bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The intensive rearing of lambs 2. Voluntary food intake and performance on diets of varying oat husk and beef tallow content
Authors: Owen J. B. , Davies D. A. R. , Miller E. L. , Ridgman W. J. 
Published: September 2010

1. Two experiments concerned with the voluntary intake of food by artificially reared lambs are described and the results discussed.2. When the diets were pelleted the addition of finely ground oat husks to form as much as 40% of the diet had practically no effect on live weight gain since the lambs controlled their consumption to achieve the same energy intake on the various diets. When the diets were given as a meal, the addition of 20% oat husks caused food intake to increase, digestible dry-matter intake to remain the same and growth rate to be somewhat poorer; but the addition of 40% oat husks caused no further increase in intake so that digestible drymatter intake fell markedly and growth rate was much reduced. It is argued that the relationship between food intake and digestibility is dependent on the physical form of the diet.3. Addition of beef tallow to the meal diets had very little effect on the lambs' performance.4. Lambs which had received a restricted quantity of milk replacer from birth to 11·4 kg live weight had a slower growth rate and poorer food conversion efficiency during the subsequent feeding period (13·6–34·1 kg) than lambs which had received milk ad libitum. This effect was greater with meal diets containing 40% oat husks than with more concentrated diets.5. On a pelleted diet containing 85% barley a conversion ratio of 3·21 was achieved over the whole fattening period, indicating the commercial feasibility of intensive lamb production on cereal diets.
Endocrine response to superovulatory treatment in pre-pubertal beef heifers: its lack of ability to induce puberty
Authors: Bonavera J. J. , Tortonese D. J. , Doray J. M. , Petraglia F. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThis study was carried out to investigate: (1) changes in plasma oestradiol-17β and progesterone concentrations in six pre-pubertal beef heifers, 9 months old, subjected to a superovulatory treatment, consisting of a single dose of PMSG followed 120 h later by a single injection of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG); and (2) the ability of this treatment to trigger cyclic gonadal activity. After PMSG administration, oestradiol-17β levels increased from 11·8 (s.d. 10·78) to 92·9 (s.d. 38·15) ng/1 just before HCG injection. The oestradiol-17β increase during the superovulatory treatment and numbe r of ovulations were correlated (r = 0·83; P < 0·05). After HCG injection, progesterone concentrations rose significantly reaching values which in some cases were higher than 60 [μg/1. The progesterone peak on days 9 and 10 post HCG was strongly correlated with the number of corpora lutea (r = 0·95; P < 0·01 and r = 0·92; P < 0·01, respectively). Progesterone determinations were performed for a period of 90 days after HCG administration. No evidence was found for the induction of permanent cyclic ovarian activity since all heifers returned, after the induced luteal phase, to their pre-pubertal condition.
An evaluation of prediction equations incorporated in a computer program to ration beef cattle
Authors: Neal H. D. St C. , Gill M. , France J. , Spedding A. , Marsden S. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractEquations for the prediction of forage dry-matter intake, metabolizable energy (ME), rumen degradable protein and undegraded protein, based on those in the current Agricultural Research Council system, were incorporated into a computer program designed to be used by livestock advisors for on-farm rationing of beef cattle. The predictions of silage intake and live-weight gain are compared with experimental data.Voluntary intake of grass silage was generally over-estimated by the program by proportionately at least 0·06, with a root mean square error of ±0·18 of the mean observed silage intake for the all-silage rations. The prediction of ME requirement for observed production had an error of +0·15 of average ME intake but the calculations of ME intake were themselves dependent on the predictions of the ME concentrations of the silages and supplements. Similarly the comparison of protein supply with requirement was highly dependent on the value assigned to N-degradability. However, the program can be used to assess how changes in the input values would affect ration formulation.The mathematical basis of the program is described in the Appendix.
