Immune dynamics following infection of avian macrophages and epithelial cells with typhoidal and non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica serovars; bacterial invasion and persistence, nitric oxide and oxygen production, differential host gene expression, NF-κB signalling and cell cytotoxicity

Poultry-derived food is a common source of infection of human with the non-host-adapted salmonellae while fowl typhoid and pullorum disease are serious diseases in poultry. Development of novel immune-based control strategies against Salmonella infection necessitates a better understanding of the host-pathogen interactions at the cellular level. Intestinal epithelial cells are the first line of defence against enteric infections and the role of macrophages is crucial in Salmonella infection and pathogenesis. While gene expression following Salmonella infection has been investigated, a comparison between different serovars has not been, as yet, extensively studied in poultry. In this study, chicken macrophage-like cells (HD11) and chick kidney epithelial cells (CKC) were used to study and compare the immune responses and mechanisms that develop after infection with different Salmonella serotypes. Salmonella serovars Typhimurium, Enteritidis, Hadar and Infantis showed a greater level of invasion and/or uptake characters when compared with S. Pullorum or S. Gallinarum. Nitrate and reactive oxygen species were greater in Salmonella-infected HD11 cells with the expression of iNOS and nuclear factor-κB by chicken macrophages infected with both systemic and broad host range serovars. HD11 cells revealed higher mRNA gene expression for CXCLi2, IL-6 and iNOS genes in response to S. Enteritidis infection when compared to S. Pullorum-infected cells. S. Typhimurium- and S. Hadar-infected HD11 showed higher gene expression for CXCLi2 versus S. Pullorum-infected cells. Higher mRNA gene expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6, chemokines CXCLi1 and CXCLi2 and iNOS genes were detected in S. Typhimurium- and S. Enteritidis-infected CKC followed by S. Hadar and S. Infantis while no significant changes were observed in S. Pullorum or S. Gallinarum-infected CKC.     

Development and Characterization of Calcium-Alginate Beads of Apigenin: In Vitro Antitumor,Antibacterial, and Antioxidant Activities

The objective of this work was to develop sustained-release Ca-alginate beads of apigenin using sodium alginate, a natural polysaccharide. Six batches were prepared by applying the ionotropic gelation technique, wherein calcium chloride was used as a crosslinking agent. The beads were evaluated for particle size, drug loading, percentage yield, and in vitro drug release. Particle size was found to decrease, and drug entrapment efficiency was enhanced with an increase in the polymer concentration. The dissolution study showed sustained drug release from the apigenin-loaded alginate beads with an increase in the polymer proportion. Based on the dissolution profiles, BD6 formulation was optimized and characterized for FTIR, DSC, XRD, and SEM, results of which indicated successful development of apigenin-loaded Ca alginate beads. MTT assay demonstrated a potential anticancer effect against the breast cancer MCF-7 cell lines. The antimicrobial activity exhibited effective inhibition in the bacterial and fungal growth rate. The DPPH measurement revealed that the formulation had substantial antioxidant activity, with EC50 value slightly lowered compared to pure apigenin. A stability study demonstrated that the BD6 was stable with similar (f2) drug release profiles in harsh condition. In conclusion, alginate-based beads could be used for sustaining the drug release of poorly water-soluble apigenin while also improving in vitro antitumor, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activity.     

油炸糯米糕营养效应评价及其对血脂健康的影响

为研究食用油炸糯米糕的整体营养健康效应及其对血脂健康的影响,自制纯油炸糯米糕和蒸糯米糕,选用健康雄性小白鼠,分别用油炸糯米糕外壳层、中间层、油炸糯米糕全糕及蒸糯米糕进行6周连续灌胃试验,饲料、葡萄糖作为对照组。采用模拟BDI-GS体系评价法进行营养效价、健康效应评定及试剂盒法对小鼠血脂指标测定,并计算相应指标数据,做图对比分析。结果表明,外壳层组平均日采食量为（5.70 ± 0.56）g,其余各组为6.80 g左右,食用油炸外壳层组的小鼠采食量及体重显著下降;营养健康方面,油炸糯米糕和蒸糯米糕相比无显著差异,各试验样品的累加积分均大于8.0,基本益于机体整体营养和健康;血脂方面,油炸糯米糕全糕会提高小鼠血脂中总胆固醇（TC）和低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）含量,油炸糯米糕外壳层会提高总胆固醇（TC）、甘油三酯（TG）和低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）含量。     

