Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Increasing amounts of crushed wheat fed with Persian clover herbage reduced ruminal pH and dietary fibre digestibility in lactating dairy cows

Sixteen cows in early lactation were individually fed diets consisting of fresh Persian clover (Trifolium resupinatum)-dominant pasture, offered to all cows at 3.7 kg DM/100 kg liveweight (LW); either alone or supplemented with amounts of crushed wheat ranging from ~0.3 to 0.9 kg DM/100 kg LW (four treatments with four cows per treatment). Cows fed Persian clover alone consumed 19 kg DM/day and total DM intake increased (P < 0.001) in a linear manner as the amount of wheat consumed increased, with no significant effects on clover intake. As the proportion of wheat in the diet increased, dietary neutral detergent fibre (NDF) concentrations declined from 28 to 24%, and in vivo NDF (P = 0.055) and acid detergent fibre (ADF; P = 0.015) digestibilities also declined. There were no significant effects of proportion of wheat in the diet on apparent digestibility of DM, organic matter or gross energy. The extent to which negative associative effects on NDF digestion was associated with the clover could not be determined as it was not possible to distinguish between the NDF derived from clover or wheat, but the decline in ADF digestibility suggested that most of the response lay with the clover since the wheat only contained relatively small amounts of ADF. Ruminal fluid pH was below 6.0 for more than 18 h/day in all cows. There was no effect of wheat in the diet on average ruminal fluid pH, but lowest values during the day were negatively related (P < 0.05) to the proportion of wheat in the diet. As the proportion of wheat in the diet increased, ruminal fluid ammonia-N concentration (P < 0.001) and the acetate + butyrate to propionate ratio (P < 0.001) decreased. The proportion of wheat in the diet did not affect nylon bag estimates of NDF degradation rates for grain or forage. Although most data indicated that effects of proportion of wheat in the diet on the utilisation of consumed nutrients were small, the marginal milk response to additional wheat averaged only 0.9 kg energy-corrected milk/kg DM wheat.
The Promotive Effects of Antioxidative Apigenin on the Bioavailability of Paclitaxel for Oral Delivery in Rats

This study was to investigate the effect of apigenin on the bioavailability of paclitaxel after oral and intravenous administration in rats. The effect of apigenin on P-glycoprotein (P-gp), cytochrome P450 (CYP)3A4 activity was evaluated. The pharmacokinetic parameters of paclitaxel were determined in rats after oral (40 mg/kg) or intravenous (5 mg/kg) administration of paclitaxel with apigenin (0.4, 2 and 8 mg/kg) to rats. Apigenin inhibited CYP3A4 activity with 50% inhibition concentration (IC50) of 1.8 μM. In addition, apigenin significantly inhibited P-gp activity. Compared to the control group, apigenin significantly increased the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC, p<0.05 by 2 mg/kg, 59.0% higher; p<0.01 by 8 mg/kg, 87% higher) of oral paclitaxel. Apigenin also significantly (p<0.05 by 2 mg/kg, 37.2% higher; p<0.01 by 8 mg/kg, 59.3% higher) increased the peak plasma concentration (Cmax) of oral paclitaxel. Apigenin significantly increased the terminal half-life (t1/2, p<0.05 by 8 mg/kg, 34.5%) of oral paclitaxel. Consequently, the absolute bioavailability (A.B.) of paclitaxel was significantly (p<0.05 by 2 mg/kg, p<0.01 by 8 mg/kg) increased by apigenin compared to that in the control group, and the relative bioavailability (R.B.) of oral paclitaxel was increased by 1.14- to 1.87-fold. The pharmacokinetics of intravenous paclitaxel were not affected by the concurrent use of apigenin in contrast to the oral administration of paclitaxel. Accordingly, the enhanced oral bioavailability by apigenin may be mainly due to increased intestinal absorption caused via P-gp inhibition by apigenin rather than to reduced renal and hepatic elimination of paclitaxel. The increase in the oral bioavailability might be mainly attributed to enhanced absorption in the gastrointestinal tract via the inhibition of P-gp and reduced first-pass metabolism of paclitaxel via the inhibition of the CYP3A subfamily in the small intestine and/or in the liver by apigenin. It appears that the development of oral paclitaxel prepara- tions as a combination therapy is possible, which will be more convenient than the i.v. dosage form.
Evaluation of the Prototype Surface Bypass for Salmonid Smolts in Spring 1996 and 1997 at Lower Granite Dam on the Snake River, Washington

