Productive response to two concentrate allocation strategies in dairy cows grazing with restricted pasture allowance

The objective of this study was to compare the effects of two concentrate allotment strategies on the performance of dairy cows grazing on restricted pasture and supplemented with conserved forage. Dairy cows fed equal amounts of concentrate (fixed daily rate: 5.5 kg DM/cow) were compared to cows supplemented with concentrate according to their lactation stage as follows: 10.0, 5.0, and 1.5 kg DM/cow daily during early, mid, and late lactation, respectively (average daily dose: 5.5 kg DM/cow). There was a supplementation strategy × lactation stage interaction (P < 0.05) for energy-corrected milk (ECM). For early lactation cows, supplementation at a variable rate increased ECM yield by 14.61% (P < 0.05). There was a supplementation strategy × lactation stage interaction (P < 0.05) for body weight change. At late lactation stage, cows supplemented at a fixed rate gained weight (+ 0.16 kg/day), whereas those supplemented at a variable rate lost weight (– 0.08 kg/day; P < 0.05). No significant effect was found for body condition score. The prioritization of milk production rather than the attenuation of body reserve mobilization suggests that concentrate allowance based on lactation stage may be unsuitable for minimizing the negative energy balance in early lactation cows.EEA PergaminoFil: Bretschneider, Gustavo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Agencia de Extensión Rural Necochea; ArgentinaFil: Salado, Eloy Eduardo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela; ArgentinaFil: Cuatrin, Alejandra. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela; ArgentinaFil: Mattera, Juan. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Pergamino. Forrajeras; ArgentinaFil: Pece, Mariela. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela; ArgentinaFil: Arias, Dario. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela; ArgentinaFil: Cuffia, Maira. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Dieguez, Virginia. Actividad Privada; Argentin

Taller y aprendizaje: integración de conceptos de ecología, agricultura y ambiente en estudiantes de primer año de la Facultad de Agronomía, UdelaR

Se presenta una experiencia realizada en la Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de la República (Uruguay), donde se pretende mejorar la articulación entre dos cursos curriculares de primer año: “Taller I” y el curso “Ecología, Agricultura y Ambiente” (EAA). Se estudió la inclusión y uso de Conceptos de Interés (CI) del curso EAA en trabajos de Taller I, así como el análisis de calificaciones de una evaluación parcial del curso EAA. Además se aplicó la metodología Q para generar tipologías. Se trabajó con dos grupos, donde los docentes de las asignaturas mencionadas articulan (CON) o no lo hacen (SIN). Fue posible identificar mayor uso de algunos CI específicos, así como mayor relación entre conceptos e integración conceptual en los grupos CON. Si bien no existieron diferencias significativas en los resultados de evaluaciones parciales CON y SIN, se deben considerar otras variables, tal como es el perfil dominante de cada grupo de estudiantes, emergentes de la metodología Q.Is presented an experience carried out at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of the Republic (Uruguay), which aims to improve the articulation between two curricular first year courses: "Workshop I" and "Ecology, Agriculture and Environment" (EAA). It was studied the inclusion and use of concepts of Interest (CI) from the course EAA in Workshop I tasks, as well as an analysis of ratings of a partial evaluation of the course EAA. Also it the Q methodology was applied to generate Q participants typologies. We worked with two groups, where teachers of the subjects referred articulates between (CON) or do not (SIN). It was possible to identify increased use of particular specific CI and greater relationship between concepts and conceptual integration CON groups. While there were no significant differences in the results of partial evaluations CON and SIN, consider other variables, as is the dominant profile of each group of students, emerging methodology Q.Eje A5: Sistemas de conocimientoFacultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Natural Contamination with Mycotoxins Produced by Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium poae in Malting Barley in Argentina

Two of the most common species of toxin-producing Fusarium contaminating small cereal grains are Fusarium graminearum and F. poae; with both elaborating diverse toxins, especially deoxynivalenol (DON) and nivalenol (NIV), respectively. The objective of our work during the 2012–2014 growing seasons was to screen crops for the most commonly isolated Fusarium species and to quantify DON and NIV toxins in natural malting-barley samples from different producing areas of Argentina. We identified 1180 Fusarium isolates in the 119 samples analyzed, with 51.2% being F. graminearum, 26.2% F. poae and 22.6% other species. We found high concentrations of mycotoxins, at maximum values of 12 μg/g of DON and 7.71 μg/g of NIV. Of the samples, 23% exhibited DON at an average of 2.36 μg/g, with 44% exceeding the maximum limits (average of 5.24 μg/g); 29% contained NIV at an average of 2.36 μg/g; 7% contained both DON and NIV; and 55% were without DON or NIV. Finally, we report the mycotoxin contamination of the grain samples produced by F. graminearum and F. poae, those being the most frequent Fusarium species present. We identified the main Fusarium species affecting natural malting-barley grains in Argentina and documented the presence of many samples with elevated concentrations of DON and NIV. To our knowledge, the investigation reported here was the first to quantify the contamination by Fusarium and its toxins in natural samples of malting barley in Argentina

Mortality and pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection: an international cohort study

