Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficiency of fat deposition from different energy sources in pigs using multivariate regression analysis

Abstract The aim was to estimate the energetic cost of fat deposition from fermentable non-starch polysaccharides (fNSP), starch, and unsaturated fatty acids. A slaughter trial was conducted with a total of 58 individually housed pigs (48–106 kg). The energetic efficiency was monitored at two energy levels; the lysine supply of the pigs was limiting for protein deposition. Control diets were fed either at two or three times of maintenance energy requirement, and the treatments were achieved by isoenergetic addition of the daily nutrient intake (0.2 MJ DE/kg0.75) derived either from fNSP, or digestible starch (dSt), or digestible fat (dFat) above the nutrients from the control diets. Chemical composition of the pigs was determined at 48±4 kg (10 pigs) or 106±3 kg body weight (BW) (48 pigs). In conclusion, under protein limiting conditions, the energetic transformation of fNSP, dSt, and dFat for fat retention (NEfat/DE) was 62%, 80%, and 57%, respectively. The efficiency of fat deposition from a specific energy source was constant, irrespective of the actual feeding level.
Do Teenagers Respond to HIV Risk Information? Evidence from a Field Experiment in Kenya

Nearly 2 million people become infected with HIV/AIDS every year in subSaharan Africa, the great majority of them through sex, and a quarter of them before the age of 25. AIDS is incurable and no successful HIV vaccine has been developed yet. Thus, ensuring the adoption of safer sexual behavior among youths remains critical to combating the disease. Now that the great majority of children in Africa acquire at least some primary education, some have argued that primary schools offer a unique opportunity to deliver HIV prevention education to youths before they become sexually active (World Bank 2002). There is, however, considerable debate over whether scalable school-based HIV/AIDS education programs can be effective in limiting the spread of HIV/AIDS among youths, and over what should be the content of these programs. Many sub-Saharan African countries have incorporated HIV/ AIDS education in their school curriculum, but the great majority of those curricula are limited to risk avoidance information; they aim at completely eliminating
Compensatory growth in the rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson

The effect of a period of starvation and subsequent refeeding on the weight and length of rainbow trout at different times of the year has been investigated. Fish that have been starved for 3 weeks and then fed for 3 weeks show a weight gain equivalent to or greater than that of fish fed normally for the 6 week period, in four out of the five periods studied. The study provided evidence of the adaptation of the fish to starvation followed by what may be termed compensatory growth once feeding was resumed. The length changes of the fish indicate that the weight gains were due to growth rather than increases in gut fat deposits or increased water uptake.
Feed Matters: Satisfying the Feed Demand of Aquaculture

The rise of aquaculture has attracted a great deal of attention and this has increased since the sector is now providing more fish and crustaceans than capture fisheries. This global prominence has been partly facilitated by the availability and on-farm provision of feed inputs within the major aquaculture producing countries. More than 70% of the total global aquaculture production is dependent upon the supply of external feed inputs. For the aquaculture sector to maintain its current growth rate, the supply of nutrient and feed inputs will have to grow at a similar rate, while aquatic ingredients production remains static and other sectors compete for same feed resources. This paper attempts to make a global analysis of aquaculture growth, its role in global food production, and to update the estimates of compound feed dependent fish and crustacean species.
Safety of GnRH Agonists: Short-Term Side Effects and Cyst Formation

Since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist leuprolide acetate in 1984 for the treatment of prostate cancer, GnRH agonists have rapidly been embraced by physicians for the treatment of a variety of disorders in women who benefit from a reduction in gonadal secretory products, including endometriosis, leiomyomata, and precocious puberty. In addition, an initial stimulatory effect on gonadal activity has been used in ovulation induction protocols for the treatment of the infertile female including in vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technologies. The ability of GnRH agonists to downregulate pituitary function also has allowed them to be used to accomplish pituitary suppression before gonadotropin stimulation in cycles of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. This chapter reviews GnRH agonist-related side effects including hypersensitivity, initial agonistic side effects, subsequent hypoestrogenic side effects, miscellaneous side effects, and early pregnancy exposure. Long-term side effects on bone and lipids are discussed elsewhere in this issue of Seminars.
μ and κ Opioid Receptors Activate ERK/MAPK via Different Protein Kinase C Isoforms and Secondary Messengers in Astrocytes*

