How dietary cottonseed hull affects the performance of young bulls finished in a high-concentrate system

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of diets composed of cottonseed hull on feed intake, in vitro digestibility, animal performance, carcass characteristics and ingestive behaviour of young bulls (1/2 Simmental × 1/2 Nellore) fed in a high-concentrate system. Thirty crossbred young bulls (319 ± 12.5 kg of bodyweight, and 11 ± 0.8 months old) were assigned to a complete randomised experimental design of three diets (CH21: cottonseed hull 210 g/kg on a DM, basis; CH27: cottonseed hull 270 g/kg on a DM basis; CH33: cottonseed hull 330 g/kg on a DM basis) with 10 animals per group. The animals were kept in a feedlot for 162 days. The cottonseed hull diets had effects on DM intake and neutral detergent fibre intake. The CH21 diet reduced the DM and detergent fibre intakes (kg/day and kg/100 kg bodyweight) and increased the in vitro digestibility of DM. However, the in vitro digestibility of neutral detergent fibre was greater with the CH27 diet. The cottonseed hull diets did not have effects on animal performance or the carcass characteristics of young bulls. However, the CH33 diet reduced the feed efficiency of the animals. A cottonseed hull level up to 270 g/kg of dietary DM may be utilised as a non-forage fibre in high-concentrate diets for young bulls in feedlots.

Factors influencing aversive learning in the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis

Parameters such as the intensity of conditioned and unconditioned stimuli, the inter-trial interval, and starvation time can influence learning. In this study, the parameters that govern aversive learning in the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis, a serious pest of fruits and vegetables, were examined. Male flies were trained to associate the attractive odorant methyl eugenol, a male lure, with a food punishment, sodium chloride solution, and the conditioned suppression of the proboscis-extension response was investigated. We found that high methyl eugenol concentrations support a stronger association. With increasing concentrations of sodium chloride solution, a steady decrease of proboscis-extension response during six training trials was observed. A high level of learning was achieved with an inter-trial interval of 1-10 min. However, extending the inter-trial interval to 15 min led to reduced learning. No effect of physiological status (starvation time) on learning performance was detected, nor was any non-associative learning effect induced by the repeat presentation of odor or punishment alone. The memory formed after six training trials could be retained for at least 3 h. Our results indicate that aversive learning by oriental fruit flies can be affected by odor, punishment concentration and inter-trial interval.

Microstructural, mechanical, and histological evaluation of modified alginate-based scaffolds

Scaffolds are three-dimensional structures used for tissue regeneration being the base in tissue engineering. These scaffolds are obtained from natural and/or synthetic polymers and they should satisfy some specific requirements such as biocompatibility, suitable mechanical, and microstructural properties to favor cellular adhesion and neovascularization. This work shows a preclinic study about the production of low and medium molecular weight alginate through the use of calcium salts (calcium glutamate). The results showed prove that better structures, distribution, and pore sizes as well as better mechanical properties correspond to medium molecular weight alginate and higher calcium salts concentration. This type of scaffold, after muscular cells cultivation, has been proved as an excellent material for muscle growth. The histopathological analysis shows a low inflammatory response, without a foreign body reaction, suitable neovascularization and good fibroblasts incorporation. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 104A: 3107-3114, 2016.

Synthesis, Functional Assays, Electrophysiological Activity, and Field Tests of Pheromone Antagonists of the Tomato Leafminer, Tuta absoluta

The tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta, is one of the major pests of tomato and other Solanaceae in many regions worldwide. In the search for new strategies to control this pest, we present herewith the stereoselective synthesis, electrophysiological activity, functional analysis, and field tests of new chemicals as possible antagonists of the sex pheromone of the leafminer. The chemicals are methyl ketone (MK) and trifluoromethyl ketone (TFMK) structural analogues of both components of the pheromone. Most of the chemicals exerted per se some electrophysiological activity and inhibited the electroantennographic response to the pheromone when vapors of the inhibitor were passed over the antennae. Except TFMK 3, which elicited a modest effect, the compounds did not exhibit antiesterase activity on the pheromone-degrading enzymes of the antennae, but in the field the chemicals, particularly MK 5, notably decreased the number of catches when mixed with the pheromone in 1:1 and 10:1 ratios, regardless the infestation level of the plot. These results suggest that MK 5 is a good behavioral antagonist of the pheromone to be considered as a putative agent to control the pest in new future integrated pest management (IPM) strategies.

Sexual communication in day-flying Lepidoptera with special reference to castniids or 'butterfly-moths'

Butterflies and moths are subject to different evolutionary pressures that affect several aspects of their behaviour and physiology, particularly sexual communication. Butterflies are day-flying insects (excluding hedylids) whose partner-finding strategy is mainly based on visual cues and female butterflies having apparently lost the typical sex pheromone glands. Moths, in contrast, are mostly night-flyers and use female-released long-range pheromones for partner-finding. However, some moth families are exclusively day-flyers, and therefore subject to evolutionary pressures similar to those endured by butterflies. Among them, the Castniidae, also called 'butterfly-moths' or 'sun-moths', behave like butterflies and, thus, castniid females appear to have also lost their pheromone glands, an unparallel attribute in the world of moths. In this paper, we review the sexual communication strategy in day-flying Lepidoptera, mainly butterflies (superfamily Papilionoidea), Zygaenidae and Castniidae moths, and compare their mating behaviour with that of moth families of nocturnal habits, paying particular attention to the recently discovered butterfly-like partner-finding strategy of castniids and the fascinating facts and debates that led to its discovery.

