Comparative anatomical studies on the glandular stomach of the rock pigeon (Columba livia targia) and the Egyptian laughing dove (Streptopelia senegalensis aegyptiaca)

The rock pigeon (RP) and the laughing dove (LD) are common and widely distributed species in African countries, including Egypt. The present work was carried out to characterize the comparative features of the glandular stomach (proventriculus) in these two birds, which share diets and habitats. In both species, the proventriculus is an elongated spindle obliquely situated in the cranial two‐thirds of the body cavity. The length and weight of the proventriculus in the RP were about one and half times greater than that of the LD. Histologically, the proventricular wall generally consisted of the mucosa (thickest), submucosa, muscular and serosa layers. The proventricular glands occupied most of the wall of the proventriculus within the lamina propria of the mucosa. The glands are tubuloalveolar in type, consist of variable shaped lobules and are more condensed in LD than in RP. At the proventricular‐gizzard junction (PGJ), the proventricular glands were observed external to the tubular glands of the gizzard in the RP, whereas in LD, these glands end abruptly and are separated from the tubular glands of the gizzard by a short distance. A scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the proventricular lumen in RP revealed that the openings of the proventricular glands have an irregular outline surrounded by concentrically arranged mucosal folds that resemble a rosette shape. In the LD, these openings have a regular outline surrounded by thinner, widely spaced mucosal folds. To our knowledge, these results identified the structure of the proventriculus in RP and LD for the first time.     

Yield and Quality Response of Young ‘Gala,Galaxy’ Trees under Different Irrigation Regimes

This study was conducted in 2007–2008 to determine the effects of different irrigation regimes on yield, quality and water-yield relationships of young dwarf ‘Gala, Galaxy’ apple trees in Isparta-Turkey. Irrigation water was applied based on a ratio of class A pan evaporation (rates of 0.0 (k_cp0), 0.25 (k_cp1), 0.50 (k_cp2), 0.75 c (k_cp3), 1.00 (k_cp4) and 1.25 (k_cp5)) with 5-day intervals. The effects of irrigation regimes on yield and fruit weight were statistically significant. Seasonal evapotranspiration was measured as 246.5–608.2 mm and 289.3–631.9 mm in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Water use efficiency lead to a yield ranging from 0.0023 to 0.0055 t ha^?1mm^?1 and from 0.0033 to 0.0111 t ha^?1mm^?1 and irrigation water use efficiency varies from 0.0009 to 0.0073 t ha^?1mm^?1 and from 0.0045 to 0.0186 t ha^?1mm^?1 in 2007 and 2008, respectively. The annual average yield response factor, ky, was 1.22. As a result of the research, it was concluded that the irrigation schedule for the 0.75 k_cp3 treatment, applying 0.75 of evaporation from class A pan, could be used in the irrigation of young dwarf apple trees without evident reduction in yield and that high water use efficiencies could be obtained.     

Microscopic anatomy of the oesophagus in the southern white-breasted hedgehog (Erinaceus concolor) a histochemical,stereological, and scanning electron microscope study

The present work was designed to investigate the microscopic structure of the oesophagus in the southern white-breasted hedgehog (Erinaceus concolor) using histochemical staining, Scanning electron microscope (SEM), and stereological procedures. Four adult males were included in our study. Serial sections of the entire length of the oesophagus were stained with aldehyde fuchsin, alcian blue (pH 2.5), Periodic acid Schiff (PAS), and Masson's trichrome. Then, the total volume of the oesophagus, and the total volume of its different layers, were estimated using Cavalieri's principle. The oesophageal epithelium was a non-keratinized stratified squamous type. Muscularis mucosa was present as a thick layer between lamina propria and submucosa and its thickness was increased toward the stomach. Tunica submucosa was a loose connective tissue containing an oesophageal gland with PAS-positive and AB-positive reactions throughout the submucosa and become denser toward the stomach. The tunica muscularis consisted of two distinct striated muscle layers, and its thickness was decreased toward the stomach. On SEM images, the cervical and thoracic oesophagus showed shallow folding, while the abdominal part had deeper folds. The present findings indicate that the histological properties of the oesophagus in southern white-breasted hedgehogs have slight similarities with rodents and considering its epithelium, submucosal glands and tunica muscularis more resemble with dog oesophagus. The obtained results may be quite helpful to improve the current knowledge of the histophysiology of the hedgehog gastrointestinal tract as a member of eulipotyplan mammals and as a pet for biologists and veterinarians.     

