Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Frequency of feeding lupin and canola meal supplements to young sheep influences wool growth and mitotic rate but not staple strength

In Australia, young sheep often require supplements for part of the year to survive. This study investigated the influence of supplementary-feeding interval, supplement type and pattern of weight loss on wool growth, fibre diameter and staple strength. Weaners (64, 6–7-month old) were fed a basal diet of oaten hay, oaten straw and minerals every day and, in addition, were fed 1 of 2 supplement types. The design was factorial (2 by 3) and the factors were: frequency of supplementation (daily or weekly), type of supplement (lupin seed or canola meal) and pattern of weight loss (88 g/day loss for 1 month followed by 16 g/day for the second month or a gradual loss of 36 g/day for the full 2 months). Feeding supplements daily did not have any significant effect on fibre diameter (16.2 v. 16.2 m) or coefficient of variation of fibre diameter (18.7 v. 19.2%) during the experiment, or on staple strength (27.0 v. 28.4 N/ktex) compared with the weekly feeding. Similarly, staple strength was not affected by the type of supplement (26.3 N/ktex for lupin-fed sheep v. 29.0 N/ktex for canola meal-fed sheep). There was a significant interaction between feeding interval and supplement type on the rate of wool growth. Weekly feeding of canola meal increased wool growth relative to daily feeding (0.067 v. 0.062 g/100 cm2 .day) whereas, weekly feeding of lupins decreased wool growth relative to daily feeding (0.055 v. 0.059 g/100 cm2.day). Weekly feeding of lupins also increased levels of urea in plasma relative to all other groups for 2 days after feeding and reduced mitotic rate in the skin (relative to the canola meal-fed group) 3 days after the supplementation. While there were also some differences between treatments in plasma glucose, creatine kinase and amino aspartate transaminase, all groups remained within the normal range. These results indicate that the interval between supplementary feeding is unlikely to contribute to low staple strength in grazing weaners but will influence the efficiency of use of nutrients for wool growth.
THE MORPHOLOGICAL VARIABILITY OF TETRASTRUM STAUROGENIAEFORME (SCHRÖD.) LEMM. IN THE NATURE

We investigated natural materials from different deposits of Tetrastrum staurogeniaeforme (SCHROD.) LEMM. Characterized are different types of coenobia and is analyzed their distribution in percentage for the different deposits. The size of coenobia and the length of the spines are biometrical studied. ,1984) paid attention at the strong variability of T. staurogeniaeforme (SCHROD.) LEMM. His comments for the presence of the different length of the spines, have been based on the investigations of natural materials and laboratory cultures. Tetrastrum staurogeniaeforme (SCHROD.) LEMM. according to KOMAREK & FOTT (1983) is strong mutable and rich of forms species. Especially strong variability exists regarding the length of the spines which varies in different population from 3 to 23 µ m. Therefore they doubted the length and the structure of the spine to be used as taxonomy mark. They impugn the existence of the described from different authors subspecies namely: var. longispinum G.M. SMITH 1926, f. crassispinosus HORTOB. & NEMETH 1963, f. crassispinum HORTOB.1968, f. obtusum HORTOB. 1967, f. exaltatum HORTOB. 1962. The purpose of our study is to analyze by biometrical methods the variability of the size of the coenobia (respectively the cells), number and length of spines and also the order of the cells in coenobium.
Effects of cutting height on the productivity and composition of perennial ryegrass–white clover swards

SUMMARY All combinations of five cutting heights (2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 cm), two rates of P application (0 and 100 kg P/ha per year) and two irrigation treatments (0 and maximum soil water deficit 35 mm) were compared on field plots sown with a mixture of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and white clover (Trifolium repens L.) in Wales. The cutting and P treatments were applied for 4½ years (1986–90) and the irrigation treatments for 2 years (1987 and 1988). The plots were cut at 4-week intervals from April to October each year. Applied P and irrigation had only a small effect on the productivity and composition of the swards. The proportion of white clover in the sward was inversely related to the height of cutting, so that clover was almost eliminated by 3 years of 10 cm cutting. This reduction in clover content led to a 50% reduction in herbage yield. Close cutting increased the tiller density of ryegrass in May and June of the first harvest year, but this effect was subsequently reversed as clover competed more strongly with ryegrass under close cutting. The proportion of unsown species, predominantly Agrostis tenuis, was much higher in the third and fourth than in the first and second harvest years and was positively related to the height of cutting. Close cutting depleted soil K and soil water.
Enzyme Characteristics of β-d-Galactosidase- and β-d-Glucuronidase-Positive Bacteria and Their Interference in Rapid Methods for Detection of Waterborne Coliforms andEscherichia coli

