Preliminary feasibility of near-infrared spectroscopy to authenticate grazing in dairy goats through milk and faeces analysis

Nowadays, society demands certification and authentication methodologies that are able to clarify the origin of different livestock products. This is considered of paramount importance in order to not only provide accurate information to consumers, but also to protect producers against fraudulent practices. In this context, the aim of this study is to establish a methodology to authenticate the grazing activity of dairy goats. To achieve this, milk and faeces samples were analysed using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy. The good results obtained in discriminant models demonstrated differences in both types of matrices when the two feeding regimes were compared. The development of this methodology could extend its use not only in dairy systems of goats but also in other animal species and systems

Feeding Algae Meal to Feedlot Lambs with Competent Reticular Groove Reflex Increases Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Meat

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of supplementing marine algae as a source of omega-3 fatty acids (FA) in the diet, mixed in the concentrate or bottle-fed, on intramuscular fat FA composition of lambs with competent reticular groove reflex (RGR). Forty-eight feedlot lambs were distributed in three equal groups: one group did not consume marine algae nor had competent RGR, the second group received a daily dose (2.5%) of algae meal in the concentrate and the last group consumed the same dose of algae meal emulsified in milk replacer and bottle-fed. Marine algae raised the contents of EPA, DPA, and mainly DHA in the intramuscular fat, but the increase was significantly higher when algae meal was administered with a bottle via RGR. This strategy could contribute to improvements in the marketing of lamb meat by optimizing its status as a healthier food

Influence of Dietary Algae Meal on Lipid Oxidation and Volatile Profile of Meat from Lambs with Competent Reticular Groove Reflex

Dietary lipid sources influence intramuscular fatty acid composition, which in turn may affect the volatile profile of meat. The aim of this work was to investigate the effects of marine algae supplementation (Aurantiochytrium limacinum) on volatile compounds of cooked lamb meat. Forty-eight lambs with 42 days of age were divided into three groups: lambs fed a conventional diet without algae meal supplementation (NOALG), lambs with competent reticular groove reflex (RGR) fed the same diet supplemented with 2.5% marine algae meal mixed in the concentrate (ALGCON), and lambs with competent RGR, receiving the same diet and fed with 2.5% marine algae meal in a milk replacer to bypass the rumen (ALGMILK). Lipid and protein oxidation in raw meat was assessed and volatile compounds in grilled meat were determined. The highest and lowest lipid oxidations were observed in the ALGMILK and NOALG groups, respectively. Protein oxidation was unaffected. Out of 56 identified compounds, 12 volatiles significantly increased in both algae groups and 6 of them exclusively in the ALGCON treatment. Algae meal supplementation and its form of administration, either protected or not from rumen degradation, are important factors to consider in lipid oxidation and the aromatic profile of lamb meat

Odnos broja somatskih stanica i sastav i koagulacijska svojstva ovčjeg mlijeka

The relationship between somatic cell count (SCC) and raw milk composition and its coagulation properties measured at native or standardised pH values were investigated in Manchega ewes’ milk. A total of 84 bulk tank milk samples from flocks included in the National Association of Manchega Sheep Breeders were used. According to their SCC, milk samples were divided into three terciles named low (562±138 cells/mL), medium (956±115 cells/mL) and high (1705±428 cells/ mL) SCC groups. Within each SCC group, two pH treatments were applied before determining coagulation properties (rennet clotting time, curd firming time and curd firmness): no acidification of milk (coagulation at native pH) and acidification of milk at pH 6.5. Native milk pH significantly increased (P0.05) by SCC, protein content tended to be higher in the high SCC group (P=0.05) and lactose content was significantly lower (P0,05) na udjel masti, dok je udjel proteina bio veći u grupi s visokim BSS (P=0,05), a udjel laktoze bio je signifikantno niži (P<0,05) u toj skupini. Kod prirodne pH vrijednosti mlijeka, visoki BSS utjecao je na duže vrijeme zgrušavanja mlijeka sirilom, sporije učvršćivanje gruša i na manju čvrstoću gruša nakon 30 min od dodatka sirila, u odnosu na skupinu u kojoj je BSS bio nizak i srednji (P<0,05). Standardizacija pH mlijeka na 6,5 prije dodavanja sirila anulirala je (P<0,05) negativan utjecaj visokog BSS na koagulacijska svojstva mlijeka. Može se zaključiti da su, unatoč činjenici kako je acidifikacija mlijeka prije zgrušavanja poboljšala koagulacijske osobine mlijeka s visokim BSS, daljnja istraživanja potrebna kako bi se utvrdila senzorska svojstva sira proizvedenog takvim postupkom

