Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A trade-off between two resource-demanding functions: post-nuptial moult and immunity during reproduction in male pied flycatchers

Summary 1 Costs of reproduction might be mediated by a resource-allocation trade-off between immunity and reproductive effort. Recent studies have suggested that the moult–breeding overlap observed mainly in males may affect this trade-off. In order to test whether increased investment in immunity may affect the onset of moult or reproductive output in a species with moult–breeding overlap, we immunized breeding male pied flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca (Pallas) with a non-pathogenic antigen (sheep red blood cells) in the first week post-hatching and compared their moult score, parental effort and reproductive success shortly before fledging with that of control males injected with sterile phosphate-buffered saline. 2 Immunized males provisioning nestlings delayed the onset of post-nuptial primary moult compared to control males. The experimental activation of the immune defence of males affected their stress levels (heterophile/lymphocyte ratio, heat-shock proteins) on day 13 after chicks hatched. An activated immune response tended to depress reproductive output, although the experimental design was not efficient enough to find a significant effect because the manipulation was not performed early enough in the nestling period. 3 The results suggest that experimental activation of the males’ immune system decreased the resources necessary for initiating post-nuptial moult. The trade-off between immunity and moult onset may imply costs of delayed moult in cases of infection and may interact with reproductive immunosuppression in cases of moult–breeding overlap. Moult, immunity and reproduction are locked in a three-way interaction which may markedly affect avian life histories.
Enzimas exógenas em dietas de frangos de corte: desempenho

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of enzyme efficiency in diets with and without nutrient reduction on the performance of broilers. Thousand and hundred forty male broiler chicks (Cobb 500®) were distributed in a completely randomized design with 4 treatments in a factorial 2x2 (two diets with different nutrient densities, with and without enzyme) with 8 replications of 45 birds. The diets were: positive control (normal) and a negative control (with a reduction of 4.3% and 4.5% of metabolizable energy, 16.7% and 17.7% of calcium and 35% and 42.7% of phosphorus, in initial and growth phases, respectively). The enzyme supplementation consisted of a combination of phytase enzyme (100g t-1) and amylase, xylanase and protease (500g t-1). It was evaluated the performance of birds in phases 1 to 21 and 1 to 42 days old. In the total period, the birds fed with negative control diet with added enzyme had feed intake (5.97%), body weight (8.47%), body weight gain (8.64%) and feed conversion (2.92%) higher (P 0.05) to the group fed with positive control diet with or without enzyme. It is concluded that the addition of exogenous enzymes in diets with reduced metabolizable energy, calcium and phosphorus, providing a feed intake, average live weight and weight gain similar to a diet with adequate levels for broiler.
Effect of human α-atrial natriuretic polypeptide on adrenocortical function in man

To determine the effects of atrial natriuretic polypeptide (ANP) on plasma levels of ACTH, cortisol, aldosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), synthetic human alpha-ANP (h alpha-ANP) was infused i.v. into eight normotensive, disease-free volunteers, at a dose and duration previously found to be sufficient to produce apparent cardiovascular and renal effects. The mean basal concentration of plasma ACTH determined by radioimmunoassay was 18.2 +/- 3.1 ng/l. Plasma ACTH concentrations tended to be decreased during the infusion in all subjects. However, the change in plasma ACTH concentrations during infusion of h alpha-ANP was essentially the same as that during the infusion of saline. The mean plasma cortisol concentration was significantly suppressed from 25 to 40 min after the end of synthetic h alpha-ANP infusion. At 90 min after infusion, the mean plasma level of cortisol reverted to the pretreatment level. There was a non-significant increase in plasma renin activity following the infusion. The mean plasma aldosterone concentration was reduced by 15% (P less than 0.05) during the infusion and returned to preinfusion levels 10 min after termination of the infusion, after which the mean plasma concentration declined to the level seen during infusion. Administration of h alpha-ANP had no significant influence on plasma DHEA concentrations, but there was a tendency to decrease during the infusion. Our data suggest that synthetic h alpha-ANP inhibits adrenocortical steroidogenesis in man.
Detection and measurement of nucleotide excision repair synthesis by mammalian cell extracts in vitro