Cerebellum progesterone concentration decreased in canine distemper virus infection

Progesterone has neuroprotective effects including augmentation of myelination in the central and peripheral nervous system. This study was designed to determine if demyelinating lesions in the cerebellum resulting from canine distemper virus (CDV) infection are associated with progesterone levels. Progesterone was measured using radioimmunoassay in samples of the cerebellum, corpus callosum, medulla oblongata, parietal, frontal, temporal, and occipital cortices as well as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma collected from ten CDV infected and six non-infected dogs. The cerebellum progesterone level was significantly different between CDV infected (0.66+/-0.09 ng/g) and control dogs (1.14+/-0.09 ng/g) (p<0.001); however, no difference was observed for the other CNS regions, plasma and CSF (p>0.05). The cerebellum progesterone level was also significantly different between acute (0.71+/-0.0 5 ng/g) and chronic cases (0.61+/-0.09 ng/g) (p<0.05). The CDV infected cerebella were also categorized histopathologically according to the severity of demyelinating lesions as mild (n=5), moderate (n=2), or severe (n=3) among which the cerebellum progesterone level was significantly different (p<0.05). Progesterone concentration was 0.71+/-0.05 ng/g in mild, 0.65+/-0.10 ng/g in moderate, and 0.56+/-0.07 ng/g in severe cases. In conclusion, progesterone concentration decreases in the cerebellum in CDV infection and the severity of demyelinating lesions is the greatest in cerebella with the lowest progesterone concentrations. The results suggest that local impairment of progesterone metabolism may be associated with the initiation and progression of cerebellar lesions in CDV infection.     

Searching a spring wheat mutation resource for correlations between yield,grain size,and quality parameters

To broaden genetic variation, an irradiated wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) M₅ population was generated in the background of spring wheat cv. Almaken. This resource was used to measure components of productivity, including grain number and grain weight (GW) per main spike, GW per plant (GWP), 1000-grain weight (TGW), grain size and grain shape, and some quality parameters. Some mutant lines, mostly in the 200-Gy-dosed germplasm, had 2–4 times higher grain iron and zinc concentrations and 7–11% higher protein content relative to the parent line. Some irradiated lines had significantly larger TGW, and grain area (GA), length, and width than the parent, cv. Almaken. The largest GA and grain length (GL) were 30–40% greater than those of the parent. Correlations for Zn concentration versus GA = 0.191, p ? 0.01, grain protein content (GPC) versus GA = 0.128, p ? 0.05, GPC versus GL = 0.113, p ? 0.05, and GPC versus grain width = 0.191, p?0.001 were observed in 200 Gy-dosed mutants. In 100 Gy-dosed mutants, correlations for Fe concentration versus GWP = 0.302, p ? 0.001 and Fe concentration versus TGW = 0.153, p ? 0.01 were found. The mutant lines showed the capacity to biofortify wheat grain without negatively impacting on crop productivity and this population offers promising donors for improving grain parameters such as GA, length, and width and quality. The data presented showed how the genetic variation generated through radiation could be used to test the linkage between various important grain parameters.     

Experimental model of Border Disease Virus infection in lambs: comparative pathogenicity of pestiviruses isolated in France and Tunisia

Pestiviruses have been isolated from live sheep pox Tunisian vaccines. Vaccination with these vaccines caused outbreaks of Border Disease in Tunisia. In order to study more precisely the pathogenicity of these isolates, three groups of eight four month old lambs from a pestivirus-free flock were infected by the intratracheal route with a French strain (AV) and two Tunisian isolates (SN3G and Lot21). Clinical, hematological, immunological and virological parameters were evaluated. The three groups developed mild fever and leucopaenia by day 3 to 6 post infection (pi). The differences in the weight curves were not significant. Viruses were isolated from the peripheral blood buffy coat cells by day 4 to 9 pi. Antibodies were present on day 16 pi following infection by the French strain and on day 21 pi with the Tunisian isolates. The results demonstrated that SN3G and Lot21 are almost similar to the French strain used as the reference strain. In field conditions, they could induce economical losses in naive flocks, alone or in association with other pathogens.     