Metaanálisis del uso de semillas y aceites en la dieta de ovejas y cabras

The objective of this work was to use meta‑analysis to study the productive results of ewe and goat fed oil and seed, rich in unsatured fat acid. Twenty‑two experiments with ewes (63 treatments) and 21 experiments with goats (76 treatments) were used. Average extra fat intake was 83.6±33.6 g per day in ewes, and 73.4±38.7 g per day in goats. In ewes, extra fat intake did not affect dry matter intake, but increased milk fat yield (from 91.4 to 98.8 g per day) and reduced milk protein content (from 5.41 to 5.24%). There were no differences in the sum of fat and protein contents. In goats, extra fat included in the diet reduced dry matter intake (from 2.13 to 2.08 kg per day), and increased milk fat percentage (from 4.11 to 4.43%) and the sum of fat and protein contents (from 7.41 to 7.76%). The yield responses to the intake of diets enriched with unsaturated fatty acids differ between ewes and goats. However, milk commercial value is not affected because of the absence of negative effects on the sum of fat and protein contents in both species.El objetivo de este trabajo fue utilizar el metaanálisis para estudiar los resultados productivos de ovejas y cabras de ordeño, alimentadas con aceites y semillas ricas en ácidos grasos insaturados. Se utilizaron 22 experimentos con ovejas (63 tratamientos) y 21 con cabras (76 tratamientos). El consumo medio de grasa extra fue de 83,6±33,6 g por día en ovejas y 73,4±38,7 g por día en cabras. En ovejas, la grasa extra no afectó al consumo de materia seca, pero aumentó la producción de grasa (de 91,4 a 98,8 g por día) y redujo el contenido proteico (de 5,41 a 5,24%) de la leche. No hubo diferencias en el extracto quesero. En cabras, la inclusión de grasa en la dieta redujo el consumo de materia seca (de 2,13 a 2,08 kg por día) y aumentó el porcentaje de grasa láctea (de 4,11 a 4,43%) y el extracto quesero (de 7,41 a 7,76%). La respuesta productiva de ovejas y cabras al consumo de dietas ricas en ácidos grasos insaturados es diferente. Sin embargo, el valor comercial de la leche no se ve afectado, debido a la ausencia de efectos negativos sobre el extracto quesero en ambas especies

Rockfalls: analysis of the block fragmentation through field experiments

Fragmentation is a common feature of rockfall that exerts a strong control on the trajectories of the generated blocks, the impact energies, and the runout. In this paper, we present a set of four real-scale rockfall tests aimed at studying the fragmentation of the rocky blocks, from the global design of the field procedure to the data analysis and the main results. A total of 124 limestone, dacite, or granite blocks ranging between 0.2 and 5 m3 were dropped from different heights (8.5 to 23.6 m) onto four slopes with different shapes (single or double bench) and slope angles (42º to 71º). The characteristics of the blocks, in particular the size, surface texture and joint condition, were measured before the drops. The trajectories of the blocks and both the initial and the impact velocities were tracked and recorded by means of three high-speed video cameras. A total of 200 block-to-ground impacts have been studied. On average, 40% of the blocks broke upon impact on the slope or on the ground, making it necessary to measure the fragments. The initial and final sizes of the blocks/fragments were measured by hand with tape, though photogrammetric techniques (UAV and terrestrial) were also used for comparison purposes. The information gathered during the field tests provides a deep insight into the fragmentation processes. On the one hand, the high-resolution slow-motion videos help to describe when and how the block breakage takes place and the spatial distribution of the pieces. On the other hand, it is possible to compute the block trajectories, the velocities, and the energy losses using videogrammetry. The results include, for instance, a block average fragmentation of 54% and 14% for the limestone and granitoids, respectively; the systematic inventory of the size fragments, which may be used for fitting the power law distributions; and after each breakage, the total angle of aperture occupied by the fragments has been measured, with values in the range 25º–145º. To figure out the different behavior of the blocks in terms of breakage/no breakage, each block-to-ground impact has been characterized with a set of parameters describing the energy level, the robustness of the substrate, and the configuration of the block contact at the impact point, among others. All these terms are combined in a function F, which is used to adjust the field data. The adjustment has been carried out, first, for the whole 200 events and later for a subset of them. The procedure and the results are described in the paper. Although the discrimination capability of F is moderately satisfactory, it is very sensitive to the test site and setup. It must be highlighted that these field tests are a unique source of data to adjust the parameters of the numerical simulation models in use for rockfall studies and risk mitigation, especially when fragmentation during the propagation is considered.The authors acknowledge the support of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness for the research projects RockRisk (BIA2013-42582-P), RockModels (BIA2016-75668-P, AEI, ERDF/FEDER, UE) and GeoRisk (PID2019-103974RB-I00/AEI/10.13039/501100011033). GeoRisk is funded by the Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI) on the framework of the Plan for Scientific-Technical Research and Innovation. The support of the Spanish Ministry of Education (grants to the second and third authors, codes FPU13/04252 and BES-2014-069795, respectively) and the BBVA Foundation (thirteenth author’s contract) is also appreciated. The collaboration of Canteras Hermanos Foj and Canteras Ponderosa S.A., Marc Janeras, and S. Moreno is greatly acknowledged. Finally, we thank two anonymous reviewers and the Editor who helped to improve the structure and content of the final version. Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

