scholarly journals Observation of Hermann’s Tortoise (Testudo hermanni) C Lutching without the Presence of Males and Eggshell Mortality on a Large Tortoise Farm in Slovenia Over a Three-Year Period

2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stvarnik Mateja ◽  
Lindtner-Knific Renata ◽  
Štokar Žan ◽  
Gregurić Gračner Gordana ◽  
Mićunović Jasna ◽  
...  

AbstractThe aim of this study was to determine the percentage of hatched and fertilized eggs in female Hermann’s tortoises before and after the removal of males after breeding.A breeding group of Testudo hermanni boettgeri with 50 females and 12 males was included in the study. In the first year, all adults were together in the same habitat until reproductive activity was observed. After the end of May, the males and females were separated for the next two active seasons. The number of eggs and number of second clutches decreased gradually. In the first year, 76.0% of females laid eggs; in the second year, 24.0%; and in the third year, only 8.0%. Second clutches were observed in ten females (26.3%) in the first year, while in the next two years, one female had a second clutch. There was a small but significant correlation between the weight of a single tortoise and the number of eggs laid but no significant correlation between the weight of the tortoise and its average egg weight. The weight (15.1-16.8 g), length (33.9-36.1 mm) and width of each egg (27.5-28.0 mm) was measured.During the laying season, the eggs were put into incubators. The incubation length varied from 52 to 70 days. After the end of incubation, eggshell mortality and its causes (19.3-52.5%) were examined. In the first year, the viability rate of the incubated eggs was 80.7%; in the second year, 80.5%; and in the third year, 47.8%. Among the unhatched eggs in the first year, 62.5% were unfertilized, 53.1% were infected, 28.1% were dehydrated and 21.9% were found in various stages of embryonic development.

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1672.2-1672
Author(s):  
N. Busquets-Pérez ◽  
C. Sánchez-Piedra ◽  
P. Vela-Casasempere ◽  
M. Freire-Gonzalez ◽  
C. Bohórquez ◽  
...  

Background:Ustekinumab has been efficacy and safety for psoriatic artritis in clinical trials.Objectives:To assess effectiveness, by means of drug persistence analisys, and safety of ustekinumab in patients with psoriastic arthritis in Biobadaser.Methods:BIOBADASER is the Spanish registry of biological drugs of the Spanish Society of Rheumatology and the Spanish Medicines Agency. We identified patients aged 18 years or more with psoriatic arthritis on Ustekinumab. A descriptive analysis was performed.The persistence of ustekinumab therapy was calculated with a Kaplan-Meier curve and was compared with the persistence of anti-TNF, according to line treatment. Log Rank test was used to establish a comparison. Adverse events occurring with ustekinumab are described according to year treatment.Results:One hundred and twelve patients were on ustekinumab. Most of them were on their second or third line treatment: 53.57% more than one biological therapy (BT), 19.64% second BT, 26.79% were naïve for BT. Most of them were on 45 mg dose: 88.24%. Median duration of disease at Ustekinumab initiation was 10.1 SD 7.2 years; 69.23% had peripheral arthritis; 45.24% had obesity and 39.29% were overweight; 40,6% were on prednisone and 59.82% on DMARD. The cause of discontinuation of treatment was mainly inefficacy (82.61%) and less common an adverse event (6.52%). The probability of persistence of treatment with ustekinumab was 0.83 (95% CI 0.63-0.92) at year 1, 0.79 (0.58-0.90) at year 2 and 0.79 (0.58-0.9) at year 3 when ustekinumab was prescribed as the first line treatment. The persistence decrease when ustekinumab was prescribe as a second and third treatment: being 0.53 (0.27-0.73) the first year, 0.46 (0.22-0.67) the second year and 0.46 (0.22-0.67) as a second line treatment and 0.58 (0.44-0.70) the first year, 0.33 (0.17-0.50) the second year and 0.33 (0.17-0.50) the third year as a third line treatment.The persistence was similar to anti-TNF treatment, according to line treatment. Adverse events were mainly mild (97.83%) and occurred the first year of treatment. Most of the adverse events were classified as “infections and infestations” (36.96%).Conclusion:The persistence of ustekinumab was high, being 83% at the end of the first year on treatment and 79% the second and the third year of treatment. The persistence of ustekinumab was higher when if it was the first line treatment compared as if it was used as the second o third BT option. The persistence of Ustekinumab is similar to the persistence of anti-TNF treatments in all the analyzed treatment lines (no statistically differences were found). Adverse events occurred mainly during the first year treatment. They were mainly mild adverse events and the frequency decreased within the second and third year of treatment.References:[1]Treatment with ustekinumab in a Spanish cohort of patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in daily clinical practice.Almirall M, Rodriguez J, Mateo L, Carrascosa JM, Notario J, Gallardo F. Clin Rheumatol. 2017 Feb;36(2):439-443;[2]Minimal disease activity in patients with psoriatic arthritis treated with ustekinumab: results from a 24-week real-world study.Napolitano M, Costa L, Caso F, Megna M, Scarpa R, Balato N, Ayala F, Balato A. J Clin Rheumatol. 2018 Oct;24(7):381-384;[3]Minimal Disease Activity and Patient-Acceptable Symptom State in Psoriatic Arthritis: A Real-World Evidence Study With Ustekinumab.Queiro R, Brandy A, Rosado MC, Lorenzo A, Coto P, Carriles C, Alperi M, Ballina J. Actas Dermosifiliogr. 2018 Jun 28;[4]An analysis of Drug Survival, Effectiveness, and Safety in Moderate to Severe Psoriasis Treated With Ustekinumab: An Observational Study of 69 Patients in Routine Clinical Practice.Salgüero Fernández I, Gil MH, Sanz MS, Gullón GR;Disclosure of Interests:None declared


