Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Eficiencia de aplicación de agua en la superficie y en el perfil del suelo en un sistema de riego por aspersión

Aplicaciones insuficientes o excesivas de agua se deben a dimensionamientos inadecuados de sistemas de riego, ocasionando perdidas de agua y limitan su eficiencia. Asi, la agricultura irrigada se debe realizar eficientemente adoptando practicas pata racionalizar el uso del agua, haciendola ambiental y economicamente sostenible. El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar la calidad de aplicacion de agua en la superficie y en el perfil de un Oxisol, despues del riego por aspersion convencional, utilizando la tecnica de la TDR para monitorear el contenido de agua en el suelo. En campo se instalaron 196 colectores con espaciamiento de 2 m entre ellos y formando una malla con formato cuadrado. Con los datos recolectados se simularon sobreposiciones con diversos espaciamientos entre aspersores, determinando para cada espaciamiento la uniformidad y eficiencia de aplicacion de agua; para esta ultima se uso un modelo matematico lineal. La uniformidad de distribucion de agua fue mayor para los menores espaciamientos entre aspersores en la superficie y en el perfil del suelo. El coeficiente de uniformidad de distribucion del agua en el perfil del suelo fue mayor que el obtenido para las laminas precipitadas en los colectores, en los espaciamientos 6×6 m y 6×12 m y menor en los demas espaciamientos. El analisis de los coeficientes de uniformidad y de las eficiencias de aplicacion y almacenamiento de agua en el suelo, para diferentes simulaciones de espaciamientos entre aspersores, permite tomar decisiones en relacion a la disposicion de los aspersores en campo y en el uso del agua para riego de forma mas confiable
Tetrazolium test for evaluating Clitorea ternatea L. seeds quality

Este trabalho teve por objetivo verificar a eficiencia de metodos de pre-condicionamento e concentracoes da solucao de tetrazolio na avaliacao da qualidade de sementes de cunha. Sementes de diferentes lotes obtidos nos municipios de Seropedica (RJ) e Fortaleza (CE) foram submetidas aos metodos de pre-condicionamento: a) escarificacao manual com lixa e imersao em agua por 14 horas a 25oC, e b) imersao em agua a temperatura de 95oC com manutencao das sementes na mesma agua por 24 horas a 25oC. Apos o pre-condicionamento, os tegumentos das sementes foram retirados e as sementes imersas em solucoes de tetrazolio a 0,1, 0,3 e 1% por 2 horas e 30 minutos a 25oC. Para comparacao dos resultados obtidos no teste de tetrazolio, foram realizados os testes de germinacao, primeira contagem e indice de velocidade de germinacao. O metodo utilizando escarificacao manual com lixa e posterior embebicao em agua por 14 horas, a 25oC apresenta maior eficiencia no pre-condicionamento de sementes de cunha e a imersao das mesmas em solucao de tetrazolio a 0,3% , por 2 horas e 30 minutos, a 25oC, permite avaliar a qualidade de sementes dessa especie.
The first century of Phalaris aquatica L. cultivation and genetic improvement: a review*

