The Effects of a Blend of Essential Oils in the Milk of Suckling Calves on Performance, Immune and Antioxidant Systems, and Intestinal Microbiota.

The objective of the present study was to determine whether the addition of a blend based on the essential oils of cinnamon, oregano, and eucalyptus to the liquid diets of calves would stimulate the immune system combined with anti-inflammatory action, minimize oxidative responses, and alter the intestinal microbiota, consequently enhancing animal growth. Twenty-four male Holstein calves (approximately five days old) were suckled for 60 days, underwent a weaning process, and were followed up until day 75 of the experiment. The calves were divided into control ( = 12) and phytobiotic ( = 12) groups, receiving commercial milk replacer and pelleted concentrate ad libitum.

Grape seed oil in the diet of primiparous Jersey cows before and after parturition: effects on performance, health, rumen environment, and milk quality.

The objective of the study was to determine whether adding grape seed oil (GSO) to the diet of primiparous Jersey breeds during the transition period would improve animal health by measuring effects on the rumen environment, serum biochemistry, oxidative response, and the composition and quality of milk. We used 14 Jersey heifers, weighing an average of 430 kg and 240 days of gestation. The animals were divided into two groups and offered a basal diet, including GSO in the concentrate for the GSO group (dose of 25 mL per animal day) and the same dose of soybean oil (SO) for the control group.

A biofloc system avoids the adverse effects of diets with suboptimal protein levels on zootechnical performance, intestinal histomorphometry, and protein metabolism of Nile tilapia juvenile fed Spirulina biomass (Arthrospira platensis) as an alternative protein source.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the biofloc technology (BFT) system and the replacement of fish meal with Spirulina biomass on productive performance, intestinal histomorphometry, plasma biochemistry, and oxidative stress of Nile tilapia juveniles (Oreochromis niloticus) fed suboptimal levels of protein. Two factors were evaluated: production systems (clear water × BFT) and replacement of fish meal with Spirulina (0, 33, 66 e 100%). The design was in a 2 × 4 randomized factorial scheme with four replications, and the fish were evaluated for 48 days.

Fruits, seeds and leaves of guabijuzeiro ( (O. Berg) D. Legrand): characteristics, uses and health benefits.

Native fruit trees have potential for use in the food and pharmaceutical industries, which is widely used in folk medicine. Guabiju, known as guabijuzeiro ( (O. Berg) D.

Impacts of intake of trichothecenes (Fusarium sporotrichioides) for dairy calves: Effects on animal growth, oxidative and inflammatory response.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the impacts of trichothecenes (Fusarium sporotrichioides) for dairy calves on animal growth, oxidative and inflammatory responses in the presence or absence of essential oils. Twelve calves weaned at 70 days of age were divided into 2 groups: T-C (control) and T-EO (essential oils - oregano, thyme, basil and rosemary) in the period of 40 days consuming ration contaminated by trichothecenes (500 ppb). The animals in the T-EO group received a mixture of EOs via feed at a dosage of 0.

Positive selection in cytochrome P450 genes is associated with gonad phenotype and mating strategy in social bees.

The honey bee, Apis mellifera differs from all other social bees in its gonad phenotype and mating strategy. Honey bee queens and drones have tremendously enlarged gonads, and virgin queens mate with several males. In contrast, in all the other bees, the male and female gonads are small, and the females mate with only one or very few males, thus, suggesting an evolutionary and developmental link between gonad phenotype and mating strategy.

Mining novel -regulatory elements from the emergent host using transcriptomic data.

The demand for robust microbial cell factories that produce valuable biomaterials while resisting stresses imposed by current bioprocesses is rapidly growing. is an emerging host that presents desirable features for bioproduction, since it can grow in a wide range of substrates and tolerate a variety of toxic compounds. To explore suitability for application as a cell factory in biorefineries, we sought to understand the transcriptional responses of this yeast when growing under experimental settings that simulated those used in biofuels-related industries.

Application of prebiotics in apple products and potential health benefits.

Among the fruits, the apple stands out among the most used for elaboration of processed foods. However, the importance of prebiotics in apple products has never been widely analyzed. Prebiotic is a food component resistant to gastric acidity, digestion by mammalian enzymes and gastrointestinal absorption.

Chromatin profiling reveals heterogeneity in clinical isolates of the human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus.

Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis, which is caused by the filamentous fungus Aspergillus fumigatus, is a life-threatening infection for immunosuppressed patients. Chromatin structure regulation is important for genome stability maintenance and has the potential to drive genome rearrangements and affect virulence and pathogenesis of pathogens. Here, we performed the first A.

Using Accreditation to Transform Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Efforts Into Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Systems.

The Liaison Committee on Medical Education accreditation process is an important component of professional regulation and is used by medical schools to strengthen their medical education programs. Accreditation-related consultations with schools often include a review of relevant documents, stakeholder interviews, and mock site visits. A review by the author of this commentary of these consultations at 17 schools showed variability in how information regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) was incorporated and discussed in accreditation-related materials and interviews.

Chemical Composition, Antioxidant Potential, and Blood Glucose Lowering Effect of Aqueous Extract and Essential Oil of Hochst. Ex Benth.

an endemic plant of Ethiopia, is traditionally used to cure various diseases and as a food ingredient. In the Ethiopian folk medicine, the decoction is orally taken as a remedy to treat diabetes and high blood pressure. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the antioxidant and antihyperglycemic effects of the aqueous extract and of the essential oil of .

Recent advances in plasmid-based tools for establishing novel microbial chassis.

