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The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of seasonal variation on the frequency of post-farrowing dysgalactia syndrome (PFDS), sow body condition score (BCS), piglet survival, and weaning to estrus interval under intensive management systems. In addition, the effects of PFDS on litter characteristics and serum biochemistry, oxidative stress indices, thyroid, and cortisol profile were examined in order to identify potential biomarkers in the pre-farrowing stage. The study was conducted in summer and winter seasons in Nagaland, India, on 50 sows from 30 days before farrowing until weaning at 45 days. Sows were classified retrospectively into PFDS and non-PFDS. Although statistically, no significant difference was noted in the occurrence of PFDS between the seasons, the proportion of PFDS development was substantially higher in winter than summer (37.5 vs. 26.9%). In winter, the incidence of piglet stillbirth and sow weaning to estrus period was significantly higher (p < 0.05) and the mean litter size at weaning was significantly lower (p < 0.01). At weaning, the mean litter weight and average daily weight gain were decreased (p < 0.05) in both summer and winter, and the total number of piglets died in each litter was increased in sows afflicted with PFDS compared with healthy sows. A significant interaction effect of peripartum days and PFDS was observed in the changes of blood glucose, albumin (p < 0.05), and HDL-cholesterol (p = 0.07) concentration. Mean T 3 and T 4 concentration was influenced by peripartum days in both the season and a consistently lower T 3 concentration was detected in PFDS sows before farrowing. It is concluded that PFDS sows exhibited an increased incidence of stillbirth and scouring of neonatal piglets during the winter. A pronounced drop in mean circulating T 3 concentration in sows from 30 days before farrowing to 3 days after farrowing reflects endocrine-mediated metabolic dysfunction. Further research is warranted with more number of sows to identify the critical values of serum T 3 concentration in the immediate pre-farrowing period for prediction of sows developing PFDS after farrowing.

Background: The quality of frozen semen can be improved by supplementing Tris extender with antioxidant to prevent oxidation and maintain sperm motility., Objective: To study the effects of adding combinations of suitable concentrations of butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT) and Vitamin E in Tris extender on the quality of frozen goat semen., Materials and Methods: A total of 40 ejaculates collected from five Beetal bucks were used to study the effect on the quality of frozen semen of supplementing Tris extender with 200 µM BHT, 2 mM Vitamin E and 200 µM BHT + 2 mM Vitamin E., Results: The sperm motility, live sperm, live intact acrosome and HOST-reacted sperm differed significantly (P<0.01) between stages and between antioxidants. There was no significant difference (P<0.05) in interaction between stages (equilibration, freezing) and antioxidants, except for HOST-reacted sperm. Critical difference test revealed that Tris extender containing 2 mM vitamin E showed significantly (P<0.05) higher sperm motility, live sperm, live intact acrosome and HOST-reacted sperm, and significantly (P<0.05) lower release of alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST)., Conclusion: Supplementation of Tris extender with 2 mM vitamin E maintained superior quality of frozen Beetal buck semen.

Background: Pre-freezing treatment of boar sperm with additives improves the quality of post-thaw sperms., Objectives: The study aimed to determine the efficacy of butylated hydroxy-toluene (BHT) and cholesterol-loaded methyl-β-cyclodextrin (CLC) for the improvement of the frozen-thawed boar sperm quality., Methods: Split samples of 30 ejaculates from six boars were cryopreserved in lactose-egg yolk-glycerol extender containing BHT (0.2 mM), CLC (5 mg/ 200-240 x 10 6 sperm) or BHT (0.2 mM) plus CLC (5 mg per 200-240 x 10 6 sperm). Semen samples were evaluated for motility, membrane integrity, acrosomal status, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), DNA integrity and lipid peroxidation after equilibration and after freezing., Results: The addition of BHT and CLC into the extender significantly improved (P<0.05) plasma membrane integrity and decreased (P<0.05) lipid peroxidation after freezing. Post-thaw motility and live intact acrosome were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the extenders with BHT or BHT plus CLC. The post-thaw MMP of viable spermatozoa and DNA integrity were not affected. BHT plus CLC showed a significant (P<0.05) improvement on motility as compared to BHT and CLC alone., Conclusion: Treatment of boar spermatozoa with BHT and CLC improved post-thaw sperm quality.

