Assessing semantic interoperability in environmental sciences: variety of approaches and semantic artefacts.

The integration and reuse of digital research products can be only ensured through the adoption of machine-actionable (meta)data standards enriched with semantic artefacts. This study compiles 540 semantic artefacts in environmental sciences to: i. examine their coverage in scientific domains and topics; ii.

Alien and native species in Italian marine and transitional waters.

Background: Biological invasions are one of the major threats to the ecosystem structure and functioning. After the initial introduction, frequently mediated by human activities, alien species can overcome different biogeographical and ecological barriers and determine severe impacts on native biodiversity and socio-economic activities. The Italian peninsula is located at the intersection of large trade routes within the Mediterranean Sea.

An integrated individual-level trait-based phytoplankton dataset from transitional waters.

Functional trait-based approaches have undergone an extraordinary expansion in phytoplankton ecology. Morpho-functional traits have been shown to vary both within and between populations and species, potentially affecting individual fitness and the network of inter-individual relationships. Here we integrate six fully harmonized phytoplankton morpho-functional trait datasets, characterized by a fine data grain, reporting individual-level data over a large biogeographical area.

Individual and population-scale carbon and nitrogen isotopic values of in invaded freshwater ecosystems.

Background: Freshwater ecosystems are amongst the most threatened habitats on Earth; nevertheless, they support about 9.5% of the known global biodiversity while covering less than 1% of the globe's surface. A number of anthropogenic pressures are impacting species diversity in inland waters and, amongst them, the spread of invasive alien species is considered one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss and homogenisation in freshwater habitats.

How much biodiversity is concealed in the word 'biodiversity'?

Amidst a global biodiversity crisis, the word 'biodiversity' has become indispensable for conservation and management. Yet, biodiversity is often used as a buzzword in scientific literature. Resonant titles of papers claiming to have studied 'global biodiversity' may be used to promote research focused on a few taxonomic groups, habitats, or facets of biodiversity - taxonomic, (phylo)genetic, or functional.

An individual-based dataset of carbon and nitrogen isotopic data of in invaded Mediterranean waters.

Background: The characterisation of functional traits of non-indigenous and invasive species is crucial to assess their impact within invaded habitats. Successful biological invasions are often facilitated by the generalist diet of the invaders which can modify their trophic position and adapt to new ecosystems determining changes in their structure and functioning. Invasive crustaceans are an illustrative example of such mechanisms since their trophic habits can determine important ecological impacts on aquatic food webs.

[Choice of the imaging technique for the diagnosis of bone metastases].

Bone is the third common site of distant metastases in cancer patients. Bone metastases may have implications for prognosis, quality of life, and local and systemic therapy. Numerous imaging modalities may be used to detect bone metastases.

[Virtual colonoscopy and PET/CT for diagnosis and staging of colorectal cancer].

Colo-rectal cancer is the most common malignancy of the gastrointestinal tract and is the third frequency for malignancy in humans. CT and MRI development allows an early diagnosis and a modulation of the therapeutic approach. Many papers seem to confirm the role of PET/CT and virtual colonography in the evaluation of primary lesions.

Raman microspectroscopy as a non-invasive tool to assess the vitrification-induced changes of ovine oocyte zona pellucida.

Cryopreservation-induced modifications of zona pellucida (ZP) have been explored to a lesser extent compared to other oocyte compartments. Different methods have been applied to identify ZP changes, but most of them are invasive and measure only few properties of ZP. Raman microspectroscopy (RMS) is a powerful technique for studying the molecular composition of cells but to date few studies have been performed on the oocytes using this method.

The effect of okadaic acid on meiotic maturation of canine oocytes of different size.

The present study was conducted to determine the effect of okadic acid (OA), a potent inhibitor of seronine/treonine 1 and 2A phosphatase, on meiotic resumption and progression in canine oocytes with different diameters. Cumulus-oocyte complexes were collected from ovaries of bitches at different oestrous phases. In Experiment 1, to determine the optimal concentration of OA (0.

Response of single benthic metrics and multi-metric methods to anthropogenic pressure gradients, in five distinct European coastal and transitional ecosystems.

In recent times many benthic indices have been proposed to assess the ecological quality of marine waters worldwide. In this study we compared single metrics and multi-metric methods to assess coastal and transitional benthic status along human pressure gradients in five distinct environments across Europe: Varna bay and lake (Bulgaria), Lesina lagoon (Italy), Mondego estuary (Portugal), Basque coast (Spain) and Oslofjord (Norway). Hence, 13 single metrics (abundance, number of taxa, and several diversity and sensitivity indices) and eight of the most common indices used within the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) for benthic assessment were selected: index of size spectra (ISS), Benthic assessment tool (BAT), Norwegian quality index (NQI), Multivariate AMBI (M-AMBI), Benthic quality index (BQI), (Benthic ecosystem quality index (BEQI), Benthic index based on taxonomic sufficiency (BITS), and infaunal quality index (IQI).

Epidemiological study of Toxoplasma gondii infection in ovine breeding.

An outbreak of toxoplasmosis occurring in a typical farm of 524 ovines was monitored for 1 year after the occurrence of 31 abortions. Abortion events involved 7.2% of 430 pregnant sheep.

Morphological and biochemical analysis of immature ovine oocytes vitrified with or without cumulus cells.

The cryopreservation of oocytes is an open problem as a result of their structural sensitivity to the freezing process. This study examined (i) the survival and meiotic competence of ovine oocytes vitrified at the GV stage with or without cumulus cells; (ii) the viability and functional status of cumulus cells after cryopreservation; (iii) the effect of cytochalasin B treatment before vitrification; (iv) chromatin and spindle organization; (v) the maturation promoting factor (MPF) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity of vitrified oocytes after in vitro maturation. Sheep oocytes were vitrified at different times during in vitro maturation (0, 2, and 6 h) with (COCs) or without cumulus cells (DOs).

