scholarly journals Evolution of the Avian Eggshell Biomineralization Protein Toolkit – New Insights From Multi-Omics

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathalie Le Roy ◽  
Lilian Stapane ◽  
Joël Gautron ◽  
Maxwell T. Hincke
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Binding ◽  
Egg Quality ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Mechanical Damage ◽  
Organic Matrix ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Terrestrial Environment ◽  
Avian Reproduction ◽  
Evolutionary Context

The avian eggshell is a remarkable biomineral, which is essential for avian reproduction; its properties permit embryonic development in the desiccating terrestrial environment, and moreover, are critically important to preserve unfertilized egg quality for human consumption. This calcium carbonate (CaCO3) bioceramic is made of 95% calcite and 3.5% organic matrix; it protects the egg contents against microbial penetration and mechanical damage, allows gaseous exchange, and provides calcium for development of the embryonic skeleton. In vertebrates, eggshell occurs in the Sauropsida and in a lesser extent in Mammalia taxa; avian eggshell calcification is one of the fastest known CaCO3 biomineralization processes, and results in a material with excellent mechanical properties. Thus, its study has triggered a strong interest from the researcher community. The investigation of eggshell biomineralization in birds over the past decades has led to detailed characterization of its protein and mineral constituents. Recently, our understanding of this process has been significantly improved using high-throughput technologies (i.e., proteomics, transcriptomics, genomics, and bioinformatics). Presently, more or less complete eggshell proteomes are available for nine birds, and therefore, key proteins that comprise the eggshell biomineralization toolkit are beginning to be identified. In this article, we review current knowledge on organic matrix components from calcified eggshell. We use these data to analyze the evolution of selected matrix proteins and underline their role in the biological toolkit required for eggshell calcification in avian species. Amongst the panel of eggshell-associated proteins, key functional domains are present such as calcium-binding, vesicle-binding and protein-binding. These technical advances, combined with progress in mineral ultrastructure analyses, have opened the way for new hypotheses of mineral nucleation and crystal growth in formation of the avian eggshell, including transfer of amorphous CaCO3 in vesicles from uterine cells to the eggshell mineralization site. The enrichment of multi-omics datasets for bird species is critical to understand the evolutionary context for development of CaCO3 biomineralization in metazoans, leading to the acquisition of the robust eggshell in birds (and formerly dinosaurs).

Variation in the respiratory quotient of birds and implications for indirect calorimetry using measurements of carbon dioxide production

1995 ◽  
Vol 198 (1) ◽  
pp. 213-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Walsberg ◽  
B Wolf
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Power Consumption ◽  
Indirect Calorimetry ◽  
Respiratory Quotient ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Passer Domesticus ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Production ◽  
Accurate Estimation

Determination of animal power consumption by indirect calorimetry relies upon accurate estimation of the thermal equivalent of oxygen consumed or carbon dioxide produced. This estimate is typically based upon measurement or assumption of the respiratory quotient (RQ), the ratio of CO2 produced to O2 consumed. This ratio is used to indicate the mixture of lipids, carbohydrates and proteins in the metabolic substrate. In this analysis, we report the RQ for two bird species, Passer domesticus and Auriparus flaviceps, under several dietary and fasting regimes. RQ commonly differed substantially from those typically assumed in studies of energy metabolism and often included values below those explainable by current knowledge. Errors that could result from these unexpected RQ values can be large and could present the primary limit to the accuracy of power consumption estimates based upon measurement of carbon dioxide production.

Current knowledge on the microbiota of edible insects intended for human consumption: A state-of-the-art review

2019 ◽  
Vol 125 ◽  
pp. 108527 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristiana Garofalo ◽  
Vesna Milanović ◽  
Federica Cardinali ◽  
Lucia Aquilanti ◽  
Francesca Clementi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
State Of The Art ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Edible Insects

scholarly journals Current Knowledge on Interspecific Hybrid Palm Oils as Food and Food Ingredient

Foods ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 631
Author(s):  
Massimo Mozzon ◽  
Roberta Foligni ◽  
Cinzia Mannozzi
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Unsaturated Fatty Acids ◽  
Elaeis Guineensis ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Fats And Oils ◽  
Crude Oils ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Food Ingredient ◽  
Elaeis Oleifera ◽  
Total Fatty Acids

