Significant Quadratic Increase Research Articles

Can dietary phytogenic mixture improve performance for growth, digestive enzyme activity, blood parameters, and antioxidant and related gene expressions of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus?

The form of dietary phytogenic inclusion and its physiological causal mechanisms for growth promotion and immune stimulation in fish remain unknown. The study examined the effects of dietary phytogenic mixture extracted from lemon (Citrus limon), onion (Allium cepa), and garlic (Allium sativum) (LOG) on Nile tilapia performance, digestive enzymes, haemato-biochemical indices, oxidative stress, and associated gene expression for 70 days. In this experiment, diets were supplemented with 0, 10, 20, and 30 ml LOG kg−1 in isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets and fed to tilapia with an average initial body weight (4.23 ± 0.09 g). Compared to the control diet, the dietary LOG at 20 ml kg−1 elicited the highest final body weight (FBW, 35.50 g fish−1), weight gain (WG, 31.2 g fish−1), specific growth rate (SGR, 3.02%, day fish−1), and survival rate (99.33%). Significant quadratic differences in chymotrypsin, trypsin, amylase, and lipase were shown with increasing LOG supplementation. There was a quadratic response in hematology parameters of fish with increasing LOG levels. Significant linear decreases in ALT, AST, cholesterol, and triglyceride were shown with the increased LOG inclusion in the diets. A polynomial correlation in total protein, albumin, and globulin was found under different inclusion levels of LOG while significant quadratic increases in SOD, CAT, and Gpx and significant quadratic decrease in MDA was found with increasing LOG supplementation. The IGM-2, SOD, and CAT gene expressions were quadratically improved; the highest relative expression was obtained by fish received 20 ml LOG kg−1 diet. Growth hormone gene expression was quadratically modulated in the liver and pituitary of fish fed diverse doses of dietary LOG compared with the control. The phytogenic of LOG at 20 ml kg−1 elicited the best tilapia performance and hematological indices, increased antioxidant and digestive enzyme activities, and gene expressions of growth, immunoglobulin and superoxide dismutase.

Effects of serotonin (5‐HT) on juvenile culture of narrow‐clawed crayfish Pontastacus leptodactylus (Eschscholtz, 1823)

Serotonin was used for the first time in this study as a feed additive in juvenile freshwater crayfish Pontastacus leptodactylus, (stage II-V) to investigate its effects on growth performance, survival and immune response based on total haemocyte count (THC). Serotonin was included in diets at levels of 0 (control), 5, 10, 20 and 40 mg kg−1. When the results were examined, a significant quadratic increase was observed in the values of final total length: FTL and final body weight: FBW, weight gain (WG), length gain (LG) and specific growth rate (SGR) with dietary serotonin amounts (Plinear and Pquadratic <0.05). The survival rates of crayfish showed a significant linear increase with doses of serotonin (Plinear = 0.001). THC values, on the other hand, were not affected by serotonin amounts in experimental diets. The broken line models estimated optimum dietary serotonin inclusions based on FBW and FTL as 20.03 and 20.44 mg kg−1, respectively. In conclusion, dietary serotonin can be used in growing juvenile P. leptodactylus during the developmental stages of II-V.

Preliminary evaluation of Superworm ( Zophobas morio ) larval meal as a partial protein source in experimental diets for juvenile Asian sea bass, Lates calcarifer

A 12-week feeding trial with Asian sea bass Lates calcarifer juveniles was conducted to evaluate the response of feeding defatted Superworm (Zophobas morio) larval meal on growth performance, feed utilization, apparent digestibility coefficient of nutrients and haemato-biochemical status for Asian sea bass. Five isonitrogenous (450 g/kg) and isolipidic (125 g/kg) experimental diets were formulated. A basal diet that contained no insect meal from defatted Superworm (DFSM) served as the control. Four diets were formulated where DFSM was included at 30 g/kg; 11.11% (DFSM-3), 60 g/kg; 22.22% (DFSM-6), 90 g/kg; 33.33% (DFSM-9) and 120 g/kg; 44.44% (DFSM-12), respectively, on a dry matter basis. All essential amino acids (EAA) except methionine, phenylalanine and threonine in DFSM compared favourably with fishmeal (FM) and arginine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, tryptophan and valine were higher than that of FM. No significant (p > .05) differences in weight gain, specific growth rate and feed conversion ratio, hepato-somatic and viscera-somatic index were apparent among fish fed different levels of DFSM. Furthermore, no significant (p < .05) differences were found for apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM) and crude fat in response to dietary DFSM with different levels. A significant decreased linear relationship in the ADC of protein (p = .042) was noted as the level of DFSM incorporation increased in the experimental diet. No significant differences in haematocrit, MCHC and creatinine values were found among the experimental diets. However, a significant quadratic increase in haematocrit (p = .039) was detected as the level of DFSM increased in the diet. Serum cholesterol, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and glutamic oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) were linearly reduced with the increasing of dietary DFSM (linear, p = .043; p = .023; p = .018; p = .028). The findings of the present study indicated that growth, feed efficiency and haemato-biochemical indices were not adversely affected by partial substitution of FM up to 120 g/kg dietary inclusion of Superworm meal. We discuss this in the context of aquafeed applications for marine fish production in Asia for more sustainable production using novel protein ingredients and wider implications.

