Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Arquitetura de ninhos da formiga neotropical Ectatomma brunneum F. Smith, 1858 (Formicidae, Ponerinae) em ambientes alterados

In this paper we relate the excavation of seven E. brunneum nests in sites altered by human action in Rio Claro SP, southeastern Brazil. This ant nests are poor elaborated, just like in other species of this genus and subfamily. The depths and dispositions of the chambers did not show a defined pattern, nor any complex structure or architecture. We argue that it is due to the fact of this ant has migratory habits, occupying the nest for limited time in relation to their colony life cycle.
Interspecific Comparisons with Chloroplast SSR Loci Reveal Limited Genetic Variation in Nigerian Montane Forests: A Study on Cordia Millenii (West African Cordia), Entandrophragma Angolense (Tiama Mahogany), and Lovoa Trichilioides (African Walnut)

The montane forests of south-eastern Nigeria are of immense conservation value due to their high levels of biodiversity and endemism. Yet despite increasing anthropogenic disturbance and forest fragmentation, little is known about the genetics of resident tree populations. We used a set of conserved chloroplast simple sequence repeat (SSR) primers to quantify and directly compare genetic diversity in three tree species: Cordia millenii, West African Cordia; Entandrophragma angolense, tiama mahogany; and Lovoa trichilioides, African walnut, within a single montane forest. Additionally, we assessed the diversity of West African Cordia between forests at a local and regional scale. Results indicate that for our focal loci, in all three species, there is a general lack of chloroplast genetic diversity. Our study is particularly relevant because it considers genetic diversity among multiple tree species simultaneously. This work represents the first study of its kind in the region, and will pioneer the way for future conservation genetic studies in montane Nigeria.
NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF FLOWS IN THE PRESENCE OF MOVING BOUNDARIES USING THE IMMERSED BOUNDARY METHOD

Abstract:The Immersed Boundary Method is used to model the walls bounding flows in channel and driven cavities. In this method a force source term is added to the Navier-Stokes equations, in order to model and guarantee the non-slipping boundary conditions at the channel and cavities walls. The Physical Virtual Model (PVM), which is a methodology proposed by the LTCM – FEMEC research group, is used to model the force field. This methodology employs the Navier-Stokes equations to compute the interfacial force presented in the flow. Preliminarily results for the Couette-Poiseuille flow and driven cavity are presented.
Trophic ecology of two raptors, Barn Owl (Tyto alba) and White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus), and possible implications for biological control of Hantavirus reservoir in Chile

ABSTRACT Raptors are important predators of various species of small mammals, which renders them of economic importance since their prey may be either disease vectors or reservoirs which represent health problems, or economically important through the damage they cause to crops and stocks. The long-tailed rice rat Oligoryzomys longicaudatus is a reservoir and vector of Hantavirus, a disease of increasing importance in various Latin American countries. The nocturnal Barn Owl (Tyto alba) and the diurnal White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus) appear to be the most significant predators of this species. Here, we characterize the diet of these two raptors and analyze their trophic specialization and dietary selectivity using published information, pellet analysis, and field abundances of small mammals. Both raptor species positively selected O. longicaudatus in their diets to suggest that they could be potential controllers of the Hantavirus reservoir in Chile, both in natural and agricultural ecosystems. Predation on O. longicaudatus by these two raptors is interesting because they have complementary activity periods, a condition which enables them to share the same prey without having strong interference.
Understanding the mechanism of MYC induced vulnerabilities

