FvWRKY50 is an important gene that regulates both vegetative growth and reproductive growth in strawberry

The WRKY transcription factors play important roles in plant growth and resistance,but only a few members have been identified in strawberry.Here we identified a WRKY transcription factor,FvWRKY50,in diploid strawberry which played essential roles in strawberry vegetative growth,and reproductive growth.Knocking out FvWRKY50 by genome editing accelerated flowering time and leaf senescence but delayed anthocyanin accumulation in fruit.Further analysis showed that FvWRKY50 acted as a transcriptional repressor to negatively regulate the expression of flowering-and leaf senescence-related genes,including FvFT2,FvCO,FvFT3,and FvSAUR36.Notably,FvWRKY50 directly upregulated the expression of FvCHI and FvDFR by binding their promoter under normal conditions,but at low temperature FvWRKY50 was phosphorylated by FvMAPK3 and then induced protein degradation by ubiquitination,delaying anthocyanin accumulation.In addition,the homozygous mutant of FvWRKY50 was smaller while the biallelic mutant showed normal size.These new findings provide important clues for us to further reveal the regulatory mechanisms of strawberry growth and fruit ripening.

Dietary supplementation of laminarin improves the reproductive performance of sows and the growth of suckling piglets

Background Maternal nutrition is essential in keeping a highly efficient production system in the pig industry.Laminarin has been shown to improve antioxidant capacity,reduce the inflammatory response,and favor the homeostasis of intestinal microbiota.However,the effect of dietary supplementation of laminarin on the reproductive performance of sows and the growth of suckling offspring remains unknown.Methods A total of 40 Landrace×Yorkshire multiparous sows on d 85 of gestation,similar in age,body weight(BW),parity and reproductive performance,were randomly divided into four dietary treatments with 10 sows per treatment,receiving a control diet(basal pregnancy or lactating diets)and a basal diet supplemented with 0.025%,0.05%and 0.10%laminarin,respectively.The experiment lasted from d 85 of gestation to d 21 of lactation.Results Laminarin supplementation linearly increased number born alive per litter(P=0.03),average daily feed intake(ADFI,P<0.01),and total milk yield of sows during the lactation of 1–21 d(P=0.02).Furthermore,maternal laminarin supplementation increased the average daily gain(ADG)of piglets while tending to reduce the culling and death rate before weaning.In addition,alterations to the composition of colostrum and milk,as well as to serum inflammatory cytokines and immunoglobulins of sows were observed.The fecal microbiota profile of sows supported the improvement of reproductive performance in sows and the growth performance in suckling offspring.Conclusions Dietary supplementation of laminarin during late pregnancy and lactation could significantly improve reproductive performance of sows and growth performance of piglets.

Sexual Dimorphism and Female Reproductive Characteristics in the Hainan Water Skink(Tropidophorus hainanus)from Hainan,South China

We studied sexual dimorphism in body size and shape and female reproductive characteristics in the Hainan Water Skink(Tropidophorus hainanus)from Hainan,South China.In our sample the largest female and male were 61.1 and 55.2 mm snout-vent length(SVL),respectively.The mean SVL was larger in adult females(52.0 mm)than in adult males(48.3 mm).Juveniles were sexually dimorphic in head length but not in other examined morphological variables.Adult males were longer in head length and shorter in abdomen length and fore-limb length than adult females of the same SVL.Ontogenetic shifts in sexual dimorphism in body shape were evident,as revealed by the fact that morphological differences between the sexes were more pronounced in adults than in juveniles.Females produced a single litter of 3–6 offspring per season from early August to early September.Litter size,litter mass and offspring(neonate)mass were positively related to female SVL.Neonate mass was independent of relative fecundity.From the above findings we draw three main conclusions.First,females are the larger sex in T.hainanus,and sexual dimorphism in body shape is more pronounced in adults than in juveniles.Second,larger female T.hainanus produce more and larger offspring and thus heavier litters than smaller ones.Third,the offspring size-number trade-off does is not evident in T.hainanus.

