Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phytase Supplementation of Wheat-Based Broiler Diets Reduces Dependence on Meat-and-Bone Meal

It is permissible to include meat-and-bone meal (MBM) in broiler diets in many countries outside the European Union, including Australia, where MBM is usually advantaged by being a relatively inexpensive source of phosphorus and protein. However, some producers may prefer to reduce their dependence on MBM as this feed ingredient has several disadvantages and may be a barrier to exports of chicken-meat. Therefore, the purpose of this experiment was to investigate the extent to which phytase supplementation can reduce MBM inclusion levels in wheat-based broiler diets. Standard and modified starter, grower and finisher diets were formulated so that modified diets contained lower MBM inclusions and reduced nutrient specifications. The standard and modified diets, the latter supplemented with 0, 500 or 750FTU/kg phytase (Phyzyme® XP), were offered to a total of 840 broilers in 24 floor pens from 1-42 days of age and the effects of dietary treatments on growth performance were determined. For the grower phase (15-28 days), five broilers from each floor pen were transferred to cages to permit total excreta collection to determine apparent metabolisable energy (AME) and nitrogen (N) retention. Acid insoluble ash was included in the caged birds’ diets and ileal digesta collected at 28 days to determine the effect of dietary treatments on apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of amino acids. Lowering nutrient specifications reduced growth performance and increased mortality rates over 42 days but this decline in performance was overcome by the addition of 750FTU/kg phytase to modified diets. Feed ingredient costs per unit of live weight gain were also reduced by phytase addition. Reducing dietary levels of MBM increased amino acid digestibilities in the modified grower diet. Moreover, phytase supplementation of modified diets linearly increased AID coefficients of alanine, aspartic acid, glycine, isoleucine, leucine, serine, threonine and tyrosine to a significant extent. Also, phytase (750FTU/kg) supplementation of the modified diet significantly increased AME by 0.27MJ/kg on a dry matter (DM) basis. Overall consumption of MBM was reduced from 233g to 14g per bird from 1-42 days of age following dietary modifications. It is noteworthy that reduced inclusions of MBM, coupled with phytase supplementation, enhanced ileal digestibility of total amino acids by 5.3% (0.834 versus 0.792). This study demonstrates that it is feasible to reduce MBM contents and nutrient specifications in wheat-based broiler diets in association with phytase supplementation without the addition of inorganic phosphorus sources.
Dissolved organic matter in small streams along a gradient from discontinuous to continuous permafrost

The Yenisei river passes every type of permafrost regime, from south to north, being characterized by increasing continuity of the permafrost and by decreasing thickness of the active layer. We used that situation to test the hypothesis that amounts and properties of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in small streams draining forested catchments respond to different permafrost regimes. Water samples were taken from eight tributaries along the Yenisei between 67°30′N and 65°49′N latitude. The samples were analysed for dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrogen (DON) and DOM was characterized by its chemical composition (XAD‐8 fractionation, sugars, lignin phenols, amino acids, protein, UV and fluorescence spectroscopy), and its biodegradability. Most properties of the tributary waters varied depending on latitude. The higher the latitude, the higher were DOC, DON and the proportion of the hydrophobic fraction of DOC. The contribution of hexoses and pentoses to DOC were higher in southern tributaries; on the other hand, phenolic compounds were more abundant in northern tributaries. Mineralizable DOC ranged between 4% and 28% of total DOC. DOM in northern tributaries was significantly (P<0.05) less biodegradable than that in southern tributaries reflecting the differences in the chemical properties of DOM. Our results suggest that the differences in DOM properties are mainly attributed to differences of permafrost regime, affecting depth of active layer, soil organic matter accumulation and vegetation. Soil organic matter and vegetation determine the amount and composition of DOM produced in the catchments while the depth of the active layer likely controls the quantity and quality of DOM exported to streams. Sorptive interactions of DOM with the soil mineral phase typically increase with depth. The results imply that a northern shift of discontinuous permafrost likely will change in the long term the input of DOM into the Yenisei and thus probably into the Kara Sea.
Isolation and Expression of Rat Interferon β Gene and Growth-Inhibitory Effect of Its Expression on Rat Glioma Cells

