The use of photoperiod-treated bucks to induce a “male effect” does not compensate for the negative effects of nutritional restriction of the females in Mediterranean goats

This work examined the effect of acute nutritional restriction or supplementation one week before male introduction on the reproductive performances of the “male effect” when using photostimulated or control males in goats. On 22 March, 84 anoestrous does were placed with photostimulated bucks or with bucks which had received no treatments. One week before male introduction, the females were provided with different nutritional regimes: Supplemented, restricted or control females. The non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) and Insulin Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) concentrations were measured in the same samples. Fecundity, fertility, prolificacy and productivity were also determined. No interaction between both sources of variation was observed in any of the reproductive variables studied. Treatment of the bucks increased the percentage of females expressing behavioural oestrous associated with ovulation (71% vs 90% for Natural and Photo groups, respectively, P < 0.05). The Supplemented females showed higher ovulation rate than Restricted females (1.77 ± 0.13 vs 1.05 ± 0.05, P < 0.001), fecundity (71% vs 43%, P < 0.05); fertility (76% vs 29%, P < 0.05) and productivity (1.00 ± 0.15 vs 0.29 ± 0.11 kids per female, P < 0.01). In the Supplemented females, the higher reproductive results could be due to the lower NEFAs and higher IGF-1 concentrations at ovulation and at the time of oestrus compared to the Restricted females. Thus, the present experiment results demonstrate that nutrition is an important factor in the response to the “male effect” at Mediterranean latitudes, and its negative effect cannot be counterbalanced by using photostimulated bucks.This study was funded by Grant AGL2016-75848-R from MINECO- AEI-FEDER (Spain).The authors wish to thank the farm staff of Huelva University for their technical support. Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Huelva/CBUA

Fatty acid composition of muscle and internal fat depots of organic and conventional Payoya goat kids

Interest in the preservation of autochthonous breeds such as the Payoya goat (dairy breed), raised using extensive or semi-extensive grazing, has also recently increased among Spanish farmers. A study of the possibilities of transformation to organic production needs to analyze the quality of their products, specially the suckled kids. The objective of this study was to evaluate the fatty acid (FA) composition of Payoya goat kids under organic and conventional grazing�based management system. Forty-eight goat kids were selected (12 males and 12 females from each management system). The FA profile was determined in the Longissimus thoracis muscle, kidney and pelvic fat. Few gender differences were observed in the muscle and in the fat depots. The ratios of C14:0, C18:1 trans-11-(VA), and several n-3 FA were higher in organic kid meat than in conventionally reared kid meat. Conventional kid fat depots have presented higher percentage of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), lower CLA desaturase index, lower percentage of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty-acid (PUFA) and, consequently, higher n6:n3 PUFA ratio than organic kids. In conclusion, significant differences were found only in some FA percentages of muscle and adipose tissues of suckling kids raised in organic and conventional livestock production systems, probably due because the dams, in both experimental farms, were raised with similar semi-extensive system based on the grazing of natural pastures. Due to this reason, conventional grazing�based management farms could easily be transformed into organic production facilities

Carcase and meat quality of Blanca Andaluza kids fed exclusively with milk from their dams under organic and conventional grazing-based management systems

The number of organic farms is growing, but switching from conventional to organic production requires farms continue to produce high quality products. This study compares the carcase and meat quality of Blanca Andaluza goat suckling kids raised under organic and conventional grazing-based stock raising production systems. Twenty-four twin kids (12 males, 12 females) were selected from representative farms of each system. Body weight, dressing percentage, carcase linear measurements, non-carcase components, primary carcase and minor cuts, tissue composition, chemical composition and rheological variables, pH and colorimetric variables, were examined. No significant differences were seen between the production systems or sex with respect to most of the variables studied. However, some non-carcase components and colorimetric variables were affected, with the organic kids’ meat returning lower values for lightness, yellow index, chroma and Hue angle. Indeed, some of the meat colour variables examined easily discriminated between the animals raised under the different production systems. These results show that conventional grazing–based farms raising these goats could easily turn to organic production without carcase or meat quality being affected

The Silhouettes Fatigue Scale: a validity study with individuals with physical disabilities and chronic pain.

Purpose: Fatigue is known to interfere with function in individuals with physical disabilities. In order to monitor changes in fatigue over time and evaluate the efficacy of treatments, psychometrically sound measures of fatigue are needed. The aim of this work was to evaluate the validity of the Silhouettes Fatigue Scale with English instructions (SFS-EN) in a sample of adults with physical disabilities living in the USA. Methods: Individuals with medical conditions associated with physical disabilities responded to an online survey that included the SFS-EN as well as another validated measure of fatigue (PROMIS short form-4a Fatigue Scale), and measures of pain intensity and pain catastrophizing. Results: 523 individuals participated (mean age ¼ 59.1 years; SD¼11.4). Most participants were Caucasian (89%), women (59%) and unemployed (71%). Results showed strong positive correlations between both measures of fatigue, supporting the convergent validity of the SFS-EN. In addition, the magnitude of this association was significantly greater than the association between the scores of the SFS-EN and the measures of pain intensity and pain catastrophizing, supporting the former’s discriminant validity. Conclusions: The findings extend previous results supporting the SFS as a brief, easy to administer and understand, and valid measure of fatigue

Physicians’ perception about predictors of opioid abuse in patients with chronic non-cancer pain: a Delphi study.

