Management routines influencing piglet survival in loose-housed sow herds

Author's accepted version (post-print).Piglet mortality is still a significant welfare and ethical matter in pig production, as well as an economical challenge for the farmer. Most of the mortality occurs early after farrowing, and previous studies have shown that the farm's management routines, especially around farrowing, are important factors to reduce it. When sows are loose-housed at farrowing and in the following lactation period, it puts higher demands on management input from the farmer to keep piglet mortality low. The objective of this study was to assess the importance of different management routines around the time of farrowing, and other farm qualities for piglet survival in loose-housed herds. To study risk factors for herd piglet mortality, a cross-sectional field survey was carried out in Norway in the year 2013, and included 52 commercial herds with hybrid LY sows (Norwegian Landrace x Swedish Yorkshire). The farms were visited once, and the farmers answered a questionnaire about their management practices. The outcome was the average herd pre-weaning mortality in the years of 2012–2013. To include as many management factors as possible into the multivariable linear regression model, we generated a new variable based on 4 management routines: 3 routines at farrowing (presence at 80–100% of the farrowings, drying newborn piglets, and practice split suckling), and one concerning farmer´s contact with the sows. This variable was called “Management type” (M), and were divided into 4 categories with increasing effort; M1 herds without any of the 4 mentioned routines, M2 had contact with sows >2 times per day, M3 performed the 3 routines at farrowing, and M4 combined the high sow contact and the 3 routines. The predicted values of mean herd piglet mortality for M1, M2, M3 and M4 were 20.1%, 17.0%, 16.2% and 13.3% respectively. The farmer's increased management effort was associated with lower piglet mortality (P<0.05). The farmer's effort at critical times together with systematic and important routines, and having frequent contact with the sows, makes a huge difference for piglet survival. The farmers are credited for this work by having lower piglet mortality as a result.acceptedVersio

Geographic variation in fitness-related traits of the bladderwrack Fucus vesiculosus along the Baltic Sea-North Sea salinity gradient

In the course of the ongoing global intensification and diversification of human pressures, the study of variation patterns of biological traits along environmental gradients can provide relevant information on the performance of species under shifting conditions. The pronounced salinity gradient, co-occurrence of multiple stressors, and accelerated rates of change make the Baltic Sea and its transition to North Sea a suitable region for this type of study. Focusing on the bladderwrack Fucus vesiculosus, one of the main foundation species on hard-bottoms of the Baltic Sea, we analyzed the phenotypic variation among populations occurring along 2,000 km of coasts subjected to salinities from 4 to >30 and a variety of other stressors. Morphological and biochemical traits, including palatability for grazers, were recorded at 20 stations along the Baltic Sea and four stations in the North Sea. We evaluated in a common modeling framework the relative contribution of multiple environmental drivers to the observed trait patterns. Salinity was the main and, in some cases, the only environmental driver of the geographic trait variation in F. vesiculosus. The decrease in salinity from North Sea to Baltic Sea stations was accompanied by a decline in thallus size, photosynthetic pigments, and energy storage compounds, and affected the interaction of the alga with herbivores and epibiota. For some traits, drivers that vary locally such as wave exposure, light availability or nutrient enrichment were also important. The strong genetic population structure in this macroalgae might play a role in the generation and maintenance of phenotypic patterns across geographic scales. In light of our results, the desalination process projected for the Baltic Sea could have detrimental impacts on F. vesiculosus in areas close to its tolerance limit, affecting ecosystem functions such as habitat formation, primary production, and food supply.Peer reviewe

Sociodemographic variables, clinical features, and the role of preassessment cross-sex hormones in older trans people

