Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Why are Biennials Sometimes Not so Few?

Hart (1977) has drawn attention to the rarity of the biennial life history among plants. In a total of 14,500 species in the North American flora a mere 200 (1.4%) are biennial while 3,155 (21.3%) are annual. These data, compiled on a continental basis, illustrate an overall trend which obscures the more complex picture of plant life history that emerges when plant families are examined individually. To illustrate this point I have tabulated the data on lifespan for European species of Umbelliferae, Compositae, Gramineae, and Cyperaceae (table 1). Eleven percent of umbellifers and 5% of composites in the European flora are described as biennial in Flora Europaea (Tutin et al. 1964-1980). "Biennial" is in fact an unsatisfactory term since demographic studies have often shown that some individuals in biennial populations flower more than 2 yr after germination. Moreover, in other biennial populations, plants are facultatively annual. If all species which exhibit the monocarpic perennial life history to some degree are summed, we find that 25% of European umbellifers and 9% of composites fall into this category. Furthermore 30% of genera in the Umbelliferae and 20% of genera in the Compositae contain species with monocarpic perennial populations. Thus this type of life history, although rare in the angiosperms as a whole, has evolved many times in the European members of these particular families. The frequency of monocarpic perennials in these two families contrasts with the virtual absence of this life history in the European Gramineae and Cyperaceae (table 1). Table 1 shows that the frequency of the monocarpic perennial life history in the four families is not correlated with the frequency of (monocarpic) annuals in each family. This paper modifies the argument of Hart (1977) and advances a new hypothesis to explain why biennials are relatively common in some families and virtually absent in others. Following Charnov and Schaffer (1973), Hart (1977) used the following model to calculate the rate of increase, X, for annuals, biennials, and perennials. This model has since been modified to take account of the cost of sex (Waller and Green 1981) but the relevance of this refinement depends upon various contingencies such as breeding system which complicate the present argument unnecessarily (Charnov et al. 1981). Let Cl = fraction of plants surviving from the seed stage until the end of the first growing season (when annual plants flower and die). C2 = the fraction of plants beginning another (second or subsequent) year's growth, which survive to the end of that year. Sa, Sb, and Sp = the number of seeds produced per plant for annuals, biennials, and perennials, respectively. Then the rates of increase for plants with the three types of life history are: Xa = C1 Sa (1)
Formas de ureia e doses de nitrogênio em cobertura no desempenho agronômico de genótipos de trigo

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of nitrogen fertilization in top dressing from various forms of urea in wheat genotypes on no-till system. Wheat genotypes developed by EMBRAPA (cultivars BRS 208 and BRS Pardela and line IWT 04008) were evaluated in three independents experiments in Ponta Grossa, State of Parana, Brazil in 2008. Three forms of urea were evaluated (conventional urea, urea with urease inhibitor and protected urea) with four levels of N (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg ha-1) applied in top dressing in early tillering. Randomized block design, in a 3 x 4 factorial experiment, with four replications were used. The increase in the levels of nitrogen in any form of urea used, increase the dry mass of the flag leaf, the number of spikes m-2 and yield, but reduces hectoliter mass. The form of urea applied in top dressing does not influence the agronomic characteristics of the evaluated genotypes. Cultivars BRS 208 and BRS Pardela were more productive and had higher N content grain than line IWT 04008.
Molecular characterization of hepatopancreas vitellogenin and its expression during the ovarian development by in situ hybridization in the banana shrimp Fenneropenaeus merguiensis

