Evaluation of explotation system in an autochthonous goat group of milk production

In the present study we have done an evaluation of the farms in an region of the north of Córdoba (Spain). Twenty five farms with principally murciano-granadina breed, have been visited. In these farms, we have done an inquiry with 310 questions. This inquiry is structured in three sections; one of those has 150 management variables, another one has 100 health variables and the last one has 60 technologic variables. Farms have been clasiffied in three groups in relation to the succesfull events distribution for each group of variables. The clasification system, which has been contrasted by discriminant analysis, let us include the farms while they are incorporating in the program. This is a results in a simple way to apply a different action plan in each group of farms.En este estudio se ha realizado una evaluación de las ganaderías de una comarca del norte de la provincia de Córdoba. Se han visitado 25 explotaciones de ganado caprino lechero, principalmente de raza Murciano-Granadina, en las que se ha realizado una encuesta que contiene un total de 310 preguntas. Dicha encuesta se encuentra estructurada en tres partes, 150 aspectos de manejo, 100 aspectos sanitarios y 60 aspectos tecnológicos. Las explotaciones se han clasificado en tres grupos según la distribución de los sucesos favorables para cada grupo de variables. Este sistema de clasificación, que ha sido contrastado mediante análisis discriminante, permite ir incluyendo ganaderías que se incorporen en un futuro, y resulta una forma sencilla de aplicar un plan de actuaciones diferente para cada grupo de ganaderías

Wood characterization for energy application proceeding from pruning Morus alba L., Platanus hispanica Münchh. and Sophora japonica L. in urban areas

Pruning urban forests generates significant amounts of lignocellulosic biomass every year. The energy potential of this biomass is unclear. The aim of this research was direct analysis of the gross calorific value (GO!), elemental composition and moisture content of Morus alba L., Platanus hispanica Munchh. and Sophora japonica L by means of laboratory equipment. This analysis allowed for further development of indirect GCV prediction models which are economically attractive and less time consuming to direct analysis. These models presented high coefficients of determination (R-2 0.66-0.96). It has been determined that the species with highest mean GCV is S. japonica L. (19615.68 kJ/kg-dry sample) whereas the one with the lowest is the M. alba L (18192.87 kJ/kg-dry sample). Elemental analysis showed highest carbon (48.22%), hydrogen (6.17%) and nitrogen (1.16%) content in S. japonica L in dry samples. Sulfur was constant at the level 0.05% for all analyzed species. Also percentage of bark and wood density were determined. Mean percentage of bark was highest for P. hispanica Miinchh. (13.05%) while wood density was highest for S. japonica L. (0.86 g cm(-3)). This way the research has proven that the biomass produced by pruning urban forests appears to be an interesting source of renewable energy. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Velázquez Martí, B.; Sajdak, M.; López Cortés, I.; Callejón-Ferre, AJ. (2014). Wood characterization for energy application proceeding from pruning Morus alba L., Platanus hispanica Münchh. and Sophora japonica L. in urban areas. Renewable Energy. (62):478-483. doi:10.1016/j.renene.2013.08.010S4784836

Human genetic selection on the MTHFR 677C>T polymorphism

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The prevalence of genotypes of the 677C>T polymorphism for the MTHFR gene varies among humans. In previous studies, we found changes in the genotypic frequencies of this polymorphism in populations of different ages, suggesting that this could be caused by an increase in the intake of folate and multivitamins by women during the periconceptional period. The aim was to analyze changes in the allelic frequencies of this polymorphism in a Spanish population, including samples from spontaneous abortions (SA).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 1305 subjects born in the 20th century were genotyped for the 677C>T polymorphism using allele specific real-time PCR with Taqman^®probes. A section of our population (n = 276) born in 1980–1989 was compared with fetal samples (n = 344) from SA of unknown etiology from the same period.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>An increase in the frequency of the T allele (0.38 vs 0.47; p < 0.001) and of the TT genotype (0.14 vs 0.24; p < 0.001) in subjects born in the last quarter of the century was observed. In the 1980–1989 period, the results show that the frequency of the wild type genotype (CC) is about tenfold lower in the SA samples than in the controls (0.03 vs 0.33; p < 0.001) and that the frequency of the TT genotype increases in the controls (0.19 to 0.27) and in the SA samples (0.20 to 0.33 (p < 0.01)); r = 0.98.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Selection in favor of the T allele has been detected. This selection could be due to the increased fetal viability in early stages of embryonic development, as is deduced by the increase of mutants in both living and SA populations.</p

