Size discrimination in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio): Normative data and individual variation.

In humans, aging and neurodegenerative diseases have been found to be associated with impairment in both mathematical abilities and estimation of continuous quantities such as size, weight or distance. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is rapidly becoming a model for human aging and brain disorders but we currently lack any instrument for rapid assessment of quantity estimation abilities in this species. Here we developed a simple method based on spontaneous preference of zebrafish for using the larger available hole to pass an obstacle. We collected a large amount of data from small groups of zebrafish moving between compartments of their tank and we used these normative data to compare the performance of individually tested fish. Zebrafish significantly discriminated size ratios from 0.60 to 0.91 with their performance decreasing while increasing the size ratio between the smaller and the larger hole presented. On average, individually tested fish showed the same performance, but a large inter-individual variability was observed. Test-retest analyses revealed a good reliability of this test, with 0.60 and 0.75 ratios being the most informative. Experience did not affect individual performance, suggesting the suitability of this test to measure the longitudinal changes and the effects of pharmacological treatments on cognitive abilities

Detection of Central Retinal Artery Occlusion by Point-of-Care Ultrasound in the Emergency Department: A Case Series.

Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is a rare, but serious, diagnosis that can lead to blindness, most often due to thromboembolic disease. In the emergency department (ED), CRAO can present as acute, painless loss of vision. Physicians need quick ways to rule in this diagnosis due to the time-sensitive nature of the event. We describe two patients in this cases series who present to the same ED with unilateral painless vision loss and histories that include notable risk factors such as thromboembolic and atherosclerotic disease. Upon arrival, point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) done at the bedside allowed for quick determination of CRAO. The importance of this case series is to emphasize the efficacy of POCUS in evaluating patients with painless vision loss in the ED setting

Creación y persistencia de la aversión condicionada a hojas de vid en ovino. Aplicación al pastoreo de viñedos en primavera

El pastoreo en viñedos se ve limitado por el daño que las ovejas pueden provocar en el cultivo, dada la alta palatabilidad de las hojas de vid. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue crear aversión a hojas de vid y evaluar su persistencia en ovejas (Manchega, n = 12; Lacaune, n = 12) durante tres años. El estudio incluyó la creación y validación de la aversión en condiciones experimentales en el primer año y en pastoreo en viñedos comerciales los años dosytres. Lostratamientos consistieron en ovejas avertidas (AV, 225 mg LiCl/kg PV) y ovejas control (C, tratadas con agua). Durante el año uno la aversión se validó (30 min/prueba) en el aprisco y en viña simulada. Los siguientes años, las ovejas AV pastaron dos viñedos comerciales con cubierta espontánea (viñedo A y B). El tratamiento con LiCl dio lugar a que las ovejas AV rechazaran consumir las hojas de vid (AV vs. C; 0 vs. 95 ± 5 g/d). En los viñedos comerciales, las ovejas AV redujeron la materia seca de la cubierta vegetal en un 68 ± 8% y 44 ± 4% para A y B respectivamente. Sin embargo, cuando la cubierta fue poco palatable y escasa, las ovejas AV empezaron a consumir las hojas y brotes de vid,siendo necesaria una nueva dosis de LiCl (A, 100%; B, 50% ovejas). En conclusión, la AV fue una herramienta efectiva para controlar la cubierta vegetal del viñedo en primavera,siendo necesaria una supervisión de los animales

