Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genetics of casein content in Brown Swiss and Italian Holstein dairy cattle breeds

Over 2,000,000 records of casein contents were collected from herds of Brown Swiss (BS) and Italian Holstein Friesian (HF) dairy cows in northern Italy during routine milk recording. Variance components for casein and genetic correlations of casein with production and type traits considered in selection were estimated from a sample of 200,484 test day records for 26,279 BS cows and 376,652 for 41,543 HF cows. A multivariate multi-model REML estimation of variance components was made. Models for production included the fixed effects for herd-test day, year of evaluation, days in milk, month of calving and age at calving within parity. Models for type traits were defined accordingly to the model officially used for each breed for breeding value estimation. Breeding values for casein yield and content were calculated from estimated heritabilities (Brown 0.12; Holstein 0.09). Estimates were similar for protein and casein yield and content while genetic correlations with traits in the actual selection indexes differed between breeds. These differences, together with the greater emphasis now given to protein in the selection index of the Brown Swiss than in the Italian Holstein Friesian, suggest that a direct selection for casein could be more advantageous in Brown than in Holstein cows. The Brown breeders association could soon include casein yield and content directly in their selection criteria while that of Holstein cows would wait for a longer term casein data collection.
Evaluation of Different Heat Processing Methods on the Nutritive Value of Mucuna pruriens (Velvet Bean) Seed Meals for Broilers

Mucuna pruriens like most tropical legumes contain anti-nutritional factors, which limit its use as livestock feed ingredient. Proximate analysis and two performance studies using finisher broilers were carried out to determine the nutritive value of raw, toasted, cooked and, soak and cooked Mucuna (SACM). M pruriens seeds were ground raw, ground and toasted, and cooked prior to drying and midling in Experiment 1 and soaked in water for 48 hours prior to cooking for one hour before drying and milling in Experiment 2. Toasting increased the crude protein of the raw seed by 6.5% but decreased the ether extract by 22.9%. Cooking and soaking prior to cooking decreased the values for crude protein and ether extract by 5.3 and 6.5%, and 13.7 and 20.6%, respectively. In Experiment 1, 100gkg raw, toasted, cooked and 200gkg -1 -1 SACM were substituted into nutritionally balanced rations fed 28 to 56d of age. Mucuna seed meals caused progressive reductions in growth; at 56d of age broilers fed 100gkg raw, toasted, cooked and 200gkg -1 -1 cooked Mucuna grew 61.8, 67.2, 80.4 and 63.7% of control, respectively. Feed intake declined significantly with 100gkg toasted and 200gkg cooked MSM respectively. Feed to gain ratio decreased significantly -1 -1 (P<0.05) with 100gkg raw, toasted and 200gkg cooked Mucuna, respectively. The heart, liver, kidney and -1 -1 gizzard weights relative to body weights were significantly (P<0.05) affected by the diets. In Experiment 2, 200gkg and 300gkg dietary levels of Nigerian and Brazilian SACM were fed 28 to 56d respectively. With -1 -1 300gkg broilers grew significantly (P<0.05) slower than the control and 200gkg diet groups but feed -1 -1
Conversion rates of aldicarb and its oxidation products in soils. III. Aldicarb

Aldicarb was incubated in seven soils at 15°C and its loss was well described by first-order kinetics. Rate constants varied between 0.078 day−1 in a peaty sand to 0.35 day−1 in a clay loam. The concentration-time relationships for aldicarb, its sulphoxide and its sulphone were approximated by a computation model which was used to analyse the importance of the various consecutive and simultaneous reactions. It was computed that 91 to 100% of the aldicarb would be oxidised to its sulphoxide.
Effectiveness of an Imposed Slot Length Limit of 12.0-14.9 Inches on Largemouth Bass

