Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Change in photosynthesis and water relations with age and season in Abiesamabilis

Seasonal changes in water relations and net photosynthesis were measured over a year in current and 1-year-old foliage of Abiesamabilis (Dougl.) Forbes, a subalpine conifer. Responses were compared with maximum rates achieved in older foliage. Current-year foliage developed slowly during the growing season. Although growth began on 22 June, highest rates of stomatal conductance and net photosynthesis did not occur until September and October. One-year-old foliage had the highest rates of net photosynthesis (12.9 mg CO2•dm−2•h−1) and stomatal conductance (3.1 mm•s−1) during the summer. Net photosynthesis decreased with needle age, but foliage as old as 7 years had rates of net photosynthesis as high as 5.0 mg CO2•dm−2•h−1. There was no evidence of photosynthetic adjustment to seasonal change in temperature. The optimum temperature for photosynthesis remained at 15 ± 1.5 °C throughout the year. No water stress was observed during the summer. Xylem water potential never decreased below −1.65 MPa and was alwa.
Características experimentais das publicações da Ciência Rural de 1971 a 2000

With the objective of describing the characteristics of the works published in the Ciencia Rural between 1971 and 2000 and to identify deficiencies in the employment of statistical analysis, 1788 works were classified, being 879 of the animal area and 909 of the vegetable. Inside of each area it was obtained the simple relative frequency of the experimental desing and of the statistical tests of complemental analysis applied for qualitative and quantitative treatments and, the maximum values, minima and medium for numbers of treatments and repetitions and for the level of used error , showing that in the animal area, the profile of the works is of using 3 treatments, 4 repetitions, level of 5% of probability error, test of Tukey for qualitative treatments and analysis of simple lineal regression for quantitative treatments. Already in the vegetable area, the profile was maybe of using the delineamento in blocks to the, with 6 treatments, 5 repetitions, level of 5% of probability error, test of Duncan for qualitative treatments and analysis of simple lineal regression for quantitative treatments. In the classification of the adaptation of the tests of complemental analysis, in the animal area it was Appropriate = 63%, Inadequate = 26%, and vegetable of Approppriate = 61%, Inadequate = 25%, showing that most of the works possesses appropriate use of the tests in the complemental analyses, could give a good reliability to the results and conclusions obtained in these works.
Improving vulnerable school children’s psychosocial health outcomes through resilience-based training and peer-support activities: a comparative prospective study

ABSTRACT Sustaining psychosocial well-being is important in promoting coping with life challenges among vulnerable in-school children. There is lack of evidence on intervention that could best help to address psychosocial distress among vulnerable in-school children in Nigeria. The effectiveness of resilience-based training and peer-support activities were compared in 339 vulnerable children selected from public high schools. A comparative prospective design was used. Children were assigned into resilience group and peer-support group randomly using their schools. Analysis of data was done in SPSS version 20 at p < . 05 level of significance. Effectiveness of the intervention was evaluated on four psychosocial outcomes (anxiety, depression, self-esteem and social connection). The study concluded that resilience training is better in enhancing self-esteem and reducing anxiety symptoms than peer-support activities. Both interventions have similar effects on depression and social connection. In the face of limited resources to support school health programmes in the study setting, resilience training could be more useful for alleviating psychosocial distress among vulnerable in-school children than peer support activities.
Multiple H-2-linked immune response gene control of H-2D- associated T-cell-mediated lympholysis to trinitrophenyl-modified autologous cells: Ir-like genes mapping to the left of I-A and within the I region

