Genetic and structural characterization of the growth hormone gene and protein from tench, Tinca tinca

The analysis of the tench growth hormone gene structure revealed a comparable organization of coding and non-coding regions than other from cyprinid species. Based on the performed mRNA and amino acid sequence alignments, gh tench is related to Asian than to European representatives of Cyprinidae family. Second aim of the work was to characterize and predict protein structure of the tench growth hormone. Tinca tinca GH share many common features with human GH molecule. The Tench GH protein binds to the growth hormone receptor (GHR) using two regions I and II that are situated at opposite sites of molecule. Binding site I is placed in the central part of T. tinca GH and H 189 amino acid in the middle region of the IV helix is crucial for GH–GHR interactions.     

Association between frost tolerance and the alleles of high molecular weight glutenin subunits present in Polish winter wheats

Subunits of high molecular weight glutenins strongly influence wheat bread making quality and can be associated with important agronomic traits. Polish winter wheats show a significant quantitative dominance of the null allele over the coding alleles of the Glu-A1 locus. To identify the causes of such skewed distribution, 116 F₅ lines obtained from six cross combinations were analyzed for their HMW glutenin subunits and 11 agronomic characteristics, such as plant height and uniformity, leaf blotch and leaf rust resistance, grain yield per plot, number of grains per ear, grain yield per ear, 1000 kernel weight, frost tolerance, total protein content and the SDS-sedimentation value. The SDS-sedimentation value, resistance to leaf blotch and frost tolerance showed statistically significant associations with the status of the Glu-A1 locus. It appears that chromosome 1A with the null allele at Glu-A1 carries a closely linked locus responsible for frost tolerance. With early strong selection for winter hardiness, the null allele of Glu-A1 becomes fixed in advanced breeding materials despite its strong negative impact on the end use quality.     

A new hoe share design for weed control: measurements of soil movement and draught forces during operation

This research introduces a new share design (L-share) that reduces the undesired random soil movement, providing a more controlled disturbance of the upper soil layer. Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate draught forces and soil movements when operating the new share. Materials and Methods: Experiments were conducted in a laboratory set-up using a soil bin with a fine loamy soil texture. The soil was compacted to a bulk density of 1500?kg?m^?3, with a penetration index of 486?kPa and a mean water content of 10%. The cultivation depths were 30, 50 and 70?mm and the operation speeds were 0.84, 1.67 and 2.31?m?s^?1. Cubes were used to measure soil movement by recording the displacement from their initial positions. The soil surface and furrow profile were measured by using a 2D laser range scanner. Results: The results showed that increasing operation speed and cultivation depths generally increased draught forces and soil movement. Changing the cultivation depth from 30 to 50?mm resulted in a 63% greater longitudinal force (F_x), and 71% greater F_x when increasing the cultivation depth from 50 to 70?mm. Conclusion: The study showed that the new L-share mounted on a modified spring tine only causes minor soil movement and thereby minimising the undesirable soil movement.     

Comparison of the main bioactive compounds and antioxidant activities in garlic and white and red onions after treatment protocols

Polish garlic and white and red onions were subjected to blanching, boiling, frying, and microwaving for different periods of time, and then their bioactive compounds (polyphenols, flavonoids, flavanols, anthocyanins, tannins, and ascorbic acid) and antioxidant activities were determined. It was found that blanching and frying and then microwaving of garlic and onions did not decrease significantly the amounts of their bioactive compounds and the level of antioxidant activities ( P > 0.05). The HPLC profiles of free and soluble ester- and glycoside-bound phenolic acids showed that trans-hydroxycinnamic acids (caffeic, p-coumaric, ferulic, and sinapic) were as much as twice higher in garlic than in onions. Quercetin quantity was the highest in red onion among the studied vegetables. The electrophoretic separation of nonreduced garlic and onion proteins after boiling demonstrated their degradation in the range from 50 to 112 kDa.     

Long-term radiographic comparison of tibial plateau leveling osteotomy versus extracapsular stabilization for cranial cruciate ligament rupture in the dog

OBJECTIVE: Comparison of 2 methods of surgical management of cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) injury in large-breed dogs using a radiographic osteoarthrosis (OA) scoring system. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: Client-owned dogs (n=66). METHODS: Radiographs were evaluated from dogs weighing >/=22.7 kg, with surgical management of CCL rupture using extracapsular repair (ECR) or tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO). Radiographs were taken immediately before surgery and >/=12 months later. An OA score was assigned to each set of radiographs taken at the preoperative and final examinations by evaluating 32 specific features of stifle OA. The difference between preoperative and final OA scores were subtracted and 2 final score categories of a change 5 were created. A logistic regression model was used to evaluate the effect of right versus left pelvic limb, age, preoperative weight, postoperative weight, days from surgery until final radiographic recheck, cranial cruciate status at surgery, medial meniscus status at surgery, and ECR versus TPLO. RESULTS: The ECR group had 27 stifles (22 dogs) and the TPLO group had 52 stifles (44 dogs). ECR dogs had a preoperative weight of 33.4+/-9.3 kg (range 22.7-54.1 kg) and a preoperative OA score of 13.0+/-8.4 (range 1-34) compared with TPLO dogs that had a preoperative weight of 38.9+/-9.1 kg (range 25-63.9 kg) and preoperative OA score of 15.9+/-8.4 (range 4-44). Postoperative weights for ECR and TPLO dogs were 33.6+/-9 kg (range 21.8-54.6 kg) and 39.4+/-10.1 kg (range 24-72 kg), respectively. Final OA scores were: ECR dogs, 26.3+/-10.8 (range, 10-54); TPLO dogs, 23.3+/-9.5 (range, 12-50). Dogs with a final change in OA score of >/=6 were 5.78 times more likely to have had ECR compared with those that had TPLO as stabilization procedure (odds ratio=5.78; Log-likelihood test P-value=.025). Other dependent variables were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Based on logistic regression analysis, dogs with larger OA score differences were 5.78 times more likely to have had ECR than TPLO. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Prospective, randomized surgical trials with pre-defined objective measures would be required to further evaluate the clinical importance of these preliminary findings which suggest that TPLO may help stabilize the cranial tibial thrust as originally proposed.     

MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry: avoidance of artifacts and analysis of caffeine-precipitated SII thearubigins from 15 commercial black teas

Thearubigins are the quantitatively major phenolic compounds in black tea, accounting for some 60-70% of the solids in a typical black tea infusion. MALDI-TOF mass spectra for caffeine-precipitated SII thearubigins (SII CTRs) from 15 different commercial teas support previous conclusions that SII CTRs are polyhydroxylated oligomers (rather than polymers) of catechins and catechin gallates in redox equilibrium with their quinone counterparts. Some 4500 peaks were revealed in a mass range from m/z 500 to 2100. Polyphenols are redox-susceptible and readily generate artifacts during MALDI-TOF analysis when the matrix is also redox-susceptible. Of the nine matrices evaluated, 3',4',5'-trihydroxyacetophenone (F) provided the best compromise between signal intensity and redox artifact formation.     

Inactivation of Heparin by Cationically Modified Chitosan

This study was performed to evaluate the ability of N-(2-hydroxypropyl)-3-trimethylammonium chitosan chloride (HTCC), the cationically modified chitosan, to form biologically inactive complexes with unfractionated heparin and thereby blocking its anticoagulant activity. Experiments were carried out in rats in vivo and in vitro using the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and prothrombin time (PT) tests for evaluation of heparin anticoagulant activity. For the first time we have found that HTCC effectively neutralizes anticoagulant action of heparin in rat blood in vitro as well as in rats in vivo. The effect of HTCC on suppression of heparin activity is dose-dependent and its efficacy can be comparable to that of protamine-the only agent used in clinic for heparin neutralization. HTCC administered i.v. alone had no direct effect on any of the coagulation tests used. The potential adverse effects of HTCC were further explored using rat experimental model of acute toxicity. When administered i.p. at high doses (250 and 500 mg/kg body weight), HTCC induced some significant dose-dependent structural abnormalities in the liver. However, when HTCC was administered at low doses, comparable to those used for neutralization of anticoagulant effect of heparin, no histopathological abnormalities in liver were observed.     

Multidimensional gas chromatography-olfactometry for the identification and prioritization of malodors from confined animal feeding operations

Odor profiling efforts were directed at applying to high-density livestock operations some of the lessons learned in resolving past, highly diverse, odor-focused investigations in the consumer product industry. Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) was used for field air sampling of odorous air near and downwind of a beef cattle feedyard and a swine finisher barn in Texas. Multidimensional gas chromatography-olfactometry (MDGC-O) was utilized in an attempt to define and prioritize the basic building blocks of odor character associated with these livestock operations. Although scores of potential odorant volatiles have been previously identified in high-density livestock operations, the odor profile results developed herein suggest that only a very few of these may constitute the preponderance of the odor complaints associated with these environments. This appeared to be especially true for the case of increasing distance from both cattle feedyard and swine barn facilities, with p-cresol consistently taking on the dominant odor impact role with ever increasing distance. In contrast, at- or near-site odor profiles were shown to be much more complex, with many of the well-known lower tier odorant compounds rising in relative significance. For the cattle feedyard at- or near-site odor profiles, trimethylamine was shown to represent a significantly greater individual odor impact relative to the more often cited livestock odorants such as hydrogen sulfide, the organic sulfides, and volatile fatty acids. This study demonstrates that SPME combined with a MDGC-O-mass spectrometry system can be used for the sampling, identification, and prioritization of odors associated with livestock.     

Antioxidant capacity manipulation in transgenic potato tuber by changes in phenolic compounds content

The main goal of this study was to generate potato tubers with increased levels of flavonoids and thus modified antioxidant capacities. To accomplish this, the vector carrying multigene construct was prepared and several transgenic plants were generated, all overexpressing key biosynthesis pathway enzymes. The single-gene overexpression or simultaneous expression of genes encoding chalcone synthase (CHS), chalcone isomerase (CHI), and dihydroflavonol reductase (DFR) resulted in a significant increase of measured phenolic acids and anthocyanins. The increase in phenolic compounds synthesis is accompanied by decreases in starch and glucose levels in transgenic plants. The flavonoids-enriched plants showed improved antioxidant capacity; however, there is a complex relationship between antioxidant capacity and flavonoids content, suggesting the great participation of other compounds in the antioxidant potential of the plants. These other compounds are not yet recognized.