Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ecological significance of endosymbionts in a mixotrophic ciliate: an experimental test of a simple model of growth coordination between host and symbiont

Ciliates with endosymbiotic algae (green ciliates) have often been found to be more viable than aposymbiotic (without endosymbionts) counterparts during periods of starvation. However, the possible benefit of algal endosymbionts to the growth of ciliate hosts has rarely been quantified. Growth coordination between host and symbionts is essential to maintain the symbiosis, but the mechanism behind this is also uncertain. Our hypothesis is that the growth rate of the symbionts is always close to its maximum, irrespective of the nutritional status of the host. To test this hypothesis we built a model based on a constant symbiont growth rate, and performed an experiment where we observed the growth rate of aposymbiotic and green Coleps cells under different light conditions and food concentrations. The results were in good agreement with the model, and showed that at low food concentration the growth rate of green Coleps was clearly higher than that of aposymbiotic Coleps, while there were no significant differences when food was abundant. Our results indicate that algal gross growth rate is always close to maximum, and that growth coordination between host and symbiont is obtained by a variable degree of leakage of photosynthetic products from the symbionts to the ciliate host.
The Triassic Amphibian Thoosuchus yakovlevi and the Relationships of the Trematosauroidea (Temnospondyli: Stereospondyli)

A skull of the basal trematosauroid temnospondyl Thoosuchus yakovlevi from the Early Triassic of Russia is described. Characters showing phylogenetic affinities with the Trematosauroidea include the presence of a postorbital-prepineal growth zone, the well-developed sensory sulci, the ventrally knife-edged cultriform process of the parasphenoid, and the posteriorly expanded parasphenoid body. A preliminary phylogenetic analysis of trematosauroid relationships confirms that Benthosuchus is a basal trematosaurian rather than a basal mastodonsauroid, and that Thoosuchus is the sister group to all other trematosauroids. Relationships within the Trematosauroidea are poorly established with as yet little evidence for subdivision of the group as previously proposed. In addition, the hypothesis that the Metoposauroidea is nested within the Trematosauroidea is supported. However, the Trematosauridae sensu stricto appears to be paraphyletic. The basal stereospondyl dichotomy between the Mastodonsauroidea and its relatives (the Capitosauria), and the Trematosauroidea and its relatives (the Trematosauria), is supported, and now seems well established.
NEURO-ENDOCRINE-IMMUNE RELATIONSHIPS BY CHRONIC STRESS AT MALE RATS

We have been analysedneuro-endocrine-immune relationships by chronic restraintstress atmale rats.It is detected considerable (R=0,67) canonical correlation between autonomous regulation parameters and thymocytogramma. Thymic canonical radical receives negative factor loading on the relative weight of the thymus gland and levels there macrophages, endothelial cells and Gassal corpuscules, while positive factor loading on radical give lymphoblasts and lymphocytes.The canonical correlation between vegetative parameters and spleenocytogramma very strong (R=0,94). Splenic canonical radical receives negative factor loading of macrophages and reticulocytes and positive - of the mass of the spleen and the contents therein neutrophils, lymphocytes and eosinophils.Revealed a strong (R=0,79) canonical correlation between autonomous regulation parameters and immune parameters of blood. In this immune root is represented B-lymphocytes, plasmacytes, basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils, stab and segmented, completeness of neutrophil phagocytosis, phagocytic activity of monocytes, leukocytosis and general lymphocytosis. We found a close relationship (R=0,89) between the endocrine and immune parameters. Endocrine canonical radical right represented relative adrenal weight, thickness of fascicular, glomerular and reticular zones, excretion of 17-ketosteroids, plasma level of triiodothyronine and inverse represented plasma level of corticosterone.Immune radical receives positive factor loading on the relative weight of the thymus and spleen, content in the last lymphoblasts and neutrophils, content in blood leukocytes, completeness and intensity of phagocytosis of neutrophils. Instead, the negative loadings on the immune radical given level of splenic fibroblasts, macrophages, reticulocytes, thymic epithelial cells and Gassal corpuscules, level in blood of NK-lymphocytes, plasmacytes, basophils and monocytes.
Efeito do sexo e do peso ao abate sobre a produção de carne de cordeiro. Morfometria da carcaça, pesos dos cortes, composição tecidual e componentes não constituintes da carcaça

