Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impactos de sistemas agroflorestais e convencional sobre a qualidade do solo no semi-árido cearense

The environmental benefits of agroforestry system are well documented in many regions of the globe. However, works documenting the advantage of this kind of soil management system on soil quality in the cearense semi-arid region are very scarce. The aim of this work was to evaluate the impact of agroforestry and conventional systems on the physical and chemical soil characteristics, after five years of experimentation in the semi-arid region, Ceara, Brazil. The experiment consisted of seven treatments: agrosilvopasture (AGP), silvopasture (SILV), traditionally cultivated in 1998 and 1999 (TR98), traditionally cultivated in 2002 (TR02), intensive cropping (CI), and two native forests (MN-1 and MN-2). Soil samples were collected at four depths: 0-6, 6-12, 12-20 and 20-40cm. Soil quality was evaluated by the following physical and chemical characteristics analyzed: granulometry, clay dispersion, aggregate stability, exchangeable elements, soil pH and total organic carbon (COT). The treatments AGP, TR98 and CI reduced the COT content due to intensive soil management.
Calcium Signaling: Linking Environmental Signals to Cellular Functions

Topics discussed in this review include Ca in signal-response coupling and the specificity of Ca 2+ signals. It is concluded that Ca is the most important signalling molecule in plants. The source of Ca and the type of cell responding to a particular signal confers specificity at the primary level. At other levels, specificity is achieved by the strength of the Ca signal and the specific patterns of Ca change. Another level of control is achieved by changes in activity of various other proteins and factors that become activated or modulated by changes in Ca levels. Ca-dependent kinases and phosphatases belong to this category and are main components of signal response coupling. Changes in the level of other factors in concert with Ca also activate a specific set of proteins, and this could also be involved in contribution to the specificity of signalling. Ca directly affecting the expression of certain genes gives another level of control on specificity. Other components in the regulation of Ca signalling are also discussed.
The peanut allergy in patients suffering from atopic dermatitis

Aim. The evaluation of the occurrence of peanut allergy in adolescent and adult patients suffering from atopic dermatitis. Methods. Altogether 175 persons suffering from atopic dermatitis were included in the study. A diagnostic work-up for food allergy to peanuts was performed (specific IgE, skin prick tests, atopy patch tests, history), and the patients were also examined for pollen allergy containing Bet v 1 and Bet v 2 allergens. Results. Allergic reactions to peanuts were recorded in 23% of patients, and another 16% of patients were sensitised to peanuts. A dependency between the occurrence of pollen allergy with Bet v 1 and Bet v 2 allergens and the results of the examination for peanut allergy is confirmed in our study. Conclusion. One-fifth of patients with atopic dermatitis suffer from peanut allergy; the most common symptom is oral allergy syndrome.
Adaptive Dynamics of Parabolic Replicators

The growth of many artificial replicators is approximately parabolic (sub-exponential) in solution, due to the selfinhibition through duplex formation by the association of single-stranded molecules. This type of growth implies “survival of everybody” under a selection constraint. Parabolic growth requires high enough concentration so that the single strands can find one another. The selective outcome is more complicated when spontaneous decay of molecules is also taken into account. When double strands decompose at a slower rate than single strands, coexistence or survival of the fittest becomes a quantitative issue. Here we investigate the evolution of parabolic replicators by the methods of adaptive dynamics. Directional selection for higher replication rate in general results in a “parabolic quasi-species”, due to the fact that the fittest template is followed by a moving shadow of inferior templates that owe their presence to parabolic growth. Under the assumption of cross-hybridisation between nonidentical templates molecular coexistence disappears when such pairing is sufficiently non-selective, because replicators do not inhibit themselves more than they limit the others. At intermediate specificity of pairing adaptive branching of the population becomes feasible, due to the fact that distant enough sequences are able to escape from cross-limitation by other sub-populations.
The genetics of phenotypic plasticity. V. Evolution of reaction norm shape

