Epidemiology of lateral ankle sprain focusing on indirect contact mechanism in male and female soccer players: An 18.5-month cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological research highlights the need to understand sports injuries for effective prevention. Yet, detailed knowledge about lateral ankle sprain (LAS) in soccer, especially related to indirect contact mechanisms and specific sports movements, remains scarce. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of LAS by examining injury mechanisms, focusing on indirect contact, and analyzing sports-related movements. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study. METHODS: In this prospective study, 304 high-school and college soccer players (age: 19.0 ± 2.2 years, height: 168.3 ± 10.6 cm, weight: 64.2 ± 11.1 kg) were monitored for 18.5 months. Attendance and LAS incidents were recorded daily. Injury details, including movement at the time of injury, contact presence, and direction, were collected through interviews conducted on the injury day. LAS were categorized into direct contact, indirect contact, and non-contact mechanisms. Direct contact injuries were due to external forces on the lower leg or foot. Indirect contact injuries resulted from impacts on areas other than the lower leg or foot, and non-contact injuries involved no interaction with the ball or opponent. Incidence rates per 1,000 athlete exposures and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated, along with rate ratios (RR) to assess sex differences. RESULTS: The study recorded 59 LAS injuries. Indirect injuries were predominant, accounting for 47.5 % (n = 28) of the cases. Men experienced a higher incidence of indirect injuries, with an RR of 2.29 (95 % CI: 1.06-4.96). Outward contact was the most common (77.8 %; n = 21), while inward contact occurred in 22.2 % of the cases (n = 6). CONCLUSION: High school and college soccer players primarily sustained injuries through indirect contact mechanisms, with a significant number of injuries occurring during lateral contact. Men were more prone to indirect contact injuries. Furthermore, 47.5 % of LAS incidents involved reactive movements, and injuries frequently occurred during specific sports actions, such as ball interception.

A retrospective study on the effects of dry period length on milk yield and postpartum health in Holstein dairy cows.

We retrospectively analyzed the effects of dry period length (DPL) on milk yield and postpartum health using 152 commercial dairy farm data, including 46,228 dairy cows in Hokkaido, Japan, and examined the optimal DPL. The DPL was divided into eight categories: ≤25, 26-35, 36-45, 46-55, 56-65 (reference), 66-75, 76-85, and ≥86 d. The total milk yields (the sum of milk yield during the 55 d before and the 305 d milk yield after calving) of cows with DPL of ≤55 d did not differ from the reference group. Cows with DPL of ≤55 d had lower odds ratios (OR) of a displaced abomasum (DA), ketosis, milk fever (MF), and abnormal milk fat-to-protein ratio but had higher puerperal fever (PF) and stillbirth ORs than the reference group. Cows with a DPL of 46-55 d had the lowest PF and stillbirth ORs among the short DPL categories. The extremely short (≤25 d) and long (≥86 d) DPL increased the ORs of mastitis and abnormal liner score of somatic cell counts (SCCs) compared with the reference group. We conclude that shortening DPL can reduce postpartum health problems without reducing milk yield and that the optimal DPL is 46-55 d.

A comparison of the physical demands generated by playing different opponents in basketball friendly matches.

This study aimed to compare the physical demands of playing opponents of different skill levels in basketball. Eighteen men's college basketball players wore accelerometers to measure the relative accumulated acceleration load (AAL), estimated equivalent distance, and frequencies of sprint, jump, and exertion events during games against professional teams (Pro), teams at the same competition level (Collegiate), and teams comprising intra-team members in practice games (Scrimmage). Internal responses were calculated using the relative rating of perceived exertion (sRPE). A repeated measures analysis of variance, Bonferroni post-hoc tests, and standardized Cohen's effect sizes were calculated to compare the physical demands and internal responses across matches played against different levels of opponents. The results showed that in the game against the Pro, AAL (arbitrary units), sprint events (cases per min), and exertion events (cases per min) were significantly (p < .05) higher than those in games against the Collegiate and Scrimmage teams. As the competitive level of the opponents increased, the relative external load of the participants also increased. Conversely, internal responses measured using sRPE were lower after games against the Pro than those against the Collegiate. Internal and external loads may vary from each other depending on contextual factors.

Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Lower Extremity Injuries in Japanese Collegiate Men's Basketball Players.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic significantly affected the lives of Japanese collegiate men's basketball players. Purpose: To describe the incidence of lower extremity injuries in Japanese collegiate men's basketball during the COVID-19 pandemic and examine the effects of the pandemic on injury patterns. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiological study. Methods: Using data from a surveillance project of the Department of Medicine and Science of the Kanto Collegiate Basketball Federation, the authors included data from 6 men's basketball teams during the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons (11 team seasons). Injury rates per 1000 athlete-exposures (AEs) were calculated according to injury type, location, and frequency. Injury burden was estimated by multiplying the injury rate by the mean days lost. Injuries from the 2020-21 to 2021-22 seasons were compared with those before the pandemic (2013-14 to 2019-20 seasons) using injury rate ratios (IRRs), with significant differences indicated when the 95% CI did not include 1.0. Results: In total, 135 lower extremity injuries were reported during 27,249 AEs. The overall injury rate of the 2020-21 to 2021-22 seasons was significantly higher than that of the 2013-14 to 2019-20 seasons (IRR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.12-1.67). Lateral ankle sprains (IRR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.02-1.86), hamstring strains (IRR, 2.86; 95% CI, 1.34-6.12), jumper's knee (IRR, 2.68; 95% CI, 1.13-6.37), and stress fractures of the proximal fifth metatarsal (IRR, 7.16; 95% CI, 1.31-39.08) were significantly higher during the 2020-21 to 2021-22 seasons compared with the 2013-14 to 2019-20 seasons. Conclusion: The rate of lower extremity injuries increased significantly in Japanese collegiate men's basketball players during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of this study emphasize the importance of optimal screening and specific loads for injury prevention when detraining periods are anticipated.

Parity affects the relationship between the insemination-ovulation interval and the conception rate in lactating dairy cows.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between parity and the optimal insemination-ovulation interval (IOI) in lactating dairy cows, as well as the relationship between the optimal timing of artificial insemination (AI) based on the onset of oestrus and parity. A total of 183 postpartum lactating Holstein cows participated in the study and underwent 522 AI procedures using unsorted frozen semen between 2011 and 2018. Transrectal ultrasound was used to detect ovulation times in 326 AI procedures, and a pedometer was used to detect oestrus onset times in 470 AI procedures. An analysis was also performed on data from 265 AI procedures in which all the times of oestrus onset, oestrus end and ovulation were detected. The results showed that ovulation occurring 6-12 h after AI was associated with the numerical highest conception rate in multiparous cows. Moreover, the conception rate was higher when ovulation occurred between 6 and 12 h after AI than when it occurred between 0 and 6 h or 18 and 24 h after AI. In contrast, the effect of IOI on the conception rate in primiparous cows was insignificant. There was no effect of AI timing based on the oestrus onset on the conception rate in either primiparous or multiparous cows. Furthermore, the interval from oestrus onset to ovulation was similar in primiparous and multiparous cows. The difference in optimal IOI between primiparous and multiparous cows may be due to the larger uterus size in multiparous cows. These findings suggest that the optimal timing for AI in multiparous cows is more restricted than in primiparous cows. Therefore, it is essential to carefully determine the timing of AI when it is performed in multiparous cows.

Descriptive epidemiology of injuries in Japanese collegiate men's basketball: 2013/2014 to 2019/2020.