Author(s):  
Elaine Espino Barr ◽  
Manuel Gallardo Cabello ◽  
Fernando González Orozco ◽  
Arturo Garcia Boa

This paper deals with the growth and mortality analysis of the burrito grunt A n i s o t remus interru p t u s on the coast of Colima, México. The estimated growth parameters are: L¥ = 50.59 cm; W¥ = 5,051.04 g; k = 0.147 years- 1; to = -0.916 years; A0 . 9 5 = 19.46 years. Most of the growth occurred during the first year of life, when the grunt grows 12.52 cm, the second year it grows 4.95 cm and the third, 4.60 cm. The highest value of the condition index took place between February and September. The total mortality rate (Z) was calculated as 0.53 years- 1. These values are basic for the plan of administration of the fishery of this species.


Author(s):  
Chieh-Liang Wu ◽  
Chia-Hua Liou ◽  
Shih-An Liu ◽  
Cheng-Hsu Chen ◽  
Wayne H-H Sheu ◽  
...  

Background: Little has been done regarding the research on quality and quantity of patient support groups (PSGs) and how they can be improved. Here, we present three-year experiences of a quality improvement (QI) program of our PSGs. Methods: We launched earlier on a three-year project to improve our PSGs, including the number and quality of curricula. Data were collected on the number of PSGs, curricula, and participants. Results: In the first year, we organized relevant resources of our hospital and established a standard protocol for applying financial support and reporting the results. In the second year, we elected “the best patient” to promote sense of honor and better peer supports. In the third year, we surveyed through questionnaires participants’ health literacy to improve their feedback. Competitions and exhibitions of achievements were held each year to share results of every PSG. Finally, we had increased the volume of participation of patients and family over these three years (3968, 5401 (+35.5%) and 5963 (+50.3%)). Participation of staff also increased significantly (489 and 551 (+12.7%)). Furthermore, more interdisciplinary curricula were generated, with fewer doctors (38.2% to 29%), but greater numbers of the following: nurses (4.9% to 17.4%), nurse practitioners (0.4% to 14.5%), medical laboratory scientists (2.5% to 16.3%), social workers (4.7% to 41.7%), and teachers from outside (0% to 1.8%). Conclusion: In this first study on QI efforts on PSGs, we enlisted a core change team, drew a stakeholder map, and selected an improvement framework with good results.


