Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Indisim-som un model discret per a l'estudi de la dinàmica de la matèria orgànica i la nitrificació en sòls

Esta tesis se plantea como principales objectivos constatar que la modelizacion y simulacion discreta es una metodologia adecuada para el estudio de ecosistemas complejos, en los cuales la dinamica de los elementos esta principalmente conducida por los microorganismos, y desarrollar un modelo y simulador capaz de reproducir la evolucion del C y N de la materia organica del suelo (SOM) y la nitrificacion. Este modelo y simulador reciben el nombre de INIDISM-SOM. La SOM se visualiza en distintos compartimentos segun su composicion y tasa de degradacion, los compuestos minerales contemplados son el amonio, el nitrato, el oxigeno y el dioxido de carbono. Los elementos abioticos estan sometidos a procesos de transferencia de masa: hidrolisi de los compuestos complejos a compuestos labiles, difusion de los compuestos organicos labilies y los compuestos minerales, adsorcion-desorcion del amonio y flujos de entrada y salida de gases. Los elementos bioticos modelados son los microorganismos descomponedores y las bacterias nitrificadoras, los cuales han sido modelados como individuos (Individual based Model). Cada individuo tiente capacidad para llevar a termino sus actuaciones vitales: ingerir sustrato, metabolizarlo para conseguir la energia de mantenimiento y sintetizar biomassa, reprodirse cuando consiguen una massa determinada, moverse y finalmente se pueden morir y lisar. Se ha parametrizado el modelo fijando los valores para algunas constantes y a otras se les ha assignado un rango de valores, con el fin de poder proceder a su calibracion. Para la calibracion se han utilizado datos experimentales procedentes de la incubacion de tres suelos, en los que se ha mantenido condiciones de aerobiosis, temperaturas estables y condiciones de humedad proximas al 80% de capacidad de campo. Como resultado de la calibracion se ha obtenido un conjunto de datos para las constantes microbiologicas y de suelos contempladas en
Aggregation and the coexistence of competitors

Models proposed by Atkinson & Shorrocks (1981) and Hanski (1981) explore how different distribution patterns of eggs among discrete patches of resource affect the coexis tence of competing insect species. They conclude that intraspecific aggregation of females finding and ovipositing on patches may permit species to persist together which otherwise could not coexist. This paper presents a version of these models to highlight the mechanism by which aggregation may facilitate coexistence. The model is then illustrated with data from a carrion-fly community. Finally, other empirical studies that have examined the effects of aggregation on coexistence are reviewed. Models addressing the distribution patterns of females ovipositing among patches provide valuable insights into the coexistence of insect competitors by considering the role of female behavior in interactions among species.
Feminization of GYMNOCORYMBUS TERNETZI (BOULENGER) using Short Term Immersion with Estradiol –17 β

Control population had a highly skewed sex-ratio in favour of males (59%), possibly due to temperature in- duced / based natural sex reversal. Intersexes were also observed in the control stock. With Estradiol -17 β , a single short term immersion of 600 µ g/l for 7 hours yielded 61% females, while 600 µ g/l for 10 hours resulted in 71% females. Among the two, treatment for 7 hours resulted in better survival (36%) than for 10 hours (11%) and thus recom-mended for adoption. Intersexes were observed in the hormone exposed lots at both sub-optimal and super-optimal doses. Sexes were identified through gonadal squash.
Characterization of the 3' terminal 42 nucleotide host protein binding element of the mouse hepatitis virus 3' untranslated region