Background: Antioxidant in freezing extender of boar semen improved post thaw sperm function., Objective: The study compared the effects of reduced glutathione (GSH), water soluble vitamin E analogue Trolox and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) on quality of cryopreserved boar spermatozoa., Materials and Methods: Using split sample technique three different antioxidants namely, GSH (1 mM), vitamin E (0.2 mM) and BHT (0.2 mM) were added to the freezing medium of lactose-egg yolk-glycerol extender, and samples were frozen using controlled freezing rate of 40°C/min from -6 to -140°C. Samples were evaluated for sperm motility, acrosomal status, plasma membrane integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential, lipid peroxidation and sperm DNA integrity after equilibration and after freezing., Results: The supplementation of GSH, vitamin E and BHT resulted in significantly higher post thaw motility, live intact acrosome and plasma membrane intact sperm. The incidence of post thaw sperm lipid peroxidation was significantly reduced after addition of antioxidants. However, antioxidants treatment neither significantly improved mitochondrial membrane potential of live sperm sub-population nor sperm DNA integrity after freezing. There was no significant difference of the post thaw sperm characteristics among three antioxidants. Protective effect of GSH, vitamin E and BHT are comparable on cryopreserved boar spermatozoa.

Aim: To evaluate different thawing temperatures and duration on the post-thaw semen quality of Indian yaks bulls., Materials and Methods: Semen ejaculates from four different yak bulls were collected using artificial vagina method and extended with tris extender containing 6.4% glycerol at 35°C, cooled gradually from 35°C to 5°C at 1°C/3 min and equilibrated at 4-5°C for 4 h and frozen in French mini straws using a programmable bio-freezer and finally stored in liquid nitrogen. Thawing of frozen semen straws was carried out using three methods i.e., 35°C for 60 s (thawing method I), 37°C for 30 s (thawing method II) and 75°C for 9 s (thawing method III). The post-thaw semen quality parameters assessed were sperm motility, percent live sperm, hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST)-reacted sperm, acrosomal changes, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities in the extracellular media., Results: The percent sperm motility, total incidence of acrosomal changes, and extracellular release of AST varied significantly (p<0.01) between thawing methods but live sperm and HOST-reacted sperm did not vary significantly between thawing methods. The percent sperm motility of frozen yak semen for thawing method III was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that for thawing methods I and II, the difference between thawing methods I and II being non-significant. The critical difference test revealed that the total incidence of acrosomal changes and extracellular release of AST were significantly (p<0.05) lower when thawing was done using methods I and II than in method III., Conclusion: On the basis of the present experiment, we can conclude that barring the post-thaw sperm motility, thawing of frozen yak semen in water either at 35°C for 60 s or 37°C for 30 s gives better post-thaw semen quality than at 75°C for 09 s.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of conventional, and controlled freezing method adopting three freezing rates 20°C, 40°C and 60°C/min for cryopreservation of boar semen. Sixty sperm-rich fractions of ejaculates from six boars were utilized for freezing of semen with different freezing methods in lactose-egg yolk glycerol extender using 0.5 ml straws. Semen samples were evaluated for sperm motility, live sperm, acrosome integrity, plasma membrane integrity (PMI) by carboxyfluorescein diacetate plus propidium iodide (PI) staining, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) by combined JC-1 plus PI staining and lipid peroxidation (LPO) by BODIPY (581/591)-C11 probe after equilibration and after freezing. The results revealed that the post thaw sperm motility, live sperm, live intact acrosome and plasma membrane integrity were significantly (p<0.05) higher in all the three controlled freezing methods (20°C, 40°C and 60°C/min) as compared to that in conventional method. In addition, the controlled freezing methods yielded higher (p>0.05) mean values of live sperm with high MMP as compared to conventional freezing. However, the post thaw sperm LPO did not influence by difference in freezing methods. No significant difference on the post thaw sperm qualities was recorded among the three controlled freezing rates. All the sperm parameters assessed declined significantly (p<0.05) after freezing as compared to that after equilibration irrespective of freezing method employed. In conclusion, cryopreservation of boar semen with controlled freezing methods conferred better post thaw sperm quality as compared to conventional method, and the freezing rates of either 20, 40 