Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Paradox Between Species Diversity and Conservation

One way to draw attention to an area regarding conservation is to declare it as an Atlantic Forest Biosphere Reserve (RBMA). In this article, we analyzed attributes related to different forest remnants, including the only RBMA of Santa Catarina state (Brazil), a modified old-growth Subtropical Atlantic Forest remnant. We brought evidences that patterns of distribution of species abundance and species diversity are influenced by highly dominant species. We found a relevant proportion of endemic tree/shrub species and three endangered species. These findings demonstrate the relevant biodiversity of the Subtropical Atlantic Forest of Santa Catarina. The diversity profiles of the RBMA and other areas overlapped. This finding, which has an important conservational implication that the tree species diversity in these areas is similar. Therefore, we concluded that the areas considered in our study deserve attention regarding biological conservation. New priority areas for conservation are necessary, and the establishment of new RBMA may be a way to achieve this goal.
Effect of electron beam ionization on shelf life of apricot

Since apricots (Prunus armeniaca L. 'Bulida') have a restricted storage life at low temperatures, we have studied the possibility of extending their postharvest life by applying ionizing radiation by electron beams, using doses of 0.5 and 1 kGy. Changes in physico-chemical, physiological and nutritional properties of the ionized fruit during storage at 2°C were evaluated. The ionization treatment significantly affected ethylene production in the apricots and caused an earlier appearance of the climacteric peak and a decrease in the ethylene concentration at that peak; this effect was more pronounced with the greater dose. The texture of the apricot showed a slight tendency to softening when fruit were irradiated at 1 kGy. The other physico-chemical and nutritional properties studied showed no significant changes when compared with those of control, non-irradiated fruit. Peroxidase activity, as part of the antioxidant defense system, showed a significant increase, this being greater with the higher radiation dose.
Impact of interacting climate change factors on growth and ochratoxin A production by Aspergillus section Circumdati and Nigri species on coffee

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of interacting climate change (CC) factors (water stress [water activity, aw; 0.99-0.90]); temperature [30, 35 °C]; and elevated CO2 [400 and 1000 ppm] on (1) lag phases prior to growth, (2) growth and (3) ochratoxin A (OTA) production by species of Aspergillus sections Circumdati and Nigri on coffee-based media and stored coffee beans. The lag phases, prior to growth, of all strains/species were slightly increased as aw, temperature and CO2 were modified. The interacting CC factors showed that most strains/species examined grew well at 30 °C and slightly less so at 35 °C except for Aspergillus niger (A 1911) which could tolerate the higher temperature. In addition, the interaction of elevated CO2 (1000 ppm) + temperature (35 °C) increased OTA production when compared with 30 °C but only for strains of Aspergillus westerdijkiae (B2), Aspergillus ochraceus (ITAL 14) and Aspergillus steynii (CBS 112814). Most of the strains had optimum growth at 0.95 .
Corporate social responsibility and sustainability: theory and practice in Lebanon

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a movement that has become more and more important in the late 20th century. Its appearance in academic literature has a long history. It is considered at the heart of challenges relevant to sustainable society and sustainable development and it is studied in academia around the world. Despite the continually increasing public interest towards CSR, very little is known of the concept in developing countries. After providing a review of the literature, this research investigates and measures the awareness and implementation of CSR in Lebanon leading to the development of a sustainable society. The study sheds light on the means facilitating the promotion of CSR and the role of the government. The concepts developed from the findings of this research open the way for new researches in the field.
Transgressive Variation for Yield Components Measured throughout the Growth Cycle of Jefferson Rice (Oryza sativa) × O. rufipogon Introgression Lines

