Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interacción planta-colibrí en Amacayacu (Amazonas, Colombia): una perspectiva palinológica

From a palinological perspective was studied the plant-hummingbird relationship at community level, in the National Natural Park Amacayacu in the Colombian Amazonia. Our goal was to evaluate the utility ofthe palinological tool, to provided insight of the hummingbird-plant relationship organization, at community leve! We get evidence about which plants were really using the hummingbirds as pollen vectors. A Resource Importance Value Index (RIVI) is proposed here to evaluate the importance of each floral resource to the hummingbird community. A binary correspondence analysis perrnitted us to proposed three groups ofplant-hummingbird associations, according with the frequency of pollen registered on each hummingbird species. The Relacion colibri-flor en una comunidad amazonica hummingbirds culmen morphology emerged as the explicative factor ofthe associations. The possible role ofthe reticulate pollen sculpture in the syndrome of ornithophily is discussed, as the restrictions and goodness of both methods: palynological and observational .
SELECTIVE PREDATION BY FAVELLA EHRENBERGII (TINTINNIA) ON AND AMONG DINOFLAGELLATES

In culture, the tintinnid Favella ehrenbergii requires dinoflagellates as food. Of the dinoflagellates tested, strain Gymno, Gonyaulax tamarensis, G. polyedra, and Heterocapsa sp. are good foods and Prorocentrum mariaelebouriae is a poor food. Amphidinium carterae, which produces choline-like substances, is not eaten.Favella recognizes dinoflagellates with very different sizes and morphologies as prey. In mixtures of dinoflagellates and non-dinoflagellates, Favella selectively preys on dinoflagellates. Cryptophytes, haptophytes, chrysophytes, diatoms, prasinophytes, and chlorophytes of suitable size are consumed in small amounts, if at all.
Dutch elm disease has currently a low incidence on wych elm in Norway

Summary A rapid increase in the frequency of Dutch elm disease (DED), a wilting disease of elm trees caused by bark-beetle vectored fungi, was observed in the early 1990s on several wych elm stands around Oslofjord, southern Norway. To examine the current status of the disease and its impacts on elm population, disease frequency and size distribution of elms were recorded at four locations. Northern parts of Lier, a municipality most affected by DED in Norway 15 years ago, showed in the survey season 4% disease frequency, whereas 13.8% of trees were dead, the dead trees having accumulated over several years in the unmanaged stands. In southern parts of the municipality the mean disease and death percentages were 1.9 and 2.4%. Compatible with their low disease incidence in early 1990s, the other two areas now examined, municipality of Larvik and district of Grenland, showed comparably low frequency of DED. Northern part of Lier showed significantly higher overall density of elm trees per hectare than the other examined areas, and also the small elms below 5 cm in d.b. h. were most frequent in this region. In contrast, the density of large trees was lower in northern Lier than in the other examined areas. These data suggest that regeneration of the tree is not prohibited owing to the disease but that the large trees have been locally reduced in frequency as a result of DED. The superior general density of elm trees in northern Lier, owing to the exceptionally rich soil in the warm southern slopes of the region,> may have contributed to the rapid increase of DED in the area 15 years ago and to the subsequent settlement of the disease outbreak as a chronic stage.
The Use Of Wood Ash For The Protection Of Stored Cowpea Seed ( Vigna Unguiculata (l.) Walp.) Against Bruchidae ( Coleoptera)

