Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Welfare of laying hens in cages and alternative systems: environmental, physical and behavioural aspects

There are many different characteristics of housing systems which affect the welfare of laying hens, particularly because welfare itself has many diverse aspects. When cause and effect relationships between systems and welfare are assessed, it is evident that no system currently under consideration is ideal. Of those priorities listed by UK authorities such as the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Farm Animal Welfare Council, all systems are likely to provide ‘freedom from hunger and thirst, adequate lighting and the company of conspecifics’. However, conventional cages are less likely than other systems to provide ‘freedom of movement, freedom from fear, comfort and shelter, suitable flooring and freedom to display most normal patterns of behaviour’. Alternative systems, though, often expose birds to the danger of disease, to aggression from dominant birds and to the risk of cannibalism or beak trimming to avoid it. Overall, welfare is compromised more in conventional cages than in well-run alternative systems, though welfare is more sensitive to poor management and to market forces in the latter. Problems in cages are also less likely to be alleviated by genetic selection than those in alternative systems. The ideal system for present-day stocks should combine the small group sizes found in cages with the freedom of movement and complex environment characteristic of alternative systems.
Sequence analysis and expression of the calcium-dependent protein kinase gene, MCDPK in mulberry (Morus L.)

A full-length cDNA sequence coding for calcium-dependent protein kinase of mulberry tree, which we designated was MCDPK and this was cloned based on mulberry expressed sequence tags (ESTs). Sequence analysis showed that the MCDPK is 2249 base pairs in length, encoding 532 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 59.96 kDa and an isoelectric point of 6.84. The mRNA expression level of MCDPK at different developmental stages in mulberry leaves and flowers and in different tissues was investigated. The results showed that MCDPK transcripts were most abundantly expressed in the terminal bud, and the expression level of the mRNA was reduced significantly under the conditions of low temperature and salt stress when compared to the normal growth environment. The findings of the study laid the foundation for understanding the resistance mechanism of functional genes in mulberry in the future.
Missing opportunities to reproduce: an energy dependent or fecundity gaining strategy in white sucker (Catostomus commersoni)?

A definitive age or size at first maturity was lacking among both sexes of white sucker (Catostomus commersoni) in Gull-feather Lake. Highest incidence of maturity in females of a single age-class was 45%. Failure to mature in successive years occurred in 17% of females. Annual soma mass increment was significantly greater in population members exhibiting maturity relative to those which refrained from reproduction. Consequently, maintaining immaturity did not permit a large gain in future fecundity. Annual gain in fecundity potential by immature and nonreproducing adults ranged from 9.3 to 3.3%, substantially lower than that needed to compensate for the associated annual mortality of 30% in the age range 7–13 years. Gametogenesis in Gullfeather Lake females and males was characterized by abnormally low mature gonad weights relative to four comparative populations. Frequency of refraining from reproduction among five populations correlated positively with a spatial–temporal index of environmental hypoxia .
Mononchid nematodes from Spain. One known and another new species of the genus Miconchus Andrássy, 1958.

Two species of me genus Miconchus, M. studeri (Steiner, 1914) Ancirassy, 1958 and M. longicaudatus sp. n. , are described and illustrated'from material collected in natural and cultured areas in Spain. M. studen' is retained under Miconchus and me synonymy of Miconchoides Jairajpuri & Khan, 1982 wim that genus is proposed. Measurements of three different populations of . ' M. studeri, including a male specimen, are given and discussed. The new species of Miconchus is characterized by having a great size (2.26-3.33 mm), slender body (a = 44-62 in females and a = 30-49 in males), buccal caviry 24-41 x 42-65 f.lm, dorsal and ventrosublateral teem of similar morphology wim apexes situated at 22-36 % from basis of buccal caviry, V =48.6-58.4, very long rail (687-827 f.lm in females, 562-777 f.lm in males) wim caudal glands in tandem and spinneret present, spicules 73-85 f.lm long and 10-14 ventromedian supplements.
Chromosome studies in Turnera (Turneraceae)

