Atypical disseminated histiocytic sarcoma in a 7-month-old dog: a case report

A 7-month-old intact female bearded collie dog was admitted after a two-week history of progressive cough, inappetence, and lethargy, with no response to previous treatment with doxycycline and steroids. Mild attenuation of lung sounds in the right middle hemithorax was the only abnormality detected on physical examination. Abdominal ultrasound and thoracic radiographs were performed and revealed multifocally distributed nodules and masses, wellcircumscribed and of variable size in the kidneys and pulmonary parenchyma. Ultrasoundguided fine needle aspirates of the renal and pulmonary masses were taken. A cytologic evaluation of these lesions pointed towards a malignant mesenchymal neoplasia. Euthanasia was elected due to the poor prognosis and rapid progression. The post-mortem histopathology, a positive result to IBA1 immunoperoxidase staining, and a lack of detection of infectious agents, and negative E-cadherin immunostaining enabled the final diagnosis of a disseminated histiocytic sarcoma. We report an atypical form, both in breed and age, of canine disseminated histiocytic sarcoma. While all breeds can be affected, there is a clear predisposition in some, and no cases have been previously described in bearded collies. Moreover, to the authors’ knowledge, this is the youngest dog with this histiocytic disorder described to date. Disseminated histiocytic sarcoma should be considered as a differential diagnosis of multinodular tumors in dogs, regardless of the anatomic location and age of the dogs, even in puppies.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Farmed fish welfare research status in Latin America: A review

Latin America (LATAM) plays an important role in the world's production of aquatic animals and is the second most productive region in the world. Chile, Ecuador, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, and Perú contribute 87% of LATAM aquaculture production. The fish welfare in aquaculture is of increasing public concern globally, and LATAM is no exception, growing in importance for fish farmers, authorities, and scientists. Although the topic is somewhat controversial, the welfare status of farmed fish has direct implications for their production and the sustainability of the industry. Therefore, this study analyses scientific papers on animal welfare in farmed fish, from the six countries in LATAM with the highest aquaculture production. The main objectives were to quantify the number of papers published between 2000 and 2023 on fish welfare by using scientific databases. A total of 285 papers were found for the period analysed. The country with the largest number of publications was Brazil (75.79%), followed by Chile (13.33%), Mexico (7.02%), Peru (1.75%), Ecuador, and Colombia (1.05%). Nile tilapia was the most studied species, appearing in 30.18% of the publications, with most of the studies mainly dealing with nutrition (32.28%). The growth of aquaculture is leading to joint efforts to generate knowledge on welfare issues, especially in poorly studied species with high production, to create policies that help minimize welfare risks. Given this, the insights generated by this review could be a useful addition to approaches investigating the trends and concepts of fish welfare in LATAM.This work was supported by the Mexican Council of Humanities, Science and Technology (Project CONAHCYT-SEP-CB-2016-284167) coordinated by Zohar Ibarra Zatarain. We also thank the Mexican Council of Science and Technology (CONAHCYT) for supporting the PhD studies for Joel Fitzgerald Linares Cordova (19597525).info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Residual correlation and ensemble modelling to improve crop and grassland models

Multi-model ensembles are becoming increasingly accepted for the estimation of agricultural carbon-nitrogen fluxes, productivity and sustainability. There is mounting evidence that with some site-specific observations available for model calibration (with vegetation data as a minimum requirement), median outputs assimilated from biogeochemical models (multi-model medians) provide more accurate simulations than individual models. Here, we evaluate potential deficiencies in how model ensembles represent (in relation to climatic factors) the processes underlying biogeochemical outputs in complex agricultural systems such as grassland and crop rotations including fallow periods. We do that by exploring the correlation of model residuals. We restricted the distinction between partial and full calibration to the two most relevant calibration stages, i.e. with plant data only (partial) and with a combination of plant, soil physical and biogeochemical data (full). It introduces and evaluates the trade-off between (1) what is practical to apply for model users and beneficiaries, and (2) what constitutes best modelling practice. The lower correlations obtained overall with fully calibrated models highlight the centrality of the full calibration scenario for identifying areas of model structures that require further development.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

