Mitochondrial DNA in somatic and germinal cells of male rats, and embryo transfer between donors and recipients of known mitochondrial DNA

Mitochondrial inheritance, in contrast to the nuclear inheritance, is only maternal. In order to evaluate the role of mitochondria in early embryonic development and the potential impact of cytoplasmic inheritance on genetic improvement of livestock species, a series of studies were undertaken using the rat as the experimental model. Two types (A and B) of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) were identified in the rats used in this study, and a rat colony was developed which contained animals with both mtDNA types. In experiment 1, for each of the 12 rats used, the liver and testicular mitochondrial preparations shared the same type of mtDNA, suggesting that mtDNA is not altered during differentiation of the male gonad. Using offspring from parents of known mtDNA type, we confirmed that they only contain the mtDNA type of the mother, suggesting that either the paternal mitochondria are not transmitted to the offspring or that the mtDNA from the spermatozoal mitochondria is diluted to levels below detection. Differences in mitochondrial morphology were found in rate somatic and germinal cells;In experiment 2, rat embryos were transferred to recipients with the same or different type of mtDNA. The mtDNA of the recipient did not affect the number of females that remained pregnant to term (pregnancy rate) or the number of offspring born. Embryo survival to weaning day was affected (P 0.05). The total number of embryos recovered from the donors and the stage of embryonic development were not affected (P \u3e 0.05) by the type of mtDNA. Similarly, the type of mtDNA did not affect the length of pregnancy, the number of pups born, the numbers of pups weaned, and the weight of male pups at weaning day providing additional evidence to conclude that a difference of mtDNA between embryo and recipient is not a factor to be considered when embryo transfers are to be performed. On this basis, the significantly greater weight at weaning for female pups may not reflect a true biological effect caused by differences on the mtDNA type

Superovulation of Beef Heifers with Follicle Stimulating Hormone or Human Menopausal Gonadotropin: Acute Effects on Hormone Secretion

The effects of superovulatory treatment (follicle stimulating hormone [FSH] versus human menopausal gonadotropin [HMG]) and of route of administration (intramuscular versus intravenous) of prostaglandin F2a (PGF2a) on hormonal profiles were determined in 32 Angus x Hereford heifers for breeding and subsequent embryo collection and transfer. Heifers were superstimulated either with FSH (total of 26 milligrams) or HMG (total of 1,050 international units) beginning on days 9 to 12 of an estrous cycle and PGF2a (40 milligrams) was administered at 60 and 72 hours after the beginning of superovulatory treatments. Heifers were artificially inseminated three times at 12-hour intervals beginning 48 hours after PGF2a treatment. Blood serum samples were collected immediately before treatments began and at frequent intervals until embryo collection 288 hours later. Concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH) and FSH were not affected by hormone treatments, route of PGF2a injection, or interactions between them. Estradiol-17ß (E2-17ß) levels were higher in HMG- than in FSH-treated heifers 60 hours after gonadotropin treatment. Peak concentration of E2-17ß occurred earlier in HMGthan in FSH-treated heifers and earlier in heifers injected with PGF2a intramuscularly than those injected intravenously. Progesterone concentrations were not influenced by treatment or route of PGF2a administration. The progesterone:E2-17ß ratio was higher in FSH- than in HMG-treated heifers 24 hours after the LH peak. The high steroid hormone concentrations in superovulated beef heifers before and after ovulation may lead to asynchrony between stages of embryonic development, a situation that may interfere with the pregnancy outcome of superovulated embryos in recipient animals

Analysis and Design of Wastewater Treatment

The work proposes the reuse of wastewater from the Faculty of Agronomic Engineering of the Technical University of Manabí, located in the Lodana parish in the city of Portoviejo, to irrigate the diversity of plantations that exist in the institution as a banana, cocoa and lemon. In the work, the results of the physical-chemical and bacteriological analysis carried out on the residual water generated in the institution are offered, being able to verify that it does not meet the parameters required to be used in the irrigation of crops. The technical scheme of the proposed treatment system is shown, specifying the structure of the zeolite filter. The calculations made for the technical and structural design of each of the devices that make up the proposed treatment system are provided. The analysis of the performance of the system that is illustrated with a series of data reflected in tables is exposed and where an efficiency between 84% and 88% can be verified. A review of compliance with environmental regulations is carried out and an economic analysis is provided on the cost of the investment for the introduction of the system in the Faculty of Agricultural Engineering of the Technical University of Manabí

Obesity: Problem to Consider in Public Health

Overweight is an increase in body mass; Obesity is the increase in the size or quantity of fat cells sufficient to damage the health of the individual. It is the world millennium pandemic, which affects all types of population, does not discriminate between age, race, sex, social position or religion, according to the World Health Organization is considered obese to people with a higher body mass index or equal to 30 Kg / m2. It has been shown that through good advice can be remedied with this acute physical problem and that often leads to self-esteem and mental problems. The work is supported in the investigation of the phenomenon of obesity, its causes, and consequences for human health in the parish March 12, in the city of Portoviejo in the province of Manabí. The results of a survey carried out on a sample of 97 adults residing in the parish are exposed, showing the high level of obesity that exists in the population, as well as the inadequate eating habits and the sedentary lifestyle that accompanies this problem. Health. It is evident that the fundamental causes of obesity consist of a well-localized group of inadequate food practices and the lack of physical exercise, a situation that can be combated from social work where the factors and the society of the community can be compromised, aimed at reducing obesity levels and increasing the health of the population

