Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Diversidade de peixes em poças de um rio intermitente do semi-árido paraibano, Brasil

As regioes semi-aridas do Nordeste brasileiro sofrem com os prolongados periodos de estiagem, afetando a qualidade da agua e a produtividade pesqueira. Os estudos tem demonstrado que as alteracoes entre periodos de chuva e estiagem tem profundas influencias sobre os organismos dos ambientes aquaticos das regioes semi-aridas e em especial sobre a ictiofauna. Apesar disto, poucos sao os estudos que tentam conhecer e elucidar a ecologia de peixes do semi-arido. O objetivo do presente artigo foi conhecer a diversidade e alguns aspectos da estrutura populacional de especies de peixes, a fim de avaliar a importância da formacao das pocas para a conservacao das especies e da produtividade pesqueira. Foi encontrado um total de 13 especies de peixes, das quais uma especie e exotica (Oreochromis niloticus). A abundância de especies foi altamente variavel entre os meses de coleta, embora a riqueza tenha revelado baixa flutuacao. As especies de importância economica apresentaram tamanho medio acima de 7cm de comprimento padrao e 57,9% dos individuos estiveram em atividade reprodutiva. Os resultados demonstraram que o periodo de estiagem afeta a comunidade de peixes, sendo que as pocas parecem ser locais importantes para a conservacao da diversidade e da produtividade pesqueira.
Towards evidence-based emergency medicine: Best BETs from the Manchester Royal Infirmary

A short-cut review was carried out to determine whether the International Normalised Ratio (INR) value was a predictor of the risk of intracranial haemorrhage in patients taking warfarin after head injury. 796 papers were found using the reported search, of which eighteen were directly relevant. The author, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes, results and study weaknesses are shown in the accompanying table. It is concluded that level of the INR correlates poorly with the risk of haemorrhage and that the risk of haemorrhage remains significant even in patients with a sub-therapeutic INR.
Estimation of breeding population size of Streaked Shearwaters on Sangan Island, Iwate, based on 3D topography by GIS

集団繁殖する海鳥の営巣数および繁殖個体数はこれまで2 次元面積を用いて推定されることが一般的であった．起伏に富む繁殖地に営巣する海鳥種や個体群では，この方法では巣の分布面積が過少評価され，推定数が実態より少なく見積もられることが懸念される．本報告は岩手県三貫島で実地調査したオオミズナギドリの植生タイプ別の巣数と繁殖個体数を，地理情報システム(GIS) を用いて標高を反映した3 次元面積で求め，2 次元面積で算出した結果と比較した．その結果，3 次元で求めた植生帯面積は2 次元で求めた面積の1. 3倍になり，三貫島の地形，植生，地質条件下において，3 次元面積法による総推定巣数は，2 次元面積法の1. 2 倍となった．3 次元面積法で得られた三貫島のオオミズナギドリ繁殖個体群の規模は，巣穴数約101,000 巣，巣立ち雛（巣数）約41,000羽（巣），および孵化時の繁殖個体数は約109,000羽と推定された．三陸沿岸の島嶼では，同所繁殖する小型ウミツバメ類がオオミズナギドリの営巣活動で減少する事例が指摘されており，三陸沿岸でオオミズナギドリが最も多く繁殖する三貫島でもウミツバメ類（特に絶滅危惧種ヒメクロウミツバメ）に対する競争排除が憂慮された．
Accuracy of forest inventory using airborne laser scanning: evaluating the first nordic full-scale operational project

This research reports the major results from an evaluation of the first Nordic operational stand-based forest inventory using airborne laser scanner data. Laser data from a forest area of 250 km2 were used to predict six biophysical stand variables used in forest planning. The predictions were based on regression equations estimated from 250 m2 field training plots distributed systematically throughout the forest area. Test plots with an approximate size of 0.1–0.4 ha were used for validation. The testing revealed standard deviations between ground-truth values and predicted values of 0.36–1.37 m (1.9–7.6%) for mean height, 0.70–1.55 m (3.0–7.6%) for dominant height, 2.38–4.88 m2 ha−1 (7.8–14.2%) for basal area and 13.9–45.9 m3 ha−1 (6.5–13.4%) for stand volume. No serious bias was detected.
Safety evaluation of yeast hydrolysate (Notress)