Correlation of personality with individual reproductive success in shrub-nesting birds depends on their life history style

Two questions in the research of animal personality—whether there is a correlation between a personality trait and individual reproductive success,and what is the genetic basis underlying a personality trait—remain unresolved.We addressed these two questions in three shrub-nesting birds,the Azure-winged Magpie(Cyanopica cyanus,AM),White-collared Blackbird(Turdus albocinctus,WB),and Brown-cheeked Laughingthrush(Trochalopteron henrici,BL).The personality type of an individual was first identified according to its response to a territorial intruder.Then,we compared the fleeing distance,breeding parameters,and differential expressed genes(DEGs) in the brain transcriptome between bold and shy breeders.In the three species,bold breeders exhibited more aggressiveness towards an intruder of their territory than did shy breeders.The reproductive success of bold breeders was significantly higher than that of shy breeders in AM but not in WB and BL.The three species shared one DEG,crabp1,which was up-regulated in bold relative to in shy individuals.By regulating the expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone,higher crabp1 gene expression can decrease cellular response to retinoic acid.Therefore,bold individuals are insensitive to external stresses and able to exhibit more aggressiveness to intruders than their shier counterparts.Aggressiveness is beneficial to bold individuals in AM but not in WB and BL because the former could evoke neighbors to make the same response of defending against intruders but the latter could not.Although a personality trait may have the same genetic basis across species,its correlation with reproductive success depends largely on the life history style of a species.

The Effects of Age and Ejaculatory Abstinence on Semen Quality and Reproductive Hormones in Africa and the Middle East

The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the effects of male age and ejaculatory abstinence on semen parameters and reproductive hormones among men residing in Africa and the Middle East. A total of 70,142 semen analysis results were analysed and grouped according to the age intervals (16 - 20, 21 - 30, 31 - 40, 41 - 50, 51 - 60, >60) and ejaculatory abstinence (<2 days, 2 - 5 days and >5 days). Semen parameters i.e. volume, concentration, progressive motility, total progressively motile count, morphology, total normal sperm count, DNA fragmentation, viability, sORP, normed sORP were specifically evaluated. Additionally, for each age interval, reproductive hormones i.e. estradiol, luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, testosterone and prolactin were evaluated. Semen volume, total progressively motile count, sperm morphology and total normal sperm count constantly decrease significantly after the age of 30 years. Sperm concentration started declining significantly after the age of 50 years. There was a constant age- related increase in number of spermatozoa with damaged DNA. sORP constantly increased up to 60 years. Furthermore, constantage-related decreases in FSH, serum testosterone and prolact in were observed from patients aged between 16 years and 60 years. Semen volume, sperm concentration, progressive motility and normal morphology were significantly higher in patients having > 5 days of abstinence. Patients having > 5 days of abstinence had the lowest normed sORP. Male age significantly affects sperm parameters and reproductive hormones in fertile and infertile men residing in Africa and the Middle East. Prolonged abstinence days provides better semen quality.

Reproductive biology of Hemitripterus villosus in the Bohai Strait,China

To understand the reproductive biology of Hemitripterus villosus in the Bohai Strait,and fill the key knowledge gap in verifying reproductive seasonality and documenting gonadotropin dependent reproductive cycle of this species,a year-round detail study was conducted for the first time.In total,263 individuals were randomly sampled off the coasts of the Bohai Strait.Results show that and the overall female-to-male ratio(1.35:1)did not differ significantly from the 1:1 sex ratio.The length and weight relationship for females and males were regressed,depicting an isometric growth for both sexes.Four reproductive phases of the complete gonadotropin dependent reproductive cycle in both sexes were identified.The monthly variations in the gonadosomatic and hepatosomatic indexes for both sexes further indicated that this species spawns a single batch of eggs per year and the peak spawning period is from October to December.The average diameter of eggs ranged from 2.10 to 3.57 mm.The length at first sexual maturity was 224.87 mm for females and 241.26 mm for males.Significant positive relationships between absolute fecundity and fish size,and also gonadal weight were observed.H.villosus from the Bohai Strait exhibited smaller body size,smaller egg diameter,lower gonadosomatic index,lower absolute fecundity,and higher population extinction risk than the other populations’studied previously.Our findings contribute to understanding the status of this isolated westernmost population,and we emphasize that more efficient protection measures for the species and control measures are urgently required to improve the coastal environment in the Bohai Strait.

