Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The food and feeding ecology of Blue petrel (Halobaena caerulea) and Dove prion (Pachyptila desolata).

The diet of two small burrow dwelling petrels, Dove prion, Pachyptila desolata and Blue petrel Halobaena caerulea, was studied at the subantarctic island of South Georgia by quantitative analysis of 246 food samples regurgitated by adults about to feed chicks. Crustaceans, and particularly krill Euphausia superba, predominate in both species' diet but fish is considerably more important to the Blue petrel. Other dietary differences between the species chiefly involve the relative proportions of krill, copepods (nearly exclusive to Dove prion) and seven amphipod species taken. There is no overlap in the species' chick feeding periods but food differences are likely to reflect prey selection rather than resource availability; differences in prey size are ascribed to use of different feeding techniques particularly relating to bill structure and function. Data on frequency of chick feeding, proportion of oil and presence of pumice in food samples are used to indicate that the Blue petrel feeds further away from the breeding colony than the Dove prion. The significance of the various adaptive differences is discussed.
Development of field-grown potato plants derived from meristem plants multiplied with different methods

Abstract In the current multiplication technique first-generation seed tubers produced in the field by transplanting plants raised on peat in plastic rolls from plants cultured by repetitive multiplication using tip- and stem-cuttings and truncated plants are compared with in vitro micro-plants from the aspect of obtaining optimal-sized, disease-free seed tubers. The objective of the study is to compare the dynamics of total plant dry mass and tuber dry mass of field-grown potato plants, and analyse the effect of the year and variety. Two local late-maturing potato varieties, Ants and Vigri, were used in the study. The field experiments were carried out in 2005–2007. Significant impact of the multiplication method and experimental year on total plant dry mass and tuber dry mass was observed. The plants multiplied in vitro from micro-cuttings produced lower total dry mass and also lower tuber dry mass per m2. The plants multiplied by tip- and stem-cuttings as well as truncated plants proved to be more adaptable to unfavourable weather conditions than in vitro plants; in a favourable year, however, the differences were insignificant. In the early phase of growth the ratio of the tuber dry mass to total plant dry mass increased more rapidly in the case of in vitro plants, whereas by the end of the growing season the relevant ratio was similar for all multiplication methods and years. All developed multiplication methods are suitable for practical seed potato production in the field and ensure a reasonable potato crop.
Avaliação de linhagens de melão

In order to obtain melon hybrids adapted for growing in the Northeast of Brazil, 29 inbred lines (23 belonging to the cantaloupensis group, 5 to the inodorus and 1 to the momordica group) were evaluated in Pacajus, in the state of Ceara. Two commercial varieties, the hybrid Hy-mark and the cultivar Eldorado-300, were used as checks. It was observed that the average period for fruit ripening was 35.1 days for the cantalupensis group, 30.6 days for the inodorus group and 24.4 days for the momordica group. The highest yield concentration (75.8%), evaluated 70 days after sowing, was attained in a inbred line that does not produce commercial fruits. The yield of the lines ranged from 16.2 t/ha up to 65.1 t/ha, whereas the two commercial varieties produced 28.0 t/ha. Three of the cantalupensis group and all inbred lines of the inodorus group were more productive than both varieties used as check. The average inbred lines soluble solid content was similar to that observed in the two commercial varieties (Brix = 8.6). However, the IM46-00 inbred line was outstanding with a high content of soluble solid (Brix = 12.2%). In general, late inbred lines produced fruits with higher soluble solids content.
Possible Role of Th1, Th2 and Th17 CD4+ T Helper Subpopulations on Human Pregnancy Development

Paternal HLA-C antigens expressed by trophoblast, which liken the trophoblast to a semiallograft, could be presented by the maternal APCs to the specific maternal CD4 + T helper cells, which could release various cytokines in response to these alloantigens. On the basis of the cytokines produced the effector CD4 + T helper lymphocytes can be classified in Th1, Th2 and Th17 cells. We focused here the possible role of these 3 human effector CD4 + T helper subpopulations, known to be involved either in allograft rejection (Th1 and Th17 cells) or in allograft tolerance (Th2 cells). Th1 and Th17 cells may compromise pregnancy and be responsible for miscarriage and Th2 cells may be responsible for the success and maintenance of pregnancy. Interestingly, our recent findings showed a beneficial role of Th17 cells, whose major role is the protection against extracellular bacteria and thus may promote adequately the response required to protect the mother against dangerous extracellular pathogens. The chronology of action of Th17 cells remains to be investigated to understand completely the mechanisms by which pregnancy development could or could not be affected by Th17 cells.
Segregation distortion affected by transgenes in early generations of rice crop‐weed hybrid progeny: Implications for assessing potential evolutionary impacts from transgene flow into wild relatives

