Non-invasive methods for analysing pig welfare biomarkers.

At present, the assessment of pig welfare quality has gained significant importance, prompting the exploration of novel biomarkers for this purpose. Traditionally, these biomarkers have been monitored in the blood; however, blood sampling is considered an invasive procedure. Currently, non-invasive methods for collecting samples are emerging as viable alternatives for assessing these biomarkers. This article aims to present the current knowledge regarding the use of non-invasive methods for analysing pig welfare biomarkers, specifically focusing on the saliva, hair, faeces, and urine as matrices to determine these biomarkers. The saliva analysis encompasses various biomarkers, such as cortisol, alpha-amylase, chromogranin A, the total esterase, oxytocin, acute phase proteins, adenosine deaminase, immunoglobulins and parameters of redox homeostasis. Cortisol, a specific biomarker, can be determined in the hair, urine and faeces, while urine samples allow for the analysis of catecholamines as non-invasive markers of pig welfare.

Accidental salinomycin intoxication in European fallow deer (Dama dama L.).

Salinomycin, belonging to ionophore antibiotics, has been used as a feed additive for poultry for its coccidiostatic effect. Poisoning by ionophore antibiotics has been reported in cattle and other sensitive animals due to the replacement of medicated feed and/or accidental overdoses. The aim of this paper is to report the toxicity of salinomycin for fallow deer and to describe the different levels of sensitivity of cervids to this substance. In the presented case study, a medicated feed containing ivermectin used for deworming red deer and fallow deer was accidentally contaminated with sodium salinomycinate in a concentration of 252.6 mg/kg. The contaminated feed was consumed by the animals over a period of four days. The mortality of fallow deer within 12 days was 58%. No mortality was recorded in the red deer. In the affected animals, clinical signs associated with acute and congestive heart failure were observed. The biochemical examination indicated prerenal azotaemia caused by circulatory insufficiency and ion imbalance. The histological examination revealed pronounced focal acute cardiomyopathy and massive subacute myopathy in the skeletal muscles.

Non-Symmetrical Tetrafluoroalkadienes Synthesized by ROCM of 3,3,4,4-Tetrafluorocyclobutene.

As the first known example of ring-opening cross metathesis (ROCM) of polyfluorinated strained cyclobutenes, ROCM of 3,3,4,4-tetrafluorocyclobutene with electronically rich alkenes, catalyzed by Grubbs or Hoveyda-Grubbs 2nd generation precatalysts, gave a small library of non-symmetrical isolated dienes bearing a tetrafluoroethylene spacer between the double bonds. 1-Butoxy-3,3,4,4-tetrafluorohexa-1,5-diene thus formed underwent subsequent regioselective cross metathesis (CM) with a series of styrenes, catalyzed by Hoveyda-Grubbs 2nd generation precatalyst, leading to non-symmetrically substituted dienes. 6,6-Dibutoxy-3,3,4,4-tetrafluorohex-1-ene, formed by regioselective butoxylation of 1-butoxy-3,3,4,4-tetrafluorohexa-1,5-diene, was dihydroxylated and cyclized to the corresponding 3,3,4,4-tetrafluorohexopyranose.

Serum concentrations of proinflammatory biomarker interleukin-6 (IL-6) as a predictor of postoperative complications after elective colorectal surgery.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the role of serum IL-6 as a potential predictive biomarker of postoperative complications (POC) in elective colorectal surgery. METHOD: A total of 115 patients underwent colorectal surgery for malignancy. IL-6 was measured on the first and third postoperative days (POD1, POD3), and C-reactive protein (CRP) was measured on the POD3. POC was analysed in subgroups according to Clavien‒Dindo (CD), antibiotic (ATB) treatment, intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital length of stay. The predictive power of variables for evaluated endpoints was analysed using receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and described by area under the curve (AUC). ROC analysis was adopted for the identification of optimal cut-offs. Histological analysis was performed to verify IL-6 production by the tumour. RESULTS: Out of 115 patients who were analysed, 42% had POC. Patients with POC had significantly higher serum levels of IL-6 on POD1 (p < 0.001) and POD3 (p < 0.001). IL-6 early on POD1 as a predictor of antibiotic treatment, ICU stay and hospital stay (AUC 0.818; 0.811; 0.771) did not significantly differ from the AUC of CRP late on POD3 (0.879; 0.838, 0.752). A cut-off IL-6 value of 113 pg/ml on POD1 and 180.5 pg/ml on POD3 in severe complications (CD > 3a) resulted in 75% and 72% sensitivity, 78.6% and 99% specificity, negative predictive value 96.4% and 97% and positive predictive value 29% and 88.9%. CONCLUSION: The serum level of interleukin-6 can predict severe (CD > 3a) POC early on POD1. On POD3, IL-6 is superior to CRP in terms of high positive predictive power of severe POC. Interestingly, the advantage of IL-6 on POD1 is early prediction of the need for antibiotic treatment, ICU stay and hospital stay, which is comparable to the CRP serum level late on the third POD.