1968 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 619-641
Author(s):  
J. E. Cranham ◽  
P. Kanapathapillai ◽  
A. Kathiravetpillai

In 1960–65, six field trials were carried out on tea estates in Ceylon to assess the effect on yield, and on the response of the crop to fertilizer, of dieldrin sprays applied after pruning to control shot-hole borer (Xyleborus fornicatus Eichh.). Periodic sampling was carried out to assess the numbers of borers and their galleries. Yields were recorded by weekly or fortnightly weighings of the green leaf plucked, over pruning cycles of two to four years.The pattern of the yield increases on the sprayed plots was related to the difference in attack between the sprayed and unsprayed plots. Increases were, in general, small in the first year and much larger in the second year, reaching peak values of 32–58 per cent. (on the yields of successive three-monthly periods recorded) in the late second year, and declining thereafter through the third year as the difference in attack declined. Over the first two years there were marked yield increases in eight of the nine pruning cycles, and these ranged from 11·7 per cent, to 26·3 per cent. There was significant regression (P<0·001) of the percentage increase in yield on the maximum difference in gallery counts. Yield increases in the third year of pruning cycles were also considerable and the results evidence a prolonged effect of the heavy borer attack occurring in the second year.In one trial there was a significant interaction between the effects of dieldrin spraying and of nitrogen supplied. Control of the borer greatly improved the crop response to nitrogen. Nitrogen application increased the yield but resulted also in a proportionately larger loss of crop from borer attack. There was a small but significant increase in the number of borer galleries on the plots receiving nitrogen.The evidence on the size and pattern of crop losses caused by the borer suggests that these occur both from shoot breakages and from the direct effect of galleries on the growth of stems.The significance of the results in relation to estate practice, and the economics of spraying, are briefly discussed.


1967 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 225-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Lambert

1. Plants of S.48 timothy were established on a 1 ft square pattern for production of seed. Two series of plots, one irrigated and one not irrigated, were treated with three levels of applied nitrogen: 0 (NO), 87 (Nl) and 261 (N2) lb N per acre (0, 97·5 and 292·5 kg N/ha) per annum, for 3 years. In this, the first of two papers, only vegetative aspects of growth are considered. Since the irrigation treatment started only 2 weeks before most of the data were recorded, effects of irrigation on vegetative growth were generally small.2. The number of tillers per plant was increased by application of nitrogen; the lower increment was more effective than the additional nitrogen in the higher dose.3. The weight of tillers per plant was increased by nitrogen at both levels of application. The mean weight of each tiller was increased by nitrogen after the first year, predominantly in the N 2 treatment. In the second year, irrigation also increased the weight per tiller.4. The weight of roots per plant was significantly affected by application of nitrogen. In the first year, the weight was increased by nitrogen in irrigated plots; in the second year the roots were significantly heavier in the Nl treatment than in N0 and N2 treatments, where weights were similar; the same situation existed in irrigated plots in the third year, but in non-irrigated plots the weights of roots were similar in N1 and N2 treatments and were heavier than in the N0 treatment. Irrigation had positive effects on the weight of roots in the first and second years.


1976 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil Baumgart

In a study of discontinuing students at Macquarie University major analyses were based on a sample of 444 students divided into four categories: students still persisting in Term 3 of second year, students who discontinued during first year, students who voluntarily discontinued after first year, and students excluded because of failure at the end of first year. Multiple discriminant analyses were used to relate potential predictors to category membership. Predictors included both entry and process variables. Results are reported separately for full-time and part-time students, and for males and females within these categories. The major findings carry implications for those who need to make management decisions in relation to higher education. Additionally, the paper attempts to highlight some of the design problems inherent in correlational studies and to present selected methodological strategies used in this study to minimize the effects of these problems.


1951 ◽  
Vol 25 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 213-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. J. C. Buckley

1. An experiment in bush-clearing was carried out at a small endemic focus of onchocerciasis in South Kavirondo district with a view to observing its effect on the adult population of S. neavei.2. The clearing consisted of the complete removal of undergrowth and partial removal of trees, from the banks of fly-infested portions of two confluent rivers, the Riana and the Yabe.3. In the first year of the experiment the clearing was carried out on the infested section of the Riana River, after which there was a decrease in the incidence of S. neavei on this section compared with that on the uncleared Yabe River.4. In the second year a similar clearing was effected on the infested section of the Yabe River, after which the S. neavei incidence on both sections came together again and during the third year showed a steady increase.


