Pointing Out Some Issues Regarding Reproduction Management in Murciano-Granadina Goats

[EN] The hypothesis of this experiment proposes that it could be possible to identify pregnant goats through maximum progesterone milk levels at any time in the pregnancy, and that there is an optimal moment to apply a lactation inhibitor to dry off lactating goats. The maximum progesterone concentration in milk varied depending on the season of the year, and those concentrations were similar for pregnant and non-pregnant goats, but significantly higher in the case of gestating goats with four foetuses, for which it would be possible to distinguish the pregnancy. The milk yield of goats at mating does not affect fertility until a value of at least 3250 mL/day. If using lactation inhibitors, their application up to the 10th week post-mating would be optimal for drying off lactating goats. Two of the most important problems in high-yielding dairy goat farms are early and accurate pregnancy diagnosis and the appropriate dry off of lactating does before the next kidding. The hypothesis posits that it could be possible to identify pregnant does through maximum progesterone milk levels at any time during the pregnancy, and that there is an optimal time to apply a lactation inhibitor to help dry off lactating does. Therefore, 114 Murciano-Granadina breed goats were used, from which 74 goats were inseminated at week 20 of lactation and samples of milk from pregnant and non-pregnant goats were taken at two-week intervals. The average maximum progesterone milk levels were higher outside the natural breeding season (40 degrees latitude) than in the breeding season (11.6 +/- 1.13 vs. 8.6 +/- 1.02 ng/mL), although the levels from pregnant and non-pregnant goats were similar (10.85 +/- 1.3 vs. 9.74 +/- 1.6 ng/mL), except in the case of pregnancy with four foetuses (12.5 +/- 1.3 ng/mL). Milk yield at mating does not affect fertility until a value of at least 3250 mL/day. Pregnancy started to affect milk yield up to the +7th week and was 59.9% lower in the +10th week after mating, so the use of lactation inhibitors could be more effective from this latter week. In conclusion, the results show that it is not possible to detect gestation in goats reliably through the maximum concentration of progesterone in milk at any time during lactation, except in the case of goats gestating four foetuses, that the milk yield of goats at mating does not affect fertility until a value of at least 3250 mL/day, and that from the 10th week post-mating, the application of lactation inhibitors would be optimal.This research was funded by the project RTA2017-00049-C02-02 (Agencia Estatal de Investigación) with ERDF funds.Fernández Martínez, N.; Beltrán Martínez, MC.; Romero, G.; Roca, MA.; Rodríguez Garcia, M.; Balasch Parisi, S. (2021). Pointing Out Some Issues Regarding Reproduction Management in Murciano-Granadina Goats. Animals. 11(6):1-13. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11061781S11311

Modelos virtuales entorno al Territorio Vetón; hacia una visualización del pasado accesible para todos los públicos