The significant role of segregation distortion as a driving force of evolution has increasingly gained recognition worldwide. Segregation distortion of parental alleles is commonly reported in hybrid progeny between crops and wild relative species, which possibly influences the evolution potential of the hybrid progeny. Whether transgene introgression into wild and weedy populations through repeated hybridization causes changes of segregation distortion of parental alleles in hybrid progeny is an important question to be addressed to understand the long‐term evolution potential of the populations that have received transgenes. To study the influence of a transgene on allelic segregation, we examined gene and genotype frequencies in transgenic and non‐transgenic populations of F3 and F4 lineages derived from hybrids between transgenic insect‐resistant rice (Bt/CpTI) and weedy rice, involving randomly selected 25 simple sequence repeat markers with polymorphisms between the two parents. We found that the transgenes can significantly alter the segregation distortion pattern in hybrid progeny, particularly the direction of segregation deviated to different parents. In transgenic F3 and F4 populations, there are approximately 64% and 77% simple sequence repeat loci, respectively, with alleles deviated significantly to the insect‐resistant cultivated rice parent; whereas, in non‐transgenic F3 and F4 populations, approximately 68% and 58% loci, respectively, deviated significantly to the weedy rice parent. Transgenes with strong selection advantages may have evolutionary impacts on hybrid progeny by changing their pattern of allelic segregation distortion after introgression from transgenic crops to wild relatives through hybridization.
The hind limb step cycle of Iguana and primitive reptiles

The hind limb step cycle of Iguana is described and compared with other lizards. In generalized lizards with well developed limbs, the femur retracts through a large arc and rotates as it retracts, flexion of the crus on the metatarsus occurs during the initial part of the propulsive phase and extension of the knee and ankle during the final part, the crus rotates to face laterally, the metatarsus is laterally directed at the time of pedal plantarflexion, and pedal plantarflexion involves an initial rotation of the metatarsus around its long axis followed by an extension of the ankle joint. The evolutionary significance of the differences in the hind limb step cycle of lizards and salamanders is considered and it is shown that in many, but not all, features, primitive reptiles would have been like salamanders. The primitive step cycle differs from the mammalian pattern in the large amount of rotation of the limb segments, the large amount of femoral retraction, and the reduced amount of lateral movement of the hip relative to the knee that occurs during femoral retraction.
Empirical essays in family economics

This thesis addresses questions in the field of Family Economics regarding the effect of education on teenage motherhood and choice of spouse, and the influence of local labour market conditions on domestic violence. The first part of the thesis presents evidence regarding the effect of education policy on teenage fertility. Chapter 1 analyses the impact of an exogenous increase to education, induced by a legislative change to the minimal schooling requirement, on the propensity for early motherhood. The findings indicate strong evidence that the schooling reform had a substantial downwards impact on adolescent fertility, which persisted beyond the new compulsory school leaving age. The second chapter presents an evaluation of the Education Maintenance Allowance, a conditional cash transfer program implemented to increase the post-compulsory education participation rates of young people from disadvantaged families. The results reveal that the programme was successful at increasing participation rates, with a stronger response observed for teenage boys. This increase in participation had a significant impact on teenage motherhood, driven equally by a decline in the number of conceptions and an increase in the abortion rate. Weaker, but suggestive evidence is found that the programme mitigated youth crime. The second part of the thesis addresses marriage and partnership questions. The third chapter investigates the impact of an education reform which induced a cohort discontinuity in the level of qualifications received by individuals, and finds that cohorts in the neighbourhood of the reform threshold cannot achieve typical matching patterns. Specifically, spouses choose smaller age gaps and accept differently qualified partners. The fourth and final chapter examines how changes in unemployment affect the incidence of domestic abuse. Combining data on individual experience of intimate partner violence with locally disaggregated labour market data, the analysis shows that a womans propensity to experience partner abuse decreases with male unemployment, but increases with female unemployment.
Serological and biological variation between and within subgroup I and II strains of cucumber mosaic virus

