No clear trends in expatriation of non-human primate research from -Switzerland between 2004 and 2017.

INTRODUCTION: Animal experimentation is commonly practiced in scientific research worldwide. However, there are no globally accepted standards for regulating the ethical boundaries and accepted practices for animal experimentation. Large differences exist between countries. A report suggested that some researchers, especially from countries with more stringent animal experimentation regulations, may be relocating experimental research to countries with less stringent regulations. We followed a systematic literature review approach to identity publications and determine whether there is an increasing trend in expatriation of non-human primate experimentation by researchers based in Switzerland. We used the Projects People Publications database, which contains projects funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation, to identify researchers conducting experiments using non-human primates. This list of names, together with terms referring to non-human primates were used to search the Web of Science. Publications without an author affiliated to a Swiss institution, no living or only with free non-human primates, and non-original research were excluded. For each publication, we recorded the place of experimentation, funding source, number of animals, species and the statement of ethical approval. We retained 120 publications, involving more than 2,429 non-human primates. Macaca mulatta and Macaca fascicularis were the most common species. We could not confirm an increasing trend in expatriation of non-human primate experimentation outside of Switzerland. Over time, publications appeared to report the ethical approval number more consistently. These results should be interpreted with caution because the sample included only studies that were: 1) published and 2) reported in the Web of Science. Consequently, studies with insignificant results may have been excluded because these studies are rarely published, and studies of poor quality may have been excluded because they are often published in lower quality journals, not indexed by the Web of Science.

INTRODUCTION: L'expérimentation animale est couramment pratiquée dans la recherche scientifique dans le monde entier. Cependant, il n'existe pas de normes mondialement acceptées pour réglementer les limites éthiques et les pratiques acceptées pour cette expérimentation. De grandes différences existent entre les pays. Un rapport récent a suggéré que certains chercheurs, en particulier provenant de pays où la réglementation sur l'expérimentation animale est restrictive, pourraient délocaliser la recherche expérimentale vers des pays où les réglementations sont moins strictes. Nous avons suivi une approche de revue systématique de la littérature pour identifier les publications et déterminer s'il y a une tendance croissante à l'expatriation des expérimentations sur les primates non humains par des chercheurs basés en Suisse. Nous avons utilisé la base de données Projects People Publications, qui contient des projets financés par le Fonds national suisse de la recherche scientifique pour identifier des chercheurs conduisant des expériences sur des primates non humains. Cette liste de noms, ainsi que les termes faisant référence à des primates non humains ont été utilisés pour effectuer des recherches sur le Web of Science. Les publications sans auteur affilié à une institution suisse, non vivant ou consacrées uniquement à des primates non humains libres ainsi que les travaux de recherche non originaux ont été exclus. Pour chaque publication, nous avons enregistré le lieu d'expérimentation, la source de financement, le nombre d'animaux, les espèces et la déclaration d'approbation éthique. Nous avons retenu 120 publications, impliquant plus de 2,429 animaux. Macaca mulatta et Macaca fascicularis étaient les espèces les plus communes. Nous n'avons pas pu confirmer une tendance à la hausse de l'expatriation en dehors de la Suisse des expérimentations sur des primates non humains. Au fil du temps, les publications semblent déclarer le numéro d'approbation éthique de manière plus cohérente. Ces résultats doivent être interprétés avec prudence car l'échantillon ne comprenait que des études 1) publiées et 2) rapportées dans le Web de la science. Par conséquent, les études avec des résultats non significatifs peuvent avoir été exclues car ces études sont rarement publiées et les études de mauvaise qualité peuvent avoir été exclues car elles sont souvent publiées dans des revues de moindre qualité, non indexées par le Web of Science.

Functional screening for cellulolytic activity in a metagenomic fosmid library of microorganisms associated with coral.

Cellulases are enzymes that degrade cellulosic materials. Cellulose is the most abundant renewable carbon resource on Earth, and cellulases are used in various industrial sectors. Although cellulases are obtained from a variety of sources, this is the first description of cellulolytic activity isolated from a coral metagenomic library. A metagenomic fosmid library of microorganisms associated with the coral Siderastrea stellata, comprising 3552 clones, was screened for cellulolytic activity; this allows access to non-cultivable microorganisms by exploiting the full biotechnological potential. Clones were grown on LB agar plates supplemented with 0.5% carboxymethylcellulose and cellulase positive clones revealed by staining with Congo red. Using this approach, six positive clones with cellulolytic activity were identified. The enzymatic index (EI) of the positive clones was calculated by the ratio between the hydrolysis zone diameter and colony diameter. All positive clones had an EI greater than 1.5. Digestion of the DNA isolated from the six positive clones, using the HindIII restriction endonuclease, revealed different restriction patterns in each clone, indicating that the DNA of each clone is different. There is a growing interest for new cellulolytic enzymes in various industry sectors. Here, we present the initial selection of potential clones for cellulose degradation that could be targets for future studies of enzymatic characterization.