A low oxygen atmosphere during IVF accelerates the kinetic of formation of in vitro produced ovine blastocysts.

Among the factors that affect in vitro embryo development, oxygen atmosphere is considered to be of great influence. In this study, we evaluated the influence of two different oxygen atmospheres during in vitro fertilization (IVF) of ovine oocytes on their developmental capacity and quality assessed by cryotolerance. Cumulus oocyte complexes derived from ovaries of slaughtered sheep were matured in vitro and subsequently fertilized under low (5%) or high (20%) oxygen atmospheres, and cultured in SOF + aa + 0.

Induction of the presence of corpus luteum during superovulatory treatments enhances in vivo and in vitro blastocysts output in sheep.

This report offers the results of two experiments developed to test possible benefitial effects of the presence of corpus luteum (CL) on in vivo and in vitro sheep embryo production; using two different breeds treated with two different protocols by two different teams at two different centres. In the first trial, estrus was synchronized in 11 ewes with two doses of cloprostenol, 10 days apart. On day 1 after estimated ovulation, sheep were treated with progestagen sponges and superovulated with eight decreasing doses (26.

Delay on the in vitro kinetic development of prepubertal ovine embryos.

In the present study we characterize the developmental potential of prepubertal and adult ovine oocytes, analyzing the developmental speed to two-cell and blastocyst stages and its relationship with hatching from the zona pellucida, development after vitrification and the number and allocation of inner mass and trophoblastic cells. Prepubertal and adult ovine oocytes were matured and fertilized in vitro and first cleavage rates at 22, 26 and 32 h were recorded. Cleaved oocytes were cultured and blastocyst production was assessed at 6-9 days post-fertilization (dpf).

In vivo and in vitro fertilizing capacity of cryopreserved European mouflon [Ovis gmelini musimon] spermatozoa used to restore genetically rare and isolated populations.

European mouflon sheep are an endangered species of ovidae residing primarily in the mountenous habitat of the islands of Sardinia and Corsica. The purpose of this study was to assess the fertilizing capacity of cryopreserved European mouflon spermatozoa after AI in synchronized mouflon and domestic ewes and after IVF in in vitro matured mouflon and domestic ewe oocytes collected by OPU technique. Domestic ram (Ovis aries) spermatozoa served as control.

FSH different regimes affect the developmental capacity and cryotolerance of embryos derived from oocytes collected by ovum pick-up in donor sheep.

The objective of the present study was to compare the developmental capacity of sheep oocytes obtained by OPU after two different ovarian stimulations, and cryotolerance to vitrification procedures of in vitro derived embryos after in vitro maturation, fertilisation and culture of these oocytes. Sheep were divided into three groups: (A) no treatment (control); (B) constant doses of FSH (FSH-c); (C) decreasing doses of FSH (FSH-d). Ovine groups FSH-c and FSH-d were synchronised by the insertion of intravaginal sponges left in situ for 7 days; FSH (total dose: 96IU) was administered in four doses given every 12h starting on Day 5.

Superoxide dismutase affects the viability of thawed European mouflon (Ovis g. musimon) semen and the heterologous fertilization using both IVF and intracytoplasmatic sperm injection.

This study evaluated the effects of superoxide dismutase (SOD) on viability and acrosome integrity of European mouflon spermatozoa after cryopreservation and on the fertilization rates of sheep oocytes after i.v.f.

Defined media for vitrification, warming, and rehydration: effects on post-thaw protein synthesis and viability of in vitro derived ovine embryos.

The purpose of this study was to assess the viability (rates of re-expanding and hatching in vitro), of in vitro derived ovine blastocysts using vitrification and warming/rehydration media containing fetal calf serum (20% FCS) or polyvinyl alcohol (0.1% PVA), and the incorporation of labelled methionine in protein synthesised during the first 4h after cryopreservation. In experiment 1, after 60 h culture in TCM-199 supplemented with 10% FCS, the hatching rates of blastocysts that had been vitrified, warmed, and rehydrated in media containing only PVA (p/p) were significantly (P<0.

Resumption of metabolic activity of vitrified/warmed ovine embryos.

To evaluate resumption of metabolic activity of vitrified ovine embryos during a short time immediately after warming, blastocysts collected from superovulated Sarda ewes were incubated with (35)S-methionine. In vitrified/warmed embryo groups the protein secretion significantly (P < 0.05) increased from 0 to 24 hr of culture, reaching significantly (P < 0.

The effect of co-culture on the development of in vitro matured equine oocytes after intracytoplastic sperm injection.

It is clear that, in the horse, there are many weak links in the process of in vitro embryo production; an optimal culture system for equine oocytes does not exist, and related data are conflicting. Therefore, the ability of 3 different culture systems to support embryonic development of ICSI horse oocytes was examined. Oocytes (n = 261) suitable for culture were collected from 55 ovaries and divided, according to cumulus morphology, into 2 categories: expanded cumulus and compacted cumulus.

Influence of cadmium exposure on in vitro ovine gamete dysfunction.

This study was conducted to determine the in vitro effects of three different cadmium concentrations (0, 2, and 20 microM CdCl(2)) on oocyte maturation, fertilisation, and acrosome integrity and sperm viability in sheep. Cumulus-oocyte complexes were recovered from ovaries of slaughtered sheep and sperm were collected by artificial vagina from adult rams. The oocyte maturation rate was significantly affected (P < 0.