Abstract Watkins Mill Lake was opened to public fishing in 1974 with a minimum length limit of 15.0 in on largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). In 1976, the growth and size structure of large-mouth bass were poor. The average length of Age-V largemouth bass was 12.0 in and the Proportional Stock Density (PSD) was 1%. A regulation was established in 1977 to protect largemouth bass 12.0-14.9 in long; with this slot regulation, fish less than 12.0 in and those 15.0 in and longer could be harvested while fish from 12.0 to 14.9 in long had to be released. Anglers removed an estimated 47 largemouth bass per acre during the first year of the experimental regulation. Thereafter, significant improvements in growth and size structure occurred. In 1982, the average length of Age-V largemouth bass was 15.4 in; PSD and RSD 15 values were 50 and 24% respectively. Largemouth bass densities (≳ 7.0 in) were reduced from about 78 per acre in 1977 to about 23 per acre in 1981. Despite the reduction in numbers, their tota.
Pre-dispersal and early post-dispersal demography, and reproductive litter production, in the tropical tree Dicymbe altsonii in Guyana

ABSTRACT The demographic history of a flower-cohort of the tropical tree Dicymbe altsonii (Caesalpiniaceae) was studied by collecting litter from flowers, fruits and seeds, and by monitoring seedling survival. Flower production was estimated at 137 to 172 m−2 in a plot of 1 ha. Four percent of the flowers yielded a pod, which contained an average of 2.0 seeds. Post-dispersal mortality over 3 mo was 39% of the initial number of dispersed seeds. Most flowers and fruits were aborted. Insect and vertebrate predation in the tree and on the ground was very low. Reproductive litter production of this species was estimated to be equal to leaf litter production. The amount of phosphorus lost in litter from fruits and flowers was much larger than in leaf litter. This implies that the impact of the biennial flowering events on the nutrient dynamics of the trees and of the ecosystem may be large. It is argued that the reproductive cycle and the pre-dispersal demography of Dicymbe seem to be determined by a scarcity of nutrient resources, and possibly by pollinator limitation.
BIOLOGY OF THE LITTLE BITTERN IN THE SOUTHWESTERN CAPE

Summary Langley, C. H. 1983. Biology of the Little Bittern in the Southwestern Cape. Ostrich 54:83-94. The breeding biology of the Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus payesii was studied at the Rondevlei Bird Sanctuary, Southwestern Cape, South Africa, from 1975 to 1979. Adult behaviour before and during nesting is described. Adults are diurnal. Bills of breeding birds flush red during courtship, copulation and nest relief. Breeding occurred from June to February, adults occupying the same nest area each season. Nest and nest site are described. Mean clutch size was 33 eggs and mean measurements were 34,6 x 26,6 mm. Average incubation period was 19 days. Chicks left the nest permanently at 14–16 days and flew at 27 days. Development and behaviour of young are described. Hatching success was 62,3% and nestling success 56,6%. Additional broods occurred on average 16,8 days after the previous brood had flown.
An analysis of the feeding behavior of daphnia pulex

The feeding abilities of Daphnia pulex were investigated by offering it suspensions of the small alga Chlamydomonas minutissima and its larger congener Chlamydomonas capensis. The suspensions differed in the relative abundance of the two algae and in tl e presence or absence of intermediately sized latex spheres. The experiments were designed to distinguish between mechanistic and behavioral modes of feeding. Daphnia showed marked flexibility in its feeding patterns, consistent with the behavioral hypothesis. It preferred to feed on C. minutissima. Significant feedir g on C. capensis occurred only when C. capensis-conditioned animals were presented suspensions relatively low in C. minutissima or in the presence of latex spheres. Analysis of gut contents revea.ed a reduction in the ingestion of latex spheres over time. Total carbon and life history analyses suggest that the preferred food, C. minutissima, is the superior food as well.
The Timing of Life-History Stages Across Latitudes in Zonotrichia Sparrows

Abstract. Tropical vertebrates are considered to have greater flexibility in the timing of life-history stages than are temperate-zone vertebrates. Yet the annual cycles of most resident tropical species are poorly understood, making latitudinal comparisons of phenology difficult. We investigated the reproductive seasonality and synchrony of a mid-elevation (∼2100 m), equatorial population of the Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis) and compared our data with data from three other populations of Zonotrichia across a range of latitudes and elevations (one equatorial high-elevation population of Z. capensis and two temperate-zone populations of Z. leucophrys, one at high elevation and one at sea level). We predicted that (1) the reproductive synchrony and seasonality of temperate-zone populations should be greater than those of the equatorial populations and (2) the reproductive synchrony and seasonality of populations breeding at high elevations should be greater than those of populations breeding at lower elevations. We found no seasonal pattern in the proportion of adults' life-history stages in the mid-elevation equatorial population of Z. capensis. Broader comparisons revealed that the reproductive synchrony and seasonality of temperate-zone populations were not always higher than those of the equatorial populations. Elevation of the breeding population had a strong effect on reproductive seasonality in both temperate-zone and equatorial populations. However, reproductive synchronies of temperate-zone populations were very different, while those of equatorial populations were similar. Thus elevation and climatic factors associated with latitude of breeding are important to reproductive seasonality and synchrony.
Differences in risks and consequences of salmon louse, Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Krøyer), infestation on sympatric populations of Atlantic salmon, brown trout, and Arctic charr within northern fjords

