Ornamental poultry is a hobby that has been of interest for centuries.The history of ornamental poultry associations in Europe dates back to the 19th century and to the Ottoman period in Turkiye.One of the most popular ornamental poultry species is Aseel roosters.Aseel roosters are indigenous of Pakistan and India, and they have been bred for competition during the Ottoman period.This study aims to determine the spermatological characteristics of Turkish Aseel roosters.In the study, 10 Aseel roosters were used, and semen was collected by the abdominal massage method twice a week.The sperm motility was estimated by a hot plate phase-contrast microscope under 400´ magnification.The sperm concentration of each ejaculate was determined by hemocytometer and percentages of viable, dead, and abnormal spermatozoa was calculated using eosin-nigrosine staining.Acrosome membrane integrity of rooster spermatozoa were assessed using fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated peanut agglutin (FITC-PNA).Spermatozoa membrane functionality was assessed with the hypoosmotic (HOS) test.The spermatological data obtained as a result of the experiment are as follows; ejaculate volume average 308.49±12.14µL, spermatozoa motility 89.66±0.47%,spermatozoa concentration 2.39±0.10x10 9/mL, The general total morphological defect rate 17.19±0.75%,viability 85.45±0.

Ornamental poultry is a hobby that has been of interest for centuries. The history of ornamental poultry associations in Europe dates back to the 19th century and to the Ottoman period in Turkiye. One of the most popular ornamental poultry species is Aseel roosters. Aseel roosters are indigenous of Pakistan and India, and they have been bred for competition during the Ottoman period. This study aims to determine the spermatological characteristics of Turkish Aseel roosters. In the study, 10 Aseel roosters were used, and semen was collected by the abdominal massage method twice a week. The sperm motility was estimated by a hot plate phase-contrast microscope under 400 ' magnification. The sperm concentration of each ejaculate was determined by hemocytometer and percentages of viable, dead, and abnormal spermatozoa was calculated using eosin-nigrosine staining. Acrosome membrane integrity of rooster spermatozoa were assessed using fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated peanut agglutin (FITC-PNA). Spermatozoa membrane functionality was assessed with the hypoosmotic (HOS) test. The spermatological data obtained as a result of the experiment are as follows; ejaculate volume average 308.49 +/- 12.14 mu L, spermatozoa motility 89.66 +/- 0.47%, spermatozoa concentration 2.39 +/- 0.10x109/mL, The general total morphological defect rate 17.19 +/- 0.75%, viability 85.45 +/- 0.88%, acrosome integrity rates 98.26 +/- 0.09%, and pH 7.81 +/- 0.02.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of different FSH doses and FSH coasting times before ovum pick-up (OPU) on follicular growth and oocyte competence in buffalo. Experiment 1 involved two different FSH treatments: 40 mg FSH given three (FSH3) or six (FSH6) times, 2 days after dominant follicle removal were tested, with OPU carried out after 40–44 h of coasting. In experiment 2, OPU was carried out after FSH6 protocol followed by 28–32 h (C1), 40–44 h (C2), or 64–68 h (C3) of coasting time. Cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) were classified, in vitro matured, fertilized, and cultured. The results demonstrated that FSH6 increased the total number of follicles, the number and percentages of medium and large follicles, the number and the proportion of good quality oocytes, and the number of grade 1,2 and fast-developing blastocysts compared to the control. C3 decreased the percentage of good quality oocyte and blastocyst rates compared to C1 and C2. A higher percentage of fast blastocysts and average number of grade 1,2 blastocysts was observed in C1 compared to C3, with intermediate values found in C2. The improved efficiency in terms of blastocyst yields suggests the use of FSH6 + C1 protocol for ovarian superstimulation in buffalo.

