Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The role of dispersal, propagule banks and abiotic conditions in the establishment of aquatic vegetation

Seed bank studies focused on subm erged aquatic plants are generally perform ed under submerged conditions, using the seedling-emergence method. However, if a study targets at both subm erged and em ergent aquatic species, submerged conditions are generally not suitable. We tested the emergence of seedlings from sediment samples from a freshwater canal, comparing a waterlogged treatment with a submerged treatment. From the sediment samples, 31 species emerged. Eight species germinated in significantly larger numbers from the waterlogged treatm ent, one being a subm erged aquatic species and four em ergent aquatic species. No species germ inated better under subm erged conditions. The total number of species germinating under waterlogged conditions was significantly higher than under submerged conditions. Germination experiments with Potamogeton species showed no significant differences in germination percentage between a waterlogged and submerged treatment for at least two species. In the study of seed banks of submerged sediments, aimed at both subm erged and em ergent aquatic plants, a waterlogged treatm ent is therefore suitable to detect both groups of plants.
Exportação e reposição nutricional no primeiro desbaste de um povoamento de Pinus taeda L. em área de segunda rotação

This study aimed to quantify biomass, the export and nutrient replacement in trees of a first thinning Pinus taeda L. stand, in Cambara do Sul, RS state. To do so, a forest inventory was done in three plots (60 m x 60 m), where three trees were cut in each plot. Live and dead needles, live and dead branches, bark, wood (bole) and wood from tip with bark, were measured. Total biomass was 44,5 Mg ha -1 , being 62,8% of bole wood, 10,3% live branches, 8,9% bark, 10,1% live needles, 6,1% dead branches, 3,5% of wood from tip with bark and 0,5% dead needles. Total nutrients in biomass, in kg ha -1 , was: 100,5 of N; 51,1 of Ca; 46,8 of K; 18,2 of S; 14,3 of Mg; 11,7 of P; 0,599 of Mn; 0,158 of Fe; 0,435 of Zn; 0,181 of B and 0,177 of Cu. The quantity of the fertilizer to be replaced will depend on the exploration type. If the total biomass occurs, the quantity of the fertilizers to be replaced will be of 391 kg ha -1 , and if it is considered just the wood harvest this replacement will be 60% inferior, 169 kg ha -1 .
Effect of shoot pruning and flower thinning on quality and quantity of semi-determinate tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.).

There are many constraints of space, light and availability of fruits to harvest in tomatoes greenhouse. Therefore, two experiments were carried out to determine the effect of shoot pruning and flower thinning on quality and quantity of fruits of semi-determinate tomato in a greenhouse of the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Persian Gulf University of Bushehr. Experimental design was randomized complete block designs in which the effect of shoot pruning (single branch pruning, double branch pruning, pyramidal pruning and control) or flower thinning (Cluster with 4 and 5 remained flowers and control) were studied separately. Results showed that, leaf area and plants yield were higher in treatments which were pruned than control. Yields from pyramidal pruning and cluster thinning with 5 remaining flowers were significantly higher than other treatments. On the other hand, qualitative study identified that pyramidal pruning increases vitamin C in fruits, but had no significant effect on total soluble solids.
Review of deer ked (Lipoptena cervi) on moose in Scandinavia with implications for North America.

The deer ked (Lipoptena cervi) is an Old World dipteran ectoparasite of moose (Alces alces) and other Cervidae. It has undergone significant expansion in distribution on moose of Scandinavia in recent decades. This has been accompanied by much published research dealing with the range expansion and possible factors involved, problems for moose, exposure of northern populations of reindeer (Rangifer rangifer tarandus), and public health issues. Apparently, Lipoptena cervi was introduced into northeastern United States in the late 1800s, presumably on an unknown species of European deer, and it soon spread to white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). We review the current situation in Scandinavia and North America and document the first record of L. cervi on moose in northeastern United States.
Structuring effects of mesozooplankton on freshwater and marine microbial food webs

