Presence of chlorogenic acid during in vitro maturation protects porcine oocytes from the negative effects of heat stress

Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is known to protect oocytes from oxidative stress. Here we investigated the effects of CGA on porcine oocyte maturation under heat stress and subsequent embryonic development after parthenogenetic activation. For in vitro maturation (IVM) at 41.0°C (hyperthermic condition), supplementation of the maturation medium with 50 μM CGA significantly improved the percentage of matured oocytes and reduced the rate of apoptosis relative to oocytes matured without CGA (p < .05). CGA treatment of oocytes during IVM under hyperthermia tended to increase (p < .1) percentage of blastocyst formation after parthenogenesis and significantly increased (p < .05) the total cell number per blastocyst relative to oocytes matured without CGA. For IVM at 38.5°C (isothermic condition), CGA significantly improved the rate of blastocyst development compared with oocytes matured without CGA (p < .05), but did not affect oocyte maturation, apoptosis rate or the number of cells per embryo. Omission of all antioxidants from the IVM medium significantly reduced the rate of oocyte maturation, but the rate was restored upon addition of CGA. These results demonstrate that CGA is a potent antioxidant that protects porcine oocytes from the negative effects of heat stress, thus reducing the frequency of apoptosis and improving the quality of embryos.     

Visible light induced dextran-methacrylate hydrogel formation using (−)-riboflavin vitamin B2 as a photoinitiator and L-arginine as a co-initiator

The objective of this study is to examine the feasibility of using visible light to form gels from polysaccharide precursors. Hydrogel formation by visible light irradiation would be very beneficial because visible light is a benign light source and ready available when compared with other light sources such as UV. Dextran-methacylate was synthesized and photocrosslinked using (−)-riboflavin as a photoinitiator and L-arginine as a co-initiator under the visible light. The effect of various concentrations of (−)-riboflavin and L-arginine on the photo-crosslinking of dextran-methacrylate hydrogel was investigated. The fabricated hydrogel was characterized by FT-IR and SEM. The photoinitiator [(−)-riboflavin] and co-initiator (L-arginine) as well as dextran precursor are completely biocompatible. The optimum condition for the biocompatible dextran-based hydrogel formation under the harmless light source (visible light) was elucidated in this study. In general, the (−)-riboflavin, 0.01–0.5 %, and L-arginine, 5–20 % of the weight of dextran-methacrylate were the best condition in forming dextran-based hydrogels under the visible light. The three-dimensional hydrogel structure was verified by SEM morphology of swollen hydrogels. Photocrosslinking under the visible light source would enlarge the applications of this type of photocrosslinking in the biomedical area (e.g., eyes or other light-sensitive organs).     

Effects of omitting vitamin and trace mineral premixes and(or) reducing inorganic phosphorus additions on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and muscle quality in finishing pigs.

Three experiments were conducted to determine the effects of omitting vitamin and trace mineral premixes and(or) reducing inorganic phosphorus additions to finishing diets on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and muscle quality in pigs. In Exp. 1, a corn-soybean meal-based diet (.70% lysine, .65% Ca, and .55% P) was used as the control. Pigs (n = 128; average initial BW of 85.7 kg) were fed the control diet or the control diet without 1) the vitamin premix, 2) the trace mineral premix, or 3) both premixes. Omitting the premixes had no effect on ADG (P>.39); gain/feed (P>.17); carcass backfat thickness (P>.42); and marbling, color, and firmness of the longissimus muscle (P>.11). In Exp. 2, pigs (n = 128; average initial BW of 86.2 kg) were fed the control diet (.65% Ca and .53% P) used in Exp. 1 and the control diet without 1/3 (.56% Ca and .46% P), 2/3 (.51% Ca and .40% P), or all (.47% Ca and .31% P) of the added monocalcium phosphate (MCP). Omitting up to 2/3 of the MCP increased ADG (quadratic effect, P<.02) and had no effect on meat quality (P>.12), but backfat thickness increased slightly (quadratic effect, P<.02). In Exp. 3, pigs (n = 160; average initial BW of 86.6 kg) were fed the control diet used in Exp. 1 or the control without 1) the vitamin and trace mineral premixes, 2) 2/3 of the MCP, or 3) the premixes and 2/3 of the MCP. Treatment had no effects on ADG (P>.23), gain/feed (P>.94), stomach lesions (P>.37), or serum gamma globulins (P>.08). In conclusion, vitamin and trace mineral premixes and up to 2/3 of the supplemental MCP can be omitted during late finishing (i.e., approximately the final 30 d) to reduce nutrient excesses that increase cost of feeding and nutrients excreted in waste material.     

