Effects of dietary myrcene administration on antioxidant gene responses in common carp (Cyprinus carpio), exposed to copper sulphate

In the present study, common carp (Cyprinus carpio) were fed with diet supplemented with 0% (M0) or 0.5% (M0.5) myrcene for 6 week and exposed to ambient copper (0.2 mg/L) for further 2 weeks. Gene expressions of superoxide dismutase (sod), catalase (cat), glutathione peroxidase (gpx), glutathione reductase (gr) and glutathione S‐transferase (gst) were assayed in the fish brain and kidney, and thiobarbituric reactive substance (TBARS) levels were determined in blood plasma. The results showed that there was no significant difference in TBARS levels between the M0 and M0.5 treatments, before the copper exposure; however, the M0 had significantly higher TBARS levels compared to the M0.5, after the copper exposure. The antioxidant genes showed different patterns in the fish brain and kidney. The genes were up‐regulated in the fish brain by dietary myrcene and copper exposure. However, in the fish kidney, the M0.5 treatment showed no change in sod, cat, gpx before and after the copper exposure. The results suggest that myrcene is capable to induce antioxidant enzymes that prepare the fish for a further oxidative condition (i.e. copper exposure). Dietary myrcene at 0.5% level is suggested for common carp before treatment with copper sulphate.     

Differentiation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell into germ-like cell under effect of co-culture with testicular cell tissue

Supplements produced by mouse testicular cells (mTCs) and the interaction between cells can increase the differentiation rate of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) into the germ-like cells. We studied the differentiation rate of hUCMSCs into the germ-like cells under effect of mTCs co-culturing. Isolated hUCMSCs from postpartum human umbilical cords were cultured. Then, the expression of mesenchymal (CD73, CD90 and CD105) and haematopoietic (CD34 and CD45) markers of hUCMSCs were confirmed by flow cytometry. Then, the hUCMSCs were cultured in four distinct groups: (a) control, (b) co-culture until D0, (c) co-culture until D5 and (d) co-culture until D10, in order to differentiate into the germ-like cells. After 10 days, the expression of OCT4, VASA, Fragilis and SYCP3 genes were examined by Real-Time qPCR. The flow cytometry indicated a high expression of mesenchymal markers and a low expression of haematopoietic markers (CD73:98.6%, CD90: 99.1%, CD105: 99.5%, CD34: 4.22% and CD45: 2.54%). The expression of OCT4 decreased during the time while the expression of VASA, Fragilis and SYCP3 markers increased in the co-culture with testicular cells (p value <.05). Co-culture with mTCs may be used as an effective method to differentiate hUCMSCs into germ-like cells.     

Synthesis and characterization of new polyamides containing symmetrical and unsymmetrical thiadiazole rings

Diamino derivatives of thiadiazole namely, 2,5-diamino-1,3,4-thiadiazole and 3,5-diamino-1,2,4-thiadiazole were synthesized and characterized. Polyamides were synthesized by condensation of the two diamino derivatives with diacide chlorides. The structures of polyamides were verified by elemental analysis, FTIR, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR and mass spectroscopy. The polyamides possess good solubility in aprotic organic solvents such as DMF, DMAC, DMSO and NMP at room temperature. Intrinsic viscosity measurements indicate that the polyamides synthesized have moderate molecular weights. The thermal stability of these polyamides in nitrogen atmosphere is relatively good, especially for those polyamides containing phenylene ring in the backbone. Compared to the structurally related Kevlar aramide, using 2,5-diamino-1,3,4-thiadiazole and 3,5-diamino-1,2,4-thiadiazole instead of p-phenylene diamine results in reducing the melting points of polyamides to below 350 °C.     

Effects of three different concentrate proportions and rapeseed meal supplement to grass silage on animal performance of dairy-breed bulls with TMR feeding

A 3 × 2 factorial design with growing dairy-breed bulls was used to study the effects on animal performance of (1) proportion of concentrate (rolled barley) in the diet, and (2) inclusion of rapeseed meal (RSM) in the barley-based concentrate in a total mixed ration (TMR). The interactions between concentrate proportion and RSM supplement were also examined.Three feeding experiments comprised in total of 84 Finnish Ayrshire bulls and 6 Friesian bulls. The bulls were fed TMR ad libitum. The three concentrate proportions were 300 (L), 500 (M) and 700 (H) g/kg dry matter (DM), fed without RSM (RSM−) or with RSM (RSM+). Rapeseed meal was given so that the crude protein (CP) content of the concentrate was raised to 160 g/kg DM in the RSM+ diets. In the RSM− diets the CP content of the concentrate was 128 g/kg DM, so the CP content increased 25% with RSM supplementation. Increasing the proportion of concentrate led to a linear improvement in daily live weight gain (LWG) (P < 0.05), but there were no significant treatment differences in the DM intake (kg/d). Increasing the proportion of concentrate also led to significantly higher CP (P < 0.001) and phosphorus (P) (P < 0.001) supply and significantly improved DM and organic matter (OM) digestibility (P < 0.001). However, the digestibility of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) decreased (P < 0.001) as the proportion of concentrate increased. The feed conversion rate (kg DM/kg LWG) decreased significantly with increasing concentrate proportion (P < 0.001). Rapeseed meal supplement had no effect on animal performance, but the supply of CP (P < 0.01) and P (P < 0.001) was higher when RSM was included in the diet. The CP (P < 0.001) and NDF (P < 0.05) digestibilities were also higher for the RSM+ diets than for the RSM− diets. Because RSM at the concentration used did not affect animal performance, there is no reason to use RSM supplementation for finishing dairy bulls when there is good quality grass silage and barley-based concentrate in the TMR ration. This study also shows that there is a need to update the Finnish feeding recommendations for dairy-breed growing bulls, and extra calculations are needed for the energy and protein supply of growing dairy bulls.     

