The effects of feed area design on the social behaviour of dairy cattle

The overall objective of this thesis was to assess the effect of feed area design including feeding space availability, barrier type and stocking density, on the feeding behaviour of dairy cows. Feed intake in dairy cows is directly related to milk production, thus a good food supply is extremely important to the modern, high producing dairy cow. Intake is critical for improving milk production, health, body condition and the welfare of the animals. Feeding designs can have a major effect on behaviour and feed intake, therefore it is an important consideration when housing cattle and other livestock. The effect of altering the amount of space allowance available at the feed-face highlighted a significant effect on feeding patterns. As the space allowance increased the number of feeding bouts also increased (P<0.001) and length of bouts decreased (P<0.05). However, when provided with extra space at the feed-face, cows did not increase their feed intake as hypothesised, possibly as a result of the differences between individual animals being masked by an overall group effect. The number of aggressive interactions decreased as the space allowance increased (P<0.001) and furthermore, the number of times individuals were displaced from the feeding area also decreased as the space allowance increased (P<0.05). Subsequently, preference tests were used as a behavioural tool to determine how individual cows perceive their feeding environment with specific emphasis on understanding what difficulties low ranking animals face at the feed-face. Subordinate cows showed a significant preference for feeding alone rather than next to a dominant when they were offered high quality feed on both sides of a Y-maze test (P<0.001). When “asked” to trade-off between feed quality and proximity to a dominant cow, subordinate cows chose to feed alone on low quality food. A follow-on experiment using the same methodology was undertaken and aimed to identify the space allowances at which cows would not trade-off food quality. Four different space allowances were tested. At the two smaller space allowances, cows preferred to feed alone and for the two larger space allowances, cows had no significant preferences. The feed barrier has been shown to have a major effect on feeding and social behaviour of group housed dairy cows. A barrier design that provides some sort of separation between cows has also been shown to reduce competition. The aim of the final study was to determine if a feed barrier which obscured the cows’ visual field whilst feeding would increase vigilance behaviour and alter normal feeding behaviour, particularly for subordinates. Two different types of feed barrier were tested at four different stocking densities. The average daily feeding time was higher when cows were fed using a conventional headlock system compared to an electronic feeding system (P<0.05). All groups of cows displayed vigilance scans, however, neither type of barrier, feed space allowance, or dominance rank had an effect on the frequency of scans. These results indicate that neither feeder design nor stocking rate affect vigilance in dairy cows, at least over the treatment conditions assessed in the current study. The results of this research illustrate that to achieve the maximum levels of feeding behaviour and a reduction of aggressive behaviour, the cows’ environment must be such that it provides sufficient space and feed barrier design which will allow normal social behaviour. Over-stocking at the feed-face should be avoided to reduce competition. Future research should consider the long term effects of over stocking and competition on dry matter intake (DMI), milk production and health

Gene expression profiles in the rat streptococcal cell wall-induced arthritis model identified using microarray analysis

Experimental arthritis models are considered valuable tools for delineating mechanisms of inflammation and autoimmune phenomena. Use of microarray-based methods represents a new and challenging approach that allows molecular dissection of complex autoimmune diseases such as arthritis. In order to characterize the temporal gene expression profile in joints from the reactivation model of streptococcal cell wall (SCW)-induced arthritis in Lewis (LEW/N) rats, total RNA was extracted from ankle joints from naïve, SCW injected, or phosphate buffered saline injected animals (time course study) and gene expression was analyzed using Affymetrix oligonucleotide microarray technology (RAE230A). After normalization and statistical analysis of data, 631 differentially expressed genes were sorted into clusters based on their levels and kinetics of expression using Spotfire(® )profile search and K-mean cluster analysis. Microarray-based data for a subset of genes were validated using real-time PCR TaqMan(® )analysis. Analysis of the microarray data identified 631 genes (441 upregulated and 190 downregulated) that were differentially expressed (Delta > 1.8, P < 0.01), showing specific levels and patterns of gene expression. The genes exhibiting the highest fold increase in expression on days -13.8, -13, or 3 were involved in chemotaxis, inflammatory response, cell adhesion and extracellular matrix remodelling. Transcriptome analysis identified 10 upregulated genes (Delta > 5), which have not previously been associated with arthritis pathology and are located in genomic regions associated with autoimmune disease. The majority of the downregulated genes were associated with metabolism, transport and regulation of muscle development. In conclusion, the present study describes the temporal expression of multiple disease-associated genes with potential pathophysiological roles in the reactivation model of SCW-induced arthritis in Lewis (LEW/N) rat. These findings improve our understanding of the molecular events that underlie the pathology in this animal model, which is potentially a valuable comparator to human rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

