Probiotic applications for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum) I. Effects on growth performance,feed utilization,intestinal microbiota and related health criteria

The effect of dietary probiotics (Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis and Enterococcus faecium) used singularly and synergistically on the growth performance, intestinal microbiota and health status of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum) were assessed after 10 weeks feeding on supplemented diets. No significant improvements of weight gain or specific growth rate were observed in the probiotic fed groups. However, a significant improvement of feed conversion ratio was observed in the group fed E. faecium. High levels of probiotic species were observed in the posterior gastrointestinal tract as transient digesta‐associated populations and potentially resident mucosal populations. Bacillus subtilis and B. licheniformis levels accounted for 36% of the total culturable microbial population adhered to the mucosa and 62% in the digesta. E. faecium levels accounted for 45% of the mucosal population and 89% of the population in the digesta. An increase of serum lysozyme activity was observed in the fish fed diets containing the Bacillus probionts and elevated leukocyte levels were observed in fish fed diets containing Bacillus + E. faecium synergistically. The results of the current study demonstrate potential for B. subtilis, B. licheniformis and E. faecium to improve feed utilization, modulate intestinal microbiota and the health status of rainbow trout.     

Identification and characterization of a virus infecting pepper in Southern Primorskii Krai

Infection of pepper caused by an isometric virus with a 30 ± 3 nm virion diameter is revealed. The thermal inactivation point of virus in jimsonweed sap is 75–80°C, longevity in vitro 3 days at 25°C, and dilution end-point of virus 10^?3–10^?4. The capsid of the virus contains two types of protein with molecular mass 55 and 12.6 kDa. A distant antigenic relatedness to the tobacco ringspot virus of the genus Nepovirus is shown.     

The crystal structure of human Argonaute2

Argonaute proteins form the functional core of the RNA-induced silencing complexes that mediate RNA silencing in eukaryotes. The 2.3 angstrom resolution crystal structure of human Argonaute2 (Ago2) reveals a bilobed molecule with a central cleft for binding guide and target RNAs. Nucleotides 2 to 6 of a heterogeneous mixture of guide RNAs are positioned in an A-form conformation for base pairing with target messenger RNAs. Between nucleotides 6 and 7, there is a kink that may function in microRNA target recognition or release of sliced RNA products. Tandem tryptophan-binding pockets in the PIWI domain define a likely interaction surface for recruitment of glycine-tryptophan-182 (GW182) or other tryptophan-rich cofactors. These results will enable structure-based approaches for harnessing the untapped therapeutic potential of RNA silencing in humans.     

Resistant Starch Escaped from Ethanol Production: Evidence from Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy of Distiller's Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS)

The origin of resistant starch (RS) in distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) of triticale, wheat, barley, and corn from dry‐grind ethanol production was studied. A considerable portion of starch (up to 18% in DDGS) escaped from either granular starch hydrolysis or conventional jet‐cooking and fermentation processes. Confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed that some starch granules were still encapsulated in cells of grain kernel or embedded in protein matrix after milling and were thus physically inaccessible to amylases (type RS1). The crystalline structures of native starch granules were not completely degraded by amylases, retaining the skeletal structures in residual starch during granular starch hydrolysis or leaving residue granules and fragments with layered structures after jet‐cooking followed by the liquefaction and saccharification process, indicating the presence of RS2. Moreover, retrograded starch molecules (mainly amylose) as RS3, complexes of starch with other nonfermentable components as RS4, and starch–lipid complexes as RS5 were also present in DDGS. In general, the RS that escaped from the granular starch hydrolysis process was mainly RS1 and RS2, whereas that from the jet‐cooking process contained all types of RS (RS1 to RS5). Thus, the starch conversion efficiency and ethanol yield could be potentially affected by the presence of various RS in DDGS.     

Effect of Nitrogen Fertilization on Quantity of Flour Protein Components,Dough Properties,and Breadmaking Quality of Wheat

Three winter wheat varieties with differing breadmaking quality were grown at two locations in two years at 0 or 3 × 60 kg of nitrogen application. The effect of nitrogen on amount of different components of gluten proteins was determined by reverse-phase HPLC. A high amount of nitrogen led generally to a significant increase of total protein content. However, this increase was obvious only for the gluten proteins; albumins and globulins remained nearly unaffected. The effect of increased protein content on gliadin to glutenin (gli-glu) ratio was inconsistent. While increased protein content increased the gli-glu ratio in the variety Capo, the opposite was true for the variety Renan. Gli-glu ratio of the variety Lindos showed no discernible tendency. As total protein content increased, the ratio of low molecular weight (LMW) to high molecular weight (HMW) glutenins decreased consistently, i.e., in all varieties, in both years and locations. Change of LMW to HMW ratio showed a significant negative correlation to sedimentation value and bread volume. There was no consistent change in the ratio between x- and y-type HMW subunits due to fertilization, as could be shown by densitometric measurements on SDS-PAGE gels. This ratio appeared to be dependent on the genotype and has decreased with decreasing quality. The amount of x-type subunits correlated closely with sedimentation value and bread volume. These results suggest that ratio of HMW glutenins, especially x-type subunits, to total protein content could be the best early detectable parameter with high predictive value for breadmaking quality.     

Determination of potassium guaiacolsulfonate by ion-pairing partition chromatography.

Potassium guaiacolsulfonate, a highly polar, acidic substance, is readily eluted by chloroform from a pH 4.5 Celite column in the form of its ion-pair with trihexylamine, thereby effecting facile separation from other pharmaceuticals. The sulfonic acid is then back-extracted into aqueous alkali and determined spectrophotometrically. Assay of standard solutions by this procedre averaged 100.44 plus or minus 0.81%. The method was applied successfully to 4 commercial cough preparations containing a variety of other drugs.     

Woodland conservation in eastern England: Comparing the effects of changes in three study areas since 1946

Changes in all woodlands within study areas in Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire between 1946 and 1972/73 are enumerated using air photographs and ground survey. These conformed to national, long-term trends from coppice to high forest management and from native to introduced species. Differences between areas are ascribed to variation in the relative importance of forestry and agriculture. The effects on wildlife and scientific interest were assessed against criteria developed from an historical approach to woodland conservation, and by examining the area of woodland available to species requiring woodland of particular physiognomy and origin. Modern forestry as an alternative to agriculture has probably favoured species which are good colonisers, catholic in their woodland requirements, and/or require conifers. Species which are poor colonisers and/or require broadleaf woodland have probably declined most in those areas where reforestation has been extensive, and have survived best where forestry has been insignificant in relation to agriculture. Since these are the species most highly valued for conservation and because they are correlated in their occurence with features of special scientific interest, modern forestry is judged to have been relatively harmful to conservation values in Eastern England during the study period. However, the net long-term effects of modern forestry on woodland conservation values are difficult to predict, for this depends partly on the fate of woods in areas devoted mainly to agriculture, which are unlikely to be managed by modern forestry methods.