Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Performance, immunity, serum biochemical and hematological parameters in broiler chicks fed dietary thyme as alternative for an antibiotic growth promoter

A research study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary inclusion of thyme powder as an antibiotic growth promoter substitution on performance, immune responses, hematological and biochemical parameters in broiler chicks. In this study, 192 day old chicks (Ross 308) were allocated to four treatments with four replicates based on a completely randomized design. Dietary treatments included control, antibiotic (flavophospholipol), and 5 and 10 g/kg thyme powder. Supplementing the diet with antibiotic and 5 g/kg thyme resulted in a significant increase in body weight (P 0.05). Thyme powder at 10 g/kg level significantly (P<0.05) increased HDL-cholesterol concentration but protein, albumin, triglyceride, total and LDL cholesterol concentrations were not influenced. Treatments also failed to induce any statistical impacts on hematological parameters of broilers including red and white blood cell count, hemoglobin and hematocrit values. The obtained results suggest that supplementing broilers’ diet with 5 g/kg thyme can indicate favorable influences of antibiotic growth promoter on performance without any detrimental impacts on immune responses and blood parameters. Key words : Broiler, thyme, growth performance, immunity, serum biochemistry, hematology.
Defining Essential Fish Habitat for Atka Mackerel with Respect to Feeding within and Adjacent to Aleutian Islands Trawl Exclusion Zones

Abstract The distribution patterns of Atka mackerel Pleurogrammus monopterygius were examined, both seasonally and spatially, to identify essential feeding habitat and to add to existing knowledge of diet composition. The study focused on two local aggregations in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska: one at Seguam Pass and one near Amchitka Island. At each locale, we examined the mean stomach fullness (i.e., feeding intensity) and diet composition of randomly selected fish within and outside of trawl exclusion zones (TEZs). The trawl exclusion zones extend out 10–20 nm from Steiler sea lion Eumetopias jubatus rookeries and haulouts; no trawling is allowed inside these zones. During four of the six periods examined, mean stomach fullness was higher inside the TEZ than outside it. At Seguam Pass, fish were distributed into northern and southern aggregations and diet composition varied by age, season, and location relative to the TEZs. Feeding intensity appeared to be greatest inside the TEZ in the northern portion of Seguam Pass near a productive frontal region characterized by a transition zone of well-mixed (upwelling) and stratified water. At Seguam Pass, piscivory occurred almost entirely inside the TEZ in June. Near Amchitka Island, feeding intensity was significantly higher inside the TEZ, which coincided with an increase in egg cannibalism in October. Based on these observations, we suggest that the areas of increased feeding activity in conjunction with diet composition at Seguam Pass and Amchitka Island represent essential feeding habitat for Atka mackerel.
How long before a change in soil organic carbon can be detected?

When planning sampling in an experiment where soil organic carbon (SOC) content is expected to change, it is necessary to know how many samples will need to be taken to demonstrate a change in SOC and after how long this change will be detectable. Much has been published on the number of samples required to demonstrate the minimum detectable difference in SOC, but less on how long it takes for this change to be detectable. In this paper, a model of SOC dynamics is used to estimate the minimum time taken for a change in total SOC content to become measurable under different carbon inputs, land uses and soil types.
Seed protein characterization and isozyme diversity for cultivar identification in grasspea (Lathyrus sativus L.)

The characterization of seed protein of various geographically divergent grasspea genotypes was done by protein fractionation, polymorphism and isozymic analysis. No positive correlation was found between seed size and protein content. Though there was genotype-specificity for different levels of protein fractions, globulin level proved to be the highest and prolamine the least. SDS-PAGE of different grasspea genotypes, even of same geographic origin revealed variation in number, width and intensity of bands. The multigene inheritance of seed protein expression could be identified from the zymograms. Similarity percentage between genotypes was also calculated. In general, geographical origin does not influence genotype specific seed protein content and its polymorphism. Observations suggested the polymorphic nature of esterase and peroxidase isozyme, which provided worthy information, regarding genetic variability among the cultivars under experiment.
INFLUENCE OF ACETYL CHOLINE LEVEL ON PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE AND IMMUNE RESPONSES IN BROILER CHICKS

