Dairy farmers are motivated to ensure cows become pregnant in an optimal and timely manner. Although timed artificial insemination (TAI) is a successful management tool in dairy cattle, it masks an ...animal's innate fertility performance, likely reducing the accuracy of genetic evaluations for fertility traits. Therefore, separating fertility traits based on the recorded management technique involved in the breeding process or adding the breeding protocol as an effect to the model can be viable approaches to address the potential bias caused by such management decisions. Nevertheless, there is a lack of specificity and uniformity in the recording of breeding protocol descriptions by dairy farmers. Therefore, this study investigated the use of 8 supervised machine learning algorithms to classify 1,835 unique breeding protocol descriptions from 981 herds into the following 2 classes: TAI or other than TAI. Our results showed that models that used a stacking classifier algorithm had the highest Matthews correlation coefficient (0.94 ± 0.04, mean ± SD) and maximized precision and recall (F1-score = 0.96 ± 0.03) on test data. Nonetheless, their F1-scores on test data were not different from 5 out of the other 7 algorithms considered. Altogether, results presented herein suggest machine learning algorithms can be used to produce robust models that correctly identify TAI protocols from dairy cattle breeding records, thus opening the opportunity for unbiased genetic evaluation of animals based on their natural fertility.
Genetic improvement is a crucial tool to deal with the increasing demand for high quality, sustainably produced dairy. Breeding programs are based on genetic parameters, such as heritability and ...genetic correlations, for economically important traits in a population. In this study, we estimated population genetic parameters and genetic trends for 67 traits evaluated on heifers and first-lactation Canadian Holstein cows. The data consisted of approximately 500,000 records with pedigree information collected from 1980 to 2019. Genetic parameters were estimated using bivariate linear animal models under a Bayesian approach. Analyses for the 67 traits resulted in 2,211 bivariate combinations, from which the estimated genetic parameters are reported here. The most highly heritable traits were fat percent (0.66) and protein percent (0.69), followed by stature (0.47). Lowest heritabilities (0.01) were observed for disease-related traits, such as lameness and toe ulcer, and calf survival. The genetic correlations between gestation length, calf size, and calving ease measured on both heifer and cows were close to unity. On the other hand, traits such as body condition score and pin width, cystic ovaries and sole ulcer, rear teat placement, and toe ulcer were genetically unrelated. This study reports genetic parameters that have not been previously published for Canadian Holstein cows, and provides updates of those previously estimated. These estimates are useful for building new indexes, updating existing selection indexes, and for predicting correlated responses due to inclusion of novel traits in the breeding programs.
Selaginella convoluta (Arn.) Spring is a species popularly known as "jericó", and used in folk medicine as analgesic and anti-inflammatory. This study aimed to investigate in mice the antinociceptive ...and anti-inflammatory activities of the hexane (Sc-Hex) and chloroform (Sc-CHCl3) fractions (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) obtained by partition of crude ethanol extract from S. convoluta. The preliminary phytochemical analysis of the fractions was performed. Antinociceptive activity was evaluated by writhing, formalin and hot-plate tests. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using carrageenan-induced pleurisy. The rota-rod test was used to evaluate motor coordination. Preliminary phytochemical screening showed that the Sc-Hex and the Sc-CHCl3 were positive for the presence of flavonoids, anthracene derivatives, quinones, triterpenes and steroids. Inhibition of writhing was observed for fractions tested. The Sc-Hex at all doses tested was effective in reducing the nociceptive behavior produced by formalin only in the second phase. However, the Sc-CHCl3 decreased the paw licking time in the first and second phases. In the hot plate no significant effect was observed for any fraction. In the rota-rod test, treated mice did not demonstrate any significant motor performance changes. In the carrageenan-induced pleurisy, Sc-CHCl3 (200 mg/kg) reduced cell migration to the pleural cavity. These results reveal the antinociceptive properties of S. convoluta , which support, in part, its traditional use, since the fractions did not presented significant activity in the inflammatory response profile. We further verify that this antinociceptive effect could be by activation of nociceptive peripheral pathway.