Characterization of the 3' Terminal 42 Nucleotide Host Protein Binding Element of the Mouse Hepatitis Virus 3' Untranslated Region. (May 2003) Reed Findley Johnson, B.S., Kansas State University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Julian Leibowitz Mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) is a member of the coronavirus family in the order Nidovirales. The 32 kb genome contains cis-acting sequences necessary for replication of the viral genome. Those cis-acting sequences have been shown to bind host proteins, and binding of those proteins is necessary for virus replication. One of the cis-acting elements is the 3' terminal 42 nucleotide host protein binding element. Previous work has demonstrated that mitochondrial aconitase, mitochondrial heat shock protein 70, heat shock protein 60 and heat shock protein 40 bind to the 3' terminal 42 nucleotide host protein binding element. We demonstrated that RNA secondary structure of the 3' terminal 42 nucleotide host protein binding element is necessary for host protein binding in vitro. We also demonstrated that primary structure of the 3' terminal 42 nucleotide host protein binding element is necessary for viral replication by targeted recombination. DI replication assays infer that the 3' terminal 42 nucleotide host protein binding element plays a role in positive strand synthesis from the negative strand template. Current studies involve the infectious cDNA clone, which will provide definitive answers on the role of the 3' terminal 42 nucleotide host protein binding element in MHV replication.
Women's Labor Force Attachment and Childbearing in Finland

This paper analyzes the impact of women’s economic activity, earnings and take-up of child home care allowance on childbearing, using a ten percent sample from a longitudinal register data set that covers the entire female population of reproductive age in Finland in 1988-2000. Results show that a woman’s economic activity and income were positively correlated with entry into motherhood and to a lesser extent with having a second child. This supports the notion of a common pattern of this relationship in the Nordic countries. In the light of Finland’s rollercoaster economic development in the 1990s, the effects of a change in female population composition by economic characteristics on the fertility trend were small.
Revalidation and redescription of Phyllodytes wuchereri (Peters, 1873) (Amphibia, Anura, Hylidae)

Amphodus wuchereri Peters, 1873 is revalidated and redescribed under the new combination Phyllodytes wuchereri, based on specimens obtained in remnants of the Atlantic Rain Forest in southern State of Bahia, Brazil. Phyllodytes wuchereri, a medium-sized species (snout-vent length in males, 25.126.0mm, n = 2; in females, 26.2-27.1mm, x̄ = 26.7, SD = 0.37, n = 3), is characterized by a poorly developed vocal sac; well-developed nuptial pad at base of first finger; tympanum exposed; snout pointed in dorsal view and subacute in profile; two dorsolateral, white stripes from posterior corner of eyes to groin, outlined by a dark brown to black line; and central area of dorsum and dorsal surfaces of thighs and tibiae, mottled brown. Based on dorsal color pattern, four species groups are defined for the genus Phyllodytes.
Trace metals in human retina during aging period

Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is the principal cause of blindness in modern countries after 50 years (28% prevalence after 75 years). In ARMD pathology, a progressive degeneration of retinal photoreceptors appears in the region of macula which is responsible of high resolution and colour vision. Oxidative stress is probably implicated in ARMD development. Since iron can induce free radical formation during aging and is known to contribute to cerebral neurodegenerative diseases, we investigate iron homeostasis in the different layers of the human retina. In this study were determined iron and other trace metals and minerals concentrations and their tissue lateral distribution in post-mortem retina of aged people (43 to 95 years). Special iron homeostasis proteins (transferrin, transferrin receptor, ferritin), which control iron transport, uptake and storage, were also studied in human retina and showed the same spatial distribution as in the rat retina. For trace metals determination, the frozen eyeballs were cut at low temperature in thin sections of 20 µm, collected on the rasor-blade of a cryomicrotome, placed on FormvarR foils and freeze-dried before analysis. We used then simultaneously Proton-Induced X-Ray Emission (PIXE) and Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry (RBS) methods with the Bordeaux proton microprobe to determine the metal contents of retina. A post-irradiation coloration of the tissue sections allows us to identify precisely the retina layers and to produce local spectra in each layer. Detailed technique and preliminary results will be presented.
The use of plant growth promoting bacteria as 'bio-fertilizers' : crop inoculation to reduce agrochemical devastation

