Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adaptação do índice de integridade biótica usando a comunidade de peixes para o rio Paraíba do Sul

The Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) has been used to assess the biological quality of flowing water systems in several areas of the United States and Western Europe, using the fish community. An adaptation of this index, which was firstly described by Karr (1981), was used for the first time in Brazil at the Paraiba do Sul river, between Barra Mansa and Barra do Pirai. This is a very important extent of this river because of the high pollution levels, mainly from National Siderurgy Company, and for being the main abstraction source of Rio de Janeiro water supply. A monthly standardised sampling programme to catch fish was carried out, from March-1995 to February-1996, at four fixed stations (Barra Mansa, Volta Redonda, Pinheiral e Barra do Pirai), all located at the mouth of small tributaries. Seines, casting nets and net trays were used for catch the fishes. Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) was adapted by integrating 12 ecological attributes of fish communities, populations, and individual organisms to assess biological integrity based in Species Composition and Richness, Trophic Structure and Fish Abundance and Condition. Overall, water quality was classified between poor and fair and an improvement in IBI was detected between the high polluted Barra Mansa site and the least polluted Barra do Pirai site, although no significant difference was shown (p > 0,01). Seasonally, the best conditions were reached between March and August, and the worse between September and February, when more aloctone materials are brought to the river.
Intraspecific and interspecific vocal variation in three Neotropical cardinalids (Passeriformes: Fringillidae) and its relationship with body mass

Abstract Several studies, of a large number of bird species, have shown that song frequencies have a strong negative relationship with body size. However, mixed results were obtained at the intraspecific level or when comparing closely related species. Here, we compared the vocalisations of the monotypic Glaucous-blue Grosbeak (Cyanoloxia glaucocaerulea), three of five subspecies of the Ultramarine Grosbeak (Cyanocompsa brissonii) and all four subspecies of the Blue-black Grosbeak (Cyanocompsa cyanoides). These taxa of Neotropical cardinalids differ significantly in body size, so we compared them to examine the allometric relationship of body size with song frequencies, using body mass as a proxy of body size. The maximum frequency and the emphasised frequency (i.e. the frequency of the song of highest amplitude) showed the expected negative correlation with body mass, supporting the idea that the aforementioned relationship stands when comparing closely related lineages in Cyanoloxia and Cyanocompsa. We also found that the duration of notes, rate of production of notes and duration of inter-note interval correlated with body mass: heavier species had longer notes produced at a lower rate and separated by longer intervals. The correlation of temporal variables with body mass suggests that body size could also influence the temporal structure of song. Our findings highlight once again the importance of considering the role of avian morphology when studying the evolution of song, even if differences in frequency and temporal variables of songs are small.
RELATIONSHIPS AMONG PHOTOSYNTHETIC RATE, BEAN YIELD AND OTHER CHARACTERS IN FIELD-GROWN CULTIVARS OF SOYBEAN

In field experiments with young spaced plants of 48 soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr. ) cultivars, derived lines tended to have higher rates of apparent photosynthesis (PA) than their parent lines over 3 yr of tests using the 14CO2 method. For 2 yr in which chlorophyll and specific leaf weight (SLW) were also measured, a significant number of derived lines had higher PA, chlorophyll and SLW than their parent lines. With 12 cultivars of similar maturity, grown as row-crop tests for 4 yr, PA and leaf percent N were correlated with each other during August (pod-filling period) but not during July (flowering period). August PA and leaf percent N were correlated with bean yield, but July values were not. Chlorophyll and SLW were correlated with each other in July and in August; each was correlated with PA in July but not in August. Although July measurements of leaf characters were not correlated with bean yield, July and August values were correlated for PA and for chlorophyll. The correlations observed among th.
Wpływ przedplonu i chemicznego zaprawiania ziarna na występowanie zgorzeli podstawy źdźbła pszenicy ozimej (Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici) [Influence of forecrop and chemical seed treatment on the occurrence of take-all (Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici) on winter wheat]

The work was done in years 1998/1999 – 2000/2001 on plantations and field plot experiments. Aim of the work was evaluation of take-all occurrence on winter wheat in milk-wax growth stage in dependence on forecrop (oilseed rape, wheat or barley) as well as seed treatment with Latitude 125 FS when wheat was planted on fields after wheat or barley. Percentage of infected plants when seeds were not treated with Latitude 125 FS varied from 82–100 on fields after wheat or barley, and 54–69 on fields after oilseed rape. In treatments with wheat grown after wheat or barley the percentage of infected plants amounted 20–100 when seeds were not treated with Latitude 125 FS and 13–86 when seeds were treated with Latitude 125 FS. Mean degree of infection was low when percentage of infected plants was low and high when percentage of infected plants was high.
Performance of growing-fattening lambs fed whole cotton seed.