Digestive enzymes present in Pacific threadfin Polydactylus sexfilis (Bloch & Schneider 1801) and bluefin trevally Caranx melampygus (Cuvier 1833)

Pacific threadfin Polydactylus sexfilis (Bloch & Schneider 1801) and bluefin trevally Caranx melampygus (Cuvier 1833) are warmwater marine finfish currently under development for aquaculture in the Pacific. Differences in specific activities of digestive enzymes extracted from the stomach and mid-gut were compared to gain insight into their feeding habits in the wild and to understand their nutritional needs. Adult fish were maintained in captivity and fed a commercial pelleted feed. Serine protease measured in all tissues was at least 20 times higher in threadfin than in trevally. Aspartic proteases were the major digestive enzymes found in trevally. There was a 34-fold increase in collagenase activity in the intestine of threadfin from the prefed to the fed state. Chitinase activity was found in the stomach, pylorus and intestine of both species. However, specific activity in pylorus and intestine of threadfin increased 2.75 and 4 times, respectively, but showed little change in trevally. Amlyases were found only in trevally. Increase in lipase specific activity in the gut of trevally was higher than that for threadfin. The results indicated that the two species have diverse digestive capabilities. This appears to be consistent with their feeding habits in nature. Threadfin are more adapted to a wider range of food protein sources than trevally, but appear to be less well adapted than trevally to using complex carbohydrates. These observations may provide a basis for practical diet formulations for these two species.     

Effects of rindite on breaking dormancy of potato microtubers

Potato microtubers were treated with rindite to investigate the effect on dormancy breaking. Postharvest application of rindite by fumigation with 2 ml rindite for 48 hr or 4ml for 24 hr significantly reduced the dormancy period of potato microtubers using a 32 x 15 x 17 cm tightly sealed plastic box. Approximately 2 weeks after the treatments microtubers of all cultivars, Atlantic, Superior, Lemhi Russet, Red Dale and Kennebec started to sprout. The efficiency of the treatments were the greatest for the cv. Lemhi Russet, intermediate for cv. Superior and least for cv. Red Dale. In all cultivars of potato microtubers, more decay was observed the earlier rindite treatment occurred after harvesting, therefore potato microtubers should be treated with rindite at least 2 weeks after harvest when the skin of microtubers is mature. The data indicates that the dormancy of potato microtubers with well-matured skin can be effectively broken with an optimum treatment of rindite.     

Plant invasion and management in turf‐dominated waste landfills in South Korea

A floristic survey was conducted in turf‐dominated fields on some waste landfills in South Korea, to quantify the degree of plant invasion in those degraded lands. The dominant species, except turf (Zoysia japonica), were Conyza canadensis, Setaria viridis, Digitaria sanguinalis and Aster tripolium. Mean species number declined linearly with distance from the edge of the turf stands. Biomass of each species ranged between 0.1 g and 122.6 g, decreasing linearly with distance from the edge of the stand and declining exponentially with turf coverage. Mean soil moisture storage and organic matter content were 12.59 per cent and 5.81 per cent, respectively. Sum of relative cover, frequency and biomass of all species with environmental variables (distance from the stand edge, turf cover, soil moisture storage, soil organic matter content and the ratio of species number of exotic plants to that of native plants) were ordinated by DCA (detrended correspondence analysis). The first axis of the DCA was positively correlated with distance from the stand edge and turf cover and the second axis of the DCA was negatively correlated with soil organic matter content. Highly and lowly invasive species were indicated from DCA results. From analysis of dispersal type, barochore and anemochore were the most widespread of other dispersal types but it was suggested that anthropochore played an important role in plant invasion in these degraded wastelands. Establishment of an edge transition zone, enhancement of turf cover and reduction in traffic is recommended as management options for turf fields. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of temperature on growth and fatty acid synthesis in the cyclopoid copepod <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paracyclopina nana</Emphasis>

We have used the cyclopoid copepod Paracyclopina nana to understand responses to the temperature shift. To determine the changes of molecular mechanisms, which would lead to physiological changes in P. nana, we investigated mRNA expression involved in lipogenesis, the area of lipid droplets, the ratio of fatty acids, and life parameters (growth and fecundity) in response to temperature changes (15, 20, and 30 °C) with comparative control at 25 °C. Setting the temperature 25 °C as a standard point, there were increases in mRNA expression, the area of the lipid droplets, and fatty acid composition at temperatures below the standard (15 °C), while all the markers mentioned above significantly decreased at higher temperatures than the standard (25 °C). Through fecundity and growth rate experiments, daily nauplii production was reduced and growth retardation was observed at both 15 and 20 °C, but no noticeable differences in the two parameters were observed at 30 °C compared to the control (25 °C). This study provides a better understanding of the effects of temperature on lipogenesis in copepods.     

Examining talent attraction and retention in small and medium-sized cities: Where do universities fit in?

As universities have become more integrated into their communities and regions, their host cities have become locations of choice for the highly educated facilitating increased innovation and productivity rates in several locales. Recent transitions toward knowledge-driven economies have also intensified growing geographic divides along the lines of education and raised concerns about the possibility of brain drain in a growing number of cities/regions. This study examines the changing geography of highly educated individuals (2000–2017) with a focus on small and medium-sized U.S. metropolitan areas with and without research universities. Results indicate the continuing trend of divergence among regions, but research universities are found to complement (the lack of) talent agglomeration and generate spatial spillovers beyond the county boundaries.