Cattle

The acute hemodynamic efficacy of an implantable counter-pulsation device (CPD) was evaluated. The CPD is a valveless single port, 32-ml stroke volume blood chamber designed to be connected to the human axillary artery using a simple surface surgical procedure. Blood is drawn into the pump during systole and ejected during diastole. The acute hemodynamic effects of the 32-ml CPD were compared to a standard clinical 40-ml intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) in calves (80 kg, n = 10). The calves were treated by a single oral dose of Monensin to produce a model of diminished cardiac function (DCF). The CPD and IABP produced similar increases in cardiac output (6% CPD vs. 5% IABP, p > 0.5) and reduction in left ventricular external work (14% CPD vs. 13% IABP, p > 0.5) compared to DCF (p < 0.05). However, the ratio of diastolic coronary artery flow to left ventricular external work increase from DCF baseline (p < 0.05) was greater with the CPD compared to the IABP (15% vs. 4%, p < 0.05). The CPD also produced a greater reduction in left ventricular myocardial oxygen consumption from DCF baseline (p < 0.05) compared to the IABP (13% vs. 9%, p < 0.05) despite each device providing similar improvements in cardiac output. There was no early indication of hemolysis, thrombus formation, or vascular injury. The CPD provides hemodynamic efficacy equivalent to an IABP and may become a therapeutic option for patients who may benefit from prolonged counterpulsation.

Since connective tissue pulleys implement Listing's law by systematically changing rectus extraocular muscle (EOM) pulling directions, non-Listing's law gaze-dependence of the vestibuloocular reflex is currently inexplicable. Differential activation of compartments within rectus EOMs may endow the ocular motor system with more behavioral diversity than previously supposed. Innervation to horizontal, but not vertical, rectus EOMs of mammals is segregated into superior and inferior compartments. Magnetic resonance imaging in normal subjects demonstrates contractile changes in the lateral rectus (LR) inferior, but not superior, compartment during ocular counter-rolling (OCR) induced by head tilt. In human orbits ipsilesional to unilateral superior oblique palsy, neither LR compartment exhibits contractile change during head tilt, although the inferior compartment contracts normally in contralesional orbits. This suggests that differential compartmental LR contraction assists normal OCR. Computational simulation suggests that differential compartmental action in horizontal rectus EOMs could achieve more force than required by vertical fusional vergence.

An extensive programme of experiments was conducted in the former USSR on transfer of radionuclides to a wide range of different agricultural animals. Only a few of these studies were made available in the English language literature or taken into account in international reviews of gastrointestinal uptake. The paper gives extended information on Russian research on radionuclide absorption in the gut of farm animals performed in controlled field and laboratory experiments from the 1960s to the current time. The data presented in the paper, together with English language values, will be used to provide recommended values of absorption specifically for farm animals within the revision of the IAEA Handbook of Parameter Values IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency, 1994. Handbook of Parameter Values for the Prediction of Radionuclide Transfer in Temperate Environments, IAEA technical reports series No. 364. International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna].

Estimados colegas, éste es el primer número de Noticias de Reproducción Bovina, publicación que tiene como propósito ofrecer información para los Médicos Veterinarios Zootecnistas que están trabajando en el manejo reproductivo de hatos bovinos tanto lecheros como de carne. La información contenida proviene de publicaciones científicas periódicas de alto nivel y también de artículos de difusión técnica escritos por especialistas. Aquí podrán encontrar los resúmenes y la referencia para la consulta del artículo completo. La selección de la información está a cargo de los editores y se hace de acuerdo con el criterio de la utilidad práctica de la misma. El objetivo al iniciar con el primer número es ofrecer una publicación bimestral, la cual llegará en forma electrónica a los colegas inscritos en nuestras bases de datos y a todos aquellos que nos escriban solicitándola. Esta es una publicación sin fin de lucro y su único objetivo es ofrecer información actualizada para mejorar el desempeño de los Veterinarios y con ello contribuir al aumento de la productividad de los hatos bovinos de nuestro país.

We have investigated the haematocrit dependence of the electrical parameters (relative permittivity and conductivity) of blood. The measuring set-up, composed of an impedancemeter (HP 4291A), an open-ended coaxial line and a temperature controlling set, was designed for dielectric measurements in the 1 MHz to 1 GHz frequency range. Measurements were performed on ex vivo animal (cow and sheep) blood at 37 • C. The two dielectric parameters appeared to be strongly dependent on the haematocrit. The permittivity versus frequency decreases then increases when the haematocrit decreases. The conductivity increases in the whole frequency range when the haematocrit decreases. Due to the lack of comparative data on the frequency range explored, we compare the dielectric profiles with those deduced from the Maxwell-Fricke theoretical model.