Abstract In spring 1996 and 1997, we studied the prototype surface bypass and collector (SBC) at Lower Granite Dam on the Snake River in Washington. Our objectives were to determine the most efficient SBC configuration and to describe smolt movements and swimming behavior in the forebay. To do this, we used hydroacoustic and radiotelemetry techniques. The SBC was retrofitted onto the upstream face of the north half of the powerhouse to test the surface bypass method of diverting smolts from turbines. The SBC had three entrances, with mean velocities ranging from 0.37 to 1.92 m/s, and it discharged 113 m3/s through its outlet at Spill Bay 1, which was adjacent to the powerhouse. Different SBC configurations were created by altering the size and shape of entrances. During spring 1996 and 1997, river discharge was well above normal (123 and 154% of average, respectively). Powerhouse operations caused a strong downward component of flow upstream of the SBC. Many smolts (primarily steelhead and secondarily chi.
Space or novelty?: Effects of altered cage size on Galago behavior

The influences of cage size and novelty on the behavior of Galago senegalensis braccatus were examined in two captive groups (five adults and one immature per group) having similarly furnished but unequally sized cages. One group experienced expansion, and the other experienced contraction of space. Each group experienced the novelty of a new cage and return to its old cage. Exploration, nonsocial activity, and social sniffing behaviors were most frequent in both groups during the novelty phase independent of cage size. These behaviors remained elevated after return to the original cage. This pattern indicated that novelty, not space, was responsible for these behavioral changes. The increase in social sniffing indicated that group members may use olfactory cues to recognize each other, expecially when the setting is novel. In both groups, frequencies of displacements and chases were highest in the smaller space. Group differences in behavior prior to cage change also influenced a group's response to change.
NUMERICAL AND SPATIAL RESPONSES OF GEOFFROY'S CAT (ONCIFELIS GEOFFROYI) TO PREY DECLINE IN ARGENTINA

Abstract We examined the numerical and spatial responses of Geoffroy's cats (Oncifelis geoffroyi) to a prey decline in central Argentina between April 2002 and November 2003. The 2nd year of the study coincided with a severe drought. Relative abundance of brown hares (Lepus europaeus) declined from 5.6 individuals/10 km during the predrought period to about 0.6 individuals/10 km during the drought. Small-rodent biomass also showed the lowest level for the study area during the drought of 2002–2003 (134.5 g/ha). During the predrought and drought periods, 3 male and 1 female, and 1 male and 9 female Geoffroy's cats, respectively, were radiotagged and monitored. Home ranges for males of the predrought period averaged 202.8 ha ± 156.8 SD and that of the single female was 27.3 ha. During the drought period, 4 females occupied an average home range of 254.9 ± 254.1 ha, and the home-range size of the single predrought female increased by a factor of 2. No obvious change in mean daily distance traveled between the 2 periods was observed. Geoffroy's cats predominantly used habitats of dense cover during the predrought period, but they became more habitat generalists during the drought. Recruitment of juveniles was only recorded during the predrought period, and all monitored Geoffroy's cats dispersed or died of starvation after the prey decline. Consequently, density of Geoffroy's cats dropped from 2.9 individuals/10 km2 before the drought to 0.3 individuals/10 km2, probably because of food scarcity. This is the 1st study to examine the spatial ecology of a small wild cat species under nutritional (energetic) stress in South America.
Short-term Environmental Education - Does it work? - An evaluation of the ‘Green Classroom’

The ‘Green Classroom’ in Ulm is an experiential learning forum outside school. Its educational concept is based on experimental learning and is geared towards expanding biological knowledge and developing environmental attitudes regarding preservation and utilisation of nature. We assessed the environmental attitude of 92 students before and after they visited the ‘Green Classroom’, and compared the answers they gave in their questionnaires with those of 100 students from a control group. Although the students spent only one morning in the ‘Green Classroom’, attitudes towards utilization of nature improved after their visit but not towards preservation of nature. Moreover, students displayed greater intrinsic motivation towards learning about the animals than the control group.
Overwintering of sea trout (Salmo trutta) in freshwater: escaping salt and low temperature or an alternate life strategy?

