Effect of collection techniques on cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) recovery, in vitro maturation and fertilization of goat oocytes

The experiment was undertaken to study the effect of collection techniques on cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) recovery, in vitro maturation (IVM) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) of goat oocytes. COCs were collected by three techniques viz. puncture, slicing and aspiration of goat ovaries obtained at slaughterhouse. It was observed that, the total number of COCs/ovary as well as the number of abnormal COCs/ovary were significantly higher (p < 0.01) in puncture (4.22 and 2.38, respectively) and slicing (4.14 and 2.22, respectively) followed by aspiration (3.28 and 0.80, respectively) technique. In contrast, the number of normal COCs/ovary was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in aspiration (2.48) followed by slicing (1.91) and puncture (1.85) techniques. Only normal quality COCs were cultured in TCM-199 supplemented with 2.5% bovine serum albumin (BSA) plus 10% goat follicular fluid (gFF). The matured COCs were then fertilized in BO medium with fresh buck semen. The results showed that the rates of COCs that reached the maximum cumulus cell expansion (level-3) were 64.14, 65.93 and 65.73%; metaphase-II (M-II) stage were 57.75, 58.23 and 58.57%; normal fertilization (formation of male and female pronuclei) were 34.43, 35.03 and 34.65% in puncture, slicing and aspiration techniques, respectively; there were no significant differences among these rates. The results revealed that the collection techniques have no significant effect (p > 0.05) on in vitro maturation and fertilization of goat oocytes as long as normal quality COCs was used.Key words: Collection techniques, cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs), in vitro maturation (IVM), in vitro fertilization (IVF)

A Hybrid model for the origin of photoluminescence from Ge nanocrystals in SiO2_2 matrix

In spite of several articles, the origin of visible luminescence from germanium nanocrystals in SiO$_2$ matrix is controversial even today. Some authors attribute the luminescence to quantum confinement of charge carriers in these nanocrystals. On the other hand, surface or defect states formed during the growth process, have also been proposed as the source of luminescence in this system. We have addressed this long standing query by simultaneous photoluminescence and Raman measurements on germanium nanocrystals embedded in SiO$_2$ matrix, grown by two different techniques: (i) low energy ion-implantation and (ii) atom beam sputtering. Along with our own experimental observations, we have summarized relevant information available in the literature and proposed a \emph{Hybrid Model} to explain the visible photoluminescence from nanocrystalline germanium in SiO$_2$ matrix.Comment: 23 pages, 8 figure

Evaluation of integrated nutrient management on the performance of bottle gourd [Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl.]

The present investigation was conducted during 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 at Horticulture Research Station, Mondouri, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Monhanpur, Nadia, West Bengal, India, to find out the effect of organic manure, chemical fertilizers and bio fertilizers in an integrated manner for yield maximization and quality improvement in bottle gourd cv. Pusa Naveen. The experiment consisted of eleven nutrient based treatment combinations, including different level of applications of inorganic fertilizers (Urea, single super phosphate and muriate of potash), organic manure (vermicompost) and bio fertilizers (Azotobacter and PSB). Present investigation clearly indicated the beneficial effect of integrated nutrient management on yield and quality characters of bottle gourd. The maximum length of main vine (226.00 cm), branches per plant (5.67), fruit number (10.00), fruit weight (873.33 g), fruit length (21.07 cm) and fruit diameter (8.18 cm) were recorded in the treatment which received equal proportions of N from inorganic and organic sources along with bio fertilizers (Azotobacter and PSB). Quality characters namely, total soluble solids (TSS) and ascorbic acid in bottle gourd fruit were enhanced in the most favourable way due to application of 75% N from inorganic source and 25% N from organic source along with bio fertilizer (PSB). Keeping view on yield sustainability, balance in ecosystem, soil health improvement and good health of human beings, it may be suggested that vegetable growers particularly in new alluvial zone of West Bengal may supplement 25-50% recommended dose of nitrogen through vermicompost in bottle gourd cultivation along with bio fertilizers viz. Azotobacter and PSB

Isolation of Intermediate Filament Proteins from Multiple Mouse Tissues to Study Aging-associated Post-translational Modifications

In this method we present biochemical procedures for rapid and efficient isolation of intermediate filament (IF) proteins from multiple mouse tissues. Isolated IFs can be used to study changes in post-translational modifications by mass spectrometry and other biochemical assays

Uncertain R&D Outcomes and Cooperation in R&D

The present paper provides a brief survey of some of the papers dealing with R&D uncertainty. This helps us identify which factors are more favorable for cooperative R&D and which factors are not. The paper provides the analysis under a unified framework. We take the classic paper by Marjit (1991) as the benchmark case, and then proceeds to examine whether, or to what extent, Marjit result will undergo a change with respect to different assumptions related to R&D investment

Mechanistic details of the formation and growth of nanoscale voids in Ge under extreme conditions within an ion track

