Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dimensões do granuloma hepático produzido por ovos de duas linhagens geográficas do Schistosoma mansoni, no camundongo

The authors have determined the mean diameter of granulomas in the liver of mice infected with cercariae from two different and well definite geographic strains of Schistosoma mansoni (LE, Belo Horizonte, MG, and SJ, Sao Jose dos Campos, SP). A total of 1,170 granulomas has been measured. Granulomas measured on the 60th day after infection showed larger size than the other ones measured on the 90th day. Modulation of the immunopathologic response was significantly more efficient for the LE strain, whereas the granulomas ( with 60 and 90 days) related to SJ strain were significantly larger. Data suggested a higher pathogenicity for the SJ strain. It is speculated whether these findings could explain, in part, the occurence of regional variations of the anatomo-clinical forms of schistosomiasis.
Behavioral and physiological responses of American black bears to landscape features within an agricultural region

Human activities and variation in habitat quality and configuration have been shown to influence space use patterns in many species, but few studies have documented the physiological responses of free-ranging animals to these factors. We combined remote biologger technology, capturing continuous heart rate values, with locational data from GPS collars to investigate the behavioral and physiological reactions of American black bears (Ursus americanus) to a landscape dominated by agriculture (52.5% areal cover). Our study occurred at the edge of the range of this species, with small, scattered patches of forest within a mosaic of crop fields and an extensive road network. However, only ~2–4% of the area contained crops that bears consumed (corn, sunflowers, oats). We used GPS locations to identify the habitat that bears occupied, and to estimate their rates of travel. Heart rates increased with movement rates, rising by over 30% from resting rate to their fastest travel speeds. We used a modeling approach t.
Rhizobial polysaccharide-degrading enzymes from roots of legumes

The surface structure and chemistry of symbiotic bacteria from the genus Rhizobium are probably important for the outcome of the infection of legume hosts. Exopolysaccharide, capsular polysaccharide, lipopolysaccharide and a low-molecular-weight polysaccharide were isolated from R. trifolii UTC 110-1 and R. leguminosarum UTC 114-5 and partially characterized. No or only minor differences in sugar composition could be found for the corresponding fractions from the two organisms. A general method to measure low activities of polymer-degrading enzymes was developed, and used to determine enzyme activities in root extracts of Trifolium repens L. cv. Lena and Pisum xativiini L. cv. Little Marvel against the isolated rhizobial polysaccharides. An enzyme preparation from T. repens partially degraded all polysaccharides isolated from its symbiont R. trifolii while polysaccharides from R. leguminosarum, symbiont of P. sativum, were degraded to a much lesser extent. Correspondingly, an enzyme preparation from P. sativum degraded all polysaccharides isolated from both its symbiont R. leguminosarum and its non-symbiont R. trifolii. The amount of symbiont polysaccharides degraded was larger than the amount of polysaccharides degraded from the non-symbiont R. trifolii.
Costs of Reproduction in an Intertidal Kelp: Patterns of Allocation and Life History Consequences

Reproductive investment ofthe intertidal kelp A/aria nana was manipulated experimentally to investigate costs of reproduction. Allocation patterns were examined using treatments that employed vegetative and reproductive tissue removal. Growth, sur- vivorship, size, reproductive investment, carbon, nitrogen, and phenolic secondary me- tabolites were monitored in tagged experimental plants. Further experiments investigated the contribution of reproductive tissue to drag forces on the plant in intertidal environments. Carbon, nitrogen, and phenolics were all higher in reproductive tissue (sporophylls) com- pared to vegetative tissue (the frond) in control plants. When some vegetative tissue was removed, carbon and nitrogen in the sporophylls decreased while percent phenolics re- mained unchanged. Reproductive tissue removal had no effect on plant survivorship, growth, or size compared with control plants. When the entire frond was kept clipped, sporophyll number decreased, often to the point of complete attrition. Although allocation patterns in 41Iaria nana are consistent with reproductive costs (i.e., the sporophylls are not self-supporting), there is no evidence that reproduction imposes costs on the plant that are demographically important such as growth, size, and survivorship. Instead, both repro- ductive investment and percent phenolics were positively correlated with growth and size in control plants.
The Use of the Land Survey Record to Assess Changes in Vegetation Structure. A Case Study From the Darling Downs, Queensland, Australia.

