In vitro and in vivo assessment of skim milk with and without egg yolk on canine spermatozoa incubated at 4ºC

The aims of this study were to assess and compare the effect of skim milk with (MEY) and without (SMI) egg yolk on canine spermatozoa incubated at 4ºC in vitro and to evaluate the efficacy of MEY in vivo. Also, the effect of semen cooled storage before freezing was also evaluated in vitro. The ejaculates of 10 dogs were collected, pooled, centrifuged, and divided into 4 aliquots and diluted in one of the following 4 diluents: Prostatic fluid (PRO), commercial diluent (COM), SMI, or MEY. Extended samples were stored at 4°C and evaluated daily for 6 days. Percentage of total (P 0.1) bitches from each group became pregnant and whelped normally. MEY extended semen samples were cooled for 2, 24, or 48 h at 4°C, and a second dilution was performed prior to freezing and thawing. Post-thaw total and forward sperm motility decreased with increasing cooled storage (P < 0.05), although no significant differences in total or forward motility, normal acrosomes, positive endosmosis, live spermatozoa, or positive endosmosis were found between 2 and 24 h storage. These in vitro and in vivo results show that MEY can be considered a simple, inexpensive, and efficient diluent for canine semen chilling. Furthermore, MEY could be successfully frozen after 1 day of cooled storage.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

In vitro and in vivo assessment of skim milk with and without egg yolk on canine spermatozoa incubated at 4ºC

The aims of this study were to assess and compare the effect of skim milk with (MEY) and without (SMI) egg yolk on canine spermatozoa incubated at 4ºC in vitro and to evaluate the efficacy of MEY in vivo. Also, the effect of semen cooled storage before freezing was also evaluated in vitro. The ejaculates of 10 dogs were collected, pooled, centrifuged, and divided into 4 aliquots and diluted in one of the following 4 diluents: Prostatic fluid (PRO), commercial diluent (COM), SMI, or MEY. Extended samples were stored at 4°C and evaluated daily for 6 days. Percentage of total (P 0.1) bitches from each group became pregnant and whelped normally. MEY extended semen samples were cooled for 2, 24, or 48 h at 4°C, and a second dilution was performed prior to freezing and thawing. Post-thaw total and forward sperm motility decreased with increasing cooled storage (P < 0.05), although no significant differences in total or forward motility, normal acrosomes, positive endosmosis, live spermatozoa, or positive endosmosis were found between 2 and 24 h storage. These in vitro and in vivo results show that MEY can be considered a simple, inexpensive, and efficient diluent for canine semen chilling. Furthermore, MEY could be successfully frozen after 1 day of cooled storage.Fil: Díaz, Jorge Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Corrada, Yanina Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Blanco, Paula Graciela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Gobello, María Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentin

In vitro and in vivo assessment of skim milk with and without egg yolk on canine spermatozoa incubated at 4ºC

The aims of this study were to assess and compare the effect of skim milk with (MEY) and without (SMI) egg yolk on canine spermatozoa incubated at 4ºC in vitro and to evaluate the efficacy of MEY in vivo. Also, the effect of semen cooled storage before freezing was also evaluated in vitro. The ejaculates of 10 dogs were collected, pooled, centrifuged, and divided into 4 aliquots and diluted in one of the following 4 diluents: Prostatic fluid (PRO), commercial diluent (COM), SMI, or MEY. Extended samples were stored at 4°C and evaluated daily for 6 days. Percentage of total (P 0.1) bitches from each group became pregnant and whelped normally. MEY extended semen samples were cooled for 2, 24, or 48 h at 4°C, and a second dilution was performed prior to freezing and thawing. Post-thaw total and forward sperm motility decreased with increasing cooled storage (P < 0.05), although no significant differences in total or forward motility, normal acrosomes, positive endosmosis, live spermatozoa, or positive endosmosis were found between 2 and 24 h storage. These in vitro and in vivo results show that MEY can be considered a simple, inexpensive, and efficient diluent for canine semen chilling. Furthermore, MEY could be successfully frozen after 1 day of cooled storage.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Decreased circulating Fas ligand in patients with familial combined hyperlipidemia or carotid atherosclerosis Normalization by atorvastatin

AbstractObjectivesWe sought to study whether patients with familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCH) or carotid atherosclerosis have modified circulating solubilized Fas ligand (sFasL) levels, as well as the potential modifications by atorvastatin. We also examined the effect of atorvastatin on FasL expression and sFasL release in cytokine-stimulated cultured human endothelial cells (ECs).BackgroundIn normal situations, FasL is expressed in most cells, including ECs. Proinflammatory stimuli can downregulate its expression in ECs and facilitate the vascular infiltration of inflammatory cells.MethodsWe have measured sFasL plasma levels (by ELISA) in 58 patients with FCH, 14 normocholesterolemic patients with carotid atherosclerosis, and 15 healthy volunteers. We analyzed FasL expression (by Western blot analysis) and sFasL release in cultured ECs stimulated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha.ResultsSolubilized FasL levels were decreased in hyperlipidemic patients (49 pg/ml), as compared with healthy volunteers (123 pg/ml, p < 0.0001). Patients were randomized to atorvastatin (n = 28) or bezafibrate (n = 30) during 12 months. Atorvastatin treatment increased sFasL concentrations (111 pg/ml, p < 0.0001), reaching normal values. However, treatment with bezafibrate only marginally affected sFasL (85 pg/ml, p < 0.05). Solubilized FasL was also diminished in patients with carotid atherosclerosis (39 pg/ml), and intensive treatment with atorvastatin normalized sFasL levels (90 pg/ml, p = 0.02). Finally, atorvastatin prevented the diminution of FasL expression and sFasL release elicited by TNF-alpha in cultured ECs.ConclusionsPatients with FCH or carotid atherosclerosis have decreased circulating sFasL levels, probably indicating endothelial dysfunction, but treatment with atorvastatin restored normal blood levels. These data provide a novel effect of atorvastatin and add support for the well-known anti-inflammatory properties of statins

