• Canada
• Publicationsclose
• Article close
• BR close

In the breeding of broiler house, the proper use of lighting systems has great influence on the welfare and the productivity of the birds. The objective was to evaluate two artificial lighting systems used in broiler house in terms of the allocative efficiency of luminance. One of the broiler house was closed with black raffia bag (dark house), without thermal insulation (NTI) and its lighting was composed of incandescent, compact fluorescent light (LFCs) and light emitting diode (LED) bulbs. The other broiler house was closed with extruded polystyrene panels (XPS) and thermally insulated (TI), and its lighting was composed of compact fluorescent lamps. The influence of external light of sun inside the broiler house was analyzed by means of exhaust holes and the degree of distribution of illumination through statistical analyzes and the study of the distribution uniformity coefficient (DUC). Contour maps were prepared showing the degree of internal luminance distribution for each broiler house, specifically in the area that did not suffer interference from external natural sunlight. The results showed that natural lighting influenced the internal lighting across the last 18 meters at the end of the broiler house and there was a more homogeneous lighting in the broiler house TI. Al criar pollos de engorde, el uso adecuado de los programas de iluminación es un factor que influye directamente en el bienestar y la productividad de las aves. Así, el objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar dos sistemas de iluminación artificial utilizados en aviarios de pollos de engorde, en cuanto a su eficiencia de iluminación distributiva. Uno de los aviarios se cerró con un sistema convencional de lona de rafia oscura (Dark house), sin aislamiento térmico (N.ISO) y su sistema de iluminación consistió en lámparas incandescentes, fluorescentes compactas y LED. La otra casa se cerró con isopaneles de poliestireno extruido (XPS), y se aisló térmicamente (ISO) y su sistema de iluminación estaba compuesto únicamente por lámparas fluorescentes compactas. Se analizó la extensión de la influencia de la luz solar externa al interior de la vivienda, a través de los extractores, y el grado de distribución de la iluminación en las viviendas mediante el análisis estadístico y el estudio del coeficiente de uniformidad de distribución (CUD). Se elaboraron mapas de isolíneas que muestran el grado de distribución de iluminancia interna de cada vivienda, concretamente en la zona que no sufrió interferencias de la luz solar natural externa. Los resultados mostraron que la luz solar natural externa influyó en la iluminación interior durante los últimos 18 metros al final de la casa y la iluminación fue más homogénea en la casa ISO. Na criação de frangos de corte o uso adequado de programas de iluminação é um fator que influencia diretamente o bem-estar e a produtividade das aves. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar dois sistemas de iluminação artificial utilizados em aviários de frango de corte, quanto à sua eficiência distributiva de iluminamento. Um dos aviários foi fechado com sistema convencional de lona de ráfia escura (Dark house), sem isolamento térmico (N.ISO) e seu sistema de iluminação foi composto por lâmpadas incandescentes, fluorescente compacta e led. O outro aviário foi fechado com isopainéis de poliestireno extrudado (XPS), e isolado termicamente (ISO) e seu sistema de iluminação foi composto somente por lâmpadas fluorescente compacta. Foram analisados o alcance da influência da luz solar externa para o interior do aviário, por meio dos exaustores, e o grau de distribuição da iluminação nos aviários por meio de análises estatísticas e do estudo do coeficiente de uniformidade de distribuição (CUD). Foram elaborados mapas de isolinhas mostrando o grau de distribuição de iluminância interna para cada aviário, especificamente na área que não sofreu interferência da iluminação solar natural externa. Os resultados mostraram que a iluminação solar natural externa influenciou a iluminação interna ao longo dos últimos 18 metros no final do aviário e a iluminação foi mais homogênea no aviário ISO.

The evolution of massive stars is still partly unconstrained. Mass, metallicity, mass loss and rotation are the main drivers of stellar evolution. Binarity and magnetic field may also significantly affect the fate of massive stars. Our goal is to investigate the evolution of single O stars in the Galaxy. For that, we use a sample of 74 objects comprising all luminosity classes and spectral types from O4 to O9.7. We rely on optical spectroscopy obtained in the context of the MiMeS survey of massive stars. We perform spectral modelling with the code CMFGEN. We determine the surface properties of the sample stars, with special emphasis on abundances of carbon, nitrogen and oxygen. Most of our sample stars have initial masses in the range 20 to 50 Msun. We show that nitrogen is more enriched and carbon/oxygen more depleted in supergiants than in dwarfs, with giants showing intermediate degrees of mixing. CNO abundances are observed in the range of values predicted by nucleosynthesis through the CNO cycle. More massive stars, within a given luminosity class, appear to be more chemically enriched than lower mass stars. We compare our results with predictions of three types of evolutionary models and show that, for two sets of models, 80% of our sample can be explained by stellar evolution including rotation. The effect of magnetism on surface abundances is unconstrained. Our study indicates that, in the 20-50 Msun mass range, the surface chemical abundances of most single O stars in the Galaxy are fairly well accounted for by stellar evolution of rotating stars. Comment: 15 pages, 12 figures. Accepted in Astronomy & Astrophysics