Motil Aeromonas species are responsible for the formation of significant hemorrhagic septicemia in freshwater fish. Aeromonas are characteristic freshwater bacteria. They are often found in the ecosystem due to their being mobile. It is pathogenic in water, in various water creatures and in humans. In this study, it was determined that the bacterial strains obtained from Green terror (Andinoacara rivulatus) were Gram-negative, rod-shaped. VITEK-2 compact system is used for identification. Species have been identified as Aeromonas sobria. Aeromonas isolates were evaluated by 12 different antimicrobial agents in antimicrobial activity against the disk diffusion method. While cefquinome was found to be the most effective in the tested antimicrobials, the lowest sensitivity was determined against trimethoprim / sulphamethoxazole.

Synchronization of donor cells and activation of the reconstructed oocytes are important factors affecting the success rate in somatic cell cloning. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the effects of serum starvation in donor cell synchronization and ionomycin treatment in the activation of reconstructed oocytes after somatic cell nuclear transfer in Kivircik sheep. Cumulus cells were obtained from a slaughtered sheep ovaries and used as donor cells after serum starvation for 4 days (0.5% FCS; SS) or without serum starvation (10% FCS; S). After reconstruction, oocytes were activated by ionomycin for 5 min plus 6-dimethylaminopurine for 3 h (I+) or only with 6-dimethylaminopurine for 3 h (I-). All cleaved embryos (n= 44) at the second day of in vitro culture were transferred into synchronized recipient ewes (n= 10). Cleavage rates of the embryos were 37.3, 44.1, 34.6 and 44.7% in SS/I+, S/I+, SS/I- and S/Igroups, respectively. Recipient ewes had serum progesterone levels >1 ng/ml at 18 th day were 33.3, 50.0, 50.0 and 100.0%, respectively. Only one pregnancy in the S/I- group continued after 40 days however the cloned lamb (7.1%, regarding to embryos transferred) died 10 days before term due to a maternal problem (uterine torsion). The results of this study reveal that somatic cell synchronization by serum starvation and ionomycin treatment for the activation of oocytes can be omitted for the success of somatic cell nuclear transfer in sheep

Motil aeromonas türleri tatlı su balıklarında önemli hemorajik septisemilerin oluşturulmasından sorumludurlar. Aeromonaslar karakteristik tatlı su bakterilerinden olup tüm ekosistemde oldukça yoğun görülmektedir. Ayrıca ekosistem üzerinde yüksek bir patojenite oluşturma özelliği de göstermektedir. Motil aeromonaslar özellikle tatlı su balıklarında birçok hastalığa yol açmaktadır. Bunların başında Motil Aeromonas Septisemisi (MAS), Hemorajik Septisemi en yaygın görülen hastalıklar olarak ortaya çıkmaktadır. Bu çalışmada da Vitek-2 (Biomeriux, Fransa) sistemiyle tespit edilen motil aeromonas olgusu (Aeromonas sobria) akvaryumların beğenilen ve çekici balıklarından olan Green Terror (Andinoacara rivulatus) balığında tespit edilmiştir.

Pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (PKAN) is caused by mutations of the pantothenate kinase 2 (PANK2) gene. The major clinical sign of PKAN is dystonia and the eye-of-the-tiger pattern on the MRI has been a clue for the diagnosis. We aim to discuss clinical and genetic findings of 22 PKAN patients from 13 families.Twenty-two patients were clinically diagnosed with PKAN and screened for PANK2 mutations. The patients were classified according to their onset age and progression rate.Mutation screening revealed 5 novel and 7 previously reported sequence variants in PANK2. The variants identified were in the form of missense changes, small exonic deletions and intronic mutations with a probable splicing effect. The presenting features were dystonia and gait disturbance in early onset patients, whereas the presenting symptoms were variable for the late onset group. The progression rate of the disease was not uniform.The current report is the first patient series of PKAN from Turkey that expands the clinical and genetic spectrum of the disease.

