Analysis of Meis2 knockout mice reveals Sonic hedgehog-mediated patterning of the cochlear duct.

Background: The mechanisms underlying the formation of complex structures such as during the outgrowth of the cochlear duct are still poorly understood.

Results: We have analyzed the morphological and molecular changes associated with cochlear development in mouse mutants for the transcription factor Meis2, which show defective coiling of the cochlea. These morphological abnormalities were accompanied by the formation of ectopic and extra rows of sensory hair cells.

Essential oil supplementation in milk replacers: short- and long-term impacts on feed efficiency, the faecal microbiota and the plasma metabolome in dairy calves.

Early supplementation with oregano essential oil (EO) in milk replacer (MR) may improve growth, immune responses, the microbiota and the metabolome in dairy calves during pre-weaning and in adulthood. Sixteen female dairy calves (3 days of age) were divided in two groups ( = 8/group): the control group (no EO) and the EO group (0.23 ml of EO in MR during 45 days).

Correction: Transcription factor induced conversion of human fibroblasts towards the hair cell lineage.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Conventional Feed-Grade or Slow-Release Coated Urea as Sources of Dietary Nitrogen for Fattening Lambs.

Twenty-two Assaf male lambs (29.2 ± 0.9 kg live weight and 89 ± 0.

Secretory IgA as Biomarker for Gastrointestinal Nematodes Natural Infection in Different Breed Sheep.

Specific IgA antibody has been shown to play an important role in resistance to gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infections in sheep, particularly in parasitosis. In some breeds, negative associations have been shown between IgA levels and worm burden in experimentally infected sheep. In the present study, we have studied the relationship between IgA levels in naturally infected sheep (582 ewes in total; 193 younger than one year old and 389 older than one year old) and fecal egg count (FEC) in the Assaf, Castellana, and Churra breeds.

Effects of Thymbra capitata essential oil on in vitro fermentation end-products and ruminal bacterial communities.

An in vitro trial was carried out to investigate the effects of natural Thymbra capitata essential oil (NEO) and its main compounds [including carvacrol, p-cymene, γ-terpinene given alone or in a synthetic combination (SEO)] on ruminal fermentation and the bacterial community using batch cultures inoculated with ruminal digesta and incubating two different basal diets [high-forage (F) and high-concentrate (C) diet]. After 24 h of incubation, primary fermentation end-products [gas, methane, volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and ammonia] and rumen microbial diversity were determined. NEO reduced the total VFA concentration (P < 0.

The Effects of Aflatoxin B1 Intake in Assaf Dairy Ewes on Aflatoxin M1 Excretion, Milk Yield, Haematology and Biochemical Profile.

The aim of this study was to investigate the in vivo transfer of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) to Assaf ewes' milk (aflatoxin M1, AFM1) and its effect on animal performance and health. Thirty Assaf ewes were allocated to three groups (C, L, H), and received a different individual daily dose of AFB1 (0, 40 and 80 μg) for 13 days. Milk (days 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 14, 16 and 18) and blood (days 1, 7, 14 and 18) samples were collected.

Dietary administration of l-carnitine during the fattening period of early feed restricted lambs modifies lipid metabolism and meat quality.

Early feed restriction of lambs promotes a permanent mitochondrial dysfunction that impairs β-oxidation of fatty acids along the whole life. Therefore, dietary l-carnitine might help to improve the mitochondrial function of these lambs, thus modifying lipid metabolism and meat quality traits. In order to test this hypothesis an experiment was carried out with 22 Merino lambs that were subjected to an early feed restriction during the suckling period.

Urban mobility patterns and the spatial distribution of infections in Santiago de Chile.

The process of a virus spread is inherently spatial. Even though Latin America became the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2020, there is still little evidence of the relationship between urban mobility and virus propagation in the region. This paper combines network analysis of mobility patterns in public transportation with a spatial error correction model for Santiago de Chile.

Dietary Administration of L-Carnitine During the Fattening Period of Early Feed Restricted Lambs Modifies Ruminal Fermentation but Does Not Improve Feed Efficiency.

