the intensity of sperm depletion). Variation in relative testis mass was positively related to variation in copulation frequency per female, and the variation was significant; the sperm competition hypothesis was therefore supported by data. The sperm depletion hypothesis could not account for variation in testis size. Variation in relative testis mass was positively correlated with variation in social dispersion and was negatively correlated with variation in mate-guarding behavior. The extent of paternal care was related to certainty of paternity as estimated from the presence of mate guarding, but not from relative testis mass.
Leucémies aiguës myéloïdes et altérations de MYST3

Le chromosome 8 est frequemment implique dans les hemopathies. La region 8p11-12 est alteree dans de rares cas de syndromes myeloproliferatifs (SMP) et dans des leucemies aigues myeloides (LAM). Dans les SMP, le gene FGFR1 est implique. Dans les LAM, c’est le gene MOZ/MYST3 en 8p11. Ces LAM restent rares (< 1 % des LAM), une soixantaine de cas ont ete rapportes dans la litterature. Elles constituent un sous-groupe homogene associe a une composante monocytaire avec des images d’hemophagocytose au myelogramme. L’evolution de ces LAM est tres mauvaise puisque pres de la moitie des patients decedent dans les 10 mois suivant le diagnostic. Le seul traitement curatif a ce jour est l’allogreffe de moelle osseuse. La caracterisation moleculaire de ces LAM a permis d’identifier les differents genes partenaires de MYST3 et d’ameliorer la comprehension des mecanismes de leucemogenese. MYST3 et ses partenaires codent pour des histones acetyltransferases (HAT). Les alterations de MYST3 perturbent l’expression de genes cibles regules par les HAT. La translocation t(8;16)(p11;p13) est l’alteration la plus frequente et les differents transcrits de fusion MYST3-CBP et CBP-MYST3 sont a present bien caracterises. Les genes alteres pourraient constituer des cibles therapeutiques pour un traitement cible, les chimiotherapies conventionnelles restant actuellement inefficaces sur ces LAM MYST3.
Cloning and expression of the porcine obese gene

Abstract The product of the obese gene, leptin, may be an important regulator of adiposity via its regulation of feed intake and energy metabolism. Probes were developed using the polymerase chain reaction to analyze gene expression and determine the structure of the porcine ob gene. Porcine ob was expressed in adipose tissue as a 3,100 bp mRNA. Finished pigs (136 kg) had higher (P<.01) levels of ob mRNA (per unit of 6‐actin mRNA) in subcutaneous adipose tissue than did growing pigs (60 kg). Obese gene expression was not detected in tissues other than adipose depots. A genomic DNA fragment containing the ob gene was isolated from a cosmid DNA library. Sequence analysis indicates that the ob gene has three exons. A short untranslated sequence was identified as exon 1 and the amino acid coding sequence was located in the second and third exons. The gene structure, intron/exon boundaries, and the amino acid sequence was highly conserved in mammalian species. The porcine leptin amino acid sequence was 95%, 92.
The comparative study of Catharanthus roseus extract and extract loaded chitosan nanoparticles in alloxan induced diabetic rats

Objective: The purport of this study was carried out to define the antidiabetic and in vivo antioxidant activity of Catharanthus roseus var. alba extract loaded chitosan nanoparticles (ELCN) and methanolic leaf extract (MLE) in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Methods: The Alloaxan (ALX) model for the experimental induction of diabetes in rat. Animals were allocated into seven groups of six rats each: I Normal control group (NC) rats received distilled dihydrogen monoxide 10ml/kg, II diabetic group (DC) rats received 3% v/v Tween 80 in distilled water 10ml/kg, III diabetic rats fed with glibenclamide (GLB), IV & V fed with ELCN (50 and 100 mg/kg) and VI & VII fed with MLE (200 and 400 mg/kg). One-way ANOVA followed by post hoc test was acclimated to assess the consequential difference due to administration of ELCN and MLE. For in vivo antioxidant activity of ELCN and MLE, liver tissues were homogenized and were quantified reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were performed in NC, DC, GLB and ELCN as well as in MLE treated rats. Results: In alloxan-induced diabetic rats, both the ELCN and MLE decremented blood sugar levels and body weight at the cessation of 1st, 2nd and 3rd week after test extract treatment. Antioxidant enzymes activities such as CAT, SOD and GSH levels significantly decremented in the plasma and liver of diabetic rats compared to controls. The nanonization of extract lesser the dose, increment the bioavailability and specificity of required action. Conclusions: Findings of this study sanction us to establish scientifically ELCN and MLE as a potent antidiabetic agent with antioxidant effects.
Effect of sorghum ergot (Claviceps africana) on the performance of steers (Bos taurus) in a feedlot

