Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND SLAUGHTER CHARACTERISTICS OF BROILER CHICKENS FED WITH ANTIBIOTIC, MANNAN OLIGOSACCHARIDE AND DEX-TRAN OLIGOSACCHARIDE SUPPLEMENTED DIETS

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with an antibiotic growth promoter (AGP) and two prebiotics; mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) and dextran oligosaccharide (DOS), respectively, on growth performance and some slaughter characteristics of broilers. One thousand and two hundred day-old broiler chicks (Ross 308) were weighted and randomly assigned to the four treatment groups, each with six replicates. Birds were housed in replicate pens (1.5 x 3.0 m) each containing 50 birds (25 male and 25 female). The four treatments were as follows: 1. Basal diet (Control); 2. Basal diet + antibiotic (10 mg avilamycin/kg diet); 3. Basal diet + mannan oligosaccharide (1 g/kg diet); 4. Basal diet + dextran oligosaccharide (1 g/kg diet). Chicks fed on basal diets were supplemented with an AGP and both of prebiotics were significantly heavier at 21 and 42 days of age than that of control chickens fed with basal diet as control. Besides, body weight of birds given MOS supplemented diet was significantly higher than those birds fed with AGP and DOS added diets (P 0.05). Percentage weight of carcass yield, liver, pancreas and abdominal fat pad was not affected by dietary treatments also (P > 0.05). The results obtained in the present experiment showed that birds fed with AGP, MOS and DOS supplemented diets exhibited higher body weight gain (P < 0.05) and numerically improved feed efficiency than that of the control birds fed on basal diet. In conclusion, either MOS or DOS could replace for AGP as non-antimicrobial performance enhancer feed additives without scarifying any performance goal and carcass yield of broilers.
Complete Chloroplast Genomes of 14 Mangroves: Phylogenetic and Comparative Genomic Analyses

Mangroves are a group of plant species that occupy the coastal intertidal zone and are major components of this ecologically important ecosystem. Mangroves belong to about twenty diverse families. Here, we sequenced and assembled chloroplast genomes of 14 mangrove species from eight families spanning five rosid orders and one asterid order: Fabales (Pongamia pinnata), Lamiales (Avicennia marina), Malpighiales (Excoecaria agallocha, Bruguiera sexangula, Kandelia obovata, Rhizophora stylosa, and Ceriops tagal), Malvales (Hibiscus tiliaceus, Heritiera littoralis, and Thespesia populnea), Myrtales (Laguncularia racemosa, Sonneratia ovata, and Pemphis acidula), and Sapindales (Xylocarpus moluccensis). These chloroplast genomes range from 149 kb to 168 kb in length. A conserved structure of two inverted repeats (IRa and IRb, ~25.8 kb), one large single-copy region (LSC, ~89.0 kb), and one short single-copy region (SSC, ~18.9 kb) as well as ~130 genes (85 protein-coding, 37 tRNAs, and 8 rRNAs) was observed. We found the lowest divergence in the IR regions among the four regions. We also identified simple sequence repeats (SSRs), which were found to be variable in numbers. Most chloroplast genes are highly conserved, with only four genes under positive selection or relaxed pressure. Combined with publicly available chloroplast genomes, we carried out phylogenetic analysis and confirmed the previously reported phylogeny within rosids, including the positioning of obscure families in Malpighiales. Our study reports 14 mangrove chloroplast genomes and illustrates their genome features and evolution.
Procalcitonin Identifies Bacterial Coinfections in Vietnamese Children with Severe Respiratory Syncytial Virus Pneumonia

