Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Leaf colleters in Tabernaemontana catharinensis (Apocynaceae, Rauvolfioideae): structure, ontogenesis, and cellular secretion

Colleters, which are glands that produce sticky secretion, have ecological and taxonomic relevance in Apocynaceae. We studied the distribution, morphology, ontogenesis, and cellular secretions of leaf colleters in Tabernaemontana catharinensis A.DC. Samples from mature embryos, seedlings, and plants were processed according to usual methods for anatomical, histochemical, and ultrastructural analyses. Colleters are non-vascularized emergences that occur on the adaxial face of expanded cotyledons, eophylls, and metaphylls and at the intrapetiolar and interpetiolar positions. Standard, bifurcate, trifurcate, and sessile colleters were found, and these glands did not differ in their ontogenesis, histochemistry, or histological composition. Golgi bodies, rough endoplasmic reticulum, and plastids filled with oil droplets were the predominant organelles in the epithelial cells. Mucilage accumulated in large periplasmic spaces, traversed the outer cell wall and the permeable cuticle, which remained intact. Senesc.
Extinction and outbreaks accompany fragmentation of a reptile community

Land clearing depletes and fragments habitat, resulting in the loss of biodiversity. Corridors of native vegetation can ameliorate the impacts of land clearing by reducing isolation of remnant vegetation. However the effectiveness of linear remnants as corridors or connecting habitat is influenced by remnant size and condition. In central New South Wales, Australia, 84–95% of native vegetation has been cleared, with remnants occurring as isolated reserves and interconnecting strips beside roads and paddocks. Do the linear remnants provide connectivity throughout the landscape for reptile populations? In three 100-km2 agricultural locations, I classified all remnants into one of 10 “landscape elements” based on shape, management, and vegetation. I used generalized linear models and permutation tests to examine differences in reptile abundance among landscape elements. Only two blind snakes were captured in paddocks, suggesting that the matrix between remnants is virtually devoid of reptiles. Remnant shape .
Action of curcumin as an antioxidant against lipid peroxidation

The antioxidant activity of curcumin, 1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione, a natural antioxidant obtained from rhizome of Curcume longa L. , and related compounds was measured against lipid peroxidation in various media. Curcumin reacted with stable radicals such as galvinoxyl and N,N-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, indicating it to possibly serve as a potent hydrogen donor, but no curcumin radical could be observed directly by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. Neither could the radical be spin trapped with a-(4-pyridyl-1-oxide)-N-t-butylnitrone. Curcumin suppressed the oxidation of methyl lineolate in organic homogeneous solution and aqueous emulsions, soybean phosphatidylcholine liposomal membranes, and rat liver homogenate induced by free radicals. Curcumin was a stronger antioxidant than 2,6-di-t-butyl-4-methylphenol. Comparable to isoeugenol, but weaker than 3,4-dihydroxycinnamic acid and 2-t-butyl-4-methoxyphenol
Relationship Between Clinical and Radiographic Findings in Osteoarthritis Knee: A Cross-Sectional Study

Citation Mahran SA, Elias AY, Janbi FS, El-Deek BS. Relationship between clinical and radiographic fi ndings in osteoarthritis knee: a cross-sectional study. JKAU Med Sci 2015; 22 (2): 1-9. DOI: 10.4197/Med. 22.2. 1 Abstract Several studies have suggested that there is a high discrepancy between clinical and radiographic knee osteoarthritis. The objectives of this study were to examine association between radiographic classifi cation and clinical manifestations of knee osteoarthritis, and to determine if the assessment of individual radiographic features was superior to the general radiographic scale in establishing such a relationship. A total of 125 patients with knee osteoarthritis were enrolled in this study. Radiographic features were assessed with the Kellgren-Lawrence grade scale for general radiographic grading, and a line-drawing atlas for detailed radiographic analysis. The severity of knee pain, stiff ness, and disability were measured using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index. Patients' age and pain duration were found to correlate signifi cantly with knee pain, stiff ness, and disability. No association between general radiographic grading scale and clinical manifestations was found. However in detailed radiographic analysis, osteophyte site at the patellofemoral joint was found to correlate with knee stiff ness. In conclusion, radiographic scores were not found to be closely associated with the clinical features of knee osteoarthritis. The results of knee X-rays should not be used in isolation when a management decision is to be taken for patients with knee osteoarthritis.
Soil properties, root responses and production of irrigated pasture on a red-brown earth after subsoil modification

