The estrogen receptor locus is associated with a major gene influencing litter size in pigs.

Identification of individual major genes affecting quantitative traits in livestock species has been limited to date. By using a candidate gene approach and a divergent breed cross involving the Chinese Meishan pig, we have shown that a specific allele of the estrogen receptor (ER) locus is associated with increased litter size. Female pigs from synthetic lines with a 50% Meishan background that were homozygous for this beneficial allele produced 2.3 more pigs in first parities and 1.5 more pigs averaged over all parities than females from the same synthetic lines and homozygous for the undesirable allele. This beneficial ER allele was also found in pigs with Large White breed ancestory. Analysis of females with Large White breed background showed an advantage for females homozygous for the beneficial allele as compared to females homozygous for the other allele of more than 1 total pig born. Analyses of growth performance test records detected no significant unfavorable associations of the beneficial allele with growth and developmental traits. Mapping of the ER gene demonstrated that the closest known genes or markers were 3 centimorgans from ER. To our knowledge, one of these, superoxide dismutase gene (SOD2), was mapped for the first time in the pig. Analysis of ER and these linked markers indicated that ER is the best predictor of litter size differences. Introgression of the beneficial allele into commercial pig breeding lines, in which the allele was not present, and marker-assisted selection for the beneficial allele in lines with Meishan and Large White background have begun.

Effects of sulfuric acid rain on two model hardwood forests : throughfall, litter leachate, and soil solution /

"January 1980."

Computer study to determine the combined performance of air bags and belt restraint systems. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Technical manual, unit maintenance : truck, utility, cargo/troop carrier, 1-1/4 ton, 4x4, M998 (2320-01-107-7155) ... truck, ambulance, 2-litter, soft top, 4x4, M1035 (2310-01-146-7194).

Includes index.

Hand receipt covering contents of components of end item (COEI), basic issue items (BII), and additional authorization list (AAL) for truck, utility, cargo/troop carrier, 1-1/4 ton, 4x4, M998 (2320-01-107-7155) ... truck, ambulance, 2-litter, soft top, 4x4, M1035 (2310-01-146-7194).

"May 1988."

Direct support and general support maintenance repair parts and special tools list for truck, utility, cargo/troop carrier, 1-1/4 ton, 4x4, M998 (2320-01-107-7155) ... truck, ambulance, 2-litter, soft top, 4x4, M1035 (2310-01-146-7194).

"August 1991."

Unit maintenance repair parts and special tools list for truck, utility, cargo/troop carrier, 1-1/4 ton, 4x4, M998 (2320-01-107-7155) ... truck, ambulance, 2-litter, soft top, 4x4, M1035 (2310-01-146-7194).

"August 1991."

Direct support and general support maintenance [microform] : truck, utility, cargo/troop carrier, 1-1/4 ton, 4x4, M998 (2320-01-107-7155) ... truck, ambulance, 2-litter, soft top, 4x4, M1035 (2310-01-146-7194); M1035A1 (2310-01-371-9585).

"August 1991."

Insect-resistant textile bags : new construction and treatment techniques /

Issued Sept. 1975.

Ten years among the mail bags;

Copy imperfect: ports. cut out.

Changes to porcine blastocyst vitrification methods and improved litter size after transfer

The objective was to improve the protocol that was used to obtain the first reported piglets from transferred vitrified and warmed zona-intact blastocysts. Blastocysts were collected from superovulated sows and gilts, centrifuged to polarize lipid, vitrified, warmed and cultured for 24 h or transferred immediately. Removing the zona pellucida after warming increased the number of cells in the surviving blastocysts (zona-free 60.8 +/- 4.3, zona-intact 39.1 +/- 2.8; P < 0.05). Thinning the zona pellucida produced similar results to zona removal. Changing the basal medium of the vitrification and warming solutions from modified PBS to phosphate buffered NCSU-23 increased the number of cells (44.7 +/- 2.2 versus 56.0 +/- 3.9, respectively; P < 0.05). Reducing the plunge temperature of the liquid nitrogen from - 196 degrees C to less than -204 degrees C improved the embryo survival rate (61.9% versus 82.9%, respectively; P < 0.05). These modifications were incorporated into the vitrification protocol that was used to vitrify and warm 105 blastocysts (that were subsequently transferred into four recipients). Three recipients became pregnant, farrowing three litters (average litter size, 5.3; 18.8% embryo survival in farrowing sows). Changing the warming protocol to using sucrose rather than ethylene glycol resulted in a trend towards improved embryo survival (73.5% versus 91.2%) but this was not statistically significant. Incorporating this modification, 203 blastocysts were vitrified, warmed and transferred into seven recipients. Five became pregnant and 36 fetuses were recovered (average litter size 7.2; 24.8% embryo survival in pregnant sows) at Day 40 of pregnancy. In conclusion, changes made to the vitrification protocol improved pregnancy rate and in vivo embryo survival compared to an earlier study using the original protocol. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effects of litter and fine root composition on their decomposition in a Rhodic Paleustalf under different land uses

Plant litter and fine roots are important in maintaining soil organic carbon (C) levels as well as for nutrient cycling. The decomposition of surface-placed litter and fine roots of wheat ( Triticum aestivum ), lucerne ( Medicago sativa ), buffel grass ( Cenchrus ciliaris ), and mulga ( Acacia aneura ), placed at 10-cm and 30-cm depths, was studied in the field in a Rhodic Paleustalf. After 2 years, = 60% of mulga roots and twigs remained undecomposed. The rate of decomposition varied from 4.2 year -1 for wheat roots to 0.22 year -1 for mulga twigs, which was significantly correlated with the lignin concentration of both tops and roots. Aryl+O-aryl C concentration, as measured by 13 C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, was also significantly correlated with the decomposition parameters, although with a lower R 2 value than the lignin concentration. Thus, lignin concentration provides a good predictor of litter and fine root decomposition in the field.