Anatolian grey cattle (endangered native Anatolian cattle) as 1 male (clone 1) and 4 females (clones 2–5) were produced from cells of 1 male and 1 female cattle by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) in a previous study. In this study, we examined the reproductive potential of these cloned animals, which are now 4 and 5 years old. The parameters evaluated by phase contrast microscopy for motility, TUNEL for DNA fragmentation, eosin staining for viability, Hoechst 33258 staining and hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST) for membrane integrity, and fluorescein isothiocyanate-Pisum sativum agglutinin (FITC-PSA) for acrosome integrity of frozen-thawed spermatozoa, as well as birth and survival of calves following insemination with frozen-thawed semen of cloned and nuclear donor bull and normal bull. Six ejaculates and 3 samples per ejaculate from each bull were tested, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyse the data. The spermatological parameters of cloned bull semen – volume, concentration, and motility of fresh – were within accepted limits for artificial insemination (4.60 ± 0.47 mL, 1.55 ± 0.21 × 109 spermatozoa mL–1, 80.00 ± 1.07%, respectively). Frozen-thawed sperm motility and viability rate were higher in the cloned bull (56.6%, 56.7%) than in its nuclear donor (47%, 43%; P < 0.05). Intact membrane and DNA fragmentation rate of cloned bull and its nuclear donor bull sperm were similar (P > 0.05) but the intact acrosome rate of cloned bull was higher than that of its nuclear donor (P < 0.05). Low rates in frozen-thawed sperm of nuclear donor can be related to storage time of sperm which were frozen 5 years before. One (clone 4) of the cloned grey heifers was artificially inseminated with frozen semen from nuclear donor bull and the other (clone 5) was naturally mated with a Holstein bull. Two healthy calves were delivered naturally. When same cloned cows (clones 4–5) and 2 other cloned heifers (clones 2–3) were artificially inseminated with frozen semen of the cloned grey bull, clones 2 and 4 gave birth to 2 healthy female calves. One cloned cow (clone 3) aborted in the third month of gestation and other one (clone 5) is currently 8 months pregnant. Two calves of clone 4 and 5 are 17 months old and 2 other calves of clone 2 and 4 are now 6 and 1 months old. Except for clone 3, our results show that cloned Anatolian grey bull and cows produced from frozen cells in gene bank have normal fertility.

Ozet Koyun embriyolarinin in vitro uretilmesi uzerine olgunlasma ve fertilizasyon medyumlarina yapilan katkilar ve ko-kulturiin etkilerinin incelendigi bu calismada mezbahada kesilen koyunlarin ovaryumlanndan elde edilen primer oositler (n=454) kullanildi. Oositler 4 gruba ayrilarak farkli katkilarin bulundugu TCM-199 medyumunda 26 saat olgunlastirildi. Grup 1 (SH): %20 oraninda koyun serumu, 10 ug/ml FSH, 10 ug/ml LH ve 1 ug/ml estradiol 17(3 ilaveli TCM-199, Grup 2 (S): %20 oraninda koyun serumu ilaveli TCM-199, Grup 3 (H): 10 pg/ml FSH, 10 pg/ml LH ve 1 ug/ml estradiol 17(3 ilaveli TCM-199, ve Grup 4 (M): hormon ve serum ilavesi olmayan TCM-199. Olgunlasmayi takiben oositler tekrar 3'er alt gruba ayrilarak %2 (D), %5 (O)ve %10 (Y) koyun ostrus serumu ilaveli SOF medyumu icerisine alindi ve uzerlerine elektro^jakulator yardimiyla alinmis ve yikanmis taze koc spermasi ilave edilerek 18 saat in vitro fertilize edildi, Fenilizasyonu takiben oositler kendi iclerinde tekrar 2'ser alt gruba [Grup 1 (KK): Koyun ovidukt epitel hucreleri ile ko-kultur; Grup 2 (K): Koyun ovidukt epitel hucreleri kullanilmayan kultur grubu] ayrildi ve 7 gun kulture edildi. Bu surenin sonunda embriyolarin gelismeleri degerlendirildi. Calismada en yuksek cleavage (yanklanma) ve morula oranlan SH+Y+KK grubunda {sirasiyla %62.5 ve %43.8), en dusuk oranlar ise (sirasiyla %8.7 ve %4.3) M+D+K grubunda elde edildi. Bu sonuclara gore, koyun oositlerinin in vitro olgunlasunlmasinda %20 oraninda koyun serumu ve hormonlarin, fertilIzasyon medyumunda %10 oraninda ostrustaki koyun serumunun kullanilmasi ve fertilIzasyon sonrasi koyun ovidukt epitel hucreleri ile ko-kultur uygulanmasinin yanklanma ve morula oranlarini iyilestirdigi soylenebilir. Anahtar kelimeler: Koyun, in vitro uretim, medyum kalkilan, ko-kultur EFFECTS OF SUPPLEMENTS TO MATURATION AND FERTILIZATION MEDIA AND CO-CULTURE WITH SHEEP OVIDUCTAL EPITHELIAL CELLS ON IN VITRO PRODUCTION OF SHEEP EMBRYOS Summary In this study in which the effects of maturation and fertilization media supplements and co-culturing on in vitro production of sheep embryos were investigated, primary oocytes (n=454) collected from ovaries of slaughtered ewes were used. Oocytes divided randomly into 4 groups were matured for 26 h in TCM 199 medium with different supplements: Group I (SH): TCM 199 medium supplemented by 20% sheep estrous serum, 10 ug/ml FSH, 10 ug/ml LH and 1 ug/ml estradiol 17fi, Group 2 (S): TCM 199 medium supplemented by 20% sheep estrous serum. Group 3 (H): TCM 199 medium supplemented by 10 ug/ml FSH, 10 ug/ml LH and 1 pg/ml estradiol 170, and Group 4 (M): TCM 199 medium without serum and hormones. After maturation, oocytes which were again divided into 3 subgroups were transferred in SOF medium supplemented by 2% (D), 5% (O) and 10% (Y) sheep estrous serum and fertilized in vitro for 18 h with fresh ram semen collected by electro-ejaculation and washed. After fertilization, oocytes were divided into 2 subgroups [Group 1 (KK): Co-culture with sheep oviductal epithelial cells; Group 2 (K): Culture without sheep oviductal epithelial cells] and cultured for 7 days. At the end of this period embryos were evaluated for their developments. The highest cleavage and morula rates were obtained in SH+Y+KK group (62.5% and 43.8%, respectively) and the lowest rates (8.7% and 4.3%, respectively) in M+D+K group in this study. According to the results, we concluded that supplementation of in vitro maturation media with 20% sheep estrous serum and hormones, in vitro fertilization media with 10% sheep estrous serum and co-culturing with sheep oviductal epithelial cells after fertilization could improve the cleavage and morula rates. Key words : Sheep, in vitro production, media supplements, co-culture

E F F E C T OF EXPOSURE DURATION TO THE VITRIFICATION MEDIUM ON THE POST THAW DEVELOPMENT OF IN VITRO DERIVED BOVINE EMBRYOS Transfer of frozen embryos enables the establishment of elite herds, control of diseases and storage of genetic materials for longer periods. However, although intercontinental transfer of frozen embryos is possible, post-thaw degenerations are encountered and pregnancy rates are not at the expected level. Embryos especially degenerate during freezing and thawing procedures. These degenerations are thought to be due to the exposure time and toxic effects of used cryoprotectants. In this study slaughtered cattle ovaries were used. Oocytes were collected from ovaries using the aspiration method and matured in their own group in 700 microliter TCM-199 for 22-24 h at a gas atmosphere of 5% CO2, 5% O 2, and 90% N 2 at 38.8 °C. Matured oocytes were fertilized for 18-24 h in IVF-TALP medium. After fertilization cleavage was 67.05% (865/1290) at 48 t h h. Embryos were cultured up to early blastocyst-blastocyst stage (34.91%; 302/865) in SOF medium supplemented with 10 % FCS for 7 days at a gas atmosphere of 5% CO2, 5% O2, and 90% N 2 at 38.8 °C. 302 embryos at the early blastocyst stage were frozen after an exposure to vitrification solution for various time periods (15, 30, 60, and 90 sec). Four groups have been established for this purpose (Groups 1, 2, 3, 4). Each group has included 67, 64, 63 