Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Alterações na relação fonte-dreno em feijão-de-corda submetido a diferentes densidades de plantas

Conduziu-se um experimento em campo, sob irrigacao, em 2001, em Fortaleza, Ceara, Brasil, com o objetivo de analisar as alteracoes na relacao fonte-dreno em feijao-de-corda [ Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. ], cvs. Epace 10 e Serido, por meio da variacao no nivel de competicao entre plantas. As populacoes estudadas foram 41.666; 83.333; 125.000 e 166.666 plantas.ha-1. Constatou-se um aumento da interceptacao de luz, do indice de area foliar e duracao de area foliar, entre 45 e 60 dias apos a semeadura e da taxa de crescimento da cultura com o aumento da populacao. A cobertura total do solo nao foi atingida nos limites de populacao utilizados. O aumento da populacao determinou reducao no numero de ramos, no potencial e na capacidade de drenos reprodutivos e alteracoes na relacao fonte/dreno. Houve tendencia de reducao no numero de flores, de vagens e do peso de sementes por area foliar. A eficiencia reprodutiva e a produtividade nao foram afetadas pelos niveis populacionais. A cv. Epace 10 foi mais produtiva que a cv. Serido.
Protective effect of recombinant tumor necrosis factor-α in murine salmonellosis.

The enhancement of resistance by i.p. administration of murine rTNF-alpha into mice against i.p. challenge with virulent Salmonella typhimurium was studied. Administration of TNF-alpha (5 x 10(4) U/mouse) into mice at 6 or 12 h before the challenge with S. typhimurium organisms enhanced the bactericidal capacity in the peritoneal cavities of the mice. The diminution of the infecting organism in the peritoneal cavities of the TNF-alpha-treated mice was not due to the systemic spread of the organism inasmuch as few organism were recovered from other areas such as the spleen and liver. The TNF-alpha treatment effected a slight increase of neutrophils in the peritoneal cavity, but did not effect an increase of macrophages, including Ia-bearing macrophages. The survival rate of mice infected with Salmonella was improved by the i.p. injection of TNF-alpha before infection. Co-administration of smaller doses of TNF-alpha (5 x 10(3) U) and murine rIFN-gamma (10(2) U) at 6 h before the challenge also effectively enhanced bactericidal activity and protectivity. The cooperative effect of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma was only seen when these recombinant cytokines were injected together at the proper time before the challenge. Injection of rabbit anti-TNF-alpha serum abolished the effects of TNF-alpha and the cooperative effect of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma. Furthermore, the serum could abolish the cooperative effect of IFN-gamma and LPS on bactericidal activity, suggesting participation of LPS-induced TNF-alpha in the cooperation.
Improving the economic and environmental performance of a New Zealand hill country farm catchment: 2. Forecasting and planning land‐use change

Abstract The second phase of a multi‐stakeholder, integrated catchment management project at the Whatawhata Research Centre is described. This project explored land use and management change options to improve the economic and environmental performance of the case study hill land catchment farm. Research observations, decision support models and expert stakeholder knowledge were used to develop and predict the outcome of various scenarios for the key performance indicators identified by the Catchment Management Group (CMG). These scenarios included Pinus radiata plantation forestry, livestock intensification and enterprise change, riparian revegetation, indigenous forest restoration and pastoral land stabilisation with erosion control plantings. The resulting predictions did offer scope for improving both the economic and environmental performance of the case study catchment farm, if the time scale for change was not a constraint. The CMG developed a new land‐use plan in order to meet the diverse economic and environmental goals they had originally identified for a “well managed hill land catchment”. The feasibility of this plan depended on significant capital investment in land use and enterprise change, and the outcomes were likely to take up to 30 years to manifest themselves in the key performance indicators.
Effect of mating status on the fecundity of a cricket, Teleogryllus emma

Abstract Fecundity in some insects is affected by mating status. The effect of mating status on the fecundity and total egg production of Teleogryllus emma (Ohmachi et Matsumura) (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) was examined in this study. The results showed that the pre‐oviposition period was shorter for amphigonic females than that for virgin females. However, no significant difference in pre‐oviposition was found between amphigonic females and those that had mated with a male with either the phallodeum or testes extirpated. There is no difference in adult longevity between the above four groups. The fecundity and total egg production were much higher in amphigonic females than in those controlled under the three non‐amphigonic treatments. The females of T. emma that mated with the testes‐extirpated males produced more eggs (up to two‐fold more) than both the virgin females and those that mated with the phallodeum‐extirpated males, but there was no difference between them. The fecundity‐enhancing substances transferred from male to female can stimulate the female to produce more eggs, but this stimulation has to occur in collaboration with sperm.
Characterization of four different mammalian‐cell‐derived recombinant human interferon‐β1s

