External stimuli help restore post-partum ovarian activity in Pelibuey sheep

Post-partum anestrus is a problem on farms, and its duration depends on the frequency and intensity of suckling which affects reproduction and production efficiency to become a determining economic factor. The aim of this study was to determine the post-partum reproductive response in ewe to a "male effect" with an ovulation induction protocol of five days using progesterone and the application of a metabolic restorative (MR; Metabolase ®). One hundred and twenty females were randomly assigned to one of four treatments: T1: Continuous suckling (CS; n = 29), T2: CS + MR (n = 29), T3: CS + Male Effect (ME; n = 32), and T4: CS + MR + ME. The percentage of females in ovulation, weight changes among females and lambs, the onset of estrus, calving, fecundity, and prolificacy were also determined. The ovulation percentage was higher in CS + ME and CS + MR + ME (75.0 and 73.3%) than in the other treatments. Weight changes in females and lambs were different among periods. The onset of estrus was similar for CS and CS + MR (25.9 ± 1.9 and 25.7 ± 0.7 h, respectively). The calving percentage was higher for CS + MR (86.2%) than other treatments. Male presence positively affected the postpartum cyclic ovarian re-establishment and the metabolic restorative could even improve the fertility of hair ewes in continuous suckling with similar hormone protocolKeywords: Male effect, metabolic stimulation, post-partum anestru

Evaluación multidisciplinar 3D de una estructura kárstica asociada a colapso y subsidencia (Cuenca del Ebro)

La propagación de cavidades de disolución localizadas por debajo de series aluviales genera una serie de evidencias cuya representación superficial, en ocasiones, puede no ser indicativa de su extensión real en profundidad. La propagación de cavidades a través de medios heterogéneos, en los que pueden existir niveles cementados, puede producir cambios en la progresión de dichas cavidades y la identificación en superficie de grietas, colapsos, o zonas de subsidencia que pueden involucrar decenas de miles de metros cúbicos de material inestable. Cualquier tipo de evaluación de soluciones mitigadoras en estos contextos debe considerar la amplitud de estos volúmenes y el origen del proceso con independencia de la actividad registrada en superficie. En este trabajo se aborda un estudio integrado con el objetivo de determinar la estructura de un sector con evidencias de actividad kárstica superficial y evaluar su extensión y desarrollo tridimensional integrando el análisis geomorfológico, de inspección de campo, geofísica (GPR) y sondeos. The propagation of solution cavities located below alluvial deposits produce surficial evidences that, in some cases, cannot be representative of their actual extension at depth. Cavity propagation through heterogeneous media, for example with interbedded cemented levels, can produce changes in the propagation of deformation producing the identification of cracks, collapses or subsidence zones at the surface. These processes can involve thousands of cubic meters of unstable materials. Any evaluation of mitigation tasks, in this context, needs to consider: i) the amplitude of the affected volumes and ii) the in depth origin with independence of the surficial recorded activity In this work an integrated analysis is developed to evaluate the size and 3D structure of a sector with surficial evidences of karstic activity integrating geomorphological analysis, field inspection, geophysics (GPR) and boreholes

Fat-to-glucose interconversion by hydrodynamic transfer of two glyoxylate cycle enzyme genes

The glyoxylate cycle, which is well characterized in higher plants and some microorganisms but not in vertebrates, is able to bypass the citric acid cycle to achieve fat-to-carbohydrate interconversion. In this context, the hydrodynamic transfer of two glyoxylate cycle enzymes, such as isocytrate lyase (ICL) and malate synthase (MS), could accomplish the shift of using fat for the synthesis of glucose. Therefore, 20 mice weighing 23.37 +/- 0.96 g were hydrodinamically gene transferred by administering into the tail vein a bolus with ICL and MS. After 36 hours, body weight, plasma glucose, respiratory quotient and energy expenditure were measured. The respiratory quotient was increased by gene transfer, which suggests that a higher carbohydrate/lipid ratio is oxidized in such animals. This application could help, if adequate protocols are designed, to induce fat utilization of obesity and diabetes

Remote sensing and seismic data integration for the characterization of a rock slide and an artificially triggered rock fall

On May 5th, 2013 a planar rock slide (~450 m3) occurred in the village of La Riba (NE Spain), which forced the closure of the road C-240z for 6 months. This slide left a hanging block (~130 m3) suspended on the slope forcing a controlled blasting, followed by rock slope stabilization works. The volume of rock displaced during the both events was deduced from LiDAR and photogrammetry data following two approaches: subtracting pre- and post-event data and reconstructing the volume by fitting planes on the structural surfaces after a structural analysis of the slope. Information about the natural rock slide was obtained from the records of two permanent broadband seismic stations located 10 km from the site. From these seismic records, the existence of a rock slide was confirmed and its time of occurrence was determined, information that would be otherwise unknown. In addition, despite the small volume displaced during the event, its location was deduced from a single seismic station analysis. The blasting process was recorded with two high-definition (HD) video cameras and by two temporary seismic stations deployed close to the site (10 km). Partially, because only a part of the released energy is transmitted into the ground as seismic energy, and partially because the recorded seismic signal is highly dependent on the event characteristics and the geotechnical conditions of the ground materials. Nevertheless, seismic data is very well suited to detect and characterize in detail both rockfall events of different nature and size. Merging and integrating remote sensing techniques such as LiDAR or photogrammetry with seismic measurements should allow the implementation of rockfall early warning systems

