Risk of Salmonella transmission via cryopreserved semen in turkey flocks

To investigate the possibility to carry pathogen bacteria in turkey flocks via cryopreserved semen, research was carried out 1) to investigate the microbial contamination of fresh and frozen thawed turkey semen and 2) to evaluate the effect of the freezing-thawing process on the survival of 3 serovars of Salmonella spp. experimentally inoculated in turkey semen. Five pools of semen diluted 4-fold were cooled, added with 8% of dimethylacetamide as a cryoprotectant, and aliquots of 80 μL were directly plunged into liquid nitrogen to form frozen pellets. Mesophilic viable counts, total and fecal coliforms, Enterobacteriaceae, enterococci, Campylobacter spp., and Salmonella spp. were investigated on fresh and thawed samples. Further, 5 pools of diluted semen were each divided into 3 subsamples, inoculated with 7.8 ± 0.2 log cfu·mL ―1 of Salmonella Liverpool, Salmonella Montevideo, and Salmonella Braenderup, respectively, and cryopreserved before to assess the postthaw viability of Salmonella spp. strains. Fresh semen was highly contaminated by all of the saprophytic bacteria investigated and the cryopreservation process reduced the amount of mesophilic viable count and total coliforms (P < 0.05) and fecal coliforms, Enterobacteriaceae, and enterococci (P < 0.01) by about 1 log cfu·mL ―1 . Conversely, neither Campylobacter spp. nor Salmonella spp. were found as endogenous bacteria in semen. In the inoculated semen, both Salmonella Liverpool, Salmonella Montevideo, and Salmonella Braenderup colonies were recovered postthaw, showing a significant reduction of 2.03 ± 0.28, 3.08 ± 0.22, and 2.72 ± 0.23 log cfu·mL ―1 , respectively, compared with the fresh semen (P < 0.001). In conclusion, the cryopreservation process allowed us to obtain a low reduction of microbial count both in endogenous saprophytic bacteria and artificially inoculated Salmonella spp. strains; therefore, the possibility of Samonella spp. transmission to flocks through the use of infected cryopreserved semen does exist

Comparative Pigmentation Efficiency of High Dietary Levels of Apo-Ester and Marigold Extract on Quality Traits of Whole Liquid Egg of Two Strains of Laying Hens

This trial was carried out to compare the effect of the dietary supplementation of high doses of either synthetic pigment ethyl ester of β-apo-8'-carotenoic acid (apo-ester) or natural pigments, mainly lutein and zeaxanthin, extracted from Tagetes erecta, on egg quality of hens laying brown shell eggs (ISA Brown) and white shell eggs (Hy-Line White W-36). The hens of each strain were divided into 6 groups and fed a corn-soybean basal diet supplemented either with 40, 60, and 80 ppm of apo-ester (APO) or with 120,180, and 240 ppm of marigold extract (MAR). Egg pigmentation rose linearly and significantly (P < 0.01) as the dietary levels of apo-ester increased, but this did not occur when MAR supplementation was used. The amount of /3-carotene equivalents in whole liquid egg of MAR treatments was almost constant with varying pigment dietary dose and was significantly lower (P < 0.01) than in APO treatments. In both hen strains, whole liquid egg redness (a*) and yellowness (b*) were higher with APO supplementation. The egg component weights were highly affected (P < 0.01) by the hen strain, with yolk:egg ratio higher in the Hy-Line. The trial confirms that in spite of the higher level of MAR supplementation, APO has a better efficiency in whole liquid egg pigmentation. The ISA Brown hens showed a better ability to absorb dietary carotenoids than did the Hy-Line White

Equilibrium processes in biomedical data analysis: the Wright–Fisher model

The biological process of cooperative interaction with equilibrium state will be described as a model of binary statistical experiments with Wright–Fisher normalization, which sets the concentration of a certain characteristic. Such mathematical model is supposed to have a property of persistent regression which means that all current elementary transitions depend on the mean concentration of the said characteristics in the previous state. Equilibrium state of the model is expressed in the terms of the regression function, given by a cubic parabola with three real roots. We construct stochastic approximation of the model by autoregressive process with normal disturbances. Such approach was developed for effective and calculable mathematical description of dynamic concentration for experiment planning, parameters evaluation and hypotheses verification of mechanism of action.Біологічний процес кооперативної взаємодії з рівноважним станом описано як модель бінарних статистичних експериментів з нормалізацією Райта–Фішера, що встановлює концентрацію певної ознаки. Така математична модель, як передбачається, має властивість наполегливої регресії, яка означає, що всі поточні елементарні переходи залежать від середньої концентрації зазначеної ознаки в попередньому стані. Рівноважний стан моделі виражено в термінах функції регресії у вигляді кубічної параболи з трьома дійсними коренями. Побудовано стохастичну апроксимацію моделі процесом авторегресії з нормальними збуреннями. Такий підхід розроблено для конструктивного математичного опису динамічної концентрації для планування експерименту, оцінки параметрів і перевірки гіпотез механізму дії

Dietary Inflammatory Index and Renal Cell Carcinoma Risk in an Italian Case-Control Study

Background: The relation between diet-related inflammation and renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has not been investigated. Methods: In this study, we explored the association between the dietary inflammatory index (DII) and RCC in an Italian case-control study conducted between 1992 and 2004. Cases were 767 patients with incident, histologically confirmed RCC. Controls were 1534 subjects admitted to the same hospitals as cases for various acute, nonneoplastic conditions. The DII was computed based on dietary intake assessed using a reproducible and valid 78-item food frequency questionnaire. Odds ratios (ORs) were estimated through logistic regression models conditioned on age, sex, and center, and adjusted for recognized confounding factors, including total energy intake. Results: Subjects in the highest quartile of DII scores (i.e., with the most proinflammatory diets) had a higher risk of RCC compared to subjects in the lowest quartile [OR 1.41, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02, 1.97; p-trend = 0.04)]. Apparently stronger associations were observed among females (OR 1.68, 95% CI 0.93, 3.03), subjects aged <60yr (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.05, 2.98), body mass index 25 kg/m(2) (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.07, 2.51), and ever smokers (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.08, 2.57), in the absence of significant heterogeneity. Conclusion: A proinflammatory diet is associated with increased RCC risk