In order to evaluate the structural identification of various recombinant human interferon-β1s, the recombinant proteins were produced in four different mammalian cells (human PC12 and PC8 lung adenocarcinoma cells, Chinese hamster ovary cells and mouse C127 cells) and characterized. Each mammalian-cell-derived recombinant human interferon-β1 represented a single band of 23 kDa on sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the same molecular mass as fibroblast-derived natural human interferon-β1. Specific activities, amino acid compositions, amino-terminal sequences, peptide maps on C18 reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and circular dichroic spectra of recombinant proteins were in good agreement with natural ones. On the other hand, the patterns of isoelectric focusing were different between mammalian-cell-derived recombinant human interferon-β1s and natural human interferon-β1. Sugar composition analysis revealed that the recombinant protein from Chinese hamster ovary cells has a similar sugar composition to that of natural protein and the other recombinant proteins have increased amounts of galactose and glucosamine in comparison to the natural protein. Furthermore, there is no galactosamine in the natural protein, while small amounts of galactosamine were detected in the oligosaccharides released from PC8- and C127-derived recombinant proteins by N-glycanase. These results indicate that mammalian-cell-derived recombinant human interferon-β1s have identical polypeptides to those of natural human interferon-β1 but their carbohydrate moieties, including unusual N-linked oligosaccharides, are individually different from natural ones and depend on the host cell.
Varietal response and gibberellic acid concentrations on yield and yield traits of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) under wet and dry conditions

Field experiments were conducted during the 2008 rainy season and 2009 dry season at the Faculty of Agriculture Farm, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria (11° 58' N and 8° 25' E). The experiment investigated the response of three varieties viz: SAMNUT 21, SAMNUT 22 and SAMNUT 23 and five levels of gibberellic acid viz: 0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 mg L-1) foliar applied at 3 and 6 weeks after sowing on yield and yield traits of groundnut. The 15 treatment combinations were laid out in a randomized complete block design and replicated four times. The results obtained showed that 200 mg L-1of gibberellic acid level significantly (P<0.01) reduced days of first flowering and 50% flowering. The highest pod, kernel and haulm yields was obtained at 100 mg L-1 levels of gibberellic acid during wet and dry seasons. SAMNUT 23 had the highest pod, kernel and the haulm yields also across seasons. There were no significant interactions between gibberellic acid concentrations and the varieties in all the traits evaluated. Regression analysis however, pointed out that 172.7 and 161.4 mg L-1 gibberellic concentrations during the wet and dry seasons respectively are the optimum levels required in enhancing growth and yield in groundnuts. Further studies with respect to the best performance of varieties during growing seasons under the influence of gibberellic acid to be ascertain in a further research
Effects of vaccination against coccidiosis, with and without a specific herbal essential oil blend, on performance, oocyst excretion and serum IBD titers of broilers reared on litter

The aim of the present experiment was to investigate the effects of oral administration of a live attenuated vaccine (VAC) and an essential oil blend (EOB), either alone or in combination, as a novel anticoccidial strategy for broiler chickens with a mixed Eimeria spp. infection. A total of 624 broiler chicks were randomly assigned to one of six treatments. Two of the groups, only one of which was challenged with coccidiosis, were given a basal diet and served as controls. The other two groups, also infected, were given a basal diet supplemented with monensin sodium (MON, 100 mg/kg) or the EOB (75 mg/kg). Of the remaining two groups, which were infected with coccidiosis, one was vaccinated against coccidiosis (VAC) and the other was both vaccinated and fed a diet with an EOB (VAC+EOB). Birds treated with VAC and VAC+EOB had comparable live performance to MON-fed birds challenged with coccidiosis. Conversely, EOB diet supplementation had negative effects on growth, feed intake and feed conversion ratio throughout the growth period. None of the coccidial control strategies kept pace with the uninfected procedure in terms of performance during the course of the infection. There was no significant difference in mortality among treatments. All of the anticoccidial procedures kept serum infectious bursal disease titers at high levels after coccidial infection and reduced fecal oocyst excretion, with the exception of the MON-based procedure. The results indicate that vaccination against coccidiosis, with or without EOB, demonstrated the same efficacy in promoting recovery from coccidial infection and in reducing oocyst shedding as MON.
Soil Test based Fertilizer Prescriptions under Integrated Plant Nutrient Supply for Rice-Rice Cropping Sequence in Inceptisols of Assam

