1,721,096 research outputs found
Characterization of composting mixtures and compost of rabbit by-products to obtain a quality product and plant proposal for industrial production [Caratterizzazione delle matrici e del compost da deiezioni e sottoprodotti della macellazione cunicoli finalizzata ad una produzione industriale di qualità con soluzioni meccanico-impiantistiche specifiche]
No full textIn this study we have observed the effects of using rabbit manure and slaughtering by-products in a composting process. Three piles of this material, 4700 kg each, with different amount and C/N ratio, have been investigated and experimental tests were carried out in an industrial horizontal axe reactor using a prototype of turning machine. The composting time lasted 85 days; 2 experimental cycles were conducted: one in Winter and one in Summer. In the Winter test, mesophilic reaction started only in the control mixture (animal manure + slaughtering by-products without straw). It is noteworthy that, the 3 investigated mixtures produced soil amendment by compost with good agronomical potential but with parameters close to the extreme limits of the law. In the Summer test, there was thermophilic fermentation in all mixtures and a better quality compost was obtained, meeting all the agronomic and legislative constraints. For each pile, we examined the progression of fermentation process and thus the plant limitations that did not allow a correct composting process. The results obtained in this study are useful for the development of appropriate mixtures, machines, and plants assuring continuance and reliability in the composting of the biomass coming from rabbit industry
The challenges in establishing HEP in laboratory swine
No full textThe challenges in establishing HEP in laboratory swine
Barone F1, Ventrella D1, Elmi A1, Bacci ML1
1 Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum UNIBO
In 1998 from the International Conference on Humane Endpoints (HEP) in animal experiments for biomedical research emerged that HEPs are part of a dynamic process, influenced by scientific developments as well as by animal welfare concerns as they evolve with time. Nowadays there are several publications regarding criteria, definition and evaluation of HEPs, but mainly related to the most common laboratory animals such as mouse and rats (Aldred et al., 2002; Vlach et al., 2000). In the last years the role of swine as laboratory animal is increasing due to its translational value (Monticello and Haschek, 2016) and relatively lighter ethical implications when compared to the other large animal models. The need for a specific approach for each protocol, and the limited records available (Harvey-Clark et al., 2000; Malavasi et al., 2006), are probably two of the main reasons behind the lack of dedicated HEP guidelines for the laboratory swine. Despite the above-mentioned issues, the Directive 2010/63/EU requires specific HEPs for each submitted protocol, thus the need for more in-depth knowledge regarding pain assessment. A humane endpoint can be considered as a possible refinement alternative for those experiments that involve pain and discomfort to the animals leading to higher quality research without compromising welfare itself. The task of Veterinary Medicine is to find new biomarkers and behavioral patterns in order to provide researchers with accurate tools that allow for a better understanding of objective swine welfare in each experimental condition. Our aim, as veterinary physiologists, is to establish reliable guidelines for an early detection of para-physiological and pathological stress and pain patterns in the laboratory swine. In this abstract we will present our experience collected within the last 30 years regarding different experimental protocols with the swine as laboratory animal for xenotransplantation, endotoxic shock, gastrointestinal inflammation, inherited genetic disease, CNS and ocular disease.
Aldred, A.J., Cha, M.C., Meckling-Gill, K.A., 2002. Determination of a humane endpoint in the L1210 model of murine leukemia. Contemp. Top. Lab. Anim. Sci. Am. Assoc. Lab. Anim. Sci. 41, 24–27.
Harvey-Clark, C.J., Gilespie, K., Riggs, K.W., 2000. Transdermal fentanyl compared with parenteral buprenorphine in post-surgical pain in swine: a case study. Lab. Anim. 34, 386–398.
Malavasi, L.M., Nyman, G., Augustsson, H., Jacobson, M., Jensen-Waern, M., 2006. Effects of epidural morphine and transdermal fentanyl analgesia on physiology and behaviour after abdominal surgery in pigs. Lab. Anim. 40, 16–27. doi:10.1258/002367706775404453
Monticello, T.M., Haschek, W.M., 2016. Swine in Translational Research and Drug Development. Toxicol. Pathol. 44, 297–298. doi:10.1177/0192623316630838
Vlach, K.D., Boles, J.W., Stiles, B.G., 2000. Telemetric evaluation of body temperature and physical activity as predictors of mortality in a murine model of staphylococcal enterotoxic shock. Comp. Med. 50, 160–166
Quantification of hair steroids and behavioral assessment in pigs exposed to Lavender essential oil nebulization
No full textThis dataset contains raw data regarding hormonal hair quantification and behavioral assessment of pigs exposed to lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) essential oil (LEO) nebulization.
