Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Birds, body size and the threat of extinction

A relation between body size and threat of extinction for animal species has often been hypothesized. However, evidence for the form of the relation is equivocal, and studies can be found reporting positive, negative, or no relation between body size and extinction risk. One way to assess this relation is to compare the body sizes of species considered to be globally threatened with those of species considered to be less at risk. We adopt this approach for birds, considering a bird to be in danger of global extinction if it was listed by Collar & Andrew (ICBP technical publication no. 8 (1988)). Threatened species of bird are, on average, larger-bodied than non-threatened species. This difference is not due to size differences between island endemic species and species with continental distributions. Island endemic and continental species show no consistent body size differences. The relation between body mass and threat of extinction is not due to differences between higher taxa: within taxa, there is still a relation between body size and extinction threat. We present evidence that the degree of threat faced by endangered species may also be related to body mass. We discuss possible explanations for the observed patterns, and conclude that a genuine tendency for large-bodied birds to be more at risk from extinction than small-bodied species is the most likely.
IL 10 promoter polymorphism and gastric cancer risk in A +ve blood group patients in Kashmiri population

Within the past few years, there has been increasing evidence that the genetic variation in the genes coding pro- and anti-inflammatory markers may play an important role in the pathogenesis of various human cancers, including gastric cancer. The aim of the study was to evaluate the association of Interleukin- 10 (IL-10)-1082 G/A and -592 C/A promoter polymorphism with gastric cancer in a North Indian population from Kashmir valley, using a PCR-RFLP approach. In this study, 102 gastric cancer patients and 156 age, sex, dwelling and blood group matched healthy controls were included. Association between genotypes and gastric cancer was examined by odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) and Chi-square analysis. In our study, it was observed that significant difference exists between the patients and healthy controls, in genotypic distribution as well as allelic frequency (p 0.0001) with gastric cancer. Our results suggest that A allele of IL-10 gene is an important genetic risk factor for Gastric cancer in the North Indian population from ethnic Kashmiri population. However, this is a preliminary study and the results need to be confirmed in a larger cohort.
Regulated Alteration of Mycolic Acid Structure in the Cell Wall of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis

The hallmark of infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the agent of tuberculosis, is its ability to persist in a human host for many years. The lipid-rich cell wall of M. tuberculosis serves as an effective barrier against many chemotherapeutic agents and toxic host cell effector molecules, and it may contribute to the mechanism of persistence. M. tuberculosis strains mutated in a 13-gene operon called mce1, which encodes a putative ABC lipid transporter, induce aberrant granulomatous response in mouse lungs. Because of the postulated role of the mce1 operon in lipid importation, we compared the cell wall lipid composition of wild type and mce1 operon mutant M. tuberculosis strains. High resolution mass spectrometric analyses of the mce1 mutant lipid extracts showed unbound mycolic acids to accumulate in the cell wall. Quantitative analysis revealed more than 10-fold greater amount of free mycolates in the mutant compared to that of the wild type strain. The mycolates from the wild type and mce1 operon mutant strains showed no difference in the fractions covalently attached to trehalose or arabinogalactan, indicating that the accumulation of free mycolic acid was not due to a defect in substrate mycolation. No differences were observed in colony morphology between wild type and mce1 operon mutant strains. Since the mce1 operon's expression is regulated in vivo in wild type M. tuberculosis, the above observations suggest that bacterial cell wall can undergo dynamic structural alterations during a course of infection, which may serve as an adaptive strategy for this organism to maintain persistence in a host.
Prevalence of dry eyes in patients with Type-2 diabetes mellitus

Purpose: To estimate the prevalence of dry eyes in patients with Type-2 diabetes mellitus and to compare various tests of dry eye. Materials and Methods: An analytical cross sectional study was conducted on 150 patients diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Dry eyes symptoms were assessed using Ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire and graded according to severity. The diagnosis was confirmed by positive Ocular surface staining pattern with fluorescein, Tear film breakup time test (TBUT) or Schirmers test. Severity of dry eyes was determined and prevalence calculated. Results: The prevalence rate of dry eye disease among diabetics was calculated as 36% on the basis of Ocular surface disease index. Mild, moderate and severe dry eyes were present in 16%, 16% and 4% patients respectively. TBUT showed very good agreement with highest diagnostic accuracy. Schirmers test and Fluorescein test had good and moderate agreement respectively. Conclusion: Diabetes mellitus associated dry eye disease (DMDES) is the most frequent diabetic complication in clinical practice. Clinical trials are warranted to confirm the effects of the currently applied drugs in diabetes-associated DES for a better outcome in such patients. Our study can act as a stepping stone for larger multi-centric studies to gain more information about this largely unrecognized problem of diabetes associated dry eye disease. Keywords: Ary eye, Diabetes, Fluorescein, OSDI, Schirmers test, TBUT, Tear film.
Quantitative AssayforBinding ofBradyrhizobium japonicum to Cultured Soybean Cellst

Incubation ofBradyrhizobium japonicum withthecultured soybean cell line SB-1resulted intheadhesion of thebacteria totheplantcells. An antiserum wasraised against B.japonicum, andthe1251-laheled immunoglobulin fraction wasusedtoquantitate thenumberofbacteria boundtothesoybean cells. The measurement of'251-labeled antibody binding correlated well withparallel assays bymicroscopic observation. Using this quantitation, wehaveoptimized theparameters oftheassay intermsoftimecourse, ratio ofB. japonicum toSB-1cells, andpH.Wethenexplored theeffects ofsaccharides, NaCl, EDTA,andculture ageof thebacteria andSB-1cells onB.japonicum binding underthese optimal assay conditions. Theresults showed goodcorrelation between conditions thatgovern B.japonicum binding toSB-1cells inculture andthose that regulate B.japonicum-induced nodulation inlegume roots. Together, theysuggest that this binding event may beimportant incontrolling hostspecfficity. Inprevious studies we haveshownthatincubation of Bradyrhizobium japonicum withthecultured soybean cell line SB-1, originally derived fromtheroots ofGlycine max, resulted inspecific adhesion ofthebacteria totheplant cells (10). Therewascorrelation between Rhizobium binding and establishment ofinvivosymbiosis; onlyhomologous Rhizobiumstrains that normally nodulate soybean rootsboundto theSB-1cells. Inallofthesestudies, thebinding ofthe bacteria totheplant cell wasassayed bymicroscopic observation. To characterize thistissue culture modelofB. japonicum-soybean cell adhesion, itwasofinterest tocorrelate thevarious parameters that affect this binding ofB. japonicum toSB-1cells withcorresponding effects onin vivonodulation. Theavailability ofaquantitative assay of Bradyrhizobium binding wouldobviously facilitate such analysis. Oneapproach totheestablishment ofaquantitative assay ofthebinding eventistogenerate antibodies specific forB. japonicum andtouseitasa measureofthenumberof bacteria boundtoaplant cell. Tothis end, wehaveobtained anantiserum directed against B.japonicum. We havecharacterized this antibody preparation andusedittodevelop a reliable assayfortheanalysis ofthefactors governing Bradyrhizobium adhesion tocultured SB-1cells. Theresults indicate thattheparameters whichaffect Bradyrhizobium binding inourtissue culture modelcorrelate well withthose observed ininvivostudies ofnodulation. Moreover, many oftheeffects ofagents thataffect nodulation cannowbe ascribed toeffects onthebinding event.
Carcass characteristics of broilers at 42 days receiving diets with phytase in different energy and crude protein levels

Objetivou-se, com este trabalho, estudar as caracteristicas de carcaca e qualidade da carne do peito depois da inclusao de fitase em dietas para frangos de corte, com diferentes niveis de energia metabolizavel aparente corrigida para nitrogenio (EMAn) e proteina bruta (PB) reduzida, suplementadas com aminoacidos essenciais seguindo o conceito de proteina ideal. Foram utilizados 1.500 frangos machos Cobb dos 22 aos 42 dias de idade com peso inicial de 833 ± 7 g e final de 2741 ± 48 g distribuidos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial 3x3+1 (tres niveis de EMAn - 2950, 3100 e 3250 kcal/kg - e tres de PB - 14, 16 e 18% - e um tratamento adicional - controle, sem fitase, com 3100 kcal/kg EMAn, 19,2% de PB e 0,4% de fosforo disponivel) em seis repeticoes com 25 aves cada. Ao final do experimento, duas aves de cada parcela foram sacrificadas para a mensuracao do rendimento de carcaca e de cortes e determinacao da composicao quimica da carne do peito. Os niveis de energia e proteina em racoes com fitase influenciaram (P<0,05) os rendimentos de carcaca, peito e gordura abdominal a porcentagem de umidade, proteina e lipidios no musculo pectoralis major das aves, sendo os niveis de 3100 kcal EMAn/kg e 18% de PB os que proporcionaram maiores rendimentos de carcaca e de peito e menor deposicao de gordura abdominal, mas em maior teor de lipidios na carne do peito. Conclui-se que a manipulacao da energia em racoes com reduzido teor de proteina e suplementadas com aminoacidos e fitase influencia o rendimento de cortes e a qualidade da carne do peito de frangos aos 42 dias.
A biophysical model of fruit growth: simulation of seasonal and diurnal dynamics of mass

A model of fruit growth was developed, based on a biophysical representation of water and dry material transport, which is coupled with cell wall extension stimulated by turgor pressure. The fluxes of materials connect the growing fruit with the parent plant (by phloem and xylem transport) and with the ambient atmosphere (by respiration and transpiration). The sugars are transported from the phloem to the fruit mesocarp by mass flow, passive diffusion and an active (and/or facilitated) mechanism. The stages after cell division has ceased and when fruit growth is due mainly to cell enlargement were modelled. This enabled us to consider the fruit as a cell community with a constant number of cells and to apply directly the equation describing the effect of hydrostatic pressure on the irreversible cell wall expansion elaborated originally for a single cell. The model was applied to the peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] fruit. Seasonal and diurnal fruit growth, expressed in terms of dry and fresh mass changes, was calculated for conditions of water stress with various crop loads. Simulation of the diurnal patterns of fruit fresh mass variation revealed, in agreement with observations, intensive growth by night and midday fruit shrinkage, which depend on plant water status and on crop load.
PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND IN VITRO ANTIBACTERIAL ASSESSMENT OF DIFFERENT INDIGOFERA ARRECTA SOLVENT EXTRACTS AGAINST SELECTED PATHOGENIC MICROORGANISMS

Objective: The current study was done to analyze qualitatively the presence of pharmacological compounds and the antibacterial activity of different extracts of Indigo feraarrecta. Methods: The plant was extracted using hydromethanolic solvent. The extracted compounds were dissolved in different solvents according to their polarity and then concentrated using a rotar vapor with a water bath at 40 o C. The antibacterial assessment was done using well diffusion method and the phytochemicals analysed using standard procedures with minor adjustments. Results and discussion: The study demonstrated thatthe plant contains very important pharmacological compounds. The extracts tested had different inhibitions on the microorganisms tested. Ethyl acetate extract inhibited the growth of all the selected pathogenic organisms while the water extract inhibited the growth of three out of the five microorganisms tested. Hexane and butanol inhibited only Bacillus cereus out of the five microorganisms used in the study. The penicillin which was used as the positive control inhibited the growth of all the organisms, while dimethylsulfoxide(DMSO) did not inhibit the growth of any of the organisms. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed there was significant difference in the microorganisms zones of inhibition (P<0.05). Conclusion: The results obtained in this research are a scientific justification of the plant’s use in the treatment of various diseases. The results have revealed thatthe plant has great potency in the treatment against infections caused by all the bacteria tested. However, further research needs to be done to isolate the active compounds, identify their structural formula, their mode of action and their effect in the in vivo environment.
Condiciones hidrofísicas de suelos con alta saturación de magnesio en el Valle del Cauca, Colombia

