Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Apology for crime: situational analysis of the communication within criminal commands in Brazil

This article presents partial results of my research on strategic violence with political effects in the world of crime in Brazil. Using Situational Analysis as the methodological approach, thirty videos of exaltation of criminal groups and criminal events circulating on YouTube were analyzed. The situational map of the analytic situation empirically constructed allowed the identification of apology for crime as a discursive terrain and a phenomenon of communication with political tones. The description of oneself as member of the armed and political arm of criminal commands, dehumanization of the enemies and affective and cognitive shielding were identified as the axis of a process of preparing for a war around programmatic narratives of commands. The violence against previously named blanks following regimes of practices and conduct programs was identified as the central axis of a programmatic violence suggesting the existence of radicalization processes.
Transcriptional analyses of an ethanol inducible promoter in Escherichia coli and tobacco for production of cellulase and green fluorescent protein

Cellulase is a widely used enzyme for saccharification of plant cell walls for the production of biofuels. In our work, we tested an ethanol inducible native alcA promoter from Aspergillus nidulans in Escherichia coli (E. coli) and tobacco. The alcA promoter was fused with a cellulase gene and then the promoter was compared with other widely used promoters, namely, T5 and cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S in E. coli. We also tested the activity of alcA promoter in tobacco by transiently expressing a green fluorescent protein gene under the control of alcA promoter. We concluded from our quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) results that when alcA promoter was expressed along with AlcR transcription factor, the alcA promoter was 11 times more active than the T5 promoter. The qPCR data suggested that there may be a direct correlation between AlcR concentrations and alcA activity, indicating a key role of the activator AlcR in the regulation of the alcA promoter. Our work on inducible promoter system for cellulase production may open new avenues of research in the field of biofuel development from living cells.
Fatty Acid Profiles of Different Shrimp Species: Effects of Depth of Catching

The aim of this study was to investigate fatty acid profiles of different shrimp species caught from deep water and shallow water. The shrimp species investigated in the study were Aristeus antennatus, Aristeomorpha foliacea, Plesionica martia, Parapenaeus longirostris, and Plesionica edwardsi from deep water; and Metapenaeus monoceros, Penaeus semisulcatus, Penaeus kerathurus, and Penaeus japonicus from shallow water. Fatty acid composition of shrimps varied. The main fatty acids were C18:1n9, C16:0, C25:6n3, C22:5n3, and C18:0. Saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) contents of P. longirostris, P. edwardsi, and M. monoceros were markedly different, respectively. The ratio of n6/n3 of the edible tissue of M. monoceros was found to be 0.795, whereas this value was 0.152 in A. foliacea. Among the species studied, the highest docosahexaenoic acid + eicosapentaenoic acid value was found for P. kerathurus. The levels of PUFAs of shallow water shrimps (ranging from 33.44 to 42.77%) were found to be higher than those of deep water shrimps (ranging from 29.68 to 33.95%). Marine animals in the upper water layers gain nutrition through phytoplankton which provides n-3 PUFA depending on solar energy. Shallow water shrimp species provide a satisfying amount of PUFA.
Enzymological properties of three soil hydrolases and effects of several pesticides on their activities.

Effects of pesticides on the activities of acid phosphatase, arylesterase and aryl acylamidase in soil were examined under upland field and/or laboratory conditions. We established methods to assay the activities of arylesterase and aryl acylamidase, while a known method was applied for acid phosphatase. Fenitrothion EC, chlorothalonil WP and paraquat SL were the main pesticides used and trichlorfon was additional for laboratory tests. Effects of the pesticides on the activities of acid phosphatase and arylesterase in soil were small or moderate when they were applied at conventional and 5-fold rates. Trichlorfon and fenitrothion EC inhibited the activity of aryl acylamidase, but the effect was temporary and the activity seemed to easily recover with the degradation of the pesticides or the proliferation of microorganisms.
Cross‐resistance patterns to acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitors associated with different ACCase mutations in Beckmannia syzigachne