The influence of nitrate pollution on elemental and isotopic composition of aquatic and semi-aquatic bryophytes

Bryophytes can play an important role in key ecosystem processes and represent potential candidates as bioindicators for environmental monitoring programmes. Nitrate (NO3−) pollution poses a growing threat to both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, potentially leading to imbalances in nutrient levels and altering the chemical composition of organisms, thereby impacting ecosystem function. However, the specific effects of NO3− pollution on the elemental and isotopic composition of aquatic and semi-aquatic bryophytes remain uncertain. In this study, we examined the influence of NO3− pollution from spring water on the elemental composition of aquatic and semi-aquatic (hygrophytic) bryophyte species and their respective water sources. Our investigation encompassed diverse land use, lithology, and climate conditions to identify suitable bryophyte species as bioindicators of NO3− pollution. We observed higher NO3− concentrations in spring water from intensively farmed and urban areas compared to natural and extensively farmed areas (e.g., pastures). These higher concentrations were positively correlated with the nitrogen (N) content and δ15N isotope ratio in bryophytes. However, spring water NO3− pollution did not significantly affect the overall chemical composition of the water sources, except for Cl−, Cr, and Zn. Our findings highlight Apopellia endiviifolia and Oxyrrhynchium speciosum as promising candidate species for bioindication of aquatic NO3− pollution, due to their δ15N sensitivity to increasing NO3−, i.e., they respond to variations in the ratio of δ15N isotopes in their environment. The identification of these species will assist land managers in effectively monitoring NO3− pollution in freshwater systems, thereby addressing public health concerns and supporting wildlife conservation priorities.This study was funded by the Institució Catalana d'Història Natural (ICHN) and the Secció de Ciències Biològiques de l'Institut d'Estudis Catalans (IEC), the Catalan government project SGR2021-01333. A.M and M.F-M. were supported by the European Research Council project ERC-StG-2022-101076740 STOIKOS and by a fellowship from ”la Caixa” Foundation (ID 100010434), code: LCF/BQ/PI21/11830010. M.F-M was also supported by a Ramón y Cajal fellowship (RYC2021-031511-I) funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, the NextGenerationEU program of the European Union, the Spanish Plan of Recovery, Transformation and Resilience, and the Spanish Research Agency. JP was funded by the Spanish government grant TED2021-132627B-I00info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Color of Wine: Development of Reference Grids/Templates for Sensory Analysis With Trained Assessors

Color of wine gives information on many aspects of the product, and it is one of the main parameters defining wine quality. Consequently, color is an important attribute described in the Designations of Origin (PDO)'s technical specifications. In this paper, color reference grids for color sensory evaluation of white, rosé and red wines (linked to a specific methodology and controlled illumination) are developed, presented, and validated. The color intensity and color hue parameters of 2353 wines of different types have been analyzed using these reference grids during the period 2021–2023. Considering the results obtained, the usefulness of having a double color measurement (color intensity and color hue) is questioned and discussed.This work was supported by Catalan Institute of Vine and Wine (INCAVI). Generalitat de Catalunya.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Evaluating the feasibility of powder milk production by pulse spray drying: An approach on sensory properties, toxicological assessment, and microbial inactivation