Fourteen strains of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) from Australia have been characterized by their host range and symptomatology. They were classified as subgroup I or II strains by a dot-blot molecular hybridization assay between their total viral RNAs and selected cDNAs. The strains F(NY) and L(NY), both from the USA, were used as the subgroup I- and subgroup II-type strains, respectively. A range of serological tests was used to compare these isolates. Gel immunodiffusion tests, with standard antigens homologous to the antisera prepared against glutaraldehyde-fixed virus of 11 strains, showed that they could be divided into three serogroups on the basis of spur formation in heterologous reactions. Two of the serogroups included either subgroup I or subgroup II isolates, whereas the third serogroup consisted of only one strain (Y(WA)) which was homologous to all the strains tested. Use of heterologous standard antigens in this test failed to show further subgrouping of the antigens. Double-antibody sandwich (DAS)-ELISA using polyclonal antibodies to distinct virus strains also placed the 14 strains in the same three serogroups. When eight different monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were used in indirect ELISA, one of them distinguished subgroup-I strains and another distinguished subgroup-II strains; the Y(WA) strain fell into subgroup II. Other MAbs showed narrower or broader specificity. Thus both molecular hybridization with total RNA and specific MAbs may be useful for separating isolates of CMV into subgroups I and II. Spur formation using heterologous standard antigens to the antisera, as well as being more difficult to interpret, was not a reliable criterion for classification.
Penetration through leaf stomata and growth of strains of Xanthomonas campestris in citrus cultivars varying in susceptibility to bacterial diseases

Leaf stomata and the pressures required to effect water congestion of tissue and bacterial penetration and growth in leaves were compared for selected cultivars of citrus species and relatives that vary in susceptibility to Asiatic citrus canker and citrus bacterial spot caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. citri and X. c. pv. citrumelo, respectively. The differences among cultivars in structure and density of stomata on leaves expanded by two thirds (most susceptible stage to infection) and leaves fully expanded (least susceptible) were not related to previously reported susceptibility to citrus canker (.)
Histology and growth of the cetacean petro-tympanic bone complex

The histological organization and the main growth trends of the periotic and tympanic bones are described in known-aged common dolphins. The maximum sizes of these bones are already acquired in new-born specimens, and their full mineralization (84.62% and 83.3%, respectively) is reached either at birth (tympanic) or within the first 6 months. Mass, compactness and density of the periotic and tympanic quickly rise during the first year of life, and remain stable afterwards. Mean values of compactness and density observed in adults are 94% and 2.65 g/cm3 for the periotic, and 98% and 2.66 g/cm3 for the tympanic. The periotic and tympanic are composed of a fibro-lamellar tissue, initially deposited as a loose spongiosa with hypermineralized trabeculae. Before the end of the first year, this spongiosa is made compact by the perivascular formation of primary osteons. The vascular network of bone, originally very extensive, is obliterated rapidly by the osteons. The collagen matrix is composed of very thin collagen fibrils (diameter: 10 to 30 nm) arranged in a dramatically reduced network compared to normal bone. Hence, the room available for the mineral phase is considerably increased. Whatever the age of the animals, there is no inner (Haversian) remodelling in the periotic and tympanic. Since the compactness and density of these bones augment during the nursing period, it seems likely that the full hearing capacities of the dolphins are not reached before weaning.
Plumbum/zinc accumulation in seedlings of six afforestation species cultivated in mine spoil substrate.