Acute μ and κ opioids activate the ERK/MAPK phosphorylation cascade that represents an integral part of the signaling pathway of growth factors in astrocytes. By this cross-talk, opioids may impact neural development and plasticity among other basic neurobiological processes in vivo. The μ agonist, [d-ala2,mephe4,glyol5]enkephalin (DAMGO), induces a transient stimulation of ERK phosphorylation, whereas κ agonist, U69,593, engenders sustained ERK activation. Here we demonstrate that acute U69,593 and DAMGO stimulate ERK phosphorylation by utilization of different secondary messengers and protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms upstream of the growth factor pathway. Immortalized astrocytes transfected with either antisense calmodulin (CaM), a mutant μ opioid receptor that binds CaM poorly or a dominant negative mutant of PKCϵ were used as a model system to study μ signaling. Evidence was gained to implicate CaM and PKCϵ in DAMGO stimulation of ERK. DAMGO activation of PKCϵ and/or ERK was insensitive to selective inhibitors of Ca2+ mobilization, but it was blocked upon phospholipase C inhibition. These results suggest a novel mechanism wherein, upon DAMGO binding, CaM is released from the μ receptor and activates phospholipase C. Subsequently, phospholipase C generates diacylglycerides that activate PKCϵ. In contrast, U69,593 appears to act via phosphoinositide 3-kinase, PKCζ, and Ca2+ mobilization. These signaling components were implicated based on studies with specific inhibitors and a dominant negative mutant of PKCζ. Collectively, our findings on acute opioid effects suggest that differences in their mechanism of signaling may contribute to the distinct outcomes on ERK modulation induced by chronic μ and κ opioids.
The L1 Adhesion Molecule Supports αvβ3-Mediated Migration of Human Tumor Cells and Activated T Lymphocytes

Abstract The L1 adhesion molecule is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily which is expressed by neural and hematopoietic cells. L1 is primarily a cell surface molecule but in its released form it becomes embedded in the extracellular matrix. In addition to the established L1-L1 homotypic interaction, L1 can bind to αvβ3 in the human. The 6th Ig-like domain is critical for this function. We now demonstrate that a fusion protein containing the 6th Ig-like domain of L1 (6.L1-Fc) can support the migration of human MED-B1 (αvβ3+) but not of Nalm-6 cells (α5β1+). The migration was blocked in the presence of a mab to αvβ3 and was not seen on a 6.L1-Fc in which the RGD site was mutated. Activation of human T lymphocytes in the presence of PHA and PMA led to the induction of αvβ3 and αvβ5 expression and concomitantly induced migration of the cells on 6.L1-Fc. The migration was blocked by mabs to αvβ3 but not to αvβ5. Our results suggest that L1 exposed at the cell surface or as a matrix constituent can serve as a potent substrate for αvβ3 mediated cell migration.
Reproductive Viability of Sauger-Walleye Hybrids

Abstract Artificial matings of female sauger (Stizostedion canadense) x male walleyes (S. vitreum) produced viable eggs and the resulting fry survived when stocked in a lake. Crosses of the F1 hybrids and backcrosses of the F1 hybrid females x sauger males also produced viable eggs and fry.
Silver Nanoparticles and Magnetic Field Effects on Seed and Essential Oil Yield of Carum copticum under Water Stress Condition

Carum copticum responses to water stress, silver nanoparticles, and magnetic field were evaluated in a split-plot randomized complete block design with three replications. Although irrigation did not affect the seed yield and morphological traits, magnetic field or base chemical fertilizer treatments produced greater yield and umbel number per plant than other treatments. Silver nanoparticles application did not have any positive effect on yield. Water stress decreased seed essential oil percent. Seed germination and essential oil percent were not affected by fertilizing treatments. Reduction in chemical fertilizer requirement due to magnetic field exposure may be by increasing nutrient uptake efficiency.
Sperm precedence in zebra finches does not require special mechanisms of sperm competition