fly bionomics. In: Laird, M. (Ed.) Black/lies: the Future for Biological Methods in Integrated Control. 209-226. Academic Press, London. CROSSKEY, R.W 1990. The Natural History of Blackflies. John Wiley, Chichester. DE MEILLON, B. 1940. New Simuliidae from Kenya. East African Medical Journal 16: 446-448. DE MOOR, EC. 1982. Determination of the number of instars and size variation in the larvae and pupae of Simulium chutteri Lewis 1965 (Diptera: Simuliidae) and some possible bionomical implications. Canadian Journal of Zoology 60: 1374-1382. FAIN, A. 1950. Simulies nouvelles du Ruanda Urundi. Revue de Zoologie et Botanique Africaines 43: 101-130. FREEMAN, E & DE MEILLON, B. 1953. Simuliidae of the Ethiopian Region. British Museum (Natural History), London. GIBBINS, E.G. 1934. Further studies on Ethiopian Simuliidae. Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society of London 82: 51-97. GIBBINS, E.G. 1941. Notes on Ethiopian Simuliidae, III. East African Medical Journal 18: 210-218. HARRISON, A.D. & HYNES, H.B. N. 1988. Benthic fauna of the Ethiopian mountain streams and rivers. Archives fur Hydrobiologie (Supplement) 81:1-36. KILLICK, D.J.B. 1978. The Afro-alpine Region. In: Werger, M.J.A. (Ed.) Biogeography and Ecology ofSouthern Africa. 517-560. Dr W Junk, The Hague. MEAKINS, R.H. & DUCKETT, J.D. 1993. Vanishing bogs of the Mountain Kingdom. Veld and Flora 72: 49-51. MEAKINS, R.H. , HARGREAVES, B.J. & MOCHABA, EM. 1988. Fauna and Flora Survey of the Katse Dam Catchment Area of Lesotho Highlands Development Authority Stage 1A. National University of Lesotho, Biology Publication, Roma. POMEROY, A.W 1920. New species of African Simuliidae. Annals and Magazine of Natural History (9)6: 72-81. ROSS, D.H. & MERRITT, R.W 1987. Factors affecting larval blackfly distributions and population dynamics. In: Kim, K.C. & Merritt, R.W (Eds) Blackflies: Ecology, Population Management and Annotated World List. 90108. Pennsylvania State University, University Park & London. WILLIAMS/LR. & HYNES, H.B. N. 1971. A survey of the fauna of streams on Mount Elgon, East Africa, with special reference to the Simuliidae (Diptera). Freshwater Biology 1: 227-248
Experimental studies on electron scattering from atoms and molecules: the state of the art

Electron–atom/molecule scattering has been the subject of intense research activity, both experimentally and theoretically, for nearly a century, yet particularly for electron–molecule scattering our understanding of the dynamics of such processes remains limited. Due to their importance in many industrial, astrophysical, atmospheric and biological processes, absolute electron–scattering cross–sections are required for most atomic and molecular systems, however the current database is limited to a few easily prepared systems. Only recently have experimental studies been extended to unstable reactive and free–radical species, while new experimental techniques incorporating advances in atom trapping and laser spectroscopy are being adapted to provide new insight into electron collision dynamics. In this paper we survey the current status of the field and discuss the new experimental techniques that are providing fresh insights into the electron–scattering problem while providing invaluable data for the applied–science community.
Potential impact of processed Harmonia axyridis on the taste of ‘Chasselas’ and ‘Pinot noir’ wines

et al. 2006). However, damage due to grape feeding is negligible; the primary problem with H. axyridis is the contamination of the harvest. When ladybeetles are disturbed or crushed dur-ing viniﬁcation, they release a yellow ﬂuid that contains alkylmethoxypyrazines, which creates an unpleasant odour and tastes nasty (P
Mulch and Fertilizer Management Practices for Organic Production of Highbush Blueberry. I: Plant Growth and Allocation of Biomass during Establishment

A systems trial was established in Oct. 2006 to evaluate management practices for organic production of northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.). The practices included: flat and raised planting beds; feather meal and fish emulsion fertilizer each applied at rates of 29 and 57 kg·ha L1 nitrogen (N); sawdust mulch, compost topped with sawdust mulch (compost + sawdust), or weed mat; and two cultivars, Duke and Liberty. Each treatment was irrigated by drip and weeds were controlled as needed. The planting was certified organic in 2008. After one growing season, allocation of biomass to the roots was greater when plants were grown on raised beds than onflat beds, mulched with organic mulch rather than a weed mat, and fertilized with the lower rate of N. Plants also allocated more biomass belowground when fertilized with feather meal than withfish emulsion. Althoughfish emulsion improved growth relative to feather meal in the establishment year, this was not the case the next year when feather meal was applied earlier. After two seasons, total plant dry weight (DW) was generally greater on raised beds than on flat beds, but the difference varied depending on fertilizer and the type of mulch used. Shoots and leaves accounted for 60% to 77% of total plant biomass, whereas roots accounted for 7% to 19% and fruit accounted for 4% to 18%. Plants produced 33% higher yield when grown on raised beds than on fl at beds andhad36%higheryieldwithweedmatthanwithsawdustmulch.Yieldwasalsohigherwhen plants were fertilized with the low rate offish emulsion than with any other fertilizer treatment in 'Duke' but was unaffected by fertilizer sourceor rate in 'Liberty'. Although raised beds and sawdust or sawdust + compost produced the largest total plant DW, the greatest shoot growth and yield occurred when plants were mulched with weed mat or compost + sawdust on raised beds in both cultivars. The impact of these organic production practices on root development may affect the sustainability of these production systems over time, however, because plants with lower root-to-shoot ratios may be more sensitive to cultural or environmental stresses.
Mechanisms of Observed Neuroprotection of Dopaminergic Neurons in Wallerian Degeneration Slow (WldS) Mice