2006 marked the centenary of the commercial propagation of phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.) as a cultivated pasture plant, firstly in Australia, and soon after in New Zealand, South Africa, and North and South America. Small-scale evaluation of cv. Australian began in the Toowoomba Botanic Gardens, Queensland, in 1884. The first recorded large-scale production of seed was at the Glen Innes Research Farm of the NSW Department of Agriculture in February 1906. By 1908–15, several graziers in Australia and New Zealand sold seed widely within Australia, New Zealand, USA, Argentina, and South Africa. Factors affecting the utilisation of the original cultivar in Australia over the first half-century are reviewed. Thereafter, the need to extend the area of perennial pastures into regions unsuitable for cv. Australian led CSIRO and the US Department of Agriculture to collect germplasm widely in the Mediterranean region. Selection between and within Moroccan populations produced cvv. Sirocco and El Golea in Australia, and cv. Perla koleagrass in the USA. In Argentina, selection within cv. Australian produced the very successful, seed-retaining cv. Pergamino El Gaucho INTA, which was re-selected in Australia to produce cv. Seedmaster. The discovery of a single seed-retaining plant within a certified line of cv. Australian gave cv. Uneta, which had excellent seed retention because the rachillae of most seeds remained intact at maturity. In Australia, selection in populations derived from crosses between cv. Australian and Mediterranean ecotypes gave a succession of winter-active cultivars: Sirosa, Sirolan, Holdfast, Landmaster, Atlas PG, Advanced AT, and Holdfast GT. The latter 5 have Uneta-type seed retention, reduced tryptamine and tyramine alkaloids, and adaptation to different soil and climatic niches. Populations for the hotter, drier inland slopes of NSW are being field-tested. Also, a promising but unstable semi-dwarf line has been found: dwarfism appears to be caused by a transposable element. Breeding and selection programs in Argentina, several states of the USA, New Zealand, Israel, Tunisia, and Greece also produced cultivars with specific adaptations. Active breeding programs are continuing at Ardmore, OK, USA, and Pergamino, Argentina. A major remaining obstacle to the further improvement and utilisation of phalaris is the unknown chemical nature of the toxin(s) causing ‘sudden death’, which temporarily interfere with nitrogen metabolism in the brains of herbivores, especially ruminants.
FERULIC ACID IN BARLEY CELL WALLS: A FLUORESCENCE STUDY

Cell walls isolated from barley endosperm have been examined using ultraviolet fluorescence microscopy in parallel with microspectrofluorimetry. The endosperm cell wall fragments exhibit a pale blue autofluorescence. The fluorescence emission spectrum of the walls closely corresponds to the spectrum of ferulic acid, having an emission maximum at a wavelength of 445 nm under the conditions used (excitation maximum at 365 nm). The results provide further evidence that ferulic acid-carbohydrate complexes are localized in barley endosperm cell walls. Similar complexes may be present in aleurone cell walls in relatively high concentrations.
Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia breeding habitat in Britain

Capsule Structural aspects were common across a range of different habitat types and there was evidence that this breeding habitat was limited in extent. Aims To characterize Grasshopper Warbler breeding habitat in Britain and to use this assessment to test whether it was limiting the breeding population. Methods In 2005 singing Grasshopper Warblers were surveyed at four groups of sites in southwest Scotland, during four night-time periods through the season, to quantify which period would afford best detection. Breeding habitat characteristics were measured at 210 Grasshopper Warbler singing positions and 210 systematically located comparison sites positioned across 22 sites in England and Scotland. In 2006 tests were conducted using two different procedures to determine whether the preferred breeding habitat was limited. First, by using the 2005 data to map predicted suitable habitat at 15 sites in southwest Scotland before Grasshopper Warblers arrived, and then assessing the extent of actual occupation. Second, by visiting 30 BTO Common Birds Census (CBC) plots mainly in southern England that had lost their breeding Grasshopper Warblers to assess the current suitability of the habitat. Results Grasshopper Warblers sang more in the first four weeks of the survey (in May) and during the dawn and pre-dawn hours, 05:00–08:00 hours. The breeding habitat across a variety of landscape types was characterized by four key attributes: the presence of more dense, dead vegetation and tussock-forming species at ground level; less dense vegetation at or above 2 m; softer soil; and potential song posts. Not all of the apparently suitable habitat was filled by Grasshopper Warblers, but almost all of the old CBC plots were no longer suitable as breeding habitat as a result of maturation, succession or management. Conclusions It should be possible to detect about 85% of singing Grasshopper Warblers by surveying during the pre-dawn/dawn period in the month after their main arrival. It seems likely that the breeding habitat of Grasshopper Warblers is limited at least in some parts of Britain and there was good evidence for the importance of the structural aspects of their preferred habitat, including heterogeneity. The area of preferred Grasshopper Warbler habitat could be increased through strategic and active management in a number of settings.
Survival of Dusky Canada Goose Goslings in Relation to Weather and Annual Nest Success