Distribution and genetic variation of hymenolepidid cestodes in murid rodents on the Canary Islands (Spain)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In the Canary Islands there are no previous data about tapeworms (Cestoda) of rodents. In order to identify the hymenolepidid species present in these hosts, a survey of 1,017 murine (349 <it>Rattus rattus</it>, 13 <it>Rattus norvegicus </it>and 655 <it>Mus musculus domesticus</it>) was carried out in the whole Archipelago. Molecular studies based on nuclear <it>ITS1 </it>and mitochondrial <it>COI </it>loci were performed to confirm the identifications and to analyse the levels of genetic variation and differentiation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Three species of hymenolepidids were identified: <it>Hymenolepis diminuta</it>, <it>Rodentolepis microstoma </it>and <it>Rodentolepis fraterna</it>. <it>Hymenolepis diminuta </it>(in rats) and <it>R. microstoma </it>(in mice) showed a widespread distribution in the Archipelago, and <it>R. fraterna </it>was the least spread species, appearing only on five of the islands. The hymenolepidids found on Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and La Graciosa were restricted to one area. The <it>COI </it>network of <it>H. diminuta </it>showed that the haplotypes from Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are the most distant with respect to the other islands, but clearly related among them.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Founder effects and biotic and abiotic factors could have played important role in the presence/absence of the hymenolepidid species in determined locations. The haplotypes from the eastern islands (Fuerteventura and Lanzarote) seem to have shared an ancestral haplotype very distant from the most frequent one that was found in the rest of the islands. Two colonization events or a single event with subsequent isolation and reduced gene flow between western-central and eastern islands, have taken place in the Archipelago. The three tapeworms detected are zoonotic species, and their presence among rodents from this Archipelago suggests a potential health risk to human via environmental contamination in high risk areas. However, the relatively low prevalence of infestations detected and the focal distribution of some of these species on certain islands reduce the general transmission risk to human.</p

Influence of fruit maturation process on the sensory quality of virgin olive oils from Picual, Hojiblanca and Picudo cultivars

La calidad sensorial del aceite de oliva virgen (AOV) está estrechamente relacionada con la variedad y el grado de maduración de la aceituna. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue investigar la influencia del grado de maduración sobre el perfil sensorial de aceites de oliva virgen monovarietales con el fin de establecer el momento óptimo de recolección. Los frutos de tres variedades diferentes, Picual, Picudo y Hojiblanca fueron recolectados en nueve etapas de maduración diferentes. Los parámetros de calidad fueron evaluados y las características organolépticas se determinaron por un panel de cata. Los resultados muestran que los parámetros analíticos disminuyeron ligeramente en todas las variedades. Para cada variedad se describe la evolución de las características organolépticas de los aceites de oliva virgen así como sus flavores típicos. En todas las variedades estudiadas, los atributos «frutado» (afrutado) y «amargo» disminuyeron durante la maduración, por el contrario el atributo «dulce» se incrementó. Los resultados mostrados pueden ser de gran utilidad para proveer información sobre la evolución de la calidad sensorial de los aceites de oliva virgen durante la maduración para obtener aceites basados en las preferencias del mercado.The sensory quality of virgin olive oil is closely correlated with the cultivar and the degree of ripening of the olive fruit. The aim of the present work was to investigate the influence of ripening degree on sensory profile of monovarietal virgin olive oils (VOO) in order to establish an optimum harvesting time. Fruit obtained from three different cultivars, Picual, Picudo and Hojiblanca were picked at nine different stages of ripeness. The quality parameters were evaluated and the sensory characteristics were determinate by a sensor panel. The analytical parameters decrease slightly in all cultivars. The evolution of the organoleptic characteristics of the virgin olive oil is reported and typical flavors are described for each cultivar. In all studied cultivar, “fruity” and “bitter” attributes decreased during the ripening and conversely “sweet” attribute increased. The results showed in this work could be considered useful for providing information about the evolution of sensory quality of virgin olive oils during ripening to obtain those based on market preferences

Whipworms of south-east Asian rodents are distinct from Trichuris muris

The whipworm Trichuris muris is known to be associated with various rodent species in the northern hemisphere, but the species identity of whipworm infecting rodents in the Oriental region remains largely unknown. We collected Trichuris of Muridae rodents in mainland and insular Southeast Asia between 2008 and 2015 and used molecular and morphological approaches to identify the systematic position of new specimens. We discovered two new species that were clearly distinct from T. muris, both in terms of molecular phylogenetic clustering and morphological features, with one species found in Thailand and another one in Borneo. We named the new species from Thailand as Trichuris cossoni and the species from Borneo as Trichuris arrizabalagai. Molecular phylogeny using internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) showed a divergence between T. arrizabalagai n. sp., T. cossoni n. sp. and T. muris. Our findings of phylogeographically distinct Trichuris species despite some globally distributed host species requires further research into the distribution of different species, previously assumed to belong to T. muris, which has particular relevance for using these species as laboratory model organisms

