Background:This study aimed to investigate the effects of oral administration of Enterococcus faecium NCIMB10415(E.faecium)on intestinal development,immunological parameters and gut microbiota of neonatal piglets chal...Background:This study aimed to investigate the effects of oral administration of Enterococcus faecium NCIMB10415(E.faecium)on intestinal development,immunological parameters and gut microbiota of neonatal piglets challenged with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88(ETEC).A total of 961-day-old sow-reared piglets were randomly assigned to 2 groups,with 48 piglets in each group.The piglets were from 16 litters(6 piglets each litter),and 3 piglets each litter were allocated to the E.faecium-supplemented(PRO)group,while the other 3 piglets were allocated to the control(CON)group.After colostrum intake,piglets in the PRO group were orally administrated with 3×10~9 CFU E.faecium per day for a period of one week.On day 8,one piglet per litter from each group was challenged(CON+ETEC,PRO+ETEC)or not(CON-ETEC,PRO-ETEC)with ETEC in a 2×2 factorial arrangement of treatments.On day 10(2 days after challenge),blood and tissue samples were obtained from piglets.Results:Before ETEC challenge,there were no significant differences for the average daily gain(ADG)and fecal score between the two groups of piglets.After ETEC challenge,the challenged piglets had greater fecal score compared to the non-challenged piglets,whereas E.faecium administration was able to decrease the fecal score.Piglets challenged with ETEC had shorter villous height,deeper crypt depth,and reduced number of goblet cells in the jejunum and decreased m RNA abundance of claudin-1 in the ileum,whereas increased the percentage of lymphocytes,concentrations of IL-1βin the plasma and TNF-αin the ileal mucosa,as well as increased the m RNA abundances of innate immunity-related genes in the ileum tissue.These deleterious effects caused by ETEC were partly alleviated by feeding E.faecium.In addition,piglets in PRO-ETEC group had decreased the percentage of CD8^+T cells of the peripheral blood when compared to those in CON-ETEC group.Moreover,E.faecium administration increased Verrucomicrobia at phylum level and decreased Bilophila at genus level.Conclusions:These results suggest that oral administration of E.faecium alleviated the intestinal injury and diarrhea severity of neonatal piglets challenged by ETEC,partly through improving the intestinal microbiota and immune response.This offers a potential strategy of dietary intervention against intestinal impairment by ETEC in neonatal piglets.展开更多
Hydroponically-grown produce may be a way of helping to feed the world a variety of fruits and vegetables, regardless of soil quality, space availability or climate. The objective of this study was to determine whethe...Hydroponically-grown produce may be a way of helping to feed the world a variety of fruits and vegetables, regardless of soil quality, space availability or climate. The objective of this study was to determine whether hydroponicallygrown lettuce contains as much ascorbic acid and tocopherol as soil-grown lettuce. We analyzed four varieties of lettuce, including: Waldmann’s Dark Green, Red Lollo Antago, Red Romaine Annapolis, and Butterleaf. The tocopherol content of hydroponically-grown Waldmann’s Dark Green, Red Lollo Antago, and Red Romaine Annapolis was 229%, 497% and 492% higher, respectively, compared to their soil-grown counterpart. The ascorbic acid content of hydroponically-grown Waldmann’s Dark Green, Red Lollo Antago, and Red Romaine Annapolis was 93%, 171% and 216% higher, respectively, compared to their soil-grown counterparts. Hydroponically grown lettuce varieties are significantly higher in both ascorbic acid and tocopherol content than their soil-grown counterparts, and hydroponic gardening is a viable option for producing nutritious fruits and vegetables.展开更多
Soilless (hydroponic) vegetables and fruits grown in greenhouses are gaining popularity and potentially represent a compliment toward sustainable food sources. Only a few studies have looked at the nutrient quality of...Soilless (hydroponic) vegetables and fruits grown in greenhouses are gaining popularity and potentially represent a compliment toward sustainable food sources. Only a few studies have looked at the nutrient quality of strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa) and raspberries (Rubus idaeus) grown in soilless systems. Dry weights, content of ascorbic acid, tocopherol, total polyphenolic compounds, glucose, fructose, and soluble solids (BRIX) of strawberries and raspberries grown in soilless systems were compared to their counterpart grown in soil. There was no change in dry weights but BRIX values (28% - 31%), glucose (158% - 175%), and fructose (75% - 102%) content for strawberries and raspberries respectively were significantly higher for the soil grown berries compared to soilless grown berries. Contents of ascorbic acid, tocopherol and total polyphenolic compounds were significantly higher in soilless grown strawberries compared to soil grown strawberries by 74%, 53%, and 22% respectively, and contents of ascorbic acid and total polyphenolic compounds were significantly higher in soil grown raspberries by 83% and 67% respectively compared to soilless grown raspberries. Soilless grown produce warrants future research to strive toward the potential to provide nutrient dense crops and opportunities toward optimized sustainable production.展开更多
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment modality that has advanced rapidly in recent years. It causes tissue and vascular damage with the interaction of a photosensitizing agent (PS), light of a proper wavelength, a...Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment modality that has advanced rapidly in recent years. It causes tissue and vascular damage with the interaction of a photosensitizing agent (PS), light of a proper wavelength, and molecular oxygen. Evaluation of vessel damage usually relies on histopathology evaluation. Results are often qualitative or at best semi-quantitative based on a subjective system. The aim of this study was to evaluate, using CD31 immunohistochemistry and image analysis software, the vascular damage after PDT in a well-established rodent model of chemically induced mammary tumor. Fourteen Sprague-Dawley rats received a single dose of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthraxcene (80 mg/kg by gavage), treatment efficacy was evaluated by comparing the vascular density of tumors after treatment with Photogem®?as a PS, intraperitoneally, followed by interstitial fiber optic lighting, from a diode laser, at 200 mW/cm and light dose of 100 J/cm directed against his tumor (7 animals), with a control group (6 animals, no PDT). The animals were euthanized 30 hours after the lighting and mammary tumors were removed and samples from each lesion were formalin-fixed. Immunostained blood vessels were quantified by Image Pro-Plus version 7.0. The control group had an average of 3368.6 ± 4027.1 pixels per picture and the treated group had an average of 779 ± 1242.6 pixels per area (P 0.01), indicating that PDT caused a significant decrease in vascular density of mammary tumors. The combined immunohistochemistry using CD31, with selection of representative areas by a trained pathology, followed by quantification of staining using Image Pro-Plus version 7.0 system was a practical and robust methodology for vessel damage evaluation, which probably could be used to assess other antiangiogenic treatments.展开更多
