Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Milk production in goats compared to buffalo and cattle in humid tropics.

Dairy goats are important for the supply of high quality proteins in milk through conversion of feed from noncompetitive sources. Significance of milk production in less developed countries is growing. Goats are the third ranking source of milk, but these countries produce approximately 52% of the world production of goat milk. Given are gross composition of goat milk for breeds in the tropics, comparisons with milk from buffalo and cows, size of fat globules, amino acid composition of casein, nitrogen distribution of normal milk, fatty acid composition, mineral and vitamin contents. Intakes of dry matter as percent of adult body weight for tropical, imported, and European breeds were 3.3, 3.6, and 4.6%. Milk yields were 280, 577, and 1,476 kg for lactation lengths of 199, 221, and 455 days. Efficiency of milk production is dependent on high milk yields. Efficiency of protein production in milk of goats compared to meat is discussed. Development of milk production from goats by small farmers in the tropics can complement commercialized milk production from buffalo and cows and is important for alleviation of undernutrition and malnutrition.
Effects of Monitoring of Service Delivery of National Cereals and Produce Board in Kitale

Many corporate organizations develop projects with the objective of improving service delivery aimed at improving standards of living. Resources are allocated to these organizations and it is important to get value for these inputs. Organizations may have good plans for monitoring practice and for effectiveness of information and projects. The practice aims at comparing the way things are actually done against the original plan. State corporations may have good monitoring intents but the extent to which the practice is successfully implemented influences service delivery. The study sought to establish the effect of monitoring on service delivery of state corporations, specifically, National Cereals and Produce Board, Kitale. Studies have been conducted on factors influencing performance of monitoring and evaluation systems of non-governmental organizations, however, little information was available on monitoring practice and service delivery of such state corporations. Theory of change guided the study, and used descriptive survey design was employed. Data was collected from managers, supervisors and employees. The sample was selected through stratified, simple random technique. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected. Self-administered structured questionnaires and interview guides were used. The instruments were tested for reliability and validity. Data analysis was done using descriptive and inferential statistics of simple regression coefficient analysis. Qualitative data was analysed using content analysis and presented in form of tables. Regression value indicated that monitoring practice was statistically significant and therefore influenced service delivery. The study recommends adoption of monitoring practice in order to ensure that there is improved service delivery.
Estimativas de parâmetros genéticos para produção e composição do leite de vacas da raça Holandesa no estado do Paraná

The objectives of this study were to estimate heritabilities and genetic correlations for milk (MY), fat (FY) and protein (PY) yields and for percentages of fat (%F) and protein (%P) in milk of Holstein cows in Parana State. Data consisted of 117,082 lactation records for MY, FY and PY and 116,747 records for %F and %P from herds supervised by the Milk Recording Service of the Holstein Breeders Association of Parana from January 1992 to December 2003. Covariance components and genetic parameters were estimated by Bayesian inference using an animal model including the fixed effects of contemporary group, number of milking, linear and quadratic effects for calving age and the additive genetic, permanent environmental and residual random effects. Averages and respective standard deviations for MY, FY and PY (kg) were respectively 8,181.23 ± 1,903.51, 270.88 ± 67.58 and 249.01 ± 55.65 and for %F and %P they were 3.33 ± 0.45 and 3.06 0.19, respectively. Heritability estimates for MY, FY, PY, %G and %P obtained from single-trait analyses were 0.26, 0.28, 0.25, 0.60 and 0.58, respectively. They indicate that these traits may be improved by selection. Genetic correlation estimates between MY and FY, MY and PY, FY and PY, MY and %F, MY and %P and for %F and %P were 0.56, 0.89, 0.67, -0.42, -0.39 and 0.56, respectively. Selection for increasing MY will result in positive correlated genetic gains for kg of fat and protein but decrease their percentages in milk.
Global patterns of Sphagnum productivity

