Endothelial cell gene expression of a neutrophil chemotactic factor by TNF-alpha, LPS, and IL-1 beta

Human endothelial cells produced a neutrophil chemotactic factor (NCF) upon stimulation with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The expression of endothelial cell-derived NCF messenger RNA and biological activity was both time- and concentration-dependent. Maximal NCF mRNA expression occurred at 10 and at 2 nanograms per milliliter for TNF and IL-1 beta, respectively; mRNA expression was first observed 1 hour after stimulation and was maintained for at least 24 hours. In situ hybridization analysis showed that NCF mRNA peaked in treated cells by 24 hours, whereas unstimulated cells were negative. These studies demonstrated that endothelial cells may participate in neutrophil-mediated inflammation by synthesizing a chemotactic factor in response to specific monokines and LPS.     

Arabinoxylan-lipids-based edible films and coatings. 2. Influence of sucroester nature on the emulsion structure and film properties.

This work is a contribution to better knowledge of the influence of the structure of films on their functional properties obtained from emulsions based on arabinoxylans, hydrogenated palm kernel oil (HPKO), and emulsifiers. The sucroesters (emulsifiers) have a great effect on the stabilization of the emulsified film structure containing arabinoxylans and hydrogenated palm kernel oil. They improve the moisture barrier properties. Several sucroesters having different esterification degrees were tested. Both lipophilic (90% of di and tri-ester) and hydrophilic (70% of mono-ester) sucrose esters can ensure the stability of the emulsion used to form the film, especially during preparation and drying. These emulsifiers confer good moisture barrier properties to emulsified films.     

Tail reconnection triggering substorm onset

Magnetospheric substorms explosively release solar wind energy previously stored in Earth's magnetotail, encompassing the entire magnetosphere and producing spectacular auroral displays. It has been unclear whether a substorm is triggered by a disruption of the electrical current flowing across the near-Earth magnetotail, at approximately 10 R(E) (R(E): Earth radius, or 6374 kilometers), or by the process of magnetic reconnection typically seen farther out in the magnetotail, at approximately 20 to 30 R(E). We report on simultaneous measurements in the magnetotail at multiple distances, at the time of substorm onset. Reconnection was observed at 20 R(E), at least 1.5 minutes before auroral intensification, at least 2 minutes before substorm expansion, and about 3 minutes before near-Earth current disruption. These results demonstrate that substorms are likely initiated by tail reconnection.     

Use of ovotransferrin as an antimicrobial in turkeys naturally infected with Chlamydia psittaci, avian metapneumovirus and Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale

Respiratory pathogens are difficult to control in large-scale turkey production. This report describes a clinical trial of antimicrobial ovoTF aerosol on a large Belgian turkey farm. ovoTF was administered to reduce Chlamydia psittaci (C. psittaci) infections and to study the impact of this action on the occurrence of Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale (O. rhinotracheale) and avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) infections. Two subsequent broods were included; (i) a control brood receiving no ovoTF and (ii) an ovoTF brood receiving ovoTF aerosol (5mg/animal) at the age of 2 weeks, continuing daily for 12 days. Twenty-four one-day-old toms of the control and ovoTF brood were tagged and monitored for 15 weeks. The control brood experienced two periods of respiratory disease, the first (2-3 weeks of age) due to C. psittaci and the second (8-17 weeks of age) in the presence of C. psittaci, O. rhinotracheale and maybe aMPV. Extensive antibiotic treatment was needed in 2, 8 and 9 week-old toms. In the ovoTF brood, toms stayed healthy until the age of 9 weeks, whereafter respiratory disease occurred in the presence of C. psittaci, O rhinotracheale and aMPV. OvoTF administration: (i) reduced the amount of C. psittaci in the air as demonstrated by bioaerosol monitoring, (ii) prevented respiratory disease during the first half of the brood period, (iii) was associated with 46% reduction of mortality, and (iv) reduced the antibiotic cost. Our results justify additional clinical trials to explore the use of this innovative antimicrobial strategy for poultry.     

Synthesis and Characterisation of Novel-Activated Carbon from Waste Biomass Pine Cone and Its Application in the Removal of Congo Red Dye from Aqueous Solution by Adsorption

The present study deals with the synthesis and subsequent application of Fe₃O₄@n-SiO₂ nanoparticles for the removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions. Rice husk, an agrowaste material, was used as a precursor for the synthesis of nanoparticles of silica. Synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by XRD and SEM to investigate their specific characteristics. Fe₃O₄@n-SiO₂ nanoparticles were used as adsorbent for the removal of Cr(VI) from their aqueous solutions. The effects of various important parameters, such as initial Cr(VI) concentration, adsorbent dose, temperature, and pH, on the removal of Cr(VI) were analyzed and studied. A pH of 2.0 was found to be optimum for the higher removal of Cr(VI) ions. It was observed that removal (%) decreased by increasing initial Cr(VI) concentration from 1.36?×?10^-2 to 2.4?×?10^-2 M. The process of removal was found to be endothermic, and the removal increased with the rise in temperature from 25 to 45 °C. The kinetic data was better fitted in pseudo-second-order model in comparison to pseudo-first-order model. Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption capacities were determined and found to be 3.78 and 1.89 mg/g, respectively, at optimum conditions. The values of ΔG ⁰ were found to be negative at all temperatures, which confirm the feasibility of the process, while a positive value of ΔH ⁰ indicates the endothermic nature of the adsorption process. The present study revealed that Fe₃O₄@n-SiO₂ nanoparticles can be used as an alternate for the costly adsorbents, and the outcome of this study may be helpful in designing treatment plants for treatment of Cr(VI)-rich effluents.     

