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Purpose: Agricultural losses caused by pests have a profound impact on African and Asian countries. In this context, the whitefly Bemisia tabaci is an important global pest and attacks many vegetables. However, conventional pesticides cause unwanted effects on the environment and consumers, in addition to the development of resistance. Therefore, sustainable resources have been used and researched, including those of natural origin. Research Method: The objective of this review was to compile and discuss studies of essential oils found in Asian and African countries with action against B. tabaci. For this, scientific studies on active essential oils were searched in databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Science Direct. Findings: The work explored essential oils from 48 different species belonging to 19 families. Notably, the families Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, Lauraceae, Myrtaceae, and Poaceae presented the highest number of studies. Among the evaluated oils, Allium sativum oil demonstrated potent fumigant insecticidal action. Similarly, essential oils from Cinnamomum camphora, Thymbra spicata, Rosmarinus officinalis, and Laurus nobilis exhibited high activity against pests. Promising essential oils with high potency against pests also include Mentha pulegium, Mentha viridis, and Syzygium aromaticum. Research Limitations: Despite the diversity of active essential oils against B. tabaci, further studies on the development and stability of formulations must be carried out. Originality/value: This review highlighted the abundance of active essential oils in Africa and Asia as natural resources for sustainable pest management in the B. tabaci control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grape skin is a source of polyphenols with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Little information is available regarding its application in animal feeding. The present study investigated the effect of inclusion of fermented (FS) and unfermented (UFS) grape skin at two different doses (30 g/kg, FS30 and UFS30, and 60 g/kg, FS60 and UFS60) and 200 mg/kg vitamin E (α-tocopheryl acetate) in a corn–soybean diet on growth performance, ileal protein digestibility, ileal and excreta total extractable polyphenols content and digestibility, intestinal microbiota and thigh meat oxidation in broiler chickens. Growth performance was depressed in chickens fed UFS and FS diets. A reduction in ileal protein digestibility was also observed in birds fed UFS, being this effect more pronounced in those fed 60 g/kg. The dietary inclusion of grape skin increased both ileal and excreta polyphenols contents, being higher in birds fed UFS than in those fed FS. Excreta moisture content increased in birds fed UFS and FS diets. No effect of dietary inclusion of grape skin was observed on ileal counts of lactic-acid bacteria and Clostridium, but UFS inclusion in the diet reduced ileal count of Escherichia coli as compared with FS dietary inclusion. After 7 days of refrigerated storage, values of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were lower in chicken meat when grape skin was added in the diet at 60 g/kg instead of 30 g/kg, and meat from birds fed 60 g/kg of grape skin reached TBARS values similar to those of birds supplemented with vitamin E. In conclusion, high doses of grape skin polyphenols depressed growth performance and protein digestibility, and increased excreta moisture content. Unfermented grape skin contained more polyphenols than FS, and its inclusion in the diet led to higher ileal and excreta polyphenols contents and to a lower ileal count of E. coli. Furthermore, the antioxidant potential of the polyphenols present in grape skin was observed after 7 days of meat storage, with the dose of 60 g/kg of grape skin being as effective as vitamin E supplementation in maintaining oxidative stability of meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cosmic rays are a global source of ionization, and the ionization fraction represents a fundamental parameter in the interstellar medium. Ions couple to magnetic fields, and affect the chemistry and the dynamics of star-forming regions as well as planetary atmospheres. However, the cosmic ray ionization rate represents one of the bottlenecks for astrochemical models, and its determination is one of the most puzzling problems in astrophysics. While for diffuse clouds reasonable values have been provided from |${\mathrm{ H}_3}^+$| observations, for dense clouds, due to the lack of rotational transitions, this is not possible, and estimates are strongly biased by the employed model. We present here an analytical expression, obtained from first principles, to estimate the cosmic ray ionization rate from observational quantities. The theoretical predictions are validated with high-resolution 3D numerical simulations and applied to the well-known core L1544; we obtained an estimate of ζ2 ∼ 2–3 × 10−17 s−1. Our results and the analytical formulae provided represent the first model-independent robust tool to probe the cosmic ray ionization rate in the densest part of star-forming regions (on spatial scales of R ≤ 0.05 pc). An error analysis is presented to give statistical relevance to our study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe the clinical results of the patients admitted and managed as PAS cases in a Central American public hospital and its relation to having been able to established the diagnosis prenatally. Fifty-one patients had a prenatal ultrasonographic diagnosis of PAS (group 1) and 52 were diagnosis in laparotomy (group 2). [Extracted from the article]

