Early Pregnancy Detection of Iraqi Riverine Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) Using the BioPRYN Enzyme‐Linked Immunosorbent Assay for PSPB and the Progesterone Assay

This study was undertaken to detect pregnancy in Iraqi riverine buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) using three different methods (rectal palpation, plasma progesterone concentration and detection of the presence of pregnancy‐specific protein B (PSPB) with the BioPRYN^® enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test. The aim of the study was to identify the most sensitive, early and accurate method for detecting pregnancy. Twenty‐two female riverine buffalo that were 6.0 ± 0.93 years old were used. Four blood samples per buffalo were taken via jugular venipuncture at days 22–24, 32–34, 42–44 and 58–61 post‐mating (PM) to measure the progesterone concentration (ng/ml) and to detect the presence of plasma PSPB. The rectal palpation method was employed to evaluate all buffalo on days 42–44 and 58–61 PM. The BioPRYN^® test differed (p < 0.01) from the other tests with earlier accuracy for detecting pregnant and non‐pregnant buffalo. Eighty‐eight percent of pregnant and 76.9% of non‐pregnant buffalo were distinguished early (days 22–24 PM) using BioPRYN^® and plasma PSPB‐ELISA level (2.09 ± 0.12 ng/ml) in relation to 66.7% and 53.9% detected using the progesterone assay at similar days (4.30 ± 0.40 ng/ml). In conclusion, these results described, for the first time, the early and accurate pregnancy detection of water riverine buffalo using BioPRYN^® technology and provided the plasma levels of PSPB using an ELISA test. These findings will improve the reproductive and productive efficiency of Iraqi riverine buffalo by adapting the recent management and reproductive strategies in Iraq and in the world.     

Musculoskeletal responses of 2-year-old Thoroughbred horses to early training. 3. In vivo ultrasonographic assessment of the cross-sectional area and echogenicity of the superficial digital flexor tendon

AIM: To determine if the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) of young Thoroughbred horses changed in size and echogenicity in association with early race training.

METHODS: Cross-sectional area (CSA) and echogenicity were determined ultrasonographically at five levels of the SDFT of the forelimbs of 2-year-old fillies (n=14), corresponding to 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 cm distal to the accessory carpal bone (DACB). Measurements were made before and after a 13-week period in which a trained group of seven horses was compared with another group of seven untrained horses.

RESULTS: Level below the accessory carpal bone had a significant effect on CSA and Level 8 was smaller than all other levels except Level 12, while Level 12 was smaller than Levels 4 and 20 but not different from Levels 8 and 16. There was a significant interaction between level and time due to effects observed at Level 8. The CSA at Level 8 measured pre-training was different from that of Levels 4 and 20 in both pre- and post-training groups (p<0.05), but when measured post-training was not different from any other measurement. There was also a significant interaction between treatment group and time. There was no difference between CSA for the untrained and trained groups at the pre-training observation (p=0.9), but post-training the CSA (pooled over all levels) in trained horses was significantly larger than that of the untrained horses both post-training (p=0.019) and pre-training (p=0.034), and was not different from the pretraining CSA recorded in the trained group (p=0.29). Treatment group had no effect on echogenicity (p=0.43), while echogenicity was less at the end of the trial in both trained and untrained horses (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Early training for racing was associated with an increase in mean CSA of the SDFT. Other factors such as age and maturity may play a role in limiting this increase.     

窄幅机油乳剂对柑桔树的安全性试验

1998-2000年在浙江黄岩进行了窄幅机油乳剂（敌死虫）对柑桔的安全性试验。每年的4月下旬至10月上旬在温州蜜柑果园中分别用.5%的敌死虫定期喷洒4-10次（盛夏高温季节在16：00后喷洒），结果表明，除在花蕾期使用会增加畸形花率，9月份以后喷洒使果实的日灼病斑稍趋明显之外，对落叶落果、果实的产量和质量等均无不良影响，但一年的累积用量宜控制在4%以下。     

The oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide output of late chick embryos

Measurements of the oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide output during the last 36 hr. of incubation show that the exchange of these two gases increases progressively from the start of pulmonary respiration until hatching. The evidence indicates that prior to the penetration of the shell by the beak of the embryo (” pipping “) there is marked hypoxia and hypercapnia which are relieved when the embryo gains access to atmospheric air. At the time of hatching there is a very rapid release of carbon dioxide from the body surface and the internal surface of the allantoic membranes. There is no evidence to suggest that its release indicates either hypoxia or hypercapnia in the embryo immediately before hatching.     

Production variability in apple crops. II. The long-term behaviour of the English crop

The long-term variation in yield of English apple orchards and of 2 main cultivars are examined. Three factors determining yield are specified: the weather, the alternate-year bearing character of apple trees, and the technology (the introduction of semi-dwarfing rootstocks, higher-density plantings and new management techniques) as represented by time. Time was the most significant factor in increasing yields in the long term. Weather, particularly during the pre-flowering period was shown markedly to affect the crop from season to season. The model developed can be used to predict current production up to 5 months before harvest.When yield varies widely from year to year, a decrease in the area cropped has little effect on production and hence policies aimed at marginally reducing orchard area would have little short-term effect on overall production.