Bjorn, P-A. , Finstad, B. , Kristoffersen, R. , Rikardsen, A. H. , and McKinley, R. S. 2007. Differences in risks and consequences of salmon louse, Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Kroyer), infestation on sympatric populations of Atlantic salmon, brown trout, and Arctic charr within northern fjords. - ICES Journal of Marine Science, 64: 386-393.Differences in salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) infestation on sympatric populations of fjord-migrating, Atlantic salmon post-smolts (Salmo salar), brown trout (Salmo trutta) (sea trout), and Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) were studied in three fjords with fish-farming activity in northern Norway during the period June-August 2000. Atlantic salmon post-smolts were only captured in the fjords during late June and early July, and probably left them subsequently. No fish were infested with salmon lice. In contrast, brown trout and Arctic charr had similar infection patterns during their sampling periods, with very low prevalence and mean infection intensity during June (0-21% and 0-6 lice per fish, respectively), slightly increasing in July (8-70% and 6-12 lice per fish, respectively), and peaking in August (80-88% and 19-27 lice per fish, respectively). The chalimus stages dominated during June and July, with a few pre-adult and adult stages observed in July, and all stages were found frequently during August. The observations indicate that Atlantic salmon may have a mismatch between the time of louse infestation and their post-smolt fjord migration in northern fjords. In contrast, brown trout and Arctic charr feed within the fjords throughout summer and have a higher risk of harmful infestation in years with suitable environmental conditions for salmon louse development, especially in fish-farming areas. Arctic charr usually spend the shortest time at sea of the three species, and the salmon lice may not have time to develop to the adult stage on this species.
An observation study on the effects of queen age on some characteristics of honey bee colonies

Abstract This study was conducted to determine the effects of the queen’s age on performance of the honeybee (A. mellifera anatoliaca) colonies at nomad beekeeping conditions. Performances of the colonies, which had 0, 1, 2 and 3 year-old queens, were compared. The number of combs, brood areas, wintering ability survival rate and honey yield were determined as performance criteria. The average number of combs with bees throughout the experiment in Group I, Group II, Group III and Group IV was 10.92±0.78, 14.68±0.55, 10.10±0.60, 7.88±0.45 number combs/colony; the average of brood areas was 3078±372.5 cm2, 3668±460.3 cm2, 2215±294.0 cm2, 1665.38±241.8 cm2; the average of wintering ability was 84.3±2.9%, 88.0±3.7%, 46.6±19.0%, 26.8±16.5%; the survival rate was 100%, 100%, 60%, 40%; and the average of honey yields was 31.4±1.89 kg, 41.5±1.05 kg, 20.4±2.62 kg and 12.0±1.41 kg per colony, respectively. A significant and negative correlation between queen age and brood production (r=-80.2), colony strength (r=-62.5), wintering ability (r=-66) and honey yield (r=-75.6) were calculated (P<0.01). The colonies headed by young queens had more brood areas, longer worker colony population, better wintering ability and greater honey yield in comparison to colonies headed by old queens.
Italian Football

The Italian football industry has recently grown at a pace that was never experienced before, boosted by the entrance of pay TV into the business. Nevertheless, Italian football has recently sunk into a deep financial crisis, which has caused bankruptcy for some clubs and strong downsizing for others. At the end of the 2002-2003 football season, the aggregate net loss for Serie A was larger than [UNKNOWN] 400 million, more than one third of total turnover. In the present article, the authors analyze some data from Italian football, discuss the reasons for the financial crisis, and propose some remedies.
Terpene response of Picea abies and Abies alba to infection with Heterobasidion s.l.

