Publications by authors named "S E de Graaf"
The causes of variation in the success of laparoscopic artificial insemination (AI) in sheep are not well understood. As such, this study incorporated the contributions of multiple male and female factors relevant to the success of AI into a comprehensive prediction model for pregnancy success. Data from Merino ewes (N = 30 254) including age, uterine tone (1; pale/flaccid-5; turgid/pink), intra-abdominal fat (1; little to no fat present-5; high fat), time of insemination and sire used, were recorded during AI.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFReproductive success in mammals hinges on the ability of sperm to generate sufficient energy through cellular metabolism to perform the energy-intensive processes required for fertilisation, including motility, maturation, and oocyte interactions. It is now widely accepted that sperm exhibit metabolic flexibility, utilising a combination of glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation (supported by the Krebs cycle and other complementary pathways) to meet their energy demands. However, the preferred pathway for energy production varies significantly among species, making it challenging to map species-specific metabolic strategies, particularly in species with high metabolic flexibility, like the ram.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- * Blood enters the liver through the periportal zone, flows through the mid-zone, and exits via the pericentral zone, with metabolite transport being crucial for liver function and division of labor among these zones.
- * Recent advancements in technology have improved understanding of how metabolic processes are organized in different liver zones, despite ongoing challenges in studying them separately, particularly regarding signaling pathways and the effects of daily rhythms on liver function.
Article Synopsis
- - Hydrogen is a strong alternative fuel with benefits like high energy density and low environmental impact, but its storage for cars is challenging.
- - A new method using a layered structure made of reduced graphene oxide and organosilica can host tiny MgH nanoparticles, improving their hydrogen storage capabilities compared to bulk MgH.
- - The study shows that this approach allows hydrogen to be released at lower temperatures and maintains stable performance over multiple cycles, suggesting that this method can enhance both hydrogen release and recharging efficiency.
After decades of decline, the Australian sheep flock aspires to rebuild its population of breeding ewes. A successful, rebuild will rely on high pregnancy rates and number of lambs born and reared. To examine this potential, a cross-sectional study of historical ultrasound pregnancy scanning records was undertaken using records collated from two experienced sheep pregnancy scanning businesses (years 2006 to 2019) from 15,397 mobs of ewes, totalling 7,443,314 ewes.
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