Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparação de diferentes métodos de amostragem, de área fixa e variável, em uma floresta de Araucaria angustifolia .

This research was carried out in a Araucaria angustifolia Forest which belongs to The National Forest of Sao Francisco de Paula, RS. Its purpose was to compare four sampling methods of variable areas (Strand, Prodan, Quadrant and Bitterlich) whith the method of Fixed Area Plot; and determining the efficiency of each method in the estimation of quantitative parameters ((commercial out bark volume, number of trees and basal area), and qualitative ones (ocurring species) of the population. The inventory of a hectare tract of forest was done considering all the trees with a breast height circumference (CAP) ≥ 30CM. These trees identified and their total commercial heights were measured. The Fixed Area Method adopted was the one with strips of 100m of length and 10m of width (10 contiguous strips od land). For the Prodan, Quadrant and Bitterlich methods, 25 points were established systematically distributed along 20m and in the Strand Method 30 contiguous line of 15,7m of length. Through analysis of variance, it was observed that these methos did not whow significant differences in term of volumes estimation, basal area and number of trees. A significant difference was found for the number of ocurring species, being the Fixed Area Method the one that showed the highest average, differing from the other methods. After writing down the time and finding the coefficient of variation for each estimation, the relative efficiency, the result was that the Strand Method was always superior to the relative efficiency in the paramenters estimation.
Morphological Modifications of Oocyte Vitelline Envelope from Bufo arenarum during Different Functional States

The submicroscopic morphology of the vitelline envelope of Bufo arenarum's oocyte change significantly during the maturation and fertilization processes. The morphological changes are related to physiological activity in vivo and can be triggered in vitro by experimental procedures. It is our scope to present the ultrastructure differences of fascicular components of the vitelline envelope in coelomic, “pars recta” conditioned, oviductal, oviposited and fertilized oocytes. Our experimental results indicate that artificial “pars recta” treatment of coelomic oocytes arrange the fascicular components as those of oviposited oocyte, although differences still remain indicating that additional maturation processes take place while the egg pass througth the oviduct. Fertilized or activated oocytes which are refractary to sperm penetration, change the vitelline envelope fascicular components orientation giving a submicroscopical image quite different to those of none fertilized oocytes. These ultrastructural changes define in a clear cut manner the functional states of Bufo arenarum's oocyte.
Does Trade Tariff Liberalisation Matter for Intra-ECOWAS Trade?

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between trade liberalisation and intra-regional trade in some selected ECOWAS member countries, with particular focus on the role of applied and most favoured nation import tariffs. Design/methodology/approach – Data utilized were sourced from the World Bank's World Development and Governance Indicators, Mayer and Zignago (2006) distance index as well as the World Trade Organisation's World Integrated Trade System (WiTs). The sample period consists of 8 countries covering the years 1998 to 2011. Predicated on a gravity framework, system and difference generalised method of moments dynamic panel data estimators were relied upon. Findings – The empirical results showed that trade liberalisation has contributed to intra-regional trade in the West African sub-region. The potency of trade liberalisation was relatively more pronounced through the use of most favoured nation import tariff compared to applied import tariff rates. Our results also showed that improved institutional quality and infrastructure are associated with higher intra-ECOWAS trade. Furthermore, using alternative measures of institutional quality and infrastructure as well as fixed and random effect estimators validated our findings. Research limitations/implications – Data limitations led to the inclusion of only 8 out of the 15 ECOWAS member countries in the sample. The research was also limited to tariff barriers as measure of trade liberalisation. The same methodology can be applied as data becomes available while a consideration of non-tariff barriers could provide more insights on the dynamics of intra-ECOWAS trade. Originality/value – The findings reinforce the notion that removal of trade restrictions particularly in the manufacturing sector, good governance and infrastructural developments enhance trade amongst ECOWAS countries.
Refining the 'pulse-reserve' model for arid central Australia: Seasonal rainfall, soil moisture and plant productivity in sand ridge and stony plain habitats of the Simpson Desert

