Fungicidal activity of a series of phenyl pyridyl ketoximes and their O-acetyl derivatives

The free oximes and acetyl derivatives of a series of 4-substituted phenyl pyridyl ketones were prepared and tested in vitro and in vivo against fungal plant pathogens of different taxonomic classes. All compounds exhibited an interesting activity against some or all of the test fungi. The best results were given by the acetyl derivatives.     

Ingesta passage and gastric emptying times in loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta)

Ingesta passage times of soft flat foam dishes and gastric emptying time of barium-impregnated polyethylene spheres (BIPS) were measured in 22 and 8 loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta), respectively. Transit time (T(1)) was considered as the time between ingestion and first elimination, and retention time (T(50)) and total transit time (T(85)) the expulsion time of 50% and 85% of the markers, respectively. The experiments were carried out at different times of the year and water temperature was recorded. A set of dorso-ventral radiographs was taken to locate the BIPS, and the gastrointestinal anatomy of 5 dead turtles was studied to help with interpretation of the radiographs. No significant correlation was observed between T(1), T(50), T(85) and minimum straight carapace length (SCLmin) or body mass and no statistical difference was found in ingesta passage transit times between juvenile (n = 6) and sub-adult turtles (n = 16). Mean passage times of the dishes (in days) were: T(1) = 9.05, T(50) = 12.00 and T(85) = 13.19. Gastric emptying time using BIPS was 24-48 h. The transit time (T(1)) for the BIPS was longer (13.25 +/- 4.86 days) than the foam markers (8.5 +/- 2.73 days) in 8 turtles studied simultaneously. Although the total transit time tended to be faster in turtles submitted to water temperatures between 20 degrees C and 23.6 degrees C no significant correlation was observed between T(1), T(50) and T(85) and the temperature.     

Volatile Organic Compounds,Indole, and Biogenic Amines Assessment in Two Mediterranean Irciniidae (Porifera,Demospongiae)

Solid phase microextraction (SPME) coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was employed for the headspace determination of the volatile organic fraction emitted by two of the most common Mediterranean demosponges, Ircinia variabilis and Sarcotragus spinosulus, and of indole and some biogenic amines released by sponges in an aqueous medium. A total of 50/30 µm divinylbenzene/carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane and 75 µm carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane fibers were used for the headspace extraction of low molecular weight sulfur compounds from a hermetically sealed vial containing sponge fragments, while the direct immersion determination of indole and biogenic amines was performed. The biogenic amines were extracted after in-solution derivatization with isobutyl chloroformate. All analytical parameters (linearity, limits of detection, and quantification, precision, and recovery) were evaluated for indole and biogenic amines. SPME-GC-MS proved to be a reliable means of highlighting the differences between molecules released by different sponges, principally responsible for their smell. The combined approaches allowed the identification of several volatile compounds in the headspace and other molecules released by the sponges in an aqueous medium, including indole and the BAs cadaverine, histamine, isobutylamine, isopentylamine, propylamine, 2-phenylethylamine, putrescine and tryptamine. The results obtained represent a further contribution to the picture of odoriferous molecules secreted by sponges.     

Can a golf course support biodiversity and ecosystem services? The landscape context matter

Landscape Ecology - In the last 30 years, the number of golf courses has increased dramatically worldwide. Since no other sport occupies and manages such large areas of green space, landscape...     

Responses of Atlantic cod <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gadus morhua</Emphasis> head kidney leukocytes to phytase produced by gastrointestinal-derived bacteria

This study identified phytase-producing bacteria that were previously isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua and determined its effect on head kidney leukocytes. Out of the 216 bacterial strains tested, the two phytase producers were identified as Pseudomonas sp. and Psychrobacter sp. based on their 16S rDNA sequence. Crude phytase from these two bacterial strains was produced employing the shake flask method. Even though the total protein of the crude phytase was not significantly different for the two bacteria, the phytase activity of the crude enzyme produced by Pseudomonas sp. (97.1 ± 16.7 U) was significantly higher than that of the enzyme from Psychrobacter sp. (75.9 ± 2.4 U). When cod head kidney leukocytes were incubated with the crude phytase (50 μg ml⁻¹), it resulted in enhanced cell proliferation, higher myeloperoxidase, and acid phosphatase activities. Extracellular responses—respiratory burst activity and hydrogen peroxide production were not enhanced by the crude enzyme. As a consequence, the growth of two pathogenic bacteria Aeromonas salmonicida and Vibrio anguillarum was not suppressed by the supernatants obtained from head kidney leukocytes incubated with the crude bacterial phytase. Thus, the enzyme from phytase-producing intestinal bacteria of Atlantic cod can stimulate intracellular head kidney leukocyte activities but not the production of extracellular substances that are involved in antibacterial response. These have implications on the potential use of bacterial phytase as feed supplement to boost cellular immune response of the fish and could be employed as a health management strategy in culture systems.     

