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As the climate change takes place, the cultivation of temperate climate crops in subtropical areas has become a challenge. The success of fruit crops, such as blackberry, in certain areas depends basically on its chilling requirement and the chilling accumulation in those areas. Usually the models used to predict those accumulations presents widely variable results being necessary to test the models in the location where the species is cultivated. The objective of this work was to estimate the chilling requirement for bud break of blackberry cultivars Caingangue, BRS Cainguá, Guarani, Tupy, BRS Xavante, BRS Xingu, Brazos, Cherokee and Choctaw, using the models of Utah, Positive Utah, Low Chill, Taiwan, Chilling Hours ≤7.2°C, Chilling Hours ≤11°C, and Dynamic and both temperature and phenological data from 2010 to 2019. The results showed a high variability in cold accumulation for all studied cultivars in all tested models. None of the models performed perfectly to estimate chilling requirement however, the Taiwan and the Utah Positive models can be used to provide a rough estimate of this requirement. On the other hand, Utah and Low Chill models are clearly not suitable for estimating blackberry chilling requirement. The estimated chilling requirement showed that all the studied cultivars are well adapted to the climatic conditions of the southern Rio Grande do Sul, which is emphasized by their good productivity in most of the years.

Introduction: Fatty acids are essential nutrients for the fetus and are supplied by the mother through the placenta. Desaturase and elongase enzymes play an important role in modulating the fatty acid composition of body tissues. We aimed to compare the fatty acid profile and the estimated desaturase and elongase activities in the placenta of appropriate (AGA) versus small-for-gestational-age (SGA), and to determine their relationship with the offspring size at birth. Methods: The placental fatty acid profile was analyzed by gas chromatography in 84 infants (45 AGA and 30 SGA) from a prenatal cohort study. The estimated desaturase and elongase activities were calculated from productprecursor fatty acid ratios. Results were associated with maternal (age, body mass index and weight gain during gestation) and neonatal (gestational age, sex, birth weight and birth length) parameters. Results: Differences in placental fatty acid composition between AGA and SGA infants rather than correlations thereof with neonatal parameters were observed. Placentas from SGA infants contained lower levels of omega-3 (ALA, EPA, DPA, and DHA) and high omega-6/omega-3 ratios (AA/DHA and LA/ALA), as well as low elongase (Elovl5) and high desaturase (D9Dn7 and D5Dn6) activity as compared to AGA infants (all p < 0.0001). Discussion: Placentas of AGA and SGA infants differed in fatty acids profile as well as in estimated desaturase and elongase activities. A striking feature of SGA placentas was the low availability of omega-3. Hence, omega-3 fatty acid status deserves further attention, as a potential target of prenatal interventions. This study was supported by grants from the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain (PI17/ 00557 and PI19/00451 to JB), projects co-funded by FEDER (Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional).

15 Pág. Departamento de Reproducción animal, Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) refers to poor growth of a fetus during pregnancy due to deficient maternal nutrition or oxygen supply. Supplementation of a mother's diet with antioxidants, such as hydroxytyrosol (HTX), has been proposed to ameliorate the adverse phenotypes of IUGR. In the present study, sows were treated daily with or without 1.5 mg of HTX per kilogram of feed from day 35 of pregnancy (at 30% of the total gestational period), and fetuses were sampled at day 100 of gestation. Fetuses were classified as normal body weight (NBW) or low body weight (LBW) as a consequence of IUGR, constituting four groups: NBW-Control, NBW-HTX, LBW-Control, and LBW-HTX. The brain was removed, and the hippocampus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex were rapidly dissected. Neuronal markers were studied by immunohistochemistry, and a decrease in the number of mature neurons in the hippocampal Cornu Ammonis subfield 1 (CA1) and the Dentate Gyrus (DG) regions was observed in LBW fetuses together with a higher number of immature neurons and other alterations in neuronal morphology. Furthermore, IUGR conditions altered the neurotransmitter (NT) profile, since an increase in the serotonin (5-HT) pathway was observed in LBW fetuses. Supplementation with HTX was able to reverse the morphological and neurochemical changes, leading both characteristics to values similar to those of NBW fetuses., This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitivity (AGL2015-68463-C2-2-P to AB and projects AGL2013-48121-C3-R and AGL2016-79321-C2–1-R to AGB), co-funded by FEDER. NY and MVG are recipients of a graduate student fellowship from the Spanish FPU National Program Grant (Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities; number FPU17/01881 and FPU14/01285) and CGC is recipient of a FPI National Program Grant (number BES-2014-070464).

Both the innate and adaptive immune responses are deregulated in individuals with obesity and are key drivers of its associated metabolic alterations. Although the anti-inflammatory growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) is a candidate protein against obesity, its mechanisms regulating the immune responses are not fully cleared. We examined whether GDF-15 was related to serum immunoglobulins in a children's cohort assessed longitudinally during childhood. Results showed that circulating GDF-15 positively associated with IgA (p

This study compared the activities of four antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, SOD; catalase, CAT; glutathione peroxidase, GPX; and glutathione reductase, GSR) in the seminal plasma of stallions and jackasses. Eighteen stallion ejaculates and 24 jack ejaculates were collected through an artificial vagina. Seminal plasma was obtained by several centrifugations at 3000×g and 4 °C for 10 min, and activities of SOD, CAT, GPX and GSR were subsequently determined. We also evaluated whether the collecting season had any influence on the activities of these four enzymes in both stallions and jackasses. Antioxidant capacity of seminal plasma was significantly higher in jackasses than in stallions (mean ± SEM, SOD: 1707.7 ± 195.9 U/mL vs. 231.9 ± 29.6 U/mL; CAT: 9094.7 ± 1292.9 U/L vs.1682.7 ± 525.9 U/L; GPX 845.4 ± 106.0 U/L vs. 469.7 ± 60.3 U/L; GSR: 50.3 ± 5.1 U/L vs. 20.7 ± 4.6 U/L). Furthermore, whereas season had no effect on the activity of these four enzymes in stallions, the activities of CAT and GPX in jack seminal plasma were significantly higher in the summer than in the other seasons. In addition, the activities of SOD and CAT were found to be significantly correlated with the percentages of progressively motile spermatozoa, and with the percentages of linearity and straightness, respectively, in jackasses. In contrast, the activities of these four enzymes were not correlated with sperm quality parameters in stallions. Finally, while SOD, CAT, and GPX activities but not those of GSR were correlated in jackasses, the activities of all four enzymes were correlated each other in stallions. We can thus conclude that the activities of SOD, CAT, GPX and GSR differ between the seminal plasma of stallions and donkeys, and vary between seasons in jackasses.

Peach is a traditional crop in the south of Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, where 30 to 53 million cans of peaches in syrup are produced annually. All the raw material produced in the region consists of fruits originating from the peach breeding program of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa Temperate Agriculture), which started even before Embrapa at the Experimental Station of Pelotas, Ministry of Agriculture. The objective was to estimate the genetic progress in phenological traits and production of canning peach resulting from the peach breeding program of Embrapa Temperate Agriculture in 53 years. We divided the data records considered in the estimation of genetic progress into two periods, 1964-1984 and 1985-2017, totaling 53 years. The following traits: maturing period, cycle, number of fruits, fruit weight, yield, and soluble solids content were evaluated. We initially tabulated data and analyzed descriptive statistics. Subsequently, we conducted analysis of mixed models and obtained the estimates of genetic progress through meta-analysis. Genetic gain for earliness, shortening the cycle from flowering to maturation, and genetic gain for fruit yield were observed.

