European Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) immune status and disease resistance are impaired by arginine dietary supplementation

Infectious diseases and fish feeds management are probably the major expenses in the aquaculture business. Hence, it is a priority to define sustainable strategies which simultaneously avoid therapeutic procedures and reinforce fish immunity. Currently, one preferred approach is the use of immunostimulants which can be supplemented to the fish diets. Arginine is a versatile amino acid with important mechanisms closely related to the immune response. Aiming at finding out how arginine affects the innate immune status or improve disease resistance of European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) against vibriosis, fish were fed two arginine-supplemented diets (1% and 2% arginine supplementation). A third diet meeting arginine requirement level for seabass served as control diet. Following 15 or 29 days of feeding, fish were sampled for blood, spleen and gut to assess cell-mediated immune parameters and immune-related gene expression. At the same time, fish from each dietary group were challenged against Vibrio anguillarum and survival was monitored. Cell-mediated immune parameters such as the extracellular superoxide and nitric oxide decreased in fish fed arginine-supplemented diets. Interleukins and immune-cell marker transcripts were down-regulated by the highest supplementation level. Disease resistance data were in accordance with a generally depressed immune status, with increased susceptibility to vibriosis in fish fed arginine supplemented diets. Altogether, these results suggest a general inhibitory effect of arginine on the immune defences and disease resistance of European seabass. Still, further research will certainly clarify arginine immunomodulation pathways thereby allowing the validation of its potential as a prophylactic strategy.European Union's Seventh Framework Programme AQUAEXCEL (Aquaculture Infrastructures for Excellence in European Fish Research) [262336]; AQUAIMPROV [NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000038]; North Portugal Regional Operational Programme (ON. 2 - O Novo Norte) , under the National Strategic Reference Framework, through the European Regional Development Fund; North Portugal Regional Operational Programme (ON. 2 - O Novo Norte), under the National Strategic Reference Framework through the COMPETE - Operational Competitiveness Programme; Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia; Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia [SFRH/BD/89457/2012, SFRH/BPD/77210/2011]; Generalitat Valenciana through the project REVIDPAQUA [ISIC/2012/003]; [PEst-C/MAR/LA0015/2013]; [UID/Multi/04423/2013]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Cellular And Animal Metabolic Responses To Indispensable Amino Acid Limitation

The current thesis was guided by three principal research objectives. The first objective was to identify target genes responsive to indispensable amino acid deprivation with the goal of identifying potential components of the Integrated Stress Response as well as possibly identifying some genes that are differentially expressed in response to amino acid deprivation but not other stress conditions. The second objective was to determine whether the previously identified targets and eIF2[alpha]-kinasemediated responses would be induced in animals fed a diet that was marginal in essential amino acid composition. The third objective was to elucidate the role of elevated 4E-BP1 expression in regulating translation initiation during nutrient deficiency. To assess the role of amino acid deprivation on eIF2[alpha] phosphorylation and downstream transcriptional responses, we conducted additional microarray studies for leucine-depleted HepG2/C3A cells and compared these with results for cysteinedepleted cells. The comparison of cells exposed to deficiencies of two different amino acids was done to facilitate selection of genes whose expression is more likely to be altered specifically in response to GCN2-induced eIF2[alpha] phosphorylation. In addition, we assessed the effects of both cysteine and leucine deprivation on the phosphorylation of eIF2[alpha] and on the protein expression patterns of ATF4 and other ISR-related proteins. We have compiled a list of 120 genes whose expression was   differentially expressed in HepG2/C3A cells cultured in either cysteine- or leucinedeficient medium, and this list contains many of the genes known to respond to eIF2[alpha] kinase activation and to be components of the ISR. Clearly, amino acid deficiency, including cysteine deficiency in the absence of oxidative stress, induces eIF2[alpha] phosphorylation, presumably by activation of GCN2, leading to changes in expression of ATF4 and stress-related target genes. To answer whether eIF2[alpha]-kinase-mediated responses would be induced in animals fed a sulfur amino acid (SAA) deficient diet not as imbalanced as one in which a single essential amino acid is totally absent, we fed rats soy protein-based diets that were either adequate or limiting in SAA. Rats fed a SAA-deficient diet grew more slowly than rats fed the control diet. Analysis of liver from rats fed these diets for 7 days showed that the SAA-deficient rats had higher levels of eIF2[alpha] phosphorylation and higher levels of activating transcription factor (ATF) 4, ATF3, asparagine synthetase, solute carrier 7A11, cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase, and cystathionine [gamma]-lyase. On the other hand, components of the integrated stress response (ISR) known to promote apoptosis or translational recovery were not induced. These results indicate that rats fed the SAA-deficient diet had a prolonged activation of an eIF2[alpha] kinase that leads to upregulation of adaptive components of the ISR. To assess the role of elevated 4E-BP1 expression in regulating translation initiation during nutrient deficiency, we fed rats various protein/amino acid-deficient diets with a varying degree of deficiency and achieved amino acid deficiency and reduction of growth. In these experiments we consistently observed a significant induction of total 4E-BP1 protein levels that did not parallel a reduction in 4E-BP1 phosphorylation and was independent of energy restriction or feed intake. Further, the induction of total 4E-BP1 appeared independent of eIF2[alpha] phosphorylation