Previous studies demonstrated that alleles introduced into elite rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars from the wild, ancestral species Oryza rufipogon Griff. enhanced yield as a result of transgressive variation. A study was conducted to unveil the phenological and agronomic mechanisms that underlie increased yields in introgression lines (ILs) developed through backcrossing an O. rufipogon accession [International Rice Germplasm Collection (IRGC) 105491] with the recurrent parent, ‘Jefferson’, a U.S. long-grain variety. Phenological development and agronomic and yield component traits of Jefferson and eight ILs, each carrying a major introgression for one of six quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for yield (yld 1.2, yld 2.1, yld 3.2, yld 6.1, yld 8.1, and yld 9.1) were determined in greenhouse studies over 2 yr. A novel method to estimate aboveground biomass nondestructively with digital images was used. The higher yielding ILs had slower phenological development and produced more biomass than Jefferson. Comparison of the yield component traits at maturity revealed longer flag leaves and panicles in all ILs than in Jefferson, with differences for five wild QTLs (yld 1.2, yld 2.1, yld 3.2, yld 8.1, and yld 9.1) introgressions being significant. Three ILs with introgressions from yld 6.1 and yld 9.1 had significant increases in primary panicle branch number. Six of the ILs had more florets per panicle and introgressions for three of the wild QTLs (yld 2.1, yld 6.1, and yld 8.1) produced significantly more seed. These results support an additive model of transgressive variation, where the inferior wild donor introgressions contribute variation in traits (e.g. growth rate, flag leaf length, and panicle size) that increase yield in an elite genetic background. G. C. Eizenga, J. D. Edwards, A. M. McClung, USDA-ARS, Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center, 2890 Hwy 130 E, Stuttgart, AR 72160; K. M. Yeater, USDA-ARS, Plains Area, Fort Collins, CO 80526; S.R. McCouch, Section of Plant Breeding and Genetics, School of Integrated Plant Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850. †GCE and JDE contributed equally to this manuscript. Received 2 Oct. 2015. Accepted 4 May 2016. *Corresponding author (georgia.eizenga@ars.usda.gov). Abbreviations: AB, advanced backcross; GSOR, Genetic Stocks— Oryza; IL, introgressed line; IRGC, International Rice Germplasm Collection; logistic 3P, logistic three-parameter; QTL, quantitative trait locus. Published in Crop Sci. 56:2336–2347 (2016). doi: 10.2135/cropsci2015.10. 0603 © Crop Science Society of America | 5585 Guilford Rd., Madison, WI 53711 USA All rights reserved. Published August 30, 2016
The Micronucleus Test in Cultured Mammalian Cells and in Mytilus Gill Tissue

The kinetochore-containing micronuclei induced in CHO cells by clastogenic and aneuploidogenic substances, such as mitomycin C (MMC) or colchicine, were distinguished by means of a technique based on the use of human CREST antikinetochore antibodies. Both substances induced their expected effects. However, 48 hours after the end of treatment, colchicine and MMC induced a significant increase of CREST– and CREST+ micronuclei, respectively, suggesting an induction of clastogenicity by colchicine and of aneuploidy by MMC. These results were confirmed by the characterisation of the micronuclei induced by the same substances in gill cells of the marine mussel, Mytilus, treated in vivo. A cytofluorimetric analysis on the isolated gill of this animal showed that the cell cycle remained unaltered until almost 24 hours after excision. This suggests the possibility of using the isolated gill of Mytilus as a new biological system for laboratory experiments.
Cell Membrane Nanodomains : From Biochemistry to Nanoscopy

Cell Membrane Nanodomains: From Biochemistry to Nanoscopy describes recent advances in our understanding of membrane organization, with a particular focus on the cutting-edge imaging techniques that are making these new discoveries possible. With contributions from pioneers in the field, the book explores areas where the application of these novel techniques reveals new concepts in biology. It assembles a collection of works where the integration of membrane biology and microscopy emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of this exciting field.
Living apart and having similar trouble: are frog helminth parasites determined by the host or by the habitat?

Sympatric hosts are exposed to similar ecological conditions, particularly if they are closely related phylogenetically and share some physiological and behavioral traits. We studied the sympatric frogs Leptodactylus chaquensis Cei, 1950 and Leptodactylus podicipinus (Cope, 1862) to investigate the extent to which the helminth parasite communities were influenced by host species’ characteristics or habitat location. We described and compared the helminth communities of 50 L. chaquensis and 40 L. podicipinus collected concurrently from two different study sites in Brazil’s Pantanal floodplain. Similarities in the prevalence and mean abundance of helminths were higher among allopatric populations of the same species than among sympatric populations of different species. The effects of host species, size, and habitat on helminth composition were significant. The amount of variance in the helminth community composition explained by host species and size was greater than that explained by host habitat. These r.
Female Reproductive Characteristics Among Populations of the Oviparous Lizard Sceloporus aeneus (Squamata: Phrynosomatidae) from Central Mexico

Abstract: We studied female reproductive characteristics (clutch size, clutch frequency, egg volume, egg mass, and snout–vent length [SVL] at sexual maturity) in five populations of the Mexican endemic oviparous lizard, Sceloporus aeneus, from the Transmexican Volcanic Belt. Adult females showed a range in SVL of 40–60 mm. Mean clutch size was determined by counting vitellogenic follicles or eggs of females during the reproductive season, and was 6.6 ± 1.5 eggs. There was a positive relationship between clutch size and female SVL for all populations collectively. When analyzed by population, however, only two populations showed this relationship. Females lay at least two clutches during the reproductive period (from April to September). We found differences in the mean SVL of females with eggs and vitellogenic follicles among populations, but not in size-adjusted clutch size, egg mass, or egg volume. Our results showed life-history traits (SVL at sexual maturity, reproductive period, clutch size, clutch frequency) similar to those of other populations of this species, and to some small oviparous congeners that produce multiple clutches. Patterns in the relationship between SVL and clutch size were different among the five populations studied, which suggests that more studies on different populations are needed to understand the geographic variation exhibited by these traits. Our observations contribute to the knowledge of variation in the reproductive biology of this species.
Determining the correct identity of South African Marthasterias (Echinodermata: Asteroidea)