2 Acknowledgements . 12 List of Publications . 14 Author’s Declaration . 15 Abbreviations . 16 1 Introduction . 21 1.1 Cancer . 21 1.2 MYC and Cancer . 21 1.2.1 Mechanism of MYC deregulation . 21 1.3 MYC: structure and function . 23 1.3.1 MYC-structure . 23 1.3.1.1 Function of Myc boxes . 24 1.3.2 Transcriptional function of MYC . 25 1.3.3 Target genes and functions . 25 1.3.3.1 Cell cycle and Cell growth . 26 1.3.3.2 Stemness . 26 1.3.3. 3 Cell adhesion and cytoskeleton . 27 1.3.3.4 Metabolism . 28 1.4 Targeting MYC . 28 1.4. 1 Apoptosis . 30 1.4. 1.1 The two major pathways of apoptosis . 30 1.4. 2 MYC induced apoptosis . 33 1.4. 2.1 Role of p19Arf-p53 pathway in MYC-induced apoptosis . 33 1.4. 2.2 Role of Bcl2 family proteins in MYC-induced apoptosis . 34 1.4. 3 Synthetic lethality . 35 1.5 ARK5/NUAK 1 . 36 1.5. 1 Nuak1 functions . 37 1.5. 1.1 Role of Nuak1 in mitochondrial respiration . 38 1.5. 2 Reactive oxygen species . 39 1.6 Pancreatic cancer . 40 1.6. 1 Basic function of the pancreas . 40 1.6. 2 Pancreatic cancer: Statistics, causes and types . 40 1.6. 2.1 Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma . 41 1.6. 2.2 Current treatment of pancreatic cancer . 42
Effect of brood rearing on honey consumption and the survival of worker honey bees

SUMMARYThe cost of rearing a worker honey bee (Apis mellifera) was measured in terms of honey lost by the colony and the lifespan of the adult worker bees. Test colonies for each experiment were created by collecting bees from many different sources into a large cage and then subdividing those bees to make a group of uniform colonies. Colonies were evaluated outdoors in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA, during February when there was pollen but no nectar for bees to collect. Brood production did not have a significant effect on adult survival during the first cycle of brood rearing, but colonies that reared more brood during the first brood cycle had greater adult mortality during the next brood cycle. Bees used 121 g of honey to produce 1 000 cells of mixed-aged brood (eggs, larvae and pupae in a normal brood nest) and about 163 mg of honey to rear one worker bee to the pupal stage. In colonies containing brood of all stages, the weight of brood was nearly equal to (about 25% less than) the weight of honey th.
NORTHERN CARDINAL SONG IN THREE FOREST HABITATS IN EASTERN TEXAS

Development of song dialects is influenced by (1) the morphological ability of birds to vary their song (Lanyon 1960); (2) the amount of gene flow between populations (Handford and Nottebohm 1976); (3) contrast reinforcement, the conveyance of specific information against a background of many other sounds (Konishi 1970); and (4) social adaptation, a form of modified behavior in which birds copy songs of their conspecific neighbors in response to social interactions (Payne 198 1). Although Treisman (1978) theorized that dialects may help to establish and maintain relatively isolated populations, investigators do not agree on a single functional explanation for the existence of song dialects (Hartshorne 19 5 6, Krebs 1977). Biologists have begun to study the relationships between songs of birds and the efficiency of sound transmission through different acoustic environments (Ficken and Ficken 1962, Morton 1975, Wasserman 1979). Hansen (1979) suggested that young males selectively learn those song elements with acoustic properties that suffer the least amount of distortion during transmission. Acting as very sensitive receivers, young birds would preserve only those sounds which were best adapted for the particular acoustic environment in which they were raised. Gish and Morton's (1 98 1) work on Carolina Wrens (Thryothorus ludovicianus) supports Hansen's hypothesis concerning vocal learning in birds. They determined that wren songs transmitted longer distances and retained acoustical properties better when propagated in their native localities than in other habitat conditions. As there is a significant difference in the attenuation rates of the same signal in different environments, the environment itself may be operating as a "filter" between sender and receiver, preventing a bird from copying those sounds which are quickly lost or distorted. Morton et al. (in press), however, recently reported that wrens can reproduce some songs in an undegraded form that they have only heard in degraded form. Morton (1982) advanced a "ranging hypothesis" that suggests that male birds learn the undegraded form of a neighbor's song in order to tell the distance of the singing neighbor. The amount of degradation in the song would help a male determine distances more accurately and know when to challenge if the singer is near and ignore him if far enough away. Our study examined vocal patterns of three populations of Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) in eastern Texas. Our objectives were
The Development and Growth of Vibrissae in the House Mouse With Particular Reference to the Time of Action of the Tabby (Ta) and Ragged (Ra) Genes.

