In this paper recent developments in the estimation of frontier functions and the measurement of efficiency are surveyed, and the potential applicability of these methods in agricultural economics is discussed. Frontier production, cost and profit functions are discussed, along with the construction of technical, allocative, scale and overall efficiency measures relative to these estimated frontiers. The two primary methods of frontier estimation, econometric and linear programming, are compared. A survey of recent applications of frontier methods in agriculture is also provided. (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)

Recent Developments in Frontier Modelling and Efficiency Measurement

Approximately 10 to 15% of couples are impacted by infertility. Recently, the pivotal role that lifestyle factors play in the development of infertility has generated a considerable amount of interest. Lifestyle factors are the modifiable habits and ways of life that can greatly influence overall health and well-being, including fertility. Many lifestyle factors such as the age at which to start a family, nutrition, weight, exercise, psychological stress, environmental and occupational exposures, and others can have substantial effects on fertility; lifestyle factors such as cigarette smoking, illicit drug use, and alcohol and caffeine consumption can negatively influence fertility while others such as preventative care may be beneficial. The present literature review encompasses multiple lifestyle factors and places infertility in context for the couple by focusing on both males and females; it aims to identify the roles that lifestyle factors play in determining reproductive status. The growing interest and amount of research in this field have made it evident that lifestyle factors have a significant impact on fertility.

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Lifestyle factors and reproductive health: taking control of your fertility

: Selective review and synthesis of the technical literature on copper and copper salts in the environment and their effects primarily on fishes, birds, mammals, terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates, and other natural resources. The subtopics include copper sources and uses; chemical and biochemical properties; concentrations of copper in field collections of abiotic materials and living organisms; effects of copper deficiency; lethal and sublethal effects on terrestrial plants and invertebrates, aquzatic organisms, birds, and mammals, including effects on survival, growth, reproduction, behavior, metabolism, carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, and teratogenicity; proposed criteria for the protection of human health and sensitive natural resources; and recommendations for additional research.

Copper Hazards to Fish, Wildlife, and Invertebrates : A Synoptic Review

https://europeanurology.com/article/S0302-2838(16)30069-0/pdf/cigarette-smoking-and-semen-quality-a-new-meta-analysis-examining-the-effect-of-the-2010-world-health-organization-laboratory-methods-for-the-examination-of-human-semen

Cigarette Smoking and Semen Quality: A New Meta-analysis Examining the Effect of the 2010 World Health Organization Laboratory Methods for the Examination of Human Semen

Areca nut is widely consumed by all ages groups in many parts of the world, especially south-east Asia The objective of this review is to systematically review and collate all the published data that are related to the systemic effects of areca nut The literature search was performed by an electronic search of the Pubmed and Cochrane databases using keywords and included articles published till October 2012 We selected studies that covered the effect of areca nut on metabolism, and a total of 62 studies met the criteria There is substantial evidence for carcinogenicity of areca nut in cancers of the mouth and esophagus Areca nut affects almost all organs of the human body, including the brain, heart, lungs, gastrointestinal tract and reproductive organs It causes or aggravates pre-existing conditions such as neuronal injury, myocardial infarction, cardiac arrhythmias, hepatotoxicity, asthma, central obesity, type II diabetes, hyperlipidemia, metabolic syndrome, etc Areca nut affects the endocrine system, leading to hypothyroidism, prostate hyperplasia and infertility It affects the immune system leading to suppression of T-cell activity and decreased release of cytokines It has harmful effects on the fetus when used during pregnancy Thus, areca nut is not a harmless substance as often perceived and proclaimed by the manufacturers of areca nut products such as Pan Masala, Supari Mix, Betel quid, etc There is an urgent need to recognize areca nut as a harmful food substance by the policy makers and prohibit its glamorization as a mouth freshener Strict laws are necessary to regulate the production of commercial preparations of areca nut

A review of the systemic adverse effects of areca nut or betel nut.

This study was conducted as part of an epidemiological survey of 126 nonsmokers and 178 smokers, showing primary infertility residing around Kolkata region of Eastern India. Their lifestyle history including smoking habits along with semen and blood were collected. The study examined the association of cigarette smoking with the risk of infertility, by determining the semen quality, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone levels, and androgen receptor (AR)-CAG repeat length in a group of smokers compared with a control group (non smokers). Based on conventional WHO criteria, lower sperm motility (P < 0.001) and increased sperm morphological defects (P < 0.0001) were associated with smoking habits. Binary logistic regression analysis for the effect of smoking status on sperm DNA integrity demonstrated significant positive correlation (p = 0.006). Serum FSH and LH levels were higher for smokers compared with non-smokers while the testosterone level decreased significantly ...

