Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
RESEARCH OF COMMUNITY ECOLOGY ON SHOREA CHINENSIS FOREST IN XISHUANGBANNA

Shorea chinensis forest distributing as a relict in the limited habitats of southern Mengla County, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan. Covering about 800hm2, where is a tropical consociation with a single dominant tree species Shorea chinensis of Diptero ceae. The forest is mainly charactered by evergreen mega and meso phaenerophytes with simple leathy and entire mesophylls. With 3-4 tree layers, butress appearing in the upper trees, cauliflory appearing in the lower trees, abundant woody lianas and epiphytes in the interlayer, the forest is thoroughly a vegetation type of tropical rain forest. Situated on the northern border of mainland SE Asia, the forest grows under the limiting conditions of the climate, latitude and altitude of tropical rain forests, therefore, the forest community has some deciduous trees among the upper trees, less megaphaenerophytes and epiphytes, more abundant lianas, meso and microphaenerophytes, as well as more microphyll in leaf scale spectrum than that of the com-munities in equatorial low land tropical rain forests. Evidently, the forest community is a tropical seasonal rain forest from the northern border of tropical SE Asia. Further more, the DBH class of trees, the relationship between individual and species and the population composition are discussed in the present paper.
EFFECT OF AQUEOUS LEAF EXTRACT OF EUPHORBIA HETEROPHYLLA ON KIDNEY, LIVER AND PANCREATIC FUNCTIONS AND PLASMA ELECTROLYTES IN RABBITS

Although the use of Euphorbia heterophylla as herbal laxative in Nigeria is associated with severe and sometimes life - threatening side effects, not much is known about the toxic effect of the herb. This study was designe d to assess the effect of aqueous leaf extract of the plant on some vital organ functions in rab bits. Three groups of rabbits ( six rabbits/group s ) were used. Two groups received either 10 mg or 20 mg of aqueous extract/kg body weight for 18 days via oro - ga stric route. Members of the third group received saline and served as controls. On the 18 th day, the rabbits were sacrificed following an overnight fast and blood samples were collected via the ear veins in heparinised bottles for plasma preparation. The k idney, liver and pancreas were quickly dissected out and weighed portions were used in preparation of tissue homogenates for biochemical analysis. Using standard procedures, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate transaminase (AST) gamma glutamyl transferas e (GGT), alanine transaminase (ALT), electrolytes (Na + , K + and Cl ), blood urea nitro gen (BUN), creatinine, total proteins and albumin were assayed either in tissues or in plasma or both. The results obtained showed that the extract significantly and dose - dependently decreased plasma Na + , urea and creatinine , while plasma Cl and K + were significantly elevated relative to control (P < 0.05). T he extract also significantly increased fasting blood glucose and plasma amylase (P < 0.05). On the other hand, pan creatic protein and pancreatic amylase were significantly decreased. The plasma levels of GGT, AST and ALP were significantly higher in the extract - treated rabbits , while the activities of the en zymes were significantly decreased in the liver (P < 0.05). A LT did not follow a definite pattern, initially significantly decreasing in plasma and then increasing at the higher extract dose, while the activity of the enzyme significantly increased dose - dependently in the liver (P < 0.05 ). The extract significantly decreased liver and kidney total protein as well as plasma total protein and plasma albumin (P < 0.05). These results suggest that E. heterophylla may have toxic effects on vi tal organs and may provide a basis for rationalizing the adverse health effects f requently associated with the use of this herbal laxative.
Association between Retinal Detachment and Cataract Extraction Surgery: A Review

Multiple risk factors are implicated, including patient factors (younger age, male sex, and long axial length) [1-4,8,11,14,15], operative factors (surgical technique, vitreous loss, and posterior capsule rupture), [2,6,11,13,17,19] and postoperative factors (Nd: YAG laser posterior capsulotomy) [4,7]. Operative technique has been implicated as a significant risk factor for subsequent RD, particularly because the abandonment of intracapsular cataract extraction in favor of extracapsular cataract extraction during the late 1970s resulted in a significant decline in the incidence of pseudophakic RD [6,7,12,21,22]. The subsequent adoption of phacoemulsification cataract surgery as the current procedure of choice has maintained this reduced risk for RD [1,2,7,12], despite initial concerns associated with the surgeon learning curve surrounding its adoption [6].
Modulation de l'immunité antitumorale par des anticorps in vivo.

