Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Digestible tryptophan requirements of meat quails in the growth phase

The objective of this experiment was to estimate the digestible tryptophan (DTrp) requirements for growing meat quails. In the first experiment (1-14 days of age), 1,950 quails were distributed in a completely randomized design, with six levels of DTrp (0.27; 0.30; 0.33; 0.36; 0.39 and 0.42% of diet), five replications and 65 quails per experimental unit. There was a linear increase of feed intake, tryptophan intake, weight gain and body weight with the DTrp levels increase. In the second experiment (15-35 days of age), 1,350 quails were distributed in a completely randomized design, with six levels of DTrp (0.22; 0.25; 0.28; 0.31; 0.34 and 0.37% of diet), five replications and 45 quails per experimental unit. There was a linear increase for tryptophan intake, carcass yield, ash levels and protein deposition rate with the DTrp levels increase. In the third experiment (28-35 days of age), conducted to determine the nitrogen balance, 150 males were housed in galvanized wire cages featuring drinker, feeder and individual metal tray lined with plastic to collect the excreta. The design was completely randomized, with six levels of DTrp (0.22; 0.25; 0.28; 0.31; 0.34 and 0.37% of diet), five replicates and five quails per experimental unit. Linear decrease was observed on the nitrogen balance and metabolization coefficient with the DTrp levels increase. The nutritional requirement of digestible tryptophan for maximum growing of meat quail, in the period from 1 to 14 days of age, is higher or equal to 0.42%; in the period from 15 to 35 days, it is 0.22%.
The viability of the Lactobacillus paracasei IL2 and Lactobacillus plantarum IL3 strains in simulated gastrointestinal conditions

The viability maintenance of Lactobacillus paracasei IL2 and Lactobacillus plantarum IL3 strains in gastrointestinal conditions represents one of the most important characteristics regarding their use for obtaining probiotic products. The tests were performed with a cell suspension kept in 0.5% NaCl. The influences of pepsin (3 g/l) at pH values of 1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3.0, as well as of pancreatin (1 g/l) in the presence of bile salts (1.5, 2, 3 and 5 mg/ml) were determined. The influence of casein and mucin, in a concentration of 1 g/l, were also established in the aforementioned conditions. It was observed that casein presented a longer viability maintenance; a fact also confirmed by the calculation of the mathematical parameters of viability and mortality, when mucin was either used or not, especially in the case of gastric transit. The results proved that the tested strains maintained their viability even at pH between 1.8 and 2.0 and at an even higher concentration, of 2 mg/ml, of bile salts, but up to two hours as of the exposure to the conditions of the simulated small intestinal juice. Such results were also confirmed by the cumulated effect of the simulated gastric and small intestinal juice, the strains thus increasing their viability with an average of 15% in the presence of casein.
Apparent soil electrical conductivity in two different soil types

Mapping the apparent soil electrical conductivity (EC a ) has become important for the characterization of the soil variability in precision agriculture systems. The problem regarding the use of this soil attribute is that EC a occurs due to the interaction of a large number of factors, difficulting interpret the causes of its variability. The objective of this work was to examine the relations between EC a and soil attributes in two fields presenting different soil textures. In each field, 50 sampling points were chosen using a path that presented a high variability of EC a obtained from a preliminary EC a map. At each sampling point, the EC a was measured in soil depths of 0-20, 0-40 and 0-60 cm. In addition, at each point, soil samples were collected for the determination of physical and chemical attributes in the laboratory. The EC a data obtained for different soil depths was very similar. A large number of significant correlations between EC a and the soil attributes were found. In one of the fields, there was no correlation between EC a and organic matter or between EC a and soil clay and sand content. However, a significant positive correlation was shown for the remaining phosphorus. In the other field the EC a had a significant positive correlation with clay content and a significant negative correlation with sand content. The results suggest that the mapping of apparent soil electrical conductivity does not replace traditional soil sampling, however, it can be used as information to delimit regions in a field that have similar soil attributes.
Unraveling the muco-adhesion of Lactococcus lactis : development of biophysical approaches

