Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Morphological response of soybean under water stress during pod development stage.

An investigation was undertaken to elucidate information on the effects of water stress on yield and yield attributes of soybean { Glycine max (L.) Merrill} at pod development stage. The soybean accessions viz., JS92-22-A, IC18596, IC9311, IC216380, IC110399JS (SH) 99-02, IC16040, IC16040 and VLS53 showed better performance for morphological traits under water stress condition. Among the morphological traits studied, days to maturity showed the maximum reduction (94%) followed by harvest index (69%) and seed yield per plant (55%), while plant height was recorded the lowest reduction of 16% at pod development stage under water stress condition. The genotype VLS53 showed the highest drought tolerance index for seed yield.
Effects of food deprivation on the larvae of two flatfishes

For greatest survival, first-feeding halibut Paralichthys californicus and diamond turbot Hypsopsetta guttulata required food by the day of total yolk absorption. Some halibut larvae s u ~ v e d if fed 1 or 2 d after yolk depletion, but their growth rate was significantly less than larvae fed earlier. Survival of 3-wk-old larvae was greater in treatments with shorter starvation periods. A small percentage of 3-wk-old halibut larvae recovered from a maximum starvation period of 4 d whde 3-wk-old diamond turbot successfully resumed feelng any time during food deprivation intervals lasting up to 9 d. Longer periods of starvation resulted in significant morphological differences diamond turbot starved longer were not only smaller, but also less developed. In the field, larvae may experience varylng periods of food deprivation due to differing spatial and temporal prey patch distributions. Our results demonstrate that differences in starvation resistance, and possibly mortality under patchy feeding conditions, are ontogenetic and species-specific.
Enhanced sensitivity and efficiency of detection of Staphylococcus aureus based on modified magnetic nanoparticles by photometric systems

Abstract Staphylococcus aureus is an important infectious factor in the food industry and hospital infections. Many methods are used for detecting bacteria but they are mostly time-consuming, poorly sensitive. In this study, a nano-biosensor based on iron nanoparticles (MNPs) was designed to detect S. aureus. MNPs were synthesized and conjugated to Biosensors. Then S. aureus was lysed and nano-biosensor (MNP-TiO2-AP-SMCC-Biosensors) was added to the lysed bacteria. After bonding the bacterial genome to the nano-biosensor, MNPs were separated by a magnet. Bacterial DNA was released from the surface of nano-biosensor and researched by Nano-drop spectrophotometry. The results of SEM and DLS revealed that the size of MNPs was 20–25 nm which increased to 38–43 nm after modification and addition of biosensors. The designed nano-biosensor was highly sensitive and specific for the detection of S. aureus. The limit of detection (LOD) was determined as 230 CFU mL−1. There was an acceptable linear correlation between bacterial concentration and absorption at 3.7 × 102–3.7× 107 whose linear diagram and regression was Y = 0.242X + 2.08 and R 2 = . 996. Further, in the presence of other bacteria as a negative control, it was absolutely specific. The sensitivity of the designed nano-biosensor was investigated and compared through PCR.
Co-Solvent Exfoliation of Hexagonal Boron Nitride: Effect of Raw Bulk Boron Nitride Size and Co-Solvent Composition

Exfoliation of two-dimensional boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs) from parent bulk material has been receiving intensive attention because of its fascinating physical properties. Liquid exfoliation is a simple, scalable approach to produce single-layer or few-layer BNNS. In this paper, water/propanol co-solvent exfoliation of bulk boron nitride under the assistance of sonication was investigated in detail. Special attention was paid on the effect of raw bulk boron nitride size and co-solvent composition. The results show that sonication of small-size hexagonal boron nitride tends to generate large nanosheets, due to a predominant solvent wedge effect. In addition, it is found that the composition of water/propanol co-solvent has an important effect on exfoliation efficiency. Interestingly, although two isomers of 1-propanol (NPA) and 2-propanol (IPA) have the same molecular weight and similar surface tension, their aqueous solutions allow the formation of boron nitride nanosheets dispersion with markedly different concentrations. It is proposed that due to their spatial configuration difference, NPA with its longer molecular chain and fewer hydrophobic methyl group tends to form dynamic water-NPA clusters with larger size than water-IPA clusters. The hydrodynamic radius of the co-solvent “clusters” was calculated to be 0.72 nm for water/NPA system and 0.44 nm for water/IPA system at their maximum, respectively. Their size changes, represented by two curves, indicate a strong “cluster size” effect on exfoliation efficiency. Our work provides an insight into co-solvent exfoliation of hexagonal boron nitride and emphasizes the importance of co-solvent cluster size in exfoliation efficiency.
Inheritance of resistance to Cercospora leaf spot in sugarbeet.

