Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Permo-Carboniferous genus Sagenodus and the beginning of modern lungfish

were present in North America ( The lungfish Sagenodus is a widespread Permo-Carboniferous genus found in Europe and North America. Important localities in the U.S.A. include Middle Pennsylvanian coals near Linton, Ohio, Upper Pennsylvanian deposits near Robinson and Hamilton, Kansas, and Peoria, Illinois; Lower Permian sediments near Cameron, Ohio; and Lower Permian “Red Beds” of Texas and Oklahoma. At least three species of Sagenodus S. copeanus, S. periprion, S. serratus). S. ohiensis is represented solely by one skull. Knowledge of the osteology of Sagenodus is enhanced by the study of well-preserved but disassociated elements from Robinson, Kansas ( S. copeanus) and Little Bitter Creek, Texas (S. serratus). The orbital series is now known to be comprised of six elements and the sensory canal system is more complex than previously realized. The only known articulated skeleton of this genus, from Hamilton Quarry, Kansas, permits a restoration of the entire animal including the median fins. The dorsal and anal fins are not separate; there is instead, a continuous fin around the caudal end of the body, as found in other post-Devonian lungfishes. Sagenodus is structurally intermediate between more primitive Devonian dipnoans and post-Paleozoic lungfishes. Evident trends can be seen in the reduction of bone (both number of bones and degree of ossification), the loss of cosmine, the nature of the scales, the structure and histology of tooth plates, and the configuration of the median fins. Sagenodus is a member of a euryhaline faunal assemblage that can be found from shallow marine to freshwater deposits.
International Journal of Food Engineering Effects of Heat Treatment and Dehydration on Pineapple ( Ananas comosus L . Merr ) Cell

The effects of thermal processing on the physico-chemical properties of cell walls from pineapple flesh tissues have been investigated. Commercially canned pineapple exhibited a similar cell wall composition to the fresh pineapple sample, although a marked increase in cell wall solubility, from 21 to 34%, was detected. Dehydration promoted important changes in cell wall components and related functional properties, in particular when relatively high air-drying temperatures were applied. Thus, samples dried at 60oC and, in particular at 80oC, exhibited a larger solubilisation/degradation of pectic polysaccharides, probably due to either β-elimination processes or enzyme-catalyzed degradation. On a fresh weight basis, about 14% and up to 39% of cell wall pectins were not recovered for the dried pineapple at 60oC and 80oC, respectively. Pectins from the latter samples also exhibited a notable decrease in the degree of esterification. These physico-chemical changes were probably reflected on the decrease of functional properties such as swelling (Sw), water retention capacity (WRC) and fat adsorption capacity (FAC). Nevertheless, fresh, canned and dehydrated pineapple at 40oC exhibited higher WRC and FAC values, about 30 g water/g AIR and 15 g oil/g AIR, respectively. A gradual decrease of Sw, WRC and FAC values was observed for the functional properties of pineapple samples dried at 60 and 80oC. Moreover, high air-drying temperatures also promoted a significant decrease in cell wall solubility. Therefore, the influence that these effects might have on the nutritional properties of cell walls or dietary fibre of thermally processed fruits such as canned and/or dehydrated pineapple needs to be considered.
Effects of Water Chemistry on the Life History of the Least Killifish Heterandria formosa and the Absence of Evidence for Local Adaptation

This study explored whether persistent differences in life history traits between populations of Least Killifish Heterandria formosa could be explained by differences in habitat-associated water type, reflecting either local adaptation or phenotypic plasticity. Fish native to a pond and a spring site were reared in the lab in either pond or spring water. Fish reared in pond water reached maturity faster and at the same size as fish reared in spring water, regardless of source population. There was no difference in daily mortality rate between fish raised in the different water types, but the longer time to maturity in spring water produced a lower cumulative survival to maturity. Water type did not affect fecundity, but fish from the spring population had larger offspring, contrary to patterns found in both the field and previously in the lab. Persistent differences among natural populations in life history traits have previously been attributed to differences in population density and predation pressure. While water type affects the expression of some life history traits in Least Killifish, those effects cannot explain the patterns of trait variation among natural populations.
Very high conservation between Cyp6a2 from Drosophila melanogaster and its ortholog Cyp6a26 from D. simulans