ABSTRACT Bacteria which were β-d-galactosidase and β-d-glucuronidase positive or expressed only one of these enzymes were isolated from environmental water samples. The enzymatic activity of these bacteria was measured in 25-min assays by using the fluorogenic substrates 4-methylumbelliferyl-β-d-galactoside and 4-methylumbelliferyl-β-d-glucuronide. The enzyme activity, enzyme induction, and enzyme temperature characteristics of target and nontarget bacteria in assays aimed at detecting coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli were investigated. The potential interference of false-positive bacteria was evaluated. Several of the β-d-galactosidase-positive nontarget bacteria but none of the β-d-glucuronidase-positive nontarget bacteria contained unstable enzyme at 44.5°C. The activity of target bacteria was highly inducible. Nontarget bacteria were induced much less or were not induced by the inducers used. The results revealed large variations in the enzyme levels of different β-d-galactosidase- and β-d-glucuronidase-positive bacteria. The induced and noninduced β-d-glucuronidase activities ofBacillus spp. and Aerococcus viridans were approximately the same as the activities of induced E. coli. Except for some isolates identified asAeromonas spp. , all of the induced and noninduced β-d-galactosidase-positive, noncoliform isolates exhibited at least 2 log units less mean β-d-galactosidase activity than induced E. coli. The noncoliform bacteria must be present in correspondingly higher concentrations than those of target bacteria to interfere in the rapid assay for detection of coliform bacteria.
Response of ground‐dwelling arthropods to a ‘push–pull’ habitat management system: spiders as an indicator group

Abstract Studies were conducted to assess the numerical response of ground‐dwelling arthropods to a habitat management system (‘push–pull’) developed to control maize stemborers using spiders (Araneae) as an indicator group. In this cropping system, maize is intercropped with a stemborer moth‐repellent (push) plant while an attractant trap crop (pull) is planted around this intercrop. Two study sites in western Kenya and one site at the Grain Crops Institute of the Agricultural Research Council in Potchefstroom, South Africa, were sampled. Treatments comprised a maize monocrop and an intercrop of maize and desmodium, Desmodium uncinatum Jacq. , with Napier grass, Pennisetum purpureum (Schumach), as a trap crop around the field (‘push–pull’) in each site. Experiments were laid out in a completely randomized design with four replications at each site. Ground‐dwelling spiders were sampled using a combination of pitfall traps and soil samples. A total of 2175 spiders, 78 species in 18 families, were recovered in Kenya and 284 spiders, 34 species in nine families, were recovered in South Africa. Lycosidae was the most abundant family, accounting for >50% of all individual spiders and 27.6% by species richness. Spiders were significantly more abundant at the Kenyan sites than in South Africa while species diversity was significantly higher in South Africa than at the Kenyan sites. At all sites, spider abundance was significantly higher in the ‘push–pull’ than in the maize monocrop plots. However, the overall spider diversity was only significantly higher in the ‘push–pull’ than in the maize monocrop plots in South Africa. Moreover, species dominance did not differ between the two cropping systems at all sites. The results showed that the ‘push–pull’ system evidently enhances overall abundance of spiders, illustrating its potential in further pest control in the maize agroecosystems where spiders may often be one of the most important predatory groups.
Is developmental stability heritable?

