Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae at direct addition or pre-incubation on in vitro gas production kinetics and degradability of four fibrous feeds

The aim of this study was to determine effects of increasing doses of the yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) in two methods of applications (direct or 72 h of pre-incubation) on in vitro GP, degradability and some ruminal fermentation parameters of the fibrous feedstuffs of corn stover, oat straw, sugarcane bagasse, and sorghum straw.The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae on in vitro gas production (GP) kinetics and degradability of corn stover, oat straw, sugarcane bagasse and sorghum straw. Feedstuffs were incubated with different doses of yeast [0, 4, 8 and 12 mg/g dry matter (DM)] at direct addition or 72 h pre-incubation. Rumen GP was recorded at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 24, 30, 48, 54 and 72 h of incubation. After 72 h, rumen pH and methane were determined and contents were filtrated for DM, neutral (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) degradability. Fibrous species×method of application×yeast interactions occurred (P<0.001) for all measured ruminal GP parameters and degradability. The direct addition or 72 h pre-incubation of S. cerevisiae with corn stover improved (P<0.05) GP and methane and decreased (P<0.05) the lag time (L) and NDF degradability (NDFD). The direct addition of S. cerevisiae to oat straw increased (P<0.05) rate of GP (c) and decreased (P<0.05) asymptotic GP (b). However, 72 h pre-incubation increased (P<0.05) c with linearly decreased b, DM degradability (DMD) and NDFD. Applying S

Is tree shelter protection an effective complement to weed competition management in improving the morpho-physiological response of holm oak planted seedlings?

[EN] Weed control is a key aspect affecting seedling response in newly-established plantations. Tree shelter protection may be an effective complement to weed control with a positive effect on the overall response of seedlings. Our study focused on assessing the morpho-physiological response of Holm oak (Quercus ilex L. ballota [Desf.] Samp.) plantations to weed control and individual protection as a combined cultural technique on a cropland site in southern Spain. The weed control treatments (cultivation, herbicide and mulch) were also applied in combination with tree shelters. Morpho-physiological variables including survival, aerial and root morphology, water potential, gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence were monitored over a 2-year period. Results showed that weed competition management treatments improved the seedling survival rate compared to the control treatment. Moreover, shelter protection was proven to enhance the height growth of seedlings. At early stages of establishment, and particularly under combined treatments, all plants invested more resources in their aerial parts than in their root system. Seedlings did not regulate water loss as a result of water stress, contrary to the expectations in Mediterranean areas. Under all treatments, especially those combined with tree shelters, seedlings took up to 2 years to achieve morpho-physiological adaptation to site conditions, in terms of height and diameter growths, and water stress behavior. In addition, tree shelters promoted an increase in net photosynthesis compared to non-shelter treatments during the winter period. Tree shelters also limited the emergence of photo-inhibition phenomena in seedlings so that plants under combined treatments showed greater photo-chemical efficiency. Thus, this study supports the effectiveness of tree shelter protection as a complement to weed control treatments. More specifically, a combination of individual protection (shelter) and weed control around seedlings is an interesting technique for reforestation of agroforestry systems in the Mediterranean area.The authors would like to thank the nursery Viveros San Jeronimo (Regional Ministry of the Environment of Andalusia, Spain) for providing the study plants and Victor Ortiz for arranging the research site at IFAPA Alameda del Obispo (Cordoba, Spain). The authors are grateful to L. Salmoral and to D. Ariza for their technical assistance. This study was supported by the coordinated projects of the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science entitled DECOVAR (AGL2009-12243-C02-02) and INTERBOS (CGL2008-04503-CO3-02) as well as European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).Ceacero Ruíz, CJ.; Navarro Cerrillo, R.; Diaz-Hernandez, JL.; Campo García, ADD. (2014). Is tree shelter protection an effective complement to weed competition management in improving the morpho-physiological response of holm oak planted seedlings?. iForest: biogeosciences and forestry. 7:289-299. doi:10.3832/ifor1126-007S289299

Psychological factors are associated with local and generalized pressure pain hypersensitivity, pain intensity, and function in people with chronic shoulder pain : a cross-sectional study