Invasive species have considerably increased in recent decades due to direct and indirect effects of ever‐increasing international trade rates and new climate conditions derived from global change. We need to better understand how the dynamics of early species invasions develop and how these result in impacts on the invaded ecosystems. Here we studied the distribution and severe defoliation processes of the box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis W.), a tree defoliator insect native to Asia and invasive in Europe since 2007, through the combination of species distribution models based on climate and landscape composition information. The results showed that the combination of data from the native and the invaded areas was the most effective methodology for the appropriate invasive species modeling. The species was not influenced by overall landscape factors, but only by the presence of its host plant, dispersal capacity, and climate suitability. Such climate suitability was described by low precipitation seasonality and minimum annual temperatures around 0°C, defining a continentality effect throughout the territory. We emphasize the need of studying distribution and severe defoliation processes separately because we identified that climate suitability was slightly involved in limiting species spread processes but strongly constrained ecosystem impact in terms of defoliation before the species reaches equilibrium with the new environment. New studies on habitat recovery after disturbance, ecological consequences of such impact, and community dynamics in a context of climate change are required for a better understanding of this invasive species., Distribution and severe defoliation processes of the box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis W.), a tree defoliator insect native to Asia and invasive in Europe, were studied. We identified the main determinants that influence the species climatic and ecological niche, as well as we projected the distribution and impact to the invaded areas.

The adaptation of a temperate climate fruit cultivar to a certain area depends mainly on its chilling requirement and the chilling accumulation in such places. Several attempts have been made to estimate these two conditions, using different models. The great variation among the models to calculate chilling requirement makes it necessary to determine their efficiency in a given location. Aiming to estimate the chilling requirement of ten peach cultivars, including Bonão, Pepita, Maravilha, Precocinho, Turmalina, Diamante, BR-3, Marfim, Coral, and Cambará do Sul, seven models were tested: Utah, Positive Utah, Low Chill, Taiwan, Chilling Hours (≤7.2°C), Chilling Hours (≤11°C), and Dynamic. The results showed that the estimation of chilling accumulation for all the studied cultivars in all the tested models showed a large variability. None of the tested models was perfect for estimating the chilling requirement, especially considering the variable climatic conditions of southern Brazil. Except for the Utah model, any of the others can be used to provide a rough estimate of the chilling requirement of the cultivars; however, the Taiwan and Low Chill models seem to be more suitable. The chilling requirement, which was estimated based on the average over the 11 years of the study, overestimated the real need, when compared to the yields over those years. There are differences among the studied cultivars; however, with the exception of Cambará do Sul, all the others can yield good crops and show good adaptation to the climatic conditions of the southern Rio Grande do Sul.© Copyright 2010-Till Date, Journal of Experimental Agriculture International. All rights reserved.

Eighty-two newborn unweaned Holstein bull calves (43.3 ± 0.86 kg) were used to evaluate the effect of the amount of colostrum feeding on performance and potential colostrum feeding on serum biomarkers. Immediately after calves were born, calves were randomly distributed to well colostrated treatment (WC; n = 49) where calves were fed 4 L of colostrum in less than 2 h after birth and 2 L of colostrum in each of the following 3 feedings; or poor colostrated (PC; n = 33) where calves were fed 2 L of colostrum only once in less than 2 h after birth. At d 14 of age calves were submitted to an assembly center situation for 4 d and transported for 19 h to the rearing farm. Forty-eight hours and 18 d after birth a blood sample was collected to analyze alkaline phosphatase (ALP), cholesterol (CHO), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT). Calves were weighed (BW) after birth, before transport and at arrival. Data were analyzed using mixed models. At 48 h, serum concentration of ALP, GGT were greater (P < 0.05) for WC compared with PC calves, showing that the difference in the amount of colostrum applied as a treatment was successful. The BW losses from birth to arrival were greater for PC calves (-2.3 ± 0.41 kg) compared with WC calves (-0.02 ± 0.41 kg). Shrink during transport did not differ between treatments. At arrival (d 18) no differences on serum ALP or CHO were observed. However, serum concentration of GGT was greater (P < 0.01) for WC calves compared with PC calves (127.2 ± 9.09 U/L and 55.7 ± 8.95 U/L, respectively). Increasing the amount of colostrum fed to the calves reduces the postnatal weight losses and GGT might be an indicator of colostrum feeding at arrival in calves of 18 d of age.

Este artículo contiene 22 páginas, 11 figuras., Research on hypercycles focuses on cooperative interactions among replicating species, including the emergence of catalytic parasites and catalytic shortcircuits. Further interactions may be expected to arise in cooperative systems. For instance, molecular replicators are subject to mutational processes and ecological species to behavioural shifts due to environmental and ecological changes. Such changes could involve switches from cooperative to antagonistic interactions, in what we call a functional shift. In this article, we investigate a model for a two-member hypercycle model, considering that one species performs a functional shift. First, we introduce the model dynamics without functional shifts to illustrate the dynamics only considering obligate and facultative cooperation. Then, two more cases maintaining cross-catalysis are considered: (i) a model describing the dynamics of ribozymes where a fraction of the population of one replicator degrades the other molecular species while the other fraction still receives catalytic aid; and (ii) a system in which a given fraction of the population predates on the cooperating species while the rest of the population still receives aid. We have characterised the key bifurcation parameters determining extinction, survival, and coexistence of species. We show that predation, regardless of the fraction that benefits from it, does not significantly change dynamics with respect to the degradative case (i), thus conserving dynamics and bifurcations. Their biological significance is interpreted, and their potential implications for the dynamics of early replicators and ecological species are outlined, E.F. has been funded by the Spanish Government grant PID2019-104851GB-I00 (MICINN/FEDER, UE) and the Catalan Government grant 2017-SGR-1374. D.O. was funded by the Spanish Government grant CGL2017-85210-P (MICIN/FEDER, UE). D.A. has been partially funded by the Spanish “Minis terio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades” under the project CRISIS (PGC2018-096577-B-I00) and the European Regional Development Fund. J.S. has been partially funded by the CERCA Programme of the “Generalitat de Catalunya”, by “Agencia Estatal de Investigacíon” grant RTI2018-098322-B-I00, and the “Ramón y Cajal” contract RYC-2017-22243.

Simple Summary The concept of resilience can be defined as the ability of animals to maintain their productivity despite the stressors that might occur during the rearing period. Despite the growing interest in the genetic determinism of resilience and its possible inclusion in selection objectives, there is no straightforward method to measure this trait. Several quantifying methods estimate resilience based on productivity such as body weight or milk production, or non-productivity related traits such as immunity or stress responses. The objective of this study was to elaborate novel resilience indicators in growing pigs based on both productivity (body weight) and non-productivity (acute-phase proteins) related traits. We propose the deviation from the expected growth curve and the increment of the acute-phase protein haptoglobin, after applying a common vaccine, as resilience indicators in growing pigs under standard rearing conditions. We showed that the suggested resilience indicators are under a genetic control, show a substantial variability in the population, and may be improved through selection. Abstract There is a growing concern about the genetic determinism of resilience and its possible implementation in breeding programs. The objective of our study was to elaborate novel resilience indicators in growing pigs based on the deviation from the expected growth curve and the increment of the acute-phase protein haptoglobin (HP) after applying a common vaccine. A total of 445 pigs were vaccinated with an attenuated Aujeszky vaccine at 12 weeks of age. Deviation from the expected body weight (ΔBW) given the growth curve of unvaccinated pigs at 28 days post-vaccination (DPV) and the increment of HP at 4 DPV (ΔHP) were suggested as resilience indicators. Challenged pigs that maintained their productivity and had a minor activation of HP were deemed resilient, whereas pigs that had low ∆BW values and a high activation of HP were deemed susceptible. Pigs were also classified based on ∆BW and ∆HP relative to the expected BW at 28 DPV and to the basal level of HP, respectively. The concordance was high between both methods, indicating that ΔBW and ΔHP are not sensitive to the animal’s expected BW nor the basal level of HP. The heritability estimates were moderate for ∆BW (0.33) and low-to-moderate for ∆HP (0.16). Our study suggests ΔBW and ΔHP as novel resilience indicators in pigs. The suggested indicators capture different aspects of resilience, are easy to measure, and are genetically controlled. Thus, they may be improved through selective breeding. Further analyses are needed to validate our findings.

