An innovative concept of activation of electrode materials for Li-ion batteries is proposed through the preparation of carbon-phosphorus (P/C) composites. Carbon-encapsulated phosphorus composites ...can be successfully prepared via a simple route by the vaporization–condensation of red phosphorus onto mesoporous carbon. Surface area measurements and Raman spectroscopy were used for the characterization of the P/C composites, which were then tested as anode materials in Li-ion batteries showing enhanced electrochemical properties. In contrast to what is observed for pure unsupported phosphorus, Li storage in P/C composite occurs through the reversible formation of Li
3P during the discharge process, as clearly evidenced by
in situ XRD, leading to capacities greater than 900
mAh
g
−1 after 20
cycles.
The effects of different concentrate levels in the diet on plasma 3-3′-5-triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) concentrations in does of different physiological conditions were investigated. Blood ...samples were taken starting in autumn from 20 goats fed hay ad libitum, during the dry period (30 days and 3 days prior to the synchronized oestrus; D1 and D2, respectively), pregnancy (week 13, week 17 and week 21 of pregnancy; P1, P2 and P3, respectively) and lactation (5 weeks and 13 weeks following parturition; L1 and L2, respectively). The control group (C,
n
=
10) was fed either 0.2 (in periods D1, D2 and P1) or 0.4
kg maize grain(head per day) (in P2, P3, L1 and L2). The high energy diet group (H,
n
=
10) was fed either 0.4 (in D1, D2 and P1) or 0.7
kg maize grain(head day) (in P2, P3, L1 and L2). Plasma total T3 concentrations were affected only by the sampling period, being significantly higher in the P1 period (0.96
±
0.05
ng/ml) than in the dry period (0.72
±
0.04
ng/ml) and in P3 (0.70
±
0.02
ng/ml). In the C goats the plasma T4 concentration recorded in the P1 (65.6
±
2.6
ng/ml) and L1 (62.8
±
5.2
ng/ml) periods was significantly higher than that in P3 (40.2
±
3
ng/ml). The variation in plasma T4 concentration in the H does was not significantly different throughout the different physiological stages. The decrease in plasma T3 and T4 concentrations in the second half of pregnancy in the H goats was delayed by 1 month. In addition, during the last 2 months of pregnancy, the higher concentrate diet induced higher plasma T3 (0.92
±
0.06
ng/ml) and T4 (67.2
±
6.6
ng/ml) concentrations when compared to the C (0.76
±
0.04 and 45.1
±
3.2
ng/ml for T3 and T4, respectively) group. The effect of energy intake on plasma thyroid hormone secretion during late pregnancy could be explained by a negative energy balance that usually occurs during this period. During lactation the higher energy diet had no significant effect on milk yield nor on the plasma thyroid hormone concentrations. The concentrate level of the C diet seemed to be sufficient to meet the energy requirements for milk production in these goats, as indicated also by the lack of body weight and body condition score (BCS) changes during lactation. The results of the present study highlight the relationships between thyroid activity and energy balance in the goat species. Circulating thyroid hormones represent a relevant metabolic index of the animals’ nutritional state.
The helminth fauna of the wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus, in the Erro River valley (Navarre, Spain) was investigated from a total of 150 mice between February 2001 and July 2002. An overall ...prevalence of 90.7% was recorded and up to 14 helminth species identified. The most prevalent species was the nematode Heligmosomoides polygyrus (78.0%), whereas Syphacia stroma was the species with the highest median abundance (19.8). The detection of Calodium hepaticum, Rodentolepis straminea and the larvae of Hydatigera taeniaeformis are significant, since these helminth species could be considered potential human parasites. The helminth infracommunity comprised no more than five species. A significant predominance of monoxenous species was detected. Statistically significant differences were also found between prevalences, helminth abundance, species richness and helminth diversity of sub-populations of the wood mouse determined by host age and season of capture, which agree with most of the studies carried out on this host. This study will shed light on the helminth community of the wood mouse from a region of Spain which has not previously been documented.
