bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The response of two Tethyan carbonate platforms to the early Toarcian (Jurassic) oceanic anoxic event: environmental change and differential subsidence
Authors: WOODFINE RICHARD G. , JENKYNS HUGH C. , SARTI MASSIMO , BARONCINI FRANCESCO , VIOLANTE CRESCENZO 
Published: January 2008

AbstractChemostratigraphic analyses (87Sr/86Sr,δ13Ccarb) of limestones from two Jurassic platform‐carbonate sequences in Italy (Trento and Campania–Lucania Platforms) illustrate previously established trends found in pelagic sediments and skeletal carbonates from biostratigraphically well‐calibrated sections elsewhere in Europe. Chemostratigraphic correlations between the platform‐carbonate successions and appropriate intervals from well‐dated reference sections allow the application of high‐resolution stratigraphy to these shallow‐water peritidal carbonates and, furthermore, elucidate the facies response to the Early Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event (OAE). Lower Jurassic (Toarcian) levels of the western Trento Platform (Southern Alps, Northern Italy) contain spiculitic cherts that appear where rising carbon‐isotope values characterize the onset of the OAE: a palaeoceanographic phenomenon interpreted as driven by increased nutrient levels in near‐surface waters. There is a facies change to more clay‐rich facies at the level of the abrupt negative carbon‐isotope excursion, also characteristic of the OAE, higher in the section. The Campania–Lucania Platform (Southern Apennines, Southern Italy) records a change to more clay‐rich facies where carbon‐isotope values begin to rise at the beginning of the OAE but the negative excursion, higher in the section, occurs within oolitic facies. Although, in both examples, the Early Toarcian OAE can be recognized by a change to more clay‐rich lithologies, this facies development is diachronous and in neither case did the platform drown. Although the Trento Platform, in the south‐west sector studied here, was adversely affected by the OAE, it did not drown definitively until Late Aalenian time; the Campania–Lucania Platform persisted throughout the Jurassic and Cretaceous. Differential subsidence rates, which can be calculated using comparative chemostratigraphy, are identified as a crucial factor in the divergent behaviour of these two carbonate platforms: relatively fast in the case of the Trento Platform; relatively slow in the case of the Campania–Lucania Platform. It is proposed that where water depths remained as shallow as a few metres during the OAE (Campania–Lucania Platform), dissolved oxygen levels remained high, nutrient levels relatively low and conditions for carbonate secretion and precipitation remained relatively favourable, whereas more poorly ventilated and/or more nutrient‐rich waters (Trento Platform) adversely influenced platform growth where depths were in the tens of metres range. The stage was thus set for drowning on the more rapidly subsiding western margin of the Trento Plateau and a pulse of oolite deposition post‐dating the OAE was insufficient to revitalize the carbonate factory.
OsTDL1A binds to the LRR domain of rice receptor kinase MSP1, and is required to limit sporocyte numbers
Authors: Zhao Xinai , De Palma Justina , Oane Rowena , Gamuyao Rico , Luo Ming , Chaudhury Abdul , Hervé Philippe , Xue Qingzhong , Bennett John 
Published: February 2008

SummaryHybrids lose heterotic yield advantage when multiplied sexually via meiosis. A potential alternative breeding system for hybrids is apospory, where female gametes develop without meiosis. Common among grasses, apospory begins in the nucellus, where aposporous initials (AIs) appear near the sexual megaspore mother cell (MeMC). The cellular origin of AIs is obscure, but one possibility, suggested by the mac1 and msp1 mutants of maize and rice, is that AIs are apomeiotic derivatives of the additional MeMCs that appear when genetic control over sporocyte numbers is relaxed. MULTIPLE SPOROCYTES1 (MSP1) encodes a leucine‐rich‐repeat receptor kinase, which is orthologous to EXS/EMS1 in Arabidopsis. Like mac1 and msp1, exs/ems1 mutants produce extra sporocytes in the anther instead of a tapetum, causing male sterility. This phenotype is copied in mutants of TAPETUM DETERMINANT1 (TPD1), which encodes a small protein hypothesized to be an extracellular ligand of EXS/EMS1. Here we show that rice contains two TPD1‐like genes, OsTDL1A and OsTDL1B. Both are co‐expressed with MSP1 in anthers during meiosis, but only OsTDL1A and MSP1 are co‐expressed in the ovule. OsTDL1A binds to the leucine‐rich‐repeat domain of MSP1 in yeast two‐hybrid assays and bimolecular fluorescence complementation in onion cells; OsTDL1B lacks this capacity. When driven by the maize Ubiquitin1 promoter, RNA interference against OsTDL1A phenocopies msp1 in the ovule but not in the anther. Thus, RNAi produces multiple MeMCs without causing male sterility. We conclude that OsTDL1A binds MSP1 in order to limit sporocyte numbers. OsTDL1A‐RNAi lines may be suitable starting points for achieving synthetic apospory in rice.
Breeding for low body weight in Goettingen minipigs
Authors: Köhn F. , Sharifi A.R. , Täubert H. , Malovrh Š. , Simianer H. 
Published: January 2008

