Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Toxicity and morphogenetic effects of plumbagin on Dysdercus koenigii F. (Het., Pyrrhocoridae)

Plumbagin, a naturally occurring chitin synthesis inhibitor from the African medicinal plant, Plumbago capensis was found to possess high contact toxicity to the red cotton bug, Dysdercus koenigii F. It also produced a wide range of morphogenetic effects which are specific and distinct from other chitin synthesis inhibitors based upon acylurea structure. It is suggested that plumbagin may also be interfering with the neuro‐endocrine system and its integration with moulting processes.
The release and analgesic activities of morphine and its ester prodrug, morphine propionate, formulated by water-in-oil nanoemulsions

In this study, we examined the feasibility of water-in-oil (w/o) nanoemulsions as sustained-release systems for morphine, following subcutaneous administration in rats. The ester prodrug of morphine, morphine propionate (MPR), was also utilized in this study. A variety of nanoemulsions were prepared using soybean oil or sesame oil as the external phase. Span 80, Tween 80, Plurol diisostearique and Brij 98 were used as surfactants in the w/o interface. The effects of the formulation variables on the characteristics of the nanoemulsions, such as inner droplet size, zeta potential, viscosity, drug partitioning, drug release and pharmacological effect, were evaluated. Mean sizes of nanoemulsions of 50–200 nm were obtained. The initial surface charge of the emulsions was found to be around − 3 to − 4 mV, except that the Plurol-containing vehicle showed a highly negative charge of − 23 mV. The loading of morphine and MPR into the nanoemulsions resulted in slower sustained-release behavior as compared with the drug/prodrug in aqueous solution. The rate of morphine released across the membrane was found to be highly dependent on the choice of oil and surfactant types. On the other hand, discrepancies in MPR release rates among the various formulations were minimal. The in vivo analgesic duration of morphine by targeting the drug to central nerve system could be prolonged from 1 to 3 h by incorporating the drug into nanoemulsions using Span 80 or Tween 80 as the surfactant. These results suggest that w/o nanoemulsions are well suited to provide sustained morphine delivery for therapeutic purposes.
Genomic single-nucleotide polymorphisms confirm that Gunnison and Greater sage-grouse are genetically well differentiated and that the Bi-State population is distinct

ABSTRACT Sage-grouse are iconic, declining inhabitants of sagebrush habitats in western North America, and their management depends on an understanding of genetic variation across the landscape. Two distinct species of sage-grouse have been recognized, Greater (Centrocercus urophasianus) and Gunnison sage-grouse (C. minimus), based on morphology, behavior, and variation at neutral genetic markers. A parapatric group of Greater Sage-Grouse along the border of California and Nevada (“Bi-State”) is also genetically distinct at the same neutral genetic markers, yet not different in behavior or morphology. Because delineating taxonomic boundaries and defining conservation units is often difficult in recently diverged taxa and can be further complicated by highly skewed mating systems, we took advantage of new genomic methods that improve our ability to characterize genetic variation at a much finer resolution. We identified thousands of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) among Gunnison, Greater, and Bi-State sage-grouse and used them to comprehensively examine levels of genetic diversity and differentiation among these groups. The pairwise multilocus fixation index (FST) was high (0.49) between Gunnison and Greater sage-grouse, and both principal coordinates analysis and model-based clustering grouped samples unequivocally by species. Standing genetic variation was lower within the Gunnison Sage-Grouse. The Bi-State population was also significantly differentiated from Greater Sage-Grouse, albeit more weakly (FST = 0.09), and genetic clustering results were consistent with reduced gene flow with Greater Sage-Grouse. No comparable genetic divisions were found within the Greater Sage-Grouse sample, which spanned the southern half of the range. Thus, we provide much stronger genetic evidence supporting the recognition of Gunnison Sage-Grouse as a distinct species with low genetic diversity. Further, our work confirms that the Bi-State population is differentiated from other Greater Sage-Grouse. The level of differentiation is much less than the divergence between Greater and Gunnison sage-grouse, supporting the idea that the Bi-State represents a unique population within the Greater Sage-Grouse. New genomic methods like the restriction-site-associated DNA (RAD-tag) method used here illustrate how increasing the number of markers and coverage of the genome can better characterize patterns of genetic variation, particularly among recently diverged taxa, providing vital information for conservation and management.
Association of the φ nucleotide with codon bias, amino acid usage and expressivity: differences between Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli

By measuring the non‐randomness in Shine‐Dalgarno regions it was recently shown that the compositional non‐randomness peaks approximately 10 nucleotides upstream of the start codons. This position, termed the φ position, was furthermore shown to be associated with certain characteristics of the gene/protein and start codon usage. This raises the question whether codon usage in general is associated with the φ position. In this study, the connection between the φ nucleotide and general codon usage, both gene‐wide and at the level of individual amino acids, was studied in Eschericia coli and Bacillus subtilis. E. coli but not B. subtilis shows a strong general association between the φ position and codon usage bias. In both species, the genes with higher expressivity show stronger conservation in the Shine‐Dalgarno region compared to the genes with lower expressivity.
Distribution of natural populations of the killifish Aphanius fasciatus (Valenciennes, 1821) (Teleostei: Cyprinodontidae) in Italy: past and current status, and future trends

Abstract The census of natural populations provides relevant information for both conservation purposes and environmental monitoring. In the present work, natural populations of the killifish Aphanius fasciatus (Teleostei: Cyprinodontidae) were censused in the Italian territory. The historical distribution of the species was reconstructed with the aid of bibliographic material and museal samples, in order to evaluate the extent of changes in its distribution. Three periods (pre-1990s, 1990s, post-1990s) and five habitat types (lagoons/coastal ponds, saltworks, canals, river mouths, inland water bodies) were considered. Overall, we recorded the presence of A. fasciatus in 82 localities, the majority of which are lagoons/ponds. The species showed a widespread decline and sometimes local population extinction, due to habitat degradation and competition with the introduced poeciliid Gambusia holbrooki. With a few exceptions, A. fasciatus is currently extinct in inland waters, being mainly present in coastal brackish-water habitats. The occurrence of stable populations along the central Tyrrhenian, northern Adriatic, Sardinian and Apulian coastal biotopes is confirmed. The populations of Sicilian inland waters, considered extinct, showed recovery capabilities. In northern Tuscany, where the species was also considered extinct, there are also recent records. From a temporal perspective, the present work shows that A. fasciatus experienced population reductions throughout its range in the 1990s, when the species appeared locally extinct, or strongly rarefied, in several localities. Since then, the species recovered in the majority of the native range. However, careful monitoring is needed in order to control the effects of habitat alterations and competition with G. holbrooki on natural populations of A. fasciatus. Given the importance of brackish-water habitats as both biodiversity hotspots and buffer areas against rainfalls and floods, A. fasciatus may be raised to the status of “umbrella species” with regard to these habitats.
How a long tail and changes in mass and wing shape affect the cost for flight in animals