Abstract The dusky Canada goose (Branta canadensis occidentalis) population has been in long-term decline, likely due to reduced breeding productivity, but gosling survival of this population had not been examined. We studied gosling survival in broods of radiomarked adult females on the western Copper River Delta, Alaska, USA, during 1997–1999 and 2001–2003. Survival estimates for dusky Canada goose goslings to 45 days (x̄ = 0.32) were below estimates from most previous studies of geese. Daily survival of goslings increased with age and decreased with date of hatch. Precipitation during the first 3 days post-hatch was negatively related to gosling survival and this effect increased with date. Annual estimates of gosling survival were positively correlated with annual estimates of nest success, suggesting overlap in factors affecting nest and gosling survival. Nest success probably also directly affected gosling survival, because survival decreased with hatch date and more broods hatched from renests during years with low nest success. Gosling survival appears to play an important role in limiting current productivity of this population. Management directed at increasing nest success would likely also improve gosling survival. We recommend additional research directed at examining sources of gosling mortality and the link between nest success and gosling survival.
Alocação de compostos nitrogenados de reserva durante a germinação de sementes de Canavalia brasiliensis

Canavalia brasiliensis , vulgarmente conhecida como feijao-bravo-do-ceara, e uma planta herbacea com grande potencial de producao de biomassa e rusticidade durante o periodo de baixa disponibilidade hidrica, aliado a grande eficiencia de fixacao de nitrogenio. O objetivo deste artigo e avaliar os principais compostos nitrogenados e a translocacao deles da semente para a plântula durante e apos a germinacao. Para tanto, o experimento foi conduzido em câmara de germinacao, sendo as plântulas mantidas em vasos de 4 L contendo vermiculita durante todo o periodo experimental. As plântulas foram coletadas em intervalos de dois dias ate a senescencia e abscisao dos cotiledones, que se deu 16 dias apos a germinacao (protrusao da radicula). Em cada uma das epocas de coleta, as plântulas foram separadas em raizes, caule, folhas e cotiledones e, em triplicata, foram analisados o conteudo de proteinas totais, aminoacidos soluveis totais, canavanina, ureideos (alantoina e acido alantoico) e nitrato em todos os tecidos. Observou-se reducao nos niveis de canavanina e proteina total a medida que se aumentou o periodo de coleta, com o desaparecimento dos niveis de canavanina apos 16 dias. Proteinas e aminoacidos apresentaram concentracoes inversamente proporcionais, ou seja, ocorrendo o aumento de um ha diminuicao do outro ate a senescencia e abscisao dos cotiledones. Detectou-se presenca de nitrato nos tecidos das plântulas ate a ultima coleta (16 dias apos a germinacao). A concentracao de ureideos (acido alantoico e alantoina) foi elevada durante todo o periodo avaliado, indicando ser componentes do metabolismo de nitrogenio de C. brasiliensis , ocorrendo sintese de novo.
Regulation of water channel activity in whole roots and in protoplasts from roots of melon plants grown under saline conditions

Measurements of the hydraulic conductance (L0) of roots of melon plants (Cucumis melo L.) derived from roots grown under saline conditions were performed to determine the effect of NaCl and which ion, Na + or Cl – , is involved. Root hydraulic conductance of plants treated with a 50 mM NaCl, 47 mM Na + or 45 mM Cl – salts mixture was reduced, but the reduction was less when 10 mM CaCl2 was added before the salts, except in the case of the Cl – salt mixture. Only when CaCl2 was applied before NaCl was there an ameliorative effect on L0 (25.8% increase). Addition of HgCl2 reduced theL0 of control plants, but the reduction progressively decreased as the NaCl concentration was increased (from 0 to 50 mM). Osmotic water permeability (Pf) values were calculated in root protoplasts treated with 90 mM NaCl. Large reductions were observed with the NaCl treatment (10.38 mm s –1 for the control and 3.31 mm s –1 for the NaCl treatment). In addition, Pfmeasurements were carried out for protoplasts treated with 100 mM NaCl plus the phosphatase inhibitor, okadaic acid (5 mM). The effect of okadaic acid on Pf values before and after NaCl addition was similar (6.61 and 7.01 mm s –1 , respectively), showing a smaller decrease of Pf than with NaCl alone with respect to control protoplasts. The results showed that the negative effect of NaCl on water channel activity was not due to a high ion concentration effect on channel pores or to the increase in osmotic pressure. We suggest that it was due to a direct action of NaCl on protein regulation.
An Ultimate Method for Detection of Infected Pathogenic Microorganism from Silkworm using HDGP