Field experiments were conducted during 2010–12 to assess the fertilizer requirements for rice-rice sequence under integrated plant nutrient supply on Inceptisols (Aeric Endoaquepts) in Jorhat district of Assam. Following Ramamoorthy's Inductive cum targeted yield model, the nutrient requirement per quintal of grain production and contribution from soil, fertilizer and farmyard manure (FYM) were calculated for both autumn and winter rice. The per cent contribution of nutrients from soil (CS), fertilizer (CF) and FYM (CFYM) were found to be 12.49, 45.31 and 32.92 for N, 13.42, 28.52 and 11.84 for P2O5 and 21.99, 47.58 and 29.76 for K2O, respectively for autumn rice. The same for winter rice was 24.60, 33.15 and 48.28 for N, 30.69, 32.15 and 14.38 for P2O5, and 41.00, 56.87 and 31.59 for K2O, respectively. The fertilizer prescription equations were developed and nomograms were formulated based on the equations for a range of soil test values and desired yield target for rice. Under NPK + FYM @ 5.0 t ha−1, 17, 6,14 and 35, 7 and 12 kg ha−1 of fertilizer N, P2O5 and K2O, respectively could be saved for attaining target yield of 40 q ha−1 for autumn rice and 60 q ha−1 for winter rice as compared to NPK fertilizers alone.
Interactions between climate and population density in the episodic recruitment of bocaccio, Sebastes paucispinis, a Pacific rockfish

Climate strongly influences the population dynamics of many species, but intrinsic and extrinsic factors such as density-dependence and anthropogenic impacts can confound the effects of climate. Further, the temporal scale of climate response is determined by the unique characteristics of a species’ life history, and determining the most appropriate climate indicator at the proper scale is a challenge faced by population ecologists. We focused on how climate influences juvenile survival of bocaccio (Sebastes paucispinis), a threatened Pacific rockfish, because its abundance has declined >90% in the last 25 years, ostensibly as the result of overfishing. Bocaccio recruitment is episodic, with strong recruitment events apparently related to climate conditions. We developed a sequence of models that related log of juvenile survival to the predictor variables population density and climate, as measured by the Northern Oscillation Index. A model that contained only population density as a predictor variable explained only 1.4% of the variance, while a model that included only climate indices explained 52%. Including density additively with climate did not improve model fit. However, a model that included an interaction between density and climate explained more than 68% of the variance. In addition, models that represented climate as monthly indices fit the juvenile survival data much better than those that averaged climate over 2- or 3-month periods. Our results suggest that climate affects bocaccio recruitment as a series of pulses corresponding to particular life-history events, with population density mediating the magnitude of the climate effect during the settlement stage.
Endemic tenebrionids (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) from the Patagonian steppe: a preliminary identification of areas of micro‐endemism and richness hotspots

Based on data from sixteen museum collections we listed the endemic tenebrionids that inhabit the Patagonian steppe. Then, according to the geographical location of the species, we identified areas of micro‐endemism and hotspots within this biogeographic province. Results showed 115 endemic tenebrionid species from the Patagonian steppe, 25 areas of micro‐endemism and five hotspots. We used these outcomes to identify areas of importance for conservation. Based on the comparison with other biogeographic provinces, we suggest that the Patagonian steppe constitutes a center of high endemism for tenebrionids. We hypothesize that the isolation of the Patagonian steppe from other arid areas would cause the high occurrence of endemism. In addition, we suggest processes that could be responsible for the origin of the areas of micro‐endemism and hotspots identified in this work.
Callichirus garthi is a valid species, distinct from C. seilacheri (Decapoda: Axiidea: Callianassidae)

Abstract Callichirus garthi from the southeastern Pacific has long been considered as a junior synonym of Callichirus seilacheri from the eastern tropical Pacific. The present study is based on a detailed comparison between both taxa collected along the coast of Chile and the Pacific coast of Central America, including type material of C. garthi and topotypic material of C. garthi and C. seilacheri. This reveals that C. garthi is a valid species, with a suite of morphological features that allow it to be separated from C. seilacheri. Callichirus garthi can primarily be distinguished from C. seilacheri by closely set eyestalks; the proximal margin of the terminal antennular segment exceeding the proximal margin of the last antennal segment with the dorsal margins of both the basal and intermediate antennular segment setose; the merus of the larger cheliped armed with a rough semicircular lobe over the anterior ventral margin and the ischium curved downwards without ornamentation on the ventral margin. On the basis of the present study, we therefore resurrect C. garthi as a valid species for the Chilean and Peruvian populations. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:6FB68C22-5C87-4331-8FCA-CC8994034F3C
Osteology of Concavispina biseridens (Reptilia, Thalattosauria) from the Xiaowa Formation (Carnian), Guanling, Guizhou, China

Abstract A thalattosaur taxon, Concavispina biseridens, was recently named and briefly described. It is described here in detail and compared with other thalattosaurs, especially Xinpusaurus. Concavispina is characterized by a long skull, measuring approximately half the length of presacral portion of the vertebral column, two rows of blunt teeth on the anterior part of the maxilla, and neural spines that have convex anterior or posterior margins and V-shaped notches in their dorsal margins. Concavispina differs from all thalattosaurs except Xinpusaurus in that the anterior end of the maxilla is curved dorsally, less than five cervical vertebrae are present, and the proximal end of the humerus is wider than the distal end. Phylogenetic analysis of 40 characters suggests that Miodentosaurus occupies a basal position within Askeptosauridea, Paralonectes is the basalmost member of Thalattosauridea, Concavispina may form a clade with Xinpusaurus, and Chinese thalattosaurs do not have a close relationship with eastern Pacific forms as suggested by previous studies. Concavispina may have been similar to Xinpusaurus in overall locomotor style, but probably had a poorer swimming ability. Concavispina likely differed from Xinpusaurus in diet, for example by depending on softer food.
Fig tree viruses in New Zealand.

