Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determination of ruminal nutrient degradability of some feeds and total mixed ration in buffalo using in situ methods

Abstract In order to determine of ruminal nutrient degradability of some feeds (wheat straw, alfalfa hay, barley grain, concentrates) and total mixed rations, about 3 g of DM equivalent of samples were weighed in sealed nylon bags (6-cm × 7.5-cm) that were incubated in the rumen of three ruminally fistulated buffalo steers (BW= 389.6 ± 7.5 kg) that fed corn silage and concentrates at maintenance level in a ratio of about 65: 35 (DM basis) according to the following periods 0, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 72 and 96 h. Using Cr-mordanated NDF of alfalfa as a single dose marker, ruminal kinetic of digestion were measured. Mean ruminal particulate passage rate (%/h), particulate passage rate in lower compartment on gastrointestinal tract (%/h), ruminal mean retention time (h), mean retention time in lower compartment (h), total mean retention time (h), and delay time of marker were 0.0378, 0.0489, 26.46, 20.45, 56.565 and 9.654, respectively. Dry matter, crud protein, and NDF had similar trend on kinetic of digestion. Barely grain and concentrate had higher degradable fraction (a, b and a + b), rate and extent of degradation and effective degradability. In contrast, forages had lower parameters than others feeds. Barely had the highest degradable DM, NDF, and CP, wheat straw had the lowest degradable DM, NDF, and CP. The lag time of DM and NDF were lowest and highest in barely and wheat straw, respectively. In addition, barely had the highest effective degradability, but wheat straw had the lowest one. It is generally considered that rumen turnover time is slower in buffaloes than in cattle may be a more appropriate indicator of potential ferment ability of feeds in the former species.
The Forces Acting on Swimming Squid

1. 1. Analysis of cine films and intramantle pressure records for squid Loligo opalescens Berry swimming in a tunnel respirometer provided estimates of all the forces acting in the horizontal and vertical planes for swimming speeds from 0.1 to 0.5 ms−1. 2. 2. Different speeds used different gaits; fin thrust was only important below 0.2 ms−1, ‘anaerobic’ circular muscles were recruited only at supracritical speeds, and hyperinflation caused by contraction of the radial muscle was not seen in steady swimming. 3. 3. The extent, rate and frequency of contraction of the obliquely striated circular muscles varied little with speed, and jet thrust was matched to speed primarily by active pressure control through adjustments in the size of the funnel orifice. 4. 4. Hydrodynamic lift production to compensate for negative buoyancy during enforced horizontal swimming in the tunnel required 30–90% of the total force over the speed range studied and appears less efficient than direct use of jet thrust. This suggests a new rationale for ‘climb-and-glide’ swimming which reduces previous estimates of the gross cost of transport for squid under natural conditions by at least 35%, with no loss of speed. 5. 5. The cost of accelerating water into the mantle of a squid moving at high speed appears to have been underestimated in previous studies. A simulation of a series of escape jets predicts a maximum speed of 8 body lengths s−1 (1.4ms−1), reached after only two jets, because of the high deceleration during refilling.
CRANIAL GROWTH OF CAPTIVE BRED BANK VOLES (CLETHRIONOMYS GLAREOLUS)

The cranial growth of C. glareolus was investigated using 444 captive bred individuals, aged from 5 to 680 days. Three growth patterns of skull characters were found: (1) rapid growth in the first decade of age, followed by a very slow change or stabilisation (width of molar M1 and length of maxillary tooth row), (2) long period of flat growth (length of mandibular tooth row and length of mandibular diastema), and (3) long period of initial growth followed by the plateau phase (length of nasalia and length of foramen incisivum). The measurements of skull characters correlated best with body weight, whereas correlations with body length or individual age were less expressed. Out of 20 skull characters tested, the strongest correlation with animal age and body weight was observed in the length of cranial (upper) diastema. Other characters, which correlated with animal age, were the length of nasalia and the length of molar M1. In captive bred individuals, fluctuations of body weight and skull measurements w.
Effect of Salinity and Low Osmotic Potential on the Germination and Seedling Growth of Rapeseed Cultivars with Different Stress Tolerance

