Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The lectotype for the Asian elephant, Elephas maximus Linnaeus, 1758 (Mammalia, Proboscidea) and comments on ‘primary, secondary and tertiary syntypes’ and ‘virtual lectotype designation’

Last November a group of colleagues and ourselves designated a lectotype for the Asian elephant, Elephas maximus Linnaeus, 1758, having used morphology and genetic and proteomic sequencing to confirm that Linnaeus’s syntypes included both Asian and African elephants. The article was published (Cappellini et al., 2013) online in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, together with eight items of Supplementary Information, and appeared on paper in the ZJLS in January 2014. The paper and SI items are available online at DOI:10.1111/zoj.12084. The lectotype is a very nearly complete mounted skeleton on display in the Natural History Museum of the University of Florence. John Ray described the specimen in 1673 and 1693 and Linnaeus cited Ray’s 1693 publication. The lectotype designation is available and valid. Dubois, Nemesio & Bour, however, have criticised our choice of selected specimen (published in Bionomina, June 2014; a preview is available online at http://mapress.com/bionomina/content.htm). We are concerned because they have demonstrated misunderstanding or ignorance of a number of aspects of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature
Effect of forcing temperature on time to flower of Coreopsis grandiflora, Gaillardia×grandiflora, Leucanthemum×superbum, and Rudbeckia fulgida

Scheduling crops to flower on specific dates requires a knowledge of the relationship between temperature and time to flower. Our objective was to quantify the effect of temperature on time to flower and plant appearance of four herbaceous perennials. Field-grown, bare-root Coreopsis grandiflora (Hogg ex Sweet.) 'Sunray', Gaillardia ×grandiflora (Van Houtte) 'Goblin', and Rudbeckia fulgida (Ait.) 'Goldsturm', and tissue culture-propagated Leucanthemum ×superbum (Bergman ex J. Ingram) 'Snowcap' plants were exposed to 5 °C for 10 weeks and then grown in greenhouse sections set at 15,18,21,24, or 27 °C under 4-hour night-interruption lighting until plants reached anthesis. Days to visible bud (VB), days to anthesis (FLW), and days from VB to FLW decreased as temperature increased. The rate of progress toward FLW increased linearly with temperature, and base temperatures and degree-days of each developmental stage were calculated. For Coreopsis, Leucanthemum, and Rudbeckia, flower size, flower-bud number, and plant height decreased as temperature increased from 15 to 26 °C.
I fenomeni chimico-fisici che regolano la peridta degli steroli liberi durante la raffinazione degli oli vegetali

A series of olive and seed oils were subjected to studies on the chemical-physical phenomena which regulate the loss of free sterols during refinement. From these studies it emerged that the decrease of sterols is independent of the particular type of vegetable oil and that neutralization and deodorizing are principally responsible. During neutralization the decrease of sterols is caused by liquid/liquid partition by physical absorption
Nutrient Content, Uptake and Biochemical Composition in Kharif Sorghum Affected by Soil and Foliar Zinc and Iron in Drought Prone Marathwada Area of Maharashtra

An experiment was carried out during kharif 2011 to study the responseof kharif sorghum to soil and foliar application of micronutrient zinc and iron at Sorghum Research Station, V.N. Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with 10 treatments and three replications. Results revealed that zinc sulphate and ferrous sulphate micronutrient through soil and foliar application along with recommended dose of NPK fertilizers resulted in improvement of kharif sorghum grain and fodder yield. Quality parameters like crude protein, crude fiber, crude fat, moisture content, starch, soluble sugar, ash content, approximate calorific value of grain and crude protein, dietary fiber, ash, organic matter, ether extract, nitrogen free extract of fodder were also improved due to soil and foliar application of micronutrients along with RDF. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium concentration in sorghum fodder was markedly increased by application of RDF along with micronutrients. The treatment T7 i.e. RDF + soil application of 15 kg ZnSO4 + 15 kg FeSO4/ha recorded highest % N(0.65), % P (0.49)and % K (0.82)in fodder, whereas highest N, P and K in harvested grainswas noted as1.55, 0.88 and 0.41kg/ha, respectively. Total uptake of major nutrients was also recorded as nitrogen (50.79 kg/ha), phosphorus (31.85 kg/ha) and potassium (32.29 kg/ha).
Setobaudinia nicolasi—a new species from Baudin Island, Kimberley, Western Australia (Stylommatophora, Camaenidae)

