•Practices on animal health monitoring have been investigated.•We focused on Informational Resources that farmers use to pilot animal health.•Six types of informational resources are used by farmers ...and cited by their advisors.•Farmers primarily use informal sensory indicators based on daily herd observations.•Under-estimated sensory indicators could lead to a gap of communication.
Managers of health in livestock systems are asked to shift from a curative approach to a more preventive approach. This change requires sociological and technical reconfiguration and raises the issue of how changes are implemented by farmers and their technical support ecosystem (advisors, trainers, veterinarians). Here, we report work conducted in western France by an Agricultural European Innovation Partnership Operational Group bringing together animal scientists and sociologists to advance knowledge on animal health in a range of livestock sectors, i.e. dairy cattle, beef cattle, small ruminants (sheep, goats), poultry and pigs. In this study, our aim was to answer this question: what are the Informational Resources (I.R.) that farmers use to promote animal health of their herds? First, we used a survey to characterize 129 I.R. used by advisors, then, we used statistical analysis to classify these I.R. into six clusters. Second, we organized eight focus-group sessions that involved a total of 50 farmers from across all livestock sectors to find out how they mobilize the I.R. and what they see as important for animal health monitoring practice. Finally, we performed individual interviews with 42 farmers to expand the data captured in the collective focus groups. Results showed that farmers and advisors have a broad and diverse range of I.R. to help monitor animal health. We identified six clusters of I.R.: regulatory tools, periodic reports, tools for farmer-led monitoring, tools and indicators for national reference datasets, slaughterhouse and laboratory indicators, and training delivered to farmers. During focus group, livestock farmers identified some of their I.R. within these clusters but they also cited other daily routines that help them monitor animal health that were not cited by advisors. We found that farmers mainly use sensory indicators (typically smell, sight, touch) in their daily practice whereas advisors mainly use relatively sophisticated retrospective monitoring tools. Farmers also cited the importance of indicators that can rapidly objectify any change in animal condition, behavior, or health. This work finds a split in the distribution of animal health management roles, with farmers implementing daily checks whereas advisors run periodic health surveillance, thus revealing differentiated roles and needs between farmers and their advisors.
•Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) modulates several biological functions, including pain.•NOP(-/-) mice displayed a pronociceptive phenotype in the orofacial formalin test (OFF).•In the OFF the NOP ...agonist Ro 65-6570 evoked antinociceptive effects.•The effects of Ro 65-6570 and morphine were additive.•The mixed NOP/opioid receptor agonist cebranopadol evoked potent antinociceptive effects.
Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) modulates several biological functions, including pain transmission via selective activation of a specific receptor named NOP. The aim of this study was the investigation of the antinociceptive properties of NOP agonists and their interaction with opioids in the trigeminal territory. The orofacial formalin (OFF) test in mice was used to investigate the antinociceptive potential associated to the activation of NOP and opioid receptors. Mice subjected to OFF test displayed the typical biphasic nociceptive response and sensitivity to opioid and NSAID drugs. Mice knockout for the NOP gene displayed a robust pronociceptive phenotype. The NOP selective agonist Ro 65-6570 (0.1–1mgkg−1) and morphine (0.1–10mgkg−1) elicited dose dependent antinociceptive effects in the OFF with the alkaloid showing larger effects; the isobologram analysis of their actions demonstrated an additive type of interaction. The mixed NOP/opioid receptor agonist cebranopadol elicited potent (0.01–0.1mgkg−1) and robust antinociceptive effects. In the investigated dose range, all drugs did not modify the motor performance of the mice in the rotarod test. Collectively the results of this study demonstrated that selective NOP agonists and particularly mixed NOP/opioid agonists are worthy of development as innovative drugs to treat painful conditions of the trigeminal territory.
The objective of this work was to determine the interference periods of weeds of the bell pepper cultivar ‘Dahra’. Two experiments were conducted during the years 2014/15 (harvest with lower ...rainfall) and 2015/16 (harvest with higher rainfall). The treatments consisted of 11 growing periods of cohabitation and weed control with ‘Dahra’ bell peppers: 14, 28, 42, 56, 70, 84, 98, 112, 126, 140 and 154 days after transplanting (DAT). For the determination of the interference periods, the productivity data were analyze using the Boltzmann sigmoidal regression model. The main weeds were Eleusine indica, Brachiaria plantaginea, Digitaria nuda and Nicandra physaloides for presenting high biomass and relative density. The concomitance of these weeds caused losses of up to 85.22% (2014/15) and 86.2% (2015/16) in the fruit yield. It was found that, respectively, for the years 2014/15 and 2015/16, the period before the interference was 17 and 11 DAT, and the total interference prevention period of 71 and 89 DAT. Considering a tolerance of 5% in reducing bell pepper yield, it is recommended that weed control be performed from 11 to 89 DAT.