Machine milking parameters for Murciano-Granadina breed goats

[EN] In dairy ruminants, the combination of milking parameters must ensure good milking performance without harming udder conditions. Commonly, milking conditions for goats are established without having checked the admissible limits for optimal and fast milking. The aim of this study was to establish a limit combination of machine milking parameters that improves machine milking performance without altering milkability or udder status. To this end, we studied the effect of 2 combinations (42 kPa, 120 cpm, 60% vs. 44 kPa, 120 cpm, 60% in terms of kilopascals of vacuum level, cycles per minute of pulsator rate, and percentage of pulsator ratio, respectively) on milk production and composition, milk fractioning during milking, SCC, teat tissue thickness variation after milking, and the milk emission kinetics parameters throughout 1 lactation period (6 rno). The 42 and 44 kPa measured at the vacuum gauge level became average values of 37.5 and 39.3 kPa, respectively, measured at the teat sphincter level during milking. Milk flow significantly increased and total milking time decreased 25 s with the elevation of the vacuum level from 42 to 44 kPa without any adverse effect on milk fractioning at milking. However, the use of 44 kPa also showed an increase in tissue thickness above 5%, and we observed a tendency of average conductivity of milk to increase, although without any adverse effect on SCC. It seems that 44 kPa, 120 cpm, 60% is a possible limit combination of parameters to improve milking performance without altering milkability or udder conditions. We concluded that this combination can be used for milking Murciano-Granadina breed goats in conditions similar to those of this study (mid-level milking system and 1 milking/d), although further studies are necessary to verify its application in the case of 2 milkings/d.Fernández Martínez, N.; Martí Vicent, JV.; Rodríguez Garcia, M.; Peris Ribera, CJ.; Balasch Parisi, S. (2020). Machine milking parameters for Murciano-Granadina breed goats. Journal of Dairy Science. 103(1):507-513. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2019-16446S5075131031Alejandro, M., Roca, A., Romero, G., & Díaz, J. R. (2014). Short communication: Effects of milk removal on teat tissue and recovery in Murciano-Granadina goats. Journal of Dairy Science, 97(8), 5012-5016. doi:10.3168/jds.2014-7934Ali, A. K. A., & Shook, G. E. (1980). An Optimum Transformation for Somatic Cell Concentration in Milk. Journal of Dairy Science, 63(3), 487-490. doi:10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(80)82959-6Blasco, E., Gomez, E. A., Vicente, C., Vidal, G., & Peris, C. (2016). Factors affecting milking speed in Murciano-Granadina breed goats. Journal of Dairy Science, 99(12), 10102-10108. doi:10.3168/jds.2016-10869BOE (Boletín Oficial del Estado). 2013. Real Decreto 53/2013, de 1 de febrero, por el que se establecen las normas básicas aplicables para la protección de los animales utilizados en experimentación y otros fines científicos, incluyendo la docencia.Delgado-Pertíñez, M., Guzmán-Guerrero, J. L., Mena, Y., Castel, J. M., González-Redondo, P., & Caravaca, F. P. (2009). Influence of kid rearing systems on milk yield, kid growth and cost of Florida dairy goats. Small Ruminant Research, 81(2-3), 105-111. doi:10.1016/j.smallrumres.2008.12.007Díaz, J. R., Alejandro, M., Peris, C., & Fernández, N. (2013). Use of ultrasound scanning to estimate teat wall thickness in Murciano-Granadina goats. Livestock Science, 155(1), 114-122. doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2013.04.007Díaz, J. R., Romero, G., Muelas, R., Alejandro, M., & Peris, C. (2012). Effect of intramammary infection on milk electrical conductivity in Murciano-Granadina goats. Journal of Dairy Science, 95(2), 718-726. doi:10.3168/jds.2011-4698Diaz, J. R., Romero, G., Muelas, R., Sendra, E., Pantoja, J. C. F., & Paredes, C. (2011). Analysis of the influence of variation factors on electrical conductivity of milk in Murciano-Granadina goats. Journal of Dairy Science, 94(8), 3885-3894. doi:10.3168/jds.2011-4187Fernández, N., Martínez, A., Martí, J. V., Rodríguez, M., & Peris, C. (2015). Milkability and milking efficiency improvement in Murciano-Granadina breed goats. Small Ruminant Research, 126, 68-72. doi:10.1016/j.smallrumres.2015.03.001Gil, Z. (1988). Milk temperature fluctuations during milking in cows with subclinical mastitis. Livestock Production Science, 20(3), 223-231. doi:10.1016/0301-6226(88)90074-7Hamann, J., Mein, G. A., & Nipp, B. (1996). Recommended method for measuring changes in thickness of the bovine teat with spring-loaded calipers. Journal of Dairy Research, 63(2), 309-313. doi:10.1017/s0022029900031800Hamzaoui, S., Salama, A. A. K., Albanell, E., Such, X., & Caja, G. (2013). Physiological responses and lactational performances of late-lactation dairy goats under heat stress conditions. Journal of Dairy Science, 96(10), 6355-6365. doi:10.3168/jds.2013-6665Isaksson, A., & Lind, O. (1992). Teat Reactions in Cows Associated With Machine Milking*. Journal of Veterinary Medicine Series A, 39(1-10), 282-288. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0442.1992.tb00184.xLE DU, J., BENMEDERBEL, B., DANO, Y., COMBAUD, J. F., & TESSONNIÈRE, R. (1984). Aptitude des chèvres de race Saanen à la traite mécanique. Relations avec les caractéristiques physiques du trayon. Annales de Zootechnie, 33(3), 375-384. doi:10.1051/animres:19840307Peris, S., Caja, G., Such, X., Casals, R., Ferret, A., & Torre, C. (1997). Influence of Kid Rearing Systems on Milk Composition and Yield of Murciano-Granadina Dairy Goats. Journal of Dairy Science, 80(12), 3249-3255. doi:10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(97)76299-4Requena, R., Balasch, S., Peris, C., Rodríguez, M., & Fernández, N. (2010). Dose response of lactating dairy ewes during suckling and milking to bovine somatotropin1. Journal of Animal Science, 88(9), 3136-3144. doi:10.2527/jas.2009-2690Zecconi, A., Hamann, J., Bronzo, V., & Ruffo, G. (1992). Machine-induced teat tissue reactions and infection risk in a dairy herd free from contagious mastitis pathogens. Journal of Dairy Research, 59(3), 265-271. doi:10.1017/s002202990003054

