Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The trophic role of the squid Loligo plei as a keystone species in the South Brazil Bight ecosystem

The issue of whether loliginid squid can influence the average structure of marine ecosystems in a keystone role, i.e. a strong effect with relatively low biomass, has not yet been examined. Here, the diet of Loligo plei in inner shelf waters of the South Brazil Bight was examined, as a first step, based on the stomach contents of 2200 squid hand-jigged in shallow water (,30 m) and taken as bycatch of shrimp trawlers in deeper water (30 –100 m). Diet varied by size, season, and fishing zone. Stomachs were not empty in � 12%, with more empty during winter. The range of mantle lengths of squid caught by jigging (101 – 356 mm) appeared to differ from the squid trawled (30 – 236 mm), and the diet also differed. Food categories recorded in deeper water did not include amphipods or polychaetes, but in both fishing areas, fish were the most common prey. The fish prey identified included Trachurus lathami, small pelagic species, trichiurids, and Merluccius hubbsi. Demersal species, such as Ctenosciaena gracilicirrhus, and flatfish were also present. An ecosystem network model is updated through which a mixed-trophic impact matrix and “keystoneness” indicators were calculated. Loligo plei represents an important link between pelagic and demersal energy pathways, with high indices of keystoneness.
Weed flora shifts and specialisation in winter oilseed rape in France

Summary Temporally repeated data sets can provide useful information about the management practices governing changes in the arable weed flora. This study aimed (i) to investigate changes in the most common weed species in winter oilseed rape crops in France between the 1970s and the 2000s and (ii) to pinpoint the main plant biological traits and associated management practices underlying the development of a specific weed flora in this crop. We compared two large-scale surveys covering France in the 1970s and the 2000s, the later survey including several floristic samplings, on two dates, and both herbicide-free control and treated plots. This last survey aimed to identify the species best able to maintain high densities over a growing season of oilseed rape. Since the 1970s, the frequency of two-thirds (69%) of the 26 most common species has changed, spectacularly in some cases, with several species once considered rare becoming very common (e.g. Geranium dissectum) and, conversely, some formerly common species becoming rarer (e.g. Stellaria media). Our results indicated a general strong increase in specialist weeds of oilseed rape. Weed species success was favoured by tolerance to oilseed rape herbicides and germination synchronous with the crop. The proportion of specialist oilseed rape weed species tended to increase with herbicide treatment intensity and to decrease with increases in the proportion of spring-sown crops in the rotation. Changes to the rotation may therefore constitute an additional or alternative means of controlling some weeds well adapted to oilseed rape crops.
Effect of Short-Term Low Temperature on the Growth, Development, and Reproduction of Bactrocera tau (Diptera: Tephritidae) and Bactrocera cucurbitae

Abstract The fruit flies Bactrocera tau (Walker) and B. cucurbitae (Coquillett) are economically important invasive pests on numerous vegetable and fruit species in China. Due to the instability of the early spring climate, temperatures often deviate far below the normal temperature for short periods of time. Such a sudden short-term low temperature may impact the reproduction and development of the two fruit fly species. In this study, the effects of low temperatures (8, 6, 4, 2, 0, –2, and –4°C) on the development and reproduction of these two closely related fruit fly species were studied under laboratory condition. The results showed that their survival rates decreased gradually with corresponding decreases in the tested temperatures. On the other hand, their pre-oviposition periods and their adult female to male sex ratios increased, while the average number of eggs per female of each species and longevity of male adult of B. cucurbitae initially increased and later decreased after exposure to the low-temperature treatments. Overall, low temperatures promoted reproduction in B. cucurbitae and B. tau at temperatures ranging from 24°C to as low as 8°C. Development and reproduction of the two species were negatively affected when temperatures were between 8 to –4°C. The cold resistance of each developmental stage was higher in B. tau than in corresponding stages of B. cucurbitae.
Relationships Between Yield and Mineral Concentrations in Potato Tubers

