Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Distribution, abundance and seasonality of cetaceans sighted during scheduled ferry crossings in the central Tyrrhenian Sea: 1989–1992

Abstract The results of a medium‐term survey of cetaceans in the central Tyrrhenian Sea, the first ever all‐year‐round one to be made in the Mediterranean, are reported. Individuals of Balaenoptera sp. were sighted throughout the year, although with significant seasonal differences, in agreement with the hypothesis of a resident population making seasonal migrations around, but remaining inside the Mediterranean Sea. Striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), the most frequently observed species, are present all year round with no significant seasonal differences. Some observations on the presence and group structure of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) are reported. Individuals of four other species (Physeter macrocephalus, Grampus griseus, Globicephala melaena and Delphinus delphis) were also sighted.
The experimental and commercial release of transgenic crop plants

With advances in recombinant DNA methods and transformation procedures, it is possible to transfer genes into crop plants from unrelated plants, microbes and animals. Many of the modifications being carried out, or envisaged, are for disease and pest resistance, product quality and tolerance to environmental stress, but there are additional opportunities to modify crops to give specialized products for industrial or pharmaceutical use. Some of the characteristics of transgenic plants are considered, including: transgene copy number, position, expression, stability, pleiotropy, selectable marker genes and somaclonal variation. There have been several hundreds of field trials with transgenic plants, and the first transgenic varieties are likely to be approved for commercial production in 1993. Before releasing transgenic plants, it is necessary to carry out a risk assessment to determine whether the transgenic variety will behave differently from a conventionally bred variety. Assessment procedures are being harmonized internationally by various organizations. There is a growing commitment to apply these genetic modification methods to crops in developing countries, as genes relevant to their crops and environments become available.
Etude comparative de centella asiatica d'origine malgache et d'origine indienne

Summary A comparative study on different lots of Centella asiatica, two from Madagascar (supplied by IMRA) and two from India, was performed. The HPLC analysis (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) of different lots of plant from Madagascar reveals a higher proportion of asiaticoside than the plant from India. Studies of the free radical scavenger potential and of the antielastase activity (in vitro test) show a more important activity for the extract of Centella asiatica from Madagascar.
IMPORTANCE OF POSTSETTLEMENT PROCESSES FOR THE POPULATION-DYNAMICS OF ACANTHASTER-PLANCI (L)

It has often been regarded that the greatest influence on population dynamics of invertebrate broadcast spawners will be physical and biological processes acting to control the dispersal and survival of the larval or presettlement phase rather than any process acting after settlement. This has been particularly so with the crown-of-thorns starfish, Acanthaster planci, due to its enormous fecundity and the consequent potential for small changes in rates of larval survival to greatly influence subsequent settlement. However, consideration of the biological, behavioural and habitat characteristics of newly settled and juvenile starfish shows that post settlement processes will be equally, if not more, important in determining population size. We hypothesize that larvae will be influenced to a greater extent by physical than biotic factors, particularly by hydrodynamics that can determine whether competent larvae will encounter reefs. In contrast, we argue that settling larvae and juveniles will be more influenced by predation because of their slow growth and movement, dependence on local food availability, and relatively long juvenile phase. Measurement of mortality rates in the field and isolating settlement from recruitment are identified as having high priorities for future research.
Investigations into the food selectivity of the planktic crustaceans Daphnia hyalina, Eudiaptomus gracilis and Cyclops vicinus

The food selectivity of Daphnia hyalina, Eudiaptomus gracilis and Cyclops vicinus was investigated in laboratory experiments using algae of different sizes and at different concentrations as food sources. Vanderploeg and Scavia's (1979a, b) coefficient, which is most suitable for characterising selectivity, was selected from the literature and used to analyze the results. None of the three species was found to feed selectivity, however. The results show, on the other hand, that the leaky-sieve model can be used to describe the feeding patterns of these species. There were clear differences between the particle size ranges consumed by our experimental species, and these showed that, during the experiments, Daphnia hyalina acted as a microfilter-feeder, whereas Eudiaptomus gracilis and Cyclops vicinus acted as macrofilter-feeders.
Heat dissipation and energetic efficiency in animal anoxibiosis: Economy contra power

