Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of replacing time available for grazing with time available for eating maize silage and soyabean meal on milk yield and feeding behaviour in dairy cows

Low rates of herbage dry matter (DM) intake impose limits on total daily DM intake in grazing dairy cows. The objective of this study was to increase total daily DM intake and milk production by restricting daily time available for grazing (TAG) and replacing it with time available for eating a maize silage/soyabean meal (TAMS) diet indoors. The treatments (TAG + TAMS) were 20 + 0, 19 + 1, 10 + 10 and 5 + 15 h. Measurements were made of milk production, intake and feeding behaviour. The interactions of TAG + TAMS treatments with sward height (SH) and concentrate level (CL) were also examined. Two experiments, each lasting 42 days, were carried out in spring (Experiment 1) and autumn (Experiment 2) using forty-eight and twenty-four Holstein-Friesian cows respectively. Treatments were arranged in a factorial design with TAG + TAMS treatments, SH (Experiment 1 only) and CL as the independent variables and a TAG + TAMS of 20 h. Reducing TAG and increasing TAMS significantly reduced estimated herbage DM intake and significantly increased maize silage/soyabean meal intake in both experiments, but there were no significant main effects of TAG + TAMS treatments on milk yield (mean, 27·4 and 25·5 kg d−1 for Experiments 1 and 2 respectively), and yield of milk constituents. Increasing SH (Experiment 1) and CL (Experiments 1 and 2) significantly increased milk yield. In Experiment 1, there was a significant interaction between TAG + TAMS treatments and SH with the taller sward height of 8–10 cm and the 20 + 0 treatment having the highest milk yield (29·7 kg d−1) and the 5 + 15 treatment the lowest (27·2 kg d−1), whereas at the lower sward height of 4–6 cm, milk yield was lowest on the 20 + 0 treatment (25·5 kg d−1) with the other three treatments being higher (mean, 26·9 kg d−1). Replacing TAG with TAMS significantly increased liveweight gain in Experiment 1 but not in Experiment 2. Estimated rates of intake of herbage were lower in the autumn experiment (Experiment 2, 9·6 g DM min −1) than in the spring experiment (Experiment 1, 29·4 g DM min −1) but rates of intake of maize silage were higher in the autumn (112·4 g DM min−1) than in the spring (72·5 g DM min−1). In conclusion, in spring the response to replacing TAG with TAMS was dependent on sward conditions with the highest milk fat plus protein yield being on the 20 + 0 treatment at the high sward height and on the 19 + 1 treatment at the low sward height. The high liveweight gain of the 5 + 15 treatment could be an important means of restoring body condition in grazing lactating cows. In autumn, intakes of herbage were low in spite of its high estimated nutritive value with all treatments having a similar level of performance.
Performance, carcass cut-up and fatty acids deposition in broilers fed different levels of pellet-processed flaxseed

The effects of flaxseed (FS) processing and inclusion levels on broiler performance and fatty acid deposition were examined. FS was provided as whole seed, ground or pellet-then-mashed at a dietary level of 0, 12 or 14% during days 1 to 21. These levels represented control, threshold and over-threshold, respectively. During days 22 to 40, the threshold level was increased to 15%, while the over-threshold level increased to 17%. After 21 days of feeding, the performance of birds fed a diet with 12% pellet-then-mashed FS were comparable (p > 0.05) with those fed mashed control diet, but superior to those fed a diet of whole FS (p 0.05) by the treatments, except that increased FS level resulted in smaller fat-pad and larger liver (p < 0.05). Birds deposited omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids in breast and thigh muscle the most with higher FS inclusion and pellet-then-mash processing. On day 40, the total n-3 fatty acids made up 22.1 and 24.4% in the muscle lipids of breast and thigh samples from birds fed pellet-then-mashed FS at the level of 12% during days 1 to 21 and at the level of 15% during days 22 to 40, respectively. These values were higher (p < 0.05) than those found in birds fed diets of similar FS levels but as whole seed or ground seed. Up to 12% pellet-processed FS can be incorporated into broiler diets with satisfactory growth, while maximizing n-3 fatty acid deposition in the tissues. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry
AVALIAÇÕES FENOTÍPICAS DA RAÇA BOVINA CURRALEIRO PÉ-DURO DO SEMIÁRIDO DO BRASIL

