<p> The objective of this research was to compare different expressions for the digestibility of Ca in both pigs and chickens, and to determine the true total tract digestible (TTTD) Ca requirement for 10- to 20-kg and 20- to 40-kg pigs. </p><p> In the first study, two experiments were conducted to compare apparent ileal digestibility (AID) and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of Ca in pigs. In Exp. 1, three semi-purified diets with soybean meal, canola meal or sunflower meal as the sole source of Ca were formulated. Eighteen cannulated pigs (initial BW = 66 &plusmn; 5 kg) were assigned in a randomized complete block design to 3 treatments and 6 replicates per treatment. Results indicated that for either Ca or P, the ATTD was not different from AID in three diets. In Exp. 2, diets with four Ca concentrations were formulated with calcium carbonate as the Ca source. Sixteen cannulated pigs (initial BW = 73 &plusmn; 4 kg) were assigned in a randomized complete block design to 4 treatments in 2 experimental periods. The results indicated that the ATTD of Ca was not different from AID for all diets, and the Ca digestibility was not affected by the dietary Ca concentration. The results of these two experiments indicated that both AID and ATTD can be used to describe the digestibility of Ca for growing-finishing pigs. Total tract digestibility was used to express digestibility of Ca in later studies. </p><p> A second series of studies was conducted to decide whether ATTD or TTTD should be used to estimate Ca digestibility of limestone and dicalcium phosphate (DCP). Two pig experiments were conducted to determine the ATTD and TTTD of limestone and DCP, and their additivity in a semi-purified diet for pigs. In Exp. 1, forty eight barrows with an average initial BW of 19.2 &plusmn; 1.1 kg were assigned to 1 of 6 dietary treatments in a 2 &times; 3 factorial arrangement of two Ca sources, including limestone or DCP, with three dietary Ca concentrations each. Diets were fed for a 5-d adjustment period followed by a total collection period of 5 d. The results indicated that the increased dietary Ca concentration linearly increased Ca intake, digested and retained, but did not affect the ATTD of Ca when using limestone and DCP as Ca sources. In Exp. 2, seventy-two barrows with an average initial BW of 20.8 &plusmn; 1.3 kg were used to test the additivity of TTTD for Ca in limestone and dicalcium phosphate (DCP) in pigs. All pigs were assigned to 1 of 9 dietary treatments in a 3 &times; 3 factorial arrangement of three Ca sources, including limestone, DCP, or a mixed diet at a ratio of 1:1; and three dietary Ca concentrations. Feeding and sample collection procedures were as in Exp. 1. The results indicated that the average ATTD were 66.46, 70.34, and 69.32% for limestone, DCP, and their mixed diet, respectively. By regressing daily digested Ca against daily Ca intake, the TTTD of Ca was determined at 70.06, 76.42, and 73.72% for limestone, DCP, and their mixed diet, respectively. The endogenous losses of was estimated to be between 0.217 to 0.321 g/kg DM intake. The predicted TTTD for Ca in the mixed diet of limestone and DCP was calculated to be 72.67% based upon the Ca contribution coefficient of 0.59 for limestone and 0.41 for DCP. The predicted Ca TTTD (72.67%) in the mixed diet was not statistically different from the determined Ca TTTD (73.72%). It is concluded that although ATTD of limestone and DCP were not affected by the Ca concentration in the diet, TTTD is recommended for evaluation of Ca digestibility because of its additivity in a mixed diet. </p><p> A similar additivity experiment was conducted on Ross 708 broiler chickens from d 22 to d 27 post hatch, using true ileal digestibility (TID) for Ca in limestone and dicalcium phosphate (DCP). The birds were fed a standard broiler starter diet from d 1 to 11 post hatching. A total of 504 birds were grouped in a 3 &times; 3 factorial arrangement of 3 Ca sources including limestone, DCP, and their mixed diet at a ratio of 1:1, and 3 dietary Ca concentration at 3.3, 4.3, and 5.3 g/kg. The results showed that by regressing digested Ca per bird against Ca intake per bird, the TID of Ca was determined at 63.73, 67.14, and 67.79% for limestone, DCP, and the mixed diet, respectively. (Abstract shortened by ProQuest.) </p><p>

