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PubMed1987

Eggshell quality as influenced by sodium bicarbonate, calcium source, and photoperiod.

The effects of Ca source (limestone or a mixture of one-third limestone and two-thirds oyster shell), NaHCO3 (0 or .5%) and feeding photoperiod (16 or 24 hr) were studied in a 16-week experiment involving 240 Hy-Line W-36 Leghorn hens, 25 weeks of age. Neither egg production (percent hen-day and egg mass, kg egg/bird per 16 weeks) nor feed conversion ratio (kg feed per kg egg) were significantly (P greater than .05) affected by dietary treatment or photoperiod. However, extending the photoperiod to 24 hr significantly (P less than .05) increased feed consumption with a consequent increase in egg weight (P less than .01). Feeding oyster shell in combination with limestone significantly (P less than .05) improved specific gravity of eggs, whereas dietary NaHCO3 significantly (P less than .01) improved elasticity of the egg shell as measured by deformation. Eggshell quality was improved by increasing the photoperiod to 24 hr and was most pronounced when hens were fed diets supplemented with .5% NaHCO3 and limestone as the only source of Ca.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Selection on body size and sexual size dimorphism differs between host species in a seed-feeding beetle.

Sexual size dimorphism varies substantially among populations and species but we have little understanding of the sources of selection generating this variation. We used path analysis to study how oviposition host affects selection on body size in a seed-feeding beetle (Stator limbatus) in which males contribute large ejaculates (nuptial gifts) to females. Females use nutrients in these ejaculates for egg production. Male body size, which affects ejaculate size, affects female fecundity and is thus under fecundity selection similar in magnitude to the fecundity selection on female body size. We show that when eggs are laid on a host on which larval mortality is low (seeds of Acacia greggii) fecundity predicts fitness very well and fecundity selection is the major source of selection on both male and female adult size. In contrast, when eggs are laid on a host on which larval mortality is high (seeds of Parkinsonia florida) fecundity poorly predicts fitness such that fecundity selection is relaxed on both male and female size. However, because egg size affects larval mortality on this poor host (P. florida) there is selection on female size via the female size --> egg size --> fitness path; this selection via egg size offsets the reduction in fecundity selection on female, but not male, body size. Thus, differences in host suitability (due to differences in larval mortality) affect the relative importance of two sources of selection on adult body size; fecundity selection on both male and female body size is lower on the poor quality host (P. florida) relative to the high quality host (A. greggii) whereas selection on female body size via effects of egg size on offspring survival (body size --> egg size --> fitness) is greater on the poor quality host relative to the high quality host. Because selection via the egg size path affects only females the difference in larval survival between hosts shifts the relative magnitude of selection on female vs. male size. Researchers working on other study systems should be alerted to the possible importance of subtle, but consequential, indirect selection on their study organisms.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Yolk androgens in the barn swallow (Hirundo rustica): a test of some adaptive hypotheses.

Maternal effects such as androgen in avian eggs can mediate evolutionary responses to selection, allowing manipulation of offspring phenotype and promoting trans-generational adaptive effects. We tested the predictions of two adaptive hypotheses that have been proposed to explain female variation in yolk androgen allocation in birds, using the barn swallow Hirundo rustica as a model. We found no support for the first hypothesis proposing that yolk androgen varies as a function of breeding density in order to prepare offspring for different breeding densities. However, we found experimental support for the hypothesis that female yolk androgen allocation depends on mate attractiveness and that it constitutes an example of differential allocation. Females increased the concentration of androgens in their eggs when mated to males with experimentally elongated tails. Female phenotypic quality as measured by arrival date and clutch size was positively related to egg androgen concentration, consistent with the hypothesis that this is a costly investment, constrained by female condition. We found correlative evidence of a direct relationship between egg androgen concentration and performance of offspring as measured by mass increase.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1982

Fertile life of acrosome-reacted guinea pig spermatozoa.

To study the fertile life of acrosome-reacted guinea pig spermatozoa, spermatozoa were induced to undergo a synchronous acrosome reaction after which vigorously motile acrosome-reacted spermatozoa were isolated from acrosome-intact ones. Acrosome-reacted spermatozoa thus prepared were incubated in vitro for various periods of time before they were mixed with zona-intact and zona-free eggs. Such spermatozoa retained their ability to fertilize zona-intact eggs for at least 2 hours after the acrosome reaction; thereafter they rapidly lost this ability. There was a close correlation between the decline and loss of the ability to penetrate the zona and the loss of hyperactivated motility by spermatozoa, indicating the importance of vigorous motility in passing through the zona. The ability of acrosome-reacted spermatozoa to fertilize zona-free eggs was maintained for many hours even after the spermatozoa had completely lost their capacity to fertilize zona-intact eggs. As long as acrosome-reacted spermatozoa are "alive," they seem to retain the capacity to fuse with the egg plasma membrane regardless of the quality of their motility.

