Diflubenzuron delays the onset of mortality caused by sodium fluosilicate and fluoroacetamide in the housefly

The toxic effect of sucrose-containing Na₂SiF₆ solutions fed to houseflies is delayed when diflubenzuron (DFB) is added to the solutions. A similar, though less pronounced effect is exerted by DFB on fluoroacetamide toxicity.     

Energy balance,leptin, NEFA and IGF-I plasma concentrations and resumption of post partum ovarian activity in swedish red and white breed cows

In the purpose to provide further information in respect of the relationship between metabolism and post partum (PP) ovarian activity resumption in dairy cows, the aim of the present study was to characterize the energy balance (EB) and leptin, NEFA and IGF-I plasma levels in Swedish Red and White (SRW) cows with and without ovarian activity re-initiation within 7 weeks PP. The study was conducted on 12 primiparous SRW cows fed the same diet as total mixed ration for ad libitum intake. The EB was calculated weekly from parturition until seven weeks PP. Blood samples were collected weekly from one week before until 7 weeks after calving for leptin, NEFA and IGF-I analysis. For progesterone (P4) analysis, blood samples were collected two times per week from parturition until the end of the study. P4 profile was used in addition to the clinical examination to detect cows with and without ovarian activity resumption. The clinical and ultrasonographic examination, coupled with P4 profile analysis showed the resumption of ovarian activity within 7 weeks after calving in 8 (group A) and no ovarian resumption in 4 cows (group B). No significant differences were detected in the whole period of observation in the amount of milk production between the two groups, while the mean milk protein content was significantly lower in group B at the third week PP. The calculated EB was negative in both groups in the first three weeks after calving, but more marked in group B. NEFA and Leptin plasma levels did not show significant differences between the two groups. In conclusion, the results of the present study showed that, when low milk producing primiparous cows are concerned, no significant differences in BW loss, milk yield, EB and leptin and NEFA plasma levels between the cows with and without resumption of ovarian activity within 7 weeks post partum were seen. However, significantly higher IGF-I levels in the first two weeks after calving were found in cows with post partum ovarian activity resumption, highlighting the important role of IGF-I as sensitive signal between metabolism and reproduction.     

Food deprivation stimulates the luteolytic capacity in the gilt

The aims of this study were to study the effects of fasting on progesterone (P4) production in the pig and to verify whether fasting influences luteal expression of PGF(2alpha) receptor (FPr) and prostaglandin secretion. Superovulated prepubertal gilts were used; half of them were fasted for 72h starting on day 2 (F2) or 9 (F9) of the induced estrous cycle, respectively, while two groups (C2 and C9) served as respective controls. Plasma P4 and PGFM concentrations were determined by RIA while FPr mRNA expression in CLs collected at the end of fasting period was measured by real-time PCR. In experiment 1, plasma P4 concentrations in fasted gilts were significantly (P<0.01) higher than in controls starting from day 3 (F2; n=6) and 10 (F9; n=6). FPr mRNA expression was similar in F2 and C2 (n=6) CLs while it was significantly (P<0.05) higher in F9 than in C9 (n=6) CLs. In experiment 2, cloprostenol administered on day 12 significantly (P<0.05) increased FPr mRNA expression in CLs from both F9 (n=6) and C9 (n=6) gilts. At the time of cloprostenol injection PGFM levels were significantly higher (P<0.05) in the fasted group and cloprostenol-induced luteolysis in fasted but not in normally fed gilts. Results from this study indicate that fasting in prepubertal gilts induced to ovulate stimulates luteal P4 and PGFM production as well as FPr mRNA expression, thus increasing luteolytic susceptibility.     

