Computed tomography evaluation of gilt growth performance and carcass quality under feeding restrictions and compensatory growth effects on the sensory quality of pork

Restricted feed can affect the body composition of pigs. Body composition can be studied non-destructively in live pigs using computed tomography (CT). The objective was to investigate the effect of different feeding restriction strategies on the productive and carcass quality parameters of gilts during growth via CT images and the effects of such strategies on meat quality, sensory properties and consumer preferences. Moreover, we sought to determine whether CT is a suitable tool for this purpose in this type of study. Thus, 36 Pietrain x (Large White x Landrace) gilts were assigned to the following three feeding strategies: 1) ad libitum feeding (AL) during all fattening periods (AL-AL); 2) AL feeding between 30 and 70 kg target body weight (TBW) followed by restriction (84% of AL) until 120 kg TBW (AL-RV); and 3) restriction feeding (78% of AL) between 30 and 70 kg TBW followed by AL until 120 kg TBW (RV-AL). When the pigs reached 30, 70, 100 and 120 kg, they were CT scanned to obtain the carcass composition parameters. At 120 kg TBW, the pigs were slaughtered, and the carcass and meat quality was determined. The loins were collected for trained panel evaluation and consumer tests. The panellists evaluated the odour, flavour and texture attributes of cooked loins. A total of 120 consumers scored the overall acceptability, tenderness, odour and flavour. The results showed a decrease of 76% and 80% in the average daily gain and average daily feed intake during the restriction period compared with the ad libitum in the growth phase, respectively, and a decrease of 89% and 87% in these parameters during the fattening phase, respectively. A restriction reduces the body fat content during the period of the restriction. Differences in the carcass and cut composition and meat quality were not observed at the end of the experiment among the treatments. Regarding sensory quality, meat from the animals in the AL-AL treatment was tougher than that from animals in the RV-AL and AL-RV treatments. Nevertheless, these differences were not detected by consumers, who did not provide significantly different scores for acceptability. Thus, when preparing feeding strategies, these results should be considered to optimize costs and increase benefits. Furthermore, computed tomography represents a non-destructive technology suitable for determining carcass composition before slaughter.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Fish oil rich in eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid in sow diets modifies oxylipins and immune indicators in colostrum and milk

Colostrum and milk are the first nutrient sources for newborn piglets. In addition, n-3 fatty acids (FAs) and their oxygenated derivatives (oxylipins) have the capacity to modulate immune components. The aim of the current study was to include a fish oil rich in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in sow diets to promote an increase of anti-inflammatory molecules in colostrum and milk to benefit piglets. Thirty-six sows were randomly assigned from insemination to the end of lactation to either a control diet with animal fat (15 g/kg in gestation and 30 g/kg in lactation) or an n-3 diet in which animal fat was totally (gestation) or half (lactation) replaced by an equivalent amount of solid fish oil. Performance of sows and piglets was monitored during the study. Colostrum and milk samples were obtained after the birth of the first piglet and at weaning, respectively. From all samples (n = 18 per treatment), FAs were quantified by gas chromatography and immunoglobulins and cytokines by ELISA. Three samples per treatment were randomly selected to analyse oxylipin composition by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. In colostrum and in milk, the n-3 FA (P = 0.020 and P < 0.001), particularly EPA (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001) and DHA (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001), and also their oxygenated derivatives were increased in samples from sows fed n-3 diet. Fish oil had no effect on immunoglobulin concentrations, but reduced tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) (P = 0.011) and a tendency to reduce interleukin 10 (IL10) (P = 0.059) were observed in milk. In conclusion, fish oil in sow diets increased n-3 FA, particularly EPA and DHA, and their oxygenated derivatives in colostrum and milk, reducing TNFα and IL10 in milk.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Method for classifying images in databases through deep convolutional networks

Since 2006, deep structured learning, or more commonly called deep learning or hierarchical learning, has become a new area of research in machine learning. In recent years, techniques developed from deep learning research have impacted on a wide range of information and particularly image processing studies, within traditional and new fields, including key aspects of machine learning and artificial intelligence. This paper proposes an alternative scheme for training data management in CNNs, consisting of selective-adaptive data sampling. By means of experiments with the CIFAR10 database for image classification

Propuesta de un método de estimación de tiempo y esfuerzo para las pruebas de liberación, aceptación y piloto.