In mediterranean environments, rapeseed is grown in fall-winter with late-summer sowing and this implies that germination and initial seedling growth may occur in soils with low water content and/or high salinity. Lab experiments were carried out to study the effect of the level and timing of salt and osmotic stress application on the germination and seedling growth of rapeseed (Brassica napus var. oleifera Del.) cultivars with different stress tolerance. After a preliminary screening on eighteen cultivars, four hybrids with different stress tolerance during germination were chosen to study germination on Petri dishes at 14 increasing concentrations of PEG 6000 (ψs up to -1.5 MPa) and 12 increasing concentrations of NaCl (up to 600 mM). Seedlings from seeds germinated at 0 and 250 mM of NaCl were then grown into boxes for the slant test containing NaCl solutions 0 mM and 100 mM, while seedlings from seeds germinated -0.8 and -0.03 MPa (PEG) were grown in pots containing siliceous sand with a water content equivalent to field capacity or half of field capacity. In both experiments seedlings were grown for 11 days under controlled light/temperature conditions. Therefore, for both salt and osmotic stress experiments, the following four combinations for “germination-growth” conditions were obtained for each cultivar: optimum-optimum; optimum-stress; stress-optimum; stress-stress. The following determinations were performed: final percentage germination, time to 50% germination (T50), and base water potential of seeds; dry and fresh weights, and shoot and root lengths of seedlings at the end of the growth period (i.e. 11 days after plant transfer to the growth medium), and correspondent relative growth rates between the start and the end of the growth period. The different degree of stress tolerance observed among rapeseed cultivars for germination was in the order of 150 mMol for NaCl concentration and 0.2-0.3 MPa for osmotic potential. Nonetheless, cultivars did not differ substantially for growth parameters of seedlings exposed to stressing conditions, and in some cases cultivars with higher tolerance during germination resulted even more sensitive during growth, especially under salt stress. The severe stresses applied reduced seedling growth, and root more than shoot growth. Agronomic implications for the different stress tolerance of cultivars are discussed.
Structural correlates of tarsal and metatarsal functioning in Iguana (Lacertilia; Iguanidae) and other lizards

In lizards, the metatarsus is laterally directed at the time of pedal plantarflexion. During pedal plantarflexion, the metatarsus undergoes an initial rotation around its long axis followed by an extension of the ankle joint. The mesotarsal joint guides the metatarsus during the transition from rotation of the metatarsus to extension of the ankle joint. The proportions of the metatarsus are related to the lateral orientation of the metatarsus. The fifth metatarsal functions as a lever in two different ways during pedal plantarflexion: during rotation of the metatarsus, it increases the leverage of the pedal flexors by placing the line of action of these muscles lateral to the mesotarsal joint; during extension of the ankle joint it increases the leverage of the pedal flexors by placing their line of action ventral to the intratarsal joint. The transverse metatarsal arch acts as a counterbend during rotation of the metatarsus. Movement at the fifth metatarsal – fourth distal tarsal joint does not contribut.
The persistence niche: what makes it and what breaks it for two fire-prone plant species