Mesozooplankton (Copepods, Daphnia, Appendicularians) impact on microbial food webs was studied by experimental manipulation of its density and composition in five large-scale mesocosm experiments carried out in spring and summer in a mesotrophic lake (Schohsee, Plon) and a fully marine site (Trondheim Fjord, Norway). Despite considerable differences in the biotic and abiotic start conditions, a general pattern of microbial food web structuring was found. The size-dependent food choice of copepods resulted in mostly community-level 3- to 4-link trophic cascades leading to a significant reduction of ciliate abundances and substantial increases in nanoplankton densities. Changes at mesozooplankton level cascaded down to bacterioplankton and triggered temporal and density-dependent changes in bacterial abundance, activity (production, single-cell DNA content), respiration (redox dye CTC), substrate turnover as well as phenotypic and genotypic community composition (Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization, Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis plus sequencing; Richness, Shannon´s diversity index H´) and feedback mechanisms against protist grazing. While the copepod-mediated predation cascade led to positive responses in freshwater bacterial communities with respect to biomass and activity, respective cascading effects caused negative trends in marine bacterioplankton. Filter-feeding Daphnia exerted strong top-down control on all microbial food web components in spring and summer and was the main reason for the termination of a bloom of filamentous bacteria. An induced blooming event of the appendicularian Oikopleura dioica substantially reduced bacterial abundance and production (3- to 5-fold), but caused only modest changes in bacterial community composition.
Comparative anatomy of the stem, leaf and inflorescence basal axis of Polianthes L. (Asparagaceae, Agavoideae) species

3Programa de Botanica, Colegio de Postgraduados, 56230, Estado de Mexico, Mexico The aims of this study were to characterize the anatomy of Polianthes (Agavoideae) and to compare it within the genus and with other Asparagales. The anatomy of stem, leaf, and basal part of the inflorescence axis was studied in 13 species. All samples were prepared by the paraffin embedding technique. A primary thickening meristem is closest to the base of the leaves proximal to the apical meristem in the bulb. The secondary thickening meristem is distinctive in the corm. Silica bodies were in the parenchyma cells in the corm and this is the first report for Agavoideae, and for this organ in the Asparagales. No sclerenchyma is developed in the corm, even though sclerenchyma occurs in the basal part of the inflorescence axis, except for P. howardii. The inflorescence basal axis has a smooth or striated cuticle and epidermal cells with thick cuticle were observed in P. graminifolia and P. platyphylla. Trichomes characterize the leaf epidermis of P. graminifolia. Fibers are common in the vascular bundle sheath, P. howardii lacking fibers in the bundle sheath. Some anatomical traits allow to distinguishing species and should be used in combination with other data to contribute to the systematics of Polianthes.
Searching for genes involved in the adaptation of Drosophila melanogaster to the European climate

The aim of the present work was to identify the genes that played a role in ecological adaptation in D. melanogaster. This species, which originated in Africa, successfully adapted to a broad range of climates during the last 100.000 years. To find the genes involved, I used two different approaches: (1) a genomic region containing several ecologically relevant candidate genes and putatively carrying footprints of selection was investigated using selective sweep mapping, and (2) cold tolerance that might have been an important phenotype for the adaptation to the temperate climates was investigated using a QTL analysis. Using the technique of selective sweep mapping pioneered in the Stephan’s group, I detected evidence that recent strong positive selection has been acting on a small DNA region of 2.7 kb overlapping with the 3’ end of the HDAC6 gene in the ancestral African population. This gene codes for a newly characterized cell stress surveillance factor. HDAC6 is an unusual histone-deacetylase. It is localized in the cytoplasm and has a ubiquitin-binding and a tubulin-deacetylase activity. These properties make HDAC6 a key regulator of cytotoxic stress resistance. The phenotypic analyses show that the African and the European populations have very strong cold tolerance differences. By removing the effects of the autosomes, I showed that a significant amount of the phenotypic variance is due to genetic factors carried by the X chromosome. These factors were then more precisely mapped to two genomic regions of the X chromosome. By comparing the present results with other association studies and the Gene Ontology database, it was possible to determine a list of candidate genes influencing cold tolerance in D. melanogaster. As this list is limited to a very small number of genes, additional investigations for footprints of selection in these regions may be used to confirm their role in ecological adaptation.
Producción de pimiento morrón con mallas sombra de colores

