On the Diameter and Girth of an Annihilating-Ideal Graph

Let $R$ be a commutative ring with $1\neq 0$ and $\Bbb{A}(R)$ be the set of ideals with nonzero annihilators. The annihilating-ideal graph of $R$ is defined as the graph $\Bbb{AG}(R)$ with the vertex set $\Bbb{A}(R)^{*} = \Bbb{A}(R)\setminus \{(0)\}$ and two distinct vertices $I$ and $J$ are adjacent if and only if $IJ = (0)$. In this paper, we first study the interplay between the diameter of annihilating-ideal graphs and zero-divisor graphs. Also, we characterize rings $R$ when ${\rm gr}(\Bbb{AG}(R))\geq 4$, and so we characterize rings whose annihilating-ideal graphs are bipartite. Finally, in the last section we discuss on a relation between the Smarandache vertices and diameter of $\Bbb {AG}(R)$.Comment: 11 pages, 1 figur

Comparative maturation of cynomolgus monkey oocytes in vivo and in vitro

BACKGROUND: In vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes followed by fertilization in vitro (IVF) and embryo transfer offers an alternative to conventional IVF treatment that minimises drug administration and avoids ovarian hyperstimulation. However, the technique is less efficient than maturation in vivo. In the present study, a non-human primate model was used to address the hypothesis that the number of oocytes is increased and their nuclear and cytoplasmic maturity after IVM are improved when maturation is initiated in vivo by priming with hCG. METHODS: Young, adult cynomolgus monkeys were given recombinant human (rh) gonadotropins to stimulate the development of multiple follicles, and oocytes were aspirated 0, 12, 24, or 36 h after injection of an ovulatory dose of rhCG. The nuclear status of oocytes was determined at the time of recovery and after culture for a total elapsed time of 40–44 hours after hCG. RESULTS: Priming with hCG significantly increased the number of oocytes harvested, especially after delaying aspiration for 24 h or longer. Nuclear maturation after the full period in culture was also enhanced by priming: 71.5, 83.6, and 94.6% of oocytes collected at 0, 12, and 24 h hCG had progressed to MII by the end of the culture period, compared to 87.8% of oocytes that were retrieved at 36 h. A large proportion of oocytes reaching the MII stage had either or both abnormal spindles (>40%) and misaligned chromosomes (>60%), judging by immunofluorescence microscopy, but these abnormalities were independent of culture time. The mitochondria were evenly distributed throughout the cytoplasm at all stages of maturation. Importantly, there was no microscopic evidence that the duration of culture had any injurious effects on the cells. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the evidence supports this non-human primate as a model for human IVM and the practice of priming with hCG to promote developmental potential

Mating skew in Barbary macaque males: the role of female mating synchrony, female behavior, and male–male coalitions

A fundamental question of sexual selection theory concerns the causes and consequences of reproductive skew among males. The priority of access (PoA) model (Altmann, Ann NY Acad Sci 102:338–435, 1962) has been the most influential framework in primates living in permanent, mixed-sex groups, but to date it has only been tested with the appropriate data on female synchrony in a handful of species. In this paper, we used mating data from one large semi-free ranging group of Barbary macaques: (1) to provide the first test of the priority-of-access model in this species, using mating data from 11 sexually active females (including six females that were implanted with a hormonal contraceptive but who showed levels of sexual activity comparable to those of naturally cycling females) and (2) to determine the proximate mechanism(s) underlying male mating skew. Our results show that the fit of the observed distribution of matings with sexually attractive females to predictions of the PoA model was poor, with lower-ranking males mating more than expected. While our work confirms that female mating synchrony sets an upper limit to monopolization by high-ranking individuals, other factors are also important. Coalitionary activity was the main tactic used by males to lower mating skew in the study group. Coalitions were expressed in a strongly age-related fashion and allowed subordinate, post-prime males to increase their mating success by targeting more dominant, prime males. Conversely, females, while mating promiscuously with several males during a given mating cycle, were more likely to initiate their consortships with prime males, thus reducing the overall effectiveness of coalitions. We conclude that high-ranking Barbary macaque males have a limited ability to monopolize mating access, leading to a modest mating skew among them

Sex-specific reproductive behaviours and paternity in free-ranging Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus)

