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The micellization of an aqueous solution of the surface active ionic liquid (SAIL), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium octylsufate (C 4 mim)(C 8 OSO 3 ) and its interaction with an anionic polymer sodium polystyrene sulfonate, (NaPSS) were studied using conductimetry, tensiometry and fluorimetry. Surface tension profile shows a more dramatic increase in the value of surface tension of aqueous (C 4 mim)(C 8 OSO 3 ) before the critical micelle concentration (cmc) of IL. The critical micelle concentration (cmc) value of this surfactant was found out from conductance measurements. The thermodynamic parameters, i.e., Gibb’s free energy, enthalpy, and entropy of micellization of the IL in aqueous solution have been calculated. Behavior of fluorescence probe confirms the binding interactions between SAIL and the polyelectrolyte. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meat consumption is becoming one of the most relevant sectors in terms of environmental impacts globally. In the Brazilian Amazon the effects of this process are seen in the ongoing deforestation and land-use change (about 65% of deforestation can be linked to cattle ranching). One of the main causes of this trend is the increased efficiency of the transport infrastructure: along both sides of the Brazilian Inter-Oceanic highway, about 50 km of rainforest have been converted to cattle ranching. In 2011 the Inter-Oceanic highway was finalized also on the Peruvian side: the region of Madre de Dios is neighboring the Brazilian Amazon, therefore the risk is that this area will undergo the same kind of development. The objective of this analysis is to highlight the contribution of global meat demand trend as cause of land use change and deforestation in the Madre de Dios region. This focus has been chosen since, nowadays, the magnitude of cattle ranching activities is hidden by more evident and damaging activities (e.g., gold mining), and its near-future effects risk to be underestimated. By starting with investigating the preliminary signals of cattle ranching contribution to the local deforestation process, this analysis will serve as basis for more comprehensive future works on local data, including monitoring campaigns of local biodiversity and GHG emissions. Land-use change is, thus, analyzed through FAO data and also through data acquired with remote sensing carried out within other projects. Meat consumption and production outcomes are obtained from the FAOSTAT database. By integrating trends in the regional meat consumption with the emerging trading effects, which are incremented by the new highway, it is possible to highlight the risk that the global convergence in meat consumption trends can locally influence the deforestation in Madre de Dios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trichostatin A (TSA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, has been used to improve nuclear reprogramming in somatic cell nuclear transfer embryos. However, the molecular mechanism of TSA for the improvement of the pre- and postimplantation embryonic development is unknown. In the present study, we investigated mechanism of cell cycle arrest caused by TSA and also determined embryo quality and gene expression in cloned bovine embryos produced from TSA-treated donor cells compared with embryos produced by in vitro fertilization or parthenogenetic activation. We observed that, 50 nM TSA-treated cells were synchronized at G0/G1 stage with concomitant decrease in the proportion of these cells in the S stage of the cell cycle, which was also supported by significant changes in cell morphology and decreased proliferation (P < 0.05). Measurement of relative expression using real-time polymerase chain reaction of a some cell cycle–related genes and microRNAs in treated donor cells showed decreased expression of HDAC1 , DNMT1 , P53 , CYC E1 , and CDK4 and increased expression of DNMT3a , CDKN1A , CDK2 , CDK3 , miR-15a, miR-16, and miR-34a (P < 0.05). No change in the relative expression of miR-449a was noticed. Trichostatin A treatment of donor cells significantly improved both cleavage and blastocyst rate (P < 0.05) compared with the control embryos, also apoptotic index in treated cloned blastocysts was significantly decreased compared with the nontreated blastocysts (P < 0.05) and was at the level of IVF counterpart. Relative expression of HDAC1 and DNMT3a was significantly lower in treated cloned and parthenogenetic embryos than that of nontreated and IVF counterpart, whereas in case