Effects of timing of induced luteolysis in embryo donor mares on reproductive performance and pregnancy rate in recipient mares

The objective was to evaluate the effects of giving prostaglandin F(2 alpha) (PGF) to donor mares 48 h prior to embryo collection. Non-lactating donor mares (n = 20 estrous cycles in 10 mares), ranging from 2.5 to 10 y of age and 400 to 500 kg of body weight were used from September 2004 to February 2005 in the southern hemisphere (Brazil). Donor mares were randomly assigned in a cross-over design study. During a Treated cycle, 7.5 mg PGF was given 48 h prior to embryo collection, whereas in the Control cycle, 7.5 mg PGF was given at embryo collection. In Treated Cycles, serum progesterone concentrations decreased between the day of PGF treatment and the day of embryo collection (13.9 +/- 5.4 and 0.5 +/- 0.3 ng/mL, respectively; P < 0.05). In Treated versus Control cycles, the interovulatory interval was shorter (14.9 +/- 0.9 vs 17.5 +/- 1.1 d, P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference between these groups for the interval from PGF to ovulation (average, 9.8 d), embryo recovery rate (average, 75%), embryo quality, uterine protein concentration, and pregnancy rate in recipient mares (average, 87% at 15 d after ovulation, with no pregnancy loss detected by 60 d). In conclusion, giving donor mares PGF 48 h prior to embryo collection reduced the average interovulatory interval by approximately 2.5 d, thereby potentially increasing the numbers of embryos that could be collected during a breeding season, with no deleterious effects on embryo recovery rate, embryo quality, or pregnancy rate in recipient mares. (c) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Broiler breeder trace mineral nutrition and feeding practices on embryo progeny development

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Positioning and localization of two-wavelength interferograms for wavefront reconstruction with volume holographic media

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

An objective reconstruction of the chain of contagion

North's clustering method, which is based on a much used ecological model, the nearest neighbor distance, was applied to the objective reconstruction of the chain of household-to-household transmission of variola minor (the mild form of smallpox). The discrete within-household outbreaks were considered as points which were ordered in a time sequence using a 10-40 day interval between introduction of the disease into a source household and a receptor household. The closer points in the plane were assumed to have a larger probability of being links of a chain of household-to-household spread of the disease. The five defining distances (Manhattan or city-block distance between presumptive source and receptor dwellings) were 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 m. The subchain sets obtained with the five defining distances were compared with the subchains empirically reconstructed during the field study of the epidemic through direct investigation of personal contacts of the introductory cases with either introductory or subsequent cases from previously affected households. The criteria of fit of theoretical to empirical clusters were: (a) the number of clustered dwellings and subchains, (b) number of dwellings in a subchain and (c) position of dwellings in a subchain. The defining distance closet to the empirical findings was 200 m, which fully agrees with the travelling habits of the study population. Less close but acceptable approximations were obtained with 100, 300, 400 and 500 m. The latter two distances gave identical results, as if a clustering ceiling had been reached. It seems that North's clustering model may be used for an objective reconstruction of the chain of contagious whose links are discrete within-household outbreaks. © 1984.

Surface reconstruction using multiple light sources and perspective projection

This paper presents a method to recover 3D geometry of Lambertian surfaces by using multiple images taken from the same view point and with the scene illuminated from different positions. This approach differs from Stereo Photometry in that it considers the light source at a finite distance from the object and the perspective projection in image formation. The proposed model allows local solution and recovery of 3D coordinates, in addition to surface orientation. A procedure to calibrate the light sources is also presented. Results of the application of the algorithm to synthetic images are shown.

Three-dimensional reconstruction of fracture surfaces: Area matching algorithms for automatic parallax measurements

This paper describes two solutions for systematic measurement of surface elevation that can be used for both profile and surface reconstructions for quantitative fractography case studies. The first one is developed under Khoros graphical interface environment. It consists of an adaption of the almost classical area matching algorithm, that is based on cross-correlation operations, to the well-known method of parallax measurements from stereo pairs. A normalization function was created to avoid false cross-correlation peaks, driving to the true window best matching solution at each region analyzed on both stereo projections. Some limitations to the use of scanning electron microscopy and the types of surface patterns are also discussed. The second algorithm is based on a spatial correlation function. This solution is implemented under the NIH Image macro programming, combining a good representation for low contrast regions and many improvements on overall user interface and performance. Its advantages and limitations are also presented.

