Artificial Insemination in Swine

Artificial Insemination in Swine Introduction The use of artificial insemination (AI) increased in these last years because it offers several advantages over natural mating. New genetics can be introduced into a herd with decreased health risks. The semen that is collected from the boar can be diluted in a semen extender and with one ejaculation multiple insemination doses can be created and can be used to breed several sows and gilts. This allows more extensive use of genetically superior boars, increasing the rate of genetic improvement within a herd. On farms employing artificial insemination few boars are needed, and as a consequence, feed, labour and housing costs are reduced. The major processes of AI are: semen collection, evaluation, and processing; detection of oestrus; and insemination. Reproductive physiology of female swine For successful artificial insemination, heat detection of the female swine is very important. Oestrus begins with the pituitary gland, which is a gland situated just below the brain. The pituitary gland secretes hormones into the bloodstream such as the luteinizing hormone (LH) and the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), which are called gonadotropins. In immature gilts gonadotropin secretion is low, but at 6 to 8 months of age, when there is the 1st oestrus it increases dramatically. During the 2 to 3 day period just prior to oestrus, the increase of LH and FSH cause the follicles on each of the two ovaries to grow rapidly. The follicles secrete increased levels of estradiol, which is a hormone into the blood that causes changes in behaviour and physiology of the animal. These changes are associated with the oestrus. Each follicle contains an ovum. When the ovum is released and fertilised by a sperm cell, it develops into an embryo. The increase of estradiol concentration in the blood reaches a threshold which triggers a large release of LH from the pituitary gland around the onset of oestrus. The release of ova from the follicles into the oviducts is stimulated by the LH. On average, ovulation occurs 40 hours after the onset of oestrus. Fertilization of the ova by the sperm cells occurs in the oviducts, the tubes between the ovaries and the horns of the uterus, and then the fertilised egg moves to the uterus. The sites on the ovaries from which ova are released, then form structures that are called corpora lutea. These corpora lutea secrete the hormone progesterone into the blood. During the luteal phase of the oestrus cycle, which is approximately between day 4 and day 16, progesterone inhibits the secretion of LH and FSH from the pituitary gland, inhibiting follicular growth. When the ova are not fertilised during oestrus or embryos do not implant in the uterus, around day 16, the uterus starts t secrete the hormone prostaglandin-F2o into the blood. This hormone causes the falling off or death of the corpora lutea. This causes the progesterone level to decline and this allows the increase of LH and FSH levels, follicle growth, and the return of oestrus. In a female swine, oestrus occurs every 18 to 22 days, unless the cycle is interrupted by pregnancy, lactation, poor nutrition, disease, etc. If fertilisation occurs and pregnancy is initiated, the prostaglandin-F2o is not released in the blood stream. The corpora lutea are maintained and secrete high levels of progesterone into the blood stream throughout gestation. Progesterone is essential in pregnancy, as it inhibits follicular growth and uterine contractions. Around day 114 of gestation, the uterus releases a large amount of prostaglandin-F2o into the blood, and this causes the corpora lutea to regress. The progesterone level is then decreased, uterine contractions commence and the foetuses are expelled. During lactation, when the pigs are sucking from the sow, LH and FSH are not secreted. When the suckling are weaned, a stimulus allows the secretion of gonadotropin to increase and the follicles grow rapidly and there is the corresponding rise in the circulating levels of estradiol. The sows return in oestrus in seven days after weaning and estradiol elicits the surge of LH, causing ovulation. Detecting oestrus The detection of oestrus is very important for successful artificial insemination. The oestrus duration is variable, but the average is 38 hours in gilts and 53 hours for sows. With the high concentrations of estradiol several sign can show that the sow or gilt is approaching or is in oestrus. These signs are: a red, swollen vulva and enlarged clitoris, mucous discharge from the vulva, nervous and restless behaviour, moving back and forth along pen partitions, frequent urination, increased vocalisation, decreased appetite, mounting other females and/or standing to be mounted by other females, elevation of ears, locking knees, and elevating the