Summary ThemonoterpenecompositionofPiceaabiesandAbiesalbaresinwasanalysedinrelationtogrowthbyHeterobasidion spp. Fifteen-year-old P. abies and A. alba trees were inoculated on branches with threespecies of Heterobasidion annosum s.l. After 4 months of incubation, each host was colonized to asigniﬁcantlygreaterdegreebythepathogenspeciﬁctothathost(H.parviporumonP.abies,H.abietinumonA.alba)thanbytheotherfungi. Analysisoftheenantiomericmonoterpeneproﬁlesinthespruceandﬁr showed that the response in terms of the relative proportions of the monoterpene compounds in theresin differed between tree species. Following challenge with Heterobasidion spp. , A. alba trees did notshow changes in monoterpene composition in addition to those in the wounding response (increase in())-a-pineneand())-camphene,and decreasein b-phellandrene). InP.abies,())-a-pinene,(+)-a-pineneand d-3-carene increased following Heterobasidion attack but not after wounding alone. 1 Introduction Plant resin is a mixture of terpenoids, which are complex compounds with varyingchemical properties. Many terpenoids are considered secondary metabolites because theyappear to lack a direct function in basic growth. They are important because they have arole in the chemical defence of plants owing to their antimicrobial, fungistatic andinsecticidal properties, and they are also antifeedant deterrents to insects and mammalianherbivores (Cates 1996; Croteau et al. 2000). Terpenes also have a role in wound healing:Phillips and Croteau (1999) reported that when plant tissue is wounded, the volatileterpene portion of the resin evaporates, leaving a semi-hardened mass resulting from theoxidation and polymerization of diterpenes (Croteau and Johnson 1995). Of the terpenoids, the monoterpenes have the simplest structure (10 carbon atoms) andare an important component of the volatile fraction of oleoresin in plant tissues. Mixturesof terpenes can be constitutive (primary resin) or induced (secondary resin). Constitutiveterpenes are produced by the secretory epithelial cells and accumulate in resin cells. Inaddition to producing primary resin, conifers also possess an inducible terpene defencesystem that is produced by the parenchyma cells when injury occurs. This defence systemleads to the formation of new traumatic resin ducts and increased resin ﬂow in the areasurrounding the injury (Trapp and Croteau 2001; Theis and Lerdau 2003). Theproportion of terpenoids in the primary resin differs from that in secondary resin.Generally the response to aseptic wounds has only minor effects on terpene contentcompared with that caused by infection with a pathogenic fungus (Cheniclet 1987; Raffaand Smalley 1995; Sadof and Grant 1997). The total amount of monoterpenes in tree resin is affected by biotic and abioticstress factors such as drought and ﬁre; however, genetic studies have shown that theFor. Path. 37 (2007) 243–250 2007 The AuthorsJournal compilation 2007 Blackwell Verlag, Berlin
Landscape and regional context differentially affect nest parasitism and nest predation for Wood Thrush in central Virginia, USA

ABSTRACT Many empirical studies have shown that forest-breeding songbirds, and Neotropical migrants in particular, suffer greater rates of nest predation and nest parasitism in smaller forest patches and in fragmented landscapes. To compare the performance of different metrics of spatial habitat configuration resulting from deforestation, we studied nest predation and nest parasitism rates at 200 Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) nests in eight forest fragments ranging from 82 to 9,171 ha in central Virginia, USA. We analyzed nest parasitism rates using logistic regression and we analyzed daily nest predation rates under a multistate competing risks design. For both analyses we compared the performance of 16 covariates, 11 of which related to the spatial configuration of habitat (e.g., patch size, distance to edge, percent core forest in proximity to nest) and 5 of which were unrelated to habitat (e.g., year, serial date, nest height). Distance to agriculture gained the greatest support in analyses of nest predation and suggested that elevated predation rates are manifest primarily within 50 m of edges; at 5, 10, and 20 m, respectively, the estimated predation rates were 87%, 76%, and 68%. In contrast, biogeographic region received the greatest support in analyses of nest parasitism, which also showed increasing rates of Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) parasitism with percent agricultural land and road density within 500 m of a nest. Among regions, the greatest difference seemed to be a virtual absence of nest parasitism along the Blue Ridge in the absence of disturbance (agriculture or road incursion) whereas the other two biogeographic regions showed 20–50% rates of nest parasitism as background rates. Interactive models between spatial configuration metrics and region gained little support from nest predation analyses, but considerable support from the nest parasitism analyses, suggesting regional context plays a more important role in nest parasitism than in nest predation at these central Virginia sites.
Estimating transpiration from 6-year-old Eucalyptus grandis trees : development of a canopy conductance model and comparison with independent sap flux measurements