Abstract

Cattle play a pivotal role in socio-economic wellbeing of the societies. Therefore, more attention should be paid to the role of cattle in socio-economic wellbeing of the societies and in the development of the country. An understanding of such a role provides a good platform to formulate policies to combat the outbreaks and eradication of diseases which affected their natural increase. The socio-economic role of cattle in the traditional sector dates back to the pre-colonial days. In this sector cattle have multiple roles. It has always been regarded as a symbol of family wealth. It is known from Zambian history that groups such as Tonga, Lozi, Chewa, Namwanga and Mambwe were traditional cattle keepers. About 70 percent of the Zambian cattle is found in this sector, which underlines its importance. Among cattle- keeping ethnic groups, cattle are a very important resource among a number of  cattle-keeping communities. These range from providing milk. Meat hides and cow dung to paying bride wealth, fines, tribute and gifts. Cattle were also traded in exchange for other goods or for money. In the colonial period, white settler farmers established farms and ranches in various parts of the country and raised local, cross breeds and exotic breeds for milk and beef. Cattle are, from time to time, attacked by a variety of diseases from time.
These diseases  pose the greatest immediate threat when they result in outbreaks of epidemics, or are newly introduced in ecologically areas with favourable conditions and few natural factors to limit their spread and no experience to manage them... These ranged from the mild ones with no losses, to severe ones with high mortalities which created social and economic consequences and affected food security. Harm from the diseases threatens the well-being of the farmers. The damage can be economic (loss of the animal, output, income and investment), social (status and standing in society) and psychological (shock and panic). In such circumstances, diseases have the most economic, social and psychological impact .Combating cattle diseases is therefore, a necessity for the farmers. The provision of infrastructure and service to prevent and combat livestock diseases is a public good, offered by government. However, in some cases this was given to white and not African farmers as a result of policy and could not be extended to some areas because of logistics. - Lack of staff, poor road infrastructure and lack of medicines.                                                                                                                         

Despite the importance of the outbreaks of animal diseases in colonial Zambia, their history social and economic effects have not been subjected to detailed scholarly analysis. Although there was some research conducted, very few results were published. In fact, there is very little usable literature on the history of cattle diseases s with the exception of various unordered  and undigested reports and a few articles published by officers employed in the Department of Agriculture and later the Veterinary Department.  There was no specialized journal similar to the Rhodesia Agricultural Journal in Southern Rhodesia which was the outlet used in publishing research results.    Where cattle disease outbreaks were mentioned, they have generally been treated as peripheral issues that had only a marginal impact on the socio-economic history of the country.  This was not correct.                                                                                                        .
This article traces, analyses and contextualizes  the impact of the incidences of the outbreaks of  major cattle diseases on human populations in colonial period  and discusses the development of veterinary policy  from 1900 to 1964, with particular reference to  five diseases: Bovine trypanosomiasis (also called Nagana), Rinderpest, Bovine pleura-pneumonia,  East Coast Fever, and Foot and Mouth Disease.  The aims of this paper which draws a considerable amount of data from the National Archives of Zambia, and covers the colonial period from 1890 to 1964, are threefold. This are  to highlight the potential role of the Zambian cattle population in socio-economic development;  develop a better understanding, the constraints hampering economic viability, and discus the  measures taken to combat the spread of the diseases and limit their social and economic impact, and discuss measures  aimed at revamping productivity in the sector.                                                                 

In discussing these issues,  the first is to trace the epidemiology of  the five selected  contagious diseases which had a significant impact on cattle - rearing and trade in the colonial period;  and to  discuss the  virulence  and mortality rates  which varied from disease to disease and area to area; second is  to ascertain the immediate and long term impact  of  the diseases on  economy and people;  and thirdly, to highlight the efforts of the administration to contain and control further outbreaks.  In the same discussion we will try to i. highlight and develop a better understanding of  the potential role of the  cattle population in socio-economic development;  ii. Discuss the constraints of the cattle diseases in hampering economic viability, and third. To look at the measures taken aimed at revamping productivity in the sector.

The paper attempts to show how the depredations of these diseases brought severe difficulties to the indigenous populations and White settler farmers. The outbreak of these  diseases affected many cattle owning societies in the Northern, Eastern Southern, Central  and western Provinces economically The threats that the diseases posed were constructed and confronted differently by the various constituencies – officials – the officials of the  British South Africa Company which administered the territory up to 31 March 1924,  the  officials of the Colonial official which administered the territory up to 24 October,1964, European settler farmers and ranchers, and Africans – that made up the divided pastoral economy. The outbreak of these diseases, and following the examples in Southern Rhodesia, South Africa and Kenya, inspired the development of veterinary infrastructure and policies in colonial Northern Rhodesia.  Policy emerged from threats posed and changed from containment of the spread of the outbreaks to treatment and possible eradication. Success varied with funding,  efforts made, presence of veterinary officers, availability and presence of medicines, the extent and amount of extension work, and the cooperation solicited and received from both settlers and African cattle owners who, in many cases had contrasting and contradictory interests.

Quantitative analysis of the composition dependence of the concentration gradient of each species of macromolecule within a solution mixture at sedimentation equilibrium permits the quantitative characterization of self-and heterointeractions between sedimenting solutes. Sedimentation equilibrium experiments were conducted on solutions containing a trace concentration of FITClabeled BSA in varying concentrations of Ficoll 70 and on solutions containing a trace concentration of FITC-labeled Ficoll 70 in varying concentrations of BSA. The equilibrium gradient of each solute component in each mixture was measured independently. Analysis of the resulting gradients resulted in evaluation of the dependence of the activity coefficient of Ficoll upon the concentrations of Ficoll and BSA at concentrations of up to 100 g/L and the dependence of the activity coefficient of BSA upon the concentrations of Ficoll and BSA at concentrations of up to 100 g/L. The activity coefficients of both species increase significantly with increasing Ficoll and BSA concentration and do not vary with temperature, to within the precision of measurement, over the temperature range of 5-37 °C, indicating that the dominant interaction between Ficoll molecules and between BSA and Ficoll molecules is repulsive and probably due to steric volume exclusion. The measured dependences may be accounted for quantitatively by a simple model in which BSA and Ficoll 70 are represented by equivalent rigid particles.