back. The best indicator that female swine are in oestrus and ready to be mated is the immobilisation response. When in oestrus they exhibit the immobilisation response as a reaction to a combination of visual, auditory, olfactory and tactile stimuli originating from the boar. It is important to put a mature boar in contact with the female swine that are being checked for oestrus. The females should be checked at least twice a day, with 12 hours interval in between for more accurate determinations. When checking for oestrus, the female should be exposed to a boar for several minutes and observed closely for several signs. If the female re checked in the morning, this should be done before or at least one hour after feeding. Considerable energy expenditure is required for maintaining the immobilization response. If a gilt or sow that is in oestrus becomes fatigued, it may become unresponsive to boar exposure and not resume an immobilisation response for several hours. During periods when not checking for oestrus, the boar should be kept away from the females, because this greatly increases the likelihood that sows and gilts in oestrus will display the immobilisation response when exposed to the boar during the oestrus check. The boar exposure during oestrus checking should be restricted to small group of females. When the sows and gilts are housed in crates, a boar should be moved in the front of the females, while a second herdsman applies back pressure. If the female is in oestrus it move forward and assume immobilisation response and when pressure is applied to the back it will push back. This is an effective method of detecting oestrus. Inseminating females Disposable AI equipment should be used and catheters should only be used ones, so different equipment is used on different female swine to protect plant health. Before inseminating, the vulva should be cleaned with a paper towel and the tip of the catheter should be coated with a non-spermicidal lubricant. The lips of the vulva should be spread and the breeding catheter inserted. The catheter should be angled slightly upwards while moved through the reproductive tract. This helps prevent entry into the urethra, which is the tube leading to the bladder. After wards the catheter should be slid gently through the vagina until the operator feels resistance. The resistance indicates that the catheter has reached the cervix. With a spirette-type catheter the instrument should be turned counter-clockwise until it locks into the cervix. Then to remove the spirette, it should be turned clockwise while gently pulled outwards. With a foam-tipped catheter, firm forward pressure should be applied to the catheter until the bulbous tip is locked into the cervix, and to remove the bulbous catheter tip, it should be pulled outwards gently. After the semen and extender is mixed gently, the semen bottle, tube, or bag should be connected to the open end of the catheter. The semen is dispensed by gently squeezing the container over a three to five minute period, taking care to avoid excessive back flow of the extended semen out of the vulva. The tip of the catheter may be blocked against cervical tissues occasionally, blocking the flow of the semen, and if this happens the catheter should be repositioned by turning it. The insemination is easier if the female swine is exhibiting the immobilisation response, although it is not necessary. If a boar is placed in an adjacent pen, it can facilitate AI, but on the other hand, immobilisation response requires considerable energy expenditure and the female may become fatigued. When there is a large number of sows to be bred, some of them may become refractory to the boar stimuli prior to artificial insemination. When the boar is present during artificial insemination, the sows pituitary gland releases oxytocin into the bloodstream, which a protein hormone. It stimulates muscles contractions of the uterus and oviducts, and these contractions cause the semen to be drawn into the reproductive tract during AI. This is also known as self insemination. If the AI technician applies firm back pressure and rubs the flank or udder of the sow during insemination, he will facilitate the self insemination. Timing of insemination Accurate oestrus detection is the success of artificial insemination. Timing of insemination is normally based on the time when oestrus is first detected. Insemination should be done prior to ovulation, i.e. maximum 24 hours before ovulation in sows and maximum of 12 hours before ovulation in gilts. Inseminating twice during oestrus increases the likelihood that one will occur during the optimum time. If female swine are in standing heat for 3 days, a third mating should be beneficial. The females that are not in oestrus should not be inseminated because reproductive performance will be adversely affected.

