bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Degradation of endosperm mRNAs during dry afterripening of cereal grains
Authors: Johnson Russell R. , Dyer William E. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractThe endosperm of dormant wild oat (Avena fatuaL.) grains contains a number of mRNAs, including low levels of transcripts encoding avenin (AV10), puroindoline-like (AV1) and serine proteinase inhibitor-like (Z1) proteins. During dry afterripening, a period of warm dry storage that relieves dormancy, the abundance of these intact transcripts gradually declined to undetectable levels in pooled grain samples. In contrast, the three mRNAs did not decline in grains stored for the same period at −20°C, and levels of mRNA decay products derived from these transcripts did not change during afterripening. Disappearance of the three intact mRNAs was not a general phenomenon, since abundance of more than 5000 other seed mRNAs did not change during this period. Additional experiments were conducted to test the idea that the presence of these transcripts was positively correlated with seed dormancy status. First, the rate of intactZ1mRNA decline was similar to the rate of dormancy relief during 9 months of afterripening. Second, cultivated oat (A. sativa) grains (which are not dormant at maturity) contained much lower levels of these mRNAs than did highly dormant wild oat grains. Third, levels of full-lengthAV1andZ1mRNAs remained constant in dormant grains during 6 d of imbibition. However, Northern analyses of individual grains from a partially afterripened seed lot showed that amounts of intactAV1orZ1mRNAs were highly variable in germinating and dormant grains and were not correlated with dormancy status. Even though loss of these transcripts occurred under the same environmental conditions that promote afterripening, a causal relationship between the two processes seems unlikely. The apparently specific mechanism(s) by which these mRNAs are degraded in endosperm tissue may represent a novel post-transcriptional process for regulating levels of certain transcripts in dry grains.
The Richards function and quantitative analysis of germination and dormancy in meadowfoam (Limnanthes alba)
Authors: Cheng Canhong , Gordon Ian L. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractWhile investigating germinability in the new-crop meadowfoam (Limnanthes albaBenth.), it was desired to gain maximum information despite minimal seed material and prior knowledge. Extended use of the Richards function in a factorial germination experiment proved very powerful. The functions yielded estimates of four correlated coefficients, requiring multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) to provide validF-tests among germination profiles. These germination functions provided more rigorous discrimination among treatments than the univariate final germination level. The functions for the imbibants KNO3and GA4+7, in darkness at 10/5°C, were best, being characterized by high mean absolute germination rate, relatively short duration, and high final germination (upper asymptote). The results provided insights into possible dormancy mechanisms.
Manipulation of desiccation-sensitive axes of wampee (Clausena lansium) to facilitate increased dehydration tolerance
Authors: Fu J.R. , Huang X.M. , Songa S.Q. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractThe plumules of newly-excised wampee embryos, which are more sensitive to dehydration than the roots, became more resistant to water loss when axes were allowed to sprout on woody plant medium [WPM; McCown and Lloyd (1981) Hortscience16, 453] before being dried. Pre-treatment of sprouting axes (seedlings) with sucrose incorporated in the WPM enhanced survival. Although the roots withered following further dehydration of seedlings cultured on WPM containing 60% sucrose, excised plumules were capable of generating adventitious roots when a combination of 10 mM α-napthaleneacetic acid and 10 mM indole-3-butyric acid was used during subsequent in vitro incubation.
Measures of suicidality in phase 3 clinical trials of levomilnacipran ER in adults with major depressive disorder
Authors: Thase Michael E. , Gommoll Carl , Chen Changzheng , Kramer Kenneth , Khan Arif , Durgam Suresh 
Published: May 2017

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of levomilnacipran extended-release (ER) on suicidal ideation and behavior in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD).MethodsPost hoc analyses were conducted in patients from 4 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials and a long-term, open-label extension study of levomilnacipran ER (40-120 mg/d) in adults with MDD. Analyses included incidence of suicide-related treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs); incidence of Columbia–Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) suicidal ideation (score=1–5) and behavior (score=6-10); percent of patients who shifted from no C-SSRS suicidal ideation/behavior at baseline to suicidal ideation during treatment (worsened from score=0 to score=1–5), or vice-versa (improved from score=1-5 to score=0).ResultsSuicide-related TEAEs occurred in<1% of patients in the levomilnacipran ER studies. The incidence of C-SSRS suicidal ideation was 22.2%, 23.9%, and 21.7% for placebo, short-term levomilnacipran ER, and long-term levomilnacipran ER, respectively; C-SSRS suicidal behavior was<1% in all of these groups. In the short-term studies, the percentage of patients with C-SSRS shifts were as follows: worsening from score=0 to score=1–5 (placebo, 8.6%; levomilnacipran ER, 11.0%); improvement from score=1–5 to score=0 (placebo, 24.0%; levomilnacipran ER, 27.7%).ConclusionIn adult MDD patients, the incidence of suicidal ideation and behavior was similar between placebo and short-term levomilnacipran ER as indicated by TEAE reports and C-SSRS scores. Worsening in C-SSRS scores was also similar between placebo and levomilnacipran ER. There was no indication of increased suicidality during longer courses of continued therapy. Together, these findings suggest that this medication is not associated with increased risks of suicidal ideation or behavior.
