Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bird species distribution and conservation in Serra do Cipó, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Summary We studied the distribution of birds along an altitudinaI gradient ranging frorn 800 rn to 1400 rn on two sIopes of the Serra do Cipo, Minas Gerais, southeastern BraziI. OrnithologicaI surveys were conducted over transects covering open (cerrado, campo rupestre) and forested (gaIlery and Atlantic forest) habitats frorn 1994 to 2000. We found 273 bird species belonging to 51 farnilies. Twenty-two species were restricted to higher elevations and 84 species were detected on only one slopeidepending on the vegetation type they inhabited. We recorded 104 species occurring onboth slopes, while 61 species were considered altitudinal generalists. Six species, incl.uding Hyacinth Visorbearer Augastes scutatus and Cip6 Canastero Asthenes luizae wer~ restricted to the highest parts of Serra do Cip6, a fragile habitat irnportant to endernic bir~s of the Espinhaco Range. In the past 10years, the Serra do Cip6 region has suffered hurnan irnpacts on a large scale, and conservation action rnust be developed to protect thefauna and flora confined to the area.
Isolation and Screening of Chitosanase Producing Microorganisms

A total of 183 isolates of microorganisms were collected from forest soil with the shrimp wastes deposited. The selected four bacterial isolates with high activity of chitosanolytic enzymes on chitosanase detected agar plates (CDA-plates) were TP11.03, TP11.22, TP12.24 and KU22.13. Among them, the potential isolate TP12.24 was identified as Bacillus cereus which produced the highest amount of chitosanase on M9-Chitosan medium.
Effect of unsaturated fatty acid supplementation on performance and milk fatty acid profile in dairy cows fed a high fibre diet

Abstract The influence of unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) supplement on productive performance, physiochemical properties and fatty acid (FA) profile of milk, was investigated in lactating dairy cows fed with high fibre diets. According to a cross-over design, twelve cows were assigned to two experimental settings characterized by different FA profiles. Cows received a high fibre diet (~42% NDF on DM basis) supplemented with soybean based mixtures with these FA compositions: 92.0% of saturated FA (SFA), 2.8% of monounsaturated FA (MUFA) and 5.2% of polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) in the control diet (C-diet); 19.1% of SFA, 20.9% of MUFA and 60.0% of PUFA in the experimental diet (E-diet). The E-diet did not affect dry matter intake nor milk yield. Milk composition and coagulation traits resulted similar between treatments, except for the lactose level, which was lower in the E-diet (5.0 vs 4.8%; P<0.05) and the freezing point (-0.546 vs -0.535 °C; P<0.05). As respects the milk FA profile, the E-diet significantly increased the percentage of UFA because of their greater amount in the ration; however the “transfer” of UFA in milk was limited by the high level of FA biohydrogenation (BH) at the ruminal level. UFA showed low values of carry over in milk (67.5 vs 39.7%; P<0.001) due to the saturation process; on the contrary SFA had a threefold increment (124 vs 323%; P<0.001), mostly due to a peak in the production of stearic acid. In this study, the percentage of CLA in milk (0.50 vs 0.62%; P<0.05) was quite low for both diets, if compared with other studies, and this was probably due to a low vaccenic acid supply at duodenal level.
A Survey of Gastrointestinal Nematodes of Donkeys . (Equus Bsinus) in Khartoum State, Sudan

In a field survey 1200 donkeys from Khartoum State during a complete year (one hundred animals per month) were examined parasitically for the presence of helminthes parasites by assessment of faecal eggs and culture identification of larvae. Generally 70.1 % of the examined animals harbored a parasitical infection. Six nematode genera were encountered in donkeys, among them Dictyocaulus arnfieldi (70.5%) reported for the first time in Sudanese donkeys. Strongylus sp. (35.8%), Cyathosyomes (36.7%), Parascaris equorum (10.7%), Trichostrongylus axei (12%), and Strongyloide wester; (3.4%). The incidence of infection with one species (53.2%) was found higher than that of mixed infection (46.7%). According to severity of infection, 58.6% of the infected animals showed mild infection, while 21.9% and 19.5% of them showed moderate and severe infection, respectively. In the current study, cold season encouraged higher incidence of gastrointestinal nematodes (72.5%), more so than hot (69.3%) and rainy seasons (6R.5%). Other results obtained, showed that hot season revealed higher mean EPG count (1198.7 ± 558.3) ranging from 100 to 17700, followed by the rainy season with mean epg (961.21 ±120.3) ranging from100-1350Q, and cold season with mean epg (888.6± 297.5) ranging from 100 - 13300.
IMPROVING THE ORGANIZATIONAL CITIZENSHIP BEHAVIOR (OCB) THROUGH DEVELOPING EFFECTIVE INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION AND TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP

The teacher’s Organizational Citizenship Behaviour (OCB) become an important factor that involve in the teaching process at school. Unfortunately, based on the preliminary survey at several Junior High-School in Bogor, it had been found that many teachers had low-level of OCB. In addition, it had been found that teachers had ineffective interpersonal communication and had received less transformational leadership. Based on that issue, we formulated the objectives of this research as to improve the teachers’ OCB through developing effective interpersonal communication and transformational leadership. This research was carried out at 266 teachers from 20 Junior High-Schools, in Bogor. This research was used correlational technique to assess the degree of relationship among those variables. The findings of this research can be summarized that there is a positive and significant correlation (1) between interpersonal communication with OCB (r=0.604, p<0.01), (2) transformational leadership with OCB (r=0.602, p<0.01), and between interpersonal communication and transformational leadership simultaneously with OCB (r=0.613, p<0.01). These findings supported the recommendations to improve OCB through developing teachers’ interpersonal communication effectiveness and school principals’ transformational leadership.
Allometry of Reproduction in Wild Broad-Snouted Caimans (Caiman latirostris)

Abstract We studied 20 nesting female Caiman latirostris and their clutches in Santa Fe Province, Argentina. We regressed clutch and egg parameters and hatchling size with several measurements of female size (ln-transformed) to evaluate the allometry of reproduction in the wild. Larger females produced relatively smaller clutches. Larger females produced larger eggs and hatchlings. Egg width, not length, limits egg size relative to female body size. Future studies should address the relationship between female fecundity and hatchling fitness.
The cranial anatomy of Thalassocnus (Xenarthra, Mammalia), a derived nothrothere from the Neogene of the Pisco Formation (Peru)

Abstract The Pisco Formation (Miocene–Pliocene) of Peru contains a diverse marine vertebrate fauna. Among the more unusual members of the fauna is the semi-aquatic to aquatic nothrothere sloth, Thalassocnus. Continued fieldwork indicates that, in addition to the late Miocene type species, Thalassocnus natans, the genus is also represented by two additional species in higher horizons of the Pisco Formation. The skull morphology of T. natans is described along with that of Thalassocnus littoralis, sp. nov. and Thalassocnus carolomartini, sp. nov. from the earliest and late early to early late Pliocene, respectively. Many aspects of the cranium of the oldest species of Thalassocnus, T. natans, compare well to those of terrestrial nothrotheres. The terminal species, T. carolomartini, has the most derived features of the skull, absent in all other nothrotheres, that are related to feeding in a marine environment.
Drinking water supplementation of licorice and aloe vera extracts in broiler chickens

This study was carriedout to determine the effect of supplementation of licorice and aloe veraextracts in drinking water on carcass characteristics, some serum parameters,and broiler chicken performance. A total of 150 unsexed 1-day-old broilerchicken (Ross 308) was randomly divided to 5 treatments with 3 replications ofset 10 chickens in each. Treatments were included of control (T1) and theinclusion of 0.2 and 0.4% of A. vera (T2 and T3, respectively) and theinclusion of 0.2 and 0.4% licorice (T4 and T5, respectively) extracts indrinking water. The results indicated that T3 and T5 caused a significantlyincreases in feed intake at 21 and 42 days of age and feed conversion ratio at21 days of age (P<0.05). The greatest body weight gain was found by T3 at 42days of age (P<0.05). The highest relative thighs weight was obtained by T5at 21 days of age (P<0.05). All treatments led to significantly reduction inrelative abdominal fat weights at 21 and 42 days of age (P<0.05). The plasmalevel of high density lipoprotein was significantly increased by T3 and T5 at21 days of age (P<0.05). The lowest level of alanine aminotransferase wasattained by T5 rather other treatments at 21 days of age (P<0.05). Nosignificant differences were observed in most measured parameters at 42 days ofage. The results have indicated that the inclusion of licorice and A. veraextracts at the levels of 0.4% in drinking water have positive effects onbroiler chicken performance. The used medicinal plant extracts reduce abdominalfat accumulation. Moreover, the potential of licorice and A. vera extracts asfeed additive was approved in the current study and can safety use in broilerchicken production.
Antitubercular Activity of Compounds Isolated from Pelargonium sidoides.