BACKGROUND: Accelerated catch-up growth following intrauterine restriction increases the risk of developing visceral adiposity and metabolic abnormalities. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of such metabolic programming are still poorly understood. METHODS: A Wistar rat model of catch-up growth following intrauterine restriction was used. A gene expression array was performed in the retroperitoneal adipose tissue sampled at postnatal day (PD) 42. RESULTS: Five hundred and forty-six differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified (adjusted p value

Jenny shows a large endometrial reaction after semen influx to the uterus with a large amount of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) migrating into the uterine lumen. PMN act as a sperm selection mechanism through phagocytosis and NETosis (DNA extrudes and, together with proteins, trap spermatozoa). While a reduced percentage of spermatozoa are phagocytosed by PMN, most are found to be attached to neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). This selection process together with sperm metabolism produces a large amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that influence the reproductive success. The present study aimed to determine the extracellular ROS production in both sperm and PMN. With this purpose, (1) donkey sperm were exposed to reductive and oxidative stresses, through adding different concentrations of reduced glutathione (GSH) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), respectively, and (2) PMN were subjected to NETosis in the presence of the whole semen, sperm, seminal plasma (SP) or other activators such as formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP). Extracellular ROS production (measured as H2O2 levels) was determined with the Amplex® Red Hydrogen Peroxide/Peroxidase Assay Kit. Donkey sperm showed more resilience to oxidative stress than to the reductive one, and GSH treatments led to greater H2O2 extracellular production. Moreover, not only did SP appear to be the main inducer of NETosis in PMN, but it was also able to maintain the extracellular H2O2 levels produced by sperm and NETosis.

Environmental enrichment in porcine farms improves animal welfare and leads to better public acceptance. To better understand the neurological mechanisms of the response to environmental enrichment, monoaminergic neurotransmitters were quantified in several brain areas from pigs after eight weeks of housing in barren or enriched conditions. Furthermore, iTRAQ labelling combined with LC-MS/MS was used to identify differentially abundant proteins in the hippocampus. Blood biochemical parameters related with stress and welfare were measured. Pigs under enriched conditions showed a decrease in plasma cortisol and lactate. The decrease in noradrenaline in the prefrontal cortex and amygdala, a general decrease in the dopaminergic system and an increase of serotonin in the striatum indicate a lower response to stress in enriched conditions. In the proteomic analysis, 2304 proteins were identified, of which 56 were differential between housing groups (46 upregulated and 10 downregulated). Bioinformatics analysis revealed that they were mainly related to ribosome, translation, microtubules and metabolic mitochondrial processes, indicating that pigs under enriched environments have higher abundance of proteins related to protein synthesis and neuronal activity. Together with previous behavioural studies, our results suggest that environmental enrichment provides a less stressful environment and that pigs cope better with stress conditions like the slaughterhouse. Significance Animal welfare has become an important aspect for the sustainability of animal production. The modification of the environment by enriching it with rooting materials and wider space allowance is known to have a positive effect on pigs' welfare. Searching for the underlying neurobiological mechanisms, we found that housing in an enriched environment increased the abundance of proteins related to protein synthesis, microtubule assembly, vesicle-mediated transport and energy metabolism in the hippocampus of pigs. Likewise, changes in the neurotransmitter profile in several brain areas were compatible with a better response to stress. This study expands the knowledge about the biological basis of animal welfare-promoting actions info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersion

The pig is a valuable animal model to study obesity in humans due to the physiological similarity between humans and pigs in terms of digestive and associated metabolic processes. The dietary use of vegetal protein, probiotics and omega-3 fatty acids is recommended to control weight gain and to fight obesity-associated metabolic disorders. Likewise, there are recent reports on their beneficial effects on brain functions. The hypothalamus is the central part of the brain that regulates food intake by means of the production of food intake-regulatory hypothalamic neuropeptides, as neuropeptide Y (NPY), orexin A and pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), and neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and serotonin. Other mesolimbic areas, such as the hippocampus, are also involved in the control of food intake. In this study, the effect of a high fat diet (HFD) alone or supplemented with these additives on brain neuropeptides and neurotransmitters was assessed in forty-three young pigs fed for 10 weeks with a control diet (T1), a high fat diet (HFD, T2), and HFD with vegetal protein supplemented with Bifidobacterium breve CECT8242 alone (T3) or in combination with omega-3 fatty acids (T4). A HFD provoked changes in regulatory neuropeptides and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) in the hypothalamus and alterations mostly in the dopaminergic system in the ventral hippocampus. Supplementation of the HFD with B. breve CECT8242, especially in combination with omega-3 fatty acids, was able to partially reverse the effects of HFD. Correlations between productive and neurochemical parameters supported these findings. These results confirm that pigs are an appropriate animal model alternative to rodents for the study of the effects of HFD on weight gain and obesity. Furthermore, they indicate the potential benefits of probiotics and omega-3 fatty acids on brain function. info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersion

The goals were to investigate in umbilical cord tissue if gestational obesity: (1) was associated with changes in DNA methylation of skeletal muscle-specific genes; (2) could modulate the co-methylation interactions among these genes. Additionally, we assessed the associations between DNA methylation levels and infant’s variables at birth and at age 6. DNA methylation was measured in sixteen pregnant women [8-gestational obesity group; 8-control group] in umbilical cord using the Infinium Methylation EPIC Bead Chip microarray. Differentially methylated CpGs were identified with Beta Regression Models [false discovery rate (FDR) < 0.05 and an Odds Ratio > 1.5 or < 0.67]. DNA methylation interactions between CpGs of skeletal muscle-specific genes were studied using data from Pearson correlation matrices. In order to quantify the interactions within each network, the number of links was computed. This identification analysis reported 38 differential methylated CpGs within skeletal muscle-specific genes (comprising 4 categories: contractibility, structure, myokines, and myogenesis). Compared to control group, gestational obesity (1) promotes hypermethylation in highly methylated genes and hypomethylation in low methylated genes; (2) CpGs in regions close to transcription sites and with high CpG density are hypomethylated while regions distant to transcriptions sites and with low CpG density are hypermethylated; (3) diminishes the number of total interactions in the co-methylation network. Interestingly, the associations between infant’s fasting glucose at age 6 and MYL6, MYH11, TNNT3, TPM2, CXCL2, and NCAM1 were still relevant after correcting for multiple testing. In conclusion, our study showed a complex interaction between gestational obesity and the epigenetic status of muscle-specific genes in umbilical cord tissue. Additionally, gestational obesity may alter the functional co-methylation connectivity of CpG within skeletal muscle-specific genes interactions, our results revealing an extensive reorganization of methylation in response to maternal overweight. Finally, changes in methylation levels of skeletal muscle specific genes may have persistent effects on the offspring of mothers with gestational obesity.

