Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of food habits and prey selection of the white‐tailed kite, Elanus leucurus, between natural and disturbed areas in central Argentina

We studied the food habits of white‐tailed kites (Elanus leucurus, Accipitridae) in central Argentina during austral spring and summer (November to March) and compared prey captured in two different habitat types. Diet was determined by analysing pellets and prey remains collected under nests and roost sites. During the same period small mammals were trapped using pit‐fall traps in Parque Luro reserve with the aim of assessing prey selection by kites. In Parque Luro reserve (semiarid forest), tuco‐tucos (Ctenomys sp., Rodentia) were the main prey in the white‐tailed kite diet, accounting for 75% of the items and 91% of biomass. In agricultural fields, however, there was not a single main prey species, as measured either by number of prey items or by biomass, Calomys sp. (43%) and Akodon azarae (22%) being the main prey in this habitat. The analysis of prey availability in the Parque Luro reserve showed that tuco‐tucos are a seasonally available prey, only captured in spring and summer. During these seasons, the consumption of tuco‐tucos by white‐tailed kites was disproportionately higher than the occurrence of tuco‐tucos, indicating a preference for this species by kites. These results suggest that other prey attributes, such as conspicuousness and social behavior, could be key factors in prey selection by white‐tailed kites.
Characterization of Seed Lipoxygenase of Phaseolus vulgaris cv, Haricot

Phaseolus vulgaris cv, haricot seed lipoxygenase was extracted and partially purified. The precipitation of an active lipoxygenase fraction with solid ammonium sulfate (at 20–50% of saturation) increased its activity by a factor of 3. The pH for optimum activity was 7.3. The addition of 40 mM potassium cyanide resulted in a doubling of the enzyme activity. Enzyme activity was completely lost on storage at 4°C for 48 hr. The activity of haricot lipoxygenase extract was considerably greater on linoleic acid than on its esters, and decreased in the order: mono- > di > trilinolein. The haricot lipoxygenase shares many of the characteristics of the corresponding enzyme found in several seed sources.
Rapidly detecting the effects of warm storage stress on Douglas fir seedlings

Abstract The physiological response of 3-year-old Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii[Mirb.] Franco) transplanted seedlings lifted to warm (15°C) (i.e. simulated ambient) storage in November, January and March in Ireland was investigated, with an aim of developing rapid methods for detecting stress. Chlorophyll fluorescence (CF), root electrolyte leakage (REL), shoot and root water content (WC), dry weight (DW), root growth potential (RGP) and survival were assessed. CF declined as the duration of warm storage increased and this was greatest for the November-lifted stock. CF measurements were closely related to survival in the greenhouse. Shoot tip and taproot DW declined during warm storage for stock lifted in November and March. Warm storage had no effect on shoot DW and caused a small decline in root DW for stock lifted in January. Changes in WC during storage were greater in the roots than in shoots, and values were significantly lower in treated plants following 21-day storage than in the controls (no storage). In conclusion, the results suggested that CF could be used to detect the effect of ambient storage stress (simulated by warm storage) on Douglas fir seedling vitality, and was more a more reliable indicator of plant quality than the other parameters.
Can the red palm mite threaten the Amazon vegetation?

The red palm mite Raoiella indica Hirst (Tenuipalpidae) was first reported in the New World in 2004, dispersing quickly and widely while adopting new plant species as hosts. Since then, it has caused severe damage in this region, especially to coconut (Cocos nucifera L.). It was first found in Brazil in 2009, in the northern Amazonian state of Roraima. In the present study, native and introduced plants were sampled between March 2010 and February 2011 in sites of the 15 Roraima municipalities, to estimate its distribution and the associated mite fauna. In addition, monthly samples were taken from a coconut plantation in Mucajaí throughout the same period, for an initial appraisal of the levels R. indica could reach. It was found in 10 municipalities, on 19 plant species of four families. Six species are reported for the first time as hosts. Among the associated predators, 89.1% were Phytoseiidae, most commonly Amblyseius largoensis (Muma), Iphiseiodes zuluagai Denmark & Muma and Euseius concordis (Chant). The highest densities of R. indica, 1.5 and 0.35 mites/cm2 of leaflet (approx total of 331 and 77 mites/leaflet), were reached respectively in March 2010 and February 2011. The highest density of phytoseiids on coconut (0.009 mites/cm2 or about 2 mites/leaflet) was reached in November 2010. The average densities of R. indica recorded for Roraima were comparable to those reported for countries in which the mite is reportedly economically damaging. The dispersal of R. indica through the Amazon forest may result in damage to cultivated and native palms, and plants of other families, if the projected increase in both the frequency and the severity of drought events occurs. Parts of the Amazon have undergone periods of low rainfall, a condition that appears to favour the biology of this mite. Its eventual arrival to northeastern Brazil may result in heavy economic and ecological losses.
Sensitive ELISA detection of amyloid‐β protofibrils in biological samples