The order of development of certain vibrissae, found on the head and fore limbs of the mouse, has been determined using observations on the developmental stage and relative length of each follicle at 11, 12, 13, and 14 days foetal age. The length of vibrissal fibres at birth was also utilized.
II. HEMODYNAMIC ASPECTS OF HYPERTENSION: Preliminary Observations on Physical Training for Hypertensive Males

R intensified research into the physiology of physical training has been oriented primarily toward factors comprising the oxygen transport system, and as demonstrated in our own and other laboratories,3 it is possible to effect significant alterations in this system through regular physical activity. The common denominator of the training effect is cardiopulmonary economy, and it is therefore not surprising that programs of activity are now being recommended for patients with coronary artery disease. But what of the patient with the closely related problem of systemic hypertension? The literature contains relatively few and often only oblique references to the relationship of physical conditioning and blood pressure levels. " Because of this lack and on the basis of some earlier personal observations in this regard, it was decided to conduct a pilot study under comparatively controlled conditions. We invited eight white males to participate in a seven-month training program. Ages ranged from 30 to 54 years, none of the subjects was obese, and none smoked. Blood pressure records for the past two years were available. On the basis of these records, commonly accepted criteria, and data of others,* we established three groups: "labile" or "prehypertensive" hypertension in two men in their 30's, established essential hypertension in four 40to 50-year-old men, and "organic" hypertension associated with diabetes and renal disease. None of the subjects was engaged in regular physical
Metalloproteases and urokinase in angiogenesis and tumor progression.

: Following malignant transformation, tumor cells and their surrounding stroma produce a variety of growth factors and proteolytic enzymes to induce new capillary formation (angiogenesis) and matrix degradation to promote tumor development. Two key families of proteases, matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) and urokinase (uPA) are now strongly implicated in this process of angiogenesis and matrix degradation. Both MMPs and uPA are abundantly produced by various tumors where their level of expression can serve as prognostic markers. Using gene transfer techniques, overexpression of these proteases and their receptors enhances the invasive and metastatic potential of tumor cells. Furthermore, blockage of actions of MMPs and uPA by molecular and chemical approaches results in a marked decrease in tumor growth to further validate the significance of these enzymes as targets for anti-cancer therapy.
Proline but not Glutathione Actively Participates in the Tolerance Mechanism of Young Schizolobium parahyba var. amazonicum Plants Exposed to Boron Toxicity

Glutathione, a peptide frequently associated with the antioxidant mechanism of plants against reactive oxygen species, and proline, an amino acid whose function is related to cellular homeostasis, can both contribute to improve plant tolerance under situations of abiotic stress, such as boron toxicity. Aims of this research were to (i) quantify the oxidant and antioxidant compounds, (ii) evaluate the photosynthetic pigments, (iii) determine amino acids and PRO, and (iv) determine whether GSH and PRO contribute to the tolerance mechanisms in young Schizolobium parahyba var. Â amazonicum plants under B toxicity. This experiment tested five boron levels (25, 50, 100, 150 and 250 ÂµM B), being evaluated physiological and biochemical variables. The values reported to proline levels presented significant variation for treatments with 50, 100, 150 and 250 ÂµM B, with increases for the 150 and 250 ÂµM B levels, being 45.2 and 52.4%, respectively. This study found that boron toxicity promoted similar behaviours in both the leaves and root, which included progressive increases in hydrogen peroxide, electrolyte leakage, amino acids and proline, and decreases in total glutathione, chlorophyll a , chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll, confirming that proline but not glutathione actively participates in the tolerance mechanism of young Schizolobium parahyba plants exposed to boron toxicity.
Compatibility Relationships in `Manzanillo' Olive

We investigated pollination and fruit set parameters in 'Manzanillo' olive (Olea europaea L.) following self-pollination and pollination with 'Sevillano', 'Ascolano', and 'Mission' pollen. Results of analyses and experiments conducted over 2 years in central California indicated that 'Manzanillo' behaves as a self-incompatible cultivar (index of self-incompatibility = 0.22 to 0.24). Pollination with 'Sevillano' resulted in a more than 4-fold increase in fruit set over self-pollination. When 'Mission' or 'Ascolano' pollen was used, there was no increase over self-pollinated samples. Analyses of pollen tube growth, fertilization, initial fruit set, and final fruit set were consistent with 'Manzanillo' being considered as a self-incompatible cultivar cross-incompatible with 'Mission' and 'Ascolano'. Our results indicate that 'Manzanillo' is likely to be more productive when interplanted with 'Sevillano' rather than when planted without a pollinizer or with 'Mission' or 'Ascolano'.
Restoration Implications of Land Management Legacy on Aboveground and Seed Bank Composition of North American Grasslands