Plants harbor a diverse community of microbes which may be beneficial or detrimental to their health. Among these microbes, plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) perform functions which may provide the host plant with nutrients and phytohormones or help manage environmental stress and antagonize pathogens. The use of PGPB as inoculants in agriculture is often referred to as bio-fertilization and can reduce the need for chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides through the various activities provided by the bacteria. In application of PGPB, inoculation may be through the coating of seeds and treatment of furrows with a free liquid culture. It may alternatively involve the encapsulation of PGPB in biodegradable beads which reduce the loss of cells to environmental constraints and competition/predation by other soil microbes while prolonging PGPB activity and benefit to the host crop. Bio-fertilizers are currently in use but further development is needed in testing and production to make a variety of products more available for use with a wider range of crops.
The Effects of Drought Stress on Assimilate Availability and Metabolism in the Source and Sink Organs of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L) Genotypes.

Changes in carbohydrate status and metabolism in the source and sink organs determine rate of growth and yield of plants subjected to drought stress. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of lost-flowering drought stress on assimilate synthesis at source level and availability of the assimilates for metabolism in the reproductive sink organs of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) genotypes differing in degree of drought resistance. A drought-resistant inbred line (SEA 15) and a drought-susceptible cultivar (BrSp) were grown under non-stress and drought stress commenced at early pod-filling stage. Plants were raised in a vegetation hall during the summer of 2005. Drought stress reduced the seed yields of BrSp and SEA 15 by 53 and 30%, respectively. Harvest index of the susceptible genotype decreased by ca. 29%, whereas no effect of drought was found for the partitioning index in the resistant genotype implying marked differences in sink strength at whole plant level between the genotypes. Drought stress did not affect the concentration of sucrose in leaves and seeds of SEA 15 during most part of the stress period. On the contrary, the stress caused 18 to 30 and 29 to 47% reductions in leaf and seed sucrose concentrations of BrSp, respectively. Relative to control treatments, drought stress decreased seed starch ccumulation of BrSp throughout the stress period (by 16 to 18%) whereas the decrease (by 20%) was found only at 20 d stress for SEA 15. The findings revealed that the underlying differences in sink establishment and yield of the bean genotypes differing in degree of drought resistance reside primarily in the capacity of the source to supply assimilates (i.e. source-strength) under drought conditions.
Phylogenetic structure of Guinea-Bissau ethnic groups for mitochondrial DNA and Y chromosome genetic systems

The forensic value of Y-STR markers in Guiné-Bissau was accessed by typing of 215 males. Allele and haplotype frequencies, determined for loci DYS19, DYS389-I, DYS389-II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS437, DYS438, DYS439 and the duplicated locus DYS385, are within the limits of variation found in other populations south of the Sahara. The level of discrimination achieved is Guineans is higher than for European or other African populations with comparable data. The haplotype diversity of 0.9995 is reduced to 0.9981 when the minimal haplotype is considered thus revealing the importance of increasing the number of typed loci. # 2005 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
Productive performance of different cattle genotypes in a commercial farm. Finishing stage

The objective of this research was to continue the studies related to the productive performance of the cattle genotypes Zebu (Z), F 1 Holstein x Zebu (HZ) and Mambi de Cuba (M), conducted during the initial fattening under grazing semi-confinement conditions. The finishing stage was carried out during 388 days and comprised the rainy (RS) and the dry season (DS). The same 45 animals of the previous study that became steers, 18 months old and with 241-263 kg of weight, were used, which remained divided into three groups of 15 animals each, according to a completely randomized design. They grazed in an area of grasses during the day only and received mineral salts at will and supplements (Northgold and wheat bran) in barn in the evening and night, at a rate of one daily kilogram in the DS and 1,5 kg in the RS. The pasture availability was 11,8 and 26,4 kg DM animal -1 day -1 for the DS and RS, respectively. There were significant differences (p < 0,05) in the daily live weight gain in favor of Z and HZ, with values of 0,432; 0,364 and 0,256 kg for Z, HZ and M, respectively, in the DS; but the genotypes did not differ in the RS. The final live weight at slaughter ( p < 0,05) was 442,7; 436,3 and 391,6 kg for Z, HZ and M, respectively. It is concluded that the cattle of genotype M had a satisfactory performance under grazing conditions, because the gains reached during the final fattening propitiated to obtain second category animals, with a weight higher than 390 kg.
Release, Upregulated Synthesis, and Mitogenicity in Mesangial Proliferative Glomerulonephritis

