The effect of transport time, season and position on the truck on stress response in rabbits

[EN] The present study analyzed the effect of transport time, season and position on the truck on physiological stress response of commercial rabbits in Aragón (Spain). A total of 156 animals were sampled in a 2x2x3 factorial design testing two transport times: short, 1 hour (1hT) and long, 7 hours (7hT), in two different seasons: hot, during summer (HT) and cold during winter (CT), and three different positions on the truck: upper, middle or lower decks in multi-floor cages on rolling stands (MFRS-top, MFRS-middle and MFRS-bottom). Three replicates were performed per treatment. Blood samples were taken at sticking during slaughter to compare hematocrite, corticosterone, glucose, lactate and Creatine Kinase (CK) levels as well as the ultimate pH of the carcass (pH24). Corticosterone and CK levels were highest in 1hT rabbits. With respect to season, colder temperatures increased corticosterone, while warmer temperatures increased CK (P<0.001). Regarding position on the truck, MFRS-middle and bottom rabbits had higher levels of glucose, corticosterone and CK. The pH24 values were within normal ranges for all treatments but slightly higher for animals transported in winter. In general, transport time and season were significant stressors for commercial rabbits, due to the effects on their physiological states. Position on the truck seems to have an effect on stress response to transport in rabbits. However, pH24, which is considered one of the main parameters of welfare measurements, was not affected by transport time or position on the truck.Our project was financed by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology (CICYT AGL-2002-01346). The authors wish to thank CUIN S.L. in Villanueva de Gállego and the associations MADECUN and ASESCU for their collaboration.Liste, M.; María, GA.; García-Belenguer, S.; Chacón, G.; Gazzola, P.; Villarroel, M. (2008). The effect of transport time, season and position on the truck on stress response in rabbits. World Rabbit Science. 16(4). doi:10.4995/wrs.2008.618SWORD16

Genetic structure of the population of Phytophthora infestans attacking Solanum ochranthum in the highlands of Ecuador

Thirty-nine isolates of Phytophthora infestans were collected from the wild host Solanum ochranthum in the highland tropics of Ecuador and characterized with a set of phenotypic and molecular markers (mating type, metalaxyl sensitivity, the allozyme loci Gpi, and Pep, mitochondrial DNA haplotype, RFLP, and SSR), as well as for pathogenicity on various hosts. Three groups of isolates (A, B, and C) were identified based on their multilocus genotypes and variable abilities to cause disease on different hosts. Group A had a combination of alleles for the Gpi (86/100), Pep (96/100) and mtDNA (Ia) loci, as well as an RFLP fingerprint, that have not been reported for P. infestans in Ecuador, or elsewhere. Group B shares many marker characteristics with the US-1 lineage described in Ecuador on tomato, pear melon (S. muricatum), and S. caripense, but has SSR alleles not present in typical US-1 isolates. Group C for all markers tested is identical to the EC-1 lineage described on cultivated and wild potatoes in Ecuador. All isolates from S. ochranthum were able to re-infect their host of origin in the detached leaf assay; however, we did not draw clear conclusions as to the relative aggressiveness of the three groups on this host. Isolates of group A were the most specialized and were generally non-pathogenic or weakly pathogenic on all hosts other than S. ochranthum. Groups B and C infected tuber-bearing hosts, including the cultivated potato but were generally non-pathogenic on other non-tuber bearing hosts. Solanum ochranthum was infected by isolates coming from tuber-bearing Solanum hosts (i.e., the EC-1 lineage of P. infestans) and some US-1 isolates from non-tuber bearing hosts. Thus, in nature this species might be a potential reservoir of inoculum of different pathogen populations able to infect the cultivated hosts potato, tomato and pear melon (S.¿muricatum). Unlike potato and tomato in Ecuador, each of which is primarily attacked by a highly specialized pathogen population, S. ochranthum appears to harbour at least three pathogen groups of¿different genetic make-up. The unresolved issue of potential host specificity in isolates found on S.¿ochranthum could complicate efforts to use this species in tomato improvemen

TRY plant trait database – enhanced coverage and open access

Plant traits—the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants—determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait‐based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits—almost complete coverage for ‘plant growth form’. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait–environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives

Archéologie expérimentale : théorie et pratique. Manuel d’accompagnement.

