Unexpected and delayed fragmentation dynamics of the organometallic ferrocene induced by ion-collision.

We have investigated the fragmentation dynamics of the organometallic ferrocene molecule after interaction with multiply charged ions using multicoincidence mass spectrometry and quantum chemistry calculations. We observed unexpected fragmentation dynamics of the two-body breakup channels from ferrocene dications revealing a charge screening effect from the iron atom and delayed fragmentation dynamics. These observations are rationalized through the population of a specific long-lived excited state, where one positive charge is located on each cyclopentadienyl ring.

Cattle welfare assessment at the slaughterhouse level: Integrated risk profiles based on the animal's origin, pre-slaughter logistics, and iceberg indicators.

Detection of on farm and transport animal welfare problems at slaughterhouse level is a key issue for the meat industry; however, usually, the assessments do not include basic aspects of animal health. For that reason, it is necessary to develop an assessment method that has an integrative scope and identifies the risk profiles in animals. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to detect cattle welfare indicators that can be implemented at the slaughterhouse level and to develop integrated risk profiles based on the animal's origin, pre-slaughter logistics, and animal-based indicators. We recorded the origin, commercial category, transportation details, and horn size of 1040 cattle upon arrival at the slaughterhouse. Cattle welfare was measured based on individual scores for vocalizations, stunning shots, carcass bruises, meat pH, severe hoof injuries, and organ condemnations. To characterize operational and logistic practices from the farm to the slaughterhouse, a two-step cluster analysis was applied to the aforementioned variables (production system, cattle type, horn size, journey distance, vehicle type), which identified four clusters: small feedlot and free-range profile (C1, n = 216, 20.8 %), feedlot profile (C2, n = 193, 18.6 %), culled dairy cows profile (C3, n = 262, 25.2 %), and free-range profile (C4, n = 369, 35.5 %). The animal's diet and environmental conditions might have influenced the development of hoof disorders in C1 animals (P = 0.023), the proportion of animals that were re-shot was highest in C2 animals (P = 0.033), and C3 and C4 animals were most likely to suffer injuries such as severe bruising (P = 0.001). In addition, the number of stunning shots, meat pH, carcass bruises, severe hoof injuries, and liver condemnations, explained a significant variation in the incidence of various health and welfare consequences based on an animal's origin, which confirmed their importance as 'welfare iceberg' indicators. The study provided detailed data that can be included into assessment methods for the welfare of slaughter cattle, which can be tailored to specific production systems.

A pilot study on the foraging behaviour of heifers in intensive silvopastoral and monoculture systems in the tropics.

Intensive silvopastoral systems (ISS) are a sustainable alternative to monoculture systems (MS). The presence of trees and legumes improves animal welfare due to the increased food quality and quantity and the presence of shade while providing a variety of environmental services. As cattle behaviour is greatly affected by environmental conditions, knowledge on the behavioural trade-offs that cattle make to meet their demands while foraging in different grazing systems is important, as this will help us understand the perceived advantages of ISS. This pilot study assessed the behaviour of heifers in an ISS (n=8 heifers) and MS (n=8 heifers) in the Mexican tropics during the dry and rainy seasons, and its relationship with forage availability, mean travelled distance and the temperature humidity index (THI). In both seasons, daily foraging times were longer in the MS than the ISS (P<0.01). The duration of rumination was higher for ISS (P<0.01) and the duration of lying was higher for the dry season (P<0.05). The decrease in foraging times in relation to THI was significantly higher in the ISS than in the MS (mean slope±SE: ISS=-4.64±0.34; MS=-2.34±0.22; t=-14.20, P<0.001). The results suggest that the forage availability and access to shade in the ISS allow cattle to rest longer and increase rumination, whereas cattle in MS spend more time searching for food and foraging at times of the day were the temperatures were higher as a compensatory strategy, which potentially decreases cattle's welfare and production qualities when compared with the ISS. In conclusion, ISS are likely to generate positive behavioural trade-offs that result in better welfare conditions and higher productive potential.

Livestock hauliers' attitudes, knowledge and current practices towards animal welfare, occupational wellbeing and transport risk factors: A Mexican survey.