An emerging hypothesis in Parkinson's disease (PD) is that dopaminergic (DA) neurons degenerate through a " dying back " axonopathy wherein degeneration begins in the distal axon and progresses over time towards the cell body. Impaired axonal transport also appears to play an early, pivotal role in PD. Thus processes that delay axonal transport dysfunction and/or axonal degeneration might slow PD progression. Previously, we and others have found that the Wld S mouse mutant (" Wallerian degeneration-slow "), which exhibits delayed axonal degeneration after peripheral axonopathy, also protects DA terminal fields from the PD-mimetics 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) in vivo. To understand the mechanisms underlying Wld S-mediated axonal protection, we tested whether Wld S rescued DA neurons in vitro after treatment with either MPP + , the active component of MPTP, or 6-OHDA. Wld S , but not its component parts, UbE4b and Nmnat1, robustly rescued neurites in dissociated DA cultures following either MPP + or 6-OHDA treatment. To extend these results, compartmented chambers were developed such that axons could be segregated from cell bodies and dendrites. Using these devices, we found that MPP + impaired mitochondrial, but not synaptic vesicle transport, in DA axons and that Wld S rescued MPP +-mediated impairment of mitochondrial transport in DA axons. Mechanistically, this appears to be due to Wld S-mediated protection from toxin-induced loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. These results extend Wld S protection to CNS DA neurons and suggest that Wld S confers a gain-of-function phenotype that attenuates mitochondrial dysfunction. This study, together with the large amount of evidence suggesting PD is associated with axonal " dying-back " , also underscores the necessity of developing therapeutics aimed at axons as well as cell bodies so as to preserve circuitry and function.
Trophic relationships among fish assemblages on a mudflat within a Brazilian Marine protected area

O presente estudo visa verificar as variacoes temporais na dieta e nas guildas troficas nas especies de peixes dominantes em uma planicie de mare, durante as estacoes seca e chuvosa. A composicao da dieta e a organizacao trofica de 17 especies foi estudada no estuario do rio Mamanguape, Nordeste do Brasil. Foram identificados os itens dominantes e verificado os efeitos da sazonalidade sobre a organizacao das guildas. A dieta variou pouco entre as especies e as estacoes; durante a estacao chuvosa, a dieta das especies apresentou-se mais heterogenea. De acordo com a importância de presas nas dietas, foram identificadas cinco guildas alimentares principais: (1) Detritivora, (2) Zooplanctivora, (3) Zoobentivora-epifauna, (4) Zoobentivora-infauna, e (5) Piscivora. A maioria dos peixes predou uma variada gama de itens alimentares, mas fortemente baseados em presas do zooplâncton. Alguns peixes apresentaram tendencia para uma dieta especializada, com quase todas as especies mostrando algum grau de alimentacao oportunista. Um alto grau de sobreposicao de dieta foi encontrado entre as especies; no entanto, a ocorrencia de competicao por exploracao nao foi observada.
The effect of endogenous and exogenous chemicals on drug metabolizing enzymes and drug transporters in human hepatocytes

Significant variability in the pharmacokinetics of drugs such as cyclosporine, tacrolimus, sirolimus and mycophenolic acid, is seen in liver transplant patients. These agents are primarily metabolized by CYP3A4 or UGT1A1, and are also substrates for drug transporters such as P-glycoprotein, multidrug resistance protein 2 (MRP2) and bile salt export pump (BSEP). Factors modulating the expression and activity of these enzymes and transporters will lead to changes in the clearance of immunosuppressive agents. Inflammation associated with infection or organ rejection after transplantation can modulate the expression and activity of CYP3A4, UGT1A1 and various drug transporters. HIV-protease inhibitors (HIV-PIs) used for the treatment of HIV infection are shown to modulate the blood levels of immunosuppressive agents. The primary goal of this dissertation research was to evaluate the effect of endogenous chemicals such as cytokines and exogenous compounds such as HIV-protease inhibitors on human hepatic drug metabolizing enzymes and transporters using primary cultures of human hepatocytes. The results from this research indicate that HIV-protease inhibitors generally decrease CYP3A4 activity inspite of increasing CYP3A4 mRNA and protein. The effect of PIs on CYP3A4 recovers over time. PIs also increased UGT1A1 mediated metabolism as well as mRNA expression of transporters. These effects are dependent on the HIV-protease inhibitor used and its concentration. Additionally, HIV-PIs increased the expression and activity of hepatic efflux transporters. These effects of HIV-PIs are found to be potentially mediated through alteration in PXR and CAR expression. Cytokines, released during infection or inflammation process, were observed to downregulate the expression and activity of UGTs and transporters through modulation of PXR and CAR.
Vesnarinone Suppresses TNF-Induced Activation of NF-κB, c-Jun Kinase, and Apoptosis1