and 60 embryos, respectively. Al l embryos were first kept in PBS solution containing 10% Glycerol + 10% FCS (Vs1) for 5 minutes and then in PBS containing 10% Glycerol+10% FCS+20% Ethylene Glycol (Vs2) solution for 5 minutes. Later, embryos were taken to straw containing vitrification solution (Vs3), 25% Glycerol + 10% FCS + 25% Ethylene Glycol + 0.1 M sucrose, and exposed for various time periods (15, 30, 60 and 90 sec), then frozen by dipping into liquid nitrogen. After thawing (37 °C) embryos were washed several times in washing medium supplemented with 0.5 M sucrose and SOF medium, then embryos of each group were incubated again for another 48 hours. Chi-square test was used in this study. Post thaw development to expanded blastocyst stage was highest in Group 1 with 52.2% (35/67) followed by Group 2 with 45.3% (29/64), Group 3 with 22.2% (14/63) and Group 4 with 5% (3/60). No statistical significance was observed between Groups 1 and 2. The statistical difference between Group 1 and 3 and between Group 1 and 4 were at P<0.01 and P<0.001 levels, respectively.

OZET Tahirova koyunu sut verimi yuksek bir koyun irki olarak bilinmektedir. Gunumuzde sigirlarin senkronizasyonu icin kolay, ekonomik ve etkili yontemler gelistirilmistir. Bu calismada sigirlar icin gelistirilen ovsynch protokolunun koyunlara uyarlanmasi amaclandi. Bu amacla 150 Tahirova koyunu ve 6 koc kullanildi. Ureme mevsimindeki koyunlar rastgele 3 gruba ayrildilar. Her bir koyuna 0. gun GnRh ve 6. gun PGF2α+PMSG uygulandi. Buna ilaveten ikinci gruptaki koyunlara 8. gun hCG, ucuncu gruptakilere ise 7,5. gun EP, 8. gun hCG uygulandi. Asimlar, birinci grupta ilk gun %68, ikinci gun %32 oraninda; ikinci grupta ilk gun %80, ikinci gun %8, ucuncu gun %12 oraninda; ucuncu grupta ise ilk gun %72, ikinci gun %11, ucuncu gun %6 oraninda gerceklesti. Birinci grupta 48 dogumun 9'undan ikiz (%18,7), 39'undan tek; ikinci grupta 49 dogumun 11'inden ikiz (%22,4), 38'inden tek; ucuncu grupta 48 dogumun 5'inden ikiz (%10,4), 43'unden tek kuzu elde edildi. Calismada, kullanilan modifiye Ovsynch protokolunun Tahirova koyunlarinin reproduktif performansi uzerine etkileri belirlenmistir. Bu yontemle, sigirlarda kullanisli olan Ovsynch protokolu koyunlara uyarlanmis ve EWESYNCH olarak isimlendirilmistir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Ovsynch, Tahirova koyunlari, senkronizasyon, fertilite ABSTRACT THE EFFECT OF MODIFIED OVSYNCH PROTOCOL ON SYNCHRONIZATION AND FERTILITY RATE IN TAHIROVA EWES Tahirova ewes are known as a breed with high milk production. Nowadays, easy, economic and effective methods are developed for synchronization of cattle. The aim of this study was to adapt the Ovsynch protocol for cattle to the ewes. For this purpose 150 Tahirova ewes and 6 rams were used. The ewes in breeding season were randomly divided into three groups. On day 0 GnRh and day 6 PGF2α+PMSG administered to each of the ewes. In addition to this hCG was injected to the ewes of Group 2 and 3 on the 8 th day and also estradiol propionat (EP) was administered to the ewes of Group 3 on the day 7.5. Matings have taken place in 68% of Group 1 on the first day and in 32% on the second day. These results were 80% on the first day, 8% on the 2 nd day and 12% on the 3 rd day in Group 2; 72% on the first day, 11% on the 2 nd day and 6% on the 3 rd day in Group 3. In Group 1 there were 9 twins (18.7%) out of 48 births. In Group 2 total 49 births, of which 11 twins (22.4%) and in Group 3, 5 (10.4%) of 48 births were twins. By the present study, the reproductive and breeding characteristics of Tahirova, a highly productive and adopted sheep have been determined and recorded. The ovsynch protocol which had been developed for dairy cattle have been modified for sheep and named as EWESYNCH. Key Words: Ovsynch, Tahirova ewes, synchronization, fertility.

