Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of environmental conditions and standard chlorination practices on the infectivity of Giardia cysts

Effects of environmental conditions and standard chlorination practices on Giardia muns cysts were examined using infectivity of cysts to mice as a biological indicator. The eosin exclusion assay consistently indicated high levels of cyst v~ability, despite their total loss of infectivity. Storage of cysts at 4 O C in dry fecal pellets, or soaked in sahne, reduced the infectivity of cysts markedly after 3 d . On the other hand, ~nfectivity of cysts was retained for 20d if they were isolated from feces by concentration methods, washed and stored in tapwater or wellwater. Routine chlorination procedures for disinfection of drinking water as performed in a modern water treatment plant had no cysticidal effect. This lack of efficacy was not due to a defect in the well-accepted standard procedures followed at this plant, but probably to the high pH of raw water These results raise important questions regarding the epidemiology of giardiasis, because the cysts remained infective for at least 3 wk if free of fecal material. Since most municipalities use only chlorine as a disinfectant, this procedure would favor the spreading of giardiasis if the filtration system is faulty or simply non-existent. Finally, the results obtained in this study confirm those obtained previously and indicate that the eosin exclusion assay is not reliable for determination of giardicidal effects of disinfectants.
Trends and patterns in the evolution of vascular plants: macroevolutionary implications of a multilevel taxonomic analysis

Cascales-Minana, B. , Munoz-Bertomeu, J., Ros, R. , Segura, J. 2010: Trends and patterns in the evolution of vascular plants: macroevolutionary implications of a multilevel taxonomic analysis. Lethaia, 10.1111/j.1502-3931.2009. 00212.x Studying the macroevolutionary patterns of vascular plants from the Silurian to the present-day provides a global record of plant life history. Evolutionary rates (origination, extinction and diversification) for families, orders, classes and divisions were analysed, as was abundance and richness for 21 time intervals. An accumulative analysis, based on the total plant fossil record, the accumulated extinctions and relative diversity, was also carried out. The diversification rate shows a uniquely constant and progressive reduction from the end of the Carboniferous to the Permian when the lowest values are registered. Very small peaks seem to reflect Cretaceous extinction for families. At family level, only two time intervals present higher extinctions, than originations. Richness and accumulative analyses reveal that only 32% of the families analysed became extinct, and that approximately 90% of them disappeared at the end of the Palaeozoic. Our results indicate that plants did not undergo mass extinction events in the ‘big five’ sense, but rather, mass ecological reorganization the absence of important extinction events or evolutionary innovations producing diversification patterns without abrupt changes. □Diversification, evolutionary, extinction, fossil record, innovations, radiation, vascular plants.
Genes and genomes: chromosome bands – flavours to savour

The mammalian chromosome is longitudinally heterogeneous in structure and function and this is the basis for the specific banding patterns produced by various chromosome staining techniques. The two most frequently used techniques are G, or Giemsa banding and R, or reverse banding. Each type of stained band is characterised by variations in gene density, time of replication, base composition, density of repeat sequences, and chromatin packaging. It is increasingly apparent that R and G bands, which are complementary to each other, represent separate compartments of the euchromatic human genome, with R bands containing the vast majority of genes. R bands are also more GC-rich, contain a higher density of Alu repeats, and replicate earlier in S phase, than G bands. These properties may be interdependent and may have coevolved.
Immunosuppressive Effect of Prodigiosin on Murine Splenocyte and Macrophages