SUMMARY One hundred and twenty Hubbard broiler chicks at one day old of age were randomized and fed one of four dietary treatment diets differing in dietary acetyl choline (AC) levels (0, 5, 10 and 15 mg/ kg feed), broilers within each dietary treatment were randomized into 3 replicates of 10 chickens each for the whole experimental period (6 weeks) from 0 to 6 weeks of age. Response criteria included production parameters, measures of blood physiological and immunological measurements. Acetyl choline supplementation at 15 mg/kg diet significantly increased BW at 3 weeks of age by 9.56%, and numerically improved FCR by 8.0% as compared to those of control group. However, no significant effect of AC supplementation at 5 or 10 mg/kg feed on BWG, FI and FCR during all experimental periods. There were no statistical significant influences of the dietary choline level on serum glucose, cholesterol, and liver functions as judged by liver enzymes e.g. AST and ALT. On the other hand, choline dietary supplementation significantly increased serum total protein and was statistically similar to the un-supplemented controls (6.67, 6.79 and 6.70 g./ dl), respectively. Acetyl choline as at 10 or 15 mg/kg feed significantly increased serum globulin and were statistically similar, but different to the un-supplemented controls (4.80 and 4.85 vs. 3.51 g./ dl), respectively. Similarly, albumin to globulin ratio was found to be statistically similar between the control and 5 mg/ kg feed of acetyl choline, but differ significantly as compared to higher acetyl choline dietary levels of 10 and 15 mg/ kg feed, respectively. In conclusion, growing broiler chicks responded positively to acetyl choline supplementation of 10 mg/kg feed. Similar finding were noted with the same dietary acetyl choline inclusion with immunity parameters and blood physiological parameters within the study period from 0 to 6 weeks of age.
Bacterial Phosphatidylinositol‐Specific Phospholipases C as Membrane‐Attacking Agents and Tools for Research on GPI‐Anchored Proteins

Bacterial phosphatidylinositol‐specific phospholipases C have been shown not only to cause breakdown of phosphatidylinositol but also to release GPI‐anchored proteins from the plasma membranes of eucaryotes. Several enzymes in this group have been sequenced by cloning genomic DNA, and the enzymes of Bacillus cereus and Listeria monocytogenes were analyzed for their structures by X‐ray crystallography. In the active sites of enzymes from Bacillus genera and L. monocytogenes, the roles of component amino acid residues in catalysis have been mostly clarified. The enzyme of Bacillus thuringiensis exhibited cytotoxicity against some cultivated cells. The enzyme of L. monocytogenes was shown to contribute to listerial infection of epithelial cells and macrophages as a virulence factor cooperating with other factors such as listeriolysin O and phosphatidylcholine‐preferring phospholipase C. Recently, this enzyme proved to stimulate the signal‐transduction system of host cells in listeriosis. The requirements for effective utilization of bacterial phosphatidylinositol‐specific phospholipases C should be considered in research on GPI‐anchored proteins, cellular transduction, and so forth, given the unique properties of these enzymes.
Innovative problem solving in nonhuman animals: the effects of group size revisited

Sociality is associated with a variety of costs and benefits, one of which can be to increase the likelihood of individuals solving novel problems. Several hypotheses explaining why groups show higher innovative problem-solving efficiencies than individuals alone have been proposed including the sharing of antipredator vigilance and the pool-of-competence effect, whereby larger groups containing a more diverse range of individuals are more likely to contain individuals with the skills necessary to solve the particular problem at hand. Interference between group members may cause groups to have lower problem solving abilities, however. Using a simulation approach, we model the shape of the relationship between group-level problem-solving probability and group size across a range of facilitation and inhibition scenarios, various population distributions of problem solving, and a task requiring 1 action or 2 actions to be solved. Simulations showed that both sharing of antipredator vigilance and the addition of competent individuals to an existing group lead to positive relationships between group-level problem solving and group size that reach 100% solving probability, whereas interference effects generate group-solving probabilities that rise to a maximum and decrease again, generating a group size for which problem solving is maximized. In contrast, both inhibition and facilitation scenarios generate identical patterns of individual efficiencies. Our results have important implications for our ability to understand the mechanisms that underpin group-size effects on problem solving in nonhumans.
Antifungal and Chemical Composition of Essential Oils of Juniperus communis L. and Thymus vulgaris L. against Two Phytopathogenic Fungi