comprising more than 100 speciesgrouped in 9 series (Urban, 1883) which are distributedlargely in tropical and subtropical areas of the Americas.At least 34% of all species have been karyologicallyinvestigated. Chromosome numbers have been reported for35 species (Raman and Kesavan, 1964; Hamel, 1965;Barrett, 1978; Barrett and Shore, 1980; Arbo and FernAEndez,1983; FernAEndez, 1987; Solis Neffa and FernAEndez, 1993)but the karyotypes of only 21 have been described (SolisNeffa and FernAEndez, 1993; Solis Neffa, 1996). The basic chromosome number x = 7 was found in the
Impact of a population bottleneck on symmetry and genetic diversity in the northern elephant seal

Abstract The northern elephant seal (NES) suffered a severe population bottleneck towards the end of the nineteenth century. Theoretical expectations for the impact of population bottlenecks include the loss of genetic diversity and a loss of fitness (e.g. through a disruption of developmental stability); however, there are few direct demonstrations in natural populations. Here, we report on the comparison of archive samples collected prior to and following the NES population bottleneck. Measures of genetic diversity show a loss of variation consistent with expectations and suggest a strong disruption in the pattern of allele frequencies following the bottleneck. Measures of bilateral characters show an increase in fluctuating asymmetry.
ISSR and RAPD marker based DNA fingerprinting and diversity assessment of Annona spp. in South Andamans

Annona spp. is one of the most important wild fruit tree having great medicinal value. The present study was aimed to assess the inter-relationships among four Annona species collected from various parts of south Andaman ecosystem. A set of 30 ISSR and 20 RAPD primers were taken for DNA fingerprinting, among them 14 ISSR and 14 RAPD primers produced 31 and 48 amplicons out of which 18 and 25 amplicons were polymorphic having 58 and 52% polymorphism, respectively. The maximum discriminating band was obtained from primer ISSR 7 and ISSR 9. Cluster analysis of ISSR divided the four species into three clusters while with RAPD it was two clusters. An assessment of genetic diversity among four Annona species would assist in planning for future germplasm collection, conservation and domestication programmes.
Total Mercury and Methylmercury Contamination in Fish from Sites along the Elbe River

Mar‰alek P., Z. Svobodova, T. Randak: Total Mercury and Methylmercury Contamination in Fish from Various Sites along the Elbe River. Acta vet. Brno 2006, 75: 579-585. The aim of the study was to evaluate total mercury Hg and methylmercury MeHg contamination in muscle tissues of fish collected in 2002 from the Labe (Elbe) river at sites upstream of Pardubice and downstream of Pardubice and Hfiensko, and in 2004 from the Labe river upstream and downstream of the Spolana factory in Neratovice, and from the Vltava river downstream of Lenora. Eighty eight fish of the following species were sampled: bream (Abramis brama L.), perch (Perca fluviatilis L.), chub (Leuciscus cephalus L.) and barbel (Barbus barbus L.). Total mercury content in chub, perch and bream was in the range of 0.05 - 1.96 mg·kg-1 w.w. , 0. 09 - 1.46 mg·kg-1 w.w. and 0.35 - 0.82 mg·kg -1 w.w. , respectively. Methylmercury content in chub, perch and bream was in the range of 0.04 - 2.11 mg·kg-1 w.w. , 0.1 - 1.73 mg·kg-1 w.w. and 0.371 - 0.650 mg·kg-1 w.w. , respectively. Significant correlation (p < 0.05) was found between contents of THg and MeHg and both the weight and the age of fish. Significant differences (p < 0.05) between THg and MeHg contents were found between individual sites. In 2002, for example, the most contaminated fish were found downstream of Pardubice, followed by fish from upstream of Pardubice and from Hfiensko. In 2004, fish from downstream and upstream of the Spolana factory in Neratovice were more contaminated than fish from the Vltava river downstream of Lenora. The methylmercury-tototal mercury ratio in muscle tissue was close to 1.0. The Vltava river, MeHg/THg ratio, Perca fluviatilis, Leuciscus cephalus, Abramis brama, Barbus barbus
Cryptic peaks: invisible vertical structure in fluorescent particles revealed using a planar laser imaging fluorometer

