Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of casein and glucose or starch supplementation in the rumen or abomasum on utilization of Eragrostis curvula hay by sheep

In one experiment the effects of casein in the abomasum was compared to isonitrogenous quantities of casein or urea in the rumen. In another two experiments the effects of casein in the rumen or abomasum were compared to isocaloric quantities of glucose or starch or to treatments where casein was partially replaced by these carbohydrates. Casein and glucose or starch were administered to the rumen or abomasum twice daily as pulse doses in quantities varying between 30 and 80 g per day. Measurements include voluntary intake of hay, ADG, wool growth, non-ammonia N (NAN) flow to the abomasum, and N-retention. Results suggest that supplementation with casein instead of NPN in the rumen may be beneficial. Secondly, postruminal administration of casein increased ADG, wool growth and, on occasion, hay intake. Postruminal administered casein furthermore, increased NAN flow to the abomasum and N-retention. Thirdly, glucose or starch supplementation to the rumen or abomasum alone was not beneficial in terms of ADG, wool growth and N-retention. It is concluded that indispensable amino acids at the tissue level of sheep are limiting with such forages, rather than energy - a fact which should be taken into account with supplementation in practice. In een eksperiment is die invloed van kaseien in die abomasum vergelyk met isostikstof hoeveelhede kaseien of ureum in die rumen. In twee verdere eksperimente is die invloed van kaseien in die rumen of abomasum vergelyk met isokaloriese hoeveelhede glukose of stysel, of met behandelings waar kaseien gedeeltelik verplaas is deur genoemde twee koolhidrate. Kaseien en glukose of stysel is deur die rumen- of abomasale kanule twee keer per dag in enkel dosisse toegedien, teen hoeveelhede wat tussen 30- en 80 g per dag gewissel het. Vrywillige inname van hooi, GDT, wolgroei, nie-ammoniak-N(NAN)-vloei na die abomasum en N-retensie is gemeet. Die resultate dui daarop dat supplementering met kaseien eerder as met NPN in die rumen voordele kan inhou. Tweedens, het abomasale toediening van kaseien GDT, wolgroei en soms hooi-inname, verbeter. Verder het dit ook NAN-vloei na die abomasum en N-retensie verhoog. Derdens, was toediening van glukose of stysel in die rumen of abomasum alleen nie voordelig in terme van GDT, wolgroei of N-retensie nie. Die gevolgtrekking is gemaak dat onontbeerlike aminosure op weefselvlak van skape by hierdie tipe ruvoere be perkend is, eerder as energie, - 'n feit wat met supplementering in die praktyk in gedagte gehou moet word. Keywords : Casein, Eragrostis curvula , glucose, sheep, starch, supplementation.
Biotic disturbances in Northern Hemisphere forests – a synthesis of recent data, uncertainties and implications for forest monitoring and modelling

Aim Biotic disturbances (BD, including insects, pathogens and wildlife herbivory) can alter forest structure and the capability of forests to deliver ecosystem services. Impact assessments, however, are limited by the lack of reliable and timely disturbance data at large spatial scales. This review synthesizes empirical data on the magnitude and distribution of spatio-temporal impacts of BD. Location Northern Hemisphere. Methods Based on large-scale, multi-year BD data sets, covering c. 46% of the global forest, we calculated annual disturbance fractions Df (percentage of forest area affected) and their inter-annual variability at a grid cell resolution of 1°. The impact of BD on forest carbon pools was determined by overlaying Df with data on forest cover and carbon density. Results Overall, 43.9 million hectares (Mha) (Df = 2.6%) of forests were affected annually by BD, particularly by insects (36.5 Mha, Df = 2.2%). Our synthesis demonstrates that fractions affected by BD (1) vary greatly over space and time, mainly in response to ephemeral bark beetle and defoliator outbreaks, (2) show temporal trends that are inconsistent across regions, yet are largely increasing over recent decades, and (3) are substantially higher than Df caused by fire and other abiotic disturbances. Tree mortality was estimated over an area of 3.3 Mha year−1 (medium estimate which assumed mortality at 7.5% of the affected area), with associated committed carbon fluxes from living biomass to litter and the atmosphere at 129.9 Mt C year−1. Main conclusions BD are key drivers of forest dynamics, making a contribution to tree mortality of a similar magnitude to fire. Despite inherent uncertainties, the data reported can be used to improve the representation of BD in global ecosystem models. Our findings call for future forest monitoring approaches to provide accessible, precise and consistent data on the occurrence and severity of BD which are harmonized across jurisdictions.
Establishment of mass hierarchies in broods in the black kite

