EVALUATION OF SEMEN QUALITY IN RABBIT OF LOCAL ALGERIAN POPULATION AND SYNTHETIC LINE IN THE SUMMER SEASON: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

The aim of our study was to compare the libido and semen characteristics in 24 rabbits of local and synthetic line during summer season. Results showed that both breeds had similar (p ˃0.05) libido (13.92 vs 16.85 s). Gel free volume (0.88 vs. 0.87 mL), pH (7.51 vs. 7.65), and live sperm (56.21 vs. 55.88%) were similar. Local population had higher semen concentration (398.50 x106 /mL vs. 328.90 x106 /mL) and percentage of abnormal spermatozoa (36.54 vs 30.28%). Massal and individual motility (p=0.006 and p=0.008) were significantly increased in local population. Kinetic traits for Local population were significantly greater (P<0.05), except for VCL, ALH and BCF. We conclude that, rabbit bucks of local population had a good ability of adaptation to produce in a hot climate

The influence of plasma dynamics on the growth of Sm0.55Nd0.45NiO3 solid solution during pulsed laser deposition

Please read abstract in article.The African Laser Centre (ALC) and the Nanoscience African Network (NANOAFNET).http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jpc

Gene Expression Profiles of Beta-Cell Enriched Tissue Obtained by Laser Capture Microdissection from Subjects with Type 2 Diabetes

Background: Changes in gene expression in pancreatic beta-cells from type 2 diabetes (T2D) should provide insights into their abnormal insulin secretion and turnover. Methodology/Principal Findings: Frozen sections were obtained from cadaver pancreases of 10 control and 10 T2D human subjects. Beta-cell enriched samples were obtained by laser capture microdissection (LCM). RNA was extracted, amplified and subjected to microarray analysis. Further analysis was performed with DNA-Chip Analyzer (dChip) and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) software. There were changes in expression of genes linked to glucotoxicity. Evidence of oxidative stress was provided by upregulation of several metallothionein genes. There were few changes in the major genes associated with cell cycle, apoptosis or endoplasmic reticulum stress. There was differential expression of genes associated with pancreatic regeneration, most notably upregulation of members of the regenerating islet gene (REG) family and metalloproteinase 7 (MMP7). Some of the genes found in GWAS studies to be related to T2D were also found to be differentially expressed. IGF2BP2, TSPAN8, and HNF1B (TCF2) were upregulated while JAZF1 and SLC30A8 were downregulated. Conclusions/Significance: This study made possible by LCM has identified many novel changes in gene expression tha

Kinematics effect on honeycomb sandwich beams vibration

Composite structures are used in aerospace, aeronautics, and automotive industries, especially composite sandwich panels which are exposed to vibration, noise, and unusual loads. They are often considered to support vibrations due to their important resistance to fatigue. The aim of this work is to study the influence of displacement fields on the vibration of honeycomb sandwich beams, considering two materials: Nomex paper and Aluminum alloy. For this purpose, the minimum energy method is used to derive the natural frequencies and modal shapes equations of a cantilever honeycomb sandwich beam. The kinetic and potential energies of skins are derived using the classical laminate theory, and several polynomial displacement fields are tested. The effect of core rotational inertia and bending energy on the sandwich beam vibration is also studied. The modal shapes are then examined. Besides, an experimental study is done on the cantilever honeycomb sandwich beam, using an impact hammer for excitation and a laser vibrometer for measurement. The natural frequencies are then obtained by modal analysis. In addition, a numerical simulation is conducted on the cantilever honeycomb sandwich beam to complete this work, and the natural frequencies obtained analytically, numerically, and experimentally are compared. Future steps to enhance this work are finally advanced

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs at embryo transfer on pregnancy rates in cows: A meta-analysis

International audienceNon-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) at the time of embryo transfer (ET) are commonly used to improve pregnancy rates in cows. A meta-analysis was conducted on 16 trials from 9 publications involving control (n = 2335) and NSAID-treated (n = 2849) cows. The meta-analysis explained the relative risk (RR) with its 95% confidence interval (CI) for pregnancy per embryo transfer (P/ET) after NSAID treatment under various circumstances. NSAID treatment with was associated on average with a 15% higher P/ET compared to no treatment (RR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.07 to 1.2). The results also highlight that the use of NSAIDs at the time of ET was particularly effective in cows with difficulty in passing the catheter from the cervix during ET, with 71% more likely P/ET (RR = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.07 to 2.74) with the use of NSAIDs for these cows compared to other cows. The data were too limited to analyse the influence of NSAID molecules (flunixin meglumine [FM] and meloxicam), cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor type (non-selective COX inhibitor [both COX-1 and COX-2] and selective COX inhibitor [only COX-2]), embryo processing (embryo production, embryo conservation and embryo quality), stress, synchronization, breed and parity on the relationship between NSAIDs and P/E