Acrosome↗
PubMed2006

Biorelevant dissolution media as a predictive tool for glyburide a class II drug.

The purpose of this study was to predict the oral absorption of glyburide. Biorelevant dissolution methods, combined with permeability measurements and computational simulations, were used to predict the oral absorption of glyburide. The objective was to establish in vitro/in vivo correlations (IVIVCs) based on the biopharmaceutics drug classification system. The solubility of the glyburide powder was measured in different media. The dissolution behavior of two commercial tablet formulations was tested in different media. Two chemical grades of sodium taurocholate: low quality (LQ)=crude and high quality (HQ)=97% purity, and egg-lecithin: LQ=60% and HQ=99.1% purity were used to prepare fasted state small intestinal fluid (FaSSIF). Simulated intestinal fluid (SIF) and blank FaSSIF without lecithin and taurocholate (BL-FaSSIF) were used as controls. The dissolution tests were performed under constant pH and dynamic pH conditions. The dynamic pH range from 5.0 to 7.5 simulated the biological pH range of gastrointestinal (GI) tract in the fasted state. The drug permeability was studied using Caco-2 cell line. The predictions of the fraction dose absorbed were performed using GastroPlustrade mark. The results of the simulations were compared with actual clinical data taken from a bioequivalence study. The solubility of glyburide was highest in LQ-FaSSIF. The two tablet formulations had significantly different dissolution behaviors in LQ-FaSSIF. The in vitro data was used as the input function into a simulation software. The dynamic LQ-FaSSIF dissolution data achieved the best prediction of the average AUC and C(max) of the clinically observed data. The present study shows that BCS based parameters combined with software simulations can be used to establish an IVIVC for glyburide. In vitro/in silico tools can potentially be used as surrogate for bioequivalence studies.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1997

Helminth surveillance as a prerequisite for anthelmintic treatment in intensive sow herds.

Helminth prevalences in pigs in intensive production systems are often very low due to housing and management factors, and the present study was carried out to examine whether routine anthelmintic treatment in such herds can be replaced by coprological surveillance of the helminth status combined with anthelmintic treatment when necessary. After an initial examination, 25 out of 28 large herds of Danish sows (> or = 50 sows, production of fatteners) were found to have such light helminth infections that routine deworming could be replaced experimentally by coprological examination every 6 months of 10 weaners (10-12 weeks old), 10 fatteners (5-6 months old), 10 dry sows and 10 lactating sows. This coprological surveillance continued in 21 herds of the selected 25 herds for a 3-year period, while it was stopped immediately in one herd due to increasing Ascaris suum prevalences, and ceased after one year in three herds due to other reasons. A. suum was found in all but one of the 25 herds. The most heavily infected age group was the sows, in which the A. suum prevalence was consistently low in approximately half of the herds, while it increased slowly or rapidly in the other half. When this happened, treatment of the breeding stock was recommended which resulted in low prevalences for varying periods of time. Few farmers neglected the recommendations for some time or for all 3 years, which resulted in consistently high prevalences in the sows (e.g. 40-60%). The fatteners were in general more lightly infected with A. suum than the sows, and in approximately 3/4 of the herds the prevalence remained at a low level, while it fluctuated in the remaining herds. No weaners were ever found to excrete eggs, most likely due to unfavourable conditions for egg development in the farrowing pens. Throughout the study Oesophagostomum sp. eggs were found sporadically in the sows of two herds, and in a third herd, Oesophagostomum sp. was introduced after 2 years, probably due to close contact with a neighbour herd. Oesophagostomum sp. was not found in the remaining herds. Eggs of Trichuris sp. were found sporadically. In conclusion, it is recommended that veterinarian advisers evaluate the production systems before suggesting an anthelmintic routine. If helminth infections may be controlled by intensive management and housing alone, coprological surveillance combined with anthelmintic treatment when necessary may replace routine use of anthelmintics. If the surveillance reveals that the infection levels continue to be low unnecessary medication is avoided, and if the infection levels increase, the coprological data obtained can be used to optimize the anthelmintic strategy.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed2006

Chloramphenicol extraction from honey, milk, and eggs using polymer monolith microextraction followed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry determination.

