130 Increased antral follicle population at 60 days of gestation in Holstein cows with low antral follicle count

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 192
Author(s):  
R. G. Droher ◽  
F. Morotti ◽  
A. Guidugli Lindquist ◽  
A. Fonseca Zangirolamo ◽  
M. Marcondes Seneda
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Model ◽  
Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Antral Follicle ◽  
Generalized Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Antral Follicle Count ◽  
Antral Follicles ◽  
Intermediate Group ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Main Factors ◽  
High Repeatability

The antral follicle count (AFC) has been pointed out as one of the main factors that influence the efficiency of reproductive biotechniques. Thus, AFC is considered a fertility marker, which has high repeatability in the same animal. The objective of this study was to evaluate AFC in cows at AI (nonpregnant) and at two moments of gestation (30 and 60 days). For this, 35 pregnant cows, aged 23 to 99 months, confined in a freestall system, kept in the same environmental conditions (24°46'28”S, 49°56'42”W) and under the same feeding conditions, were selected for this study. The same technician performed the AI of the females, after detection of natural or induced oestrus, with 25mg of Dinoprost (Lutalyse) intramuscularly (IM). We established AFC (antral follicles ≥3mm diameter) using a convex intravaginal transducer at the time of AI and at 30 and 60 days of pregnancy. Females were distributed in groups of low (≤18 follicles, n=11), intermediate (≥24 and ≤28 follicles, n=11), or high AFC (≥30 follicles, n=13). Data were analysed using a generalized linear mixed model (Minitab version 18.1), with significance declared at P ≤ 0.05. In the low AFC group, there was an increase in the mean number of antral follicles in relation to gestation, presenting 14.82±1.36 at the time of AI and 23.45±2.31 and 35.18±3.17 at 30 and 60 days of pregnancy, respectively (P<0.0001). Similarly, the intermediate group presented an increase in mean AFC, from 24.64±0.76 at the time of AI and 29.27±3.32 at 30 days to 43.36±5.91 at 60 days of gestation (P=0.001). There was no difference in the high AFC group at different moments, as these presented 41.92±3.50 at the time of AI, 38.31±3.96 at 30 days, and 50.92±5.49 at 60 days of pregnancy. Although mean AFCs differed (P<0.0001) between the low, intermediate, and high AFC groups at time of AI and at 30 days of gestation, there were no differences in AFC between the three groups at 60 days of gestation (P=0.329). In conclusion, low AFC females presented an increase in the number of antral follicles at gestation moments 30 and 60 days from AI. This finding reinforces the strategy of using this category more efficiently for ovum pickup at the beginning of gestation.

High repeatability of egg rejection in response to experimental brood parasitism in the American robin (Turdus migratorius)

Behaviour ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 151 (6) ◽  
pp. 703-718 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Croston ◽  
M.E. Hauber
Keyword(s):  
Brood Parasitism ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Generalized Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Presentation Order ◽  
Egg Rejection ◽  
Turdus Migratorius ◽  
American Robin ◽  
American Robins ◽  
High Repeatability

Repeatability is a measure of the amount of variation in a phenotype that is attributable to differences between individuals. This concept is important for any study of behaviour, as all traits of evolutionary interest must be repeatable in order to respond to selection. We investigated the repeatability of behavioural responses to experimental brood parasitism in American robins, a robust (100%) rejecter of parasitic brown-headed cowbird eggs. Because tests of repeatability require variation between individuals, we parasitized the same robin nests twice successively with model eggs dyed with colours known to elicit rejection at intermediate rates (58–70%). We calculated the repeatability of responses to parasitism, and used a generalized linear mixed model to also test for potentially confounding effects of ordinal date, presentation order, and clutch size. We found that repeatability in response to brood parasitism in this host species is high, and the best model predicting responses to sequential artificial parasitism includes only nest identity. This result is consistent with a critical assumption about egg rejection in this cowbird host as an evolved adaptation in response to brood parasitism.

scholarly journals Deslorelin Slow-Release Implants Delay Ovulation and Increase Plasma AMH Concentration and Small Antral Follicles in Haflinger Mares

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1600
Author(s):  
Martim Kaps ◽  
Carolina T. C. Okada ◽  
Camille M. Gautier ◽  
Jörg Aurich ◽  
Christine Aurich
Keyword(s):  
Slow Release ◽  
Antral Follicle ◽  
Domestic Animals ◽  
Antral Follicle Count ◽  
Estrous Cycles ◽  
Antral Follicles ◽  
Promising Tool ◽  
Reproductive Techniques ◽  
Treatment Interaction ◽  
The Mean