Abstract Data from 55 published studies of Sphagnum productivity were compiled covering 31 peat-moss species from Sphagnum-dominated wetlands. The relationships between productivity and geographical position and climatic parameters were investigated based on data from both the northern and southern hemispheres. There were interspecific differences in productivity, which could be explained by both phylogeny and microhabitat preferences. Species of section Cuspidata had greater productivity than species of section Acutifolia. The wetter microhabitat carpets and lawns had higher productivity than the drier hummocks. Climatic conditions (mean annual temperature and precipitation), together with geographical factors, were able to explain 40 % of the variation in productivity. The most important single factor explaining productivity on a global scale in Sphagnum-dominated wetlands was the mean annual temperature. Climatic parameters, together with geographical position, are important for estimating the global patterns of Sphagnum productivity, and can be used to estimate productivity changes in Sphagnum-dominated wetlands under climatic warming scenarios.
A Comparison of Protein Fractions Prepared from Lima Beans (Phaseolus lunatus) in Starter Diets for Broiler Chicks

Abstract Ologhobo, A.D., Apata, D.F. , Oyejide, A. and Akinpelu, RO. 1993. A comparison of protein fractions prepared from lima beans (Phaseolus lunatus)in starter diets for broiler chicks. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 4: 13–30. Diets containing 25% raw untreated lima beans (RLB) and lima bean protein fractions were fed to 360 broiler chicks in a four week feeding study. The process of fractionation was an efficient method of concentrating the antinutritional factors, especially trypsin inhibitors (TI) and heamaglutinins (Hg), which were highly localized in the base and acid soluble protein (BSP and ASP) fractions. Weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion efficiency (FCE) were significantly (P<0.05) decreased in all dietary treatments except in birds fed aqueous heated lima beans (HLB). The BSP and ASP-based diets had much higher significant influences on all performance characteristics than any of the other dietary combinations. The principal effects of dietary lima beans on blood constituents were decreased .
Technical Note: INHOMOGENEITY IN THE COMPOSITION OF VESTURE WALLS IN AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL WOOD

Transmission electron microscopy of Terminalia archaeological wood from an ancient Polynesian canoe showed vestures to be intact despite extensive degradation of the secondary wall by erosion bacteria. The vesture wall consisted of a lining wall resistant to degradation and an underlying wall which was partly degraded. These observations provide evidence for inhomogeneity in the composition of Terminalia vesture walls.
Muscle Cholesterol and Serum Biochemical Changes in Broilers Fed with Crude Rice Bran Oil

An experiment was conducted to study the inclusion of crude rice bran oil on production performance, carcass characteristics and biochemical parameters for a period of seven weeks with two hundred and sixteen commercial, straight run day-old Vencobb broiler chicks. These chicks were randomly grouped into six treatments with three replicates of twelve chicks each. The treatment groups consisted of 0% (T ), 1% (T ), 2% (T ), 3% (T ), 4% (T ) and 5% (T ) crude rice bran oil included in the broiler diet. The 1 2 3 4 5 6 breast muscle cholesterol revealed no significant difference between treatment groups. Whereas the mean thigh muscle cholesterol of other treatment group birds was significantly (p<0.05) lower than those of control group. The serum total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides level did not differ significantly between treatment groups.
Control, by microbial seed treatment, of dampingoff caused by Pythium sp. on canola, safflower, dry pea, and sugar beet

Indoor and field experiments were conducted to determine the effects of seed treatment with strains of rhizosphere bacteria collected from southern and central Alberta for control of damping-off of sugar beet, canola, safflower, and dry pea caused by Pythium sp. Indoor experiments showed that 12 strains of rhizobacteria, including Pseudomonas fluorescens (708, 1-2, 1105, 1809, 2106, and 2202), Bacillus cereus PS1, Bacillus megaterium SB6, Arthrobacter sp. 2101, Pantoea agglomerans (909, 2-2), and Erwinia rhapontici A123, were effective in controlling damping-off of sugar beet. These strains varied in their ability to suppress mycelial growth of Pythium sp. group G, in vitro, and in their ability to secrete extracellular protease. Strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens (708, 1-2, 2202), B. cereus PS1, E. rhapontici A123, and Pantoea agglomerans 2-2 were effective seed-treatment agents for control of damping-off of canola, safflower, dry pea, and sugar beet in fields naturally infested with Pythium spp. , although there were some differences in efficacy among the strains for each of the crops. Seed treatment with combination of Pseudomonas fluorescens 708, B. cereus PS1, or E. rhapontici A123 and the fungicide Thiram™ did not improve dry pea emergence compared with the fungicide control under field conditions.
Evidence for an effect of single nucleotide polymorphisms in SORL1 on cerebrospinal fluid markers of Alzheimer’s disease

