Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Tiered Approach to Life Stages Testing for Agricultural Chemical Safety Assessment

Aproposal has been developed by the Agricultural Chemical Safety Assessment (ACSA) Technical Committee of the ILSI Health and Environmental Sciences Institute (HESI) for an improved approach to assessing the safety of crop protection chemicals. The goal is to ensure that studies are scientifically appropriate and necessary without being redundant, and that tests emphasize toxicological endpoints and exposure durations that are relevant for risk assessment. The ACSA Life Stages Task Force proposes a tiered approach to toxicity testing that assesses a compound's potential to cause adverse effects on reproduction, and that assesses the nature and severity of effects during development and adolescence, with consideration of the sensitivity of the elderly. While incorporating many features from current guideline studies, the proposed approach includes a novel rat reproduction and developmental study with enhanced endpoints and a rabbit development study. All available data, including toxicokinetics, ADMEdata, and systemic toxicity information, are considered in the design and interpretation of studies. Compared to existing testing strategies, the proposed approach uses fewer animals, provides information on the young animal, and includes an estimation of human exposure potential for making decisions about the extent of testing required.
Self-reported medical history survey of humans as a measure of health risk to the chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) of Kibale National Park, Uganda

Abstract Kibale National Park (KNP), Uganda, has a number of chimpanzees habituated for tourism. The close genetic relationship between humans and chimpanzees means that there is the potential for disease transmission between the two. The aim of this study was to establish the diseases to which chimpanzees may be exposed by surveying the medical histories of humans in contact with the chimpanzees of KNP. Medical questionnaires were given to tourists visiting KNP and to the population of a village close to the park. The 62 tourist surveys returned indicated a high prevalence of disease symptoms, in particular diarrhoea, as well as ongoing infectious diseases and a lack of current vaccinations. The 50 local surveys returned also indicated a high prevalence of disease symptoms, in particular respiratory disease, along with a low rate of vaccination and a high frequency of visual contact with the chimpanzees both within and outside KNP. This study indicates that humans are a potential source of infection for chimpanzees. The results, which have been communicated to the appropriate authorities, will assist in the devising of proper tourist viewing regulations and provide local health authorities with the information necessary to improve both public health and chimpanzee health. Further recommendations include education of tourists regarding appropriate vaccinations, hand washing prior to the visit, the use of facemasks during the visit, and the provision of latrines. Chimpanzee ecotourism is becoming increasingly popular and protecting the chimpanzees' health will help to ensure that ecotourism is a sustainable activity.
The effect of magnesium ions on the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal infection of maize roots.

The effect of magnesium sulphate on the colonization of maize roots by a vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus was studied in hydroponic culture. Increased concentration of MgSO4 in the nutrient solution caused an increase in the percentage of root length infected. The highest infection levels were found when nutrient solutions contained 5 84-11.68 mmol 1-1 of MgSO4 . Root colonization was stimulated by the increased concentration of magnesium but not calcium or potassium ions in the nutrient solution. No significant difference occurred in the percentage of root length infected when magnesium chloride was replaced by magnesium sulphate. A broad range of magnesium sulphate concentrations did not cause significant differences in plant biomass. The stimulation of root colonization by magnesium cannot be explained by changes in pH or osmotic pressure of the nutrient solution.
Optimizing nitrogen loading of Picea mariana seedlings during nursery culture

Plant growth and nutrient uptake response to increased fertilization can be conceptually described by cur vi linear relationships depicting phases of nutrient deficiency, sufficiency, luxury consumption, and toxicity to rationalize fertilizer prescriptions and improve nutrient diagnosis. We validated this model to determine optimum nitrogen storage of young black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP). Container seedlings were supplied with a mixed nitrogenphosphoruspotassium (NPK) fertilizer at rates ranging from 0 to 80 mg N/seedling and reared in a greenhouse for one growing season. Plant growth and nutritional parameters of the plants exhibited classic responses of N deficiency, luxury consumption, and toxicity that were corroborated by vector diagnosis and appeared consistent with the conceptual model. Seedling biomass production was maximized at sufficiency (30 mg N/seedling), whereas N content of tissues peaked at the optimum loading rate (64 mg N/seedling). Toxicity occurred at the 80 mg N/seedlin.
Regulation of spatial and temporal variability of carbon flux in six hard‐water lakes of the northern Great Plains