WANG Y, BAI S, WU J, CHEN J, YANG Y, ZHU X & ZHU T. 2015. Plumbum/zinc accumulation in seedlings of six afforestation species cultivated in mine spoil substrate. Mining activities generate spoils and effluents that are harmful to ecosystems and human health due to their extremely high toxic metal concentrations. Plants have been planted on these spoils to uptake heavy metal and to revegetate for phytoremediation. Soil obtained from Pb/Zn mine tailing areas was used to conduct a greenhouse pot experiment to compare the growth and toxic metal accumulation of six tree species for afforestation in southern China. One year growth indicated that the six species tolerated toxic metals and their accumulation differed with plant species, their parts and kinds of metals. Height and biomass of Betula alnoides were significantly greater than the rest of the species. Alnus nepalensis had the highest translocation (0.86 in root and 0.69 in shoot) and bioconcentration (0.62 in root and 0.51 in shoot) factor values for Pb, while Pinus yunnanensis had higher translocation and bioconcentration factor values (0.78, 0.45 in root and 0.84, 0.48 in shoot respectively) for Zn. Alnus nepalensis was the best candidate species for phytoremediation of Pb/Zn mine tailing areas due to its good nitrogen fixation, greater translocation and bioconcentration factor values and larger biomass, accumulating an average of 4.70 mg Pb and 6.92 mg Zn.
Colletotrichum species with curved conidia from herbaceous hosts

Colletotrichum (Glomerellaceae, Sordariomycetes) species with dark setae and curved conidia are known as anthracnose pathogens of a number of economically important hosts and are often identified as C. dematium. Colletotrichum dematium has been synonymised with many species, including the type of the genus, C. lineola. Since there is no living strain of the original material of either species available, we re-collected C. lineola from the original location to serve as an epitype of that name, and chose an appropriate epitype specimen and associated strain of C. dematium from the CBS collection. A multilocus molecular phylogenetic analysis (ITS, ACT, Tub2, CHS-1, GAPDH, HIS3) of 97 isolates of C. lineola, C. dematium and other Colletotrichum species with curved conidia from herbaceous hosts resulted in 20 clades, with 12 clades containing strains that had previously been identified as C. dematium. The epitype strains of C. lineola and C. dematium reside in two closely related clades. Other clades represent four previously undescribed species, C. anthrisci, C. liriopes, C. rusci and C. verruculosum, isolated respectively from Anthriscus in the Netherlands, Liriope in Mexico, Ruscus in Italy and Crotalaria in Zimbabwe. The new combinations C. spaethianum and C. tofieldiae are made. Colletotrichum truncatum is epitypified, as well as C. circinans, C. curcumae and C. fructi. Three further unidentified Colletotrichum taxa were detected in the phylogenetic analysis, which may require description after further research. Each species is comprehensively described and illustrated
Modificações florístico-estruturais de um remanescente de Floresta Ombrófila Mista Montana no período entre 1979 e 2000.

The floristic and structure alterations were studied in an Ombrophyllous Mixed Forest located in Sao Joao do Triunfo (Parana State - Brazil). Nine plots of 1ha, first evaluated in 1979, were recovered and, measured in 2000. In 1979, all the trees with dbh ³ 20 cm were identified and tagged, and they had their commercial height and diameter measured. In 2000, based on the same criteria described before, the trees which had not been counted in 1979 were considered as ingrowth, and the missing ones were considered mortality. In 1979, 2133 individuals, 51 species and 29 families were found and in the 2000 survey, 2202 individuals, 55 species and 31 families ware journal. In both surveys, the families Araucariaceae, Aquifoliaceae, Lauraceae, Sapindaceae, Myrtaceae and Canellaceae were the most represented in terms of quantity of individuals. Although in both times more than 50 species were counted, in 1979 only 7 species ( Araucaria angustifolia, Ilex dumosa, Matayba elaeagnoides, Ocotea porous, Capsicodendron dinisii, Nectandra grandiflora and Campomanesia xanthocarpa ) represented 80.4% of the individuals and, in 2000, the same 7 species plus Ocotea corymbosa covered 80.9% of the total number of individuals. Hovenia dulcis , exotic specie, based on the number of adult and regeneration individuals, became to be seen as a threat to the autocnons species. All the structural indicators which were analyzed showed that the community has become more mature during the studied period and that the Araucaria angustifolia increased its dominance. There was a sensible increase of the occupancy grade, indicated by the absolutely dominance that changes from 23.52 m 2 /ha in 1979, to 28.53 m 2 /ha, in 2000, an increase of 21.3%. These results indicate that this community is still in development, and has not yet found its equilibrium. It also demonstrates that the Araucaria dominance increased in this period, suggesting that this profile can even increase future in the future. Regarding to the diversity, it was observed that the indices that consider, the amount of species (richness) and the homogeneity of the density distribution (the indexes of Simpson, U and D of McIntosh) are the ones that best represent the alterations of the period.
Farmers' producer organisation in reducing transactional costs: A study of Tamil Nadu Mango Growers Federation (TAMAFED)