We present a general quantitative genetic model for the evolution of reaction norms. This model goes beyond previous models by simultaneously permitting any shaped reaction norm and allowing for the imposition of genetic constraints. Earlier models are shown to be special cases of our general model; we discuss in detail models involving just two macroenvironments, linear reaction norms, and quadratic reaction norms. The model predicts that, for the case of a temporally varying environment, a population will converge on (1) the genotype with the maximum mean geometric fitness over all environments, (2) a linear reaction norm whose slope is proportional to the covariance between the environment of development and the environment of selection, and (3) a linear reaction norm even if nonlinear reaction norms are possible. An examination of experimental studies finds some limited support for these predictions. We discuss the limitations of our model and the need for more realistic gametic models and additional data on the genetic and developmental bases of plasticity.
Use of sulfur and nitrogen stable isotopes to determine the importance of whitebark pine nuts to Yellowstone grizzly bears

Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) is a masting species that produces relatively large, fat- and protein-rich nuts that are consumed by grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis). Trees produce abundant nut crops in some years and poor crops in other years. Grizzly bear survival in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is strongly linked to variation in pine-nut availability. Because whitebark pine trees are infected with blister rust (Cronartium ribicola), an exotic fungus that has killed the species throughout much of its range in the northern Rocky Mountains, we used stable isotopes to quantify the importance of this food resource to Yellowstone grizzly bears while healthy populations of the trees still exist. Whitebark pine nuts have a sulfur-isotope signature (9.2 ± 1.3 (mean ± 1 SD)) that is distinctly different from those of all other grizzly bear foods (ranging from 1.9 ± 1.7 for all other plants to 3.1 ± 2.6 for ungulates). Feeding trials with captive grizzly bears were used to develop relationships b.
Factors affecting the structure of bee assemblages in extensively and intensively grazed grasslands in Hungary

Bees are the most important pollinators in Europe. We studied bee assemblages on 7 pairs of extensively and intensively grazed sites in three lowland grassland types in Hungary. No chemicals were applied on the grasslands. The bees were collected using sweep net surveys and 1 m wide transect surveys in 2003. We mapped land-use types (grasslands; arable fields; forests; built-up areas; marshy habitat and open water) based on aerial photographs within a 500 m radius of each study site. We captured 483 individuals of 124 Apoidea species in total. This shows very diverse and species rich bee assemblages in these semi-natural grassland areas. Both diversity and percentage of rare species were the highest on the Kiskunsag alkali area. The dominance of honey bee (Apis mellifera) was very low at each site. Neither species richness nor abundances differed between extensively and intensively grazed sampling sites, among regions, and between edge and interior of sites. However, both species richness and abundance of bees correlated positively with species richness and cover of flowering plants, indicating the important role of food sources. From the landscape parameters wet areas were preferred by small species, while large species tended to avoid build-up areas.
Detección de Orthomyxovirus en quirópteros colombianos

La gran relevancia ecologica y epidemiologica que poseen los quiropteros, en parte gracias a caracteristicas funcionales que los hacen reservorios de multiplicidad de agentes virales, dentro de estos los recientemente reportados Orthomyxovirus de los subtipos H17N10 y H18N11 en las especies Sturnira lilium, Artibeus planirostris y Artibeus obscurus en el territorio nacional de Guatemala, Peru y Bolivia respectivamente. Teniendo en cuenta que a la fecha no se sabe a ciencia cierta el papel que puedan jugar estos individuos en la compleja dinamica viral y adicionalmente no se tiene conocimiento alguno de la presencia de Orthomyxovirus en murcielagos, por fuera de las localidades donde se reportaron por primera vez (Guatemala, Peru o Bolivia), es de vital importancia establecer su presencia en murcielagos neotropicales. Teniendo en cuenta lo anterior, esta investigacion, busca determinar la presencia de Orthomyxovirus en quiropteros del territorio nacional colombiano mediante la implementacion de diversos metodos moleculares, aportando asi al conocimiento en un area en la cual existe una necesidad sentida de informacion, fundamental para la implementacion de programas de conservacion de especies silvestres y de impacto para la salud humana y animal. El estudio pretende igualmente evaluar diferentes tipos de muestras y comparar sistemas de preservacion de las mismas, con el fin de crear un banco de muestras de quiropteros que permitira llevar a cabo analisis posteriores de diferente indole, optimizando asi el uso de los especimenes capturados en campo, aportando nueva informacion que permitira evidenciar la importancia biotica y microbiologica de este particular orden de mamiferos. De otra parte, durante el desarrollo de esta investigacion, se evaluaron y establecieron metodos de obtencion y procesamiento de muestras para la deteccion molecular de agentes virales. Como resultado de lo anterior, mediante la implementacion de pruebas de qRT-PCR y PCR de punto final con diferentes blancos genicos, se establecio por primera vez en el pais la presencia de virus de influenza tipo A (IAV) en quiropteros, incluyendo su deteccion en 6 especies que a la fecha no han sido reportadas previamente como hospedadoras efectivas de IAV. Otro importante aporte del presente estudio es la deteccion molecular efectiva, igualmente por primera vez, de IAV en hisopados orofaringeos de murcielagos. Asi mismo, no se encontro evidencia de los subtipos influenza A-like en los murcielagos colombianos evaluados. Este es el primer estudio realizado en el pais, que se focaliza en la deteccion de agentes virales pertenecientes a la familia Orthomyxoviridae en poblaciones de murcielagos en el territorio colombiano, y los hallazgos encontrados abren la posibilidad de una distribucion endemica de estos agentes virales en la ecozona neotropical. Palabras clave: Quiropteros neotropicales, Orthomyxovirus, Influenzavirus tipo A, qRT-PCR, Citocromo B.
Human models of aging and longevity

