Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (p. [301]-321). Also available in print.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 25-28).

Thesis--M.D., University of Hong Kong, 1977. / Typescript.

published_or_final_version / Medicine / Master / Doctor of Medicine

No description available.

Gonadotropins were used to stimulate luteal function, as determined by progesterone secretion, in both in vitro and in vivo systems. LH and hCG were capable of significantly stimulating progesterone secretion in the in vivo systems. Stimulation of progesterone secretion by hCG was greater than that for LH. PMSG failed to increase progesterone production at any level of treatment. hCG was also used to stimulate progesterone production by the corpus luteum in mares during early gestation. hCG administration resulted in a significant (p < 0.10) increase in peripheral progesterone levels in treatment mares through day 14 post-estrus. Peripheral progesterone concentrations were also higher in hCG treated mares for days 15 through 30 post-estrus in mares that conceived. hCG treatment had no influence on anterior pituitary release of LH.

Στην παρούσα εργασία θα διερευνήσουμε τους προσδιοριστικούς παράγοντες της γονιμότητας των μεταναστριών στην Ελλάδα. Για του σκοπούς της ανάλυσης μας αντλούμε ατομικά στοιχεία από την Απογραφή-2001 για μετανάστριες ηλικίας 15-49 ετών που είναι εγκατεστημένες στην Ελλάδα. Αρχικά, εκτιμώνται εμπειρικά υποδείγματα γονιμότητας για το σύνολο των γυναικών ηλικίας 15-49 με σκοπό να προσδιοριστεί η σχετική θέση των μεταναστριών έναντι των γηγενών γυναικών. Στη συνέχεια εκτιμώνται αντίστοιχα υποδείγματα για μετανάστριες και γηγενείς, ξεχωριστά, λαμβάνοντας υπόψη μια ευρύτερη δέσμη ατομικών και άλλων μεταναστευτικών χαρακτηριστικών, όπως τα έτη διαμονής στην Ελλάδα. Επίσης εφαρμόζονται υποδείγματα γραμμικού διαχωρισμού των επιδράσεων ώστε να προσδιοριστεί η επίδραση των παρατηρούμενων και μη-παρατηρούμενων παραγόντων στη διαμόρφωση των διαφορών στα επίπεδα γονιμότητας μεταξύ μεταναστριών και γηγενών. Σύμφωνα με τα αποτελέσματα οι μετανάστριες εμφανίζονται να έχουν μεγαλύτερο αριθμό παιδιών σε σχέση με τις γηγενείς. Το εύρημα αυτό βρίσκεται σε συμφωνία με αντίστοιχα ευρήματα από τη σχετική διεθνή βιβλιογραφία. Όπως αναμενόταν η γονιμότητα των μεταναστριών συσχετίζεται άμεσα και με διάφορα μεταναστευτικά χαρακτηριστικά όπως τα έτη διαμονής, η χώρα προέλευσης και η γονιμότητα της χώρας προέλευσης. Τέλος να σημειωθεί ότι η διαφορά στη γονιμότητα μεταξύ μεταναστριών και γηγενών φαίνεται σε μεγάλο βαθμό να ερμηνεύεται από την διαφορετική κατανομή των παρατηρούμενων χαρακτηριστικών (ηλικία και γάμος) μεταξύ μεταναστριών και γηγενών. / -

No description available.

Neutrophils ordinarily infiltrate the female reproductive tract subsequent to mating or artificial insemination, resulting in reduced fertility. Recently, it was demonstrated that equine neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) entangled sperm in these DNA-rich structures, interfering with their normal transport through the female reproductive tract. Seminal plasma (SP) or proteinaceous extracts from SP inhibited sperm-neutrophil binding and specifically degraded sperm-activated NETs, without suppressing bactericidal activity of neutrophils. Fertility-associated antigen (FAA), a 31 kDa naturally occurring heparin-binding protein (HBP) produced by the accessory sex glands, has been shown to bind to sperm and potentiate heparin-induced capacitation. FAA shares 87% identity with DNase I-like family members, and contains two internal DNase-I-like peptide motifs. The purpose of this study was to determine if a recombinant form of FAA displayed capacitating effects associated with the native protein and to determine whether rFAA displayed DNase activity similar to SP or SP protein extracts to inhibit sperm-neutrophil binding.

Nitrogen fertilization has the potential to significantly affect yield, nutrient concentration and removal and overall stand longevity of C4 grasses grown for bioenergy production. While most studies report that these grasses need little to no fertilizer inputs to maximize yield, no specific recommendations have been given for fertilizer requirements across a wide range of C4 perennial grass species, cultivars, harvest timings and N application rates. Two field trials were established in the summer of 2008 in Ridgetown and Elora, Ontario to compare 4 Miscanthus (M. sinensis and M. sacchariflorus crosses; Nagara-116 and Amuri-114, and Miscanthus x giganteus; M1 Select and Polish), 2 switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.; Cave-in-rock and Shelter) and 2 big bluestem varieties (Andropogon gerardii Vitman; Prairie view and Southlow), 4 nitrogen fertilization rates (0, 40, 80, and 160 kg N ha-1) and 2 harvest timings (fall vs. spring harvest). Plots were harvested in the fall of 2009 and spring and fall of 2010. Yield response to N fertilization varied by location, species and year. In general, increasing N fertilization rates generated an increased yield response in all tested species. Different rates of N fertilization resulted in variable responses to N, P and K tissue concentrations and removal in switchgrass and Miscanthus. Tissue N concentrations and removal both increased with added N fertilization at both locations. In most cases N removal was the highest at the highest N application rate. Nitrogen concentrations were highest in the leaves and seed heads across species, N rates and locations. P and K concentrations and removal with increasing N fertilization in the whole plant and in individual plant parts did not follow clear trends in either Miscanthus or switchgrass in both locations. Delaying harvest to spring reduced yield at both locations by 35-42% and 62-65% for Miscanthus and switchgrass, respectively. Yield losses by delaying harvesting to the spring were increased with higher rates of N fertilization. Delaying harvesting decreased N, P and K concentration and removal in most grasses and locations.