<p> The effect of feeding corn by-products on cow reproductive performance, as well as offspring growth and reproductive performance has been investigated through four separate studies. The first study was conducted to evaluate the use of dried distiller&rsquo;s grains with solubles (DDGS) in beef cow diets during early lactation on both dam and heifer offspring growth and reproductive performance. Three diets, consisting of 0, 2.5 or 4.7 kg/d DM of DDGS were formulated to be isocaloric but the DDGS diets exceeded protein requirements. Milk production was not different, however, milk components increased with the addition of DDGS. Resumption of cyclicity of dams, as well as days of age at puberty in heifer offspring were not different. However, while not statistically different, time-artificial insemination (TAI) rates of both cow and heifer offspring were numerically improved with the addition of DDGS in the diet. Plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) concentrations in the cows followed the trend of being higher with increasing levels of DDGS. While PUN concentrations did reach levels that are considered detrimental to fertility, they did not seem to have a negative impact on conception.</p><p> In the second study, the use of corn gluten feed (CGF) in dam diets and its effects on their reproductive performance was investigated. Three diets, consisting of 0, 3.3 or 6.7 kg/d DM of CGF were formulated to be isocaloric but the CGF diets exceeded protein requirements. Milk production and milk components were not different with the exception of fat, which tended to be greater in the high CGF treatment. Resumption of cyclicity and TAI conception rates were not improved when CGF was added to the diet. Plasma urea nitrogen concentrations did not approached what would have been considered detrimental to fertility.</p><p> The third study was conducted to evaluate feeding DDGS during the second trimester or the second and third trimester (3.0 or 3.5 kg/d DDGS, respectively), on heifer offspring reproductive performance. Growth performance of heifer offspring did not differ among treatments. There were no differences in TAI conception rates in heifer offspring from dams fed DDGS but, dominant follicles tended to be larger in heifer offspring from dams fed DDGS during the second trimester. Due to the lack of improvement in reproductive performance in this study, it has been hypothesized that lactation may be a more critical time point for improvements in heifer offspring reproductive performance.</p><p> The fourth study followed the hypothesis of the third study. Because heifer offspring reproductive performance was positively impacted when dams were fed DDGS during early lactation, evaluation of dams fed DDGS during early lactation on bull offspring performance was investigated. Bull offspring growth performance was not impacted by dam diets during early lactation. Scrotal circumference, testosterone concentrations and semen analysis were used to evaluate days of age at puberty, however, puberty attainment in bull offspring was also not impacted. In summary, feeding DDGS as a primary source of dietary energy during early lactation had a positive impact on both cow and heifer offspring reproductive performance, but this does not seem to be true for bull offspring.</p><p>

The hoof wall is adapted to take most of the weight-bearing of the foot and is anisotropic and homogeneous. Foals appear to be born with symmetrical paired feet which by maturity are frequently unequal in angle and width. They stand within minutes of birth subjecting the hoof wall to loading. Hoof growth rate and hoof compression may be factors affecting hoof shape. The effect of conformation changes during maturation upon loading and differential hoof growth was unknown. The aims were to; quantify and evaluate the epidermal structure, hoof growth rate, hoof renewal, dorsal hoof wall angle, plastic hoof compression, and hoof loading, during paediatric development. Hoof growth rate, renewal, and hoof angle were recorded in foals (n=80) and weanlings/yearlings (n=12) and the hoof wall structure of histological samples of fetuses and paediatric foals (n=15) was determined. Solar loading, hoof growth, and hoof angle was recorded in healthy foals (n=18) and compared to a group with acquired flexural deformity (n=9). Horn tubule size and number increased significantly, and density decreased significantly during maturation. The dorsal hoof wall angle declined with age. Hoof renewal in newborn foals was 145±15 days whereas weaning/yearlings were 283±26 days. A relationship between plastic hoof compression and time was found (r = 0.46, P = 0.002). Hoof compression in foals was 0.039±0.022mm per day and in weanling/yearlings 0.03±0.016mm per day. Hoof growth rate, hoof compression, and dorsal hoof wall angle, all correlated to ageing and differed between the healthy and acquired flexural deformity foals. The original findings in this thesis give a broad understanding of the developing equine hoof wall. Knowledge of renewal times allows predictions of healing in cases of partial hoof wall avulsion. Original data recording the structure of the developing hoof wall may lead to a greater understanding of its response to loading, while improved recognition of the angles of the digit and hoof during maturation will allow a more accurate assessment of conformation. Hoof distortion is affected by loading, hoof compression and hoof growth and comprehending the link between these factors may lead to enhanced treatment strategies for all ages of horse.

[No abstract available] / Land and Food Systems, Faculty of / Graduate

Goldfish (Carassius auratus L.) and cohoe salmon fry (Oncorhynchus kisutch Walbaum) were acclimatized to 20°C. and 3°C. respectively. The fish were placed one at a time once a day for ten days in a rotating annular chamber and the cruising speed was found. Then various fin combinations were clipped off and the fish were given ten more trials. The mean cruising speeds before and after clipping were compared. The clipped fish suffered no loss in ability to swim at a constant rate. Cruising-speed and length, and cruising speed and weight of clipped and unclipped goldfish were correlated. / Science, Faculty of / Zoology, Department of / Graduate

