Microbiological quality and somatic cell count in bulk milk of dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius): Descriptive statistics,correlations, and factors of variation

The objectives of the present study were to monitor the microbiological quality and somatic cell count (SCC) of bulk tank milk at the world’s first large-scale camel dairy farm for a 2-yr period, to compare the results of 2 methods for the enumeration of SCC, to evaluate correlation among milk quality indicators, and to determine the effect of specific factors (year, season, stage of lactation, and level of production) on milk quality indicators. The study was conducted from January 2008 to January 2010. Total viable count (TVC), coliform count (CC), California Mastitis Test (CMT) score, and SCC were determined from daily bulk milk samples. Somatic cell count was measured by using a direct microscopic method and with an automatic cell counter. In addition, production parameters [total daily milk production (TDM, kg), number of milking camels (NMC), average milk per camel (AMC, kg)] and stage of lactation (average postpartum days, PPD) were recorded for each test day. A strong correlation (r = 0.33) was found between the 2 methods for SCC enumeration; however, values derived using the microscopic method were higher. The geometric means of SCC and TVC were 394 × 10³ cells/mL and 5,157 cfu/mL during the observation period, respectively. Somatic cell count was >500 × 10³ cells/mL on 14.6% (106/725) and TVC was >10 × 10³ cfu/mL on 4.0% (30/742) of the test days. Both milk quality indicators had a distinct seasonal pattern. For log SCC, the mean was lowest in summer and highest in autumn. The seasonal pattern of log TVC was slightly different, with the lowest values being recorded during the spring. The monthly mean TVC pattern showed a clear difference between years. Coliform count was <10 cfu/mL in most of the samples (709/742, 95.6%). A positive correlation was found between log SCC and log TVC (r = 0.32), between log SCC and CMT score (r = 0.26), and between log TVC and CC in yr 1 (r = 0.30). All production parameters and stage of lactation showed strong seasonal variation. Log SCC was negatively correlated with TDM (r = −0.35), AMC (r = −0.37), and NMC (r = −0.15) and positively correlated with PPD (r = 0.40). Log TVC had a negative correlation with AMC (r = −0.40) but a positive correlation with NMC (r = 0.32), TDM (r = 0.16), and PPD (r = 0.45). The linear mixed model with stepwise variable selection showed that the main sources of log SCC variation were PPD, TDM, PPD × season, and season. For log TVC, the same factors and year contributed to the variation.     

The Effect of a Fish Oil and/or Probiotic Intervention from Early Pregnancy Onwards on Colostrum Immune Mediators: A Randomized,Placebo-Controlled,Double-Blinded Clinical Trial in Overweight/Obese Mothers

Scope

Modifying the composition of colostrum by external factors may provide opportunities to improve the infant's health. Here, we evaluated how fish oil and/or probiotics supplementation modify concentrations of colostrum immune mediators and their associations with perinatal clinical factors on mothers with overweight/obesity.

Methods and results

Pregnant women were randomized in a double-blind manner into four intervention groups, and the supplements were consumed daily from early pregnancy onwards. Colostrum samples were collected from 187 mothers, and 16 immune mediators were measured using bead-based immunoassays. Interventions modified colostrum composition; the fish oil+probiotics group had higher concentrations of IL-12p70 than probiotics+placebo and higher FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (FLT-3L) than fish oil+placebo and probiotics+placebo (one-way analysis of variance, post-hoc Tukey's test). Although the fish oil+probiotics group had higher levels of IFNα2 compared to the fish oil+placebo group, these differences were not statistically significant after correction for multiple testing. Multivariate linear model revealed significant associations between several immune mediators and the perinatal use of medication.

Conclusion

Fish oil/probiotics intervention exerted a minor effect on concentrations of colostrum immune mediators. However, medication during the perinatal period modulated the immune mediators. These changes in colostrum's composition may contribute to immune system development in the infant.     

创新性淀粉节约方案——通过纤维中的淀粉回收提高纸板生产的可持续性

用于制造再生纸和纸板的纤维原材料中含有大量淀粉。由于微生物的活性,使用回收纤维的纸浆中的过程水通常含有大量淀粉水解酶。这经常导致大多数淀粉在回收纤维进入造纸机之前水解掉,因此潜在地增加了废水中的化学需氧量COD、pH值降低,并且由于碳酸钙溶解使得电导率变高。在本文中,我们提出了一种新颖的提高淀粉再利用及包装纸强度的理念。该理念包括使用特定的淀粉酶抑制剂,防止回收纤维和损纸中的淀粉水解,以及全新的助留系统用以提高淀粉在最终产品中的保留率。淀粉酶抑制剂自身或与杀菌剂组合能够有效防止淀粉水解。这在实验室研究和工厂试验均有所体现。此外,留着率和强度实验表明混凝剂、微聚物和新的高分子聚合物的组合提高了淀粉的留着率和滤水性。     

Inhibitors of the epidermal growth factor receptor in apple juice extract

The polyphenol-rich extract of a consumer-relevant apple juice blend was found to potently inhibit the growth of the human colon cancer cell line HT29 in vitro. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and its subsequent signaling cascade play an important role in the regulation of cell proliferation in HT29 cells. The protein tyrosine kinase activity of an EGFR preparation was effectively inhibited by the polyphenol-rich apple juice extract. Treatment of intact cells with this extract resulted in the suppression of the subsequent mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade. Amongst the so far identified apple juice constituents, the proanthocyanidins B1 and B2 as well as quercetin-3-glc (isoquercitrin) and quercetin-3-gal (hyperoside) were found to possess substantial EGFR-inhibitory properties. However, as to be expected from the final concentration of these potential EGFR inhibitors in the original polyphenol-rich extract, a synthetic mixture of the apple juice constituents identified and available so far, including both proanthocyanidins and the quercetin glycosides, showed only marginal inhibitory effects on the EGFR. These results permit the assumption that yet unknown constituents contribute substantially to the potent EGFR-inhibitory properties of polyphenol-rich apple juice extract. In summary, the polyphenol composition of apple juice possesses promising growth-inhibitory properties, affecting proliferation-associated signaling cascades in colon tumor cells.     