Pedestrian Safety in Frontal Tram Collision, Part 1: Historical Overview and Experimental-Data-Based Biomechanical Study of Head Clashing in Frontal and Side Impacts.

This article represents the first paper in a two-part series dealing with safety during tram-pedestrian collisions. This research is dedicated to the safety of trams for pedestrians during collisions and is motivated by the increased number of lethal cases. The first part of this paper includes an overview of tram face development from the earliest designs to the current ones in use and, at the same time, provides a synopsis and explanation of the technical context, including a link to current and forthcoming legislation. The historical design development can be characterised by three steps, from an almost vertical front face, to leaned and pointed shapes, to the current inclined low-edged windshield without a protruding coupler. However, since most major manufacturers now export their products worldwide and customisation is only of a technically insignificant nature, our conclusions are generalisable (supported by the example of Berlin). The most advantageous shape of the tram's front, minimising the effects on pedestrians in all collision phases, has evolved rather spontaneously and was unprompted, and it is now being built into the European Commission regulations. The goal of the second part of this paper is to conduct a series of tram-pedestrian collisions with a focus on the frontal and side impacts using a crash test dummy (anthropomorphic test device-ATD). Four tram types approaching the collision at four different impact speeds (5 km/h, 10 km/h, 15 km/h, and 20 km/h) were used. The primary outcome variable was the resultant head acceleration. The risk and severity of possible head injuries were assessed using the head injury criterion (HIC15) and its linkage to the injury level on the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS). The results showed increasing head impacts with an increasing speed for all tram types and collision scenarios. Higher values of head acceleration were reached during the frontal impact (17-124 g) compared to the side one (2-84 g). The HIC15 values did not exceed the value of 300 for any experimental setting, and the probability of AIS4+ injuries did not exceed 10%. The outcomes of tram-pedestrian collisions can be influenced by the ATD's position and orientation, the impact speed and front-end design of trams, and the site of initial contact.

Pedestrian Safety in Frontal Tram Collision, Part 2: Laminated Glass as a Crucial Part of the Absorption and Deformation Zone-Its Impact Test and Analysis.

As was shown in the previous part of the study, windshields are an important part of the passive safety means of modern low-floor trams with an extraordinary effect on pedestrian safety in a pedestrian-tram collisions. Therefore, maximum attention must be paid to the definition of tram windshield characteristics. This article describes a windshield crash test, from which data are obtained to verify the feasibility of the applied computational approaches. A developed analytical model is utilised for a simple description of the energy balance during collision with an illustrative definition of the important parameters of laminated glass as well as their clear physical interpretations. The finite element analysis (FEA) performed in Ansys software using two versions of material definition, namely a simpler (*MAT_ELASTIC with nonlocal failure criterion) and a more complex (*MAT_GLASS with brittle stress-state-dependent failure) material model, which are presented as suitable for obtaining a detailed description of the shattering process of laminated glass, which can also be used effectively in windshield engineering.

The importance of slaughterhouses in monitoring the occurrence of tail biting in pigs - Review.

