Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Purification and Characterization of the Corticosteroid 1lβ-Dehydrogenase Component of the Rat Liver 1lβ-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Complex*

We have proposed that 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase is composed of structurally independent units with 11β-dehydrogenase and 11-reductase activities. We now report the purification of rat liver 11β-dehydrogenase to apparent homogeneity. Starting with microsomes, 800-fold purification was achieved with agarose-NADP affinity chromatography. No 11- reductase accompanied the purification. Homogeneity of 11β- dehydrogenase was determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and amino acid end-group analysis and immunoprecipitation. The terminal amino acid was methionine. Monomer mol wt was 34,000. The enzyme was found to be a glycoprotein. A sequence of 40 amino acid units was identified from the amino end. The amino-terminal region was found to be highly nonpolar. Unlike unpurified microsomal 110- dehydrogenase, which showed curvilinear Eadie plots, homogeneous enzyme gave rectilinear plots. Michaelis constants were 1.83 ± 0.06 μM for corticosterone and 17.3 ± 2.24 μM for cortisol.
Predictions of likely theft by ants of oversown seed for the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales

At Armidale, New South Wales, ant theft rates of pasture seeds at sites that had been topdressed with 10 kg ha-1 seed immediately before a four day observation period averaged 27 per cent less than on areas where no such application was made. Strong regression relationships were established between theft rates of the various seed types and both air and soil temperatures, but no relationship was found between either relative humidity or soil water availability and theft rate. High theft rates recorded in the first 24 hours after seed placement were not sustained over longer periods of time. A relationship between the decline in theft rate and the quantity of seed available was established. A series of predictions have been made of the proportion of seed likely to remain during fine weather following oversowing in the Armidale environment. These predictions incorporate seed type, time since sowing and prevailing air temperatures. It is predicted that during winter 70 to 80 per cent of bare seed and 90 to 97 per cent of coated seed could remain 30 days after oversowing. During summer the comparable figures are 7 to 30 per cent and 22 to 36 per cent respectively.
Vessel Diameters in Roots Versus Stems of Tropical Lianas and Other Growth Forms

For trees and shrubs it is well known that vessels tend to be wider in roots than in stems. It is also well known that vines have narrow stems with wide vessels, but roots of vines have been little studied. It was hypothesized that the evolution of the vine habit involved greater changes in stems than in terrestrial roots, and thus vessels in stems of vines would tend to be as wide, or wider, than in roots. Radial vessel diameters were compared in roots versus stems of 62 taxa from 20 families of plants based upon collections made at Barro Colorado Island (BCI) in Panama and Fairchild Tropical Garden (FTG) in Miami, FL, USA. As expected, for Fabaceae trees + shrubs, mean and maximum vessel diameters were significantly greater in roots than in stems. Tbe reverse was true for Fabaceae lianas (woody vines), where vessel diameters were significantly greater in stems. When comparing stems of all c1imbing species (n = 51) to non-c1imbing species (n = 11), the c1imbing species had significantly greater mean and maximum vessel diameters. In contrast, for root vessels differences between growth forms were not statistically significant.
Analysis of vicilin (7S)‐class globulin in cocoa cotyledons from various genetic origins

Cocoa cotyledons contain vicilin (7S)-class globulin (VCG), a major storage protein. It is the native source of oligopeptides and free amino acids which have been identified as precursors of cocoaspecific aroma and are formed through proteolysis during fermentation. High-resolution electrophoresis of native proteins isolated from ripe, unfermented cocoa cotyledons harvested from different cultivars was used to determine genetic differences of the genotypes. Flavour differences have been reported to exist after standard fermentation in cocoa beans harvested from various genotypes. In this paper, SDS-PAGE and 2D IEF/SDS-PAGE polypeptide separation patterns are shown which were separately isolated from cotyledons of various genetic origins. Cotyledons from three cultivars belonging to genetically distant varieties and a hybrid, Criollo, Forastero and Trinitario, did not reveal any analytical identity differences of VCG subunit polypeptide bands. Additionally, proteins of cotyledons harvested from three of those clones which were reported to produce genotype-specific flavour differences in raw cocoa after standard fermentation, SCA 12, UIT1 and PBC 140, when analysed in the same way, did not indicate differences. Thus the cotyledon storage proteins from various genetically different cocoa trees are, within methodological limits, the same. We conclude that aroma differences in raw cocoa harvested from various genotypes are the result of other genetic, physiological or curing-related factors, but are not due to genetic differences of aroma precursors derived from storage proteins. La globuline viciline 7S est une source native d'oligopeptides et d'acides amines libres, precurseurs de l'arome specifique du cacao. Cette etude examine les proteines natives de cotyledons de cacao murs, non fermentes, recoltes a partir de differents cultivars pour determiner les differences entre les genotypes. Les resultats montrent que l'arome du cacao ne depend pas de la structure primaire de la globuline viciline 7S.
Deficit irrigation for optimum alfalfa seed yield and quality

While alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) seed yield is known to respond positively to moderate deficit irrigation, the effects of deficit irrigation on seed viability and seed size are not known. Minimum seed viability for certification in Oregon is 85% germination plus hard seed. Two alfalfa cultivars ('Tango' and 'Accord') were planted in 2000 and were subjected to four subsurface drip irrigation treatments in 2001, 2002, and 2003 in eastern Oregon. Before flowering, the field was irrigated uniformly to replace approximately 65% of the accumulated alfalfa evapotranspiration (ET c ). After the onset of flowering, four irrigation levels (80, 60, 40, and 20% of the accumulated ETc) were applied every 3 to 4 d to plots arranged in a randomized complete block design with five replicates. Seed yield showed a quadratic response to ETc replacement level and was maximized by an ETc replacement of 50% over the 3 yr. While germination decreased with increasing ETc replacement, hard and abnormal seed increased with increasing ETc replacement. The highest viable seed was achieved with an ETc replacement level of 32%, over the 3 yr. Seed weight increased with increasing ETc replacement level, but the largest increase occurred from 20 to 60% ETc replacement. With an ETc replacement of 50% that maximized yield, seed quality met or exceeded the minimum certification standard of 85% viable seed each year. The results suggest that alfalfa seed production can be optimized with 50% ETc replacement using drip irrigation.
Intraseasonal variation in a population of Fountainea ryphea (Cramer) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae)

A different approach was used for the key-factor method in a population study of the tropical butterfly Fountainea ryphea (Cramer, [1776]) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae), marking 20 artificial cohorts to identify the mortality levels and associated instars responsible for the variation in numbers within the season of occurrence, when generations overlap broadly. Highest mortality was detected during first instar in 13 cohorts; during second instar in three cohorts; third and fourth instars suffered highest mortality twice. Results showed that first instar mortality due to rainfall and predation, and parasitism on fourth instar could be the main factors promoting differences in number between cohorts throughout the season, although no density-dependent processes could be identified.
Phenologies of sixteen European provenances of sessile oak growing in Scotland

Budburst, budset, leaf yellowing growth, and frost damage were assessed on 2- to 4-year-old transplants of 16 provenances of sessile oak (Quercus petraea) collected in six European countries and grown in Scotland. There were significant differences in dates of budburst between provenances. Provenances from France and Austria burst bud earlier than the others (P < 0.05). Budburst date was negatively correlated with altitude of provenance origin but positively correlated with latitude, indicating that southern provenances burst bud earlier than northern provenances and are therefore more prone to spring frost damage. Although there were no significant differences of growth between provenances, French provenances tended to grow later in autumn than provenances originating in other countries. Consequently plants from these French provenances were more badly damaged by autumnal frosts (P < 0.05) than plants from other provenances. Budset and leaf yellowing in late September were positively correlated.
Does Rubisco control the rate of photosynthesis and plant growth? An exercise in molecular ecophysiology

