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The miR-30 gene family includes potential regulators of adipogenesis. We searched for polymorphism in this gene family in 4 pig breeds: Duroc, Pietrain, Polish Landrace (PL), Polish Large White (PLW) and a synthetic line (L990). Altogether 5 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 3 genes were found, including one already known SNP rs340704946 within the pre-miR-30d genomic sequence. An association of the rs340704946 with intramuscular fat (IMF) content, abdominal fat accumulation and daily body mass gain in L990 was found. Moreover, the AG genotype was associated with an increased content of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) in subcutaneous (P=0.027) and visceral fat (P=0.007) tissues when compared to the GG genotype. Analysis of PLW pigs revealed an association of the rs340704946 with transcript level of the ME1 gene in longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle (P=0.002), as well as the ME1 protein product in the LD muscle (P

The primary aim of the current study was to provide preliminary data on the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of alignment-based yoga for youths with chronic headaches. A secondary aim was to provide preliminary estimates of yoga's ability to improve headache pain, daily functioning, quality of life, and anxiety level in this population. The yoga intervention consisted of 8 weekly, 75-minute classes. Participant flow data revealed challenges to feasibility primarily due to recruitment and retention. Scores on most outcome measures changed in the predicted direction with medium effect sizes found for the functional outcomes. Pain measures did not change significantly. This pilot suggests that yoga for pediatric headaches may be acceptable, as indicated by positive parent and participant ratings of the yoga experience. These preliminary findings suggest that yoga trials for pediatric headaches include both challenges and promise. Recommendations for overcoming challenges include designs that optimize family convenience.

In humans the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene represents a low-penetrance susceptibility gene for obesity risk. The pig (Sus scrofa) is an important model organism for human obesity. The purpose of this study was to search for polymorphisms in the 5′ flanking region of the pig FTO gene and to analyze its association with fatness and other production traits in three modern pig breeds. We detected a SNP g−167 T>G (GQ179639). An association study between this SNP and fatness and performance traits in Polish Large White (PLW, n=187), Polish Landrace (PL, n=237), and a synthetic line 990 (L990, n=238) revealed multiple significant associations with back fat thickness (P=0.009), abdominal fat weight (P=0.029) and lean meat content in PL (P=0.047). Our data indicate that FTO variants can be associated with fatness traits in purebred pigs selected for low fatness and also can be useful in model studies on human obesity. An updated survey of the pig FTO gene polymorphism is also presented.

Aims Management of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) involves adherence to complex daily behaviors. Some adolescents have difficulty maintaining these regimens within social contexts due to peer pressure and apprehension about being singled out (Wysocki et al., 2003 [1] ). Previous research suggests that negative social attributions have a role in adherence difficulties (Hains et al., 2006 [6] ). This pilot study examined a cognitive-behavioral intervention geared towards challenging and restructuring negative thinking patterns. Methods Ten adolescents with T1DM and HbA1c readings greater then 7.0% were recruited from a large, Midwestern Children's Hospital. The intervention consisted of a 1-h session followed by three weekly phone calls, which focused on cognitive restructuring and problem-solving training. Measures of diabetes-related stress and concerns surrounding self-care in social situations were completed by the adolescents pre- and post-intervention and at one-month follow-up. Results A series of repeated measure ANOVAS did not reveal significant differences between pre-intervention and follow-up scores across measures. Conclusions While there were no significant differences between pre-intervention and follow-up scores, the results highlight some important trends. Specifically, preliminary results suggest that the trends in individual scores indicate that problem-solving may be helpful for improving adherence in social situations.

Research up to 1993 is reviewed. Freezing and thawing of ram semen causes ultrastructural, biochemical and functional damage to a significant proportion of spermatozoa. These changes are accompanied by a reduction in motility, impaired transport and decreased viability of spermatozoa in the female genital tract, and reduced fertility after cervical insemination. Methods used to improve the fertility after cervical insemination include increased concentration of spermatozoa in the inseminate, treatment of ewes with or addition to the semen of hormones, double and deep cervical inseminations. The most effective method is to increase the depth of deposition of frozen-thawed semen into the cervical canal. Recently developed transcervical insemination techniques achieve deep cervical insemination or even uterine deposition of semen. However, at present satisfactory and reliable lambing results are only obtainable by using intrauterine insemination by laparoscopy.