Potential for sunflower to use residual soil water in the dry season after maize in North-West Cambodia

A series of experiments was carried out in 2012–2014 in Pailin province, Cambodia, to determine the potential and agronomic requirements for a dry season sunflower crop. The research showed that the six high-oleic sunflower hybrids evaluated were similar for phenological development and yield but two varieties had <50% emergence and poor hybrid seed quality was seen as a constraint to planting under rainfed conditions. Sunflower receiving a basal application of 20:20:15 (N:P₂O₅:K₂O) at 200 kg ha^?1 produced achene yield of 2423 kg^?1, while side-dressing with urea had no effect on yield. Application of s-metolachlor post-sowing pre-emergence was the most effective weed control treatment and significantly increased sunflower achene yield. Post-emergence weed control was not adequate to prevent yield loss from weed competition. The study showed that sunflower can be grown successfully as a dry season crop in North-West Cambodia when planted no-tillage on residual soil water remaining after maize harvest in October and November. The critical requirements for success are related to preservation and effective use of residual soil water and include minimal soil disturbance, adequate application of fertiliser at sowing, and pre-emergence control of weeds, especially grasses.     

Factors Affecting the Sustainable Development of Community-Managed Nurseries for Promoting Rare Conifer Species in North-West Vietnam

This study examines factors affecting the sustainable development of seven community-managed nurseries growing two rare and valuable indigenous conifer species—Fokienia hodginsii and Taiwania cryptomerioides—in the Hoang Lien Mountain range in North-West Vietnam. The nurseries were pilot programs of the Fauna and Flora International (FFI) project entitled Community Based Conservation of the Hoang Lien Mountain Ecosystem. FFI partnered with local government organisations and farmers to carry out the pilot program, with the objective of providing improvements in community livelihoods together with measurable conservation benefits. This study, completed in September 2006, revealed that the overall objectives of the pilot program were not achieved due to financial, management, and technical reasons. There was a lack of market demand for these two rare conifer seedlings. Farmers and State Forestry Enterprises (SFEs) prefer to invest in fast-growing species for an earlier return. Demand for the seedlings by National Parks (NPs) is nearly zero due to limited funds to purchase seedlings and the capacity of NP staff to produce seedlings of these two rare conifer species. These two species are not included in the approved list of species by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) for the 5 Million Hectare Program (5MHP). The seed germination rate in nurseries was typically low, nursery operators were not well trained by FFI technical staff, and most of them did not understand fully all stages to set up and operate nurseries. Also, the co-operation among partners in the pilot program was not effective due to local partners not fully understanding their responsibilities, hence farmers did not receive valuable advice when they met technical difficulties. The research suggests that future similar projects can be more effective if major planting programs include these two rare conifer species in the approved list. Farmers operating community-managed nurseries should have adequate training and technical support by SFEs and NPs. Community-managed nurseries require sales contracts for seedlings of rare species with local customers (SFEs, district 5MHP management board and NPs). International organisations can play a role in providing funds to start up projects and oversee the responsibility of each of the partners involved in these projects.     

Colostrum quality,IgG absorption and daily weight gain of calves in small-scale dairy production systems in Southern Vietnam

Dairy production is expanding rapidly in Vietnam, but still, the smallholder farms are most common. The aim of this study was therefore to get improved knowledge about colostrum quality in dairy cows, immunoglobulin G (IgG) absorption, daily weight gain in dairy calves and calf management in small-scale dairy production systems in Southern Vietnam. A field survey was conducted on 40 farms, with two calves on each farm being intensively studied. It was observed that newborn calves were separated from their dams immediately after birth and offered 2–4 L first colostrum within 4 h by bucket feeding. The first colostrum IgG level, fat and protein content were on average 35.6, 4.8 and 21.4%, respectively, and 91% of the cows produced colostrum of good quality (Brix value >22%). The IgG level in serum of calves, measured as Brix value, was on average 9.3%. Colostrum in the samples studied was of quite high quality and on-farm observations showed that colostrum was offered on the first day of calf life, so passive transfer of immunity to the calves was high. In total, 10% of the calves had a Brix value for IgG in serum lower than 8.3%, indicating that those calves had suffered from failure of passive immune transfer (FPT). The daily weight gain of female and male calves was 0.75 and 0.54 kg, respectively. Serum IgG was positively correlated with colostrum protein (P = 0.002). Daily weight gain and diarrhoea was negatively correlated (P = 0.001).