Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phosphorus and calcium metabolism in growing calves with special emphasis on phosphorus homoeostasis: 1. Studies of the effect of changes in the dietary phosphorus intake on phosphorus and calcium metabolism

Summary Calves were fed continuously at 4 h intervals a low P basal diet with or without P supplementation to give three levels of dietary P intake: one was deficient in P (2·5 g/day), the second adequate (6·0 g/day) and the third contained an excess of P (10·0 g/ day) according to Agricultural Research Council (1980) recommendations. Once steadystate conditions were achieved (after 2–3 weeks on the diet) 32P and 46Ca kinetic studies were carried out, together with measurements of P flow rates at the reticulorumen and P and Ca balances. With increased dietary P intake, the amount of dietary P absorbed increased as initially did the efficiency of P absorption. Both the serum P concentration and the rate of P retention increased in direct relation to increased P intake and increased P absorption. Salivary secretion of P increased with increased P absorption and in direct relation to serum P concentration. Endogenous faecal losses of P were also directly related to P intake and P absorption and results suggest that increased loss with increased P intake is inevitable. Despite a constant and adequate Ca intake, the rate and efficiency of Ca absorption, which was low on the low-P diet, increased significantly on the adequate and high-P diets. Similarly, Ca retention increased substantially on the higher P diets, showing that Ca metabolism can be controlled according to P status.
Molecular dissection of the internalization step of endocytosis in "Saccharomyces cerevisiae" : Rvs167p and binding partners

Several screens performed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae have led to the isolation of a large number of endocytic mutants. Interestingly, the majority of these mutants were shown to be defective in the internalization step. In this PhD thesis we have started to dissect the internalization step of endocytosis on a molecular level by looking for protein-protein interactions among the proteins required for this step. We found that Rvs167p, one of the two yeast amphiphysin homologs, is a central player in this interaction network and therefore focused the following studies on Rvs167p and its binding partners. In a first series of experiments, we demonstrated that Rvs167p and Rvs161p, the two yeast amphiphysin homologs, function together in vivo. The interaction of these proteins is relevant and required for their stability. We next found that Rvs167p interacts with Sla2p/End4p and Myo5p, two proteins involved in the internalization step, and that these three proteins are part of an approximately 600 kDa protein complex most likely involved in regulating the actin cytoskeleton. In a next series of experiments, we showed that Myo5p, a type I myosin, has a second ATP-independent actin binding site via the SH3-domain in its tail. We show that the interaction with actin requires Vrp1p/End5p and is physiologically relevant. Furthermore, we have identified the two protein kinases Pkh1p and Pkh2p, the yeast PDK1 homologs, to be part of a sphingoid base-mediated signaling pathway required for the internalization step of endocytosis. We found that Rvs167p is a substrate for Pkh2p in vitro and show that mutating the phosphorylation site leads to an endocytic defect in vivo suggesting that Rvs167p is one of the downstram effectors of this signaling cascade.
Effects of dry period management on milk production, dry matter intake, and energy balance of dairy cows

Khazanehei, H. , Li, S. , Khafipour, E. and Plaizier, J. C. 2015. Effects of dry period management on milk production, dry matter intake, and energy balance of dairy cows. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 95: 433-444. Effects of dry-period management on milk production, feed intake, and energy balance were determined in 11 second-parity (PAR 2) and 15 third or later parity (PAR 3+) cows. Cows were paired based on expected calving date, and randomly assigned to treatments including a conventional 60-d dry period with a 39-d far-off and a 21-d close-up diet (CONV), and a short 40-d dry period with only a close-up diet (SHORT). Treatment did not affect dry matter intake (DMI) and energy balance across the 6 wk before calving and the 4 wk after calving. Across the first 16 wk of lactation, cows on the short treatment had lower milk yield compared to cows on the CONU treatment that was mostly due to the lower production in PAR 3+ cows. Also, PAR 3+ cows on the SHORT treatment had lower milk protein yields and higher somatic cell counts than the other cows. In general, PAR 2 cows on the SHORT treatment had similar DMI, fat corrected milk yields, and protein and fat yields and percentages compared to cows in both parity groups on the CONV treatment. This suggests that the SHORT treatment may be suitable for PAR 2 cows, but not for older cows.
Molecular Markers for the Self-compatible S 4´ -haplotype, a Pollen-part Mutant in Sweet Cherry