Qualitative analysis of two reconstruction techniques and their application in dentistry

Although visualization in the field of dentistry has some of the same requirements as the medicine field, the differences in goal demand specific approaches. This paper reports on the implementation of two fundamentally different approaches to reconstruction of structures from planar cross sections and their application to dentistry data. One of the approaches was an implementation of a distance-based sampling technique, and the other is a new algorithm, based on the Delaunay triangulation. Both were tested using contour data of teeth and the results are compared here in the light of the target applications, which are teaching and training dentistry, as well as simulation of dental procedures and illnesses. Widely mentioned problems encountered in local reconstruction methods such as marching cubes for these cases are clearly illustrated in this paper, and a very satisfactory alternative is given. © 2000 SPIE and IS&T.

Embryo recovery and pregnancy rates after the delay of ovulation and fixed time insemination in superstimulated beef cows

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of delaying ovulation subsequent to superstimulation of follicular growth in beef cows (Bos indicus) on embryo recovery rates and the capacity of embryos to establish pregnancies. Ovulation was delayed by three treatments using either progesterone (CIDR-B®) or a GnRH agonist (deslorelin). Multiparous Nelore cows (n = 24) received three of four superstimulation treatments in an incomplete block design (n = 18 per group). Cows in Groups CTRL, P48 and P60 were treated with a CIDR-B device plus estradiol benzoate (EB, 4 mg, i.m.) on Day-5, while cows in Group D60 were implanted with deslorelin on Day-7. Cows were superstimulated with FSH (Folltropin-V® 200 mg), from Day 0 to 3, using twice daily injections in decreasing amounts. All cows were treated with a luteolytic dose of prostaglandin on Day 2 (08:00 h). CIDR-B devices were removed as follows: Group CTRL, Day 2 (20:00 h); Group P48, Day 4 (08:00 h); Group P60, Day 4 (20:00 h). Cows in Group CTRL were inseminated at 10, 20 and 30 h after first detected estrus. Ovulation was induced for cows in Group P48 (Day 4, 08:00 h) and Groups P60 and D60 (Day 4, 20:00 h) by injection of LH (Lutropin®, 25 mg, i.m.), and these cows were inseminated 10 and 20 h after treatment with LH. Embryos were recovered on Days 11 or 12, graded and transferred to synchronized recipients. Pregnancies were determined by ultrasonography around Day 100. Data were analyzed by mixed procedure, Kruskal-Wallis and Chi-square tests. The number of ova/embryos, transferable embryos (mean ± S.E.M.) and pregnancy rates (%) were as follows, respectively: Group CTRL (10.8 ± 1.8, 6.1 ± 1.3, 51.5), P48 (12.6 ± 1.9, 7.1 ± 1.0, 52.3), P60 (10.5 ± 1.6, 5.7 ± 1.3, 40.0) and D60 (10.3 ± 1.7, 5.0 ± 1.2, 50.0). There were no significant differences among the groups (P > 0.05). It was concluded that fixed time AI in association with induced ovulation did not influence embryo recovery. Furthermore, pregnancy rates in embryos recovered from cows with delayed ovulation were similar to those in embryos obtained from cows treated with a conventional superstimulation protocol. © 2002 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Holocene paleoclimatic reconstruction based on the Lagoa Dourada deposits, southern Brazil

The Lagoa Dourada is a circular-shaped pond formed on the Furnas Formation (Devonian of the Paraná Basin), filled by late Pleistocene - Holocene sediments. It lies in the hydrographic basin of the Guabiroba River, a tributary of the Tibagi River situated in the Campos Gerais region of the State of Paraná, southern Brazil. The pond is about 200 m in diameter and the maximum water depth is 5.4 m. Geological, chemical, textural and mineralogical studies on a core sample of the sediments collected from the Lagoa Dourada, 12.2 m thick, was obtained for investigations of paleoenvironmental changes as well as to provide additional data to support previous reconstructions based on palynomorphs and diatoms. Within the period recorded in the core, the pond has been filled by sandy material introduced by springs at the northern edge of the pond as well as by muddy material brought in by floodwaters of the Guabiroba River. Thus, the sandy layers could be interpreted as evidence of drier climates with consequent diminution of fluvial overflow, but with maintenance of the sandy deposits coming from springs. The occurrence of euhedral pyrite in the sediments, locally associated with gypsum, may indicate periods of increase in the organic matter content or an increase in the water salinity, what could be related to greater evaporation under drier paleoclimate regimes. Three cycles defined by an increase in the total carbon content of the sediments of the pond were observed. These cycles seem to correspond to an increase in the isotope ratio 13C/12C (δ13C). Several hypotheses can be suggested to explain the presence of these cycles, including the alternation of wetter or drier climatic phases. The convergence of the sedimentological data obtained during this study with previous microfossil paleoclimatic (pollens and diatoms) indicators and radiocarbon dating suggests that a drier paleoclimatic phase occurred around 8720±150 years B.P. The evidence for a second drier phase in more recent times is less consistent. This subsequent phase could correspond to the drier phase in southern and southeastern Brazil between 5000 and 3000 years B.P. as suggested by other paleoclimatic studies.

Implantation sites after embryo transfer into the central area of the uterine cavity

A total of 63 pregnancies (47 singleton, 15 twin, 1 triplet) from intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles were analysed. In all embryo transfers, the catheter was introduced into the endometrial cavity guided by abdominal ultrasound, with the catheter tip placed at the middle point of the endometrial cavity. Gestational sacs (GS) were located 21-24 days after transfer (gestational age = 5 weeks) by two-dimensional and three-dimensional transvaginal ultrasound. The uterine cavity was divided into three parts: upper, middle and lower. Furthermore, the upper region was subdivided into right, middle and left areas, and the middle region was subdivided into right and left areas. The frequency of gestational sacs in each area was evaluated. In singleton pregnancies 66.0% (31/47) of the GS were detected in the upper region, 29.8% (14/47) in the middle region and 4.2% (2/47) in the lower region. In multiple pregnancies (twins and triplet) 45.5% (15/33) of the GS were detected in the upper region, 51.5% (17/33) in the middle region and 3.0% (1/33) in the lower region. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that when embryos are transferred to the central area of the uterine cavity there is an increase in implantation rate in the middle region compared with the rate expected in naturally conceived pregnancies (9-15%).

The effect of type of vaginal insert and dose of pLH on embryo production, following fixed-time AI in a progestin-based superstimulatory protocol in Nelore cattle

The objective was to analyze and report field data focusing on the effect of type of progesterone-releasing vaginal insert and dose of pLH on embryo production, following a superstimulatory protocol involving fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) in Nelore cattle (Bos taurus indicus). Donor heifers and cows (n = 68; 136 superstimulations over 2 years) received an intravaginal, progesterone-releasing insert (CIDR® or DIB®, with 1.9 or 1.0 g progesterone, respectively) and 3-4 mg of estradiol benzoate (EB) i.m. at random stages of the estrous cycle. Five days later (designated Day 0), cattle were superstimulated with a total of 120-200 mg of pFSH (Folltropin-V®), given twice daily in decreasing doses from Days 0 to 3. All cattle received two luteolytic doses of PGF2α at 08:00 and 20:00 h on Day 2 and progesterone inserts were removed at 20:00 h on Day 3 (36 h after the first PGF2α injection). Ovulation was induced with pLH (Lutropin-V®, 12.5 or 25 mg, i.m.) at 08:00 h on Day 4 with FTAI 12, 24 and in several cases, 36 h later. Embryos were recovered on Days 11 or 12, graded and transferred to synchronous recipients. Overall, the mean (±S.E.M.) number of total ova/embryos (13.3 ± 0.8) and viable embryos (9.4 ± 0.6) and pregnancy rate (43.5%; 528/1213) did not differ among groups, but embryo viability rate (overall, 70.8%) was higher in donors with a DIB (72.3%) than a CIDR (68.3%, P = 0.007). In conclusion, the administration of pLH 12 h after progesterone removal in a progestin-based superstimulatory protocol facilitated fixed-time AI in Nelore donors, with embryo production, embryo viability and pregnancy rates after embryo transfer, comparable to published results where estrus detection and AI was done. Results suggested a possible alternative, which would eliminate the need for estrus detection in donors. © 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Proposal of a new technique for bile duct reconstruction after iatrogenic injury. Study in dogs and review of the literature

Purpose: Interposition of a jejunal tube between the common bile duct and duodenum. Methods: Five adult mongrel dogs of both sexes, weighing on average 22.3 kg (18 to 26.5 kg), were used. Obstructive jaundice was induced by ligation of the distal common bile duct. After one week, a 2.5-cm long jejunal tube was fabricated from a segment of the loop removed 15 cm from the Treitz angle and interposed between the common bile duct and duodenum. Results: The animals presented good clinical evolution and no complications were observed. After 6 weeks, complete integration was noted between the bile duct mucosa, tube and duodenum and a significant reduction in total bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase was observed when compared to the values obtained one week after ligation of the common bile duct. Conclusion: The jejunal tube interposed between the dilated bile duct and duodenum showed good anatomic integration and reduced total bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase levels in the animals studied.