This study was carried out to assess the antibacterial, cytotoxic and antioxidant activities of extracts of Morus nigra L. HPLC was used to determine the fingerprint chromatogram of the crude ...ethanolic extract (Mn-EtOH). The antibacterial effect was assessed through the method of microdilution. The cytotoxicity was tested against human tumour cell lines using the 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were also assessed through the Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride methods, respectively. Antioxidant activities of the extracts were evaluated by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) radical scavenging and β-carotene-linoleic acid bleaching methods. The presence of phenolic compounds in Mn-EtOH was confirmed using HPLC. The extracts showed activity against most microorganisms tested. The extracts did not show any expressive antiproliferative effect in the assessment of cytotoxicity. The most significant total phenolic content was 153.00 ± 11.34 mg of gallic acid equivalent/g to the ethyl acetate extract (AcOEt). The total flavonoid content was 292.50 ± 70.34 mg of catechin equivalent/g to the AcOEt extract, which presented the best antioxidant activity (IC50 50.40 ± 1.16 μg/mL) for DPPH scavenging. We can conclude that this species shows strong antibacterial and antioxidant activities, as well as weak cytotoxic effects.
Estrus detection has become more difficult over the years due to decreases in the estrus expression of high-producing dairy cows, and increased herd sizes and animal density. Through the use of ...hormonal synchronization protocols, also known as timed artificial insemination (TAI) protocols, it is possible to alleviate some of the challenges associated with estrus detection. However, TAI masks cows' fertility performance, resulting in an unfair comparison of treated animals and innately fertile animals. Consequently, genetically inferior and superior cows show similar phenotypes, making it difficult to distinguish between them. As genetic programs rely on the collection of accurate phenotypic data, phenotypes collected on treated animals likely add bias to genetic evaluations. In this study, to assess the effect of TAI, the rank correlation of bulls for a given trait using only TAI records were compared with the same trait using only heat detection records. A total of 270,434 records from 192,539 animals split across heifers, first and second parity cows were analyzed for the traits: calving to first service, first service to conception, and days open. Results showed large reranking across all traits and parities between bulls compared based on either having only TAI records or only heat detection records, suggesting that a bias does indeed exist. Large reranking was also observed for both the heat detection and TAI groups among the top 100 bulls in the control group, which included all records. Furthermore, breeding method was added to the model to assess its effect on bull ranking. However, there were only minor changes in the rank correlations between scenario groups. Therefore, more complex methods to account for the apparent bias created by TAI should be investigated; for this, the method by which these data are collected needs to be improved through creating a standardized way of recording breeding codes. Though the results of this study suggest the presence of bias within current fertility evaluations, additional research is required to confirm the findings of this study, including looking at high-reliability bulls specifically, to determine if the levels of reranking remain. Future studies should also aim to understand the potential genetic differences between the fertility traits split via management technology, possibly in a multiple-trait analysis.
The stability of probiotic yogurts added with glucose oxidase and packaged in different plastic packaging systems that present different oxygen permeability transfer rates (0.09, 0.2, 0.39 and ...0.75mLO2/day) was evaluated during 28days of refrigerated storage. Probiotic stirred yogurts were submitted to physicochemical (pH, proteolytic activity, dissolved oxygen) and microbiological analyses (yogurt bacteria, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum) as well as the content of organic acids (lactic and acetic acid) and aroma compound (diacetyl and acetaldehyde) were assessed. Overall, yogurts packaged in plastic containers with lower oxygen permeability rates showed a higher extent of post-acidification, proteolysis and organic acid production. Additionally, these samples also presented a lower content of dissolved oxygen and a lower decrease of the probiotic bacteria count. No influence on the production of aroma compounds was observed. Our results suggest that the use of packaging systems with different oxygen permeability rates coupled with the addition of glucose oxidase presented an interesting technological option to minimize the oxidative stress in probiotic yogurts.
► Probiotic yogurts with glucose oxidase packaged in plastic materials. ► Post-acidification, proteolysis and organic acids production improved. ► Probiotic bacteria counts and aroma compound with few alterations.
