The rate of intrapartum cesarean delivery based on estimated fetal weight in comparison to previous child’s birth weight

Objective: To examine whether an estimated fetal weight of the current pregnancy greater than previous birth weight is associated with increased odds of intrapartum cesarean delivery. Study design: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all women who had more than one singleton pregnancy at 23 weeks’ gestation or greater at a single Labor and Delivery unit. We only analyzed the second pregnancy in the dataset. We excluded women who had preterm birth in the second pregnancy. Women were categorized according to the difference between estimated fetal weight and previous birth weight - estimated fetal weight close to previous birth weight within 500 grams (Similar Weight Group); estimated fetal weight significantly (more than 500 grams) greater than previous birth weight (Larger Weight Group); and estimated fetal weight significantly (more than 500 grams) lower than previous birth weight (Smaller Weight Group). The primary outcome was intrapartum cesarean delivery. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence interval (95%CI) after adjusting for predefined covariates. Results: Of 1,887 women, there were 1,415 (75%) in the Similar Weight Group, 384 (20%) in the Greater Weight Group, and 88 (5%) in the Smaller Weight Group. Individuals in the Larger Weight Group compared to those in the Similar Weight Group had higher odds of undergoing intrapartum cesarean delivery (11.2% vs. 4.5%; aOR 2.91; 95%CI 1.91-4.45). The odds of intrapartum cesarean delivery in the Smaller Weight Group compared to those in the Similar Weight Group were not increased (3.4% vs. 4.5%; crude OR 0.75; 95%CI 0.23-2.42). Conclusion: The difference between current estimated fetal weight and previous birth weight plays an important role in assessing the risk of intrapartum cesarean delivery.

Diet-induced fasting ghrelin elevation reflects the recovery of insulin sensitivity and visceral adiposity regression

Aims Lower fasting-ghrelin-levels (FGL) are associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome. We aimed to explore the dynamics of FGL during weight-loss and its metabolic and adiposity-related manifestations beyond weight-loss. Methods A secondary analysis of a clinical trial where we randomized participants with abdominal-obesity/dyslipidemia to one of three diets: healthy-dietary-guidelines (HDG), Mediterranean diet (MED), or green-MED diet, all combined with physical activity (PA). Both MED diets were similarly hypocaloric and included 28g/day walnuts. The green-MED group further consumed green tea (3-4 cups/day) and a Wolffia-globosa (Mankai) plant green-shake. We measured FGL and quantified body fat depots by Magnetic-Resonance-Imaging at baseline and after 18-months. Results Among 294 participants [body-mass-index=31.3kg/m 2;FGL=504±208pg/mL; retention rate=89.8%], lower FGL were associated with unfavorable cardiometabolic parameters as higher visceral-adipose-tissue (VAT), intra-hepatic fat, leptin, and blood pressure (p<0.05 for all; multivariate models). ∆FGL18-month differed between men (+7.3+26.6%) and women (-9.2+21.3%,p=0.001). After 18-months of moderate and similar weight loss among the MED-groups, FGL increased by 1.3%, 5.4%, and 10.5% in HDG, MED, and green-MED groups, respectively (p=0.03 for green-MED vs. HDG), sex-stratified analysis revealed similar changes in men only. Among men, FGL18-month elevation was associated with favorable changes in insulin resistance profile and VAT regression, after adjusting for relative weight-loss (HbA1c:r=-0.216; homeostatic-model-of insulin-resistance:r=-0.154; HDL-c:r=0.147;VAT:r=-0.221;p<0.05 for all). , Insulin resistance and VAT remained inversely related with FGL elevation, beyond which was explained by weight-loss (residual regression analyses;p<0.05). Conclusions Diet-induced FGL elevation may reflect insulin sensitivity recovery and VAT regression beyond weight-loss, specifically among men. Green-MED diet is associated with greater FGL elevation.