The consumers’ opinion concerning conventional palm (Elaeis guineensis) oil is negatively affected by environmental and nutritional issues. However, oils extracted from drupes of interspecific hybrids Elaeis oleifera × E. guineensis are getting more and more interest, due to their chemical and nutritional properties. Unsaturated fatty acids (oleic and linoleic) are the most abundant constituents (60%–80% of total fatty acids) of hybrid palm oil (HPO) and are mainly acylated in position sn-2 of the glycerol backbone. Carotenes and tocotrienols are the most interesting components of the unsaponifiable matter, even if their amount in crude oils varies greatly. The Codex Committee on Fats and Oils recently provided HPO the “dignity” of codified fat substance for human consumption and defined the physical and chemical parameters for genuine crude oils. However, only few researches have been conducted to date on the functional and technological properties of HPO, thus limiting its utilization in food industry. Recent studies on the nutritional effects of HPO softened the initial enthusiasm about the “tropical equivalent of olive oil”, suggesting that the overconsumption of HPO in the most-consumed processed foods should be carefully monitored.

Calcium binding by organic matrix of developing bovine enamel

1981 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 483-485 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Drinkard ◽  
L. Gibson ◽  
M.A. Crenshaw ◽  
J.W. Bawden
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Binding ◽  
Organic Matrix ◽  
Bovine Enamel

scholarly journals Fauna of the Land Habitats of the Pivka Lakes

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Slavko Polak
Keyword(s):  
Animal Species ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Legal Protection ◽  
Active Management ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Amphibian Species ◽  
Reptile Species ◽  
Extensive Farming ◽  
Management And Conservation

V prispevku je podan pregled trenutnega poznavanja favne kopenskih habitatov Pivških jezer. Doslej je bilo na območju ugotovljenih 20 vrst sesalcev in 127 vrst ptic. Od ptic jih 75 vrst tu tudi gnezdi. Izpostavljene so vrst evropske ohranitvene pozornosti kot so kosec, hribski škrjanec, podhujka in pisana penica. Pisana penica, poljski škrjanec, rjavi srakoper in velik strnad imajo na Pivških jezerih ene največjih gnezditvenih gostot v državi. Na območju Pivških jezer je bilo doslej ugotovljenih 8 vrst plazilcev in 9 vrst dvoživk. Večina vrst je uvrščena na rdeči seznam ogroženih živali. Metulji dnevniki so relativno dobro raziskani. Za območje je znanih 106 vrst kar znaša 57% vseh v Sloveniji živečih vrst metuljev. Tudi med metulji je veliko ogroženih in ranljivih vrst. Doslej je znanih prek 210 vrst hroščev. Ocenjeno je, da tu živi med 4000 do 6000 vrst hroščev. Veliko ogroženih vrst je vezanih na močvirne travnike jezer, suha kraška travišča ter kamnite griže. Za gozdove in grmišča je značilnih manj ogroženih vrst živali. Naravovarstveno so pomembni ostanki starih hrastovih gozdov. Na območju Pivških jezer je zaradi opuščanja človekove rabe opaziti hitro zaraščanje travišč, kar vodi v zmanjševanje biotske pestrosti. Poleg pravnega zavarovanja Pivških jezer je zato predlagano aktivno upravljanje, ohranjanje in usmerjanje ter spodbujanje dosedanje ekstenzivne kmetijske rabe.  The paper gives an overview of the current knowledge of the fauna of the land habitats around the Pivka lakes. So far 20 mammal species and 127 bird species have been identified. Of the bird species, 75 also nest here. Special attention is paid to European conservation species such as the corn crake, woodlark, nightjar and barred warbler. The nesting density of the barred warbler, skylark, red-backed shrike and corn bunting at the Pivka lakes is among the highest in the country. In the area of the Pivka lakes 8 reptile species and 9 amphibian species have been identified. The majority of these species are on the Red List of Threatened Animals. The butterflies have been relatively well researched. 106 species have been identified in the area, which amounts to 57% of all species of butterflies living in Slovenia. Many of them are threatened and vulnerable species. To the present, 210 species of beetles have been identified, live here. Many of the threatened species are connected with the marshy grasslands of the lakes, dry karst grasslands and barren rocky outcrops. There are fewer threatened animal species in the forests and brush. The remains of old oak forests are scientifically important. Due to the abandonment of land use by humans in the area of the Pivka lakes we can observe the rapid overgrowth of pasturelands, which leads to decreased biodiversity. In addition to legal protection of the Pivka lakes it is therefore also recommend active management and conservation as well as preserving and encouragement of the formerly extensive farming practices. 