of P53 , expression level between treated and IVF embryos was similar, which was significantly lower than nontreated cloned and parthenogenetic embryos. In conclusion, our data suggested that TSA improves yield and quality of cloned bovine embryos by modulating the expression of G0/G1 cell cycle stage–related microRNA in donor cells, which support that TSA might be great cell cycle synchronizer apart from potent epigenetic modulator in cloning research in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate healthcare resource utilisation (HRU) and economic burden of Glioblastoma (GBM) in the United States (US). Cost data was adjusted to 2018 USD using the world bank consumer price index (CPI) of the US. Mean LOS is significantly longer in the elderly group (age >=70 vs. <70 years at surgery- 8.7 days vs. 5.2 days, respectively; p=0.025) Conclusions HRU and direct cost burden of GBM is substantial in the US. [Extracted from the article]

A comprehensive search was conducted using NICE technology appraisals for submissions on cancers in the last five years and submissions on non-haematological cancers were shortlisted. Eighteen different types of non-haematological cancers were identified with 10 or more submissions for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (18/2), melanoma (12/1), and breast cancer (8/2) (recommended/not recommended). Significant survival data (End-of-life criterion) was the main reason for approval of drugs with significantly high ICER across the three non-haematological cancers. [Extracted from the article]

This study compared the cloning efficiency of donor cells of fibroblast and epithelial origin isolated from ear skin of a wild buffalo ( Bubalus arnee ) and used with cytoplasts from domestic buffalo ( Bubalus bubalis ) in interspecies SCNT by hand-made cloning. The cleavage (93.0 ± 2.8% vs. 85.6 ± 2.4%) and blastocyst rates (50.6 ± 4.0% vs. 20.5 ± 2.6%) were higher (P < 0.05) for fibroblasts than those for epithelial cells, whereas the total cell number (490 ± 42 and 492 ± 95, respectively) and apoptotic index (2.3 ± 0.3 and 2.5 ± 0.6, respectively) of blastocysts were similar. The global level of H3K18ac and H3K27me3 was lower (P < 0.05) in fibroblasts than that in epithelial cells. The global level of H3K18ac was higher (P < 0.05) in fibroblast than that in epithelial cell–derived blastocysts, whereas that of H3K27me3 was similar between the two groups. The expression level of HDAC1 , DNMT1 , DNMT3a , and P53 was higher (P < 0.05) in fibroblasts than that in epithelial cells; that of CASPASE3 showed an opposite pattern (P < 0.001), whereas CASPASE7 expression level was similar in the two groups. In the embryos, the expression level of HDAC1 , DNMT3a , and CDX2 was lower (P < 0.05) in fibroblast than that in epithelial cell–derived blastocysts; that of NANOG showed an opposite pattern (P < 0.05), whereas that of OCT4 was similar between the two groups. In conclusion, donor cells of fibroblast origin are easier to reprogram than those of epithelial origin in interspecies SCNT, and cloning efficiency, epigenetic status, and gene expression pattern vary among cells having different origin although they may be from the same tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bell's palsy, the most common cause of lower motor neuron facial palsy, has an incidence rate of 11.5-53.3 per 100,000 persons in a year across different populations. There is an utmost need for reliable evidence for clinicians as well as policy makers for the treatment of Bell's palsy. [Extracted from the article]

Abstract: A 66kDa adult Haemonchus contortus excretory/secretory (E/S) antigen was identified in Western blot by reaction with sera from the infected goats. The protein was purified from the adult worm extract and E/S products by anion exchange and ConA-Sepharose chromatography. The purified protein inhibited monocyte function in vitro as judged by decreased production of hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide in the culture medium. The protein also caused proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The absence of protein in the free living L3 larvae suggests that the expression of this protein coincides with the adaptation to the parasitic life. A correlation of antibody titre and worm burden was observed in the infected goats with higher antibody levels in high worm burdened animals. Anti-protein antibody caused loss of adult worm motility in vitro resulting in the death of the parasite. The fact that the protein is recognized by the host together with in vitro killing of adult parasites by antibodies makes this protein a promising candidate for vaccination trial. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The present study was conducted primarily to optimize electrofusion conditions for efficient production of zona-free nuclear transfer embryos in buffalos (Bubalus bubalis). We found that 4V AC current for proper triplet alignment and single step fusion method, using a single DC pulse of 3.36 kV/cm for 4-μs duration, produced the most convincing results for efficient reconstitution of zona-free cloned embryos. Lysis rate was very high (84.28 ± 2.59%) when triplets were in physical contact with negative electrode after applying DC current, however, cleavage rate and blastocyst rate were found to be similar when the triplets were not in physical contact with either positive or negative electrodes or when they were in physical contact with the positive electrode. Significant improvement in blastocyst production was observed when the somatic cell faced the positive electrode than when it faced the negative electrode (39.17 ± 2.74% vs. 25.91 ± 2.00%, respectively) during electrofusion. Similarly, the blastocyst rate (52.0 ± 3.4%) was found to be significantly higher when reconstructed embryos were activated 6 h post electrofusion as compared to 0, 2, 4 and 8 h (16.04 ± 6.3%; 18.36 ± 1.4%; 22.44 ± 3.7% and 30.02 ± 4.6%, respectively). This study establishes the application of zona-free nuclear transfer procedures for the production of handmade cloned buffalo embryos through optimization of electrofusion parameters and post fusion holding time for enhancing their preimplantation development. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study was undertaken to asses the feed consumption and nutrient utilization of captive spotted deer (Axis axis) fed different roughage sources containing oat (Avena sativa), berseem (Alexandrium trifolium) or combination of both the fodder. Fifteen spotted deer (66.93±2.73kg) were randomly distributed into 3 equal groups. All the animals were fed 400g of wheat bran. The roughage source was 10kg oat in group I, 5kg each of oat and berseem in group II, and 10kg berseem in group III. After a 30-day adaptation period a digestion trial of 5-day collection period was conducted to estimate feed intake, nutrient digestibility and faecal pellet characteristics. Blood samples were collected on day 40, 45, 50, 55 and 60 of the experimental period. Dry matter and fibre contents were lower in berseem than in oat. Nitrogen content of berseem fodder was twice of oat fodder. Fibre and DM intakes were lower in berseem fed groups. Significant increase (P <0.05) in digestibility of organic matter, crude protein and NDF was observed when a combination of oat and berseem was distributed, feeding berseem as a sole roughage source improved these parameters. Even though gross energy intake was lower in berseem group, it was compensated by improved (P <0.05) energy utilization resulting into similar digestible and metabolizable energy intake in all the groups. Number of faecal pellets/defecation increased (P <0.05) with increased level of berseem in diet. Serum level of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, glutamate pyruvate transaminase and cholesterol was lower (P <0.05) in group fed combination of oat and berseem. It was concluded that feeding oat and berseem in combination as roughage source could be a better strategy to feed cervids (spotted deer) rather than sole feeding of fodders. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A bicistronic DNA vaccine against rabies and parvovirus infection of dogs was developed by subcloning rabies glycoprotein and canine parvovirus (CPV) VP2 genes into a bicistronic vector. After characterizing the expression of both the proteins in vitro, the bicistronic DNA vaccine was injected in mice and induced immune response was compared with monocistronic DNA vaccines. There was no significant difference in ELISA and virus neutralizing (VN) antibody responses against rabies and CPV in mice immunized with either bicistronic or monocistronic DNA vaccine. Further, there was significantly similar protection in mice immunized with either bicistronic or monocistronic rabies DNA vaccine on rabies virus challenge. Similarly, dogs immunized with monocistronic and bicistronic DNA vaccines developed comparable VN antibodies against rabies and CPV. This study indicated that bicistronic DNA vaccine can be used in dogs to induce virus neutralizing immune responses against both rabies and CPV. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]