Characteristics of capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) semen analysed with flow cytometry combined with fertility results

In order to increase the reproductive indices of capercaillie kept in closed breeding facilities, it is necessary to constantly expand the methods of better understanding the characteristics of sperm and their fertilizing potency. The aim of the study was to analyse selected features of capercaillie sperm using flow cytometry and their connection with fertility results. The study included five males, three of which were kept in a family group with eight females and two were kept alone. For sperm viability, acrosome integrity, mitochondrial potential and DNA defragmentation were assessed. Paternity analyses were performed in order to confirm the paternity of the individual and to link the evaluated semen traits with reproductive success. Analyses carried out in the flow cytometer showed any significant differences between males in sperm characteristics. In the semen of male No. 101, the father of all chicks from the analysed family group, 91.3% of live sperm, 91.5% with intact acrosome, 83.6% with active mitochondria and 2.0% with DNA defragmentation were observed. The average fertility rate was 71.0%, and chick hatchability was 100%. Using flow cytometry in the analysis of capercaillie semen and its connection with the results of natural mating, we were able to obtain deeper knowledge about new sperm characteristics that were not examined before and which in the future may be helpful in selecting males for the reproductive flocks and developing assisted reproduction techniques.     

Nutritional and physiological responses of young growing rats to diets containing raw cowpea seed meal,protein isolate (globulins), or starch

The nutritional and physiological effects of raw cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp.) seed meal, protein isolate (globulins), or starch on the metabolism of young growing rats have been evaluated in 14-day trials. Wet and dry weight gain, feed conversion efficiency, and lipid and protein accretion were significantly reduced as a result of inclusion of seed meal, globulins, or starch in the diet, with growth retardation being most marked with the seed meal. The proportional weights of the small intestine and pancreas were increased by meal diets, and serum cholesterol levels were slightly reduced. The globulins and raw starch also increased relative small intestine weights but had no effect on the pancreas or serum constituents. The effects of cowpeas on rats appeared to be due primarily to the combined actions of globulins, resistant starches, protease inhibitors, and possibly fiber and non-starch polysaccharides on intestinal and systemic metabolism.     

The effect of human activity on birds at a coastal bay

I examined the direct and indirect effects of human activity on birds at a coastal bay refuge along the Atlantic Coast. Over the year, human activity varied at different sample sites on the refuge, but people were present on part of the refuge every day, although activity was concentrated on designated paths around a freshwater pond and at a fishing pier. On the refuge (exclusive of the ponds) people were present at the sample sites 17% of the time, birds were present 42% of the time when people were present, but birds were present 72% of the time when people were absent. Human activities, such as jogging or grass mowing, which involved rapud movement or close proximity to roosting birds, usually caused them to flush. Slow-walking bird watchers and clammers did not usually cause birds to flush. Gulls and terns were least affected as they usually relanded where they had been, ducks usually flushed and flew to the centre of the pond, and herons, egrets and shorebirds were most disturbed and flushed to distant marshes. These results suggest that if management objectives include providing roosting areas for migrating shorebirds then some areas must be protected from close and fast-moving human activities.     

Preliminary assessment of serum clusterin as a potential biomarker for canine lymphoma

Clusterin (CLU), also known as apolipoprotein J, is a widely expressed, heterodimeric, glycoprotein, important in tumourigenesis, apoptosis and immunoregulation. In humans, CLU expression has been associated with anaplastic large cell and Hodgkin's lymphoma. In this study, serum CLU levels in dogs with multicentric lymphoma (MLSA) were compared with healthy control dogs, using both western blot and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Western blot confirmed the presence of CLU in dog sera at the predicted molecular weight and the relative levels detected correlated with the levels detected by ELISA. CLU level analysis by ELISA found treatment naïve dogs with MLSA had a significantly (P < .001) lower serum CLU level compared with healthy controls. However, there was no significant difference between MLSA dogs prior to treatment and in complete remission. The wide variation in serum CLU levels may limit its potential as a single candidate biomarker for MLSA, although any prognostic predictive value of serum CLU concentrations has yet to be assessed.     