The formation of nanoscale voids in amorphous-germanium (a-Ge), and their size and shape evolution under ultra-fast thermal spikes within an ion track of swift heavy ion, is meticulously expatiated using experimental and theoretical approaches. Two step energetic ion irradiation processes were used to fabricate novel and distinct embedded nanovoids within bulk Ge. The 'bow-tie' shape of voids formed in a single ion track tends to attain a spherical shape as the ion tracks overlap at a fluence of about 1 x 10(12) ions cm(-2). The void assumes a prolate spheroid shape with major axis along the ion trajectory at sufficiently high ion fluences. Small angle x-ray scattering can provide complementary information about the primary stage of void formation hence this technique is applied for monitoring simultaneously their formation and growth dynamics. The results are supported by the investigation of cross-sectional transmission and scanning electron micrographs. The multi-time-scale theoretical approach corroborates the experimental findings and relates the bow-tie shape void formation to density variations as a result of melting and resolidification of Ge within the region of thermal spike generated along an ion track, plus non-isotropic stresses generated towards the end of the thermal spike.Peer reviewe

Fabrication of Germanium-on-insulator in a Ge wafer with a crystalline Ge top layer and buried GeO2 layer by Oxygen ion implantation

The paper reports fabrication of Germanium-on-Insulator (GeOI) wafer by Oxygen ion implantation of an undoped single crystalline Ge wafer of orientation (100). Oxygen ions of energy 200 keV were implanted. The implanted wafer was subjected to Rapid Thermal Annealing to 650 C. The resulting wafer has a top crystalline Ge layer of 220 nm thickness and Buried Oxide layer (BOX) layer of good quality crystalline Germanium oxide with thickness around 0.62 micron. The crystalline BOX layer has hexagonal crystal structure with lattice constants close to the standard values. Raman Spectroscopy, cross-sectional HRTEM with SAED and EDS established that the top Ge layer was recrystallized during annealing with faceted crystallites. The top layer has a small tensile strain of around +0.4\% and has estimated dislocation density of 2.7 x 10^{7}cm^{-2}. The thickness, crystallinity and electrical characteristics of the top layer and the quality of the BOX layer of GeO_{2} are such that it can be utilized for device fabrication

A microscopic complex potential description of elastic, inelastic cross section in the Coulomb nuclear interference region in the 28Si on 28Si system

Elastic and inelastic angular distribution and excitation functions were measured for the 28Si + 28Si system in the vicinity of the Coulomb barrier. While the elastic data could be described very well by using fully microscopic complex potential, the inelastic cross sections were found to be more sensitive to small variations in the potential. In particular the Coulomb nuclear interference dip observed in the inelastic excitation functions could not be fitted satisfactorily with calculation. Inclusion of an energy dependent term of Gaussian shape to the associated matrix element with the reorientation coupling in the phenomenological calculations leads to a better fit the inelastic excitation functions. © 1998 Elsevier Science B.V

Site-specific phosphorylation and caspase cleavage of GFAP are new markers of Alexander Disease severity

Alexander Disease (AxD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by mutations in glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), which supports the structural integrity of astrocytes. Over 70 GFAP missense mutations cause AxD, but the mechanism linking different mutations to disease-relevant phenotypes remains unknown. We used AxD patient brain tissue and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived astrocytes to investigate the hypothesis that AxD-causing mutations perturb key post-translational modifications (PTMs) on GFAP. Our findings reveal selective phosphorylation of GFAP-Ser13 in patients who died young, independently of the mutation they carried. AxD iPSC-astrocytes accumulated pSer13-GFAP in cytoplasmic aggregates within deep nuclear invaginations, resembling the hallmark Rosenthal fibers observed in vivo. Ser13 phosphorylation facilitated GFAP aggregation and was associated with increased GFAP proteolysis by caspase-6. Furthermore, caspase-6 was selectively expressed in young AxD patients, and correlated with the presence of cleaved GFAP. We reveal a novel PTM signature linking different GFAP mutations in infantile AxD

SLC25A22 is a novel gene for migrating partial seizures in infancy

Objective To identify a genetic cause for migrating partial seizures in infancy (MPSI). Methods We characterized a consanguineous pedigree with MPSI and obtained DNA from affected and unaffected family members. We analyzed single nucleotide polymorphism 500K data to identify regions with evidence of linkage. We performed whole exome sequencing and analyzed homozygous variants in regions of linkage to identify a candidate gene and performed functional studies of the candidate gene SLC25A22. Results In a consanguineous pedigree with 2 individuals with MPSI, we identified 2 regions of linkage, chromosome 4p16.1-p16.3 and chromosome 11p15.4-pter. Using whole exome sequencing, we identified 8 novel homozygous variants in genes in these regions. Only 1 variant, SLC25A22 c.G328C, results in a change of a highly conserved amino acid (p.G110R) and was not present in control samples. SLC25A22 encodes a glutamate transporter with strong expression in the developing brain. We show that the specific G110R mutation, located in a transmembrane domain of the protein, disrupts mitochondrial glutamate transport. Interpretation We have shown that MPSI can be inherited and have identified a novel homozygous mutation in SLC25A22 in the affected individuals. Our data strongly suggest that SLC25A22 is responsible for MPSI, a severe condition with few known etiologies. We have demonstrated that a combination of linkage analysis and whole exome sequencing can be used for disease gene discovery. Finally, as SLC25A22 had been implicated in the distinct syndrome of neonatal epilepsy with suppression bursts on electroencephalogram, we have expanded the phenotypic spectrum associated with SLC25A22. Ann Neurol 2013;74:873-882 © 2013 American Neurological Association