L’epithelium digestif est recouvert d’une couche protectrice de mucus, qui est un hydrogel permeable et viscoelastique. La couche de mucus est formee d'un reseau de fibres de mucines. Ces dernieres sont des glycoproteines de haut poids moleculaire avec un squelette proteique riche en serine et threonine, lie a une grande variete de O-glycanes qui representent une source nutritionnelle pour les bacteries et/ou des ligands potentiels pour les adhesines bacteriennes, contribuant ainsi probablement a la selection et l'implantation d'un microbiote regio-specifique. Nous nous sommes interesses aux capacites muco-adhesives de L. lactis TIL448 par le couplage de (i) la microscopie a force atomique (AFM), a l'echelle de la cellule unique et en mode statique et (ii) la methode hydrodynamique en chambre a ecoulement cisaille, a l'echelle de l’ensemble de la population bacterienne. Dans l'optique d'identifier la nature et le role fonctionnel des determinants de surface mis en jeu, nous avons teste, outre la souche sauvage, la souche curee de plasmides TIL1230 et deux mutants TIL1289 et TIL1290, alteres dans la synthese de pili et d'une proteine "mucus-binding", respectivement. Pour relier les proprietes muco-adhesives et diffusives de L. lactis, les capacites de migration de la souche TIL448 et de ses derives ont ensuite ete evaluees dans des suspensions de PGM a concentration variable (0,5% et 5% (m/v)), en mettant en œuvre une nouvelle methode "Diffusion Front Tracking" (DFT). Cette methode consiste a suivre le front de diffusion de la suspension bacterienne au cours du temps au sein du reseau de PGM, dans une chambre de Hele-Shaw, couplee a une camera CCD. Les bacteries L. lactis sont prealablement marquees avec la fuschine pour mieux visualiser le front de diffusion. Par ailleurs, nous avons demontre que les bacteries L. lactis ont tendance a etre plus diffusives dans PGM 0,5% (m/v) que dans PGM 5% (m/v). La microstructure du reseau de mucines a donc ete caracterisee par des approches de microrheometrie 1 point (1P) et 2 points (2P) et de suivi de particules fluorescentes
The Prevalence of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) and its Influencing Factors in Pregnant Women Referring to Healthcare Centers of Dehloran, Iran in 2011-2012

Background & aim: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major global health concern. According to the statistics, the prevalence of this infection is moderate in Iran. Pregnant mothers, who are infected with the virus (virus carriers), can transmit the infection to their fetus. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and its influencing factors in pregnant women, referring to healthcare centers of Dehloran, Iran. Methods:In this descriptive, cross-sectional study, the sample consisted of all pregnant women with medical records, referring to healthcare centers of Dehloran city for prenatal care during 2011-2012. Census sampling was applied and subjects’ medical records were reviewed. Demographic and pregnancy-related data, and HBV test results were recorded. For data analysis, descriptive statistics, t-test and Fisher's exact test were applied, using SPSS version 16.0. P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: In this study, the medical records of 850 pregnant women were studied. The prevalence of positive HBsAg test results was 0.59% in the study population. Positive HBsAg was significantly correlated with parity (P=0.003) and abortion (P=0.04). However, there was no significant association between HBsAg results and other variables such as age (P=0.16), mother’s educational level (P=0.16), spouse's educational level (P=0.66), place of residence (P=0.66), history of cesarean section (P=0.18), work experience at healthcare centers (P=1.0), blood transfusion (P=1.0) or HBV infection in the first-degree relatives (P=1.0). Conclusion: Although the prevalence of positive HBsAg was relatively low among pregnant women in Dehloran city, HBV screening during pregnancy is highly recommended.
The Waiting-Time Distribution of Solar Flare Hard X-Ray Bursts