Hydroponic growing methods are growing in popularity and seem to have numerous benefits (i.e., environmental, increased product yields, year round growing) compared to soil grown crops. Although these advantages are a...Hydroponic growing methods are growing in popularity and seem to have numerous benefits (i.e., environmental, increased product yields, year round growing) compared to soil grown crops. Although these advantages are attractive, they do not guarantee a high quality product. Taste is a driver of consumer acceptance;therefore, sensory analysis of the hydroponic product will be an important indicator in its success. In this study, we evaluated the sensory differences and preferences in hydroponically grown and soil-grown strawberries (Fragaria x ananassa) using unspecified discriminatory and preference analyses, and descriptive testing correlated with nutrition content data. Most (87%) of participants could identify differences between hydroponically and soil grown strawberries and 70% preferred the hydroponically grown strawberry (p = 0.06). The nutrient composition of the strawberries significantly influenced several sensory analysis categories (sweetness, overall flavor and overall taste (p < 0.05)). The use of sensory studies in relation to consumer acceptance and nutrient quality will be an important factor to consider for exploring growing methods and techniques in hydroponic technology.展开更多
Dear Editor,Rabbit hemorrhagic disease(RHD)is a fatal infectious disease that primarily affects adult rabbits and causes great economic losses in the rabbit industry(Mitro and Krauss,1993).The causative pathogen is ra...Dear Editor,Rabbit hemorrhagic disease(RHD)is a fatal infectious disease that primarily affects adult rabbits and causes great economic losses in the rabbit industry(Mitro and Krauss,1993).The causative pathogen is rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus(RHDV),which belongs to the genus Lagovirus and the family Calicivirus(Moussa et al.,1992).In 1984,RHDV was first documented in China.展开更多
AIM： To identify the gene （s） related to the antagonistic activity of Enterobacter cloacae B8 and to elucidate its antagonistic mechanism. METHODS： Transposon-mediated mutagenesis and tagging method and cassette P...AIM： To identify the gene （s） related to the antagonistic activity of Enterobacter cloacae B8 and to elucidate its antagonistic mechanism. METHODS： Transposon-mediated mutagenesis and tagging method and cassette PCR-based chromosomal walking method were adopted to isolate the mutant strain （s） of B8 that lost the antagonistic activity and to clone DNA fragments around Tn5 insertion site. Sequence compiling and open reading frame （ORF） finding were done with DNAStar program and homologous sequence and conserved domain searches were performed with BlastN or BlastP programs at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. To verify the gene involved in the antagonistic activity, complementation of a full-length clone of the anrFgene to the mutant B8F strain was used. RESULTS： A 3 321 bp contig around the Tn5 insertion site was obtained and an ORF of 2 634 bp in length designated as anrFgene encoding for a 877 aa polyketide synthase-like protein was identified. It had a homology of 83% at the nucleotide level and 79% ID/87% SIM at the protein level, to the admM gene of Pantoea agglomerans andrimid biosynthetic gene cluster （AY192157）. The Tn5 was inserted at 2 420 bp of the gene corresponding to the COG3319 （the thioesterase domain of type I polyketide synthase） coding region on BSF. The antagonistic activity against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae was resumed with complementation of the full-length anrFgene to the mutant B8F. CONCLUSION： The anrFgene obtained is related to the antagonistic activity of BS, and the antagonistic substances produced by B8 are andrimid and/or its analogs.展开更多
Herbal medicine from natural resources plays an important role as antibacterial and antioxidant agents. The present investigation was designed to evaluate the antibacterial and antioxidant properties of thyme (Thymus ...Herbal medicine from natural resources plays an important role as antibacterial and antioxidant agents. The present investigation was designed to evaluate the antibacterial and antioxidant properties of thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) essential oil (TEO) and/or chitosan (CH) in vitro. Results indicated that TEO exhibited high radical scavenging activity (RSA) toward DPPH, ABTS, linoleic acid deterioration and iron chelation activity. TEO exhibited high amount of total phenolic compounds (TPC) related to its terpenes. The TPC of TEO was 177.3 mg GAE g-1 demonstrated 149.8 μmol of TE g-1 DPPH-RSA and 192.4 μmol of TE g-1 ABTS-RSA. The antioxidant capacity of TEO exhibited 68.9% reduction when evaluated by β-carotene bleaching assay. The reducing power activity related to iron chelation was 142.8 μmol of AAE g-1. The TEO exhibited a high content of Thymol (41.04%) as major compound over 14 identified components by GC-MS analysis followed by 1,8-Cineole (14.26%), γ-Terpinene (12.06%), p-Cymene (10.50%) and α-Terpinene (9.22%). TEO exhibited antimicrobial activity in vitro and MIC noticed that TEO was efficiently affected pathogens in vitro. Indeed, CH exhibited negligible or very low antimicrobial activity. In conclusion, both investigated TEO and TEO-CHmix have strong antibacterial activity against many pathogenic bacteria and need exploitation as an alternative source of natural antibacterial and antioxidant agents for potential applications.展开更多
Emergence and re-emergence of infectious diseases of wildlife origin have led pre-emptive pathogen surveillances in animals to be a public health priority.Rodents and shrews are among the most numerically abundant ver...Emergence and re-emergence of infectious diseases of wildlife origin have led pre-emptive pathogen surveillances in animals to be a public health priority.Rodents and shrews are among the most numerically abundant vertebrate taxa and are known as natural hosts of important zoonotic viruses.Many surveillance programs focused more on RNA viruses.In comparison,much less is known about DNA viruses harbored by these small mammals.To fill this knowledge gap,tissue specimens of 232 animals including 226 rodents,five shrews and one hedgehog were collected from 5 counties in Kenya and tested for the presence of DNA viruses belonging to 7 viral families by PCR.Diverse DNA sequences of adenoviruses,adeno-associated viruses,herpesviruses and polyomaviruses were detected.Phylogenetic analyses revealed that most of these viruses showed distinction from previously described viruses and formed new clusters.Furthermore,this is the first report of the discovery and full-length genome characterization of a polyomavirus in Lemniscomys species.This novel polyomavirus,named Ls Py V KY187,has less than 60%amino acid sequence identity to the most related Glis glis polyomavirus 1 and Sciurus carolinensis polyomavirus 1 in both large and small T-antigen proteins and thus can be putatively allocated to a novel species within Betapolyomavirus.Our findings help us better understand the genetic diversity of DNA viruses in rodent and shrew populations in Kenya and provide new insights into the evolution of those DNA viruses in their small mammal reservoirs.It demonstrates the necessity of ongoing pathogen discovery studies targeting rodent-borne viruses in East Africa.展开更多
This is the first country-wide surveillance of bat-borne viruses in Kenya spanning from 2012-2015 covering sites perceived to have medium to high level bat-human interaction. The objective of this surveillance study w...This is the first country-wide surveillance of bat-borne viruses in Kenya spanning from 2012-2015 covering sites perceived to have medium to high level bat-human interaction. The objective of this surveillance study was to apply a non-invasive approach using fresh feces to detect viruses circulating within the diverse species of Kenyan bats. We screened for both DNA and RNA viruses; specifically, astroviruses （AstVs）, adenoviruses （ADVs）, caliciviruses （CalVs）, coronaviruses （CoVs）, flaviviruses, filoviruses, paramyxoviruses （PMVs）, polyomaviruses （PYVs） and rotaviruses. We used family-specific primers, amplicon sequencing and further characterization by phyloge- netic analysis. Except for filoviruses, eight virus families were detected with varying distributions and positive rates across the five regions （former provinces） studied. AstVs （12.83%）, CoVs （3.97%）, PMV （2.4%）, ADV （2.26%）, PYV （1.65%）, CalVs （0.29%）, rotavirus （0.19%） and flavivirus （0.19%）. Novel CalVs were detected in Rousettus aegyptiacus and Mops condylurus while novel Rotavirus-A-related viruses were detected in Taphozous bats and R. aegyptiacus. The two Rotavirus A （RVA） strains detected were highly related to human strains with VP6 genotypes 12 and 116. Genotype 116 has previously been assigned to human RVA-strain B10 from Kenya only, which raises public health concern, particularly considering increased human-bat interaction. Additionally, 229E-like bat CoVs were detected in samples originating from Hipposideros bats roosting in sites with high human activity. Our findings confirm the presence of diverse viruses in Kenyan bats while providing extended knowledge on bat virus distribution. The detection of viruses highly related to human strains and hence of public health concern, underscores the importance of continuous surveillance.展开更多
Based on the antigenic analysis of Reticuloendotheliosis virus （REV） envelop glycoprotein （env） protein, an alternative indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） for detection of REV antibody was develo...Based on the antigenic analysis of Reticuloendotheliosis virus （REV） envelop glycoprotein （env） protein, an alternative indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） for detection of REV antibody was developed using a truncated env protein of REV produced in Escherichia coli. This assay was validated by comparison with an indirect immunofluorescence assay （IFA） and a REV-based ELISA. The diagnostic sensitivity （DSN）, specificity （DSP） and accuracy of the env indirect-ELISA （ienv-ELISA） were 93.7, 93.3 and 93.6% compared with IFA on 1 380 field serum samples, and 84.8, 95.2 and 91.7% compared with the REV-based ELISA on 96 field sera, respectively. Cross-reactivity assay showed that this assay was REV-specific. Repeatability test revealed that the coefficients of variation of positive sera within and between runs were less than 15%. This method is simpler to produce and perform, time-saving and suitable for large scale survey of REV antibody at low cost.展开更多
Objective:To describe clinical signs,pathology,diagnosis and treatment of Cape vultures in which Aspergillus fumigatus(A.fumigatus)and mixed species of bacteria were isolated.Methods:Six Cape vultures sourced from Sou...Objective:To describe clinical signs,pathology,diagnosis and treatment of Cape vultures in which Aspergillus fumigatus(A.fumigatus)and mixed species of bacteria were isolated.Methods:Six Cape vultures sourced from South Africa for exhibition at Al Ain Zoo developed illness manifesting as anorexia,dyspnea,polyuria and lethargy.Three vultures died manifesting"pneumonia-like syndrome".These three vultures were necropsied and gross lesions recorded,while organ tissues were collected for histopathology.Internal organs were swabbed for bacteriology and mycology.From live vultures,blood was collected for hematology and biochemistry,oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs were collected for mycology and bacteriology.Results:A.fumigatus was isolated from the three dead vultures and two live ones that eventually survived.One of the dead vulture and two live vultures were co-infected with A.fumigatus and mixed species of bacteria that included Clostridium perfringens,Pseudomonas,Staphylococcus,Escherichia,Proteus,Enterococcus and Enterbacter.One of the Cape vulture and a Lappetfaced vulture,however,were free of Aspergillus or bacterial infections.At necropsy,intestinal hemorrhages were observed and the lungs were overtly congested with granulomas present on caudal air sac.Histopathologtcal examinations demonstrated granulomatous lesions that were infiltrated by mononuclear cells and giant cells.Conclusions:Aspergillosis is a persistent threat to captive birds and we recommend routine health assessments so that early diagnosis may prompt early treatment.It is likely that prompt prophylaxis by broad spectrum antibiotics and antifungals medication contributed to the survival of some of the vultures.展开更多
Objective:To assess effect of buffalo bull breed on the development and cryotolerence of the in vitro produced embryos.Methods: Three types of frozen semen were adopted;Egyptian, Italian and cross-bred (Egyptian-Itali...Objective:To assess effect of buffalo bull breed on the development and cryotolerence of the in vitro produced embryos.Methods: Three types of frozen semen were adopted;Egyptian, Italian and cross-bred (Egyptian-Italian) breeds were used for in-vitro fertilization and vitrification of their embryos. Oocytes were collected from buffalo ovaries and maturedin vitrofor 24 h, then they were fertilized using the three semen breeds. The produced embryos of morula and blastocysts were vitrified using ethylene glycol and dimethyl sulfoxide then evaluated for their viability after warming.Results: The cleavage and blastocysts rates significantly declined in oocytes fertilized by Egyptian (P<0.01) than in Italian (P<0.05) and crossbred (P<0.05) frozen semen. After embryo vitrification, there were no significant differences among the three breeds in the percentages of morphologically viable embryos evaluated directly after warming and at 24 h post-culture. Conclusions:Thein vitro fertilization response to frozen-thawed semen varies between breeds;however, the resistance of produced embryos to the damage effect of vitrification does not vary.展开更多
We describe the first genome isolation of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus(MERS-CoV) in Kenya. This fatal zoonotic pathogen was first described in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2012. Epidemiological and m...We describe the first genome isolation of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus(MERS-CoV) in Kenya. This fatal zoonotic pathogen was first described in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2012. Epidemiological and molecular evidence revealed zoonotic transmission from camels to humans and between humans. Currently, MERS-CoV is classified by the WHO as having high pandemic potential requiring greater surveillance. Previous studies of MERS-CoV in Kenya mainly focused on site-specific and archived camel and human serum samples for antibodies. We conducted active nationwide cross-sectional surveillance of camels and humans in Kenya, targeting both nasal swabs and plasma samples from 1,163 camels and 486 humans collected from January 2016 to June 2018. A total of 792 camel plasma samples were positive by ELISA. Seroprevalence increased with age, and the highest prevalence was observed in adult camels(82.37%, 95%confidence interval(CI) 79.50–84.91). More female camels were significantly seropositive(74.28%, 95% CI 71.14–77.19)than male camels(P \ 0.001)(53.74%, 95% CI 48.48–58.90). Only 11 camel nasal swabs were positive for MERS-CoV by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. Phylogenetic analysis of whole genome sequences showed that Kenyan MERSCoV clustered within sub-clade C2, which is associated with the African clade, but did not contain signature deletions of orf4 b in African viruses. None of the human plasma screened contained neutralizing antibodies against MERS-CoV. This study confirms the geographically widespread occurrence of MERS-CoV in Kenyan camels. Further one-health surveillance approaches in camels, wildlife, and human populations are needed.展开更多
Vitamin C is a popular supplement in exercise and sport for its chemical properties i.e.v antioxidant capabilities. However, no clear role has been established for vitamin C supplementation (VCS) within these areas de...Vitamin C is a popular supplement in exercise and sport for its chemical properties i.e.v antioxidant capabilities. However, no clear role has been established for vitamin C supplementation (VCS) within these areas despite nearly a century’s worth of ongoing research. This study examined peak muscular pushing force (PMF) before and after a VCS intervention, 250 mg every 12 hrs for 28 days, in nine participants whom were naive to VCS and resistance exercise (RE). A dynamometer was used to perform two RE bouts, pre- and post-intervention, that quantified PMF during a state of exercise-induced oxidative stress (EI-OS). Saliva was collected for EIOS analysis from each participant before and after each RE bout;salivary vitamin C (VC) and free salivary malondialdehyde (MDA) were the examined biomarkers. PMF increased significantly post-intervention (405.48 ± 92.75 m·kg·s-2) from baseline (368.31 ± 76.36 m·kg·s-2, p < 0.05). MDA elevated significantly after the pre-intervention RE bout (0.385 ± 0.017 μg/mL) and the post-intervention RE bout (0.373 ± 0.014 μg/mL) compared to the baseline measures (0.373 ± 0.014 μg/mL, 0.359 ± 0.008 μg/mL;p < 0.01);a significant reduction in MDA was observed post-intervention, confirming vitamin C’s ability to reduce oxidative stress (p < 0.05). VC increased post-intervention (1.22 ± 0.73 μg/mL) from baseline (0.47 ± 0.51 μg/mL, p < 0.001). The results from this study suggest VCS is capable of increasing PMF by reducing EIOS in untrained individuals, and can be possibly used for enhancing resistance-exercise performance.展开更多