The functional linkages of producers with different systems and within the system in the form of backward and forward linkages in production process involve the investments in the form of transactional costs. Farmers’ collective action for better production in the form of self help groups (SHGs), farmers’ interest groups (FIGs), marketing associations, producers associations, co-operatives etc. have contributed in maximizing the input-output ratio and ultimately increasing the benefit of producers. The present study was undertaken to find out the motivating factors to join association and the benefits accrued as a result of joining such producers’ federation namely TAMAFED (Tamil Nadu Mango Growers Federation) dealing with mango crop in Tamil Nadu state of India. A set of sixty member and sixty non-member farmers were selected from the six villages of the three districts of the state. The Logit analysis revealed that education, economic benefit and area under mango cultivation were the major determinants of motivation to join TAMAFED. As a measure of economic gain, transactional output cost due to sale of harvested produce was two and half times less for members compared to non-members. The comparative analysis shows that mean transactional input cost per hectare was found to be significantly lower for members than non-members. The members of TAMAFED gained social and economic benefits and the costs incurred on input and output transactions were quite low ultimately adding to the benefit. As such, it may be recommended that organization of farmers on commodity basis in the form of similar federations may be promoted for socio economic gain of the farmers.
Effects of density on growth and survival of juvenile Red Swamp Crayfish, Procambarus clarkii (Girard), reared under laboratory conditions

AbstractTheaimofthisstudywastoquantifytheimportanceofpopulationdensityonthegrowthandsurvivalofjuve-nile red swamp cray¢sh, Procambarusclarkii(Girard),and to understand the eiects of density on both theperiod between moults and the increment per moultathighdensitieswithoutfoodlimitation.Alaboratoryexperiment was performed to determine growth andsurvival of juvenile cray¢sh at ¢ve densities (20, 40,60,80 and100cray¢shm 2 ). Densityclearlyaiectedcray¢shgrowth.Theimpactofdensityon¢nalweightwashigherthanontotallengthincrease,growthrateand ¢nal length (FL) (by decreasing order of eiect). Whencomparingminimumandmaximumdensities,we observed that FL suiered a 34% reduction. Num-berof moults, mean intermoultperiod (IP)andsurvi-val were not signi¢cantly aiected by density. Ourresults indicatedthat theIPandthepercentage of in-crement per moultare aiected by the size of cray¢shbefore moultandweprovide equations for these rela-tions.Our¢ndingsarerelevantbothforcray¢shaqua-culturemanagementandforthemanagementofwildorharvestedrice-¢eldcray¢shpopulations.Keywords: cray¢sh, Procambarus clarkii,density,growth, survival, juvenileIntroductionThe red swamp cray¢sh (Procambarus clarkii,Girard1852) was ¢rst reported in southern Portugal byRamos and Pereira (1981) in the Guadiana River ba-sin.Nowadaysithasawidedistributioninthecentreand south of the country, where it seems to be welladaptedtoreservoirsandwetlandssuchasrice¢elds(Correia1993a,b;Ilhe¤uBGrigarick1984; Sommer1984; Correia1993b; Anas-taŁcio & Marques 1997; AnastaŁcio, Frias & Marques2000). Nevertheless,itispossibletoincreasetheprof-itsofrice-farmersbydoublecroppingrice(Oryzasati-va)andredswampcray¢sh(ChienA Nystr˛m1994; Gutie¤rrez-Yurrita & DelOlmo 2004; Paglianti & Gherardi 2004). Huner,MeyersandAvault(1974)reportedthenegativeeiectof crowding on growth in spite of food availability.Severaloutdoorstudiesshowedthatredswampcray-¢sh exhibit density-dependent growth (Huner et al.1974; Lutz & Wolters 1986; Jarboe & Romaire1995; McClain 1995a^c). However, in these studiesthe highest densities tested were rarely above 20in-dividualsm