Transferring a large data library of fresh total mixed rations from a benchtop to 2 portable near-infrared spectrometers for on-farm real-time decisions.

This study was carried out using a spectral database consisting of 394 samples of fresh total mixed ration (TMR) from dairy farms located at Northern Spain. Cloning sets of different size and structure were evaluated for the transfer of the large TMR spectral database obtained on a Foss NIRSystems monochromator to 2 different portable near-infrared devices: one diode array instrument and another based on linear variable filters. The cloning matrix that produced the best matching between instruments was then used to transfer the TMR spectral library to the 2 portable instruments. Once the database had been transferred, calibration equations were developed to compare the predictive ability of the equations obtained in the benchtop and portable instruments. In comparison with the monochromator predictive ability, the calibration equations developed with the near-infrared portable instruments displayed a high and similar accuracy for most of the studied parameters related to TMR composition, enabling their use for predicting TMR quality at the farm level.

A longitudinal study exploring the evolution of pain during pregnancy and after delivery: does worry matter?

The aim of this study is to evaluate the evolution of pain through pregnancy until after delivery, as well as to explore the mediating role of pregnancy worries in this evolution of pain. We conducted a longitudinal cohort study. The convenience sample was evaluated on four separate occasions: in the first trimester of pregnancy (pain), during the third trimester (pain and worry), during labor (pain), and after birth (< 24 h; pain). The final sample included 120 pregnant women with a mean age of 31.29 years (SD = 4.9; range = [22, 42 years]). The results evidenced changes in pain over time (F = 13.31, p < .001). Pain severity increased in the third trimester compared to the first trimester (t = - 4.60; 95% CI = [- 1.31, - 0.52]; p < .001), while pain during the third trimester and pain after delivery were comparable (t = - 0.94; 95% CI = [- 1.02, 0.36]; p = .35). Pain during labor was uncorrelated with all other pain measures, so it was not included in the model. The results of the mediation analyses indicated a total effect of pain during pregnancy (first and third trimester) and worry on pain severity after delivery (B = 0.35; SE = 0.14; t = 2.43; 95% CI = [0.06, 0.65]; p = .017). Pregnancy worries (B = 0.14; SE = 0.07; 95% CI = [0.06, 0.29]), but not pain during the third trimester (B = 0.03; SE = 0.12; 95% CI = [- 0.17, 0.31]) mediated the relationship between pain during the first trimester and pain after delivery. These results support the need to reduce worry in pregnant mothers, especially when pain during the first trimester is high, to reduce the risk of pain after delivery.

Predicting postpartum post-traumatic stress and depressive symptoms in low-risk women from distal and proximal factors: a biopsychosocial prospective study using structural equation modeling.

PURPOSE: Posttraumatic stress (PTSD) and depression (PPD) are common mental disorders in the postpartum that constitute a threat both to the mother and the baby. It is unclear whether both disorders share similar antecedents, which is important to plan efficient interventions. The goal of this study was to examine the contribution of set of biopsychosocial predictors on both PTSD and PPD. METHODS: The study design was prospective. The study was conducted at Hospital Universitario de Fuenlabrada, a public university hospital located in the south of Madrid (Spain). The sample was composed of 116 pregnant women with low pregnancy risk. STROBE reporting guidelines were followed. RESULTS: The multivariate results show that psychopathology severity assessed during the first trimester (ß = 0.50, p < .001) and the Apgar score 5 min after delivery (ß = - 0.19, p = .030) were the two variables to significantly contribute to postpartum depressive symptoms. Conversely, only satisfaction with home care after delivery was independently associated with postpartum posttraumatic stress (ß = - 0.26, p = .016). The proposed model explained 21.8% of the variance of postpartum depressive symptoms (p = .041) and 27.1% of the variance of posttraumatic stress symptoms (p = .014). CONCLUSION: Special attention should be given to shared and unique predictive factors of PDD and PTSD to develop effective prevention programs in perinatal care.

Welfare Quality® for dairy cows: towards a sensor-based assessment.

This Research Reflection addresses the possibilities for Welfare Quality® to evolve from an assessment method based on data gathered on punctual visits to the farm to an assessment method based on sensor data. This approach could provide continuous and objective data, while being less costly and time consuming. Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) technologies enabling the monitorisation of Welfare Quality® measures are reviewed and discussed. For those measures that cannot be assessed by current technologies, some options to be developed are proposed. Picturing future dairy farms, the need for multipurpose and non-invasive PLF technologies is stated, in order to avoid an excessive artificialisation of the production system. Social concerns regarding digitalisation are also discussed.

Do maternal personality variables influence childbirth satisfaction? A longitudinal study in low-risk pregnancies.

