Model study on the effect of 15 phenolic olive mill wastewater constituents on seed germination and Vibrio fischeri metabolism

Olive mill wastewaters (OMW) can be a severe problem when disposed of as untreated because of their high organic load, elevated concentration of polyphenols, and moderately low biodegradability. In the present study, the acute toxicity of 15 compounds with low molecular weight (<350 Da), catechol, four benzoic acids, three phenylacetic acids, three phenylethanols, and four cinnamic acids, already isolated from the reverse osmosis in the fractionation of OMW, was assessed on the marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri and on the seeds of two dicotyledonous species Cucumis sativus and Lepidium sativum, and on one monocotyledon Sorghum bicolor. Results of phytotoxicity showed that the most toxic compounds were catechol (EC50s ranging from 0.40 mmol/L for S. bicolor to 1.09 for C. sativus) and hydroxytyrosol, (EC50s ranging from 0.47 mmol/L for S. bicolor to 1.55 for C. sativus) while the toxic potential on bacteria was particularly elevated with EC50 values 1 or 2 orders less than phytotoxicity. These results suggested that the risk of OMW disposal may be more elevated for the water compartment than for the soil.     

Chemical composition and nutritional value of Mexican varieties of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Chemical composition and protein quality of the main chickpea varieties cultivated in Mexico were determined. The raw and cooked chickpeas analyzed were: Surutato, Surutato 77, Sonora, Sonora 80, Porquero, Macarena, Breve Duro and a mixture of broken seeds used mainly for animal feeding. The chemical composition of the raw chickpea studied was very similar; the average values of the nutrients were: ash 3.1±0.2, fat 5.0±1.0, protein 19.5±1.2 and fiber 3.7±2.1. Cooking diminished only the ash content and the Porquero variety was the only one that had a high content of crude fiber (9.1%). There was not found agglutinating activity to rabbit RBC in any of the raw chickpeas studied and the trypsin inhibitor activity average was 11.8±2.4 TUI/mg sample. Cooking destroyed 57% of this activity. Digestibility was the same in the raw and in the cooked chickpea (78%). There were not found significant differences in the PER values of the raw and cooked seeds: 1.65–2.30 and 1.80 to 2.61 respectively. The Surutato and Breve Duro varieties were statistically similar to the casein PER (2.5). It could be recommended to use these two varieties mainly for infant feeding.     

PML regulates apoptosis at endoplasmic reticulum by modulating calcium release

The promyelocytic leukemia (PML) tumor suppressor is a pleiotropic modulator of apoptosis. However, the molecular basis for such a diverse proapoptotic role is currently unknown. We show that extranuclear Pml was specifically enriched at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and at the mitochondria-associated membranes, signaling domains involved in ER-to-mitochondria calcium ion (Ca(2+)) transport and in induction of apoptosis. We found Pml in complexes of large molecular size with the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP(3)R), protein kinase Akt, and protein phosphatase 2a (PP2a). Pml was essential for Akt- and PP2a-dependent modulation of IP(3)R phosphorylation and in turn for IP(3)R-mediated Ca(2+) release from ER. Our findings provide a mechanistic explanation for the pleiotropic role of Pml in apoptosis and identify a pharmacological target for the modulation of Ca(2+) signals.     

Sustainability of a tropical,multispecies, multigear,coral-reef-associated fishery system is efficiently inferred with the direct use of long-term port biosampling length records and life-history traits,US Virgin Islands

1. The fisheries system of the US Virgin Islands (USVI) provided the opportunity to examine decision-making and to advise comparable fisheries throughout the tropics; it is well studied, thoroughly managed, and small in economic impact.
2. To assess (multilevel modelling), evaluate (historical baselines and comparison of size frequency distributions), and explain (regression) the fisheries status synoptically, indicators of life history, ecological, and fishery traits were applied to a 26 year long and 104 species large port biosampling database.
3. The fishery consists of stable, truncated, and overfished populations of exclusively K-selected fish species. In particular, 45 (46.9%) of 96 species show significant but not biologically meaningful trends in mean standardized length of fish caught during a period of 30 years. Yet, 93 (90.2%) of 103 species are subject to persistent growth and/or recruitment overfishing. Also, both biological and economic overfishing are positively, significantly, and largely related with the K-selected nature of these species.
4. The results are corroborated by available contextual studies that demonstrate in synthesis the buffering effect of fisheries management. This employs various monitoring, regulatory, and enhancement tools to face its major challenges of data collection and quality improvement, local and regional environmental degradation from multiple anthropogenic and natural stressors, and non-compliance. Yet, there have been increasing trends in human population size, fishing effort, and total commercial landings, decreasing trends in the catch per unit of effort, changes in the relative composition of the catch during the last 40 years, and collapsed or on the verge of collapse fished species since the 1970s have not yet recovered.
5. The USVI fisheries system would benefit from redesigning regulation of input and output controls and upgrading the environmental baseline using the ecosystem-based management approach.