This case report is based on a large follicular cyst (55x42 mm) in a five years old Holstein cow diagnosed by ultrasonography. The serum progesterone (P4) and estradiol 17-beta (E2) levels were 2.589 ng/ml and 116.497 pg/ml, respectively at the 1st examination. The cyst started luteinization with the treatment of 10 mu g i.m. GnRH and 1000 IU i.v. hCG. On ultrasonographic examination on 9(th) day, cyst measured 33x31 mm. Following 500 mu g PGF(2 alpha) i.m. administration, the cow exhibited signs of oestrous. Serum collected at this stage revealed P4 and E2 to be 14.438 ng/ml and 141.337 pg/ml, respectively. Three days after the PGF(2 alpha) application, the ultrasonography revealed the lysis of the luteinized cyst and P4, E2 levels were detected 0.435 ng/ml and 131.067 pg/ml, respectively. Afterward the cow had normal outward appearance. The uterus and ovaries were normal on rectal palpation. The cow was artificially inseminated and became pregnant. (C) 2011 PVJ. All rights reserved

OZET Gunumuzde dondurulmus embriyolarin transferi ile ustun verim ozelliklerine sahip surulerin olusturulmasi, hastaliklarin kontrolu ve genetik materyallerin uzun sure saklanmasi mumkun olabilmektedir. Ancak donmus embriyolarda eritme sonrasi tranfer edilebilir embriyo eldesi ve gebelik oranlari istenilen duzeyde degildir. Ozellikle embriyolarin dondurulmasi sirasinda dejenerasyonlar olusmaktadir. Dejenerasyonlarin, embriyolarin kriyoprotektif maddelere maruz kalma sureleri ile toksik etkilerinden meydana geldigi dusunulmektedir. Calismada mezbahada kesilen sigirlarin ovaryumlari kullanildi. Aspirasyon yontemi ile elde edilen oositler (1290 adet) TCM-199 da 22-24 saat sureyle % 5 CO 2 , %5 O 2 , %90N 2 gaz atmosferinde 38,8 oC de in vitro olarak olgunlastirildilar. Olgun oositler IVF-TALP medyumunda 18-24 saat sureyle fertilize edildiler. Fertilizasyon sonrasi 48. saatte cleavage %67,05 (865/1290) saptandi. Embriyolar %10 FCS'li SOF medyumunda 7 gun sureyle % 5 CO 2 , %5 O 2 , %90N 2 gaz karisiminda blastosist (%34,91; 302/865) asamasina kadar inkube edildiler. Erken blastosist-blastosist asamasina ulasan 302 adet embriyodan 254 tanesi vitrifikasyon solusyonunda farkli surelere (15, 30, 60, 90 sn) maruz birakilarak donduruldular. Bu amacla sirasiyla 4 grup olusturuldu. Her grup sirasiyla 67, 64, 63 ve 60 embriyo icerdi (Grup 1, 2, 3, 4). Embriyolar once % 10 Gliserol + % 10 FCS iceren PBS solusyonunda (Vs1) 5 dk, sonra %10 Gliserol + %10 FCS+ %20 Etilen Glikollu PBS'de (Vs2) 5 dk. bekletildiler. Daha sonra embriyolar payet icindeki %25 Gliserol + %20 Etilen Glikol + %10 FCS + 0,1 M Sukroz vitrifikasyon solusyonuna (Vs3) aktarildilar ve degisik surelere (15, 30, 60, 90 sn) maruz birakildiktan sonra sivi azota daldirilarak donduruldular. Eritme sonrasi ( 37oC) embriyolar birkac kez yikama medyumunda ve SOF medyumunda yikandiktan sonra, her bir gruba ait embriyolar 48 saat sureyle tekrar inkube edildiler. Calismada istatistiki analizde ki-kare testi kullanildi. Eritme sonrasi, genislemis blastosist-zonadan cikma safhasinda en iyi gelisim %52,2 (35/67) ile Grup 1 de saptanirken, bunu %45,3 (29/64) ile Grup 2, %22,2 (14/63) ile Grup 3 ve %5 (3/60) ile Grup 4 takip etti. Grup I ve II arasinda istatiksel bir fark bulunmadi. Grup 1 ile Grup 3 arasindaki istatistiksel fark P<0,01, Grup 1 ile Grup 4 arasinda ise P<0,001 duzeyinde anlamli bulundu. Anahtar Kelimeler: Sigir, embriyo, in vitro, vitrifikasyon, kriyoprotektan ABSTRACT