Abstract The influence of sperm morphology and chromatin integrity on bull fertility suggests a strong but undefined biological relationship between these two parameters. In this study we explore ...this relationship, making use of the Sperm Chromatin Dispersion test, which allows simultaneous observation of sperm abnormalities and DNA fragmentation. Based on spermatozoa from 17 Holstein-Friesian bulls, we determined a relationship between DNA fragmentation and the presence of the “so called” major-type sperm defects. Values for DNA fragmentation index (mean ± SEM) calculated from cells with major-type abnormalities were significantly (P < 0.05) higher (85.05 ± 5.00%) than those from abnormal forms classified as minor-type (17.89 ± 5.55%). Some of the sperm abnormalities, such as double forms, narrow base heads, small heads, shortened tails and proximal cytoplasmic droplets, were only associated with sperm showing fragmented DNA. The simultaneous assessment of sperm morphology and DNA fragmentation has the potential to improve the efficacy of sperm quality assessment in this species.
Midrapidity production of π±, K±, and (¯p)p measured by the ALICE experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider, in Pb-Pb and inelastic pp collisions at √sNN=5.02 TeV, is presented. The invariant ...yields are measured over a wide transverse momentum (pT) range from hundreds of MeV/c up to 20 GeV/c. The results in Pb-Pb collisions are presented as a function of the collision centrality, in the range 0–90%. The comparison of the pT-integrated particle ratios, i.e., proton-to-pion (p/π) and kaon-to-pion (K/π) ratios, with similar measurements in Pb-Pb collisions at √sNN=2.76 TeV show no significant energy dependence. Blast-wave fits of the pT spectra indicate that in the most central collisions radial flow is slightly larger at 5.02 TeV with respect to 2.76 TeV. Particle ratios (p/π, K/π) as a function of pT show pronounced maxima at pT≈3GeV/c in central Pb-Pb collisions. At high pT, particle ratios at 5.02 TeV are similar to those measured in pp collisions at the same energy and in Pb-Pb collisions at √sNN=2.76 TeV. Using the pp reference spectra measured at the same collision energy of 5.02 TeV, the nuclear modification factors for the different particle species are derived. Within uncertainties, the nuclear modification factor is particle species independent for high pT and compatible with measurements at √sNN=2.76 TeV. The results are compared to state-of-the-art model calculations, which are found to describe the observed trends satisfactorily.
The Q 2DTor program (Quantum 2-Dimensional Torsions) is designed to calculate accurate rotational–vibrational partition functions (also called rovibrational partition functions) and thermodynamic ...functions for molecular systems having two 1 or more torsions. Systems with more than two torsions can also be studied by treating the torsions by pairs. The program searches for all the torsional conformers and evaluates the rovibrational partition function using the multi-structural harmonic oscillator (MS-HO) approximation and the extended two-dimensional torsion (E2DT) approximation. The latter incorporates full coupling of the two torsions by means of the two-dimensional non-separable (2D-NS) approximation 2, and it also includes their influence on the remaining degrees of freedom. The program also calculates the ideal gas-phase standard-state thermodynamic functions at the requested temperatures. Twenty molecules have been used to test Q 2DTor.
Program Title:Q2DTor
Program Files doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.17632/wbgchgc2kp.1
Licensing provisions: GNU GPL v3
Programming language: Python 2.7
Nature of problem: Calculation of accurate partition functions and thermodynamic functions in molecular systems involving two torsional modes. Torsional anharmonicity is treated quantically and includes full coupling in the kinetic and potential energies between the torsions and between the torsions and the rest of the degrees of freedom.
Solution method: The program uses the variational method to solve the Schrödinger equation of a two-dimensional torsional potential using Fourier series. All of the remaining degrees of freedom (non-torsional) are incorporated through a projected (the torsional modes are removed) rigid-rotator harmonic-oscillator partition function which is calculated at every torsional stationary point and that is allowed to vary with the torsional motion. The integration of the rovibrational partition function over the torsional space leads to a mixed quantum-classical vibrational partition function, which is transformed into a full quantum partition function by including the quantum contribution due to the torsions. For the evaluation of the integral, the rovibrational partition function at nonstationary points is carried out through a Delaunay triangulation procedure using the calculated rovibrational partition functions at the stationary points as nodes.
Additional comments including Restrictions and Unusual features: The program is limited to two coupled torsional modes.
References:
1 L. Simón-Carballido et al., J. Chem. Theory Comput. 13 (2017) 3478.
2 A. Fernández-Ramos, J. Chem. Phys. 138 (2013) 134112.
It is now widely accepted that the early-life nutritional environment is important in determining susceptibility to metabolic diseases. In particular, intra-uterine growth restriction followed by ...accelerated postnatal growth is associated with an increased risk of obesity, type-2 diabetes and other features of the metabolic syndrome. The mechanisms underlying these observations are not fully understood.
Using a well-established maternal protein-restriction rodent model, our aim was to determine if exposure to mismatched nutrition in early-life programmes adipose tissue structure and function, and expression of key components of the insulin-signalling pathway.
Offspring of dams fed a low-protein (8%) diet during pregnancy were suckled by control (20%)-fed dams to drive catch-up growth. This 'recuperated' group was compared with offspring of dams fed a 20% protein diet during pregnancy and lactation (control group). Epididymal adipose tissue from 22-day and 3-month-old control and recuperated male rats was studied using histological analysis. Expression and phosphorylation of insulin-signalling proteins and gene expression were assessed by western blotting and reverse-transcriptase PCR, respectively.