[ES] Este artículo ofrece los resultados preliminares de un proyecto llevado a cabo por expertos en informática, así como diseñadores y arqueólogos, para la creación de modelos realistas en 3D sobre la arquitectura de la Cultura Vetona, a partir de los datos adquiridos durante las excavaciones. El presente ejemplo se centra específicamente en los llamados castros (poblados de la Edad del Hierro) de Castillo de Saldeana (Saldeana), Lugar Viejo (Yecla de Yeltes) y Las Merchanas (Lumbrales).[EN] This article offers the preliminary results of a project carried out by experts of computers as well as designers and archaeologists for the creation of realistic 3D models of Vetton Culture architectures based on the data recorded during excavations. The present example is focused specifically on the so-called castros (Iron Age settlements) of Castillo de Saldeana (Saldeana), Lugar Viejo (Yecla de Yeltes) and Las Merchanas (Lumbrales).Quisiéramos expresar nuestro agradecimiento a la Unidad de Patrimonio de la Exc. Diputación de Salamanca; también a los ilustradores, Guillem Hernàndez Pongiluppi y a Eusebi Málvarez López, por la cesión de imágenes. Por último, señalar que este proyecto se enmarca dentro de las líneas de investigación de los proyectos financiados por la Generalitat de Catalunya SGR2009 y por el Ministerio Economía y competitividad EDU2011-28684 “Musealización didáctica de espacios patrimoniales a partir de aplicaciones reactivas con contenidos multiplataforma: telefonía móvil y superficies táctiles”Romero Serra, M.; Rojo Ariza, MC.; Martínez Gil, T. (2015). Modelos virtuales entorno al Territorio Vetón; hacia una visualización del pasado accesible para todos los públicos. Virtual Archaeology Review. 4(8):15-19. https://doi.org/10.4995/var.2013.4280OJS151948ALMANSA, J. (2011): "Arqueología para todos los públicos. Hacia una definición de la Arqueología pública a la española" Arqueoweb. Revista sobre Arqueología en Internet 13. Disponible: http://www.ucm.es/info/arqueoweb/pdf/13/almansa.pdf (consultado 8 de abril de 2012).BAKKER, G.; MEULENBERG, F. & RODE, J. (2003): "Truth and credibility as a doublé ambition: reconstructions of the built past experiences and dilemas", The Journal of Visualization and Computer Animation 14, pp. 1-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/vis.314CASTELLS, M. (2000): La era de la información, vol 1. Alianza, Madrid.COPELAND, T. (2006): "Constructing pasts: interpreting the historic environment" en A. HEMS & M. BLOCKLEY (eds.): Heritage Interpretation. Routledge, London, pp. 83-95.DÓMIGUEZ-SOLERA, S. D. (2009): "Pseudociencia y Arqueología", Arqueoweb, Revista sobre Arqueología en Internet 12. Disponible: http://www.ucm.es/info/arqueoweb/pdf/12/dominguezsolera.pdf (consultado 8 de abril de 2012).FORTE, M. y SILOTTI, A. (Eds.) (1997): Virtual Archaeology: Re-Creating Ancient Worlds. Harry N. Abrams, Inc, Publishers; New YorkLOCK, G. (2003): Using Computers in Archaeology. Towards Virtual Pasts. Routledge, London.HERNÁNDEZ CARDONA, F. X. (2011): "La iconografía en la didáctica de las ciencias sociales", Íber, Didáctica de las ciencias sociales, geografía e historia 68, pp. 7-16.HERNÀNDEZ CARDONA, F. X. & RUBIO CAMPILLO, X. (2009): "Interactividad didáctica y museos", Enseñanza de las Ciencias Sociales 8, pp. 91-100.MÁRTINEZ, T. y ROJO Mª. C. (2011): "Una aproximación virtual al territorio vetón", en Íber. Iconografía didáctica, materiales interactivos, nº 68. pp. 17-24.MERRIMAN, N. (ed.). (2004): Public Archaeology. Routledge, London.PUJOL TOST, L. (2010): "Comprender lo virtual: conclusiones de un estudio evaluativo sobre reconstrucciones virtuales en los museos arqueológicos", Virtual Archaeology Review 1 (1), pp.139-143. https://doi.org/10.4995/var.2010.5139POLLEFEYS, M. PROESMANS, M. KOCH, R. VERGAUWEN M. & VAN GOOL L. Flexible 3D - Reconstruction techniques with applications in archeology, [online] http:www.esat.kuleuven.ac.be/sagalassos [Consulta: 2-04-2012].RASCÓN MARQUÉS, S. (2003): "El mundo en sus manos. O cómo utilizar las nuevas tecnologías en la difusión del Patrimonio Arqueológico", en II Congreso Interacional sobre Musealización de Yacimientos Arqueológicos. Barcelona, 7, 8 y 9 de octubre de 2002. Ayuntamiento de Barcelona. pp. 250-261.REILLY, P. (1990): "Towards a virtual archaeology", en Computer Applications in Archaeology. Edited by K. Lockyear and S. Rahtz. Oxford: British Archaeological Reports, Int. Series 565. pp. 133-139.RUIZ ZAPATERO, G. & ÁLVAREZ-SANCHÍS, J. R. (1997): "La Prehistoria enseñada y los manuales escolares españoles" Complutum 8, pp. 265-284.TILDEN, F. (1977): Interpreting our heritage. Chapel Hill, NC, University of North Carolina Press.VIDAL MATÍAS, E. (2008): "Castros y verracos: Viajando por los orígenes del olvido", en ÁNGEL B. ESPINA BARRIO (ed.): Turismo, cultura y desarrollo. Antropología en Castilla y León e Iberoamérico X, Salamanca, Diputación de Salamanca, Instituto de Investigaciones antropológicas de Castilla y León, pp. 137-158

Hormonal Differences in Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrators When They Cope with Acute Stress: A Pilot Study

