Ovarian superstimulatory response relative to follicular wave emergence in heifers

Two experiments were designed to evaluate the responsiveness of beef heifers to superstimulatory treatments administered during the first follicular wave. Heifers were examined daily (Experiment 1) or twice daily (Experiment 2) by ultrasonography to determine the status of follicular wave development and the day of initiation of superstimulatory treatment. Heifers in both experiments were superstimulated with a total dose of 10 ml Folltropin (equivalent to 200 mg of NIH-FSH-P1), divided into 10 equal intramuscular injections over 5 days. On the last day of treatment, heifers received 500 mug of cloprostenol after each injection of Folltropin to induce luteolysis. In the respective groups, superstimulatory treatments were initiated on Day -1, Day 0 (day of ovulation) or Day +1 for Experiment 1, and on Day -1, Day 0, Day +1 or Day +2 for Experiment 2. In Experiment 1, the number of ovulations in each ovary was assessed by ultrasonography and by counting the number of corpora lutea (CL) in each ovary at slaughter. The correlation between both techniques for assessing ovulatory response was high (r= 0.98; P< 0.0001), and there was no significant difference in the mean number of ovulations detected by ultrasound (5.7+/-1.1) versus the mean number of CL counted at slaughter (6.2+/-1.2). In Experiment 1, the mean (+/- SEM) number of CL counted at slaughter in heifers treated on Day -1 (9.4+/-3.8) and Day 0 (7.3+/-1.6) was higher (P< 0.05) than that of heifers treated on Day +1 (0.7+/-0.3). The mean number of follicles >/=7 mm in diameter on the last day of treatment was also higher (P<0.05) in the Day -1 group compared with the Day +1 group; the Day 0 group was intermediate. In Experiment 2, the mean number of ovulations was higher (P< 0.05) in the Day 0 group (18.4+/-3.4) than the Day -1 (9.5+/-2.3), Day +1 (6.7+/-2.2) or Day +2 (6.5+/-2.3) groups. Heifers in the Day -1, and Day 0 groups had more (P< 0.05) follicles >/=7 mm at the end of treatment compared with heifers in the Day +1 or the Day +2 group. The stated hypothesis was supported: exogenous FSH treatment initiated at the time of wave emergence, near the expected time of the endogenous wave-eliciting FSH surge, has a positive effect on the superstimulatory response. A higher superstimulatory response was elicited when treatments were initiated on the day of, or the day before, wave emergence compared with that of later treatments.     

Changes in water status during water stress at different stages of development in wheat

The dynamics of stomatal resistance and osmotic adjustment in response to plant water deficits and stage of physiological development was studied in the leaves of spring wheat ( Triticum aestivum L., GWO 1809). Plants were germinated and grown in pots in a growth chamber at the Duke University Phytotron to four physiological stages of development (4th leaf, 7th leaf, anthesis, and soft dough), during which time stomatal resistance, total water potential and osmotic potential were measured on the last fully developed leaf of water stressed and non-stressed plants. Pressure potential was obtained by difference. Stomatal closure of the abaxial and adaxial surfaces were independent of each other, each having a different critical total water potential. The total water potential required to close the stomata on the last fully developed leaf were different at different stages of physiological development, decreasing as the plants grew older. The development of osmoregulation in wheat allows the closure of stomata during the vegetative stage at a high total water potential, but insures that stomata remain open from anthesis through the ear filling period to a lower total water potential.     

Characterization of the myoglobin of the lampreyPetromyzon marinus

Summary Myoglobin has been identified in the myocardium of the lampreyPetromyzon marinus, one of the most primitive of all vertebrates. This protein was isolated by ammonium sulphate fractionation and purified by successive chromatography on Ultrogel AcA 54, DEAE-Sephadex and CM-23 cellulose. The molecule differs substantially from the monomeric hemoglobins found in the lamprey as evidenced by its elution profile on DEAE-Sephadex and the fingerprint pattern of its enzymically-produced peptides. The functional significance of this protein in Agnatha is discussed.     

