Effect of delaying the time of insemination with sex-sorted semen on pregnancy rate in Holstein heifers

The objective of the study was to evaluate the interval from onset of oestrus to time of artificial insemination (AI) to obtain the optimum pregnancy rate with sex-sorted semen in Holstein heifers. Heifers in oestrus were detected and inseminated only by using heat–rumination neck collar comprised electronic identification tag at the age of 13–14 months. Heifers (n = 283) were randomly assigned to one of three groups according to the timing of insemination at 12–16 hr (G1, n = 97), at 16.1–20 hr (G2, n = 94) and at 20.1–24 hr (G3, n = 92) after reaching the activity threshold. The mean duration of oestrus was 18.6 ± 0.1 hr, and mean peak activity was found at 7.5 ± 0.1 hr after activity threshold. The mean interval from activity threshold to ovulation was 29.4 ± 0.4 hr. The overall pregnancy per AI (P/AI) was 53.0% at 29–35 days and 50.9% at 60–66 days after AI. There was a significant reduction between G1 (13.8 ± 1.4 hr) and G3 (7.9 ± 1.4 hr) related to the intervals from AI to ovulation time. Sex-sorted semen resulted in significantly higher P/AI at 29–35 days when heifers inseminated in G3 (60.9%) after oestrus than those inseminated in G1 (49.5%) and G2 (48.9%). In terms of fertility, when the temperature–humidity index (THI) was below the threshold value (THI ≤65) at the time of AI, there was a tendency (≤65; 57.2% vs. > 65; 47.1%) for high pregnancy rate. There was no effect of sire on P/AI. In addition, the interaction of the technician with the time of AI was found significant, and three-way interaction of technician, sire and time of AI was tended to be significant on pregnancy rate. Thus, in addition to delaying the time of insemination (between 20.1 and 24 hr) after oestrous detection, THI and experienced technician were also found to be critical factors in increasing fertility with the use of sex-sorted semen in Holstein heifers.     

Synthesis and characterization of boron doped alumina stabilized zirconia fibers

Boron doped PVA/Zr-Al acetate nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning using PVA as a precursor. The effect of calcination temperature on morphology and crystal structure was investigated at 250, 500, and 800 °C. The study also establishes the effect of boron doping on the morphology of PVA/Zr-Al acetate nanofibers at various calcination temperatures. The measurements showed that the conductivity, pH, viscosity and the surface tension of the hybrid polymer solutions have increased with boron doping. In addition, the fibers were characterized by FTIR, DSC, XPS, XRD and SEM techniques. The addition of boron did not only increase the thermal stability of the fibers, but also increased the average fiber diameters, which gave stronger fibers. The DSC results indicated that the melting temperature (Tm) of the fibers was increased from 256 to 270 °C with the addition of boron. XRD peak patterns showed that after further heat treatment at 800 °C, zirconia exists in two phases of tetragonal and monoclinic modifications. Moreover, alumina does not transform into the γ-Al₂O₃ and θ-Al₂O₃ phase at 800 °C. The SEM appearance of the fibers showed that the addition of boron resulted in the formation of crosslinked bright surfaced fibers.     

The Determination of Soil Boron Fractions,Their Relationships to Soil Properties and the Availability to Olive (Olea europea L.) Trees

This study was conducted to investigate the various boron fractions in olive tree grown soils. The correlations between boron fractions in leaves, fruits and soil properties were examined. For this purpose cv “Gemlik” olive (Olea europaea L.) orchards were visited. Soil samples from 0–30 cm and 30–60 cm deep, the leaf and fruit samples were collected. The greatest proportion of total soil boron is present in residual form (85–88%). It is followed by organically bound B (2.84–4.50%), specifically adsorbed on soil colloid surfaces (0.93–1.31%), oxides (manganese oxyhydroxides, amorphous Fe and Al oxides, crystalline Fe and Al oxides) bound B (7.27–8.31%). The smallest one readily soluble (extracting plant available) boron values were composed of only 0.40–0.50% of total boron ranging. To determine readily soluble boron five different extraction solutions were in the order Hot water ? 0.01 M CaCl₂ ? 1 M NH₄OAc ? 0.1 M KCl ? 0.005 M DTPA. Fruit boron concentration and soil boron fractions showed close correlations than leaf boron concentration.     

