Effect of slaughter handling conditions and animal temperament on bovine meat quality markers = Efecto del manejo y del temperamento animal sobre indicadores de calidad de la carne bovina

The aim of this research was to study the effect of different handling conditions on physiological stress indicators and meat quality of beef cattle by studying animals with different temperaments. Forty animals classified by their temperament (calm and disturbed) were used. They were fed on pastures and finished with a mixed diet of corn grain and pasture. Biochemical indicators of animal stress were measured at slaughter (packed cell volume -PCV-, proteins, glucose, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase -APactivity, cortisol, insulin, glycogen). Also, ultimate pH and instrumental colour were chosen as meat quality markers. Animal temperament showed a significantly increase (p<0.05) on PCV levels and a significantly (p<0.05) decrease on muscle glycogen. Besides, levels of plasma glucose and total proteins showed significant (p<0.05) differences associated to management applied. Meat quality markers (pH and colour) did not show significant differences according to handling conditions or temperament. Mean cortisol levels at the exsanguination time were significantly higher (p<0.05) than the values obtained one week prior to slaughter, which suggests an important effect of stress associated to slaughter procedures. It would be interesting to focus attention on theassessment of acute stress at abattoir, in order to improve handling protocols, and therefore to assure meat quality in Argentinean beef production systems.El objetivo del presente trabajo fue estudiar el efecto de diferentes condiciones de manejo sobre indicadores fisiológicos de estrés y de calidad de carne en bovinos con temperamentos contrastantes. Se utilizaron cuarenta animales clasificados como calmos y excitables. Los mismos fueron alimentados inicialmente a base de pasturas y terminados con una dieta mixta de grano de maíz y pasturas. Se dosaron indicadores bioquímicos de estrés (hematocrito, proteínas plasmáticas, glucosa, creatinina, actividad fosfatasa alcalina, cortisol, insulina, contenido muscular de glucó- geno). Como indicadores de calidad de carne se midieron el pH de 24 h y color instrumental. El temperamento animal demostró un incremento significativo (p<0,05) en los niveles de hematocrito y con una disminución significativa (p<0,05) del glucógeno muscular. Los niveles de glucemia y de proteínas totales mostraron modificaciones significativas (p<0,05) asociadas con el manejo. El incremento (p<0,05) en los niveles plasmáticos de cortisol durante la faena, independientemente del tratamiento o el temperamento animal, sugiere un importante efecto estresor por parte del proceso de faena. Sería interesante centrar la atención en el estudio del estrés agudo, a fin de mejorar protocolos de manejo animal, y consecuentemente, optimizar la calidad de la carne asociada en los sistemas de producción de Argentina.Fil: Pighin, Darí­o Gabriel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto Tecnología de Alimentos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Morón. Facultad de Agronomía y Ciencias Agroalimentarias; ArgentinaFil: Davies, Patricio. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria General Villegas; ArgentinaFil: Grigioni, Gabriela Maria Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto Tecnología de Alimentos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Morón. Facultad de Agronomía y Ciencias Agroalimentarias; ArgentinaFil: Pazos, Adriana Alejandra. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto Tecnología de Alimentos; Argentina. Universidad de Morón. Facultad de Agronomía y Ciencias Agroalimentarias; ArgentinaFil: Ceconi, Irene. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria General Villegas; ArgentinaFil: Mendez, Daniel Gustavo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria General Villegas; ArgentinaFil: Buffarini, Miguel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria General Villegas; ArgentinaFil: Sancho, Ana Maria Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto Tecnología de Alimentos; Argentina. Universidad de Morón. Facultad de Agronomía y Ciencias Agroalimentarias; ArgentinaFil: Gonzalez, Claudia Beatriz Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto Tecnología de Alimentos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. San Martín. Escuela de Ciencia y Tecnología; Argentin

Efecto del manejo y del temperamento animal sobre indicadores de calidad de la carne bovina

