Seasonal changes of nuclear DNA fragmentation in boar spermatozoa in Spain

There are numerous cases when conventional spermiogram parameters are all within an acceptable range but boar subfertility persists. The total sperm nuclear DNA fragmentation index (tDFI) is a trait related to fertility and prolificacy problems that is not routinely evaluated in commercial AI boars. The aim of this research was to study the effect of the photoperiod, season and reproductive age of the boar on tDFI (measured by SCSA) of 1279 ejaculates from 372 different boars belonging to 6 different breeds located in 6 AI studs in Spain. tDFI data ranged from 0.018% to 20.1%. Although there was a significant single boar effect in the tDFI occurrence, a negative correlation between the tDFI and the age of the boar was found (p < 0.001). tDFI would decrease due to aging of the boar 0.66% each year old within the observed age range. After including age as a covariate in the ANCOVA, no differences were found in tDFI between photoperiods when the sperm collection date was evaluated. However, when the date of the production of semen in the testis was evaluated, the total percentage of spermatozoa with fragmented nuclear DNA was 1.46% higher in the increasing photoperiod in comparison to the decreasing photoperiod (p < 0.0001). On the other hand, for both dates, the lowest tDFI values corresponded to minimum day length for decreasing photoperiod phase (autumn), while the highest tDFI values were found in summer (maximum day length for decreasing photoperiod phase)

Compounds from multilayer plastic bags cause reproductive failures in artificial insemination

High levels of reproductive failure were detected in some Spanish sow farms in the Spring of 2010. Regular returns to estrus and variable reductions in litter size were observed. The problem started suddenly and did not appear to be related to the quality of the ejaculates, disease, alterations of body condition or any other apparent reasons. Subsequent studies determined that the problem was the origin of the plastic bags used for semen storage. Chemical analysis of the suspicious bags identified unexpected compounds such as BADGE, a cyclic lactone and an unknown phthalate that leached into the semen at concentrations of 0.2 to 2.5 mg/L. Spermatozoa preserved in these bags passed all of the routine quality control tests, and no differences were observed between storage in the control and suspicious bags (p . 0.05). In vitro fecundation tests and endocrine profiler panel analysis (EPP) did not show any alterations, whereas the in vivo tests confirmed the described failure. This is the first described relationship between reproductive failure and toxic compounds released from plastic bags

Nuclear DNA fragmentation in boar spermatozoa: measurement methods and reproductive performance implications

The aim of this research was to compare the different techniques to measure sperm nuclear DNA fragmentation (sDF) and to check its relations to boar reproductive value, classical spermiogram parameters, and reproductive results of the doses in sows. Sperm chromatin stability assay (SCSA), terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, and sperm chromatin dispersion test (SCD, Halomax®) results were compared, finding a statistically significant correlation only between SCSA and TUNEL results. The fertility direct boar effect (DBE) index, calculated from the whole productive life of the boar, was not correlated (p > 0.05) with sDF (measured by any technique). Total or progressive sperm motility was not correlated with sDF, while it found a positive correlation between TUNEL measure and abnormal acrosomes (%) and between SCD measure and total sperm morphological abnormalities (%). No significant correlations were obtained between fertility or prolificacy results and sDF results with the different techniques. However, in the case of total born and SCSA measure, the correlation was close to significance (r partial = -0.095; p = 0.066), appointing to a tendency; as SCSA increases, the number of total piglets born decreases. In conclusion, although the different techniques for the sDF seem not to target exactly the same DNA events and the relationship between their values and the reproductive results and the classical spermiogram results is still to be elucidated, the studied sDF techniques may offer extra information that could be useful for the management of AI studs. Copyright © 2022 Ausejo, Martínez, Mendoza, Bolarin, Tejedor and Falceto

Assessing the thermoformability of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3- hydroxyvalerate)/poly(acid lactic) blends compatibilized with diisocyanates

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) is a renewable alternative to conventional barrier packaging polymers due to its thermoplastic properties, biodegradability and gas barrier performance but its potential industrial applications are limited by its high price and difficult processability. A thorough study concerning the thermoforming ability of PHBV, and blends with poly(lactic acid) (PLA) incorporating three different diisocyanates as compatibilizers (hexamethylene diisocyanate, poly(hexamethylene) diisocyanate and 1,4-phenylene diisocyanate) is herein presented after component melt blending. A straightforward universal qualitative method is proposed to assess the thermoformability, based on a visual inspection of a thermoformed specimen and the ability to reproduce the mold shape, and the thermoforming window of the material. The results reveal a significant improvement in the thermoforming capacity and a widening of the thermoforming windows as the correct amounts of diisocyanates are incorporated. The barrier properties and the biodisintegrability of the blends was also studied, confirming a predictable slight decrease of the barrier performance when PLA is added, but without negatively affecting the disintegrability under composting conditions with respect to pristine PHBV

Reproductive performance of sows inseminated with semen doses stored for up to seven days in long-term extender in a field condition

This study aimed to evaluate the reproductive performance of sows inseminated with semen doses preserved at 15-18 degrees C for up to seven days in long-term extender (Duragen (R)). Parity one (PO1) to PO7 sows were randomly assigned to the following groups: AI1-3 (n=190), insemination with semen doses stored between one and three days; and AI5-7 (n=124), insemination with semen doses stored between five and seven days. Sows were submitted to estrus detection twice a day. Post-cervical insemination according to weaning-to-estrus interval was performed. The farrowing rate (FR) did not differ between the groups (AI1-3=83.2%; AI5-7=82.2%; p>0.05) nor did the total number of piglets born (TPB; AI1-3=14.2 +/- 0.3; AI5-7=14.5 +/- 0.3; p>0.05). Considering the semen dose most likely responsible for fertilization according to its storage time (1, 2-3, 5, and 6-7 days), the FR (72.7%, 87.8%, 85.7%, and 79%, respectively) and TPB (14.4, 14.0, 14.9, and 13.5, respectively) were similar among the groups (p>0.05). In conclusion, the use of semen doses extended with long-term extender stored for up to seven days did not impair the reproductive performance of sows. Therefore, it''s using could optimize production efficiency and logistics of semen dose deliveries to sow farms