ABSTRACT A new species of Setobaudinia Iredale, 1933 (family Camaenidae Pilsbry, 1895) from the Kimberley region in Western Australia is described. Setobaudinia nicolasi n. sp. is endemic to Baudin Island, off the northwestern coast of Australia, where it occurs in sympatry with at least another three confamilial land snails. The new species is distinguished from other Setobaudinia species by a unique combination of features of its shell (low elevation and weak lip expansion) and male genitalia (inner penial wall sculpture of interlocking filaments). http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:10FAB5A9-503A-4E3B-A67C-772D85658C91
Mise en évidence d'un processus d'engagement vers la mort cellulaire par apoptose dans les lymphocytes de patients infectés par le VIH

Les lymphocytes du sang peripherique de malades ou de personnes asymptomatiques infectees par le VIH montrent une tres rapide perte de viabilite lorsqu'ils sont places dans un milieu de survie in vitro. Cette mort cellulaire survient a la suite d'une fragmentation endonucleosomique de l'ADN (apoptose), elle-meme precedee par une condensation de la chromatine et une diminution de colorabilite par l'acridine orange. Le phenomene est accelere par l'action d'agents activateurs des lymphocytes (ionophores) et est supprime partiellement ou partiellement ou totalement par l'addition d'une preparation de cytokines, contenant en particulier de l'IL2.
Standortverhältnisse des Nupharetum pumili OBERDORFER 1957 in der Suwałki-Seenplatte (Nord-Ostpolen) [Habitat conditions of the Nupharetum pumili OBERDORFER 1957 in the Suwałki Lake District (North-eastern Poland)

Eighteen Nupharetum pumili phytocoenoses from north-eastern Poland were characterized phytosociologically and ecologically. On the basis of physical and chemical properties of water and substrate in the phytocoenoses studied, their habitat conditions and crucial agents influencing the occurrence of the Nupharetum pumili in the analysed water bodies were determined
Rehabilitation of problem soils through environmental friendly technologies. I: Effect of sesbania (Sesbania aculeata) and Farmyard manure

Environmental problems due to land degradation in the developing countries have been a matter of great concern for the decades. The rehabilitation of problem lands has been through many chemical means and engineering approaches, that have resulted in enhancing the gravity and the magnitude of the problems. The present studies were undertaken to examine the role of environmental friendly practices to address the salinity issue. The effect of organic manuring (green manure and farmyard manure) on rice (Oryza sativa) was investigated in a field study on a saline-sodic soil of the Saline Agriculture Research Station, Sadhuke, Pakistan. Sesbania was grown as a green manuring crop for two months and then incorporated into the soil. Farmyard manure (FYM) was applied at rates of 0, 5, 10 and 20t/ha before the sowing of sesbania. Rice, Cv. Basmati 385, was used as the indicator/test crop. Results revealed that both paddy and straw yields were significantly improved by the application of sesbania and FYM. Green manuring with sesbania improved the paddy and straw yield by 15.4% and 14.5% respectively. Productive tillers were also increased by the application of FYM but differences were not significant between 10 and 20t/ha of FYM application. FYM application also improved the paddy and straw yield significantly. The increases in paddy yield due to application of 5, 10 and 20t/ha of FYM were 6.8%, 24.4% and 37.6% over control, respectively. Nitrogen and phosphorus utilization by rice were also significantly improved with the application of green manure. Nitrogen uptake by rice (grain+straw) was increased by 17.8% and that of phosphorus by 21.9% with the green manuring. Nitrogen uptake was significantly increased by the application of different rates of FYM. Also phosphorus uptake was increased significantly with the application of FYM.
Natural history observations of sympatric Norops (Beta Anolis) in a subtropical mainland community

