Different resource allocation strategies result from selection for litter size at weaning in rabbit does

This study examined the effect of long-term selection of a maternal rabbit line, solely for a reproductive criterion, on the ability of female rabbits to deal with constrained environmental conditions. Female rabbits from generations 16 and 36 (n = 72 and 79, respectively) of a line founded and selected to increase litter size at weaning were compared simultaneously. Female rabbits were subjected to normal (NC), nutritional (NF) or heat (HC) challenging conditions from 1st to 3rd parturition. Animals in NC and NF were housed at normal room temperatures (18°C to 25°C) and respectively fed with control (11.6 MJ digestible energy (DE)/kg dry matter (DM), 126 g digestible protein (DP)/kg DM, and 168 g of ADF/kg DM) or low-energy fibrous diets (9.1 MJ DE/kg DM, 104 g DP/kg DM and 266 g ADF/kg DM), whereas those housed in HC were subjected to high room temperatures (25°C to 35°C) and the control diet. The litter size was lower for female rabbits housed in both NF and HC environments, but the extent and timing where this reduction took place differed between generations. In challenging conditions (NF and HC), the average reduction in the reproductive performance of female rabbits from generation 16, compared with NC, was &#8722;2.26 (P<0.05) and &#8722;0.51 kits born alive at 2nd and 3rd parturition, respectively. However, under these challenging conditions, the reproductive performance of female rabbits from generation 36 was less affected at 2nd parturition (&#8722;1.25 kits born alive), but showed a greater reduction at the 3rd parturition (&#8722;3.53 kits born alive; P<0.05) compared with NC. The results also showed differences between generations in digestible energy intake, milk yield and accretion, and use of body reserves throughout lactation in NC, HC and NF, which together indicate that there were different resource allocation strategies in the animals from the different generations. Selection to increase litter size at weaning led to increased reproductive robustness at the onset of an environmental constraint, but failure to sustain the reproductive liability when the challenge was maintained in the long term. This response could be directly related to the shortterm environmental fluctuations (less severe) that frequently occur in the environment where this line has been selected.The authors thank Professor Enrique Blas Ferrer for his valuable comments on the initial version of this document, Juan Carlos Moreno for his help in conducting the trial at the experimental farm, and the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Project: AGL2011-30170-C02-01) for economic support.Savietto, D.; Cervera Fras, MC.; Ródenas Martínez, L.; Martínez Paredes, EM.; Baselga Izquierdo, M.; García Diego, FJ.; Larsen, T.... (2014). Different resource allocation strategies result from selection for litter size at weaning in rabbit does. Animal. 8(4):618-628. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731113002437S61862884García-Diego, F.-J., Pascual, J. J., & Marco, F. (2011). Technical Note: Design of a large variable temperature chamber for heat stress studies in rabbits. World Rabbit Science, 19(4). doi:10.4995/wrs.2011.938Ragab, M., & Baselga, M. (2011). A comparison of reproductive traits of four maternal lines of rabbits selected for litter size at weaning and founded on different criteria. Livestock Science, 136(2-3), 201-206. doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2010.09.009Friggens, N. C. (2003). Body lipid reserves and the reproductive cycle: towards a better understanding. Livestock Production Science, 83(2-3), 219-236. doi:10.1016/s0301-6226(03)00111-8Littell, R. C., Henry, P. R., & Ammerman, C. B. (1998). Statistical analysis of repeated measures data using SAS procedures. Journal of Animal Science, 76(4), 1216. doi:10.2527/1998.7641216xEstany, J., Baselga, M., Blasco, A., & Camacho, J. (1989). Mixed model methodology for the estimation of genetic response to selection in litter size of rabbits. Livestock Production Science, 21(1), 67-75. doi:10.1016/0301-6226(89)90021-3Fernández-Carmona, J., Alqedra, I., Cervera, C., Moya, J., & Pascual, J. J. (2003). Effect of lucerne-based diets on performance of reproductive rabbit does at two temperatures. Animal Science, 76(2), 283-295. doi:10.1017/s1357729800053534Fernández-Carmona, J., Cervera, C., Sabater, C., & Blas, E. (1995). Effect of diet composition on the production of rabbit breeding does housed in a traditional building and at 30°C. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 52(3-4), 289-297. doi:10.1016/0377-8401(94)00715-lHarano, Y., Ohtsuki, M., Ida, M., Kojima, H., Harada, M., Okanishi, T., … Shigeta, Y. (1985). Direct automated assay method for serum or urine levels of ketone bodies. Clinica Chimica Acta, 151(2), 177-183. doi:10.1016/0009-8981(85)90321-3Dauncey, M. J. (1990). Thyroid hormones and thermogenesis. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 49(2), 203-215. doi:10.1079/pns19900024Savietto, D., Blas, E., Cervera, C., Baselga, M., Friggens, N. C., Larsen, T., & Pascual, J. J. (2012). Digestive efficiency in rabbit does according to environment and genetic type. World Rabbit Science, 20(3). doi:10.4995/wrs.2012.1152Falconer, D. S. (1990). Selection in different environments: effects on environmental sensitivity (reaction norm) and on mean performance. Genetical Research, 56(1), 57-70. doi:10.1017/s0016672300028883Vicente, J., & García-Ximénez, F. (1993). Effects of strain and embryo transfer model (embryos from one versus two donor does/recipient) on results of cryopreservation in rabbit. Reproduction Nutrition Development, 33(1), 5-13. doi:10.1051/rnd:19930101Quiniou, N., Renaudeau, D., Dubois, S., & Noblet, J. (2000). Influence of high ambient temperatures on food intake and feeding behaviour of multiparous lactating sows. Animal Science, 70(3), 471-479. doi:10.1017/s1357729800051821Theilgaard, P., Sánchez, J. P., Pascual, J. J., Friggens, N. C., & Baselga, M. (2006). Effect of body fatness and selection for prolificacy on survival of rabbit does assessed using a cryopreserved control population. Livestock Science, 103(1-2), 65-73. doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2006.01.007Brecchia, G., Bonanno, A., Galeati, G., Federici, C., Maranesi, M., Gobbetti, A., … Boiti, C. (2006). Hormonal and metabolic adaptation to fasting: Effects on the hypothalamic–pituitary–ovarian axis and reproductive performance of rabbit does. Domestic Animal Endocrinology, 31(2), 105-122. doi:10.1016/j.domaniend.2005.09.006Piles, M., Garreau, H., Rafel, O., Larzul, C., Ramon, J., & Ducrocq, V. (2006). Survival analysis in two lines of rabbits selected for reproductive traits1. Journal of Animal Science, 84(7), 1658-1665. doi:10.2527/jas.2005-678Sanchez, J. P., Baselga, M., & Ducrocq, V. (2006). Genetic and environmental correlations between longevity and litter size in rabbits. Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics, 123(3), 180-185. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0388.2006.00590.xQuevedo, F., Cervera, C., Blas, E., Baselga, M., & Pascual, J. J. (2006). Long-term effect of selection for litter size and feeding programme on the performance of reproductive rabbit does 2. Lactation and growing period. Animal Science, 82(5), 751-762. doi:10.1079/asc200688Vicente, J. S., & García-Ximénez, F. (1996). Direct transfer of vitrified rabbit embryos. Theriogenology, 45(4), 811-815. doi:10.1016/0093-691x(96)00010-6Coureaud, G., Fortun-Lamothe, L., Langlois, D., & Schaal, B. (2007). The reactivity of neonatal rabbits to the mammary pheromone as a probe for viability. animal, 1(7), 1026-1032. doi:10.1017/s1751731107000389Rommers, J. M., Boiti, C., Brecchia, G., Meijerhof, R., Noordhuizen, J. P. T. M., Decuypere, E., & Kemp, B. (2004). Metabolic adaptation and hormonal regulation in young rabbit does during long-term caloric restriction and subsequent compensatory growth. Animal Science, 79(2), 255-264. doi:10.1017/s1357729800090111Piles, M., García, M. L., Rafel, O., Ramon, J., & Baselga, M. (2006). Genetics of litter size in three maternal lines of rabbits: Repeatability versus multiple-trait models. Journal of Animal Science, 84(9), 2309-2315. doi:10.2527/jas.2005-622Garcı́a, M. L., & Baselga, M. (2002). Estimation of genetic response to selection in litter size of rabbits using a cryopreserved control population. Livestock Production Science, 74(1), 45-53. doi:10.1016/s0301-6226(01)00280-9Cervera, C., & Carmona, J. F. (s. f.). Nutrition and the climatic environment. Nutrition of the rabbit, 267-284. doi:10.1079/9781845936693.0267Nicodemus, N., Redondo, R., Pérez-Alba, L., Carabaño, R., De Blas, J. C., & García, J. (2010). Effect of level of fibre and type of grinding on the performance of rabbit does and their litters during the first three lactations. Livestock Science, 129(1-3), 186-193. doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2010.01.023Theilgaard, P., Sánchez, J., Pascual, J., Berg, P., Friggens, N. C., & Baselga, M. (2007). Late reproductive senescence in a rabbit line hyper selected for reproductive longevity, and its association with body reserves. Genetics Selection Evolution, 39(2), 207. doi:10.1186/1297-9686-39-2-207Martínez-Paredes, E., Ródenas, L., Martínez-Vallespín, B., Cervera, C., Blas, E., Brecchia, G., … Pascual, J. J. (2012). Effects of feeding programme on the performance and energy balance of nulliparous rabbit does. animal, 6(7), 1086-1095. doi:10.1017/s1751731111002643Baselga M 2004. Genetic improvement of meat rabbits. Programmes and diffusion. In Proceedings of 8th World Rabbit Science Congress, 5–7 September 2004, Puebla, Mexico, pp. 1–13

