Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of Dietary Cinnamon Oil Supplementation on Fatty Acid Composition of Liver and Abdominal Fat in Broiler Chicken

Abstract Dalkilic, B. , Ciftci, M. , Guler, T. , Cerci, I.H. , Ertas, O.N. and Guvenc, M. 2009. Influence of dietary cinnamon oil supplementation on fatty acid composition of liver and abdominal fat in broiler chicken. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 35: 173–176. The potential effects of essential oil from cinnamon on fatty acid compositions of liver and abdominal fat in broilers were studied. Two hundred and forty 5-d-old commercial broiler chicks (Ross–308) were divided into 4 equal groups of 60 birds in each and randomly assigned to four treatment diets with four replicates. Experimental groups were; corn-soybean meal basal diet (Control), basal diet supplemented with 10 mg/kg Avilamycin (Antibiotic), 500 or 1000 ppm of cinnamon oil (C500, C1000). Poly unsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid levels of liver lipids were found higher but saturated fatty acid (SFA) levels were found lower in cinnamon oil added groups. The lowest mono unsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) level and the highest SFA level of abdominal fat were found in control group. Supplementation of cinnamon oil to diets could be considered as a natural alternative for producing poultry meat with more desirable PUFA.
Effects of Alternative Molting Programs and Population on Layer Performance: Results of the Thirty-Fifth North Carolina Layer Performance and Management Test

SUMMARY A study involving 7 white-egg and 3 brown-egg commercial layer strains was conducted at the North Carolina Piedmont Research Station to assess the effects cage population 3-bird vs. 4-bird cages and alternative molt programs on performance through 113 wk of age (791 d). The flock was divided into 3 groups; not molted (NM), maintained in continuous production; molted using feed restriction (FR), an industry-type 14-d feed withdrawal molting program initiated at 463 d of age; and molted using a nonfasted/anorexic program (NF), in which an ad libitum supply of a low protein, low energy molt feed was provided. Productivity, egg size, and egg quality were monitored at 28-d periods throughout the test providing the performance data for the white-egg and brown-egg strains with regard to these management factors. Detailed results by strain are available on the following Web site: http://www.ces. ncsu.edu/depts/poulsci/tech_info. html#layer. The performance for the 3-bird or 4-bird cage groups for either type of layer was similar, except that birds in 4-bird cages had higher feed consumption in the first production phase than did the birds in 3-bird cages. In the same time period the white-egg birds in the 3-bird cages had a greater percentage of cracked eggs and a smaller percentage of Grade A large eggs than those in 4-bird cages. No differences were observed in egg income for the 2 population sizes for either type of layer. However, due to their higher feed consumption, the white egg birds in the 4-bird cages had higher feed cost per hen for the first cycle, which was offset by the egg income component due to their increased production rate. The molted layers outperformed the nonmolted layers for both types of layers in terms of overall income over feed costs. The FR molted hens, under a program thathastraditionallybeenusedbycommercialproducers,outperformedNF-moltedhens,indicating that further refinements are needed to make the NF program economically competitive with the FR molting program.
Campylobacter in the food supply

Campylobacter infections in humans are considered to be mainly food-borne, in which foods of animal origin play an important role. The majority of Campylobacter infections are sporadic (single) cases or small family outbreaks, and the actual source of these types of infection is rarely microbiologically identified. This chapter describes the detection and prevalence of Campylobacter in a wide range of different types of food. Food products, however, may harbor only low numbers of campylobacters, and bacterial cells may be seriously injured by processing procedures such as freezing, cooling, heating, and salting. Survival of Campylobacter on eggshells, however, is considered to be poor because of the sensitivity of the organism to drying. Unpasteurized milk is a well-documented cause of a number of outbreaks of campylobacteriosis. Sufficient heating of red meat products, which are relatively infrequently contaminated with low numbers of Campylobacter, will eliminate this risk of human infection. Several investigations on the detection of Campylobacter in different types of seafood have been carried out. The majority of Campylobacter studies on growth characteristics and survival were carried out during the early 1980s, and summarizing reviews can be found in articles by Doyle and Stern and Kazmi. Reduction of the potential risk of contaminated poultry products has to be achieved by the application of good hygienic practices by both the producers of poultry meat products and the consumers of these products.
The Effect of Age on Timing of Breeding and Reproductive Success in the Thick‐Billed Murre