Dietary protein/carbohydrate ratio in low‐lipid diets for Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis,Kaup 1858) juveniles. Influence on growth performance,nutrient utilization and flesh quality

Four isoenergetic (21 kJ/g dry matter, DM) and isolipidic (65 g/kg DM) diets containing different crude protein/total carbohydrate (CHO) ratios: 60/26, 56/30, 52/34 and 48/38, were tested in 22 g Senegalese sole for 104 days. Apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) were not affected by the treatments, and all groups presented extremely low starch ADC values (22.8%–36.5%). Replacement of dietary protein by CHO did not affect daily growth index (0.9–1.0), but significantly increased voluntary feed intake of fish. Regression analyses demonstrated that digestible protein content, rather than digestible energy, was the main dietary factor influencing such feeding activity (R² = .952). A significantly increased feed conversion ratio was observed in sole fed increasing CHO contents. The dietary protein/CHO ratio did not influence whole‐body composition. Sole fed the 48/38 diet showed the lowest efficiency in terms of N and energy utilization. PUFA were the most represented fatty acid fraction in fillet, regardless of the dietary protein/CHO ratio, mainly due to the high content of DHA. Senegalese sole increase feed intake under low dietary protein/CHO ratios to ensure an adequate N intake. Such compensatory mechanism seems to be triggered to satisfy a specific protein metabolic requirement for energy purposes as tissue accretion remained unchanged.     

Evaluation of three seaweeds Gracilaria bursa-pastoris, Ulva rigida and Gracilaria cornea as dietary ingredients in European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) juveniles

The aim of this study was to evaluate the inclusion of three seaweeds Gracilaria bursa-pastoris (GP), Ulva rigida (UR) and Gracilaria cornea (GC) as dietary ingredients on the performance, nutrient utilisation and body composition of European sea bass juveniles. Six experimental diets were formulated to replace 5% (GP-5, UR-5, and GC-5 Diets) and 10% (GP-10, UR-10 and GC-10 Diets) fish protein hydrolysate (CPSP) by each of the three seaweeds. A control diet was used, without inclusion of any seaweed. Diets were fed to duplicate groups of 25 European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) juveniles (IBW = 4.7 g) for 10 weeks. Growth performance was only significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in fish fed the GC-10 diet, whereas the feed conversion ratio increased significantly in those fish. The apparent digestibility coefficients of dry matter and lipid were significantly lower in fish fed diet GC-10 relative to those fed the control diet. Carcass composition was similar among treatments, although fish fed GC-10 exhibited significantly higher ash content.The results obtained in this study suggest that the inclusion of G. bursa-pastoris (GP) and U. rigida (UR), up to 10%, can be considered as very interesting ingredients in diets for sea bass juveniles, as no negative consequences on growth performance, nutrient utilization or body composition were observed. On the other hand, the inclusion of G. cornea (GC) should be limited to 5% of the diet.     

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.     

Vertebral polyostotic lymphoma in a young dog.

An unusual clinical presentation of lymphoma with vertebral involvement in a dog is reported. A 20-month-old intact female Golden Retriever presented with progressive paraparesis and anorexia. Complete blood count and serum biochemistry profile demonstrated pancytopenia and hypercalcemia. Ventral fusion of the lumbar vertebrae by new bony tissue deposition was evident on X-ray and CT scan. Fine needle aspiration revealed neoplastic lymphoid cells in lymph nodes and bone marrow. Histologically, vertebral bone and osteophytes, liver, bone marrow, kidney, and lymph nodes were diffusely infiltrated by neoplastic, lymphoid cells, with scant cytoplasm and round hyperchromatic nuclei. Polyostotic and medullary T-cell lymphoma with spondylosis was diagnosed. Lymphoma mainly affecting bone is uncommon in the dog. The present case differs from previously described polyostotic lymphomas in clinical signs of the disease, mainly attributable to spondylarthrosis. In addition, lymphomatous proliferation was associated with osteoproductive lesions of the vertebrae.