The impact of eye contact on the sense of agency

Recent research suggests that eye contact can lead to enhanced self-awareness. A related phenomenon, the sense of agency deals with the notion of the self as the origin of our actions. Possible links between eye contact and agency have been so far neglected. Here, we investigated whether an implicit sense of agency could be modulated by eye gaze. We asked participants to respond (button press) to a face stimulus: looking or not at the participant (experiment 1); or displaying distinct eye gaze before or after a mask (experiment 2). After each trial, participants estimated the time between their key press and the ensuing effects. We found enhanced intentional binding for conditions that involved direct compared to averted gaze. This study supports the idea that eye contact is an important cue that affects complex cognitive processes and suggests that modulating self-processing can impact the sense of agency

Comparative study of the discriminating capacity of dna markers and their effectiveness in establishing genetic relationships in the genus tigridia

Tigridia Jussieu is an endemic genus to Mexico and taxonomically difficult with limited information about its genetic variability. A diversity assessment conducted using different DNA markers as an inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers will be helpful in the establishment of a broad- based description for improved germplasm curation and the identification of germplasm for genome mapping and breeding of these species. Thus, the objective of this study was to characterize 15 wild species of Tigridia by using RAPD and ISSR molecular markers. This study was carried out in the laboratory of Plant Molecular Biology at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences of the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México between August and November of 2011. In this assay, 13 RAPD primers of 10, 15 and 20 b, and five ISSR primers of the anchored type (ASSR) of 17 b were used to assess the level of genetic variation among 15 wild species of Tigridia . With both markers there were 163 amplified bands of which 150 (92.02 %) were polymorphic. The RAPD primers of 10 b generated 12 specific bands with a polymorphism of 95.12 %, for 15 b primers those values were five and 82.93 %, and for 20 b primers eight and 94.59 %, respectively. The RAPD pooled primers presented a polymorphism of 90.76 %, the genetic distance (G D ) among the species ranged from 0.16 (between T. illecebrosa and T. huajuapanensis ) to 0.57 (between T. multiflora and T. augusta ). The ISSR primers showed more polymorphism(95.45 %) than RAPD primers. With ASSR primers the highest genetic association (G D = 0.89) was observed between T. mexicana ssp. mexicana and T. durangense , whereas the least related were T. vanhouttei spp. vanhouttei and T. multiflora (G D = 0.14). This study shows that 10 base random primers and 17 base anchored primers were more efficient to detect polymorphism and genetic differentiation among Tigridia species

Residual strength of WC-Co cemented carbides after being subjected to abrupt temperature changes

Thermal shock and thermal fatigue are recognized as common failure modes for WC - Co cemented carbides (hardmetals) in several applications in volving service temperature changes. However, information on microstructure - performance for these materials when subjected to abrupt changes in temper ature is rather limited. In this investigation, the thermal shock resistance of two WC - Co cemented carbides is studied on the basis of their residual strength after being subjected to temperature changes. The materials studied correspond to grades with dif ferent grain size (medium and ultrafine) but similar binder content. Thermal shock variables include two temperature difference ranges (400ºC and 550ºC) as well as number of abrupt changes (1, 3 and 10). Residual strength results were related to parameters extracted from Hasselman’s theory . It is found that medium - sized hardmetal exhibits a higher strength loss in the first quenching cycle but a greater damage tolerance to repeated thermal shocks than the ultrafine - sized. The assessed residual strength tren ds are in agreement with those expected from evaluation of Hasselman’s parameters for quantifying resistance to either crack initiation or crack propagation induced by thermal shockPostprint (published version

Alimentos funcionales para cerdos al destete

A functional food is a compound that, being or not a nutrient, has a positive effect on one or several functions in the organism, producing well-being in the animal. The following compounds are considered functional foods: prebiotics, probiotics, symbiotics, antioxidants, secondary products of plant metabolism, structural lipids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, fat metabolism byproducts, bioactive peptides, fi ber, vitamins and minerals. Prebiotics, probiotics and symbiotics are modifi ers of the intestinal microfl ora increasing mainly lactobacilli and bifi dobacteria populations and reducing pathogenic bacteria. Lactobacilli and bifi - dobacteria use oligosaccharides and fructo-oligosaccharides arriving at the colon, producing fatty acids and freeing minerals to be absorbed and utilized by the host. Prebiotics are partially-digestible oligosaccharides; probiotics are microorganisms (mainly lactobacilli and bifi dobacteria); and symbiotics are a mixture of probiotics and prebiotics. During the weaning period, piglets face dramatic changes in feeding management and environment, affecting feed intake and, at the same time, affecting digestive functions resulting in lower growth and higher incidence of disease, mainly diarrhea. Functional food may be an alternative to reduce the effects of weaning on growth performance and health of piglets, to diminish or to avoid gastrointestinal problems during weaning, preventing the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria, and improving digestive functions. All these may help to withdraw antibiotics from piglet feed