or 60°C/min could provide better freezability of boar semen., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The present study was aimed to reveal the effect on keeping quality of boar semen on holding or not holding at an elevated temperature than that used for preservation when combined with washing or not washing of seminal plasma. Twenty ejaculates, four from each of five Hampshire boars were used to hold for 0 and 4h in GEPS extender at 22°C and subsequently washed (1500×g for 10min) of seminal plasma or left unwashed and preserved at 15°C for 72h after extending with the same extender. The seminal parameters in terms of sperm motility, live spermatozoa, and live spermatozoa with intact acrosome (LIA) were evaluated at 0h-(immediately after extension) and thereafter at 24h intervals. The mean percentage of sperm motility was significantly (P<0.01) higher in unwashed than washed semen at both 0h and 4h of holding irrespective of preservation period. It was significantly (P<0.01) higher in semen held for 4h than 0h irrespective of washing and significantly (P<0.01) lower in washed than in unwashed semen irrespective of holding during preservation. Irrespective of preservation period the mean percentage of live spermatozoa was significantly (P<0.01) higher with 4h than 0h of holding in both unwashed and washed semen and was significantly (P<0.01) higher in unwashed than washed semen at both 0h and 4h of holding. It was significantly (P<0.01) higher for 4h held semen irrespective of washing and was significantly (P<0.01) lower in washed than in unwashed semen irrespective of holding during preservation. The mean percentage of LIA was significantly (P<0.01) higher with 4h than with 0h holding in both unwashed and washed semen and was significantly (P<0.01) higher in unwashed than in washed semen at both 0h and 4h of holding irrespective of preservation period. It was significantly (P<0.01) higher for 4h held as compared to unheld semen irrespective of washing and was significantly (P<0.01) lower in washed than unwashed semen irrespective of holding during preservation. The mean percentage of sperm motility, live spermatozoa and LIA decreased significantly (P<0.01) in 0h and 4h holding irrespective of washing and in unwashed and washed semen irrespective of holding with increase in preservation period. Among all the treatments unwashed semen held for 4h yielded superior sperm quality on preservation. A total of 32 female pigs were inseminated using preserved semen obtained with the best processing technique found in the study. The conception rate, farrowing rate and litter size at birth were recorded to be 81.25%, 78.13% and 7.96 respectively as compared to 73.38%, 67.57% and 6.68 respectively in the control group. It could be concluded that unwashed Hampshire boar semen held for 4h, extended with GEPS and preserved at 15°C for 72h was conducive to obtain optimum fertility and fecundity in females when used for artificial insemination., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The effect of concentration and addition method of glycerol on the quality of cryopreserved mithun (Bos frontalis) spermatozoa was investigated. Semen samples were collected from five healthy mithun bulls through rectal massage method and cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen. The samples were diluted in Tris-egg yolk-glycerol extender, equilibrated for 4 h at 4 °C and loaded into 0.50-ml straws. The straws were then frozen in liquid nitrogen vapour for 10 min and finally plunged into liquid nitrogen for storage. The required amount of glycerol was added into the diluted samples either in a single dose (3%, 4%, 5%, 6% or 7%; added at 37 °C immediately before equilibration) or in split doses (5%, 6% or 7%; the total amount was divided into four equal parts, and a part was added at 37 °C immediately before equilibration, and the remaining parts were added subsequently at 1, 2 and 3 h of equilibration at 4 °C). In the single-dose addition method, following freeze-thawing, greater (p < 0.05) motility (%) and proportion of live spermatozoa with intact acrosome (LSIA, %) in 5% glycerol (40.6 ± 1.7 and 43.4 ± 1.8 respectively) and lesser (p < 0.05) total morphological abnormalities (%) in 5% (14.1 ± 0.8) and 6% (13.7 ± 1.0) glycerol were observed compared to the other glycerol concentrations. In the split-dose addition method, following freeze-thawing, greater (p < 0.05) motility (%) and LSIA proportion (%) were found in 5% (50.2 ± 1.9 and 53.3 ± 1.8 respectively) compared to 6% or 7% glycerol, but the total morphological abnormalities were not different among the glycerol concentrations. In addition, in all the glycerol concentrations, better (p < 0.05) post-freeze-thaw motility and LSIA proportions were observed when glycerol was added in split doses compared to a single dose. In conclusion, Tris-egg yolk extender with 5% glycerol added in split doses was found most suitable for cryopreserving mithun sperm., (© 2012 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