Persistence niches are expected to favour qualitatively different plant life histories compared with regeneration niches. In fire-prone habitats, for example, resprouting plants may be expected to exploit persistence niches, whereas obligate-seeders by definition exploit regeneration niches. Resprouter life histories should be typified by high rates of survival, which may be offset by relatively low rates of growth and reproduction. This combination of characters is expected to result from trade-offs in resource allocation and because the longevity of individual plants should buffer their populations against the effects of recruitment failure. We asked whether two resprouting perennial shrubs, Epacris barbata Melville and Xanthorrhoea resinifera (Sol. Ex Kite) E.C. Nelson & D.J.Bedford, exhibited the life-history character combinations that are expected for species exploiting a persistence niche. We also investigated how a change in habitat suitability caused by the invasion of a root pathogen may limit the ability of these species to occupy persistence niches. Demographic censuses of several years' duration in two populations of each species yielded estimates of vital rates that were consistent with the life-history profile expected for a persistence niche. Rates of background survival were high and rates of fire-related mortality were low in both species. As expected, these were associated with low rates of growth and seedling establishment, although rates of seed production and viability were relatively high in both species. The importance of survival was confirmed by stochastic population models, which showed that population viability was more sensitive to decreases in survival of mature plants and increases in fire mortality of established plants than to changes in other vital rates. Seedling growth rates were also relatively important in E. barbata. Populations of both species that had been infected by root rot disease, Phytophthora cinnamomi, had substantially reduced survival rates and, consequently, reduced population viability. These effects were more extreme in E. barbata than in X. resinifera. We conclude that processes that reduce survival, such as disease infection and habitat loss, rather than processes that impede seed production and recruitment mediate the persistence niche. However, we discuss the possibility that this dependency might be mitigated by high fecundity if infrequent conditions that permit large recruitment events have so far eluded detection.
Nezara viridula (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Cuticle as a Barrier for Beauveria bassiana and Paecilomyces sp. Infection

The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of two Beauveria bassiana isolates and one Paecilomyces sp. isolate to infect Nezara viridula adults under laboratory conditions. The lethal concentrations (LC50) of the Egyptian and exotic Beauveria and Paecilomyces isolates for N. viridula were 323 × 106, 835 × 106 and 281 × 107 conidia/ml, respectively. Although, there was no significant difference observed in the mortality rates of adults exposed to the conidiospores of the fungal isolates, the results demonstrated a concentration-dependent pattern. The conidia showed limited attachment to the insect integument. Interestingly, a positive relationship was observed between the rate of increase in the germination of conidia and that of the exposure time, up to 84–92 % at 48 h post-infection. Furthermore, germination of the isolates on the wings was significantly different. The conidia gave rise to germ tubes at 12 h with bipolar germ tubes and hyphal network at 48 h post-infection. SEM revealed that the Egyptian Beauveria strain damaged both the epicuticle and procuticle at 72 h post-infection with tube penetration in the cuticle and epidermis of both the exotic Beauveria- and Paecilomyces-infected bugs. Many changes were recorded in the cuticular phenoloxidase, fatty acids and hydrocarbons following fungal infection. These results induce direct relationship between the changes in the cuticular composition and the attachment/ germination of the entomopathogenic fungi. These data provide useful information with regard to the applicability of entomopathogenic fungi against N. viridula.
Early life history strategies of notothenioids at South Georgia

Antarctic notothenioid early life history strategies are examined in general and then for common species at South Georgia. Channichthyids, bathydraconids, artedidraconids and some nototheniids have large eggs 3·0–4·9 mm whereas other nototheniids and arpagiferids have smaller eggs 1·6–2·7 mm. At South Georgia the larvae of species with large eggs hatched between August (late winter) and late November (late spring) at 11–16 mm standard length (Ls). Larvae of species with small eggs hatched mainly during October and December at 4.5–9 mm Ls. Most of the larvae of all species attain urostyle flexion between October and January, and develop to the end of the larval stage between November and May. The duration of the larval stage varies from 2 months in species with smaller larvae to 6 months for some of the species with larger larvae. Two nototheniid species develop to the early juvenile stage before a channichthyid and a bathydraconid that hatch around 2 months earlier. During their first winter, the early-juveniles of most species with large eggs are pelagic, whereas those of species with small eggs may be pelagic or demersal. Four groups of strategies are proposed based on egg size and the winter ecotype of the early-juvenile stage.
Comunidade de Formigas Arborícolas Associadas ao Pequizeiro (Caryocar brasiliense) em Fragmento de Cerrado Goiano

