Assessment of a bone glue-based foliar fertilizer on tomato quality production

Tomatoes are consumed and cultivated all over the world for not only their pleasant taste but also their curative properties. Therefore, the challenge for growers is to obtain high-quality crop productions by developing new varieties of tomatoes or new ecofriendly fertilizers. This study was to test a bone glue-based foliar fertilizer on the tomato crop. The experiment was organized in a vegetation house under an original treatment scheme. Four types of foliar fertilizers were tested: macroelements, microelements and glue; macroelements and glue; microeleements and glue; and macroelements and microelements without glue. The fertilizers were applied as diluted solutions (0.5% and 1%) across three treatments applied on nine variants. The treatments with bone glue-based foliar fertilizer led to a high-quality production of healthy tomatoes, a good absorption of nutrients together with a reduced nitrites level in tomatoes and an increase of agricultural productivity. The applied foliar fertilizers tested on the hybrid tomatoes used in the experiment had a significant positive influence on vegetative growth. The nitrate concentration in the fruit did not exceed the maximum accepted level. The agronomic analysis of the mineral composition of the fruit revealed that foliar fertilizers with glue significantly influenced nutrient assimilation during the treatments. The level of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) recovery following the application of bone glue foliar fertilizers was higher as compared to the control and the variant without bone glue. Biometric measurements had shown significant differences favorable to tomatoes treated with this bone glue foliar fertilizer.     

Fisheries or aquaculture? Unravelling key determinants of livelihoods in the Brazilian semi‐arid region

In impoverished semi‐arid regions in the world, reservoirs serve multiple purposes, including food provision through fisheries and aquaculture. Yet, the socio‐economic benefits of promoting both activities remain unclear. We independently assessed the socio‐economic benefits generated from fisheries and aquaculture, in two reservoirs in the Brazilian semi‐arid region (June 2013 to June 2014). These reservoirs produced 27.75 ton of farmed tilapia over a year (USD Purchasing Power Parities [PPP] 88,778.73) and provided at least 16.5 ton of fish through fisheries (USD PPP 37,557.81), based on data from four farmer associations. Our input–output model revealed that the local economy depends on both activities, which, therefore, contribute similarly to providing goods and services to different branches. Aquaculture generated much higher revenues (seven times) than fisheries, but also much higher losses (the most successful farm yielded an average income of USD PPP 592.41 monthly). Still, there were no statistical differences in income among the compared associations. Fisheries provided very but guaranteed income (USD PPP 311.02 ± 82.94) and employed over three times as many people and contributed much more (>3 times) to food security than aquaculture. Encouraging aquaculture through specific policies while overlooking fisheries is not advisable because poor fishers would not be able to deal with unpredictable outcomes and it would put their food security at risk. However, if initial external support is provided to fishers in order to buffer large losses, aquaculture could represent a way out of poverty by generating an opportunity for larger gains, as long as potential negative ecological impacts of aquaculture are accounted for.     

Corazón Cerdo: Sistema Papilo-Tendino-Valvular del Ventriculo Derecho

The right ventricle was studied in 75 anatomically normal swine hearts. Nine parameters in the papillo-tendino valvular system and three corresponding to the tricuspid orifice, pulmonary orifice and length of the inflow tract were measured. Correlations were established between the parameters and heart weight in grams, between the different parameters themselves, and between heart weight and body weight. The results were compared with similar data from human hearts, and were considered of use to researchers planning to use the swine heart as an experimental model to study congenital or induced heart diseases, or as a reference for the clinical interpretation of spontaneous cardiac, anomalies in swine.     

Hydrolysis of the amyloid prion protein and nonpathogenic meat and bone meal by anaerobic thermophilic prokaryotes and streptomyces subspecies

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies are caused by accumulation of highly resistant misfolded amyloid prion protein PrPres and can be initiated by penetration of such pathogen molecules from infected tissue to intact organism. Decontamination of animal meal containing amyloid prion protein is proposed thanks to the use of proteolytic enzymes secreted by thermophilic bacteria Thermoanaerobacter, Thermosipho, and Thermococcus subsp. and mesophilic soil bacteria Streptomyces subsp. Keratins alpha and beta, which resemble amyloid structures, were used as the substrates for the screening for microorganisms able to grow on keratins and producing efficient proteases specific for hydrolysis of beta-sheeted proteic structures, hence amyloids. Secretion of keratin-degrading proteases was evidenced by a zymogram method. Enzymes from thermophilic strains VC13, VC15, and S290 and Streptomyces subsp. S6 were strongly active against amyloid recombinant ovine prion protein and animal meal proteins. The studied proteases displayed broad primary specificities hydrolyzing low molecular mass peptide model substrates. Strong amyloidolytic activity of detected proteases was confirmed by experiments of hydrolysis of PrPres in SAFs produced from brain homogenates of mice infected with the 6PB1 BSE strain. The proteases from Thermoanaerobacter subsp. S290 and Streptomyces subsp. S6 are the best candidates for neutralization/elimination of amyloids in meat and bone meal and other protein-containing substances and materials.     

Traditional Mediterranean diet and longevity in the elderly: a review

OBJECTIVE: To review the evidence that the traditional Mediterranean diet is associated with longevity. SETTING: Elderly persons of both genders in Greece, Spain, Denmark and Australia studied by different groups of investigators. METHODS: Adherence to the principles of the Mediterranean diet was operationalised through a score devised a priori, and study participants were followed up until death or the end of the study. Proportional hazard models were used. RESULTS: Closer adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with a significant decrease in general mortality among the elderly persons studied. CONCLUSION: The Mediterranean diet is positively associated with longevity among the elderly. If the assumption holds that there is no interaction between age and diet with respect to general mortality, it can be inferred that the traditional Mediterranean diet represents a healthy nutritional pattern.     

Proteomic analysis of dog tears for potential cancer markers

The first reference map of the proteome of pooled normal dog tears was created using 2-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the identity of a number of the major species determined using matrix-assisted laser desorption time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) and peptide mass fingerprint matching on protein sequence databases. In order to understand the changes in protein expression in the tear film of dogs with cancer, tears from such animals were similarly examined. A number of differences were found between the tears of healthy dogs and the dogs with cancer. Differences were found in levels of actin and albumin and in an unidentified protein which may be analogous to human lacryglobulin. These findings suggest that it may be possible to develop tear film analysis to provide a simple non-invasive test for the diagnosis and/or management of canine cancers.     

Extended spectrum beta-lactamase SHV-12-producing Salmonella from poultry

Salmonella strains isolated from poultry and poultry products over the period 2005-2006 have been investigated in order to ascertain the presence of extended spectrum cephalosporins (ESC) resistance. Twelve (ESC)-resistant isolates (n=1 S. Enteritidis, n=1 S. Braenderup and n=10 S. Livingstone) were characterized as SHV-12-positive. The multi-drug resistant S. Livingstone SHV-12-producing isolates, untypeable by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), showed a clonal relationship by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. The SHV-12 beta-lactamase is reported for the first time in Salmonella enterica strains isolated from poultry in Italy. The results suggest poultry as a source of Salmonella carrying extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) genes and highlights the need of monitoring animal productions to prevent spreading of (ESC)-resistant strains.     

Different roughage:concentrate ratios with and without liquid residue of cassava for lambs

This aim of this study was to evaluate the intake and apparent digestibility of nutrients, ingestive behavior, blood parameters, and performance of lambs fed two roughage:concentrate (R:C) ratios, with or without liquid residue of cassava (LRC). Forty lambs (19.5?±?1.45 kg body weight) were distributed in a completely randomized 2?×?2 factorial design. The intake of dry matter (1311 g/day) and total digestible nutrients (755 g/day), and the intake (172 g/day) and digestibility (552 g/kg) of crude protein were higher for lambs fed R:C of 40:60. The R:C ratio of 80:20 promoted a higher intake (585 g/day) and digestibility (461 g/kg) of neutral detergent fiber. There was an intake of LRC of 1.37 L/day for lambs fed R:C of 80:20 and 0.42 L/day for lambs fed R:C of 40:60. The lambs fed R:C of 80:20 spent more time in feeding (326 m/day) and rumination (530 m/day). The metabolic profile and performance of lambs were not affected by LRC inclusion. The body weight gain (220 g/day) was higher in lambs fed R:C of 40:60. A roughage:concentrate ratio of 40:60 is recommended for lambs because it resulted in the best performance, regardless of supplementation with liquid residue of cassava.     

Keratitis due to microfilariae in dogs: a newly recognized disease

Parasitic agents have been associated with keratitis, but a diagnosis of parasitic keratitis has not been commonly made in domestic animals. The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical and histopathological findings in seven dogs with chronic keratitis caused by microfilariae diagnosed in Brazil. All dogs presented with superficial corneal opacities of varying degrees affecting the perilimbal and central regions of the cornea, with other opaque areas appearing as crystalline deposits and corneal vascularization. The lesions were bilateral and were associated with mild‐to‐moderate conjunctival hyperemia. There was no history of blepharospasm or pruritus, and no subjects presented with epithelial erosions. Corneal biopsy revealed free microfilariae in the corneal stroma, with varying degrees of inflammation and collagen fiber destruction. The microfilariae were also found in skin lesions by skin snip technique. No adult worms were found in these dogs, and no dogs were on heartworm preventative before diagnosis. Monthly doses of oral ivermectin improved ocular and dermal lesions. One dog showed complete remission with the treatment. The species of the microfilariae was not identified.     

Supplementation with exogenous coenzyme Q10 to media for in vitro maturation and embryo culture fails to promote the developmental competence of porcine embryos

The coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a potent antioxidant with critical protection role against cell oxidative stress, caused by the mitochondrial dysfunction. This study evaluated the effects of CoQ10 supplementation to in vitro maturation (IVM) or embryo culture media on the maturation, fertilization and subsequent embryonic development of pig oocytes and embryos. Maturation (Experiment 1) or embryo culture (Experiment 2) media were supplemented with 0 (control), 10, 25, 50 and 100 μM CoQ10. The addition of 10–50 μM CoQ10 to the IVM medium did not affect the percentage of MII oocytes nor the fertilization or the parameters of subsequent embryonic development. Exogenous CoQ10 in the culture medium neither did affect the development to the 2–4‐cell stage nor rates of blastocyst formation. Moreover, the highest concentration of CoQ10 (100 μM) in the maturation medium negatively affected blastocyst rates. In conclusion, exogenous CoQ10 supplementation of maturation or embryo culture media failed to improve the outcomes of our in vitro embryo production system and its use as an exogenous antioxidant should not be encouraged.