Despite the importance of resistance to leaf spot of sugarbeet, caused by Ccrcospora beticola Sace. , and the attention it has received in breeding progTams, there have been few reports of actual experiments designed to provide information concerning the inheritance of resistance. Although experimental evidence is lackjng, resistance is belived to be a quantitative character, ap­ parently governed by several pairs of genes and subject to a con­ siderable amount of environmental influence (1,3,5,7)3. Knowledge of the heritability of a character is important to the breeder, since it indicates the extent and rate of improve­ m ent attainable through selection. The extent of genetic segregation in advanced generations of a cross is a reflection of the heritabilIty of the character in question. Lush (4) defined heritability in two ways. Tn the broad sense, heritability refers to the ratio of genetic variance to total variance. In the narrow sense, heritabili ty is defined as the ratio of additive genetic vari­ ance to total variance. Using Beta maritima as a source of leaf spot resistance, Bilgen et al. evaluated the backcross method of plant breeding as a tool for transferring the higher resistance of B . maritima to sugarbeet. They concluded that estimates of genetic variation and heritabili ty ratios for leaf spot resistance vvere relatively 101·'1 in open-pollinated backcross populations, prob­ ably because of over estimation of environmental variances. The presen t investigation is intended to provide information on the heritabllity of resistance to Cercospora and to provide an :estimate of the minimum number of genes governing resistance.
Reaction of Australian cultivars of oats and barley to infection by Fusarium graminearum Group 1

The incidence of infection by Fusarium graminearum Group 1 and the incidence of crown rot were compared for various cultivars of oats, wheat and barley in glasshouse and field experiments. In glasshouse studies, the incidence of infected plants was lower in oats than in wheat or barley at 6 weeks after sowing. Crown rot symptoms were not observed in oats of any cultivar. The incidence and severity of crown rot in barley was similar to that in wheat cv. Banks. Between 17 and 29 genotypes of oats, wheat and barley were assessed in field trials over 3 years. Stem browning, a symptom of crown rot, was common in wheat and barley but was not observed in any cultivar of oats. Among plants of wheat and barley, the effect of cultivar on incidence of crown rot was significant (P = 0.05) in 3 of 4 trials. Results suggest that oats are a symptomless host. This should be considered when growing oats in rotation to reduce crown rot inoculum. The barley cultivars assessed all developed moderate-severe crown rot symptoms and thus may incur yield limitations where crown rot is prevalent.
Preliminary Evaluation of Astatine-211-Labeled Bombesin Derivatives for Targeted Alpha Therapy.

There are various diagnostic and therapeutic agents for prostate cancer using bombesin (BBN) derivatives, but astatine-211 (211At)-labeled BBN derivatives have yet to be studied. This study presented a preliminary evaluation of 211At-labeled BBN derivative. Several nonradioactive iodine-introduced BBN derivatives (IB-BBNs) with different linkers were synthesized and their binding affinities measured. Because IB-3 exhibited a comparable affinity to native BBN, [211At]AB-3 was synthesized and the radiochemical yields of [211At]AB-3 was 28.2 ± 2.4%, with a radiochemical purity of >90%. The stability studies and cell internalization/externalization experiments were performed. [211At]AB-3 was taken up by cells and internalized; however, radioactivity effluxed from cells over time. In addition, the biodistribution of [211At]AB-3, with and without excess amounts of BBN, were evaluated in PC-3 tumor-bearing mice. Despite poor stability in murine plasma, [211At]AB-3 accumulated in tumor tissue (4.05 ± 0.73%ID/g) in PC-3 tumor-bearing mice, which was inhibited by excess native BBN (2.56 ± 0.24%ID/g). Accumulated radioactivity in various organs is probably due to free 211At. Peptide degradation in murine plasma and radioactivity efflux from cells are areas of improvement. The development of 211At-labeled BBN derivatives requires modifying the BBN sequence and preventing deastatination.
Investigation of hearing and outer hair cell function of the cochlea in patients with vitiligo