Ricker (1954) derived a stock recruitment relationship from assumptions involving cannibalism or other compensatory density dependent mechanisms. His relationship indicates a decline in reproduction at high stock densities of spawners, the result of which may give a population a tendency to oscillate in numbers. The object of this study was to examine, using Ricker’s stock-recruitment model, the period and amplitude of cyclical fluctuations in numbers of animals as they are related to intrinsic factors such as age of first maturity, number of generations in the spawning stock and the shape of the reproduction curve, and extrinsic factors such as exploitation and random fluctuating environment. In lightly exploited populations the period of oscillation is dependent on age of first maturity and number of generations in the spawning stock, the period being equal to twice the mean age of maturity. In heavily exploited populations, the period of oscillation is dependent on age of first maturity but independent of the number of generations in the spawning stock, the period being equal to approximately twice the age of first maturity. When random fluctuations are added to the system, cyclic changes are maintained at low effects of random factors but they introduce instability in the oscillation and variability in the period of oscillation as they become more effective. The shape of a reproduction curve does not influence the period of population oscillation but the steeper the right hand limb of the curve the greater is the amplitude of the fluctuation. The amplitude of oscillation in numbers is basically determined by the shape of a reproduction curve and it increases with delayed maturity while it decreases with increasing number of ages spawning and increasing exploitation. It was considered doubtful whether the observed high reduction in the period of oscillation would every be big enough to notice, in natural populations, before exploitation removed oscillations completely and stabilised population abundances. / Science, Faculty of / Zoology, Department of / Graduate

Orientador : Miguel Petrere Jr / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-13T22:49:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 VanSluys_Monique_M.pdf: 4287941 bytes, checksum: 31431e47992853de31851c60308e17e4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 1991 / Mestrado / Ecologia / Mestre em Ciências Biológicas

Orientador : Keith Spalding Brown Jr / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-17T09:24:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Francini_RonaldoBastos_D.pdf: 26351051 bytes, checksum: bcfc9a35503a41d91b2a54e61356bc30 (MD5) Previous issue date: 1992 / Resumo: Estudou-se 21 espécies de borboletas do gênero Actinote (I nsecta: Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) [Actinote aja/ia (C. & R. Felder, 1860); Actinote bry/la Oberthür, 1917; Actinote canutia (Hopffer, 1874); Actinote carycina Jordan, 1913; Actinote conspicua Jordan, 1913; Actinote discrepans D'Almeida, 1935; Actinote genitrix D'Almeida 1923; Actinote hyaJina Jordan, 1913; Actinote matnita mitama (Schaus, 1902); Actinote morio Oberthür, 1917; Actinote parapheles Jordan, 1913; Actinote pe/lenea pellenea Hübner, 1821-24; Actinote quadra (Schaus, 1902); Actinote rhodope D'Almeida, 1922; Actinote surima (Schaus, 1902); Actinote thaJia pyrrha (Fabricius, 1775); Actinote zikani Almeida, 1943; Actinote sp. 1; Actinote sp. 2; Actinote sp. 3; Actinote sp. 4] e 47 espécies de plantas de alimento larval, dos gêneros: Mikani~ Eupatorium, Trichogoni~ Symphyopappus, Erigeron, Senecío e Vernonia (Angiosperma: Magnoliatae: Asteraceae) na região compreendida entre os paralelos 21°4O'S e 24°oo'S e os meridianos 44°3Q'W e 47°oo'W. Essa região tem aproximadamente 65.000 km2 sendo atravessada pelo Trópico de Capricórnio e portanto, transicional entre os climas tropical e subtropical. Quatro espécies tiveram uma distribuição ampla em a toda área: A.carycina, A.thalia pyrrha, A.parapheles e A.hyalina. Cinco, ocuparam uma muito restrita: A.quadra" Actinote sp. 3, A.morio e Actinote sp. 4. Analisou-se a distribuição geográfica de cada espécie de Actinote em relação, às seguintes características do ambiente: tipo de terrenos geológicos, classes de altitude e classes de heterogeneidade do relevo, tipos de solos, precipitação pluviométrica anual média e excedente hídrico anual médio, tipos de vegetação florestal, campestre e antrópica, e classes de influência antrópica. ... Observação: O resumo, na integra, poderá ser visualizado no texto completo da tese digital / Abstract: A study was undertaken of 21 species of butterflies of the genus Actinote (I nsecta: Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) [Actínote a/alia C. & R. Felder, 1860; Actínote brylla Oberthür, 1917; Actínote canutía (Hopffer, 1874); Actínote carycina Jordan, 1913; Actínote oonspícua Jordan, 1913; Actínote díscrepans D'Almeida, 1935; Actínote genítrix D'Almeida 1923; Actínote hyalina Jordan, 1913; Actínote mamita mitama (Schaus, 1902); Actinote mario Oberthür, 1917; Actinote paraphe/es Jordan, 1913; Actinote pellenea pellenea Hübner, 1821-24; Actinote quadra (Schaus, 1902); Actinote rhodope D'Almeida, 1922; Actinote surima Schaus, 1902; Actinote thalía pyrrha (Fabricius, 1775); Actinote zikani Almeida, 1943; Actinote sp. 1; Actinote sp. 2; Actinote sp. 3; Actinote sp. 4], and 47 species of larval food plants in the genera: Mikania, Eupatorium, Trichogonia, Symphyopappus, Erigeron, Senecio e Vernonia (Angiosperma: Magnolíatae: Asteraceae) in the region between 21°40'- 24°00'S and 44°30'-47°00'W, with about 65.000 km2 and crossed by the Tropic of Capricorn (thus transitional between tropical and sub-tropical climates). Four species had an ample distribution in entire area: A.carycina, A.thalia pyrrha, A.parapheles, and A.hyalina. Five occupied a very restricted area: A.quadra, Actinote sp. 3, A.mario, and Actinote sp. 4. The geographical distribution of each species of Actinote was analyzed and related with the follow environmental characteristics: type of geological terrain, class of altitude and relief heterogeneity, type of soils, mean yearly pluviometric precipitation and hydric excess, vegetation types and classes of anthropic influence. ... Note: The complete abstract is a available with the full eletronic digital thesis or dissertations / Doutorado / Ecologia / Ciencias Biologicas