A rapid confirmatory method for monitoring chloramphenicol (CAP) residues in honey, whole milk, and eggs is presented. This method is based on the polymer monolith microextraction (PMME) technique and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (MS). A poly(methacrylic acid-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) monolithic capillary column was selected as the extraction medium. To obtain optimum extraction efficiency, several parameters related to PMME were investigated. After dissolution in 20 mM phosphate solution at pH 4.0 and centrifugation, honey, eggs, or milk samples were directly passed through the extraction tube. The LC-MS instrument was equipped with an electrospray ion source and a single quadrupole. The eluates were analyzed by LC-MS in the negative-ion mode and by monitoring a pair of isotopic ions for the target compound. The in-source collision-induced dissociation process produced confirmatory ions. The recoveries of CAP from real samples spiked at 0.1-10 ng/g (honey), 0.2-10 ng/mL (milk), and 0.2-10 ng/g (egg) were in the range of 85-102%, with relative standard deviations ranging between 2.1% and 8.9%. The limits of detection (S/N = 3) were 0.02 ng/g, 0.04 ng/mL, and 0.04 ng/g in honey, milk, and eggs, respectively. The proposed method was proved to be robust in monitoring CAP residue in honey, milk, and eggs.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Recent trends in the prevalence and distribution of schistosomiasis in the Nile delta region.

In 1983, a survey of 71 villages in the Nile delta demonstrated that the overall prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni and S. haematobium infections was 39% and 5%, respectively. Recent increased availability of praziquantel, combined with Egyptian Ministry of Health-sponsored media efforts to educate the public about schistosomiasis, prompted us to determine the current status of S. mansoni and S. haematobium infections in the delta and evaluate any changes that may have occurred since the previous survey. The same villages that participated in the 1983 survey were resampled in 1990. Stool and urine samples were requested from all occupants over the age of two years in a 5% sample of houses within each village. Stool (Kato) thick smears and urine sediments were read qualitatively at the rural health station. Field-prepared Kato smears and a 20% sample of urine specimens were forwarded to the Ministry of Health Laboratory, where quantitative readings were also performed. Analysis of samples obtained from 17,310 persons revealed that S. mansoni prevalence had decreased to 23% and that S. haematobium prevalence had decreased to 3% (P < 0.001). The highest levels of schistosome infection were found in governates located in the eastern section of the delta. The observed changes in the prevalence of S. mansoni and S. haematobium suggest that control measures are having a favorable impact on schistosomiasis transmission in this region.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[Axillo-femoral bypass: indications and results].

Axillofemoral bypass grafting is an accepted method for the treatment of vascular insufficiency of the lower limb. It is especially useful in high risk patients whose conditions preclude aortofemoral bypass grafting. The goal of our study is to evaluate whether the benefit of this operation outweigh the potential risks in the age group "sixty-plus". We performed 23 axillofemoral bypass grafting procedures (axillofemoral in 20, axillobifemoral in 3 cases) mainly be mean of 8 mm Dacrom prosthesis. The 30-day operative mortality rate was 8.7% and the cumulative 5-year patient survival rate was 52.2%. Overall the 1- and 5-year life table patency rate were 80% and 64%, respectively. The cumulative limb salvage was 90% and 72% at 1 and 5 years. We obtained an average reduction in Fontaine classification of 2 stages in the first year and 1.3 stages after 5 years. The comparison of the cumulative survival rate with the limb salvage rate indicates that advanced age should not be considered a contraindication to performing an axillofemoral bypass graft. The reduction in Fontaine stage means a remarkable improvement in quality of life.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Treatment of septage in constructed wetlands in tropical climate: lessons learnt from seven years of operation.

In tropical regions, where most of the developing countries are located, septic tanks and other onsite sanitation systems are the predominant form of storage and pre-treatment of excreta and wastewater, generating septage and other types of sludges. The septage is disposed of untreated, mainly due to lack of affordable treatment options. This study presents lessons that have been learned from the operation of pilotscale constructed wetlands (CWs) for septage treatment since 1997. The experiments have been conducted by using three CW units planted with narrow-leave cattails (Typha augustifolia) and operating in a vertical-flow mode. Based on the experimental results, it can be suggested that the optimum solids loading rate be 250 kg TS/m2 yr and 6-day percolate impoundment. At these operational conditions, the removal efficiencies of CW units treating septage at the range of 80-96% for COD, TS and TKN were achieved. The biosolid accumulated on the CW units to a depth of 80 cm has never been removed during 7 years of operation, but bed permeability remained unimpaired. The biosolid contains viable helminth eggs below critical limit of sludge quality standards for agricultural use. Subject to local conditions, the suggested operational criteria should be reassessed at the full-scale implementation.