The potential of a new spray drying technology (pulse spray drying, PSD) was explored in drying milk, using two outlet temperatures. Sensory attributes, instrumental color properties, and volatile compounds were examined. Additionally, the effect of PSD on the food's chemical safety was measured by CALUX® bioassays. For these approaches, milk was also dried by conventional spray drying (SD) and lyophilization (LYO). Finally, the impact of PSD on the microbiological load was investigated using Pediococcus acidilactici ATCC 8042, as a non-pathogenic surrogate of enteric pathogens. In sensory analysis, reconstituted PSD samples were scored with higher color, odor, and flavor intensities than LYO and SD. Volatiles like γ-hexalactone, acetic acid, and ethyl acetate could have contributed to these particularities. Accordingly, instrumental color revealed differences between the four treatments, showing a more evident yellowish coloration and higher saturation in PSD milk. Cytotox, PXR, and p53 CALUX® results in PSD samples ranged from 0.11 to 0.21 μg Tributyltin acetate eq./g, 0.30–0.51 μg Nicardipine eq./g, and were under quantification limit, respectively. These findings indicated that PSD does not pose an increased toxicological risk compared to other drying technologies. Viability results of Pediococcus acidilactici during PSD showed that the higher the outlet temperature, the lower the cell viability. In conclusion, all data raised in this study evidenced that PSD could be used in milk drying without compromising its quality and safety.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Modeling soil accretion and carbon accumulation in deltaic rice fields

Rice cultivation is popular in low-lying areas such as deltas, but climate change threatens the viability of the crop. In recent decades, the resilience of deltas to sea level rise (SLR) has been influenced by the reduction of sediment load from rivers due to the construction of dams, disrupting natural deposition in deltaic plains. Sediment and organic matter accumulation in wetlands are key to vertical accretion in the face of SLR and soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. In this sense, deltaic rice fields can retain sediments as well as wetlands and promote SOC sequestration, which is effective in adapting to SLR. In the Ebro Delta, the sediments that reached the fields through irrigation channels were used to build up and form rice fields in the wetlands of the area. We hypothesize that this sedimentation has been key to vertical accretion and SOC sequestration in rice fields. These processes were simulated by developing a process-based cohort model inspired by accretion in marsh equilibrium models (MEM). The model was able to simulate the soil carbon profile of rice fields in the Ebro Delta, based on the soil-accretion concept and considering the spatial heterogeneity of the area. Its predictions of vertical accretion and carbon content were more accurate for mineral and clay-like soils than for organic and sandy soils. Topsoil decomposition rate and organic matter content were the parameters that most influenced predictions of total vertical accretion and final soil organic carbon stock. Simulations were carried out according to future climate change scenarios, considering restoration of river sediment flux, to evaluate effects on SOC sequestration and vertical accretion in rice fields. Results showed that only with significant river sediment restoration did rice fields show positive vertical accretion, which facilitates SOC sequestration.This study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through the National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA) [grant no. RTA2014-00058-C03-03]; Life EBRO-ADMICLIM [grant no. ENV/ES/001182] granted to C.I.;Agencia Estatal de Investigación [grant no. PID 2019-104742RB-I00] granted to A.C.; FPI-INIA Predoctoral Scholarship from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, INIA [grant no. CPD2016-0059] granted to M.B-M and US NSF Award [grant no. 1654853] granted to J.T.M.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Exchange of volatile organic compounds between the atmosphere and the soil

Background Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) play a crucial role in understanding soil ecology and the atmospheric environment. However, the biochemical cycles of VOCs in soil systems and their relationship to atmospheric VOC exchange remain unclear. The soil system serves as a primary site for the generation, emission, and uptake of VOCs, yet these processes lack sufficient understanding. Scope This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the exchange of VOCs between the soil and the atmosphere. We explore the mechanisms governing the generation, emission, and uptake of VOCs in soils, quantitatively summarizing available data on emission and uptake. Additionally, we highlight common and specific VOCs emitted by various soil sources (litter, roots, bare soil, and soil microbes) and examine their interactions. Conclusions The composition and emission rates of VOCs display significant variability across different soils, attributed in part to variations in the contributions of different VOC sources within the soils. Litter and roots predominantly release terpenes, benzenoids, and alcohols, while bare soil and microbes emit higher proportions of alkanes, esters, and alcohols. Despite often being overlooked, soils serve as essential sinks for VOCs, and global environmental changes may reshape patterns of soil VOC sources and sinks.This research was financially supported by the Catalan government grant SGR221-1333, the TED2021-132627B-I00 grant funded by the Spanish MCIN, AEI/https://doi.org/10.13039/501100011033 and by the European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR, and the Fundación Ramón Areces project CIVP20A6621. Kaijun Yang is grateful for the financial support from the China Scholarship Council (201806910060). The datasets generated during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Estudio de los efectos de la puesta en riego de la zona Segarra-Garrigues sobre la tipología de frutos, el proceso de almazara y la huella hídrica final en el aceite