The yeast hydrolysate from Saccharomyces cerevisiae was evaluated for acute/subacute toxicity on female and male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. The single oral dose of the hydrolysate at 5,000 mg/kg did not produce mortality or significant changes in the general behavior and gross appearance of the internal organs of rats. In subacute toxicity study, the hydrolysate was administered orally at a dose of 1,000 mg/kg/day for a period of 14 days. The satellite group was treated with the hydrolysate at the same dose and the same period and kept for another 14 days after treatment. There were no significant differences in organ weights between control and treated group of both sexes. Hematological analysis and blood chemistry revealed no toxicity effects of S.cerevisiae hydrolysate. Pathologically, neither gross abnormalities nor histopathological changes were observed. These results show that the hydrolysate possesses very low toxicity as indicated in SD rat model.
Use of wheat bran as a nutritive supplement for the production of ethanol by Zymomonas mobilis

A strain of Zymomonas mobilis (ZYM-TS 1) was isolated from fermenting palm wine (toddy). In addition to glucose, sucrose, and fructose, the organism utilized hydrolysates of corn (Zea mays) flour, corn starch and ragi (Eleusine coracana) flour. Amounts of ethanol produced in media (adjusted to 10% (w/v) total carbohydrates) fortified with wheat bran extract only, were comparable with those obtained from the defined media containing yeast extract, (NH4)2SO4, KH2PO4, and MgSO4.7H2O. The results indicate that wheat bran extract can supply all the necessary nutrients required for ethanol production by Zymomonas mobilis.
Reproductive performance in female ClockΔ19 mutant mice

The relationship between circadian rhythmicity and rodent reproductive cyclicity is well established, but the impact of disrupted clock gene function on reproduction has not been well established. The present study evaluated the reproductive performance of mice carrying the ClockΔ19 mutation that were either melatonin deficient (ClockΔ19/Δ19) or had the capacity to synthesise melatonin reinstated (ClockΔ19/Δ19+MEL). The ClockΔ19/Δ19 mice took 2–3 days longer to mate, and to subsequently deliver pups, than their control line. The melatonin-competent mutants had a smaller, but still significant (P < 0.05), delay. The ClockΔ19 mutation resulted in smaller median litter sizes compared with control lines (seven v. eight pups; P < 0.05), whereas melatonin proficiency reversed this difference. Survival to weaning was 84% and 80% for the ClockΔ19/Δ19 and ClockΔ19/Δ19+MEL lines, respectively, compared with 94–96% for the two control lines. The ClockΔ19/Δ19 mutants became behaviourally arrhythmic in constant darkness but, despite this, seven of seven became pregnant when paired with males after at least 14 days of constant darkness (five of seven within 4 days of pairing). In the ClockΔ19/Δ19+MEL mice, seven of 15 became arrhythmic in constant darkness but still became pregnant. The seven mice that free ran for at least 14 days in constant darkness with a period of 27.1 h also became pregnant. The present study has demonstrated that the ClockΔ19 mutation has significant, but subtle, effects on reproductive performance. The reintroduction of melatonin competency and/or other genes as a result of crosses with CBA mice reduced the impact of the mutation further. It would appear that redundancy in genes in the circadian system allows the reproductive cyclicity to persist in mice, albeit at a suboptimal level.
Responses of antioxidant enzymes and compounds in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa ‘Toyonaka’) to cold stress

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the responses of the antioxidative system of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa ‘Toyonaka’) to cold stress. Strawberry seedlings were exposed to four temperatures (25°C or control, 10°C, 4°C, and 0°C) and the compounds and enzyme activities were determined during six evaluation periods (0, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h). Malondialdehyde (MDA) and H2O2 concentrations fluctuated and increased overall at lower temperatures. The production rate of superoxide radical (O2−) increased continuously with all treatments. Cold stress increased antioxidant enzyme activities such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), and monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDAR), when compared with the control. Ascorbate (AsA) content reduced, however dehydroascorbate (DHA) showed a significant increase, as did the ASA/DHA ratio. The results suggest that the ascorbate-glutathione cycle is regulated in response to low temperature, but this mechanism and consequently regulation ability peaks and declines with exposure to cold stress.
Carotenoid Composition in the Fruits of Capsicum annuum Cv. Szentesi Kosszarvú during Ripening