The essential oils of the aerial parts of Juniperus communis and flowering tops and leaves of Thymus vulgaris were isolated by hydrodistillation with a yield of 0.1 and 0.3 % (wt/wt), respectively. The isolated oils were tested for their in vitro antifungal activity against two phytopathogenic fungi, Rhizoctonia solani and Rhizopus stolonifer. These oils showed a remarkable antifungal effect against both fungi. The essential oil of T. vulgaris was more potent as antifungal agent against R. solani and Rh. stolonifer, respectively, with EC50 values of 0.385 and 0.491 mg/ml than the oil of J. communis ( EC50: 0.554 and 0.704 mg/ml). The essential oil of J. communis was chemically analyzed by GC-MS. The main components were oxygenated monoterpenes.Therefore, the antifungal activity of the oil can be attributed to its relatively high content of oxygenated monoterpenes.Thymol was isolated from T. vulgaris essential oil and was found to be superior as antifungal agent against both fungi than the two oils. The fungistatic test revealed that the essential oils and thymol were fungistatic in their nature. These results suggest the potential use of the above essential oils for the control of fungal diseases.
Fertility Variation and its Implications on Relatedness in Seed Crops in Seedling Seed Orchards of Eucalyptus camaldulensis and E. tereticornis

Abstract Seedling seed orchards of Eucalyptus tereticornis (N =192 & 505) and E. camaldulensis (N =182 & 525) were established at two sites (one moist and one dry) in southern India. The fertility (based on the number of flowers and fruits) was registered for each tree at age eight and nine years. E. camaldulensis on the moist location had 73% fertile trees and low fertility difference (sibling coefficient, Ψ, was 2.27) at eight years. whereas Only 23% trees were fertile in the E. tereticornis orchard at the same site and the fertility variation was high (Ψ =11.71). In the dry location, fertility was almost the same in both species at nine years, with 45 & 51% fertile trees in E. camaldulensis (Ψ =5.4) and E. tereticornis (Ψ = 5.2) respectively. Though the fertility trends were the same in both years, the number of fertile trees was comparatively higher at nine years (except in the low flowering E. tereticornis orchard at the moist site) in both the sites. Gene diversity values of the seed crop estimated for two consecutive years are fairly high except for the E. tereticornis (GD = 0.9650 and 0.9690) orchard located in the moist site. The implications of fertility variation on diversity of progeny have been discussed in the light of domestication strategies and tree breeding programs implemented for eucalypts.
Physiological Response to Chilling Temperatures of Intermittently Warmed Cucumber Fruit

Symptoms of chilling injury were reduced by intermittently warming cucumber fruit (Cucumis sativus L. cv. Poinsett 76) from 2.5 to 12.5C for 18 hr every 3 days. Fruit continuously held at 2.5C for 13 days developed severe pitting and decay after 6 days at 20C, while fruit continuously held at 12.5C or intermittently warmed showed no pitting or decay during subsequent holding at 20C. The increased rate of C 2H4 production during the first warming period, from 12 nl·(kg·hr) -1 at 2.5C to 201 nl·(kg·hr) -1 at 12.5C, was significantly greater than that during the second or third warming periods, i.e., 53 to 98 and 53 to 55 nl C2H4/(kg·hr), respectively. Respiration increased 3- fold during the initial warming period, but only 2-fold during subsequent warming periods. Leakage of cellular ions from excised disks of mesocarp tissue was around 6% and 10% of the total ion content of the tissue for control and intermittently warmed fruit, respectively, but increased to 17% for fruit that were continuously held at 2.5C for 10 days. After 320 hr (three cycles) of chilling and warming, chilled fruit showed significantIy lower ethylene-forming enzyme activity than the control or intermittentl y warmed fruit. Fruit held at 12.5C contained 0.09 to 0.34 nmol·g -1
Life spans of planktonic foraminifers: New sight through sediment traps