Organic Hybrids for Circuit Assemblies – Initial environmental testing of a low cost alternative to ceramic substrate based assemblies

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 (HiTEC) ◽  
pp. 000022-000027
Author(s):  
Martin Wickham ◽  
Kate Clayton ◽  
Ana Robador ◽  
Christine Thorogood
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Printed Circuit Board ◽  
Mechanical Performance ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Mechanical Damage ◽  
Organic Matrix ◽  
Organic Substrate ◽  
Ceramic Substrate ◽  
Circuit Board ◽  
Environmental Testing

Abstract There are an increasing number of electronics applications in aerospace, automotive, shale/gas and power management, which are required to operate at or above 200 °C. Organic matrix reinforced substrates such as polyimide, have maximum operating temperatures in the region of 175 °C. Reliable operation of electronics at temperatures higher than this requires a combination of performance improvements in components, interconnects and substrates. Ceramic based substrate options are based on alumina substrates with printed inks fired at ~ 600 °C and can be costly, heavy and prone to mechanical damage. Printed circuit board (PCB) options are restricted to lower working temperatures of the organic resins and degradation of their conductive copper tracks through oxidation. This paper highlights earlier work undertaken by the authors and partners to understand the deficiencies of copper-clad PCB technology and details work to develop a low cost alternative to ceramic substrate based assemblies. The authors have investigated replacing the alumina substrates with high temperature engineering thermoplastics such as PEEK. The high temperature fired inks conventionally used in hybrid circuit manufacture have been replaced with screen-printable silicone based ink systems curing at 250 °C. The specially developed electrically conductive and dielectric inks were utilised to produce a multilayer system demonstrator with high temperature compatible components attached using a high temperature conductive adhesive. Such an assembly system has the potential to benefit from reductions in substrate cost and assembly weight. Energy cost associated with manufacture are significantly reduced. In addition the organic substrate is easier to machine and form into complex shapes and offers the possibility of integrating thermal management solutions. Environmental testing has been undertaken to determine the suitability of the system to operate for extended periods at 250 °C and the results of the electrical and mechanical performance for continuous ageing of test assemblies at 250 °C will be given.

scholarly journals Effect of Blending Amaranth Grain with Maize Kernels on Maize Weevil Control during Storage

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 401-406
Author(s):  
Denis Bbosa ◽  
Thomas J. Brumm ◽  
Carl J. Bern ◽  
Kurt A. Rosentrater ◽  
D. Raj Raman
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Damage ◽  
Good Choice ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Maize Weevil ◽  
Postharvest Losses ◽  
Amaranth Grain ◽  
Amaranthus Spp ◽  
Maize Kernels ◽  
Additional Reduction ◽  
Temperature Test

HighlightsMixing amaranth grain and maize is a promising pesticide-free method for controlling maize weevils in stored maize.A 1:1 mixture by volume of maize and amaranth reduced the number of live weevils by 66% after 160 d of storage as compared to maize stored without amaranth.A further reduction in live weevils could be achieved by completely covering all maize kernels with a layer of amaranth.Insect-infested maize-amaranth mixtures had reduced spoilage due to mold during storage as compared to insect-infested maize stored without amaranth.Abstract. Amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) is used as a vegetable, food, forage, and sometimes an ornamental. Amaranth grain has higher protein content than other cereals, making it a good choice for human consumption. Maize is among the three most widely grown grains in the world, but it can experience large postharvest losses during storage due to infestation by the maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais). Due to the small size of amaranth seeds, this study postulated that amaranth grain can be blended with maize during storage to fill the intergranular spaces between maize kernels, reducing the overall void volume to minimize maize weevil movements to access the kernels, and thereby controlling the maize weevil population. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects on maize weevil control of blending maize with amaranth grain during storage versus storing maize alone. Three 208 L (55 gal) steel barrels were loaded with 160 kg (353 lb) of maize, and three were loaded with a maize-amaranth mixture (1:1 by volume), all with initial weevil populations of 25 live weevils per kg of maize. Blending maize with amaranth for storage reduced the number of live weevils after 160 days by 66% compared to storing maize alone. Additional reduction of live weevils could be accomplished if the maize were completely covered by amaranth grain, further restricting maize weevil access to the maize kernels. Keywords: Broken corn and foreign material, Insects, Insect infestation, Mechanical damage, Moisture content, Postharvest losses, Relative humidity, Temperature, Test weight.

scholarly journals Allograft Inflammatory Factor-1 in Metazoans: Focus on Invertebrates

Biology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 355
Author(s):  
Jacopo Vizioli ◽  
Tiziano Verri ◽  
Patrizia Pagliara
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Binding ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Inflammatory Diseases ◽  
Adaptor Protein ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Inflammatory Factor ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Activated Macrophages ◽  
Different Cell Types ◽  
Physical Challenges