La estimaci&oacute;n es una predicci&oacute;n aproximada que tiene una probabilidad de ser cierta. En el orden internacional es poco usada la estimaci&oacute;n en la fase de pruebas, siendo imprescindible debido a los constantes cambios del desarrollo del software. En la fase de pruebas de software m&aacute;s espec&iacute;fi camente en las pruebas de aceptaci&oacute;n, liberaci&oacute;n y piloto es necesaria la aplicaci&oacute;n de un m&eacute;todo de estimaci&oacute;n de tiempo y esfuerzo, para lograr as&iacute; tener estimaciones reales, que se traducir&aacute;n en una mejor planifi caci&oacute;n de los recursos humanos y materiales. El objetivo de este art&iacute;culo espresentar una propuesta de un m&eacute;todo de estimaci&oacute;n de tiempo y esfuerzo para las pruebas de liberaci&oacute;n, aceptaci&oacute;n y piloto, a partir de un an&aacute;lisis de los principales m&eacute;todos de estimaci&oacute;n usados en el mundo del software, as&iacute; como la utilizaci&oacute;n de los m&eacute;todos convencionales de estimaci&oacute;n, para realizar un estudio de losprincipales factores que infl uyen en la fase de pruebas

The effect of feeder system and diet on welfare, performance and meat quality, of growing-finishing Iberian × Duroc pigs under high environmental temperatures

The present study investigated the replacement of 5% of starch (ST) by 5% of sunflower oil (SO), with or without feed restriction, in the diet of growing-finishing Iberian × Duroc pigs exposed to heat stress conditions. The effects of these strategies on the welfare, performance and meat quality of the animals were evaluated. Seventy-two crossbred males [51.00 ± 6.29 kg body weight (BW)] were housed in collective pens and randomly distributed according to their initial BW in climate-controlled rooms under heat stress conditions (30–32 °C; 35%–50% humidity). The experiment was carried out in a randomized block design, in a 2 × 2 factorial design composed of two diets (control or oil) and two feed management (ad-libitum and restriction) types. The investigated treatments were: 1) control diet (5% ST × 0% SO) with ad-libitum feed intake, 2) oil diet (replacement of 5% of ST by 5% SO) with ad-libitum feed intake, 3) control diet with restriction feed intake, and 4) oil diet with restriction feed intake. The pigs’ behavior and dirtiness score were observed daily, and their performance was assessed weekly. Furthermore, three blood samples were collected from each animal for hemogram analysis during the period of study. The analysis of meat and carcass quality was performed 24 h post-mortem once the animals had reached an average BW of 130–140 kg. Statistical analyses were performed using the PROC MIXED and PROC GENMOD procedures of the Statistical Analysis System (SAS). The diet-regimen interaction produced no effects (P > 0.05) on the analyzed variables, except for behavior. Animals on the control diet associated with ad-libitum feed management spent more time in the lateral decubitus position and showed reduced activity. In addition, pigs fed ad-libitum and those that received the control diet displayed the highest level of dirtiness during the experiment. Evaluation of performance revealed that pigs receiving the oil diet showed reduced feed intake (P < 0.05) with no difference in average daily gain and consequently presented better feed conversion values compared to animals on the control diet. Furthermore, the oil diet resulted in a higher (P < 0.05) carcass yield as well as a higher oleic fat content in the meat. Pigs on restricted feeding management with lower body and carcass weights produced higher values of leanness percentage and carcass compared to animals in the ad-libitum group. In conclusion, the replacement of 5% of starch by 5% of sunflower oil in the pigs’ diet during high ambient temperatures improved the animals’ welfare, feed efficiency, and carcass characteristics.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Cardiovascular risk in infants overweight and obese