The aim of this research was to study the effect of different handling conditions on physiological stress indicators and meat quality of beef cattle by studying animals with different temperaments. Forty animals classified by their temperament (calm and disturbed) were used. They were fed on pastures and finished with a mixed diet of corn grain and pasture. Biochemical indicators of animal stress were measured at slaughter (packed cell volume -PCV-, proteins, glucose, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase -APactivity, cortisol, insulin, glycogen). Also, ultimate pH and instrumental colour were chosen as meat quality markers. Animal temperament showed a significantly increase (p<0.05) on PCV levels and a significantly (p<0.05) decrease on muscle glycogen. Besides, levels of plasma glucose and total proteins showed significant (p<0.05) differences associated to management applied. Meat quality markers (pH and colour) did not show significant differences according to handling conditions or temperament. Mean cortisol levels at the exsanguination time were significantly higher (p<0.05) than the values obtained one week prior to slaughter, which suggests an important effect of stress associated to slaughter procedures. It would be interesting to focus attention on the assessment of acute stress at abattoir, in order to improve handling protocols, and therefore to assure meat quality in Argentinean beef production systems.El objetivo del presente trabajo fue estudiar el efecto de diferentes condiciones de manejo sobre indicadores fisiológicos de estrés y de calidad de carne en bovinos con temperamentos contrastantes. Se utilizaron cuarenta animales clasificados como calmos y excitables. Los mismos fueron alimentados inicialmente a base de pasturas y terminados con una dieta mixta de grano de maíz y pasturas. Se dosaron indicadores bioquímicos de estrés (hematocrito, proteínas plasmáticas, glucosa, creatinina, actividad fosfatasa alcalina, cortisol, insulina, contenido muscular de glucógeno). Como indicadores de calidad de carne se midieron el pH de 24 h y color instrumental. El temperamento animal demostró un incremento significativo (p<0,05) en los niveles de hematocrito y con una disminución significativa (p<0,05) del glucógeno muscular. Los niveles de glucemia y de proteínas totales mostraron modificaciones significativas (p<0,05) asociadas con el manejo. El incremento (p<0,05) en los niveles plasmáticos de cortisol durante la faena, independientemente del tratamiento o el temperamento animal, sugiere un importante efecto estresor por parte del proceso de faena. Sería interesante centrar la atención en el estudio del estrés agudo, a fin de mejorar protocolos de manejo animal, y consecuentemente, optimizar la calidad de la carne asociada en los sistemas de producción de Argentina.Fil: Pighin, D. G.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias. Centro de Investigación de Agroindustrias. Instituto de Tecnología de Alimentos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Moron; ArgentinaFil: Davies, P.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: Grigioni, Gabriela Maria. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias. Centro de Investigación de Agroindustrias. Instituto de Tecnología de Alimentos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Moron; ArgentinaFil: Pazos, A. A.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias. Centro de Investigación de Agroindustrias. Instituto de Tecnología de Alimentos; Argentina. Universidad de Moron; ArgentinaFil: Ceconi, I.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: Mendez, Diego Eduardo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: Buffarini, M.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: Sancho, A.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias. Centro de Investigación de Agroindustrias. Instituto de Tecnología de Alimentos; Argentina. Universidad de Moron; ArgentinaFil: Gonzalez, Claudia Beatriz. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias. Centro de Investigación de Agroindustrias. Instituto de Tecnología de Alimentos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Escuela de Ciencia y Tecnología; Argentin

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

Upper limits on the strength of periodic gravitational waves from PSR J1939+2134

The first science run of the LIGO and GEO gravitational wave detectors presented the opportunity to test methods of searching for gravitational waves from known pulsars. Here we present new direct upper limits on the strength of waves from the pulsar PSR J1939+2134 using two independent analysis methods, one in the frequency domain using frequentist statistics and one in the time domain using Bayesian inference. Both methods show that the strain amplitude at Earth from this pulsar is less than a few times $10^{-22}$.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure, to appear in the Proceedings of the 5th Edoardo Amaldi Conference on Gravitational Waves, Tirrenia, Pisa, Italy, 6-11 July 200

Improving the sensitivity to gravitational-wave sources by modifying the input-output optics of advanced interferometers

We study frequency dependent (FD) input-output schemes for signal-recycling interferometers, the baseline design of Advanced LIGO and the current configuration of GEO 600. Complementary to a recent proposal by Harms et al. to use FD input squeezing and ordinary homodyne detection, we explore a scheme which uses ordinary squeezed vacuum, but FD readout. Both schemes, which are sub-optimal among all possible input-output schemes, provide a global noise suppression by the power squeeze factor, while being realizable by using detuned Fabry-Perot cavities as input/output filters. At high frequencies, the two schemes are shown to be equivalent, while at low frequencies our scheme gives better performance than that of Harms et al., and is nearly fully optimal. We then study the sensitivity improvement achievable by these schemes in Advanced LIGO era (with 30-m filter cavities and current estimates of filter-mirror losses and thermal noise), for neutron star binary inspirals, and for narrowband GW sources such as low-mass X-ray binaries and known radio pulsars. Optical losses are shown to be a major obstacle for the actual implementation of these techniques in Advanced LIGO. On time scales of third-generation interferometers, like EURO/LIGO-III (~2012), with kilometer-scale filter cavities, a signal-recycling interferometer with the FD readout scheme explored in this paper can have performances comparable to existing proposals. [abridged]Comment: Figs. 9 and 12 corrected; Appendix added for narrowband data analysi

