Further Studies on the Nutritive Value of Alcohol-Extracted Animal Tissues and the Supplements Required for Growth and Lactation

In order to reveal more clearly the nutritive value of beef heart, kidney, round, and liver, these tissues, after hot alcohol extraction, were incorporated at a 15 per cent protein level in a ration adequate in the recognized factors necessary for normal nutrition. A simultaneous study of the whole dried tissues, at the same level of protein intake, revealed that rats fed the whole tissue made better gains than those on the respective extracted tissues. In those groups receiving the extracted material the most rapid growth was on kidney, and the poorest on liver, while round and heart gave intermediate growth

The Role of Liver in Growth, Reproduction and Lactation

Alcohol-extracted beef liver was fed to albino rats as the only source of protein in a ration adequate in the recognized factors necessary for normal nutrition, the vitamins being supplied by yeast, cod liver oil and hydrogenated cottonseed oil (Crisco) ; the latter furnished the fat of the basal diet. The ration was found to be inadequate for optimum growth, reproduction and lactation. Supplementing the basal diet with 0.5 g. of raw liver or replacing the extracted-liver of the basal diet with whole dried liver greatly increased the growth rate and improved lactation

Modelling the prevalence of Salmonella carrier pigs at slaughtering age: influence of management systems and of the Salmonella status of replacement gilts

To reduce Salmonella contamination of pork food cham at the farm level, control actions can aim at preventmg the introduction of the bactena into herds or/and at preventing the in-herd transmission. Our aim is to estimate the influence of (i) the decontamination efficiency and (ii) the Salmonella status of replacement gilts on the prevalence of carrier pigs at slaughtering age. We developed a stochastic mathematical model to simulate the pig population dynamics and the Salmonella transmiss1on withrn a farrow-to-finish herd. Results show a different prevalence of carnage in groups of delivered pigs according to the scenarios tested

Contextualizing time-series data: quantification of short-term regional variability in the San Pedro Channel using high-resolution in situ glider data

Oceanic time series have been instrumental in providing an understanding of biological, physical, and chemical dynamics in the oceans and how these processes change over time. However, the extrapolation of these results to larger oceanographic regions requires an understanding and characterization of local versus regional drivers of variability. Here we use high-frequency spatial and temporal glider data to quantify variability at the coastal San Pedro Ocean Time-series (SPOT) site in the San Pedro Channel (SPC) and provide insight into the underlying oceanographic dynamics for the site. The dataset could be described by a combination of four water column profile types that typified active upwelling, a surface bloom, warm-stratified low-nutrient conditions, and a subsurface chlorophyll maximum. On weekly timescales, the SPOT station was on average representative of 64&thinsp;% of profiles taken within the SPC. In general, shifts in water column profile characteristics at SPOT were also observed across the entire channel. On average, waters across the SPC were most similar to offshore profiles, suggesting that SPOT time series data would be more impacted by regional changes in circulation than local coastal events. These results indicate that high-resolution in situ glider deployments can be used to quantify major modes of variability and provide context for interpreting time series data, allowing for broader application of these datasets and greater integration into modeling efforts.</p

Mapping Arginase Expression with ¹⁸F-Fluorinated Late-Generation Arginase Inhibitors Derived from Quaternary α-Amino Acids

Arginase hydrolyzes L-arginine and influences levels of polyamines and nitric oxide. Arginase overexpression is associated with inflammation and tumorigenesis. Thus, radiolabeled arginase inhibitors may be suitable PET tracers for staging arginase-related pathophysiologies. We report the synthesis and evaluation of 2 radiolabeled arginase inhibitors, 18F-FMARS and 18F-FBMARS, developed from α-substituted-2-amino-6-boronohexanoic acid derivatives. Methods: Arylboronic ester-derived precursors were radiolabeled via copper-mediated fluorodeboronation. Binding assays using arginase-expressing PC3 and LNCaP cells were performed. Autoradiography of lung sections from a guinea pig model of asthma overexpressing arginase and dynamic small-animal PET imaging with PC3-xenografted mice evaluated the radiotracers' specific binding and pharmacokinetics. Results:18F-fluorinated compounds were obtained with radiochemical yields of up to 5% (decay-corrected) and an average molar activity of 53 GBq⋅μmol-1 Cell and lung section experiments indicated specific binding that was blocked up to 75% after pretreatment with arginase inhibitors. Small-animal PET studies indicated fast clearance of the radiotracers (7.3 ± 0.6 min), arginase-mediated uptake, and a selective tumor accumulation (SUV, 3.0 ± 0.7). Conclusion: The new 18F-fluorinated arginase inhibitors have the potential to map increased arginase expression related to inflammatory and tumorigenic processes. 18F-FBMARS showed the highest arginase-mediated uptake in PET imaging and a significant difference between uptake in control and arginase-inhibited PC3 xenografted mice. These results encourage further research to examine the suitability of 18F-FBMARS for selecting patients for treatments with arginase inhibitors

