Mansyah Muh Sutri, Karim La Ode Muhammad, Priadi Revalina Nur Aliyah
et al.
This research aims to enhance the understanding of shark fish traders in maintaining ecosystem sustainability at Wameo Market, Baubau City. The market area sells various types of fish, one of which is sharks. However, sharks are prohibited from being traded. Despite this, sales continue to take place. The price per shark is Rp 20,000, even though sharks are endangered, which threatens the sustainability of the ecosystem. It is crucial for fish traders to understand this issue, and for the Baubau City government to take preventive measures or, if necessary, enforcement actions against traders who continue to sell sharks.
Lorella Giuliotti, Maria Novella Benvenuti, Giovanna Preziuso
et al.
This study investigates the genealogical and demographic trends of the Massese sheep breed in Tuscany from 2001 to 2021. The Herd Book kept by the Italian Sheep and Goat Breeders Association (Asso.Na.Pa) provided the data. The descriptive statistics were analyzed using JMP software. The pedigree parameters of a total of 311,056 animals (whole population—WP) were analyzed using CFC, ENDOG, and Pedigree viewer software. A total of 24,586 animals born in the period 2007–2021 represented the Reference Population (RP), and 18,554 animals the Base Population (BP). The demographic results showed an inconsistent trend of offspring registration. This study showed a short period of productivity for both ewes and rams, with means of 1.47 and 19.2 registered newborn ewes and rams, respectively. The genealogical analysis revealed incomplete data, highlighting inaccurate assessments of the relationships among the animals, and inbreeding with large differences among provinces. The average inbreeding coefficient in the WP was 1.16%, and it was 2.26% in the RP. The total number of inbreds was 2790 in the WP, with an average F<sub>PED</sub> of 13.56%, and 2713 in the RP, with an average F<sub>PED</sub> of 12.82%. The use of pedigree data is a key and economical approach to calculating inbreeding and relationship coefficients. It is the primary step in genetic management, playing a crucial role in the preservation of a breed. The regular updating of genealogical data is the first step to ensuring the conservation of animal genetic resources, and this study is compromised by the lack of such updates.
Uncovering genes associated with muscle growth and body size will benefit the molecular breeding of meat Hu sheep. <i>HMGA2</i> has proven to be an important gene in mouse muscle growth and is associated with the body size of various species. However, its roles in sheep are still limited. Using sheep myoblast as a cell model, the overexpression of <i>HMGA2</i> significantly promoted sheep myoblast proliferation, while interference with <i>HMGA2</i> expression inhibited proliferation, indicated by qPCR, EdU, and CCK-8 assays. Furthermore, the dual-luciferase reporter system indicated that the region NC_056056.1: 154134300-154134882 (-618 to -1200 bp upstream of the <i>HMGA2</i> transcription start site) was one of the habitats of the <i>HMGA2</i> core promoter, given the observation that this fragment led to a ~3-fold increase in luciferase activity. Interestingly, SNP rs428001129 (NC_056056.1:g.154134315 C>A) was detected in this fragment by Sanger sequencing of the PCR product of pooled DNA from 458 crossbred sheep. This SNP was found to affect the promoter activity and was significantly associated with chest width at birth and two months old, as well as chest depth at two and six months old. The data obtained in this study demonstrated the phenotypic regulatory role of the <i>HMGA2</i> gene in sheep production traits and the potential of rs428001129 in marker-assisted selection for sheep breeding in terms of chest width and chest depth.
Transcription factor Homeobox C8 (HOXC8) is identified as a white adipose gene as revealed by expression profile analysis in fat tissues. However, the specific role of HOXC8 in fat accumulation remains to be identified. This study was designed to reveal the effects of HOXC8 on preadipocyte proliferation and differentiation. We first make clear that the expression of HOXC8 is associated with fat contents in muscles, highlighting a role of HOXC8 in fat accumulation. Next, it is demonstrated that HOXC8 promotes the proliferation and differentiation of preadipocytes through gain- and loss-of-function assays in primary cultured porcine preadipocytes. Then, mechanisms underlying the regulation of HOXC8 on preadipocyte proliferation and differentiation are identified with RNA sequencing, and a number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in response to HOXC8 knockdown are identified. The top GO (Gene Ontology) terms enriched by DEGs involved in proliferation and differentiation, respectively, are identical. IL-17 signaling pathway is the common one significantly enriched by DEGs involved in preadipocyte proliferation and differentiation, respectively, indicating its importance in mediating fat accumulation regulated by HOXC8. Additionally, we find that the inhibition of proliferation is one of the main processes during preadipocyte differentiation. The results will contribue to further revealing the mechanisms underlying fat accumulation regulated by HOXC8.
