Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Multi-Enzyme Mixtures on Performance and Nutrient Utilization in Broilers Fed Diets Containing Different Types of Cereals and Industrial By-Products

The effect of 3 multi-enzyme mixtures (MEM), A, B and C, having equivalent phytase activities but with different activities of carbohydrases (except invertase) and protease on growth performance and nutrient utilization in broiler chickens fed diets containing different types of cereals and industrial by-products was investigated. Day-old broiler chicks (N=400) were distributed in a completely randomized design, with 8 treatments of 10 replicates each. Two control diets, one consisted of wheat, corn, soybean meal, canola meal and wheat-corn distillers dried grains with solubles (WCS), and one with sorghum, cottonseed meal, sunflower meal and brewer's dried grains (SCS) were formulated and fed to birds without or with one of the 3 MEM. Feed intake (FI) and body weight gain (BWG) were determined weekly. On day 20 excreta samples were collected for determination of total tract apparent retention (TTAR) of nutrients and nitrogen corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn). On day 22, eight birds per treatment were killed by cervical dislocation to collect jejunal and ileal digesta for determination of viscosity and apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of nutrients, respectively. Diet and enzyme interactions were only detected for overall feed conversion ratio (FCR, P < 0.001) with MEM B and MEM C shown to reduce overall FCR in birds offered SCS and WCS diets, respectively. Most observed differences were due to diet type showing that birds offered WCS diets had higher FI (P < 0.0001) and BWG (P < 0.0001) throughout the experiment, higher wk 1 FCR (P < 0.0001), higher AMEn (P < 0.0001) and TTAR of P (P < 0.0001) and NDF (P < 0.0001) compared with SCS diets. In conclusion, the MEM did not affect growth performance and nutrient utilization though MEM B and MEM C acted differently to reduce overall FCR in birds offered SCS and WCS diets, respectively.
Non-flying mammals of Chapada Diamantina (Bahia, Brazil)

Chapada Diamantina is located in central Bahia state, and has a large diversity of habitats, including important transitional areas, but has remained largely unstudied until now. In the present study we list the non-flying mammals of Chapada Diamantina National Park and surroundings. We captured only small non-volant mammals, medium and large mammals were assessed through indirect evidences (tracks and marks) and interviews. We recorded 58 species and 47 genera from seven Mammalian orders. Seven species are included in the list of endangered Brazilian species by IBAMA and IUCN; and other seven are classified as data-deficient. Species richness of small mammals was equivalent among sampled habitats, but species composition varied among habitats (10 in semi-deciduous forest, 9 in rocky savanna and 8 in cerrado sensu stricto), as some species are restricted by humidity to forest habitats. During four different samplings, eight species were collected only in open vegetation, four only in forests, and six in both habitats. Oligoryzomys rupestris and Gracilinanus microtarsus had its geographic range expanded. Faunal composition is similar to the one observed in the Atlantic Forest, including species from Cerrado and Caatinga. Besides, some species occupy different habitats from those previously ascribed to them.
THE ROLE OF EPITHELIAL β-DEFENSINS AND CATHELICIDINS IN HOST DEFENSE OF THE LUNG

The continuous exposure of the epithelial surface of the conducting airways to inhaled pathogens requires the presence of an efficient innate immune system to prevent infections. The innate immune system of the lung provides protection against a broad spectrum of microbial threats through a variety of effector mechanisms. The antimicrobial peptides and proteins form important elements of this defence system in the lung. Defensins and cathelicidins are the main families of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that are present in airway secretions and that are expressed by the airway epithelium. Expression and release of these small (3–5 kDa) cationic peptides is regulated by exposure of epithelial cells to a wide variety of substances, including microbial products, cytokines and growth factors. More recently, also active vitamin D3 has been implicated as a major regulator of AMPs expression. AMPs contribute to host defence through direct antimicrobial activity, as well as by modulating innate and adaptive immunity, and wound repair. Novel insight into the mechanism of action of these peptides and the regulation of their expression may lead to innovative approaches for treatment of infectious and inflammatory lung disorders.
Filtration rates in the soft clam Mya arenaria: effects of temperature and body size