Neste experimento, avaliou-se o efeito de sexo (macho e femea) e de quatro distintos pesos de abate (28, 32, 36, e 40 kg) sobre a morfometria da carcaca, os pesos dos cortes, a composicao tecidual e os componentes nao constituintes da carcaca, em cordeiros mesticos Ile de France x Corriedale, terminados em confinamento. Utilizaram-se 40 animais (20 machos e 20 femeas), desmamados aos 60 dias e alimentados, a vontade, com uma racao com 16,46% de PB e 67,63% de NDT. Foram divididos em quatro grupos de machos (G1M, G2M, G3M e G4M), sacrificados, respectivamente, com os pesos supracitados, e, da mesma forma, quatro grupos de femeas (G1F, G2F, G3F e G4F). Determinaram-se as medidas da carcaca e, de forma subjetiva, a condicao corporal, o grau de conformacao e o grau de gordura de cobertura. Calcularam-se os indices de compacidade da carcaca e da perna. Foram registrados os pesos e as porcentagens de sete cortes da meia carcaca, bem como as porcentagens de osso, musculo e tecido adiposo, avaliadas por meio de disseccao do lombo. A espessura da gordura de cobertura foi determinada na regiao lombar. O estudo morfometrico confirmou maior alongamento osseo dos machos. De maneira geral, as carcacas apresentaram-se com bom acabamento, segundo os indices de compacidade verificados. Os cortes das carcacas das femeas foram mais pesados que os dos machos (exceto para o peso de 28 kg ao abate), principalmente em funcao dos maiores teores de gordura. Destaca-se a representabilidade dos pesos da pele e do conteudo gastrintestinal na determinacao do rendimento da carcaca. Pelos resultados obtidos, recomenda-se 28 kg como peso referencia para sacrificio.
Characterization of Colletotrichum lindemuthianum races infecting dry edible bean in North Dakota

Abstract Anthracnose, caused by the fungal pathogen Colletotrichum lindemuthianum (Sacc. & Magnus) Lams. -Scrib. , is an economically important and damaging disease of dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) that can cause large reductions in yield and seed quality. Yield losses can reach 100% when contaminated seed is used, large amounts of inoculum are present, and favourable weather conditions occur during the crop cycle. Although widespread losses to anthracnose have not been observed in North Dakota, the lack of host resistance and favourable environmental conditions could lead to substantial economic losses. Additionally, numerous races of this pathogen exist and the pathogen race structure has the ability to change over time. Of the several races detected in North Dakota from 2003 to 2009, race 73 was the most prevalent. The purpose of this study was to determine the pathogen race types of C. lindemuthianum collected from dry bean samples in North Dakota from 2012 to 2014. Based on the 33 isolates collected in 2012 and 53 isolates collected in 2014, race 73 continues to be the most common race of C. lindemuthianum in North Dakota. Races 9 and 72 were also identified; however, these pose little additional threat due to virulence pattern similarities with race 73.
Estimating hydraulic parameters of stony soils on the basis of one-dimensional water absorption properties

Abstract Rock fragment content and grain size affect the structure of soil and movement properties of soil water. In this paper, influences of rock fragment content and grain size on infiltration characteristics and hydraulic parameters of stony-soil media were analysed on the basis of one-dimensional horizontal absorption experiments. Two methods for estimating diffusivity of stony soils, using cumulative infiltration, wetting front and soil water content distribution, respectively, were compared to evaluate their applicability. Also, estimating method of Brooks–Corey water retention curve for stony soils, using cumulative infiltration and wetting front, was evaluated based on the measured retention curve. The results showed that both rock fragment content and grain size had significant effects on infiltration properties and hydraulic parameters of stony-soil media. Both cumulative infiltration and wetting front distance of stony-soil media were smaller than those of fine soil since rock fragment hindered infiltration. The more rock fragment content, the slower soil water moved, but the turning point appeared at the rock fragment content of 40%. Besides, larger rock fragment grain size accelerated infiltration at certain content. Both rock fragment content and grain size had significant influences on hydraulic parameters, and there were linear relationships between parameters and rock fragment content. Two kinds of methods for estimating diffusivity of stony soils had a very good consistency for some experimental scenarios. Besides, cumulative infiltration and wetting front could be used to accurately estimate water retention curve of stony soils.
Variability and diversity estimates of yield and yield contributing characters in lentil (Lens culinaris Medic.)