Introduction: As referrals to gender identity clinics have increased dramatically over the last few years, no studies focusing on older trans people seeking treatment are available. Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of older trans people attending a national service and to investigate the influence of cross-sex hormones (CHT) on psychopathology. Methods: Individuals over the age of 50 years old referred to a national gender identity clinic during a 30-month period were invited to complete a battery of questionnaires to measure psychopathology and clinical characteristics. Individuals on cross-sex hormones prior to the assessment were compared with those not on treatment for different variables measuring psychopathology. Main Outcome Measures: Sociodemographic and clinical variables and measures of depression and anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale), victimization (Experiences of Transphobia Scale), social support (Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support), interpersonal functioning (Inventory of Interpersonal Problems), and nonsuicidal self-injury (Self-Injury Questionnaire). Results: The sex ratio of trans females aged 50 years and older compared to trans males was 23.7:1. Trans males were removed for the analysis due to their small number (n ¼ 3). Participants included 71 trans females over the age of 50, of whom the vast majority were white, employed or retired, and divorced and had children. Trans females on CHT who came out as trans and transitioned at an earlier age were significantly less anxious, reported higher levels of self-esteem, and presented with fewer socialization problems. When controlling for socialization problems, differences in levels of anxiety but not self-esteem remained. Conclusion: The use of cross-sex hormones prior to seeking treatment is widespread among older trans females and appears to be associated with psychological benefits. Existing barriers to access CHT for older trans people may need to be re-examined

The J shaped association of age at menarche and cardiovascular events : systematic review and meta-analysis

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Dialectical behavioral therapy-based group treatment versus treatment as usual for adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: a multicenter randomized controlled trial

Background Studies on structured skills training groups have indicated beneficial, although still inconclusive, effects on core symptoms of ADHD in adults. This trial examined effects of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy-based group treatment (DBT-bGT) on the broader and clinically relevant executive functioning and emotional regulation in adults with ADHD. Methods In a multicenter randomized controlled trial, adult patients with ADHD were randomly assigned to receive either weekly DBT-bGT or treatment as usual (TAU) during 14 weeks. Subsequently, participants receiving TAU were offered DBT-bGT. All were reassessed six months after ended DBT-bGT. Primary outcomes were the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF-A) and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). Secondary outcomes included self-reported ADHD-symptoms, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and quality of life. We used independent samples t- tests to compare the mean difference of change from pre- to post-treatment between the two treatment groups, and univariate linear models adjusting for differences between sites. Results In total, 121 participants (68 females), mean age 37 years, from seven outpatient clinics were included, of whom 104 (86%) completed the 14-week trial. Entering the study, 63% used medication for ADHD. Compared to TAU (n = 54), patients initially completing DBT-bGT (n = 50) had a significantly larger mean reduction on the BRIEF-A (-12.8 versus -0.37, P = 0.005, effect size 0.64), and all secondary outcomes, except for symptoms of anxiety. All significant improvements persisted at 6 months follow-up. Change on DERS did not differ significantly between the groups after 14 weeks, but scores continued to decrease between end of group-treatment and follow-up. Conclusions This DBT-bGT was superior to TAU in reducing executive dysfunction, core symptoms of ADHD and in improving quality of life in adults with ADHD. Improvements sustained six months after ended treatment. The feasibility and results of this study provide evidence for this group treatment as a suitable non-pharmacological treatment option for adults with ADHD in ordinary clinical settings.publishedVersio

Renal hemodynamics in renal artery stenosis and angiotensin II-dependent hypertension. Pathophysiological and diagnostic aspects.