Evaluation of genetic similarity between accessions of Pityrocarpa moniliformis (angico-de-bezerro) using RAPD markers.

Pityrocarpa moniliformis (Benth.) Luckow and Jobson, commonly known as angico-de-bezerro, is a forage legume that occurs naturally in the Caatinga of northeastern Brazil. This fast growing, vigorous, melliferous tree is well adapted to arid terrains and its branches and leaves possess high nutritional value. However, the scarcity of information regarding genetic variability within the species limits its possible exploitation as an animal forage. The aim of the study was to evaluate the genetic similarities of ten accessions of P. moniliformis available in the active germplasm collection of Embrapa Meio-Norte, using the RAPD markers to select those most suitable for cultivation and/or plant breeding. Polymerase chain reaction using ten selected RAPD primers generated 110 amplified loci, 106 (96.4%) of which were polymorphic. Primers A10 and M06 produced the largest number of polymorphic loci (18 and 13 bands, respectively), while primers B18 and K15 generated the smallest number (7 bands each). The dendrogram, constructed using the Jaccard coefficients and considering a cut-off point of 0.41 allowed the separation of the ten accessions into four genotypic groups. The highest genetic similarity coefficient (0.56) was observed between group I accessions BGFAB6 and BGFAB9 and BGFAB 7 and BGFAB 8, while the lowest coefficient (0.11) was observed between accessions BGFAB3 (group IV) and BGFAB10 (group III). The results revealed that genetic variability is present in the accessions of P. moniliformis.

Parameters of the reproductive tract, spermatogenesis, daily sperm production and major seminal plasma proteins of tropically adapted morada nova rams.

This study describes the reproductive parameters of Morada Nova rams, a breed of hair sheep from Brazil and with unique adaption to tropical environments. At 42 weeks of age, 15 rams were subjected to semen collection and, 1 week later, animals were slaughtered for collection of testes, epididymis and accessory sex glands. We conducted 2-D electrophoresis of seminal plasma proteins and major spots of stained gels were identified by LC-MS/MS. Total RNA was isolated from testis, epididymis and vesicular glands and subjected to qPCR. At slaughter, scrotal circumference and testicular weight were 27.5 ± 0.5 cm and 109.5 ± 6.0 g, respectively. Seminiferous tubule (ST) diameter was 188.3 ± 4.0 µm and each testis contained 1.9 ± 0.1 Sertoli cells (×10(9) ). Each Sertoli cell supported 0.1 ± 0.01 A spermatogonia, 3.0 ± 0.2 pachytene spermatocytes and 7.7 ± 0.5 round spermatids/tubule cross section. Daily sperm production reached 5.6 × 10(6)  cells/g of testis parenchyma. Testis size appeared as indicative of ST diameter and associated with epididymal measurements, as well as with the population of round spermatids and Sertoli cells/testis. Rams with heavier testes had greater daily sperm production and more Sertoli cells/testis. We detected 90.9 ± 9.6 spots per 2-D gel of seminal plasma. Major seminal proteins were identified as ram seminal vesicle proteins at 14 and 22 kDa, representing 16.2% and 12.8% of the total intensity of valid spots in the gels, respectively. Expression of both genes was greater in the vesicular glands as compared to testis and epididymis. Pixel intensity for those proteins in the 2-D gels was significantly correlated with seminal vesicle weight. This is the first description of the basic reproductive aspects of Morada Nova rams, including protein profiles of their seminal plasma. These findings will allow a better understanding of their reproductive physiology.