Background: The aging phenotype in humans is very heterogeneous and can be described as a complex mosaic resulting from the interaction of a variety of environmental, stochastic and genetic-epigenetic variables. Therefore, each old person must be considered as a singleton, and consequently the definition of ‘aging phenotype’ is very difficult. Objective: We discuss the phenotype of centenarians, the best example of successful aging, as well as other models exploited to study human aging and longevity, such as families enriched in long-living subjects, twins and cohorts of unrelated subjects. Methods: A critical review of literature available until March 2008. Conclusions: No single model can be considered the gold standard for the study of aging and longevity, instead the combination of results obtained from different models must be considered in order to better understand these complex phenomena. We propose that a systems biology concept such as that of ‘bow-tie’ architecture, useful for managing information flow, could help in this demanding task.
The platform governance triangle: conceptualising the informal regulation of online content

From the new Facebook ‘Oversight Body’ for content moderation to the ‘Christchurch Call to eliminate terrorism and violent extremism online,’ a growing number of voluntary and non-binding informal governance initiatives have recently been proposed as attractive ways to rein in Facebook, Google, and other platform companies hosting user-generated content. Drawing on the literature on transnational corporate governance, this article reviews a number of informal arrangements governing online content on platforms in Europe, mapping them onto Abbott and Snidal’s (2009) ‘governance triangle’ model. I discuss three key dynamics shaping the success of informal governance arrangements: actor competencies, ‘legitimation politics,’ and inter-actor relationships of power and coercion.
Extensive clonality in the endangered shrub Haloragodendron lucasii (Haloragaceae) revealed by allozymes and RAPDs

The occurrence of clonality in threatened plants can have important implications for their conservation. In this study, allozymes and RAPDs were used to determine the extent of clonality in the endangered shrub Haloragodendron lucasii (Haloragaceae), which is known from only four sites within an 8 km range. Allozyme markers identified only six multilocus genotypes among the 53 ramets sampled across the four sites, although a total of 54 different genotypes were possible with the three polymorphic allozyme loci detected. The polymorphic bands detected in the RAPD analysis were capable of producing 246 genotypes, but again only six multilocus genotypes were delineated. The allozyme and RAPD data were congruent at three of the four sites. At the fourth site two genotypes were detected by each marker; however, once combined, three multilocus genotypes were observed. The probabilities that the observed number of replicates of each combined allozyme and RAPD genotype could be generated by sexual reproduction were less than 10–18, leaving little doubt that clonality is the explanation for the observed patterns of genotypes. The genetic conclusions are supported by root excavations which show potential for vegetative reproduction and the observation of no sexual reproduction in the species. The recognition of extensive clonality in H. lucasii has had immediate implications for the conservation management of the species and resulted in changes to the management priorities for the species. Thus it is clear that appropriate genetic studies can play an important role in the management of threatened species.
Polysemes and Synonym Language Stock: Linguistic Evidence from English to Arabic Translation