RESUMO: Objetivou-se com este trabalho determinar os períodos de interferência de plantas daninhas infestantes do pimentão cultivar Dahra. Dois experimentos foram conduzidos durante os anos 2014/15 (safra com menor precipitação pluviométrica) e 2015/16 (safra com maior precipitação pluviométrica). Os tratamentos consistiram de 11 períodos crescentes de convivência e controle das plantas daninhas com o pimentão Dahra: 14, 28, 42, 56, 70, 84, 98, 112, 126, 140 e 154 dias após o transplantio (DAT). Para a determinação dos períodos de interferência, os dados de produtividade foram analisados utilizando o modelo de regressão sigmoidal de Boltzmann. As principais plantas daninhas foram Eleusine indica, Brachiaria plantaginea, Digitaria nuda e Nicandra physaloides, por apresentarem alta biomassa e densidade relativa. A convivência com as plantas daninhas provocou perdas na produtividade de frutos de 85,22% (2014/15) e 86,2% (2015/16). Constatou-se que, respectivamente, para os anos 2014/15 e 2015/16, o período anterior à interferência foi dos 17 aos 11 DAT, e o período total de prevenção à interferência, dos 71 aos 89 DAT. Considerando uma tolerância de 5% na redução da produtividade do pimentão, recomenda-se que o controle das plantas daninhas seja realizado de 11 a 89 DAT.
The presence of weeds may affect both growth and nutrition of agricultural crops due to interference. The objective was to evaluate the interference of weeds in the dry mass distribution and in the ...accumulation of dry mass and macronutrients in eggplant. The treatments consisted of increasing weed-free and weedy periods (0-14, 0-28, 0-42, 0-56, 0-70, 0-84, 0-98, 0-112, 0-126, 0-140 and 0-154 days after transplanting) in eggplant ‘Nápoli’. The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design with three replicates. Weeds affected the distribution of dry mass between vegetative and reproductive organs of eggplant. There was a significant reduction in the accumulation of dry mass and macronutrients when weeds grew with eggplant crop beyond 42 days after transplanting, reaching the maximum reduction of 79%, 75%, 80%, 82%, 83%, 83% and 80% in the accumulation of dry mass, K, N, Ca, Mg, P and S, respectively. Therefore, the weed community significantly affects the growth and mineral nutrition of eggplant ‘Napoli’, and there should be no weed-crop coexistence beyond 28 days after seedling transplanting.
RESUMO: A convivência com plantas daninhas pode afetar o crescimento e a nutrição de culturas agrícolas devido à interferência. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a interferência das plantas daninhas na distribuição de massa seca e no acúmulo de massa seca e de macronutrientes em plantas de berinjela. Os tratamentos consistiram de períodos crescentes de convivência e de controle de plantas daninhas (0-14, 0-28, 0-42, 0-56, 0-70, 0-84, 0-98, 0-112, 0-126, 0-140 e 0-154 dias após o transplantio) na cultura da berinjela cultivar Nápoli. O experimento foi disposto em delineamento em blocos casualizados com três repetições. As plantas daninhas afetaram a distribuição de massa seca entre os órgãos vegetativos e reprodutivos das plantas de berinjela. Houve redução expressiva no acúmulo de massa seca e macronutrientes quando as plantas daninhas conviveram com a cultura de berinjela além de 42 dias após o transplante, atingindo a máxima redução de 79%, 75%, 80%, 82%, 83%, 83% e 80% no acúmulo de massa seca, K, N, Ca, Mg, P e S, respectivamente. Portanto, a comunidade infestante afeta significativamente o crescimento e a nutrição mineral de berinjela Nápoli, não devendo haver convivência além de 28 dias após o transplante das mudas.
Results obtained by the RPC ECOgas@GIF++ Collaboration, using Resistive Plate Chambers operated with new, eco-friendly gas mixtures, based on tetrafluoropropene and carbon dioxide, are shown and ...discussed in this paper. Tests aimed to assess the performance of this kind of detectors in high-irradiation conditions, analogous to the ones foreseen for the coming years at the Large Hadron Collider experiments, were performed, and demonstrate a performance basically similar to the one obtained with the gas mixtures currently in use, based on tetrafluoroethane, which is being progressively phased out for its possible contribution to the greenhouse effect. Long term aging tests are also being carried out, with the goal to demonstrate the possibility of using these eco-friendly gas mixtures during the whole High Luminosity phase of the Large Hadron Collider.