Amazon forest response to repeated droughts Feldpausch, T. R.; Phillips, O. L.; Brienen, R. J. W. ...
Global biogeochemical cycles,
July 2016, Letnik:
30, Številka:
7
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
The Amazon Basin has experienced more variable climate over the last decade, with a severe and widespread drought in 2005 causing large basin‐wide losses of biomass. A drought of similar ...climatological magnitude occurred again in 2010; however, there has been no basin‐wide ground‐based evaluation of effects on vegetation. We examine to what extent the 2010 drought affected forest dynamics using ground‐based observations of mortality and growth from an extensive forest plot network. We find that during the 2010 drought interval, forests did not gain biomass (net change: −0.43 Mg ha−1, confidence interval (CI): −1.11, 0.19, n = 97), regardless of whether forests experienced precipitation deficit anomalies. This contrasted with a long‐term biomass sink during the baseline pre‐2010 drought period (1998 to pre‐2010) of 1.33 Mg ha−1 yr−1 (CI: 0.90, 1.74, p < 0.01). The resulting net impact of the 2010 drought (i.e., reversal of the baseline net sink) was −1.95 Mg ha−1 yr−1 (CI:−2.77, −1.18; p < 0.001). This net biomass impact was driven by an increase in biomass mortality (1.45 Mg ha−1 yr−1 CI: 0.66, 2.25, p < 0.001) and a decline in biomass productivity (−0.50 Mg ha−1 yr−1, CI:−0.78, −0.31; p < 0.001). Surprisingly, the magnitude of the losses through tree mortality was unrelated to estimated local precipitation anomalies and was independent of estimated local pre‐2010 drought history. Thus, there was no evidence that pre‐2010 droughts compounded the effects of the 2010 drought. We detected a systematic basin‐wide impact of the 2010 drought on tree growth rates across Amazonia, which was related to the strength of the moisture deficit. This impact differed from the drought event in 2005 which did not affect productivity. Based on these ground data, live biomass in trees and corresponding estimates of live biomass in lianas and roots, we estimate that intact forests in Amazonia were carbon neutral in 2010 (−0.07 Pg C yr−1 CI:−0.42, 0.23), consistent with results from an independent analysis of airborne estimates of land‐atmospheric fluxes during 2010. Relative to the long‐term mean, the 2010 drought resulted in a reduction in biomass carbon uptake of 1.1 Pg C, compared to 1.6 Pg C for the 2005 event.
Key Points
During the 2010 drought interval, Amazon forests did not gain biomass, regardless of whether forests experienced precipitation deficit anomalies
Biomass losses were partially driven by a decline in productivity related to precipitation anomalies
Pre‐2010 droughts did not compound the effects of the 2010 drought
Proteases present in the salivary glands of phytosuccivorous insects are responsible for the initial breakdown of dietary protein into the amino acids necessary for insect growth and development. ...Here, we characterised the total proteases and trypsin‐like activities in the salivary glands of the Neotropical brown stink bug, Euschistus heros (F.) and used in silico and biochemical approaches to determine the interactions between trypsin‐like enzymes and the soybean Kunitz trypsin inhibitor (SKTI). Additionally, we evaluated whether these enzyme activities were affected in individuals resistant to the actions of the insecticide imidacloprid. We used an originally field‐collected strain to select individuals resistant to imidacloprid alone (ImiGoiasRes) or synergised with piperonyl butoxide (ImiPBORes). A laboratory‐susceptible (ImiSusc) strain was also used to select piperonyl butoxide synergised imidacloprid‐resistant (ImiPBOSel) individuals. Our results revealed that pH and temperature significantly affected the specific trypsin‐like activities in imidacloprid‐susceptible individuals. Significant alterations in the total protease activities were recorded for field‐ (ImiGoiasRes) and laboratory‐selected imidacloprid‐resistant individuals (ImiPBOSel and ImiPBORes). Our computational docking analysis demonstrated that the molecular interactions and the presence of the SKTI inhibitor (0.5 mg mL−1) could reduce up to 40% of the trypsin‐like activities of imidacloprid‐susceptible individuals. However, all imidacloprid‐resistant strains exhibited significantly less trypsin‐like activities and exhibited lower hydrolysing velocity (VMAX) and affinity (KM) rates, and the prior exposure to SKTI only synergised the imidacloprid toxicity for individuals of ImiFieldRes strain. Collectively, our findings demonstrate, for the first time, insecticide resistance detrimentally affected the activities of proteolytic enzymes in phytosuccivorous stink bug pests.