Un travail publié récemment dans la revue Nature Medicine par le groupe de Jeffrey V. Ravetch [1] met en évidence un rôle modulateur des anticorps anti-cellules tumorales sur l’immunité antitumorale in vivo. On attribue aux cellules cytotoxiques un rôle essentiel dans l’immunité antitumorale, et deux observations publiées au cours des dix dernières années ont fourni les bases moléculaires aux mécanismes par lesquels deux grandes catégories de lymphocytes, les cellules T cytotoxiques (CTL) et les cellules NK (natural killer), contribuent à la surveillance immunitaire en éliminant les cellules transformées [2]. L’identification de l’antigène MAGE sur des cellules de mélanome humain et la description de CTL reconnaissant les peptides dérivés de cet antigène, associés aux molécules de classe I du complexe majeur d’histocompatibilité (CMH) [3], ont démontré que des CTL anti-tumeurs existent chez des malades porteurs d’un mélanome. La description, sur les cellules NK, de récepteurs inhibiteurs appartenant à la famille des KIR (killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors) qui, lorsqu’ils reconnaissent les molécules de classe I du CMH sur les cellules cibles, inhibent la cytotoxicité exercée par ces cellules [4], a permis de comprendre la physiologie des cellules NK. Celles-ci épargnent en effet les cellules normales, qui expriment des molécules de classe I du CMH mais tuent des cellules tumorales ou des cellules infectées par un virus qui, parce qu’elles expriment moins de molécules de classe I du CMH, échappent aux CTL. Le rôle des anticorps dans l’immunité antitumorale est moins clair. Des anticorps sont produits contre des tumeurs expérimentales, et des anticorps spécifiques peuvent être trouvés dans le sérum de malades porteurs de différentes tumeurs. Très étudiés dans les années 1950-1970, ces anticorps s’étaient révé lés capables soit d’induire [5] soit, au contraire, de prévenir le rejet de tumeurs expérimentales [6]. L’effet protecteur des anticorps peut être, aujourd’hui, attribué à une cytotoxicité à médiation cellulaire dépendant d’anticorps (ADCC). On sait en effet que les cellules NK, mais également des cellules myé loïdes comme les macrophages et les monocytes, sont capables de tuer des cellules recouvertes d’IgG dirigés contre des antigènes portés par ces cellules. Des anticorps contre des antigènes exprimés par des cellules tumorales commencent à être utilisés en thérapeutique anticancéreuse. Les mécanismes par lesquels les anticorps facilitent la croissance tumorale sont en revanche restés sans explication satisfaisante. Le travail de Jeffrey Ravetch apporte un élément de compréhension à ces effets paradoxaux des anticorps. L’explication réside dans la coexpression, par des cellules responsables de l’ADCC, de deux classes de récepteurs pour la portion Fc des IgG (RFcγ) doués de propriétés antagonistes.
Tolerance of Lactobacillus plantarum NCU116 in Stimulated Digestive Environments

The tolerance of Lactobacillus plantarum NCU116 in several stimulated human digestive environments such as artificial gastric fluid,artificial intestinal fluid,bile salt environment and high salt environment was investigated.The results showed that survival rates of Lactobacillus plantarum NCU116 were 32.62% and 45.76% after 3 h of incubation in artificial gastric fluid with pH 1.5 and pH 2.5,respectively,and a higher survival rate was achieved when the pH of artificial gastric fluid equaled or exceeded 3.5. After 4 h incubation in artificial intestinal fluid,the strain revealed a survival rate of 49.63%. The number of viable NCU116 cells after 24 hours of incubation in bile salt environment exhibited a downward trend as the concentration of bile salt increased from 0.03 to 1.00 g/100 mL,and remained higher than 107 CFU/mL at the highest bile salt concentration.The number of viable NCU116 cells after 24 hours of incubation in high-concentration NaCl environment slightly declined with increasing NaCl concentration from 1 to 8 g/100 mL,and was higher than 108 CFU/mL when the NaCl concentration was 8 g/100 mL.In summary,Lactobacillus plantarum NCU116 has excellent tolerance in artificial gastric fluid,artificial intestinal fluid,bile salt environment and high salt environment and will thus have promising application prospects in the food and healthcare food industries.
The Rare Case of Moyamoya Disease Initially Suspected with Transcranial Doppler Real-Time Color Flow Imaging Study