Community of arboreal ants associated with the pequizeiro (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.) in the remnant of cerrado goiano (State of Goias, Brazil) was surveyed in the trunk of these plants, using bait based on sardine and soy oil. During one year, in the four climatic seasons, consecutive collects of the ants were accomplished. A total of 32 species was collected during the studuy period. Myrmicinae and Formicinae were the most frequently subfamilies found. Significant difference was verified in the composition of the arboreal ants community along the investigated climatic seasons. Significant correlation was not verified between size of the trees and richness of ant species associated to the pequizeiro
Life History Parameters and Temperature Requirements for Development of an Aphid Parasitoid Aphelinus asychis (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae)

ABSTRACT We assessed the life history parameters and temperature requirement of a Korean population of the endoparasitoid Aphelinus asychis Walker (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), using Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae) as a host. We first measured the time from egg to mummification (i.e., pupation) and mummification to adult emergence (i.e., pupal period) at 25°C. The pupal period was significantly longer than the egg to pupation period in both genders, unlike in other regional populations of the species. Females produced an average of 342.9 mummies, he highest reported fecundity among the various regional populations of this species. Age-specific realized fecundity peaked between the 4th and 7th day (23.3–24.8 mummies a day). The intrinsic rate of increase (rm) was 0.255 offspring per female per day. The parasitoids were then reared at eight constant temperatures between 15 and 32.5°C. The developmental time from egg to adult emergence decreased from 27.8 to 9.8 d. The lower developmental thresholds (T0), estimated by linear regression, for the egg to mummy, mummy to adult, and egg to adult stages were 6.7, 6.8 and 6.7, respectively. The thermal constants for each of the three periods were 115, 126, and 243 DD. We compared these parameters with published data of A. asychis from other regions reared on different hosts and representative species of aphid parasitoids in Aphidiinae (Braconidae) reared on hosts including A. gossypii. The T0's of A. asychis were higher than those of Aphidius colemani and Aphidius matricariae when using A. gossypii.
Amplification of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragment using two-step polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), an essential tool in many fields such as molecular biology, normally comprises three steps: denaturation at a high temperature, annealing at a low temperature and elongation at a moderate temperature. Here, we report a two-step PCR method which incorporates annealing and elongation step for significant time-saving and reduction in reagent use. To investigate whether the two-step method is as useful as the common three-step method, different lengths of DNA fragments were amplified by two-step PCR and three-step PCR and the influence of incorporated temperature and the amount of Taq polymerases were performed in the present study. The results showed that, all the DNA fragments of 300 to 1000 bp could be amplified by two-step PCR method and the temperature from 50 to 60.8°C could provide a viable range for annealing/extension steps and the fidelity of the PCR has not been affected by the two step method presented. Taken together, the two-step PCR could be used to amplify DNA fragment, which is time-saving, reliable and inexpensive. Key words: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), two-step polymerase chain reaction, three-step polymerase chain reaction, time-saving.
SOIL COMPACTION EFFECTS ON UTILIZATION OF NITROGEN FROM LIVESTOCK SLURRY APPLIED TO GRASSLAND