This survey on calorimetry and thermodynamics of anoxibiosis applies classical and irreversible thermodynamics to interpret experimental, direct calorimetric results in order to elucidate the sequential activation of various biochemical pathways. First, the concept of direct and indirect calorimetry is expanded to incorporate the thermochemistry of aerobic and anoxic metabolism in living cells and organisms. Calorimetric studies done under normoxia as well as under physiological and environmental anoxia are presented and assessed in terms of ATP turnover rate. Present evidence suggests that unknown sources of energy in freshwater and marine invertebrates under long-term anoxia may be important. During physiological hypoxia, thermodynamically grossly inefficient pathways sustain high metabolic rates for brief periods. On the contrary, under long-term environmental anoxia, low steady-state heat dissipation is linked to the more efficient succinate, propionate, and acetate pathways. In the second part of this paper these relationships are discussed in the context of linear, irreversible thermodynamics. The calorimetric and biochemical trends during aerobic-anoxic transitions are consistent with thermodynamic optimum functions of catabolic pathways. The theory predicts a decrease of rate with an increase of thermodynamic efficiency; therefore maximum rate and maximum efficiency are mutually exclusive. Cellular changes of pH and adenylate phosphorylation potential are recognized as regulatory mechanisms in the energetic switching to propionate production. While enzyme kinetics provides one key for understanding metabolic regulation, our insight remains incomplete without a complementary thermodynamic analysis of kinetic control in energetically coupled pathways.
Oral anaerobes cannot survive oxygen stress without interacting with facuItative/aerobic species as a microbial commmunity

D.J. Bradshaw, P.D. Marsh, G.K. Watson and C. Allison. 1997. Anaerobic bacteria are found commonly as components of mixed culture biofilms in many aerated habitats, including the mouth. Previous studies showed that anaerobes could survive in planktonic and biofilm communities in aerated conditions when part of a community including facultative and/or aerobic species, and the numbers and proportions of anaerobic species increased as biofilms aged. When the obligate anaerobes were grown in the absence of aerobic/facultative species, however, they were unable to grow in either the planktonic or biofilm culture. The mean survival times of organisms in the aerated culture containing four anaerobic species varied from around 5 min for Fusobacterium nucleatum and Veillonella dispar, to less than 4 min for Porphyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella nigrescens. In addition, in this culture, the biofilm mode of growth did not provide a haven for these bacteria in the absence of oxygen‐consuming species.
Beiträge zur Differentialdiagnose, Morphologie und Evolution der Edwardsiidae (Actiniaria, Anthozoa): I. Die Gattung Alfredus nov. gen. mit der Typusart A. lucifugus (Fischer, 1888)