Aplicaciones de Minerí­a de Datos en Marketing

Las aplicaciones tecnológicas y la implementación de técnicas de inteligencia artificial conforman la nueva generación de herramientas de tecnologí­as de información y comunicación que aplican las organizaciones. Estas están destinadas a ayudar a tomar decisiones en escenarios donde la cantidad de información complica el análisis desarrollado por los expertos. El análisis del comportamiento de los consumidores es un problema fundamental para la formulación de estrategias de marketing, ventas, atención al cliente, fidelización, segmentación, cross-selling, optimización de la cadena de suministro, detección y prevención de fraudes y Detección de Anomalí­as (DA), entre otras Estas herramientas aportan al director de marketing la oportunidad de poder interpretar la información contenida en grandes bases de datos y resulta imprescindible para que la información pueda ser almacenada, transformada, analizada y visualizad

Integrating genetic maps in bambara groundnut [Vigna subterranea (L) Verdc.] and their syntenic relationships among closely related legumes

Background Bambara groundnut [Vigna subterranea (L) Verdc.] is an indigenous legume crop grown mainly in subsistence and small-scale agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa for its nutritious seeds and its tolerance to drought and poor soils. Given that the lack of ex ante sequence is often a bottleneck in marker-assisted crop breeding for minor and underutilised crops, we demonstrate the use of limited genetic information and resources developed within species, but linked to the well characterised common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) genome sequence and the partially annotated closely related species; adzuki bean (Vigna angularis) and mung bean (Vigna radiata). From these comparisons we identify conserved synteny blocks corresponding to the Linkage Groups (LGs) in bambara groundnut genetic maps and evaluate the potential to identify genes in conserved syntenic locations in a sequenced genome that underlie a QTL position in the underutilised crop genome. Results Two individual intraspecific linkage maps consisting of DArTseq markers were constructed in two bambara groundnut (2n = 2x = 22) segregating populations: 1) The genetic map of Population IA was derived from F2 lines (n = 263; IITA686 x Ankpa4) and covered 1,395.2 cM across 11 linkage groups; 2) The genetic map of Population TD was derived from F3 lines (n = 71; Tiga Nicuru x DipC) and covered 1,376.7 cM across 11 linkage groups. A total of 96 DArTseq markers from an initial pool of 142 pre-selected common markers were used. These were not only polymorphic in both populations but also each marker could be located using the unique sequence tag (at selected stringency) onto the common bean, adzuki bean and mung bean genomes, thus allowing the sequenced genomes to be used as an initial ‘pseudo’ physical map for bambara groundnut. A good correspondence was observed at the macro synteny level, particularly to the common bean genome. A test using the QTL location of an agronomic trait in one of the bambara groundnut maps allowed the corresponding flanking positions to be identified in common bean, mung bean and adzuki bean, demonstrating the possibility of identifying potential candidate genes underlying traits of interest through the conserved syntenic physical location of QTL in the well annotated genomes of closely related species. Conclusions The approach of adding pre-selected common markers in both populations before genetic map construction has provided a translational framework for potential identification of candidate genes underlying a QTL of trait of interest in bambara groundnut by linking the positions of known genetic effects within the underutilised species to the physical maps of other well-annotated legume species, without the need for an existing whole genome sequence of the study species. Identifying the conserved synteny between underutilised species without complete genome sequences and the genomes of major crops and model species with genetic and trait data is an important step in the translation of resources and information from major crop and model species into the minor crop species. Such minor crops will be required to play an important role in future agriculture under the effects of climate change

De novo assembly and characterization of a maternal and developmental transcriptome for the emerging model crustacean Parhyale hawaiensis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Arthropods are the most diverse animal phylum, but their genomic resources are relatively few. While the genome of the branchiopod <it>Daphnia pulex </it>is now available, no other large-scale crustacean genomic resources are available for comparison. In particular, genomic resources are lacking for the most tractable laboratory model of crustacean development, the amphipod <it>Parhyale hawaiensis</it>. Insight into shared and divergent characters of crustacean genomes will facilitate interpretation of future developmental, biomedical, and ecological research using crustacean models.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>To generate a transcriptome enriched for maternally provided and zygotically transcribed developmental genes, we created cDNA from ovaries and embryos of <it>P. hawaiensis</it>. Using 454 pyrosequencing, we sequenced over 1.1 billion bases of this cDNA, and assembled them <it>de novo </it>to create, to our knowledge, the second largest crustacean genomic resource to date. We found an unusually high proportion of C2H2 zinc finger-containing transcripts, as has also been reported for the genome of the pea aphid <it>Acyrthosiphon pisum</it>. Consistent with previous reports, we detected trans-spliced transcripts, but found that they did not noticeably impact transcriptome assembly. Our assembly products yielded 19,067 unique BLAST hits against <b>nr </b>(E-value cutoff e-10). These included over 400 predicted transcripts with significant similarity to <it>D. pulex </it>sequences but not to sequences of any other animal. Annotation of several hundred genes revealed <it>P. hawaiensis </it>homologues of genes involved in development, gametogenesis, and a majority of the members of six major conserved metazoan signaling pathways.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The amphipod <it>P. hawaiensis </it>has higher transcript complexity than known insect transcriptomes, and trans-splicing does not appear to be a major contributor to this complexity. We discuss the importance of a reliable comparative genomic framework within which to consider findings from new crustacean models such as <it>D. pulex </it>and <it>P. hawaiensis</it>, as well as the need for development of further substantial crustacean genomic resources.</p