Modelling and analysis of incomplete and short lactations
Authors: Jaffrézic F , Minini P 
Published: May 2017

AbstractAdvantages of the use of test-day records for genetic evaluation of dairy cattle are now widely accepted. In particular, longitudinal models such as random regression avoid using ad hoc extrapolation procedures to reconstruct complete lactations as they provide individual predictions even for incomplete data. However, these predictions and parameter estimates obtained in the model do not take into account the lactation length. This can be an important drawback for phenotypic and genetic analysis of milk production of cows with shorter lactations. The aim of this paper is to propose a methodology that would correct these predictions, weighting them by the probability at each point in time of each cow being dried off. The proposed procedure is easy to implement and calculations are fast to compute. A simulation study and an application on real data for daily milk records show that the proposed methodology provides a more accurate estimation for individual cumulative production as well as genetic values, and avoids predicting negative productions at the end of the lactation as is often the case with random regression models.
Estimates of genetic parameters for fertility traits of Australian Holstein-Friesian cattle
Authors: Haile-Mariam M. , Morton J.M. , Goddard M.E. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractFertility data collected on 17131 Holstein-Friesian cows from 158 dairy herds in Australia were used to estimate heritabilities for and correlations among several fertility traits using a sire model. Pregnancy rate (PR), survival (Surv), calving interval (CI), calving to first service interval (CFS), insemination rate (coded as 1 if a cow received a service or 0 otherwise) (InsemR) and first service non-return rate (FNRR) were the main traits analysed in a six-trait model. Among the traits, CFS had the highest h2 (0·13) and FNRR had the lowest h2 (0·01). Genetic correlations among the traits were higher than environmental correlations in all cases. The genetic correlations of PR with InsemR, FNRR, CFS, CI and Surv were 0·74, 0·79 and -0·84, -0·57, and 0·67, respectively. The genetic correlation between InsemR and CFS was high (-0·95) indicating that they almost measure the same trait. Analysis of data from cows that did not return to service after the first service despite not being pregnant (so-called ‘phantom’ cow syndrome) showed that the syndrome is not heritable. The relatively high genetic correlation of PR with traits such as CI and Surv that can be extracted from milk recording data and CFS, FNRR and InsemR that can be obtained from mating data suggests that routine genetic evaluation of sires for daughter fertility based on these traits can be implemented in national selection programs.
Effect of equi-molar dietary betaine and choline addition on performance, carcass quality and physiological parameters of pigs
Authors: Siljander-Rasi H , Peuranen S , Tiihonen K , Virtanen E , Kettunen H , Alaviuhkola T , Simmins P.H 
Published: May 2017

AbstractBetaine and its precursor choline were compared in their efficiency in affecting the performance, carcass traits, and liver betaine concentration of growing-finishing pigs. Individually penned Finnish Landrace and Yorkshire pigs and their crosses (30 kg; no. = 70) were offered the basal diet with no added betaine or choline, or the basal diet supplemented with low to moderate doses (250, 500 or 1000 mg/kg) of betaine (Betafin® S1), or with a similar molar amount of choline (578, 1155 or 2310 mg/kg of choline chloride). The maize-soya-bean-meal basal diet was formulated to contain 12·3 MJ/kg digestible energy, 155 g/kg crude protein and 7·4, 4·4 and 4·3 g/kg digestible lysine, threonine and methionine + cystine, respectively. Oat hull meal (100 g/kg) was added to reduce the dietary energy concentration. The pigs were on a restricted feeding level, 1·5 to 3·0 kg food per day (proportionately 0·8 of ad libitum intake) for 75 days. Daily weight gain and food-to-gain ratio improved linearly (P < 0·01) with increasing dietary betaine. Carcass weight increased linearly (P < 0·01) but slaughter loss proportion, backfat and sidefat thicknesses and lean proportions in ham and carcass were unaffected by dietary betaine level. Liver betaine level increased linearly (by up to a proportion of 0·62 in comparison with the control) with dietary betaine addition (F < 0·05) and betaine tended to improve linearly the tensile strength of the proximal ileum (P = 0·07). The presence of choline had no effect on any of these parameters. These results indicate that low to moderate doses of dietary betaine improved the growth and the efficiency of food utilization of growing-finishing pigs. Pigs on betaine diets had heavier carcasses without a relative increase in carcass fat. Choline had no such effects in pigs offered the restricted amount of diet. Liver betaine concentration increased with level of betaine in the diet whereas the betaine precursor choline did not affect hepatic betaine.