Investigation on variability and diversity estimates of eight yield and yield contributing characters viz., plant height at first flower (PHFF), number of branches per plant at maximum flower (NBPMF), plant area per plant (PAPP), number of pods per plant (NPdPP), pod weight per plant (PdWPP), number of seeds per plant (NSPP), seed weight per plant (SWPP) and plant weight per plant (PWPP) were carried out in six irradiated lentil lines in 2005-2006 and 2006-2007. Presence of wide range of variation of all the characters indicated that they are quantitative in nature and are under polygenic control. The lines were genetically well differentiated as indicated by the analysis of variance. Significant differences among the doses for most of the characters showed that the four irradiation doses included in the analysis were different from each other. Significant year and dose and respective interaction items with lines for most of the characters indicated that the environments were different and they interacted with genotypes differently. Lines, years and doses interacted among themselves as indicated by significant L×D×Y. Heritability and genetic advance were estimated to be low for all the characters under study. However, the different components of variation and coefficient of variabilities, as calculated were more or less high for PAPP, NSPP, NPdPP, NBPMF and PHFF which indicated a wide scope of improvement of these traits through selection.
Fishery and stock estimates of the silver pomfret, Pampus argenteus (Euphrasen), landed by gill netters at Veraval.

The fishery and population characteristics of silver pomfret Pampus argenteus (Euphrasen) caught by gillnetters off Veraval were studied for the period from 2003 to 2007. The average annual landing of P. argenteus was 114.5 t, which contributed 4.5% to the total gill net catches. The period from July to September was the most productive in terms of catch and catch rate. The length–weight relationship showed that the growth was isometric. The sex ratio was 1.75 in favour of females. Mature females occurred throughout the year, with maximum during June – November. The length at first maturity of female was 27.5 cm. The von Bertalanffy growth equation was: L t = 41.57 [1 – e - 0.64 (t + 0.0315) ]. The length at first capture (Lc) was 8.2 cm with recruitment taking place throughout the year with two peaks during February-March and in August. The natural mortality (M), fishing mortality (F) and total mortality (Z) were 1.20, 2.11 and 3.31 respectively. The exploitation ratio (E) was 0.64. The Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY: 90 t) was lower than the average annual catch indicating over-exploitation of the species. The yield per recruit (Y/R) and biomass per recruit (B/R) was 38.31 g and 18.16 g respectively. An increase in relative yield by 17.18% would be obtained by decreasing the present level of fishing by 60%.
Animal Models of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the fifth most common cancer worldwide. Studies of the molecular mechanisms leading to hepatocarcinogenesis hold the key to improvements in diagnosis and treatment of this disease. Animal models give us the opportunity to study these mechanisms by manipulating the risk factors and associated genetic alterations that lead to hepatocarcinogenesis. Worldwide, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections account for more than two thirds of HCC cases. Therefore, HBV- and HCV-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in animals would most closely mimic the aetiology and possibly the associated pathogenesis of human HCC. Other risk factors include exposure to chemical carcinogens and other causes of cirrhosis. Rodents remain the most valuable animal models and can be classified as infection-associated, carcinogen-induced, and transgenic or inflammatory. From studies of these models, many potential molecular mechanisms have been identified as contributing to hepatocarcinogenesis, such as HBx, c-Myc, TGFa, IGF-II, H-ras, p53, NF-KB, and Wnt signaling pathways. Transgenic mouse models with the potential for wider use include the P-catenin/H-ras double transgenic mouse, the TGFa/c-Myc double transgenic mouse and the c-Met conditional knockout mouse (MetLivKO). These mice develop liver tumours with high penetrance and a short latency and pathological features similar to human HCC. Other species including rabbits, woodchucks, tree shrews, dogs, pigs and primates have been used to study diagnostic and therapeutic options in HCC. However, more work is required to unravel the sequence of events that leads to HCC in order to guide future prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
Modelling weed emergence patterns