The effect of dietary sericite on growth performance, digestive enzymes activity, gut microbiota and haematological parameters of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.) fingerlings

A feeding trial was conducted to assess the effect of dietary supplementation of sericite (silicate clay) on growth performance, digestive enzymes activity, immune parameters and gut microbiota, of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.) fingerlings. Five isonitrogenous diets were formulated each diet supplemented with different levels of sericite 0 (control), 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 g/kg diet. After 70 days of feeding trial, supplemental sericite were quadratically improved the final body weight (FBW) (P = 0.023), weight gain (WG) (P = 0.012), specific growth rate (SGR) (P = 0.023) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) P = 0.023) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) (quadratic, P = 0.045). However, the relationship between FCR and sericite levels was expressed by a broken-line model with an identified optimal breakpoint of 6.3 g/kg of sericite inclusion in the diets. Additionally, significant quadratic increase in alkaline phosphatase (ALP), amylase, trypsin, chymotrypsin and lipase enzymes were detected (P = 0.026; P = 0.023; P = 0.013; P = 0.045; P = 0.023) as the level of sericite increased in the diet. Furthermore, dietary sericite levels exhibited linear decreased in the total count bacteria, E. coli and Enterobacteriaceae of stomach and gut of experimental fish (linear, P = 0.032; P = 0.024; P = 0.035; P = 0.023; P = 0.012; P = 0.039, respectively). There was no effect of dietary sericite levels on hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Htc) and red blood cells (RBCs), but a quadratic trend was observed in white blood cells (WBCs), monocytes and lymphocytes of fish (quadratic, P = 0.036; P = 0.013; P = 0.034), respectively. Increasing dietary sericite levels did not affect alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), albumin and globulin but quadratically increased total protein (quadratic, P = 0.012) and IgM exhibited linear trend (linear, P = 0.045). Results in this study indicate that the addition of sericite as feed additive enhanced the growth, feed utilization, digestive enzyme activities, blood profile and gut biota of Nile tilapia.

Allocation of forest biomass across broad precipitation gradients in China\u2019s forests

Forests act as major sinks for atmospheric CO2. An understanding of the relationship between forest biomass allocation and precipitation gradients is needed to estimate the impacts of changes in precipitation on carbon stores. Biomass patterns depend on tree size or age, making it unclear whether biomass allocation is limited by tree age at regional scales. Using a dataset of ten typical forest types spanning a large age scale, we evaluated forest biomass allocation–precipitation correlations with the aim of testing whether biomass allocation patterns vary systematically in response to altered precipitation. With increasing mean annual precipitation, a significant quadratic increase occurred in ≤30 yr and >60 yr groups in stem biomass, >60 yr group in branch biomass, and >60 yr groups in leaf biomass; and a significant cubic increase occurred in 30–60 yr and all age forest groups in stem biomass, ≤30 yr, 30–60 yr and all age forest groups in branch biomass, ≤30 yr and all age forest groups in leaf biomass, and in each group in root biomass, indicating that organ biomass is strongly limited by precipitation. Thus, forest biomass responds predictably to changes in mean annual precipitation. The results suggest that forest organ biomass–precipitation relationships hold across independent datasets that encompass a broad climatic range and forest age.

Saturation of the free carrier absorption in ZnTe crystals

This study systematically investigates the influence of free carriers on the generation of THz in ZnTe crystals, over a wide range of pumping fluences. As the pumping fluence is increased (< 6.36 mJ/cm(2)), the concentration of free carriers gradually increases and the THz output power is saturated, as clearly demonstrated by the time delay in the THz temporal waveforms, the changes in the THz spectral weight and the red-shift in the PL spectra. For high pumping fluences (> 6.36 mJ/cm(2)), spectacularly, there is a significant quadratic increase in the THz output power when the pumping fluence is increased, as well as at low pumping fluences of < 0.58 mJ/cm(2), because of the saturation of free carriers.