Status and performances of the FAZIA project

FAZIA is designed for detailed studies of the isospin degree of freedom, extending to the limits the isotopic identification of charged products from nuclear collisions when using silicon detectors and CsI(Tl) scintillators. We show that the FAZIA telescopes give isotopic identification up to Z$\sim$25 with a $\Delta$E-E technique. Digital Pulse Shape Analysis makes possible elemental identification up to Z=55 and isotopic identification for Z=1-10 when using the response of a single silicon detector. The project is now in the phase of building a demonstrator comprising about 200 telescopes

Docosahexaenoic acid-rich fish oil supplementation reduces kinase associated with insulin resistance in overweight and obese midlife adults

Targeting kinases linked to insulin resistance (IR) and inflammation may help in reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in its early stages. This study aimed to determine whether DHA-rich fish oil supplementation reduces glycogen synthase kinase (GSK-3), which is linked to both IR and AD. Baseline and post-intervention plasma samples from 58 adults with abdominal obesity (Age: 51.7 ± 1.7 years, BMI: 31.9 ± 0.8 kg/m2) were analysed for outcome measures. Participants were allocated to 2 g DHA-rich fish oil capsules (860 mg DHA + 120 mg EPA) (n = 31) or placebo capsules (n = 27) per day for 12 weeks. Compared to placebo, DHA-rich fish oil significantly reduced GSK-3β by −2.3 ± 0.3 ng/mL. An inverse correlation (p \u3c 0.05) was found between baseline insulin and IR and their changes following intervention only in participants with C-reactive protein levels higher than 2.4 mg/L. DHA-rich fish oil reduces GSK-3 and IR, suggesting a potential role of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCn-3PUFA) in ameliorating AD risk

Local study of lithiation and degradation paths in LiMn2O4 battery cathodes via scanning probe microscopy and confocal raman microscopy

The work was financially supported by Russian Science Foundation (Grant 17-72-10144). The equipment of Ural Center for Shared Use “Modern Nanotechnology” Ural Federal University was used

The fine-tuning of TRAF2-GSTP1-1 interaction: effect of ligand binding and in situ detection of the complex

We provide the first biochemical evidence of a direct interaction between the glutathione transferase P1-1 (GSTP1-1) and the TRAF domain of TNF receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2), and describe how ligand binding modulates such an equilibrium. The dissociation constant of the heterocomplex is Kd¼0.3lM; however the binding affinity strongly decreases when the active site of GSTP1-1 is occupied by the substrate GSH (KdZ2.6lM) or is inactivated by oxidation (Kd¼1.7lM). This indicates that GSTP1-1’s TRAF2-binding region involves the GSH-binding site. The GSTP1-1 inhibitor NBDHEX further decreases the complex’s binding affinity, as compared with when GSH is the only ligand; this suggests that the hydrophobic portion of the GSTP1-1 active site also contributes to the interaction. We therefore hypothesize that TRAF2 binding inactivates GSTP1-1; however, analysis of the data, using a model taking into account the dimeric nature of GSTP1-1, suggests that GSTP1-1 engages only one subunit in the complex, whereas the second subunit maintains the catalytic activity or binds to other proteins. We also analyzed GSTP1-1’s association with TRAF2 at the cellular level. The TRAF2–GSTP1-1 complex was constitutively present in U-2OS cells, but strongly decreased in S, G2 and M phases. Thus the interaction appears regulated in a cell cycle-dependent manner. The variations in the levels of individual proteins seem too limited to explain the complex’s drastic decline observed in cells progressing from the G0/G1 to the S–G2–M phases. Moreover, GSH’s intracellular content was so high that it always saturated GSTP1-1. Interestingly, the addition of NBDHEX maintains the TRAF2–GSTP1-1 complex at low levels, thus causing a prolonged cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase. Overall, these findings suggest that a reversible sequestration of TRAF2 into the complex may be crucial for cell cycle progression and that multiple factors are involved in the fine-tuning of this interactio

Transparent, Lightweight, and High Strength Polyethylene Films by a Scalable Continuous Extrusion and Solid-State Drawing Process

The continuous production of transparent high strength ultra-drawn high-density polyethylene films or tapes is explored using a cast film extrusion and solid-state drawing line. Two methodologies are explored to achieve such high strength transparent polyethylene films; i) the use of suitable additives like 2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4,6-ditertpentylphenol (BZT) and ii) solid-state drawing at an optimal temperature of 105 °C (without additives). Both methodologies result in highly oriented films of high transparency (≈91%) in the far field. Maximum attainable modulus (≈33 GPa) and tensile strength (≈900 MPa) of both types of solid-state drawn films are similar and are an order of magnitude higher than traditional transparent plastics such as polycarbonate (PC) and poly(methyl methacrylate). Special emphasis is devoted to the effect of draw down and pre-orientation in the as-extruded films prior to solid-state drawing. It is shown that pre-orientation is beneficial in improving mechanical properties of the films at equal draw ratios. However, pre-orientation lowers the maximum attainable draw ratio and as such the ultimate modulus and tensile strength of the films. Potential applications of these high strength transparent flexible films lie in composite laminates, automotive or aircraft glazing, high impact windows, safety glass, and displays