introduction as pregnancy progresses, nutrient requirements of fetus and thereby ewe increases and some changes in the levels of blood metabolites including glucose, cholesterol and total protein may occur. during gestation, maternal tissues contribute to supplying energy that required for fetus resulting in changes of ewe blood metabolites; however other factors such as breed, age, feeding typ...

Dopamine acts through two classes of G protein-coupled receptor (D1-like and D2-like) to modulate neuron activity in the brain. While subtypes of D1-like and D2-like receptors are coexpressed in many neurons of the mammalian brain, it is unclear how signaling by these coexpressed receptors interact to modulate the activity of the neuron in which they are expressed. D1-like and D2-like dopamine ...

Objective: To determine the biomechanical effect of an intervertebral spacer on construct stiffness in a PVC model and cadaveric canine cervical vertebral columns stabilized with monocortical screws/polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). Study Design: Biomechanical study. Sample population: PVC pipe; cadaveric canine vertebral columns Methods: PVC model – PVC pipe was used to create a gap model mimicki...

Complex microbiomes reside in marine sponges and consist of diverse microbial taxa, including functional guilds that may contribute to host metabolism and coastal marine nutrient cycles. Our understanding of these symbiotic systems is based primarily on static accounts of sponge microbiota, while their temporal dynamics across seasonal cycles remain largely unknown. Here, we investigated tempor...

Saffron, obtained from the dried stigmas of Crocus sativus L., is an important spice, rich in carotenoids. Carotenoids are capable of protecting cells from the attack of free radicals, which naturally develop during sunbathing, smoking, exercise – even breathing oxygen. It has been estimated that our body needs 6 to 30 mg of carotenoids per day to protect its cells. These amounts are normally c...

Methodology for conducting respiration studies on marine zooplankton and a small goby fish were established and implemented using a Unisef microrespirometer on the open ocean. Specimens were collected from 2-10oN latitude. Oxygen consumption for all animals at ambient temperatures ranging from 26-28oC in both light and dark conditions were measured. Although the amount of testing depended on th...

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a post-natal neurological disorder caused by mutations in MECP2, encoding the epigenetic regulator Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2 (MeCP2). The onset of RTT symptoms during early life together with findings suggesting neurodevelopmental abnormalities in RTT and mouse models of RTT raised the question of whether maintaining MeCP2 function exclusively during early life might p...

Despite extensive germplasm screening, no lettuce accessions have been identified as possessing immunity to infection by Sclerotinia species. As previously reported, several genotypes have consistently shown a significant reduction in disease incidence compared with susceptible varieties following inoculation with S. minor. Many of these genotypes exhibit architectural features that may promote...

In the colon there is acontinuous, insoluble adherent mucus gel covering the surface mucosa and forming a protective barrier. The gel forming properties of the mucus barrier are dependent on the component mucins. Mucin subunits consisting of a central protein core with glycosylated and non-glycosylated regions are joined together by disulphide bridges (between the non-glycosylated regions) to f...

Pittosporum undulatum is a potential Australian host of Phytophthora ramorum, the causal agent of sudden oak death in California. It was susceptible and supported sporulation in zoospore inoculations of detached leaves. Susceptibility and sporulation potential were low when compared to Umbellularia californica. Two independent positives were obtained from symptomatic trees in a PCR-based techni...