Studies relating to Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid (PUFA) Supplementation and Fertility in Cattle

End of project reportReproductive inefficiency has a significant impact on the economic performance of both dairy and beef herds, particularly in seasonal calving systems. Nutrition plays a fundamental role in reproduction. Furthermore, there is emerging evidence that supplemental dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) may increase cow fertility independent of their role as energy substrates. A number of studies have reported enhanced reproductive performance in dairy cows following dietary supplementation with sources of n-3 PUFA. However the possible mechanisms involved have not been identified and there is some inconsistency in the published literature on this topic. The objective of the research reported was to conduct a holistic examination of the effects of dietary long-chain n-3 PUFA supplementation on metabolic and reproductive responses in cattle. Such information is essential for the appropriate formulation of diets to enhance cow reproductive performance and in particular embryo survival

Protein Nutrition and Fertility in Cattle.

End of Project ReportThe objectives of the project were to determine the effects of dietary crude protein intake, on blood concentrations of ammonia and urea and on fertility, and on the possible biological mechanisms involved. Heifers were used in all experiments in order to avoid any confounding effects of lactation and, or, negative energy balance. The results are summarised as follows. • • • • 5 Blood urea and ammonia increased linearly with increases in dietary urea. Fermentable carbohydrate, in the form of molassed sugar beet pulp (MSBP), was more effective than barley in reducing blood urea concentration. Plasma ammonia concentrations were more variable but MSBP was again more effective than barley in reducing these. Embryo survival rate was not affected by either dietary crude protein (CP) or fermentable energy intake irrespective of whether animals were fed a silage diet supplemented with feed grade urea or were grazing pasture with a high crude protein content. Despite generating systemic urea concentrations of up to 25 mmol/L and systemic ammonia concentrations of up to 242 μmol/L no significant relationship between these parameters and embryo survival rate was established. Consistent with these results on embryo survival, elevated blood urea or ammonia had little effect on the biochemical composition of oviduct fluid, the environment of the early developing embryo. It can be concluded that elevations in systemic concentrations of ammonia or urea per se, particularly of the magnitude observed under normal feeding conditions, are unlikely to impair embryo survival in cattle as a consequence of disruptions to the oviductal environment

Genetic parameters for EUROP carcass traits within different groups of cattle in Ireland

The first objective of this study was to test the ability of systems of weighing and classifying bovine carcasses used in commercial abattoirs in Ireland to provide information that can be used for the purposes of genetic evaluation of carcass weight, carcass fatness class, and carcass conformation class. Secondly, the study aimed to test whether genetic and phenotypic variances differed by breed of sire. Variance components for carcass traits were estimated for crosses between dairy cows and 8 breeds of sire commonly found in the Irish cattle population. These 8 breeds were Aberdeen Angus, Belgian Blue, Charolais, Friesian, Hereford, Holstein, Limousin, and Simmental. A multivariate animal model was used to estimate genetic parameters within the Holstein sire breed group. Univariate analyses were used to estimate variance components for the remaining 7 sire breed groups. Multivariate sire models were used to formally test differences in genetic variances in sire breed groups. Field data on 64,443 animals, which were slaughtered in commercial abattoirs between the ages of 300 and 875 d, were analyzed in 8 analyses. Carcass fat class and carcass conformation class were measured using the European Union beef carcass classification system (EUROP) scale. For all 3 traits, the sire breed group with the greatest genetic variance had a value of more than 8 times the sire breed group with least genetic variance. Heritabilities ranged from zero to moderate for carcass fatness class (0.00 to 0.40), from low to moderate for carcass conformation class (0.04 to 0.36), and from low to high for carcass weight (0.06 to 0.65). Carcass weight was the most heritable (0.26) of the 3 traits. Carcass conformation class and carcass fatness class were equally heritable (0.17). Genetic and phenotypic correlations were all positive in the Holstein sire breed group. The genetic correlations varied from 0.11 for the relationship between carcass weight and carcass fatness class to 0.44 for the relationship between carcass conformation class and carcass fatness class. Carcass weight and classification data collected in Irish abattoirs are useful for the purposes of genetic evaluation for beef traits of Irish cattle. There were significantly different variance components across the sire breed groups

Estimation of accuracy and bias in genetic evaluations with genetic groups using sampling

