Geminid meteor shower of 1996-2007: Global activity from forward-scatter observations

Activity and mass distribution of the Geminid meteor shower of 1996-2007 from observations by a forward-scatter radio system operating along Bologna-Modra baseline are analyzed and discussed. Global activity curve for overdense echoes of durations ≥ 1 s and ≥ 8 s depicts two distinct peaks at solar longitudes 261.7◦, 262.3◦ and 261.9◦, 262.3◦, respectively. Larger particles are concentrated more to the centre of the stream and slightly shifted towards the descending branch of the stream activity. The mean mass exponent of the Geminids is 1.73

Pharmacologic treatment with CPI-613 and PS48 decreases mitochondrial membrane potential and increases quantity of autolysosomes in porcine fibroblasts

A metabolic phenomenon known as the Warburg effect has been characterized in certain cancerous cells, embryonic stem cells, and other rapidly proliferative cell types. Previously, our attempts to induce a Warburg-like state pharmaceutically via CPI-613 and PS48 treatment did augment metabolite production and gene expression; however, this treatment demonstrated a Reverse Warburg effect phenotype observed in cancer-associated stroma. In the current study, we inquired whether the mitochondria were affected by the aforementioned pharmaceutical treatment as observed in cancerous stromal fibroblasts. While the pharmaceutical agents decreased mitochondrial membrane potential in porcine fetal fibroblasts, the number and size of mitochondria were similar, as was the overall cell size. Moreover, the fibroblasts that were treated with CPI-613 and PS48 for a week had increased numbers of large autolysosome vesicles. This coincided with increased intensity of LysoTracker staining in treated cells as observed by flow cytometry. Treated fibroblasts thus may utilize changes in metabolism and autophagy to mitigate the damage of treatment with pharmaceutical agents. These findings shed light on how these pharmaceutical agents interact and how treated cells augment metabolism to sustain viability. c2019, The Author(s).Includes bibliographical references

A Non-synonymous point mutation in a WD-40 domain repeat of EML5 leads to decreased bovine sperm quality and fertility.

This study is part of a concerted effort to identify and phenotype rare, deleterious mutations that adversely affect sperm quality, or convey high developmental and fertility potential to embryos and ensuing progeny. A rare, homozygous mutation in EML5 (EML5R1654W), which encodes a microtubule-associated protein with high expression in testis and brain was identified in an Angus bull used extensively in artificial insemination (AI) for its outstanding progeny production traits. The bull?s fertility was low in cross-breeding timed AI (TAI) (Pregnancy/TAI = 25.2%; n = 222) and, in general, AI breeding to Nellore cows (41%; n = 822). A search of the 1,000 Bull Genomes Run9 database revealed an additional 74 heterozygous animals and 8 homozygous animals harboring this exact mutation across several different breeds (0.7% frequency within the 6,191 sequenced animals). Phenotypically, spermatozoa from the homozygous Angus bull displayed prominent piriform and tapered heads, and outwardly protruding knobbed acrosomes. Additionally, an increased retention of EML5 was also observed in the sperm head of both homozygous and heterozygous Angus bulls compared to wild-type animals. This non-synonymous point mutation is located within a WD40 signaling domain repeat of EML5 and is predicted to be detrimental to overall protein function by genomic single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis and protein modeling. Future work will examine how this rare mutation affects field AI fertility and will characterize the role of EML5 in spermatogenesis

The development of new biomarkers of spermatozoa quality in cattle

There is a current need for new biomarkers of spermatozoa quality, that consistently and correctly identify spermatozoa that will successfully contribute to subsequent embryo development. This could improve the standardization of semen analysis, decrease early embryo mortality, and use these biomarkers as a selection tool before servicing females. This study utilized imaging techniques to identify potential biomarkers of sperm quality, using sires previously classified as high (n = 4) or low (n = 4) performing at producing blastocysts in vitro. Spermatozoa were assessed before and following a gradient purification protocol, to understand how populations of cells are impacted by such protocols and may differ between in vivo and in vitro use. Pre-gradient samples from low-performing sires had an increased incidence of DNA damage, although post-gradient samples from high-performing sires were found to have an increased incidence of DNA damage. When evaluating morphology via fluorescent microscopy, the most prevalent defects in pre-gradient samples from high-performing sires were tail defects, which are successfully removed during purification processing. The most prevalent defects in pre-gradient samples from low-performing sires were aggresome defects located in the head, which would be brought into an oocyte upon fertilization and may impair embryo development. Image-based flow cytometry (IBFC) was employed to quantify defect prevalence to evaluate a greater sample size decreasing the variability that exists in manual assessments. Using IBFC, aggresome defects were again identified in the heads of spermatozoa from low-performing sires. Post-gradient samples from low-performing sires had a significantly greater (p < 0.05) incidence of aggresome defects than post-gradient samples from high-performing sires. Additionally, IBFC was used to evaluate spermatozoa viability following gradient purification. Distinct populations of sperm cells were identified. High-performing sires had more spermatozoa in the population deemed most viable than low-performing sires. This study demonstrated that spermatozoa defects vary in populations before and following gradient purification, indicating that it may be beneficial to separately evaluate semen for in vivo and in vitro use. Furthermore, a prevalent defect in low-performing sires that could explain a discrepancy between successful fertilization and embryo development was identified. Therefore, elucidating a malfunction regulated by sire, that could potentially affect early embryo development

