Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Broiler chicken growth performance, ileal microbial population and serum enzyme activity affected by dietary source of non-starch polysaccharides as supplemented with or without enzymes

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different dietary source of Non-starch polysaccharides with or without enzymes on growth performance, ileal microbial population, and serum enzyme activity of broiler chickens. A total number of 625 unsexed broiler chicken (Ross-308) were randomly assigned to 5 treatments with 5 replicates and 25 birds per each unit, using a CRD statistical design. Treatments were included control, wheat (W), wheat+ enzyme (WE), barley (B), and barley+ enzyme (BE). Feed intake and body weight gain were significantly increased, as well as feed conversion ratio decreased by diets supplemented with enzymes rather diets without enzymes (P<0.05). The inclusion of W and B in diets led to significantly increased the total intestinal bacteria or gram negative and coliform bacteria as well as decreased the\number of lactic acid bacteria at 42 days of age (P<0.05). Serum enzyme activity of amylase and lipase were significantly increased after feeding chickens by diets contained W and B rather control or WE and BE at 42 days of age (P<0.05). The results of present study have shown that supplementation of W and B with enzymes completely restored the situation and neutralized the negative effects of W and B on growth performance, intestinal microbial population and serum enzyme activity of broiler chickens. Key words : broiler, enzyme activity, growth, micro biota, NSP
Determination of solvent and ratio sample-solvent towards the production of oligo-glucosamine obtained from fermented tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) shell’s chitin by using precipitation method

Chitin obtained from the fermentation of Tiger Shrimp (Penaeus monodon) shell by using Providencia stuartii could be hydrolyzed into N-acetylglucosamine and another simple compound such as oligo-glucosamine. There is a limited research study regarding the isolation of oligo-glucosamine which also have a functional property. The study aimed to determine the best polar solvent and ratio sample and solvent (1:1 and 1:2, v/v) to precipitate oligo-glucosamine with the highest concentration. The polar solvents used in this study were ethanol, acetone, acetonitrile, ethanol-acetone (1:1, v/v), ethanolacetonitrile (1:1, v/v), and acetone-acetonitrile (1:1, v/v). Moreover, the yield obtained from precipitation by using those solvents were also investigated in this study. The result showed that combination of ethanol and acetonitrile (1:1, v/v) with ratio solvent-sample 1:1 (v/v) gave the highest concentration of oligo-glucosamine. The yield obtained was 0.12% (based on the volume obtained after fermentation) or 0.09% (based on the weight of chitin used for fermentation).
Impact of habitat heterogeneity on the biodiversity and density of the zooplankton community in shallow wetlands (Upo wetlands, South Korea)

Abstract Macrophytes play a major role in the structuring of aquatic environments, and create diverse microhabitats. Therefore, these plants represent an important factor regulating the zooplankton biomass, taxonomic composition, and distribution in freshwater ecosystems. In the current study, we examined the effects of the structural heterogeneity provided by various macrophytes. We identified four habitat types in this study: (1) open water (without macrophytes), (2) the helophyte zone, (3) the pleustophyte zone, and (4) the mixed vegetation zone (containing pleustophytes, nymphaeids, and elodeids). We tested the hypothesis that complex habitat structures support large zooplankton assemblages. Specifically, we collected zooplankton samples from a total of 119 sampling points in the Upo Wetlands, South Korea, during the spring and autumn of 2009. The largest zooplankton assemblage was found in the mixed macrophyte zone, followed by the helophyte and pleustophyte zones. The pleustophyte zone supported larger zooplankton assemblages during autumn compared to spring. Differences in zooplankton assemblages were considered to be strongly related to seasonal variation in the development and growth of pleustophytes. However, two-way ANOVA revealed that seasons had no significant influence on the zooplankton density and diversity. Instead, different habitat types substantially determined zooplankton characteristics. In conclusion, we demonstrated that wetland areas with high macrophyte species diversity contribute toward higher zooplankton diversity.
Desiccation survival times in different desiccation-tolerant plants