The changes in the carotenoid pigments of Capsicum annuum cv. Szentesi Kosszarvu during maturation have been investigated quantitatively by means of a HPLC technique. In all of the chromatograms, 56 peaks were detected; 34 carotenoids were identified. In this study, special attention is paid to the formation of minor carotenoids with 3,6-epoxy-β- (oxabicyclo[2.2.1]) and 3,5,6-trihydroxy-β- end groups. The possible biosynthetic route and the identity of capsolutein with the cucurbitaxanthin A are described. Keywords: Capsicum annuum; carotenoids; analysis; biosynthesis
NITRATE REDUCTASE AND GLUTAMATE DEHYDROGENASE ACTIVITIES OF RESISTANT AND SENSITIVE CULTIVARS OF WHEAT AND BARLEY UNDER BORON TOXICITY

ABSTRACT In this study, changes in activity of key enzymes of nitrogen assimilation, namely nitrate reductase and glutamate dehydrogenase upon boron (B) toxicity in wheat (Triticum aestivum) and barley (Hordeum vulgare) cultivars were investigated. Ten-day-old seedlings were exposed to 10 mM boric acid for a duration of five days. Plants growing on the nutrient solutions and receiving no excess B, were maintained as controls. All experiments were conducted on leaf and root tissues of control and B-treated seedlings of B-tolerant and B-sensitive cultivars. For estimation of activity of nitrate reductase, an in vivo assay was used. Compared to controls (no B treatment) activity of nitrate reductase tended to decrease (15–17%) following B toxicity in root and leaf tissues of all cultivars, however, no significant difference was observed between resistant and sensitive cultivars. Boron stress increased activity of glutamate dehydrogenase in roots and leaves of all cultivars by an average of 81% and 30%, respectively. Compared to sensitive variety, the boron tolerant wheat variety exhibited a significantly higher increase in shoot tissue GDH activity, whereas no significant difference was observed in root tissues. It was concluded that, the increase in activity of glutamate dehydrogenase could be an adaptive mechanism in these species and possibly plays a protective role under boron-stress conditions.
Burrowing Behavior of the Introduced Red Swamp Crayfish Procambarus Clarkii (Decapoda: Cambaridae) in Portugal

ABSTRACT Burrowing behavior of Procambarus clarkii in Portugal was investigated at 6 sites (3 rice fields, 2 reservoirs, and 1 marsh) from February 1991 to February 1993. Average burrow density (number of burrows/m2), relation between burrow density and substrate type, burrowing activity, burrow occupation (sex, size, and maturation of the animals), burrow morphology (burrow complexity, mean tunnel depth), and burrow distribution in relation to the water level were studied. Average burrow (b) density ranged from 0.013 b/m2 to 6.28 b/m2, the highest density being in a rice-field drainage channel. A burrowing activity index was estimated, indicating that burrowing is mostly a seasonal activity, being most intense from May-October. Burrowing activity occurred only when the ratio of fine particles over coarser particles was higher than 0.1-0.2. Mean carapace length of burrowing animals varied from 35.3-43.8 mm. Most of the individuals in burrows were mature. Immature and juvenile animals occupied burrows in late fall, winter, and early spring, while mature crayfish were found in late spring, summer, and early fall. The burrow morphology was generally simple, but more complex burrows were also observed. Mean tunnel depth ranged from 0.28-0.58 m. The longer burrows measured approximately 4.20 m long. The burrows were generally located at the water level in rice-field sites and above the water level in marsh and reservoir sites. Burrows were observed only in a zone of Myriophillum sp. in marsh and reservoir sites.
An Exclusive Increase in the Concentration of ATP as a Result of Osmotic Stress in Escherichia coli B

The ATP level was exclusively increased among the nucleotides in Escherichia coli under osmotic stress, concomitant with a decrease of guanosine phosphates levels. The profile of ATP formation was different from that resulting from chemicals. E. coli contains a specific system to enhance the ATP level and it might be possible that the source of the increased ATP is guanosine phosphates.
Reply to Storey et al.: More DNA and dating studies needed for ancient El Arenal-1 chickens

In their letter, Storey et al. (1) concede that there is no direct genetic support for Polynesian–South American contact. However, they claim that linguistic, archaeological, and ethnohistoric evidence supports Polynesia as the most likely source of the El Arenal-1 chickens. We disagree on two grounds. First, such indirect evidence is conjectural, documents no eastward expansion to South America, and says nothing about the prehistoric availability of particular mtDNA haplotypes. Second, our central point was that analyses of all available ancient (2) and modern chicken mtDNA data reveal that the El Arenal-1 chicken carries a worldwide genetic signature potentially available to any of the possible introduction routes via Europe, Asia, and Polynesia (3). In contrast, none of the unusual genetic signatures from Easter Island chickens have been reported from South America (3).
Grain yield and yield components as affected by forage removal in winter and spring triticale

Two field experiments were carried out under irrigation and high fertility in northeastern Spain during 1992 and 1993. Ten triticale genotypes, five of spring growth habit and five winter types, were tested for their suitability for both forage and grain. Forage removal reduced grain yield per plant by about 17%, but did not have any significant effect on plant density, ear density or tiller number per plant. Tiller mortality was greater in winter types (65%) than in spring triticales (25%), but was not affected by cutting. Decreases in grain yield following cutting could be attributed to reductions in the number of grains per spike and kernel weight. Cutting decreased the number of grains per spike by about 9% by reducing the two components, spikelets per head and grains per spikelet. The average spike length was 10·6 cm in the uncut treatment and 10·1 cm in the dual-purpose plots. Cutting reduced thousand kernel weight by about 7% in winter triticales, and around 10% in spring types, both in main spike and in first tiller. The effect of a forage harvest on yield components was in general similar for both types of triticale. Cutting when jointing commenced induced changes in the relative importance of yield components influencing future grain yield. The yield components reduced by cutting were the most important contributors to grain yield after forage removal.
Modification of LDL with human secretory phospholipase A2 or sphingomyelinase promotes its arachidonic acid-releasing propensity Published, JLR Papers in Press, February 1, 2004. DOI 10.1194/jlr.M300310-JLR200

Oxidation and lipolytic remodeling of LDL are believed to stimulate LDL entrapment in the arterial wall, expanding the inflammatory response and promoting atherosclerosis. However, the cellular responses and molecular mechanisms underlying the atherogenic effects of lipolytically modified LDL are incompletely understood. Human THP-1 monocytes were prelabeled with [3H]arachidonic acid (AA) before incubation with LDL or LDL lipolytically modified by secretory PLA2 (sPLA2) or bacterial sphingomyelinase (SMase). LDL elicited rapid and dose-dependent extracellular release of AA in monocytes. Interestingly, LDL modified by sPLA2 or SMase displayed a marked increase in AA mobilization relative to native LDL, and this increase correlated with enhanced activity of cytosolic PLA2 (cPLA2) assayed in vitro as well as increased monocyte tumor necrosis factor-α secretion. The AA liberation was attenuated by inhibitors toward cPLA2 and sPLA2, indicating that both PLA2 enzymes participate in LDL-induced AA release. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that LDL lipolytically modified by sPLA2 or SMase potentiates cellular AA release and cPLA2 activation in human monocytes. From our results, we suggest novel atherogenic properties for LDL modified by sPLA2 and SMase in AA release and signaling, which could contribute to the inflammatory gene expression observed in atherosclerosis.
Alcohol intake modulates the genetic association between HDL cholesterol and the PPARγ2 Pro12Ala polymorphism Published, JLR Papers in Press, February 16, 2005. DOI 10.1194/jlr.M400405-JLR200

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) Pro12Ala polymorphism affects plasma lipids, but to what extent alcohol intake interferes with this association remains unknown. We randomly recruited 251 nuclear families (433 parents and 493 offspring) in the framework of the European Project on Genes in Hypertension study and genotyped 926 participants in whom all serum lipid variables and information on alcohol consumption were available for PPARγ2 Pro12Ala. Genotype-phenotype relations were assessed using generalized estimating equations (GEE) and a quantitative transmission disequilibrium test (QTDT). The Ala12 allele was more frequent in Novosibirsk (0.17) than in Cracow (0.12) and Mirano (0.11) (P < 0.01). Using GEE (P = 0.03) or QTDT (P = 0.007), Italian offspring carrying the Ala12 allele had higher serum HDL cholesterol than noncarriers. HDL cholesterol levels were on average 0.086 mmol/l (P = 0.001) higher in drinkers than in nondrinkers. Compared with Pro12 homozygotes, Ala12 allele carriers consuming alcohol had higher serum total and HDL cholesterol, with the opposite trend occurring in nondrinkers. This genotype-alcohol interaction was independent of the type of alcoholic beverage and more pronounced in moderate than in heavy drinkers. We conclude that alcohol intake modulates the relation between the PPARγ2 Pro12Ala and HDL cholesterol level and that, therefore, the Pro12Ala polymorphism, pending confirmation of our findings, might affect cardiovascular prognosis.
Effect of Variation in Temperature During Photoperiodic Induction Upon Initiation of Flower Primordia in Biloxi Soybean