The hot air convective drying characteristics of blanched tomato (Lycopersicon esculantum L.) slices have been investigated. Drying experiments were carried out at four different temperatures (50, 60, 65 and 70 °C). The effect of drying temperatures on the drying behavior of the tomato slices was evaluated. All drying experiments had only falling rate period. The average effective diffusivity values varied from 0.5453 × 10(-9) to 2.3871 × 10(-9) m(2)/s over the temperature range studied and the activation energy was estimated to be 61.004 kJ/mol. In order to select a suitable form of the drying curve, six different thin layer drying models (Henderson-Pabis, Page, Diamante et al., Wang and Singh, Logarithmic and Newton models) were fitted to the experimental data. The goodness of fit tests indicated that the Logarithmic model gave the best fit to experimental results, which was closely followed by the Henderson-Pabis model. The influence of varied drying temperatures on quality attributes of the tomato slices viz. Hunter color parameters, ascorbic acid, lycopene, titratable acidity, total sugars, reducing sugars and sugar/acid ratio of dried slices was also studied. Slices dried at 50 and 60 °C had high amount of total sugars, lycopene, sugar/acid ratio, Hunter L- and a-values. Drying of slices at 50 °C revealed optimum retention of ascorbic acid, sugar/acid ratio and red hue, whereas, drying at higher temperature (65 and 70 °C) resulted in a considerable decrease in nutrients and colour quality of the slices.

Fresh ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) suffers from weight loss, shrinkage, sprouting and rotting during storage after 3-4 weeks. This spoilage may be overcome by processing fresh produce to some value added products. An attempt was made to optimize the protocol for production of instant ginger candy. The experimental parameters considered were slice thickness (5.0-25.0 mm) and blanching duration (10-30 min) followed by dipping in 40°B and 75°B sugar solutions containing 2.0% citric acid respectively, for 1 and 2 h at 95 °C and dried at 60 °C for 1 h. RSM design was considered for this experiment and final products were evaluated for their textural properties, TSS, acidity, TSS: acid ratio, taste score and overall acceptability. The optimum product qualities in terms of hardness (2.08 kg), TSS (73.4%), acidity (1.31%), TSS: acid ratio (56.3), taste score (7.98) and overall acceptability (8.07) were obtained for slice thickness of 10.9 mm and blanching time of 24.9 min.

An experiment was conducted on pear fruit (cv. 'Lagoon') to extend the shelf life by using different packaging materials. Fruits were packed in low density polyethylene (LDPE, 0.025 mm), polypropylene (PP, 0.025 mm), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE, 0.0125 mm) and high density polyethylene (HDPE, 0.025 mm) with or without perforation and stored at ambient condition (25 ± 2 °C and 65.0 ± 5% RH). Periodical observations were recorded on CO2 & O2 concentration (%), physiological loss in weight (PLW, %), decay loss (%), firmness (kgf), colour value (colour difference and colour index), total soluble solid (TSS, °Brix), acidity (mg of malic acid/g), and ascorbic acid loss (%) at 3 days interval. Reduced rate of PLW and decay losses was recorded in pear fruits packed in PP non-perforated (8.04%) and PP perforated (12.5%), respectively as compared to other treatments. The maximum firmness (5.18 kgf) and minimum ascorbic acid loss (49.97%) were also recorded in PP non-perforated up to 12 and 15 days of storage, respectively. It could be inferred that the, PP non-perforated (0.025 mm) was the most suitable packaging materials for extending the shelf life of pear fruits up to 15 days at ambient condition.

The objective of this study was to collect semen from semiwild Mithun (Bos frontalis) bulls using an artificial vagina (AV) and to determine semen characteristics. Collection of semen with an AV was attempted in five Mithun bulls using both anestrous and estrous Mithun females. No Mithun bull mounted an anestrous female Mithun during 60 trials, but satisfactory mounting, including extension of the penis, occurred in 25 trials with estrous Mithun females. In 15 of these trials, semen was successfully collected in an AV with an internal temperature of 42 to 46 degrees C. However, in 10 trials with an AV with an internal temperature of 36 to 40 degrees C, semen was not collected. Mean (+/- SEM) intervals to first mount and to ejaculation in the AV were 27.9+/-3.6 sec and 113.8+/-6.6 sec, respectively. Semen volume and pH were 3.1+/-0.35 mL and 6.59+/-0.04, and mean mass activity (scale, 0 to 4), initial sperm motility, live sperm count, sperm concentration, total number of sperm in the ejaculate, and overall sperm length were 2.2+/-0.3, 78.6+/-2.6%, 80.7+/-2.2%, 710.8+/-66.8 x 10(6)/mL, 2114+/-364.4 sperm, and 67.9+/-0.6 microm, respectively. The proportion of morphologically normal sperm was 80.6+/-0.2%, whereas the proportion with a morphologically abnormal head, midpiece, tail, and acrosome were 4.2+/-0.4%, 1.6+/-0.5%, 6.1+/-1.1%, and 7.1+/-0.9%, respectively. The mean incidence of tail-less heads and proximal and distal protoplasmic droplets were 0.5+/-0.1%, 0.3+/-0.2%, and 2.4+/-0.3%, respectively. In conclusion, we successfully collected semen from semiwild Mithun bulls with an AV maintained at 42 to 46 degrees C, and overall, the semen was within the normal range of that collected from fertile domestic bulls.

