Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of oestradiol-17 β implantation on the response in voluntary intake, live-weight gain and body composition, to fishmeal supplementation of silage offered to growing calves

Summary The effect of oestradiol-17β on the response to fishmeal supplementation of grass silage was studied in young growing cattle. Voluntary intake and live-weight gain were recorded over 63 days with 36 British Friesian male castrates (initial live weight (LW) 119 kg) offered silage alone (C) or with 50 (FM1), 100 (FM2), or 150 (FM3) g fishmeal/kg silage dry matter. Twelve calves were allocated to each of treatments C and FM3 and six to treatments FM1 and FM2. Half of the calves on each treatment were ear-implanted with oestradiol-17β (Compudose 365) at the start of the experiment. The calves on treatments C and FM3 were slaughtered after 75 days and chemical analysis conducted on half of each carcass. The silage had an organic-matter digestibility in vivo of 0·794 and was well-fermented, with a pH of 3·7. Intake averaged 24·2±0·42 g D.M. /kg LW over all the treatments and live-weight gain was 0·77 kg/day on the silage alone. There was a significant (P < 0·05) interaction between fishmeal and oestradiol-17β, such that response to the hormone was observed only in the presence of fishmeal at 100 or 150 g/kg silage D.M. A similar interaction was apparent between fishmeal at 150 g/kg silage D.M. and oestradiol-17β in the final weights of empty body and carcass. This level of fishmeal also increased protein gain from 96 to 147 g/day and this was further increased to 179 g/day in the implanted animals receiving fishmeal. However, the overall effect of oestradiol-17β on protein gain was not significant. Gross efficiency of energy utilization was significantly (P < 0·01) increased by fishmeal supplementation suggesting an improved balance of nutrients compared with the silage alone diet.
Diet determination of the Cape Mountain leopards using global positioning system location clusters and scat analysis

Studying leopards Panthera pardus in mountainous regions is challenging and there is little ecological information on their behaviour in these habitats. We used data from global positioning system (GPS) radio-collared leopards in conjunction with leopard scat analysis to identify key aspects of leopard feeding habits in the Cederberg Mountains of South Africa. We located 53 leopard kill/feeding sites from clustered GPS locations of ≥4 h and analysed 93 leopard scats. Both methods showed that klipspringers Oreotragus oreotragus and rock hyraxes Procavia capensis were the most common prey. GPS location clusters showed that the time leopards spent at a given location was positively related both to the probability of detecting prey remains and to prey size. Leopards made significantly more large kills in winter than summer (P=0.003); there was no significant difference between male and female leopards in the average number of large kills or the average time spent at large kill sites. We show that, when studying large carnivores in inaccessible areas, it is important to use a combination of techniques to understand their feeding ecology and that GPS locations can be used to provide an accurate measure of diet even when small prey are being taken.
Parasitism, host feeding and immature development of Encarsia formosa reared from Trialeurodes vaporariorum and Bemisia tabaci on Trialeurodes ricini

Encarsia formosa Gahan (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), a thelytokous parasitoid, is an important biological control agent of whiteflies because of its outstanding reproduction and host‐feeding ability. In this study, we evaluated the parasitism, host feeding and developmental time of E. formosa populations reared on Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) (EFT) or on Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (EFB) when different nymphal instars of the castor whitefly, Trialeurodes ricini (Misra), were offered as hosts, with an aim to understand the preference of the parasitoid on nymphal instars of T. ricini. Experiments were conducted on castor bean plants at 26 ± 2°C, 50–60% RH and 16 : 8 (L : D) photoperiod. The results showed that E. formosa successfully oviposited and fed on all nymphal instars of T. ricini. However, numbers of the first instars fed on by the E. formosa populations reared on T. vaporariorum (EFT) and B. tabaci (EFB) were significantly greater (45.9 and 31.3, respectively) than those of the second (EFT: 30.4 and EFB: 15.8), the third (EFT: 22.4 and EFB: 13.2) and the fourth nymphal instars (EFT: 6.0 and EFB: 3.8). The number of T. ricini nymphs parasitized by E. formosa varied significantly among different instars, and the parasitism rates on the first instar (EFT: 15.2; EFB: 7.7) and fourth instar (EFT: 19.3; EFB: 4.9) were greater than those on the second and third instars. Encarsia formosa reared on T. vaporariorum had a significantly higher host feeding and ovipositing potential on T. ricini than EFB. When parasitizing the fourth instar nymphs, E. formosa completed development in a significantly shorter time (12.9 day) than when ovipositing in other instars (17.8–19.1 day). These results showed that EFT had a better host adaption than EFB. The information from this study should be useful for us to better understand the performance and nymphal preference of E. formosa from T. vaporariorum and B. tabaci when they parasitized and fed on T. ricini, and the interactions of parasitoids with different host whitefly species.
Influence of protein concentration on mechanical cell damage and fluidoynamics in airlift reactors for mammalian cell culture