One of the more recent associations of the murine H-2 major histocompatibility complex (MHC) with immune function has been the finding that cytotoxic T-effector cells generated by sensitization with viral-infected (1-6), chemically modified (7-9), or weak transplantation antigen-associated (10,11) syngeneic cells can efficiently lyse target cells which express the same viral, chemical, or weak antigenic agent, and which share the H-2K and/or H-2D regions of the MHC with the responding and/or stimulating cells. Furthermore, an additional contribution of a gene(s) within the H-2 complex has been demonstrated which controls immune response potential (Ir genes) in the generation of cytotoxic effector cells to trinitrophenyl (TNP)-modified self components (12,13). In such studies it was found that certain B10 congenic strains generated good cytotoxic responses to both TNP- modified H-2K and H-2D region products, whereas other B10 congenic strains exhibited preferential or exclusive reactivity against TNP-modified H-2K region products. Some of these recombinant strains differing in response potential to TNP- modified H-2D products expressed the same haplotype at the D end, but differed at the K end of H-2. The low responsiveness observed in the B10.A strain to TNP-modified H-2D(d) when compared to B10.D2 and (B10.A x B10.D2)F(1) for the same specificity, suggested a role of dominant Ir genes which map in K, I-A, I-B, I-J, and/or I-E (12, 14). In the present report an attemnpt was made to further map within the MHC the Ir gene(s) controlling cell-mediated lympholysis (CML) to TNP-modified H-2D(d), by using recombinant mouse strains on the A and B10 backgrounds. Irrespective of the genetic background, the s and k haplotypes at the K end generated high and low cytotoxic responses, respectively, to H-2D(d)-TNP. The intermediate responder and low responder status of the A.TL and A.AL strains, respectively, indicated that a gene mapping in the K region of H-2 influences response potential. Furthermore, the differences in the levels of cytotoxicity detected in the A.TH and A.TL strains suggested an additional I region influence. Taken together these findings raise the possibility that multiple genes mapping within different regions of the MHC control the level of T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity to chemically modified autologous cells.
Quantitative Trait Loci for Seed Protein and Oil Concentration, and Seed Size in Soybean

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ] is an important crop because of its high oil and protein concentration. However, there is an inverse relationship between seed protein and oil concentration, making it difficult to improve both traits simultaneously. Molecular breeding may be helpful to facilitate a balanced accumulation of desirable alleles. The objective of this study was to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) governing soybean protein, oil and seed size. To achieve this objective, 101 F 6 -derived recombinant inbred lines (RIL) from a population developed from a cross of N87-984-16 x TN93-99 were used. Heritability estimates on an entry mean basis for protein and oil concentrations, and seed size were 0.66, 0.54, and 0.71, respectively. A total of 585 simple sequence repeat (SSR) molecular genetic markers were screened and 94 were polymorphic in the RIL. Single factor ANOVA was used to identify candidate QTL, which were then confirmed by composite interval mapping. One novel molecular marker (Satt570) on molecular linkage group (MLG) G associated with a protein QTL was detected. Novel molecular markers (Satt274, Satt420, and Satt479) located on MLG D1b, O, and O respectively and a previously reported marker (Satt317) located on MLG H were associated with oil QTL in this study. Molecular markers Satt002 (MLG D2) and Sattl84 (MLG D1a) associated with seed size QTL were verified whereas Satt147 (MLG D1a) was novel. The individual QTL explained 20.2, 9.4-15, and 10 to 16.5% of the phenotypic variation for protein and oil concentrations, and seed size, respectively. Thus, we identified major loci for improving soybean seed quality.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (Glomus aggregatum) influences biotransformation of arsenic in the rhizosphere of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

