Quantum Gravitational Effects and Grand Unification

In grand unified theories with large numbers of fields, renormalization effects significantly modify the scale at which quantum gravity becomes strong. This in turn can modify the boundary conditions for coupling constant unification, if higher dimensional operators induced by gravity are taken into consideration. We show that the generic size of, and the uncertainty in, these effects from gravity can be larger than the two-loop corrections typically considered in renormalization group analyses of unification. In some cases, gravitational effects of modest size can render unification impossible.Comment: 3 pages, to appear in the proceedings of 16th International Conference on Supersymmetry and Unification of Fundamental Interactions (SUSY08), Seoul, Korea, June 16-21 200

Welfare and performance of sows and piglets in farrowing pens with temporary crating system on a Spanish commercial farm

Altres ajuts: Acord transformatiu CRUE-CSICThe authors gratefully acknowledge all the collaborators who made this study possible, including Gerfam Rubirola, L'Ekip, Jyden and Rotecna. We thank Dr Eva Mainau, Dr Josep Gasa, and Dr David Solà for providing advice on experimental design, Francisco Benitez for participating in the pilot study, David Arias, Gabriela Rojas, Alejandra Feld, and Lourdes Llonch for assisting with data collection during the study period. We also thank the statistical consultation provided by Applied Statistics Service (SEA) of UAB, and the technical support from Department of Animal and Food Science of UAB and Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Analysis of University of Murcia.The study aimed to compare the welfare and performance of sows and piglets in three different farrowing systems (farrowing crate (FC) and farrowing pen with temporary crating (TC): SWAP and JLF15). One batch of crossbred Duroc was followed in every season. There were 18 sows (183 piglets) in FC, 23 sows (243 piglets) in SWAP, and 23 sows (237 piglets) in JLF15. Farrowing day was Day (D) 0 and weaning occurred on D24. Crating period was from entry to weaning in FC, and from 1-day pre-expected farrowing day to D3 in TC. Social interactions between littermates, between sows and piglets, and exploration by sows and piglets were observed on D2, D4, D12, and D23. Video recordings of crushing events which led to piglets' death were studied. Piglets were weighed on D3 and D19, and foreleg abrasions were assessed on D19. Sow saliva samples were collected on 1 day before and after temporary confinement, D2, D4, D12, and D23 to evaluate cortisol (CORT) and chromogranin A (CgA) levels. TC piglets initiated naso-naso contacts with sows more frequently than FC on D2 (P ≤ 0.01). TC sows interacted with piglets more frequently than FC on D12 (P ≤ 0.05). TC sows explored the pens more frequently than FC on D4 (P ≤ 0.05). Crushing rate (i.e. number of piglets per sow) of SWAP (1.2 ± 0.3) was higher than those of JLF15 (0.6 ± 0.2) and FC (0.3 ± 0.1) (P ≤ 0.02), and crushing rate of JLF15 was higher than that of FC (P < 0.0001). Autumn batch showed the lowest crushing rate amongst different batches (P < 0.001). Number of crushing incidents was similar when TC sows were crated or loose (P = 0.54). The percentage of occasions when sows used a support from the pen when changing posture but still crushed the piglets was higher in FC than in TC (P = 0.05). No difference of growth and foreleg abrasion in piglets were found between systems. CORT in SWAP peaked on D2 (P = 0.02), and CgA in JLF15 peaked on D4 and remained elevated on D12 (P ≤ 0.05). CORT and CgA in FC remained similar during lactation. Our results suggested that TC facilitated mother-young interactions; TC showed a higher crushing rate; sows changed their posture differently between systems and batches; the practice of temporary crating did not alter the level of stress biomarkers in sows

Welfare and Performance of Post-Weaning Sows and Piglets Previously Housed in Farrowing Pens with Temporary Crating on a Spanish Commercial Farm : a Pilot Study

The study investigated the effect of farrowing environment on the weaning adaptability of sows and piglets. One farrowing crate (FC) and two farrowing pens with temporary crating (TC: SWAP and JLF15) were compared. Sixty-four sows and 663 piglets were followed until 5 days post-weaning. At weaning (D24), sows and piglets were moved to group pens and nursery pens, respectively. Sows and piglets' behaviors were observed on D24, D25, and D26. On D23, D25, and D26, piglets' skin lesions were counted, and sows and piglets' saliva samples were collected for stress biomarkers (cortisol and chromogranin A, CgA). Piglets were weighed on D23 and D29. All the piglets' skin lesions increased on D25 and decreased on D26 (p < 0.05). Compared to D23, cortisol of JLF15 and CgA of FC piglets increased, whereas those of SWAP piglets remained similar after weaning (p < 0.05). Post-weaning performance in piglets was similar across farrowing systems. SWAP sows vocalized more than FC and JLF15 on D24 and D25 (p < 0.001). Results suggested that SWAP piglets showed a lower weaning stress response. Frequent post-weaning vocalization in SWAP sows might be linked with a negative effect of the abrupt separation from the piglets