Agriculture↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Identification of recent infectious bronchitis virus isolates that are serologically different from current vaccine strains.

Three 1986 infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) isolates were serotyped by a hemagglutination-inhibition method and were found to be serologically different from the seven strains currently used in regular and specially licensed vaccines in the United States (Mass 41, H52, H120, Conn 46, Fla 18288, JMK, and Ark 99) and from 13 other reference IBV strains. The recent isolates were from layer flocks that had histories of egg-production declines and shell-quality problems. Two of the isolates, one each from Maine and Ohio, were serologically related to a 1983 IBV isolate from layer replacements in Pennsylvania. The third isolate, from Korea, was serologically different from any of the reference strains and the other new isolates.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[Quality evaluation of a dehydrated product based on potato (Solanum tuberosum), lupin (Lupinus mutabilis) and eggs].

After a mathematical evaluation of 20 mixtures containing different proportions of potato (P), lupin (L) and whole egg (E) on dry basis and kept the latter component in a constant amount of 6 per cent, a mixture of 60:34:6 (P:L:E) was chosen for a further experimental work at a lab level because of his better nutritional value for the pre-school children feeding. When an eighteen percent suspension of the mixture mentioned above was dehydrated in a drum drier an adecuate yield of flakes was obtained with an appropriate water absorption. The sensory evaluation test of the dehydrated product as a sauce indicated a higher acceptance than purées. On the other hand, during a 90 days period storage test of the product as flakes, it did not show microbiological problems, although after 45 days rancidity appeared in the dehydrated product.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1996

Prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection and diarrhoea in Nepal.

Three hundred and fifty-four soft, loose or watery stool specimens from patients with acute diarrhoea were screened for the presence of Cryptosporidium oocysts. A modified Ziehl Neelsen with DMSO staining method was used for detecting Cryptosporidium oocysts in the stool samples. The oocysts were identified in 24 (6.8%) of the samples, while 46 samples (13%) showed mixed infections. Children aged between 2 and 10 years were mostly infected by this parasite, while infection was more prevalent in females than in males for all the age groups. These findings suggest that Cryptosporidium is one of the important aetiologic agents of diarrhoea in this population and should be looked for during laboratory investigation of diarrhoeal stool samples.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1999

The influence of oxygen stress on female choice for male nest structure in the common goby.

This study examines the role of dissolved oxygen in modifying female mate choice in the common goby, Pomatoschistus microps. Experimental manipulations of nests showed that under normal (saturated) oxygen conditions, females preferred to spawn in nests with the most elaborate construction, that is, those with the most sand on top and the smallest entrance. Such manipulated nests proved less vulnerable to detection by an egg predator, the shore crab, Carcinus maenas, but these small entrances may reduce oxygenation of eggs. Indeed, in a low oxygen environment females with a choice between nests of high build and nests of low build did not significantly prefer either. This may have been due to weakened preference or perhaps detection of a mismatch between the male's parental quality and the increased ventilation needs of eggs when nest entrance sizes are small and ambient oxygen levels are low. When nests were not manipulated, those males that built small entrances fanned their eggs more often, such that hatching success in the absence of a predator was not related to the initial size of the nest entrance area. Thus, under normal oxygen conditions males may initially build nests with the smallest entrance they are capable of ventilating successfully, and females choosing such males gain from nest camouflage. Under low oxygen, the risk that manipulated males may be unable to compensate fully may outweigh such benefits, and females may use other criteria that signal willingness to provide parental care. Copyright 1999 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Yolk antioxidants vary with male attractiveness and female condition in the house finch (Carpodacus mexicanus).