Othello and Film “O”

Despite the shift in time and place, the two texts Shakespeare’s Othello and Tim Blake Nelson’s film ‘O’ explores timeless ideas such as jealousy and illusion versus reality. These ideas transcend through time and still remain constant in modern society. To achieve universal themes represented in Othello, Tim Blake Nelson uses a variety of different techniques such as camera angles and Verdi’s Opera music to effectively achieve such themes and values in his film to suit his 21st century adolescent audiences.On the other hand, Shakespeare have originated the plot by using literacy devices such as imagery, soliloquies and asides to suit his contemporary Elizabethan audience. In Shakespeare’s Othello, the theme jealousy is evident throughout the play. The composer uses techniques such as imagery and characterisation to convey this idea effectively. The protagonist Othello was characterised as a general, a man who has high social standards, ration al, logical and a military man who is known as the â€Å"Valiant† and â€Å"more fail than black†.This has shaped a strong comparison towards the end of the play when the Moor who is perplexed and enraged by jealousy for Desdemona, calling her â€Å"Impudent Strumpet! †. Othello is a man of reason, and it is not until the proof of the handkerchief does the audience see his decline into distrust. With Iago’s understanding of human nature and their characteristics, Iago was able to turn their honesty against themselves. Othello’s mind became so corrupted by Iago that Othello got lose of his mind â€Å"Lie with her? Lie on her?.. Handkerchief! – Oh devil!† that the once calm and honourable figure was unfortunately lost to the â€Å"green eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on†.Shakespeare uses imagery to describe jealousy as a monster, effectively highlighted the destructive nature of jealousy. In a different form the f ilm â€Å"O† also represents the theme of jealousy effectively. Tim Blake Nelson conveys jealousy effectively through techniques such as super imposition, a variety of non diegetic (Verdi’s opera representing tragedy at the opening scene of doves) and a range of different angled camera shots to convey his theme of jealousy.The composer utilizes the popular medium of cinema as well as the use of colloquial language, slangs and profanities to suit his contemporary adolescent audiences. Oden having similar characteristics to Othello is naive and easily trusting who fall into the deception of Hugo. The use of non diegetic sounds as well as superimposition was imposed to symbolise jealousy. Tim Blake Nelson used such technique in the â€Å"willow† scene, the lyrics â€Å"Even the sun goes down Heroes eventually die† are all forecasts of the tragic death of Desi.The sex scene when Oden looks into the mirror and saw Mike’s face looking straight back at hi m smiling â€Å"evilly† gives the audience a look into Oden’s mind of jealousy and an indication of corruption of Oden’s mind. Iago is a success model in reflecting the theme â€Å"illusion verses reality†. Shakespeare employs techniques such as soliloquies and dramatic irony to effectively present the theme to his audience. In the beginning of the play, audiences are quickly known the â€Å"devil† of the story is Iago. Deception than arises in Othello when the protagonist constantly referred Iago as â€Å"the honest Iago†.However the audience is aware that Iago is indeed not honest at all, from quotes â€Å"I am not what I am† and â€Å"In following him I follow but myself† is an indication of the double-faced Iago. Iago is seen as the most loyal friend to Othello, Iago helped Othello to â€Å"prove† the unfaithfulness of Desdemona and evidenced Othello being cuckold by Desdemona. The effective use of asides creates dra matic irony for the audiences as Othello’s naivety and trust in Iago is evident. These scenes effectively conveys the theme of illusion vs reality as Iago creates the â€Å"illusion† of being Othello’s honest friend.In comparison to â€Å"O†, Nelson also used characterisation and dramatic irony in shaping the theme illusion verses reality. However techniques differs greatly between the two text in order to suit its audiences. In â€Å"O†, Iago was being further conveyed through the character Hugo, who is a teenager boy and craves for everyone’s attention. â€Å"All my life, I always wanted to fly† is a voice over at both opening and closing of the movie indicating Hugo wanting to success and will be able to receive attention from his father and friends. Dramatic irony has been effectively used to engage audiences to reflect upon the nature of illusion versus reality.The conversation between Michael and Hugo, when Michael asked Hugo fo r advices about reputation. Hugo replied quickly â€Å"Like who gives a fuck about reputation, the only person you have to answer is yourself†, this quote is not only an indication of Hugo being a true Machiavellian villain, but it also highlights the theme of reality vs illusion. Shakespeare focused on values in integrity and reputation however to suit the 21st audiences Tim Blake Nelson have focused more on popularity. Hugo appeared to be a trustworthy friend in the film to both Oden and Michael and this is a representation of illusion verses reality.Tim Blake Nelson effectively presents this thought through the use of dramatic irony and mis en scene throughout the movie similarly to Shakespeare’s Othello. Despite the time and space, both composer explored the basic humanity by using similar techniques however it differs greatly to suit its contemporary audiences. Shakespeare’s â€Å"Othello† used literacy devices such as dramatic irony and soliloquies instead Tim Blake Nelson structured his film â€Å"O† using popular medium of cinema along with pop and opera music to create his universal themes.