Background: Only a few studies have paid attention to the ability of perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPVAW) against women to cope with acute stress, including hormonal parameters. In fact, previous studies assessed how salivary testosterone (Tsal) and cortisol (Csal) changed after coping with an acute emotional stressor (directly related to IPVAW), and they concluded that an imbalance between the two hormones might be characteristic of these men. Nevertheless, they neglected to examine the role of other hormones, such as salivary oxytocin (OXsal), which also seemed to play an important role in behavioral regulation, and whether this response could be generalized to other types of stress not directly related to IPVAW. Methods: This study aims to assess whether IPVAW perpetrators (n = 19) present differential hormonal (Tsal, Csal, OXsal and their ratios) and psychological state (anxiety, anger, and general affect) responses when coping with an acute cognitive laboratory stressor (a set of neuropsychological tests performed in front of an expert committee) in comparison with non-violent men (n = 16). This quasi-experimental study also assessed whether the psychological state variables drive this different hormonal response. Results: Our results revealed that IPVAW perpetrators had lower Csal and higher Tsal/Csal ratio levels during the post-task period, as well as higher total levels (average) of OXsal than controls. We also found that, only in IPVAW perpetrators, high levels of baseline anxiety and negative affect were related to high rises in Csal during the stress task. Conclusions: These data present a background showing that IPVAW perpetrators and non-violent men cope differently with stress. These findings might help to identify idiosyncratic profiles of IPVAW perpetrators that can then be employed to establish their therapeutic needs. Moreover, we reinforced the importance of combining biological markers with self-reports, thus increasing the reliability of these forensic assessments

Bayesian reasoning with emotional material in patients with schizophrenia.

Delusions are one of the most classical symptoms described in schizophrenia. However, despite delusions are often emotionally charged, they have been investigated using tasks involving non-affective material, such as the Beads task. In this study we compared 30 patients with schizophrenia experiencing delusions with 32 matched controls in their pattern of responses to two versions of the Beads task within a Bayesian framework. The two versions of the Beads task consisted of one emotional and one neutral, both with ratios of beads of 60:40 and 80:20, considered, respectively, as the “difficult” and “easy” variants of the task. Results indicate that patients showed a greater deviation from the normative model, especially in the 60:40 ratio, suggesting that more inaccurate probability estimations are more likely to occur under uncertainty conditions. Additionally, both patients and controls showed a greater deviation in the emotional version of the task, providing evidence of a reasoning bias modulated by the content of the stimuli. Finally, a positive correlation between patients’ deviation and delusional symptomatology was found. Impairments in the 60:40 ratio with emotional content was related to the amount of disruption in life caused by delusions. These results contribute to the understanding of how cognitive mechanisms interact with characteristics of the task (i.e., ambiguity and content) in the context of delusional thinking. These findings might be used to inform improved intervention programs in the domain of inferential reasoning.post-print700 K

Deporte en familia como prevención de problemas de conducta desde edades tempranas

In recent years, behavioral problems in early childhood have increased, conditioning the probability that problematic situations appear that compromises the personal and social adjustment of children, crystallizing in criminal behavior or harassment. In order to respond to this problem, recent studies provides scientific evidence about different interventions highlighting the influence of parenting styles in the infantile stage and the role of the sport in the promotion of prosocial conducts and self-control. Therefore, the objective of this article is, on the one hand, to know the relationship between the parenting styles, assessed form a child perspective, and preschoolers behavior problems and, on the other hand, to reflect on the benefits of family sport practice from a democratic, comprehensive and constructive perspective in preventing behavior problems in the preschool stage. The study involved 141 students (81 girls and 63 boys) aged 4 and 5 years old from Granada. Parenting styles are evaluated through PEF-H scale from Alonso y Román (2003), and behavioural problems through three BASC scales from Reynolds y Kamphaus (1992), adapted to spanish by González, Fernández, Pérez, y Santamaría (2004). The results show that the democratic style correlates significantly and negatively with attention problems. However, no significant relationship has been found between permissive style and behavioral problems. As for the authoritarian style, there is a positive and significant relationship with behavior problems. In conclusion, family democratic style is a protective factor for optimal development from an early age, being family sport practice a positive aspect to promote prosocial, respectful, entrepreneurial, self-control and critical conducts, as prevention of behavioral problems.En los últimos años los problemas de conducta en edad infantil han aumentado, condicionando la probabilidad de que aparezcan situaciones problemáticas que comprometan el ajuste personal y social de los menores, cristalizando en conductas delictivas o acoso. Para responder a esta problemática, investigaciones recientes aportan evidencias científicas acerca de diferentes intervenciones resaltando la influencia de los estilos educativos parentales en la etapa infantil y del papel del deporte en el fomento de conductas prosociales y de autocontrol. Por ello, el objetivo de la presente investigación es, por un lado, conocer la relación existente entre los estilos educativos parentales, evaluados desde la perspectiva infantil, y los problemas de conducta en niños de preescolar y, por otro, reflexionar sobre los beneficios de la práctica de deporte en familia desde una perspectiva democrática, comprensiva y constructiva en la prevención de problemas de conducta en la etapa preescolar. En el estudio participan 141 alumnos/as (81 niñas y 63 niños) de 4 y 5 años de Granada. Los estilos educativos se evalúan a través de la escala PEF-H de Alonso y Román (2003), y los problemas de conducta mediante tres escalas del BASC de Reynolds y Kamphaus (1992), adaptada al español por González, Fernández, Pérez, y Santamaría (2004). Los resultados obtenidos muestran que el estilo democrático correlaciona significativa y negativamente con los problemas de atención. Sin embargo, no se ha encontrado relación significativa entre el estilo permisivo y los problemas de conducta. En cuanto al estilo autoritario, se encuentra una relación positiva significativa con los problemas de atención. En conclusión, el estilo democrático familiar se presenta como factor de protección para el desarrollo óptimo desde edades tempranas, siendo la práctica del deporte en familia un aspecto positivo para fomentar conductas prosociales, respetuosas, emprendedoras, de autocontrol y críticas, como prevención de problemas de conducta

