Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Feeding Diets Based on Wheat Bread or Oat Bran Bread to Broiler Chickens

Abstract Broiler chickens (Ross) of mixed sexes were fed diets based on wheat bread or bread where part of the wheat flour had been replaced by oat bran (oat bran bread). Diets were fed with and without supplementation of a fibre-degrading enzymes preparation in order to study the effects of dietary fibres on animal production, serum cholesterol concentration and carcass composition. The oat bran bread diet gave the lowest growth and poorest feed conversion efficiency of all diets. However, enzyme supplementation significantly improved live weight, cumulative feed intake and feed conversion efficiency. No significant improvements due to enzyme supplementation were observed for the diet based on wheat bread. Enzyme supplementation to the oat bran bread diet also resulted in increases in serum lipid concentrations to levels similar to those of birds fed the wheat bread diets. Carcasses of birds fed unsupplemented oat bran bread generally had lower fat and significantly higher protein contents in comparison with those of birds fed the other diets.
War in the world of lichens: parasitism and symbiosis as exemplified by lichens and lichenicolous fungi

Lichens are typically formed by the association of two partners. The fungus (mycobiont) usually comprises most of the lichen, while the photosynthetic algal or cyanobacterial partner is referred to as the photobiont. Many lichens contain more than one photobiont and other associates, the lichenicolous fungi, may also be involved. The spectrum of interactions is fascinating and ranges from mutualism, through commensalism, to situations where one, or sometimes more, of the associates is doomed by the antagonistic activities of an invading fungus. Furthermore, these interactions are dynamic over time. Many mycologists assume that once a lichen ascospore has contacted a suitable photobiont, or once a dual propagule such as a soredium, isidium or lichen fragment has landed on an appropriate surface, a lichen thallus will develop. Accepted dogma is that the thallus will grow to form a mature lichen surviving for tens, if not hundreds or even thousands of years. These are over-simplifications; in fact there is war in the world of lichens. Following a brief consideration of parasitism and other forms of symbiosis, this war will be illustrated under the headings of algal slaves, exploiters of two kingdoms, alien invaders, cosy niche seekers and take-over specialists. It is hoped that this review will encourage mycologists to study these interactions which, as yet, remain largely unexplored.
The use of inositol hexaphosphate as a phosphorus source by mycorrhizal and non‐mycorrhizal Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris)

1. The external mycelia of the ectomycorrhizal fungi Thelephora terrestris and Suillus luteus, associated with Pinus sylvestris roots, exhibited a substantial extracellular acid phosphatase activity. The activity was positively correlated with the ergosterol concentration in the growth substratum and decreased with an increasing P nutrition. 2. The pioneer species T. terrestris grew best at a high Pi nutrition level whereas S. luteus, a ‘late-stage’ mycobiont, produced more active biomass at a low Pi nutrition level. 3. The phytase activity of the external mycelia could not be detected; at the root surface a phytase activity was observed. Mycorrhizas had significantly higher activities than uninfected roots. 4. The addition of a relatively high concentration of a soluble phytate to the growth substratum resulted in an increased relative growth rate (RGR) in both mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants. The influence of the mycorrhizal fungi on the use of the phytate-P was small, despite the phytase activity of the mycorrhizal feeder roots. 5. The addition of phytate fixed on a HPLC resin did not result in an increase of the RGR and P uptake neither in the non-mycorrhizal nor in the mycorrhizal Pines. The experiment did not support the hypothesis that phytate, which has a low solubility in soils, is a useful P source for ectomycorrhizal plants.
Fit of the Wood function to milk yield data collected by different recording systems in Mediterranean Italian buffalo

The aim of this study was to check if two different recording systems utilized by AIA and a typical buffalo herd influence the lactation curve characteristics of dairy buffalo, such as peak yield and day to peak. Two different recording systems of milk yield data for 569 Mediterranean Italian buffalo primiparous farmed in the same herd were compared. The AIA’s system (RS1), consisting in monthly collections of individual milk yield data, and the pedometer system (Dairy Plan C21–Westfalia) (RS2), consisting in daily collections of individual milk yield data, were compared. Lactation curves were obtained with the Wood function (1967). The different estimates of peak yield and day to peak obtained from the data collected with the two systems, indicate that the type of system may influence these two characteristics. The lower coefficient of determination from fitting the Wood function to the data collected with RS1 compared to that of data collected with RS2, also suggests that the second system may be more accurate. However, cumulative milk yields estimated at 270 days of lactation did not differ between the two systems
The braincase of the chondrichthyan Doliodus from the Lower Devonian Campbellton Formation of New Brunswick, Canada