PSI-B-28 Breed effect on weight gain of broilers

Poultry production as an aspect of livestock production is important to the biological needs, economic and social development of the people in any nation. Broiler birds are specifically bred for rapid growth to attain mature body size within 7–10 weeks depending on the strain, sex and management. This study was carried out in the humid tropics of Southwestern Nigeria. The experimental units were derived from four commercial broiler breeds namely Arbor Acre, Cobb, Marshall and Ross. Each breed had 76 chicks totaling 304 across the four breeds. On arrival, each chick was tagged by breed and identification number, and the initial weight of the chicks were recorded. Each of the breeds were thereafter randomly selected and randomly assigned to four experimental plots as replicates of the same treatment. The broiler birds were reared for 10 weeks and their weight taken and recorded at weekly intervals. All statistical analyses were conducted using boxplot, descriptive statistic and general linear models of Minitab® 16. After exploratory analysis to check for normality and outliers, a total of 217 birds were used in the final analyses. Except for the Marshall breed that had a highly significantly (P < 0.01) lower weight at hatching, other breeds had fairly similar weight (Table 1). However, there was no statistical (P > 0.05) difference in mean initial weight across the four replicates. While breed alone accounted for 37.81% of the total variation in initial weight, it only accounted for 30.07% of the difference in weight gain. The effect of breed on weight gain was only significant (P < 0.01) in Marshall, while the other three breeds were not statistically different (P >0.05). It can be deduced from this study that performance in terms of weight gain of most of the commercially available breeds in Nigeria are similar with the exception of Marshall.

Different mechanisms of magnitude and spatial representation for tactile and auditory modalities

The human brain creates an external world representation based on magnitude judgments by estimating distance, numerosity, or size. The magnitude and spatial representation are hypothesized to rely on common mechanisms shared by different sensory modalities. We explored the relationship between magnitude and spatial representation using two different sensory systems. We hypothesize that the interaction between space and magnitude is combined differently depending on sensory modalities. Furthermore, we aimed to understand the role of the spatial reference frame in magnitude representation. We used stimulus–response compatibility (SRC) to investigate these processes assuming that performance is improved if stimulus and response share common features. We designed an auditory and tactile SRC task with conflicting spatial and magnitude mapping. Our results showed that sensory modality modulates the relationship between space and magnitude. A larger effect of magnitude over spatial congruency occurred in a tactile task. However, magnitude and space showed similar weight in the auditory task, with neither spatial congruency nor magnitude congruency having a significant effect. Moreover, we observed that the spatial frame activated during tasks was elicited by the sensory inputs. The participants' performance was reversed in the tactile task between uncrossed and crossed hands posture, suggesting an internal coordinate system. In contrast, crossing the hands did not alter performance (i.e., using an allocentric frame of reference). Overall, these results suggest that space and magnitude interaction differ in auditory and tactile modalities, supporting the idea that these sensory modalities use different magnitude and spatial representation mechanisms.

Evaluation of production systems and economic analysis of baby goats raised in the semiarid region of Paraíba

The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance and economic indicators of baby goats region submitted to different feeding systems in the Semiarid. A total of 30 baby goats of breed Parda Alpina × without defined racial pattern (SPRD) with initial weight of 3.35 kg ± 0.65 kg and final weight of 12.3 kg ± 0.5 kg were used, distributed in a completely randomized design in three breastfeeding systems with ten replicates each: traditional system (with natural breastfeeding), intensive breastfeeding system without concentrated supplementation, and intensive breastfeeding with concentrated supplementation. Goats submitted to the intensive artificial feeding system without concentrated supplementation showed a similar weight gain (121 g/day) when compared to the goats submitted to the system of suckling with concentrated supplementation (126 g/day). The highest income was provided by the animals submitted to the intensive system of suckling with concentrate. The gross margin for the two centenarians was positive, that is, revenues are higher than the effective operating cost, allowing us to conclude that the activity is paying off and will survive, at least in the short term. The diet of kids using concentrate provided better dry matter intake, greater weight gain and consequently presented better economic indicators.