The filtration rate of the soft clam Mya arenaria was measured as the volume of water cleared of algal cells (Rhodomonas sp.) in two ways, by means of the clearance method and the suction method. Both methods allow measurements on undisturbed clams buried in the sediment. The filtration rate (F, ml min individual ) of Mya arenaria as a function of temperature (T, °C) could be expressed as: F = 1.78T + 13.35 in the temperature‐tolerance interval of 4–22 °C where the opening state of the siphons remain unchanged. After a 22 day exposure period to a lower constant temperature of 14 °C, the filtration rate was subsequently measured as a function of temperature and expressed as: F = 2.19T + 29.15. Based on the slopes of the regression lines as well as on the observed linear increase in filtration rate during the acclimation period (mainly due to growth), it is concluded that only minor, or possibly no, temperature acclimation may take place in soft clams (and presumably other bivalves). The filtration rate (F, l h ; 11 °C) as a function of dry weight of soft parts (W, g) and shell length (L, mm) could be described by means of the allometric equations: F = 4.76 W and F = 0.0007L .
Effect of Naked Neck Gene on Immune Competence, Serum Biochemical and Carcass Traits in Chickens under a Tropical Climate

A comprehensive study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of naked neck (Na) gene on immune competence, serum biochemical parameters and carcass quality traits in three genotypes (NaNa, Nana and nana) of the naked neck chicken under a tropical climate (Southern India). Sixty day-old chicks (20 from each genotype) were selected randomly and reared under similar environmental conditions up to eight weeks of age. The cell mediated immune (CMI) response to phytohaemoagglutinin-P (PHA-P) was significantly higher (p≤0.01) in NaNa and Nana genotypes compared to nana birds. The humoral response as measured by antibody titre to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) was also significantly higher in NaNa. The total cholesterol, LDL and VLDL cholesterol levels were significantly (p≤0.01) lower whereas HDL cholesterol level was significantly higher in NaNa and Nana compared to nana genotype. The presence of Na allele significantly increased the live weight and dressing yield, and decreased the feather cover and abdominal fat. The naked neck genotypes (NaNa/Nana) performed better than the normal (nana) siblings for almost all the traits studied.
Predicting Climate Change Impacts to the Canadian Boreal Forest

Climate change is expected to alter temperature, precipitation, and seasonality with potentially acute impacts on Canada’s boreal. In this research we predicted future spatial distributions of biodiversity in Canada’s boreal for 2020, 2050, and 2080 using indirect indicators derived from remote sensing and based on vegetation productivity. Vegetation productivity indices, representing annual amounts and variability of greenness, have been shown to relate to tree and wildlife richness in Canada’s boreal. Relationships between historical satellite-derived productivity and climate data were applied to modelled scenarios of future climate to predict and map potential future vegetation productivity for 592 regions across Canada. Results indicated that the pattern of vegetation productivity will become more homogenous, particularly west of Hudson Bay. We expect climate change to impact biodiversity along north/south gradients and by 2080 vegetation distributions will be dominated by processes of seasonality in the north and a combination of cumulative greenness and minimum cover in the south. The Hudson Plains, which host the world’s largest and most contiguous wetland, are predicted to experience less seasonality and more greenness. The spatial distribution of predicted trends in vegetation productivity was emphasized over absolute values, in order to support regional biodiversity assessments and conservation planning.
Missing Mammals on Great Basin Mountains: Holocene Extinctions and Inadequate Knowledge