Six hard‐water lakes were sampled May‐August for 14 yr in a 52,000 km2 catchment to identify the mechanisms that regulate the spatial and temporal variability of net atmospheric exchange of CO2 of lakes on the Northern Great Plains. Annual mean daily fluxes ranged from ‐100 to >200 mmol C m−2 d−1, while pCO2 values varied between 0.3 and 5500 Pa. We observed periods of net CO22 uptake (1995, 2000) and release (1998, 2006) resulting in synchronous variations in net CO2 flux among lakes. Furthermore, pCO2, pH, and chemical enhancement of CO2 influx all varied coherently among sites. Interannual variation in net CO2 flux and pCO2 was correlated strongly with pH, correlated weakly with other physical and chemical conditions, and was uncorrelated to algal biomass, productivity, or ecosystem respiration. In contrast, spatial variability of water‐column pCO2 was correlated negatively to concentrations of soluble reactive phosphorus, total dissolved nitrogen, pH, and gross primary productivity, suggesting an important role of lake metabolism at large spatial scales. Finally, comparison with an additional 20 saline lakes demonstrated that changes in mean annual pH, pCO2, and CO2 flux during 2002‐2007 were coherent in diverse lakes within a region of >100,000 km2 and suggest that climatic control of pH and pCO2 had an unexpectedly great effect on net CO2 flux through productive hard‐water lake ecosystems.
Centrosome Dysfunction and Senescence: Coincidence or Causality?

Centrosomes are the tiny organelles found in most eukaryotic systems. By virtue of their ability to anchor, organize and nucleate microtubules, they play a crucial role in establishing spindle bipolarity and in ensuring the fidelity of cell division. Defects in centrosome structure and function often result in mitotic catastrophe, cell cycle arrest, cell death, genomic instability and/or aneuploidy, leading to human disorders such as primary microcephaly, cancer and ciliopathies. Interestingly, genomic instability and aneuploidy are also hallmarks of aging and cellular senescence, but our understanding of the connection between centrosome dysfunction and senescence remains rudimentary. In this review, we focus on existing evidence suggesting that these two phenomena are indeed related, along with the emerging view that centrosome aberrations represent a form of cellular stress that is necessary and sufficient to trigger a permanent cell cycle arrest and senescence. The molecular mechanisms underlying cellular senescence as a consequence of centrosome aberrations and the involvement of p53 will be discussed.
The comparative morphology of the vertebrate spinal column. Its form as related to function

The form of the vertebral column is definitely related to its function as a supporting rod, a base for attachment of body and limb muscles, and a protection of the spinal cord and nerves. Primitively composed of a series of simple undifferentiated blocks, it progressively becomes complicated through development of articular processes giving added strength and greater mobility. Simultaneously, the centrum and the neural arch become adapted to withstand tension and compression stresses which vary with the movements possible in different regions of the column. These movements are partially determined by the plane of the zygapophyses and the nature of the intercentral articulation, together with the action of the axial muscles and ligaments.
Studies on genotype-environment interaction (GxE) in half-sib progenies of cashew ( Anacardium occidentale L.) in Tanzania

