Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparação de métodos para estimar coeficientes de digestibilidade de uma ração comercial de gatos-domésticos para jaguatiricas

In this experiment, methods of total fecal collection (TFC) and internal markers (acid-insoluble ash - AIA, crude fiber - CF, and acid-detergent fiber - ADF) were compared for determination of the coefficients of apparent digestibility (CAD) for dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), nitrogen-free extracts (NFE), and gross energy (GE) of commercial feline dry kibble for ocelots (Leopardus pardalis). Six adult animals, weighing 12.45±1.37 kg, gradually received experimental kibble in their usual diet until the beginning of the experiment and were submitted to an adaptation period ten days prior to the collection period. CAD obtained by TFC, AIA, CF, and ADF were, respectively, 73.7, 76.83, 62.01, and 46.03% for dry matter; 81.9, 84.8, 75.8, and 63.8% for crude protein; 85, 86.7, 78.5, and 69.1% for ether extract; 78.52, 79.55, 69.11, and 53.04% for nitrogen-free extracts; and 80.5, 82.2, 71.4, and 58.4% for gross energy. The AIA method showed to be efficient in determining coefficients of apparent digestibility and may contribute to investigations on the digestibility of diets for wild felines. In comparison to the items of ocelot's usual diet, the kibble used in this paper provided an adequate nutritional supply with reduced daily costs per animal.
INFLUENCE OF TRINEXAPAC-ETHYL ON GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF WINTER WHEAT

Trinexapac-ethyl is one of the newest growth regulators used in agriculture and horticul- ture. As a most growth retardants it acts by inhibiting gibberellin (GA) biosynthesis. A field study was conducted to determine the effects of trinexapac-ethyl on growth of winter wheat. Trinexapac ethyl was used alone (75 g a.i./ha and 125 g a.i./ha) and in the mixture with chlorocholine chloride (50 g a.i./ha + 675 g a.i./ha) at the 2nd node stage. Trinexapac-ethyl and its mixture with CCC activity was weather dependent. Their influence on the crop was strictly related to the temperature and rain- fall during an individual year of trials. Plant growth regulators much more influenced winter wheat plants in abundant rainfall and higher temperature conditions. Lodging was not observed during the experiment.
Stingless bees and mass flowering trees in the canopy of Atlantic Forest: a tight relationship

As pequenas abelhas sem ferrao ou meliponineos (Apidae, Hymenoptera) representam cerca de 70% de todas as abelhas em atividade nas flores em uma area de Floresta Tropical Atlântica. Alem disso, concentram o forrageio nas flores do estrato superior. Propoe-se a hipotese de que esta distribuicao vertical resulta da distribuicao desigual de suas fontes florais preferidas nos estratos da floresta. No estrato superior, a maioria das arvores intensamente visitadas pelos meliponineos apresenta flores nectariferas, pequenas e inconspicuas, com morfologia generalizada (simetria radial e corola aberta), reunidas em grandes inflorescencias. Em geral, essas arvores sao hermafroditas ou monoicas e suas copas tendem a apresentar floracao macica (isto e, numerosas flores abrem-se a cada dia). Como mais de 70% dos meliponineos concentraram o forrageio nessas arvores, foi reexaminada a hipotese de que a abundância dessas abelhas generalistas estaria relacionada a abundância de arvores dioicas na floresta tropical pluvial. Desenvolve-se o argumento de que os meliponineos facilitam a auto-polinizacao (autogamia ou geitonogamia) e, ocasionalmente, participam da polinizacao cruzada de arvores com floracoes macicas. A relacao ecologica estreita dos meliponineos com as floradas macicas envolve possivel co-evolucao difusa, com gradual substituicao de outros polinizadores generalistas, imprevisiveis e pouco eficientes no dossel da floresta tropical.
Effects of pre-mating energy intake on reproductive performance of rabbit does