Zusammenfassung Morphologie und Systematik der Edwardsiidae (Actiniaria, Anthozoa) werden insbesondere anhand von licht- und elektronenmikroskopischen Nesselkapseluntersuchungen revidiert und die Gattung Alfredus nov. gen. anhand der Typusart A. lucifugus (Fischer, 1888) neu beschrieben. Bei der Typusart sind Scapus und Physa mit Cuticula und Nernathybomen versehen. Sie hat 16 Tentakeln, 8 vollstandige, fertile und 8 unvollstandige Septen ohne Gonaden und Filamente. Die Ciliartrakte sind unterbrochen. Die Gonaden liegen im Bereich der Ciliartrakte. Cnidom: Spirocysten und b-Rhabdoide. Die Art unterscheidet sich vor allem im Cnidom durch die fehlenden p-Rhabdoiden und die Ausbildung von zwei annahernd gleich langen, aber unterschiedlich strukturierten b-Rhabdoiden in den Filamenten von anderen Edwardsiidae mit Nemathybomen. Summary Contributions to the differentialdiagnosi, morphology and evolution of the Edwardsiidae (Actiniaria, Anthozoa). I. The genus Alfredus now. gen. with the type species A. lucifugus Fischer, 1888 Morpholo and systematics of the Edwardsiidae (Actiniaria, Anthozoa) are revised especially by studying tg nematocysts by light- and electronmicroscopy. The genus Alfredus nov. gen. is newly described on the basis of the type species A. lucifugus (Fischer, 1888). The type species has a scapus and a physa covered with cuticula and nemathybomes. There are 16 tentacles, 8 perfect, fertile and 8 imperfect mesenteries without gonads and filaments. Ciliarstripes are discontinuous. Gonads are located in the region of the ciliartracts. Cnidorn: Spirocysts and b-Rhabdoids. The species differs from other Edwardsiidae especially in the cnidom by having no p-Rhabdoids at all but two differently structured b-Rhabdoids in the filaments of about the same length. Resume Contributions a le diagnostic difjerentiel, la morphologie et evolution des Edwardsiidae (Actiniaria, Anthozoa). I. Le genre Alfredus nov. gen. aver l'espece type A. lucifugus Fischer, 1888 La morphologie et la systematique des Edwardsiidae (Actiniaria, Anthozoa) sont revisees surtout par les etudes microscopiques photo- et electroniques des nimatocystes. Le genre Alfredus nov. gen. est defini a neuf sur l'espece type du genre A. lucifugus (Fischer, 1888). L'espece type du genre a un scapus et une physa couverts des cuticula et nemathybomes. Il y a 16 tentacules, 8 parfaits et fertiles mesenteries et 8 imparfait mesenteries sans des gonades et filaments mesenteriques. Les ciliarraies sont discontinues. Les gonades sont situees dans la region des ciliartracts. Cnidom: Spirocstes et b-Rhabdoides. L'espece difire des autres Edwardsiidae surtout dans le cnidom par n'avoir pas de p-Rhabdoides mais deux b-Rhabdoides d'une structure differente et d'une longueur a peu pres pareille dans les filaments.
Influência da hipotermia terapêutica no desenvolvimento motor de recém-nascidos com encefalopatia hipóxico-isquêmica

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of hypothermia on motor development of infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. METHODS: Research was conducted in the databases LILACS, MEDLINE, SciELO, Bireme and PubMed, in Portuguese, English and Spanish. RESULTS: Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is a major cause of neonatal death and the presence of long-term disability. All studies used mild hypothermia, and the criteria for inclusion of newborns with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy did not differ among themselves. The reduction of mortality rate was 15%, and decreased long-term disabilities. CONCLUSION: The technique was safe and effective when started within 6 hours after birth in full-term infants. She has reduced mortality rates and improved neurological severity of, reducing the presence of motor and cognitive impairment in children. They are of great importance to early intervention and monitoring of development.
Moult of some Palaearctic warblers in northern Nigeria

The moult of several Palaearctic warblers was investigated near Kano, northern Nigeria. In the Sedge Warbler the main period of active primary moult was from October to December, but some birds suspended primary moult between December and February and a few were still moulting in April. A number of Subalpine Warblers were in primary moult in January and February; this appears to be the first report of primary moult of this species in Africa. Melodious Warblers moulted in September-October, probably rather rapidly and before moving to the main wintering area further south. Small numbers of moulting birds were observed in Savi's Warbler, Reed Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Olivaceous Warbler and Bonelli's Warbler.
Effect of initial concentration of bacterial suspensions on their inactivation by high hydrostatic pressure

The effects of initial concentration [10 4 -10 9 colony forming units (CFU) mL -1 ] on the inactivation of vegetative cell suspensions (Escherichia coli) and spore suspensions (Bacillus subtilis) by hydrostatic pressure treatment were investigated. The inactivation rates of E. coli and B. subtilis decreased as the initial concentration of cell and spore suspensions increased. In the practical application of hydrostatic pressure treatment, it was considered that the initial concentration of the bacteria suspensions should be as low as possible.
The diet of Antarctic fur seals Arctocephalus gazella (Peters) during the breeding season at Heard Island