To analyze the influence of maternal personality (big five personality, coping and childbirth expectations) on birth satisfaction. A longitudinal prospective design was used with 116 pregnant women during November 2014-December 2015 at a public hospital (Madrid, Spain) with three assessment stages: first trimester of pregnancy (personality factors), third trimester (childbirth expectations and coping strategies) and 48 hours after childbirth (labor satisfaction). The highest childbirth satisfaction scores were for professional support, support from partner and overall satisfaction. Higher childbirth satisfaction scores were found for vaginal births than for cesarean sections or instrumental births. Childbirth expectation dimensions showed the highest number of associations with childbirth satisfaction. Significant correlations were found between neuroticism and home assessment, agreeableness and environment, and openness to experience and overall satisfaction. Significant positive correlations were found between positive reappraisal and continuity, and negative correlations between avoidance coping and home assessment. Regression analyses showed the predictive role played by the type of birth, and the caregiving environment as childbirth expectation, and positive reappraisal and avoidance as coping strategies. These findings have important implications for health professionals who provide assistance to pregnant women through holistic models which include the assessment and adjustment of childbirth expectations.

In situ ripening stages monitoring of Lamuyo pepper using a new-generation near-infrared spectroscopy sensor.

BACKGROUND: Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was used as a nondestructive sensor to assess the quality of freshly harvested Lamuyo peppers. One hundred and forty-four Lamuyo peppers, which were in a range of colors (green, chocolate, orange, and red) when harvested, were analyzed. In this study, the evolution of the main quality parameters during the harvest period was analyzed. Additionally, NIRS predictive models using a portable manual spectrophotometer to evaluate quality parameters together with color index were developed. Moreover, two procedures for taking near-infrared spectra were tested: (1) static, where point spectral readings were taken of around the equator of the fruit; (2) dynamic, where spectra were taken by scanning the entire length of the pepper. RESULTS: Green peppers and those harvested at the beginning of the campaign presented significantly lower values (P < 0.05) of dry matter, soluble solid contents, and titratable acidity, whereas those with red coloration and those harvested at the end of the campaign showed significantly higher values of these three quality parameters (P < 0.05). The predictive capacity of the NIRS models showed that the static mode proved to be the most suitable for measuring the quality of Lamuyo peppers. CONCLUSIONS: The viability of NIRS for measuring dry matter content and soluble solid contents in situ, using a new-generation NIRS sensor, was demonstrated. However, the high water content, the irregular shape of the fruit, and the fact that it is hollow inside all point to the need for using larger samples sets so as to increase the robustness of the models obtained. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

A Low-Cost IoT-Based System to Monitor the Location of a Whole Herd.

Animal location technologies have evolved considerably in the last 60 years. Nowadays, animal tracking solutions based on global positioning systems (GPS) are commercially available. However, existing devices have several constraints, mostly related to wireless data transmission and financial cost, which make impractical the monitorization of all the animals in a herd. The main objective of this work is to develop a low-cost solution to enable the monitorization of a whole herd. An IoT-based system, which requires some animals of the herd being fitted with GPS collars connected to a Sigfox network and the rest with low-cost Bluetooth tags, has been developed. Its performance has been tested in two commercial farms, raising sheep and beef cattle, through the monitorization of 50 females in each case. Several collar/tag ratios, which define the cost per animal of the solution, have been simulated. Results demonstrate that a low collar/tag ratio enable the monitorization of a whole sheep herd. A larger ratio is needed for beef cows because of their grazing behavior. Nevertheless, the optimal ratio depends on the purpose of location data. Large variability has been observed for the number of hourly and daily messages from collars and tags. The system effectiveness for the monitorization of all the animals in a herd has been certainly proved.

Safety and quality issues in summer squashes using handheld portable NIRS sensors for real-time decision making and for on-vine monitoring.

BACKGROUND: Portable handheld near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) instruments currently present enormous advantages in terms of size, weight, and robustness. They also provide fast, precise information that can be obtained in situ, and they represent a viable option for controlling vegetable safety and quality during the growth period. The aim of this research was to evaluate three handheld portable NIRS instruments for in situ and real-time analysis of intact summer squashes. Traditional methods were used to analyze 221 summer squashes, and this work was used to develop calibration models for morphological, safety, and quality parameters. The longitudinal distribution of nitrate content in summer squashes weighing over 400 g was also studied, and the evolution of this parameter during the harvest period was tracked to determine which summer squashes and which zones of the vegetables (peduncle, equatorial, or stylar) could be earmarked for baby-food production. RESULTS: The robustness of the calibration models confirmed the expectations raised by NIRS technology for morphological, safety, and quality control of individual summer squashes, and the models developed with the MicroNIR-1700 instrument were those that provided more accuracy and precision, being the peduncle zone the part with higher nitrate content. CONCLUSIONS: It is in the peduncle zone, therefore, where measurements of this parameter must be carried out to decide on the destination of the harvested product. Summer squashes picked at the end of the harvest are those that must be used for baby-food production. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Rapid, simultaneous, and in situ authentication and quality assessment of intact bell peppers using near-infrared spectroscopy technology.

