Reconstruction of Current Flow and Imaging of Current-Limiting Defects in Polycrystalline Superconducting Films

Magneto-optical imaging was used to visualize the inhomogeneous penetration of magnetic flux into polycrystalline TlBa2Ca2Cu3Ox films with high critical current densities, to reconstruct the local two-dimensional supercurrent flow patterns and to correlate inhomogeneities in this flow with the local crystallographic misorientation. The films have almost perfect c-axis alignment and considerable local a- and b-axis texture because the grains tend to form colonies with only slightly misaligned a and b axes. Current flows freely over these low-angle grain boundaries but is strongly reduced at intermittent colony boundaries of high misorientation. The local (<10-micrometer scale) critical current density Jc varies widely, being up to 10 times as great as the transport Jc (scale of approximately 1 millimeter), which itself varies by a factor of about 5 in different sections of the film. The combined experiments show that the magnitude of the transport Jc is largely determined by a few high-angle boundaries.     

Effects of Melatonin Implants During Non‐Breeding Season on Sperm Motility and Reproductive Parameters in Rasa Aragonesa Rams

The effect of melatonin implants administered during non‐breeding season in Rasa Aragonesa rams on sperm motility parameters and other reproductive traits was assessed. In a first experiment, two Rasa Aragonesa rams were implanted (with melatonin group M), remaining other two males as control group (C). Semen of each group was collected from 1 May to 23 June, twice or three times a week, and motility parameters were assessed using a computer‐assisted sperm analysis system. Melatonin increased the percentage of progressive motile spermatozoa, particularly during 46–75 days after melatonin implantation (p < 0.01). In experiment 2, M and C in vitro fertilization ability had been determined by zona‐pellucida binding assays, using spermatozoa from experiment 1, obtained 60–70 days after melatonin was implanted. A significantly higher number of spermatozoa attached per oocyte was observed in frozen‐thawed immature ovine oocytes incubated with sperm from M animals than in those incubated with sperm from the C group (p < 0.01). Finally, a field assay (experiment 3) was performed. In this case, five Rasa Aragonesa rams were implanted with melatonin and three remained as control group. Sperm doses from those animals were used for artificial insemination of 2608 Rasa Aragonesa ewes from 39 different farms at non‐breeding season. Fertility, litter size and fecundity were studied. Semen from melatonin implanted rams seemed to increase both fertility and fecundity in ewes inseminated with spermatozoa obtained 46–60 days after implantation (p < 0.1). Thus, melatonin treatment in rams during non‐breeding season modifies sperm motility parameters and seems to improve the fertilization parameters obtained.     

不同利用方式下草地土壤微生物及土壤呼吸特性

通过对呼伦贝尔羊草(Leymus chinensis)草甸草原土壤呼吸特性及土壤微生物的测定,研究了3种不同利用方式(围封、放牧和刈割)对天然草地土壤呼吸特性及土壤微生物的影响,为草甸草原土壤呼吸研究提供基础理论依据.结果表明:不同利用方式下土壤呼吸速率、土壤微生物量碳含量与土壤酶活性(除脲酶)均表现为草地围封比放牧和刈割呼吸速率高(含量高、活性强);土壤微生物量氮含量、脲酶活性和微生物数量表现为草地放牧和刈割比围封的含量高(活性强、数量多);土壤微生物量碳、氮含量、土壤酶活性(除脲酶)和土壤微生物数量均以表层(0～10 cm)最高(活性最强、数量最多),随着土层深度增加而降低(活性下降、数量     

Comparison of the Level(s) of DNA Damage Using Comet Assay in Bovine Oocytes Subjected to Selected Vitrification Methods

It was suggested that the cryodamage to oocytes' DNA has been responsible for the compromised developmental competence of cryopreserved oocytes. Vitrification of bovine oocytes affected not only cellular components, but also nuclear material. A significant rate of DNA fragmentation was found in bovine frozen or vitrified oocytes analysed by Comet assay regardless of cryopreservation method. Our method of vitrification using droplet system after gentle pre-equilibration treatment is one of the most effective cryopreservation methods employed for bovine oocytes so far, making it possible to develop 30% blastocyst stage embryos. In this study, the extent of DNA damage in bovine oocytes vitrified using three vitrification methods (droplet system, Open Pulled Straw and traditional vitrification in 0.25 ml insemination straws) was compared using Comet assay. Vitrification in droplet system and Open Pull Straws vitrification did not result in detectable cryoinjuries of DNA of bovine oocytes. On the contrary, DNA fragmentation was found in four of 26 oocytes vitrified in 0.25 ml straws (15.4%, p   ≤ 0.05 in comparison with the other vitrification methods).     

Ligation of the caudal mesenteric artery during resection and anastomosis of the colorectal junction for annular adenocarcinoma in two dogs

An 8-year-old terrier cross and a 10-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer presented to the University Veterinary Centre, Sydney, for investigation of long-standing tenesmus and dyschezia. Both patients had an annular adenocarcinoma at the colorectal junction. Exploratory laparotomy was performed and the affected large intestinal segment was removed by resection and anastomosis. In both dogs, the caudal mesenteric artery was intimately associated with the mass, necessitating its ligation and transection. Postoperatively, there was no evidence of anastomosis breakdown in either case and both animals recovered well from surgery. The dogs were euthanased 8 and 10 months, respectively, after surgery because of clinical signs relating to metastatic disease.