The discontinuous distribution of boreal mammals across Great Basin mountains has provided a significant body of data for the analysis of biogeographic patterns in isolated populations of small mammals. Such use assumes that species unreported from particular ranges do not, in fact, occur there. Data from the Roberts and Diamond mountains (central Nevada) demonstrate that this assumption is incorrect. The new distributional records from these ranges further decrease the slope of the log species—log area relationship for Great Basin boreal mammals, but increase the nestedness of the montane faunas involved. These data underscore the need for more-thorough assessments of the mammalian faunas of Great Basin mountains, but they also suggest that extinction of boreal mammals on these mountains is even more predictable than has appeared in the past. La distribucion discontinua de mamiferos boreales a traves de las montanas de la Gran Cuenca ha proporcionado un significativo cuerpo de datos para el analisis de los patrones biogeograficos en poblaciones aisladas de pequenos mamiferos. Esta aplicacion asume que las especies no reportadas en ciertas areas no han, de hecho, ocurrido alli. Datos obtenidos en las montanas Roberts y Diamond (Nevada central) demostraron que esta suposicion es incorrecta. Los nuevos registros de distribucion de estas areas decrecen aun mas la pendiente de la relacion log especies—log area para los mamiferos de las montanas de la Gran Cuenca, pero incrementan la inclusion (nestedness) de la fauna de montana involucrada. Estos datos subestiman la necesidad de una mayor evaluacion de la fauna de mamiferos de las montanas de la Gran Cuenca, pero tambien sugieren que la extincion de los mamiferos boreales en estas montanas es todavia mucho mas predecible de lo que parecia en el pasado.
Strain specific differences in ribosomal DNA from the ectomycorrhizal fungi Laccaria bicolor (Maire) Orton and Laccaria laccata (Scop ex Fr) Br

Summary — The restriction fragment length polymorphism patterns of the ribosomal RNA genes of 14 isolates belonging to various ectomycorrhizal fungus species including the related basidiomycetous ectomycorrhizal fungi Laccaria laccata (Scop ex Fr) Br and Laccaria bicolor (Maire) Orton have been determined. The isolates were obtained from various geographical sources in France, the United Kingdom and North America. Total DNA of vegetative mycelium was cleaved with a series of restriction enzymes, electrophoretically separated and probed with radiolabelled rDNA gene from Coprinus cinereus (Schaeff: Fr) SF Gray. Results indicate that isolates belonging to different species had different restriction enzyme sites in the rDNA. Although distinct patterns were observed within species, a core of common bands could be discerned within each species. Since various patterns were observed within L bicolor and L laccata, rRNA gene restriction patterns may have epidemiological as well as taxonomic interest.
Probability Density Functions Describing 24-Hour Inhalation Rates For Use in Human Health Risk Assessments

A Monte Carlo simulation was undertaken to estimate the amount of air inhaled over a typical 24-hour period by six age groups of Canadians. The objective of the simulation was to derive probability density functions that could be used to describe inhalation rates in probabilistic health risk assessments involving airborne contaminants. The six age groups considered were those typically employed in human health risk assessments in Canada: infants (aged 0 to 6 months), toddlers (aged 7 months to 4 years), children (aged 5 to 11 years), teenagers (aged 12 to 19 years), adults (aged 20 to 59 years), and seniors (aged 60 years and older). The resulting distributions are considered equally applicable to Americans as Canadians, however, since the study relied heavily on time-activity information gathered in the USA. Existing time-activity and breathing rate studies were reviewed in order to define random variables describing probable durations that North Americans spend at various levels of activity and their pr.
Epihytic populations of Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria and bacterial spot of tomato as influenced by nitrogen and potassium fertilization

Epiphytic populations of Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria were monitored weekly on tomato plants supplied through drip irrigation with combinations of two rates of NH 4 NO 3 and three rates of KCl. Bacterial populations and the percentage of defoliation were then related, through a repeated measures analysis of variance, to fertilization and soil salinity and also were correlated with the mineral content of leaves (.)
High resilience of two coastal plankton communities to twenty-first century seawater acidification: Evidence from microcosm studies

Abstract Increased free CO2 and ocean acidification are among the consequences of anthropogenic carbon emissions. Responses of marine protists to increased levels of CO2 are highly species-specific, and this has been suggested to cause an alteration in plankton species composition, community functions and ultimately biogeochemical cycles. This study aims to test this by performing microcosm incubation experiments at present (pH 8.0) and at three lowered pH levels (pH 7.8, 7.6 and 6.0), corresponding to free CO2 concentrations of 24, 38, 58 & 610 µmol l−1, respectively. Results from two such experiments are reported, and measurements include microscopy counts of ~20 planktonic protist taxa, HPLC pigment analysis, FlowCAM analysis of cell-size spectra, photosynthetic activity and total POC and PON. Initial communities were flagellate (experiment 1) and dinoflagellate and ciliate (experiment 2) dominated, but at pH 8.0, 7.8 and 7.6 a diatom dominance developed during the first days in both experiments. Profound changes in all measured parameters were found as a result of the pH 6.0 treatment, but among the other three pH treatments significant differences were few; Karlodinium spp. was the only taxon to be affected significantly, and plankton group composition, cell sizes and photosynthetic activity all remained unaffected during the 14-day incubation periods. Thus, both of the investigated coastal plankton communities were unaffected by twenty-first century expected changes in pH and free CO2. This may be explained by the large seasonal, and even daily, changes in pH seen in productive marine ecosystems, and the corresponding need for algae to be pH-tolerant.
Effect of soybean roasting and monensin on microbial protein synthesis, ruminal parameters and plasma metabolites of lactating dairy cows

