Synthesis and characterization of nanocrystalline CoWO4@silk fibers with antibacterial activity under ultrasound irradiation

The present investigation reports the novel synthesis of CoWO₄ nanoparticles@silk fiber under ultrasound irradiation. The effect of temperature, power of ultrasound irradiation and sequential dipping steps in growth of the CoWO₄ particles were studied. Results show a decrease in the particles size as the temperature and power of irradiation decreased. The fibers containing CoWO₄ nanoparticles were tested for their antibacterial efficacy against E. coli and S. aureus and were found to possess significant antibacterial activity. The results show the CoWO₄ nanoparticles@silk with strongest fluorescence characteristics can be obtained in this method. The physicochemical properties of the nanoparticles were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and fluorescence spectroscopy.     

Effects of Packaging Method on Salt-Cured Cod Yield and Quality During Storage

Different packaging conditions of salt-cured cod fillets were studied during 2-years chilled storage. Yield and quality of salt-cured Atlantic cod fillets packed in sealed polystyrene boxes or in traditional cardboard boxes were compared. After 4 months, yield decreased by approximately 10% and decreased further when packed in cardboard boxes. Lipid oxidation was low after 12 months, and no microbiological spoilage was registered. The total amount of bacteria in the fish reduced with storage time, independent of packaging. The reddish color of halophilic bacteria was detected after 7–8 weeks at 18°C, but not if packed with MAP.     

Performance of purebred and crossbred progeny of White Leghorn and New Hampshire sires

Data from a reciprocal recurrent selection (RRS) programme involving a White Leghorn and a New Hampshire flock were analysed to determine whether there were genetic differences in the purebred population that came to expression primarily in the crossbred progeny. The RRS programme had been in use for four years. The White Leghorn flock had previously been the subject of long‐continued and intensive family selection. The New Hampshire flock was less highly selected. Egg number, egg weight and body weight were the primary traits under selection. Each year the programme involved about 10 sires and 80 females of each breed, and about 400 offspring of each type of cross.

The overall economic value of the crossbreds consistently exceeded the mid‐parent mean, the difference increased steadily during the RRS programme. Heritabilities of the various traits were higher when calculated on the basis of crossbred offspring than when calculated on the basis of purebred offspring. For egg production in the White Leghorns there was a fairly low correlation between purebred and crossbred offspring of the same male. For other traits in both breeds the correlation between purebred and crossbred offspring was moderately high. There was a significant interaction between males and breed of females for all traits and breeds, except for egg number in the New Hampshire. These results are consistent with the notion that there were genetic differences between the purebred males (particularly the White Leghorn males) that affected the production characteristics of their crossbred progeny differently than their purebred progeny.     

Anthocyanin’s as marker for selection of buckwheat plants with high rutin content

This study is focused on the selection analysis of high rutin contents in various buckwheat species and cultivars, such as Fagopyrum esculentum Moench. (Cultivars Lileya, Bilshovik, Rubra), F. tataricum G. (ssp. rotundatum (Bab) Krot. and ssp. tuberculatum Krot.), F. cymosum Meissn, and Fagopyrum giganteum Krot. Rutin contents in vegetative organs of plants showed good correlation with anthocyanins contents in vegetative organs of Rubra cultivar. The presence of anthocyanin’s contents in the vegetative organs of buckwheat can be a reliable genetic marker for screening plants with high content of rutin. In the third generation of selection process with the proposed selection method by us, a genetic line of Rubra cultivar with high rutin content in the vegetative mass has been obtained. The proposed method of selection based on the color visual assessment of plant parts of buckwheat which is correlated with anthocyanin contents. The color visual assessment of vegetative organs of buckwheat plants can be marker for selection buckwheat cultivars with high anthocyanin’s and rutin contents.     

Antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties of marennine, a blue-green polyphenolic pigment from the diatom Haslea ostrearia (Gaillon/Bory) Simonsen responsible for the natural greening of cultured oysters

Among microalgae, the marine diatom Haslea ostrearia has the distinctive feature of synthesizing and releasing, into the surrounding environment, a blue-green polyphenolic pigment called marennine. The oyster-breeding industry commonly makes use of this natural phenomenon for the greening of oysters grown in the ponds of the French Atlantic coast. This article reports the in vitro antioxidant properties of pure marennine. Two kinds of evaluation systems were adopted to test the antioxidative activity of marennine: antioxidant capacity assays (beta-carotene and thymidine protection assays and iron reducing power assay) and free radical scavenging assays (DPPH*, O2*-, and HO*). In almost all cases, marennine exhibited significantly higher antioxidative and free radical scavenging activities than natural and synthetic antioxidants commonly used in food, as shown by comparing median effective concentration (EC 50) values, for each test independently. This medium molecular weight polyphenol (around 10 kDa) from microalgae is thus a potentially useful natural antioxidant. Because of its blue-coloring property and water solubility, it could also be used as a natural food-coloring additive.     

Rapid detection of Leishmania infantum infection in dogs: comparative study using an immunochromatographic dipstick rk39 test and direct agglutination

A rapid, sensitive and specific tool for detection of Leishmania infantum infection in dogs, would be highly desirable, because it would allow control interventions in endemic areas of Zoonotic visceral leishmaniosis (ZVL). In this study, we compared an immunochromatographic dipstick test with direct agglutination test (DAT) for detecting L. infantum infections in dogs from areas of ZVL endemic in Iran. The validity of the dipstick rk39 (Cypress Diagnostic Company, Belgium) for canine visceral leishmaniosis (CVL) was compared with a standard direct agglutination test on 116 clinically suspected dogs and 152 healthy controls from endemic areas of Ardabil and East Azerbaijan provinces, north-western of Iran for 1 year. A sensitivity of 70.9% and specificity of 84.9% were found at a 1:320 cut off titer when DAT confirmed cases were compared with healthy control. As the dipstick rk39 test is rapid, noninvasive and does not require much expertise or elaborate equipment, it can be used for screening and diagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniosis in remote endemic areas.