Seasonal variation in testicular blood flow dynamics and their relation to systemic and testicular oxidant/antioxidant biomarkers and androgens in rams

The environmental temperature increased during summer and decreased during winter to the limits that might negatively affect animal and human reproduction. The responses of Egyptian rams to either hot or cold climatic conditions were studied in six mature rams subjected to weekly testicular Doppler ultrasonographic examination, blood sampling, seminal plasma collection and semen evaluation. The maximum environmental temperature and the relative humidity were used to classify the climatic condition according to the heat stress equation of sheep into hot months where temperature–humidity index (THI) was >26 (31.67 ± 0.54), and cold months where THI was <22 (18.39 ± 0.41). Testosterone, estradiol, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and lipid peroxide product (malondialdehyde, MDA) were measured in both blood and seminal plasma, while catalase (CAT) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were measured in blood and seminal plasma, respectively. Results revealed that, during the hot months, rams displayed significantly decreased testicular blood flow, increased seminal plasma MDA, decreased seminal plasma (SOD, GPx and GSH) and blood CAT antioxidant enzymes. The present study evidenced two novel findings: (a) the marked decrease in testicular blood flow volume, that is remarkable increase in both resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) values, during hot months could be negatively affected both seminal plasma enzymatic activities and seminal attributes, and (b) the SOD and GPx activities in seminal plasma of such animals were suitable predictive markers for seminal attribute evaluation.     

Thermal Structure of Jupiter's Upper Atmosphere Derived from the Galileo Probe

Temperatures in Jupiter's atmosphere derived from Galileo Probe deceleration data increase from 109 kelvin at the 175-millibar level to 900 ± 40 kelvin at 1 nanobar, consistent with Voyager remote sensing data. Wavelike oscillations are present at all levels. Vertical wavelengths are 10 to 25 kilometers in the deep isothermal layer, which extends from 12 to 0.003 millibars. Above the 0.003-millibar level, only 90- to 270- kilometer vertical wavelengths survive, suggesting dissipation of wave energy as the probable source of upper atmosphere heating.     

Prediction of the optimum veneer drying temperature for good bonding in plywood manufacturing by means of artificial neural network

Veneer drying is one of the most important stages in the manufacturing of veneer-based composites such as plywood and laminated veneer lumber. Due to the high drying costs, increased temperatures are being used commonly in plywood industry to reduce the overall drying time and increase capacity. However, high drying temperatures can alter some physical, mechanical and chemical characteristics of wood and cause some drying-related defects. In this study, it was attempted to predict the optimum drying temperature for beech and spruce veneers via artificial neural network modeling for optimum bonding. Therefore, bonding shear strength values of plywood panels manufactured from beech and spruce veneers dried at temperatures of 20, 110, 150 and 180 °C were obtained experimentally. Then, the intermediate bond strength values based on veneer drying temperatures were predicted by artificial neural network modeling, and the values not measured experimentally were evaluated. The optimum drying temperature values that yielded the highest bonding strength were obtained as 169 °C for urea formaldehyde and 125 °C for phenol formaldehyde adhesive in beech plywood panels, while 162 °C for urea formaldehyde and 151 °C for phenol formaldehyde in spruce plywood panels.     

The optimized inclusion level of Bacillus subtilis fermented Azolla pinnata in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) diets: immunity,antioxidative status,intestinal digestive enzymes and histomorphometry,and disease resistance

Fish Physiology and Biochemistry - A 95-day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the outcomes of feeding Bacillus subtilis fermented Azolla (BSFA) on nonspecific immunity, antioxidative status,...     