Evaluation of: Alexopoulos P, Guo LH, Kratzer M, Westerteicher C, Kurz A, Perneczky R. Impact of SORL1 single nucleotide polymorphisms on Alzheimer’s disease cerebrospinal fluid markers. Dement. Geriatr. Cogn. Disord. 32, 164–170 (2011). This study explores the effect of previously reported SORL1 variants on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of Aβ1–42, phosphorylated tau181 and total tau in 100 nondemented people, 166 people with mild cognitive impairment and 87 people with probable Alzheimer’s disease. In individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, the A allele of single nucleotide polymorphism 23 and the T allele of single nucleotide polymorphism 24 were associated with lower CSF Aβ1–42, the latter association becoming marginally insignificant after correction for multiple testing. Both associations showed an interaction with the APOE genotype. There were no significant associations of SORL1 single nucleotide polymorphisms with CSF Aβ1–42 levels in the mild cognitive impairment group or with phosphorylated tau.
Evaluation of fermented cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) pulp as feed ingredient for broiler

Cassava pulp is a solid waste that is produced as a byproduct of starch production in tropical regions. This product still contains high levels of starch, and constitutes a serious environmental concern as a disposal. Cassava pulp can be used as feed for poultry by enriching the protein content (CP). Cassava pulp was added with 3% urea and 2.5% zeolite (clinoptilolite) and was fermented by Aspergillus niger for six days. Due to CP and crude fiber concentration, it was formed good in quality. Fermented cassava pulp-urea-zeolite had the lowest true metabolized energy compared with rice bran and unfermented cassava pulp (2,524 kcal/kg vs. 3,310 and 2,959 kcal/kg, respectively). However, this product had the highest efficiency of protein utilization (72% vs. 39 and 41%, respectively). Broilers were fed diets containing 0, 5, 10, or 15% fermented cassava pulp-urea-zeolite with a commercial diet used for comparison ratio. All treatment diets had no significant effect on the body weight gain, feed conversion, yield of carcass, internal organs and abdominal fat as compared with broiler fed with commercial diet. Results suggest that fermented cassava pulp-urea-zeolite can successfully constitute up to 15% of the diet of broilers without causing health problem.
The Neuraminidase of Human Parainfluenza 1 Virus (HA2 Virus)

Summary Neuraminidase activity could be demonstrated in highly concentrated preparations of human parainfluenza 1 virus, strain C 35 (HA2 virus). Among the substrates used, the most suitable are N-acetyl neuramin lactose and fetuin. Mucin type I and type II were not hydrolysed. The neuraminidase exhibited some characteristics similar to those of the other paramyxoviruses (Sendai, NDV, mumps, human parainfluenza 2 virus): the optimum pH ranged between 5 and 5.4, and the K m value was 5 × 10-3 m when tested with N-acetyl neuramin lactose. Its optimum activity was between 37 and 40 °C and it was thermolabile, the enzymic activity being reduced to 50% in 5 min at 45 °C and entirely destroyed at 50 °C in the same period. The thermal inactivation constants of neuraminidase and haemagglutinin and the temperature which inactivated 50% of both these activities were very similar to those already shown for NDV. Haemagglutinin and neuraminidase activities were rapidly destroyed by ionic detergents, but not by non-ionic detergents.
Breakdown of tussock grass in streams along a gradient of agricultural development in New Zealand