Between September 1987 and February 1988, Antarctic fur seals Arctocephalus gazella (Peters) at Heard Island fed mainly on fish with an average 95.2% of scats in monthly collections containing fish remains. Pelagic myctophids constituted more than 50% of fish taken by fur seals at the beginning of the summer season and again at the end when there was an influx of non-breeding male seals. During the middle period from October to December, fish from the surrounding shelf area comprised the bulk of the diet. These included various benthic nototheniid species, the bentho-pelagic ice fish Champsocephalus gunnari Lönnberg and skate (Bathyraja spp.), the latter being found in over 60% of scats in October and November. The population of Antarctic fur seals at Heard Island is increasing at about the same rate as at South Georgia. There the increase is thought to be due to the high availability of krill E. superba, but in the present study no euphausiid remains were found, so the increasing population at Heard Island has been supported on a diet of fish. Whether this population increase can be sustained in future on a diet of fish is arguable. Trial fishing around Heard Island indicates that one of the major dietary items of the seals (C. gunnari) is of probable commercial importance and therefore any plans for the establishment of a fishery on Heard Island grounds must be considered in this light.
Filogeografía de Holothuria (Halodeima) inornata Semper, 1868 (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea)

Genetic structure of the populations of H. inornata was evaluated and the barriers for genetic flux and historic processes were investigated. Samples were collected trying to cover the distribution range of the species, from Mexico to northern Peru. Based on COI sequences, 118 haplotypes from 220 specimens were detected; the differences between such haplotypes were due to 97 variable sites (21.41%) of the 453 bp sequenced. A high haplotype diversity (h=0.979) and a moderate nucleotidic diversity were observed. The values of Fst, the exact test of population differentiation, and the molecular variance analysis (AMOVA) were used in order to analyze the genetic differentiation. These analyses suggest the existence of two populations: northern, off the coasts of Sinaloa, Jalisco, Michoacan, Guerrero, and Oaxaca, and southern, off the coasts of Chiapas, El Salvador, Panama and Peru. Historic events and oceanographic patterns may be the main factors determining dispersion and structure of Hi populations. It seems probable that the original population have extended first in the south and then northern. Besides, the split between these two populations may be due to several tectonic and oceanographic events constituting a barrier for H. inornata settling.
Mitochondria and cell death

Mitochondria are involved in cell death for reasons that go beyond ATP supply. A recent advance has been the discovery that mitochondria contain and release proteins that are involved in the apoptotic cascade, like cytochrome c and apoptosis inducing factor. The involvement of mitochondria in cell death, and its being cause or consequence, remain issues that are extremely complex to address in situ. The response of mitochondria may critically depend on the type of stimulus, on its intensity, and on the specific mitochondrial function that has been primarily perturbed. On the other hand, the outcome also depends on the integration of mitochondrial responses that cannot be dissected easily. Here, we try to identify the mechanistic aspects of mitochondrial involvement in cell death as can be derived from our current understanding of mitochondrial physiology, with special emphasis on the permeability transition and its consequences (like onset of swelling, cytochrome c release and respiratory inhibition); and to critically evaluate methods that are widely used to monitor mitochondrial function in situ.
Manipulation of seed nitrate content modulates the dormancy-breaking effect of ethylene on Chenopodium album seed

Germination of dormant Chenopodium album L. seed in response to ethephon and (or) KNO3, following experimental manipulation of the endogenous seed nitrate content, was studied to ascertain if the dormancy-breaking effect of ethylene was dependent on seed nitrate content. The seed originally contained a high (854 μg∙g dry weight−1) endogenous level of nitrate. Ethephon (100 mg∙L−1) induced over 70% germination in darkness at 22 °C, compared with 8% in the untreated controls. Application of KNO3 (1.01 g∙L−1), alone or together with ethephon, had a relatively minor effect. Elution of endogenous nitrate with distilled water for up to 72 h resulted in a marked decline in the response of seed to ethephon. Application of exogenous nitrate together with ethephon restored the lost sensitivity of seed towards ethephon. The results confirm that nitrate, specifically, modulates the dormancy-breaking action of ethylene on C. album seed.
Fatty acid composition of blubber of the Baikal seal Phoca sibirica and its marine relative, the ringed seal P. hispida