EFFECT OF EXPOSURE DURATION TO THE VITRIFICATION MEDIUM ON THE POST THAW DEVELOPMENT OF IN VITRO DERIVED BOVINE EMBRYOS Transfer of frozen embryos enables the establishment of elite herds, control of diseases and storage of genetic materials for longer periods. However, although intercontinental transfer of frozen embryos is possible, post-thaw degenerations are encountered and pregnancy rates are not at the expected level. Embryos especially degenerate during freezing and thawing procedures. These degenerations are thought to be due to the exposure time and toxic effects of used cryoprotectants. In this study slaughtered cattle ovaries were used. Oocytes were collected from ovaries using the aspiration method and matured in their own group in 700 microliter TCM-199 for 22-24 h at a gas atmosphere of 5% CO 2 , 5% O 2 , and 90% N 2 at 38.8 oC. Matured oocytes were fertilized for 18-24 h in IVF-TALP medium. After fertilization cleavage was 67.05% (865/1290) at 48 th h. Embryos were cultured up to early blastocyst-blastocyst stage (34.91%; 302/865) in SOF medium supplemented with 10 % FCS for 7 days at a gas atmosphere of 5% CO 2 , 5% O 2 , and 90% N 2 at 38.8 oC. 302 embryos at the early blastocyst stage were frozen after an exposure to vitrification solution for various time periods (15, 30, 60, and 90 sec). Four groups have been established for this purpose (Groups 1, 2, 3, 4). Each group has included 67, 64, 63 and 60 embryos, respectively. All embryos were first kept in PBS solution containing 10% Glycerol + 10% FCS (Vs1) for 5 minutes and then in PBS containing 10% Glycerol+10% FCS+20% Ethylene Glycol (Vs2) solution for 5 minutes. Later, embryos were taken to straw containing vitrification solution (Vs3), 25% Glycerol + 10% FCS + 25% Ethylene Glycol + 0.1 M sucrose, and exposed for various time periods (15, 30, 60 and 90 sec), then frozen by dipping into liquid nitrogen. After thawing (37 oC) embryos were washed several times in washing medium supplemented with 0.5 M sucrose and SOF medium, then embryos of each group were incubated again for another 48 hours. Chi-square test was used in this study. Post thaw development to expanded blastocyst stage was highest in Group 1 with 52.2% (35/67) followed by Group 2 with 45.3% (29/64), Group 3 with 22.2% (14/63) and Group 4 with 5% (3/60). No statistical significance was observed between Groups 1 and 2. The statistical difference between Group 1 and 3 and between Group 1 and 4 were at P<0.01 and P<0.001 levels, respectively. KeyWords: Cattle, embryo, in vitro, vitrification, cryoprotectant

The complex mode indication function (CMIF) technique is a singular value decomposition enhancement of the classical peak picking (PP) technique. The disadvantages of the PP technique, namely, its inability to identify closely spaced modes, are largely resolved in CMIF due to the singular value decomposition. Recently, a frequency domain based technique that uses the biased frequency response functions obtained from the Hilbert transform of power spectral densities has been proposed. In this study, the PP, CMIF, and Hilbert transform techniques are successfully applied to the measured output data from a typical instrumented school building in Istanbul. The study clearly shows that the techniques can successfully identify the modal parameters and give similar results for the eigenfrequencies and mode shapes. However, there are some differences in the damping ratio estimates.