Graphene grown on transition metal substrates: Versatile templates for organic molecules with new properties and structures

The interest in graphene (a carbon monolayer) adsorbed on metal surfaces goes back to the 60’s, long before isolated graphene was produced in the laboratory. Owing to the carbon-metal interaction and the lattice mismatch between the carbon monolayer and the metal surface, graphene usually adopts a rippled structure, known as moir´e, that confers it interesting electronic properties not present in isolated graphene. These moir´e structures can be used as versatile templates where to adsorb, isolate and assemble organic-molecule structures with some desired geometric and electronic properties. In this review, we first describe the main experimental techniques and the theoretical methods currently available to produce and characterize these complex systems. Then, we review the diversity of moir´e structures that have been reported in the literature and the consequences for the electronic properties of graphene, attending to the magnitude of the lattice mismatch and the type of interaction, chemical or physical, between graphene and the metal surface. Subsequently, we address the problem of the adsorption of single organic molecules and then of several ones, from dimers to complete monolayers, describing both the different arrangements that these molecules can adopt as well as their physical and chemical properties. We pay a special attention to graphene/Ru(0001) due to its exceptional electronic properties, which have been used to induce long-range magnetic order in tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) monolayers, to catalyze the (reversible) reaction between acetonitrile and TCNQ molecules and to efficiently photogenerate large acenes

Las destrezas argumentativas en la evolución de modelos en una actividad de geología

Este artículo presenta un análisis sobre cómo las destrezas argumentativas intervienen en el proceso de modelización. Para ello se hace una revisión de la literatura sobre los trabajos en los que se analizan las interacciones entre ambas prácticas científicas, lo cual establece un marco para fundamentar el objetivo de investigación: examinar cómo evolucionan los modelos de los estudiantes en el proceso de elaboración y evaluación de los mismos a través de las destrezas argumentativas. El estudio se llevó a cabo con alumnado de 1º de bachillerato que cursaba Biología y Geología (16-17 años), quienes tenían que explicar de forma científica cómo se formó el pliegue sinclinal de O Courel (Lugo, España). Los resultados muestran que las destrezas argumentativas con mayor implicación en la evolución de los modelos son la contraargumentación y, sobre todo, la refutación. Para favorecerlo es necesario que en el diseño de actividades de modelización se incluyan aspectos que favorezcan el desempeño conjunto de las dos prácticas científicas, aportando datos para evaluar los modelos y favorecer la crítica y el intento de persuasión entre compañeros, lo cual enriquecerá las destrezas argumentativas.This article presents an analysis about how argumentative skills take part in the modelling process. To do this, a literature review about previous studies that analyse the interactions between both scientific practices was done, which establishes a framework to support the research objective: to examine how students' models evolve in the process of elaboration and evaluation of them through the argumentative skills. The study was carried out with students from the nine grade of high school studying Biology and Geology (16-17 years old), who had to explain scientifically how the O Courel syncline (Lugo, Spain) was formed. The results show that the argumentative skills with greater implication for the evolution of the models are counter-argumentation and, above all, refutation. To achieve this it is necessary that the design of modelling activities includes aspects that favor the performance of the two scientific practices together, such as providing data to evaluate the models and favor the criticism attempt to persuade among classmates, which enrich the argumentative skills

Urban Sustainability: Innovative Spaces, Vulnerabilities and Opportunities

[Abstract] The need to promote a debate among researchers from active research networks in IAPS is at the origin of this book on “Urban sustainability: Innovative spaces, vulnerabilities and opportunities”. This book is the reflection of a growing tradition of tackling issues that are central to social and political efforts to solve pressing societal and environmental problems in evermore intricate contexts of resource scarcity, growing population and urbanization, social inequality and rising emissions. Promoting research and creating the conditions for lively and effective scientific debate has been part of the mission of IAPS since its beginnings. The growing effervescence of content network is reflected in a rising number of scientific events and interesting publications, such as the book you now have in your hands. In this introduction, we will gloss over the reasons that lie behind the choice of theme, which is likely to underlie the discussions and debates throughout the next years, all over the world. The theme we have selected, and reflected in the title, makes reference to a recurring concept that is ever-present in today’s society: sustainabilit