4D visualization of transitional structures in phase transformations by electron diffraction

Complex systems in condensed phases involve a multidimensional energy landscape, and knowledge of transitional structures and separation of time scales for atomic movements is critical to understanding their dynamical behavior. Here, we report, using four-dimensional (4D) femtosecond electron diffraction, the visualization of transitional structures from the initial monoclinic to the final tetragonal phase in crystalline vanadium dioxide; the change was initiated by a near-infrared excitation. By revealing the spatiotemporal behavior from all observed Bragg diffractions in 3D, the femtosecond primary vanadium-vanadium bond dilation, the displacements of atoms in picoseconds, and the sound wave shear motion on hundreds of picoseconds were resolved, elucidating the nature of the structural pathways and the nonconcerted mechanism of the transformation.     

基于主成分分析的云南玉溪市生态安全评价研究

以云南省为研究对象,采用PSR(压力Press-状态State-响应Response)模型建立玉溪市生态安全评价指标体系,运用主成分分析法对200.5-2009年玉溪市的生态安全现状进行分析和综合评价.结果显示,压力指标呈逐年上升趋势,必须在控制人口数量的前提下,加快城市化进程;状态指标同样呈上升趋势,说明政府对公共设施的投入增加,经济发展和环境保护得到了关注;相应指标也呈上升趋势,说明政府为改善环境作出了努力.     

Determination of acidic herbicides and related compounds in water and soil by capillary gas chromatography using a nitrogen-phosphorus detector

Methods are described for the determination of acidic herbicides and related compounds in water and soil. Eight acidic herbicides and related compounds were extracted from water using either dichloromethane or an XAD-2 resin column. The acidic moieties were derivatized with 2-cyanoethyldimethyl(diethyl)aminosilane. The derivatized compounds were separated using capillary gas chromatography and quantitated using a nitrogen-phosphorus detector. Extraction from water using dichloromethane or an XAD-2 resin column resulted in recoveries greater than 90% at 0.1 ppb with an average coefficient of variation (CV) of 6%. In soils extracted with aqueous acetonitrile-acetic acid and partitioned into dichloromethane, recoveries at 500 ppb were greater than 75% with an average CV of 3.3%. The methods are rapid and there are few interferences.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Eimeria bovis</Emphasis> meront I-carrying host cells express parasite-specific antigens on their surface membrane

Host immune responses conducted against antigens of Eimeria bovis are key factors for the development of protective immunity against this protozoan disease. In this study we investigated the expression of E. bovis-derived antigens on the host cell surface membrane during E. bovis first merogony in vitro. Host cells carrying E. bovis-meront I stages expressed E. bovis host cell surface antigens (EbHCSAg) on their surface membrane which were recognised by hyperimmune sera of calves and by sera from rats immunized with E. bovis merozoites I, when tested by indirect immune fluorescent antibody test (IIFAT), laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) and immune electron microscopy. Expression of EbHCSAg on permissive host cells was earliest detected 7 days p. i., thus coinciding with the onset of the parasite replication. Membrane-associated EbHCSAg were removed from infected host cells by proteinase K, partially by Triton X-100, Triton X-114 and Triton X-405, but not by 1 M NaCl, CHAPS or phospholipase C treatment. Antibodies, affinity-purified on paraformaldehyde/glutardialdehyde (PAGA)-fixed E. bovis meront I-infected bovine host cells bound to the surface meront I-carrying cells and to merozoites I (IIFAT, LSCM) but, in contrast to untreated sera, not to sporozoites. When tested on methanol-fixed merozoites I and sporozoites by IIFAT, affinity-purified antibodies bound to structures in the apical complex area of merozoites I, but not to sporozoites, whilst untreated sera caused diffuse labelling of internal structures of both parasite stages. Immune electron microscopy demonstrated binding of affinity-purified antibodies to micronemes and dense granules of merozoites I. Although the function of EbHCSAg is still unknown, results of this study might suggest an involvement in the development of protective immunity against E. bovis infections.     

