The animal hygiene in the new century

The objective of this work is to present a prospective viewpoint of animal hygiene in the new century. A short history of the International Society for Animal Hygiene and its recommendations to improve animal production, food protection and public health in the immediate future, are detailed

Evaluating environmental drivers of spatial variability in free-living nematode assemblages along the Portuguese margin

Understanding processes responsible for shaping biodiversity patterns on continental margins is an important requirement for comprehending anthropogenic impacts in these environments and further management of biodiversity. Continental margins perform crucial functions linked to key ecological processes which are mainly structured by surface primary productivity and particulate organic matter flux to the seafloor, but also by heterogeneity in seafloor characteristics. However, to what extent these processes control local and regional biodiversity remains unclear. In this study, two isobathic parallel transects located at the shelf break (300-400 m) and upper slope (1000 m) of the western Iberian margin were used to test how food input and sediment heterogeneity affect nematode diversity independently from the spatial factors geographical distance and water depth. We also examined the potential role of connectedness between both depth transects through molecular phylogenetic analyses. Regional generic diversity and turnover were investigated at three levels: within a station, between stations from the same depth transect, and between transects. High variability in food availability and high sediment heterogeneity at the shelf-break transect were directly linked to high diversity within stations and higher variation in community structure across stations compared to the upper slope transect. Contrastingly, environmental factors (food availability and sediment) did not vary significantly between stations located at the upper slope, and this lack of differences were also reflected in a low community turnover between these deeper stations. Finally, differences in nematode communities between both transects were more pronounced than differences within each of the isobathic transects, but these changes were paralleled by the previously mentioned environmental changes. These results suggest that changes in community structure are mainly dictated by environmental factors rather than spatial differences at the western Iberian margin. Furthermore, phylogenetic relationships revealed no evidence for depth-endemic lineages, indicating regular species interchanges across different depths

Evaluación de cuatro ciclos de selección para resistencia al achaparramiento del maíz en la población 73.

En dos ambientes de Centro América y uno de México, se evaluaron 12 cultivares de maíz con el propósito de determinar el progreso genético, logrado para resistencia al achaparramiento después de cuatro ciclos de selección en la población 73. En la evaluación se incluyeron los sintéticos de los ciclos 0, 1, 2, 3 y 4, compuestos de los ciclos 2, 3 y 4, tres testigos tolerantes NB-6, Santa Rosa 8073 y el híbrido H-53, y un testigo susceptible (híbrido B-833). En las tres localidades los promedios de porcentaje de plantas con achaparramiento fueron relativamente bajos (entre 10 y 20%). Sin embargo el sintético del ciclo cuatro rindió en promedio (4214 kg/ha) igual estadísticamente a los híbridos B-833 y H-53 (4288 y 4030 kg/ha, respectivamente). En porcentaje de plantas con achaparramiento el sintético ciclo cuatro presentó el menor valor 8,9%, la variedad comercial tolerante NB-6 presentó 16,2% y el híbrido susceptible B-833 (22,8%). Una regresión lineal entre rendimientos promedios y los ciclos de selección revela una ganancia promedio por ciclo 149 kg/ha (4,3% por ciclo) y una reducción por ciclo de 2% de plantas con achaparramiento (11 % de ganancia por ciclo) Se puede concluir que el procedimiento entre líneas S1 per se ha sido efectiva en mejorar el comportamiento de la población 73 en aumentar productividad en rendimiento de grano y la resistencia al achaparramiento

XMM-Newton observations of three short period polars: V347 Pav, GG Leo and EU UMa

We present phase-resolved XMM_Newton data of three short period polars: V347 Pav, GG Leo and EU UMa. All three systems show one dominant accretion region which is seen for approximately half of the orbital cycle. GG Leo shows a strong dip feature in its X-ray and UV light curves which is due to absorption of X-rays from the accretion site by the accretion stream. The emission in the case of EU UMa is dominated by soft X-rays: its soft/hard X-ray ratio is amongst the highest seen in these objects. In contrast, GG Leo and V347 Pav shows a ratio consistent with that predicted by the standard shock model. We infer the mass of the white dwarf and explore the affect of restricting the energy range on the derived parameters.Comment: accepted MNRA

Benefits of homemade chocolate consumption on human health

Objective: To describe the benefits of homemade chocolate consumption on human health in La Chontalpa, Tabasco, Mexico. Design/Methodology/Approach: We interviewed 49 persons in La Chontalpa, along with 30 contacts from social networks; additionally, a participatory workshop was held with 15 persons trained in making homemade chocolate. A traditional specialist doctor who uses cacao as a medicinal base was interviewed and we were observers during cacao ceremonies. The information was analyzed using opinion analysis and the Chi-square test. Results: Ninety-seven-point nine percent of the interviewees agreed that consuming homemade chocolate is beneficial for health, while 89.8% mentioned that consuming chocolate makes them feel good. Fifty-five percent of the consumers consider that chocolate provides them energy; 51.1% say that it helps them to control hunger and thirst; and 36.7% feel that consuming it takes away sadness and laziness. The benefits of chocolate consumption reported in the ceremonies, workshops, and interviews were that it controls depression, promotes concentration, and causes joy; it also cures diarrhea, anemia, headaches, and stomach ache. Study Limitations/Implications: The sanitary restrictions derived from the COVID-19 pandemic limited face-to-face interviews in 2021, which were instead carried out using social networks. It is forbidden to record and take photos and videos of cacao ceremonies; therefore, we were unable to document them. Findings/Conclusions: In La Chontalpa, Tabasco, the population consumes homemade chocolate because they believe that chocolate provides mental and physical health benefits

COPD: can genetic Background inform about disease heterogeneity?

