Fermentation Quality of Phasey Bean and Guineagrass Silages

Silages were made from guineagrass (Panicum maximum Jacq. var. maximum) and phasey bean (Macroptilium lathyroides (L.) Urb.) at three-growth stages. The silages were investigated in relation fermentation quality. Phasey bean silage showed a better fermentation quality than guineagrass silage. The latic acid to total acid ratio of phasey bean silage was higher than 500g/kg DM, and the volatile basic nitrogen to total nitrogen ratio was lower than 100g/kg. It is concluded that phasey bean is an unique legume suitable for good silage fermentation

The Carrying Capacity of Pure and Oversown Giant Star Grass (\u3ci\u3eCynodon nlemfuensis\u3c/i\u3e Vanderyst) under Different Stocking Rate in South-Western Islands of Japan

The objective of this study was firstly to know the potential carrying capacity, pasture production, pasture utilization of giant star grass under different stocking rates in intensive rotational grazing system, and to evaluate a carrying capacity of giant star grass (Cynodon nlemfuensis Vanderyst) pasture oversown with annual hybrid ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum X Lolium perenne) on short low productive winter pasture in South-western Islands of Japan. High herbage availability and good quality forage to bring about effective animal productions were produced by using relatively heavy stocking rates of 6 - 8 heads/ha, and achieved optimum pasture utilization of giant star grass. Herbage utilization and daily dry matter intake on pasture oversown with ryegrass were higher than pure giant star grass during winter. Average herbage availability and utilization at heavy stocking rate was higher than at light stocking rate even in winter

Committed neuronal precursors confer astrocytic potential on residual neural precursor cells

During midgestation, mammalian neural precursor cells (NPCs) differentiate only into neurons. Generation of astrocytes is prevented at this stage, because astrocyte-specific gene promoters are methylated. How the subsequent switch from suppression to expression of astrocytic genes occurs is unknown. We show in this study that Notch ligands are expressed on committed neuronal precursors and young neurons in mid-gestational telencephalon, and that neighboring Notch-activated NPCs acquire the potential to become astrocytes. Activation of the Notch signaling pathway in midgestational NPCs induces expression of the transcription factor nuclear factor I, which binds to astrocytic gene promoters, resulting in demethylation of astrocyte-specific genes. These findings provide a mechanistic explanation for why neurons come first: committed neuronal precursors and young neurons potentiate remaining NPCs to differentiate into the next cell lineage, astrocytes

Contaminación microbiológica en la zona costera de Akumal, Quintana Roo, México

A bimonthly analysis of coliform bacteria concentration was carried out in 2001, in the water and sediment of Bay of Akumal. Two techniques of analysis were applied, the multiple tubes traditional technique and the Kit SimPlate. The results do not indicate statistical differences between the techniques used in water and sediment; however inadequate sanitary quality was detected only with the multiple tubes technique. The area analyzed presented fecal coliform contamination in the Yalku lagoon in October and December approaching the tourist season at the end of the year. The higher bacteria concentrations were present in locations with low salinity and dissolved oxygen. The Kit SimPlate results did not show tendencies in time and had no correlation with physicochemical parameters in water. Both techniques showed an increase in sediment concentrations at the end of the year but in different sites. The long term influence of these bacteria can be important because the continuous introduction of residual non-treated water in coastal zones and places where the communities are sensitive, as the reefs, has demonstrated to be able to modify the biocenosis of the bentic communities with definitive effects. The multiple tubes technique is recommended to determinate the sanitary water quality analysis in the coastal zone.Se llevó a cabo un análisis bimestral de la concentración de bacterias coliformes en agua y sedimentos de la Bahía de Akumal durante el año de 2001. Se utilizaron dos técnicas de análisis, la tradicional de tubos múltiples y el Kit SimPlate. Los resultados indicaron que las concentraciones de bacterias coliformes fueron semejantes con ambas técnicas en agua y sedimentos, pero sólo se detectaron muestras con mala calidad sanitaria a través de la técnica de tubos múltiples. La zona analizada presentó contaminación por coliformes fecales en la Laguna de Yalkú en dos muestreos durante octubre y diciembre, al acercarse la temporada turística. Las mayores concentraciones de bacterias se asociaron a los sitios con menor salinidad y bajos niveles de oxígeno disuelto. Los resultados obtenidos con el Kit SimPlate no mostraron tendencias claras en el año y no presentaron correlación con los parámetros fisicoquímicos. Las concentraciones en sedimentos se incrementaron al final del año con ambas técnicas pero en sitios diferentes. La influencia de estas bacterias, puede ser de trascendencia a largo plazo, ya que la introducción continua de agua residual no tratada en zonas costeras cuyas comunidades son sensibles, como las arrecifales, ha demostrado ser capaz de modificar la biocenosis de las comunidades bentónicas con efectos definitivos. Se recomienda la técnica de tubos múltiples para determinar la calidad sanitaria del agua en la zona costera

The implementation and preliminary evaluation of an ART strategy in Mexico: a country example

The massive use of preventive measures in Mexico including fluoride toothpaste, a national program of salt fluoridation and education on prevention has resulted in a large decline in dental caries over the past two decades. There does however remain a largely unmet need for restorative treatment. This paper describes the steps leading up to the adoption of a strategy, as part of general health policy, to use Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) within the Mexican public health service as a means to address this. This included the development of training materials, the organization of training courses for existing dentists and the incorporation of ART into the undergraduate curriculum. RESULTS: Six years after the introduction of ART in the year 2000, it was estimated that over 2 million ART procedures had been provided. As part of the planning cycle, an evaluation was undertaken in 2008 to determine amongst Mexican dentists what were the perceived problems when implementing the ART approach. Such research identified that the scarcity of appropriate dental materials and the lack of suitable instruments were the major problems. In addition, a preliminary evaluation of ART restorations and sealants placed as part of this National Oral Health Program was undertaken. The survival outcomes after one year compared favorably with one other study conducted in Mexico but were somewhat lower than the results reported from a number of other countries. CONCLUSION: The ambitious and forward thinking policy for improving the oral health in Mexico is now showing dividends. One example is the ART strategy, which has been successful both in terms of the number of ART procedures provided and generally in terms of clinical outcomes

Nuclear factor I/A coordinates the timing of oligodendrocyte differentiation/maturation via Olig1 promoter methylation

Transcription factors (TFs) and epigenetic modifications function cooperatively to regulate various biological processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, maturation, and metabolism. TF binding to regulatory regions of target genes controls their transcriptional activity through alteration of the epigenetic status around the binding regions, leading to transcription network formation regulating cell fates. Although nuclear factor I/A (Nfia) is a well-known TF that induces demethylation of astrocytic genes to confer astrocytic differentiation potential on neural stem/precursor cells (NS/PCs), the epigenetic role of NFIA in oligodendrocytic lineage progression remains unclear. Here, we show that oligodendrocyte differentiation/maturation is delayed in the brains of Nfia-knockout (KO) mice, and that NFIA-regulated DNA demethylation in NS/PCs plays an important role in determining the timing of their differentiation. We further demonstrate that the promoter activity of the oligodendrocyte transcription factor 1 (Olig1) gene, involved in oligodendrocyte differentiation/maturation, is suppressed by DNA methylation, which is in turn regulated by Nfia expression. Our results suggest that NFIA controls the timing of oligodendrocytic differentiation/maturation via demethylation of cell-type-specific gene promoters