Role of Melatonin in Reproductive Seasonality in Buffaloes

Buffaloes are characterized by seasonal reproductive activity. Anestrus buffalo heifers and lactating buffaloes were used to study the effect of melatonin treatment on the resumption of ovarian activity during out-of-breeding season. Buffaloes of treated group were injected or implanted with melatonin (18 mg melatonin/50 kg body weight). Using CIDR-eCG protocol preceded with melatonin successfully achieved estrus behavior and induced conception rate during out-of-breeding season. Furthermore, the reproductive performance of buffaloes during out-of-breeding season was clearly improved by melatonin implantation in conjunction with CIDR-eCG protocol due to the luteotrophic effect of melatonin expressed as increasing diameter of CL (corpus luteum) and progesterone concentration. This improvement resulted in greater values of conception rate, in melatonin implanted compared to not implanted buffaloes. Melatonin implantation in anestrus buffalo heifers increased the diameter of largest follicles and melatonin concentration but progesterone and luteinizing hormone (LH) concentrations were decreased. In addition, melatonin implantation in anestrus lactating buffaloes increased the SOD (superoxide dismutase) enzyme activity. Sustained release of exogenous melatonin significantly protects against oxidative stress while increasing beneficial total antioxidant capacity (TAC) concentration in summer-stressed anestrus buffaloes. Melatonin implantation in conjunction with CIDR-eCG protocol successfully improved some blood metabolites, in anestrus buffalo heifers during out-of-breeding season under tropical conditions

Influence of plyometric jump training on the physiological changes of male handball players

Running economy and velocity at maximal oxygen uptake are considered the most substantial physiological performance indicators in team sports. plyometric training are important techniques that enhance the neuromuscular functioning in athletes. The aim of the present study is to investigates the change in maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and running economy (RE). 16 male participants aged 21 years old. Participants underwent pre- and post-intervention tests including running economy, VO2max within 48 h before and after the training protocol. Statistically significant differences were seen in running economy and VO2max after training (p < .01). The current study suggested that plyometric training for 12 weeks can improve running economy and VO2max

STRUCTURAL AND MAGNETO CONDUCTIVITY STUDIES OF NIO/SMBA2CU3O7-Δ SUPERCONDUCTING COMPOSITE

In this work, we investigate the effect of NiO nanoparticles\u27 addition on the structure, superconductivity, and magneto conductivity for the SmBa2Cu3O7-δ phase. Composite nano/superconductor of (NiO)x/SmBa2Cu3O7-δ (0.00≤x≤0.12 wt.%) were prepared by conventional solid-state reaction technique and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The orthorhombic structure was maintained whereas the lattice parameters showed unsystematic variations with the NiO nanoparticles addition. The superconducting transition temperature Tc, determined from electrical resistivity measurements, showed an enhancement with x up to 0.04wt.% followed by a reduction with higher NiO additions. The Aslamazov–Larkin (AL) model was employed to analyze the magneto conductivity. The model allowed to determine the coherence lengths along c-axis ξc(0) and along ab plane ξab(0). Moreover, the anisotropy parameter Г increase with the increase of NiO nanoparticles addition

ADSORPTION PERFORMANCE OF MG0.33NI0.33CO0.33FE2O4 NANOPARTICLES DOPED WITH GADOLINIUM AND LANTHANUM FOR LEAD (II) REMOVAL

The issue of water pollution has become a major concern in recent times, and the need for effective strategies for treating contaminated water sources has become more urgent. One promising approach that has been gaining attention in the field of wastewater treatment is the use of nano-ferrites. In this regard, novel Mg0.33Ni0.33Co0.33LaxFe2-xO4 and Mg0.33Ni0.33Co0.33GdxFe2-xO4 nanoparticles (NPs), where x = 0.00, 0.01 and 0.08, were synthesized to test their adsorption performance for the removal of Pb (II). The structural properties and morphology were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). As Gd and La content increase, the bandgap energy increases while Urbach energy decreases. The experimental condition for the adsorption process was the adsorbent dosage of 40 mg and contact time of 30, 60, and 90 min at room temperature. Under the recommended conditions, Pb (II) removal % were obtained as 38 %, 41 % and 75 % for Mg0.33Ni0.33Co0.33Fe2O4, Mg0.33Ni0.33Co0.33LaxFe2-xO4 with x = 0.01 and Mg0.33Ni0.33Co0.33GdxFe2-xO4 with x = 0.08, respectively. Therefore, doping ferrite nanoparticles with rare earth metals improve their properties and enable its usage in wastewater treatment particularly for the removal of heavy metals

Urban Health Related Air Quality Indicators over the Middle East and North Africa Countries Using Multiple Satellites and AERONET Data

