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Fertility is declining in domestic animals across the world. The reduction in fertility could be attributed to male, female and managemental factors. Although artificial insemination (AI) using frozen semen emerged 50 years back, fertility rate with AI technology is less and unpredictable. In AI industry, one bull is used to produce at least three lakh insemination doses; hence, the selection of fertile bulls becomes very important. Since standard semen evaluation tests are not sufficient to predict bull fertility accurately, the researchers have sought laboratory assays / molecular tests that would accurately predict the fertilizing potential of a semen sample. In this context, biotechnological advances in "omic technologies" help to understand the events associated to spermatogenesis, sperm function, fertilization and embryonic development ending in birth of viable healthy offspring. Profiling fertility-regulating biomolecules substances in spermatozoa or seminal plasma are considered to be helpful to predict fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Strobilanthes heyneanus (Nilgirianthus heyneanus) belongs to the family Acanthaceae that contains many species with potential for diverse medicinal uses. It is also called ‘Karun kurinji’ and is commonly found in the South-West regions of India. The species are commonly used in rheumatic complaints, sprain of the ankle, and hernia. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the antioxidant activity, phytochemical analysis, and antibacterial activities of the root extract of S. heyneanus. Results The radical scavenging and reduction assays such as DPPH● radical and OH● radical scavenging assays, as well as phosphomolybdenum reduction and Fe3+ reducing power assays, were determined for the root extract. The highest DPPH● radical scavenging activity was 88.23 ± 1.32 at 120 μg/mL concentration, and the calculated IC50 was 38.52 μg/mL concentration. The highest OH● radical scavenging activity was 51.28 ± 1.06 at 120 μg/mL concentration, and the calculated IC50 was 51.28 μg/mL concentration. The highest ABTS● + radical scavenging activity was 91.28 ± 1.12 at 30 μg/mL concentration, and the calculated IC50 was 33.92 μg/mL concentration. The highest phosphomolybdenum reduction was 87.43 ± 0.90 at 120 μg/mL concentration, and the calculated RC50 was 24.74 μg/mL concentration. The highest Fe3+ reduction was 89.38 ± 0.98 at 120 μg/mL concentration, and the calculated RC50 was 31.06 μg/mL concentration. The antibacterial activity of S. heyneanus showed the highest zone of inhibition of 24 mm for Salmonella typhi with 500 μg/mL concentration. The cytotoxicity limits of the root extracts were tested by MTT assay using human dermal fibroblast cell lines, reflecting > 90% cell viability at a concentration of 500 μg/mL. Conclusions The current study showed that the root extract of S. heyneanus has better antioxidant properties and potential anti-bacterial compounds. The phytochemical analysis of the root extract showed the presence of alkaloids, steroids, terpenoids, phenols, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, glycosides, and carbohydrates, which are responsible for the antibacterial root extract of S. heyneanus synergistically.

The expression pattern of BMPR-2 and Fas was investigated in different developmental stages (1–3 mm, 3–5 mm, 5–8 mm and >8 mm) of follicles and the effect of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and Fas-ligand (Fas-L) was studied in vitro on granulosa cell function. BMPR-2 was mainly localized in the granulosa cells, oocytes and theca cells of healthy follicles from primordial to late antral stages and the expression pattern did not differ among different sizes of follicles. The Fas was predominantly expressed in granulosa cells of atretic follicles. In the granulosa cell culture, BMP-2 (30 ng/ml) and IGF-1 (100 ng/ml) significantly increased estradiol-17β production when compared to control in all sizes i.e. small (3–5 mm), medium (5–8 mm) and large (>8 mm) follicles. This first study in buffalo revealed that BMP-2 rescues small size follicles, whereas IGF-1 rescues all size follicles from Fas mediated apoptosis in buffalo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiesel is the fatty acid alkyl esters that are used as the substitute for petro-diesel. The aim of the present work is to optimize biodiesel production from plant based non-edible crude oils with methanol using heterogeneous catalyst by transesterification for its commercialization. The factors affecting the biodiesel production from plant oils are volume of feedstock (oil), volume of alcohol (excess reactant), quantity of calcium hydroxide (catalyst), reaction time, temperature, and agitation speed. Transesterification is the reaction between acid and alcohol to produce ester in the presence of alkali catalyst. In this work, transesterification was carried out between crude sunflower oil and methanol in the presence of calcium hydroxide as catalyst. Finally, the maximum conversion of 85.6% was achieved at the optimum process parameters of 2 L of crude sunflower oil, 0.3 L methanol, 23 g of calcium hydroxide, reaction time of 24 h, temperature of 65 °C, and agitation speed of 100 rpm. The results showed that crude sunflower oil could serve as potential renewable substrate for biodiesel commercialization.Biodiesel is the fatty acid alkyl esters that are used as the substitute for petro-diesel. The aim of the present work is to optimize biodiesel production from plant based non-edible crude oils with methanol using heterogeneous catalyst by transesterification for its commercialization. The factors affecting the biodiesel production from plant oils are volume of feedstock (oil), volume of alcohol (excess reactant), quantity of calcium hydroxide (catalyst), reaction time, temperature, and agitation speed. Transesterification is the reaction between acid and alcohol to produce ester in the presence of alkali catalyst. In this work, transesterification was carried out between crude sunflower oil and methanol in the presence of calcium hydroxide as catalyst. Finally, the maximum conversion of 85.6% was achieved at the optimum process parameters of 2 L of crude sunflower oil, 0.3 L methanol, 23 g of calcium hydroxide, reaction time of 24 h, temperature of 65 ?C, and agitation speed of 100 rpm. The results showed that crude sunflower oil could serve as potential renewable substrate for biodiesel commercialization.