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of inclusion of roasted whole soybean seed and monensin (MO) in the diets of lactating dairy cows on plasma metabolites, ruminal parameters, and microbial protein synthesised in the rumen. Four multiparous Holstein lactating dairy cows (third parity; 656 ± 55 kg of liveweight; 83 ± 10 days in milk; 35 ± 4 kg/day milk yield) were assigned to a balanced 4 × 4 Latin square design. Each experimental period lasted 21 days with 14 days of treatment adaptation and 7 days of data collection. The control diet (C) was a total mixed ration consisting of 40% forage and 60% concentrate mixture on a dry matter (DM) basis. These cows were randomly assigned to one of the four dietary treatments. The first treatment was the C diet of unprocessed whole soybean seed, second was the C diet supplemented with 24 mg of MO/kg of DM (M), the third was roasted whole soybean seed (R) and the fourth treatment was R diet supplemented with 24 mg of MO/kg of DM (RM). Urinary excretion of creatinine and purine derivatives, microbial protein synthesised in the rumen, rumen pH and rumen concentrations of volatile fatty acids and ammonia were similar among the dietary treatments (P > 0.05). Orthogonal contrasts showed that the rumen concentration of acetate was lower in MO-supplemented cows than non-supplemented cows (P 0.05). Plasma concentration of urea was significantly lower in cows fed with the RM diet compared with cows fed the C and M diets (P < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary treatments had no effect on microbial protein synthesised in the rumen, plasma metabolites (except for plasma concentration of urea) and ruminal parameters of dairy cows.
Biochemical Values in the Blood Serum of Zebras Kept in the East-Bohemian Zoological Garden at Dvůr Králové nad Labem

Biochemical values of the blood serum of 4 northern European lynxes /Lynx lynx lynx/, 3 mountain lions /Puma concolor missolensis/, a male leopard /Panthera pardus saxicolor/, a female Corbett's tiger /Panthera tigris Corbetti/, a male Al thaic tiger /Panthera tigris Altaica/, 5 jaguars /Pantheraonca/, 41ions /Panthera leo leo/ and 8 cheetahs /Acinonyx jubatus jubatus/ are reported . The values include total bilirubin, protein, glucose, creatinine, urea, total li. pid, triglycerides, cholesterol, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, chlorides, sodium, potassium, copper, zinc and iron concentrat­ ion and alkaline phosphatase, ALT and AST aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase activity. Lion, lynx, jaguar, cheetah, leopard, tiger.
Reproductive ecology and inbreeding depression in Opuntia rastrera (Cactaceae) in the Chihuahuan Desert : why are sexually derived recruitments so rare?

We evaluated the influence of the reproductive ecology on low recruitment of sexually derived progeny observed in Opuntia rastrera Weber in the Southern Chihuahuan Desert, in two vegetation types. The flowers are diurnal, remaining open 9-10 hr. Pollen is released in the morning and at the same time the stigmas become receptive. Nectar is produced all day, but the production rate is higher at noon. The flowers are visited by insects, mainly solitary bees (Diadasia sp. and Lithurge sp.). Floral characteristics and the pollen/ovule ratio suggest that Opuntia rastrera is a facultative xenogamous species. Controlled pollinations indicate that it is not apomictic and pollinators are required to set fruit; it is also selfcompatible, but there is strong inbreeding depression for fruit set. However, we were unable to demonstrate differences in reproductive characters between the populations in both vegetation types. The average density of adults per hectare was one order of magnitude higher in the nopalera (Opuntia-dominated scrublands) than in the grassland. However, the average density of plants that originated from seeds was one order of magnitude lower in the nopalera. Opuntia rastrera produces abundant flowers, fruits, and seeds in both vegetation types in natural conditions. The low success in the recruitment of new genets cannot be ascribed to the reproductive ecology.
Habituating the great apes: the disease risks