The Making of the NEAM Tsunami Hazard Model 2018 (NEAMTHM18)

The NEAM Tsunami Hazard Model 2018 (NEAMTHM18) is a probabilistic hazard model for tsunamis generated by earthquakes. It covers the coastlines of the North-eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean, and connected seas (NEAM). NEAMTHM18 was designed as a three-phase project. The first two phases were dedicated to the model development and hazard calculations, following a formalized decision-making process based on a multiple-expert protocol. The third phase was dedicated to documentation and dissemination. The hazard assessment workflow was structured in Steps and Levels. There are four Steps: Step-1) probabilistic earthquake model; Step-2) tsunami generation and modeling in deep water; Step-3) shoaling and inundation; Step-4) hazard aggregation and uncertainty quantification. Each Step includes a different number of Levels. Level-0 always describes the input data; the other Levels describe the intermediate results needed to proceed from one Step to another. Alternative datasets and models were considered in the implementation. The epistemic hazard uncertainty was quantified through an ensemble modeling technique accounting for alternative models’ weights and yielding a distribution of hazard curves represented by the mean and various percentiles. Hazard curves were calculated at 2,343 Points of Interest (POI) distributed at an average spacing of ∼20 km. Precalculated probability maps for five maximum inundation heights (MIH) and hazard intensity maps for five average return periods (ARP) were produced from hazard curves. In the entire NEAM Region, MIHs of several meters are rare but not impossible. Considering a 2% probability of exceedance in 50 years (ARP≈2,475 years), the POIs with MIH >5 m are fewer than 1% and are all in the Mediterranean on Libya, Egypt, Cyprus, and Greece coasts. In the North-East Atlantic, POIs with MIH >3 m are on the coasts of Mauritania and Gulf of Cadiz. Overall, 30% of the POIs have MIH >1 m. NEAMTHM18 results and documentation are available through the TSUMAPS-NEAM project website (http://www.tsumaps-neam.eu/), featuring an interactive web mapper. Although the NEAMTHM18 cannot substitute in-depth analyses at local scales, it represents the first action to start local and more detailed hazard and risk assessments and contributes to designing evacuation maps for tsunami early warning.publishedVersio

Search for gravitational wave bursts in LIGO's third science run

We report on a search for gravitational wave bursts in data from the three LIGO interferometric detectors during their third science run. The search targets subsecond bursts in the frequency range 100-1100 Hz for which no waveform model is assumed, and has a sensitivity in terms of the root-sum-square (rss) strain amplitude of hrss ~ 10^{-20} / sqrt(Hz). No gravitational wave signals were detected in the 8 days of analyzed data.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures. Amaldi-6 conference proceedings to be published in Classical and Quantum Gravit

Quantum state preparation and macroscopic entanglement in gravitational-wave detectors

Long-baseline laser-interferometer gravitational-wave detectors are operating at a factor of 10 (in amplitude) above the standard quantum limit (SQL) within a broad frequency band. Such a low classical noise budget has already allowed the creation of a controlled 2.7 kg macroscopic oscillator with an effective eigenfrequency of 150 Hz and an occupation number of 200. This result, along with the prospect for further improvements, heralds the new possibility of experimentally probing macroscopic quantum mechanics (MQM) - quantum mechanical behavior of objects in the realm of everyday experience - using gravitational-wave detectors. In this paper, we provide the mathematical foundation for the first step of a MQM experiment: the preparation of a macroscopic test mass into a nearly minimum-Heisenberg-limited Gaussian quantum state, which is possible if the interferometer's classical noise beats the SQL in a broad frequency band. Our formalism, based on Wiener filtering, allows a straightforward conversion from the classical noise budget of a laser interferometer, in terms of noise spectra, into the strategy for quantum state preparation, and the quality of the prepared state. Using this formalism, we consider how Gaussian entanglement can be built among two macroscopic test masses, and the performance of the planned Advanced LIGO interferometers in quantum-state preparation