Neuroendocrinology applied to rabbit breeding

Successful rabbit production relies heavily on the use of adequate practices that enhance specific aspects of reproduction, such as mating, ovulation and lactation. Regardless of the type of production unit or strain of rabbits used, these processes rely on a complex chain of neuroendocrine steps that include particular hormones, peripheral stimuli and activation of discrete brain regions. Such is the case, for instance, of reflex ovulation, which occurs in response to copulation but is inhibited throughout lactation. Little is known about the mechanisms mediating lactational anoestrus and the restoration of oestrus following the cancellation of a single suckling episode (biostimulation). Nevertheless, the latter procedure (adopted worldwide to accelerate reproduction) has unwanted consequences for the doe and her litter. After successive episodes of biostimulation, the former shows a loss of fertility and body mass. In the kits, alterations are observed in their neuroendocrine response to mildly aversive stimulation in adulthood, as well as reductions in sexual behaviour. In addition to milk intake, a good nest is essential for normal litter growth and development. If this is not available, or if it deteriorates, rabbit caretakers can easily (re) build one from hair sheared off other rabbits or using synthetic material. Lactating does will nurse equally well their own or ‘alien’ young, placed inside the nest. It is crucial to have a minimum of six suckling kits in the nest, as the doe relies on this stimulation to maintain a normal nursing behaviour, i.e., only once a day throughout lactation. Recent work is revealing the similarities and differences in the responsiveness to mating among oestrous, lactating and biostimulated does. The relevance of these findings for the likelihood of reflex ovulation and the additional contribution of factors contained in the semen warrant more in-depth research. New insights on these issues, essential to reproductive neuroendocrinology, can emerge by fostering a richer interaction between academic laboratories and rabbit production settings worldwide.

Impacts of COVID-19 on sexual behaviour in Britain: findings from a large, quasi-representative survey (Natsal-COVID)

ObjectivesPhysical restrictions imposed to combat COVID-19 dramatically altered sexual lifestyles but the specific impacts on sexual behaviour are still emerging. We investigated physical and virtual sexual activities, sexual frequency and satisfaction in the 4 months following lockdown in Britain in March 2020 and compared with pre-lockdown.MethodsWeighted analyses of web panel survey data collected July/August 2020 from a quota-based sample of 6654 people aged 18–59 years in Britain. Multivariable regression took account of participants’ opportunity for partnered sex, gender and age, to examine their independent associations with perceived changes in sexual frequency and satisfaction.ResultsMost participants (86.7%) reported some form of sex following lockdown with physical activities more commonly reported than virtual activities (83.7% vs 52.6%). Altogether, 63.2% reported sex with someone (‘partnered sex’) since lockdown, three-quarters of whom were in steady cohabiting relationships. With decreasing relationship formality, partnered sex was less frequently reported, while masturbation, sex toy use and virtual activities were more frequently reported. Around half of all participants perceived no change in partnered sex frequency compared with the 3 months pre-lockdown, but this was only one-third among those not cohabiting, who were more likely to report increases in non-partnered activities than those cohabiting. Two-thirds of participants perceived no change in sexual satisfaction; declines were more common among those not cohabiting. Relationship informality and younger age were independently associated with perceiving change, often declines, in sexual frequency and satisfaction.ConclusionsOur quasi-representative study of the British population found a substantial minority reported significant shifts in sexual repertoires, frequency and satisfaction following the introduction of COVID-19 restrictions. However, these negative changes were perceived by some more than others; predominantly those not cohabiting and the young. As these groups are most likely to experience adverse sexual health, it is important to monitor behaviour as restrictions ease to understand the longer term consequences, including for health services.

FACTORS ASSOCIATED TO UNHEALTHY SEXUAL BEHAVIOURS AMONG PORTUGUESE ADOLESCENTS: 2018 HBSC STUDY

Practicing sexual intercourse (SI) under the influence of alcohol or drugs has been identified as an unhealthy sexual behaviour. The sample consisted of 5695 adolescents, of which 46.1% were males, with a mean age of 15 years old. The measures consisted of asking the adolescent if he or she had ever had SI, age of 1st SI, condom use at last SI, SI under the influence of alcohol or drugs and HIV testing. Most adolescents reported having never had SI (77.0%). Among those who responded affirmatively, they referred having had their 1st SI at 15 years old. A significant minority reported not having used condom at last SI (34.1%) and having had SI under the influence of alcohol or drugs (14.5%). It was noticeable that males, adolescents with high SES, those who reported not having used condom at last SI, those not having been HIV tested, those who consider themselves fat, smoke daily, and scored lower in emotional sensitivity and quality of life were those who were more likely to have reported having had SI under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Adolescents who reported having had SI under the influence of alcohol or drugs have multiple risk behaviours. These results may account for important changes in educational and health policies, directed towards the development of personal and social skills, the importance of adolescents’ quality of life and the activation of all the support structures where adolescents are involved and that are somewhat responsible for promoting a healthy lifestyle. Keywords: unhealthy sexual behaviour, sexual intercourse, substance use, Portuguese adolescents