Mexico is the 7th largest producer of beef in the world. The livestock transport is a vital component of today's world agrifood economy that directly impacts on the development of animal production, animal welfare, public policies, labor regulations, food safety, markets and consumers. In this study two aims were established; the first aim was to identify the attitudes and perceptions of commercial hauliers towards animal welfare and their influence on the accident risks. The second aim was to characterize the current practices of the commercial cattle transport in Mexico and to detect the risk factors for animal welfare and hauliers' wellbeing. The interviews were conducted individually at the hauliers' rest points, sanitary inspection points localized along the Federal Highway 57 or at the companies' offices of cattle transportation. We used univariate, bivariate and multivariate statistics based on a hierarchical cluster analysis. The results showed that cattle transport in Mexico is characterized for long travel distances because the cattle departed from farms in the southern states of Mexico to the feedlots located in central and northern regions of the country. The journeys of short and middle distances departed from the feedlots to the slaughterhouses. The hauliers' characteristics were: age from 29 to 48 years-old, elementary or secondary studies completed, 65% of hauliers mentioned six years of experience in cattle transport, they learned about cattle transportation by means of a family member who was already engaged in this activity. The cluster analysis identified four hauliers' groups: groups 1 and 3 were related to animal welfare and groups 2 and 4 less related to animal welfare. This study showed that empathy towards cattle was a key element in identifying hauliers at risk of road accidents during cattle transportation. Years of experience in cattle transport played an important role in emphasizing closer perceptions towards welfare. Considering current trends towards increased transport times and logistics stops, there is a need to develop systems of welfare assessment and decision-making that provide tools and protocols that can minimize the biological cost to animals and hauliers, which may have been underestimated in the past.

Long-distance transport of hair lambs: effect of location in pot-belly trailers on thermo-physiology, welfare and meat quality.

Livestock transport exposes animals to a range of potential stressors that may compromise their welfare and final product quality, and those effects typically increase with the distance travelled. In North America, producers often use pot-belly vehicles for long hauls but little is known about their suitability for transporting lambs. We followed two long-distance trips using pot-belly trailers carrying 500 lambs (each) from Northern to Central Mexico in winter, to measure possible effects on animal welfare and meat quality. Sixty lambs per trip were placed at different locations within the pot-belly trailer. Animals were equipped with iButton Thermochron® temperature devices, which registered body temperature throughout pre- and post-slaughter stages. Despite the rather cool winter conditions, lambs placed in the "belly" and "nose" compartments had higher body temperatures at loading, during transport and lairage and after slaughter (carcass temperature). Those lambs also had higher levels of plasma cortisol, glucose and creatine kinase (CK), and a higher neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio. Regarding meat quality, ultimate pH (24 h) was higher in all locations, especially in LT4 location. Overall, the results suggest a link between thermal stress during transport, elevated physiological indicators of stress and poorer meat quality.

Application of the Hands-On Donkey Tool for Assessing the Welfare of Working Equids at Tuliman, Mexico.

Equids are still used for diverse chores in Mexico and are essential for the livelihoods of numerous families. Appropriate health and behavior are prerequisites for performing work without affecting welfare. This study aimed to assess the welfare of working equids in Tuliman, applying the hands-on donkey tool. This tool evaluates five dimensions (behavior, body condition score [BCS], wounds, lameness, and other health issues) and was applied to 438 working equids (horses, mules, and donkeys). The Kruskall-Wallis test was applied to investigate differences between species and sex. Donkeys were more common; they also presented more positive behaviors and less lameness (p < 0.05). No differences were found for BCS among species on a scale ranging from 1 to 5 (mean BCS for donkeys = 1.9; mules = 2; and horses = 1.8). Mares had significantly lower BCS (mean = 1.5) than stallions (p < 0.05) and geldings (mean = 1.9). Overall mules had better welfare evaluations. The tool allowed detection of welfare issues in working equids; a practical outcome would be implementing local welfare strategies according to its results.

Histological differences in the adrenal glands and cortisol levels of suckling dairy goat kids in enriched and non-enriched environments.