Vitiligo is a systemic disease that affects not only the skin but also other areas that contain melanocytes, such as the inner ear. Studies of the effect of vitiligo on hearing loss have shown inconsistent results, and it is not clear which parameters related to the disease affect hearing. The aim of this study was to determine which disease‐related parameters trigger damage to cochlear melanocytes in vitiligo patients and the effect of vitiligo on the outer hair cells and hearing. Thirty‐one vitiligo patients and 40 sex‐ and age‐matched healthy volunteers were evaluated. The conventional pure tone audiometry (C‐PTA) test and the distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) test were performed. There was no significant difference between vitiligo patients and controls in C‐PTA test results, but the DPOAE test results were abnormal in vitiligo patients. The duration of the disease was significantly related to hypoacusis. As the duration of the disease increases, cochlear dysfunction may increase. Especially in patients with longer disease duration, otoacoustic emission tests should be performed in addition to conventional audiometry tests for early detection of damage to the outer hair cells.
Pressure Overload Greatly Promotes Neonatal Right Ventricular Cardiomyocyte Proliferation: A New Model for the Study of Heart Regeneration

Background Current mammalian models for heart regeneration research are limited to neonatal apex amputation and myocardial infarction, both of which are controversial. RNAseq has demonstrated a very limited set of differentially expressed genes between sham and operated hearts in myocardial infarction models. Here, we investigated in rats whether pressure overload in the right ventricle, a common phenomenon in children with congenital heart disease, could be used as a better animal model for heart regeneration studies when considering cardiomyocyte proliferation as the most important index. Methods and Results In the rat model, pressure overload was induced by pulmonary artery banding on postnatal day 1 and confirmed by echocardiography and hemodynamic measurements at postnatal day 7. RNA sequencing analyses of purified right ventricular cardiomyocytes at postnatal day 7 from pulmonary artery banding and sham‐operated rats revealed that there were 5469 differentially expressed genes between these 2 groups. Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis showed that these genes mainly mediated mitosis and cell division. Cell proliferation assays indicated a continuous overproliferation of cardiomyocytes in the right ventricle after pulmonary artery banding, in particular for the first 3 postnatal days. We also validated the model using samples from overloaded right ventricles of human patients. There was an approximately 2‐fold increase of Ki67/pHH3/aurora B‐positive cardiomyocytes in human‐overloaded right ventricles compared with nonoverloaded right ventricles. Other features of this animal model included cardiomyocyte hypotrophy with no fibrosis. Conclusions Pressure overload profoundly promotes cardiomyocyte proliferation in the neonatal stage in both rats and human beings. This activates a regeneration‐specific gene program and may offer an alternative animal model for heart regeneration research.
Emerging roles of autophagy in hepatic tumorigenesis and therapeutic strategies in glycogen storage disease type Ia: A review

Glycogen storage disease type Ia (GSD‐Ia) is an inherited metabolic disease caused by a deficiency in glucose‐6‐phosphatase‐α (G6Pase‐α or G6PC) which plays a critical role in blood glucose homeostasis by catalyzing the hydrolysis of glucose‐6‐phosphate (G6P) to glucose and phosphate in the terminal step of glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis. Patients with GSD‐Ia manifest life‐threatening fasting hypoglycemia along with the excessive accumulation of hepatic glycogen and triglycerides which results in hepatomegaly and a risk of long‐term complications such as hepatocellular adenoma and carcinoma (HCA/HCC). The etiology of HCA/HCC development in GSD‐Ia, however, is unknown. Recent studies have shown that the livers in model animals of GSD‐Ia display impairment of autophagy, a cellular recycling process which is critical for energy metabolism and cellular homeostasis. However, molecular mechanisms of autophagy impairment and its involvement in pathogenesis in GSD‐Ia are still under investigation. Here, we summarize the latest advances for signaling pathways implicated in hepatic autophagy impairment and the roles of autophagy in hepatic tumorigenesis in GSD‐Ia. In addition, recent evidence has illustrated that autophagy plays an important role in hepatic metabolism and liver‐directed gene therapy mediated by recombinant adeno‐associated virus (rAAV). Therefore, we highlight the possible role of hepatic autophagy in metabolic control and rAAV‐mediated gene therapy for GSD‐Ia. In this review, we also provide potential therapeutic strategies for GSD‐Ia on the basis of molecular mechanisms underlying hepatic autophagy impairment in GSD‐Ia.
Fluorous and Fluorogenic Derivatization for Selective Liquid Chromatographic Analysis of Cyanide in Human Plasma

