Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Forest Fire History in Viena Karelia, Russia

The history of forest fires was studied in north-west Russia near the Finnish-Russian border on a total of 22 transects within a 3 x 4 km area, 100 m long and 20 m wide, bydendrochronological methods. In total, 25 fires were identified as having occurred in the area between 1400 and 1998. On average, a fire occurred somewhere within the area once every 23 yrs, and once every 13 yrs between 1650 and 1950. The fire frequency (proportion of the area burnt per time unit) broadly followed the changes in the number of fires, but there were also differences. The fire frequency was 1.87% from 1679 to 1872 and 0.40% from 1873 onwards. The mean fire interval was 62 yrs and the median interval 56 yrs. According to the tree-ring width chronology tree growth was significantly lower in the dated fire years than in other years. Forest fire history in north-west Russia is broadly similar to that in many parts of Scandinavia.
Florística e estrutura de um trecho de mata ciliar do rio Carinhanha, Feira da Mata, Bahia, Brasil

O objetivo deste trabalho foi contribuir para o conhecimento da composicao floristica e estrutura da vegetacao de um trecho de mata ciliar, as margens do rio Carinhanha, pertencente a bacia do rio Sao Francisco, em um fragmento de Cerrado lato sensu, em Feira da Mata, Bahia. Foram alocados quatro transectos de 50 m, equidistantes entre si, e 12 parcelas de 10 m x 25 m, distribuidas entre os transectos, totalizando 3.000 m2 (0,3 ha). Todos os individuos vivos e mortos com DAP ≥ 5 cm foram amostrados. No levantamento floristico, foram amostradas 105 especies, 87 generos e 42 familias. No estudo fitossociologico foram registrados 217 individuos distribuidos em 54 especies, 49 generos e 29 familias. A familia com maior riqueza de especies foi Fabaceae, que incluiu 24,07% do total de especies amostradas. A especie Oxandra reticulata Maas apresentou o maior valor de importância. A densidade foi 723 individuos.ha-1 e a area basal 14,52 m². ha-1. O indice de diversidade de Shannon-Wiener (H`) foi 3,62. O indice de Sorensen (So) evidenciou baixa similaridade com outros fragmentos de mata ciliar do Cerrado. Concluiu-se que a area estudada compartilha especies com outras fisionomias do Cerrado e contem especies da Caatinga, confirmando a heterogeneidade dessa formacao.
Avoidance behaviour of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) fry in waters of low pH and elevated aluminium concentration: laboratory experiments

Nous avons etudie le comportement d'evitement des alevins (5-7 cm) de saumon atlantique (Salmo salar) dans des eaux presentant divers pH (4,0, 4,5, 5,0 et 6,9) et diverses concentrations d'aluminum (70 et 150 μg.L -1 d'Al labile; pH de 5,0). Nous avons utilise un bassin a gradient eleve permettant un choix: nous pouvions isoler le milieu temoin (aucun apport d'Al; pH de 6,9) du milieu acide sans empecher les poissons de nager librement d'une moitie a l'autre du bassin. Chaque essai durait 1 h, dont 5 min pour l'acclimatation au bassin dans le milieu temoin, 15 min pour le melange et 40 min pour l'essai proprement dit. En l'absence d'apport d'Al, le comportement consistant a eviter le milieu acide etait significatif pour les pH de 4,0 et 4,5, mais non pour le pH de 5,0. Dans le cas des pH de 4,0 et 4,5, les poissons ont passe environ 40% du temps dans le milieu acide et 60% dans le milieu temoin. Par ailleurs, l'apport de 70 ou 150 μg. L -1 d'Al labile dans une eau a pH de 5,0 n'avait aucun effet significatif sur le comportement d'evitement, mais les tentatives avortees de penetrer dans le milieu acide etaient plus nombreuses. Bien que les etudes de laboratoire ne permettent pas d'estimer directement les concentrations-seuils ou debute le comportement d'evitement en milieu naturel, nos resultats etablissent clairement que l'evitement est une reponse comportementale pouvant augmenter les chances de survie en eau acide. Cependant, les poissons ne peuvent eviter les concentrations d'Al qui s'observent en milieu naturel, a moins qu'un comportement d'evitement ne soit declenche par une baisse du pH.
Effects of Organic Fertilizers and Urea when Applied to Spring Wheat

