Nutritive value of sorghum silage for sheep

This study compared ensiled sorghum (ES) from two varieties (first and second cuts) with corn silage (CS) for chemical analysis, total-tract nutrient digestibility, ruminal variables and blood biochemistry metabolites in sheep. Five experimental silages representing first cut ES var. Pegah (PS1), second cut ES var. Pegah (PS2), first cut ES var. Speedfeed (SS1), second cut ES var. Speedfeed (SS2) and CS were assessed for chemical analysis, silage fermentation and anti-quality compounds. Diets consisted of lucerne hay, silage and a premix (at the ratio of 53.5:46:0.5 on a dry matter [DM] basis). Feed consumption, total-tract nutrient digestibility, microbial nitrogen supply (MNS), ruminal variables and blood biochemistry metabolites were determined in a Latin square design of five periods with five male sheep. Compared to sorghum, CS had lower (p < 0.01) concentrations of ash, water-soluble carbohydrates and crude protein, but higher starch, lignin (sa), non-structural carbohydrates and apparent nutrient digestibility. The measurements of pH, lactic acid, NH₃-N and volatile fatty acids (VFA) confirmed that all silages were well-preserved. The anti-quality compound levels in the silages were below the safe limits for ruminants. No differences were observed in feed consumption (p > 0.05) and total-tract digestibility of DM and nutrients (p > 0.05). Rumen pH, NH₃-N, VFA concentrations and acetate to propionate ratio showed no difference among treatments (p > 0.05). Sheep fed on sorghum silage showed a decrease (p < 0.01) in total protozoa, and particularly in the Entodiniae population. There were no differences in cellulolytic bacteria counts (p > 0.05) among treatments. Urinary N, MNS and blood biochemistry metabolites showed no difference among treatments (p > 0.05). Silages from both cuts of sorghum had comparable total-tract nutrient digestibility to CS, therefore, these varieties could be used as a more drought resilient silage source in the feeding of sheep.     

Effects of Stocking Density and Monosex Culture of Freshwater Prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii on Growth and Production in Concrete Tanks in Saudi Arabia

Abstract This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of stocking density and monosex culture on growth, survival, yield and feed conversion ratio of freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii in concrete tanks. Juvenile prawns with an average weight of 1.8 g were stocked into triplicate tanks at densities of 5, 10, 15 and 20 prawns/m², grown for 168 d and fed a 34% tilapia diet. Stocking density had significant effect on prawns. Final mean body weight decreased with the increasing density, being highest at 5 prawns/m² (29.6 9). and lowest at 20 prawns/m² (17.4 g). Total yield increased from 135 g/m² (1,350 kg/ha) at a density of 5 prawns/m² to 261 g/m² (2,610 kg/ha) at density 15/m^z to 245 g/m² (2,450 kg/ha) at 20/m^z. Feed conversion ratios were high and ranged from 3.7 (5 prawns/m²) to 5.6 (20 prawns/m²).
In monosex culture of freshwater prawns stocked in triplicate tanks at a density of 5 prawns/m² for 112 d, the all-male population had the best growth performance and feed conversion ratio, followed by the mixed-sex and all-female populations. The all-male population had 99% marketable prawns (>20 g) with an average yield of 159 g/m² (1,590 kg/ha); the mixed-sex population had 90% marketable prawns and the yield was 135 g/m^z (1,350 kg/ha); and the all-female population had 75% marketable prawns with an average yield of 108 g/m² (1,080 kgha).     

Zur Wirkung von Temperatur und Photoperiode auf die Entwicklung,Ernährung und Eiablage der Raubmilbe Amblyseius swirskii Ath.-Henr. (Acari,Gamasida, Phytoseiidae)

Amblyseius swirskii was reared on immature stages ofTetranychus urticae Koch, under 4 temperature and 3 photoperiod regimes. The raise of temperature produced more rapid development and reduced the adult longevity. The mite feeding capacity and fecundity were positively correlated with temperature. At a photoperiod of 16 h the predator developed quicker but it introduced a considerably lower prey consumption and fecundity.     