Chrysanthemums Literary Review – the Antagonist

Stephens 1 Jeff Stephens Kathleen Roddy ENGL 1102-208 7-20-2011 The Antagonist is Not Who You Would Think In â€Å"The Chrysanthemums† by John Steinbeck, the character’s conflicts are very obscure. The main character, Elisa, is in constant conflict with herself, which she projects onto her husband and the tinker. Though Elisa appears to be dissatisfied with her life, she has no way to change it, and she becomes increasingly crass as the story progresses. Although she appears to be the victim, she is the story’s antagonist.Steinbeck describes different moods in relation to the fog and rain through the use of simile and metaphors. A specific use of this is when he writes about how the fog stretches across the roof of the valley, essentially closing it off like an iron kettle. He conveys, through the fog, that Elisa feels trapped and that only the rain can set her free, â€Å"fog and rain do not go together† (347). In his article, Gregory Palmerino takes note that the plowed fields represent Elisa’s fertile womanhood while the lack of rain would represent Henry’s sterile manhood.He points out that while Elisa’s character is well pronounced throughout; Henry’s character is â€Å"altogether absent† (165). Elisa’s feeling of being trapped and unattended is a predominant trait throughout the story. Henry seems to be a lot like myself, and I identify with him through his steering clear of confrontations by using compliments and jokes. Palmerino states that â€Å"The initial dialogue between Henry and Elisa sets the tone for subsequent encounters and reveals the couple’s fundamental problem: they do not know how to fight† (165).Steinbeck shows that Henry is avoiding getting into an argument with his wife when he says, â€Å"Well, it sure works with flowers† Stephens 2 after â€Å"her eyes sharpened† (348). Even though there is no way to know, I could feel a pause there- an uncomfortable silence- even if it was brief. Henry and Elisa seemed to know that continuing this particular conversation would lead to a fight, so she changed the subject. Immediately, it felt as if the mood had lightened and that they were on good terms again, but there was always something lingering behind their words.Elisa appears to be the instigator, by default, even though she also seems to want to avoid confrontation. During her interaction with the tinker, Elisa flirts with the man, trying to get his attentions. Palmerino points out that Elisa is trying to cause a confrontation by â€Å"sexually and inadequately prostrating herself in front of an implausible paramour† (166). The tinker is a poor man, he says so himself, and knows full well that he cannot get himself into the kind of situation that she intends.Elisa’s actions are impulsive and the sign of someone who is starved for the attentions of a lover. When Elisa practically throws herself at him, he immed iately switches back to his business manner and says, pitifully, â€Å"It’s nice, just like you say. Only when you don’t have no dinner, it aint† (Steinbeck 351). She immediately switched gears and offered him some work, but she knew that what she had done was wrong. She felt dirty, not just from the soil in her garden, but also from her actions. Unfortunately, Henry seems to be a fairly dense individual.While he can tell when a situation is going south, he doesn’t seem to be capable of understanding why the situation is worsening. Elisa constantly takes advantage of the fact that he is so thick-headed. She pokes and prods him at every turn, whether boasting about her planting skills or demanding to know what is meant by â€Å"nice† or â€Å"strong† (Steinbeck 352-353). Henry manages to worsen the situation by Stephens 3 joking about what he means, but Elisa breaks her composure at the idea that she would â€Å"break a calf over [her] knee, happy enough to eat it like a watermelon† (Steinbeck 353).Both Henry’s choice of words and his demeanor manage to make Elisa angry, because what she really wants is for him to tell her that she is beautiful. Henry, however, is embarrassed. When he gets embarrassed or feels like there is a fight coming, he resorts to humor. Elisa is already feeling apprehensive from everything that happened at the farm, but on their way into town, she sees the chrysanthemums that she gave to the tinker and notices that while he had no use for the flowers, he kept the pot.Palmerino writes that â€Å"Elisa cannot bring herself to acknowledge, much less confront, the reality of her situation; and instead of verbally or nonverbally expressing her outrage at the tinker’s insensitivity†¦she turns her back and avoids the overarching truth† (166). Palmerino is dead on in his description of her emotions at that moment. She is definitely outraged, but just like Henry, she is co nstantly avoiding confrontation. Her apprehension turns to sadness as she realizes that she is stuck in an unending loop of an unambiguous, non-committal, non-progressive, and non-confrontational (basically dead) relationship of a marriage.The development of the story leads me to believe that Henry tries to lighten the mood by joking around or complimenting her, but Elisa always seems to negate his efforts. Steinbeck describes a painfully awkward few moments in this story, where Elisa misinterprets the actions of others. In Japan, this kind of character is called a tsundere. (Tsun means to turn away in disgust and dere means to become lovey-dovey. ) Elisa is constantly acting like a tsundere when her husband compliments or pokes fun at her. She could confront Henry, but her non-committalStephens 4 attitude would result in nothing changing. She would probably just change the subject like she did at the beginning of the story. She, basically, is the root of the problem. Stephens 5 Wor ks Cited Palmerino, Gregory J. â€Å"Steinbeck's The Chrysanthemums. † Explicator 62. 3 (2004): 164-167. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 6 July 2011. Steinbeck, John. â€Å"The Chrysanthemums† Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing, 4th Compact Edition. Edgar V. Roberts, ed. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education. 2008: 347-353.