Effects of Culinary Methods on Nutritional Characteristics of the Edible Shellfish Noah’s Ark (Arca noae L., 1758) from Tunisian Coasts

Bivalves are known for their high nutritional value and are considered a healthy food for human consumption. The effect of different cooking methods (steaming, boiling, grilling, and frying) on proximate and fatty acid composition of Arca noae (Bivalvia: Linnaeus 1758) were determined. The comparison of raw and cooked Ark shell showed that the cooking had considerable effects on the nutritional quality of this species. Significant changes in moisture (%), protein (mg/g of flesh), total lipid (mg/g of flesh), and fatty acid composition (mg/g dry weight) were observed after cooking as compared to fresh Ark shell (p < 0.05). However, the analysis of malondialdehyde (MDA) and peroxide value (PV) showed that all cooking treatments led to lipid oxidation. Steaming, boiling, and grilling were found to be a suitable and healthier cooking processes for A. noae, since they conserve the amount of n-3 PUFA better as compared to frying.     

Dietary vitamin E requirement for maximizing the growth,conversion efficiency,biochemical composition and haematological status of fingerling Channa punctatus

The effect of feeding graded levels of vitamin E (E₀, E₂₀, E₄₀, E₆₀, E₁₀₀, E₁₄₀, E₁₈₀, E₂₂₀, E₂₆₀) in nine casein–gelatin‐based isonitrogenous (450 g kg^?1 crude protein) and isoenergetic (17.97 kJ g^?1 gross energy) experimental diets was evaluated in fingerling Channa punctatus for 12 weeks. Growth, nutritional and haematological parameters were studied. Hepatic lipid peroxidation as thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances (TBARS) was also assayed. The maximum absolute weight gain (AWG g/fish, 55), best feed conversion ratio (FCR, 1.32), protein retention efficiency (PRE, 40%) and energy retention efficiency (ERE, 76%) were achieved in fish fed on a diet supplemented with 140 mg vitamin E kg^?1 diet (E₁₄₀). A consistent decline in the hepatic TBARS concentration and an improvement in haematocrit (Hct) and haemoglobin (Hb) were displayed in fish fed on diets with increasing concentrations of vitamin E up to 140 mg kg^?1 (E₀–E₁₄₀), beyond which (E₁₈₀–E₂₆₀) a reverse trend in these parameters was evident. Based on the broken‐line regression and exponential analyses of AWG, FCR, PRE, ERE, Hb and Hct data, diets for fingerling C. punctatus should contain vitamin E in the range of 140–169 mg kg^?1 to maintain satisfactory fish performance.     

Characterization of conductive poly(acrylonitrile-<Emphasis Type="Italic">co</Emphasis>-vinyl acetate) composites: Matrix polymerization of pyrrole derivatives

In this study, poly(acrylonitrile-co-vinyl acetate) (P(AN-co-VAc)) composite films were prepared by chemical polymerization of pyrrole(Py), N-methyl pyrrole (NMPy) and N-phenyl pyrrole (NPhPy) with cerium(IV) [Ce(IV)] on P(AN-co-VAc) matrix. An increase was observed in the absorbances of CN ring stretching vibration (1451 cm⁻¹) by introducing pyrrole (Py) derivatives on P(AN-co-VAc) matrix. The nitrile (CN) and carbonyl (C=O) groups played a significant role on the interactions with cationic sites of Py derivatives. Conductivity was increased in the presence of carbonyl (C=O) groups due to their additional negative charges on P(AN-co-VAc) matrix compared to PAN. Poly(N-Phenyl Pyrrole) (PNPhPy) exhibited higher dielectric constant and AC conductivity in the frequency range between the 10⁻²–10⁷ Hz. The TGA results exhibited shifts of peak to higher temperatures by the presence of Py derivatives by increasing the weight loss %.