In Kosovo, in most cases C. pepo is grown both in maize fields and vegetable gardens as well as in other more intensive systems. Our expedition has identified different location t of Kosovo where we were collected a s...In Kosovo, in most cases C. pepo is grown both in maize fields and vegetable gardens as well as in other more intensive systems. Our expedition has identified different location t of Kosovo where we were collected a samples at altitudes from 545 till 748 m.a.s.l. The aim of the present investigation was carried out to study morphological diversity, protein and lipids content. Protein content (PC) was determined by Kjeldahl method. Lipids were determined by extraction using Soxhlet apparatus and diethyl ether was used as extraction solvent. Pumpkin populations show great diversity for quality traits. The greater part of variance was accounted for Protein Content (PC) and Lipid Content (LC). The estimation overall value μ in seed for PC and LC were 14.59%, and 32.99% respectively. The genetic diversity studies of the investigated of C. pepo showed significant genetic variation on chemical parameters, which could be largely due to that they were of different origins. This evaluation of traits variability can assist breeders to identify populations with desirable characteristics for inclusion in variety breeding programs.展开更多
Many studies have been dedicated to the development of scaffolds for improving post-traumatic nerve regeneration. The goal of this study was to assess the effect on nerve regeneration, associating a hybrid chitosan me...Many studies have been dedicated to the development of scaffolds for improving post-traumatic nerve regeneration. The goal of this study was to assess the effect on nerve regeneration, associating a hybrid chitosan membrane with non-differentiated human mesenchymal stem cells isolated from Wharton＇s jelly of umbilical cord, in peripheral nerve reconstruction after crush injury. Chromosome analysis on human mesenchymal stem cell line from Wharton＇s jelly was carried out and no structural alterations were found in metaphase. Chitosan membranes were previously tested in vitro, to assess their ability in supporting human mesenchymal stem cell survival, expansion, and differentiation. For the in vivo testing, Sasco Sprague adult rats were divided in 4 groups of 6 or 7 animals each： Group 1, sciatic axonotmesis injury without any other intervention （Group 1-Crush）; Group 2, the axonotmesis lesion of 3 mm was infiltrated with a suspension of 1 250 -1 500 human mesenchymal stem cells （total volume of 50 pL） （Group 2-CrushCell）; Group 3, axonotmesis lesion of 3 mm was enwrapped with a chitosan type Ill membrane covered with a monolayer of non-differentiated human mesenchymal stem cells （Group 3-CrushChitlllCell） and Group 4, axonotmesis lesion of 3 mm was enwrapped with a chitosan type III membrane （Group 4-CrushChiUll）. Motor and sensory functional recovery was evaluated throughout a healing period of 12 weeks using sciatic functional index, static sciatic index, extensor postural thrust, and withdrawal reflex latency. Stereological analysis was carded out on regenerated nerve fibers. Results showed that infiltration of human mesenchymal stem cells, or the combination of chitosan membrane enwrapment and human mesenchymal stem cell enrichment after nerve crush injury provide a slight advantage to post-traumatic nerve regeneration. Results obtained with chitosan type III membrane alone confirmed that they significantly improve post-traumatic axonal regrowth and may represent a very promising clinical tool in peripheral nerve reconstructive surgery. Yet, umbilical cord human mesenchymal stem cells, that can be expanded in culture and induced to form several different types of cells, may prove, in future experiments, to be a new source of cells for cell therapy, including targets such as peripheral nerve and muscle.展开更多
Fertility of captive flamingos varies between flocks, species and seasons. Individuating infertile eggs could be helpful to facilitate important decisions. Wild animals could be encouraged to abandon the nest or not, ...Fertility of captive flamingos varies between flocks, species and seasons. Individuating infertile eggs could be helpful to facilitate important decisions. Wild animals could be encouraged to abandon the nest or not, whereas in captivity removing non-viable egg would lead birds to lay a new one. The aim of this study was to investigate the parental behaviour of a pair of greater flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) in the presence of a fertile and an infertile egg. Data on the posture and behaviours of the pair on the nest were collected over two different periods: first period—an infertile egg was laid;second period—a fertile egg was laid. For each period, 28 ten-minute sessions per flamingo partner were run. Results revealed that female flamingo spent significantly more time standing on the nest in the first than in the second period (P = 0.010). Moreover, when standing on the nest, the female performed significantly more egg-care behaviour (attention to the egg, egg rotation/moving) in the first than in the second period (P = 0.010). No significant differences between periods emerged in the male flamingo posture on the nest and behaviours. Findings from this study suggest that female flamingos stand on the nest longer if the egg is infertile, paying more attention and examining it deeply. This study provides new insights into greater flamingo parent-embryo communication. Future research is needed to improve our knowledge on this topic, as well as on the husbandry of this species in the controlled environment.展开更多
Raspberries are known to have an abundant amount of the health promoting bioactive compounds, and increasing consumption has been associated with prevention of several chronic diseases. Growing fruits hydroponically c...Raspberries are known to have an abundant amount of the health promoting bioactive compounds, and increasing consumption has been associated with prevention of several chronic diseases. Growing fruits hydroponically compared to soil-grown has several environmental benefits and can be an option of sustainable food production in non-arable regions of the world. This research investigated the viability, unspecified sensory differences, ascorbic acid, tocopherol, total polyphenolic bioactive compounds and catechins of hydroponic raspberries compared to soil-grown raspberries. Overall, plant survival rate for hydroponic raspberries was 33% and for soil-grown raspberries, it was 66%. Fruit yield per plant was 10% higher in hydroponic raspberries compared to soil-grown. Sensory evaluation results by untrained participants illustrated that they were unable to differentiate between hydroponic and soil-grown raspberries. Nutritional analysis indicated similar values except for ascorbic acid, which was significantly higher in soil-grown raspberries. Growing raspberries hydroponically is feasible and sensory qualities are equal to soil-grown raspberries. Future research should investigate different methods of growing hydroponic raspberries for higher plant survival rates and eventually to determine if hydroponic raspberries may be grown on a commercial scale.展开更多
基金supported by the Projects of The National Key Research and Development Program of China(grant number 2016YFD0501204)Sichuan provincial project on S&T application and demonstration(grant number2016CC0070)the project on commercialization of research findings under funding of government of Sichuan province(grant number16ZHSF0385).