El uso de la malla sombra de color negro es una estrategia utilizada para proteger a las plantas de la radiacion solar directa, reducir la temperatura y evitar la quemadura por sol en frutos de pimiento morron ( Capsicum annuum L.). En la ultima decada han surgido en el mercado mallas de colores que debido a sus propiedades fotometricas mejoran el aprovechamiento de la radiacion solar en los cultivos protegidos. En este trabajo se evaluo la influencia de cinco mallas sombra sobre la transmision de radiacion fotosinteticamente activa (RFA), la temperatura y la humedad relativa del aire, el crecimiento de plantas y el rendimiento de fruto. Se utilizaron mallas de polietileno con 50 % de sombra en colores verde, rojo, beige y azul, mas una negra como testigo positivo y un testigo negativo sin malla. Las mallas de colores transmitieron de 55.3 a 58.3 % de la RFA, mientras que la malla negra trasmitio 51.9 %. Aunque la reduccion de radiacion ocasionada por las mallas no influyo significativamente en la temperatura, la humedad relativa fue incrementada de 9.1 % (negra) a 21.0 % (beige). Las mallas verde y roja propiciaron los mayores incrementos en la altura y el area foliar de las plantas. Los rendimientos con calidad de exportacion obtenidos con las mallas superaron desde 52.5 % (negra) hasta 132.8 % (beige) a las 20.4 t ha -1 cosechadas en el testigo sin malla. En este ultimo la produccion de frutos que no alcanzaron la calidad comercial fue estadisticamente mayor que en plantas protegidas con malla
Comportement de quelques clones d'Eucalyptus dans la forêt de la Mâamora (Maroc)

Cette etude vise a comparer 36 clones d’Eucalyptus plantes au niveau de deux tests clonaux situes a Dar Ben Hcine et Machrâa El Kettane en Mâamora. Elle consiste a selectionner les clones les plus adaptes et les plus productifs en vue d’une vulgarisation aupres du reboiseur au Maroc. Les caracteres etudies comprennent le taux de reussite de la plantation, le taux d’attaque des arbres par Phoracantha semipunctata, la hauteur totale, la surface terriere, le volume total et son accroissement moyen annuel. L’estimation de la production a necessite l’elaboration de tarifs de cubage appropries. L’analyse de la variance a un seul critere de classification, tenant compte de l’effet singulier du clone et l’analyse de la variance a deux criteres de classification, tenant compte de l’effet conjoint « clone-site », ont permis de ressortir les resultats suivants : a Machrâa El Kettane, les meilleurs clones distingues par leur production, adaptation et vigueur sont les clones 3933 et 4291. Dans ce meme site, les clones 3395, 3758, 949, et 4717 sont hautement productifs mais tres vulnerables a l’attaque de Phoracantha. Les clones 3311, 3375, 4103, 3310, 4727, 3169, 3673, et 2895 sont resistants, mais sont moyennement a faiblement productifs ; a Dar Ben Hcine, la majorite des clones est severement attaquee, a l’exception des clones 4727 et 2622 moins attaques mais peu productifs. L’etude des correlations entre l’ensemble des variables etudiees, montre que le taux d’attaque et le taux de reussite sont independants. Cette etude met en evidence une liaison forte entre le taux de reussite et les caracteres de production (une bonne adaptation s’accompagne d’une haute production). A Dar Ben Hcine, le taux d’attaque est significativement correle avec les caracteres de production, en raison du stade avance des attaques, tandis qu’a Machrâa El Kettane, cette correlation n’est pas significative, probablement en raison d’attaques encore recentes. L’etude de la stabilite des clones, met en evidence 6 clones stables (clones 3683, 3818, 4230, 3389, 4717, 3933), 2 clones stables pour les caracteres d’adaptation (clones 4291, 4727) et 2 clones stables pour les caracteres de production (clones 4706, 949).
EFFICACY OF LOCAL ISOLATE OF STflNfRNfMA CARPOCAPSAf AGAINST PLUTfLLA XYLOSTfLLA (L)