Amyloid‐β (Aβ) protofibrils are known intermediates of the in vitro Aβ aggregation process and the protofibrillogenic Arctic mutation (APPE693G) provides clinical support for a pathogenic role of Aβ protofibrils in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). To verify their in vivo relevance and to establish a quantitative Aβ protofibril immunoassay, Aβ conformation dependent monoclonal antibodies were generated. One of these antibodies, mAb158 (IgG2a), was used in a sandwich ELISA to specifically detect picomolar concentrations of Aβ protofibrils without interference from Aβ monomers or the amyloid precursor protein (APP). The specificity and biological significance of this ELISA was demonstrated using cell cultures and transgenic mouse models expressing human APP containing the Swedish mutation (APPKN670/671ML), or the Swedish and Arctic mutation in combination. The mAb158 sandwich ELISA analysis revealed presence of Aβ protofibrils in both cell and animal models, proving that Aβ protofibrils are formed not only in vitro, but also in vivo. Furthermore, elevated Aβ protofibril levels in the Arctic‐Swedish samples emphasize the usefulness of the Arctic mutation as a model of enhanced protofibril formation. This assay provides a novel tool for investigating the role of Aβ protofibrils in AD and has the potential of becoming an important diagnostic assay.
Application of Oat Oil in Breadbaking

ABSTRACT Lipids, especially polar lipids, can improve loaf volume, grain and texture, and delay staling in bread. Oats (Avena sativa L.) are rich in total and polar lipids. We have investigated the effect of oat lipids in a bread formulation on loaf volume, appearance, and bread staling. Oat oil was fractionated into polar and nonpolar fractions by water-degumming. Crude oat oil and shortening (at 3%) increased loaf volume by ≈11% over the zero lipid formulation. The polar lipid fraction increased loaf volume by nearly the same amount when added at only a 0.5% level. The addition of 3% crude oat oil or 0.7% oat oil polar fraction significantly delayed bread firming and starch retrogradation; the difference between oat lipids and shortening was more evident at the end of a four-day storage period. Oat lipids had a stronger relative effect on bread from a weak flour (10% protein) than from a strong flour (14% protein). The effects of oat oil in the bread formulation could be related to the amphipathic chara.
Defoliation Effects on Production and Nutritive Value of Four Irrigated Cool‐Season Perennial Grasses

Irrigated cool-season perennial grasses are becoming an important complementary forage source in the Central Plains. A study was conducted to evaluate effects of clipping stubble height on dry matter (DM) production, growth rate, tiller density, and nutrient content of smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), creeping foxtail (Alopecurus arundinaceus Poir.), and meadow bromegrass (Bromus riparius Rhem.) under irrigated conditions on a Cozad silt loam soil (fine-silty, mixed, mesic Typic Haplustoll). Clipping treatments (35-cm canopy height cut to 7-, 14-, and 21-cm stubble heights) were applied to monoculture plots of these species for two growing seasons in a randomized complete block design. Stubble height effects on total DM production varied by species (P< 0.05). For orchardgrass and meadow bromegrass, DM production was similar at the 14- and 21-cm stubble heights (22.22 Mg ha -1 ), but significantly greater than production at the 7-cm stubble height (14.03 Mg ha -1 ). In contrast, DM production of smooth bromegrass and creeping foxtail was significantly greater at each successively higher stubble height. End-of-season tiller density of the 7-cm stubble height treatment was about 50% of the tiller density of the 14-cm and 21-cm stubble height treatments. Stubble height effects on nutritive value varied by species and clipping period. Stubble height did not affect crude protein (CP) content of creeping foxtail, but CP was lower at the 7-cm height for the other species. Defoliation strategies that maintain adequate residual herbage will optimize production of nutrient dense forage and maintain tiller density.
CONVERGENT EVOLUTION OF ELANUS KITES AND THE OWLS