Recuperated offspring at both ages had larger adipocytes (P<0.001). Fasting serum glucose, insulin and leptin levels were comparable between groups but increased with age. Recuperated offspring had reduced expression of IRS-1 (P<0.01) and PI3K p110β (P<0.001) in adipose tissue. In adult recuperated rats, Akt phosphorylation (P<0.01) and protein levels of Akt-2 (P<0.01) were also reduced. Messenger RNA expression levels of these proteins were not different, indicating a post-transcriptional effect.
Early-life nutrition programmes alterations in adipocyte cell size and impairs the protein expression of several insulin-signalling proteins through post-transcriptional mechanisms. These indices may represent early markers of insulin resistance and metabolic disease risk.
The first evidence of spin alignment of vector mesons ( K*0 and ϕ ) in heavy-ion collisions at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is reported. The spin density matrix element ρ 00 is measured at ...midrapidity ( | y | < 0.5 ) in Pb-Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy ( √sNN ) of 2.76 TeV with the ALICE detector. ρ 00 values are found to be less than 1/3 (1/3 implies no spin alignment) at low transverse momentum ( p T < 2 GeV / c ) for K*0 and ϕ at a level of 3 σ and 2 σ , respectively. No significant spin alignment is observed for the K0S meson ( spin = 0 ) in Pb-Pb collisions and for the vector mesons in p p collisions. The measured spin alignment is unexpectedly large but qualitatively consistent with the expectation from models which attribute it to a polarization of quarks in the presence of angular momentum in heavy-ion collisions and a subsequent hadronization by the process of recombination.
The structural and functional organization of the mitochondrial respiratory chain (MRC) remains intensely debated. Here, we show the co-existence of two separate MRC organizations in human cells and ...postmitotic tissues, C-MRC and S-MRC, defined by the preferential expression of three COX7A subunit isoforms, COX7A1/2 and SCAFI (COX7A2L). COX7A isoforms promote the functional reorganization of distinct co-existing MRC structures to prevent metabolic exhaustion and MRC deficiency. Notably, prevalence of each MRC organization is reversibly regulated by the activation state of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC). Under oxidative conditions, the C-MRC is bioenergetically more efficient, whereas the S-MRC preferentially maintains oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) upon metabolic rewiring toward glycolysis. We show a link between the metabolic signatures converging at the PDC and the structural and functional organization of the MRC, challenging the widespread notion of the MRC as a single functional unit and concluding that its structural heterogeneity warrants optimal adaptation to metabolic function.
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•COX7A isoforms drive structurally distinct respiratory chains: C-MRC and S-MRC•C-MRC and S-MRC display different bioenergetic properties•C-MRC is favored when the PDH complex is activated, promoting OXPHOS•Metabolic shift toward glycolysis stabilizes SCAFI and the S-MRC
Fernández-Vizarra et al. show the co-existence of two separated mitochondrial respiratory chain (MRC) organizations in human cells driven by distinct COX7A isoforms. The prevalence of either organization is modulated by the activation state of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, which arises as a major metabolic regulator of MRC structure and function.
Human adult diseases such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes have been epidemiologically linked to poor fetal growth and development. Male offspring of rat dams fed a ...low-protein (LP) diet during pregnancy and lactation develop diabetes with concomitant alterations in their insulin-signaling mechanisms. Such associations have not been studied in female offspring. The aim of this study was to determine whether female LP offspring develop diabetes in later life. Control and LP female offspring groups were obtained from rat dams fed a control (20% protein) or an isocaloric (8% protein) diet, respectively, throughout pregnancy and lactation. Both groups were weaned and maintained on 20% normal laboratory chow until 21 mo of age when they underwent intravenous glucose tolerance testing (IVGTT). Fasting glucose was comparable between the two groups; however, LP fasting insulin was approximately twofold that of controls (P < 0.02). Glucose tolerance during IVGTT was comparable between the two groups; however, LP peak plasma insulin at 4 min was approximately threefold higher than in controls (P < 0.001). LP plasma insulin area under the curve was 1.9-fold higher than controls (P < 0.02). In Western blots, both muscle protein kinase C-zeta expression and p110beta-associated p85alpha in abdominal fat were reduced (P < 0.05) in LPs. Hyperinsulinemia in response to glucose challenge coupled with attenuation of certain insulin-signaling molecules imply the development of insulin resistance in LP muscle and fat. These observations suggest that intrauterine protein restriction leads to insulin resistance in females in old age and, hence, an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
The effect of nitrification, nitratation and heterotrophic conditions on the biotransformation of several pharmaceuticals in a highly enriched nitrifying activated sludge was evaluated in this study ...by selective activation of ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB), nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) and heterotrophic bacteria. Nitrifiers displayed a noticeable capacity to process ibuprofen due to hydroxylation by ammonia monooxygenase (AMO) to produce 2-hydroxy-ibuprofen. Naproxen was also biotransformed under nitrifying conditions. On the other hand, heterotrophic bacteria present in the nitrifying activated sludge (NAS) biotransformed sulfamethoxazole. In contrast, both nitrifying and heterotrophic activities were ineffective against diclofenac, diazepam, carbamazepine and trimethoprim. Similar biotransformation rates of erythromycin, roxithromycin and fluoxetine were observed under all conditions tested. Overall, results from this study give more evidence on the role of the different microbial communities present in activated sludge reactors on the biological removal of pharmaceuticals.
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•The removal of pharmaceuticals in nitrifying activated sludge (NAS) was studied.•Nitrifying activity increases biotransformation rate of ibuprofen and naproxen.•Hydroxylation of ibuprofen by ammonia monooxygenase of ammonia oxidizing bacteria•Heterotrophic activity enhances biotransformation of sulfamethoxazole in NAS.•Recalcitrance of trimethoprim, diclofenac, carbamazepine and diazepam in NAS
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