In late March 2012, cuttings were collected from 11 fig trees growing in Anaura Beach and in a private garden in the vicinity of Gisborne (Bay of Poverty, New Zealand). Each tree apparently belonged to a different cultivar, whose name was unknown to the owners. Due to the late season, symptoms on the leaves were not outstanding. When visible, they consisted of various patterns of mottling resembling very much the symptoms characterizing fig mosaic (Martelli, 2011). Total RNA was extracted from cortical scrapings and subjected to RT-PCR, which was conducted accord- ing to the protocols and using the virus-specific primers routinely utilized in our laboratory (Martelli, 2011 and references therein) for the detection of the following viruses: Fig mosaic virus (FMV), Fig leaf mottle-associated virus 1 (FLMaV-1), Fig leaf mottle-asso- ciated virus 2 (FLMaV-2), Fig mild mottle virus (FMMV), and Fig latent virus 1 (FLV-1). PCR was also carried out for the presence of Fig badnavirus 1 (FBaV-1), using the primers P1s: 5’-GCT GAT CAC AAG AGG CAT GA-3’ and P1as: 5’-TCC TTG TTT CCA CGT TCC TT-3’ designed on the sequence of the 5’ termi- nal portion of the polyprotein encoded by the viral ORF3 (Gen- Bank accession No. JF411989). Amplification products were ob- tained from all samples, most of which proved to be infected by two (e.g. FMV, FBaV-1) or more (e.g. FMV, FBaV-1, FLMaV-1, FMMV) different viruses. FLV-1 was not detected, whereas the most widespread viruses were FMV and FBaV-1. Interestingly, the latter virus was detected in the totality of the samples. Fig mosaic is known to occur in New Zealand (Li and Procter, 1944; Cairns, 2006) but, to the best of our knowledge, there are no records of viruses associated with the disease.
Estimation of exposure to two potent heterocyclic aromatic amines in various human populations and their role in colorectal cancer

The overall goal of this research project was to estimate exposure to food-derived heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs), PhIP and MeIQx, in various human populations and determine their role in colorectal cancer. Human exposure to PhIP and MeIQx was estimated by measuring the amounts of total HAAs (unmetabolized HAAs combined with acid-labile metabolites) present in urine samples. Purification and quantitative analysis of urine specimens was performed by immunoaffinity chromatography combined with ESI-LC/MS-MS. A populationbased study of 130 male residents (44 blacks, 43 asians and 43 whites) of Los Angeles was performed in order to determine whether differences in ethnicity, dietary habits and smoking status have an effect on HAA disposition and metabolism. Non-whites excreted higher levels of urinary PhIP when compared to whites. The urinary excretion of PhIP was not correlated with the intake frequencies of beef, pork, chicken, bacon, fish, sausage or lard. However, a marginal association was observed between bacon consumption and the urinary excretion of total PhIP combined with MelQx. A Chi-square test of association did not reveal a significant association between the urinary excretion of total MeIQx and PhIP. Neither smoking status nor N-acetylation activity had an impact on PhIP metabolism and disposition. The effects of CYPIA2 and NAT2 activity on HAA disposition and metabolism were studied in a controlled food study. Subjects (n= 66) were phenotyped for CYPIA2/NAT2 activity after the consumption pan-fried beef containing undetectable levels of HAAs for seven days followed by seven days of fried beef containing high levels of HAAs (i.e., 9 ng PhlP/g-meat and 32.8 ng PhlP/g-meat). Subjects excreted approximately 9% and 4% of the ingested dose as total MelQx and PhlP, respectively. Rapid CYPIA2 activity correlated with a weak but significant decrease in the urinary excretion of total MelQx, but not PhlP. NAT2 activity did not affect HAA disposition nor metabolism. There was a marginal correlation between HAA intake and the excreted dose. The association between the urinary excretion of PhlP and MelQx was also marginal. Male residents of Shanghai, China participated in a nested case control study consisting of 59 colo-rectal cases and 240 controls. The main objective of this study was to determine whether individuals diagnosed with colorectal cancer excrete higher levels of food-derived HAAs when compared to matched controls. There were no differences in the levels of urinary excretion of PhlP nor MelQx in a comparison between colo-rectal cases and their respective matched controls.