Fifteen references to vegetation structure from the historical land survey record for the eastern Darling Downs were calibrated with historical photographs to determine the use of the surveyors' structural terminology (Open: 'open', 'light', Dense: 'heavy', 'thick', 'dense'). Sites with less than 40% canopy cover were only described by terms included within the Open category, and sites with greater than 50% canopy cover were only described by terms included within the Dense category. These results provide calibrations of the surveyors' structural terminology indicating terms were unambiguously applied outside the 40-50% canopy cover range. The use of corner tree distances as an absolute measure of vegetation density is warned against because corner trees had to meet certain criteria and were not necessarily the nearest tree to any corner. However, the distance from allotment corners to "corner trees" provided a measure of the relative use of the surveyor's structural epithets and is consistent with standard application among their fraternity. Survey records dating from 1864-1910 were compared with the structure of existing remnants (projective crown cover measured from recent 1:25,000 aerial photography) to assess changes in vegetation structure. The analysis suggests that 88% of the 34 sites included in the analysis have not changed from the broad structural category that was assigned by the surveyors. Using the assumptions developed by this study, two sites were assessed as having thickened substantially. These results suggest that only minor vegetation thickening has occurred in the Darling Downs since the early land surveys. This conclusion is supported by direct comparison of the historical photographs with existing remnants, indicating that only one site out of 17 has thickened substantially.
Photoinduced Characteristics of Metal-oxide Cosmetic Pigments by Agarose Gel Electrophoresis of DNA Plasmids in vitro under UV-illumination

Photoactive evaluation for cosmetic pigments in sunscreen agents, such as zinc oxide (ZnO), titanium dioxide (TiO2), aluminium oxide (Al2O3) and tungsten oxide (WO3), was carried out by examining DNA damage using agarose gel electrophoresis. Photoinduced DNA damage occurred in the presence of pigments under either aerated condition or oxygen gas atmosphere in the following order: WO3 ≈ Al2O3 ≈ rutile TiO2 < anatase TiO2 « TiO2 (P-25) « ZnO. The photoinduced oxidative activity of various pigments was assessed by the aromatic cleavage rate of phenol as a standard, which corresponds to the degree damaged to the supercoiled configuration of DNA (transformation to the linear form and/or relaxed form). L(+)-ascorbic acid (anti-oxidizing agent) can suppress the formation of photooxidative species such as ·OH radicals and/or ·OOH radicals. DNA damage under UV irradiation even in the presence of highly photocatalytic ZnO pigment was controlled by addition of the anti-oxidative enzyme catalase. DNA damage was depressed with increasing quantity of catalase.
Effects of Mercuric Chloride on Gene Expression in NRK-52E Cells

Mercuric chloride, a model nephrotoxicant was used to elucidate time- and dose- dependent global gene expression changes associated with proximal tubular toxicity. Rat kidney cell lines NRK-52E cells were exposed for 2, 6 and 12 hours and with 3 different doses of mercuric chloride. Cell viability assay showed that mercuric chloride had toxic effects on NRK-52E cells causing 20% cell death (IC20) at concentration. We set this IC20 as high dose concentration and 1/5 and 1/25 concentration of LC20 were used as mid and low concentration, respectively. Analyses of microarray data revealed that 738 genes were differentially expressed (more than two-fold change and p
Growth and survival of post-larval giant tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon feeding on mangrove leaf litter biofilms

Biofilm associated with decomposing mangrove leaf litter is a food source for shrimp post-larvae (PL). PL of giant tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon foraging on leaf litter of Rhizophora mucronata with developing biofilm at 1, 3, 4, 6, and 8 wk of decomposition were tested for specific growth rate (SGR, %) and percentage survival (SR, %). Biofilm was analyzed for species composition, abundance, and biomass of microalgae and epifauna. Microalgal biomass increased with the progress of litter decomposition. Diatoms, especially Navicula sp. and Nitzschia sp. , dominated the first 6 wk of litter decomposition with a percentage cover of 88 and 99% during the third and fourth weeks, respectively. Cyanobacteria dominated in the 8 wk old biofilm with 61% cover. Copepods dominated the epifauna during the first 3 wk of litter decomposition. In the 4 to 5 wk old litter, polychaetes were most abundant whereas nematodes were dominant in litter that had decomposed for 8 wk. PL foraging on 4 wk old litter had a higher SGR (1.6 +/- 0.5%) and SR (39.8 +/- 4.8%) coincident with the maximum abundance of microalgae and epifauna. The study illustrated that nutritionally rich biofilm for PL shrimp is: (1) developed during the fourth week of mangrove leaf litter decomposition and is dominated by diatoms, polychaetes, harpacticoid copepods, and oligochaetes; and (2) limited by the collapse of the epifauna and subsequent colonization by cyanobacteria in mangrove leaf litter decomposed beyond 4 wk.
Competition among pasture plants. I. Intraspecific competition among annual pasture plants

