Antibody detection against Kunitz-type protein in Fasciola hepatica experimentally infected sheep using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Fasciolosis is a parasitic disease considered as emerging and neglected by the WHO. Sheep are highly susceptible to this disease, and affected flocks experience decreased productivity due to increased mortality, and the reduced quality of their products, such as wool and meat. To effectively control this disease, reliable and early diagnosis is essential for making decisions regarding antiparasitic application and/or the removal of affected animals. Currently, the diagnosis of F. hepatica in sheep relies on the detection of parasite eggs in faeces, a method that becomes reliable from week 10 post-infection. Consequently, there is a need for earlier diagnostic tools based on immune response. However, obtaining antigens for antibody detection has proven to be difficult and expensive. The aim of this study was to evaluate members of the Kunitz protein family of F. hepatica expressed in the form of a fusion protein in the serological diagnosis of F. hepatica in sheep. The performance of three recombinant F. hepatica Kunitz-type inhibitors (FhKT1.1, FhKT1.3, and FhKT4) was compared with a synthetic Kunitz-type peptide (sFhKT) in sera from sheep experimentally infected with F. hepatica, using an ELISA. Of these, FhKT1.1 showed the most promising diagnostic indicators, exhibiting high precision and low cross-reactivity, and thus potential for standardized production. The results of our study demonstrated that the application of FhKT1.1 is a valuable tool for early-stage diagnosis of F. hepatica in sheep. Such an early diagnosis can aid in implementing timely interventions and effectively managing the disease in sheep populations.

Phytoplankton Community Structure Is Driven by Stratification in the Oligotrophic Mediterranean Sea.

The phytoplankton community composition, structure, and biomass were investigated under stratified and oligotrophic conditions during summer for three consecutive years in the Mediterranean Sea. Our results reveal that the phytoplankton community structure was strongly influenced by vertical stratification. The thermocline separated two different phytoplankton communities in the two layers of the euphotic zone, characterized by different nutrient and light availability. Picoplankton dominated in terms of abundance and biomass at all the stations sampled and throughout the photic zone. However, the structure of the picoplanktonic community changed with depth, with Synechococcus and heterotrophic prokaryotes dominating in surface waters down to the base of the thermocline, and Prochlorococcus and picoeukaryotes contributing relatively more to the community in the deep chlorophyll maximum (DCM). Light and nutrient availability also influenced the communities at the DCM layer. Prochlorococcus prevailed in deeper DCM waters characterized by lower light intensities and higher picophytoplankton abundance was related to lower nutrient concentrations at the DCM. Picoeukaryotes were the major phytoplankton contributors to carbon biomass at surface (up to 80%) and at DCM (more than 40%). Besides, contrarily to the other phytoplankton groups, picoeukaryotes cell size progressively decreased with depth. Our research shows that stratification is a major factor determining the phytoplankton community structure; and underlines the role that picoeukaryotes might play in the carbon flux through the marine food web, with implications for the community metabolism and carbon fate in the ecosystem.

Use of hydroponics culture to assess nutrient supply by treated wastewater.

The use of treated wastewater for irrigation is increasing, especially in those areas where water resources are limited. Treated wastewaters contain nutrients that are useful for plant growth and help to reduce fertilizers needs. Nutrient content of these waters depends on the treatment system. Nutrient supply by a treated wastewater from a conventional treatment plant (CWW) and a lagooned wastewater from the campus of the University of Balearic Islands (LWW) was tested in an experiment in hydroponics conditions. Half-strength Hoagland nutrient solution (HNS) was used as a control. Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) seedlings were grown in 4 L containers filled with the three types of water. Four weeks after planting, barley was harvested and root and shoot biomass was measured. N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na and Fe contents were determined in both tissues and heavy metal concentrations were analysed in shoots. N, P and K concentrations were lower in LWW than in CWW, while HNS had the highest nutrient concentration. Dry weight barley production was reduced in CWW and LWW treatments to 49% and 17%, respectively, comparing to HNS. However, to a lesser extent, reduction was found in shoot and root N content. Treated wastewater increased Na content in shoots and roots of barley and Ca and Cr content in shoots. However, heavy metals content was lower than toxic levels in all the cases. Although treated wastewater is an interesting water resource, additional fertilization is needed to maintain a high productivity in barley seedlings.

Chemical properties and biological activity in soils of Mallorca following twenty years of treated wastewater irrigation.

