Evaluation of haemodynamic changes of uterine arteries using Doppler ultrasonography during different stages of pregnancy in Bos indicus cows

The objectives of the study were to evaluate haemodynamic changes and their relationships among ipsilateral (IPS) and contralateral (CONT) uterine arteries (UA) during different stages of pregnancy in Bos indicus cows. Multiparous pregnant cows (n = 40) having a gestation length 30.47 ± 0.54 (mean ± SD) days were randomly enrolled and subjected to Doppler ultrasonography sequentially at 1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th months of gestation. Blood flow indices including diameter of UA (mm), blood flow volume (BFVo, ml/min), blood flow velocity (BFVe, cm/s), time-averaged maximum velocity (TAMV, cm/s), pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index (RI) were recorded. Data were analysed with mixed models using the PROC MIXED procedures, and Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated using the PROC CORR statement in SAS. The final statistical models included the fixed effects of side of UA, gestation month and the interaction between side of UA and gestation month. Results revealed that the mean diameter of the UA (12.13 ± 0.22 vs. 10.09 ± 0.22), BFVo (1236.33 ± 0.55 vs. 770.41 ± 0.55), BFVe (17.18 ± 0.42 vs. 15.58 ± 0.42) and TAMV (17.11 ± 0.44 vs. 15.77 ± 0.44) was higher (p < .05) in IPS as compared to CONT side of the UA in cows. However, PI and RI did not differ between IPS and CON arteries of uterus in cows. A very high and positive correlation (r = .89; p < .05) existed between the diameter of UA and BFVo starting from 1st to 8th months of gestation in IPS as well as CONT sides of UA. Moreover, TAMV was highly and positively correlated (r = .91; p < .05) with BFVe throughout the gestation. In conclusion, these haemodynamic changes in the UA could be used as a valuable validity tool to differentiate the compromised pregnancy in Bos indicus cows.     

Reconsidering betaine as a natural anti-heat stress agent in poultry industry: a review

Betaine is found ubiquitously in plants, animals, microorganisms, and rich dietary sources including seafood, spinach, and wheat bran. The chief physiological role of betaine is to function as a methyl donor and an osmolyte. Betaine also acts as an osmolyte, to maintain the avian’s cellular water and ion balance to improve the avian’s capacity against heat stress via preventing dehydration and osmotic inactivation. It helps in maintaining the protective osmolytic activity, especially in heat-stressed birds. Betaine may promote various intestinal microbes against osmotic variations and thus improve microbial fermentation activity. Previous studies showed that dietary supplementation of betaine in poultry diets could positively affect nutrients’ digestibility, reduce abdominal fat weight, and increase breast meat yield. In addition, betaine has been reported to protect internal organs and boost their performance. Its inclusion in poultry diet is sparing essential amino acids like choline and methionine. In addition, it may play an important role in lean meat production by positively affecting the lipid metabolism with increased fatty acids catabolism and thus reducing carcass fat deposition. The aim of this review article was to broaden the knowledge regarding betaine and its importance in the poultry industry to cope with the heat stress problem. Moreover, it should be added to the diet as a natural anti-stressor through different routes (water/feed) to overcome the heat stress problem. However, further studies need to be conducted at the genetic and molecular basis to elucidate the mechanism behind the betaine as a natural anti-heat agent to decrease the heat stress problem in the poultry industry.     

Pharmacokinetics and tissue residues of kitasamycin in healthy and diseased broilers

The pharmacokinetics of kitasamycin after intravenous and oral administration in a dose of 300 mg/kg b.wt. was studied in 18 healthy and 18 Salmonella gallinarum naturally infected chickens. The tissue residue of the studied antibiotic was estimated in 36 normal chickens when it was given orally for 7 successive days. Therapeutic level of kitasamycin was achieved after 15 minutes and persisted for 20-22 hours after its oral administration. Higher serum kitasamycin concentrations were recorded in Salmonella gallinarum infected chickens. The elimination half-life of kitasamycin calculated after single intravenous injection was 9.03 hours in diseased chickens corresponding to 3.74 hours in healthy birds. The body clearance was significantly reduced in diseased chickens (23.86 ml/kg/min) when compared to that in normal ones (62.03 ml/kg/min). Kitasamycin treated broilers should not be slaughtered before 3 days from the last dose as it was detected only in bile and caecum at that time but not in edible tissues.     

Polyhydric alcohol liquefaction of some lignocellulosic agricultural residues

Liquefaction of bagasse and cotton stalks was conducted by using polyhydric alcohols (polyethylene glycol PEG#400 and glycerin) in the presence of sulfuric acid (SA) as a catalyst. The effects of different liquefaction conditions, such as ratio raw material/liquefying solvent, effect of PEG#400/glycerin, acid concentration, liquefaction temperature and time on the liquefaction yield have been investigated. The hydroxyl and acid numbers for some liquefied samples were also determined. The results showed that the minimum residue content was obtained at 1/5 raw material to liquefying solvent. PEG#400 alone is not favoured as liquefying solvent as it gives ∼19% residual content for bagasse and ∼22% for cotton stalks at the optimum studied reaction conditions. Replacing 10% of PEG#400 with glycerin as well as increasing the SA concentration, liquefaction temperature or time, decreased the amount of residue for both bagasse and cotton stalks to less than 10%. The hydroxyl number of the produced polyols slowly decreased from 253 to 223 mg KOH/g on extending the reaction time till 120 min and the residual polyols prevented re-condensation of the liquefied components. It seems that this system can be applied on various types of lignocellulosic agricultural residues.     

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Anti-inflammatory activities of cucurbitacin E isolated from Citrullus lanatus var. citroides: role of reactive nitrogen species and cyclooxygenase enzyme inhibition

The in vivo and in vitro mechanistic anti-inflammatory actions of cucurbitacin E (CE) (Citrullus lanatus var. citroides) were examined. The results showed that LPS/INF-γ increased NO production in RAW264.7 macrophages, whereas L-NAME and CE curtailed it. CE did not reveal any cytotoxicity on RAW264.7 and WRL-68 cells. CE inhibited both COX enzymes with more selectivity toward COX-2. Intraperitoneal injection of CE significantly suppressed carrageenan-induced rat's paw edema. ORAC and FRAP assays showed that CE is not a potent ROS scavenger. It could be concluded that CE is potentially useful in treating inflammation through the inhibition of COX and RNS but not ROS.     

Spatial variability of soil microbial indices in common alder COMMON ALDER(Alnus glutinosa) stands using a geostatistical approach in northern Iran

Microbial indices and their spatial patterns are strongly affected by environmental factors. Spatial variability of soil properties is one of the most important causes of variability in soil microbial indices. This research was conducted in the Caspian forest to assess spatial variabilities and frequency distributions of microbial properties.Ninety soil samples were taken using a grid sampling design 40 9 40 m. Microbial indices, organic carbon,nitrogen and pH were determined. Soil variable distributions showed that microbial indices had abnormal distributions. Logarithmic transformation produced normal distribution. Spatial continuity using geostatistical(variogram) was studied and maps obtained by point kriging.The variograms revealed the presence of spatial autocorrelation. The results indicate that spatial dependence of soil microbial indices was affected by non-intrinsic factors and forest management procedures. The maps show that soil microbial indices and soil properties have spatial variability. The spatial pattern of microbial indices was correlated to organic carbon and nitrogen.     

Mycological studies on the wood-borerstromatium fulvum vill. (Col., cerambycidae) infestingcasuarina glauca (casuarinaceae) III. Effect of inoculation with the fungal isolates on lignin and extractive content of wood

Wood specimens of Casuarina glauca were inoculated withChaetomium spp. andTrichoderma spp., alone or in combination in the presence or abscence of larvae ofStromatium fulvum. All fungal inoculates caused deterioration to the lignin of the wood specimens. The infestation with larvae alone caused the same. The extractive content decreased to a little extent.

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Zusammenfassung Bäume von Casuarina glauca wurden mitChaetomium spp. undTrichoderma spp. inokuliert, allein oder in Kombination sowie in Abwesenheit oder Gegenwart der Larven vonStromatium fulvum. Alle Pilz-Inokulate verusachten einen Abbau von Lignin in den Bäumen. Denselben Effekt hatte die Tätigkeit vonStromatium-Larven ohne Pilz-Inokulation. Der extraktive Anteil verminderte sich nur wenig.

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With 2 tables     

Evaluation of the U.S. peanut mini core collection using a molecular marker for resistance to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sclerotinia minor</Emphasis> Jagger

Cultivated peanut, the second most economically important legume crop throughout the United States and the third most important oilseed in the world, is consistently threatened by various diseases and pests. Sclerotinia minor Jagger (S. minor), the causal agent of Sclerotinia blight, is a major threat to peanut production in the Southwestern U.S., Virginia, and North Carolina and can reduce yield by up to 50% in severely infested fields. Although host plant resistance would provide the most effective solution to managing Sclerotinia blight, limited sources of resistance to the disease are available for use in breeding programs. Peanut germplasm collections are available for exploration and identification of new sources of resistance, but traditionally the process is lengthy, requiring years of field testing before those potential sources can be identified. Molecular markers associated with phenotypic traits can speed up the screening of germplasm accessions, but until recently none were available for Sclerotinia blight resistance in peanut. This study objective of this study was to characterize the US peanut mini-core collection with regards to a recently discovered molecular marker associated with Sclerotinia blight resistance. Ninety-six accessions from the collection were available and genotyped using the SSR marker and 39 total accessions from spanish, valencia, runner market types were identified as new potential sources of resistance and targeted for further evaluation in field tests for Sclerotinia blight resistance.