Buffalo (Bubalus bubali) Late Embryo and Foetus Development: A Morphological Analysis

Many researches describe the embryonic developmental features in domestic animals; however, in farm animals, they are scarce. Most farm animal studies are related to assisted reproduction and embryos transfer techniques. But, morphological features and size measure to estimate the age gestation are rarely reported in literature. Thus, in this study, we described the developmental changes in the bubaline (Bubalus bubali) concepts from 21 to 60 days of gestation. Our results revealed that buffalo embryos similar morphological characteristics similar to other mammalian species. Also, similarities between bovine and bubaline persist; except on foetal stages when buffalos have a faster development than bovine. Therefore, buffalo's gestation period exhibits some varieties and accurate embryo age is more difficult. Yet, when we use a combination of the crown–rump, macroscopic analysis and alizarin red, it is possible to describe better the whole embryogenesis stages of the buffalo and which can contribute for future reproduction researches and applications in veterinary practice.     

A free-fall determination of the newtonian constant of gravity

Recent determinations of the Newtonian constant of gravity have produced values that differ by nearly 40 times their individual error estimates (more than 0.5%). In an attempt to help resolve this situation, an experiment that uses the gravity field of a one-half metric ton source mass to perturb the trajectory of a free-falling mass and laser interferometry to track the falling object was performed. This experiment does not suspend the test mass from a support system. It is therefore free of many systematic errors associated with supports. The measured value was G = (6.6873 +/- 0. 0094) x 10(-11) m3 kg-1 sec-2.     

In situ measurements of organics, meteoritic material, mercury, and other elements in aerosols at 5 to 19 kilometers

In situ measurements of the chemical composition of individual aerosol particles at altitudes between 5 and 19 kilometers reveal that upper tropospheric aerosols often contained more organic material than sulfate. Although stratospheric aerosols primarily consisted of sulfuric acid and water, many also contained meteoritic material. Just above the tropopause, small amounts of mercury were found in over half of the aerosol particles that were analyzed. Overall, there was tremendous variety in aerosol composition. One measure of this diversity is that at least 45 elements were detected in aerosol particles. These results have wide implications for the complexity of aerosol sources and chemistry. They also offer possibilities for understanding the transport of atmospheric aerosols.     

Mineral fertilization of carp ponds in polycultural rearing

The fertilization of carp ponds as an important intensification means has been utilized in Europe since the first half of the 19th century, but even in most intensive fertilization the concentration of nitrogen (N) hardly exceeds 2 mg/l and of phosphorus (P), 0.5 mg/l.Polycultural carp growing using intensive mineral fertilization (weekly and every 3 days) has been experimented in the Freshwater Fishery Research Station in Plovdiv in the 1971–1972 period.The greatest zooplankton and benthos biomass and the greatest fish growth per ha water area are obtained with 3-day mineral fertilization with ammonium nitrate, 708 kg/ha and superphosphate, 395 kg per hectar. The average monthly water temperature in the experimental ponds during the vegetation period (June–September) fluctuates between 21.5 and 24.7°C. The oxygen dissolved (O₂) during the day hours changes within the average of 4.9–7.6 ml/l and the aeration is normal for the carp ponds (4.0–8.1 mg O₂/l). The highest average seasonal zooplankton biomass in mixed fertilization (mineral and organic) is 2.437 g/m³. The zooplankton is represented by the following variaties: Rotatoria — Brachionus calyciflorus; Copepoda — Acanthocyclops vernalis and Cladocera — Moina rectirostric. The benthos consists of: chironomid larvae (family Chironomidae, Diptera) and Oligochaetae. The highest average seasonal biomass of the benthos is established with three-day mineral fertilization, 1.472 g/m². The total fish growth with three-day fertilization is 300 kg/ha higher than in the control ponds (without fertilization). The best fishery results have been achieved with three-day fertilization giving a total growth of the fish of 2 730 kg/ha and a food coefficient of 2.8.     

Endogenous Progesterone Concentrations Affect Progesterone Release from Intravaginal Devices Used for Oestrous Synchronization in Cattle

Intravaginal progesterone‐releasing devices are largely used both as contraceptives in humans and as a component of oestrous synchronization protocols in cattle. To reduce costs in large‐scale timed artificial insemination, the reuse of these releasing devices is common. Passive hormone diffusion, however, depends on the concentration gradient, which could affect the amount of residual progesterone present in these devices after a first use. To evaluate the effect of the presence of a corpus luteum in the release of progesterone from intravaginal devices, three synchronization protocols were designed to simulate the effects of inserting the device in the early dioestrus, late dioestrus or anoestrus. Holstein‐Zebu cross‐bred heifers were randomly allocated into one of these three treatments, and a series of blood samples was taken to evaluate the plasma progesterone concentrations. After 8 days, the intravaginal devices were removed and underwent a previously validated alcoholic extraction technique to measure the residual progesterone. Non‐used devices were used as controls. As expected, the simultaneous presence of the intravaginal device and a corpus luteum resulted in increased plasma progesterone concentrations. Conversely, the amount of residual progesterone in the devices after use was inversely proportional to the plasma progesterone concentration. These results demonstrate that the release rate of progesterone from intravaginal devices is affected by the endogenous concentration of this hormone; consequently, the strategy for reuse should account for the category and expected luteal cyclic activity of the animals undergoing synchronization protocols.