Despite the challenges the pandemic presented for university teaching, it opened up opportunities to set up and explore digital teaching formats like never before. This paper presents a case study of teaching introductory animal ethics in a digital format with flipped-classroom methods. The Interactive Literature Lecturing Format (ILLF) was designed along the following criteria: 1. Conformity with students’ varying educational needs; 2. Consistent high level of interaction; 3. Maximum transparency in an application-oriented exam; 4. No further contribution to the workload of the teaching staff; 5. Flexibility regarding online or on-site conversions. Rather than provide the students with input in lecture sessions, the ILLF presents students with selected literature and a list of structured questions. This literature questionnaire serves as the main didactic element that guides the knowledge transfer, the structure of the sessions and the exam. This paper reviews the outcome of the redesigning process and the steps we took to implement it. To discuss the overall quality of the format from a student’s perspective, the data from the systematically conducted students’ evaluation (<i>n</i> = 65) are interpreted using quantitative and qualitative methods. Bringing these results together with the perspective of the teaching staff, the following question is discussed: did the ILLF meet these criteria? This case study explores the potential and limits of flipped-classroom methods for applied ethics teaching in a university setting.
Muhammad Binyameen, Muhammad Irfan ur Rehman Khan, Muhmmad Naveed Ul Haque
et al.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of prepartum dietary energy level on postpartum production and reproduction in Nili Ravi buffaloes (<i>n</i> = 21). The buffaloes were offered low energy (LE: 1.31 Mcal/kg DM NE<sub>L</sub> (net energy for lactation)), medium energy (ME: 1.42 Mcal/kg DM NE<sub>L</sub>) or high energy (HE: 1.54 Mcal/kg DM NE<sub>L</sub>) diet for 63 days prepartum, and received the same lactation diet (LD: 1.22 Mcal/kg DM NE<sub>L</sub>) during 14 weeks postpartum. The effects of dietary energy level and week were analyzed with Proc GLIMMIX model. Dry matter intake (DMI) was lower in buffaloes fed the LE diet compared with buffaloes fed the ME or HE diet. Calf birth weight (CBW) was higher in buffaloes fed the HE diet compared with buffaloes fed the ME or LE diet. Milk production was similar in buffaloes fed the HE, ME or LE diet within 14 weeks postpartum and throughout the lactation. Milk fat was higher in buffaloes fed the LE diet compared with buffaloes fed the ME or HE diet. Milk protein and lactose yields was high in buffaloes fed the HE diet compared with buffaloes fed the ME or LE diet. Body condition score was high in HE and was affected by diet × week interactions during pre and postpartum period. The concentrations of β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) and triglycerides in serum was lowest in buffaloes fed the HE diet compared with the buffaloes fed the ME or LE diet. The buffaloes fed the HE diet had early uterine involution (UI), first estrus, short dry days, and calving interval (CI) compared with buffaloes fed the ME or LE diet. None of buffaloes fed the LE diet exhibited estrus during the first 14 weeks postpartum compared with buffaloes fed the ME or HE diet. In conclusion, prepartum feeding of high energy diet can be helpful in improving the postpartum productive and reproductive performance in Nili Ravi buffaloes.
Franz Josef Söbbeler, Sören Wendt, Andreas Briese
et al.
To evaluate pain responses to intratesticular and subscrotal injection of three local anaesthetics and their efficacy during castration a randomized controlled study was conducted. In groups of 20 piglets, procaine (2%), lidocaine (2%), or mepivacaine (2%) were administered subscrotal and intratesticularly in two different dosages: 0.5 mL of the original substances or the maximum recommended dosage according to body weight diluted with isotonic saline to a volume of 0.3 mL per each injection site. Two placebo groups received the equivalent volume of isotonic saline. A control group was injected intramuscularly with 0.5 mL isotonic saline for injection pain comparison. Electroencephalographic changes, respiratory rate, heart rate and its variability, blood pressure, and nocifensive movements were assessed in superficial isoflurane anaesthesia. While EEG-changes and linear measures of heart rate variability did not appear conclusive, the low frequency/high frequency (LF/HF) ratio corresponded best with the other pain indicators recorded. The injection of 0.3 mL diluted local anaesthetic per injection site elicited significant fewer signs of pain compared to intramuscular injection of saline. However, pain reduction, but not complete pain elimination, during castration could only be achieved with 0.5 mL of the 2% local anaesthetics per injection site, whereby lidocaine and mepivacaine were the most effective.
Ali Osman, May Bin-Jumah, Mohamed E. Abd El-Hack
et al.
