Polygenic analysis of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria using 16S rDNA, amoA, and amoB genes

Finding a unique molecular marker capable of quickly providing rigorous and useful phylogenetic information would facilitate assessing the diversity of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria in environmental samples. Since only one of several available markers can be used at a time in these kinds of studies, the 16S rDNA, amoA and amoB genes were evaluated individually and then compared in order to identify the one that best fits the information provided by the composite dataset. Distance-based neighbor-joining and maximum parsimony trees generated using the sequences of the three mentioned genes were analyzed with respect to the combined polygenic trees. Maximum parsimony trees were found to be more accurate than distance-based ones, and the polygenic topology was shown to best fit the information contained in the sequences. However, the taxonomic and phylogenetic information provided by the three markers separately was also valid. Therefore, either of the functional markers (amoA or amoB ) can be used to trace ammonia oxidizers in environmental studies in which only one gene can be targeted. [Int Microbiol 2005; 8(2):103-110

Inherent antibacterial activity and in vitro biocompatibility of hydrophilic polymer film containing chemically anchored sulfadiazine moieties

Microbial colonisation of synthetic materials is a great concern in many fields, e.g., in implant surgery and medical devices; therefore biocompatible hydrophilic organic materials with inherent antimicrobial properties are of current research interest. In this work, we describe the preparation of antibacterial and biocompatible polymeric film based on N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (VP) and 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA), using ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA), and synthetic acrylic monomer containing sulfadiazine chemically anchored. The synthesised polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-based films were characterized by different techniques (1H and 13C NMR, ATR-FTIR, SEM, and TGA). In this study, the biophysical responses of bacteria and L929 cells towards the prepared materials as model device surfaces were evaluated. The membrane that contains the anchored sulfadiazine moiety showed excellent antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli as well as good biocompatibility. Based on the experimental results, this material is a good candidate for medical applications as a biomaterial.Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad-Feder (MAT2014-54137-R and MAT2012-31709) and by the Consejería de Educación – Junta de Castilla y León – Feder (BU061U16

Examining the psychometric properties of the burnout clinical subtype questionnaire (BCSQ-12) in secondary school teachers

Based on Farber’s burnout proposal, the first aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the short version of the Burnout Clinical Subtype Questionnaire (BCSQ-12) in secondary school teachers. The second aim of the study was to examine possible differences in the burnout subtypes in terms of gender, type of school, and teaching experience. Two different samples of 584 (M¿=¿45.04; 43% males) and 106 (M¿=¿45.50; 40% males) secondary school teachers participated in the study. Results obtained from both the exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) and the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported the three-factor structure of the BCSQ-12, comprised of overload, lack of development, and neglect. Further, the BCSQ-12 showed adequate composite reliability. The negative relationships between the three-factor structure of burnout, teachers’ basic psychological need satisfaction, and teachers’ job satisfaction provide evidence of the nomological validity of BCSQ-12. Finally, female teachers, state school teachers, and experienced teachers reported a greater risk of suffering one or more of these three burnout subtypes. Theoretical, methodological, and practical contributions of the BCSQ-12 are discussed, highlighting the importance of assessing the three burnout subtypes separately

Integration of PV Distributed Generators into Electrical Networks for Investment and Energy Purchase Costs Reduction by Using a Discrete–Continuous Parallel PSO

The problem of optimally integrating PV DGs into electrical networks to reduce annual costs (which include energy purchase and investment costs) was addressed in this research by presenting a new solution methodology. For such purpose, we used a Discrete–Continuous Parallel Particle Swarm Optimization method (DCPPSO), which considers both the discrete and continuous variables associated with the location and sizing of DGs in an electrical network and employs a parallel processing tool to reduce processing times. The optimization parameters of the proposed solution methodology were tuned using an external optimization algorithm. To validate the performance of DCPPSO, we employed the 33- and 69-bus test systems and compared it with five other solution methods: the BONMIN solver of the General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS) and other four discrete–continuous methodologies that have been recently proposed. According to the findings, the DCPPSO produced the best results in terms of quality of the solution, processing time, and repeatability in electrical networks of any size, since it showed a better performance as the size of the electrical system increased

A trial comparing growing rabbits differing in 18 generations of selection for growth rate reveals a potential lack of effectiveness in the genetic selection progress

[EN] Simple Summary There is evidence that the genetic progress in paternal rabbit lines is lower than expected due to animal- and environmental-related factors, as well as founding factors intrinsically linked to the effectiveness of the selection process. In response to this question, we conducted a trial to evaluate the response after 18 generations of selection for increased growth rate within a paternal line on rabbit performance. Our results indicate that there were no differences in the key indicators in selection for growth rate (average daily gain and feed conversion ratio) between both populations differing in the generation of selection. These findings indicate a lack of effectiveness in the genetic progress of paternal rabbit lines based on different works carried out with these same genetic lines and generations.Abstract A total of 338 weaned rabbits (from the R line, selected for post-weaning growth rate) were used to evaluate the response to 18 generations of selection for increased growth rate on rabbit performance. Animals were obtained from two vitrified populations of the R line: R19V, belonging to the 18th generation (n = 165), and R37V, belonging to the 36th generation (n = 173), were allocated in individual and collective pens (178 and 160, respectively). A fattening trial was conducted from weaning (28 d of age until 63 d of age). During the trial, the body weight (BW), daily feed intake (DFI), average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were weekly monitored. Additionally, mortality and morbidity were daily registered. On days 49 to 53, an apparent faecal digestibility trial was also performed (12 animals per generation). Our results indicate that the generation of selection for growth rate did not affect mortality and morbidity. There were no differences in the diet digestibility according to the generation of selection. Regarding performance traits, R37V animals showed higher global BW (+6.7%; p = 0.0011) than R19V animals. R37V animals showed the same BW at weaning; however, R37V animals showed higher BW values in the last three weeks compared with R19V animals. Animals from the R37V generation also showed a higher DFI from 56 to 63 d of age (+12%; p = 0.0152) than R19V animals. However, there were no differences in global ADG and FCR between generations. These results indicate that the selection for growth rate in growing rabbits has slowed down, suggesting a lack of effectiveness in the genetic progress.We are grateful to the Veterinary Medicine Faculty of Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU.Marín-García, PJ.; Martinez-Paredes, E.; Ródenas Martínez, L.; Llobat, L.; Cambra López, M.; Blas Ferrer, E.; Pascual Amorós, JJ. (2023). A trial comparing growing rabbits differing in 18 generations of selection for growth rate reveals a potential lack of effectiveness in the genetic selection progress. Animals. 13(12):1-11. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13233625111131

Alimentación saludable, gastronomía y sostenibilidad.

Resumen del contenido y resultados del proyecto de innovación educativa realizado con la participación del alumnado del Grado de Nutrición humana y dietética de la Facultad de Medicina

Página grupo investigación MENTA

Espacio donde se comparten los datos básicos de los grupos de investigación de la Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, como su objetivo, visión y resumen del grupo, además de los proyectos realizados y los investigadores vinculados a estos procesos.Universidad Tecnológica de Pereir

Plasma urea nitrogen as an indicator of amino acid imbalance in rabbit diets

[EN] In recent decades, recommendations on dietary protein content have been considerably reduced, while fibre content has been increased. Under these conditions, an adequate dietary amino acid balance could be crucial to optimise feed efficiency. Plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) level could be a good indicator of an amino acid imbalance and its potential has already been studied in other species, but not yet in rabbits. The main objective of the present work was to detect the possible interest of PUN in pinpointing amino acid deficiencies in rabbits. Two experimental diets were formulated from the same basal mixture, following all the recommendations for growing rabbits, except lysine, whose content was variable, following current guidelines in diet P8.1 or lower from those in P4.4 (with 8.1 and 4.4 g/kg dry matter of lysine and with 757 and 411 mg of lysine per MJ of digestible energy). Three different trials were designed: one where the animals were fed ad libitum (AL) and two others in which fasting periods of 10 h were included; one where feeding was restored at 08:00 h (Fast8h) and the other at 18:00 h (Fast18h). A total of 72 three-way crossbred growing rabbits (24 animals for each trial in a split-plot trial) up to a total of 12 recordings were used. Blood samples were taken every 4 h in AL trial and every hour after refeeding up to a total of six controls, in trials Fast8h and Fast18h. The differences between balanced and unbalanced diets in lysine were highest (P<0.001) between 04:00 h and 12:00 h in animals fed ad libitum, and at 3 h after refeeding (21:00 h) in Fast18h. These results suggest that PUN could be an adequate indicator to detect deficiencies in amino acids in growing rabbitdiets.This study was supported by the Interministerial Commission for Science and Technology (CICYT) from the Spanish Government (AGL2017-85162-C2-1-R). The grant for Pablo Marín from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports (FPU2014-01203) is also gratefully acknowledged.Marín García, PJ.; López Luján, MDC.; Ródenas Martínez, L.; Martínez-Paredes, EM.; Blas Ferrer, E.; Pascual Amorós, JJ. (2020). Plasma urea nitrogen as an indicator of amino acid imbalance in rabbit diets. World Rabbit Science. 28(2):63-72. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2020.12781OJS6372282AOAC. 2000. Official methods of analysis of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists, 18th ed. AOAC, Arlington, USA.Baselga M. 2004. Genetic improvement of meat rabbits. In Proc.: 8th World Rabbit Congress. September, 7-10, 2004, Puebla, México. 1: 1-13.Batey I.L. 1982. Starch analysis using thermostable alphaamylases. Starch, 34: 125-128. https://doi.org/10.1002/star.19820340407Bellier R., Gidenne T., Vernay M., Colin M. 1995. In vivo study of circadian variations of the cecal fermentation pattern in postweaned and adult rabbits. J. Anim. Sci. 73: 128-135. https://doi.org/10.2527/1995.731128xBlasco A. 1989. Genética y nutrición del conejo. In: de Blas C. (ed). Alimentación del conejo. Ediciones Mundi Prensa, Madrid, 1-15.Boletín Oficial del Estado. 2013. Real Decreto 53/2013, 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. BOE 34, 11370-11421.Bosch L., Alegría A., Farré R. 2006. Application of the 6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysccinimidyl carbamate (AQC) reagent to the RP-HPLC determination of amino acids in infant foods. J. Chromatogr., 831: 176-183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jchromb.2005.12.002Brown J.A., Cline T.R. 1974. Urea excretion in the pig: an indicator of protein quality and amino acid requirements. J. Nutr., 104: 542-545. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/104.5.542Carabaño R., de Blas J.C., García A.I. 2000. Recent advances in nitrogen nutrition in rabbits. World Rabbit Sci. 8: 14-28.Carabaño R., Piquer J., Menoyo D., Badiola I. 2010. The digestive system of the rabbit. In: de Blas C., Wiseman J. (ed). Nutrition of the Rabbit. CABI Publishing. CAB International, Wallingford, Oxon, UK, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1079/9781845936693.0001Carabaño R., Villamide M.J., García J., Nicodemus N., Llorente A., Chamorro S., Menoyo D., García-Rebollar P., García-Ruiz A.I., De Blas, J.C. 2009. New concepts and objectives for proteinamino acid nutrition in rabbits. A review. World Rabbit Sci., 17: 1-14. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2009.664Cartuche L., Pascual M., Gómez E.A., Blasco A. 2014. Economic weights in rabbit meat production. World Rabbit Sci., 22: 165-177. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2014.1747Coma J., Carrion D., Zimmerman D.R. 1995. Use of plasma urea nitrogen as a rapid response criterion to determine the lysine requirement of pigs. J. Anim. Sci., 73: 472-481. https://doi.org/10.2527/1995.732472xComa J., Zimmerman D.R., Carrion D. 1996. Lysine requirement of the lactating sow determined by using plasma urea nitrogen as a rapid response criterion. J. Anim. Sci., 74: 1056-1062. https://doi.org/10.2527/1996.7451056xde Blas J.C., Gonzalez-Mateos G. 2010. Feed Formulation. In: de Blas C., Wiseman J. (ed). Nutrition of the Rabbit. second ed. CABI International. Wallingford, 222-232. https://doi.org/10.1079/9781845936693.0222de Blas C., Taboada E., Nicodemus N., Campos R., Piquer J., Méndez J. 1998. Performance response of lactating and growing rabbits to dietary threonine content. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol., 70: 151-160. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0377-8401(97)00063-1Donsbough A.L., Powell S., Waguespack A., Bidner T.D., Southern L. 2010. Uric acid, urea, and ammonia concentrations in serum and uric acid concentration in excreta as indicators of amino acid utilization in diets for broilers. Poult. Sci. 89: 287-294. https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.2009-00401Eggum B.O. 1970. Blood urea measurement as a technique for assessing protein quality. Br. J. Nutr., 24: 983-988. https://doi.org/10.1079/BJN19700101Feki S., Baselga M., Blas E., Cervera C., Gomez E.A. 1996. Comparison of growth and feed efficiency among rabbit lines selected for different objectives. Livest. Prod. Sci., 45: 87-92. https://doi.org/10.1016/0301-6226(95)00081-XForbes J.M. 2007. Voluntary Food Intake and Diet Selection. In: Farm Animals. CAB International, Wallingford, U.K, 226-246. https://doi.org/10.1079/9781845932794.0000Gidenne T., Lebas F., Fortun-Lamothe L. 2010. Feeding behaviour of rabbits. In: de Blas C., Wiseman J. (ed). Nutrition of the Rabbit. CABI International, Wallingford, 233-252. https://doi.org/10.1079/9781845936693.0233Gidenne T., Garreau H., Drouilhet L., Aubert C., Maertens L. 2017. Improving feed efficiency in rabbit production, a review on nutritional, technico-economical, genetic and environmental aspects. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol., 225: 109-122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2017.01.016Hirakawa H. 2001. Coprophagy in leporids and other mammalian herbivores. Mam. Rev., 31: 61-80. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2907.2001.00079.xMaertens L., Cavani C., Petracci, 2010. Nitrogen and phosphorus excretion on commercial rabbit farms: calculations based on the input-output balance. World Rabbit Sci., 13: 3-16. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2005.533Maertens L. 2009. Possibilities to reduce the feed conversion in rabbit production. In Proc.: Giornate di Coniglicoltura. Associazione Scientifica Italiana di Coniglicoltura. Forli. Italy. 1: 1-10.Marín-García P.J., Ródenas L., Martínez-Paredes E.M., Cambra-López M., Blas E., Pascual J.J. 2019. A moderate protein diet does not cover the requirements of growing rabbits with high growth rate. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol., 264: 114495. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2020.114495Marín-García P.J., Blas E., Cervera C., Pascual J.J. 2016. A deficient protein supply could be affecting selection for growth rate in rabbits. In. Proc., 68th Book of Abstracts of Annual Meeting of the European Federation of Animal Science. Belfast, UK, 1: 489.Mertens D.R. 2002. Gravimetric determination of amylase-treated neutral detergent fibre in feeds with refluxing beakers or crucibles: collaborative study. J. AOAC Int., 85: 1217-1240.Nicodemus N., Mateos J., de Blas C., Carabaño R., Fraga M.J. 1999. Effect of diet on amino acid composition of soft faeces and the contribution of soft faeces to total amino acid intake, through caecotrophy in lactating doe rabbits. Anim. Sci., 69: 167-170. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1357729800051201Prud'hon M., Chérubin M., Goussopoulos J., Carles Y. 1975. Évolution, au cours de la croissance, des caractéristiques de la consommation d'aliments solide et liquide du lapin domestique nourri ad libitum. Ann. Zootec., 24: 289-298. https://doi.org/10.1051/animres:19750212Romero C., Nicodemus N., García-Rebollar P., García-Ruiz A.I., Ibáñez M.A., de Blas J.C. 2009. Dietary level of fibre and age at weaning affect the proliferation of Clostridium perfringens in the caecum, the incidence of epizootic rabbit enteropathy and the performance of fattening rabbits. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol., 153: 131-140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2009.05.005Roth-Maier D.A., Ott H., Roth F.X., Paulicks B.R. 2003. Effects of the level of dietary valine supply on amino acids and urea concentration in milk and blood plasma of lactating sows. J. Anim. Physiol. Anim. Nutr., 88: 39-45. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.0931-2439.2003.00458.xSAS. 2009. SAS/STAT ® 9.2 User's guide. SAS Inst. Inc., Cary NC, USA.Schneider J.D., Nelssen J.L., Tokach M.D., Dritz S.S., Goodband R.D., DeRouchey J.M. 2006. Determining the total sulfur amino acid to lysine requirement of the lactating sow. KAESRR, 0: 47-51. https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.6982Taylor A.J., Cole D.J.A., Lewis D. 1982. Amino acid requirements of growing pigs. 3. Threonine. Anim Prod. 34: 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003356100000416Taylor S.J., Cole D.A., Lewis D. 1985. Amino acid requirements of growing pigs. 6. Isoleucine. Anim. Prod. 40: 153-160. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003356100031950Trocino A., García J., Carabaño R., Xiccato G. 2013. A meta-analysis on the role of soluble fibre in diets for growing rabbits. World Rabbit Sci., 21: 1-15. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2013.1285Van Soest P.J., Robertson J.B., Lewis B.A. 1991. Methods for dietary fiber, neutral detergent fiber and non-starch polysaccharides in relation to animal nutrition. J. Dairy Sci. 74: 3583-3597. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(91)78551-2Villamide M.J., García A.I., Llorente A., Carabaño R. 2013. Ileal vs. faecal amino acid digestibility in concentrates and fibrous sources for rabbit feed formulation. Anim. Feed Sci. 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Análisis de la respuesta inmunológica natural de cerdos contra antígenos subcapsulares de Streptococcus suis

