Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Polinização e biologia reprodutiva de Araticum-liso (Annona coriacea Mart.: Annonaceae) em uma área de cerrado paulista: implicações para fruticultura

Anonaceous, in general, are cantharophilous highly specialized, presenting thick, fleshy and nutritious petals forming a floral chamber with thermogenese occurrence. This study aimed to verify the effective pollinators and prevalent breeding system in A. coriacea. Flowers were marked and accompanied during day and night periods to verify legitimate pollinators. Treatments of hand pollination were done to determine the breeding system. Scarab beetles Cyclocephala atricapilla and Cyclocephala quatuordecimpunctata (Dynastinae) were attracted by the scent exhaled by flowers in the beginning of the night already containing pollen on their bodies and penetrated into floral chamber, where stayed until 48 h feeding on the petals and shed pollen, copulating and when they touched the receptive stigmas, deposited pollen. Afterwards, flower in male phase released pollen that once more got the beetle bodies dirty and with the flower fall they flied to new-open flower and in female phase starting new pollination cycle. A. coriacea is a self-compatible species and Cyclocephala were considered very efficient pollinators.
The influence of population dynamics and environmental conditions on pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) recolonization after barrier removal in the Fraser River, British Columbia, Canada

When barriers are removed, what biotic and abiotic factors determine how fish populations will colonize newly available habitats? We used counts of adult pink salmon (Oncorhywnchus gorbuscha) from 1947 to 1987 in 66 streams of the Fraser River system, British Columbia, Canada, to determine when colonizing pink salmon populations became self-sustaining after a long-term migration blockage at Hell’s Gate (river kilometre 209) was reduced. The abundance of salmon in available habitats were largely controlled by extrinsic factors such as an initially large source population, high intrinsic growth rates linked to favorable climate-driven conditions, a constant supply of dispersers, and large amounts of newly available habitat. Temporal variation in flows at Hell’s Gate also affected recolonization success. Self-sustaining populations were developed within years of barrier removal and have continued to help expand the overall population of Fraser River pink salmon. However, pink salmon were considerably more ab.
Characteristics of immobilised β‐glucosidase and its effect on bound volatile compounds in orange juice

Summary In this study, bound volatile compounds were isolated and extracted with Amberlite XAD-2 resin and then hydrolysed by free or immobilised β-glucosidase. The released bound volatiles were analysed by GC-MS. In addition, the optimisation of immobilisation method on sodium alginate and the characteristics of immobilised β-glucosidase were studied. The results showed that crosslinking-entrapment was the best method. The optimal conditions of this method were as follows: sodium alginate concentration 3.5%, glutaraldehyde concentration 1%, crosslinking time 3 h, immobilisation time 2 h and CaCl2 concentration 3%. The optimum temperature for β-glucosidase (65 °C) was decreased by 10 °C after immobilisation, while the optimum pH values for free and immobilised β-glucosidase were both at pH 5.0. The Km values of free and immobilised β-glucosidase were 14.89 and 0.59 m, respectively. In total, thirteen and six bound volatile compounds were detected in orange juice hydrolysed by free and immobilised β-glucosidase, including benzenic compounds, terpenic compounds, hydroxy esters, C13-norisoprenoids and alcohols.
Cytomorphological and Molecular Characterization of F 1 Hybrids between Brassica tournefortii and B. rapa

Interspecific F1 hybrids were synthesized between Brassica tournefortii (2n=20, TT) and B. rapa var. yellow sarson (NRCYS-05-02) (2n=20, AA) by sexual mating. The F1s were obtained only when B. tournefortii was used as the female parent. Morphological, cytological and sequence tagged microsatellite sites (STMS) based molecular analyses were carried out to confirm the hybrid nature of F1 plants. Morphologically, the F1 plants were intermediate for most of the morphological attributes. Although, the F1s showed poor pollen fertility, a few seeds were obtained from open pollination in the surroundings of B. rapa. The F1 plants showed predominance of univalents (53.66%), a typical feature of wide hybrids. The occurrence of chromosome association ranging from bivalents (0–4), trivalent (0–1) and quadrivalent (0–1) in the F1s indicated homeologous pairing between the T and A genomes. STMS analysis of the parents and the F1s revealed a high degree of similarity (75%) and rearrangements in the two genomes during or after their fusion. The study suggests that B. tournefortii has partial genome homeology with B. rapa which could be exploited in crop improvement programmes, particularly breeding for tolerance/resistance to white rust and mustard aphid.
Quality Index Method developed for gutted and ungutted red tilapia (Oreochromis ssp)