The aim of the work was to provide information on the variability in performance of cashew over different geographic growing sites and on the potential to carry out effective selection. Half-sib progenies of 16 selected cashew clones (Anacardium occidentale L.) were used to establish progeny test trials at Kibiti and Chikomo. These sites were taken to represent cashew growing areas in north and south Tanzania respectively. Yield data and vegetative measurements recorded from 1989 to 1992 in both sites, were used to investigate the effect of site, progenies and their interaction. The performances of the progenies were compared in terms of their means and variances. There were differences in performance of the progenies in the two sites indicating the existence of genotype-environment interaction. The study identified progenies, which performed well at both sites, ones that performed badly at both and ones that varied in their performance. Thus it was possible to identify parents giving progenies which have wide adaptation under Tanzanian conditions. The data were used to calculate the heritability and response to selection for yield, canopy diameter, trunk cross sectional area and height. The heritabilities, and hence the response, of yield were low (3-40%) whereas that for height (47-72 %) suggested that it would be a character amenable to selection. Keywords: cashew, genotype-environment interaction, progeny, yield, height, canopy diameter, trunk cross sectional area, heritability Tanzania J. Agric. Sc. (1999) Vol. 2 No.1, 53-62
Generation Mean Analysis to Estimate Genetic Parameters for Different Traits in Two Crosses of Corn Inbred Lines at Three Planting Densities

The choice of an efficient breeding procedure depends to a large extent on knowledge of the genetic system controlling the character to be selected. The objective of this study was to determine genetic parameters for yield and other traits including some of the yield components under three planting densities, using analysis of generation means (P1, P2, F1, F2, BC1 and BC2) derived from crosses of B73 with Mo17 and K74/1 inbred lines of corn. Analysis of variance reinforced the hypothesis that interaction of plant density on generation means depends on evaluating genotypes and the kind of trait. Generation mean analysis suggested that both additive and dominance effects were important for most of the traits evaluated in this study, but dominance had a more pronounced effect. Epistasis affected the expression of nine traits in both crosses at three planting densities. Expression of epistasis and genetic parameters differed in the two crosses and were influenced by plant density. Plant densities interacted more strongly with epistasis gene action than with additive or dominance gene action in both crosses.
Edge influence on forest structure in large forest remnants, cutblock separators, and riparian buffers in managed black spruce forests

ABSTRACT Remnants of old forests left on the landscape following forest harvesting, especially corridors, provide benefits of connectivity and facilitation of movement or dispersal, which may be hindered by the presence of edges. Our objective was to determine the extent of edge influence on forest structure in these forest remnants in black spruce boreal forest. We sampled canopy cover and the density of trees, snags, and logs along clearcut edge–forest gradients in large forest patches, cutblock separators, and riparian buffers. The distance-of-edge influence was determined by comparing values at different distances from the edge to values in interior forest using randomization tests. Forest remnants had lower live tree density and canopy cover and higher mortality and windthrow than interior forest. Distance-of-edge influence on forest structure extended 10–30 m from the edge, and was slightly more extensive into cutblock separators where two edges are in close proximity, but was less extensive in riparian buffers, possibly due to the presence of stable internal edges near the stream. Because of edge influence, structure near the edges of forest remnants and across narrow corridors is modified; wider corridors would be required to provide a core habitat of interior forest conditions.
Plant communication – why should plants emit volatile cues?

Abstract There are now approximately 10 documented examples of volatile plant communication that affect resistance to herbivores. For several of these cases, plants have been found to experience fitness benefits by responding to information (cues) released by experimentally damaged neighbors. However, it remains puzzling why plants might emit these cues following herbivore attack. One possibility is that release of cues is not adaptive for the emitter but rather cues leak out as a consequence of damage. Hypothetical benefits of emitting cues include: repelling herbivores; attracting predators of herbivores; suppressing germination of competitors; communicating with other branches of the same plant; and communicating with genetic relatives. Progress will be made in this field if we can find a system that is more tractable, allowing the nature of the cue to be identified and manipulated or allowing us to examine genetic constraints and influences on communication.
Post-release ranging behaviour of hand-raised black rhinoceros, Diceros bicornis , L. in Matusadona National Park, Zimbabwe with recommendations for management of introduction to the wild