Opportunities and challenges for mainstreaming ecosystem services in development planning: perspectives from a landscape level

Despite much progress in ecosystem services research, a gap still appears to exist between this research and the implementation of landscape management and development activities on the ground, especially within a developing country context. If ecosystem service science is to be operationalised and used by decision-makers directing local development, an in-depth understanding of the implementation context for landscape planning and management, and of the opportunities and challenges for ecosystem services in this context are needed. Very little is known about these opportunities and constraints, largely because of the absence of methods to explore the complexity of the landscape planning, management and implementation context and the possibilities of integrating scientific information into these processes within a real-world setting. This study aims to address this need for information and methods, by focusing on a region in South Africa with a long history of ecosystem service research and stakeholder engagement, and testing a social science approach to explore opportunities and challenges for integrating ecosystem services in landscape planning processes and policies. Our methodological approach recognises the importance of social processes and legitimacy in decision-making, emphasizing the need to engage with the potential end-users of ecosystem service research in order to ensure the relevance of the research. While we discovered challenges for mainstreaming ecosystem service at a local level, we also found strong opportunities in the multi-sectoral planning processes driving development and in how the concept of ecosystem services is framed and aligned with development priorities, especially those relating to disaster risk reduction.     

Optical pumping and vibrational cooling of molecules

The methods producing cold molecules from cold atoms tend to leave molecular ensembles with substantial residual internal energy. For instance, cesium molecules initially formed via photoassociation of cold cesium atoms are in several vibrational levels nu of the electronic ground state. We applied a broadband femtosecond laser that redistributes the vibrational population in the ground state via a few electronic excitation/spontaneous emission cycles. The laser pulses are shaped to remove the excitation frequency band of the nu = 0 level, preventing re-excitation from that state. We observed a fast and efficient accumulation ( approximately 70% of the initially detected molecules) in the lowest vibrational level, nu = 0, of the singlet electronic state. The validity of this incoherent depopulation pumping method is very general and opens exciting prospects for laser cooling and manipulation of molecules.     

Solid shelter tubes alleviate summer stresses during outplanting in drought-tolerant species of Mediterranean forests

New Forests - The effect of shelter tubes on plant performance has been widely studied. Although, the role of shelter tubes in alleviating the effects of drought and high-irradiance stresses during...     

Modification of Campylobacterjejuni Broiler Colonization by a Feed Additive Composed of Encapsulated Organic Acids and Essential Oils

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a novel feed additive on chicken intestinal colonization and carcass contamination by Campylobacterjejuni. The feed additive was composed of microencapsulated organic acids and essential oils （OA/EO）. The feed additive tested was provided by Jefo Nutrition Inc., St-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada. Day-old birds were separated into two rooms and subdivided into two groups. Chicken were fed with OA/EO or not fed with OA/EO until they reached 35 d of age. At 14 d of age, chickens received an oral suspension of two well characterized C. jejuni strains, depending on the room they were housed in. The levels of C. jejuni were periodically monitored in the caecum and on the carcasses. C. jejuni colonization was further characterized by the use of high-resolution melt analysis of the C. jejuniflaA gene （HRM-flaA）. The effect of the feed additive was strain-dependent. In room two, the feed additive had no effect on the caecal counts. In room one, at 35 d of age, caecal C. jejuni counts were higher with OA/EO, as opposed to carcasses counts which were lower in the treated group. The HRM-flaA analysis showed that an amplification profile was predominant in birds fed with OA/EO at 35 d of age in room one, suggesting the selection of a C. jejuni strain. In conclusion, the OA/EO seemed to be effective to reduce C. jejuni levels but this effect appeared strain dependent.     

Analysis of some Italian lemon liquors (limoncello)

The chemical composition of several commercial Italian Limoncellos, lemon-peel-based alcoholic beverages, was studied by chromatographic techniques. These methods allowed a rapid monitoring of Limoncello, giving information on quality markers and possible adulteration of the product. Quantitative data for more than 60 compounds are reported. Limoncellos were characterized by the presence of selected volatile (terpenes, aldehydes, alcohols) and nonvolatile compounds (psoralens, coumarins, phenolics, carbohydrates and acids). On the basis of their composition, the samples were grouped by PCA analysis in two sets; the first group showed a composition similar to lemon essential oils, with a high content of b-pinene, myrcene, trans-a-bergamottene, and b-bisabolene, and a low content in neral and geranial. The composition of the second group suggested the occurrence of oxidative phenomena and/or the addition of flavors. The presence of ethyl acetate, acetaldehyde, 2-methyl-1-propanol and glycerol showed that a fermentation probably occurred in the sugar syrup used to dilute the Limoncello after the extraction process.