Effects of diets containing increasing levels of whole cotton seed (WCS) on feed intake, liveweight gain, feed conversion, feeding margin and carcass characteristics were studied. Diets contained 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30% WCS and were fed ad libitum to growing lambs for 54 days. All diets were approximately isonitrogenous (163–186 g crude protein kg−1 dry matter) and isocaloric (19–20 MJ gross energy kg−1 of dry matter). During the first 28 days, four groups of 10 Karagouniko male lambs with initial liveweights of approximately 17·6 kg were fed diets containing 0, 5, 10 and 15% WCS and then, for the next 26 days, diets containing 0, 10, 20 and 30% WCS, respectively. Lambs fed the 15–30% WCS diet ingested about 20 mg kg liveweight−1 day−1 of free gossypol. At 54 days and liveweights of approximately 34·7 kg, five lambs from each treatment were slaughtered and carcass data were collected. There were significant differences in feed intake, liveweight gain, cooler shrink, rumen contents, intestinal fat and liver weight among the lambs fed these diets. Cooler shrink and intestinal fat, and perirenal fat and the combined weight of intestinal and perirenal fat, were significantly (P < 0·05) correlated. Pelleting of the WCS diets reduced the concentration of free gossypol in these diets. It was concluded that WCS was satisfactory as a feed ingredient for growing sheep and can be incorporated into ruminant diets as a source of energy and protein. No indication of gossypol toxicity was detected. © 1998 Society of Chemical Industry
Effect of pruning intensity and season on Diplodia pinea infection of Pinus radiata stem through pruning wounds

In a five-year-old Pinus radiata stand, trees were pruned to remove 50%, 40% or 25% of the crown and pruning stubs inoculated with Diplodia pinea. Infection occurred in 65–68% of the intensely pruned trees some of which also developed crown wilting and died, but in lightly pruned trees (25% crown removal) only 8% of the trees were infected and no mortality occurred. Pruning and inoculation every two weeks for a whole year cycle showed an infection peak in summer, but extremely low infection level during the rest of the year. A vertical gradient of resistance of infection was apparent along the stem with the basal part being extremely resistant, becoming more susceptible towards the top. Within limits infection also increased with increasing stub diameter.
Food and growth of arctic char, Salvelinus alpinus (L.), in the Cumberland Sound area of Baffin Island

Arctic char, Salvelinus alpinus (L.), captured during the summer, 1972, in Cumberland Sound, Baffin Island, fed mainly on planktonic amphipods (Parathemisto libellula, Pseudalibrotus glacialis), copepods (Calanus hyperboreus), and fish (Boreogadus saida, Myoxocephalus sp.), but failed to utilize coelenterates, planktonic gastropods, and epi- and infauna. The considerable variation in the species composition of the diet of char of different lengths was due primarily to size selection. The average length of all individuals in stomach contents and of representatives of most food species increased with the length of fish. The minimum and maximum length of frequently ingested organisms increased four and 90 times, respectively, as char increased from 4 to 85 cm. Char less than 10 cm in length captured in rivers tributary to the Sound fed mainly on larval Chironomidae (Eukiefferiella bavaria) during the summer, whereas those longer than 10 cm fed predominantly on other char. During the winter the stomachs of the smaller individuals were always empty while the diet of the large char was restricted to other fish. Most species available to the char were consumed in proportion to their relative abundance in the rivers. The dry weight of stomach contents, when expressed on a unit weight basis, decreased with the wet weight of char in both fresh and salt water. Thus, fish 10 g in weight contained approximately 1.5 times more food in their stomachs than those weighing 1000 g. The stomach contents of char captured in salt water weighed approximately 11 times more than those of char of comparable size captured simultaneously in fresh water. The fish fed at random intervals during the day and ceased feeding at night. Arctic char, at all sampling areas, had reached a length of approximately 9.6 cm after four years. Upon migrating to salt water, their growth rate increased sharply with the result that after eight years they were 26.5 cm in length, reflecting food availability. The growth rate gradually decreased in fish older than nine years so that 20 year olds were approximately 70.0 cm in length.
Further Studies on the Heat-induced, pH-dependent Dissociation of Casein from the Micelles in Reconstituted Skim Milk

