The energy level of the diet in Holstein cows in the first third of lactation alters the expression of immune genes in the mammary gland

Our goal was to define the effect of the energy intake in Holstein cows’ diet in the first third lactation on gene expression profile of immune system in mammary gland through RNA-seq. Twelve Holstein cows were used in the first third of lactation, arranged in four treatments or diets: (a) hypocaloric (HYPO, 85% of the net energy of lactation (NEl) requirements), (b) isocaloric (ISO, 100% of the NEl requirements, control diet), (c) hypercaloric (HYPER, 115% of the NEl requirements) and (d) isocaloric plus sunflower oil supplementation (OIL, 106% of the NEl requirements). A biopsy of mammary gland tissue was carried out after 25 days per diet, from which the RNA was extracted and sequenced using the Illumina HiSeqTM 2,500 sequencer. The analysis of reads obtained from the sequencing in the QIAGEN® CLC Genomics Workbench 10.0 bioinformatics software was performed. From 27,368 genes annotated in the reference genome, 17,429 genes expressed in the evaluated treatments were identified. Moreover, 1,743 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found, of which 15 DEGs were found in the ISO vs. OIL comparison, 1,196 DEGs in the ISO vs. HYPO comparison and 532 DEGs in the ISO vs. HYPER comparison. Thus, of the 1,743 DEGs, 401 correspond to genes involved in the functioning of the immune system, encompassing 23% of the total number of DEGs involved in the analysis, and 13.6% of the total number of genes involved in the functioning of the immune system. The energy intake in Holstein cows’ diet has impact in the expression of immune genes CXCL13, TRDC among others, present in the regulation of immune system processes. This immune system altered might increase the somatic cells score and therefore reach some diseases. It is recommended to measure the energy intake according to the animals’ energy requirements and to cover them the closest to the 100%.     

Potential impact of harvesting for the long-term conservation of arboreal marsupials

We used a simulation approach to study the trade-off between forest harvesting and the conservation of arboreal marsupials in managed eucalypt forests of south-eastern New South Wales (Australia). The EDEN gap model is used to predict tree biomass harvested and the resulting shifts in habitat quality (HQ) for arboreal marsupials under different harvesting scenarios. These harvesting scenarios generate a gradient of biomass harvested by varying rotation length and tree retention in different topographic positions. The results suggest that the shape of the curve of reduction of HQ along the harvesting gradient is very sensitive to topographic position and hence to the proportion of topographic units in the landscape. Consequently arboreal marsupial management in logged forests will be region-dependent as each region will have its own pattern of landscape complexity.     

Assessment of the relative contribution of dietary nitrogen from fish meal and biofloc meal to the growth of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)

The relative contribution of the dietary nitrogen supplied by fish meal and a biofloc meal to the growth of Pacific white shrimp was evaluated using stable isotope analysis. Biofloculated material was obtained from an experimental tilapia culture system. Five formulated diets were supplied. Two of them consisted in isotopic controls having only fish meal or biofloc meal as protein source. Three mixed diets were formulated with varying proportions of these ingredients on a dietary nitrogen basis (75:25, 50:50 and 25:75). At the end of the trial, survival rates were similar (92–100%) but significant differences in mean final weight were observed and a negative correlation between the inclusion of biofloc meal and weight gain was evidenced. Mean final weight in shrimp fed on diet containing only fish meal was 2.8 g, while mean final weight of animals fed on diet containing 50% biofloc was 1.9 g. Isotopic mixing models indicated that all diets contributed higher proportions of dietary nitrogen from fish meal than from biofloc meal. Dietary nitrogen available in diets containing 25%, 50% and 75% of biofloc meal was incorporated in muscle tissue as 5%, 41% and 64% respectively. Diet supplying 25% of nitrogen from biofloc was the only mixed diet eliciting growth comparable to diet containing only fish meal. Lower growth and nitrogen deposition in shrimp fed on diets containing high proportions of biofloc meal were possibly associated to the use of only two protein sources and a restriction of essential amino acids.     

广东沿岸牡蛎体内HCHs的时空分布特征

于1989—1993和2003—2012年间每年春季采集广东沿岸的近江牡蛎样品(Crassostrea rivularis Gould),用气相色谱法测定其中六六六(HCHs)的含量,并结合1980—1985年广东省海岸带污染调查的相关数据,分析和探讨了广东沿岸牡蛎中六六六(HCHs)的时空分布特征,并评价了其食用风险与生物质量.结果表明,广东沿岸牡蛎体内HCHs含量范围在未检出~42.4 ng/g之间,平均值为(1.70±6.13) ng/g,总体检出率为92.3%.广东沿岸海域牡蛎体内HCHs自20世纪80年代初期禁用六六六以来先快速下降,90年代以后降幅放缓并逐渐趋于平稳,30年间HCHs含量降低至20世纪80年代初期的0.06%.在空间上,80年代初期珠江口岸段HCHs含量远高于粤东和粤西岸段,随着时间的推移,粤西岸段HCHs的含量比逐渐升高,而珠江口的则逐渐降低,三者含量差距缩小.HCHs组分特征分析认为,80年代末期以来,广东沿岸海域牡蛎体内HCHs主要来源于历史使用残留,但在20世纪90年代到21世纪初期期间,广东沿岸地区牡蛎体内HCHs可能源于林丹的使用.评价结果表明,所有样品中HCHs均远低于中国相关残留限量标准,但1989年有75.0%的样品中HCHs超出中国《海洋生物质量》一类标准;通过食用牡蛎,每日HCHs摄入量在0.11~83.62 ng/(kg·d),远低于世界粮农组织(FAO)和世界卫生组织(WHO)规定的每日允许摄入量.     