Malnutrition and Cardiometabolic Risk among Turkish Adolescents: a Public Health Concern during Epidemiological Transition

Abstract Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a chronic disease prevalent both in developing and developed countries. Numerous CVD risk factors associated with nutritional behavior and status in children and adolescents set the stage for adult CVD. A significant body of evidence suggests that there is opportunity for abolishment of at least some of the adverse manifestations of CVD and ability for health improvement if proper nutritional practice is followed during young age. Turkey is a country with a large overall population of which a significant part is children and adolescents. Moreover, Turkey is in epidemiological transition exhibiting health and nutritional issues of both the developing and the developed world, with more than half of all deaths in Turkey related to CVD. Furthermore, Turkey is a country of significant and unusual diversity in terms of geography, socio-economic status and origin among others. However, there are not many studies assessing the cardiometabolic risk in adolescent and the ones that assess a few risk factors of CVD are localized in certain areas. In this work we gather, organize and compare the results of several studies on the topic and reach certain conclusions as per the current condition of adolescents in Turkey in regards to malnutrition and cardiometabolic risk

Spectroscopic and thermal study of bentonites from Milos Island, Greece

Ο μπεντονίτης, με πληθώρα εφαρμογών και χρήσεων, αποτελεί μια από τις σημαντικότερες βιομηχανικές πρώτες ύλες. Στις περισσότερες περιπτώσεις, ο μπεντονίτης αποτελείται κυρίως από μοντμοριλλονίτη, ένα 2:1 αργιλικό ορυκτό με δομή που αποτελείται από ένα οκτάεδρο αργιλίου που τοποθετείται μεταξύ δύο τετραέδρων πυριτίου. Τρία σύνθετα δείγματα μπεντονίτη (ΒΝ1, ΒΝ2, ΒΝ3) με διαφορές τόσο στην ορυκτολογική όσο και στην χημική σύσταση από το νησί της Μήλου, μελετήθηκαν με την μέθοδο της περιθλασιμετρίας ακτίνων-Χ (XRD), με την μέθοδο της φασματοσκοπίας ατομικής απορρόφησης (A.A.S.), με διαφορική θερμική (DTA) και θερμοσταθμική ανάλυση (TG), με φασματοσκοπία υπέρυθρης ακτινοβολίας με μετασχηματισμούς Fourier (FTIR) και με μετρήσεις της ειδικής επιφάνειας (BET). Ορυκτολογικά τα δείγματα χαρακτηρίζονται από υψηλό ποσοστό σμεκτίτη (>85%) και μικρά ποσοστά άλλων αργιλικών ορυκτών (ιλλίτης και καολινίτης). Προσδιορίστηκαν, επίσης, χαμηλά ποσοστά μη αργιλικών ορυκτών όπως χαλαζίας, ασβεστίτης και σιδηροπυρίτης. Το υπέρυθρο φάσμα των δειγμάτων επιβεβαίωσε την παρουσία του διοκταεδρικού σμεκτίτη ως κύριου συστατικού και του χαλαζία ως κύριας πρόσμιξης σε όλα τα δείγματα. Η δόνηση στα 3698cm-1 στο δείγμα ΒΝ3 αποδόθηκε στην παρουσία καολινίτη. Οι καμπύλες DTA/TG όλων των δειγμάτων μετρήθηκαν στο θερμοκρασιακό εύρος 75-100000oC. Οι συνολικές απώλειες βάρους προσδιορίστηκαν σε 16.25, 12.32 και 13.35% για τα δείγματα ΒΝ1, ΒΝ2 και ΒΝ3, αντίστοιχα.Bentonitic clays, currently in use in over hundred areas, are among the most important industrial raw materials. In most of the cases, bentonites predominantly consist of montmorillonite which is a 2:1 layer clay mineral formed by one alumina octahedral sheet placed between two silica tetrahedral sheets. Three bentonite composite samples (BN1, BN2, BN3) with some differences in mineralogical and chemical composition from Milos island (“Miloan”), Greece were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), differential thermal analysis (DTA), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and surface area (BET) measurements techniques. Mineralogically, bentonite samples were characterized by high concentrations of smectite (>85%) and minor amounts of other clay minerals (illite and kaolinite). Nonclay minerals such as quartz, calcite and pyrite were also identified. The infrared spectrum of the bentonites also revealed the presence of dioctahedral smectite as the major component and quartz as the main impurity in all the samples. The stretching vibration at 3698cm-1 in the sample BN3 could be ascribed to kaolinite. DTA-TG curves of all samples were measured in the temperature range 75-1000oC. The total weight losses for the bentonite samples BN1, BN2 and BN3 were determined as 16.25, 12.32 and 13.35% respectively