CONVERGENCIA EVOLUTIVA DE LOS ELANIOS (ELANUS) Y LOS BUHOS Hay cuatro especies de elanios (genero Elanus) en el mundo. La mayor parte de las poblaciones se encuentran en el hemisferio sur, o en latitudes bajas del hemisferio norte. Las poblaciones que se encuentran en zonas intertropicales se comportan ecologicamente como los buhos nomadas de zonas boreales: pueden desplazarse a grandes distancias y se reproducen cuando hay explosiones demograficas de las presas que les sirven de alimento. Ademas, son crepusculares o nocturnos. Morfologicamente, los elanios tambien presentan similitudes con los buhos: plumas de vuelo con barbulas aterciopeladas, zigodactilia, ojos grandes y frontales, largas cerdas peribucales y tarsos gruesos y cortos. Estas y otras caracteristicas descritas en el texto pueden ser el resultado de convergencia evolutiva o de ascendencia comun. Estudios recientes basados en distintos marcadores moleculares indican que los elanios son un grupo basal de la familia Accipitridae, que hasta aho.
Tannins and related compounds. C. Reaction of dehydrohexahydroxydiphenic acid esters with bases, and its application to the structure determination of pomegranate tannins, granatins A and B.

Some novel reactions of dehydrohexahydroxydiphenic acid esters [e.g., geraniin (1)] with bases are presented. Namely, treatment of 1 with triethylamine or sodium benzenesulfinate in acetonitrile caused a benzylic acid-type rearrangement to yield a brevifolin carboxylic acid derivative (3). On the other hand, treatment of 1 with pyridine gave a tetrahydroxydibenzofuran derivative (8), whereas reaction with aqueous sodium hydroxide cleaved the carbon-carbon linkage to yield a dehydrochebulic acid ester (10). The application of these reactions to granatins A and B, the major tannins in pomegranate, unequivocally established their structures (13 and 11, respectively).
Transient Epigenetic Reprogramming Human Skin Fibroblasts Differentiates into Cells with Multipotentiality In Vitro and In Vivo

Stem cells are multipotent and have the potential to play an important role in the treatment of many diseases. However, limited sources of stem cells restrict their clinical application. To solve this problem, a simple in vitro epigenetic reprogramming technique to differentiate skin fibroblasts into multipotent cells has been established in our center. In the present study, human skin fibroblasts were induced into multipotent stem cells in vitro by epigenetic reprogramming. The differentiation potential of the induced multipotent stem (iMS) cells in vitro and in vivo was also explored. After transient reprogramming, stem cell markers, including Oct-3/4, Nanog, Sox-2, SSEA-4 and C-myc, were activated in the reprogrammed cells. When these cells were treated with β-mercaptoethanol (β-ME) and all-trans retinoic acid (RA), they were differentiated into neural cells in vitro. These reprogrammed cells were multipotent as demonstrated by their abilitiy to differentiate and form teratomas. Neural cells were found in the teratomas. The results indicated that the iMS established in our laboratory are multipotent and can grow into neural tissues. iMS may be effective in regenerative medicine in order to treat tissue damage, genetic disorders, and neuronal degenerative diseases.
A rare tribal (adivasi) burial from the lower Narmada River valley at Rampura, Gujarat, Western India

