Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Control of Vertebral Number in Teleosts- an Embryological Problem

It has long been known that meristic characters, and especially the number of vertebrae, in many fishes are affected by environmental factors such as temperature, salinity, oxygen concentration, and light during early development. The temperature response curve of vertebral number for offspring from a single mating is often Ushaped, but may be inversely linear or some other shape. Less is known about response to other variables, but there is generally a clear trend within the tolerance range. The genotype of a fish significantly affects the response curve of vetebral number to environmental factors. A few studies have shown that tetrapod meristic characters are also sesitive to temperature and light. Earlier reviews and recent experiments papers are cited d analyzed to show that these phenomena can now be investigated experimentally. Metabolic rate has been correlated with vertebral number and the possible implications of this are discussed. Theories accounting for the formation of somites are examined. The customary methods of measuring development are regarded as inexact and unsuitable for explanation of the phenomena discussed here. Two interesting evolutionary implications are discussed: teh absence of genetic assimilation of vertebral number, and the apparent absence of selection for a single specific vertebral number in each population.
Collateral damage of the covid-19 pandemic: a Dutch perinatal perspective

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has rapidly prepared guidelines for covid-19, like other professional organisations, based on the available data.12 Yet, the covid-19 pandemic will have multifaceted effects. We have noticed that pregnant women are now more hesitant to visit the hospital as they perceive an increased risk of infection. Depending on gestational age and medical and social status, we think this is …
Desenvolvimento do milho sob influência de árvores de pau-branco em sistema agrossilvipastoril

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of "pau-branco" (Cordia oncocalyx) trees on physiological parameters, height, and biomass of maize at different distances from the trees in an agrosilvipastoral system. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four treatments (distances from trees of 1, 2, 3, and 4 m), besides a control (plants cultivated in the traditional system), and five replicates. The plots consisted of one "pau-branco" tree at the center, and maize rows planted at the four evaluated distances from the tree stem. Physiological measurements and dry matter production were recorded at 30, 60, and 90 days after the sowing of maize. The plants under the canopy of "pau-branco" - at 1 and 2 m from the stem - had their gas exchange, height, and dry matter production affected by the trees. The plants 3 m away from the stem had similar performance to those in the traditional system, and the plants at 4 m of distance had higher photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration, height, and dry mass production. Maize plants under the canopy are negatively affected by tree shading, whereas plants outside the canopy can be favored by the presence of trees in the system.
A survey of mealybugs and their natural enemies in horticultural crops in North Island, New Zealand, with implications for biological control

More than 1300 mealybugs and their natural enemies were collected from six crops (apples, pears, nashi, citrus, persimmon and grapes) at 91 sites. Pseudococcus longispinus and P. calceolariae were the commonest species in all crops, except in pipfruit in Hawkes Bay, inhabited almost exclusively by P. affinis. These three species accounted for more than 99% of all mealybugs collected. Mealybugs were attacked by 14 species of natural enemy, only two of which had been deliberately introduced to New Zealand. Six species of Encyrtidae were reared. Anagyrus fusciventris was recorded from New Zealand for the first time. Parectromoides varipes was newly identified as a primary parasitoid of mealybugs, and males of this species and Gyranusoidea advena, previously unknown, were found. Both species, together with Tetracnemoidea sydneyensis, T. peregrina and T. brevicornis, and Coccophagus gurneyi (Aphelinidae) and two species of Ophelosia (Pteromalidae) were widespread throughout the surveyed regions. Common predato.
Evaluation of Regulated Deficit Irrigation on Grape in Texas and Implications for Acclimation and Cold Hardiness

Abstract Deficit irrigation is used increasingly as a vigor management tool and to conserve water in grape vineyards. Several strategies including regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) have emerged, but none has been evaluated in Texas. Deficit irrigation has also been observed to influence vine acclimation and presumably vine cold hardiness. Experiments were established in a commercial ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ (Vitis vinifera) vineyard in west Texas to evaluate RDI under local conditions and to study the potential for deficit irrigation to induce earlier shoot acclimation and influence cold hardiness. RDI significantly reduced pruning weights by as much as 46% and increased applied water-use efficiency up to 72%, but had little or no effect on yield components or fruit composition, indicating that these strategies could be useful in west Texas. Deficit irrigation was consistently associated with earlier and more rapid development of periderm on shoots, but had no effect on bud cold hardiness.
Immunity and reproduction during colony foundation in the dampwood termite, Zootermopsis angusticollis

