Factors Affecting the First Service Conception Rate of Cows in Smallholder Dairy Farms in Bangladesh

The successful outcome of an insemination is a combination of both male and female fertility‐linked factors. We investigated the first service conception rate of cows at artificial insemination (AI) in the smallholder dairy farms in Bangladesh. Frozen straws were prepared from ejaculates of Bos indicus (n = 7) and Bos indicus × Bos taurus (n = 7) AI bulls. Fertility was determined from 6101 first services in cows that were performed by 18 technicians in four regions between April 2004 and March 2005. Pregnancy was diagnosed by rectal palpation between 60 and 90 days post‐insemination. The Asian version of Artificial Insemination Database Application (AIDA ASIA) was used for bulls‐, cows‐ and AI‐related data recording, and later retrieved for analysis. The mean ± SD number of inseminations performed from individual bulls and their conception rates were 436.0 ± 21.6 and 50.7 ± 1.9%, respectively. Logistic regression demonstrated body condition scores (BCS), heat detection signs, months of AI and their interactions had greatest effects (odds ratios: 1.24–16.65, p < 0.04–0.001) on first service conception rate in cows. Fertility differed (p < 0.02–0.001) between the regions, previous calving months, months of AI, BCS, parity and heat detection signs of cows. Inseminations based on mounting activity (n = 2352), genital discharge (n = 3263) and restlessness and/or other signs (n = 486) yielded a conception rate of 53.6%, 48.8% and 50.1%, respectively (p < 0.05). Conception rate between technicians ranged between 43.4% and 58.6% (p < 0.05). The days interval from calving to first service (overall mean ± SD = 153.4 ± 80.6) had relationship (p < 0.001) with BCS, months of previous calving and parity of the cows. Fertility at AI in smallholder farms can be improved by training farmers on nutrition and reproductive management of the cows.     

Cotton yarn engineering via fuzzy least squares regression

Modeling of yarn and fiber properties has been a popular topic in the field of textile engineering in recent decades. The common method for fitting models has been to use classical regression analysis, based on the assumptions of data crispness and deterministic relations among variables. However, in modeling practical systems such as cotton spinning, the above assumptions may not hold true. Prediction is influential and we should therefore attempt to analyze the behavior and structure of such systems more realistically. In the present research, we investigate a procedure to provide a soft regression method for modeling the relationships between fiber properties, roving properties, and yarn count as independent variables and yarn properties as dependent (response) variable. We first selected the effective variables by multivariate test (mtest) and then considered fuzzy least squares regression for evaluating relationship between cotton yarn properties such as tensile, hairiness, unevenness and fiber properties that were measured by HVI system. We also used mean of capability index (MCI) to evaluate the goodness of fit of the fuzzy regression models. The results showed that the equations were significant at very good MCI levels.     

Cereal diseases caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium graminearum</Emphasis>: from biology of the pathogen to oxidative burst-related host defense responses

Small grain cereals, such as wheat, barley and oats are considered among the most important food sources. Plant-parasitic nematodes play a considerable role in decreasing cereal yields. The three-major species of cereal cyst nematodes (CCN) Heterodera avenae, H. latipons, and H. filipjevi are distributed worldwide and cause considerable damage. This review provides information regarding the global distribution of these nematode species, yield loss due to CCN, their biology and pathogenic relation to plants, identification and control through agricultural practices, biological agents and resistance breeding. As morphological identification of CCN is difficult and time-consuming, several molecular techniques for the identification of these CCN species have been developed in recent years. The restrictions on the use of nematicides demand for resistance to CCN. Resistance genes in several lines are known and are used in numerous breeding programmes against CCN; pyramiding these resistance genes into high yielding cultivars that could become commercially available for farmers is progressing.     