An extended burial of a young adult female was recovered from Late Pleistocene deposits along the Narmada River in Rampura, Narmada District, Gujarat, Western India in 2005. Radiocarbon dating of the skeleton indicates that the individual was buried between 324 and 60 years ago, with the mean estimation placing the year of death at 1817. Osteological analyses indicate that the individual is a female who died between the ages of 16 and 21 years, and morphometric analyses of the cranium place show affinity with the community of South Asians known as adivasis or ‘tribals. ’ Analyses of the dentition of the young woman, who had pink teeth, could shed light on the possible cause of death. If this condition was not brought on post-mortem due to the wet soil conditions, it could reflect death by drowning. Although burial in general is rare in India (where cremation is typically practiced among Hindus) and burials outside of cemeteries are uncommon for the non-Hindu communities, a few local tribal groups are known to bury their dead. Comparative cross-cultural analyses of death rituals among India’s tribal populations in conjunction with an analysis of the specimen itself are combined to infer the population affinity of this individual. This specimen provides rare first-hand information on the burial practices of India’s tribal groups.
A New Palaemonetes From Mexico (Decapoda, Palaemonidae) 1)

[Une nouvelle crevette d'eau douce, Palaemonetes suttkusi, est decrite d'un ruisseau de la Province de Coahuila, Mexico. Cette espece differe de toutes les autres especes du sous-genre typique par l'absence, sur le bord externe de l'exopodite de l'uropode, d'une epine mobile inseree au cote interne de l'epine fixe. , Une nouvelle crevette d'eau douce, Palaemonetes suttkusi, est decrite d'un ruisseau de la Province de Coahuila, Mexico. Cette espece differe de toutes les autres especes du sous-genre typique par l'absence, sur le bord externe de l'exopodite de l'uropode, d'une epine mobile inseree au cote interne de l'epine fixe. ]
Fear-related behaviour, muscle glycogen stores and serum creatine kinase activity in transported broiler chickens as affected by housing and early-age feed restriction.

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of two types of housing systems and early age feed restriction on tonic immobility reaction, muscle glycogen content and serum creatine kinase activity in broiler chickens subjected to road transportation. On day 1, chicks were housed either in windowless environmentally controlled chambers (temperature was set at 32°C on day 1 and gradually reduced to 23°C by day 21) (CH) or in conventional Open-sided Houses (OH) with cyclic temperatures (minimum, 24°C; maximum, 34°C). Equal number of chicks from each housing system were subjected to either Ad libitum feeding (AL) or 60% Feed Restriction on day 4-6 (FR). On day 42, all the birds were crated and transported for 6 h. Birds raised in OH had shorter TI duration and higher muscle glycogen content than those of CH. Subjecting birds to FR shortened TI duration following transportation. Tonic immobility duration increased with duration of transportation while the converse was noted for muscle glycogen content. Serum creatine kinase was not affected throughout the period of study. Collectively, the results suggested that raising birds in OH dampened fear-related behavior and improved muscle glycogen content in response to road transportation under the hot and humid tropical climate.
Discrimination of Torymus sinensis Kamijo (Hymenoptera: Torymidae) and T. beneficus Yasumatsu et Kamijo and their hybrids by allele-specific PCR.

Torymus sinensis and Torymus beneficus (Hymenoptera: Torymidae) are, respectively, introduced and indigenous parasitoid wasps that attack the invasive chestnut gall wasp, Dryocosmus kuriphilus (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) in Japan. Torymus beneficus has two emergence types in spring, here designated early-spring and late-spring. It is very difficult to distinguish these Torymus species and emergence types of T. beneficus by their morphological and ecological characteristics. We designed four allele-specific primers for the internal transcribed spacer 1 region of nuclear ribosomal DNA, and developed three kinds of allele-specific PCR. These methods enabled us to distinguish the species, emergence type, and F1s. This is the first report of the use of molecular markers to distinguish T. sinensis, the late-spring strain of T. beneficus, and their F1s.
Use of powdered vegetable coagulant in the manufacture of ewe's milk cheeses