Hand-raised rhinos would preferentially settle at sites close to areas where human activity was significant. Hand-raised rhinos that attached themselves to sites of human activity tended to move less widely and to have smaller seasonal ranges than those that moved away from human settlements. These rhinos had no fear of humans and some animals would move along established roads into hostile areas outside the park. These factors made hand-raised rhinos more vulnerable to poaching than their wild counterparts. Management of hand-raised rhinos with regards to ranging behaviour is discussed in the text.
The Amino Acid Requirement of the Growing Chick Fed a Crystalline Amino Acid Diet

ABSTRACT Reports in the literature indicate that the growth of chicks ad libitum fed free amino acid diets as the only source of nitrogen is consistently poor. However, Glista (1951) found that chicks force-fed this type of diets grew as well as those receiving intact protein. A free amino acid diet has been developed which, when fed on an ad libitum basis, is consumed in sufficient amounts to support satisfactory growth (9–11 gm./ chick/day). This diet has been used to determine the requirement of the growing chick for each of the essential amino acids. The basal diet developed for use in these studies contained: corn starch, 29.46%; mineral mix 1 , 5.37%; corn oil, 30.00%; Solka floc, 3.00%; Gelusil (antiacid adsorbent), 1.0%; NaHCO3, 1.00%; choline chloride, 0.20%; amino acid mix, 30.00%; plus vitamins 2 . Several amino acid mixtures were fed in preliminary trials, but the most satisfactory results were obtained with a mixture .
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the Jatropha curcas rhizosphere.

Jatropha curcas L. is a Euphorbiaceae characterized as drought tolerant, with low nutrient exigency and resistant to pests and diseases; furthermore, its seeds have a high content of good quality oil, which makes it a potential plant species for biodiesel production. The association of J. curcas with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) may enhance some of these promising features. The aim of this work was to assess AMF community associated with different genotypes of J. curcas (different accessions of a germoplasm bank) grown in the same area and in plants of the same genotype grown in different regions to identify promising fungi in this association. The AMF community was assessed by morphological analysis and by polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis fingerprinting approach (PCR-DGGE) and sequencing of 18S rDNA. Twenty-seven species of AMF were identified morphologically, in addition to five additional ones identified by sequencing of DGGE bands. In both analyses, some genera and species were found in common, including Glomus and Acaulospora. In the same accession or in samples obtained from the same genetic material, but cultivated in neighboring regions, the AMF community had a greater similarity, showing a possible influence of the genetic material and of climatic conditions on the AMF community. Regardless of the AMF community, these plants present a high percentage of mycorrhizal colonization and a relatively high number of AMF spores, suggesting an important relationship with mycorrhizal association. Key words: Nested PCR-DGGE, Jatropha curcas, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) community, Glomus, spore morphology.
Growth Inhibitory Activity of Gossypol Against Several Trichomonas vaginalis Isolates

We report an in-vitro inhibitory effect of gossypol on eight Trichomonas vaginalis isolates. Metronidazole is an effective medication against T. vaginalis, but there is an increasing number of reports of Trichomonas resistance to the drug. Subsequently, alternative therapies need to be investigated. The pharmacological properties of gossypol have been studied extensively because of its toxicity to livestock, its antifertility effects in man, and its activity against diverse pathogenic agents. Eight T. vaginalis isolates were treated with either variable concentrations of gossypol (0-100 μm) or metronidazole (0-1.0 μM). The effective IC50 range for gossypol was from 24.39 to 38.77 μM (metronidazole: 0.15-0.40 μM) with an average of 31.9 μM (metronidazole: 0.27 μM). No gossypol-resistant Trichomonas strains were detected. Gossypol, formulated as pesky, is used safely and successfully as an antifertility drug in man. The effective spermicidal dose of this drug (50 μM), and the antitrichomonas IC50 doses are comparable. This polyphenol also has a clear inhibitory effect against herpes and human immunodeficiency virus. Its effectiveness as an antitrichomonic medication could be immediately evaluated, considering that this drug is already used in man. Since gossypol is an abundant by-product of the cottonseed industry, it may be produced at relatively low cost.
Effect of salt stress on nutrient concentration, photosynthetic pigments, proline and foliar morphology of Salvinia auriculata Aubl.