Abstract Termite primary reproductives may be exposed to pathogens when dispersing from their parental nest and establishing a new colony. Immunity and reproduction are investigated during colony foundation by implanting a nylon filament into the abdomen of mated and unmated female and male primary reproductives of the dampwood termite Zootermopsis angusticollis. Primary reproductives are paired in combinations of female/male, female/female and male/male and, using confocal microscopy, immune defence is assessed by measuring the degree of encapsulation of nylon implants during three periods of colony foundation: (I) shortly after pairing; (II) during copulation/oocyte maturation; and (III) during oviposition. There are differences in the encapsulation response of mated and unmated termites that are contingent on the period of colony foundation when termites are challenged. Mated females and males have significantly greater encapsulation responses than their unmated counterparts shortly after pairing, perhaps as a prophylactic measure against exposure to disease. The encapsulation response of mated and unmated males does not differ significantly during periods II and III. The onset of oviposition is significantly delayed in mated females that received implants during periods I and II. Mated females have a significantly reduced encapsulation response during the time of copulation and oocyte maturation, but not during oviposition. Overall, males have a significantly greater ability than females to encapsulate a nylon implant. The findings suggest that reproduction can reduce the immune response in female primary reproductives. The results are discussed in light of trade‐offs between immunity and reproduction during the critical life‐history phase of colony establishment in termites.
Gonochorism and sex‐inversion in British Labridae (Pisces)

An investigation was made to compare the reproductive strategies of Crenilabrus melops, Labrus bergylta, Labrus ossifagus, Centrolabrus exoletus and Ctenolabrus rupestris. Fish were collected monthly and measurements were made of length, weight, age and colouration. Histological sections of the gonads were also prepared. Labrus bergylta and L. ossifagus are protogynous, the former monandric and the latter diandric, and a distinct colour change is associated with sex-inversion in L. ossifagus. The other three species are gonochoristic and only C. melops exhibits sexual dimorphism which involves body colouration and size of the urino-genital papilla. All five species undergo normal annual cycles of reproduction which compare with those described for other teleost species, but some differences were noted relating to the different reproductive strategies. L. bergylta females reached sexual maturity at the late age of six to nine years following earlier abortive maturation. In C. melops two types of male were found: the normal (type 1) males and a minority group (about 20%) termed type 2 males, which have complete female secondary sexual characteristics. Type 2 males also have very large testes and attain sexual maturity two years earlier than type 1 males. Their role in reproduction is unknown. Sexual inversion in L. bergylta and L. ossifagus occurs by atrophy of the oocytes and the gradual development of spermatogenetic cysts throughout the gonad. Primary and secondary testes can be distinguished histologically and male L. ossifagus with primary testes do not seem to take part in reproduction.
REACTION WOOD AND THE REGULATION OF TREE FORM

