Effect of handling in pre-weaning rabbits

[EN] The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of regular daily handling on weight gain and on the fear reaction towards a new environment and human beings in domestic kits (Tonic Immobility test: TI, Emergence test: ET). Two groups in the same environment and fed the same diet were analysed: handled group and control (17 litters, 9 kits/litter per group). No differences in weight gain were recorded. During ET at 33 days of age, handled kits took less time to enter the arena than control group kits. TI duration was shorter in handled kits, which required more inductions than the control group. It was found that minimal human contact imposed before nursing reduced the fear of humans in rabbit kits. Our handling method requires minimal contact and can be used to reduce fear and improve welfare in rabbits. Moreover, the short length of the handling procedure allows stockpersons to produce tamer rabbits, reducing stress levels.This research was funded by PRIN 2005 (MUR - Roma). We would like to thank the farm “Erminia Vezzoli” located in Covo (Bergamo, Italy).Zucca, D.; Redaelli, V.; Marelli, S.; Bonazza, V.; Heinzl, E.; Verga, M.; Luzi, F. (2012). Effect of handling in pre-weaning rabbits. World Rabbit Science. 20(2):97-101. doi:10.4995/wrs.2012.1083SWORD9710120

Effect of environmental enrichment and group size on behaviour and live weight in growing rabbits

[EN] The aim of this research was to study the effects of group size and environmental enrichment on behaviour and growth of 108 hybrid growing rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). We compared the behaviour (time budget and reactions to specific behavioural tests: "tonic immobility" and "emergence test") and live weight of growing rabbits housed in cages with a different number of rabbits per cage (2, 3 and 4; same density:14 rabbits/m2). Half of the cages were enriched with a wooden stick (Robinia Pseudoacacia, length: 20 cm ¿ diameter: 6 cm, cylindrical) hanging from the ceiling of the cage. The stick and number of animals per cage had no effect on weight gain or on behavioural tests responses. Interaction with the stick was significantly higher at the beginning of the growing period. Principal component analysis performed on the data for the whole period showed significant differences according to the treatments: increasing the number of rabbits per cage and introducing a wooden stick seemed to affect locomotor activity frequency and social interactions. Rabbits housed 3 and 4 per cage showed less lying behaviour and higher locomotor activity and sitting. The larger functional space allowance enabled rabbits to perform more natural behaviours compared to smaller cages (2 rabbits/cage). Environmental enrichment seems to be related to higher allogrooming behaviour frequency, which could indicate a social behaviour related to pheromonal olfactory stimulation and mutual recognition.Zucca, D.; Marelli, S.; Redaelli, V.; Heinzl, E.; Cardile, H.; Ricci, C.; Verga, M.... (2012). Effect of environmental enrichment and group size on behaviour and live weight in growing rabbits. World Rabbit Science. 20(2):89-95. doi:10.4995/wrs.2012.1082SWORD899520

MadGraph/MadEvent v4: The New Web Generation

We present the latest developments of the MadGraph/MadEvent Monte Carlo event generator and several applications to hadron collider physics. In the current version events at the parton, hadron and detector level can be generated directly from a web interface, for arbitrary processes in the Standard Model and in several physics scenarios beyond it (HEFT, MSSM, 2HDM). The most important additions are: a new framework for implementing user-defined new physics models; a standalone running mode for creating and testing matrix elements; generation of events corresponding to different processes, such as signal(s) and backgrounds, in the same run; two platforms for data analysis, where events are accessible at the parton, hadron and detector level; and the generation of inclusive multi-jet samples by combining parton-level events with parton showers. To illustrate the new capabilities of the package some applications to hadron collider physics are presented: 1) Higgs search in pp \to H \to W^+W^-: signal and backgrounds. 2) Higgs CP properties: pp \to H jj$in the HEFT. 3) Spin of a new resonance from lepton angular distributions. 4) Single-top and Higgs associated production in a generic 2HDM. 5) Comparison of strong SUSY pair production at the SPS points. 6) Inclusive W+jets matched samples: comparison with the Tevatron data.Comment: 38 pages, 15 figure

Multiwavelength observations of a TeV-Flare from W comae

We report results from an intensive multiwavelength campaign on the intermediate-frequency-peaked BL Lacertae object W Com (z = 0.102) during a strong outburst of very high energy gamma-ray emission in 2008 June. The very high energy gamma-ray signal was detected by VERITAS on 2008 June 7-8 with a flux F(>200 GeV) =(5.7 0.6) × 10-11 cm-2 s -1, about three times brighter than during the discovery of gamma-ray emission from W Com by VERITAS in 2008 March. The initial detection of this flare by VERITAS at energies above 200 GeV was followed by observations in high-energy gamma rays (AGILE; E γ≥ 100 MeV), X-rays (Swift and XMM-Newton), and at UV, and ground-based optical and radio monitoring through the GASP-WEBT consortium and other observatories. Here we describe the multiwavelength data and derive the spectral energy distribution of the source from contemporaneous data taken throughout the flare. © 2009. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved

Sugarcane evapotranspiration and irrigation requirements in tropical climates

Irrigation is necessary to help meet the high demand for water by sugarcane in several countries including Brazil and Australia. The crop irrigation requirements are typically estimated using the crop coefficient-reference evapotranspiration (Kc-ETo) procedure. Sugarcane evapotranspiration rates were measured in three different sugarcane-producing regions of the world, and crop coefficients (Kc) were derived for those diverse environments, irrigation methods, and farming systems, therefore representing a robust basis for irrigation management. We also verified the occurrence of the inverse relation between Kc and ETo found in previous studies. Two experiments in Brazil and one in Australia were used for the analysis. Our data showed that Kc for a full canopy cover was lower than 1.0 in the three experimental sites and that sugarcane evapotranspiration (ETc) seems to be limited and exceeds ETo only when this is below 4 mm day(-1). In one of the Brazilian experiments, Kc declined at higher rates than in the other two experiments, and for the three sites, average Kc was 0.77 and 0.87, respectively, for initial and full cover phase when ETo > 6 mm day(-1). The increase of aerodynamic and other upstream resistances to water transport of plants appears to be one of the reasons for Kc to decrease at high levels of ETo. Based on our data and the literature, the Kc values provided by Allen et al. (1998) could overestimate the irrigation needs of sugarcane under high evaporative demand conditions. Irrigation management based on Kc should use the average ETo from the preceding 3 days before irrigating to save water and energy while maintaining high yield levels