Objective. To develop a Quality Index Method (QIM) for gutted and ungutted red tilapia from aquaculture ponds. Materials and methods. 40 specimens of gutted red tilapia and 40 ungutted ones were located in foam polyethylene boxes within layers of ice and storage at 4°C. Three fish were randomly sampled on days 0, 3, 5, 8, 11, 14 and 17 for gutted tilapia, and on days 0, 3, 6, 9, 11, 14 and 16 for ungutted tilapia. A sensorial panel of 8 experts was formed to evaluate the product. With three samples each day with average points of the sensorial attributes proposed in the method, the quality index for gutted and ungutted red tilapia was obtained based on the storage time on ice. Results. The Quality Index Method obtained for gutted and ungutted red tilapia showed maximum values of 21 and 29, respectively. It was adjusted in an increasing lineal model with high correlation between the Quality Index and the storage time on ice. Conclusions. The developed model is useful to determine deterioration levels and to define storage and consumption time. For gutted red tilapia the panel rejected the fish after 8 - 11 days of storage whereas the ungutted red tilapia was rejected after 6 - 9 days.
Amphibians and Reptiles, Romblon Island Group, central Philippines: Comprehensive herpetofaunal inventory

We present results from several recent herpetological surveys in the Romblon Island Group (RIG), Romblon Province, central Philippines. Together with a summary of historical museum records, our data document the occurrence of 55 species of amphibians and reptiles in this small island group. Until the present effort, and despite past studies, herpetological diversity of the RIG and their biogeographical affinities has remained poorly understood. We report on observations of evolutionarily distinct amphibian species, including conspicuous, previously known, endemics like the forest frogs Platymantis lawtoni and P. levigatus and two additional suspected undescribed species of Platymantis . Moderate levels of reptile endemism prevail on these islands, including taxa like the karst forest gecko species Gekko romblon and the newly discovered species G. coi . Although relatively small and less diverse than the surrounding landmasses, the islands of Romblon Province contain remarkable levels of endemism when considered as percentage of the total fauna or per unit landmass area.
Salinity effects on water relations in Lycopersicon esculentum and its wild salt‐tolerant relative species L. pennellii

Cultivated tomato Lycopersicon esculentum (L.) Mill. cv. P-73 and its wild salt tolerant relative L. pennellii (Correll) D'Arcy accession PE-47, were grown during spring-summer 1989 under unheated plastic greenhouse conditions. Plants were submitted to two different salt treatments using 0 and 140 mM NaCI irrigation water. In both tomato species, salinity caused a proportionally larger reduction in leaf area than in leaf weight and, in L. esculentum, a proportionally larger decrease in stem weight than in leaf weight. Daily variations in leaf water potential (Ψ1) were fundamentally due to changes in the evaporative demand of the atmosphere. Reductions in Ψ1 due to salinity were consistent only in L. esculentum. In all the conditions studied, leaf turgor was maintained. Leaf conductance (g1)was higher in L. esculentum than in L. pennellii.Salinity induced a clear reduction in g1 levels in L. esculentum whereas, in L. pennellii, this reduction was noted only in May. In both species the Ψos (leaf osmotic potential at full turgor) levels were reduced by salinity. The bulk modulus of elasticity (E) and relative water content at turgor loss point (RWCtlp) were not affected by salinity. The RWCtlp values in L. pennellii seem to be controlled by E values.
Occurrence of zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) in the oligohaline Hudson River, New York