The purpose of this research was to evaluate some qualitative and quantitative traits related to coat color, morphometric measurements, growth performance, weight daily gain, carcass and meat of Curraleiro Pe-Duro cattle (Bos taurus taurus, CPD). Data were obtained from the in situ conservation nucleus which belongs to the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), located in the experimental farm in Piaui State, Brazil. The records were analyzed by least square method (Proc GLM) enclosed in SAS statistical package. Used models varied according to the analysis as well as the significance levels of environmental effects and their interactions. Growth performance means, among males and females, for birth (PN), weaning (P210), yearling (P365), 18 months (P18m), 24 months (P24m) and mature weight (PA) were 21 and 19; 69 and 64, 99 and 93, 137 and 127, 168 and 152, 285 and 210 kg, respectively. The herd presented variations in coat colors with a predominance of brown-red followed by yellow, been darker in front body extremities, especially in mature animals. Morphometric measurements, evaluations of carcass and meat analyzes exhibited a great range of results indicating the absence of selection and genetic improvement in the evaluated herd. Due to the introduction of zebu cattle (Bos indicus) in the mid-twentieth century and the disordered crossbreeding"s that followed, the CPD are at risk of extinction, requiring further studies that will allow its conservation and sustainable use in tropical regions.
PCR‐RFLP analysis of mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b gene among Greek horse breeds

Abstract PCR was used to investigate the genetic differentiation and phylogenetic relationships among five Greek horse breeds at the mitochondrial DNA level. Specifically, a 1350‐bp segment comprising the entire cytochrome b gene of mitochondrial DNA was amplified and subsequently screened for RFLPs. Six out of ten restriction endonucleases were found to detect variability, and nine different haplotypes were observed, all belonging to the same phylogenetic assemblage. Haplotype‐1 was the most common and possessed the highest frequency in all five breeds. The average values of the observed interpopulation and intrapopulation diversity among breeds were similar (mean = 0.30% and 0.27%, respectively). The results obtained contrast with the theory of a separate origin for Greek horse breeds and indicate an extensive admixture among them. This is also the case with the Skyros pony. Finally, the genetic relationships among breeds suggested by mtDNA data were in accordance with RAPD data.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND RINGED SEAL (PHOCA HISPIDA) RECRUITMENT IN WESTERN HUDSON BAY

Climate warming is predicted to reduce the extent of ice cover in the Arctic and, within the Hudson Bay region, the annual ice may be significantly decreased or entirely lost in the foreseeable future. The ringed seal (Phoca hispida), a key species that depends on sea ice, will likely be among the first marine mammals to show the negative effects of climatic warming. We used 639 ringed seals killed by Inuit hunters from western Hudson Bay (1991–1992, 1999–2001) to assess trends in recruitment relative to snow depth, snowfall, rainfall, temperature in April and May, North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) from the previous winter, and timing of spring break-up. Snowfall and ringed seal recruitment varied from lower than average in the 1970s, to higher in 1980s and lower in 1990s. Prior to 1990, seal recruitment appeared to be related to timing of spring ice break-up which was correlated with the NAO. However, recent 1990–2001 environmental data indicate less snowfall, lower snow depth, and warmer temperatures in April and May when pups are born and nursed. Decreased snow depth, particularly below 32 cm, corresponded with a significant decrease in ringed seal recruitment as indicated by pups born and surviving to adults that were later harvested. Earlier spring break-up of sea ice together with snow trends suggest continued low pup survival in western Hudson Bay.
Epilepsy as a Unifying Principle in Electrofishing Theory: A Proposal