Este estudio ha sido financiado por el proyecto de AEI PID2020-114617RB-I00, enmarcado en el programa Retos de Investigación 202

Do Growing Rabbits with a High Growth Rate Require Diets with High Levels of Essential Amino Acids? A Choice-Feeding Trial

[EN] Two diets were designed to investigate the effect of the growth rate on amino acid requirements in growing rabbits: M diet (with medium levels of amino acids, following current nutritional recommendations for growing rabbits) and H diet (with high levels of lysine, sulphur amino acids and threonine compared with current nutritional recommendations). Performance, nutrient retention and digestibility (faecal and ileal) trials, as well as a choice-feeding test were conducted. We found no differences in animal performance, nutrient retention and digestibility parameters between diets, but the animals showed a preference for the M diet, expressed by a high intra-individual repeatability in preference. Our results provide useful information and nutrition tools to move towards precision protein nutrition in growing rabbits. As a consequence of the genetic selection process in growing rabbits, there are currently fast-growing animals exhibiting an average daily gain that may exceed 45 g/d. The protein requirements of these animals, namely amino acid requirements, may differ from animals with low growth rates. The objective of this work was to evaluate growth performance, the coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD), the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of amino acids and nutrient retention of fast-growing rabbits when they had access to a diet with high levels of amino acids and/or a diet formulated with current nutritional recommendations in a choice-feeding trial. To this end, two diets were formulated: the M diet following current nutritional recommendations for growing rabbits (including 8.1, 5.8 and 6.9 g/kg dry matter (DM) of total lysine, sulphur amino acids and threonine, respectively) and the H diet with higher levels of total lysine, sulphur amino acids and threonine (9.4, 6.6 and 7.8 g/kg DM, respectively). A total of 220 weaned rabbits, from a paternal line selected for the growth rate, had free access to the M diet, the H diet or both (MH) diets from 28 to 63 days of age. The CTTAD of DM, crude protein and gross energy from 49 to 53 days of age as well as the AID of amino acids of the diets at 63 days of age were determined. Protein, amino acids and energy retained in the empty body from 28 to 63 days of age were also registered. No significant differences in growth performance, CTTAD, AID and nutrient retention between dietary treatments were observed. However, animals fed the H diet showed a higher AID of cysteine (p < 0.05) and higher threonine retention (p < 0.05) compared to the M diet. As regards the choice-feeding trial, MH animals showed a higher feed intake of the M diet compared to the H diet (+8.61%; p < 0.001), and furthermore, more than 50% of the animals preferred the M diet throughout the experimental period (p < 0.05). Our results suggest that animals with high growth rates do not show significantly higher productive traits when fed the H diet compared to the M diet. As regards choice feeding, MH animals were capable of choosing their preferred diet, showing high intra-individual repeatability in preference for the M diet. It would be interesting to continue studying this behaviour of choice based on amino acid levels.This research was funded by the Interministerial Commission for Science and Technology (CICYT; grant no. AGL2017-85162-C2-1-R).Marín-García, PJ.; López Luján, MDC.; Ródenas Martínez, L.; Martinez-Paredes, E.; Cambra López, M.; Blas Ferrer, E.; Pascual Amorós, JJ. (2021). Do Growing Rabbits with a High Growth Rate Require Diets with High Levels of Essential Amino Acids? A Choice-Feeding Trial. Animals. 11(3):1-13. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11030824S11311