Summary 1. We measured the breakdown rate of tussock grass in 12 New Zealand streams in catchments that provided a gradient of agricultural development. We also examined the microbial and invertebrate communities associated with decomposing tussock litter. 2. Pristine streams in the study had low concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen ( 2500 μg L−1) and phosphate (35 μg L−1), as well as greater amounts of suspended sediment and fine sediment covering the streambed. 3. Breakdown rate and microbial respiration were significantly related across the sites, and both were positively related to concentrations of nitrate and phosphate. Fungal biomass, measured as ergosterol, was positively related to microbial respiration and was also higher at sites with higher concentrations of nutrients. Total and shredding invertebrates were most abundant at the sites with high nutrient concentrations, but abundance of shredding invertebrates was not significantly related to breakdown rate. Amphipods were the most common shredding invertebrate at most sites, but probably did not contribute greatly to high rates of breakdown in streams in agricultural catchments. 4. With the exception of one site, nutrients from agricultural development appeared to have larger positive effects on litter breakdown than negative effects from sedimentation. Litter breakdown can serve as a functional measure of ecosystem health in streams, but caution should be exercised when a stress, such as land use, can have both positive (nutrients) and negative (sedimentation) effects.
Inferring nitrogen removal in large rivers from high‐resolution longitudinal profiling

We present a method for estimating nitrogen (N) removal based on high‐resolution longitudinal profiling, which facilitates repeated measurement in larger rivers. The Lagrangian reference frame allows removal to be spatially disaggregated, enabling identification of removal “hot spots,” and potentially passive assessment of reaction kinetics using ambient longitudinal concentration gradients. Applying the method in six spring‐fed rivers in North Florida, we tested the hypothesis that removal is controlled by spatial variation in channel hydraulics and vegetation. Removal estimates obtained using this method were statistically robust, spatially consistent across replicate profiles, and comparable to measurements made in these and other systems of similar size using alternative methods. We observed significantly increased removal in reaches with lower specific discharge and in more heavily vegetated reaches. Assessing uptake kinetics directly from longitudinal profiles assumes negligible sampling effects from temporally variable removal, non‐instantaneous sampling velocities, and the mixing of water along the flowpath. Results from a reactive transport model suggest these effects are significant, producing complex profile geometries. Relatively small differences between alternative kinetic models substantially limit inferences about reaction order when utilizing the small concentration gradients observed longitudinally within rivers. Across rivers, N removal follows either efficiency‐loss (exponent = 0.39) or Michaelis—Menten kinetics, but not zero‐ or first‐order kinetics.
Mechanism of Relaxant Effect Mediated by an Aqueous Extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa Petals in Isolated Rat Aorta

AbstractThe mechanism by which aqueous extracts of Hibiscus sabdariffa (HS) relaxes the vascular smooth muscle has been investigated. We used 2 mm ring segments of isolated aorta of rat mounted in organ baths containing physiological salt solution (PSS). Cumulative addition of HS (0.02—0.96 mg/ml) had a significant (p < 0.05) relaxation effect on noradrenaline precontracted rings but not on potassium chloride (KCl) precontracted rings. Similarly, HS significantly attenuated the contractile response to calcium chloride (CaCl2) in noradrenaline stimulated rings while it has no effect on KCl-stimulated rings. HS also significantly reduced the magnitude of noradrenaline phasic contraction. The results of this study suggest that HS relaxes vascular smooth muscle via a mechanism that is associated with an inhibition of Ca2+ influx through receptor operated channels and also on inhibition of Ca2+ release from intracellular stores.
Reproduction and the Female Reproductive Cycle of Nyctophilus geoffroyi and N. major (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from South-western Australia

The reproductive cycles of female Nyctophilus geoffroyi and N. major from south-western Australia are described from capture records and histological examination of tissue from fixed specimens. The sequence of reproductive events for both species was similar to that described for other vespertilionid bats from south- western Australia. Mating commenced between March and May. Sperm were stored in the caudal isthmus of the oviduct and in endometrial glands near the utero-tubal junction. Ovulation and fertilisation occurred in late August or September and twinning was common. Parturition occurred between late October and November, with volant young first captured during December, but it appeared not all N. geoffroyi females were reproductively active every year. Lactation had generally ceased by February, which was when the last detectably juvenile bats were captured.
Agronomic studies on irrigated soybean in southern New South Wales. I. Phenological adaptation of genotypes to sowing date