Nucleotide excision repair of damaged DNA can be carried out in a cell-free environment, making the process amenable to biochemical study and manipulation. In this article, methods for a versatile repair synthesis assay are described. Protocols are given for preparing plasmid DNA substrates, preparing whole cell extracts, performing repair synthesis reactions, and analyzing the data obtained. Methods are also described for in vitro complementation of repair synthesis defects and for carrying out two-stage incision/synthesis reactions.
Composition and possible function of social groupings of southern right whales in South African waters

We collected behavioural data and skin samples for molecular sex determination from 327 right whales (Eubalaena australis) in the coastal waters of South Africa between July and October, 1995 and 1996, as well as from 147 cows with calves-of-the-year between August and October 1996, September and November 1997. Data on group size, composition and behaviour were also available for 85 sightings of right whales south of 40degreesS. Although right whales are considered to be relatively non-social, only 23.3% of animals (apart from cow-calf pairs) encountered in South African waters were alone (N = 649), compared to 84.6% of animals seen south of 40degreesS in summer (N = 94). Of the pairs other than cows with calves encountered off South Africa, 31.0% (N = 58) were believed to be composed of cows with last-year's calves (=yearlings): 93.3% (N = 15) of these yearlings were female, suggesting a possible mechanism for female philopatry. The incidence of these mother-yearling pairs dropped sharply after early August, indicating the abrupt weaning of some calves at an age of approximately one year. Most other animals were observed either in surface-active groups (SAGs) that indulged in apparent courtship behaviour, or in non-surface-active groups (non-SAGs). SAGs tended to be larger on average than non-SAGs (4.45 animals, N = 33, range 2-10, versus 2.57 animals, N = 108, range 2-5, respectively), and males predominated, while females predominated in non-SAGs. The number of animals participating per SAG increased through the season, whereas the size of non-SAGs remained constant. Given that most conceptions in southern right whales are estimated to occur in a 118-day period around mid-July, the observed increase in group size through late August and September may be due to declining availability of receptive females. Focal animals in SAGs proved to be predominantly female (83.3%, N = 24) and non-focal animals predominantly male (85.2%, N = 61): a few groups observed late in the winter season had a male rather than female focal animal. Sighting histories of the focal females revealed that none was seen with a calf in the 17 years that preceded the surveys, but four had been seen as calves, 2-5 (average 3.75) years previously. Six females were photographed with calves from 2 to 5 years after being the focal animal in a SAG, which is consistent with the observation that most focal females in SAGs were young, pre-pubertal animals, and therefore being the focal animal did not normally result in conception. It is still unclear where (and when) conceptions occur in southern right whales, but it is hypothesised that the focal females are practising a mating strategy in which the chances of conceiving with a larger male will be maximised. As neonatal survival is partly related to size, the female will in this way protect her substantial investment in time and energy represented by the calf.
The Cladocera (Crustacea: Branchiopoda) as a relict group

According to the fossil record and DNA data, the Cladocera is an ancient crustacean group. Recent revisions make their taxonomy amenable to zoogeographical analysis. A bipolar (antitropical) disjunct distribution of faunal complexes and taxa (Daphnia, Daphniopsis, Pleuroxus, Tretocephala, etc.), the wide ranges of some species and narrow restriction of others, the presence of isolated populations and the concentration of endemics in the warm temperate – subtropical zone of both hemispheres are traits of cladoceran zoogeography. These enable us to compare them with better studied (both living and fossil) plants, invertebrates and vertebrates, and to analyse their faunal formation by the modern version of the concept of ‘ejected relicts’ instead of vicariance. This reveals the extant Cladocera as a relict group, whose taxa were widely distributed in the past. Tertiary climatic changes, primarily within the present tropical and boreal latitudes, resulted in mass extinction of their biotas, while the warm temperate – subtropical regions remained comparatively unchanged. Although most recent Cladocera have relict status, others such as the D. pulex and D. longispina species groups and the subgenus Eubosmina are evolutionary young and show recent speciation. © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2006, 147, 109–124.
Laboratory Hybridization and Mating Period Studies Using Two Pheromone Strains of Ostrinia nubilalis