International audiencenon communiqu

Archéologie expérimentale : théorie et pratique. Manuel d’accompagnement.

International audiencenon communiqu

Validación del instrumento de compromiso organizacional en México: evidencias de validez de constructo, criterio y confiabilidad

The aim of this study was to provide evidence of construct validity, criterion validity, and internal consistency of an instrument that measures organizational commitment. First, an exercise with natural semantic networks was developed to get a pool of items, which were subsequently validated by judges. The second study was a first test of the instrument with 40 items, in a sample of 140 workers of a public university in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico. The results of the second study identify four factors with adequate levels of reliability. For the third study, the final instrument composed of 25 items was answered by 230 workers of a second public university, identifying three factors (affective, moral and identification with goals and values) with reliability indexes of α of .86 to .89. These factors are theoretically consistent. We discuss possible uses, scope and limitations of the final instrument.L’objectif de cette étude était de présenter des preuves de la validité conceptuelle, du critère et de la cohérence interne d’un instrument mesurant l’engagement organisationnel. Premièrement, un exercice de réseaux sémantiques naturels modifiés a été mis au point pour préparer une banque de réactifs, qui ont ensuite été validés par des juges experts. Dans la deuxième étude, l’instrument composé de 40 items a été testé avec un échantillon de 140 travailleurs d’une université publique de l’État de Guanajuato. Les résultats de cette étude ont permis d’identifier quatre facteurs, en observant des niveaux adéquats de cohérence interne. Pour la troisième phase, l’instrument final composé de 25 réactifs a été appliqué à 230 travailleurs d’une autre université publique, identifiant trois facteurs (affectif, moral et identification avec des objectifs et des valeurs) avec un α de .86 à .89. Les facteurs trouvés dans le travail sont théoriquement congruents. Ses utilisations possibles, sa portée et ses limites sont discutées.O objetivo do presente estudo foi apresentar evidências de validade de construção, critério e consistência interna de um instrumento que mede o compromisso organizacional. Primeiro, desenvolveu-se um exercício de redes semânticas naturais modificadas para elaborar um banco de reagentes, posteriormente validado por juízes. No segundo estudo, o instrumento foi testado por 40 reagentes com uma amostra de 140 trabalhadores de uma universidade pública do estado de Guanajuato. Os resultados deste estudo permitiram a identificação de quatro fatores, com níveis adequados de consistência interna. Para a terceira fase, o instrumento final foi composto por 25 reagentes para 230 trabalhadores de outra niversidade pública, identificando três fatores (afetivos, morais e de identificação com objetivos e valores) com α= .86 a .89. Os fatores encontrados no trabalho são teoricamente congruentes. Seus possíveis usos, escopo e limitações são discutidos.El objetivo del presente estudio fue presentar evidencias de validez de constructo, criterio y consistencia interna de un instrumento que mide el compromiso organizacional. Primero se desarrolló un ejercicio de redes semánticas naturales modificadas para elaborar un banco de reactivos, que posteriormente fueron validados por jueces expertos. En el segundo estudio se probó el instrumento conformado por 40 reactivos con una muestra de 140 trabajadores de una universidad pública del Estado de Guanajuato. Los resultados de este estudio permitieron identificar cuatro factores, observándose niveles adecuados de consistencia interna. Para la tercera fase se aplicó el instrumento final compuesto por 25 reactivos a 230 trabajadores de otra universidad pública, identificándose tres factores (afectivo, moral e identificación con objetivos y valores) con un α de .86 a .89. Los factores encontrados en el trabajo son teóricamente congruentes. Se discuten sus posibles usos, alcances y limitaciones

Examining Neanderthal and carnivore occupations of Teixoneres Cave (Moià, Barcelona, Spain) using archaeostratigraphic and intra-site spatial analysis