In dry ecosystems, water supply is highly variable in time and space, occurring either as short pulses of shallow soil water or long phases of deep soil water.There may be correspondence between hierarchical soil water pulses and hierarchical biological responses, but this has not been directly tested for arid Australia.We compared plant community responses to an isolated short rain pulse (about 130 mm, November 2008) versus the start, mid and later stages of an extended high rainfall phase (about 540 mm, February 2010 to March 2011) at a site on the western edge of the Simpson Desert. We sampled across contrasting habitats: tall longitudinal sand ridges and adjacent stony clay plains (gibber). Thus, we compared responses to spatially variable soil moisture availability (sand vs. clay soil; run-off/on relief) and temporally variable rainfall supply. Our results supported the hierarchical resource pulse-biological response concept for dry ecosystems, with the short and long rainfall phases modulating distinct responses among functional types. Shallow-rooted annual grasses showed an equivalent positive response to the isolated pulse as to the first pulse of the high rain phase; whereas short-lived forbs, longer-lived (2-3 years) grasses and persistent forbs had peak abundance during the high rainfall phase. Perennial grass and shrub productivity did not change over time, though there was a distinct trend towards heightened sexual reproduction at the mid-late stages of the high rain phase. We also found that species seasonal growth tendencies were pronounced,and that spatial aspects of moisture availability resulted in different composition patterns at the habitat scale with the gibber and sand ridge sites showing strong and weak correspondence with temporal rainfall patterning respectively.Thus, we confirm that plant productivity models for this region should include the effects of rainfall connectivity and soil texture as well as species seasonal growth constraints and rooting attributes.
Controle biológico mediado por Bacillus subtilis

O emprego de microrganismos para fins de controle biologico de fitomolestias vem sendo amplamente estudado no mundo. Neste contexto, o uso de procariotos como bons agentes antagonicos contra fitopatogenos tem se mostrado uma alternativa crescente e inteligente no manejo integrado de doencas. Adicionalmente, muitos estudos vem sendo realizados com Bacillus subtilis, bacteria habitante natural do solo. A bacteria pode colonizar todos os orgaos vegetativos da planta, sendo encontrada como epifitica, endofitica e rizobacteria, confirmando o seu amplo espectro para o uso agronomico. Assim, esta revisao tem por finalidade levantar as recentes pesquisas sobre Bacillus subtilis como bom agente de biocontrole. Palavras-chave: bacteria epifitica, rizobacteria, bacteria endofitica, inducao de resistencia, bioproduto.
Characterization of T cell subsets involved in the production of IFN-γ in asymptomatic HIV-infected patients

ABSTRACT Cells capable of interferon (IFN)-γ synthesis following mitogenic stimulation can be detected and quantified by a recently developed immunofluorescence assay and flow cytometric analysis. The production of IFN-γ was investigated in a cohort of 20 asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seropositive patients with normal numbers of CD4+ lymphocytes, and in 10 healthy subjects. About 60% of asymptomatic stage A1 patients had increased percentages of blood lymphocytes capable of IFN-γ synthesis, as compared to healthy subjects. The difference reflected the relatively higher numbers of CD8+ cells, in particular the CD8+ T cell subset lacking CD28 antigen expression. The strong correlation between the CD4+/CD8+ ratio and the CD8+CD28+/CD8+CD28− ratio suggests either a role for CD4+ cells in controlling the CD28+ phenotype or a role for CD8+CD28− cells in the decline of CD4+ lymphocytes. The peculiar ability of CD8+CD28− cells to produce high amounts of IFN-γ, as compared to CD8+CD28+ cells, sup.
Cranial Biomechanics and Feeding Performance of Sharks