Maisey, J.G. , Miller, R.F. and Turner, S. 2009. The braincase of the chondrichthyan Doliodus from the Lower Devonian Campbellton Formation of New Brunswick, Canada. — Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 90 (Suppl. 1): 109‐ 122 The braincase of the late Lower Devonian (Emsian) chondrichthyan Doliodus is described for the first time. Its postorbital process is extended ventrally and probably enclosed part of the infraorbital sensory canal, as in some placoderms. Doliodus has a shark-like dentition, but its upper anterior tooth files were supported by the internasal cartilage of the braincase, not by the palatoquadrates. Modern selachian jaws and dentitions are not representative of primitive crown-group gnathostomes because they display a mixture of conserved and derived character states. Separation of the palatoquadrates by the internasal cartilage is probably a primitive condition for crown-group gnathostomes. Continuity of the upper dental arcade across the ethmoid region may represent a synapomorphy of chondrichthyans and some acanthodians (the condition is not found in placoderms or osteichthyans). Exclusion of the arcade from the ethmoid region is probably apomorphic within elasmobranchs. Doliodus has curious bar-like, paired subcranial ridges ending posteriorly at the hyomandibular articulation. These superficially resemble visceral arch infrapharyngohyals fused to the floor of the braincase, adding circumstantial palaeontological support to the old proposal that parts of visceral arches may be incorporated into the gnathostome braincase, although it seems more plausible that they formed in the lateral margins of the embryonic parachordal or hypotic lamina.
Stability of the relationship between specific leaf area and carbon isotope discrimination across environments in peanut

In previous experiments,s pecific leaf area (SLA)w ass hownto be correlated with both carbonis otope discrimination( A) and water use efficiency in peanut( Arachis hypogaeaL .) suggesting that SLAc an be usedt o screen genotypesfo r W.H oweverv,e ry little information is available on the stability ofthe relationship between SLA and A across environmentsT. hep resent study was conducted to examine genotype × environment (G × E) interaction for the relationship betweenS LAa nd A. Four peanutg enotypes (Chico, McCubbinS,h ulamit, and Tifton-8) with contrasting carbon isotope discriminating characteristicsw ereg rownin the field either undera dequatelyir rigated or rainfed conditionsa t two locationsi n QueenslanAd,u stralia. Thes easonalc hangesi n A and SLAw ere examinedb y samplingl eaves at monthly intervals. The values of A and SLA were significantly influenced by the location, genotype, and irrigation treatments. Genotype × location interaction effects on the relationshipb etweenA and SLA were not significant. The positive relationship between SLA and A was maintained whend ata werec ombinedov er sites and treatments (r~ = 0.87, P < 0.01) indicating stability of the relationship across environments. The SLA was negatively correlated with nitrogen content per unit leaf area (SLN) which in turn was negatively correlated with A. The results suggested that SLA can be used as a surrogate for A.
Understanding Teachers’ Attitudes Towards Young Learner Teaching: A Case Study

This paper reports on a case study examining teachers’ feel- ings about teaching young learners (YLs) in the British Council Tokyo teaching centre. A literature review is presented, outlin- ing desirable qualities for YL teachers. Qualitative and quantitative research—involving an online questionnaire, attitude survey and interviews—investigates teachers’ feelings about a variety of YL-related issues and finds three “groups” within the staffroom, each with a different profile and differing attitudes towards YL teaching. By identifying and analysing prevalent concerns amongst staff, recommendations for ELT managers are made to encourage effective professional development, thereby empowering less experienced teachers and promot-ing good practice for schools running YL programmes.
Beyond Biogeography: a Framework for Involving the Public in Planning of U.S. Marine Protected Areas

Abstract: Planning of marine protected areas (MPAs) is highlighted in the conservation literature but is not explored in much detail. Many researchers acknowledge the importance of involving the public in MPA planning, but there is limited guidance on how to do this in an effective manner. I present a framework for involving the public in planning of U.S. MPAs. Derived from empirically and theoretically based research on public participation in U.S. natural resource management, this framework is composed of factors that influence the success of participatory processes: active participant involvement, complete information exchange, fair decision making, efficient administration, and positive participant interactions. Processes incorporating these factors will produce decisions that are more likely to be supported by stakeholders, meet management objectives, and fulfill conservation goals. This framework contributes to the MPA social science literature and responds to calls in the conservation literature to increase the use of social science research to inform conservation decision making.
Fish diversity and habitat ecology of Dihing river - A tributary of Brahmaputra river