Abstract Ecologically or organically produced wheat often has a protein content that is too low to be successfully used in modern bakeries. To increase the protein content in spring wheat, two organic fertilizers (slurry manure and meat bone meal) were compared with urea in field trials. Mycological analyses were performed to study whether any mould infection occurred. Protein content was increased by the organic fertilizers to a level about the same as given by the urea treatment. Slurry manure exhibited a lower effect per kg applied N than urea and meat bone meal. The results indicate that no consistent differences in endogenic mould infection were present between treatments. Meat bone meal can be used as a supplement at growth stage 30–31 to increase the protein content. Slurry manure has to be applied at high rates at sowing to get a pronounced effect on protein content and yield.
All in the family: TGF-β family action in testis development

To achieve and maintain fertility, the adult mammalian testis produces many generations of sperm. While testicular integrity is established in the fetus and develops further in juvenile life, sperm production does not ensue until much later in life, following the onset of puberty. Signals from the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily of proteins are vital for governance of testis development and spermatogenesis, and this review discusses our current understanding of the mechanisms and processes in which they have been implicated with a focus on the fetal and juvenile testis.
Effect of sodium dodecyl sulfate on the conformation of soybean glycinin.

The effect of SDS on conformation of glycinin from soybean (Glycine max) was studied by the techniques of optical rotatory disperion (ORD), circular dichroism (CD), fluorescence spectrophotometry, and viscosity measurements. The addition of SDS decreased the intensity of bands in the near-UV-CD spectrum of the protein, suggesting disruption of the tertiary structure. In the far-UV-CD spectrum the ellipticity values increased. Calculation of the alpha-helical content of the protein showed that it increased with increasing SDS concn. This conclusion was supported by difference CD spectra, ORD, and fluorescence spectral data. Reduced viscosity of the protein did not change significantly with increases in SDS concn. , indicating slight changes in hydrodynamic vol. of the protein.
The reproductive biology of the Cape mole‐rat, Georychus capensis (Rodentia, Bathyergidae)

Georychus capensis is a seasonal breeder with the reproductive potential of producing two litters during the summer breeding season (August to December). These solitary mole-rats signal to each other through the soil, by drumming with their hind feet. This drumming is probably important in spacing the burrow systems and in triggering the onset of reproductive behaviour. In a captive male the onset of drumming was accompanied by a rise in urinary testosterone concentrations and the enlargement of testes and accessory reproductive glands. The male appeared to drum with a different frequency to the female. Courtship is initiated by the male and copulation involves brief multiple intromissions. The gestation period is about 44 days and the mean litter size is 5.9 with a maximum of 10 pups. Development of the pups is relatively rapid. Inter-sibling aggression begins to develop at 35 days, eventually resulting in the pups dispersing when about 60 days old. Body mass increases exponentially from birth to day 60 and the asymptote is reached around day 260. These features are compared with those of other solitary subterranean rodents and with those of the social Bathyergidae (Cryptomys hottentotus, Cryptomys damarensis and Heterocephalus glaber).
Possibility of micropropagation of dianthus giganteiformis subsp. Kladovanus (Degen) SÓO by the method of proliferation of lateral shoots

The micropropagation of kladovanus carnation (Dianthus giganteiformis subsp kladovanus) was tested by the lateral shoot proliferation method. Micropropagation was performed on the medium with 1/2 MS mineral solution supplemented with 3% sucrose, 0.8% agar, 50 mg·L-1 mio-inositol, 0.025 mg·L-1 thiamin, 0.125 mg·L-1 nicotinic acid and 0.5 mg·L-1 glycine. The development of lateral shoots was induced on 6-benzyl-aminopurine (BAP) and α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). The best results were achieved on the medium with 1 mg·L-1 BAP and 0.1 mg·L-1 NAA. Rooting was successful on the medium without hormones, and the percentage of acclimatisation was 83%.
The Hepatoprotective Effects of Concomitant Administration of Calcium and Magnesium on Cadmium and Lead Co-intoxicated Rats

