Influence of different types of bedding material on the prevalence of pododermatitis in rabbits

Pododermatitis is a disorder with a complex etiology, because potentially determined by various factors such as posture, nutrition and genetics. In the case of presence of pododermal lesions, it is often noticed that rabbits go to eat at the bowl less frequently, but an evident weight loss is not always perceptible. In fact, similarly to poultry, overweight animals seem to be prone to the onset of pododermatitis. An experiment was carried out to test the effect of different types of bedding material (straw vs. wood shavings vs. coarse bark mulch vs. cotton) on the prevalence of pododermatitis in 30 fattening Separator rabbits. Once a week, the four experimental runs were assessed for contamination (macroscopic contamination by faeces/urine/litter) as well as for lesion scoring of the footpad. In addition, the water and ammonia binding behaviour of bedding was tested. The most favourable values as to dry matter, NH₃ (p < .05) and also scoring of the litter were generally observed when cotton was used as bedding material. This is probably due to the high water binding capacity, the faster water release and the structural effects of the material itself (softness). By contrast, the structure of the coarse bark mulch was not suitable for binding liquids (especially urine) and led to increased contamination of the barrels. These results suggest that rabbits with an increased tendency to sore soles should be kept on bedding materials with desirable physical properties (e.g. cotton litter).

Gravitational Redshift Test Using Eccentric Galileo Satellites

We report on a new test of the gravitational redshift and thus of local position invariance, an integral part of the Einstein equivalence principle, which is the foundation of general relativity and all metric theories of gravitation. We use data spanning 1008 days from two satellites of Galileo, Europe's global satellite navigation system, which were launched in 2014, but accidentally delivered on elliptic rather than circular orbits. The resulting modulation of the gravitational redshift of the onboard atomic clocks allows the redshift determination with high accuracy. Additionally, specific laser ranging campaigns to the two satellites have enabled a good estimation of systematic effects related to orbit uncertainties. Together with a careful conservative modeling and control of other systematic effects we measure the fractional deviation of the gravitational redshift from the prediction by general relativity to be (0.19±2.48)×10^{-5} at 1 sigma, improving the best previous test by a factor 5.6. To our knowledge, this represents the first reported improvement on one of the longest standing results in experimental gravitation, the Gravity Probe A hydrogen maser rocket experiment back in 1976.

New bounds on dark matter coupling from a global network of optical atomic clocks

We report on the first Earth-scale quantum sensor network based on optical atomic clocks aimed at dark matter (DM) detection. Exploiting differences in the susceptibilities to the fine-structure constant of essential parts of an optical atomic clock, i.e., the cold atoms and the optical reference cavity, we can perform sensitive searches for DM signatures without the need for real-time comparisons of the clocks. We report a two orders of magnitude improvement in constraints on transient variations of the fine-structure constant, which considerably improves the detection limit for the standard model (SM)-DM coupling. We use Yb and Sr optical atomic clocks at four laboratories on three continents to search for both topological defect and massive scalar field candidates. No signal consistent with a DM coupling is identified, leading to considerably improved constraints on the DM-SM couplings.

Pinning Transition of Bose-Einstein Condensates in Optical Ring Resonators

We experimentally investigate the dynamic instability of Bose-Einstein condensates in an optical ring resonator that is asymmetrically pumped in both directions. We find that, beyond a critical resonator-pump detuning, the system becomes stable regardless of the pump strength. Phase diagrams and quenching curves are presented and described by numerical simulations. We discuss a physical explanation based on a geometric interpretation of the underlying nonlinear equations of motion.

Observation of Subradiant Atomic Momentum States with Bose-Einstein Condensates in a Recoil Resolving Optical Ring Resonator

We experimentally investigate the formation of subradiant atomic momentum states in Bose-Einstein condensates inside a recoil resolving optical ring resonator according to the theoretical proposal of Cola, Bigerni, and Piovella. The atoms are pumped from the side with laser light that contains two frequency components. They resonantly drive cavity assisted Raman transitions between three discreet atomic momentum states. Within a few hundred microseconds, the system evolves into a stationary subradiant state. In this state, the condensate develops two density gratings suitable to diffract the two frequency components of the pump field into the resonator. Both components destructively interfere such that scattering is efficiently suppressed. A series of subradiant states for various amplitude ratios of the two pump components between 0 and 2.1 have been observed. The results are well explained with a three state quantum model in mean field approximation.