Ozonated saline intradermal injection: promising therapy for accelerated cutaneous wound healing in diabetic rats

IntroductionThe use of ozonized water is gaining importance in medicine due to its effects on hyperglycemia and wound healing mechanisms.MethodsThis experiment was conducted to assess the impacts of intradermal administration of ozonated water on acute skin wound healing in a diabetic rat model. Sixty-four adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: an ozonated water group (O3W) and a control group (CG). Experimental diabetes was chemically induced in the rats by the intraperitoneal administration of 60 mg/kg streptozotocin. One week later, full-thickness skin surgical wounds (1 cm2) were created between the two shoulders of the rats under general anesthesia. The wounds were then daily irrigated with normal saline (CG) or intradermally injected with 1 mL of ozonated water at 10 mg/L O3W. Wound healing was evaluated through macroscopic analysis, measuring wound size, diameter, and percentage of contraction rate before wounding and at 3, 7, 9, 12, 14, 18, 21, 24, and 28 days post-wounding. On days 7, 14, 21, and 28 after induction of the wounds, the body weights and blood glucose levels of rats (8 per group) were measured before the rats were euthanized. Moreover, the morphological structure of the tissue, vascular endothelial and transforming growth factor (VEGF and TGF) affinity and gene expression were examined.ResultsThe O3W group had significantly lower blood glucose levels and wound size and gained body weight. Additionally, epithelial vascularization, stromal edema, TGF, and VEGF gene expression significantly improved in the O3W group.DiscussionTherefore, ozonated water has the potential to enhance and promote cutaneous wound healing in diabetic rats

Occurence of Mastitis in Dairy Cows Situated in Marginal Parts of Slovakia

A relatively large part of the Slovak territory consists of the “marginal regions”, which in terms of the economy of ruminants keeping can efficiently produce animal commodities only occasionally. The geographic, social and economic stability of these regions is strongly influenced by the rearing of ruminants and the associated market milk production. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and aetiological agents of mastitis in two herds of dairy cows situated in the marginal parts of Slovakia. In total, 530 of the Slovak spotted breed and Holstein cows were involved in the study. The diagnosis of mastitis was performed on the basis of the clinical examination of the udder, macroscopic evaluation of the milk, determination of somatic cell count (SCC), and the bacteriological examination of the milk. The prevalence of mastitis in the two herds of dairy cows ranged from 34.7 % to 18.8 %, respectively. From the total of 2120 quarter milk samples, 36.3 % were positive to the California mastitis test (CMT). Also, pathogenic microorganisms causing intramammary infection (IMI) were isolated from 25.6 % of the samples, which accounted for most subclinical mastitis forms (23.3 %), with the SCC under 400 000, mainly caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) and coliform bacteria E. coli and Enterobacter aerogenes. The clinical forms of mastitis accounted for 13.0 % of all infected cows and were caused mainly by the bacteria: Streptococcus uberis, Streptococcus agalactiae, Staphylococcus aureus and coagulasenegative staphylococci

Mastitis Pathogens Isolated from Raw Milk Samples on Sheep Farms Situated in Marginal Parts of Slovakia

Relatively large parts of the Slovak territory are marginal regions, which in terms of the economy of ruminant rearing can effectively produce animal commodities only occasionally. The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence and aetiology of mastitis during one milking season in two sheep dairy herds of 224 (A) and 270 (B) ewes situated in the marginal parts of Slovakia. A complex examination of health status of ewes based on: the clinical examination of the udder, macroscopic evaluation of milk with the California mastitis test (CMT) and the bacteriological analysis of raw milk samples from individual halves were carried out at the beginning (April) and at the end (September) of the milking season. The prevalence of intramammary infection (IMI) in the herds of ewes (A and B) were 19.1 % and 14.3 %, respectively. In both herds we confirmed predominantly the subclinical forms of IMI. The highest percentages of aetiological agents were determined for coagulase negative staphylococci (CoNS), such as Staphylococcus chromogenes, Staphylococcus schleiferi, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus xylosus, Staphylococcus piscifermentans and Staphylococcus intermedius, the occurrences of which were determined in 41 (48.2 %) and 37 (47.9 %) positive milk samples, respectively

Influence of Peroral Supplementation of Selenium and Vitamin E on the Antioxidant Status of Racing Pigeons

The racing season is considered a critical period for racing pigeons due to the susceptibility to stress and weakening of the birds. One of the ways how to support their health and avoid problems involves supplementation of mineral-vitamin preparations based on selenium and vitamin E, which act as important antioxidants and protect cells against damage. This study investigated the influence of peroral supplementation of selenium at a dose of 0.3 mg Se.kg−1 feed dry matter (DM) in the form of Na2SeO3 and vitamin E 300 mg.ml−1 added to water at a rate of 4 ml.l−1 during 60 days. The supplemented group comprised 14 pigeons and their results were compared with a control group of 14 pigeons fed non-supplemented commercial feed. Blood samples were collected and examined at the beginning of the supplementation period, one day before a 300 km race and after the race. Pigeons from the supplemented group exhibited increased plasma levels of Se and vitamin E, as well as the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) before and after the 300 km race in comparison with the controls. Comparison of the activity of the enzymes: alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (ASP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and creatinine kinase (CK) at the beginning of the supplementation and one day before the race showed no changes. A significant (P < 0.05) increase in the activity of all investigated enzymes were observed after the race in both groups