Abstract Rat interferon β (IFNβ) was cloned from a part of rat genomic DNA by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with reference to the nucleotide sequence data of a mouse IFNβ. The sequence result showed that the clone had 555 bp of open reading frame (ORF) which encoded a 184-amino acid polypeptide. Comparison of our data with those of mouse and human IFNβ revealed 86.7 and 67.6% homology at the nucleotide level, and 76.2 and 48.9% homology at the amino acid level, respectively. This ORF was inserted into an expression vector, pCAGGS, and COS-1 cells were then transfected with the plasmid encapsulated in cationic multilamellar liposomes. From the results of reverse transcription-PCR and cytopathic activity assay, this ORF expressed IFNβ in COS-1 cells. When the cultured cells of rat glioma cell line T9 were transfected with the plasmid, their growth was markedly suppressed due to the expression of rat IFNβ.
A new species of Cyrtodactylus from the Nicobar Islands, India

A new species of bent-toed gecko, Cyrtodactylus adleri, is described, based on seven examples from the island of Great Nicobar, India. Although reported as conspecific with C. rubidus, it can be differentiated from the Andamanese species in possessing dark spots (vs. dark bands) on the dorsum; 48-50 imbricate (vs. 38-42 juxtaposed) midventrals; six (vs. four) postnasals; two (vs. three) postcloacal tubercles; and presence of a preanal groove. In the lack of a preanal groove, imbricate ventrals, and dark spots on dorsum, the new species appears close to the poorly known Sumatran endemic, C. lateralis, from which is may be differentiated in its small body size (SVL 53.5-64.7 mm in four adult females, 61.8-68.5 mm in three adult males), dark spots on dorsum, and 48-50 midventrals.
Two new bipartite begomoviruses infecting Wissadula amplissima in Jamaica.

Begomoviruses are whitefly transmitted, single-stranded DNA viruses that infect dicotyledons (Stanley et al. , 2005). In Jamaica, the weed Wissadula amplissima is a host of the begomovirus Wissadula golden mosaic virus (WGMV)(Roye et al. , 1997). Total DNA was extracted from two W. amplissima plants (W96 and W132) showing symptoms, collected in November 2004 and February 2005 respectively. DNA-A and DNA-B amplicons of 1·4 kb were generated from these samples in PCR using primer pairs PAC1v1978/PAV1c715 and PBC1v2039/PBV1c800 for DNA-A and DNA-B respectively. These fragments were cloned and sequenced (Rojas et al. , 1993). Analysis of the intergenic region (IR) sequence, revealed that the DNAA and DNA-B clones from sample 96 (W96AT and W96BT respectively) are cognate components of a bipartite begomovirus with 94% sequence identity. Clone pW96AT (1385 nt; DQ395342) encompasses the IR and the 5 ′ ends of the replication-associated and coat protein genes, and showed the highest nucleotide sequence identity (81%) to Tomato mild yellow leaf curl Aragua virus (AY927277). Clone pW96BT, consisting of 845 nt encompassing the 5 ′ part of the nuclear shuttle protein ( NSP ) gene and IR, showed the highest identity (50%) to Macroptilium golden mosaic virus -[Jamaica: 2] (AF098939). A DNA-A sequence identity of less than 89% to reported geminiviruses suggests that this geminivirus is previously unreported and has been tentatively named Wissadula golden mosaic St. Elizabeth virus (WGMSEV). The IRs of the DNA-A and DNA-B clones from sample 132 (W132AT and W132BT) show 89% identity, suggesting that they could form an infectious unit. Clone W132AT (1384 nt, DQ395343) is most closely related (77%) to WGMV-[Jamaica:1] and Jatropha mosaic virus (JMV; AF324410), whilst W132BT (DQ395344) shows 62% identity to JMV (AF324411) over 1488 nt, encompassing the 5 ′ part of the NSP and movement protein genes and the IR. This virus was provisionally named Wissadula golden mosaic St. Thomas virus (WGMSTV). The DNA-A and DNA-B components of WGMSTV and WGMSEV show 55% and 37% identity, respectively. This is the first report of WGMSEV and WGMSTV.
NK cells of human secondary lymphoid tissues enhance T cell polarization via IFN‐γ secretion