Anticipating weed pressure may be important in selecting and timing weed control measures in order to optimize their effectiveness, and thus reduce herbicide use. Therefore, a predictive model of the time of emergence and the numbers of seedling emerging (the weed emergence pattern) after soil cultivation may be a useful tool in integrated weed management. In this study, a simulation model was developed in order to increase the quantitative understanding of weed emergence in the field in relation to weather, soil and cultivation measures. In the model, three phases were distinguished in the process of weed emergence in the field, and modelled in separate modules: annual changes in dormancy, germination, and pre-emergence growth. The model was parameterized and tested for three arable weed species: Polygonum persicaria, Chenopodium album and Spergula arvensis. Simulation of annual cycles in dormancy and germination is based on a physiological model concerning the action of phytochrome in the seed. Dormancy is related to the amount of an hypothetical phytochrome receptor, that fluctuates in an annual pattern. The simulation model gave a reasonably accurate description of cyclic changes in germinability of seeds exhumed in a three years' burial experiment. The timing of germination was simulated by means of the thermal time concept. A physiologically based model describes the effects of temperature, soil penetration resistance, burial depth and seed weight on pre-emergence growth of seedlings. The model provided a good description of seedling emergence observed in a laboratory experiment. The separate modules simulating the consecutive processes of dormancy release, germination and pre-emergence growth were linked to form a model simulating seasonal weed emergence patterns in the field. Input variables of the model were the date and method of soil cultivation, soil temperature and soil penetration resistance. Output of the model was seedling density and the timing of seedling emergence. The model was evaluated with data from a field experiment. When using the germination results of the exhumed seed lots to estimate the degree of dormancy at the time of soil cultivation, the extent of the emergence flushes following soil cultivation could be described well. Although the dormancy model gave a good description of annual cycles in dormancy, the quantitative prediction of seasonal changes in dormancy and germination was not accurate enough for predicting field emergence, and appeared to be the weak point in predicting weed emergence patterns. When there was substantial emergence as a result of soil cultivation, the timing of emergence could be predicted accurately.
Produção de matéria seca e composição bromatológica de genótipos de capim-elefante anão

EnglishThe experiment was carried out to evaluate the dry mater accumulation rate (TAMS) and levels of crude protein (PB), neutral detergent fiber (FDN) and sulfuric acid lignin (LAS) in dwarf elephantgrass genotypes submitted to different cutting intervals. The experimental design was a randomized block with three replicates in a split-plot, where genotypes were allocated plots and subplots in the cutting intervals. Were evalued five genotypes of dwarf elephantgrass (CNPGL 00-1-3, CNPGL 94-34-3, CNPGL 92-198-7, CNPGL 92-117-3, CNPGL 00-1-5) and cv. Mott in six cutting intervals (14, 28, 42, 56, 70 and 84 days). The genotype CNPGL 00-1-3 showed higher TAMS, however, among other dwarf genotypes, those who stood out were the genotypes CNPGL 92-198-7, Mott, CNPGL 94-34-3 and CNPGL 92-117-3. As for protein level, the CNPGL 00-1-3 and CNPGL 00-1-5 genotype showed linear behavior and the other genotypes showed quadratic behavior. The level of FDN showed significant variation depending on the cutting intervals only for the genotypes CNPGL 00-1-3 and CNPGL 92-198-7. There was an interaction among genotypes and cutting intervals for the values of LAS only for the CNPGL 00-1-3, CNPGL 92-198-7 and CNPGL 92-117-3. Genotypes CNPGL 92-198-7 and CNPGL 94-34-3 were selected, together with the Mott genotype for the evaluation phase under grazing. portuguesFoi realizado um experimento para avaliar a taxa de acumulo de materia seca (TAMS) e os teores de proteina bruta (PB), fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) e lignina em acido sulfurico (LAS) de genotipos de capim-elefante anao submetidos a diferentes intervalos de corte. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos casualizados com tres repeticoes em esquema de parcelas subdivididas, onde os genotipos foram alocados nas parcelas e os intervalos de corte nas subparcelas. Foram avaliados cinco genotipos de capim-elefante anao (CNPGL 00-1-3, CNPGL 94-34-3, CNPGL 92-198-7, CNPGL 92-117-3 e CNPGL 00-1-5) e a cv. Mott em seis intervalos de corte (14, 28, 42, 56, 70 e 84 dias). O genotipo CNPGL 00-1-3, considerado de porte intermediario, apresentou maior TAMS, entretanto, entre os demais genotipos de porte baixo, destacaram-se os genotipos CNPGL 92-198-7, Mott, CNPGL 94-34-3 e CNPGL 92-177-3. Quanto ao teor de PB, o genotipo CNPGL 00-1-3 e CNPGL 00-1-5 apresentaram compor-tamento linear e os demais genotipos apresentaram comportamento quadratico. O teor de FDN apresentou variacao significativa em funcao dos intervalos de corte apenas para os genotipos CNPGL 00-1-3 e CNPGL 92-198-7. Houve interacao entre genotipos e intervalos de corte para os valores de LAS somente para os genotipos CNPGL 00-1-3, CNPGL 92-198-7 e CNPGL 92-117-3. Os genotipos CNPGL 92-198-7 e CNPGL 94-34-3 foram selecionados para a fase de avaliacao em sistema de pastejo.
Genetic variants of organic cation transporter 2 (OCT2) significantly reduce metformin uptake in oocytes