Soils used for growing irrigated pasture in northern Victoria have shallow (0.10-0.15 m) topsoils and dense, clay subsoils. Reducing soil limitations to root growth and function has the potential to increase pasture production. Therefore, subsoil modification treatments, comprising loosening and fragmentation of the B horizon to depths of 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 m, the incorporation of calcium ameliorants, superphosphate and application of organic matter to the soil surface, were compared with unmodified soils and a 0.4 m deep topsoil, in a red-brown earth over a 2-year period (1994-96). Subsoil modification improved the physical condition of the soil. Air-filled porosity of the deep-modified soils (0.4 and 0.6 m deep), 24 h after irrigation, exceeded 15% at 0.1 and 0.3 m depths in both years, and was always higher than in the unmodified soils. Penetrometer resistance was markedly lower in the deep-modified subsoils in both years. Greater earthworm activity was associated with these improved soil physical conditions. However, the soil treatments did not result in greater root length or root mass beneath the pasture. In the first year, pasture yield was greater on the deep-modified soils (25-31 t DM/ha) than on the unmodified soils (19 t DM/ha). In the second year, the yield advantage of the deep-modified treatments decreased to 11%, despite the maintenance of improved soil physical conditions. In both years, pasture yields were highest where there was an initial surface application of 20 t DM/ha organic matter to a modified soil. We conclude that structural modification of the B horizon can increase pasture yields on this soil. However, further research is necessary to maintain these yield increases beyond the initial year and to develop more practical systems of soil modification.
Ontogenic development of the mouth and digestive tract in larval Malaysian mahseer, Tor tambroides Bleeker

This study analysed morphology and histology of the developing mouth and digestive tract of the Malaysian mahseer larvae to assess the best weaning time to a compound diet for the fry on the basis of their morphological features. The mouth development was monitored using light and scanning electron microscopy; the development of the alimentary canal was followed histologically using light microscopy after haematoxylin-eosin staining. The larval mouth opened 1day after hatching (1 DAH); the histological structures of oesophagus were completed by 5 DAH. At 2 DAH, differentiation of enterocytes began, and at 7 DAH the supranuclear protein inclusion appeared in the posterior intestine. The hepatopancreas was structurally completed at 4-5 DAH, coinciding with the start of exogenous feeding and the evidence of lipid storage in the liver. It was concluded that Malaysian mahseer larvae should certainly be able to ingest, and possibly digest and absorb, a formulated diet of 287μm O from 7 DAH onward.
Effects of different host plants and rearing atmosphere on life cycle of large white cabbage butterfly, Pieris brassicae (Linnaeus)

We studied the effect of different host plants and rearing atmosphere on life cycle of cabbage butterfly, Pieris brassicae. Insects were reared in the field (fluctuating weather) as well as in the laboratory (constant rearing conditions) on four host plants, viz. cabbage, cauliflower, knol-khol and broccoli. Significant differences were not found in the incubation and pupal period of butterfly reared on different host plants. However, larval period was found to be significantly lower on cabbage followed by knol-khol and highest on broccoli. Therefore, the developmental period (from eggs to adult) was reasonably lower on cabbage. Furthermore, inverse relationship was found in the body weight of butterfly and developmental period, where weight of full grown caterpillar and pupae was significantly higher on cauliflower and lowest on cabbage. Besides, significant differences were not found in the body weight of P. brassicae caterpillar reared under field and in the laboratory. Nevertheless, pupal weight of butterfly was significantly higher under field conditions than the laboratory conditions. Overall, the development of P. brassicae was much faster on cabbage than other hosts; but its body weight was considerably higher on cauliflower.
Efeito do tempo de experiência de operadores de Harvester no rendimento operacional

