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Allograft rejection and immunosuppression are two major issues in transplantation medicine. The specific targeting of alloreactive T cells, the initiators and promoters of allograft rejection, would be a promising strategy to reduce unwanted T-cell responses and side effects of lifelong immunosuppression. The novel humanized monoclonal antibody GZ-αβTCR, specific for the human αβT-cell receptor, was tested in vitro and in vivo for its specificity and efficacy to modulate the αβT-cell compartment. GZ-αβTCR moderately induced apoptosis in resting αβT cells in vitro, an effect considerably amplified in activated T cells. A single dose of GZ-αβTCR significantly reduced human CD45+CD3+ T cells in vivo, with a preferential modulation of CD4+ αβT cells. Importantly, naive T cells, the T-cell subset from which alloreactivity emanates, were significantly reduced. Simultaneously, a significant, compensatory increase of γδ T cells was observed in vitro and in vivo in both humanized mouse models examined. GZ-αβTCR did not induce cytokines and was well tolerated. Thus, specificity and high efficacy make GZ-αβTCR a powerful tool to selectively eliminate putatively detrimental T-cell subsets, a major goal in transplantation medicine. At the same time, GZ-αβTCR spares γδ and natural killer cells, thus leaving the recipient's immune system competent for cell-mediated immunoregulation and cell-mediated immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytosterols play a major role in functional foods. Their ability to reduce serum cholesterol in humans has been widely proven and they are now being added to various dairy based products. The present study investigated the potential antimicrobial activity of phytosterols in milk and their effect on yogurt starter cultures. A commercial phytosterol (0.26% to 1.8%, w/v) preparation (CPP) consisting of ß-sitosterol, campesterol, sitostanol, and campestanol had no effect on the standard plate count (SPC) and psychrotroph population in pasteurized milk stored at 4 °C. In addition, a challenge study employing Pseudomonas spp. in milk at 4 to 7 °C confirmed that the CPP was not antimicrobial. However, the addition of a dispersible CPP consisting of 0.72% phytosterol containing 0.02% to 0.03% sodium stearoyl lactylate (SSL) did appear to affect the SPC and psychrotrophic bacteria in refrigerated milk. The dispersible preparations did not, however, inhibit the growth of Pseudomonas. An investigation into the antimicrobial activity of SSL revealed that it alone had no effect on the SPC in milk. The CPP had no effect on growth and acid development by Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus during yogurt production at 33 °C and storage at 4 °C for 30 d. This is seen as a beneficial feature since growth and acid development by these organisms are crucial for yogurt quality. Saccaromyces cerevisiae and Aspergillus ochraceous added to yogurt as typical contaminants also were not inhibited. While the CCP was somewhat antimicrobial when formulated with dispersing agents, it otherwise had no antimicrobial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article assesses the implications of a passage in William Wordsworth's preface to Lyrical Ballads for the historical and theoretical context of popular culture. Lyrical Ballads was published in 1798. The publication of the collection of poems marks the beginning of a modern poetry and poetics. In the book, the author examines the factors influencing the popular culture that is being driven to desire and consume the sensational. In this regard, he concludes that urbanizing, historical, industrial and technical forces characterizes the modern mass culture.

In high-conflict divorce litigation involving custody and access, mental-health professionals are often used to assess the case and make recommendations. Using Foucauldian theories of discourse, this article suggests that these assessments, which are intended to resolve the conflict or offer profitable information, often participate in the conflict by constructing assessments and diagnoses that fit with legal discourse, and thus with the outcomes of adversarial-styled rulings and ideologically driven interests. This article suggests that so long as such professionals are driven by the privileged discourse of law and psychology/psychiatry, the best interests of those at the center of the conflict can have their experience co-opted by the iatrogenic features of these discourses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three experiments were conducted to determine (1) the pharmacodynamics of 5-hydroxytryptamine in juvenile lobsters; (2) the effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine, using a range of dosages, on a motor behavior used to escape an aversive situation; and (3) the effect of doses that did and did not inhibit this motor behavior on measures of dominance and shelter competition. The fate of 5-hydroxytryptamine in hemolymph over a 60-min post-injection period showed that the concentration fell rapidly to a low plateau that was maintained for at least 1 h. Low doses of 5-hydroxytryptamine did not affect locomotor behavior, but higher doses inhibited it. Dominance and subsequent possession of a shelter were unaffected by a low dose of 5-hydroxytryptamine but a higher dose that inhibited locomotion resulted in lobsters that lost fights and did not secure or retain possession of the shelter. In the context of dominance and shelter competition, we were unable to demonstrate any advantage of the low dose of exogenous 5-hydroxytryptamine and a severe disadvantage with the higher dose. Previous reports of transient increases in aggression in 5-hydroxytryptamine-treated subordinate lobsters did not take into account motor inhibition as a possible critical variable in aggression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which determines and confirms the histological diagnosis of Nocardia in cultured weakfish Cynoscion regalis. The study used BiOstic® FFPE Tissue DNA Isolation Kit, Qiagen DNeasy kit, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with an Invitrogen AccuPrime® DNA Polymerase Kit. Results show that the gill clips and skin scrapes of the two examined dead weakfish revealed a mixed population of filamentous bacteria and protozoa.