Accuracy and bias of estimated breeding values are important measures of the quality of genetic evaluations. A sampling method that accounts for the uncertainty in the estimation of genetic group effects was used to calculate accuracy and bias of estimated effects. The method works by repeatedly simulating phenotypes for multiple traits for a defined data and pedigree structure. These simulated values are analysed using BLUP with genetic groups in the relationship matrix. Accuracies and biases are then calculated as correlations among and differences between true and estimated values across all replicates, respectively. The method was applied to the Irish beef production data set for 15 traits and with 15 genetic groups to account for differences in breed means. Accuracy and bias of estimated genetic groups effects, estimated comparisons between genetic groups effects, estimated breeding values within genetic group, and estimated breeding values across genetic group were calculated. Small biases were detected for most estimated genetic group effects and most estimated comparisons between genetic group effects. Most of these were not of importance relative to the phenotypic standard deviation of the traits involved. For example, a bias of 0.78% of the phenotypic standard deviation was detected for carcass conformation in Aberdeen Angus. However, one trait, calf quality, which has very few performance records in the data set, displayed larger bias ranging from -10.31% to 5.85% of the phenotypic standard deviation across the different estimated genetic group effects. Large differences were observed in the accuracies of genetic group effects, ranging from 0.02 for feed intake in Holstein, which had no data recorded, to >0.97 for carcass conformation, a trait with large amounts of data recorded in the different genetic groups. Large differences were also observed in the accuracies of the comparisons among genetic group effects. The accuracies of the estimated breeding values within genetic group and estimated breeding values across genetic group were sometimes different; for example, carcass conformation in Belgian Blue had an average accuracy within genetic group of 0.69 compared to an average accuracy across genetic group of 0.89. This suggests that the accuracy of genetic groups should be taken into account when publishing estimated breeding values across genetic groups

Electrospinning of biodegradable polylactide/hydroxyapatite nanofibers: Study on the morphology, crystallinity structure and thermal stability

[EN] Aligned mats of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) nanofibers containing nanosized hydroxyapatite filler have been obtained via electrospinning onto a rotating mandrel. Their structure and morphology have been characterized as a function of the production parameters, by SEM, DSC, DMA and WAXS, with emphasis in the effects of the take-up velocity. SEM, DSC and X-ray diffraction studies confirmed a reduction in fiber diameter, an increase of fiber orientation and a highly crystalline structure of the mats collected at higher speed due to the stretching produced during the process. Double melting behavior was observed, suggesting the presence of two crystalline forms. Moreover the higher storage modulus (E¿ modulus), and glass transition temperatures of the higher speed collected mats were correlated with an enhancement in the thermal stability and nanofiller distribution. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.This project has been supported by Project MAT2010/21494-C03 of Spanish Ministry for Science and Innovation (MICINN). AS acknowledges the support of FPU grant from MED (MED-FPU; AP2009-2482).Sonseca Olalla, A.; Peponi, L.; Sahuquillo, O.; Kenny, J.; Giménez Torres, E. (2012). Electrospinning of biodegradable polylactide/hydroxyapatite nanofibers: Study on the morphology, crystallinity structure and thermal stability. Polymer Degradation and Stability. 97(10):2052-2059. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2012.05.009S20522059971

Estrategia aplicada para focalizar conceptos importantes en cursos cortos multidisciplinares: encuesta didáctica previa y posterior

La formación complementaria a la enseñanza universitaria permite a los estudiantes aumentar y ampliar el conocimiento en un determinado campo profesional. La formación complementaria se basa en la generación del conocimiento de un tema específico en un entorno multidisciplinar donde participan estudiantes de diversas carreras. La estrategia docente para estimular el interés de todo el alumnado de carácter multidisciplinar resulta de especial interés para poder alcanzar la generación de conocimiento durante el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje. En el curso de formación complementaria de “Ecoefficients Materials” llevado a cabo en el marco del curso de primavera “What are you made of? Board of European Students of Technology (BEST)- 2014” se realizó una encuesta breve antes de comenzar el curso para evaluar el conocimiento del alumnado sobre los conceptos principales a desarrollar en el curso. Una vez acabado el curso se completó nuevamente la misma encuesta comprobando que los conocimientos de los conceptos principales incrementaron en todos los casos (entre un 4,5% a un 18,2%). La estrategia docente de utilizar una breve encuesta previa y posteriormente al dictado del curso permitió focalizar la atención del alumnado de áreas multidisciplinares en los conceptos principales, mejorando así la eficacia del proceso enseñanza-aprendizaje