Abstract The role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) on biotransformation of arsenic (As) in the rhizosphere of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) was studied in a rhizobag system with As-contaminated soil. The treatments consisted of a combination of two levels of AMF (Glomus aggregatum) inoculation (–AM and +AM) under sterile and non-sterile soil conditions (S and NS). Each treatment was designated as –AM/S, –AM/NS, +AM/S and +AM/NS. Sunflower seedlings were cultured in the rhizobag for 6 weeks. Rates of root AMF colonization in +AM treatments were approximately 40% and 0% in –AM/S treatment. The AMF inoculation reduced As toxicity symptoms and improved plant growth. Shoot As, but not the root As, concentrations were reduced by AMF inoculation. Shoot and root P concentrations increased in +AM treatments regardless of soil sterilization. Analyses of water soluble (WS) As in the soils at the end of the cultivation indicated that the amount of WS-arsenite (AsIII) was higher in the central compartment compared with the outer compartment, while WS-arsenate (AsV) was dominant in the outer compartment. Dimethylarsinic acid (DMAA) was detected only in +AM treatments and the concentration was higher in the +AM/NS treatment compared to the +AM/S. Trimethylarsine oxide (TMAO) was also detected in measurable amounts in the NS condition and AMF inoculation increased the amount of TMAO, especially in the central compartment. No methylated As species was detected in the –AM/S treatment. From these results, it is clear that the mycorrhizal roots colonized by Glomus aggregatum are primarily involved in DMAA formation. Aside from these mycorrhizal roots, the indigenous soil microorganisms in the mycorrhizosphere are responsible for promoting the transformation of DMAA into TMAO. These As biomethylation processes would favor the detoxification of As, especially at the interface of plant roots and rhizosphere soil.
Byssal hairs in the invasive Asian freshwater bivalve Limnoperna fortunei (Mytilidae) in the Paraná River system with comments on this species in South America

We recorded, for the first time, byssal hairs in the Asian freshwater bivalve Limnoperna fortunei from the Paraná River system. We analysed the presence of hairs and their distribution on the shell in relation to habitat and shell size in 12 sites. Hairs were present in lentic habitats associated with macrophytes or organic matter, but were absent in lotic environments. The proportion of mussels with hairs was negatively correlated with current velocity. Hairs were more frequent and abundant in larger mussels. In general, the hairs are a similar length over the bivalve and almost entirely cover the shells in≥60% in lentic habitats. The projections allow L. fortunei to be camouflaged among the roots of macrophytes or coarse organic matter, assisting in avoiding visual predators. The clear-cut separation of L. fortunei populations into two different groups could be associated with phenotypic plasticity in this species.
Deciduous Quercus in the Mediterranean region: tree‐ring/climate relationships

summary Comparisons are made between ring-width response functions relating to precipitation and temperature in 72 Quercus populations (Q. afares Pomel, Q. canariensis Willd., Q. pubesrens Willd. and Q. robur L.) situated in the north and south of the western Mediterranean region. A multivariate procedure applied to the whole set of response functions allows a distinction to be made of three types of response function according to the species considered. Analogies and differences between coded response functions are revealed by the calculation of a mean response, firstly for each species and for the genus, secondly for the groups of response functions derived from the multivariate analysis. For all the populations, and hence for the entire Quercus genus, a direct response to summer precipitation and an inverse response to temperature, especially minimum temperature, are obtained for the summer period. For the other seasons, each species is characterized by a particular behaviour conditioned by the characteristics of the habitat.
Homology and phylogenetic implications of male genitalia in diptera - lower Brachycera

Homology of male genitalic structures in the lower Brachycera is examined and implications for the phylogenetic relationships of the included families are discussed in light of other characters. The following character states belong to the ground plan of the Brachycera: the aedeagus is enclosed in a parameral sheath; the sperm pump possesses paired articulated lateral sclerites, and a large ejaculatory apodeme with a terminal endoaedeagal process; the epandrium and hypandrium are separate; the hypandrium is separate from the gonocoxites; and the gonostyli articulate and move in the horizontal plane. The placement of Heterostomus in Xylophagomorpha is supported, based on modifications of the sperm pump. The presence ofaedeagal tines suggests that Bolbomyia, which is currently placed in the Rhagionidae, may be more closely related to Athericidae + Tabanidae. The expanded first segment of the female cercus supports the monophyly of the Tabanomorpha, including Vermileonidae. The transfer of the Pantophthalmidae to the Stratiomyomorpha is confirmed on the basis of modifications of the sperm pump. The Stratiomyomorpha is hypothesized to be the sister group of the Muscomorpha (sensu Woodley 1989) based on the apomorphic development of a composite structure termed the phallus. The monophyly of the Muscomorpha is supported by gonostyli that articulate and move obliquely or dorsoventrally. The presence of acanthophorites in females is considered apomorphic for the Heterodactyla (Bombyliidae + Asiloidea + Eremoneura). Bombyliidae (exclusive of Mythicomyiinae and Heterotropus) is defined on the basis of reduced gonocoxal apodemes. Gonostyli retracted to a subapical position and a hinged larval metacephalic rod are considered apomorphic for the Asiloidea (exclusive of Bombyliidae) + Eremoneura. Hilarimorpha and Apystomyia are removed from the Bombyliidae based on the subapical placement of the gonostyli, and together with Apsilocephala are placed as incertae sedis in Therevidae. Apiocera is considered the sister group to the remaining apiocerids + Mydidae on the basis of absence of gonostyli and lateral ejaculatory processes in the latter lineage.
Influences of Habitat Isolation on Invertebrate Colonization of Sporadanthus ferrugineus in a Mined Peat Bog

