Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sulfated Triterpenes from Lemon Balm

The hydroalcoholic (EtOH/H2O) extract of matured leaf margins of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) afforded a new 3,23-disulfate of 2α,3β-23,29-tetrahydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1) and a new 23-monosulfate of 2α,23-dihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (2), along with six known compounds, i.e., 23-monosulfate of 2α,3β,19α,23-tetrahydroxyurs-12-ene-28-oic acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), 3,5,6-trihydroxydehydro-α-ionol 9-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (4), quadranoside III (5), rosmarinic acid (6), caffeic acid (7), and luteolin (8). All the isolated compounds were evaluated for their antioxidant, antimicrobial, antimalarial, and cytotoxic activities. Only rosmarinic acid exhibited substantial antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, whereas sulfated terpenes showed considerably lower or no antimicrobial activity.
New Brazilian species of Endecous Saussure, 1878: Phallic sclerites, calling song and tegmen morphometry (Orthoptera: Grylloidea: Phalangopsinae)

In this paper we describe the phalangopsid cricket Endecous alejomesai n. sp. collected from the cave “Lapa do Fuzil”, Vila Propício, State of Goiás, Brazil. Diagnosis has been acquired by the combination of the following characteristics: phallic sclerite features; calling song with dominant frequency of 4.8 kHz and 52.9 ± 5.8 (42–60, n = 22) cycles of sound per pulse; pars stridens with 90 ± 6.84 (78–99, n = 12) teeth; mirror with one or two cross‐veins; harp with two, three or four cross‐veins.
Physiological acclimation to decreased water temperature and the relative importance of water viscosity in determining the feeding performance of larvae of a serpulid polychaete

Ambient temperature exerts both physiological and mechanical effects on the rates of functional processes of small aquatic ectotherms. Physiological effects of temperature result from its influence on the rates of chemical reactions. Mechanical effects of temperature result from the inverse relationship between the temperature of water and its dynamic viscosity. We measured the relative importance of these components of temperature on the feeding performance of polychaete larvae. Cohorts of larvae were reared for 24 h at 20 degrees C and 10 degrees C in treatments where the physiological and mechanical effects of these temperatures were separated. The feeding performance of these larvae was subsequently measured in treatments where these components of temperature were similarly partitioned. Cold-reared larvae displayed complete acclimation of feeding performance to the physiological effects of decreased temperature: thus, increased viscosity was responsible for 100% of the difference in feeding performance between 20 degrees C and 10 degrees C. The physiological ability of small aquatic ectotherms to acclimate functional processes to temperature variation may be greater than previously thought, and these results have implications for understanding the responses of aquatic ectotherms' to global temperature change.
Amelioration of sodium arsenite induced toxicity by diallyl disulfide, a bioactive component of garlic: the involvement of antioxidants and the chelate effect

Chronic exposure to high concentrations of arsenic in drinking water poses severe health problems. Despite arsenic being a severe health hazard, a safe and effective remedy against arsenic poisoning remains elusive. Previously, studies from our group showed that aqueous garlic extract could be a potential protective substance against arsenic toxicity. In the present study, we aimed to identify the bioactive component of garlic that participates in the remediation of arsenic toxicity. To this end we studied the interaction between diallyl disulphide (DADS), a stable antioxidant present in garlic, with NaAsO2 by UV spectrophotometry. The UV spectral data revealed the chemical interactions between DADS and As(III) in a 3 : 1 molar ratio. Furthermore, we investigated the potency of DADS in combating arsenic toxicity in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2) by MTT assay. The results showed that 50 μM DADS along with 10 μM NaAsO2 could effectively attenuate the arsenite-induced cytotoxicity, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation and DNA damage. Application of DADS along with NaAsO2 in HepG2 cells resulted in the modulation of arsenite-induced activities of antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) to near normal levels. Finally, we attempted to trace the chemical interaction between As(III) and DADS in the HepG2 cellular environment. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of the NaAsO2 and DADS treated cell lysate revealed similar interactions between NaAsO2 and DADS to those observed in vitro.
Development and Research of a Label Caseine Adhesive for Packaging the Industrial and Household Products