A complete cDNA sequence of vitellogenin (Vg-H) was cloned from the hepatopancreas of Fenneropenaeus merguiensis (De Man, 1888). The full-length Vg-H gene consists of 7958 bp and contains an ORF of 7761 bp. It encodes a polypeptide of 2587 amino acids, comprising a predicted molecular mass of 283 kD and the theoretical pI is 6.5. The amino acid sequences of the mature vitellogenin (Vg) composed of a signal peptide, three possible O-glycosylation sites, three phosphorylation sites and putative possessing sites (R-X-K/R-R) recognized by subtilisin-like endoproteases. Cleavage at residues 725 to 728 will produce two Vg subunits (78 and 200 kD), which the N-terminal amino acid sequence of 78 kD subunit is identical to that of vitellin purified from the ovary. These properties suggest that Vg protein encoding by Vg-H undergoes processing at its synthetic sites prior to being transported to developing oocytes. The deduced primary structure of Vg-H showed the highest identity (98.8%) to the Vg-O previously cloned from the ovary of the same species. It is more related to the penaeid Vg sequences than that of nonpenaeids. In situ hybridization revealed that mRNA encoding Vg was expressed both in follicle cells in the ovary and parenchyma cells in the hepatopancreas. In the developing ovary, highest levels were detected during the early vitellogenic stage 2, declining thereafter. In the hepatopancreas, Vg mRNA levels reached a maximum at stage 3 of ovarian development. Profiles of Vg mRNA expression in the ovary and hepatopancreas suggest that the contribution of these tissues to vitellogenesis is inversely related during gonad maturation. Thus, Vg gene sequences expressed in the ovary and hepatopancreas are most likely identical and both tissues are responded for yolk protein synthesis in F. merguiensis.
Bacterial and fungal contributions to chlorothalonil degradation in soil

Abstract The contributions of bacteria and fungi to the degradation of a chloroaromatic fungicide, chlorothalonil, in soil were evaluated quantitatively by a selective inhibition method. A mixture of ampicillin, chloramphenicol, and tetracycline was used to estimate the bacterial capacity, and cycloheximide to estimate the fungal capacity. A mixture of nutrient broth and yeast extract (NB + YE) was added to the soil to minimize the partial sterilization effect by antibiotics. The degradation of chlorothalonil was measured for a period of 6 h when the degradation rate and the carbon dioxide evolution rate were constant. The contribution rates estimated with the addition of NB + YE showed the same trend as the estimates with the addition of the dried powders of chlorothalonilsusceptible microorganisms, indicating the validity of NB + YE as a substrate for the chlorothalonil-degrading microorganisms. The contribution of the degrading fungi increased in the soils receiving farmyard manure (FYM). It was sugges.
Biological Clocks and the Nitrate Reductase Oscillating System

Components of a proposed central clock have been identified in model organisms such as Neurospora and Drosophila as well as in mammals and cyanobacteria, whereas central clock components in plants appear elusive. In plants many different circadian rhythms have been studied; rhythms which are manifested on the whole plant level as well as rhythms in metabolism and gene transcripts. Explaining all these rhythms by an underlying, central oscillator may appear fruitless. Circadian nitrate reductase expression here discussed gives an example of how a circadian rhythm may be explained without referring to a central oscillator, and shows how the oscillating mechanism and rhythms recorded may merge.
Semantic Snippets via Query-Biased Ranking of Linked Data Entities. (Snippets Sémantiques par un ordonnancement biaisé-requête d'entités de données liées)

In this thesis, we introduce a new interactive artifact for the SERP: the "Semantic Snippet". Semantic Snippets rely on the coexistence of the two webs to facilitate the transfer of knowledge to the user thanks to a semantic contextualization of the user's information need. It makes apparent the relationships between the information need and the most relevant entities present in the web page.
Variations in morphology of the superficial palate of henophidian snakes and some possible systematic implications

Summary Attention is drawn to the possibility that the superficial palate may afford some characters of value in snake systematics. This possibility is explored with particular reference to the Henophidia. A relatively simple palatal morphology occurs in most lower Henophidia (Anomochilus, Cylindrophis, uropeltids, and Xenopeltis). In Anilius, the posterior palatal surface is turned dorsally and divided into two lobes that cover the internal choanae. Loxocemus and pythons are characterized by full development of vomerine flaps, weakly developed or absent in lower Henophidia. In boas (s.l.), the vomerine flaps are extended and contribute to a median choanal tongue, accompanied by emargination of the choanal arc. Further variation, of systematic interest, occurs within boas. Some cladistic implications of palatal and non-palatal characters are proposed, and compared with previous systematic arrangements.
Common dolphin morphotypes: Niche segregation or taxonomy?