Experiments were conducted in the laboratory to find out the pathogenecity of local isolate of Steinernema carpocapsae against 3rd and 4th instar larvae of Diamond back moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) The results of pathogenecity of S. carpocapsae (JMU) against 3rd and 4th instar larvae of P. xylostella reveal that after 96 hours, 100 per cent mortality was recorded in all the instars at all the doses. The LC50 values for 3rd and 4th instar ranged between 6.72 and 11.24 infective juveniles per larva. LT50 values of 3rd and 4th instar larvae were 23.14 and 27.62 hours. In case of P. xylostella maximum infective juveniles (0.33 X 10) were produced from 4t instar larva at a dose of 80 infective juveniles per larva while as minimum number of infective juveniles (0.12 X 10) was obtained from 3rd instar larva at a dose of 10 infective juveniles per larva.
WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR SOCIAL HEALTH INSURANCE AMONG ACADEMIC STAFF OF A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IN MALAYSIA

ABSTRACT Introduction: Health care in Malaysia is funded primarily through taxation and is no longer sustainable. One of the funding options is social health insurance (SHI), which provides insurance coverage for those who are unable to benefit immediately from private health insurance plan. This study is performed to assess the willingness of academic staff of a public university in Malaysia to participate in a SHI scheme and level of their willingness to pay (WTP) for SHI. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was performed among staff of a public university between Aprial to June 2015. The stratified random sampling technique was used amongst selected faculties serving as a strata. A self-administered questionnaire consisted of Contingent Valuation (CV) method in evaluating the WTP for the described SHI scheme, was used in this study. The respondents were first asked to select their preferred health financing plan from three plans (out-of-pocket payment, compulsory social health insurance and voluntary health insurance). Next, they were asked if they agreed to join SHI for RM 20. Irrespective of their answer (yes/no), maximum amount they would be willing to pay for the SHI scheme was further assessed. Results: Fifty-eight percent of the participants were females, with majority of respondents age between 41-50 years old, 70.7% (N = 198) of the respondents have 4 to 6 family members with majority of whom had a monthly income of RM5000.00 to RM10000.00. The results indicated that more than 72.5% of the respondents were willing to pay an average of RM79.32 per month per household towards SHI. This level of WTP were significantly associated with age (P=0.002), educational level (P=0.009), seniority (P<0.001), and mean monthly income (P=0.037). However other factors such as ethnicity, religion and family size were not associated with respondents’ level of WTP. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that academic staff of a public university is willing to pay for SHI. The level of WTP was associated with age, education level, seniority and mean of monthly income. Keywords :Willingness to Pay (WTP), Social Health Insurance, Financing Health System, Malaysia
Dacrycarpus (Podocarpaceae) Macrofossils from Miocene Sediments at Elands, Eastern Australia

Vegetative remains and male cones containing pollen grains from Miocene sediments at Elands in northern New South Wales are assigned to the new Podocarpaceae species Dacrycarpus elandensis. This species represents the most complete and best preserved Dacrycarpus macrofossil remains known. These fossils are morphologically most similar to extant D. imbricatus and fossil D. latrobensis and D. linifolius, but the phylogenetic significance of many of the characters used to make this comparison is unknown. Dacrycarpus is now extinct in Australia, but D. elandensis confirms a presence for it in eastern Australia at a time when rainforest was drying and retracting and Eucalyptus was expanding its range in the region.
A new systematic arrangement of the genus Oudemansiella s.str.(Physalacriaceae,Agaricales)

The genus Oudemansiella s.str. has been revised and circumscribed as an assemblage of taxa excluding the genus Xerula s.str. A new systematic arrangement with four sections,i.e.,Oudemansiella,Mucidula,Dactylosporina and Radicatae,is proposed.Section Oudemansiella is comprised of tropical to south temperate species,e.g.,O.platensis,O.australis,O.canarii and O.crassifolia,with an ixotrichoderm pileipellis composed of filamentous hyphae that,in many cases,are intermixed with inflated cells often occurring in chains,while section Mucidula encompasses north temperate and subtropical taxa such as O.mucida,O.venosolamellata and O.submucida that have an ixohymeniderm-trichoderm pileipellis composed of more or less clavate terminal cells.Sections Oudemansiella and Mucidula share similar habitats and forms of basidiomata,i.e.,with or without a(rudimentary) annulus on the stipe and growing on exposed rotten wood.Section Dactylosporina accommodates species from South and Central America with basidiospores that have finger-like ornamentation.Section Radicatae,represented by O.radicata and its allies,is the largest section and includes the remaining species of the genus in its restricted sense.Oudemansiella americana,O.caussei and O.hongoi,previously treated in O.sect. Albotomentosae or Xerula sect.Hyalosetae,are excluded from Oudemansiella in this treatment because preliminary data indicate that they represent a segregate genus.Section Mucidula,32 combinations and 1 name are newly proposed.
Production of TNF-α by Human Vγ9Vδ2 T Cells Via Engagement of FcγRIIIA, the Low Affinity Type 3 Receptor for the Fc Portion of IgG, Expressed upon TCR Activation by Nonpeptidic Antigen1