In vitro maturation and fertilization of prepubertal and pubertal black Bengal goat oocytes

Oocytes retrieval, in vitro maturation (IVM) and fertilization (IVF) efficiency are inevitable steps towards in vitro production of embryos. In the present study, these parameters were investigated in the ovaries of prepubertal (n = 31) and pubertal (n = 61) black Bengal goats obtained from a slaughterhouse. Nuclear maturation was evaluated upon aspiration and following IVM in TCM-199 (Earle''s salt with L-glutamine and sodium bicarbonate) for 27 h at 39℃ under 5% CO₂ in humidified air. The oocytes retrieval and efficiency (mean ± SD) per prepubertal and pubertal goats were 5.2 ± 0.6 and 6.8 ± 0.6, and 77.3 ± 0.1% and 80.5 ± 0.6%, respectively. Anaphase I - telophase I stages differed significantly (7.3 ± 0.8 vs. 2.6 ± 0.2, p < 0.05) between the two groups of goats. After IVM, the percentages of metaphase II were significantly higher (66.3 vs. 60.3, p < 0.05) in pubertal goats than in their prepubertal counterparts. The percentages of normal in vitro fertilization (IVF) in Fert-Tyrode''s albumin lactate pyruvate of pubertal goat oocytes did not differ between Percoll and swim-up sperm separation methods (36.7 ± 0.9% vs. 32.7 ± 1.3%, p > 0.05). Furthermore, sperm capacitation by heparin alone or in combination with ionomycin did not lead to a significant increase in the normal fertilization rate (34.8 ± 1.7 vs. 32.2 ± 1.5%, respectively) in the oocytes of pubertal goats. In conclusion, the ovaries of pubertal black Bengal goats obtained from the slaughterhouse could be used for in vitro embryo production. However, further optimization of the IVM and IVF techniques are necessary for satisfactory in vitro embryo production.     

Assessing solid waste compost application as a practical approach for salt-affected soil reclamation

Abstract

A short-term pot experiment was made to evaluate the effectiveness of municipal solid waste compost amendment on salt-affected soil. Hordeum maritimum plants were cultivated in pots filled with a clay-loam soil containing 0 or 40 t ha^?1 of compost and irrigated with tap water at 0 or 4 g l^?1 NaCl. Soil properties and heavy metal (Zn^{2 +}, Pb^{2 +}, Cd^{2 +}) accumulation were investigated. Municipal solid waste compost application significantly increased the soil contents of carbon, nitrogen and potassium under both non-saline and saline conditions. Soil heavy metal concentrations increased substantially too, but the recorded values were below the toxicity limits. Interestingly, plants subjected to the salt–compost interaction were more vigorous, compared with those grown on non-amended soil. Altogether, our data indicate that short-term utilization of municipal solid waste compost at 40 t ha^?1 may be of potential interest in the perspective of the rehabilitation of salt-affected soils. Yet, it must be stressed that the present findings are preliminary and need to be further evaluated under field conditions before practical recommendations can be inferred.     

Influence of Organic Manures on Soil Characteristics and Yield of Jerusalem Artichoke

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to study the influence of three organic manures, farm yard manure (FYM), poultry manure (PLM), and pigeon manure (PGM), on soil physical and chemical properties on tuber yield of Jerusalem artichoke in a newly reclaimed saline calcareous soil. A field experiment was conducted applying the three manures, alone and/or in different combinations. Soils were investigated at surface (0–30 cm) and subsurface (30–60 cm) layers before and after planting, and analyzed for physical and chemical properties. The results indicated that the application of 31.5 kg ha^?1 of PLM+10.5 kg of PGM T7 recorded highest available nitrogen, zinc, copper, and moisture content at the surface layer. The same results were obtained for iron and manganese at both layers. While, applying 21.0 kg ha^?1 FYM+21.0 kg ha^?1 PLM T10 recorded the best treatment for pH, phosphorus, zinc, copper, moisture content, and saturation percentage at the subsurface layer. Applying 21.0 kg ha^?1 PGM + 10.5 kg ha^?1 FYM+10.5 kg ha^?1 PLM T15 recorded the best treatment for organic matter content and bulk density at surface layer and reduced the electrical conductivity and inulin tuber content at both layers. On the other hand, calcium carbonate and sodium adsorption ratio were reduced in both layers by applying 21.0 kg ha^?1 PLM+10.5 kg ha^?1 FYM+10.5 kg ha^?1 PGM T14. The best treatment for tuber nitrogen content and total yield was obtained with applying 42.0 kg ha^?1 PLM T2 only and 31.5 kg ha^?1 FYM+10.5 kg ha^?1 PLM T4, respectively.