Advantage In Terms Of Growth Research Articles

Carcass meat quality, volatile compound profile, and gene expression in Tan sheep under different feeding regimes

The formation mechanism of volatile compounds in Tan lamb meat under different feeding regimes remains unclear. This study aimed to determine whether the volatile compounds in meat are related to lipid metabolism in an attempt to improve the theoretical basis for increasing the yield and quality of lamb production. Results showed that the specialized pasture grazing with indoor feeding (GF) and indoor feeding only (F) regimes had advantages in terms of growth and carcass traits compared to the specialized pasture grazing only (G) regime. Lamb meat qualities of the GF group were in an intergrade position compared to those of the F and G groups. Although the lamb meat of the three groups had different aroma attributes, as measured using SPME-GC-MS, GF lamb meat had the most pleasant active compounds. In contrast, the expression of lipid transport genes was altered in all three groups. In summary, Tan lambs had different growth performance, intramuscular fat content, and composition under the three feeding regimes, which might be due to the differences in energy and lipid transport, resulting in unique volatile compound profiles in meat from different groups.

Evaluation of advantages in the growth, survival and reproductive aspects of triploid hybrids derived from Crassostrea gigas tetraploids and C. ariakensis diploids in northern China

Crossbreeding and polyploid breeding are two important tools for the genetic improvement of oysters, and their cross-application is expected to provide new benefits to oyster breeding. To evaluate the aquaculture traits of allotriploids between Crassostrea gigas and Crassostrea ariakensis, two triploid hybrids (TAG (diploid C. ariakensis ♀ × tetraploid C. gigas ♂) and TGA (tetraploid C. gigas ♀ × diploid C. ariakensis ♂)) were established. Phenotypic traits including growth, survival and reproduction were analyzed in two diploid hybrids (AG (diploid C. ariakensis ♀ × diploid C. gigas ♂) and GA (diploid C. gigas ♂ × diploid C. ariakensis ♀)) as controls. The results showed that TAG presented triploid advantage in fertilization rates and hatching rates, up to 11.34% and 26.50% respectively, while TGA did not. The survival rate of TAG and the shell height of TGA exhibited triploid advantage throughout the larval stage and were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those of AG and GA at day 25. During the grow-out stage, triploid advantages appeared in the shell height of TAG and TGA, but only TAG showed triploid advantages in the survival rate. The triploid rates of TAG and TGA began to decrease during the grow-out stage, and reached 96.11% ± 4.41% and 90.56% ± 3.47%, respectively, at day 350. It was also found that the reproduction of TAG and TGA on day 350 was poor, manifesting as a high proportion of individuals with no gametes or a low number of gametes. Overall, TAG always presents triploid advantages in terms of growth and survival throughout the grow-out stage and shows potential value as a new resource of oyster farming or genetic improvement.

Effects of triploidy induction on productive traits of the Caribbean pectinid, Argopecten nucleus (Mollusca: Bivalvia)

Argopecten nucleus is a small size pectinid, whose farming and hatchery technology have been developed at experimental and pilot scales. In order to assess the effectiveness of biotechnological tools for the improvement of productive traits, the effects of triploidy induction on its growth and survival rates at different developmental stages were analyzed. Thus, zygotes that underwent cold-shock treatment (12 °C for 15 min) and untreated zygotes were cultured in the laboratory during their embryonic, larval and post-larval stages, while juvenile and adults were farmed in sea-based suspended systems. Ploidy condition was verified by cytofluorometry. Growth was similar in induced to triploid and untreated larvae and post-larvae. Similarly, no differences were found for shell growth and wet weight in confirmed triploid juveniles and adults, in comparison to diploid individuals. In addition, although no effects of the triploidy induction treatment was observed on the survival of larvae and post-larvae, triploid juveniles and adults exhibited a lower survival than diploids. Thus, the triploid condition did not to confer advantages in terms of growth; instead it caused a decrease on the survival of juveniles and adults, negatively impacting the biomass yield of this pectinid species.

Unprecedented Enantiospecific Live-cell Nuclear DNA Targeting and Photosensitizing of the Chiral DNA Light-Switch Ru(II) Cationic Complex via Simple Ion-Pairing with Chlorophenolic Counter-anions

Argopecten nucleus is a small size pectinid, whose farming and hatchery technology have been developed at experimental and pilot scales. In order to assess the effectiveness of biotechnological tools for the improvement of productive traits, the effects of triploidy induction on its growth and survival rates at different developmental stages were analyzed. Thus, zygotes that underwent cold-shock treatment (12 °C for 15 min) and untreated zygotes were cultured in the laboratory during their embryonic, larval and post-larval stages, while juvenile and adults were farmed in sea-based suspended systems. Ploidy condition was verified by cytofluorometry. Growth was similar in induced to triploid and untreated larvae and post-larvae. Similarly, no differences were found for shell growth and wet weight in confirmed triploid juveniles and adults, in comparison to diploid individuals. In addition, although no effects of the triploidy induction treatment was observed on the survival of larvae and post-larvae, triploid juveniles and adults exhibited a lower survival than diploids. Thus, the triploid condition did not to confer advantages in terms of growth; instead it caused a decrease on the survival of juveniles and adults, negatively impacting the biomass yield of this pectinid species.