Human secondary lymphoid tissues harbor NK cells that predominantly secrete cytokines in response to activation. Here, we demonstrate that these immunoregulatory NK cells assist in the Th1 polarization of primary immune responses, induced by dendritic cells. Tonsilar, but not peripheral blood NK cells enhanced the expansion of IFN‐γ‐producing CD4+ T cells via their superior ability to produce IFN‐γ. Addition of IFN‐γ increased Th1 polarization while antibody blocking of this cytokine abolished NK cell‐dependent Th1 polarization. Our data suggest that NK cells in secondary lymphoid organs assist priming of Th1 cells via cytokine secretion and this effect should be harnessed during vaccination against viruses and tumors.
Mixotrophy among Dinoflagellates 1

Mixotrophy, used herein for the combination of phototrophy and phagotrophy, is widespread among dinoflagellates. It occurs among most, perhaps all, of the extant orders, including the Prorocentrales, Dinophysiales. Gymnodiniales, Noctilucales, Gonyaulacales, Peridiniales, Blastodiniales. Phytodiniales, and Dinamoebales. Many cases of mixotrophy among dinoflagellates are probably undocumented. Primarily photosynthetic dinoflagellates with their “own” plastids can often supplement their nutrition by preying on other cells. Some primarily phagotrophic species are photosynthetic due to the presence of kleptochloroplasts or algal endosymbionts. Some parasitic dinoflagellates have plastids and are probably mixotrophic. For most mixotrophic dinoflagellates, the relative importance of photosynthesis, uptake of dissolved inorganic nutrients, and feeding are unknown. However, it is apparent that mixotrophy has different functions in different physiological types of dinoflagellates. Data on the simultaneous regulation of photosynthesis, assimilation of dissolved inorganic and organic nutrients, and phagotophy by environmental parameters (irradiance. availablity of dissolved nutrients, availability of prey) and by life history events are needed in order to understand the diverse roles of mixotrophy in dinoflagellates.
MOLECULAR, ENZYMATIC AND ULRASTRUCURE CHARACTERIZATION OF THE PYRENOID OF THE SCALY GREEN MONAD MICROMONAS SQUAMATA 1, 2

Pyrenoid material of micromonas squamata Manton & Parke was obtained free of cell and subcellular particle conamination by differential centrifugation of brei from osmoically lysed cells. The isolated pyrenoid particles were characterized by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of pyrenoid extracts revealed a compled polypeptide composition with major components of 12, 54 and 66 kilodalton mol wt. Whole pyrenoids possessed the enzymatic properties of ribulose diphosphate carboxylase and fixed carbon dioxide with specific activity 10 times greaer than that of a pyrenoid‐free high speed supenaant fracion of cell brei. Energy dispersive X‐ray microanalysis revealed he presence of copper in masses of cryo‐impacted pyrenoid material. Ultrastrucural cytochemistry was employed o determine he chemical nature of the reserve carbohydrate shell. Also, the pyrenoid of the intact cell was characterized by transmission electron microscopy.
Patterns in fish assemblages 25 years after major seagrass loss

Inferences about the effects of habitat loss may be derived from comparisons of differ- ent places when pre-impact data are unavailable. We compared the fish faunas of sandy substrata off beaches with and without seagrass in Cockburn Sound (Western Australia), a bay where >3000 ha of seagrass was lost from the 1950s to the 1970s, and for which there are no pre-impact data. Numbers of species and individuals varied considerably in space and time, and this variation obscured patterns that might have been associated with the presence or absence of seagrass. Multivariate tests indi- cated some significant differences in species composition between beaches with and without sea- grass; however, patterns among species were complex. Catches were strongly influenced by depth and the quantity of drifting vegetation. In general, fewer species were captured at shallower beaches. Hauls with a lot of drift captured more species, more individuals and higher biomasses of fishes that eat invertebrates and are associated with plants. When widespread seagrass loss occurs, resultant decreases in the supply of drift are likely to negatively affect densities of some fauna. We can make no firm conclusions about the effects of seagrass loss in Cockburn Sound, but suggest that declines in the production of drift have caused changes in fish assemblages.
Differences between rose cultivars in susceptibility to infection by Botrytis cinerea