Moyamoya disease is a rare occlusive vasculopathy of the circle of Willis. The disease is characterized by progressive, bilateral stenosis of the intracranial ICA and its proximal branches. In the setting of chronic ischemia, numerous fragile collateral vessels develop around the base of the brain. Early Japanese investigators likened the hazy appearance of this collateral vasculature on angiography to a “moyamoya” (puff of smoke), giving the disease its name. When a moyamoya-like pattern of obstruction and collateral-formation develops in the setting of another condition (e.g. atherosclerosis), it is called moyamoya syndrome. The term moyamoya disease is reserved for cases in which stenosis occurs bilaterally in the absence of an inciting condition [1]. The causes of moyamoya disease are still being investigated. While it is known that vessel occlusion results from a combination of hyperplasia of smooth-muscle cells and luminal thrombosis, this process may have multiple pathophysiological antecedents [1,2]. Genetic factors appear to play a role in some patients; the proportion of patients who have affected first-degree relatives is reported to be 10% in Japan, while one U.S. study found a rate of 6% [2] Several susceptibility loci are known (e.g. 3p, 6p, 17q) and a recent study has identified RNF213 as the first gene associated with moyamoya [2].
CELLULAR LOCALIZATION OF ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE ISOZYMES IN THREE HUMAN CANCER CELL LINES: METHODOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS BASED ON ELECTRON CYTOCHEMICAL STUDIES

The cellular localization of cancer-associated alkaline phosphatase is studied in three cultured human cancer cell lines, which are established as monophenotypic to early placental in KMK-2, Kasahara in HeLa S3-5, and Regan isozymes in HeLa S3-10 respectively.First, it is confirmed that the optimal conditions of the cell fixation, the substrate concentration and the cultured method, as factors which influenced on the electron cytochemical demonstration of alkaline phosphatase should be thoroughly studied cell-line to cell-line in order to accurately interpret the localization of each isozyme concerned.Second, it is shown that all of the enzyme activities of the early placental, Kasahara and Regan isozymes are located on the whole plasma membrane, particularly the outer lamella and the spaces between the outer and inner lamellae. However, it is less certain that the reaction products in some intracytoplasmic organelles of KMK-2 and HeLa S3-5 are the specific sites of the early placental isozyme or the Kasahara isozyme. Effects of some activators and inhibitors to each isozyme on the enzyme activity and the cellular localization are also described.
Archaeal lineages detected in mangrove sediment in the Zhangjiang estuary of Fujian province

Archaeal lineages in mangrove sediment in the Zhangjiang estuary of Fujian province were detected by environmental 16S rRNA gene sequences phylogenetic analysis.Total DNAs were extracted from the mangrove sediment and an archaeal 16S rRNA gene clones library was constructed.The archaeal 16S rRNA gene clones selected by amplified rDNA restriction analysis(ARDRA)were sequenced and phylogenetically analyzed.The results showed that most of archaeal 16S rRNA gene clones(95%)belonged to three described archaeal lineages,which were the marine benthic group D in the Euryarchaeota phylum,the miscellaneous crenarchaeotic group and the marine group I in Crenarchaeota phylum.A few archaeal clones(5%)constituted partially novel lineages in the Euryarchaeota phylum.The miscellaneous crenarchaeotic group(MCG)crenarchaea was the predominant archaeal group in the mangrove sediment.The archaeal lineages revealed in this study enhanced our understanding of the ecological complexity and importance of archaea in mangrove sediment.
Co-ordinate Expression of GTP Cyclohydrolase I and Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase in Rat Mesangial Cells

