Communicating with special populations: children and older adults.

Veterinary professionals must meet the growing expectations of a diverse range of clients to sustain success in veterinary medicine. Few veterinarians, however, receive comprehensive skills training for communicating effectively with clients, particularly among special populations, such as children and older adults. An increasing number of veterinary professionals have recognized a need to master requisite skills for effectively interacting with pet-owning families. This article highlights the importance of the human-animal bond for children and older adults, addresses issues of pet loss, and provides suggestions for meeting the communication needs of both populations.     

Development of a RAPD marker-based classification criterion for quality semen production in Holstein crossbred bulls

In cattle production systems, an intense selection pressure for production traits has resulted in the decline of fertility traits. To optimize an efficient reproduction system, the inclusion of both male and female fertility traits in the selection process is very much essential. RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA) was developed as a molecular biology tool and has been extensively used, to study intra- and interspecific genetic diversity. The present study was undertaken to utilize RAPD primers to investigate the association between DNA markers and semen quality traits viz. Sperm concentration, total sperm count ejaculate and initial sperm motility and thereby to identify good/poor semen producers. DNA isolated from the blood samples of healthy bulls was subjected to RAPD-PCR. The multiple regression analysis followed by independent t test was carried out to identify suitable markers. Based on the results, only 12 bands were identified as marker suitable for any of the quality trait. This includes, OPA2 ~ 760, OPA2 ~ 700, OPA6 ~ 1,200, OPA9 ~ 400, OPA9 ~ 380, OPA12 ~ 970, OPA14 ~ 715, OPA14 ~ 605, OPA16 ~ 485, OPA17 ~ 860 and OPA18 ~ 480. Multiple regression analysis selected, OPA2 ~ 760 and OPA2 ~ 1,750 for sperm concentration and OPA2 ~ 760, OPA2 ~ 700, OPA9 ~ 620, OPA4 ~ 670 and OPA18 ~ 1,015 for total sperm count/ejaculate. But the t test revealed a significant association between OPA2 ~ 760 and total sperm count. Further, discriminant function analysis also identified this marker in the first step itself. The results of the present study can be exploited as a low-cost alternative strategy for identification of good /poor semen producers in crossbred bulls at an early age.     

Improvement of phosphorus uptake, phosphorus use efficiency, and grain yield of upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) in response to phosphate-solubilizing bacteria blended with phosphorus fertilizer

Phosphorus (P) limitation in soil is a major concern for crop productivity. However, the use of chemical fertilizer is hazardous to the environment and costly. Therefore, the use of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) is an eco-friendly approach for a sustainable agricultural system. In the present study, a field trial was conducted for two consecutive years to study the effects of three PSB strains isolated, Bacillus licheniformis, Pantoea dispersa, and Staphylococcus sp., with different P fertilizer rates on P uptake, P use efficiency (PUE), and grain yield of rice. The activities of soil enzymes were also studied in relation to PSB treatments. Comparative analysis of the yield and biochemical parameters revealed that inoculation of PSB consortium could reduce almost 50% of the recommended P dose in rice cultivation. Three PSB strains in combination with 50% P dose was most effective and showed the highest increases in P uptake and PUE as compared to the uninoculated control. Moreover, the PSB consortium combined with 50% P dose contributed to 50.58% and 35.64% yield increases compared to the uninoculated control for 2018 and 2019, respectively. Significant increases in the activities of soil dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, and acid phosphatase were also recorded under PSB treatment.     

Seed longevity studies in wild type,cultivated and inter-specific recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Loss of seed viability is a serious hurdle in production and ambient seed storage of soybean. Understanding the factors affecting seed viability, and...     

‘Kalhar’ [Blumea lacera (Burm.f.) DC. Asteraceae]: a wild species used in preparation of traditional cuisine “Umbadiyu” in Dungri (Valsad), South Gujarat,India

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - A plant species locally called ‘Kalhar’ [Blumea lacera (Burm.f.) DC.] was identified for plant genetic resources value during exploration and...     