In summer 1993 we measured the transfer of (239/240)Pu to milk from herbage from a pasture located 5 km from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. In one treatment cows were allowed to graze freely on the pasture. In a second treatment, cows were fed herbage collected from the pasture in stalls. The milk transfer coefficient; F(m) did not vary significantly between treatments and the mean value of 7.5x10(-6)d l(-1) was higher than previously reported values. Despite many values of F(m) for Pu in the literature we identified few relevant original data sets. Transfer coefficient values for Pu are only appropriate when used in conjunction with a specified time period or an appropriate model which allows for the biological half-life. We recommend for screening purposes an F(m) value of 1x10(-5)d l(-1) for Pu, with an order of magnitude lower value being appropriate for cows which are only exposed for one grazing season.

Over the last decade, there has been considerable progress in the development of countermeasures for preventing or reducing contamination of animal products by radioisotopes of iodine, caesium and strontium. In this paper, recent significant technical improvements are summarised and the current availability of countermeasures and their usefulness in the event of a nuclear accident reviewed. An improved understanding of factors controlling the metabolism of radioiodine and radiostrontium has enabled previously suggested countermeasures to be either optimised or dismissed. For radiocaesium in particular, experience since the Chernobyl accident has enabled effective and feasible countermeasures to be identified and successfully implemented in different situations. It has also been more widely understood that countermeasure effectiveness, although important, is not the only criterion which needs to be determined. In addition, cost and practical considerations such as availability, technical feasibility, acceptability and side-effects need to be taken into account. Evaluation of these factors has shown that some previously recommended countermeasures are unlikely to be feasible. #

A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2009 to March 2010 in and around Haramaya town to determine the species composition, prevalence and seasonal variation of ixodid cattle ticks. During the study period, a total of 3117 adult ixodid cattle ticks were collected from the half body regions of 346 local breeds of cattle which were under extensive management system during early dry and early wet periods and then identified to genera and species level. Six tick species of four genera were identified in which two species each belongs to the genus Amblyomma and Rhipicephalus and one species each belong to the genus Hyalomma and Boophilus. Of the total tick collected, Amblyomma, Boophilus, Rhipicephalus and Hyalomma constitutes (65, 26.3, 10.9 and 7.8%), respectively. The prevalence of tick species were Amblyomma varigatum (41%) Boophilus decoloratus (26.3%), Amblyomma coherence (14.9%), Hyalomma rufipes (7.8%) and Rhipicephalus evertsi (5.5%) and Rhipicephalus pulchellus (5.4%). The present study reveals that A. varigatum was the most abundant cattle tick species in and around Haramaya town and while the R. pulchelusis the least abundant. There was no statistical significance difference (P> 0.05) in tick infestation between sex of cattle's but tick infestation was significantly (P< 0.05) higher in adult age groups of cattle compared to caves. The favorable predilection sites of Amblyomma species were ano-vulva, udder/scrotum, but B. decoloratus preferred dewlap, perineum and udder/scrotum. The sex ratio of all tick species identified during this study period was skewed towards male except for B. decoloratus. The present study on tick species composition and seasonal variability contributes its part on how to design control strategies for ticks and tick borne diseases in the study area.

The Alzheimer amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulates in several types of retinal degeneration and in Alzheimer disease (AD), but its source has been unclear. We detected the neuronal 695 amino acid form of Aβ-precursor protein (AβPP) in the normal retina and AβPP751 in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and anterior eye tissues. Similar to the brain, αand β-secretases cleaved AβPP to soluble derivatives (sAPP) α or β and membrane-bound C-terminal fragments (CTF) α or β in the retina and RPE. Levels of sAPP were particularly high in the vitreous and low in aqueous humor revealing a molecular barrier for AβPP. In contrast, Aβ40 and Aβ42 levels were only 50% lower in the aqueous than the vitreous humor, indicating relatively barrier-free movement of Aβ. These studies demonstrated a relatively high yield of AβPP and Aβ in the ocular fluids, which may serve as a trackable marker for AD. In addition, failure of free clearance from the eye may trigger retina degeneration in a manner similar to Aβ-related neurodegeneration in AD.

The present study characterizes the dynamic interfacial properties of calf lung surfactant (CLS) and samples reconstituted in a stepwise fashion from phospholipid (PL), hydrophobic apoprotein (HA), surfactant apoprotein A (SP-A), and neutral lipid fractions. Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), the major PL component of surfactant, was examined for comparison. Surface tension was measured over a range of oscillation frequencies (1-100 cycles/min) and bulk phase concentrations (0.01-1 mg/ml) by using a pulsating bubble surfactometer. Distinct differences in behavior were seen between samples. These differences were interpreted by using a previously validated model of surfactant adsorption kinetics that describes function in terms of 1) adsorption rate coefficient (k1), 2) desorption rate coefficient (k2), 3) minimum equilibrium surface tension (gamma*), 4) minimum surface tension at film collapse (gammamin), and 5) change in surface tension with interfacial area for gamma &lt; gamm...

The objective of this study was to examine relationships among metabolic and endocrine factors that may influence ovarian activity during early lactation. Holstein cows (n = 19) were bled twice each week to determine plasma concentrations of insulin (INS), glucose, cholesterol, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-I), and progesterone (P 4). Feed intake and milk production were recorded daily while body weights and milk composition were recorded weekly. Relationships among plasma cholesterol and P 4 , and days to first and second postpartum ovulation were modeled with energy balance (EB), dry matter intake, milk yield and composition, plasma metabolites, and hormones using the backward elimination technique of multivariate regression analysis. Variables that contributed the most to predicting plasma cholesterol concentrations were dry matter intake × SNF using model 1 (production variables) and the square of glucose (i.e., glucose 2) using model 3 (plasma hormones and metabolites). For plasma P 4 concentrations, EB (model 2, production variables) and IGF-I (model 3, plasma hormones and metabolites) were the major predictors. The production variables EB and percentage of milk lactose were the greatest contributors to the models predicting days to first and second postpartum ovulations, respectively. Of the plasma hormones and metabolites evaluated, IGF-I 2 was the most significant predictor of days to first postpartum ovulation, whereas glucose 2 and INS were the significant predictors of days to second postpartum ovulation. Plasma IGF-I, glucose, and INS have been implicated in ovarian functions and their significant contributions to these models are consistent with possible important roles in postpartum return to ovarian competence.

