Factors associated with uterine functions in the mare

Delayed uterine clearance is the most common cause of subfertility in the mare. Previous studies have shown that mares that accumulate intrauterine fluid have impaired myometrial activity. Uterine contractility is a complex mechanism controlled by coordination of myogenic, neurogenic and hormonal factors. Despite the importance of the nervous system in controlling uterine contractility, there have been no studies on uterine innervation in the mare. Furthermore, there have been no detailed information on oxytocin release in mares during oestrus, the time when the uterus is challenged by breeding. The aims of this study were to investigate the factors which are associated with uterine contractility in mares. This study was designed to describe uterine innervation, to identify the presence and location of oxytocin in the equine endometrium, and to measure circulating concentrations of oxytocin around oestrus and after ovulation. The uterus of the mare was well supplied by a variety of nerve fibres. Using general neuronal marker, PAN-N and PGP 9.5, it showed a general view of equine uterine innervation. Within the regions of the uterus, nerve density score for both PGP-immunoreactive (IR) and PAN-N-IR was greatest in the myometrium. There were no marked differences between the supply to uterine horn or body, but nerve density was significantly greater (P<0.05) in the cervix. The nerve supply was predominantly adrenergic and was distributed throughout all regions of the uterus. With adrenergic nerves, the density score was the greatest in the myometrium within the structure and in the cervix within the regions. Peptidergic nerves were also seen and were slightly denser in the cervix than in the uterine horn or uterine body. Among the peptidergic nerves, neuropeptide Y was the most abundant, whereas vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and calcitonin gene-related peptide were less frequent. Substance P was rarely observed. The presence of oxytocin and neurophysin in the uterus was demonstrated using immunohistochemistry. Ultrastructural studies showed that these hormones were stored in the secretory vesicles of the luminal secretory cells and the secretory cells in the superficial endometrial glands. Ciliated cells in the luminal epithelium and endometrial glands did not show any positive staining for either oxytocin or neurophysin. Mean plasma oxytocin concentrations in genitally-normal mares (n=5) were significantly higher (P<0.02) in oestrus (day -5 to day -2) than the day of ovulation (day 0). On the day 1 post ovulation, mean plasma oxytocin concentrations were the lowest level. Plasma oxytocin concentrations in day 2 oestrus were significantly higher (P<0.01) in genitally-normal mares (n=5) than in mares with delayed uterine clearance (n=5). This study has provided fundamental information on factors associated with uterine contractile function. This information will be used in further studies to investigate mares with dysfunction in uterine contractility. Uterine innervation is a main key function to regulate myometrial contractility and is coordinated by hormones such as sex steroid hormones, oxytocin and PGF₂α- Studies are now needed to investigate further differences in uterine innervation, the distribution of α and ß adrenergic receptors, uterine oxytocin and oxytocin receptors in mares between genitally-normal mares and mares with delayed uterine clearance

Lay-Leadership: How to Develop Lay Leaders in a Local Church with Special Reference to the Hyesung Presbyterian Church in South Korea

This thesis is designed to help church leaders establish a lay leadership development process in a local church, especially in a Korean church with a size between 300 and 1,000 church members. In the first part, the fundamental knowledge of leadership is described, including the characteristics of leadership concerning lay leadership development, the reasons why a local church should develop lay leaders, and what the leaders should develop through the process. In the second part, a lay leadership development process and how to establish it in a local church is described. In the third part, Hyesung Church\u27s leadership development process is described and evaluated based on what is established in this thesis. This thesis concludes with recommendations of seven principles (7 Ps) which a local church needs to keep remembering while the church develops the process: Purpose, Philosophy, People, Process, Practice, Progression, and Persistence

Commutative Energetic Subsets of BCK-Algebras

The notions of a C-energetic subset and (anti) permeable C-value in BCK-algebras are introduced, and related properties are investigated. Conditions for an element t in [0, 1] to be an (anti) permeable C-value are provided. Also conditions for a subset to be a C-energetic subset are discussed. We decompose BCK-algebra by a partition which consists of a C-energetic subset and a commutative ideal

Draft Genome Sequence of Fructophilic Lactobacillus florum.

Herein we report the first genome sequence for Lactobacillus florum. L. florum 2F was isolated from Valencia orange leaves and is fructophilic, like other strains of this species. The draft genome of L. florum 2F contains 1,261,842 bp with a G+C content of 41.5% in 46 contigs (≥500 bp)

ASMPKS: an analysis system for modular polyketide synthases

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Polyketides are secondary metabolites of microorganisms with diverse biological activities, including pharmacological functions such as antibiotic, antitumor and agrochemical properties. Polyketides are synthesized by serialized reactions of a set of enzymes called polyketide synthase(PKS)s, which coordinate the elongation of carbon skeletons by the stepwise condensation of short carbon precursors. Due to their importance as drugs, the volume of data on polyketides is rapidly increasing and creating a need for computational analysis methods for efficient polyketide research. Moreover, the increasing use of genetic engineering to research new kinds of polyketides requires genome wide analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We describe a system named ASMPKS (Analysis System for Modular Polyketide Synthesis) for computational analysis of PKSs against genome sequences. It also provides overall management of information on modular PKS, including polyketide database construction, new PKS assembly, and chain visualization. ASMPKS operates on a web interface to construct the database and to analyze PKSs, allowing polyketide researchers to add their data to this database and to use it easily. In addition, the ASMPKS can predict functional modules for a protein sequence submitted by users, estimate the chemical composition of a polyketide synthesized from the modules, and display the carbon chain structure on the web interface.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>ASMPKS has powerful computation features to aid modular PKS research. As various factors, such as starter units and post-processing, are related to polyketide biosynthesis, ASMPKS will be improved through further development for study of the factors.</p