Early feed restriction of lambs may program animals to achieve reduced feed efficiency traits as a consequence of permanent mitochondrial dysfunction. The hypothesis at the background of the present study is that dietary administration of L-Carnitine (a compound that promotes the activation and transportation of fatty acids into the mitochondria) during the fattening period of early feed restricted lambs can: (a) improve the biochemical profile of early feed restricted lambs, (b) improve feed efficiency, (c) modulate the ruminal and intestinal microbiota, and (d) induce changes in the gastrointestinal mucosa, including the immune status. Twenty-two newborn male Merino lambs were raised under natural conditions but separated from the dams for 9 h daily to allow feed restriction during the suckling period.

The Role of Feed Restriction on DNA Methylation, Feed Efficiency, Metabolome, Biochemical Profile, and Progesterone Patterns in the Female Filial Generation (F1) Obtained From Early Feed Restricted Ewes (F0).

Deficient management of replacement animals in the farm during early developmental windows may promote adverse programming effects on reproductive traits and subsequent transmission to the next generation. In this sense, DNA methylation profiles allow researchers to decode epigenetic regulation mechanisms in mammals and identify novel candidate genes correlated with phenotype differences in both dams and offspring. Therefore, improving knowledge in the field of epigenetics and intergenerational effects caused by prenatal and postnatal early nutritional events (e.

Containing the spatial spread of COVID-19 through the trucking network.

The trucking industry is the backbone of domestic supply chains. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, road transportation has been essential to guarantee the supply of basic goods to confined urban areas. However, the connectivity of the trucking network can also act as an efficient virus spreader.

Banana Pseudo-Stem Increases the Water-Holding Capacity of Minced Pork Batter and the Oxidative Stability of Pork Patties.

Banana pseudo-stem (BPS), which is rich in fibre and polyphenols, is a potential functional ingredient for the food industry. In this study, BPS was added at concentrations of 1.5, 3.

Meis2 Is Required for Inner Ear Formation and Proper Morphogenesis of the Cochlea.

genes have been shown to control essential processes during development of the central and peripheral nervous system. Here we have explored the roles of the gene during vertebrate inner ear induction and the formation of the cochlea. is expressed in several tissues required for inner ear induction and in non-sensory tissue of the cochlear duct.

Effects of Birth Weight on Animal Performance, Fattening Traits and Meat Quality of Lambs.

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a key developmental programming factor which might impair both the feed efficiency of lambs and meat quality, since it deeply impacts skeletal muscle and adipose tissue development. To determine the effect of birth weight on the growth performance, ruminal parameters, digestibility, non-carcass components, carcass traits, physicochemical characteristics and fatty acid profile of meat, two experimental groups (six animals in each group) of male Merino lambs with different body weights (BW) at birth (low BW (LW; 3.88 ± 0.

Effect of Dietary Crude Protein on Animal Performance, Blood Biochemistry Profile, Ruminal Fermentation Parameters and Carcass and Meat Quality of Heavy Fattening Assaf Lambs.

Thirty Assaf male lambs (30 ± 1.9 kg of body weight) were allocated to three groups fed diets differing in their crude protein (CP) contents (low protein (LP), 134 g CP/kg dry matter (DM); medium protein (MP), 157 g CP/kg DM; and high protein (HP), 173 g CP/kg DM) to test the effect of dietary protein content on animal performance, rumen function, animal health, and carcass and meat quality. Feed intake was recorded daily, and animals were weighed every second week.

The effects of storage and hop extract on aroma and flavour compounds in Balkan-style sausages packed under a CO-containing anaerobic atmosphere.

Changes in the levels of pH, lactic acid, acetic acid, headspace volatile compounds, and spoilage odour intensity during a 35 day refrigerated storage period in two sets of a Balkan-style fresh sausage, a control sausage (CON) and a sausage containing an aqueous hop extract (HOP), packaged under a 20% CO and 80% N atmosphere were evaluated. Storage resulted in progressive sausage acidification and increased the levels of acetic acid, 1-methylbutanol, ethyl acetate, ethyl hexanoate, and 2-ethylhexanol; all of which are associated with anaerobic microbial metabolism under sugar restricted conditions. Storage decreased the levels of hexanal, heptanal, pentanol, and garlic-derived organosulfur compounds.

