Penggunaan Abu Batu Bara Pltu Mpanau sebagai Bahan Stabilisasi Tanah Lempung

Penelitian ini bertujuan memeriksa pengaruh stabilisasi tanah lempung menggunakan bahanstabilisasi Abu batu bara dan semen. Abu batu bara yang digunakan adalah abu bara hasilpembakaran dari PLTU Mpanau Kecamatan Tawaeli Kota Palu yang lolos saringan No.200, tanahlempung yang diuji memiliki indeks plastisitas lebih besar dari 20. Sifat yang diperiksa adalah:Perubahan batas cair, kepadatan maksimum dan nilai CBR. Proporsi rancangan campuran terdiridari abu batu bara adalah 10% dan 20% semen sebesar 4% dan 8% masing-masing terhadapberat kering tanah lempung,.Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa campuran abu batu bara dansemen mampu menurunkan nilai indeks plastisitas tanah lempung dari 27,33% menjadi 10,37 %,meningkatkan nilai CBR tanah dari 4,46% menjadi 13,8% untuk CBR rendaman dan dari 5,6%menjadi 15,5% untuk CBR tanpa rendama

Effect of Kisspeptin on the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal Axis of the Mare

Kisspeptin, a neuropeptide product of the KiSS-1 gene, has recently been shown to control the timing and release of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus in laboratory animals and move anestrus ewes to normal cyclicity. This study was designed to determine whether kisspeptin would increase plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) in mares and whether kisspeptin could induce the anestrous mare to become cyclic. Six light horse mares were confirmed to be in mid-diestrus via teasing, rectal palpation and progesterone testing. Mares were then divided into three groups of two mares each and were treated with an intravenous (iv) injection of kisspeptin (1.0 nmol/kg or 0.5 nmol/kg) or saline. Mares responded to the kisspeptin treatment with a marked rise in LH concentration (P<0.05), and both doses achieved a similar response. The procedure was then repeated using the same protocol with reduced doses, and treatment groups were as follows: saline or kisspeptin (0.10 nmol/kg or 0.05 nmol/kg). There was a difference in the responses from the second experiment, with both treatments exhibiting inconsistent results. In order to determine whether kisspeptin could induce cyclicity in anestrus mares, six mares (n=3 per group) were infused for 20 hours with either saline or kisspeptin [100 µg/hr iv (77 nmol/hr)]. There was no effect of kisspeptin on plasma LH or on ovulation. These data suggest that mares, unlike ewes, may be unable to respond to kisspeptin during seasonal anestrus. Thus, a bolus iv treatment (0.5 nmol/kg) of kisspeptin or saline was administered to five seasonally acyclic mares in a cross-over design. Acyclic mares responded to iv kisspeptin with a rise in plasma LH (P<0.05), but despite a 7-fold increase, this level failed to exceed 1 mg/ml. These data suggest a regulatory role for kisspeptin in cyclicity and seasonality of horses, but suggest that effects in long-day breeders like the mare differ from those in short-day breeders like the ewe

Effect of Kisspeptin on Regulation of Growth Hormone

Kisspeptin ( KP ), a neuroendocrine regulator of reproduction, is hypothesized to be an integrator of metabolism and hormones critical to the regulation of reproduction. Lactation is associated with enhanced growth hormone (GH) responsiveness and reduced fertility. Our study was designed to determine the effects of lactation on KP-stimulated GH and luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion. Five non-lactating and five lactating dairy cows were used in the study. Experiments were conducted with lactating cows at weeks 1, 5 and 11 after parturition. The experimental treatments ( saline and KP [100 and 400 pmol / kg body weight]) were given intravenously and blood was collected and plasma was stored until later assay to determine concentrations of GH, LH, progesterone and non-esterified fatty acids. We found that neither dose of KP stimulated an increase in GH secretion. The low dose of KP increased (P \u3c0. 05) LH concentrations only in lactating cows. The higher dose of KP elicited an increase in circulating LH concentrations in both lactating and non-lactating cows. The lower dose of KP increased (P \u3c 0. 05) the area under the curve for LH only in cows during week 5 of lactation, and the area under the curve of LH following the highest dose of KP was greater (P \u3c 0. 05) in cows during week 5 of lactation than that for the other groups of cows. In summary, lactation status and stage of lactation did not change the sensitivity of the GH system to KP. However, an effect of stage of lactation on KP-stimulated LH secretion was detected in the dairy cows. Study of the KP system during lactation in dairy cows may provide critical insights into the mechanisms for lactation associated changes in the reproductive axis

Premature germ cells in the ejaculate of a 4-year-old male Labrador Retriever

A healthy, 4-year-old, Labrador Retriever was presented for routine semen collection for cryopreservation. Ejaculate had an abundanceof atypical round cells along with substantial morphologically abnormal sperm. Atypical round cells were identified aspremature germ cells, indicating testicular insult or damage of unknown etiology. After multiple visits and a period (3 months) ofrest from heavy training, premature germ cells were not observed and noticeable improvement in sperm morphology was evident.Apparently, changes observed were induced by heat stress given the location and intensity of training, season of the year, historyand signalment of the patient, and the fact that all parameters improved following temperature management changes and restfrom training. This case illustrated the importance of recognizing an unusual cell type during a routine semen analysis and toarrive at a possible etiology and resolution of the clinical problem.</jats:p

Effect of platelet rich plasma lysate and fibroblast growth factor 2 on stallion sperm motility

Growth factors (GFs) are known to modulate cell function and their presence in semen could be advantageous to sperm. In humans andmice, fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) improved semen motility. Platelet rich plasma (PRP), rich in GFs including FGF2, reduced postmating inflammatory response within the uterus; however, its effects on sperm are not known. PRP lysate (PRPL) is much purer than PRPand contains higher concentrations of GFs. Hence, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of supplementing freshand cool-stored stallion sperm with either PRPL at 1, 2.5, 5, and 10% (also containing 1 IU/ml of heparin), or FGF2 at 0.1, 1, 10, and100 ng/ml. Motility parameters were evaluated using computer assisted semen analysis at 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 6, and 24 hours after treatment.For both PRPL and FGF2 treatments, there were no differences in total and progressive motility among groups. Concentrations of PRPL&gt; 5% induced sperm agglutination via head-to-head attachment, starting at hour 1 and was more pronounced for 10% PRPL than 5%PRPL, suggesting a dose-dependent characteristic. Direct addition of PRPL to semen extender at doses &lt; 5% might not substantiallyaffect sperm motility, whereas doses &gt; 5% might affect sperm motility due to head-to-head attachments. Addition of FGF2 at theconcentrations studied may not affect sperm characteristics.</jats:p