Small‐scale vertical structure in the distribution of phytoplankton could be fundamentally important for zooplankton foraging, trophic coupling, and carbon cycling in planktonic ecosystems. Here, we identify regions of structure in phytoplankton communities that would be undetected by fluorometers by comparing the vertical distribution of chlorophyll fluorescence to the concentration of fluorescent particles over submeter scales. Images acquired with a free‐falling planar laser fluorescence imaging system were used to calculate vertical profiles of the concentrations and spatial distributions of fluorescent particles (e.g., eukaryotic phytoplankton, aggregates) and bulk fluorescence. We frequently observed peaks in the concentration of fluorescent particles with no coincident peak in bulk fluorescence: we define these features as cryptic peaks. These cryptic peaks can occur because the integrated fluorescence of the particles that are resolved by the imaging system is a small fraction of the total fluorescence; thus, a dramatic local change in the abundance of fluorescent particles can occur without significantly changing the bulk fluorescence. We also observed bulk fluorescence‐only peaks: peaks in bulk fluorescence with no coincident peak in fluorescent particle concentration. These features suggest that peaks in bulk fluorescence or chlorophyll a do not necessarily indicate increases in the concentration of the fluorescent particles resolved by our system, again emphasizing the difference between these two measures of phytoplankton structure. Comparing the relative abundances of two size classes of the fluorescent particles in the images revealed that the size composition of the fluorescent particles also varied over small scales. Phytoplankton less than ~ 500 µm in length numerically dominated the composition of most (65%) of the cryptic peaks we observed. By comparing vertical profiles of fluorescent particle concentration from two drops separated by less than an hour, we hypothesize that the peaks formed through vertical shearing of existing patches. Cryptic peaks contained almost 20% of the total number of fluorescent particles counted in all drops during our study and thus could represent disproportionately intense regions for important ecological processes relative to the rest of the water column.
EPG waveform characteristics of solenopsis mealybug stylet penetration on cotton

The solenopsis mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), is a polyphagous insect known to cause severe damage to cotton (especially transgenic varieties) in South Asia, and currently poses a serious threat in Asia and potentially elsewhere. Stylet penetration behavior of P. solenopsis on cotton was monitored using the electrical penetration graph (EPG) technique (DC system) and the EPG characteristics were compared with those previously published from Phenacoccus manihoti Matile‐Ferrero and Planococcus citri (Risso). We identified and further characterized typical waveforms of A, B, C, and pd (together pathway), E1 and E2 (phloem), F (derailed stylet mechanics), and G (xylem). Five novel EPG aspects were distinguished in the EPG waveforms from P. solenopsis: (1) obvious B waveforms occurred following waveform A, (2) during waveform C, some aphid‐like E1e waveforms were observed, (3) prolonged potential drops (pd) up to >1 h occurred with two continuously alternating sub‐phases pd1 and pd2, (4) the pd1 waveform always occurred as the first waveform related to phloem sieve elements, preceding the other phloem waveforms (E), the labeling of which we changed to achieve a better comparison to the aphid E waveforms, and (5) waveform F, related to derailed stylet mechanics occurred but was not reported from other mealybugs so far. This is mainly a waveform morphology study to extend existing knowledge on mealybug EPGs to investigate mealybug‐host plant interactions. Further experimental verification of waveform correlations with plant tissue positions of stylet tips and insect activities is still needed.
Genetic variability, character association and path analysis studies in Guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq.).