Experiments are described in which tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) transformed with antisense rbcS to decrease expression of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase (Rubisco) was used to evaluate the contribution of Rubisco to the control of photosynthetic rate, and the impact of a changed rate of photosynthesis on whole plant composition, allocation and growth. (1) The concept of flux control coefficients is introduced. It is discussed how, with adequate precautions, a set of wild-type and transgenic plants with varying expression of an enzyme can be used to obtain experimental values for its flux control coefficient. (2) The flux control coefficient of Rubisco for photosynthesis depends on the short-term conditions. It increases in high light, or low CO2. (3) When plants are grown under constant irradiance, the flux control coefficient in the growth conditions is low (<0.2) at irradiances of up to 1000μmol quanta m−2 s−1. In a natural irradiance regime exceeding 1500μmol quanta m−2 s−2 over several hours the flux coefficient rose to 0.8–0.9. It is concluded that plants are able to adjust the balance between Rubisco and the remainder of the photosynthetic machinery, and thereby avoid a one-sided limitation of photosynthesis by Rubisco over a wide range of ambient growth irradiance regimes. (4) When the plants were grown on limiting inorganic nitrogen, Rubisco had a higher flux control coefficient (0.5). It is proposed that, in many growth conditions, part of the investment in Rubisco may be viewed as a nitrogen store, albeit bringing additional marginal advantages with respect to photosynthetic rate and water use efficiency. (5) A change in the rate of photosynthesis did not automatically translate into a change in growth rate. Several factors are identified which contribute to this buffering of growth against a changed photosynthetic rate. (6) There is an alteration in whole plant allocation, resulting in an increase in the leaf area ratio. The increase is mainly due to a higher leaf water content, and not to changes in shoot/root allocation. This increased investment in whole plant leaf area partly counteracts the decreased efficiency of photosynthesis at the biochemical level. (7) Plants with decreased Rubisco have a lower intrinsic water use efficiency and contain high levels of inorganic cations and anions. It is proposed that these are a consequence of the increased rate of transpiration, and that the resulting osmotic potential might be a contributory factor to the increased water content and expansion of the leaves. (8) Starch accumulation in source leaves is decreased when unit leaf photosynthesis is reduced, allowing a more efficient use of the fixed carbon. (9) Decreased availability of carbohydrates leads to a down-regulation of nitrate assimilation, acting via a decrease in nitrate reductase activity.
Structural characteristics of purified beta-conglycinin from soybeans stored under four conditions.

Four storage conditions including adverse conditions [84% relative humidity (RH), 30 °C], mild conditions (57% RH, 20 °C), cold conditions (4 °C), and uncontrolled ambient conditions were used for storing soybeans. The storage time was 9 months for the adverse conditions and 18 months for the other three conditions. β-Conglycinin was purified and characterized with respect to its molecular properties. After storage under the adverse conditions, β-conglycinin showed no significant changes in total sugar content, surface hydrophobicity, free SH and SS bonds, and amino acid composition within 6 months; however, it showed a significant decrease in surface hydrophobicity and a significant increase in total free SH and total SH including SS content after 6 months. Analysis of the secondary structure showed a significant increase in α-helix content, but a significant decrease in β-sheet content after 3 months. For the other three conditions, no significant changes occurred to the structures of β-conglycinin when.
Exposure of Spectacled Eiders and other diving ducks to lead in western Alaska

Lead poisoning, resulting from ingestion of spent shot, has been identified as a cause of mortality in Spectacled Eiders (Somateria fischeri) on the Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska. We examined lead-exposure rates of adult and juvenile Spectacled Eiders and other diving ducks, using atomic absorption spectrophotometry of blood samples. Additionally, we X-rayed birds in the field to identify ingested shot. We detected shot in the gizzards of 11.6% of Spectacled Eiders X-rayed. During the period from arrival through incubation, 13.0% of adult females and 6.6% of adult males had elevated blood lead levels when captured. During the brood-rearing period, 35.8% of adult females and 12.2% of ducklings were exposed to lead when captured. There was an increase in the probability of exposure of adult females with date sampled. We predict that 50% of the successfully breeding hens were likely exposed to lead, and 25–37% of the Spectacled Eider breeding population was exposed to lead. The long-term effects of sublethal.
Acides gras polyinsaturés trans : aspects métaboliques

