Observation of Interference Between Two Bose Condensates

Interference between two freely expanding Bose-Einstein condensates has been observed. Two condensates separated by approximately 40 micrometers were created by evaporatively cooling sodium atoms in a double-well potential formed by magnetic and optical forces. High-contrast matter-wave interference fringes with a period of approximately 15 micrometers were observed after switching off the potential and letting the condensates expand for 40 milliseconds and overlap. This demonstrates that Bose condensed atoms are "laser-like"; that is, they are coherent and show long-range correlations. These results have direct implications for the atom laser and the Josephson effect for atoms.     

Human Influence on the Atmospheric Vertical Temperature Structure: Detection and Observations

Recent work suggests a discernible human influence on climate. This finding is supported, with less restrictive assumptions than those used in earlier studies, by a 1961 through 1995 data set of radiosonde observations and by ensembles of coupled atmosphere-ocean simulations forced with changes in greenhouse gases, tropospheric sulfate aerosols, and stratospheric ozone. On balance, agreement between the simulations and observations is best for a combination of greenhouse gas, aerosol, and ozone forcing. The uncertainties remaining are due to imperfect knowledge of radiative forcing, natural climate variability, and errors in observations and model response.     

Effect of starch gelatinisation on nutrient digestibility and plasma metabolites in pigeons

Feed manufacturing exerts physical and chemical changes in ingredients, including the gelatinisation of starch. Studies on the effect of the degree of starch gelatinisation on nutrient digestibility, metabolism and subsequent performance show inconsistent results, and no data are available in pigeons. In a cross‐over trial, fourteen adult pigeons were randomly divided into two groups, in which two extruded pellet diets were tested. Both the diets were similar in ingredient composition and nutrient content, but differed in extrusion conditions, resulting in a different degree of starch gelatinisation: pellets with high gelatinisation degree (HG; 73.6% gelatinisation) and low gelatinisation degree (LG; 53.1% gelatinisation). After a 14‐day adaptation period, all excreta were gathered per bird during a 5‐day collection period. Coefficients of apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), crude fibre (CF), crude ash (CA) and nitrogen free extract (NFE) as well as apparent nitrogen retention were calculated from proximate analyses of feed and excreta. Further, excreta consistency was subjectively scored. Blood samples were taken at the end of each period and plasma samples were analysed for glucose, fructosamine and triglycerides. Feed intake and body weight changes were recorded weekly. The apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of DM, OM, CP, EE, CA and NFE were significantly higher in the LG group (p ≤ 0.05). The ADC of crude fibre was numerically higher in the LG group but not significant, and no significant differences were found in starch digestibility. Excreta consistency score tended to be higher in the LG diet group. Neither plasma glucose nor plasma fructosamine values were significantly different between the two test diets. The results of this study show that lower degree of starch gelatinisation in extruded diets can enhance digestibility in pigeons.     

Sources of resistance to downy mildew in narbon (Vicia narbonensis) and common (Vicia sativa) vetches

Downy mildew (Peronospora viciae (Berk) de Bary) is an important disease of vetches (Vicia spp.) in the Mediterranean Region. Narbon and common vetch germplasm accessions originating from different countries, and advanced breeding narbon vetch genotypes, were evaluated for reaction to downy mildew for two seasons under field conditions. In narbon vetch, there were resistant sources from both germplasm accessions and advanced genotypes. From the germplasm accessions, 25 accessions were resistant while from the advanced breeding genotypes, 10 had resistance, with 2–3 ratings. In common vetch, many accessions were highly resistant to downy mildew. These were widely distributed in different countries, mainly Turkey, Italy, Syria and Iran. In general, common vetch had higher sources of resistance than the narbon vetch accessions. These new sources of resistance to downy mildew will be incorporated into the forage legume improvement project in a continuous effort to identify cultivars suitable for replacing fallow in the cereal-based cropping systems.     