Extensive survey of fish diversity of the Dihing River (a tributary of Brahmaputra River) was conducted from February’ 2013 to January’ 2014. Seasonally sampling was carried out at three sites. During the survey, a total of 50 fish species belonging to 18 families and 34 genera have been recorded from this river and it was found to be dominated with Cyprinidae family followed by Bagridae and Siluridae. Habitat ecology reveals that the minimum (18.5 °C) water temperature was recorded in winter and the maximum (25.76 °C) in monsoon; lowest (20.73 °C) air temperature in winter and highest (26.66 °C) in monsoon; highest (141.33 μS cm-1) conductivity in winter and its lowest (89 μS cm-1) in monsoon; minimum (13.56 cm) transparency in monsoon and its maximum (72.16 cm) in winter; minimum ( 0.40 m/s) current flow in winter and the maximum (0.98 m/s) in monsoon; the lowest (7.16) pH in monsoon and highest (7.76) in winter; the lowest (6.33 mg/l) DO in post monsoon and its highest (7.51 mg/l) in pre monsoon; minimum (6.13mg/l) FCO2 in pre-monsoon and its maximum (7.97 mg/l) in post monsoon; the lowest (32.44 mg/l) alkalinity in monsoon and its highest (42.89 mg/l) in winter; the highest (82.23 mg/l) hardness in pre-monsoon while its lowest (36.36 mg/l) in post monsoon; minimum (161.66mg/l) TSS in winter and maximum (393.33 mg/l) in smonsoon; the minimum (108.33 mg/l) and maximum (296.66) TDS was found in winter and monsoon season respectively.
An ESS model for divorce strategies in birds

We present a theoretical investigation of divorce. Arguments are couched in terms of birds, but should be applicable to other groups of organisms. We model a population in which there is a range of both male and female qualities, and decisions on whether to divorce are made by both members of a breeding pair. The reproductive success of a pair is additive in male and female qualities in the baseline case, but we also consider the effect of quality interactions. The availability of new mates depends on the divorce strategy of all population members. We allow for the possibility that mate choice is associative in quality, although we do not explicitly model the mate choice process. Using a game–theoretical model which incorporates these factors we investigate the following issues: the form of the evolutionary stable strategy, and the implications of this strategy for quality correlations in breeding pairs and for the distribution of qualities among unpaired individuals; divorce rates, reproductive success and mate quality changes over the lifetime of an individual, and the dependence of these qualtities on the individual's quality; mean population divorce rates and their dependence on costs of divorce, longevity and the extent of quality variation in the two sexes; initiators of divorce and reproductive success before and after divorce.
Rhizobial Association with Non-Legumes: Mechanisms and Applications

It has been known for more than a century that rhizobia can promote the growth of legumes through the formation of nitrogen-fixing nodules, but the interaction of rhizobia with non-legumes has been neglected as an experimental system. During the last couple of decades, work on rhizobial interaction with non-legumes has been done progressively and it has been demonstrated that rhizobia can associate with roots of non-legumes also, without forming true nodules, and can promote their growth by using one or more of the direct or indirect mechanisms of actions. Phytohormone production, secretion of other chemicals like lipo-chito-oligosaccharides (LCOs) and lumichrome, solubilization of precipitated phosphorus and mineralization of organic P, improvement in uptake of plant nutrients by altering root morphology, production of siderophores to meet the iron requirements of the plant under iron-stressed conditions and lowering of ethylene level through ACC deaminase enzyme, are some examples of the rhizobial mechanisms with direct positive effects on non-leguminous plant growth. Indirectly, rhizobia improve the growth of non-legumes through biocontrol of pathogens via antibiosis, parasitism or competition with pathogens for nutrients and space, by inducing systemic resistance in the host plant and through increasing root adhering soil by releasing exopolysaccarides which regulate the water movement and facilitate the root growth. However, no influence or even inhibitory effects of rhizobial inoculation on non-legumes has also been demonstrated in some cases. Plant growth promoting mechanisms of rhizobia and its practical application in non-legumes are the major focus of this review.
The use of CO2 flux measurements in models of the global terrestrial carbon budget