There is concern that modern cultivars and/or agronomic practices have resulted in reduced concentrations of mineral elements essential to human nutrition in edible crops. Increased yields are often associated with reduced concentrations of mineral elements in produce, and a number of recent studies have indicated that, when grown under identical conditions, the concentrations of several mineral elements are lower in genotypes yielding more grain or shoot biomass than in older, lower-yielding genotypes. Potato is a significant crop, grown worldwide, yet few studies have investigated whether increasing yields, through agronomy or breeding, affects the concentrations of mineral elements in tubers. This article examines the hypothesis that increasing yields, either by the application of mineral fertilizers and/or by growing higher-yielding varieties, leads to decreased concentrations of mineral elements in tubers. It reports that the application of fertilizers influences tuber elemental composition in a complex manner, presumably as a consequence of soil chemistry and interactions between mineral elements within the plant, that considerable variation exists between potato genotypes in the concentrations of mineral elements in their tubers, and that, like in other crops, higher-yielding genotypes occasionally have lower concentrations of some mineral elements in their edible tissues than lower-yielding genotypes.
Factors Affecting Usage Levels and Trends of Innovative Oncology Drugs Upon and After Reimbursement Under Taiwan National Health Insurance: Interrupted Time Series Analysis

Healthcare expenditure on pharmaceuticals, especially innovative oncology drugs, is escalating. Current knowledge on this topic is largely limited to studies conducted upon reimbursement of new drugs. We investigated how endogenous factors (e.g., changed reimbursement criteria, such as an expanded indication) and exogenous factors (e.g., competing drugs) affect the level and trends of innovative oncology drug utilization in the Taiwan National Health Insurance (NHI) system, both upon reimbursement and afterward. This retrospective longitudinal study analyzed monthly data (January 2009 to December 2014) from the NHI Research Database on the consumption (prescribing volume) of 15 innovative oncology drugs reimbursed by the NHI between 2007 and 2013. Effects of endogenous and exogenous factors on drug utilization were evaluated using interrupted time series analyses. In segmented regression analyses, changed drug prescribing volume after the indication expanded (endogenous factor) was statistically significant; however, drug volume did not change significantly after prescription restrictions changed. First‐competitors and non‐first‐competitors (exogenous factors) were significantly associated with drug prescription levels or utilization rates. Taking sorafenib as an example, the post‐reimbursement drug prescribing volume did not change significantly after its therapy line changed (endogenous factor), whereas the reimbursement of first‐competitors (exogenous factor) was significantly associated with a lower level or usage rate of sorafenib. Utilization of innovative oncology drugs in Taiwan changed dramatically after NHI reimbursement, driven largely by expanded indications and new competitors. Drug utilization evaluations should investigate both endogenous and exogenous factors.
Improved precision of acoustic surveys of benthopelagic fish by means of a deep-towed transducer

Acoustic measurements of deepwater fish from a deep-towed transducer deployed at depths from 500 to 650 m over a seamount (rising from 1000 to 600 m depth) are compared with those from a vessel-mounted transducer. Algorithms were developed to correct for noise and to analyse signals near the bottom. The analysis showed that the vessel-mounted transducer can significantly underestimate the volume reverberation of deepwater fish by an average factor of 1.86, equating to 2.7 dB. This bias was largely attributed to beam thresholding and calibration, acoustic attenuation from nearsurface bubbles, ship motion, and uncertainties in the sound absorption constant. On the steepest slope of the seamount the near-bottom shadow zone was reduced by 50% and the extrapolated biomass in this zone reduced by 47% using the deep-towed transducer. These results confirm that a deep-towed transducer will improve absolute abundance measurements of deepwater resources. 1996 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea
Potential distributional changes and conservation priorities of endemic amphibians in western Mexico as a result of climate change