In a wide variety of species, male reproductive success is determined by contest for access to females. Among multi-male primate groups, however, factors in addition to male competitive ability may also influence paternity outcome, although their exact nature and force is still largely unclear. Here, we have investigated in a group of free-ranging Barbary macaques whether paternity is determined on the pre- or postcopulatory level and how male competitive ability and female direct mate choice during the female fertile phase are related to male reproductive success. Behavioural observations were combined with faecal hormone analysis for timing of the fertile phase (13 cycles, 8 females) and genetic paternity analysis (n = 12). During the fertile phase, complete monopolisation of females did not occur. Females were consorted for only 49% of observation time, and all females had ejaculatory copulations with several males. Thus, in all cases, paternity was determined on the postcopulatory level. More than 80% of infants were sired by high-ranking males, and this reproductive skew was related to both, male competitive ability and female direct mate choice as high-ranking males spent more time in consort with females than low-ranking males, and females solicited copulations mainly from dominant males. As most ejaculatory copulations were female-initiated, female direct mate choice appeared to have the highest impact on male reproductive success. However, female preference was not directly translated into paternity, as fathers were not preferred over non-fathers in terms of solicitation, consortship and mating behaviour. Collectively, our data show that in the Barbary macaque, both sexes significantly influence male mating success, but that sperm of several males generally compete within the female reproductive tract and that therefore paternity is determined by mechanisms operating at the postcopulatory level

Superovulation in goats during the second follicular wave, with or without exogenous progesterone

The objective of this study was to evaluate a protocol for superovulation in goats designed to use the animals\u27 endogenous progesterone production, compared to a common protocol that utilized exogenous progesterone. The numbers of non-ovulated follicles, ova ovulated, and ova collected for each protocol were compared. In addition, the effect on these parameters of the day of first FSH administration, relative to the second follicular wave was investigated in the endogenous progesterone group. Forty alpine goats were divided into two groups. The +CIDR group (n=20) received PGF 2α 7 days prior to CIDR ® insertion (CIDR insertion=day 0). The CIDR ® was inserted for 14 days, and during this period PGF 2α was injected on day 7 and FSH given in 8 equal doses over 4 days, starting on day 12. For the -CIDR group (n=20), estrus was checked daily after an initial dose of PGF 2α to allotted females that were approximately 7 days (range: 6-9 days) from estrus, when the first dose of FSH was administered. FSH (8 equal doses over 4 days) was administered, and PGF 2α given on the second day of FSH administration. In both groups GnRH was given approximately 15-17h after the last dose of FSH and surgery to collect early ova was performed 27-30h later, to evaluate the superovulatory response. No significant differences in the mean numbers of non-ovulated follicles (+CIDR: 5.4±0.8, -CIDR: 5.6±1.0) and ovulation points (+CIDR: 13.8±1.0, -CIDR: 13.7±1.4) per doe were observed, nor in the total number of ova collected per female (+CIDR: 9.6±1.2, -CIDR: 9.3±1.4). In addition, no relationship of these parameters with the day of initial FSH administration in the -CIDR group was found. In conclusion, it was shown that if the time of estrus can be identified, superovulation can be reliably produced in goats, without the need for an exogenous source of progesterone. © 2011 Elsevier B.V

The effect of Valerian root extract on the severity of pre menstrual syndrome symptoms

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a common disorder. Due to the knowledge lack of the precise etiology of this syndrome, different treatment methods are recommended, one of them is the use of medicinal herbs. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Valerian (�� xié c�o) root extract on the intensity of PMS symptoms. In this double-blind clinical trial, 100 female students of Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon Branch, Mazandaran Province, Iran, with PMS were randomly divided into groups receiving Valerian (scientific name: Valeriana officinalis) and placebo in 2013. The participants received 2 pills daily in the last seven days of their menstrual cycle for 3 cycles and recorded their symptoms. The data collection tools included demographic information questionnaire, daily symptom severity questionnaire, and a provisional diagnosis of premenstrual syndrome questionnaire. Data were compared previous, one, two, and three cycles after student's intervention using and analyzed by independent t-test, paired t-test, chi-squared test, and repeated measures ANOVA in SPSS 16. A significant difference was seen in mean emotional, behavioral and physical premenstrual symptom severity in the intervention group before and after the intervention (P < 0.001). However, this difference was not statistically significant in the control group. The results of this study showed that Valerian root extract may reduce emotional, physical, and behavioral symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. © 2015 Center for Food and Biomolecules, National Taiwan Universit

Female Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus) copulation calls do not reveal the fertile phase but influence mating outcome

In a number of primate species, females utter loud and distinctive calls during mating. Here we aim to clarify the information content and function of Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus) copulation calls by testing (i) whether or not copulation calls advertise the female fertile phase and (ii) whether and how copulation calls influence male ejaculatory behaviour. In order to do this, we combined hormone measurements with acoustic analysis and behavioural observations. In contrast to a previous study implying that the structure of copulation calls indicates the timing of the fertile phase, our results, using objective endocrine criteria for assessing ovulation, provide evidence that the structure of copulation calls of female Barbary macaques does not reveal the timing of the fertile phase. More importantly, females seem to influence the likelihood of ejaculation by calling versus remaining silent and by adjusting the timing of call onset. Females make use of this ability to influence mating outcome to ensure ejaculatory matings with almost all males in the group. In addition, calls given during ejaculatory copulations differ from those during non-ejaculatory copulations, providing information about mating outcome for listeners. We conclude that in this species, copulation calls apparently serve to enhance sperm competition and maximize paternity confusion