Niche divergence facilitated by fine-scale ecological partitioning in a recent cichlid fish adaptive radiation

Ecomorphological differentiation is a key feature of adaptive radiations, with a general trend for specialization and niche expansion following divergence. Ecological opportunity afforded by invasion of a new habitat is thought to act as an ecological release, facilitating divergence, and speciation. Here, we investigate trophic adaptive morphology and ecology of an endemic clade of oreochromine cichlid fishes (Alcolapia) that radiated along a herbivorous trophic axis following colonization of an isolated lacustrine environment, and demonstrate phenotype-environment correlation. Ecological and morphological divergence of the Alcolapia species flock are examined in a phylogenomic context, to infer ecological niche occupation within the radiation. Species divergence is observed in both ecology and morphology, supporting the importance of ecological speciation within the radiation. Comparison with an outgroup taxon reveals large-scale ecomorphological divergence but shallow genomic differentiation within the Alcolapia adaptive radiation. Ancestral morphological reconstruction suggests lake colonization by a generalist oreochromine phenotype that diverged in Lake Natron to varied herbivorous morphologies akin to specialist herbivores in Lakes Tanganyika and Malawi

Sequential activation of different pathway networks in ischemia-affected and non-affected myocardium, inducing intrinsic remote conditioning to prevent left ventricular remodeling

We have analyzed the pathway networks of ischemia-affected and remote myocardial areas after repetitive ischemia/reperfusion (r-I/R) injury without ensuing myocardial infarction (MI) to elaborate a spatial- and chronologic model of cardioprotective gene networks to prevent left ventricular (LV) adverse remodeling. Domestic pigs underwent three cycles of 10/10 min r-I/R by percutaneous intracoronary balloon inflation/deflation in the mid left anterior descending artery, without consecutive MI. Sham interventions (n = 8) served as controls. Hearts were explanted at 5 h (n = 6) and 24 h (n = 6), and transcriptomic profiling of the distal (ischemia-affected) and proximal (non-affected) anterior myocardial regions were analyzed by next generation sequencing (NGS) and post-processing with signaling pathway impact and pathway network analyses. In ischemic region, r-I/R induced early activation of Ca-, adipocytokine and insulin signaling pathways with key regulator STAT3, which was also upregulated in the remote areas together with clusterin (CLU) and TNF-alpha. During the late phase of cardioprotection, antigen immunomodulatory pathways were activated with upregulation of STAT1 and CASP3 and downregulation of neprilysin in both zones, suggesting r-I/R induced intrinsic remote conditioning. The temporo-spatially differently activated pathways revealed a global myocardial response, and neprilysin and the STAT family as key regulators of intrinsic remote conditioning for prevention of adverse remodeling

Etiology and antimicrobial susceptibility of udder pathogens from cases of subclinical mastitis in dairy cows in Sweden

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A nationwide survey on the microbial etiology of cases of subclinical mastitis in dairy cows was carried out on dairy farms in Sweden. The aim was to investigate the microbial panorama and the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance. Moreover, differences between newly infected cows and chronically infected cows were investigated.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In total, 583 quarter milk samples were collected from 583 dairy cows at 226 dairy farms from February 2008 to February 2009. The quarter milk samples were bacteriological investigated and scored using the California Mastitis Test. Staphylococci were tested for betalactamase production and presence of resistance was evaluated in all specific udder pathogens. Differences between newly infected cows and chronically infected cows were statistically investigated using logistic regression analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The most common isolates of 590 bacteriological diagnoses were <it>Staphylococcus (S) aureus </it>(19%) and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS; 16%) followed by <it>Streptococcus (Str) dysgalactiae </it>(9%), <it>Str. uberis </it>(8%), <it>Escherichia (E.) coli </it>(2.9%), and <it>Streptococcus </it>spp. (1.9%). Samples with no growth or contamination constituted 22% and 18% of the diagnoses, respectively. The distribution of the most commonly isolated bacteria considering only bacteriological positive samples were: <it>S. aureus </it>- 31%, CNS - 27%, <it>Str. dysgalactiae </it>- 15%, <it>Str. uberis </it>- 14%, <it>E. coli </it>- 4.8%, and <it>Streptococcus </it>spp. - 3.1%. There was an increased risk of finding <it>S. aureus, Str. uberis </it>or <it>Str. dysgalactiae </it>in milk samples from chronically infected cows compared to findings in milk samples from newly infected cows. Four percent of the <it>S. aureus </it>isolates and 35% of the CNS isolates were resistant to penicillin G. Overall, resistance to other antimicrobials than penicillin G was uncommon.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p><it>Staphylococcus aureus </it>and CNS were the most frequently isolated pathogens and resistance to antimicrobials was rare.</p