Plasma progesterone profiles were used to assess superovulatory responses in cyclic yaks (n=10) in terms of the number of ovulations and the number of embryos recovered. The animals were synchronized into oestrus following Ovsynch treatment. All the animals received a total of 200 mg Folltropin divided into morning and evening and spread over 4 days, beginning on day 10 of the oestrus cycle (day of expected oestrus=day 0). Plasma samples for progesterone estimation were collected daily starting from the day of expected synchronized oestrus to the day of flushing. All the animals were palpated per rectum on the day of flushing in order to record the number of corpora lutea. Of an estimated 27 ovulations from the nine yaks, only 16 embryos were recovered. Plasma progesterone profiles from individual yaks suggested that a poor superovulatory response in terms of embryo recovery in some animals was caused by the lysis of corpora lutea before flushing which was carried out 7 days after superovulatory oestrus. It was suggested that flushing 5 days post superovulatory oestrus could improve the superovulatory response in this species.

The use of radiations for the treatment of keloids was the topic of debate for years. Because of the benign nature of the keloids, surgery (keloidectomy) was treatment of choice. However, the use of surgery alone for arresting the keloids growth does not give satisfactory results due to the high frequency of recurrences. In this study 110 symptomatic cases were treated with 90Sr-90Y beta-radiation either alone for flat keloids or in combination with surgery for thick keloids. The results obtained with this method were found to be quite satisfactory. Patients were given four fractions of 5 Gy per fraction either as weekly or twice weekly schedules. Radiation dose of 2000 cGy given twice weekly in four fractions showed response in 86% of the cases as compared to 73% in those receiving four fractions of 5 Gy weekly. Further observations on different time dose fractionation schedules would open up newer dimensions in the radiotherapy of keloids.

Twenty ejaculates, 4 from each of 5 native goats, were collected using an artificial vagina, and the effects of glycerol level (4, 6.4 and 9 %) and the equilibration period (1, 3 and 5 h) were studied by split-sample technique. The extender used was Tris egg yolk citric acid fructose glycerol extender. The semen was frozen in 0.5-ml French straws by exposure for 10 min to liquid nitrogen vapor, 5 cm above the liquid nitrogen level. After 14 h of storage in liquid nitrogen, the straws were thawed in water at 37 degrees C for 12 - 15 sec. The percentage of progressively motile sperm (PPM) and the percentage of damaged acrosomes (PDA) were studied after equilibration and after thawing. The mean PPM after thawing was found to be 64.0 +/- 0.90, 66.92 +/- 0.54 and 63.65 +/- 1.07 when semen was frozen with 4, 6.4 and 9 % glycerol and 61.48 +/- 0.81, 65.05 +/- 0.78 and 68.03 +/- 0.87 in 1-, 3- and 5-h equilibrated semen, respectively. The mean PDA after thawing was 7.12 +/- 0.88, 8.23 +/- 0.76 and 10.58 +/- 0.84 when semen was frozen with 4, 6.4 and 9 % glycerol and 7.0 +/- 0.74, 9.0 +/- 0.95 and 9.93 +/- 0.81 in 1-, 3- and 5-h equilibrated semen, respectively. Both PPM and PDA differed significantly (P<0.01) between glycerol levels, between equilibration periods and between stages (after equilibration and after thawing). The PPM also differed significantly due to equilibration period x stage interaction (P<0.01) and glycerol level x stage interaction (P<0.05). The PDA did not differ significantly due to interactions. When the differences between pairs of means were tested by least significant difference, it was found that after equilibration PPM was not significantly affected by either glycerol level or equilibration period, while after thawing, it was significantly higher (P<0.05) for 6.4 % glycerol and 5-h equilibrated semen than for 4 or 9 % glycerol and 1- or 3-h equilibrated semen, respectively. The PDA was lower with 4 % glycerol and 1-h equilibrated semen.

During routine necropsies performed in domestic chickens, two abnormalities were noticed in adult White Leghorn female birds; one was of the sternal keel (carina), and the other was of the cecum.