The Citarum River in West Java is the largest water supplier to the Saguling Dam, which plays a major role in electric power generation for the entire Java Island and is used for the aquaculture of marketed fish. To elucidate the extent of degradation in water quality and its causes in the Upper Citarum watershed, physical, chemical and biological parameters for water samples collected from various sites were analyzed. The results demonstrate large site-to-site variations in water qualities and pollutant loads derived from various human activities such as agriculture, cattle raising and the textile industry. To halt worsening conditions of the Citarum watershed, integrated mitigation efforts should be made, taking biophysical pollution mechanisms and local socioeconomic conditions into account.

Relaxin is one of the 6-kDa peptide hormones, which acts as a pleiotropic endocrine and paracrine factor. Our previous studies revealed that sperm capacitating medium containing relaxin induced capacitation and acrosome reaction (AR) in fresh and frozen-thawed porcine or bovine spermatozoa. However, the intracellular signaling cascades involved with capacitation or AR induced by relaxin was unknown. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the intracellular signaling cascades involved with capacitation and AR induced by relaxin in fresh and frozen-thawed bovine spermatozoa. Spermatozoa were incubated in sperm Tyrode&amp;#39;s albumin lactate pyruvate (Sp-TALP) medium supplemented with (40 ng ml(-1)) or without relaxin, and subjected to evaluation of chlortetracycline staining pattern, cholesterol efflux, Ca(2+)-influx, intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and protein tyrosine phosphorylation. Capacitation and AR were increased (P&amp;lt;0.05) in both fresh and frozen-thawed spermatozoa incubated with relaxin. Cholesterol effluxes were greater in the fresh (P&amp;lt;0.01) and frozen-thawed (P&amp;lt;0.05) spermatozoa incubated with relaxin than the spermatozoa incubated without relaxin. Ca(2+)-influxes were also significantly stimulated by relaxin in the fresh (P&amp;lt;0.01) and frozen-thawed (P&amp;lt;0.05) spermatozoa. The Sp-TALP medium containing relaxin influenced the generation of intracellular cAMP in the fresh (P&amp;lt;0.01) and frozen-thawed (P&amp;lt;0.05) spermatozoa, and exhibited higher exposure of protein tyrosine phosphorylation in both sperm types than the medium devoid of relaxin. Therefore, the results postulate that relaxin exerts the intracellular signaling cascades involved with capacitation and AR through accelerating the cholesterol efflux, Ca(2+)-influx, intracellular cAMP and protein tyrosine phosphorylation in fresh and frozen-thawed bovine spermatozoa.

One of the aims of this research work is the isolation and identification of various constituents of two medicinally important plants (Iris loczyi and Iris unguicularis). Secondly, the prime aim is the biological evaluation of these natural products to discover new potential inhibitors of α-glucosidase enzyme and protein glycation. Main methods: Plants of the genus Iris contain a variety of secondary metabolites. Chromatographic techniques were applied for the isolation of different compounds from Iris loczyi and Iris unguicularis. All the isolated compounds were screened for their α-glucosidase enzyme inhibition and antiglycation potential. Key findings: It is shown in the results that two compounds (Kaempferol and 8-Methoxyeriodictyol) isolated from plant Iris unguicularis and compounds (Arborinone and 5,7-dihydroxy-2′,6-dimethoxyisoflavone) isolated from plant Iris loczyi possess promising activity against α-glucosidase enzyme as compare to acarbose which is used as a standard α-glucosidase inhibitor in this study. A flavanone (2′,5-dihydroxy-6,7-methylenedioxy) isolated from Iris loczyi was explored as most active anti-glycating agent. Significance: α-Glucosidase enzyme is a therapeutic target to treat carbohydrate mediated diseases. In this study various inhibitors of α-glucosidase are identified which might be important for the management of diabetes. Similarly, antiglycation agents may have application for the management of late diabetic complications.

A control scheme on BVDV was launched in Sweden in 1993 with the aim to prevent spread of the infection between herds, to eliminate virus from infected herds and, ultimately, to eradicate BVDV from Sweden. At the start it was voluntary and fully financed by the affiliated farmers. The estimated prevalence of infected herds was 40%. After 11 years there were only 205 (0.9%) herds still under clearance. Measures perceived to be of importance in concluding the scheme are subsidies on costs for analyses, gradually making regulations for contacts between herds and prevention of indirect infection stricter and also to eventually make the scheme compulsory.

Mitochondria are dynamic cell organelles that constantly undergo fission and fusion events. These dynamical processes, which tightly regulate mitochondrial morphology, are essential for cell physiology. Here we propose an elastocapillary mechanical instability as a mechanism for mitochondrial fission. We experimentally induce mitochondrial fission by rupturing the cell's plasma membrane. We present a stability analysis that successfully explains the observed fission wavelength and the role of mitochondrial morphology in the occurrence of fission events. Our results show that the laws of fluid mechanics can describe mitochondrial morphology and dynamics.