Air pollution is reported as one of the most severe environmental problems in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Remotely sensed data from newly available TROPOMI - TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument on board Sentinel-5 Precursor, shows an annual mean of high-resolution maps of selected air quality indicators (NO2, CO, O3, and UVAI) of the MENA countries for the first time. The correlation analysis among the aforementioned indicators show the coherency of the air pollutants in urban areas. Multi-year data from the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) stations from nine MENA countries are utilized here to study the aerosol optical depth (AOD) and Ångström exponent (AE) with other available observations. Additionally, a total of 65 different machine learning models of four categories, namely: linear regression, ensemble, decision tree, and deep neural network (DNN), were built from multiple data sources (MODIS, MISR, OMI, and MERRA-2) to predict the best usable AOD product as compared to AERONET data. DNN validates well against AERONET data and proves to be the best model to generate optimized aerosol products when the ground observations are insufficient. This approach can improve the knowledge of air pollutant variability and intensity in the MENA region for decision makers to operate proper mitigation strategies

A novel high capacity space efficient heat storage system for domestic application

Solar energy assisted heat pump (SAHP) and Direct Expansion Solar Assisted Heat Pump (DX-SAHP) systems are among the promising means of reducing the consumption of fossil fuels for heat production in residential building applications. The research in this thesis introduces a novel system that integrates solar energy, THS storage, and DX-SAHP. The objective is to develop an efficient heating system for existing homes in the cold climatic region which is sustainable and acts as an alternative to the conventional high energy loss domestic water and space heating systems. One of the prospective techniques of producing and storing of thermal energy is the application of thermochemical materials. Storage of heat in salt hydrates provides an efficient and compact way of storing energy. Hence, the properties of salt hydrates that determine the storage capacity are being investigated. An experimental test has undertaken to assess the effect of integrating the new design of thermochemical storage materials with a solar-assisted multifunctional heat pump system. This research presents a novel design that involves the integration of DX-SAMHP and a hot water tank with a thermochemical sorption jacket. Investigations have been carried out to determine a suitable temperature range for household heating systems. Expanded Vermiculite (host matrix) and CaCl2 (hygroscopic salt) have been used as composite material in an adsorbent reaction jacket for a domestic water tank. The new design has a total volume of 20 kg of V/CaCl2, which can store the thermal energy with a complete reaction. The results show the high capability of the tested materials to enhance the domestic heating system performance when applied in cold regions. The feasibility of the designed system for residential space and water heating is also demonstrated. The maximum energy density obtained through the discharging process is 565 kJ/kg. It is also revealed that the coupling of thermochemical heat storage and heat pump increases the thermal production capacity by 1.166 kWh during the discharging process

Hepatitis C Virus in Thalassemia

Prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is relatively low in children. However, seroprevalence rates of 10–20% have been reported among children who received repeated transfusion. The development and the severity of liver fibrosis are strongly related to the extent of the liver iron overload and to the presence of chronic hepatitis C (CHC). In CHC, liver iron overload has been suggested as a negative prognostic factor exacerbating inflammation with subsequent progression of liver fibrosis and decrease in antiviral therapy effectiveness. CHC may be suspected based on medical history or accidentally discovered abnormal liver functions. Hepatitis C is diagnosed by positive serology for viral antibodies and confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect virus RNA. The treatment of HCV infection in children was difficult due to the limitations of pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin. In 2017, FDA approved the first direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) for children including ledipasvir/sofosbuvir in the adult dose, 90/400 mg, to treat HCV in children and adolescents aged 12 years and older or weighing at least 35 kg. Similarly, giving half the adult fixed-dose of ledipasvir/sofosbuvir, 45/200 mg, to children aged 6–11 years is still under clinical trials with promising results

Determinação do limiar de variação da capacidade de redução da temperatura interna de coberturas verdes de diferentes profundidades em climas quentes e secos