This work was carried out in collaboration between all authors. Author JDD designed the study, performed the statistical analysis, wrote the protocol, and wrote the first draft of the manuscript and managed literature searches. Authors SYG and GAU managed the analyses of the study and literature searches. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Aims: To determine the hepatoprotective effects of concomitant administration of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) frozen until required for the measurement of liver biomarkers, while the liver was identified and fixed in 10% formal saline for histopathological studies. Results: Liver biomarkers in serum decreased as the concentrations of Ca and Mg were elevated. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the liver biomarkers concentrations of all the groups as compared with control. The histochemistry show that there was mild damage to the liver integrity at the lower concentrations of Ca and Mg but as their concentrations were elevated, there was no significant difference between the liver integrity of control and the test groups. Conclusion: Results suggest that Ca and Mg could mitigate the hepatotoxicities induced by Cd and Pb in the rats.
Does breeding experience explain increased reproductive success with age? An experiment

Accumulation of breeding experience is often assumed to explain enhanced reproductive performance with age. This hypothesis is usually tested by comparing reproductive performance of individuals of the same age but having different amounts of previous breeding experience, thus using natural variation in the age of first breeding. However, individual quality may confound such a comparison, since age of first breeding is likely to covary with individual quality. I delayed experimentally the age of first breeding in female collared flycatchers Ficedula albicollis, and found that: (i) individual quality differences were likely to cause the observed higher reproductive success of unmanipulated experienced as compared with inexperienced two-year-old females; and (ii) breeding experience had no or very little effect on reproductive performance as compared with the effects of reproductive costs. A review of previous tests of the breeding experience hypothesis in birds reveals no consistent trends, although some studies suggest that breeding experience may improve reproductive performance. However, several of these studies also suggest that high-quality individuals start to breed at a younger age. Hence, at present there is no unequivocal evidence that breeding experience explains the enhanced reproductive performance with age. It is more likely that other age-related improvements in competence (e. g. foraging, nest site selection) and increased reproductive effort with age are responsible for this change.
Evaluation of a Dietary Dairy–Yeast Prebiotic in Juvenile Golden Shiners in Ponds

Abstract We evaluated the performance in ponds of juvenile golden shiners Notemigonus crysoleucas fed a control diet or a diet with 2% dairy–yeast prebiotic. Fish weighing 0.1 ± 0.001 g (mean ± SD) were initially stocked into five 0.04-ha earthen ponds per diet at 21.9 kg/ha and fed extruded 35%-protein pellets to satiation twice daily. Subsamples of fish were weighed at 2-week intervals for 6 weeks; the fish were harvested at 7 weeks to avoid reproduction. For golden shiners fed the control and prebiotic diets, the mean individual weight gain (2.93 and 2.89 g, respectively), net yield (214.0 and 198.8 kg/ha), feed conversion ratio (1.34 and 1.47), and survival (61.5% and 64.2%) did not differ. Condition index (Fulton's K) was higher in fish fed the control (1.15) rather than the prebiotic diet (1.08). After harvest, 100 fish per pond were acclimated to tanks before being subjected to a bacterial challenge with Flavobacterium columnare. Each pond replicate received one of three experimental treatments: co.
Phytochemical and medicinal investigations of Momordica charantia

Crude ethanolic extracts of Momordica charantia fruit and seeds were analyzed for antibacterial, antifungal and phytotoxic properties. Antibacterial activity was carried out using well diffusion method. Ethanolic fruits and seeds extract of Momordica charantia were found effective against all bacterial species studied. Momordica charantia fruit and seed extracts showed moderate antifungal activity against Alternaria alternata, Fusarium oxysporum and Trichoderma harizanum. From the results obtained it is clear that the extracts of Momordica charantia could further be exploited for isolation of active ingredients which could be utilized in medicinal formulations to develop cheaper natural drugs against bacterial and fungal infections. Crude ethanolic extracts of Momordica charantia also showed moderate phytotoxic activity at a concentration of 1000 μg/L, encouraging their utilization in production of eco-friendly herbicides.
A revision of West Tropical African Calymperaceae I. Introduction and Calymperes

