Development of a fixed list of descriptors for the qualitative behavioral assessment of thoroughbred horses in the racing environment.

Introduction: Horse racing is a major sport practiced worldwide. The environment to which horses are exposed during race meetings can influence their behavior. However, to the best of our knowledge, a method for assessing a horse's response to its surroundings during the pre- and post-race periods has not yet been reported. This study aimed to create a standard list of descriptors for use in a qualitative behavioral assessment (QBA) focused on assessing the emotional expressivity of horses before and after racing events. Materials and methods: Seventy pre- or post-race 30-second videos of horses were randomly selected from our database of 700 videos. A panel of 8 experienced equine sports medicine specialist veterinarians watched a 60 min presentation on QBA. The panel then watched all videos randomly, simultaneously, individually, continuously, and without any verbal interaction, describing the descriptors related to the emotional expressivity of the horse after each video using a method known as free-choice profiling (FCP). Results: The initial selection of descriptors was based on those indicated by more than one evaluator in the same video, or descriptors with more than 20 occurrences. The second selection was performed based on the content validity index (CVR) to select the descriptors retained in the previous step. Another panel of six veterinarians scored each of the descriptors retained for content validity on a visual scale. Interobserver reliability was estimated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and its respective 95% confidence intervals (CI). A natural language processing (NLP) algorithm was used to analyze the behavior (positive or negative polarity) of the descriptors based on the lexicoPT package of R software. Discussion/Conclusion: NLP analysis considered the descriptors "agitated," "troubled," "restless" and "irritated" to have a negative polarity, while "focused," "relaxed" and "peaceful" had a positive polarity. In the principal component analysis (PCA), descriptors in a negative state were associated with each other and inversely associated with descriptors in a positive state. We conclude with a fixed list of descriptors to be used in a QBA to assess emotional and welfare expressivity in racehorses' pre- and post-race environments.

Fewer Basins Will Follow Their Budyko Curves Under Global Warming and Fossil-Fueled Development.

The Budyko framework consists of a curvilinear relationship between the evaporative ratio (i.e., actual evaporation over precipitation) and the aridity index (i.e., potential evaporation over precipitation) and defines evaporation's water and energy limits. A basin's movement within the Budyko space illustrates its hydroclimatic change and helps identify the main drivers of change. On the one hand, long-term aridity changes drive evaporative ratio changes, moving basins along their Budyko curves. On the other hand, historical human development can cause river basins to deviate from their curves. The question is if basins will deviate or follow their Budyko curves under the future effects of global warming and related human developments. To answer this, we quantify the movement in the Budyko space of 405 river basins from 1901-1950 to 2051-2100 based on the outputs of seven models from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project - Phase 6 (CMIP6). We account for the implications of using different potential evaporation models and study low- and high-emissions scenarios. We find considerable differences of movement in Budyko space regarding direction and intensity when using the two estimates of potential evaporation. However, regardless of the potential evaporation estimate and the scenario used, most river basins will not follow their reference Budyko curves (>72%). Furthermore, the number of basins not following their curves increases under high greenhouse gas emissions and fossil-fueled development SP585 and across dry and wet basin groups. We elaborate on the possible explanations for a large number of basins not following their Budyko curves.

Scaling relations reveal global and regional differences in morphometry of reservoirs and natural lakes.

Water bodies provide essential ecosystem services linked to morphometric features that might differ between natural lakes and reservoirs. We use the HydroLAKES global dataset to quantitatively compare large (area > 1 km2) reservoirs and natural lakes in terms of scaling exponents between morphometric measures (volume, area, shore length). These exponents are further compared to those expected from geometrical assumptions and constraints. Lakes cover a larger range of volumes for the same range of surface areas than reservoirs, and have a larger volume-area scaling exponent. The volume-area scaling exponent for reservoirs (but not natural lakes) and the area-shore length exponent for all water bodies follow the predictions for self-affine surfaces. Land cover and terrain influence the scaling relations more for lakes than for reservoirs. These morphometric differences may be used to model the impact of reservoirs and lakes on hydrological processes and associated ecosystem services at regional to global scales.

Hospitalisation and Disease Severity Alter the Resting Pattern of Horses.

In humans, hospitalisation, disease type, and environmental factors evidently affect the quality of sleep, further influencing patient recovery. The objective of the present study was to report the resting and lying behaviour of hospitalised horses, and whether lying behaviours differ depending on the physiological severity of joint damage. We hypothesised that the resting and lying behaviour can change during the hospitalisation and physiological severity of joint damage affect the time of rest in horses. A descriptive observational study was performed to evaluate the effect of hospitalisation on the recumbency time of 8 adult horses with different degrees of osteoarthritis of the metacarpophalangeal joint. The horses' rest time was monitored using cameras during the first 5 days of hospitalisation. The total time of lateral recumbency and frequency of recumbency were greater after the 4th day of hospitalisation (P<,05), while the total time of sternal recumbency was greater after the 3rd day (P <0,05). Furthermore, we compared the recumbency time among animals with different degrees of osteoarthritis on the 5th day of hospitalisation. Increased recumbency time in mild osteoarthritis spared the animal's limb and reduced the overload on the affected limb; however, severe osteoarthritis decreased the frequency and time of recumbency probably due to greater difficulty during joint flexion in the transition from standing to recumbency. The severity of disease appeared to affect recumbency time, as horses with mild osteoarthritis spent more time in recumbency whilst those with severe osteoarthritis may have been partially sleep-deprived because they lay down less.

El hiperparatiroidismo secundario es un factor de riesgo asociado con la sobrevida del injerto en pacientes pediátricos con trasplante renal: Un estudio de centro único / Secondary hyperparathyroidism is a risk factor associated with graft survival in pediatric patients with renal transplantation: A single-center study

Introducción: El trasplante renal en pediatría constituye el tratamiento de elección para la enfermedad renal crónica terminal (ERCT) con ventajas ampliamente comprobadas sobre los tratamientos dialíticos. El objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar los factores de riesgo relacionados con la sobrevida global y del injerto en un grupo de pacientes pediátricos con trasplante renal atendidos en un hospital de referencia nacional con observación de factores asociados al hiperparatiroidismo secundario. Métodos: En el presente estudio observacional, retrospectivo, se realizó en el Hospital Metropolitano de Quito - Ecuador desde el primero de enero del 2010 al treinta de junio del 2013. Se registró la mortalidad y la supervivencia del injerto, presencia de hiperparatiroidismo pre trasplante, variables demográficas, clínicas (compatibilidad). Se usa el método de Kaplan Meier para el análisis y se presentan riesgos relativos. Resultados: Ingresaron al estudio 33 pacientes, de edad 12±3.8 años. Donante cadavérico 21 casos (63.6%), donante vivo 12 pacientes 36.4%. 18 hombres (54.5%). La etiología de la ERCT fue indeterminada en 63.6%; nefropatías en 24.2% y uropatías en 12.1%. Rechazo agudo 1 paciente, rechazo tardío 10 pacientes. Las variables con significancia en la sobrevida del injerto fueron: hiperparatiroidismo RR= 6.0 (IC95%= 1.078-45.902) P=0.032. No recibir inmunosupresión completa RR=14.5 (IC95%= 3.807-55.225) P<0.001. La necesidad de diálisis pos trasplante la primera semana y biopsia temprana tuvieron RR=15 (IC95%= 3.9-57.2). Conclusiones: Este estudio demostró que el hiperparatiroidismo secundario es un factor de riesgo negativo para la sobrevida del injerto renal en pacientes pediátricos trasplantados

Introduction: Kidney transplantation in pediatrics is the treatment of choice for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) with widely proven advantages over dialysis treatments. The aim of the present study was to determine the risk factors related to global and graft survival in a group of pediatric kidney transplant patients treated at a national referral hospital with observation of factors associated with secondary hyperparathyroidism. Methods: In the present observational, retrospective study, it was carried out in the Hospital Metropolitano de Quito - Ecuador from January 1, 2010 to June 30, 2013. Mortality and graft survival, presence of hyperparathyroidism pre transplantation, demographic and clinical variables (compatibility). The Kaplan Meier method is used for analysis and relative risks are presented. Results: 33 patients, aged 12 ± 3.8 years, entered the study. Cadaveric donor 21 cases (63.6%), living donor 12 patients 36.4%. 18 men (54.5%). The etiology of ESRD was indeterminate in 63.6%; nephropathies in 24.2% and uropathies in 12.1%. Acute rejection 1 patient, late rejection 10 patients. Variables with significance in graft survival were: hyperparathyroidism RR = 6.0 (95% CI = 1.078-45.902) P = 0.032. Not receiving complete immunosuppression RR = 14.5 (95% CI = 3.807-55.225) P <0.001. The need for post-transplant dialysis the first week and early biopsy had RR = 15 (95% CI = 3.9-57.2). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that secondary hyperparathyroidism is a negative risk factor for kidney graft survival in pediatric transplant patients.