Background: The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on postoperative recovery needs to be understood to inform clinical decision making during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports 30-day mortality and pulmonary complication rates in patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This international, multicentre, cohort study at 235 hospitals in 24 countries included all patients undergoing surgery who had SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed within 7 days before or 30 days after surgery. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality and was assessed in all enrolled patients. The main secondary outcome measure was pulmonary complications, defined as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or unexpected postoperative ventilation. Findings: This analysis includes 1128 patients who had surgery between Jan 1 and March 31, 2020, of whom 835 (74·0%) had emergency surgery and 280 (24·8%) had elective surgery. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed preoperatively in 294 (26·1%) patients. 30-day mortality was 23·8% (268 of 1128). Pulmonary complications occurred in 577 (51·2%) of 1128 patients; 30-day mortality in these patients was 38·0% (219 of 577), accounting for 81·7% (219 of 268) of all deaths. In adjusted analyses, 30-day mortality was associated with male sex (odds ratio 1·75 [95% CI 1·28–2·40], p\textless0·0001), age 70 years or older versus younger than 70 years (2·30 [1·65–3·22], p\textless0·0001), American Society of Anesthesiologists grades 3–5 versus grades 1–2 (2·35 [1·57–3·53], p\textless0·0001), malignant versus benign or obstetric diagnosis (1·55 [1·01–2·39], p=0·046), emergency versus elective surgery (1·67 [1·06–2·63], p=0·026), and major versus minor surgery (1·52 [1·01–2·31], p=0·047). Interpretation: Postoperative pulmonary complications occur in half of patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with high mortality. Thresholds for surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic should be higher than during normal practice, particularly in men aged 70 years and older. Consideration should be given for postponing non-urgent procedures and promoting non-operative treatment to delay or avoid the need for surgery. Funding: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, NIHR Academy, Sarcoma UK, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research

Alkylphenolic compounds and risk of breast and prostate cancer in the MCC-Spain study

Background: Alkylphenolic compounds are chemicals with endocrine disrupting properties that have been widely used in industry with important changes in their usage over time. Few epidemiologic studies have evaluated the effect of alkylphenolic compounds on human health. Objectives: We investigated whether occupational exposure to alkylphenolic compounds is associated with breast and prostate cancer. Methods: We carried out a population-based case-control study including 1513 incident cases of breast cancer, 1095 of prostate cancer, and 3055 controls, frequency matched by sex, age and region. Occupational exposure to alkylphenolic compounds was estimated using a recently developed job-exposure matrix, which considered different scenarios of exposure and different subtypes of alkylphenolic compounds. Results: History of occupational exposure to alkylphenolic compounds was modestly associated with breast cancer (OR = 1.23; 95% CI = 1.01-1.48). Within the different scenarios, the occupational use of domestic tensioactives was positively associated with breast cancer (OR = 1.28; 95% CI = 1.02-1.60), while occupational exposure in other scenarios showed mostly a suggestion of a similar positive associations. Exposure to nonylphenol ethoxylates was positively associated with breast cancer (OR = 1.21; 95% CI = 1.00-1.47), while exposure to other compounds was uncommon. In general, we did not observe associations between alkylphenolic compounds and prostate cancer, except for a positive association among men occupationally exposed to cosmetic, hair and personal hygiene products. Conclusions: Our findings suggest a modest association between breast cancer risk and occupational exposure to alkylphenolic compounds, and no associations between these compounds and prostate cancer risk. These findings warrant further corroboration in other studies

Delayed colorectal cancer care during covid-19 pandemic (decor-19). Global perspective from an international survey

Background The widespread nature of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been unprecedented. We sought to analyze its global impact with a survey on colorectal cancer (CRC) care during the pandemic. Methods The impact of COVID-19 on preoperative assessment, elective surgery, and postoperative management of CRC patients was explored by a 35-item survey, which was distributed worldwide to members of surgical societies with an interest in CRC care. Respondents were divided into two comparator groups: 1) ‘delay’ group: CRC care affected by the pandemic; 2) ‘no delay’ group: unaltered CRC practice. Results A total of 1,051 respondents from 84 countries completed the survey. No substantial differences in demographics were found between the ‘delay’ (745, 70.9%) and ‘no delay’ (306, 29.1%) groups. Suspension of multidisciplinary team meetings, staff members quarantined or relocated to COVID-19 units, units fully dedicated to COVID-19 care, personal protective equipment not readily available were factors significantly associated to delays in endoscopy, radiology, surgery, histopathology and prolonged chemoradiation therapy-to-surgery intervals. In the ‘delay’ group, 48.9% of respondents reported a change in the initial surgical plan and 26.3% reported a shift from elective to urgent operations. Recovery of CRC care was associated with the status of the outbreak. Practicing in COVID-free units, no change in operative slots and staff members not relocated to COVID-19 units were statistically associated with unaltered CRC care in the ‘no delay’ group, while the geographical distribution was not. Conclusions Global changes in diagnostic and therapeutic CRC practices were evident. Changes were associated with differences in health-care delivery systems, hospital’s preparedness, resources availability, and local COVID-19 prevalence rather than geographical factors. Strategic planning is required to optimize CRC care