文摘Background:This study aimed to investigate the effects of oral administration of Enterococcus faecium NCIMB10415(E.faecium)on intestinal development,immunological parameters and gut microbiota of neonatal piglets challenged with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88(ETEC).A total of 961-day-old sow-reared piglets were randomly assigned to 2 groups,with 48 piglets in each group.The piglets were from 16 litters(6 piglets each litter),and 3 piglets each litter were allocated to the E.faecium-supplemented(PRO)group,while the other 3 piglets were allocated to the control(CON)group.After colostrum intake,piglets in the PRO group were orally administrated with 3×10~9 CFU E.faecium per day for a period of one week.On day 8,one piglet per litter from each group was challenged(CON+ETEC,PRO+ETEC)or not(CON-ETEC,PRO-ETEC)with ETEC in a 2×2 factorial arrangement of treatments.On day 10(2 days after challenge),blood and tissue samples were obtained from piglets.Results:Before ETEC challenge,there were no significant differences for the average daily gain(ADG)and fecal score between the two groups of piglets.After ETEC challenge,the challenged piglets had greater fecal score compared to the non-challenged piglets,whereas E.faecium administration was able to decrease the fecal score.Piglets challenged with ETEC had shorter villous height,deeper crypt depth,and reduced number of goblet cells in the jejunum and decreased m RNA abundance of claudin-1 in the ileum,whereas increased the percentage of lymphocytes,concentrations of IL-1βin the plasma and TNF-αin the ileal mucosa,as well as increased the m RNA abundances of innate immunity-related genes in the ileum tissue.These deleterious effects caused by ETEC were partly alleviated by feeding E.faecium.In addition,piglets in PRO-ETEC group had decreased the percentage of CD8^+T cells of the peripheral blood when compared to those in CON-ETEC group.Moreover,E.faecium administration increased Verrucomicrobia at phylum level and decreased Bilophila at genus level.Conclusions:These results suggest that oral administration of E.faecium alleviated the intestinal injury and diarrhea severity of neonatal piglets challenged by ETEC,partly through improving the intestinal microbiota and immune response.This offers a potential strategy of dietary intervention against intestinal impairment by ETEC in neonatal piglets.
文摘Hydroponically-grown produce may be a way of helping to feed the world a variety of fruits and vegetables, regardless of soil quality, space availability or climate. The objective of this study was to determine whether hydroponicallygrown lettuce contains as much ascorbic acid and tocopherol as soil-grown lettuce. We analyzed four varieties of lettuce, including: Waldmann’s Dark Green, Red Lollo Antago, Red Romaine Annapolis, and Butterleaf. The tocopherol content of hydroponically-grown Waldmann’s Dark Green, Red Lollo Antago, and Red Romaine Annapolis was 229%, 497% and 492% higher, respectively, compared to their soil-grown counterpart. The ascorbic acid content of hydroponically-grown Waldmann’s Dark Green, Red Lollo Antago, and Red Romaine Annapolis was 93%, 171% and 216% higher, respectively, compared to their soil-grown counterparts. Hydroponically grown lettuce varieties are significantly higher in both ascorbic acid and tocopherol content than their soil-grown counterparts, and hydroponic gardening is a viable option for producing nutritious fruits and vegetables.
文摘Soilless (hydroponic) vegetables and fruits grown in greenhouses are gaining popularity and potentially represent a compliment toward sustainable food sources. Only a few studies have looked at the nutrient quality of strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa) and raspberries (Rubus idaeus) grown in soilless systems. Dry weights, content of ascorbic acid, tocopherol, total polyphenolic compounds, glucose, fructose, and soluble solids (BRIX) of strawberries and raspberries grown in soilless systems were compared to their counterpart grown in soil. There was no change in dry weights but BRIX values (28% - 31%), glucose (158% - 175%), and fructose (75% - 102%) content for strawberries and raspberries respectively were significantly higher for the soil grown berries compared to soilless grown berries. Contents of ascorbic acid, tocopherol and total polyphenolic compounds were significantly higher in soilless grown strawberries compared to soil grown strawberries by 74%, 53%, and 22% respectively, and contents of ascorbic acid and total polyphenolic compounds were significantly higher in soil grown raspberries by 83% and 67% respectively compared to soilless grown raspberries. Soilless grown produce warrants future research to strive toward the potential to provide nutrient dense crops and opportunities toward optimized sustainable production.
文摘Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment modality that has advanced rapidly in recent years. It causes tissue and vascular damage with the interaction of a photosensitizing agent (PS), light of a proper wavelength, and molecular oxygen. Evaluation of vessel damage usually relies on histopathology evaluation. Results are often qualitative or at best semi-quantitative based on a subjective system. The aim of this study was to evaluate, using CD31 immunohistochemistry and image analysis software, the vascular damage after PDT in a well-established rodent model of chemically induced mammary tumor. Fourteen Sprague-Dawley rats received a single dose of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthraxcene (80 mg/kg by gavage), treatment efficacy was evaluated by comparing the vascular density of tumors after treatment with Photogem®?as a PS, intraperitoneally, followed by interstitial fiber optic lighting, from a diode laser, at 200 mW/cm and light dose of 100 J/cm directed against his tumor (7 animals), with a control group (6 animals, no PDT). The animals were euthanized 30 hours after the lighting and mammary tumors were removed and samples from each lesion were formalin-fixed. Immunostained blood vessels were quantified by Image Pro-Plus version 7.0. The control group had an average of 3368.6 ± 4027.1 pixels per picture and the treated group had an average of 779 ± 1242.6 pixels per area (P 0.01), indicating that PDT caused a significant decrease in vascular density of mammary tumors. The combined immunohistochemistry using CD31, with selection of representative areas by a trained pathology, followed by quantification of staining using Image Pro-Plus version 7.0 system was a practical and robust methodology for vessel damage evaluation, which probably could be used to assess other antiangiogenic treatments.