Prodigiosin was isolated from marine bacteria Hahella chejuensis which has been recently discov- ered from Marado, Cheju Island, Republic of Korea. Immunosuppressive properties have been reported for pro- digiosin members such as undecylprodigiosin, metacycloprodigiosin, prodigiosin, and its synthetic analogue PNU156804 (PNU). However, the effect of this agent on the function of macrophage and splenocyte has not been characterized in detail. In the present study, we examined the effects of prodigiosin for its ability to alter the function of murine macrophage and NK cell, and the proliferation of splenocytes. When thioglycollate-elicited macrophages pre-exposed to prodigiosin (1-50 ng/ml) were stimulated with LPS/IFN-γ, pretreatment with prodi- giosin resulted in the inhibition of tumoricidal activity of macrophage in a concentration-dependent manner. Tumoricidal activity of NK cell was also inhibited by prodigiosin. Moreover, we found that prodigiosin was able to cause a dose-dependent inhibition of murine lymphocyte responsiveness to Con A and LPS although T-mitoge- nic response was the more sensitive one. Taken together, the present results point out that prodigiosin has a suppressive effect on the mitogen-induced proliferation of murine lymphocytes and the function of macrophage and NK cell.
The Flower Industry in Tanzania: Production Performance and Costs

A survey was conducted to assess production levels, costs, marketing and policy regulations affecting the flower industry in Tanzania. Results indicated that rose and chrysanthemum were the main ornamental crops produced for export with yield of 908 and 145.6 million flower stems and shoot cuttings per year in 2003, respectively. The surface areas under rose and chrysanthemum cultivation increased by 328.9 and 658.3% and the corresponding production by 316.84 and 666.33% between 1997 and 2003, respectively. Greenhouse construction accounted for 50% while purchase of land and rose planting materials represented 17.7 and 12.3% of the total investment cost, respectively. Interest on loans and freight charges accounted for 19 and 16.0% of the total operational cost, respectively. All chrysanthemum shoot cuttings were directly exported to The Netherlands whereas 90% of total rose flowers were exported to Europe through European middlemen with a marketing commission of 18-30% of sales and 52% of total operational cost. The average selling prices of rose and chrysanthemum were 0.23 and 0.11 US$ per flower stem and shoot tip cutting, respectively. Foreign growers appreciated the provision of tax exemption of five years but considered the National Agricultural Policy of 1997 being too general and not favourable to the flower industry.
Damage in maize ears associated with methods of inoculation of Stenocarpella maydis

This study aimed to find an efficient method of inoculation of Stenocarpella maydis to produce white ear rot (WER) and estimate pathogen damage on maize grain yield components. Measured components were ear mass, grain mass per ear, and thousand grain weight. The experiments were performed in Ponta Grossa, PR, Brazil in a randomized block design with treatments arranged in a split plot with three replications. Three hybrids were studied. For each, five methods of inoculation in the ear at the soft dough stage were compared to un-inoculated controls. The ears were inoculated with 1 mL of the spore suspension (104 conidia/ml). Evaluations of the disease index (%), severity (%) and lesion area were performed in three (1st experiment) and four periods (2nd experiment), and the area under the disease progression curve was calculated for each of these periods. The area under the disease progression curve was calculated for each period. Inoculation at the center of the ear resulted in the best growth and development of the pathogen in both experiments. Inoculation at the base and center of the ears resulted in greater reductions in yield components, with degrees of damage varying from 27.8 to 43.1%. The inoculation of S. maydis in the center of the ear can be considered an appropriate method for resistance screening to WER in maize breeding programs. Key words: White ear rot, disease progress curve, severity, yield components.
Survival rates of American woodcock wintering along the Atlantic coast

Because American woodcock (Scolopax minor) populations have been declining, we attached radio transmitters to woodcock at coastal plain sites to determine if survival during winter was involved in the decline. Sites were in Georgia (1982-84, 1989-92), South Carolina (1988-89), and Virginia (1991-92). Survival rotes were not different between age or sex classes. Survival rates differed (P = 0.003) among years. Daily survival rates were lowest (P = 0.030, S = 0.987) during 1982-83 in Georgia and highest (P = 0.004, S = 0.999) during 1990-91 in Georgia than in the other years and locations combined (S = 0.996). We attributed all mortality to raptors and mammals. Compared with other periods of the year, winter was a time of low survival for woodcock
Oxidative damage of retinal pigment epithelial cells and age‐related macular degeneration