BACKGROUND: Adequate transplacental passage of maternal thyroid hormone is important for normal fetal growth and development. Maternal overt hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are associated with low birth weight but there are still important knowledge gaps regarding the impact of subclinical thyroid function test abnormalities on birth weight, in general or during the late second and third trimester of pregnancy, remains unknown. The aim of this study was to examine associations of maternal thyroid function with birth weight. METHODS: For this individual-participant data meta-analysis we searched Medline (Ovid), Embase.com, Web-of-Science, Cochrane CENTRAL and Google Scholar from inception to March 18(th) 2018, and published open invitations to join the Consortium on Thyroid and Pregnancy, to identify prospective cohort studies with data on maternal thyroid function during pregnancy and birth weight. We excluded participants with multiple pregnancies, in vitro fertilization, pre-existing thyroid disease or thyroid medication usage, miscarriages and stillbirth. Main outcomes were small for gestational age (SGA), large for gestational age (LGA) (defined by the lowest or highest 10(th) population-specific percentile of birth weight standardized to gestational age and sex, respectively) and birth weight. We analysed individual participant data using mixed-effects regression models adjusting for maternal age, body mass index, ethnicity, smoking, parity, gestational age at blood sampling, fetal sex and gestational age at birth (the latter two only in case of birth weight continuously). The study protocol was pre-registered at the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO), number CRD42016043496. RESULTS: From 2,526 published reports, 36 cohorts met the inclusion criteria and were invited to participate of which 15 agreed and after addition of 5 unpublished datasets, a total of 20 cohorts were included. After exclusions, the study population comprised 48,145 mother-child pairs of whom 1,275 (3·1%) had subclinical hypothyroidism (increased TSH with normal FT4) and 929 (2·2%) had isolated hypothyroxinaemia (decreased FT4 with normal TSH). Maternal subclinical hypothyroidism was associated with a higher risk of SGA compared to euthyroidism (11·8% vs. 10·0% respectively, adjusted risk difference 2·4% [95% CI, 0·4 to 4·8]; odds ratio (OR) 1·24 [95% CI 1·04 to 1.48], P=0·015) and lower mean birth weight (adjusted risk difference −38g [95% CI −61 to −15], P=0·001) with a higher effect estimate for measurement in the 3(rd) trimester compared with the 1(st) or 2(nd) trimester. Isolated hypothyroxinaemia was associated with a lower risk of SGA compared to euthyroidism (7·3% vs. 10·0%, adjusted risk difference −2·9 [95% CI, −4·5 to −0·9]; OR, 0·70 [95% CI 0·55 to 0·91], P=0·007) and higher mean birth weight (difference, 45g [95% CI 18 to 73], P=0·001). Each 1-SD higher maternal TSH concentration was associated with lower birth weight (−6g [−10 to −2], per SD, P=0·003), with higher effect estimates in TPOAb-positive than TPO-negative women (P for interaction=0·10). Each 1-SD higher FT4 concentration was associated with lower birth weight (−21g [95% CI −25 to −17] per SD, P

Tryptophan is a precursor of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that participates in the control of the affective state of an animal. We hypothesized that Trp supplementation could help dairy calves to cope with weaning stress. Twenty-seven Holstein male calves (48 ± 0.8 d old; 82 ± 2.6 kg of body weight) were used to evaluate the effects of Trp supplementation at a rate of 4.5 g/d via milk replacer (MR) on performance and behavioral parameters around weaning. All calves received the same feeding program (6 L/d at 15% dry matter from d 1 to 7, 4 L/d at 15% dry matter from d 8 to 14, and 2 L/d at 15% dry matter in one feeding until d 21 of study) and were completely weaned 22 d after the beginning of the study (around 70 d of life). Calves were fed a starter feed (19.3% crude protein and 16.2% neutral detergent fiber, on a dry matter basis) and chopped straw ad libitum. Animals were weighed weekly, dry matter intakes were recorded daily, lying behavior was recorded using accelerometers throughout the study, and scan sampling was performed twice a week, 1 h after the morning feeding, to record behavioral activity (nonnutritive oral behaviors, suckling a neighbor calf, standing, resting, rumination, vocalizations, eating, and drinking). Tryptophan supplementation did not affect calf performance or concentrate and MR intake, but straw intake tended to be greater in nonsupplemented compared with Trp-supplemented calves (153 vs. 129 ± 9.0 g/d, respectively). Lying time, lying bouts, and lying duration decreased when changes in the MR feeding program occurred, independent of treatment. Similarly, differences in behavioral observations occurred along days of study, with no effect of Trp supplementation. The main changes observed in calf behavior were an increase in vocalizations and standing time 1 h after the morning feeding at weaning, but again these changes were independent of treatment. Parameters measured in serum and plasma indicated an increase in Trp, kynurenine, and the kynurenine/Trp ratio after feeding in the Trp calves. A tendency for lower plasma glucose concentration after feeding was observed in the Trp group. No changes in stress markers such as cortisol and haptoglobin in serum were detected. In conclusion, supplementing 4.5 g/d of Trp via MR between 48 and 62 d of life had no effect on performance or behavior in calves around weaning. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Heteroplasmy is the presence of more than one type of mitochondrial genome within an individual, a condition commonly reported as unfavorable and affecting mitonuclear interactions. So far, no study has investigated heteroplasmy at protein level, and whether it occurs within tissues, cells, or even organelles. The only known evolutionarily stable and natural heteroplasmic system in Metazoa is the Doubly Uniparental Inheritance (DUI)—reported so far in ∼100 bivalve species—in which two mitochondrial lineages are present: one transmitted through eggs (F-type) and the other through sperm (M-type). Because of such segregation, mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation proteins reach a high amino acid sequence divergence (up to 52%) between the two lineages in the same species. Natural heteroplasmy coupled with high sequence divergence between F- and M-type proteins provides a unique opportunity to study their expression and assess the level and extent of heteroplasmy. Here, for the first time, we immunolocalized F- and M-type variants of three mitochondrially-encoded proteins in the DUI species Ruditapes philippinarum, in germline and somatic tissues at different developmental stages. We found heteroplasmy at organelle level in undifferentiated germ cells of both sexes, and in male soma, whereas gametes were homoplasmic: eggs for the F-type and sperm for the M-type. Thus, during gametogenesis, only the sex-specific mitochondrial variant is maintained, likely due to a process of meiotic drive. We examine the implications of our results for DUI proposing a revised model, and we discuss interactions of mitochondria with germ plasm and their role in germline development. Molecular and phylogenetic evidence suggests that DUI evolved from the common Strictly Maternal Inheritance, so the two systems likely share the same underlying molecular mechanism, making DUI a useful system for studying mitochondrial biology.

In dogs, as in humans, C-reactive protein (CRP) is a major acute phase protein that is rapidly and prominently increased after exposure to inflammatory stimuli. CRP measurements are used in the diagnosis and monitoring of infectious and inflammatory diseases.The study aim was to develop and validate a turbidimetric immunoassay for the quantification of canine CRP (cCRP), using canine-specific reagents and standards.A particle-enhanced turbidimetric immunoassay was developed. The assay was set up in a fully automated analyzer, and studies of imprecision, limits of linearity, limits of detection, prozone effects, and interferences were carried out. The new method was compared with 2 other commercially available automated immunoassays for cCRP: one turbidimetric immunoassay (Gentian CRP) and one point-of-care assay based on magnetic permeability (Life Assays CRP).The within-run and between-day imprecision were1.7% and 4.2%, respectively. The assay quantified CRP proportionally in an analytic range up to 150 mg/L, with a prozone effect appearing at cCRP concentrations320 mg/L. No interference from hemoglobin (20 g/L), triglycerides (10 g/L), or bilirubin (150 mg/L) was detected. Good agreement was observed between the results obtained with the new method and the Gentian cCRP turbidimetric immunoassay.The new turbidimetric immunoassay (Turbovet canine CRP, Acuvet Biotech) is a rapid, robust, precise, and accurate method for the quantification of cCRP. The method can be easily set up in automated analyzers, providing a suitable tool for routine clinical use.

Detection of cortisol is one of the most widely used methods to assess stress in animals because it provides information about hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity. The most common biological samples are plasma, saliva, urine, feces, milk, and hair. Hair cortisol analysis could be a good noninvasive procedure to detect chronic stress because cortisol is incorporated and stored inside growing hair. The aim of this study was to determine whether cortisol could be detected in pig hair and could serve as a proper chronic stress indicator. Hair samples from 2 regions (craniodorsal [D] and dorsolumbar [L]) of 20 crossbred entire male pigs were taken at 8 and 22 weeks of age. The pigs were subjected to a weekly remixing procedure. The mean cortisol level for the hair samples was 19.30 ± 0.63 pg/mg (range, 6.4-43.88). Hair for second sampled day had higher cortisol values ( P = 0.002) than hair from first sampled day. Furthermore, L region had higher values than D region at every age measurement ( P P = 0.019) and region L (r = 0.523; P P P

O programa de melhoramento da Embrapa fornece um processamento de pessego cultivar, 'BRS Jaspe'. Ao longo dos anos, o rendimento desta cultivar foi estavel e seus frutos podem ser colhidos em meados de novembro, com bom tamanho e sabor. Pode representar uma alternativa a cultivar Granada, com um periodo de maturacao semelhante.