mi-For detection and identiﬁcation of pathogenic microorganisms which were infected with silkworm, Bombyx mori using PCR, ampliﬁcation of DNA of generally assumed pathogenic microorganisms has been performed using speciﬁc primers. Thus, detection of unknown pathogens with the possibility to infect silkworms requires designing new speciﬁc primers, which takes time before detection. To develop a method of detecting silkworm infected with all pathogenic microorganisms by an identical procedure under identical conditions, we designed H yper D etec- tion of infectious disease based on G enome P roﬁling (HDGP). HDGP is a new technique utilizing the concept of genome proﬁling (GP), and it is capable of simultaneously detecting infected silkworm and identifying the cause of infection without speciﬁc primers. We detected entomopathogenic protozoa that infected silkworm and virus DNA-contaminated silkworms DNA to investigate the usefulness of HDGP, and conﬁrmed signiﬁcant differences in the proﬁle image between the pathogenic microorganisms-contaminated silkworm and healthy silkworm. We also obtained similar results in a comparative experiment of assumptive infected tomatoes and pathogenic fun- gus. These ﬁndings suggest that HDGP may detect infections regardless of the species of host and infectious pathogen.
A novel hapten and monoclonal-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for 3-methyl-quinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid in edible animal tissues

To monitor the illegal use of olaquindox (OLA) in animals, a novel hapten and monoclonal antibody for 3-methyl-quinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid (MQCA), the marker residue for OLA, had been produced. And then, the monoclonal-based indirect competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ic-ELISA) has been established with simple sample preparation and clean-up. The obtained antibody 5B10 that has isotype IgG1 showed an IC50 value of 17.7 μg L−1 for MQCA and did not exhibit measurable cross-reactivity with other antibiotics. The limits of detection ranged from 1.9 μg kg−1 to 4.3 μg kg−1. The recoveries were from 74.2% to 98.9% with a maximum coefficient of variation of 17.3%. A good correlation between ELISA and HPLC results of the incurred tissues demonstrated the reliability of the developed ic-ELISA. It would be a useful tool for the screening of the residues of MQCA in the edible tissues of animals.
The Mediterranean Colaspidea (Coleoptera Chrysomelidae Eumolpinae)

Mediterranean Colaspidea are reviewed with examination of type material. The following nomenclatural changes are provided: C. nitida Lucas, 1846 bona sp. resurrected from synonymy with C. globosa (Kuster, 1848), Colaspidea proxima (Fairmaire, 1862) bona sp. resurrected from synonymy with C. oblonga (Fairmaire, 1862), C. juengeri Doguet, 1988 is raised to species, from subsp. of C. metallica (Rossi, 1790). The following synonymies are provided: C. oblonga (Fairmaire, 1862) n. syn. of C. nitida Lucas, 1846, C. oblonga albanica Schatzmayr, 1923 n. syn. of C. nitida Lucas, 1846. A Lectotype is designed for C. nitida Lucas, 1846, a Neotype is designed for Dia oblonga Fairmarie, 1862. The following new taxa are described: C. algarvensis n. sp. (Portugal: Algarve), C. incerta n. sp. (Algeria: Yakouren), C. dogueti n. sp. (Algeria: Massif du Djurdjura), C. pallidipes n. sp. (Morocco), C. confinis n. sp. (Algeria), C. maura n. sp. (Morocco, Algeria), C. maghrebina n. sp. (Algeria: Constantine). Morphological aspects are discussed, pointing out range of variability of aedeagic characters, here used in the discrimation of species. Distribution of each taxon is verified on the base of examined material and displayed on maps. A catalogue is provided.
Empirical relationships to estimate asymptotic length, length at first maturity and length at maximum yield per recruit in fishes, with a simple method to evaluate length frequency data

Empirical relationships are presented to estimate in fishes, asymptotic length (L∞) from maximum observed length (Lmax), length at first maturity (Lm) from L∞, life span (tmax) from age at first maturity (tm), and length at maximum possible yield per recruit (Lopt) from L∞ and from Lm, respectively. The age at Lopt is found to be a good indicator of generation time in fishes. A spreadsheet containing the various equations can be downloaded from the Internet at http://www.fishbase. org/download as popdynJFB.zip. A simple method is presented for evaluation of length–frequency data in their relationship to L∞, Lm and Lopt. This can be used to evaluate the quality of the length–frequency sample and the status of the population. Three examples demonstrate the usefulness of this method. 2000 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles
Combinatorial RNAi against HIV-1