The relative importance of hatching asynchrony, egg mass and chick growth were studied to establish mass hierarchies in broods of the Black Kite (Milvus migrans). Relative growth of first-hatched chicks was the best predictor of degree of chick mass hierarchy, while the effect of egg mass differences was negligible. A quadratic equation best explained the relationship between hatching asynchrony and growth of first-hatched chicks, probably due to the logistic growth curves in birds. Growth of the first-hatched chicks during the hatching period was not related to weather, breeder experience, brood size or year, but had a slight negative correlation with laying date and a positive correlation with amount of food in nests. Growth of chicks during such a short period in a stage of low energy demand may be little affected by environmental factors.
SYMPOSIUM: FORAGE UTILIZATION BY THE LACTATING COW Role of Particle Size and Forage Quality in Digestion and Passage by Cattle and Sheep 1,2

Diminution of forage particles includes mastication, chewing, and digestion. In rumen of cattle and sheep fed all forage diets, particle size can range from 200 to over 1200 /am. Particle size reduction to about <1200 gtm must occur before passage. Dietary particle size may influence rumen particle size, but mastication and rumination minimizes differences among diets. Rumnants expend considerable effort to move digesta. Density, cell wall percentage, osmotic pressure, and pH may affect propulsion. Dense particles may sink to the bottom and resist escape. Cell wall may reduce digestion and passage. Osmotic pressure or pH may affect digestive efficiency and rhythm of intestinal tract muscles. Chewing, exercise, physiological functions, and body size may also affect the reduction of forage particle size. More effort is necessary to chew high than low fiber diets. Young cattle (<225 kg) lack rumination capability and body size to process forage particles efficiently. Exercised sheep (26,400 kg-m/d) ate less forage and ruminated less than controls.
Homology Modeling, Molecular Dynamic Simulations and Docking Studies of a New Cold Active Extracellular Lipase, EnL A from Emericella nidulans NFCCI 3643

A cold active lipase producing mesophilic fungus was isolated from Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) dump sites and identified by 28S rRNA molecular identification studies as Emericella nidulans NFCCI 3643. The BLAST P search with the sequence of the purified cold active lipase obtained by MALDI-TOF/MS analysis revealed that the protein is a hypothetical protein from Emericella nidulans with a gi number 67522685. Search of Lipase Engineering Database (LED) for this protein sequence revealed that this protein belongs to Candida antarctica lipase A like super family and to Aspergillus lipase like homologous family of class Y lipases. In the present study, a 3D structure of EnL A (Emericella nidulans lipase A) was built using homology modeling, the model was further optimized by molecular dynamic simulations and the optimized model was then docked with natural substrates. Secondary structure analysis of EnL A showed 37.11% of its content to be alpha helix making it stable for three dimensional structure modeling. Homology model of EnL A was constructed using the X-ray structure of Candida antarctica Lip A (3 guu.1.A) as a template with which EnL A showed 32.77% sequence identity. The stereo chemical quality and side chain environment of the model was validated by Ramachandran plot, ERRAT and Verify 3D. Natural substrates like tributyrin and trioctanoin were docked in to the optimized 3D model to further investigate the ligand-enzyme interactions.
Bioactive peptides derived from milk proteins : Ingredients for functional foods ?