This study experimentally tested the impact of peat bog habitat loss and isolation on the invertebrate community associated with Sporadanthus ferrugineus (Restionaceae), a dominant indigenous plant species in peat bogs. Potted S. ferrugineus plants were exposed to invertebrates at various distances up to 800 m from an intact habitat (the source population) over 18 weeks. Invertebrates rapidly colonized the experimental plants, with all major orders and trophic groups present on S. ferrugineus within 6 weeks. However, with increasing distance away from the undisturbed habitat, there was a significant decrease in total species richness and abundance of invertebrates associated with the potted plants. Of the total taxa captured, only 38% were found on potted S. ferrugineus plants at 800 m compared with 62% found on potted plants 30 m from the intact peat bog. Predator species richness and the predator–prey ratio changed significantly with time available for colonization of potted plants but, more importantly, prey (herbivores and detritivores) and predator (including parasitoids) species richness, as well as the predator–prey ratio, declined significantly with increasing isolation from the peat bog. Thus, the degree of isolation of restoration areas from undisturbed habitat has a major impact on the rate and patterns of recovery in invertebrate community structure. The current recommended practice of restoring the mined area by establishing raised “habitat islands” 30 m apart should result in colonization by most invertebrates associated with S. ferrugineus, but only if the restoration islands are placed as stepping stones outward from existing areas of intact habitat.
Description and ultrastructure of araphid diatom species (Bacillariophyceae) morphologically similar to Pseudostaurosira elliptica (Schumann) Edlund et al.

Several populations identified and reported from North America and Mongolia under the names Fragilaria elliptica Schumann or Staurosira elliptica (Schumann) Williams et Round were analyzed in detail using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The analysis yielded three variants that can not be ascribed to ‘elliptica’ of the type. Furthermore, two of the variants could not be related to published taxa and we describe them as new species, Staurosira ambigua sp. nov. and Staurosira dimorpha sp. nov. A third variant was identified as Pseudostaurosira trainorii Morales, a taxon originally reported from ponds and a river in the north‐eastern USA. The combined LM and SEM analysis used here allowed for a more thorough circumscription of taxonomic boundaries among morphologically similar taxa and for better delimitation of their geographic distributions. A discussion of the taxonomy and ecology of these taxa based on literature and recent ecological data is presented.
Fire Management and Carbon Sequestration in Pine Barren Forests

Prescribed burning is the major viable option that land managers have for reducing hazardous fuels and ensuring the regeneration of fire-dependent species in a cost-effective manner in Pine Barren ecosystems. Fuels management activities are directly linked to carbon (C) storage and rates of C sequestration by forests. To evaluate the effects of prescribed burning on forest C dynamics, we quantified consumption and accumulation of the forest floor and understory vegetation and measured net CO2 exchange in upland forest stands in the New Jersey Pinelands burned with prescribed fires. Prescribed fires released an average of 470 ± 137 g C m−2 from the litter layer and understory, equivalent to approximately 2–3 yr of sequestered C in undisturbed upland forests. Canopy and understory foliage averaged 85% of preburn periods, and CO2 uptake at near-full sunlight conditions averaged 79% of preburn levels during the following growing season. On an annual basis, stands lost C during the year of the burn, but released C was recovered within 2–3 yr. Field measurements and model simulations suggest that continued prescribed burning in upland fire-dependent pine-dominated stands would have little appreciable effect on long-term forest C dynamics at the landscape scale.
Self‐organised instability and megafaunal extinctions in Australia