Research up to 1993 is reviewed. Various methods for processing, freezing and thawing of semen have been elaborated and their effect on survival and fertility of spermatozoa have been examined in vitro or in fertility tests. Diluents initially used for freezing bull semen had their limitations and were modified or replaced by new media. The freezing diluents investigated included citrate-sugar-, milk-, lactose-, saccharose-, raffinose-, trisbased and other media containing protective agents (mainly glycerol and egg yolk), and other substances including antioxidants. Satisfactory sperm survival rates were obtained with a number of diluents and different combinations of the factors studied. Lambing results after cervical insemination varied depending on the parameters examined in the freezing technology or at insemination, but were low in comparison with those obtainable with fresh diluted semen. As a consequence, cervical insemination with frozen-thawed semen had a relatively limited application in sheep.

The study describes three experiments. The first experiment, comprising four trials, was conducted to examine the fertility of frozen-thawed ram semen in relation to depth of cervical insemination, the number and time of inseminations and the number of spermatozoa inseminated at the first or second oestrous period after removal of progestagen sponges. There was a significant linear increase in fertility as the depth of insemination increased (b=6.6–12.2% per cm past the cervical os). The pregnancy rates at Day 35 were not significantly different for 80, 160, 240 or 320× 106 frozen-thawed motile spermatozoa (16.4%, 21.4%, 19.9% and 27.7%, respectively) and there was no interaction between depth of insemination and the number of spermatozoa inseminated. There was no benefit in dividing the inseminate and inseminating at both 12 and 24 h after detection of oestrus. The mean pregnancy rates 45 days after insemination at 12 h, 24 h or at both 12 h and 24 h after detection of oestrus were 24.0%, 8.9% and 28.6%, respectively (P < 0.01). The mean depth of insemination increased with increasing age of ewe (4–7 years old), and was greater at 12 h compared with 24 h after the onset of oestrus, but age of ewe had no effect on pregnancy rate. There was no difference in mean depth of insemination or pregnancy rate at Day 35 between ewes inseminated with a standard 4 mm or 2 mm diameter bent tipped pipette (1.16 ± 0.09 cm vs. 1.41 ± 0.09 cm and 43.8 ± 7.2% vs. 41.3 ± 6.3%, respectively). Similarly, there was no difference in mean depth of insemination or lambing rate between ewes inseminated with a bent tipped or a helicoid tipped pipette (1.04±0.05 cm vs. 1.08±0.05 cm and 33.2±5.9% vs. 36.3±5.6%, respectively). In the second experiment measurements were made of the cervical structure of maiden and adult ewes, and the relationships between the measurements and depth of insemination were determined. All cervical measurements, except number of internal folds, were greater in adult than in maiden ewes and it was possible to penetrate the cervix deeper in adults than in maidens. Depth of insemination was correlated only to the distance from the cervical os to the first (r=0.35; P < 0.05) and second (r=0.41; P < 0.01) cervical fold. The third experiment examined the effect of site of intrauterine insemination and number of frozen-thawed spermatozoa on fertilization at a synchronized oestrus. There was a linear increase in fertilization rate of ova as the number of motile spermatozoa inseminated increased (13.9% vs. 38.4% vs. 40.3% vs. 72.8% for 1, 4, 16 and 64 × 106), but the percentage of ova fertilized following insemination into the uterine body was not different to that following insemination into the left uterine horn (45.2% and 37.5%). There was no interaction between site of insemination and dose of spermatozoa on fertilization rate. In ewes inseminated into the uterine body there was no difference between the left and right oviduct in the percentage of ova that were fertilized (40.0% vs. 35.0%).