A liquid chromatographic (LC) method with fluorous derivatization for the determination of cyanide in human plasma is described. In this method, the cyanide was transformed to a fluorous and fluorogenic compound by derivatizing with 2,3-naphthalenedialdehyde and perfluoroalkylamine reagent under mild reaction conditions (a reaction time of 5 min at room temperature). The obtained derivative was successfully retained on the perfluoroalkyl-modified LC column with the use of a high concentration of organic solvent in the mobile phase, whereas non-fluorous derivative was hardly retained, followed by fluorometric detection at excitation and emission wavelengths of 420 and 490 nm, respectively. Under the optimized conditions, the limit of detection and the limit of quantification for cyanide in a 5-μL injection volume were 1.3 μg/L ( S/N = 3) and 4.4 μg/L ( S/N = 10), respectively. The recovery from spiked human plasma was achieved in the range of 54–90% within a relative standard deviation of 3.5%. The feasibility of this method was further evaluated by applying it to the analysis of human plasma samples.
Functional characterization of a C‐terminal splice variant of the human melanocortin 1 receptor

The melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) is a major determinant of skin pigmentation and sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation. When stimulated by its natural agonists, it promotes the switch from synthesis of poorly photoprotective and lightly colored pheomelanins to production of photoprotective and darker eumelanins. In addition to an unusually high number of single nucleotide polymorphisms, the MC1R is expressed as 3 protein‐coding splice variants. Two transcripts display different 5’ untranslated sequences but yield the same open reading frame corresponding to the canonical 317 aminoacids protein (termed MC1R). An alternative transcript named MC1R‐203 encodes for a 382 amino acids protein of poorly characterized functional properties containing an additional 65 aminoacids C‐terminal extension. Given the known roles of the MC1R C‐terminal extension in forward trafficking, coupling to intracellular effectors and desensitization, the different structure of this domain in MC1R and MC1R‐203 may lead to significant functional alteration(s). We have assessed the functional properties of MC1R‐203, as compared with the canonical MC1R form. We show that unstimulated HBL human melanoma cells express the MC1R‐203 spliceoform, although at much lower levels than canonical MC1R. When expressed in heterologous HEK293 cells, the presence of the 65 aminoacid‐long cytosolic extension immediately after Cys316 in MC1R‐203 did not impair the intracellular stability of the protein, but it interfered with functional coupling to the cAMP cascade and with the ubiquitylation of ARRB2 associated with MC1R desensitization. Conversely, MC1R‐203 retained full capacity to activate ERK1/2 signaling. Accordingly, MC1R‐203 displays biased signaling when expressed in HEK293 cells.
Evaluation of growth changes induced by functional appliances in children with Class II malocclusion: Superimposition of lateral cephalograms on stable structures

Objective To compare short- and long-term dentoalveolar, skeletal, and rotational changes evaluated by Björk’s structural method of superimposition between children with Class II malocclusion treated by functional appliances and untreated matched controls. Methods Seventy-nine prepubertal or pubertal children (mean age, 11.57 ± 1.40 years) with Class II malocclusion were included. Thirty-four children were treated using an activator with a high-pull headgear (Z-activator), while 28 were treated using an activator without a headgear (E-activator). Seventeen untreated children were included as controls. Lateral cephalograms were obtained before treatment (T1), after functional appliance treatment (T2), and after retention in the postpubertal phase (T3). Changes from T1 to T2 and T1 to T3 were compared between the treated groups and control group using multiple linear regression analysis. Results Relative to the findings in the control group at T2, the sagittal jaw relationship (subspinale-nasion-pogonion, p < 0.001), maxillary prognathism (sella-nasion-subspinale, p < 0.05), and condylar growth (p < 0.001) exhibited significant improvements in the Z- and E-activator groups, which also showed a significantly increased maxillary incisor retraction (p < 0.001) and decreased overjet (p < 0.001). Only the E-activator group exhibited significant backward rotation of the maxilla at T2 (p < 0.01). The improvements in the sagittal jaw relationship (p < 0.01) and dental relationship (p < 0.001) remained significant at T3. Condylar growth and jaw rotations were not significant at T3. Conclusions Functional appliance treatment in children with Class II malocclusion can significantly improve the sagittal jaw relationship and dental relationships in the long term.
Relationship of carbohydrate and abscisic acid levels to kernel set in maize under postpollination water deficit.