Marthasterias glacialis are found in the cool-temperate waters of the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean, in the subtropical waters of the Mediterranean Sea and along the south-western tip of Africa. The South African Marthasterias population includes two morphotypes, a smooth, spineless rarispina form and a spiny africana form, that have been described as separate species, subspecies, or forma by various authors over the past century. To test whether these two morphotypes represent separate species, and whether either, or both, are conspecific with the North-East Atlantic species, 78 Marthasterias were collected from the Cape Peninsula of South Africa. Morphological comparisons between individuals of the two forms showed no significant clustering of samples, indicating that there is no morphological separation of the two South African forms into distinct groupings. The africana and rarispina forms were also shown to be genetically indistinguishable, using a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene and the nuclear internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1). In addition, the COI sequences were also compared to those from European specimens, and phylogenetic reconstruction and intra- and interspecific levels of divergence suggested that the South African specimens form a single group that is genetically distinct from the European M. glacialis. Although the allopatric distribution, high genetic divergence (more than 3% for the COI fragment) and morphological differences suggest that the South African form should be raised to species status under the name Marthasterias africana, further work must assess an independent genetic marker (nuclear) to support raising the COI clade to species level. True M. glacialis have a spine-armament pattern of a series of three or more regular spine rows down the length of each arm, whereas M. africana are either covered in many irregularly spaced spines, or have an extraordinarily bare surface with only two spine rows per arm. Marthasterias africana may also have an actinal spine simulating the presence of a third inferomarginal spine. This work tentatively resolves the taxonomic dispute, elucidates the separation and amalgamation of the two African forms and suggests a single, uniquely South African Marthasterias species that might be distinct from the north Atlantic M. glacialis, although further analyses to test reproductive isolation between the North-East Atlantic and South African forms are required.
IMMUNOMODULATORS FROM PLANT SOURCE: A REVIEW

The use of phytochemicals has been a supportive practice for our immune system against infections since centuries as these drug substances enhance the immune response against infections. There are abundant plants which possess immunomodulatory and immunostimulatory activities. The immunomodulatory activities of various substances existing in natural sources have been determined in this article through literature review. Various techniques are also determined through which separation and isolation of such substances could be done in Pakistan. The present review will focus on latest developments regarding immunomodulatory activities of plants which have been reported from the year 2000 to early 2012.
Historical biogeography of the short‐faced scorpionflies (Insecta: Mecoptera: Panorpodidae)

Panorpodidae is a species‐poor family of Mecoptera, containing only 13 species in its two genera, Panorpodes and Brachypanorpa. They are found disjunctly in eastern Asia and North America, and this distribution has been deeply affected by the region's complex geological and climatic history. We calculate a time‐calibrated molecular phylogeny and use it to reconstruct the historical biogeography of the Panorpodidae, in order to explore the family's phylogenetic origin and the biogeographical process that resulted in the present disjunct distribution.
The interaction between the intracellular endophytic bacterium, Methylobacterium extorquens DSM13060, and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)

To date, plant endophytic bacteria have mainly been studied in roots of crop plants. However, shoot-associated endophytes are less diverse than root-associated ones. Hence, endophytic bacteria of plant shoots evolved different traits, than root colonizers, especially with types of host tissues infected and patterns of growth and development. This study found Methylobacterium extorquens colonized pine seedlings similarly to stem-colonizing rhizobia of other plants. M. extorquens DSM13060 was isolated from meristematic cells in shoot tip cultures of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). M. extorquens infected the plant stem through epidermis or stomatal apertures, forming infection pockets in the root and stem epidermis, or cortex. Post-infection, thread-like infection structures passed through the endoderm, invading vascular tissues. This led to systemic colonization of above and below ground-parts, observed in in vitro grown Scots pine. A novel mechanism enabling development of endophyte-host symbiosis is discovered within the M. extorquens – Scots pine model. This mechanism involves ability of M. extorquens to produce polyhydroxybutyrates (PHB) to protect itself from host-induced oxidative stress during infection. Upon initial colonization on the host surface, M. extorquens DSM13060 consumes methanol as a carbon source, using it to biosynthesize PHB. PHB are then degraded, upon host infection, by PHB depolymerases (PhaZ) to yield methyl-esterified 3-hydroxybutyrate oligomers. These oligomers have substantial antioxidant activity towards host-induced oxidative stress, enabling the bacterium to bypass host defenses and colonize further tissues. The bacteria can also store PHBs for future protection. The capacity for PHB production and, thus, protection from oxidative stress, is discovered in a wide taxonomic range of bacteria. This study also shows meristematic endophytes are important in growth and development of their hosts. Unlike many bacterial root endophytes, M. extorquens DSM13060 does not induce plant growth through hormones. However, this bacterium can colonize the interior of living host cells, where it aggregates around the nucleus of the host plant. M. extorquens DSM13060 genome encodes nucleomodulins, eukaryotic-like transcription factors, which may intervene in host transcription and metabolism.
Standardisation in data-entry across databases : avoiding Babylonian confusion