Meat quality of Boer goat kids and Mutton Merino lambs 1. Commercial yields and chemical composition
Authors: Sheridan R. , Hoffman L.C. , Ferreira A.V. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractCarcass measurements, commercial cuts and chemical composition of the meat of 32 Boer goat (BG) kids and 32 South African Mutton Merino (MM) lambs were investigated. Two pelleted diets (offered to 16 animals per species) with either a low (LE, 9·9 MJ/kg dry matter (DM)) or a high (HE, 121 MJ/kg DM) metabolizable energy level were offered, ad libitum, for either 28 or 56 days. Thereafter the animals were slaughtered and the carcasses dissected into South African commercial cuts. The 8-9-10-rib cut of each carcass was dissected and used for chemical analysis. MM had heavier carcasses (LE: 19·87w. 15·28 kg; HE: 2401 v 17·05 kg), and proportionally heavier ribs and buttocks than BG and therefore one can expect higher prices for sheep carcasses than for those of goats. BG had significantly more moisture and protein and lower fat and energy values than MM. DM, fat and energy values increased with an increase in slaughter age in both species. BG had significantly higher concentrations of 11 of the 18 measured essential amino acids in their 8-9-10-rib cuts than the MM. Goat carcasses had higher Ca, K, Mg, Na and P levels than sheep carcasses, regardless of the diet offered. BG had a lower carcass cholesterol content than lamb (66·77 v. 99·28 mg/100 g, respectively). Palmitic (C16: 0), stearic (C18: 0) and oleic (C18: 1n9) acids comprised the greatest proportions of the fatty acids in the 8-9-10-rib cut. On both diets there was a significantly higher saturated to unsaturated (SFA: UFA) fatty acid ratio in lamb than in goat meat (LE: 0·30 v 0·845; HE 1·407 v. 0·892). It can be concluded that chemically the meat from young feedlot goats is not inferior to that of lamb, and since it has a higher protein percentage and lower fat, cholesterol and SFA it can be considered as a healthy food commodity. Since diet had little or no significant influence on the carcass weight distribution or chemical composition of the goats, BGs can be finished on a LE-diet in the feedlot. This may decrease the food cost significantly.
Meat quality of Boer goat kids and Mutton Merino lambs 2. Sensory meat evaluation
Authors: Sheridan R. , Hoffman L.C. , Ferreira A.V. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractThe meat palatability, water-holding capacity, colour and shear force values of 32 Boer goat (BG) kids and 32 South African Mutton Merino (MM) lambs were investigated. Two pelleted diets (offered to 16 animals per species) with either a low (LE, 9·9 MJ/kg dry matter (DM)) or a high (HE, 12·1 MJ/kg DM) metabolizable energy level were given to the animals for either 28 or 56 days. Thereafter the animals were slaughtered, the meat cooked and presented to a trained sensory panel. Organoleptically, a difference between goat and lamb was noted. Each one had a specific species flavour, which was not influenced by energy level of the diet. BG meat was perceived to be stringier than that of the MM, but there was no significant difference in Warner-Bratzler shear force values. Tenderness declined with age in both species and there was also a tendency for goat meat to be less juicy than lamb. Chevon had a more pronounced after-taste than lamb. No objective difference could be distinguished between the colour of the cooked goat and lamb, but there was a tendency for fresh lamb to have a higher a*-value (redness) than goat. Although diet did not influence drip loss, drip loss increased with an increase in slaughter age. Only after 56 days did the m. semimembranosus of MM have a significantly higher drip loss than that of BG (LE: 4·84 v. 3·43%; HE: 4·72 v. 3·23%). In the m. semimembranosus of both species cooking loss increased with an increase in slaughter age. It can be concluded that goat meat compares favourably with lamb in terms of water-holding capacity, colour and shear force values. If goats are finished in the feedlot, it can be done on a LE diet, since diet does not influences any of the mentioned characteristics. This may render a direct economic advantage for BG feedlot finishing.