PRODUCTIVE QUALITIES OF CROSS-BRED SEMI-COARSE WOOL SHEEP

The article presents the results of studying productive qualities of young semi-coarse wool sheep during growth period, from birth to 18 months of age, depending on their origin. The study was carried out in Trans-Baikal Territory, in the pedigree breeding unit. Three groups of experimental animals were under study. The control group consisted of young pure-bred semi-coarse wool Aginskaya breed, the first experimental group consisted of the second generation hybrids of Kazakh semi-coarse wool breed, obtained from breeding within its type, and the second group consisted of the second generation crossbred young sheep of Aginskaya breed, obtained from breeding within its type. It was established that sheep of the second experimental group have advantage in terms of growth, development and slaughtering qualities over the pure-bred analogues of the Aginskaya breed and the animals of the first group. At the age of 18 months, rams of the second group also showed a significant advantage in the average live weight over the analogues from the control group and the first group, by 7.1 and 10.1%, respectively. In ewes, significant superiority in body weight over peers was established at the age of 12 months, by 6.2% and 9.5% respectively. In terms of slaughtering qualities, rams of the second experimental group at the age of 4 and 18 months revealed a significant advantage in the carcass weight and slaughter weight (P &lt;0.05-0.001). Purebred sheep of Aginskaya breed were distinguished by the best wool productivity.

Effect of grazing on the population of Matteuccia struthiopteris at the southern limit of its distribution in Europe

AbstractWe investigated the impact of deer on an isolated marginal population of Matteuccia struthiopteris and on its plant community in the northern Apennines, where in recent decades the species has decreased dramatically. Our experiment was based on a 6‐year before and after control impact (BACI) design, comparing plots with deer grazing and plots where deer were excluded. Exclusion of grazing interacted with years, increasing the size of existing plants and favoring production of sporophylls. The yearly sequence of increase and decline of ramets and sterile leaves followed the same pattern in the two treatments. This indicated that their annual variation in growth depended on the sequence of more and less favorable years. Few and short plants were associated with grazing, whereas tall plants, shrubs, and tree regeneration were associated with fenced plots. The few plants to persist and dominate on heavily grazed areas were Oxalis acetosella and Cardamine species, while the genus Rubus and tree saplings were grazing‐sensitive species in this forest. Tall herbaceous species increased in size in the fenced areas, however, M. struthiopteris drew more advantage in terms of growth of leaves, showing greater cover than other species. Thus, deer grazing is becoming a threat for the survival of M. struthiopteris in southern Europe where it is already threatened in the long term by climate change.

A model of vegetation dynamics of Spartina alterniflora and Phragmites australis in an expanding estuarine wetland: Biological interactions and sedimentary effects

Spartina alterniflora (Smooth Cordgrass) and Phragmites australis (Common Reed) are dominant types of vegetation in Jiuduansha Shoals in the Yangtze Estuary of China. Each species has advantages in terms of growth and competition in different tidal zones. The vegetation types are dynamic due to the variation in the extension and position of different elevation zones due to the deposition of the sediments carried by river runoff. A model was constructed to simulate the vegetation changes over time due to the changes in sediment loads and zonation. A structurally dynamic model was built using Stella software which based on: (i) S. alterniflora and P. australis biological interaction at different elevation; (ii) the morphometric changes of the island which are increasing based on sediment disposition and the sediment trapping effect of plants. The model simulations predict that the areas of P. australis will continue to increase; it will be reach to 1100ha in 2028. S. alterniflora areas will decrease after the areas slightly increasing to maximum 712ha in 2015.

Effects of Cu/Zn Superoxide Dismutase (sod1) Genotype and Genetic Background on Growth, Reproduction and Defense in Biomphalaria glabrata

Resistance of the snail Biomphalaria glabrata to the trematode Schistosoma mansoni is correlated with allelic variation at copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (sod1). We tested whether there is a fitness cost associated with carrying the most resistant allele in three outbred laboratory populations of snails. These three populations were derived from the same base population, but differed in average resistance. Under controlled laboratory conditions we found no cost of carrying the most resistant allele in terms of fecundity, and a possible advantage in terms of growth and mortality. These results suggest that it might be possible to drive resistant alleles of sod1 into natural populations of the snail vector for the purpose of controlling transmission of S. mansoni. However, we did observe a strong effect of genetic background on the association between sod1 genotype and resistance. sod1 genotype explained substantial variance in resistance among individuals in the most resistant genetic background, but had little effect in the least resistant genetic background. Thus, epistatic interactions with other loci may be as important a consideration as costs of resistance in the use of sod1 for vector manipulation.