On the Mediterranean island of Mallorca, the use of secondary-treated municipal wastewater in irrigation was introduced with the construction of the first wastewater treatment plants in the 1970s. In this study, the chemical properties and biological activity of 21 arable soils, irrigated for more than 20 years with secondary-treated wastewater, were tested in order to assess their quality. Soil quality was evaluated by measuring cation exchange capacity, pH, calcium carbonate equivalent, soil organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, water-soluble organic carbon, soil microbial biomass, soil basal respiration, and the activities of the enzymes dehydrogenase, ß-glucosidase and alkaline phosphatase. No negative effects of the irrigation treatment were observed on the measured soil parameters. Indeed, soil water-soluble organic carbon, soil microbial biomass and ß-glucosidase and alkaline phosphatase activities increased under treated wastewater irrigation. Biological activity of soils irrigated with treated wastewater was affected mainly by soil organic matter content. Although the typical crop management of alfalfa, and other forage crops associated with treated wastewater irrigation, may have contributed to the increase of these parameters, the results suggest that irrigation with treated wastewater is a strategy with many benefits to agricultural land management.

Misalignment of the knees: does it affect human stance stability.

INTRODUCTION: Data describing the relationships between postural alignment and stance stability are scarce and controversial. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of sensory disturbances on knee alignment in upright stance and the effects of knee hyperextension on stance stability. METHOD: Kinetic and kinematic data of 23 healthy adult women were collected while quietly standing in four sensory conditions. Kinematic data: knee angle (dependent variables) variations were analyzed across sensory conditions. Kinetic data: as subjects with hyperextended knees showed a clear tendency to flex their knees as balance challenge increased, center of pressure (COP) parameters (dependent variables) were analyzed in each sensory condition among trial sub-groups: Aligned-Trials (knee angle<180°), Hyperextended-Trials (>180°) and Adjusted-Trials (>180° initially, turned <180° under challenging conditions). RESULTS: Differences were found in mean velocity of COP in two conditions showing that knee alignment can affect stance stability. CONCLUSION: Knee hyperextension is a transient condition changing under postural challenges. Knee hyperextension affected postural control as mean velocity was the highest in the hyperextended group in natural standing sensory condition and lowest with sensory disturbance.

Can quiet standing posture predict compensatory postural adjustment?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze whether quiet standing posture is related to compensatory postural adjustment. INTRODUCTION: The latest data in clinical practice suggests that static posture may play a significant role in musculoskeletal function, even in dynamic activities. However, no evidence exists regarding whether static posture during quiet standing is related to postural adjustment. METHODS: Twenty healthy participants standing on a movable surface underwent unexpected, standardized backward and forward postural perturbations while kinematic data were acquired; ankle, knee, pelvis and trunk positions were then calculated. An initial and a final video frame representing quiet standing posture and the end of the postural perturbation were selected in such a way that postural adjustments had occurred between these frames. The positions of the body segments were calculated in these initial and final frames, together with the displacement of body segments during postural adjustments between the initial and final frames. The relationship between the positions of body segments in the initial and final frames and their displacements over this time period was analyzed using multiple regressions with a significance level of p < or = 0.05. RESULTS: We failed to identify a relationship between the position of the body segments in the initial and final frames and the associated displacement of the body segments. DISCUSSION: The motion pattern during compensatory postural adjustment is not related to quiet standing posture or to the final posture of compensatory postural adjustment. This fact should be considered when treating balance disturbances and musculoskeletal abnormalities. CONCLUSION: Static posture cannot predict how body segments will behave during compensatory postural adjustment.

Can quiet standing posture predict compensatory postural adjustment?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze whether quiet standing posture is related to compensatory postural adjustment. INTRODUCTION: The latest data in clinical practice suggests that static posture may play a significant role in musculoskeletal function, even in dynamic activities. However, no evidence exists regarding whether static posture during quiet standing is related to postural adjustment. METHODS: Twenty healthy participants standing on a movable surface underwent unexpected, standardized backward and forward postural perturbations while kinematic data were acquired; ankle, knee, pelvis and trunk positions were then calculated. An initial and a final video frame representing quiet standing posture and the end of the postural perturbation were selected in such a way that postural adjustments had occurred between these frames. The positions of the body segments were calculated in these initial and final frames, together with the displacement of body segments during postural adjustments between the initial and final frames. The relationship between the positions of body segments in the initial and final frames and their displacements over this time period was analyzed using multiple regressions with a significance level of p < 0.05. RESULTS: We failed to identify a relationship between the position of the body segments in the initial and final frames and the associated displacement of the body segments. DISCUSSION: The motion pattern during compensatory postural adjustment is not related to quiet standing posture or to the final posture of compensatory postural adjustment. This fact should be considered when treating balance disturbances and musculoskeletal abnormalities. CONCLUSION: Static posture cannot predict how body segments will behave during compensatory postural adjustment.