Abstract The recent increase in the incidence of tuberculosis with the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) cases has lead to the search for new drugs that are effective against MDR strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. and can augment the potential of existing drugs against tuberculosis. Pelargonium sidoides. DC (Geraniaceae) is highly valued by traditional healers for its curative properties and is well-known to treat coughs, diarrhea, and tuberculosis. The butanol root extract was found have bioactive inhibitory activity against M. tuberculosis. at a concentration of 2.5 × 103 µg/mL. Phytochemical analysis of the active fraction from the root of P. sidoides. led to the isolation and identification of six compounds: coumarins (umckalin, scopoletin, 6,8-dihydroxy-5.7-dimethoxy-2H.-benzopyran-2-one, and 6,8-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-2H.-benzopyran-2-one) and flavonoids (catechin and epigallocatechin, which is reported for the first time from P. sidoides.). The isolated compounds were evaluated for antitubercular activity with M. smegmatis. and M. tuberculosis. Intracellular activity of these compounds was also investigated using THP-1 human macrophages infected with M. tuberculosis. The isolated compounds did not show activity inhibitory against M. tuberculosis. , intracellularly and extracellularly, at the highest concentration tested in the current study. Epigallocatechin and scopoletin showed good inhibitory activity against M. smegmatis. , exhibiting a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 7.8 µg/mL. Catechin and umckalin exhibited MIC values of 31.25 and 62.5 µg/mL, respectively.
A Ro-Ro Entrepreneurship as a Technology Start-Up Project

Road freight services, which are a vital part of cargo deliveries in Europe, have been sensitive to technological developments. Trucking companies must incorporate ferry routes into their operations by using high-end technological reservation tools in order to gain a competitive role in the hard freight market. Given the increased demand and limited quantity of ferry routes, trucking companies have faced several difficulties in previous years including cost forecasting, space guarantees on board, and difficulties choosing the right ferry services with the best ticket prices. The aim of this study is to explain the importance of using web-based technologies for ferry bookings for transport companies in all European routes, focusing on Feribot.com as a business model. In order to provide a unique, technological, user friendly, multilingual, instant ferry ticketing The Feribot system works as a B2B platform and is connected with ferry lines via a data connection. Customers have the advantage of buying ferry tickets at up to 45% discounts when comparing prices to ticket offices at ports. This research concludes that Feribot.com is a spectacular example of the benefits of technological developments in e-commerce and entrepreneurship in the transportation industry, particularly in the ferry booking field.
Demography of perennial grassland plants: survival, life expectancy and life span

1 Survival, life expectancy and life span are key demographic parameters that are essential for understanding life‐history evolution and forecasting population dynamics, but empirical data on these parameters is extremely limited for herbaceous species. 2 We used long‐term data from annually mapped permanent quadrats in a Kansas, USA, grassland to estimate survival, life expectancy and life span for 29 perennial forbs (herbaceous dicots) and 11 perennial grasses. In the cases of both forbs and grasses, they were the most common species at the research site. 3 We developed computer programs to track the identity of individual genets based on their spatial locations in the permanent quadrats. The programs distinguished between new recruits and surviving individuals, and calculated the ages and life spans of the survivors. 4 Most herbaceous perennials die young; life expectancy at age 1 year ranged from 0.6 to 6.5. However, forbs are more likely to die young than grasses. Survival from age 1 to 2 years for forbs ranged from 0.11 to 0.49 with an average of 0.30, whereas for grasses it ranged from 0.30 to 0.63 with an average of 0.44. Maximum observed life spans ranged from 3 to 25 years for forbs and 5 to 39 years for grasses. 5 All species tended towards Type III survivorship curves, but grasses were more strongly Type III while many forbs had relatively constant survival rates with age. Therefore, population models must account for increasing survival with age, especially for grasses. 6 Age was a better predictor of grass survival than size, raising questions about the use of size‐based methods to indirectly estimate survival and life span. 7 Maximum observed life span was positively and significantly related with species importance. 8 Synthesis. The higher survival, life expectancy and life span of grasses compared to forbs may provide a demographic explanation for community‐level differences in the dominance and turnover of these two functional groups in grassland plant communities.
Seasonal shifts within juvenile recruit sex ratio of Pampas mice (Akodon azarae)