Maize (Zea mays L.) yield is substantially diminished by drought during the initial phase of kernel development. To advance our understanding of the mechanisms underlying this response, we determined the timing of sucrose, glucose, starch, and abscisic acid (ABA) accumulation in apical (inferior) and basal (superior) kernels during water deficit (3-8 d after pollination) and recovery. While net flux of material was nearly zero into both apical and basal kernels during stress, growth resumed after rewatering only in basal kernels. In bulk tissues of pedicel-placenta, pericarp, or endosperm, basal kernels did not have higher glucose, sucrose, or starch concentrations than apical kernels. However, glucose and sucrose concentration in the pedicel-endosperm interface where phloem terminates was maintained at control concentrations in basal kernels, while it was depleted in apical kernels. Kernel set in basal versus apical kernels was also associated with lower levels of ABA in the pedicel-placenta tissue of basal kernels after rewatering. These findings support a model of interacting influences of carbohydrate and ABA, and suggest that this interaction might be a good target for future efforts to genetically improve maize drought tolerance.
Resistance to gapeworm parasite has both additive and dominant genetic components in house sparrows, with evolutionary consequences for ability to respond to parasite challenge

Host–parasite relationships are likely to change over the coming decades in response to climate change and increased anthropogenic stressors. Understanding the genetic architecture of parasite resistance will aid prediction of species' responses to intensified parasite challenge. The gapeworm “Syngamus trachea” is prevalent in natural bird populations and causes symptomatic infections ranging from mild to severe. The parasite may affect ecological processes by curtailing bird populations and is important due to its propensity to spread to commercially farmed birds. Our large‐scale data set on an insular house sparrow metapopulation in northern Norway includes information on gapeworm prevalence and infection intensity, allowing assessment of the genetics of parasite resistance in a natural system. To determine whether parasite resistance has a heritable genetic component, we performed variance component analyses using animal models. Resistance to gapeworm had substantial additive genetic and dominance variance, and genome‐wide association studies to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with gapeworm resistance yielded multiple loci linked to immune function. Together with genome partitioning results, this indicates that resistance to gapeworm is under polygenic control in the house sparrow, and probably in other bird species. Hence, our results provide the foundation needed to study any eco‐evolutionary processes related to gapeworm infection, and show that it is necessary to use methods suitable for polygenic and nonadditive genetic effects on the phenotype.
Synthesis of the Bacteriophage λP Protein in Amino Acid-StarvedEscherichia coliCells

Abstract It was demonstrated previously that in isoleucine-starved Escherichia coli relA mutants harboring a plasmid derived from bacteriophage λ the λO protein is not synthesized. However, a protein which coprecipited with the λO during immunoprecipitation with anti-λO serum was synthesized during the relaxed response. Here we found that this protein is the λ P gene product. Despite significant inhibition of transcription from the p R promoter (which produces mRNA for the λP protein synthesis) during the stringent response, the λP protein was efficiently synthesized in relA − as well as relA + strains starved for isoleucine, threonine and histidine, whereas the synthesis was negligible during starvation for arginine and leucine. The synthesis of the λP protein in amino acid-starved cells is sensitive to rifampicin. Thus we presume that this phenomenon is not caused by eventual increased stability of the λ P mRNA but rather is an effect of preferential translation of this mRNA and incorporation of limited amount of amino acids arising in the starved cells as a result of intracellular proteolysis. One of possible explanations of the mechanism of this phenomenon may suggest that the same signals can be recognized in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells during initiation of translation at non-AUG codons.