Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Low-protein amino acid-supplemented diets in broiler-chickens: effects on performance, carcass characteristics, whole-body composition and efficiencies of nutrient utilisation

Two concurrent trials were conducted to investigate the influence of low-protein amino acid-supplemented diets on the performance, carcass characteristics, whole-body composition and efficiencies of nutrient utilisation by the male broiler chicken from age 3 to 6 weeks. The first trial comprised five isoenergetic (13.0 MJ kg−1) diets containing 225 (control), 210, 190, 172 or 153 g kg−1 crude protein (CP) supplemented with essential amino acids (EAAs) to meet the minimum National Research Council recommendations. In the second trial a composite mixture of non-essential amino acids (NEAAs) was added to the lower-CP diets (ie 210–153 g kg−1) such that they became isoproteinous (N × 6.25) with the 225 g kg−1 control. Neither the lowering of dietary CP nor NEAA supplementation had any significant influence on weight gain or the relative weights of the various carcass cuts. However, chicks fed the lowest-CP diets consumed more feed (P ≤ 0.05) and had poorer (P ≤ 0.05) feed conversion efficiency (FCE). NEAA supplementation enhanced FCE to the control levels. Whole-body compositional analysis showed that lowering dietary CP increased (P ≤ 0.01) total body fat in a linear fashion (P ≤ 0.001; r = −0.72). Equalising dietary CP with the control (ie maintaining identical energy/protein ratio) by NEAA supplementation did not correct for the fat deposition. Total body protein (g kg−1) was identical with the control with or without NEAA supplementation. Dietary energy, protein retention efficiency (PRE) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) were more efficient (P ≤ 0.01) in the lower-protein diets, while NEAA supplementation significantly (P ≤ 0.01) decreased the efficiency of N utilisation. Reducing dietary CP from 225 to 153 g kg−1 decreased N excretion in a highly significant linear fashion (P ≤ 0.001; r = 0.73). The nutritional and environmental implications of the increased body fat deposition on the one hand and the decreased N excretion on the other in the low-protein-fed chickens are discussed and the need to harmonise these apparently conflicting interests is emphasised. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry
Stomatal behaviour, photosynthesis and transpiration under rising CO2.

Definitions of the variables used and the units are given in Table 1 The literature reports enormous variation between species in the extent of stomatal responses to rising CO2. This paper attempts to provide a framework within which some of this diversity can be explained. We describe the role of stomata in the short-term response of leaf gas exchange to increases in ambient CO2 concentration by developing the recently proposed stomatal model of Jarvis & Davies (1998). In this model stomatal conductance is correlated with the functioning of the photosynthetic system so that the effects of increases in CO2 on stomata are experienced through changes in the rate of photosynthesis in a simple and mechanistically transparent way. This model also allows us to consider the effects of evaporative demand and soil moisture availability on stomatal responses to photosynthesis and therefore provides a means of considering these additional sources of variation. We emphasize that the relationship between the rate of photosynthesis and the internal CO2 concentration and also drought will have important effects on the relative gains to be achieved under rising CO2.
Age and growth of the common guitarfish, Rhinobatos rhinobatos, in Iskenderun Bay (north-eastern Mediterranean, Turkey)

Age and growth of the common guitarfish (Rhinobatos rhinobatos) were estimated from the north-eastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey. A total of 115 common guitarfish (66 females and 49 males) were sampled. Age determinations were carried out using vertebral sections. Alcian blue dying techniques were used to enhance the visibility of the band on vertebrae. The techniques have been used for the first time on elasmobranchs vertebrae successfully in this study. A total of 97 vertebrae of 115 were visible on the vertebral band in this study. Male and female common guitarfish ranged in age from 1 to 15 and 1 to 24 y respectively. Total length ranged from 42 to 147 cm for females and 39 to 124 cm for males. The relationships between total length (TL) and total weight (TW) were presented as TW = 0.0014*TL3.1672 (R2 = 0.98) for females, TW = 0.0012*TL3.1947 (R2 = 0.98) for males and TW = 0.0012*TL3.1915 (R2 = 0.98) for both sexes. The parameters for von Bertalanffy growth curves were estimated as Linf = 137.70±9.38 cm, K = 0.159±0.047, to = −2.180 ± 0.90 for pooled data.
Nested clade analysis statistics