Genome-wide SNP markers provided insights into the reproductive strategy and genetic diversity of the green tide causative species Ulva prolifera in China

Ulva prolifera is the causative species of the annually occurring large-scale green tides in China since 2007.Its specific biological features on reproductivity strategies,as well as intra-species genetic diversity,are still largely unknown,especially at the genome level,despite their importance in understanding the formation and outbreak of massive green tides.In the present study,the restriction site-associated DNA genotyping approach(2b-RAD)was adopted to identify the genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)of 54 individual thalli including samples collected from Subei Shoal in 2019 and Qingdao coast from 2019 to 2021.SNPs genotype results revealed that most of the thalli in 2019 and 2020 were haploid gametophytes,while only half of the thalli were gametophytes in 2021,indicating flexibility in the reproductive strategies for the formation of the green tides among different years and the dominance of asexual and vegetative reproductive mode for the floating period.Besides,population analysis was conducted,and it revealed a very low genetic diversity among samples from Subei Shoal and the Qingdao coast in the same year and a higher divergence among samples in different years.The results showed the efficiency of 2b-RAD in the exploration of SNPs in U.prolifera and provided the first genome-wide scale evidence for the origin of the large-scale green tides on the Qingdao coast.This study improved our understanding of the reproductive strategy and genetic diversity of the green tide causative species and will help further reveal the biological causes of the green tide in China.

Breast cancer awareness in reproductive women in the low-and middle-income countries:a scoping review

Objective:This study aimed to assess breast cancer(BC)awareness among reproductive women in low-and middle-income countries(LMICs),identify influencing factors,and propose feasible interventions or programs.Methods:We followed a 5-step process using a modified version of Arksey and O’Malley framework methodology.A comprehensive search was conducted on the Embase,PubMed,and CINAHL electronic databases for literature published within 10 years(from 2012 to 2022).Results:Thirty-three papers published between 2012 and 2020,spanning 18 countries,were included.Of these,45.6%described a good level of knowledge,while 24.2%reported that women at reproductive ages had good awareness.Twelve influencing factors were identified in 3 categories:socio-demographic(family history,personal history,marital status,age,religion,income status,living place,and occupation),personal(self-efficacy,education,and perceived level),and external(advertisements promoting awareness).Educational programs were recommended in most(>72%)of the included studies.Conclusions:While most studies reported high levels of knowledge and awareness,some found low prevalence among certain groups.Factors affecting knowledge and awareness were classified into socio-demographic,personal,and external categories,with socio-demographic factors such as age,education,income,and marital status being the most frequently cited.The studies recommended implementing educational programs,health prevention strategies,and social interventions to increase BC knowledge and awareness.

Smart Approaches to Efficient Text Mining for Categorizing Sexual Reproductive Health Short Messages into Key Themes

To promote behavioral change among adolescents in Zambia, the National HIV/AIDS/STI/TB Council, in collaboration with UNICEF, developed the Zambia U-Report platform. This platform provides young people with improved access to information on various Sexual Reproductive Health topics through Short Messaging Service (SMS) messages. Over the years, the platform has accumulated millions of incoming and outgoing messages, which need to be categorized into key thematic areas for better tracking of sexual reproductive health knowledge gaps among young people. The current manual categorization process of these text messages is inefficient and time-consuming and this study aims to automate the process for improved analysis using text-mining techniques. Firstly, the study investigates the current text message categorization process and identifies a list of categories adopted by counselors over time which are then used to build and train a categorization model. Secondly, the study presents a proof of concept tool that automates the categorization of U-report messages into key thematic areas using the developed categorization model. Finally, it compares the performance and effectiveness of the developed proof of concept tool against the manual system. The study used a dataset comprising 206,625 text messages. The current process would take roughly 2.82 years to categorise this dataset whereas the trained SVM model would require only 6.4 minutes while achieving an accuracy of 70.4% demonstrating that the automated method is significantly faster, more scalable, and consistent when compared to the current manual categorization. These advantages make the SVM model a more efficient and effective tool for categorizing large unstructured text datasets. These results and the proof-of-concept tool developed demonstrate the potential for enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of message categorization on the Zambia U-report platform and other similar text messages-based platforms.