Abstract A variety of nonprairie landscapes, including pastures, crop fields, and unmanaged seral ground, are being restored to native prairie on a yearly basis. Seldom is the seed bank associated with these nonprairie lands taken into account in the restoration process. We examine the seed bank potential of nonprairie lands and the relationship between aboveground vegetation and seed bank composition at the largest grassland restoration east of the Mississippi River, the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie (U.S.A.), by surveying six land management histories: remnant prairie, restored prairie, new pasture, active pasture, old field, and crop field. Both aboveground vegetation and seed bank composition varied with land management history. However, species composition of aboveground vegetation differed significantly from the species composition of the seed bank irrespective of land management history. Aboveground vegetation carried a higher proportion of the seed bank flora than vice versa. In contrast to seed banks of other types of grasslands, the seed bank of historical prairie lands in the U.S. Midwest, irrespective of subsequent land-use history, is not a viable source of species for restoration of tallgrass prairie. A deficiency of many species in the seed bank flora, coupled with an abundance of weedy, often nonnative species, limits the potential contribution of the seed bank to restoration of a prairie vegetation community. Nevertheless, seed bank studies can provide a cost effective method to detect problematic species (i.e., weedy and/or invasive species) and therefore provide a window into the restoration potential of nonprairie lands.
Nutritional Requirements of Redlip Mullet-I. Optimum Level of Protein in Purified Experimental Diets for Redlip Mullet.

The optimum levels of protein in purified experimental diets were investigated for two age-groups of redlip mullet Liza haematocheila: 0-year fish, average body weight 1.22g; 1-year fish, average body weight 23.2g. The fish were fed diets comprising various levels of casein as the protein source, and dextrin and α-starch (gelatinized starch) as the digestible carbohydrate source in the two experiments. The gorwth performance was examined in terms of weight gain, feed efficiency, protein efficiency ratio, protein retention rate, body composition, and so on in 8-week feeding trials at 21.7-27.5 (0-year fish) and 21.0-29.0°C (1-year fish). Based upon the results of these studies, the optimum levels of dietary protein in redilip mullet were estimated to be 40-45% (carbohydrate level 35-29%, DE/P ratio 88.6-78.6) for 0-year fish, and 35% (carbohydrate level 41%, DE/P ratio 101.6) for 1-year fish. Thus, a 5-10% decrease in the optimum dietary protein level with growth was observed under isocaloric dietary conditions (di-gestible energy value 353.0-356.0kcal/100g) with a constant lipid level. Therefore it is suggested that redlip mullet might have a high potential for using dietary carbohydrate.
Nutritive Constituents of Onion Grown from Sets as Affected by Water Supply

A 3-year experiment was conducted in central Hungary comparing the effect of an irrigation treatment on content and yield of dry matter, storage carbohydrates, vitamin C, total ﬂavonols, and total polyphenols of onion ( Allium cepa L.) grown from sets. Rain-fed plots were set as controls. Conditions during the ﬁrst 40 days of the growing season had a decisive effect on yield and bulb size; warmer and dryer weather during this period resulted in lower yield. Colder and wetter weather conditions resulted in higher bulb yield, but also decreased accumulation of secondary metabolites. Dry matter content values ranged between 12% and 14% and were not inﬂuenced by the water supply. Storage carbohydrate-to-dry matter ratio was not changed by the water supply. Total ﬂavonol contents (sum of the concentrations of nine individual ﬂavonols) varied between 430 and 753 mg · kg L 1 on a fresh weight basis. Total polyphenol values ranged between 607 and 1029 mg · kg L 1 on a fresh weight basis. A statistically signiﬁcant correlation was found between ﬂavonol content
Processing of ultrafine-grained titanium with high strength and good ductility by a combination of multiple forging and rolling