Morbilidad de la linfadenectomía lumboaórtica laparoscópica en pacientes con tumor testicular no seminomatoso en estadío clínico A

Indexación: ScieloRetroperitoneal Lymph node dissection is part of the treatment of patients with nonseminomatous germ cell tumors stage I (NSGCT). Aim: To report the immediate surgical outcomes of patients subjected to laparoscopic retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. Material and Methods: Prospective analysis of the surgical outcomes of 118 patients aged 15 to 44 years, who underwent Laparoscopic Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection (L-RPLND) for NSGCT stage I. Results: Median blood loss was 50 cc (range 10-1.000 cc), median operative time was 120 min. (range 60-300 min). Mean hospital stay was 41.4 hours. Twelve patients (10.2%) had operative complications. Ten had vascular injuries (8.5%), one had a duodenal injury (0.85%) and one had an acute pulmonary edema (0.85%). Eight lesions were repaired laparoscopically and three required conversion to open surgery. There was no mortality in this series. Conclusions: L-RPLND had an acceptable complication rate in this series of patients. Most of the complications could be resolved laparoscopicallyIntroducción: La linfadenectomía retroperitoneal lumboaórtica es el método de elección en el tratamiento de los pacientes con cáncer testicular no seminoma en estadio A. Este trabajo muestra los resultados inmediatos de una serie de 118 pacientes operados por vía laparoscópica. Material y Método: Se analizan los resultados quirúrgicos de 118 pacientes portadores de un cáncer testicular no seminoma estadio clínico A. Resultados: La media de edad fue de 29 años. La mediana de sangrado fue de 50 cc, el tiempo quirúrgico tuvo una mediana de 120 minutos y el tiempo de hospitalización tuvo una media de 41,4 horas. Complicaciones intraoperatorias ocurrieron en 12 pacientes (10,2%): 10 lesiones hemorrágicas (8,5%), 1 lesión duodenal (0,85%) y 1 edema pulmonar agudo (0,85%). De las 11 lesiones quirúrgicas, 8 fueron reparadas por vía laparoscópica, requiriendo conversión a cirugía abierta 3 casos. No hubo mortalidad en la serie. Conclusiones: La linfadenectomía lumboaórtica laparoscópica es un procedimiento estandarizado, con una tasa de complicaciones aceptable, la mayoría de las cuales puede ser resuelta en forma laparoscópica