Teixoneres Cave (Moià, Barcelona, Spain) is a reference site for Middle Palaeolithic studies of the Iberian Peninsula. The cave preserves an extensive stratigraphic sequence made up of eight units, which is presented in depth in this work. The main goal of this study is to undertake an initial spatial examination of Unit III, formed during Marine Isotope Stage 3, with the aim of understanding spatial organization and past activities developed by Neanderthals and carnivores (bears, hyenas and smaller carnivores). The total sample analysed includes 38,244 archaeological items and 5888 limestone blocks. The application of GIS tools allows us to clearly distinguish three geologically-defined stratigraphic subunits. Unit III has been previously interpreted as a palimpsest resulting from alternating occupation of the cave by human groups and carnivores. The distribution study shows that faunal specimens, lithic artefacts, hearths and charcoal fragments are significantly concentrated at the entrance of the cave where, it is inferred, hominins carried out different activities, while carnivores preferred the sheltered zones in the inner areas of the cave. The results obtained reveal a spatial pattern characterized by fire use related zones, and show that the site was occupied by Neanderthals in a similar and consistent way throughout the ˃ 7000 years range covered by the analysed subunits. This spatial pattern is interpreted as resulting from repeated short-term human occupations.Leandro Zilio, Heidi Hammond, Theodoros Karampaglidis, Laura Sánchez-Romero, Ruth Blasco, Florent Rivals ... et al

Stability of resistance to Phytophthora infestans in potato: an international evaluation

Ten institutions in nine countries joined together to test the stability of resistance of 14 potato genotypes to the oomycete pathogen Phytophthora infestans in three separate trials. Seven of the genotypes were tested in one trial involving seven locations, and all 14 were tested in two subsequent trials, each involving eight locations. Stability of resistance was tested with nonparametric tests and with an additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) model. Overall, resistance to P. infestans was robust; resistant genotypes were consistently resistant in all locations and trials. The nonparametric analysis indicated that specific genotypes were basically stable across sites for resistance. In trial 3, the Z statistic for overall stability was significant at 0·05%, indicating a significant level of interaction across the trial, but there were no significant interactions for specific genotypes in this trial. The genotype by environment (G × E) effect of the AMMI model was highly significant in both trials, but the mean square of G × E was less than 10% of the genotype effect in each trial. The first two principal components (PCA1 and PCA2) of the AMMI analyses together explained 75 and 80% of the interaction effects in trials 2 and 3, respectively. Based on both nonparametric and AMMI analyses, Ecuador and Argentina were locations of relatively high interaction effects for both trials 2 and 3, although in Ecuador this interaction was not associated with any particular potato genotype. Other locations also had high interaction effects, but these occurred in only one trial. The genotypes Chata Blanca and, to a lesser extent, Torridon were relatively unstable in trials 2 and 3, but in the case of Torridon, resistant, this did not represent a significant loss of resistanc

Earliest known hominin activity in the Philippines by 709 thousand years ago

Over 60 years ago, stone tools and remains of megafauna were discovered on the Southeast Asian islands of Flores, Sulawesi and Luzon, and a Middle Pleistocene colonization by Homo erectus was initially proposed to have occurred on these islands 1-4 . However, until the discovery of Homo floresiensis in 2003, claims of the presence of archaic hominins on Wallacean islands were hypothetical owing to the absence of in situ fossils and/or stone artefacts that were excavated from well-documented stratigraphic contexts, or because secure numerical dating methods of these sites were lacking. As a consequence, these claims were generally treated with scepticism 5 . Here we describe the results of recent excavations at Kalinga in the Cagayan Valley of northern Luzon in the Philippines that have yielded 57 stone tools associated with an almost-complete disarticulated skeleton of Rhinoceros philippinensis, which shows clear signs of butchery, together with other fossil fauna remains attributed to stegodon, Philippine brown deer, freshwater turtle and monitor lizard. All finds originate from a clay-rich bone bed that was dated to between 777 and 631 thousand years ago using electron-spin resonance methods that were applied to tooth enamel and fluvial quartz. This evidence pushes back the proven period of colonization 6 of the Philippines by hundreds of thousands of years, and furthermore suggests that early overseas dispersal in Island South East Asia by premodern hominins took place several times during the Early and Middle Pleistocene stages 1-4 . The Philippines therefore may have had a central role in southward movements into Wallacea, not only of Pleistocene megafauna 7, but also of archaic hominins. © 2018 Macmillan Publishers Ltd., part of Springer Nature