There is not exact information on the longevity of the desiccated period after what the desiccation tolerant plants can recover their photosynthetic structure and function. Generally, the longer the period spent in a desiccated state the less is the potential to full metabolic recovery. We know just that vascular DT-s can survive longer desiccated periods than cryptogams. Therefore, in the case of three cryptogam DT species: the moss Tortula ruralis, and the lichens Cladonia convoluta, and C. furcata, and two vascular monocotyledonous DT species: Xerophyta scabrida, and Coleochloa microcephala were examined the recovery of their net CO2 assimilation during rehydration (following stored in dry stage for different lengths). According to our results the cryptogams were able to recover their photosynthetic activity just after 4 months or less, while the leaves of X. scabrida and C. microcephala remained able to revive after 2-11 years of desiccation. Acta Biol Szeged 46(3-4):231-233 (2002)
Predators in Higher Trophic Levels Affect Selection on Floral Traits by Altering Plant-Pollinator Interactions

Amanda Decker Benoit Advisor: University of Guelph, 2016 Professor Christina M. Caruso Interactions between plants and pollinators generate selection on floral traits. These interactions, and the resulting selection, may be affected by predators in higher trophic levels that consume and alter the behavior of pollinators. The effect of predators on selection on floral traits should depend on the predator’s hunting-mode. I examined the effects of active-pursuit predators (dragonflies) and sit-and-wait predators (ambush bugs) on selection on floral traits of the bumblebee-pollinated wildflower Lobelia siphilitica. Contrary to my predictions, I found that while selection did differ between dragonfly treatments, it was not caused by decreased plantpollinator interaction strength. Consistent with my predictions, I found that ambush bugs prefer plants with larger daily displays, and significantly decrease the strength of selection on daily display size. My results suggest that predators in higher trophic levels may be an underappreciated cause of selection on plant traits.
Biochemical Determinants of Methanol Developmental Toxicity in Rabbits

The teratogenic potential of methanol (MeOH) in New Zealand white (NZW) rabbits was examined, with emphasis on the biochemical basis for species differences in susceptibility. A comparison of MeOH and formic acid (FA) elimination profiles was first carried out in NZW rabbits, CD-1 mice and cynomolgus monkeys to evaluate the relationship between MeOH metabolism and its teratogenic potential, and to provide a more accurate assessment of human developmental risk than is currently available. Rabbits and the C3H mouse strain were resistant to MeOH-associated external birth defects, whereas CD-1 and C57BL/6 mice were susceptible. Rabbits were similarly resistant to the entire sprectrum of MeOH-initiated skeletal anomalies found in rodents, but exhibited a novel skeletal defect, notably a decrease in post-lumbar vertebrae, which is not found in rodents. MeOH and FA pharmacokinetics were comparable between susceptible and resistant mouse strains, yet different between resistant rabbits and mice, indicating that adult pharmacokinetics cannot explain strain and species differences in susceptibility to MeOH teratogenicity. Catalase and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH1) activity
Ecological preferences of freshwater Ulva flexuosa (Ulvales; Ulvophyceae): development of macroalgal mats in a Tulce fishpond (Wielkopolska Region, Poland)

Abstract Research on the diversity of thalli and mats built by freshwater Ulva flexuosa, as well as the impact of abiotic factors on the development and distribution of Ulva mats, was conducted from May to August 2013. The study describes the dynamics of “green tides” formation by U. flexuosa. The study assessed abiotic factors that may influence the colonization and the growth of Ulva populations in freshwater systems. The results are of major importance to the trade and industry sectors. In total, eleven environmental parameters were included in the analysis. The most important environmental parameters characterizing the Ulva sites are sodium chloride levels and conductivity. High values of pH inhibited the development of Ulva, leading to a lower percentage of mature thalli in the mats. The water depth was positively correlated with an increase in the density of thalli in the mats and the average thallus length. Significant differences were identified between the concentrations of nitrates under and outside the Ulva mats. Concentrations of nitrate under the Ulva thalli were always lower.
How fishes find the shore: evidence for orientation to bathymetry from the non-homing sea lamprey