The effects of diet type (corn- vs. wheat- based) and multicarbohydrase addition on growth performance, digesta pH and viscosity, intestinal populations of Clostridium perfringens and lactic acid bacteria, and gut lesion score (from 0 to 4, where 0 = no gross lesions, 4 = severe extensive necrosis) of broiler chickens during oral challenge with C. perfringens (none or 108 cfu/bird on d 13) were studied in a 39-d experiment. A total of 1,216 male Ross-308 chickens was assigned to 8 dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design providing 8 replicate pens per treatment. Diets were formulated to meet the NRC protein requirement but were suboptimal in energy level. When compared with birds fed corn-based diets, chickens fed wheat-based diets had inferior (P < 0.01) final BW (2.49 vs. 2.59 kg) and feed conversion ratio (FCR; 1.83 vs. 1.78). Pathogen challenge significantly (P < 0.05) impaired growth performance and increased C. perfringens numbers and average lesion score. Increased (P < 0.01) C. perfringens counts (2.4 vs. 1.5 log10 cfu/g of digesta) and intestinal lesion score (0.9 vs. 0.4) were observed for challenged birds fed wheat-based diets. No difference in digesta pH and lactic acid bacteria numbers were found among the treatments. Enzyme addition to both the corn- and wheat-based diets increased bird final BW (2.57 vs. 2.51 kg; P < 0.01), decreased overall FCR (1.78 vs. 1.83; P < 0.01), and, in those consuming wheat-based diets, reduced digesta viscosity (from 4.1 to 2.7 mPa.s; P < 0.01). Enzyme supplementation assisted the challenged birds in maintaining their optimal growth performance by improving (P < 0.05) average daily gain (59.5 vs. 56.9 g) in those consuming corn- based diets and FCR (1.83 vs. 1.90) in those consuming wheat-based diets to values similar to those observed in control birds (59.7 g/d and 1.84, respectively). In conclusion, enzyme addition improved growth performance and mitigated the negative effects of C. perfringens challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To examine the effect of processing with superheated steam (SS) on Geobacillus stearothermophilus ATCC 10149 spores. Methods and Results: Two inoculum levels of spores of G. stearothermophilus were mixed with sterile sand and exposed to SS at 105–175°C. The decimal reduction time (D-value) and the thermal resistance constant (z-value) were calculated. The effect of cooling of spores between periods of exposure to SS was also examined. A mean z-value of 25·4°C was calculated for both inoculum levels for SS processing temperatures between 130°C and 175°C. Conclusions: Spore response to SS treatment depends on inoculum size. SS treatment may be effective for reduction in viability of thermally resistant bacterial spores provided treatments are separated by intermittent cooling periods. Significance and Impact of the Study: There is a need for technologies that require short thermal processing times to eliminate bacterial spores in foods. The SS processing technique has the potential to reduce microbial load and to modify food texture with less energy in comparison to commonly used hot air treatment. This work provides information on the effect of SS processing parameters on the viability of G. stearothermophilus spores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of ground fiaxseed (FS) and a multicarbohydrase enzyme (C) supplement on piglet performance, gastrointestinal microbial activity, and nutrient digestibility were investigated in a 28-d trial. The enzyme supplement provided 500 units of pectinase, 50 units of cellulase, 400 units of mannanase, 1,200 units of xylanase, 450 units of glucanase, and 45 units of galactanase per kilogram of diet. Ninety-six pigs were weaned at 17 d of age (BW, 6.1 ± 0.4 kg, mean ± SD) and assigned to treatments based on a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement in a completely randomized de- sign, with 6 pens per diet (4 pigs per pen). The diets contained wheat, barley, peas, soybean meal, and Canola meal with 0 or 12% FS, and were fed without or with C. Flaxseed was included by changing the levels of the other ingredients to balance the diets for DE and nutrients. Diets had similar nutrient contents and met the NRC (1998) nutrient specifications, with the exception of DE, CP, and AA, which were 95, 94, and 97% of the NRC requirements, respectively. Diets were fed in a 2-phase feeding program (2 wk/phase). Feed intake and BW were measured weekly, and 1 pig per pen with a BW nearest the pen average was bled weekly to evaluate plasma urea nitrogen. On d 28, fresh fecal samples were collected from each pen and 1 pig per pen with a BW nearest the pen average was killed to evaluate intestinal microbial activity and nutrient digestibility. A dietary effect on piglet performance was observed only in wk 3, when the FS diets decreased (P = 0.005) AIJG and G:F, tended to decrease (P = 0.070) ADFI, and increased (P = 0.027) plasma urea nitrogen. An interaction between FS and C was observed for ileal digesta viscosity (P = 0.045), such that C increased viscosity in the FS diet but had no effect in the non-FS diet. Flaxseed and C interacted to affect ileal ammonia content (P = 