Intensive production systems can negatively affect the welfare of goats. Environmental enrichment techniques can be used to reduce stress. The aim of this study was analyze the effect of environmental enrichment on the histological characteristics of adrenal glands, cortisol levels and weekly weight gain of suckling Alpine French male kids under confinement. A randomised design was used to test the effect of the treatment. The animals (n=20) were randomly assigned to two treatments (enriched and non-enriched) with two replicates each. Enrichment elements included elevated sacks of henequen, trunks, tires and coconuts. The cortisol levels were measured weekly. Male kids were euthanized when their weight reached 10kg, and immediately after euthanasia, samples of the adrenal glands were collected. The adrenal glands were weighed and measured, and histological sections were taken and fixed. Four hundred cells were measured from each animal, with two blind measurements taken from each sample. There were no significant differences between experimental groups (P>0.05) in the weigh, size, the area of cells from the glomerulosa and fasciculata areas of the adrenal glands, the cortisol levels and weekly weight gain. However, there were histological differences between the glomerular and fascicular zones of the left and right adrenal glands of the different groups (P<0.05). These findings suggest that adrenal glands of animals in non-enriched environment, contained histological changes, suggestive of increased activity. We suggest testing adrenal histology as an indicator of stress and recommend the use of environmental enrichment as a means to reduce stress.

Stochastic resonance in the synaptic transmission between hair cells and vestibular primary afferents in development.

The stochastic resonance (SR) is a phenomenon of nonlinear systems in which the addition of an intermediate level of noise improves the response of such system. Although SR has been studied in isolated hair cells and in the bullfrog sacculus, the occurrence of this phenomenon in the vestibular system in development is unknown. The purpose of the present study was to explore for the existence of SR via natural mechanical-stimulation in the hair cell-vestibular primary afferent transmission. In vitro experiments were performed on the posterior semicircular canal of the chicken inner ear during development. Our experiments showed that the signal-to-noise ratio of the afferent multiunit activity from E15 to P5 stages of development exhibited the SR phenomenon, which was characterized by an inverted U-like response as a function of the input noise level. The inverted U-like graphs of SR acquired their higher amplitude after the post-hatching stage of development. Blockage of the synaptic transmission with selective antagonists of the NMDA and AMPA/Kainate receptors abolished the SR of the afferent multiunit activity. Furthermore, computer simulations on a model of the hair cell - primary afferent synapse qualitatively reproduced this SR behavior and provided a possible explanation of how and where the SR could occur. These results demonstrate that a particular level of mechanical noise on the semicircular canals can improve the performance of the vestibular system in their peripheral sensory processing even during embryonic stages of development.

Social behaviour of cattle in tropical silvopastoral and monoculture systems.

Silvopastoral systems can be a good alternative for sustainable livestock production because they can provide ecosystem services and improve animal welfare. Most farm animals live in groups and the social organization and interactions between individuals have an impact on their welfare. Therefore, the objective of this study was to describe and compare the social behaviour of cattle (Bos indicus×Bos taurus) in a silvopastoral system based on a high density of leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) combined with guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus), star grass (Cynodon nlemfuensis) and some trees; with a monoculture system with C. nlemfuensis, in the region of Merida, Yucatán. Eight heifers in each system were observed from 0730 to 1530 h each day for 12 consecutive days during the dry season and 12 consecutive days during the rainy season. The animals followed a rotation between three paddocks, remaining 4 days in each paddock. The vegetation was characterized in the paddocks of the silvopastoral system to estimate the average percentage of shade provided. To make a comparison between systems, we used a t test with group dispersion, and Mann-Whitney tests with the frequency of affiliative and agonistic behaviours. We assessed differences in linearity and stability of dominance hierarchies using Landau's index and Dietz R-test, respectively. The distance of cows with respect to the centroid of the group was shorter, and non-agonistic behaviours were 62% more frequent in the intensive silvopastoral system than in the monoculture one. Heifers in the silvopastoral system had a more linear and non-random dominance hierarchy in both seasons (dry season: h'=0.964; rainy season: h'=0.988), than heifers in the monoculture system (dry season: h'=0.571, rainy season: h'=0.536). The dominance hierarchy in the silvopastoral system was more stable between seasons (R-test=0.779) than in the monoculture system (R-test=0.224). Our results provide the first evidence that heifers in the silvopastoral system maintain more stable social hierarchies and express more sociopositive behaviours, suggesting that animal welfare was enhanced.