Spectroscopic and thermal study of bentonites from Milos Island, Greece

Ο μπεντονίτης, με πληθώρα εφαρμογών και χρήσεων, αποτελεί μια από τις σημαντικότερες βιομηχανικές πρώτες ύλες. Στις περισσότερες περιπτώσεις, ο μπεντονίτης αποτελείται κυρίως από μοντμοριλλονίτη, ένα 2:1 αργιλικό ορυκτό με δομή που αποτελείται από ένα οκτάεδρο αργιλίου που τοποθετείται μεταξύ δύο τετραέδρων πυριτίου. Τρία σύνθετα δείγματα μπεντονίτη (ΒΝ1, ΒΝ2, ΒΝ3) με διαφορές τόσο στην ορυκτολογική όσο και στην χημική σύσταση από το νησί της Μήλου, μελετήθηκαν με την μέθοδο της περιθλασιμετρίας ακτίνων-Χ (XRD), με την μέθοδο της φασματοσκοπίας ατομικής απορρόφησης (A.A.S.), με διαφορική θερμική (DTA) και θερμοσταθμική ανάλυση (TG), με φασματοσκοπία υπέρυθρης ακτινοβολίας με μετασχηματισμούς Fourier (FTIR) και με μετρήσεις της ειδικής επιφάνειας (BET). Ορυκτολογικά τα δείγματα χαρακτηρίζονται από υψηλό ποσοστό σμεκτίτη (>85%) και μικρά ποσοστά άλλων αργιλικών ορυκτών (ιλλίτης και καολινίτης). Προσδιορίστηκαν, επίσης, χαμηλά ποσοστά μη αργιλικών ορυκτών όπως χαλαζίας, ασβεστίτης και σιδηροπυρίτης. Το υπέρυθρο φάσμα των δειγμάτων επιβεβαίωσε την παρουσία του διοκταεδρικού σμεκτίτη ως κύριου συστατικού και του χαλαζία ως κύριας πρόσμιξης σε όλα τα δείγματα. Η δόνηση στα 3698cm-1 στο δείγμα ΒΝ3 αποδόθηκε στην παρουσία καολινίτη. Οι καμπύλες DTA/TG όλων των δειγμάτων μετρήθηκαν στο θερμοκρασιακό εύρος 75-100000oC. Οι συνολικές απώλειες βάρους προσδιορίστηκαν σε 16.25, 12.32 και 13.35% για τα δείγματα ΒΝ1, ΒΝ2 και ΒΝ3, αντίστοιχα.Bentonitic clays, currently in use in over hundred areas, are among the most important industrial raw materials. In most of the cases, bentonites predominantly consist of montmorillonite which is a 2:1 layer clay mineral formed by one alumina octahedral sheet placed between two silica tetrahedral sheets. Three bentonite composite samples (BN1, BN2, BN3) with some differences in mineralogical and chemical composition from Milos island (“Miloan”), Greece were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), differential thermal analysis (DTA), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and surface area (BET) measurements techniques. Mineralogically, bentonite samples were characterized by high concentrations of smectite (>85%) and minor amounts of other clay minerals (illite and kaolinite). Nonclay minerals such as quartz, calcite and pyrite were also identified. The infrared spectrum of the bentonites also revealed the presence of dioctahedral smectite as the major component and quartz as the main impurity in all the samples. The stretching vibration at 3698cm-1 in the sample BN3 could be ascribed to kaolinite. DTA-TG curves of all samples were measured in the temperature range 75-1000oC. The total weight losses for the bentonite samples BN1, BN2 and BN3 were determined as 16.25, 12.32 and 13.35% respectively

