Feeding behaviour of broiler chickens: a review on the biomechanical characteristics

Feed related costs are the main drivers of profitability of commercial poultry farms, and good nutrition is mainly responsible for the exceptional growth rate responses of current poultry species. So far, most research on the poultry feeding behaviour addresses the productivity indices and birds' physiological responses, but few studies have considered the biomechanical characteristics involved in this process. This paper aims to review biomechanical issues related to feed behaviour of domestic chickens to address some issues related to the feed used in commercial broiler chicken production, considering feed particle size, physical form and the impact of feeders during feeding. It is believed that the biomechanical evaluation might suggest a new way for feed processing to meet the natural feeding behaviour of the birds

Banco de dados e sistema de apoio a decisão para as culturas de milho e soja.

A agricultura de precisão pode ser vista como uma forma de gerenciamento da variabilidade espaço-temporal dos sistemas de produção, que visa: a) diminuir as vulnerabilidaes; b) aumentar a competitividade dos produtos agrícolas nacionais; c) assegurar respostas com bases científicas às questões ambientais: e d) contribuir para o aumento da qualificação técnica e da oferta de empregos na cadeia produtiva do agronegócio. O tema é estratégico para o país, na medida em que busca a consolidação de um segmento de tecnologia avançada aplicada à potencialização dos sistemas produtivos nos aspectos, produtividade, qualidade e sustentabilidade.bitstream/CNPTIA/10203/1/doc36.pdfAcesso em: 29 maio 2008

Editorial: Antimicrobial Resistance as a Global Public Health Problem: How Can We Address It?

No abstract availabl

Host-linked soil viral ecology along a permafrost thaw gradient

Climate change threatens to release abundant carbon that is sequestered at high latitudes, but the constraints on microbial metabolisms that mediate the release of methane and carbon dioxide are poorly understood1,2,3,4,5,6,7. The role of viruses, which are known to affect microbial dynamics, metabolism and biogeochemistry in the oceans8,9,10, remains largely unexplored in soil. Here, we aimed to investigate how viruses influence microbial ecology and carbon metabolism in peatland soils along a permafrost thaw gradient in Sweden. We recovered 1,907 viral populations (genomes and large genome fragments) from 197 bulk soil and size-fractionated metagenomes, 58% of which were detected in metatranscriptomes and presumed to be active. In silico predictions linked 35% of the viruses to microbial host populations, highlighting likely viral predators of key carbon-cycling microorganisms, including methanogens and methanotrophs. Lineage-specific virus/host ratios varied, suggesting that viral infection dynamics may differentially impact microbial responses to a changing climate. Virus-encoded glycoside hydrolases, including an endomannanase with confirmed functional activity, indicated that viruses influence complex carbon degradation and that viral abundances were significant predictors of methane dynamics. These findings suggest that viruses may impact ecosystem function in climate-critical, terrestrial habitats and identify multiple potential viral contributions to soil carbon cycling

Role of blaTEM and OmpC in the piperacillin-tazobactam resistance evolution by E. coli in patients with complicated intra-abdominal infection

Piperacillin-tazobactam resistance (P/T-R) is increasingly reported among Escherichia coli isolates. Although in vitro experiments have suggested that bla gene plays a key role in the P/T-R acquisition, no clinical in vivo study has yet confirmed the role of bla or other genes. Therefore, we aimed to identify the mechanisms underlying P/T-R by following up patients with E. coli complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAI) who experienced P/T treatment failure. Four pairs of strains, clonally related from four patients, were isolated both before and after treatment with P/T dosed at 4 g/0.5 g intravenously. The P/T MIC was tested using broth microdilution, and β-lactamase activity was determined in these isolates. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed to decipher the role of bla and other genes associated with P/T-R. Changes in the outer membrane protein (OMP) profile were analyzed using SDS-PAGE, and bla and ompC transcription levels were measured by RT-qPCR. In addition, in vitro competition fitness was performed between each pairs of strains (P/T-susceptible vs. P/T-resistant). We found a higher copy number of bla gene in P/T-R isolates, generated by three different genetic events: (1) IS26-mediated duplication of the bla gene, (2) generation of a small multicopy plasmid (ColE-like) carrying bla, and (3) adaptive evolution via reduction of plasmid size, leading to a higher plasmid copy number. Moreover, two P/T-R strains showed reduced expression of OmpC. This study describes the mechanisms involved in the acquisition of P/T-R by E. coli in patients with cIAI. The understanding of P/T-R evolution is crucial for effectively treating infected patients and preventing the spread of resistant microorganisms.This work was funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Subdirección General de Redes y Centros de Investigación Cooperativa, Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (grant PI19/01009), by Plan Nacional de I+D+i 2013–2016, and by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Subdirección General de Redes y Centros de Investigación Cooperativa, Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad, Spanish Network for Research in Infectious Diseases (grant RD16/0016/0009), cofinanced by the European Development Regional Fund “A way to make Europe”/”Investing in your future”. A.R.V, R.A-M, J.A.L. and J.M.C. were supported (grant CB21/13/00006) by CIBERINFEC - Consorcio Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación and Unión Europea – NextGenerationEU. L.G.B. was partly financed by a grant from the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC) and is supported by the Subprograma Rio Hortega, Instituto Carlos III, Subdirección General de Redes y Centros de Investigación Cooperativa, Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Spain (CM22/00196). J.M.O.R. is supported by the Subprograma Sara Borrell, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Subdirección General de Redes y Centros de Investigación Cooperativa, Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Spain (CD21/00098). A.R.V. is supported by the Subprograma Juan Rodés, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Subdirección General de Redes y Centros de Investigación Cooperativa, Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Spain (JR20/00023), and Y.S. has received a Miguel Servet Tipo II contract from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Subdirección General de Redes y Centros de Investigación Cooperativa, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Spain (grant CPII20/00018). Funding for open access publishing: Universidad Pablo de OlavidePeer reviewe