A new composition of the environmentally friendly water-based casein adhesive glue with the increased adhesion to the substrate (glass, polyethylene terephthalate, etc.) and the improved water resistance has been developed and explored. The glue is easily washed away when labeling products that are packaged in reusable containers, but, at the same time, possesses high adhesion to different surfaces. The optimal formulation for the developed glue adhesive composition based on casein has been determined with the help of the investigated properties. The effect of the amount of a modifying additive on the dynamic viscosity at different deformation rates, the stickiness of the adhesive composition, and the hydrogen ions index (pH) has been studied. Such technological properties of the glue adhesive composition were investigated as viscosity – 170 Pa∙s; pH – 7.21; the mass share of dry residue – 38.2 %; stickiness – 58.17 a.u. ; working temperature – +20…+25 °С. The optimal technological parameters for using the glue have been defined: optimal viscosity, from 130 Pa∙s to 170 Pa∙s; temperature, 25 °C, and 35 °C, respectively. The adhesive strength between a paper label and glass is 4 points, polyethylene terephthalate – 3 points. The operation properties were assessed based on the resistance of the glue adhesive composition against changes in temperature and environmental conditions, humidity, and mechanical impact. The requirements for the glue adhesive have been stated that are to be taken into consideration in its operation: resistance against the condensed and icy water and the ability of the label to be removed from the surface of the container in a washing machine at a temperature of 70–80 °C. The glue adhesive composition was examined by a SAB Miller method to assess its quality during an ice water resistance test. A copy paper method was used to assess the label gluing quality. The requirements for the glue adhesive have been defined, which should be taken into consideration in its operation (the resistance against the condensed and icy water and the removal of a label in a washing machine at a temperature of 70–80 °C with the addition of NaOH or surface-active substances)
Evidence for effects of restorer genes on male and female reproductive functions of hermaphrodites in the gynodioecious species Thymus vulgaris L.

In Thymus vulgaris L. , sex determination involves both the nuclear and the cytoplasmic genomes: the cytoplasm is responsible for male‐sterility (the female phenotype) while specific nuclear genes may restore male fertility (the hermaphrodite phenotype). Previous observations have shown high variation among hermaphrodites for pollen and seed production. In order to investigate the origin of this variation, 12 female plants, four from each of three populations, were hand‐pollinated with pollen from hermaphrodites from three different paternal populations. The sex‐ratio (i.e. the frequency of hermaphrodites) produced and the reproductive functions of these offspring were measured. A strong positive correlation was observed between the sex‐ratio within a family and both female and male reproductive functions of its hermaphrodites. No such correlation was found for females. This result suggests that restorer genes may be directly or indirectly involved both in sex determination and in the efficiency of resource allocation to reproductive functions. As a consequence, female advantage, i.e. the relative fecundity of females to hermaphrodites, is larger in families with low sex‐ratio, and this might affect the evolution of this gynodioecious breeding system.
Effects of Particle Size and Origin of Calcium Sources on Eggshell Quality and Bone Mineralization in Egg Laying Hens

Abstract Eggshell quality and tibial ossification were studied in ISA brown egg-laying hens. Diet was supplemented with calcium sources differing in origin (seashells treated with phosphoric acid, oyster shells, and limestone) and particle size (ground or particulate). Egg production, egg mass, and feed efficiency were not affected by the origin or particle size of calcium sources. Feed consumption and live weight were higher in birds fed particulate sources, especially when ground and particulate oyster shells were compared. There was a significant interaction (source origin × particle size) in eggshell quality criteria. Egg weight was lower for hens fed ground limestone than for those fed ground seashells and particulate limestone. The latter group also had larger eggs than the group fed particulate oyster shells. Eggshell weight was higher for hens receiving particulate limestone than for those fed ground limestone and particulate oyster shells, but shell index values were similar whatever the calcium sources. Eggshell-breaking strength was higher in eggs of birds fed diets incorporating ground seashells and particulate limestone than in eggs of birds fed ground limestone. Tibial-breaking strength variables and percentage ash were greatly increased by the use of particulate calcium sources but were unaffected by the origin of calcium sources. Plasma concentration of total calcium was increased in the hens fed on the particulate seashell diet during eggshell formation. Plasma level of inorganic phosphorus was higher when the birds were given ground limestone. There was no effect of the particulate seashells and the ground limestone on metabolizable energy, nitrogen, and calcium retention.
Nodule-Specific Modulation of Glutamine Synthetase in Transgenic Medicago truncatula Leads to Inverse Alterations in Asparagine Synthetase Expression1

Transgenic Medicago truncatula plants were produced harboring chimeric gene constructs of the glutamine synthetase (GS) cDNA clones (MtGS1a or MtGS1b) fused in sense or antisense orientation to the nodule-specific leghemoglobin promoter Mtlb1. A series of transgenic plants were obtained showing a 2- to 4-fold alteration in nodule GS activity when compared with control plants. Western and northern analyses revealed that the increased or decreased levels of GS activity correlate with the amount of cytosolic GS polypeptides and transcripts present in the nodule extracts. An analysis of the isoenzyme composition showed that the increased or decreased levels of GS activity were attributable to major changes in the homo-octameric isoenzyme GS1a. Nodules of plants transformed with antisense GS constructs showed an increase in the levels of both asparagine synthetase (AS) polypeptides and transcripts when compared with untransformed control plants, whereas the sense GS transformants showed decreased AS transcript levels but polypeptide levels similar to control plants. The polypeptide abundance of other nitrogen metabolic enzymes NADH-glutamic acid synthase and aspartic acid amino-transferase as well as those of major carbon metabolic enzymes phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, carbonic anhydrase, and sucrose synthase were not affected by the GS-gene manipulations. Increased levels of AS polypeptides and transcripts were also transiently observed in nodules by inhibiting GS activity with phosphinothricin. Taken together, the results presented here suggest that GS activity negatively regulates the level of AS in root nodules of M. truncatula. The potential role of AS in assimilating ammonium when GS becomes limiting is discussed.
Of piglets, dietary proteins, and pancreatic proteases.