Sexually transmitted infections among young patients at two general outpatient clinics in Southwest, Nigeria: Assessment of knowledge and risk factors

Background: Sexually transmitted infections are one of the health outcomes of risky sexual behaviour and they constitute health burdens among young population. The study assessed the knowledge, prevalence and contributing factors for sexually transmitted infections among young patients seen at two general outpatient clinics.Method: The study adopted a cross-sectional design using a sample size of 370 unmarried young patients that were sexually active. Quantitative data was obtained using structured questionnaires and samples were taken to determine the causative organisms of sexually transmitted infections (STI). Analysis was done with SPSS, chi-square was used to test for association between STI and influencing factors and statistical level of significance was set at 5%. Results: General knowledge assessment showed 90.3% of the respondents knew STIs. Specific STI knowledge showed HIV/AIDS was known by 88.9% and chancroid by 14%. About 26% of the respondent presented with itch, 22.1% with vaginal discharge and 5.9% with swelling on the perineum. Organisms identified were Candida albicans (47%), Non-gonococcal urethritis (17.7%) and the least was Herpes 21.96%. Prevalence of STI was significantly associated with risky sexual behaviour (÷ = 8.437; p = 2 20.004), tertiary education (÷ = 5.330; p= 0.021) and poor family functioning (÷ = 5.507; p=0.005).Conclusion: Sexually transmitted infection was associated with risky sexual behaviour, education on behavioural change towards safe sexual practice is a tool that can help prevent the spread of the infection. French title: Infections sexuellement transmissibles chez les jeunes patients dans deux cliniques générales ambulatoires dans le sud-ouest du Nigéria : Évaluation des connaissances et des facteurs de risque Contexte général de l'étude : Les infections sexuellement transmissibles sont l'un des effets sur la santé des comportements sexuels à risque et elles constituent un fardeau pour la santé de la population jeune. L'étude a évalué les connaissances, la prévalence et les facteurs contributifs des infections sexuellement transmissibles chez les jeunes patients vus dans deux cliniques ambulatoires générales.Méthode de l'étude : L'étude a adopté une conception transversale en utilisant un échantillon de 370 jeunes patients célibataires qui étaient sexuellement actifs. Des données quantitatives ont été obtenues à l'aide d'un questionnaire structuré et des échantillons ont été prélevés pour déterminer les organismes responsables des infections sexuellement transmissibles (IST). L'analyse a été effectuée avec SPSS, le test du chi carré a été utilisé pour tester l'association entre les IST et les facteurs d'influence et le niveau de signification statistique a été fixé à 5 %.Résultat de l'étude: L'évaluation des connaissances générales a montré que 90,3 % des répondants connaissaient les IST. Les connaissances spécifiques sur les ISTont montré que le VIH/SIDAétait connu à 88,9 % et le chancre mou à 14 %. Environ 26 % des répondantes présentaient des démangeaisons, 22,1 % des pertes vaginales et 5,9 % un gonflement du périnée. Les organismes identifiés étaient le Candida albicans (47 %), l'urétrite non gonococcique (17,7 %) et le moins était l'herpès 1,96 %. La prévalence des IST était significativement associée aux comportements sexuels à risque (÷ 2 = 8,437 ; p = 0,004), à l'enseignement supérieur (÷ 2 = 5,330 ; p = 0,021) et au mauvais fonctionnement de la famille (÷2 = 5,507 ; p = 0,005).Conclusion : Les infections sexuellement transmissibles étaient associées à des comportements sexuels à risque, l'éducation sur le changement de comportement vers une pratique sexuelle sans risque est un outil qui peut aider à prévenir la propagation de l'infection.

"I'm quite regardless what the world can say!": Marriage, Media, Agency and the New Female Coterie in the Late Eighteenth Century

<p>The New Female Coterie was a group of disgraced upper-class women in the late eighteenth century traditionally dismissed as ‘scandalous’, ‘fallen’ or victims. This thesis re-evaluates these women, exploring the ways in which they utilised their agency to navigate divorce and separation proceedings which were designed for the benefit of men. It also investigates the constraints, such as family or wealth, that restricted their agency. The thesis further considers the ways in which the women were empowered by combining as a collective. This thesis utilises under-examined sources such as satirical cartoons, pamphlets, and The Rambler’s Magazine to show that media itself could constrain women either by side-lining women’s agency or by portraying it as a negative and dangerous thing. Media representations of the New Female Coterie provide evidence of the sex panics which, historians argue, reached their apex in the 1790s. This thesis posits instead that anxieties regarding women’s sexual behaviour originated earlier than is often suggested. By examining the under-explored women of the New Female Coterie, this thesis contributes to scholarship on female agency in the Georgian period.</p>

