Molecular screening and risk factors of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. in diarrheic neonatal calves in Egypt

The aim of the present study was to carry out molecular epidemiological investigation on enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) K99 and Salmonella spp. in diarrheic neonatal calves. Fecal samples were obtained from 220 diarrheic calves at 9 farms related to four governorates in central and northern Egypt. E. coli and Salmonella spp. isolates were examined for E. coli K99 and Salmonella spp. using PCR. ETEC K99 was recovered from 20 (10.36 %) out of 193 isolates, whereas Salmonella spp. was recovered from nine calves (4.09%).Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the risk factors associated with both infections. ETEC K99 was significantly affected by age (P < 0.01; OR: 1.812; CI 95%: 0.566–1.769), colostrum feeding practice (P < 0.01; OR: 5.525; CI 95%: 2.025–15.076), rotavirus infection (P < 0.001; OR: 2.220; CI 95%: 0.273–1.251), vaccination of pregnant dams with combined vaccine against rotavirus, coronavirus and E. coli (K99) (P < 0.001; OR: 4.753; CI 95%: 2.124–10.641), and vitamin E and selenium administration to the pregnant dam (P < 0.01; OR: 3.933; CI 95%: 0.703–1.248).Infection with Salmonella spp. was found to be significantly affected by the animal age (P < 0.05; OR: 0.376; CI 95%: 0.511–1.369), Hygiene (P < 0.05; OR: 0.628; CI 95%: 1.729–5.612), and region (P < 0. 01; OR: 0.970; CI 95%: 0.841–1.624).The results of the present study indicate the importance of PCR as rapid, effective and reliable tool for screening of ETEC and Salmonella spp. when confronted with cases of undifferentiated calf diarrhea. Moreover, identification of the risk factors associated with the spreading of bacteria causing diarrhea may be helpful for construction of suitable methods for prevention and control.     

优质高品质陆地棉品种(系)数量性状因子分析及稳定性评价

[目的]为指导优质陆地棉常规育种提供科学参考.[方法]对63个高品质陆地棉资源(即纤维长度30 mm、以上比强度31 cN/tex以上、马克隆值3.7 ～4.2)的14个数量性状进行因子分析并聚类,对其纤维品质进行稳定性评价.[结果]前5个公因子的累积贡献率达到90.0;,分别代表籽指、铃重、比强度、铃数、纤维整齐度、纤维细度等陆地棉的主要特征,并根据这63个品种(系)的前5个公因子的得分值,采用离差平方和法将其聚为9类,其中大铃优质、早熟性、高衣分上表现好的分别是Ⅸ、Ⅷ、Ⅵ类.[结论]通过因子分析聚类以及稳定性评价后最终预测出12个较理想的亲本,即贝尔斯诺、Acala1517-77、Aca1a1 517-70、巴州5628、SI2、霍皮卡尔、MO-78-344、117169-6、新陆中9号、巴州6501、长绒67-12和新培育品系.     

Antioxidant Activities of Citrus Albedo and Flavedo Fragments Against Fish Lipid Oxidation

ABSTRACT

This research aimed to inhibit the oxidation of fish lipid by adding the ethanol extracts of albedo and flavedo fragments of grapefruit, sour orange, and bergamot. The samples were stored at 25°C, and analyses were performed on weekly intervals. The albedo fragments of sour orange extract had the highest antioxidant activity (0.342 ± 0.002 µM Trolox) and total phenolic content (5.29 ± 0.00 g GAE/100 g dry matter). Lipid oxidation increased rapidly in control samples compared to the extract treatments. The lowest scores for thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), para-anisidine value, peroxide value, and UV absorbance values were determined in sour orange albedo extracts as 5.21 mg MDA/kg, 17.81 and 4.78 meq O₂/kg, 2.24, and 0.403, respectively, at the end of the storage. More successful results were obtained with the peels of grapefruit and bergamot in supressing the lipid oxidation. Bergamot extract was the most preferred citrus in terms of sensory analyses.     