The relationship between live weight and the intake of bulky foods in pigs
Authors: Whittemore E.C. , Emmans G. C. , Kyriazakis I. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractData from pigs between 12 and 120 kg live weight were used to develop a relationship between the capacity for food bulk and live weight. High bulk foods, intended to limit growth, were offered for 21 days to pigs of 12, 36 (600 g sugar-beet pulp per kg (SBP60)) and 108 (800 g sugar-beet pulp per kg (SBP80)) kg live weight. Control pigs were given a low bulk food C at all weights. After 21 days the pigs were slaughtered and measurements made on the gastro-intestinal tract (GIT). In two additional treatment groups SBP60was offered from a weight of either 36 kg or 72 kg before SBP80was offered at 108 kg. Daily live-weight gain, after allowing for the effects of a change of gut fill, was less at all weights on the high bulk foods than on C. At all weights the high bulk foods caused a significant increase in the weights of the stomach, large intestine, caecum and gut fill. Effects on the weight of the small intestine were small. Previous nutrition had no significant effect on the adapted performance, or on the size of the GIT, of pigs given SBP80at 108 kg but pre-feeding SBP60significantly increased initial consumption of SBP80. Constrained intake was not directly proportional to live weight beyond 40 kg. The absolute capacity for bulk (Cap, kg water-holding capacity per day) was related to live weight (W, kg) by the quadratic function Cap = (0·192.W) - (0·000299.W2). The value of Cap is predicted to reach a maximum when W = 321 kg. The combined weights of the large intestine and caecum (WLIC) changed with W in ways that were similar to the way in which Cap changed. In addition the ratio of Cap to WLIC was close to constant. The combined weight of the large intestine and the caecum may determine the capacity for food bulk in pigs.
Meat quality and composition of three muscles from French cull cows and young bulls
Authors: Dransfield E. , Martin J.-F. , Bauchart D. , Abouelkaram S. , Lepetit J. , Culioli J. , Jurie C. , Picard B. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractThe quality of grilled steaks was assessed by experienced panellists in longissimus thoracis (LT), semitendinosus (St) and triceps brachii (TB) muscles of Aubrac, Charolais, Limousin and Salers breeds raised in two production systems: 15-, 19- and 24-month-old bulls and 4-, 6- and 8-year-old cull cows.Scores for sensory ‘initial tenderness’, ‘overall tenderness’, ‘juiciness’, ‘residue after mastication’ and ‘flavour intensity’ for all 497 meats were pooled to derive three eating quality classes.Meats from the bulls and cows and from the four breeds were evenly distributed among the three eating quality classes. The highest quality class, representing one third of all the meats, contained 45% of the LT, 35% of the TB and 21% of the St muscles and one third of the meats from the 8-year-old cull cows. The meats in this class tended to have finer fibres, a greater proportion of slow oxidative fibres, slower post-mortem glycolysis, lower connective tissue and higher fat contents than those in the lower classes.Lipid content accounted for proportionately 0·56 of the variation in flavour intensity and pH at 3 h post mortem, 0·52 of the variation in tenderness due to muscle and slaughter age.Considering both young bulls and cull cows together, tenderness was highest in the meats from 15-month-old bulls and low in the meats from the intermediate age groups, and flavour and juiciness was highest in the meats from the oldest animals from each production system.
The effect of choice feeding complete diets on the performance of weaned pigs
Authors: Lawlor P. G. , Lynch P. B. , Caffrey P. J. , O’Doherty J. V. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractPost-weaning growth rate in pigs is frequently poor and variable. Choice feeding may offer the opportunity to rectify this. In experiment 1, 24 mixed sex groups of 16 pigs weaned with an average weight of 6·8 kg were blocked on weaning weight and assigned at random to the following treatments: (A) starter diet (18·3 g/kg lysine and 16·6 MJ digestible energy (DE) per kg) for 11 days followed by link diet (15·0 g/kg lysine and 15·3 MJ DE per kg) to 27 days; (B) starter diet and link diet offered in a free choice to 27 days; and (C) starter diet and weaner diet (13·0 g/kg lysine and 14·3 MJ DE per kg) offered in a free choice to 27 days. In experiment 2, 66 pigs were weaned at 6·3 kg, blocked as individuals on sex and weight and were randomly assigned to treatments as in experiment 1. In experiment 3, 24 single sex groups of 16 pigs were formed from pigs weaned at 7·8 kg. The groups were blocked on the basis of weaning weight and randomly assigned to the following treatments: (A) starter diet for 11 days followed by link diet to 26 days, (B) starter diet and link diet offered in a free choice to 26 days and (C) starter diet and link diet offered in a free choice to 26 days with feeder position rotated twice weekly. In experiments 1 and 3 pigs were offered a common weaner diet (14·1 g/kg lysine and 14·4 MJ DE per kg) following the experimental period. In experiment 1, daily gain was 406, 410 and 397 g/day (s.e. 6·6; P > 0·05) and food coversion efficiency (FCE) was 1·24, 1·21 and 1·27 g/g (s.e. 0·01; P < 0·01) during the period from day 0 to 27 for treatments A, B and C, respectively. The proportion of the diet selected as starter diet was 0·20, 0·50 and 0·47 (s.e. 0·023; P < 0·001) for treatments A, B and C, respectively. Within-pen variation in pig weight was similar for all treatments at day 14, 27 and 56 (P > 0·05), respectively. In experiment 2, daily gain was 403, 436 and 394 g/day (s.e. 13·0; P = 0·07) and FCE was 1·19, 1·16 and 1·24 g/g (s.e. 0·02; P < 0·05) during the period from day 0 to 26 for treatments A, B and C, respectively. The proportion of the diet selected as starter diet was 0·20, 0·57 and 0·53 (s.e. 0·024; P < 0·001) for treatments A, B and C, respectively. In experiment 3, daily gain was 465, 486 and 488 g/day (s.e.9·4; P > 0·05) and FCE was 1·14, 1·11 and 1·07 g/g (s.e. 0·015; P < 0·01) during the period from day 0 to 26 for treatments A, B and C, respectively. The proportion of the diet selected as starter diet was 0·21, 0·49 and 0·55 (s.e. 0·022; P < 0·001) for treatments A, B and C, respectively. Pig weight at day 49 was 36·4, 37·1 and 37·3 kg (s.e. 0·27; P = 0·09). It was concluded from these experiments that choice feeding did improve pig performance when a choice of starter and link diet was offered.
The nutritive value of five pasture species occurring in the summer grazing ranges of the Pyrenees
Authors: Marinas A. , García-González R. , Fondevila M. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractFive species of alpine pasture plants from the Pyrenees representing 3 botanical groups: grasses (Festuca eskia, Nardus stricta), forbs (Anthyllis vulneraria, Galium verum) and shrubs (Echinospartum horridum), were collected monthly from June to September and analysed for nitrogen (N) content, cell wall composition, in vitro enzymatic digestibility (DMDe) and volume of gas produced by microbial fermentation. Among the dicotyledenous varieties, A. vulneraria and G. verum showed the highest nutritive value whilst that of E. horridum was low due to high lignin content. Grasses showed moderate nutritive values in June rapidly decreasing thereafter. Nitrogen content and organic matter digestibility (OMDg) of A. vulneraria remained relatively constant through the sampling period whereas it abruptly decreased for remaining species from July. Gas production significantly differed among species during the first 48 h of microbial fermentation but not at later stages of fermentation. Collection date did not affect gas production before 24 h of incubation but significant differences were found thereafter with samples from June and July being more degraded than from August and September. Principal component analysis associated OMDg positively with N content and gas production and negatively with fibre content. Lignin proportion did not significantly correlate with gas production or with OMDg, suggesting that the degree of lignification is not the only factor affecting microbial fermentation but other factors such as lignin tissue locations may be involved. A. vulneraria has been revealed as very good forage with a high potential in extensive animal production systems. Both OMDg and DMDe methods seem more accurate than chemical analyses for evaluating forages at different stages of maturity.