BACKGROUND: Basketball is one of the most played sports in the world. However, only a few studies have examined the epidemiology of Japanese collegiate men's basketball injuries. This study investigated the incidence of injury among Japanese collegiate men's basketball from the 2013/2014 to the 2019/2020 seasons and identified unique patterns by comparing our data with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men's basketball data. METHODS: Data from Japanese collegiate basketball teams of the Kanto Collegiate Basketball Federation Division I League during the 2013/2014 to 2019/2020 academic years (23 team-seasons) were used in this study. Injury rates per 1000 athlete exposures (AEs), injury proportions, and the injury rate ratio (IRR) were calculated according to the events, injury types, body parts, and common injury mechanisms. Injury rates were then compared with that from the time-loss injury data of the NCAA's previous reports. RESULTS: In total, 480 injuries during 97,515 AEs were reported, leading to an injury rate of 4.92 per 1000 AEs (95% CI = 4.48-5.36). The overall injury rate was higher in Japan than in the NCAA ([2009/2010-2014/2015] IRR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.39-1.73; [2014/2015-2018/2019] IRR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.48-1.82). Lower extremity injuries occurred most frequently (73.5%). Ankle sprain was the most common injury in Japan, with higher injury rates than in the NCAA (IRR = 2.10; 95% CI = 1.72-2.57). The injury rate of concussion was lower in Japan than in the NCAA (IRR = 0.28; 95% CI = 0.14-0.55). CONCLUSIONS: The rates of overall injury and ankle sprain were higher and that of concussion was lower in Japan than in the NCAA. These results suggested the existence of international differences in the pattern or features of injuries in basketball players.

High-Acceleration Movement, Muscle Damage, and Perceived Exertion in Basketball Games.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of the number of high-acceleration movements on muscle damage and the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) in basketball games. METHODS: Twenty-one male collegiate basketball players (mean age, 20.0 [1.0] y) were included. A triaxial accelerometer was used to measure acceleration in basketball-simulated scrimmages. To detect higher physical load during the actual game, the resultant acceleration was calculated, and 3 thresholds were set: >4G, >6G, and >8G resultant accelerations. The number of the extracted movements was calculated at each acceleration threshold. Plasma creatine kinase (CK) levels (marker of muscle damage) were estimated before and 24 hours after the match, and the session-RPE load was calculated within 30 minutes after the match. Pearson product-moment correlations with 95% confidence intervals were used to determine the relationships between the number of high-acceleration movements and plasma CK and session-RPE load. RESULTS: Significant correlations were observed between the number of high-acceleration movements >8G and CK level (r = .74; 95% confidence interval, 0.44-0.89; P < .0001). Furthermore, the correlation coefficient between acceleration and CK increased with increased acceleration threshold (>4G: r = .65; >6G: r = .69). Contrastingly, the correlation coefficient between acceleration and the session-RPE load decreased with increased acceleration threshold (>4G: r = .72; >6G: r = .52; >8G: r = .43). CONCLUSIONS: The session-RPE reflects the total amount of movement, while the high-acceleration movement reflects the momentary large impact load or intensity, and they evaluated different factors. Basketball coaching and conditioning professionals recommended combining acceleration and session-RPE when monitoring the load of athletes.

Acceleration Profile of High-Intensity Movements in Basketball Games.