In peach, pollen sterility, expressed as absence of pollen in the anthers, segregates as an undesired trait in breeding programs. Pollen fertility screening in progenies is not a common practice mainly because it does not affect fruit set since cross-pollination is frequent. It is also a time-consuming activity that coincides with the busy pollination season. Segregation for this trait could be avoided by using molecular markers to identify appropriate parents or male sterile plants for early culling in progenies expected to segregate, thus increasing breeding efficiency. In peach, pollen sterility is determined by a recessive allele in homozygosis of the major gene, Ps/ps, located on chromosome 6. In this work, using a conventional mapping approach combined with bulked segregant analysis using resequencing data, we fine mapped Ps to a region of almost 160 kb and developed molecular markers for marker-assisted breeding. These markers were validated in plant materials from three peach breeding programs, including progenies, advanced selections, and cultivars, allowing us to determine that the frequency of the ps allele is high (0.23) and also to infer the genotypes of a large collection of cultivars and advanced breeding lines., We acknowledge financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, through the “Severo Ochoa Programme for Centres of Excellence in R&D” 2016–2019 (SEV-2015-0533) and Project AGL2015-68329-R, from the CERCA Programme (Generalitat de Catalunya), and the “Stony Hard” project co-funding the CREA-Forlì breeding program.

Genotyping by sequencing (GBS) is a flexible and cost-effective strategy for genome-wide SNP discovery and high-throughput genotyping. Here, we employed the GBS approach to explore population structure, genetic variability, and patterns of linkage disequilibrium (LD) among 220 peach genotypes (Prunus persica), representative of the Brazilian breeding germplasm. This selected panel is mainly composed by locally adapted peaches developed in mild winter and high relative humidity conditions, and represents a worldwide reference of peach germplasm for low-chilling areas. A total of 93,353 SNP markers were discovered, and after filtering, 18,373 high-quality SNPs were used in analyses. Thirty-four percent of selected SNPs were located in genic regions and about 70% of these in the coding sequence. Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) and Bayesian clustering (fastSTRUCTURE) successfully detected population genetic structure in our germplasm panel, supporting the identification of three main distinct subpopulations. The distribution of the genotypes within subpopulations reflected their fruit-related traits: melting and non-melting flesh cultivars. LD patterns revealed a medium LD level in peach, with the extent of LD highly dependent on the subpopulation and genome regions. The use of GBS-SNPs to perform genome-wide association studies (GWAS) was also exploited by using phenotypic information from five fruit quality traits. The observed significant SNP-trait associations were always in the regions previously predicted by linkage and association mapping analysis, providing valuable insights to incorporate the use of marker-assisted selection in the breeding program.

While the removal of seminal plasma is a routine practice prior to equine sperm cryopreservation, this fluid contains the main source of antioxidant enzymes able to scavenge these reactive oxygen species. Therefore, stallion seminal plasma components may have an impact on ejaculate freezability. Against this background, this study was designed to investigate whether the activities of the main stallion seminal plasma antioxidant enzymes are related to sperm cryotolerance. With this purpose, 16 ejaculates were collected from 14 healthy stallions, and each ejaculate was split into two aliquots. The first one was used to evaluate the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and glutathione reductase (GSR) in seminal plasma. The second aliquot was extended and then processed for cryopreservation. Sperm motility and viability were evaluated before and after cryopreservation, and ejaculates were classified as of good (GFE) or poor freezability (PFE) based on total motile and viable spermatozoa at post-thaw. We observed that, while the specific activities of CAT, GPX, and GSR were similar between GFE and PFE, that of SOD was significantly (p &lt, 0.05) higher in GFE than in PFE. We can thus conclude that, in stallions, the specific activity of SOD in the seminal plasma of a given ejaculate might be related to its freezability.

This study investigated whether the activities of four antioxidant enzymes present in jackass seminal plasma (SP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione reductase (GSR), are related to the sperm ability to withstand cryopreservation. Eighteen ejaculates from 16 healthy jackasses were collected and split into two aliquots. The first one was centrifuged (3,000×g, 4 °C for 10 min) and used to determine the activities of these four enzymes in SP, whereas the other was diluted in a skim-milk extender and then cryopreserved. Assessment of sperm motility and membrane integrity was performed before and after cryopreservation. Based on the percentages of total motile and viable spermatozoa at post-thaw, samples were classified as good (GFE) or poor (PFE) freezability ejaculates through cluster analyses. Total and specific activities of SOD in seminal plasma were higher (P 0.05) in GFE than in PFE, whereas no significant differences between GFE and PFE were observed regarding total and specific activities of CAT, GPX and GSR. However, post-thaw sperm parameters were positively correlated with total and specific activities of CAT and negatively correlated with those of GSR. In conclusion, determination of total and specific activities of SOD in the seminal plasma of a given jackass ejaculate may predict the sperm ability to withstand cryopreservation. In addition, our results warrant further research on addressing whether SOD activity in seminal plasma does not only allow predicting the sperm cryotolerance of a given ejaculate but also that of all ejaculates from a given jackass.

The peach breeding program of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), addressing the adaptation to mild winter conditions, is one of the largest in the world and maintains a germplasm collection of nearly 900 accessions. The objective was to estimate the genetic progress in fruit weight (FW) and fruit development period (FDP) resulting from the above program, by analyzing data records of 16 years (2000 - 2015) of 65 genotypes. Based on samples of ≥ 10 fruits, the mean annual FW (in g) and FDP (in number of days) from full flowering to harvest were determined. In the 16 years, the gain in FDP consisted of respective reductions of about -12.8, -3.3, -2.8 days for canning peach, fresh peach and nectarine. However, the genetic progress in fruit weight was 5.3, 1.4 and -17.9 g fruit-1 for canning peach, fresh peach and nectarine, respectively.

Background: Although prenatal and postnatal programming of metabolic diseases in adulthood is well established, the mechanims underpinning metabolic programming are not. DLK1, a key regulator of fetal development, inhibits adipocyte differentiation and restricts fetal growth. Methods: Assess Dlk1 expression in Wistar rat model of catch-up growth following intrauterine restriction. Dams fed ad libitum deliverd control pups (C) and dams on a 50% calorie-restricted diet delivered pups with low birth weight (R). Restricted offspring fed a standard rat chow showd catch-up growth (R/C) but those kept on a calorie-restricted diet did not (R/R). Results: Decreased Dlk1 expression was observed in adipose tissue and skeletal muscle of R/C pups along with excessive visceral fat accumulation, decreased circulating adiponectin, increased triglycerides and HOMA-IR (from p

The human microbiota is a modulator of the immune system. Variations in the placental microbiota could be related with pregnancy disorders. We profiled the placental microbiota and microbiome in women with gestational diabetes (GDM) and studied its relation to maternal metabolism and placental expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Placental microbiota and microbiome and expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL10, TIMP3, ITGAX, and MRC1MR) were analyzed in placentas from women with GDM and from control women. Fasting insulin, glucose, O’Sullivan glucose, lipids, and blood cell counts were assessed at second and third trimester of pregnancy. Bacteria belonging to the Pseudomonadales order and Acinetobacter genus showed lower relative abundance in women with GDM compared to control (P < 0.05). In GDM, lower abundance of placental Acinetobacter associated with a more adverse metabolic (higher O’Sullivan glucose) and inflammatory phenotype (lower blood eosinophil count and lower placental expression of IL10 and TIMP3) (P < 0.05 to P = 0.001). Calcium signaling pathway was increased in GDM placental microbiome. A distinct microbiota profile and microbiome is present in GDM. Acinetobacter has been recently shown to induce IL-10 in mice. GDM could constitute a state of placental microbiota-driven altered immunologic tolerance, making placental microbiota a new target for therapy in GDM.

