Influence of heat stress on the reproduction rates of sows of the Poltava meat breed, depending on the genotype

The article deals with the issues of the influence of heat stress that occurs in the summer on the indicators characterizing the reproductive qualities. Purebred sows of tested Poltava meat breed of different genotypes were investigated: Group I - individuals-offspring obtained by the method of introductory crossing using the blood of early maturing meat breed (blood content 12.5 %), Group II - individuals obtained by the method of introductory crossing using the blood of the Finnish Landrace (blood content of 12.5 %). It was found that in sows of the Poltava meat breed with the blood of early maturing meat breed, the number of live piglets at birth significantly exceeds the indices of sows with the blood of the Finnish Landrace by 8.27 % at p≤0.05. According to the analysis of Cv, these natural and technological conditions had the greatest influence on the duration of the service period in sows of Group I. Wherein, the least influence of these natural and technological conditions was found for the indicator of the duration of pregnancy. Animals with the blood of an early maturing meat breed were more adaptable to these natural and technological conditions.

Dynamic near-field microwave diagnostics of lungs.

Results of theoretical and experimental studies of the method of the near-field microwave tomography of the thorax are presented. Integral equations of inverse tomography problem of 3D blood- and air content inhomogeneities by data of multisensory measurements are obtained. Methods of air and blood content profiling in processes of breathing and heart activity by data of bistatic measurements of the scattered signal are proposed and solving algorithms of inverse problems are studied in the numerical simulation. Multifrequency and pulse measurements of scattered signals are carried out in processes of cardiorespiratory activity. By data of bistatic measurements of scattered signals parameters from the thorax, profiling relative air- and blood content profiles has been realized. Application possibilities of the method in the biomedical diagnostics are considered.

The efficacy and safety of topical tranexamic acid for spinal surgery: a meta-analysis

Background: Spinal surgeries are often accompanied by significant blood loss both intraoperatively and postoperatively. Excessive blood loss caused by surgery may lead to several harmful medical consequences. Tranexamic acid (TXA) is a kind of antifibrinolytic agent that has been widely used in spinal surgery. Currently, it is commonly accepted that intravenous TXA (ivTXA) can reduce blood loss in spinal fusion surgeries. Compared with ivTXA, topical TXA (tTXA) seems to be much easier to administer. This advantage provides a maximum concentration of TXA at the hemorrhagic site with little to no TXA entering the circulation. Objective: To evaluate the effect of tTXA on blood loss during and after spinal surgery via a comprehensive meta-analysis of the published data in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and other comparative cohort studies. Methods: A comprehensive search of PubMed, EMBASE, the Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were performed for RCTs and other comparative cohort studies on the effect of tTXA on blood loss during and after spinal surgery. The outcomes were total blood loss, hidden blood loss, intraoperative blood loss, total postoperative drainage volume, drainage tube duration postoperatively, drainage volume and drainage of blood content at postoperative day (POD) 1 and POD2, length of hospital stay, number of patients who received a blood transfusion, serum HB level at POD1, operative timespan, side effects, and complications. The final search was performed in October 2020. We followed the PRISMA guideline, and the registration number is INPLASY202160028. Results: In total, six studies with 481 patients were included. tTXA treatment, compared with the control conditions, can significantly reduce the total blood loss, hidden blood loss, total postoperative drainage volume, and several patients receiving blood transfusions; reduce the drainage volume and drainage of blood content at POD1; shorten the drainage tube duration postoperatively and length of hospital stay, and enhance the serum HB level at POD1 for spinal surgery. tTXA treatment did not significantly influence the intraoperative blood loss, drainage volume, or drainage of blood content at POD2 or the operative duration. Conclusion: Compared with control conditions, tTXA has high efficacy in reducing blood loss, and drainage volume enable quick rehabilitation and has a relatively high level of safety in spinal surgery.

Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of the Parental lines of Hybrid Japonica Rice in Northern China Revealed by 8K SNP-Chips

BackgroundThe hybrid rice varieties have made a significant contribution to food security. Although there has been rapid development of hybrid indica rice variety, the development of hybrid japonica rice has been relatively slow. This study aimed to understand the genetic background of representative parental lines of hybrid japonica rice in northern China that were beneficial for increasing efficiency to find a superior breeding combination using a restorer line and a sterile line. ResultsWe selected 137 parental lines of hybrid japonica rice, including 90 restorer lines, 47 sterile lines, which broadly represented the recent rice breeding trends in China. These lines were genotyped using 8K SNP-Chips (China Golden Marker Biotechnology Co. Ltd.) to understand the genetic diversity, population structure, phylogenetic evolution, and indica blood content. The genetic diversity of total parental lines averaged 0.264, with values for the restorer line and sterility line as 0.287 and 0.148, respectively. Based on the model-based population structure analysis and distance-based clustering, these 137 lines were divided into 14 groups, including seven independent restorer lines groups and seven mixture groups. There were 70% restorer lines in the above-mentioned seven independent restorer lines groups, and the indica blood content was 0.348, while 30% restorer lines were genetically similar to the sterile lines and constituted the other seven mixture groups, where the indica blood content in the restorer lines and the sterility lines was 0.142 and 0.121, respectively. The results of distance-based clustering revealed that the restorer lines, Group 1 and Group 2 (containing only restorer lines), had longer genetic distances with groups containing mainly sterile lines (the genetic distance ranged from 0.672 to 0.788), which served as a potential heterotic for hybrid rice breeding. This observation was consistent with the breeding strategy of high yield hybrid japonica rice.ConclusionsThe typical japonica sterile lines were crossed with the restorer lines containing high indica components indicating a strong heterosis pattern was a feasible scheme for heterosis utilization of indica-japonica subspecies. Thus, the effective ways to further improve the rice quality of hybrid japonica rice in northern China included maintaining moderate genetic distance and indica components between the parental lines along with the excellent quality of both the parental lines.

Influence of complete feeding on the formation of productive and conformation traits of replacement heifers

The results of the influence of the complete feeding on the formation of productive and conformation traits of Simmental×Holstein heifers with high blood content (87,5 %) of Holstein breed have been presented in the article. The heifers of the control group have received a farm ration compiled according to detailed standards, and their analogues from the experimental groups have received by 5, 10, 15, 20 % higher. During the entire growing period, the heifers of the 1st experimental group have been consumed 3325 EFU and 362,5 kg of digestible protein, the 2nd group – 3187 and 348,6, the 3rd – 3049 and 334,7, the 4th – 2994 and 310,9, the control group – 2770 and 307,1 kg, respectively. Heifers of the 1st experimental group on live weight was significantly outperformed herdmates in the control group: at the age of 3 months by 18,3 kg, 6 months – by 41,7 kg, 9 months – by 55,0 kg, 12 months – by 69,3 kg, 15 months – by 80,3 kg and 18 months – by 74,5 kg (P ≥ 0,999). The advantage of heifers of the 2nd experimental group in the same age periods was 8,8; 24,4 (P ≥ 0,99); 38,7; 48,9; 62,9; 56,2 kg (P ≥ 0,999). The heifers of the 3rd experimental group exceeded their analogues by 5,7; 10,3; 22, 5 (P ≥ 0,95); 27,6 (P ≥ 0,99); 42,9; 39,2 kg (P ≥ 0,999), the 4th experimental group of heifers exceeded their analogues by 2,1; 4,3; 12,9; 10,4; 21,0; 21,7 kg (P ≥ 0,95). Intensive rearing had an influence on the formation of the animal’s body type. Heifers have been raised at the increased level of feeding, especially in the 1st experimental group, are more massive, have a wider and deeper chest, an even and wide rear part with widely set legs.