An extremely high-altitude plume seen at Mars' morning terminator.

The Martian limb (that is, the observed 'edge' of the planet) represents a unique window into the complex atmospheric phenomena occurring there. Clouds of ice crystals (CO2 ice or H2O ice) have been observed numerous times by spacecraft and ground-based telescopes, showing that clouds are typically layered and always confined below an altitude of 100 kilometres; suspended dust has also been detected at altitudes up to 60 kilometres during major dust storms. Highly concentrated and localized patches of auroral emission controlled by magnetic field anomalies in the crust have been observed at an altitude of 130 kilometres. Here we report the occurrence in March and April 2012 of two bright, extremely high-altitude plumes at the Martian terminator (the day-night boundary) at 200 to 250 kilometres or more above the surface, and thus well into the ionosphere and the exosphere. They were spotted at a longitude of about 195° west, a latitude of about -45° (at Terra Cimmeria), extended about 500 to 1,000 kilometres in both the north-south and east-west directions, and lasted for about 10 days. The features exhibited day-to-day variability, and were seen at the morning terminator but not at the evening limb, which indicates rapid evolution in less than 10 hours and a cyclic behaviour. We used photometric measurements to explore two possible scenarios and investigate their nature. For particles reflecting solar radiation, clouds of CO2-ice or H2O-ice particles with an effective radius of 0.1 micrometres are favoured over dust. Alternatively, the plume could arise from auroral emission, of a brightness more than 1,000 times that of the Earth's aurora, over a region with a strong magnetic anomaly where aurorae have previously been detected. Importantly, both explanations defy our current understanding of Mars' upper atmosphere.

Cortisol and pain-related behavior in disbudded goat kids with and without cornual nerve block.

Plasma cortisol and behavior were measured in disbudded goat kids with and without the use of cornual nerve block. A total of 45 kids were used in 5 experimental groups (n=9, males and females). Group LidoD was infiltrated with 1 mL of 2% lidocaine locally at the cornual branches of lacrimal and infratrochlear nerves, 15 min before thermal disbudding. Group Lido was similarly infiltrated and was not disbudded. In group Sim, the disbudding procedure was simulated. A control group (CD) was disbudded without lidocaine infiltration, and group SD was infiltrated with saline before disbudding. The cornual nerve block did not prevent the short-term increase in cortisol levels during and after disbudding. LidoD, CD and SD groups showed higher cortisol concentrations than Lido and Sim (p<0.05) during the first 20 min after the procedure. Frequency of vocalizations during the procedure was significantly different between groups and was higher in SD (29.6 ± 3.1; mean±SE) and CD (28.4 ± 3.1) than in Sim (16.6 ± 3.1; p<0.05). Infiltrating lidocaine did not decrease this response to disbudding (21.1 ± 3.1; p>0.05). Struggles tended to be higher in SD (16.5 ± 2.5), CD (17.8 ± 2.5) and LidoD (15.6 ± 2.5) than Sim (10.6 ± 2.5; p=0.1). The total behavioral response was different between groups (CD, 59.6 ± 6.8; LidoD, 52 ± 6.8; SD, 62.6 ± 6.8; Sim, 36.8 ± 6.8; p=0.05), and disbudded animals showed the strongest reactions (disbudded, 58.1 ± 3.9 vs non-disbudded, 36.8 ± 6.8; p=0.01). It was concluded that cornual nerve block (lacrimal and infratrochlear) using 2% lidocaine did not prevent pain during thermal disbudding of goat kids.

Drivers of animal welfare policy in the Americas.

