Digital scoring of welfare traits in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) - a proof of concept study quantifying dorsal fin haemorrhaging via hyperspectral imaging

IntroductionMorphological injuries are well-established Operational Welfare Indicators (OWIs) for farmed animals including fish. They are often scored manually by human observers and this process can be laborious and prone to subjectivity and error. In this study we evaluated the use of a hyperspectral imaging system to quantify the presence and severity of external haemorrhaging in Atlantic salmon focusing on dorsal fins as a proof of concept OWI.MethodsTwo inexperienced observers manually audited dorsal fin injuries on 234 post-smolt Atlantic salmon following a standardized protocol that scored fin erosion on a 0-3 scale and also classified the injury as active/healed. The same fish were then imaged with a hyperspectral camera system and the manually scored visual assessments were compared with hyperspectral images of the same fin. Hyperspectral images were processed to segment out the dorsal fin of each fish and the presence of blood in the tissue was quantified by analysing the spectral information, yielding a fin haemorrhaging index.ResultsThe hyperspectral imaging platform was robust at detecting blood in fins and could help classify active injuries more accurately than human observers. The agreement between human scorers and the image analysis tool for classifying active bleeding vs healed/undamaged fins was good with a Cohen’s kappa of 0.81 and 0.90. Accuracy between the fin haemorrhaging index and the human observers was moderate (0.61 and 0.57) and on par with the agreement between the two human observers (0.68), demonstrating the difficulty in classifying injuries that result in a reduction in fin size but may or may not result in fin haemorrhaging.DiscussionThese results demonstrate the potential power of hyperspectral imaging to improve welfare audits in aquaculture, especially where manual injury classification schemes have potentially mixed traits that involve haemorrhaging. The data also suggests that the hyperspectral camera can detect bleeding that is not readily visible to the human eye. There is a need for further testing and validation to integrate these tools into existing welfare auditing programs, but the potential advantages of the automated approach include increased sensitivity, accuracy and throughput, while producing quantitative data for researchers or management

Different Sites of Alcohol Action in the NMDA Receptor GluN2A and GluN2B Subunits

The NMDA receptor is a major target of alcohol action in the CNS, and recent behavioral and cellular studies have pointed to the importance of the GluN2B subunit in alcohol action. We and others have previously characterized four amino acid positions in the third and fourth membrane-associated (M) domains of the NMDA receptor GluN2A subunit that influence both ion channel gating and alcohol sensitivity. In this study, we found that substitution mutations at two of the four corresponding positions in the GluN2B subunit, F637 and G826, influence ethanol sensitivity and ion channel gating. Because position 826 contains a glycine residue in the native protein, we focused our attention on GluN2B(F637). Substitution mutations at GluN2B(F637) significantly altered ethanol IC50 values, glutamate EC50 values for peak (Ip) and steady-state (Iss) current, and steady-state to peak current ratios (Iss:Ip). Changes in apparent glutamate affinity were not due to agonist trapping in desensitized states, as glutamate Iss EC50 values were not correlated with Iss:Ip values. Ethanol sensitivity was correlated with values of both Ip and Iss glutamate EC50, but not with Iss:Ip. Values of ethanol IC50, glutamate EC50, and Iss:Ip for mutants at GluN2B(F637) were highly correlated with the corresponding values for mutants at GluN2A(F636), consistent with similar functional roles of this position in both subunits. These results demonstrate that GluN2B(Phe637) regulates ethanol action and ion channel function of NMDA receptors. However, despite highly conserved M domain sequences, ethanol\u27s actions on GluN2A and GluN2B subunits differ

Kunnskapskartlegging-produksjon av stor laksesmolt

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Kunnskapskartlegging-produksjon av stor laksesmolt

Basert på forskning og erfaringer kan det gis noen anbefalinger for produksjon av storsmolt med tanke på sentrale produksjonsparametere i den landbaserte fasen av produksjonen. En temperatur på 10-12 °C anbefales for å sikre god vekst i sjøfase og redusere tidlig kjønnsmodning hos hannfisk. Det anbefales ikke å gå bort fra lysstyring for å indusere smoltifisering før det foreligger mer dokumentasjon på effekten av dette på prestasjon i sjø. En salinitet mellom 12-15 ppt er i mange studier oppgitt å gi optimal vekst, og ble av oppdrettere ansett for å gi færre problem med skinnhelse og sårdannelse, noe som også støttes av vitenskapelige funn. Men det er usikkert om 12-15 ppt er tilstrekkelig for å opprettholde sjøvannstoleranse i en storsmolt. Det anbefales at fisken akklimatiseres til temperaturen den skal settes ut på slik at endringen i temperatur blir maks 3-5 °C. Det er ikke anbefalt å sette ut storsmolt på kalde vintertemperaturer. Flere oppdrettere erfarer utfordringer med fiskevelferd hvis tettheten overstiger 65-70 kg/m3 og majoriteten mener at 65 kg/m3 er en god grenseverdi som ivaretar vannkvalitet og fiskehelse. En vannhastighet på om lag 1.0 kroppslengder per sekund, synes optimalt basert på vitenskapelige studier på postsmolt fra 60 og opp til 480 g. Vitenskapelige studier indikerer at verdier under 15 mg/L CO2 i brakkvann ikke gir en stor reduksjon i vekst, og er også anbefalt som grenseverdi av Mattilsynet

Low back pain and widespread pain predict sickness absence among industrial workers