Lithium storage mechanisms in purpurin based organic lithium ion battery electrodes

Current lithium batteries operate on inorganic insertion compounds to power a diverse range of applications, but recently there is a surging demand to develop environmentally friendly green electrode materials. To develop sustainable and eco-friendly lithium ion batteries, we report reversible lithium ion storage properties of a naturally occurring and abundant organic compound purpurin, which is non-toxic and derived from the plant madder. The carbonyl/hydroxyl groups present in purpurin molecules act as redox centers and reacts electrochemically with Li-ions during the charge/discharge process. The mechanism of lithiation of purpurin is fully elucidated using NMR, UV and FTIR spectral studies. The formation of the most favored six membered binding core of lithium ion with carbonyl groups of purpurin and hydroxyl groups at C-1 and C-4 positions respectively facilitated lithiation process, whereas hydroxyl group at C-2 position remains unaltered

TGFbeta induces apoptosis and EMT in primary mouse hepatocytes independently of p53, p21Cip1 or Rb status

Melville Trust for the Care and Cure of Cancer to SP and SS.Background: TGF beta has pleiotropic effects that range from regulation of proliferation and apoptosis to morphological changes and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Some evidence suggests that these effects may be interconnected. We have recently reported that P53, P21(Cip1) and pRB, three critical regulators of the G1/S transition are variably involved in TGF beta-induced cell cycle arrest in hepatocytes. As these proteins are also involved in the regulation of apoptosis in many circumstances, we investigated their contribution to other relevant TGF beta-induced effects, namely apoptosis and EMT, and examined how the various processes were interrelated. Methods: Primary mouse hepatocytes deficient in p53, p21 and/or Rb, singly or in combination were treated with TGF beta for 24 to 96 hours. Apoptosis was quantified according to morphology and by immunostaining for cleavedcapsase 3. Epithelial and mesenchymal marker expression was studied using immunocytochemistry and real time PCR. Results: We found that TGF beta similarly induced morphological changes regardless of genotype and independently of proliferation index or sensitivity to inhibition of proliferation by TGF beta. Morphological changes were accompanied by decrease in E-cadherin and increased Snail expression but the mesenchymal markers (N-cadherin, SMA alpha and Vimentin) studied remained unchanged. TGF beta induced high levels of apoptosis in p53-/-, Rb-/-, p21(cip1)-/- and control hepatocytes although with slight differences in kinetics. This was unrelated to proliferation or changes in morphology and loss of cell-cell adhesion. However, hepatocytes deficient in both p53 and p21(cip1)were less sensitive to TGF beta-induced apoptosis. Conclusion: Although p53, p21(Cip1) and pRb are well known regulators of both proliferation and apoptosis in response to a multitude of stresses, we conclude that they are critical for TGF beta-driven inhibition of hepatocytes proliferation, but only slightly modulate TGF beta-induced apoptosis. This effect may depend on other parameters such as proliferation and the presence of other regulatory proteins as suggested by the consequences of p53, p21(Cip1) double deficiency. Similarly, p53, p21(Cip1) and pRB deficiency had no effect on the morphological changes and loss of cell adhesion which is thought to be critical for metastasis. This indicates that possible association of these genes with metastasis potential would be unlikely to involve TGF beta-induced EMT.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Thioredoxin is involved in endothelial cell extracellular transglutaminase 2 activation mediated by celiac disease patient IgA