Vesnarinone, a synthetic quinolinone derivative used in the treatment of cardiac failure, exhibits immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and cell growth regulatory properties. The mechanisms underlying these properties are not understood, but due to the critical role of nuclear transcription factor NF-κB in these responses, we hypothesized that vesnarinone must modulate NF-κB activation. We investigated the effect of vesnarinone on NF-κB activation induced by inflammatory agents. Vesnarinone blocked TNF-induced activation of NF-κB in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. This effect was mediated through inhibition of phosphorylation and degradation of IκBα, an inhibitor of NF-κB. The effects of vesnarinone were not cell type specific, as it blocked TNF-induced NF-κB activation in a variety of cells. NF-κB-dependent reporter gene transcription activated by TNF was also suppressed by vesnarinone. The TNF-induced NF-κB activation cascade involving TNF receptor 1-TNF receptor associated death domain-TNF receptor associated factor 2 NF-κB-inducing kinase-IKK was interrupted at the TNF receptor associated factor 2 and NF-κB-inducing kinase sites by vesnarinone, thus suppressing NF-κB reporter gene expression. Vesnarinone also blocked NF-κB activation induced by several other inflammatory agents, inhibited the TNF-induced activation of transcription factor AP-1, and suppressed the TNF-induced activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase. TNF-induced cytotoxicity, caspase activation, and lipid peroxidation were also abolished by vesnarinone. Overall, our results indicate that vesnarinone inhibits activation of NF-κB and AP-1 and their associated kinases. This may provide a molecular basis for vesnarinone’s ability to suppress inflammation, immunomodulation, and growth regulation.
The Use of Oncolytic Vesicular Stomatitis Virus in Conjunction with Natural Products for the Treatment of Cervical Cancers

Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) is currently being studied as a candidate oncolytic agent due to its ability to induce apoptosis in a variety of cancer cells. Previous studies have shown that Matrix (M) protein mutants of VSV, such as rM51R-M virus, act as selective anti-cancer agents by targeting cancer cells while sparing normal cells. Our goal was to promote the use of VSV for the treatment of cervical cancers. The cervical cancer cell line SiHa has been shown in previous studies to be permissive to infection and killing by VSV. We hypothesized that cervical cancer lines are sensitized to VSV due to blockage of the type-1 interferon (IFN) response by Human Papillomavirus (HPV) oncoproteins. However, our results indicated that SiHa cells retained their ability to respond to type I IFN and were sensitive to killing by both wild-type (wt) and M protein mutant VSV (rM51R-M virus) when infected at a high multiplicity of infection. Another cervical cancer cell line, C4-II, was more resistant than SiHa cells to infection by VSV. To augment killing of cervical cancer cells by VSV, we infected cells in the presence of natural compounds with known anti-cancer activities. Curcumin synergized with VSV to kill both SiHa and C4-II cells, while resveratrol, flavokavain B, Echinacea, and quercetin did not offer an added benefit. In conclusion, our results show that cervical cancer cells exhibit resistance to VSV infection but may be sensitized to VSV-induced oncolysis by the addition of curcumin.
Fauna de parasitos metazoários de Pimelodus maculatus La Cépède, 1803 (Siluriformes, Pimelodidae) do rio Guandu, Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil - DOI: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v29i1.130