In order to determine whether wheel-induced soil damage affected the subsequent utilization of livestock slurry by grass managed for silage production, dry-matter yield and nitrogen offtake were compared in a replicated field experiment over three years in the presence or absence of soil compaction. Typical and zero compaction were compared in each year, and nominal controlled compaction was included in the two later years. Soil structure, as characterized by porosity and hydraulic conductivity measurements, was of poorest quality in the typical compaction treatment. Averaged over 3 years, typical compaction resulted in an annual yield reduction, relative to non-compaction, of 2·14 t has−1 (20%) and 1·66 t ha−1 (13%) when 198 and 285 kg N ha−1 respectively were provided as ammonium nitrate fertilizer plus slurry-derived ammonium-N. The largest and most consistent yield reductions as a result of compaction occurred at first harvest each year following slower growth on the most compacted soil of the typical treatment. In general, compaction-induced yield penalties increased with increased soil wetness. Offtake of nitrogen from both fertilizer alone and slurry and fertilizer combined was significantly reduced by soil compaction. First-harvest yield response to increasing N rate was larger in the zero compaction treatment than in the typical treatment. Averaged over 3 years, the total annual apparent recovery of applied nitrogen was 55% after typical compaction and 71% after zero compaction. It was likely that the larger proportion of non-recovered N in the former was lost as a consequence of greater surface run-off, denitrification and ammonia volatilization. Over 2 years, the yield and nitrogen offtake trends in the controlled compaction treatment were intermediate between those of the zero and typical treatments, and in general more similar to the former than to the latter. The results indicated that when livestock slurry is recycled as a source of nitrogen, prevention of soil compaction is an important component of efficient and environmentally protective grassland management.
The Effect of Various Inulins and Clostridium difficile on the Metabolic Activity of the Human Colonic Microbiota in vitro

The influence of inulins with different average degree of polymerization (ranging from 3 to 25) on the metabolic activity of the human colonic microbiota with or without the addition of Clostridium difficile was investigated in vitro. The in vitro system used was a dynamic, computer-controlled model that simulates the conditions of the proximal part of the large intestine with peristaltic mixing, water absorption and absorption of fermentation products. The addition of inulin stimulated the formation of the total amount of short-chain fatty acids acetate, propionate and butyrate up to 50%, and lactate >10-fold for short-chain inulin, while the formation of ammonia and the branched-chain fatty acids iso-butyrate and iso-valerate was suppressed. Ammonia formation was suppressed by about 30% and that of iso-butyrate and iso-valerate was almost completely suppressed. These effects became much more pronounced when C. difficile was present in the system. The introduction of C. difficile caused a stimulation of the production of the protein fermentative metabolites ammonia, branched-chain fatty acids and the phenolic compounds indole, phenol and p-cresol. This stimulatory effect of C. difficile was almost completely prevented by the addition of inulins. Thus, these results indicate a potential of inulins to shift the metabolic activity of the human colonic microbiota towards the production of less potentially toxic metabolites, both under normal conditions and under conditions with a disturbed microbiota (with a high level of C. difficile).
Effects of dietary polychlorinated biphenyl exposure on energetics of white‐footed mouse, Peromyscus leucopus

Energy budgets have provided physiological ecologists with a vital link between environmental variables and individual performance and should also prove useful to ecotoxicologists in understanding the effects of sublethal exposure in the field. Exposure to toxic compounds is likely to be metabolically expensive and may result in a trade‐off between energy spent to detoxify and excrete contaminants and energy allocated to growth or reproduction. To quantify the energetic cost of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) exposure, we fed captive white‐footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) diets containing PCBs (2:1 Aroclor® 1242:1254) at levels of 0, 0.1, 10, and 25 ppm (mg PCBs/kg food). After six weeks on the diets, there were no differences in food intake (g/d), diet digestibility (%), or body mass related to the level of dietary PCBs. This indicated that short‐term exposure to PCBs did not cause a detectable increase in energy need as measured by voluntary food intake. We continued to feed mice the PCB‐containing diets for one year, at which time we repeated the food intake trial, and also measured oxygen consumption at 20 and 30°C. After one year, all mice had gained mass, but mice on the 25‐ppm diet tended to be heavier than mice in the other groups. Compared to the control group, mice on the 25‐ppm diet had higher food intake (4.1 vs 3.7 g/d; p = 0.06) and higher oxygen consumption at 30°C (40.1 vs 36.6 ml O2/h; p = 0.01). These results suggest that there is an energetic cost to long‐term contaminant exposure that, when combined with other environmental stresses, may influence patterns of energy acquisition and allocation.