La puesta en riego de amplias zonas oleicolas, que involucran gran numero de agricultores, tiene implicaciones tecnologicas importantes. A las ventajas productivas ya conocidas, hay que anadir algunos inconvenientes relacionados con la capacidad de molturacion de las almazaras vinculadas a dichas zonas. En efecto, si estas industrias no se actualizan convenientemente pueden verse desbordadas por una creciente entrada diaria de aceitunas, mayores dificultades extractivas y peores caracteristicas finales del aceite, especialmente en cuanto a color, estabilidad y sabor. Por otra parte, la puesta en riego tiene una evidente huella hídrica a nivel de producción, que no se ve penalizada a nivel de transformación.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Reproductive behaviour and fertilized spawns in cultured Solea senegalensis broodstock co-housed with wild breeders during their juvenile stages

The reproductive failure of Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) cultured males (reared entirely in captivity from egg through to adult) that do not participate in reproductive behaviours to fertilise spawns, results in a problem to achieve reproductive control in captivity. However, cohabitation with wild males has led to an increase in the involvement of cultured males in reproductive behaviour, although their contribution to fertilised spawning is still lower than that of wild breeders. This study aimed to examine the effect of different social conditions, on the reproductive behaviour and spawning success of cultured breeders over three reproductive seasons. Before starting this study, different social learning opportunities were provided to the breeders from the juvenile to the pubertal stages of the individuals. Behaviour and spawning were evaluated in four experimental groups of cultured breeders: two groups (W1 and W2) that prior to this study were reared during the juvenile stage with wild breeders that fertilized spawns, a Culture breeder group (CB) that was previously reared with cultured breeders that spawned unfertile eggs, and a negative control group (CN) that was reared in isolation from adult fish. During the three reproductive seasons, spawning was obtained from all groups. Generally, the first year had the highest egg production and the third year the lowest. However, fertilised eggs were only obtained from W1 in the first year. A total of eight fertilised spawns were collected with a fertilisation rate of 28.02 ± 13.80 % and a hatching rate of 15.04 ± 10.40 %. The mean number of larvae obtained per spawn was 7,683 ± 5,947 and the total number of larvae from all eight spawns was 61,468. The paternity analysis assigned 64.3 % of larvae to a single couple of breeders, while 34.3 % of larvae were not assigned to any single family, but inconclusively to more than three parents. The highest locomotor activity was observed in W1, while no significant differences were observed in the number of movements within W2, CB and CN. In all groups, during the peak of locomotor activity (19h00-20h00), the main reproductive behaviours observed were Rest the Head and Follow, while the Guardian behaviour was low and Coupled behaviour was only observed in W1. Over time, the reproductive behaviours decreased, except for Follow. The social learning opportunities provided by cohabitation with wild fish during juvenile stages prior to spawning in W1, increased activity and fertilised spawning. However, the number of successful spawns was low and over time stopped in association with a decrease in reproductive behaviour. This suggests that other mechanisms of behavioural learning could be involved in reproductive success, such as reproductive dominance, environmental conditions or hormonal interactions that could affect physiological processes in the reproduction of captive breeders.The authors would like to thank Josep Lluis Celades and Marta Sastre for technical help. This work was funded by the National Institute of Agricultural Research and Technology and Food INIA-FEDER (RTA2014-00048) coordinated by ND. Participation of SR was supported by a PhD grant from AGAUR (Government of Catalonia) and WG was funded by a predoctoral grant from the National Board of Science and Technology (CONACYT, México).info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio