Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The bc1-2 Proto-Oncogene is Overexpressed in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Abstract Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a disease in which lymphoid hyper-reactivity occurs. Whether this is primary or secondary is not always clear. SLE occurs on a well defined genetic background including genes associated with the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) although family studies demonstrate that other genes must be involved as well. Other potential genes include those involved in intrinsic lymphoid hyper-reactivity, for example by preventing programmed cell death. Such examples exist in murine models of SLE, and in this study we provide evidence that one such controlling protein, bc1-2, is expressed in an increased proportion of both B and T cells in SLE patients. The increased expression was not readily related to disease activity measured by the SIS, nor by routine serological markers. This raises the possibility that the increased expression of bc1-2 seen in lymphoid cells from SLE patients may be of intrinsic genetic origin rather than being secondary to the auto-reactive process. Such increased expression could be expected to interfere with programmed cell death, to produce lymphoid hyper-reactivity and to contribute to the induction and maintenance of this prototype systemic autoimmune disease.
Agronomic changes from 58 years of genetic improvement of short-season soybean cultivars in Canada

In Canada, yield of short-season soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ] cultivars has increased by approximately 0.5% per year since they were first cultivated in the early 1930s. Future yield gains may be dependent on an understanding of the changes made to soybean cultivars by breeding and selection. Our objective was to examine physiological differences associated with seed yield increase within a group of historical cultivars. At Ottawa. Ontario, we grew 14 cultivars representing seven decades of breeding and selection (1934-1992) in a randomized complete block design with four replications, across 4 years. Growth analysis provided data on leaf area and dry weight. Photosynthetic rate per leaf area was measured at several stages of development each year. Yield and harvest index were determined at maturity. The number of days to maturity and the total plant dry weight were not affected by the year of cultivar release. Seed yield, harvest index, and photosynthetic rate were found to have increased by 0.5% per year, while leaf area index decreased by 0.4% per year. The increase in seed yield with year of release was significantly correlated with an increase in harvest index, photosynthesis, and stomatal conductance and a decrease in leaf area index. Today's cultivars are more efficient at producing and allocating carbon resources to seeds than were their predecessors.
Population Ecology of Desert Rodent Communities: Body Size and Seed-Husking as Bases for Heteromyid Coexistence

Seven species of heteromyid rodents varying in size from 8 to 114 g were studied in the laboratory. Starved rodents husked four kinds of large seeds (spinach, sunflower, squash and pumpkin) and were timed at the task. Geometric mean husking times varied from 3.1 to 70.1 seconds, depending on the seed and the rodent. Husking time was inversely proportional to an animal's body size. However, despite their slowness, smaller animals appear to be more efficient at dealing with these large seeds because they have a smaller metabolic drain. This conclusion is based on the assumption that gross caloric need increases linearly with (body weight). 75. The authors defend the assumption and thus believe that smaller animals have a competitive advantage while husking seeds. These rodents might engage in a limited amount of habitat and resource selection based on their relative seed—husking abilities. However, the order in which the various species should prefer these seeds is quite similar, so resource allocation based on husking speed differences would seem of little potential importance in maintaining competing heteromyids in a state of coexistence. Previous investigators have shown that seed selection occurs in some cases, but many cases are also known in which little or no selection is practiced.
Glucose Stimulates Glucagon Release in Single Rat α-Cells by Mechanisms that Mirror the Stimulus-Secretion Coupling in β-Cells

In isolated rat pancreatic α-cells, glucose, arginine, and the sulfonylurea tolbutamide stimulated glucagon release. The effect of glucose was abolished by the KATP-channel opener diazoxide as well as by mannoheptulose and azide, inhibitors of glycolysis and mitochondrial metabolism. Glucose inhibited KATP-channel activity by 30% (P < 0.05; n = 5) and doubled the free cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration. In cell-attached recordings, azide opened KATP channels. The N-type Ca2+-channel blocker ω-conotoxin and the Na+-channel blocker tetrodotoxin inhibited glucose-induced glucagon release whereas tetraethylammonium, a blocker of delayed rectifying K+ channels, increased secretion. Glucagon release increased monotonically with increasing K+ concentrations. ω-Conotoxin suppressed glucagon release to 15 mm K+, whereas a combination of ω-conotoxin and an L-type Ca2+-channel inhibitor was required to abrogate secretion in 50 mm K+. Recordings of cell capacitance revealed that glucose increased the exocytotic response .
Produção e desenvolvimento radicular de plantas de café 'Conilon' propagadas por sementes e por estacas

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a producao e o desenvolvimento radicular e da parte aerea de plantas de cafe 'Conilon', provenientes de sementes e de estacas, no Municipio de Vila Valerio, ES. Foi utilizado o delineamento experimental em blocos ao acaso com dois tratamentos (mudas provenientes de sementes e de estacas) e 12 repeticoes com cinco plantas uteis por parcela. As avaliacoes da parte aerea foram realizadas a partir de sete meses do plantio. Foram realizadas seis desbrotas e cinco colheitas. A avaliacao do sistema radicular foi realizada aos 52 meses depois do plantio em quatro profundidades (0-10, 10-20, 20-40 e 40-60 cm). Foram quantificados o diâmetro, o comprimento e a area superficial de raizes. As plantas propagadas por estaca emitiram maior numero de ramos plagiotropicos, durante os sete primeiros meses de idade, e menor numero de brotos ortotropicos durante todo o experimento. Nao houve diferencas no comprimento e na area superficial de raizes finas, entre plantas propagadas por sementes e por estacas. Houve maior concentracao de raizes finas nas camadas superficiais do solo. A produtividade das plantas propagadas por estacas e maior do que a das plantas propagadas por sementes.
Use of a Nisin-Producing Starter Culture Suitable for Cheddar Cheese Manufacture

Abstract A nisin-producing starter culture that produced acid at rates suitable for Cheddar cheese manufacture was developed by combining the naturally occurring lactose-fermenting, nisin-producing, and proteinase-positive strain Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis NCDO 1404 and the lactose-positive, nisin-positive, proteinase-positive transconjugant Lactococcus lactis ssp. cremoris JS102. Cheddar cheese manufactured with 1% NCDO 1404 and . 5% JS102 as starter cultures exhibited normal acid development; the cheese was of normal composition and contained ca. 700 IU of nisin/g. Experiments using a nisin resistance factor from plasmid pFG010 to increase resistance to nisin by L. lactis ssp. lactis C2 revealed that nisin resistance and acid development by the recipient increased in the presence of nisin. However, the mechanism of resistance encoded by pFG010 resulted in inactivation of nisin in the test system.
Structure and expression of two polygalacturonase genes of Claviceps purpurea oriented in tandem and cytological evidence for pectinolytic enzyme activity during infection of rye

Two putative polygalacturonase (PG) genes were isolated from strain T5 of Claviceps purpurea, using the pgall gene of Aspergillus niger as a probe. The two genes (pg1 and pg2) are closely linked and arranged head - to-tail. They are highly homologous even in the upstream noncoding sequences, possess one intron each in the same position, and have cleavage sites for processing enzymes. They probably code for mature proteins of 343 and 344 amino acids, respectively, and share significant homology with endo-PGs of other filamentous fungi. Expression of pgl and pg2 in axenic culture and during various stages of infection of rye was demonstrated using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The potential substrate of the putative products of pg1 and pg2 (polygalacturonic acid), for the first time, was shown to be a component of the host cell walls in rye ovaries. This was achieved by immunogold transmission electron microscopy with the monoclonal antibody (MAb) JIM 5, specific for nonmethyl-esterified epitopes of pectin. This homogalacturonan was localized along the usual infection path in healthy carpels together with its methyl-esterified galacturonan type in the same cell walls with another MAb, JIM 7. At the interface of the penetrating hyphae and the host ovary epidermis, JIM 5 label density was locally enhanced and very high above hyphal sheaths. In the vicinity of intercellularly growing hyphae, label density was highly increased, and gold label occurred not only above the middle lamella area but also throughout the entire host cell wall. Chemical demethylation and immunogold labeling indicated a high total content of galacturonan and a conversion of pectic compounds at the host-parasite interface. During late infection phases, the lack of any JIM label, which previously occurred at the interface of intracellular hyphae, emphasized the complete utilization of homogalacturonan together with other plant polysaccharides. The observed host wall alterations provide evidence for secretion and activity of extracellular pectinolytic enzymes in planta. Both the expression of the two genes during infection of rye and the modification and degradation of homogalacturonan detected only at fungal sites indicate the fungal origin of pectinolytic enzymes, the activities of which have been documented previously in infected ovaries by B. I. Shaw and P. G. Mantle.
Distribuição espacial de insetos aquáticos em igarapés de pequena ordem na Amazônia Central

Small streams, at the Biological Dynamics of Fragmented Forest Project - INPA ca. 80 Km north from the city of Manaus (Amazonas, Braszil) , were studied concerning the composition of the aquatic insects communities in different substrates. In each one of the 20 stretches, four samples of the principal biotopes were collected: leaf litter in riffle areas, leaf litter deposited on the botton of the stream, sand and roots/vegetation on marginal banks.The aim of this study were to evaluate the aquatic insect fauna and relate it with specific substrates inside the igarape. Leaf litter in riffle presented high richness number (106) while sand showed the lowest value (55). Higher similarity values occurred between leaf litter deposited on the botton and marginal roots/vegetation. Lower values occurred between leaf litter in riffle and sand substrates. Some collected taxa were considered indicators of one type of substrate, but there were some taxa that showed no preference. The indicator taxa occurred in riffle litter were found in deposited leaf litter in Southeast streams of Brazil. This indicates the current velocity may be responsible for the community established. The size of the stream is related to the order and flow regime. In this study bigger streams (presenting higher values of flow and order) showed more distinct communities in each substrate than the smaller ones.
Growth and development of North Pacific gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus)

Understanding variability in growth patterns of marine mammals provides insights into the health of individuals and status of populations. Body growth of gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) has been described for particular life stages, but has not been quantified across all ages. We derived a comprehensive growth equation for gray whales by fitting a two-phased growth model to age-specific length data of eastern North Pacific gray whales that were captured, stranded, or harvested between 1926 and 1997. To predict mass-at-age, we used the allometric relationship between mass and length. We found that on average (± SD), calves were 4.6 ± 0.043 m and 972 ± 26 kg at birth, and reached 8.5 ± 0.095 m and 6,019 ± 196 kg by the end of their first year of life (n = 118). Thus, calves almost double (2×) in length and octuple (8×) in mass while nursing, and are effectively about two-thirds of their asymptotic adult length and one-third of their maximum mass when weaned. The large sample of aged individuals (n = 730) indicates that gray whales live up to ∼48 years and have a life expectancy of < 30 years. Adult females attain a mean (± SD) asymptotic size of 13.1 ± 0.048 m and 20,758 ± 222 kg, while the smaller males average 12.6 ± 0.048 m and 19,938 ± 222 kg at ∼40 years of age. Females are thereby ∼4% longer and heavier than males. These age-specific estimates of body size can be used to estimate food requirements and assess nutritional status of individuals.
Weed management in irrigated fenugreek grown for forage in rotation with other annual crops

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecom L.) is an annual legume that has potential as a forage crop on the Canadian Prairies. Experiments were established to determine the tolerance of fenugreek to several herbicides and their efficacy on various weeds. Potentially, fenugreek could be grown in conservation tillage systems in rotation with other annual crops. Therefore, additional multi-factor experiments were conducted to determine the effect of herbicides, seeding method, and 11 previous crops on fenugreek yield. Without herbicide application, weeds contributed 37 to 86% to total dry matter production. When imazamox/imazethapyr, or combinations of imazamoz/imazethapyr or imazethapyr with ethalfluralin was applied, weed contents were about 5% of the total dry matter and the herbicides did not reduce fenugreek yield compared to the hand-weeded check. Total forage samples with a low weed content had lower fibre content and higher protein and digestible dry matter content than forages with a high weed content.
Internal Conductance to CO2 Diffusion and C18OO Discrimination in C3 Leaves

