Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone treatment in cattle: a meta-analysis of the effects on conception at the time of insemination

SUMMARY Data from 40 trials described in 27 published papers were analysed by meta-analysis (pooling of data from numerous trials into a single analysis) to evaluate the effects of injecting gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) In cattle at the time of Insemination on the risk of pregnancy. A total of 19 019 cows were involved In these studies. Analyses were stratified by trial and by the effects of dose of GnRH, type of GnRH and Insemination number (first, second or third and greater). Mantel-Haenszel analysis revealed that use of GnRH at Insemination significantly Increased the overall risk of pregnancy by 12.5% In treated cows (P < 0.05). However, Increases In risk of pregnancy were greatest (22.5%) when repeat breeders were treated. Results for use of GnRH or analogue at first service were similar, with Increased risks of pregnancy in treated cows of 5.2 and 8.0%, respectively. The risk of pregnancy tended to be higher (11.1%) when the dose of GnRH was 250 μg and when used at second Insemination (9.9%). The analyses demonstrated that while treatment at Insemination with GnRH and GnRH analogues Increased conception rates In dairy cattle, some variation In study results was attributable to the number of Inseminations after calving at which GnRH Is administered. Further efforts should be made to determine characteristics of populations of cows that have good fertility responses to GnRH and to determine the mode of action of GnRH in Increasing fertility. Meta-analysis proved to be a useful technique for evaluating the apparently conflicting results from trials and in evaluating the effect of factors such as Insemination number, dose and type of GnRH on responses to treatment.     

2003年春季东海区浮性鱼卵和仔稚鱼种类组成及数量分布

本文分析研究了2003年春季东海区(27°00′～34°00′N)150m以浅海域浮性鱼卵、仔稚鱼的种类组成及数量分布。共鉴定49种鱼类的鱼卵、仔稚鱼,其中31种鉴定到种,隶属于26科、29属。优势种类为日本鳀、方氏云鳚、太平洋鲱。带鱼、小黄鱼等经济鱼类鱼卵、仔稚鱼数量少,鲱形目鱼类鱼卵、仔稚鱼数量较多。鱼卵、仔稚鱼分布主要在近海禁渔线附近海域。     

长江口潮滩植物根际沉积物磷的累积及其生物有效性

通过对长江口潮滩植物生物量及根际沉积物中磷的赋存形态和含量的研究,结果表明各个采样点的海三棱草从春季开始生长并一直延续到初夏,到7月其生物量基本上都达到一个峰值。海三棱草根际沉积物中磷的赋存形态包括弱吸附态磷(Ad-P)、铁结合态磷(Fe-P)、自生磷灰石及钙结合态磷[(Ap+Ca)-P]、碎屑态磷(De-P)和有机磷(OP),它们都具有较好的季节性变化,在一定程度上都受到氧化还原状态的控制。文中还研究了根际沉积物孔隙水中的磷酸盐含量,发现其有效性受到了氧化还原状态及沉积物中铁的影响。     

冀东冬小麦灌浆期与千粒重的关系

通过对195份冬小麦资源品种(系)的抽穗期、灌浆时间与千粒重的试验分析表明,冀东冬小麦的抽穗期主要在5月1日～5月14日之间,而5月7～5月13日是抽穗的高峰期,达到总量的80.4%;灌浆时间在35～45d之间,以37～41d的品种最多,占品种总数的88.2%.随抽穗期的推迟、灌浆期的缩短,千粒重呈显著下降趋势,相关系数分别为 r=-0.4365和r=0.8924.     

Interactions of insecticides with biological membranes

Many insecticides (e.g. DDT, lindane, pyrethroids) are hydrophobic molecules which bind extensively to biological membranes. Binding of insecticides to phospholipid bilayers frequently shows saturation, with binding increasing with increasing insecticide concentration up to some limit, beyond which no further insecticide is incorporated into the bilayer. For lindane, this limit has been shown to correspond to the concentration at which the aqueous phase becomes saturated. Simple alkanes show similar saturation phenomena, and binding of halogenated alkanes can be followed by fluorescence quenching methods. It is shown that effects of hydrophobic molecules on bilayer fluidity are small. Effects of alkanes and insecticides on the activity of the (Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺)-ATPase purified from sarcoplasmic reticulum follow from direct binding to the ATPase, at sites which are not at the lipid-protein interface of the ATPase.     

A case-control study to identify farm factors affecting fertility of dairy herds: univariate description of factors

Objective To identify farm factors which were associated with reproductive performance in dairy herds in New South Wales.
Procedure A survey was administered by face to face interview to examine the responses of producers drawn from 757 herds, which used the New South Wales Agriculture Department Dairy Herd Improvement scheme. A case-control approach was used to select a total of 126 herds from the first (top group - cases) and fourth quartiles (low group - controls) for intercalving interval.
Results We found that the estimated interval from calving to first mating was significantly different between groups (P = 0.03) and that the groups significantly differed in both their target for interval to first mating (P = 0.02) and their perceived optimum time for first mating (P = 0.04). Other factors associated with a longer intercalving interval included, use of embryo transfer programs (P = 0.08), younger managers (P = 0.02), fewer breedings per day (P = 0.01), a greater number of people detecting heats (P = 0.07), but less hours spent detecting heats while handling the cows (P = 0.11), and a failure to vaccinate bulls for campylobacteriosis (P = 0.14).
Conclusions Managers of herds with poorer reproductive performance did not intend to mate cattle as soon after calving as managers with better reproductive performance, were not as active in seeking veterinary advice on reproduction, and were attempting to treat reproductive diseases and disorders themselves.     

A comparison of the autecology of Quercus robur L. and Q. pyrenaica Wild.: present habitat in Galicia, NW Spain

The biotopes occupied by pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.)and rebollo oak (Quercus pyrenaica Willd.) in Galicia were characterizedusing different parameters, enabling a comparative analysisof its habitats. Thirty-nine plots of pedunculate oak and 40of rebollo oak were inventoried and 25 ecological parameters(physiographic, climatic and edaphic) were measured to describethe biotopes, along with 14 stand parameters to characterizethe structure and the silviculture of these forests; some ofthem were used in previous works about the autecology of bothspecies. Quercus robur was found to occupy a wider range ofecological habitats and their distribution is oceanic; Q. pyrenaicapresents a more Mediterranean phytoclimatic position. The resultsindicated that the distribution of oak forests in Galicia ismore closely related to physiographic and climatic featuresthan to edaphic, because the nature of the substrates that theyoccupy is similar. Analysis of fragility/aggressiveness betweenboth species and chestnut shows that the aggressiveness of bothoaks, mainly pedunculate, was much higher, except at high altitudes,and in areas with a high mean temperature, where rebollo ismore aggressiveness. Comparison of the two Quercus shows formost of the parameters that Q. robur is the more aggressivespecies.