Beneficial effects of plant extracts in ruminant nutrition: A review

Use of antibiotics in animal feeds was banned hence researches on alternative natural products that can modulate ruminal fermentation have been intensified. Plant extracts are considered as natural compounds that can replace antibiotics as safe and sustainable alternatives. Extracts contain some plant secondary metabolites (PSM) that are a natural resource and are largely unexploited in ‘conventional’ animal production systems. They are considered as a source of antinutritional factors and not as a source of exploitable performance-enhancing compounds. Recent and continuing changes to legislation controlling the use of animal feed additives have stimulated interest in bioactive PSM as alternative performance enhancers. Interest is largely on their manipulative role in digestive and absorptive processes of the hindgut. The aim of the present review is to discuss the use of plants and their extracts to manipulate the rumen microbial ecosystem to improve the efficiency of rumen metabolism. The bioavailability of PSM and their actions on peripheral metabolism will be considered with a view to improve animal performance. In order to fully exploit their bioactive properties for the benefit of animal performance, modes of action need to be understood

Failure Diagnosis on Photovoltaic Modules Using Thermography, Electroluminescence, Rgb and I-V Techniques

Different techniques can be used to detect and quantify PV modules anomalies, as visual inspections, electrical tests like the I-V curve test, infrared thermography (IRT) or electroluminescence (EL). PV plants operators usually apply only one or two of them within the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) activities. Additionally, researchers usually studied them separately. However, these methods provide complementary results, glimpsing interesting information about the PV site state. The main strength of the research performed is the simultaneous study of all these inspection techniques, studying the correlation between them. Results confirm that, EL and IRT under current injection on modules are closely correlated, while IRT under normal operation (sun exposure) reveals complementary information not detected in EL but existing in the visible spectrum. In conclusion, it is advisable using as many techniques as possible to characterize the actual state of the module and to explain its I-V curve.Proyecto de Investigación ENE2017-89561-C4-3-R (MCIN)Proyecto de Investigación RTC-2017-6712-3 (MCIN)Proyecto de Investigación VA283P18 (Junta de Castilla y León

Ileal apparent and standardized amino acid digestibility of soybean and colza meal in diets for finishing pigs

Agri-food chains generate by-products such as soybean and colza meal for animal feed. Their nutritional value is variable and should be analysed for better quality control before their inclusion in balanced diets. The objective was to determine the content and ileal apparent and standardized digestibility of protein and amino acids (AA) of soybean (PS) and colza meal (PC) as a source of protein in diets for finishing pigs. The experimental units were arranged in a 3×3 Latin square design repeated. The treatments (T) were T1: PS+corn starch, T2: PC+corn starch, and T3: corn starch (Control), which were randomly assigned to six pigs cannulated in distal ileum (PV 75±1.2 kg). The variables were contents and apparent ileal and standardized ileal digestibility of amino acids in soybean and colza meal. To determine digestibility, chromic oxide was added to the diets. The protein and fat contents were higher in the soybean meal. Ash, crude fibre, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, phosphorus and calcium contents were higher in the colza meal. Essential amino acid content was higher in soybean meal, but methionine was higher in colza meal. Apparent ileal digestibility (DIA) of total amino acids was similar (p > 0.05) among protein ingredients; but for lysine and threonine it was higher (p ≤ 0.05) in soybean meal, except methionine. Methionine DIA was 89.78 %, 3.88 % higher (p ≤ 0.05) in colza meal. Standardized ileal digestibility (DIE) of total amino acids was similar (p > 0.05) among ingredients, but lysine and threonine were higher (p ≤ 0.05) in soybean meal. DIE was different (p ≤ 0.05) among ingredients for all amino acids except methionine. Ileal and standardized digestibility of all amino acids were higher in soybean meal, except methionine, which was higher in colza meal. The DIA of total amino acids was similar in both protein ingredients, except lysine and threonine in soybean meal and methionine in colza meal

A lysimeter study under field conditions of nitrogen and phosphorus leaching in a turf grass crop amended with peat and hydrogel.