In the extensive geographical distribution of the common dolphin, several morphotypes of uncertain taxonomic status, identified by the relative length of their rostra, have been established. We investigated variation in skull morphometrics and isotopic signatures of carbon and nitrogen (δ13C and δ15N) in individuals from the subtropical waters of the North Atlantic Ocean, in order to assess population structure and taxonomic status. The distribution of the relative rostral lengths (RL) of individuals followed a cline with no subgrouping. Both δ13C and δ15N showed high variability, which suggests that individuals use habitat heterogeneously. δ15N correlated with RL, indicating that longer beaked individuals either feed at a higher trophic level and/or inhabit waters located further offshore than shorter beaked animals. Although δ13C and δ15N were correlated, RL and δ13C failed to show any correlation, possibly because the incremental effect of trophic level on δ13C has been offset by the potential allopatric distribution of the morphotypes. We conclude that both the long-beaked and short-beaked forms of common dolphin do occur off Mauritania but, in contrast to other areas, the existence of more than one species in the region is questioned because both stable isotopes and skull morphometric appear to reflect differential use of habitat rather than taxonomy. Even though proposed previously by some authors, this is the first time that skull differentiation in common dolphins has been demonstrated to be likely due to niche segregation and not to speciation. This reveals that caution is needed when considering that long-beaked and short-beaked common dolphins from outside the eastern North Pacific fall into the taxonomic model described for this region.
Strong and weak trophic cascades along a productivity gradient

Variation in the strengths of predator effects, although commonly observed in natural communities, and predicted from theoretical models, remains poorly understood in the study of food web interactions and community structure. In this study, I first showed that prey species in benthic pond food webs were highly variable in their susceptibility to predators. Some were vulnerable throughout their lives, whereas others were vulnerable as juveniles, but able to grow to a size-refuge. Next, I showed that herbivore and predator abundance increased along a natural productivity gradient among 29 ponds, and herbivore species composition shifted from dominance by vulnerable to dominance by invulnerable herbivore species along this gradient. However, there was a considerable amount of variation both in herbivore biomass and composition at intermediate productivity; some were dominated by small species and others by larger species. Finally, in in situ exclosure experiments, I found that predator effects were strong and cascaded to plants in a low productivity pond and in an intermediate productivity pond dominated by small herbivore species. Alternatively, in a high productivity pond and in an intermediate productivity pond dominated by larger herbivores, I found that predator effects on prey biomass were weak, and did not cascade to plants.
Cortical microtubule reorientation in higher plants: dynamics and regulation

This paper aims to review aspects of cortical microtubule reorientation in higher plant cells. First, we look at the divergent environmental and developmental signals that can elicit the realignment of microtubules in interphase cells. Second, the regulatory factors that might orchestrate microtubule reorientation are examined. In particular, we address the questions of how these extracellular signals are perceived, by what mechanisms this information might be transmitted to the cortical microtubules, and what molecular factors regulate the process of realignment. We put forward an hypothesis of how electric fields reorientate microtubules in plant cells, focusing on the role of transmembrane proteins which might link cortical microtubules in the cytoplasm to the extracellular matrix. Finally, the need to examine microtubule reorientation in live cells is discussed, and we describe the novel visualization of microtubules in live cells of an intact plant. We conclude with our perspective of the future path of research which will be necessary to broaden our understanding of how microtubules undergo rapid reorientation in plant cells.
Polyphosphates in the red macroalga Chondrus crispus (Rhodophyceae)

SUMMARY Plants of Chondrus crispus Stackhouse, collected from mid-littoral tidepools, were treated as follows. Some plants were kept for a few weeks under controlled starvation conditions in order to decrease their initial content of total tissue phosphorus, then incubated for up to 48 h in phosphorus (15 μm) and nitrogen (25 μM)enriched sea water. Other plants were directly incubated in enriched sea water. Chemical analyses showed that the total phosphorus content of fresh and starved plants remained stable, reflecting the nutritional status of the plants. The predominant acid-soluble phosphate fraction was larger in fresh than in starved plants. The content of acid–soluble polyphosphates, similar in both types of plants at the beginning of the experiment, doubled in starved plants, and increased by a factor of 2′7 in fresh plants, over 48 h. The content of acid-insoluble polyphosphates was lower than that of acid-soluble polyphosphates. Transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X–ray microanalysis confirmed the presence, mostly in medullary cells, of acid-insoluble polyphosphates in the form of cytoplasmic granules and precipitates along the plasmalemma, particularly near pit plugs. This is the first report of such phosphorus storage structures in a red macroalgal species.
A new species of blind subterranean Tetrablemma (Araneae: Tetrablemmidae) from Australia