Strong laboratory reproductive isolation exists between 2 strains of Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner). This reproductive isolation is related to the use of different sex pheromones by the 2 strains, and differences in mating periodicity. Hybrid progeny, when produced, exhibit heterosis, but no great genetic deficiencies are observed when the hybrids are inbred. Thus the 2 strains appear to possess the same basic genetic systems, with enough variation introduced through hybridization to cause hybrid heterosis.
Effect of Duroc genes proportion on growth performance and on carcass and meat quality characteristics in heavy pigs

Abstract By means of the application of covariance models, the linear effects of the proportion of Duroc genes were evaluated with respect to growth (from 6 to 170 kg live weight) and feed/gain ratios, as well as carcass (lean cuts, adipose cuts, linear measures, backfat thickness, loin area and lean percentage) and meat quality (L* a* b* colour, reflectance, electrical conductivity, pH) in 167 heavy pigs (87 castrated males, 80 females) from different crosses of Duroc(D), Large White (LW) and Landrace (L) breeds, from 25 to approximately 300 d of age. The pigs were weighed at 25, 105, 170, 235 d and at the end of the trial (298 ± 6 d of age), and were raised under the same conditions. The proportion of Duroc genes was 0% (LWxL; no. 33), 25% [(LWx(DxL); n. 31 and Lx(DxLW); n. 35)] and 50% [Dx(LWx(LWxL)); n. 68]. The increase in the proportion of Duroc genes negatively affected the live weight at the different ages (P<0.05), but the weight at slaughtering was not affected (P>0.10). In fact, during the final phase (from 120 to 170 kg l.w.) the effect of the Duroc breed on daily gain became positive (P=0.08), and the feed/gain ratios were significantly lower (P=0.02). The carcass composition was not significantly influenced by the increase in the proportion of Duroc genes, with the exception of a rise in the weight of neck (P<0.01) and flare fat (P=0.02) and a reduction of ham (P=0.09). Carcass length resulted lower as the proportion of Duroc genes increased (P<0.01); at 24 h from slaughtering, meat colour showed lower values for lightness (P=0.08), redness (P=0.02) and yellowness (P=0.03).
TURKEY CORONAVIRUS: AN UPDATED REVIEW

Turkey coronavirus (TCoV) causes acute atrophic enteritis and uneven flock growth in turkey farms leading to economic loss. Since 1990's, turkey flocks have kept experiencing coronaviral enteritis sporadically in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Brazil. Poult enteritis and mortality syndrome (PEMS) caused by the co-infection of TCoV, astrovirus, and other viruses or bacteria resulted in significantly high mortality. Diagnosis of TCoV depends on reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), quantitative real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescent antibody assay and virus isolation (VI). Genomic organization of TCoV is as follows: 5′ UTR-1a-1b-S-3a-3b-E-M-5a-5b-N-UTR 3′. Genomic analysis suggests the emergence of TCoV from infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) through the recombination of spike (S) gene. Both TCoV and IBV belong to species Avian coronavirus in genus Gammacoronavirus and have a single stranded RNA genome with a size about 27 kb. High similarity of S genes has been found between TCoV isolates in contrast to low similarity between IBV strains. TCoV infection induced strong humoral and cellular immune responses, characterized by high levels of antibody and interferon gamma. The fragment containing neutralizing epitopes in the S protein has been identified. Vaccines conferring protection against TCoV have not been developed and used in the fields but live attenuated, killed, DNA, and fowlpox virus vectored vaccines have been generated and their efficacies were evaluated. Molecular epidemiology of TCoV in recent outbreaks sheds more information on the evolution and transmission of TCoV, which will aid in developing effective vaccines or treatment to prevent, control, or eliminate TCoV infection.
Molecular characteristics of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolates from a Chinese Tertiary Hospital