Rearing management of rabbit males selected by high growth rate: the effect of diet and season on semen characteristics

[EN] A total of sixty-six young males were used to evaluate the effect of low (L), medium (M) and high (H) concentrations of dietary digestible energy received during the rearing seasons (autumn and spring) on the performance and main semen characteristics of males for artificial insemination selected by a high growth rate. Males reared during the spring season presented a significantly higher weight at weaning than those reared during the autumn season (P < 0.001), and these differences were maintained until the end of the trial. The requirements of the males were easily covered as a general rule. In the autumn group, the males were unable to intake the digestible protein recommended only during their 3rd month of life, especially with low concentrate diets (P < 0.05). H males showed higher semen concentration and production during the autumn season, while L males showed a higher semen concentration and production than M males during the spring season, the H group showed intermediate values (P < 0.001). Males reared during the spring season showed significantly higher values of sperm concentration (P < 0.01) and production (P < 0.01). H males presented a lower percentage of spermatozoa with cytoplasmic droplets than the L group (P < 0.05) and the lowest values for sperm abnormalities during the autumn season, while the L group presented higher values for percentage abnormalities, especially during the last month controlled (P < 0.05). As a general rule, the main motility parameters controlled were not affected by the rearing diet received nor the season. These results seem to indicate that the management of rabbit males during the growing and rearing periods seem to significantly affect their subsequent performance and semen production.The present work was supported by a grant from CICYT: AGF98-0470-C02-01Pascual Amorós, JJ.; García, C.; Martinez-Paredes, E.; Moce Cervera, ET.; Vicente Antón, JS. (2004). Rearing management of rabbit males selected by high growth rate: the effect of diet and season on semen characteristics. Reproduction Nutrition Development. 44(1):49-63. https://doi.org/10.1051/rnd:2004016S496344

Environmental sensitivity differs between rabbit lines selectedfor reproductive intensity and longevity