AbstractAn introduction is given to the tropical moss family Calymperaceae, including a description of its characteristic hyalocyst pores. Keys (for both fertile and non-fertile collections) are provided to the genera, subgenera and sections found in West Tropical Africa. A revision of Calymperes is given for that region, with a key to the species and subspecies. The peculiarities of the genus (teniole, parateniole, extrateniolar lamina, endohyalocysts, exohyalocysts, leaf polymorphism and foliar gelnmae) have given rise in the past to much confusion and a large synonymy, and the taxonomic implications of these characters are discussed.
IFN-γ Regulation in Anti-CD4 Antibody–Induced T Cell Unresponsiveness

ABSTRACT. The anti-rat CD4 mAb RIB5/2 is very potent in inducing allospecific tolerance in vivo . It is interesting that the unresponsiveness is breakable by exogenous IL-2 applied during the induction phase of tolerance. The molecular mechanisms underlying anti-CD4 antibody–mediated inhibition of allospecific T cell activation and how this is antagonized by exogenous IL-2 were investigated. Anti-CD4 treatment, in vivo and in vitro , completely abrogated IL-2 production by alloreactive T cells. In contrast, anti-CD4–treated alloactivated T cells showed similar IFN-γ mRNA expression as untreated alloactivated T cells but did not secrete any protein. Thus, the anti-CD4 antibody cannot prevent IFN-γ mRNA expression but is interfering with posttranscriptional mechanisms that control IFN-γ production during alloactivation of T cells. Addition of IL-2 but not IL-15 to anti-CD4–treated alloactivated T cells restored IFN-γ protein production without leading to enhanced IFN-γ mRNA expression. Further investigations revealed a diminished activation of translation initiation factor eIF2α in anti-CD4–treated T cells, which was restored by exogenous IL-2. As activated eIF2α is essential for the translation of IFN-γ mRNA, the results may explain the reversibility of anti-CD4–induced unresponsiveness by exogenous IL-2. Furthermore, these results not only shed further light onto the molecular mechanisms of tolerance induction but also reveal the possible weaknesses of anti-CD4 antibody–induced unresponsiveness.
Chromium picolinate can ameliorate the negative effects of heat stress and enhance performance, carcass and meat traits in broiler chickens by reducing the circulatory cortisol level

BACKGROUND: Dietary chromium (Cr3+) supplementation reduces stress in livestock by lowering circulatory cortisol and potentiating the action of insulin. This study aimed to assess the stress-alleviating effects of supplemental Cr3+ as chromium picolinate in broilers. RESULTS: The birds, which were heat stressed and had restricted feed intake between 31 and 40 days of age, were supplemented with 0 (control), 0.5 or 1 mg Cr3+ kg−1 diet from 10 to 40 days of age. Live weight gain, feed efficiency, utilisation efficiency of energy and protein and conversion efficiency of feed protein to muscle protein improved owing to Cr3+ supplementation (P < 0.05), especially during the period of feed restriction. Cr3+ supplementation increased hot and eviscerated carcass weights and breast weight (P < 0.05) and reduced ether extract content (P = 0.02, linear effect). Meat protein accretion improved owing to Cr3+ supplementation (P = 0.006, quadratic effect). Relative to its pre-supplementation value, serum cortisol increased by 2.3% in the control group and decreased by 7.6 and 14.3% in the 0.5 and 1 mg Cr3+-supplemented birds respectively (age × diet interaction P = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: It was concluded that supplemental Cr3+ may ameliorate heat stress and augment growth in broilers during periods of physical feed restriction. However, increasing the inclusion of Cr3+ beyond the dose level of 0.5 mg kg−1 diet may not be substantially beneficial. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Variation in Breeding System Traits within and among Populations of Microbotryum violaceum on Silene dioica

