Predicting early pregnancy in Egyptian buffalo cows via measuring uterine and luteal blood flows,and serum and saliva progesterone

Various methods are being employed to detect early pregnancy in domestic animals. This study aimed to predict early pregnancy in buffaloes via measuring the corpus luteum (CL) diameter, the luteal blood flow (LBF) area, the uterine blood flow (UBF) vascularization area, and progesterones in saliva and serum for non-pregnant (NPBs, N = 12) and pregnant (PBs, N = 12) buffaloes. The results revealed that the CL diameter and the luteal color blood flow blue and red (P = 0.0001) areas of the pregnant animals kept increasing from day 1 to day 35 of the gestation period, but it decreased in NPBs on day 21 after reaching a peak from ovulation to day 18. Interestingly, the UBF of the pregnant buffaloes (PBs) kept increasing (P = 0.0001) from ovulation to day 42. The difference of the CL diameter (P = 0.03) and the LBF color blue vascularization area (P = 0.002) between PBs and NPBs became clear from day 14 after ovulation, though the difference of UBF between PBs and NPBs became markedly obvious from day 7 after breeding. Both saliva (P = 0.001) and serum (P = 0.0001) progesterones of PBs continued increasing (P = 0.0001) from day 14 to day 35, but those of NPBs started decreasing (P = 0.0001) from day 14 and reached low values on day 21. Therefore, measuring saliva progesterone in addition to the high LBF (day 14) and UBF (day 7) of the pregnant buffaloes using a Doppler ultrasound could be applicable as noninvasive methods to detect early pregnancy and to improve reproductive management of buffaloes.     

Insecticidal and fungicidal activity of new synthesized chitosan derivatives

Chitosan, the N-deacetylated derivative of chitin, is a potential biopolysaccharide owing to its specific structure and properties. In this paper, we report on the synthesis of 24 new chitosan derivatives, N-alkyl chitosans (NAC) and N-benzyl chitosans (NBC), that are soluble in dilute aqueous acetic acid. The different derivatives were synthesized by reductive amination and analyzed by 1H NMR spectroscopy. A high degree of substitution (DS) was obtained with N-(butyl)chitosan (DS 0.36) at a 1:1 mole ratio for NAC derivatives and N-(2,4-dichlorobenzyl)chitosan (DS 0.52) for NBC derivatives. Their insecticidal and fungicidal activities were tested against larvae of the cotton leafworm Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), the grey mould Botrytis cinerea Pers (Leotiales: Sclerotiniaceae) and the rice leaf blast Pyricularia grisea Cavara (Teleomorph: Magnaporthe grisea (Hebert) Barr). The oral feeding bioassay indicated that all the derivatives had significant insecticidal activity at 5 g kg(-1) in artificial diet. The most active was N-(2-chloro-6-fluorobenzyl)chitosan, which caused 100% mortality at 0.625 g kg(-1), with an estimated LC50 of 0.32 g kg(-1). Treated larvae ceased feeding after 2-3 days; the mechanism of action remains unknown. In a radial hyphal growth bioassay with both plant pathogens, all derivatives showed a higher fungicidal action than chitosan. N-Dodecylchitosan, N-(p-isopropylbenzyl)chitosan and N-(2,6-dichlorobenzyl)chitosan were the most active against B cinerea, with EC50 values of 0.57, 0.57 and 0.52 g litre(-1), respectively. Against P grisea, N-(m-nitrobenzyl)chitosan was the most active, with 77% inhibition at 5 g litre(-1). The effect of different substitutions is discussed in relation to insecticidal and fungicidal activity.     

Early heat acclimation during incubation improves Japanese quail performance under summer conditions

Effects of exposing quail eggs to high temperature on the heat tolerance ability and productivity of birds were investigated. Four groups of 600 fertile eggs were randomly selected; the first group was incubated under 37.5 °C and the hatched chicks were reared under a gradual decrease in temperature from 35 to 24 °C (Control). The second group was exposed to 39.1 °C for 2 h/day during 4–14 days of embryogenesis and the hatched chicks were reared under a gradual decrease in temperature from 35 to 24 °C. The third group was incubated under 37.5 °C and the hatched chicks were exposed to 39?±?1 °C for 2 h/day during 4–14 days of age. The fourth group was exposed to 39?±?1 °C for 2 h during 4–14 days of embryogenesis and the hatched chicks were exposed to 39?±?1 °C for 2 h/day during 4–14 days of age. The temperature applied changed (P?<?0.01) embryo weight and incubation period. Birds exposed to high temperature during brooding had superior growth performance, dressed carcass, body temperature and health traits. Birds subjected to 39?±?1 °C during brooding exhibited decreased feed consumption and body weight gain. Finally, this work suggests that thermal acclimation during embryogenesis might offer a practical method for easing heat stress.