Effects of heat treatment on some properties of MDF (medium-density fiberboard)

This work investigated some mechanical, physical and free formaldehyde emission properties of heat-treated MDF. For this purpose, MDF panels were subjected to varying heat treatment temperatures (155°C, 165°C and 175°C), durations (2.5?h., 3.5?h. and 4.5?h.) and waiting times after hot pressing (30?min., 120?min. and 600?min). Thickness swelling (TS), water absorption (WA), free formaldehyde emission (FFE), bending strength (BS), modulus of elasticity (MOE), tensile strength perpendicular to fibers (TSPF) for treated and untreated samples were tested and evaluated statistically. Consequently, after the heat treatment values of tensile strength, bending strength and modulus of elasticity were almost negatively affected relatively, but the thickness swelling and water absorption and quantities of free formaldehyde were improved positively of MDF samples.     

Effects of Farm Yard Manure and Lime on Cadmium Uptake by Rice Grown in Two Contaminated Soils of Chittagong

A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of farm yard manure （FYM） and lime （calcium carbonate） on reducing the uptake of Cd by rice in two Cd contaminated soils of Chittagong. The effects of farm yard manure, lime and farm yard manure mixed with lime （FYM ＋ Lime） on rice （Oryza sativa L.） growth, Cd uptake by rice and 0.1 N HC1 extractable Cd in soil were investigated. Results showed that addition of lime and farm yard manure mixed with lime significantly decreased 0.1 N HCl extractable Cd in the city sewage soil. Application of farm yard manure significantly decreased Cd concentration in rice in the city sewage soil. Lime and farm yard manure mixed with lime significantly reduced Cd concentration in rice m both the contaminated soils. Lime was more efficient than farm yard manure in reducing the uptake of Cd by rice.     

Apoptosis in the Myocardium of the Adult Dromedary Camel: Ultrastructural Characterization

Apoptosis is a highly regulated mode of cell death that occurs in the absence of inflammation. Light microscopic (LM) examination of the myocardium of apparently healthy camel did not reveal evidence of apoptosis in any samples; however, evidence of apoptosis was apparent by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The most common apoptotic features observed by TEM included (1) an intact sarcolemma with some bleb formation; (2) nuclear chromatin condensation and margination with nucleolar disruption; (3) mitochondrial swelling and disorganization, accompanied by degeneration or hypercondensation of cristae; and (4) an intercalated disc region with a higher-than-normal mitochondrion/myofibril ratio, or surrounded from both sides by asymmetrically contracted sarcomeres. Apoptotic alterations were also noted among the endothelial cells lining the microvasculature of the myocardium. These alterations included (1) marked nuclear chromatin condensation and margination; (2) villous blebs on the adluminal plasmalemma, which projected into the lumen; (3) cytoplasmic vacuolation; (4) presence of intraluminal membrane-bounded vesicles; and (5) occasional pericapillary edema and accumulations of cellular debris. The results of this study indicate that myocardial apoptosis can occur in apparently healthy camels, in the absence of a clear-cut etiology.     

New withanolides from Mandragora officinarum: First report of withanolides from the Genus Mandragora

Two new withanolides named mandragorolide A (1) and mandragorolide B (2) were isolated from the MeOH extract of the whole plant of Mandragora officinarum of Jordanian origin, along with five known withanolides namely larnaxolide A (3), withanolide B (4), datura lactone 2 (5), withanicandrin (6) and salpichrolide C (7). Compound 3 has been reported only once before, from the leaves of Larnax glabra. This is the first report of withanolides of different biogenetic types from the genus Mandragora. Isolation of known fatty compounds, coumarins, sterols and tropane alkaloids was also achieved in this study.     

陆地棉机采性状对皮棉产量的遗传贡献分析

 采用加性-显性-加加上位性及其与环境互作的遗传模型（ADAA模型）,对8个陆地棉亲本（其中有6个机采棉品种）及其F₁和F₂的28个组合5个机采性状和单株皮棉产量的新疆阿拉尔和石河子2试点资料,进行了贡献分析。结果表明,5个机采性状对皮棉产量表型值的贡献变化范围为－20%～－14%;在显性贡献中,第一果枝高度对皮棉产量的贡献率最大（CR_D=10%）,其次是节间长度的贡献（CR_D=8%）,而霜前花率对皮棉产量有较大的抑制作用（CR_D=－25%）;霜前花率对皮棉产量的加加上位贡献率最大（CR_AA=86%）,其次是第一果枝节位（CR_AA=24%）。霜前花率在特殊的环境中对皮棉产量表现为很大的显性正向贡献（CR_DE=78%）和加加上位效应抑制作用。不同亲本5个机采性状对其皮棉产量的显性和加加上位效应贡献不同。5个机采性状对不同组合皮棉产量显性效应的贡献较小,霜前花率对皮棉产量的显性效应的贡献在2个地点的表现往往和单株皮棉产量在不同地点表现显性效应的性质（正或负）相一致,并且在5个机采性状中对皮棉产量的显性贡献是最大的。加加上位效应在皮棉产量的遗传中起着很重要的作用,而在8个亲本及其后代各组合的5个机采性状中,霜前花率可作为选择皮棉产量加加上位效应的主选性状。在不同的环境中,皮棉产量加加上位效应的主选机采性状随组合有所不同。     

Cold storage of oil rose (Rosa damascena Mill.) flowers

Oil rose flowers were stored at 0 °C in four different packaging materials [plastic box + stretch film (PB + SF), Xtend^®, Smartbag^® and polyethylene (PE)] for 60 days. During storage, weight loss, O₂ and CO₂ concentrations in the packages, petal color and sensorial attributes were investigated besides essential oil content and composition. Storage duration and packages had significant (p < 0.01) effects on weight loss. At the end of storage, the lowest weight loss was in PE package (1.696%) whereas the highest weight loss was in Xtend^® (10.081%). The essential oil content was significantly (p < 0.01) affected by storage duration and packages. In addition, the essential oil contents obtained from all packages for a storage period of 10 days and the essential oil contents obtained from unstored (control) petals were included in the same group. At the end of storage, the essential oil contents decreased by 91.3, 57.7, 80.0 and 64.3% in PB + SF, Xtend^®, Smartbag^® and PE packages, respectively as compared to control. In addition, storage duration and package types significantly (p < 0.01) affected petal color, O₂ and CO₂ concentrations in the packages and sensorial scores. The concentration of citronellol, a main component of rose oil, increased in all packages during storage of 10 days in comparison to the control group while it varied in other storage durations and package types. However, nerol and geraniol were lower than the control group during storage while concentrations of nonadecane, heneicosane and eicosane were higher. In conclusion, loss of oil yield and quality, due to various reasons and particularly due to fermentation in oil rose from the harvest of petals to their distillation, can be minimized with storage of petals in all package types for up to 10 days.     

Circulating oxidative stress status in dromedary camels infested with sarcoptic mange

Oxidative stress is an imbalance between radical-generating and radical-scavenging activity, resulting in oxidation products and tissue damage. This study was aimed to evaluate the status of oxidative stress indices in blood of camels naturally infested with S. scabiei. Forty-seven male camels (Camelus dromedaries) were divided according to the extent of the infested area with Sarcoptes scabiei into four groups, mild (MID, n = 12), moderate (MOD, n = 10), severely infested (SEV, n = 10) and healthy control group (n = 15). Blood was used for determination of red cell count (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), serum nitric oxide (NO^•, a free radical), ascorbate and albumin concentrations, and erythrocytic values of malondialdehyde (MDA, a marker of lipid peroxidation), protein carbonyls (PC, an indicator of protein oxidation), glutathione (GSH) superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). Decreased levels (P < 0.05) of RBC, Hb, PCV, albumin and ascorbate were noticed in MOD and SEV compared to controls with the lowest values (P < 0.05) in SEV except for ascorbate, where MOD did not differ from SEV. Compared to controls, NO^• gradually increased (P < 0.05) in MID followed by MOD and SEV, whereas MDA and PC were higher (P < 0.05) in MOD and SEV. PC was higher (P < 0.05) in MOD than SEV. In addition, the antioxidants GSH, SOD and CAT were higher (P < 0.05) in MID and lower (P < 0.05) in MOD and SEV compared to controls. GSH was lower (P < 0.05) in SEV compared to MOD. Besides, Hb was negatively correlated with NO^• (r = −0.68, P < 0.001), MDA (r = −0.53, P < 0.001) and PC (r = −0.73, P < 0.001). In conclusion, dromedary sarcoptosis is accompanied by a state of oxidative stress process, which increased by increasing the area of infestation, and may contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease.