The influence of zinc-methionine bioplex supplementation to pregnant and lactating sheep on selected wool parameters

The most important nutrients affecting wool production include sulfur amino acids, such as methionine, and minerals, such as zinc, and their deficiency may cause wool production decrease. The aim of this study was to evaluate an effect of zinc and methionine chelate addition on the qualitative characteristics of Merino ewes wool and zinc content in wool fibers and on their surface. Histological evaluation of fibers was also performed. The study included 22 Polish Merino ewes divided into two groups: control and experimental (0.4&thinsp;g chelates daily per head). The experiment lasted for 4 months (3.5 months of pregnancy and 2 weeks of early lactation). The length, thickness and breaking force of wool fibers were higher in the experimental group compared to the control group. Higher content of zinc in wool of sheep from the experimental group was also demonstrated. The histological structure of fibers from both groups did not differ, as the content of zinc on their surface. It can be concluded on the basis of the obtained results that the addition of chelates favorably influenced the thickness compensation of wool fibers and amount of wool obtained from sheep during pregnancy and early lactation, as well as mechanical features of wool.</p

Character association and path analysis in kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum L.) with relation to yield and its attributing traits

Kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum L.) is an important nutri-cereal. Gujarat, a Western state in India with favorable edapho-climatic factors may contribute in augmenting kodo millet production if suitable crop improvement programme is implemented. Study of character association reveals important yield component traits which could be selected for overall yield enhancement hence in development of better genotypes. In the present investigation, 49 genotypes of kodo millet were evaluated during kharif 2021 for 19 quantitative traits with an aim to identify important yield components. Genotypic (rg) and phenotypic correlation (rp) coefficients were estimated followed by path coefficient analysis. The study revealed that direct selection based on harvest index and fodder yield per plant may help in augmenting grain yield as the traits had strongest positive association and maximum direct effect on grain yield per plant. Crude protein content (%) and plant height appeared to be most important characters for indirect selection

Study on character association and path analysis in little millet (Panicum sumatrense L.)

Little millet (Panicum sumatrense L.) is one of the neglected crops which is becoming popular as nutri-cereal. Development of high yielding stable cultivars may offer better economic return from this crop. Assessment of interrelationship among important economic traits helps to identify major yield component traits which could be selected for overall yield improvement hence development of superior genotypes. In this context, 50 genotypes of little millet were evaluated during kharif 2021, to identify important yield component traits through correlation and path analysis of 16 quantitative traits. Estimates of genotypic correlation coefficients were found to be higher than the estimates of phenotypic correlation coefficients, indicating that association were majorly under genetic control. It was revealed that direct selection based on fodder yield per plant, plant height and 1000 seed weight may help in augmenting grain yield in the experimental material, whereas, harvest index came out as the most important character for indirect selection

Polymorphism of viral dsRNA in Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous strains isolated from different geographic areas

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Strains of the astaxanthin producing yeast <it>Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous </it>have been isolated from different cold regions around the earth, and the presence of double stranded RNA (dsRNA) elements was described in some isolates. This kind of viruses is widely distributed among yeasts and filamentous fungi and, although generally are cryptic in function, their studies have been a key factor in the knowledge of important fungi. In this work, the characterization and genetic relationships among dsRNA elements were determined in strains representatives of almost all regions of the earth where <it>X. dendrorhous </it>have been isolated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Almost all strains of <it>X. dendrorhous </it>analyzed carry one, two or four dsRNA elements, of molecular sizes in the range from 0.8 to 5.0 kb. Different dsRNA-patterns were observed in strains with different geographic origin, being L1 (5.0 kb) the common dsRNA element. By hybridization assays a high genomic polymorphism was observed among L1 dsRNAs of different <it>X. dendrorhous </it>strains. Contrary, hybridization was observed between L1 and L2 dsRNAs of strains from same or different regions, while the dsRNA elements of minor sizes (M, S1, and S2) present in several strains did not show hybridization with neither L1 or L2 dsRNAs. Along the growth curve of UCD 67-385 (harboring four dsRNAs) an increase of L2 relative to L1 dsRNA was observed, whiles the S1/L1 ratio remains constant, as well as the M/L1 ratio of Patagonian strain. Strains cured of S2 dsRNA were obtained by treatment with anisomycin, and comparison of its dsRNA contents with uncured strain, revealed an increase of L1 dsRNA while the L2 and S1 dsRNA remain unaltered.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The dsRNA elements of <it>X. dendrorhous </it>are highly variable in size and sequence, and the dsRNA pattern is specific to the geographic region of isolation. Each L1 and L2 dsRNA are viral elements able to self replicate and to coexist into a cell, and L1 and S2 dsRNAs elements could be part of a helper/satellite virus system in <it>X. dendrorhous</it>.</p

An Anillin-Ect2 Complex Stabilizes Central Spindle Microtubules at the Cortex during Cytokinesis