Zinc Nutrition of Lowland Rice

Zinc (Zn) deficiency in rice has been widely reported in many rice-growing regions of the world. A greenhouse experiment was conducted with the objective of determining Zn requirements of lowland rice. Zinc rates used were 0, 5, 10 20, 40, 80, and 120 mg Zn kg−1 of soil applied to an Inceptisol. Zinc application significantly affected shoot dry weight and grain yield as well as concentrations and uptakes of Zn in soil and plant. Maximum yield of shoot dry weight and grain yield were achieved at 5 and 20 mg Zn kg−1 of soil, respectively. Zinc concentration and uptake in shoot as well as Zn uptake in grain had significant quadratic increases as Zn concentration increased in the soil solution. Zinc concentration as well as uptake was greater in the shoot as compared with concentration and uptake in the grain. Zinc-use efficiencies significantly decreased with increasing Zn rates in the soil except agrophysiological efficiency, which had significant quadratic increases with increasing Zn rates. On average, about 6% of the applied Zn was recovered by the lowland rice plants. Mehlich 1 extracting solution extracted much more Zn than diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA). However, Mehlich 1 as well as DTPA-extractable Zn had significant positive correlations with each other as well as with Zn uptake in grain and shoot.

BENZYLADENINE INCREASES BRANCHING OF HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS

Many of the herbaceous perennials, especially the newer cultivars of Echinacea, are poorly branching, slow to fill out the pot, and produce few propagules. Configure (6-BA, Fine Americas, Inc.), a new product recently labeled for branching of floricultural crops, was evaluated on a variety of perennials over two seasons. Configure was applied once as a foliar spray at rates of 0, 300, 600, 900 or 1200 mg/L to established plants grown in 1.1-L pots filled with a peat/pine bark medium. Plant height and number of branches were determined at 2-week intervals after treatment (WAT). In spring trials, Configure improved the basal branching of Echinacea purpurea ‘Double Decker’ with a three-fold increase in the number of new shoots per plant with a single foliar application of 300 mg/L (control 1.0 vs. 300 mg/L 3.8 shoots at 2 WAT). Higher rates further increased the number of basal shoots. Echinacea purpurea ‘White Swan’ had a better branching habit and was more responsive to Configure with increased branching at 4 WAT with treatment of 300 mg/L; again higher rates increased the number of new branches. Vinca minor ‘Sterling Silver’ showed a significant quadratic increase in the number of branches at 4 WAT with Configure which did not persist but suggests that there may be value in multiple applications. Coreopsis verticillata ‘Zagreb’ plants treated with Configure had increased branches at 2 WAT that also did not persist. In Fall trials, branching of Echinacea ‘Ruby Star’ increased nearly 2-fold (control 2.6 vs. 300 mg/L 5.0 shoots) at 2 WAT. Similar results were observed with Echinacea ‘Magnus’. Clematis jackmanii, Phlox paniculata ‘Bright Eyes’, Buddleia × weyeriana ‘Honeycomb’ and Coreopsis rosea ‘Sweet Dreams’, were not responsive to Configure. In all tests, positive results persisted throughout the six to ten week studies. Configure offers a new tool for improving the finished quality and propagation potential of Echinacea cultivars and the potential for improving branching of other herbaceous perennials.

Influences of Body-Size Variables on Age-Related Increases in Isokinetic Peak Torque in Young Wrestlers

The purposes of the present study were to determine the patterns of age-related changes in 1) height (HT), body weight (BW), fat-free weight (FFW), and absolute isokinetic peak torque (PT); and 2) isokinetic PT covaried separately for HT, BW, FFW, and HT and BW combined in young wrestlers. One hundred twenty-five male wrestlers (mean age +/- SD = 14.3 +/- 2.4 yr; range = 11.1-18.2 yr) volunteered to perform concentric, isokinetic leg extension and flexion at 180 degrees xs-1 on a Cybex II dynamometer to measure PT as well as underwater weighing to determine FFW. The polynomial regression analyses indicated there were significant quadratic increases across age for HT (R = 0.62), BW (R = 0.56), and FFW (R = 0.47). For leg extension, there were significant increases across age for absolute PT (quadratic, R = 0.66), PT covaried for HT (linear, r = 0.10), PT covaried for BW (linear, r = 0.12), PT covaried for FFW (quadratic, R = 0.32), and PT covaried for HT and BW combined (quadratic, R = 0.11). For leg flexion, there were significant increases across age for absolute PT (linear, r = 0.59), PT covaried for HT (linear, r = 0.07), PT covaried for BW (linear, r = 0.08), PT covaried for FFW (quadratic, R = 0.23), and PT covaried for BW and HT combined (linear, r = 0.03). The results of this study indicated that age-related increases in leg-extension and flexion PT for the current sample of young wrestlers could not be accounted for by changes in HT, BW, FFW, or HT and BW combined. These findings suggested that neural maturation may contribute to increases in leg strength across age in young wrestlers.