Drivers and extent of surface water occurrence in the Selenga River Delta, Russia.

Study region: Selenga River Delta (SRD), Russia. Study focus: How is water occurrence changing in the SRD, and what are the hydroclimatic drivers behind these changes? The presence of water on the surface in river deltas is governed by land use, geomorphology, and the flux of water to and from the Delta. We trained an accurate image classification of the Landsat satellite imagery during the last 33 years to quantify surface water occurrence and its changes in the SRD. After comparing our estimations with global-scale datasets, we determined the hydrological drivers of these changes. New hydrological insights for the region: We find mild decreases in water occurrence in 51% of the SRD's surface area from 1987-2002 to 2003-2020. Water occurrence in the most affected areas decreased by 20% and in the most water-gaining areas increased by 10%. We find a significant relationship between water occurrence and runoff (R2 = 0.56) that does not exist between water occurrence and suspended sediment concentration (SSC), Lake Baikal's water level, and potential evapotranspiration. The time series of water occurrence follows the peaks in the runoff but not its long-term trend. However, the extremes in SSC do not influence surface water occurrence (R2 < 0.1), although their long-term trends are similar. Contrary to expected, we find that the Delta has a relatively stable long-term water availability for the time being.

Efficacy of oral Cynara scolymus and Silybum marianum on toxicity of imidocarb dipropionate in horses.

BACKGROUND: Despite hepatotoxic effects, imidocarb dipropionate is the drug of choice for treatment of equine piroplasmosis. It is important, therefore, to identify adjuvant therapies that may improve the safety of imidocarb dipropionate by reducing the risk of liver damage during its use. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the hepatoprotective and hepatoregulatory effects of treatment with Cynara scolymus and Silybum marianum during administration of imidocarb dipropionate. METHODS: Ten healthy horses, seroconverted to Theileria equi by C-ELISA, were treated with 5 mg/kg/day of imidocarb dipropionate for three consecutive days. The study population was divided into two groups. The control group did not receive any complementary treatments. The treated group received a daily oral supplement containing C scolymus and S marianum for 30 days. Physical, haematological and histological examinations of hepatic fragments were performed. RESULTS: All haematological values remained within normal range for the study population. Histological analysis revealed that treated group animals had 62 per cent less lobular inflammation, 55 per cent less pigment accumulation, 65 per cent less steatosis and 57 per cent less portal inflammation than control group animals, with an equivalent percentage of hydropic degeneration. CONCLUSION: C scolymus and S marianum supplements resulted in beneficial hepatoprotective effects in horses treated with imidocarb dipropionate.

Integrating the Water Planetary Boundary With Water Management From Local to Global Scales.

The planetary boundaries framework defines the "safe operating space for humanity" represented by nine global processes that can destabilize the Earth System if perturbed. The water planetary boundary attempts to provide a global limit to anthropogenic water cycle modifications, but it has been challenging to translate and apply it to the regional and local scales at which water problems and management typically occur. We develop a cross-scale approach by which the water planetary boundary could guide sustainable water management and governance at subglobal contexts defined by physical features (e.g., watershed or aquifer), political borders (e.g., city, nation, or group of nations), or commercial entities (e.g., corporation, trade group, or financial institution). The application of the water planetary boundary at these subglobal contexts occurs via two approaches: (i) calculating fair shares, in which local water cycle modifications are compared to that context's allocation of the global safe operating space, taking into account biophysical, socioeconomic, and ethical considerations; and (ii) defining a local safe operating space, in which interactions between water stores and Earth System components are used to define local boundaries required for sustaining the local water system in stable conditions, which we demonstrate with a case study of the Cienaga Grande de Santa Marta wetlands in Colombia. By harmonizing these two approaches, the water planetary boundary can ensure that water cycle modifications remain within both local and global boundaries and complement existing water management and governance approaches.