ABSTRACT: Koyama, T, Rikukawa, A, Nagano, Y, Sasaki, S, Ichikawa, H, and Hirose, N. Acceleration profile of high-intensity movements in basketball games. J Strength Cond Res 36(6): 1715-1719, 2022-This study aimed to elucidate movements that require greater acceleration during basketball games, their occurrence frequency, and compare acceleration components. Eighteen male collegiate basketball players (age: 19.5 ± 0.8 years) were enrolled. Triaxial accelerometer was used to measure acceleration and a synchronized video was recorded. Moments that generated resultant accelerations >4, 6, and 8 G, and their coincided movements were identified. Ratios and frequencies of the extracted movements were calculated and Jonckheere-Terpstra trend test was used to examine which movement rate increased when acceleration threshold increased. In addition, the top 7 movements that generated a resultant acceleration >6 G among the combination of basketball-specific movements were extracted. Their resultant, mediolateral, vertical, and anteroposterior accelerations were identified and compared using one-way analysis of variance. Cohen's d was used to calculate effect sizes. All p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. The extracted frequencies were 33.6, 9.1, and 2.3 cases per minute for >4 G, >6 G, and >8 G, respectively. As the threshold increased, the rate of deceleration, landing, and physical contact increased. The mediolateral acceleration of physical contact was significantly greater than other movements, whereas the vertical acceleration of landing and deceleration was significantly greater than other movements. Thus, acceleration component analysis was performed to classify movement types. Greater acceleration appeared frequently in movement during defense. It is suggested that many defense movements involve a reaction to the ball and opponent. There are many passive movements during defense and speed changes rapidly. If many passive movements occur when defending, larger physical load is applied, and may lead to fatigue.

Acceleration profile of high-impact movements during young football games: a cross-sectional study involving healthy children.

Repetitive high-impact movements cause growth-related injuries in children. This study aimed to identify which movements during junior football games require >6 G and >8 G acceleration and the frequency at which they occur. Additionally, we compared the components of acceleration among movements with >8 G resultant acceleration. Eleven young male footballers (10.7 ± 0.4 years) played 8-a-side games while wearing a tri-axial accelerometer on their upper back. The number and frequency of the movements that generated >6 G and >8 G were calculated, and each directive acceleration of the top five items was compared using two-way ANOVA to examine the effect of movements. The frequency of movements that generated >6 G and >8 G acceleration during junior football games was 8.70 case/min and 2.62 case/min, respectively. The top five >8 G movements were braking and pre-braking in shuffle, slowdown, stop, and run/jog items. The vertical acceleration was significantly greater during braking in shuffle than during slowdown, stop, and run/jog and also greater during stop and pre-braking in shuffle than during run/jog movement. This pilot study suggests that decelerated movements mainly provoked high-impact situations and may be key actions for preventing overuse injury in young footballers.

High-Impact Details of Play and Movements in Female Basketball Game.

This study aimed to identify the high-impact details of play and movements with higher acceleration and their frequency during a female basketball match. Trunk acceleration was measured during a simulated basketball game with eight female players. The extracted instance was categorized, which generated at > 6 and 8 G resultant accelerations using a video recording and an accelerometer attached to the players' trunk, as details of play and movements. The frequency and ratio of the details of play and movements regarding all detected movements were calculated. A total of 1062 and 223 play actions were detected for the resultant acceleration thresholds of > 6 and 8 G, respectively. For these acceleration thresholds, in terms of details of play, positioning on the half-court was the most frequently observed (29.6 and 23.8%, respectively). In terms of movements, deceleration was the most frequently detected movement (21.5 and 23.3%, respectively), followed by landing (7.6 and 15.7%, respectively). Deceleration during positioning on the half-court and defense as well as landing mostly after a shot were detected as high-impact frequent basketball-specific movements. The results also showed that characteristics of movements or playing style and playing position may have an effect on acceleration patterns during a basketball game.

Formal Total Synthesis of Atropurpuran.

Atropurpuran, isolated from the roots of Aconitum hemsleyanum, is a non-alkaloidal diterpene which possesses a unique pentacyclic skeleton that contains an unprecedented tetracyclo[5.3.3.04,9.04,12]tridecane unit. We report herein the formal total synthesis of atropurpuran. The key features of our synthetic route are a high diastereoselective construction of the tri- and tetrasubstituted carbons (i.e., C4, C5, C10, and C20) through an Yb-catalyzed Mukaiyama aldol reaction in an aqueous medium and a one-pot operation including an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction/ring-closing metathesis to construct the unique pentacyclic skeleton of atropurpuran.

Involvement of γ-Glutamyl Transpeptidase in Ischemia/Reperfusion-Induced Cardiac Dysfunction in Isolated Rat Hearts.

