Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Different Housing System on the Performance, Bone Mineral Density and Yolk Fatty Acid Composition in Laying Hen

Different housing systems have considerable influence on performance in poultry production. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to investigate the impact of different housing systems on the performance, bone mineral density and egg yolk fatty acid composition in laying hen. Hy-line brown pullets (n=450) of 12 weeks age were randomly divided into 3 housing systems with 6 replicates of 25 birds in each room. A diet with 2,750 kcal/kg ME and 16.5% CP was assigned to all birds. The pullets provided free access to feed and water. Significantly (P<0.05) higher values for egg production, egg mass and feed conversion efficiency were found in battery cages, however egg weight, egg shell color and breaking strength was remarkably (P<0.05) higher in floor system. The albumin height and Haugh unit were significantly higher (P<0.05) in battery cages which was statistically similar to aviary housing system. The egg yolk fatty acids concentration of linoleic acid and linolenic acids were significantly higher in aviary and in floor system, respectively, however both values were lower in battery cages. Saturated and unsaturated fatty acid content (%) in egg yolk did not influence by any housing systems. Bone mineral density was significantly higher (P<0.05) in floor and aviary housing system than that of battery cage system. It was concluded that in battery cages the egg production and composition maximized, however higher bone mineral density and yolk fatty acids content can be improved in the laying hen reared on floor and aviary housing systems.
Climate change effects on species interactions in an alpine plant community

1 I examined the role of species interactions on the population dynamics of the herb Thalictrum alpinum and the sedge Carex vaginata by removing the dwarf shrub Dryas octopetala over four growing seasons at Finse, in the alpine region of south Norway, Furthermore, by increasing temperature (open top chambers) and nutrient availability (nutrient addition), I assessed the effects of climate warming on biotic interactions. 2 Dryas removal increased the number of Thalictrum and Carex leaves, and flowering frequency of Carex. Flower stems and leaf stalks of Thalictrum, and the leaves of Carex, became significantly shorter following Dryas removal. Warming and nutrient addition increased vegetative plant growth, whereas warming alone had positive effects on sexual reproductive effort of the target species. My results suggest that there is both competition for nutrients, and a facilitative shelter effect of Dryas on its neighbours. 3 Species interactions affected population dynamics of Thalictrum and Carex. Interactions between the impacts of Dryas removal and abiotic factors on leaf production, suggested that interactions between Dryas and neighbouring species might be modified if temperature and, in particular, nutrient availability increase under global warming. 4 This study shows that both biotic interactions and abiotic environmental conditions may affect alpine plant population dynamics. Furthermore, it shows that climate change may modify species interactions. 5 Species interaction effects should be included in climate change experiments and in future models predicting plant community changes under global warming.
Spatial modelling of species turnover identifies climate ecotones, climate change tipping points and vulnerable taxonomic groups

There is an expectation that climate change will drive turnover in the composition of ecological communities. Established methods for predicting the degree of turnover and spatial areas and taxonomic groups that will be most affected from real data are lacking. We tested a combination of spatial modelling tools to make these predictions. Using data from systematic vegetation survey plots from the Adelaide Geosyncline region, southern Australia, we modelled species turnover as a function of bioclimatic and geographic distances and predicted turnover using future climate change scenarios for 2030 and 2070. We conducted bioclimatic gradient analysis (CCA) on species composition data and mapped zones of higher turnover. The method for detecting these zones was tested using a simulation of continuous turnover. A phylogeny was generated for recorded species and correlations of occurrences of phylogenetic groups with species turnover were calculated. Significant turnover was predicted for the least severe climate change scenarios and near-complete species turnover for the most severe scenario. Gradient analysis revealed discrete transitional zones with more rapid turnover, which were interpreted as a mesic–arid ecotone. Turnover occurred at family level and with increasing temperature and decreasing rainfall there was a shift from the prevalence of Ericaceae, Myrtaceae, Haloragaceae, Cyperaceae, and Xanthorrhoeaceae to that of Amaranthaceae, Malvaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Sapindaceae, and Solanaceae. The mesic end of this climate gradient had relatively low rates of turnover and was interpreted as a refugium with a tipping point. The translation of spatial patterns to temporal change is dependent partly upon scales at which community assembly processes operate and predicts relative vulnerability, but not rates of change, which can only be measured through monitoring. The approach can be applied at any spatial or taxonomic scale subject to sufficient data resolution and can inform management decisions as to biases in climate change risks.
Vegetation diversity and change in relation to land use, soil and rainfall : a case study from North-East District, Botswana