A calcium-activated nucleotidase secreted fromOstertagia ostertagi4th-stage larvae is a member of the novel salivary apyrases present in blood-feeding arthropods
Authors: ZARLENGA D. S. , NISBET A. J. , GASBARRE L. C. , GARRETT W. M. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYApyrases (ATP-diphosphohydrolase) comprise a ubiquitous class of glycosylated nucleotidases that hydrolyse extracellular ATP and ADP to orthophosphate and AMP. One class of newly-described, Ca2+-dependent, salivary apyrases known to counteract blood-clotting, has been identified in haematophagous arthropods. Herein, we have identified a gene (Oos-apy-1) encoding a protein that structurally conforms to the Ca2+-activated apyrase from the bed bug,Cimex lectularius, by immunologically screening anOstertagiaL4 cDNA expression library. The expressed protein (rOos-APY-1) was biochemically functional in the presence of Ca2+only, with greatest activity on ATP, ADP, UTP and UDP. Host antibodies to the fusion protein appeared as early as 14 days post-infection (p.i.) and increased through 30 days p.i. Immunohistochemical and Western blot analyses demonstrated that the native Oos-APY-1 protein is present in the glandular bulb of the oesophagus and is confined to the L4. A putative signal sequence at the N-terminus and near 100% identity with aTeladorsagia circumcinctaL4 secreted protein is consistent with the native protein being secreted at the cellular level. Predicated upon substrate specificity, the native protein may be used by the parasite to control the levels of host extracellular nucleotides released by locally-damaged tissues in an effort to modulate immune intervention and inflammation.
Face emotion recognition is related to individual differences in psychosis-proneness
Authors: Germine L. T. , Hooker C. I. 
Published: September 2010

BackgroundDeficits in face emotion recognition (FER) in schizophrenia are well documented, and have been proposed as a potential intermediate phenotype for schizophrenia liability. However, research on the relationship between psychosis vulnerability and FER has mixed findings and methodological limitations. Moreover, no study has yet characterized the relationship between FER ability and level of psychosis-proneness. If FER ability varies continuously with psychosis-proneness, this suggests a relationship between FER and polygenic risk factors.MethodWe tested two large internet samples to see whether psychometric psychosis-proneness, as measured by the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire-Brief (SPQ-B), is related to differences in face emotion identification and discrimination or other face processing abilities.ResultsExperiment 1 (n=2332) showed that psychosis-proneness predicts face emotion identification ability but not face gender identification ability. Experiment 2 (n=1514) demonstrated that psychosis-proneness also predicts performance on face emotion but not face identity discrimination. The tasks in Experiment 2 used identical stimuli and task parameters, differing only in emotion/identity judgment. Notably, the relationships demonstrated in Experiments 1 and 2 persisted even when individuals with the highest psychosis-proneness levels (the putative high-risk group) were excluded from analysis.ConclusionsOur data suggest that FER ability is related to individual differences in psychosis-like characteristics in the normal population, and that these differences cannot be accounted for by differences in face processing and/or visual perception. Our results suggest that FER may provide a useful candidate intermediate phenotype.
Period doubling in area-preserving maps: an associated one-dimensional problem
Authors: GAIDASHEV DENIS , KOCH HANS 
Published: September 2010

AbstractIt has been observed that the famous Feigenbaum–Coullet–Tresser period-doubling universality has a counterpart for area-preserving maps of ℝ2. A renormalization approach has been used in a computer-assisted proof of existence of an area-preserving map with orbits of all binary periods in Eckmannet al[Existence of a fixed point of the doubling transformation for area-preserving maps of the plane.Phys. Rev. A 26(1) (1982), 720–722; A computer-assisted proof of universality for area-preserving maps.Mem. Amer. Math. Soc. 47(1984), 1–121]. As is the case with all non-trivial universality problems in non-dissipative systems in dimensions more than one, no analytic proof of this period-doubling universality exists to date. We argue that the period-doubling renormalization fixed point for area-preserving maps is almost one dimensional, in the sense that it is close to the following Hénon-like (after a coordinate change) map:where ϕ solvesWe then give a ‘proof’ of existence of solutions of small analytic perturbations of this one-dimensional problem, and describe some of the properties of this solution. The ‘proof’ consists of an analytic argument for factorized inverse branches of ϕ together with verification of several inequalities and inclusions of subsets of ℂ numerically. Finally, we suggest an analytic approach to the full period-doubling problem for area-preserving maps based on its proximity to the one-dimensional case. In this respect, the paper is an exploration of possible analytic machinery for a non-trivial renormalization problem in a conservative two-dimensional system.
