Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of early versus late spring calving on beef cow-calf productivity

Early (April) vs. late (May/June) calving was compared over 3 yr at the University of Alberta Ranch at Kinsella, Alberta, Canada. Three synthetic lines, two of which were predominantly beef breeds (BS1 and BS2) and one with approximately 60% dairy breeding (DS) were used and 995 records were analyzed. Cows from each line were randomly allotted to the early or late breeding schedules at the time of breeding. The same bulls bred cows in their own line, beginning in June and in August for two 6-wk periods. Calving season had no significant effect (P > 0.05) on pregnancy rate (%), calving assistance, calving and weaning rate (%), adjusted off-test weight or post-weaning ADG, suggesting that late calving can be a viable management option. Birth weights of all calves were significantly lower in the early group than in the late group (38.9 vs. 41.2 kg, P < 0.01). In the BS1 and BS2 lines, early calves had higher adjusted pre-weaning ADG: BS1 (1.18 vs. 1.11 kg d−1, P < 0.01), BS2 (1.12 vs. 1.05 kg d−1, P < 0.01) .
Emergence pattern of the Green Turtle, Chelonia mydas, hatchlings under laboratory and natural conditions

Abstract Green Turtle eggs were collected at random from 5 different nests from the Ras Al-Hadd Reserve in Oman. They were incubated 16hr after oviposition at constant temperatures set at 30–31°C for female producers and at 26–27° for male producers. Standard histological procedure of the gonads was performed for sex determination. Despite the constant temperatures set in the incubators, there were differences among the incubated eggs. This is similar to the natural condition, where an asynchronous pattern of emergence is common. Pipping occurs when the eggshell has a slit and hatching is when the head and one flipper are outside the eggshell. Emergence occurs when the hatchling is completely free from the extraembryonic membranes and eggshell. There was no correlation between the pipping-hatching and hatching-emergence intervals in the female, but in males the two intervals were significantly correlated (P<0.01). Hatchling weights were: 28.22 g (±0.83) for females and 25.74 g (±0.58) for males. In both sexes, hatchling weight did not influence the duration of the two intervals. The duration between pipping emergence was significantly (P<0.01) longer in females than in males. Natural and incubator observations showed that the hatchlings remained in the nest after emergence for at least 48hr until the umbilical swelling had subsided before attempting their emergence escape. While the hatchlings remain inside the eggshell after pipping attached to chorioallontoic/amniotic membranes, they are occasionally vulnerable to injury by nesting turtles, micro-organisms or early-emerged hatchlings inside the nest.
An experimental evaluation of the short-term effects of trawling on infaunal assemblages of the coast off southern Brazil

Bottom trawling is a large-scale fishing activity along the Brazilian coast, but its effects on benthic infauna are still poorly known. This is the first experimental evaluation of benthic responses to bottom trawling along the Brazilian coast. We tested the effects of trawling on macroinfaunal assemblages on the inner continental shelf off Paraná (southern Brazil) by using a sampling design with adjacent trawl and control areas. We hypothesized that if trawl fishing has a negative effect then we should expect lower numbers of species and lower benthic densities after an experimental trawling. Sampling was conducted at adjacent sites within each area to minimize confounding due to spatial variation. Five sites were sampled at a control, and five at an experimental area for infaunal and sedimentological variables. Sampling was carried out just before and one hour after experimental trawling. Multidimensional scaling followed by a PERMANOVA did not show any clear variation tendencies in the structure of the benthic assemblages in the impacted area before and after trawling. However, variance analysis showed a significant and unexpected increase in infaunal total density, in the density of the numerically dominant species (except for the polychaetes Capitella sp. and Loandalia tricuspis) and in species richness in the experimental area. Conversely, no significant variations were recorded in the control area. We suggest that the overall increase in benthic density after a disturbance is correlated with the reworking of the sediment matrix and benefits the suspension-feeders after sediment resuspension.
Rice Resistance to Planthoppers and Leafhoppers