The aim of this experiment was to study the effect of stimulation of pre-mating energy intake on reproductive performance at the subsequent mating or parturition of rabbit does during four successive cycles. In the C (control, no. = 59) and R (restricted, no. = 67) groups, females had free access to the M diet (9·92 MJ/kg dry matter (DM)), except from 18 to 31 days of gestation when R females were given 150 glday. In the E group (high energy diet, no. = 64), females were given ad libitum the H diet (12·19 MJ/kg DM) from 1 to 14 days of lactation, with the M diet for the rest of the time. Females were presented to the male 10 toll days after parturition during four cycles. For primiparous does, the experimental design had no effect on pre-mating energy intake, acceptance or conception rate and litter size or weight. However, for multiparous does, pre-mating energy intake was higher for the E and the R group females than for the C group females (+0·08 and +0·04; P v. 69·0%) and weight of the young rabbits at birth (-0·09) were lower in the R group than in the other groups ( P v. 24·7%) and conception rate for the fourth litter was higher (97·1% v. 78·4%) in the E group than in the other groups ( P These results suggested that increased pre-mating energy intake could have a positive effect on conception rate. However, inadequate pre-partum energy intake (food restriction) has a detrimental effect on receptivity and litter weight.
Profits without prosperity.

Though corporate profits are high, and the stock market is booming, most Americans are not sharing in the economic recovery. While the top 0.1% of income recipients reap almost all the income gains, good jobs keep disappearing, and new ones tend to be insecure and underpaid. One of the major causes: Instead of investing their profits in growth opportunities, corporations are using them for stock repurchases. Take the 449 firms in the S&P 500 that were publicly listed from 2003 through 2012. During that period, they used 54% of their earnings--a total of $2.4 trillion--to buy back their own stock. Dividends absorbed an extra 37% of their earnings. That left little to fund productive capabilities or better incomes for workers. Why are such massive resources dedicated to stock buybacks? Because stock-based instruments make up the majority of executives� pay, and buybacks drive up short-term stock prices. Buybacks contribute to runaway executive compensation and economic inequality in a major way. Because they extract value rather than create it, their overuse undermines the economy�s health. To restore true prosperity to the country, government and business leaders must take steps to rein them in. INSET: Idea in Brief. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Incentive-Compatible Reimbursement Schemes for Physicians

Physicians choose capacity before demand materializes; actual demand may be higher or lower than capacity. If a physician's capacity exceeds demand, she may have an incentive to overtreat, i.e., she may provide unnecessary treatments to use up idle capacity. By contrast, with excess demand she may undertreat, i.e., she may not provide necessary treatments because other activities are financially more attractive. We first show that simple fee-for-service reimbursement schemes do not provide proper incentives for all demand realizations. If, however, insurers use fee-for-service schemes with quantity restrictions, they solve the fraudulent-physician problem.
Impact of Ketone Salt Containing Supplement on Cardiorespiratory and Oxidative Stress Response in Firefighters Exercising in Personal Protective Equipment

Background: Firefighters have the highest risk of on duty death due to cardiovascular disease which may be caused by excessive oxidative stress (OS). Animal studies have shown that ketone bodies may reduce OS; however, human trials are needed. Objectives: To examine the effects of a supplement containing ketone salts (KS) on blood OS and cardiorespiratory responses in firefighters exercising in personal protective equipment. Methods: Nine firefighters supplemented with KS or a calorieand flavor-matched placebo (PLA) twice per day for 7 days in a randomized, crossover design. On the eighth day, firefighters arrived for testing after ≥ 8 hour fast and ingested the assigned supplement 35 minutes before performing the exercise task (35 minutes at 60% VO2peak intensity) wearing personal protective equipment (i.e., turnout gear, self-contained breathing apparatus, air tank, gloves). Blood was sampled preand post-exercise (post periods: immediately, 30 minutes and 24 hours) and analyzed for markers of OS including red blood cell (RBC) levels of glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione, superoxide dismutase (SOD), as well as plasma levels of SOD, catalase, total antioxidant capacity, malondialdehyde, and glucose. Results: There was no treatment effect or treatment× time interaction (P > 0.05) for any of the markers of OS. However, the exercise protocol resulted in significant increases in RBC levels of SOD from preto immediately post-exercise and decreased RBC levels of GSH from preto 30 minutes post-exercise. Ingestion of KS resulted in a significant increase in ketone levels and reduction in heart rate during the exercise test. Conclusions: These findings suggest that 7 days of supplementation with a KS supplement does not impact markers of OS but
Purification of rhamnolipid using colloidal magnetic nanoparticles