Brown trout (Salmo trutta) show large phenotypic plasticity. Juveniles may reside in their native freshwater habitat until maturation or migrate into the ocean as 1- to 3-year-old smolts. Sea-going fish (sea trout) reside at sea for 2–3 years until migrating back to their native stream for reproduction. However, immature fish may leave the ocean during their first or second winter at sea and overwinter in freshwater. The question is why does this occur? We tested the hypothesis that hypo-osmoregulatory capacity is compromised by low temperature in two coastal sea trout populations, one representing high salinity and the other, low salinity. Immature sea-run trout were caught in lower parts of two rivers during winter and acclimated to laboratory conditions. Subgroups were challenged with high salinity or low water temperature or both, and their osmoregulatory performance was investigated. Low temperature compromised the hypo-osmoregulatory ability, as indicated by insufficient compensatory adjustments of .
Annuity and Insurance Choice Under Habit Formation

This paper examines the impact of habit formation on the demand for life-contingent contracts in a life-cycle model. We derive an analytical solution for the optimal consumption, portfolio choice, and life insurance/annuity purchases. We illustrate the mechanism by which the consumption habit assumption can alter the bequest motive and therefore drive the demand for life-contingent products. We show that habit formation alone can either explain the life insurance puzzle or the annuity puzzle but not both. However, habit formation together with social security can help explain both puzzles.
The Transformative Effects of Privatization in China: A Natural Experiment Based on Politician Career Concern

The serious implications of privatizing state-owned enterprises for politicians, managers, and investors make such decisions highly contingent on firm characteristics and past performance, complicating the identification of the privatization effects. A unique opportunity for this identification arises from a rule of promotion of local politicians based on age requirements in China. This paper finds that Chinese cities whose top officials were older than age 58 were 20 percent less likely to privatize local state-owned enterprises during the wave of state-owned enterprise restructuring starting in the late 1990s. Relying on the regression discontinuity design, the analysis finds that privatizations led to productivity gains of more than 170 percent, an order of magnitude larger than the traditional estimates based on the firm fixed effect specification (including its random-growth variant). The paper further finds that the privatization effects are significantly larger when the government is less involved in the affairs of local firms. The findings underscore the need to deal with the time-varying selectivity of privatizations and highlight the crucial role that state-owned enterprise privatizations played in China's economic takeoff.
The Effect of Real Estate Prices on Peer Firms

We investigate the peer effects from corporate real estate. Shocks to real estate prices shift firms' debt capacity, which has a significant impact not only on firm investment but also on the investment of peer firms: a $1 of increase in the price of peer real estate assets induces a $0.072 increase in investment. The peer effect from corporate real estate is stronger when firms or their peers have more investment opportunities; financially constrained firms invest more out of their own price shocks, while the peer effect is stronger for unconstrained firms; and we find significant peer effects within - but not between - groups of small and large firms, respectively. Overall, we document a new channel through which real estate is an economically significant determinant of corporate finance.
Long-term persistence of scrapie infection in mouse spleens in the absence of clinical disease

Studies were made of the 87V strain of scrapie in IM mice (Sincp7) to discover why the intracerebral route of injection of a 1% brain inoculum produced clinical scrapie but the intraperitoneal route did not. It was found that the intraperitoneal route rapidly established a persistent infection in spleen (and presumably other extraneural tissues) without there being any significant spread of infection to the brain during the 1.5 year period of observation.
Physicochemical Properties of Australian Flours Influencing the Texture of Yellow Alkaline Noodles

