Effects of photoperiod length and light intensity on performance, carcass characteristics and heterophil to lymphocyte ratio in broilers

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of photoperiod length and light intensity on performance, carcass characteristics and heterophil to lymphocyte ratio in broilers. A total of 272 1 day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to four treatment groups based on the photoperiod length (23L:1D or increasing duration of light) and light intensity (20 lux vs. a dim, reducing intensity) with four replicates. At 42 d of age, effects of photoperiod length and light intensity on performance traits were not significant. The heterophil/ lymphocyte ratio in 20 lux and dim, reducing light intensity groups were 0.30 and 0.15 (P<0.001), respectively. On the other hand, the effect of light intensity has no influence on heterophil/lymphocyte ratio. Cold and hot carcass weights and whole breast meat and wing weights were found lower in the dim, reducing light intensity group than 20 lux light intensity group. The effects of photoperiod length and light intensity on carcass characteristics were not significant, statistically. In conclusion, it can be said that body weight, feed consumption, feed convertion ratio, whole breast meat and wing weights were increased by providing the increasing photoperiod used with a 20 lux light intensity in broiler breeding

FACT subunit Spt16 controls UVSSA recruitment to lesion-stalled RNA Pol II and stimulates TC-NER

Transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair (TC-NER) is a dedicated DNA repair pathway that removes transcription-blocking DNA lesions (TBLs). TC-NER is initiated by the recognition of lesion-stalled RNA Polymerase II by the joint action of the TC-NER factors Cockayne Syndrome protein A (CSA), Cockayne Syndrome protein B (CSB) and UV-Stimulated Scaffold Protein A (UVSSA). However, the exact recruitment mechanism of these factors toward TBLs remains elusive. Here, we study the recruitment mechanism of UVSSA using live-cell imaging and show that UVSSA accumulates at TBLs independent of CSA and CSB. Furthermore, using UVSSA deletion mutants, we could separate the CSA interaction function of UVSSA from its DNA damage recruitment activity, which is mediated by the UVSSA VHS and DUF2043 domains, respectively. Quantitative interaction proteomics showed that the Spt16 subunit of the histone chaperone FACT interacts with UVSSA, which is mediated by the DUF2043 domain. Spt16 is recruited to TBLs, independently of UVSSA, to stimulate UVSSA recruitment and TC-NER-mediated repair. Spt16 specifically affects UVSSA, as Spt16 depletion did not affect CSB recruitment, highlighting that different chromatin-modulating factors regulate different reaction steps of the highly orchestrated TC-NER pathway

Rare Occurrence of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus CC130 with a Novel mecA Homologue in Humans in Germany

MRSA CC130 containing the mecA homologue mecALGA251 were reported from the UK and from Denmark so far from cattle and humans. Here we report on 11 MRSA CC130 among a sample of 12691 isolates of human origin collected from January 2006 until June 2011. MRSA CC130 grew insufficiently on chromogernic agar plates for detection of MRSA; the agglutination test for presence of PBP2a was negative. We designed primers for specific detection of mecALGA251 as well as for concomitant detection of both, mecLGA251 and mecA. As already described, the isolates exhibited spa-types t843, t1736, and t1773. The ccrA homologue indicated the presence SCCmecXI. When subjected to further characterization by means of a commercially available microarray the isolates were negative for sak chp, and scn, and as expected positive for hla, untruncated hlb, and hld. They furthermore contained edinB, aur, slpA, slpB, slpE. From genes coding for surface and cell wall associated products the ica-operon, cap8, clfA, clfF, ebpS, fnbA, fnbB, sdrC were detected but not cna. The isolates were negative for enterotoxin genes and tst, as well as for eta, and etb; agr-type was III

Salinity induced differences in growth and nutrient accumulation in five barley cultivars

Salinity-induced changes in growth, photosynthetic performance and nutrient accumulation were determined in five barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars, subjected to different NaCl concentrations (120 and 240 mM) under controlled conditions. According to germination test data, two of these cultivars (Suleyman Bey and Vamik Hoca) were evaluated as more tolerant while Anadolu 98, Efes 3 and Gem cultivars were assessed as less tolerant. In the early growth stage (one-week-old seedlings) salinity caused an increase of the root/coleoptile length ratio in the less tolerant cultivars while it was not changed in the more tolerant ones. In 4-week-old plants, PSII activity, chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b were not affected negatively by NaCl stress, the carotenoids being even increased. Na + and Claccumulation in all genotypes were raised by NaCl salinity and the shoots accumulated ions at least 4-fold more than the roots. The K +/Na + and Ca 2+/Na + ratio and Mg accumulation in the shoots of more tolerant Suleyman Bey and Vamik Hoca cultivars remained almost constant with control level. The study established that evolved salt tolerance strategy among the barley cultivars was based on maintenance of more cationic nutrients in shoots (K, Ca and Mg) and protection of photosynthetic apparatus in saline conditions

The expression levels of microRNAs associated with T and B cell differentiation/stimulation in ankylosing spondylitis

Spondyloarthropathies (SpAs), are a group of chronic inflammatory diseases with a number of genetic, physiopathological, clinical and radiological features. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is the most common type of spondylo-arthropathies, and >90.0% of patients with ankylosing spondylitis are human leukocyte antigen-B27 (HLA-B2 7)-positive. In recent years, non-HLA genetic factors have been reported to have an effect on ankylosing spondylitis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), are endogenous non coding RNA molecules containing 18-23 nucleotides that play a role in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. In this study, we aimed to determine the expression levels of miRNAs associated with T- and B-cell differentiation/stimulation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and their relationship with the etiology of the AS in patients and healthy controls. In a molecular study, peripheral blood mononuclear cell isolation, and total RNA isolation were performed first. In the second step, cDNA synthesis and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) expression analysis were completed. Ultimately, in the patient and control group, the expression levels of miR-142-5p and miR-143 were found to be significantly different (p <0.05). According to current knowledge, miR-142-5p andmiR-143 expressions were found to be important for those diseases that share similar etiology with AS. We suggest that miR-142-5p and miR-143 may play a role in the pathogenesis, especially miR- 142-5p may be a potential biomarker and a target molecule for the treatment

Comparing the Hawkes and Trigger process models for aftershock sequences following the 2005 Kashmir earthquake

In an earlier study (Van Lieshout and Stein in Math Gesoci 44(3):309–326, 2012) we postulated the existence of two major earthquakes in the 2005 Kashmir disaster instead of a single one, based upon the pattern of aftershocks. In this study, we explore this hypothesis further by fitting several spatial point pattern models. In particular, we discuss the Hawkes and the trigger process models for earthquake aftershock sequences following the Kashmir catastrophe in 2005. The minimum contrast method is used for estimation of the parameters. The study shows that the trigger model fits better than the Hawkes model. The most likely number of main shocks is rounded to 2 generating the almost 200 aftershocks, whereas the Hawkes model would estimate a parent process of approximately 18 parents with on average about 10 descendants. We conclude that the spatial pattern of aftershocks can best be understood as a mixture of two bivariate normal distributions centered around two major shocks and estimate the parameters

Effects of 17ß-Estradiol on the Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis after Onset in Rats

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of 17ß-estradiol (E 2 ) on acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) induced by glycodeoxycholic acid in rats. Rats were divided into six groups as sham + saline, sham + single dose E 2 (SDE 2 ), sham + multiple dose E 2 (MDE 2 ), ANP + saline, ANP + SDE 2 , and ANP + MDE 2 . ANP in rats was induced by glycodeoxycholic acid. The extent of acinar cell injury, mortality, systemic cardiorespiratory variables, functional capillary density (FCD), renal/hepatic functions, and changes in some enzyme markers for pancreatic and lung tissue were investigated during ANP in rats. The induction of ANP resulted in a significant increase in the mortality rate, pancreatic necrosis, and serum activity of amylase, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), interleukin (IL)-6, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, serum concentration of urea, and tissue activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the pancreas and lung, and a significant decrease in concentrations of calcium, blood pressure, urine output, p0 2 , and functional capillary density (FCD). The use of E 2 did not alter these changes. E 2 demonstrated no effect on the course of ANP in rats. Therefore, it has no value in the treatment during acute pancreatitis

Housing environment in the process of cultural change and transformation; study in Istanbul/Armutlu squatter settlement

Workshop 4. Session 4.1: Design and modernit