New routes to power: towards a typology of power mediation
Authors: HEEMSBERGEN LUKE , SINIVER ASAF 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThis article is concerned with a particular debate in mediation literature, revolving around the merit and necessity of power as a strategy employed by third parties in their efforts to negotiate a successful resolution to conflict. We argue that by subscribing to a one-dimensional spectrum of pure-to-power mediation, students of mediation have neglected the development of how power is conceptualised and operates within the changing dynamics of conflict and its mediation.We therefore seek to redefine the concept of power mediation to project a closer fit between conflicting parties' understanding of their situation and the methods, aims and motivations of their mediators. Breaking away from the existing pure-power spectrum, we propose a heuristic framework that includes four distinct types of power mediation, defined here asreal,made, criticalandstructuralpower. The contribution of our heuristic model is threefold. First, it assists us in asking the most basic question of social science research, ‘of what is this a case’, which in turn ought to lead to a more sophisticated observation of mediation instances. Concurrently, through the frame of ‘power’, it establishes common understanding of observable phenomena that makes the study of mediation more accessible to the wider audience beyond students of our modest literature. Finally, the synthesis of epistemological and ontological inquiry of conflict and power with the established International Relations (IR) approaches of realism(s), constructivism, critical discourse and structuralism, allows respective real, made, critical and structural types of mediation power to be tested.
Modernity, boredom, and war: a suggestive essay
Authors: KUSTERMANS JORG , RINGMAR ERIK 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe quest for perpetual peace is a modern phenomenon, associated with a progressive view of history which emerged only in the Enlightenment. In addition, boredom – a feeling ofennuiassociated with a loss of the ability to act – is a fundamental mood of the modern age. Modern societies are thus, simultaneously, becoming more peaceful and their inhabitants are becoming more bored. As a means of overcoming our boredom, we are increasingly fascinated by violence, and war is glorified as a means of restoring our ability to act. Empirical illustrations of this thesis are drawn from World War I and from the Bush administration's ‘global War on Terror’.
Variability in feeding behaviour of group-housed sows using electronic feeders
Authors: Eddison J. C. , Roberts N. E. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe feeding patterns of sows using electronic feeders were monitored automatically (via a computer interface) over a period of 15 months. This paper reports on the variability in the size of the first meal of the day in relation to total daily food intake. The results demonstrated a pattern that bears some similarity to that observed by other workers, namely that sows tend to take all their daily food allocation in a single meal. In general, sows (79%) ate most of their daily allowance in a single visit to the feeders. However, on a significant minority of occasions (21%) this was not the case. The results also showed that there was a considerable number of sows (87% of the herd) that fed in a variable pattern, i.e. considerable variation in the proportion of their daily allowance taken in a single visit. This unpredictability was found throughout the sow herd. Some, but not all of this variability could be attributed to differences between parities (P < 0·001) and also there was some evidence that some sows, when newly introduced into the herd, were more variable in behaviour than more established sows. However, a large amount of variation remains unexplained. The need to provide flexible sow management to accommodate individual behaviour is discussed. Additionally, appropriate sampling periods of considerable duration are shown to be important in describing feeding patterns of group-housed sows.