JONES, D. F. 1941. Somatic segregation. Bot. Rev. 7: 291. 307. KOSTOFF, D. 1935. On the increase of mutation frequency following interspecific hybridization in Nicotiana. Curr. Sci. 3: 302-304. LEWIS, E. B. 1950. The phenomenon of position effect. Advances in Genetics 3: 73-115. MCCLINTOCK, BARBARA. 1932. A correlation of ring-shaped chromosomes with variegation in Zea mays. Proc. National Acad. Sci. (U.S.) 18: 677-681. 1939. The behavior in successive nuclear divisions of a chromosome broken at meiosis. Proc. National Acad. Sci. (U.S.) 25: 405-416. 1950. The origin and behavior of mutable loci in maize. Proc. National Acad. Sci. (U.S.) 36: 344-355. RHOADES, M. M. 1938. Effect of the Dt gene on the mutability of the Al allele in maize. Genetics 23: 377-397. STEBBINS, G. L. 1950. Variation and evolution in plants. Columbia University Press. New York. STEPHENS, S. G. 1942. Colchicine produced polyploids in Gossypium. I. An autotetraploid Asiatic cotton and certain of its hybrids with wild diploid species. Jour. Genetics 44: 272-295. 1944. Meiosis of a triple species hybrid in Gossypium. Nature 153: 82-83. 1949. The cytogenetics of speciation in Gossypium. I. Selective elimination of the donor parent genotype in interspecific backerosses. Genetics 34: 627-637. 1950. The internal mechanism of speciation in Gossypium. Bot. Rev. 16: 115-149. STINO, K. R. 1940. Inheritance in Nicotiana tabacumXV. Carmine-white variegation. Jour. Heredity 31: 19-24.
A Quantitative Systems Pharmacology Model of T Cell Engager Applied to Solid Tumor

Cancer immunotherapy has recently drawn remarkable attention as promising results in the clinic have shown its ability to improve the overall survival, and T cells are considered to be one of the primary effectors for cancer immunotherapy. Enhanced and restored T cell tumoricidal activity has shown great potential for killing cancer cells. Bispecific T cell engagers (TCEs) are a growing class of molecules that are designed to bind two different antigens on the surface of T cells and cancer cells to bring them in close proximity and selectively activate effector T cells to kill target cancer cells. New T cell engagers are being investigated for the treatment of solid tumors. The activity of newly developed T cell engagers showed a strong correlation with tumor target antigen expression. However, the correlation between tumor-associated antigen expression and overall response of cancer patients is poorly understood. In this study, we used a well-calibrated quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) model extended to bispecific T cell engagers to explore their efficacy and identify potential biomarkers. In principle, patient-specific response can be predicted through this model according to each patient’s individual characteristics. This extended QSP model has been calibrated with available experimental data and provides predictions of patients’ response to TCE treatment.
Eficiência bioeconômica de cordeiros F1 Dorper x Santa Inês para produção de carne

The objective of this work was to evaluate bioeconomic efficiency of F1 Dorper x Santa Ines lambs for meet production. Performance of F1 Dorper x Santa Ines lambs in raising and fattening phases was analyzed. The production phase of lambs was realized in native pastures ("caatinga") and the finishing phase was in confinement. The ewes were supplemented during the last 50 days of pregnancy and the first 30 days of lactation. Lambs were weaned at 70 days of age, divided into three lots, confined and fed elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) ad libitum, and concentrate in the proportion of 1.5%, 2.5% and 3.5% of live weight, respectively. Lambs sex did not have significant influence on birth weight, as well as on weaning weight and weight gain until weaning. In production and confinement phases, lambs of single births were superior to double births ones considering these variables. Linear effect was significant for weight and for weight gain, at 30 and 50 days of confinement. The three inclusion levels of concentrate were economically viable. Gross margins of live weight for each kg of lamb produced were R$ 0.26 kg-1, R$ 0.30 kg-1 and R$ 0.36 kg-1 of live weight to concentrates of 1.5%, 2.5% and 3.5%, respectively. The best economics results were obtained when the concentrate level was 3.5% of live weight.
Reproductive barriers between the partially sympatric Colorado and false potato beetles

The partially sympatric Colorado potato beetle (CPB), Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), and the false potato beetle (FPB), Leptinotarsa juncta (Germar), were shown to possess a series of reproductive barriers that protect species integrity. A strongly stereotyped sequence of courtship behaviour insures that more than 85% of encounters between these congeneric species are terminated before copulation. The courtship behaviour of the FPB, described here for the first time, is similar to that for the CPB. However, the male FPB is more likely to walk off the female FPB and will repeat antennal tapping more frequently than the CPB before moving on to palp tapping and mating. Observations suggest that both species first use antennal tapping for an initial olfactory assessment of the object as a female insect of a given family or species and palp tapping for final sex recognition. If courtship behaviour fails to break up the hybridization pairs, there is no mechanical barrier to mating and sperm transfer takes place. However, there is gametic mortality. The FPB is more fecund than the CPB and seems less dependent than the CPB on multiple matings to reach its full reproductive potential.
Elaboração e validação de escala diagramática para quantificação da mancha de ramularia do algodoeiro

