Changes in rumen bacterial and archaeal communities over the transition period in primiparous Holstein dairy cows

In the present study, we hypothesized that the rumen bacterial and archaeal communities would change significantly over the transition period of dairy cows, mainly as an adaptation to the classical use of low-grain prepartum and high-grain postpartum diets. Bacterial 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of rumen samples from 10 primiparous Holstein dairy cows revealed no changes over the transition period in relative abundance of genera such as Ruminococcus, Butyrivibrio, Clostridium, Coprococcus, and Pseudobutyrivibrio. However, other dominant genus-level taxa, such as Prevotella, unclassified Ruminococcaceae, and unclassified Succinivibrionaceae, showed distinct changes in relative abundance from the prepartum to the postpartum period. Overall, we observed individual fluctuation patterns over the transition period for a range of bacterial taxa that, in some cases, were correlated with observed changes in the rumen short-chain fatty acids profile. Combined results from clone library and terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analyses, targeting the methyl-coenzyme M reductase α-subunit (mcrA) gene, revealed a methanogenic archaeal community dominated by the Methanobacteriales and Methanomassiliicoccales orders, particularly the genera Methanobrevibacter, Methanosphaera, and Methanomassiliicoccus. As observed for the bacterial community, the T-RFLP patterns showed significant shifts in methanogenic community composition over the transition period. Together, the composition of the rumen bacterial and archaeal communities exhibited changes in response to particularly the dietary changes of dairy cows over the transition period.     

Kinetic evaluation of removal of odorous contaminants in a three-stage biological air filter

Biofiltration is a cost-effective technology for removing air contaminants from animal facilities. Kinetic analysis can be helpful in understanding and designing the process but has not been performed on full-scale filters treating complex mixtures. In this study, kinetics was investigated in a full-scale biological filter treating air pollutants from a pig facility. Due to the high air flow rates used in the filter, both a plug flow model and a model based on complete mixing were tested with respect to kinetic order and Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Application of these models only gave poor to moderate agreement with air filter removal data. Two alternative kinetic models (Stover-Kincannon model and Grau second-order model) adopted from wastewater biofiltration process analysis were introduced to analyze contaminant removal in the biological air filter. Data analysis demonstrated the applicability of these two models with a high degree of precision on contaminant removal in the biological air filter. Whereas the Stover-Kincannon model demonstrated that pollutant removal rates were related to the mass loading rates, the Grau second-order kinetic model indicated that the removal efficiencies were dependent on air loading rates. Therefore, the kinetic data can be used for comparing biofilter performances and for design purposes.     

Effect of season and fishing ground on the activity of cathepsin B and collagenase in by-products from cod species

Cathepsin B and collagenase are important enzymes in the quality-deteriorating processes of fish products. Fish by-products are the left-overs after preparation of the main product and are highly perishable fractions of the fish. They do, however, contain high-quality protein with a potential for utilization. This study characterizes the activity of cathepsins B and collagenase in by-products from five species of cod caught in different fishing grounds and in different seasons. Mean maximum cathepsin B activity was measured at 35 °C in the viscera and the liver, and 50 °C in cut off, while collagenase showed mean maximum activity at 20 °C in cut off, 35 °C in liver and 50 °C in viscera. Species, season and fishing ground significantly affected activity of cathepsin B and collagenase in cut off samples, while viscera samples were not significantly affected. Cathepsin B was more heat stable than collagenase in all three fractions. Both cathepsin B and collagenase from cut off were less heat stable than the corresponding enzymes from the other two fractions.     

Market power in the European electricity market—The impacts of dry weather and additional transmission capacity

This paper uses a static computational game theoretic model of a fully opened European electricity market and can take strategic interaction among electricity-producing firms into account. The model is run for a number of scenarios: first, in the baseline under perfect competition, the prices differ due to the presence of various generation technologies and a limited ability to exchange electricity among countries. In addition, when large firms exercise market power, the model runs indicate that prices are the highest in countries where the number of firms is low. Second, dry weather would increase the prices in the hydro-rich Nordic countries followed by the Alpine countries. The price response would be about 20% higher with market power. Third, more transmission capacity would lower the prices in countries with high prices and it also reduces the impact of market power. Hence, more transmission capacity can improve market competitiveness.     

