Production of Wild Buffalo (Bubalus arnee) Embryos by Interspecies Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer Using Domestic Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) Oocytes

The objective of this study was to explore the possibility of producing wild buffalo embryos by interspecies somatic cell nuclear transfer (iSCNT) through handmade cloning using wild buffalo somatic cells and domestic buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) oocytes. Somatic cells derived from the ear skin of wild buffalo were found to express vimentin but not keratin and cytokeratin‐18, indicating that they were of fibroblast origin. The population doubling time of skin fibroblasts from wild buffalo was significantly (p < 0.05) higher, and the cell proliferation rate was significantly (p < 0.05) lower compared with that of skin fibroblasts from domestic buffalo. Neither the cleavage (92.6 ± 2.0% vs 92.8 ± 2.0%) nor the blastocyst rate (42.4 ± 2.4% vs 38.7 ± 2.8%) was significantly different between the intraspecies cloned embryos produced using skin fibroblasts from domestic buffalo and interspecies cloned embryos produced using skin fibroblasts from wild buffalo. However, the total cell number (TCN) was significantly (p < 0.05) lower (192.0 ± 25.6 vs 345.7 ± 42.2), and the apoptotic index was significantly (p < 0.05) higher (15.1 ± 3.1 vs 8.0 ± 1.4) for interspecies than that for intraspecies cloned embryos. Following vitrification in open‐pulled straws (OPS) and warming, although the cryosurvival rate of both types of cloned embryos, as indicated by their re‐expansion rate, was not significantly different (34.8 ± 1.5% vs 47.8 ± 7.8), the apoptotic index was significantly (p < 0.05) higher for vitrified–warmed interspecies than that for corresponding intraspecies cloned embryos (48.9 ± 7.2 vs 23.9 ± 2.8). The global level of H3K18ac was significantly (p < 0.05) lower in interspecies cloned embryos than that in intraspecies cloned embryos. The expression level of HDAC1, DNMT3a and CASPASE3 was significantly (p < 0.05) higher, that of P53 was significantly (p < 0.05) lower in interspecies than in intraspecies embryos, whereas that of DNMT1 was similar between the two types of embryos. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that wild buffalo embryos can be produced by iSCNT.     

Vacuum Squeezing of Solids: Macroscopic Quantum States Driven by Light Pulses

Femtosecond laser pulses and coherent two-phonon Raman scattering were used to excite KTaO3 into a squeezed state, nearly periodic in time, in which the variance of the atomic displacements dips below the standard quantum limit for half of a cycle. This nonclassical state involves a continuum of transverse acoustic modes that leads to oscillations in the refractive index associated with the frequency of a van Hove singularity in the phonon density of states.     

Low-Temperature Nonoxidative Activation of Methane over H-Galloaluminosilicate (MFI) Zeolite

Conversion of methane to higher hydrocarbons by its low-temperature activation without forming undesirable carbon oxides is of great scientific and practical importance. Methane can be highly activated, yielding high rates of conversion to higher hydrocarbons and aromatics (10 to 45 percent) at low temperatures (400° to 600°C), by its reaction over H-galloaluminosilicate ZSM-5 type (MFI) zeolite in the presence of alkenes or higher alkanes. The methane activation results from its hydrogen-transfer reaction with alkenes.     

Spin-transistor action via tunable Landau-Zener transitions

Spin-transistor designs relying on spin-orbit interaction suffer from low signal levels resulting from low spin-injection efficiency and fast spin decay. Here, we present an alternative approach in which spin information is protected by propagating this information adiabatically. We demonstrate the validity of our approach in a cadmium manganese telluride diluted magnetic semiconductor quantum well structure in which efficient spin transport is observed over device distances of 50 micrometers. The device is turned "off" by introducing diabatic Landau-Zener transitions that lead to a backscattering of spins, which are controlled by a combination of a helical and a homogeneous magnetic field. In contrast to other spin-transistor designs, we find that our concept is tolerant against disorder.     

Seasonal changes in the interactions among leptin, ghrelin, and orexin in sheep

The adaptation of the physiology of an animal to changing conditions of light and food availability is evident at the behavioral and hormonal levels. Melatonin, leptin, ghrelin, and orexin, which exhibit rhythmic secretion profiles under ad libitum feeding conditions, are sensitive to changes in daylength, forming a tight web of interrelationships in the regulation of energy balance. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of central injections of leptin, ghrelin, and orexin on the reciprocal interactions among these hormones and the influence of photoperiod on these responses. Twenty-four ovariectomized and estradiol-implanted ewes were used in a replicated switchback design. The ewes were assigned randomly to 1 of 6 treatment groups, and the treatments were infused into their third ventricles 3 times at 0, 1, and 2 h, with 0 h being at dusk. The treatments were as follows: 1) control, Ringer-Locke buffer; 2) leptin, 0.5 μg/kg BW; 3) ghrelin, 2.5 μg/kg BW; 4) orexin B, 0.3 μg/kg BW; 5) leptin antagonist, 50 μg/kg BW, then ghrelin, 2.5 μg/kg BW; and 6) leptin antagonist, 50 μg/kg BW, then orexin B, 0.3 μg/kg BW. Blood samples (5 mL) were collected at 15-min intervals for 6 h. The administration of leptin increased (P < 0.05) plasma concentrations of melatonin during short-day (ShD) photoperiods and decreased (P < 0.05) them during long-day (LD) photoperiods, whereas ghrelin decreased (P < 0.05) melatonin concentrations during ShD photoperiod, and orexin had no effect (P > 0.1). Leptin attenuated (P < 0.05) ghrelin concentrations relative to the concentration in controls during ShD. The plasma concentrations of orexin were reduced (P < 0.05) after leptin infusions during LD and ShD photoperiods; however, ghrelin had the opposite effect (P < 0.05) on orexin concentration. Orexin increased (P < 0.05) ghrelin concentrations during LD. Ghrelin and orexin concentrations were increased (P < 0.05) after leptin antagonist infusions. Our data provide evidence that the secretion of leptin, ghrelin, and orexin are seasonally dependent, with relationships that are subject to photoperiodic regulation, and that leptin is an important factor that regulates ghrelin and orexin releases in sheep.