By using strains of Neotropical brown stink bug, Euschistus heros (F.) with distinct susceptibilities to the neonicotinoid imidacloprid, we characterized and evaluated whether the total proteases and trypsin‐like activities in the salivary glands would be different among the imidacloprid‐resistant and imidacloprid‐susceptible insects. Our findings demonstrate, for the first time, that imidacloprid resistance detrimentally affected the activities of proteolytic enzymes in phytosuccivorous stink bug pests.
Plant diversity of the Pantanal wetland Pott, A; Oliveira, A K M; Damasceno-Junior, G A ...
Brazilian Journal of Biology
71, Številka:
1 Suppl 1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
This is a review of current studies in diversity of the flora and main vegetation types in the Brazilian Pantanal. The flora of this wetland, nearly 2,000 species, constitutes a pool of elements of ...wide distribution and from more or less adjacent phytogeographic provinces, such as Cerrado, dry seasonal forests, Chaco, Amazonia and Atlantic Forest. The most numerous group includes wide-distribution species, mainly herbs, while the second contingent comes from the Cerrado. Endemic plants are rare, numbering only seven. The vegetation of the sedimentary floodplain is a mosaic of aquatics, floodable grasslands, riparian forests, savannas (cerrados), cerrado woodlands, dry forests, and a large area of mono-dominant savannas, and pioneer woodlands. The main vegetation types are briefly described with their characteristic species, and their estimated areas are given according to the latest mapping.
About 30% of producers use hormone protocols to synchronize ovulation and perform timed artificial insemination (AI) in Canada. Days from calving to first service (CTFS) and first service to ...conception (FSTC) become masked phenotypes leading to biased genetic evaluations of cows for these fertility traits. The objectives of this study were to (1) demonstrate and quantify the potential amount of bias in genetic evaluations, and (2) find a procedure that could remove the bias. Simulation was used for both objectives. The proposed solution was to identify cows that have been treated by hormone protocols, make their CTFS and FSTC missing, and perform a multiple trait analysis including traits that have high genetic correlations with CTFS and FSTC, and which are not affected by the hormone protocols themselves. A total of 12 scenarios (S1–S12) were tested, changing the percentage of herds and cows that were randomly selected to be under timed AI. Cows that were given hormone protocols had CTFS of 86 d and FSTC of 0, which were used in genetic evaluation. Four criteria were used to indirectly measure the presence of bias: (1) the correlation between true (TBV) and estimated (EBV) breeding values (accuracy); (2) the differences in the mean EBV of top 25, 50, and 75 sires; (3) changes in correlation between TBV and EBV rankings; and (4) the changes in mean EBV over the simulated generations. All criteria changed unfavorably and proportionally to the increased use of timed AI. The accuracy within each class of animals (cows, dams, or sires) decreased proportionally with increased use of timed AI, varying from 0.32 (S12) to 0.52 (S1) for bull EBV for CTFS. The average EBV of the top sires (best 25, 50, 75, or 100 sires) approached population average EBV values when increasing the number of treated animals. The sire rank correlation between EBV and TBV within simulated scenarios was smaller for scenarios with more synchronized animals, going from 0.38 (S12) to 0.67 (S1). The long-term use of hormonal synchronized cows clearly decreased the mean EBV over generations in the population for CTFS and FSTC. The inclusion of genetically correlated traits in a multiple trait model was effective in removing the bias due to the presence of hormonal synchronized cows. However, given the constraints within the simulation, it is important that further investigation with real data is conducted to determine the true effect of including timed AI records within genetic evaluations of fertility traits in dairy cattle.
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