ABSTRACT: The current research aimed to estimate the effect of dietary supplementation with glycinin isolated from soybeans on the growth performance, carcass traits, and selected blood metabolites of broiler chicks. A total of 200 1-wk-old broiler chicks were administered diets without glycinin (control treatment) or diets supplemented with 3 concentrations of soy glycinin (0.5, 1.0, or 1.5 g/kg of feed) for 6 wk. At the end of the feeding period, body weight was significantly higher in broiler chicks with glycinin supplementation (P < 0.05 or 0.01). The best values for body weight and body weight gain were recorded in the groups fed diets supplemented with 0.5 and 1.0 g glycinin/kg feed. Feed conversion was significantly (P < 0.05) improved in broilers in the glycinin-supplemented groups during the 1 to 6 and 3 to 6 wk growth periods. The highest value of breast yield was observed in broiler chicks supplemented with glycinin at a concentration of 1.0 g/kg of feed. Water-holding capacity increased with increasing concentrations of glycinin in the feed, up to 1.0%. Serum creatinine and urea concentrations decreased gradually (P < 0.01) as the concentration of glycinin in the feed increased. Broiler chicks receiving increasing concentrations of glycinin exhibited significantly (P < 0.01) lower levels of serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. All meat samples from broiler chicks supplemented with glycinin had significantly higher catalase activities. These data suggest that feeding broiler chicks diets supplemented with soy glycinin (0.5 to 1.5 g/kg of feed) can improve feed conversion, enhance body weight gain, and lower abdominal fat.
In this study, we report the mating behavior of Yellow-throated Marten Martes_flavigula. A pair was observed mating on a Sterculia villosa tree at the Tuilut anti-poaching camp situated near the core of Dampa Tiger Reserve at 05.35h on 25 November 2018. Copulation between the pair was observed 14 times with successive coupling rhythms approximately four minutes apart.
Ecology, General. Including nature conservation, geographical distribution
Intersubjectivity, understood as a relationship between different perspectives, that creates a common space, accessible to more than one cognizing subject, is the basic trait of our presence in the world. The realization of our capability potential for intersubjective relations is related to the realization of a similar potential of the other subject of such relationships. We recognize the subjectivity of others through the reference to ourselves – out of necessity. This process is connected with the recognition of similarities and differences. In the article I am analyzing the nature of this process and the risks associated with possible underestimation and overestimation of the value of the other. The principle of seeking sufficient similarity apparently results in the automatic exclusion of a certain scope of dissimilarity – for example, of what is too different for the creation of subjective, intersubjective relations. I am trying to show that the recognition of the dissimilarities of the others does not have to involve their devaluation. On the contrary, it presents a challenge to the ethical imagination and is an indispensable component of intersubjectivity. I am pointing out that effective interspecific communication, which takes into account the importance of the affective component and the meeting of the diverse experiencing corporeality, is also an important aspect of the described relationships. I am also pointing out that the question about the subjectivity occurring in relationships is also an ethical and political problem of great importance.
Zoology, History of scholarship and learning. The humanities
To mark the 500th birthday of Conrad Gessner, the Leonardo da Vinci of Switzerland, an international congress was organized by the University and the Zentralbibliothek Zurich, which attracted many researchers to Zurich. Nearly 50 presentations illuminated work, life and contemporaries of the famous Zurich polymath and naturalist.
Bibliography. Library science. Information resources
Mild electrostimulation of earthworms is commonly used for harvesting celomocyte-containing celomic fluid. We have noticed that frequent electrostimulations of worms can lead to the autotomy of posterior segments followed by their regeneration. Our present study aim was to develop an autotomy model in the eco-physiologically contrasting species, Eisenia andrei and Aporrectodea caliginosa, using direct current (DC), pulsating direct current (PDC), or immersion in the noxious anaesthetic MS222. A. caliginosa was clearly more susceptible to autotomy than E. andrei, with both electrostimulation regimes and MS-222 exposure inducing autotomy in the former species but only repeated PDC stimulations inducing segment loss in the latter. The observations lend credence to the hypothesis that autotomy in earthworms is caused by factors impinging upon the nervous system; they also indicate that repeated PDC stimulations could be an effective and reproducible means of facilitating segmental autotomy so that the fundamental cytological and molecular-genetic mechanisms underpinning the tissue loss event and subsequent regeneration can be studied in depth.
Structure of rostrum of the weevils from the subfamily Lixinae is considered. Morpho-functional features of the external sculpture of rostrum are discussed in connection with the biology of these beetles and localization of their eggs on a host plant