The generation of a new organism by the union of gametes, dubbed fertilization, is a unifying theme across nearly all living species. Concurrently, divergencies amongst mechanisms of this event exist even within creatures of the same genus, and arguably, within species. The following presents an examination of the mechanisms of fertilization and the subsequent regulation of intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) signaling in the eggs of bos taurus (domestic cattle) with specific attention to both conserved and divergent mechanisms from that of the more commonly studied mus musculus (common mouse). Through a multiparametric approach consisting of Ca2+ imagery, protein analysis, molecular mutation, and assisted reproductive technologies we examined first the cytologic nature of the release of the sperm-borne egg-activating factor, referred to as sperm factor, during fertilization. We followed by ascertaining the functional properties and minimal requirements of the type I 1,4,5-inositol trisphosphate receptor (IP3R-1) in bovine eggs during fertilization. Finally, we examined the [Ca2+]i oscillation-inducing ability and cellular localization of the purported sperm factor molecule, phospholipase C&zgr; (PLC&zgr;), during egg activation, with close attention to species specific dynamics of calcium release and molecular determinants of functionality. Our data show that first, although bull sperm contain a cytosolic sperm factor, it is insufficient to trigger [Ca2+]i oscillations in bovine eggs without sperm-egg fusion first occurring. Second, bovine eggs possess a virtually redundant amount of IP3R-1, capable of mounting near-normal Ca2+ responses with only a 20-30% complement of IP3R-1. Third, bovine PLC&zgr; demonstrates an attenuated enzymatic activity compared to PLC&zgr; from other species, however, remains cytoplasmic as bovine zygotes reach interphase, and appears capable of continued IP 3 production as determined both by calcium imagery and quantification of IP3R-1. Additionally, unique sequence elements of bovine PLC&zgr; may be responsible for this decreased enzymatic activity. Lastly, we have determined that bovine eggs possess a unique mechanism to down regulate, but not terminate, interphase stage [Ca2+]i oscillations through alteration of IP3R-1 Ca2+ conductivity, independent of IP3R-1 numbers. The culmination of these results exemplifies how mammals have evolved to adapt components of the same system to achieve the unique requirements of the various respective species.^

We sometimes fail to notice objects and events in our environment because our attention is directed elsewhere—a phenomenon called inattentional blindness. Our attentional set—the features we prioritize in our environment—plays a large role in determining what we notice. For example, adopting an attentional set for green makes green objects more likely to capture attention. Although a large body of research has explored the types of attentional sets we may adopt, few have explored the time course of attentional sets. And, out of these, none have explored how experience with a no-longer useful attentional set can impact the activation of new attentional sets. In two experiments, I show that a minimal amount of experience with an attentional set can cause that set to remain active past the point when it is no longer useful: Noticing of an unexpected object was higher when its color matched the color of previous targets, but new distractors, than when its color matched the color of objects that were always distractors. Furthermore, noticing was equivalent between times when the unexpected object's color matched the color of objects that were previous distractors, but new targets, and times when its color matched the color of objects that were always targets. Overall, this finding suggests that past experience with an attentional set can impact the time it takes to adopt a new attentional set. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Psychology in partial fulfillment of the Doctor of Philosophy. / Spring Semester 2016. / March 14, 2016. / Attention Capture, Attention Set, Inattentional Blindness, Long Term Memory, Visual Attention, Working Memory / Includes bibliographical references. / Neil Charness, Professor Directing Dissertation; Leonard LaPointe, University Representative; Walter Boot, Committee Member; Sara Hart, Committee Member; Jonathan Folstein, Committee Member.