Owing to its large size and ethnic, social, cultural and economic diversity, the Americas' production volume is set to make the region one of the world's leading providers of animal foodstuffs. Animal husbandry, transport and slaughter conditions vary from country to country in response to their differing climatic and geographic characteristics. This article examines the main drivers of animal welfare in the Americas, including the standards of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), legislation, codes of practice and advances in education, training, research and development. It recognises the important roles played by all the various stakeholders in changing perceptions of animal welfare by raising public awareness and promoting communication and cooperation as drivers of overall change in the Americas. Regional and international organisations, public and private-sector bodies, academia and non-governmental organisations have launched a number of initiatives with encouraging results. In 2009, the OIE established the Chile-Uruguay Collaborating Centre for Animal Welfare Research, which is now the OIE Collaborating Centre for Animal Welfare and Livestock Production Systems and has recently incorporated Mexico. The Collaborating Centre works closely with official OIE Delegates and the Focal Points for Animal Welfare of national Veterinary Services. The OIE Regional Animal Welfare Strategy for the Americas was adopted in 2012, under the coordination of the OIE Regional Representation for the Americas, as a guide for developing future policies based on a regional approach. The way to achieve cultural change for improving animal welfare, operator safety and the sector's profitability is through training and knowledge transfer. The results demonstrate that the joint efforts of all institutions and the active role of the Collaborating Centre have been most effective, as have the continuing education programmes implemented by universities.

Sustainable, efficient livestock production with high biodiversity and good welfare for animals.

What is the future for livestock agriculture in the world? Consumers have concerns about sustainability but many widely used livestock production methods do not satisfy consumers' requirements for a sustainable system. However, production can be sustainable, occurring in environments that: supply the needs of the animals resulting in good welfare, allow coexistence with a wide diversity of organisms native to the area, minimize carbon footprint and provide a fair lifestyle for the people working there. Conservation need not just involve tiny islands of natural vegetation in a barren world of agriculture, as there can be great increases in biodiversity in farmed areas. Herbivores, especially ruminants that consume materials inedible by humans, are important for human food in the future. However, their diet should not be just ground-level plants. Silvopastoral systems, pastures with shrubs and trees as well as herbage, are described which are normally more productive than pasture alone. When compared with widely used livestock production systems, silvopastoral systems can provide efficient feed conversion, higher biodiversity, enhanced connectivity between habitat patches and better animal welfare, so they can replace existing systems in many parts of the world and should be further developed.

Dithiolene dimetallic molybdenum(V) complexes displaying intraligand charge transfer (ILCT) emission.

Bifunctional dithiolene ligands have been coordinated to the Mo(V)(O)(µ-S2)Mo(V)(O) unit to afford [Mo2O2(µ-S)2(BPyDTS2)2](2-) (1(2-)) (BPyDTS2 (2-bis-(2-pyridyl)methylene-1,3-dithiolene) dianions. Reaction of the 1(2-) molybdenum dimer with pentacarbonylchlorothenium(i) affords a tetrametallic complex of formula [Mo2O2(µ-S)2(BPyDTS2)2{Re(CO)3Cl}2](2-) (2(2-)). The monomeric (CH3)2Sn(BPyDTS2) (3) tin complex has also been prepared for comparative purposes. In the structure of (Et4N)2[1], the two metal atoms are in a square pyramidal coordination environment defined by two bridging sulfur atoms, one terminal oxygen atom and the two sulfur atoms of the bifunctional dithiolene ligand. This arrangement leaves two nitrogen atoms on each side which coordinate to two Re atoms in the 2(2-) tetrametallic complex. Compound 3 has a distorted tetrahedral structure defined by two carbon atoms of the methyl groups and two sulfur atoms of the dithiolene ligand. The luminescence properties of all three complexes in acetonitrile have been investigated. Detailed studies supported on quantum mechanical calculations revealed that complex 1(2-) shows photoluminescence in the 600-800 nm region with a maximum wavelength of 628 nm and an emission quantum yield of 0.092, associated with an intraligand charge transfer (ILCT) transition. Coordination of two Re(CO)3Cl fragments to 1(2-) to afford 2(2-) does not affect the emission spectrum and shape although it decreases the quantum yield, approximately by a factor of 4.6. Compound 3 exhibits a similar emission spectrum to those of the complexes 1(2-) and 2(2-) in good agreement with the ILCT assignment. The quantum yield of 3 lies between that of the 1(2-) and 2(2-) complexes.

Influence of social dominance on production, welfare and the quality of meat from beef bulls.