The plasma melatonin nychtemeral profiles in Mediterranean ewes and goats were evaluated six times throughout the year. Melatonin levels were high throughout the night and generally below the assay ...detection limit during daytime. However, during long days, 30% of the last daytime samples had high melatonin concentrations. Plasma melatonin levels were higher in Comisana sheep than in goats, and higher in Maltese than in Red Syrian goats, with highly significant effect of the individual animal and high repeatability. Plasma melatonin was higher in April than in August. When there was a large difference between the duration of day and night, the plasma melatonin pattern and the light/dark cycle did not always match exactly, suggesting some form of superimposition and/or the prevalence of an endogenous rhythm. The difference found at similar scotoperiods with increasing or decreasing day length may be involved in the perception of the photoperiodic changes.
The aim of the current study was to describe the use of a pool of different antisera raised against pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs; purified from both ovine and caprine placentas) for early ...pregnancy diagnosis in ovine species. Sixty-three pluriparous Sarda ewes (
Ovis aries) were synchronized. Blood samples were withdrawn on Days 18, 24, 26, 28, 30, and 50 after mating. These samples were assayed for progesterone (radioimmunoassay RIA including an extraction step) and for pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (RIA-706 and RIA-srPool). Progesterone concentrations were under 1.0
ng/mL in all nonpregnant Sarda ewes. In pregnant ewes, mean progesterone concentrations ranged from 2.4
ng/mL (Day 24, single pregnancies) to 4.4
ng/mL (Day 28, multiple pregnancies). During all periods of examination, PAGs remained lower than 0.8
ng/mL in nonpregnant ewes. On Day 18 of pregnancy, PAG concentrations could be detected in 26 of 43 (60.5%) and in 41 of 43 (95.3%) pregnant ewes using the RIA-706 and RIA-srPool methods, respectively. From Day 24 to Day 50, using both RIA methods, PAGs could be detected in all pregnant ewes. On Day 24, the best threshold for pregnancy diagnosis was obtained by use of RIA-srPool, maximal concentration in nonpregnant ewes being 0.3
ng/mL and minimal concentration in pregnant ewes being 4.8
ng/mL. In general, progesterone and PAG concentrations were higher in multiple pregnancies than in single pregnancies. However, because of large individual variations, single pregnancies could not be differentiated from multiple pregnancies.
Information about the prevalence of helminth parasites of the yellow-necked mouse,
, in the Iberian Peninsula is almost non-existent and there is no reliable data reported from Spain. Fourteen
from ...the Erro River valley (Navarre, Spain) were examined for endoparasites, between February 2001 and July 2002. Thirteen specimens (92.9 %) of the total sample were parasitized by at least one of the following six helminth species: one trematode
), one cestode
larvae) and four nematodes
and
). This is the first report about the helminthfauna of
in the Iberian Peninsula. Nevertheless, a larger number of hosts should be analysed to complete these preliminary results and to adequately characterize the helminth community of this rodent. The finding of
, the causative agent of human capillarosis, stands out.
The present study describes the isolation and characterization of new pregnancy-associated glycoprotein molecules (PAG) from midpregnancy and late-pregnancy placentas in the water buffalo (
Bubalus ...bubalis). After extraction, the homogenates are subjected to acid and ammonium sulfate precipitations followed by DEAE chromatography. Subsequently, the water buffalo PAG (wbPAG) from these solutions are enriched by
Vicia villosa agarose (VVA) affinity chromatography. As determined by western blotting with anti-PAG sera, the apparent molecular masses of the immunoreactive bands from the VVA peaks range from 59.5 to 75.8
kDa and from 57.8 to 73.3
kDa in the midpregnancy and late-pregnancy placentas, respectively. Amino-terminal microsequencing of the immunoreactive proteins has allowed the identification of three distinct wbPAG sequences, which have been deposited in the SwissProt database: RGSXLTIHPLRNIRDFFYVG (acc. no. P85048), RGSXLTILPLRNIID (acc. no. P85049), and RGSXLTHLPLRNI (acc. no. P85050). Their comparison to previously identified proteins has shown that two of them are new because they have not been described before. Our results confirm the suitability of VVA chromatography for the enrichment of the multiple PAG molecules expressed in buffalo placenta.