Orientation to a shoreline is the critical first step for aquatic organisms that navigate to coastal waters, estuaries, and rivers to feed or reproduce. Most studies of animal migration have focused on homing-based navigation while non-homing navigation is poorly understood. We quantified the navigation behavior of sea lamprey during their non-homing return migration to a coastline in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Acoustically tagged sea lamprey were displaced 3.3 km from shore into the center of an acoustic listening array that provided high-resolution (30 s intervals, <5 m accuracy) three-dimensional paths. Eighty-one percent of individuals arrived at the nearest coast by moving towards shallower water. A biphasic sequence of movement was documented for most individuals, a more tortuous movement closer to the bottom associated with orientation, and a faster more linear movement we associate with directed search. Sea lamprey oriented to shallow water even when that was not the shoreward direction, and did .
Observed and predicted effects of climate change on Arctic caribou and reindeer

The ability of many species to adapt to the shifting environmental conditions associated with climate change will be a key determinant of their persistence in the coming decades. This is a challenge already faced by species in the Arctic, where rapid environmental change is well underway. Caribou and reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) play a key role in Arctic ecosystems and provide irreplaceable socioeconomic value to many northern peoples. Recent decades have seen declines in many Rangifer populations, and there is strong concern that climate change is threatening the viability of this iconic Arctic species. We examine the literature to provide a thorough and full consideration of the many environmental factors that limit caribou and reindeer populations, and how these might be affected by a warming climate. Our review suggests that the response of Rangifer populations to climate change is, and will continue to be, varied in large part to their broad circumpolar distribution. While caribou and reindeer could .
The use of certain medicinal plant extracts reduced in vitro methane production while improving in vitro organic matter digestibility

Some medicinal plants have the tendency to manipulate the rumen microbial ecosystem, which in turn might reduce methane (CH4) emissions. The anti-methanogenic activities of leaf fraction of Piper betle, Aloe vera, Carica papaya, Azadirachta indica, Moringa oleifera, Tithonia diversifolia, Jatropha curcas and Moringa oleifera pods were studied at different doses. The plant materials were extracted with pure methanol and subsequently reconstituted at the rate of 25, 50, 75 and 100 mg in 1000 mL distilled water. Four mL of each plant extracts preparation was anaerobically incubated with 400 mg Eragrostis curvula hay in four replicates and the experiment was repeated five times. Plant extracts of P. betle and A. vera significantly increased total gas produced whereas other extracts recorded lesser or similar values to the control group. Leaf extracts of A. indica, C. papaya, J. curcas, M. oleifera, T. diversifolia and M. oleifera pods all significantly reduced CH4 volume at dosages of 25 and 50 mg/L due to the activities of their phytochemicals. Total volatile fatty acids and in vitro organic matter digestibility values recorded for all extracts were generally superior when compared with the control. Methane yield per unit of total gas were significantly lower in extracts of T. diversifolia, M. oleifera, A. indica, M. oleifera pods whereas it is higher in P. betle and A. vera. It can be concluded from the study that methanolic extracts of A. indica, C. papaya, J. curcas, M. oleifera, M. oleifera pods and T. diversifolia resulted in reduced CH4 production, and thus can be used potentially to manipulate rumen condition, improve feed digestibility and reduce enteric CH4 emission from ruminants. However, the in vitro results needs to be verified using in vivo studies by administering concentrated crude extracts at a rate of 25 mg or 50 mg per kg of roughage feed for small ruminants.
Shareholder Activism Through Proxy Proposals: The European Perspective