The mechanization of timber harvesting allows greater control of costs and can provide reductions in relatively short intervals. Moreover, it has a place in the humanization of the working forest and the increase in performance. This work provides comparisons of operating performance of different operator harvester according to the time of experience in the activity. The operators evaluated were eight males, aged between 23 and 46 years old. The study consisted of analysis of the volume of timber harvested by the harvester. The experience significantly affects the performance of harvesters operators. The performance increases significantly in the first 18 months of experience, and it remained on the rise over the next 26 months. After 44 months of experience, the operators' performance tends to reduce, revealing the possible accommodation of everyday life. These data confirm that at around 50 months of harvester operation experience,in operating the harvester, it is necessary to adopt for retraining, motivation, among others, in order to give operators better working conditions that would enable them to continue exercising the activity in an efficient and profitable level to the company.
DEGRADATION OF PYRETHROID OPTICAL ISOMERS BY SOIL MICROORGANISMS

ピレスロイド系殺虫剤の光学異性体 (4異性体: フェンバレレート, 8異性体: サイパーメスリン) の土壌微生物による分解について検討した. 土壌より単離した細菌によるピレスロイドの分解は異性体により差が見られ, 培養液中にはエステル結合加水分解物が主に検出された. 単離菌の無細胞抽出液をゲル濾過して得られた各画分について各異性体の分解を検討したところ, 基質特異性の異なる活性ピークが数ピーク認められた. 土壌微生物には基質特異性の異なる複数のピレスロイド加水分解酵素が存在し, 土壌中で各異性体の分解速度に差が生じることが示唆された.
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Plasma of Women with Endometriosis

Purpose Endometriosis is one of the most common benign gynecological diseases affecting women of reproductive age; it is characterized by the presence and growth of ectopic endometrial tissue outside the endometrial cavity. This complex disease is frequently associated with infertility and pelvic pain. Given the relationship and the apparent importance of the role that neurotrophins play in the reproductive system, and in particular brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) which is involved in both the central and peripheral pain pathways, we were interested in determining whether the presence of endometriosis is associated and correlated with plasma and follicular fluid variation of BDNF. Methods We determined BDNF level in plasma and in follicular fluid from infertile women with endometriosis and fertile women without the disease. Results BDNF plasma levels were significantly higher in endometriotic patients than in control women (p<0.001). After surgery this level decreased significantly (p<0.001), ranging within the values of control women in follicular phase. In follicular fluid, BDNF values were significantly lower in infertile women for endometriosis than in infertile women for male factors (p<0.001). Conclusion These data raise the possibility that neuroinflammatory reactions in endometriosis could have a neuroprotective effect and support the hypothesis that BDNF represents an important link in the networks of human homeostasis, thus providing an early marker for patients affected by endometriosis. Moreover, low BDNF levels in follicular fluid may refect an altered ovary production and may be a marker of poor oocyte quality and poor fertility in women suffering from endometriosis.
Test of semiochemicals and a resistant wheat variety for Russian wheat aphid management in South Africa

Abstract: Aphid behaviour‐modifying semiochemicals were tested against Russian wheat aphid Diuraphis noxia in South African wheat. Volatile substances from plant essential oils, methyl salicylate, 1,8‐cineole and menthol were tested in the laboratory and field in combination with the D. noxia‐susceptible wheat variety Betta and the resistant variety Elands. All three substances were repellent to D. noxia in olfactometric tests. Diuraphis noxia settled less on Elands plants that had been exposed to the volatiles, whereas the effect of the volatiles on D. noxia settling on Betta was less obvious. A slow‐release pellet formulation was used to apply semiochemicals in wheat in replicated plot field trials in 2004 and 2005. In 2004, semiochemicals reduced aphid populations in Elands, but led to increased aphid populations in Betta. Further, the impact of the chemicals on aphid numbers and grain quality (thousand grain weight) varied according to plant variety, indicating an interaction between semiochemicals and plant resistance/variety.
Effects of Temperature on the Development of Meristic Characters in Natrix fasciata