The elasmobranch fishes possess a remarkable diversity of feeding mechanisms for a group containing relatively few species (~1200). The three most prevalent of these mechanisms involve prey capture during which the predator overtakes its prey (ram), prey is drawn into the mouth of the predator (suction), and relatively stationary consumption of sessile or substrate affixed prey (biting). Biomechanical modeling of cranial force distributions, in situ bite performance trials, and kinematic analysis of prey capture behaviors were employed to identify morphological and behavioral specializations and constraints associated with these feeding mechanisms in lemon Negaprion brevirostris (ram), whitespotted bamboo Chiloscyllium plagiosum (suction), and horn Heterodontus francisci (biting) sharks. Biomechanical modeling of the forces generated by the cranial musculature was used to theoretically estimate the maximum bite force and mechanical loadings occurring throughout the hyostylic jaw suspension mechanisms of each species, characterized by suspensory hyomandibular cartilages between the back of the jaws and cranium and anterior ligamentous attachments. To assess the mechanical factors involved in the evolution of elasmobranch jaw suspension mechanisms, the feeding mechanism of the sharpnose sevengill shark Heptranchias perlo was modeled as well. Heptranchias perlo possesses an ancestral amphistylic jaw xii suspension mechanism including non-suspensory hyomandibular cartilages, a large postorbital articulation between the jaws and cranium, and anterior ligamentous attachments. Theoretical estimates of maximum bite force were compared to voluntary bite forces measured during in situ bite performance trials. Voluntary bite force measurements allowed the quantification of discrete behavioral attributes of bite force application in each species. To further assess the behavioral specializations associated with these feeding mechanisms, high-speed digital videography was used to analyze the prey capture cranial kinematics of species. Collectively, these analyses have developed a morphological and behavioral basis from which to understand the functional diversity of the ram, suction, and biting feeding mechanisms in elasmobranchs.
Pests controlling pests: does predator control lead to greater European rabbit abundance in Australasia?

In New Zealand and Australia, rural landowners believe that local predator control to protect indigenous biota exacerbates European rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus problems on their land. We assess the validity of their concerns by reviewing the published literature on effects of predators on rabbit abundance. In New Zealand, where rabbits and their predators are introduced, predators appear to have relatively little effect on rabbit numbers compared with other factors leading to mortality, such as disease, flooding of burrows and burrow collapse. Similarly, in Australia, rabbit numbers are driven primarily by climate and its effects on food abundance and quality, and by disease. However, where rabbit numbers are low following drought or major epizootics, predation can limit population recovery. In the Iberian Peninsula, where rabbits and their predators are indigenous, the effects of predators are unknown, as they are often confounded by other factors. Rabbit numbers are influenced mostly by habitat, food, disease and rainfall. Elsewhere in Europe, predators have their strongest effect when rabbit numbers have been reduced by other factors, but have little effect on high-density rabbit populations. In Australasia, abundance of predators (especially rabbit specialists) can usually be predicted from rabbit abundance, not vice versa. Although predation effects can be limiting under certain conditions, they are minor compared to the roles of climate, food, disease and habitat. A key unresolved question is whether those circumstances where predator control might lead to increases in rabbit populations can be identified with enough certainty to allow reliable predictions to be generated. One approach is to implement robust rabbit, predator and disease monitoring programmes at sites with predator control operations. Data on changes in rabbits, predators, and disease prevalence could be combined with local data on other key factors to facilitate reasonable inference about effects of predators on rabbits. The inclusion of carefully matched non-treatment areas is crucial if such programmes are to succeed.
Dynamics and Management of Major Postharvest Fungal Diseases of Mango Fruits

Mango is one of the most popular fruit grown throughout the tropics and subtropics region of the world. It is one of the most desirable fruit in the international market because of its delicious taste and high caloric value. However, mango is affected by a number of diseases at all stages of its development, right from the plants in the nursery to the fruits in storage or transit. The mango tree and more especially the fruit is the host of a large number of pathogens among which, fungi could be major agents of fruit rot. Pre-harvest and postharvest diseases can reduce fruit quality and cause severe losses. The observable external symptoms often only become apparent after ripening, by which it is usually equated with the edibility of the fruit and causing serious losses during storage. The economic costs of such postharvest losses are higher than the field losses. The chemical based strategies have been so far dominating for management of mango diseases. However, because of the increasing concern over residual toxicity resulting from the wide spread use of synthetic fungicide and proliferation of resistance in the pathogen populations, attention has focused nonchemical strategies. The trend to explore new alternatives to increase storage life has to give priority to methods that reduce horticultural produce decay but concurrently avoid health or environmental negative impact. The most logical approach is known as integrated disease management, which is being used for few important diseases of mango. A review of the etiology and dynamics of major postharvest disease of mango are provided below as background for the various approaches that have been used to manage the diseases.
UTILIZAÇÃO DO FARELO DE ARROZ EM RAÇÕES PARA POEDEIRAS COMERCIAIS FORMULADAS COM BASE EM AMINOÁCIDOS TOTAIS E DIGESTÍVEIS