4´ is a pollen-part mutant in sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) that is extensively used to develop self-compatible cultivars. The S 4´ -haplotype is known to have a functional stylar component and a nonfunctional pollen component. The pollen component in sweet cherry necessary for the specifi city of the pollen reaction is believed to be an S-haplotype specifi c F-box protein gene, called SFB. This study describes two molecular markers that distinguish between SFB 4 and SFB 4´ by taking advantage of a four base pair deletion in the mutant allele. The resulting polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products can either be separated directly on a polyacrylamide gel or they can be subjected to restriction enzyme digestion and the different sized products can be visualized on an agarose gel. The latter technique utilizes restriction sites created in the PCR products from the SFB 4´ allele, but not the SFB 4 allele. Because the primer sets created differential restriction sites, these primer sets were termed dCAPS (derived cleaved amplifi ed polymorphism sequence) markers. These molecular assays can be used to verify self-compatibility conferred by the S 4´ -haplotype.
Polyploid Induction in Centella asiatica (L.) Urban by Colchicine Treatment

Diploid Asiatic pennywort, Cantella asiatica (L.) Urban, underwent a polyploid induction procedure using 1 and 2% colchicine. Two methods of application were used, one by placing seedlings on colchicine-saturated cotton balls, the other by placing colchicine-containing agar on seedling shoot tips. Results showed that the cotton ball method with 2% colchicine gave the highest rate of polyploid induction, while no significant difference was obtained by the agar method. Polyploid plants differed from the diploid ones in the observable phenotypes and containing a higher number of guard cell chloroplasts.
Large‐scale, high‐solids enzymatic hydrolysis of steam‐exploded poplar

Enzymatic hydrolysis at high solids loadings is key to scale‐up of lignocellulosic biochemical conversion processes, because of potentially higher sugar and ethanol titers and lower hydraulic loads. However, high solids loadings can pose rheological challenges, reduce mass and heat transfer efficiency, and increase the concentration of enzyme inhibitors in the system, resulting in low conversion of glucan and xylan into fermentable sugars. In this study, ten batch enzymatic hydrolyses were conducted in a 200‐liter reactor, while monitoring sugar and inhibitor profiles. The effects of enzyme cocktail, biomass loading, pre‐treatment severity, and hydrolysis temperature were assessed using techno‐economic indicators to evaluate the efficacy of the enzymatic hydrolysis. For similar experimental conditions, different enzyme cocktails produced distinct hydrolysis outcomes allowing cocktail optimization. In spite of a rapid initial reaction rate, fermentable sugars concentrations reached a plateau after about 48 h, indicating severe inhibition. Increased biomass loadings did not proportionally increase sugar production. Both observations indicated the presence of severe inhibition, likely endogenous. Pre‐treatment at a lower severity (200°C for 8 min) led to the most efficient hydrolysis, while higher severities destroyed hemicellulose and led to lower overall sugar production. Lower saccharification temperatures (30–32°C) caused a 20% decrease in sugar conversion when compared to 50°C operation. Strategies to mitigate inhibition will be required if high‐solids enzyme hydrolysis is to be successfully scaled up to commercially relevant levels. © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Intraspecific Variation in Salt Tolerance and Morphology in Panicum hemitomon and Spartina alterniflora (Poaceae)