文摘Hydroponic growing methods are growing in popularity and seem to have numerous benefits (i.e., environmental, increased product yields, year round growing) compared to soil grown crops. Although these advantages are attractive, they do not guarantee a high quality product. Taste is a driver of consumer acceptance;therefore, sensory analysis of the hydroponic product will be an important indicator in its success. In this study, we evaluated the sensory differences and preferences in hydroponically grown and soil-grown strawberries (Fragaria x ananassa) using unspecified discriminatory and preference analyses, and descriptive testing correlated with nutrition content data. Most (87%) of participants could identify differences between hydroponically and soil grown strawberries and 70% preferred the hydroponically grown strawberry (p = 0.06). The nutrient composition of the strawberries significantly influenced several sensory analysis categories (sweetness, overall flavor and overall taste (p < 0.05)). The use of sensory studies in relation to consumer acceptance and nutrient quality will be an important factor to consider for exploring growing methods and techniques in hydroponic technology.
基金the Chinese Natural Sciences Foundation(No.32172832,No.32000109)Shanghai Sailing Program(20YF1457700)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(No.2019M660885,No.2021T140718)。
文摘Dear Editor,Rabbit hemorrhagic disease(RHD)is a fatal infectious disease that primarily affects adult rabbits and causes great economic losses in the rabbit industry(Mitro and Krauss,1993).The causative pathogen is rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus(RHDV),which belongs to the genus Lagovirus and the family Calicivirus(Moussa et al.,1992).In 1984,RHDV was first documented in China.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No. 39870034the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China, the 863 Program, No. 104-04-01-01the Major Project of Science and Technology Development of Zhejiang Province, No. 021102529
文摘AIM： To identify the gene （s） related to the antagonistic activity of Enterobacter cloacae B8 and to elucidate its antagonistic mechanism. METHODS： Transposon-mediated mutagenesis and tagging method and cassette PCR-based chromosomal walking method were adopted to isolate the mutant strain （s） of B8 that lost the antagonistic activity and to clone DNA fragments around Tn5 insertion site. Sequence compiling and open reading frame （ORF） finding were done with DNAStar program and homologous sequence and conserved domain searches were performed with BlastN or BlastP programs at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. To verify the gene involved in the antagonistic activity, complementation of a full-length clone of the anrFgene to the mutant B8F strain was used. RESULTS： A 3 321 bp contig around the Tn5 insertion site was obtained and an ORF of 2 634 bp in length designated as anrFgene encoding for a 877 aa polyketide synthase-like protein was identified. It had a homology of 83% at the nucleotide level and 79% ID/87% SIM at the protein level, to the admM gene of Pantoea agglomerans andrimid biosynthetic gene cluster （AY192157）. The Tn5 was inserted at 2 420 bp of the gene corresponding to the COG3319 （the thioesterase domain of type I polyketide synthase） coding region on BSF. The antagonistic activity against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae was resumed with complementation of the full-length anrFgene to the mutant B8F. CONCLUSION： The anrFgene obtained is related to the antagonistic activity of BS, and the antagonistic substances produced by B8 are andrimid and/or its analogs.
文摘Herbal medicine from natural resources plays an important role as antibacterial and antioxidant agents. The present investigation was designed to evaluate the antibacterial and antioxidant properties of thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) essential oil (TEO) and/or chitosan (CH) in vitro. Results indicated that TEO exhibited high radical scavenging activity (RSA) toward DPPH, ABTS, linoleic acid deterioration and iron chelation activity. TEO exhibited high amount of total phenolic compounds (TPC) related to its terpenes. The TPC of TEO was 177.3 mg GAE g-1 demonstrated 149.8 μmol of TE g-1 DPPH-RSA and 192.4 μmol of TE g-1 ABTS-RSA. The antioxidant capacity of TEO exhibited 68.9% reduction when evaluated by β-carotene bleaching assay. The reducing power activity related to iron chelation was 142.8 μmol of AAE g-1. The TEO exhibited a high content of Thymol (41.04%) as major compound over 14 identified components by GC-MS analysis followed by 1,8-Cineole (14.26%), γ-Terpinene (12.06%), p-Cymene (10.50%) and α-Terpinene (9.22%). TEO exhibited antimicrobial activity in vitro and MIC noticed that TEO was efficiently affected pathogens in vitro. Indeed, CH exhibited negligible or very low antimicrobial activity. In conclusion, both investigated TEO and TEO-CHmix have strong antibacterial activity against many pathogenic bacteria and need exploitation as an alternative source of natural antibacterial and antioxidant agents for potential applications.
基金the Sino-Africa Joint Research Center,Chinese Academy of Sciences(SAJC201605 and 151542KYSB20200010)the National Science and Technology Major Project(2018ZX10101004-001-002)Kenya Wildlife Service and National Museums of Kenya。
文摘Emergence and re-emergence of infectious diseases of wildlife origin have led pre-emptive pathogen surveillances in animals to be a public health priority.Rodents and shrews are among the most numerically abundant vertebrate taxa and are known as natural hosts of important zoonotic viruses.Many surveillance programs focused more on RNA viruses.In comparison,much less is known about DNA viruses harbored by these small mammals.To fill this knowledge gap,tissue specimens of 232 animals including 226 rodents,five shrews and one hedgehog were collected from 5 counties in Kenya and tested for the presence of DNA viruses belonging to 7 viral families by PCR.Diverse DNA sequences of adenoviruses,adeno-associated viruses,herpesviruses and polyomaviruses were detected.Phylogenetic analyses revealed that most of these viruses showed distinction from previously described viruses and formed new clusters.Furthermore,this is the first report of the discovery and full-length genome characterization of a polyomavirus in Lemniscomys species.This novel polyomavirus,named Ls Py V KY187,has less than 60%amino acid sequence identity to the most related Glis glis polyomavirus 1 and Sciurus carolinensis polyomavirus 1 in both large and small T-antigen proteins and thus can be putatively allocated to a novel species within Betapolyomavirus.Our findings help us better understand the genetic diversity of DNA viruses in rodent and shrew populations in Kenya and provide new insights into the evolution of those DNA viruses in their small mammal reservoirs.It demonstrates the necessity of ongoing pathogen discovery studies targeting rodent-borne viruses in East Africa.