A seasonal decline in reproductive success is common to many birds breeding in seasonal environments. We examined the reproductive success of Thick-billed Murres breeding at Coats Island, Northwest Territories, Canada to assess the extent to which a seasonal decline in success could be accounted for by correlations between the age of the birds and their date of laying. In 1990 and 1991 reproductive success declined with date of laying: this decline was due mainly to a decline in the proportion of eggs that hatched. No corresponding decline was found in the proportion of hatchlings that reached fledging age. Pairs containing at least one young (4- or 5-yr-old) bird laid later and hatched a lower proportion of eggs than those containing at least one older (>7-yr-old) bird. The two groups did not differ in the proportion of hatchlings reared. When looked at separately, the pro- portions of young and older birds that succeeded in hatching their egg were not affected by date of laying. When the two age groups were combined, the trends with date were similar to those found for a large sample, mostly birds of unknown age. To correct for differences in timing of laying, a sample of early breeders was induced to lay replacement eggs 14 d later. These experimental pairs were as successful as early control breeders. A greater proportion of the experimentally delayed pairs hatched chicks than birds laying for the first time at a similar date. The experimental pairs were also more successful than young birds that bred earlier. The growth of experimental and control chicks did not differ. How- ever, the 14-d-old chicks of young pairs were lighter than those of experienced breeders, suggesting poorer provisioning by the young breeders. We concluded that there was no evidence for a deterioration in feeding conditions with date and that the relationship between age and/or experience and date of laying was the most important factor in causing the decline in reproductive success with date. Our conclusions may apply to other studies of reproductive success in marine birds.
A field test of the intermediate disturbance hypothesis in the soft-bottom intertidal

The intermediate disturbance hypothesis has had success in explaining changes in local diversity in many habitats. Recent laboratory work has shown that disturbance may act to increase diversity in soft-bottom marine communities as predicted by the hypothesis. In this paper, we present the results of a field experiment which tested the impacts of physical disturbance on soft-bottom, intertidal macrobenthic communities. Five disturbance treatments were used, differing in the frequency of applied disturbance events: the highest frequency treatments were dug every week, lowest every eight weeks. The experiment was run for a total of 25 weeks over the winter of 1997/98. Our experiment controlled for differences in recovery time after disturbances. Abundances of Pygospio elegans, Macoma balthica, Hydrobia ulvae and Streblospio benedicti were all significantly reduced in high disturbance treatments, as was the total number of species. No species showed significant increases in abundance in disturbed treatments, and there was no evidence of an increase in diversity in any treatments. These results are discussed in the context of the intermediate disturbance hypothesis. Our results suggest that the interspecific competitive effects postulated by the hypothesis are not important in structuring this low diversity, intertidal community. However. unequivocally rejecting the hypothesis is difficult because it contains many ambiguities, and acts more as a conceptual model than as a falsifiable hypothesis.
Factors affecting capsule and seed set in Eucalyptus globulus seed orchards

Low capsule seed set is a major factor limiting seed production in Eucalyptus globulus seed orchards. Trials were conducted in two Tasmanian E. globulus seed orchards to identify mechanisms involved in capsule abortion and low reproductive success. Key areas of investigation included identification of the timing of abortion relative to stage of capsule development, the impact of irrigation management and other treatments imposed to alter resource allocation, the influence of the maternal and paternal genotype, and relationship between floral characteristics and propensity of capsules to abort.
Root functional parameters along a land‐use gradient: evidence of a community‐level economics spectrum

There is a fundamental trade‐off between leaf traits associated with either resource acquisition or resource conservation. This gradient of trait variation, called the economics spectrum, also applies to fine roots, but whether it is consistent for coarse roots or at the plant community level remains untested. We measured a set of morphological and chemical root traits at a community level (functional parameters; FP) in 20 plant communities located along land‐use intensity gradients and across three climatic zones (tropical, mediterranean and montane). We hypothesized (i) the existence of a root economics spectrum in plant communities consistent within root types (fine, < 2 mm; coarse, 2–5 mm), (ii) that variations in root FP occur with soil depths (top 20 cm of soil and 100–150 cm deep) and (iii) along land‐use gradients. Root FP covaried, in line with the resource acquisition–conservation trade‐off, from communities with root FP associated with resource acquisition (e.g. high specific root length, SRL; thin diameters and low root dry matter contents, RDMC) to root FP associated with resource conservation (e.g. low SRL, thick diameters and high RDMC). This pattern was consistent for both fine and coarse roots indicating a strong consistency of a trade‐off between resource acquisition and conservation for plant roots. Roots had different suites of traits at different depths, suggesting a disparity in root function and exploitation capacities. Shallow, fine roots were thinner, richer in nitrogen and with lower lignin concentrations associated with greater exploitation capacities compared to deep, fine roots. Shallow, coarse roots were richer in nitrogen, carbon and soluble concentrations than deep, coarse roots. Fine root parameters of highly disturbed, herbaceous‐dominated plant communities in poorer soils were associated with foraging strategies, that is greater SRL and lower RDMC and lignin concentration than those from less disturbed communities. Coarse roots, however, were less sensitive to the land‐use gradient. Synthesis. This study demonstrates the existence of a general trade‐off in root construction at a community level, which operates within all root types, suggesting that all plant tissues are controlled by the trade‐off between resource acquisition and conservation.
Freeze-fracture observations of the lactating rat mammary gland. Membrane events during milk fat secretion