Outre des autres proteines d'origine animale et vegetale les proteines du lait sont maintenant la source principale de peptides biologiquement actifs, deceles pour la premiere fois en 1979 dans des hydrolysats enzymatiques partiels de proteines laitieres. Quoique des peptides a activite biologique, obtenus surtant par proteolyse in vitro des caseines et des proteines du serum ou par synthese chimique des sequences de proteine potentiellement bioactives, aient fait l'objet d'un nombre d'etudes biochimiques et physiologiques au cours des 20 dernieres annees, on a porte peu d'attention aux peptides regulateurs du point de vue de la nutrition. La discussion sur les aliments salutaires a la sante - «functional foods - a ranime l'importance des peptides a activite biologique comme ingredients pour de tels aliments. L'objectif de ce travail est de donner un apercu actuel des peptides a activite biologique derives des proteines du lait qui sont connus a present et auxquels on attribue des activites opioides agonistes et antagonistes ou un effet inhibiteur sur l'ACE («angiotensin I-converting enzyme»), ou des activites immunomodulatrices, antimicrobiennes et antithrombotiques ou bien qui peuvent jouer un role comme transporteurs de mineraux dans l'intestin. On a prete une attention particuliere a l'importance physiologique des peptides a activite biologique en tant que substances regulatrices exogenes. Leur role en tant qu «hormones alimentaires (ou encore «formones») n'est pas encore definitivement eclairci bien que quelques etudes indiquent le potentiel regulateur de tels peptides apres ingestion d'hydrolysats de caseine. Comme ingredients de «functional foods», L'utilisation des caseino-phosphopeptides et des peptides inhibiteurs de l'ACE est encourageante, compte tenu des connaissances scientifiques actuelles.
The response of broiler breeder hens to dietary balanced protein

Two basal feeds (118 and 175 g protein/kg) with similar balanced amino acid mixtures were appropriately blended to produce six experimental diets differing in protein. These were fed for six weeks to 180 broiler breeder hens (Ross 308) housed in individual cages from 26 w of age. A 13 h photoperiod was applied. Half the birds were restricted to 160 g of feed/d, whilst the others were fed ad libitum. The treatments were randomly allocated within six blocks. At the end of the six-week period the mean voluntary intake of the ad libitum -fed birds was 169 g/d whereas the intake of hens on feed restriction was 155 g/d. In spite of the range of protein intakes from 18.5 and 28.8 g/bird, no differences were observed in rate of laying between the two feeding strategies or dietary protein levels, nor were there differences in the proportions of yolk or albumen between these treatments. Egg weight, egg output and weight gain increased with protein intake as did energy retention (kJ/d) whereas heat output (kJ/d) decreased as protein intake increased. Even though dietary protein intake had no effect on rate of lay, the resultant decrease in heat output at high protein intakes suggests that this might be a useful strategy to consider for overcoming mild heat stress. Keywords : Ad libitum feeding, heat production, energy retention, egg composition
Dung beetle community dynamics in undisturbed tropical forests: implications for ecological evaluations of land‐use change

The impacts of human activities on tropical forests are widespread and increasing. Hence, a good knowledge base about ecological processes in undisturbed tropical forest is crucial to provide a baseline for evaluating anthropogenic change. Our 5‐year study focused on understanding the background spatial and inter‐annual variation in dung beetle communities at 12 sites of undisturbed lowland tropical rainforest in the Brazilian Amazon. We then assessed how this variation may affect ecological evaluations of anthropogenic influence by comparing community metrics with comparable dung beetle data collected from 15 sites of Eucalyptus plantation in the same region. Of all measured environmental variables, soil texture best explained spatial variation in dung beetle communities in undisturbed forests. Furthermore, soil texture was important for community assembly as it was associated with dung beetle nesting behaviours. While the relative abundance of dung beetle functional groups was stable over time, there were important inter‐annual temporal dynamics, with a fivefold variation in abundance and body mass, and with species richness ranging from 52 to 74. These temporal oscillations were probably caused by variation in dry season rainfall. This inter‐annual variation influenced the comparison between undisturbed forests and plantations, which could lead to inconsistencies in evaluation of anthropogenic change. We therefore highlight the importance of understanding natural variation in studies evaluating the consequences of land‐use change and other forest disturbances on forest biodiversity.
Sea lice (Copepoda: Caligidae) parasitic on fishes reported from the Neotropical region