Because of climatic changes, the cultivation of temperate climate plants such as peach in subtropical climates has become a challenge. In these areas, temperatures exceeding 25°C often occur during the pre-flowering and flowering phases. The high temperature causes damages by acting during the early stages of pollen-pistil interaction processes. The objective of this work was to evaluate the stigmatic receptivity of peach flowers at 18°C and 30°C. The pollen adherence was evaluated as well as the germination and presence of pollen tubes in the transmitting tissue of the style. The genotypes responded differently to temperature. ?Granada,? ?Diamante?,and ?Sensação? had a stigmatic receptivity that was less affected when flowers were exposed to the higher temperature. Most genotypes showed a reduction in the number of pistils with pollen tubes growing in the style, particularly when pollination was delayed. Made available in DSpace on 2020-02-04T18:25:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ArtigoSilvia2020.pdf: 1148148 bytes, checksum: 6e0128a71a011cac23de93c902801cd1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2020

OBJECTIVES: To study DNA methylation at the C19MC locus in the placenta and its association with (1) parental body size, (2) transmission of haplotypes for the C19MC rs55765443 SNP, and (3) offspring's body size and/or body composition at birth and in childhood. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Seventy-two pregnant women-infant pairs and 63 fathers were included in the study. Weight and height of mothers, fathers and newborns were registered during pregnancy or at birth (n = 72). Placental DNA methylation at the C19MC imprinting control region (ICR) was quantified by bisulfite pyrosequencing. Genotyping of the SNP was performed using restriction fragment length polymorphisms. The children's body size and composition were reassessed at age 6 years (n = 32). RESULTS: Lower levels of placental C19MC methylation were associated with increased body size of mother, specifically with higher pregestational and predelivery weights and height of the mother (β from -0.294 to -0.371; R2 from 0.04 to 0.10 and all p

Preterm birth complicates 5% to 15% of births worldwide, and although it is the most important direct cause of morbidity and mortality in children younger than 5 years, no known risk factors can be identified in the majority of cases. However, overt hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism during pregnancy are well-known risk factors for preterm birth, and as such, the purpose of this study was to assess whether thyroid function test abnormalities and thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibody positivity were associated with preterm birth. The study conducted a systematic review on the association of thyroid function or autoimmunity with preterm birth published from database inception to March 18, 2018, without language restrictions, using the Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Google Scholar databases. Possible studies for inclusion were independently assessed for suitability by 2 of the authors, and study quality and risk of bias were assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Then, authors were contacted to ascertain interest in participating in the individual patient meta-analysis. The primary outcome was preterm birth defined as a gestational age at birth of less than 37 weeks, as assessed using either ultrasound measurements or time after the last menstrual period. Secondary outcomes were very preterm birth (

The purpose of the present study is to establish the influence of age on serum biochemistry reference intervals (RIs) for unweaned calves and recently-weaned piglets using large number of animals sampled at different ages from populations under different season trials. Specifically, milk replacer (MR)-fed calves from April–July 2017 (n = 60); from December 2016–March 2017 (n = 76) and from April–August 2018 (n = 57) and one group of healthy weaned piglets (n = 72) were subjected to the study. Serum enzymes and metabolites of calves at age of 24 h (24 h after colostrum intake), 2, 5, and 7 weeks from merged trials and piglets at 0, 7, and 14 days post-weaning (at 21, 28, and 35 days of age) were studied. The main variable is age whereas no major trial- or sex-biased differences were noticed. In calves, ALT, AST, GGT, GPx, SOD, NEFAs, triglycerides, glucose, creatinine, total protein, and urea were greatly elevated (p < 0.001) at 24 h compared with other ages; glucose, creatinine, total protein, and urea constantly decreased through the age; cholesterol's lowest level (p < 0.001) was found in 24 h compared with other ages and the levels of haptoglobin remained unchanged (p > 0.1) during the study. In comparison with the adult RIs, creatinine from 24 h, NEFAs from 2 w, GGT from 5 w, and urea from 7 w are fully comparable with RIs or lie within RIs determined for adult. In piglets, no changes were noticed on glucose (p > 0.1) and haptoglobin (p > 0.1) and there were no major changes on hepatic enzymes (ALT, AST, and GGT), total protein, creatinine and urea even though several statistical differences were noticed on 7 days post-weaning. Cholesterol, triglycerides, NEFAs, cortisol and PigMAP were found increased (p < 0.05) while TNF-alpha was found less concentrated (p < 0.001) at 0 days post-weaning compared with other times. Moreover, the RIs of creatinine and GGT are fully comparable with RIs or lie within RIs determined for adult. In conclusion, clinical biochemistry analytes RIs were established for unweaned calves and recently-weaned piglets and among them some can vary at different ages. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) negatively associates with pre-gestational body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain. The link with other cardio-metabolic risk factors in pregnant women is poorly understood. Our aim was to study the association of SHBG levels with common cardio-metabolic risk parameters in pregnant woman. Serum SHBG was quantified in 291 Caucasian pregnant women (142 with normal weight, 42 with pregestational obesity, 50 with gestational obesity and 57 with pregestational plus gestational obesity) with uncomplicated pregnancies and parturition. Cardio-metabolic [C-reactive protein (CRP), blood pressure (BP), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbAc1), glucose, C-peptide, insulin, triglycerides and high molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin], and endocrine [testosterone and estradiol] parameters were also assessed. SHBG was negatively correlated with BMI, but also with CRP, BP, HbAc1, pre and post-load glucose, C-peptide, HOMA-IR, triglycerides; and positively with HMW adiponectin (all p

This study aimed to evaluate the association of metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) and metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO) with iron status markers in prepubertal children.Three hundred twelve prepubertal children with overweight and obesity from a pediatric general Spanish population were evaluated. MHO and MUO were defined as obesity with the absence or presence of metabolic syndrome components. Phenotypes of metabolically healthy overweight including obesity (MHOV) and metabolically unhealthy overweight including obesity (MUOV) were also studied and defined using the same criteria. Serum ferritin, transferrin, and blood hemoglobin levels were evaluated.Prevalence rates of MHOV and MHO were 35% (n = 111/312) and 27.1% (n = 42/155), respectively. Ferritin and hemoglobin levels were higher in children with MUOV versus MHOV (P 0.05). MUO was positively associated with ferritin (beta [95% CI] = 0.43 [0.05 to 0.81]) and hemoglobin levels (0.43 [0.05 to 0.81]). These associations remained significant independently of age, sex, C-reactive protein, physical activity, and BMI/waist z scores in bivariate linear regression models. In multivariable models, transaminase levels attenuated the association of MUO with ferritin and hemoglobin levels (P 0.05).MUOV and MUO are associated with higher ferritin and hemoglobin levels in prepubertal children affected by overweight and obesity. Increased circulating ferritin in MUO might be influenced by liver injury.

Having sensitive serum biomarkers able to determine the structural changes of the small intestine suffering from bacterial digestive diseases could be a valuable tool particularly in piglets at weaning, when intestinal infections are highly prevalent. We evaluated the usefulness of three inflammatory and gut-wall-integrity biomarkers to assess the degree of intestinal histo-morphological damage in piglets. Piglets were orally challenged with Salmonella Typhimurium or enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) to get a variable range of response according to individual variability. Forty-eight piglets were challenged with Salmonella Typhimurium and seventy-two with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88. Clinical signs and faecal score were recorded. At Days 4 and 8 post-inoculation, blood was sampled, animals euthanised and distal ileum dissected. Morphological measures were obtained from the gut tissue, and serum tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), pig major acute-phase protein (Pig-MAP) and intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP) were determined. Animals developed mild-to-severe diarrhoea after the challenge. When analysing the complete set of analytical results, a high correlation was found among the three serum biomarkers. The most representative morphological indicator was the villus:crypt ratio (V:C), which showed a strong negative correlation with all three biomarkers. Regression analyses between faecal score and the previous variable showed linear relations. When the range of V:C was analysed, based on the quartile distribution of each serum variable, a marked increase in their concentration was observed with greater villus damage. Summarising, the combination of I-FABP, Pig-MAP and TNF-α may be useful for determining the intestinal injury degree and barrier integrity in recently weaned pigs.