The genetic evaluation of beef sires used for crossing with dairy cows in the UK 1. Sire breed and non-genetic effects on calving survey traits
Authors: McGuirk B. J. , Going I. , Gilmour A. R. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractAn analysis has been carried out of over 88000 calving survey records for bulls of eight beef breeds tested in commercial dairy herds in England and Wales. The data were collected from 1981 to 1993. The traits analysed were the degree of difficulty at calving, assessed from no difficulty to serious difficulty, calf mortality to 48 h, gestation length, and subjective assessments of calf size and conformation.Major sire breeds in the survey were the Hereford (30070 records, 93 sires), Charolais (25816 records, 105 sires) and the Limousin (15420 records, 55 sires). Other sire breeds were Belgian Blue (5391 records, 24 sires), Simmental (3864 records, 19 sires), Aberdeen Angus (2886 records, 12 sires), Piedmontese (2423 records, 7 sires) and the Blonde d'Aquitaine (2271 records, 8 sires).Information was routinely recorded on cow age (heifer or mature), sex of the calf, and the year and month of the calving, while cow size and the regional location of the herd were also recorded in later years.Heifers had more difficult calvings, higher calf losses and shorter gestations than mature cows (all P < 0·05) Seriously difficult calvings and calf mortality were higher for male calves, which were also larger and had better conformation than heifer calves (P < 0·05).Sire breed effects were significant for all traits, although sire breed ranking for calving ease was different for cow and heifer calvings and some interactions involving sire breed were also significant. For cow calvings, the easiest calving breeds were the Hereford (1·1%) and the Aberdeen Angus (1·4%), while the Charolais (4·3%), Blonde d'Aquitaine (3·7%) and Simmental (3·1%) had most difficult calvings.Gestation length differed between sire breeds, from Aberdeen Angus (281·0 days) and Hereford (282·7 days) up to the Limousin (288·1 days) and the Blonde d'Aquitaine (289·0 days). For calf size and conformation, the Simmental, Charolais and Blonde d'Aquitaine were the best.In general, summer months were associated with lower incidences of difficult calvings, lower losses and shorter gestations.Large cows had calves which were larger and of better conformation than small or medium cows, but large cows also had longer gestations, more difficult calvings and poorer calf survival (all P < 0·05).Statistical models are discussed that should be used for the genetic evaluation of calving survey traits, when beef bulls are to be used in dairy herds in the United Kingdom.
Developing breeding objectives for beef cattle production 1. A bio-economic simulation model
Authors: Hirooka H. , Groen A. F. , Hillers J. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractA deterministic simulation model was constructed to develop breeding objectives and estimate biological and economic values. The model simulates life-cycle production of a breeding cow and growth performance of her offspring. Input variables are divided into four categories: animal traits, nutritional variables, management variables and economic variables. The economic variables assume typical beef cattle production in Japan. The outputs from the model include cow-calf performance, feedlot performance and biological and economic efficiency. The model's ability to simulate herd composition, food intake of cow and calves, cow body-weight changes, empty body and carcass composition of feedlot animals and production efficiencies is illustrated.
The economic value of somatic cell count payment schemes for UK dairy cattle breeding programmes
Authors: Veerkamp R. F. , Stott A. W. , Hill W. G. , Brotherstone S. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractPredicted transmitting abilities for somatic cell counts (SCC) are available in the United Kingdom and there is a direct economic benefit attached to reducing SCC as the milk payment schemes include a penalty for high SCC levels in bulk tank samples and sometimes a premium for low SCC. The aim of the present study was to establish the economic importance of bulls' breeding values for SCC in relation to this payment scheme for SCC. To do this, an empirical method was developed using 645071 individual cow SCC and milk yield test-day records from 358 herds. The economic value was calculated by (i) decreasing all individual cow records by 0·01 and comparing the average penalty with the current average penalty, and (ii) taking the derivative of a Gompertz function describing the within-herd penalty per cow as a function of the average within-herd 3-month rolling geometric mean SCC. Mean milk test-day yield and average test-day SCC were 20·4 kg and 262 kcount per ml respectively with, on average, 83 cows tested each day. In the current situation the average penalty paid was 0·54, 0·18 and 3·2 pence per litre depending on whether an England and Wales, Scottish or future payment scheme was used, respectively. Across the population, the economic values per 0·01 decrease in SCC were £1·04, £0·54 and £6·03 per cow per year for these three payments schemes respectively. However these economic values depend strongly on the mean SCC. Herds have different means and as the future population mean is difficult to predict, it is suggested that for herds with the majority of their bulk tank samples in penalty bands 1, 2 or 3+ (average SCC of <150, 150 to 250 and 250+) the economic values are £0, £0·50, and £15 per cow per year per 0·01 reduction in SCC, respectively, until additional benefits have been quantified.