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) in the aluminium industry is high, and there is a considerable work-related fraction. More knowledge about the predictors of sickness absence from MSD in this industry will be valuable in determining strategies for prevention. The aim of this study was to analyse the relative impact of body parts, psychosocial and individual factors as predictors for short- and long-term sickness absence from MSD among industrial workers. METHODS: A follow-up study was conducted among all the workers at eight aluminium plants in Norway. A questionnaire was completed by 5654 workers at baseline in 1998. A total of 3320 of these participated in the follow-up study in 2000. Cox regression analysis was applied to investigate the relative impact of MSD in various parts of the body and of psychosocial and individual factors reported in 1998 on short-term and long-term sickness absence from MSD reported in 2000. RESULTS: MSD accounted for 45% of all working days lost the year prior to follow-up in 2000. Blue-collar workers had significantly higher risk than white-collar workers for both short- and long-term sickness absence from MSD (long-term sickness absence: RR = 3.04, 95% CI 2.08–4.45). Widespread and low back pain in 1998 significantly predicted both short- and long-term sickness absence in 2000. In addition, shoulder pain predicted long-term sickness absence. Low social support predicted short-term sickness absence (RR = 1.28, 95% CI 1.11–1.49). CONCLUSIONS: Reducing sickness absence from MSD among industrial workers requires focusing on the working conditions of blue-collar workers and risk factors for low back pain and widespread pain. Increasing social support in the work environment may have effects in reducing short-term sickness absence from MSD

Effects on musculoskeletal pain, work ability and sickness absence in a 1-year randomised controlled trial among cleaners

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Only a few workplace initiatives among cleaners have been reported, even though they constitute a job group in great need of health promotion. The purpose of this trial was to evaluate the effect of either physical coordination training or cognitive behavioural training on musculoskeletal pain, work ability and sickness absence among cleaners.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cluster-randomised controlled trial was conducted among 294 female cleaners allocated to either physical coordination training (PCT), cognitive behavioural training (CBTr) or a reference group (REF). Questionnaires about musculoskeletal pain and work ability were completed at baseline and after one year's intervention. Sickness absence data were obtained from the managers' records. Analyses were performed according to the intention-to-treat-principle (ITT).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>No overall reduction in musculoskeletal pain, work ability or sickness absence from either PCT or CBTr compared with REF was found in conservative ITT analyses. However, explorative analyses revealed a treatment effect for musculoskeletal pain of the PCT. People with chronic neck/shoulder pain at baseline were more frequently non-chronic at follow-up after PCT compared with REF (p = 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The PCT intervention appeared effective for reducing chronic neck/shoulder pain among the female cleaners. It is recommended that future interventions among similar high-risk job groups focus on the implementation aspects of the interventions to maximise outcomes more distal from the intervention such as work ability and sickness absence.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>ISRCTN: <a href="http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN96241850">ISRCTN96241850</a></p

Evidence of Key Tinnitus-Related Brain Regions Documented by a Unique Combination of Manganese-Enhanced MRI and Acoustic Startle Reflex Testing

Animal models continue to improve our understanding of tinnitus pathogenesis and aid in development of new treatments. However, there are no diagnostic biomarkers for tinnitus-related pathophysiology for use in awake, freely moving animals. To address this disparity, two complementary methods were combined to examine reliable tinnitus models (rats repeatedly administered salicylate or exposed to a single noise event): inhibition of acoustic startle and manganese-enhanced MRI. Salicylate-induced tinnitus resulted in wide spread supernormal manganese uptake compared to noise-induced tinnitus. Neither model demonstrated significant differences in the auditory cortex. Only in the dorsal cortex of the inferior colliculus (DCIC) did both models exhibit supernormal uptake. Therefore, abnormal membrane depolarization in the DCIC appears to be important in tinnitus-mediated activity. Our results provide the foundation for future studies correlating the severity and longevity of tinnitus with hearing loss and neuronal activity in specific brain regions and tools for evaluating treatment efficacy across paradigms

Brokerage-Firm Trading and Profits around Recommendation Revision Dates

Voluminous volcanism characterized Early Tertiary continental break-up on the mid-Norwegian continental margin. The distribution of the associated extrusive rocks derived from seismic volcanostratigraphy and potential field data interpretation allows us to divide the Møre, Vøring and Lofoten–Vesterålen margins into five segments. The central Møre Margin and the northern Vøring Margin show combinations of volcanic seismic facies units that are characteristic for typical rifted volcanic margins. The Lofoten–Vesterålen Margin, the southern Vøring Margin and the area near the Jan Mayen Fracture Zone show volcanic seismic facies units that are related to small-volume, submarine volcanism. The distribution of subaerial and submarine deposits indicates variations of subsidence along the margin. Vertical movements on the mid-Norwegian margin were primarily controlled by the amount of magmatic crustal thickening, because both the amount of dynamic uplift by the Icelandic mantle plume and the amount of subsidence due to crustal stretching were fairly constant along the margin. Thus, subaerial deposits indicate a large amount of magmatic crustal thickening and an associated reduction in isostatic subsidence, whereas submarine deposits indicate little magmatic thickening and earlier subsidence. From the distribution of volcanic seismic facies units we infer two main reasons for the different amounts of crustal thickening: (1) a general northward decrease of magmatism due to increasing distance from the hot spot and (2) subdued volcanism near the Jan Mayen Fracture Zone as a result of lateral lithospheric heat transport and cooling of the magmatic source region. Furthermore, we interpret small lateral variations in the distribution of volcanic seismic facies units, such as two sets of Inner Seaward Dipping Reflectors on the central Vøring Margin, as indications of crustal fragmentation