1993 ◽  
Vol 118 (6) ◽  
pp. 731-735 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Nelson ◽  
David A. Palzkill ◽  
Paul G. Bartels

Flower bud injury resulting from freezing temperatures has been a major problem in jojoba [Simmondsia chinensis (Link) C. Schneid.] production. A 3-year field study, which began with 4-year-old plants, evaluated the effect of three irrigation treatments on growth, flower bud survival, seed yield, seed weight, and seed wax concentration of six clones. After 3 years, irrigation cut-off dates of late May (dry treatment) and early September (medium treatment) resulted in reduced plant height and width compared to irrigating through November (wet treatment). Flower bud survival and seed yields were very low in the first year for all treatments. In the second and third years, bud survival for most clones, even at -8C, was greatly improved by withholding water in the fall. In December of the second and third years, plants in the medium and dry plots had lower leaf water potential than those in the wet plot. In the second year, plants in the medium and dry plots had seed yields that were 3.5 times higher and wax yields that were were 2.3 times higher than plants in the wet plot. In the third year, the medium treatment had the highest seed and wax yields. Average seed weight and seed wax concentration were generally highest for plants in the wet plot where seed yields were low. Withholding irrigation from jojoba in the fall appears to improve flower bud survival and seed and wax yields following cold winters.


2020 ◽  
pp. 20-24
Author(s):  
Anna Nikolaevna Kshnikatkina ◽  
Elena Aleksandrovna Zueva ◽  
Inna Aleksandrovna Voronova ◽  
Anna Anatolyevna Belyaeva

In the course of studies, it was found that taking inoculation of Scarlet amaranth and Poterium polygama seeds with biologics has a positive effect on the formation of photosynthesis parameters. In amaranth agrocenoses during the panicle sweeping phase, the leaf surface area was significantly higher when seeds were inoculated with biological products than in the control variant for Kizlyarets cultivar by 23.1-36.3% and Valentina cultivar by 23.8-38.0%, the most effective the method was exogenous seed treatment with agric. The maximum parameters of photosynthesis were noted during seed maturation. So, on average for three years of research, the leaf area of the Kizlyarets variety was 64.1 and the Valentine variety 62.3 thousand m2 / ha, the photosynthetic potential, respectively, was 2.05 and 1.98 million m2 days / ha, the net productivity of photosynthesis - 8.56 and 7.66 g / m2 per day. The most intensive increase in the leaf area in the crops of the blackhead was noted in the budding phase, according to the experimental variants, it amounted to 40.8-45.3 thousand m2 / ha in the first year of use, and 41.9-46.8 thousand m2 in the second year of use / ha, in the third year of use - 42.8-47.4 thousand m2 / ha On average, over three years the largest collection of dry matter (6.9 t / ha), feed units (9.1 t / ha), digestible protein (1.45 t / ha) and metabolic energy (81.6 GJ) were obtained from Kizlyarets varieties when inoculating seeds with Agrika biological product. At the same time, the highest seed yield was obtained (1.31 t / ha), which is 2.39 times higher than the control variant and 1.44 times higher than the Valentina variety. Optimization of the plant’s mineral nutrition by seed inoculation with associative bacterial preparations provided for an increase in the productivity of the polygamous monofil. The yield of green mass of the Poterium polygama of the first year of use for an average of three years according to the experimental options was 28.5–31.8 t / ha, collection of dry matter – 7.3–8.2 t / ha, feed units – 4.36–4.87 t / ha, digestible protein - 0.56–0.65 t / ha, exchange energy - 88.7–99.6 GJ. The highest productivity of the blackhead was when treating seeds with Agrika with microelements together with Azotobacter: green mass - 31.8 t / ha, dry matter collection - 8.2 t / ha, feed units - 4.87 t / ha, digestible protein – 0.65 t / ha, exchange energy - 99.6 GJ, which significantly exceeds the performance of the control option. The treatment of seeds with biologics provided an increase in the seed productivity of the polygonidae by 91.7–223.1 kg / ha (10.1–24.6%). The highest seed yield in the first year of use is 1130.1 kg / ha, the second year of use is 1258.9 kg / ha, the third year of use is 1268.3 kg / ha, which significantly exceeds the control indicators by 27.3% and 27.8% was obtained during bacterization of seeds with Agrika, enriched with microelements and together with Azotobacter.


Author(s):  
Brian Frank ◽  
David Strong

A pilot of a paper-based assessment tool of design skill is presented. The tool is used to assess the development of skills before and after a first year design experience, and before and after a third year multidisciplinary course in design tools and methodology. The tool is an open-ended survey that may be administered quickly and assessed using a simple rubric. Significant improvements were found over the term of the first year course in the areas of problem definition and testing; improvements were observed in the categories of Conceptual Design, Preliminary Design, and Detailed Design in the third year course. Ideas for future improvement are discussed.


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