Differences in the susceptibility of rose flowers to blossom blight caused by Botrytis cinerea were investigated. Rose flowers, cvs. Supra and Royalty, were inoculated with various concentrations of B. cinerea conidia and incubated in humidified chambers at 21 C. Disease severity was quantified 2 days later as the number of lesions that had developed on each flower. The slope of the inoculum concentration/disease severity (IC/DS) regression line was used as a measure of susceptibility. Supra was more susceptible than Royalty, but the susceptibility of each cultivar and the difference between them varied among sampling dates. In experiments using isolated petal disks, there was no difference between cultivars in the number of B. cinerea conidia that germinated on the petal surfaces
Atomic force microscopy of the intervessel pit membrane in the stem of Sapium sebiferum (Euphorbiacea)

Sapwood and juvenile wood of Sapium sebiferum (Euphorbiaceae) was collected during 2000 –2002. In air-dried vessel elements, the surface of pit membranes (PMs) in the outermost growth ring was coated with plaque-like or interstitial material that was 2–5 nm thick. This coating was phase dark and overlaid a phase bright layer of globules and reticulately arranged microfibrils (MFs) that was 25–50 nm thick. Beneath the reticulate layer there was another surface exposed during sectioning/fracturing. It had parallel MFs which appeared to be continuous with the middle lamella, and were also coated. The total thickness of the dried PM appeared to be in the range of 50–100 nm. Overwintering and heartwood PMs were encrusted with a non-microfibrillar layer that differed from the above mentioned coating. Prior to chemical treatment, specific dried, untreated PMs were located and then the sample was dismounted, treated with acidic H2O2, and observed after treatment so that before and after images could be compared. Treatment with acidic H2O2 removed some of the coating and greatly modified the fibrillar nature of the surface layer, but did not reduce its overall thickness. The native structure of sapwood PMs was observed in water. Non-dried PMs displayed two layers, each with a different type of surface. The outer layer was non-microfibrillar and covered the entire surface of the PM. The non-microfibrillar layer was extremely sensitive to mechanical perturbation by the AFM tip, and had phase characteristics similar to the coating of dried PMs. The underlying layer was thick and microfibrillar. The MFs in non-dried PMs were, like the dried MFs, phase bright but they were much more loosely intermeshed compared with those seen in dried materials. The measurable thickness (which does not represent the total thickness) of non-dried PMs frequently ranged from 90–225 nm, although a few 500 nm vertical features were measured.
Comment on “Epigenetic inheritance in evolution”

I have read the article by Jablonka and Lamb from the perspective of mammalian biology. The article left me partially convinced, but also confused. I think that I am justified in blaming most of my confusion on some of theirs. The authors implicitly define ‘epigenetic inheritance’ through the germline as being different from its classical genetic counterpart in that it does not involve the transmission of alternative DNA sequences. However, this simple conceptual difference becomes rapidly obscured by a certain amount of terminological inexactitude and unwarranted extrapolation. An example that illustrates some of the problem is found in the frequent references to transposable elements. It is rarely clear from the context whether their inclusion is based on the fact that suppression of transposition may be epigenetic in nature, or that the induction of novel, classical mutations at transposon insertion sites might be a response to environmental stress. In mice, there are examples of endogenous retroviral (IAP) insertions which heritably alter gene activity (Michaud et al., 1994) but, if the frequency of transposition is influenced in part by epigenetic factors, the resultant mutation at the target locus is surely a classical change in DNA sequence. In many instances it is unclear which component is under discussion. In addition, their Darwinian avowals notwithstanding, an irritating undercurrent of “Lamarckism” percolates through many of their references to possible environmental influences on mutation and inheritance. Elsewhere, transposons, slippage, gene conversion and unequal crossing over are implicated as major players in selection for “chromosome structure” do the authors mean chromatin structure, which could plausibly modify gene expression in response to transposon insertion, or the karyotype, which is unlikely to be under positive selection, or a significant influence on ontogeny (Maynard Smith and Szathmary, 1995) but might be an important factor in speciation. It is impossible to decide and therefore impossible to comment. At times the authors seem to lose the thread themselves: changes in abundance and distribution of CG sites “. may
Effect of stand age on fine-root biomass and biomass distribution in three European forest chronosequences