“That's cool, you’re a musician and you drink”: Exploring entertainers’ accounts of their unique workplace relationship with alcohol

This qualitative research investigates the alcohol experiences of entertainers who perform within licensed premises. Previous, mainly quantitative, studies have found that entertainers, specifically musicians, are an occupational group who drink excessively. This qualitative study draws on a wider sample of entertainers to examine their accounts of drinking in the workplace and the explanations they provide for this. We conducted individual semi-structured interviews (n = 24) with band-members, variety acts and DJs in Glasgow, Scotland. This revealed a workplace characterised by continual opportunities for often free alcohol consumption. Unlike most occupations, for entertainers ‘drinking-on-the-job’ was normative, expected, and sometimes encouraged by peers, the public, employers or sponsors. Entertainers also experienced performance-related incentives to drink before, during and/or after a show; including anxiety, matching their intoxication level to the audience's, and ‘reward-drinking’. This qualitative research confirms the unique nature of the entertainer-alcohol link, even in comparison to that found within other leisure industry occupations. While providing some explanation as to why entertainers might drink excessively, participants’ accounts also suggested potential strategies for avoiding the negative outcomes of workplace drinking

Effect of cellulose nanocrystals on the properties of pea starch-poly(vinyl alcohol) blend films

[EN] Incorporation of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) to pea starch-poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) (1:2 ratio) blend films was carried out in order to improve their physical properties. Different ratios (1, 3 and 5 % wt) of CNC were used and structural, thermal and physical (barrier, mechanical and optical) properties were analysed in comparison to the control film without CNC. Incorporation of CNC enhanced phase separation of polymers in two layers. The upper PVA rich phase contained lumps of starch which emerged from the film surface, thus reducing the film gloss. CNC were dispersed in both polymeric phases as aggregates, whose size increased with the CNC ratio rise. CNC addition did not implied changes in water vapour barrier of the films, but they became slightly stiffer and more stretchable, while crystallization of PVA was partially inhibited.The authors acknowledge the financial support from the Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad throughout the Projects AGL2010-20694 and AGL2013-42989-R. Amalia Cano also thanks the Spanish Ministerio de Educacion, Cultura y Deporte for the FPU grant and COST-STSM-FA1001-14253 for the financial support for the collaboration.Fortunati, E.; Cano Embuena, AI.; Cháfer Nácher, MT.; González Martínez, MC.; Chiralt, A.; Kenny, J. (2015). Effect of cellulose nanocrystals on the properties of pea starch-poly(vinyl alcohol) blend films. Journal of Materials Science. 50(21):6979-6992. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-015-9249-9S697969925021Armentano I, Dottori M, Fortunati E, Mattioli S, Kenny JM (2010) Biodegradable polymer matrix nanocomposites for tissue engineering: a review. Polym Degrad Stab 95:2126–2146Fortunati E, Peltzer M, Armentano I, Jiménez A, Kenny JM (2013) Combined effects of cellulose nanocrystals and silver nanoparticles on the barrier and migration properties of PLA nano-biocomposites. J Food Eng 118:117–124Siracusa V, Rocculi P, Romani S, Rosa MD (2008) Biodegradable polymers for food packaging: a review. Trends Food Sci Technol 19:634–643Anandjiwala RD (2006) The role of research and development in the global competitiveness of natural fibre products, In: Natural Fibres Vision 2020 New Delhi, pp 1–15Chen Y, Liu Ch, Chang PR, Cao X, Anderson DP (2009) Bionanocomposites based on pea starch and cellulose nanowhiskers hydrolyzed from pea hull fibre: effect of hydrolysis time. Carbohydr Polym 76:607–615Habibi Y, Lucia LA, Rojas OJ (2010) Cellulose nanocrystals: chemistry, self-assembly, and applications. Chem Rev 110(6):3479–3500Lee SY, Mohan DJ, Kang IE, Doh G-H, Lee S, Han SO (2009) Nanocellulose reinforced PVA composite films: effects of acid treatment and filler loading. Fibers Polym 10:77–82Zhang W, Yang X, Li C, Liang M, Lu C, Deng Y (2011) Mechanical activation of cellulose and its thermoplastic polyvinyl alcohol composites with enhanced physicochemical properties. Carbohydr Polym 83:257–263Fortunati E, Armentano I, Zhou Q, Iannoni A, Saino E, Visai L, Berglund LA, Kenny JM (2012) Multifunctional bionanocomposite films of poly(lactic acid), cellulose nanocrystals and silver nanoparticles. Carbohydr Polym 87:1596–1605Fortunati E, Puglia D, Luzi F, Santulli C, Kenny JM, Torre L (2013) Binary PVA bio-nanocomposites containing cellulose nanocrystals extracted from different natural sources: part I. Carbohydr Polym 97:825–836Cavaille JY, Ruiz MM, Dufrense A, Gerard JF, Graillat C (2000) Processing and characterization of new thermoset nanocomposites based in cellulose whiskers. Compos Interface 7(2):117–131Khoshkava V, Kamal MR (2014) Effect of drying conditions on cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) agglomerate porosity and dispersibility in polymer nanocomposites. Poweder