The objective of this study was to compare the reproductive traits of heifers and the development characteristics of their calves following artificial insemination (AI) with sexed and non-sexed semen. The analysed characteristics included conception rate, gestation length, calf birth weight, calf vigour, stillbirth rate, and twinning rate. Data of 530 calves produced with sexed and 1,163 calves produced with non-sexed semen were analysed. The General Linear Model (GLM) was applied to assess the influence of semen type, farm, season of insemination, the calf’s sex and the inseminating sire on gestation length and calf birth weight. With the exception of gestation length (P &gt; 0.05), all other traits studied were significantly (P &lt; 0.01) influenced by the type of semen. The conception rate was 55% for conventional and 44% for sexed semen, and the average gestation length was 274.6 and 274.9 days, respectively. The mean calf birth weight was 37.47 kg for non-sexed and 36.75 kg for...

Filamin, also called actin binding protein-280, is a dimeric protein that cross-links actin filaments in the cortical cytoplasm. In addition to this ubiquitously expressed isoform (FLN1), a second isoform (ABP-L/␥-filamin) was recently identified that is highly expressed in mammalian striated muscles. A monoclonal antibody was developed, that enabled us to identify filamin as a Z-disc protein in mammalian striated muscles by immunocytochemistry and immunoelectron microscopy. In addition, filamin was identified as a component of intercalated discs in mammalian cardiac muscle and of myotendinous junctions in skeletal muscle. Northern and Western blots showed that both, ABP-L/␥-filamin mRNA and protein, are absent from proliferating cultured human skeletal muscle cells. This muscle specific filamin isoform is, however, up-regulated immediately after the induction of differentiation. In cultured myotubes, ABP-L/␥-filamin localises in Z-discs already at the first stages of Z-disc formation, suggesting that ABP-L/␥-filamin might play a role in Z-disc assembly.

An efficient molecular simulation methodology has been developed to determine the positioning of water molecules in the binding site of a protein or protein-ligand complex. Occupancies and absolute binding free energies of water molecules are computed using a statistical thermodynamics approach. The methodology, referred to as JAWS, features "θ-water" molecules that can appear and disappear on a binding-site grid. Key approximations render the technique far more efficient than conventional free energy simulations. Testing of JAWS on five diverse examples (neuraminidase, scytalone dehydratase, major urinary protein 1, β-lactoglobulin, and COX-2) demonstrates its accuracy in locating hydration sites in comparison to results from high-resolution crystal structures. Possible applications include aid in refinement of protein crystal structures, drug lead optimization, setup of docking calculations and simulations of protein-ligand complexes.

We investigated the heat resistance of a four-strain mixture of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in raw ground beef in both the absence and presence of white and green tea powders and an apple skin extract. Inoculated meat was cooked using the sousvide technique, i.e., the meat was packaged in sterile bags and completely immersed in a circulating water bath at low temperature for a period of time. The bags were cooked for 1 h to an internal temperature of 55, 58, 60, or 62.5ЊC, and then held from 240 min at 55ЊC to 10 min at 62.5ЊC. The surviving bacteria were enumerated by spiral plating onto tryptic soy agar overlaid with sorbitol-MacConkey agar. Inactivation kinetics of the pathogens deviated from first-order kinetics. D-values (time, in minutes, required for the bacteria to decrease by 90%) in the control beef ranged from 67.79 min at 55ЊC to 2.01 min at 62.5ЊC. D-values determined by a logistic model ranged from 36.22 (D 1 , the D-value of a major population of surviving cells) and 112.79 (D 2 , the D-value of a minor subpopulation) at 55ЊC to 1.39 (D 1) and 3.00 (D 2) at 62.5ЊC. A significant increase (P Ͻ 0.05) in the sensitivity of the bacteria to heat was observed with the addition of 3% added antimicrobials. D-value reductions of 62 to 74% were observed with apple powder and 18 to 58% with tea powders. Thermal death times from this study will assist the retail food industry to design cooking regimes that ensure the safety of beef contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

Ticks feed on blood, are vectors of tickborne diseases and cause considerable skin damage to livestock. They are commonly controlled using commercial acaricides, which are expensive to the rural farmers, causing them to resort to alternative tick control methods. The objective of this study was to assess the acaricidal properties and safety of some materials (Ptaeroxylon obliquum, Aloe ferox, Lantana camara, Tagetes minuta, Used engine oil and Jeyes fluid, used by rural farmers to control cattle ticks in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. A total of 52 cattle were divided into 13 experimental groups with 4 cattle in each. Jeyes fluid at 76.8% concentration and Used engine oil had an efficacy that was almost similar to that of the positive control Ektoban® (Cymiazol 17.5 and cypermethrin 2.5%). Extracts of L. camara at 40% concentration had an efficacy of 57% while A. ferox, P. obliquum and T. minuta were not effective. The test materials had no irritation effect on rats. The study revealed that the materials rural farmers use as acaricides vary in their efficacy in controlling ticks.

Specific primers to determine the presence of an intestinal fluke, Haplorchis taichui, were investigated using the high annealing temperature random amplified polymorphic DNA (HAT-RAPD) PCR, and 18 arbitrary primers (Operon Technologies), to generate different polymorphic DNA profiles. Thirteen kinds of parasites were used to compare fingerprints. A 256 bp HAT-RAPD marker, generated from the OPP-11 primer, was found to be H. taichui-specific, and this marker was cloned, transformed, and sequenced. From the sequence data, a pair of primers were designed with Genetyx-MAC ver.11 and indicated as: Hap-t F 5 0 -GGC CAA CGC AAT CGT CAT CC-3 0 and Hap-t R 5 0 -GCG TCG GGT TTC AGA CAT GG-3 0 . These specific primers were tested for efficacy and specificity by amplifying them with all 13 parasites DNAs in PCR reaction. A 256 bp amplicon was generated, which was shown to have a positive result, only for H. taichui DNA. It revealed no cross-reaction with any of the other tested parasite species. The minimum DNA template, needed for detection by PCR, was 0.1 picogram (pg). The successful development of H. taichui-specific primers is expected to be beneficial for epidemiological studies and for prevention and control of these parasitic infections.