Nested clade analysis (NCA) is a flexible and powerful method to study the phylogeography of species and populations, implemented in the software GEODIS . Despite the popularity of this method, an explicit description of the exact equations used to compute the NCA statistics has never been published. Given the importance of the methodology and increased interest in exactly how it works, here we describe the exact equations implemented in the program GEODIS for the calculation of these statistics.
Inheritance of Song Parameters in the Gibbon Song, Analysed in 2 Hybrid Gibbons (Hylobates pileatus × H. lar)

The song of a male and a female hybrid gibbon (Hylobates pileatus × H. lar) is described. Comparison with the song of both parental species revealed that at least some of the hybrid’s song characteristics were inherited. Although several studies have tentatively suggested a genetical determination of gibbon song patterns, there have been no previous analyses of gibbon singing behaviour which conclusively documented this phenomenon. Attention is drawn to similarities between the song of the hybrids and gibbon species other than the parental ones, and their significance is considered.
Contribution of autotrophic and heterotrophic respiration to soil CO2 efflux in Chinese fir plantations

Soil respiration (Rs) is overwhelmingly the sum of autotrophic respiration (Ra, root and rhizosphere) and heterotrophic respiration (Rh, microbes and soil fauna). Separating Rs into Ra and Rh components is a major challenge but necessary for understanding the implications of environmental change on soil C cycling and sequestration. In this study, a trenching method was employed to partition Rs sources in Chinese fir plantations in Southern China. Soil CO2 efflux (FCO2) rates were measured using an infrared gas analyser system with soil chambers at the trenched and untrenched (Control) plots from January 2007 to December 2008. Soil temperature (Tsoil) and soil water content (Wsoil) were also measured at the plots during the study period. The results showed that the mean soil FCO2 rate from trenched plots (0.88 ± 0.12 µmol m–2 s–1, mean ± s.e.) was significantly lower than that from untrenched plots (1.22 ± 0.18 µmol m–2 s–1) (P < 0.001) during the study period. Compared with Ra, Rh made a major contribution to annual flux of Rs in Chinese fir forests. The relative proportion of Rh to Rs averaged 76 and 69% in 2007 and 2008, respectively. The seasonal changes of Ra to Rs ratio ranged from 13 to 56% with a mean of 33%. The annual mean Rs was 455 ± 249 gC m–2 year–1 in the study site for the study period, of which Rh and Ra were 330 ± 219 and 125 ± 65 gC m–2 year–1, respectively. Both Rs and Rh was strongly correlated with Tsoil at a 5-cm depth, while Ra had no relationship with Tsoil. Temporal variation in Wsoil had little effect on Rs and Rh. The results indicated that the fluxes of Ra and Rh were controlled by different factors and the microbial communities, compared with roots, were likely more sensitive to global warming in affecting soil C fluxes in Chinese fir ecosystems in subtropical regions.
Germplasm characterization of three jabuticaba tree species

The purpose of this study was to characterize cultivated genotypes of three jabuticaba species (Plinia cauliflora, P. trunciflora, and P. jaboticaba). Phenology and fruit growth, as well as leaf, flower and fruit traits were evaluated. Variability in all traits was observed among genotypes of the three jabuticaba species. The trait peduncle size is indicated for differentiation of the three species under study. The leaf and fruit sizes of the genotypes P. trunciflora 3, P. trunciflora 4, P. trunciflora 5 and P. jaboticaba 1 differ from those described in the literature for these species, indicating the formation of ecotypes. Jabuticaba fruit skin contains high anthocyanin and flavonoid concentrations, with potential use in food and pharmaceutical industries.
Surveys of larval sealworm ( Pseudoterranova decipiens ) infection in various fish species sampled from Nova Scotian waters between 1988 and 1996, with an assessment of examination procedures