When milk at a pH value >6.7 was heated, the quantity of αS- andβ -caseins dissociated increased with increasing temperature to a maximum at about 60 °C, decreased at temperatures between 60 and 100 °C and then increased again at temperatures above 100 °C. This produced a local minimum in the dissociated casein vs. temperature curve at about 100 °C. The dissociation of κ -casein increased essentially linearly with increasing temperature over the entire temperature range. Removal of the whey proteins from the milk had no effect on the dissociation of casein at temperatures up to 60 °C. At higher temperatures, the levels of dissociatedαs - and β -caseins increased so that the local minimum in the dissociated casein vs. temperature profile was eliminated when most of the whey protein was removed from the milk. The level of dissociatedκ -casein decreased with increasing whey protein depletion. The addition of β -lactoglobulin to whey protein-free milk had no effect on dissociation at temperatures up to 60 °C. At higher temperatures, the addition ofβ -lactoglobulin reduced the level of dissociated αs- and β -caseins and increased the level of dissociated κ -casein. Blocking the thiol groups with N-ethyl-maleimide (NEM) caused an increase in the dissociation of αs- and β -caseins at all temperatures. The addition of NEM had no effect on the dissociation of κ -casein at temperatures below 60 °C and reduced the level of dissociation at higher temperatures. Increasing the colloidal calcium phosphate (CCP) level of the milk had little effect on the dissociation of the casein micelles. Reducing the CCP level of the milk increased the level of micellar dissociation but did not alter the pH dependence of the phenomenon.
Cladogenetic and anagenetic changes in the morphology of Rhizosolenia praebergonii Mukhina

Biometric analysis of a late Pliocene planktic diatom morphospecies, Rhizosolenia praebergonii Mukhina, from the equatorial Pacific Ocean indicates that it represents a lineage which underwent relatively rapid change in morphology after its first appearance (3–1–2–7 Ma) followed by a period of time where the rate (as expressed as a slope) of morphological change was not significantly different from zero (2–7–1–7 Ma). Based on criteria for identifying ancestral‐descendant relationships (Prothero and Lazarus, 1980), we conclude that R. praebergonii evolved from R. bergonii Peragallo via a cladogenetic event. The observed pattern of evolution conforms to the shifting balance model of evolution, rather than to a punctuated model. Isotopic evidence suggests that paleoclimatic events may have played a role in the onset of the period of stasis.
Acúmulo de massa seca e nutrientes pelo tomateiro 'SM-16' cultivado em solo com diferentes coberturas

Com o objetivo de avaliar o acumulo de massa seca e nutrientes pelo tomateiro 'SM-16' em solo com diferentes coberturas conduziu-se um experimento na WG Fruticultura, Barauna-RN, entre setembro/2009 e janeiro/2010. Foram estudados os tipos de cobertura do solo: 1) solo descoberto; 2) filme de polietileno preto, 3) filme de polietileno branco, 4) filme de polietileno cinza e 5) polipropileno preto (TNT). Os tratamentos foram dispostos em parcelas subdivididas, sendo as parcelas representadas pelas coberturas e as subparcelas pelas epocas de amostragens das plantas: 14, 28, 42, 56, 70, 84, 98 e 112 dias apos o transplantio. O delineamento experimental adotado foi de blocos casualizados completos, com quatro repeticoes. As coberturas do solo nao influenciaram o acumulo de massa seca do tomateiro. Os frutos foram os drenos preferenciais da planta, chegando ao final do ciclo com 48,6% do total da massa seca acumulada. Apenas o acumulo de N, Ca e Mg nos frutos e de K nas folhas foram influenciados pelas coberturas do solo. As maiores medias foram obtidas utilizando-se o polietileno branco, resultando em 137,73 e 8,84 kg/ha de acumulo de N e Mg nos frutos, respectivamente. O uso do TNT resultou em acumulo de 4,02 e 134,23 kg/ha respectivamente de Ca nos frutos e de K nas folhas. O acumulo de nutrientes em ordem decrescente na planta foi: K>N>Ca>Mg>P, sendo N, P e K encontrados em maiores quantidades nos frutos, e Ca e Mg nas folhas.
Influence of the test host on measurements of the effectiveness of Rhizobium trifolii isolated from naturalised Trifolium repens L