Assessment of genetic diversity and relationships among <Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum urartu</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum boeoticum</Emphasis> populations from Iran using IRAP and REMAP markers

Einkorn wheat is known as the donor of ‘A’ genome to cultivated wheat and source of many important genes. Therefore, genetic erosion in cultivated wheat provides a good reason to investigate genetic diversity in these species. In the present study, genetic diversity of 14 populations of Triticum urartu and Triticum boeoticum collected from west and north-west of Iran was examined by IRAP and REMAP markers. In total, 26 out of 36 IRAP and 41 out of 88 REMAP combinations amplified polymorphic and scorable banding patterns. IRAP and REMAP combinations produced 6.53 and 5.21 polymorphic bands per assay, respectively. Mean of polymorphism information content for IRAPs and REMAPs were 0.38 and 0.40 and marker index values for them were 2.60 and 2.09, respectively. Analysis of molecular variance based on IRAP and REMAP data revealed significant within and among population variances, although within population variance was higher than that of among population. Primer combinations based on Sukkula and Nikita retrotransposons produced the highest number of markers in the whole population. Cluster and principal coordinate analyses using REMAP data grouped the populations based on the species and geographical origin, but grouping based on IRAP could not separate the two species. However, based on both marker systems considerable diversity was observed among and within the studied populations.     

Environmental and maternal factors associated with gross placental morphology in dairy cattle

This article reports on a study of gross placental morphology of 282 expelled placentas from 89 primi‐ and 193 multiparous Holstein dams immediately after calving and examines associations with environmental factors such as typical herd features and season of calving, and maternal factors such as age at calving, level of milk yield at conception and cumulative amount of milk produced during gestation. The highest correlation between calf measurements and placental characteristics was found between the weight of the calf and the total cotyledonary surface (r = .643; p < .001), confirming the high importance of the cotyledonary surface available for nutrient transfer to the developing foetus. Younger age in adolescent and smaller heart girth in multiparous dams were associated with a higher cotyledon number, suggesting placental compensation in dams with lower capacities in terms of dry matter intake. No significant association between milk yield during gestation in multiparous animals and gross placental morphometrics could be detected, indicating that factors such as the amount of milk produced during gestation affect placental development less than foetal weight close to term. Therefore, placental growth may be sustained at the expense of other tissues in an attempt to maintain pregnancy and minimize the adverse consequences for the foetus. This study offers evidence concerning factors affecting the placental surface size for nutrient transfer from dam to calf in dairy cattle based on gross morphometrics, but needs confirmation from studies in which this surface size is more profoundly assessed by measuring the branches present in the cotyledonary villi.     

Nephroblastoma in bester sturgeon,a cultured hybrid of Huso huso × Acipenser ruthenus: Diagnostic imaging,clinical and histopathological study

Abdominal distention occurred at an incidence of 1% (15 from 1500 fish) in the population of 1‐year‐old bester (Huso huso × Acipenser ruthenus). Computed tomography (CT) images and radiographs showed a soft tissue mass compressed the posterior part of the swim bladder. Ultrasonography showed that the masses had different patterns. Internal examination revealed the abdominal cavities to be filled with large masses which appeared to encompass most of the visceral organs, including the swim bladder. The masses originated from the posterior kidney. Histologically, the masses were composed of mixtures of embryonal epithelial (tubules and glomeruli), blastema and mesenchymal tissues. The tubules showed cystic, papillary and tubular patterns. Tubules and glomeruloid structures were surrounded by proliferating blastema cells. The primitive mesenchyme was composed of loose streams and whorls of spindle to stellate cells with elongate nuclei. Histological findings in the skeletal muscles, hypoderm and spleen confirmed the metastatic tumour from the kidney in two cases. Immunohistochemically, neoplastic cells of the tubules and glomeruloid structures were positive for cytokeratin AE1/AE3. Sections stained with Masson's trichrome showed blue staining of the stroma. The histopathologic findings were consistent with nephroblastoma.     