     

REPEATABILITY AND RELIABILITY OF GLOMERULAR FILTRATION RATE DETERMINATION VIA GAMMA CAMERA UPTAKE OF TC‐99M‐DTPA IN CATS WITH CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE

Measurement of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) via gamma camera uptake of 99mTc‐diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid is a standard method for quantifying renal function. Aims of this retrospective, observer agreement study were to determine intra‐ and interobserver variation in GFR values for cats with chronic kidney disease and to determine whether renal insufficiency classification changed between observers. Guideline cut‐points were established for the difference in repeated GFRs to differentiate changes caused by therapeutic effect vs. inherent variation. Included cats had a diagnosis of chronic kidney disease and had undergone GFR examinations between the years of 2010 and 2013. Twenty‐nine GFR studies were sampled. Each study was read twice, 6 months apart, by two veterinary radiologists and one radiology resident. Modified Bland–Altman plots were used to investigate differences between readings 1 and 2 by observer and between pairs of observers by reading. Reliability of clinical classification was assessed through comparisons between readings and observers. Measurements were not systematically different between readings for the experienced observers but were higher in reading 1 than reading 2 for the inexperienced observer. Measurements were not systematically different between the experienced observers in reading 1 or between any two observers in reading 2. Reliability for GFR measurements was high among experienced observers; variations in GFR measurements rarely led to differences in clinical classification. Results suggested that, for experienced observers, changes in GFR values following treatment in cats with chronic kidney disease between ?0.4 and 0.4 mL/min/kg may be due to inherent variability rather than treatment effect.     

Influence of milking units and working vacuum level on the mechanical milking of goats

The objectives of this study were to evaluate and compare the effect of working vacuum levels (35 and 44 kPa) and liners dimensions (mouthpiece lip diameter and overall length, 20–185 and 22–170 mm) on the main milking characteristics of goats. The results highlight that both the working vacuum level and the liner dimension have influenced the milk flow curve parameters. The maximum variations were found for peak flow rate, which increased significantly with liner dimensions of 20–185 mm at a working vacuum level of 44 kPa as well as average milk flow rate and for plateau phase duration. The incorrect adoption of operative parameters and unsuitable milking machine components, might affect the performance of the mechanical milking and negatively affecting animal productions and welfare.     

Starch swelling power and amylose content of triticale and Triticum timopheevii germplasm

Triticale (× Triticosecale Whittmack) and Triticum timopheevii have undergone little selection relative to other grains for quality characters, including starch amylose content. Using starch swelling power (SSP) in water and spectrophotometric analysis of the iodine binding ratio, 247 lines of triticale and 20 lines of T. timopheevii were screened for amylose content. Following this, the expression of the starch-forming protein granule-bound starch synthase (GBSS) in triticale was investigated by SDS-PAGE in the eight highest and eight lowest SSP lines. A strong correlation (R² = 0.8174) was found between iodine binding and SSP. The SSP of T. timopheevii lines ranged from 13.7 to 16.7, indicating an approximate range of amylose content from 28.1 to 33.8%: a small range within typical results from commercial wheat cultivars. The SSP of triticale ranged from 12.5 to 23.6 suggesting amylose content ranged from 12.8 to 35.1%: a much wider range reflecting the contribution of both the wheat and rye genomes. It appeared that expression of GBSS-4A was down-regulated in low amylose lines. Therefore there is significant potential to select for amylose content in triticale to increase quality in both the animal and human feed markets.     

Malignant melanoma in a zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata): cytologic, histologic, and ultrastructural characteristics

An approximately 3-year-old adult male zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) was diagnosed with malignant melanoma. The large darkly pigmented tumor was located in the coelom, extended from the apex of the heart to the cloaca, and was adherent to the intestines and the ventriculus. Dark small masses (likely metastases) were observed in the lungs. Cytologically, the neoplasm consisted mainly of round to oval cells with brown or pale blue to blue-brown pigment. Lesser numbers of cells were stellate to dendritic with abundant amounts of brown pigment granules or were markedly pleomorphic with variable amounts of pigment. Histologically, the tumor consisted of dense sheets and aggregates of infiltrative melanocytes that were negative for S-100 and Melan A. A few cells were consistent with "signet-ring" melanocytes. Melanocytes examined by electron microscopy contained typical structures, mainly premelanosomes and melanosomes, of this cell type. However, melanocytes with marked pleomorphism also contained intracytoplasmic aggregates of filaments, consistent with previously reported ultrastructural findings in signet-ring or rhabdoid melanoma of nonavian species.