Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THE CONTENT OF ANTIOXIDANTS IN SUNFLOWER SEED AND KERNEL

SUMMARY The primary objective of this research was to determine differences among investigated sunflower genotypes and whether the analysed hybrids could be sources of phenols and tocopherols important for storage stability of sunflower seeds and their derived products. DPPH• radical scavenging activity, the content of phenolic components and tocopherols (α-, β-, γ-, and δ-) in seeds and kernels of three sunflower hybrids were analysed. In the present study, six different phenolic compounds were separated by the HPLC analysis. Chlorogenic acid was the most abundant phenol. The chlorogenic acid content strongly correlated with total phenols (r=0.93). Other marked phenolics were caffeic acid, ferulic acid, rosmarinic acid, myricetin and rutin. The total tocopherols were significantly higher (P<0.05) in kernels than in seeds of all sunflower hybrids. Concentrations in sunflower seeds ranged from 200.67 to 220.05 μg/g and from 256.62 to 267.49 μg/g in sunflower kernels where α-tocopherol was the dominant isomer in all samples. The α-tocopherol content was 98% of averaged of the total tocopherols in all analysed samples. All these nutrients with antioxidant properties influenced the capacity of DPPH• scavenging. Accordingly, sunflower kernels had a higher DPPH• scavenging activity, and a higher nutritive value than sunflower seeds.
Influence of herbivory and abiotic factors on the distribution of tall forbs along a productivity gradient: a transplantation experiment

In arctic-alpine areas tall herb vegetation is restricted to sites with high productivity. At higher elevation, low prostate forbs and narrow-leaved graminoids dominate the vegetation in sites with a protecting snow cover during winter. In this study, I test whether herbivory or abiotic factors prevent tall forbs from growing at higher altitudes. Vegetation blocks from a tall herb meadow were transplanted to herbivore exclosures and open plots in a low-productive snowbed and a productive tall herb meadow. The tall forbs performed equally well in the exclosures on the low-productive snowbed as in the tall herb meadow, but decreased in the open plots on the low-productive snowbed. Thus, even if abiotic factors are ultimately causing many of the vegetation patterns observed in arctic-alpine plant communities, herbivory appears to be the main proximate factor responsible for the decreasing abundance of tall forbs along gradients of decreasing productivity in arctic-alpine areas.
The extended phenotype of Scots pine Pinus sylvestris structures the understorey assemblage

Heritable variation in plant secondary compounds in dominant species has been hypothesised to effect ecosystem function and the structure of associated assemblages of plants, microbes and animals. The functioning of this extended phenotype in relation to the understorey vegetation composition was tested within a boreal forest system dominated by Pinus sylvestris which contains a range of monoterpenes, the composition of which is largely under genetic control. A variance partitioning approach was adopted to identify the relative importance of tree chemistry, environment, spatial location and tree architecture in controlling the distribution of species in the ground flora under individual trees. The monoterpene composition of the pine needles appeared to contribute significantly to controlling understorey vegetation composition, but was less important than environmental factors, though similar to spatial factors. Thus there appears to be a link between variation in the chemical composition of the single, dominant tree species within this system and the pattern of occurrence and abundance in other species at the same trophic level.
Redox control of G1/S cell cycle regulators during nitric oxide‐mediated cell cycle arrest

Redox regulation of cell cycle progression during nitric oxide (NO) mediated cytostasis is not well‐understood. In this study, we investigated the role of the intracellular antioxidant glutathione (GSH) in regulating specific signaling events that are associated with NO‐mediated cell cycle arrest. Manipulation of intracellular GSH content through pharmacological inhibition of glutamate‐cysteine ligase (GCL) indicated that GSH depletion potentiated nitrosative stress, DNA damage, phosphorylation of the tumor suppressor p53 (Ser‐18) and upregulation of p21cip1/waf1 upon NO stimulation. However, we found that neither overexpression of a dominant negative p53 nor pharmacological inhibition of p53 with cyclic pifithrin‐α (cPFT‐α) was sufficient to reverse NO‐mediated cell cycle arrest or hypophosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (Rb). We found that the decrease in cyclin D1 levels induced by NO was GSH‐sensitive implying that the redox regulation of NO‐mediated cytostasis was a multifaceted process and that both p53/p21cip1/waf1 and p53 independent cyclin D1 pathways were involved. Together, our results demonstrate that GSH serves as an important component of cellular protective mechanisms against NO‐derived nitrosative stress to regulate DNA damage checkpoint. J. Cell. Physiol. 212:827–839, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Oligochaetes in fire climax grassland and conifer plantations in Papua New Guinea