Sex ratio (SR) variation of Akodon azarae juvenile recruits was analysed during 1985–86 on a Pampean grassland in central Argentina. Rodents were intensively live-trapped on a 0.81 ha grid. The SR (proportion of males) of the overall population did not differ significantly from evenness (0.49). In contrast, juvenile recruits (0.5–2.0 months of age) showed SR fluctuations according to their time of birth. SR was strongly female-biased among spring and autumn juveniles (0.13 and 0.33, respectively), while males were predominant (0.72) among the summer juveniles. Social and demographic implications of these results are discussed in the framework of current SR theory. Spring female recruits should be selected for summer reproduction and autumn female recruits for winter survival and spring reproduction. The overwintered population was characterized by 1:1 SR and an age structure composed of males older than females. Most of these males had been recruited as juveniles during the summer. They also made up most of the resident male population in the spring. A selective allocation of energy by the mothers among their offspring is the mechanism proposed to explain the seasonal changes in SR, as pregnant females which gave birth to the summer recruits were in better physical condition than the mothers of both spring and autumn recruits. These results are consistent with the predictions of Werren & Charnov (1978), based on temporal overproduction of one or the other sex according to differential changes in the life-history expectations for both sexes.
Population dynamics of major sucking pests infesting niger and their relation to weather parameters

Investigations were carried out on population dynamics of major insect pests on niger ( Guizotia abyssinica L.) at College Farm, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari during winter 2011-12. For the purpose, 20 plants were randomly selected from an experimental area of 20×20 m. Observations were recorded at weekly interval. For recording the population of aphid ( Uroleucon compositae ), jassid ( Amrasca biguttula biguttula ), and whitefly ( Bemisia tabaci ), three leaves from top, middle and bottom portion of the randomly selected plants were critically observed and number of aphids, jassids and whiteflies were counted and population per leaf was worked out. The data on population of sucking pests was correlated with weather parameters viz. , maximum, minimum and average temperature, morning, evening and average humidity, sunshine hours, wind velocity and evaporation. The results revealed that the incidence of sucking pests viz. , aphid, Uroleucon compositae (Theobald) started from second week of December which reached peak (63.20 aphids/leaf) during first week of February. The incidence of jassid, Amrasca biguttula biguttula (Ishida) started from second week of December with a peak (8.52 jassids/ leaf) during fourth week of January and thereafter, steadily declined and finally disappeared. Whereas, whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) started from second week of December with a maximum level during (14.56 whiteflies/leaf) fourth week of January. Among various weather parameters viz. , maximum, minimum and average temperature had highly significant negative influence on the population of all the major sucking insect pests of niger.
Microbial Biomass, Respiration, and Decomposition of Hura crepitans L. (Euphorbiaceae) Leaves in a Tropical Stream 1