Abstract The effectiveness of Rhizobium trifolii cultures isolated from white clover growing at 14 sites in Taranaki was determined using both“Grasslands Huia” white clover seed and seed collected from the site of isolation as sources of test plants. At 2 sites, 3 of the 4 cultures tested were more effective on the naturalised white clover than on Huia, suggesting adaption of the soil rhizobia to the naturalised white clover. No evidence for such adaptation was found at the remaining 12 sites. An inoculant strain was generally less effective on the naturalised white clovers (11 to 14 sites) than on Huia. This provides indirect evidence that Huia was not a dominant component of the white clover populations at these sites.
Seed Fate: Predation, Dispersal and Seedling Establishment

Effects on plant demography - a temperate perspective The fate of seed banks: factors influencing seed survival for light-demanding species in moist tropical forests Different plant species, seasons and spatial distributions Seed predation, seed dispersal and habitat fragmentation Selection, predation and dispersal of seeds by tree squirrels in temperate and boreal forests Effects of large seeds on rodent populations Diplochory and the evolution of seed dispersal The role of dung beetles as secondary seed dispersers Observing seed removal: remote video monitoring
Mapping QTL, Selection Differentials, and the Effect of Rht‐B1 under Organic and Conventionally Managed Systems in the Attila × CDC Go Spring Wheat Mapping Population

A randomly derived recombinant inbred line (RIL) population (n = 163) from a cross between CIMMYT spring wheat ‘Attila’ and the Canadian ‘CDC Go’ was used to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting various agronomic and quality traits. The experiment was also designed to investigate the feasibility of organic wheat breeding by determining selection differentials and the effect of Rht-B1 in paired organic and conventional management systems. Heritability estimates differed between systems for five of nine traits measured; including grain yield, number of tillers, plant height, kernel weight, and grain protein content. Direct selection in each management system resulted in 50% or fewer selected individuals in common between the two systems, for eight of the nine (except for flowering time) studied traits. Most QTL were specific to either the organic or the conventional management system. However, consistent QTL for grain yield, grain volume weight, kernel weight, and days to flowering were mapped in both systems on chromosomes 6A, 1B, 3A, and 5B, respectively. The effect of Rht-B1 was more pronounced in organic systems, where RILs carrying the wild-type allele were taller, produced more grain yield with higher grain protein content, and suppressed weed biomass to a greater extent than those carrying dwarfing alleles. Results of the present study suggest that differences exist between the two management systems for QTL effects. Indirect selection of superior genotypes from one system to another will not result in the advancement of the best possible genotypes. Therefore, selection of spring wheat cultivars for organic systems should be conducted on organically managed lands.
TREHALOSE SYNTHESIS IN EUGLENA GRACILIS (EUGLENOPHYCEAE) OCCURS THROUGH AN ENZYME COMPLEX 1

The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize a trehalose‐synthesizing enzyme from Euglena gracilis Klebs. After purification by anion exchange chromatography, gel filtration, isoelectric focusing, and native electrophoresis, trehalose‐6‐phosphate synthase (TPS, EC 2.4.1.15) and trehalose‐6‐phosphate phosphatase (TPP, EC 3.1.3.12) activities could not be separated. Consequently, a TPS/TPP enzyme complex of about 250 kDa was suggested as responsible for trehalose synthesis in E. gracilis. The TPS activity was shown to be highly specific for glucose‐6‐P, and UDP‐Glc was the preferred glucose donor, but GDP‐Glc and CDP‐Glc could also act as TPS substrates. The TPP activity was highly specific for trehalose‐6‐P. In vitro phosphorylation assays revealed rapid decreases in TPS and TPP activities. These changes corresponded to variations in the elution profile of gel filtration chromatography after the phosphorylation treatment. Taken together, these results suggest that the proposed TPS/TPP complex might be regulated through a protein phosphorylation/dephosphorylation‐mediated mechanism that could affect the association state of the complex. Such a regulatory mechanism might lead to a rapid change in trehalose synthesis in response to variations in environmental conditions.
Níveis de cálcio e granulometria do calcário sobre o desempenho e a qualidade da casca de ovos de poedeiras comerciais

