Seasonal Variations in the Lipid Profile of the Ovarian Follicle in Italian Mediterranean Buffaloes

The reduced oocyte competence recorded during the non-breading season (NBS) is one of the key factors affecting the profitability of buffalo farming and limits the IVEP efficiency. The purpose of this experiment was to evaluate whether season influences the lipid content within the ovarian follicle in the Italian Mediterranean buffalo. Abattoir-derived ovaries were collected during the breeding season (BS) and the NBS, and different matrices (follicular fluid, oocytes, cumulus and follicular cells) were recovered. After the extraction of the apolar fraction, all samples were analyzed by H1 nuclear magnetic resonance and FF samples by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Seasonal differences in lipid composition were observed in all matrices. In particular, during the NBS, the triglyceride content was higher in the follicular fluid and in the oocytes but reduced in the follicular cells. Both cholesterol and phospholipids were reduced in the follicular fluid and follicular cells during the NBS. Furthermore, the total amount of non-esterified fatty acids was significantly increased in the follicular fluid. The seasonal variation in lipid profile of the follicle may, in part, account for the reduced buffalo oocyte competence during the NBS, due to the critical role played by lipids in regulating ovarian functions

Peatlands of Southern South America : a review

This article is an outcome of the workshop entitled “Turberas: puesta al día y desafíos” (14 Jun 2017). The workshop was supported by FONDECYT Grant N° 11150275 from the Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (CONICYT). L.D.F. is funded by ANID (FONDECYT 11170927). We are very grateful to the reviewers and Dr Stephan Glatzel for their constructive suggestions.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Measurement of the Zγ production cross section in pp collisions at 8 TeV and search for anomalous triple gauge boson couplings

Open Access, Copyright CERN, for the benefit of the CMS Collaboration. Article funded by SCOAP3.Abstract: The cross section for the production of Zγ in proton-proton collisions at 8 TeV is measured based on data collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.5 fb−1. Events with an oppositely-charged pair of muons or electrons together with an isolated photon are selected. The differential cross section as a function of the photon transverse momentum is measured inclusively and exclusively, where the exclusive selection applies a veto on central jets. The observed cross sections are compatible with the expectations of next-to-next-to-leading-order quantum chromodynamics. Limits on anomalous triple gauge couplings of ZZγ and Zγγ are set that improve on previous experimental results obtained with the charged lepton decay modes of the Z boson

Global urban environmental change drives adaptation in white clover

Urbanization transforms environments in ways that alter biological evolution. We examined whether urban environmental change drives parallel evolution by sampling 110,019 white clover plants from 6169 populations in 160 cities globally. Plants were assayed for a Mendelian antiherbivore defense that also affects tolerance to abiotic stressors. Urban-rural gradients were associated with the evolution of clines in defense in 47% of cities throughout the world. Variation in the strength of clines was explained by environmental changes in drought stress and vegetation cover that varied among cities. Sequencing 2074 genomes from 26 cities revealed that the evolution of urban-rural clines was best explained by adaptive evolution, but the degree of parallel adaptation varied among cities. Our results demonstrate that urbanization leads to adaptation at a global scale

Search for lepton-flavour-violating decays of the Higgs boson

Peer reviewe

Search for neutral resonances decaying into a Z boson and a pair of b jets or tau leptons

Peer reviewe

DATA.xlsx

Intrinsic and Extrinsic Variables data set of endemic neotropical birds, composed by body size, maximum clutch size, distribution range, diet, habitat and foraging breadths, natural proportion, Night light, Human Population and Human FootPrint

Seasonal Variations in the Lipid Profile of the Ovarian Follicle in Italian Mediterranean Buffaloes

The reduced oocyte competence recorded during the non-breading season (NBS) is one of the key factors affecting the profitability of buffalo farming and limits the IVEP efficiency. The purpose of this experiment was to evaluate whether season influences the lipid content within the ovarian follicle in the Italian Mediterranean buffalo. Abattoir-derived ovaries were collected during the breeding season (BS) and the NBS, and different matrices (follicular fluid, oocytes, cumulus and follicular cells) were recovered. After the extraction of the apolar fraction, all samples were analyzed by H1 nuclear magnetic resonance and FF samples by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Seasonal differences in lipid composition were observed in all matrices. In particular, during the NBS, the triglyceride content was higher in the follicular fluid and in the oocytes but reduced in the follicular cells. Both cholesterol and phospholipids were reduced in the follicular fluid and follicular cells during the NBS. Furthermore, the total amount of non-esterified fatty acids was significantly increased in the follicular fluid. The seasonal variation in lipid profile of the follicle may, in part, account for the reduced buffalo oocyte competence during the NBS, due to the critical role played by lipids in regulating ovarian functions

Declive y muerte de los frailejones en los ecosistemas alpinos de los Andes del Norte: Modelo Conceptual

Los ecosistemas alpinos en el trópico son islas en las alturas, ambientes sin continuidad espacial ubicados a altitudes de más de 3000 - 5000 msnm, entre la línea de bosque y la línea de nieves perpetuas. Los ecosistemas alpinos tropicales de mayor extensión y riqueza se encuentran distribuidos en las regiones montañosas ecuatoriales de Sudamérica, África Oriental y Nueva Guinea. Estos ecosistemas son dominados en cada continente por plantas de rosetas gigantes de varias especies vegetales no relacionadas filogenéticamente. Esta extraña arquitectura vegetal es el resultado de la adaptación al proceso diario de congelamiento y descongelamiento que ocurre en los hábitats alpinos tropicales y que ha resultado en convergencia evolutiva. En los Andes, estos ecosistemas han recibido el nombre de páramos y están dominados por rosetas gigantes del género Espeletia. En la última década se han reportado multiples problemas fitosanitarios para especies de este. Este trabajo desarrolla un modelo conceptual que recolecta, organiza y combina el conocimiento (conceptos e hipótesis propuestas por varios grupos de investigación) relacionado con la muerte y declive de los frailejones en las ecosistemas alpinos tropicales de los Andes del Norte. Este análisis permite identificar las brechas de conocimiento actuales para este problema, las hipótesis propuestas para explicarlo y un marco conceptual para el desarrollo de las estrategias futuras de monitoreo y manejo de estas afectaciones. Este trabajo ha encontrado que los trabajos que han intentado explicar las afectaciones observadas en el género Espeletia, son acciones aisladas para describir y relacionar los síntomas de herbivoría, daño foliar y muerte en pie; y recomienda que estas observaciones deben ser explicadas en un marco más amplio que permita establecer su rol en el declive y muerte de los frailejones. Adicionalmente, estas infestaciones de plagas y enfermedades deben ser consideradas en los modelos de predicción de desplazamiento que sufrirán las poblaciones de Espeletia como resultado del cambio global. Estas interacciones pueden exacerbar el efecto del cambio climático e incrementar los riesgos de reducción de la población y extinción