For over 50 years, host-plant resistance has been regarded as an efficient method to reduce yield losses to rice caused by delphacid and cicadelid hoppers. Already a number of resistant rice varieties have been developed and deployed throughout Asia. To date, over 70 hopper resistance genes have been identified in rice; however, less than 10 genes have been deliberately introduced to commercial rice varieties. Currently, due to recent brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens [Stål]) and whitebacked planthopper (Sogatella furcifera [Horvath]) outbreaks occurring at an unprecedented scale, researchers are working toward a second generation of resistant varieties using newly identified gene loci and applying new molecular breeding methods. This paper reviews advances in the identification of resistance genes and QTLs against hoppers in rice. It collates all published information on resistance loci and QTLs against the major rice planthoppers and leafhoppers and presents information on gene locations, genetic markers, differential varieties, and wild rice species as sources of resistance. The review indicates that, whereas progress in the identification of genes has been rapid, considerable tidying of the information is required, especially regarding gene nomenclature and resistance spectra. Furthermore, sound information on gene functioning is almost completely lacking. However, hopper responses to resistance mechanisms are likely to be similar because a single phenotyping technique has been applied by most national and international breeding programs during germplasm screening. The review classifies genes occurring at two chromosome regions associated with several identified resistance loci and highlights these (Chr4S: BphR-R and Chr12L: BphR-R) as general stress response regions. The review calls for a greater diversity of phenotyping methods to enhance the durability of resistant varieties developed using marker-aided selection and emphasizes a need to anticipate the development of virulent hopper populations in response to the field deployment of genes.
A Review of Helicobacter pylori Infection in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as abdominal discomfort, chronic abdominal pain, dysphagia, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation are more common in patients with Diabetes Mellitus (DM) than in the general population. Studies published in the past two decades have suggested a link between Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori ) infection and DM in many aspects. These include; higher H. pylori infection prevalence however the data on the prevelance of H. pylori infection in patients with DM are scanty and contradictory, the eradication rate of H. pylori seems to be lower in DM patients than in non-diabetic controls, control of dyspeptic symptoms with eradication as well as association with late complications in DM patients. The aim of the present review is to gain a better understanding of H. pylori infection in DM patients.
Fluctuations of Zooplankton Taxa in Ballast Waterduring Short‐Term and Long‐Term Ocean‐Going Voyages

A major vector for unintentional species introductions is international shipping. A wide range of organisms have been transported over long distances in ships' ballast tanks and as hull fouling. Although many desk studies and ship sampling programmes have been carried out, little information is available on changing numbers of individuals in ballast water during voyages. Detailed information could assist in evaluating the dimension of species import and future risks of unintentional species introductions by ballast water. The first European study, organised as a concerted action team and financed by the European Union, carried out several long-term and short-term workshops on board ships undertaking international voyages. The preliminary results from sampling the ballast water of the first four oceangoing workshops of this Concerted Action showed a decrease in numbers of specimens and taxa over time.
Changes in Sugar, Titratable Acidity, and Ascorbic Acid Content during Fruit Development in Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.)

We compared the changes of sugar content and titratable acidity throughout fruit development in two cultivars, ‘Russian Orange’ from subspecies (ssp.) mongolica and ‘Hergo’ from ssp. rhamnoides of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.). In ‘Russian Orange’ fruit, glucose content increased remarkably from mid-July to early August, whereas the contents of fructose, sucrose and ethylglucose did not increase. In ‘Hergo’ fruit, the content of each sugar did not increase during fruit development. Fruit titratable acidity was low during early fruit development, then remarkably increased from mid-July to early August and decreased at harvesting time in both cultivars. The sugar/acid ratio in ripe fruit was 1.14 in ‘Russian Orange’ and 0.34 in ‘Hergo’, indicating that ‘Russian Orange’ fruit has better flavor. In tracer experiments using 14CO2, 14C-sucrose was found to be the major sugar in the leaves and the stems, suggesting that sucrose is the primary product of photosynthate and a translocatable sugar in sea buckthorn plants. Ascorbic acid content in ‘Russian Orange’ fruit decreased during fruit development, while the content in ‘Hergo’ fruit was roughly constant. ‘Russian Orange’ fruit showed high L-galactose dehydrogenase (L-GDH) activity. In tracer experiments, 14C-ascorbic acid was synthesized from L-14C-galactose and D-14C-mannose. These results suggest that the mannose/L-galactose pathway plays a role in the synthesis of ascorbic acid in sea buckthorn fruit.
Amino acid and energy digestibility in peas (pisum sativum) from white‐flowered spring cultivars for growing pigs