were obtained from females incubated under five different thermal regimes, three constant and two fluctuating diurnally. These embryos were compared with a group of 473 wild-incubated controls. The principle objective of the study was to determine the effect of developmental temperature on vertebral number. Other objectives were to assess the effects of temperature on other characters of scutellation and to attempt to determine the optimum developmental temperature for the species studied. The effect of developmental temperature on vertebral number seems to be similar to that found in fish; an increase at both high and low temperatures with the minimum counts occurring at intermediate temperatures. In Natrix fasciata the effect appears to be confined to the trunk region. Low temperature treatment increases the frequency of divided preocular
The Effect of Herbicide on the Re-Establishment of Native Grasses in the Blackland Prairie

ABSTRACT: The Blackland Prairie of east-central Texas, the southernmost tip of the once vast North American Tallgrass Prairie, now covers only 1% of its original 6.8 million hectares. Thus, there is considerable interest in restoration and re-establishment of this endangered ecosystem. In a randomized complete block field experiment conducted near San Marcos, Texas, we tested the effectiveness of the post-emergent herbicide imazapic on weed control, establishment, and growth of four C4 warm-season grasses native to the Blackland Prairie (Andropogon gerardii, Sorghastrum nutans, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Bouteloua curtipendula). Treatment with three different levels of imazapic (0.07, 0.092, and 0.138 kg ai/ha) all significantly increased seedling density of native grasses, and low-to-medium levels of imazapic increased seedling shoot growth and flowering relative to water controls. End-of-season aboveground biomass of native grasses also increased with imazapic treatment while that of broadleaf species decreased. However, shoot biomass of exotic C4 grasses (principally Bothriochloa ischaemum and Dichanthium sericeum), the dominant species of this site prior to study, was not significantly affected by imazapic treatment. Despite vigorous site preparation and pretreatment with a broad-spectrum herbicide (Roundup®), these exotic C4 bluestem grasses continued to dominate all treatment plots. These findings indicate that while imazapic is beneficial for native warm season grass establishment, it is inadequate to effectively control these exotic bluestems, which are abundant on many sites once occupied by Blackland Prairie. Successful restoration of native grasses in the Blackland Prairie will, therefore, require more effective means of controlling or eliminating these aggressive exotic species.
Introduction to the Special Collection: Revisiting the Vertebrate Invasion of the Land*

The origin of tetrapods and their invasion of the land during the Devonian period was one of the most significant events in vertebrate evolutionary history. Understanding the environmental circumstances and the morphological and functional changes underlying the fish‐tetrapod transition have been goals of comparative biologists for many decades. Although the fossil record of this transition remains far from complete, new discoveries in the past two decades have increased the resolution of the morphological sequence, documented the relative rapidity and geographic distribution of the tetrapod appearance, and fueled new controversy over the environmental and biological factors involved. Biologists have also searched for insights into the vertebrate land invasion through comparative studies of the living amphibious and air‐breathing fishes. Such investigations include a wide range of environmental and functional topics, including habitat conditions, biochemistry, functional morphology, physiology, behavior, ecology, and biogeography. The seven articles in this volume are state‐of‐the‐art assessments of topics ranging from the fish‐tetrapod fossil record to diverse aspects of the behavior, physiology, biochemistry, and ecology of the extant fish species that use either or both terrestriality and air breathing.
Regional Integration and Maritime Range

HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not. The documents may come from teaching and research institutions in France or abroad, or from public or private research centers. L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires publics ou privés. Copyright Regional integration and Maritime Range Arnaud Lemarchand, Olivier Joly
The sympatric breeding of Common and Scottish Crossbills Loxia curvirostra and L. scotica and the evolution of crossbills