Phospholipid-coated colloidal magnetic nanoparticles with mean magnetite core size of 9 nm are shown to be effective ion exchange media for the recovery and purification of Rhaminolipid from culture mixtures. These particles have high adsorption capacity for purification (an order of magnitude larger than the best commercially available adsorbents) and exhibit none of the diffusion resistances offered by conventional porous ion exchange media. Furthermore, purification in biological processes using colloidal magnetic nanoparticles results in saving the cost and time. In this study, production of the Rhaminolipid by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in culture media (MSM) with two types of carbon sources was carried out. Then, purification analysis was done to two types of solutions: 1. culture media without the strain 2-culture media with the strain at the different conditions of pH and ionic strength. The results of this purification method were compared to the results obtained of TLC purification method. Finally, purification of the Rhaminolipid was determined over 90% by this method.
The Effect of Freezing Rate on the Survival of Cryopreserved African Sharptooth Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Spermatozoa

Abstract Cryoprotective agents were evaluated to find the optimal concentration of the cryoprotectant and most suitable combination of solution and cryoprotectant. A cryoprotective agent composed of 4% glucose and 9% glycerol yielded the best results. It was established that the optimal freezing rate is dependent on the composition of the cryoprotective agent. Maximal survival of catfish spermatozoa (60%) occurs at 5°C min -1 and faster and slower freezing rates result in poor survival or no survival at all. Incorporation of an isothermal holding period into the freezing rate led to remarkable increase (20-30%) in sperm survival when Me 2 SO was present in the cryoprotective agent. Cryoprotective agents containing glucose also showed improved survival when a three phase freezing rate was used. These results lead to the conclusion that the presence of an isothermal holding period in the freezing rate is beneficial for the cryoprotective action of Me 2 SO and glucose.
Growth and extracellular enzyme production by strains of Bacillus species isolated from fermenting African locust bean, iru

Adeiubigbe, E.Y. & Odunfa, S.A. 1990. Growth and extracellular enzyme production by strains of Bacillus species isolated from fermenting African locust bean, iru. Journal of Applied Bacteriology69, 662–671. Seven strains of Bacillus subtilis group, isolated from fermented African locust bean (iru), were screened for proteolytic activity. Three strains (BS2, BL2 and BP2), which were found to be highly proteolytic, were compared on the basis of growth and extracellular enzyme production in media with and without locust bean. AH had their optimum pH for growth between 7.0 and 9.0. The three strains produced varied amounts of amylase, polygalacturonase, galac-lanase and sucrase. The amounts of amylase and polygalacturonases produced by strain BS2 were significantly higher (at α= 0.5) than those of strains BL2 and BP2. None of the strains produced pectinmethylesterase in nutrient broth with or without African locust bean. Although the three strains were lipolytic on tributyrin agar plates, only trace amounts of lipase were detected titrimetrically in broth medium containing African locust bean. The three strains produced varying levels of sucrase and galactanases. Phytase activity was not detected in the broth culture of strain BS2. The presence of African locust bean in culture medium generally enhanced the production of extracellular enzymes significantly (at α= 0.05) in the three strains.
EU protection is inadequate for a declining flyway population of Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa: mismatch between future core breeding areas and existing Special Protection Areas

Summary This study analyses whether effective conservation of Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa breeding populations in the Netherlands can be achieved through the EU network of Special Protection Areas (SPAs). An internationally important number of pairs of Black-tailed Godwit breeds in the Netherlands but the breeding population is declining steeply and is, in effect, unprotected, as the Netherlands has not designated SPAs for it. To contribute to firmer and more efficient protection of the Black-tailed Godwit, we set out to identify the core areas in the Netherlands where this species is expected to breed in 2020. On the basis of an optimal combination of three main habitat requirements (groundwater level, land-use and openness of the landscape) we identified five core areas in lower-lying (western) Netherlands: Zuidwest Friesland, Waterland, the IJssel delta area, Arkemheen and Eem polders, and Groene Hart. Because these areas are currently not designated for the breeding period of Black-tailed Godwit within the SPA network, the protection of this flagship species of Dutch meadows could be at risk. It seems likely that the Black-tailed Godwit population will continue to decline, with the result that the Netherlands will breach several policy commitments for the conservation of this species.
Species composition and heterogeneity of blowflies assemblages (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in urban–rural gradients at regional scale in Argentinean Patagonia