The RockRisk project: rockfall risk quantification and prevention

Rockfalls are frequent instability processes in road cuts, open pit mines and quarries, steep slopes and cliffs. The orientation and persistence of joints within the rock mass define the size of the kinematically unstable rock volumes and determine the way how the detached mass be-comes fragmented upon the impact on the ground surface. Knowledge of the size and trajectory of the blocks resulting from fragmentation is critical for calculating the impact probability and intensity, the vulnerability the exposed elements and the performance of protection structures. In this contribution we summarize the main goals and achievements of the RockRisk project. We focused on the characterization of the rockfall fragmentation by means of the analysis of the fracture pattern of intact rock masses, the development of a fragmentation model and its integration into rockfall propagation analysis. The ultimate goal of the project is to quantify risk due to rockfalls and develop tools for the improvement of prevention and for protection from its occurrence.Postprint (published version

Actions for novel teacher training: design and implementation of learning activities and resources on LMS support

El presente artículo describe el desarrollo de un Proyecto formativo para la implementación de actividades y recursos de aprendizaje en la plataforma UCO-Moodle por parte de profesorado novel, bajo tutela y coordinación de profesorado con experiencia previa contrastada. Se trata de un trabajo multidisciplinar donde las acciones se han ejecutado para ocho asignaturas de cuatro Áreas de conocimiento. El impacto de las innovaciones introducidas en varias asignaturas, afectó a más de 500 alumnos pertenecientes a seis títulos de grado de la Universidad de Córdoba. El trabajo realizado se completó con una evaluación de satisfacción por parte de los alumnos de los nuevos recursos de aprendizaje así como la autoevaluación del profesorado novel sobre la experiencia desarrollada.This article describes a project for the implementation of learning activities and resources in the UCO-Moodle platform by training teachers has been developed under the supervision and coordination of senior teaching staff with proven previous experience. It is a multidisciplinary work where the actions have been executed for eight different subjects in four Areas of knowledge. The impact of the learning activities introduced in different subjects was extended to more than 500 students belonging to six undergraduate degrees from the University of Cordoba. The experience has included an evaluation of students' satisfaction with the new learning resources as well as the self-assessment of the new teaching staff on the executed actions

Application of peer-reviewing methodology in bilingual teaching

Este proyecto ha aplicado la metodología de revisión por pares para evaluar y mejorar la docencia en inglés de distintas asignaturas dentro del plan de bilingüismo de la Universidad de Córdoba. Se ha realizado la evaluación por parte de compañeros, la grabación de algunas clases, y una serie de sesiones presenciales en las que se han discutido los resultados y planteado puntos de mejora.This project has applied the peer-review procedure to a group of professors teaching in the frame of the “Bilingualism Plan” of the University of Córdoba. Such lectures are taught entirely in English language. The Professors have evaluated each other after attending certain teaching sessions. A series of meetings for discussing the results have allowed concluding a number of recommendation points for improving the teaching in English language

Micro-morphologies, habitats and associated biodiversity in a fluid venting submarine structure using ROV underwater images: Mercator mud volcano (Gulf of Cádiz)

Mercator mud volcano has been explored by direct visual observations using a ROV at 350 to 370 m depth. Underwater images, taken mainly at the summit, have allowed characterizing the fluid venting environment, where different microforms, habitats and associated biota, with typical seepage components have been identified. Chemosynthetic bacterial communities were detected and sampled at the northeastern side of the summit at 350 m, next to pockmark-like depressions with diameters ranging 1 to 3 m, bioturbation marks, sediment mounds and authigenic carbonates of different sizes (0.1-5m length). Chemosynthesis-based communities were mainly composed by bacterial mats (patch diameter 10-30 cm), however some remains of cold seep chemosymbiotic bivalves (Lucinoma asapheus) were also found on the sediment. Habitat types at Mercator MV are influenced by oceanographic and sedimentation processes deposition and favouring fauna colonizing diverse substrate types, such as large sponges on slabs and sea-pens and annelids on soft bottoms