The debate about the sustainability and productivity of communal lands, especially in comparison with privately managed land, is far from settled. Emerging theories emphasize the spatial and temporal diversity of the environment, and are often in agreement with local opportunistic land management strategies. This study explores differences in variables such as plant species richness, composition, and abundance of the field-layer and woody vegetation, between sites with different soils and different histories of land use (communal, private ranch, and rested from grazing), for 2 years. The results indicate that, for the study area chosen, differences in land use have not caused any major differences in the vegetation. However, there were clear differences depending on soil type, and plant production increased strongly with a slight increase in rainfall. Although people and livestock have had a strong impact on the vegetation, most indicators of degradation were absent, implying that the land has not lost its productive potential.
CROSSING EXPERIMENTS WITH CULEX STRAINS

In medical entomology the Culicidae are in a dominant position because the carriers of the most frequent and feared tropical diseases (malaria, yellow fever, etc.) belong to this group. In accordance with this importance, ever since the discovery of the part they -play as carriers, their systematics and biology have been to an increasing degree the object of scientific research, so that today one can say that they are the best known family within the order Diptera. The systematics of this family has reached a certain peak and completion through the summarizing works of Martini (1931) and Edwards (1932). However, the complete speciation is not fully understood even up to this day. New species are still being described, especially from South America and the Pacific territory. The knowledge of the biology of the different species is still full of loopholes in spite of many known details. It has been best worked out for some of the Anopheles species. Here we feel the limiting influence of applied science which pays attention to the "important" species (the carriers) but frequently ignores the "unimportant" harmless species. In connection with the questions of distribution, breeding habits and susceptibility for certain parasites and the problems of combating them, the Culicidae have been used for physiological experiments, but our knowledge even in this field is very incomplete. The systematics of the Culicidae is still entirely of the old school, using the morphology alone as the basis of its divisions. The Culicidae are a particularly clear example of how limiting thlis basis can be.
Immune response of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, Walbaum) to Aeromonas hydrophila

Abstract Rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum), immunised by injection, immersion and orally with killed and live cells of Aeromonas hydrophila , produced antibodies in the serum, bile, skin and gut mucus, and skin and muscle extracts. The antibodies were of a low affinity macroglobulin class, sensitive to 2-mercaptoethanol, and of a structure comprising heavy and light chains. These antibodies reacted maximally with formalised cells and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and to a lesser extent with exopolysaccharide (EPS), flagella, S-layer protein and a haemolytic component of the extracellular products (ECP) of A. hydrophila .
A comparison of mycangial and phoretic fungi of individual mountain pine beetles

Two ophiostomatoid fungi, Ophiostoma clavigerum (Robinson-Jeffrey & Davidson) Harrington and Ophiostoma montium (Rumbold) von Arx, are known to be associated with the mycangia of the mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins. However, virtually nothing is known regarding the phoretic fungi carried on the external surface of the exoskeleton of this beetle. In this study, I compared the phoretic fungi of individual D. ponderosae with the fungi carried in their mycangia. As many beetles carried ophiostomatoid fungi on the exoskeleton as in the mycangia; however, the species of ophiostomatoid fungus carried phoretically on an individual beetle was not always the same as was carried in its mycangia. Ophiostoma montium was isolated more often from exoskeletal surfaces than from mycangia, while the reverse was true for O. clavigerum. It appears that O. clavigerum is highly adapted for mycangial dissemination, while O. montium is adapted to phoretic as well as mycangial dissemination. Ophiostoma ips (.
Pollen morphology in aloe (Aloaceae)

Pollen of two North American monotypic genera (Pterostegia and Harfordia) in the tribe Pterostegieae (including three varieties of Harfordia ca. 22 specimens in total) was examined with light microscope and scanning electron microscope. Detailed descriptions of the inner surface of the tectum and endoapertures were investigated using freezing microtome sections in SEM. The pollen of Pterostegieae can be characterized as being usually 3‐colporate, lolongate or almost circular (more common in Harfordia) and having endoapertures with a subtectate‐microreticulate or ruglo‐/striato‐perforate exine sculpturing. The pollen grains of Pterostegia and Harfordia are very much alike and are therefore, not easily separable, although there are some slight variations (especially in pollen size and sexine patterns, etc.). The infratectum of pollen in Harfordia is covered with comparatively few and less dense granules than that of Pterostegia and these characters are reported for Pterostegia drymarioides for the first tim.
Spatial distribution of microbial biomass and activity (bacterivory and bacterial production) in the northern Weddell Sea during the austral summer (January 1994)