Rhinitis,Ocular, Throat and Dermal Symptoms,Headache and Tiredness among Students in Schools from Johor Bahru,Malaysia: Associations with Fungal DNA and Mycotoxins in Classroom Dust

There are few studies on rhinitis and sick building syndrome (SBS) among students in tropical countries. We studied associations between levels of five fungal DNA sequences, two mycotoxins (sterigmatocystin and verrucarol) and cat allergen (Fel d 1) levels in schools and rhinitis and other weekly SBS symptoms in the students. Fungal DNA was measured by quantitative PCR and cat allergen by ELISA. Pupils (N = 462) from eight randomly selected schools in Johor Bahru, Malaysia participated (96%). Dust samples were collected by cotton swabs and Petri dishes exposed for one week. None of the schools had a mechanical ventilation system, but all classrooms had openable windows that were kept open during lectures and indoor CO₂ levels were low (mean 492 ppm; range 380–690 ppm). Weekly nasal symptoms (rhinitis) (18.8%), ocular (11.6%), throat (11.1%), dermal symptoms, headache (20.6%) and tiredness (22.1%) were common. Total fungal DNA in swab samples was associated with rhinitis (p = 0.02), ocular symptoms (p = 0.009) and tiredness (p = 0.001). There were positive associations between Aspergillus versicolor DNA in Petri dish samples, ocular symptoms (p = 0.02) and tiredness (p = 0.001). The level of the mycotoxin verrucarol (produced by Stachybotrys chartarum) in swab samples was positively associated with tiredness (p = 0.04). Streptomyces DNA in swab samples (p = 0.03) and Petri dish samples (p = 0.03) were negatively associated with tiredness. In conclusion, total fungal contamination, measured as total fungal DNA) in the classrooms, Aspergillus versicolor and verrucarol can be risk factors for rhinitis and SBS symptoms among students in the tropical country Malaysia.     

Profiling the Lipophilic Fractions of Pithecellobium dulce Bark and Leaves Using GC/MS and Evaluation of Their Antioxidant,Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activities

Pithecellobium dulce has been used in traditional medicine to treat various ailments owing to its restorative properties. The biological activities and chemical profiles of the lipophilic fraction of P. dulce bark and leaves were assessed herein. Fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) and unsaponifiable matter (USM) were prepared and analyzed by GC/MS. A total of 40 compounds were identified in the bark saponifiable fraction, whereas 9 compounds were annotated in the leaves. Palmitic acid methyl ester was the major compound identified accounting for 41.48 % of the bark and 19.03 % of the leaves composition. Besides, linolenic acid methyl ester (22.40 %) and linoleic acid (12.69 %) were annotated in the leaves saponifiable fraction. A total of 63 compounds were detected in the bark USM and 4 compounds were identified in the leaves. Phytol represented the major component in the leaves (52.57 %) followed by lupeol (20.68 %) and lupenone (8.60 %). Meanwhile, n‐dodecane dominated in the bark USM accounting for 24.69 % of the total composition. The leaves and bark lipophilic fractions revealed moderate antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Both extracts showed no antifungal activity. No cytotoxicity was observed for both lipophilic fractions. P. dulce offers a good source of antioxidant compounds that can be introduced to food and pharmaceutical industry.     

Foliar Concentrations of Selected Elements,Assessment of Oxidative Stress Markers and Role of Antioxidant Defense System is Associated with Fly Ash Stress Tolerance in Withania somnifera

Journal of Plant Growth Regulation - Increased dependence on thermal power has resulted in a significant increase in the generation of fly ash&nbsp;(FA), which exacerbates environmental...     