This work is aimed at describing the spatial distribution of Calliphoridae species along urban–rural gradients in the southern Patagonian steppe, and the influence of geographical factors on species composition and relative abundance. Blowfly assemblages from 12 localities of Santa Cruz and Tierra del Fuego, Argentina between 1997 and 2007 were studied. Samples were assigned to three categories of sites (wild sites, mid-urbanized and urbanized) and four environmental variables were recorded. Three dominant species account for 98% of all specimens, the wild Compsomyiops fulvicrura, and two synanthropic species: Lucilia sericata and Calliphora vicina. Additionally we tested the homogenization of urban calliphorid fauna by comparing the turnover of species among sites, but our findings showed similar heterogeneity of urban and non-urban assemblages.
In vitro susceptibility of resistant Escherichia coli field isolates to antimicrobial combinations

SUMMARY Avian colibacillosis is an infectious disease of chickens caused by avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC). Respiratory viruses and Mycoplasma infections cause damage to the respiratory system of chickens and predispose them to APEC. The APEC field isolates have begun showing increased antimicrobial resistance, leading to failure of treatment and increasing treatment costs and production losses. The objective of this study was to investigate the susceptibility of APEC to different antimicrobial combinations by using minimum inhibitory concentration and checkerboard tests. All 18 APEC isolates were resistant to amoxicillin, clavulanic acid, doxycycline, oxytetracycline, and erythromycin, whereas 71 and 76% of these isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin and enrofloxacin, respectively. Fosfomycin had the best activity against the resistant isolates, followed by gentamicin, spectinomycin, and florfenicol, with resistant percentages of 35, 41, 47, and 53%, respectively. A total of 46 antibiotic combinations were used to test each E. coli field isolate using the checkerboard technique. On the basis of checkerboard results for synergistic and partial synergistic activities, the combinations of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, ciprofloxacin-fosfomycin, oxytetracycline-erythromycin, oxytetracycline-florfenicol, amoxicillin-gentamicin, oxytetracycline-spectinomycin, and spectinomycin-erythromycin were the best in vitro antimicrobials, with synergistic and partial synergistic activities in more than 80% of the E. coli field isolates. Further in vivo studies are needed to correlate the in vitro susceptibility results with field efficacy studies to reduce economic losses in the poultry industry.
An Analysis of the Reverse Weekend Anomaly at the Nairobi Securities Exchange in Kenya

The objective of this study is to investigate whether the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) exhibits the reverse weekend anomaly. The reverse weekend anomaly exists when Monday returns are significantly positive and larger than those on other days of the week. The data used in this study consisted of daily stock returns of 32 sampled companies listed continuously at the NSE from 1 January 2001 to 31 st December 2005. Since the reverse weekend effect tends to be associated with stocks of large firms, the data set was split into two sub-samples for large and small companies. Then weekly stock returns were regressed on the daily stock returns for the two sub-samples and the full sample. The sign, magnitude and significance of Monday returns in relation to those of other days of the week were examined. The results show that Monday returns are highly significant but their coefficient is not positive. Hence there is no reverse weekend anomaly at the Nairobi Securities Exchange. This finding is attributed to the increasing efficiency of the Nairobi Securities Exchange. The findings of this study are consistent with the findings of Leuthold (1991) but contradict those of Brusa, Liu & Schulman (2005). Keywords: Weekend Anomaly, Reverse Weekend Anomaly, Efficient Market Hypothesis, Nairobi Securities Exchange, Kenya
Protein‐Protein Interaction of Fish Myosin Fragments