"I'm quite regardless what the world can say!": Marriage, Media, Agency and the New Female Coterie in the Late Eighteenth Century

<p>The New Female Coterie was a group of disgraced upper-class women in the late eighteenth century traditionally dismissed as ‘scandalous’, ‘fallen’ or victims. This thesis re-evaluates these women, exploring the ways in which they utilised their agency to navigate divorce and separation proceedings which were designed for the benefit of men. It also investigates the constraints, such as family or wealth, that restricted their agency. The thesis further considers the ways in which the women were empowered by combining as a collective. This thesis utilises under-examined sources such as satirical cartoons, pamphlets, and The Rambler’s Magazine to show that media itself could constrain women either by side-lining women’s agency or by portraying it as a negative and dangerous thing. Media representations of the New Female Coterie provide evidence of the sex panics which, historians argue, reached their apex in the 1790s. This thesis posits instead that anxieties regarding women’s sexual behaviour originated earlier than is often suggested. By examining the under-explored women of the New Female Coterie, this thesis contributes to scholarship on female agency in the Georgian period.</p>

Sexual Behaviour and Seminal Attributes Associated with Fertility of Jaffarabadi Buffalo Bulls

Background: The selection of breeding bulls based on the association of sexual behaviour, seminal attributes and conception rate are more important and economical. However, information on association of sexual behaviour and seminal attributes with fertility in buffaloes particularly with reference to Jaffarabadi buffalo bulls is meager. Methods: The study was carried out to assess the association of sexual behaviour and seminal attributes with first service conception rate (FCR) of Jaffarabadi buffalo bulls. A total of 192 semen ejaculates were evaluated and cryo-preserved. First AI conception rate (FCR) was carried out on 800 Jaffarabadi female buffaloes inseminated with frozen-thawed semen and pregnancy was confirmed by per rectal palpation at 2 months post-insemination. Result: The results indicated that both sexual behaviour and seminal attributes were associated with fertility in Jaffarabadi buffalo bulls.

Sexual and reproductive health knowledge, sexual attitudes, and sexual behaviour of university students: Findings of a Beijing-Based Survey in 2010-2011

Background Although several studies have attempted investigating sex-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices among young people in China, deeper insights were still needed to further understand how this population could be supported to make healthy and safe sexual choices. Against this background, this study used a large set of secondary data to examine associations among sexual and reproductive health (SRH) knowledge, sexual attitudes, and sexual behaviour. Methods A cross-sectional study was employed to explore the associations among SRH knowledge, sexual attitudes, and sexual behaviour with a publicly available survey data among the 1196 university students from freshmen to Ph.D. candidates. Descriptive analysis was used to describe the sociodemographic characteristics of the university students by gender. Associations of sociodemographic factors with sources and categories of SRH knowledge, categories of contraceptive knowledge, sexual attitudes, and sexual behavior were explored with Poisson regressions and logistic regressions, respectively. The mediating effects of sociodemographic factors on the associations between SRH knowledge and sexual behavior, observed sexual attitudes on the associations of SRH knowledge with sexual behavior, and latent sexual attitudes on the relationship between SRH knowledge and sexual behavior were analyzed in order. Results Descriptive analysis showed that the sample was dominated by age group (18 to 24 years), undergraduates, females, limited contraceptive knowledge, unfavorable sexual attitudes, and insufficient knowledge sources. Regression analyses showed that sociodemographic factors had significant associations with SRH knowledge, sexual attitudes, and sexual behavior. Subsequently, the mediating effects of sociodemographic factors on the associations of SRH knowledge and sexual attitudes with sexual behavior were confirmed. Controlling for sociodemographic factors, the effects of sexual attitudes on the associations between SRH knowledge and sexual behaviour could be verified. Structural equation modeling indicated that the linear sequence of sources and categories of SRH knowledge → sexual attitudes → sexual behaviour model and the triangle mediating effects of sexual behaviour → sexual attitudes → SRH knowledge model existed. Conclusions Sociodemographic factors and observed sexual attitudes mediated the associations between SRH knowledge and sexual behaviour. The sequence relationship: sources and categories of SRH knowledge → sexual attitudes → sexual behavior and the mediating relationship: sexual behavior → sexual attitude → sources and categories of SRH knowledge & sexual behavior → sources and categories of SRH knowledge and sexual behavior → sexual attitude → categories of contraceptive knowledge & sexual behavior → categories of contraceptive knowledge were confirmed in the sample. This study also identified an urgent need for the university students to access to SRH comprehensive knowledge.