The value of supplementary feeding to pre-weaned and weaned lambs grazing Italian ryegrass

The variation in, and often the disappointingly poor weight gains and the inability of lambs to achieve desirable carcass grades on ryegrass pastures have long been a concern to researchers, extension officers, advisors and farmers. The objectives of this study were to investigate whether concentrate supplementation to lambs on Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum cv Midmar) pastures would improve the performance of lambs, and what the optimum level of supplementation is to lambs on the pasture. The investigation extended over the pre- and post-weaning growth phases of lambs and was conducted during two consecutive seasons at the Cedara Research Station in the KwaZulu-Natal Mistbelt. The pre-weaning stocking rate applied, was 20 South African Mutton Merino ewes with lambs/ha and the following treatments were applied: Control: continuous grazing - no creep feed; forward creep grazing by the lambs in a rotational grazing system where the lambs were allowed to graze paddocks allocated to the ewes, plus the next paddock in their series of grazing paddocks; 100 g creep feed/lamb/day; 250 g creep feed/lamb/day and creep feed ad libitum. The post-weaning stocking rate applied, was 50 lambs/ha and treatments were: Control - no supplement; 250 g of supplement/lamb/day (only the second season); 500 g of supplement/lamb/day and supplement ad libitum. From 42 days of age to weaning, supplementation significantly improved the live weight gain of suckling lambs. Creep feed intake varied between 300 and 350 g/lamb/day. The average daily gain of the weaned lambs improved significantly with supplementation. No significant advantage in terms of growth was gained by supplementing the weaned lambs at levels of higher than 500 g/day. South African Journal of Animal Science Vol.32(1) 2002: 30-37

Growth of the Subclavian Artery and the Anastomosis in Blalock-Taussig Shunt: Absorbable Versus Nonabsorbable Suture

Background. We evaluated the growth of Blalock-Taussig shunts placed with absorbable suture by cineangiographic findings and long-term results and compared them with those in an earlier group of patients in whom we used nonabsorbable suture. Methods. Eighty-one patients had postoperative cineangiography 1 year or more after a Blalock-Taussig shunt procedure. From September 1985 to December 1994, 40 patients (group I) underwent a Blalock-Taussig shunt procedure with the use of absorbable polydioxanone suture, and from January 1980 to August 1989, 41 (group II) underwent the same operation with nonabsorbable polypropylene suture. Cineangiograms were reviewed to assess shunt patency and growth of the subclavian arteries and the subclavian artery–pulmonary artery anastomoses. Results. At the Blalock-Taussig shunt operation, mean outer diameters of the subclavian artery and the anastomosis in group I were 3.8 ± 0.1 mm and 4.1 ± 0.1 mm, respectively and 3.9 ± 0.1 mm and 4.0 ± 0.1 mm in group II. The mean inner diameters of the subclavian artery and the anastomosis measured in postoperative cineangiograms were 7.9 ± 0.5 mm and 4.6 ± 0.2 mm, respectively in group I and 6.6 ± 0.4 mm and 3.1 ± 0.2 mm in group II. The diameters of both the subclavian artery ( p < 0.05) and the anastomosis ( p < 0.001) were significantly greater in group I than in group II. Five years after operation, 71.1% ± 7.4% of patients in group I and 54.8% ± 8.0% in group II had good palliation. Conclusions. The use of absorbable polydioxanone suture has an advantage in terms of growth of the diameters of the subclavian artery and the anastomosis in a Blalock-Taussig shunt and may improve the long-term results after this shunt operation in infancy.

In vitro interactions between Histoplasma capsulatum var. duboisii and other fungi.

Histoplasma capsulatum var. duboisii has only recently been shown to occur naturally in soil admixed with bat guano in a bat cave. We report our observations on the in vitro interaction of Histoplasma capsulatum var. duboisii with other fungi recovered from the same habitat or other sources by employing co-culture technique and by investigating antibiosis between H. capsulatum var. duboisii and other fungi. The range of interactions varied from total overgrowth of Histoplasma by Aspergillus fumigatus and Microsporum gypseum, through partial antagonism by Lecythophora mutabilis, to mutual inhibition by Wangiella dermatitidis. Those fungi that exhibited a competitive advantage in terms of growth did not affect the viability of Histoplasma. Lysis and mycoparasitic structures were not observed in the co-cultures. However, the cultural filtrate of Chrysosporium indicum inhibited the growth of the Histoplasma strains. The results suggest the ability of H. capsulatum var. duboisii to co-exist with a variety of other potentially pathogenic and non-pathogenic fungi in an ecological niche.