The present study was conducted to assess the magnitude of genetic variability, correlation and path analysis in Guinea grass genotypes for fodder yield and its component traits and quality parameters. The traits, green fodder yield per plant and crude protein content showed moderate PCV and GCV while the trait, crude fibre content showed low PCV and GCV. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as per cent of mean was observed for number of leaves per plant, leaf weight and crude protein content and these characters were controlled by additive gene effects, hence selection of genotypes based on these traits would be effective in the improvement of both fodder yield and quality. Correlation and path analysis showed that due importance should be given for leaf weight, leaf stem ratio, plant height, number of tillers per plant and number of leaves per plant. Hence these traits may be considered as selection indices for guinea grass improvement programme.
Myoepithelial cells in bovine sweat glands

1. Spindle-shaped myoepithelial cells with longitudinal myofibrils have been demonstrated in the sweat glands of Ayrshire and Zebu cattle. 2. The cells in both breeds are similar in structure, location and arrangement. 3. Under the polarizing microscope they are birefringent as is characteristic of other fibrillar structures.
International genetic evaluation for fertility traits in dairy cattle

Abstract The objective of this study was to review and discuss the results of the first international evaluation for female fertility of Holstein dairy cattle. Fifteen countries, including Italy, provided breeding values of bulls and joined the evaluation. Four trait groups were used to analyze animal’s ability to became pregnant and animal’s abilityto recycle after calving. Italy submitted three traits: days to first service (DTFS), non-return rate at 56 days (NR56) and calving interval (CI). Genetic correlation between Italy and the other countries ranged from 0.72 to 0.94 for DTFS, from 0.25 to 0.90 for NR56 and from 0.67 to 0.87 for CI. Results represent another step forward in the international trade of dairy cattle genetic material.
PUTTING A CART BEFORE THE SEARCH: SUCCESSFUL HABITAT PREDICTION FOR A RARE FOREST HERB

The realms of rare species conservation and metapopulation biology theory are often interrelated, and hence share several basic challenges. Two of the most important are the critical and frequently difficult tasks of distinguishing a priori between habitat and nonhabitat, and then delimiting suitable habitat patches in a study area. We combined classification tree analysis, a subset of classification and regression tree (CART) modeling, with digital data layers of environmental variables in a geographic information system (GIS) to predict suitable habitat and potential new population occurrences for turkeybeard (Xerophyllum asphodeloides), a rare liliaceous understory herb associated with southern Appalachian pine-oak (Pinus-Quercus) forests, in northwestern Virginia. Sample values from eight environmental data layers and population survey data were used in the modeling process to produce a cross-validated classification tree that predicted suitable habitat in the study area. Elevation, slope, forest type, and fire frequency were the four main explanatory variables in the model. Approximately 4% of the study area was classified into five suitable habitat classes, with a misclassification error rate of 4.74%. The final 13-leaf tree correctly classified 74% of the known presence areas and 90% of the known absence areas, and ground-truthing surveys resulted in the discovery of eight new occupied habitat patches. Results of this study are important for conservation and management of X. asphodeloides, as well as for the applicability of the habitat modeling techniques to enhancing the study of metapopulations and disturbance regimes in Appalachian forests. In addition, they con- firm the potential and value of CART and GIS-based modeling approaches to species distribution problems. Our model was successful at defining suitable habitat and discovering new populations of a rare species at the landscape scale. Similar application to other rare species could prove very useful for addressing these and other ecological and conservation issues, such as planning transplantation or reintroduction experiments, identifying meta- population fragmentation thresholds, and formulating conservation strategies.
Parâmetros fisiológicos e índice de tolerância ao calor de bovinos da raça sindi no semi-árido paraibano