Serial sowing date studies were used to examine the response of a diverse range of soybean genotypes to sowing date in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA). The aim was to explore the scope to improve the flexibility for rotating irrigated summer soybean crops with winter cereals by broadening the range of potential sowing dates. Serial sowings of diverse genotypes were made in small plots at intervals of ~7 days (2006–07) or 10 days (2007–08) from late November to late January (2006–07) or mid-February (2007–08) and the dates of flowering and maturity recorded. Simple linear models relating rate of development towards flowering to photo-thermal variables indicated that large differences in time to flowering between genotypes, sowing dates, and years could be explained in terms of differences in genotype sensitivity to mean photoperiod and/or mean daily temperature between sowing and flowering. In general, warmer temperatures hastened and longer days delayed flowering, consistent with quantitative short-day photoperiodic response. The earliest flowering genotypes were insensitive to the prevailing photoperiods, and their smaller variations in time to flower over sowing dates and years were related to temperature. Conversely, later flowering genotypes were progressively more sensitive to photoperiod, with flowering occurring later and being more responsive to sowing date. In both seasons, late maturing genotype × sowing date combinations suffered cold temperature damage and frosting. For those genotype × sowing date combinations that were physiologically mature before the first frost, crop duration was a linear function (r2 = 0.86**) of time to flowering. In 2007–08, measurements were also made at maturity of total standing dry matter (TDM), seed yield, and seed size. For those genotype × sowing date combinations that matured before the first frost, TDM was largely a linear function (r2 = 0.83**) of crop duration, while seed yield was strongly related (r2 = 0.86**) to TDM. Exposure to cold temperatures before physiological maturity reduced seed size and harvest index. Using the generalised relations developed in these studies, it was concluded that commercial yields may be possible for irrigated soybean crops in the MIA sown in December or possibly later. These options are evaluated in greater detail in the companion paper, using large-scale agronomic trials of a subset of adapted genotypes.
Comments on New World Tertiary Procyonidae (Mammalia: Carnivora)

ABSTRACT Protoprocyon savagei Linares, 1982, is a senior objective synonym of Lichnocyon phoenicus Baskin, 1982. Probassariscus antiquus (Matthew and Cook, 1909) is a senior subjective synonym of Rhapsodus tedfordi Linares, 1982. Probassariscus is structurally the most primitive New World procyonid, but it occurs too late to be directly ancestral to the non-bassariscine New World procyonines, which can be derived from Edaphocyon. The extinct South American procyonids of the Cyonasua group are most closely related to Arctonasua, not Protoprocyon.
Ecology and evolution of sympatric sticklebacks (Gasterosteus): origin of the species pairs

Pairs of plankton-feeding and benthos-foraging sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) (limnetics and benthics) coexist in six small lakes in southwestern British Columbia. In spite of a persistent low level of hybridization the pairs maintain themselves as distinct genetic and ecological entities; because of this they are viewed as biological species. They appear to be restricted to the central Strait of Georgia region, and the geological history of the area argues that they are of postglacial origin. The pairs occur on three islands (Vancouver, Texada, and Lasqueti), but even on these islands they are not found in all available lakes. Both lake morphometry (size and depth) and altitude appear to influence local distribution. Hypotheses that might explain the origin of the pairs are examined. Neither theory nor data support a sympatric origin, but an allopatric origin through two invasions of marine sticklebacks is consistent with both the geological history of the area and the details of local distributio.
A size and age-structured model of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.)

The life cycle of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) presents several distinctive features, such as high plasticity in body growth, marked sexual dimorphism, sex ratio strongly skewed in favor of females and sexual maturation largely dependent upon the size of individuals. A demographic model incorporating all these characteristics is derived on the basis of a multiple classification of individuals by age and size, and variability in individual growth is explicitly included. Existing theory for size-structured stocks is extended to include the dependence of sexual maturation on size, while natural mortality is age specific. Using 1989 population data from Comacchio lagoons (Italy), we estimate mortality and metamorphosis rate and abundance in each age- and size-class for both yellow and silver eels, crucial information for the management of the Comacchio fishery. The use of a nonparametric technique (bootstrapping) yields not only the moments, but also the distributions of these estimates. Validation of.