Between May and October of 1992,Dreissena polymorpha invaded the oligohaline portion of the Hudson River Estuary to river kilometer (RKM) 65 (as measured upstream from the river mouth), recruiting onto suspended concrete cinder blocks and surviving 2–5‰ salinity.D. polymorpha was significantly most abundant at the most upstream sites examined, RKMs 112 and 99 (0–3‰), decreased significantly at each more downstream site, with none found at the most downstream site, RKM 49 (5–9‰). The size frequencies ofD. polymorpha at the most upstream sites were skewed toward the smallest identifiable size-class (2 mm <shell length≤3 mm). The abundance data suggest thatD. polymorpha passively dispersed downstream from established upstream source populations. By extending its range to the oligohaline zone of the Hudson River,D. polymorpha has encountered a novel suite of species with which to interact, several of which are also introduced species.Dreissena polymorpha now sympatrically occurs with other fouling organisms, including the introduced false dark mussel,Mytilopsis leucophaeata, the introduced hydroidCordylophora caspia, and the barnacleBalanus improvisus. D. polymorpha also established sympatry with a potential predator, the blue crab,Callinectes sapidus, and a potential macrophytic substrate, the introduced water chestnut,Trapa natans.
Does predation drive morphological differentiation among Adriatic populations of the three-spined stickleback?

Morphometric differentiation among freshwater fish populations is a commonplace occurrence, although the underlying causes for this divergence often remain elusive. We analysed the degree and patterns of morphological differentiation among nine freshwater three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) populations inhabiting isolated karst rivers of the Adriatic Sea basin, to characterise the phenotypic diversity and differentiation in these populations. The analyses revealed marked and significant morphometric differentiation – especially in traits related to predator defence amongst most populations – even among those located within close geographic proximity in the same catchment system. Accordingly, the degree of morphometric and neutral genetic differentiation, as assessed from variability in 15 microsatellite loci from a parallel study, were uncorrelated across the populations. However, PST/FST comparisons revealed that the degree of phenotypic differentiation (PST) among populations exceeded that to be expected from genetic drift alone, suggesting a possible adaptive basis for the observed differentiation. In fact, avian predation pressure and several physiochemical environmental variables were identified as the main putative drivers of the observed differentiation, particularly in the dorsal spines, ascending process and lateral plates. Hence, the high degree of morphometric differentiation among Adriatic three-spined stickleback populations appears to reflect adaptation to local ecological conditions. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2015, 115, 219–240.
Evolutionary patterns–tested with cladistics–and processes in relation to palaeoenvironments of the Upper Barremian genus Gassendiceras (Ammonitina, Lower Cretaceous)

Abstract: Phylogenetic reconstruction of the Upper Barremian ammonite genus Gassendiceras (Gassendiceratinae) was performed using a cladistic analysis incorporating continuous data. Some morphological features were found to vary identically among all the analysed species and therefore carry no phylogenetic information (= symplesiomorphic). The single obtained cladogram allows interpreting the evolution of the Gassendiceras as an anagenetic succession of eight species, in stratigraphic order of appearance, Gassendiceras multicostatum, G. alpinum, G. hoheneggeri, G. rebouleti, G. bosellii, G. quelquejeui, G. coulletae and G. enayi. The clade Pseudoshasticrioceras/Imerites is derived from G. enayi, so the genus Gassendiceras appears to be paraphyletic. But here, we accept this fact as the best evolutive classification. The evolution over time of Gassendiceras is modulated by some processes, which could have constrained the inferred phylogenetic pattern with the drift of the global variability towards the most gracile forms over time. It is tempting to interpret this evolution as a constant selection over time of the Gassendiceras modulated by environmental control due to eustatic variation across a transgressive sequence. Thus, the most peramorphic (gracile) individuals seemed favoured at the expense of those most robust (paedomorphic).
DEG Proteases in Arabidopsis thaliana