Membrane events during milk fat secretion were analyzed by freeze- fracture of the rat mammary gland. Two modes of milk fat secretion were observed: extrusion of fat droplets surrounded by a portion of the apical plasma membrane of the alveolar epithelial cells and, less frequently, release into the alveolar lumen of fat droplets contained in intracytoplasmic vacuoles. The extrusion process consists of two asynchronous events: clearing of membrane particles (probably including integral membrane proteins) and bulging of the apical plasma membrane. Most fat droplets are extruded with a bilayer membrane envelope (milk fat globule membrane) partially devoid of particles. The segregation of membrane particles may represent the onset of a process of structural degradation of the milk fat globule membrane.
Flower Defenses Against Nectar-Pilferage by Ants

ro determine palatability, floral nectars from 25, and floral tissue extracts from 17, plant species of wet and dry forests of Costa Rica were offered to foraging ants in pairwise tests with sugar solutions. Nectars from all 25, and floral tissues from 10, species were analyzed chemically to ascertain the presence of potentially attractive and deterrent substances. In general, floral nectars are palatable to ants, whereas floral tissues showed highly variable palatability. We observed ants foraging in flowers of only 10 species of plants. Defense from nectar thievery by chewing insects seems most often to involve varying degrees of chemical and morphological modification of floral parts, rather than by the production of deterrent compounds in the nectar itself. FLOWERS THAT OFFER NECTAR as a primary reward to pollinators are common in the tropics. Nectar is generally nutritious and energy-rich, and pollination and seed set regularly occur as a result of the nectargathering activities by a wide array of animals, including many hymenoptera. Ants, however, are only rarely considered reliable pollinators (Kerner von Marilaun 1878, Proctor and Yeo 1972, Hickman 1974, Faegri and van der Pijl 1979), even though they are extremely abundant in a wide variety of habitats and are notorious for their skill in locating even small amounts of sugar. It is surprising that observations in the tropics reveal ants foraging for nectar in flowers only occasionally (van der Pijl
Design and Synthesis of S-ribosylhomocysteine Analogues

ed by the basic Cys-84 present at the β-face of the SRH substrate at the active site of LuxS. The formed enediolate 7 undergoes ligand exchange with the C2-OH group assisted by a Glu57. Tautomerisation to keto form generates a carbonyl at C2 position (8). The repetition of this enolization-tautomerization step leads to the formation of the 3keto SRH complex (9), which is prone to a β-elimination (10 → 11) of homocysteine catalyzed by Glu57. The release of the homocysteine as a free thiol molecule occurs
Optimization of in situ bioassays with Hyalella azteca and Chironomus tentans

Uncertainty is always associated with extrapolations of laboratory toxicity test responsesto in situ conditions. Exposing toxicity test organisms in situ reduces uncertainty by removing sampling related artifacts and better simulating natural exposures. The amphipod Hyalella azteca and the midge Chironomus tentans, were enclosed in plastic containers with 149‐ or 74‐mm mesh openings. These chambers were anchored to stream substrates allowing continual water exchange and contact with sediments. Hyallela azteca survival was greater than 80% after 4 weeks of exposure. In situ testing with H. azteca in cold water (<15°C) resulted in survival consistently below 60%, possibly due to limited acclimation periods. Handling stress during laboratory to field transport reduced C. tentans survival. High survival was not consistently achieved until a protective ground paper towel substrate was used. A smaller mesh size (74 mm) on the chambers reduced the occurrence of indigenous organisms inside the chambers, making C. tentans identification unmistakable. In situ testing with C. tentans using refined methods resulted in greater than 80% survival after 2 weeks of exposure. In situ exposures of these two benthic invertebrates can effectively evaluate short‐ to long‐term conditions of water and sediment quality.
Enemy free space and the structure of ecological communities

We define ‘enemy free space’ as ways of living that reduce or eliminate a species' vulnerability to one or more species of natural enemies. Many aspects of species' niches, in ecological and evolutionary time have apparently been moulded by interactions with natural enemies for enemy free space. We review a large number of examples. Yet many ecologists continue to think and write as though classical resource based competition for food or space is the primary determinant of species' niches. Often it is not. The recognition that the struggle for enemy free space is an important component of many species' ecologies may have important consequences for studies of community convergence, limits to species packing, and the ratio of predator species to prey species in natural communities.
Simulating fire regimes in human‐dominated ecosystems: Iberian Peninsula case study