This study aimed to elaborate and validate a diagrammatic scale to assess areolate mildew on cotton leaves. The proposed scale showed disease levels of 0.05, 0.50, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 8.0, 16.0, 32.0 and 67.20%. The scale showed to be adequate to evaluate areolate mildew due to an increase in accuracy, precision, and reproductibility during disease evaluations.
Crescimento do meloeiro irrigado com águas de diferentes salinidades

Two successive trials were carried out in a field at Mossoro, RN, Brazil, with the objective of studying growth characteristics of melon crop under different irrigation levels of water salinity. The experimental design was a completely randomized blocks with four replications, with four water salinity levels as treatments (T1=0.6 dS m-1; T2=1.9 dS m-1; t3= 3.2 dS m-1 and T4= 4.5 dS m-1). Growth was inhibited by the negative effect of water salinity levels on leaf area index, shoot dry mass, specific leaf area, and shoot leaf area ratio. The influence of irrigation of the water salinity level along melon cycle was observed for shoot absolute growth rate, but not for relative growth rate and net assimilation rate of shoot.
The Mousterian Industry from Bisitun Cave (Iran)

Bisitun, site en grotte du Paleolithique Moyen du N. О. de l'Iran fut fouille il y a plus de trente ans par C. Coon. Son industrie mousterienne, telle qu'elle fut decrite par la suite par Skinner, semblait presenter tous les caracteres des autres industries mousteriennes de la region, generalement nommees le « Groupe mousterien du Zagros ». Un nouvel examen de cette industrie a permis de montrer que l'industrie de Bisitun presente plusieurs traits non deceles par Skinner : haute frequence de la technique Levallois et presence de pieces tronquees facettees. Ces caracteres n'ayant pas ete reconnus dans les autres industries mousteriennes du Zagros, leur presence souleve la question de la validite de la distinction de ce groupe mousterien et de son homogeneite.
Plant Community Recovery following Restoration in Temporally Variable Riparian Wetlands

Wetlands historically provided many ecosystem services but most have been lost or degraded through land conversion. Recent appreciation for wetland values and increasing ecotourism in the Central Platte River Valley (U.S.A.) has promoted restoration of wet meadow systems, although recovery patterns are not well known. We quantified plant community structure in sloughs (deeper habitats) and adjacent margins (slightly higher elevation) of six wetland sites, restored for 1–7 years at the onset of a 3‐year study, and three natural wetlands to assess recovery dynamics. Plant community metrics recovered differentially between habitats. Within restored margins, richness and diversity showed a weak quadratic response with time since restoration, indicating that both indexes overshoot natural levels shortly following restoration. Within sloughs, richness and diversity showed no change with time, suggesting that recovery occurs more quickly in these deeper, moister habitats. Percent similarity of plant communities in restorations and natural wetlands increased linearly over time. However, ordinations of plant community composition showed that recovery was strongly influenced by site‐specific hydrology and that recovery may not be a linear trajectory toward natural systems. The analysis and interpretation of plant community dynamics revealed several challenges to restoration assessment, including the role of interannual variability in precipitation, limitations to hydrologic recovery, and temporal variability in plant community structure in natural systems that resulted in “moving targets” for recovery comparisons. Temporal variability in climate must be considered when assessing restoration success in systems where plant community structure is responsive to variable moisture regimes.
Effect of Processing Methods and different Blanching Times on Broccoli: Proximate Composition and Fatty Acids