     

Prediction of hydraulic conductivity and sorptivity in soils at steady-state infiltration

The purpose of this study was (1) to find a matching factor (u) between infiltration rate and hydraulic conductivity during steady-state infiltration, and (2) to propose equations based on infiltration and soil moisture-retention functions for prediction of the hydraulic conductivity K(θ) within the rapidly (non-capillary) drainable pores (RDP) and capillary-matrix pores of soils. The K(θ) of capillary pores was divided into K(θ)_SDP, K(θ)_WHP and K(θ)_FCP within slowly drainable pores (SDP), water-holding pores (WHP) and fine capillary pores (FCP), respectively. Five soil profiles of calcareous sandy loam, alluvial saline and non-saline clay, located at the Nile Delta, were used to apply the proposed equations. The highest and the lowest values of K(θ)_RDP were observed in calcareous and saline clay soil profiles, respectively. Values of K(θ)_RDP remained higher than those for capillary pores in the studied soils. The predicted values of K(θ) in capillary and non-capillary pores classes were in the expected range for unsaturated hydraulic conductivity. Water sorptivity (S) was determined at initial unsaturated soil water conditions and calculated at steady-state infiltration (S _w) using a derived equation. There was a decrease in S with an increase in soil water content; i.e. at steady-state infiltration, S decreased by 35–40% in calcareous soils and by 45–60% in alluvial clay soils. The parameter values of u and S _w tended to be uniform in calcareous soils, but nonuniform in saline and non-saline clay soils.     

Comparative Studies on the Green Algae Chlorella homosphaera and Chlorella vulgaris with Respect to Oil Pollution in the River Nile

The effect of oil pollution on growth and metabolic activitiesof the fresh water algae Chlorella homosphaera and C.vulgaris was studied. The study was conducted on two locationsin the river Nile, one is oil polluted and the other is notpolluted. The assemblage of the different algal groups wasmonitored in both locations. Chlorophyta was more dominant thanCyanophyta and Bacillariophyta in both locations during allseasons except in winter when Bacillariophyta is the mostdominant group. The presence of crude oil or its refineryproducts (solar and lubricating) in the culture media of algaemarkedly influenced their growth, proteins and nucleic acidcontents. The toxicity of oil was a concentration dependent. Thelow concentrations stimulated growth, protein content andnucleic acids, whereas high concentrations had an inhibitoryeffect. Although DNA and RNA responded similarly to crude oil inthe two tested organisms, DNA showed more sensitivity than RNAto solar oil. Lubricating oil had a little phytotoxic effect onnucleic acids. Different species of algae response differentiallyto oil pollution; Chlorella vulgaris can be referred to asoil-sensitive, while Chlorella homosphaera can toleraterelatively higher concentrations of oil.     

Dactylospongia elegans—A Promising Drug Source: Metabolites,Bioactivities, Biosynthesis,Synthesis, and Structural-Activity Relationship

Marine environment has been identified as a huge reservoir of novel biometabolites that are beneficial for medical treatments, as well as improving human health and well-being. Sponges have been highlighted as one of the most interesting phyla as new metabolites producers. Dactylospongia elegans Thiele (Thorectidae) is a wealth pool of various classes of sesquiterpenes, including hydroquinones, quinones, and tetronic acid derivatives. These metabolites possessed a wide array of potent bioactivities such as antitumor, cytotoxicity, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory. In the current work, the reported metabolites from D. elegans have been reviewed, including their bioactivities, biosynthesis, and synthesis, as well as the structural-activity relationship studies. Reviewing the reported studies revealed that these metabolites could contribute to new drug discovery, however, further mechanistic and in vivo studies of these metabolites are needed.     

In vitro anti-uveal melanoma activity of phenolic compounds from the Egyptian medicinal plant Acacia nilotica

Anti-uveal melanoma activity-guided fractionation of the MeOH extract of Acacia nilotica pods resulted in the isolation of the new compound gallocatechin 5-O-gallate (5) in addition to methyl gallate (1), gallic acid (2), catechin (3), catechin 5-O-gallate (4), 1-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose (6), 1,6-di-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose (7) and digallic acid (8). The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated on the basis of HRESIMS, NMR spectroscopy and CD data. In addition to uveal melanoma, the antiproliferative activities of the isolated compounds and the related compound epigallocatechin 3-O-gallate (EGCG) were evaluated against cutaneous melanoma, ovarian cancer, glioblastoma and normal retinal pigmented cells.     

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FEATURES OF INTRACRANIAL GRANULAR CELL TUMORS IN SIX DOGS

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging characteristics of intracranial granular cell tumors (GCTs) have been previously reported in three dogs. The goal of this retrospective study was to examine a larger number of dogs and determine whether distinctive MR characteristics of intracranial GCTs could be identified. Six dogs with histologically confirmed intracranial GCTs and MR imaging were included. Tumor location, size, mass effect, T1‐ and T2‐weighted signal intensity, and peritumoral edema MR characteristics were recorded. In all dogs, GCTs appeared as well‐defined, extra‐axial masses with a plaque‐form, sessile distribution involving the meninges. All tumors were located along the convexity of the cerebrum, the falx cerebri, or the ventral floor of the cranial vault. All tumors were mildly hyperintense on T1‐weighted images, and iso‐ to hyperintense on T2‐weighted images. A moderate‐to‐severe degree of peritumoral edema and mass effect were evident in all dogs. Findings indicated that, while several MR imaging characteristics were consistently identified in canine cerebral GCTs, none of these characteristics were unique or distinctive for this tumor type alone.