People with COPD vary substantially on their pulmonary (e.g., airway obstruction) and extra-pulmonary (e.g., symptoms, functional status) manifestations. The aim of this study was to relate this high heterogeneity to the patient’s genetic Background, namely focusing on polymorphisms associated with COPD and COPD-associated phenotypes and features. Summary statistics for COPD and COPD-associated phenotypes and features (emphysema, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, smoking, BMI, asthma, airway responsiveness, coronary heart disease, blood pressure, pulmonary artery enlargement, resting heart rate and resting oxygen saturation) were obtained from GWAS Catalog (https://www.ebi.ac.uk/gwas/ accessed in August 2021). A local COPD cohort was genotyped using Global Screening Arrays (GSA-Illumina) and polygenic risk scores were calculated per phenotype/feature. A cluster analysis was then carried out to determine how patients would group according to their assessed genetic risks. The study currently includes 255 participants with COPD (68 [61, 74] years old; 79.61% male; FEV1/FVC 53.02 [41.24, 61.94]). Our preliminary results show that people cluster into 3 main groups based on their genetic risk for emphysema, followed by COPD, whilst their clinical characteristics remained similar among groups. Future work is currently being conducted to further explore these clusters and perform their validation. This work was funded by FEDER funds through COMPETE 2020, Operational Programme for Competitiveness and Internationalization (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-028806), CENTRO 2020 (CENTRO-01-0246-FEDER-000018; CENTRO-08-5864-FSE-000039) and by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (UI/BD/151337/2021). The iBiMED is supported by FCT funds under UIDP/04501/2020.publishe

Spectroscopic Study of SU UMa-type Dwarf Nova YZ Cnc during its 2002 Superoutburst

We report time-resolved spectroscopic observations of the SU Ursae Majoris dwarf nova, YZ Cnc, for 2 nights over 11 hrs during its 2002 January superoutburst. The spectra only show absorption-line profiles in the first day. But the lines display blue and red troughs, with ``W'' profiles in the second day. The radial velocity curve of the absorption troughs and emission peaks of H$\beta$ has an amplitude of $49\pm10$ km s$^{-1}$ and a phase offset of $-0.07\pm0.04$, which are very similar to those measured in quiescence; however, the $\gamma$ velocity deviates strongly from the systemic velocity measured in quiescence, showing variation of the order of $\pm$60 km s$^{-1}$. And large shifts of $\sim$70 km s$^{-1}$ and $\sim$0.09, for the orbital-averaged velocity and phase respectively, are also found in our observations. All these phenomena can be well explained with a precession of an eccentric disk and we conclude that these phenomena are the characteristic products of an eccentric accretion disk.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in ChJA

XMM-Newton spectroscopy of high redshift quasars

We present XMM-Newton X-ray spectra and optical photometry of four high redshift (z=2.96-3.77) quasars, [HB89] 0438-436, [HB89] 2000-330, [SP89] 1107+487 and RX J122135.6+280613; of these four objects the former two are radio-loud, the latter two radio-quiet. Model fits require only a power law with Galactic absorption in each case; additional intrinsic absorption is also needed for [HB89] 0438-436 and RX J122135.6+280613. The spectra are hard (Gamma \~1.7 for [HB89] 0438-436, [HB89] 2000-330 and ~1.4 for RX J122135.6+280613) with the exception of [SP89]~1107+487 which is softer (Gamma ~2.0); the combined Galactic and intrinsic absorption of lower energy X-rays in the latter source is much less significant than in the other three. The two intrinsically unabsorbed sources have greater optical fluxes relative to the X-ray contributions at the observed energies. While there is no need to include reflection or iron line components in the models, our derived upper limits (99% confidence) on these parameters are not stringent; the absence of these features, if confirmed, may be explained in terms of the high power law contribution and/or a potentially lower albedo due to the low disc temperature. However, we note that the power-law spectrum can be produced via mechanisms other than the Comptonization of accretion disc emission by a corona; given that all four of these quasars are radio sources at some level we should also consider the possibility that the X-ray emission originates, at least partially, in a jet.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRA

Promotion of tomato growth by Trichoderma sp. under shade mesh conditions

Chemical fertilizers are frequently used in agriculture with harmful effects on ecological components, so the use of microorganisms as growth regulators is an agricultural practice increasingly used today. The aim of this research was to evaluate Trichoderma sp. as growth regulator in tomato plants. Trichoderma sp. isolated from soils was grown on solid PDA medium for morphological characterization of the fungus. An experiment to analyse the interaction between Trichoderma sp. and shade mesh conditions was established, where: T1 = Trichoderma sp.; T2 = without Trichoderma sp. (fertilization recommended for the crop was applied); T3 = shade mesh and T4 = without shade mesh. Several variables were evaluated in the plants and in the fruits. The macroscopic characteristics showed mycelium with a cottony morphology and a dark green coloration, and the microscopic characteristics of the fungus were conidiophores with a branch, phialides and ovoid to ellipsoid conidia. Interaction of Trichoderma sp. and shade mesh had a significant effect on plant height, number of flowers and number of fruits, with the greater values with Trichoderma sp. and shade mesh. Regarding the evaluation of the fruits significant differences were found in the weight, diameter, length, and colour (L and a* value) but not in b* value

Obtención, evaluación y manipulación del semen de verraco en una unidad de producción mexicana

Córdova Izquierdo, A.; Pérez Gutiérrez, J.F.; Méndez Hernández, W.; Villa Mancera, A.E.; Huerta Crispín, R.: Obtención, evaluación y manipulación del semen de verraco en una unidad de producción mexicana. Rev. vet. 26: 1, 69-74, 201