How housing and transport conditions may affect welfare in porcine production is a leading topic in livestock research. This study investigated whether pigs present a different neurological response to management conditions and to ascertain whether pigs living partially outdoors cope differently with road transport-associated stress. Twenty-four female pigs were divided in two groups: one living indoors (ID, n = 12) and the other housed combining indoor conditions with 4 hours per day of outdoor pasture (OD, n = 12). After one month, one set of animals from each housing condition were driven in a truck to the slaughterhouse in low-stress conditions (5 min drive, no mixing groups, soft management, LS group, n = 12) or high-stress conditions (2 hours drive, mixing groups, harsh management, HS group, n = 12). At the slaughterhouse, blood was collected, and the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the hippocampus (HC) dissected. OD pigs had lower serum haptoglobin and increased dopaminergic pathway (DA-system) in the PFC, suggesting that living outdoors increases their wellbeing. HS conditions increased serum creatine kinase (CK) and affected several brain pathways: activation of the noradrenergic (NA-system) and DA -system in the PFC and the activation of the DA-system and an increase in c-Fos as well as a decrease in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the HC. The serotonergic system (5-HT-system) was mildly altered in both areas. There was an interaction between housing and transport in serum NA and the DA-system in the HC, indicating that living conditions affected the response to stress. Multivariate analysis was able to discriminate the four animal groups. In conclusion, this work indicates that housing conditions and road transport markedly modifies the neurophysiology of pigs, and suggests that animals raised partially outdoors respond differently to transport-associated stress than animals raised indoors, indicating that they cope differently with unknown environments. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

The enzyme FASN (fatty acid synthase) is potentially related with hypertension and metabolic dysfunction. FASN is highly expressed in the human placenta. We aimed to investigate the relationship circulating FASN has with blood pressure, maternal metabolism and newborn parameters in healthy pregnant women. Circulating FASN was assessed in 115 asymptomatic pregnant women in the second trimester of gestation along with C-peptide, fasting glucose and insulin, post-load glucose lipids, HMW-adiponectin and blood pressure (the latter was assessed in each trimester of gestation). At birth, newborns and placentas were weighed. FASN expression was also able to be assessed in 80 placentas. Higher circulating FASN was associated with lower systolic blood pressure (SBP), with a more favourable metabolic phenotype (lower fasting glucose and insulin, post load glucose, HbAc1, HOMA-IR and C-peptide), and with lower placental and birth weight (all p FASN expression related positively to circulating FASN (p

Objective— Body iron status has been linked to atherosclerosis in adults. The purposes of our study were to determine (1) the association between circulating ferritin levels and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in a cohort of apparently healthy children and (2) the association between cIMT and parental ferritin levels. Approach and Results— Circulating ferritin levels (microparticle enzyme immunoassay), metabolic parameters, and cIMT (ultrasonography) were analyzed cross-sectionally in a cohort of 692 healthy white children with a mean age of 8±2 years (52% girls and 48% boys). In consecutive 123 children from the cross-sectional sample, the same serum assessments were also performed at baseline in their parents, and the cIMT was repeated after 3 years of follow-up in the children at a mean age of 11±2 years (53% girls and 47% boys). Weak but significant positive associations were evident between children’s circulating ferritin levels and cIMT ( r =0.123; P =0.001) and with the change in cIMT 3 years later a tendency was also observed ( r =0.185; P =0.048). In multiple regression analyses, circulating ferritin levels contributed independently to cIMT variance (β=0.090; P =0.026; R 2 =10%) and cIMT change variance (β=0.216; P =0.019; R 2 = 3.4%) after controlling for body mass index, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, age, sex, and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels. This association was, however, remarkably significant (β=0.509; P =0.001; R 2 = 20.4%) in children whose fathers had ferritin levels above the median value (122.5 ng/mL).The latter association remained significant after correction for multiple testing. Maternal’s ferritin levels showed no interaction in this association. Conclusions— These results suggest a paternal-specific effect on cIMT partially reflected by father’s ferritin levels.

Summary Background Increased uric acid is an independent biomarker for cardiovascular disease in obese adolescents and adults. Objective We investigated whether uric acid relates to carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in prepubertal children, and whether body mass index (BMI) and preperitoneal fat modulate this association. Methods 359 asymptomatic prepubertal Caucasian children were stratified according to BMI categories (171 with BMI-SDS 50th centile). Uric acid levels, insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance; HOMA-IR), C-reactive protein (CRP), triacylglycerol (TG), systolic blood pressure (SBP), abdominal fat and cIMT (both by ultrasound) were assessed. Results Uric acid was associated with several cardiovascular risk factors, namely higher HOMA-IR, CRP, TG, BMI, waist, SBP, preperitoneal fat and cIMT (all P

Land-use driven habitat modification is a major driver of biodiversity loss and impoverishment of interaction diversity. This may affect ecosystem services such as pollination and biological control. Our objective is to analyze the effects of local (nesting environment: farms vs. tree stands) and landscape (forest-cropland gradient) factors on the structure and composition of a cavity-nesting bee-wasp (CNBW) community, their nests associates (henceforth parasitoids), and their interactions. We set up 24 nest-trapping stations in a fragmented, extensively farmed area of ~100 km². We obtained 2035 nests containing 7572 brood cells representing 17 bee and 18 wasp species, attacked by 20 parasitoid species. Community structure and composition, as well as network structure, were much more dependent on local than on landscape factors. Host abundance and richness were higher in farms. In addition, host abundance was positively correlated to cropland cover. We also found highly significant differences between nesting environments in host community composition. Structure and composition of the parasitoid community were conditioned by the structure and composition of the host community. Network structure was affected by nesting environment but not by landscape factors. Interactions tended to be more diverse in farms. This result was mostly explained by differences in network size (greater in farms). However, generality was significantly higher in farms even after controlling for network size, indicating that differences in species' interaction patterns associated to differences in community composition between the two nesting environments are also affecting network structure. In conclusion, open habitats associated with extensively farmed exploitations favor local CNBW diversity (especially bees) and result in more complex host-parasitoid interaction networks in comparison to forested areas. The conservation value of this kind of open habitat is important in view of the progressive abandonment of extensively cultivated farmland taking place in Europe at the expense of agricultural intensification and reforestation.

The brown rot caused by Monilinia fructicola is the most important disease in Prunus species in places of hot and humid climate. The development of resistant cultivars is a priority of breeding programs located in humid regions. However, very few sources of good resistance level are known in spite of all the efforts. This work aimed to evaluate the reaction of peach genotypes to M. fructicola. The study was conducted during the 2012/13 season, using a completely randomized design, with two replications of five fruit per plot. Fruit at firm maturation stage (harvest point) of 174 genotypes, including, cultivars, selections and seedlings, were selected for absence of apparent damage and/or infection. These fruits were dipped for 1 min in 70% alcohol, followed by a 5 min immersion in a 0.5% solution of NaClO. After a 10 min rest period they were washed in distilled water and placed in plastic transparent boxes (24.0 x 23.0 x 10.0 cm), lined with moistened filter paper. The inoculation was made, by deposition of a 10µL drop suspension of 25,000 conidia mL-1 of the pathogen using an inoculation syringe. Inoculated fruits were incubated at 25±1°C and 75% relative humidity for 72 hours. After this period, the samples were evaluated for disease incidence (% of diseased fruits) and disease severity (average diameter of lesions and sporulation). The results were compared with the average lesion of cv. ‘Bolinha’, 0.9 cm (Iƒ=0.9). The seedlings C. 2008.174.12 (Cascata 1062 A— Marfim), C.2006.45.4 (Olimpia A— SB 26), C.2009. 77.14 (Cascata 1510 A— Libra), C.2008.161.126 and C.2008. 161.37 (Cascata 1062 A— Maciel), C.2009. 173.33 and C.2009. 173.74 [(Olimpia A— SB 26) OP] C. 2006 198.71 (Jubileu A— Fu. Sou. Tao) and ‘SensaA§A£o’ showed the same level of resistance to brown rot as ‘Bolinha’.