Competition between the spermatozoa of different males to fertilize the eggs of a single female acts as a selection pressure on the behaviour of males and females. However, quantitative predictions about behaviour can only be made if the paternity consequences of different patterns of copulation are known. Because exhaustive empirical measurement of these consequences may be impractical, interest has centred on determining the mechanisms by which sperm competition occurs, knowledge of which may allow consequences to be calculated. One method of elucidating mechanisms of sperm competition is to use mathematical models to determine which mechanisms are necessary or sufficient to account for empirical observations. We use this approach for zebra finches Taeniopygia guttata and show that empirically measured rates of disappearance of sperm from the reproductive tract, and differences in the number of sperm in the first and subsequent ejaculates of each male, are sufficient to account for observed levels of sperm precedence. Special mechanisms of sperm competition, such as displacement or stratification of sperm, are therefore unnecessary to explain sperm precedence in this species.
Winter foraging behavior of elk in the shrub-steppe of Washington

Numerous models of ungulate foraging behavior have been published, but data on foraging behavior for wild North American ungulates relevant to model testing are scarce. I studied the detailed foraging behavior of elk from autumn through early spring in Washington's shrub-steppe using focal animal sampling and collected corollary data on elk diets, forage quality, and home ranges. I tested the hypotheses that foraging effort is proportional to energetic payoffs determined by the quality and abundance of various forages, and elk home-range size reflects relative foraging movements (i.e., macro and micro movements are related). Elk were mobile foragers during autumn and spring and were relatively sedentary during mid-winter. High mobility was associated with low diet diversity and generally with reduced forage harvesting rates. This mobile foraging occurred during periods of higher quality forage availability. Thus, mobile foraging appeared to reflect increased effort when energetic payoffs of selective foraging were enhanced. Degree of dietary specialization was limited by the relative abundance of preferred forages, being greater when grass quality was high, and less when forb quality was high. Indices of elk movement while foraging were also positively related to home-range size and distance between relocations of radio-collared elk. These data are generallymore » consistent with ungulate foraging model predictions. 34 refs., 4 figs., 2 tabs. « less
Non-Susceptibility of Earthworm Eisenia fetida to the Rhabditid Nematode Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita, a Biocontrol Agent of Slugs

The rhabditid nematode Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita is a lethal parasite for slugs that is sold commercially in Europe under the trade name Nemaslug™. We evaluated the effects of P. hermaphrodita on the earthworm Eisenia fetida (Savigny). Adults of E. fetida were exposed in one-liter glass beakers to P. hermaphrodita at three concentrations (1×, 10× and 50× of the field recommended rate of 3×109 billion nematodes/ha) during a 14-day period in an artificial soil substrate. The average body weight, burrowing behavior, mortality and other clinical signals of the earthworms were recorded at 0, 7, and 14 days after exposure to the treatments. In addition, injured earthworms (posterior ends removed) were exposed to the 10× field recommended rate of the commercial formulation. Neither intact nor injured E. fetida showed susceptibility to the slug-parasitic nematode P. hermaphrodita during the 14 days of exposure even at concentrations 10 and 50 times higher than the label dose. However, the worms in the attenuated control (autoclaved formulation) had higher mortality and lost less weight compared to the other treatments. Under the conditions of the test, we conclude that the use of the commercially available strain of P. hermaphrodita is safe to E. fetida.
Semi-supervised training for automatic speech recognition

State-of-the-art automatic speech recognition (ASR) systems use sequencelevel objectives like Connectionist Temporal Classification (CTC) and Latticefree Maximum Mutual Information (LF-MMI) for training neural networkbased acoustic models. These methods are known to be most effective with large size datasets with hundreds or thousands of hours of data. It is difficult to obtain large amounts of supervised data other than in a few major languages like English and Mandarin. It is also difficult to obtain supervised data in a myriad of channel and environmental conditions. On the other hand, large amounts of unsupervised audio can be obtained fairly easily. There are enormous amounts of unsupervised data available in broadcast TV, call centers and YouTube for many different languages and in many environment conditions. The goal of this research is to discover how to best leverage the available unsupervised data for training acoustic models for ASR. In the first part of this thesis, we extend the Maximum Mutual Information (MMI) training to the semi-supervised training scenario. We show that maximizing Negative Conditional Entropy (NCE) over lattices from unsupervised data, along with state-level Minimum Bayes Risk (sMBR) on supervised data, in a multi-task architecture gives word error rate (WER) improvements
Stability analysis of cane and jaggery yield in elite sugarcane genotypes (Saccharum spp.)