ABSTRACT Earthworm populations in grassland and plantations in the area of Bulolo, Papua New Guinea were compared with populations in nearby undisturbed rain forest. The grasslands had been maintained by burning for many years. The Pinus plantation had been developed on a burned grassland site and the Araucaria plantation on a site which had been cleared of secondary forest. The grasslands and the Pinus plantation supported moderate populations of exotic earthworms including Pontoscolex corethrurus, but no indigenous species. The Araucaria site supported a native species, Amynthas zebrus only, which was also found together with two other native species at very low density in rain forest. Exotic earthworm species widespread throughout the tropics, were present in disturbed soils and formed moderately high density populations in burned grasslands. There was no evidence that they displaced native Megascolecidae in rain forest.
Defects in Ovarian Differentiation

Defects in ovarian differentiation, referred to in the past as gonadal dysgenesis, are the most common cause of primary hypogonadism in young girls. Although various phenotypes and genotypes are involved, these individuals characteristically share the common pathologic finding of streak gonads. The most frequently recognized form of gonadal dysgenesis is Turner's syndrome, consisting of distinctive phenotypic stigmata, notably, short stature; a karyotype in which one X chromosome is absent or abnormal; and sexual immaturity. The sexual immaturity is usually manifested as primary amenorrhea and sexual infantilism, except for scant pubic hair in adolescence, but there may be some degree of ovarian function, such as the presence of secondary sex characteristics, sporadic menstruation, and even pregnancy in a few patients. A similar phenotype is seen in patients with the Ullrich-Noonan syndrome, and gonadal dysgenesis may occur, but the karyotype in these patients appears to be normal. Gonadal dysgenesis has also been described in trisomy 18, trisomy 13, the DiGeorge syndrome (congenital thymic and parathyroid aplasia with cardiovascular and facial anomalies), and ataxia-telangiectasia (autosomal recessive progressive cerebellar degeneration, telangiectasis, and immune deficiency). Most phenotypic females with XY gonadal dysgenesis also have streak gonads. In spite of the broad spectrum of phenotypic and karyotypic differences, it is the common pathologic finding of streak gonads that characterizes the gonadal dysgenesis in each case and suggests a common underlying mechanism. Macroscopically, the gonad is small and flat compared with the normal ovary, and the cortical layer is relatively thin or absent (Fig. 1). Microscopically, streak gonads consist of ovarian stroma with an absence or a striking paucity of germ cells. Primordial follicles may be scant or absent (Fig. 2). A major clue to the pathophysiology of the streak gonad may be that the histologic pattern is largely age dependent. In adult 45,X women the streak gonad is usually devoid of ova, whereas the findings in the term infant are more variable. The gonad may appear as a grossly normal ovary or may represent a classic streak. Carr and associates noted many tubular structures containing degenerating ova; empty follicles, which may represent complete lysis of ova with resorption; and clusters of germ cells without true follicle formation in the gonad from a 45,X female infant at term. The gonads from infants with trisomy 18 or trisomy 13 are similarly described as small with variable numbers of gametes, a thin cortex, and many oocytes in various stages of atresia. In a classic study on gonadal histology of fetuses with a 45,X karyotype, Singh and Carr found normal ovaries complete with normal complements of primordial sex cells, pregranulosa cells, and mesenchymal cells in first trimester abortuses. However, the gonads of
Impact of prédation upon honey bees (Hymenoptera, Apidae), by orb‐weaving spiders (Araneae, Araneidae and Tetragnathidae) in grassland ecosystems