The Foundation for Great Essay Writing

The Foundation for Great Essay Writing On this episode, we look at the foundation of a great essay and some tips for writing one. The topics we cover are:First, how to organize your thoughts in a coherent way. Without this skill, it is difficult for any student to earn higher degrees and succeed in their career, regardless of the field they are in. If your essay is illogical in its organization, your readers will be far less likely to follow what youve written to determine your knowledge of the topic. Basically, your essay will demonstrate very clearly whether you are a credible source or not.Second, we look at how to show your knowledge of what you are writing about, and how to conduct the needed research. Essentially, this reflects the amount of work you put into your studies. Professors and admissions committees want to know that you are willing to put in the effort to learn and achieve success in your academic pursuits, and this is impossible without carefully and critically researching various topics.Third, we discus s the ability to conduct intelligent debate. The foundation of intelligent debate is based on knowing all sides of the issue and knowing how to express your opinion without alienating audiences who might disagree. A student might know his or her topic well, but without the ability to present their knowledge of the topic respectfully, their credibility and expertise are questioned.Fourth, we look at the need for excellent grammar and writing skills, since these skills are necessary for the effective communication of ideas.And finally, we discuss the importance of being mindful when meeting a deadline. Sometimes, the most well-written essays get rejected or receive a low score, simply because a deadline was not met.