CO2 flux measurements give access to two critical terms of the carbon budget of terrestrial ecosystems, the gross primary productivity (GPP) and the net ecosystem productivity (NEP). CO2 fluxes measured by micrometeorological methods have spatial and temporal characteristics that make them potentially useful in modelling the global terrestrial carbon budget. The first use is in parameterizing ecosystem physiological processes. We present an example, based on parameterizing the mean light response of GPP. This parameterization can be used in diagnostic, satellite-based GPP models. A global application leads to realistic estimates of global GPP. The second use is in testing the seasonality of fluxes predicted by global models. Our example of this use tests two global GPP models. One is a diagnostic, satellite-based model, and one is a prognostic, process-based model. Despite the limitations of the models, both agree reasonably well with the measurements. The agreements and disagreements are useful in addressing the problems of available input datasets and representation of processes, in global models. Long-term CO2 flux measurements give access to key variables of terrestrial vegetation models and therefore offer exciting perspectives.
The effect of plant density on the response of Agrostemma githago to herbicide

Summary 1 The estimation of dose–response relationships is an integral and legally necessary part of the routine regulatory process for herbicides. For each herbicide, plants of both target and non-target species are exposed to different levels of the chemical, and effects on mortality and performance expressed as LD50 and ED50 values (respectively, the dose at which 50% of plants die and the dose at which plants show a 50% response to herbicide). Thereafter, LD50 and ED50 values may provide comparative information between herbicides and species. There is little published on the effects of plant density on dose–response relationships. 2 We used the herbicide 2,4-D amine and Agrostemma githago as a model system to investigate the effects of plant density on the dose–response relationship (ED50) between 2,4-D and A. githago biomass measured as fresh weight. 3 Plants were grown in a controlled environment room at both low and high densities (two and 64 plants per pot) for 2 weeks, sprayed with 2,4-D using a precision sprayer, and then harvested after a further 2 weeks. The ED50 values were significantly greater when the plants were grown at high density (616 g active ingredient ha−1) than those grown at low density (42 g active ingredient ha−1); a 15-fold difference. 4 Mathematically, it was shown that a simple multiplicative relationship exists between ED50 and dose received when plants are grown at different densities, all other conditions being equal. 5 To explore the underlying effects of competitive processes arising from different densities, we experimentally investigated three phases where competition could be influencing the response of plants: (i) before spraying, (ii) at the time of spraying and (iii) after spraying. We used a sequential series of experiments to determine which phase was contributing most to the observed difference between ED50 values obtained from plants grown at low and high density. 6 It was shown that the competition between plants after spraying was the most likely phase to have contributed to the observed difference in ED50 values between the two densities. 7 These results demonstrate that trials used in the pesticide regulatory process ought to test not only different doses of pesticide but also different densities of plants (both crop and weed).
Habitat Use and Selection of the Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus in an Agricultural-Wetland Mosaic

Summary. Studying various aspects of the biology of a species of conservation concern allows us to improve our understanding of, for example, how the particularities of the landscape matrix influence its occurrence. The Lower Vouga Lagoon in central-western Portugal offers an unusual diversity of natural and humanised biotopes in an agricultural-wetland complex mosaic. This study aimed to identify the factors that may influence the occurrence and abundance of a diurnal raptor, the marsh harrier Circus aeruginosus, in this kind of landscape. The marsh harrier is a top predator that is considered as an umbrella species, i.e. one whose conservation may also help preserve and promote biodiversity in general in its community. This study provides potentially valuable information on management and conservation strategies in both natural and agricultural areas. We found that natural habitats, such as reedbeds, are a key habitat for this predator, providing shelter, food and suitable nesting sites. Despite the general negative effect of human pressure on the occurrence of marsh harriers, the species seems to tolerate and even benefit from humanised environments, such as rice fields, which constituted the preferred foraging habitat during the non-breeding period. Nevertheless, the degree of disturbance should be carefully considered, since road density and agricultural machinery negatively influenced the presence of the species in the landscape, particularly during the breeding period. The preservation of the distinctive features of the studied mosaic is very important. It is also necessary to establish a conservation programme involving the local human community.
Comparisons of diets of sheep and cattle grazing together on sown pastures on the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales by principal components analysis

The botanical and chemical composition of the diets of oesophageal fistulated wether Merino sheep and cattle (mainly yearlings and dry cows) were compared when they grazed together on sown pastures varying widely in yield and botanical composition. Sheep diets were consistently different from cattle diets, independent of pasture conditions, in having lower normal-acid fibre contents (3.8 units lower), and higher water-soluble carbohydrates (1 unit) and in vitro digestibility (4.4 units). Differences in nitrogen content and in botanical composition of the diet were related, in part, to the botanical composition of the pasture being grazed. It is suggested that differences in composition of the diet arise from differences between sheep and cattle in their mechanical ability to be selective. Use of the principal components technique allowed reasonable biological conclusions to be drawn from multivariate intercorrelated data.