Estimates of prédation on the honey bee, Apis mellifera L. , by a guild of orb‐weaving spiders were made in two different habitats in central Europe. In the first habitat, an abandoned grassland (megaphorbe meadow), honey bees comprised 1 % (by numbers) of the 7480 prey items collected from orb‐webs between May and September. Approximately 99 % of the 72 observed cases of prédation on honey bees took place in the second half of summer (August‐September), when the three large orb‐weaver species Argiope bruennichi (Scopoli), Araneus quadratus Clerck and Araneus diadematus Clerck reached full size (matured) and built large, strong (ca. 25 cm diameter) webs. Prédation by these spider species on honey bees in the first half of summer was apparently insignificant (only 1 % of observed prédation events), probably due to their relatively small web and body size. Based on sampling counts of the number of webs per m2 and the number of bees intercepted per web, we estimated that the spiders' prey kill per m2 in the grassland averaged 1 honey bee every 4th day in August, and 1 every 5th day in September during rain free periods. About 95 % of observed orb‐weaver prédation was attributable to A. bruennichi and A. quadratus, while 5 % was due to A. diadematus.
Growth and Oil Production of Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill): Effect of Irrigation and Organic Fertilization

ABSTRACT Seeds of the aromatic plant fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill) were sown in sandy soil with 0 or 2.5 kg m−2 of organic fertilizer (OF); chicken manure, cattle manure or plant compost. Plants were irrigated two, three, four, five or six times at 21-day intervals commencing 21 days after sowing and continuing until harvest. Increasing the number of irrigations and application of organic fertilizers significantly delayed harvesting. Water stress imposed by restricting the number of irrigations significantly decreased plant height, branch number, and fruit and oil yield, whereas it increased the percentage volatile oils. All organic fertilizers increased plant growth and yield parameters. With or without organic fertilization, the increase in fruit yield with irrigation outweighed the decrease in volatile oil percentage, so volatile oil yield increased with irrigation. However, there was no significant difference in volatile oil yield between five and six times irrigated plants under any type of fertilization. By increasing both fruit yield and volatile oil percentage, organic fertilizers considerably increased oil yield. Chicken manure fertilized plants irrigated five or six times gave the highest volatile oil yields of 2.08 and 2.09 ml plant−1, respectively, followed by cattle manure fertilized plants irrigated five times (1.98 ml plant−1).
Growth, size and fat reserves of the raccoon dog in Finland.

The growth size, and fat reserves of the raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides (Gray, 1834) were studied in Finland in period 1986-1990. There was no sexual dimorphism in mean body size. Juveniles reached the mean adult body length at the age of 5-7 months. The weather in spring seemed to cause both annual and regional variation in the weight and fat reserves of juveniles in late autumn. Some of these differences could be seen as late as the following March, the breeding season of raccoon dogs. The adults had the least fat reserves in May and the most in October - November. The abundance of food, especially that on voles in early sprong, seemed to affect the fat reserves of adult females in March.
Breeding biology of House Crows (Corvus splendens) in Durban, South Africa

Nesting House Crows Corvus splendens were studied in the suburb of Merewent, Durban, South Africa, during the summer breeding season of 1999–2000. The c. 1km2 study area supported 52–62 pairs. Breeding dispersal was clumped, suggesting a level of colonial breeding, but pairs were apparently intolerant of conspecifics nesting in the same tree. The two closest simultaneously active nests were 30m apart in adjacent trees. Details of nest locations, trees, heights, structure, dimensions and weights are provided. Egg-laying occurred October–January, mainly mid October to end November. Clutch size, egg dimensions and weights are given. Apparent repeat clutches were found but there was no evidence of double brooding. Details of nestling growth, and fledging and post-fledging dependence periods, are provided. Breeding success was relatively poor. Early breeding attempts were more successful than late breeding attempts. Breeding failure was suspected, or known, to be associated with observer disturbance, egg breakage, failure of eggs to hatch, starvation of chicks, nest collapse and independent control measures.
CELLULAR FATTY ACID SPECTRA OF SPOROLACTOBACILLUS AND SOME OTHER BACILLUS-LACTOBACILLUS INTERMEDIATES AS A GUIDE TO THEIR TAXONOMY