Damage to the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells is an early and crucial event in the molecular pathways leading to clinically relevant age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) changes. Oxidative stress, the major environmental risk factor for atrophic AMD, causes RPE injury that results in a chronic inflammatory response, drusen formation, and RPE atrophy. RPE degeneration ultimately leads to a progressive irreversible degeneration of photoreceptors. In vitro studies show that oxidant‐treated RPE cells undergo apoptosis, a possible mechanism by which RPE cells are lost during the early phase of atrophic AMD. The main target of oxidative injury appears to be mitochondria, an organelle known to accumulate genomic damage during aging. Addition of GSH, the most abundant intracellular thiol antioxidant, protects RPE cells from oxidant‐induced apoptosis. Similar protection occurs with dietary enzyme inducers that increase GSH synthesis. In addition, enhancing survival signaling preserves RPE cells under oxidative stress. These results indicate that therapeutic or nutritional intervention to enhance the antioxidant capacity and survival signaling of RPE may provide an effective way to prevent or treat AMD. This review describes major molecular and cellular events leading to RPE death, and presents currently used and new experimental, forthcoming therapeutic strategies. Drug Dev Res 68:213–225, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Studies on Some Life Table Parameters of Busseola fusca (Fuller) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Maize under Field Condition in Western Ethiopia

between kparasitism of pupal stage and B. fusca population and no density dependence was detected for the other population reduction factors at Boneya. So the parasitoid couldn’t increase with the increasing population of B. fusca . At Haru the result was not significant for all population reduction factors, so there was no density dependence detected for all population reduction factors implying that population reduction factors acted irrespective of the population of B. fusca .
Flow‐ and substratum‐mediated movement by a stream insect

Summary 1. In streams subject to frequent hydrologic disturbance, the ability of benthic invertebrates to disperse within the channel is key to understanding the mechanisms of flow refugium use and population persistence. This study focuses on crawling invertebrates, the effects on movement of abiotic factors (specifically, flow near the stream bed and bed micro-topography) and the consequences for dispersal. 2. In a large flume, we observed individual cased caddisflies, Potamophylax latipennis, moving in fully turbulent flows over a precise replica of a water-worked surface. From maps of movement paths, we quantified crawling behaviour and entrainment, and the influence of bed micro-topography. We manipulated discharge and tested its effect on movement, linear displacement and areal dispersal. The highest discharge treatment was a disturbance to the caddis; the lowest discharge was not. Crawling behaviours were used to parameterise random walk models and estimate population dispersal, and to test the effects of abiotic factors on movement. 3. Bed micro-topography influenced crawling in several ways. Caddis spent most of their time at the junctions between proud particles and the adjacent plane bed. The frequency distribution of turn angles was bimodal, with modal values approximating the angle required to travel around median-sized particles. Larvae generally crawled downstream, but crawling direction relative to the flow was skewed by bed micro-topography and was not directly downstream, unlike drift. 4. Caddis crawled for most of the time and discharge affected almost every aspect of their movement. As discharge increased, caddis crawled less often, more slowly and over shorter distances; they also became entrained more frequently and over greater distances. With increased discharge, caddis spent proportionately less time at the junctions between proud particles and the adjacent plane bed, and more time on the tops and sides of proud clasts. This is curious as most entrainment occurred from the tops and sides of clasts and entrainment is generally considered to be disadvantageous during disturbances. 5. Linear displacement (drift and entrainment combined) was downstream, but the relation between total displacement and discharge was complex. Total displacement decreased at intermediate discharge as crawling decreased, but increased at high discharge as entrainment and drift played a greater role in movement. 6. Within-stream dispersal via crawling contained elements of both a correlated random walk (we observed directional persistence in turn angles) and a biased random walk (we observed downstream bias in move direction angles) and was best described as a biased correlated random walk. Dispersal was inversely related to discharge, suggesting that the ability of P. latipennis to crawl into flow refugia on the streambed is reduced at high flow.
Evidence for individual female host specificity in two Australian bronze-cuckoos (Chrysococcyx spp.)