Determining life spans of planktonic foraminifera is vital in view of their increasing use for paleoclimatic studies. Till date all the estimates about life spans of planktonic foraminifers are based on the extrapolations of growth rates obtained in culture experiments and range from a few days to a few weeks, varying widely. Here we propose the use of sediment trap technique to get much better estimates of life spans of planktonic foraminifers. On the basis of sediment trap results, we hypothesize that in general the life spans of planktonic foraminiferal species are of the order of few months instead of few days to few weeks, as reported earlier.
Seed Transmission Viruses in Squash Seeds (Cucurbita pepo) in Southern Syria and Jordan Valley

This study was conducted to identify virus transmission in imported and local squash seeds. Seeds were collected from symptomatic and symptomless fruits in Southern Syria and the Jordan Valley, during the 2006/2007 growing season. Serological tests indicated the presence of 8 seed transmitted viruses at different rates: Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) was the most commonly encountered virus in all seedlings (0.5%) and in symptomatic fruits (2.4%), followed by Arabis mosaic virus (ArMV) (0.27%) and 1.8% in seeds of symptomless fruits, Tomato ring spot virus (ToRSV) (0.23%) and 1.2% in symptomatic fruits, Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) (0.25%) and 0.4% in symptomatic fruits (detected in one seedling), Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) (0.12%), Tomato black ring virus (ToBRV) (0.15%), Squash mosaic virus (SqMV) (0.08%), Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) (0.08%). The seed transmission rates were 5.2% and 4.8% in seeds from symptomatic and symptomless fruits, respectively, and these rates were lower in imported seeds (0.25%) than in Syrian local seeds (0.64%). Serological tests indicated that viral incidence in all seeds was 1.47% (38 virus-infected seedlings from a total of 2575 seedlings). This is the first record of virus seed transmission of ArMV, ToRSV, TSWV and ToBRV in squash seeds. Serological tests indicated the absence of Papaya ring spot virus (PRSV), Watermelon mosaic virus (WMV) and Squash leaf curl virus (SLCV) from the seeds. Seed germination was higher in imported seeds (81.5%) as compared to Syrian local seeds (78%), Jordanian local seeds (40%), seeds from symptomless fruits (33%) and in symptomatic fruits (25%).
Damage of two spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch.) (Acari: Tetranychidae) in marigold and their management with bio-rationals: West Bengal perspective

An attempt has been made to work out the comparative bio-efficacy of different novel acaricides (abamectin, fenazaquin, diafenthiuron, propergite) belonging to different groups (IRAC) and primary target site of mites against the obnoxious mite T. urticae of marigold. The reflection of damage in marigold by the mite vis-a-vis their ecological preferences have also been worked out.
Effect of herbicides and cultural practices on growth and yield of Chickpea

The investigation was conducted at the farm of Department of Agronomy, Dr. PDKV Akola, in the season of 2010–2011. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design (R.B.D.) with ten treatments and three replications. There were one cultural treatments of hand weeding and hoeing. These treatments were compared with eight chemical treatments of Imazathapyr, Pendimethalin, and Quizolofop-p-ethyl with their recommended rates and one weedy check. The objective of the study was to study the relative efficacy of herbicides and cultural practices on weed control. Plant phototoxic effect, AGR, RGR, NAR, Grain yield, straw yield and test weight of Gram and to study the effect of herbicides on growth and yield of Gram. Pendimethaline 1 kg ha−1+1H at 40 DAS recorded highest yield in chemical treatment. But cultural weed control treatment 2H at 15 and 40 DAS + HW at 30DAS recorded highest grain yield and B:C ratio.
Optimal Function Explains Forest Responses to Global Change