An investigation was carried out with eight sugarcane genotypes along with four checks to study the phenotypic stability of cane yield, jaggery yield and its components under four environments. The G × E component of variation was significant for single cane weight, number of millable canes, commercial cane sugar percent (CCS %), cane yield, sugar yield, jaggery yield and per cent jaggery recovery. The genotypes, SNK 07680 and SNK 07337 were found stable for cane yield (132.60 and 105.66 t/ha, respectively), sugar yield (14.44 and 12.70 t/ha, respectively) its component characters such as sucrose percentage (16.81 and 16.31, respectively). The genotype SNK 07680 was stable for CCS% (11.98). Genotype SNK 07658 showed adaptability to unfavorable environment for single cane weight, number of millable canes and sucrose percentage. SNK 07680 and SNK 07337 genotypes were stable for jaggery recovery (10.09 and 9.60% respectively) and jaggery yield (13.71 t/ha and 11.44 t/ha respectively).
Managing arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in cropping systems

Market globalization, demographic pressure, and environmental degradation have led us to reconsider many of our current agricultural systems. The heavy use of chemical inputs, including fertilizers and pesticides, has resulted in pollution, decreased biodiversity in intensively-farmed regions, degradation of fragile agro-ecosystems, and prohibitive costs for many farmers. Low input sustainable cropping systems should replace conventional agriculture, but this requires a more comprehensive understanding of the biological interactions within agro-ecosystems. Mycorrhizal fungi appear to be the most important telluric organisms to consider. Mycorrhizae, which result from a symbiosis between these fungi and plant roots, are directly involved in plant mineral nutrition, the control of plant pathogens, and drought tolerance. Most horticultural and crop plants are symbiotic with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Mycorrhizal literature is abundant, showing that stimulation of plant growth can be mainly attributed to i.
Association of seed and agronomic traits with isoflavone levels in soybean

Soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr. , seeds contain isoflavones, compounds with potential human health benefits. This study investigated the association of seed and agronomic traits with isoflavone level in a genetically diverse group of soybean genotypes to provide more information for cultivar development. F4:7 lines derived from several crosses were grown in four locations in 2005 and six locations in 2006 across Ontario and Quebec. Seed protein, oil and isoflavone contents were measured using near-infrared reflectance (NIR) on a plot basis. Seed yield was determined at 13% moisture and days to maturity (R8) were recorded. GGE genotype-by-trait biplots were generated to describe the relationships among all variables. Isoflavone content was not correlated with yield, indicating that potential exists for development of high or low isoflavone cultivars without sacrificing yield. Isoflavone content was negatively correlated with protein content; however, high isoflavone lines were identified with moderate prote.
ALLOPHYCOCYANIN FROM A LOCAL ISOLATE GEITLERINEMA SP. A28DM (CYANOBACTERIA): A SIMPLE AND EFFICIENT PURIFICATION PROCESS 1

Allophycocyanin (APC) is the least‐studied cyanobacterial bile‐pigment invariably present within the phycobilisome core of cyanobacteria. In the present study, we describe a simple, cost‐effective, and reproducible method for the purification of APC from a local isolate, Geitlerinema sp. A28DM. The pigment was extracted from the algal biomass and precipitated with 0.25% aqueous solution of the highly aromatic cationic dye “ethodin. ” The precipitated APC was then subjected to a single size‐exclusion chromatographic step using Sephadex G‐100. Pure cyanobacterial APC (C‐APC) (A652/A280 of 3.2) was obtained and characterized by its absorption spectrum with maximum at 652 nm and a shoulder at 620 nm, and by SDS‐PAGE, showing two bands with molecular masses of 15 and 17.5 kDa, corresponding to α and β subunits of the biliprotein. The final yield of C‐APC was 66% from its content in the crude extract. The procedure appears to be promising for wider applications and larger production of APC.
Temporal and ontogenetic variations in feeding habits of Hollandichthys multifasciatus (Teleostei: Characidae) in coastal Atlantic rainforest streams, southern Brazil