Abstract Effects of bovine serum albumin on the growth of hybridoma cells in an airlift loop reactor show the importance of protein concentration for the prevention of mechanical cell damage. To confirm the hypothesis that this is caused by a decrease turbulence of the medium, measurements of wall shear rate vectors with a newly developed electrochemical probe were carried out. The results of these measurements show that turbulence is reduced with increasing protein concentration. Thus, turbulence effects must be responsible for mechanical cell damage.
What's Driving Dealer Balance Sheet Stagnation?

Securities brokers and dealers (? dealers? ) engage in the business of trading securities on behalf of their customers and for their own account, and use their balance sheets primarily for trading operations, particularly for market making. Total financial assets of dealers in the United States have not shown any growth since 2009. This stagnation in their balance sheets raises the worry that dealers? market-making capacity could be constrained, adversely affecting market liquidity. In this post, we investigate the stagnation of dealer balance sheets, focusing particularly on the boom and bust of the housing market.
Predation on Harbour Porpoise, Phocoena phocoena, by a White Shark, Carcharodon carcharias

A specimen of the white shark, Carcharodon carcharias, brought into Leonardville, Deer Island, N.B., on August 13, 1971, contained three harbour porpoises, Phocoena phocoena, in variable states of digestion. This record on predation is discussed in conjunction with literature reports of a similar nature and one other previously unpublished observation.
The Immunoenhancing Property of a Dietary Casein Phosphopeptide Preparation in Mice

The effect on serum and intestinal IgG or IgA production of a dietary casein phosphopeptide preparation, CPP-III, mainly consisting of residues 132 of bovine αs2-casein and residues 128 of bovine β-casein, was investigated in mice. No significant difference was seen in body weight gained between mice fed a CPP-III-added diet (a mixture of 0.1 to 1.0 g CPP-III and 24.9 to 24.0 g ovalbumin as protein sources in 100 g diet) and mice fed a control diet (25.0 g ovalbumin in 100 g diet). Mice fed CPP-III-added diets exhibited a similar serum IgG response towards β-lactoglobulin injected peritoneally and ovalbumin ingested orally to those fed the control diet. In contrast, the level of serum IgA towards the proteins showed a rising tendency in mice fed CPP-III-added diets compared with those fed the control diet. The difference between the control diet group and CPP-III-added diet groups was often statistically significant. Moreover, the intestinal antigen-specific IgA and total IgA in some mice fed the CPP-III-added diet were significantly higher than those fed the control diet. The present results suggest that oral use of the casein phosphopeptide is beneficial to the enhancement of mucosal immunity.
A Study of the Cytoplasmic Inclusions during Maturation, Fertilization, and the First Cleavage Division of the Egg of the Mouse