Estrogen receptor (ER)-negative tumors represent 20-30% of all breast cancers, with a higher proportion occurring in younger women and women of African ancestry. The etiology and clinical behavior of ER-negative tumors are different from those of tumors expressing ER (ER positive), including differences in genetic predisposition. To identify susceptibility loci specific to ER-negative disease, we combined in a metaanalysis 3 genome-wide association studies of 4,193 ER-negative breast cancer cases and 35,194 controls with a series of 40 follow-up studies (6,514 cases and 41,455 controls), genotyped using a custom Illumina array, iCOGS, developed by the Collaborative Oncological Gene-environment Study (COGS). SNPs at four loci, 1q32.1 (MDM4, P= 2.1 x 10(-12) and LGR6, P = 1.4 x 10(-8)), 2p24.1 (P = 4.6 x 10(-8)) and 16q12.2 (FTO, P = 4.0 x 10(-8)), were associated with ER-negative but not ER-positive breast cancer (P> 0.05). These findings provide further evidence for distinct etiological pathways associated with invasive ER-positive and ER-negative breast cancers.

Abstract Leptin is a hormone involved in the regulation of food intake, with receptors largely expressed centrally and peripherally, in structures like the hypothalamus and the liver. Beyond its well-known actions as an energy-balance regulator, leptin is linked to psychiatric disorders. Considering that the association between genetic and early environmental factors contributes to psychopathology, disruptions of leptin signaling could be a key mechanism in this interaction. To investigate this possibility, we created an expression-based polygenic risk score (ePRS) reflecting variations in the function of the LepR gene network in the liver and hypothalamus, and investigated its interaction with postnatal adversity on Child Behavior Checklist in 4 years old children (main cohort: MAVAN, N=137) and 17 years old teenagers (Replication Cohort: ALSPAC, N=2630). There is an interaction effect between adversity exposure and liver-based LepR-ePRS, increasing depressive and anxiety problems on the MAVAN cohort (β=78.16, p=0.02, β=83.77, p=0.01). In ALSPAC, the results were replicated, showing an interaction between adversity exposure and liver-based LepR-ePRS, increasing the depression score and somatic symptoms (β=24.65, p=0.005; β=33.51, p=0.009). No significant interactions were found using the hypothalamus-based LepR-ePRS (p>0.05), suggesting specificity for the liver LepR gene network to predict these behavioral outcomes. A parallel-independent component analysis showed relationships between the SNPs from the liver ePRS-LepR and gray matter density in cortical areas involved in emotion regulation (middle frontal gyrus, inferior parietal lobule and anterior cingulate). Finally, the relationship between gene and MRI components in this analysis is moderated by the history of early life adversity exposure. Enrichment analysis of the liver LepR co-expression network shows that these genes are related to biological processes including regulation of glucose transport, cholesterol metabolism and cellular glucose homeostasis, which indicates possible underlying mechanisms linking peripheral metabolism-related gene expression and the development of emotional symptoms. Our data supports the hypothesis that exposure to early adversity affects emotional behavior, and the liver LepR gene network is an important moderator of these effects. Further studies on development of emotional symptoms should consider metabolic markers to understand these complex phenotypes.

Abstract Optimal nutrition can improve well-being and might mitigate the risk and morbidity associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This review summarizes nutritional guidelines to support dietary counseling provided by dietitians and health-related professionals. The majority of documents encouraged the consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grain foods. Thirty-one percent of the guidelines highlighted the importance of minerals and vitamins such as zinc and vitamins C, A, and D to maintain a well-functioning immune system. Dietary supplementation has not been linked to COVID-19 prevention. However, supplementation with vitamins C and D, as well as with zinc and selenium, was highlighted as potentially beneficial for individuals with, or at risk of, respiratory viral infections or for those in whom nutrient deficiency is detected. There was no convincing evidence that food or food packaging is associated with the transmission of COVID-19, but good hygiene practices for handling and preparing foods were recommended. No changes to breastfeeding recommendations have been made, even in women diagnosed with COVID-19.

Abstract. Dairy beverages containing emulsified linseed oil is a suitable vehicle for delivering polyunsaturated fatty acids to consumers. However, these beverages are prone to oxidation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of adding various concentrations (0, 0.001, 0.01 and 0.1% (w/w)) of green tea extract (GTE) to dairy beverages (DB) containing linseed oil (2.0%, w/w), in order to inhibit lipid oxidation during storage at high temperature (50 °C) or under fluorescent light exposure. During storage, the concentration of catechin (C), epicatechin (EC) and epicatechin gallate (ECG) were significantly reduced ( P ≤ 0.05) and degradation rate was greater when the DB were exposed to light (C 35%, EC 74% and ECG 68%) as compared to high temperature (C 34%, EC 45% and ECG 49%). In DB without GTE, the conjugated dienes (CD) hydroperoxides concentration increased significantly ( P ≤ 0.05) from 23 mmol kg−1fat to 243 mmol kg−1fat under 6-day-light exposition, and to 83 mmol kg−1fat under 6-day-heat temperature. The addition of GTE significantly increased the antioxidant capacity of DB and reduced the formation of CD, propanal and hexanal, induced by light exposure or high temperature. GTE at 0.10% completely inhibited CD formation during the storage period and reduced propanal and hexanal concentrations below the threshold.