were investigated. Samplings were made between March 2004and February 2005 in two black water streams of the coastal Atlantic rainforest in southern Brazil. The diet, evaluated byqualitative and quantitative methods, included aquatic and terrestrial insects, decapods, oligochaetes, plants and spiders.Large individuals feed mainly on plants, terrestrial insects, and spiders, whereas small fish feed basically on plants andoligochaetes. The species showed an omnivorous feeding habit, and its diet was composed of autochthonous (mainlyoligochaetes) and allochthonous (plants and terrestrial insects) material.Neste estudo foram investigados os habitos alimentares do caracideo
Revision of the stonefly family eustheniidae (Plecoptera), with emphasis on the fauna of the Australian region

The revision includes diagnoses of the family and its subfamilies. Keys to genera and species are provided. Descriptions of known species are supplemented or corrected. Several new synonymies are established and some new species are described. The majority of species in the Australian Region are illustrated, and detailed faunistical data are also presented. The following taxa are recognized: Eustheniidae Tillyard; Eustheniinae Tillyard (= Thaumatoperlinae Tillyard): Neuroperlopsis lilies (N. patris Illies), Thaumatoperla Tillyard (T. robusta Tillyard; T. flaveola Burns & Neboiss; T. alpina Burns & Neboiss; T. timmsi nov. spec.), Eusthenia Gray (=Eustheniopsis Tillyard, nov. syn.) (E. costalis Banks = E. purpurescens Tillyard, nov. syn. . = E. purpurescens extensa Tillyard, nov. syn.; E. lacustris Tillyard = E. spectabilis eulegnica Tillyard, nov. syn.; E. spectabilis Gray = E. lunulata Tillyard, nov. syn., = E. reticulata Samal—not Tillyard! , nov. syn.; E. reticulata (Tillyard), nov. comb. ; E. venosa (Ti.
Dietary overlap and prey selectivity among sympatric carnivores: could dingoes suppress foxes through competition for prey?

Abstract The mesopredator release hypothesis (MRH) predicts that a reduced abundance of top-order predators results in an increase in the abundance of smaller predators due to the cessation of intraguild predation and competition. In turn, small prey preferred by mesopredators are predicted to benefit from the suppressive effects of top-order predators on mesopredators. In support of the MRH a growing body of evidence shows that Australia's largest terrestrial predator, the dingo (Canis lupus dingo, body mass of 15–25 kg), might suppress the abundance of the smaller invasive red fox (Vulpes vulpes, body mass of 3.5–7.5 kg). Foxes are implicated in the declines of native rodents and marsupials in arid Australia; where foxes are rare, native prey species are more likely to persist. However, the mechanism by which dingoes suppress fox populations and benefit native mammal species is not well understood. We used scat analysis and prey selectivity indexes to examine the potential for dietary competition between dingoes and foxes at 3 arid sites. Dietary overlap between dingoes and foxes was high (≥85%) at all sites. Dingoes and foxes preferentially selected identical prey types in greater proportion to their relative abundance at all sites, but foxes tended to consume smaller prey than dingoes. Dingoes consumed more large- (>999 g) and medium-sized (100–999 g) mammals, and foxes consumed greater numbers of smaller (<100 g) mammals. At 2 sites rabbits were the most frequently occurring prey for both predators and were consumed in greater proportion than their abundance. The extensive dietary overlap and preferential selection by the predators for the same prey suggest that considerable potential exists for dietary competition between these predators. Fox remains found in dingo scats provided evidence of intraguild predation. Our results support the notions that dingoes could suppress fox populations through both dietary competition and direct killing and that this suppression of foxes could benefit small prey.