Antioxidants and glycine can improve the developmental competence of vitrified/warmed ovine immature oocytes

Despite the numerous potential applications of oocyte cryopreservation, the poor success rate has limited its practical applications. In livestock, particularly in ovine, the oocytes have low developmental competence following vitrification/warming process. Considering the occurrence of osmotic and oxidative stresses during the vitrification/warming process, the application of antioxidants and osmolytes may improve the developmental competence of vitrified/warmed oocytes. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of the addition of ascorbic acid (AA) and N‐acetyl cysteine (NAC) as antioxidants and glycine as an organic osmolyte either to the vitrification/warming solutions (VWS) or to the IVM medium on the developmental competence of vitrified/warmed ovine germinal vesicle stage oocytes. The survival rate in the vitrified groups was significantly lower than fresh ones. In vitrified/warmed oocytes, there was no significant difference in survival rate between supplemented and non‐supplemented groups. The addition of AA and/or NAC to the VWS or IVM medium and adding glycine to the IVM medium reduced the proportion of apoptotic oocytes and fragmented embryos, which was reflected as an increase in the proportions of metaphase II stage oocytes and blastocyst production. The best result was achieved by supplementing the IVM medium with NAC. In our study condition, antioxidants and glycine could improve the developmental competence of vitrified/warmed ovine immature oocytes, especially when added during IVM.     

Institutional varieties,governance quality,and firm-level innovation in emerging economies: Case of India

This study examines how institutional varieties at the subnational (state) level influence firm-level innovation in an emerging economy—India. Knowledge of how institutional varieties influence firm-level innovation is derived principally from country-level studies involving multiple developed countries. Research on emerging economies is sparse and tends to follow country-level approaches involving multiple countries. Research involving a single emerging economy where there are substantial institutional varieties between regions is thin. The institutional varieties of some emerging countries are so striking that they can be viewed as several countries within a country, for example, India, China. This study contributes to the innovation literature on the role of institutional varieties on firm-level innovation by focusing on a different level of analysis—a single, emerging economy with substantial institutional varieties across the different states of India. Innovation in emerging economies is a topic of increasing academic interest. A multilevel study involving regional- and firm-level factors is employed. Firm-level data are from the World Bank Enterprise Survey and regional-level data are from statistical agencies in India. The results confirm that institutional varieties have major impacts on firm-level innovation. The research, policy, and managerial implications are discussed.     

Effects of background colour on growth indices and stress of young sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) in a closed circulated system

In this study, the physiological response and growth performances of Acipenser ruthenus were investigated after a long‐term background colour adaptation (12 weeks). Twelve groups of 10 individuals with initial mean body weight of 183 g were reared in black, dark blue, grey and white tanks (three replicates for each colour). At the end of the experiments, growth (initial body weight, final body weight, weight gain per cent, food efficiency ratio, protein efficiency ratio, specific growth rate), blood (cortisol, glucose, pO_2, pCO₂, pH, haematocrit, osmolality, triglycerides, cholesterol, total lipids) and liver (hepatosomatic index, total lipids, glycogen) parameters were analyzed. Plasma cortisol in the dark‐adapted sterlet (21.95 ± 3.9 ng mL^?1) was significantly lower than those in white‐adapted fish (39.44 ± 6.5 ng mL^?1), whereas there were no significant differences in cortisol levels between the grey‐adapted fish (23.05 ± 4.1 ng mL^?1) and dark blue‐adapted fish (24.2 ± 3.6 ng mL^?1). A remarkable increase in mean of body weight (%) was detected in dark‐adapted sterlet (45.2 ± 3.2) being 27.67%, 12.1% and 11.8% higher than the white, grey and dark blue‐adapted fish respectively. The obtained results verified that different background colours lead to different growth performances and physiological responses of starlet, depending on rearing conditions.     

Interactions between Heterodera filipjevi and Fusarium culmorum,and between H. filipjevi and Bipolaris sorokiniana in winter wheat

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Pot experiments with winter wheat were conducted for two successive years to study the relationship between the cereal cyst nematode, Heterodera...     

Haplotype C of growth hormone (GH) gene in Japanese Black cattle: Structure of GH protein and a novel method for detection of the gene

From a series of studies on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the bovine growth hormone (GH) gene of Japanese Black cattle, the type‐C (127^Val and 172^Met) that is specific for this breed has been intensively focused upon because of the economic importance for carcass traits, such as intramuscular oleic acid contents. In the present study, we intended to analyze the 3‐D structure of GH of haplotype C, and developed a novel method to detect the type C gene. Three‐D analysis of the type C protein showed that the amino acid residues (127^Val and 172^Met), which are present in the third and fourth helixes, respectively, and are important for binding with GH receptors, are shifted to deeper positions in the molecule compared with that for type A (127^Leu and 172^Thr), implying the alteration of binding interaction with receptors. A novel, efficient and cost‐effective method (Dot‐blot‐SNP technique) for type C genotyping was successfully established, of which the basal method was a reported genotyping of SNPs for a large number of plants, reducing the cost to 10% or less of direct sequencing.     