Technol 261:288–298Sturcová A, Davies GR, Eichhorn SJ (2005) Elastic modulus and stress-transfer properties f tunicate cellulose whiskers. Biomacromolecules 6:1055–1061Fortunati E, Armentano I, Zhou Q, Puglia D, Terenzi A, Berglund LA, Kenny JM (2012) Microstructure and nanoisothermal cold crystallization of PLA composites based on silver nanoparticles and nanocrystalline cellulose. Polym Degrad Stab 97:2027–2036Rescignano N, Fortunati E, Montesano S, Emilianini C, Kenny JM, Martino S, Armentano I (2014) PVA bio-nanocomposites: a new take-off using cellulose nanocrystals and PLGA nanoparticles. Carbohydr Polym 99:47–58Siqueira G, Brasa J, Follain N, Belbekhouche S, Marais S, Dufresne A (2013) Thermal and mechanical properties of bio-nanocomposites reinforced by Luffa cylindrical cellulose nanocrystals. Carbohydr Polym 91(2):711–717Choi Y, Simonsen J (2006) Cellulose nanocrystals-filled carboxymethyl cellulose nanocomposites. J Nanosci Nanocompos 6(3):633–639Pereda M, Dufresne A, Aranguren MI, Marcovich E (2014) Polyelectrolyte films based on chitosan/olive oil and reinforced with cellulose nanocrystals. Carbohydr Polym 101:1013–1026Ma X, Chang PR, Yu J (2008) Properties of biodegradable thermoplastic pea starch/carboxymethyl cellulose and pea starch/microcrystalline cellulose composites. Carbohydr Polym 72:369–375Arrieta M, Fortunati E, Dominici F, Rayón E, Lopez J, Kenny JM (2014) PLA-PHB/cellulose based films: mechanical, barrier and disintegration properties. Carbohydr Polym 107:139–149Arrieta M, Fortunati E, Dominici F, Rayón E, Lopez J, Kenny JM (2014) Multifunctional PLA-PHB/cellulose nanocrystals films: processing, structural and thermal behavior. Carbohydr Polym 107:16–24Jiménez A, Fabra MJ, Talens P, Chiralt A (2012) Influence of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose addition and homogenization conditions on properties and ageing of corn starch based films. Carbohydr Polym 89(2):676–686Bonilla J, Atarés L, Vargas M, Chiralt A (2013) Properties of wheat starch film-forming dispersions and films as affected by chitosan addition. J Food Eng 114(3):303–312Cano A, Fortunati E, Cháfer M, Kenny JM, Chiralt A, González C (2015) Properties and ageing behavior of pea starch films as affected by blend with poly(vinyl alcohol). Food Hydrocoll 48:84–93Siddaramaiah Raj B, Somashekar R (2004) Structure–property relation in polyvinyl alcohol/starch composites. J Appl Polym Sci 9:630–635Priya B, Gupta VK, Pathania D, Singh AS (2014) Synthesis, characterization and antibacterial activity of biodegradable starch/PVA composite films reinforced with cellulosic fibre. Carbohydr Polym 109:171–179Luo X, Li J, Lin X (2012) Effect of gelatinization and additives on morphology and thermal behaviour of cornstarch/PVA blend films. Carbohydr Polym 90:1595–1600Shi R, Bi J, Zhang Z, Zhu A, Chen D, Zhou X, Zhang L, Tian W (2008) The effect of citric acid on the structural properties and cytotoxicity of the polyvinylalcohol/starch films when molding at high temperature. Carbohydr Polym 74:763–770Jiang X, Jiang T, Gan L, Zhang X, Dai H, Zhang X (2012) The plasticizing mechanism and effect of calcium chloride on starch/poly(vinyl alcohol) films. Carbohydr Polym 90:1677–1684Yoon S, Park M, Byun H (2012) Mechanical and water barrier properties of starch/PVA composite films by adding nano-sized poly(methylmethacrylate-co-acrylamide) particles. Carbohydr Polym 87:676–686Cranston ED, Gray DG (2006) Morphological and optical characterization of polyelectrolyte multilayers incorporating nanocrystalline cellulose. Biomacromolecules 7:2522–2530UNE-EN ISO (2008) Paper, board and pulps—determination of dry matter content—oven-drying method, vol 638Jiménez A, Fabra MJ, Talens P, Chiralt A (2012) Effect of re-crystallization on tensile, optical and water vapour barrier properties of corn starch films containing fatty acids. Food Hydrocoll 26:302–310Roohani M, Habibi Y, Belgacem NM, Ebrahim G, NaghiKarimi A, Dufresne A (2008) Cellulose whiskers reinforced polyvinyl alcohol copolymers nanocomposites. Eur Polym J 44:2489–2498ASTM (1995) Standard test methods for water vapour transmission of materials. Standard designations: E96-95 Annual book of ASTM standards, American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, pp 406–413Cano A, Jiménez A, Cháfer M, González C, Chiralt A (2014) Effect of amylose: amylopectin ratio and rice bran addition on starch films properties. Carbohydr Polym 111:543–555UNE-ISO 527-1 (2012) Plastics e determination of tensile properties e part 1: general principlesASTM (1999) Standard test methods for specular gloss. Designation (D523). In Annual book of ASTM standards, vol 06.01. American Society for Testing and Materials, PhiladelphiaEuropean Standard EN 1186-1:2002 Materials and articles in contact with foodstuffs. Plastics. Guide to the selection of conditions and test methods for overall migrationCommission Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 of 14 January 2011 on plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with foodSreekumar PA, Al-Harthi MA, De SK (2012) Studies on compatibility of biodegradable starch/polyvinyl alcohol blends. 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Revalorization of sunflower stalks as novel sources of cellulose nanofibrils and nanocrystals and their effect on wheat gluten bionanocomposite properties