Algal biomass synthesised nanocomposites have a higher surface area and reusability advantages. This study aimed to synthesise and characterise ZnMgO and silica-supported graphene with ZnMgO (G-ZnMgO) nanocomposites from Kappaphycusalvarezii and evaluate their potential in the application of photocatalysis to remove Rhodamine-B (RhB) and methylene blue (MB) dyes from their aqueous medium by maximising the percentage removal using response surface methodology (RSM) modelling. Nanocomposites were synthesised and characterised by biogenic and instrumental (Powder X-ray diffraction (P-XRD), electron microscopic analysis (SEM and TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Energy dispersive analysis of X-rays (EDAX). and UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-DRS)) methods, respectively; modelling predicted the optimal conditions to be photocatalyst dosage and contact time of 1 g/L and 90 min, respectively, to obtain maximum MB dye removal of 80% using G-ZnMgO. The results showed the best fit between experimental and RSM predicted values. Thus, the obtained results conclude that the algal biomass synthesised nanocomposites were found to be one of the potential photocatalysts for the removal of RhB and MB dyes from their aqueous solution.

The article presents a study that assesses the effects of amino acids including L-proline, L-alanine and L-Glutamine on the epididymal sperm in ram during pre-freeze and post-thaw stages.

The wireless black box using MEMS accelerometer and GPS tracking system is developed for accident monitoring. This system consists of various components, such as accelerometer, microcontroller unit, GPS and GSM module. If accident occurred in any place, the wireless sensor device will send SMS to family members, Emergency Medical Service (EMS), and the nearest hospital with accident place using GPS system and Google map. The threshold algorithm and speed of motorcycle is used to determine fall or accident in real-time process. This system is compact and easy to install. This system has been tested in real time applications. The test results show that it can detect whether it was normal ride or not with high accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article highlights a study which investigated the effects of different energy levels on nutrient utilization, semen quality, body weight and rumen biochemical profiles in rams. Results of the study revealed that the weight gain of young rams improved with energy rich diets, with a shift in rumen volatile fatty acid level to propionate side. The extra supplemented energy did not positively influence the quality of semen.

The effect of reduced glutathione (5 mM) and cysteine hydrochloride (5 mM) on sperm velocity and motility parameters of good (3) and poor (3) freezable Jersey crossbred bull semen was studied. The post-thawed sperm velocity and motility parameters were assessed by computer assisted sperm analyzer (CASA) at different hours of incubation. The forward progressive and total motility showed significant (p<0.05) difference in glutathione treated group as compared to cysteine treated and control group in both freezer. In both freezers, the forward progressive and total motility was not decreased significantly up to 2 h of incubation but thereafter there was a highly significant decrease. A gradual non-significant decline in all the velocity parameters in good freezable semen samples were observed for the 4 periods of incubation and in poor freezable semen, the reduction in the velocity parameters was not significant up to 2 h of incubation, but thereafter, the decrease was significant. The velocity parameters of sperm revealed that the glutathione treated group was non-significantly higher than cysteine treated and control group in both good and poor freezable bulls except the addition of glutathione significantly improved VCL (curvilinear velocity) and ALH (amplitude of lateral head displacement) of the post-thawed spermatozoa at 4 h of incubation. Further, the addition of cysteine and glutathione has non-significantly improved the other velocity parameters in both the freezer. Thus, the reduced glutathione has improved the post-thawed sperm functional parameters such as motility and velocity in good and maintained in poor freezable semen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study on the augmentation of postpartum reproductive efficiency in Holstein Friesian crossbred cattle through supplementation with ragi (Eleusine corocana) grain during the transition period is presented. It is said that postpartum reproductive inefficiency is caused by nutritional mismanagement during the transition period when the demand for energy increases due to the onset of lactation. The researchers monitored the sample's milk urea nitrogen (MUN) and milk total protein.

Contents [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study on the role of reduced glutathione in improving post-thawed frozen seminal characters of poor freezable Jersey crossbred bull semen. It notes that the functional state of good semen was maintained with reduced glutathione. It concludes that the reduced glutathione improves post thaw sperm functional parameters such as motility, viability, functional membrane and acrosomal integrity in poor freezable semen and might have improved post-thawed seminal characters.

The article discusses a research study on the effect of insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) on spermatozoa membrane protein profile and correlation among seminal plasma IGF-1, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidise (GPx) levels in buffaloes. The experiment used ejaculates from Surti buffalo bulls which had more than 500 million spermatozoa per ml and more than 60% progressive forward motility. It suggests that IGF-1 had no correlation with SOD and GPX levels and no influence on spermatozoa membrane protein profile in a spermatozoa.