There is an increasing interest in the manipulation of ovarian follicular populations in large domestic animals because this could prove beneficial for assisted reproductive techniques such as ovum pick-up (OPU). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of deslorelin slow-release implants (SRI) on the interovulatory interval, antral follicle count (AFC), number of follicles of different size ranges and plasma anti-Muellerian hormone (AMH) concentration in mares. To synchronize their estrous cycles, Haflinger mares (n = 12) were treated twice with a PGF2α analogue. One day after the second injection (day 0), mares received a 9.4 mg deslorelin SRI (group DES, n = 6) or 1.25 mg deslorelin in a short-acting formulation (CON; n = 6), respectively. Regular transrectal ultrasonography of the genital tract was performed and blood samples were collected for the analysis of progesterone, AMH and gonadotrophins. The interval from implant insertion to the first spontaneous ovulation was 23.8 ± 10.5 days in group DES compared to 17.0 ± 3.9 days in group CON (p < 0.05). For the concentrations of LH, FSH and AMH, interactions between time and treatment were detected (p < 0.05). The AFC and the mean number of follicles with 5 to 10, 10 to 15 and 15 to 20 mm in diameter changed over time (p < 0.05). A time x treatment interaction was demonstrated for follicles of 10 to 15 mm in diameter (p < 0.05). The changes in this follicular subpopulation were reflected by increased plasma AMH concentration in group DES. In conclusion, 9.4 mg deslorelin implants show minor effects with regard to estrus suppression in mares, whereas the changes in the subpopulation of small ovarian follicles could be a promising tool for preparation of mares for OPU.

Analyzing discontinuities in longitudinal count data: A multilevel generalized linear mixed model.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
James L. Peugh ◽  
Sarah J. Beal ◽  
Meghan E. McGrady ◽  
Michael D. Toland ◽  
Constance Mara
Keyword(s):  
Count Data ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Generalized Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Longitudinal Count Data

scholarly journals Reducing Aggression by Developing Emotional and Inhibitory Control

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 5263
Author(s):  
Miriam Romero-López ◽  
María Carmen Pichardo ◽  
Ana Justicia-Arráez ◽  
Judit Bembibre-Serrano
Keyword(s):  
Psychosocial Development ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Generalized Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Emotional Control ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Mixed Model Analysis ◽  
Intervention Measures ◽  
Experimental Group

The objective of this study is to measure the effectiveness of a program on improving inhibitory and emotional control among children. In addition, it is assessed whether the improvement of these skills has an effect on the reduction of aggressive behavior in pre-school children. The participants were 100 children, 50 belonging to the control group and 50 to the experimental group, aged between 5 and 6 years. Pre-intervention and post-intervention measures of inhibitory and emotional control (BRIEF-P) and aggression (BASC) were taken. A Generalized Linear Mixed Model analysis (GLMM) was performed and found that children in the experimental group scored higher on inhibitory and emotional control compared to their peers in the control group. In addition, these improvements have an effect on the decrease in aggressiveness. In conclusion, preventive research should have among its priorities the design of such program given their implications for psychosocial development.

scholarly journals Changes in Dairy Cow Behavior with and without Assistance at Calving

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 722
Author(s):  
Bethan Cavendish ◽  
John McDonagh ◽  
Georgios Tzimiropoulos ◽  
Kimberley R. Slinger ◽  
Zoë J. Huggett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Video Surveillance ◽  
Dairy Cow ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Generalized Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Behavioral Data ◽  
Behavioral Patterns ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Time Periods

The aim of this study was to characterize calving behavior of dairy cows and to compare the duration and frequency of behaviors for assisted and unassisted dairy cows at calving. Behavioral data from nine hours prior to calving were collected for 35 Holstein-Friesian dairy cows. Cows were continuously monitored under 24 h video surveillance. The behaviors of standing, lying, walking, shuffle, eating, drinking and contractions were recorded for each cow until birth. A generalized linear mixed model was used to assess differences in the duration and frequency of behaviors prior to calving for assisted and unassisted cows. The nine hours prior to calving was assessed in three-hour time periods. The study found that the cows spent a large proportion of their time either lying (0.49) or standing (0.35), with a higher frequency of standing (0.36) and shuffle (0.26) bouts than other behaviors during the study. There were no differences in behavior between assisted and unassisted cows. During the three-hours prior to calving, the duration and bouts of lying, including contractions, were higher than during other time periods. While changes in behavior failed to identify an association with calving assistance, the monitoring of behavioral patterns could be used as an alert to the progress of parturition.

Should fertile women quit drinking alcohol to produce better quality oocytes?

Zygote ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Burcu Ozbakir ◽  
Pinar Tulay
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Antral Follicle ◽  
Antral Follicle Count ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Social Drinkers ◽  
Antral Follicles ◽  
Healthy Women ◽  
Significant Difference

Summary Alcohol consumption has long been shown to affect both fetal health and pregnancy. In this study, antral follicle count, maturation level of oocytes including morphological assessment and number of metaphase I (MI), metaphase II (MII) and germinal vesicle (GV) stage oocytes obtained from young women (age < 30 years old) with or without alcohol consumption were investigated. In total, 20 healthy women who were social drinkers and 36 healthy women who do not consume alcohol were involved in this study. Women in both study and control groups were undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation. The antral follicle count and the number and quality of the oocytes retrieved were evaluated and recorded. In total, 635 antral follicles, 1098 follicles and 1014 oocytes with 820 MII, 72 MI and 78 GV stage oocytes were collected from the social drinkers. In the control group, 628 antral follicles, 1136 follicles and 1085 oocytes with 838 MII, 93 MI and 102 GV stage oocytes were evaluated. The results of this study showed that the antral follicle count was very similar in both groups. The number of oocytes and MII stage oocytes was slightly higher in the control group, although it was not a significant difference. This study showed that although the consumption of alcohol may have adverse effects post-implantation, it may not have a solid effect during oogenesis in young women. The results of this study are especially important in clinical settings as some women who are social drinkers undergo in vitro fertilization treatments.