Impacts of fiber orientation and milling on observed crystallinity in jack pine

Influences of fiber orientation and milling on wood cellulose crystallinity were studied using jack pine wood. The fiber orientation effects were measured by sampling rectangular wood blocks in radial, tangential, and cross-sectional orientations. The influence of milling was studied by analyzing the unsieved and sieved milled wood fractions (all <1,000 μm). Fiber orientation effect was manifested in both X-ray and Raman measurements and was dependent upon the orientation of the sampled wood blocks. In Raman, the observed crystallinity was similar between the blocks sampled on the tangential and the radial faces. However, the estimated values were 5.5 % lower compared to that measured in a powdered sample pellet. Moreover, in these sampling modes, the orientation of the block with respect to the direction of the electric vector of the laser made a difference only for the tangential mode of sampling. When a wood block was sampled on the cross-sectional face, the observed Raman crystallinity was 3.9 % higher from that of the pellet. The observed crystallinity did not significantly differ with change in sample orientation with respect to the electric vector direction. In contrast, the Segal-WAXS study of the blocks indicated that compared to the pellet, the estimated crystallinities in the radial, tangential, and cross-sectional sampling modes were 5, 2, and 11 % lower, respectively. This suggested that the radial and the tangential faces of the blocks can be used to estimate the crystallinity of wood. With regard to the effect of milling on Raman and Segal-WAXS estimates, the wood crystallinity did not depend upon the particle sizes of the fractionated samples and was similar to that of the original unfractionated ground wood.     

Compatibility of silver barb Puntius gonionotus (Bleeker) with Indian major carps in a grow-out polyculture

The compatibility and growth performance of silver barb Puntius gonionotus (Barbonymous gonionotus) with the three Indian major carps, i.e., Catla catla, Labeo rohita and Cirrhinus mrigala, were assessed in a 10‐month carp polyculture trial. Treatments T‐1, T‐2, T‐3 and T‐4 were stocked with three of the above four carp species, with an absence of silver barb, mrigal, rohu and catla, respectively, while all four species were stocked in treatment T‐5. The treatments were stocked at 6000 fingerlings ha⁻¹, with an equal species ratio maintained in each treatment. Incorporation of silver barb into the polyculture system neither affected the survival of any carp irrespective of species combination nor yielded significant changes in biomass production among treatments, except for the one without catla, where it was significantly low. The study revealed a higher extent of competition between silver barb and rohu, perceptible from the lower growth of one in the presence of the other. Although a certain level of competition of silver barb with mrigal was evident, competition with catla was not perceptible. Irrespective of species combination with silver barb as a component species, similar total biomass production in treatments revealed the feasibility of its incorporation into the Indian major carp‐based polyculture practice without affecting the total yield.     

A survey of gastro-intestinal parasitic infection in domestic and wild birds in Chittagong and Greater Sylhet,Bangladesh

A survey of gastrointestinal parasitic infection as determined by faecal examination was conducted among domestic and wild birds in Bangladesh. Birds were sampled from households, wet markets and wetlands in Chittagong and Greater Sylhet districts during April 2012 to February 2013. Mist nets were used to catch resident wild and migratory birds. The overall prevalence of parasitic infection ranged among locations from 25 to 55% in indigenous domestic ducks (live bird samples = 304), 20% in resident wild birds (environmental faecal samples = 40) and 40% in migratory birds (live bird samples = 35). The prevalence of parasitic infection was significantly higher in indigenous domestic ducks collected during summer (39%) than winter (22%) (p = 0.04). In domestic indigenous ducks and Muscovy ducks, both single and multiple types of parasitic infections were found. However, other domestic birds and wild birds often had a single type of parasitic infection. Ascaridia spp. with an average egg load of 50–900, was commonly detected in faecal samples of domestic and wild birds in this study. Other identified parasites were Capillaria spp. and Heterakis spp. both in domestic and wild birds. Improvement of biosecurity measures for household duck farms through educating and motivating household farmers could help mitigate the effects of parasitic infection on production.     

Anti-abortion and Fertility Vaccine Potential of Defined Double Deletion (ΔaroAΔhtrA) Mutant (S30) of Salmonella Abortusequi in Equids

The present study on defined double deletion (ΔaroAΔhtrA) mutant (S30) of Salmonella enterica serovar Abortusequi evaluated it for safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy as a vaccine candidate in equids. The candidate strain was found safe in equids (foals, male and female horses and donkeys, and pregnant and nonpregnant mares) and induced good humoral and cell-mediated immunity on administration through oral route. The strain was not excreted in feces of vaccinated animals. The vaccine candidate administered orally (1 × 10¹¹ cfu per animal) protected mares even after 180 days of inoculation against abortion on challenge with wild-type S. Abortusequi strain whereas in nonvaccinated control, all mares aborted. The vaccination in infertile mares resulted in regaining of fertility in 67%–80% thoroughbred mares at two different breeding farms. Further, the humoral immunity was transferred to foals from vaccinated mothers through colostrum, but no placental transfer was evident. Thus, the vaccine under study may be recommended for use in equids to control S. Abortusequi infection–associated abortions and also to enhance fertility of temporarily infertile mares in endemic areas.