Replacement of berseemhay by Salix tetrasperma on physiological performance of New Zealand White rabbits under subtropical conditions of Egypt

Forty-eight growing New Zealand White male rabbits aged 6 weeks (874±1.3 g initial body weight (BW)) were used to study effects of partial replacement of berseem hay (BH) with Salix tetrasperma hay (ST) on growth and physiological responses. Rabbits were allotted to one of four diets of 12 rabbits each for 75 days in a completely randomized design. The treatments were as follows: control (30 % BH), ST25 (7.5 % ST+22.5 % BH), ST50 (15 % ST+15 % BH), ST75 (22.5 % ST+7.5 % BH). Nutrient digestibility coefficients, nutritive value and N utilization of rabbits fed with the ST50 rations were higher (PST25 and ST50>control. Glucose level was higher (P<0.05) for the control than the other diets. Rabbits fed with the mixed diets of ST had lower (P<0.05) total lipids, cholesterol and triglycerides levels than those fed with control. Haematological indices of packed cell volume, haemoglobin, red blood cells, white blood cells and lymphocyte counts were lower (P<0.05), but monocyte was higher, in rabbits fed with the ST75 than the other groups. However, other haematological parameters were similar among diets. Since all the performance and blood parameters were within normal ranges for healthy rabbits, and there were no signs of toxicity, we conclude that partial replacement of BH by ST improves rabbit growth performance, and did not impact rabbit health

Interaction of silver nanoparticles with HIV-1

The interaction of nanoparticles with biomolecules and microorganisms is an expanding field of research. Within this field, an area that has been largely unexplored is the interaction of metal nanoparticles with viruses. In this work, we demonstrate that silver nanoparticles undergo a size-dependent interaction with HIV-1, with nanoparticles exclusively in the range of 1–10 nm attached to the virus. The regular spatial arrangement of the attached nanoparticles, the center-to-center distance between nanoparticles, and the fact that the exposed sulfur-bearing residues of the glycoprotein knobs would be attractive sites for nanoparticle interaction suggest that silver nanoparticles interact with the HIV-1 virus via preferential binding to the gp120 glycoprotein knobs. Due to this interaction, silver nanoparticles inhibit the virus from binding to host cells, as demonstrated in vitro

Diodos orgánicos emisores de luz: estrategias para la optimización de dispositivos y la obtención de un oled blanco

III Encuentro sobre Nanociencia y Nanotecnología de Investigadores y Tecnólogos Andaluce

Leptin and its Association with Obesity among Mexican Adolescents

Purpose: To investigate the association between leptin concentrations and nutritional status among a Mexican adolescent population. Methods: Cross-sectional study with 448 adolescents attending five schools in Durango, Mexico. Serum leptin concentrations were measured by ELISA. Other measurements included height, weight, and waist and hip circumference. Body fat of participants was assessed with bio-electrical impedance using a body composition analyzer InBody-720. Sociodemographic information was also collected. Results: Based on IOTF BMI cut-off points, 34.1% of adolescents were overweight and obese and prevalence rates were higher among females (37.1%) than males (29.5%). In agreement with waist circumference, 22.5% of participants were overweight and had abdominal obesity; and based on waist-to-hip ratio 35.5% had truncal obesity. Leptin concentration levels among females (19.33 ng/dL) were two times higher than among males (40.07 ng/dL) with a statistical significant difference (p=0.000). Leptin levels among obese females (69.92 ng/dL) were three times higher than among underweight females (17.70 ng/dL). Conversely, leptin levels among males (43.52 ng/dL) were four times higher than among their underweight counterparts (10.08 ng/dL). Mean leptin levels among women with body fat greater than 28% (46.44 ng/dL) were statistically different and 1.7 times higher than those with lower body fat (25.96 ng/dL) (p=0.000). Mean leptin levels among males with body fat greater than 20% (30.17 ng/dL) were statistically different (p=0.000) and 2.4 times higher than among males with lower body fat (12.35 ng/dL). Among both females and males, leptin concentration levels were positively and significantly associated with visceral body fat (R2=0.344 females; R2=0.373 males; p=0.000). Conclusions: Significant correlations between leptin and BMI, body fat percentage, and visceral adipose tissue area indicate that this hormone can be used as a biomarker for obesity among adolescents

Potencial productivo de diferentes genotipos de soya (Glycine max (L.) Merr) en condiciones de ambiente tropical.

Se compararon algunas características agronómicas de variedades de soya pertenecientes a 8 clases de maduración para determinar su comportamiento y utilidad en ambientes tropicales. Las variedades de soya se sembraron en 3 localidades: Palmira (3 grados latitud norte), Espinal (4 grados latitud norte) y Monteria (9 grados latitud norte). Todas las variedades maduraron más temprano y presentaron menor altura en el ambiente de 9 grados N, comportamiento que puede atribuírse en parte al efecto de fotoperíodo y en parte al efecto de la mayor temperatura en la localidad de Monteria. Cuando las variedades se compararon en poblaciones de 200.000 a 400.000 plantas/ha, se observó que las variedades respondían favorablemente al incremento de densidad de población. Todas las selecciones de Colombia tuvieron un promedio general de rendimiento superior a 2000 kg/ha, dentro de las variedades introducidas solo Hardee, Davis e Improved Pelican superaron esta cifra pero las variedades Bragg, Senmers y Dare estuvieron muy próximas a ella. Del grupo de variedades introducidas, las más sobresalientes pertenecían a los tipos de maduración 5 a 8, indicando que las variedades tardías podrían ser de mayor utilidad en ambientes tropicalesSoya-Soja- Glycine ma

Efecto de la densidad de población sobre algunas características agronómicas y fisiológicas de tres genotipos de soya, Glycine max (L.) Merr., bajo condiciones tropicales.