We report measurements of the Urbach edge, optical bandgap, and ambipolar diffusion length on a series of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) films deposited by hot-wire-assisted chemical vapor deposition (HW). We compare the properties of these films to those of a series of a-Si:H films deposited by the traditional radio frequency (rf) glow discharge (GD) technique, where we varied the substrate temperature to change the bonded H content (CH). We show for the first time that, as CH is decreased below the value traditionally associated with device quality GD a-Si:H (∼10 at.%), the electronic properties of the GD films deteriorate in the traditional manner while those for the HW samples remain device quality. Properties of these low CH HW samples will be presented and compared to those of GD films containing comparable CH. Because several indications exist that the structure of the HW films is different than that of the GD films, Raman and Small Angle X-Ray Scattering (SAXS) measurements are presented to illustrate structural differences.

Two experiments examined the survival of Angora goat spermatozoa after dilution with Tris medium and freezing by the pellet method. Semen was collected and processed each month from March to August (breeding season in Southern Hemisphere). The concentration of egg yolk in diluted semen which resulted in highest survival rate of spermatozoa during 6 h post-thawing incubation at 37°C declined from 12% in March to 1.5% or complete absence of egg yolk in August. Optimum mean post-thawing survival was for semen collected in June, but varied for individual bucks with month of collection and egg yolk concentration. In the second experiment, spermatozoa deteriorated during 5 months storage at −196°C, and the rate of decline in viability was similar in the presence or absence of egg yolk, and whether seminal plasma was present (non-washed) or removed (washed) before further extension and freezing. Recovery after thawing of washed spermatozoa was similar to non-washed cells but washing markedly improved survival during incubation at 37°C for 6 h, especially where egg yolk (1.5% and 6%) was present. It is concluded that the freezability of Angora goat semen varies with the month of semen collection. The viability of spermatozoa after different durations of frozen-storage needs further examination.

Three experiments were conducted in the breeding season to examine the effects of intravaginal device and PMSG treatments on the time and synchrony of ovulation and on fertility after artificial insemination. Administration of PMSG stimulated ovulatory activity in females treated with Controlled Internal Drug Release (CIDR) devices. The time of ovulation was advanced by injection of PMSG before rather than at CIDR removal and by increased doses of PMSG. Kidding rates for Cashmere does after laparoscopic insemination with frozen-thawed semen were indistinguishable for CIDR and fluorogestone acetate sponge treatments when PMSG was injected at their removal (48.8% and 56.1%) or 48 h before removal (61.0% and 52.5%). The fertility of does weaned 25 days before insemination was lower than for animals weaned 3 months earlier (46.9% and 65.2% does kidded; P

Amorphous silicon MIS capacitors and thin film transistors have been deposited on glass by RF glow discharge. The static capacitance C(V) has been recorded by measuring the displacement current of the capacitor in response to a slow voltage ramp. The technique follows essentially a procedure widely use for the characterization of crystalline MOS devices and first reported by M. Kuhn. The quasi-equilibrium capacitance is correlated to the derivative of space charge vs energy and allows the evaluation of the density of states. For good samples a density of states at midgap of 3.2 * 10 16 cm −3 V −1 has been found. The experimental data obtained have been used to simulate TFT transfer characteristics. The model curves are in good agreement with measured transistor characteristics, suggesting the quasi-static CV method as a sensitive tool for material characterization and quality control.

In five experiments, fertilization, early (18–19-day) pregnancy, and lambing were examined after insemination with semen stored at 5°C in tris-fructose-egg yolk diluent. After deposition into uterine horns by surgical insemination of semen stored for 0 (control), 2, 4, 6, 8, 9 or 10 days, fertilized eggs were recovered in 3234, 1616, 2122, 1520, 917, 218 and 115 ewes; the 18–19-day pregnancy rates determined by progesterone assay were 3248, 1528, 1120, 1220, 920, 220 and 121 for the respective storage periods. There was a linear decrease in fertilization rates beyond 4 days of storage and in early pregnancy rates after 6 days of storage (P