Human lymphocytes expressing the γδ TCR represent a minor T cell subpopulation found in blood. The majority of these cells express Vγ9Vδ2 determinants and respond to nonpeptidic phosphoantigens. Several studies have shown that, in vivo, the percentage of Vγ9Vδ2 T cells dramatically increases during pathological infection, leading to the hypothesis that they play an important role in the defense against pathogens. However, the specific mechanisms involved in this response remain poorly understood. It has been established that Vγ9Vδ2 T cells display potent cytotoxic activity against virus-infected and tumor cells, thereby resembling NK cells. In this study, we show that, upon stimulation by nonpeptidic Ags, Vγ9Vδ2 T cells express FcγRIIIA (CD16), a receptor that is constitutively expressed on NK cells. CD16 appears to be an activation Ag for Vγ9Vδ2 T cells. Indeed, ligation of CD16 on Vγ9Vδ2 T cells leads to TNF-α production. This TNF-α production, which is dependent (like that induced via the TCR-CD3 complex) on the activation of the p38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase-2 mitogen-activated protein kinases, can be modulated by CD94 NK receptors. Therefore, it appears that Vγ9Vδ2 T cells can be physiologically activated by two sequential steps via two different cell surface Ags: the TCR-CD3 complex and the FcγRIIIA receptor, which are specific cell surface Ags for T lymphocytes and NK cells, respectively. This strongly suggests that, in the general scheme of the immune response, Vγ9Vδ2 T cells represent an important subpopulation of cells that play a key role in the defense against invading pathogens.
A Phylogenetic Perspective On The Dynamics Of Speciation And Extinction During Evolutionary Radiations

Species selection as a potential driver of macroevolutionary trends has been relegated to a largely philosophical position in modern evolutionary biology. Fundamentally, species selection is nothing more than the outcome of heritable differences in speciation and extinction rates among lineages when the causal basis of those rate differences is not determined by genotypic (within-population) fitnesses alone. Here we discuss, in light of species selection theory, the rapidly growing literature on variation in species diversification rates as inferred from molecular phylogenies. We argue that modern studies of diversification rates demonstrate that species selection is an important process influencing both the evolution of biological diversity and distributions of phenotypic traits within higher taxa. Finally, we suggest key questions for future studies. Introduction Natural selection is one of the most important ideas in the history of science and philosophy. Charles Darwin, writing in the original edition of the Origin, defined natural selection as “the preservation of favorable variations and the rejection of injurious variation” (1859:81). Although the mechanisms of heredity would remain unknown for decades, Darwin went on to state elsewhere that these ‘favorable variations’ must be passed from parent to offspring for evolution to occur. A modern definition of selection is “differential survival and reproduction of replicating entities based on heritable trait differences”, which – as a statement about process is fundamentally the same as that proposed by Darwin.
Genetic diversity and relationship of indigenous goats of Sub-saharan Africa using microsatellite DNA markers

Abstract Sub-Saharan African goats with an estimated population of 180 millions are major asset for farmer communities in a range of agro-ecological zones. This study was undertaken to determine the genetic diversity in and differentiation of relationships among 18 populations of goats from Uganda (4), Tanzania (5), Kenya (2), Mozambique (2), Nigeria (3), Mali (1) and Guinea Bissau (1). Heterozygosity, estimates of F ST , genetic diversity and distances were performed using data from 11 microsatellite DNA loci. Expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.450 in Guinea Bissau population to 0.541 in Mbeya population (Tanzania), while the observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.441 in Pafuri population (Mozambique) to 0.560 in Sebei population (Uganda). Mean number of alleles ( MNA ) per population ranged from 3.82 to 5.91. Gene differentiation ( F ST ) among populations was low (5.3%), a result confirmed by genetic distances ( D A ). Our results reveal that genetic relationships between populations reflect their geographical proximity rather than morphological classification.