SUMMARY There is a growing concern regarding the conservation status of amphibian species worldwide; they are more threatened and declining more rapidly than mammals or birds, and Mexico is considered one of the richest countries on Earth in terms of reptile and amphibian species. Composite models of the current distribution patterns of endemic amphibians in western Mexico were used to predict their potential distributional changes as a consequence of expected climatic changes. The models identified the most significant conservation areas within the region (hotspots), considering existing natural protected areas (NPAs) and previously recognized terrestrial priority regions for conservation (TPRCs). Three niche modelling algorithms (Bioclim, GARP and MaxEnt) used 2412 locality records for 29 species to model their climate envelopes under current and future conditions for the years 2020, 2050 and 2080. The models indicated that overall species persistence was 60% for the years 2020 and 2050, but dropped to < 20% by the year 2080. The current network of NPAs included only 8% of the areas that currently possess the greatest predicted potential richness (16–21 species), and, by 2050, the models indicate they will encompass only 3% of these areas. Six TPRCs included 44% of currently predicted areas with the highest potential species richness, but, by 2050, models predicted only 3% of such areas would persist within one TPRC. Higher uncertainty levels and variability among species surrounded the 2080 projections generated by the three algorithms. Recognition of the potential effects of climate change and consideration of the conservation value of the six TPRCs identified in this study may counteract the potential consequences of climate change on biodiversity in Mexico.
The energetics of Gentoo Penguins, Pygoscelis papua, during the breeding season

1. The food consumption of an animal. both at the individual and the population level, is an essential component for assessing the impact of that animal on its ecosystem. As such, measurements of the energy requirements of marine top-predators are extremely valuable as they can be used to estimate these food requirements. 2. The present study used heart rate to estimate the rate of energy expenditure of gentoo penguins during the breeding season. The average daily metabolic rate (ADMR) of penguins when one adult was necessarily present at the nest (incubating eggs or guarding small chicks; IG, 4.76 W kg(-1)) was significantly lower than that when both parents forage concurrently during the major period of chick growth (CR: 6.88 W kg(-1)). 3. The ADMR of a bird was found to be dependent on a number of factors, including the day within the breeding season and the percentage time that the bird spent foraging during that day. 4. When they were ashore, the estimated metabolic rate of IG birds (3.94 W kg(-1)) was significantly lower than that of CR birds (5.93 W kg(-1)). However, the estimated metabolic rates when the birds were at sea during these periods were essentially the same (8.58 W kg(-1)). 5. The heart rate recorded when the penguins were submerged (128 beats min(-1)) was significantly higher than that recorded from resting animals when ashore (89 beats min(-1)). However, it was lower than that recorded from birds that were swimming in a water channel (177 beats min(-1)). This might indicate that, although primarily aerobic in nature, there was an anaerobic component to metabolism during diving. An alternative interpretation is that the metabolic requirement during diving was lower than when the birds,were swimming with access to air. 6. There was a significant decline in abdominal temperature. from 38.8 degreesC at the start of a diving bout to 36.2 degreesC at the end, which may, indicate a reduction in overall metabolic rate during submersion. This in turn may explain the lowered heart rate. 7. In the present study. we have shown that the metabolic rate of the gentoo penguin varies during the breeding season. The relatively constant metabolic rate of the birds when at sea could represent an upper physiological limit that the birds are unable to exceed. If so, it will only be possible for the birds to increase foraging effort by diving more frequently and/or for longer periods thus reducing their foraging efficiency (the energy gained during foraging vs. energy spent gaining that food). During years when food is scarce, this reduction in foraging efficiency may have a profound influence on the reproductive productivity of the gentoo penguin.
The ghost of competition past in the phylogeny of island endemic plants

1 Large endemic plant taxa found on oceanic archipelagos are frequently monophyletic, indicating that they originate from a single colonization event. 2 Colonization is a two‐stage process requiring both dispersal and establishment to be successful. Accordingly, once‐only colonization may be explained either by dispersal barriers limiting colonization, or by the first successful colonization of an island inhibiting the establishment of later arrivals through niche pre‐emption and interspecific competition. 3 Using the endemic flora of the Canaries and Macaronesia as a test case, I argue that barriers to dispersal are low and that niche pre‐emption is therefore the more likely explanation for the monophyly of large endemic groups in these islands.
Similar hemostatic responses to hypovolemia induced by hemorrhage and lower body negative pressure reveal a hyperfibrinolytic subset of non-human primates