Mesangial injury and cell proliferation are frequent findings in various glomerular diseases in man. Previous studies have demonstrated that basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a potent mesangial cell mitogen in vitro. To further elucidate the role of bFGF in rat mesangial cell (RMC) proliferation, we examined whether RMC synthesize bFGF in vitro and whether bFGF is involved in mesangial proliferation in vivo. Cultured RMC expressed bFGF protein (23, 21.5, and 18 kD forms) and bFGF mRNA, and released biologically active bFGF into the culture medium after antibody- and complement-mediated injury. Normal rat glomeruli in vivo contained no detectablebFGFmRNA, but bFGF protein (23 and 21.5 kD) could be demonstrated, which immunolocalized to the mesangium. Glomerular bFGF decreased markedly during the acute phase ofglomerulonephritis induced by anti-Thy 1.1 antibody, compatible with mesangial bFGF release after complement-mediated mesangiolysis. During the subsequent mesangial proliferative phase, glomerular bFGF protein andmRNA increased above normal. Intrarenal infusion ofheparin did not affect the bFGF immunostaining of glomeruli at this stage, indicating a predominantly intracellular localization ofthe bFGF. The capability ofbFGF to mediate proliferation in the anti-Thy 1.1 model was further supported by experiments in which intravenous bFGF given 24 h after a subnephritogenic dose of anti-Thy 1.1 antibody led to a 4.9- to 5.1-fold increase in glomerular cell proliferation (with > 60% of the cells identified as mesangial cells by double immunolabeling). No such increase was observed in normal rats injected with bFGF. These data show that mesangial cells produce and release bFGF after injury and that bFGF is mitogenic for injured mesangial cells in vivo. Release of mesangial cell bFGF thus may be an important mechanism involved in the
Behavioral and Physiological Responses to Light by the Sea Anemone Anthopleura elegantissima as Related to its Algal Endosymbionts

The endosymbiosis of algae with invertebrates may be viewed with at least two major orientations. On the one hand, one may focus on the plant and animal as essentially separate organisms living together, as the word symbiosis states. The products which are exchanged between the plant and animal and the effects of the association on either partner are then of particular interest. On the other hand, one may consider the partnership as an entity, and attempt to investigate the physiology, behavior, etc. of the symbiotic association, observing what differences may appear between the "plant-animal" and analogous non-symbiotic organisms. It is the second approach which I have tried to take in this thesis. I have concentrated on some effects of light on symbiotic and aposymbiotic sea anemones of the species Anthopleura elegantissima, particularly with respect to pigmentation and several types of behavior.
Edge coloring of a graph

The edge coloring problem is one of the fundamental problem on graphs which often appears in various scheduling problems like the (cid:12)le transfer problem on computer networks. In this thesis, we survey old and new results on the classical edge coloring as well as the generalized edge coloring problems. In addition, we developed some algorithms and modules by using Combinatorica package to color the edges of graphs with web Mathematica which is the new web-based technology.
Oxygen Consumption of Plethodontid Salamanders during Rest, Activity and Recovery

The resting, active and recovery rates of oxygen consumption for Plethodon jordani, P. glutinosus and P. yonahlossee ranging in size from 0.5 to 6 g, were strongly correlated with body mass. The absolute aerobic scope (pl 02 g-1 hr-1) increased with body mass, whereas the factorial scope (Vo2,max/Vo2,rest) was approximately constant at 4x. The resting and recovery rates of oxygen consumption were only slightly influenced by ambient Po2 whereas active rates were markedly depressed at Po2 < 110 mm Hg. Allometric analyses indicate that the cutaneous surface area of large plethodontid salamanders might limit their maximum aerobic metabolic rate and the maximum attainable body mass. However, the aerobic metabolic rate of small Plethodon (<6 g) appears to be limited by factors other than cutaneous respiratory surface area.
Pulse High Volume Hemofiltration