Genomic characterization of an NDM-9-producing Acinetobacter baumannii clinical isolate and role of Glu152Lys substitution in the enhanced cefiderocol hydrolysis of NDM-9

Here, we characterized the first French NDM-9-producing Acinetobacter baumannii isolate. A. baumannii 13A297, which belonged to the STPas25 (international clone IC7), was highly resistant to β-lactams including cefiderocol (MIC >32 mg/L). Whole genome sequencing (WGS) using both Illumina and Oxford Nanopore technologies revealed a 166-kb non-conjugative plasmid harboring a blaNDM-9 gene embedded in a Tn125 composite transposon. Complementation of E. coli DH5α and A. baumannii CIP70.10 strains with the pABEC plasmid carrying the blaNDM-1 or blaNDM-9 gene, respectively, resulted in a significant increase in cefiderocol MIC values (16 to >256-fold), particularly in the NDM-9 transformants. Interestingly, steady-state kinetic parameters, measured using purified NDM-1 and NDM-9 (Glu152Lys) enzymes, revealed that the affinity for cefiderocol was 3-fold higher for NDM-9 (Km = 53 μM) than for NDM-1 (Km = 161 μM), leading to a 2-fold increase in catalytic efficiency for NDM-9 (0.13 and 0.069 μM−1.s−1, for NDM-9 and NDM-1, respectively). Finally, we showed by molecular docking experiments that the residue 152 of NDM-like enzymes plays a key role in cefiderocol binding and resistance, by allowing a strong ionic interaction between the Lys152 residue of NDM-9 with both the Asp223 residue of NDM-9 and the carboxylate group of the R1 substituent of cefiderocol

Pennsylvania Folklife Vol. 30, No. 1

• The Allentown Academy: America\u27s First German Medical School • Amish Attitudes and Treatment of Illness • Germanic European Origins and Geographical History of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Dunkards • The Voyage of Bishop Naas 1733 • Segregation in Life, Segregation in Death: Landscape of an Ethnic Cemetery • Rest in Peace, Joseph Hewes! • Aldes un Neies / Old & Newhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/pafolklifemag/1089/thumbnail.jp

Computational fluid dynamics simulation of an Inert Particles Spouted Bed Reactor (IPSBR) system

A novel system for contacting gases and liquids, suitable for many applications involving gas-liquid contact such as CO2 capture and brine desalination, has been simulated and experimentally validated. The system comprises a vertical vessel with gas and liquid ports and inert particles that enhance mixing and provide a high gas-liquid interfacial area. A low gas flow rate was statistically demonstrated and experimentally verified to be the optimum condition for CO2 capture and brine desalination; however, the gas velocity can have a considerable effect on the motion of inert particles inside the reactor. Uniform particles motion ensures good mixing within the reactor and hence efficient absorption and stripping process. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model, namely Eulerian model, presented in this paper, will help demonstrate the effect of mixing particles at specific conditions on the gas and liquid velocities inside the reactor, gas and liquid volume distribution through reactor, and eddy viscosities stresses of the mixing particles. A mesh-independent study was conducted to demonstrate the independency of mesh structure and size on the output responses. A quasi-steady state was attained to ensure the stability and feasibility of the selected model. The assembled model exhibits remarkable applicability in determining the optimum mixing particles densities, volume ratios, and sizes to ensure best velocity distribution and gas spreading inside the reactor and accordingly enhance the associated chemical reactions.Research funding: Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, Refining Research Center, Abu Dhabi, UAE (Grant no. 21N224). https://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100002672 .Scopu