Les acides gras trans polyinsatures sont formes a partir des acides gras indispensables (acides linoleique et a-linolenique) au cours des traitements technologiques comme par exemple le raffinage des huiles ou la friture [1, 2]. L’acide linolenique est plus sensible a l’isomerisation que l’acide linoleique. En effet, comme l’a montre Wolff dans une revue recente [3], le degre d’isomerisation de l’acide linolenique peut atteindre 30 a 35 %. On retrouve egalement ces pourcentages dans les formules infantiles et le lait de femme [1]. Les principaux isomeres formes sont les composes monotrans, a savoir les 18 :2-9trans,12cis, 18 :2-9cis,12trans, 18 :3-9trans,12cis,15cis, et le 18 :3-9cis,12cis,15-trans. Cependant, une temperature de desodorisation superieure a 220 °C entraine la formation d’isomeres di-trans [4]. A titre d’exemple, nous avons represente dans le tableau le contenu de quelques huiles vegetales en isomeres des acides linoleique et a-linolenique. Compte tenu de leur presence dans l’alimentation, on peut s’interroger sur les consequences nutritionnelles et biochimiques de leur ingestion.
Hepatotoxic and haematological effects of Nigerian Bonny light crude oil in male albino rats

The effect of Bonny light crude oil was assessed in adult albino rats. The rats were administered with 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg of the crude oil orally for 7 days. Fluid intake was measured daily, and the initial and final animal body weight recorded. Oral crude oil at these doses produced no effect on feed and fluid intake between the test groups and the control group. There was a significant decrease in body weight compared to the control group after 7 days of treatment with the different doses of crude oil. The toxic effects of the liver and hematological effects were assessed. The packed cell volume (PCV) and total white blood cell (WBC) of the 200 mg/kg group were significantly decreased compared to the respective control values. Administration of 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg of Bonny light crude oil, caused a significant dose-dependent increase in glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) levels, but a significant decrease in the alkaline phosphatase (AP) level compared to the control. Histological examination indicates that crude oil induced severe pathologic changes in the forms of necrosis and oedema.
Hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α is associated with angiogenesis, and expression of bFGF, PDGF‐BB, and EGFR in invasive breast cancer

Aims : Hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1 (HIF‐1) is the key transcription factor regulating the cellular response to hypoxia, including angiogenesis. Growth factors play an important role in tumour growth and angiogenesis and some have been shown to be induced by HIF‐1 in vitro. This study investigated if angiogenesis or growth factors or their receptors are associated with HIF‐1α in invasive breast cancer.
LOW‐DIVERSITY ANTARCTIC SOIL NEMATODE COMMUNITIES: DISTRIBUTION AND RESPONSE TO DISTURBANCE

We are studying the distribution, biodiversity, and abundance of nematodes in the most extreme terrestrial environment on earth, the Dry Valley region of Antarctica. Here we report that the nematode community structure of 1–3 species in two functional groups may be the simplest soil food web of any terrestrial ecosystem. Nematodes were widespread and not correlated with moisture, C, or N, factors that define soil biotic complexity elsewhere. In a field experiment, treatments increasing soil water, carbon, and temperature, alone or in combination, generally decreased the abundance of the single omnivore-predator species and increased the abundance of its microbivorous prey species. These low-diversity nematode communities, limited to ≤3 species, apparently lack species redundancy and appear sensitive to environmental change. Our findings suggest that Antarctic soil ecosystems are sensitive to anthropogenic disturbance.
Targeting and selection of mutations in human Vλ rearrangements

The impact of somatic hypermutation on the lambda light chain repertoire of individual IgM+ peripheral B cells in the absence (nonproductive rearrangements) and presence (productive rearrangements) of selective influences was analyzed. In the 27 mutated nonproductive VλJλ rearrangements obtained from individual peripheral B cells, a significantly greater mutational frequency was observed in the complementarity‐determining region (CDR) in comparison to the framework region (FR), whereas the mutational frequencies in both the CDR and FR of the 100 mutated productive VλJλ rearrangements were significantly greater. R mutations were introduced comparably in CDR and FR of nonproductive VλJλ rearrangements, but were significantly decreased in FR of productive VλJλ rearrangements. The majority of codons defined as hot spots for R mutations were within CDR in both the nonproductive and productive VλJλ rearrangements. Targeting of mutations to RGYW/WRCY motifs was observed such that 38% of all mutations in the nonproductive VλJλ rearrangements were within RGYW/WRCY motifs. Mutations in RGYW/WRCY motifs were positively selected and accounted for >50% of all mutations in the mutated productive VλJλ rearrangements. These data indicate that targeting of the mutational machinery and selection of mutations in these targeted motifs play major roles in influencing nucleotide changes in VλJλ rearrangements.
Changes in N and S Leaf Content, Stomatal Density and Specific Leaf Area of 14 Plant Species during the Last Three Centuries of CO2 Increase