biodiversity information such as scientific and vernacular taxon names, collecting localities, specimen and taxon habitat, economic use, etc. Information stored in biodiver sity collections may also help to improve collection man agement, optimise access through making information available on Internet, and facilitate new kinds of research, only possible with large dataseis (data mining). The overall merit of a database depends on acces sibility, data quality (Chapman, 2005) and usability (the degree in which results of any given query match records and information aimed for). To enhance the overall merit of a database as well as the exchangeability of data be tween databases, data structures should be standardised. The data structure describes how information is split up into a number of clearly defined smaller units, as a rule the fields or columns used in a database. These fields can be the ca. 50 concepts defined in the DarwinCore Concept list (http://wiki.tdwg.org/twiki/bin/view/Darwin Core/DarwinCoreDraftStandard) or the 1,200 concepts recognised in the ABCD schema (http://ww3.bgbm.org/ abcddocs/Welcome). We believe that standardising the data structure is only the start towards enhancing the merit of a database and the exchangeability of data. Another fac tor, equally if not more important than data structure, is the data format used to register each unit of information. The data format contains elements like syntax, the use of standardised lists, and an agreement on how to deal with exceptions. Although digitisation has been going on for a considerable number of years, there is still no worldwide accepted protocol describing in detail in which format biodiversity related information should be stored. Moreo ver, even if a data entry protocol would be present, there are no mechanisms in place to ensure that all institutes dealing with biodiversity would adhere to it. As a result, it is difficult or even impossible to extract all the desired biodiversity information from a single source (let alone multiple data sources), simply because rules for digitisa tion vary among institutes, are lacking, are not strictly adhered to or are imprecise. There is a major discrepancy between resources spent on digitisation and on those spent on preparing a worldwide accepted protocol. On the other hand cost effectiveness of digitisation diminishes consid erably if success rates of queries are lower than 100%. A 100% success rate can only be achieved when data have been entered in a consistent, complete and accurate way following a protocol that is known and can be referred to by everyone. In order to ensure an optimal cost benefit for all resources spend on digitisation of biodiversity data, ad ditional funding and efforts have to be put into developing a data format protocol as well as mechanisms to ensure its worldwide use.
Influence of dietary protein and energy level on broiler performance and carcass composition

Le facteur taux proteique est preponderant par rapport au facteur niveau energetique de la ration. Les meilleurs resultats zootechniques sont obtenus pour des rations a 20 % de proteines. Le rendement a l'abattage est semblable quelle que soit la ration alimentaire, les carcasses etant cependant plus grasses pour les rations a taux energetique plus eleve
The effect of time of day and recovery type after a football game on muscle damage and performance in anaerobic tests on young soccer players

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of time of day and different modalities of recovery (active vs. passive recovery) after intermittent exercise in young soccer players. In randomized order, 16 boys participated in the study, divided into two groups: passive recovery (PRG, n = 8) and active recovery (ARG, n = 8). Both groups performed tests at 07:00 and 17:00 h. The results showed that performance in the Sargent jump test (SJT), 10-m sprint, and agility were higher in the evening (17:00 h), around the presumed peak of body temperature. SJT and agility performance decreased after the match. The better performance in SJT and agility were found in ARG rather than PRG (p < 0.01). The rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was lower in the morning (p < 0.05). Heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (DBP and SBP) increased immediately after the match. In addition, HR and SBP values differed between PRG and ARG (p < 0.01), with a greater recovery observed in the morning (p < 0.05). Muscle damage markers (lactate and creatine kinase) were significantly higher after the match (p < 0.05), and there was a significant decrease in lactate concentration after recovery in the ARG group compared to the PRG group (p < 0.05), even though neither lactate nor creatine kinase concentrations were affected by the time of day. In conclusion, the recovery process following exercise does not show time-of-day effects, even though active recovery appears to be an effective tool for accelerating the elimination of muscle damage markers and decreasing neuromuscular fatigue.