This study assessed the diagnostic value of interleukin- (IL-) 6, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and procalcitonin (PCT) in differentiating severe pneumonia caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) alone and RSV with bacterial coinfections among Vietnamese children under 5 years old. A cross-sectional study on 70 children with severe RSV pneumonia was conducted. IL-6, hs-CRP, and PCT tests were performed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was employed to measure the diagnostic values of PCT, IL-6, and hs-CRP. Of 70 children, 11 children were confirmed to have bacterial coinfections. The most common bacterial coinfection was Haemophilus influenzae. This study underlined that inflammatory biomarkers such as PCT had a moderate-to-high capability of disseminating severe pneumonia children with RSV alone or RSV and bacterial coinfections. This may support clinicians in administrating appropriate antibiotics to children suffering from severe RSV pneumonia.
Effects of dried fairy shrimp Streptocephalus sirindhornae meal on pigmentation and carotenoid deposition in flowerhorn cichlid; Amphilophus citrinellus (Günther, 1864) × Cichlasoma trimaculatum (Günther, 1867)

We investigated the effects of dried fairy shrimp Streptocephalus sirindhornae meal (FS) on skin pigmentation and carotenoid deposition in flowerhorn cichlid. Six experimental diets including three treatments of FS at 10% (FS10), 20% (FS20) and 30% (FS30), two dried Spirulina sp. meal (SP) at 6% (SP6) and 12% (SP12), and a control diet (a basal diet without FS or SP) were offered for 90 days. The results demonstrate an increase in the flowerhorn cichlid skin pigmentation from alternative carotenoid feeding. Fish fed the FS diet displayed higher (P ≤ 0.05) chroma and redness values than those fed with a SP diet. The hue value (measure for skin pigmentation) was high when fish were fed with FS20 for 30 and 60 days (P ≤ 0.01). However, fish also showed high hue values when fed for 90 days with FS10 (P ≤ 0.01). The FS20 treatment gave better results than other treatments in terms of total carotenoid, canthaxanthin, astaxanthin and β-carotene concentration in the skin and musculature. The optimum level of FS in flowerhorn cichlid diets for achieving the highest skin pigmentation was 20%.
IN SITU DRY MATTER AND PROTEIN DEGRADATION OF VARIOUS PROTEIN SOURCES IN DAIRY CATTLE

In situ dry matter and protein degradation of various protein sources in the rumen of Holstein steers and cows were studied. The effective degradability of each feed protein was estimated from nonlinear parameters and an assumed constant outflow rate of solids. Protein sources tested were soybean meal (SBM), canola meal (CM) and dehydrated alfalfa meal (Dehy), in exp. 1, and fish meal (FM), CM, CM treated with formalin (FCM) and whole pig blood (BCM) in exp. 2. Nitrogen disappearance, estimated from nylon bags suspended in the rumen, of SBM was less than that of CM; disappearance of Dehy was less than that observed for both oil seed meals. The disappearance of FM was significantly less than all other feed proteins. Formalin treatment of CM was very effective in reducing both dry matter and nitrogen disappearance from the bags, but blood treatment was not effective. Protein degradability estimated from disappearance data was 53.6, 65.8, 41.4, 28.9, 65.5, 22.2, 71.2 and 70.8% for SBM, CM, Dehy, FM, CM, FCM,.
Weevils and Watermilfoil: Did a North American Herbivore Cause the Decline of an Exotic Plant?

The Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) population in Brownington Pond, Vermont, declined between 1986 and 1989. Watermilfoil covered ≈10-11 ha of the littoral zone in 1986. Less than 0.5 ha remained in 1989. An herbivorous weevil (Euhrychiopsis lecontei), which is native to North America, was found associated with this watermilfoil population and we hypothesized that this weevil played a role in the decline. We monitored watermilfoil and E. lecontei populations in Brownington Pond from 1990 through 1992 by (1) mapping the location and extent of beds in the pond, and (2) determining watermilfoil biomass along permanent transects. The abundance of weevil eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults were monitored by sampling individual watermilfoil stems. Watermilfoil cover increased to ≈ 2.5 ha by 1991 and then declined again to ≈1 ha by 1992. The reduction in watermilfoil biomass from 1991 to 1992 ranged from 4- to 30-fold depending on location. Mean weevil abundance increased from 1990 (<1/stem) through early 1992 (3-4/stem) and then began to decline. The number of weevil eggs/stem also peaked in early 1992 and then declined. These survey results are consistent with the hypothesis that the weevil played an important role in producing both observed declines. The effect of weevils on watermilfoil was evaluated in two experiments. In an aquarium experiment, we found that the viability of stem fragments damaged by weevils was reduced compared to stem fragments without weevil damage. Watermilfoil commonly spreads by producing fragments so the spread of watermilfoil beds by fragmentation may be reduced when weevil abundances are high. In a pond enclosure experiment, weevils suppressed the production of new watermilfoil biomass. The biomass of lateral stems and roots of watermilfoil plants damaged by weevils was significantly less than those of control plants. There was no significant difference in the biomass of the stems originally planted in the enclosures. Weevil damage did have a negative effect on the buoyancy of these original stems, however. These experimental results also support the hypothesis that this native weevil played an important role in the two watermilfoil declines observed at Brownington Pond.
Cattle herbage utilization patterns under high-density rotational grazing in the Aspen Parkland