Polyphenols are chemically and biologically active compounds. Grape seed extracts (GSEs) have been widely used as a human food supplement for health promotion and disease prevention. However, there is little information regarding its application in animal feeds. An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of inclusion of GSE at 0.025, 0.25, 2.5 and 5.0 g/kg in a wheat soya bean control diet on growth performance, protein and amino acid (AA) digestibility and plasma lipid and mineral concentrations in broiler chickens at 21 days of age. Performance was not affected by dietary treatment except in the case of birds fed the diet with the highest GSE concentration, which showed a worsening of weight gain and feed conversion. Apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of protein was significantly reduced in the birds fed the highest concentration of GSE, which also had a reduction on the AID of arginine, histidine, phenylalanine, cystine, glutamic acid and proline compared with those fed control diet. The inclusion of graded concentration of GSE in the chicken diets caused a significant linear decrease in the concentrations of plasma copper, iron and zinc. Plasma cholesterol, triglycerides and lipoproteins (high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein and very-low-density lipoprotein) concentrations were not affected by dietary GSE. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that incorporation of GSE in chicken diets up to 2.5 g/kg had no adverse effect on growth performance or protein and AA digestibility. Feed conversion was reduced and growth rate was retarded, when chickens were fed 5 g/kg of GSE. This study also indicated that grape polyphenols reduce the free plasma minerals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two kraft pulp mill effluents were compared in terms of their chronic toxicity to Daphnia magna. One resulted from pulping Pinus radiata and the other came from a parallel processing of Pinus radiata and Eucalyptus globulus (mixed kraft pulp mill effluent) . The concentration of phytosterols found in the mixed kraft pulp mill effluent was higher than in the effluent from Pinus radiata, with values of 0.1082 and 0.02 μg/L, respectively. The phytosterols per se are responsible for 12.9% and 8.1% of the deviation from the natural shape, while the kraft pulp mill effluents account for 25.6%-27.8% of shape deviation. The role of β-sitosterol and stigmasterol is discussed in relation to endocrine disruption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Moving Bed Bioreactor (MBBR) was operated at three different hydraulic retention times for a period of 414 days. The fate of the extractive compounds and the estrogenic activity of the Pinus radiata kraft mill effluents were evaluated using Yeast Estrogen Screen (YES) and gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS) detection. Results show that the MBBR reactor is able to remove between 80-83% of estrogenic activity present in the kraft mill Pinus radiata influent, where the values of the effluent's estrogenic activity ranged between 0.123-0.411 ng L-1, expressed as estrogenic equivalent (EEqs) of 17-a-ethynylestradiol (EE2 eq.). Additionally, the biomass of the MBBR reactor accumulated estrogenic activity ranging between 0.29-0.37 ng EEqs EE2 during the different Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT) operations. The main groups present in pulp mills effluents, corresponding to fatty acids, hydrocarbons, phenols, sterols and triterpenes, were detected by solid phase extraction (SPE) and gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results suggest that the sterols produce the estrogenic activity in the evaluated effluent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estrogenic activity of kraft pulp mill effluents ( P. radiata, E. globulus and mixed −50% E. globulus and 50% P. radiata) was evaluated by the yeast estrogen screen assay. The estrogenic activity values were relatively low, ranking between 1.475 and 0.383 ng/L of EE2 eq. (Estrogenic equivalent of 17 α-ethynylestradiol), where the highest value corresponds to the E. globulus effluent and the lowest value to the P. radiata effluent. Analysis by solid phase extraction (SPE) and gas chromatography—mass spectrometry (GC-MS) of chemical compounds present in all three effluents detected at least five major groups of organic compounds, corresponding to fatty acids, hydrocarbons, phenols, sterols and triterpenes. Comparison of analytical and biological data suggests that sterols could be the cause of the estrogenic activity in the evaluated effluent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of dietary supplementa- tion with 1% L-glutamine and a combination of 1% L-glutamine and 0.5% L-arginine on intestinal health was examined in weaned rabbits. A basal diet was formulated to meet nutrient recommendations. Another 2 diets were formulated by adding 1% (as-fed basis) Gin or a mixture of 1% (as-fed basis) Gin + 0.5% (as-fed basis) Arg (Gln-Arg) to the basal diet. In Exp. 1, a total of 357 rabbits were blocked by litter and assigned at random to the experimental diet to determine mortality (119 per diet) and growth performance (35 per diet; from weaning at 25 to 56 d of age). Rabbits were fed the experimental diets for a 2-wk period and thereafter received a commercial diet. Rabbits weaned at 25 d (blocked by litter and assigned at random to diets) were slaughtered at 35 d and used to determine apparent ileal digestibility of DM, CP, and AA (Exp. 2, a total of 60 rabbits), intestinal morphology, N-aminopeptidase and myeloperoxidase intestinal activity, the expression of PPAR"y at the ileum and kidney, serum immuno- globulin in healthy and sick rabbits (Exp. 3, a total of 24 rabbits), and ileal and cecal microbial composition by PCR-RFLP (Exp. 4, a total of 45 rabbits). Dietary treatment did not affect ADG, ADFI, or G:F, during the entire fattening period. Supplementation with Gin reduced mortality during the first 2 wk and the whole fattening period from 18.5 to 8.4% (P = 0.023) and from 31.9 to 20.2% (P = 0.039), respectively, whereas no effect was detected for Arg supplementation. Among all the variables studied, the reduction on mortality due to Gln was related to a reduced intestinal colonization (Eimeria lesions) and changes on microbial ecosystem in the ileum and cecum, reducing the frequency of detection of Clostridium spp. (from 86.7 to 33.3%, P = 0.003) at the ileum, and Helicobacter spp. at the ileum (from 86.7 to 46.7%, P = 0.003) and at the cecum (from 86.7 to 46.7, P = 0.028), whereas no effect was detected for Arg supplementation. In conclusion, 1% L-Gln supplementation to postweaned rabbit diets decreased fattening mortality and modified the intestinal microbiota (although no consistent effects were observed on mucosal histology or inflammatory and systemic immune response). Diets containing a combination of 1% Gin and 0.5% Arg were of little additional benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to recover and reuse water in the Kraft mill process, evaluation of separate streams is required to identify toxic compounds or microcontaminants. The stage E1 Kraft effluent, corresponding to the first extraction step of the bleaching Kraft mill process, provides the main toxic compounds found in the final process effluent. This paper uses the toxicity identification evaluation (TIE) procedure for the physicochemical and ecotoxicological characterization of the E1 Kraft effluent. To distinguish the most important toxic compounds, a physicochemical characterization and Phase I of the TIE procedure were performed. The acute toxic effect of the E1 Kraft effluent and treated fraction was performed on Daphnia magna. Results show that untreated E1 Kraft effluent exerts an acute toxic effect on D. magna (24 h LC50 = 27.6%), where the E1 Kraft effluent is characterized by pH 10.5, chemical organic demand (COD) 1,348.8 mg/l, and biological organic demand (BOD5) 397.5 mg/l, while total phenolic compounds and color are 853.7 mg/l and 0.204 1 × 1 cm, respectively. Additionally, Cu+2 (0.51 mg/l) and Fe+2 (0.64 mg/l) were detected. With respect to different treatments, our results indicate that activated carbon, anionic and cationic exchange treatments were able to reduce more that 45% of E1 Kraft effluent's acute toxicity and that the ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid treatment was able to reduce the E1 Kraft effluent's acute toxicity to around 75% and the Cu+2 concentration to 0.019 mg/l. Moreover, specific analysis of heavy metals and organic compounds by GC-MS show that the main compound responsible for the toxicity was Cu+2, whose tolerance level on D. magna of the 0.12 mg/l. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of neutral detergent-soluble fiber level on gut barrier function and intestinal microbiota was examined in weaned rabbits. A control diet (AH) containing 103 g of neutral detergent-soluble fiber/kg of DM included alfalfa hay as main source of fiber. Another diet (B-AP) was formulated by replacing half of the alfalfa hay with a mixture of beet and apple pulp resulting in 131 g of soluble fiber/kg of DM. A third diet (OH) was obtained by substituting half of the alfalfa hay with a mix of oat hulls and a soybean protein concentrate and contained 79 g of soluble fiber/kg of DM. Rabbits weaned at 25 d and slaughtered at 35 d were used to determine ileal digestibility, jejunal morphology, sucrase activity, lamina propria lymphocytes, and intestinal microbiota. Suckling 35-d-old rabbits were used to assess mucosa morphology. Mortality (from weaning to 63 d of age) was also determined. Villous height of the jejunal mucosa increased with soluble fiber (P = 0.001). Rabbits fed with the greatest level of soluble fiber (BA-P diet) showed the highest villous height/crypt depth ratio (8.14; P = 0.001), sucrase specific activity (8,671 μmol of glucose/g of protein; P = 0.019), and the greatest ileal starch digestibility (96.8%; P = 0.002). The opposite effects were observed in rabbits fed decreased levels of soluble fiber (AH and OH diets; 4.70, 5,848 μmol of glucose/g of protein, as average, respectively). The lowest ileal starch digestibility was detected for animals fed OH diet (93.2%). Suckling rabbits of the same age showed a lower villous height/crypt depth ratio (6.70) compared with the B-AP diet group, but this ratio was higher than the AR or OH diet groups. Lower levels of soluble fiber tended (P = 0.074) to increase the cellular immune response (CD8+ lymphocytes). Diet affected IL-2 production (CD25+, P = 0.029; CD5+CD25+, P = 0.057), with no clear relationship between soluble fiber and IL-2. The intestinal microbiota biodiversity was not affected by diets (P ≥ 0.38). Rabbits fed the B-AP and AR diets had a reduced cecal frequency of detection compatible with Campylobacter spp. (20.3 vs. 37.8, P = 0.074), and Clostridium perfringens (4.3 vs. 17.6%, P = 0.047), compared with the OH diet group. Moreover, the mortality rates decreased from 14.4 (OH diet) to 5.1% (B-AP diet) with the increased presence of soluble fiber in the diet. In conclusion, increased levels of dietary soluble fiber improve mucosal integrity and functionality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No abstract available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIM:: These studies were performed to test the hypothesis that endogenous neuropeptide Y (NPY) acting on the NPY Y5 receptor subtype contributes to the control of food intake. The hypothesis was tested using S 25585-a newly synthesized NPY Y5 receptor antagonist. METHODS AND RESULTS:: S 25585 was shown to be a high-affinity antagonist of the NPY Y5 receptor subtype (IC50 5?nM) with no significant affinity toward other NPY receptor subtypes and over 40 other receptors, channels or uptake systems. S 25585 (7.5?mg/kg, i.p.) did not induce a conditioned taste aversion, significantly alter need-induced sodium appetite or induce pica, suggesting that at this dose the compound did not induce illness or malaise. In satiated rats, S 25585 (5.0 and 7.5?mg/kg, i.p.) significantly decreased the overfeeding induced by i.c.v. injection of NPY (1?µg) and the highly selective NPY Y5 receptor agonist [hPP1-17, Ala31, Aib32]NPY (0.7?µg). In rats fasted for 4?h immediately before the dark phase, analysis of the microstructure of feeding behavior revealed that S 25585 significantly increased latency to eat and significantly decreased the duration and size of the meals without altering the meal number or eating rate. Analysis of the behavioral satiety sequence at this time revealed that the animals passed through the normal pattern of feeding, grooming and resting. Although S 25585 appeared to be influencing a physiological system controlling appetite, this does not involve the NPY Y5 receptor since the antagonist also markedly reduced food intake in the NPY Y5 knockout mouse. CONCLUSIONS:: The results presented do not support a role for the NPY Y5 receptor in the control of food intake. The results further illustrate that it is imperative that the activity of any new NPY Y5 antagonist be assessed in the NPY Y5 knockout mouse before assuming that its effect on food intake is due to blockade of this receptor.International Journal of Obesity (2004) 28, 628-639. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0802435 Published online 3 February 2004 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIM: The aim of this review is to critically assess available evidence that blockade of the actions of NPY at one of the five NPY receptor subtypes represents an attractive new drug discovery target for the development of an appetite suppressant drug. RESULTS: Blockade of the central actions of NPY using anti-NPY antibodies, antisense oligodeoxynucleotides against NPY and NPY receptor antagonists results in a decrease in food intake in energy-deprived animals. These results appear to show that endogenous NPY plays a role in the control of appetite. The fact that NPY receptors exist as at least five different subtypes raises the possibility that the actions of endogenous