Within the strongly polytypic Red Crossbill L. curvirostra there are many reports of two or more ‘subspecies’ nesting sympatrically, without interbreeding. This 13-year study examines one such case, in Scotland, where an endemic form is resident and another was thought to occur after irruptions from its main range in continental Europe. Both forms were present in the study area every year; sympatric breeding was proved in 9 years and probably occurred in the other four. There was no suggestion of interbreeding and the Scottish form should be treated as a separate species, L. scotica, the Scottish Crossbill. This is the only endemic species of bird in Britain and one of very few European endemics. The evolution of crossbills in Europe is discussed in the light of recent palynological evidence and the taxonomic status of the Parrot Crossbill L. pytyopsittacus is re-examined.
Estimation of the microbial N flow to small intestine in Saanen goats and kids based on urinary excretion of purin derivatives by the use of spot urine sampling technique.

Arastirmada Saanen keci ve oglaklarinda spot idrar orneklemesi ile idrarla atilan purin turevlerinden ince bagirsaga gecen mikrobiyal N miktari ve yem tuketiminin belirlenmesi amaclanmistir. Denemede 3 yasinda 10 adet Saanen disi keci ile 1.5-2 aylik yasta 10 adet Saanen disi oglak kullanilmistir. Kecilerin ortalama canli agirliklari 42±3 kg, oglaklarin ise 7.5±2.5 kg olarak tespit edilmistir. Kecilerin sabah ve aksam beslenmesinde karma yem ve kuru ot kullanilmistir. Ayrica keciler meraya cikarilmistir. Oglaklar ise sadece anne sutu ile beslenmistir. Sabah yem tuketiminden sonra saat 10:00 ile 12:00 arasinda Saanen keci ve oglaklarindan idrar ornekleri toplanmistir. Alinan idrar orneklerine 4 N H2SO4’den 0.5-1ml ilave edilerek idrarin pH degeri ucun altinda olmasi saglanmistir. Kecilerden alinan spot idrar orneklerinde spektrofotometrik metotla ortalama allantoin, urik asit, toplam purin turevleri (PT) ve kreatinin (K) degerleri sirasiyla 5.93±0.07, 1.91±0.10, 7.84±0.14 ve 5.75±0.08 mmol/L, oglaklarda ise ayni sira ile 4.70±0.09, 1.33±0.07, 6.33±0.11 ve 5.07±0.05 mmol/L olarak belirlenmistir. Kecilerde ve oglaklarda ince bagirsaga gecen mikrobiyal azot miktari sirasiyla 8.45±0.13 ve 1.84±0.04 g N/gun hesaplanmistir. Kecilerde sindirilebilir organik madde tuketimi 665.90±18.92 g olarak tespit edilmistir. Spot idrar orneklemeyle bulunan sonuclar degerlendirildiginde bu calismadaki keci ve oglaklarin protein yonunden yetersiz beslendikleri tespit edilmistir. Sonuc olarak saha kosullarinda, spot idrar toplanarak kecilerde protein beslenmesini tahmin etmekte purin turevleri: Kreatinin (PTK) indeksi kullanilabilir.
Antioxidant, free radical scavenging and type II diabetes‐related enzyme inhibition properties of traditionally processed Jequirity bean (Abrus precatorius L.)

Summary The methanolic extract of raw Abrus precatorius (Jequirity bean, red- and black-coloured seed coat) seeds contains a total phenolic content of 14.2 ± 0.39 g catechin equivalent/100 g extract. An analysis of phenolic profile revealed the presence of syringic acid, caffeic acid and (−)-epicatechin in the methanolic extract of A. precatorius seeds. Encouraging levels of ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP, 1247 mmol Fe[II]/mg extract), inhibition of β-carotene bleaching (53.37%), 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH, 62.13%) and superoxide (64.47%) radical scavenging activities were exhibited by the extract of raw samples. Inhibition characteristics of 68.69%α-amylase and 51.74%α-glucosidase enzyme were also recorded under in vitro starch digestion bioassay. Sprouting + oil-frying caused a significant increase in the total phenolic content and also substantially improved the antioxidant and free radical scavenging capacities, while soaking + cooking as well as open-pan roasting treatments showed diminishing effects.