Effect of Drought Conditions at Boiling Stage on Some Chemical Constituents of Cotton Plant

The investigation was carried out to study the effect of drought conditions at boiling stage on chloroplast pigments and anthocyanin, in leaves, carbohydrate, phenols and total amino nitrogen content in leaves and roots, oil and protein contents in bolls of different ages. Seeds of cv. Giza 75 cotton were sown during 1987 and 1988 seasons in pots of 30 cm in diameter containing 11 kg of soil; after complete germination, thinning was carried out leaving one plant per pot. Plants were subjected to water stress conditions at boiling stage till the sign of wilting, while the control plants were irrigated regularly at this stage without allowing the plants to reach wilting stage and kept in turgid state. The results obtained can be summarized as follows:
1. Drought conditions decreased reducing sugar, nonreducing sugar, total soluble sugar and total amino nitrogen in leaves, while the reverse was true in roots.
2. Drought conditions reduced total and polyphenols content in leaves while it had no effect on phenols compounds in roots.
3. Drought conditions had no significant effect on pigments except total carotenoid in 1987 season.
4. Oil content in seeds of different boll ages decreased as a result of drought in both seasons.
5. In general drought condition increased protein content in 1987 season while the reverse was true in 1988 season.
6. Leaves and roots of wilted plants had more inhibitors as compared to turgid plants.     

Correlation Study between Land Use, Water Quality, and Heavy Metals (Cd, Pb, and Zn) Content in Water and Green Lipped Mussels Perna viridis (Linnaeus.) at the Johor Strait

In order to observe the variation in land use changes, satellite images from the Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) and the Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM) for 1991, 2000, 2005, and 2008 were used to compare the differences between selected water quality parameters, including heavy metal (Cd, Pb, and Zn) content in both water and green mussels or Perna viridis (Linnaeus.) before and after the increase in land use activities beginning from 2006. The samples were collected at 11 points for water and 4 points for green mussels between the Second Link and the Causeway Link at the Johor Strait in 2009 and were analyzed for pH, temperature degrees Celsius), dissolved oxygen, ammoniacal nitrogen, and heavy metal (Cd, Pb, and Zn) content.     

Removal of Residual Oils from Palm Oil Mill Effluent by Adsorption on Natural Zeolite

The adsorption of residue oil from palm oil mill effluent using natural zeolite was investigated in this study. The adsorption was performed in batch mode, and the effect of different operational parameters such as pH, dose of adsorbent, stirring rate, contact time and initial oil concentration were explored. It was found that the pH plays a major role in the adsorption process. Isotherm data best fitted with the Freundlich model, and kinetic data followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The results obtained demonstrated that the oil removal efficiencies by natural zeolite were up to 70?% at a pH of 3.0 and 50?min of contact time. The adsorbent material also has been characterised by X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy.     

Removal and Preconcentration of Cobalt Ions from Aqueous Media Using ImHA Packed Column by On-Line SPE System

This work assesses the use of immobilized humic acid (ImHA) onto aminopropyl silica (APS) as a sorbent for the removal and preconcentration of trace amounts of cobalt ions by on-line solid phase extraction (SPE) technique in the column system prepared in our laboratory. Different parameters, such as the effect of the pH, concentration, and flow rate, were studied and throughput was observed by a UV detector. All SPE steps were monitored by breakthrough curves used to visualize distribution of cobalt concentration between mobile and solid phase. The solutions collected from stripping steps were analyzed in atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS) and the amount of sorbed ions was calculated. Sorption characteristics were evaluated by using common adsorption isotherms and Scatchard plot analysis. From the obtained results, it was seen that sorption mechanism of cobalt ions were fitted to Langmuir model on a large scale and thought to be localized. Mean free energy (E?=?40.82?kJ?mol^?1) calculated from D-R isotherm showed that chemical interactions are more effective than physical interactions. This investigation reveals a new, simple, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective method for removal and preconcentration of cobalt ions from aqueous solutions by a new aminopropyl silica-immobilized humic acid material.     

Correction: QTL mapping under salt stress in rice using a Kalarata–Azucena population

Euphytica - The color of flour and its end-use products is an important quality trait of wheat. Understanding the genetic basis of this trait is essential for improving wheat quality. In this...