The past few years have been witness to a resurgence of interest in the phenomenon of developmental stability, most often assessed by non-directional differences between right and left sides of bilateral characters known as fluctuating asymmetry, FA (Van Valen, 1962; Palmer, 1994). Several factors have contributed to this interest, including the increasingly recognized usefulness of FA in the comparison of developmental stability levels in populations believed to be stressed or not stressed by factors such as pollution, inbreeding, selection, and parasites (Zakharov, 1989; Parsons, 1990; Graham, 1992; Moller and Pomiankowski, 1993). Most recently it has been shown that high FA is correlated with reduced male mating success in three different species (Markow, 1987; Markow and Ricker, 1992; Moller, 1992; Thornhill, 1992). Although there are several potential explanations for this, one possibility is a “good genes” model of sexual selection in which females choose males with the least FA since these males may reflect a heritable quality that affects offspring viability (Maller, 1990, 1992; Moller and Pomiankowski, 1993; Thornhill, 1992). In one species of Drosophilu it has been shown that FA increases with parasitic infections, so perhaps females cue on reduced FA in males as an indicator of greater resistance to parasites, a trait that may be passed on to their offspring (Polak, 1992). Alternatively, FA may simply be an environmental consequence of parasitism and not be directly involved in the sexual selection process. But is developmental stability heritable, as it must be to play a role in at least some of these models of sexual selection? Most, but not all, of the studies using FA to estimate the heritability of developmental stability from conventional parent-offspring or sib analyses and from the results of selection, have yielded non-significant results (e.g., Leary et al., 198.5; Leamy, 1986). However, it is well known that
Spatiotemporal distribution and activity patterns of bacteria from three phylogenetic groups in an oligomesotrophic lake

We explored the seasonal and vertical patterns of cell numbers, biomass, and amino acid incorporation of three major phylogenetic groups of the bacterioplankton in an oligomesotrophic alpine lake. Throughout the year the numerically dominant bacteria in the oxygenated epilimnion were small Actinobacteria. The timing and vertical location of their spring peak coincided with that of the heterotrophic flagellates (HNF). A second maximum of the relative proportions of Actinobacteria occurred during an autumn bloom of the diatom Asterionella formosa. Betaproteobacteria were negatively related to HNF abundances and formed maximal numbers and biomass during the summer stratification in the increasingly oxygen‐depleted hypolimnion. Members of the Cytophaga‐Flavobacteria subclade (CF) of Bacteroidetes preferably inhabited the completely anoxic zone of the hypolimnion. The numerically dominant Actinobacteria contributed only little to total bacterial biomass, whereas Betaproteobacteria and the comparatively rare (albeit large) CF represented the bulk of the bacterial carbon pool. Amino acid incorporation was mainly observed in Actinobacteria and Betaproteobacteria. Actinobacteria showed a clear preference for amino acids other than leucine. These bacteria represented the most active biomass (with respect to amino acid uptake), whereas the opposite was the case for CF. The contrasting vertical and seasonal patterns suggest that the three phylogenetic groups to some extent represent different functional compartments of the bacterioplankton.
Effect of Grazing on Plant Diversity of Coastal Meadows in Estonia

Vascular plant and bryophyte species richness, and bryophyte diaspore bank were studied in 14 Estonian coastal meadows that had been under two different grazing pressures for ca. 10 years. The aim of the study was to compare the effects of grazing intensity on the diversity of these plant groups, and on the bryophyte diaspore bank. The results showed that (1) intensive grazing increased bryophyte diversity, but not that of vascular plants or the diaspore bank; (2) vascular plant diversity was suppressed by litter cover; (3) vascular plant and bryophyte diversities were positively correlated; and (4) the species composition remained unaffected by grazing intensity.
EVALUATION OF DIETARY TOXICITY OF SOME ESSENTIAL OIL ALLELOCHEMICALS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF CHILO PARTELLUS (SWINHOE)

Eight essential oil compounds were used for study of larvicidal and growth inhibitory effects against the maize stem borer, Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). It is the most prevalent key pests, and is one of the limiting factors in the successful cultivation of the maize crop in India. Two dietary bioassays; on-diet and in-diet, were used. The bioassays showed different tenden- cies and LC 50 values were on the lower side in on-diet tests compared to in-diet assays. Thymol was the most active in both laboratory and greenhouse experiments. In greenhouse conditions, thymol was significantly active at a 10 x LC 50 level of treatment. Overall mor- tality due to thymol was 41.66% in 4 days and larvae failed to bore into the plant and could not feed until 48 h post-treatment. After 72 h there was some degree of feeding and boring in the plants by insects, but still < 45% of that in the controls. The present study suggests that larvicidal and growth inhibitory activity by the essential oil compounds could be beneficial as a possible control of the maize borer. This is especially true about thymol which has potential in field situations. It is effective if a proper delivery system and the appropriate time of sprays is established. A 4 day-interval spray of thymol against C. partellus can control the pest significantly and can be used in any integrated pest management system. On the basis of compound structure, no specific trend was observed.
Profiles, views and observations of visitors to the Addo Elephant National Park, Eastern Cape, South Africa