El sobrepeso y la obesidad conducen a la aparición de comorbilidades como la diabetes mellitus tipo 2, hipertensión arterial, dislipidemias. Objetivos: Determinar la presencia de riesgo cardiovascular en niños y adolescentes con sobrepeso y obesidad, por género y grupos de edad. Diseño: Estudio descriptivo, transversal. Participantes: Niños y adolescentes, de ambos géneros, comprendidos entre los 5 a 18 años. Intervención: El diagnóstico de sobrepeso y obesidad se hizo de acuerdo a la clasificación de Must y col. con los siguientes criterios: de 85 a 95 para el sobrepeso y más de 95 percentil obesidad. En sangre se determinó el perfil lipídico, glucosa e insulina; con estas dos últimas se determinó el índice HOMA, para identificar resistencia a la insulina (RI), mediante la ecuación de Matthew, el síndrome metabólico (SM) con la referencia de Cook y las dislipidemias (D) con las sugerencias de Friedman y de Daniels. Principales medidas de resultados: Riesgo cardiovascular. Resultados: Los obesos presentan mayores riesgos cardiovasculares que los que tienen sobrepeso: RI 77,8%, SM 22,2%; D: colesterol total (CT) 64,4%, C-HDL 33,3%, C-LDL 19,5% y triglicéridos (Tg) 40%. El género masculino, independientemente de su estado nutricional, tuvo mayor riesgo que el femenino: RI 74,1%, SM 22,2%, D: CT 63%, C-HDL 37%, C-LDL 36% y Tg 40,7%. En cuanto a la edad, en los mayores de 10 años se ha encontrado RI en 78% y C-HDL 31,7%; los demás factores de riesgo fueron mayores en los menores de 10 años. Conclusiones: Los riesgos afectaron más a los obesos que a los que tenían sobrepeso, más al género masculino y, en cuanto a la edad, los mayores de 10 años presentaron mayor prevalencia de RI y de C-HDL bajo. A mayor IMC más riesgo cardiovascular, lo que compromete muy seriamente la salud y que se hace más preocupante porque su aparición es a temprana edad.Overweight and obesity lead the occurrence of comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, anddyslipidemias. Objectives: To determine the presence of cardiovascular risk in children and adolescents overweight and obese,by gender and age groups. Design: Cross sectional study. Participants: Children and adolescents of both genders, 5-18 year-old.Interventions: Diagnosis of overweight and obesity was done according to Must et al. classification with the following criteria: 85 to 95for overweight and more than 95 percentile for obesity. Serum lipid profile, glucose and insulin were analyzed, and with the latter twoHOMA index was determined to identify insulin resistance (IR), using Matthew´s equation, the metabolic syndrome (MS) with referenceto Cook and dyslipidemias (D) with Friedman and Daniels’ suggestions. Main outcome measures: Cardiovascular risk. Results: Obesechildren had higher cardiovascular risks than overweight: IR 77.8%, SM 22.2%, D: total cholesterol (TC) 64.4%, HDL-C 33.3%, LDL-C19.5% and triglycerides (Tg) 40%. Males had higher risk than females regardless of nutritional status: IR 74.1%, SM 22.2%, D: TC63%, HDL-C 37%, LDL-C 36%, Tg 40.7%. Children over 10 had IR 78% and HDL-C 31.7%; other risk factors were higher in thoseunder 10 years. Conclusions: Risks affected obese more than overweight children, more to males, and those over 10 years had higherprevalence of IR and low HDL-C. With higher BMI more cardiovascular risk and serious health compromise, worrisome because ofearly age onset

Expression analysis of the mouse S100A7/psoriasin gene in skin inflammation and mammary tumorigenesis

BACKGROUND: The human psoriasin (S100A7) gene has been implicated in inflammation and tumor progression. Implementation of a mouse model would facilitate further investigation of its function, however little is known of the murine psoriasin gene. In this study we have cloned the cDNA and characterized the expression of the potential murine ortholog of human S100A7/psoriasin in skin inflammation and mammary tumorigenesis. METHODS: On the basis of chromosomal location, phylogenetic analysis, amino acid sequence similarity, conservation of a putative Jab1-binding motif, and similarities of the patterns of mouse S100A7/psoriasin gene expression (measured by RT-PCR and in-situ hybridization) with those of human S100A7/psoriasin, we propose that mouse S100A7/psoriasin is the murine ortholog of human psoriasin/S100A7. RESULTS: Although mouse S100A7/psoriasin is poorly conserved relative to other S100 family members, its pattern of expression parallels that of the human psoriasin gene. In murine skin S100A7/psoriasin was significantly upregulated in relation to inflammation. In murine mammary gland expression is also upregulated in mammary tumors, where it is localized to areas of squamous differentiation. This mirrors the context of expression in human tumor types where both squamous and glandular differentiation occur, including cervical and lung carcinomas. Additionally, mouse S100A7/psoriasin possesses a putative Jab1 binding motif that mediates many downstream functions of the human S100A7 gene. CONCLUSION: These observations and results support the hypothesis that the mouse S100A7 gene is structurally and functionally similar to human S100A7 and may offer a relevant model system for studying its normal biological function and putative role in tumor progression