基金funded by SinoAfrica Joint Research Center (SAJC201313 and SAJC 201605)
文摘This is the first country-wide surveillance of bat-borne viruses in Kenya spanning from 2012-2015 covering sites perceived to have medium to high level bat-human interaction. The objective of this surveillance study was to apply a non-invasive approach using fresh feces to detect viruses circulating within the diverse species of Kenyan bats. We screened for both DNA and RNA viruses; specifically, astroviruses （AstVs）, adenoviruses （ADVs）, caliciviruses （CalVs）, coronaviruses （CoVs）, flaviviruses, filoviruses, paramyxoviruses （PMVs）, polyomaviruses （PYVs） and rotaviruses. We used family-specific primers, amplicon sequencing and further characterization by phyloge- netic analysis. Except for filoviruses, eight virus families were detected with varying distributions and positive rates across the five regions （former provinces） studied. AstVs （12.83%）, CoVs （3.97%）, PMV （2.4%）, ADV （2.26%）, PYV （1.65%）, CalVs （0.29%）, rotavirus （0.19%） and flavivirus （0.19%）. Novel CalVs were detected in Rousettus aegyptiacus and Mops condylurus while novel Rotavirus-A-related viruses were detected in Taphozous bats and R. aegyptiacus. The two Rotavirus A （RVA） strains detected were highly related to human strains with VP6 genotypes 12 and 116. Genotype 116 has previously been assigned to human RVA-strain B10 from Kenya only, which raises public health concern, particularly considering increased human-bat interaction. Additionally, 229E-like bat CoVs were detected in samples originating from Hipposideros bats roosting in sites with high human activity. Our findings confirm the presence of diverse viruses in Kenyan bats while providing extended knowledge on bat virus distribution. The detection of viruses highly related to human strains and hence of public health concern, underscores the importance of continuous surveillance.
基金founded by the Key Technologies R&D Program of China during the 11th Five-Year Plan period (2006BAD06A11)
文摘Based on the antigenic analysis of Reticuloendotheliosis virus （REV） envelop glycoprotein （env） protein, an alternative indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） for detection of REV antibody was developed using a truncated env protein of REV produced in Escherichia coli. This assay was validated by comparison with an indirect immunofluorescence assay （IFA） and a REV-based ELISA. The diagnostic sensitivity （DSN）, specificity （DSP） and accuracy of the env indirect-ELISA （ienv-ELISA） were 93.7, 93.3 and 93.6% compared with IFA on 1 380 field serum samples, and 84.8, 95.2 and 91.7% compared with the REV-based ELISA on 96 field sera, respectively. Cross-reactivity assay showed that this assay was REV-specific. Repeatability test revealed that the coefficients of variation of positive sera within and between runs were less than 15%. This method is simpler to produce and perform, time-saving and suitable for large scale survey of REV antibody at low cost.
基金Supported by the Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort through.Grant No.10/917001
文摘Objective:To describe clinical signs,pathology,diagnosis and treatment of Cape vultures in which Aspergillus fumigatus(A.fumigatus)and mixed species of bacteria were isolated.Methods:Six Cape vultures sourced from South Africa for exhibition at Al Ain Zoo developed illness manifesting as anorexia,dyspnea,polyuria and lethargy.Three vultures died manifesting"pneumonia-like syndrome".These three vultures were necropsied and gross lesions recorded,while organ tissues were collected for histopathology.Internal organs were swabbed for bacteriology and mycology.From live vultures,blood was collected for hematology and biochemistry,oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs were collected for mycology and bacteriology.Results:A.fumigatus was isolated from the three dead vultures and two live ones that eventually survived.One of the dead vulture and two live vultures were co-infected with A.fumigatus and mixed species of bacteria that included Clostridium perfringens,Pseudomonas,Staphylococcus,Escherichia,Proteus,Enterococcus and Enterbacter.One of the Cape vulture and a Lappetfaced vulture,however,were free of Aspergillus or bacterial infections.At necropsy,intestinal hemorrhages were observed and the lungs were overtly congested with granulomas present on caudal air sac.Histopathologtcal examinations demonstrated granulomatous lesions that were infiltrated by mononuclear cells and giant cells.Conclusions:Aspergillosis is a persistent threat to captive birds and we recommend routine health assessments so that early diagnosis may prompt early treatment.It is likely that prompt prophylaxis by broad spectrum antibiotics and antifungals medication contributed to the survival of some of the vultures.
文摘Objective:To assess effect of buffalo bull breed on the development and cryotolerence of the in vitro produced embryos.Methods: Three types of frozen semen were adopted;Egyptian, Italian and cross-bred (Egyptian-Italian) breeds were used for in-vitro fertilization and vitrification of their embryos. Oocytes were collected from buffalo ovaries and maturedin vitrofor 24 h, then they were fertilized using the three semen breeds. The produced embryos of morula and blastocysts were vitrified using ethylene glycol and dimethyl sulfoxide then evaluated for their viability after warming.Results: The cleavage and blastocysts rates significantly declined in oocytes fertilized by Egyptian (P<0.01) than in Italian (P<0.05) and crossbred (P<0.05) frozen semen. After embryo vitrification, there were no significant differences among the three breeds in the percentages of morphologically viable embryos evaluated directly after warming and at 24 h post-culture. Conclusions:Thein vitro fertilization response to frozen-thawed semen varies between breeds;however, the resistance of produced embryos to the damage effect of vitrification does not vary.
基金funded by Sino-Africa Joint Research Center (SAJC201313 and SAJC201605)External Cooperation Program of CAS (153211KYSB20160001)National Science and Technology Major Project (2018ZX0101004)
文摘We describe the first genome isolation of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus(MERS-CoV) in Kenya. This fatal zoonotic pathogen was first described in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2012. Epidemiological and molecular evidence revealed zoonotic transmission from camels to humans and between humans. Currently, MERS-CoV is classified by the WHO as having high pandemic potential requiring greater surveillance. Previous studies of MERS-CoV in Kenya mainly focused on site-specific and archived camel and human serum samples for antibodies. We conducted active nationwide cross-sectional surveillance of camels and humans in Kenya, targeting both nasal swabs and plasma samples from 1,163 camels and 486 humans collected from January 2016 to June 2018. A total of 792 camel plasma samples were positive by ELISA. Seroprevalence increased with age, and the highest prevalence was observed in adult camels(82.37%, 95%confidence interval(CI) 79.50–84.91). More female camels were significantly seropositive(74.28%, 95% CI 71.14–77.19)than male camels(P \ 0.001)(53.74%, 95% CI 48.48–58.90). Only 11 camel nasal swabs were positive for MERS-CoV by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. Phylogenetic analysis of whole genome sequences showed that Kenyan MERSCoV clustered within sub-clade C2, which is associated with the African clade, but did not contain signature deletions of orf4 b in African viruses. None of the human plasma screened contained neutralizing antibodies against MERS-CoV. This study confirms the geographically widespread occurrence of MERS-CoV in Kenyan camels. Further one-health surveillance approaches in camels, wildlife, and human populations are needed.