The views of visitors to national parks provide an important source of information to guide park planners and managers. A visitor questionnaire study was conducted in 2004 and 2005 in the Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa. A profile of the respondents, as well as records of their views on a number of park-related conservation and management issues, and of their observations of large and charismatic species (the ‘Big Five’) was compiled. The study clearly showed that national parks are important destinations for an African wildlife experience, along with other natural attractions that they have to offer. It also highlighted the scope for further visitor education, specifically aimed at improving the quality of their visits to the park. The relationship between elephant (Loxodonta africana) density and level of viewing success by visitors requires further investigation. Since the reintroduction of large predators, especially lion (Panthera leo), in the early 2000s, the daytime sighting rate of buffalo (Syncerus caffer) by visitors has increased markedly. Ongoing surveys, to monitor and expand on some of the aspects addressed in this study, are considered necessary in order to assist park staff to achieve conservation and management goals.
Soybean nodulation and N2 fixation response to drought under carbon dioxide enrichment

The combined effects of carbon dioxide (CO2) enrichment and water deficits on nodulation and N2 fixation were analysed in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ]. Two shortterm experiments were conducted in greenhouses with plants subjected to soil drying, while exposed to CO 2 atmospheres of either 360 or 700 μmol CO2 mol ‐1 . Under drought-stressed conditions, elevated [CO 2] resulted in a delay in the decrease in N2 fixation rates associated with drying of the soil used in these experiments. The elevated [CO2] also allowed the plants under drought to sustain significant increases in nodule number and mass relative to those under ambient [CO2]. The total non-structural carbohydrate (TNC) concentration was lower in the shoots of the plants exposed to drought; however, plants under elevated CO2 had much higher TNC levels than those under ambient CO2. For both [CO2] treatments, drought stress induced a substantial accumulation of TNC in the nodules that paralleled N2 fixation decline, which indicates that nodule activity under drought may not be carbon limited. Under drought stress, ureide concentration increased in all plant tissues. However, exposure to elevated [CO2] resulted in substantially less drought-induced ureide accumulation in leaf and petiole tissues. A strong negative correlation was found between ureide accumulation and TNC levels in the leaves. This relationship, together with the large effect of elevated [CO2] on the decrease of ureide accumulation in the leaves, indicated the importance of ureide breakdown in the response of N2 fixation to drought and of feedback inhibition by ureides on nodule activity. It is concluded that an important effect of CO2 enrichment on soybean under drought conditions is an enhancement of photoassimilation, an increased partitioning of carbon to nodules and a decrease of leaf ureide levels, which is associated with sustained nodule growth and N2 rates under soil water deficits. We suggest that future [CO 2] increases are likely to benefit soybean production by increasing the drought tolerance of N2 fixation.
Factors influencing litter traits and body weight upto 12 weeks among temperate rabbit breeds in humid tropics.

High prolificacy and fast growth rate make rabbit an ideal meat animal for the developing countries. Present investigation was aimed at analysing the prolificacy and growth rate among temperate breeds of rabbits namely, New Zealand White, Grey Giant and Soviet Chinchilla, under humid tropics of Kerala, India. The effects of breed and sire on litter traits and the effects of breed, sire and sex on body weight traits were analysed. Data from 172 kindlings showed an average litter size at birth of 4.38 and litter weight at birth of 228 g. Breed effects were significant (P<0.05) on litter size and litter weight al weaning. The highest litter size at weaning was obtained in Grey Giant (1 .96), followed by New Zealand White (1.87) and the lowest in Soviet Chinchilla (1.18). The litter weights al weaning were 1084, 1074 and 708 g for Grey Giant, New Zealand White and Soviet Chinchilla, respectively. Pre-weaning mortality was found to be modulaled by breed to a significant level (P s 0.05) with New Zealand White having the lowest pre-weaning mortality. Body weights al six weeks and twelve weeks averaged 612 g and 1168 g, respectively. Body weight al 12 weeks of age was significantly (P<0.05) influenced by sire. The effects of breed and sex on body weight traits was found to be non-significant.
Mortality and cardiac resynchronization therapy with or without defibrillation in primary prevention.