A series of experiments was conducted to examine the influence of density, stage of growth, and fertility level on intra-specific competition among annual pasture plants. At sowing there is a linear relationship between density and yield (weight of embryos or embryo + endosperm per unit area). Competition is evident in dense populations shortly after germination and thereafter becomes operative progressively in populations of lower and lower density. Because of the extreme reduction in growth rate in dense swards later in the season and the high growth rate in sparse swards, the sparse sward tends to approach the more dense sward in its final yield. Final yield of dry matter is constant from moderate to high densities. There is no reduction in dry matter per unit area even in extremely dense swards. This maximum yield of dry matter for the environment is controlled by some factor of the environment. It is considered that nitrogen was the factor in two of the experiments here reported and light in the third. The significance of light in competition in pastures is discussed. Practical applications of these findings are discussed.
THE PLASMALEMMA STRUCTURE IN THE PHYCOBIONT TREBOUXIA AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF HUMIDITY OF A LICHEN THALLUS

SUMMARY Using the freeze-fracture technique, the plasmalemma structure of the phycobiont Trebouxia was observed to depend on the hydration of the thallus. The EF and PF fracture faces showed characteristic ridges and corresponding grooves as well as intramembranous particles found in plasmalemma membranes. After prolonged drying of the thallus, the particles were reduced in both number and size and they became reorganized after moistening for a few hours. The ridges appear most distinct and close in dry stages while they are almost completely overlayed by particles in moist thalli. The possible significance of the findings is discussed.
Amino Acid Aminotransferases in an Amino Acid-producing Bacterium, Brevibacterium flavum

Five aminotransferases, TA-A, -B, -T, -PI, -PII, which might participate in the biosyntheses of aspartate, branched-chain amino acids, tyrosine, and phenylalanine, respectively, were separated from one another in Brevibacterium flavum, and examined for their keto-acid substrate specificities and the apparent Michaelis constants (Km′) for their main substrates. TA-A specifically reacted with oxalacetate, among the keto-acids tested, and accounted for 90% of the total activity in the cellular extracts. TA-B was found to be the only aminotransferase that reacted with branched-chain keto-acids, and also showed some activity with prephenate and phenylpyruvate but having a much larger Km′ than the other enzymes. TA-T specifically reacted with prephenate and oxalacetate, among the keto-acids tested, and accounted for 80 and 2% of the total activities of the cellular extracts, respectively, but showed a much larger Km′ for oxalacetate than did TA-A. TA-PI and -PII showed similar substrate-specificities and Km′s t.
Antagonism against fish pathogens by cellular components and verification of probiotic properties in autochthonous bacteria isolated from the gut of an Indian major carp, Catla catla (Hamilton)

Probiotic potential of the autochthonous bacteria in catla, Catla catla has been evaluated through determination of antagonistic activity (in vitro) of the cellular components of gut bacteria against seven fish pathogens. Altogether 208 strains were isolated, inhibitory activity of the isolates was evaluated through cross-streaking and 16 primarily selected antagonistic strains were confirmed using the double-layer method. Four bacteria that showed antagonism against ≥4 pathogens were selected as putative probiotics. The intracellular, extracellular, whole-cell and heat-killed cell components exhibited bactericidal activity against the pathogens. In addition, the selected strains were capable of producing different extracellular enzymes, competent to grow in intestinal mucus and could tolerate diluted bile juice. Analysis of 16SrRNA partial gene sequence revealed that both the strains CC1FG2 and CC1FG4 were Bacillus methylotrophicus (KF559344 and KF559345), while the isolates CC1HG5 and CC2HG7 were Bacillus subtilis subsp. spizizenii (KF559346) and Enterobacter hormaechei (KF559347) respectively. Bio-safety evaluation through intra-peritoneal injection of the isolates did not induce any pathological signs or mortalities in C. catla. The study confirmed probiotic properties of autochthonous gut bacteria in C. catla and demonstrated potential for using them as bio-control agents. However, in vivo studies are essential to explore their efficacy in the commercial aquaculture.
Notes on the marine algal ecology of some exposed rocky shores of Northland, New Zealand