The Caligidae, also known as sea lice, is a family of parasitic copepods of fish that consists of 31 genera and more than 450 species, some of which have been deleterious to cultured fish. The goal of this paper was to structure a list of sea lice species known from the Neotropical region based on information from published records. A total of 115 sea lice species found on 217 fish species were listed, including 58 species of Caligus and 22 of Lepeophtheirus. It seems that the inventory of this group of parasites is far from complete. Considering the promotion of finfish sea-cage aquaculture throughout the coastal areas of Latin America, a better understanding of the sea lice biodiversity will support systematic work on parasitic copepods in the Neotropics and will provide fundamental information that could impact fish disease control and prevention strategies.
The Other Side of Metabolism: a Review

Since the discovery of enzymic fermentation by Louis Pasteur, the idea has been widespread in biochemistry that molecular interconversions and interactions in living systems are mediated by enzymes. However, recent advances in sensitivity and separation power of analytical methods has led to isolation and identification of a variety of products that cannot be mapped to specific enzyme-catalyzed biochemical pathways. These products appear in the organism because chemical characteristics of biomolecules are not limited to the needs of living systems realized through enzyme-catalyzed processes. This review provides a summary of such nonenzymic interactions. The following are discussed: I) products of biogenic amine binding to carbonyl-containing compounds in the Pictet-Spengler reaction (endogenous neurotoxins, which impair mitochondrial functions and seem to contribute to development of age-related neurological disorders including parkinsonism); 2) products of Schiff base formation with subsequent Amadori rearrangement (nonenzymic protein glycation involved in age-related diabetes-like disorders and atherosclerosis; 3) prod­ucts of Michael addition of methylglyoxal: 4-hydroxynonenal, and other derivatives of nonenzymic conversions of carbohydrates and lipids; 4) products of modification of biomolecules with nitrogen-and oxygen-derived free radicals, which contribute to cancer and aging. Some evolutionary and biomedical implications of nonenzymic parametabolic processes are discussed.
In vitro study on differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells into epidermal cells

Objective To investigate the feasibility of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) differentiated into epidermal cells in vitro.Methods Porcine MSCs were isolated from bone marrow and grown in vitro.At 3rd and 7th day after EGF or other medium induced,immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry were carried out to detect the positive staining of cytokeratin.Results At 3rd,7th day after EGF or other medium induced,the morphology of the cells did not change.The cytokeratin positive cells could be observed at 3rd day after EGF treatment.The positive cells were increased at 7th day after EGF treatment.MSCs maintained in EGF-free medium were stained negatively.FACS analysis showed that uninduced MSCs expressed negatively for cytokeratin and the number of positive cells was almost not increased at 3rd day after induction (3 %). But at 7th day after induction,cytokeratin-positive cells were increased (13 %). Conclusion Porcine MSCs may have the potential to differentiate into epidermal cells in vitro.
Seed Rain and Advance Regeneration in Secondary Succession in the Brazilian Amazon