UK Inflation essays

UK Inflation essays Macroeconomics History, causes and costs of Inflation in the UK economy Before starting to explain inflation it is necessary first to define it. Inflation can be described as a positive rate of growth in the general price level of goods and services. It is measured as a percentage increase over time in a price index such as the GDP deflator or the Retail Price Index. The RPI is a basket of over six hundred different goods and services, weighted according to the percentage of how much household income they take up. There are two measurements of this: the headline rate (includes all the items in the basket) and the underlying rate (RPIX) which excludes mortgage interest payments. It is the RPIX which is used more often in this country, as a feature of the UK when compared to the rest of Europe is a very high proportion of owner/occupier homeowners. This means that many people have mortgages, and as such, changes in interest rates (to control inflation) can artificially raise the headl ine rate. Causes of Inflation There are two main causes of inflation, 1) Demand Pull Inflation This is where the total demand for goods and services in the economy exceeds the total supply. This happens after excessive growth in aggregate demand, and creates an inflationary gap. Excess demand in the economy drives up prices, and high prices mean that Suppliers want to produce more units of their product in order to make more money. To supply more, they must increase their production capacity, and the easiest way to do this in the short run is to increase the amount of labour they employ. This means that they are paying more wages, so people will have more disposable income, and hence there is more demand in the economy. Demand pull inflation is often monetary in origin: when the money supply grows faster than the ability of the economy to supply goods and services. This concept is explained by the Quantity Theory of Money. The quantity theory of money hold...

NexGen (New air traffic control system) Research Paper

NexGen (New air traffic control system) - Research Paper Example y to fly closer together, take more straightforward courses and keep away from delays brought about via air terminal "stacking" as planes holdup for an open runway. To execute this Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will embrace a boundless change of the whole United States air transportation framework. This conversion has the point of decreasing gridlock, both in the sky and at the air terminals. In 2003, the United States’ Congress formed the Joint Planning and Development Office (JPDO) to arrange and direction the advancement of the framework. However, the main aim of this paper is to examine the current ATC system and the issues requiring the upgrade to NexGen (Next Generation Air Transportation System). As a manager, the Issue is flight and air terminal deferrals cost business voyagers time and cash, and bring about lost business opportunities and postponed meetings. Business voyagers endorse NexGen to reduce the number of flight postponements and keep the air transportation safe. Confronting intense tenacity to diminish the government debt and budget deficiencies, the Administration and Congress will make troublesome project funding cuts. Similarly, agencies will abide by the necessities focused around restricted financing. Full NexGen funding is vital and ought not to be decreased (General Dynamics Awarded FAA SE2020 Systems Engineering Contract to Support NextGen Modernization, 2010). In view of 1940s period radar, the countrys Air Traffic Control (ATC) framework is slow and inefficient. In the next few years, more travelers and aircrafts will stream an effectively over-burden framework. With close to 720 million travelers in 2011, FAA ventures a billion travelers by 2024, expanding chokepoints and flight delays in as of now intensely congested airspace. Without proceeding with modernization, the system will bare gridlock in extreme climate conditions and business voyagers will have costly flights. Moreover, Ten years into the project, new

Tetralogy of Fallot Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Tetralogy of Fallot - Research Paper Example Due to the mixing of deoxygenated and oxygenated blood in the left ventricles through the ventricular septal defect, there is a low oxygen supply to other parts of the body. This, coupled with blood flow through the aorta due to the obstruction at the pulmonary valves leads to a distribution of blood that is completely devoid of oxygen. Consequently, there is cyanosis right from birth or within the infantile stage. The patients also suffer from heart mummers ranging from impeccable to very loud mummers (Graham, Volpe, Barker, Economy & Valente, 2013). The patient also presents with difficulty in breathing, dyspnea on exertion, retarded physical development and growth, clubbing of both toes and fingers and lastly polycythemia. Children are suffering from this condition; sometimes experience Tet spells that are as a result of the continued circulation of the desaturated blood due to the increased resistance of blood flow to the lungs. Tet spells are manifest with cyanosis, which leads to syncope and brain death or injury depending on the duration of hypoxia. Most children squat when experience the Tet sell with increased resistance of the vessels which allows for a reversal of the shunt temporarily. There are a number of other conditions to consider while evaluating a patient suspected to be suffering from tetralogy of the fallot. Some of them include pulmonary stenosis, acute anemia, bacteremia, stenosis, cardiogenic shock, pneumothorax, pediatric pneumonia and Patent Ductus arteriosus. With delayed management of the tetralogy of the Fallot, there is hypertrophy of the right ventricle that is as a result of the resistance of the right ventricle and the ventricular septal defect. This eventually progresses to dilated cardiomyopathy that begins with the right heart and then the left side of the heart. According to