Six barrows, average initial weight 35 kg, fitted with a simple T-cannula at the distal ileum, were used to determine the apparent ileal digestibilities of amino acids (AA) and the digestibility of energy in six diets according to a 6 x 6 Latin square design. The pigs were fed six corn starch-based diets formulated to contain 165 g CP per kg from six different white-flowered spring pea cultivars. Chromic oxide was used as the digestibility marker. The pigs were fed twice daily, at 08:00 and 20:00 h. Each experimental period lasted 9 days. Faeces were collected from 08:00 on day 6 to 08:00 h on day 8; ileal digesta from 08:00 on day 7 to 08:00 h on day 9. Of the indispensable (+semi-) AA, there were differences (P≤0.05) in the AA digestibilities of arginine, methionine, phenylalanine and tyrosine between the cultivars. In the same order for these AA, the digestibilities ranged from 81.3 to 89.0%, 67.8 to 75.1%, 68.0 to 74.6% and 66.1 to 74.8%, respectively. Within each cultivar, the digestibilities of cysteine and threonine were relatively low, ranging from 58.5 to 65.9% and from 59.6 to 67.4%, respectively. The digestibility of lysine was relatively high, ranging from 80.3 to 84.0%. The energy digestibilities in the pea cultivars ranged from 87.4 to 90.2% (P≤0.05); the digestible energy content from 14.0 to 14.4 MJ kg-1 DM. There was considerable disappearance of energy in the large intestine, ranging from 4.4 to 6.2 MJ kg-1 DM intake from peas. In conclusion, when measured with the ileal analysis method, there were differences (P≤0.05) in the digestibilities of some of the indispensable AA between the pea samples. Furthermore, the relatively low digestibilities of methionine and cysteine further accentuate the limitation of the sulphur-containing AA in protein from peas.
Sea urchin pathogen: a possible tool for biological control

A sea urchin pathogen recently exerted great impact on the Nova Scotia near-shore community by releasing large areas of habitat to seaweed colonization and growth. The pathogen has promise for use as a tool for biological control because it is virulent, apparently species specific, can be maintained and transferred in the laboratory, and is waterborne. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that it could be transferred from the laboratory to the field. This was accomplished in a reciprocal transplant experiment. Sea urchins from 2 sites 3.5 km apart were brought to the laboratory; one group was exposed to the disease-causing agent and the other served as control. Both groups were returned to the field but released at opposite sites. Sea urchins naturally occurring near the release of the exposed sea urchins developed disease symptoms within 4 wk; and by 8 wk when the temperature became too low for transfer of disease, diseased sea urchins were found as far as 120 m from the release site. No disease occurred at the control site by 8 wk or in S additional areas within a few kilometers of the 2 release sites
Screening for Glucokinase (GCK) Gene Mutation in Gestational Diabetes Women in Western Region of Saudi Arabia