This research study aims at investigating the reason lying behind EFL learners’ inability to construe polysemes to output a coherent text while translating from English into Arabic. The researcher, therefore, hypothesizes that there is a rapport between the learners’ inability to translate polysemous words and their poor synonym language stock. To test this hypothesis, two groups – experimental and control – were formed; the former consisted of 82 senior EFL learners (51 females and 32 males) in the Department of English, the Faculty of Arts, Port Said University; and the latter was made up of 67 senior learners belonging to the same educational institution. The experimental group was given two pre-tests: translation and synonym, followed by a treatment which in turn followed by two post-tests. The control group, given no treatment, conducted two post-tests. The basic research finding was the positive co-efficient correlation between the ability to construe polysemous words and the synonym language stock. To set an account for this rapport, the researcher postulated that the polysemous words are processed on layers on the semantic level. That is, a lexical item with a sole meaning is processed at layer 1, whereas lexical items with two or more meanings go up to the next layer and then goes to a third providing it still has further semantic contexts.
Phenolic Contents, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Potentials of Crithmum maritimum Cultivated in Tunisia Arid Zones

Abstract Polyphenols are bioactive molecules exhibiting a lot of scientific attention due to their multiple biological activities. The present study aimed at assessing the phenolic content, antibacterial activity and antioxidant activity of the different organs of Crithmum maritimum (leaves, flowers, seeds and stems) cultivated in the south east of Tunisia. The analyzed organs exhibited different content of total polyphenol (17.11 ± 0.77 to 9.42 ± 0.24 mg GAE g -1 DW) flavonoids (7.06 ± 0.18to 3.71 ± 0.1 mg EC g –1 DW) and tannins (5.24 ± to 1.06 ± 0.77 mg CE g –1 DW). However, seeds extracts displayed the highest DPPH• scavenging ability with the lowest IC50 value (406 ± 11 μg/ml) and for antibacterial activity is showed that the diameter of the largest inhibition (13 mm) is recorded for the extrat from stems of C. maritimum vis à vis a gram negative bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginos. The smaller diameter of inhibition (6 mm) was recorded for extract from seeds against gram-positive bacteria: Staphyloccus epidermidis.
Effect of tank colour on larval performance of the Amazon River prawn Macrobrachium amazonicum

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of hatchery-tank colours (white, yellow, red, blue, green and black) on the performance of larval culture of Macrobrachium amazonicum. The larvae were fed daily with newly hatched Artemia nauplii. The hatchery-tank colours affected the light level inside the tanks, the consumption of Artemia nauplii (AN), larval development, survival, mass gain and productivity of postlarvae (PL). The overall consumption of Artemia nauplii per larva during the larval cycle was 30% and 45% higher in the green and red tanks respectively. The significant variation of AN consumption among tank colours (P = 0.0006) indicates that M. amazonicum larvae are visual predators. Survival was higher in the black, blue and green tanks, reaching more than 75%. However, the highest productivity was obtained in the black tanks (80.1 PL L−1). Lighter coloured tanks and excess luminosity (more than 2 μmol s−1 m2 at tank bottom) appear to be important stress factors for larvae, contributing to reduce survival and productivity. The results indicate that rearing M. amazonicum in black tanks will improve larvae condition, ensure greater productivity of postlarvae and lower Artemia consumption, increasing technological and economic viability.
Post-treatment effects of sublethal doses of dieldrin on the mosquito Aedes aegypti L

SUMMARY Sublethal doses of dieldrin were topically applied to individuals of the mosquito Aedes aegypti L. , and the effects on feeding, egg laying and mortality observed. The highest dose of dieldrin (0·0075 μg./insect) stopped the feeding of 2- to 3-day-old blood-fed females. Egg laying continued up to 96 hr. after treatment but then dwindled and finally stopped. Lower doses induced diminished responses and the lowest amount of insecticide applied (0·0016 μg./insect) had no effect. Females (1–2 days old) were treated with 0·0060 μg. /insect. Of the survivors, very few fed on subsequent days and only a small number of eggs were laid by them. Dieldrin apparently had no effects on the viability of the progeny from the treated adults. It is concluded that the insecticide primarily affects feeding; egg laying and longevity suffer as a consequence.
Effects of Hypoxia on Oxygen consumption by two species of Freshwater Mussel (Unionacea: Hyriidae) from the River Murray