Comparison and Synthesis of Molybdenum Carbonyl Complexes Substituted with Mono- and Bis-Triphenylphosphine Ligands for Hydrocracking of Vacuum Residue

(PPh3)Mo(CO)5 and (PPh3)2Mo(CO)4 were synthesized by the reaction of molybdenum hexacar-bonyl with triphenylphosphine and applied as precursors to hydrocracking of vacuum residue under high-pressure and high-temperature conditions. (PPh3)2Mo(CO)4 could also be synthesized by the reaction of (PPh3)Mo(CO)5 with triphenyl phosphine. A commercial precursor (Mo-octoate) for hydrocracking of vacuum residue was used for comparison. The thermal decomposition behavior of (PPh3)Mo(CO)5, (PPh3)2Mo(CO)4, and Mo-octoate was also examined by the thermogravimetric analysis. The TGA curve of (PPh3)Mo(CO)5 and (PPh3)2Mo(CO)4 showed a similar weight-loss pattern. (PPh3)Mo(CO)5 and (PPh3)2Mo(CO)4 were decomposed into Mo metal and ligands rapidly in the range of 140 °C~270 °C. There were no ligands bound to a metal center of (PPh3)Mo(CO)5 and (PPh3)2Mo(CO)4 at the reaction temperature (430 °C) of hydrocracking. The amount of coke formed after hydrocracking over (PPh3)Mo(CO)5 and (PPh3)2Mo(CO)4 was 2.3% and 0.5%, respectively. Upgrading the qualities of heavy oils is an important issue in the energy industry. It is not easy to achieve the complete conversion of vacuum residue due to coke forming during hydrocracking of vacuum residue. This study showed that (PPh3)2Mo(CO)4 was considerably effective in reducing coke formation.

Dietary Curcumin Alleviated Acute Ileum Damage of Ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) Induced by AFB1 through Regulating Nrf2-ARE and NF-κB Signaling Pathways

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a stable toxic metabolite threatening health of human and animal and widely contaminated animal feed and human food. This present study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary curcumin on ileum injury in ducks induced by AFB1 administration and explore its underlying mechanisms. Ducks (N = 450, one-day-old male) with a similar weight were randomly assigned to 3 groups, containing the control group, AFB1 group (60 μg AFB1 kg−1 body weight) and curcumin (500 mg curcumin kg−1 diet) + AFB1 group. AFB1 administration markedly increased the ileum damage, AFB1-DNA adducts in the plasma and oxidation stress and inflammation. Adding curcumin into diet protected the ileum against morphology damage induced by AFB1 administration, decreased AFB1-DNA adducts in the plasma and eliminated oxidation stress and inflammation in the ileum of ducks. Anti-oxidation and anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin could protect the ileum against acute damage via activating Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway and inhibiting NF-κB signaling pathway. Conclusively, curcumin was a dietary anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation agent via activating Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway and inhibiting NF-κB signaling pathway to protect ileum against acute damage induced by AFB1 administration.

Pedestrian/Bike Bridge over Manzanares River in Madrid

<p>The city of Madrid is making efforts to make the most of the river Manzanares, improving the quality of life of the citizens and increasing the biodiversity. Madrid Rio is the most central and visible side of this work. But there is also a will to extend this enhancement beyond the city center, taking advantage to the fullest extent of the opportunities that a river brings to enhance the urban sustainability of such a big metropolis. The Manzanares Linear Park extends this intervention south along the river. The bridge presented in this work belongs to that linear system; its objective is not just crossing the waterway, since it is a sparsely populated area with other bridges nearby, but rather bringing the trail and the users closer to the river. Limited time was available for design, fabrication and installation of the bridge. This fact had a deep effect on the solution. It is a simple design that consists of three different pieces of similar weight that are manufactured in the workshop and separately brought to the final location where they are quickly assembled by means of pinned connections and without any additional welding on site. Then the whole bridge is craned to its final position.</p>