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of social dominance on some indicators of welfare, production and meat quality of young bulls. A total of 60 bulls of the Gasconne breed, 9 months old, housed indoors were used. Indices of success order were calculated to reflect social dominance of each bull into three ranking categories (low, middle and high). Blood samples were taken to measure cortisol, lactate, glucose, creatine kinase, non-esterified fatty acid and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (N/L). M. longissimus samples were analysed in terms of pH, water holding capacity (WHC), texture, colour and sensorial attributes. Social rank influenced cattle stress response, which had an effect on productive performance but not on meat quality traits, with the exception of the sensory traits. These results emphasize the importance of implementing best management practices during pre-harvest handling of cattle in order to modulate any possible risk factor for social stress.

[GABA: a functional duality? Transition during neurodevelopment]. / GABA: dualidad funcional? Transicion durante el neurodesarrollo.

INTRODUCTION: Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the most important inhibitory-type neurotransmitter and its actions are mediated by ionotropic (GABA(A)) and metabotropic (GABA(B)) type receptors, which are widely distributed throughout the tissue of the central nervous system. AIM: To review the structure of GABA receptors and their involvement in physiological processes in the central nervous system. DEVELOPMENT: The study addresses the structure and diversity of the GABA receptors, especially during neurodevelopment, and reference is made to the excitatory and inhibitory nature of GABAergic transmission, where the participation of the cotransporters NKCC1 and KCC2 plays a key role in this functional duality in the transition from an embryonic to a post-natal state. Likewise, the interest in GABA receptors as a pharmacological target for clinical use is also discussed. This is manifested by the presence of under-explored allosteric modulation sites in the aforementioned complex-receptor. CONCLUSIONS: The physiological and pharmacological knowledge of the great diversity of subunits that make up a particular subtype of GABA receptor, as well as the correct expression in time and space in order to ensure the viability of the organism, promise to be the answer to long-time severe disorders like epilepsy or drug addiction, and such complex ones as neurodevelopment.

A multi-institutional, hospital-based assessment of clinical, functional, sociofamilial and health-care characteristics of polypathological patients (PP).

Little is known about the main features of the emergent population of PP. Our objective was to determine the clinical, care and social characteristics of a multi-institutional population of PP, by means of a cross-sectional study including a reference population of hospital-based PP from 36 hospitals. The main clinical, functional, mental and social features and their associated factors were assessed: 1632 PP (53% males, mean age 77.9±9.8 years) were included. An informal caregiver was required by 52% (78% of caregivers were close female relatives). The mean inclusion criteria (Cat): were 2.7±0.8 (49.5% presented ≥3 Cat). The most frequent inclusion Cat were heart (77.5%), lung (45.6%), neurological (38.2%), and kidney diseases (32.2%), whereas the mean of other comorbidities was 4.5±2.7 per PP. The mean Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) was 4; 47.6%, and 52.4% presented dyspnea ≥3 on the NYHA, and on the MRC, respectively; nearly 19% required home oxygen therapy, 19% had suffered >1 fall in previous year, and 11% suffered an active neoplasia. The mean hospital admissions in last 12/3 months, and chronically prescribed drugs were 2/1, and 8±3, respectively. More than 70% presented obesity, while 60% had hypoalbuminemia. The basal/inclusion Barthel index (BI) score was 69±31/58±34 (BI score<60 was present in 31.5%/44%, respectively); and the mean Pfeiffer score was 2.94±3.2 (43% answered with ≥3 errors). More than half of the subjects were at risk or already had established social problems. This emergent population is considerably homogeneous, highly complex, clinically vulnerable, functionally impaired, dependent on caregivers and socially fragile. They need to receive more attention in clinical research and more support in health interventions based on comprehensive attention and continuity of care.

Social rank and response to the "male effect" in the Australian Cashmere goat.