Este trabalho foi conduzido no Centro de Saude e Tecnologia Rural da Universidade Federal de Campina Grande (UFCG), Paraiba. Foram utilizadas 12 femeas da raca Sindi, com idade media de 18 meses, com o objetivo de determinar os parâmetros fisiologicos e o indice de tolerância ao calor (ITC). Os parâmetros fisiologicos foram observados pela manha e a tarde, semanalmente, durante 3 meses em cada estacao (chuvosa e seca). Durante o periodo experimental as temperaturas maximas foram de 32,2 oC e 38,2 oC e minimas de 24 oC e 26o C, e o indice de temperatura do globo e umidade (ITGU) na sombra a tarde foi de 88,8 e 88,7, nas estacoes chuvosa e seca, respectivamente. Observou-se efeito (P<0,05) de estacoes sobre os parâmetros fisiologicos (temperatura retal, frequencias respiratoria e cardiaca) e os hematologicos. Contudo, os parâmetros observados encontram-se nos padroes normais para a especie bovina. Com relacao a tolerância ao calor, os animais apresentaram um indice de 9,83 (nove virgula oitenta e tres), que e considerado alto. Conclui-se que esta raca esta bem adaptada as condicoes climaticas do semi-arido.
Importance of changing CO2, temperature, precipitation, and ozone on carbon and water cycles of an upland‐oak forest: incorporating experimental results into model simulations

Observed responses of upland‐oak vegetation of the eastern deciduous hardwood forest to changing CO2, temperature, precipitation and tropospheric ozone (O3) were derived from field studies and interpreted with a stand‐level model for an 11‐year range of environmental variation upon which scenarios of future environmental change were imposed. Scenarios for the year 2100 included elevated [CO2] and [O3] (+385 ppm and +20 ppb, respectively), warming (+4°C), and increased winter precipitation (+20% November–March). Simulations were run with and without adjustments for experimentally observed physiological and biomass adjustments.
Comparison between five coexisting species of marine copepods feeding on naturally occurring particulate matter

Grazing by five species of copepods on naturally occurring particles has been investigated over a 1-yr period. The consumption of particles by each species was associated with changes in both total concentration and composition of suspended particulate material. All the copepods reacted similarly and simultaneously to the changes of the particle size spectrum by shifting their grazing pressure from one size range to another. They all behaved as opportunistic particle feeders, seeking and keeping track of the most abundant particles. No species seemed to behave as a selective grazer with respect to particle sizes. There were quantitative differences between the ingestion rates per body dry weight of the copepods, and the ingestion per body dry weight was inversely proportional to the body dry weight. The feeding behaviors of the species should lead to rather severe interspecific competition. The apparently sustained coexistence of the five sympatric species is attributable to several physical and biological mechanisms working simultaneously.
Acumulación de hojarasca en un pastizal de Panicum maximum y en un sistema silvopastoril de Panicum maximum y Leucaena leucocephala

Se realizo un estudio en la Estacion Experimental de Pastos y Forrajes "Indio Hatuey", Matanzas, Cuba, con el objetivo de determinar la acumulacion de la hojarasca en un pastizal de Panicum maximum Jacq cv. Likoni y en un sistema silvopastoril de Panicum maximum y Leucaena leucocephala (Lam) de Wit cv. Cunningham. En los pastizales de P. maximum de ambos sistemas se determino la acumulacion de la hojarasca segun la tecnica propuesta por Bruce y Ebershon (1982), mientras que la hojarasca de L. leucocephala acumulada en el sistema silvopastoril se determino segun Santa Regina et al. (1997). De forma general, los resultados demostraron que en ambos pastizales la guinea acumulo una menor cantidad de hojarasca durante el periodo junio-diciembre, etapa en la que se produce su mayor desarrollo vegetativo. En la leucaena la mayor produccion de hojarasca ocurrio en el periodo de diciembre a enero, asociada con la caida natural de sus hojas que se produce por efecto de las temperaturas mas bajas y la escasa humedad en el suelo. En el sistema silvopastoril la hojarasca de leucaena represento el mayor porcentaje de peso dentro de la produccion total, con un contenido mas alto de nitrogeno y de calcio que el de la hojarasca del estrato herbaceo. En la guinea la lluvia fue el factor climatico que mayor correlacion negativa presento con la produccion de hojarasca en ambos sistemas, y en la leucaena la mayor correlacion negativa se encontro con la temperatura minima.