Background To study central hypovolemia in humans, lower body negative pressure (LBNP) is a recognized alternative to blood removal (HEM). While LBNP mimics the cardiovascular responses of HEM in baboons, similarities in hemostatic responses to LBNP and HEM remain unknown in this species. Methods Thirteen anesthetized baboons were exposed to progressive hypovolemia by HEM and, four weeks later, by LBNP. Hemostatic activity was evaluated by plasma markers, thromboelastography (TEG), flow cytometry, and platelet aggregometry at baseline (BL), during and after hypovolemia. Results BL values were indistinguishable for most parameters although platelet count, maximal clot strength (MA), protein C, thrombin anti-thrombin complex (TAT), thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) activity significantly differed between HEM and LBNP. Central hypovolemia induced by either method activated coagulation; TEG R-time decreased and MA increased during and after hypovolemia compared to BL. Platelets displayed activation by flow cytometry; platelet count and functional aggregometry were unchanged. TAFI activity and protein, Factors V and VIII, vWF, Proteins C and S all demonstrated hemodilution during HEM and hemoconcentration during LBNP, whereas tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), plasmin/anti-plasmin complex, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 did not. Fibrinolysis (TEG LY30) was unchanged by either method; however, at BL, fibrinolysis varied greatly. Post-hoc analysis separated baboons into low-lysis (LY30 <2%) or high-lysis (LY30 >2%) whose fibrinolytic state matched at both HEM and LBNP BL. In high-lysis, BL tPA and LY30 correlated strongly (r = 0.95; P<0.001), but this was absent in low-lysis. In low-lysis, BL TAFI activity and tPA correlated (r = 0.88; P<0.050), but this was absent in high-lysis. Conclusions Central hypovolemia induced by either LBNP or HEM resulted in activation of coagulation; thus, LBNP is an adjunct to study hemorrhage-induced pro-coagulation in baboons. Furthermore, this study revealed a subset of baboons with baseline hyperfibrinolysis, which was strongly coupled to tPA and uncoupled from TAFI activity.
The Role of State-of-the-Art Quantum-Chemical Calculations in Astrochemistry: Formation Route and Spectroscopy of Ethanimine as a Paradigmatic Case

The gas-phase formation and spectroscopic characteristics of ethanimine have been re-investigated as a paradigmatic case illustrating the accuracy of state-of-the-art quantum-chemical (QC) methodologies in the field of astrochemistry. According to our computations, the reaction between the amidogen, NH, and ethyl, C2H5, radicals is very fast, close to the gas-kinetics limit. Although the main reaction channel under conditions typical of the interstellar medium leads to methanimine and the methyl radical, the predicted amount of the two E,Z stereoisomers of ethanimine is around 10%. State-of-the-art QC and kinetic models lead to a [E−CH3CHNH]/[Z−CH3CHNH] ratio of ca. 1.4, slightly higher than the previous computations, but still far from the value determined from astronomical observations (ca. 3). An accurate computational characterization of the molecular structure, energetics, and spectroscopic properties of the E and Z isomers of ethanimine combined with millimeter-wave measurements up to 300 GHz, allows for predicting the rotational spectrum of both isomers up to 500 GHz, thus opening the way toward new astronomical observations.
EFFECT OF MIX CROPPING OF MUSTARD AND SUNFLOWER ON INSECT DIVERSITY

