Changes in physiological and immunological parameters during the peripartum period in Zwerasca sheep

The aim of this study was to provide the picture of the dynamics of some blood parameters in the native Zerasca sheep breed during the peripartum period. Blood samples were collected from peripheral blood of 14 ewes at different times: from 21 d before lambing to 42 d after. Physiological and immunological parameters were evaluated: aspartate-aminotransferase, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, non-esterified fatty acids, total protein, total antioxidant capacity, free radicals, serum bactericidal activity and serum lysozyme. One-way repeated measures ANOVA test was performed. Results showed a significant influence of the peripartum and the deviation from the normal range on many parameters

Stratigraphic and tectonic architecture of the Middle Jurassic-Upper Cretaceous at the southern front of the Central High Atlas (Morocco): a cartographic revision

The Middle Jurassic (Bathonian)-Upper Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) deposits exposed at the southern front of the Central High Atlas (CHA, Southern Morocco) include thick fluvial successions largely undifferentiated in previous studies. These continental strata record a long period of relief formation due to crustal shortening and subsequent denudation that predated the Cenozoic, syn-collisional, tectonic inversion of the CHA. This study, carried out through mapping along more than 270 km between Ouarzazate and Errachidia towns, firstly proposes a rock-stratigraphic unified scheme based on a framework of unconformity-bounded stratigraphic units, including sub-units, differentiated for their specific depositional meaning. Secondly, the geological maps and related cross-sections illustrate the evidence of syn-depositional shortening with distinct deformation styles, outlining pre- and syn-collisional tectonic inversion

Morpho-functional changes in normal cyclic endometrium

Eight cases of normal endometrium in the early proliferative phase and an equal number of cases in the late secretive phase were stained histochemically for acidic mucosubstances and immunocytochemically for epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), carcinoembryogenetic antigen (CEA) and Gross Cyst Disease Fluid Protein-15 (GCDFP-15) production. Alcian blue positive material was observed in both phases of the cycle, although the distribution was different. Sulphated mucosubstances were only present in the secretive phase. No CEA nor GCDFP-15 immunoreactive material was detected. EMA positive staining was observed in all cases, but the distribution varied according to the two different phases of the cycle

Clinical, productive and welfare parameters in Zerasca sheep trated with homeopathy

Small ruminant extensive farming system guarantees the animals to express their behavioural pattern but exposes them to gastrointestinal parasitic infections. Chemical drugs are not able to solve the problem in the long time. Moreover, drugs cause degradation of environment and has worrying issue regarding food safety. In this view, homeopathy can be a very useful alternative or complementary tool in annihilating this downside. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical, productive and welfare parameters in ewes treated with homeopathy to control gastrointestinal parasitic burden. Twenty-seven adult Zerasca sheep were randomly divided among three groups: untreated (Control); chemically treated (Drug) and homeopathically treated (Homeo). Lachesis mutus was prescribed according to the unicist method. Four faecal samplings and two blood samplings were collected from the ewes. McMaster Technique was performed to estimate the faecal egg count (FEC) of gastrointestinal nematodes. Blood samples were analysed for haematological, metabolic and immunological parameters. FAMACHA and body condition scores (BCS) were also recorded. The results indicate that homeopathy is able to reduce parasitic burden keeping animals below the threshold of FECs that can cause zootechnical damage (FEC=387±422.37, 427±440.69 and 509±324.73 respectively for the “H”, “D” and “C” group). Parasitic burdens can indeed cause anaemic states and loss of blood proteins inducing a pathological state and associated detrimental effects. The immunological assay shows lysozyme values decrease in all three groups, therefore, a direct association of these immune cells and the state of disease has not been found. Fertility rate and BCS result satisfactory demonstrating resilient characteristics of this breed. Homeopathic medication can be used as a valid environmentally-friendly control method of control pasture contamination

SHADOWS Technical Proposal

We propose a new proton beam-dump experiment, SHADOWS, to search for a large variety of feebly-interacting particles possibly produced in the interactions of a 400 GeV proton beam with a copper-iron based dump. SHADOWS will use the 400 GeV primary proton beam extracted from the CERN SPS currently serving the NA62 experiment in the CERN North area. SHADOWS will take data off-axis concurrently to the HIKE experiment when the P42 beamline is operated in beam-dump mode and aims to accumulate up to 5 × 10^19 protons on target in about 4 integrated years of operation