SummaryThe Goettingen minipig is a laboratory animal with increasing popularity in medical research. To get a genetically smaller minipig, a new breeding scheme with a focus on weight reduction has to be developed. Therefore, 19 505 body weight measurements of 3461 Goettingen minipigs were analysed with multiple trait models and random regression models (RRM) for the estimation of genetic parameters. Heritabilities were moderate with slightly higher values estimated with the RRM. Genetic correlations between body weight measurements at different ages were decreasing with increasing time lag between the measurements. An operational breeding goal for relative weight reduction RWR is suggested in which the weight reduction in each age class is expressed as per cent of the actual body weight and is weighted according to the proportion of animals sold in this age class. Expected genetic progress was calculated for two different selection ages (80 and 150 days). Selection at age 150 days leads to an expected genetic progress of 3.9 % RWR per year. And it is shown how the selection for RWR will modify the shape of the growth curve. On the basis of these results, a new breeding scheme with a focus on weight reduction can be implemented, which also has to account for correlated undesirable effects, like decline of fertility and increased rate of inbreeding.
Relationship of the Bovine Growth Hormone Gene to Carcass Traits in Japanese Black Cattle
Authors: Tatsuda K. , Oka A. , Iwamoto E. , Kuroda Y. , Takeshita H. , Kataoka H. , Kouno S. 
Published: January 2008

SummaryThe bovine growth hormone gene (bGH) possesses three haplotypes, A, B and C, that differ by amino acid mutations at positions 127 and 172 in the fifth exon: (leucine127, threonine172), (valine127, threonine172) and (valine127, methionine172) respectively. The correlation between meat quality or carcass weight and these haplotypes was investigated in Japanese black cattle. Altogether, 940 bGH haplotypes were compared with respect to six carcass traits: carcass weight, longissimus muscle area, rib thickness, subcutaneous fat thickness, beef marbling score and beef colour. The frequency of the B haplotype was higher (0.421) than that of A (0.269) and C (0.311). High carcass weight and low beef marbling were associated with haplotype A (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01 respectively), whereas beef marbling was increased by haplotype C (p < 0.05). Estimated regression coefficient of the A haplotype substitution effect for carcass weight and beef marbling score were 5.55 (13.1% of the phenotypic SD) and −0.31 (17.0%) respectively. That of the C haplotype for beef marbling score was 0.20 (11.0%). The other traits showed no relationship to the haplotypes examined. The results of this investigation suggest that information pertaining to bGH polymorphisms in Japanese black cattle could be used to improve the selection of meat traits.
Novel variants within the coding regions of the Slc11A1 gene identified in Bos taurus and Bos indicus breeds
Authors: Martínez R. , Dunner S. , Barrera G. , Cañon J. 
Published: January 2008

SummaryAlthough in the cow the genetic resistance to brucellosis has been previously attributed to the Slc11A1 gene encoding Nramp1 protein, none of the mutations described to date seems to be the cause. To be able to associate another polymorphism of the gene to brucellosis resistance, we characterized the gene and identified in different breeds of Bos taurus and Bos indicus, six new variants among a total of 11 single nucleotide mutations, of which five occurred in the coding sequence (three are missense mutations), one in the promoter region and five in introns. The allelic and genotypic frequencies calculated revealed differences (p < 0.05) among the breeds studied.
Stearoyl CoA desaturase (SCD) gene polymorphisms in Italian cattle breeds
Authors: Milanesi E. , Nicoloso L. , Crepaldi P. 
Published: January 2008