Purpose: To investigate the role of thioredoxin (TRX), a novel regulator of extracellular transglutaminase 2 (TG2), in celiac patients IgA (CD IgA) mediated TG2 enzymatic activation. Methods: TG2 enzymatic activity was evaluated in endothelial cells (HUVECs) under different experimental conditions by ELISA and Western blotting. Extracellular TG2 expression was studied by ELISA and immunofluorescence. TRX was analysed by Western blotting and ELISA. Serum immunoglobulins class A from healthy subjects (H IgA) were used as controls. Extracellular TG2 enzymatic activity was inhibited by R281. PX12, a TRX inhibitor, was also employed in the present study. Results: We have found that in HUVECs CD IgA is able to induce the activation of extracellular TG2 in a dose-dependent manner. Particularly, we noted that the extracellular modulation of TG2 activity mediated by CD IgA occurred only under reducing conditions, also needed to maintain antibody binding. Furthermore, CD IgA-treated HUVECs were characterized by a slightly augmented TG2 surface expression which was independent from extracellular TG2 activation. We also observed that HUVECs cultured in the presence of CD IgA evinced decreased TRX surface expression, coupled with increased secretion of the protein into the culture medium. Intriguingly, inhibition of TRX after CD IgA treatment was able to overcome most of the CD IgA-mediated effects including the TG2 extracellular transamidase activity. Conclusions: Altogether our findings suggest that in endothelial cells CD IgA mediate the constitutive activation of extracellular TG2 by a mechanism involving the redox sensor protein TRX

Acceptability and feasibility of a virtual community of practice to primary care professionals regarding patient empowerment: A qualitative pilot study

Background: Virtual communities of practice (vCoPs) facilitate online learning via the exchange of experiences and knowledge between interested participants. Compared to other communities, vCoPs need to overcome technological structures and specific barriers. Our objective was to pilot the acceptability and feasibility of a vCoP aimed at improving the attitudes of primary care professionals to the empowerment of patients with chronic conditions. Methods: We used a qualitative approach based on 2 focus groups: one composed of 6 general practitioners and the other of 6 practice nurses. Discussion guidelines on the topics to be investigated were provided to the moderator. Sessions were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was performed using the ATLAS-ti software. Results: The available operating systems and browsers and the lack of suitable spaces and time were reported as the main difficulties with the vCoP. The vCoP was perceived to be a flexible learning mode that provided up-to-date resources applicable to routine practice and offered a space for the exchange of experiences and approaches. Conclusions: The results from this pilot study show that the vCoP was considered useful for learning how to empower patients. However, while vCoPs have the potential to facilitate learning and as shown create professional awareness regarding patient empowerment, attention needs to be paid to technological and access issues and the time demands on professionals. We collected relevant inputs to improve the features, content and educational methods to be included in further vCoP implementation. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02757781. Registered on 25 April 2016.This study was financed by Instituto de Salud Carlos III and Cofinanced by Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER). Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad. Gobierno de España. (PI15/00164, PI15/00586, PI15/00566