1. Relationships between foraging strategy, flight performance and wing shape in animals can be demonstrated with the use of aerodynamic theory. The optimal morphology is dictated not only by foraging behaviour and habitat selection but also by size of prey and migratory habits, as well as flight display. Here I demonstrate how changes in body size and structure of wings and tail affect the optimal flight speeds and power required to fly. 2. Long-tailed birds flying with their tails hanging downwards-backwards (e. g. widowbirds) are predicted to fly more slowly than short-tailed birds to save energy or to have larger wings (broader and/or longer wings giving lower wing loading) to compensate for increased tail drag during flight. Assuming that the tail length is five times as long in a long-tailed bird than in a short-tailed (normal) one, the minimum power and maximum range power would be about 30% higher in the long-tailed bird and the corresponding speeds about 40% slower. Ignoring wing inertial loads as a cost (inertial power) the corresponding percentages would become 16-18% higher powers and slower speeds. 3. I predict that members of a bird family that display in hovering or vertical take-off flights should not have elongated wings if wing inertia is important. In contrast to most other widowbird species, males of Jackson's widowbird (Euplectes jacksoni) do not have elongated wings (Anderson 1992), although they have particularly costly tails (Thomas 1993). This species has abandoned forward flight display and instead uses a vertical take-off and hovering flight display. Inertial costs appear to explain this result. 4. An increase in weight causes an increase in wing loading, which in turn requires higher flight speed for production of enough lift. A 50% increase in body mass (as fat, an egg or a fetus inside the body), would increase P mr and P mp by about 45-50% and V mr and V mp by about 20-25% (symbols defined in Fig. 1), when inertial power is taken to be zero. 5. A bird or bat carrying prey in the beak/mouth or claws should use about the same speed for minimization of flight costs as when flying without prey. 6. For low flight costs, and assuming a perfect elastic storage (zero inertial power), fast-flying species should benefit from short, narrow, high-aspect-ratio wings, hovering species should have long wings and slow-flying species should have larger wings (lower wing loadings) but with no particular demands on the aspect ratio. Ignoring inertial power the best flight economy is attained by the combination of a low wing loading (enabling slow flight) and high aspect ratio (Norberg & Rayner 1987; Norberg 1990). If we assume that inertial power is an important cost in hovering, a hovering animal should have short wings to minimize mechanical power
Progressive Change in the Insect Population of Forests Since the Early Tertiary

ONE afternoon some twenty years ago during a winter sojourn in northern Florida the writer was collecting insects in a pine forest given over to the production of turpelntine. Following the usual practice, the bark and sapwood of each tree had been cut away for a distance on one side and a pot hung at the bottom to catch the resin. The scarred trunks of the disfigured trees were reeking with oozing resin, and here and there insects of various kinds were imbedded where they had been trapped by the sticky exudation. Mrs. Brues was with me at the time and, knowing that I was interested in amber insects, she suggested that we make a collection of these insects from the turpentine trees to compare with the fossil fauna of the amber. We could see several interesting possibilities in such an undertaking and proceeded forthwith to gather the material. The specimens were transferred to vials of alcohol and after a time we had amassed a considerable and very miscellaneous assortment which assumed a much better appearance after the alcohol had dissolved the envelope of resin. The matter had to be held in abeyance for many years, until I had been able to devote some time to a study of one small part of the insect life of amber. It then appeared that the Florida collection was too small to be of 1 From the Entomological Laboratory, Harvard University.
Resposta de soqueiras de cana-de-açúcar à aplicação de nitrogênio em sistema de colheita sem queima

Information about the responses of sugar cane ratoon to nitrogen application in harvest without the use of fire are restricted. The objective of this work is to evaluate nitrogen nutrition in sugarcane ratoons in harvest without the use of fire through chemical analysis of soil, foliar diagnosis, biological evaluations - plant height, stalk diameter and number of industrialized stalks - and production of stalks. A field experiment was setup at Santa Terezinha Experimental Farm in Jaboticabal (SP), with sugarcane ratoons cv. SP 79-1011, planted in a dystrophic Rhodic Hapludox with nitrogen doses of: zero; 50; 100; 150 and 200 kg ha-1 of N. The doses were applied after sugarcane harvest in June 2005. During the two cuts of sugarcane ratoon, soil fertility in the layers of 0-20 and 20-40 cm, the plant nutritional condition and the development and production of stalks were evaluated. Nitrogen fertilization of the sugarcane ratoon increased soil acidification only in the superficial layer (0-20), however it didn't raise significantly macro and micronutrients in the leaves, except for N in the second ratoon. The response of the two first sugarcane ratoons in relation tonitrogen application in harvest without burn occurred only in the second cut. The dose of 200 kg ha-1 of N enhanced development of the crop, nutrition of the plant and production of stalks of sugarcane ratoon.
VALOR NUTRICIONAL DO GIRASSOL (Helianthus annuus L.) COMO FORRAGEIRA