The studies on insect diversity were carried in the experimental field, Entomology section, Agriculture Research Institute Tandojam from November, 2011 to February, 2012. Three crops were sown as mustard alone, sunflower alone and under mix cropping on an area of ½ acre each. The collection of insect and non-insect species was done once a week. Data were collected by examining 15 plants and were analyzed statistically, using Shannon diversity index. Results showed that the total specimens 2991 belonging to 30 species were collected from mustard crop. Among them 31 species were pests while 4 and 5 species were predators and pollinator, respectively. The highest diversity (H / ), diversity maximum (H / max), and richness (D) were recorded as (1.77), (1.41) and (0.25) on 15-01 2012 and evenness (J / =1.00) on 24-12-2011. Total specimens 2288 of 22 species were collected from sunflower crop. Fifteen species of them were pests while 2 and 5 were predators and pollinators, respectively. The highest (H / ) was recorded as (1.23) on 16-11 2011, while (H / max), (J / ) and (D) were recorded as (1.30), (0.94) and (.06), respectively. A total of 3844 specimens of 32 species were collected from mustard and sunflower mix crop. Twenty three species of them were insects while 4 and 5 were predators and pollinator, respectively. The highest (H / )
Efeito da Idade dos Frangos de Corte sobre a Atividade Enzimática e Digestibilidade dos Nutrientes do Farelo de Soja e da Soja Integral

This work aimed to investigate the effect of broilers age in the digestibility of nutrients in extruded and toasted full fat soybean (EFFS and TFFS) and soybean meal plus oil (SMO), and in the production of digestive pancreatic enzymes. Five digestibility assays were carried out with broilers of one, two, three, four , and six weeks of age. Total collected excreta methodology was applied. The activities of amylase and pancreatic trypsin enzymes increased linearly with the broilers age, as well as the allometric growth of the pancreas. The highest allometric growth ratio occurred in the second week, coincidentally with the period of increasing activity of the digestive enzymes. However, for lipase activity, distinct age affect was found for each feeds. For birds fed on TFFS, the enzyme activity increased linearly with age, while those fed on EFFS, SMO, and concentrate a quadratic effect was observed. The digestibility coefficients for dry matter and ether extract and the soybeans metabolizable energy (ME) varied at different proportions by age. A positive correlation between ether extract digestibility and lipase activity was also observed. The results of corrected apparent and actual metabolizable energy for EFFS presented a quadratic profile in function of age, increasing ME up to the third week and decreasing after this period. However, ME of TFFS, SMO and concentrate was not affected by chicks age. The nutrient digestibility of feedstuffs varies with chicks age, due to the different enzymatic activities.
Genetic Variants and Phenotypic Characteristics of Salmonella Typhimurium-Resistant Mutants after Exposure to Carvacrol

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance has raised questions about the safety of essential oils and their individual constituents as food preservatives and as disinfection agents. Further research is required to understand how and under what conditions stable genotypic resistance might occur in food pathogens. Evolution experiments on Salmonella Typhimurium cyclically exposed to sublethal and lethal doses of carvacrol permitted the isolation of SeSCar and SeLCar strains, respectively. Both evolved strains showed a significant increase in carvacrol resistance, assessed by minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations, the study of growth kinetics in the presence of carvacrol, and the evaluation of survival under lethal conditions. Moreover, antibiotic susceptibility tests revealed a development of SeLCar resistance to a wide range of antibiotics. Whole genome sequencing allowed the identification of single nucleotide variations in transcriptional regulators of oxidative stress-response: yfhP in SeSCar and soxR in SeLCar, which could be responsible for the increased resistance by improving the response to carvacrol and preventing its accumulation inside the cell. This study demonstrates the emergence of S. Typhimurium-resistant mutants against carvacrol, which might pose a risk to food safety and should therefore be considered in the design of food preservation strategies, or of cleaning and disinfection treatments.
Thermophysical properties of umbu pulp.

Summary The effects of moisture content (between 65 and 95%) and temperature (between 5 and 85 °C) on the specific mass, specific heat, thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity of umbu pulp were studied. The specific mass decreased when the moisture content and temperature increased, and the thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity increased as the moisture content decreased and the temperature increased as from 25 °C. There was also an increase in specific heat as the moisture content increased. Models adequately describing the observed experimental behaviour were adjusted by regression analysis, and the results will be useful for the further development and adaptation of the equipment necessary for umbu pulp processing.