During an approximately four week period the natural history of a mainland forest community of Norops (Beta Anolis) was studied in Belize. Five species were observed to occur sympatrically (N. uniformis, N. lemurinus, N. rodriguezii, N. tropidonotus and N. capito). These taxa are all traditionally placed in the A. auratus series as originally recognized by Etheridge (1960). Until recently the majority of field research concerned with anoles has focused on species in the Caribbean islands, with mainland communities having generally received far less attention. The primary aim of this paper is to help redress this imbalance by describing the morphology, habitat and behaviour of species in a hitherto unstudied mainland community. ANOLIS is a large Glade of Neotropical lizards that is renowned for the tremendous amount of variation displayed by its members in colour, shape, size, ecological affinity and behaviour (e.g. Schoener, 1968; Williams, 1969; Losos, 1994). This diversity typically permits anoline communities to be composed of several often closely related species that successfully co-exist in the same ecosystem, presenting numerous opportunities for behavioural observations of species interactions, geographical comparisons and experimental manipulations. Consequently, communities of Anolis are widely utilized by biologists as experimental models to address some of the most complex questions in both ecological and evolutionary biology (Nicholson, 2002). This genus is widely distributed across the New World tropics and subtropics with species found throughout the Caribbean islands, southeastern United States and mainland Americas from Mexico to South America (Etheridge, 1960). However, scientific research has not been equally divided between these localities. For decades, Caribbean communities have been the focus of numerous in-depth studies investigating an impressive array of concepts ranging from resource partitioning and community structure to phylogenetic relationships and speciation (e.g. Schoener, 1968; Williams, 1983; Losos, 1994; Leal et al., 1998). As a result, an abundance of information is available regarding the morphology, behaviour, habitat and general natural history of island populations. In contrast, the mainland Anolis communities have generally received far less attention (but see Stuart, 1956; Fitch, 1975; Pounds, 1988), leaving a multitude of questions unanswered. Recently several papers have been published concentrating on mainland Anolis (e.g. Irschick et al., 1997; Mancrini et al., 2003; Nicholson, 2002), comparing findings to those in the Caribbean in order to redress the imbalance. In this paper I follow this example by providing natural history observations of a mainland community of Anolis in Belize. STUDY AREA AND METHODS
Memahami jati diri, budaya, dan kearifan lokal Madura

Buku ini merupakan rangkuman dari beberapa tulisan yang telah ada memuat tradisi dan adat istiadat kebudayaan Masyarakat Madura dalam berbagai persepektif dan dilengkapi dengan beberapa wawancara dari beberapa narasumber. Buku ini bertujuan untuk menginformasikan bagaimana Madura kepada generasi muda. memuat tradisi dan adat istiadat kebudayaan Masyarakat Madura dalam berbagai persepektif
Studies on the Ontogeny of the Pigment Strand in the Caryopsis of Wheat

The grain of wheat has a groove that extends inward nearly to the centre of the grain. At the base of this crease and extending through its length there is a strand of coloured tissue, the pigment strand. At about 3 days after anthesis the cells of this strand of tissue are similar to meristematic cells, possessing thin walls and the usual complement of organelles. At about 9 days after anthesis the cell walls thicken and lignify.
Untersuchung der Wirkung von natürlichem und kristallinem Ochratoxin A nach Verfütterung über 28 Tage beim Schwein mit anschliessender Untersuchung des Rückstandsverhaltens beider Formen des MYkotoxins in Körperflüssigkeit und Organen sowie in Fleisch- und Wurstwaren

The aim of the present feed study with pigs lasting 28 days was to analyse whether there are different effects between crystaline and natural Ochratoxin A after oral intake. As natural OTA an OTA-substratum cultured on the basis of barley - rice was used, 4 groups consisting of 8 clinically healthy pigs each with living weights of about 70 kg were used in this study. Group 1 was administered 0.09 ppm natural OTA per animal and day, group 2 got 0.09 ppm crystalline OTA per animal and day in two rations (fed in the morning and in the evening). Group 3 was given the daily quantity of crystalline OTA only in the morning and the animals of group 4 did not get any OTA (control group), An essential aim of this study was to analyse the OTA-concentration in sausages produced from carcasses, organs and tissues of OTA contaminated animals, The tendency of an about 3times higher OTA concentration of the animals of group 1 (natural OTA) was also reflected by the analysis of the OTA content of the sausages. The highest concentration of mycotoxins was detected in the Lyoner with plasma (12.37 ng/g) followed by Blutwurst (10.01 ng/g)Production and ripening procedures of the sausages do not have an influence on the reduction of the OTA concentration which is brought in by organs, tissues and body liquids
Sensitivity analysis of ceres-wheat model to various weather and non-weather parameters for wheat (CV.GW-496)

