Development of a Teat Bio-sealant and Evaluation of its Technological and Functional Properties

A teat bio-sealant was developed using Weissella cibaria, and the bio-sealant’s technological and functional properties were assessed. The development included four experimental phases that were analyzed using independent experimental designs. Initially, sterilized or pasteurized Aloe vera gels were used, and the effect of heat treatment was investigated. In the second phase, the effects of time, storage temperature, and addition of cryopreservatives on the viability of the probiotic were observed. The third phase consisted of evaluating the synergistic effects of the cryopreservatives. The fourth phase involved selecting a material that would provide viscosity to the teat sealant. Technological and functional properties were measured in terms of viability of W. cibaria, and antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae was also analyzed. A mixture of milk powder and glycerol preserved this antimicrobial activity. Pullulan provided greater viscosity and maintained the technological and functional properties of the bio-sealant for 29 days. This teat bio-sealant can be used as an alternative for the prevention of bovine mastitis.     

Relation of lipoprotein lipase activity in adipose tissue to adipocyte volume and its influence in hypertriglyceridemia pathogenesis

In the subcutaneous adipose tissue of 20 normal weight and overweight subjects with normo- or hypertriglyceridemia, the relation is examined between the lipoprotein lipase activity (LPLA) per gram adipose tissue and adipocyte volume. The following findings were obtained: 1. Significant positive correlations between the LPLA per gram adipose tissue and the adipocyte volume were ascertained in the groups of subjects having normal triglyceridemia or exhibiting hypertriglyceridemia. 2. The negative relation between the LPLA in the adipose tissue and the triglyceride level in serum described in literature could not be verified. Across a glyceride span of 76 to 600 mg% in serum we found a correlation coefficient of +0.34. 3. It can therefore be assumed that the LPLA per gram adipose tissue with increasing adipocyte volume does not represent an inhibiting factor to the triglyceride in serum breakdown in the development of hypertriglyceridemia.     

Random spatial distribution of Schistosoma mansoni and hookworm infections among school children within a single village

Schistosomes and soil-transmitted helminths currently infect a third of the world's human population. An important feature of these parasitic infections is their focal distribution, which has significant implications for control. Only a few studies have been carried out at the microepidemiological scale, comparing infection levels among individuals or households within a single village. In this study, data are presented from a cross-sectional survey, examining all children attending a primary school in rural C?te d'Ivoire over several consecutive days for Schistosoma mansoni, soil-transmitted helminths, and intestinal protozoa. All houses in the main village were mapped, and school children were linked to these households for small-area spatial analyses. Comparison between the 260 school children who live within the main village and the 89 children who reside in nearby settlements revealed significant differences in the overall prevalence and intensity of infections with S. mansoni and hookworm, confirming the focal nature of these 2 parasites. On the other hand, S. mansoni and hookworm infections exhibited random spatial patterns within the main village. The validity of these results is discussed in the context of this epidemiological setting, drawing attention to the issue of scale. Our findings have direct implications for intervention because they call for a uniform, community-wide approach to control schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis. Implementation can be relatively straightforward, and the proposed control approach might be cost-effective and prove sustainable.     

Carbon,nitrogen and phosphorus net mineralization in organic horizons of temperate forests: stoichiometry and relations to organic matter quality

The rates of mineralization processes influence C sequestration and soil fertility, but despite their importance for ecosystem functioning, C, N and P net mineralization rates are seldom investigated together. Hence, we studied the relationships between net mineralization rates and organic matter stoichiometry in an 8-week incubation experiment with Oi, Oe and Oa horizon material of six beech, one spruce and one pine site. We determined C, N and P net mineralization rates, organic C quality and C:N:P stoichiometry. Net N mineralization only occurred below molar organic matter C:N ratios of 40 (Oi) or 28 (Oa) and N:P ratios of 42 (Oi) or 60 (Oa), and increased with decreasing C:N and N:P ratios. Net P mineralization only occurred below C:P ratios of 1400 (Oi) and N:P ratios of 40 (Oi), and increased with decreasing C:P and N:P ratios. Net N and P mineralization were strongly positively correlated with each other (r = 0.64, p < 0.001), whereas correlations of both net N and net P mineralization with C mineralization were weak. The average C:N:P stoichiometry of net mineralization was 620:4:1 (beech, Oi), 15,350:5:1 (coniferous, Oi), 1520:8:1 (Oe) and 2160:36:1 (Oa). On average, ratios of C:N net mineralization were higher, and ratios of N:P net mineralization lower than organic matter C:N and N:P ratios. This difference contributed to the decrease of C:N ratios and increase of N:P ratios from the Oi to the Oa horizons. In conclusion, the study shows that C, N and P net mineralization rates were closely correlated with the organic matter stoichiometry and that these correlations were modified by the degree of decomposition of the organic matter.     

Analysis of trophic structure of two carnivore assemblages by means of guild identification

We evaluated the existence of trophic guild structure, considering seasonal and annual variation, in two terrestrial carnivore assemblages: one from Santa Cruz province (Argentinean Patagonia, composed by six carnivore species), and the other from Doñana National Park (SW Spain, composed by five carnivore species). To identify trophic guilds, we first studied seasonal and annual diets of predators, calculated trophic overlap among species pairs, and then constructed overlap matrices (similarity matrices). We determined guild membership objectively by entering the similarity matrices into the clustering technique unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic averaging. Carnivores from both assemblages were grouped, respectively, into four feeding guilds. Lagomorphs and rodents promoted the formation of two feeding guilds in both study sites, although the taxonomic composition of predator species that composed them was different. The ungulates-edentates feeding guild was only present at Santa Cruz, whereas the birds and reptiles feeding guild was only present at Doñana. Invertebrates and fruits were the base for the formation of a guild composed by species of the same taxonomic origin both in Santa Cruz and Doñana. Guild structure of Santa Cruz and Doñana assemblages did not exhibit seasonal or annual variation, although the specific guild composition changed over the two studied periods for both assemblages. This structure probably responded to discontinuities in resource spectra in Santa Cruz and fluctuations in rabbit abundance in Doñana. Our results support the hypothesis that establishes that guilds are originated by opportunistic convergence of species on abundant and energetically rewarding resources.     

Heat shock protein expression and change of cytochrome c oxidase activity: presence of two phylogenic old systems to protect tissues in ischemia and reperfusion

Induction of heat shock proteins (hsp) has been shown to protect cells from ischemia by providing transient tolerance against myocardial injury and improving postischemic functional recovery. Attenuation of ATP depletion and earlier restoration of ATP content on reperfusion are thought to play a role in this scenario. Hsp induction is accompanied by altered enzyme activity of the respiratory chain, the major generator of ATP under physiological conditions. This report addresses the question whether processing and final assembly of the active holoenzyme cytochrome c oxidase (CcO, complex IV), member of the respiratory chain, is compromised under hypoxic conditions unless protected by stress proteins. Special focus is laid on function of the enzyme’s subunits and importance of cellular energy availability and maintenance.