Redefine the borders of contingency: The dissolution of human nature and the new anthropology of generating

El propósito de este artículo es manifestar la relevancia antropológica de las TRHA y cómo no somos plenamente conscientes de ella, repensando algunas de las cuestiones fundamentales relacionadas con la naturaleza de la generación humana: ¿Qué peculiaridades tiene el procrear en comparación con el reproducir de otros seres vivos? ¿Es un acto y un proceso entre otros, un tipo de actividad que el individuo regula a su discreción, o es una disposición que precede a la misma iniciativa, algo que concierne a la identidad antropológica como tal, momento expresivo de lo humano en su totalidad?The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the anthropological relevance of ART and how we are not fully aware of it, rethinking some of the fundamental questions related to the nature of the human generation: What are the peculiarities of procreation in opposition to there production of other living beings? Is it an act and a process among others, a kind of activity that the subject regulates at his or her discretion, or is it a disposition that precedes the same initiative, something that concerns the anthropological identity as such, an expressive moment of the human as a whole

Dietary integration with oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) essential oil improves growth rate and oxidative status in outdoor, but not indoor, reared pigs

The effects of a diet supplemented with oregano essential oil on performance, oxidative status, pork quality traits and sensorial properties were evaluated. In two studies, 72 pigs in indoor or outdoor conditions were assigned to either a control diet or an identical diet supplemented with 0.2% oregano essential oil. Pigs reared outdoor showed lower live weight, average daily gain and average gain:feed ratio compared to indoor pigs. The oregano supplementation improved the growth performance of the outdoor‐ but not the indoor‐reared animals. The serum oxidative status was influenced by the diet. A higher oxidative stability was observed in the oregano‐supplemented groups. As for the rearing conditions, the data suggest that after an initial adapting period, the free‐range farming systems could be better tolerated by pigs. Meat derived from pigs reared outdoor showed higher pH and a* values. Lightness was influenced by both the diet and the rearing conditions. The control group reared indoor showed shear force values higher than both supplemented groups, while no differences were detected with the control group reared outdoor. In the consumer test performed under blind conditions, the oregano groups achieved higher consistency scores compared with the control. Under informed conditions, the meat derived from the oregano‐supplemented pigs reared outdoor received the highest scores for consistency and overall liking regardless of the rearing system. The same result for the overall liking score was obtained in the expectation test. The data obtained showed that dietary oregano essential oil can be effective in reducing performance losses due to the outdoor‐rearing system, increasing the oxidative status of the animal and oxidative stability of the meat, without modifying the meat quality traits and improving consumer perceptions of the meat quality

Effects of oregano (Origanum vulgareL.) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) aqueous extracts on broiler performance, immune function and intestinal microbial population

ABSTRACT A 57-day study was performedto determine the effects of two aqueous extracts (AEs) on broiler performance, immune function and intestinal microflora. Four groups of 75 one-day-old female broilers (Ross308) received one of the following treatments: (1) a standard commercial feed (C); (2) C supplemented with 2 g/kg rosemary AE (R); (3) C supplemented with 2 g/kg oregano AE (O); (4) C supplemented with 1 g/kg oregano AE + 1 g/kg rosemary AE (OR). Individual body weight, average daily gain, average daily feed intake and feed conversion efficiency were determined at 1, 11, 22, 36 and 57 days. Sample collections for IgG titration and intestinal microflora examination were performed at 22 and 57 days. The addition of oregano AE alone or in combination with rosemary AEs improved body weight up to 36 days of age (P < .01). A time effect was recorded for total serum IgG in all groups (P < .001) and the percentage increase of the value was positively (P < .05) influenced by the AE supplementation. Lactobacilli raised (P < .001) in ileum and cecum of all groups supplemented with AEs. Staphylococcus spp. population was constantly lower in both intestinal tracts of the AE supplemented groups. On the basis of our results, AEs could improve broiler performance and immune function and contribute to a balanced gut microflora, essential for the digestion process and protection against enteropathogenic organisms