Fine-root (<2 mm) biomass and biomass distribution were determined in different age-classes of three European forest chronosequences dominated by Fagus sylvatica L. , Picea abies (L.) Karst. , and Quercus cerris L. , respectively. Root samples were taken with the auger method. There was a clear effect of stand age on standing fine-root biomass, with the highest fine-root biomass in adult but not mature stands. The vertical fine-root biomass distribution showed, at all sites, high densities of roots in the top soil layers and with depth a gradual decrease of fine-root biomass density. The difference in total fine-root biomass between the different age-classes appeared to be due to differences in the top soil layers. Fine-root biomass in the lower soil layers was less variable along the life cycle of the forests. Only in very young stands, specific root length of fine roots was higher than in the other age-classes. The present data together with other published values suggest that fine-root biomass in tree sta.
Tissue Response of Surface-Modified Three-Dimensional Titanium Fiber Structure

Correspondence to: Dr. Tsuyoshi Amemiya, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tsurumi University School of Dental Medicine, 2-1-3 Tsurumi, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, 230-0063 Japan; Tel. : +81-45581-1001 ext. 8332; Fax: +81-45-581-0024; E-mail: amemiyatsuyoshi@tsurumi-u.ac. jp Abstract: In the present study, tissue responses of two types of three-dimensional titanium fiber structure, namely, titanium web (TWe) and titanium wire (TWi), were evaluated for external and internal bone augmentation, respectively. TWe was produced by sintering intertwined thin titanium fibers. TWi was produced by interweaving thin titanium fibers without a sintering process. The mechanical strength was superior in TWe and the formability was superior in TWi. As surface modifications of TWe and TWi, both CA coating using a molecular precursor method and immobilization of cell-adhesive protein, collagen and fibronectin, using the tresyl chloride-activated method were employed. TWe materials were implanted under the periosteum of rat calvaria to evaluate the external bone augmentation. TWi materials were implanted into the bone defect of rabbit femoral condyle to evaluate the internal bone augmentation. After 4 and 8 weeks for rat experiments with TWe materials and 12 weeks for rabbit experiments with TWi materials, new bone formation inside the porous area of the fiber structure was histologically evaluated. The bone formation rate (BFR) and the vertical bone augmentation rate (VBR) were also histomorphometrically analyzed. BFR and VBR of CA-coated TWe and TWi were significantly higher than those of non-coated TWe and TWi, respectively, for rat external and rabbit internal bone augmentation (p<0.05). BFR of collagenor fibronectin-immobilized TWi was significantly higher than for non-coated TWi for rabbit internal bone augmentation (p<0.05), but not for rat external bone augmentation (p>0.05). In conclusion, it is suggested that surface-modified three-dimensional titanium fiber structure is a good candidate as a three-dimensional scaffold for regenerative medicine.
Pathogenesis of an Affected Organ Can Help Us to Understand Normal Organ Development *

Abstract This review discusses the pathogenesis of spina bifida and describes the microscopic appearance of the initial pathological features and their further development in the spinal cords. The embryos and fetuses were derived from pregnant mice given orally 60, 40 or 0 mg/kg of retinoic acid in olive oil on day 8 of gestation and killed one, two or 10 days later. Separation of the primary neural fold from the secondary neural tube was seen in 9‐ and 10‐day‐old embryos in which the caudal end of the neuroepithelium was disorganized and the posterior neuropore was open; underneath it, the secondary neural tissue was seen. At term, fetuses showed spina bifida, including myeloschisis, myelocele and diplo‐myelia. The cord lesions were located between the third lumbar and second coccygeal levels. Thus, the differentiation and development of the spinal cord proceeds as in chick and human embryos, and the spinal cord caudal to the third lumbar level originates from both neuroepithelium and mesenchyme‐like cells while that caudal to the third sacral level originates from mesenchyme‐like cells only.