Breeding systems exert profound effects on the amount and distribution of genetic diversity within and among populations. Knowledge of breeding systems is also important for understanding dynamics between coevolving organisms, e.g., pathogen‐host interactions. Here we study the breeding system of the obligate anther smut Microbotryum violaceum on Silene dioica. Microbotryum violaceum is capable of both inbreeding and outcrossing, but several recent studies on other host races have indicated that automixis via intrapromycelial mating is the predominant breeding system. Compared with conjugations between cells from different meioses, automixis results in slower loss of heterozygosity and faster production of infectious hypha. However, high rates of intrapromycelial matings have been suggested to invoke a fitness cost due to production of fewer infectious dikaryons. Working with single strains under standardized laboratory conditions, we studied traits that could influence the distribution of genetic variability and pathogen fitness. We found that intrapromycelial mating is the dominant conjugation form for M. violaceum var. dioica but that the breeding system varies, partly because of genetic differences, both within and among populations. Further, we did not find the predicted fitness reduction for intrapromycelial matings, suggesting that intrapromycelial mating is a highly favorable breeding system for M. violaceum.
Mudas de pera produzidas por dupla enxertia em marmeleiro utilizando o porta-enxerto 'Japonês'

The objective of this work was to evaluate the viability of using 'Japones' quince as rootstock for pear tree cultivars through intergrafting with other quince cultivars using the double-grafting process. 'Seleta' and 'Triunfo' pear trees were grafted by budding and cleft grafting onto 15-cm clefts of 'Portugal', 'Provence', 'Mendoza Inta-37' and 'Smyrna de Harcy' quince trees. The grafted clafts were stored in a cold chamber (4oC) for 24 hours, and were then grafted onto 'Japones' roostocks by full-rift cleft grafting. A completely randomized design with 2x2x4 factorial arrangement was used. After 60 and 120 days, the percentage of sprouting, diameter, the medium length and the dry mass of the grafts and intergrafts were evaluated. No double or triple interaction between the studied factors was detected, only differences among isolated factors. Differences in sprouting percentage were detected only between the grafting methods and the quince cultivars used as intergrafts. Double-grafting is viable for pear seedling production using 'Japones' rootstocks intergrafted with Cydonia quince trees.
Multiple Levels of Recognition in Ants: A Feature of Complex Societies

Communication and recognition are essential for social life. Social insects are good model systems to study social behavior and complexity because their societies are evolutionarily stable and ecologically successful. Ants, in particular, show a large variety of adaptations and are extremely diverse. In ants, social interactions are regulated by at least three levels of recognition. Nestmate recognition occurs between colonies, is very effective, and involves fast processing. Within a colony, division of labor is enhanced by recognition of different classes of individuals. Ultimately, in particular circumstances, such as cooperative colony founding with stable dominance hierarchies, ants are capable of individual recognition. The underlying recognition cues and mechanisms appear to be specific to each recognition level, and their integrated understanding could contribute to the identification of the minimum requirements for the emergence of sociality.
Genetic Analysis of Receptor-Gαq Coupling Selectivity*

Many different G protein-linked receptors are preferentially coupled to G proteins of the Gq/11family. To elucidate the molecular basis underlying this selectivity, different Gq/11-coupled receptors (m3 muscarinic, V1a vasopressin, and gastrin-releasing peptide receptor) were coexpressed (in COS-7 cells) with mutant αs subunits in which residues present at the C terminus of αs were replaced with the corresponding αq/11 residues. Remarkably, whereas none of the receptors was able to interact with wild type αs to a significant extent, all three receptors gained the ability to productively couple to a mutant αs subunit containing a single Glu → Asn point mutation at position −3. Moreover, the m3 muscarinic and the V1a vasopressin receptors but not the GRP receptor also gained the ability to interact with a mutant αs subunit containing a single Gln → Glu point mutation at position −5, indicating that the αq/11 residues present in these mutant G protein constructs play key roles in determining the selectivity of receptor recognition. To identify the site(s) on Gq/11-coupled receptors that can functionally interact with the C terminus of αq/11subunits, we next analyzed the ability of a series of hybrid m2/m3 muscarinic receptors to interact with a mutant αs subunit (sq5) in which the last five amino acids of αs were replaced with the corresponding αq/11 sequence. Similar to the wild type m2 and m3 muscarinic receptors, none of the investigated hybrid receptors was able to efficiently interact with wild type αs. Interestingly, however, three mutant m2 receptors in which different segments of the second and third intracellular loops were replaced with the corresponding m3 receptor sequences were identified, which, in contrast to the Gi/o-coupled wild type m2 receptor, gained the ability to efficiently activate the sq5 subunit. This observation suggests that multiple intracellular receptor domains form a binding pocket for the C terminus of G protein αq/11subunits.