Aim: The study involved screening of three exons of glucokinase gene (7, 8 and 9) to detect mutations at positions 682A>G, p.T228A, 895G>C, p.G299R and 1148C>A, p.S383X, respectively in Saudi pregnant women with or without gestational diabetes. Methodology: A sample of 100 Saudi pregnant women classified as healthy (control, N = 50 (pregnant women without diabetes)) or with gestational diabetes (N = 50) was analyzed for mutations in the GCK gene. Blood samples were taken and DNA was extracted from whole blood. The target part of GCK gene was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The specific amplified regions were digested by restriction enzymes : Bst UI for exon 7, Hha I for exon 8 and Bfa I for exon 9, and electrophoresed on agarose gel. Mutations were screened by restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results: Fasting glucose levels were statistically higher in gestational diabetes women than controls (P-value = 0.00). The difference in Glucose Challenge Test (GCT) values between two groups shows significante p-value = 0.00. However, We observed that there was no significant correlation between any of the GCK mutations and gestational diabetes in Saudi population. Conclusion: The glucokinase gene mutations do not affect glucose metabolism in pregnant Saudi women.
POPULATIONS OF TITS AND GOLDCRESTS AND THEIR FOOD SUPPLY IN PINE PLANTATIONS

SUMMARY 1 This paper describes a five-year study in the pine plantations of Thetford Chase, East Anglia, to test the hypothesis that populations of tits (Paridae) and Goldcrests Regulus regulus are controlled by food shortage; and secondarily to assess the impact of bird predation on populations of forest insects. 2 In winter, tits spend most of the day feeding; each bird examines some 1100 trees daily, and must find about 5 mg. dry weight of food, or 24 average-sized insects, every minute of the day to maintain itself. Coal Tits Parus ater and Willow Tits P. montanus stored much food in spring and autumn; but stored foods formed a very small part of their diet. Interspecific segregation among the feeding birds was less marked than among the same species in broad-leaved woods. 3 The stock of invertebrate food in the pine foliage in winter ranged from 15–500 mg. dry weight per m2 of forest. The stock declined steeply during the winter, but increased again slightly in early spring. The level to which it fell in late winter was closely correlated with the mean air temperature at the time. 4 In winter, the birds sometimes ate a substantial proportion of the available stock of food; in particular, they regularly ate about 50% of the stock of the eucosmid Ernarmonia conicolana (Heyl.), which was an important food of Blue Tits (Gibb 1958). The birds probably ate similar proportions of other suitable foods. Intraspecific competition for food was judged to be often severe. 5 In winter, the birds' density was closely related to their stock of food. Coal Tits' survival from the end of the breeding season to the end of September was nearly constant from year to year, and was not correlated with the stock of food; but their survival from October to March was extremely variable and was closely correlated with the stock of food. This confirms that the population of tits was controlled by food shortage; nevertheless their territorial behaviour in autumn was probably also important. 6 The paper ends with a discussion on the impact of bird predation on forest insects. It is concluded that as the birds eat a substantial proportion of the invertebrate stock in winter, they are at least a force to be reckoned with; also, if they help to stablise forest insect populations stepi should be taken to increase their numbers, perhaps most profitably by planting a variety of tree species to provide them with additional winter food.
The effects of age, sex, reproductive status and temporal factors on the time-use of free-ranging red kangaroos

The effects of temporal (time of day and season) factors and size, sex, female reproductive state and group size on the diel time-use of free-ranging red kangaroos (Macropus rufus) was examined. Particular emphasis was given to the effects on their foraging behaviour, with foraging divided into cropping, chewing and searching components. The study was conducted in semi-arid western New South Wales from July 1991 to March 1992, a time of deepening drought conditions in New South Wales. Group size had very little influence on the time-use of M. rufus. It was negatively but only weakly correlated with the proportion of foraging time spent chewing (chewing intensity). No significant differences in time-use were found between size classes of adult males (large and medium-sized males), females with or without pouch young, or females with different-sized pouch young (no visible young, small pouch young or large pouch young). Differences occurred between adult males, adult females and subadult kangaroos. These differences were mainly associated with their chewing and searching behaviour and were related to body size; as body size increased the proportion of time spent chewing and the intensity of chewing increased while the proportion of time searching and the proportion of foraging time spent searching (searching intensity) decreased. Neither the proportion of time spent cropping or foraging nor the proportion of foraging time spent cropping (cropping intensity) or the proportion of active time spent foraging (foraging intensity) differed between any size/sex/reproductive class. Temporal effects had a considerable influence on time-use. M. rufus were most active at night and in the few hours after sunrise and sunset. Seasonal changes in time-use were largely a result of changes in daytime behaviour. M. rufus foraged less and rested more during the day in winter than in spring or summer. There was no increase in the intensity or proportion of time spent foraging or cropping at night to compensate for the reduction in diurnal foraging. It is hypothesised that temporal variations in time-use were related to variations in weather and vegetation conditions.
Growth, reproductive development and yield of effectively nodulated cowpea plants in contrasting aerial environments