A key challenge for domesticating alternative cultivable microorganisms with biotechnological potential lies in the development of innovative technologies. Within this framework, a myriad of genetic tools has flourished, allowing the design and manipulation of complex synthetic circuits and genomes to become the general rule in many laboratories rather than the exception. More recently, with the development of novel technologies such as DNA automated synthesis/sequencing and powerful computational tools, molecular biology has entered the synthetic biology era.

Apple Phenolic Extracts Strongly Inhibit α-Glucosidase Activity.

The beneficial health effects of apple consumption are well known, however, little is known about the potential of its phenolic fractions to inhibit α-glucosidases and thereafter to treat diseases related to the carbohydrate metabolism, such as postprandial hyperglycemia and diabetes. In the present study, the α-glucosidase inhibition and antioxidant activity of different phenolic fractions of apple were evaluated using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. Moreover, the phenolic fractions were chemically characterized by LC-MS in order to identify the compounds responsible for the biological properties.

Synthetic and minimalist vectors for Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of fungi.

We present a collection of minimalist binary vectors for transformation through ATMT applicable to several fungi species. pLUO plasmid binary vectors consist of a reporter module containing fluorescent proteins, mCherry or eGFP, flanked by a multiple cloning site and a transcription terminator site. They also present a synthetic gene allowing resistance to Hygromicin B flanked by alternate promoters, one for yeast and another for filamentous fungi.

A toolset of constitutive promoters for metabolic engineering of Rhodosporidium toruloides.

Background: Rhodosporidium toruloides is a promising host for the production of bioproducts from lignocellulosic biomass. A key prerequisite for efficient pathway engineering is the availability of robust genetic tools and resources. However, there is a lack of characterized promoters to drive expression of heterologous genes for strain engineering in R.

A Novel Cys2His2 Zinc Finger Homolog of AZF1 Modulates Holocellulase Expression in .

Filamentous fungi are remarkable producers of enzymes dedicated to the degradation of sugar polymers found in the plant cell wall. Here, we integrated transcriptomic data to identify novel transcription factors (TFs) related to the control of gene expression of lignocellulosic hydrolases in and Using various sets of differentially expressed genes, we identified some putative -regulatory elements that were related to known binding sites for TFs. Comparative genomics allowed the identification of six transcriptional factors in filamentous fungi that have corresponding homologs.

Systems and Synthetic Biology Approaches to Engineer Fungi for Fine Chemical Production.

Since the advent of systems and synthetic biology, many studies have sought to harness microbes as cell factories through genetic and metabolic engineering approaches. Yeast and filamentous fungi have been successfully harnessed to produce fine and high value-added chemical products. In this review, we present some of the most promising advances from recent years in the use of fungi for this purpose, focusing on the manipulation of fungal strains using systems and synthetic biology tools to improve metabolic flow and the flow of secondary metabolites by pathway redesign.

Can Maintenance of Certification Work? Associations of MOC and Improvements in Physicians' Knowledge and Practice.

Purpose: To summarize the findings of studies, conducted by individuals both internal and external to the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) Member Boards, of the associations of Maintenance of Certification (MOC) and improvements in physicians' knowledge and patient care processes or outcomes.

Method: The authors conducted a narrative review of studies identified by searching PubMed and Web of Science for English-language articles from the United States published between 2000 and May 2017. To be included, articles had to examine the relationship of MOC to physician knowledge, clinical practice processes, or patient care outcomes.

Psidium cattleianum fruits: A review on its composition and bioactivity.

Psidium cattleianum Sabine, commonly known as araçá, is a Brazilian native fruit, which is very juicy, with sweet to sub acid pulp and a spicy touch. The fruit can be eaten fresh or processed into juice, jellies and ice creams. Araçás are source of vitamin C, minerals, fatty acids, polysaccharides, volatile compounds, carotenoids and phenolic compounds, which can provide nutrients and phytochemical agents with different biological functions.

Acute Toxicity and Cytotoxicity of Pereskia aculeata, a Highly Nutritious Cactaceae Plant.

Pereskia aculeata is a Cactaceae plant with valuable nutritional properties, including terrific amounts of protein, minerals, vitamins, and fiber. However, P. aculeata is reported to contain antinutrients and alkaloids in its leaves.

The ABMS MOC Part III Examination: Value, Concerns, and Alternative Formats.

This article describes the presentations and discussions at a conference co-convened by the Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association (AMA) and by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). The conference focused on the ABMS Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Part III Examination. This article, reflecting the conference agenda, covers the value of and evidence supporting the examination, as well as concerns about the cost of the examination, and-given the current format-its relevance.

Board Certification: Going Back to the Future.

The authors present snapshots of board certification in 1916, the year that the American Board of Ophthalmology was founded, 60 years later in 1976 as periodic recertification emerged, and speculation about what certification might look like in 2036. The concept of board certification and continuous certification in the medical specialties took shape at the beginning of the 20th century with the convergence of a new system of assessment, the emergence of certifying boards, and the creation of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). The importance of self-regulation is emphasized as are the principles underlying board certification and the standards that guide it to support its continued relevance as a valued credential and symbol of the highest standard in the practice of medicine.

The History, Role, and Value of Public Directors on Certifying Boards: The American Board of Ophthalmology Experience.

The mission of the American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO) is to serve the public by improving the quality of ophthalmic practice through a continuing certification process that fosters excellence and encourages continual learning. Since 2001, achieving this mission has been enhanced by including public directors in the ABO governance. We review the evolution of including nonprofessional members on the governing boards of professional regulatory and self-regulatory organizations generally, provide history about the incorporation of non-professional public directors into the governance structure of the American Board of Medical Specialties and the ABO, and offer insights about the perceived impact of public directors on the ABO.