The fatty acid (FA) composition was determined in the blubber of 5 adult Baikal seals Phoca sibirica caught in July 2001, nine 1-mo old pups caught in April 2002, and 25 adults and fetuses from 3 of these, caught in October 2002, all along the SE shores of Lake Baikal, eastern Siberia. For comparison, FA in the blubber of ringed seals P. hispida, the closest marine relative of the Baikal seal, caught along the ice edge around Svalbard during 1999 and 2000 were also analyzed. The FA of the main prey of the Baikal and ringed seals, the endemic golomyanka Comephorus baikalensis and polar cod Boreogadus saida, respectively, were also studied. The same suite of FA was found in all samples. Saturated FA (SFA) with branched chains, all n6 polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) and 18:3n3 and 20:3n3 were more abundant in the blubber of the Lake Baikal seal and in the golomyanka than in the blubber of the marine ringed seal and marine fishes. In contrast, the relative levels of mono- unsaturated FAs (MUFA) with 20 and 22 carbons and polyunsaturated 20:5n3 were lower in the Baikal species than in the Svalbard species. The FA composition of the inner blubber was signifi- cantly different from the FA composition of the outer blubber in both species. Despite large differ- ences in FA composition between Baikal and ringed seal blubbers, vertical differences were mani- fested in the same FA: MUFA with 14, 16 and 18 carbons were present in higher relative abundance in the outer than in the inner layer. In both species all the other quantitatively important FA had lower or equal relative values in the outer layer. The FA composition of the seals' blubber differed from that of their main prey. The difference was, however, smaller between prey and inner blubber than between prey and outer blubber. The FA composition of the inner blubber of adults showed tempo- ral differences. Since the change from prey to blubber in relative concentration occurred in the same direction for all but 5 FA, the selection of FA during deposition in the inner blubber was similar for the 2 species, even though there was a large difference between the general FA composition of the freshwater and marine lipids. The FA composition in the blubber of adults, pups and fetuses differed.
Global change effects on a mechanistic decomposer food web model

Global change may affect the structure and functioning of decomposer food webs through qualitative changes in freshly fallen litter. We analyzed the predicted effects of a changing environment on a dynamic model of a donor‐controlled natural decomposer ecosystem near Wekerom, the Netherlands. This system consists of fungi, bacteria, fungivores, bacterivores and omnivores feeding on microbiota and litter as well. The model concentrates on carbon and nitrogen flows through the trophic niches that define this decomposer system, and is designed to predict litter masses and abundances of soil biota. For modeling purposes, the quality of freshly fallen leaf litter is defined in terms of nitrogenous and non‐nitrogenous components, of which refractory and labile forms are present. The environmental impacts of elevated CO2, enhanced UV‐B and eutrophication, each with their own influence on leaf litter quality, are studied. The model predicts steady‐state dynamics exclusively, for all three scenarios. Environmental changes impact most demonstratively on the highest trophic niches, and affect microbiotic abundances and litter decomposition rates to a lesser extent. We conclude that the absence of trophic cascade effects may be attributed to weak trophic links, and that non‐equilibrium dynamics occurring in the system are generally because of encounter rates based on fractional substrate densities in the litter. We set out a number of experimentally testable hypotheses that may improve understanding of ecosystem dynamics.
Acute Toxicity of Aqueous and Ethanolic Extracts of Strophanthus hispidus Stem Bark

The aim of this study was to determine the median lethal dose (LD 50 ) of the extracts (aqueous and ethanol) of S. hispidus stem bark. A modified Lorke’s (1983) method was used in this study. Varying doses of the extracts were administered orally to male albino rats. Treatment-related signs of toxicity and mortality were monitored for 24 hrs and continued for 72 hrs. Treatment-related mortality was observed at the dose of 1000 mg/kg body weight and above in the ethanolic extract and 1600 mg/kg body weight in the aqueous extract. Signs of sedation, exophthalmos, decreased locomotion and appetite in the aqueous or ethanolic treated animals were observed in the early stages of experimentation. However, these signs were not sustained in surviving animals. The LD 50 was 2154 and 2039 mg/kg body weight for aqueous and ethanolic extracts of S. hispidus stem bark respectively. The results showed that 1000 mg/kg body weight and above of S. hispidus stem bark may be slightly toxic. Therefore, moderate dosage is advised for purposes of medication.