[EN] Novel gluten based bionanocomposites reinforced with cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) extracted from sunflower stalks by respectively a steam explosion treatment and a hydrolysis procedure, were prepared by casting/evaporation. The extracted cellulose nanomaterials, both CNC and CNF, were embedded in gluten matrix and their effect was investigated. Morphological investigations highlighted that gluten based bionanocomposites showed a homogenous morphology, the absence of visible cellulose nanoreinforcements, and the presence of holes for Gluten CNF nanocomposites. Gluten CNF showed a reduction of water vapour permeability coefficients but the values are higher respect to gluten reinforced with CNC. This behaviour could be related to the ability of CNC to increase the tortuous path of gas molecules. Moreover, the results from thermal, mechanical and barrier properties confirmed the strong interactions obtained between CNC and gluten matrix during the process. The study suggested the possibility to re-valorise agricultural wastes with potential applications as reinforcement in polymer matrix bionanocomposites. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reservedFortunati, E.; Luzi, F.; Jiménez Marco, A.; Gopakumar, D.; Puglia, D.; Thomas, S.; Kenny, J.... (2016). Revalorization of sunflower stalks as novel sources of cellulose nanofibrils and nanocrystals and their effect on wheat gluten bionanocomposite properties. Carbohydrate Polymers. 149:357-368. doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2016.04.120S35736814

Systematic generation of finite-range atomic basis sets for linear-scaling calculations

Basis sets of atomic orbitals are very efficient for density functional calculations but lack a systematic variational convergence. We present a variational method to optimize numerical atomic orbitals using a single parameter to control their range. The efficiency of the basis generation scheme is tested and compared with other schemes for multiple zeta basis sets. The scheme shows to be comparable in quality to other widely used schemes albeit offering better performance for linear-scaling computations