The CERES-wheat model was calibrated and validated based on actual data of field experiments with an objective to test the sensitivity of model to various weather and nonweather parameters for wheat (GW-496) in middle Gujrat Agro-climatic region, Anand (Gujarat, India). The results showed that grain yields as simulated by the CERES-wheat (cv. GW-496) model due to alteration of ambient temperature in incremental units showed a gradual decrease in yield, while the down scaled ambient temperature was observed to have increased the yield by 2 and 6% at 4 and 5°C reduction in temperaturerespectively. The percentage values of change in the yield were 2 and 8 at –1 and –5°C over the base yield respectively in case of down scaled ambient temperature under suboptimal conditions. Increase in daily solar radiation (3 to 5MJm -2 ), resulted into nearly 6 to 9% increase in yield over the base yield. Under gradual decrease of solar radiation no yield increment over the base yield was observed. This showed that the model was less sensitive to solar radiation than it was to temperature. When carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) concentration was doubled, the grain yield increased up to 43% over the base yield in optimal conditions, while corresponding yield increment under sub-optimal conditions was 73%. This showed that the model used had the potential for assessing impact of climate change on wheat production. Large yield reductions were noted under increasing plant population (150 to 500 sq. per mts.) both in optimal and sub-optimal conditions. This provided strong evidence in respect of the robustness of the model to account for the effects of plant population.
Antioxidant activity, antimicrobial and effects in the immune system of plants and fruits extracts

ABSTRACT Nowadays, medicinal plants, and fruits and vegetables with antioxidant and antimicrobial activity are increasingly studied. In this review, the impact of the medicinal plant extracts on the immune system was discussed. The first part described the phenomenon of oxidative stress, followed by the mechanisms involved in the antioxidant activity and finally discussed on the evaluation of the antioxidant activity of plants and fruits. The second part revised the works that discuss about the antimicrobial activity of plants and fruits extracts, emphasizing in the factors that influence the evaluation of such characteristic. Finally, in the third part, studies on the effect of the plant extracts over the immune response were discussed, describing the results of the enhancer effects, as well as those of the suppressing ones. This work allowed us to discern the necessity of a wider research on the chemical composition of the natural extracts, in order to establish a correlation with the effects observed in health.
Morphological evolution of the murine rodent Paraethomys in response to climatic variations (Mio-Pleistocene of North Africa)

The North African murine rodent Paraethomys evolved as an anagenetic lineage from the late Miocene until its extinction in the late—middle Pleistocene. A Fourier analysis of the outlines of the first upper and lower molars of this rodent was used to quantify the evolutionary patterns of this lineage and to compare evolutionary patterns to the climatic record. Morphological evolution and long-term environmental variations are strongly correlated. A change in molar shape, which may be related to the development of a more grass-eating diet, corresponds to the global cooling beginning around 3 Ma and the subsequent increase in aridity in North Africa. Concurrently, size increased, which may be related to increased masticatory efficiency or to metabolic adaptation to the cooler environmental conditions according to Bergmann's rule. This adaptive response to changing environmental conditions corresponds to an acceleration of evolutionary rates in the lineage. The modalities of the evolutionary response in size and shape are probably controlled by intrinsic factors such as different genetic determinisms for both characters.
Ameiva fuscata on Dominica, Lesser Antilles: natural history and interactions with Anolis oculatus