APC realizado, el artículo está en Open accessBackground: Opioids are being prescribed widely, and increasingly, for the treatment of chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP). However, several side effects are associated with mid- and long-term opioid use and, for certain patients, with the risk of problematic opioid use. The aim of this study is to know the perception of the physicians about which variables could be associated within creased risk of patients with CNCP developing a problem of abuse or misuse of the prescribed opioid medication. Methods: Twenty-nine physicians with experience in CNCP pain management and opioids prescription participated in a two-round Delphi study focused on the risk factors for opioid misuse and abuse.Results: The variables that reached consensus regarding their relationship with the increased risk of suffering a problem of opioid abuse or misuse were: (1)Experiencing pain on a daily basis, (2) previous use of high-dose opioids, (3)generalized anxiety, (4) hopelessness, (5) benzodiazepine intake, (6) use of opioids for reasons other than pain, (7) family problems, family instability or family breakdown, and (8) having access to several opioid prescribers. The only variable that reached consensus regarding it not being associated to a possible risk of abuse or misuse was having mild pain intensity (0–4 on a NRS-11).Conclusions: This study provides useful information that could help make decisions about the use of opioids for CNCP treatment and prevent future difficulties. Prospective studies testing the relationship of the variables that reached consensus with the risk of opioid misuse and abuse are warranted. Significance: This study shows the variables of CNCP that the professional must take into account in order to avoid possible problems when prescribing opioidsThis work was partly funded by grants from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Competitiveness, PID2019-106086RBI00; the Regional Government of Andalusia, UMA20-FEDERJA118. SG’s salary is supported by a Sara Borrell grant (CD19/ 00022), from ISCIII; RV’s salary is supported by a RYC2018- 024722-I from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation

Desarrollo de procesos de limpieza de materiales metálicos con tecnologías láser. Aplicación en patrimonio.

La limpieza láser es una técnica moderna que puede utilizarse para eliminar los productos de corrosión y la contaminación en objetos metálicos. Sin embargo, para implantar esta técnica como un procedimiento estándar de limpieza en conservación del patrimonio, todavía es necesario explorar y definir metodologías concretas. En este trabajo, se han desarrollado experimentos de limpieza láser modificando y optimizando parámetros que incluyen la potencia, la frecuencia de repetición de pulsos, el interlineado láser y la velocidad de barrido, empleando láseres pulsados que emiten con diferentes longitudes de onda (infrarrojo y ultravioleta) y diferentes anchuras de pulso (50 ns, 800 ps y 300 ps). También se han definido protocolos de limpieza combinando el uso de varios láseres y en diferentes atmósferas, habiendo realizado tratamientos en aire, con la muestra inmersa en agua o con una capa de hidrocarburos. Utilizando técnicas de caracterización que incluyen difracción de rayos X, microscopía electrónica de barrido (FESEM), espectroscopía Mössbauer y microscopía confocal, se ha determinado la composición química y la microestructura resultante y asociada a cada tipo de tratamiento láser realizado. Se ha prestado una especial atención a las transformaciones de los compuestos de Fe inducidas por irradiación láser

Sensory quality of meat from suckling kids of two indigenous Spanish goat breeds raised in grazing production systems

En España, hay un interés creciente por la conservación de las razas caprinas autóctonas con formas de producción basadas en el pastoreo y por la posibilidad de transformación en producciones ecológicas. El objetivo ha sido evaluar las características sensoriales de la carne de cabrito lechal de dos razas autóctonas, criados en sistemas de producción convencional y ecológica, basados en el pastoreo. Se utilizaron 21 cabritos lechales de los cuales 12 fueron criados en un sistema ecológico (6 de raza Payoya y 6 de raza Blanca Andaluza) y 9 en un sistema convencional (3 de raza Payoya y 6 de raza Blanca Andaluza). El perfil sensorial de la carne se evaluó mediante un panel analítico. Con relación al sistema de explotación, los resultados obtenidos indican que las carnes procedentes de sistemas ecológicos tenían menos intensidad de olor y una textura más blanda, tierna y jugosa que las carnes del sistema convencional. Respecto a la raza, el estudio mostró que las carnes de cabrito de la raza Blanca Andaluza presentaron una intensidad de olor menor y una textura más blanda, tierna y jugosa que las carnes de cabrito de la raza Payoya. Estos resultados preliminares podrían ser favorables para la transformación de las explotaciones convencionales, basadas en pastoreo, a ecológicas.In Spain, there is growing interest in the conservation of native goat breeds in grazing production systems, and the possibility of conventional farms transitioning to organic. This requires a complete understanding of the repercussions of this transition, including its effect on end product sensory quality. An evaluation was done of the sensory attributes of suckling goat meat from two indigenous Spanish breeds (Payoya and Blanca Andaluza) raised in conventional and organic grazing production systems. Of the 21 suckling kids used, 12 were raised in an organic system (6 Payoya and 6 Blanca Andaluza) and 9 in a conventional system (3 Payoya and 6 Blanca Andaluza). Meat sensory profile was evaluated by an analytical panel. The meat from kids raised in organic systems had less intensity of smell and a softer, more tender and juicier texture than meat from the conventional systems. Meat from Blanca Andaluza kids exhibited lower odor intensity and a softer, more tender and juicier texture than the Payoya kid meat. These are promising preliminary results that highlight some of the benefits resulting from the transition from conventional to organic grazing systems for goat production

Does Pain Catastrophizing and Distress Intolerance Mediate the Relationship Between PTSD and Prescribed Opioid Misuse in People With Chronic Noncancer Pain?