18O discrimination in CO2 stems from the oxygen exchange between 18O-enriched water and CO2 in the chloroplast, a process catalyzed by carbonic anhydrase (CA). A proportion of this 18O-labeled CO2 escapes back to the atmosphere, resulting in an effective discrimination against C18OO during photosynthesis (Δ18O). By constraining the δ18O of chloroplast water (δe) by analysis of transpired water and the extent of CO2-H2O isotopic equilibrium (θeq) by measurements of CA activity (θeq = 0.75–1.0 for tobacco, soybean, and oak), we could apply measured Δ18O in a leaf cuvette attached to a mass spectrometer to derive the CO2 concentration at the physical limit of CA activity, i.e. the chloroplast surface (ccs). From the CO2 drawdown sequence between stomatal cavities from gas exchange (ci), from Δ18O (ccs), and at Rubisco sites from Δ13C (cc), the internal CO2 conductance (gi) was partitioned into cell wall (gw) and chloroplast (gch) components. The results indicated that gch is variable (0.42–1.13 mol m−2 s−1) and proportional to CA activity. We suggest that the influence of CA activity on the CO2 assimilation rate should be important mainly in plants with low internal conductances.
Accumulation of Reserve Compounds in Common Bean Seeds under Drought Stress

To investigate the seed protein and major mineral nutrient (Fe, Zn, P, and N) contents and their accumulation procedure in the seeds of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), a biennial experiment was conducted under two contrasting moisture regimes (normal irrigation and water deficit). Seed reserves of eight genotypes (WA4502-1, WA4531-17, Akhtar, D81083, AND1007, KS21486, MCD4011, and COS16) were investigated at four stages of seed filling period (SFP). Split-plot experiments were performed as randomized complete block design with four replications. The results showed significant differences in the evaluated characteristics in both factors, the genotypes and the moisture regimes. Fe content of the seeds was affected the most by drought stress and reduced in all stages, while seed nitrogen and protein contents were affected the least under stress condition. The percentages of reductions due to water deficit were higher in stage 1 for Fe, stage 2 for Zn, and stage 4 for P and N. In the stage 3, minerals had the least changes. Nitrogen content of the seeds at mid-stages of SFP increased slightly under drought stress. Drought stress also caused 39–69% reductions in the grain yield of the genotypes. Under drought stress condition, the concentrations of Fe and N in the white bean seeds were less than that of the red and the Chitti genotypes. However, the seed P contents of the white bean seeds were higher than that of the other genotypes.
Breeding biology and nest site characteristics of the scarlet ibis in southeastern Brazil

-The breeding biology of the only Scarlet Ibis Eudocimus ruber colony in southeastern Brazil was studied during the 1996-97 breeding season. The ibises began to visit their colony site by mid-September. Nest building and egg laying took place in early November and was synchronous, making the first "nesting pulse". Mean clutch size in this pulse was 2.45 eggs/nest, and 0.67 young/nest reached age three weeks, when they were able to walk about the nest tree and environs. Predation was the main cause of nest failures (74% of all losses), followed by nest collapses (19%). A second nesting pulse, also synchronous, started in late December, when the young from the first nests were already able to wander about the colony and make short flights. Mean clutch size of this pulse was 2.05 eggs/nest and productivity was 0.34 young/nest. Nest collapses during storms accounted for 58% of the losses, and predation for a further 27%. A third pulse, with only a few nests, started when the second pulse young were in their third week, but no nest was successful. The incubation time was 21-24 days, and the young were able to fly well when 40 days old, deserting the colony by age 75 days. Nesting early in the breeding season yielded greater success. Nests were built close to each other (a sphere with a 1.8 m radius and centered on an average nest would include the four nearest neighbors) and there was always more than one nest per tree. Most nests were built on the upper third of the nest-tree and had some cover from overhanging branches. There was a trend for the ibises building their nests in even closer proximity during the second pulse, perhaps as a strategy to lessen individual predation risks. Received 30 August 2000, accepted 4 October 2000.
Les gènes MUC : Mucin or not mucin ? That is the question