0.049), such that in the absence of FS, pigs fed the diet with C had lower ammonia than those on the diet without C. Flaxseed and C affected other ileal parameters independently. Pigs fed the FS diets had decreased (P = 0.003 to 0.033) anaerobic spore counts, organic acid, DM, CP, and nonstarch polysaccharide (NSP) digestibility compared with pigs fed the non-FS diets, whereas pigs fed the C-supplemented diets had greater (P = 0.009 to 0.061) lactobacilli counts, lactate, DM, and NSP digestibility than pigs fed the unsupplemented diets. In conclusion, FS reduced ileal microbial activity, nutrient digestibilities, and piglet performance in wk 3. The multicarbohydrase supplement increased ileal DM and NSP digestibilities as well as lactobacilli counts and lactate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of low-protein AA-supplemented diets on piglet performance, visceral organ mass, incidence of diarrhea, intestinal microbial population, and fermentation were studied in a 3-wk trial. After a 7-d adaptation period, 96 piglets (-6.2 kg of initial BW) were assigned to 4 corn-wheat, soybean meal-based dietary treatments in a completely randomized design to give 6 replicate pens per treatment (n = 4 piglets per pen). The treatments were a control wheat-corn-soybean meal-based phase I diet containing 23% CP, or the same diet with CP reduced to 21%, 19%, or 17% and supplemented with crystalline AA to achieve equal standardized ileal digestible contents of Lys, Met plus Cys, Thr, and Trp in all diets. Diets were formulated to similar nutrient levels and provided ad libitum. Blood from all pigs was taken on d 0, 7, 14, and 21 for determining plasma urea N. Weekly feed intake, BW changes, and G:F were determined. On d 21, 2 pigs per pen were randomly selected and killed to determine small intestinal morphology, digesta pH and ammonia levels, and luminal microbial counts. Average daily feed intake, ADG, and G:F were not affected (P> 0.10) by reducing CP to 21%, but a reduction to 19% or 17% decreased ADFI (P < 0.001) and ADG (linear, P < 0.001; quadratic, P < 0.05) over the 3-wk study period. Reducing CP to 19% had no effect (P> 0.10) on G:F; however, this response criterion was decreased linearly (P < 0.001) over the 3-wk study period as dietary CP declined. Water usage was only numerically decreased (P > 0.10) with dietary CP reduction. Plasma urea N was decreased linearly (P < 0.01) with CP reduction. Reducing CP from 23 to 17% had a linear (P < 0.05) and cubic effect on stomach and liver weights, respectively. Although histological data showed some differences among diets, no distinct trend was evident. Ammonia N in ileal digesta was reduced linearly (P < 0.01) as dietary CP was decreased. With the exception of valeric acid, VFA levels in ileal digesta of piglets fed low-protein diets were generally lower (P < 0.05) compared with the control diet. Diet had no effect on intestinal microbial counts (P> 0.10). The results show that piglet performance may suffer when dietary CP is reduced by 4 or more percentage units from 23% and support the hypothesis that low-C P diets help maintain enteric health in pigs by lowering toxic microbial metabolites such as ammonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of flaxseed and carbohydrase enzyme supplementation on ileal microbial populations, organic acids as well as ileal and fecal ammonia in nursery pigs were investigated in a 28 d trial. Ninety-six pigs (17±1 d, 6.1kg BW) were weaned and based on BW; four pigs were housed per pen with six pens per diet. The diets were based on wheat, barley, pea, soybean and canola meals with 0% or 12% flaxseed and fed alone or supplemented with multi-carbohydrase enzyme (0.05%) containing cellulase, pectinase, mannanase, xylanase, glucanase and galactanase activities. Fresh fecal samples were collected from each pen on d 28, and at the end of the study, 1 pig per pen was killed to sample ileal digesta. Microbial populations and organic acid contents were analyzed in ileal digesta samples only. Ammonia content in samples was measured as ammonia-N. There tended (P=0.10) to be an interaction between flaxseed and enzyme for ileal Lactobacilli concentrations; in absence of flaxseed, enzyme tended to increase ileal Lactobacilli concentrations compared to unsupplemented diets. Flaxseed diets reduced ileal anaerobic spore formers (2.6 vs. 3.1 log10 CFU/g; P0.05), lactic acid (1115 vs. 2354 µmol/L; P<0.01) and total organic acids (2220 vs. 4133 µmol/L; P<0.01) compared to non-flaxseed diets, however, ileal pH was not affected by dietary treatments. Enzyme supplementation tended to increase (P=0.10) ileal lactic acid and total organic acids compared to non-enzyme diets. Inclusion of enzyme blend in non-flaxseed diets resulted in reduced (P=0.06) ileal ammonia content. Flaxseed diets had a lower fecal pH (6.4 vs. 6.8; P<0.01) and tended to have lower fecal ammonia content (32.4 vs. 40.4 mg/L; P=0.07) than non-flaxseed diets. Results suggest that flaxseed suppressed ileal microbial numbers and organic acids concentration while enzyme supplementation increased organic acids and tended to increase Lactobacilli concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]