Status of autophagy,lysosome activity and apoptosis during corpus luteum regression in cattle

Corpus luteum (CL) regression is required during the estrous cycle. During CL regression, luteal cells stop producing progesterone and are degraded by apoptosis. However, the detailed mechanism of CL regression in cattle has not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to evaluate autophagy, lysosome activity, and apoptosis during CL regression in cattle. The expression of autophagy-related genes (LC3α, LC3β, Atg3, and Atg7) and the protein LC3-II was significantly higher in the late CL than in the mid CL. In addition, autophagy activity was significantly increased in the late CL. Moreover, gene expression of the autophagy inhibitor mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) was significantly lower in the late CL than in the mid CL. Lysosome activation and expression of cathepsin-related genes (CTSB, CTSD, and CTSZ) showed significant increases in the late CL and were associated with an increase in cathepsin B protein. In addition, mRNA expression and activity of caspase 3 (CASP3), an apoptotic enzyme, were significantly higher in the late CL than in the mid CL. These results suggest simultaneous upregulation of autophagy-related factors, lysosomal enzymes and apoptotic mediators, which are involved in regression of the bovine CL.     

不同灌溉和施肥水平对东尼罗河三角洲地区甜菜产量、品质及部分水分指标的影响

【目的】2008～2009、2009～2010年分别在埃及El-Sharkia省Zankalon研究站进行不同灌溉和氮肥水平对甜菜产量、品质及水分指标的影响试验。【方法】采用裂区设计,分别设3个灌溉处理即I1（60%田间持水量）、I2（80%田间持水量）和I3（100%田间持水量）和3个施肥处理即N1（50kgN/fed）、N2（70kgN/fed）和N3（90kgN/fed）。【结果】灌水处理I1的甜菜块根和糖产量最高、根径最大,其次为处理I2,处理I3的最低。随着灌溉水平的提高,甜菜块根长和蔗糖含量明显下降。当施用90kgN/fed氮肥,甜菜根长、根径、块根和糖产量明显提高,但糖分则有所降低。灌溉和施氮肥处理均对蔗糖纯度没有明显影响。3个灌溉处理I1、I2和I3的水分利用量分别为3579.7、3042.0和2504.0m2/fed,季节耗水量分别为58.12、52.06和47.29cm,而甜菜块根产量、糖产量的水分利用率分别为15.86、13.78、13.35kg块根/m3水和2.73、2.61and2.56kg糖/m3水。随着施氮水平的提高,获得一定甜菜根产量和糖产量,所需的实际耗水量和水分利用率也不断提高。在东尼罗河三角洲地区的甜菜平均季节作物系数为0.87。【结论】可在东尼罗河三角洲地区推荐使用Kc经验值来计算耗水量。     

Efficacy of an inactivated recombinant vaccine encoding a fimbrial protein of Pasteurella multocida B:2 against hemorrhagic septicemia in goats

This study was carried out to determine the antibody responses and protective capacity of an inactivated recombinant vaccine expressing the fimbrial protein of Pasteurella multocida B:2 following intranasal vaccination against hemorrhagic septicemia in goats. Goats were vaccinated intranasal with 10⁶ CFU/mL of the recombinant vaccine (vaccinated group) and 10⁶ CFU/mL of pET32/LIC vector without fimbrial protein (control group). All three groups were kept separated before all goats in the three groups were challenged with 10⁹ CFU/mL of live pathogenic P. multocida B:2. During the course of study, both serum and lung lavage fluid were collected to evaluate the antibody levels via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. It was found that goats immunized with the inactivated recombinant vaccine developed a strong and significantly (p < 0.05) higher specific IgA and IgG responses in both serum and lung lavage fluid samples compared to the control and unvaccinated groups. Following intratracheal challenge, the rate of isolation was 17% for the vaccinated group, 67% for the control group and 100% for the unvaccinated group. However, none of the goat from the vaccinated group had P. multocida B:2 in the liver, tonsil and heart. Therefore, the study revealed that an inactivated recombinant vaccine significantly provides significant protection against high dose challenge and enhances the stimulation of the local and systemic immunities.     

Effects of Cryopreservation on Bull Spermatozoa Distribution in Morphometrically Distinct Subpopulations