To forestall the dangers of overdesign, initial and maintenance costs, and unnecessary loading on the supporting roof, the study was primarily aimed at determining the significant difference in indoor temperature reduction capacity between various green roof models of varying thicknesses within the extensive green roof category. Using a contextualized substrate layer of 25mm as the difference in depth between green roof alternatives, the degree of thermal insulation for the interior was observed on six extensive green roof models of 50mm, 75mm, 100mm, 125mm, and 150mm thicknesses. This is to elucidate the level of significant differences in thermal efficiency between the models.&nbsp; EnergyPlus 8.3.0 simulation software was used to conduct a thermal performance survey on the sampled models.&nbsp; The temperature profiles of all the cases were collected and subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS V 21.0 to conduct an ANOVA and a proceeding Post hoc test to determine where the difference lies between the green roof groups. The results revealed that; no substantial difference in thermal performance exists between alternatives where the difference in depth is around the 25mm mark. Revealing that the threshold for any significant change in thermal insulation is denoted by a 50mm difference between alternatives. This research was carried out to facilitate the initial process of green roof selection, design, detailing, and specifications writing for architect engineers, and other stakeholders.Para prevenir los peligros del sobrediseño, los costos iniciales y de mantenimiento y la carga innecesaria en el techo de soporte, el estudio se dirigió principalmente a determinar la diferencia significativa en la capacidad de reducción de la temperatura interior entre varios modelos de techo verde de diferentes espesores dentro de la categoría de techo verde extensivo. Utilizando una capa de sustrato contextualizada de 25 mm como la diferencia de profundidad entre las alternativas de techo verde, se observó el grado de aislamiento térmico para el interior en seis modelos de techo verde extensivo de 50 mm, 75 mm, 100 mm, 125 mm y 150 mm de espesor. Esto es para dilucidar el nivel de diferencias significativas en la eficiencia térmica entre los modelos. El software de simulación EnergyPlus 8.3.0 se utilizó para realizar una encuesta de rendimiento térmico en los modelos muestreados. Los perfiles de temperatura de todos los casos se recopilaron y se sometieron a un análisis estadístico utilizando SPSS V 21.0 para realizar un ANOVA y una prueba post hoc para determinar dónde se encuentra la diferencia entre los grupos de techos verdes. Los resultados revelaron que; No existe una diferencia sustancial en el rendimiento térmico entre las alternativas donde la diferencia de profundidad es de alrededor de 25 mm. Se revela que el umbral para cualquier cambio significativo en el aislamiento térmico se denota por una diferencia de 50 mm entre las alternativas. Esta investigación se llevó a cabo para facilitar el proceso inicial de selección, diseño, detalle y redacción de especificaciones de techos verdes para arquitectos, ingenieros y otras partes interesadas.Para evitar os perigos de superdimensionamento, custos iniciais e de manutenção elevados, e carregamento desnecessário sobre o telhado de suporte, o objetivo principal deste estudo foi determinar a diferença significativa na capacidade de redução da temperatura interna entre diversos modelos de telhados verdes de diferentes espessuras, dentro da categoria de telhados verdes extensivos. Utilizando uma camada de substrato contextualizada com uma diferença de profundidade de 25mm entre as alternativas de telhados verdes, observou-se o grau de isolamento térmico para o interior em seis modelos de telhados verdes extensivos com espessuras de 50mm, 75mm, 100mm, 125mm e 150mm. O objetivo foi elucidar o nível de diferenças significativas na eficiência térmica entre os modelos. O software de simulação EnergyPlus 8.3.0 foi utilizado para conduzir uma análise de desempenho térmico nos modelos amostrados. Os perfis de temperatura de todos os casos foram coletados e submetidos a uma análise estatística utilizando o SPSS V 21.0, com realização de um teste ANOVA seguido de um teste Post hoc para determinar onde residem as diferenças entre os grupos de telhados verdes. Os resultados revelaram que não existe uma diferença substancial no desempenho térmico entre alternativas onde a diferença de profundidade é em torno de 25mm. Foi identificado que o limiar para qualquer mudança significativa no isolamento térmico é marcado por uma diferença de 50mm entre as alternativas. Esta pesquisa foi conduzida para facilitar o processo inicial de seleção, projeto, detalhamento e especificação de telhados verdes para arquitetos, engenheiros e outros stakeholders

The response of blood plasma metabolite concentrations of anestrus lactating buffalo to CIDR-eCG with or without melatonin treatment

The objective of this study was to compare the efficiency of CIDR-eCG protocol with or without melatonin treatment on blood plasma metabolites in anestrus Murrah buffaloes during out-of-breeding season. Twelve lactating Murrah buffaloes were allotted to control and treated groups each of six animals. Treated buffaloes were implanted with melatonin (18 mg melatonin / 50 kg body weight) for 45 days, then animals of both groups received CIDR for 9 days. All animals received 500 IU eCG intramuscularly one day before CIDR removal and 10 µg GnRH on the day of AI. The animals were subjected to estrus detection daily as per farm routine. At weekly intervals, blood samples were collected to determine the concentration of blood plasma metabolites over 84 days’ period between June and September. All buffaloes exhibited estrus after CIDR removal. CIDR-eCG preceded with melatonin treatment increased plasma total protein, albumin, cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol (P&lt;0.05) in comparison to only CIDR treated control. Buffaloes treated with melatonin plus CIDR exhibited increased (P&lt;0.01) plasma glucose on days 28, 53 and 55 and reduction (P&lt;0.01) in HDL and AST at time of pregnancy diagnosis, while plasma concentration of phosphorus was the highest (P&lt;0.05) at day 84. In conclusion, CIDR-eCG treatment preceded with melatonin implantation improved reproductive performance and altered blood metabolite composition of lactating buffaloes during out-of-breeding season as compared to CIDR-eCG only