Newly weaned piglets often show digestive disorders, frequently resulting in diarrhoea. These disorders may be related to the dietary protein source, since young piglets are less capable of digesting proteins of vegetable origin than older pigs. This study was undertaken to investigate the development of protein digestive capacity in weaned piglets. In the first part of the thesis it was established that the difference in nitrogen digestibility between milk, soya and fish proteins was mainly due to differences in endogenous nitrogen losses and not to differences in true digestibility. In the second part, the pancreatic protease activities of newly weaned piglets fed various dietary protein sources was investigated. It was found that dietary protein source affected trypsin and chymotrypsin activities in pancreatic tissue and jejunal digesta, however, these differences could not explain the differences in endogenous nitrogen losses. It is more likely that other sources of endogenous nitrogen, e.g. the small intestinal wall, are responsible for the differences in protein digestibility observed in young piglets. Furthermore, it was concluded from the experiments described in this thesis, that postweaning feed intake has a greater effect on the development of pancreatic enzyme activities than dietary protein source per se. Young piglets are capable of increasing their pancreatic secretion in response to appropriate stimuli. Stimulating post-weaning feed intake may help to smooth the development of protein digestive capacity in young piglets. In this respect, feed intake patterns may be at least as important as quantitative feed intake.
Predicción temprana de deserción mediante aprendizaje automático en cursos profesionales en línea

A pesar de las ventajas del e-learning , esta modalidad de aprendizaje es proclive a la desercion. Estudios anteriores mostraron que se pueden aplicar tecnicas de aprendizaje automatico a los registros de interacciones entre estudiantes y la plataforma para predecir el abandono. En esa linea, este trabajo intenta encontrar modelos predictivos de desercion en cursos virtuales que duran entre seis y dieciseis semanas, utilizando registros de Moodle correspondientes a las dos primeras. Se evaluo la sensibilidad, especificidad y precision de los modelos, pero se priorizo mas en que medida dichos modelos facilitaban evitar la desercion mediante acciones de retencion efectivas en costo. Especificamente, se usaron datos de varias cohortes de cuatro cursos de tematicas y duraciones distintas, dictados por la Secretaria de Extension de la Universidad Tecnologica Nacional de la Republica Argentina, Regional Buenos Aires, entre febrero de 2018 y octubre de 2019. Se usaron distintos algoritmos para generar modelos predictivos y optimizarlos hacia la mitigacion de la perdida economica causada por la desercion. Se analizo si alguno en particular generaba los mejores modelos para todos los cursos. Se estudio si convenia construir modelos separados por curso o bien uno para todo el conjunto de los datos de los cuatro cursos. Como conclusion, se encontro que si es posible construir modelos predictivos exitosos y que el algoritmo que produjo los mejores modelos fue una red neuronal en tres de los cuatro cursos. Asimismo, resulto mejor el modelo que ajusto cada uno por separado.
Influence of untreated and bacterial-treated Yamuna water on the plant growth of Zea mays L.

In present study an attempt has been made to study the pollution level of river Yamuna at Agra, by analyzing the physico-chemical parameters of untreated and bacterial-treated water and its effect on the growth of maize plant. Among different concentrations (25, 50, 75 and 100%) of treated water, the 100% concentration of treated water sample showed good effect on the plant growth over untreated sample and control.
Rufous-tailed jacamars and aposematic butterflies: do older birds attack novel prey?

