Investigating the effects of two weaning methods and two genetic hybrids on play behavior in weaner pigs (Sus scrofa)

In conventional pig production, suckling pigs are typically weaned between 3 and 5 weeks of age. This involves separation from the sow, dietary change, and regrouping in a novel environment, which challenge the welfare of pigs. We investigated the effects of two weaning methods [conventional weaning: two litters mixed in a weaner pen of different size and design (MOVE) vs. litter staying in the farrowing pen after removing the sow (STAY)] and two genetic hybrids [DanBred Yorkshire × Landrace (approximately 21 total pigs born/litter; DB) vs. Topigs Norsvin TN70 Yorkshire × Landrace (approximately 16 total pigs born/litter with higher individual birth weight and weaning weight than DB; TN)] on play behavior across weaning. Both genetic hybrids were inseminated with semen of DanBred Duroc boars. Litters were reduced to the number of functional teats at birth. The durations of locomotor-rotational play (LOC) and social play (SOC) of 24 indoor-housed litters [pigs/litter: (average ± SD) 13 ± 2; age at the weaning day: 26 ± 2 days] were video-recorded continuously between 14:00 h and 22:00 h on days −1, 1, and 2 relative to weaning and statistically analyzed with mixed-effects modeling at the individual level. Before weaning, TN pigs performed LOC longer than DB pigs. On day 2 post-weaning, STAY pigs engaged in more SOC than MOVE pigs. Moreover, TN pigs and STAY pigs displayed a steeper increase in LOC from days 1 to 2 than DB pigs and MOVE pigs, respectively. We demonstrated that pigs belonging to the genetic hybrid with higher weight at birth and weaning spent more time playing on the day before weaning. Additionally, weaning pigs in the farrowing pen and, hence, avoiding social mixing and relocation to an unfamiliar environment had a positive effect on social play after weaning. Our study illustrates that weaning stress in pigs may be reduced by using a genetic hybrid featuring higher birth and weaning weight and by keeping litters intact in a familiar environment after weaning. This study also supports the use of play behavior as an animal welfare indicator

Near Resonant Spatial Images of Confined Bose-Einstein Condensates in the '4D' Magnetic Bottle

We present quantitative measurements of the spatial density profile of Bose-Einstein condensates of sodium atoms confined in a new '4D' magnetic bottle. The condensates are imaged in transmission with near resonant laser light. We demonstrate that the Thomas-Fermi surface of a condensate can be determined to better than 1%. More generally, we obtain excellent agreement with mean-field theory. We conclude that precision measurements of atomic scattering lengths and interactions between phase separated cold atoms in a harmonic trap can be measured with high precision using this method.Comment: 15 pages, 3 figures. Submitted 10/30/97, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. A Rapid Com

Breast Cancer Family History and Contralateral Breast Cancer Risk in Young Women: An Update From the Women's Environmental Cancer and Radiation Epidemiology Study.

Purpose The Women's Environmental Cancer and Radiation Epidemiology (WECARE) study demonstrated the importance of breast cancer family history on contralateral breast cancer (CBC) risk, even for noncarriers of deleterious BRCA1/2 mutations. With the completion of WECARE II, updated risk estimates are reported. Additional analyses that exclude women negative for deleterious mutations in ATM, CHEK2*1100delC, and PALB2 were performed. Patients and Methods The WECARE Study is a population-based case-control study that compared 1,521 CBC cases with 2,212 individually matched unilateral breast cancer (UBC) controls. Participants were younger than age 55 years when diagnosed with a first invasive breast cancer between 1985 and 2008. Women were interviewed about breast cancer risk factors, including family history. A subset of women was screened for deleterious mutations in BRCA1/2, ATM, CHEK2*1100delC, and PALB2. Rate ratios (RRs) were estimated using multivariable conditional logistic regression. Cumulative absolute risks (ARs) were estimated by combining RRs from the WECARE Study and population-based SEER*Stat cancer incidence data. Results Women with any first-degree relative with breast cancer had a 10-year AR of 8.1% for CBC (95% CI, 6.7% to 9.8%). Risks also were increased if the relative was diagnosed at an age younger than 40 years (10-year AR, 13.5%; 95% CI, 8.8% to 20.8%) or with CBC (10-year AR, 14.1%; 95% CI, 9.5% to 20.7%). These risks are comparable with those seen in BRCA1/2 deleterious mutation carriers (10-year AR, 18.4%; 95% CI, 16.0% to 21.3%). In the subset of women who tested negative for deleterious mutations in BRCA1/2, ATM, CHEK2*1100delC, and PALB2, estimates were unchanged. Adjustment for known breast cancer single-nucleotide polymorphisms did not affect estimates. Conclusion Breast cancer family history confers a high CBC risk, even after excluding women with deleterious mutations. Clinicians are urged to use detailed family histories to guide treatment and future screening decisions for young women with breast cancer

Telomeres and the natural lifespan limit in humans

An ongoing debate in demography has focused on whether the human lifespan has a maximal natural limit. Taking a mechanistic perspective, and knowing that short telomeres are associated with diminished longevity, we examined whether telomere length dynamics during adult life could set a maximal natural lifespan limit. We define leukocyte telomere length of 5 kb as the 'telomeric brink', which denotes a high risk of imminent death. We show that a subset of adults may reach the telomeric brink within the current life expectancy and more so for a 100-year life expectancy. Thus secular trends in life expectancy should confront a biological limit due to crossing the telomeric brink