BACKGROUND: The ability of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to authenticate individual bell peppers as a function of the growing system (outdoor or greenhouse) was tested using partial least squares discriminant analysis. Bell peppers grown outdoors (130 samples) or in a greenhouse (264 samples) during the 2015 and 2016 seasons were selected for this purpose and analysed using a portable, handheld, microelectromechanical system (MEMS) instrument MicroPhazir (spectral range 1600-2400 nm), working in reflectance. Subsequently, the potential of NIR spectroscopy as a non-destructive sensor for in situ quality (dry matter and soluble solid content) measurements, was investigated. RESULTS: The models correctly classified 89.73% and 88.00% of the samples by growing system, when trained with unbalanced and balanced sets respectively, mainly due to the differences in physical-chemical attributes between bell peppers cultivated in the two growing systems. Separate classification models for bell peppers grouped by ripeness (judged by the colour), allowed the classification of 88.28-91.37% of the samples correctly. The standard error of cross-validation values for the quantitative models were 0.66% fresh weight and 0.75 °Brix for dry matter and soluble solid content, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that NIR spectroscopy can be used successfully for predicting the growing systems used in bell pepper production, which is of particular value to guarantee the authentication of outdoor-grown peppers. Additionally, the results showed that NIR spectroscopy can be used simultaneously as a rapid preliminary screening technique to measure quality. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Reply to Comment on 'The cancer Warburg effect may be a testable example of the minimum entropy production rate principle'.

The minimum rate principle is applied to the chemical reaction in a steady-state open cell system where, under constant supply of the glucose precursor, reference to time or to glucose consumption does not affect the conclusions.

Agreeableness and pregnancy: Relations with coping and psychiatric symptoms, a longitudinal study on Spanish pregnant women.

Agreeableness is associated with good mental health during pregnancy. Although different studies have indicated that agreeableness is related to adaptive coping, this relation has scarcely been studied in pregnant women. The aim of this study was to analyze the possible differences between high and low agreeableness in relation to coping strategies and psychiatric symptoms in pregnant women. We conducted a longitudinal prospective study between October 2009 and January 2013. Pregnant women (n = 285) were assessed in the first trimester of pregnancy, and 122 of them were assessed during the third. Data were collected using the Coping Strategies Questionnaire, the Symptom Check List 90-R, and the agreeableness subscale of the NEO-FFI. Using the SPSS 21 statistics package, binary logistic regression, two-way mixed analysis of variance, and multiple regression analyses and a Sobel test were conducted. Higher levels of agreeableness were associated with positive reappraisal and problem-solving, and lower levels of agreeableness were associated with overt emotional expression and negative self-focused coping. Women with low agreeableness had poorer mental health, especially in the first trimester. These findings should be taken into account to improve women's experiences during pregnancy. Nevertheless, given the scarcity of data, additional studies are needed.

The cancer Warburg effect may be a testable example of the minimum entropy production rate principle.

Cancer cells consume more glucose by glycolytic fermentation to lactate than by respiration, a characteristic known as the Warburg effect. In contrast with the 36 moles of ATP produced by respiration, fermentation produces two moles of ATP per mole of glucose consumed, which poses a puzzle with regard to the function of the Warburg effect. The production of free energy (ΔG), enthalpy (ΔH), and entropy (ΔS) per mole linearly varies with the fraction (x) of glucose consumed by fermentation that is frequently estimated around 0.9. Hence, calculation shows that, in respect to pure respiration, the predominant fermentative metabolism decreases around 10% the production of entropy per mole of glucose consumed in cancer cells. We hypothesize that increased fermentation could allow cancer cells to accomplish the Prigogine theorem of the trend to minimize the rate of production of entropy. According to the theorem, open cellular systems near the steady state could evolve to minimize the rates of entropy production that may be reached by modified replicating cells producing entropy at a low rate. Remarkably, at CO2 concentrations above 930 ppm, glucose respiration produces less entropy than fermentation, which suggests experimental tests to validate the hypothesis of minimization of the rate of entropy production through the Warburg effect.