应用重金属和有机污染物对人体健康的风险评价理论反推牡蛎安全消费量

为了提供牡蛎食用安全性参考信息,文章根据有毒化学物质的人体健康风险评估计算式,提出了牡蛎适宜消费量推算方法;对2007年春季在南海北部沿岸23个海湾采集的近江牡蛎（Crassostrea rivularis）样品,用气相色谱法测定了其中有机氯农药、多氯联苯的含量,用原子吸收分光光度法和原子荧光分光光度法测定了其中重金属的含量,推算了近江牡蛎的适宜消费量。结果能清晰地显示牡蛎采集海域、有毒化学物质种类对应的近江牡蛎软组织日均适宜消费量。     

Punicalagin and catechins contain polyphenolic substructures that influence cell viability and can be monitored by radical chemosensors sensitive to electron transfer

Plant polyphenols may be free radical scavengers or generators, depending on their nature and concentration. This dual effect, mediated by electron transfer reactions, may contribute to their influence on cell viability. This study used two stable radicals (tris(2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-4-nitrophenyl)methyl (TNPTM) and tris(2,4,6-trichloro-3,5-dinitrophenyl)methyl (HNTTM)) sensitive only to electron transfer reduction reactions to monitor the redox properties of polyphenols (punicalagin and catechins) that contain phenolic hydroxyls with different reducing capacities. The use of the two radicals reveals that punicalagin's substructures consisting of gallate esters linked together by carbon-carbon (C-C) bonds are more reactive than simple gallates and less reactive than the pyrogallol moiety of green tea catechins. The most reactive hydroxyls, detected by TNPTM, are present in the compounds that affect HT-29 cell viability the most. TNPTM reacts with C-C-linked gallates and pyrogallol and provides a convenient way to detect potentially beneficial polyphenols from natural sources.     

Antioxidant and cellular activities of anthocyanins and their corresponding vitisins A--studies in platelets, monocytes, and human endothelial cells

During red wine aging, there is a loss of anthocyanins and the formation of various other pigments, so-called vitisins A, which are formed through the chemical interaction of the original anthocyanins with pyruvic acid. The objective of this study was to investigate the antioxidant activities of the most abundant anthocyanins present in red wine (glycosides of delphinidin, petunidin, and malvidin) and their corresponding vitisins A. Anthocyanins exhibited a higher iron reducing as well as 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) and peroxyl radical scavenging activity than their corresponding vitisins A. Delphinidin showed the highest antioxidant effect of the tested compounds in all of the assays used. Furthermore, we studied the effect of anthocyanins and vitisins A on platelet aggregation and monocyte and endothelial function. Anthocyanins and vitisins did not affect nitric oxide production and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) secretion in lipopolysaccharide plus interferon-gamma-activated macrophages. Furthermore, anthocyanins and vitisins did not change collagen-induced platelet aggregation in vitro. However, anthocyanins and to a lesser extent vitisins exhibited protective effects against TNF-alpha-induced monocyte chemoattractant protein production in primary human endothelial cells.     

Modelling jay (Garrulus glandarius) abundance and distribution for oak regeneration assessment in Mediterranean landscapes

Because natural regeneration of oak is strongly dependent on jay abundance and distribution, we need to understand the determinants of jay abundance and occurrence as a first step to assess oak regeneration. In this paper we modelled the jay population distribution and abundance in a Mediterranean landscape mosaic of the eastern Iberian Peninsula (Valencia, east Spain). The methodology was based on assessing landscape attributes (habitat composition and configuration variables) on seven 9-km² sites and registering jay fledgling locations. Using a stepwise regression model we determined the variables that best explained the jay density. The probability of occurrence of jay nests within each site was assessed by comparing the landscape attributes of jay and non-jay areas within each site. Results were validated by predicting each site on the basis of data from the remaining six sites and then calculating the deviation between the predicted and the observed values in the field. The results suggest that jay density correlates positively with forest cover and landscape heterogeneity variables, and negatively with shrubland cover. Validation of the results showed that the model is reasonably effective in predicting both jay abundance and distribution at the extent and resolution used.     

Equine Chorionic Gonadotropin (eCG) improves bucks’ semen quality during the nonbreeding season

In most goat breeds, testosterone serum concentration and semen quality decrease during the nonbreeding season. However, bucks reproductive activity may be stimulated with the administration of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG). Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether the repeated administration of eCG stimulates the reproductive status of bucks during the nonbreeding season. The study was performed with 19 bucks that were assigned to a group that was treated with eCG (GeCG) and an untreated control group (GCon). The GeCG bucks received an initial dose of 800 IU of eCG (Day 0), followed by four doses of 500 IU administered every 5 days beginning on Day 5. Serum testosterone and anti‐eCG antibody concentrations, testicular and seminal traits were determined until Day 60. Testosterone concentration (from Day 3 to 21: p < 0.0001), anti‐eCG titre (from Day 12 to 44: p ≤ 0.01), percentage of motile spermatozoa (Day 6: p = 0.006 and 14: p = 0.001) and of spermatozoa with progressive motility (Day 6: p = 0.01 and 14: p = 0.002) and the percentage of spermatozoa with functional membrane (Day 6: p = 0.02 and 22: p = 0.008) were higher in GeCG than in GCon bucks. Also in frozen‐thawed samples, the percentage of motile spermatozoa tended to be higher in GeCG than that of GCon bucks (p = 0.07). In conclusion, the administration of eCG during the nonbreeding season stimulated the secretion of testosterone and improved fresh and possibly frozen‐thawed semen quality. However, it also resulted in an increase in anti‐eCG antibody titre.