Effects of Cocoa-Derived Polyphenols on Cognitive Function in Humans. Systematic Review and Analysis of Methodological Aspects

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - The effects of cocoa-derived polyphenols on cognitive functions have been analyzed through numerous studies using different interventions (doses, vehicles, time...     

Histopathological findings in farmed rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) naturally infected with 3 different Aeromonas species

This study describes the macroscopic and microscopic lesions in farmed rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) naturally infected with genetically identified Aeromonas salmonicida, A. hydrophila, and A. veronii species. The genus Aeromonas includes bacteria that naturally inhabit both waterways and organisms. At least 27 Aeromonas species have been identified to date, some of which can cause significant economic losses in aquaculture. As up to 68.8% of Aeromonas isolates may be misidentified in routine biochemical and phenotypic tests, however, reported cases of Aeromonas infection in fish may be wrongly identified. Our findings confirmed that the 3 Aeromonas species studied are associated with septicemia and dermal lesions in rainbow trout.     

Induction of sexual activity of male creole goats in subtropical northern Mexico using long days and melatonin

The aim of this study was to determine whether the sexual activity of local male Creole goats in subtropical Mexico can be induced during the non-breeding season by a long-day treatment followed by insertion of two melatonin implants. The experiment was carried out in the Laguna region in the State of Coahuila, Mexico (26 degrees N). Fourteen male goats were allocated to two balanced groups (n = 7 each) according to body and testicular weights. Males were kept together in two separate groups and fed lucerne hay for ad libitum intake and 300 g of commercial concentrate and had free access to water and mineral blocks. The control group remained in open sheds under natural photoperiod and ambient temperature conditions. The experimental group was placed in a light-proof building and exposed to 2.5 mo of long days (16 h of light/d) from November 1 to January 15. On January 16, each male received two s.c. melatonin implants and was exposed to natural photoperiodic changes in an open shed. In the control group, testicular weight exhibited seasonal variations; the highest value occurred on May 30 (146 +/- 10 g). Treated males reached maximum testicular weight earlier (March 15; 147 +/- 11 g), and sperm quality from January to March was higher than that observed in the control group (P < 0.05). Treatment caused an increase in LH pulse frequency (2.0 +/- 0.5 vs 0.3 +/- 0.2 pulse/8 h in February, 4.6 +/- 1.1 vs 0.1 +/- 0.1 pulse/8 h in March; experimental vs control group, respectively). In the control group, plasma testosterone remained low until mid-June and increased thereafter to remain elevated until the end of the study. In the experimental group, elevated plasma testosterone was observed from February to April and from July to November. Treating male goats in subtropical latitudes with artificial long days and melatonin can induce an intense sexual activity during the natural nonbreeding season.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus halepensis</Emphasis> somatic embryogenesis is affected by the physical and chemical conditions at the initial stages of the process

Pinus halepensis has been described as a drought-tolerant species with high plasticity to growth in different environments. Its eco-physiological characteristics could facilitate the use of this species in large afforestations in the future scenery of climate change. Somatic embryogenesis is a biotechnological tool with potential for large-scale clonal propagation. In order to establish an improved regeneration protocol for Pinus halepensis, the effects of different temperatures (18, 23, and 28 °C) and water availability conditions (2, 3, and 4 g L^?1 Gelrite^®), during initiation of embryonal masses on the rate of initiation, proliferation, maturation, and the number of embryos developed, were evaluated. It was found that environmental conditions during the initiation stage of Pinus halepensis somatic embryogenesis influence the success of initiation and proliferation. In contrast, there was no effect of these conditions on the maturation rates and the number of somatic embryos. Somatic embryos were obtained in all treatments tested, indicating that plants can be produced from extreme conditions of induction, such as high temperatures (28 °C) and low water availability conditions (4 g L^?1).     

Effects of past growth trends and current water use strategies on Scots pine and pubescent oak drought sensitivity

Drought-induced decline is affecting Pinus sylvestris populations in southern Europe, with very little impact on the more drought-tolerant Quercus pubescens. Although multiple studies have investigated interspecific differences in water use and growth strategies, the link between these two processes and how they vary within drought-exposed populations remains poorly understood. Here, we analysed tree ring and sap flow data from P. sylvestris and Q. pubescens stands in the Pyrenees in order to (1) evaluate differences in climate–growth responses among species, (2) disentangle the role of past growth trends and water use strategies in individual trees drought sensitivity and (3) assess whether such intraspecific patterns vary between species. Both species have suffered recent climatic constraints related to increased aridity. However, the effects of past growth trends and current water use traits on drought sensitivity varied among them. Initially, fast-growing ‘drought-sensitive’ pines displayed a higher gas exchange potential but were more sensitive to evaporative demand and soil moisture. They also showed lower water use efficiency for growth (WUE_BAI) and current growth decline. In contrast, initially, slow-growing ‘drought-tolerant’ pines showed the opposite water use traits and currently maintain the highest growth rates. In comparison, neither current WUE_BAI nor recent growth trends varied across Q. pubescens climate–growth groups. Nonetheless, ‘drought-sensitive’ oaks showed the lowest gas exchange potential and the highest growth rates under milder conditions. Our results show a strong effect of past growth trends and current water use strategies on tree resilience to increased aridity, which is more evident in P. sylvestris.     

Truffle aroma analysis by headspace solid phase microextraction

An experimental design has been used to optimize the extraction of volatile compounds from summer truffle aroma (Tuber aestivum) by using headspace solid phase microextraction. The extracted compounds have been analyzed by gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector and by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In an attempt to develop an objective method to fully characterize truffle aroma, a fiber of medium polarity (for flavors) was used to avoid discrimination toward very nonpolar and polar volatile compounds. To optimize the extraction conditions, a response surface experimental design was applied considering three factors such as extraction temperature, equilibrium time, and extraction time. From the statistical analysis of the experimental design, it was possible to determine that the most important factor influencing the abundance of aroma compounds was the extraction temperature. Optimal extraction temperature was established at approximately 50 degrees C. By using GC-MS, it was possible to identify 37 compounds, most of them previously described as responsible for truffle aroma.     

Detection of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) in seropositive cattle

Detection of bovine virus diarrhoea virus (BVDV) in one vaccinated beef cattle and three non-vaccinated dairy herds was investigated on peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) with or without previous treatment followed by a capture ELISA (cELISA). Using the combination of PHA and polycation treatment, PBL from 229 seropositive cattle were studied and could be classified in four different states of BVDV infection. Lysed PBL from four animals were directly positive in cELISA (Category I), PBL of 17 animals were positive after PHA stimulation (Category II), 15 animals were positive only after PHA stimulation plus polycation treatment (Category III), while virus could not be detected in 193 seropositive cattle. Wild-type BVDV strains were isolated by co-culture on polycation-treated MDBK cells from 11 of these seropositive animals. BVDV antibodies of these same animals were able to neutralize their own virus, indicating that virus persists in PBL in spite of strain-specific antibodies. No apparent change of leukocyte subpopulations could be detected in any category of virus-positive animals. Thus, BVDV may be present in the PBL of some cattle, even in the presence of a specific active immune response.     

Relationships between agronomic factors and epidemics of Phytophthora branch canker of citrus in southwestern Spain

Phytophthora branch canker, caused by Phytophthora citrophthora, has been an increasing problem in clementine (Citrus reticulata) production in Spain during last years. The disease was particularly severe in the new citrus-growing areas of the southwestern coastal areas in Huelva Province. Recent studies revealed that disease emergence was not related to either genetic drift or host specificity changes in P. citrophthora population. Therefore, the possible association of agronomic factors with the disease was investigated. A total of 110 orchards were selected arbitrarily from the main citrus-growing areas in Huelva Province. The presence of branch cankers together with agronomic factors including soils, cultivars, rootstocks, irrigation, pruning, techniques to improve fruit production, fungicide treatments, presence of brown rot of fruit and frost damage were recorded. Logistic regression analysis was used to detect correlations between the agronomic factors studied and disease prevalence. Phytophthora branch canker was significantly associated with mature clementine orchards. Sweet orange and hybrid cultivars as well as young clementine orchards were less affected by the disease. Although disease was less frequent in Salorthid soils, alternative high resolution procedures are required to draw conclusions about the effect of soil properties on disease prevalence. As in other Phytophthora-induced diseases, soil flooding during the rainy season was correlated positively with the prevalence of branch cankers. Improving fruit production by branch scoring showed a strong positive correlation with Phytophthora branch canker. This is the first time that girdling has been associated with Phytophthora disease epidemics on a fruit tree crop, but further research is needed to determine the cause of this relationship. Cultural practices including pruning, regulated deficit irrigation, additional phosphonate sprays, and abiotic and disease factors such as frost damage and presence of brown rot of fruit were not significantly correlated with disease prevalence.