The synthesis of NO from L-arginine by NO synthase (NOS) is an important intracellular and intercellular signalling pathway originally discovered in macrophages and endothelial cells (1). Molecular cloning and sequence analyses revealed the existence of at least 3 main types of NOS isoforms. The brain and endothelial enzmes are constitutively expressed and are regulated by Ca2+ -mobilizing agonists that trigger an increase in intracellular free Ca2+, which binds to calmodulin, and thus activates NOS. A third type of NOS has been cloned from murine macrophages and is not constitutively expressed, but is induced by y-interferon and lipopolysaccharide, and is Ca2+ -independent. The macrophage NOS is regulated on a transcriptional level and once induced is active for hours and days. Not surprisingly, therefore, the inducible macrophage enzyme produces amounts of NO that are several hundred times higher than the ones produced by the constitutive endothelial cell and brain enzymes which are only active during the short periods of elevated intracellular Ca2+ observed after exposure of cells to Ca2+ -mobilizing agonists (1). We have shown that cytokines, such as interleukin 1 (IL-I) and tumour necrosis factor a (TNFa),
Environment, Succession and Land-Use Potential in the Semi-Evergreen Forests of Southern Sri Lanka

Relationships between mature forest, successional stands and habitat variation in the dry zone of southern Sri Lanka are investigated by multivariate methods, including an attempt to use vegetation and habitat data to predict yield for teak and coconut. A common sampling frame is used for ecological and yield prediction studies. Crop sites are matched by geomorphological variables with mature forest samples and, if available, one or more stands of successional vegetation regenerating after the abandonment of chena cultivation. Habitat data are simplified by principal components analysis to remove collinearity and component scores are used to seek relationships with vegetation data simplified by ordination and classification. Stepwise multiple regression of component scores on axis coordinates from ordinations provides hypotheses of additive habitat relationships. Floristic patterns on ordination axes are summarized as seriation arrays usingX2 tests to isolate species restricted to axis segments. Successional floristic patterns, with parallel diversity and structural trends, are dominant in vegetation data, including gap regeneration in mature forest samples. Separate soil moisture (involving topography and textural effects) and soil type trends are also interpretable in mature forest vegetation. Successional samples also contain regional patterns which might reflect rainfall differences. Trend surface analysis, seriation and yield prediction models are used to relate crop yield to vegetation data. Regression is used to correlate habitat data with crop yield. However, no strong relationship with crop yield variables is found. Weak prediction of teak volume increment per tree is possible from vegetation data, and both teak and coconut yields increase weakly with increasingly fine soil texture. Further understanding of dry zone vegetation in Sri Lanka, including its conservation value and indicator potential, is currently threatened by widespread and unplanned forest clearance.
A clinical study of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in non-smokers attending a tertiary care hospital

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) ranks third among the prime causes of death globally. 1. To study the clinical profile of COPD in non-smokers. 2. To identify the other risk factors (other than smoking) of COPD. Methodology: Data was collected meeting the objectives of the study with a pre-tested proforma. Detailed history was taken, clinical examination was done and necessary investigations were carried out. Continuous data was expressed as Mean + SD and categorical data was expressed as number and percentage (%). Results: In the present study it was observed that most of the non-smoker COPD patients belonged to older age group. In the present study the mean age of the patients was 55.06 + 8.87 years. study subjects < 40 years were 6%, 40-59 years were 64%, 60-79 years were 30% and >80 years were 0% females account for 68%, with a male to female ratio of 1: 2.125. Conclusions: In this study of COPD in non-smokers, females were predominant. Cough and sputum production were the most common clinical features. Environmental tobacco smoke exposure and biomass fuel usage were the most common risk factors. Most of the patients belonged to rural background. Most of the patients presented with less severe form of the disease.
Raptor Floaters at Moffat's Equilibrium

Explanations of population size often invoke density-dependent reductions in fecundity and survival under conditions of Malthusian growth. An alternative, that territorial bird numbers change arithmetically as a consequence of spatially imposed limits to fecundity was proposed by C. B. Moffat in 1903. Restrictions in the size of annual cohorts set the upper limit of an equilibrium size range for the population deriving from any defined area, while the lower limit is maintained by the buffering effect of floaters (non-breeding adults) in filling breeding vacancies as they occur. Density-dependent floater pressure on reproduction and breeder survival, though not essential to equilibrium, is a likely focus of regulatory adjustment in healthy raptor populations. This essay considers the development of floating population segments and outlines some simple principles of modeling bird populations which contain floaters. Estimates of population size at equilibrium and the floater-to-breeder ratio offer particularly clear measures of the potential of defined populations to act as sources of recruits to the larger landscape and are more informative than traditional growth rate estimates in assessing population health and stability of territorial species.
Effects of temperature on life history set the sensitivity to fishing in Atlantic cod Gadus morhua

Concern over sustainable fisheries resources has motivated investigations of possible synergistic effects of climate variability and fishing on marine populations. While many studies suggest that fishing increases population sensitivity to climate forcing, the effects of climate variability on the population response to fishing is relatively understudied. To fill this knowledge gap, we conducted a synthesis based on 20 Atlantic cod populations (11 in the Northeast and 9 in the Northwest Atlantic). These cod populations display considerable life-history variation and are exposed to different temperature regimes and differential harvest pressure throughout their broad geographical range. We hypothesized that the differences in life histories that result from the different temperature regimes determine the sensitivity of cod populations to fishing. Spatial correlations between life-history traits (growth, maturation, and natural mortality) and water temperatures confirmed that warmer temperatures lead to faster individual growth, earlier maturation, and higher natural mortality. Analysis of a population model revealed how temperature influences on life histories lead to differential population responses to fishing. We represented such population responses to fishing using a proxy for lifetime reproduction (fraction of unfished lifetime spawning biomass, FLSB). This index revealed that — all else being equal — populations in warmer regions in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean can sustain higher fishing rates than those in the cooler Northwest. Life history-mediated temperature effects on population dynamics provide a novel perspective on synergistic relationships between climate and fisheries. Understanding population life-history variation will enhance the capabilities for forecasting future fisheries production under climate change.
A new marine ascomycete in Spathulosporales, Hispidicarpomyces galaxauricola gen. et sp. nov. (Hispidicarpomycetaceae fam. nov.), inhabiting a red alga, Galaxaura falcata

A new marine ascomycete inhabiting Galaxaura falcata (Rhodophyta) was found along the Japanese coast and is described as Hispidicarpomyces galaxauricola gen. et sp. nov. (Spathulosporales). This fungus produces trichogynes and spermatiophores composing a spermodochium, both of which resemble those of Spathulospora species, but differs from the latter genus in hyphoid thalli, spermodochia formation, ascocarp structure and parasitism, which warrants establishment of a new genus and a new family (Hispidicarpomycetaceae/am. nov.). The diagnosis of Spathulosporales is amended to accommodate the new genus. The discovery of this fungus throws doubt on the formerly proposed close relationship between Spathulosporales and Laboulbeniales. The taxonomic position and phylogeny of Spathulosporales are discussed. From the observation of the alternate development of spermodochia with ascocarps on the algal fronds, the life history of this fungus was considered in relation to the life history of the host alga.
Possibility of Diagnosing Uterine Function in Cows

Declining in reproductive efficiency is a worldwide problem, although remarkable progress has been made in reproductive techniques including artificial insemination programs, estrous cycle synchronization, and effective embryo production. One means of solving this problem is to select breeding cows based on highly precise diagnosis for high reproductive ability, including ovarian and uterine function. Many recent studies have documented the regulation of uterine function, with the results suggesting that said functions might be an effective diagnostic index for reproductive performance. Therefore, the production of oxytocin-induced prostaglandin F2α and epidermal growth factor in bovine endometrium, such as the physiological reaction in vivo, may be useful in detecting repeat breeder cows. Although the diagnosis is possible using relatively simple techniques such as biopsy, culture, and hormone assay, it is difficult to apply such diagnosis to the field conditions. However, further improvements in the exhaustive gene expression analysis of uterine function in repeat breeder or low fertility cows, so as to determine the genes associated with physiological reactions, could lead to new diagnostic indexes resulting in improved reproductive efficiency. Discipline: Animal Industry Additional key words: endometrial biopsy, epidermal growth factor, oxytocin, prostaglandin F2α