Resistive Plate Chamber detectors are largely used in current High Energy Physics experiments, typically operated in avalanche mode with large fractions of Tetrafluoroethane (C2H2F4), a gas recently ...banned by the European Union due to its high Global Warming Potential (GWP). An intense R&D activity is ongoing to improve RPC technology in view of future HEP applications. In the last few years the RPC EcoGas@GIF++ Collaboration has been putting in place a joint effort between the ALICE, ATLAS, CMS, LHCb/SHiP and EP-DT Communities to investigate the performance of present and future RPC generations with eco-friendly gas mixtures. Detectors with different layout and electronics have been operated with ecological gas mixtures, with and without irradiation at the CERN Gamma Irradiation Facility (GIF++). Results of these performance studies together with plans for an aging test campaign are discussed in this article.
Awareness of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and antimicrobial use in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) is increasing. In 2017, the third national point prevalence survey (PPS) was conducted ...in Italy as part of the third ‘Healthcare-Associated Infections in European Long-Term Care Facilities’ (HALT3) study.
To report the results of HALT3 and analyse the resident population of LTCFs, implementation of good practices, prevalence of infections and antimicrobial use.
The survey was designed as a PPS, carried out from April to June 2017. All residents who lived full-time in the institution were included. All facilities were asked to complete an institutional questionnaire, a ward list for all residents, and a resident questionnaire for those residents presenting with signs/symptoms of active infection and/or receiving an antimicrobial agent.
In total, 418 facilities took part in the study; 24,132 residents were eligible, and most were aged >85 years, disoriented and incontinent. The prevalence of HAIs was 3.9%, and 50% of the institutions reported that they had a professional trained in infection control on their staff. Only 26.4% of infections were confirmed by a microbiological sample, and 26.9% of the isolated micro-organisms were resistant to at least one antimicrobial class. In total, 1022 residents received at least one antimicrobial agent, and cephalosporins were prescribed most commonly.
The number of infection control and antimicrobial stewardship measures implemented was found to be considerably higher in this study compared with previous studies. This could lead to a reduction in the prevalence of HAIs, antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance. Further studies are needed to monitor these aspects.
The electric responses of electrochemical capacitors produced with electrodes build up of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) deposited on Fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) coated glass have been ...experimentally investigated by cyclic voltammetry measurements. According to our experimental data, the parametric curve of the current in the circuit versus the external voltage is a continuous curve without discontinuity points respect to the inversion points of the external voltage. A few equivalent electric circuits able to reproduce the electric response of the capacitor are discussed. The dependence of the area delimited by the parametric cyclic voltammetry curve on the elements of the circuit is investigated. The possible evaluation of the effective capacitance of the capacitor by the numerical evaluation of the area delimited by the parametric curve is critically discussed and the limit of the procedure is underlined. A model based on the Poisson-Nernst-Planck theory with adsorbing electrodes is developed and used to fit the experimental voltammogram. The agreement between the theoretical model and the experimental data is good, indicating the importance of the adsorption phenomenon in the electric response of electrochemical capacitor to an external electric field.
The interface between the semiconductor and the dye is one of the fundamental parameters that directly impact the dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) performance. In this paper the coupling between a ...prototype organic sensitizer and inorganic oxides is studied by a combined experimental and theoretical approach. In particular, the interface properties of the hemi-squaraine molecule (CT1) anchored onto the TiO2 and ZnO surfaces are investigated. Experimental results evidence that, beside the comparable surface coverage of the dye on both the oxides and the very fast chemisorption kinetics, TiO2 photoanodes give much larger solar cell efficiency values. Theoretical calculations based on density functional theory and time dependent density functional theory show that this difference is due to the stronger electronic coupling occurring between the CT1 anchoring group (the squaric acid) and the TiO2 surface. In this case, chemisorption induces a larger red-shift in the dye optical absorption which extends the range of harvestable frequencies if compared to the isolated dye. Moreover, the CT1/TiO2 system is characterized by an extended electron delocalization of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital involving the substrate cations, which gives rise to easier electron injection, as confirmed by the incident photon-to-electron conversion efficiency measurements. This study demonstrates that a given dye anchoring group, although being able to form strong chemical bonds with different oxide surfaces, may be responsible for very different DSSCs performances depending on the electronic rearrangement that it undergoes upon attachment to the substrate.
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