Utjecaj trajanja in vitro sazrijevanja i inkubacije s aktivirajućim čimbenikom na kapacitet izlijeganja goveđih partenota - kratko priopćenje

The period of both in vitro maturation (IVM) and incubation with oocyte activators affects the blastocyst yield following parthenogenetic activation (PA). Nevertheless, it is still unknown how these conditions impact the expansion and hatching rates of bovine parthenogenetic blastocysts. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of the duration of IVM and exposure to the activating agent, 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP), on a number of developmental parameters in bovine parthenotes, including: Cleavage, blastocyst formation, expansion, and hatching. Slaughterhouse oocytes were subjected to different periods of IVM. Subsequently, eggs were first parthenogenetically activated for five minutes with ionomycin and then incubated for distinct lengths of time with a second activator, 6-DMAP. The treatments were: a) Control: 22 h IVM/4 h 6-DMAP; b) 22 h IVM/5 h 6-DMAP; c) 24 h IVM/4 h 6-DMAP; and d) 24 h IVM/5 h 6-DMAP. Developmental stages were evaluated at day 4 and day 8 of in vitro culture (IVC). No differences were detected in most developmental parameters. However, the duration of IVM and incubation with 6-DMAP significantly affected (P<0.05) hatching capacity considering the number of blastocysts (Hatch./Blast.). Also, this same variable was higher (P<0.05) in group b) 22 h IVM/5 h 6-DMAP (45.89 ± 12.59%), as compared to c) 24 h IVM/4 h 6-DMAP (6.67 ± 6.67%). In conclusion, the length of IVM and incubation with 6-DMAP influenced parthenogenetic development, where 22 h IVM/5 h 6-DMAP was the condition producing the highest Hatch./Blast. rate in bovine parthenotes.Vrijeme in vitro sazrijevanja (IVM) i vrijeme inkubacije s aktivatorima oocista utječu na stvaranje blastocista nakon partenogenetske aktivacije (PA). Ipak, još uvijek se ne zna kako navedeno utječe na ekspanziju i stopu izlijeganja goveđih partenogenetskih blastocista. Cilj rada bio je istražiti utjecaj trajanja IVM i izloženosti aktivirajućem čimbeniku 6-dimethylaminopurinu (6-DMAP) na više razvojnih parametara u goveđih partenota, uključujući diobu, formiranje blastociste, ekspanziju i izlijeganje. Oocite prikupljene u klaonicama bile su podvrgnute različitom trajanju IVM. Nakon toga jajašca su prvo partenogenetski aktivirana s ionomicinom kroz 5 minuta i nakon toga inkubirana tijekom određenih vremenskih razdoblja sa drugim aktivatorom, 6-DMAP. Protokoli po istraženim skupinama bili su sljedeći: a) kontrolna skupina 22 h IVM/4 h 6-DMAP, b) skupina 22 h IVM/5 h 6-DMAP, c) skupina 24 h IVM/4 h 6-DMAP i d) skupina 24 h IVM/5 h 6-DMAP. Razvojni stadiji in vitro kulture (IVC) procijenjivani su 4. i 8. dan. Za većinu razvojnih parametara nisu utvrđene razlike između istraženih skupina. Ipak, trajanja IVM i inkubacije sa 6-DMAP znakovito su utjecali (P<0,05) na kapacitet izlijeganja kad se u obzir uzme broj blastocista (izlijeganja/ blasociste). Također, isti pokazatelji bili su viši (P<0,05) u skupini b) 22 h IVM/5 h 6-DMAP (45,89 ± 12,59 %) u odnosu na skupinu c) 24 h IVM/4 h 6-DMAP (6,67 ± 6,67 %). Zaključno, trajanje IVM i inkubacije sa 6-DMAP utjecali su na partenogenetski razvoj, pri čemu je 22 h IVM/5 h 6-DMAP kombinacija koja u goveđih partenota proizvodi najvišu stopu za pokazetelj izlijeganje/blasociste

Using Sentinel-2-Based Metrics to Characterize the Spatial Heterogeneity of FLEX Sun-Induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence on Sub-Pixel Scale

