Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of a Defined Competitive Exclusion Culture for Prophylaxis and Reduction of Horizontal Transmission of Salmonella enteritidis in Broiler Chickens

Effective Competitive Exclusion (CE) cultures have been shown to accelerate development of normal microflora in chicks and poults, providing increased resistance to infection by some enteric bacterial pathogens. Our objective was to develop a CE culture for prophylaxis and reduced horizontal transmission of Salmonella enteritidis (SE) in broiler chickens. In the present study, seven members of the family Enterobacteriaceae and 2 lactic acid bacteria isolates, each capable of in vitro and in vivo inhibition of SE, were selected and combined to form the putative CE culture. In the first experiment, day-of-hatch chicks were randomly divided into four pens. All treated chicks were orally gavaged with the CE culture and 3 pens were treated with the CE culture in the drinking water for four consecutive days. Treated and control-non treated chicks were challenged with SE 48 hr later. All 3 groups of birds that were treated with the CE culture had a significant decrease (p<0.05) in cecal colonization compared with non-CE-treated SE-challenged chicks. Two additional experiments were designed to measure the efficacy of the CE culture in reducing SE horizontal transmission from infected to uninfected chicks when commingled. SE was recovered in the cecal tonsils with a significantly lower incidence at days 7 and 14 in Experiment 2 and day 7 in Experiment 3 from the groups that received the CE in the drinking water as compared to controls respectively. These results suggest that a relatively simple and defined CE culture can reduce SE colonization in neonatal chicks.
Effect of Organic Mulches on Soil Surface Insects and Other Arthropods

ABSTRACT Four different types of organic mulches were evaluated for their effects on soil surface insects and related arthropods. Field experiments were conducted in fall 2007 and 2008 near Citra, Florida. In both the years, five treatments were compared: cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. ) mulch, sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) mulch, sorghum-sudangrass (Sorghum bicolor Moench × S. sudanense ((Piper)] Stapf) mulch, pine bark nuggets, and unmulched control. Data were collected on insects and other arthropods using pitfall traps. Results indicate that organic mulches can affect a wide range of different insects. Diptera, dominated by Asyndetus spp. (Dolichopodidae), were most dense in pine bark plots in both years. Populations of small plant-feeding insects such as Aphididae, Thripidae, and Aleyrodidae were most dense in cowpea and unmulched control plots in one season. It is possible that these insects were affected by weed growth in cowpea and control plots. Ants, which tend or feed on small plant feeders, were fairly abundant in these plots as well, as were predatory beetles. Some groups, such as Collembola (mainly Isotomidae), spiders, and Orthoptera (Acrididae and Gryllidae) were unaffected by mulches.
Repair of skeletal muscle transection injury with tissue loss

The loss of a portion of skeletal muscle poses a unique challenge for the normal regeneration of muscle tissue. A transection injury with tissue loss will not heal due to the gap between muscle segments. A damage model was developed by removing a portion of the lateral gastrocnemius (LGAS) of Sprague-Dawley rats. Maximal isometric tetanic tension (Po) was measured following the removal of either a small, 0.5cm x 1.0cm, defect (SDEF) or a large 1.0cm x 1.0cm (LDEF) piece of the GAS. In situ Po immediately after creation of the defect was 88.3 ± 2.0% of the non-operated contralateral GAS force for SDEF and 76.9 ± 3.2% of control for LDEF. No functional recovery occurred in either group over the course of 28 days. To enhance recovery, a homologous, decellularized, muscle extracellular matrix (ECM) was implanted into the 1 x 1 cm defect of the LGAS of Lewis rats. After 42 days, growth of blood vessels and myofibers into the ECM was apparent, but no restoration of Po occurred. These data demonstrate the ability of the ECM to support muscle and blood vessel regeneration, but full recovery of function does not occur after 42 days.
Downregulation of Caspase-2 Expression in Somitic Cells following Coculture with Chicken Notochord

Somites are spherical aggregations of mesodermal cells located on either sides of neural tube and are differentiated into sclerotome and dermomyotome. Notochord as an axial mesoderm has a major role in somitic cell survival and differentiation in vivo. Despite secreting the survival factors, how to notochord inhibits somitic cells apoptosis remains to be elusive. So, this study was aimed to investigate downregulation of caspase-2 expression in somitic cells upon coculturing with notochord. By using alginate system to encapsulate the isolated notochord in Somite
Seasonal changes in body weight of Macaca thibetana at Mt. Emei, China

This 1991–1992 study was designed to expand previous research on body weight (BW) in Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana) at Mt. Emei. Data on BW were collected in late autumn (LA) and late winter (LW) in groups ranging above 1,200 m. Over the winter, the BW fell significantly from a mean of 16.8 to 11.4 kg in females and from 19.5 to 17.0 kg in males. The previously reported BW means of 12.8 kg for females and 18.3 kg for males, measured in late spring, are near the center of the annual BW range for this species. In addition, with the sharper decline of female BW (−32% vs. −13% seen in males), the sexual dimorphism (M/F) in BW increased from 1.16 in LA to 1.49 in LW. This finding may be related to differential parental investment by two sexes. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Nest-site selection of the Red-billed Leiothrix and Japanese Bush Warbler in Japan

The Red-billed Leiothrix Leiothrix lutea has been introduced from China and is rapidly increasing in deciduous broad-leaved forests of Japan. We studied nest- site characteristics and nest-site selection of this species and the Japanese Bush War- bler Cettia diphone, a sympatric native species, in southwestern Japan. Both species placed nests exclusively in bamboo thickets and on bamboo stalks. The Red-billed Leiothrix built pendulous nests in the canopy of high concealment. The Japanese Bush Warbler placed nests on the crossing of bamboo stems and selected places of high stem density. The Japanese Bush Warblers placed nests in denser vegetation than the Red-billed Leiothrix. The segregation of nesting microhabitat was also evident in both species to coexist in bamboo thickets. Existence of few inhabitants in bamboo thickets may contribute to the invasion success of the Red-billed Leiothrix.
Seasonal changes in the response of winter wheat to elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration grown in Open‐Top Chambers and field tracking enclosures

Winter wheat was grown at ambient and elevated (ambient plus 350 μL L–1) CO2 concentrations in open top chambers and in field‐tracking sun‐lit climatized enclosures (elevated is 718 μL L–1). There was no significant effect of CO2 concentration on sheath, leaf and root biomass and leaf area in the early spring (January to April). 24‐h canopy CO2 exchange rate (CCER) was not significantly affected either. However, elevated CO2 concentration increased CCER at midday, decreased evapotranspiration rate and increased instantaneous water‐use‐efficiency during early spring. Leaf, sheath and root nitrogen concentration per unit dry weight decreased and nonstructural carbohydrate concentration increased under elevated CO2, and N‐uptake per unit ground area decreased significantly (– 22%) towards the end of this period.
Evaluation of ground water quality for irrigation and drinking purposes of the areas adjacent to Hudiara industrial drain, Lahore, Pakistan.

This study was designed to assess the ground water quality of areas adjacent to Hudiara industrial drain, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Thirty three groundwater samples were collected from tube wells located within 3 Km on either side of the Hudiara drain from different depths. This area falls under Indus plain which hosts one of the biggest ground water reservoirs in the world and is the main source of water for drinking as well as agriculture. To check the suitability of ground water, samples were analysed for different irrigational and drinking quality parameters. The minimum and maximum values of these parameters were found as EC (496 to 2060 ,Scm -1 ), SAR (2.2 to 15.9), RSC (1.8 to 11.2 meq L -1 ), MAR (21.4 to 66.1%) and Cl (0.22 to 3.80 meq L -1 ). Among the heavy metals, Lead (Pb), Nickel (Ni), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu) and Cobalt (Co) were not detected. The maximum values of Manganese (Mn), Zinc (Zn) and NO 3 were found within safe limits whereas Fluoride concentration was higher in one sample. Permissible limits set by World Health Organisation (WHO) and Agriculture Department, Government of the Punjab were considered as standard for evaluating samples for drinking and irrigation suitability, respectively. As a whole, drinking quality of collected water samples was found satisfactory and free of contaminants of human origin. In terms of SAR, 75.7% water samples were fit while regarding RSC, 18% samples were marginally suitable and 82% samples were unfit for irrigation. Chloride level of 97% water samples was in safe limits. Collectively 21% samples were marginally suitable which can be used for irrigation along with some amendments and adopting special management practices while 79% samples were unfit for irrigation purposes.
Environmental Correlates of Song Structure in Forest Grosbeaks and Saltators

Abstract We compared the song structure of 19 species of forest grosbeaks and saltators based on the songs of 271 individuals recorded from Argentina to Canada, and analyzed their ecological correlates. On each spectrogram we measured eight temporal, frequency, and structural features of the song. Both a principal components analysis and a univariate analysis showed consistent differences in song structure between open and closed habitats. These differences were also found in an independent contrasts analysis, in which phylogenetic relationships between the species of the group were taken into account. In particular, the songs of species living in open habitats had wider bandwidths and higher maximum frequencies than those of species living in more closed habitats. In addition, the songs of open-habitat species had more notes, which were of shorter duration. These findings are compatible with predictions derived from the Acoustic Adaptation Hypothesis, according to which bird song structure is adapted to the habitat in which the signal is used.
Fluorescent aromatic hydrocarbons in bile as a biomarker of exposure of brown bullheads (Ameiurus nebulosus) to contaminated sediments

Analysis of fluorescent aromatic compounds (FACs) in the bile of fish has been widely used as a biomarker of exposure to polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination. However, bile FAC data for feral fish populations are typically highly variable, and in a few cases, elevation of FACs has not been observed in fish from contaminated areas. In this study, the bile FACs and hepatic ethoxyresorufin‐O‐deethylase activity in brown bullheads (Ameiurus nebulosus) exposed in the laboratory to contaminated sediments from Hamilton Harbour, Ontario, Canada, increased by 173‐fold within 72 h of initial exposure and rapidly declined thereafter. In bullheads caged in the contaminated Trenton Channel area of the Detroit River, bile FACs also increased rapidly within 4 d of initial exposure to mean levels >3,000 ng of benzo[a]pyrene equivalents per milliliter of bile. Surprisingly, there was no difference in the mean‐levels of bile FACs in fish caged above the sediment versus fish caged in direct contact with the sediment, indicating that water may be the major vector for uptake of PAHs. The lower bile FACs in bullheads caged in other regions of the Detroit River were consistent with the lower concentrations of PAHs in the sediments from these areas. These data indicate that bile FAC levels are a biomarker of recent exposure to aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments. However, FAC data were highly variable even in these studies, in which fish were relatively homogeneous in size, feeding status, and exposure history. Therefore, even higher variability in bile FAC data are expected in biomarker studies as a result of differences in reproductive status, size, diet, and mobility of the fish.
On Purpose in Science, Conservation and Government

The objectives of conservation have been focused ever more intensively for two decades on the preservation of "biodiversity. " Emphasis has been on the losses of species through extinction. The cure has been the establishment of parks and reserves to protect "hot spots," especially in the tropics, where the diversity of species is high. The efforts in preservation have often extended to the development of connecting links among reserves to allow movements among them. The approach has been codified in law in the form of the Endangered Species Act in the United States and the Biodiversity Treaty, both of which address the issue species by species and each of which has obvious weaknesses. Such efforts may be appropriate but they are totally inadequate as the sum of activities in conservation in a world of 6 billion people with exploding technologies for exploiting virtually all of the earth for immediate human benefit. The biosphere is decaying rapidly as a habitat for all life, including people, not because of the extinction of species, but because of the progressive impoverishment of natural communities through human-induced chronic disruption that is now global and ubiquitous. The improverishment leads to progressive environmental dysfunction that is cumulative, but only in its later stages leads to extinction of species. Long before extinction becomes important, genetically distinct, local ecotypes are lost and the natural communities in which they were developed become improverished and dysfunctional. The most conspicuous disruption is that of climate, a global change in the environment of every ecosystem. The most elaborate and carefully interlinked array of natural reserves will succumb as climate is moved out from under them. and biodiversity will suffer the very extinctions the parks were established to avoid. But long before that, the human environment will suffer conspicuous and progressive impoverishment. The objective of conservation is the preservation of the integrity of function of landscapes (and waterbodies). Emphasis falls on forests in the normally naturally forested parts of the earth because forests are so large in area globally and have such a large influence on virtually every aspect of environment. Functional integrity requires structural integrity over 85% or more of the naturally forested zone in most areas. It also requires objective measurement and definition by the scientific community. Suddenly, conservation has become, not the preservation of biodiversity, honorable as that may be, but the preservation of the functional integrity of the human environment. That purpose is the central purpose that we assign to the governments that we establish in democracies to define and defend the public interest. It is past time for the scientific and conservation communities to recognize the urgency of this transition, join in defining competent new objectives for conservation, and to convey to the public the urgency of the need for governmental responsibility in protecting the public interest in a habitable biosphere.
Shelter for lambing sheep in New Zealand: A review

Abstract Wind and wet coats create dangerous conditions for lambs, even at moderate temperatures. Lambs compromised by factors such as birth injury and small size are particularly at risk. Wet, cold, windy weather added 38–76% to mortality rates in Australian Merino and Corriedale lambs, and in New Zealand lamb breeds added 10–20% (more in snow conditions). Wind shelter removed 3–13% from single lamb mortality rates and 14–37% from twin lamb mortality rates in Australian Merino and Corriedale sheep, but was not effective in reducing losses of twins in cold or wet weather. In New Zealand, wind shelter (such as Pinus radiata tree shelter belts) has generally removed less than 10% from mortality rates. Effective shelter would protect lambs from wind, rain, radiative and conductive heat loss, as well as allowing lambs exposure to the sun. Shelter should be familiar and well dispersed to encourage ewes to isolate from other sheep at lambing. Scattered dense shelter within paddocks such as tussocks or forage grasses or shrubs is very likely to increase lamb survival and possibly growth. Lamb covers also provide effective shelter but are labour‐intensive to use. The benefits and management of effective shelter require research so that farmers can be provided with the incentive and means to reduce their considerable losses of neonatal lambs.
The Arrival of Seaweed Propagules at the Shore: A Review

Diverse factors that change the composition of macroalgae propagules in seawater, are discussed. It is analized how these factors influence the arrival of propagules on the shore. The temporal and spatial patchiness observed in the composition and amounts of propagules in seawater could be ascribed to: seasonal variations in fertility, endogenuos rhythms, quantities of spores released according to the reproductive strategies of different species, fluctuations of environmental factors. Dispersibility, i. e. the distances the propagules travel away from parental plants, is related to several intrinsic properties of propagules that should also influence the number of propagules in seawater. It is proposed that the local flora and fauna may influence the numbers of propagules that reach the substratum.
Microbial profile and critical control points during processing of ‘robo’ snack from melon seed ( Citrullus lunatus thumb) in Abeokuta, Nigeria

A study was carried out to determine the level of microbial contamination and establish the critical control points associated with the processing of a locally produced ‘Robo’ snack from melon seeds in the Abeokuta Metropolis. Samples were collected at different points of processing from randomly selected local producers and subjected to microbiological hazard analysis. The results were used to evaluate the relevant critical control points especially in relation to raw materials and human contaminations, process requirements and contacting of ingredients with equipment. The observed contaminants common to all samples and irrespective of the producers were the Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp. , Bacillus spp. and Aspergillus fumigatus. The major operations directly implicated in addition to the quality of the various raw ingredients used were the roasting using earthen wares, grinding in local mill, hand mixing of ingredients, kneading and moulding manually, deep fat frying, surface fat draining, open-air cooling, and holding/packaging in polyethylene films during sales and distribution. The product was, however, classified under category III with respect to risk and the significance of monitoring and evaluation of quality using the hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP) principles and adoption by the local producers of ‘robo’ are highlighted and discussed in relation to existing practices and major constrains.
Desempenho e características de carcaça de cordeiros terminados em confinamento com diferentes condições corporais

The performance and qualitative carcass traits of Santa Ines and crossbred Dorper × Santa Ines lambs finished in feedlot with different body conditions were evaluated. Forty-eight lambs averaging 20.0 kg of body weight and 103 days old and 32 lambs, 16 from each genotype, were used respectively for the evaluation of qualitative carcass traits and performance. Dorper  Santa Ines lambs presented lower dry matter intake and better feed conversion in the intermediate body condition when compared to Santa Ines. Body condition affected dry matter intake and feed conversion of crossbred lambs. Dorper  Santa Ines lambs had better carcass conformation and higher subcutaneous fat thickness when slaughtered at high body condition in relation to the intermediate one, while Santa Ines lambs were similar in both body conditions.
Effect of increased atmospheric CO2 on the performance of an aquatic detritivore through changes in water temperature and litter quality

Cold water woodland streams, where terrestrially derived organic matter fuels aquatic food webs, can be affected by increases in atmospheric CO2 concentrations, as these are predicted to lead to increases in water temperature and decreases in organic matter quality. In fact, elevated CO2 (580 ppm) decreased the initial phosphorus concentration of birch litter by 30% compared with litter grown under ambient conditions (380 ppm). Here, we first assessed the effect of differences in litter quality on mass loss, microbial colonization and conditioned litter quality after submersion in a mountain stream for 2 weeks. Leaching did not change the relative differences between litter types, while fungal biomass was two fold higher in elevated litter. We then offered this litter (conditioned ambient and elevated) to a stream detritivore that was kept at 10 and 15 °C to assess the individual and interactive effects of increased temperature and decreased litter quality on invertebrate performance. When given a choice, the detritivore preferred elevated litter, but only at 10 °C. When fed litter types singularly, there was no effect of litter quality on consumption rates; however, the effect of temperature depended on individual size and time of collection. Growth rates were higher in individuals fed ambient litter at 10 °C when compared with individuals fed elevated litter at 15 °C. Mortality did not differ between litter types, but was higher at 15 °C than at 10 °C. Increases in temperature led to alterations in the individual body elemental composition and interacted with litter type. The performance of the detritivore was therefore more affected by increases in temperature than by small decreases in litter quality. However, it seems conceivable that in a future global warming scenario the simultaneous increases in water temperature and decreases in litter quality might affect detritivores performance more than predicted from the effects of both factors considered individually.