Effects of Joint Lavage with Dimethylsulfoxide on LPS-Induced Synovitis in Horses-Clinical and Laboratorial Aspects.

Several studies in human and equine medicine have produced controversial results regarding the role of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) as a therapeutic agent. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of joint lavage with different DMSO concentrations on biomarkers of synovial fluid inflammation and cartilage degradation in joints with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced synovitis. Twenty-six tibiotarsal joints of 13 horses were randomly distributed into four groups (lactated Ringer's solution; 5% DMSO in lactated Ringer's; 10% DMSO in lactated Ringer's; and sham). All animals were evaluated for the presence of lameness, and synovial fluid analyses were performed at 0 h, 1 h, 8 h, 24 h, and 48 h (T0, T1, T8, T24, and T48, respectively). The white blood cell counts (WBC), total protein (TP), urea, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), hyaluronic acid (HA), and chondroitin sulfate (CS) concentrations were measured. The WBC counts and PGE2, IL-1ß, IL-6, and TP concentrations increased in all groups at T8 compared to baseline values (p<0.05). At T48, only the 5% DMSO and 10% DMSO groups showed a significant decrease in WBC counts (p<0.05). Furthermore, the 10% DMSO group had lower concentrations of PGE2 and IL-1ß at T48 than at T8 (p<0.05) and presented lower IL-6 levels than the5% DMSO and lactated Ringer's groups at T24. All groups showed an increase in CS concentration after LPS-induced synovitis. Joint lavage with 10% DMSO in lactated Ringer´s has anti-inflammatory but not chondroprotective effects.

Future Hydroclimatic Impacts on Africa: Beyond the Paris Agreement.

Projections of global warming in Africa are generally associated with increasing aridity and decreasing water availability. However, most freshwater assessments focus on single hydroclimatic indicators (e.g., runoff, precipitation, or aridity), lacking analysis on combined changes in evaporative demand, and water availability on land. There remains a high degree of uncertainty over water implications at the basin scale, in particular for the most water-consuming sector-food production. Using the Budyko framework, we perform an assessment of future hydroclimatic change for the 50 largest African basins, finding a consistent pattern of change in four distinct regions across the two main emission scenarios corresponding to the Paris Agreement, and the business as usual. Although the Paris Agreement is likely to lead to less intense changes when compared to the business as usual, both scenarios show the same pattern of hydroclimatic shifts, suggesting a potential roadmap for hydroclimatic adaptation. We discuss the social-ecological implications of the projected hydroclimatic shifts in the four regions and argue that climate policies need to be complemented by soil and water conservation practices to make the best use of future water resources.

Ozone pollution will compromise efforts to increase global wheat production.

Introduction of high-performing crop cultivars and crop/soil water management practices that increase the stomatal uptake of carbon dioxide and photosynthesis will be instrumental in realizing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of achieving food security. To date, however, global assessments of how to increase crop yield have failed to consider the negative effects of tropospheric ozone, a gaseous pollutant that enters the leaf stomatal pores of plants along with carbon dioxide, and is increasing in concentration globally, particularly in rapidly developing countries. Earlier studies have simply estimated that the largest effects are in the areas with the highest ozone concentrations. Using a modelling method that accounts for the effects of soil moisture deficit and meteorological factors on the stomatal uptake of ozone, we show for the first time that ozone impacts on wheat yield are particularly large in humid rain-fed and irrigated areas of major wheat-producing countries (e.g. United States, France, India, China and Russia). Averaged over 2010-2012, we estimate that ozone reduces wheat yields by a mean 9.9% in the northern hemisphere and 6.2% in the southern hemisphere, corresponding to some 85 Tg (million tonnes) of lost grain. Total production losses in developing countries receiving Official Development Assistance are 50% higher than those in developed countries, potentially reducing the possibility of achieving UN SDG2. Crucially, our analysis shows that ozone could reduce the potential yield benefits of increasing irrigation usage in response to climate change because added irrigation increases the uptake and subsequent negative effects of the pollutant. We show that mitigation of air pollution in a changing climate could play a vital role in achieving the above-mentioned UN SDG, while also contributing to other SDGs related to human health and well-being, ecosystems and climate change.