ABSTRACT Flour properties of 25 Australian wheat cultivars were examined for their relationship to alkaline noodle quality. Rapid Visco Analyzer (RVA) analyses of flours showed that RVA breakdown and final viscosity determined in both water and dilute sodium carbonate were significantly related to the alkaline noodle firmness, elasticity, and surface smoothness. Flour swelling volume (FSV) of flours was negatively correlated with alkaline noodle firmness and elasticity, and positively correlated with surface smoothness of cooked noodles. Use of a dilute sodium carbonate solution led to overall increases in both paste viscosity and FSV. High FSV and low RVA final viscosity values were associated with both the softest noodles and with cultivars containing a null allele for granule-bound starch synthase on chromosome 4A. Flour protein content and SDS sedimentation volumes were significantly related to noodle texture. The relationship between protein content and noodle firmness was dependent on the Null4A sta.
Shell strength of eggs from medium‐bodied hybrid hens housed in cages or on range in outside pens

Abstract 1. On average, over the laying year, a higher proportion of eggs were cracked from cages (4.6%) than from range (2.0%); the difference tended to increase as the flocks aged. 2. There was evidence that eggs from range had stronger shells: they required more energy to crack, shell thickness was greater and shell deformation at 70 weeks was less (though the difference was not significant). 3. The differences between systems in shell strength, although real, were small. It is probable that environmental insults make a much larger contribution than shell strength to differences in crack incidence. 4. Eggs laid by hens on range were larger (+ 6.8% at 36 weeks and + 2.9% at 70 weeks) than those laid by the same stock housed in cages.
EFFECT OF FORAGE HARVEST ON GRAIN YIELD AND AGRONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF WINTER TRITICALE, WHEAT AND RYE

In field experiments at Guelph, Ontario four winter triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) genotypes, one winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em. Thell.), and one winter rye (Secale cereale L.) were evaluated during three seasons for grain yield, forage yield, and agronomic performance following forage harvests at two stages of plant development in the spring. When the results were averaged across all the winter cereals, spring cuttings decreased final plant height and incidence of lodging and delayed the heading date by up to 2 wk, but did not consistently affect test weight. The early joint forage harvest reduced average grain yields by 6% while the mid-joint harvest, about 1 wk later, reduced yields by 28%. The early joint harvest yielded, on average, 1.5 tonnes/ha of forage while the mid-joint harvest yielded 2.2 tonnes/ha. OAC Wintri triticale, however, yielded, on average, 0.5 tonnes/ha more grain following the early joint harvest than the uncut control. Forage cutting of OAC Wintri might be an effecti.
Egg carrying in the golden egg bug (Phyllomorpha laciniata): parental care, parasitism, or both? Reply to Kaitala et al.

Female golden egg bugs follow a ﬂexible oviposition strategy because they lay eggs on other conspeciﬁcs (male and female) and on the host plant ( Paronychia argentea ). In natural populations a much higher proportion of males than females car- ry eggs and, among egg carrying adults, males carry more eggs than do females (see below). Females cannot lay eggs on themselves, so egg carrying females are always carrying other females’ eggs. It is less clear whether males carry their own offspring, other males’ offspring, or a combination of both. This has generated a controversy about whether egg carrying by males is a form of parental care, a case of intra-speciﬁc parasitism, or a combination of both. Kaitala et al. (2001, this issue) criticize our use of the term ‘‘parental care’’ in relation to male egg-carrying in this species in a previous article (Reguera and Gomendio, 1999). Their comments raise a general question in relation to the concept of ‘‘parental care,’’ and more speciﬁc points that are also worth addressing. Parental care has been deﬁned as any of parental ﬁtness the spring (Clutton-Brock, 1991). Phyllomorpha laciniata can be considered as a model organism in which three types of in- dividuals play different roles in to and of and it is each separately.
Banks as Lenders of First Resort: Evidence from the COVID-19 Crisis

Abstract In March 2020, banks faced the largest increase in liquidity demands ever observed. Firms drew funds on a massive scale from preexisting credit lines in anticipation of cash flow and financial disruptions stemming from the advent of the COVID-19 crisis. The increase in liquidity demands was concentrated at the largest banks, who serve the largest firms. Precrisis financial condition did not constrain large banks’ liquidity supply. Coincident inflows of funds from both the Federal Reserve’s liquidity injection programs and depositors, along with strong preshock bank capital, explain why banks were able to accommodate these liquidity demands. (JEL G21, G28) Received June 7, 2020; editorial decision June 23, 2020 by Editor Isil Erel.
Social Proximity to Capital: Implications for Investors and Firms