Proteases are catalytic enzymes, not only responsible for the degradation of unwanted proteins but also representing important regulatory factors in planta. The selective cleavage of peptide bonds marks crucial post-translational modifications for proper protein maturation. But not only protein maturation is regulated by proteases, selective activation or deactivation of whole molecular response mechanism can be attributed to them. Therefore, it is rather unsurprising that 3 % of all genes in the Arabidopsis thaliana genome are encoding for proteases. The family of DEG proteases thereby represents a small group of 16 ATP-independent serine-type proteases in A. thaliana. With the present thesis, the physiological role of selected DEG proteases was investigated. We were able to confirm previously predicted localisations for various DEG proteases and presented hypotheses about their function in the respective organelles. Nuclear DEG proteases were especially highlighted and the plant cell nucleus pictured as the main cellular regulator. However, the main focus of this thesis was laid on the chloroplastic protease DEG2. Initially characterised as an important factor in light stress response mechanism, specifically cleaving the D1 protein of photosystem II (PSII), the function of DEG2 became more questionable over the following years. This thesis presents new data arising from comparison of A. thaliana wild-type (wt) plants with knock-out (ko) mutants lacking DEG2 (deg2), which is present mainly in photosynthetically active tissue. It is demonstrated that DEG2 protein level remains constant in response to induced lightstress, questioning the involvement in photorepair mechanism. However, comparative proteomics revealed the up and down-regulation of several subunits of the photosynthetic apparatus, suggesting the involvement of DEG2 in a superordinate regulation network in the plant chloroplast. Biochemical approaches revealed the formation of a trimeric DEG2 homo-oligomer in vivo, while hexamers were observed in vitro. Phenotypical comparison of A. thaliana wt plants with deg2 ko mutants showed that the latter possess a shorter root length under in vitro conditions. We were able to complement this striking phenotype by addition of sucrose to the growth medium, indicating a possible involvement of DEG2 in carbon metabolism. In summary, our data implies that DEG2 is essential for normal plant development and does possess a much broader substrate specificity than previously described.
Homocysteine and total antioxidant status in acute myocardial infarction patients among Tamil population

Abstract Oxidative stress is prerequisite for the development of atherosclerosis. Apart from the traditional risk factors that contribute to this devastating condition, in the past few decades, much attention has been focused on plasma total homocysteine mainly because of its strong association with coronary artery disease. It has been suggested that homocysteine induces oxidative stress and hence the present work was undertaken to assess the total homocysteine status and plasma total antioxidant capacity in the acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients among Tamil population. The study subjects included only the Tamil population. Blood samples were collected from 100 AMI patients and 100 controls. Plasma was separated and the total antioxidant status was assessed as a measure of ferric reducing power of antioxidants using spectrophotometric method. Plasma total homocysteine concentrations were assessed by automated chemiluminescence method. While Total antioxidant status was significantly decreased, the plasma homocysteine concentrations were elevated in AMI patients compared to the controls. However, there was no correlation between the homocysteine levels and total antioxidant status. The findings of this study may have therapeutic implications, including food sources rich in antioxidants for all AMI patients to minimize the effect of free radicals formed during oxidative stress among Tamil population.
Recent changes in north-west Greenland climate documented by NEEM shallow ice core data and simulations, and implications for past temperature reconstructions