Changes in bacterial production, bacterivory and microbial biomass (autotrophic and heterotrophic) were determined in a complex area characterized by different physico-chemical regimes during the austral summer (January 1994, ECOANTAR-94 cruise). The main goal was to explore the importance of bacterivory as a factor potentially controlling bacterial production in such an extreme environment. The area studied was located in the eastern part of the Bransfield Strait, between 59.5-64° S and 58-50° W. It covered part of the South Shetland Islands shelf and extended northwards to the Weddell-Scotia Confluence and southwards towards the ice edge. Stations were grouped into 4 zones under the influence of different hydrographic conditions: IEZ, influenced directly by the ice edge zone; WS, presenting typical characteristics of the Weddell Sea; FR, located within the Bransfield Strait frontal system and its continuation in the Weddell-Scotia Confluence; and BSO-WSC, containing stations influenced by waters originating in the Bellingshausen Sea and the Weddell-Scotia Confluence. We determined the spatial distribution of microbial biomass (chloro- phyll a, bacteria, heterotrophic and phototrophic nanoflagellates and ciliates), bacterial heterotrophic production, and bacterivory. The highest values of chlorophyll a concentration and primary produc- tion as well as the lowest grazing rates (0.3 µg C l -1 d -1 ) and bacterial production values were found at IEZ, together with the lowest temperatures. In contrast, the highest bacterial losses (4.7 µg C l -1 d -1 ) coincided with high heterotrophic nanoflagellate biomass and bacterial production at the Weddell- Scotia Confluence and waters of Bellingshausen Sea origin (BSO-WSC). These waters showed the highest temperatures, and low chlorophyll a concentration and primary production values. Taking into account the whole data set, bacteria and heterotrophic nanoflagellate biomass explained 68% of the variability in grazing rates. Our results indicated that bacterial losses due to protists represented a large proportion of bacterial production (average 67% d -1 ). However, the variability detected in the study area was very large (from undetectable to >100%). Therefore, bacterivory does not seem to be the main factor in controlling bacterial production in all the zones studied.
Growth, Nutrient Utilization and Threonine Requirement of Growing Chicken Fed Threonine Limiting Diets with Commercial Blends of Phytogenic Feed Additives

The effects of two phytogenic feed additives (PFA) on growth performance, carcass parameters, nutrient utilization, and efficiency of dietary threonine utilization were investigated in male growing chickens (ROSS 308), using threonine limiting corn-wheat-soybean diets. PFA 1 (XTRACTTM), containing 5% carvacrol, 3% cinnamaldehyde and 2% Capsicum oleoresin, was added in graded supply. B: 50ppm, C: 100ppm, D: 200ppm, E: 500ppm). PFA 2 (Sangrovit®), containing the alkaloids sanguinarin and chelerythrin, was given at 30ppm (F). All treatments were compared to a control diet (A). Growth studies utilized 480 male chickens (Ross 308) and eight floor pens per diet (10 chickens per pen). Simultaneously, two N-balance studies were conducted (I: 16-20d; II: 30-34d) to evaluate N-utilization parameters and dietary threonine efficiency depending on PFA addition. The results of growth study and N-balance experiments in both age periods provided no significant effect of the examined PFA on nutrient utilization and dietary threonine efficiency. The observed threonine efficiency data were utilized for further modeling of threonine requirements. The established threonine requirement data (at 0.4kg BW: 336, 468 and 646mg per day for 6, 7.5 and 9g daily protein deposition; at 1.6kg BW: 574, 712 and 883mg per day for 12, 14 and 16g daily protein deposition) are discussed in line with actual recommendations.
Inhibition of quality loss in chilled megrim (Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis) by employing citric and lactic acid icing

Summary This study focuses on the quality retention of megrim (Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis) during chilled storage. Aqueous solutions of two different concentrations of citric (CA) and lactic (LA) acids were employed as icing media (0.125% CA–0.050% LA and 0.175% CA–0.050% LA, respectively; w/v). The effects of each solution on microbial activity, lipid damage and sensory acceptance were monitored for up to 13 days of storage. Lower (P < 0.05) bacterial growth was detected according to microbiological (aerobe and psychrotroph counts) and chemical (trimethylamine-N and pH) assessments, which led to an enhancement of sensory appreciation. Whereas control fish were determined as unacceptable at day 13, the acid-iced fish were still acceptable at that time. Concerning lipid damage, an inhibitory effect (P < 0.05) on fluorescent compound formation was observed in the acid-iced fish. Present results allow to conclude that the use of a CA–LA icing system can provide a profitable strategy to obtain higher quality chilled fish.
Diurnal pattern of death and sporulation in Entomophaga maimaiga‐infected Lymantria dispar

Entomophaga maimaiga Humber, Shimazu, et Soper (Zygomycotina: Entomophthoraceae) is a naturally occurring obligate fungal pathogen specific to gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) larvae. This fungus is considered the most important natural enemy of this pest insect in North America and Asia. A critically important step for the development of E. maimaiga epizootics is the transmission of propagules to healthy larvae, a process known to require high humidity. Some pathogens are known to manipulate the time of day that hosts die so that propagules are produced to maximize chances of survival and thus enhance transmission. The objective of this study was to assess whether E. maimaiga manipulates L. dispar to die at a certain time of day. Laboratory bioassays were conducted at 15 and 20 °C to record the 24‐h activity pattern of death and sporulation exhibited under an L14:D10 photoperiod and 100% r.h. by four isolates of E. maimaiga in its host L. dispar. Events were recorded every 4 h. Our results clearly demonstrate that E. maimaiga‐infected L. dispar larvae die mainly in the afternoon and that the fungus sporulates during the night. The rhythm was independent of the fungal isolate tested and type of spores produced after larval death. By raising the temperature from 15 to 20 °C, the peak death time narrowed and sporulation was initiated earlier at night.
The impact of disturbance on the behaviour and energy budgets of Brent Geese Branta b. bernicla

We studied disturbance factors that caused Brent Geese along a stretch of the north Norfolk coast to take flight. Patterns of activity and undisturbed flight were also quantified, to derive energy budgets. The most frequent source of disturbance was pedestrians. Those disturbances resulting in greatest energy expenditure were also of human origin, but tended to be ‘mechanised’ (e.g. aircraft, gunfire). Activity budgets for high- and low-disturbance days were compared, which showed that birds feed less and are more vigilant when disturbance is greater. On grass pastures, 68.9% of flight was a response to disturbance, which increased estimated hourly energy expenditure (HEE) from 32.2 to 35.6 J/h (10.8%). On exceptionally disturbed days, HEE increased to more than 44.0 J/h. As a consequence of disturbance, geese may need to feed at night for up to an hour in mid-winter, to balance their daily energy budget. Unless they are able to feed easily at night, disturbance may be one of the primary factors influenci.
Genomic organization of the entomopathogenic bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. berliner 1715

A physical and genetic map of the Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. berliner 1715 (serotype 1) chromosome was constructed by pulsed field gel electrophoresis using three restriction enzymes, Ascl, Notl and Sfil. A total of 24 restriction enzyme sites and 28 probes were located on the map. The chromosome size was 5.7 Mb. Consistent with previous mapping of Bacillus cereus chromosomes, the genes were nonrandomly distributed. Genes which are often plasmid-encoded were located on one half of the chromosome, whereas the other half contained rRNA genes and the origin region. Hybridization with macro-restriction fragments showed that the region containing rRNA genes and the origin was similar to that of the B. cereus type strain, ATCC 14579, and confirmed that the region was conserved between the B. cereus and B. thuringiensis chromosomes. The insecticidal toxin probe crylA or the transposon probe Tn4430 hybridized to six extrachromosomal elements of 60, 60, 100, 130, 270 and 600 kb, indicating that the genome size was at least 6.9 Mb.
Convergent evolution of the mating behaviour of founder‐flush populations of the housefly

Courtship bouts of six founder‐flush populations (two‐pair founder‐flush) and two nonbottlenecked controls of the housefly were videotaped over the course of 26 generations in order to evaluate the stability of mating behaviour. Limited‐choice mate preference tests were conducted periodically to assess levels of homogamic preference. Both founder‐flush and control treatments showed significant evolutionary potential in courtship, along with homogamic and heterogamic preferences. The founder‐flush populations were significantly differentiated from the controls in courtship repertoire, but all of the populations pursued convergent evolutionary trajectories in adapting to the laboratory, resulting in dissolution of homogamic preferences. The phenotypic shifts in courtship and mate preferences were unrelated to evolutionary trends in overall mating vigour; therefore, the convergence in courtship could not be attributed to either a fitness meltdown due to inbreeding or the purge of deleterious alleles. Only one founder‐flush population showed some independence from the selectional pressures for convergence; therefore, the single two‐pair founder‐flush event was generally inadequate to stimulate stable incipient speciation. This study thus demonstrates how convergent evolution can dissolve founder‐flush effects.
Antifertility Effects of the Aqueous Extract of Carica Papaya (Linn.) Seeds on Estrous Cycle and Ovulation of Adult Cyclic Sprague-Dawley Rats

We investigated the effects of short term administration of the aqueous extract of Carica Papaya (Linn.) seeds on ovulation and the estrous cycle of adult cyclic Sprague-Dawley rats. Three oral doses of the extract (50mg/kg; 100mg/kg and 800mg/kg body weight) were administered once a day in two independent experiments designated GI and GII. Vaginal smears of the animals were observed daily to determine the phase of their estrous cycle. The rats in GI received the oral doses for 3 consecutive cycles while the rats in GII were administered with the different doses of the extract 9a.m. on proestrus and sacrificed the next day. Results showed that, oral administration of the aqueous extract of Carica Papaya (Linn.) seeds at all the dose regimens tested disrupted the normal sequence of the estrous cycle of the rats but produced no effect on ovulation and the number of ova shed. Keywords : Estrous cycle, ovulation, Carica Papaya seeds Nigerian Journal of Health and Biomedical Sciences Vol. 7 (2) 2008: pp. 31-33