Effect of smoking on semen quality, FSH, testosterone level, and CAG repeat length in androgen receptor gene of infertile men in an Indian city

Growth of 17α-methyltestosterone treated monosex Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus was compared with hormone untreated mixed-sex fish in four different culture systems. The experiment had 2 X 4 factorial design: the first factor was presence or absence of hormone treatment (monosex and mixed-sex fish), the second factor was related to culture system (cistern, flow-through, pen and pond). Fish were cultured under similar feeding regime and stocking density for six months and different growth parameters such as body weight, length, daily weight gain (DWG), specific growth rate (SGR), proximate body composition and survival rate were analyzed. Monosex tilapia showed significantly higher (P-value 0.05) among mixed-sex and monosex fish and between different culture systems. Monosex tilapia in pond culture system showed the highest weight, DWG and protein content while mixed-sex tilapia in cistern culture system showed the lowest weight, DWG and protein content. Considering the results of this study, culture of monosex tilapia in earthen ponds might be considered the ideal method for tilapia culture in India.

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Growth of Mixed-Sex and Monosex Nile Tilapia in Different Culture Systems

Coloration is one essential sales factor deciding the market value of ornamental fish In ornamental fish trading of faded fish fails to create interest of the buyers In the present study, we noted that turmeric mixed fish feeds can promote carotenoid pigment deposition on the fantail of guppy Poecilia reticulata Carotenoid content of the caudal fin and muscle of the fish and specific growth rate (SGR) were also analyzed Results showed that there is a significant difference in the increment (P<001) of the carotene content of fin and muscle Our results in the fresh fish further showed that the turmeric powder at a concentration of 45mg/50gm of fish feed shows highest pigment concentration in caudal fin and muscle of the fish and better SGR

Turmeric as a carotenoid source on pigmentation and growth of fantail guppy, Poecilia reticulata

Stocking density is considered one of the important factors affecting fish growth. But, information related to impact of stocking density on growth performance of androgen-treated monosex tilapia population during cage culture under the ecological conditions of Gangetic plains in West Bengal, India is limited. The aim of our study was to compare the growth potential of control and hormone-treated, sex reversed tilapia at various stocking densities and to determine an ideal stocking density for cage culture of monosex fish. Control and hormone treated fish were stocked separately in mesh cages at different stocking densities (1, 5, 10, 15, 25, 50, 75 and 100 fry / m3) and it was found that the highest growth was observed for the 50 fish / m3 groups for both the control and hormone treated categories. More over, the monosex androgen treated population showed much higher growth potential for all the density groups compared to the corresponding mixedsex population. Thus, cage culture of hormone treated monosex tilapia at a density of 50 fish / m3 can be considered ideal for augmented production of the fish under Indian context.

Determination of ideal stocking density for cage culture of monosex Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in India

Arecoline is an alkaloid of betel nut of Areca catechu. Betel nut is chewed by millions of people in the world and it causes oral and hepatic cancers in human. It has therapeutic value for the treatment of Alzheimer and schizophrenia. Arecoline has immunosuppressive, mutagenic and genotoxic effects in laboratory animals. It also affects endocrine functions. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of arecoline on pineal-testicular axis in rats. Since pineal activity is different between day and night, the current study is undertaken in both the photophase and scotophase. The findings were evaluated by ultrastructural and hormonal studies of pineal and testicular Leydig cells, with quantitations of fructose and sialic acid of sex accessories. Arecoline treatment (10 mg/kg body weight daily for 10 days) caused suppression of pineal activity at ultrastructural level by showing dilatation of the cisternae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), large autophagosome-like bodies with swollen mitochondrial cristae, numerous lysosomes, degenerated synaptic ribbons and reduced number of synaptic-like microvesicles. Moreover, pineal and serum N-acetylserotonin and melatonin levels were decreased with increased serotonin levels in both the gland and serum. In contrast, testicular Leydig cell activity was stimulated with abundance of smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER), electron-dense core vesicles and vacuolated secretory vesicles, and increased testosterone level in the arecoline recipients. Consequently, the testosterone target, like prostate, was ultrastructurally stimulated with abundance of RER and accumulation of secretory vesicles. Fructose and sialic acid concentrations were also significantly increased respectively in the coagulating gland and seminal vesicle. These results were more significant in the scotophase than the photophase. The findings suggest that arecoline inhibits pineal activity, but stimulates testicular function (testosterone level) and its target organs presumably via muscarinic cholinergic receptor in rats.

Samir Banerjee

Papers

Effect of smoking on semen quality, FSH, testosterone level, and CAG repeat length in androgen receptor gene of infertile men in an Indian city

Growth of Mixed-Sex and Monosex Nile Tilapia in Different Culture Systems

Turmeric as a carotenoid source on pigmentation and growth of fantail guppy, Poecilia reticulata

Determination of ideal stocking density for cage culture of monosex Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in India

Ultrastructural and hormonal changes in the pineal-testicular axis following arecoline administration in rats.