1. The authors sought to evaluate the contribution of organic cation transporters (OCTs) to the renal tubular transport of metformin using LLC-PK1 cells as an in vitro model for the renal proximal tubule, and to investigate the effects of three non-synonymous genetic variants of OCT2 on the transport activity of metformin in vitro using an oocyte over-expression system. 2. The basolateral-to-apical transport of metformin was significantly greater than the apical-to-basolateral transport and showed concentration dependency with the kinetic parameters: maximum transport rate (Vmax), 922 pmol min−1 per 5 × 105 cells; Michaelis–Menten constant (Km), 393 µM; intrinsic clearance (CLint), 2.35 µl min−1 per 5 × 105 cells; and diffusion constant (Kd), 0.33 µl min−1 per 5 × 105 cells. The basolateral-to-apical transport of metformin was inhibited by phenoxybenzamine, an inhibitor of OCTs, but not by cyclosporine A, MK571, or fumitremorgin C, which are inhibitors of P-glycoprotein, multidrug resistance proteins (MRPs), and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), respectively, suggesting that OCTs play a role in renal tubular secretion of metformin. 3. Metformin uptake was much greater in oocytes expressing OCT2-wild type (OCT2-WT) than OCT1-WT compared with uptake in water-injected oocytes. Uptake was significantly decreased in oocytes expressing OCT2-T199I, -T201M, and -A270S compared with that in OCT2-WT, suggesting that metformin is a better substrate for OCT2 than for OCT1 and that the amino acid-substituted variants of OCT2 cause a functional decrease in metformin uptake. 4. In conclusion, the genetic variants of OCT2 (OCT2-T199I, -T201M, and -A270S) decreased the transport activity of metformin and thus may contribute to the inter-individual variation in metformin disposition as OCT2 plays a pivotal role in renal excretion, the major disposition route of metformin.
Hydrophobic and Haemagglutinating Properties of Renibacterium salmoninarum

SUMMARY: Twenty-five strains of Renibacterium salmoninarum, from diverse geographical locations, were all hydrophobic when tested by ammonium sulphate aggregation and adherence to hydrocarbons. In addition, all strains caused haemagglutination of rabbit erythrocytes, but not of erythrocytes from salmonid fish. The hydrophobic and haemagglutinating properties were further characterized for R. salmoninarum ATCC 33209 (the type strain). Treating the bacteria with protease K or trypsin decreased hydrophobicity but had no effect on the ability to haemagglutinate rabbit erythrocytes. Heating the bacteria to 62 or 100 °C reduced hydrophobicity and removed the haemagglutinin from the cell surface. The haemagglutinin may be the heat-stable bacterial antigen extracted from the tissue of infected fish in serodiagnostic procedures.
Primeiro registro de Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) em Roraima, Brasil

Aedes albopictus is registered for the first time in Roraima, Brazil. From June 2006 to May 2007, three pupae and ten larvae of Ae. albopictus were collected, during routine surveillance work in three urban neighborhoods in the city of Boa Vista. Two larvae reached adulthood as females. Although Ae. albopictus is not presently considered of primary importance in dengue transmission, its occurrence could favor a linkage between urban and forest cycles of yellow fever and other arboviruses in Brazil.