SUMMARY Effectively nodulated cowpea plants were grown to reproductive maturity in growth cabinets set to simulate factorial combinations of daylength (11 h 40 min or 13 h 20 min), day temperature (27 or 33°C) and night temperature (19 or 24°C) characteristic of humid tropical environments. The experiment was designed specifically to compare and contrast the growth, reproductive ontogeny and seed yield of these plants with data obtained earlier when the same symbiotic combination (cv. K 2809 and Rhizobium CB 756) received large amounts (197 mg/l) of inorganic nitrogen throughout growth. These comparisons have shown that effectively nodulated plants are potentially no less adaptable to the aerial environment than are plants depending on inorganic nitrogen, whilst producing equally as good, or even better, seed yields.
Difficulties Experienced by High School Students when Learning Basic Mendelian Genetics.

WO RECENT PAPERS (Stewart 1980; Finley, Stewart, and Yarroch 1980) have suggested that researchers should focus attention on the content of instruction as an important research variable. Finley, et al. surveyed high school science teachers to determine what content they thought was most important and most difficult for their students to learn. In biology, over 50 categories were provided for teachers to rate with respect to difficulty and importance. A summary of the results, indicating the 15 most important and difficult categories, is presented in table 1. The results indicate that genetics is an area that is both important and difficult for high school students to master. As a result of this survey, a research program has been developed to increase our understanding of students' learning and meaningful problem solving in genetics. The initial phase of that research will be reported here.
Some Experiments On Thermal Acclimation in the Goldfish (Carassius Auratus L.)

1. Goldfish with a body weight ranging from 40 to 110 grams were acclimated to 15°C and 30°C. The oxygen consumption rates of fish swimming at a constant speed were measured at the acclimation temperature and at temperatures deviating from the acclimation level. Swimming goldfish show thermal compensation in the oxygen uptake rates. 2. The oxygen consumption rates and critical oxygen concentrations of goldfish were measured in specimens swimming at a constant speed and at acclimation temperature in different salinities. When the osmotic gradient between the internal and external milieus declines, the O 2 consumption rate increases and the critical O 2 concentration decreases. This finding supports the view that respiration rate of fish is a compromise between the demands of gastransport and osmoregulation. 3. The rate of oxygen consumption of propulsion muscles shows thermal compensation. Acclimation to a change from 15°C to 30°C requires 4 to 5 weeks, according to the criterion of succinate-oxidase system activity. 4. The activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenese, lactate dehydrogenase, and -hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase of muscle tissues does not exhibit thermal compensation, as judged from comparison of the 15°C and 30°C levels. During acclimation from 15°C to 30°C, the activity of both succinate dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase of red lateral muscle decreases and that of -glycerophosphate dehydrogenase increases. The lactate dehydrogenase isozymic pattern of goldfish muscle is dependent on the acclimation temperature. 5. During thermal adaptation from 15°C to 30°C there is: a) a relative decrease of the oxygen consumption rate of swimming fish, b) a lowering of the oxidative capacity of the propulsion muscles, c) a change in the muscular lactate dehydrogenase isozymic pattern in the direction of a probably more anaerobic pattern, and d) a shift in quantitative importance from the muscular malate shuttle to the a-glycerophosphate shuttle. These points are consistent with the view that metabolism of the propulsion muscles of the goldfish changes into a more anaerobic type, so that the initial increase of the ventilation rate can be reduced during adaptation to the higher temperature.