A waiting-time distribution is constructed for 8 yr of solar flare hard X-ray bursts observed by the ICE/ISEE 3 spacecraft. The observed distribution is compared with a simulated waiting-time distribution produced by a time-dependent Poisson process constructed using rates estimated from the observations. The observed distribution shows an overabundance of short waiting times (10 s-10 minutes) in comparison with the simulation. This result implies that the hard X-ray bursts are not independent events. The implications of this result for the existence of sympathetic flaring and to models of flare statistics are discussed, and the result is compared with previous determinations of waiting-time distributions for solar hard X-ray events.
Electrogenic Metals in Epidermis: Relationship with Cell Bioenergetics

Our previous studies have found that results of quantitative spectrometry of electrogenic metals (Ca, K, Na) in epidermal cells (hair) from healthy individuals and the liquidators of the Chernobyl accident (chronic oxidative / nitrosative stress) are conjugated. The nature of this «conjugation», like many intimate mechanisms of the metal-ligand homeostasis in the epidermis, remains unsolved. However transmembrane traffic electrogenic metals (and especially the ion Na+) are directly related to cell bioenergetics. Therefore, intracellular bioenergetics processes in the membrane and in the mitochondrial respiratory chain, can determine homeostasis electrogenic metals. It has been shown that in the cell, which is an open dynamic system, there are signs of self-organized criticality (SC). This allows classifying electrogenic metal homeostasis among the SC-phenomena.
Beyond the pseudo-time-dependent approach: chemical models of dense core precursors

Context: Chemical models of dense cloud cores often utilize the so-called pseudo-time-dependent approximation, in which the physical conditions are held fixed and uniform as the chemistry occurs. In this approximation, the initial abundances chosen, which are totally atomic in nature except for molecular hydrogen, are artificial. A more detailed approach to the chemistry of dense cold cores should include the physical evolution during their early stages of formation. Aims: Our major goal is to investigate the initial synthesis of molecular ices and gas-phase molecules as cold molecular gas begins to form behind a shock in the diffuse interstellar medium. The abundances calculated as the conditions evolve can then be utilized as reasonable initial conditions for a theory of the chemistry of dense cores. Methods: Hydrodynamic shock-wave simulations of the early stages of cold core formation are used to determine the time-dependent physical conditions for a gas-grain chemical network. We follow the cold post-shock molecular evolution of ices and gas-phase molecules for a range of visual extinction up to AV ~ 3, which increases with time. At higher extinction, self-gravity becomes important. Results: As the newly condensed gas enters its cool post-shock phase, a large amount of CO is produced in the gas. As the CO forms, water ice is produced on grains, while accretion of CO produces CO ice. The production of CO2 ice from CO occurs via several surface mechanisms, while the production of CH4 ice is slowed by gas-phase conversion of C into CO.
Comprehensive management of project changes

The goal of this research was to examine how project changes can be prevented, and how to reduce their negative impact. Theoretical research examined risk management, project control and change management. Based on the study a “Comprehensive Change Management Model” was developed and verified after conducting empirical research in Slovenian enterprises. The research confirmed that risk management identifies possible changes and reduces their impact; project control ensures the timely detection of changes and an efficient response, while formal change management ensures the effective implementation of changes. The combined functioning of all three areas ensures effective project execution.
Influence of the composition and the structure of different media on the release of aroma compounds

The release of 2-nonanone and hexenol (hex-4-en-3-ol) was studied in model media with different structures and compositions: water, a gel of β-lactoglobulin, gelified or non-gelified emulsions (5.0% Miglyol, 6.9% β-lactoglobulin; the gelation was realized by heating) and milk. The aroma compounds were analyzed by gas chromatography. A strong influence of the nature of the volatile compound on its behavior towards the food matrix was observed: in the case of 2-nona- none, a hydrophobic compound (log P = 2.9) with a relatively high vapor-water partition coefficient (K mol = 33.6), the release was greatly influenced by the composition and the structure of the medium. However, for hex-4-en-3-ol, a more hydrophilic compound (log P = 1.7) with a weaker vapor-water partition coefficient (Kmol = 0.5), the kinetics of the release of this compound were not influenced either by the composition or the structure of the matrix. The differences between the behavior of these two compounds in relation to the composition and the structure of the matrix indi- cated that the release of aroma was principally influenced by the interactions with the non-volatile constituents of the medium, β-lactoglobulin and Miglyol. The role of structure was shown by the comparison of the release of 2-nonanone in a gel to its release in a gel of the same composition that had been destructurated. However, this effect was less important than that of the composition of the food matrix. Structure of media / β-lactoglobulin / retention / release / aroma compound
Productivity of Catalan Firms; International Exposure and (Product) Innovation