The effect of ergot (Claviceps africana) in naturally infected sorghum was assessed in feedlot rations. Thirty-two Hereford steers (Bos taurus) in individual pens with access to shade were adapted to feedlot conditions and then offered one of four rations containing 0, 4.4, 8.8 or 17.6 mg/kg of ergot alkaloids (84% dihydroergosine, 10% dihydroelymoclavine and 6% festuclavine), equivalent to ~0, 10, 20 or 40 g/kg ergot (sclerotia/sphacelia) in the rations. These rations were withdrawn at noon on the second day because of severe hyperthermia and almost complete feed refusal in ergot-fed steers. After recovery on ergot-free rations for 5 days, treatment groups were incrementally introduced, over a further 3â€“12 days, to rations containing 0, 1.1, 2.2 or 4.4 mg/kg of alkaloids (~0, 2.5, 5 or 10 g/kg ergot, respectively). Relative exposure to ergot was maintained, so that the zero- (control), low-, medium- and high-ergot groups remained so. Steers were individually fed ad libitum, and water was freely available. Steers in all ergot-fed groups had significantly elevated rectal temperatures at 0800â€“1000 hours, even when the temperatureâ€“humidity index was only moderate (~70), and displayed other signs of hyperthermia (increased respiration rate, mouth breathing, excessive salivation and urination), as the temperatureâ€“humidity index increased to 73â€“79 during the day. Plasma prolactin was significantly reduced in ergot-fed groups. Voluntary feed intakes (liveweight basis) of the ergot-fed groups were significantly reduced, averaging 94, 86 and 86%, respectively, of the feed intakes of the control group. Hair coats were rough. While the control steers grew from a mean initial liveweight of 275 kg to a suitable slaughter weight of 455 kg in 17 weeks (growth rate 1.45 kg/day), ergot-fed groups gained only 0. 77â€“1.10 kg/day and took at least 5 weeks longer to reach the slaughter weight, despite removal of ergot at the same time as control steers were sent to slaughter. Sorghum ergot, even at low concentrations (1.1 mg alkaloids/kg feed) is severely detrimental to the performance of steers in the feedlot.
Review Paper. Ancient DNA

In the past two decades, ancient DNA research has progressed from the retrieval of small fragments of mitochondrial DNA from a few late Holocene specimens, to large-scale studies of ancient populations, phenotypically important nuclear loci, and even whole mitochondrial genome sequences of extinct species. However, the field is still regularly marred by erroneous reports, which underestimate the extent of contamination within laboratories and samples themselves. An improved understanding of these processes and the effects of damage on ancient DNA templates has started to provide a more robust basis for research. Recent methodological advances have included the characterization of Pleistocene mammal populations and discoveries of DNA preserved in ancient sediments. Increasingly, ancient genetic information is providing a unique means to test assumptions used in evolutionary and population genetics studies to reconstruct the past. Initial results have revealed surprisingly complex population histories, and indicate that modern phylogeographic studies may give misleading impressions about even the recent evolutionary past. With the advent and uptake of appropriate methodologies, ancient DNA is now positioned to become a powerful tool in biological research and is also evolving new and unexpected uses, such as in the search for extinct or extant life in the deep biosphere and on other planets.
QUANTITATIVE INVESTIGATIONS OF IDIOTYPIC ANTIBODIES