Gene co-expression networks in liver and muscle transcriptome reveal sex-specific gene expression in lambs fed with a mix of essential oils

Background: Essential oil (EO) dietary supplementation is a new strategy to improve animal health. EO compounds have antiparasitic, antimicrobial, antiviral, antimycotic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory proprieties. Nutrigenomics investigations represent innovative approaches in understanding the relation between diet effect and gene expression related to the animal performance. Few nutrigenomics studies have used a high-throughput RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq) approach, despite great potential of RNA-Seq data in gene expression quantification and in co-expression network analyses. Our aim is to use the potential of RNA-Sequencing data in order to evaluate the effect of an EO supplementary diet on gene expression in both lamb liver and muscle. Results: Using a treatment and sex interaction model, 13 and 4 differentially expressed genes were identified in liver and muscle respectively. Sex-specific differentially expressed (DE) genes were identified in both sexes. Using network based analysis, different clusters of co-expressed genes that were highly correlated to the diet were detected in males vs. females, in agreement with DE analysis. A total of five regulatory genes in liver tissue associated to EO diet were identified: DNAJB9, MANF, UFM1, CTNNLA1 and NFX1. Our study reveals a sex-dependent effect of EO diet in both tissues, and an influence on the expression of genes mainly involved in immune, inflammatory and stress pathway. Conclusion: Our analysis suggests a sex-dependent effect of the EO dietary supplementation on the expression profile of both liver and muscle tissues. We hypothesize that the presence of EOs could have beneficial effects on wellness of male lamb and further analyses are needed to understand the biological mechanisms behind the different effect of EO metabolites based on sex. Using lamb as a model for nutrigenomics studies, it could be interesting to investigate the effects of EO diets in other species and in humans

Why make the effort? Exploring Recovery College Engagement

Purpose - Whilst there is growing evidence to suggest that the Recovery College (RC) environment supports students towards their mental health recovery (Meddings et al., 2015b), students’ initial motivations for engagement, alongside factors that may hinder or support attendance, have yet to be exclusively explored. Design - All new RC students were invited to take part in a semi-structured interview three months following their enrolment. Four participants completed an interview which were later analysed using Thematic Analysis. Findings - Four themes emerged within analysis: Making the effort; Being “too unwell”; Friendly Environment and Glad I came. These are discussed alongside the literature, and it is proposed that whilst there is a substantial struggle involved in engagement with a RC, likely related to mental health and social factors, the RC environment, peer support and support of the tutors helps students to overcome the impact of this. Research limitations / implications - Due to the small sample size and exploratory stance of this study, additional research into the complexities around engagement with RCs is strongly recommended. Only students who had attended at least one RC course chose to participate in this study, therefore an under-researched population of non-attendees may provide a valuable contribution to further understanding. Originality / value - This is one of the first studies to qualitatively explore factors which may support, or hinder, initial and ongoing engagement with a RC. It is proposed that a greater understanding of these important issues could be used to increase RC accessibility and inclusion

El derecho al hijo deseado y programado. Estudio ético-antropológico de las nuevas formas de procreación humana a partir de las intuiciones de Marcel Gauchet y Emmanuel Lévinas