Cellular fatty acid spectra of Sporolactobacillus species and some other Bacillus-Lactobacillus intermediates were comparatively examined with special reference to their taxonomy. Bacillus coagulans, 4 strains of Sporolactobacillus, and other spore-forming lactic acid bacteria were found to have "iso- anteiso-type" fatty acid spectra similar to those previously reported for most species of Bacillus. Iso- or anteiso- branched odd-numbered carbon acids were predominant in the fatty acids of these organisms. Lactobacillus yamanashiensis, a motile, diaminopimelic acid-containing, but non-spore-forming lactic acid bacterium was found, in contrast, to have "unsaturated-type" fatty acid spectrum biosynthetically different from the fatty acid spectra of the former but similar to those of L. plantarum and other lactobacilli. No transitional fatty acid pattern between the two types could be detected among the tested intermediates. Feasibility of taxonomic discrimination of Bacillus- Lactobacillus intermediates by examination of the cellular fatty acid spectra was discussed.
Insights into sperm–fertilisation relationships in the Arthropoda with ecological significance modelled in an amphipod

Many studies have linked chemical exposure with testicular abnormalities and reductions in sperm counts; however, the ecological impact in wildlife of reduced male fertility has been difficult to predict. Very few studies have correlated sperm counts with fertilisation success in arthropods. Following a recent investigation indicating reduced sperm counts (∼20%) in field collected amphipods from an industrially polluted site when compared to reference sites, this study, first aimed to review the relationship between sperm counts and fertilisation success using available data published on arthropods, and second, to predict the long-term (10 year) impacts of reduced fertilisation through the use of an existing amphipod population model. The relationships between sperm counts and fertilisation success were compared between two crustacean (Gammarus duebeni and Armadillidium vulgare) and two insect species (Ostrinia nubialis and Agrotis segetum). All species investigated demonstrated reduced fertility with reduced sperm with the relationship varying between species. Results from this study suggest that relatively small reductions in sperm can have variable and possibly dramatic impacts on fertilisation success for the species examined. For example, based on the species reviewed, a 5% reduction in sperm is predicted to give rise to between 0.4% and 9.1% reduction in female brood size dependent on the species. Modelling the effects of reduced fertilisation using a dynamic amphipod population model revealed that whilst 5% reductions in brood size allow the population to persist after 10 years (albeit at critically low densities), brood size reductions of 10% or greater result in population collapse in less than 6–7 years. Whilst, data are limited at this stage, this study highlights the potential for small scale changes in reproductive fitness to produce effects at the population level. As a consequence, a better understanding of the relationships between male fertility and female fecundity are required to adequately assess effects of contaminants such as endocrine disruptors on reproduction in invertebrates.
Parâmetros hematológicos de espécies nativas do rio Tocantins, Auchenipterus nuchalis, Psectrogaster amazônica e Squaliforma emarginata (Teleostei, Ostariophysi) - DOI: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v31i2.1024

This study evaluated the hematological characteristics and erythrocyte morphometry in Auchenipterus nuchalis, Psectrogaster amazonica and Squaliforma emarginata captured in Tocantins river. The samples were taken in the Tocantins river, where blood was collected by puncturing the caudal vein of the animals. The complete hemogram and morphometry of the erythrocytes were determined. Auchenipterus nuchalis (n = 15) showed the largest number of erythrocytes, hemoglobin and hematocrit, followed by P. amazonica (n = 26) and S. emarginata (n = 26). Squaliforma emarginata showed the largest erythrocytes and the smallest number of circulating cells. Squaliforma emarginata also showed the highest number of circulating blast cells (orthochromatic and polychromatophil erythrocytes) in the peripheral blood. These differences can be attributed to respiratory adaptations of a behavioral or physiological nature related to the environment. The highest percentage of lymphocytes was observed in P. amazonica , and of monocytes and neutrophils in A. nuchalis . The variation among the species in the percentages of leucocytes can also be attributed to the niche occupied, favored by exposure to different microorganisms.
Comparison of protein patterns in non‐mycorrhizal and vesicular–arbuscular mycorrhizal roots of red clover