Australian evidence suggests that the host segregation of cuckoos has evolved as a result of interspecific competition between cuckoo species. However, this does not explain how female cuckoos manage to deposit their eggs in nests of the correct host. Data are presented on the laying patterns of the cuckoos Chrysococcyx basalis and C. lucidus from an 8-year study of these species in Western Australia and three scenarios for the mechanisms of host selection are discussed.
Variation in Antioxidant Activity and Flavonoid Aglycones in Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) Germplasm

Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is an excellent source of vitamins A and C and of flavonoid compounds, which are important antioxidant components believed to reduce the risk of various diseases. We investigated the antioxidant activity and flavonoid content in eggplant leaves and fruits to identify genetic resources with high antioxidant capacity for use in food or as feed additives, and also determined the influence of days to flowering, leaf blade colors, and latitudes of origin on the antioxidant activity and flavonoid content in eggplant leaves. The accessions originating from 45°N showed the highest flavonoid contents (AVG. = 15.4 μg mg -1 ) followed by accessions from 30°~45°N (AVG. = 13.0 μg mg -1 ), 15°~30°N (AVG. = 11.0 μg mg -1 ), and 0°~15°N (AVG. = 9.5 μg mg -1 ). The same pattern was also found in 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and 1,1-diphenyl-2- picryl-hydrazil (DPPH) antioxidant activities. High ABTS and DPPH activity and flavonoid content were found in the early-flowering accessions. All flavonoids of the greenish violet leaves were significantly higher than those of green leaves. The flavonoid concentration in eggplant leaves was 10 to 20 fold greater, at an average of 15.6 μg mg -1 , than that of the fruit (AVG. = 0.9 μg mg -1 ).
A Field-Study of Communication and Social-Behavior of the Tasmanian Devil at Feeding Sites

The Tasmanian devil, Sarcophilus harrisii, the largest extant carnivorous marsupial, is normally solitary, but it congregates when feeding on carcasses. In this study, observations of behaviour during group feeding were used to document the communication and social organisation of these little-known animals. Their communication repertoire involved visual (20 postures), vocal (11 sound forms) and probably chemical signalling via urination and ano-genital drag. While some animals had conspicuous markings, 13% had none, suggesting that markings were not necessary for individual recognition. Agonistic interactions seldom resulted in physical clashes, but a few led to damage to the muzzle and rump, as supported by heavy scarring in these regions. Adult males were the most frequently and seriously scarred, probably related to agonistic encounters from longer feeding bouts and copulatory aggression. Devils gorged themselves, eating approximately 40% of their body mass. There was no apparent hierarchical structure to the sequence in which individuals fed. Feeding duration seemed to be determined by the extent to which an animal feeding on the carcass was sated.
Integrated Nitrogen Management with Green Manures in Rice‐Chickpea Cropping System

A field experiment was conducted during wet and dry seasons of 1987–88 and 1988–89 to evaluate the performance of green manures with and without fertilizer nitrogen in lowland rice and their residual effect on succeeding crop of chickpea grown under rice-chickpea cropping system. Incorporation of Ipomea carnea (green leaves), Cassia tora and Parthenium hysterophorus (green young plants) ca. 5 t/ha fresh weight significantly improved yield and yield components namely panicles per hill, panicle length, grains per panicle and test weight of transplanted rice. The results showed that at least 20 kg/ha fertilizer nitrogen applied to rice could be replaced by incorporation of 5 t/ha fresh weight green manure. Supplementation of 60 kg N/ha through urea to the green manures treated plots proved to be the best in respect of grain yield and was comparable to the yield obtained under 80 kg N/ha as urea alone. Plant N-uptake followed the similar pattern of rice grain yield. Residual fertility in terms of available nitrogen increased under the green manure treatments, whereas urea nitrogen alone made no impact on fertility build-up. Green manures showed significantly higher residual response than fertilizer N alone to seed yield and N uptake of chickpea.
Alterações no Código Florestal Brasileiro: impactos potenciais sobre a ictiofauna