ET Amac: Bu calismada Cin’in Guangdong bolgesinde bulunan bir egitim hastanesinde, Ocak 2008 ile Aralik 2011 tarihleri arasinda donemde izole edilen karbapenem direncli Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), kokenlerinin molekuler ozelliklerini incelemesi amaclanmistir.Yontemler: Calisma doneminde 3286 sustan toplam 28 (% 0,9) CRE izolati ayristirildi ve calismaya alindi. Antimikrobiyal duyarlilik testleri, Modifiye Hodge (MHT) testi ve genotip incelenmesinde Pulsed-field jel elektroforez kullanildi. Genisletilmis spektrumlu β-laktamaz (GSBL) ve karbapenemaz genlerinin varligi, gen amplifikasyonu ve dizi analizi kullanilarak tespit edildi. Bakterilerin Dis zar porini (OMP) genleri (OmpK35 / OmpK36 K. pneumoniae, E. cloacae icin OMPC / OmpF) incelendi.Bulgular: MHT ile 28 kokenin yedisi (% 25,0) direncli Enterobacteriaceae olarak tanimlandi. PCR ve dizi analizi gibi molekuler yontemlerle kokenlerden 15’inin (% 53,6) GSBL pozitif oldugu, altisinin AmpC (% 21,4), besinin IMP-4 (% 17,9) ve dokuzunun en az iki farkli sinif dirence sahip oldugu gorulmustur. Ozel olarak, yedi MHT pozitif kokenin besinin (% 71,4) karbapenemaz kodlayan genlerinin IMP-4 uretimine bagli iken PFGE analizinde bir K. pneumoniae disinda hemen hemen tum CRE kokenlerinin, OMPC ve / veya ompF icinde OmpK35 ve / veya OmpK36 kaybi gen ifade kaybi gozlendi. PFGE analizi genomik degiskenlik gosterdi.Sonuc: Enterobacteriaceae karbapenem direnci bu organizmalarda gozlenen OMP’lerin kayb sonucu olusan porin’e degisimi ve β-laktamazlarin kombine etkisi nedeniyle olusmaktadir. CRE yayilimi ve enfeksiyonlar hem anlamli acil halk sagligi hedefleri haline gelmistir onlemek icin
Recent Trends of Desertification in the Maowusu Desert, China

In the Maowusu Desert—which in the south-east encompasses part of the Yulin Region, Shaanxi Province, and in the north-west the Ih Ju League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region—desertification trends in relation to the impact of droughts and land-use changes were investigated. Data derived from Earth resources technology satellites (LANDSAT I and LANDSAT II, 1974–1978), and Chinese documentary sources, were used for the analysis. It was found that desert ‘expansion’ occurred during 1953–76, but the rates of expansion varied over time and space, relatively rapid desertification being observed for 1959–63 and 1971–76. The bulk of the expansion was located in the more arid Ih Ju League. The mean annual rate of areal expansion was 6.4% during 1958–71. By comparing the desertification rates with precipitation and land-use information, it was established that droughts have only accentuated the desertification process. The primary cause of desert expansion is the excessive clearing of land for rain-fed agriculture as well, of course, as overgrazing. Another contributory factor was culling of vegetation for fuel and raw materials for handicraft industries. Efforts have been expended on desert control since the mid-1950s, resulting in the arresting of desertification in some local areas. The individual success stories demonstrate that, with mass participation, effective desert control can be achieved by using low-level technology. However, the Chinese programme of desert control was not conceived as a comprehensive programme. Control activities relied almost exclusively on vegetational methods, and they were seldom coordinated with land-use policies as well as with the planning of energy supplies. The negligence of the fundamental conflict between expanding agricultural activities and desert control has led to a net desert expansion in the last 30 years. Recognition of this fundamental conflict and implementation of mitigative land-use policies, would be a major step towards resolving the desertification problem in the Maowusu Desert.
A Provisional Model for Smooth Brome Management in Degraded Tallgrass Prairie

native grasses. S brome (Bromus inermis) is a Eurasian grass that is planted as a forage and cover crop throughout Canada and the northern United States (Fig. 1) (Carlson and Newell, 1985). In warm-season pastures and native prairies, smooth brome is considered a highly competitive weed because of its rhizomatous, sodforming root system and prolific seed production. Dill and his colleagues (1986) attributed the invasion and dominance of smooth brome in warm-season pastures to overgrazing, while other researchers, such as Old (1969), suggested that a lack of fire may be a factor. In this article, we present a provisional model for managers who choose to control smooth brome through the use of prescribed bums. We developed the model following research on smooth brome management at the University of Nebraska Agricultural Research and Developmerlt Center near Mead, Nebraska, and at Pipestone National Monument near Pipestone, Minnesota. We begin, however, by reviewing the literature on smooth brome tiller morphology, especially its use of carbohydrate reserves, and by discussing management practices for the control of smooth brome.
Is Predisposition to Giardiasis Associated with the ABO Blood Groups

