Relationship of phase IV to closing volume in lateral body positions.

We studied the effect of body position in humans on the relationship between exhaled vital capacity (VC) and both helium (He) and nitrogen (N2) concentrations after delivery of an He bolus at residual volume (RV) followed by 100% oxygen to total lung capacity. Phase IV, defined as the % VC at the first sharp and permanent increase in N2 and He, occurred at a mean of 15.7% VC while seated, 60.0% VC in right lateral and 59.6% VC in left lateral positions. He bolus delivery above RV but well below 60% VC resulted in the disappearance of phase IV. Lung pressure-volume (PV) curves had inflections at the volume of phase IV in the seated position: but the inflections were well below phase IV in lateral positions. Phase IV increased to higher volumes at higher mouth pressures. The relationship between phase IV and mouth pressure fell near the respiratory system relaxation PV curves. The findings suggest the higher phase IV in lateral positions is due to sequence of emptying without airway closure and is influenced by active expiration.     

Microbial Populations in Naked Neck Chicken Ceca Raised on Pasture Flock Fed with Commercial Yeast Cell Wall Prebiotics via an Illumina MiSeq Platform

Prebiotics are non-digestible carbohydrate dietary supplements that selectively stimulate the growth of one or more beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract of the host. These bacteria can inhibit colonization of pathogenic bacteria by producing antimicrobial substances such as short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and competing for niches with pathogens within the gut. Pasture flock chickens are generally raised outdoors with fresh grass, sunlight and air, which represents different environmental growth conditions compared to conventionally raised chickens. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the difference in microbial populations from naked neck chicken ceca fed with commercial prebiotics derived from brewer’s yeast cell wall via an Illumina MiSeq platform. A total of 147 day-of-hatch naked neck chickens were distributed into 3 groups consisted of 1) C: control (no prebiotic), 2) T1: Biolex^® MB40 with 0.2%, and 3) T2: Leiber^® ExCel with 0.2%, consistently supplemented prebiotics during the experimental period. At 8 weeks, a total of 15 birds from each group were randomly selected and ceca removed for DNA extraction. The Illumina Miseq platform based on V4 region of 16S rRNA gene was applied for microbiome analysis. Both treatments exhibited limited impact on the microbial populations at the phylum level, with no significant differences in the OTU number of Bacteroidetes among groups and an increase of Proteobacteria OTUs for the T1 (Biolex^® MB40) group. In addition there was a significant increase of genus Faecalibacterium OTU, phylum Firmicutes. According to the development of next generation sequencing (NGS), microbiome analysis based on 16S rRNA gene proved to be informative on the prebiotic impact on poultry gut microbiota in pasture-raised naked neck birds.     

ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE CUTICLE OF OHELO (VACCINIUM RETICULATUM)

When viewed by electron microscopy of thin sections, the inner two-thirds of the petiolar cuticle of Vaccinium reticulatum appears dense and is penetrated by a channel-like reticulum which emanates from the primary cell wall. The outer one-third of the cuticle stains lightly and is homogeneous. This arrangement is compared with the ultrastructure of cuticle previously reported for other plant species.     

Isolation and characterization of 18 microsatellite loci in the Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus)

We developed 18 new microsatellite loci for the endangered Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus). Microsatellite loci were screened for variation in two different populations belonging to separate subspecies: the nominal N. p. percnopterus and the Canarian N. p. majorensis. Mean expected heterosygosities were respectively 0.51 and 0.46, while the mean number of alleles per locus was 4.7 and 3.9. These new markers allow further genetic studies for the endangered Canarian Egyptian Vulture.     

An optical multi-sensing system for detection of cardiovascular toxicity

A mini-microscope-based system for multisite detection of cardiovascular toxicity was developed. The mini-microscope consisted of an image sensor and lens module extracted from an inexpensive webcam. The flipped lens module enabled cells to be magnified and monitored during testing. The portability and compactness of this system enables short-term and potential long-term experimentation inside a conventional incubator. The toxicity test results demonstrated that the normalized beating rates of cardiac muscle cells selected from multiple regions increased over time when treated with 100 nM isoprenaline. The presented system could be a promising cost-effective cell-based testing tool for discovering and screening drugs.     

Sputter Growth and Characterization of Metamagnetic B2-ordered FeRh Epilayers

Chemically ordered alloys are useful in a variety of magnetic nanotechnologies. They are most conveniently prepared at an industrial scale using sputtering techniques. Here we describe a method for preparing epitaxial thin films of B2-ordered FeRh by sputter deposition onto single crystal MgO substrates. Deposition at a slow rate onto a heated substrate allows time for the adatoms to both settle into a lattice with a well-defined epitaxial relationship with the substrate and also to find their proper places in the Fe and Rh sublattices of the B2 structure. The structure is conveniently characterized with X-ray reflectometry and diffraction and can be visualised directly using transmission electron micrograph cross-sections. B2-ordered FeRh exhibits an unusual metamagnetic phase transition: the ground state is antiferromagnetic but the alloy transforms into a ferromagnet on heating with a typical transition temperature of about 380 K. This is accompanied by a 1% volume expansion of the unit cell: isotropic in bulk, but laterally clamped in an epilayer. The presence of the antiferromagnetic ground state and the associated first order phase transition is very sensitive to the correct equiatomic stoichiometry and proper B2 ordering, and so is a convenient means to demonstrate the quality of the layers that can be deposited with this approach. We also give some examples of the various techniques by which the change in phase can be detected.     

Correction to: A preliminary acoustic evaluation of three sites in the lagoon of Bora Bora,French Polynesia

Environmental Biology of Fishes -     

Azure a-Schiff, Alcian Blue, HIO4-Schiff, Naphthol Yellow S—A Sequential Staining Method for Paraffin Sections

Paraffin sections from tissue fixed 4-12 hr in 10% formalin containing 0.5% cetyl pyridinium chloride, and washed 2 hr, were stained as follows: (1) Hydrolyze in 5 N HCl at room temperature for 8.5-9 min, or use standard Feulgen hydrolysis at 60 C. (2) Stain in azure A-Schiff, 0.5% in bisulfite bleach (1 N HCl, 5; 10% Na₂S₂O₅, 5; and distilled water 90—parts by volume) for 10 min. (3) Place in bisulfite bleach 2 changes, 2 min each; wash in water, 1-2 min. (4) Stain in Alcian blue (0.1% in 0.01 2V HCl, pH 2.0) for 10 min. (5) Place in 0.01 N HCl for 2-3 min; wash in water for 1-2 min. (6) Oxidize in 0.5% HIO₄ for 5 min; wash in water, 1-2 min. (7) Stain in Schiff's leucofuchsiu, 10 min. (8) Treat with bisulfite bleach as in step 3; wash in running water, 10 min. (9) Stain in naphthol yellow S (0.01% in 1% acetic acid) for 1-2 min. (10) Place in 1% acetic acid for 2 min, dehydrate in tertiary butanol, clear and cover. Result: DNA is deep blue; acidic mucins are light blue; neutral polysaccharides, red to magenta; and proteins, yellow. Proper timing of the hydrolysis for the Feulgen reaction is the most critical step. Overhydrolysis results in green nuclei (staining by naphthol yellow S) whereas purplish nuclei are the results of insufficient hydrolysis.