Allograft inflammatory factor-1 (AIF-1) is a calcium-binding scaffold/adaptor protein often associated with inflammatory diseases. Originally cloned from active macrophages in humans and rats, this gene has also been identified in other vertebrates and in several invertebrate species. Among metazoans, AIF-1 protein sequences remain relatively highly conserved. Generally, the highest expression levels of AIF-1 are observed in immunocytes, suggesting that it plays a key role in immunity. In mammals, the expression of AIF-1 has been reported in different cell types such as activated macrophages, microglial cells, and dendritic cells. Its main immunomodulatory role during the inflammatory response has been highlighted. Among invertebrates, AIF-1 is involved in innate immunity, being in many cases upregulated in response to biotic and physical challenges. AIF-1 transcripts result ubiquitously expressed in all examined tissues from invertebrates, suggesting its participation in a variety of biological processes, but its role remains largely unknown. This review aims to present current knowledge on the role and modulation of AIF-1 and to highlight its function along the evolutionary scale.

Resistance of Benghal Dayflower (Commelina benghalensis) Seeds to Harsh Environments and the Implications for Dispersal by Mourning Doves (Zenaida macroura) in Georgia, U.S.A

Weed Science ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 57 (6) ◽  
pp. 603-612 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russell H. Goddard ◽  
Theodore M. Webster ◽  
Richard Carter ◽  
Timothy L. Grey
Keyword(s):  
Bird Species ◽  
Mechanical Damage ◽  
Harsh Environments ◽  
Gut Contents ◽  
Agricultural Crops ◽  
Zenaida Macroura ◽  
Commelina Benghalensis ◽  
Mourning Doves ◽  
Southern Georgia ◽  
Benghal Dayflower

The potential dispersal of Benghal dayflower seeds by mourning doves was studied in southern Georgia, U.S.A. The gut contents (both crop and gizzard) of mourning doves harvested in the autumn months were investigated to determine if mourning doves fed on Benghal dayflower and whether seeds can survive conditions in the bird gut. Research indicated that mourning doves fed selectively on Benghal dayflower with some harvested birds containing hundreds of Benghal dayflower seeds and capsules in their guts. Further, some seeds recovered remained highly viable. Germination rates in seeds taken from bird crops were similar to controls over the first 4 wk of germination and enhanced over control treatments during the latter 16 wk of a 20-wk germination study. Ultimately, seeds extracted from dove crops had 92% germination as compared to 80% for control seeds. Seeds extracted from dove gizzards had 45% germination, about half that of controls. Benghal dayflower seeds have a structurally reinforced seed coat that probably aids in survival of mechanical damage through bird intestinal tracts. Benghal dayflower seeds exposed to 1.0 M HCl treatment for 2 h had little loss in viability, successfully germinating after such treatment. When evaluating mechanisms for the eradication of Benghal dayflower from agricultural crops, consideration needs to be given to the large number of mourning doves and other bird species that visit cropland and potentially aid in its dispersal.

scholarly journals Survival of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in Dam Water and Sediment

2005 ◽  
Vol 71 (9) ◽  
pp. 5304-5308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard J. Whittington ◽  
Ian B. Marsh ◽  
Leslie A. Reddacliff
Keyword(s):  
Water Column ◽  
Mycobacterium Avium ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Fecal Material ◽  
Terrestrial Environment ◽  
Water And Sediment ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Mycobacterium Avium Subsp Paratuberculosis ◽  
Large Water

ABSTRACT In a previous longitudinal study, Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis survived for 55 weeks in fecal material in the shade, but for much shorter periods in exposed locations. In this experiment, the survival of the organism was studied in 250 liters of dam water and sediment in large water troughs that were placed in either a semiexposed location or in a shaded location and compared to survival in fecal material and soil in the shaded location. Survival in water and/or sediment in the shade was for up to 48 weeks compared to 36 weeks in the semiexposed location. Survival in sediment was 12 to 26 weeks longer than survival in the water column. Survival in soil and fecal material in the terrestrial environment in the shaded location was only 12 weeks. Although disturbance to sediment could not be ruled out as a factor, there was evidence of dormancy in both the water column and the sediment, since the organism could not be recovered for several months before again becoming detectable. The results suggest that water may be a significant reservoir of M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis infection. Further research on the biology of the organism in aquatic environments is warranted. Animal health authorities will need to provide appropriate advice to farmers to minimize exposure of livestock to potentially infected water sources. Survival of the organism in water destined for human consumption will need to be addressed if the organism is found to be involved in the etiology of Crohn's disease.

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