The objective of this study was evaluate the per-formance, egg quality and production costs of commercial laying hens fed with rice meal and formulated on total and digestible amino acids basis. During 5 periods of 28 days 192 Lohmann LSL hens 25 weeks of age were distributed in a completely random experiment in a factorial scheme with 8 treatments and 3 replications of 8 birds each. The factorial scheme consisted in two amino acid recommen-dation (total and digestible) and four inclusion levels of rice meal (0, 5, 10 and 15%). The performance and egg quality were evaluated during five cycles of 28 days. Un-der the conditions of this experiment, the use of digest-ible amino acid values determined low performance and higher production cost in comparison with the total amino acid values. The diets formulated with different rice meal levels did not affected performance and egg quality pa-rameters evaluated, however, the use of rice meal in lay-ing hens diets should be determined depending on avail-ability and cost, while was observed over 6% of inclusion the egg production costs was increased. KEY-WORDS: Alternative feed, amino acid recommendation, egg quality, performance.
Genetic Variability of Sorghum Charcoal Rot Pathogen (Macrophomina phaseolina) Assessed by Random DNA Markers

Genetic diversity among selected isolates of Macrophomina phaseolina, a causal agent of charcoal rot (stalk rot) disease in sorghum was studied using PCR-RAPD markers. A set of ten isolates, from ten different rabi sorghum genotypes representing two traditional sorghum growing situations viz., Dharwad- a transitional high rainfall region and Bijapur- a semi-arid low rainfall region in South India. From a set of 40 random primers tested, amplicon profiles of 15 were reproducible. A total of 149 amplicon levels, with an average of 9.9 bands per primer, were available for analysis, of which 148 were polymorphic (99.3%). It was possible to discriminate all the isolates with any of the 15 primers employed. UPGMA clustering of data indicated that the isolates shared varied levels of genetic similarity within a range of 0.14 to 0.72 similarity coefficient index and it was suggestive that grouping of isolates was not related to sampling location in anyway. A high level of genetic heterogeneity of 0.28 was recorded among the isolates.
Modulation of fasting blood glucose by raw banana powder in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

This study aimed to observe the influence of raw banana powder (RBP) on fasting blood glucose (FBG), blood lipid and other biochemical indicators in type-2 diabetic rats and therefore to provide experimental evidences for developing suitable food from banana powder for diabetic patients. Eight Sprague-Dawley rats were selected randomly as the normal control group (NCG) before the experiment. After establishing type-2 diabetic rat models (11.1-16.7 mmoL/L) by alloxan, 32 rats were divided into four groups: the diabetic control group (DCG, n=8), low-dose group (LDG, n=8), middle-dose group (MDG, n=8) and high-dose group (HDG, n=8). The LDG, MDG and HDG rats received gastric perfusion of RBP at the doses of 2 g/kg, 4 g/kg and 6 g/kg per day, respectively. After four weeks, oral glucose tolerance test was carried out in each group, and then the FBG level, blood lipid, insulin, short chain fatty acids content, pH value of colon content and other biochemical indicators of rats in each group were determined and compared among the groups. Results showed that the levels of FBG significantly decreased in the LDG (11.97+-0.83), MDG (8.95+-0.45) and HDG (9.28+-1.45), compared with their initial values (13.00+-1.25, 13.68+-0.75 and 13.91+-0.80, respectively). The FBG levels in these three groups were obviously lower than that in the DCG. However, there were no dramatic FBG changes in the NCG and DCG (5.77+-0.59, 14.14+-0.72) compared with the initial stage (5.55+-0.23, 13.93+-0.47). The RBP intervention increased insulin-sensitivity index and regulated postprandial blood glucose. Besides, RBP showed the positive effects on symptoms of type 2 diabetic rats, such as the reduction of weight gain and total cholesterol.
A new Asplenium hybrid from Valencia (Spain) related to A. majoricum Litard.