En las planicies del Valle del Cauca existen 116.872 ha con dominio del ion Mg+2 en el complejo de cambio, especialmente asociadas con vertisoles, lo que ocasiona marcado efecto sobre las propiedades fisicas del suelo y el crecimiento de las plantas. Se selecciono un grupo de suelos (13) entre los municipios de Palmira y La Victoria en el departamento del Valle del Cauca, sobre dos posiciones de paisaje (planicie fluvio-lacustre y planicie aluvial de piedemonte) definidas mediante criterios de geomorfologia y unidades taxonomicas. El reconocimiento y la caracterizacion de suelos con alta saturacion de magnesio permitio determinar que son arcillosos (> 30%), muy plasticos y con altos COEL (> 0.09), inestables y con estructura debil o sin estructura (masivos), con alta densidad aparente en seco (> 1.7 Mg.m-3) y baja porosidad total (< 35%), presentan cambios importantes de volumen (< 28%) y desarrollo de grietas con la perdida de humedad. Tienen alta capacidad de retencion de humedad, limitada disponibilidad de agua para las plantas, baja tasa de infiltracion y conductividad hidraulica clasificada como lenta. Estas propiedades son mas acentuadas en la posicion fluvio lacustre del Valle del Cauca.
Age, growth and longevity of the grey triggerfish, Balistes capriscus Gmelin, 1789 (Teleostei, Balistidae) in the Gulf of Gabès, southern Tunisia, Mediterranean Sea

The age and growth parameters of grey triggerfish, Balistes capriscus from the Gulf of Gabès, southern Tunisia, Mediterranean Sea, were estimated from the first dorsal spine sections of 463 specimens (206 males and 257 females), whose fork length was between 139 and 427 mm and the total weight ranged from 90.04 to 1967.41 g. The monthly percentage of specimens having a terminal translucent zone has indicated that the growth zone is formed once a year, during the cold season (February). The von Bertalanffy growth equations were: FL = 420.7 [1 − e−0.233(t + 0.123)] and FL = 417.0 [1 − e−0.238(t + 0.074)], for males and females, respectively. The longevity estimated was 13 years old for both sexes. The instantaneous mortality rates were estimated to 0.23 for males and 0.24 for females. The weight–length relationships of the grey triggerfish were Wt = 21.510−3 LF3.046 and Wt = 41.010−3 LF2.835, for males and females, respectively.
Interleukin l and T Cell Activation

The antigen-specific activation of T cells is dependent upon two distinct but interdependent macrophage signals. Macrophages are required to bin^, process, and present antigens in an immunogcnic form to T cells (Schwartz et ul. 1978). This function of the macrophage is genetically-restricted and is a property of an la positive subpopulation of macrophages. The second macfophage-derived T cell activating signal is a Iow molecular weight antigen-non-specific peptide termed interleukin 1 (IL I) (Aarden et al. 1979) that is apparently produced by all macrophages (Oppenheim etal. 1979). As will be discussed in this review, IL I appears to act as a maturational signal, preparing T cells to respond to antigens or secondary mediator signals. One of the major activities of interleukin 1 is to induce the synthesis and secretion of the T cell-derived mitogenic lymphokine, interleukin 2 (IL2) (Farrar et al. 1980b, Smith et al. 1980, Larsson et al. 1980). This link between IL 1 and IL 2 is an essential element in the T cell activation sequence because it involves the conversion of a primary macrophage-derived maturational signal into a secondary T cell-derived proliferative signal that results in the amplification of specific immune responses.
New Roles for Eicosanoids as Regulators of Epithelial Function and Growth

Eicosanoids have been most often considered in the context of their role as intercellular signaling molecules. However, recent evidence points to possible intracellular and/or autocrine roles of these compounds in a variety of cell systems. The evidence for such a signaling role in epithelial cells, as well as the possible modulation of this process that might occur in disease states, is summarized.
American Mink (Neovison vison) Trapping in the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve: Enhancing Current Trap Systems to Control an Invasive Predator