Patients with renovascular hypertension have a poor renal and cardiovascular prognosis. To improve the care of these patients, we need to increase knowledge about the pathophysiological mechanisms involved. Thus, the aims of these studies were to examine: (1) renal hemodynamics and renal blood flow autoregulation (RBFA) in an experimental model of chronic angiotensin (Ang) II-dependent hypertension and the role of superoxide and endothelin (ET)-1; (2) the diagnostic value of intrarenal velocimetric color duplex sonography (CDS) indices in patients with suspected renal artery stenosis (RAS); and (3) biomarkers of oxidative stress (oxs), and ET-1, in hypertensive patients with atherosclerotic RAS (ARAS) and the effect of renal angioplasty. In chronically Ang II-infused rats, high-NaCl intake (AngII-HNa) resulted in a marked impairment in the myogenic response (MR) of dynamic RBFA. This abnormality was not seen in sham rats on a high-NaCl diet and was significantly more pronounced than in Ang II-infused rats on a normal-NaCl diet. Chronic treatment with tempol, a superoxide dismutase mimetic, attenuated the abnormality in dynamic RBFA in AngII-HNa, whereas acute treatment with ETA and/or ETB receptor antagonists had no effect on this abnormality. In AngII-HNa, ETA antagonism reduced arterial pressure (AP) and specifically increased outer medullary perfusion. These effects were attenuated or abolished by co-administration of ETB receptor antagonist. In a retrospective cohort of patients undergoing renal angiography for suspected RAS, acceleration indices of CDS; maximal systolic acceleration (ACCmax) and maximal acceleration index (AImax= ACCmax/peak systolic velocity) provided comparable, good diagnostic accuracy in detecting a hemodynamically significant RAS even in patients with markedly reduced kidney function, in contrast to pulsatility index which correlated significantly to age, renal function and pulse pressure, but not the degree of RAS. In a prospective cohort of patients undergoing renal angiography for suspected ARAS (significant ARAS; n=83, and non-RAS; n=59) baseline (prior to angiography) inflammatory, but not oxs, biomarkers were significantly elevated in group ARAS vs. both group non-RAS and healthy matched controls (n=20). Plasma ET-1 at baseline was significantly increased in group ARAS vs. healthy controls and was significantly reduced compared to baseline 4 weeks after angioplasty. Angioplasty had no significant effects on AP, biomarkers of oxs, inflammation or serum creatinine. In conclusion, in a rat model of AngII-dependent hypertension, high-NaCl intake produced a marked impairment in the MR of dynamic RBFA. Tempol attenuated this abnormality, whereas ET-1 receptor antagonists did not, indicating a role for superoxide in the impaired autoregulatory response. In the same animal model, acute ETA antagonism reduced AP and selectively increased outer medullary perfusion. Our results suggest that selective ETA antagonists are more effective than combined ETA+B antagonists in this model. Acceleration indices ACCmax and AImax are superior to pulsatility index, and provide a similar, good, diagnostic accuracy in detecting a hemodynamically significant RAS, even in patients with markedly reduced kidney function. Biomarkers of inflammation, but not oxs, are elevated in patients with ARAS. Angioplasty did not decrease inflammatory biomarkers but reduced plasma levels of ET-1 4 weeks after intervention

Reseña de proyecto: Coralalg, la biodiversidad marina oculta en noruega: búsqueda de especies crípticas en algas rojas coralinas (Norway's hidden marine biodiversity: the hunt for cryptic species within the coralline algae)

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Efficient coralline algal psbA mini barcoding and High Resolution Melt HRM) analysis using a simple custom DNA preparation

Coralline algae form extensive maerl and rhodolith habitats that support a rich biodiversity. Calcium carbonate harvesting as well as trawling activities threatens this ecosystem. Eleven species were recorded so far as maerl-forming in NE Atlantic, but identification based on morphological characters is unreliable. As for most red algae, we now use molecular characters to resolve identification of these taxa. However, obtaining DNA sequences requires time and resource demanding methods. The purpose of our study was to improve methods for achieving simple DNA extraction, amplification, sequencing and sequence analysis to allow robust identification of maerl species and other coralline algae. Our novel and easy DNA preparation method for coralline algae was of sufficient quality for qPCR amplification and sequencing of all 47 tested samples. The new psbA qPCR assay successfully amplified a 350 bp fragment identifying six species and uncovering two new Operational Taxonomic Units. Molecular results were corroborated with anatomical examination using i.e. scanning electron microscopy. Finally, the qPCR assay was coupled with High Resolution Melt analysis that successfully differentiated the closely related species Lithothamnion erinaceum and L. cf. glaciale. This DNA preparation and qPCR technique should vitalize coralline research by reducing time and cost associated with molecular systematics

De allestedsnærværende kalkalgene - et svært, rosa kunnskapshull langs norskekysten?

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