Abstract The first blind Australian species of Tetrablemmidae and only the fourth in the world, Tetrablemma alaus, new species, is described from subterranean habitats in northwestern Australia. The total loss of eyes is correlated with its subterranean existence and is complemented by other troglomorphies including slightly elongated appendages and pale coloration.
Population dynamics of the southern short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis dimidiata) in the Pampas of Argentina

Abstract. The genus Monodelphis is one of the most species rich among Neotropical marsupials. Despite this, little is known about most of the species. One of the most enigmatic species is M. dimidiata, a small terrestrial opossum that inhabits the Pampean region of Argentina, which is suspected to be a semelparous breeder. From 2005 to 2008, we conducted seasonal live trapping in near-pristine marshy grasslands and agroecosystems of the Pampean region in order to evaluate the population trends of this species and the occurrence of semelparity. M. dimidiata was characterised by a low abundance in the study area. The average density was higher in grasslands than in agroecosystems, and it appeared to be influenced by vegetative cover. The onset of the breeding season occurred during spring when the opossums showed a sudden increase in body size. Given that mature individuals were not found beyond autumn, the findings suggest an annual cycle for this species. In addition, this abrupt maturation resulted in a pronounced sexual dimorphism that, together with the strong reproductive seasonality and a likely polygynous mating system, supported previous claims that the species is semelparous. Our results also emphasise the importance of native grassland habitat for the maintenance of stable populations of M. dimidiata.
Estudo numérico de escoamentos turbulentos com convecção forçada em cavidades cilíndricas: comparação entre LES e RANS

O presente trabalho apresenta um estudo numerico comparando o emprego da Simulacao de Grandes Escalas (LES) e Modelagem Classica (RANS) com o modelo k – e para a predicao dos campos medios e estatisticos em um escoamento turbulento com conveccao forcada em cavidades cilindricas (escoamento de base cisalhante livre) a Re D = 22000 e Pr = 0.71. No âmbito da conveccao forcada, o principal proposito e verificar se o uso das diferentes metodologias para abordagem da turbulencia pode conduzir a diferencas consideraveis nos fluxos convectivos nas superficies da cavidade. Alem disso, as diferencas dos campos medios e estatisticos de temperatura tambem sao importantes para futuras analises de escoamentos com mecanismos combinados de conveccao e radiacao termica em meios participantes, i.e., investigando a influencia das Interacoes Turbulencia-Radiacao (TRI). As equacoes de conservacao sao resolvidas atraves do Metodo de Volumes Finitos (FVM). Os resultados revelaram que o jato apresentou uma maior penetracao na cavidade cilindrica para a simulacao realizada com LES, enquanto um maior espalhamento radial foi observado no caso com o modelo RANS k - e. Apesar de apresentarem uma tendencia similar, diferencas significativas foram observadas para os campos medios, estatisticos e fluxos convectivos preditos com LES e RANS.
PENGOPTIMALAN KINERJA MOTORIK PADA PENUAAN FISIOLOGIS DAN PENUAAN AKIBAT STRES OKSIDATIF DENGAN ALANIN-GLUTAMIN DIPEPTIDA DAN HUBUNGANNYA DENGAN PERBAIKAN FUNGSI HIPOKAMPUS

Penelitian ini bertujuan membuktikan pengaruh alanin-glutamin dipeptida 7% terhadap perbaikan fungsi hipokampus melalui pengamatan beberapa parameter kinerja motorik seperti jarak tempuh (JT), waktu stereotipe (WT), waktu ambulatori (WA), dan waktu istirahat (WI). Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan memberikan alanin-glutamin dipeptida 7% selama 12 hari pada tikus umur 12 dan 24 bulan yang mengalami penuaan fisiologis dan penuaan akibat stres oksidatif. Pengamatan terhadap semua parameter kinerja motorik dilakukan dengan alat Opto-Varimex yang dikoneksikan dengan software Autotract. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan alanin-glutamin dipeptida 7% berpengaruh terhadap perbaikan kinerja motorik pada kondisi penuaan fisiologis dan penuaan akibat stres oksidatif.
Development of Purification Method and Identification of a Peptide Antibiotic Produced by Lactococcus lactis IO-1