AIM: This study aimed to investigate the effects of NaCI and Na2So4 salts on Ca, CI, K, Mg N, P, S and Na content as well as on the content of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b and carotenoids), proline content and on the foliar morphology of Salvinia auriculata Aubl. METHODS: The plants were collected in Jacu lagoon, located in the North of Rio de Janeiro State, and after a five-day-acclimation period, experiments were performed in the greenhouse with 0, 100, 200 mM concentrations of NaCI and Na2SO4 salts and the usual techniques for light and electron microscopy. RESULTS: After seven days of experiment, a decrease in the content of Ca2+, K+, Mg2+, P, N ions as well as in the content of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll-a,b and carotenoids) in Salvinia auriculata under saline treatments was observed. The proline content showed an upward tendency as compared to the control. Under transmission electron microscopy, it was observed that, on the foliar limb, there was a membrane system disorder, mainly of chloroplasts, with higher presence of starch grains of plant cells subjected to salinity. Under scanning electron microscope, the integrity of trichomes and foliar limb cells of Salvinia auriculata subjected to the control treatment as well as the changes caused by salinization on the surface of cells were observed. CONCLUSION: As for all the salinization effects evaluated, it was noticed that the increase in Na2SO4 salt concentration resulted in higher morphological and nutritional alterations in the floating aquatic macrophyte, Salvinia auriculata.
Tumor-Associated Macrophages Privilege by Regulating IDO Expression in T Cells Foster Immune + Activated CD69

Substantial evidence indicates that immune activation at stroma can be rerouted in a tumor-promoting direction. CD69 is an immunoregulatory molecule expressed by early-activated leukocytes at sites of chronic inﬂammation, and CD69 + T cells have been found to promote human tumor progression. In this study, we showed that, upon encountering autologous CD69 + T cells, tumor macrophages (M F s) acquired the ability to produce much greater amounts of IDO protein in cancer nests. The T cells isolated from the hepatocellular carcinoma tissues expressed signiﬁcantly more CD69 molecules than did those on paired circulating and nontumor-inﬁltrating T cells; these tumor-derived CD69 + T cells could induce considerable IDO in monocytes. Interestingly, the tumor-associated monocytes/M F s isolated from hepatocellular carcinoma tissues or generated by in vitro culture effectively activated circulating T cells to express CD69. IL-12 derived from tumor M F s was required for early T cell activation and subsequent IDO expression. Moreover, we found that conditioned medium from IDO + M F s effectively suppressed T cell responses in vitro, an effect that could be reversed by adding extrinsic IDO substrate tryptophan or by pretreating M F s with an IDO inhibitor 1-methyl-DL-tryptophan. These data revealed a ﬁne-tuned collaborative action between different types of immune cells to counteract T cell responses in tumor microenvironment. Such an active induction of immune tolerance should be considered for the rational design of effective immune-based anticancer therapies. The Journal of Immunology , 2012, 188: 000–000. umor progression is now recognized as the product of evolving cross-talk between different cell types within tumors. Although normal stroma is nonpermissive for tumor progression, cancer cells can modulate
Application of silicon enhanced drought tolerance in Sorghum bicolor

The effects of silicon application on the drought tolerance of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) were investigated for two cultivars differing in drought susceptibility. Silicon application ameliorated the decrease in dry weight under drought stress conditions, but had no effect on dry matter production under wet conditions. Under dry conditions, silicon-applied sorghum had a lower shoot to root (S/R) ratio, indicating the facilitation of root growth and the maintenance of the photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance at a higher level compared with plants grown without silicon application. The diurnal determination of the transpiration rate indicated that the silicon-applied sorghum could extract a larger amount of water from drier soil and maintain a higher stomatal conductance. Very similar effects of silicon application were observed for both cultivars regardless of their drought susceptibility. These results suggest that silicon application may be useful to improve the drought tolerance of sorghum via the enhancement of water uptake ability.