GGsTop is a highly potent and specific, and irreversible γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) inhibitor without any influence on glutamine amidotransferases. The aim of the present study was to investigate the involvement of GGT in ischemia/reperfusion-induced cardiac dysfunction by assessing the effects of a treatment with GGsTop. Using a Langendorff apparatus, excised rat hearts underwent 40 min of global ischemia without irrigation and then 30 min of reperfusion. GGT activity was markedly increased in cardiac tissues exposed to ischemia, and was inhibited by the treatment with GGsTop. Exacerbation of cardiac functional parameters caused by ischemia and reperfusion, namely the reduction of left ventricular (LV) developed pressure and the maximum and negative minimum values of the first derivative of LV pressure, and the increment in LV end-diastolic pressure was significantly attenuated by GGsTop treatment. The treatment with GGsTop suppressed excessive norepinephrine release in the coronary perfusate, a marker for myocardial dysfunction, after ischemia/reperfusion. In addition, oxidative stress indicators in myocardium, including superoxide and malondialdehyde, after ischemia/reperfusion were significantly low in the presence of GGsTop. These observations demonstrate that enhanced GGT activity contributes to cardiac damage after myocardial ischemia/reperfusion, possibly via increased oxidative stress and subsequent norepinephrine overflow. GGT inhibitors have potential as a therapeutic strategy to prevent myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in vivo.

Isolation of Single-Wired Transition-Metal Monochalcogenides by Carbon Nanotubes.

The successful isolation of single layers from two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW)-layered materials has opened new frontiers in condensed matter physics and materials science. Their discovery and unique properties laid the foundation for exploring 1D counterparts. However, the isolation of 1D vdW-wired materials has thus far remained a challenge, and effective techniques are demanded. Here we report the facile synthesis of isolated transition-metal monochalcogenide MoTe nanowires by using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as molds. Individual nanowires are perfectly separated by CNTs with a minimal interaction, enabling detailed characterization of the single wires. Transmission electron microscopy revealed unusual torsional motion of MoTe nanowires inside CNTs. Confinement of 1D vdW-wired materials to the nanotest tubes might open up possibilities for exploring unprecedented properties of the nanowires and their potential applications such as electromechanical switching devices.

Psychiatric Comorbidities in Adult Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Prevalence and Patterns in the Routine Clinical Setting.

Objective: While attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with a high prevalence of comorbid psychiatric disorders in every age group, the etiology and epidemiology of comorbid disorders are less clear in adult patients with ADHD. In this surveillance study, investigators sought to assess the prevalence of comorbid psychiatric disorders, evaluate relationships between comorbid psychiatric disorders and demographic characteristics, and explore the patterns of these comorbid disorders and their relationships with ADHD subtypes. Methods: Data obtained from postmarketing surveillance of methylphenidate extended-release tablets for adult ADHD were used to evaluate the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities. Age, sex, age at diagnosis, number of comorbidities, and severity of ADHD symptoms were used as external variables for exploratory analyses. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) was performed to explore correlations among comorbidities and ADHD subtypes and extract major dimensions underlying variations in the pattern of comorbid disorders. Results: Data were collected from 575 patients with adult ADHD, including 301 (52.35%) with at least one concurrent psychiatric disorder. Analysis by NMDS demonstrated that different patterns of psychiatric comorbidities were related to the subtypes of ADHD. Conclusions: Psychiatric comorbidities have a high prevalence in patients with adult ADHD. Understanding these patterns could provide useful information in the diagnosis of adult ADHD and future investigations of its etiology.

Repeatability of antral follicle count according parity in dairy cows.