Summary Beckmannia syzigachne (American sloughgrass) is a competitive grass weed found in China. Fenoxaprop-P-ethyl is widely used for control of this species in China. Resistance to fenoxaprop-P-ethyl in B. syzigachne has been reported to be conferred by an isoleucine(Ile)-1781-leucine(Leu) substitution in the gene encoding the herbicide target, acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase). In this study, three mutations were detected by derived cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (dCAPS) method in fenoxaprop-P-ethyl-resistant B. syzigachne populations: Ile-1781-Leu in population JCWL-R, Ile-2041-Asn in JCJT-R and Gly-2096-Ala in JYJD-R. The data indicated they were genetically homogeneous (homozygous mutant) at the ACCase locus. The use of cytochrome P450 inhibitors was shown to slightly reduce the GR50 value of fenoxaprop-P-ethyl-resistant populations, from which we inferred a combination of target-site resistance (TSR) and non-target-site resistance (NTSR) was involved in fenoxaprop-P-ethyl-resistance. We characterised the cross-resistance patterns to ACCase inhibitors in B. syzigachne. The plants in the JCWL-R population were highly resistant to all tested APPs (aryloxyphen-oxypropionates), sethoxydim and pinoxaden, and moderately resistant to clethodim. The plants in the JCJT-R population were highly resistant to fluazifop-P-butyl, clodinafop-propargyl, cyhalofop-butyl, metamifop and pinoxaden; moderately resistant to haloxyfop-R-methyl, quizalofop-P-ethyl and sethoxydim; and sensitive to clethodim. The plants in the JYJD-R population were highly resistant to clodinafop-propargyl, metamifop and pinoxaden; moderately resistant to haloxyfop-R-methyl, cyhalofop-butyl, quizalofop-P-ethyl, fluazifop-P-butyl and sethoxydim; and sensitive to clethodim. If resistance to ACCase inhibitors is present in B. syzigachne populations in the field, then our results indicate that clethodim should be used. While we demonstrated the cross-resistance patterns of TSR resulting from three mutations in B. syzigachne, we also demonstrated that NTSR plays a role in resistance, which will complicate weed management.
Intensified organic carbon dynamics in the ground water of a restored riparian zone

SUMMARY 1. River restoration projects usually aim at improving the physical habitat for aquatic organisms. The extent to which biogeochemical processes and microbial activities are intensified in restored river reaches remains uncertain. 2. Here, we investigated the relationships between the distribution and composition of organic carbon (OC), bacterial secondary carbon production and extracellular enzymatic activity (EEA) in the ground water below a restored riparian section of the River Thur, Switzerland, relative to a channelised section. The spatiotemporal variability in the stable C isotopic ratio, dissolved OC polydispersity (the distribution of molecular mass in a mixture of molecules) as well as bacterial abundance, EEA and secondary production were investigated in different process zones. 3. At high river discharge, humic as well as low molecular weight amphiphilic substances infiltrated into the subsurface in a zone dominated by the pioneer plants Salix viminalis (willow bush). Concurrently, bacterial abundance, EEA and secondary carbon production increased at this location. 4. The willow plants leached bioavailable substrates into the ground water when the water table was high. The flood-driven soil–groundwater coupling stimulated EEA and bacterial secondary production of the suspended groundwater bacterial community. 5. Establishing riparian habitat diversity adds hot spots of OC inputs during flood events, potentially providing valuable ecosystem services (e.g. degradation of organic pollutants) that accompany.
Aspectos anatômicos e funcionais do aparelho reprodutor de Parastacus brasiliensis (von Martens) (Crustacea, Decapoda, Parastacidae)