To better understand the mechanisms that allow some animals to sustain their productive effort in harsh environmental conditions, rabbit does from two selection lines (LP and V) were housed in normal (NC), nutritional (NF) or heat (HC) challenging environmental conditions from first to third partum. The LP line (n=85) was founded on reproductive longevity criteria by selecting does from commercial farms that had a minimum of 25 partum with more than 7.5 kits born alive per parity. Line V (n=79) was constituted from four specialised maternal lines into a composite synthetic line and then selected by litter size at weaning for 36 generations. Female rabbits in NC and NF environments were housed at normal room temperature (18 degrees C to 24 degrees C) and fed with control [11.6 MJ digestible energy (DE)/kg dry matter (DM)] or low-energy diets (9.1 MJ DE/kg DM). HC does were housed at high room temperatures (25 degrees C to 35 degrees C) and fed the control diet. Female rabbits in the HC and NF environments ingested 11.5% and 6% less DE than NC does, respectively (P<0.05). These differences between environments occurred in both lines, with the differences being higher for LP than for V does (+6%; P<0.05). Milk yield responses followed those of energy intake also being higher for LP does (+21.3 g/day; P<0.05). The environmental conditions did not affect the perirenal fat thickness (PFT), but a genotype by environment interaction was observed. In NC and HC, the PFT was higher for line V (+0.23 and +0.35 mm, respectively; P<0.05) than for LP does, but this was not the case at NF (-0.01 mm). Moreover, the PFT evolution was different between them. In the NC environment, LP does used the accreted PFT in late lactation (-0.29 mm), whereas V does did not (-0.08 mm). Conversely, in the HC environment, LP does showed a flat PFT evolution in late lactation, whereas V does accumulated PFT. In the NF environment, LP and V does had a similar PFT evolution. There was also a litter size reduction for V does of -2.59 kits total born in HC and -1.78 kits total born in NF environments, whereas this was not observed for LP does. The results for LP does indicate a direct use of DE ingested for reproduction with little PFT change, whereas V does actively use the PFT reserves for reproduction.The authors thank Juan Carlos Moreno, Luis Rodenas and Eugenio Martinez-Paredes for their technical support and the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (Project AGL2011-30170-C02-01) for the budget to conduct this study.Savietto, D.; Cervera Fras, MC.; Blas Ferrer, E.; Baselga Izquierdo, M.; Larsen, T.; Friggens, NC.; Pascual Amorós, JJ. (2013). Environmental sensitivity differs between rabbit lines selectedfor reproductive intensity and longevity. animal. 