Wide Screening of Phage-Displayed Libraries Identifies Immune Targets in Planta

Microbe-Associated Molecular Patterns and virulence effectors are recognized by plants as a first step to mount a defence response against potential pathogens. This recognition involves a large family of extracellular membrane receptors and other immune proteins located in different sub-cellular compartments. We have used phage-display technology to express and select for Arabidopsis proteins able to bind bacterial pathogens. To rapidly identify microbe-bound phage, we developed a monitoring method based on microarrays. This combined strategy allowed for a genome-wide screening of plant proteins involved in pathogen perception. Two phage libraries for high-throughput selection were constructed from cDNA of plants infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14, or from combined samples of the virulent isolate DC3000 of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato and its avirulent variant avrRpt2. These three pathosystems represent different degrees in the specificity of plant-microbe interactions. Libraries cover up to 26107 different plant transcripts that can be displayed as functional proteins on the surface of T7 bacteriophage. A number of these were selected in a bio-panning assay for binding to Pseudomonas cells. Among the selected clones we isolated the ethylene response factor ATERF-1, which was able to bind the three bacterial strains in competition assays. ATERF-1 was rapidly exported from the nucleus upon infiltration of either alive or heat-killed Pseudomonas. Moreover, aterf-1 mutants exhibited enhanced susceptibility to infection. These findings suggest that ATERF-1 contains a microbe-recognition domain with a role in plant defence. To identify other putative pathogen-binding proteins on a genome-wide scale, the copy number of selected-vs.-total clones was compared by hybridizing phage cDNAs with Arabidopsis microarrays. Microarray analysis revealed a set of 472 candidates with significant fold change. Within this set defence-related genes, including well-known targets of bacterial effectors, are over-represented. Other genes non-previously related to defence can be associated through this study with general or strain-specific recognition of Pseudomonas.This work was supported by grants BIO2006-01299 from the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacio´n (MICINN, http://www.micinn.es/portal/site/MICINN) and PI-2006-10 from Gobierno Vasco to SG; BIO2008-04698, BIO2011-26940, CSD2007-00057 (TRANSPLANTA) from the MICINN and SA048A10-2 from Junta de Castilla y Leo´n to OL. CR was supported by a FPI fellowship from the MICINN. The publication of this work was supported by IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science

Absolute kinematics of radio source components in the complete S5 polar cap sample. IV. Proper motions of the radio cores over a decade and spectral properties

We have carried out a high-precision astrometric analysis of two very-long-baseline-interferometry (VLBI) epochs of observation of the 13 extragalactic radio sources in the complete S5 polar cap sample. The VLBI epochs span a time baseline of 10 years and enable us to achieve precisions in the proper motions of the source cores up to a few micro-arcseconds per year. The observations were performed at 14.4 GHz and 43.1 GHz, and enable us to estimate the frequency core-shifts in a subset of sources, for which the spectral-index distributions can be computed. We study the source-position stability by analysing the changes in the relative positions of fiducial source points (the jet cores) over a decade. We find motions of 0.1-0.9 mas among close-by sources between the two epochs, which imply drifts in the jet cores of approximately a few tens of micro-as per year. These results have implications for the standard Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN) jet model (where the core locations are supposed to be stable in time). For one of our sources, 0615+820, the morphological and spectral properties in year 2010, as well as the relative astrometry between years 2000 and 2010, suggest the possibility of either a strong parsec-scale interaction of the AGN jet with the ISM, a gravitational lens with ~1 mas diameter, or a resolved massive binary black hole

Educational innovation with the use of gamification and robotics

Motivar e interesar al alumnado en el estudio de las asignaturas STEM (en inglés Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths) es un nuevo reto para la Unión Europea. Se presenta un proyecto de investigación H2020 que se está desarrollando actualmente en cinco países europeos (Finlandia, Bielorrusia, Grecia, Alemania y España) y que pretende promover el gusto por el estudio de estas asignaturas entre el alumnado de 10 a 18 años. El proyecto tiene una duración de 3 años y para establecer los principios pedagógicos se ha llevado a cabo un estudio de corte eminentemente cualitativo a través del análisis de grupos focales, formados por alumnado, profesorado, padres y representantes de empresas del sector. Se dan a conocer las líneas generales del proyecto, así como la metodología empleada y las actuaciones llevadas a cabo a través de grupos focales y entrevistas a expertos. Se está desarrollando una investigación para conocer las preferencias de los estudiantes al abordar las materias STEM del currículum. Los resultados, hasta el momento, muestran la necesidad del estudiante de sentir alegría por el estudio y el aprendizaje.Motivating and interesting students in the study of STEM subjects (in English Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths) is a new challenge for the European Union. It presents a research project H2020 that is currently being developed in five European countries (Finland, Belarus, Greece, Germany and Spain) and that aims to promote a taste for the study of these subjects among students from 10 to 18 years. The project has a duration of 3 years and to establish the pedagogical principles, an eminently qualitative study has been carried out through the analysis of focus groups, formed by students, teachers, parents and representatives of companies in the sector. The general lines of the project are presented, as well as the methodology used and the actions carried out through focus groups and interviews with experts. An investigation is being developed to know the preferences of the students when approaching the STEM subjects of the curriculum. The results, so far, show the student’s need to feel joy of learning.peerReviewe