Current and upcoming Sun-Induced chlorophyll Fluorescence (SIF) satellite products (e.g., GOME, TROPOMI, OCO, FLEX) have medium-to-coarse spatial resolutions (i.e., 0.3–80 km) and integrate radiances from different sources into a single ground surface unit (i.e., pixel). However, intrapixel heterogeneity, i.e., different soil and vegetation fractional cover and/or different chlorophyll content or vegetation structure in a fluorescence pixel, increases the challenge in retrieving and quantifying SIF. High spatial resolution Sentinel-2 (S2) data (20 m) can be used to better characterize the intrapixel heterogeneity of SIF and potentially extend the application of satellite-derived SIF to heterogeneous areas. In the context of the COST Action Optical synergies for spatiotemporal SENsing of Scalable ECOphysiological traits (SENSECO), in which this study was conducted, we proposed direct (i.e., spatial heterogeneity coefficient, standard deviation, normalized entropy, ensemble decision trees) and patch mosaic (i.e., local Moran’s I) approaches to characterize the spatial heterogeneity of SIF collected at 760 and 687 nm (SIF760 and SIF687, respectively) and to correlate it with the spatial heterogeneity of selected S2 derivatives. We used HyPlant airborne imagery acquired over an agricultural area in Braccagni (Italy) to emulate S2-like top-of-the-canopy reflectance and SIF imagery at different spatial resolutions (i.e., 300, 20, and 5 m). The ensemble decision trees method characterized FLEX intrapixel heterogeneity best (R2 > 0.9 for all predictors with respect to SIF760 and SIF687). Nevertheless, the standard deviation and spatial heterogeneity coefficient using k-means clustering scene classification also provided acceptable results. In particular, the near-infrared reflectance of terrestrial vegetation (NIRv) index accounted for most of the spatial heterogeneity of SIF760 in all applied methods (R2 = 0.76 with the standard deviation method; R2 = 0.63 with the spatial heterogeneity coefficient method using a scene classification map with 15 classes). The models developed for SIF687 did not perform as well as those for SIF760, possibly due to the uncertainties in fluorescence retrieval at 687 nm and the low signal-to-noise ratio in the red spectral region. Our study shows the potential of the proposed methods to be implemented as part of the FLEX ground segment processing chain to quantify the intrapixel heterogeneity of a FLEX pixel and/or as a quality flag to determine the reliability of the retrieved fluorescence

Using Sentinel-2-Based Metrics to Characterize the Spatial Heterogeneity of FLEX Sun-Induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence on Sub-Pixel Scale

Current and upcoming Sun-Induced chlorophyll Fluorescence (SIF) satellite products (e.g., GOME, TROPOMI, OCO, FLEX) have medium-to-coarse spatial resolutions (i.e., 0.3–80 km) and integrate radiances from different sources into a single ground surface unit (i.e., pixel). However, intrapixel heterogeneity, i.e., different soil and vegetation fractional cover and/or different chlorophyll content or vegetation structure in a fluorescence pixel, increases the challenge in retrieving and quantifying SIF. High spatial resolution Sentinel-2 (S2) data (20 m) can be used to better characterize the intrapixel heterogeneity of SIF and potentially extend the application of satellite-derived SIF to heterogeneous areas. In the context of the COST Action Optical synergies for spatiotemporal SENsing of Scalable ECOphysiological traits (SENSECO), in which this study was conducted, we proposed direct (i.e., spatial heterogeneity coefficient, standard deviation, normalized entropy, ensemble decision trees) and patch mosaic (i.e., local Moran’s I) approaches to characterize the spatial heterogeneity of SIF collected at 760 and 687 nm (SIF760 and SIF687, respectively) and to correlate it with the spatial heterogeneity of selected S2 derivatives. We used HyPlant airborne imagery acquired over an agricultural area in Braccagni (Italy) to emulate S2-like top-of-the-canopy reflectance and SIF imagery at different spatial resolutions (i.e., 300, 20, and 5 m). The ensemble decision trees method characterized FLEX intrapixel heterogeneity best (R2 &gt; 0.9 for all predictors with respect to SIF760 and SIF687). Nevertheless, the standard deviation and spatial heterogeneity coefficient using k-means clustering scene classification also provided acceptable results. In particular, the near-infrared reflectance of terrestrial vegetation (NIRv) index accounted for most of the spatial heterogeneity of SIF760 in all applied methods (R2 = 0.76 with the standard deviation method; R2 = 0.63 with the spatial heterogeneity coefficient method using a scene classification map with 15 classes). The models developed for SIF687 did not perform as well as those for SIF760, possibly due to the uncertainties in fluorescence retrieval at 687 nm and the low signal-to-noise ratio in the red spectral region. Our study shows the potential of the proposed methods to be implemented as part of the FLEX ground segment processing chain to quantify the intrapixel heterogeneity of a FLEX pixel and/or as a quality flag to determine the reliability of the retrieved fluorescence.</p