SUSTAINABILITY. Comment on "Planetary boundaries: Guiding human development on a changing planet".

Steffen et al. (Research Articles, 13 February 2015, p. 736) recently assessed current global freshwater use, finding it to be well below a corresponding planetary boundary. However, they ignored recent scientific advances implying that the global consumptive use of freshwater may have already crossed the associated planetary boundary.

Hydroclimatic changes and drivers in the Sava River Catchment and comparison with Swedish catchments.

In this study, we investigate long-term hydroclimatic changes and their possible relation to regional changes in climate, land-use and water-use over the twentieth century in the transboundary Sava River Catchment (SRC) in South Eastern Europe. In a hydropower dominated part of the SRC, unlike in an unregulated part, we find increase in average annual evapotranspiration and decrease in temporal runoff variability, which are not readily explainable by observed concurrent climate change in temperature and precipitation and may be more related to landscape-internal change drivers. Among the latter investigated here, results indicate hydropower developments as most closely related to the found hydroclimatic shifts, consistent with previous such indications in studies of Swedish hydropower catchments. Overall, the present results have quantitatively framed the recent history and present state of hydroclimate in the SRC, of relevance for water resources in several countries and for a majority of their populations. This provides a useful basis for further assessment of possible future hydroclimatic changes, under different scenarios of climate change and land/water-use developments in the region.

A social-ecological analysis of ecosystem services in two different farming systems.

In this exploratory study we use existing in situ qualitative and quantitative data on biophysical and social indicators to compare two contrasting Swedish farming systems (low intensity and high intensity) with regard to ecosystem service supply and demand of a broad suite of services. We show that the value (demand) placed on a service is not necessarily connected to the quantity (supply) of the service, most clearly shown for the services recreation, biodiversity, esthetic experience, identity, and cultural heritage. To better capture this complexity we argue for the need to develop portfolios of indicators for different ecosystem services and to further investigate the different aspects of supply and demand. The study indicates that available data are often ill-suited to answer questions about local delivery of services. If ecosystem services are to be included in policy, planning, and management, census data need to be formatted and scaled appropriately.

Dissecting the ecosystem service of large-scale pollutant retention: The role of wetlands and other landscape features.

Various features of a landscape contribute to the regulating ecosystem service of reducing waterborne pollutant loading to downstream environments. At local scales, wetlands have been shown to be effective in retaining pollutants. Here, we investigate the landscape-scale contribution to pollutant retention provided by multiple wetlands. We develop a general analytical model which shows that the retention contribution of wetlands and other landscape features is only significant if a large fraction of the total waterborne pollutant transport passes through them. Next, by means of a statistical analysis of official data, we quantify the nutrient retention contribution of wetlands for multiple sub-catchments in two Swedish Water Management Districts. We compare this with the retention contribution of two other landscape features: the waterborne transport distance and major lakes. The landscape-scale retention contribution of wetlands is undetectable; rather, the other two landscape features account for much of the total nutrient retention.

Local flow regulation and irrigation raise global human water consumption and footprint.

Flow regulation and irrigation alter local freshwater conditions, but their global effects are highly uncertain. We investigated these global effects from 1901 to 2008, using hydroclimatic observations in 100 large hydrological basins. Globally, we find consistent and dominant effects of increasing relative evapotranspiration from both activities, and decreasing temporal runoff variability from flow regulation. The evapotranspiration effect increases the long-term average human consumption of fresh water by 3563 ± 979 km(3)/year from 1901-1954 to 1955-2008. This increase raises a recent estimate of the current global water footprint of humanity by around 18%, to 10,688 ± 979 km(3)/year. The results highlight the global impact of local water-use activities and call for their relevant account in Earth system modeling.

Impact of practice arrangements on physicians' satisfaction.