Purpose: This study aims to demonstrate, using human cadavers the feasibility of energy-based adaptive focusing of ultrasonic waves using Magnetic Resonance Acoustic Radiation Force Imaging (MR-ARFI) in the framework of non-invasive transcranial High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) therapy. Methods: Energy-based adaptive focusing techniques were recently proposed in order to achieve aberration correction. We evaluate this method on a clinical brain HIFU system composed of 512 ultrasonic elements positioned inside a full body 1.5 T clinical Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging system. Cadaver heads were mounted onto a clinical Leksell stereotactic frame. The ultrasonic wave intensity at the chosen location was indirectly estimated by the MR system measuring the local tissue displacement induced by the acoustic radiation force of the ultrasound (US) beams. For aberration correction, a set of spatially encoded ultrasonic waves was transmitted from the ultrasonic array and the resulting local displacements were estimated with the MR-ARFI sequence for each emitted beam. A non-iterative inversion process was then performed in order to estimate the spatial phase aberrations induced by the cadaver skull. The procedure was first evaluated and optimized in a calf brain using a numerical aberrator mimicking human skull aberrations. The full method was then demonstrated using a fresh human cadaver head. Results: The corrected beam resulting from the direct inversion process was found to focus at the targeted location with an acoustic intensity 2.2 times higher than the conventional non corrected beam. In addition, this corrected beam was found to give an acoustic intensity 1.5 times higher than the focusing pattern obtained with an aberration correction using transcranial acoustic simulation based on X-ray computed tomography (CT) scans. Conclusion: The proposed technique achieved near optimal focusing in an intact human head for the first time. These findings confirm the strong potential of energy-based adaptive focusing of transcranial ultrasonic beams for clinical applications.

Echinococcosis is a frequent hepatic parasitic disease in several countries but it is practically absent in Mexico. A cattle strain of Echinococcus granulosus was identified by RAPD, PCR-RFLP and mitochondrial CO1 gene analysis in an autochthonous case. The parasite was obtained after a laparoscopic excision of a liver cyst from a patient that was symptomatic for 6 years but mis-diagnosed before hospitalization.

Fluorescent fusion proteins are an important tool for the study of vesicle trafficking and exocytosis, especially when combined with newer types of microscopy. We previously reported that the design of a vesicle-targeted fluorescent fusion construct strongly influences the kinetics of fluorescence change at exocytosis. In the present study we demonstrate that the cell in which a construct is expressed also affects the kinetics of fluorescence change at exocytosis. We fused enhanced green fluorescent protein to the carboxy terminus of the vesicular cargo protein rodent islet amyloid polypeptide. The two proteins were separated by a “linker” sequence of 18 amino acids. We then compared kinetics of fluorescence change at exocytosis for this fluorescent cargo protein expressed in three different types of peptidergic endocrine cell: pancreatic alpha cell, pancreatic beta cell, and adrenal chromaffin cell. In resting cells of all three types, fluorescent spots of similar size and membrane-proximal density appeared near the plasma membrane as expected if the probe is stored in large dense-core secretory vesicles. Upon stimulation, the fluorescent spots displayed sudden changes in fluorescence intensity that were consistent with exocytosis. In beta and alpha cells the fluorescent spots consistently brightened and persisted, whereas in chromaffin cells the fluorescent spots always dispersed rapidly. Thus, for fluorescent cargo proteins in peptidergic endocrine cells, cell type influences the kinetics of fluorescence change at exocytosis. Together with our previous findings, this observation strongly highlights the fact that the behavior of vesicle-targeted fluorescent cargo may be unrelated to that of native cargo, and it emphasizes the need for caution in interpreting fluorescence kinetics in terms of an exocytosis mechanism.

Background. Iron requirements during the weaning period are the highest per unit body weight during human life, and diet is often insufficient to cover iron needs. For the first time in infant nutrition the absorption of both nonheme and heme iron from a typical weaning gruel after addition of meat with and without ascorbic acid (AA) to improve bioavailability was studied.

The Influence of column temperature on the electrophoretlc behavlor of myoglobin and a-lactalbumin in hlgh-perfonnance caplilary electrophoresls (HPCE) Is presented. The major effect of temperature Is to shorten the analysls time by decreasing the vlscoslty, but speclfk temperature effects on the proteln migratlon behavlor were also observed. Myoglobin, under high fleld (350 V/cm), was essentlaily temperature stable from 20 to 45 O C , but at constant current, a second form of myoglobin could be detected at both 214 and 410 nm. The lnitlal form appeared to correspond to the Fe3+ and the second to the Fez+ oxidatlon state of the heme Iron. The rate of converslon from Fesc to the reduced Fez+ in myoglobin, under given electrophoretlc condltlons, followed first-order kinetlcs with a rate constant at 30 'C of 304 s-'. A second proteln, a-iactalbumln type I I I, demonstrated a conformational transltion that resulted In asymmetric peaks and slgmodlal mobillty plots versus temperature in the transltlon reglon.

