Alpha‐Linolenic Acid Supplementation in Tris Extender Can Improve Frozen–Thawed Bull Semen Quality

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of α ‐linolenic acid (ALA) on frozen–thawed quality and fatty acid composition of bull sperm. For that, twenty‐four ejaculates obtained from three bulls were diluted in a Tris extender containing 0 (control), 3, 5, 10 and 15 ng/ml of ALA. Extended semen was incubated at 37°C for 15 min, to allow absorption of ALA by sperm cell membrane. The sample was chilled for 2 h, packed into 0.25‐ml straws and frozen in liquid nitrogen for 24 h. Subsequently, straws were thawed and evaluated for total sperm motility (computer‐assisted semen analysis), membrane functional integrity (hypo‐osmotic swelling test), viability (eosin‐nigrosin), fatty acid composition (gas chromatography) and lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances (TBARS)). A higher (p < 0.05) percentage of total sperm motility was observed in ALA groups 5 ng/ml (47.74 ± 07) and 10 ng/ml (44.90 ± 0.7) in comparison with control (34.53 ± 3.0), 3 ng/ml (34.40 ± 2.6) and 15 ng/ml (34.60 ± 2.9). Still, the 5 ng/ml ALA group presented a higher (p < 0.05) percentage of viable sperms (74.13 ± 0.8) and sperms with intact membrane (74.46 ± 09) than all other experimental groups. ALA concentration and lipid peroxidation in post‐thawed sperm was higher in all treated groups when compared to the control group. As such, the addition of 5 ng/ml of ALA to Tris extender improved quality of frozen–thawed bull spermatozoa.     

Integrating local ecological knowledge,citizen science and long‐term historical data for endangered species conservation: Additional records of angel sharks (Chondrichthyes: Squatinidae) in the Mediterranean Sea

相似文献   

Death and Transfiguration of a Triple Junction in the South Atlantic

Three major lithospheric plates-Antarctic, South American, and African-meet in the South Atlantic near Bouvet Island where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR), the Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR), and the American Antarctic Ridge converge toward a fast evolving triple junction. A major magmatic pulse has recently built a new, swollen segment of the SWIR (Spiess Ridge) that is propagating toward the MAR at a rate of 4 to 5 centimeters per year, disrupting a former ridge-ridge-ridge (RRR) triple junction. A new triple junction will be established about 70 kilometers to the north when the propagating SWIR/Spiess segment will impact with the MAR, probably within the next 1 million years. The American Antarctic Ridge will take advantage of the MAR/SWIR duel by capturing an approximately 70-kilometer stretch of MAR, whereas the Antarctic plate will increase its size.     

Pathological changes in the mammary gland and biochemical changes in milk of the goat following oral dosing with leaf of the Avocado (Persea americana)

Two varieties of avocado leaves (Persea americana var Guatemalan and var Mexican) were administered to lactating goats. The Mexican variety was without effect. The Guatemalan variety in doses exceeding 20 g fresh leaf per kg bodyweight, produced damage to the mammary gland with decreased milk production. The lesions were characterised by oedema and reddening, with clots in the large ducts. Microscopically, there was widespread degeneration and necrosis of the secretory epithelium, the necrotic cells sloughing into the lumen. There was no significant cellular inflammatory response. Concentrations of antitrypsin in the milk, indicating changes in vascular permeability, increased rapidly 15 h after a single high dose, coinciding with palpable oedema. Concentrations of NAGase, indicating cell damage, increased after 24 h. Goats given multiple doses followed a similar pattern but the initial response was delayed. The toxic principle, and its mode of action in selectively damaging mammary secretory cells, remains to be determined.     

Superior check ligament desmotomy for treatment of superficial digital flexor tendonitis in Thoroughbred and Standardbred horses

Summary Bilateral superior check ligament desmotomy was performed on 31 Thoroughbred and 17 Standardbred horses as the sole method of treatment for superficial digital flexor tendonitis. Horses resumed racing between 6 and 19 months after surgery. Horses that were able to compete in 5 or more races without injury to the tendon again were considered to have had a successful return to racing. Twenty-five Thoroughbreds were suitable for later study and 13 of these (52%) raced on 5 or more occasions. Fifteen Standardbreds were suitable for later study and 10 of these (66%) raced on 5 or more occasions. Within the racing industry it is generally thought that about 20 to 30% of horses with superficial digital flexor tendonitis can return to racing after a prolonged rest. The results of this study suggest that bilateral superior check ligament desmotomy may improve the prognosis for a horse returning to racing after injury to the superficial digital flexor tendon.     

Phenylbutazone in racing Greyhounds: plasma and urinary residues 24 and 48 hours after a single intravenous administration

SUMMARY The concentrations of phenylbutazone (PBZ), oxyphenbutazone (OPBZ) and gammahydroxyphenylbutazone (OHPBZ) in plasma and urine from 50 Greyhounds 24 and 48 h after the intravenous administration of a single dose of PBZ (30 mg/kg) were measured. The 24 h plasma concentrations of OPBZ and OHPBZ, the 48 h plasma concentration of OHPBZ and the 24 h urinary concentration of PBZ were normally distributed, while log transformations were required before the 24 h plasma concentration of PBZ and the 24 and 48 h urinary concentrations of OPBZ and OHPBZ became normally distributed. The 95%, 99%, 99.9% and 99.99% upper predicted confidence intervals for both 24 h and 48 h plasma and urinary concentrations demonstrated wide potential variation in the concentration of the analytes should PBZ be administered to Greyhounds. The 24 h plasma and urinary concentrations of PBZ were weakly correlated, but no similar relationship existed for OPBZ or OHPBZ. The urinary concentrations of each analyte were not affected by the trainer or sex of the Greyhound or the urinary pH. We conclude that it would be impossible to predict the timing of the PBZ administration or the plasma concentration of PBZ from the measurement of the concentration of PBZ in a single sample of urine.     

Carbon structures with three-dimensional periodicity at optical wavelengths

Porous carbons that are three-dimensionally periodic on the scale of optical wavelengths were made by a synthesis route resembling the geological formation of natural opal. Porous silica opal crystals were sintered to form an intersphere interface through which the silica was removed after infiltration with carbon or a carbon precursor. The resulting porous carbons had different structures depending on synthesis conditions. Both diamond and glassy carbon inverse opals resulted from volume filling. Graphite inverse opals, comprising 40-angstrom-thick layers of graphite sheets tiled on spherical surfaces, were produced by surface templating. The carbon inverse opals provide examples of both dielectric and metallic optical photonic crystals. They strongly diffract light and may provide a route toward photonic band-gap materials.