Avaliação de diferentes vias vacinais para vacinação contra o vírus da doença de Newcastle em aves de fundo de quintal / Assessment of different vaccination approaches against Newcastle disease virus in domestic backyard poultry

Foram avaliadas três vias de aplicação vacinal contra o vírus da doença de Newcastle em aves de criatório de fundo de quintal (AFQ) jovens e adultas. Um total de 135 AFQ foram distribuídas em tratamentos distintos de acordo com a via vacinal: via ocular (VO), água de bebida (VAB) e alimentar (VA). Cada tratamento foi representado por 40 aves (20 jovens e 20 adultas) e utilizou-se um grupo-controle de 15 aves não vacinadas. O programa de vacinação estabelecido constou de uma primovacinação e dois reforços vacinais, utilizando-se a cepa La Sota. Para aves jovens, os títulos obtidos pelas VO e VAB não diferiram aos 15, 45 e 140 dias, mas houve diferenças nos títulos das aves vacinadas pela VA. Nas aves adultas, a vacinação pela VO apresentou resultados mais elevados que as vacinações pelas VAB e VA na primeira resposta, aos 15 dias. Aos 45 dias, os títulos obtidos pela VAB foram mais baixos que os obtidos pela VO, e, aos 140 dias, não houve diferença entre as três vias avaliadas. Concluiu-se que as vacinações pelas VO e VAB constituem alternativas eficazes para vacinação de AFQ jovens e adultas.

Three ways of vaccination against Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) were evaluated in young and adults domestic backyard poultry (DBP). A total of 135 DBP was submitted to three different administration routes of ND vaccine: eye-drop, drinking water, and feed. Each treatment consisted of 40 birds (20 young and 20 adult) and a control group of 15 unvaccinated birds. The treatment consisted of a first vaccination and two boosters, using La Sota strain. For young birds, the eye-drop and drinking water vaccinations presented no differences at 15, 45, and 140 days, differing from the titers obtained by birds treated by feed vaccination method. In the adult birds, the eye-drop administration presented higher titers than by drinking water and feed approaches in the first response to the vaccination at 15 days. At 45 days, the results obtained by the drinking water had lower titers than those from the eye-drop. The three vaccination methods presented no difference at 140 days. In conclusion, the vaccination by eye-drop and drinking water methods constituted an efficient alternative of vaccination for adult and young DBP against Newcastle virus.

Research notes: Sodium bicarbonate supplementation in diets for guinea fowl raised at high environmental temperatures.

An experiment was designed to verify the effect of dietary NaHCO3 supplementation on performance of guinea fowl raised under high environmental temperatures (23.8 to 33.9 C) and average relative humidity of 78.7%. One hundred and forty guinea fowl in their final period of growth (56 to 84 d of age) were allotted to individual wire cages. Five isocaloric (3,000 kcal ME/kg) 16% CP diets based on corn and soybean meal and containing 0, 0.6, 1.2, 1.8, and 2.4% sodium bicarbonate were fed to the birds. The experiment followed a randomized block design with 28 birds per treatment (14 of each sex) with each bird being considered as one repetition. Results showed that weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion, mortality, blood pH, carcass yield, and carcass composition were not affected (P > 0.05) by dietary sodium bicarbonate supplementation. Weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion, carcass moisture, and fat content, however, were significantly (P < 0.05) affected by sex. Females showed 17.49% better weight gain, 7.16% greater feed intake, and 9.6% better feed conversion than males. These differences were exacerbated at supplementation levels of 1.2 and 1.8% sodium bicarbonate in the diet. Male birds showed carcass moisture values significantly (P < 0.05) greater than those of female birds; the opposite occurred with carcass fat levels. The use of sodium bicarbonate in levels up to 2.4% of the diet did not affect the performance of guinea fowl raised under the environmental conditions registered in this study.

[Modification in the contraceptive behavior in Sorocaba in a period of 11 years (1968-1979) (author's transl)]. / Modificacoes nos habitos anticonceptionais em Sorocaba em um periodo de 11 anos (1968-1979).

PIP: 2 surveys were conducted in 1968 and 1979 in the same medium and low income neighborhood of Sorocaba, Brazil, to investigate modifications in contraceptive practice. The number of women knowing about contraception went from 68.9% to 94.6%, but the percentage of women actually using contraception decreased from 58.7% to 39.9%. Among those using contraception there was a marked increase in OC (oral contraception) use and a marked decrease in coitus interruptus and condom use. During the period of 11 years the yearly income of surveyed people had increased about 20%; however, the number of contraceptive users had increased only among women with higher income and better education, it had decreased in all other groups. The use of the pill was relatively higher among Catholic women^ieng