Studies on Vegetative and Reproductive Ecology of Paris polyphylla Smith: A Vulnerable Medicinal Plant

Paris polyphylla Smith is an important medicinal plant that is considered vulnerable in many parts of the world. The species exhibits poor adaptability to changed environment and susceptible to climatic conditions for reproductive vigor. During the present study the species was studied in four different natural niches as well as synthetic habitats to check the adaptability to artificial conditions, its morphological and physiological characters and its interaction in its community so that conservation strategies could be worked out. The present study indicates that P. polyphylla exhibits healthy growth as well as reproduction in undisturbed area with canopy covers over 80%. The plant grows in well-drained rich humus soil and grows well with certain key associated species such as Quercus species, Taxus baccata, Aconitum species, Eupatorium adenophorum, Smilax species etc. Many plants were non-flowering and more than 60% were found non-flowering in its habitat during its flowering season in any particular year. There are clear morphological changes as the flowers stages from pre-fertilization to post-fertilization. Arrangement of anthers in two whorls shows a distinct and unique floral display. Light is an important factor during seed setting and less than 50% shade lowers the seed productivity very significantly. Predators such as slugs and snails are found on the plant. Urgent conservation and new innovative ways are necessary to propagate this economically important plant to ensure its continuity.

Crude Extracts of <i>Senna alata</i>(L.) Roxb. Mimics Plant Growth Hormones in Promotion of Vegetative and Reproductive Growth in <i>Celosia argentea</i>L.

The efficacy of crude extracts of Senna alata in the improvement of vegetative and reproductive growth in Celosia aregentea was investigated. Fresh leaves of S. alata were blended with a homogenizer in 1 litre of distilled water. The resultant green paste was filtered under suction. Different concentrations (75%, 50%, 40%, 30%, 25%, 12%, 10%, and 5%) were prepared from the 100% crude extract. Seeds of C. argentea were presoaked in these different concentrations including a control (0%) and planted out after 24 hours. Results obtained showed that seedling height, leaf area, dry weight and leaf area ratio were promoted and enhanced by presoaking seeds in the extract. At the end of the experimental period (six weeks), seedling height in 75% and 100% treatments were 109 ± 16.12 cm and 117 ± 19.32 cm, leaf area 128 ± 17.91 cm2 and 125 ± 18.12 cm2, dry weight 7.48 kg and 7.0 kg respectively. Seedlings raised from seeds presoaked in water (control) however, flowered earlier (8 weeks) than the treatments (10 weeks in 75% and 100%). Presoaking seeds of C. argentea in crude extracts of S. alata before planting is recommended for optimum production of the leafy vegetable. The procedure is cheap and easily implementable by resource-poor farmers who are the main growers of C. argentea.