1. Ova of the mouse were fixed at times varying from 5 to 43 hours after copulation. 2. Ovulation may take place at either the stage of the first or the second maturation division. 3. The sperm enters the egg during the anaphase of the second maturation division. As indicated by one egg the sperm may occasionally enter during the first division. The second maturation division takes place between 5 to about 7 hours after pairing. The stage of the pronuclei may be reached at about 6 hours after pairing, but usually is not reached until later. The first cleavage division takes place between 21 and 28 hours. 4. During the maturation divisions the yolk-globules are most numerous in the half of the egg opposite to that at which the divisions are taking place. The mitochondria are granular and are collected into small clumps; a few, chiefly towards the periphery, are scattered singly through the cytoplasm. They are most numerous in the central region. During the first division, and in the early stages of the second division, they are numerous around the spindle. Few mitochondria are eliminated in the polar bodies. The Golgi elements are in the form of granules and of small irregularly shaped bodies; they are fairly evenly distributed through the cytoplasm. 5. During the stage of the pronuclei the distribution of the yolk-globules is similar to that during the polar divisions. In the later phases there is a concentration of the mitochondria in the neighbourhood of the pronuelei. The Golgi elements are scattered through the cytoplasm; they increase in size and undergo fragmentation. 6. The mitochondria become arranged around the spindle of the first cleavage division and are transmitted with approximate equality between the first two blastomeres. The Golgi elements remain scattered through the cytoplasm but are slightly more numerous in the neighbourhood of the zygote nucleus. The Golgi elements and the yolk-globules are fairly evenly distributed between the first two blastomeres. 7. The middle-piece of the sperm is carried into the egg. The mitochondria of the sheath are, at first, larger than those of the egg; they spread out through the cytoplasm and undergo fragmentation. It is concluded that the mitochondria of the sperm are transmitted to the first two blastomeres. There is evidence that the Golgi elements of the middle-piece fragment and that the individual elements become scattered through the ooplasm before the first cleavage division. 8. Granular mitochondria are present in the blastomeres of the two-cell stage; they are collected into small clumps and are scattered singly through the cytoplasm. The Golgi elements undergo fragmentation; they are fairly evenly distributed throughout the cytoplasm.
Thatch Accumulation in Bermudagrass as Influenced by Cultural Practices1

Excessive thatch accumulation is a serious problem in golf course putting greens and other intensively managed turfgrass areas. More effective procedues for thatch control are needed. The relationship between different cultural practices and thatch accumulation was studied on Dothan sand loam (fine-loamy, siliceous, thermic Plinthic Paleudult) in an experimental putting green planted to three bermndagrasses [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. × C. transvaalensis Burtt- Davy] cultivars Tifdwarf, Tifgreen, and a selection called Dothan. Practices evaluated included N source, core aerification, vertical mowing, and sand topdressing. A multiple split plot experimental design allowed the evaluation of each individual practice in combination with all others. Effects of treatments on thatch were determined by measuring thatch depth and the compressibility of the turf surface with a thatch compression meter. Thatch accumulation, after three seasons, increased in the order: Tifgreen, Dothan, Tifdwarf. However, the effects of treatments on thatch accumulation were similar for all cultivars. Four topdressings per year reduced thatch accumulation more than a single topdressing and increased mat depth. Neither monthly aerification nor biweekly vertical mowing provided more thatch control than twice yearly application of the respective cultural practice. Fertilization with activated sewage sludge resulted in 14% more thatch than when NH₄NO³ was the N source. Within a given topdressing frequency, no differences in thatch accumulation occurred among N sources, levels of aerification, or vertical mowing. The regression of millimeters compressibility on thatch depth was not significant. Turf quality was not correlated with thatch depth. Tifdwarf had the greatest accumulation on thatch and also produced high turf quality ratings. Nitrogen source influenced turf quality more than other treatments. Activated sewage sludge produced superior turf quality, although more thatch was produced than when NH₄NO₃ was applied. Cultural practices had no consistent effect on establishment of ‘Pennfine’ perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) overseeded on the experimental green. Ammonium nitrate produced better ryegrass quality than activated sewge sludge. Plots fertilized with activated sewage sludge had significantly more annual bluegrass (Poa annua L.) than those receiving NH₄NO₃. Core aerification, topdressing, nor vertical mowing frequency affected ryegrass quality or annual bluegrass occurren
Effect of Curcuma comosa on the expression of cytokine genes in rabbits fed with high cholesterol diet