O experimento foi realizado com o objetivo de verificar a influencia dos niveis de calcio e combinacoes do calcario em po com o calcario em grânulo (pedrisco) sobre o desempenho e a qualidade da casca dos ovos de poedeiras comerciais. Foram utilizadas 360 poedeiras da linhagem Hy-Line branca com 57 semanas de idade, distribuidas em um delineamento inteiramente casualisado, em esquema fatorial 3x5 (3,75; 4,15 e 4,55% de calcio na dieta e 0, 25, 50, 75 e 100% de uso do calcario em po em relacao ao calcario em grânulo) com quatro repeticoes de seis aves cada. A producao de ovos, a conversao alimentar, o peso dos ovos, a resistencia e espessura da casca foram influenciados pelos niveis de calcio utilizados. As combinacoes de calcario em po com calcario pedrisco utilizadas nao apresentaram efeito sobre os parâmetros estudados. O peso medio de ovos foi melhorado quando se utilizou diferentes niveis de calcio interagindo com diferentes combinacoes granulometricas do calcario.
The sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera)– phytochemical and therapeutic profile

Objectives Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. (Nymphaeaceae), also known as sacred lotus, is a well known medicinal plant. This article reviews the traditional uses, phytochemistry and therapeutic reports on different parts of N. nucifera viz. the seeds, rhizomes, leaves and flowers. This review also describes various compounds isolated from different parts of this plant and the therapeutic benefits derived from those phytoconstituents.
Gegen Qinlian Decoction Coordinately Regulates PPARγ and PPARα to Improve Glucose and Lipid Homeostasis in Diabetic Rats and Insulin Resistance 3T3-L1 Adipocytes

Gegen Qinlian Decoction (GQD), a well-documented traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formula, was reported with convincing anti-diabetic effects in clinical practice. However, the precise antidiabetic mechanism of GQD remains unknown. In this study, the anti-hyperglycemic and/or lipid lowering effects of GQD were demonstrated in high-fat diet with a low dose of streptozotocin induced diabetic Sprague-Dawley rats and insulin resistance (IR)-3T3-L1 adipocytes. GQD treatment increased expression and activity levels of both PPARγ and PPARα in adipocytes, which transcriptionally affected an ensemble of glucose and lipid metabolic genes in vivo and in vitro. The results clearly indicated that GQD treatment intervened with multiple pathways controlled by concomitantly downstream effects of adipocytic PPARγ and PPARα, to influence two opposite lipid pathways: fatty acid oxidation and lipid synthesis. Antagonist GW9662 decreased the mRNA expression of Pparγ and target genes Adpn and Glut4 whereas GW6471 decreased the mRNA expression of Pparα and target genes Cpt-1α, Lpl, Mcad, Lcad, Acox1, etc. Nuclear location and activity experiments showed that more PPARγ and PPARα shuttled into nuclear to increase its binding activities with target genes. GQD decreased the phosphorylation level of ERK1/2 and/or CDK5 to elevate PPARγ and PPARα activities in IR-3T3-L1 adipocytes through post-translational modification. The increase in p-p38MAPK and SIRT1 under GQD treatment may be attributed to partially reduce PPARγ adipogenesis activity and/or activate PPARα activity. Compared with the rosiglitazone-treated group, GQD elevated Cpt-1α expression, decreased diabetic biomarker Fabp4 expression, which produced an encouraging lipid profile with triglyceride decrease partially from combined effects on upregulated adipocytic PPARγ and PPARα activities. These results suggested that GQD improved diabetes by intervening a diverse array of PPARγ and PPARα upstream and downstream signaling transduction cascades, which jointly optimized the expression of target gene profiles to promote fatty acid oxidation and accelerate glucose uptake and utilization than PPARγ full agonist rosiglitazone without stimulating PPARα activity. Thus, GQD showed anti-diabetic/or antihyperglycemic effects, partially through regulating adipocytic PPARα and PPARγ signaling systems to maintaining balanced glucose and lipid metabolisms. This study provides a new insight into the anti-diabetic effect of GQD as a PPARα/γ dual agonist to accelerate the clinical use.