Between November 1988 and October 1996, >10,000 fish from the Breton Shelf, Sable Island Bank and the northeastern Gulf of Maine were examined for larval anisakines. Larval sealworm, Pseudoterranova decipiens , occurred in 30 of 39 species surveyed, including 8 new host records, Enchelyopus cimbrius , Lycodes reticulatus , Eumesogrammus praecisus , Lumpenus lumpretaeformis , Lumpenus maculatus , Cryptacanthodes maculatus , Artediellus atlanticus and Triglops murrayi . The parasite was most prevalent and abundant in mature demersal piscivores and benthic consumers. Sealworm densities (nr kg-1 host wt.), however, were greatest in small benthophagous fish including mature E. cimbrius , A. atlanticus , T. murrayi and Aspidophoroides monopterygius , and juvenile Hippoglossoides platessoides . ANOVA revealed that geographical disparities in sealworm prevalence and abundance were highly significant in 14 of 20 species tested, although significant disparities between samples from each of the three areas were evident only in H. platessoides . Almost invariably, infection parameters were greatest in fish from Sable Island Bank. ANOVA also indicated that sealworm prevalence and/or abundance increased significantly in Sable Island Bank populations of Gadus morhua , H. platessoides , and seven other species between 1985-1986 and 1989-1990. Routine examinations, in which host flesh was sliced and candled, proved as efficacious as digestion in warm (35° C) pepsin-HCl for detection of larval sealworm in the flesh of large frozen fish. Procedures employing fresh (iced) samples, digestion at ambient temperature and microscopy are recommended, however, for surveys of small benthic consumers. Many of the sealworm infecting the latter hosts are tiny (2 to 10 mm in length) nematodes, which escape detection by routine inspection, and may not survive in warm pepsin-HCl solution.
A genetic investigation on translocation of Australian commercial freshwater crayfish, cherax destructor

The Australian freshwater crayfish, Cherax destructor is cultured commercially and has been translocated throughout much of Australia. Previous investigation on C. destructor using 16S rRNA sequences of samples collected from natural environments has revealed a significant phylogeographic structure in this species with three well supported geographically non-overlapping clades, namely ‘northern’ C. d. destructor , ‘southern’ C. d. destructor and C. d. albidus . Movement of individuals beyond their natural range of distribution may have adverse effects on genetic integrity of the species. In the present study, aspects of translocations of the species were genetically investigated. Sequences of the 16S rRNA gene region of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) were obtained from samples collected in nine quasi-natural waterbodies, supplemented with sequences of samples obtained from 31 natural waterbodies examined in a previous study. Results of phylogeographic analysis provide evidence that certain haplotypes from major clades of C. destructor have been translocated. The findings of this study have important implications for the conservation and management of genetic diversity within C. destructor .
Comparisons of Upper Thermal Tolerances Between the Invasive Argentine Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and Two Native Australian Ant Species

Abstract The Argentine ant, Linepithema humile (Mayr), is a significant pest species, having become established on almost every continent, particularly in areas with a Mediterranean climate. In its introduced range, the Argentine ant has been associated with reductions in the abundance and diversity of native ant and nonant invertebrate fauna, as well as the interruption of ant–plant mutualisms. The distribution of Argentine ants has been correlated with particular abiotic factors, including soil moisture, relative humidity, disturbance, and particular soil and vegetation types. This study assessed the importance of temperature on the survival of Argentine ants and two native ant species (Iridomyrmex “rufoniger” and Rhytidoponera “convexa”) in the laboratory. Workers were placed in incubators of varying temperatures (25, 32, 40, 45, 47, and 50°C), and counts of the numbers dead and alive were recorded after 1, 2, and 3 h. The results showed that all species displayed almost 100% survival at 25, 32, 40, and 45°C, but at 47°C the mortality rate of all species increased, with Argentine ants experiencing 100% mortality after 3 h. At 50°C, Argentine ants displayed no survival at 1 h, whereas the Iridomyrmex exhibited ≈50% survival after 3 h. These results may have significant implications in Australia, where the ground surface temperatures may become very high during the summer, potentially limiting the spread of Argentine ants.
Contact chemoreceptive sex recognition in the male cricket, Teleogryllus commodus