Tail biting in pigs represents a very serious problem in modern pig farming, particularly with the intensification of the industry. It is considered a multifactorial syndrome and can be caused by various factors, leading to significant economic losses through reduced weight gain and partial or total condemnation of slaughtered carcasses due to secondary bacterial infections. The aim of this article is to summarise the current knowledge regarding tail biting in pigs, with a primary focus on the use of slaughterhouses for evaluating tail lesions and monitoring their prevalence. The introduction addresses the factors influencing the incidence of tail biting in pig farms and prevention strategies. Subsequent sections cover topics such as tail docking, the negative effects of pig tail biting, the advantages and drawbacks of examining tail lesions in slaughterhouses, and the methodical procedure for evaluating such lesions. Additionally, the article discusses the relationship between tail lesions and meat inspection findings, as well as the prevalence of tail lesions in various European countries.

The use of functional amino acids in different categories of pigs - A review.

The present review deals with a particularly important topic: the use of functional amino acids in different categories of pigs. It is especially relevant in the context of the current efforts to reduce the use of antibiotics in pig farming and the search for possible alternatives to replace them. The review is based on the definition that functional amino acids (FAAs) are classified as dispensable amino acids, but with additional biological functions, i.e., not only are they used for protein formation, but they are also involved in regulating essential metabolic pathways to improve health, survival, growth, and development. We describe the mechanism of action of individual FAAs and their potential use in pigs, including glutamate, glutamine, arginine, branched-chain amino acids (i.e., leucine, isoleucine, and valine), tryptophan and glycine. The work is divided into three parts. The first part deals with the FAAs and their role in the overall health of sows and their offspring. The second part describes the use of functional amino acids in piglets after weaning. Part three examines the use of functional amino acids in growing and fattening pigs and their impact on meat quality.

Efficacy of the intranasal application of azaperone for sedation in weaned piglets.

The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of the intranasal and parenteral administration of azaperone in order to achieve pig sedation. A total of 32 weaned piglets divided into 4 groups (8 piglets in each group) were used. Group A was injected intramuscularly (i.m.) with azaperone (Stresnil®, 40 mg/ml inj.; Elanco Animal Health) at a dose of 2 mg/kg of body weight (b.w.). Group B received a dose of 2 mg/kg b.w. of azaperone intranasally. Group C was given azaperone intranasally at a dose of 4 mg/kg b.w. Group D was given 1 ml of saline intranasally and served as the control group. The response to the defined stimulus (a blunt blow of a metal rod into a metal edge of a pen), the degree of salivation, movement level, body temperature and serum azaperone concentration were included in the trial. We found that in order to induce an adequate level of sedation comparable to the standard method of application, i.e., 2 mg/kg b.w. i.m., the intranasal administration of azaperone at a dose of 4 mg/kg body weight is required.

Glucosylated 5-Hydroxymethylpyrimidines as Epigenetic DNA Bases Regulating Transcription and Restriction Cleavage.

5-(ß-d-Glucopyranosyloxymethyl)-2'-deoxyuridine and -cytidine 5'-O-triphosphates were prepared and used for polymerase-mediated (primer extension or PCR) synthesis of DNA containing glucosylated 5-hydroxymethyluracil (5hmU) or 5-hydroxymethyluracil (5hmC). The presence of any glucosylated pyrimidines fully protected DNA from cleavage by type II restriction endonucleases. On the other hand, while the presence of glucosylated 5hmU completely inhibited transcription by bacterial (Escherichia coli) RNA polymerase, the DNA containing the corresponding glucosylated 5hmC allowed a similar level of transcription as natural DNA. This suggests different roles of these hypermodified bases in the epigenetic regulation of transcription in bacteriophages or kinetoplastid parasites. Consequently, enzymatic glucosylation of 5hmC-containing DNA can be used for tuning of transcription activity.