Murine typhus in the homeless

Homeless populations are particularly exposed to many vector-borne diseases because of their poor living conditions. We tested sera from 299 homeless people recruited in 2010 and 2011 in Marseilles, France for antibodies to Rickettsia typhi by microimmunofluorescence using a titer of 1:25 as a cut-off titer, and we confirmed the results by Western blot and cross-adsorption studies. Sixty-three persons (22%) had antibodies against R. typhi. The murine typhus seroprevalence rates have significantly increased in homeless populations between the 2000-2003 and 2010-2011 periods. These findings indicate that the homeless are increasingly exposed to flea-borne murine typhus in Marseilles. One might suggest that multiple strikes of sanitation workers resulting in the increase of waste and construction sites combined with the poor living conditions of the homeless expose this population to rodents and their fleas. Further annual studies are necessary to follow rodent-associated diseases among homeless people in Marseille.     

Mechanical characterization of clay reinforced polypropylene nanocomposites at high temperature

This paper focuses on the influence of temperature conditions and the clay contents on enhancement of mechanical characterization of polypropylene (PP) nanocomposites. The nanocomposites were prepared using the melt mixing technique in a co-rotating intermeshing twin screw extruder followed by injection moulding. Nanocomposites properties such as impact strength and ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, failure strain, Young’s modulus and toughness are calculated. The addition of clay to PP matrix was showed remarkable enhancement in mechanical properties at the temperature of 25 oC and 120 °C. Nearly 36 % and 160 % increase in the Young’s modulus and about 45 % and 62 % increase in the impact strength were observed at both room temperature (RT) and high temperature (HT), respectively. But, the tensile strength was not affected much. The basal spacing of clay in the composites was measured by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to assess the surface morphology of the fractured surfaces and dispersion of the nanoclay.     

Food choice and reproductive success of Folsomia candida feeding on copper-contaminated mycelium of the soil fungus Alternaria alternata

We examined collembolan food preference for fungal mycelium grown on copper-contaminated medium, and the relationship between copper content, food selectivity and collembolan fitness when fed contaminated mycelium.To clarify whether collembolan food selectivity is related to fitness parameters, Folsomia candida were fed mycelium of the dark-pigmented fungus Alternaria alternata grown on medium with different copper concentrations. Copper-contaminated food (fungus grown on 50, 125, 250 and 500 μg Cu g^?1 medium, fresh wt.) was offered together with untreated food for 4 weeks. F. candida fed selectively on the provided mycelium and discriminated clearly between mycelium grown on high and low levels of contamination, distinctly preferring fungus grown on medium with a total copper concentration of 50 and 125 μg g^?1. In contrast, fungus grown on highly contaminated medium (250 and 500 μg g^?1) was avoided. Collembolan food preference generally matched fitness parameters. Reproduction was significantly affected by the total copper concentration of the fungal growth medium. When fed their preferred mycelium, collembolan reproduction was enhanced, whereas a diet of highly contaminated mycelium (250 or 500 μg g^?1) resulted in a strong decrease in reproduction. Adult survival was affected only marginally. Even though heavy metal contamination is a potential stress factor for many soil microarthropods, F. candida is able to discriminate between high and low quality food sources, and even benefits from moderately elevated copper concentrations.     

Food choice and reproductive success of Folsomia candida feeding on copper-contaminated mycelium of the soil fungus Alternaria alternata

We examined collembolan food preference for fungal mycelium grown on copper-contaminated medium, and the relationship between copper content, food selectivity and collembolan fitness when fed contaminated mycelium.To clarify whether collembolan food selectivity is related to fitness parameters, Folsomia candida were fed mycelium of the dark-pigmented fungus Alternaria alternata grown on medium with different copper concentrations. Copper-contaminated food (fungus grown on 50, 125, 250 and 500 μg Cu g⁻¹ medium, fresh wt.) was offered together with untreated food for 4 weeks. F. candida fed selectively on the provided mycelium and discriminated clearly between mycelium grown on high and low levels of contamination, distinctly preferring fungus grown on medium with a total copper concentration of 50 and 125 μg g⁻¹. In contrast, fungus grown on highly contaminated medium (250 and 500 μg g⁻¹) was avoided. Collembolan food preference generally matched fitness parameters. Reproduction was significantly affected by the total copper concentration of the fungal growth medium. When fed their preferred mycelium, collembolan reproduction was enhanced, whereas a diet of highly contaminated mycelium (250 or 500 μg g⁻¹) resulted in a strong decrease in reproduction. Adult survival was affected only marginally. Even though heavy metal contamination is a potential stress factor for many soil microarthropods, F. candida is able to discriminate between high and low quality food sources, and even benefits from moderately elevated copper concentrations.