Protein-protein interaction of myosin fragments from flying fish and white marlin muscles was studied by means of absorbance changes resulting from aggregation at temperatures of 20°C to 70°C. Subfragment-1 (S-1) exhibited a high extent of interaction with the transition temperature of 35–36°C, while the interaction of heavy meromyosin (HMM) was very weak. Though light meromyosin (LMM) gave lower interaction values throughout the heating temperature, the addition of butanol promoted markedly the interactions at the temperature above 50°C. The degree of promotion was high for flying fish and low for white marlin.
Plantigrade settlement of the mussel Mytilus coruscus in response to natural biofilms on different surfaces

Surface properties affect the attachment of micro- and macroscopic marine organisms. The current study examined the settlement response of the mussel Mytilus coruscus plantigrades to natural biofilms formed on surfaces of different wettability. The percentages of plantigrade settlement were not influenced by the biofilms formed on variously wettable surfaces in the short term, but after 10 days, the plantigrade settlement rates decreased on biofilms formed on lower wettability surfaces. In general, lower wettability of the surfaces resulted in the decrease of the dry weight, bacterial and diatom density and the thickness of natural biofilms when compared to high wettability surfaces. In contrast, chlorophyll-a concentration in biofilms was independent of the initial wettability of the surfaces. Comparative cluster analysis of bacterial denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis patterns revealed that high variability existed between the bacterial community on high wettability surfaces and that on low wettability surfaces. Thus, surface wettability affects the formation of natural biofilms, and this variation in biofilms developed on different wettability surfaces may explain the discrepancy in their corresponding inducing activities on M. coruscus plantigrade settlement. This finding provides new insight into interactions between mussel settlement, biofilm characteristics and surface properties.
SOIL AERATION, NITRATE REDUCTION AND FLOODING TOLERANCE IN HIGHER PLANTS

SUMMARY Flood-tolerant species from natural habitats differ from flood-intolerant species by being able to make more effective use of nitrate as an alternative electron acceptor to oxygen during periods of partial anaerobiosis. When flooded, tolerant species show marked increases in nitrate-reductase activity in roots and leaves. A greater ability to synthesize amino-acids under anoxia was also found in the tolerant species than in the intolerant. It is suggested that these properties enable the flood-tolerant species to facilitate the re-oxidation of NADH2 under conditions of anoxia and that this is associated with the greater ability of the species to withstand a reduction in the partial pressure of oxygen.
Oceanic and Riverine Influences on Variations in Yield among Icelandic Stocks of Atlantic Salmon

Abstract Data on yields of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar from 59 Icelandic rivers were analyzed with data on streamflows and sea and air temperatures in an attempt to identify why some stocks exhibited more variable yields than others. A group of 24 northern and northeastern rivers, which flowed into seas with wide annual variations in climatic and oceanic conditions (as indicated by coastal sea and air temperatures), exhibited significantly greater variation in Atlantic salmon yields of both grilse and two-sea-winter fish (two winters at sea before first spawning) than the 31 western rivers, which flowed into seas with more stable climatic and oceanic conditions. Yields were the most varied for stocks in the northeast, the region with the greatest annual variation in sea temperatures during spring and summer – the time when smolts migrate to the sea and begin to feed. Rivers with more variable seasonal streamflows also tended to have more variable two-sea-winter Atlantic salmon yields (P < 0.05) but not mo.
Bound-based Network Tomography with Additive Metrics

Network performance tomography infers performance metrics on internal network links with end-to-end measurements. Existing results in this domain are mainly Boolean-based, i.e., they check whether or not a link is identifiable, and return the exact value on identifiable links. If a link is not identifiable, Boolean-based solution gives no performance result for the link. In this paper, we extend Boolean-based network tomography to bound-based network tomography where the lower and upper bounds are derived for unidentifiable links. We develop an efficient algorithm to obtain the tightest total error bound, and present a solution that can significantly reduce the total number of measurement paths required for deriving the tightest total error bound. Furthermore, we propose a method to deploy a new monitor over existing ones such that the total error bound could be maximally reduced. Compared to the random monitor deployment and the monitor deployment that maximizes the total number of identifiable links, our monitor deployment method can lead to up to 15 and 2.4 times more reduction on total error bound, respectively.