While considerable attention has been directed to the description of the ecology o£ the littoral zone of sheltered New Zealand shores, there is little knowledge concerning the algal associations of the exposed coasts. I would like to present some data describing the littoral of a few exposed coast stations, äs well äs a preliminary survey of the sublittoral of some locations inNorthland that have been studiedwith the aid of an aqualung. (Figure i). Much of the data presented here must be regarded äs preliminary in äs much äs rough weather has prevented accurate correlation of zones with tidal levels.
The effect of applications of various forms of sulfur on the yields and quality of grass forage

Abstract The objective of our study was to assess the effect of soil application of sulfur in ammonium sulfate and gypsum and of either soil or foliar application of elemental sulfur on yield of grass forage and its qualitative parameters. The effect of various forms of sulfur on the yields of grass forage and its qualitative parameters was explored in the form of a small plot experiment in the Bohemian-Moravian Uplands in 2004–2006 involving the following variants: 1) sulfur unfertilised control; 2) ammonium sulfate; 3) elemental sulfur; 4) gypsum; 5) foliar elemental sulfur. Sulfurous fertilisers and foliar elemental sulfur were applied to the soil in doses of 40 kg and 8 kg S per ha, respectively. Nitrogen applied in ammonium sulfate was added to all the other variants in the form of ammonium nitrate. Application of the fertilisers was repeated at the beginning of each vegetation season. The stand was cut twice in the course of vegetation. In the harvested biomass we assessed the content of sulfur, nitrogenous substances, and net energy of lactation. The effect of various forms of sulfur on the grass biomass yields was not significant in either of the two cuts. Yields increased after sulfur fertilisation only in the 1st cut, especially after the application of sulfate sulfur and gypsum, and/or after foliar application of elemental sulfur. In the individual years the sulfur content in the biomass gradually increased significantly (0.17–0.23–0.29%). In the first year the sulfur content did not reach the critical deficiency limit (0.2%). Sulfur fertilisation increased the S concentration in grass forage in all the fertilised variants; the highest S content was detected in the variant where gypsum was applied (0.27%). No significant correlation was established between the values of water-soluble sulfur in the soil and the sulfur content in grass forage. Sulfur fertilisation had no significant effect on the N/S ratio, but was the highest in the variant not fertilised with sulfur and the lowest in the gypsum variant. The content of nitrogenous substances and net energy of lactation were significantly the highest after fertilisation with elemental sulfur and was related, among others, to the lowest yields of this variant. Sulfurous fertilisers did not significantly affect the exchangeable soil reaction and the highest content of water-soluble sulfur after the 2nd cut was seen in the gypsum-applied variant.
Effect of Texture Modifiers on the Physicochemical and Sensory Properties of Dried Fufu