From basic research to biological treatments: psoriasis publications over the past 15 years

In the past few decades, great progress has been made in psoriasis research, culminating with the development of new, biological treatments. We designed this study to test the hypothesis that there is a linear increase in psoriasis publications over time. We evaluated all PubMed articles from 1 January 1993 to 31 December 2007. We categorized the search into basic science, traditional therapy and new biological treatments. We used regression analysis to determine the effect of year of publication upon number of publications of each type. There was a significant quadratic increase in the number of all types of psoriasis publications, with basic science-related publications being greatest, followed by relevant clinical publications. We conclude that better understanding of psoriasis immunopathology has led to a significant yearly increase in clinical studies, contributing approximately 60% of studies in the entire field of dermatology reports.

Dry Matter and Yield of Lowland Rice Genotypes as Influence by Nitrogen Fertilization

ABSTRACT Rice is a staple food for more than 50% of the world's population and nitrogen (N) is one of the most yield limiting nutrients in lowland rice ecosystems. A field experiment was conducted for two consecutive years to evaluate dry matter production and grain yield of 12 lowland rice genotypes (BRS Jaçanã, CNAi 8860, BRS Fronteira, CNAi 8879, CNAi 8880, CNAi 8886, CNAi 8885, CNAi 8569, BRSGO Guará, BRS Alvorada, BRS Jaburu, and BRS Biguá) at five N rates (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 kg ha− 1). Genotypes showed significant variation in grain yield and shoot dry weight. Genotype BRSGO Guará was highest yielding, whereas genotype BRS Jaburu was lowest yielding and the remaining genotypes were intermediate in grain yielding potential. Grain yield and shoot dry weight were having significant quadratic increase with increasing N rates in the range of 0 to 200 kg ha− 1. However, 90% of the maximum yield is often considered as an economical rate, which was 120 kg for shoot dry weight and 136 kg N ha− 1 for grain yield. Shoot dry matter was having significant positive quadratic association with grain yield across 12 genotypes.

The effect of concentrate feed level on the response of lactating dairy cows to a constant proportion of fodder beet inclusion in a grass silage‐based diet

Abstract The effects of level of concentrate supplementation on the response of dairy cows to grass silage‐based diets containing a constant proportion of fodder beet were examined. Forty Holstein‐Friesian dairy cows of mixed parity were used in a 2 × 5 factorial design experiment. Two basal diet types [grass silage alone or grass silage mixed with fodder beet in a 70:30 dry matter (DM) ratio] were offered ad libitum, and the effects of five levels of concentrate supplementation (mean = 3·0, 5·3, 7·5, 9·8 and 12·0 kg DM per cow d−1) were examined. Concentrate supplements were offered via an out‐of‐parlour feeding system. These treatments were examined in a three‐period (period length = 4 weeks) partially balanced changeover design experiment.Fodder beet inclusion had no significant effect on the estimated metabolizable energy (ME) concentration of the ration (P &gt; 0·001). Total DM intake, estimated ME intake, milk yield, milk protein content and milk energy output all showed significant linear increases with increasing level of concentrate inclusion (P &lt; 0·001) while, in addition, milk yield and milk energy output exhibited a significant quadratic increase (P &lt; 0·01). The inclusion of fodder beet in the diet reduced silage DM intake (P &lt; 0·01) but resulted in an increase in total DM intake and estimated ME intake (P &lt; 0·001). However, inclusion of fodder beet had no significant effect on milk yield (P &gt; 0·05), while increasing milk protein content and milk energy output (P ≤ 0·05). Milk energy output, as a proportion of estimated ME intake, was significantly (P &lt; 0·001) reduced by fodder beet inclusion (0·44 vs. 0·38).Despite large increases in estimated ME intake with the inclusion of fodder beet at all levels of concentrate supplementation, milk energy output responses were small, resulting in an overall reduction in the efficiency of conversion of ME intake into milk energy output. An increased partitioning of dietary ME intake to tissue gain is suggested as the most likely explanation for the observations made.