In this paper is presented an analysis of possible impacts that the reduction of native vegetation, especially riparian forests, can have on the fish fauna. Three sets of primary functional aspects performed by riparian forests are discussed: transferring of solar energy to the aquatic environment, trapping nutrients and sediments that enter the rivers and transfer of organic material between the terrestrial and aquatic environments. Any modification which results in further loss of native vegetation, in permanent preservation areas or in protection reserves, may generate losses of species, faunal homogenization and reduction of fish biomass.
HLA-DRB1 polymorphism on Ha’ano island of the Kingdom of Tonga

HLA-DRB1 polymorphism was investigated by molecular DNA-based typing in 37 Tongans living on Ha’ano island of the Ha’apai group. The predominant HLA-DRB1 alleles were DRB1*0901 (20.3%) and DRB1*0403 (18.9%). A principal component analysis of the DRB1 allele frequencies discriminated between the Polynesians and other Oceanian populations, including Melanesians, Micronesians, and Australian Aborigines. Both present and previous studies have shown that the allele frequency of DRB1*0901 is markedly high in Polynesians and Asians, while this allele is seldom found in Non-Austronesian (NAN)-speaking Melanesians, Micronesians, and Australian Aborigines. Furthermore, we analyzed the frequencies of allele coding for Arg at position 196 (196R: nucleotide [nt] 587G) of tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (TNFR2, TNF-R75) in three Oceanian populations: Tongans, Austronesian (AN)-speaking Balopa islanders living in Manus province of Papua New Guinea, and NAN-speaking Gidra living in the southwestern lowlands of Papua New Guinea. The frequencies of the TNFR2-196R allele, observed at a relatively high frequency in East and Southeast Asian populations, were 24.0%, 7.3%, and 1.0% in the Tongans, Balopa islanders, and Gidra, respectively. Considering that the allele frequencies of DRB1*0901 and TNFR2 196R are relatively high in Asians, Polynesians, and AN-speaking Melanesians (Balopa islanders), but very low in NAN-speaking Melanesians (Gidra), we conclude that at least part of the AN-speaking Polynesian ancestors were derived from Asian populations, and that extensive gene flow from the Polynesian ancestors to the indigenous Melanesians occurred around their initial migration to Melanesia. This is consistent with the results from analyses of mitochondrial DNA and ABO blood group gene polymorphisms in the same study populations.
Life history characteristics of the invasive freshwater gammarids Dikerogammarus villosus and Echinogammarus ischnus in the river Main and the Main-Donau canal

The life history characteristics of two invasive gammarids, Dikerogammarus villosus and Echinogammarus ischnus, from 2 sites in the river Main and one in the Main-Donau canal were studied monthly from May to October 2000 and one additional time in April 2002. The species coexisted, but D. villosus was much more abundant at upstream sites whereas E. ischnus prevailed at the downstream site. Females of D. villosus produced big clutches; mean clutch size during the period of reproduction ranged between 29 and 136 and maximum clutch size was 188 eggs per ovigerous female. Volume of stage 2 eggs was between 0.07 and 0.08 mm 3 . Echinogammarus ischnus females produced smaller clutches than D. villosus females but larger eggs. Mean clutch size in this species varied between 14 and 27 and maximum clutch size was 51 eggs per ovigerous female. Volume of stage 2 eggs varied between 0.1 and 0.2 mm 3 . The calculated fecundity index (weight-specific number of eggs per clutch) was higher in D. villosus than in E. ischnus (0.62-1.37 vs. 0.44-0.60, respectively) while the reproductive effort (egg volume times fecundity index) was fairly the same in both species (0.05-0.12). Ovigerous females and precopula pairs were absent in September/October indicating the reproductive diapause. The results point to different reproductive strategies in these species. Large eggs (probably supplied with reserves) suggest advantage of E. ischnus when food is scarce while big clutches with small eggs suggest reproductive superiority of D. villosus under conditions of abundant food.