Structure–activity relationships on the odor detectability of homologous carboxylic acids by humans

We measured concentration detection functions for the odor detectability of the homologs: formic, acetic, butyric, hexanoic, and octanoic acids. Subjects (14 ≤ n ≤ 18) comprised young (19–37 years), healthy, nonsmoker, and normosmic participants from both genders. Vapors were delivered by air dilution olfactometry, using a three-alternative forced-choice procedure against carbon-filtered air, and an ascending concentration approach. Delivered concentrations were established by gas chromatography (flame ionization detector) in parallel with testing. Group and individual olfactory functions were modeled by a sigmoid (logistic) equation from which two parameters are calculated: C, the odor detection threshold (ODT) and D, the steepness of the function. Thresholds declined with carbon chain length along formic, acetic, and butyric acid where they reached a minimum (ODTs = 514, 5.2, and 0.26 ppb by volume, respectively). Then, they increased for hexanoic (1.0 ppb) and octanoic (0.86 ppb) acid. Odor thresholds and interindividual differences in olfactory acuity among these young, normosmic participants were lower than traditionally thought and reported. No significant effects of gender on odor detectability were observed. The finding of an optimum molecular size for odor potency along homologs confirms a prediction made by a model of ODTs based on a solvation equation. We discuss the mechanistic implications of this model for the process of olfactory detection

Multi-criteria ranking of corporate distress prediction models: empirical evaluation and methodological contributions

YesAlthough many modelling and prediction frameworks for corporate bankruptcy and distress have been proposed, the relative performance evaluation of prediction models is criticised due to the assessment exercise using a single measure of one criterion at a time, which leads to reporting conflicting results. Mousavi et al. (Int Rev Financ Anal 42:64–75, 2015) proposed an orientation-free super-efficiency DEA-based framework to overcome this methodological issue. However, within a super-efficiency DEA framework, the reference benchmark changes from one prediction model evaluation to another, which in some contexts might be viewed as “unfair” benchmarking. In this paper, we overcome this issue by proposing a slacks-based context-dependent DEA (SBM-CDEA) framework to evaluate competing distress prediction models. In addition, we propose a hybrid crossbenchmarking- cross-efficiency framework as an alternative methodology for ranking DMUs that are heterogeneous. Furthermore, using data on UK firms listed on London Stock Exchange, we perform a comprehensive comparative analysis of the most popular corporate distress prediction models; namely, statistical models, under both mono criterion and multiple criteria frameworks considering several performance measures. Also, we propose new statistical models using macroeconomic indicators as drivers of distress

Greenhouse crop residues: Energy potential and models for the prediction of their higher heating value

Almería, in southeastern Spain, generates some 1,086,261 t year-1 (fresh weight) of greenhouse crop (Cucurbita pepo L., Cucumis sativus L., Solanum melongena L., Solanum lycopersicum L., Phaseoulus vulgaris L., Capsicum annuum L., Citrillus vulgaris Schrad. and Cucumis melo L.) residues. The energy potential of this biomass is unclear. The aim of the present work was to accurately quantify this variable, differentiating between crop species while taking into consideration the area they each occupy. This, however, required the direct analysis of the higher heating value (HHV) of these residues, involving very expensive and therefore not commonly available equipment. Thus, a further aim was to develop models for predicting the HHV of these residues, taking into account variables measured by elemental and/or proximate analysis, thus providing an economically attractive alternative to direct analysis. All the analyses in this work involved the use of worldwide-recognised standards and methods. The total energy potential for these plant residues, as determined by direct analysis, was 1,003,497.49 MW h year-1. Twenty univariate and multivariate equations were developed to predict the HHV. The R2 and adjusted R2 values obtained for the univariate and multivariate models were 0.909 and 0.946 or above respectively. In all cases, the mean absolute percentage error varied between 0.344 and 2.533. These results show that any of these 20 equations could be used to accurately predict the HHV of crop residues. The residues produced by the Almería greenhouse industry would appear to be an interesting source of renewable energy.Plant remains Proximate analyses Renewable energy