Adoption of a Short-Term (4-Week) Vegan Diet as Part of 'Veganuary' Significantly Reduces Saturated Fatty Acid (SFA), Cholesterol, B12, and Iodine Intake in Omnivorous Individuals-An Observational Study.

Global veganism campaigns like 'Veganuary' have gained popularity. We conducted an observational study to assess the impact of a 4-week vegan diet during 'Veganuary' on nutrient intake, status, knowledge, and motivations for veganism. Data were collected before and after 'Veganuary', using Food Frequency Questionnaires (FFQs) to estimate dietary intake.

Evaluation of progestogen supplementation for luteal phase support in fresh in vitro fertilization cycles.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of progestogen supplementation in improving clinical pregnancy rates in women undergoing fresh IVF cycles and to compare different routes, start times, durations, and estrogen coadministration regimen.

Design: Comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis.

Setting: University.

Independent and combined effects of diethylhexyl phthalate and polychlorinated biphenyl 153 on sperm quality in the human and dog.

A temporal decline in human and dog sperm quality is thought to reflect a common environmental aetiology. This may reflect direct effects of seminal chemicals on sperm function and quality. Here we report the effects of diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and polychlorinated biphenyl 153 (PCB153) on DNA fragmentation and motility in human and dog sperm.

Characterization of CRISPR Mutants Targeting Genes Modulating Pectin Degradation in Ripening Tomato.

Tomato () is a globally important crop with an economic value in the tens of billions of dollars, and a significant supplier of essential vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals in the human diet. Shelf life is a key quality trait related to alterations in cuticle properties and remodeling of the fruit cell walls. Studies with transgenic tomato plants undertaken over the last 20 years have indicated that a range of pectin-degrading enzymes are involved in cell wall remodeling.

Methylation Profiling RIN3 and MEF2C Identifies Epigenetic Marks Associated with Sporadic Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease.

A number of genetic loci associate with early onset Alzheimer's disease (EOAD); however, the drivers of this disease remains enigmatic. Genome wide association and modeling have shown that loss-of-function, e.g.

Environmental chemicals impact dog semen quality in vitro and may be associated with a temporal decline in sperm motility and increased cryptorchidism.

Adverse temporal trends in human semen quality and cryptorchidism in infants have been associated with exposure to environmental chemicals (ECs) during development. Here we report that a population of breeding dogs exhibit a 26 year (1988-2014) decline in sperm quality and a concurrent increased incidence of cryptorchidism in male offspring (1995-2014). A decline in the number of males born relative to the number of females was also observed.

Genetic improvement of tomato by targeted control of fruit softening.

Controlling the rate of softening to extend shelf life was a key target for researchers engineering genetically modified (GM) tomatoes in the 1990s, but only modest improvements were achieved. Hybrids grown nowadays contain 'non-ripening mutations' that slow ripening and improve shelf life, but adversely affect flavor and color. We report substantial, targeted control of tomato softening, without affecting other aspects of ripening, by silencing a gene encoding a pectate lyase.

To what extent can zero tillage lead to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from temperate soils?

Soil tillage practices have a profound influence on the physical properties of soil and the greenhouse gas (GHG) balance. However there have been very few integrated studies on the emission of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) and soil biophysical and chemical characteristics under different soil management systems. We recorded a significantly higher net global warming potential under conventional tillage systems (26-31% higher than zero tillage systems).

Excess maternal salt intake produces sex-specific hypertension in offspring: putative roles for kidney and gastrointestinal sodium handling.

Hypertension is common and contributes, via cardiovascular disease, towards a large proportion of adult deaths in the Western World. High salt intake leads to high blood pressure, even when occurring prior to birth - a mechanism purported to reside in altered kidney development and later function. Using a combination of in vitro and in vivo approaches we tested whether increased maternal salt intake influences fetal kidney development to render the adult individual more susceptible to salt retention and hypertension.

Maternal fructose and/or salt intake and reproductive outcome in the rat: effects on growth, fertility, sex ratio, and birth order.

Maternal diet can significantly skew the secondary sex ratio away from the expected value of 0.5 (proportion males), but the details of how diet may do this are unclear. Here, we altered dietary levels of salt (4% salt in the feed) and/or fructose (10% in the drinking water) of pregnant rats to model potential effects that consumption of a "Western diet" might have on maternofetal growth, development, and sex ratio.

Quantifying the impact of soil compaction on root system architecture in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) by X-ray micro-computed tomography.

Background And Aims: We sought to explore the interactions between roots and soil without disturbance and in four dimensions (i.e. 3-D plus time) using X-ray micro-computed tomography.

Reprogramming of ovine somatic cells with Xenopus laevis oocyte extract prior to SCNT improves live birth rate.

The birth of live animals following somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) has demonstrated that oocytes can reprogram the genome of differentiated cells. However, in all species the frequency of development of healthy offspring is low; for example, in sheep, approximately only 5% of blastocysts transferred develop to term, and less than 3% develop to adulthood. Such low efficiencies, coupled with the occurrence of developmental abnormalities, have been attributed to incomplete or incorrect reprogramming.

Adult-onset obesity reveals prenatal programming of glucose-insulin sensitivity in male sheep nutrient restricted during late gestation.

Background: Obesity invokes a range of metabolic disturbances, but the transition from a poor to excessive nutritional environment may exacerbate adult metabolic dysfunction. The current study investigated global maternal nutrient restriction during early or late gestation on glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in the adult offspring when lean and obese.

Methods/principal Findings: Pregnant sheep received adequate (1.

DNA methylation, insulin resistance, and blood pressure in offspring determined by maternal periconceptional B vitamin and methionine status.

A complex combination of adult health-related disorders can originate from developmental events that occur in utero. The periconceptional period may also be programmable. We report on the effects of restricting the supply of specific B vitamins (i.

Fetal exposure to a maternal low-protein diet during mid-gestation results in muscle-specific effects on fibre type composition in young rats.

This study assessed the impact of reduced dietary protein during specific periods of fetal life upon muscle fibre development in young rats. Pregnant rats were fed a control or low-protein (LP) diet at early (days 0-7 gestation, LPEarly), mid (days 8-14, LPMid), late (days 15-22, LPLate) or throughout gestation (days 0-22, LPAll). The muscle fibre number and composition in soleus and gastrocnemius muscles of the offspring were studied at 4 weeks of age.

Impact of elevated CO(2) and O(3) on gas exchange parameters and epidermal characteristics in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.).

Potato plants (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Bintje) were grown in open-top chambers (OTCs) under three CO(2) levels (ambient and 24 h d(-1) seasonal mean concentrations of 550 and 680 micromol mol(-1)) and two O(3) levels (ambient and a seasonal mean 8 h d(-1) concentration of 50 nmol mol(-1)).

Does elevated CO2 ameliorate the impact of O3 on chlorophyll content and photosynthesis in potato (Solanum tuberosum)?

This study examined the impact of season-long exposure to elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) and ozone (O3), individually and in combination, on leaf chlorophyll content and gas exchange characteristics in potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Bintje).

Elevated CO increases biomass and tuber yield in potato even at high ozone concentrations.

•  Changes in the growth and yield of field-grown potato (Solanum tuberosum cv. Bintje) induced by season-long elevated CO and/or ozone concentrations are reported. •  Open-top chambers and unchambered field plots were used to examine crop responses to three CO (ambient, 550 and 680 µmol mol ) and two ozone (ambient and 65 nmol mol , 8 h d seasonal mean) treatments applied throughout the 105 d growing season.