Characterization of microring filters for differential group delay applications

The longitudinal offset technique permits to improve the accuracy of the coupling coefficients of integrated directional couplers and provides designs that can be easily implemented with current fabrication tolerances. In this work, we address the additional degree of freedom offered by this technology in order to tailor the differential group delay in coupled-resonator optical filters. We present the characterization of several devices exploiting this feature and we discuss their potential applicationsThis work has been founded by MINECO (Spanish Government), project numbers TEC2010-21303-C01, 02, 03 and 04, and JCyL Project No. VA089U16. F. J. F.-P. has also been partly supported by the ERDF and by the Galician Regional Government under project GRC2015/018 and under agreement for funding AtlantTI

A nationwide pilot study on breast cancer screening in Peru

"Introduction: A high prevalence of advanced breast cancer (BC) is a common scenario in Latin America. In Peru, the frequency of BC at Stages III/IV is ≈50% despite implementation of a programme for breast cancer screening (BCS) along the country. We carried out a study to assess the feasibility and develop an instrument to evaluate the knowledge, barriers and perception about BCS in a nationwide pilot study in Peru among candidates for BCS. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of 2,558 reports indexed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Medline-Ovid and EMBASE, regarding to our study theme. In total, 111 were selected and a 51-items survey was developed (eight items about sociodemographic characteristics). Patients were recruited in public hospitals or private clinics, in rural and urban areas of nine departments of Peru. Results: We surveyed 488 women from: Lima (150), Cajamarca (93), Ica (59), Arequipa (56), Loreto (48), Ancash (38), Junín (15), Puerto Maldonado (15) and Huancavelica (14); 27.9% of them were from rural areas. The mean of age was 53.3 years (standard deviation ± 9.1). Regarding education level, 29.8% had primary, 33.2% secondary and 37.0% higher education. In total, 28.7% of women did not know the term ‘mammogram’ and 47.1% reported never receiving a BCS (36.9% from urban and 73.5% from rural population). In women that underwent BCS, only 67% knew it is for healthy women. In total, 54.1% of patients had low levels of knowledge about risk factors for BC (i.e. 87.5% of women respond that injuries in the breast produce cancer). Cultural, economic and geographic barriers were significantly associated with having a mammogram where 56.9% of participants considered a cost ≤ 7 USD as appropriate. Mammogram was perceived as too painful for 54.9% of women. In addition, women with a self-perception of low-risk for BC and a fatalistic perception of cancer were less likely to have a BCS. Conclusion: We found that it is feasible to conduct a large-scale study in Peru. The results of this pilot study highlight an urgent need of extensive education and awareness about BCS in Peru.

A comparative study of three-dimensional printing directions: The degradation and toxicological profile of a PLA/PHA blend

The use of biobased plastics is of great importance for many applications. Blending thermoplastic polylactide (PLA) with polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) enables the formulation of a more mechanically powerful material and this enables tailored biodegradation properties. In this study we demonstrate the 3D printing of a PLA/PHA blend as a potential candidate for biocompatible material applications. The filament for 3D printing consisted of PHA, which contains predominantly 3-hydroxybutyrate units and a small amount of 3-hydroxyvalerate units, as revealed by multistage mass spectrometry (ESI-MSn). This research found that the properties of 3D printed species before and during abiotic degradation are dependent on printing orientation. Furthermore, the 3D printed specimens exhibited good biocompatibility with HEK293 cells, indicating real promise as biological scaffolds for tissue engineering applications

Flavin-mediated reduction of ferric leghemoglobin from soybean nodules

22 Pags. The definitive version, with Figs., is available at: http://link.springer.com/journal/425The reduction of ferric leghemoglobin (Lb3+) from soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) nodules by riboflavin, FMN and FAD in the presence of NAD(P)H was studied in vitro. The system NAD(P)H + flavin reduced Lb3+ to oxyferrous (Lb2+ · O2) or deoxyferrous (Lb2+) leghemoglobin in aerobic or anaerobic conditions, respectively. In the absence of O2 the reaction was faster and more effective (i.e. less NAD(P)H oxidized per mole Lb3+ reduced) than in the presence of O2; this phenomenon was probably because O2 competes with Lb3+ for reductant, thus generating activated O2 species. The flavin-mediated reduction of Lb3+ did not entail production of superoxide or peroxide, indicating that NAD(P)H-reduced flavins were able to reduce Lb3+ directly. The NAD(P)H + flavin system also reduced the complexes Lb3+ · nicotinate and Lb3+ · acetate to Lb2+ · O2, Lb2+ or Lb2+ · nicotinate, depending on the concentrations of ligands and of O2. In the presence of 200 μM nitrite most Lb remained as Lb3+ in aerobic conditions but the nitrosyl complex (Lb2+ · NO) was generated in anaerobic conditions. The above-mentioned characteristics of the NAD(P)H + flavin system, coupled with its effectiveness in reducing Lb3+ at physiological levels of NAD(P)H and flavins in soybean nodules, indicate that this mechanism may be especially important for reducing Lb3+ in vivo.M. Becana thanks the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science/Fulbright Commission for financial support.Peer reviewe