7(12):1969-1977. https://doi.org/10.1017/S175173111300178XS19691977712Vicente, J. S., Llobat, L., Viudes-de-Castro, M. P., Lavara, R., Baselga, M., & Marco-Jiménez, F. (2012). Gestational losses in a rabbit line selected for growth rate. Theriogenology, 77(1), 81-88. doi:10.1016/j.theriogenology.2011.07.019Theilgaard, P., Sánchez, J., Pascual, J., Berg, P., Friggens, N. C., & Baselga, M. (2007). Late reproductive senescence in a rabbit line hyper selected for reproductive longevity, and its association with body reserves. Genetics Selection Evolution, 39(2), 207. doi:10.1186/1297-9686-39-2-207Savietto, D., Blas, E., Cervera, C., Baselga, M., Friggens, N. C., Larsen, T., & Pascual, J. J. (2012). Digestive efficiency in rabbit does according to environment and genetic type. World Rabbit Science, 20(3). doi:10.4995/wrs.2012.1152Rosell, J. M., & de la Fuente, L. F. (2009). Culling and mortality in breeding rabbits. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 88(2), 120-127. doi:10.1016/j.prevetmed.2008.08.003Sánchez, J. P., de la Fuente, L. F., & Rosell, J. M. (2012). Health and body condition of lactating females on rabbit farms1. Journal of Animal Science, 90(7), 2353-2361. doi:10.2527/jas.2011-4065Quevedo, F., Cervera, C., Blas, E., Baselga, M., Costa, C., & Pascual, J. J. (2005). Effect of selection for litter size and feeding programme on the performance of young rabbit females during rearing and first pregnancy. Animal Science, 80(2), 161-168. doi:10.1079/asc40850161Pascual, J. J., Motta, W., Cervera, C., Quevedo, F., Blas, E., & Fernández-Carmona, J. (2002). Effect of dietary energy source on the performance and perirenal fat thickness evolution of primiparous rabbit does. Animal Science, 75(2), 267-279. doi:10.1017/s1357729800053029Friggens, N. C., Brun-Lafleur, L., Faverdin, P., Sauvant, D., & Martin, O. (2011). Advances in predicting nutrient partitioning in the dairy cow: recognizing the central role of genotype and its expression through time. animal, 7(s1), 89-101. doi:10.1017/s1751731111001820Fernández-Carmona, J., Cervera, C., Sabater, C., & Blas, E. (1995). Effect of diet composition on the production of rabbit breeding does housed in a traditional building and at 30°C. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 52(3-4), 289-297. doi:10.1016/0377-8401(94)00715-lBlas, C. de, & Mateos, G. G. (s. f.). Feed formulation. Nutrition of the rabbit, 222-232. doi:10.1079/9781845936693.0222Brecchia, G., Bonanno, A., Galeati, G., Federici, C., Maranesi, M., Gobbetti, A., … Boiti, C. (2006). Hormonal and metabolic adaptation to fasting: Effects on the hypothalamic–pituitary–ovarian axis and reproductive performance of rabbit does. Domestic Animal Endocrinology, 31(2), 105-122. doi:10.1016/j.domaniend.2005.09.006Sánchez, J. P., Theilgaard, P., Mínguez, C., & Baselga, M. (2008). Constitution and evaluation of a long-lived productive rabbit line1. Journal of Animal Science, 86(3), 515-525. doi:10.2527/jas.2007-0217Mehaisen, G., Vicente, J., & Lavara, R. (2004). In Vivo Embryo Recovery Rate by Laparoscopic Technique from Rabbit Does Selected for Growth Rate. Reproduction in Domestic Animals, 39(5), 347-351. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0531.2004.00526.xHarano, Y., Ohtsuki, M., Ida, M., Kojima, H., Harada, M., Okanishi, T., … Shigeta, Y. (1985). Direct automated assay method for serum or urine levels of ketone bodies. Clinica Chimica Acta, 151(2), 177-183. doi:10.1016/0009-8981(85)90321-3Engblom, L., Lundeheim, N., Dalin, A.