Inorganic arsenic causes apoptosis cell death and immunotoxicity on European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

Inorganic arsenic (As) is one of the most toxic pollutants in the water. We have studied their effects on the marine teleost European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) at 2 and 10 days of 5 μMofAs2O3 (sub-lethal doses) waterborne exposure. Arsenic accumulates in liver and gill tissues. The expression profile of five genes (bax, blc2, casp3, casp8 and casp9) involved in apoptosis cell death confirmed apoptotic effects in liver, slight changes in gill and no effects in skin according with the histopathology findings. Total IgM level and peroxidase activities were increased at 2 and 10 days, respectively. The bactericidal activity was decreased at 2 days after As exposure. A general decrease of cellular immune activities with significant differences in the case of respiratory burst activity was observed after 2 and 10 days of exposure. This work describes for the first time the effects of As exposure on European sea bass.Versión del editor2,35

Propagator of a Charged Particle with a Spin in Uniform Magnetic and Perpendicular Electric Fields

We construct an explicit solution of the Cauchy initial value problem for the time-dependent Schroedinger equation for a charged particle with a spin moving in a uniform magnetic field and a perpendicular electric field varying with time. The corresponding Green function (propagator) is given in terms of elementary functions and certain integrals of the fields with a characteristic function, which should be found as an analytic or numerical solution of the equation of motion for the classical oscillator with a time-dependent frequency. We discuss a particular solution of a related nonlinear Schroedinger equation and some special and limiting cases are outlined.Comment: 17 pages, no figure

Diferencias de la presentación y tratamiento en las neoplasias primarias de hígado en un centro de hepatología y un centro oncológico

Introducción y objetivos: El cáncer primario de hígado es un problema de salud pública en México y en el mundo. El trasplante hepático (TH) es el tratamiento ideal para el carcinoma hepatocelular (CHC) temprano. El objetivo fue evaluar las características de los pacientes con CHC y colangiocarcinoma (CC) en dos centros e identificar a los candidatos a trasplante. Material y métodos: Estudio retrospectivo, observacional del 2012 al 2018 en el Centro de Hepatología (CH) y el Centro Universitario contra el Cáncer (CUCC). Se confirmó CHC o colangiocarcinoma intrahepático (CCi) en 109 pacientes, a los CHC se les aplicaron clasificaciones de estadiaje, modelos de selección para trasplante y modelo pronóstico de recidiva post-TH. Resultados: De la población total, 93% (n = 102) eran cirróticos. El 86% (n = 94) tuvo CHC (58% CH y 42% CUCC) y 14% (n = 15) CCi (40% CH y 60% CUCC). En los pacientes con CHC del CH predominó Okuda I-II, clasificación de Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) A-B y niveles 1,000 ng/mL de AFP. La mitad de la población del CH con CHC cumplía con los criterios para TH, en cambio, en el CUCC solo lo hizo el 23%. Se valoraron 15 pacientes para TH y, a la fecha, se trasplantaron seis

Gait kinematic analysis in patients with a mild form of central cord syndrome

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Central cord syndrome (CCS) is considered the most common incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI). Independent ambulation was achieved in 87-97% in young patients with CCS but no gait analysis studies have been reported before in such pathology. The aim of this study was to analyze the gait characteristics of subjects with CCS and to compare the findings with a healthy age, sex and anthropomorphically matched control group (CG), walking both at a self-selected speed and at the same speed.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Twelve CCS patients and a CG of twenty subjects were analyzed. Kinematic data were obtained using a three-dimensional motion analysis system with two scanner units. The CG were asked to walk at two different speeds, at a self-selected speed and at a slower one, similar to the mean gait speed previously registered in the CCS patient group. Temporal, spatial variables and kinematic variables (maximum and minimum lower limb joint angles throughout the gait cycle in each plane, along with the gait cycle instants of occurrence and the joint range of motion - ROM) were compared between the two groups walking at similar speeds.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The kinematic parameters were compared when both groups walked at a similar speed, given that there was a significant difference in the self-selected speeds (p < 0.05). Hip abduction and knee flexion at initial contact, as well as minimal knee flexion at stance, were larger in the CCS group (p < 0.05). However, the range of knee and ankle motion in the sagittal plane was greater in the CG group (p < 0.05). The maximal ankle plantar-flexion values in stance phase and at toe off were larger in the CG (p < 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The gait pattern of CCS patients showed a decrease of knee and ankle sagittal ROM during level walking and an increase in hip abduction to increase base of support. The findings of this study help to improve the understanding how CCS affects gait changes in the lower limbs.</p