A Highly Sensitive Spectrophotometric Method for Gallium Determination with Chrome Azurol S in the Presence of Mixed Cationic-Nonionic Surfactants and its Application in Plant Analysis

A simple and very sensitive spectrophotometric method determining microgram quantities of gallium (Ga) has been developed. The method is based on the complex of Ga(III) with Chrome Azurol S (CAS) in the presence of benzyldodecyldimethylammonium bromide (ST) and polyoxyethylenesorbitan monopalmitate (Tween 40). The complex forms in weakly acid solution (pH 3.8) and shows the absorption maximum at 627 nm. The molar absorptivity (ε) of this system is 1.87 × 10⁵ L mol^?1 cm^?1, and it is clearly higher than ε of other spectrophotometric methods of gallium determination. The detection and quantification limits (LOD, LOQ) are 7.6 × 10^–3 and 0.023 µg mL^?1, respectively. Beer^‘s law is obeyed in the range from 0.02 to 0.60 µg mL^?1 of Ga. The precision and accuracy are good. This first spectrophotometric method of Ga(III) determination in the four-component system has been successfully applied for the analysis of mushrooms and grasses with low content of gallium.     

Feline hip joint anatomy in magnetic resonance images

The aim of this study was to develop an anatomical model of the feline hip joint for low‐field magnetic resonance imaging (LF‐MRI) based on high‐field magnetic resonance imaging (HF‐MRI). The study was performed on six adult clinically healthy European shorthair cats, aged 1–3 years, with body weight of 2.8–4.4 kg. The animals were examined with the use of the Vet‐MRI Grande Esaote LF (0.25 T) scanner and high‐field Siemens Magnetom TRIO (3 T) MRI scanner. In the LF‐MRI, most satisfactory results in T1‐weighted images were obtained when TE was 26 ms in all three planes and when TR was 350–950 ms in the transverse plane, 950–1150 ms in the sagittal plane and 520–750 ms in the dorsal plane. In T2‐weighted images, TE was 90 ms in the transverse and dorsal plane and 120 ms in the sagittal plane. The results were presented as images acquired with LF‐MRI scanners in three planes. The slice thickness was 3 mm for each plane. In LF‐MRI, muscles in the hip joint region and round ligament were well visualized. Unlike in LF‐MRI, the cross section of the femoral nerve was identified in HF‐MRI scans. In examinations of the feline hip joint, the main limitations of LF‐MRI were a lack of reliable contrast between articular cartilage and synovial fluid as well as longer scan time. Despite the above, LF‐MRI images were characterized by good contrast between bones and the surrounding soft tissues.     

Application of reactive UV-absorbers for increasing protective properties of cellulose fabrics during standard laundering process

A number of water-soluble colourless fibre-reactive UV-absorbers derivatives of symmetrical triazine were used as additives during commercial laundering process. UV-protection factor (UPF) of such treated cotton tricot samples was measured. Changes in protection properties of modified textiles after repeated standard laundering process were determined. Carried-out experiments gave evidence of covalent bond formation between applied absorbers and cellulose fibre during standard washing process at 40 °C or 60 °C. Textiles modified by this method have provided UV-protective properties for prolonged time.     

Cut-flower life of dry transported carnations as influenced by different silver form pre-treatments

Twenty-four hours of pre-treatment with AgNO₃ increased the vase-life of flowers from 3 to 4 days for carnations kept in water or in preservative solutions after simulated transport conditions. A mixture of AgNO₃ with sodium thiosulphate or with EDTA was considerably better than AgNO₃, while such complexing agents as CDTA, EDDHA and EDPA were less effective. Determination of radioactive silver (Ag) in dissected carnation parts treated with different Ag complexes showed a positive correlation between vase-life and the amount of tracer Ag in the plants.