Plant responses to global changes in carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen, and water availability are critical to future atmospheric CO2 concentrations, hydrology, and hence climate. Our understanding of those responses is incomplete, however. Multiple-resource manipulation experiments and empirical observations have revealed a diversity of responses, as well as some consistent patterns. But vegetation models—currently dominated by complex numerical simulation models—have yet to achieve a consensus among their predicted responses, let alone offer a coherent explanation of the observed ones. Here we propose an alternative approach based on relatively simple optimization models (OMs). We highlight the results of three recent forest OMs, which together explain a remarkable range of observed forest responses to altered resource availability. We conclude that OMs now offer a simple yet powerful approach to predicting the responses of forests—and, potentially, other plant types—to global change. We recommend ways in which OMs could be developed further in this direction.
Expression of the Gene for Translation Elongation Factor 1α-Related Protein during Development of the Sea Urchin Anthocidaris crassispina

Abstract The cDNA for a protein that is related to translation elongation factor 1α (EF-1α) has been cloned from the sea urchin Anthocidaris crassispina. The sea urchin EF-1α-related protein (AcEFP) seems somewhat unique in structure compared to EF-1α of other organisms so that it is uncertain if AcEFP is a genuine EF-1α. Still, it possesses many features of typical EF-1α reported so far, suggesting that AcEFP is involved in protein synthesis or its regulation. Genomic Southern analysis indicated that the sea urchin genome contains one or at most two copies of the AcEFP gene. A single transcript of 2.2 kb is expressed ubiquitously in adult tissues examined and, during embryogenesis, zygotically after the blastula stage. Whole mount in situ hybridization showed that the AcEFP gene is also widely expressed in embryos, with relatively high expression in the gut and oral ectoderm, both of which are proliferating tissues in embryos. The expression of AcEFP was not affected in embryos by agents that destabilize the extracellular matrix (ECM), suggesting that expression of AcEFP is relatively independent of the integrity of ECM in sea urchin embryos.
Variation for grain and quality characteristics in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Breeding for superior rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes having high yield potential coupled with desirable quality attributes should be the strategy for a successful breeding programme. The current investigation therefore evaluated the physico-chemical characters and cooking quality of 56 high yielding rice varieties from different eco-geographical areas viz., Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines and Sri Lanka.
Dynamics of Microbial Communities in an Earthen Shrimp Pond during the Shrimp Growing Period

Correlations between the activities of microbial communities and water quality in an earthen pond were investigated monthly during the shrimp growing period. The TAN gradually decreased compared to the beginning time, thereby resulting in an overall decrease of 81.3%. In contrast, the overall nitrate concentration increased 46.3% over this same period. Microbial community analysis using PCR-DGGE showed that changes in community dynamics that occurred during the shrimp growing period might be correlated to water quality. Overall, there were 3 groups of microbial dynamics. The 1 st
Optimizing the structure and management of uneven-sized stands of Finland

Summary In Finland, uneven-sized forest management is gradually becoming an acceptable practice. At the moment, there are no silvicultural instructions for the management of uneven-sized forests, although there is willingness among forest owners to adopt this practice. This study optimized the steady-state structure and management of uneven-sized Scots pine and Norway spruce stands, so as to help develop management instructions. The post-thinning diameter distribution of the uneven-sized stand was optimized with 20-year cutting cycle when aiming at maximal economic profitability. Spruce stand optimizations were done for fertile and medium sites and pine stand optimizations for medium and poor sites. The optimal post-thinning distributions had a truncated reverse J shape, the frequencies of all trees larger than 18–20 cm being zero. This shape means that all log-sized trees have to be removed at 20-year intervals when economic profitability is maximized. When sawlog production was maximized, the largest retained trees were 25–30 cm in diameter at breast height (d.b.h.). The optimal diameter distributions of pine stands were clearly more uniform than spruce distributions, i.e. the preponderance of small trees was less pronounced in pine. With 2 per cent discounting rate, the optimal post-thinning basal area of trees larger than 5 cm d.b. h. was 11–12 m 2 ha 21 for fertile spruce stands and 4–9 m 2 ha 21 for pine stands and spruce stands of medium fertility. Uneven-sized management was found to be more profitable than even-aged management; even-aged management was more profitable only in spruce stands on fertile sites in southern Finland with low discounting rate (1 per cent). Increasing discounting rate and decreasing site productivity improved the relative performance of uneven-sized management.