Prevalence of hypertension among Iranian hemodialysis patients and associated risk factors: a nationwide multicenter study

The aim of this study is to document the prevalence of HTN and characterize risk factors associated with HTN in Iranian hemodialysis patients. Three hundred and thirty seven HD patients from 5 university based HD centers around Iran were enrolled in the study. Urea reduction ratio was calculated using formula: 100 * (1-(urea before HD/urea after HD)). Pearson Chi-square test, independent sample t-test and one way ANOVA were used for evaluations, where appropriate. Multivariate logistic regression model was used for defining independent risk factors. Two sided p < 0.05 were considered significant. Patients with diabetes mellitus and hypertension as causes of ESRD significantly were more likely to have hypertension before and after dialysis (p < 0.05). Patients with conventional thrice weekly dialysis (compared to twice), hemodialysis duration of more that 6 months, acetate type of dialysate, ESRD cause when diabetes mellitus and hypertension, were significantly associated with having pre-HD hypertension. We also found that hemodialysis center of the capital city had a significant better measures compared to other cities (p < 0.05). This study revealed a relatively acceptable prevalence of hypertension in our HD population. Nevertheless, because of higher prevalence of HTN in HD centers out of capital city, it seems necessary that we should urgently pay more attention in promotion of these centers toward achieving better outcome with implementing strict guidelines to follow.     

Antral Follicle Populations and Embryo Production – In Vitro and In Vivo – of Bos indicus–taurus Donors from Weaning to Yearling Ages

Interest in indicus–taurus cattle has been increasing, as these animals are likely to present the best characteristics of Zebu and European bovine breeds. The aim of this study was to compare the embryo production of indicus–taurus donors with high vs low antral follicle counts obtained by ovum pickup/in vitro production (OPU/IVP) and superovulation (SOV)/embryo collection. Braford females at weaning age (3/8 Nelore × 5/8 Hereford, n = 137, 9 ± 1 month old) were subjected to six serial ovarian ultrasonographs and were assigned to two groups according to the number of antral follicles ≥3 mm as follows: G‐High antral follicular count (AFC, n = 20, mean ≥40 follicles) and G‐Low AFC (n = 20, mean ≤10 follicles). When the females (n = 40) reached 24 months of age, they were subjected to both OPU/IVP and SOV/embryo collection. The average number of follicles remained highly stable throughout all of the ultrasound evaluations (range 0.90–0.92). The mean number of COCs recovered (36.90 ± 13.68 vs 5.80 ± 3.40) was higher (p < 0.05) for females with high AFC, resulting in higher (p < 0.05) numbers of total embryos among females with high vs low AFC (6.10 ± 4.51 vs 0.55 ± 0.83). The mean number of embryos per collection was also higher (p < 0.05) for G‐High vs G‐Low (6.95 ± 5.34 vs 1.9 ± 2.13). We conclude that a single ultrasound performed at pre‐pubertal ages to count antral follicles can be used as a predictor of embryo production following IVP and SOV/embryo collection in indicus–taurus females.     

Effect of Insemination–Ovulation Interval and Addition of Seminal Plasma on Sow Fertility to Insemination of Cryopreserved Sperm

In swine, the use of frozen-thawed (FT) sperm for artificial insemination (AI) is limited because of poor sow fertility, possibly associated with a post-thaw capacitation-like status resulting in fewer fully viable sperm. Sow fertility to AI with FT sperm may improve with deeper deposition of sperm within the female tract, insemination very close to ovulation, or reversal of cryocapacitation by seminal plasma (SP). We performed two experiments to examine these suggestions. In experiment 1, 122 multiparous Yorkshire sows received 600 IU equine chorionic gonadotrophin at weaning and 5 mg pLH 80 h later to control time of ovulation. The predicted time of ovulation (PTO) was 38 h after pLH injection. Thereafter, sows were assigned on the basis of parity to a single AI of FT sperm at 2 h before PTO, or at 12 h before PTO, or FT sperm supplemented with 10% SP at 12 h before PTO. Control sows received fresh semen at 12 h before PTO. All semen doses were adjusted to 3 x 10(9) live cells and deposited into the cervix. Experiment 2 employed 99 multiparous crossbred sows and repeated the treatments of experiment 1 except that all FT inseminations were intrauterine. In both experiments, farrowing rates were lower (p < 0.01) following FT inseminations with no effect of time of insemination or of supplemental SP. In experiment 1, litter size was smaller following FT insemination (p < 0.05), but no effect on litter size was evident in experiment 2. Supplemental SP had no effect on litter size in either experiment. The lack of effect of either SP or timing of FT insemination on sow fertility suggests that the non-lethal sperm cryoinjury affecting fertility involves more than just cryocapacitation.