The manipulation of egg content is one of the few ways by which female birds can alter offspring quality before hatch. Lipid-soluble vitamins and carotenoids are potent antioxidants. Female birds deposit these antioxidants into eggs in variable amounts according to environmental and social conditions, and the quantities deposited into eggs can have effects on offspring health and immunological condition. Allocation theory posits that females will alter the distribution of resources according to mate quality, sometimes allocating resources according to the differential allocation hypothesis (DAH), investing more in offspring sired by better-quality males, and other times allocating resources according to a compensatory strategy, enhancing the quality of offspring sired by lower-quality males. It is unknown, however, whether antioxidants are deposited into eggs according to the DAH or a compensatory strategy. We examined deposition patterns of yolk antioxidants (including vitamin E and three carotenoids) in relation to laying order, mate attractiveness, female condition, and yolk androgen content in the house finch (Carpodacus mexicanus). Female house finches deposited significantly more total antioxidants into eggs sired by less attractive males. Additionally, yolk antioxidant content was significantly positively correlated with female condition, which suggests a cost associated with the deposition of antioxidants into eggs. Finally, concentrations of antioxidants in egg yolks were positively correlated with total yolk androgen content. We suggest that yolk antioxidants are deposited according to a compensatory deposition strategy, enabling females to improve the quality of young produced with less attractive males. Additionally, yolk antioxidants may act to counter some of the detrimental effects associated with high levels of yolk androgens in eggs and, thus, may exert a complementary effect to yolk androgens.

Androgens↗
PubMed2004

Storage of fresh bovine semen in a diluent based on the ionic composition of cauda epididymal plasma.

For artificial insemination (AI) in cattle, much lower insemination doses can be applied when fresh semen is used instead of frozen-thawed semen. However, a particular disadvantage of fresh semen is its limited shelf life. As bovine spermatozoa can be stored for several weeks in the cauda epididymis without negative effects on their fertilizing capacity, it is an interesting organ to serve as a model in order to prolong the shelf life of fresh semen. First, the storage capacity of a diluent [cauda epididymal plasma (CEP-1)] with the same ionic composition, pH and osmolarity as the bovine CEP was compared with a Tris diluent for extended preservation of fresh ejaculated bovine semen. Secondly, the ionic composition of the CEP-1 diluent was modified (CEP-2) and its storage capacity was compared with this of the CEP-1 and Tris diluent. Finally, the effect of addition of different polyols (sorbitol, glycerol, mannitol) and egg yolk concentrations (5, 10 and 20%) to the CEP-2 diluent was assessed. Sperm quality decreased rapidly in the CEP-1 diluent. The quality and especially progressive motility of spermatozoa stored in the CEP-2 diluent were better those in the CEP-1 and Tris diluent. No significant effects of different sugars or egg yolk concentrations on the quality of fresh bovine semen in the CEP-2 diluent were observed. In conclusion, the CEP-2 diluent with 10% egg yolk and 1 g/l sorbitol may be used for extended preservation of fresh bovine semen at 5 degrees C up to 6 days.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Rheological behavior and organoleptic effects of ovalbumin addition in yogurt mousse production.

Yogurt mousse is a novel, high added-value dairy product that has been well received by the market. This paper presents a study of the effect of the addition of ovalbumin to the product on its rheological and organoleptic qualities. The ovalbumin was previously separated from egg white with a high grade of purity using an ion exchange resin synthesized by the authors. Diverse rheological tests at different temperatures and corresponding sensorial assessments were conducted to compare samples without and with added ovalbumin. The obtained results confirm that the product is viscoelastic and combines the properties of foams and emulsions; the elastic component is greater than the viscous component. Moreover, at temperatures ranging from 5 to 15 degrees C, a usual interval of consumption, the product behaves rheologically in a similar way. Conversely, the addition of ovalbumin under the assayed conditions also makes the elastic character of the product increase at a given temperature. Finally, the sensorial assessment tests and determinations of stability and volume yield enabled us to verify that the addition of ovalbumin at an amount of 1.3% hardly alters the stability, resistance to shear stress, or the texture and improves the degree of foaming. Therefore, the product with additive is of good commercial quality.

Chromatography, Ion Exchange↗
PubMed2001

[The enjoyment of red wine is influenced by the shape of the wine glass].

BACKGROUND: It is frequently claimed that the glass shape has a direct impact on wine aroma. METHODS, PATIENTS: Healthy volunteers (43 m, 46 f, age 19-60 years) tried 3 glasses. Three glasses of different shape but of the same height and of comparable opening diameter were used. Glasses were of "tulip"-like, "beaker"-like, and "egg"-like shapes. Intensity, hedonic tone, and quality of a red wine were rated before and after drinking. RESULTS: Both intensity and hedonic ratings of wines from different glasses were influenced by glass shape. Glass shape also influenced the complexity of wine odors. This appeared not to be related to the esthetic impression the glasses made. CONCLUSIONS: The present data indicate that egg-shaped glasses, compared to "tulip" or "beaker" glasses, appear to produce higher intensity and higher complexity of wine odors. This may relate to the trapping of odors in egg-shaped glasses.

Adult↗