Effect of oocyte vitrification on glucose transport in mouse metaphase II oocytes

Oocyte vitrification has significantly improved the survival rate and become the mainstream method for cryopreserving oocytes. Previous studies have demonstrated that the ultrastructure, mitochondrial function, DNA methylation, and histone modification exhibit an irreversible effect after oocyte vitrification. However, little is known about the effects of oocyte vitrification on glucose transport and metabolism. This study aims to determine whether mouse oocyte vitrification causes abnormal glucose metabolism and identify a strategy to correct abnormal glucose metabolism. Furthermore, this study further investigates the effects of oocyte vitrification on glucose uptake, and glucose metabolism, and energy levels. The results indicated that vitrification significantly reduced the glucose transport activity, NADPH, glutathione, and ATP levels, and increased reactive oxygen species levels in oocytes (P < 0.01). Vitrification also reduced the expression of glucose transporter isoform 1 (GLUT1) (P < 0.01). Adding a GLUT1 inhibitor reduced the glucose uptake capacity of oocytes. Furthermore, the inclusion of vitamin C into thawing and culture solutions restored abnormal glucose transportation and metabolism and improved the survival, two-cell embryo, and blastocyst rates of the vitrified groups via parthenogenesis (P < 0.05). Overall, this method may improve the quality and efficiency of oocyte vitrification.

Breeding schemes for intervertebral disc disease in dachshunds: Is disc calcification score preferable to genotyping of the FGF4 retrogene insertion on CFA12?

Background Approximately every fifth Dachshund is affected by disc herniation - a painful, hereditary condition which is typically preceded by disc calcification. Therefore, the selection of dogs suitable for breeding can be based on radiographic examination of calcification status. Recently, an insertion of an FGF4 retrogene on CFA12 has been identified and associated with the risk of developing disc herniation in chondrodystrophic breeds and a DNA test is now offered. In this study we investigate the incidence of disc herniation in the smooth-haired, long-haired and wire- haired Dachshund populations. We also evaluate and compare the accuracy of the two breeding schemes predicting the risk of disc herniation: the DNA test and the radiography based scheme. Results The overall incidence of disc herniation in Danish Dachshunds was 18% and no significant difference was found between the long-haired (17%), smooth-haired (22%) and wire-haired (16%) populations (p > 0.05). We found a significant association (p < 0.0001) between calcification status and the risk of disc herniation with a relative risk of 14.78. Using calcification status (≥ 5 or < 5 calcifications) as a risk indicator has a sensitivity of 0.79 and a specificity of 0.91. A significant association between the FGF4 retrogene insertion and the disc calcification status was found in the wire-haired population (p < 0.0001) where the DNA test has a sensitivity of 1.0 and a specificity of 0.14. In the long- and smooth-haired populations no association was found (p > 0.05) and here the insertion allele was almost fixed. Conclusion Our results show that the FGF4 retrogene insertion on CFA12 is not a valid risk indicator on its own. Relying on the DNA test will have an irreversible effect on the Dachshund breed excluding almost all dogs from breeding. Thus, using calcification status remains the most reliable breeding scheme for disc herniation in Dachshunds.

In-Situ FT-IR Spectroscopy Investigation of CH4 and CO2 Reaction

An exclusive trace of CH4 direct carboxylation with CO2 by a stepwise technology was investigated using in-situ FT-IR spectroscopy. The results showed that CH4 was dissociated to atomic hydrogen and M-CHx species on catalyst surface when it was first introduced in the system, then CO2 was inserted into the intermediate to direct carboxylate. Finally, the subsequent adsorption of CH4 provided active hydrogen for the species of previous surface reaction, thus leading to the formation of the product. It was also found that the first introduction of CO2 on the surface of the “clean” catalyst might likely react with surface H species, which had an irreversible effect on the catalytic activity of CH4.

Influence of technogenic factors on the engineering and geological conditions of the gas plant territory in the Orenburg region

The engineering and geotechnical conditions of the site of the helium plant in the Orenburg region are characterized. The possibility of its technogenic pollution has been identified by the results of literary and stock sources, as well as by engineering and geological surveys. The reason for the formation of pollution sites is substantiated. This fact is confirmed by analyzes of assessing the composition of groundwater and the physicomechanical properties of loess soils that make up the upper part of the geological section. Groundwater is characterized by increased mineralization, which is mainly caused by the high content of sulfates, chlorides, magnesium and calcium. Also, there is an increased content of ammonia, the smell of gasoline. Studies of the soil properties showed that it almost lost subsidence properties, with the exception of isolated cases. The subsidence of individual soil samples taken from a depth of 13.0-20.0 m is inexplicable by natural causes due to the impossibility of steeping them, taking into account the hydrogeological conditions of the site. It indicates an irreversible effect of leaks of chemical reagents on the soil. The established engineering and geological features of soils and their behavior along the depth of the section are confirmed by test results presented in the form of tables and graphs. The presented information is of great practical and scientific importance for predicting changes in the characteristics of the geological environment during technogenic pollution at oil and gas facilities. The feasibility of amending regulatory documents for a detailed study of this problem in accordance with existing recommendations and scientific developments is proposed.