Impact of Green Tea Catechin ECG and Its Synthesized Fluorinated Analogue on Prostate Cancer Cells and Stimulated Immunocompetent Cells

Among the known or suspected risk factors, inflammation plays an important role in infectious and non-infectious pathways leading to cancer. Green tea polyphenols have been associated with reducing inflammation and protection against carcinogenesis, especially in prostate cancer. While most of the research in this field, so far, has focussed on epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate only, we studied epicatechin-3-O-gallate, the second most abundant green tea polyphenol with essential therapeutic potential, to obtain a more detailed understanding of its anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory action. Furthermore, to improve the bioactivity of (-)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate, we synthesized a difluoro analogue, called (-)-5,7-difluoro-epicatechin-3-O-gallate. Both compounds reduced cell proliferation of human primary inflammatory lymphocytes in an apoptosis-specific fashion, while (-)-5,7-difluoro-epicatechin-3-O-gallate had a significantly higher activity compared to the natural product (-)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate. Treatment of low-metastatic LNCaP and high-metastatic PC-3 prostate cancer cells with (-)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate and (-)-5,7-difluoro-epicatechin-3-O-gallate demonstrated a dose-dependent inhibition of cell viability in the low micromolar range. These effects suggest that (-)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate and the more effective (-)-5,7-difluoro-epicatechin-3-O-gallate could be therapeutically used to inhibit tumorigenesis during initiation, promotion, and progression by diminishing the amount of inflammation due to a reduction of inflammatory lymphocytes. Further studies are needed to prove this in in vivo experiments.

Modification of the Fibrin Agar Plate for Measurements of the Components of the Fibrinolytic System

The optimal conditions for plasminogen activation by intrinsic activator (IA) were found on Type II human fibrin agar plates made with .04 M pH 8.5 NH4 acetate buffer.

Intrinsic activation inhibitor (IAI) produced central areas of lysis inhibition.

Methods of quantitating IA and IAI were developed. Activator measurements showed :

1. Undiminished IA concentrations in plasma and serum stored for 3 weeks at + 4° C.

2. 60–80% loss of IA during euglobulin precipitation at pH 5.2 and at pH 6.

3. Presence of a plasminogen activator in commercial thrombin preparation. Inhibitor measurements showed:

1. Decrease of IAI in plasma and serum after 4 days storage at +4° C.

2. A physiological decrease of IAI in late pregnancy.

3. That IAI was composed of either larger or more asymmetrical molecules than either plasminogen or IA.

Polymorphic light eruption and IL-1 family members: any difference with allergic contact dermatitis?

Polymorphic light eruption (PLE) is described as a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction (DTHR) toward a de novo light-induced antigen, yet to be identified. In effect, the inflammatory pathways of PLE and allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) share common patterns in terms of the mediators involved from the innate and adaptive immune system participating in the DTHR. As we have previously highlighted the role of interleukin (IL)-1 family members in ACD, we hypothesised that the same mediators could have similar functions in PLE. Our research aimed to assess the expression of certain IL-1family members in PLE patients vs. controls, and to compare it with ACD. The study population comprised 17 patients with PLE, 5 affected by ACD and 10 healthy controls in the same age range. Lesional and healthy skin samples were collected respectively from patients and donors. IL-36α, IL-36β, IL-36γ, IL-36 receptor antagonist (Ra), IL-1β, IL-33 gene and protein expressions were evaluated through RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Circulating proteins in the PLE patients were analysed by using western blot. The IL-36γ gene expression was significantly increased in PLE lesions compared to that in healthy controls and ACD lesions (***p < 0.001; ##p < 0.01 respectively), whereas the other analyzed ILs were more expressed in ACD. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that IL-36α and IL-36γ protein levels were increased in PLE lesions compared to those of the healthy samples (***p < 0.001). Furthermore the IL-36γ plasma level was increased in PLE patients vs. controls (*p < 0.05). Our findings indicate that the IL-1 family pro-inflammatory members are increased in PLE with distinct differences from those in ACD, in particular with regard to IL-36γ mRNA regulation. Their role as activators of the local, and perhaps systemic, immune response, or as inhibitors of the immune tolerance machinery, needs further investigation.

Diffusion Characteristics of Human Plasminogen(as Shown by Two Agar Diffusion Techniques)

The relative diffusion rates of human plasminogen in agar has been compared with immune rabbit γ globulin and with streptokinase. A ratio of 1.1106 was found for plasminogen/immune rabbit γ globulin diffusion and a ratio of 0.80 for plasminogen/ streptokinase. These values were unaltered when plasminogen in normal fresh plasma and serum was replaced by three differently prepared plasminogen concentrates. Taking the D20 value for rabbit γ globulin as 4.23 × 10–7 cm2 sec−1 and for streptokinase the value of 6.1 × 10–7 cm2 sec–1, the corresponding values for human plasminogen were 4.7 and 4.9 × 10–7 cm2 sec–1. The widely divergent D20 values for human plasminogen and plasmin in the literature are reviewed and discussed.