Thirteen intensive pig farms and two activated sludge treatment plants for pig slurry in north-western Spain were studied from April 2005 to June 2006 in order to evaluate the presence of enteric pathogens (Cryptosporidium, Giardia and helminths) and the efficiency with which they were removed. These parasites were present on 53%, 7% and 38% of the farms studied, respectively, with concentrations of 10(4)-10(5) oocysts per litre (/L) for Cryptosporidium, 10(3)cysts/L for Giardia and 10(2)-10(3) eggs/L for helminths. The overall removal of parasites in the pig slurry treatment plants ranged from 86.7% to over 99.99%. The results revealed a constant reduction at each stage of the treatment system, with activated sludge processes being the most effective treatment in reducing pathogens in pig slurry, 78-81% for Cryptosporidium oocysts and over 99.9% for helminth eggs. A heat drying procedure for sludge removed 4.3 log units of Cryptosporidium oocysts, demonstrating the excellent effectiveness of this treatment for reducing pathogens in sludge intended to be applied to land. 相似文献
The interest in the properties of animal soft tissues is often related to the desire to find an animal model to replace human counterparts due to the unsteady availability of human tissues for experimental purposes. Once the most appropriate animal model is identified, it is possible to carry out ex-vivo and in-vivo studies for the repair of ligamentous tissues and performance testing of replacement and support healing devices. This work aims to present a systematic review of the mechanical properties of ligaments reported in the scientific literature by considering different anatomical regions in humans and several animal species. This study was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) method. Moreover, considering the lack of a standard protocol for preconditioning of tissues, this aspect is also addressed. Ninety-six studies were selected for the systematic review and analysed. The mechanical properties of different animal species are reported and summarised in tables. Only results from studies reporting the strain rate parameter were considered for comparison with human ligaments, as they were deemed more reliable. Elastic modulus, ultimate tensile stress, and ultimate strain properties are graphically reported identifying the range of values for each animal species and to facilitate comparison between values reported in the scientific literature in animal and human ligaments. Useful similarities between the mechanical properties of swine, cow, and rat and human ligaments have been found.
The silkmoth chorion has provided a stimulating model for the study of
evolution and developmental regulation of gene families. Previous attempts
at inferring relationships among chorion sequences have been based on
pairwise comparisons of overall similarity, a potentially problematic
approach. To remedy this, we identified the alignable regions of low
sequence variability and then analyzed this restricted database by
parsimony and neighbor-joining methods. At the deepest level, the chorion
sequence tree is split into two branches, called "alpha" and "beta." Within
each branch, early- and late-expressing genes each constitute monophyletic
groups, while the situation with middle-expressing genes remains uncertain.
The HcB gene family appears to be the most basal beta-branch group, but
this conclusion is qualified because the effect of gene conversion on
branching order is unknown. Previous studies by Eickbush and colleagues
have strongly suggested that ErA, HcA, and HcB families undergo gene
conversion within a gene family, whereas the ErB family does not. The
occurrence of conversion correlates with a particular tree structure;
namely, branch lengths are much greater at the base of the family than at
higher internodes and terminal branches. These observations raise the
possibility that chorion gene families are defined by gene conversion
events (reticulate evolution) rather than by descent with modification
(synapomorphy).
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Flower buds of peach (Prunus persica L.) trees, cv Novedad de Cordoba (Argentina), were collected near the end of the dormant period and immediately before anthesis. After removal of scale leaves, morphological observations of representative buds, made on transverse and longitudinal microtome sections, showed that all verticils making up the flower are present in an undifferentiated form during the dormant period (June). Flower buds collected at the end of dormant period (August) showed additional growth and differentiation, at which time formation of two ovules was beginning in the unicarpelar gynoecium. Dehiscence of anthers had not yet occurred 10 days before full bloom, and the ovules were still developing. Free endogenous gibberellin (GA)-like substances were quantified by bioassay (Tan-ginbozu dwarf rice microdrop) after SiO2 partition column chromatography, reversed phase C18-high performance liquid chromatography, and finally Nucleosil [N(CH3)2]high performance liquid chromatography. Bioactive fractions were then subjected to capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-selected ion monitoring (GC-MS-SIM). Gibberellins A1, A3, and A8 were tentatively identified in peach flower buds using GC-SIM and Kovat's retention indices, and relative amounts approximated by GC-SIM (2:8:6 for GA1, GA3, and GA8, respectively). The highest concentration (330 nanograms per gram dry weight) of free GA1/GA3 was found in dormant buds (June) and diminished thereafter. The concentration free of GA1/GA3 did not increase immediately prior to bud break. However, high GA1/GA3 concentrations occurred during stages where rate of growth and cellular differentiation of (mainly fertile) verticils can be influenced. 相似文献
Halophytes are potential gene sources for genetic manipulation of economically important crop species. This study addresses the physiological responses of a widespread halophyte, Prosopis strombulifera (Lam.) Benth to salinity. We hypothesised that increasing concentrations of the two major salts present in soils of central Argentina (Na2SO4, NaCl, or their iso‐osmotic mixture) would produce distinct physiological responses. We used hydroponically grown P. strombulifera to test this hypothesis, analysing growth parameters, water relations, photosynthetic pigments, cations and anions. These plants showed a halophytic response to NaCl, but strong general inhibition of growth in response to iso‐osmotic solutions containing Na2SO4. The explanation for the adaptive success of P. strombulifera in high NaCl conditions seems to be related to a delicate balance between Na + accumulation (and its use for osmotic adjustment) and efficient compartmentalisation in vacuoles, the ability of the whole plant to ensure sufficient K+ supply by maintaining high K + /Na + discrimination, and maintenance of normal Ca2 + levels in leaves. The three salt treatments had different effects on the accumulation of ions. Findings in bi‐saline‐treated plants were of particular interest, where most of the physiological parameters studied showed partial alleviation of SO42?‐induced toxicity by Cl?. Thus, discussions on physiological responses to salinity could be further expanded in a way that more closely mimics natural salt environments. 相似文献
A highly basic peroxidase isoenzyme was shown to be released to the culture medium of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) hairy roots grown in Murashige-Skoog (MS) liquid medium when it was supplemented with 100 mM NaCl. In this paper we demonstrate that this enzyme is ionically bound to cell walls and that the release was a consequence of the continuous agitation of the tissue in a high ionic strength medium with salt addition. In order to establish the physiological role of this isoenzyme we partially purified it, and we analysed its kinetic properties as coniferyl alcohol peroxidase. The peroxidase isoenzyme showed a high catalytic efficiency for this substrate, which suggests that it would be associated with the ligno-suberization process. To confirm the involvement of this isoenzyme in that process, we studied the pattern of ligno-suberization of the tissue under different conditions of growth. Our results suggest that this basic peroxidase would be indeed involved in ligno-suberization since its leakage from cell walls, induced by 100 mM NaCl in liquid MS, caused less ligno-suberization of exo and endodermis. On the contrary, more ligno-suberization was seen in cell walls when the hairy roots were grown in a salt-supplemented MS solid medium without contact with it, a condition in which the release of the isoenzyme would be avoided. Thus, through the changes produced by the release of the enzyme from its site of action, we could demonstrate the physiological role of this peroxidase in the processing of root cell walls, being part of control mechanisms of ion and water fluxes through the root. 相似文献
The preparation of the sulfoxide analogues 7, 8, and 9 and their enantiomerically pure forms is discussed as well as their ability to act as prodrugs of the potent and selective sulfone-containing COX-2 inhibitors 1, 2, and 3. Sulfoxide derivatives 7 and 9 were shown to be rapidly transformed in vivo into the corresponding sulfone derivatives 1 and 3, after oral administration to rats. 相似文献
Several new potent and selective A2B adenosine receptor antagonists have been prepared in which the aryl–amide moiety of the lead series, exemplified by 1a, has been replaced by bioisosteric bicyclic moieties. Although the majority of compounds had generally improved microsomal stability as compared to 1a, this was not translated into overall improvements in the pharmacokinetic profiles of a representative set of compounds. 相似文献
Pseudomonas syringae is a phytopathogenic bacterium that causes lesions in leaves during the colonisation process. The damage is associated with production of many virulence factors, such as biofilm and phytotoxins. The essential oils of Thymus vulgaris (thyme) and Origanum vulgare (oregano) have been demonstrated to inhibit P. syringae. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of T. vulgaris and O. vulgare essential oils on production of virulence factors of phytopathogenic P. syringae strains, including anti‐biofilm and anti‐toxins activities.
The broth microdilution method was used for determination of MIC and biofilm inhibition assays. Coronatine, syringomycin and tabtoxin were pheno‐ and genotypically evaluated.
Both oils showed good inhibitory activity against P. syringae, with MIC values from 1.43 to 11.5 mg·ml?1 for thyme and 5.8 to 11.6 mg·ml?1 for oregano. Biofilm formation, production of coronatine, syringomycin and tabtoxin were inhibited by thyme and oregano essential oil in most strains.
The results presented here are promising, demonstrating the bactericidal activity and reduction of virulence factor production after treatment with thyme and oregano oil, providing insight into how they exert their antibacterial activity. These natural products could be considered in the future for the control of diseases caused by P. syringae.