1. Biloxi soybeans were grown in the greenhouse for four to five weeks and transferred to a series of control rooms where various combinations of temperature during the photoperiod and the dark period were applied for five days. Photoperiods of both 8 and 16 hours were used. 2. The effect of these various temperatures on the initiation of flower primordia has been determined. 3. Initiation of flower primordia was influenced to a much greater extent by variation in temperature during the dark period than by variation during the photoperiod. 4. When the temperature during the photoperiod was constant, a 55⚬ temperature during the dark period limited the amount of initiation that occurred. At 65⚬ initiation was much more extensive. This rise of 10⚬ in temperature during the dark period produced a greater difference in initiation than any other temperature variation of the same amount. 5. Variation in temperature resulted in the formation of different numbers of nodes. These differences, however, were not great enough to account for the differences in floral initiation. 6. Other measurements, such as fresh and dry weights, stem lengths, and leaf areas, were made. All were influenced by the different temperature treatments. 7. The carbohydrate and nitrogen content of the plants was also influenced greatly by the different temperature treatments. As the temperature during the dark period was increased the carbohydrates decreased and the nitrogen fractions increased. These changes in carbohydrate and nitrogen metabolism could not be correlated with the morphological responses. 8. None of the temperature combinations used in these experiments brought about the initiation of flower primordia when photoperiods of 16 hours were used.
GROWTH RATE AND SHEDDING OF VIBRISSAE IN THE GRAY SEAL, HALICHOERUS GRYPUS: A CAUTIONARY NOTE FOR STABLE ISOTOPE DIET ANALYSIS

Stable isotopes have become powerful tools for gathering information on food webs in marine ecosystems. The method is based on the concept that the ratio of Nitrogen-14 to 15 N (or Carbon-12 to 13 C) in the tissues of animals is directly related to the ratio found in their diet. Vibrissae provide a time series of stable isotope data as tissue is laid down sequentially over time. Here we examine the growth rate of 283 mystacial (muzzle) vibrissae of four gray seals, Halichoerus grypus, over a five-month period to investigate their applicability for stable isotope diet analysis. The individual vibrissae did not grow at a constant rate during the study. Fifty-nine actively growing vibrissae were modeled to quantify the growth pattern using a three-parameter von Bertalanffy curve, with the parameters estimated using non-linear mixed-effects models. This model incorporated the inherent serial correlation of these data. The growth rate was 0.024 cm/d (95% CI = 0.019-0.030), the asymptotic length differed significantly by location (F 3,56 =9.64, P < 0.001), but no significant trend was found with muzzle location (F 3,56 = 0.15, P = 0.93). The Δlength/Δtime between each measurement was calculated and most of these data fell at or near zero growth (median = 0.04 cm/d, range = 0-0.78). Individual vibrissae were shed asynchronously and without any seasonal growth trend. This has serious implications for researchers attempting to extrapolate diet data from vibrissae. Because the growth is neither continuous nor synchronous, it will be a challenge to accurately identify the dates when the isotopes were incorporated into the tissue.
Respostas fisiológicas de folhas de couve minimamente processadas

The respiratory rate and ethylene production were evaluated in whole and minimally processed kale leaves and, the influence of harvest time, of fast cooling and sanitization temperature on the conservation of the minimally processed product. Totally developed kale leaves were harvested at 7 and 14 o'clock in the field, during the years 1996 and 2000. Processing was carried out soon after harvest and subsequent refrigeration (6±1oC for 8 h). Samples (200 g) were conditioned in multilayer poliolefina packing, stored at 5±2oC for 15 days and evaluate for vitamin C and polifenoloxidase (PPO) activity. The respiratory rate and production of ethylene were determined in whole leaves as well as in minimally processed ones, packed in plastic trays and glass jars hermetically closed. The packs were stored during 24 hours under temperatures of 1; 5; 10 and 25oC. The respiratory rate and the ethylene production increased immediately after the detachment of the leaves from the mother plant. Cutting increased the respiratory rate in approximately two-folds. Increasing of the temperature affected significantly (P<0,05%) the respiratory rate and the production of ethylene. Fast cooling reduced the metabolism, but did not result in greater storage time. The low temperature during sanitization is important for the conservation of the minimally processed kale. The harvest time influenced significantly (P<0,05%) the respiratory rate and PPO activity of the minimally processed kale, but did not influence the storage time.