Research of the Energy Losses of Photovoltaic (PV) Modules after Hail Simulation Using a Newly-Created Testbed

The impact of hail ice cubes on composite structures (such as solar cells) causes actual defects. This article presents a series of tests, in which solar cell modules were exposed to hail simulation testbed balls, allowing to assess the following: the impact energy, which causes the major defects in solar cells; the formed micro-cracks in the structure of solar cells, resulting in the loss of power generated by a solar cell; and the solar cell parameters necessary for modelling. In addition, this article presents a digital analysis of hail simulation. Information received from the digital analysis was used to optimize the structure of solar cells in order to improve its resistance properties. The aim of this study was to present a simple method for experimental hail simulation. The proposed hail impact estimation method can be successfully applied to study the influence of the mechanical–dynamic impact of photovoltaic (PV) modules of different structures on the technical characteristics of these modules (structural stability, power generation, etc.). The study showed that PV modules are subjected to an irreversible effect of the excitation force (i.e., micro-cracking) and it can reduce the generated power by 2.33% to 4.83%.

A thermodynamically consistent chemo-mechanically coupled large deformation model for polymer oxidation

In this work, we present a continuum-level thermodynamically consistent model for high temperature oxidation inpolymers, that incorporates the coupling between diffusion, chemical reaction and large deformation behavior ofpolymers. The specific constitutive forms are derived based on the thermodynamic inequality conditions and thekinetics of the oxidative reactions are considered. Oxidative shrinkage has also been considered in the kinematics asan irreversible effect. Subsequently, the model is implemented in ABAQUS/Standard to analyze numerically thecoupled diffusion-reaction behavior of polymers undergoing oxidation. Several numerical simulations are performed tounderstand the effect of various material parameters on the oxidative response. The model is capable of predicting theheterogeneous oxidation profile within a thick polymer sample. It can also track the growth of oxide layer in the case ofa long-term thermo-oxidative aging process. The model can be used to simulate the oxidation process involvingcomplex geometries (as fiber reinforced composites) fairly easily under various ambient conditions.

Processing of Superfine and Ultrafine Phosphate of a Phosphomud (Part Two)

Mineral industries in common generate a lot of rejects in the form of fines and slimes, which ultimately create environmental and social problems besides causing losses of mineral values. In view of the recent stringent policy imposed on the environment, there is an urgent need to attempt possible simple and cheap solutions to such problems. These slimes have long been considered in the industry to be unrecoverable. It has been standard practice over many years in the phosphate industry to separate and discard the fines and ultrafine particles. In this respect, the present study shed light on the recovery of super and ultrafine phosphate of a phosphomud produced after the processing of an East Mediterranean phosphate ore. Falcon Concentrator model SB40-VFD (semi-continuous with variable frequency drive) was used in this study to recover the -32 micron phosphate fines of D50=11 micron. The effect of the main variables of the semi-continuous Falcon concentrator model SB40-VFD, including the bowl rotation frequency Hz, the fluidizing water pressure psi, and feeding rate g/min on the separation efficiency were followed up. In addition, two feeding modes based on a particle size-by-size were tried in this study: The sample was fed as a global -32 micron sample or as two fractions, -32+11 micron, and -11 micron samples. Central Composite Rotatable Design (CCRD) was applied on the Falcon separation of the -11 micron fraction with D50 &lt; 3 micron alone to model and optimize the separation process for the two responses: the recovered phosphate grade and recovery. Results showed that the phosphate fines containing 14.73% P2O5, 15.03% acid insoluble, and 19.07% loss in ignition was recovered with grade and P2O5 recovery reaching 28.29%, and 95.97% in case of separating the overall -32 micron sample as one feed. In case of the fractionated feeding samples, the total grade and recovery reached 29.21%, and 88.42%, respectively. The application of the CCRD results showed that the bowl rotation frequency showed to have the main irreversible effect on the product grade, where the fluidizing water pressure had the main reversible effect on the recovery. On the other hand, feeding rate showed some effect on the product grade with almost no effect on its P2O5 recovery%.

Utilitarian or Hedonic? A Cross Cultural Study in Online Shopping

With the irreversible effect of globalization, a growing number of websites today sell their products to more than one country. The effects of cross cultural differences on buying behaviors are widely acknowledged. Therefore, a consideration about attracting and retaining online consumers from different countries and cultures is gaining importance. This paper examines the roles of hedonic and utilitarian values in online shopping by comparing cross culturally the Turkish and US consumers. A total of 264 students from Turkey and USA participated in the survey. The findings showed that the online shopping behaviors of Turkish and USA consumers differ according to their hedonic and utilitarian values. While Turkish consumers use online retailers to socialize with others, the USA people use online shopping for relaxation purposes.

Water Resources Potentialities in the Wadi Mellegue Basin,Tebessa Region, Northeastern Algeria

The problem of water is inseparable from sustainable development insofar as water must make it possible to meet the needs of present generations without mortgaging; the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The first concern in semi-arid populated areas; it is the availability of water in relation to a growing societal demand.The immediate objective of a strategy for conserving and improving the productivity of water resources is to halt degradation with all its known forms and to promote a sustainable economy that will preserve and even enrich the quality of the assets And predispositions identified at the regional level. Tebessa is considered a semi-arid environment characterized by the rarity and the random nature of the resources, linked to an unpredictable climate and highly variable from one year to the next; The "sheep region", the "pastoralism", the "nomadism", the vegetable production very seriously compromised both by: The scarcity of the water resource, the fragility of the soil, the poverty of the mode of production, Pastoral type, based on the constant mobility of the herd in search of palatable plant cover, inducing a seemingly irreversible effect of desertification The progressive generalization of a mode of "mining" exploitation, made possible by the increasingly widespread use Modern means of transport, food, communication of information ...In this study, we examine the main water resources of Wadi Mellegue basin, available renewable water resources; The prospects for changing demand and the risks of scarcity.