Dietary supplementation of Macleaya cordata extract and Bacillus in combination improve laying performance by regulating reproductive hormones,intestinal microbiota and barrier function of laying hens

Background:This study aimed to investigate whether the combination of Macleaya cordata extract(MCE)and Bacil-lus could improve the laying performance and health of laying hens better.Methods:A total of 36029-week-old Jingbai laying hens were randomly divided into 4 treatments:control group(basal diet),MCE group(basal diet+MCE),Probiotics Bacillus Compound(PBC)group(basal diet+compound Bacil-lus),MCE+PBC group(basal diet+MCE+compound Bacillus).The feeding experiment lasted for 42 d.Results:The results showed that the laying rate and the average daily egg mass in the MCE+PBC group were significantly higher than those in the control group(P<0.05)and better than the MCE and PBC group.Combina-tion of MCE and Bacillus significantly increased the content of follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH)in the serum and up-regulated the expression of related hormone receptor gene(estrogen receptor-β,FSHR and luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor)in the ovary of laying hens(P<0.05).In the MCE+PBC group,the mRNA expressions of zonula occluden-1,Occludin and mucin-2 in jejunum was increased and the intestinal epithelial barrier detected by transmission electron microscopy was enhanced compared with the control group(P<0.05).In addition,compared with the control group,combination of MCE and Bacillus significantly increased the total antioxidant capacity and catalase activity(P<0.05),and down-regulated the mRNA expressions of inflammation-related genes(interleukin-1βand tumor necrosis factor-α)as well as apoptosis-related genes(Caspase 3,Caspase 8 and P53)(P<0.05).The concen-tration of acetic acid and butyric acid in the cecum content of laying hens in the MCE+PBC group was significantly increased compared with the control group(P<0.05).Conclusions:Collectively,dietary supplementation of 600μg/kg MCE and 5×108 CFU/kg compound Bacillus can improve laying performance by improving microbiota to enhance antioxidant capacity and intestinal barrier,regulate reproductive hormones and the concentration of cecal short-chain fatty acids of laying hens,and the combined effect of MCE and Bacillus is better than that of single supplementation.

Sexual Dimorphism,Female Reproductive Characteristics and Embryonic Thermosensitivity in the Tonkin Forest Skink(Sphenomorphus tonkinensis)from Hainan,South China

We collected 75 adult Tonkin forest skinks(Sphenomorphus tonkinensis) from Hainan, South China and incubated eggs at four constant temperatures ranging from 22 ℃ to 28 ℃ to study sexual dimorphism, female reproductive characteristics and embryonic thermosensitivity. The largest male was 53.4 mm snout-vent length(SVL), and the largest female was 54.3 mm SVL. The mean SVL was slightly greater in adult females(49.9 mm) than in adult males(48.8 mm), but the difference was not significant.Head length, head width, fore-limb length and hindlimb length were longer in adult males and abdomen length was longer in adult females after accounting for SVL. Accordingly, we conclude that S. tonkinensis is basically a sexually size-monomorphic species with sexual dimorphism in head size, abdomen(trunk)length and limb size. Females laid up to two clutches of 1–4 eggs each per egg-laying season from February to May. Egg mass, clutch size and clutch mass were independent of female SVL. Embryonic stages at laying varied from Dufaure and Hubert’s stage 30 to 31. With female SVL held constant, the negative correlation between egg mass and clutch size was not significant, suggesting that the offspring(egg) sizenumber trade-off between is not evident or eggs are well optimized for size in S. tonkinensis. None of the eggs at 28 ℃ hatched;hatching success was lower at 22 ℃ than at 24 ℃ or 26 ℃. The mean incubation length was 52.9 d at 22 ℃, 40.4 d at 24 ℃ and 33.6 d at 26 ℃. Hatchlings from eggs incubated at 22 ℃,24 ℃ and 26 ℃ did not differ morphologically at hatching, suggesting that temperatures within this range do not differentially affect hatchling morphology in S. tonkinensis.

