Indenopyridine hydrochloride induced testicular spermatogenesis failure with high seminal alkaline phosphatase levels in male dog

Indenopyridine hydrochloride (IH), an antispermatogenic agent, was tested to determine the testicular pathological changes, seminal spermatozoa concentrations and seminal plasma alkaline phosphatase levels in male dogs. A single oral dosage of 30 mg IH/kg BW induced the dissociation and premature release of germ cells into the lumens of seminiferous tubules. Ring-shaped spermatid nuclei, nuclear pykonosis of spermatocytes and multinucleated cell associations were also observed. Thereafter, the spermatogenic index (SI) significantly decreased one day after IH administration. Moreover, seminal spermatozoa concentrations decreased two weeks after drug treatment; and there was a statistically significant difference in spermatozoa production inhibited by IH compared to the control. Reversible spermatogenesis was noted 7 weeks after IH treatment in male dogs. Meanwhile, seminal plasma alkaline phosphatase levels also significantly increased two weeks after IH treatment. These data confirm that IH might induce a two-month inhibition of spermatogenesis in male dogs

Modelling human choices: MADeM and decision‑making

Research supported by FAPESP 2015/50122-0 and DFG-GRTK 1740/2. RP and AR are also part of the Research, Innovation and Dissemination Center for Neuromathematics FAPESP grant (2013/07699-0). RP is supported by a FAPESP scholarship (2013/25667-8). ACR is partially supported by a CNPq fellowship (grant 306251/2014-0)

Residue analysis of fungicide boscalid in cucumbers following applications of boscalid 50% water dispersible granule

This study determined the residue of fungicide boscalid in/on cucumbers following three applications of boscalid 50% water dispersible granule (WG). The fungicide was applied to cucumbers at two rates, 0.5 and 0.83 kg a.i./ha. Samples were collected at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 12, 15, 19, and 21 d after the last application. The sample was extracted with methanol/H2O/(2) N HCl (70:25:5, v/v) and n-hexane and subject to GC analysis. Residues of boscalid were determined by GC/mu-ECD with DB-5 capillary column. Recoveries of boscalid in/on cucumbers ranged from 86.0 to 103.6% and the relative standard deviation (RSD) ranged from 1.2 to 4.8%. The limit of quantification was 0.01 mu g/mL (S/N>10). This analytical method was applied to study the dissipation of boscalid in/on cucumbers. The results indicated that the residues of boscalid were declined in/on cucumbers with time. Only 5 and 17% of the initial deposits were found in/on the cucumbers 6 d after the last application at the low and high dose, respectively

Cloning and expression of the Erwinia carotovora subsp carotovora gene encoding the low-molecular-weight bacteriocin carocin S1

The purpose of this study was to clone the carocin S1 gene and express it in a non-carocin-producing strain of Erwinia carotovora. A mutant, TH22-10, which produced a high-molecular-weight bacteriocin but not a low-molecular-weight bacteriocin, was obtained by Tn5 insertional mutagenesis using H-rif-8-2 (a spontaneous rifampin-resistant mutant of Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora 89-H-4). Using thermal asymmetric interlaced PCR, the DNA sequence from the Tn5 insertion site and the DNA sequence of the contiguous 2,280-bp region were determined. Two complete open reading frames (ORF), designated ORF2 and ORF3, were identified within the sequence fragment. ORF2 and ORF3 were identified with the carocin S1 genes, caroS1K (ORF2) and caroS1I (ORF3), which, respectively, encode a killing protein (CaroS1K) and an immunity protein (CaroS1I). These genes were homologous to the pyocin S3 gene and the pyocin AP41 gene. Carocin S1 was expressed in E. carotovora subsp. carotovora Ea1068 and replicated in TH22-10 but could not be expressed in Escherichia coli (JM101) because a consensus sequence resembling an SOS box was absent. A putative sequence similar to the consensus sequence for the E. coli cyclic AMP receptor protein binding site (-312 bp) was found upstream of the start codon. Production of this bacteriocin was also induced by glucose and lactose. The homology search results indicated that the carocin S1 gene (between bp 1078 and bp 1704) was homologous to the pyocin S3 and pyocin AP41 genes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These genes encode proteins with nuclease activity (domain 4). This study found that carocin S1 also has nuclease activity

Partipatory research on the effectiveness of drainage in the Red River Delta, Vietnam

The irrigation and drainage systems in the Red River Delta in Vietnam were designed and constructed in the 1950s and 60s. These systems are well established and provide water to virtually all of the irrigable land in the Delta. The land is cropped intensively: on average just over two crops a year. The irrigation and drainage systems are complex: dual purpose channels and pumping stations are used. In the 1990s, the systems were rehabilitated and upgraded. A review showed that irrigation projects performed reasonably well, but the two core drainage projects performed less than anticipated. In the Red River Delta, with its low elevations, drainage rather than irrigation is often the limiting factor affecting agricultural production. To investigate these constraints in more detail, a participatory research study on the effectiveness of drainage was conducted in two drainage areas in the Red River Delta. The study started with a participatory pre-investigation to identify and quantify the constraints in the functioning of the drainage systems. Next, the drainage system was modelled and computer simulations were used to develop conceptual designs to improve the functioning of the systems. Finally, recommendations to improve the institutional capacity of the drainage system management were formulated, again in close cooperation with the stakeholders. These recommendations cover a whole range of technical issues: small-scale improvements in the farmers¿ fields, modifications in the main and secondary drainage systems, including the control structures, up to recommendations to increase the efficiency of the pumping stations. Next to these technical innovations, recommendations to reform the complex institutional setting have been formulate

PIAS4 is an activator of hypoxia signalling via VHL suppression during growth of pancreatic cancer cells

10.1038/bjc.2013.531British Journal of Cancer10971795-1804BJCA