Nineteen clones of Panicum hemitomon, a fresh marsh dominant, and 25 clones of Spartina alterniflora, a salt marsh dominant, were collected from the coastal marshes of Louisiana and Texas. Plants were deacclimated from field conditions under uniform, nonsaline conditions in the greenhouse for four to six vegetative generations and morphological variables were then measured. Genotypes of each species were subjected to a salinity screening protocol where salinity was increased in weekly increments of 2 per mil (g salt/L solution) for P hemitomon and 10 per mil for S. alterniflora using a commercial sea salts mix. Plants were harvested when there was 50% death of aboveground tissue, defined as the lethal salinity level. Both species displayed highly significant intraspecific variation in lethal salinity level, ranging from 7.6 per mil to 12.0 per mil for P. hemitomon and from 83 per mil to 115 per mil for S. alterniflora. Both species also displayed significant intraspecific variation in many morphological variables, as well as in leaf-rolling index, leaf expansion rates, aboveground, belowground, and total plant dry weight, and belowground-to-aboveground biomass ratio. An ANOVA of principal component scores further illustrated intraspecific variation in both species expressed as a single principal component made up of lethal salinity level and covariable-adjusted total plant dry weight. In S. alterniflora none of the plant morphological variables was significantly correlated with salt tolerance, whereas leaf rolling at 35 per mil accounted for 38% of the variation in lethal salinity level among genotypes. Conversely, in P. hemitomon leaf rolling was not significantly correlated with salt tolerance, but two morphological variables, leaf length and leaf length x width, accounted for 44% and 46%, respectively, of the variation in lethal salinity level among genotypes. Therefore, morphological traits related to plant size appear more important in explaining genotypic variation in salt tolerance in the glycophyte P. hemitomon than in the facultative halophyte S. alterniflora. The ability to identify superior salt-tolerant genotypes within both species has significant implications for marsh restoration and creation projects throughout their ranges.
Land use patterns skew sex ratios, decrease genetic diversity and trump the effects of recent climate change in an endangered turtle

Changes in both land use and climate can cause population declines and species extinctions, but the relative effects of these two stressors are often dependent on species‐specific life histories. Turtles are highly threatened as a taxonomic group and are particularly sensitive to environmental change due to their life history, habitat preferences and physiology. We used both sex data and genetic diversity across a landscape‐scale gradient in land use intensity and recent climate change to characterize the relative effects of these factors on three turtle species (including the endangered Blanding's turtle, Emydoidea blandingii) with different life histories and thus different vulnerabilities to environmental change.
The Effects of Flooding on the Spatial Ecology of Spotted Turtles (Clemmys guttata) in a Partially Mined Peatland

Many studies have focused on the effects of anthropogenic habitat alterations on animals, but little attention has been given to the effects of natural changes in habitat. The purpose of our study was to examine the effects of flooding caused by Beaver (Castor canadensis) dams on the spatial ecology of the federally endangered Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata), in a bog in Ontario that was historically drained for peat extraction. We hypothesized that home range sizes and daily distances traveled would be greater after flooding and that habitat selection would change because turtles would exploit the increase in aquatic habitats post-flooding. Using 12 years of mark–recapture data, radio telemetry, and GIS software, we compared movements and habitat selection before and after flooding. Distances traveled and home range sizes were larger post-flood compared to pre-flood conditions, indicating that turtles were opportunistically exploring the new aquatic habitat. During pre-flooding, turtles primarily selected the drainage ditches created to facilitate peat extraction; these were the only aquatic habitat available. After flooding, there was a strong preference for newly flooded areas and drainage ditches, showing that turtles exploited the increase in available aquatic habitat. Our findings indicate that natural habitat alteration resulting from Beaver dam flooding may be beneficial for Spotted Turtles, although observations also suggest that nesting habitat may be limited due to the flooding, and further research is needed to determine the effect of the flooding on recruitment into the population.
Mapping Phaseolin Genes to Polytene Chromosomes by Fluorescence in situ Hybridization (FISH)