Arthroscopically-assisted vs. open surgery in repairing anterior cruciate ligament avulsion

The management of an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) avulsion is principally by surgery. There are two major techniques in this regard; fixation through open surgery (arthrotomy) or arthroscopically-assisted repair. These are not new in the literature; however, the debate regarding the better approach is still under debate. This study focused on comparing outcome and consequences of arthroscopically-assisted vs. open surgery in repairing ACL avulsion. In a randomized clinical trial, 44 patients with unilateral ACL avulsion were recruited in Tabriz Shohada teaching Centre during a 12 month period of time. These patients were randomized in two equal age and sex-matched groups underwent either arthroscopically-assisted or open ACL repair. The constructive technique was the same in both groups without using any graft. The minimum follow-up period was 6 months including 3 weeks, 3 months and 6 months postoperatively. Range of Motion (ROM), laxity, Anterior Drawer Test (ADT) result, duration of hospital stay, wound status, nonunion and return to previous work were compared between the two groups. Mean time of suture removal (p = 0.10), minimum and maximum ROM at months 3 (p = 0.43 and 0.22, respectively) and 6 (p = 0.73 and 0.77, respectively), ADT at months 3 and 6 (p = 0.16 for both), laxity at month 6 (p = 0.28) and wound status at week 3 (p = 0.35) were not significantly different between the two groups. There was no case of nonunion at month 6 in either group. The mean hospital stay was significantly shorter in the arthroscopy group (3.77 +/- 0.92 vs. 2.50 +/- 0.51 days; p < 0.001). The mean laxity score was significantly higher in the open surgery group at month 3 (4.82 +/- 0.59 vs. 4.45 +/- 0.60; p = 0.05). The rate of nonunion was significantly higher in the open surgery group at month 3 (40.9% vs. 9.1%; p = 0.02). Patients in the arthroscopically-assisted technique group returned sooner to previous work (17.41 +/- 1.53 vs. 14.82 +/- 0.96 weeks; p < 0.001). Based on our results, arthroscopically-assisted reconstruction of ACL avulsion is superior to open surgery.     

Effects of different treatments on seed germination and breaking seed dormancy of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Prosopis koelziana</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Prosopis Juliflora</Emphasis>

For improving seed germination of Prosopis koelziana and Prosopis juliflora, different treatments of seeds were conducted, including scarification with sulfuric acid 98% for 10 and 15 min, sandy paper, hot water for 5 and 10 min, potasium nitrate 0.1%, gibberellic acid at 250 mg·L⁻¹ and 500 mg·L⁻¹ and combinational treatment of scarification with gibberellic acid of 250 mg·L⁻¹ and 500 mg·L⁻¹. The results show that scarifications with sandy paper and sulfuric acids 98% were the most effective treatments on breaking seed dormancy and seed germination induction. Scarification with sulfuric acid 98% for 15 min was the best treatment. According to the positive effect of scarification and lack of reaction of seeds against KNO₃ and gibberellic acid, the kind of seed dormancy was determined as exogenous.     

Capillary electrophoresis

Electrophoretic separations carried out in capillary tubes offer the possibilities of rapid and automated analyses of small volumes of complex mixtures with unprecedented resolution and sensitivity. Some emerging developments of this new instrumentation are reviewed.     

Photofragment helicity caused by matter-wave interference from multiple dissociative states

Isolated diatomic molecules of iodine monochloride (ICl) were photodissociated by a beam of linearly polarized light, and the resulting ground-state Cl atom photofragments were detected by a method that is sensitive to the handedness (helicity) of the electronic angular momentum. It was found that this helicity oscillates between "topspin" and "backspin" as a function of the wavelength of the dissociating light. The helicity originates solely from the (de Broglie) matter-wave interference of multiple dissociating pathways of the electronic excited states of ICl. These measurements can be related to the identity and to the detailed shapes of the dissociating pathways, thus demonstrating that it is possible to probe repulsive states by spectroscopic means.     

Clinical evaluation of intranasal benzodiazepines, alpha-agonists and their antagonists in canaries

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of intranasal benzodiazepines (midazolam and diazepam), alpha(2)-agonists (xylazine and detomidine) and their antagonists (flumazenil and yohimbine) in canaries. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective randomized study. ANIMALS: Twenty-six healthy adult domesticated canaries of both sexes, weighing 18.3 +/- 1.0 g. METHODS: In Study 1 an attempt was made to determine the dose of each drug that allowed treated canaries to be laid in dorsal recumbency for at least 5 minutes, i.e. its effective dose. This involved the evaluation of various doses, during which equal volumes of the tested drug were administered slowly into each nostril. In study 2 the onset of action, duration and quality of sedation induced by each drug at its effective dose were evaluated. The efficacy of flumazenil and yohimbine in antagonizing the effects of the sedative drugs was also studied. RESULTS: In study 1 administration of 25 microL per nostril diazepam (5 mg mL(-1) solution) or midazolam (5 mg mL(-1) solution) to each bird caused adequate sedation within 1-2 minutes; birds did not move when placed in dorsal recumbency. After administration of 12 microL per nostril of either xylazine (20 mg mL(-1)) or detomidine (10 mg mL(-1)), birds seemed heavily sedated and assumed sternal recumbency but could not be placed in dorsal recumbency. Higher doses of xylazine (0.5 mg per nostril) or detomidine (0.25 mg per nostril) prolonged sedation but did not produce dorsal recumbency. In study 2 in all treatment groups, onset of action was rapid. Duration of dorsal recumbency was significantly longer (p < 0.05) with diazepam (38.4 +/- 10.5 minutes) than midazolam (17.1 +/- 2.2 minutes). Intranasal flumazenil (2.5 microg per nostril) significantly reduced recumbency time. Duration of sedation was longer with alpha(2)-agonists compared with benzodiazepines. Detomidine had the longest duration of effect (257.5 +/- 1.5 minutes) and midazolam the shortest (36.9 +/- 2.4 minutes). Nasally administered flumazenil significantly reduced the duration of sedation with diazepam and midazolam while yohimbine (120 microg per nostril) effectively antagonized the effects of xylazine and detomidine. CONCLUSION: Intranasal benzodiazepines produce rapid and effective sedation in canaries. Intranasal alpha(2) agonists produce sedation but not sustained recumbency. Specific antagonists are also effective when used by this route. Clinical relevance Intranasal sedative drug administration is an acceptable alternative method of drug delivery in canaries.