Production Significance of Bovine Respiratory Disease Lesions in Slaughtered Beef Cattle.

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is still a serious concern in feedlots, where it exerts a negative effect on farm productivity. There is a shortage of studies focused on the evaluation of BRD-associated lesions at the slaughterhouse in clinically healthy animals. The objective of this work was to investigate the prevalence and type of subclinical pneumonic lesions in slaughtered beef cattle, according to the age range and management system, and its impact on carcass weight.

Replacing Soybean Meal with Urea in Diets for Heavy Fattening Lambs: Effects on Growth, Metabolic Profile and Meat Quality.

Thirty-six Assaf male lambs (29.4 ± 3.10 kg body weight (BW)) were used to study the feasibility of including urea (at 0, 0.

Microbial Growth and Biogenic Amine Production in a Balkan-Style Fresh Sausage during Refrigerated Storage under a CO-Containing Anaerobic Atmosphere: Effect of the Addition of Essential Oil and Hops Extract.

Fresh sausages are highly perishable, and the preservatives allowed in these types of meat preparations are limited. Balkan-style fresh sausages were prepared in triplicate without antimicrobials (Control), with an aqueous hops extract (30 mL/kg), with Boiss essential oil (1 mL/kg), or a combination of both (15 and 0.5 mL/kg, respectively), and refrigerator-stored under a 20% CO and 80% N atmosphere.

Grain grinding size of cereals in complete pelleted diets for growing lambs: Effects on animal performance, carcass and meat quality traits.

The main goal of the present study was to clarify the effects of different grinding particle size of grains (2-mm vs. 6-mm) included in complete pelleted diets (CPD) for fattening lambs on animal performance, carcass and meat quality. Twenty male merino lambs (14.

Effects of dietary astaxanthin supplementation on the oxidative stability of meat from suckling lambs fed a commercial milk-replacer containing butylated hydroxytoluene.

Meat colour and lipid oxidative stability can be improved by adding antioxidants to animal diet. This study investigated the effects of the addition of astaxanthin to a butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)-containing commercial milk-replacer, at a rate of 25 mg of astaxanthin/kg of milk-replacer powder, on suckling lamb meat quality. Twenty newborn (2 day old) lambs allocated to individual pens were artificially reared for 22 days.

Effect of milking frequency and α-tocopherol plus selenium supplementation on sheep milk lipid composition and oxidative stability.

The aim of this research was to study the effect of milking frequency [once-daily milking (ODM) vs. twice-daily milking (TDM)] and antioxidant (AOX) supplementation on fatty acid (FA) profile and oxidative stability in sheep milk. Sixteen Assaf ewes were used; 8 did not receive any vitamin-mineral supplement (control), and the other 8 received an oral dose of 1,000 IU of α-tocopherol and 0.

Liver transcriptomic and proteomic profiles of preweaning lambs are modified by milk replacer restriction.

Prenatal and early postnatal nutrition may promote long-term effects on both feed efficiency and health of animals. Therefore, moderated milk replacer restriction during the artificial rearing period might negatively affect feed efficiency during the postweaning phases in dairy ewes. The aim of this work was to identify differentially expressed (DE) genes by RNA sequencing and differentially accumulated proteins using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry in the liver of artificially reared Assaf lambs to identify modified metabolic pathways as a consequence of milk replacer restriction in order to find possible solutions to correct any detrimental effect caused by this factor.

Assessment of the antioxidant effect of astaxanthin in fresh, frozen and cooked lamb patties.

Astaxanthin is a natural red carotene exerting a strong antioxidant action. The effect of this carotene on the oxidative stability of raw and cooked lamb patties was evaluated. Seven experimental treatments were included in this study depending on the antioxidants added, which are: no antioxidant added (control), 450 mg/kg of sodium metabisulphite, 500 mg/kg of sodium ascorbate, and 20 mg/kg, 40 mg/kg, 60 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg of astaxanthin.