Short communication : Preweaning socialization and environmental enrichment affect short-term performance after regrouping in commercially reared pigs

On-farm practices like premature weaning and frequent regrouping induce stress to pigs. Early socialization or environmental enrichment in piglets reduce weaning stress, as suggested in previous studies. Little research with both effects and in commercial settings was found. The aim was to investigate the effects of preweaning socialization and environmental enrichment on life-long performance in 661 Danbred pigs. Two treatments were distinguished during the suckling period: control (CON, 24 litters) and enriched (ENR, 24 litters). Control piglets were raised in barren farrowing pens; ENR piglets were provided with six enrichment objects from birth, and two neighboring litters were socialized from Day (D) 14. Pigs were regrouped on D25 (weaning) and D71 (fattening), while keeping the same treatment. Individual body weight was recorded on D1, 14, 23, 27, 31, 38, 69, 79, and after slaughter (carcass weight, CW). Pigs were slaughtered in six batches. Estimated slaughter weight (ESW) was calculated by CW × 1.25. Body weight, CW, and average daily gain (ADG) were analyzed by linear mixed models. Slaughter age was analyzed by Wilcox Rank-Sum test. Body weight and ESW were adjusted to non-linear models to obtain the predicted growth curves of CON and ENR, from birth to the targeted market weight (TMW, 105 kg). Average daily gain during the suckling, nursery, and fattening periods, and from birth to slaughter, did not differ between treatments. However, ADG of ENR when moving pigs from farrowing to nursery (4-day period) and from nursery to fattening (10-day period), revealed a better performance than CON (+ 20.6 g/day, P = 0.02; + 53 g/day, P = 0.03, respectively). Enriched pigs tended to be slaughtered 2.8 days earlier than CON (P = 0.08). On the other hand, the predicted growth curves showed a non-significant 2-day window of reaching TMW between treatments (P = 0.23). Results suggested that enriching the neonatal environment improved the short-term performance after regrouping, and may benefit the life-long performance by reducing time to reach TMW

Oxytocin changes in saliva of sows kept in different farrowing systems

Oral session 2[EN] Farrowing systems can influence the behaviour of sows during lactation -including their interaction with piglets and ability to move around-, hence improving their welfare. Oxytocin has been associated with positive emotions, and consequently to welfare improvement. The purpose of this study was to compare the welfare of sows through salivary oxytocin concentrations in three different farrowing systems during lactation and shortly after weaning

Investigation of correlations between skin lesion count and concentrations of salivary biomarkers in pigs from suckling to fattening

Oral session 1[EN] ClearFarm project intends to develop a platform to monitor animal welfare continuously throughout the value chain of pigs and dairy cattle using sensor technology. This platform relies on algorithms (for each species), built up with relevant welfare indicators measured by PLF (Precision Livestock Farming) technology

3-Fluoro-4-hydroxyprolines:Synthesis, conformational analysis and stereoselective recognition by the VHL E3 ubiquitin ligase for targeted protein degradation

Hydroxylation and fluorination of proline alters the pyrrolidine ring pucker and the trans:cis amide bond ratio in a stereochemistry-dependent fashion, affecting molecular recognition of proline-containing molecules by biological systems. While hydroxyprolines and fluoroprolines are common motifs in medicinal and biological chemistry, the synthesis and molecular properties of prolines containing both modifications, i.e., fluoro-hydroxyprolines, have not been described. Here we present a practical and facile synthesis of all four diastereoisomers of 3-fluoro-4-hydroxyprolines (F-Hyps), starting from readily available 4-oxo-l-proline derivatives. Small-molecule X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, and quantum mechanical calculations are consistent with fluorination at C³ having negligible effects on the hydrogen bond donor capacity of the C⁴ hydroxyl, but inverting the natural preference of Hyp from C⁴-exo to C⁴-endo pucker. In spite of this, F-Hyps still bind to the von Hippel–Lindau (VHL) E3 ligase, which naturally recognizes C⁴-exo Hyp in a stereoselective fashion. Co-crystal structures and electrostatic potential calculations support and rationalize the observed preferential recognition for (3<i>R</i>,4<i>S</i>)-F-Hyp over the corresponding (3<i>S</i>,4<i>S</i>) epimer by VHL. We show that (3<i>R</i>,4<i>S</i>)-F-Hyp provides bioisosteric Hyp substitution in both hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α) substrate peptides and peptidomimetic ligands that form part of PROTAC (proteolysis targeting chimera) conjugates for targeted protein degradation. Despite a weakened affinity, Hyp substitution with (3<i>S</i>,4<i>S</i>)-F-Hyp within the PROTAC MZ1 led to Brd4-selective cellular degradation at concentrations >100-fold lower than the binary <i>K</i>_d for VHL. We anticipate that the disclosed chemistry of 3-fluoro-4-hydroxyprolines and their application as VHL ligands for targeted protein degradation will be of wide interest to medicinal organic chemists, chemical biologists, and drug discoverers alike