Ovarian reserve in cattle can be predicted by an indicator, the antral follicle count (AFC), which is easily determined via ovarian ultrasonography. However, the repeatability of AFC measurements in the same individual taken approximately 1 year apart after first parity remains unclear. This study, thus, aimed to clarify the between-lactation repeatability of AFC after first parity in dairy cows. We measured the AFC of the same individual cows consecutively across both first and second parity, both second and third parity, and both third and fourth parity in 31, 37, and 26 heads, respectively. The values of the intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) for the AFCs in first-second and second-third parity cows were more than 0.8, and the value of the ICC for the AFCs in third-fourth parity cows was significantly lower than that in first-second parity cows (P = 0.01). Subsequently, based on the average number of AFCs measured at some points from first to third parity, we classified the cows into three tertiles: <11 (low), 11-15 (intermediate), and ≥ 15 (high). We then compared the reproductive performance of the first through third parity cows among the groups. The hazards of pregnancy by 200 days postpartum were higher in the high group than in the other groups (P < 0.05). Our findings demonstrate that between-lactation repeatability of AFC from first through third parity in dairy cows is very high, and that cows with an AFC of ≥ 15 have a better reproductive performance than cows with a low AFC.

Energetics and electronic structures of perylene confined in carbon nanotubes.

The energetics and geometries of perylene encapsulated in carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been investigated employing density functional theory using the generalized gradient approximation combined with the van der Waals correction. Our calculations show that the encapsulated perylene molecules possess two metastable molecular conformations with respect to the CNT wall, which are almost degenerate with each other. A standing conformation, with respect to the CNT wall, is the ground state conformation for a semiconducting (19,0)CNT, while a lying conformation is the ground state for a metallic (11,11)CNT. Cooperation and competition between perylene-perylene and perylene-CNT interactions cause these possible perylene conformations inside CNTs. However, the electronic structure of the CNT encapsulating the perylene molecules is found to be insensitive to the molecular conformation.

Optimization of diagnostic methods and criteria of endometritis for various postpartum days to evaluate infertility in dairy cows.

Postpartum endometritis is the main cause of infertility in dairy cows, but there is a lack of critical diagnostic criteria. We aimed to 1) determine the optimal diagnostic method and criteria of endometritis for various postpartum days to evaluate infertility, and 2) assess the diagnostic accuracy of a combination of diagnostic methods. Holstein dairy cows (n = 441) from nine commercial dairy herds were examined at 42 ±â€¯7 days postpartum by using 5 methods: 1) transrectal palpation measurement of the cervical diameter, 2) ultrasonographic measurement of the fluid in uterus (FIU) score, 3) vaginoscopic detection of external uterine orifice hyperemia, 4) vaginal discharge score (VDS), and 5) endometrial cytological percentage of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN%). The clinical findings that were significant in the Pearson chisquare test and had the highest sum of sensitivity and specificity for infertility at 100, 125, 150, 175, and 200 days after parturition were determined the optimal criteria of endometritis. Logistic regression and the Cox proportional hazards model were used to compare the accuracies of the different diagnostic methods for infertility at various postpartum days. The combinations of methods which were significant in Pearson chisquare test and had the highest sum of sensitivity and specificity for infertility were proposed as the optimal combination for determination of endometritis status for various postpartum day. The optimal diagnostic criteria were PMN% ≥ 6.0, FIU ≥ 2 (continuous hyperechogenic or large amount of storage material), or VDS ≥ 2 (mucopurulent or worse vaginal discharge) for postpartum days 100 and 125; PMN% ≥ 8.0, FIU = 3 (large amount of storage material), VDS ≥ 2, or external uterine orifice hyperemia for day 150; PMN% ≥ 6.0, FIU = 3, VDS ≥ 2, or external uterine orifice hyperemia for day 175; and PMN% ≥ 5.0, FIU = 3, VDS ≥ 2, or external uterine orifice hyperemia for day 200. Only the results of endometrial cytology were related to infertility regardless of the postpartum days to evaluate infertility or statistical models. Compared with the sensitivity and specificity of a single diagnostic method, the sensitivity of a combination of methods improved but specificity decreased. We concluded that different diagnostic methods and criteria were required for postpartum days to evaluate infertility and diagnostic accuracy was improved by a combination of diagnostic methods rather than by a single method.