Exporting firms are typically the more productive firms in an economy. Based on this observation, policy makers typically enact policies to stimulate exportation by domestic firms. In this chapter, we argue that firms make productivity enhancing investments and as a result the more productive firms start an export activity, which might make these firms even more productive. We find evidence of two types of productivity enhancing investments made by Catalan firms: both the fact that a firm imports some of its inputs and that the firm has innovated in the previous year seem to positively affect productivity and, hence, the decision to start exporting. We also find that there is an important difference between the effects of product innovations versus process innovations: product innovations seem to matter more for the export decision of Catalan firms while process innovations have little or no effect on this decision. Overall, we find that importing, innovating and exporting are strongly complementary activities. At the same time, firms develop these activities sequentially. Therefore, it seems that stimulating firms to become active in the international sourcing market and generate (product) innovations might be more productive policy measures than stimulating firms to enter the export market directly.
Pomegranate peel as a natural antioxidant enhanced reproductive performance and milk yield of female rabbits

This study was designed to investigate the effects of dietary pomegranate peel (PP; 9.61% crude protein and 13.1% crude fibre) on reproductive performance and milk yield of heat-stressed rabbit does. Forty-eight V-line rabbit does with average initial live body weight of 3.59±0.11 kg (2nd parity; 9 mo old) were divided into 4 treatment roups (12 does per group). The first group was fed diet free of PP. The second, third and fourth groups were fed diets containing 0.75, 1.5 and 3.0% PP, respectively, included in substitution of clover hay from the basal diet. Feed of the 4 groups was free of added antioxidants. The studied traits were: kindling rate, gestation period, litter size, litter weight, kit weight at both birth and weaning (28 d of lactation) for the last 3 parameters, pre-weaning mortality and milk yield. Range of temperatures and relative humidity during the experimental period in the rabbitry varied between 27.5-33.5°C and 64-76%, respectively. The inclusion of PP quadratically affected litter size at birth (P<0.001) and weaning (P<0.01), as well as milk yield (P<0.001). However, it tended to reduce the kit milk intake in most lactation periods (P=0.078), leading to a linear reduction in individual kit weight at weaning (P=0.060). In conclusion, supplementations of PP in the diet of does during summer season in Egypt can improve their productivity.
Effects of dietary supplementation with copper sulphate and copper proteinate on plasma trace minerals, copper residues in meat tissues, organs, excreta and tibia bone of cockerels.

The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with copper sulphate (CuSO4) and copper proteinate (CuP) on plasma trace minerals, Cu residues in meat tissues, organs, excreta and tibia bone of cockerels using two hundred and forty (240) day-old cockerel chicks arranged in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangements involving 2 copper (Cu) sources (CuSO4, CuP) supplemented with 3 dosages (0, 50 and 100 mg.kg -1). There were 6 treatment groups of 40 birds each replicated 5 times with 8 birds each. Experimental diets were fed for starter (0-8 weeks) and grower phases (8-16 weeks) of the bird. Increasing Cu dosage in the ration for cockerel chicks (0-8 weeks) resulted in increased (P<0.0001) Cu intake and improved (P<0.05) Cu bioavailability in the serum. Chicks fed diet supplemented with CuP showed increased (P<0.05) serum Zn concentration and reduced (P<0.05) Cu intake when compared to those fed diet supplemented with CuSO4. At the grower phase (8-16 weeks), cockerels fed control diet had reduced serum Cu, while those fed diet supplemented with Cu, showed increased (P<0.05) serum Cu concentration. Dietary supplementation with CuP resulted in reduced (P<0.05) Cu intake and increased (P<0.05) serum Cu concentration when compared with cockerels fed diet supplemented with CuSO4. Residual Cu concentration in breast meat tissue increased (P<0.05) with increasing dietary dosage of Cu. Dietary supplementation with CuP resulted in reduced (P<0.05) excreta Cu concentration, hence reduced environmental Cu pollution unlike birds fed diet containing CuSO4 which showed increased excreta Cu concentration. Dietary inclusion of CuP showed increased (P<0.05) liver, heart and tibia bone Cu concentration when compared with birds fed diet supplemented with CuSO4. Cockerels fed diet supplemented with 100 mg.kg -1 Cu sourced from CuP recorded the highest (P<0.05) liver, heart and tibia bone Cu concentration. It was concluded that dietary inclusion of 100 mg.kg-1 Cu sourced from CuP is recommended for improved Cu bioavailability in blood, tissue, organs and tibia bone of cockerels. To achieve reduced environmental Cu pollution resulting from excreta of poultry birds, organic salts of Cu, such as CuP, is recommended as feed additive. key words: day-old cockerels; organic copper; plasma trace minerals; serum Cu levels; tibia bone
An exploration of the relationship of chemical and physical parameters in the micromechanical characterisation of the apparent interfacial strength in glass fibre epoxy systems