All six great apes, gorillas Gorilla gorilla and G. beringei, chimpanzees Pan troglodytes and P. paniscus, and orang-utans Pongo pygmaeus and P. abelii, are categorized as Endangered on the 2000 IUCN Red List and face many threats to their continued existence in the wild. These threats include loss of habitat to settlement, logging and agriculture, illegal hunting for bushmeat and traditional medicine, the live ape trade, civil unrest and infectious diseases. The great apes are highly susceptible to many human diseases, some of which can be fatal while others can cause marked morbidity. There is increasing evidence that diseases can be transmitted from humans to free-living habituated apes, sometimes with serious consequences. If protective measures are not improved, ape populations that are frequently in close contact with people will eventually be affected by the inadvertent transmission of human diseases. This paper describes the risks, sources and circumstances of infectious disease transmission from humans to great apes during and consequent upon habituation for tourism and research. A major problem is that the regulations that protect habituated apes from the transmission of disease from people are often poorly enforced. Suggestions are made for improving the enforcement of existing regulations governing ape-based tourism, and for minimizing the risk of disease transmission between humans, both local people and international visitors, and the great apes.
Error Awareness and Salience Processing in the Oddball Task: Shared Neural Mechanisms

A body of work suggests similarities in the way we become aware of an error and process motivationally salient events. Yet, evidence for a shared neural mechanism has not been provided. A within subject investigation of the brain regions involved in error awareness and salience processing has not been reported. While the neural response to motivationally salient events is classically studied during target detection after longer target-to-target intervals in an oddball task and engages a widespread insula-thalamo-cortical brain network, error awareness has recently been linked to, most prominently, anterior insula cortex. Here we explore whether the anterior insula activation for error awareness is related to salience processing, by testing for activation overlap in subjects undergoing two different task settings. Using a within subjects design, we show activation overlap in six major brain areas during aware errors in an antisaccade task and during target detection after longer target-to-target intervals in an oddball task: anterior insula, anterior cingulate, supplementary motor area, thalamus, brainstem, and parietal lobe. Within subject analyses shows that the insula is engaged in both error awareness and the processing of salience, and that the anterior insula is more involved in both processes than the posterior insula. The results of a fine-grained spatial pattern overlap analysis between active clusters in the same subjects indicates that even if the anterior insula is activated for both error awareness and salience processing, the two types of processes might tend to activate non-identical neural ensembles on a finer-grained spatial level. Together, these outcomes suggest a similar functional phenomenon in the two different task settings. Error awareness and salience processing share a functional anatomy, with a tendency toward subregional dorsal and ventral specialization within the anterior insula.
Population Ecology of the Intertidal Anemone Actinia tenebrosa I. Pedal Locomotion and Intraspecific Aggression

Some 80 adult and over 250 juvenile A. tenebrosa, the total natural population on 2.5 m² of a stable rock substratum, were tracked for up to 738 days. In this period 24% of adults and 10% of juveniles moved > 250 mm, Some adults and many juveniles showed no discernible locomotion at all, although most juveniles survived less than 20 days. Large, directed movements of up to 1.6 m were sometimes associated with such external factors as impact injuries from moving rocks or logs, physical shocks, repeated desiccation, interference from molluscs, or wounding from intraspecific aggression. Acrorhagi are the nematocyst-bearing structures, present in most A. tenebrosa larger than about 10 mm column diameter, which are used in intraspecific conflicts. Some 44 % of adults were involved in fights with other adults over the 2 years of observations. None of those fights was fatal. Contact of two adult A. tenebrosa did not always result in an aggressive conflict, but after intraspecific aggression, in both field and laboratory situations, the wounded anemone moved directly away from the site of wounding.