Fast, Low-Cost and Non-Destructive Physico-Chemical Analysis of Virgin Olive Oils Using Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy.

Near-Infrared (NIR) Spectroscopy was used for the non-destructive assessment of physico-chemical quality parameters in olive oil. At the same time, the influence of the sample presentation mode (spinning versus static cup) was evaluated using two spectrophotometers with similar optical characteristics. A total of 478 olive oil samples were used to develop calibration models, testing various spectral signal pre-treatments. The models obtained by applying MPLS regression to spectroscopic data yielded promising results for olive oil quality measurements, particularly for acidity, the peroxide index and alkyl and ethyl ester content. The results obtained indicate that this non-invasive technology can be used successfully by the olive oil sector to categorize olive oils, to detect potential fraud and to provide consumers with more reliable information. Although both sample presentation modes yielded comparable results, equations constructed with samples scanned using the spinning mode provided greater predictive capacity.

A uterine tumor resembling ovarian sex cord tumor associated with tamoxifen treatment: a case report and literature review.

Uterine tumors resembling ovarian sex cord tumors are rare neoplasms of unknown etiology that are classified as distinct from endometrial stromal tumors on the basis of their morphologic, molecular, and behavioral characteristics. These neoplasms have a variable immunophenotype, sometimes coexpressing epithelial, myoid, and sex cord markers. To date, only 2 cases of uterine tumors resembling ovarian sex cord tumors associated with tamoxifen use have been reported. Here, we report the case of a 49-year-old woman who had been using tamoxifen for 5 years to treat breast cancer. The tumor was initially diagnosed by hysteroscopy biopsy on the basis of morphologic and immunohistochemical features. Hysterectomy revealed a polypoid mass measuring 20 mm. After an 18-month follow-up, the patient remains disease free. Here, we review the clinical, pathologic, and immunohistochemical features of uterine tumors resembling ovarian sex cord tumors and endometrial stromal tumors with a sex cord component associated with tamoxifen treatment.

NIR Sensing Technologies for the Detection of Fraud in Nuts and Nut Products: A Review.

Food fraud is a major threat to the integrity of the nut supply chain. Strategies using a wide range of analytical techniques have been developed over the past few years to detect fraud and to assure the quality, safety, and authenticity of nut products. However, most of these techniques present the limitations of being slow and destructive and entailing a high cost per analysis. Nevertheless, near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and NIR imaging techniques represent a suitable non-destructive alternative to prevent fraud in the nut industry with the advantages of a high throughput and low cost per analysis. This review collects and includes all major findings of all of the published studies focused on the application of NIR spectroscopy and NIR imaging technologies to detect fraud in the nut supply chain from 2018 onwards. The results suggest that NIR spectroscopy and NIR imaging are suitable technologies to detect the main types of fraud in nuts.

Optimisation of the predictive ability of NIR models to estimate nutritional parameters in elephant grass through LOCAL algorithms.

Elephant grass is a tropical forage widely used for livestock feed. The analytical techniques traditionally used for its nutritional evaluation are costly and time consuming. Alternatively, Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) technology has been used as a rapid analysis technique. However, in crops with high variability due to genetic improvement, predictive models quickly lose accuracy and must be recalibrated. The use of non-linear models such as LOCAL calibrations could mitigate these issues, although a number of parameters need to be optimized to obtain accurate results. The objective of this work was to compare the predictive results obtained with global NIRS calibrations and with LOCAL calibrations, paying special attention to the configuration parameters of the models. The results obtained showed that the prediction errors with the LOCAL models were between 1.6 and 17.5 % lower. The best results were obtained in most cases with a low number of selected samples (n = 100-250) and a high number of PLS terms (n = 20). This configuration allows a reduced computation time with high accuracy, becoming a valuable alternative for analytical determinations that require ruminal fluid, which would improve the welfare of the animals by avoiding the need to surgically prepare animals to estimate the nutritional value of the feeds.

Colostrum Quality Assessment in Dairy Goats: Use of an On-Farm Optical Refractometer.

Failure of passive immunity transfer is one of the main causes of increased susceptibility to infectious agents in newborn kids. To ensure successful transfer of passive immunity, kids need to be fed high-quality colostrum, containing an adequate concentration of IgG. This work evaluated the quality of colostrum obtained in the first 3 days postpartum from Malagueña dairy goats. The IgG concentration in colostrum was measured using an ELISA as a reference method, and it was estimated by optical refractometer. Colostrum composition in terms of fat and protein was also determined. The mean concentration of IgG was 36.6 ± 2.3 mg/mL, 22.4 ± 1.5 mg/mL and 8.4 ± 1.0 mg/mL on days 1, 2 and 3 after parturition, respectively. Brix values obtained using the optical refractometer were 23.2%, 18.6% and 14.1% for days 1, 2 and 3, respectively. In this population, 89% of goats produced high-quality colostrum with IgG concentrations of >20 mg/mL on the day of parturition, but this percentage declined dramatically over the following 2 days. The quality of the fresh colostrum estimated with the optical refractometer was positively correlated with those obtained using ELISA (r = 0.607, p = 0.001). This study highlights the importance of feeding first-day colostrum to newborn kids and demonstrates that the optical Brix refractometer is suitable for the on-farm estimation of IgG content in colostrum.

Optimization of NIR spectral data management for quality control of grape bunches during on-vine ripening.

NIR spectroscopy was used as a non-destructive technique for the assessment of chemical changes in the main internal quality properties of wine grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) during on-vine ripening and at harvest. A total of 363 samples from 25 white and red grape varieties were used to construct quality-prediction models based on reference data and on NIR spectral data obtained using a commercially-available diode-array spectrophotometer (380-1,700 nm). The feasibility of testing bunches of intact grapes was investigated and compared with the more traditional must-based method. Two regression approaches (MPLS and LOCAL algorithms) were tested for the quantification of changes in soluble solid content (SSC), reducing sugar content, pH-value, titratable acidity, tartaric acid, malic acid and potassium content. Cross-validation results indicated that NIRS technology provided excellent precision for sugar-related parameters (r(2) = 0.94 for SSC and reducing sugar content) and good precision for acidity-related parameters (r(2) ranging between 0.73 and 0.87) for the bunch-analysis mode assayed using MPLS regression. At validation level, comparison of LOCAL and MPLS algorithms showed that the non-linear strategy improved the predictive capacity of the models for all study parameters, with particularly good results for acidity-related parameters and potassium content.

[Uterine artery score in patients with systemic lupus erythematous as a predictor of intrauterine growth restriction]. / Indice de arterias uterinas en pacientes con lupus eritematoso sistémico como predictor de restricción del crecimiento intrauterino.

BACKGROUND: Because of its high prevalence in the female population and its high incidence in reproductive age, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus can complicate pregnancy causing miscarriage, fetal death, preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction (up to 25%) and preterm birth. Doppler ultrasonography measures the flow in the uterine arteries, which is reduced in patients with preeclampsia and FGR, and thus is an ideal method for identifying pregnant women with a high risk of developing an adverse perinatal outcome. OBJECTIVE: Identify if Doppler ultrasound predicts FGR in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. PATIENTS AND METHOD: In this observational, transversal, prospective study carried out from June 1st, 2010 to November 30th, 2010, in patients who had already been diagnosed with SLE, a complete clinical history was registered, blood samples taken and Doppler of uterine arteries between 18 and 23 gestation weeks taken (measuring the pulsatility index) RESULTS: Of the 17 women in the study, 6 patients had a PI equal or greater than 1.45 (35.29%), of whom in 5 cases (29.41%), the product had FGR. Therefore the sensitivity of this test is 100%, with a specificity of 91%, a predictive positive value of 83% and a predictive negative value of 100%. With a p of 0.0010, which is considered extremely significant, and a confidence interval of 95%. CONCLUSIONS: There exists a high association between an abnormal PI and the development of FGR. Abnormal Doppler ultrasound of uterine arteries is useful for predicting FGR in pregnant women with SLE.

Is the Association between Postpartum Depression and Early Maternal-Infant Relationships Contextually Determined by Avoidant Coping in the Mother?

This study analyzes the moderating role of avoidant coping (in early pregnancy) in the relationship between postpartum depressive (PPD) symptoms and maternal perceptions about mother-baby relations and self-confidence. Participants were 116 low-risk obstetric mothers (mean age = 31.2 years, SD = 3.95, range 23-42) who received care and gave birth at a Spanish public hospital. Measurements were made at two points in time: at first trimester of pregnancy (maternal avoidance coping) and four months after childbirth (PPD and maternal perceptions). Avoidant coping was associated with the perception of the baby as irritable and unstable (p = 0.003), including irritability during lactation (p = 0.041). Interaction effects of avoidant coping and postpartum depression were observed on the perception of the baby as irritable (p = 0.031) and with easy temperament (p = 0.002). Regarding the mother's self-confidence, avoidant coping was related to a lack of security in caring for the baby (p < 0.001) and had a moderating effect between PPD and mother's self-confidence (i.e., lack of security in caring for the baby, p =0.027; general security, p = 0.007). Interaction effects showed that the use of avoidant coping in the mother exacerbated the impact of PPD on the early mother-infant relationship.