This paper focuses on the cure shrinkage and the thermomechanical properties of an amine cured epoxy resin system and its adhesion to glass fibre. The fibre-matrix interfacial shear strength (IFSS) was characterized using the microbond test over a range of test temperatures and a range of amine:epoxy ratios. The apparent IFSS in this glass-epoxy system was shown to be strongly dependent on the testing temperature and the matrix stoichiometry. High levels of cure shrinkage were measured in the IFSS microdroplets which resulted in internal stresses causing significant levels of droplet deformation. The results presented here can be interpreted as providing further support for the hypothesis that a significant fraction of the interfacial stress transfer capability in epoxy composites can be attributed to a combination of residual radial compressive stress and static friction at the fibre-matrix interface.
The evolution of correlations between behavioural and morphological defence in Alaskan threespine stickleback fish (Gasterosteus aculeatus): evidence for trait compensation and co-specialization

Background: Prey often make behavioural and morphological adaptations to avoid predation, and these alternative defence mechanisms may either compensate for, or reinforce, one another. Objective: We examined correlations between anti-predator behaviour and morphology in threespine stickleback fish (Gasterosteus aculeatus) in four environments distinguished by their predation histories: marine/anadromous populations co-existing with native predatory fish (representative of the ancestral environment), and three freshwater environments with native, introduced, and no predatory fish, respectively. To determine whether morphological and behavioural defences reinforce one another (trait co-specialization) or whether they represent alternative strategies for defence (trait compensation), we related morphology of laboratoryreared stickleback to the intensity of their responses to a simulated predator attack, which had previously been assessed (Wund et al., 2015). Methods: Eight aspects of stickleback morphology were measured, all of which loaded heavily and positively on a single principal component that accounted for 61.3% of the variation in traits. Pearson correlation was used to determine whether PC1 was associated with the intensity of anti-predator response. Results: A weak negative correlation was observed between anti-predator behaviour and morphology overall. However, considering each predation environment separately revealed that populations from marine and freshwater environments containing native predatory fish displayed trait co-specialization (positive correlation) between armour and behaviour, while those from environments with recently introduced predatory trout displayed trait compensation (negative correlation). No correlation was observed in populations lacking these predators. Not all populations within the ‘introduced predatory fish’ category showed the same pattern of relationship, however, indicating that additional factors mediate the co-evolutionary dynamics of anti-predator behaviour and morphology. Results were similar whether we considered sizestandardized or unstandardized morphological traits. Correspondence: C.A. Marshall, Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA. email: cam13@colostate.edu Consult the copyright statement on the inside front cover for non-commercial copying policies. Evolutionary Ecology Research, 2017, 18: 305–322 © 2017 Craig A. Marshall Conclusion: Our results suggest that over the long term, the two types of defence co-evolve to reinforce one another, but within the first few decades of exposure to predatory fish, antipredator behaviour compensates for diminished morphological defences.