RNA interference (RNAi) targeted towards viral mRNAs is widely used to block virus replication in mammalian cells. The specific antiviral RNAi response can be induced via transfection of synthetic small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) or via intracellular expression of short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs). For HIV-1, both approaches resulted in profound inhibition of virus replication. However, the therapeutic use of a single siRNA/shRNA appears limited due to the rapid emergence of RNAi-resistant escape viruses. These variants contain deletions or point mutations within the target sequence that abolish the antiviral effect. To avoid escape from RNAi, the virus should be simultaneously targeted with multiple shRNAs. Alternatively, long hairpin RNAs can be used from which multiple effective siRNAs may be produced. In this study, we constructed extended shRNAs (e-shRNAs) that encode two effective siRNAs against conserved HIV-1 sequences. Activity assays and RNA processing analyses indicate that the positioning of the two siRNAs within the hairpin stem is critical for the generation of two functional siRNAs. E-shRNAs that are efficiently processed into two effective siRNAs showed better inhibition of virus production than the poorly processed e-shRNAs, without inducing the interferon response. These results provide building principles for the design of multi-siRNA hairpin constructs.
Insect identification

Past presidents have taken liberties to reminisce about the past, complain about the lack of progress, or occasionally offer guide lines for the future of our Society. Our past president John O'Neil has suggested more individual participation and increased communication among our members. In their endeavor to promote entomology as a science and profession, presidents have often framed their remarks with their own area of interest as it relates to entomology. And so it is with this address; my comments will reflect the area of interest with which I am most intimately associated. The younger generation would call this doing "my thing" or doing what I like to do best. One of the most commonly asked questions in my field of interest is, "What is this specimen? " Man begins as a child full of curiosity about the living organisms he finds around him. Without this natural curiosity he would never accept the challenge of problem-solving. The second most commonly asked question is, "How do I control it or should I control it? " Not only is it wise to know what you are controlling, it is often necessary to know what the organism is before it can be effectively controlled. Records of insect control date back hundreds of years, but it was not until an interest was shown in classifying insects that this discipline began to develop. Since most biological work with living organisms begins with the proper identification, I would like to address my remarks to the field called systematics. According to Becklund, et al. (1969), systematics, in its broadest definition, is concerned with arranging the forms of the organic world into an observable scheme of relationships. The term "taxonomy" may be employed as a synonym for "systematics," but more often taxonomy describes the actual technical aspects of naming and classifying organisms. Both terms are useful and can be used interchangeably. Biologists may have upwards of 10 million species to work with. Since most of us are entomologists, I would like to confine this discussion to insects and closely related arthropods. Sailer (1969) estimated that there were 3 million species of insects of which only about one-third have been classified. He further projected that at the rate of 8,000 new species named each year, it would require 250 years to complete the naming of our presently estimated insect world. I would like to predict that by the time the mite fauna is as well known taxonomically as the insects, their recorded number will be much closer to that of the insects than we now think. Sailer further estimates that there are only about 250 competent individuals in the United States who can provide authoritative identifications of insects. We have approximately 5,400 U. S. members in the Entomological Society of America which would give us a systematics membership of a little over 4%. The Florida Entomological Society has a
Antileishmanial action of Tephrosia purpurea linn, extract and its fractions against experimental visceral leishmaniasis

Tephrosia purpurea (family: Fabaceae), which is used in traditional remedies for the treatment of febrile attacks, enlargement and obstruction of liver, spleen, and kidney, was found to have significant antileishmanial activity, and has been extensively fractionated to locate the abode of activity. A fraction (F062) obtained from N‐butanol extract of T. purpurea showed consistent antileishmanial activity at 50 mg/ kg × 5 days by oral route against Leishmania donovani infection in hamsters. Activity was further confirmed in a secondary model, i.e., Indian langur monkeys (Presbytis entellus). Thus, the fraction F062 from this plant possesses potential to produce significant antileishmanial activity by oral route without producing any toxic side effects. Drug. Dev. Res. 60:285–293, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.