Abstract Fisheries scientists have long studied the behavior of fish in electrified water. However, the science of electrofishing (the use of electricity to capture fish) evolved independently of other fields of science whose knowledge could have explained the behaviors of fish to electric shock. Theories to explain the behavior of organisms in electric fields developed out of two paradigms: Classical stimulus–response (S–R) theory, and “local action” of electrical energy on nerves and muscle fibers. Stimulus–response theories dominated in the late 19th Century; although they were abandoned by the early 20th Century by animal behaviorists they persisted in work with fish. An alternative theory, the “local action” paradigm, arose soon after 1900. Attributing galvanotropisms to the action of electricity on local nerves and muscles fibers, the local action theory remains in one form or another the main explanation for galvanotropisms today. However, neurologists have recognized for more than 100 years that e.
Spatially dependent genetic diversity within and between colonies of wild raspberry Rubus idaeus detected using RAPD markers

In the Tayside region of Scotland, red raspberry Rubus idaeus exists both as extensive plantations of clonally propagated cultivars, and as wild populations that inhabit both the cultivated areas and uncultivated uplands to the north. In order to explore the genetic diversity of the wild populations and their degree of similarity to the plantation clones, individual plants in wild populations were sampled from four distinct sites along a 25‐km transect northwards from the area of cultivation. The genetic material of each of 45 individuals and the commercial cv. Glen Clova were examined using six RAPD primers giving a total of 63 variable bands. Some identical banding patterns were observed, suggesting vegetative growth up to 20 m, but populations consisted mainly of genetically distinct individuals. Similarity matrices based on the marker bands showed, without exception, that plants were more similar within a site than between sites. None of the populations was closely related to the cv. Glen Clova. Although the most northerly site had the largest proportion of rare bands, there was no general trend between within‐site diversity, or similarity to the cultivar, and position on the north‐south line. All four sites had unique bands and bands not displayed by the cultivar. However, the genetic diversity of a site appeared to increase as the extent of the sampled area increased, implying that the genetic variation was spatially dependent. For example, maximum and minimum similarities were 100 and 80%, respectively, at interplant distances of 2 m; 100 and 60% at distances of 20 m; 85 and 55% at 200 m and 70 and 40% at 20 km.
The effects of quantity and quality of prey on population fluctuations in three seabird species

Capsule Population sizes of Common Guillemots Uria aalge, Razorbills Alca torda and Lesser Black‐backed Gulls Larus fuscus were associated with prey abundance but not prey quality. Aims To examine how the abundance and quality of prey fish affects seabird population size and to test the ‘junk‐food’ or nutritional stress hypothesis. Methods Analysis of long‐term seabird population size data and Sprat Sprattus sprattus biomass and age‐related weight data using a correlative approach. Results De‐trended seabird and Sprat population data showed that the abundance of Sprat, the main prey species, was associated with the abundance of seabirds, while no effect of age‐related size of prey on seabird population size was found. Conclusion As the Sprat population increased so did the seabird populations, regardless of decreases in ‘quality’ of Sprats, implying that more prey fish simply seem to mean more food in this marine ecosystem. No support for the ‘junk‐food’ hypothesis was found and the results contradict suggestions from earlier studies that prey quality is important to top‐predators in the Baltic Sea.
Comparing regional risks in producing turnip rape and oilseed rape – Today in light of long-term datasets

Abstract Finland is the only country in which summer turnip rape (Brassica rapa L.) is predominant over oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) as an oil crop. However, farmer interest in growing oilseed rape has increased significantly over recent years. Accordingly, this study aims to compare the regional risks of producing turnip rape and oilseed rape in order to avoid setbacks in Finnish vegetable oil production. This study is especially topical because the cultivated area of Brassica oil crops is projected to double in the near future and recent years have particularly favoured oilseed rape production and farmers have been encouraged to replace turnip rape with oilseed rape. Using information gained through this risk assessment, changes in oil crop production can be managed in a more economically sustainable way. In this study we used long-term datasets from MTT Agrifood Research Finland (MTT Official Variety Trials for 1976–2005) and the Finnish Meteorological Institute (regional datasets for temperature accumulation and occurrence of frosts at late seed ripening for 1971–2000). According to the results of this risk assessment, sustainable and economically feasible oil crop production in Finland must currently be based primarily on turnip rape. Oilseed rape is, however, likely to become increasingly important, but in the most favourable fields of the southernmost production regions. However, it was evident that comparison of yield values is very sensitive to variety differences for the most critical yield parameters. Hence, when introducing new oilseed rape varieties it is particularly important that they always have equal or better seed yield and seed chlorophyll content than the recently introduced, markedly improved oilseed rape varieties. This will reduce economic risks for farmers.
Effect of sowing date and seed rate on yield performance of two mustard varieties