Growth characteristics of pullets based on type of housing

The objective of this work was to evaluate the growth of pullets housed in cages or floor stands. Two hundred birds were randomly sampled per house, from day one to 16 weeks of age. Birds housed on floor stands had the highest body weight and tarsus length, with high correlation between both variables, and the highest cumulative food consumption. The flock uniformity was 89% on floor and 79% in cages. Pullets housed on floor stands have a higher productive performance.El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el crecimiento de pollitas alojadas en casetas de piso o jaulas. Fueron muestreadas de forma aleatoria 200 aves por caseta, desde el día uno hasta 16 semanas de edad. Las alojadas en piso registraron el mayor peso corporal y longitud de tarso, con alta correlación entre ambas variables, y el mayor consumo acumulado de alimento. La uniformidad de la parvada fue 89% en piso y 79% en jaula. Las pollitas alojadas en piso tienen un mayor desempeño productivo.The objective of this work was to evaluate the growth of pullets housed in cages or floor stands. Two hundred birds were randomly sampled per house, from day one to 16 weeks of age. Birds housed on floor stands had the highest body weight and tarsus length, with high correlation between both variables, and the highest cumulative food consumption. The flock uniformity was 89% on floor and 79% in cages. Pullets housed on floor stands have a higher productive performanc

Comparison of three sampling procedures for evaluating intestinal villi: A swine model¤

Background: Villi morphology and function affect the absorption capacity of the small intestine. Most tissues are fragile and their morphology may change with excessive manipulation and inadequate sampling techniques. Intestinal sampling includes methodologies such as cutting longitudinally or transversely, keeping the intestinal content in it and preserving all in a 10% formalin solution; washing the intestinal sample in saline solution while emptying it by pressing downwards with two fingers, conserving the sample in a 10% formalin solution and knotting both ends of the sample, introducing 10% formalin into it and preserving it in the same solution. Objective: To compare height, area and desquamation caused by washing, pressing, and knotting used in sampling and conservation techniques of small intestine villi of pigs. Methods: Samples (n = 270) from duodenum, jejunum and ileum of 30 Landrace × Yorkshire crossed pigs, aged 7 to 8 months were randomly subjected to washing, soft pressing or knotting procedures, fixed in 10% formalin solution, embedded in paraffin, and stained with eosin and hematoxylin. Intestinal villi in each slide were observed to determine height, surface area and cellular desquamation of each villus. Results: Villi height from duodenum and ileum knotted samples was higher (p<0.05) compared with samples from the other procedures in the same anatomical portion, which were similar to each other (p>0.05). Villi from knotted jejunum samples were the shortest (p<0.05) compared to the other two procedures, which were similar to each other (p>0.05). Knotted samples from ileum had larger villi area compared with the rest of the procedures and intestinal portions (p0.05). Conclusion: Knotting is the recommended procedure for intestinal cell morphometry evaluation, as values of villi height and area are higher. Desquamation in the three procedures may be related to epithelial restoration processes

Comparison of three sampling procedures for evaluating intestinal villis: A swine model

Background: Villi morphology and function affect the absorption capacity of the small intestine. Most tissues are fragile and their morphology may change with excessive manipulation and inadequate sampling techniques. Intestinal sampling includes methodologies such as cutting longitudinally or transversely, keeping the intestinal content in it and preserving all in a 10% formalin solution; washing the intestinal sample in saline solution while emptying it by pressing downwards with two fingers, conserving the sample in a 10% formalin solution and knotting both ends of the sample, introducing 10% formalin into it and preserving it in the same solution. Objective: To compare height, area and desquamation caused by washing, pressing, and knotting used in sampling and conservation techniques of small intestine villi of pigs. Methods: Samples (n = 270) from duodenum, jejunum and ileum of 30 Landrace × Yorkshire crossed pigs, aged 7 to 8 months were randomly subjected to washing, soft pressing or knotting procedures, fixed in 10% formalin solution, embedded in paraffin, and stained with eosin and hematoxylin. Intestinal villi in each slide were observed to determine height, surface area and cellular desquamation of each villus. Results: Villi height from duodenum and ileum knotted samples was higher (p<0.05) compared with samples from the other procedures in the same anatomical portion, which were similar to each other (p>0.05). Villi from knotted jejunum samples were the shortest (p<0.05) compared to the other two procedures, which were similar to each other (p>0.05). Knotted samples from ileum had larger villi area compared with the rest of the procedures and intestinal portions (p0.05). Conclusion: Knotting is the recommended procedure for intestinal cell morphometry evaluation, as values of villi height and area are higher. Desquamation in the three procedures may be related to epithelial restoration processes