Combined records of snow accumulation rate, 18 O and deuterium excess were produced from several shal- low ice cores and snow pits at NEEM (North Greenland Eemian Ice Drilling), covering the period from 1724 to 2007. They are used to investigate recent climate variability and characterise the isotope-temperature relationship. We find that NEEM records are only weakly affected by inter-annual changes in the North Atlantic Oscillation. Decadal 18 O and accumulation variability is related to North Atlantic sea sur- face temperature and is enhanced at the beginning of the 19th century. No long-term trend is observed in the accumula- tion record. By contrast, NEEM 18 O shows multidecadal increasing trends in the late 19th century and since the 1980s. The strongest annual positive 18 O values are recorded at NEEM in 1928 and 2010, while maximum accumulation oc- curs in 1933. The last decade is the most enriched in 18 O (warmest), while the 11-year periods with the strongest de- pletion (coldest) are depicted at NEEM in 1815-1825 and 1836-1846, which are also the driest 11-year periods. The NEEM accumulation and 18 O records are strongly cor- related with outputs from atmospheric models, nudged to atmospheric reanalyses. Best performance is observed for ERA reanalyses. Gridded temperature reconstructions, in- strumental data and model outputs at NEEM are used to esti- mate the multidecadal accumulation-temperature and 18 O- temperature relationships for the strong warming period in 1979-2007. The accumulation sensitivity to temperature is estimated at 11 2 % C 1 and the 18 O-temperature slope at 1.1 0.2 ‰ C 1 , about twice as large as previously used to estimate last interglacial temperature change from the bot- tom part of the NEEM deep ice core.
Effect of Feeing Frequency on Lipid Accumulation in Ayu

The effect of feeding frequency on lipid accumulation in ayu Plecoglossus altivelis was investigated by feeding fish (11 g, initial body weight) either once (group I) , twice (group ‡U), or four (group ‡V) ti mes per day. The average weight of diet fed to groups I , ‡U, and ‡V were 3132, 4231, and 4090g, respectively. There were no differences in biomass production and feed utilization among the groups . Th e average body weight was lowest in group I . reflecting low food intake. The lowest muscle triglyceride level was noted in the group fed four times a day . On the other hand, two feedings resulted in the highest triglyceride deposition in muscle . Feeding frequency did not influence the weight of intraperitoneal fat body , but feeding four times resulted in the smallest cell size.S tarvation for 16 days caused some differences in the mode of lipid mobilization among the groups . Body weight loss during starvation decreased with increase in feeding frequency . It was confirmed that frequent feeding reduced lipid accumulation . This suggests that lipid metabolism may be highly influenced by feeding frequency .
The roles of environmental factors on reptile richness in Iran

Iran is usually considered as a bridge between Oriental and African zoogeographical region, and also the 20th global biodiversity hotspot. Herpetofauna of the Iranian Plateau has a high diversity compared to other areas in the region and has always been interesting for herpetologists in terms of biogeography, ecology and zoogeography. In this study, distribution maps of 215 terrestrial reptilian species (of which 50 were endemic to Iran) were digitized and the species richness patterns were correlated with 13 environmental factors using spatial analyses methods. Our results showed that the hotspot regions for all reptilian species are concentrated on south and southwest of Iran. This result is consistent with the Irano-Anatolian biodiversity hotspot. Based on spatial analyses, species richness in the area is affected by seven environmental variables which are associated with temperature and probably interpreted as the most important factor on reptile richness in Iran.
Economic-ecological evaluation of temporary biodiversity offsets in Alberta's boreal forest

SUMMARY To conserve biodiversity on forest landscapes, it is necessary to understand how incentives in an offset market affect the dynamics of habitat loss and restoration. In this study, a model of firm behaviour in a temporary biodiversity offset market is developed to understand the impact of offset rules on the dynamics of land use and offset policy costs and benefits for Alberta's boreal forest. Policy treatments include eligibility rules for restoration versus avoided loss; time lags for crediting restoration benefits; and geographic trading restrictions. The analysis highlights the assumptions and trade-offs embedded in offset principles such as additionality. Restoration-based policies, which require biodiversity benefits to be established prior to development, are over 200 times more costly than policies that include avoided loss. Geographic trading restrictions result in a significant redistribution of policy costs and ecological risks between regions, with little impact on aggregate policy costs and benefits. Including avoided loss results in a decline in biodiversity intactness by 2% to 2.2% compared to a decline of 3.6% under a no-offset policy. Increasing time lags for crediting restoration to match ecological recovery trajectories reduces restoration effort when policies include both restoration and avoided loss.