204 research outputs found
Acerca de la cronología de la muralla romana tardía de Gerunda : la terra sigillata clara de "Casa Pastors"
Why the C-statistic is not informative to evaluate early warning scores and what metrics to use
Efecto de la suplementación enzimática en dietas para lechones
El objetivo de este trabajo fue el de valorar la respuesta a la suplementación enzimática de la dieta con distintos enzimas microbianos en lechones en fase de transición
A Riemann coupled edge (RCE) 1D–2D finite volume inundation and solute transport model
A novel 1D–2D shallow water model based on the resolution of the Riemann problem at the coupled grid edges is presented in this work. Both the 1D and the 2D shallow water models are implemented in a finite volume framework using approximate Roe’s solvers that are able to deal correctly with wet/dry fronts. After an appropriate geometric link between the models, it is possible to define local Riemann problems at each coupled interface and estimate the contributions that update the cell solutions from the interfaces. The solute transport equation is also incorporated into the proposed procedure. The numerical results achieved by the 1D–2D coupled model are compared against a complete 2D model, which is considered the reference solution. The computational time is also examined
A model for computing thermally-driven shallow flows
In many natural disasters such as overland oil spills or lava flows, physical fluid properties as density change when considering non-homogeneous spatial and time variable distributions of the temperature. This effect is even more remarkable when these flows show a non-Newtonian behaviour due to the sensitivity of their rheological properties as viscosity or yield stress to temperature. In these cases, temperature becomes a significant variable that drives the fluid behaviour, which must be solved using an energy equation coupled with the free surface flow system. Special attention is devoted to thermal source terms which must include all the heat fluid exchanges, and their modelling sometimes can govern the complete flow behaviour. Fluid density, viscosity and yield stress, also affected by temperature, must be recomputed every time step. Summarizing, this work presents a 2D free surface flow model considering density and temperature variations, which could even modify viscosity and yield stress, with heat transfer mechanisms. The model is applied to oil spill overland simulations and heating/cooling test cases are carried out to ensure the system energy balance. As conclusions, it can be said that the numerical results demonstrate the importance of the heat exchange effects and those of the density, viscosity and yield stress variations
Effects of deoxynivalenol-contaminated diets on metabolic and immunological parameters in broiler chickens
The current study was conducted to examine the effects of deoxynivalenol (DON) at different levels (5 and 15 mg/kg feed) on the metabolism, immune response and welfare parameters of male broiler chickens (Ross 308) at 42 days old. Forty-five 1 day-old broiler chickens were randomly distributed into three different dietary treatments: (1) control, (2) DON-contaminated diet with 5 mg DON/kg of feed (guidance level), and (3) DON-contaminated diet with 15 mg DON/kg of feed. Five replicated cages with three birds each were used for each treatment in a randomized complete block design. The results showed that DON was detected in excreta of birds fed contaminated diets compared with controls. The metabolite DON-3 sulphate (DON-3S) was detected in plasma and excreta in both treated groups, as well as in the liver (but only at 15 mg/kg feed). The increase in the level of DON decreased the hemoglobin concentration (p < 0.001), whereas the erythrocyte counts were only decreased at 15 mg DON/kg feed. No effect of DON on the responses to common vaccines was observed. In plasma, interleukin 8 levels in both contaminated groups were significantly higher than in the control group. The expression of interleukin 6, interleukin 1β and interferon-γ increased in jejunum tissues of broilers fed 5 mg/kg of DON compared with controls. The stress index (heterophil to lymphocyte ratio) was not affected by DON-contaminated diets compared with controls. The plasma corticosterone level was significantly lower in both DON groups compared with controls. In conclusion, DON-3S could be used as a specific biomarker of DON in different biological matrices, while the immune response in broiler chickens is stimulated by the presence of DON at the guidance level, but no adverse effect was observed on physiological stress parameters.This research was funded by the Phileo by Lesaffre Company
Effects of deoxynivalenol contaminated diets on productive, morphological and physiological indicators in broiler chickens