Efficacy and safety of higher oral doses of azaperone to achieve sedation in pigs.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the possibility of achieving more effective and prolonged sedation in pigs by the oral administration of increased doses of azaperone and to evaluate its safety. This was performed through a prospective randomised and double blinded study. A total of 32 weaned piglets were divided into 4 groups (8 in each group). Group A was given 1 ml of saline orally and served as the control group. Group B received azaperone orally at a dose of 4 mg/kg b.w. Group C received azaperone orally at a dose of 8 mg/kg b.w. Group D was given azaperone orally at a dose of 12 mg/kg b.w. The response to the defined stimulus, movement level, degree of salivation, body temperature, respiratory frequency, blood plasma azaperone concentration and biochemical variables were included in the trial. We found that by increasing the dose of the orally administered azaperone, the onset of the sedation is faster, the end of the sedation starts later and the sedation time is longer. However, the use of higher doses of oral azaperone is not suitable for piglets because the doses negatively affect the respiratory rate, body temperature, some biochemical parameters and cause the immobility of the piglets.

Structural properties of cationic surfactant-fatty alcohol bilayers: insights from dissipative particle dynamics.

Bilayers, self-assembled by cationic surfactants and fatty alcohols in water, are the basic units of lamellar gel networks - creamy formulations extensively used in cosmetics and pharmaceutics. Mesoscopic modelling and study of the bilayers formed by single- or double-tail cationic surfactants (CTAC or DHDAC), and fatty alcohols (FAs) in the lamellar fluid and gel phases were employed. Fatty alcohols with alkyl tail equal to or greater than the surfactant alkyl tail, i.e., C16FA or C18FA and C22FA, were considered. A model formulation was explored with the FA concentration greater than that of the surfactant and the structure of the fluid and gel bilayers in tensionless state characterised via the density profiles across the bilayers, orientational order parameters of the surfactant and FA chains, intrinsic analysis of the bilayer interfaces, and bending rigidity. The intrinsic analysis allows identification and quantification of the coexistence of the interdigitated and non-interdigitated phases present within the gel bilayers. The FA chains were found to conform the primary scaffolding of the bilayers while the surfactant chains tessellate bilayer monolayers from their water-hydrophobic interface. Further, the overlap of the FA chains from the apposed monolayers of the fluid bilayers rises with increasing FA length. Finally, the prevalence of the non-interdigitated phase over the interdigitated phase within the gel bilayers becomes enhanced upon the FA length increase with a preference of the surfactant chains to reside in the non-interdigitated phase rather than the interdigitated phase.

Strain localization in planar shear of granular media: the role of porosity and boundary conditions.

Shear strain localization into shear bands is associated with velocity weakening instabilities and earthquakes. Here, we simulate steady-state plane-shear flow of numerical granular material (gouge), confined between parallel surfaces. Both constant shear stress and constant strain-rate boundary conditions are tested, and the two types of boundary conditions are found to yield distinct velocity profiles and friction laws. The inertial number, I, exerts the largest control on the layers' behavior, but additional dependencies of friction on normal stress and thickness of the layer are observed under constant stress boundary condition. We find that shear-band localization, which is present in the quasistatic regime ([Formula: see text]) in rate-controlled shear, is absent under stress-controlled loading. In the latter case, flow ceases when macroscopic friction coefficient approaches the quasistatic friction value. The inertial regime that occurs at higher inertial numbers ([Formula: see text]) is associated with distributed shear, and friction and porosity that increase with shear rate (rate-strengthening regime). The finding that shear under constant stress boundary condition produces the inertial, distributed shear but never quasistatic, localized deformation is rationalized based on low fluctuations of shear forces in granular contacts for stress-controlled loading. By examining porosity within and outside a shear band, we also provide a mechanical reason why the transition between quasistatic and inertial shear coincides with the transition between localized and distributed strain.

Load Measurement of the Cervical Vertebra C7 and the Head of Passengers of a Car While Driving across Uneven Terrain.