Sixty specimens of Pimelodus maculatus from the Guandu River in Rio de Janeiro State were examined to describe their parasitofauna, in the period from August 1999 to February 2001. Specimens of twelve metazoan parasite species were collected, allocated into seven taxonomic groups - Monogenoidea: Demidospermus uncusvalidus Gutierez and Suriano, 1992, D. paravalenciennesi Gutierez and Suriano, 1992, D. majusculus Kritsky and Gutierez, 1998 and Scleroductus sp. ; Digenea: Austrodiplostomum compactum (Lutz, 1928); Eucestoda: Nomimoscolex sp. ; Nematoda: Cucullanus pinnai Travassos, Artigas and Pereira, 1928 and Procamallanus sp. (young specimen); Hirudinea: Helobdella sp. ; Myxozoa: Henneguya sp. and Myxobolus absonus Cellere, Cordeiro and Adriano, 2002, along with one unidentified species of Acanthocephala (cystacanth). There was a correlation between the host sex and the prevalence and abundance of D. paravalenciennesi . The most dominant species in the parasite community of P. maculatus from the Guandu River was D. uncusvalidus (50%), followed by C. pinnai (18,3%). This study is the first report of D. majusculus and Henneguya sp. in P. maculatus , while it expands the known geographic distribution of D. uncusvalidus, D. paravalenciennesi, D. majusculus, Scleroductus sp. , Nomimoscolex sp. , C. pinnai, Procamallanus sp. , Helobdella sp. , Henneguya sp. and M. absonus .
La digestion des lipides chez le ruminant

La digestion des lipides chez les ruminants presente un regain d'interet en raison de la presence, dans les produits de ces animaux, d'acides gras (AG) ayant une influence technologique ou dietetique de mieux en mieux demontree. Dans le reticulo-rumen, la digestion des AG alimentaires correspond au phenomene d'hydrogenation et d'isomerisation. Les micro-organismes, en particulier les bacteries attachees aux particules, sont plus riches en AG que les rations offertes aux ruminants. La composition en AG de ces microorganismes se caracterise par une grande diversite moleculaire (plus de 50 AG) et la domination de deux d'entre eux : C16:0 et surtout C18:0. Cette composition peut etre influencee par les caracteristiques de la ration : richesse en concentre et composition en AG lorsqu'il y a supplementation en matieres grasses. Le flux d'AG au duodenum (Y), exprimes en % de la matiere seche ingeree (MSI), est tres correle au flux ingere (X, % MSI) : Y = 0,83 X + 0,84 (n = 116, R 2 = 0,94, etr = 0,54). Il depend egalement de l'importance des syntheses microbiennes ruminales. En moyenne, les 2/3 des doubles liaisons des AG ingeres sont hydrogenees dans le reticulo-rumen. L'intensite de l'hydrogenation diminue avec des rations riches en concentres et celles qui sont ingerees en grande quantite. Des equations proposees permettent de predire les flux duodenaux des principaux AG en fonction des flux ingeres. La digestibilite intestinale des AG varie entre 65 et 75 % environ. La nature de la matiere grasse apportee semble influencer legerement cette digestibilite. L'ensemble des donnees traitees permet de predire les flux absorbes des principaux AG chez les ruminants et de formuler des regimes sur cette base.
Identification and process origin of bacteria responsible for cavities and volatile off-flavour compounds in artisan cooked ham

Summary Two types of spoilage in cooked hams were investigated. One was a result of the growth of Weissella viridescens, which produces cavities in the muscles of hams after cooking. The origin of W. viridescens was shown to be the brine used in the preparation of the ham. After its production, the brine is usually left at room temperature for several hours before being cooled and used, allowing the growth of the microorganism. The second types of spoilage is because of Lactobacillus sakei, Leuconostoc mesenteroides and Leuconostoc carnosum, which grew during the 4–6 °C storage period of cooked hams packaged under vacuum. The spoilage consisted of the production of various molecules such as hydrocarbons, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, alcohols, esters and sulphur compounds. Oxidative and auto-oxidative phenomena also occurred during spoilage.
FOTOSSÍNTESE E TOLERÂNCIA PROTOPLASMÁTICA FOLIAR EM myracrodruon urundeuva FR. ALL. SUBMETIDA AO DÉFICIT HÍDRICO

A especie Myracrodruon urundeuva Fr. All. conhecida como aroeira-do-sertao e da familia Anacardiaceae e pode ser encontrada na Caatinga, Cerrado e Floresta Pluvial. Este experimento foi realizado em condicoes de viveiro, em dois blocos (irrigacao diaria e com deficit hidrico) com quatro repeticoes por tratamento e em tres posicoes foliares no caule: basal, intermediaria e apical. Foram registrados os dados sobre fotossintese, transpiracao, condutância estomatica, conteudo relativo de agua e integridade protoplasmatica. O deficit hidrico promoveu o incremento do conteudo relativo de agua nas folhas em todas as posicoes no caule e reduziu as taxas de transpiracao e fotossintetica nas plantas. As folhas apicais foram as mais sensiveis as variacoes do meio. As folhas de aroeira-do-sertao apresentaram maior tolerância protoplasmatica quando submetida a temperaturas elevadas, principalmente, nas folhas de posicao intermediaria no caule cujo crescimento esta completo