Succession in the Brazilian Amazon depends on prior land-use history. Abandoned clearcuts become dominated by Cecropia trees and exhibit species replacements characteristic of natural succession in forest lightgaps. In contrast, abandoned pastures are dominated by Vismia trees that inhibit natural succession for a decade or more. Here we explore how advance regeneration and limited seed dispersal may contribute to the arrested succession in Vismia-dominated stands. Vegetation surveys showed that every Vismia stem in 3–8 year old Vismia stands originated as a re-sprout. In Cecropia stands, all tree species, including Vismia, originated mostly from seeds, after deforestation and abandonment. The 100% re-sprouts of Vismia in the abandoned pastures confirms that Vismia dominance results from re-sprouting following pasture fires. Seed rain in both Vismia and Cecropia dominated stands was limited almost exclusively to second growth species already reproducing in those stands, suggesting that the bats and birds foraging there were not bringing mature forest seeds into the second growth, but simply feeding and depositing local second growth species. As dispersal was similar in both stand types, dispersal differences cannot account for the ongoing dominance of Vismia relative to the ongoing successional transitions in Cecropia stands. Overall, advance regeneration in the form of Vismia re-sprouts is much more likely to be the driver of Vismia dominated succession than differential dispersal of mature forest seeds. In order to avoid extensive forest conversion into unproductive Vismia wastelands in the Amazon Basin, forestry permits for harvesting timber should include restrictions on subsequent anthropogenic degradation, such as conversion to pasture and prescribed burning.
Effect of soil test based nutrient management on crop yield, nutrient requirement and relationship between nutrient uptake and yield of mustard (Brassica campestris) in Alfisol

A field experiment was conducted based on STCR methodology on mustard with the variety ‘Indira Toriya 1’ in Re-inforced resovable block design (RRBD) plot sized 7x3 m with the spacing of 50x20 cm at research farm of Shaheed Gundadhoor College of Agriculture and Research Station Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh during Rabi 2014-15. The field was prepared without any disturbance to the already created three fertility gradient strips (L0, L1, L2). Then each strip was subdivided into 24 plots of equal size. A set of 24 treatments out of which 21 treatments in combination with four levels of nitrogen (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg ha), four levels of phosphorus (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg ha) four levels of potassium (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg ha) and three levels of FYM (0, 5, 10 t ha) and three controls were superimposed to different plots in each strip. The result showed that the yield of mustard increased with increasing nutrient addition. The nutrient requirement for production of one quintal mustard grain was 4.25:1.08:3.31 kg N:P:K and the relationship between crop yield and nutrient uptake was linear.
A Hypothesis of Developmental Selection Exemplified by Lethal and Semi-Lethal Mutants of Arabidopsis

A hypothesis of developmental selection is presented in which the internal factors of selection, barriers imposed by ontogenetic development, are considered in relation to the degree of survival of newly arisen deleterious mutations. This hypothesis states that the survival of such mutant genes to the stage of germination depends on the diffusibility of the metabolite required by the mutants and the ontogenetic stage at which it is required. As a corollary of the hypothesis, those lethal mutants of flowering plants that appear after germination should, with certain predictable exceptions, have requirements for low molecular weight substances which may be supplied from external sources.
Observations of Migrating Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) in Eastern Interior Alaska Offer Insights On Population Size and Migration Monitoring

Abstract Migratory Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) from Alaska winter across a vast region of western North America, much of which is undergoing rapid change from a diversity of indirect and direct human activities. To address recent conservation concerns, we are studying the year-round movements of migratory Golden Eagles from interior and northern Alaska to identify and evaluate potential risks to their survival. We are also developing new survey techniques to estimate population size and trends. As part of our ongoing studies, we observed migrating Golden Eagles in spring and autumn 2014 during field investigations to locate Golden Eagle capture sites in eastern interior Alaska, and in spring 2015 during capture activities. We observed large numbers of Golden Eagles in both spring and autumn, suggesting that the Mentasta Mountains are an important migration corridor for this species. Further, our observations, including 1364 migrating Golden Eagles in October 2014, suggested that the Alaska Golden Eagle population is much larger than is reflected in the only currently available statewide population estimate of 2400 eagles. In combination with historical and contemporary tracking studies, our observations in the Mentasta Mountains provide important new information about Golden Eagle migration in Alaska and stimulate interest in answering fundamental questions about using counts of migrating Golden Eagles to estimate, and detect change in, the population size of Alaska's migratory Golden Eagles. Our observations also provide new information about Rough-legged Hawk migration in Alaska.