Seed Germination and Vegetative Propagation of Promising Decorative Lonicera tatarica L. (Caprifoliaceae Juss.), Introduced into the Tashkent Botanical Garden (Uzbekistan)

Seed germination (in laboratory and field conditions) and vegetative reproduction (by cuttings) of a promising decorative species—Lonicera tatarica L. (Caprifoliaceae Juss.) was studied for the first time in the conditions of introduction of the Tashkent Botanical Garden of Uzbekistan. Thus, the optimal temperature for germination of L. tatarica seeds in laboratory conditions is +20°C + 22°C, at which germination was 73%. The germination rate of seeds sown in autumn in the field was 62%, and the germination rate of seeds sown in spring was 71%. It was noted that in greenhouse conditions at an air temperature of 20°C - 22°C and a relative humidity of 49% - 53%, the rootability of cuttings was 75%. It was revealed that the studied species adapted well to the conditions of introduction. Taking into account the effectiveness of vegetative reproduction of L. tatarica, it can be recommended for improving the aesthetic condition and landscaping of cities, landscaping and landscape design.

Home Range and Habitat Use of the Moustached Warbler (Acrocephalus melanopogon) during the Reproductive Period in the Eastern Iberian Peninsula

Many populations of the Moustached Warbler (Acrocephalus melanopogon) have suffered a noticeable decrease over the last decades. This work has the aim of estimating the home range of the Moustached Warbler and its habitat use during the reproductive season. We captured 11 males during the reproductive period with mist nets and marked them with radio transmitters. We determined the home range by calculating minimum convex polygon and kernel areas at 95% (home range) and 50% (core area). Then, to study the habitat use, we registered the proportion of the different vegetation types within these areas and carried out a compositional analysis to investigate if there is a detectable habitat preference. The results seem to indicate that the marked individuals did not show territorial behavior, given that the overlaps between home ranges and also the core areas were over 70%. The compositional analysis showed that A. melanopogon prefers tall and short reeds and mixed vegetation with rushes and bulrushes. Thus, maintaining heterogeneous and stratified vegetation would favor this species.

Reproductive outcomes of water pipe smoking:A scoping review

Objective:To present an overview of the adverse effects of water pipe smoking on various aspects of reproduction and perinatal complications,covering all the most relevant studies,from descriptive findings to clinical trials.Methods:We reviewed the literature and included full publications in English provided by international biomedical databases,including PubMed,Science Direct,EBSCO,Scopus,and Google Scholar,and Cochrane Library over the last 38 years(May 1985 to June 2023).Search terms(Water pipe,Narghile,Shisha,Dokha,etc.,and Reproduction,Fertility,etc.)were adopted from Medical Subheading(MeSH)and Boolean operators were utilized to improve sensitivity.Results:133 Papers were identified in the initial search,of which 29 were excluded due to duplication.Eliminating search overlap and irrelevant records by reviewing titles and abstracts reduced 42 papers.62 Full-publication articles met the inclusion criteria.We summarized the effects of waterpipe smoke exposure on reproductive health based on three main categories:male and female fertility,fetal and neonatal outcomes,and pregnancy complications.Conclusions:Water pipe smoking has potential adverse effects on different aspects of human reproductive health,including semen parameters,male and female fertility,and fetal and neonatal health,and contributes to many maternal complications and morbidities.

Study on Breeding Practices and Reproductive Performance of Black-Head Somali Sheep under Traditional Management System: The Case of Awbarre District, Eastern Ethiopia

The study was conducted in the Awbarre district of the Fafen zone of the Somali regional state of Ethiopia. The objective of the study was to assess the breeding practices and reproductive performance of Black-head Somali sheep under a traditional management system. Purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used to select targeted kebeles and households, respectively. A total of 120 households were selected from four kebeles, each of 30 households, based on the production system and sheep population. Semi-structured questionnaires, group discussions, key informants interviews and field observations were used to generate the required data. The primary purpose of keeping sheep was for income generation, followed by saving as a future asset. The majority (89.2%) of the respondents separated male and female animals during herding. The selection criteria for breeding rams were appearance, growth, pedigree, and color while for breeding ewes were appearance, adaptability, pedigree, color, and lamb growth. The overall weaning age of Black-head Somali sheep in the study area was 3.7 months for both males & females. The castration of male sheep was common for the purpose of fattening, fattening with breeding control and breeding control as well. The castration is mainly performed during the summer and autumn and the methods of castration were both traditional and modern methods, the traditional castration method being the most important one in pastoral areas. The age of sexual maturity was 7.64 months for rams and 8.97 months for ewe’s male and female lambs in the pastoral area and 8.42 & 8.38 for rams & ewes in agro-pastoral and overall lambing interval was 11 months. On average, the ewe of Black-head Somali sheep in pastoral & agro-pastoral could produce 9.49 & 9.57 lambs, respectively in their lifetime. As the pastoralists and agro-pastoralists indicated the source of the breeding ram was their own, so the exchange of breeding ram is recommended to minimize the risk of inbreeding and further studies of on-farm performance investigation would be necessary to be carried out so as to understand the uniqueness of the breed better.