The karyotype of Phaseolus (2n = 2x = 22) is still under investigations, not at least due to the small size of mitotic chromosomes and the low frequency of cells in mitotic divisions. To avoid these difficulties an alternative lies in the study of the polytene chromosomes of the embryo suspensor of Phaseolus coccineus and Phaseolus vulgaris (Nagl, 1974). The major advantage is that they are polyploid due to endoreduplication cycles, which lead to lateral amplification of DNA sequences. Furthermore, polytene chromosome become 30 times longer than the metaphase chromosomes. Although their length and distribution of heterochromatin can be used for the establishment of a preliminary karyotype, these characteristics show some variability and do not allow the identification of individual chromosomes in any case. In a new approach we try to establish a karyotype of Phaseolus not based on morphological features but on molecular markers, and therefore called molecular karyotype. Molecular markers in this sense are genes or other DNA sequences which are mapped to chromosomes. To localize these markers they were labeled, hybridized to the chromosomal DNA and detected directly on the chromosome. When fluorescence dyes are used for detection this thechnique is called fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). A disadvantadge of FISH was so far, that it could be well used for detection of repetitive genes and DNA sequences, but not for low copy and single copy genes. In this work we report for the first time the mapping of phaseolin genes (low copy genes) to polytene chromosomes of Phaseolus coccineus by fluorescence in situ hybridization.
Reduced embryo sensitivity to abscisic acid in a sprouting-susceptible sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) variety is associated with altered ABA signalling

Abstract In the work reported in this paper, we attempted to elucidate the nature of the different abscisic acid (ABA) sensitivities presented by developing embryos from sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] lines with contrasting pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) behaviour (Redland B2, susceptible; IS 9530, resistant). We explored two different hypotheses for a possible mechanism: (1) a different functionality of the ABA signalling pathway, and (2) a different rate of ABA degradation/conjugation in the apoplast of embryos from these genotypes. To assess the first possibility, we used an ABA-responsive gene (Rab17) as a reporter of changes in endogenous ABA content, which were artificially induced in embryos from both genotypes by means of fluridone application immediately after anthesis, to reduce ABA content, and embryo incubation in the presence of ABA. A defect in ABA signalling should be seen as a level of Rab17 expression that is independent of endogenous ABA content. For testing the second possibility at two stages of development, embryos from both lines were isolated and incubated in water for different periods. ABA concentrations in embryos and the incubation media were quantified through radioimmunoassay. In contrast to our findings for the resistant IS 9530 line, Rab17 expression did not respond to changes in ABA levels in sensitive Redland B2 embryos. The ABA degradation/conjugation rates in embryos and incubation media did not show clear differences between sorghum lines for any of the developmental stages analysed. These results suggest that a disruption in the ABA signal transduction pathway in Redland B2 underlies the low ABA sensitivity shown by embryos from this line.
Abattoir study of radiographic changes of bones and joints of digital region in cattle with abnormal claws

MeiMAndi-PArizi, A. , M. A. ShAkeri: Abattoir study of radiographic changes of bones and joints of digital region in cattle with abnormal claws. Vet. arhiv 77, 187-194, 2007. AbStrAct An abattoir study of radiographic changes of bones and joints was carried out on 94 samples with gross abnormalities of digits which were collected from Shiraz slaughterhouse. Appropriate radiographs were taken from each sample. Various radiographic changes were classified as: osteomyelitis, exostosis, alteration of bone density, deformity of bones, soft tissue calcification, rotation of phalanges, arthritis, degenerative joint diseases, ankylosis of joint, displacement of navicular bone and fracture. About 90% of arthritis and DJD were considered in distal interphalangeal joints. No radiographic changes were observed in 9.57 percent of samples. key words: abattoir, radiography, bone, joint, cattle
Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of crude extracts of two Nigerian chewing sticks