SUMMARY A comparison of the protein content and patterns in root extracts from non-mycorrhizal and vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal [Glomus mosseae (Nicol. et Gerd.) Gerd. et Trappe] red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) has been made. Soluble protein content was higher in mycorrhizal than in non-mycorrhizal roots. After separation by DEAE-cellulose chromatography and electrophoretic analysis, several additional polypeptides appeared in mycorrhizal extracts. In addition, it seems that one of the additional proteins was a plant-induced superoxide dismutase isozyme.
Price elasticities of substitution between species in the demand of U.S. softwood lumber imports from Canada

The softwood lumber that Canada exports to the United States is a heterogeneous mix of spruce, fir, red cedar, pine, hemlock, and other species. The purpose of this study was to determine to what extent each species is a distinct economic good by using a characteristic demand equation. The theory consisted of a cost-minimizing aggregate U.S. demand for imports and of share equations for each species. Partial adjustment was introduced to accommodate out-of-equilibrium observations. The results showed that the demand for each species, except fir, was elastic with respect to the price of that species, with elasticities that differed substantially by species. Cross-price elasticities between individual species were generally small. It is shown how the effect of a price change of any single species consists of two parts: a market-expansion effect that is the same for all species and a substitution effect that is species specific.
Seasonal Dynamics of Dry Matter, Crude Protein and Cell Wall Digestion in Total Plant, Leaves and Stems of Common Buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris)

Abstract Ramirez, R.G. , Foroughbackhch, R. , Hauad, L. , Alba-Avila, J., García-Castillo, C.G. and Espinosa-Vázquez, M. 2001. Seasonal dynamics of dry matter, crude protein and cell wall digestion in total plant, leaves and stems of common buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris). J. Appl. Anim. Res., 19: 209–218. This study was conducted to estimate and compare, seasonally, the nutrient content and the rate and extent of digestion of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and cell wall (CW) of total plant (TP), leaves (L) and stems (S) of buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris L). Plants were sampled in a four-ha pasture at Marin, N.L. County, Mexico, during fall of 1998, winter, spring and summer of 1999. The in situ technique was used to estimate effective degradability of DM (EDDM), crude protein (EDCP) and cell wall (EDCW), using rumen fistulated sheep. Crude protein content in forage was significantly higher in summer than in other seasons; however, cell wall and its derivatives (cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) were significantly lower in summer. Crude protein content was higher in L than S, but CW was lower in L than in S. Moreover, EDDM, EDCP and EDCW were significantly higher in summer than in other seasons and also were higher in L than in S. Highly significant correlation coefficients between CP, CW and effective degradability data may indicate that when CP increased and CW decreased, EDDM, EDCP and EDCW increased. The nutrient content and digestion parameters of digestion of buffelgrass varied among seasons, being summer and fall higher in nutrient digestion and spring and winter lower. Furthermore, leaves of buffelgrass should be considered different entities than stems when determining nutritional quality.
The development and function of the rumen in milk-fed calves II. Effect of wood shavings in the diet

1. Unmuzzled milk-fed calves which ate considerable amounts of wood shavings after they were a few weeks old showed a much bigger increase with age in volume of rumen fluid and in flow rate of fluid out of the reticulo rumen than did muzzled milk-fed calves. It is suggested that these differences were due mainly to increased saliva production in the calves eating shavings. 2. Milk leaked into the rumen at feeding in eight out of twenty-four experiments. There was no indication that shavings ingestion increased the incidence of leakage nor that age up to 16 weeks had any marked effect. The leakage appeared to be a consistent characteristic of certain calves rather than a random occurrence and did not appear to affect adversely growth or health.