Influence of various phosphopeptides of caseins on iron absorption

The influence of the origin and kind of caseinophosphopeptide (CPP) on iron absorption was assessed by comparing a commercially available CPP mixture (CPPs) and derived chromatographic fractions with the purified, chemically phosphopeptide of beta-casein [beta-CN(1-25)] using a perfused rat duodenal loop system; gluconate iron was used as control. Only iron complexed to beta-CN(1-25) displayed a better bioavailability than gluconate iron. The results obtained with various chromatographic fractions indicated that phosphopeptides of different origins (alpha(s)- versus beta-caseins) display specific effects. These findings contribute to the explanation of the discrepancy about the role of caseinophosphopeptides on mineral bioavailability in vivo.     

Assessing the effects of the clumping phenomenon on BRDF of a maize crop based on 3D numerical scenes using DART model

Inverting radiative transfer (R-T) models against remote sensing observations to retrieve key biogeophysical parameters such as leaf area index (LAI) is a common approach. Even if new inversion techniques allow the use of three-dimensional (3D) models for that purpose, one-dimensional (1D) models are still widely used because of their ease of implementation and computational efficiency. Nevertheless, they assume a random distribution of foliage elements whereas most canopies show a clumped organization. Due to that crude simplification in the representation of the canopy structure, sizeable discrepancies can occur between 1D simulations and real canopy reflectance, which may further lead to false LAI values. The present investigation aims to appraise to which extent the incorporation of a clumping index (noted λ) into 1D R-T model could improve the simulations of Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF). Canopy BRDF is simulated here for three growth stages of a maize crop with the Discrete Anisotropic Radiative Transfer (DART) model in the visible and near infrared spectral bands, for two contrasted soil types (dark and bright) and different levels of heterogeneity to represent the canopy structure. 3D numerical scenes are based on in-situ structural measurements and associated BRDF simulations are thus considered as references. 1D scenarios assume either that leaves are randomly distributed (λ = 1) or clumped (λ < 1). If BRDF simulations seem globally reliable under the assumption of a random distribution in near infrared, it can also lead to relative errors on the total BRDF up to 30% in the red spectral band. It comes out that the use of a clumping index in a 1D reflectance model generally improves BRDF simulations in the red considering a bright soil, which seems relatively independent of LAI. In the near infrared, best results are usually obtained with homogeneous canopies, except with the dark soil. Clearly, influent factors are mainly the LAI and the spectral contrast between soil and leaves.     

Acidic derivatives of the fungicide fenpiclonil: effect of adding a methyl group to the N-substituted chain on systemicity and fungicidal activity

A new acidic derivative of the fungicide fenpiclonil was synthesized containing a methyl group on the alpha-position of the carboxyl function of N-carboxymethyl-3-cyano-4-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)pyrrole. The phloem mobility of the resulting N-(1-carboxyethyl)-3-cyano-4-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)pyrrole was comparable with that of the former compound, but was higher at external pH 5.0. Unlike the derivatives previously synthesized, it was comparable with fenpiclonil in its fungicidal activity against the pathogenic fungus Eutypa lata.     

Reference range values of regional left ventricular myocardial velocities and time intervals assessed by tissue Doppler imaging in young nonsedated Maine Coon cats