Although avian predators are thought to drive the evolution of warning-color mimicry in butterflies, few empirical studies directly address this assumption from the predator's perspective. Heliconius butterflies are textbook examples of Mullerian mimicry, with perhaps the most remarkable example being the Heliconius erato and Heliconius melpomene mimicry complex. Rufous-tailed jacamars, Galbula ruficauda (Galbulidae), are well-known butterfly predators and provide an excellent study organism to investigate patterns of attack behavior in warning-colored butterflies. I investigated patterns of attack behavior by presenting three aposematic butterflies to wild-caught jacamars in a cage trial in Venezuela. I presented 80 jacamars with three Heliconius butterflies: an unaltered wing pattern (local morph) and two altered wing patterns (novel morphs). Twenty-one of 40 males and 8 of 40 females attacked a butterfly with a novel wing pattern. Of the morphological variables measured, tail length was the only significant predictor of attack behavior. Individuals with relatively longer tails attacked novel butterflies more frequently than shorter tailed individuals. Because tail length tended to increase between seasons, results suggest that older birds are more likely to attack novel aposematic prey than are young birds, contrary to the expectations that younger adult birds (i.e., more likely to be naive) would attack novel Heliconius more frequently than older birds. Overall results support the role of specialized avian predators, like jacamars, as important agents in the evolution of warning-color mimicry in butterflies and the need to investigate different age classes of birds in mimicry studies. Copyright 2006.
Development of a method for producing fruit berry paste and equipment for its implementation

The object of research is the technological process for the production of fruit and berry semi-finished product. Existing technologies for processing fruit and berry raw materials are characterized by the loss of valuable components of the feedstock, namely blanching at a temperature of 85-100 °C and long-term boiling, resulting in loss of vitamins can reach 60%. Hardware design of traditional processes for processing fruits and vegetables, as a rule, is not sufficiently unified, inconvenient in operation and is designed for high productivity. One of the most problematic places is the significant energy and metal waste of traditional equipment and the insufficiently high quality of the finished product. The intensification of the processing of fruit and berry raw materials is possible through the introduction of new technologies and equipment, the use of which can reduce the cost of energy and material resources.During the study, the experimental results of the developed paste were used: apple – 60%; apricot – 30%; cornel – 10%, taking into account organoleptic and physico-chemical indicators. For the technological process of paste production, a hardware line was selected using the developed universal multifunctional device (UMD) and a rotary film device (RFD). This will provide a guaranteed increase in technical and operational indicators with a significant reduction in energy and metal consumption compared to existing analogues. It has been established that for effective puree evaporation in RFD from 11-14% to 27-30% dry matter, it is necessary to grind the raw material to a particle diameter of not more than 0.1-0.5 mm after RFD cooking. The processing temperature of puree in RFD is 62-67 °C, and the concentration time is 2-3 minutes. To reduce the evaporation period and more rational use of RFD, before this operation it is necessary to apply puree to 55-60 °C.The introduction of the developed instrument-technological line will contribute to the production of competitive semi-finished products of high quality with a wide range of uses in food production and restaurant facilities.
Development of a Method for Compressing Images on the Basis of JPEG Algorithm

The problem of image optimization, namely the reduction of the physical size of the image by minimizing image quality as little as possible, is considered. The object of research are methods for processing and compressing images. When analyzing the methods, one of the biggest problems was discovered, which consists in the fact that when solving the problem of image processing and compression, the studied methods allow to achieve the slightest loss in quality, but as a result, the compression ratio is significantly reduced. To overcome this problem, it was decided to develop a modification of the JPEG compression algorithm. The proposed modification consists in additional quantization of the spectrum after a discrete cosine transform, and then the resulting spectrum is fed to a Huffman encoder, which makes compression even more efficient. A method is obtained for solving the image optimization problem, which allows one to obtain an image with a smaller size and a large compression ratio while maintaining optimal quality. This is due to the fact that the proposed method has a number of features, as the original color image can have 24 bits per point, in particular, the ability to set the compression ratio. Thanks to this, it is possible to obtain a signal-to-noise ratio of 54.2 dB at a quality factor of zero. Compared with the well-known LZW algorithm, which is much better, as a result of which it allows to get a processed image with a much smaller physical size. The assessment of image quality, depending on the parameters of the task. It is shown that for problems of small and medium dimensions, the developed method provides minimal quality loss. The results of solving the problem for a specific example demonstrate the advantage of the developed method over existing ones. The results can be successfully applied to solve the problem of optimizing image size while maintaining maximum quality
Stimuli for nestling begging in blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus: hungry nestlings are less discriminating

In altricial birds, nestlings usually respond to the sound and appearance of the provisioning adults by begging for food when the adults arrive at the nest. Nestlings can, however, also beg incorrectly on hearing misleading sounds in the environment and fail to beg when the adult arrives. This study uses the blue tit Cyanistes caeruleus to test the hypotheses that nestling begging strategies are influenced by the reliability of the stimulus to beg, and that nestling motivational state affects the response to different stimuli. Here, we show experimentally that nestling hunger strongly influences the response to stimuli that vary in their reliability. While hunger increases begging rate, it also increases the likelihood that nestlings will beg when the parent is absent. This is in agreement with both the predictions of signal detection theory and recent empirical work on other species. We found, however, no evidence that age-related perceptual constraints influence the begging response of ten day old nestlings to different stimuli.