SummaryStearoyl CoA desaturase (SCD) is the key enzyme involved in the endogenous synthesis of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in ruminants. Changes in the enzymatic activity as a result of SCD gene polymorphism and regulation have been hypothesized to cause diet‐independent variations of CLA content in milk. Evidences for the direct influence of SCD polymorphism on fatty acid composition of milk and beef have also been reported. To evaluate genetic differences because of breed and/or selection goal, we investigated the polymorphism of three previously reported single nucleotide polymorphisms located in exon 5 of the SCD gene in 11 cattle breeds raised in Italy and selected for different production goals. Results obtained: (i) evidenced a high variability in the allele frequencies across breeds; (ii) detected three novel haplotypes, one of which is private to indigenous beef breeds, and (iii) showed a significant association between haplotypes and selective goal.
Identification of porcine fatty acid translocase: high‐level transcript in intramuscular fat
Authors: Shu G. , Jiang Q. Y. , Zhu X. T. , Zhang H. X. , Gao P. , Zhang Y. L. , Wang X. Q. 
Published: January 2008

SummaryFatty acids translocase (FAT) is a transporter that facilitate long‐chain fatty acids uptake as well as lipid accretion. To investigate the potential role of FAT in different adipose tissues, we investigated the cDNA structure of porcine FAT (pFAT) and analysed the tissue distribution of pFAT mRNA. The FAT mRNA expression profiles in the pre‐adipocytes isolated from subcutaneous and intramuscular fat were also compared during cell differentiation. The results showed that 2389 bp porcine cDNA (DQ192230) had 87% homology with human FAT, 83% with mouse FAT, 82% with rat FAT and 67.5% with chicken FAT. Alignment of deduced amino acids sequence showed 82.4% homology with human FAT, 83.3% with mouse FAT and 85% with rat FAT. RT‐PCR analysis revealed that the pFAT mRNA had a wide‐spread expression in most tissues except for the brain. The higher level transcript was detected in visceral fat tissue by real‐time quantitative RT‐PCR. Interestingly, the pFAT mRNA expression level was dramatically increased in the primary culture pre‐adipocytes derived from intramuscular fat and this consistent with the cellular lipid accretion. However, a sustained lower‐level transcript was also found in the adipocytes from subcutaneous fat. The present study indicated that pFAT mRNA had a differential expression in subcutaneous, visceral and intramuscular fat depots. The data presented here provide further proof that pFAT might be involved in the modulation of the temporal and spatial fat depots.
Effect of dietary crude protein level on basal ileal endogenous losses and standardized ileal digestibilities of crude protein and amino acids in newly weaned pigs
Authors: Eklund M. , Mosenthin R. , Piepho H.‐P. , Rademacher M. 
Published: January 2008

SummaryThe study was carried out to estimate basal ileal endogenous crude protein and amino acid losses (IAALB) and standardized ileal digestibilities (SID) of crude protein (CP) and amino acids (AA) originating from casein in newly weaned pigs from linear relationships between ileal recoveries and dietary intakes of graded levels of CP and AA. A total of 14 (12 + 2 for replacement) 3‐week‐old barrows weighing 5.7 kg was fitted with simple T cannulas at the distal ileum. At 28 days of age, the pigs were randomly allocated to the six experimental diets with two pigs per diet in four weekly repeated measurements. Corn starch‐based diets, containing six graded levels of CP from casein (90, 155, 220, 285, 350, 415 g/kg CP as‐fed basis respectively), were formulated. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) was included as a digestibility marker. Each experimental period consisted of 7 days. Ileal digesta were collected for a total of 24 h during day 6 and 8. Splitting the total range of 90 to 415 g/kg CP into smaller ranges, i.e. from 90 to 220, 220 to 350 or 285 to 415 g/kg CP, provides estimates for CP and AA recoveries which are not significantly different from zero. As a result, dietary CP and AA originating from casein are completely digested and absorbed until the end of the small intestine. In addition, the use of large ranges of dietary CP levels showed that IAALB were affected (p < 0.050) by the dietary CP content. Accepting that ileal recoveries of CP and AA are exclusively of endogenous origin when purified corn starch casein‐based diets are fed, IAALB were estimated as a function of the dietary CP level. There were linear increases (p < 0.050) in IAALB when the dietary CP content was increased from 90 to 415 g/kg. Average IAALB expressed in g/kg dry matter intake (DMI) were 16.3, 0.7, 0.2, 0.9 and 0.2 for CP, lysine, methionine, threonine and tryptophan respectively. These values are in close agreement with IAALB obtained in grower‐finisher pigs.
Hypophagic and dipsogenic effect of the 5‐HT1A receptor agonist 8‐OH‐DPAT in broiler chickens
Authors: Saadoun A. , Cabrera M. C. 
Published: January 2008