The sepsis syndrome is the most common cause of acute renal failure and multiple organ dysfunction in critically ill subjects and continues to have an alarmingly high mortality. Normal immune homeostasis is interrupted by a complex storm of inflammatory mediators responsible for the deleterious effects. Extracorporeal blood purification techniques can confer benefits in sepsis by proven non-specific removal of these mediators (pro- or anti-inflammatory), and provide a logical and adequate approach to treat this syndrome. High volume hemofiltration (HVHF) has had the most dramatic effect conferring benefits in hemodynamics, reduction in vasopressor doses and improvement in survival. “Pulse HVHF” is the latest approach which may offer the most efficient results: a daily schedule of 6–8 hours followed by standard CVVH. This paper describes the rationale and potential of this technique. Reliability and tolerance of this technique and biological effects are described.
Phylogenetic analysis of RAD‐seq data: examining the influence of gene genealogy conflict on analysis of concatenated data

One of the major issues in phylogenetic analysis is that gene genealogies from different gene regions may not reflect the true species tree or history of speciation. This has led to considerable debate about whether concatenation of loci is the best approach for phylogenetic analysis. The application of Next‐generation sequencing techniques such as RAD‐seq generates thousands of relatively short sequence reads from across the genomes of the sampled taxa. These data sets are typically concatenated for phylogenetic analysis leading to data sets that contain millions of base pairs per taxon. The influence of gene region conflict among so many loci in determining the phylogenetic relationships among taxa is unclear. We simulated RAD‐seq data by sampling 100 and 500 base pairs from alignments of over 6000 coding regions that each produce one of three highly supported alternative phylogenies of seven species of Drosophila. We conducted phylogenetic analyses on different sets of these regions to vary the sampling of loci with alternative gene trees to examine the effect on detecting the species tree. Irrespective of sequence length sampled per region and which subset of regions was used, phylogenetic analyses of the concatenated data always recovered the species tree. The results suggest that concatenated alignments of Next‐generation data that consist of many short sequences are robust to gene tree/species tree conflict when the goal is to determine the phylogenetic relationships among taxa.
The effects of auditory‐visual vowel and consonant training on speechreading performance

Recent work examined the effects of a novel approach to speechreading training using vowels, for normal‐hearing listeners tested in masking noise [C. Richie and D. Kewley‐Port, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 114, 2337 (2003)]. That study showed significant improvements in sentence‐level speechreading for listeners trained on vowels compared to untrained listeners. The present study examined the effects of combining vowel and consonant training on speechreading abilities. Normal‐hearing adults were tested in auditory‐visual conditions in noise designed to simulate a hearing loss. Using a monosyllable context, one group of listeners received training on consonants, and another group received training on consonants and vowels combined. A control group did not receive training. All listeners performed speechreading pre‐ and post‐tests, on words and sentences. Comparison with the earlier study showed posttest sentence‐level speechreading increased by 10 percentage points for participants in the vowel training program, 8 .
Italian bakery products obtained with sour dough : Characterization of the typical microflora

A general view of the differences and important properties (microbial, organoleptic and nutritional) of the sour dough technology is given. The microbiological pattern (yeasts, lactic acid bacteria, other bacteria, bacteriophages) from the qualitative and quantitative point of view is described. A hypothesis is proposed in order to differentiate the microbial associations involved in sour dough- a) strict association, including the doughs of Panettone, Pandoro, Colomba, Veneziana cakes, brioches, SanFrancisco bread, characterized by a mutualistic relationship between Lactobacillus sanfrancisco and Candida holmii or Saccharomyces exiguus; b) weak association, including the doughs of most wheat and rye breads, crackers, characterized by a competitive state among different species of lactobacilli, lactococci and yeasts. The situation of the Italian bread and baking industry is briefly discussed. In conclusion the importance of a common terminology; statutory regulations to protect the sour dough products; more research possibly in collaboration with EEC countries are shown.