Epoxide Hydrolase‐Catalysed Kinetic Resolution of a Spiroepoxide,a Key Building Block of Various 11‐Heterosteroids

Two microbial epoxide hydrolases – i.e., Aspergillus niger (AnEH) and Rhodococcus erythropolis (the so‐called “Limonene EH”: LEH) were used to achieve, for the first time, the biocatalysed hydrolytic kinetic resolution (BHKR) of spiroepoxide rac‐ 1 . This compound is a strategic key building block allowing the synthesis of 11‐heterosteroids. Interestingly enough, the two enzymes exhibited opposite and therefore complementary enantioselectivity allowing us to isolate the residual (R,R)‐ 1 (from AnEH) and the residual (S,S)‐ 1 (from LEH) in nearly enantiopure forms (>98 %). Their absolute configurations were determined by X‐ray crystallography. An opposite regioselectivity of the oxirane ring opening for both enantiomers of substrate 1 , determined using H₂¹⁸O labelling and chiral GC‐MS analysis, was also observed, corresponding to an attack at the less substituted carbon atom using AnEH, and at the most substituted carbon atom using LEH. A chemical process‐improving methodology was also developed. This allowed us to obtain both enantiomers of the substrate in high enantiomeric purity (99 %) and optimised quantity. In the case of the AnEH, the use of a biphasic (water/isooctane) reaction medium allowed us to increase the global substrate concentration up to 200 g/ L. The preparation of both enantiomers of 1 clearly paves the way to the preparative scale synthesis and biochemical evaluation of the corresponding 11‐heterosteroid enantiomers.     

Space-resolved study of binder burnout process in dry pressed ZnO ceramics by neutron imaging

A novel non-destructive space-resolved method for studying binder burnout is presented. Debinding of dry pressed zinc oxide green bodies was analyzed by neutron imaging. Neutrons in contrast to X-rays allow penetrating samples with large dimensions up to 80?mm and at the same time detecting variations in the organics content as small as 0.1?wt%. We used neutron radiography (2D) and tomography (3D) to investigate with a spatial resolution in the order of 100?μm the distribution of binder during burnout under three different conditions. First a reference case with green bodies placed on a plate in a lab furnace. Second, a configuration with a reduced volume of air with green bodies enclosed in a sagger and third a green body placed on an improved supporting structure. The method is extendable to other particulate materials and green bodies shaped by processes involving organic binder such as casting, extrusion and injection.     

Privation relative et programmes d'action positive.

Studied the effects of fraternal relative deprivation (FRD) and relative deprivation on behalf of others (RDO) on the promotion of equality in the work force and participation in affirmative action programs by men and women. Human subjects: 89 male and female French adults (aged 18 yrs and older) (university students). The Ss were given a questionnaire on the situation of women in the work force that asked questions on the cognitive and affective dimensions of relative deprivation, behaviors related to promotion of equality of the sexes, and reactions to programs of affirmative action. Factors associated with FRD and with RDO were determined and analyzed statistically according to age, sex, and social priorities. (English abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of baseline responses, in-task feelings, and duration of activity on exercise-induced feeling states in women.

This study investigated the hypothesis that the effects of acute aerobic exercise on feeling states may be influenced by the objective dose of activity, subjective responses during exercise, and preexisting levels of feeling states. College-age women (N?=?80) completed baseline measures and were then randomly assigned to 1 of 4 conditions: attention control for 10 min, or exercise for 10 min, 25 min, or 40 min. Levels of exertion and affect were assessed during exercise, and posttesting occurred 20 min following activity. Exercise enhanced revitalization in comparison with the control condition; however, this effect occurred only for participants scoring low to moderate on the pretest. In addition, in-task feeling states predicted postexercise revitalization even after we controlled for the treatment, the pretest, and the Pretest?×?Treatment interaction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Organizational vs. personal social capital in scientists' performance: A multi-level network study of elite French cancer researchers (1996-1998)

Scientometrics - The difference between individual social capital and organizational (or corporate) social capital has been an important topic of research in sociology during the past decade. The...