SummaryThe effects of the 5‐HT1A receptor agonist 8‐OH‐DPAT on food and water intake in male broiler chickens were investigated. The injection of 25 or 50 μg/kg of 8‐OH‐DPAT 15 min before refeeding in fasted animals produced a decrease in food intake. No effect was observed in drinking. The injection of 25 or 50 μg/kg of the 8‐OH‐DPAT 60 min after the start of refeeding did not produce any significant modification in food intake. No effect on drinking was recorded. The agonist 8‐OH‐DPAT injected 15 min before water presentation in water‐deprived chickens, produced an increased drinking 60 min after the presentation of water. No effect on food intake was observed. The results show that the effect on food intake of the agonist 8‐OH‐DPAT in fasted–refed broiler chickens was similar to those observed in mammals and layer‐strain chickens. However, the agonist did not alter significantly the food intake when the broilers were fed 60 min before the injection. These results are contrary to the observed effects in mammals and in layer‐strain chickens. Probably, the selection for rapid growth rate in broilers causes modifications in the feeding control pattern. The comparison between broilers and layers strain may be a useful tool to elucidate the complex mechanisms involved in food and water intake regulation in chickens.
Effect of different liquid cultures of live yeast strains on performance, ruminal fermentation and microbial protein synthesis in lambs
Authors: Tripathi M. K. , Karim S. A. , Chaturvedi O. H. , Verma D. L. 
Published: January 2008

SummaryThree yeast strains, Kluyveromyces marximanus NRRL‐3234 (KM), Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCDC‐42 (SC) and Saccharomyces uvarum ATCC‐9080 (SU), and a mixed culture (1:1:1 ratio) were evaluated for their value as probiotics in lamb feeding in two experiment. In experiment I and II, 20 and 30 pre‐weaner lambs were fed for 63 and 60 days in two and three equal groups respectively. All lambs were offered ad libitum a creep mixture and Zizyphus nummularia leaves, and yeasts were dosed orally. In experiment I, one group received no yeast, the other of the mixed culture (1.5–2 × 1010 live cells/ml). In experiment II, yeast cultivation was modified yielding 1.5–2 × 1013 live cells/ml. Lambs of the three experimental groups received 1 ml/kg live weight of one of the individual yeasts. Feed intake did not differ among groups of both experiments with the exception of SC‐supplemented lambs in experiment II which showed a trend to higher intakes per kg metabolic body weight and in percentage of body weight when compared with KM‐ and SU‐supplemented lambs. Supplementation of the mixed yeast culture had no effect on intakes of digestible crude protein and metabolisable energy, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen balance and rumen fermentation characteristics (pH, ammonia, volatile fatty acid concentration, protozoa count) and urinary allantoin as an indicator of microbial protein synthesis. The same was true for comparisons in experiment II except ciliate protozoa counts, which showed a trend to be the highest with SU and the lowest with SC. The results of present study show that the response of lambs to supplemented live yeast cultures is inconsistent, as it lacked to have an effect in the present study, and that differences among strains were small, even when supplemented at a much higher live cell count.
Evaluation of supplementary stevia (Stevia rebaudiana, bertoni) leaves and stevioside in broiler diets: effects on feed intake, nutrient metabolism, blood parameters and growth performance
Authors: Atteh J. O. , Onagbesan O. M. , Tona K. , Decuypere E. , Geuns J. M. C. , Buyse J. 
Published: January 2008