NPY on food intake can be adequately dissociated from other effects of the peptide. Current drug discovery has produced a number of highly selective NPY receptor antagonists which have been used to establish the NPY Y[sub 1] receptor subtype as the most critical in regulating short-term food intake. However, additional studies are now needed to more clearly define the relative contribution of NPY acting through the NPY Y[sub 2] and NPY Y[sub 5] receptors in the complex sequence of physiological and behavioral events that underlie the long-term control of appetite. CONCLUSIONS: Blockade of the NPY receptor may produce appetite-suppressing drugs. However, it is too early to state with certainty whether a single subtype selective drug used alone or a combination of NPY receptor selective antagonists used in combination will be necessary to adequately influence appetite regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to test the continuing validity of the hypothesis that neuropeptide Y (NPY) produced in the brain controls food intake through an interaction with the NPY Y[sub 5] receptor subtype. METHODS: The hypothesis was tested using CGP 71683A a potent and highly selective non-peptide antagonist of the NPY Y[sub 5] receptor which was administered into the right lateral ventricle of obese Zucker fa/fa rats. RESULTS: Intraventricular injection of 3.4 nmol/kg NPY increased food intake during a 2 h test period. Doses of CGP 71683A in excess of 15 nmol/kg (i.cv.) resulted in blockade of the increase in food intake produced by NPY. Repeated daily injection of CGP 71683A (30-300 nmol/kg, i.cv.) immediately before the dark phase produced a dose-dependent and slowly developing decrease in food intake. CGP 71683A has a low affinity for NPY Y[sub 1], Y[sub 2] and Y[sub 4] receptors but a very high affinity for the NPY Y[sub 5] receptor (Ki, 1.4 nM). Surprisingly, CGP 71683A had similarly high affinity for muscarinic receptors (Ki, 2.7 nM) and for the serotonin uptake recognition site (Ki, 6.2 nM) in rat brain. Anatomic analysis of the brain after treatment with CGP 71683A demonstrated an inflammatory response associated with the fall in food intake. CONCLUSIONS: While the fall in food intake in response to CGP 71683A may have a Y[sub 5] component, interactions with other receptors or inflammatory mediators may also play a role. It is concluded that CGP 71683A is an imprecise tool for investigating the role of the NPY Y[sub 5] receptor in the control of physiological processes including food intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following a simple and quick treatment based on dissolving the crude lipase from Candida rugosa in different percentages (v/v) of several polar organic solvents (methanol, ethanol, 1 and 2-propanol, 1 and 2-butanol and acetone) followed by dialysis, different preparations with enhanced activities were obtained. The opening of the lid covering the active site is proposed as the reason for explaining the activity enhancement, both in aqueous and anhydrous organic media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to study the effect of the level of neutral detergent soluble fiber (NDSF) and medication with 200 ppm apramycine sulphate and 120 ppm tylosine tartrate in drinking water on frequency of detection (FD) of Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium difficile and Campylobacter spp. at ileum and cecum. Three isonutritive diets (33% NDF, 20% CP, 20% starch) were formulated. Differences in NDSF were obtained by a partial substitution in the control diet of alfalfa hay (28% of inclusion and 10.3% NDSF) with either oat hulls (14.7% and 7.9% NDSF) or a mixture of sugar beet and apple pulps (15+5% and 13.1% NDSF). Eighteen rabbits/treatment weaned at 25 d were slaughtered at 35 d to collect intestinal digesta for characterizing microbiota population by restriction fragment length polymorphism. Data were analyzed by using the proc mixed of SAS including NDSF level, medication, and intestinal site as main effects and their interactions. Rabbit was considered as a random effect. Rabbits fed the lowest NDSF concentration had a higher FD of C. perfringens (39.4 vs. 24.3%; P = 0.016), Campylobacter spp. (50.0 vs. 27.8%; P = 0.001) and C. difficile (33.0 vs. 21.6%; P = 0.090) compared to diets with a higher NDSF levels. Clostridium difficile (P = 0.001) and Campylobacter spp. (P = 0.081) were more frequently detected in cecum than in ileum. Intestinal site did not affect FD of C. perfringens. Medication decreased FD of all the bacteria studied (P < 0.001). An interaction between level of NDSF and medication (P = 0.023) was detected for the FD of C. perfringens. When non-medicated rabbits were fed the low NDSF diet, they showed the highest FD of C. perfringens, but this effect was not detected with medication. In conclusion, the FD of intestinal pathogen bacteria might be partially modulated by NDSF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]