This study presents application of the CMIF and the Hilbert Transform techniques onto simulated response data obtained using a numerical model of a typical school building from Turkey. White noise is added to the data in order to achieve a noise to signal ratio of 5%. 100 Monte Carlo analysis sequences are carried out and the modal parameters (the frequencies, the mode shapes and the damping ratios) are identified at each Monte Carlo run for both techniques. The results are compared with the identifications obtained from the simulated data using stochastic subspace based system identification technique. The overall results of the study show that the mode shapes are clearly identified the best by using the CMIF technique. The damping ratios are estimated better by using the stochastic subspace based system identification technique whereas the frequencies are best determined by the CMIF. The results also show that both the CMIF and the Hilbert Transform techniques are sensitive to the type of window used as well as the averaging and the decimation process. It is apparent that the CMIF technique is as robust as the frequently used stochastic subspace based system identification technique and can be confidently used for modal parameter estimation of stiff low to mid rise reinforced concrete structures.

The Subspace based System Identification Techniques (SSIT) have been very popular within the research circles in the last decade due to their proven superiority over the other existing system identification techniques. For operational (output only) modal analysis, the stochastic SSIT and for operational modal analysis in the presence of exogenous inputs, the combined deterministic stochastic SSIT have been used in the literature. This study compares the application of the two alternative techniques on a typical school building in Istanbul using 100 Monte Carlo simulations. The study clearly shows that the combined deterministic stochastic SSIT performs superior to the stochastic SSIT when the techniques are applied on noisy data from low to mid rise stiff structures.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to obtain cloned lambs by somatic cell nuclear transfer. In vitro matured oocytes were enucleated and injected with serum-starved cumulus cells. After electrofusion and ionomycin treatments, reconstructed oocytes were activated by 10 m g/ml cycloheximide (CHX) for 5 h or 2 mM 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP) for 3 h and cultured in vitro in SOF medium at 38.5°C in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO 2 , 5% O 2 and 90% N 2 . Cleavage rates were 18.1% (26/144) in CHX and 46.5% (140/301) in 6-DMAP groups; 11.4% of embryos developed to the morula stage in the 6-DMAP group. To investigate the developmental capacity of the embryos to become live young, early cleavage stage embryos (n= 69) were transferred to the oviducts of synchronized recipients. Five out of eight ewes (62.5%) were diagnosed as pregnant at Day 18 according to progesterone assays, and two ewes (25.0%) were diagnosed as pregnant after 45 days according to ultrasound examinations. Two healthy lambs were born by Cesarean section. In conclusion, although by using different activation protocols blastocyst stage embryos were not obtained after in vitro culture of the somatic cell nuclear transfer embryos, live young that were born after transfer of early stage embryos showed that these embryos possess developmental capacity. Key Words: sheep, somatic cell nuclear transfer, early transfer