The absence of morphological external characteristics that allow the recognition of the sex as well as the presence of both male and female gonopores in the same animal [except in some sexual forms of Parastacus nicoleti (Philippi, 1882)] gives rise to the hypothetical existence of some form of hermaphroditism in crayfishes belonging to the genus Parastacus Huxley, 1879. Specimens of Parastacus brasiliensis (von Martens, 1869) were collected in a rivulet at Mariana Pimentel municipality, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. In the laboratory they were reared and dissected. The results suggest that P. brasiliensis may be a sequential hermaphroditic species, but male and female gonadal tissues were not simultaneously present in the analized samples. In testes and ovaries two pairs of genital ducts are present; that connect, respectively, to the gonopores on the coxae of the fifth and the third pairs of pereiopods. In the females only the apertures and anterior ducts seem to be functional, while in the males only the apertures and posterior ducts may be functional. The existence of different degrees of obstruction in the female genital apertures and different degrees of projection in the male genital apertures was observed. The aspect of the gonopores were used to recognize, externally, the sex of animais.
Campylopus Brid. (Leucobryaceae) in Macaronesia revisited

Based on nuclear ribosomal ITS sequence analysis, biogeographic affinities of Campylopus in Macaronesia are inferred with a focus on the Madeira and Azores archipelagos. Molecular phylogenetic reconstructions reveal a complex pattern of biogeographic connections with regions on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Old World affinities predominate in C. pilifer , with only one out of the 30 sequenced Macaronesian samples belonging to the New World C. pilifer clade. New World affinities predominate in C. fragilis . For C. flexuosus connections with Europe, Asia and/or the Neotropics are indicated. Specimens of C. subulatus from Madeira are part of a clade of Neo- and Paleotropical species. Campylopus cygneus and C. shawii are resolved as closely related, but inference of their putative Caribbean origin will need further sampling. In C. introflexus the geographic origin of the Macaronesian populations cannot be inferred due to the low intraspecific sequence divergence. Campylopus pilifer var. brevirameus is reported for the first time for the Azores, C. cygneus for the first time for Madeira. An updated distribution of Campylopus in Macaronesia is presented, which includes 11 species.
Light Response of Seedlings of a Central African Timber Tree Species, Lophira alata (Ochnaceae), and the Definition of Light Requirements

Light is of primary importance in structuring tropical tree communities. Light exposure at seedling and adult stages has been used to characterize the ecological profile of tropical trees, with many implications in forest management and restoration ecology. Most shade‐tolerance classification systems have been proposed based on empirical observations in a specific area and thus result in contradictions among categories assigned to a given species. In this study, we aimed to quantify the light requirements for seedling growth of a Central African timber tree, Lophira alata (Ochnaceae), taking into account effects of population origin. In two controlled experiments: a light response experiment and a comparative population experiment, conducted in southwestern Cameroon, using seeds collected from four populations (three from Cameroon and one from Gabon), we examined the quantitative responses to irradiance of seedlings. After 2 years, mortality was very low (<3%), even in extremely low irradiance. Growth and biomass allocation patterns varied in response to light, with intermediate irradiance (24–43%) providing optimal conditions. Light response differed between populations. The Boumba population in the northeastern edge of the species' distribution exhibited the highest light requirements, suggesting a local adaptation. As a result of positive growth at low irradiance and maximum growth at intermediate irradiance, we concluded that L. alata exhibits characteristics of both non‐pioneer and pioneer species. Implications of our results to propose an objective way to assign the light requirement for tropical tree species are discussed.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Towards an understanding of the Holocene distribution of Fagus sylvatica L.

Aim Understanding the driving forces and mechanisms of changes in past plant distribution and abundance will help assess the biological consequences of future climate change scenarios. The aim of this paper is to investigate whether modelled patterns of climate parameters 6000 years ago can account for the European distribution of Fagus sylvatica at that time. Consideration is also given to the role of non‐climatic parameters as driving forces of the Holocene spread and population expansion of F. sylvatica.
Life history consequences of larval foraging depth differ between two competing Anopheles mosquitoes

1. Anopheline larvae are surface feeders and allocate most of their time to search for food at the water surface. However, species of the Anopheles gambiae Giles complex may also show bottom feeding. The consequences of this foraging tactic for life history are unknown, yet may be relevant to understand inter‐specific competition patterns.
Eye structure of the phyllosoma larva of the rock lobster Jasus edwardsii (Hutton, 1875): How does it differ from that of the adult?

Summary During the planktonic phase of Jasus edwardsii (Hutton, 1875), its eye increases in size from ca. 100×180 to 1000×1800 μm, while central facets grow from 24.5 to about 60 μm in diameter. Adults possess square facets, but up to the puerulus stage the facets of the larvae are hexagonal. In both the phyllosoma and the adult, 7 retinula cells form the bulk of the rhabdom, but while in the adults a small finger-like and banded “distal rhabdom” is distinguishable from the more voluminous, multilobed, non-banded “proximal rhabdom”, the phyllosoma rhabdom is always spindle-shaped and banded throughout. A clear-zone, separating dioptric from photoreceptive structures in the adult, is absent from the phyllosoma eye. The eye of the phyllosoma, therefore, cannot function on the principle of superposition, although it would seem capable of e-vector discrimination. The latter capacity could be useful for navigational purposes and would enhance contrasts under water. Collectively the structural differences between the phyllosoma and adult eye suggest that overall light sensitivity of the eye is increased at the expense of e-vector discrimination as soon as the young rock lobsters change from a planktonic to a benthic life style.
Endophytic fungi associated with transgenic and non-transgenic cotton

Transgenic Bt cotton expresses the Cry1Ac protein from Bacillus thuringiensis, which could influence the plant's capability to host endophytic fungi. The diversity of endophytic fungi in leaves, stems and roots from transgenic (Bt) and its isoline (non-Bt) cotton was evaluated during different plant developmental stages to investigate possible non-target effects of genetically modified cotton on endophytic fungal communities. A total of 17 genera of endophytic fungi were isolated. The most frequently isolated species were Phomopsis archeri from leaves and stems and Phoma destructiva from roots. While the Bt modification had no effect on endophytes, the cotton tissue and the plant developmental stage significantly influenced the diversity and composition of the fungal community. These results represent the first evaluation of the composition of endophytic fungi associated with transgenic cotton plants.
Testate Amoebae (Rhizopodea-Sarcodina) from Zooplankton of the High Paraná River Floodplain, State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil: I. Families Arcellidae and Centropyxidae

A first contribution towards the taxonomy of testate amoebae (Rhizopodea – Sarcodina) recorded in planktonic samples of lotic and lentic environments in the high Parana River Floodplain in the States of Parana and Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, is provided. Twenty-four taxa belonging to the families Arcellidae and Centropyxidae were identified, described and sketched. Among the taxa, A. vulgaris f. undulata, A. vulgaris var. penardi, A. mitrata var. spectabilis, A. nordestina and Centropyxis aculeata var. tropica represent new occurrences in Brazil.
Morphological and molecular characterization of developing vertebral fusions in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar).

Background: Hyperthermia has been shown in a number of organisms to induce developmental defects as a result of changes in cell proliferation, differentiation and gene expression. In spite of this, salmon aquaculture commonly uses high water temperature to speed up developmental rate in intensive production systems, resulting in an increased frequency of skeletal deformities. In order to study the molecular pathology of vertebral deformities, A. salmon was subjected to hyperthermic conditions from fertilization until after the juvenile stage. Results: Fish exposed to the high temperature regime showed a markedly higher growth rate and a significant higher percentage of deformities in the spinal column than fish reared at low temperatures. By analyzing phenotypically normal spinal columns from the two temperature regimes, we found that the increased risk of developing vertebral deformities was linked to an altered gene transcription. In particular, down-regulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) genes such as col1a1, osteocalcin, osteonectin and decorin, indicated that maturation and mineralization of osteoblasts were restrained. Moreover, histological staining and in situ hybridization visualized areas with distorted chondrocytes and an increased population of hypertrophic cells. These findings were further confirmed by an up-regulation of mef2c and col10a, genes involved in chondrocyte hypertrophy. Conclusion: The presented data strongly indicates that temperature induced fast growth is severely affecting gene transcription in osteoblasts and chondrocytes; hence change in the vertebral tissue structure and composition. A disrupted bone and cartilage production was detected, which most likely is involved in the higher rate of deformities developed in the high intensive group. Our results are of basic interest for bone metabolism and contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms involved in development of temperature induced vertebral pathology. The findings may further conduce to future molecular tools for assessing fish welfare in practical farming.
Phenotypic plasticity and plant invasions: is it all Jack?

Summary 1 Phenotypic plasticity has long been suggested to facilitate biological invasions where a general purpose genotype or ‘Jack-of-all-trades’ strategy could facilitate invasion should native species be, on average, more specialized. Current understanding of the importance of phenotypic plasticity is limited by methodological difficulties yet glasshouse experiments, paralleling those used in evolutionary biology, are increasingly being used to assess whether invasive species have high phenotypic plasticity or not. Unfortunately, these studies have several major limitations. 2 In general, glasshouse experiments have quantified relatively labile means of expressing phenotypes, such as plant biomass, rather than changes in plant development. As some environments favour plant growth and reproduction more than others, simply quantifying allometric or physiological responses relating to differential plant growth may not reveal much about phenotypic plasticity. 3 Plasticity is often a comparative rather than an absolute measure. A range of comparators have been used, for example, unrelated natives, congeneric natives, other congeneric aliens or conspecifics from the source region. Thus, unlike many life-history traits used in analyses of invasion, phenotypic plasticity is strongly context-dependent and limits comparison across different studies. 4 Phenotypic plasticity is assumed to lead to a greater breadth of environmental conditions across which a species can maintain positive population growth and increase the likelihood of invasiveness. Yet, most studies examine only a partial subset of the full environmental range experienced by the species. If the reaction norm of a target species and its comparator vary independently across an environmental gradient, this partial approach can present different interpretations of phenotypic plasticity. 5 Rather than simply quantifying greater phenotypic plasticity in invasive species, research questions should be directed at better understanding its role in the geographic distribution, successful colonization, population persistence and/or high local abundance of invasive species in the introduced range. These issues require integrated measures of plant performance rather than crude differences in individual traits across an environmental gradient. As yet, there is only limited appreciation of the role of phenotypic plasticity in any one of these areas and there is a need to extend studies beyond glasshouse experiments.
Estimating Geographic Variation in Allometric Growth and Body Condition of Blue Suckers with Quantile Regression

Abstract Increasing our understanding of how environmental factors affect fish body condition and improving its utility as a metric of aquatic system health require reliable estimates of spatial variation in condition (weight at length). We used three statistical approaches that varied in how they accounted for heterogeneity in allometric growth to estimate differences in body condition of blue suckers Cycleptus elongatus across 19 large-river locations in the central USA. Quantile regression of an expanded allometric growth model provided the most comprehensive estimates, including variation in exponents within and among locations (range = 2.88–4.24). Blue suckers from more-southerly locations had the largest exponents. Mixed-effects mean regression of a similar expanded allometric growth model allowed exponents to vary among locations (range = 3.03–3.60). Mean relative weights compared across selected intervals of total length (TL = 510–594 and 594–692 mm) in a multiplicative model involved the implicit.
A New Puddle Frog (Phrynobatrachidae: Phrynobatrachus) from the Obudu Plateau In Eastern Nigeria

Abstract A new species of puddle frog (Phrynobatrachus) is described from the Obudu Plateau in Cross River State of eastern Nigeria. The new species is distinguished from Phrynobatrachus species that are either closely related or occur in Nigeria or nearby countries by the combination of its larger body size (larger than the closely related P. chukuchuku, P. danko, P. manengoubensis, and P. werneri) and more extensive degree of development of male traits such as the nuptial pad and gular spines. The new species is also distinguished by a pale or white line along the anterior edge of the supratympanic skin ridge. A molecular phylogenetic analysis reveals that this morphologically distinct taxon is conspecific with a juvenile specimen from the Obudu Plateau previously referred to as P. werneri, and that this new species forms a clade with three other small species from the mountains of Cameroon and Nigeria (P. danko, P. werneri, and P. manengoubensis). The description of this species adds to the diversity of amphibian species of the Obudu Plateau, many of which have disjunct distributions with other populations located in the mountains of neighboring Cameroon.