We show that institutional investors are more likely to invest in firms from regions to which they have stronger social ties but find no evidence that these investments earn a differential return. Firms in regions with stronger social ties to locations with many institutional investors have higher valuations and liquidity. These effects are largest for small firms with little analyst coverage, suggesting that the investors' behavior is explained by their increased awareness of firms in socially proximate locations. Our results highlight that the social structure of regions affects firms' access to capital and contributes to geographic differences in economic outcomes.
MEASUREMENT OF BIOAVAILABLE ENERGY IN POULTRY FEEDINGSTUFFS: A REVIEW

The importance of knowing the bioavailable energy (BE) content of poultry feedingstuffs is discussed in terms of economics, feed intake and the environment. The partition of ingested dietary energy is described and the effects of nutrient intake and of the microflora of the alimentary canal are outlined. Indirect biological, physical and chemical assays for BE are described and appraised. Procedures common to several direct bioassays for BE are discussed and points to consider in choosing between total excreta collection and the use of an indicator are presented. Assays for digestible energy, apparent metabolizable energy, true metabolizable energy and net energy are described. Variables affecting estimates of BE such as bird type, assay environment, assay diet and intake, assay design, the nitrogen correction, and metabolic plus endogenous losses are considered and a bioassay is recommended. The review concludes with brief speculation about future developments in the field of feedingstuff evaluation. Key.
Selección de hongos antagonistas para el control biológico de Botrytis cinerea en viveros forestales en Chile

Botrytis cinerea es uno de los patogenos mas importante en viveros forestales en Chile. El control de la enfermedad se ha basado en el uso de fungicidas; sin embargo, bajo ciertas condiciones de presion de enfermedad esta medida no ha sido eficaz, sumado a problemas ambientales debido a su uso excesivo. El objetivo de este estudio fue seleccionar hongos antagonistas a B. cinerea, mediante ensayos in vitro y de invernadero, y determinar su capacidad como agentes biocontroladores de este hongo en viveros forestales. Los potenciales antagonistas fueron obtenidos a partir del filoplano de plantas, colectadas desde viveros forestales. Fueron ensayadas 71 cepas de hongos, evaluadas en su capacidad para reducir la colonizacion y esporulacion del patogeno en ensayos in vitro, mediante bioensayos en discos de hojas de Eucalyptus globulus. Las cepas seleccionadas fueron ensayadas bajo condiciones de invernadero. Las plantas de Pinus radiata y E. globulus fueron pulverizadas con el patogeno (1x105 conidias/ml) y despues tratadas con los antagonistas (1x 107 conidias/ml), evaluandose la incidencia y severidad de la enfermedad. En los ensayos in vitro, cuatro cepas de Trichoderma, tres de Clonostachys, cuatro de Pencillium, una de Cladosporium y otras ocho cepas de hongos no identificados redujeron significativamente la colonizacion y esporulacion del patogeno. En los ensayos en invernadero, la cepa Clonostachys (A-10) fue capaz de reducir, tanto en P. radiata como en E. globulus la incidencia y severidad de la enfermedad. Estos resultados permiten concluir el potencial de los antagonistas seleccionados en el control de B. cinerea.
Vitamin D-RAAS connection: An Integrative Standpoint into Cardiovascular and Neuroinflammatory Disorders.

BACKGROUND The neuroinflammatory process is associated with the pathogenesis of many cardiovascular disorders, particularly with hypertension. In this regard, the deficiency of vitamin D seems to increase the risk of cardiovascular pathologies related to neuroinflammation. Long-term vitamin D lack leads to over-activation of the reninangiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), one of the essential mechanisms of blood pressure regulation. PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review summarizes the latest studies carried out to evaluate the primary mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effect of vitamin D and its receptors (VDR) in the central nervous system. Besides, the present article condenses the evidence supporting the link between vitamin D and the RAAS in hypertension and neuroinflammation. Highlights Standpoints: Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in the world, and the rising prevalence of neuroinflammatory diseases and associated pathologies such as hypertension around the world justifies the urgent need of searching new and more effective therapeutic methods that could be related to RAAS modulation and vitamin D levels management.