-M., & Andersson, K. (2007). Sow removal in Swedish commercial herds. Livestock Science, 106(1), 76-86. doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2006.07.002Fernández-Carmona, J., Alqedra, I., Cervera, C., Moya, J., & Pascual, J. J. (2003). Effect of lucerne-based diets on performance of reproductive rabbit does at two temperatures. Animal Science, 76(2), 283-295. doi:10.1017/s1357729800053534Piles, M., Garreau, H., Rafel, O., Larzul, C., Ramon, J., & Ducrocq, V. (2006). Survival analysis in two lines of rabbits selected for reproductive traits1. Journal of Animal Science, 84(7), 1658-1665. doi:10.2527/jas.2005-678Theilgaard, P., Baselga, M., Blas, E., Friggens, N. C., Cervera, C., & Pascual, J. J. (2009). Differences in productive robustness in rabbits selected for reproductive longevity or litter size. animal, 3(5), 637-646. doi:10.1017/s1751731109003838Ferrian, S., Blas, E., Larsen, T., Sánchez, J. P., Friggens, N. C., Corpa, J. M., … Pascual, J. J. (2013). Comparison of immune response to lipopolysaccharide of rabbit does selected for litter size at weaning or founded for reproductive longevity. Research in Veterinary Science, 94(3), 518-525. doi:10.1016/j.rvsc.2013.01.008Xiccato, G., Bernardini, M., Castellini, C., Dalle Zotte, A., Queaque, P. I., & Trocino, A. (1999). Effect of postweaning feeding on the performance and energy balance of female rabbits at different physiological states. Journal of Animal Science, 77(2), 416. doi:10.2527/1999.772416xRagab, M., & Baselga, M. (2011). A comparison of reproductive traits of four maternal lines of rabbits selected for litter size at weaning and founded on different criteria. Livestock Science, 136(2-3), 201-206. doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2010.09.009García-Diego, F.-J., Pascual, J. J., & Marco, F. (2011). Technical Note: Design of a large variable temperature chamber for heat stress studies in rabbits. World Rabbit Science, 19(4). doi:10.4995/wrs.2011.938Littell, R. C., Henry, P. R., & Ammerman, C. B. (1998). Statistical analysis of repeated measures data using SAS procedures. Journal of Animal Science, 76(4), 1216. doi:10.2527/1998.7641216xCervera, C., & Carmona, J. F. (s. f.). Nutrition and the climatic environment. Nutrition of the rabbit, 267-284. doi:10.1079/9781845936693.0267Sanchez, J. P., Baselga, M., & Ducrocq, V. (2006). Genetic and environmental correlations between longevity and litter size in rabbits. Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics, 123(3), 180-185. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0388.2006.00590.xQuevedo, F., Cervera, C., Blas, E., Baselga, M., & Pascual, J. J. (2006). Long-term effect of selection for litter size and feeding programme on the performance of reproductive rabbit does 1. Pregnancy of multiparous does. Animal Science, 82(5), 739-750. doi:10.1079/asc200687Estany, J., Baselga, M., Blasco, A., & Camacho, J. (1989). Mixed model methodology for the estimation of genetic response to selection in litter size of rabbits. Livestock Production Science, 21(1), 67-75. doi:10.1016/0301-6226(89)90021-3Estany, J., Camacho, J., Baselga, M., & Blasco, A. (1992). Selection response of growth rate in rabbits for meat production. Genetics Selection Evolution, 24(6), 527. doi:10.1186/1297-9686-24-6-52