Glycerol monostearate (GMS) and monoglyceride phosphate (MGP) were added to fufu flour at different levels (0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5%) in hydrated and powdered form. There were evaluated the effects of those additives on physicochemical and sensory properties of dried fufu. Addition of GMS and MGP had a significant effect on the swelling power, solubility, pasting properties and sensory quality of fufu flour. Results obtained were: Dispersibility (69%-70.33%), water absorption index (WAI, 47.7%-54.4%), least gelation concentration (LGC, 4.67%-6.67%) and water absorption capacity (WAC, 119.3%-136%) for the fufu flour treated with GMS and MGP. Solubility of the samples mixed with the powdered form of the modifier ranged between 23.2% and 31.7%, while that of the samples mixed with the hydrated form of GMS and MGP ranged between 5.3% and 12.7%. The pasting time varied between 8.25min and 18.50min, fufu flour mixed with 1.5% GMS powder had the lowest value while that mixed with 1.0% MGP powder and 0.5% hydrated MGP recording the highest value. Pasting temperature ranged from 67.00°C to 72.00°C, with flour mixed with 1.0% hydrated GMS and 0.5% GMS powder having the lowest and highest value, respectively. The highest value of peak viscosity (762.50BU) was recorded by fufu flour containing 1.0% hydrated GMS. The lowest value of starch stability (255.50BU) was recorded by fufu flour without modifier while the highest value (499.00BU) was recorded by fufu flour containing 0.5% GMS powder. There were significant differences (p 0.05) in the sensory qualities except for colour of fufu flour samples. The overall quality index (OQI) comprised between 5.24 and 6.01, fufu sample containing 0.5% hydrated GMS had the lowest OQI and that containing 1.0% hydrated MGP the highest OQI. Addition of 0.5% texture modifier to dried fufu may be economically feasible according to the estimated cost of production.
Ontogeny of Feeding Behavior of First-Feeding Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar)

Feeding strikes of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) alevins preying upon Daphnia are described using videorecording of synchronous lateral and antero-ventral views. Based on examination of characteristics such as aiming inaccuracy and capture distance, it is demonstrated that feeding behavior significantly improves during the first 2 wk after initiation of exogenous feeding. With increasing experience, young salmon tend to capture prey more quickly and with greater accuracy. First-feeding alevins use a body-ram feeding mode, relying on their swimming motion to overtake and capture prey. After 7–10 d of feeding, the fish change to a suction feeding mode that effectively uses suction generated by expansion of the orobranchial chamber to pull in prey from a distance. Also, feeding behavior of alevins raised on a commercial salmon feed lags developmentally behind the behavior offish raised on live food. This lag time is short (2–3 d), indicating that despite reports to the contrary, hatchery-raised fish do not r.
Agrobacterium tumefaciens‐mediated transformation of forage‐type perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) is one of the most important grass species in the world’s temperate zones. It is used as high-quality forage in pastures and for recreational use as turf in golf courses, lawns and parks. However, genetic improvement of perennial ryegrass is difficult due to its self-incompatibility. Consequently, progress by conventional breeding can be slow. Genetic transformation is an alternative that permits direct introduction of useful genes into a plant’s genome and is becoming a powerful tool to complement conventional breeding. Transgenic perennial ryegrass has been obtained by direct transformation using microprojectile bombardment (Spangenberg et al. 1995; Dalton et al. 1999; Altpeter et al. 2000) or silicon carbide fiber (Dalton et al. 1998) for both forageand turf-type cultivars. Transgenic turf-type plants have been successfully generated using Agrobacterium tumefaciensmediated transformation (Wu et al. 2005). In this study, we generated a transgenic forage-type perennial ryegrass plant by infecting calli induced from the shoot tips of perennial ryegrass with A. tumefaciens, using the βglucuronidase (gus) and hygromycin phosphotransferase (hpt) genes as the selective markers.
Microgeographic genetic differentiation in the intertidal isopod Jaera albifrons Leach. I. Spatial distribution of allozyme variation

Populations of the intertidal isopod Jaera albifrons from three sites in South Wales (U. K. ), each containing animals from ten ‘rock populations’ separated by an average of 3 m, were examined by using starch gel electrophoresis to determine their degree of genetic divergence. Nine enzyme-coding loci were found to be polymorphic (P < 0.95) and displayed high levels of variability (proportion of polymorphic loci, P = 0.34; mean observed heterozygosity, HO = 0.131). Allozyme frequencies revealed remarkable genetic divergence between sites separated by less than 5 m (absolute differentiation between populations, Dm = 0.066; Nei’s mean genetic identity, I (26 loci) = 0.990). Gene diversity analysis showed that most diversity was attributable to between rock populations within sites rather than due to site differences. Populations deviated significantly from Hardy-Weinberg expectations for panmixia, in all cases due to a deficiency of heterozygotes. A rare allele, Mpi75, found exclusively in sewage-polluted regions, was used as a genetic marker to determine dispersal capacity and estimate gene flow. Restricted vagility was indicated, which, when taken together with direct development in J. albifrons and the patchy distribution of suitable habitats, predict the observed levels of microgeographic genetic differentiation.