Growth performances, carcasses parameters and meat fatty acid composition of lamb fed green oak acorns (Quercus ilex) based diet

The aim of this experiment is to compare the effects of diets containing green oak acorns (GO) and barley (BL) on the growth performances, carcasses parameters and the composition in fatty acids of lambs. Twogroups of five lambs each were fed, respectively, during 105 days with diets containing 50% of oaks acorns and 50% of barley. At the end of the test, the animals of the two diets expressed comparable body weights and weight gain. A significant difference (P < 0.05) was observed for the thickness of fat cover which is 3 mm for the BL group against 1.6 mm for GO group even if no significant difference was revealed concerning the output with slaughtering. The intramuscular lipids were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the group of animals fed with GO diet compared to the BL diet (3.88 vs 2.83 g.100-1 g of muscle). Among the saturated fatty acids (SFA), the stearic acid significantly appeared in higher proportion (P <0.05) in GO diet (20.8 vs 18.1%) whereas the palmitic acid is prevalent in the group of animals fed with the BL diet (25 vs 30%). For the  polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), no significant difference was observedbetween the two groups. The linoleic acid is prevalent among the PUFA of two groups without significant difference. The linolenic acid is higher in the animal fed BL. The n-6: n-3 ratio is higher in the BL group (8.9 vs 7.3). At the end, the low level of incorporation of PUFA in muscle of the lamb because of biohydrogenation, suggests us supplementing the diet by green grass

Elastic properties of TeO2-B2O3-Ag2O glasses.

A series of glasses [(TeO2) x (B2O3)1−x ]1−y [Ag2O] y with x = 70 and y = 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 mol% were synthesised by rapid quenching. Longitudinal and shear ultrasonic velocity were measured at room temperature and at 5 MHz frequency. Elastic properties, Poisson's ratio, microhardness, softening temperature and Debye temperature have been calculated from the measured density and ultrasonic velocity at room temperature. The experimental results indicate that the elastic constants depend upon the composition of the glasses and the role of the Ag2O inside the glass network is discussed. Estimated parameters based on Makishima–Mackenzie theory and bond compression model were calculated in order to analyse the experimental elastic moduli. Comparison between the experimental elastic moduli data obtained in the study and the calculated theoretically by the mentioned above models has been discussed

The Semiosis of “Side Effects” in Genetic Interventions

Genetic interventions, which include transgenic engineering, gene editing, and other forms of genome modification aimed at altering the information “in” the genetic code, are rapidly increasing in power and scale. Biosemiotics offers unique tools for understanding the nature, risks, scope, and prospects of such technologies, though few in the community have turned their attention specifically in this direction. Bruni (2003, 2008) is an important exception. In this paper, I examine how we frame the concept of “side effects” that result from genetic interventions and how the concept stands up to current perspectives of the role of organism activity in development. I propose that once the role of living systems in constructing and modifying the informational value of their various developmental resources is taken into account, the concept of a “side effect” will need to be significantly revised. Far from merely a disturbance brought about in a senseless albeit complex system, a biosemiotic view would take “side effects” as at least sometimes the organism’s active re-organization in order to accommodate or make use of novelty. This insight is nascent in the work of developmental plasticity and niche construction theory (West-Eberhard 2003; Odling-Smee et al. 2003), but it is brought into sharper focus by the explicitly interpretive perspective offered by biosemiotics. Understanding the “side effects” of genetic interventions depends in part on being able to articulate when and where unexpected consequences are a result of semiotic activity at various levels within the system. While a semiotic interpretation of “side effects” puts into question the naive attitude that would see all unintended side effects as indications of disturbance in system functionality, it certainly does not imply that such side effects are of no concern for the viability of the organisms in the system. As we shall see, the fact that such interventions do not respect the translation of information that occurs in multi-level biological systems ensures that disruption is still likely. But it does unprivilege the human agent as the sole generator of meaning and information in the products of biotechnology, with important consequences on how we understand our relationship with other species

Cystic Duct Cholangiography

A series of 837 cystic duct cholangiograms has been reviewed. The technique is simple and safe to carry out. It is not time consuming and does not require any unusual equipment. It has reduced the incidence of common duct exploration and has decreased the incidence of retained common duct stones. It is stressed that, unless the operative cholangiogram fulfills the criteria of a normal cholangiogram, especially in relation to size and tapering of the tower end of the duct, then common duct exploration should be earned out. Its almost routine use can only increase the general quality and accuracy of biliary tract surgery