文摘Vitamin C is a popular supplement in exercise and sport for its chemical properties i.e.v antioxidant capabilities. However, no clear role has been established for vitamin C supplementation (VCS) within these areas despite nearly a century’s worth of ongoing research. This study examined peak muscular pushing force (PMF) before and after a VCS intervention, 250 mg every 12 hrs for 28 days, in nine participants whom were naive to VCS and resistance exercise (RE). A dynamometer was used to perform two RE bouts, pre- and post-intervention, that quantified PMF during a state of exercise-induced oxidative stress (EI-OS). Saliva was collected for EIOS analysis from each participant before and after each RE bout;salivary vitamin C (VC) and free salivary malondialdehyde (MDA) were the examined biomarkers. PMF increased significantly post-intervention (405.48 ± 92.75 m·kg·s-2) from baseline (368.31 ± 76.36 m·kg·s-2, p < 0.05). MDA elevated significantly after the pre-intervention RE bout (0.385 ± 0.017 μg/mL) and the post-intervention RE bout (0.373 ± 0.014 μg/mL) compared to the baseline measures (0.373 ± 0.014 μg/mL, 0.359 ± 0.008 μg/mL;p < 0.01);a significant reduction in MDA was observed post-intervention, confirming vitamin C’s ability to reduce oxidative stress (p < 0.05). VC increased post-intervention (1.22 ± 0.73 μg/mL) from baseline (0.47 ± 0.51 μg/mL, p < 0.001). The results from this study suggest VCS is capable of increasing PMF by reducing EIOS in untrained individuals, and can be possibly used for enhancing resistance-exercise performance.
文摘In Kosovo, in most cases C. pepo is grown both in maize fields and vegetable gardens as well as in other more intensive systems. Our expedition has identified different location t of Kosovo where we were collected a samples at altitudes from 545 till 748 m.a.s.l. The aim of the present investigation was carried out to study morphological diversity, protein and lipids content. Protein content (PC) was determined by Kjeldahl method. Lipids were determined by extraction using Soxhlet apparatus and diethyl ether was used as extraction solvent. Pumpkin populations show great diversity for quality traits. The greater part of variance was accounted for Protein Content (PC) and Lipid Content (LC). The estimation overall value μ in seed for PC and LC were 14.59%, and 32.99% respectively. The genetic diversity studies of the investigated of C. pepo showed significant genetic variation on chemical parameters, which could be largely due to that they were of different origins. This evaluation of traits variability can assist breeders to identify populations with desirable characteristics for inclusion in variety breeding programs.
基金supported by Technology and Science Foundation(FCT),Education and Science Ministry,Portugal,through the financed research project PTDC/DES/104036/2008by QREN N°1372-Nucleus I&DT for the Development of Products for Regenerative Medicine and Cell Therapies-Núcleo Biomat&CellAndrea Grtner has a Doctoral Grantfrom Technology and Science Foundation(FCT),Education and Science Ministry,Portugal,SFRH/BD/70211/2010
文摘Many studies have been dedicated to the development of scaffolds for improving post-traumatic nerve regeneration. The goal of this study was to assess the effect on nerve regeneration, associating a hybrid chitosan membrane with non-differentiated human mesenchymal stem cells isolated from Wharton＇s jelly of umbilical cord, in peripheral nerve reconstruction after crush injury. Chromosome analysis on human mesenchymal stem cell line from Wharton＇s jelly was carried out and no structural alterations were found in metaphase. Chitosan membranes were previously tested in vitro, to assess their ability in supporting human mesenchymal stem cell survival, expansion, and differentiation. For the in vivo testing, Sasco Sprague adult rats were divided in 4 groups of 6 or 7 animals each： Group 1, sciatic axonotmesis injury without any other intervention （Group 1-Crush）; Group 2, the axonotmesis lesion of 3 mm was infiltrated with a suspension of 1 250 -1 500 human mesenchymal stem cells （total volume of 50 pL） （Group 2-CrushCell）; Group 3, axonotmesis lesion of 3 mm was enwrapped with a chitosan type Ill membrane covered with a monolayer of non-differentiated human mesenchymal stem cells （Group 3-CrushChitlllCell） and Group 4, axonotmesis lesion of 3 mm was enwrapped with a chitosan type III membrane （Group 4-CrushChiUll）. Motor and sensory functional recovery was evaluated throughout a healing period of 12 weeks using sciatic functional index, static sciatic index, extensor postural thrust, and withdrawal reflex latency. Stereological analysis was carded out on regenerated nerve fibers. Results showed that infiltration of human mesenchymal stem cells, or the combination of chitosan membrane enwrapment and human mesenchymal stem cell enrichment after nerve crush injury provide a slight advantage to post-traumatic nerve regeneration. Results obtained with chitosan type III membrane alone confirmed that they significantly improve post-traumatic axonal regrowth and may represent a very promising clinical tool in peripheral nerve reconstructive surgery. Yet, umbilical cord human mesenchymal stem cells, that can be expanded in culture and induced to form several different types of cells, may prove, in future experiments, to be a new source of cells for cell therapy, including targets such as peripheral nerve and muscle.
文摘Fertility of captive flamingos varies between flocks, species and seasons. Individuating infertile eggs could be helpful to facilitate important decisions. Wild animals could be encouraged to abandon the nest or not, whereas in captivity removing non-viable egg would lead birds to lay a new one. The aim of this study was to investigate the parental behaviour of a pair of greater flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) in the presence of a fertile and an infertile egg. Data on the posture and behaviours of the pair on the nest were collected over two different periods: first period—an infertile egg was laid;second period—a fertile egg was laid. For each period, 28 ten-minute sessions per flamingo partner were run. Results revealed that female flamingo spent significantly more time standing on the nest in the first than in the second period (P = 0.010). Moreover, when standing on the nest, the female performed significantly more egg-care behaviour (attention to the egg, egg rotation/moving) in the first than in the second period (P = 0.010). No significant differences between periods emerged in the male flamingo posture on the nest and behaviours. Findings from this study suggest that female flamingos stand on the nest longer if the egg is infertile, paying more attention and examining it deeply. This study provides new insights into greater flamingo parent-embryo communication. Future research is needed to improve our knowledge on this topic, as well as on the husbandry of this species in the controlled environment.
文摘Raspberries are known to have an abundant amount of the health promoting bioactive compounds, and increasing consumption has been associated with prevention of several chronic diseases. Growing fruits hydroponically compared to soil-grown has several environmental benefits and can be an option of sustainable food production in non-arable regions of the world. This research investigated the viability, unspecified sensory differences, ascorbic acid, tocopherol, total polyphenolic bioactive compounds and catechins of hydroponic raspberries compared to soil-grown raspberries. Overall, plant survival rate for hydroponic raspberries was 33% and for soil-grown raspberries, it was 66%. Fruit yield per plant was 10% higher in hydroponic raspberries compared to soil-grown. Sensory evaluation results by untrained participants illustrated that they were unable to differentiate between hydroponic and soil-grown raspberries. Nutritional analysis indicated similar values except for ascorbic acid, which was significantly higher in soil-grown raspberries. Growing raspberries hydroponically is feasible and sensory qualities are equal to soil-grown raspberries. Future research should investigate different methods of growing hydroponic raspberries for higher plant survival rates and eventually to determine if hydroponic raspberries may be grown on a commercial scale.