PANGUA, E. , PRADA, C, PAJARON, S. & SALVO, E. , 1992. A new Aspleniutn hybrid from Valencia (Spain) related to A. majoricum Litard. A new diploid Asplenium hybrid, found in the Iberian Peninsula (Valencia, Benifairo de Valldigna), is described and the name Asplenium x protomajoricum proposed. The plants exhibit c. 72I at meiosis. The cytology and morphology of the hybrid and its occurrence between the assumed parentals suggest that it originated from a cross between A. fontanum and A. petrarchae subsp. bivalens. The occurrence of A. petrarchae subsp. bivalens in eastern Spain is confirmed cytologically. The occurrence of A. majoricum on the mainland is also discussed.
Elevated Relative Humidity Increases the Incidence of Distorted Growth and Boron Deficiency in Bedding Plant Plugs

Additional index words. Gerbera jamesonii, horizontal airflow fans, HAF fans, Petunia 3hybrida, Viola 3wittrockiana Abstract. High relative humidity (RH) can cause lower concentrations of boron (B) accumulating in plants. The common greenhouse practice of controlling excess temper- aturesbyapplyingmistirrigation toyoungplants(plugs)canresultinelevatedRHlevels, especially with plugs grown in high heat and humidity conditions of summer. 'Dynamite Yellow' pansy (Viola 3wittrockiana Gams.), 'White Storm' petunia (Petunia 3hybrida Vilm.), and 'Festival Apricot' gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii Bolus) plugs were grown in high or ambient RH conditions to determine the effect RH had on B uptake. Results indicate that an increase in RH decreased the amount of water the plant lost as a result of transpiration resulting in lower concentrations of B in shoot tissue. Boron concentrations in leaf tissue were 9.43, 10.56, and 17.81 mg·L L1 in pansy, petunia, and gerbera plants, respectively, grown in high RH conditions. These values were significantly lower than pansy, petunia, and gerbera plants grown in ambient RH conditions (19.94, 25.49, and 42.71 mg·L L1 , respectively). Leaf distortion, consistent with B deficiency symptoms, was present in petunia and gerbera plants. Similar trends were observed when the experiment was repeated and leaf distortion was present in all species. This provides convincing evidence that the distorted growth observed in pansy, petunia, and gerbera plug production is the result of limited B caused by excessive humidity.
Evidence to Support Multifactor Asset Pricing Models: Case of Indian Stock Market

Emerging stock market returns have been extensively studied by academic community over the past two decades. However, there is still no consensus among the researchers and practitioners as to which asset pricing models should be used to explain returns in these markets. The basic objective of the study is to evaluate the power and performance of multi-factor asset pricing models (three and four factor model) over the traditional one factor CAPM, using the data from one of the fastest growing emerging market: India. The study using a large sample data of 470 listed stocks over a period of 16 years stretching from January 1997 to March 2013, evaluate the relevance of Fama and French three factor model as well as liquidity augmented four factor model in explaining the stock return variations in the Indian stock market. The study employs time series regression approach to examine the impact of market risk, size risk, value risk and liquidity risk on stock returns. The overall results of the study provide support to the multi-dimensional nature of risk and suggest the use of multi-factor asset pricing models for consideration in investment decisions. Both Fama and French three factor model and liquidity augmented four factor model were found to be superior than traditional one factor CAPM. Though, liquidity augmented four factor model was found to be slightly better in explaining Indian stock returns as compared to Fama and French three factor model.