The article deals with the measurement of dynamic effects that are transmitted to the driver (passenger) when driving in a car over obstacles. The measurements were performed in a real environment on a defined track at different driving speeds and different distributions of obstacles on the road. The reaction of the human organism, respectively the load of the cervical vertebrae and the heads of the driver and passenger, was measured. Experimental measurements were performed for different variants of driving conditions on a 28-year-old and healthy man. The measurement's main objective was to determine the acceleration values of the seats in the vehicle in the vertical movement of parts of the vehicle cabin and to determine the dynamic effects that are transmitted to the driver and passenger in a car when driving over obstacles. The measurements were performed in a real environment on a defined track at various driving speeds and diverse distributions of obstacles on the road. The acceleration values on the vehicle's axles and the structure of the driver's and front passenger's seats, under the buttocks, at the top of the head (Vertex Parietal Bone) and the C7 cervical vertebra (Vertebra Cervicales), were measured. The result of the experiment was to determine the maximum magnitudes of acceleration in the vertical direction on the body of the driver and the passenger of the vehicle when passing a passenger vehicle over obstacles. The analysis of the experiment's results is the basis for determining the future direction of the research.

Ring-closing metathesis of prochiral oxaenediynes to racemic 4-alkenyl-2-alkynyl-3,6-dihydro-2H-pyrans.

The prochiral 4-(allyloxy)hepta-1,6-diynes, optionally modified in the positions 1 and 7 with an alkyl or ester group, undergo a chemoselective ring-closing enyne metathesis yielding racemic 4-alkenyl-2-alkynyl-3,6-dihydro-2H-pyrans. Among the catalysts tested, Grubbs 1st generation precatalyst in the presence of ethene (Mori conditions) gave superior results compared to the more stable Grubbs or Hoveyda-Grubbs 2nd generation precatalysts. This is probably caused by a suppression of the subsequent side-reactions of the enyne metathesis product with ethene. On the other hand, the 2nd generation precatalysts gave better yields in the absence of ethene. The metathesis products, containing both a triple bond and a conjugated system, can be successfully orthogonally modified. For example, the metathesis product of 5-(allyloxy)nona-2,7-diyne reacted chemo- and stereoselectively in a Diels-Alder reaction with N-phenylmaleimide affording the tricyclic products as a mixture of two separable diastereoisomers, the configuration of which was estimated by DFT computations. The reported enediyne metathesis paves the way to the enantioselective enyne metathesis yielding chiral building blocks for compounds with potential biological activity, e.g., norsalvinorin or cacospongionolide B.

Controlled Transport of Flexible Polymers in Slit and Cylindrical Pores Coated with Polymer Brushes: Insight from Dissipative Particle Dynamics.

We use dissipative particle dynamics to simulate the controlled transport of flexible polymers through coated slit and cylindrical pores. Pores are coated inside with solvent-sensitive polymer brushes. Stretch-to-collapse transition then controls the permeability of the coated pores. We change the solvent quality with respect to the polymer brushes and study the flow of flexible polymers through the pores. We show that stretched brush chains close the pores and compress the polymers in the centre of the pores. The collapsed brush chains relieve compression and rapid change in permeability is observed. In open pore state, polymers partially accommodate on the brush layer and partially migrate towards the center of the pores, where the flux is maximal. Finally, we observe that polymers tend to align in the direction of the flow.

Nonhydroxylated 1-O-acylceramides in vernix caseosa.

Vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that coats the skin of newborn babies, has an extremely complex lipid composition. We have explored these lipids and identified nonhydroxylated 1-O-acylceramides (1-O-ENSs) as a new class of lipids in vernix caseosa. These ceramides mostly contain saturated C11-C38 ester-linked (1-O) acyls, saturated C12-C39 amide-linked acyls, and C16-C24 sphingoid bases. Because their fatty acyl chains are frequently branched, numerous molecular species were separable and detectable by HPLC/MS: we found more than 2,300 molecular species, 972 of which were structurally characterized. The most abundant 1-O-ENSs contained straight-chain and branched fatty acyls with 20, 22, 24, or 26 carbons in the 1-O position, 24 or 26 carbons in the N position, and sphingosine. The 1-O-ENSs were isolated using multistep TLC and HPLC and they accounted for 1% of the total lipid extract. The molecular species of 1-O-ENSs were separated on a C18 HPLC column using an acetonitrile/propan-2-ol gradient and detected by APCI-MS, and the structures were elucidated by high-resolution and tandem MS. Medium-polarity 1-O-ENSs likely contribute to the cohesiveness and to the waterproofing and moisturizing properties of vernix caseosa.