Dry period management and optimization of post-partum reproductive management in dairy cattle

Dry period and early post-partum management are decisive factors for fertility in lactating dairy cows. Previous studies have shown that decreased dry matter intake (DMI) and increased non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) negatively affect fertility and subsequent milk production. The traditional dry period decreases DMI prior to parturition, resulting in a decrease in energy intake. A negative energy balance increases NEFA concentration, and increased NEFA may impair the immune system, especially by decreasing neutrophil function prior to parturition. Earlier studies have shown that post-partum health disorders, including retained placenta and metritis, were correlated with periparturient neutrophil function. In addition, decreased DMI is also linked to a reduced body condition score (BCS) in dairy cows. These events in the periparturient period negatively affect fertility. Some manipulation, such as shortening the dry period, may be a solution to increased DMI in the periparturient period, preventing post-partum disorders and subsequent fertility issues. This article aims to explain the effects of shortening the dry period on reproduction and early post-partum treatments to improve fertility. In addition, timed artificial insemination protocols will be discussed for use during the post-partum period to improve fertility in dairy cows.     

Effects of environmental factors and food availability in Northern Aegean sea on the cultivation of Mediterranean Mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis)

This study used two different collectors made of polypropylene (PP) rope and polyethylene (PE) fishing net to determine Mediterranean mussel's settlement, growth, condition index (CI), meat yield (MY) and shell thickness index (STI) during the period spent between June 2017 and November 2018. With this regard, chlorophyll a, water temperature, salinity, pH and particulate matter were defined through water samples that were collected on monthly basis triplicate. The mean chlorophyll a level was recorded as 0.32 ± 0.31 μg/L, while water temperature was 19.73 ± 5.14°C, salinity was 35 ± 2.070‰, pH was 8.12 ± 0.04, and TPM was 14.91 ± 10.48 mg/L. As a result of the cultivation period of 8 months spent following the first intense grip, the length of the mussels is measured as 31.79 ± 6.20 mm. Based on the Pearson correlation analysis results, the most important environmental parameter affecting Mediterranean mussels growth in length on PP rope collectors is the temperature (p < .05). The STI and CI were determined to be related with environmental temperature parameters, while no determinations could be obtained concerning the correlation of MY with environmental parameters. Assessment of Mediterranean mussels’ growth rate in PP rope collectors proved significant differences (p < .05) between March and November 2018. As no Mediterranean mussels are observed on PE fishing nets during the samplings performed throughout the study period, it is determined that PE fishing nets are not suitable collector types for Mediterranean mussel cultivation.     

Promoting urban greening: Valuing the development of green infrastructure investments in the urban core of Manchester,UK

The attribution of economic value to landscape resources is fraught with technical and methodological difficulties. Little is mandated in UK planning policy explaining how economic value should be established. As a result landscape resources have been undervalued, underfunded and marginalised in favour of larger grey infrastructure development. The UK NEA however outlined for the first time a national scale economic evaluation of environmental resources. The Valuing Attractive Landscapes in the Urban Economy (VALUE) Interreg IVB project examined this issue by establishing a toolkit of economic evaluation methodologies for green investments across North-West Europe. Focussing on the returns that investments in green infrastructure can deliver to cities and city-regions, the VALUE project identified economic values that can be used to influence future policy-making. This paper presents an analysis of VALUE street tree investments in Manchester, UK. Using a contingent valuation survey preferences for green investments and associated willingness to pay (WTP) for them were generated. Analysis suggests that willingness to pay is directly related to the size and greenness of the proposed investment and participant perceptions of added value. 75% of respondents were WTP for investments in green infrastructure. Analysis indicates increased WTP and a marked preference for larger and physically greener investments. Payment values ranged from £1.46 to 2.33, a 59.5% variance, between the preferred investment option and the status quo. The paper concludes that although green investments vary in size and function, respondents consider the specific and wider value of green infrastructure resources when asked how much they willing to pay to fund and maintain such investments.     

The Effect of Frying – the Chemical,Microbiological, and Acrylamide Composition of Mussels as a Street Food

The effects of frying methods and covering processes on the proximate composition, fatty acid profile, amino acid profile, cholesterol, acrylamide, and microbiological content of fried mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis 1819) were investigated in the present study. The group of mussels that were purchased for study was divided into six groups (control – unprocessed mussel meat; Group A – covered mussels fried in deep fat; Group B – mussel fried in low fat; Group C – uncoated mussel meat fried in deep fat; Group D – uncoated mussel fried in low fat; and Group E – mussel served in restaurants). It was determined that the mussel frying methods can affect the nutritional composition and cause changes in the amino acid, fatty acid, and cholesterol content.