To explore the association between psychological factors and shoulder pain intensity, function, as well as local and generalized pressure pain hypersensitivity. a cross-sectional study. 90 participants with chronic shoulder pain were included. Pressure pain thresholds determined the presence of pain hypersensitivity. Pain intensity, function, pain self-efficacy, emotional distress, and pain catastrophizing were also assessed. Analyses were adjusted for gender and age. The diagnosis of depression (yes/no answer) was associated with both greater local (standardized β = -0.19[95%CI -0.37 to -0.00]) and generalized (standardized β = -0.20[95%CI -0.39 to -0.01]) pressure pain hypersensitivity. Greater pain self-efficacy was associated with lower local pressure pain hypersensitivity (standardized β = 0.19[95%CI 0.04 to 0.38]). The standardized beta coefficient for the diagnosis of depression indicated that this variable showed the strongest association with pressure pain hypersensitivity. Additionally, greater pain self-efficacy was associated with lower pain intensity (standardized β = -0.34[95%CI -0.51 to -0.17]) and better function (standardized β = -0.47[95%CI -0.63 to -0.30]). Greater pain catastrophizing was associated with more pain intensity (standardized β = 0.35[95%CI 0.18 to 0.52]) and worse function (standardized β = 0.26[95%CI 0.10 to 0.43]). The standardized beta coefficients for pain catastrophizing and pain self-efficacy indicated that both variables showed the strongest association with shoulder pain intensity and function, respectively CONCLUSION: Psychological factors were associated with local and generalized pressure pain hypersensitivity, pain intensity, and function in people with chronic shoulder pain

Pain Neuroscience Education Plus Usual Care Is More Effective than Usual Care Alone to Improve Self-Efficacy Beliefs in People with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: A Non-Randomized Controlled Trial

Self-efficacy beliefs are associated with less physical impairment and pain intensity in people with chronic pain. Interventions that build self-efficacy beliefs may foster behavioral changes among this population. A non-randomized trial has been carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of pain neuroscience education (PNE) plus usual care in modifying self-efficacy beliefs, pain intensity, pain interference and analgesics consumption in people with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Participants were allocated to an experimental (PNE plus usual care, n = 49) and a control (usual care alone, n = 51) group. The primary outcome was self-efficacy beliefs (Chronic Pain Self-Efficacy Scale), and the secondary outcomes were pain intensity, pain interference (Graded Chronic Pain Scale) and analgesics consumption. The participant&rsquo;s pain knowledge (revised Neurophysiology of Pain Questionnaire) after PNE intervention was also assessed to analyze its influence on every outcome measure. All the outcome measures were assessed at the baseline and at four-week and four-month follow-ups. PNE plus usual care was more effective than usual care alone to increase self-efficacy beliefs and decrease pain intensity and pain interference at all follow-up points. No differences between groups were found in terms of analgesics consumption. Knowledge of pain neurophysiology did not modify the effects of PNE plus usual care in any of the outcome measures. These results should be taken with caution because of the non-randomized nature of this design, the limited follow-ups and the uncertainty of the presence of clinical changes in self-efficacy for participants. Larger, methodological sound trials are needed

The Role of Positive Psychological Factors in the Association between Pain Intensity and Pain Interference in Individuals with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study

This study aimed to test the cross-sectional mediating and moderating role that positive psychological factors play in the association between pain intensity and pain interference in individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain. A descriptive cross-sectional study using mediation analyses was conducted, including 186 individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain. We conducted cross-sectional mediation and moderation analyses to determine whether the positive psychological factors mediated or moderated the association between pain intensity and pain interference. Pain acceptance, pain self-efficacy, and optimism were all significantly and weakly related to pain interference when controlling for pain intensity. Pain self-efficacy and pain acceptance partially mediated the association between pain intensity and pain interference. On the other hand, the multiple mediation model did not show significant effects. The three positive psychological factors were not found to significantly moderate the association between pain intensity and pain interference. The findings suggest that in chronic musculoskeletal pain patients, the treatments may focus on [i] what they are capable of doing to manage the pain (i.e., pain self-efficacy) and [ii] being better able to accept the pain as pain waxes and wanes might be also particularly helpful. However, these results must be tested in longitudinal studies before drawing any causal conclusion.This study was funded by the Progress and Health Andalusian Public Foundation (AP-0156-2018) through a competitive and public call (Call for Research and Innovation Projects in the Field of Primary Care at the Andalusian Health Service). The foundation, which is under the Andalusian Ministry of Health, assessed and approved the research project and will carry out a follow-up on their development. The funding is managed by the Andalusian Public Foundation for Biomedical and Health Research in Malaga (FIMABIS). Javier Martinez-Calderon is supported by the University of Malaga through a postdoctoral grant.Ye