SUITABILITY OF THE KOZANI 'S AREA (NW MACEDONIA, GREECE) CARBONATE ROCKS FOR THE CEMENT INDUSTRY AND AS AGGREGATES IN CONSTRUCTIONS

The suitability of Kozani's broader area carbonate rocks for use in cement production and as aggregates, is studied in terms of their mineralogical, chemical and mechanical characteristics. The studied carbonate rocks belong to the Pelagonian zone and are represented mainly by pure limestones with subordinate dolomites and dolomitic limestones. Examination concerning their insoluble residue, organic matter and milling behavior, together with their mineralogical and chemical composition showed that all carbonate formations of Kozani's broader area, except the dolomitic ones, fulfill the requirements for use as raw material in the cement industry and all the carbonate formations meet the specifications for their use as aggregates in various constructions

The Influence of Critical Audit Matters in the US on the Informativeness of Investors

In 2017, the PCAOB announced its new audit standard, AS 3101. One requirement is reporting critical audit matters (CAMs), starting June 30, 2019, for large accelerated filers. Using US data of CAM, we investigate whether the reporting of CAMs is informative for investors using a difference-in-differences approach and we use as proxies for investors’ informativeness, absolute abnormal returns and abnormal trading volume. Our motivation is to assess the relevance and the effectiveness of a new regulation aiming to improve audit quality. Overall, our findings provide some indications that the first-time implementation of CAMs might lead to investors avoiding those companies presumably because of uncertainty about the information being released. We also investigate the content of the CAM paragraph and do not find that the number, categories, or firm-specific/industry-common CAMs are value-relevant for investors. The results of this study provide insight into the new US auditor standard and the value-relevance of CAMs for investors. We suggest that standard setters should aim to improve the auditor report to make it more informational. Overall, our paper provides some evidence on the implementation and communicative value of the new CAM reporting, suggesting that CAMs are not informative for investors. We argue that this is the case potentially due to the additional information from CAMs which leads to complex information or information overload making investors less reluctant to invest on the companies with a significant number of CAMs reported

SUITABILITY OF THE KOZANI 'S AREA (NW MACEDONIA, GREECE) CARBONATE ROCKS FOR THE CEMENT INDUSTRY AND AS AGGREGATES IN CONSTRUCTIONS

The suitability of Kozani's broader area carbonate rocks for use in cement production and as aggregates, is studied in terms of their mineralogical, chemical and mechanical characteristics. The studied carbonate rocks belong to the Pelagonian zone and are represented mainly by pure limestones with subordinate dolomites and dolomitic limestones. Examination concerning their insoluble residue, organic matter and milling behavior, together with their mineralogical and chemical composition showed that all carbonate formations of Kozani's broader area, except the dolomitic ones, fulfill the requirements for use as raw material in the cement industry and all the carbonate formations meet the specifications for their use as aggregates in various constructions

REMOVAL OF LEAD (Pb ) AND ZINC (Zn ) FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS BY ADSORPTION ON VERMICULITE FROM ASKOS AREA IN MACEDONIA (NORTHERN GREECE).

The lead and zinc removal from their aqueous solutions by vermiculite samples from Askos area, Northern Greece, was studied using a batch type method. Askos vermiculite is mainly consisted of mixed-layer phyllosilicates. A standard vermiculite sample from Kent, Connecticut was also used for comparison reasons. The concentration of the solutions used varied between 100 and 2000mg/L The maximum uptake capacity of the Askos vermiculite for lead and zinc was found to reach 95% and 96% from solutions containing 100mg/L, respectively. Much lower uptake capacities: 37% for lead and 76% for zinc were found for the Kent vermiculite. The experimental results showed that the Askos vermiculite exhibited an acceptable high capacity for removing metal ions from aqueous solutions. Thus, this untreated and low-cost mineral can find use in purifying heavy metal wastewaters. The uptake distribution coefficient (Kd) showed that the relative lead and zinc removal is higher for initial concentrations below 1000mg/L Batch adsorption experiments conducted at room temperature (22±1°C) showed that the adsorption patterns followed the Freundlich isotherm model. The heavy metal (Pb2+, Zn2+) removal is a rather complicated phenomenon related both to the aqueous chemistry of the elements and the interaction of their cationic species with the used materials. The removal procedure can be attributed to different processes such as ion exchange, adsorption, and precipitation