Última versión de borrador en PDFObjective: There is an ongoing debate on the use of long-term high-dose medically prescribed opioid analgesics for patients with chronic noncancer pain. Such use is elevated when there is comorbid pain and PTSD, which is quite prevalent. Therefore, it is relevant to investigate the psychological variables that may explain opioid misuse in this population. The purpose of this study was to examine the interaction effect of PTSD severity, distress intolerance, and pain catastrophizing on prescribed opioid misuse in chronic noncancer pain patients. Method: A total of 168 participants (M age = 60 years, 74% women) were assessed regarding opioid medication, pain intensity, traumatic psychological events, PTSD, distress intolerance, pain catastrophizing, and current opioid misuse. Results: Groups were formed according to the level of PTSD severity (no symptoms, moderate symptoms, and severe symptoms). Significant differences were found between the groups in pain intensity, catastrophizing, distress intolerance, and opioid misuse. The severe-symptoms group had the highest scores on all variables. There were no between-group differences in the prescribed medication. Mediation analysis showed that the relationship between PTSD severity and opioid misuse was completely and independently mediated by distress intolerance and pain catastrophizing. Conclusions: Distress intolerance and pain catastrophizing may be theoretically and clinically relevant constructs in understanding the motivation for opioid misuse in people with concurrent chronic noncancer pain and PTSD

The effect of an intracerebroventricular injection of metformin or AICAR on the plasma concentrations of melatonin in the ewe: potential involvement of AMPK?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>It is now widely accepted that AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a critical regulator of energy homeostasis. Recently, it has been shown to regulate circadian clocks. In seasonal breeding species such as sheep, the circadian clock controls the secretion of an endogenous rhythm of melatonin and, as a consequence, is probably involved in the generation of seasonal rhythms of reproduction. Considering this, we identified the presence of the subunits of AMPK in different hypothalamic nuclei involved in the pre- and post-pineal pathways that control seasonality of reproduction in the ewe and we investigated if the intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of two activators of AMPK, metformin and AICAR, affected the circadian rhythm of melatonin in ewes that were housed in constant darkness. In parallel the secretion of insulin was monitored as a peripheral metabolic marker. We also investigated the effects of i.c.v. AICAR on the phosphorylation of AMPK and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), a downstream target of AMPK, in brain structures along the photoneuroendocrine pathway to the pineal gland.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>All the subunits of AMPK that we studied were identified in all brain areas that were dissected but with some differences in their level of expression among structures. Metformin and AICAR both reduced (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01 respectively) the amplitude of the circadian rhythm of melatonin secretion independently of insulin secretion. The i.c.v. injection of AICAR only tended (p = 0.1) to increase the levels of phosphorylated AMPK in the paraventricular nucleus but significantly increased the levels of phosphorylated ACC in the paraventricular nucleus (p < 0.001) and in the pineal gland (p < 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Taken together, these results suggest a potential role for AMPK on the secretion of melatonin probably acting trough the paraventricular nucleus and/or directly in the pineal gland. We conclude that AMPK may act as a metabolic cue to modulate the rhythm of melatonin secretion.</p

A framework for cloud-based context-aware information services for citizens in smart cities

© 2014 Khan et al.; licensee Springer. Background: In the context of smart cities, public participation and citizen science are key ingredients for informed and intelligent planning decisions and policy-making. However, citizens face a practical challenge in formulating coherent information sets from the large volumes of data available to them. These large data volumes materialise due to the increased utilisation of information and communication technologies in urban settings and local authorities’ reliance on such technologies to govern urban settlements efficiently. To encourage effective public participation in urban governance of smart cities, the public needs to be facilitated with the right contextual information about the characteristics and processes of their urban surroundings in order to contribute to the aspects of urban governance that affect them such as socio-economic activities, quality of life, citizens well-being etc. The cities on the other hand face challenges in terms of crowd sourcing with quality data collection and standardisation, services inter-operability, provisioning of computational and data storage infrastructure. Focus: In this paper, we highlight the issues that give rise to these multi-faceted challenges for citizens and public administrations of smart cities, identify the artefacts and stakeholders involved at both ends of the spectrum (data/service producers and consumers) and propose a conceptual framework to address these challenges. Based upon this conceptual framework, we present a Cloud-based architecture for context-aware citizen services for smart cities and discuss the components of the architecture through a common smart city scenario. A proof of concept implementation of the proposed architecture is also presented and evaluated. The results show the effectiveness of the cloud-based infrastructure for the development of a contextual service for citizens