ABSTRACT. A behavioural continuum ranging from extreme aggression to overt sexual behaviour was used to measure male crickets' reactions to being touched in a standardized manner on their antennae with freshly severed antennae of male and female conspecifics. Sexually receptive males responded primarily with the aggressive song to male antennae and with the courtship song to female antennae. The ontogeny of the antennal effectiveness and the males' reaction was also determined. Because the ability of the antennae to elicit a reaction could be eliminated by treating them with chloroform, and since there were no morphological differences between male and female antennae, separate male and female sex recognition pheromones must be implicated. The chemo‐tactile nature of these substances is indicated by the inability to obtain either behavioural or EAG responses to air carrying the odour of males or females.
Annual Variation in Fruiting Pattern Using Two Different Methods in a Lowland Tropical Forest, Tinigua National Park, Colombia 1

KITAJIMA, K. , AND C. K. AUGSPURGER. 1989. Seed and seedling ecology of a monocarpic tropical tree, Tracbigalia LANGENHEIM, J. H. , c. B. OSMOND, A. BROOKS, AND l? J. FERRAR. 1984. Photosynthetic responses to light in seedlings LEVEY, D. J. 1990. Habitat-dependent fruiting behaviour of an understorey tree, Miconia centrodesmata, and tropical OSUNKOYA, 0. O. , J. E. ASH, M. S. HOPKINS, AND A. W. GRAHAM. 1992. Factors affecting survival of tree seedlings -, A. W. GRAHAM, AND M. S. HOPKINS. 1993. Growth of tree seedlings in tropical rain forests of PARKER, G. G. 1985. The effect of disturbance on water and solute budgets of hillslope tropical rainforest in northSAMPER, C. 1992. Natural disturbance and plant establishment in an Andean cloud forest. Ph.D. thesis. Harvard SCHUPP, E. W. 1988. Seed and early seedling predation in the forest understory and in treefall gaps. Oikos 51: 71TURNER, I. M. 1990. Tree seedling survivorship and growth of three Shorea species in a Malaysian tropical rain forest. VITOUSEK l? M. , AND J. S. DENSLOW. 1986. Nitrogen and phosphorus availability in treefall gaps of a lowland tropical WHITMORE T. C. 1978. Gaps in the forest canopy. In l? B. Tomlinson and M. H. Zimmerman (Eds.) Tropical trees versicolor. Ecology 70: 1102-1 114. of selected Amazonian and Australian rainforest tree species. Oecologia 63: 21 5-224. treefall gaps as keystone habitats for frugivores in Costa Rica. J. Trop. Ecol. 6: 409-420. in North Queensland rainforests. Oecologia 9 1 : 569-578. North Queensland, Australia. J. Trop. Ecol. 9: 1-18. eastern Costa Rica. Ph.D. thesis. University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia. University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. 78. J. Trop. Ecol. 4: 469-478. rainforest. J. Ecol. 74: 1167-1 178. as living systems, pp. 639-655. Cambridge University Press, London, England. Pilar Am6zquita2 Laboratorio de Botanica Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela E-15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
EVALUATION OF PINEGRASS AS RANGE FORAGE

Seasonal changes in the quality of pinegrass (Calamagrostis rubescens) on native forest range in southern British Columbia included declines in crude protein content and in vitro digestibility of dry matter and increases in content of lignin, acid-detergent fiber, and ash. The decline in average daily gains of beef heifers was more rapid than changes in quality of the pinegrass over the grazing period from June to October.Pinegrass contained adequate nutrients for the rapid growth of yearlings or for maintaining weanling calves until August 1, whereupon protein and phosphorus supplementation were required. Nutrient requirements of pregnant cows and replacement heifers were adequately met until September 1.Copper and zinc were inadequate throughout the season. Calcium, iron, and manganese contents, however, were satisfactory. Silica was high and must be considered a potential problem in pinegrass utilization.Digestible dry matter gave a high positive correlation with crude protein and phosphorus and a high.
Foliage distribution in old-growth coniferous tree canopies

