Observation seasonal variation of intraocular pressure in young healthy volunteers

AIM: To investigate fluctuation of intraocular pressure (IOP) and seasonal variation of 24-hour IOP during one year in healthy participants METHODS: Totally 13 young healthy volunteers participated in this study. IOP was measured with Canon TX-20 at about 8:00-9:00 a.m. from Monday to Friday every week for a whole year. They also underwent 24-hour IOP examination every three months. Blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, humidity, atmosphere pressure, sunshine duration and other environment parameters were recorded. RESULTS: The yearly fluctuation curve showed IOP in the summer months were lower than other seasons. In the multivariable generalized estimating equation analysis, IOP had a negative correlation with both temperature and sunshine duration (P<0.05). There also was a seasonal effect on 24-hour IOP. However, all intraclass correlation coefficients values of minimum, maximum and average of the 24-hour IOP and each individual IOP were less than 0.30. CONCLUSION: IOP is trend to be higher in cold days than warm days. IOP have negative association with both environmental temperature and duration of sunshine. On a season-to-season basis, 24-hour IOP is not highly reproducible in healthy volunteers.

Effects of Season on Donor and Recipient Cows and Calf Performance from Birth to Weaning in Embryo Transfer Programs in the Tropics

The aim of this study was to assess the seasonal effect of an embryo transfer program in the tropics on the donor response, recipient reproductive performance and calf growth from birth to weaning. This study included five-year records from 145 donors, 1149 embryo transfers (ET) and 609 in calves. The effect of the season (dry or wet) was evaluated at the time of embryo flushing, embryo transfer and birth of the calves. There was a seasonal effect on the yield and quality of the embryos. The number of nonfertilized and transferable good quality embryos increased in the wet season. For the recipients, the probability of pregnancy after an ET decreased by 6% for each year of the dam’s age. However, no seasonal effect was found when comparing ET calves with their control group (natural mating—NM), nevertheless, weaning weight was associated with birth body weight, treatment, sex of the calf, season at birth, year of treatment, and dam’s age. Calves born by NM had lower average daily gain (ADG), and male calves registered higher gains than females. Likewise, calves born during the rainy season had lower ADG compared with calves born during the dry season. In conclusion, this study shows that seasonal effect is more apparent in donor and calf performance than in the recipients.

Invasive slipper limpets Crepidula fornicata act like a sink, rather than source, of Vibrio spp.

A large knowledge gap exists regarding the disease profile and pathologic condition of the invasive, non-native, slipper limpet Crepidula fornicata. To help address this, we performed a yearlong health survey across two sites in South Wales UK, subtidal Swansea Bay and intertidal Milford Haven. In total, 1,800 limpets were screened systematically for haemolymph bacterial burdens using both general and vibrio-selective growth media (TSA +2% NaCl and TCBS, respectively), haemolymph (blood) inspection using microscopy, a PCR-based assay targeting Vibrio spp., and multi-tissue histology. Over 99% of haemolymph samples contained cultivable bacterial colony forming units, and 83% of limpets tested positive for the presence of vibrios via PCR (confirmed via Sanger sequencing). Vibrio presence did not vary greatly across sites, yet a strong temporal (seasonal) effect was observed - significantly higher bacterial loads during the summer. Binomial logistic regression models revealed larger (older) limpets were more likely to harbour vibrios, and the growth of bacteria on TCBS was a key predictor for PCR-based vibrio detection. Histological assessment of >340 animals revealed little evidence of inflammation, sepsis, or immune reactivity despite the gross bacterial numbers. We contend that slipper limpets are not susceptible to bacteriosis at either site surveyed, or do not to harbour vibrios known to be pathogenic to humans. The lack of susceptibility to local pathogenic bacteria may explain, in part, the invasion success of C. fornicata across this region.

Effect of Leaf Area Size on the Main Composition in Grape Must of Three Varieties of Vitis vinifera L. in an Organic Vineyard

The concentrations of sugars and acids are very important for the quality and the stability of wines. In addition, the proportion of the two main acids, i.e., tartaric acid and malic acid, is a significant factor for wine taste and stability. Over a period of three seasons in an organic vineyard, the influence of leaf area on the concentration of total soluble solids (TSS), pH, titratable acidity (TA), the concentration of tartaric acid and malic acid, and their mutual proportions were monitored. Vines of three varieties (‘Rhine Riesling’, ‘Pinot Gris’, ‘Sauvignon Blanc’) were treated using three different treatments (proportion of leaves removed 0%, 40%, and 70%). All varieties exhibited positive correlations between leaf area and TSS. In terms of relationships between TA and leaf area, ‘Sauvignon Blanc’ was the most sensitive variety. The highest differences between the individual variants were found for this variety. The tartaric to malic acid ratio displayed a significant seasonal effect, which was mostly more important than leaf area reduction. The size of the leaf area mainly affected the accumulation of sugars in the grapes, while content and ratio of acids was not affected so significantly. Therefore, leaf area regulation is one of the ways to optimize the composition of grapes in organic vineyards.