Parallel to the increase in atmospheric C02 from 278 /ntnol moP1 in ad 1750 to the current ambient level of 348 fimol mol-1, there have been overall decreases in leaf nitrogen content and stomatal density from 144% and 121%, respectively, in ad 1750 to 100% today of herbarium specimens of 14 trees, shrubs, and herbs collected over the last 240 years in Catalonia, a Mediterranean climate area. These decreases were steeper during the initial slower increases in C02 atmospheric levels as compared with the relatively faster COz increases in recent years. The declines in leaf N content and stomatal density have also been reported in experimental studies on leaves of plants grown under enriched C02 environments. Meanwhile, the stomatal index and overall carbon and sulphur leaf contents have not changed significantly. Leaf S content was higher in the 1940s samples coinciding with the burning of increased quantities of sulphur-rich coal. Consequently, the epidermal cell density has decreased parallel to the stomatal density and the C/N ratio of leaves has increased, implying possible important consequences on herbivores, decomposers, and ecosystems. An overall decrease in the specific leaf area (SLA) from 184% in the 18th century to 100% today has also been found, as would be expected under C02 enrichment, but which might also be an artifact of prolonged storage.
Phenolic Compounds in the Embryo Development of Several Northern Hemisphere Fucoids

: Light and electron microscopy were used to study the involvement of phenolic compounds in the early development of the Northern Hemisphere fucoids, Fucus serratus (L.), Fucus spiralis (L.) and Himanthalia elongata (L.) S. F. Gray. Phenolic compounds, packaged within physodes are a major cytoplasmic component of brown algae. Physodes accumulate at the zygote periphery early in development and are secreted into the primary zygote wall. At germination, physodes accumulate at the rhizoid tip. Physodes, together with other wall components, contribute to the development of the cell plate. Good evidence already exists for the involvement of phenolic compounds in the development of Southern Hemisphere fucoids, and this study shows that phenolics play a similar role in the Northern Hemisphere. Consequently, their perceived role as herbivore deterrents in Northern Hemisphere species may be a consequence of their role in wall construction.
Classifying Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains of human origin in MDR, XDR and PDR by determining the resistance to antibiotics from seven groups.

Abstract We used the recent recommendations (Magiorakos et al., 2012) to define MDR, XDR and PDR. Thirty-one strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa of human origin from The Institute of Cardiovascular Disease "Prof.Â Dr. George I. M. Georgescu" in Iasi were tested by diffusion antibiogram. According to the results, strains were classified as MDR, XDR or PDR. The quality control of the study was carried out with Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain ATCC 27853 . Results was 26 of the 31 strains that were tested were proven MDR, 5 strains were included in the XDR group, no PDR strains were found in this study.
Lifetime consequences of variable 0 year group length in riverine populations of chub Leuciscus cephalus (L.)

The fork length (LF) of individual chub Leuciscus cephalus in English riverine populations at the end of their first growth season varied considerably, ranging from 70 mm. This had a significant influence on the subsequent growth of individuals over their lifetime. Chub of small LF at age 1 year generally produced smaller annual growth increments throughout life than those of longer LF at age 1 year, although they had the potential to attain greater ultimate LF. This variability in LF at age 1 year resulted, at least in part, from multiple spawning events over a protracted period, that caused variation in the growing seasons for 0 year group chub of the same year class. Since the adult population contained individuals that only attained LF of <25 mm at the end of their first growing season, it is possible that LF at age 1 year may not be such a major precursor to strong chub recruitment as previously thought.