Growth performance and shedding of some pathogenic bacteria in feedlot cattle treated with different growth-promoting agents

Eighty steers with a mean body weight of 319 kg were used in a study to evaluate the effect of a growth-promoting implant (trenbolone acetate plus estradiol benzoate), monensin, and oxytetracycline on the steer performance and shedding of some foodborne pathogens. The steers were allotted to one of eight treatment combinations according to a randomized complete block design with 16 pens of five animals. Rectal fecal samples were collected before treatment commenced and over a period of more than 24 weeks to study the influence of treatments on the intestinal microbiology of the animals. Results supported the beneficial effect of the hormonal implant on the performance of feedlot steers (average daily gain, feed efficiency, and fat thickness), on carcass characteristics (hot carcass weight, lean yield), and economic value of the carcasses (P < 0.01). The levels of Escherichia coli in feces were not affected by treatments but remained high throughout the study period. Antibiotic-resistant isolates of E. coli were more frequently found as the study progressed but were not associated with any specific treatment. Also independently of treatment, we observed a reduction over time in the shedding of Campylobacter and Yersinia during the feeding period, whereas the shedding of Enterococcus was increased. The results of this study confirmed the beneficial economic effect of growth-promoting agents in beef production and showed that the agents tested did not specifically affect the overall microbial evolution of the animal gut. However, the study also showed, independently of the growth promoter used, the shedding of Campylobacter, Yersinia, and antibiotic-resistant E. coli in the feedlot environment. These bacteria also may be found in the colonic tissue of steers at slaughter and might be a source of carcasses contamination.     

New photoremovable protecting groups for carboxylic acids with high photolytic efficiencies at near-UV irradiation. Application to the photocontrolled release of L-glutamate

We report here the syntheses and the photolytic properties of 3-(4,5-dimethoxy-2-nitrophenyl)-2-butyl (DMNPB) esters as new photoremovable groups for carboxylic acids, and their use for the caging of L-glutamate. A high-yielding synthesis of the DMNPB esters led to a 4:1 threo/erythro diastereomeric mixture, which could be separated by HPLC. While these esters were stable in neutral buffer, photolysis at 364 nm induced a > or =95 % release of the carboxylic acid, with a 0.26 quantum yield for L-glutamate formation. L-Glutamate release was also possible by two-photon photolysis with an action cross section of 0.17 GM at 720 nm. Laser photolysis at 350 nm generated a transient species at around 410 nm, attributed to a quinonoid aci-nitro intermediate that decayed in the submillisecond time range (t(1/2)=0.53 ms) for the faster gamma-L-glutamyl threo-esters. Given the absorbance of these esters (lambda(max)=350 nm; epsilon=4500), the threo DMNPB esters represent new caging groups that can be efficiently photolyzed at near-UV wavelengths. An efficient and rapid photolytic release of L-glutamate has been demonstrated on hippocampal neurons in primary culture.     

A temperature fluctuation equation model dedicated to the computation of turbulent thermal layers in high Reynolds internal flows

The paper deals with the modelling of temperature fluctuations in the fresh gases for the simulation of turbulent internal flows. For this purpose, a transport equation for the sensible enthalpy variance is treated. The proposed dynamic model for the scalar dissipation rate incorporates the effect of the turbulent Reynolds number. The wall closure is based on a non-isothermal formulation and accounts for the non-equilibrium state of the boundary layer. The developed models are implemented into the compressible code IFP-C3D. Results of the computations are successfully compared with experiments and DNS data for a slightly heated jet and moderate non-isothermal walls.     

Electrochemical study in both classical cell and microreactors of flavin adenine dinucleotide as a redox mediator for NADH regeneration

The electrochemical reduction of flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) is studied in a classical electrochemical cell as well as in two types of microreactors: the first one is a one-channel reactor and the other one, a multichannel filter-press reactor. The ultimate goal is to use the reduced form of flavin (FADH₂), in the presence of formate dehydrogenase (FDH), in order to continuously regenerate the reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) for chiral syntheses. Various voltammetric and adsorption measurements were carried out for a better understanding of the redox behavior of the FAD as well as its adsorption on gold. Diffusivity and kinetic electrochemical parameters of FAD were determined.     