The present study was conducted to determine if the social status of Australian Cashmere goats affects their response to the male effect in terms of LH secretion, ovulation and expression of estrus. Australian Cashmere goats were kept isolated from the males during 5 months. The index of success (SI) of each goat was calculated to establish their social rank. In the first experiment, the ten most dominant and the 10 most subordinate goats were separated from the original herd and housed in two pens (5 dominant and 5 subordinate animals in each pen). An androgenized wether was then introduced into each pen. Luteinizing hormone (LH) was measured every 20 min from 2h before to 4h after introduction of the male in the goats of first pen and from 4 to 8h after male introduction in the second pen. In the second experiment, the remaining 50 goats were exposed in their original pen to two androgenized wethers. Their association index with the males (AI) was calculated for each of these 50 goats, and the intervals from exposure to the males to the onset of estrus and to ovulation were determined. During the first 4h after male introduction, the dominant goats had more LH pulses (0.65+/-0.06 compared with 0.3+/-0.09; P<0.05) and greater LH mean concentrations (1.79+/-0.14 ng/ml compared with 1.30+/-0.15 ng/ml, P=0.05) than the subordinate animals. Although not significantly different, the AI was 35% greater for high and medium ranking goats than for low ranking animals (0.031+/-0.004, 0.032+/-0.005 and 0.023+/-0.005, respectively, P>0.05). Although the number of goats ovulating in response to male exposure was similar between dominance groups (high: 100%, medium: 94% and low ranking: 92%), the high and medium dominance goats showed a greater incidence of expression of estrus than low-dominance goats (94.4%, 89.5% and 53.8%, respectively, P<0.05). It is concluded that the social rank of the Australian Cashmere goat influences their response to the male effect in terms of early LH secretion and expression of estrus.

[From energetics to neurotransmission: adenosine triphosphate and its receptors]. / De la energética a la neurotransmisión: el adenosín trifosfato y sus receptores.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a substance that has stood out for being an energy donor, but today we know that it also has other functions. By activating a large variety of receptors that are widely distributed throughout the nervous system, ATP plays a role in neurotransmission, neuromodulation, apoptosis, cell proliferation and differentiation, pain, and so forth. AIMS: The aim of this study is to carry out a review of ATP receptors, their contribution to the correct functioning of neuronal circuits, and their involvement in the development of certain diseases. DEVELOPMENT: The issue is approached from different perspectives, such as the structure of ATP, its metabolism through ecto-ATPases and their main metabolite, adenosine, in addition to a detailed description of each of the purinergic receptors whose existence has been internationally accepted. We also examine how ATP and its receptors are involved in the structures of the nervous system, and more especially those that correspond to the sensory systems. CONCLUSIONS: The fact that purinoceptors are so widely distributed makes them worthy of a detailed examination. This new family of receptors promises to be a new diagnostic and therapeutic tool that enables us to approach certain aspects of the neurosciences from a new angle, by taking into account a new protagonist, ATP, in the generation of events that upset health.

[Combined sciatic and inguinal paravascular nerve block: a valid alternative for arthroscopic knee surgery]. / Bloqueo ciático y paravascular inguinal para cirugía artroscópica de rodilla, una alternativa válida.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of a combined transgluteal sciatic and inguinal paravascular nerve block for arthroscopic knee surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective descriptive study of 88 patients scheduled for arthroscopic knee surgery. Using a nerve stimulator and a transgluteal approach, we infiltrated the sciatic nerve with 20 mL of 1.5% mepivacaine. Then, with the patient in supine position, we located the femoral nerve and inserted a plastic catheter into the descending inguinal canal, applying pressure near the tip, to inject 20 mL of 1% mepivacaine. We evaluated a) anesthetic effectiveness, b) tolerance of the pressure cuff, c) time in the intensive care recovery unit, and d) time until reversal of the block. RESULTS: Anesthesia was efficacious for 89.77% of the patients: excellent for 54 patients (61.36%), good for 25 (28.41%), and insufficient for 9 (10.23%). The pressure cuff was well tolerated by 70 patients (79.54%) and caused discomfort for 18 (20.45%). Mean postoperative stay in the intensive care recovery unit was 19.05 (SD 8.11) minutes. Reversal took place at a mean 204.09 (SD 22.59) minutes for the sensory nerve block and at 223.45 (SD 20) minutes for the motor block. CONCLUSIONS: The combined sciatic and inguinal paravascular block is effective for arthroscopic knee surgery and offers an alternative when other anesthetic techniques cannot be used. Use of a pressure cuff may require complementary sedation.