Although Drosophila simulans is closely related to D. melanogaster, very few cytochrome P450 genes have been studied in this species until now. As Cyp6a2 from D. melanogaster is a major gene implicated in the detoxification of xenobiotic molecules, we decided to look for its ortholog in D. simulans. The isolated gene, Cyp6a26, presents structural characteristics very similar to those of Cyp6a2: an identical size of 1 590‐bp comprising two exons separated by a 69‐bp intron and a nucleotide sequence homology of 95%. Many putative transcriptionally important motifs were identified in the upstream DNAs of the two genes but only 16 elements are in common positions. Treatment of flies with phenobarbital leads to an increased production of Cyp6a26 mRNAs. The expression of Cyp6a26 mRNAs varies following developmental stages in the same manner as Cyp6a2. Immunohistochemistry experiments of phenobarbital‐treated adult drosophila show that the spatial expression pattern of the two proteins is also conserved between the two species. All these data argue in favor of the conservation of the function of these homologous genes between the two Drosophila species.
Photoperiod and variation in life history traits in core and peripheral populations in the damselfly Lestes sponsa

In order to predict evolutionary responses to environmental changes one needs to identify the evolutionary potential in terms of genetic variation of traits and of the traits' plasticity. We studied genetic variance in life history traits and their reaction norms in response to manipulated photoperiods in central, northern, and northernmost peripheral populations of the damselfly Lestes sponsa (Hansemann). After the central‐marginal hypothesis, it is predicted that central populations will express the highest genetic variance. Northern and northernmost populations showed the highest development and growth rates. All populations expressed shorter development and accelerated growth when raised in a northern compared with a central latitude photoperiod. The slopes of reaction norms differed between regions resulting in a region‐by‐photoperiod interaction. There was genetic variation in development time; however, it did not differ across regions. There was no genetic variation in growth rate or in the plasticity of development time and growth rate to photoperiod. Results did not support the central‐marginal hypothesis. However, evidence was found that the development time has the potential to evolve at similar rates across study regions. In contrast, the growth rate seems to be genetically constrained for further evolution, probably because of a strong past directional selection on this trait. The presence of low genetic variation in the slope of the reaction norms could be a result of stabilising selection imposed by seasonality.
Proximate Causes and Underlying Driving Forces of Tropical Deforestation

fundamental social processes,such as human population dynamics or agricultural policies, that underpin the proximate causes and either op-erate at the local level or have an indirect impact from the national or global level. We analyzed the frequency of proximate causes and underlying driving forces of deforestation, including their in-teractions,as reported in 152 subnational case studies.We show that tropical deforestation is driven by identifiable regional patterns of causal factor synergies,of which the most prominent are economic factors, institutions, national policies
Effect of germination on oligosaccharide and reducing sugar contents of brazilian soybean cultivars

ABSTRACT: Raffinose and stachyose levels decreased during germination in the Brazilian soybean (Glycine max. (L.) Merril) Cultivars IAC-5, IAC-8 GX and Foscarim GA, which are the most extensively produced cultivars in the Riberao Preto region of the State of Sao Paulo. Raffinose plus stachyose levels decreased more than 80% in 2-day plantlets and more than 90% in 4-day plantlets. Sucrose levels decreased progressively until the 4th day of germination but increased on the 6th day. On the other hand, fructose and glucose, which were not detectable in the mature grain, were quantifiable by the second day of germination and the increased up to the sixth day, with the increase in the ketose levels being always higher than the increase in the aldose. The levels of these simple sugar always corresponded to smaller quantity than the amounts of sucrose plus raffinose and stachyose that disappeared. KEY-WORDS: Raffinose in soybeans; flatulance; germination.
Monitoring the state of New Zealand rivers: How the River Values Assessment System can help