Cytokinesis occurs due to the RhoA-dependent ingression of an actomyosin ring. During anaphase, the Rho GEF (guanine nucleotide exchange factor) Ect2 is recruited to the central spindle via its interaction with MgcRacGAP/Cyk-4, and activates RhoA in the central plane of the cell. Ect2 also localizes to the cortex, where it has access to RhoA. The N-terminus of Ect2 binds to Cyk-4, and the C-terminus contains conserved DH (Dbl homologous) and PH (Pleckstrin Homology) domains with GEF activity. The PH domain is required for Ect2's cortical localization, but its molecular function is not known. In cultured human cells, we found that the PH domain interacts with anillin, a contractile ring protein that scaffolds actin and myosin and interacts with RhoA. The anillin-Ect2 interaction may require Ect2's association with lipids, since a novel mutation in the PH domain, which disrupts phospholipid association, weakens their interaction. An anillin-RacGAP50C (homologue of Cyk-4) complex was previously described in Drosophila, which may crosslink the central spindle to the cortex to stabilize the position of the contractile ring. Our data supports an analogous function for the anillin-Ect2 complex in human cells and one hypothesis is that this complex has functionally replaced the Drosophila anillin-RacGAP50C complex. Complexes between central spindle proteins and cortical proteins could regulate the position of the contractile ring by stabilizing microtubule-cortical interactions at the division plane to ensure the generation of active RhoA in a discrete zone

A DFT and TD-DFT study on intermolecular charge transfer complexes of pyrene with phenothiazine and promazine

The ground state thermodynamic stabilities of intermolecular charge transfer complexes between acceptor molecule pyrene and donor molecules phenothiazine and promazine have been investigated with DFT methods. Their vertical singlet-singlet transitions have been calculated and characterized employing TD-DFT methods, as well. In the ground state, pyrene forms slightly stable intermolecular complexes with phenothiazine and promazine in the gas phase. The phenothiazine-pyrene, [phtz-pyr], and promazine-pyrene, [pmz-pyr], complexes are 3.76 and 2.75 kcal/mol more stable compared to their reactants, respectively. For both of the complexes, the most probable four transitions belong to the local excitations (LE) within donor or acceptor molecules. However, the S0 › S1 transitions with excitation wavelengths of ?448 nm for [phtz-pyr] and ?425 nm for [pmz-pyr] are pure CT transitions between the frontier molecular orbitals of donor and acceptor molecules. The S0 › S2 transitions with an excitation wavelength of ?337 nm for [phtz-pyr] and ?345 nm for [pmz-pyr] are also CT transitions and the charge transfer occurring in the [pmz-pyr] complex is an n › ?* type while the character of CT transition in the [phtz-pyr] complex is purely ? › ?*. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Stability of Endohedral Hydrogen Doped Boron Nitride Nanocages: A Density Functional Theory Study

WOS: 000343955700006In this study, the stabilization energies of the nH(2)@BmNm Complexes (m = 12, 24, 36 48;60) have been determined by exploiting several density functional theory methods, namely B3LYP,PBE1PBE and omega B97X-D. Among these density functional theory methods, omega B97X-D is found to be the most appropriate for the systems involving H-2 doping in boron nitride nanocages; It predicted that the smallest nanocage, has no stable complex and the H-2@B24N24,2H(2)@B36N36, 4H(2)@B48N48 and 7H(2)@B60N60 complexes are the most Stable hydrogen-boron nitride complexes. Accordingly, it is found that the number of hydrogen molecules doped inside the most stable complex of each nanocage quadratically depends on nanocage size. This indicates that as the size of nanocage, as well as, the size of the endohedral cavity increases More stable nH(2)@BmNm Complexes are formed,Scientific Research Projects of Ege UniversityEge University [09/FEN/046]This study is supported Scientific Research Projects of Ege University through the project no 09/FEN/046. The numerical calculations reported in this paper were partially performed at TUBITAK ULAKBIM, High Performance and Grid Computing Center (TRUBA resources)

Possibilities of shaping the wear resistance of the laser boronized surface layers on machine parts produced with steel and cast iron

W artykule przedstawiono znaczenie technik laserowych w kształtowaniu warstw powierzchniowych elementów z żeliwa oraz stali. Laserowe borowanie przeprowadzono z użyciem lasera CO2 o mocy nominalnej 2600W dla ścieżek wielokrotnych. Borowanie laserowe stopów żelaza pozwoliło na uzyskanie mikrotwardości warstwy powierzchniowej w zakresie 1300÷1100 HV0,1. Na podstawie badań tribologicznych oraz pomiarów chropowatości stwierdzono, że borowanie laserowe elementów stalowych i żeliwnych wpływa na wzrost odporności na zużycie przez tarcie.This paper presents the importance of laser techniques in shaping parts of surface layers with cast iron and steel. Laser boronizing was carried out using a CO2 laser with a nominal power of 2600W for multiple tracks. Laser boriding of iron alloys allowed us to obtain a microhardness of the surface layer in the range of 1300 –1100 HV0,1. Based on the tribological research and measurements roughness, it was found that the laser boriding of steel and cast iron parts affects the increase in wear resistance