To start determining the nature of meiotic incompetence in goat oocytes, we have examined the expression of one of the potential pre-MPF subunits: the cyclin B 1 . We have been isolating a small DNA probe encoding the goat cyclin B 1 box to analyze the expression of the cyclin B 1 gene in competent and incompetent goat oocytes. This probe was easily obtained by polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR) on reversetranscribed mRNA from granulosa cells, using cyclin B specific primers derived from a bovine cDNA. The transcript corresponding to cyclin B 1 in goat granulosa cells is 1.8 kb. In situ hybridization analysis indicated that competent and incompetent oocytes contained cyclin B 1 mRNA, but also that active cyclin B 1 mRNA synthesis occured at the end of the growth phase, e.g., when oocytes progressed in the acquisition of meoitic competence. Western blot analysis, performed with a monoclonal anticyclin B 1 antibody, revealed in competent and incompetent oocytes a polypeptide of 65kDa corresponding to the goat cyclin B 1 protein. This pattern of cyclin B 1 expression further suggested that meiotic incompetence in goat oocytes could not be primarily correlated with a lack of cyclin B 1 protein as potential pre-MPF subunit, but to a limiting amount of this protein. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 47:222-228, 1997. r 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

The aim of the present study was to prepare, optimize and characterize ketoprofen proniosomes. The niosomes were prepared using a slurry method followed by in vitro evaluation after embedding the proniosomes-derived niosomes into a carbopol matrix. A central, composite Box-Wilson design was used for the optimization with the total lipid concentration (X 1 ), surfactant loading (X 2 ) and amount of drug (X 3 ) as the independent variables. Prepared proniosomes were characterized for percentage drug entrapment (PDE) and mean volume diameter (MVD). Multiple regression analysis and contour plots were used to relate the dependent and independent variables. Checkpoint batches were also prepared to prove the validity of the evolved mathematical model and contour plots. The optimization model predicted the levels of X 1 , X 2 and X 3 (-1, -0.3 and 0.92, respectively), for a maximized response of PDE with constraints of ≤ 5 μm on MVD. Optimized batch was used to prepare a niosomal gel, which showed significantly higher cumulative amount of drug permeated and steady state transdermal flux compared to plain gel. This work has demonstrated the use of the central composite Box-Wilson design, regression analysis, and contour plots in optimizing ketoprofen proniosomes. Developed niosomal gel formulation has also demonstrated permeation enhancement of ketoprofen compared to plain gel.

Toxic α-dicarbonyl compounds, glyoxal, 2-methylglyoxal, and diacetyl, released from the headspace from butter, margarine, safflower oil, beef fat, and cheese heated at 100 and 200°C were analyzed by gas chromatography as quinoxaline derivatives. Total amounts of α-dicarbonyl compounds ranged from 40.5 ng/g (butter) to 331.2 ng/g (beef fat) at 100°C and from 302.4 ng/g (safflower oil) to 4521.5 ng/g (margarine) at 200°C. The total amount of α-dicarbonyl compounds increased approximately 55-and 15-fold in the headspace of heated butter and margarine, respectively, when the temperature was increased from 100 to 200°C. However, only slight differences associated with temperature variation were observed in the cases of safflower oil and beef fat (1.3-and 1.1-fold, respectively). Diacetyl was found in the highest amounts among all samples, ranging from 13.9 ± 0.3 ng/g (butter) to 2835.7 ng/g (cheese) at 100°C and from 112.5 ± 102 ng/g (safflower oil) to 2274.5 ± 442.6 ng/g (margarine) at 200°C, followed by methylglyoxal, ranging from 13.0 ± 0.5 to 112.7 ± 10.1 ng/g (cheese) at 100°C and from 34.7 ± 5.0 ng/g (safflower oil) to 1790 ± 372.3 ng/g (margarine) at 200°C. Much less glyoxal formed, in amounts ranging from 13.6 ± 0.7 ng/g (butter) to 53.4 ± 11.2 ng/g (beef fat) at both temperatures. The amounts of α-dicarbonyl compounds released into the vapor phase from lipid commodities during heating were satisfactorily analyzed.

␣-Difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) is commonly used as a specific ornithine decarboxylase (ODC, EC4.1.1.17) irreversible inhibitor. ODC is the enzyme responsible for polyamine biosynthesis, which has been shown to be strictly necessary for cell proliferation. In HT-29 Glc Ϫ/ϩ cells, L-arginine is the major precursor of these molecules through the sequential actions of arginase, which leads to L-ornithine generation and ODC. L-ornithine, a substrate for ODC, retroinhibits arginase. Since DFMO is an ornithine analogue, we searched for a direct effect of this agent upon arginase. The flux of L-arginine through arginase in intact cells was inhibited by 51 Ϯ 11% by 10 mM of DFMO whereas 10 mM of L-valine, a known potent arginase inhibitor, inhibited this flux by 73 Ϯ 6%. DFMO equilibrated between extracellular and intercellular spaces and, when used at 10-mM concentration, was without effect on L-arginine net uptake. Measurement of arginase activity in HT-29 cell homogenates with increasing concentrations of DFMO and L-arginine led to an inhibition with a calculated K i (inhibitory constant) equal to 3.9 Ϯ 1.0 mM. L-ornithine was less effective than DFMO in inhibiting arginase activity. Bovine liver arginase, used as another source of the enzyme, was also severely inhibited by DFMO. The inhibitory effect of DFMO upon arginase, one step upstream of the ODC reaction in the metabolic conversion of L-arginine to polyamines, is of potential physiological importance, since it could alter the production of ornithine and thus its metabolism in pathways other than the ODC pathway.