Effect of prostaglandin F 2α on uterine or ovarian secretion of prostaglandins E and F 2α in vivo in 90–100 day hysterectomized, intact or ovariectomized pregnant ewes

Vehicle or 8 or 16 mg of PGF 2α per 58 kg body weight was given intramuscularly to intact, hysterectomized or ovariectomized 90–100 day pregnant ewes in three separate experiments. Both doses of PGF 2α increased PGF 2α in ovarian venous plasma compared with controls at 72 hr post treatment in intact (P≤0.05) but did not in hysterectomized (P≥0.05) 90–100 day pregnant ewes. Concentrations of PGE in ovarian venous blood of intact ewes did not differ (P≥0.05) between treatment groups and were equivalent to concentrations of PGE determined in uterine venous plasma. PGE was decreased in ovarian venous plasma by PGF 2α in hysterectomized ewes (P≤0.07). PGE in uterine venous plasma averaged 6 ng/ml over the 72-hr treatment period in intact and ovariectomized 90–100 day pregnant ewes and was 12 fold greater (P≤0.05) than PGF 2α which averaged 500 pg/ml in uterine venous plasma. Both PGF 2α and PGE increased (P≤0.05) by 64 hr in uterine venous plasma of the 8 mg PGF 2α — treated intact pregnant ewes. A significant quadratic increase (P≤0.05) was observed for PGF 2α and PGE in the vehicle and both PGF 2α treatment groups of intact ewes at the end of the 72-hr sampling period. It is concluded that the uterus and ovaries secrete significant quantities of PGE but little PGF 2α during midgestation. In addition, PGF 2α increased uterine secretion of PGE in vivo . PGE may be a placental stimulator of ovine placental secretion of progesterone or PGE may protect placental steroidogenesis from actions of PGF 2α.

Effect of prostaglandin F2 α ( PGF2 α) on sources of progesterone and pregnancy in intact, ovariectomized and hysterectomized 90–100 day pregnant ewes

A single dose of 8 or 16 mg of PGF 2 α per 58 kg body weight was injected intramuscular into intact, ovariectomized or hysterectomized 90–100 day pregnant sheep in three separate experiments. Both doses of PGF 2 α decreased the weights of the corpora lutea ( P≤0.05) and the concentration of progesterone in ovarian venous plasma at 72 hr ( P≤0.05) compared to the 0 hr sample within treatment groups and to control ewes at 72 hr in intact and hysterectomized pregnant ewes. In hysterectomized pregnant ewes, progesterone in jugular plasma declined ( P≤0.05) from 0 to 72 hr but never fell below 4 mg/ml and this decrease in progesterone after 8 or 16 mg PGF 2 α was greater than in control hysterectomized ewes ( P≤0.05). There was a significant decrease in progesterone over time in jugular or uterine venous plasma in the presence of absence of the ovaries in 90–100 day pregnant ewes ( P≤0.05) but the profiles of progesterone were not different between vehicle and PGF 2 α -treated ewes ( P≥0.05). Uterine venous progesterone never declined below 30 ng/ml in the presence or absence of the ovaries and there was a significant quadratic increase ( P≤0.05) in uterine venous progesterone toward the end of the 72 hr sampling period indicating an increase in steroidogenic activity of the placenta. PGF 2 α did not affect the number of abortions in intact or ovariectomized pregnant ewes ( P>0.05). Thus, the corpus luteum of sheep at 90–100 days of pregnancy is functional and responsive to PGF 2 α , placentomes are functional but do not appear to be responsive to the doses of PGF 2 α tested and PGF 2 α was not an abortifacient over the 72 hr treatment period.

Apparent and True Metabolizable Energy of Feedstuffs for Mature, Nonlaying Female Embden Geese ,

Mature, nonlaying, female Embden geese were used to determine the effect of level of intake on the apparent and true metabolizable energy (AME and TME) of corn, wheat, and oats. The AME values showed a significant quadratic increase as level of intake increased; however, TME values showed a decreasing trend as input levels increased from 10 to 70 g. In the second experiment, corn, wheat, oats, and rice hulls were determined to have similar and rapid passage rates through the goose. The gross energy and proximate composition of 18 feedstuffs along with corresponding AME and TME values for geese are reported.