In vitro determinations of the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of ethanol and aqueous extracts of Disthemonanthus benthamianus Baill. (Caesalpiniaceae) and Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides Lam. (Rutaceae), which are used as chewing sticks in Nigeria, were investigated. The extracts were screened against eight strains of Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, one methicillin-resistant strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis, twelve strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, five strains of Candida albicans and four strains of Bacillus cereus. The in vitro antimicrobial assay was performed by using a Mast Multipoint Inoculator based on the principles of an agar dilution technique. The aqueous extracts had no inhibitory effects on any of the tested microorganisms. The ethanol D. benthamianus extract inhibited P. aeruginosa, E. faecalis, and B. cereus with MIC ≤ 2.64 mg mL−1 and S. aureus and S. epidermidis with MIC ≤ 0.44 mg mL−1. Z. zanthoxyloides ethanol extract was less effective but noteworthy was the MIC ≤ 2.52 mg mL−1 against C. albicans and 0.28 mg mL−1 against some S. aureus strains. D. benthamianus ethanol extract had the best antioxidant activity and Z. zanthoxyloides ethanol extract second best. IC50 for DPPH free radical scavenging of these extracts were 87.76 and 128.28 μg mL−1/mL, respectively; ascorbic acid equivalents were 2.4 and 9.5 mg mg−1 and total antioxidant capacities using the FRAP assay were 4068.06 mM Fe++ mg−1 and 624.86 mM Fe++ mg−1, respectively. The ethanol extracts of D. benthamianus and Z. zanthoxyloides showed significant antimicrobial and antioxidant activities which could be beneficial in oral hygiene.
Phytochemical constituents and antimicrobial studies of two South African Phyllanthus species

Many Phyllanthus species are indigenous to South Africa but its chemistry or biological activity has not been reported despite it use in ethnomedicine. Leaves extracts of Phyllanthus parvulus sond var. garipensis and Phyllanthus burchellii were screened phytochemically for the presence of secondary metabolites and in vitro antibacterial properties. Tannin, alkaloid, saponin, anthraquinone and flavonoid were the secondary metabolites present. A higher percentage of alkaloid, saponin and flavonoid were observed in the quantitative analyses of P. parvulus sond var. garipensis plant when compared to P. burchellii. The acetone, methanol and aqueous solvent extracts of the two plants show good inhibitory effect against most bacteria even at very low concentration of 0.16 mg/ml. However, the aqueous extract of P. parvulus var. garipensis was most active.
Phylogenetic relationships of the Sparidae (Teleostei: Percoidei) and implications for convergent trophic evolution

A phylogenetic analysis of the majority of sparid genera and representatives of the sparoid families Centracanthidae, Lethrinidae and Nemipteridae is presented using 87 predominately osteological characters. The Sparidae constitute a monophyletic grouping, with the inclusion of the centracanthid Spicara smaris, which nests deep within the ingroup. The phylogeny was then used to investigate agreement with the most recent molecular study, taxonomic stability of subfamilial classification and the evolution of feeding strategies. Results show that the incongruence between morphological and molecular data appears largely to be an artifact of errors in rooting. However, there appears to be real and substantial conflict between the molecular tree and the morphological data, which is not attributable to the different positions of the least congruent taxa. The data support the molecular hypothesis that none of the subfamilial classification, based on dentition and trophic specialization, is monophyletic, and should be rejected pending further taxonomic revision. The phylogeny supports multiple independent origins of trophic types and it is suggested that the evolutionary plasticity of the oral teeth of sparids has been fundamental to the adaptive radiation of this family compared to their closest allies. © 2002 The Linnean Society of London.
Evaluation of crop residue based complete rations through in vitro digestibility

The present investigation was carried out to evaluate three potential complete rations made from locally available ingredients through in vitro digestibility (DM, CP, NDF and ADF) and in vitro total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) production. Three iso-nitrogenous complete rations comprising of maize stover (T1), red gram straw (T2) or black gram straw (T3) and concentrate in 60:40 ratio were prepared and the cost/kg diets were 5.2, 5.5 and 5.7 rupees/Kg diet, respectively. Three fistulated buffalo bulls (5 yrs, 350 ± 9.36 kg BW) used as donors of rumen inoculums were fed the same three complete rations (T1, T2 and T3) after proper adaptation. The three complete rations were iso-nitrogenous with CP content ranging from 12.62 to 12.82, while T3 contained higher EE (1.68 %) and TA (9.75 %) and higher NFE (34.38 %) in T1 than in other complete rations. However, variation was apparent in the fiber fractions of the three complete rations attributable to varying sources of the fibrous crop residues. Overall in vitro DM digestibility (IVDMD) and in vitro NDF digestibility (IVNDFD) % was higher (p