Very High Angular Resolution Science with the Square Kilometre Array

Preliminary specifications for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) call for 25% of the total collecting area of the dish array to be located at distances greater than 180 km from the core, with a maximum baseline of at least 3000 km. The array will provide angular resolution ~ 40 - 2 mas at 0.5 - 10 GHz with image sensitivity reaching < 50 nJy/beam in an 8 hour integration with 500 MHz bandwidth. Given these specifications, the high angular resolution component of the SKA will be capable of detecting brightness temperatures < 200 K with milliarcsecond-scale angular resolution. The aim of this article is to bring together in one place a discussion of the broad range of new and important high angular resolution science that will be enabled by the SKA, and in doing so, address the merits of long baselines as part of the SKA. We highlight the fact that high angular resolution requiring baselines greater than 1000 km provides a rich science case with projects from many areas of astrophysics, including important contributions to key SKA science.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figure

Country-report pattern corrections of new cases allow accurate 2-week predictions of COVID-19 evolution with the Gompertz model

Accurate short-term predictions of COVID-19 cases with empirical models allow Health Officials to prepare for hospital contingencies in a two–three week window given the delay between case reporting and the admission of patients in a hospital. We investigate the ability of Gompertz-type empiric models to provide accurate prediction up to two and three weeks to give a large window of preparation in case of a surge in virus transmission. We investigate the stability of the prediction and its accuracy using bi-weekly predictions during the last trimester of 2020 and 2021. Using data from 2020, we show that understanding and correcting for the daily reporting structure of cases in the different countries is key to accomplish accurate predictions. Furthermore, we found that filtering out predictions that are highly unstable to changes in the parameters of the model, which are roughly 20%, reduces strongly the number of predictions that are way-off. The method is then tested for robustness with data from 2021. We found that, for this data, only 1–2% of the one-week predictions were off by more than 50%. This increased to 3% for two-week predictions, and only for three-week predictions it reached 10%

Úlcera por presión del descuido al cuidado

Este caso que presentamos no es sólo curioso como caso clínico, sino que también destaca por la atención clínica que se le ha prestado. Es un caso clínico centrado en la ausencia de cuidados necesarios para un paciente, un paciente especial con alzheimer en estado avanzado.Queremos llamar la atención sobre los cuidados que prestamos en todos los niveles asistenciales:primaria, especializada, centros asistenciales de agudos y crónicos o residencias. Muchas veces llegamos a encontrarnos pacientes con tal deficiencia de cuidados, que genera en los profesionales de la sanidad un debate sobre si valoramos correctamente a los pacientes o estamos frente a una cadena de producción de coches.El hombre nace y muere pero debe morir dignamente, pero también debe ser atendido dignamente y tener una calidad de vida y cuidados adecuados.Los pacientes son personas y, como tal, tienen desde su nacimiento esa dignidad, en consecuencia todo enfermo debe ser tratado lo mejor posible y con todos los cuidados que necesite. Entonces, ¿por qué ese descuido y dejadez? ¿Puede ser por motivación económica, falta de formación, inexistencia de ética profesional, no hay material, rutina en procedimientos,falta de instrumentos de valoración y diagnóstico para atender con calidad, eficacia y eficiencia...? Hablamos de úlceras por presión, y todos sabemos y hablamos de las causas, que en un 95% son evitables. Pero la realidad es que el concepto o filosofía de Enfermería, la cual es la de CUIDAR, no es asumido en muchas ocasiones.Enfermerí