Nutritive and antioxidative potential of fresh and stored pomegranate industrial byproduct as a novel beef cattle feed

Pomegranate peel is a nutritive-rich byproduct whose amounts are extensively growing due to the exponential increase in the production of pomegranate juice and "ready to eat" arils. Pomegranate peel is a rich source for antioxidants and thus may serve in the prevention of cattle diseases and in the improvement of beef products, making it an attractive component in beef cattle diets. The present study aims to evaluate the effect of commonly used storage practices on the nutritive and antioxidative properties of pomegranate peel. In general, storage conditions preserved most antioxidant capacity. Ensiling ambivalently affected the nutritive values of the peel and promoted increased levels of antioxidative components. In addition to polyphenols, nonphenolic components, such as alpha- and gamma-tocopherols, contributed to the total antioxidative capacity, and several minerals found in the peel added to its nutritional value. Dietary supplementation with fresh peels promoted significant increases in feed intake and alpha-tocopherol concentration in the plasma, with positive tendency toward increased weight gain of bull calves. All in all, the nutritive value and the antioxidant capacity of pomegranate peel turn it into a favorable health-promoting constituent of feedlot beef cattle diet.     

基于聚乙烯袋水培法9个甜瓜品种对埃及列当的抗性鉴定

【目的】基于聚乙烯袋水培法研究甜瓜不同品种对列当的抗性鉴定方法,为甜瓜抗列当品种选育提供技术支撑。【方法】利用聚乙烯袋水培法,研究不同甜瓜品种根系分泌物对埃及列当种子萌发诱导活性及寄生的影响,评价甜瓜品种抗性。【结果】聚乙烯袋水培9个接种埃及列当种子的甜瓜品种,其根系分泌物都可刺激列当种子发芽,但瘤状茎数量差异显著。用瘤状茎数量评价9个甜瓜品种对埃及列当的抗性,结果表明,参试甜瓜品种对列当寄生的抗感性存在差异,k2-2、k2-7及CEZ这3个品种抗性优于其他品种。【结论】聚乙烯袋水培法可作为有效的甜瓜列当抗性室内鉴定方法。     

Successful medical management of lumbar intervertebral disc prolapse in a ferret

Thoracolumbar disc herniation was diagnosed in a two-year-old ferret using a myelogram followed by a computed tomography scan. The ferret was paraplegic with no control over urination and defecation. Conservative treatment that included cage rest and passive range of motion exercises for three weeks followed by extensive physiotherapy and hydrotherapy resulted in full recovery two months after the onset of treatment. Although intervertebral disc disease has been reported previously in four ferrets, this is the first report in which a postmyelogram computed tomography was used to demonstrate the herniated disc, and physiotherapy was used as principal treatment modality.     

Tolerance of parsley varieties to Orobanche

Parasitic plants infest numerous plants throughout the world depleting them of nutrients, minerals and water. Orobanche species are chlorophyll-lacking root holoparasites that cause severe damage to broad-leaved crops. Orobanche aegyptiaca and Orobanche crenata parasitize field, vegetable, fodder, flower and herb crops in the Mediterranean region. Curled parsley (Petroselinum crispum), a major crop in the dry herb industry in Israel, is highly susceptible to O. aegyptiaca and O. crenata and in infested fields suffers severe yield and quality damage. An in vitro study in polyethylene bags, greenhouse experiments in soil-filled pots and trials in a naturally Orobanche-infested field were performed in order to screen and test for differential susceptibility of parsley varieties to O. aegyptiaca and O. crenata. Results revealed that the parsley varieties Garland and Garbo were tolerant to Orobanche compared to the susceptible varieties Darki, Extra Triple and Kaderava.     

Acetylcholine-synthesizing T cells relay neural signals in a vagus nerve circuit

Neural circuits regulate cytokine production to prevent potentially damaging inflammation. A prototypical vagus nerve circuit, the inflammatory reflex, inhibits tumor necrosis factor-α production in spleen by a mechanism requiring acetylcholine signaling through the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor expressed on cytokine-producing macrophages. Nerve fibers in spleen lack the enzymatic machinery necessary for acetylcholine production; therefore, how does this neural circuit terminate in cholinergic signaling? We identified an acetylcholine-producing, memory phenotype T cell population in mice that is integral to the inflammatory reflex. These acetylcholine-producing T cells are required for inhibition of cytokine production by vagus nerve stimulation. Thus, action potentials originating in the vagus nerve regulate T cells, which in turn produce the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, required to control innate immune responses.     

Construction of a genetic map of melon with molecular markers and horticultural traits, and localization of genes associated with ZYMV resistance

Abstract: A partial linkage map of melon was constructed from a cross between PI414723 and Dulce. Twenty-two SSR, 46RAPD, 2 ISSR markers and four horticultural markers [female flower form (a), Fusarium resistance, striped epicarp (st), and fruit flesh pH (pH)] were analyzed in an F₂/F₃ population to produce a map spanning 14 linkage groups. We report for the first time map positions for the st, a, and pH genes. One SSR marker was tightly linked to pH. Mapping the a gene for the female flower form to molecular linkage group 4 enabled the merging of the map of horticultural traits with the of molecular markers in this region. Using the 22 SSR markers of this map, two of the three postulated ZYMV resistance genes were located using a BC₁ population (PI414723 recurrent parent). One SSR marker was tightly linked to a ZYMV resistance gene, designated Zym-1. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effect of soil wetting and drying cycles on metolachlor fate in soil applied as a commercial or controlled-release formulation

A controlled-release formulation (CRF) has been developed for metolachlor, which reduced its leaching in a sandy soil and improved weed control in comparison with the commercial formulation. The current study tested the effect of soil wetting and drying cycles (WDCs) on metolachlor fate (desorption, leaching, and weed control) applied as the CRF and as the commercial formulation. Metolachlor adsorption to a heavy soil (Terra-Rosa) was predominately to the clay minerals and oxides. Metolachlor release from a heavy soil subjected to WDCs was higher than its release from the soil not subjected to WDCs. Consequently, a bioassay in soil columns treated with the commercial formulation indicated enhanced metolachlor leaching in heavy soils under WDCs. In contrast, when metolachlor was applied as the CRF, leaching was suppressed and not affected by WDCs. These results emphasize the advantages of the CRF also in heavy soils subjected to WDCs.