Habitat quality,not habitat amount,drives mammalian habitat use in the Brazilian Pantanal

Landscape Ecology - An understanding of species-habitat relationships is required to assess the impacts of habitat fragmentation and degradation. To date, habitat modeling in fragmented landscapes...     

The clinical usefulness of the ventrodorsal versus dorsoventral thoracic radiograph in dogs

Differences exist in the ventrodorsal (VD) and dorsoventral (DV) radiographic views of the canine thorax. One view may be preferred over another because of how it portrays different areas of interest or different disease conditions. The VD view is indicated for evaluation of the cranial and caudal mediastinum, the caudal vena cava, and the accessory lung lobe, and in cases of pleural effusion. Indications for the DV view include assessment of a consistent cardiac silhouette, evaluation of the pulmonary lobar vessels, and evaluation of the structures of the dorsal thorax, such as hilar lymph nodes, the caudal dorsal lungs, trachea, mainstem bronchi, and left atrium.     

Effects of different dietary copper sources on the growth and intestinal microbial communities of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary copper sources on growth performance and intestinal microbial communities of juvenile Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). Four isonitrogenous (420 g/kg crude protein) and isolipidic (70 g/kg crude lipid) experimental diets were formulated to contain different copper sources, Diet NSC (no‐supplemented copper), Diet CS (copper sulphate), Diet Availa (copper amino acid complex from Availa^®Cu100) and Diet M (1:1, copper sulphate + copper amino acid complex). A total of 360 Pacific white shrimp juveniles (initial weight: 1.86 ± 0.03 g) were randomly allocated into four groups, with three replicates per group and 30 shrimps each replicate. An Illumina‐based sequencing method was used to analyse the intestinal bacterial composition of shrimp juveniles. The results revealed that shrimps fed Diet M had significantly higher percent weight gain (PWG) than that fed Diet NSC and Diet CS, while there were no significant differences between Diet M and Diet Availa. Survival was not affected by the dietary copper sources. Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were dominant in the intestines of Pacific white shrimp. Shrimps fed Diet M and Diet Availa had higher bacterial richness and diversity than those fed Diet NSC and Diet CS with no significant differences among all treatments. Furthermore, Diet M and Diet Availa which contained copper amino acid complex reduced the relative abundance of Vibrionaceae in shrimp intestinal tract. This study indicated that dietary copper sources could affect the intestinal microbial communities and diets supplemented with Availa^®Cu100 could have a positive impact on the growth performance and decrease the potential risk of disease in Pacific white shrimp.     

Structural basis of type II topoisomerase inhibition by the anticancer drug etoposide

Type II topoisomerases (TOP2s) resolve the topological problems of DNA by transiently cleaving both strands of a DNA duplex to form a cleavage complex through which another DNA segment can be transported. Several widely prescribed anticancer drugs increase the population of TOP2 cleavage complex, which leads to TOP2-mediated chromosome DNA breakage and death of cancer cells. We present the crystal structure of a large fragment of human TOP2β complexed to DNA and to the anticancer drug etoposide to reveal structural details of drug-induced stabilization of a cleavage complex. The interplay between the protein, the DNA, and the drug explains the structure-activity relations of etoposide derivatives and the molecular basis of drug-resistant mutations. The analysis of protein-drug interactions provides information applicable for developing an isoform-specific TOP2-targeting strategy.     

Differential serotonergic mediation of aggression in roosters bred for resistance and susceptibility to Marek’s disease

1. Serotonin (5-HT) is a primary regulating neurotransmitter involved in aggressive and impulsive behaviours in mammals. Previous studies have also demonstrated that the function of the serotonergic system in regulating aggression is affected by both genetic and environmental factors. The serotonergic system may display similar functions in chickens.

2. Our objective was to investigate the aggressive and impulsive behavioural response to antagonism of the 5-HT1A and 1B receptors in cocks bred for susceptibility and resistance to Marek’s disease (i.e. strain 7₂ and 6₃, respectively).

3. Cocks from strain 7₂ exhibited increased aggressive behaviours and lower brain 5-HT concentrations compared to strain 6₃ cocks.

4. Antagonism of 5-HT1A receptors increased aggressiveness and reduced serotonin turnover in strain 7₂, but not strain 6₃ cocks. 5-HT1B receptor antagonism had no effect on aggression or serotonin turnover in either strain.

5. Levels of the serotonin metabolite 5-HIAA, but not absolute central 5-HT levels, were altered in both strains following 5-HT1B antagonism, but only in strain 7₂ cocks following 5-HT1A antagonism.

6. The data suggest that 5-HT1A and 1B regulate aggression differently in high and low aggressive strains.     

Enhanced Lipid Stability in Whole Wheat Flour by Lipase Inactivation and Antioxidant Retention

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of dry heat, steam, and microwave treatments in decreasing lipase activity, while retaining antioxidant activity, to stabilize whole wheat flour against lipid degradation during storage. Bran was heat‐treated in 230‐g batches using four levels (exposure times) for each of the three treatment methods. Lipase activity and antioxidant activity were quantified for all treatment combinations. None of the treatments significantly decreased antioxidant activity; the levels determined to be optimal, inasmuch as further heating did not significantly decrease lipase activity, were 25 min of dry heat, 60 sec of microwave (1000W), and 60 sec of steam. These treatments effectively decreased lipase activity by 74, 93, and 96%, respectively. Optimum treatments were evaluated for acceptance using a consumer sensory panel during a 12‐month storage period. No significant differences in acceptance were found between the control and any of the samples either at baseline or after storage. This suggests that whole wheat flour can be stabilized against lipolysis by utilizing the treatments described in this study without decreasing antioxidant activity, and that manufacturers may utilize these treatments without risking decreased consumer acceptance.     

Naphthalophos combinations with benzimidazoles or levamisole as effective anthelmintics for sheep

Objective: To investigate the relative efficacy and safety of the anthelmintic naphthalophos in sheep, either given alone or in combination with benzimidazole (fenbendazole and albendazole) or levamisole anthelmintics.
Design: A parasitological study using faecal egg count reduction tests, a validating slaughter trial and field safety trials.
Procedure: Faecal egg count reduction tests were carried out on 13 farms. Naphthalophos and combinations of naphthalophos with levamisole and fenbendazole were included in the drench tests. On one property a controlled efficacy study was carried out to validate faecal egg count reduction test findings. In this trial, sheep were slaughtered 10 days after treatment and the remaining parasites recovered from the gastro-intestinal tract. Safety trials were carried out on eight farms where approximately 50 000 sheep were treated with naphthalophos and albendazole that were tank mixed in the backpack.
Results: The efficacy of naphthalophos alone in faecal egg count reduction tests ranged from 59 to 98% with one test showing 95% reduction. The efficacy of naphthalophos and levamisole ranged from 74 to 100%, with 5 farms showing 95% reduction. The efficacy of naphthalophos and fenbendazole ranged between 88 and 100% with 95% reduction achieved on 10 farms. The controlled efficacy study showed a good correlation between the faecal egg count reduction tests and numbers of parasites recovered, except for Nematodirus where the faecal egg count reduction tests overestimated efficacy. The mortality rate in the safety trials was 0.05%, with most fatalities occurring on one farm.
Conclusion: The combination of naphthalophos and fenbendazole was more effective than a combination of naphthalophos and levamisole, and will provide a sufficiently safe drench rotation option.