The culture supernatant of Lactococcus lactis IO-1, which was isolated in our laboratory, inhibited the cell growth of various Gram-positive bacteria but did not inhibit the nisin A-producing strain, L. lactis NCDO 497. A nisin-like peptide antibiotic produced by L. lactis IO-1 was efficiently purified sequentially by acid treatment (at pH 3), ammonium sulfate precipitation, cation-exchange chromatography and reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography. Dissociation of the peptide aggregates with high molar concentrations of urea resulted in successful purification. The molecular mass of this peptide antibiotic was 3335.67 by fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry, confirming that the peptide antibiotic from L. lactis IO-1 is nisin Z, a natural nisin variant. The purification method used is rapid, simple and effective, permitting the specific activity to increase 122-fold, and the recovery was 24%.
Podocyte-specific Expression of C1q/TNF-α Related Protein 1 in Mice

C1q/TNF-α Related Protein 1 (CTRP1), an adiponectin paralog, is a novel member of the C1q-TNF Related Protein family. CTRP1 is expressed in the kidney, although its localization and role in the kidney have not been studied. This study examined CTRP1 expression and function in the kidney. CTRP1 immunohistochemistry and PAS staining of the kidneys of C57/BL6 and FGS/Nga mice were performed. In situ hybridization for podocin in the kidney was also performed. CTRP1 immunoreactivity was found only in the glomeruli of the kidney. The CTRP1-immunoreactive cells in the glomeruli were identified as podocytes. The number of CTPR1-immunoreactive cells and the intensity of CTRP1 immunoreactivity were lower in the glomeruli of FGS/Nga mice, which develop progressive proteinuria and focal glomerulosclerosis. CTRP1 is a novel protein expressed in podocytes of the mouse kidney and may have a role in podocytes related to glomerular filtration in the kidney.
Transforming growth factor‐β1‐dependent activation of Smad2/3 and up‐regulation of PAI‐1 expression is negatively regulated by Src in SKOV‐3 human ovarian cancer cells

The net balance between urokinase‐type plasminogen activator (uPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor type‐1 (PAI‐1) has been implicated in tumor cell invasion and metastasis. To elucidate the mechanism of the transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1)‐dependent up‐regulation of PAI‐1 expression, we investigated which signaling pathway transduced by TGF‐β1 is responsible for this effect. Here, we show (1) nontoxic concentrations of TGF‐β1 up‐regulates uPA expression in HRA and SKOV‐3 human ovarian cancer cells, (2) TGF‐β1 activates Smads (phosphorylation of Smad2 and nuclear translocation of Smad3) and subsequently up‐regulates PAI‐1 expression in HRA cells, whereas TGF‐β1 neither activates Smads nor up‐regulates PAI‐1 in SKOV‐3 cells, (3) pharmacological Src inhibitor PP2 or antisense (AS) c‐Src oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) treatment significantly induces TGF‐β1‐dependent activation of Smads, leading to PAI‐1 synthesis, compared with controls, in SKOV‐3 cells, (4) combination of TGF‐β1 and PP2, which activates PAI‐1 expression and reduces uPA expression in SKOV‐3, results in decreased invasiveness, (5) pharmacological inhibitors for mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) (PD98059) and phosphoinositide‐3‐kinase (PI3K) (LY294002 and wortmannin) or AS‐PI3K ODN transfection do not affect TGF‐β1‐induced Smad signaling and up‐regulation of PAI‐1 expression in SKOV‐3 cells pretreated with PP2, and (6) the induction of PAI‐1 protein was partially inhibited by an inhibitor of Sp1‐DNA binding, mithramycin, implicating, at least in part, Sp1 in the regulation of this gene by TGF‐β1. In conclusion, TGF‐β1‐dependent activation of Smad2/3, leading to PAI‐1 synthesis, may be negatively regulated by Src, but not its downstream targets MAPK and PI3K in SKOV‐3 cells. These data also reflect the complex biological effect of uPA‐PAI‐1 system. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.