Vertebral number in adders,Vipera berus: direct and indirect effects on growth

Given the importance of body size, and thereby growth rate, for many reproductive parameters in snakes, morphological traits conferring an advantage in terms of growth may be important targets of selection. Studies have demonstrated effects of vertebral number of growth rate in garter snakes. In this study effects of total number of body vertebrae and of number of abnormal body vertebrae (obtained by counting number of ventral scutes and number of abnormal scutes) on growth rate in free-ranging male and female adders,Vipera berus(L.), are examined by calculating directional performance gradients (estimating linear effects) and stabilizing performance gradients (estimating curvilinear effects). After controlling for body size (SVL) female adders demonstrated a significant positive directional gradient for vertebral number, and a significant interaction between body size and vertebral number, showing that females with more vertebrae have higher size-specific growth rates, and that this effect is strongest among small, fast growing individuals. Females also showed a weak stabilizing effect of abnormal vertebrae. Males, on the other hand, showed a positive directional gradient for number of abnormal vertebrae, whereas no effect of vertebral number was observed. Indirect effects of the same variables were evaluated by use of path analysis. Generally, indirect effects were weak and did not substantially increase the amount of explained variance in growth rate. Field data showed that the correlation between vertebral number and growth rate in females was stronger in years with higher overall growth rate. To evaluate whether vertebral number and food availability show an interactive effect I used captive born juvenile adders in an experiment with two different food levels. The experiment confirmed the field data. No relationship between vertebral number and growth was observed in the low food level group, whereas in the high food level group a significant positive correlation was demonstrated. Finally, the heritability of vertebral number was examined using a mother-offspring regression and a full-sib analysis. The estimated heritabilities were 0·30 and 0·39, respectively. From these results it is concluded that both vertebral number and abnormal vertebral number may significantly affect growth in adders, but that this effect may differ between sexes and among years.

Vertebral number in adders, Vipera berus: direct and indirect effects on growth

Abstract Given the importance of body size, and thereby growth rate, for many reproductive parameters in snakes, morphological traits conferring an advantage in terms of growth may be important targets of selection. Studies have demonstrated effects of vertebral number of growth rate in garter snakes. In this study effects of total number of body vertebrae and of number of abnormal body vertebrae (obtained by counting number of ventral scutes and number of abnormal scutes) on growth rate in free-ranging male and female adders, Vipera berus (L.), are examined by calculating directional performance gradients (estimating linear effects) and stabilizing performance gradients (estimating curvilinear effects). After controlling for body size (SVL) female adders demonstrated a significant positive directional gradient for vertebral number, and a significant interaction between body size and vertebral number, showing that females with more vertebrae have higher size-specific growth rates, and that this effect is strongest among small, fast growing individuals. Females also showed a weak stabilizing effect of abnormal vertebrae. Males, on the other hand, showed a positive directional gradient for number of abnormal vertebrae, whereas no effect of vertebral number was observed. Indirect effects of the same variables were evaluated by use of path analysis. Generally, indirect effects were weak and did not substantially increase the amount of explained variance in growth rate. Field data showed that the correlation between vertebral number and growth rate in females was stronger in years with higher overall growth rate. To evaluate whether vertebral number and food availability show an interactive effect I used captive born juvenile adders in an experiment with two different food levels. The experiment confirmed the field data. No relationship between vertebral number and growth was observed in the low food level group, whereas in the high food level group a significant positive correlation was demonstrated. Finally, the heritability of vertebral number was examined using a mother-offspring regression and a full-sib analysis. The estimated heritabilities were 0·30 and 0·39, respectively. From these results it is concluded that both vertebral number and abnormal vertebral number may significantly affect growth in adders, but that this effect may differ between sexes and among years.

The influence of light quality on growth and phycobiliprotein/chlorophyll a fluorescence quotients of some species of freshwater algae in culture

Abstract A comparative study of the effects of light quality on the growth and phycobiliprotein (PBP)/chlorophyll a fluorescence quotients for two strains of cryptophytes, the bloom-forming cyanobacterium Oscillatoria (Tychonema) bourrellyi Lund and a non-PBP-containing green alga, Euglena sp., is described. Oscillatoria bourrellyi Lund (Cyanobacteria) was able to sustain a high growth rate regardless of the light quality. Cryptomonas CCAP 979/67 exhibited only weak chromatic adaptation compared with the cyanobacterium, and in Cryptomonas CCAP 979/62 chromatic adaptation was even weaker. Thus the possession of PBPs does not seem to provide cryptophytes with a distinct advantage in terms of growth in chromatic light and it is possible that cryptophytes use PBPs mainly as a nitrogen reserve.