The mussel Alathyria jacksoni typically occurs in the main rivers of the Murray-Darling Basin and not in slow-flowing or standing waters. Conversely, Velesunio ambiguus is typical of billabongs and creeks and rarely occurs in big rivers except in the vicinity of impoundments. The exclusion of V. ambiguus from the main rivers probably reflects its weak anchorage, whereas the exclusion of A. jacksoni from billabongs may reflect its inability to withstand low levels of oxygen (hypoxia). At normal oxygen levels the mean rates of oxygen consumption for A. jacksoni and V. ambiguus are 21.5 (s.d. = 6.43, n = 17) and 13.5 (s.d. = 5.85, n = 10) µmol g-0.75 (dry tissue) h-1, respectively (a body-mass exponent of 0.75 was included in calculations of the mass-specific oxygen consumption rate). When exposed to declining oxygen, A. jacksoni shows little or no regulatory ability, whereas V. ambiguus maintains a steady rate of oxygen consumption down to 65 torr. Under extreme hypoxia, A. jacksoni loses muscular tone but V. ambiguus closes its values and remains inactive. On removal from water A. jacksoni incurs a significant oxygen debt after 10 days, but V. ambiguus shows no oxygen debt after 15 days. In general, animals adapted to lotic environments may need more oxygen, and may be more susceptible to hypoxia, than those adapted to lentic environments.
Differential patterns in flower feeding by Eulemur fulvus rufus and Eulemur rubriventer in Madagascar

In this paper, I describe the differential patterns of flower feeding observed in rufous lemurs (Eulemur fulvus rufus) and red‐bellied lemurs (E. rubriventer) in the Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar. Red‐bellied lemurs licked nectar from flowers while rufous lemurs ate all flower parts from the same flower species. Several hypotheses are examined to explain the significance of flower feeding in these two species. In many primate species, flower feeding functions as a keystone resource and/or primates act as pollinators while feeding on flowers. Although peak flower feeding occurred during a decline in food availability, fruit was always (the preferred food item so that flowers did not function as a keystone resource. Second, red‐bellied lemurs appear to be potentially better pollinators compared to the rufous lemurs because 1) they left flower reproductive parts intact while feeding, 2) they visited more than one tree or liana of the same plant species in the same day, 3) pollen was observed on the faces of individuals as they traveled from plant to plant, and 4) they have a feathered, brush‐like tip on their tongue which rufous lemurs lack. Finally, the difference in flower feeding styles between the lemur species also affected three aspects of diet: 1) feeding bout duration, 2) the size of feeding subgroups, and 3) return visits to flowering sources. These subtle differences in diet within food categories can allow these two otherwise similar lemur species to coexist. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Morphological variability and developmental instability in subpopulations of the Eurasian badger (Meles meles) in Denmark

Aim Local populations from different geographical regions may differ in the selection regimes to which they are exposed. Differences in environmental factors and population density may affect the relative importance of different selective forces (e.g. natural vs. sexual selection). We suggest a direction of investigation concerned with the developmental instability of morphological traits. The goal is to disclose putative small‐scale geographical differences in the evolutionary forces, which may be hard to detect.
A taxonomic review of avian piroplasms of the genus Babesia Starcovici, 1893 (Apicomplexa: Piroplasmorida: Babesiidae)

The validity of avian species of Babesia is reviewed and 13 species recognized. Slides from records of Babesia in the literature have been re-examined and their status determined. Erroneous published records have been addressed. Previously regarded piroplasms of the genera Babesiosoma and Haemohormidium are reappraised and their relationship to Babesia and the Aegyptianella-Rickettsia group of organisms discussed. Host-specificity, pathogenicity and vectors are also discussed.