LEO is a phytoextract traditionally used in aromatherapy for its calming and anxiolytic effects, potentially acting at both the psychological (effect of the odour) and physiological level (effects of the inhaled volatile compounds via the limbic system, particularly the amygdala and hippocampus). Although the exact cellular mechanism of action is still unknown, some studies found that LEO inhalation resulted in anxiolytic effects similar to benzodiazepines.
A total of 108 pig were equally divided into 3 experimental groups: standard farming conditions (C=control), LAO nebulization for 10 minutes once a day (L1) or twice a day (L2). The trial lasted 127 days.
For hormonal steroid quantification, a sub-sample of 24 pigs per group was randomly selected. Animals were shaved at the beginning of the trial, to set the zero, and then again at the end of the trial (day 127) to quantify cortisol and DHEA.
As for behavioral assessment, 4 pens per experimental group were videotaped from 6:30AM to 6:30PM on days 7, 77 and 126 (beginning, middle and end of the trial)
Quantification of steroids, including cortisol, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, progesterone and estradiol, in hair samples collected from deceased Apennine wolves
No full textThe dataset contains data about sex, cause of death and quantification of cortisol, testosterone, Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), progesterone, and estradiol from hair (shaven for its entire length from the rump area, 20x20cm) of 20 specimens of Apennine wolves deceased in Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany regions and deposited at the Department of Medical and Veterinary Sciences of the University of Bologna. A comprehensive necropsy examination has been performed to assess age, signaling, biometry, phenotypic markers, causes of death, as well as to conduct virological and parasitological investigations. Instead, the concentration of steroids has been measured using radioimmunoassay techniques upon methanol extraction. Antibodies cross reactivity, as well as intra variation coefficient, were calculated.
Hormones are indicators of various physiological states. Measuring their concentration would allow to assess the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axes
Data on Gene and Protein Profiles in Roe Deer Testis During Pre-Rut and Post-Rut Periods
No full textThis dataset supports a study on seasonal testicular remodelling in adult male Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), comparing pre-rut (n=9) and post-rut (n=9) periods. The focus is on Oxidative stress and Angiogenesis pathways, key processes involved in this peculiar process, analysed through gene and protein expression. A qPCR array targeting 84 genes for each pathway was used, followed by validation through individual qPCR and ELISA protein quantification
Non-clinical Models to Determine Drug Passage into Human Breast Milk
Full text linkSuccessful practice of clinical perinatal pharmacology requires a thorough understanding of the pronounced physiological changes during lactation and how these changes affect various drug disposition processes. In addition, pharmacokinetic processes unique to lactation have remained understudied. Hence, determination of drug disposition mechanisms in lactating women and their babies remains a domain with important knowledge gaps. Indeed, lack of data regarding infant risk during breastfeeding far too often results in discontinuation of breastfeeding and subsequent loss of all the associated benefits to the breastfed infant. In the absence of age-specific toxicity data, human lactation data alone are considered insufficient to rapidly generate the required evidence regarding risks associated with medication use during lactation
Valutazione di effetti comparati di alcuni olii essenziali sulla funzionalità e integrità di spermatozoi suini.
No full textValutazione di effetti comparati di alcuni olii essenziali sulla funzionalità e integrità di spermatozoi suini
No full textSemen evaluation and in vivo fertility in a Northern Italian pig farm: Can advanced statistical approaches compensate for low sample size? An observational study
Full text linkThe evaluation of sperm functionality and morphology allows discerning between high and low quality ejaculates, but does not give detailed predictive information regarding in vivo fertility. The current developments in statistical modeling have helped in carrying out reproductive studies, but their biggest limitation is in the size of the dataset to be used. The aim of the present observational study was to evaluate whether advanced statistical approaches, such as mixed effects regression models and bootstrap resampling, can help in assessing the predictive ability of semen parameters in terms of in vivo fertility (farrowing rate and litter size), on a small/medium farm with a limited number of animals. Data regarding 33 ejaculates, including viability, subjective motility and acrosome reaction, were collected. Two hundred and thirty-five sows were inseminated with an outcome of 167 deliveries and 1734 newborn piglets. In order to evaluate the relationships among the parameters measured and fertility, mixed effects regression statistical models were used. Once the covariates to be included in the final models were identified, non-parametric bootstrapping was used. The results showed that the farrowing rate was highly associated with the total number of spermatozoa and subjective motility, while litter size was associated with percentage of acrosome reaction. In conclusion, the proposed statistical approach seemed to be suitable for studies regarding reproduction and fertility, even for relatively small sample sizes. Nonetheless, larger data sets are still preferable and required in order to achieve higher reliability
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