Abstract Since an excess of blood group A in giardiasis has been repeatedly reported, we studied 190 patients with parasitologically confirmed giardiasis. Their blood group distribution did not differ from that of the Finnish population, and the statistically insignificant deviations were a surplus of group B and a shortage of group A. Among 85 participants of four travel groups which experienced an epidemic of giardiasis, the blood group distributions of the infected and the noninfected persons were not different. Thus, blood group A did not predispose to the acquisition of Giardia lamblia infection. To disclose an impact on the course of the disease, the patients were classified according to symptoms or duration of infection, but the ABO distributions did not differ from the expected. Our patients were adults, probably contracting giardiasis for the first time during a trip abroad, while the excess of group A has been reported in children in endemic areas.
Rodent tissue residue and secondary hazard studies with bromadiolone

A series of toxicological, residue, secondary hazard, and environmental fate studies were completed with bromadiolone. The compound was eliminated rapidly after ingestion by Rattus norvegicus and Mus domeslieus. In R. norvegim, 75% of the bromadiolone was eliminated within 4 days. Dead rodents collected from field trials using bromadiolone had residue levels of 1.92 in R. rattus, 1.17 in M. domesticus, and 0.49 ppm in Spermophilus beecheyi. The LD50 for bromadiolone in beagle dogs was calculated at 8.1 mg kg-’ (10.7 for males and 6.3 mg kg-’ in females). The approximate LD50 in Canis latrans was 10 mg kg-l. Dietary LC50 determination compound in Putorius putorius furo was 9.8 ppm. Secondary hazard studies showed the rodenticide to have little potential to snakes and birds of prey if used properly. Field tests with grain and pelleted baits over 21 days demonstrated that the active ingredient degraded by 78 and 45%, respectively.
Scale effects on the pattern and predictors of small mammal diversity along a local elevational gradient in the Great Basin

Evaluation of the generality of the diversity–elevation relationship has highlighted effects of scale (spatial extent and grain size) on pattern perception. In contrast, the effects of scale on the attribution of drivers of diversity along elevational gradients remain largely unexplored. This is important because many causal factors have been proposed, and remotely sensed data about abiotic factors are available at increasingly fine grain sizes. Here, we evaluate the effects both of the resolution of the species diversity estimate on the pattern perceived, and of environmental predictor grain size on the potential contribution to each pattern.
Resistance of Some Sorghum Lines to the Spotted Stalk-Borer Chilo Partellus Under Western Kenya Conditions

Field observations on Chilo infestation of 100 promising sorghum lines showed that there are six levels of relationship affecting plant colonization and damage level by stem-borers: non-preference for oviposition (E 302, E 303, IS 1044, IS 1151, IS 2162, IS 4660, IS 17739, IS 18328, IS 18349, IS 18479, and IS 18489); feeding of the first larval instars on young leaves (reduced on E 302, E 303, IS 1044, IS 2162, IS 2209, IS 18349 and IS 18427); causing of ‘dead hearts’ by young larval instars due to extensive feeding in stems of young plants (lower for IS 2162, IS 2263, IS 18328, IS 18349); tunnelling (extent and location) of older instars in stems (low in IS 4660, IS 18427 and IS 18479); tolerance of plants to leaf damage (in spite of high damage, plants form panicles) (IS 2205); and tolerance of plants to larval feeding in stems (in spite of high tunnelling, the plants form seeds). The effect of a number of cultivars showing different levels and mechanisms of resistance on the Chilo behaviour and biology was studied in depth under field conditions.