This paper is the first to investigate the corporate governance role of shareholderinitiated proxy proposals in European firms. While proposals in the US are nonbinding even if they pass the shareholder vote, they are legally binding in the UK and most of Continental Europe. Nonetheless, submissions remain relatively infrequent in Continental Europe in particular, with major variations across countries in ownership structures, monitoring incentives, and the laws and regulations governing shareholder access to the proxy. We use sample selection models to analyze target selection and proposal success in terms of the voting outcomes and the stock price effects, and make several contributions to the literature. First, proposal submissions remain infrequent compared to the US in Continental Europe in particular. In the UK proposals typically relate to a proxy contest seeking board changes, while in Continental Europe they are more focused on specific governance issues. Second, there is some evidence that the proposal sponsors are valuable monitors, because the target firms tend to underperform and have low leverage. The sponsors also observe the identity of the voting shareholders, because proposal probability increases in the target’s ownership concentration and the equity stake of institutional investors. Third, while proposals enjoy limited voting success across Europe, they are relatively more successful in the UK. The outcomes are strongest for proposals targeting the board but are also affected by the target characteristics including the CEO’s pay-performance sensitivity. Finally, proposals are met with strong negative stock price effects when they are voted upon at general meetings. This suggests that rather than attribute them control benefits, the market often interprets proposals and their failure to pass the vote as a negative signal of governance concerns. Indeed, the market responds better to proposals submitted against large firms with low leverage, which is consistent with agency considerations. However, the stock price effects are most negative for poorly performing firms with low market-to-book ratios, which implies that the proposal outcomes only intensify the market’s concerns over firms that have previously underperformed.
Métodos químico e físico de indução à triploidia em Crassostrea gigas(Thunberg, 1793)

Three methods of triploidy (3N) induction were tested in diploid (2N) oysters Crassostrea gigas: two chemical methods cytochalasin-B (CB) and 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP), and one physical method with temperature shock. The objective was to evaluate the triploidy induction technology using flow cytometry as a tool to check the results of induction. The experiments were performed in separate and a seawater temperature in the tanks was maintained at 25 °C for all experiments. In the experiment I, the efficacy of triploidy induction was evaluated using CB (0.5 mg L-1) and 6-DMAP (390 μmols L-1). In the experiment II, the efficiency of triploidy induction was tested using CB (0.5 mg L-1) and 6-DMAP (450 μmols L-1). In the experiment III, the efficiency of triploidy induction was evaluated using CB (0.5 mg L-1) and temperature shock (25 to 36 °C). In all three experiments, viable triploid larvae were obtained. However, in the experiments I and II (with chemical methods), high mortality of larvae was observed, especially for the treatment CB. From these results, it is suggested the replacement of CB by other methods of triploidy induction, due to its high cost and high toxicity to humans and to the environment.
Response of broiler chicks to non‐steam‐ or steam‐pelleted diets containing raw, full‐fat soybean meal

&NA; The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of steam pelleting of diets containing graded levels of raw, full‐fat soybean meal (RSBM) on the chemical properties and feeding values of the diets. Samples of diets with steam‐ or non‐steam‐pelleted as well as the mash containing varying levels of RSBM were subjected to detailed chemical analysis. As a result of this study, trypsin inhibitor (TI) concentrations in the diets ranged between 4,153 and 10,484 TIU/g. Amino acid concentrations were higher in the non‐steam‐pelleted and mash diets than the steam‐pelleted diets. A 4 × 2 factorial arrangement (RSBM: zero, 10, 20 or 30%, equivalent to zero, 30, 60, and 90 g/kg of diet, respectively, and non‐steam‐ or steam‐pelleted diets) was used while feeding broiler chicks (zero to 14 d of age). Each treatment was replicated 6 times with 8 birds per replicate. As a result of this study, there was no difference (P > 0.05) in mortality of birds among the groups. Feed intake (FI) (P < 0.05) and body weight gain (BWG) (P < 0.001) decreased with increasing levels of RSBM. Birds fed on steam‐pelleted diets gained less (P < 0.001) weight than birds on the non‐steam‐pelleted diets, but the FI was not significantly (P > 0.05) different. The FCR was negatively affected (P < 0.05) by increasing levels of RSBM. There was no interaction effect between RSBM and pelleting method on the FI, BWG, or FCR of birds. The weight of the pancreas (P < 0.001) and duodenum (P < 0.01) increased with a rise in the level of RSBM in diets. Non‐steam pelleting increased (P < 0.05) the pancreatic protein content, whereas the activity of chymotrypsin was reduced (P < 0.01) when the RSBM level was increased. Birds fed with RSBM‐free diets had thicker muscle, longer villi, wider villus surface area, and higher villus to crypt depth ratios than birds on the other diets, but these differences were not significant. It can be concluded that steam pelleting of diets containing RSBM is inadequate to reduce the adverse impact of TI on chicks.
Studie přirozeného výskytu degradérů syntetických polymerů