It is generally known that during the Quaternary there were wide spread extinctions of fauna on all continents except for Antarctica. The coinciding of these extinction events with the arrival of humans on each of the respective continents has led to the hypothesis that humans hunted this fauna into extinction (Flannery 1994). Termed the blitzkrieg or overkill hypothesis (Martin 1984), such was invoked by Flannery (1994) to explain the extinction of the megafauna in Australia. However, the applicability of the overkill hypothesis to Australia was brought under intense and serious scrutiny due to problems with the timing of the extinctions and human arrival (Grayson 1990), and the lack of any mass-kill sites such as has been found in New Zealand and North America (Owen-Smith 1989). Opponents to the human caused extinction have often cited the fluctuating climate characteristic of the Pleistocene as the causal agent in the demise of the Australian megafauna (Horton 1977). Problems with correlating extinction events with severe climatic conditions have produced incongruence in the climateinduced hypothesis (Flannery 1994). Consequently, a third hypothesis, the anthropogenic disruption hypothesis, which states that Aboriginal burning modified habitats enough to bring about a change in the ecology of the megafauna and their eventual demise, has been put forward (Miller et al. 1999). Due to the fact that the megafaunal extinction debate in Australia has reached a certain stalemate relative to the debate in other regions of the world, a rather different, if not heuristic, hypothesis is proposed here to stimulate an alternative line of inquiry. The hypothesis has been largely developed from recent advancements in the study of system complexity. I propose that an increase in immigration of fauna from south-east Asia and speciation of the existing local fauna in response to the increasing aridity of the Pliocene led the faunal assemblage of Australia to a level of self-organised instability, as defined by Sole et al. (2002a). The arrival of humans into Australia increased significantly the level of connectivity between the faunal elements in the Australian faunal system. Subsequently, the fauna of Australia was inherently susceptible to an extinction event. The purpose of this paper is to outline the logic behind this hypothesis, from here to be termed the self-organised instability (SOI) hypothesis of megafaunal extinctions, and the conditions that allow it to be applicable to Australia.
Association of morning and evening lateness with self-scored health: Late to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy in his own eyes

A widely quoted motto “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise” was rarely and inconclusively examined in chronobiological research. To test associations of morningness–eveningness with self-assessed health status, depression, anxiety and somatic complains, 1969 adults were chronotyped on Evening and Morning lateness scales (E and M) of the Sleep–Wake Pattern Assessment Questionnaire. Health was found to decline from the best in long active type (with positive E score) though moderate in morning and evening types (with none and both positive scores, correspondingly) to the worst in short active type (with positive M score). Despite linear association with long/short active types, self-reported sleep length exhibits a U-shaped rather than linear relationship with health problems. It is concluded that the difference between E and M scores, but not their sum, predicts self-assessed health: healthier respondents prefer earlier wake up times and later, but not earlier bedtimes.
Does the economic crisis have an influence on the higher education dropout rate?

ABSTRACT This research aims to identify the effects of the economic crisis on higher education (HE) dropout rates at Lisbon School of Economics and Management (ISEG) – Universidade de Lisboa, after having controlled for individual characteristics, family background, High School and HE trajectories. Our main hypothesis is that the economic crisis induces higher dropout rates. The research emphasizes that, in the context of the European crisis, social, economic and political context should be taken into account in the dropout analysis model, together with university and student behaviour determinants. To analyse the impact of the economic crisis on dropout rates, we use longitudinal data from the ISEG database, and apply statistical methodologies such as Chi-square tests for independence, and t-tests for the equality of means and proportions. Our main results point to the fact that the economic and social crisis has significantly affected the dropout rate of Portuguese students. Dropout during the crisis period spared neither younger students nor those with better High School trajectories. Moreover, during the crisis period, Portuguese students dropped out earlier during their HE trajectory. We believe that our conclusions can be extended to other European countries within a crisis context.