Estudio traslacional para el manejo de la obesidad utilizando el Programa de Prevención de Diabetes “Grupo de Equilibrio de Estilo de Vida” en clínicas de primer nivel y hospitales públicos de México: protocolo de estudio

Introduction: Obesity is the main modifiable risk factor for the development of chronic diseases in Mexico. Several randomized controlled trials have shown that intensive lifestyle programs are efficacious for the management of obesity. These programs include frequent sessions (14 or more contacts in the first 6 months) focused on diet and physical activity and use a behavior change protocol. However, most Mexican primary care clinics and public hospitals apply traditional treatments for obesity management with limited results on weight loss. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) “Group Lifestyle Balance” for weight loss among adults with overweight and obesity from baseline to 6 months and from baseline to 12 months in primary care clinics and public hospitals from Sonora, Mexico.Material and Methods: This is a translational, multi-center, non-controlled, 6 and 12-month follow-up clinical study with a pre-test and post-test design. Healthcare providers from two primary care clinics, two hospitals and one university clinic will be trained with the DPP protocol to implement on their patients with overweight and obesity. Body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, depression, quality of life and stress scales will be measured in participants receiving the program at baseline, 6 and 12 months. Biochemical parameters will be measured at baseline and 12 months. The primary outcome is the change in body weight at 6 and 12 months.Discussion: This study will provide scientific evidence of the effectiveness of the DPP protocol as a model for obesity management in real world clinical practice among the adult Mexican population.Introducción: La obesidad es el principal factor de riesgo para el desarrollo de enfermedades crónicas en México. Varios ensayos clínicos controlados han mostrado que los programas intensivos de cambio de estilo de vida son eficaces para el manejo de obesidad. Estos programas incluyen sesiones frecuentes (14 o más los primeros 6 meses), centradas en hacer mejoras en la dieta y actividad física utilizando un protocolo de cambio de comportamiento. Sin embargo, la mayoría de clínicas de primer nivel y los hospitales públicos aplican tratamientos tradicionales para el manejo de obesidad que tienen resultados limitados. El propósito del estudio es evaluar la efectividad del Programa de Prevención de Diabetes “Grupo de Equilibrio de Estilo de Vida” sobre la pérdida de peso en adultos con sobrepeso y obesidad del inicio a 6 meses y del inicio a 12 meses del seguimiento en clínicas de primer nivel y hospitales públicos de Sonora, México.Material y Métodos: Este es un estudio clínico multicéntrico traslacional, no controlado con diseño pre y post-prueba a 6 y 12 meses. Los proveedores de salud de dos clínicas de primer nivel, dos hospitales públicos y una clínica universitaria serán entrenados con el protocolo del Programa de Prevención de Diabetes, para implementarlo en sus pacientes adultos con sobrepeso y obesidad. Se medirá el peso corporal, índice de masa corporal, circunferencia de cintura, presión sistólica y diastólica, así como escalas de depresión, calidad de vida y estrés, al inicio, 6 y 12 meses. Los parámetros bioquímicos se medirán al inicio y a los 12 meses. La variable de desenlace primaria será el cambio de peso a 6 y 12 meses.Discusión: Este estudio proveerá evidencia científica de la efectividad del protocolo del Programa de Prevención de Diabetes como un modelo para el manejo de obesidad en adultos mexicanos en condiciones de la práctica clínica del mundo real

