Heat stress of gilts around farrowing causes oxygen insufficiency in the umbilical cord and reduces piglet survival.

Late gestating sows are susceptible to high ambient temperatures, possibly causing farrowing complications and reducing piglet survival. This experiment aimed to quantify in the days leading up to farrowing the impact of sow heat stress (HS) on farrowing physiology and survival of the piglets. Pregnant primiparous sows (gilts) were allocated to either thermoneutral control (CON, n = 8; constant 20 °C) or cyclical HS conditions (n = 8; 0900 h to 1700 h, 30 °C; 1700 h to 0900 h, 28 °C) from d 110 of gestation until farrowing completion. Gilt respiration rate, skin temperature and rectal temperature were recorded daily, and farrowing duration was quantified by video analyses. Blood samples were collected from the piglet umbilical vein at birth. At 48 h of age, piglet growth was quantified by morphometric analyses. The thermal exposure model induced HS and respiratory alkalosis in the gilts, as indicated by increased respiration rate, rectal temperature, skin temperature (all P < 0.001), plasma cortisol (P = 0.01) and blood pH (P < 0.001). Heat-stressed gilts took longer to start expelling placentae (P = 0.003), although the active farrowing duration was not significantly different between treatments. Stillbirth rates were higher in the HS group (P < 0.001), with surviving piglets at birth having lower umbilical vein partial pressure of oxygen (P = 0.04), oxygen saturation rate (P = 0.03) and tending to have increased lactate concentrations (P = 0.07). At birth, piglet skin meconium staining scores were greater in the HS group (P = 0.022). At 48 h of age, piglets from the HS group had reduced small intestinal length (P = 0.02), reduced jejunal crypt depth (P = 0.02) and lighter absolute brain weight (P = 0.001). In contrast, piglet BW, growth rate, relative organ weight and small intestinal mucosal barrier function did not change between treatments. Collectively, these findings demonstrated gilt HS during late gestation caused farrowing complications and reduced the umbilical oxygen supply to the piglets at parturition, leading to increased risks of piglet stillbirth with implications on impaired neonatal survivability and development.

Comparison of thermochemical conversion and anaerobic digestion of perennial flower-rich herbaceous wild plant species for bioenergy production.

The combustion quality of three perennial wild plant species Tanacetum vulgare L., Centaurea nigra L. and Artemisia vulgaris L. was investigated in comparison to the energy yield obtained from anaerobic digestions of these biomasses. Combustion resulted in 1.5-2.8 times higher energy yield compared to anaerobic digestion. All wild plants showed a similar higher heating value to Miscanthus × giganteus Greef et Deuter and Panicum virgatum L. (16.0-17.0 MJ kg-1). The ash-melting behavior of all wild plants was like Sida hermaphrodita L. Rusby, since the ash did not sinter at 1200 °C. However, Artemisia vulgaris L. had highest ash content (5.2-5.7% of dry matter) with a low ash melting behavior (1000 °C) attributed to a high potassium content and calculated phase composition. Therefore, careful consideration should be given to select the wild plants to meet the requirements for their use as solid biofuels in residential and commercial applications.

Implementation of the cobas Liat influenza point-of-care test into an emergency department during a high-incidence season: a retrospective evaluation following real-world implementation.

The cobas Liat influenza A/B and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) assay (Liat) was used in the adult emergency department of a large London hospital from 21st January 2018 to 14th April 2018. Influenza was detected in 308 of 1027 (30%) samples tested; influenza A in 157 (15.3%), influenza B in 149 (14.5%) and RSV in 28 (2.7%). When compared against Fast Track Diagnostics Respiratory Pathogens 21 multiplex polymerase chain reaction and Cepheid Xpert Xpress Flu/RSV assay, Liat performance for the detection of influenza A or B was: sensitivity 85% [95% confidence interval (CI) 76-92)], specificity 98% (95% CI 97-99), negative predictive value 94% (95% CI 92-96) and positive predictive value 95% (95% CI 91-97).

Efficiency of single stage- and two stage pretreatment in biomass with different lignin content.

In current study the enzymatic glucose yields of miscanthus and wheat straw were compared after single stage- and two stage pretreatment with dilute sulfuric acid at different pretreatment severities. Glucose yields after two stage pretreatment were higher than after single stage pretreatment in miscanthus. Whereas wheat straw had higher glucose yields after single stage pretreatment. The study shows that two stage pretreatment has a negative effect on glucose yield in biomass with low not-acid-degradable lignin content and a positive one in biomass with high not-acid-degradable lignin content. The not-acid-degradable lignin fraction offers a higher degree of protection of the whole lignin structure against chemical attacks by mineral acids. More severe pretreatment conditions were needed to achieve a sufficient breakup of the lignin structure. But more severe conditions enhance resin formation, leading to lower enzyme activity and reduced carbohydrate yields.

Comparing the performance of Miscanthus x giganteus and wheat straw biomass in sulfuric acid based pretreatment.

The objective of this study was to assess and compare the suitability of Miscanthus x giganteus and wheat straw biomass in dilute acid catalyzed pretreatment. Miscanthus and wheat straw were treated in a dilute sulfuric acid/steam explosion pretreatment. As a result of combining dilute sulfuric acid- and steam explosion pretreatment the hemicellulose hydrolysis yields (96% in wheat straw and 90% in miscanthus) in both substrates were higher than reported in literature. The combined severity factor (=CSF) for optimal hemicellulose hydrolysis was 1.9 and 1.5 in for miscanthus and wheat straw respectively. Because of the higher CSF value more furfural, furfuryl alcohol, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and acetic acid was formed in miscanthus than in wheat straw pretreatment.

[Hormonal evaluation in male infertility]. / Bilan hormonal au cours des stérilités masculines.

Recent progress in the study of the hormonal regulation of spermatogenesis justifies endocrine examination in the case of male sterility. The most important complementary investigation are the assays of FSH, LH and plasmatic testosterone. Radioimmunoassay of FSH is the fundamental examination, since this hormone is considered to be an indicator of germinal function. Thus, in the case of oligospermia, or even azoospermia, FSH assay is decisive. When the FSH levels (in conjunction with LH levels) are high and combined with azoospermia, there is a possibility of testicular dysgenesis linked with a karyotype anomaly (XXY etc.). In some cases the germinal affection is secondary to cryptorchidism, orchitis, torsion, medicinal alteration, or radiotherapy. Decreased testosterone values combined with an insufficient FSH and LH response to stimulation tests indicate a gonadotrophic deficit, which is the best indication for substitution therapy using gonadotrophins or LH-RH. An increase in LH, contrasting with a normal FSH value, evokes the exceptional case of a disturbance of androgen receptivity. Normal FSH (and LH) values suggest excretory sterility. Lastly, when hyperprolactinemia is suspected, an assay of plasmatic prolactin is necessary. A "simple" hormonal evaluation allows a routine etiological approach to the diagnosis of sterility, and is thus an important element in the investigative strategy applied to male sterility, used along with the other complementary and indispensible examinations.