Native Aspen Parkland landscapes consist of a complex mosaic of plant communities, including riparian meadows, upland grasslands, and forests. Sustainable livestock production in this environment depends on an understanding of livestock grazing behavior among communities, particularly under contemporary, intensive management rotational grazing systems. This study examined seasonal patterns of absolute (kg ha-1) and relative (%) herbage utilization, as well as plant community visitation, across a Parkland landscape by 150 heifers in two rotations of a high-intensity, low-frequency grazing system. Graminoids constituted more than 92% of the total herbage utilized. Absolute graminoid utilization within each grazing period was greater (P 0.05) among communities in either rotation, .
Vesicular-Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Associations of Vascular Plants on Heron Island, a Great Barrier Reef Coral Cay

Roots of 42 species of angiosperms collected from all vegetation zones on Heron Island were cleared, stained with chlorazol black E and assessed for vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM). Percentage of root length colonized was determined using the gridline intersect method, while stages in internal development of the mycorrhizal association were determined by mounting cleared root pieces on microscope slides and examining them with Nomarski differential interference contrast microscopy. Fifty-seven percent of the species had VAM and of these the percentage of root length colonized varied from 3 to 100%. There were no statistically significant differences among the four vegetation zones of the island in the number of species colonized. About the same proportion of trees and shrubs had VAM as did the herbs. Two species of Brassicaceae, Lepidium virginicum and Sisymbrium orientale, had VAM. All but three species with VAM had both arbuscules and vesicles; arbuscules were not found in Casuarina equisetifolia var. incana, Sisymbrium orientale and Tribulus cistoides.
“It Gave Me Hope” Experiences of Diverse Safety Net Patients in a Group Acupuncture Intervention for Painful Diabetic Neuropathy

Purpose: To explore the experiences of living with painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN) and with a group acupuncture intervention in a sample of low-income, diverse patients. Methods: We conducted a randomized clinical trial of a 12-week group acupuncture intervention for PDN. Data included validated measures of patient-reported outcomes, including pain and quality of life (QOL), as well as semistructured qualitative interviews about participants' experiences with PDN and the intervention. Interview transcripts were coded and analyzed using an inductive thematic framework. Results: We recruited 40 participants from diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds from a public hospital and conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with a subset of 17 participants. Participants randomized to acupuncture experienced greater decreases in pain compared with usual care as well as improved QOL. In interviews, they described a myriad of socioeconomic and personal life stressors that compounded the significant suffering and disability brought on by PDN. Those who received acupuncture were able to decrease reliance on pain medication, improve their sleep and daily function, reduce stress, and engage more with their own self-care. They noted that the acupuncture intervention also gave them hope in the face of their chronic disease. Conclusion: Acupuncture is a valuable adjunct treatment for low-income and marginalized populations with PDN. In addition to reducing pain and improving QOL, acupuncture may offer powerful benefits by increasing patient activation and hope.
Tetanus Toxoid Vaccination Uptake and Associated Factors among Mothers Who Gave Birth in the Last 12 Months in Errer District, Somali Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia

Background Maternal tetanus is defined as tetanus acquired during pregnancy or within 6 weeks after the end of conception. As tetanus is a vaccine-preventable disease, immunization of pregnant mothers with a TT (tetanus toxoid) dose is one of the most effective ways to protect against the disease. Some studies showed that 94% of neonatal mortality reduction could be achieved through immunization of pregnant and childbearing-age mothers with at least two doses of TT vaccination. Objective To assess the uptake of tetanus toxoid vaccine and associated factors among mothers who gave birth in the last 12 months in Errer district, Somali Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia, 2017. Methods and Materials A community-based cross-sectional study design was implemented to study 440 mothers who gave birth in the last 12 months. Participants were selected using the strata and systematic sampling technique after conducting a preliminary survey. Data were collected through a face-to-face interviewer-administered questionnaire. The collected data was entered into EpiData version 3.02 and then exported to Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were carried out to see the association between variables at p < 0.05 and 95% confidence interval. Finally, the information was presented by using frequencies, summary measures, and tables. Result The overall tetanus vaccination uptake (≥TT2) doses was found to be 51.8%, 95% CI (47.7%, 56.4%). The total number of mothers who complete the five TT doses was 31 (14.8%). Urban residence [AOR = 6.1, 95% CI: (2.33, 10.43)], multiparity [AOR = 2.3, 95% CI: (1.7, 6.4)], and traveling less than 30 minutes from the home to a health facility [AOR = 4.6, 95% CI: (1.34, 6.72)] were some the factors that were significantly associated with tetanus toxoid vaccination uptake. Conclusion and Recommendation. Although TT immunization is a scientifically proven mechanism to protect against maternal and neonatal tetanus, only half of the district mothers received ≥TT2 doses. Besides, our study revealed that the low vaccine uptake is attributed to long distance travel to reach a health facility, maternal illiteracy, and pastoralist lifestyle of mothers in the district. Thus, the regional stakeholders are required to scale up efforts on mother's awareness creation towards the importance of the vaccine through health education and to arrange outreach TT vaccination campaigns in distant pastoralist communities within the region.
Population status and breeding of New Zealand fur seals (Arctocephalus forsteri) in the Nelson‐northern Marlborough region, 1991–94

Abstract The population size, distribution, breeding, and onshore habitats of New Zealand fur seals in the Nelson‐northern Marlborough region, New Zealand, were investigated. Breeding occurs at four relatively new rookeries along the southern shores of Cook Strait: at Stephens Island in the outer Marlborough Sounds, at Archway Islands and Pillar Point near Cape Farewell, and at Tonga Island in Tasman Bay. These rookeries were established in about 1970, 1980, 1988, and 1988, respectively. In 1993–94 about 500 pups were born and the extant population breeding or born at the four rookeries was assessed as 2410. There were also 17 hauling grounds, each with 25 or more seals ashore in winter, and about 50 other sites where lesser numbers hauled out regularly. Comparison with earlier estimates indicates that the summer population increased from about 70 in 1973 to about 1000 in 1994—a sevenfold increase of yearling and older seals. The number of pups produced increased at a mean annual rate of 23% since 1970–71.
Effects of β‐Glucans and Environmental Factors on the Viscosities of Wort and Beer

This paper reports on the influence of molecular weight and concentration of barley β-glucans on the rheological properties of wort and beer. Environmental conditions such as pH, maltose level in wort, ethanol content of beer, shearing and shearing temperature were also examined for their effects on wort and beer viscosities. In the range of 50–1000 mg/L, β-glucans increased solution viscosity linearly with both molecular weights (MW) of 31, 137, 250, 327, and 443 kDa and concentration. The influence of MW on the intrinsic viscosity of β-glucans followed the Mark-Houwink relationship. Shearing wort and beer at approximately 13,000 s−1for 35 s was found to increase the wort viscosity but reduce beer viscosity. Shearing wort at 20°C influenced β-glucan viscosity more than shearing at 48°C and 76°C whereas the shearing temperature (0, 5 and 10°C) did not effect the viscosity of beer. At lower pHs, shearing was found to reduce the viscosity caused by β-glucans in wort but had no effect in beer. Higher concentrations of maltose in wort and ethanol in beer also increased the viscosity of β-glucan polymers. It was found that β-glucans had higher intrinsic viscosities in beer than in wort (5°C), and lower critical overlap concentrations (C*) in beer than in wort.
A new species of Selaginella in the S. apoda complex