The River Values Assessment System (RiVAS) is a standardised multi-criteria analysis approach for developing river rankings for diverse values (e.g. irrigation, whitewater kayaking, native birds) to aid decision-making regarding various aspects of river management. The method identifies primary attributes that characterise the value and an indicator for each. Eleven values have been, or are being, implemented. In this paper, the distribution of primary attributes and indicators by value are mapped. Almost all values require some sort of ‘count’ data (especially recreational and ecological values) and most require water quantity or water quality data. Conversely, some values require data solely pertinent to that value. The tangata whenua (indigenous peoples of New Zealand) value is the most holistic. Findings suggest that comprehensive state of the environment reporting for rivers requires data additional to that currently collected, especially recreation-related data. RiVAS provides a useful framework for thinking strategically about monitoring and reporting.
Nitrogen and phosphorus release from decomposing litter in relation to the disappearance of lignin

- some different forest biomes and in a laboratory study. In all cases, the concentration of these substances increased linearly with litter mass loss. In contrast, absolute amounts of these materials in the litter began decreasing at some point during decay, usually following a period of absolute increase (i.e., immobilization of nutrients or humification for acid insoluble substances). The point during decomposition at which a net release (net disappearance) of a substance began (point for maximum amount), was estimated using the linear relations between concentrations of the substance and accumulated litter mass loss. In addition, the concentrations of acid insoluble substances at maximum absolute amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus were estimated. The results indicate that the points in decay at which a net release of nitrogen and phosphorus began were linearly related to one another and to the onset of acid insoluble substance disappearance. In all litters studied, net release of nitrogen and phosphorus began after a net release of the recalcitrant acid insoluble substance fraction had begun. The relationship between the onset of acid insoluble substance loss and nitrogen and phosphorus release differed between deciduous and coniferous foliage litters.
Using Landscape Indices to Predict Habitat Connectivity

The ecological consequences of habitat fragmentation include the direct effects of habitat loss and the indirect effects of reduced inter-patch dispersal. In particular, habitat patches that survive the process of fragmentation become increasingly isolated from one another, and this can cause species' declines in excess of predictions based strictly on reductions in habitat area. To quantify the hindrance of dispersal caused by habitat frag- mentation, landscape ecologists have invented the notion of habitat connectivity. Indices of landscape pattern are frequently used to estimate habitat connectivity, but whether they actually do so remains undocumented. If indices of habitat pattern do indeed estimate habitat connectivity, then these indices should correlate well with predictions of dispersal success. To test this possibility, I looked for correlations between nine common indices of habitat pattern and the results of a simulated dispersal process conducted using GIS data on the distribution of old-growth forest through the Pacific Northwest. The nine indices of habitat pattern that I examined were only weakly correlated with the results from the dispersal modeling, but I identified a new pattern index, termed patch cohesion, for which the fit was much better. Moreover, I found patch cohesion to be insensitive to the details and artifacts of the dispersal model. The methodology described here will be useful to inves- tigators using indices of landscape pattern to quantify habitat fragmentation.
The acidogenic metabolism of Lactobacillus plantarum CRL 681 improves sarcoplasmic protein hydrolysis during meat fermentation.

The hydrolysis of sarcoplasmic proteins during the growth of Lactobacillus plantarum CRL 681 isolated from fermented sausage was evaluated. Fermentation was carried out in a meat model system under controlled pH conditions (pH 4.0 and 6.0) at 30C for 96 h. The ability of this strain to grow and degrade soluble meat proteins at both assayed pHs was demonstrated. Results showed that sarcoplasmic protein hydrolysis at pH 4.0, as occurring during sausage fermentation, can be attributed to the combined action of acidic meat endogenous proteases, L. plantarum CRL 681 proteolytic activity and acid-induced changes arising from the bacterial fermentative metabolism. On the other hand, bacterial proteolysis was mainly involved on the hydrolytic changes observed at pH 6.0. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Lactobacillus plantarum CRL 681 isolated from Argentinean sausages showed to display technological metabolic traits such as high acidification rate, proteolytic and peptidase activity, biogenic amines degradation and absence of amino acid decarboxylase activity which can beneficially affect the quality and safety of fermented sausages. In addition, from the results of this study, L. plantarum CRL 681 acidogenic metabolism not only would assure hygienic quality of fermented sausages but would increase free amino acids and peptides release from meat proteins. As a whole, this strain has the potential to be successfully used as starter culture to improve final product quality.
Site preparation burning to improve southern Appalachian pine-hardwood stands: vegetation composition and diversity of 13-year-old stands