Influence of collagen concentration and glutaraldehyde on collagen-based scaffold properties

Several studies have shown the influence of the physical properties of scaffolds on their mechanical properties. An initial characterization of a type of collagen protein was carried out by studying its composition andits solubility at different pH values and infrared spectroscopy. Subsequently, porosity and scaffold pore size were studied, assessing how varying the composition of the initial solution (increasing the protein concentration or adding glutaraldehyde) changed the properties of the final scaffolds obtained. Lastly, rheological measurements were performed to evaluate the mechanical strength of the scaffolds. The initial characterization revealed that the type I collagen protein used is considerably denatured. In addition, increasing the protein content in the scaffold decreases the porosity, related to an increase in the elastic modulus producing an enhancement of its mechanical strength, while adding glutaraldehyde to the scaffold increases its mechanical strength without lowering its pore size or porosity. The results obtained are useful in that they demonstrate that it is possible to design a scaffold with specific properties, by just controlling the collagen concentration or adding glutaraldehyde to the initial solution. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 104A: 1462-1468, 2016.

Effect of the type of dietary fat when added as an energy source on animal performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of intensively reared Friesian steers

The effects of different fats in the diet were evaluated on the basis of animal performance, carcass and meat-quality traits. Four groups of eight Friesian steers were intensively finished with concentrate and cereal straw given ad libitum. Four different types of fats were included at a 4% level in the diet, namely, palm oil, sunflower oil, tallow and hydrogenated fat. The feeding trial lasted for 84 days. There were no differences on animal performance or carcass characteristics, except for animals from the hydrogenated-fat diet, which had the greatest percentage of muscle and moisture, and the lowest percentage of fat in a 6th rib dissection. Meat colour, texture, lipid oxidation and consumer acceptability did not differ among the diets. Nevertheless, the effects of ageing or display time were more important than those of the source of fat. Intramuscular fatty acid profile was hardly influenced by the fat source. In conclusion, the type of fat added at the final stage of the rearing process, at a 4% of inclusion level, did not produce noticeable variations on productive parameters or product quality. This would allow to formulate rations for cattle, using the most profitable source of fat (added at low levels), without having variability on the product quality.

Estudio comparativo de la calidad de la canal y la carne de lechales de raza Churra Tensina y dos tipos ovinos comerciales amparados bajo marcas de calidad

Se estudió la calidad de la canal y la carne de lechales ovinos comerciales de raza Churra Tensina (n= 26) según la época de cría y sacrificio (primavera vs. otoño). Estos corderos se compararon con otros tipos comerciales amparados bajo marcas de calidad reconocidas en el mercado con denominación de Indicación Geográfica Protegida (IGP): Lechazo de Castilla-León (n= 13) y Ternasco de Aragón (n= 13). Todos los corderos fueron criados, seleccionados y sacrificados en condiciones comerciales. Tras el sacrificio, se valoró la calidad de la canal y de la carne en el músculo Longissimus thoracis y lumborum (LTL). Los lechales de Churra Tensina presentaron diferencias según la época de producción, fundamentalmente en las variables relacionadas con la composición tisular de la canal, presentando, los lechales de primavera, un mayor porcentaje de músculo y hueso, y menor de grasa que los de otoño (p≤0,001), así como una mayor proporción de los ácidos grasos C 12:0, CLA, C 20:2 n-3 o C 22:0 (p≤0,001) en la grasa intramuscular. Estas diferencias de composición no se reflejaron en el análisis sensorial, ya sea mediante panel entrenado o consumidores. La carne de los lechales de la raza Churra Tensina presentó una terneza superior (p≤0,001) a la de los productos IGP con los que se comparó, tanto instrumentalmente como sensorialmente (panel entrenado) y una mayor aceptabilidad tanto general, como del sabor y de la terneza (consumidores) (p≤0,001). Los resultados obtenidos reflejarían el potencial de dicha raza para la producción de lechales de calidad, en ambas estaciones del año.

Biosynthetic infochemical communication

There is an ever-increasing demand for data to be embedded in our environment at ever-decreasing temporal and spatial scales. Whilst current communication and storage technologies generally exploit the electromagnetic properties of media, chemistry offers us a new alternative for nanoscale signaling using molecules as messengers with high information content. Biological systems effectively overcome the challenges of chemical communication using highly specific biosynthetic pathways for signal generation together with specialized protein receptors and nervous systems. Here we consider a new approach for information transmission based upon nature's quintessential example of infochemical communication, the moth pheromone system. To approach the sensitivity, specificity and versatility of infochemical communication seen in nature, we describe an array of biologically-inspired technologies for the production, transmission, detection, and processing of molecular signals. We show how it is possible to implement each step of the moth pheromone pathway for biosynthesis, transmission, receptor protein binding/transduction, and antennal lobe processing of monomolecular and multimolecular signals. For each implemented step, we discuss the value, current limitations, and challenges for the future development and integration of infochemical communication technologies. Together, these building blocks provide a starting point for future technologies that can utilize programmable emission and detection of multimolecular information for a new and robust means of communicating chemical information.