Effect of resveratrol administration on ovarian morphology, determined by transvaginal ultrasound for the women with PCOS

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Amir Pejman Hashemi Taheri ◽  
Behnaz Moradi ◽  
Amir Reza Radmard ◽  
Milad Sanginabadi ◽  
Mostafa Qorbani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Polycystic Ovary ◽  
Transvaginal Ultrasound ◽  
Antral Follicle ◽  
Antral Follicle Count ◽  
Ovarian Volume ◽  
Exact Test ◽  
Ovarian Morphology ◽  
The Mean

Abstract Background: Intake of resveratrol has been associated with improved ovarian morphology under in vitro and in the animal models; however, this finding has not been confirmed in trials. The aim of our study was, therefore, to use a placebo-controlled approach with the detailed assessment of the ovarian morphology by applying transvaginal ultrasound to examine the effectiveness of this therapeutic approach in this group of women. Methods: Forty-one women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) were randomly assigned (1:1) to 3 months of daily 1000 mg resveratrol or placebo. Random assignment was done by blocked randomisation. Our primary endpoints were the change in the ovarian volume, stromal area and antral follicle count per ovary (FNPO) from the baseline to 3 months. Secondary endpoints were improvement in the distribution of follicles and ovarian echogenicity. Differences between the resveratrol and control groups were evaluated by Chi-square, fisher’s exact test and repeated-measures of ANOVA. Results: The mean age of all participants was 28.61 ± 4.99 years, with the mean BMI of 28.26 ± 5.62 kg/m2. Resveratrol therapy, as compared with placebo, was associated with a significantly higher rate of improvement in the ovarian morphology (p= 0.02). Women who received resveratrol had a more dominant follicle than those getting placebo, with a significant reduction in the ovarian volume (p<0.05). However, the number of FNPO, stromal area, ovarian echogenicity and distribution of follicles were not significantly altered (P>0.05). Conclusions: Treatment with resveratrol significantly reduced the ovarian volume and PCOM, thus suggesting a disease-modifying effect in PCOS. Trial registration: IRCT, IRCT2017061917139N2. Registered 7 July 2017, http://irct.ir/trial/15836.

scholarly journals Improved cephalic index following early cranial vault remodeling in patients with isolated nonsyndromic sagittal synostosis

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. E7
Author(s):  
Arvid Frostell ◽  
Maryam Haghighi ◽  
Jiri Bartek ◽  
Ulrika Sandvik ◽  
Bengt Gustavsson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Model ◽  
Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Cranial Vault ◽  
Hospital Length Of Stay ◽  
Cephalic Index ◽  
Sagittal Synostosis ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Cranial Vault Remodeling

OBJECTIVE Isolated nonsyndromic sagittal synostosis (SS) is the most common form of craniosynostosis in children, accounting for approximately 60% of all craniosynostoses. The typical cranial measurement used to define and follow SS is the cephalic index (CI). Several surgical techniques have been suggested, but agreement on type and timing of surgery is lacking. This study aimed to evaluate the authors’ institutional experience of surgically treating SS using a modified subtotal cranial vault remodeling technique in a population-based cohort. Special attention was directed toward the effect of patient age at time of surgery on long-term CI outcome. METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on all patients with isolated nonsyndromic SS who were surgically treated from 2003 to 2011. Data from electronic medical records were gathered. Eighty-two patients with SS were identified, 77 fulfilled inclusion criteria, and 72 had sufficient follow-up data and were included. CI during follow-up after surgery was investigated with ANOVA and a linear mixed model. RESULTS In total, 72 patients were analyzed, consisting of 16 females (22%) and 56 males (78%). The mean ± SD age at surgery was 4.1 ± 3.1 months. Blood transfusions were received by 81% of patients (26% intraoperatively, 64% postoperatively, 9% both). The mean ± SD time in the pediatric ICU was 1.1 ± 0.25 days, and the mean ± SD total hospital length of stay was 4.6 ± 2.0 days. No patient required reoperation. The mean ± SD CI increased from 69 ± 3 to 87 ± 5 for patients who underwent surgery before 45 days of age. Surgery resulted in a larger increase in CI for patients who underwent surgery at a younger age compared with older patients (p < 0.05, Tukey’s HSD test). In the comparison of patients who underwent surgery before 45 days of age with patients who underwent surgery at 45–90, 90–180, and more than 180 days of age, the linear mixed model estimated a long-term loss of CI of 3.0, 5.5, and 7.4 points, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The modified subtotal cranial vault remodeling technique used in this study significantly improved CI in patients with SS. The best results were achieved when surgery was performed early in life.

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