Este trabajo examina las razones antropológicas y las implicaciones éticojurídicas relacionadas con las transformaciones introducidas por el progreso biotecnológico en el acontecimiento generativo humano. El objetivo central es demostrar cómo las Técnicas de Reproducción Asistida ―especialmente en su forma heteróloga y subrogada― configuran una procreación desencarnada en la que el hijo es reducido al mero producto de una elección y selección. En la primera parte se analizan los nuevos paradigmas procreativos en relación al problema de la reificación de la vida humana. La segunda se centra en la filiación descifrada como derecho de la autodeterminación reproductiva de la personalidad adulta. Se constata así la superación de un tipo de filiación como relación indisponible ―al menos hasta la fecundación, origen de la responsabilidad genitorial― a otro tipo de filiación entendida como negocio jurídico en el que la condición de ser hijo sucede como efecto legal de la voluntad de un adulto de asumir el rol de padre o madre con la fuerza de la ley ―e incluso con la aportación genética de terceros―. En la última parte se presenta a la paternidad como lugar antropológico privilegiado donde poder anclar la filiación libre de toda manipulación técnicocientificista y de cualquier deseo adulto-céntrico. La investigación clausura destacando la importancia de la finitud ontológica del haber-nacido y la inevitable trama relacional del generar humano. Toda la tesis se apoya en las teorías formuladas sobre el tema por Marcel Gauchet y Emmanuel Lévinas.Questo lavoro esamina le ragioni antropologiche e le implicazioni eticogiuridiche legate alle trasformazioni introdotte dal progresso biotecnologico nell’evento generativo umano. L’obiettivo centrale è dimostrare come le Tecniche di Riproduzione Assistita ―specialmente nella loro forma eterologa e surrogata― configurano una procreazione disincarnata in cui il figlio è ridotto a mero prodotto di una scelta e selezione. Nella prima parte si analizzano i nuovi paradigmi procrativi in relazione al problema della reificazione della vita umana. La seconda si focalizza sulla filiazione decifrata come diritto dell’autodeterminazione riproduttiva della personalità adulta. Si constata così il superamento di un tipo di filiazione come relazione indisponibile ―almeno fino alla fecondazione, origine della responsabilità genitoriale― ad un altro tipo di filiazione intesa come negozio giuridico in cui la condizione di figlio avviene come conseguenza legale della volontà di un adulto di assumere il ruolo di padre o di madre con la forza della legge ―e persino con il contributo genetico di terzi―. Nell’ultima parte si presenta la paternità come luogo antropologico privilegiato in cui poter ancorare la filiazione libera da ogni manipolazione tecnico-scientista e da qualsiasi desiderio adultocentrico. La ricerca si chiude sottolineando l’importanza della finitezza ontologica dell’essere-nati e l’inevitabile trama relazionale del generare umano. Tutta la tesi si basa sulle teorie formulate in materia da Marcel Gauchet ed Emmanuel LévinasFilosofíaPrograma de Doctorado en los Retos de las Ciencias Sociales y Humanas en la Sociedad del Siglo XX

Application of the cDNA-AFLP method for studying gene expression in Fibrobacter succinogenes S85 exposed to 134.2 kHz electromagnetic field

AbstractMany biological effects related to the exposure of cells and tissues to electromagnetic fields have been reported in the literature, including those influencing DNAs and RNAs structure and ..

Influence of Maternal and Postweaning Linseed Dietary Supplementation on Growth Rate, Lipid Profile, and Meat Quality Traits of Light Sarda Lambs

The effects of dietary extruded linseed (EL) on growth performance, meat quality, and lipid profile of Semimembranosus and Longissimus lumborum muscles of 81 Sarda lambs were studied in a 3 × 3 design: EL content (0%, 10%, and 20%) of maternal dietary concentrate fed from 20 d to parturition to 60 d of lactation and EL content (0%, 10%, 20%) of lamb concentrate fed after weaning for 30 d. The basal diet was composed of alfalfa and meadow hay during pregnancy and alfalfa hay during lactation. At slaughter, carcass and meat quality were evaluated. Sensory quality of Semimembranosus from 0% and 20% EL lambs was assessed. Both maternal and postweaning diets affected growth performance, with higher body weights recorded with the 10% EL concentrate. Carcass and meat quality were not affected by diet. Saturated and monounsaturated FA decreased and n-3 polyunsaturated FA increased with increasing EL content in lamb diet. An increase in vaccenic and rumenic acid was associated with the EL content of the maternal diet. Both diets increased the n-6/n-3 FA ratio. No differences in acceptability were detected by consumers among groups. It is concluded that EL supplementation and early life nutrition can influence performance and FA metabolism in growing lambs