Curcuma comosa Roxb. (Zingiberaceae), an indigenous plant in Thailand, has been used as an anti-inflammatory agent in post-partum uterine bleeding. It was shown to lower plasma lipid levels thus potentially be used in cardiovascular disease. Lipid lowering drugs like HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor including simvastatin were implicated with manifestation of liver toxicity. In the present study, we therefore investigated the possibility of liver toxicity of C. comosa by assessing the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes as well as the serum liver enzymes in rabbits fed with high cholesterol diet combined with C. comosa compared to the rabbits fed with high cholesterol diet either alone or combined with simvastatin for three months. The results showed that serum liver enzymes and proinflammatory cytokine expression of C. comosa treatment group were not significantly different as compared to the high cholesterol diet control group. On the other hand, rabbits in high cholesterol diet with simvastatin treatment group significantly demonstrated an increase of alanine aminotransferase level and the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, MCP-1 and TNF-α as compared to the high cholesterol diet group. The pharmacological activity reported earlier and the safety regarding liver toxicity shown in this study suggested that C. comosa is a potentially promising candidate to be developed as an alternative agent for cardiovascular disease therapy.
Essential Role of IκB Kinase α in Thymic Organogenesis Required for the Establishment of Self-Tolerance1

IκB kinase (IKK) α exhibits diverse biological activities through protein kinase-dependent and -independent functions, the former mediated predominantly through a noncanonical NF-κB activation pathway. The in vivo function of IKKα, however, still remains elusive. Because a natural strain of mice with mutant NF-κB-inducing kinase (NIK) manifests autoimmunity as a result of disorganized thymic structure with abnormal expression of Rel proteins in the thymic stroma, we speculated that the NIK-IKKα axis might constitute an essential step in the thymic organogenesis that is required for the establishment of self-tolerance. An autoimmune disease phenotype was induced in athymic nude mice by grafting embryonic thymus from IKKα-deficient mice. The thymic microenvironment that caused autoimmunity in an IKKα-dependent manner was associated with defective processing of NF-κB2, resulting in the impaired development of thymic epithelial cells. Thus, our results demonstrate a novel function for IKKα in thymic organogenesis for the establishment of central tolerance that depends on its protein kinase activity in cooperation with NIK.
PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS AND GENOME SIZE OF OSTREOCOCCUS TAURI (CHLOROPHYTA, PRASINOPHYCEAE)

Ostreococcus tauri Courties et Chrétiennot‐Dinet is the smallest described autotrophic eukaryote dominating the phytoplanktonic assemblage of the marine Mediterranean Thau lagoon (France). Its taxonomic position was partly elucidated from ultrastructure and high‐pressure liquid chromatography (HLPC) pigment analysis. The sequence analysis of the 18S rDNA gene of O. tauri measured here is available in EMBL Nucleotide Sequence Database (accession number: Y15814) and allowed to clarify its phylogenetic position. O. tauri belongs to the Prasinophyceae and appears very close to Mantoniella, a typical scaly Prasinophyceae, morphologically very different from the naked and coccoid Ostreococcus. An electrophoretic analysis of O. tauri shows that the nucleus contains 10.20 mbp. This small genome, fragmented into 14 chromosomes ranging in size from 300 to 1500 kbp, confirms the minimalist characteristics of Ostreococcus tauri.
Two approaches for the selection of Relevant Genetic Units for Conservation in the narrow European endemic steppe plant Boleum asperum (Brassicaceae)

Several methods based on population biology, biogeography, ecology, and genetics have been traditionally used for the identification of units for conservation below the species level. We use a combination of two methods based on population genetic structure estimators and on probabilities of loss of rare alleles to identify the Relevant Genetic Units for Conservation (RGUCs). The aims were to assess the genetic diversity and population structure of the endemic steppe plant Boleum asperum (Brassicaceae), and to determine how many and which populations significantly represent the total genetic diversity and the rarest allelic variation. Despite the high amplified fragment length polymorphism genetic diversity values detected in B. asperum (hT = 0.744), caused probably by its hexaploidy and allogamy, moderate spatial genetic differentiation was detected among populations ( 13%), suggesting the existence of an ancestral continuous distribution range that was fragmented into separate ‘islands’ in more recent historical times. Five RGUCs, accounting for the 85.10% of the total genetic variation and representative of the entire geographical distribution of the species, were selected for in situ conservation. Ex situ conservation is proposed to complement the preservation of B. asperum. This method of objective selection of populations may be applied to other candidate taxa for conservation with prior adjustment of the threshold values of diversity required for effective protection of each particular species. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 94, 341–354.
Isoform-Specific Functions of Phosphoinositide 3-Kinases: p110δ but Not p110γ Promotes Optimal Allergic Responses In Vivo1