A new species of Selaginella (Subg. Stachygynandrum), S. eclipes Buck, is described from the mid western United States and the Great Lakes area. It is similar to S. apoda but is characterized by dorsal leaves which have long, attenuate apices. The apices are usually hyaline, fragile, and unkeeled; the midrib extends into the apex. The strobilus is typically longer than that of S. apoda and the sporophylls are generally broader. The megaspores are laxly reticulate with broad muri and a pitted surface. Evolution within the S. apoda complex is discussed and a key to the species is given.
The reproductive success of pike, Esox lucius: aspects of fecundity, egg density and survival

Power-law relationships have been estimated between fecundity and fish length, weight and age for pike from two gravel pit lakes (Main Lake and St Peter's Lake) in Buckinghamshire, England. Relative fecundity, estimated at 17.6 eggs g−1 for Main Lake pike and 19.4 g−1 for St Peter's Lake pike, did not differ significantly between the lakes. Population fecundity for the Main Lake was estimated at 10.6 million eggs and 6.4 million eggs in 1986 and 1987, respectively. Experimental work involving samples of eggs from 18 artificially fertilized Main Lake female pike showed a significant relationship between egg diameter and female length, and a significant difference between mean egg diameters for 41-cm and 101-cm females. No significant relationships were found between mean egg size and mean fry size, nor between fry length and adult length. Mean size differences between newly hatched, 18-day-old and 41-day-old fry from the 41-cm and 101-cm females were not significant. Samples of eggs taken at 2-day intervals from 6 April to 5 May in a pike spawning area of the Main Lake revealed clumped distributions of eggs, with average egg densities ranging from 1 to 47 eggs per 0.071 m2 (14–671 m 2) on sand and silt substrata. The maximum egg density of 51 per 0.071 m2 (729 m−2) was found on flooded grass. The stages of development of the eggs were identified over the sampling period. Survival from stage 1 to fry was estimated at 3–6%. Egg losses were estimated at 9–10% day−1. Egg survival experiments gave overall hatching success rates of 11 % on sand/silt compared with 2.5% on aquatic plants (1986), and 18.9% on undisturbed sand/silt compared with 7.9% on disturbed sand/silt (1987). The effect of siltation on egg hatching is discussed.
Analysis of Spatio-Temporal Changes in the Vegetation Cover of the Coastal Landscape of Doñana

ABSTRACT Muñoz-Reinoso, J.C. ; Villafuerte Jordán, R; Tejada-Tejada, M. , 2020. Analysis of spatio-temporal changes in the vegetation cover of the coastal landscape of Doñana. In: Malvárez, G. and Navas, F. (eds.), Global Coastal Issues of 2020. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 95, pp. 113-117. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. The analysis of changes is an important component in the understanding of the ecology of complex landscapes. The aim of this work was to study the long-term changes in the vegetation of the sands of Doñana since 1970 until present, in order to know their causes and processes. Repeated detailed photointerpretation of historical aerial images (1970, 1984, 2002, 2016) was used to map the most extended vegetation types in the Doñana sands. All the series were referenced, photointerpreted and normalized, and then processed to describe the changes produced in landcover/use. Observed vegetation changes in the protected area responded to changes in regional landscape management, as well as to local interactions in plant communities, and management. Thus, groundwater abstraction for cropping and urban supply benefited the most xerophytic plant communities, while the building of a tourist site and of a spit in the Tinto-Odiel estuary seems to be responsible for the stabilization of the mobile dunes. The expansion of Phoenicean junipers shows a successional process while the encroachment of stone pines responds to an invasion process triggered by forestry works.