This research examines the effect of practice arrangements on five dimensions of physicians' satisfaction (i.e., personal factors, resources, peer review, profession, and state regulations) and the moderating effect of job autonomy and decision making on this relationship. This research finds that physicians who work for HMOs and hospitals are more satisfied with job resources, regulatory climate, and their professions, compared with physicians who are self-employed (solo and group practices). Physicians who work for HMOs and hospitals have less autonomy and decision-making power, compared with self-employed physicians. Also, job autonomy partially moderates the relationship between organizational arrangement and physicians' satisfaction with job resources and satisfaction with the profession. Decision making does not moderate the organizational arrangement and physicians' satisfaction relationship.

Fractura aislada de la cúpula radial vs fractura asociada a otras lesiones del codo: manejo y evaluación funcional

El presente trabajo evalúa 48 casos de pacientes con fractura de la cúpula radial, como lesión aislada o asociada con otras lesiones del codo; el objetivo es buscar la explicación por la que lesiones radiológicamente iguales evolucionan de manera diferente. Se tomó como guía la Clasificación de Mason para fracturas de la cúpula radial, se valoraron parámetros como edad, sexo, causa del accidente, mecanismo, lado afecto, tipo de fractura, lesión asociada, tipo de tratamiento y resultados finales obtenidos. Para valorar la función del codo al término del tratamiento se utilizó la tabla de la Clínica Mayo modificada. Se consideraron como fracturas simples 35 casos con lesión ósea aislada de la cabeza radial; los 13...

Estado nutricional de niños escolares de la parroquia Quimiag (Provincia de Chimborazo)

Se evaluó el estado nutricional de 438 niños escolares pertenecientes a 5 comunidades de la Parroquia Quimiag (Provincia de Chimborazo), utilizando los parámetros peso para la edad, talla para la edad e índice de masa corporal (BMI) o índice de Quetelet (IQ = pesokg/talla2 (m2)). La muestra estuvo contituída por 438 alumnos de los cuales 231 (52,7 por ciento) eran varones y 207 (47.3 por ciento) eran mujeres, con un promedio de edad de 8,2 años. En el análisis se encontró en relación a peso para la edad un porcentaje de niños de peso bajo del 32,4 por ciento; en ralación a talla para la edad un 70.8 por ciento de talla baja y en relación al IQ al 12.55 por ciento eras desnutridos y además aparece un 7.99 por ciento de niños obesos. Los índices de desnutrición en relación al sexo mostraron un comportamiento similar al de la población total: Mujeres peso bajo 30.91 por ciento talla baja 67.63 por ciento, IQ desnutridos 12,07 por ciento obesos 12.56 por ciento; varones Pb 33,76 por ciento Tb 73,59 por ciento, IQ desn 12,98 por ciento obesos 3,89 por ciento. Al analizar el estado nutricinal en relacióna las comunidades y la distancia de estas a la cabecera parroquial, se encontró igualmente un comportamiento similar al de la población total, pero aumenta el índice de desnutrición mientras más distante se encuentra la cabecera parroquial y por ende a los servicios de salud. Se discute sobre la influencia de los factores ambientales y socio-económicos sobre los indicadores de desnutrición, especialmente la talla que indica una desnutrición crónica que puede influir mayormente que los factores genéticos y hereditarios. Además se discute sobre el fenómeno de hemorresis que sufren estos niños al ser víctimas de una desnutrición crónica, ya que su peso se adapta a la talla baja con lo cual dejan de ser desnutridos, lo mismo que se demuestra al valorar el índice de masa corporal, que s un dicador de desnutrición actual. Se recomienda promover la autogestión comunitaria en colaboración para la prestación de servicios de salud en comunidades distantes...

Análisis energético y cineantropométrico de la pelota nacional

Fueron estudiados diez deportistas varones seleccionados de Pichincha de la disciplina de pelota nacional, modalidad cerda. Se realizó pruebas ergométricas consistentes en test de bruce e impulsión vertical (jump test; cuyos resultados fueron comparados con datos de otras disciplinas deportivas y correlacionadas con observaciones de campo, tratando de definir la vía metabólica utilizada por esta actividad deportiva. Se concluye que la pelota nacional es un deporte con gasto energético anaeróbico aláctico. En forma complementaria se analiza los resultados cineantropométricos que arrojan datos concernientes al porcentaje de grasa, peso muscular y exceso de peso equivalenetes a individuos sedentarios...