Resilience in vulnerable university groups: An analysis of social work intervention strategies from the perspective of social inclusion

Introduction. Resilience refers to the ability of individuals, groups or communities to adapt and recover in the face of adverse or stressful situations, such as violence, poverty, natural disasters or disease. Aim. The present research aims to analyse the impact of social work intervention in strengthening resilience in vulnerable groups served by the Faculty of Humanistic and Social Sciences of the Technical University of Manabí during the 2023-A academic period, to identify the pedagogical intervention of social work in vulnerable groups, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention strategies implemented by social work professionals. Methodology and research methods. The quantitative paradigm was applied. The design corresponds to a non-experimental study. The population was 259 students of Social Work. The sample consisted of 70 students belonging to vulnerable groups. A questionnaire with 15 items was applied. Multiple regression analysis and ANOVA analysis were carried out. Results. Among the results, the pedagogical intervention strategies applied by the social work professionals were effective. There is a positive impact on strengthening resilience in vulnerable groups, as well as on socio-economic and cultural factors. Social work pedagogical intervention strategies as well as socio-economic and cultural factors are important in strengthening resilience in vulnerable groups. Scientific novelty. The scientific novelty of this study is that building resilience through inclusion stands out as a pedagogical component in social work and as a pillar that strengthens social work. Practical significance. It is important to take socio-economic and cultural factors into account when designing and implementing these pedagogical strategies, as they can influence their effectiveness. It is also important to continue research on the factors that influence the development of resilience in vulnerable groups in order to design and implement more effective and sustainable educational intervention strategies.Введение. Жизнестойкость относится к способности отдельных лиц, групп или сообществ адаптироваться к неблагоприятным или стрессовым ситуациям, таким как насилие, бедность, стихийные бедствия или болезни, и восстанавливаться после них. Цель статьи – проанализировать влияние социальной работы на повышение жизнестойкости уязвимых групп факультета гуманитарных и социальных наук Технического университета Манаби в течение академического периода 2023-A, выявить факторы, влияющие на развитие жизнестойкости в этих группах, и оценить эффективность стратегий вмешательства, реализуемых специалистами по социальной работе. Методология, методы и методики. Работа выполнена в рамках количественной парадигмы. Дизайн соответствует неэкспериментальному исследованию. В исследовании приняли участие 259 студентов, которые обучаются на специалистов по социальной работе. Выборка состояла из 70 студентов, принадлежащих к уязвимым группам. Была применена анкета из 15 пунктов. Были проведены множественный регрессионный анализ и дисперсионный анализ ANOVA. Результаты. Среди результатов следует отметить, что стратегии вмешательства, реализованные специалистами по социальной работе, были эффективными. Это оказывает положительное влияние на повышение жизнестойкости уязвимых групп, а также на социально-экономические и культурные факторы. Стратегии вмешательства в социальной работе, такие как социально-экономические и культурные факторы, важны для повышения жизнестойкости уязвимых групп. Научная новизна настоящего исследования заключается в том, что повышение жизнестойкости посредством инклюзивности играет фундаментальную роль в социальной работе и выступает в качестве основы, укрепляющей социальную работу. Практическая значимость. Важно учитывать социально-экономические и культурные факторы при разработке и реализации этих стратегий, поскольку они могут влиять на эффективность последних. Также важно продолжать исследования факторов, влияющих на развитие жизнестойкости в уязвимых группах, для разработки и внедрения более эффективных и устойчивых образовательных стратегий вмешательства

The sperm factor: paternal impact beyond genes

The fact that sperm carry more than the paternal DNA has only been discovered just over a decade ago. With this discovery, the idea that the paternal condition may have direct implications for the fitness of the offspring had to be revisited. While this idea is still highly debated, empirical evidence for paternal effects is accumulating. Male condition not only affects male fertility but also offspring early development and performance later in life. Several factors have been identified as possible carriers of non-genetic information, but we still know little about their origin and function and even less about their causation. I consider four possible non-mutually exclusive adaptive and non-adaptive explanations for the existence of paternal effects in an evolutionary context. In addition, I provide a brief overview of the main non-genetic components found in sperm including DNA methylation, chromatin modifications, RNAs and proteins. I discuss their putative functions and present currently available examples for their role in transferring non-genetic information from the father to the offspring. Finally, I identify some of the most important open questions and present possible future research avenues