SummaryA perennial schrub, stevia, and its extracts are used as a natural sweetener and have been shown to possess antimicrobial properties. Stevia contains high levels of sweetening glycosides including stevioside which is thought to possess antimicrobial and antifungal properties. Little is known about the nutritional value of the schrub in livestock. This study determined the potential use of the shrub as a prebiotic animal feed supplement in light of the recent ban on the use of antibiotics in animal feed and the role of its constituent stevioside in the effects of the shrub. Male Cobb broiler chicks were fed a basal broiler diet without antibiotic but with performance enhancing enzyme mix (positive control), a basal diet without antibiotic and enzymes (negative control), or diets in which 2% of the negative control diet was replaced with either dried ground stevia leaves or 130 ppm pure stevioside during 2 week starter and 2 week grower periods. Body weight gains, feed conversion, abdominal fat deposition, plasma hormone and metabolites and caecal short chain fatty acids (SCFA) were measured in the broilers at 2 and 4 weeks of age. There was no significant effect of the treatments on feed intake during the starter period but birds fed diet supplemented with stevia leaves and stevioside consumed more feed (p < 0.05) than those fed the positive control diet during the grower period. Weight gain by birds fed the positive control and stevioside diets was higher (p < 0.05) than those fed other diets only during the starter period. Feed/gain ratio of birds fed the positive control and stevioside diets was superior (p < 0.05) to others. There was no effect of the treatments on nutrient retention and water content of the excreta. Dietary stevia leave and stevioside decreased total concentration of SCFA and changed their profile in the ceca. There was no effect of the treatments on pancreas weight. Dietary stevia reduced blood levels of glucose, triglycerides and triiodothyronine (T3) but had no effect on non‐esterified fatty acids. In contrast, stevioside only decreased T3. Both the stevia leaves and stevioside diets significantly increased abdominal fat content. It is concluded that dietary enzyme growth promoters are beneficial to the broilers only during the starter stage and that inclusion of stevia leaves or stevioside has no beneficial effect on the performance of broilers.
Bioconstructional features of the coral Cladocora caespitosa (Anthozoa, Scleractinia) in the Adriatic Sea (Croatia)
Authors: Kružić Petar , Benković Laura 
Published: January 2008

AbstractThe Mediterranean endemic Cladocora caespitosa (Linnaeus, 1767) is a colonial scleractinian coral belonging to the family Faviidae and the only zooxanthellate coral from Mediterranean whose colonies may fuse in reef‐like structures (hermatypic). Recent surveys are focused on three locations where banks occur in the Adriatic Sea (Croatia): near Prvić Island in the northern Adriatic, near Pag Island in the central Adriatic and in Veliko jezero (Mljet National Park) in the southern Adriatic. The C. caespitosa bank in Veliko jezero covers an area more than 650 m2 and is thus the largest bank of C. caespitosa found to date. The strong sea currents, which occur as a result of tidal exchange in the channel, appear to favour the growth of the bank. The goal of the study was to present the influence of major environmental factors upon the build‐up process of the coral bank. Biometrical parameters in the C. caespitosa colonies like diameter of the calyces, polyp ash free dry weight (AFDW), corallite linear growth rate and index of sphericity were investigated and compared from these three locations. The morphology of coral banks from the Adriatic Sea and the disposition of the biometrical values are affected by the sea currents, temperature and sedimentation.
The giant Madagascar hissing‐cockroach (Gromphadorhina portentosa) as a source of antagonistic moulds: concerns arising from its use in a public setting
Authors: Yoder Jay A. , Glenn Brian D. , Benoit Joshua B. , Zettler Lawrence W. 
Published: January 2008

SummaryCockroaches and their excreta have been linked to allergies and childhood asthma. The giant Madagascar hissing‐cockroach (Gromphadorhina portentosa), heralded as an educational tool in classrooms, museums, zoos, is now available to the public as a children’s pet raising health concerns. We provide a catalogue of potentially antagonistic moulds associated with this insect. Specimens were obtained from laboratories, classrooms, pet stores and private homes. Three different agar media were used to culture moulds from both internal and external cockroach surfaces. Pure cultures were obtained from hyphal tips excised by scalpel. A total of 14 mould taxa were obtained, mostly from external surfaces. The mycoflora was dominated by species of Rhizopus, Penicillium, Mucor, Trichoderma and Alternaria, and differed little among nymphs, adults, cast skins (exuviae) and faeces. A two‐fold increase of Aspergillus niger isolates, however, was detected in exuviae and faeces. The mycoflora appeared to be equally distributed on the body regions in nymphs and adults alike. Most of the moulds recovered are common, well‐known saprophytes with a prolific ability to produce asexual spores (e.g. conidia) when supplied with adequate moisture and an organic substrate (e.g. vegetable matter, pet food and exuviae). Cockroach rearing conditions thus serve as an ideal environment for mould growth and proliferation, and the subsequent use (handling) of these insects in a public forum increases the risk of inducing mould‐related allergies in humans. Of special concern are moulds also capable of causing secondary infections (e.g. Rhizopus, Mucor, Aspergillus), gaining entry via open wounds and inhalation. This is mainly a point of public awareness aimed at individuals (especially children) prone to infections and allergies that might be exposed to this insect and/or its rearing conditions.