Assisted sperm morphometry analysis (ASMA) was used in this study to determine the effects of cryopreservation on bull spermatozoa distribution in morphometrically distinct subpopulations. Ejaculates were collected from five bulls and were divided. One portion was diluted at 30 degrees C in a skim milk-egg yolk medium, containing glycerol. A microscope slide was prepared from single extended sperm samples prior to freezing. The remainder of each sample was frozen in nitrogen vapours. After thawing, sperm smears were prepared as described above. All slides were air dried and stained with Hemacolor. The sperm-head dimensions for a minimum of 200 sperm heads were analysed from each sample by means of the Sperm-Class Analyser (SCA), and the mean measurements recorded. Our results showed that applying the ASMA technology and multivariate cluster analyses, it was possible to determine that three separate subpopulations of spermatozoa with different morphometric characteristics coexist in bull ejaculates (large, average and small spermatozoa). The mean values of each sperm head dimension among the three subpopulations of spermatozoa were significantly different (p < 0.001). Besides, there were significant (p < 0.001) differences in the distribution of these three sperm subpopulations between fresh and thawed samples. Thus, the percentage of representation of the subpopulation that includes those spermatozoa whose dimensions are the biggest, decreased from 52.06% in extended fresh samples to 15.51% in the thawed ones. Contrarily, the percent of representation of the subpopulation containing the smallest spermatozoa, increased from 8.70% in extended fresh samples to 34.04% in the thawed ones. In conclusion, the present study confirms the heterogeneity of sperm head dimensions in bull semen, heterogeneity that vary through the cryopreservation procedure.     

Synchronizing Cell Cycle of Goat Fibroblasts by Serum Starvation Causes Apoptosis

Cell cycle stage and synchronization of donor cells are important factors influencing the success of somatic cell nuclear transfer. This study examined whether serum starvation has any effect on specific cell death. We also studied the effects of serum starvation, culture to confluence, and full confluency (confluent + 72 h) on cell cycle characteristics and apoptosis of goat dermal fibroblast cells. The cells were obtained from the ear of a 1.5‐year‐old female goat. The following experimental groups were analysed for fibroblast cells: (i) normally growing, (ii) confluent, (iii) full confluency, (iv) cells starved for 48 h and (v) cells starved for 72 h. Analysis of cell cycle distribution by flow cytometry showed that 4.56 and 51.88% of normal cycling cells were at the G0 and G1 phases respectively. In the confluent group, 80% of the cells were arrested in the G0/G1 phase. Serum starvation for 48 and 72 h arrested 84.78% and 90.1% cells at the G0/G1 phase respectively which showed a significant difference when compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Double staining by PI and FITC distinguishes G0 phase from G1 phase. In the full confluency group, 91.53% of cells were at G0/G1 stage, but in contrast to the serum starved group, this high percentage of G0/G1 cells was mainly associated with G1 cells. Under normal culture conditions, 6.39% of cells underwent early apoptosis. In the confluent group 8.93% of cells showed early apoptosis. Serum starvation for 48 and 72 h caused early apoptosis in 8.91 and 39.83% of the cells respectively. Full confluency treatment did not increase the number of apoptotic cells significantly (8.67%). After 72 h, serum starvation significantly increased early apoptosis (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the use of full confluency is suitable for cell cycle synchronization because it arrests cells at the G0/G1 phase and also induces less apoptosis in comparison with the serum starvation group.     

Investigation of in vitro measurable sperm attributes and their influence on electroejaculated bull semen with a fixed‐time artificial insemination protocol in Australian Bos indicus cattle

Increasing use of fixed‐time artificial insemination (FTAI) in beef cattle production has presented an opportunity for the use of fresh or chilled semen as an alternative to standard cryopreserved semen. The objective of this study was to examine in vitro sperm function and pregnancy rate of electroejaculated semen, chilled and stored for 48 hr, compared to conventionally cryopreserved semen with an optimized FTAI protocol in Brahman cattle. Semen from three Brahman bulls was collected, and aliquots were extended in either chilled (at 5°C) or frozen (LN₂) in a Tris‐egg yolk extender base with 2.4% or 7.0% glycerol, respectively. Semen samples were assessed 48 hr after collection or post‐thaw and warming, for sperm motility, in vitro sperm function and fertilizing ability, and used in a FTAI programme. The overall pregnancy rates was significantly different (p < .01) after FTAI with frozen (n = 173; 53.2%) and chilled semen (n = 174; 31.6%). In contrast, the in vitro sperm assessment showed that the chilled semen had significantly faster motility (p < .05), a higher proportion of progressively motile spermatozoa (p < .05), with significantly higher proportions of acrosome intact, viable spermatozoa (p < .01). This study showed that reasonable pregnancy rates in Brahman cattle can be achieved using FTAI with chilled semen collected using electroejaculation and stored for up to 48 hr. However, improvements in semen extenders are required in consideration of semen collection method to improve the longevity of sperm fertilizing ability to significantly increase FTAI output using chilled storage of bull semen.