Stand restoration of low-quality, mixed pine–hardwood ecosystems containing a Kalmialatifolia L. dominated understory, through cutting, burning, and planting of Pinusstrobus L. , is common on xeric southern Appalachian forest sites. We examined the effects of this treatment on early vegetation composition and diversity. Four 13-year-old stands were examined. Two of the four stands were mechanically released at age 6. Density and basal area were estimated for understory and overstory components, and density and percent cover for the herb component. Species diversity (Shannon–Wiener index) was estimated and comparisons were made between layers, sites, and treatments (release vs. nonrelease). Diversity estimates were 3.19, 1.74, and 2.45 for the herb, shrub, and overstory layers, respectively, across all sites and treatments. For perspective, comparisons were made with an untreated reference stand that was typical of stands receiving site preparation burning in the southern Appalachians. Overstory and herb di.
Food quality, feeding preferences, survival and growth of shredders from temperate and tropical streams

1. The importance of leaf quality to the nutritional ecology of lotic shredders is well established for temperate species but virtually unknown for tropical taxa. In the present study, we compared the feeding behaviour and performance of two tropical and two temperate shredders in a series of pair-wise experiments. 2. Specifically, we tested whether leaf conditioning status (stream-conditioned versus unconditioned leaves) and geographical origin (temperate Alnus glutinosa versus tropical Hura crepitans leaves) affect the food preference, survivorship, and growth of selected shredders from low and high latitudes in a consistent manner. The animals used in experiments were the caddis-flies Nectopsyche argentata and Phylloicus priapulus from Venezuela, Sericostoma vittatum from Central Portugal, and the amphipod Gammarus pulex from Northern Germany. 3. In general, all shredders exhibited the same high preference for conditioned over unconditioned leaves, irrespective of the geographical origin of the leaf or shredder species. 4. A corresponding tendency for higher growth was found for sets of animals offered conditioned leaves, with the differences in growth being clearer in the two tropical shredders. Survivorship of the two temperate species was consistently high (> 83%) regardless of the diet offered, whereas the tropical shredders survived better on conditioned (77–90%) as compared with unconditioned (54–87%) leaves, although not significantly so. 5. With the exception of the temperate S. vittatum, shredders did not select or perform better on leaves to which they had previously been exposed, indicating a potential adaptation to native leaf species is over-ridden by intrinsic leaf properties. 6. Taken together, the results of this study suggest that tropical shredders may exhibit the same basic patterns of food exploitation as their temperate counterparts. Consequently, current concepts relating to the role of shredders in stream detritus dynamics may well be applicable to tropical streams, although essentially derived from temperate systems.
From Africa via Europe to South America: migrational route of a species‐rich genus of Neotropical lowland rain forest trees (Guatteria, Annonaceae)

Aim Several recent studies have suggested that a substantial portion of today’s plant diversity in the Neotropics has resulted from the dispersal of taxa into that region rather than by vicariance. In general, three routes have been documented for the dispersal of taxa onto the South American continent: (1) via the North Atlantic Land Bridge, (2) via the Bering Land Bridge, or (3) from Africa directly onto the continent. Here a species‐rich genus of Neotropical lowland rain forest trees (Guatteria, Annonaceae) is used as a model to investigate these three hypotheses.
Three New Corticiaceous Fungi (Basidiomycotina, Aphyllophorales) from Japan.