The microstructure and the mechanical properties of Grade 2 titanium semi-products processed by a combination of multiple-forging and subsequent plane rolling are studied. It is shown that the application of this technology on Grade 2 titanium doubled the strength without considerable deterioration of ductility at room temperature. The high strength is caused by the ultrafine-grained (UFG) microstructure with high dislocation density. The minimum grain size and the maximum dislocation density achieved by the combined method were very low (~560 nm) and high (~18×10 m), respectively. Mechanical modelling suggests that the effectiveness of multiple forging in grain refinement is mainly caused by the large, homogeneous imposed strain in non-monotonic strain path, similar to conventional severe plastic deformation (SPD) methods. The total equivalent strain at the end of the rolling step is about 4.4. The good ductility of this material can be attributed to the coarse grains embedded in the UFG matrix which formed due to dynamic recovery and recrystallization at the elevated temperature of rolling. It is proved that the combined method of multipleforging and plane rolling might be a candidate technology in mass-production of UFG titanium with improved mechanical properties.
Expression and regulation of matrilysin in human tumours

Matrilysin is a member of a multigene family of proteolytic enzymes called the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). It has previously been determined that matrilysin has a role to play in the development of colon cancers, however, its participation in other tumour types has not been fully explored. The aims of this research were (i) to develop an ELISA for matrilysin; (ii) to examine human breast tumour tissue by a variety of methods for expression of matrilysin; (iii) to investigate the expression of matrilysin in cancers of other tissues using cell lines; and (iv) to examine how the expression of matrilysin could be modulated by polypeptide growth factors and cytokines. A sensitive and specific one-step sandwich ELISA was developed. This was validated and shown to have excellent reproducibility. The limit of detection was 0.45 ng/ml and the linear range was 5 - 5 0 ng/ml. A pilot-scale study of ten breast tumour samples and three normal breast tissue samples demonstrated the presence of matrilysin mRNA and protein in both normal and tumour cells. Immunohistochemistry was found to be the most useful and informative method of detecting matrilysin protein. The intensity of expression varied among tumour specimens but did not correlate with stage of disease. Matrilysin expression was examined in a variety of human tumour cell lines using RTPCR and the matrilysin ELISA. Of the eight lines tested, only four produced the enzyme. Levels of matrilysin could be stimulated with cytokines. Interleukin-6, IGF-I and IGF-II, not previously reported as modulators of MMP activity, were among the most potent stimulators at both the mRNA and protein levels. These results were confirmed using matrilysin promoter-reporter gene constructs transfected into suitable cells.
Growth performance, carcass and organ characteristics of growing rabbits fed graded levels of Moringa oleifera leaf meal in diets

An experiment was conducted at the Department of Animal Science teaching and research farm, Bayero University Kano, to evaluate the effect of feeding graded levels of Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) in diets on growth performance, carcass and organ characteristics of weaned rabbits. Twenty eight grower rabbits of averagely 975g in weight were allotted into four treatments of seven rabbits each in a completely randomize design. Four isonitrogenous diets (16% CP) were formulated in which MOLM was included at 0, 15, 30 and 45% for treatments 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. The diets were fed to the animals for eight weeks. The result showed that daily weight gain (5.95-13.39g/day) and carcass weight (497.70-727.65g) increased (P<0.05) with increasing levels of MOLM in diets, but dressing percentage (42.49-45.96%) was not affected by dietary treatments. Similarly, the weight of liver (40.35-57.05g), lungs (10.22-11.24g), heart (2.95-4.10g), kidney (8.30-10.70g), kidney fat (11.10-12.65g), small intestine (81.25-99.80g), large intestine (102.45-117.95g), caecum (20.50- 30.50g), stomach (90.75-114.65g), spleen (1.00-1.80g) and abdominal fat (7.89-11.25g) characteristics were not different across the treatments. The results indicate that weaned rabbits can utilize Moringa oleifera leaf meal at up to 45% level of inclusion in diets without any deleterious effects on growth performance, carcass yield and organ characteristics. Key words: Carcass yield, growth, Moringa oleifera, organ characteristics, rabbits