The influence of dietary energy and protein levels on performance, carcass and meat quality of Belgian White-blue double-muscled finishing bulls
Authors: Fiems L. O. , de Campeneere S. , Bogaerts D. F. , Cottyn B. G. , Boucqué Ch. V. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe effect of three protein (77, 97 and 117 g DVE (true protein digested in the small intestine) per kg dry matter (DM)) and two energy levels (7·38 and 8·03 MJ NEF (net energy for fattening) per kg DM) on the performance of Belgian White-blue double-muscled finishing bulls and on the quality of their carcasses and meat was investigated. The diet, offered ad libitum, consisted of 650 g/kg concentrates and 350 g/kg maize silage on DM basis.No significant influence was found of the energy level on the growth rate. The low protein level reduced live-weight gain, from 370 to 501 kg (1·43 kg on average v. 2·60 and 1·66 kg daily; P < 0·02). The growth rate during the entire period (370 to 692 kg) and the live weight at slaughter were significantly influenced by the protein content.The bulls given the high energy level lost less weight during the 20-h fasting period before slaughter. Their carcasses were classified with a higher fatness score and a better conformation. These carcasses had a higher fat content, while the proportion of bone in the carcass was lower than in the low energy groups. The cold carcass weight of the low protein groups (456 kg on average) was significantly smaller than that of the four other groups (470 kg on average). Although no differences between the six groups were found concerning the dressing proportion, this measurement was significantly influenced by the protein level (685 g/kg for low protein v. 692 for high protein). The SEUROP conformation was positively influenced by the protein and the energy level, while the fatness score was influenced only by the energy level (5·5 v. 6·0 for the low and the high energy level, respectively). Although the differences in conformation, fatness score and dressing proportion are significant, because of the small variation, the practical meaning is less important.
Comparison of sample preparation methods for the determination of the rumen degradation characteristics of fresh and ensiled forages by the nylon bag technique
Authors: López S. , Hovell F. D. DeB. , Manyuchi B. , Smart R. I. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractA study urns conducted to determine the best method of preparation of silage and freshly cut forage samples for the estimation of rumen degradability by the nylon bag technique. Three types of forage were evaluated: a grass silage, a fresh grass (ryegrass) and a fresh legume (white clover). For each forage, six preparation methods were compared: chopping fresh (FRS); chopping and macerating fresh (FMC); chopping, freezing, thawing and macerating (FRZ); freeze-drying (FD); low-temperature oven-drying (45°C, 72 h) (OVD); high-temperature oven-drying (160°C, 90 min) (DHD). Dried samples were hammer-milled (2·5-mm screen). Chemical composition and rumen degradability were affected by the method of preparation. Protein fractions were sensitive to drying method, and oven-drying reduced nitrogen (N) solubility and degradability as the severity of the heating was increased. OVD and DHD gave lower estimates of N and dry matter (DM) solubility and degradability than FD. The effect of drying method on DM degradability was to reduce solubility and effective degradability, calculated for an outflow rate of 0·033 per h, but not potential degradability.Silage DM degradability was less affected than that of fresh forages. Freshly prepared samples (FRS, FMC, FRZ) gave lower estimates of N and DM solubility and degradability than FD, the differences being least with silage and FRZ, which was the most effective at rupturing plant structures of the FRS, FMC and FRZ methods. Of the six preparation methods, freeze-drying was the most effective preparation method. FRZ and OVD were less effective, but similar to each other. The small particles (calculated) produced by grinding dried samples may result in an overestimation of zero time losses and hence the degradability of the sample. These undesirable effects might be minimized by coarser grinding (4-mm screen) and correction for particulate matter loss.