Production of Induced Secondary Metabolites by a Co-Culture of Sponge-Associated Actinomycetes,Actinokineospora sp. EG49 and Nocardiopsis sp. RV163

Two sponge-derived actinomycetes, Actinokineospora sp. EG49 and Nocardiopsis sp. RV163, were grown in co-culture and the presence of induced metabolites monitored by ¹H NMR. Ten known compounds, including angucycline, diketopiperazine and β-carboline derivatives 1–10, were isolated from the EtOAc extracts of Actinokineospora sp. EG49 and Nocardiopsis sp. RV163. Co-cultivation of Actinokineospora sp. EG49 and Nocardiopsis sp. RV163 induced the biosynthesis of three natural products that were not detected in the single culture of either microorganism, namely N-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-acetamide (11), 1,6-dihydroxyphenazine (12) and 5a,6,11a,12-tetrahydro-5a,11a-dimethyl[1,4]benzoxazino[3,2-b][1,4]benzoxazine (13a). When tested for biological activity against a range of bacteria and parasites, only the phenazine 12 was active against Bacillus sp. P25, Trypanosoma brucei and interestingly, against Actinokineospora sp. EG49. These findings highlight the co-cultivation approach as an effective strategy to access the bioactive secondary metabolites hidden in the genomes of marine actinomycetes.     

Mesenchymal Stem Cells as an Alternative for Schwann Cells in Rat Spinal Cord Injury

Background: Spinal cord has a limited capacity to repair; therefore, medical interventions are necessary for treatment of injuries. Transplantation of Schwann cells has shown a great promising result for spinal cord injury (SCI). However, harvesting Schwann cell has been limited due to donor morbidity and limited expansion capacity. Furthermore, accessible sources such as bone marrow stem cells have drawn attentions to themselves. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the effect of bone marrow-derived Schwann cell on functional recovery in adult rats after injury. Methods: Mesenchymal stem cells were cultured from adult rats’ bone marrow and induced into Schwann cells in vitro. Differentiation was confirmed by immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR. Next, Schwann cells were seeded into collagen scaffolds and engrafted in 3 mm lateral hemisection defects. For 8 weeks, motor and sensory improvements were assessed by open field locomotor scale, narrow beam, and tail flick tests. Afterwards, lesioned spinal cord was evaluated by conventional histology and immunohistochemistry. Results: In vitro observations showed that differentiated cells had Schwann cell morphology and markers. In this study, we had four groups (n = 10 each): laminectomy, control, scaffold and scaffold + Schwann cells. Locomotor and sensory scores of cell grafted group were significantly better than control and scaffold groups. In histology, axonal regeneration and remyelination were better than control and scaffold groups. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that bone marrow-derived Schwann cells can be considered as a cell source for Schwann cells in SCI treatment. Key Words: Rats, Spinal cord injuries (SCI), Bone marrow, Schwann cells, Cell transdifferentiation     

Syntheses of (Z,E)-5,7-dodecadienol and (E,Z)-10,12-hexadecadienol,lepidoptera pheromone components,via zinc reduction of enyne precursors. test of pheromone efficacy against the Siberian moth

Efficient syntheses of (Z,E)-5,7-dodecadienol, a pheromone component of the Siberian moth, Dendrolimus superans sibiricus, and (E,Z)-10,12-hexadecadienol, a pheromone component of various Lepidoptera pheromones, were accomplished by cis reduction of the corresponding enynols with activated zinc. The most energetic reagent was zinc galvanized with copper and silver (Zn/Cu/Ag) that achieved rapid and high-yield reduction in methanol-water. The stereoselectivity of semi-hydrogenation was > or =98%. A process whereby zinc dust was continuously activated throughout the reduction with an acid was also satisfactory (95-98% cis). Field evaluation of the 1:1 mixture of (Z,E)-5,7-dodecadienol and (Z,E)-5,7-dodecadienal with the Siberian moth in Russia showed that the rubber septa pretreated with compound and stored at -80 degrees C were as effective as freshly treated septa. Moth responses to septa aged in open air indicated that lure effectiveness declined significantly after 2 weeks of aging. Thus, if rubber septa are used as pheromone dispensers in Siberian moth traps monitoring, they should be replaced biweekly with fresh septa for optimal trap effectiveness.     

Rapid reverse phase liquid chromatographic determination of aflatoxin M1 in milk

A rapid, economical, and reliable liquid chromatographic (LC) method is described for determination of aflatoxin M1 in milk. The method includes an improved AOAC extraction procedure, cleanup of the extract on a silica cartridge, and LC quantitation. Alternatively, a rapid column cleanup procedure can be used. Milk artificially spiked with aflatoxin M1 at 0.05, 0.1, and 0.5 ppb was analyzed using both new approaches as well as an AOAC method coupled with LC for quantitation of the toxin. Recovery of aflatoxin M1 by the first approach of the new method ranged between 93.4 and 99.1%, and for the alternative procedure between 92.4 and 96.8%. The AOAC method gave lower recovery (85.6-90.7%) of toxin, but the results from this method had a somewhat smaller standard deviation for replicate analyses than did results of the new method.