Daily patterns of stomatal conductance (gs), xylem pressure potential (P) and canopy microclimatic variables were recorded on 11 sample days as part of a one-year study of the water use of Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden in the eastern Transvaal, South Africa. Measured gs was found to be largely controlled by quantum flux density (Q) and ambient vapour pressure deficit (D). Canopy conductance (gc) was determined for hourly intervals using gs measurements and leaf areas in four different canopy levels. A simple model was constructed to allow the prediction of gc and transpiration from Q, D and season of year. The model was used to estimate transpiration rates from 10 trees in a later study of similarly-aged E. grandis trees, in which sap flow in each tree was measured using the heat pulse velocity (HPV) technique. Five of the trees were monitored on a summer day and five on a winter day. Correspondence between HPV sap flow and modelled transpiration was good for the summertime comparisons, but measured winter-time sap flow rates were underestimated by the model, especially under conditions of high sap flow. The discrepancy is believed to result from having insufficient data from the conductance study to describe the response of gs to relatively high D in winter. Marked variation in transpiration per unit leaf area indicates that a relatively large number of trees must be sampled for the HPV technique to be used to obtain a mean rate for an entire stand in winter.
Phenolic content and antioxidant activity of four date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruit varieties grown in Tunisia

Summary Fruits of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) are consumed throughout the world and are a vital component of the diet in most Arabian countries. This study has been carried out to evaluate the total phenolic content and the antioxidant activity of four date palm fruit varieties grown in Tunisia. All measurements were made at the ‘tamar’ stage-the final stage of fruit ripeness. The date varieties were found to be rich in total phenolic ranging from 209.42 mg of equivalent gallic acid/100 g fresh weight in Kentichi to 447.73 mg equivalent gallic acid/100 g fresh weight in Allig. The date varieties studied were characterised by a high antioxidant activity ranging from 866.82 for the Deglet Nour to 1148.11 μmol Equivalent Trolox/100 g fresh weight for Khouet Kenta by the ABTS method. In fact, the DPPH method revealed that Allig having the lowest antioxidant activity (0.72) followed by Deglet Nour (1.53), Kentichi (1.68) and Khouet Kenta variety (1.96). This study suggest that Tunisian date palm fruit may serve as a good source of natural antioxidants and could potentially be considered as a functional food ingredient.
The ecological significance of long-distance water transport: short-term regulation, long-term acclimation and the hydraulic costs of stature across plant life forms

Plant hydraulic conductance, namely the rate of water flow inside plants per unit time and unit pressure difference, varies largely from plant to plant and under different environmental conditions. Herein the main factors affecting: (a) the scaling between whole-plant hydraulic conductance and leaf area; (b) the relationship between gas exchange at the leaf level and leaf-specific xylem hydraulic conductance; (c) the short-term physiological regulation of plant hydraulic conductance under conditions of ample soil water, and (d) the long-term structural acclimation of xylem hydraulic conductance to changes in environmental conditions are reviewed. It is shown that plant hydraulic conductance is a highly plastic character that varies as a result of multiple processes acting at several time scales. Across species ranging from coniferous and broad-leaved trees to shrubs, crop and herbaceous species, and desert subshrubs, hydraulic conductance scaled linearly with leaf area, as expected from first principles. Despite considerable convergence in the scaling of hydraulic properties, significant differences were apparent across life forms that underlie their different abilities to conduct gas exchange at the leaf level. A simple model of carbon allocation between leaves and support tissues explained the observed patterns and correctly predicted the inverse relationships with plant height. Therefore, stature appears as a fundamental factor affecting gas exchange across plant life forms. Both short-term physiological regulation and long-term structural acclimation can change the levels of hydraulic conductance significantly. Based on a meta-analysis of the existing literature, any change in environmental parameters that increases the availability of resources (either above- or below-ground) results in the long-term acclimation of a less efficient (per unit leaf area) hydraulic system.