A powdered vegetable coagulant obtained from the cardoon Cynara cardunculus and characterised as free of viable micro-organisms, soluble and stable without the need for preservatives was evaluated, and compared with crude aqueous extract, in batches of Los Pedroches cheese, by determining various chemical, biochemical, microbiological and sensory parameters. Parameters were monitored over 3 months of ripening. High casein hydrolysis was observed after 2 days of ripening. The soluble nitrogen values reached at the end of ripening were over 34% of the total nitrogen in cheeses produced with both types of coagulant. For most parameters studied, no differences were observed between the two types of coagulant, although higher counts were observed for some microbiological groups in cheeses produced with crude aqueous extracts. The sensory quality of cheeses was practically identical with both types of coagulant. L'utilisation des proteinases de plantes comme coagulants du lait est interessante car ce sont des enzymes naturelles et d'origine vegetale. Le sujet de cette etude est de comparer les changements dans les caracteristiques physicochimiques, biochimiques, microbiologiques et sensorielles de Los Pedroches (fromage de brebis espagnol demi-dur traditionnel) observes pendant la maturation lorsqu'il est fabrique avec des extraits aqueux bruts de Cynara cardunculus ou un coagulant en poudre developpe a partir de cet extrait.
Costs of Inducible Defense: Protein Limitation, Growth, and Detoxification in Parsnip Webworms

Although xanthotoxin, a linear furanocoumarin, is toxic to a wide variety of lepidopterans, the parsnip webworm, Depressaria pastinacella (Lepidoptera: Oecophor- idae), is restricted to feeding on only two genera of Apiaceae, both of which contain large quantities of this toxin. The cost of cytochrome P450-mediated detoxification of xantho- toxin by this oligophagous species was examined in two artificial diet experiments. In the first experiment, growth rates, silkspinning rates, and detoxification capacity of larvae were measured after they had consumed diets ranging in protein content from 0 to 100% of the amount required for maximum growth. As protein became progressively more limited, growth rates declined progressively while silkspinning rates and detoxification capacity remained unchanged; only when dietary protein was completely absent did silkspinning rates and xanthotoxin metabolism rates decline. These findings suggest that xanthotoxin detoxification capacity is maintained at the expense of growth. In the second experiment, growth rates, silkspinning rates, and xanthotoxin metabolism were measured in larvae that consumed diets with or without xanthotoxin in the presence or absence of protein. As in the previous experiment, the absence of protein led to significant reductions in growth, silkspinning, and detoxification. The presence of xanthotoxin in the diet resulted in an increase in the rates of xanthotoxin metabolism and silkspinning but did not have any effect on growth rates. Inasmuch as there were no interactions between protein and xan- thotoxin treatments, induction of xanthotoxin metabolism by xanthotoxin was not affected by protein limitation. The fact that xanthotoxin metabolism is induced almost threefold in the absence of dietary protein, conditions that result in reduction of growth rates by almost 80%, is also consistent with the greater importance of detoxification capacity relative to growth over the short term. Due to its highly oligophagous habits, the parsnip webworm is unlikely to encounter host plant tissue entirely lacking furanocoumarins; circumstances under which the inability to respond to the presence of xanthotoxin in the diet by increasing rates of its metabolism may never exist. Thus, maintaining high and inducible levels of cytochrome P450-mediated xanthotoxin metabolism may be regarded as one of the costs associated with the highly specialized diet of D. pastinacella.
Complete Reconstitution of Human IκB Kinase (IKK) Complex in Yeast

The IκB kinase (IKK) complex, composed of two catalytic subunits (IKKα and IKKβ) and a regulatory subunit (IKKγ), is the key enzyme in activation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB). To study the mechanism and structure of the complex, we wanted to recombinantly express IKK in a model organism that lacks IKK. For this purpose, we have recombinantly reconstituted all three subunits together in yeast and have found that it is biochemically similar to IKK isolated from human cells. We show that there is one regulatory subunit per kinase subunit. Thus, the core subunit composition of IKKα·β·γ complex is α1β1γ2, and the core subunit composition of IKKβ·γ is β2γ2. The activity of the IKK complex (α+β+γ or β+γ) expressed in yeast (which lack NF-κB and IKK) is 4–5-fold higher than an equivalent amount of IKK from nonstimulated HeLa cells. In the absence of IKKγ, IKKβ shows a level of activity similar to that of IKK from nonstimulated HeLa cells. Thus, IKKγ activates IKK complex in the absence of upstream stimuli. Deleting the γ binding domain of IKKβ or IKKα prevented IKKγ induced activation of IKK complex in yeast, but it did not prevent the incorporation of IKKγ into IKK and large complex formation. The possibility of IKK complex being under negative control in mammalian cells is discussed.