Two new species, Athelia repetobasidifera and Sistotrema microsporum and one new variety, Grandinia arguta var. sphaerospora are described from Japan. The first fungus is characterized by lacking clamps at septa, having small basidiospores and often producing new basidia by the intrabasidial repetition. The second fungus is distinguishable from the previously described species in having smaller basidia and basidiospores. The third one, a new variety, differs from the type variety primarily in having globose and thick-walled (up to 0.5μm thick) basidiospores.
Effect of Zinc and Boron in Combination with NPK on Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) Growth and Yield

A field study was undertaken at Oilseed Section, Agriculture Research Institute, Tandojam during autumn 2013 to evaluate the effect of zinc and boron in combination with NPK on sunflower growth and yield. The experiment was laid out in a three replicated randomized complete block design. The treatments comprised of: 90-45-45 NPK kg/ha -1 , NPK + 10 + 1.5 Zn + B kg/ha -1 , NPK + 15 + 1.5 Zn + B kg/ha -1 , NPK + 15 + 2.0 Zn + B kg/ha -1 and NPK + 20 + 1.5 Zn + B kg/ha -1 . The results showed that zinc, boron and NPK in combination with each other caused significant (P<0.05) effect on growth and yield traits of sunflower variety HO-1. The plots receiving NPK + 20 + 1.5 Zn + B kg/ha -1 produced maximum plant height (160.6 cm), stem girth (3.6 cm), head diameter (20.4 cm), seeds per head (1255.3), seed weight (60.9 g head -1 ), seed index (1000-seed weight: 64.8 g) and seed yield (2386.0 kg/ha -1 ), closely followed by plots fertilized with NPK + 15 + 2.0 Zn + B kg/ha -1 resulting in 157.8 cm plant height, 3.4 cm stem girth, 18.6 cm head diameter, 1189.3 seeds per head, 53.3 g head -1 seed weight, 62.9 g seed index (1000-seed weight) and 2314.0 kg/ha -1 seed yield whereas, NPK + 15 + 1.5 Zn + B kg/ha -1 ranked 3rd with 153.8 cm plant height, 3.3 cm stem girth, 17.8 cm head diameter, 1150.0 seeds per head, 57.3 g head -1 seed weight, 62.3 g seed index (1000-seed weight) and 2277.7 kg/ ha -1 seed yield. However, minimum plant height (144.1 cm), stem girth (3.0 cm), head diameter (16.2 cm), seeds per head (1013.0), seed weight (46.7 g head-1), seed index (1000-seed weight: 57.6 g) and seed yield (2030.7 kg/ha -1 ) was observed in plots where 90-45-45 NPK kg/ha -1 (Control) was applied. Hence, results indicated that application of micronutrients (zinc and boron) in combination with macro-nutrients (NPK) enhanced the growth and yield performance of sunflower. Although at higher doses of Zn and B numerically higher yield was noted but application of NPK + 15 + 1.5 Zn + B kg/ha -1 showed non-significant differences with NPK + 20 + 1.5 Zn + B kg/ha -1 and NPK + 15 + 2.0 Zn + B kg/ha -1 almost in all the growth and yield parameters, particularly seed yield. Keywords: Sunflower, Zinc, Boron, NPK, growth and yield
Production, composition, and manufacturing properties of milk from grazing cows fed on a formaldehyde-treated sunflower seed supplement

Eight cows in each of four treatment groups grazed regulated areas of green oats and consumed either 0, 1.3, 2.5 or 3.1 kg of a formaldehyde-treated sunflower seed supplement (FSS) per head per day. The digestible energy content of the rations was balanced with hammer-milled barley. Milk fat percentages and milk fat yields were higher from cows fed on FSS, responses being in proportion to the amount of FSS eaten. Protein percentages were significantly lower in milk from cows fed on FSS. Milk and protein yields did not differ significantly between treatments. The linoleic acid (C18:2) content of milk fat was three to five times as high in cows fed on FSS as in those not fed on FSS. The stability to oxidation and the rennet curd firmness of the milk decreased as the percentage of C18:2 in milk fat increased. Changes in the heat stability of milk were associated with the introduction of FSS feeding. Plasma cholesterol levels increased with increasing intakes of FSS. Milk of high C18:2 content can be produced by dairy cows fed on FSS and grazed on green oats. The milk readily oxidizes and its properties for cheese and skim milk powder manufacture are altered.