The vertical distribution of foliage for several old-growth trees is discussed and modeled. The data include the foliage distribution of nine Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco) crowns, the foliage distribution of a sugar pine (Pinuslambertiana Dougl.) crown, and the foliage distribution of a composite of the nine Douglas-fir trees which represents the stand canopy. The data show that the foliage is distributed asymmetrically in the crown with the maximum amount often located at a height approximately equal to 80% of the tree height. The data further show that the crown base is 9–30 m above the ground. Five different mathematical models of the foliage distribution (a normal distribution, a chi-square distribution, a beta distribution, a difference of exponentials, and a chi-square-like distribution) are fitted to the data and compared. The beta distribution and the chi-square distribution appear to fit the data slightly better than the others; but the differences in r2 between all the models.
The changing relation of landscape patterns and jack pine budworm populations during an outbreak

The influence of landscape patterns on ecological processes is generally acknowledged, but often difficult to quantify. The objective of our study was to quantify the relation of jack pine budworm (Choristoneura pinus pinus) population levels to both the abundance of jack pine (Pinus banksiana) and of jack pine stand edges in the landscape. The 450 000 ha Pine Barrens region, located in northwestern Wisconsin, USA, experienced a severe jack pine budworm outbreak from 1990 to 1995. We calculated landscape indices on a landcover map derived from Landsat TM satellite imagery. Landscape indices were calculated on circular buffers (0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, and 2.5 km radius) centered on 143 budworm population sampling points for which annual budworm counts were available. Edge density was normalized for the proportion of jack pine in the landscape using random maps as a standard. Correlations between landscape patterns and budworm populations varied over time: proportion of jack pine showed strongest positive correlation with budworm population levels up to the peak of the outbreak (1993). Edge density exhibited positive correlation up to the peak of the outbreak, but negative correlation in the subsequent years as the outbreak declined. This may suggest that pollen-bearing male cones, which are more abundant along edges, support higher budworm populations in the initial phase of the outbreak, but stronger predation on budworm along edges subsequently reduces populations. We provide insight into previously inconclusive results on the relation of jack pine budworm population density to jack pine stand edges. The effects of landscape patterns, such as edge density, may vary not only in magnitude, but also in direction, being positive and negative during different phases of an insect outbreak. Therefore, caution should be taken in relating landscape patterns to process at either a single scale or point in time.
Management of Insect, Disease, and Nematode Pests of Rice and Wheat in the Indo-Gangetic Plains

Summary The dynamics and severity of pest attack in the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) has shifted with the adoption and spread of the rice-wheat crop rotation in the last three decades. Pest attack on the rice and wheat crop in the IGP has been severe in certain years, and pest management in the region has largely been based on chemical control means. Though Integrated Pest Management (IPM) modules have been developed for rice and wheat in India, its adoption and spread has been limited to certain areas of the IGP. In general, pest infestation is higher during the hot and humid summer rice-growing season compared to the cooler wheat-growing season. This article reviews the insect, pathogen, and nematode pest spectrum and their control methods for the rice and wheat crop in the IGP. The changing dynamics of these pests, IPM modules developed in India and successful IPM strategies are also discussed in this article.
Frequency of first and second-line drug resistance-associated mutations among resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates from São Paulo, Brazil

BACKGROUND Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and the number of new cases of multidrug resistant TB (MDR-TB), pre extensively drug-resistant TB (pre-XDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) has increased considerably worldwide. OBJECTIVES Herein, using 156 M. tuberculosis isolates from 106 patients previously classified as MDR or pre-XDR or XDR isolates, we investigated the genetic mutation profiles associated with phenotypic resistances in patients with MDR-TB, pre-XDR-TB and XDR-TB, treatment outcomes and resistance evolution. METHODS Molecular analyses were performed by partial sequencing of the rpoB, katG, gyrA, gyrB, rrs genes and analysis of the fabG-inhA promoter region. Clinical, epidemiologic and demographic data were obtained from the TB Notification database system of São Paulo (TB-WEB) and the Information System for Special Tuberculosis Treatments (SITE-TB). FINDINGS Drug resistance was attributed to previously known mutations and a novel Asp449Val mutation in gyrB was observed in four isolates from the same patient. Ten patients had more than one isolate evaluated and eight of these patients displayed resistance progression. MAIN CONCLUSIONS The present study is the first to report the frequency of mutations related to second-line drug resistance in MDR-TB, pre-XDR-TB and XDR-TB isolates. The results could lead to the improvement of available technologies for the rapid detection of drug resistant TB.