-1 ) was recorded in 10 November sowing and the lowest one was achieved in 30 November sowing. Seed rate had also significant effect on plant height, branches plant -1 , pods plant -1 , effective pods plant -1 , pod length, no. of seeds pod -1 and seed yield. The seed rate 8 kg ha -1 produced the highest seed yield (1.49 t ha -1 ) and the lowest seed yield was produced by 12 kg seeds ha -1 . Among the yield contributing characters only harvest index and non-effective pods plant -1 were significantly influenced by the interaction of variety and date of seeding as well as the interaction of
Coptobrycon bilineatus (Ellis, 1911) (Characiformes: Characidae): redescription and comments on its phylogenetic relationships

Coptobrycon bilineatus (Ellis, 1911) is redescribed on the basis of specimens from the District of Paranapiacaba, Municipality of Santo Andre, upper rio Tiete, and additional ones recently collected in a small coastal river system of Serra do Mar, very near the headwaters of the rio Tiete. The genus was compared to other Characidae lacking a supraorbital, and it seems to be more phylogenetically related to Grundulus based on the possession of various putative apomorphic character states related to: the absence of a rhinosphenoid and fourth, fifth (sometimes) and sixth infraorbitals; nasal pores separated; nares with up to six nasal lamellae; cephalic laterosensory system poorly developed on supraorbital and infraorbital series; and a globose scapula. Furthermore, Coptobrycon and Grundulus are characterized by the absence of the adipose fin, of the supraorbital laterosensory series on the parietal, and of the humeral spot, and by the reduction of lateral musculature in front of the first pleural rib and between the first and second pleural ribs. Biogeographic comments are also provided.
Influence of temperature and duration of leaf wetness on infection of Acyrthosiphon kondoi with Erynia neoaphidis

SUMMARY Bioassays were carried out to examine the influence of temperature and duration of leaf wetness on the infectivity of an isolate of Erynia neoaphidis for its aphid host Acyrthosiphon kondoi. Preliminary experiments demonstrated that primary spores produced in vitro were as infectious as those formed in vivo. No consistent effect of temperature on infectivity of primary spores could be detected. The time taken to kill an aphid increased as temperature decreased, from 3–5 days at 20 °C to 12–15 days at 8 °C, suggesting a threshold for disease development of 4 °C. Increasing duration of the period of leaf wetness up to 24 h after inoculation increased the final level of infection. At 20 °C, a minimum moisture period of 3 h was required for infection with maximum infection occurring after about 7 h. These times increased slightly at 15 °C but extending to 7 and 16 h respectively at 10 °C. The epizootiological implications of these results are discussed with reference to previously published data on in vivo production of primary spores of E. neoaphidis.
Simian Virus 40 Large-T Bypasses the Translational Block Imposed by the Phosphorylation of eIF-2α

One of the cellular defense mechanisms against virus infection is mediated by activating the interferon-induced, double-stranded-RNA-activated protein kinase, PKR. Upon activation, PKR phosphorylates and thereby inactivates the protein synthesis initiation factor, elF-2, leading to cessation of protein synthesis. Viruses have evolved diverse strategies to counteract this cellular antiviral response. A majority of these strategies target PKR to prevent its activation. Recently, we showed that simian virus 40 (SV40) large-T antigen reverses PKR-mediated translational inhibition at a step downstream of PKR activation (Rajan et al., J. Virol. 69, 785--795, 1995). In this paper, we present evidence showing that SV40 can restore efficient translation in cells despite the elevated levels of phosphorylated elF-2 alpha resulting from PKR activation. Thus, SV40 large-T-mediated translational rescue occurs at a step downstream of elF-2 alpha phosphorylation.
Nitrogen oxide gas emissions from temperate forest soils receiving long‐term nitrogen inputs