The leukocyte-enriched p110γ and p110δ isoforms of PI3K have been shown to control in vitro degranulation of mast cells induced by cross-linking of the high affinity receptor of IgE (FcεRI). However, the relative contribution of these PI3K isoforms in IgE-dependent allergic responses in vivo is controversial. A side-by-side comparative analysis of the role of p110γ and p110δ in mast cell function, using genetic approaches and newly developed isoform-selective pharmacologic inhibitors, confirms that both PI3K isoforms play an important role in FcεRI-activated mast cell degranulation in vitro. In vivo, however, only p110δ was found to be required for optimal IgE/Ag-dependent hypersensitivity responses in mice. These observations identify p110δ as a key therapeutic target among PI3K isoforms for allergy- and mast cell-related diseases.
ENZYME‐LINKED IMMUNOSORBENT ASSAY FOR SCREENING ANTIBIOTIC AND HORMONE RESIDUES IN BROILER CHICKEN MEAT IN THE SULTANATE OF OMAN

ABSTRACT Administration of antibiotics or hormones to broiler chickens for therapeutic and performance-enhancing purposes may lead to deposit of residuals in their carcasses. This could be a potential human health hazard upon exposure to these residues. The objective of this study was to detect residue levels of tetracycline, streptomycin, sulfamethazine, chloramphenicol, trenbolon, estradiol-17s, and testosterone in broiler chicken meat commonly marketed in the Sultanate of Oman. The Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay technique was used to detect residues in 128 broiler chicken breast muscles, representing various poultry processing companies from six countries representing four continents. Generally, samples contained various levels of residues of different antibiotic and hormones. Tetracycline levels ranged between 35 and 56 ng/kg (mean 45.9); streptomycin ranged between 30 and 155 ng/kg (mean 100.0); sulfamethazine levels ranged between 0.079 and 5.60 ng/kg (mean 1.07); trenbolon ranged between 0.70 and 3.12 ng/kg (mean 1.67); estradiol 17-s ranged from 0.06 to 2.00 ng/kg (mean 0.70); chloramphenicol ranged from 5.00 to 74.00 ng/kg (mean 14.38); and testosterone ranged from 4 to 70 ng/kg (mean 25.53). There were significant differences in residue levels of antibiotics and hormones between the companies and countries. There were significant differences in antibiotic and anabolic agents' residues with the exception of trenbolon between continents. This study indicated that broiler chicken meat products available in the local market contained various levels of residues of several antibiotic and anabolic agents. Although levels of some of these residues did not exceed the maximum allowable limits, they still poise a human health hazard. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS There has been an increasing awareness of the widespread drug therapy and the possibility of residues in meat and consequently the potential human health hazards associated with exposure to these residues. Many of these are now classified as carcinogenic, toxic and allergenic, which interfere with human natural physiological functions. The Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) is one of the sophisticate techniques to detect residuals based on enzyme-labeled reagents. Therefore, investigations using ELISA technique to monitor residues of various drugs in meat products should be applicable to insure the safety of animal food products for human consumption.
Gênero Baccharis (Asteraceae): aspectos químicos, econômicos e biológicos

The Baccharis genus is represented by more than 500 species distributed mainly in the tropical areas of South America. Many of them are extensively used in folk medicine in the treatment or prevention of anemias, inflammations, diabetes and stomach, liver and prostate diseases. Phytochemical and biological investigations in about 120 species resulted mainly in the isolation of clerodane and labdane diterpenes and flavonoid aglicones with the flavone unit being the most frequent.