In June 2008, we studied the natural history of Ameiva fuscata and interactions with sympatric Anolis oculatus in five adjacent habitats on the western (leeward) coast of Dominica, Lesser Antilles. Ameiva activity was positively correlated with mean temperature, peak activity corresponded to peak daily temperatures and we observed greatly reduced or no activity during overcast and rainy periods. Population densities in the five habitats were 138-344 lizards/ha, with the higher densities in areas with the deepest leaf litter and densest canopy cover. Ameiva fuscata is an active forager, with 100% of foraging attempts made while moving (either walking or actively digging or rooting in litter). Lizards foraged together in groups and the groups never entered each other's activity areas, suggesting the possibility of community structure. Ameiva fuscata is non-territorial, but chases among adult males appeared to be triggered by intersecting paths. Anoles spent significantly less time on the ground when Ameiva fuscata was active, presumably to avoid predation.
Genetic variation and combining abilities for vigour and yield in a recurrent selection programme for cacao

SUMMARY The low genetic diversity of cacao germplasm collections in West Africa is often cited as a limitation to further yield improvement of the crop in its major production countries. Twelve clones obtained from first cycle selection for yield and clones available in international genebanks were tested for their combining ability for key agronomic traits by using these as males in crosses with five female clones available in the Seed Gardens in Ghana. Progenies obtained from a North Carolina II (NC II) mating design and standard varieties were planted at two sites that contrast in terms of soil fertility, rainfall total and distribution. Fifty-eight progenies obtained from the 5 × 12 incomplete NC II mating design and six other progenies, of which two were standard varieties, were evaluated at the more favourable location. At the less favourable location, 44 progenies of the NC II mating design and 20 other progenies, including the two standard varieties, were planted. A randomized complete block design with four replications was used at both locations. Progenies with PA 7 as female parent had better seedling survival at the location with poorer production conditions. Low levels of genetic diversity among female clones at 86 single nucleotide polymorphism loci was reflected in larger standard errors for the additive variance due to female parents relative to that due to male parents. Non-additive genetic effects were much larger than the corresponding additive variance components for all traits at each of the two locations. Average yields over the fourth and fifth years after planting ranged from 0·23 to 1·29 t/ha/year. The standard varieties were not among the best progenies for seedling vigour, yield or yield efficiency (yield per unit trunk cross-sectional area (TCSA) per year). Narrow-sense heritability estimates were higher for three estimates of tree vigour (estimated as increase in TCSA) than for yield traits. Heritability for yield efficiency was a moderate of h 2 = 0·5 ± 0·23. The study indicates that further yield increments are attainable by selecting and crossing among the early cacao introductions into West Africa.
Adipocyte-derived extracellular vesicles: characterisation and function

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are submicron vesicles released from cells as intercellular communicators. EV research is hindered by a current lack of standardisation. However, mounting evidence suggests a role for EVs in both physiological and pathophysiological processes. Little is known about adipocyte-derived EVs despite the recognition of adipose tissue (AT) as an endocrine organ and the role of dysfunctional AT in disease. Obese AT develops regions of hypoxia and inflammation, leading to obesity-associated metabolic complications. The aim of this thesis was to explore EVs as novel adipocyte communicators, characterising their release under physiological and disease-like conditions. Nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and tunable resistive pulse sensing (TRPS) were assessed for their accuracy and usability for EV quantification. NTA and TRPS both accurately quantified EVs though NTA was more user-friendly. The choice of anticoagulant, filtering and storage of EVs all affected EV concentration. Physiological EV release from 3T3-L1 adipocytes was characterised pre- and post-adipogenesis. EV generation increased prior to adipogenesis and EVs were enriched in pro-signalling fatty acids and proteins characteristic of the original cell. Therefore, EVs may aid the initiation of adipogenesis. Hypoxia was then used to pathologically generate EVs to mimic adipocyte obesity. Adipocyte EV release increased in hypoxia; these EVs were enriched in pro-signalling fatty acids and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. Hypoxic EVs were then analysed for their interaction with macrophages (Mϕ). Hypoxic EVs may increase Mϕ migration and promote an anti-inflammatory Mϕ phenotype; further repeats are needed to confirm this. Finally, adipocyte markers were detected in plasma EVs suggesting the presence of circulating adipocyte-derived EVs in vivo. Plasma EVs were also reduced in hypercholesterolaemia patients by routine apheresis treatment. In conclusion, adipocytes release EVs which may assist intercellular communication in both physiological and disease-like conditions. Adipocyte-derived EVs can be detected in vivo and may provide novel biomarkers of obesity-associated diseases.