Indirect estimate of in loco moisture via normative mineralogy calculation with correction of seasonal effect on itabirite (banded iron formation) of the Pico complex, Quadrilátero Ferrífero, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Moisture is a critical variable in iron-ore processing, handling and transportation. During beneficiation, excessive moisture may lead to screen and chute clogging. In transportation, moisture values above transportable moisture limit may cause cargo instabilities, especially in regard to vessels. Moisture is a non-stationary variable that depends on spatial and time distributions. Therefore, classical estimate methods such as ordinary kriging are not appropriate to calculate moisture values. Here, we present an extension of the Normative Mineralogy Calculation to indirectly estimate moisture, considering seasonal influence. This study in based on three iron-ore mines, Galinheiro, Pico and Sapecado. They are located in the Quadrilátero Ferrífero of Minas Gerais, Brazil, a world-class iron-ore district. The method proposed herein provides useful information that can be applied elsewhere. Our results indicate that compact ores show low moisture values with little seasonal influence, while soft ores and canga (iron-rich duricrust) are strongly influenced seasonally due to higher porosity and greater capacity of retaining water in the crystal structure of minerals, such as goethite. Moisture variations may exceed 2% along the year. Such variations are enough to preclude the beneficiation of certain iron ores during the rainy season. For this reason, moisture has been regarded as an essential variable in short-term mining. Article Highlights Moisture is a critical variable in iron-ore processing, handling and transportation. Moisture depends on spatial and time distributions; hence classical methods are not appropriate to quantitatively estimate it. This study proposes an indirectly estimate of moisture considering seasonal influence. Compact iron ores are little influenced seasonally, while soft iron ores and canga (duricrust) are strongly affected by the rainy season due to their higher porosity and greater capacity of retaining water. The seasonal effect on moisture is an essential variable that must be consider to better effectiveness of iron-ore mining sequencing and beneficiation.

Effect of Season and Parity on Reproduction Performance of Iberian Sows Bred with Duroc Semen

The Iberian pig is an autochthonous breed from the Iberian Peninsula highly valued for its meat. The sows are often bred as Iberian × Duroc crossings for increased efficiency. Since sow parity and season affect the reproductive performance, we evaluated two-year records from a commercial farrow-to-finish farm (live, stillborn, and mummified piglets after artificial insemination, AI). A total of 1293 Iberian sows were inseminated with semen from 57 boars (3024 AI). The effects of parity (gilts, 1, 2–4, 5–10, and >10 farrowings) and season were analyzed by linear mixed-effects models (LME). The data were fitted to cosinor models to investigate seasonal effects within parity groups. The effects of maximum daily temperature (MDT) and day length change (DLC) during spermatogenesis, pre-AI, and post-AI periods were analyzed with LME. The 2–4 group was the optimal one for parity. A seasonal effect was evident between spring–summer (lower fertility/prolificacy) and autumn–winter (higher). Cosinor showed that the seasonal drop in reproductive performance occurs earlier in Iberian sows than in other breeds, more evident in gilts. MDT negatively affected performance in all periods and DLC in spermatogenesis and pre-AI. These results are relevant for the improvement of Iberian sows’ intensive farming.

The Suinfort® Semen Supplement Counters Seasonal Infertility in Iberian Sows

Suinfort®, a commercial semen supplement demonstrated to increase fertility and litter size in commercial sows, was tested to improve reproductive performance in Iberian sows. A total of 1430 Iberian sows were artificially inseminated (AI) with semen from Duroc boars and assigned by parity to receive the seminal additive Suinfort® containing 2 IU oxytocin, 5 µg lecirelin, and 2 mM caffeine (SF; n = 1713 AI), or to serve as non-supplemented controls (CON; n = 2625 AI). CON showed a lower fertility comparing to winter for spring (p = 0.001) and summer (p < 0.001); summer was lower than autumn (p = 0.012). SF removed this seasonal effect (p > 0.05). Fertility was significantly higher for SF sows during summer (p = 0.025) and autumn (p = 0.004). Total born, live-born, stillborn, and mummified piglets did not differ between CON and SF but were impacted by the season, with total and live-born decreasing in summer compared with autumn (p < 0.001) and winter (p = 0.005). In conclusion, seminal supplementation with Suinfort® improved the fertility of Iberian sows during periods of seasonal infertility.

Temporal variability of soil fertility indicators and sampling periods in Québec

An inadequate soil sampling time leads to difficulties in interpreting soil tests, to incorrect recommendations for soil amendments and fertilizers, and to inappropriate environmental protection restrictions. Soil samples may be collected from agricultural fields before, during or after the crop growth period. Since the time of soil sample collection can affect soil tests results, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of sampling time on measurements representativity of 15 fertility indicators in two fields located in La Pocatière (Québec, Canada). The soils were of fine (G1) and medium (G2) textural groups and were sampled weekly for 33 weeks per year during four years. Data analyses included: descriptive statistics, time series decomposition, and time autocorrelation function (ACF). Since results of these analyses showed a clear seasonal effect only for Mehlich-3 extracted phosphorus (PM3), soil phosphorus saturation index (SPS) for both G1 and G2 soils, and for pHwater for G1 only, we recommend that the sampling calendar should be restricted to the first five weeks of spring (until the end of May) and to the entire fall period (starting in early September). Also, the temporal autocorrelation was four weeks on average. This implies that, for an initial year, whichever date is chosen for the sampling, the following annual sampling should be done within a four-week time window (i.e., two weeks before until two weeks after the initial sampling date). Time series are an important element to consider in selecting a representative sampling period for soil fertility indicators.