The processing of leaves in temperate streams has been the subject of numerous studies but equivalent tropical ecosystems have received little attention. We investigated leaf breakdown of a tropical tree species (Hura crepitans, Euphorbiaceae), in a tropical stream using leaf bags (0.5 mm mesh) over a period of 24 days. We followed the loss of mass and the changes in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentrations and respiration rates associated with the decomposing leaves. The breakdown rate was fast (k=−0.0672/d, kd=−0.0031/degree‐day), with 81 percent loss of the initial mass within 24 days. This high rate was probably related to the stable and high water temperature (22°C) favoring strong biological activity. Respiration rates increased until day 16 (1.1 mg O2/h/g AFDM), but maximum ATP concentrations were attained at day 9 (725 nmol ATP/g AFDM) when leaf mass remaining was 52 percent. To determine the relative importance of fungi and bacteria during leaf decomposition, ATP concentrations, and respiration rates were determined in samples treated with antibiotics, after incubation in the stream. The results of the samples treated with the antifungal or the bacterial antibiotic suggest a higher contribution of the fungal community for total microbial biomass and a higher contribution of the bacterial community for microbial respiration rates, especially during the later stages of leaf decomposition. However, these results should be analyzed with caution since both antibacterial and antifungal agents did not totally eliminate microbial activity and biomass.
Checklist and Status of Plant Species Used as Spices in Kaduna State of Nigeria

A combination of social surveys and direct field observations were carried out determine the plant species that are used in Kaduna Sate, Nigeria, as spices. A total of 25 plant species are used as spices in the study area. The most widely utilized parts, in terms of the diversity of the botanicals, are the fruits, seeds and flowers while the least utilized part is the rhizome. The methods of extraction in over 50% of spices were predatory and annihilative. Most of the species whose barks were extracted were not cultivated though some were perennials. The relative regrowth capabilities of debarked trees and shrubs in the study area were unknown indicating that these methods might results in increasing scarcity of these species. Though considerable proportion of the botanicals were extracted by non- predatory and gathering methods yet collection of fruits and seeds were observed to be by pulling or cutting of the branches thus making such collection to be destructive. At present most of the spice species are becoming rare. Thus the increasing conversion of valuable natural environment to monoculture plantation of exotic timber and agriculture, might likely lead to the continue erosion of botanical diversity in the study area. Consequently strategies for the conservation of these species were proposed.
Comparison of drying characteristics of tomatoes with heat pump dehumidifier system, solar-assisted system and natural drying.

The effect of heat pump, solar-assisted system and natural drying (solar drying) systems on the drying time, geometry, energy consumption and physical conditions of tomatoes was experimentally determined. Tomatoes were cut into either halves or quarters before drying. Besides heat pump dehumidifier (HP) and solar-assisted systems (SAS) at the drying air speed of 2 m/s on average, natural drying (ND) was also used for drying experiments. Drying performance of HP was the best. In terms of drying time, HP was 50% better than ND and 30% better than SAS. The highest moisture extraction rate (MER) was 0.237 kg w /h in tomato quarters dried in HP, the lowest value was 0.125 kg w /h tomato quarters dried in ND. The highest specific moisture extraction rate (SMER) (1.573 kgw/kWh) was found for tomato quarters dried in SAS while the lowest one (0.078 kgw/kWh) was for tomato halves dried in HP. In general, SMER values of tomato quarters were higher than those of tomato halves dried under same conditions. Heat pump system presents great advantages for tomatoes such as faster drying speed, less influence by environmental factors (rain, dust, insects) and less dependence on environmental conditions.
Cactus ( Opuntia ficus indica f . inermis ) fruit juice protects against ethanol-induced hematological and biochemical damages in rats

A putative beneficial effect of Opuntia ficus indica f. inermis prickly pear juice (OFIj) was tested on ethanol-induced hematological and biochemical damages in rats. Our results show that chronic ethanol treatment (300 mg/100 g body weight for 90 days) of Wistar rats (group 2) significantly reduced red blood cells (RBC) and platelet (Plt) counts, hemoglobin (Hb) content, mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) whereas white blood cells (WBC) counts and the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) significantly increased as compared to the controls rats treated with same distilled water (group 1). In addition, serum activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT) as well as urea, creatinine, cholesterol and triglycerides concentrations significantly increased in ethanol-fed rats. Furthermore, serum, hepatic and renal lipid peroxidation levels were also increased in animals given ethanol compared to the controls. In alcoholic rats co-treated with 4 ml OFIj / 100 g b.w. (group 3), all the above cited parameters were maintained to near-normal values. In group 4 only 4 ml OFIj / 100 g b.w. was given, no changed parameters was shown. Therefore, OFIj appeared to be a promising agent for protection against ethanol toxicity.