Aprovechamiento energético de residuos industriales de alta carga orgánica mediante codigestión anaerobia

El desarrollo de nueva y más estricta legislación en materia de tratamiento de residuos, hace necesaria la utilización y mejora de tecnologías no convencionales que eviten los problemas ambientales asociados a las técnicas de gestión tradicionales, tales como la deposición en vertedero. Los residuos agroindustriales presentan, en la mayoría de los casos, una elevada carga orgánica, provocando impactos ambientales. En el presente estudio se valora el aprovechamiento energético de los residuos de lactosuero, aguas glicerosas y lixiviado de vertedero, como cosustratos en el proceso de codigestión anaerobia, pudiendo ser esta, una alternativa de tratamiento, gestión y valorización de estos residuos y con el biogás producido, generar energía eléctrica, siendo otra fuente de energía renovable. El comportamiento de cada uno de los sustratos de trabajo han sido estudiados mediante ensayos de Biochemical Methane Potential, siendo una herramienta factible para el estudio de la biodegradabilidad o viabilidad del sustrato, adaptabilidad de los consorcios microbianos y la especialización de dichos consorcios a cada uno de los residuos de estudio en codigestión anaerobia. Se emplea el fango mixto como sustrato de referencia debido a su viabilidad en los procesos de digestión anaerobia.Plan Propio de la Universidad de Sevilla Proyecto: 2017/0000096

An oleuropein β-glucosidase from olive fruit is involved in determining the phenolic composition of virgin olive oil

Phenolic composition of virgin olive oil is determined by the enzymatic and/or chemical reactions that take place during olive fruit processing. Of these enzymes, β-glucosidase activity plays a relevant role in the transformation of the phenolic glycosides present in the olive fruit, generating different secoiridoid derivatives. The main goal of the present study was to characterize olive fruit β-glucosidase genes and enzymes responsible for the phenolic composition of virgin olive oil. To achieve that, we have isolated an olive β-glucosidase gene from cultivar Picual (OepGLU), expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves and purified its corresponding recombinant enzyme. Western blot analysis showed that recombinant OepGLU protein is detected by an antibody raised against the purified native olive mesocarp β-glucosidase enzyme, and exhibits a deduced molecular mass of 65.0 kDa. The recombinant OepGLU enzyme showed activity on the major olive phenolic glycosides, with the highest levels with respect to oleuropein, followed by ligstroside and demethyloleuropein. In addition, expression analysis showed that olive GLU transcript level in olive fruit is spatially and temporally regulated in a cultivar-dependent manner. Furthermore, temperature, light and water regime regulate olive GLU gene expression in olive fruit mesocarp. All these data are consistent with the involvement of OepGLU enzyme in the formation of the major phenolic compounds present in virgin olive oil

Reduced salivary oxytocin after an empathic induction task in intimate partner violence perpetrators: importance of socio-affective functions and its impact on prosocial behavior

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) has been linked to difficulties in socio-affective functions. Nevertheless, the underlying psychobiological mechanisms that might be responsible for them remain unclear. Oxytocin (OXT) stands out as an important hormone that may favor the salience of social information, due to its relevance in empathy and prosocial behavior. Thus, the study of salivary OXT (sOXT) may provide further information about potential impairments in social cognition in IPV perpetrators. This study analyzed the effects of an empathic induction task, performed through negative emotion-eliciting videos, on endogenous sOXT levels, mood state, and emotional perception in 30 IPV perpetrators compared to 32 controls. Additionally, we explored their performance on prosocial behavior after the empathic induction task, using Hare's donation procedure. Lower sOXT levels were found in IPV perpetrators after the task compared to controls, along with a general decreasing tendency in their sOXT levels. Additionally, IPV perpetrators exhibited no change in their mood state and perceived others' emotions as more positive and less intense. Moreover, the mood state response and alexithymia traits, respectively, positively and negatively predicted the sOXT levels after the empathic induction task in the entire sample. Finally, we did not observe a lower appearance of prosocial behaviors in IPV perpetrators; however, higher sOXT levels after the empathic induction task were found in subjects who donated when considering the whole sample. In sum, IPV perpetrators exhibited differences in their sOXT levels when empathizing, compared to controls, with alexithymia and the emotional response potentially explaining the sOXT levels after the task. Furthermore, prosocial behavior was more related to these sOXT levels than to IPV. As our knowledge about the emotional processing of IPV perpetrators increases, we will be better able to develop and include coadjutant treatments in current psychotherapeutic programs, in order to focus on their emotional needs, which, in turn, would reduce the future risk of recidivism