The interaction of leech-derived tryptase inhibitor (LDTI) with bovine liver capsule tryptase (BLCT) and bovine trypsin has been studied using both thermo-dynamic and kinetic approaches. Several differences were detected: (i) the equilibrium affinity of LDTI for BLCT (Ka = 8.9 105 M–1) is about 600-fold lower than that for bovine trypsin (Ka = 5.1 108 M–1); (ii) LDTI be-haves as a purely non-competitive inhibitor of BLCT, while it is a purely competitive inhibitor of bovine tryp-sin. These functional data are compared with those previously reported for the LDTI binding to human tryptase, where tight inhibition occurs at two of the four active sites of the tetramer (Ka = 7.1 108 M–1). Amino acid sequence alignment of BLCT, human II-tryptase and bovine trypsin allows us to infer some possible structural basis for the observed functional differences.

Introduction: Guidelines recommend storing tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD) refrigerated. However, especially in developing countries, maintaining the product refrigerated under field conditions can be difficult, limiting its use. Here we determine the effect of prolonged exposure to high temperatures on the potency of human, bovine and avian tuberculin PPD. Methodology: Human, bovine and avian tuberculin PPD were stored for several weeks exposed to temperatures ranging from 37º to 100ºC. The potency was evaluated in vivo, in sensitized or naturally infected animals. Results: Most test situations didn&#39;t affect the biological activity of the tuberculin PPDs and only very long and extreme incubations (several days at 100°C) compromised the potency. Conclusions: Tuberculin PPD is very stable and can be stored or transported for long periods without refrigeration. 

Lactoferrin (LF) is a multifunctional immunoregulatory protein that has been associated with host defense at mucosal surfaces through its antibacterial properties. The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of LF were further explored with an animal model of experimental urinary tract infection. Bovine LF (bLF), human LF (hLF), and synthetic peptide sequences based on the antibacterial region of hLF (amino acid residues 16 to 40 [HLD1] and 18 to 40 [HLD2]) were given orally to female mice 30 min after the instillation of 10 8 Escherichia coli bacteria into the urinary bladder. The control groups received phosphate-buffered saline or water. C3H/Tif mice were treated with hLF or bLF, and C3H/HeN mice were treated with bLF only. The numbers of bacteria in the kidneys and bladder of C3H/Tif and C3H/HeN mice were significantly reduced 24 h later by the LF treatments compared to the findings for the control group. The hLF-treated group showed the strongest reduction compared with ...

A histological study was undertaken to determine the efficiency in the removal of the mucosa and Peyer&#39;s patches by standard processing of bovine intestines into natural sausage casings. The second objective was to calculate the quantity of lymphoid and nervous tissue per consumable sausage. For the histological analysis, intestinal samples were collected from 80 beef cattle during the slaughter process. Fresh and cleaned intestines were compared in analyzing the thickness of the intestinal wall, weight reduction during cleaning, removal of the mucosal layer, and the presence of lymphoid and neural tissue after cleaning. The obtained data indicate a weight reduction of about 50% during standard cleaning procedures, as 90% of the mucosa and 48% of the lymphoid tissue are removed. Based on the quantitative histological image analysis, it was calculated that 1 m of cleaned casings, weighing on average 64 g, contains about 2.8 g of mucosa, 0.3 g of lymphoid tissue, and 0.1 g of neur...

Selenophosphate is the active selenium-donor compound required by bacteria and mammals for the specific synthesis of Secys-tRNA, the precursor of selenocysteine in selenoenzymes. Although free selenide can be used in vitro for the synthesis of selenophosphate, the actual physiological selenium substrate has not been identified. Rhodanese (EC 2.3.1.1) normally occurs as a persulfide of a critical cysteine residue and is believed to function as a sulfurdelivery protein. Also, it has been demonstrated that a seleniumsubstituted rhodanese (E-Se form) can exist in vitro. In this study, we have prepared and characterized an E-Se rhodanese. Persulfidefree bovine-liver rhodanese (E form) did not react with SeO 3 2؊ directly, but in the presence of reduced glutathione (GSH) and SeO 3 2؊ E-Se rhodanese was generated. These results indicate that the intermediates produced from the reaction of GSH with SeO 3 2؊ are required for the formation of a selenium-substituted rhodanese. E-Se rhodanese was stable in the presence of excess GSH at neutral pH at 37°C. E-Se rhodanese could effectively replace the high concentrations of selenide normally used in the selenophosphate synthetase in vitro assay in which the selenium-dependent hydrolysis of ATP is measured. These results show that a seleniumbound rhodanese could be used as the selenium donor in the in vitro selenophosphate synthetase assay.

The objective of this paper is to review the scientific literature to identify on-farm factors that contribute to market weight pig transportation losses. Transportation of market weight pigs is an essential element to the multisite pork production model used in the United States. In 2011 alone, approximately 111 million market weight pigs were transported from the finishing site to the abattoir. For pigs, the marketing process can present a combination of potentially novel, physical, and/or unfamiliar experiences that can be stressful. If the pig cannot cope with these sequential and additive stressors, then an increased rate of transportation losses could occur with a detrimental effect on pork carcass value. Current yearly estimates for transport losses are 1 million pigs (1%). A variety of market weight pig and farm factors have been reported to detrimentally affect transportation losses. By understanding how pigs interact with their environment during marketing, researchers, producers, and personnel at the abattoir may begin to identify, prioritize, and attempt to minimize or eliminate these stressors. This process will ultimately decrease transportation losses, improve pork quality, and increase profitability.