Golf courses represent an agricultural activitywherein grass is intensively cultivated using large quantities of fertilizers. In the present study, nitrogen and phosphorus leaching was analyzed over two years in an experimental green under actual field conditions. The green contained four plots with distinct amendments (P1: hydrogel + peat, P2: peat, P3: hydrogel, and P4: no amendment). The applied doses of nitrogen ranged from 5 to 103 kg/ha and of phosphorus from 9 to 31 kg/ha. The irrigation level varied as a function of the rainfall regime and the water requirements of grass; overall water intake varied from 1550 to 2080 mm/year. Daily, leached water volumewas calculated, and sampleswere taken for chemical analysis. Nitrogen and phosphorus mass balances were calculated for different periods based on the collected data. The plot amendedwith peat and hydrogel (P1) had reducedwater flow; the percentage of drainagewater varied from 8.4 to 29%. As a result, the dissolution and leaching of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) were the lowest in comparison to the other plots. According to the calculated mass balances, the lowest leaching values were also recorded in this plot (P1), ranging from0.5 to 6.3% for N and from0.8 to 20.9% for P. The plotwithoutamendment (P4) drained the mostwater (25.9–44.8%) and leached the highest quantities of N and P, ranging from 9.1–45.7%, and 6–35.9%, respectively. The use of doubleamendments (hydrogel and peat) therefore represented optimal operating conditions for the green. Moreover, a relationship was found between increasing rates of fertilization and increasing percentages of N and P leaching as well as between higher irrigation levels and greater leaching. © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Influence of Large Periods of DC Current Injection in c-Si Photovoltaic Panels

Nowadays, electroluminescence imaging (Eli) appears as an emerging technique in the maintenance of photovoltaic (PV) plants. There is a concern about how the current injection needed in ELi measurements can affect the PV modules service life, and how these periodical inspections can affect the long term life of the modules. In order to give a practical answer to this problem, a series of tests consisting of long periods of current injection on several monocrystalline silicon modules has been carried out. The modules tested had already fulfilled their useful life and present multiple defects. In order to analyze how the current injection affects the state of the module, images of infrared thermography (IRT) and ELi were acquired during the current injection period. The subsequent analysis of these images shows only a small effect during the heating period in the EL intensity results at the beginning of each test, not affecting the module performance.Proyecto de Investigación ENE2017-89561-C4-3-R (MCIN)Proyecto de Investigación RTC-2017-6712-3 (MCIN)Proyecto de Investigación VA283P18 (Junta de Castilla y León

Capillary microfluidic platform for sulfite determination in wines

A microfluidic paper-based analytical device integrating a chromoreactand – a formylazo dye– has been fabri- cated and used for a colorimetric assay of sulfites. The chromoreactand was covalently linked to paper by vinyl sulfone chemistry. This work presents two robust capillary microfluidic devices to determine sulfite in wine without any pretreatment. One of them based on thread (µTPAD) useful to determine it in white wine and another based on paper (µPAD) to specifically determine sulfite in red wine as well as in white wine. Both are based on the selective recognition of sulfite by means of a chromoreactand that turns from orange to yellow in the presence of sulfite. The colour information acquired (H coordinate) using a digital camera readout allows for a range of appli- cation of the µTPAD from 7.8⋅10−5 M (8.1 mg L−1) to 2.7⋅10−3 M (279.3 mg L−1) with a limit of detection (LOD) of 78 µM. The strong interference caused by the dyes present in red wine is eliminated by including a laminated paper channel in the µPAD structure that allows for the separation of colorants from red wine before the recognition of the sulfite. This makes it possible to adjust the µPAD procedure to the usual sulfite concentration in wine, with an LOD of 2.2⋅10−4 M (22.7 mg L−1) and a CV of 2.6%.This work was founded by Spanish “Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad” (Projects PID2019-103938RB-I00) and Junta de Andalucía (Projects B-FQM-243-UGR18 and P18-RT-2961). The projects were partially supported by European Regional Development Funds (ERDF)