Antisera were prepared in rabbits against anti-p-azobenzoate antibodies of an A/J and a BALB/c mouse and anti-p-azophenylarsonate antibodies of an A/J mouse. After appropriate absorption the antisera reacted with the anti-hapten antibody of the donor mouse but, by sensitive quantitative tests, not at all with other components of the hyperimmune serum or with preimmune serum of the donor mouse. The absorbed antiserum therefore appeared to be specific for idiotypic determinants. Nearly all idiotypic specificities identified in the serum of the donor were also present in the serum of other mice of the same strain, immunized against the same hapten group, but not in mice immunized with a different hapten. In each case the antibodies of the donor mouse reacted most effectively on a weight basis with antiidiotypic antiserum. Cross-reactions were observed among different strains of mice but homologous anti-bodies reacted most effectively with antiidiotypic antisera. C57/BL and DBA antisera contained very low concentrations of specificities present in the A/J and BALB/c antibody populations; antibodies of A/J and BALB/c antisera are more closely related to one another. The results indicate that idiotypic specificity may provide a genetic marker for the variable regions of immunoglobulin polypeptide chains.
Growth differentiation factor 9 and bone morphogenetic protein 15 mRNA and protein: cellular localization and developmental expression in the ovary of European sea bass

Trabajo presentado como poster en la "Session V: Gametogenesis-II (Folliculogenesis)" del "9th International Symposium on Reproductive Physiology of Fish" celebrado en Thrissur (Cochin-India) del 9 al 14 de agosto de 2011.
Adhesive bond performance in glue line shear and bending for glued laminated guadua bamboo.

CORREAL JF & RAMIREZ F. 2010. Adhesive bond performance in glue line shear and bending for glued laminated guadua bamboo. An adhesive experimental programme was developed in order to establish the adhesive performance for glued laminated guadua bamboo (GLG) and to determine the best type of adhesive and its optimal spread rate. Static bending and glue line shear tests were performed on GLG specimens assembled with four types of adhesives and using the manufacturer's recommended spread rate. Urea-formaldehyde (UF), melamine-formaldehyde (MF), melamine-urea-formaldehyde (MUF), and a mixture of 50% of UF and 50% MF (MIX) were the selected adhesives. Differences in shear bond strength, modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) among all the adhesives were not significant when using the spread rate recommended by the manufacturer. Finally, glue line tests were performed using six different adhesive spread rates of the MIX adhesive. Optimum adhesive spread rates of 300 and 150 g m 2 on the wide and narrow faces respectively are recommended based on the bond shear strength and percentage of bamboo failure. Additional delamination and long-term tests should be performed in order to validate the recommended spread rates.
Was the Oligo‐Miocene Australian metatherian Yalkaparidon a ‘mammalian woodpecker’?

One of the most striking examples of convergent evolution within mammals is the suite of anatomical specializations shared by the primate Daubentonia of Madagascar and the marsupial Dactylopsila of Australia and New Guinea. Having last shared a common ancestor over 125 million years ago, these two genera have independently evolved extremely similar adaptations for feeding on xylophagous (wood-boring) insect larvae. These include enlarged incisors to gouge holes in wood, cranial modifications to strengthen the skull against the stresses generated by wood gouging and elongate manual digits that are used as probes to extract the larvae. Elsewhere in the world, the same ecological niche is filled by birds (woodpeckers or morphologically convergent forms) that use their beaks for wood gouging. An extinct group of eutherian mammals, the apatemyids, exhibit very similar craniodental and postcranial adaptations to Daubentonia and Dactylopsila and presumably also occupied the woodpecker niche. A qualitative analysis of characters of the skull and dentition of the enigmatic Oligo-Miocene Australian metatherian Yalkaparidon– specifically its combination of very large, open-rooted incisors, zalambdodont molars and features to strengthen the skull against rostral bending – supports the hypothesis that it is probably a fourth ‘mammalian woodpecker’. Discovery of the (as yet unknown) manus of Yalkaparidon will test this hypothesis by revealing whether any of its digits are elongate. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 97, 1–17.