Ecological communities are composed of species that interact with each other forming complex interaction networks. Although interaction networks have been usually treated as static entities, interactions show high levels of temporal variation, mainly due to temporal species turnover. Changes in taxonomic composition are likely to bring about changes in functional trait composition. Because functional traits influence the likelihood that two species interact, temporal changes in functional composition and structure may ultimately affect interaction network structure. Here, we study the seasonality (spring vs. summer) in a community of cavity-nesting solitary bees and wasps (‘hosts’) and their nest associates (‘parasitoids’). We analyze seasonal changes in taxonomic compostion and structure, as well as in functional traits, of the host and parasitoid communities. We also analyze whether these changes result in changes in percent parasitism and interaction network structure. Our host and parasitoid communities are strongly seasonal. Host species richness increases from spring to summer. This results in important seasonal changes in functional composition of the host community. The spring community (almost exclusively composed of bees) is characterized by large, univoltine, adult-wintering host species. The summer community (composed of both bees and wasps) is dominated by smaller, bivoltine, prepupa-wintering species. Host functional diversity is higher in summer than in spring. Importantly, these functional changes are not only explained by the addition of wasp species in summer. Functional changes in the parasitoid community are much less pronounced, probably due to the lower parasitoid species turnover. Despite these important taxonomic and functional changes, levels of parasitism did not change across seasons. Two network metrics (generality and interaction evenness) increased from spring to summer. These changes can be explained by the seasonal increase in species richness (and therefore network size). The seasonal shift from a bee-dominated community in spring to a wasp-dominated community in summer suggests a change in ecosystem function, with emphasis on pollination in spring to emphasis on predation in summer.

The pitanga ( Eugenia uniflora L.) belongs to Myrtaceae family, and it is native to an area extended from central Brazil through to the north of Argentina. The common name, pitanga, is from the Tupy indigenous language, “pi'tag”, meaning red, in reference to the fruit color. The pitanga has the appearance of a small pumpkin, is a green color when immature and, when ripened, may have orange, red to dark purple color. This species is well known by the Brazilian population, and has long been used in folk medicine for different purposes. The chemical fruit composition is highly variable, with an average of 77% pulp and 23% seed, and is rich in calcium, phosphorus, anthocyanin and flavonoids, carotenoids, phenolic compounds, anthocyanin, and vitamin C. The potential uses of pitanga abound. In addition to the fresh market, fruits can be used for industrialization as frozen pulp, juices, nectars, icecream, and jellies. In addition to the processing possibilities, therapeutic properties of the pitanga leaves are known. However, despite all the knowledge on possible uses of fruits, leaves, and wood of this species, its use is still very limited, leaving the commercial exploitation of its fruits restricted to northeast of Brazil, where they are used for pulp and juice production. With regard to the leaves, the essential oil is used in the manufacture of cosmetics. More recently, in southern Brazil, the pitanga has been used in very small amounts for the manufacture of nectars by some small business, and are generally sold only in the local market, mainly at fairs and exhibitions.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The sequence of prenatal growth restraint and postnatal catch-up growth may lead to hepato-visceral adiposity, insulin resistance and low-grade inflammation before the onset of puberty. In prepubertal children born appropriate for gestational age (AGA) or small for gestational age (SGA), we assessed potential relationships between the aforementioned sequence and liver volume. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The study population consisted of 86 children (41 AGA and 45 SGA with catch-up growth; age (mean±s.e.m.), 8.5±0.1 years), recruited into two prospective longitudinal studies. Anthropometry, endocrine-metabolic variables and inflammatory and hepatic markers were assessed, along with liver volume, hepatic adiposity and abdominal fat partitioning (by magnetic resonance imaging). RESULTS: AGA and SGA children differed in hepato-visceral adiposity, but had similar liver volumes. Boys had larger livers than girls, and higher sex hormone binding globulin and inflammation markers. Liver volume correlated with height Z-score, body mass index Z-score, HOMA-IR (homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance) and with subcutaneous and visceral fat, but not with birth weight Z-score or with hepatic adiposity. Height, visceral fat, gender and HOMA-IR were major determinants of liver volume, together explaining 61% of its variance. CONCLUSIONS: The trajectory from prenatal restraint, via postnatal catch-up, to hepato-visceral adiposity and insulin resistance does not appear to be detectably influenced by prepubertal alterations of liver volume. Further follow-up will disclose the potential role of liver volume in the pubertal segment of this trajectory, and whether the augmented fat content and visceral adiposity in SGA subjects is followed by the development of metabolic syndrome and hepatic dysfunction in adulthood.

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is the cause of a chronic enteritis of ruminants (bovine paratuberculosis-Johne disease) that is associated with enormous worldwide economic losses for the animal production industries. Diagnosis is based on observation of clinical signs, on the detection of antibodies in milk or serum or on evaluation of bacterial culture from feces. The limit of these methods is that they are not able to detect the disease in the subclinical stage and are applicable only when the disease is already in an advanced status. For this reason the main purpose of this study is to use the MAP proteome to detect novel immunoreactive proteins that may be helpful for paratuberculosis diagnoses. 2D electrophoresis and 2D immunoblotting of MAP proteins were performed using sera of control cattle and paratuberculosis infected cattle in order to highlight the specific immunoreactive proteins. Among the assigned identifiers to immunoreactive spots it was found that most of them correspond to surface-located proteins while three of them have never been described before as antigens. The identification of these proteins improves scientific knowledge that could be useful for paratuberculosis diagnoses. The sequence of the identified protein can be used for the synthesis of immunoreactive peptides that could be screened for their immunoreaction against bovine sera infected with MAP. All MS data have been deposited in the ProteomeXchange Consortium with identifier PXD001159 and DOI 10.6019/PXD001159. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Apolipoprotein A-I (Apo A-I) is a major protein in lipid/lipoprotein metabolism and decreased serum levels have been observed in many species in response to inflammatory and infectious challenges. Little is known about the porcine homologue, therefore in this work we have characterized it through biochemical and proteomic techniques. In 2DE, porcine serum Apo A-I is found as three spots, the two more acidic ones corresponding to the mature protein, the more basic spot to the protein precursor. Despite high sequence coverage in LC-MS/MS, we did not find a sequence or PTM difference between the two mature protein species. Besides this biochemical characterization, we measured overall levels and relative species abundance of serum Apo A-I in four different viral and bacterial porcine infectious diseases. Lower overall amounts of Apo A-I were observed in Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli infections. In the 2DE protein pattern, an increase of the protein precursor together with a lower level of mature protein species were detected in the porcine circovirus type 2-systemic disease and S. typhimurium infection. These results reveal that both the porcine serum Apo A-I concentration and the species pattern are influenced by the nature of the infectious disease.

Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels [25(OH)D] may increase the risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). In pregnant women excessive weight gain and 25(OH)D deficiency are common complications and both could have deleterious consequences on their children. We aimed to study the relationship between serum 25(OH)D and CVD risk factors in pregnant women and in their offspring at school age. Fasting serum 25(OH)D and its bioavailable fraction were quantified in 310 healthy pregnant women [with adequate (n = 113), insufficient (n = 113) and excessive (n = 84) weight gain]. A follow-up at 5–6 years was performed in sixty-six children born of these mothers. Lipids, insulin, glucose, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were measured in all subjects. Children’s carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) together with visceral and intra-abdominal fat were measured by ultrasonography. Lower maternal 25(OH)D concentrations were associated with lower maternal age, and higher body mass index, triglycerides and hsCRP (all p

The objective of this work was to evaluate the broad-sense heritability reaction to bacterial leaf spot (Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni), in peach tree populations obtained from directed crosses. Disease severity and defoliation of the genotypes were evaluated in field conditions, with posterior measurement of the healthy leaf area duration (HAD). The observed average heritability (0.51) indicates that the use of the evaluated genitors can be effective for the development of cultivars with higher resistance to the disease. Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a herdabilidade no sentido amplo da reação à bacteriose foliar (Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni), em populações de pessegueiro obtidas de cruzamentos dirigidos. A severidade da doença e a desfolha dos genótipos foram avaliadas em campo, com posterior mensuração da duração da área foliar sadia (HAD). A herdabilidade média observada (0,51) indica que a utilização dos genitores avaliados pode ser efetiva para o desenvolvimento de cultivares com maior resistência à doença.