Les mucines sont des macromolecules recouvrant les cellules en contact avec le milieu exterieur et protegeant les epitheliums contre toutes sortes d’agressions d’origine endogene ou exogene (sucs digestifs, micro-organismes, polluants, toxines…). Les mucines representent le composant principal du mucus et sont le plus souvent synthetisees par des cellules epitheliales specialisees dans les fonctions de stockage et de secretion. Les genes codant pour les apomucines chez l’homme partagent des elements communs : ARNm de tres grande taille, longues regions codantes repetitives de type VNTR (variable number of tandem repeats), expression tissulaire et cellulaire complexe. Depuis 1987, 21 symboles MUC ont ete utilises pour designer des genes codant pour des glycoproteines possedant le plus souvent un domaine peptidique de type mucin-like, riche en proline, threonine et serine, et organise en repetitions en tandem de motifs elementaires plus ou moins conserves. Cette terminologie tend donc a faire perdre toute signification fonctionnelle au terme mucine. Si les « mucinistes » parlent de derive ou d’abus de langage, ils ont neanmoins des difficultes a proposer des limites nettes a la definition des mucines, dans la mesure ou le role precis joue par ces molecules dans l’homeostasie ou la tumorigenese epitheliales n’est pas encore elucide. Cet article propose des elements susceptibles de definir et de classer les genes MUC et leurs produits.
Robust security framework with bit-flipping attack and timing attack for key derivation functions

A Key Derivation Function (KDF) derives cryptographic keys from private string and public information. The security property for the cryptographic keys is indistinguishable from the random strings of equal length. The security analysis of KDFs has received increasing attention. The practice important of KDFs is reflected in the adoption of industry standards such as NIST800-135 and PKCS5. This study proposes a robust security framework that takes into consideration the side-channel attacks. The robust security framework consists of the proposed security model and existing security models. The proposed security model is known as Adaptive Chosen All Inputs Model (CAM), which analyses the security of KDFs in terms of the bit-flipping attack and timing attack. The existing security model is the Adaptive Chosen Public Inputs Model (CPM). This research shows the implication of relationship and the non-implication relationship between CAM and CPM. The simulation of security models is according to the indistinguishable game played between a challenger and an adversary. These security models are used to evaluate existing KDFs. The result shows that none of the existing KDFs are secure in CAM for both the bit-flipping attack and timing attack. Hence, this research introduces an alternative KDF that is proven secure in CAM.
The Shape of Mercury's Magnetopause: The Picture From MESSENGER Magnetometer Observations and Future Prospects for BepiColombo

The MErcury Surface, Space Environment, GEochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) spacecraft orbited Mercury between March 2011 and April 2015, typically passing through the magnetosphere, magnetosheath, and interplanetary magnetic field, on each orbit. Using data from the Magnetometer, we identify magnetopause crossings for the complete orbital mission and model the average boundary shape. We find that Mercury's average magnetopause is well modeled by both an axisymmetric shape and a three‐dimensional shape containing indentations in the cusp regions and a magnetotail that is wider in the north‐south versus east‐west direction. Examination of MESSENGER data and the use of simulated crossings show that coverage is very limited in the cusp region. Parameters describing the indentation are poorly constrained, and model fits may be biased due to the combination of orbital geometry and magnetospheric dynamics. The distribution of MESSENGER data inside the magnetopause, together with minimum variance analysis of a representative subset of magnetopause crossings, hints at the presence of a cusp indentation, though likely shallower than that estimated from the observed crossing positions. The BepiColombo spacecraft will arrive at Mercury in 2025. We simulate expected data coverage and magnetopause crossings using both axisymmetric and three‐dimensional magnetopause models. BepiColombo will improve our understanding of the magnetopause shape by providing data over the southern hemisphere and regions of the northern cusp indentation not covered by MESSENGER. There is also the potential for simultaneous measurements of the interplanetary magnetic field and magnetopause position.