OBJECTIVE: To describe and analyze the left ventricular free wall (LVFW) radial and longitudinal motions in a population of healthy Maine Coon cats by use of quantitative 2-dimensional color tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). ANIMALS: 23 healthy young Maine Coon cats (mean +/- SD: age, 2.1 +/- 0.9 years; weight, 5.0 +/- 1.0 kg). PROCEDURE: TDI was performed by the same trained observer (VC) on all cats. Radial LVFW velocities were recorded in endocardial and epicardial LVFW segments, and longitudinal velocities were recorded in the mitral annulus and in basal and apical LVFW segments. Isovolumic contraction and relaxation times were calculated in each myocardial segment, and the coefficients of variation (CVs; %) were determined for each TDI parameter. RESULTS: LVFW velocities were significantly higher in the endocardial layers than in the epicardial layers and also significantly higher in the basal than in the apical segments. Annular velocities were significantly higher than basal myocardial velocities in systole and early diastole. Coefficient of variation values were lower for radial velocities, particularly in systole, and were also lower for time intervals (16% to 22%) than for myocardial velocities (19% to 62%). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Because Maine Coon cats are predisposed to an inherited hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which is a common cause of death in this breed, TDI could provide a useful tool for early detection of the disease. Tissue Doppler imaging indices may complete the conventional analysis of the left ventricular function in Maine Coon cats. However, the usefulness of TDI indices in the early detection of myocardial dysfunction needs to be clarified.     

Bird assemblages in forest fragments within Mediterranean mosaics created by wild fires

The role of habitat heterogeneity as a key factor in determining species pools in habitat mosaics has been acknowledged, but we still know little on the relative importance of the different ecological processes acting within such complex landscapes. We compared species richness and distribution in forest fragments imbedded in shrub-lands to those in continuous forests or in continuous shrublands. We examined the consistency of our data with the predictions of two hypotheses: 1) the Habitat fragmentation hypothesis which states that fragmentation has negative effects on the species from the original continuous habitat; 2) the Habitat supplementation /complementation hypothesis which stipulates that the presence of a matrix habitat around the fragments will mitigate negative effects on the species from the original habitat (supplementation) or allow the presence of species that depend on the presence of both the fragment and matrix habitats (complementation). We show that: 1) species richness in forest fragments did not differ from species richness in segments of continuous forests of equal area; 2) the bird community of forest fragments got impoverished in some forest species but a higher proportion of species common in continuous forests were not affected by fragmentation; 3) fragment communities had a significant proportion of common species that were scarce in, or absent from both continuous forests and shrublands. While, a few forest species supported predictions from the fragmentation hypothesis, occurrence patterns observed in several other species were consistent with either the supplementation or the complementation hypotheses. Our results suggest that there is no single hypothesis that properly captures the consequences of a shift from continuous forests to a mosaic of forest fragments and shrublands and that different ecological mechanisms act in conjunction to determine species pools in habitat mosaics. Habitat heterogeneity at a local scale appears a key factor in maintaining bird diversity in fire driven Mediterranean landscapes.     

Synthesis and phloem mobility of acidic derivatives of the fungicide fenpiclonil

A series of derivatives of the phenylpyrrole fungicide fenpiclonil was synthesized in which a carboxyl group was present at various sites of this non-phloem-mobile molecule. Using the Kleier model, all these acidic analogues were predicted to be moderately phloem-mobile, especially the N-substituted derivatives. One of these latter molecules, N-carboxymethyl-3-cyano-4-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)pyrrole, exhibited some fungicidal activity on the pathogenic fungus Eutypa lata, and was then tested as a phloem-mobile pesticide in the Ricinus system. The compound was indeed mobile in the sieve tubes and was not degraded to fenpiclonil in the phloem sap under our experimental conditions. Its concentration in the sap was closely correlated to the percentage of the undissociated form of the molecule in the external medium, and was similar under acidic conditions (external pH 4.6-5.0) to that of the herbicide glyphosate.     

Epidemiological, clinical, echo-doppler characteristics of mitral valve endocardiosis in Cavalier King Charles in France: a retrospective study of 451 cases (1995 to 2003)

A study performed on 451 Cavalier King Charles showed that 40.6% of dogs had a left apical systolic heart murmur, whose prevalence increased with age (> 11-year-old, 100%), but was not different between males and females. Mitral valve endocardiosis represented 93.3% of the ultrasonographic abnormalities.     