Association between yeast product feeding and milk production of lactating dairy cows: Multilevel meta-analysis and meta-regression

International audienceTo provide an overview of the association between commercially available yeast product (YP) supplementation and milk yield (MY) in lactating dairy cows, multilevel meta-analyses were performed on 99 trials from 49 peer-reviewed studies. Associations were evaluated using random effects models to examine the standardized mean difference (SMD) between the YP and control treatments. Associations were also quantified using the weighted mean difference (WMD). YP supplementation was associated with increased milk yield (+ 0.69 kg/d), milk fat content (+ 0.06%), milk fat yield (+ 0.04 kg/d) and milk protein yield (+ 0.02 kg/d). A positive association between YP and MY was not observed in primiparous cows during mid- and late lactation or in cows fed a high neutral detergent fiber diet. The improvement of MY in cases of YP supplementation was higher if YP supplementation started before calving (+ 0.79 kg/d) compared to after calving. The multivariate analyses showed that YP supplementation was associated with an increase in MY but not with an increase in dry matter intake (DMI). This provides strong evidence that greater milk production observed in supplemented cows is not a result of increased DMI

Intracellular stress signaling pathways activated during human islet preparation and following acute cytokine exposure

Pancreatic islet transplantation may successfully restore normoglycemia in type 1 diabetic patients. However, successful grafting requires transplantation of a sufficient number of islets, usually requiring two or more donors. During the isolation process and following clinical transplantation, islets are subjected to severe adverse conditions that impair survival and ultimately contribute to graft failure. Here, we have mapped the major intracellular stress-signaling pathways that may mediate human islet loss during isolation and following cytokine attack. We found that the isolation procedure potently recruits two pathways consisting of |mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MKK)7 --&gt; Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK)/p38 --&gt; c-fos| and the |nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) --&gt; iNOS| module. Cytokines activate the |NF-kappaB --&gt; iNOS| and |MKK4/MKK3/6 --&gt; JNK/p38| pathways without recruitment of c-fos. Culturing the islets for 48 h after isolation allows for the activated pathways to return to background levels, with expression of MKK7 becoming undetectable. These data indicate that isolation and cytokines recruit different death pathways. Therefore, strategies might be rationally developed to avoid possible synergistic activation of these pathways in mediating islet loss during isolation and following grafting

QTRAP LC/MS/MS of Garlic Nanoparticles and Improving Sunflower Oil Stabilization during Accelerated Shelf Life Storage

The purpose of this research was to assess and utilize the bioactive compounds of garlic nanoparticles (Ga-NPs) as a natural antioxidant in sunflower oil (SFO) stored at 65 &plusmn; 1 &deg;C for 24 days. The garlic nanoparticles (Ga-NPs) from the Balady cultivar were prepared, characterized, and added to SFO at three concentrations: 200, 600, and 1000 ppm (w/v), and they were compared with 600 ppm garlic lyophilized powder extract (Ga-LPE), 200 ppm BHT, 200 ppm &alpha;-tocopherol, and SFO without Ga-NPs (control). The QTRAP LC/MS/MS profile of Ga-NPs revealed the presence of four organosulfur compounds. Ga-NPs exhibited the highest capacity for phenolic, flavonoid, and antioxidant compounds. In Ga-NP SFO samples, the values of peroxide, p-anisidine, totox, conjugated dienes, and conjugated trienes were significantly lower than the control. The antioxidant indices of SFO samples containing Ga-NPs were higher than the control. The Ga-NPs enhanced the sensory acceptability of SFO treatments up to day 24 of storage. The shelf life of SFO treated with Ga-NPs was substantially increased (presuming a Q10 amount). The results show that Ga-NPs are a powerful antioxidant that improves SFO stability and extends the shelf life (~384 days at 25 &deg;C)