Abstract The proximate composition and fatty acid content of the florets and stems of raw broccoli were compared at two processing stages, canned and frozen at different blanching times (60, 90, 120, 150 s). The protein and ash contents were 47.2 and 11.3 g/kg respectively for raw florets, and 19.8 and 10.6 g/kg respectively for stems. At different blanching times the protein contents for frozen florets varied between 29.5 and 32.5 g/kg, and for frozen stems between 10.8 to 12.4 g/kg. The ash content for frozen samples ranged between 4.9 and 5.5 g/kg for florets, and between 4.6 and 5.4 g/kg for stems. Canned florets of broccoli show protein and ash content of 31.7 and 13 g/kg, respectively. The total lipid content varied between 5.9 to 9.5 g/kg for raw, frozen and canned florets and between 5.8 to 8.2 g/kg for stems raw and frozen. The fatty acids identified were: lauric acid (C 12:0 ), myristic acid (C 14:0 ), palmitic acid (C 16:0 ), hexadecanoic acid (C 16:1 ), hexadecadienoic acid (C 16:2 ), hexadecatrienoic acid (C 16:3 ), stearic acid (C 18:0 ), oleic acid (C 18:1 ), linoleic acid (C 18:2 ) and linolenic acid (C 18:3 ). Little loss was observed as a result of industrial processing. (canned and frozen). Different blanching times do not significantly affect the proximate composition.
Systematics and Ecology of Chlorophyte Picoplankton in German Inland Waters along a Nutrient Gradient

The community structure and succession of autotrophic picoplankton in several oligotrophic to hypertrophic German freshwater ecosystems were studied with emphasis on the occurrence and characterization of chlorophyte picoplankton. Depending on the trophic status and the time of the year, the relation of green eukaryotic picoplankton to picocyanobacteria, the contribution of the picoplankton to the total phytoplankton biomass, and the succession and dominance of picoplankton groups changed considerably. A significant correlation between the picoplankton abundances, their biomass and their biomass contribution could not be found. Although the chlorophyte picoplankton were similar with respect to their ultrastructure, phylogenetic analyses of the rbcL genes revealed that these organisms evolved independently within several green algal lineages. The most common picoplanktonic green algae in the lakes that were studied belong to the genera Choricystis and Pseudodictyosphaerium. Considering the new molecular biological findings, the systematics of picoplanktonic green algae from freshwater and marine habitats are discussed.
Nutritional, fatty acid and oil characteristics of different agricultural seeds

Summary Recently increased attention has been given to the utilization of agricultural waste products to produce food, feed, fertilizer and as a raw material in certain industries. Such utilization could not only help maximize available resources but at the same time minimize waste disposal problems. Nutritional and oil characteristics of different seeds were investigated. On a dry basis protein contents of 43, 34, 16.1 and 36.9% and oil contents of 19, 50.6, 35.9 and 25.7% were found in maple, pumpkin, citrus and apple seeds, respectively. Determined food energy values averaged 626 kcal/100 g (26.2 kJ/g). The seeds were found to have valuable amounts of essential minerals. The major fatty acid composition was 18 : 2 (linoleic) at concentrations of 39.1, 58.9, 31.9 and 45.6% and total saturated fatty acids of 16.8, 19.7, 42.8 and 12.4% and cis, cis-PUFA contents were 34.1, 46.8, 19.8 and 45.6%, respectively, for maple, pumpkin, citrus and apple; no measurable amounts of trans fatty acids were found.
Variation in acorn traits among natural populations of Quercus alnifolia, an endangered species in Cyprus

Quercus alnifolia is an endemic species in Cyprus, andit is ratedas Vulnerable (VU) in the RedList of Oaks. Although Q. alnifolia has a great ecological importance, there are only few studies about this species. In this work we have studied the natural variability of this species by analyzing acorn dimensions, acorn mass, length of embryo, moisture content of acorns andseedgerminability among the seven acorn provenances, collected in Cyprus. We also determined the seeds responses to drying. Germination trials were also carried out, and differences in seed germination among populations were examined. Rate of water loss and its effect on seedgermination was also estimatedby application of specific desiccation treatments. The results showed that acorn characteristics significantly differedbetween the populations, following a general trendto reduce their dimensions and mass with the altitude increase. Seed germination was high for all studied populations, andgermination behaviour was similar for all populations. Desiccation of acorns below 35% resultedin a great reduction of seed germination capacity.