The present study with 1-day-old male broilers (Ross 308) was conducted to evaluate the effects of deoxynivalenol (DON) at different levels (5 and 15 mg/kg feed) on growth performance, relative weight of organs, morphology of the small intestine, serum biochemistry, and welfare parameters of broiler chickens. Forty-five broiler chicks were randomly divided into three different experimental groups with five replicates each: (1) control group received a non-contaminated diet, (2) contaminated diet with 5 mg DON/kg of feed, and (3) contaminated diet with 15 mg DON/kg of feed for 42 days. Results showed that feed artificially contaminated with DON at guidance level (5 mg/kg diet) did not affect growth performance parameters. However, 15 mg/kg reduced body weight gain and altered feed efficiency. DON at two assayed levels significantly increased the absolute and relative weight of thymus and the relative weight of gizzard and decreased the absolute and the relative weight of the colon. Compared to controls, both doses affected small intestine morphometry parameters. In terms of biochemical indicators, DON at 5 mg/kg reduced the creatine kinase level and at 15 mg/kg DON reduced the cholesterol level. Furthermore, DON at 15 mg/kg induced more fear in broilers compared to broilers fed the guidance level. It was concluded that even the guidance level of DON did not affect the chickens' performance. However, its toxic effect occurred in some organs and biochemical parameters.This research was funded by Phileo by Lesaffre Company
Biomarkers of deoxynivalenol toxicity in chickens with special emphasis on metabolic and welfare parameters
Deoxynivalenol (DON), a trichothecene mycotoxin produced by Fusarium species, is the most widespread mycotoxin in poultry feed worldwide. Long term‐exposure from low to moderate DON concentrations can produce alteration in growth performance and impairment of the health status of birds. To evaluate the efficacy of mycotoxin‐detoxifying agent alleviating the toxic effects of DON, the most relevant biomarkers of toxicity of DON in chickens should be firstly determined. The specific biomarker of exposure of DON in chickens is DON‐3 sulphate found in different biological matrices (plasma and excreta). Regarding the nonspecific biomarkers called also biomarkers of effect, the most relevant ones are the impairment of the productive parameters, the intestinal morphology (reduction of villus height) and the enlargement of the gizzard. Moreover, the biomarkers of effect related to physiology (decrease of blood proteins, triglycerides, hemoglobin, erythrocytes, and lymphocytes and the increase of alanine transaminase (ALT)), immunity (response to common vaccines and release of some proinflammatory cytokines) and welfare status of the birds (such as the increase of Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and the stress index), has been reported. This review highlights the available information regarding both types of biomarkers of DON toxicity in chickens.This research was funded by PHILEO BY LESAFFRE
Plasma bile acids are not associated with energy metabolism in humans
Bile acids (BA) have recently been shown to increase energy expenditure in mice, but this concept has not been tested in humans. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between plasma BA levels and energy expenditure in humans. Type 2 diabetic (T2DM) patients (n = 12) and gender, age and BMI-matched healthy controls (n = 12) were studied before and after 8 weeks of treatment with a BA sequestrant. In addition, patients with liver cirrhosis (n = 46) were investigated, since these display elevated plasma BA together with increased energy expenditure. This group was compared to gender-, age- and BMI-matched healthy controls (n = 20). Fasting plasma levels of total BA and individual BA species as well as resting energy expenditure were determined. In response to treatment with the BA sequestrant, plasma deoxycholic acid (DCA) levels decreased in controls (-60%, p <0.05) and T2DM (-32%, p <0.05), while chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) decreased in controls only (-33%, p <0.05). Energy expenditure did not differ between T2DM and controls at baseline and, in contrast to plasma BA levels, was unaffected by treatment with the BA sequestrant. Total BA as well as individual BA species did not correlate with energy expenditure at any time throughout the study. Patients with cirrhosis displayed on average an increase in energy expenditure of 18% compared to values predicted by the Harris-Benedict equation, and plasma levels of total BA (up to 12-fold) and individual BA (up to 20-fold) were increased over a wide range. However, neither total nor individual plasma BA levels correlated with energy expenditure. In addition, energy expenditure was identical in patients with a cholestatic versus a non-cholestatic origin of liver disease while plasma total BA levels differed four-fold between the groups. In conclusion, in the various (patho) physiological conditions studied, plasma BA levels were not associated with changes in energy expenditure. Therefore, our data do not support an important role of circulating BA in the control of human energy metabolism.</p
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