CLARC: A cognitive robot for helping geriatric doctors in real scenarios

Third Iberian Robotics Conference (ROBOT 2017). 22 to 24 November 2017, Seville, SpainAbstract: Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) is an integrated clinical process to evaluate the frailty of elderly persons in order to create therapy plans that improve their quality of life. For robotizing these tests, we are designing and developing CLARC, a mobile robot able to help the physician to capture and manage data during the CGA procedures, mainly by autonomously conducting a set of predefined evaluation tests. Built around a shared internal representation of the outer world, the architecture is composed of software modules able to plan and generate a stream of actions, to execute actions emanated from the representation or to update this by including/removing items at different abstraction levels. Percepts, actions and intentions coming from all software modules are grounded within this unique representation. This allows the robot to react to unexpected events and to modify the course of action according to the dynamics of a scenario built around the interaction with the patient. The paper describes the architecture of the system as well as the preliminary user studies and evaluation to gather new user requirements.This work has been partially funded by the EU ECHORD++ project (FP7-ICT-601116) and the TIN2015-65686-C5-1-R (MINECO and FEDER funds). Javier García is partially supported by the Comunidad de Madrid (Spain) funds under the project 2016-T2/TIC-171

Autoantibody screening in Guillain-Barré syndrome

Background: Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute inflammatory neuropathy with a heterogeneous presentation. Although some evidences support the role of autoantibodies in its pathogenesis, the target antigens remain unknown in a substantial proportion of GBS patients. The objective of this study is to screen for autoantibodies targeting peripheral nerve components in Guillain-Barré syndrome. Methods: Autoantibody screening was performed in serum samples from all GBS patients included in the International GBS Outcome study by 11 different Spanish centres. The screening included testing for anti-ganglioside antibodies, anti-nodo/paranodal antibodies, immunocytochemistry on neuroblastoma-derived human motor neurons and murine dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons, and immunohistochemistry on monkey peripheral nerve sections. We analysed the staining patterns of patients and controls. The prognostic value of anti-ganglioside antibodies was also analysed. Results: None of the GBS patients (n = 100) reacted against the nodo/paranodal proteins tested, and 61 (61%) were positive for, at least, one anti-ganglioside antibody. GBS sera reacted strongly against DRG neurons more frequently than controls both with IgG (6% vs 0%; p = 0.03) and IgM (11% vs 2.2%; p = 0.02) immunodetection. No differences were observed in the proportion of patients reacting against neuroblastoma-derived human motor neurons. Reactivity against monkey nerve tissue was frequently detected both in patients and controls, but specific patterns were only detected in GBS patients: IgG from 13 (13%) patients reacted strongly against Schwann cells. Finally, we confirmed that IgG anti-GM1 antibodies are associated with poorer outcomes independently of other known prognostic factors. Conclusion: Our study confirms that (1) GBS patients display a heterogeneous repertoire of autoantibodies targeting nerve cells and structures; (2) gangliosides are the most frequent antigens in GBS patients and have a prognostic value; (3) further antigen-discovery experiments may elucidate other potential antigens in GBS

Measurement of the cross-section and charge asymmetry of WW bosons produced in proton-proton collisions at s=8\sqrt{s}=8 TeV with the ATLAS detector

This paper presents measurements of the $W^+ \rightarrow \mu^+\nu$ and $W^- \rightarrow \mu^-\nu$ cross-sections and the associated charge asymmetry as a function of the absolute pseudorapidity of the decay muon. The data were collected in proton--proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV with the ATLAS experiment at the LHC and correspond to a total integrated luminosity of 20.2~\mbox{fb^{-1}}. The precision of the cross-section measurements varies between 0.8% to 1.5% as a function of the pseudorapidity, excluding the 1.9% uncertainty on the integrated luminosity. The charge asymmetry is measured with an uncertainty between 0.002 and 0.003. The results are compared with predictions based on next-to-next-to-leading-order calculations with various parton distribution functions and have the sensitivity to discriminate between them.Comment: 38 pages in total, author list starting page 22, 5 figures, 4 tables, submitted to EPJC. All figures including auxiliary figures are available at https://atlas.web.cern.ch/Atlas/GROUPS/PHYSICS/PAPERS/STDM-2017-13

Search for chargino-neutralino production with mass splittings near the electroweak scale in three-lepton final states in √s=13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for supersymmetry through the pair production of electroweakinos with mass splittings near the electroweak scale and decaying via on-shell W and Z bosons is presented for a three-lepton final state. The analyzed proton-proton collision data taken at a center-of-mass energy of √s=13  TeV were collected between 2015 and 2018 by the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139  fb−1. A search, emulating the recursive jigsaw reconstruction technique with easily reproducible laboratory-frame variables, is performed. The two excesses observed in the 2015–2016 data recursive jigsaw analysis in the low-mass three-lepton phase space are reproduced. Results with the full data set are in agreement with the Standard Model expectations. They are interpreted to set exclusion limits at the 95% confidence level on simplified models of chargino-neutralino pair production for masses up to 345 GeV

Search for direct stau production in events with two hadronic tau-leptons in root s=13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for the direct production of the supersymmetric partners ofτ-leptons (staus) in final stateswith two hadronically decayingτ-leptons is presented. The analysis uses a dataset of pp collisions corresponding to an integrated luminosity of139fb−1, recorded with the ATLAS detector at the LargeHadron Collider at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. No significant deviation from the expected StandardModel background is observed. Limits are derived in scenarios of direct production of stau pairs with eachstau decaying into the stable lightest neutralino and oneτ-lepton in simplified models where the two staumass eigenstates are degenerate. Stau masses from 120 GeV to 390 GeV are excluded at 95% confidencelevel for a massless lightest neutralino