In order to determine whether total thyroxine (T4) and 3-3′-5-triiodothyronine (T3) plasma concentrations are affected by photoperiodic changes in bucks, these hormones were assayed using RIA in ...samples collected weekly for a year period in Alpine and Saanen male goats exposed to natural photoperiod (46°N latitude, control group), or to artificial photoperiod alternating every 2 months (4M group) or 1 month (2M) with long days (16L:8D) and short days (8L:16D). In the control group, the thyroid hormones showed marked seasonal variation. Maximal monthly peaks were recorded at the beginning of spring (April) for plasma T4 (35.7
±
1.8
ng/ml) and in late winter to early spring (March) for plasma T3 (0.91
±
0.11
ng/ml)—with the lowest concentrations being recorded in October (autumn) for plasma T4 (22.8
±
1.0
ng/ml) and in September (late summer to early autumn) for plasma T3 (0.42
±
0.01
ng/ml). In the 4M group, T4 plasma concentrations varied with daylength (
p
<
0.05), recording an overall mean concentration significantly (
p
<
0.01) higher during the short days (37.3
±
7.5
ng/ml), than during long days (32.2
±
7.3
ng/ml) with a significant effect of sampling time within each photoperiod (
p
<
0.0001). In both light-treated groups, T3 varied with photoperiod (
p
<
0.0001) and time (
p
<
0.0001), increasing during long days and decreasing during short days. T3 plasma concentrations (derived from peripheral monodeiodination) followed the photoperiodic changes, while it was hypothesized that the stimulatory effect of daylength on T4 (thyroid gland secretory activity) was characterized by a longer latency period and could be seen in the 4M group during the following photoperiodic treatment. It is concluded that photoperiod affects thyroid hormone plasma concentrations in male goats, since different lighting regimes resulted in different profiles of both plasma T3 and T4. Bearing in mind the pivotal role of thyroid hormones in stimulating the metabolic activity of the whole body, it is possible that the light-induced increase in circulating hormones could sustain and improve animal production. The suitability of supplementary light treatments needs to be considered.
ABSTRACT
Aims This study implemented and evaluated procedures to help clinicians make effective referrals to 12‐Step self‐help groups.
Design Randomized controlled trial.
Setting Out‐patient ...substance use disorder treatment.
Participants Individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) entering a new treatment episode (n = 345) who were assigned randomly to a standard referral‐ or an intensive referral‐to‐self‐help condition.
Measurements Self‐reports of 12‐Step group attendance and involvement and substance use at baseline and a 6‐month follow‐up.
Intervention The intensive referral intervention focused on encouraging patients to attend 12‐Step meetings by connecting them to 12‐Step volunteers.
Findings Among patients with relatively less previous 12‐Step meeting attendance, intensive referral was associated with more meeting attendance during follow‐up than was standard referral. Among all patients, compared with those who received standard referral, those who received intensive referral were more likely to be involved with 12‐Step groups during the 6‐month follow‐up (i.e. had provided service, had a spiritual awakening and currently had a sponsor). Intensive referral patients also had better alcohol and drug use outcomes at 6 months. Twelve‐Step involvement mediated part of the association between referral condition and alcohol outcomes.
Conclusions The brief intensive referral intervention was associated with improved 12‐Step group involvement and substance use outcomes even among patients with considerable previous 12‐Step group exposure and formal treatment. Future 12‐Step intensive referral procedures should focus on encouraging 12‐Step group involvement in addition to attendance to benefit patients most effectively.
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