Doppler echocardiography-derived evidence of pulmonary arterial hypertension in dogs with degenerative mitral valve disease: 86 cases (2001-2005)

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of Doppler echocardiography-derived evidence of pulmonary arterial hypertension (DEE-PAH) in dogs with mitral valve disease (MVD) classified according to the International Small Animal Cardiac Health Council (ISACHC) heart failure classification scheme and various echocardiographic and Doppler indices of MVD severity. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: 617 dogs examined from 2001 to 2005 with MVD in ISACHC classes I to III. PROCEDURES: Dogs were examined echocardiographically. Criteria used for systolic and diastolic DEE-PAH were detection of high tricuspid (> or = 2.5 m/s) and telediastolic pulmonic (> or = 2.0 m/s) valvular peak regurgitant jet velocities, respectively, by use of continuous-wave Doppler echocardiography. RESULTS: 86 (13.9%) dogs with MVD had a diagnosis of DEE-PAH. Severity and prevalence of DEE-PAH increased with ISACHC class (3.0%, 16.9%, 26.7%, and 72.2% prevalences for ISACHC classes Ia, Ib, II, and III, respectively). A significant correlation between systolic or diastolic pulmonary arterial pressure and left atrial-to-aortic diameter ratio (LA/Ao) was detected. Doppler echocardiography-derived evidence of pulmonary arterial hypertension was detected in 18 dogs with values of LA/Ao within reference range, all of which had moderate (n = 2 dogs) or severe (16) mitral valve regurgitation on color Doppler imaging. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The prevalence and degree of DEE-PAH were related to the severity of MVD. Changes associated with DEEPAH may be detected in early stages of the disease, but only in dogs with severe mitral valve regurgitation.     

Azotemia in cats with feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: Prevalence and relationships with echocardiographic variables

ObjectivesThe prevalence of renal azotemia in cats with acquired heart disease is not well documented. The aims of this study were therefore (1) to determine the prevalence of azotemia within a hospital population of cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), and (2) to evaluate the relationship between echocardiographic variables and plasma urea and creatinine.Animals, materials and methods134 client-owned cats were retrospectively studied including 102 cats with HCM and 32 control cats. A complete physical examination, electrocardiography, systolic arterial blood pressure measurement, thoracic radiographs, and echocardiography were performed. Plasma creatinine and urea were determined in all cats. The animal was considered azotemic if plasma creatinine was >1.8 mg/dL and/or urea >65 mg/dL (i.e. BUN> 30 mg/dL).ResultsThe prevalence of azotemia was lower in control cats (25.0%) than in cats with HCM (58.8%) (P = 0.003). No significant differences in plasma urea and creatinine were observed between the HCM and control cats. There was no effect of plasma creatinine and urea on conventional echocardiographic variables in cats with HCM.ConclusionsAzotemia is a frequent finding in cats with HCM but is not dependent on echocardiographic variables.     

Formation of modified fatty acids and oxyphytosterols during refining of low erucic acid rapeseed oil

Formation of trans fatty acids and cyclic fatty acid monomers was investigated during refining of low erucic acid rapeseed oil. The first steps of the refining process, that is, degumming, neutralization, and bleaching, hardly modified the fatty acid profile. In contrast, deodorization produced substantial quantities of trans fatty acids (>5% of total fatty acids) and small amounts of cyclic fatty acid monomers (650 mg of cyclic fatty acid monomers/kg of oil) when severe conditions (5-6 h at 250 degrees C) were used. Alpha-linolenic acid was the main precursor of cyclic fatty acid monomers. The influence of deodorization on the chemical composition of low erucic acid rapeseed oil was studied additionally. Whereas free fatty acids, peroxides, and tocopherols decreased, neither total polar compounds nor oxyphytosterols changed during deodorization. Oxyphytosterols were identified by GC-MS. Three oxyphytosterols not yet observed in oil were tentatively identified as 6beta-hydroxycampestanol, 6beta-hydroxysitostanol, and 6beta-hydroxybrassicastanol. Brassicasterol oxides were the most abundant oxyphytosterols.