Feasibility and short-term outcomes in liver-first approach: a Spanish snapshot study (the RENACI project)

Producción CientíficaSimple Summary: Current evidence does not provide enough information for selecting a tailored approach pathway in patients with colorectal cancer and synchronous liver metastases. There are no randomized clinical trials or prospective series comparing the classical approach with the liver-first approach. In addition, information on the proportion of patients who actually complete the therapeutic regimen is limited. The RENACI Project was a prospective National Registry performed on patients with colorectal cancer and synchronous liver metastases undergoing the liver-first approach. This study aimed to present the data of feasibility and short-term outcomes of the Spanish National Registry of Liver First Approach (the RENACI Project).(1) Background: The liver-first approach may be indicated for colorectal cancer patients with synchronous liver metastases to whom preoperative chemotherapy opens a potential window in which liver resection may be undertaken. This study aims to present the data of feasibility and short-term outcomes in the liver-first approach. (2) Methods: A prospective observational study was performed in Spanish hospitals that had a medium/high-volume of HPB surgeries from 1 June 2019 to 31 August 2020. (3) Results: In total, 40 hospitals participated, including a total of 2288 hepatectomies, 1350 for colorectal liver metastases, 150 of them (11.1%) using the liver-first approach, 63 (42.0%) in hospitals performing <50 hepatectomies/year. The proportion of patients as ASA III was significantly higher in centers performing ≥50 hepatectomies/year (difference: 18.9%; p = 0.0213). In 81.1% of the cases, the primary tumor was in the rectum or sigmoid colon. In total, 40% of the patients underwent major hepatectomies. The surgical approach was open surgery in 87 (58.0%) patients. Resection margins were R0 in 78.5% of the patients. In total, 40 (26.7%) patients had complications after the liver resection and 36 (27.3%) had complications after the primary resection. One-hundred and thirty-two (89.3%) patients completed the therapeutic regime. (4) Conclusions: There were no differences in the surgical outcomes between the centers performing <50 and ≥50 hepatectomies/year. Further analysis evaluating factors associated with clinical outcomes and determining the best candidates for this approach will be subsequently conducted.Asociación Española de Cirujanos - (grant Research Projects 2020

Differentiation stage of myeloma plasma cells: biological and clinical significance

[EN] The notion that plasma cells (PCs) are terminally differentiated has prevented intensive research in multiple myeloma (MM) about their phenotypic plasticity and differentiation. Here, we demonstrated in healthy individuals (n = 20) that the CD19 − CD81 expression axis identifies three bone marrow (BM)PC subsets with distinct age-prevalence, proliferation, replication-history, immunoglobulin-production, and phenotype, consistent with progressively increased differentiation from CD19+CD81+ into CD19 − CD81+ and CD19 − CD81 − BMPCs. Afterwards, we demonstrated in 225 newly diagnosed MM patients that, comparing to normal BMPC counterparts, 59% had fully differentiated (CD19 − CD81 −) clones, 38% intermediate-differentiated (CD19 − CD81+) and 3% less-differentiated (CD19+CD81+) clones. The latter patients had dismal outcome, and PC differentiation emerged as an independent prognostic marker for progression-free (HR: 1.7; P = 0.005) and overall survival (HR: 2.1; P = 0.006). Longitudinal comparison of diagnostic vs minimal-residual-disease samples (n = 40) unraveled that in 20% of patients, less-differentiated PCs subclones become enriched after therapy-induced pressure. We also revealed that CD81 expression is epigenetically regulated, that less-differentiated clonal PCs retain high expression of genes related to preceding B-cell stages (for example: PAX5), and show distinct mutation profile vs fully differentiated PC clones within individual patients. Together, we shed new light into PC plasticity and demonstrated that MM patients harbouring less-differentiated PCs have dismal survival, which might be related to higher chemoresistant potential plus different molecular and genomic profiles