From spring 2000 through fall 2001, we measured nitric oxide (NO) and nitrous oxide (N2O) fluxes in two temperate forest sites in Massachusetts, USA that have been treated since 1988 with different levels of nitrogen (N) to simulate elevated rates of atmospheric N deposition. Plots within a pine stand that were treated with either 50 or 150 kg N ha−1 yr−1 above background displayed consistently elevated NO fluxes (100–200 µg N m−2 h−1) compared to control plots, while only the higher N treatment plot within a mixed hardwood stand displayed similarly elevated NO fluxes. Annual NO emissions estimated from monthly sampling accounted for 3.0–3.7% of N inputs to the high‐N plots and 8.3% of inputs to the Pine low‐N plot. Nitrous oxide fluxes in the N‐treated plots were generally < 10% of NO fluxes. Net nitrification rates (NRs) and NO production rates measured in the laboratory displayed patterns that were consistent with field NO fluxes. Total N oxide gas flux was positively correlated with contemporaneous measurements of NR and concentration. Acetylene inhibited both nitrification and NO production, indicating that autotrophic nitrification was responsible for the elevated NO production. Soil pH was negatively correlated with N deposition rate. Low levels (3–11 µg N kg−1) of nitrite () were detected in mineral soils from both sites. Kinetic models describing NO production as a function of the protonated form of (nitrous acid [HNO2]) adequately described the mineral soil data. The results indicate that atmospheric deposition may generate losses of gaseous NO from forest soils by promoting nitrification, and that the response may vary significantly between forest types under similar climatic regimes. The lowering of pH resulting from nitrification and/or directly from deposition may also play a role by promoting reactions involving HNO2.
Yield and nutritive value of the spring growth of an ageing timothy sward

The decline in productivity of forage grasses with age since establishment has been recognised for several years, but this yield reduction and its consequences on nutritive value have not been studied in timothy (Phleum pratense L.). Our objective was to characterize the dry matter (DM) yield and nutritive value during spring growth of an ageing timothy sward grown under non-limiting N conditions. A timothy sward, seeded in 1998, was harvested at four developmental stages (stem elongation, early heading, late heading, and early flowering) during spring growth from 1999 to 2005. The average DM yield observed in production years 5, 6, and 7 was 43% of that measured in the first 4 production years when timothy was harvested at stem elongation or early heading, 52% when harvested at late heading, and 74% when harvested at early flowering. The yield potential of timothy during spring growth decreased with ageing at a rate of 0.66 and 0.91 Mg DM ha-1 yr-1 with harvests at early and late heading, respectively. T.
QUANTIFICATION OF THE RELATIVE ABUNDANCE OF THE TOXIC DINOFLAGELLATE, KARENIA BREVIS (DINOPHYTA), USING UNIQUE PHOTOPIGMENTS 1

Diagnostic photopigment analysis is a useful tool for determining the presence and relative abundance of algal groups in natural phytoplankton assemblages. This approach is especially useful when a genus has a unique photopigment composition. The toxic dinoflagellate Karenia brevis (Davis) G. Hansen & Moestrup comb. nov. shares the diagnostic pigment gyroxanthin‐diester with only a few other dinoflagellates and lacks peridinin, one of the major diagnostic pigments of most dinoflagellate species. In this study, measurements of gyroxanthin‐diester and other diagnostic pigments of K. brevis were incorporated into the initial pigment ratio matrix of the chemical taxonomy program (CHEMTAX) to resolve the relative contribution of K. brevis biomass in mixed estuarine phytoplankton assemblages from Florida and Galveston Bay, Texas. The phytoplankton community composition of the bloom in Galveston Bay was calculated based on cell enumerations and biovolumetric measurements in addition to chl a‐specific photopigment estimates of biomass (HPLC and CHEMTAX). The CHEMTAX and biovolume estimates of the phytoplankton community structure were not significantly different and suggest that the HPLC–CHEMTAX approach provides reasonable estimates of K. brevis biomass in natural assemblages. The gyroxanthin‐diester content per cell of K. brevis from Galveston Bay was significantly higher than in K. brevis collected from the west coast of Florida. This pigment‐based approach provides a useful tool for resolving spatiotemporal distributions of phytoplankton in the presence of K. brevis blooms, when an appropriate initial ratio matrix is applied.