Characterization of fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextrans used in vesicle permeability studies

Fluorescein Isothiocyanate-dextrans of various weight average molecular masses (4,400-487,000) were analyzed in buffer solution for pH, osmolarity, fluorescence intensity as a function of the polymer concentration, average molecular masses, and radii of gyration. Labeling of polymers and conformation of the polymers were characterized by high-performance gel exclusion chromatography (HPLC-GEC) and small-angle X-ray scattering. The fluorescence measurements evidence the absence of fluorescence quenching of the FITC chromophores but the existence of an inner filter effect at high polymer concentration. The conformation of the polymers in buffer is very likely of random coil type, as shown by the relationship between the radii of gyration and the weight-average molecular masses of the dextrans (Mw). The medium used to analyze the FITC-dextrans by HPLC-GEC strongly influences their elution behavior. In buffer medium, they are sieved over the TSK G4000 PW column through a single population according to their Mw. whereas in pure water, they are separated into several species by an exclusion mechanism that depends on the number of labeled sites per dextran molecule. A Monte Carlo simulation was used to analyze the distribution of the fluorescent labels. HPLC-GEC in water could interestingly be applied to yield labeled polymers bearing a known number of functionalized groups.     

Modular mutagenesis of a TEM-barrel enzyme: the crystal structure of a chimeric E.coli TIM having the eighth {beta}{alpha}-unit replaced by the equivalent unit of chicken TIM

Abstract The crystal structure of a hybrid Escherichia coli triosephosphateisomerase (TIM) has been determined at 2.8 Å resolution.The hybrid TIM (ETIM8CHI) was constructed by replacing the eighthß-unit of E.coli TIM with the equivalent unit of chickenTIM. This replacement involves 10 sequence changes. One of thechanges concerns the mutation of a buried alanine (Ala232 instrand 8) into a phenylalanine. The ETIM8CHI structure showsthat the A232F sequence change can be incorporated by a side-chainrotation of Phe224 (in helix 7). No cavities or strained dihedralsare observed in ETIM8CHI in the region near position 232, whichis in agreement with the observation that ETIM8CHI and E.coliTIM have similar stabilities. The largest CA (C-alpha atom)movements, 3 Å, are seen for the C-terminal end of helix8 (associated with the outward rotation of Phe224) and for theresidues in the loop after helix 1 (associated with sequencechanges in helix 8). From the structure it is not clear whythe k_cat of ETIM8CHI is 10 times lower than in wild type E.coliTIM     

évaluation économique de la thérapie cognitivo-comportementale des troubles anxieux.

This literature review examines the results of cost-effectiveness studies of cognitive-behaviour therapies published up to June 2003. Cost offsets likely to be derived from effective treatment of anxiety problems are also examined. A summary of results suggests the following: 1) cognitive-behaviour therapy is cost-effective compared to drug therapy for the treatment of panic disorder and social phobia; 2) group treatments and short courses as well as new technologies are promising alternatives to conventional therapy; 3) the existence of cost offsets for anxiety disorders has yet to be ascertained. Research approaches are suggested to cover significant shortcomings in the methodologies of studies conducted to date. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reasoning about geological space: Coupling 3D GeoModels and topological queries as an aid to spatial data selection

Topological relationships between geological objects are of great interest for mining and petroleum exploration. Indeed, adjacency, inclusion and intersection are common relationships between geological objects such as faults, geological units, fractures, mineralized zones and reservoirs. However, in the context of 3D modeling, actual geometric data models used to store those objects are not designed to manage explicit topological relationships. For example, with Gocad^© software, topological analyses are possible but they require a series of successive manipulations and are time consuming. This paper presents the development of a 3D topological query prototype, TQuery, compatible with Gocad^© modeling platform. It allows the user to export Gocad^© objects to a data storage model that regularizes the topological relationships between objects. The development of TQuery was oriented towards the use of volumetric objects that are composed of tetrahedrons. Exported data are then retrieved and used for 3D topological and spatial queries. One of the advantages of TQuery is that different types of objects can be queried at the same time without restricting the operations to voxel regions. TQuery allows the user to analyze data more quickly and efficiently and does not require a 3D modeling specialist to use it, which is particularly attractive in the context of a decision-making aid. The prototype was tested on a 3D GeoModel of a continental red-bed copper deposit in the Silurian Robitaille Formation (Transfiguration property, Québec, Canada).