Adsorption of amphiphilic graft copolymers in solvents selective for the grafts on a lyophobic surface: a coarse-grained simulation study.

The sorption of graft copolymers on surfaces attractive only for the backbone and its effect on the conformational behavior of adsorbed/desorbed chains in solvents good for the grafts and poor for the backbone was studied by coarse-grained computer simulations. It was found that the sorption and conformational behavior are very complex and are results of an intricate interplay of solvent quality (polymer-solvent interactions) and solvent strength (polymer-surface vs. solvent-surface interactions). Increasing grafting density and length of grafts protect the backbone against adsorption, but the behavior is non-trivial. A decrease in solvent quality promotes the adsorption, because it lowers the overall solubility, but the backbone collapses and the probability of backbone-surface contacts decreases, which simultaneously hinders the adsorption. The results of simulations are presented in the form of phase diagrams depicting the decisive features of the conformational and sorption behavior.

Concentrated aqueous sodium chloride solution in clays at thermodynamic conditions of hydraulic fracturing: Insight from molecular dynamics simulations.

To address a high salinity of flow-back water during hydraulic fracturing, we use molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and study the thermodynamics, structure, and diffusion of concentrated aqueous salt solution in clay nanopores. The concentrated solution results from the dissolution of a cubic NaCl nanocrystal, immersed in an aqueous NaCl solution of varying salt concentration and confined in clay pores of a width comparable to the crystal size. The size of the nanocrystal equals to about 18 Å which is above a critical nucleus size. We consider a typical shale gas reservoir condition of 365 K and 275 bar, and we represent the clay pores as pyrophyllite and Na-montmorillonite (Na-MMT) slits. We employ the Extended Simple Point Charge (SPC/E) model for water, Joung-Cheatham model for ions, and CLAYFF for the slit walls. We impose the pressure in the normal direction and the resulting slit width varies from about 20 to 25 Å when the salt concentration in the surrounding solution increased from zero to an oversaturated value. By varying the salt concentration, we observe two scenarios. First, the crystal dissolves and its dissolution time increases with increasing salt concentration. We describe the dissolution process in terms of the number of ions in the crystal, and the crystal size and shape. Second, when the salt concentration reaches a system solubility limit, the crystal grows and attains a new equilibrium size; the crystal comes into equilibrium with the surrounding saturated solution. After crystal dissolution, we carry out canonical MD simulations for the concentrated solution. We evaluate the hydration energy, density profiles, orientation distributions, hydrogen-bond network, radial distribution functions, and in-plane diffusion of water and ions to provide insight into the microscopic behaviour of the concentrated aqueous sodium chloride solution in interlayer galleries of the slightly hydrophobic pyrophyllite and hydrophilic Na-MMT pores.

Flow and aggregation of rod-like proteins in slit and cylindrical pores coated with polymer brushes: an insight from dissipative particle dynamics.

We use a meso-scale dissipative particle dynamics method to simulate the flow and aggregation of rod-like protein solutions through pores grafted with a solvent-sensitive polymer brush. The coated pores can control protein permeability and aggregation by a stretch-to-collapse conformational transition of the brush polymers in response to changes in the solvent quality. The protein solutions mimic aqueous glycoprotein solutions and proteins are represented as rod-like objects formed by coarse-grain beads. The model further employs two types of beads to represent the existence of cystein-like terminal groups in real glycoproteins and mimic the aggregation of real glycoproteins in aqueous solutions. We vary the solvent quality with respect to the brush chains and study the flow and aggregation of rod-like proteins in the slit and cylindrical pores as the brush polymers undergo the stretch-to-collapse transition. The results show that stretched brush chains close the pore, hamper proteins' flow and promote proteins' aggregation. The collapsed brush chains open the pores for proteins' flow and suppress their aggregation. Therefore, we observe more than a ten-fold reduction in the permeation rate of proteins in both pore geometries. Finally, due to pore confinement, larger proteins' aggregates are formed in the slit pore than in the cylindrical pore, while more pronounced orientation of proteins in the flow direction is seen in the cylindrical pore than in the slit pore.