Facile Synthetic Route to Atomically Thin Conductive Wires from Single-Species Molecules in One-Dimensionally Confined Space: Doped Conjugated Polymers inside Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes.

A facile synthetic method for doped conjugated molecules by a heating process is demonstrated. Br-terminated terthiophene precursors are encapsulated in single-walled carbon nanotubes by a vapor-phase reaction, and additional heat treatment promotes the thermal condensation of the precursors. Transmission electron microscopy observations and optical measurements show the successful synthesis of sexithiophenes and their doping (oxidation) by Br dopants generated by the condensation reaction. This study provides a new strategy for the synthesis of the doped conjugated polymers from single-species molecules by only a heating process.

Near-Infrared Photoluminescence Properties of Endohedral Mono- and Dithulium Metallofullerenes.

The optical properties of endohedral metallofullerene molecules can be tuned by changing the fullerene size as well as the number of metal atoms inside the fullerene cages. In this work we have synthesized and isolated a series of mono- and dithulium metallofullerenes, including Tm@C82 (isomers I, II, III, IV), Tm@C88 (I-IV), Tm2@C82 (I-III), and (Tm2C2)@C82 (I-III). Near-infrared photoluminescence is observed from the thulium metallofullerenes. By changing the number of Tm ion in the fullerene cage, we have found that one can vary and tune the photoluminescence from 1200 to 1300-2000 nm observed for Tm(2+) (4f(13)) in Tm@C88 and Tm(3+) (4f(12)) in (Tm2C2)@C82, respectively. The photoluminescence intensity depends sensitively on the fullerene cages. (Tm2C2)@C82 (III) exhibits the highest photoluminescence intensity among the three structural isomers because of its large HOMO-LUMO energy gap.

Enhancement of maternal recognition of pregnancy with parthenogenetic embryos in bovine embryo transfer.

This study was performed to elucidate the changes in IFNT messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in in vivo-fertilized and parthenogenetic bovine embryos and their interferon-τ (IFNT) secretion amounts during the elongation phase. We assessed the induction capability of maternal recognition of pregnancy by parthenogenetic embryos and attempted cotransfer of in vivo-fertilized and parthenogenetic embryos. The expression level of IFNT mRNA in in vivo-fertilized embryos peaked on Day 18 after estrus, and the highest amount of uterine IFNT was observed on Day 20. Transfer of 10 parthenogenetic embryos produced a detectable amount of uterine IFNT. Transfer of one or three parthenogenetic embryos inhibited luteolysis. An increase in ISG15 mRNA levels in peripheral granulocytes was induced by the transfer of three parthenogenetic embryos. Cotransfer of three parthenogenetic embryos significantly improved the pregnancy rate on Day 40 in code 3 in vivo-fertilized embryos compared with single transfer without parthenogenetic embryos (65% vs. 35%). However, the pregnancy rate on Day 90 (35%) in cotransfer of code 3 in vivo-fertilized embryos did not differ from that upon single transfer (29%), because the cotransfer group had a higher incidence of pregnancy loss than with single transfer (47% vs. 17%) after Day 40. Cotransfer did not affect the pregnancy rate of code 2 in vivo-fertilized embryos. The incidence of pregnancy loss was higher in cotransfer of code 2 in vivo-fertilized embryos than in single transfer (30% vs. 7%). In conclusion, parthenogenetic embryos in the elongation phase secreted IFNT, enabling induction of maternal recognition of pregnancy. The present study revealed that enhancement of the maternal recognition of pregnancy using parthenogenetic embryos promoted the viability of poor-quality embryos until Day 40 of gestation. However, the incidence of pregnancy loss increased after Day 40 in the cotransfer of parthenogenetic embryos. A technique for promoting the full-term survival of poor-quality embryos is needed.