The thesis describes the process of cultivation, isolation and identification of mi-croorganisms that are able to degrade PBAT in soil samples from around Zlin. Cultivation of degraders was carried out at 58 ° C for 7 days. Also other microorganisms grew on culture media with PBAT micro-particles, but the aim was to choose and isolate microorgan-isms were bright zones around their colonies indicated the polymer degradation. Isolation of DNA was performed by chloroform/isoamyl alcohol (24: 1) method. DGGE method was used for the identification of mixed microbial consortia that degrade the polyester. In this work as a frequent degrading organism thermophilic actinomycete Thermobispora bispora was identified. Further, microorganisms have been identified in the degradation consortia e.g. Paenibacillus sp. , Thermobacillus sp, Bacillus alveayuensis, Aeribacillus sp. Geobacillus sp. This work shows that in natural soil environment PBAT degraders can be found and are quite ubiquitous.
Reputation System and Incentive Mechanism to Handle The Malicious Peers and Free-riders in Peer-to-Peer Networks

- The open and anonymous environment of peer-to-peer (P2P) networks gives an opportunity to everyone to interact with the others; at the same time it brings new security threats. The malicious peers or the peers having conflict of interest can easily put inauthentic contents in the network. This can easily sabotage the system. Further, lack of central control leads to the problem of free-riding, i.e., peers download the resources without contributing anything back to the network. This leads the large difference between amount of upload and download of resources in the peers. In such a situation, downloading speed for non-free-riders becomes very slow. The implementation of reputation system and incentive mechanism have been proposed by many authors in past to resolve this problem. In this paper we will discuss some popular reputation systems and incentive mechanisms.
Mapping moves on Arabidopsis : from natural variation to single genes affecting aphid behaviour

Association mapping is rapidly becoming an important method to explore the genetic architecture of complex traits in plants, and offers unique opportunities for studying resistance to insect herbivores. Recent studies indicate that there is a trade-off between resistance against generalist and specialist insects. Most studies, however, use a targeted approach that will easily miss important components of insect resistance. Genome-wide association mapping provides a comprehensive approach to explore the whole array of plant defense mechanisms in the context of the generalist-specialist paradigm. As association mapping involves the screening of large numbers of plant lines, specific and accurate High-Throughput Phenotyping (HTP) methods are needed. Here, we discuss the prospects of association mapping for insect resistance and HTP requirements. Enhancing host-plant resistance against generalist and specialist insects Host-plant resistance is one of the cornerstones of environmentally benign pest management systems (Panda and Khush, 1995; Schoonhoven et al., 2005). Devastating pests and diseases only rarely occur in nature, which is due to the tremendous degree of natural variation in plant defense mechanisms (Alonso-Blanco and Koornneef, 2000; Anderson and Mitchell-Olds, 2011). Only a relatively small degree of such variation is contained in cultivated crop populations (Gols et al., 2008), but wild populations provide ample opportunities for discovering novel mechanisms responsible for resistance to insects. A wide range of resistance mechanisms against herbivorous insects has been described (Panda and Khush, 1995; Schoonhoven et al., 2005), and the impact of mechanisms depends on the characteristics of the herbivore, such as insect diet breadth (Mewis et al., 2006; Rohr et al., 2011). Although specialist insects, feeding on one or a few plant species within one family, are considered to be resistant to toxic compounds of their host (Karban and Agrawal, 2002), generalist insects are thought to thrive on a wider range of hosts with relatively low levels of allelochemicals (Loxdale et al., 2011; Price et al., 2011). Toxins, however, affect the performance of specialists as well (Vandenborre et al., 2010), and generalists can cope with variable levels of secondary metabolites (Loxdale et al., 2011), implying a more complex relationship between insect host range and plant defense. More insight into plant defenses against specialist and generalist insects is needed to understand how plants deal with herbivorous insects that differ in the degree of specialization and to improve host-plant resistance of economically important crops against insect pests. Most studies have addressed this topic with a targeted approach, focusing on only one or a few types of secondary