Review and future prospects on the mechanisms related to cold stress resistance and tolerance in medicinal plants

Medicinal plants play important role in industrial production of medicines. Moreover, they consume without complicated processes around the world. They are considered as healthy cure without any harmful side effects at least among ordinary people. Cold stress is one the harmful abiotic stresses and constrains medicinal plants yielding geographically. Cold acclimation is a process that induces cold stress resistance in temperate plants. Various structural and morphological alterations are involved in this process. Also, enzymatic and non-enzymatic agents play role in cold acclimation. Cell membrane modification and compatible solutes accumulation and so many other changes occur through cold acclimation. Growing under different stressful conditions, medicinal plants synthesize different components such as metabolites. Moreover, ROS can be generated in plant cells under stressful conditions. The accumulation of bioactive components, biosynthesis of phytohormones, ion hemostasis, osmolyte (compatible solutes) accumulation and changes in nutrient uptake, root system modification and systemic resistance are some of new investigations that are considered in this review.     

Spatio-temporal analysis of Egyptian flower mantis Blepharopsis mendica (order: mantodea), with notes of its future status under climate change

Egyptian flower mantis Blepharopsis mendica (Order: Mantodea) is a widespread mantis species throughout the southwest Palearctic region. The ecological and geographical distribution of such interesting species is rarely known. So, through this work, habitat suitability models for its distribution through Egyptian territory were created using MaxEnt software from 90 occurrence records. One topographic (altitude) and eleven bioclimatic variables influencing the species distribution were selected to generate the models. The predicted distribution in Egypt was focused on the Delta, South Sinai, the north-eastern part of the country, and some areas in the west including Siwa Oasis. Temporal analysis between the two periods (1900–1961) and (1961–2017) show current reduction of this species distribution through Delta and its surrounding areas, may be due to urbanization. On the other hand, it increases in newly protected areas of South Sinai. Under the future climate change scenario, the MaxEnt model predicted the habitat gains for B. mendica in RCP 2.6 for 2070 and loss of habitat in RCP 8.5 for the same year. Our results can be used as a basis for conserving this species not only in Egypt, but also throughout the whole of its range, also, it show how the using of geo-information could help in studying animal ecology.     

Evolutionary profile of the family Calliphoridae,with notes on the origin of myiasis

The family Calliphoridae is a group of heterogenous calyptrate flies with a worldwide distribution including species of ecological, veterinary, medical, and forensic importance. Notorious for their parasitic habits, the larvae of many blowflies are characterised – like some other dipteran larvae – by their ability to develop in animal flesh. When parasitism affects a living host, it is termed “myiasis”. This has led the Calliphoridae to be considered as a pivotal family in its relationship with a man. Nevertheless, even after more than 50 years of research, the phylogenetic relationships among calliphorid subfamilies together with the evolutionary origin of myiasis remain unclear. In order to elucidate these problems, we constructed three phylogenetic trees by using nucleotide sequence data from cytochrome oxidase subunit one (COI), representing a mitochondrial conservative gene, and nuclear 28S subunit of ribosomal RNA gene (28S rRNA) in order to interpret the evolutionary profile of myiasis in the family Calliphoridae. The sequenced data represented species associated with ectoparasitic life-styles, either saprophagy or facultative and obligate parasitism. A total number of 50 accessions were collected for 28S rRNA, 56 for COI, and 38 for combined sequences phylogeny. Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Analysis (MEGA) software was used to align 2197 nucleotide positions of 28S rRNA and 1500 nucleotide positions of COI with a gap opening penalties and gap extension penalties equalling 20 and 0.1 respectively. The results reveal the non-monophyly of the family Calliphoridae despite the stable monophyletic status of the Chrysomyinae, Luciliinae, and Auchmeromyiinae. Also, our findings recommend ranking the Toxotarsinae as a separate family. Furthermore, comparative analysis of the phylogenetic trees shows that the habit of obligatory myiasis originated independently more than five times. This strengthens our hypothesis that the origin of eating fresh meat is a case of convergent evolution that has taken place after speciation events millions of years ago. Finally, estimating the divergence dates between lineages from molecular sequences provides a better chance of understanding their evolutionary biology.