El ensayo se realizó con las variedades Hill, de porte bajo y crecimiento determinado, 201-3-2-M, de porte medio y crecimiento semi-determinado y Pelican SM-ICA, de porte alto y crecimiento semi-determinado. Estos genotipos se compararon en 6 poblaciones diferentes: 833333, 416666, 276666, 208333, 166666 y 183333 plantas/ha. Las 3 variedades interceptaron mayor porcentaje de luz con el incremento de la población. La intercepción máxima en Pelican SM-ICA fue similar en todas las poblaciones. El índice de área foliar se incrementó con el aumento de la densidad de siembra. La variedad Pelican SM-ICA presentó el mayor índice de área foliar, el menor índice correspondió a la variedad Hill. Los mayores incrementos de producción de materia seca se encontraron en los estados de formación de vainas y llenado del grano. La habilidad de la variedad Hill para producir altos rendimientos sugiere que variedades de crecimiento similar sean un objetivo de mejoramiento para las condiciones del Valle del Cauca. Al aumentar la población se incrementó la altura de la planta, la altura de carga y el grado de volcamiento, y disminuyó el número de ramas por planta. El tamaño de la semilla permaneció constante en las 3 variedades, para las distintas poblacionesSoya-Soja- Glycine ma

Phase I Dose Escalation Study of Sodium Stibogluconate (SSG), a Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Inhibitor, Combined with Interferon Alpha for Patients with Solid Tumors

Purpose: Sodium stibogluconate (SSG), a small molecule inhibitor of protein tyrosine phosphatases, combined with IFN-alpha-2b (IFN-α) inhibited solid tumor cell line growth in vitro. We conducted a phase I clinical trial with SSG plus IFN-α in advanced cancer patients to assess tolerance, maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and immune system effects

Scattering of the halo nucleus 11Li and its core 9Li on 208Pb at energies around the Coulomb barrier

The first measurement of the elastic scattering of the halo nucleus 11Li and its core 9Li on 208Pb at energies around the Coulomb barrier is presented. The 11Li reaction showed a large cross section for the breakup channel, even at energies well below the barrier. The analysis of the 11Li + 208Pb scattering data in terms of the continuum-discretized coupled-channel calculations indicates that the effect of the coupling to the breakup channels produces a strong suppression of the elastic cross section at energies above and below the barrier. This effect is mainly due to the strong Coulomb coupling to the dipole states in the low-lying continuum of 11Li

Role of the employment status and education of mothers in the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in Mexican rural schoolchildren

&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Background:&lt;/b&gt; Intestinal parasitic infections are a public health problem in developing countries such as Mexico. As a result, two governmental programmes have been implemented: a) "National Deworming Campaign" and b) "Opportunities" aimed at maternal care. However, both programmes are developed separately and their impact is still unknown. We independently investigated whether a variety of socio-economic factors, including maternal education and employment levels, were associated with intestinal parasite infection in rural school children.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Methods:&lt;/b&gt; This cross-sectional study was conducted in 12 rural communities in two Mexican states. The study sites and populations were selected on the basis of the following traits: a) presence of activities by the national administration of albendazole, b) high rates of intestinal parasitism, c) little access to medical examination, and d) a population having less than 2,500 inhabitants. A total of 507 schoolchildren (mean age 8.2 years) were recruited and 1,521 stool samples collected (3 per child). Socio-economic information was obtained by an oral questionnaire. Regression modelling was used to determine the association of socio-economic indicators and intestinal parasitism.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; More than half of the schoolchildren showed poliparasitism (52%) and protozoan infections (65%). The prevalence of helminth infections was higher in children from Oaxaca (53%) than in those from Sinaloa (33%) (p &#60; 0.0001). Giardia duodenalis and Hymenolepis nana showed a high prevalence in both states. Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and Entamoeba hystolitica/dispar showed low prevalence. Children from lower-income families and with unemployed and less educated mothers showed higher risk of intestinal parasitism (odds ratio (OR) 6.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6–22.6; OR 4.5, 95% CI 2.5–8.2; OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.5–7.4 respectively). Defecation in open areas was also a high risk factor for infection (OR 2.4, 95% CI 2.0–3.0).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/b&gt; Intestinal parasitism remains an important public health problem in Sinaloa (north-western Mexico) and Oaxaca (south-eastern Mexico). Lower income, defecation in open areas, employment status and a lower education level of mothers were the significant factors related to these infections. We conclude that mothers should be involved in health initiatives to control intestinal parasitism in Mexico.&lt;/p&gt