AIMS Cardiac resynchronization therapy with (CRTD) or without (CRTP) defibrillator is recommended in selected patient with systolic chronic heart failure and wide QRS. There is no guideline firmly indicating choice between CRTP and CRTD in primary prevention, particularly in older patients. METHODS AND RESULTS Based on the French administrative hospital-discharge database, information was collected from 2010 to 2017 for all patients implanted with CRTP or CRTD in primary prevention. Outcome analyses were undertaken in the total study population and in propensity-matched samples. During follow-up (913 days, SD 841, median 701, IQR 151-1493), 45 697 patients were analysed (CRTP 19 266 and CRTD 26 431). Incidence rate (%patient/year) of all-cause mortality was higher in CRTP patients (11.6%) than in CRTD patients (6.8%) [hazard ratio (HR) 1.70, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.63-1.76, P < 0.001]. After propensity-matched analyses, mortality of patients over 75 years old with non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) was not different with CRTP and CRTD (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.80-1.09, P = 0.39). The CRTP patients under 75 years old with NICM had a higher mortality than CRTD patients (HR 1.22, 95% CI 1.03-1.45, P = 0.02). Mortality rate was also higher with CRTP than with CRTD irrespectively of age in patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) (<75 years old: HR 1.22, 95% CI 1.08-1.37, P = 0.01; ≥75 years old: HR 1.13, 95% CI 1.04-1.22, P = 0.003). CONCLUSION In this real-life study, CRTD was associated with a significantly lower all-cause mortality than CRTP in patients with ICM and in patients with NICM under 75 years old. Patients over 75 years old with NICM did not have lower mortality with primary prevention CRTD implantation.
The role of microclimate in determining the sensitivity of Quercus rubra L. to ozone.

Microclimate has been suggested as a factor to consider when scaling ozone responses of forest trees from the seedling to tree level. To test whether microclimate influences the response of seedlings to ozone. 1-yr-old Ouercus rubra L, seedlings were grown in the shaded upper or lower canopy of 31-yr-old trees in open-top tree chambers, or in more exposed open-top seedling chambers, and received subambient (cumulative SUM.M06* dose of (0 ppm-h), ambient (cumulative SUM06 dose of l9 ppm-h) or twice ambient (cumulative SUMU6 dose of 135 ppm-h) exposures to ozone for one growing season. Seedlings exposed to warmer temperatures and greater PAR within the seedling chambers had greater biomass, total leaf nitrogen, second foliar flush net photosynthesis, leaf conductance and dark respiration than seedlings grown in either location within the tree canopies. However, microclimate did not influence the responses to ozone. Net photosynthesis, leaf conductance and apparent quantum yield of first flush leaves of seedlings exposed to the same leaf microclimate as trees were reduced between 16% and 20% by ozone treatment. Ozone induced larger reductions in the net photosynthesis, leaf conductance and apparent quantum yield of tree leaves. These results indicate that, although microclimate influenced seedling growth and physiology, microclimate did not play a dominant role in determining the sensitivity of Q. rubra seedlings to ozone.
Comparison of faecal flora of cats based on different housing conditions with special reference to Bifidobacterium

Faecal flora of cats was compared in different colonies. In conventional cats there were no significant qualitative differences in composition of faecal flora in 3 colonies but there was variation in numbers of enterobacteriaceae, streptococci, bifidobacteria and clostridia, Bacteroidaceae and eubacteria were the most predominant nora followed by clostridia, streptococci and lactobacilli. In SPF cats produced by hysterectomy, the numbers of clostridia and enterobacteriaceae and the frequency of occurrence of staphylococci were higher than in conventional cats, and the numbers of bacterioidaceae and lactobacilli were much lower. 44 strains of bifidobacteria isolated from the faeces of cats were identified as Bifidobacterium adolescentis biovar b and d.