No ano agricola de 1998/1999, o experimento foi conduzido no municipio de Sao Jose do Pinhais (Pr), com o objetivo de avaliar a qualidade nutricional do girassol como forrageira. Dois genotipos comerciais (DK-180 e Rumbosol-91) foram caracterizados morfologicamente e avaliados quanto a sua composicao bromatologica em tres estadios de desenvolvimento. O delineamento experimental baseouse em arranjo fatorial 2x3 (2 genotipos e 3 estadios), com seis repeticoes (unidade experimental) para as caracteristicas estudadas. O plantio de genotipos foi realizado em novembro de 1998 e a colheita realizada em 85, 97 e 111 dias apos, para o genotipo DK-180, e 97, 105 e 112 dias, para o genotipo Rumbosol-91. Nas analises bromatologicas, o genotipo DK-180 foi considerado o de melhor qualidade (P Nutritional value of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) used as a forage Abstract During the agriculture year of 1998/1999, an experiment was carried out at Sao Jose dos Pinhais (Pr), trying to evaluate the nutritional quality of sunflower as a forage. Morphological characteristics and analysis of nutritional composition were carried out in two commercial genotypes of sunflower (DK-180 and Rumbosol-91) in three growth stages. The statistical design was on a factorial arrangement of 2x3 (2 genotypes and 3 growth stages), with six repetitions (experimental unit) for the studied characteristics. The genotypes planting was accomplished in November of 1998 and the harvest, in 85, 97 and 111 days after, for the DK-180, and 97, 105 and 112 days, for the Rumbosol-91. At the bromatological analysis, genotype DK-180 displayed the best quality (p
Immunoprotectivity of attenuated turkey poxvirus in turkey poults and broiler chicks

In Nigeria, fowl pox vaccine is used in all categories of poultry. However there has been reports of outbreak of turkey pox virus in poults previously vaccinated with fowl pox vaccine. Pox Lesion from poults was excised for isolation of virus and viral propagation in chorioallantoid membrane. Turkey pox virus were isolated from the infected turkeys and confirmed by infecting susceptible turkeys with the isolate to reproduce the disease. Persistence of both turkey poults and broiler chickens to challenge after vaccination with attenuated turkey poxvirus was confirmed. African Journal of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology Vol. 7(2) 2006: 98-100
Fodder yield and quality in forage sorghum: scope for improvement through diverse male sterile cytoplasms

Abstract. Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) has proved to be an effective and efficient genetic tool in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) hybrid breeding programs. The A1 (milo cytoplasm) CMS type has been widely exploited to produce both commercial grain and forage sorghum hybrids. To explore the possibility of using alternative CMS (non-milo cytoplasm) sources, we studied the effect of cytoplasm on forage yield and quality in sorghum. Nine female (CMS) lines (representing three each in A1, A2, and A3 cytoplasms) and five male lines were used to generate 45 hybrids, which were evaluated in three environments. Cytoplasm and its first-order interaction with location and male and female lines showed the presence of a cytoplasmic effect on the majority of fodder yield and quality traits examined. The CMS lines possessing A3 cytoplasm (A3N213 and A3N193) were good combiners for important fodder yield and quality traits. For hydrocyanic acid, the CMS lines possessing A1 cytoplasm were good combiners. Mean performance of hybrids and combining ability analysis of parents revealed that A3 cytoplasm can be used along with the widely used A1 cytoplasm, which helps in the diversification of the male sterile base of forage sorghum hybrids.
Genomic and immunogenic changes over the history of the Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS-IVb) fish virus (=Piscine novirhabdovirus) in the Laurentian Great Lakes

Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus (VHSV) (=Piscine novirhabdovirus) appeared in the Laurentian Great Lakes in 2005, constituting a unique and highly virulent genogroup (IVb), which killed >32 fish species in large 2005 and 2006. Periods of apparent dormancy punctuated smaller outbreaks in 2007, 2008, and 2017. We conducted the first whole genome analysis of IVb, evaluating its evolutionary changes using 46 isolates, in reference to immunogenicity in cell culture, and the genomes of other VHS genogroups (I–IVa) and other Novirhabdoviruses. IVb isolates had 253 genomic nucleotide substitutions (2.3% of the total 11,158 nucleotides), with 85 (16.6%) being non-synonymous. The greatest number of substitutions occurred in the non-coding region (NCDS; 4.3%) followed by the Nv- (3.8%), and M- (2.8%) genes. The M-gene possessed the greatest proportions of amino acid changes (52.9%), followed by the Nv- (50.0%), G- (48.6%), N- (35.7%) and L- (23.1%) genes. Among VHS genogroups, IVa from the northeastern Pacific exhibited the fastest substitution rate (2.01×10-3), followed by Ivb (6.64×10−5), and I/III from Europe (4.09×10−5). A 2016 gizzard shad isolate from Lake Erie was the most divergent IVb isolate (38 NT, 15.0%, 15 AA), yet exhibited reduced virulence with in vitro immunogenicity analyses, as did other 2016 isolates, in comparison to the first IVb isolate (2003). The 2016 isolates exhibited lower impact on innate antiviral responses, suggesting phenotypic effects. Results suggest continued sequence change and lower virulence over the history of IVb, which may facilitate its long-term persistence in fish host populations.
Distribution patterns and insular biogeography of South Asian raptor communities

Ten diurnal raptor communities (Falconiformes) were studied in continental and peninsular situations, and on landbridge and oceanic islands of various sizes, from Southern India to Southern Vietnam and from Sri Lanka to Java. An index of abundance was derived from 1‐km2 sample plots. A consistent decrease of species richness occurred from continent to peninsulas and to large landbridge islands, then more abruptly to oceanic islands. The impoverishment process was much faster for open habitat raptors than for forest species, and for rarest and most specialized raptors than for common and more generalist species. Large taxa survived on islands as well as smaller species. Specific habitat requirements, historical factors and forest fragmentation were probably more important determinants of community composition than land area itself. An insular syndrome was documented in forest species on islands, including significant examples of habitat niche expansion, interspecific segregation and density compensation. Some cases suggested that interspecific competition was involved. Such relaxation of habitat and density constraints may enhance the survival probability of these species on islands.
Comparative morphology of five species of symbiotic and non-symbiotic coccoid cyanobacteria

The morphology of five unicellular cyanobacterial species from two genera was compared using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and statistical analyses. Cyanobacteria symbiotic with marine sponges from Australia and the Mediterranean were investigated, together with cyanobacteria from the water column in Western Australia. The aim was to establish whether phenotypic characteristics are useful for distinguishing cyanobacterial species, and to investigate the possible relationships of host species and geographic location on cyanobacterial morphology. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) demonstrated that cell size of the symbionts, Synechococcus spongiarum and Aphanocapsa feldmannii, is directly correlated with the number of turns of the thylakoid, and this must be accounted for in comparative morphological analyses. S. spongiarum cells were approximately one third smaller than those of A. feldmannii, but did not vary significantly in size in Chondrilla australiensis collected from different localities, or in different hosts, including C. nucula and Ircinia variabilis. Other symbionts, including Oscillatoria sp. from Cymbastela marshae, and Aphanocapsa raspaigellae from I. variabilis, were readily distinguished in the sponges examined, both by size and ultrastructural features. While morphological differences appear to be useful in differentiating A. feldmannii from S. spongiarum, morphological similarities are not a reliable indication that coccoid cyanobacteria are the same species.
Relationship Between Nutritional Quality Characters and Grain Yield in Pearl Millet1

Before selecting genotypes for such quality characteristics as protein or amino acid contents, it is important to know how such selection is likely to affect yield. Using a diverse range of germplasm grown over seasons, locations and years, the relationships that exist between protein content, dye binding capacity (DBC) per unit protein (an estimate of the basic amino acids in protein), grain yield and grain size in pearl millet [P. americanum (L.) Leeke] were investigated. Protein content was estimated as total N ✕ 6.25, total N being measured with an automatic analyzer. Basic amino acid content was estimated using the Udy DBC technique. Grain yield and protein content were not significantly correlated and the relationship between grain yield and DBC/protein was nonsignificant and negative. The relationship between protein and DBC/protein was strongly negative. These results suggest that in pearl millet it should be possible to select for increased protein content or basic amino acid content (of which lysine is the most important) by monitoring levels of lysine and protein, respectively, without detrimental effect on grain yield or grain weight.