Isolation,characterization and evaluation of significant mycoflora and mycotoxins in pig feed from Serbian farms

This paper provides a brief review of approaches for the early detection and prevention strategies which have been employed in Serbia for the control of ochratoxogenic fungi and its metabolites in feed in the context of a hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP) framework. During a mycological analysis of complete feedmixes intended for fattening swine (n = 18), a total of six genera and 14 species of moulds were identified. Penicillium was present in considerably more samples than any other genus (94.4%), followed by the genera Fusarium (55.5%) and Paecilomyces (44.4%). Other fungi from the genera Aspergillus (22%), Mucor (11.1%) and Alternaria (5.5%) were represented in a smaller amount. Total fungal counts ranged from 10⁵ to 40 × 10⁵ c.f.u./g. The mycotoxins deoxynivalenol, ochratoxin A and zearalenone were detected, while aflatoxins were not present. Deoxynivalenol was detected in 10 samples in the concentration range 0.25–2.5 mg/kg. Ochratoxin A and zaralenone were detected in nine and eight samples, respectively, in the concentration range 0.057–0.27 and 0.2–5.0 mg/kg, respectively. Isolates identified as Aspergillus and Penicillium species were subjected to molecular characterization for the presence of genes responsible for the synthesis of OTA (polyketide synthase gene-PKS) using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) applied to a set of 18 isolates. The sequences of PCR reaction products in three samples were compared with nucleotide sequences of genes for polyketide synthase (PKS) from Penicillium species and it was found that the samples possessed the PKS sequence. These findings indicate that there may be a risk of animal exposure to mycotoxins through the consumption of mouldy infected feeds.     

Identifying subgroups of age and cohort effects in obesity prevalence

The obesity epidemic represents an important public health issue in the United States. Studying obesity trends across age groups over time helps to identify crucial relationships between the disease and medical treatment allowing for the development of effective prevention policies. We aim to define subgroups of age and cohort effects in obesity prevalence over time by considering an optimization approach applied to the age‐period‐cohort (APC) model. We consider a heterogeneous regression problem where the regression coefficients are age dependent and belong to subgroups with unknown grouping information. Using the APC model, we apply the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) algorithm to develop a two‐step algorithm for (1) subgrouping of cohort effects based on similar characteristics and (2) subgrouping age effects over time. The proposed clustering approach is illustrated for the United States population, aged 18–79, during the period 1990–2017.     

Phylogenetic composition of enrichment cultures of thermophilic prokaryotes reducing poorly crystalline Fe(III) oxide with and without direct contact between the cells and mineral

Thirty enrichment cultures of thermophilic microorganisms were obtained from Kamchatka terrestrial hydrotherms that reduced insoluble poorly crystalline Fe(III) oxide (ferrihydrite) with and without direct contact between the cells and the mineral. Restricted access to the Fe(III) mineral was achieved by incorporation of ferrihydrite into alginate beads. According to phylogenetic analysis of 22 enrichment cultures by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of 16S rRNA gene fragments, Firmicutes were predominant among bacteria in all the variants. Microorganisms of the phylogenetic types Aquificae, Bacteroidetes, Nitrospirae, Planctomycetes, Spirochaetes, Synergistetes, and Thermotogae were also revealed. The archaea revealed belonged to the genera Desulfurococcus, Pyrobaculum, and Thermofilum. In the case of free access to ferrihydrite, most of the phylotypes belonged to genera known for Fe(III) reduction. In the absence of direct contact with the mineral, together with known iron reducers, organisms for which ability to reduce Fe(III) was unknown were detected. Members of the genera Carboxydothermus, Thermoanaerobacter, and Thermotoga were detected most often both in the presence and absence of contact with ferrihydrite. These organisms probably possess efficient mechanisms for Fe(III) reduction within the experimental temperature range. Microbial phylogenetic diversity was higher when acetate, rather than lactate, was used as a potential electron donor.     

Object recognition and generalisation during habituation in horses

The ability of horses to habituate to frightening stimuli greatly increases safety in the horse–human relationship. A recent experiment suggested, however, that habituation to frightening visual stimuli is relatively stimulus-specific in horses and that shape and colour are important factors for object generalisation (Christensen et al., 2008). In a series of experiments, we aimed to further explore the ability of horses (n = 30, 1 and 2-year-old mares) to recognise and generalise between objects during habituation. TEST horses (n = 15) were habituated to a complex object, composed of five simple objects of varying shape and colour, whereas CONTROL horses (n = 15) were habituated to the test arena, but not to the complex object. In the first experiment, we investigated whether TEST horses subsequently reacted less to i) simple objects that were previously part of the complex object (i.e. testing for object recognition) and ii) a novel object (new shape and colour, i.e. testing for object generalisation), compared to CONTROLS. In the second experiment we investigated whether TEST horses reacted to a change in object order and object location. Behavioural reactions to the object, latency to eat, total eating time and heart rate were recorded. Compared to CONTROLS, TEST horses reacted significantly less towards objects, which were previously part of the complex object (e.g. mean heart rate; P = 0.006), indicating object recognition. In contrast to our expectations, TEST horses also reacted significantly less towards the novel object (e.g. mean heart rate; P = 0.018), suggesting that they were capable of object generalisation. We also found that TEST horses showed an increase in exploratory behaviour when objects within the complex object changed order and location (both P < 0.001), whereas there was no increase in heart rate, indicating that the horses were not frightened by the changes. The results demonstrate that it is possible to increase object generalisation in horses by habituating them to a range of colours and shapes simultaneously. This knowledge greatly affects the way in which horses may be trained to react calmly towards frightening objects.     

Quantitative evaluation of chromosomal rearrangements in gene-edited human stem cells by CAST-Seq

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The effect of mannitol on the oxygen consumption in plant tissues

It has been established that mannitol infiltrated in a vacuum into plant tissues increased the oxygen uptake. No lag phase appearing subsequently to its infiltration by the transpiration stream (Trip, Nelson, Keotkov 1963) was observed. Our results may support the opinion that the mentioned lag phase is caused by the slow penetration of mannitol into the plant cells.