Mineral composition,antioxidant and cytotoxic biopotentials of wild‐growing Ganoderma species (Serbia): G. lucidum (Curtis) P. Karst vs. G. applanatum (Pers.) Pat.

The aim of this work was to analyse mineral composition and chemical profile of two nonedible fungal species: Ganoderma lucidum and Ganoderma applanatum (Fru?ka Gora, Serbia) vs. their antioxidant (ABTS and A.E.A.C. assay) and cytotoxic biopotentials (MTT assay on MCF‐7). Both species were analysed for their content of macro‐ and microelements by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, while phenolic profile of EtOH and H₂O extracts was examined by LC‐MS/MS technique. Both species mostly contained the following ions: K⁺ > Ca²⁺ > Mg²⁺ > Mn²⁺ > Zn²⁺ > Cu²⁺ > Cr³⁺. Among nine phenolic compounds, the highest content of vanillic acid was detected in G. applanatum extracts while protocatechuic acid in EtOH extract and quinic acid in H₂O extract were mostly contained in G. lucidum. Ganoderma applanatum EtOH extract showed the best antioxidant activities related to its phenolic and flavonoid content. Further, the best cytotoxic effect after 72 h was observed in this extract as well.     

Immobilisation of pectinases into PVA gel for fruit juice application

In this study, for the first time, the use of polyvinyl alcohol gel in the form of LentiKats^® to immobilise pectinase was investigated and its application in fruit juice clarification was evaluated. Six pectolytic enzymes were tested for their polygalacturonase (PG) and pectin lyase (PL) activities. Panzyme YieldMASH and Panzyme Smash XXL exhibited maximum PG and PL activity, respectively (P < 0.05), in free and immobilised forms. The immobilised enzymes revealed a good adaptability to an acidic solution like fruit juice. Moreover, the immobilised Panzyme YieldMASH and Panzyme Smash XXL retained about 60% and 74% residual activity, respectively, in the second cycle and more than 30% during the third cycle. After that, both immobilised enzymes retained about 20% of their initial activity after repeating eight times without a significant decrease in the observed activity. The best result in terms of turbidity reduction was obtained in apple juice with immobilised Panzyme YieldMASH (about 80%), and the same % of turbidity reduction was successfully retained in the two following uses.     

Explaining the rapid diffusion of Dutch cogeneration by innovation system functioning

In this paper, we apply the functions of innovation systems theory to explain the successful diffusion of cogeneration technology in The Netherlands. We show that the technological innovation system for cogeneration functioned very well and that this explains for a major part the successful diffusion. We also show that the innovation system was positively influenced by actions of the Dutch government. Government actions were aligned to the needs of the other parties in the innovation system. Finally, we show that part of the successful diffusion can be attributed to changes in the institutional environment that were not intended to stimulate cogeneration.     

Modifying the 5-position of thieno[2,3-d][1,2,3]thiadiazole-6-carboxylate derivatives

Thieno[2,3-d][1,2,3]thiadiazole-6-carboxylates 3 belong to a new group of plant protecting agents as highly potent inducers of systemic acquired resistance (SAR). In order to obtain an enhanced basis set for structure activity relationship studies several modifications of the heteroaromatic core were performed by introduction of various substituents. One approach utilizing metallation techniques led to several 5-substituted derivatives 4a – h of the title compound. Using the chloro-compound 5 obtained via this route the ability to undergo nucleophilic substitution reactions was investigated, representing a complementary strategy towards derivatives 6a – c .     

Verhalten von hochduktilem Beton unter Impaktbelastung

In diesem Aufsatz wird das Materialverhalten von Hochduktilem Beton (engl.: Strain Hardening Cementitious Composite – SHCC) bei Impaktbelastung beschrieben. Dazu werden Ergebnisse aus hochdynamischen Spallations‐Experimenten an einem Hopkinson‐ Bar mit Dehnraten > 140 1/s den Resultaten aus quasi‐statischen, zentrischen Zugversuchen mit Dehnraten von 0,001 1/s gegenübergestellt. Die Auswirkungen hoher Dehnraten auf das Materialverhalten erfolgt anhand eines Vergleiches der zentrischen Zugfestigkeit, des E‐Moduls sowie der Bruchenergie. Die experimentellen Ergebnisse werden zudem mit den Kennwerten anderer Betone in Beziehung gesetzt. Unterschiede im Materialverhalten werden auf Grundlage von Phänomenen der Rissbildung und des Faserauszuges erklärt. Mechanical Behaviour of SHCC under Impact This paper describes the material behaviour of Strain Hardening Cementitious Composite (SHCC) at high strain rates. The results of high dynamic spall experiments using a Hopkinson Bar at strain rates > 140/sec were arrayed against the results of quasistatic, centric tensile tests at strain rates of 0,001/sec. This comparison is based on the parameters of tensile strength, elastic modulus, and fracture energy of the specimens. In addition, the experimental results of SHCC are related to the characteristic values of other concrete types. Differences in material behaviour are explained by the phenomena of crack formation and fibre pullout force.