Research progress on the effects of phthalates on reproductive health of childbearing population and their offspring

The total fertility rate of women in childbearing age showed a downward trend in China.In addition to the age and genetic factors,environmental endocrine disruption can also impair fertility.The impact of increasing new environmental pollutants on the couples in childbearing age has become a research hotspot recently.Phthalate acid esters(PAEs)is a common plasticizer in plastic products,which is widely found in toys,food packaging,construction materials,electronic and medical components,personal care products,office and school supplies and other plastic packaging products,and is the main substance of environmental pollution.Multiple studies have shown that PAEs can not only cause environmental and water pollution,but also have a variety of toxic effects such as reproductive toxicity,genotoxicity,immunotoxicity,neurotoxicity,teratogenicity,and carcinogenesis.Therefore,its impact on human health,especially on reproductive health of people of reproductive age and their offspring,cannot be ignored.However,the current epidemiological study of PAEs and new alternatives in reproductive health population is still controversial,and the toxicity mechanism is still in the exploration stage.This article through to PAEs of parental generation,children(including embryo)of reproductive development and the influence of genetic toxicity research progress at home and abroad to do a review,aims to promote effective control measures for the establishment of PAEs pollutants rather than on reproductive health risk prediction,thus for PAEs of adverse reproductive outcomes of reproductive stage of people provide a scientific basis for precision control and guidance.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Contraceptive Use among Women of Reproductive Age in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Background: Low contraceptive use among all other factors have been implicated in rapid population growth seen in low and lower middle-income countries (LLMICs). This can be attributed to poor knowledge and attitude of the populace towards use of modern contraceptives. Aim: To determine the knowledge, attitude and practice of contraception among pregnant women attending ANC at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria from July 1 to August 31, 2021. Methods: This quantitative study was designed as a descriptive cross-sectional study that recruited 529 women. They were administered with a semi-structured questionnaire which was used to collect their data and responses. The data was analysed using Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) version 25. Results: According to the findings, 57.3% and 47.1% of the women had poor knowledge and negative attitude towards contraception respectively. About a tenth of the women (9.8%) utilised contraceptives of which 44.2% and 42.3% used the natural method and male condoms respectively. The study also revealed the major reason behind the low use as desire for more children (36.3%). Conclusion: The study showed that the women had poor knowledge and negative attitude towards contraceptives and this translated to poor contraceptive use. Hence, awareness campaigns should be intensified by health workers towards enlightening the populace on the different types, uses and benefits of modern contraceptives.

Role of functional fatty acids in modulation of reproductive potential in livestock

Fatty acids are not only widely known as energy sources,but also play important roles in many metabolic pathways.The significance of fatty acids in modulating the reproductive potential of livestock has received greater recognition in recent years.Functional fatty acids and their metabolites improve follicular development,oocyte maturation and embryo development,as well as endometrial receptivity and placental vascular development,through enhancing energy supply and precursors for the synthesis of their productive hormones,such as steroid hormones and prosta-glandins.However,many studies are focused on the impacts of individual functional fatty acids in the reproductive cycle,lacking studies involved in deeper mechanisms and optimal fatty acid requirements for specific physiological stages.Therefore,an overall consideration of the combination and synergy of functional fatty acids and the establish-ment of optimal fatty acid requirement for specific stages is needed to improve reproductive potential in livestock.