Improvement of invasive American mink (Neovison vison) trapping methods in the Cape Horn Archipelago is a priority for wildlife managers. We assessed the use of cubby sets (16 × 16 × 30 cm plywood boxes) containing body gripping lethal traps to control mink along the Beagle Channel. We compared effectiveness, selectivity and weather condition resistance between two cubby set designs: (i) open front, and (ii) restricted entrance (lidded with a 6 cm aperture). The effectiveness of bait was evaluated between fresh versus canned fish. Thirteen minks and no non-target species were captured with the restricted entrance systems, as compared with three minks and 25 non-target individuals (six species) in open front cubby sets. Fresh fish resulted in more captures than canned fish, and lids made traps less susceptible to false activation. Traps inside restricted entrance cubby sets, baited with fresh fish were found to be most suitable for mink control and/or eradication efforts.
How Migrants Get There: Migratory Performance and Orientation

ABSTRACT Migratory animals show a suite of adaptations to cope with their journeys. These include not only morphological features for efficient locomotion and storage of energy but also behavioral adjustments to exploit winds and currents or to avoid drift caused by moving fluids. Migration strategies across locomotory modes can be analyzed in the context of optimality models, using some general principles concerning migration range and selection criteria. Comparisons of model predictions with natural behavior help researchers understand the selection pressures that underlie migration strategies. We give examples of typical migration speeds and distances for animals using different locomotion models. Successful migration also requires accurate orientation and/or navigation between distant areas for reproduction and survival. Animals can use a suite of different compasses, which may be cross-calibrated or integrated for direction finding, depending on the geographical and ecological situation, and may be used with an endogenous clock for time compensation.
High Bacterial Load Predicts Poor Outcomes in Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Background Repetitive alveolar damage and aberrant repair may be important in the development of the fatal condition Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). The role played by microorganisms in this cycle is unknown. Methods We consecutively enrolled patients diagnosed with IPF according to international criteria together with healthy smokers, non-smokers and subjects with moderate Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) as controls. Subjects underwent bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) from which genomic DNA was isolated. The V3-V5 region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene was amplified, allowing quantification of bacterial load and identification of communities by 16S rRNA qPCR and pyrosequencing. Results Our 65 IPF patients had 3.9×109 copies of the 16S rRNA gene per ml of BAL, two-fold more than the 1.8×109 copies in 44 sex- and smoking-matched controls (P<0.0001). Baseline BAL bacterial burden predicted Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) decline (P=0.02). Patients in the highest tertile of bacterial burden were at a higher risk of mortality compared to subjects in the lowest tertile (hazard ratio 4.59 (95% CI, 1.05-20); P=0.04). Sequencing yielded 912,883 high quality reads from all subjects. Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) representing Haemophilus, Streptococcus, Neisseria and Veillonella were 1.5 to 3.5 fold more abundant in cases than controls (P<0.05). Regression analyses indicated that these specific OTUs as well as bacterial burden associated independently with IPF. Conclusions IPF is characterised by an increased bacterial burden in BAL that predicts decline in lung function and death. Clinical trials of antimicrobial therapy may determine if microbial burden is causal or not in IPF progression.
High-chlorophyll fluorescence (hcf) mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana - a tool for the identification of factors involved in thylakoid membrane biogenesis

Chloroplast­localized proteins that are necessary for the biogenesis, performance and acclimation of the photosynthetic protein complexes are currently under intense research. Hundreds of such proteins in the stroma, the thylakoid membrane and the lumen assist the biogenesis and constant repair of the photosynthet­ ic electron transport chain. During recent years for­ ward genetic screens for chloroplast­defe ctive pheno­ types have repeatedly led to novel insights into pro­ cesses involved in the biogenesis of the protein com­ plexes of the thylakoid membrane. The identified nu­ clear­encoded factors are predominantly involved in posttranscriptional processes of chloroplast gene ex­ pression. Many proteins are required du ring chloro­ plast RNA maturation and stabilization. Pentatrico­ peptide repeat (PPR) proteins operate as RNA­binding factors and seem to be the major protein family impli­ cated in functions of chloroplast RNA metabolism. Chloroplast translation is regulated in response to a variety of biotic and abiotic factors, however, on ly little is known about the molecular mechanisms that under­ lie these processes. The assembly of the photosynthetic machinery with its numerous cofactors also requires the activity of nuclear­encoded proteins, several of which are conserved throughout the plant kingdom. However, some factors are present only in green alga and higher plants, indicating that th e assembly of the photosynthetic apparatus in photosynthetic eukary­ otes required the evolution of novel proteins.