A new fire model is proposed which estimates areas burnt on a macro‐scale (10–100 km). It consists of three parts: evaluation of fire danger due to climatic conditions, estimation of the number of fires and the extent of the area burnt. The model can operate on three time steps, daily, monthly and yearly, and interacts with a Dynamic Global Vegetation Model (DGVM), thereby providing an important forcing for natural competition. Fire danger is related to number of dry days and amplitude of daily temperature during these days. The number of fires during fire days varies with human population density. Areas burnt are calculated based on average wind speed, available fuel and fire duration. The model has been incorporated into the Lund‐Potsdam‐Jena Dynamic Global Vegetation Model (LPJ‐DGVM) and has been tested for peninsular Spain. LPJ‐DGVM was modified to allow bi‐directional feedback between fire disturbance and vegetation dynamics. The number of fires and areas burnt were simulated for the period 1974–94 and compared against observations. The model produced realistic results, which are well correlated, both spatially and temporally, with the fire statistics. Therefore, a relatively simple mechanistic fire model can be used to reproduce fire regime patterns in human‐ dominated ecosystems over a large region and a long time period.
Autochthonous fungal strains with high ligninolytic activities from Tunisian biotopes

This work represents the first report on the ability of autochthonous fungi of Tunisia to produce ligninolytic enzymes. Three hundred fifteen fungal strains were isolated from different Tunisian biotopes. These fungal strains were first screened for lignin-modifying enzymes on solid media containing Poly R-478 or ABTS. Of the 315 tested strains, 49 exhibited significant ABTS-oxidation activity, expressed within the first week of incubation and only 18 strains decolourised the Poly R-478. These positive strains were further screened in liquid culture and laccase, and lignin and Mn 2+ -oxidizing peroxidases activities were assayed. Of the 67 strains grown on liquid medium, 28 produced at least one of these 3 enzymes. The 8 highest producers of ligninolytic activities were identified by molecular techniques and 3 among them produced Lac, MnP and LiP simultaneously. New isolates reported in this work as fungi with significant ligninolytic activities includes Oxyporus, Stereum and Trichoderma. The isolated Trametes trogii CTM 10156 was the best Lac producer. Culture conditions and medium composition were optimised for this strain and resulted in high Lac production of 110 U ml -1 within 15 days of incubation (367 times higher than control medium). African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (5), pp. 431-436, 2005
Effect of temperature and relative humidity on the virulence of the entomopathogenic fungus, Verticillium lecanii, toward the oat‐bird berry aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi (Hom., Aphididae)

The effect of temperature and relative humidity on the infectivity of Verticillium lecanii in Rhopalosiphum padi was investigated. The fecundity of untreated and treated aphids at the temperatures between 8 to 37 °C and relative humidity regimes was also recorded. No reproduction or mortality was found in control or infected apterous aphids when placed at 8 °C for 14 days. Aphids placed at 37 °C, whether treated or not treated, died in one day. At 15 °C, 100% mortality in infected aphids was observed at day 4. The percent mortality for the control aphids at 15 °C was 39.7% after 7 days of observation. At 21 °C and 27 °C, 100% mortality in the infected aphids was observed at day 3. At 21 °C and 27 °C, 11.4% and 46.8% mortality was observed in the control group after 7 days of observation, respectively. The average fecundity in infected and control aphids also differed significantly. The average fecundity of infected aphids at 15 °C, 21 °C, and 27 °C was 7.9, 9.2, and 5.8 individuals per aphid, and in the control the corresponding fecundity was 17.8, 42.0, and 27.3 individuals per aphid.
Evidence for (E)-Pityol as an Aggregation Pheromone of Pityophthorus pubescens (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)

Abstract We present evidence favoring the use of (E)-pityol as an aggregation pheromone in Pityophthorus pubescens (Marsham). (E)-Pityol was detected in effluvia of male and female P. pubescens, and antennae of both sexes responded to (E)-(+)-pityol in electroantennogram assays. In two-choice olfactometer tests, males significantly preferred (E)-(+)-pityol and (E)-(±)-pityol to blank controls at doses of 1, 10, and 100 ng, whereas females only showed a preference for (E)-pityol at the 1 ng dose.
Using Differential Flatness for solving the Minimum-Fuel Low-Thrust Geostationary Station-Keeping Problem

The minimum fuel station keeping of a geostationary satellite equipped with electric thrusters undergoing the Earth non-spherical disturbing gravitational potential up to degree and order 2 is first recast by transforming the linear time varying relative dynamics in a time invariant one with a Floquet-Lyapunov transformation. In a second step, the flatness property of the system is used to convert the genuine optimal control problem to a linear programming problem. This problem is solved for an ideal geostationary satellite with one thruster mounted on each face.
Influence of Lactic Streptococci on Bitter Flavor Development in Cheese

Bacteriophage contamination during cheese making at levels which restricted starter growth in the final stages of manufacture without markedly affecting acid production had a striking effect on cheese flavor, especially intensity of bitterness. Results from experiments using milk cheese infected deliberately with bacteriophage provided evidence that the starter streptococci have a direct role in the development of bitter flavor in cheese.