Comparative study between scan sampling behavioral observations and an automatic monitoring image system on a commercial fattening pig farm

Automation is an important element in modern livestock farming. Image computer analysis is the automation technology aiming to monitor farm animals by recording continuous images. Further analysis can be carried out to assess more precisely and effectively farm animals’ welfare. The aim of this study was to determine the applicability of the commercial multi-sensor device (Peek Analytics) developed by Copeeks SAS (France), in comparison to human-based observations used to assess behaviors in pigs, including posture (standing/resting), area within the pen (feeding/drinking/resting/enrichment), and activity level (number of active pigs). Two Peek Analytics (Peek 3 and Peek 4) were installed on a commercial fattening pig farm in Murcia (Spain). Each device recorded data of two pens (39 pigs in four pens in total). Scan sampling was the human-based behavioral observation method used in this study. Data was collected for five consecutive days, in the following intervals: 09:00-11:00, 13:00-15:00, and 16:00-18:00 (30 hours of observation in total). Every pig was observed six times per hour and hence the information analyzed includes 7020 observations (180 observations/pig). The comparison between data from human observation and Peek Analytics was performed by using Pearson correlation tests. Posture, areas of interest, and activity level were analyzed separately, as well as data recorded by Peek 3 and 4. Results indicated that Peek Analytics showed a better agreement with human observation, when recording posture(r=0.77, P&lt;0.01) and area within the pen (r=0.77, P&lt;0.01), than when recording activity level (r=0.35, P&lt;0.01). Two devices performed differently in general, with Peek 3 having better agreement than Peek 4 with human observation, regardless of posture, area within the pen, and activity level. The better agreement in Peek 3 may be attributed to the smaller number of pigs in Peek 3 (18) compared to Peek 4 (22). We can conclude from the study that image computer analysis may be reliable in assessing posture and area within the pen of pigs. On the other hand, a moderate agreement in activity level between human observation and computer vision can be due to different methodologies of recording the activity, rather than due to low accuracy of Peek Analytics

Direct AC Voltage Control for Grid-Forming Inverters

Grid-forming inverters usually use inner cascaded controllers to regulate output AC voltage and converter output current. However, at the power transmission system level where the power inverter bandwidth is limited, i.e., low switching frequency, it is difcult to tune controller parameters to achieve the desired performances because of control loop interactions. In this paper, a direct AC voltage control-based state-feedback control is applied. Its control gains are tuned using a linear quadratic regulator. In addition, a sensitivity analysis is proposed to choose the right cost factors that allow the system to achieve the imposed specifcations. Conventionally, a system based on direct AC voltage control has no restriction on the inverter current. Hence, in this paper, a threshold virtual impedance has been added to the state-feedback control in order to protect the inverter against overcurrent. The robustness of the proposed control is assessed for diferent short-circuit ratios using smallsignal stability analysis. Then, it is checked in diferent grid topologies using time domain simulations. An experimental test bench is developed in order to validate the proposed control.This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 691800

Tuning of AC voltage-controlled VSC based Linear Quadratic Regulation

In the near future, power converters will be massively introduced in transmission grids due to renewable energy sources and high voltage direct current (HVDC) increase. Voltage Source Converter (VSC) control laws assume that Synchronous Generators (SGs) build a stiff AC voltage which allows the synchronization of converters. This is one of the major reasons that limit the high integration of currentsource converters in transmission grid. This constraint is no longer relevant when power converters operate as a voltage source based on the grid-forming concept. This concept uses an inner cascaded PI controllers in order to regulate the output AC voltage. However, it is difficult to tune its controller parameters for stable operation in grid-connected mode. This paper proposes an alternative state-feedback control with integral compensator based linear quadratic regulation (LQR) in order to ensure a stable operation and to get a better AC voltage transient and good decoupling between reactive and active power. The proposed control will be fully analyzed and compared to conventional methods.MIGRATE, Horizon 202