Integració docència i investigació: automedicació i ús de teràpies complementàries en estudiants universitaris

Integrar docencia e investigación en el ámbito del consumo de fármacos y el uso de terapias complementarias por los estudiantes universitarios de Enfermería y de Administración y Dirección de Empresas (ADE) frente a los trastornos de salud. El objetivo docente es fomentar la competencia transversal “Capacidad de aprendizaje y Responsabilidad” relacionada con la integración los conocimientos necesarios para poder cuidarse y prevenir riesgos. Los resultados del estudio se comunicarán a través del Campus Virtual a los alumnos de las dos facultades (asignaturas a concretar por los profesores de los dos centros) e irán acompañados de un feed-back con recomendaciones sobre el uso responsable de fármacos y terapias complementarias.

Piperine as a phytogenic additive in broiler diets

The objective of this work was to determine the effect of piperine as a phytogenic additive in chicken broiler diet. Seven‑day‑old male chicks were randomly allocated in four experimental treatments (n = 24), with four replicates (n = 6). The piperine was added to diets at concentrations of 0, 60, 120, and 180 mg kg‑1 for 35 consecutive days. The following were evaluated: biochemical, hematological and histopathological parameters; performance and carcass yield. Histomorphometric analyses were also carried out. The addition of 120 and 180 mg kg‑1 of piperine did not alter broiler body weight and feed conversion, whereas 60 mg kg‑1 of piperine interfered positively in both parameters from 36 to 42 days of age and significantly increased the absorption surface of the duodenum and the ileum. No macroscopic alteration in organ size and color was observed in the broilers fed diets with the evaluated concentrations of piperine. The supplementation of 120 and 180 mg kg‑1 of piperine is toxic to liver tissue and reduces the absorption surface of the jejune. The diet supplemented with 60 mg kg‑1 of piperine is safe.

Performance of juveniles of Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum fed graded levels of corn gluten meal

The objective of this work was to evaluate corn gluten meal (CGM) as a substitute for fish meal in diets for striped catfish (Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum) juveniles. Eight isonitrogenous (46% crude protein) and isoenergetic (3,450 kcal kg-1 digestible energy) diets, with increasing levels of CGM - 0, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, and 42% -, were fed to juvenile striped catfish (113.56±5.10 g) for seven weeks. Maximum values for weight gain, specific growth rate, protein efficiency ratio and feed conversion ratio, evaluated by polynomial quadratic regression, were observed with 10.4, 11.4, 15.4 and 15% of CGM inclusion, respectively. Feed intake decreased significantly from 0.8% CGM. Mesenteric fat index and body gross energy decreased linearly with increasing levels of CGM; minimum body protein contents were observed with 34.1% CGM. Yellow pigmentation of fillets significantly increased until 26.5% CGM, and decreased from this point forth. Both plasma glucose and protein concentrations decreased with increased CGM levels. The inclusion of 10-15% CGM promotes optimum of striped catfish juveniles depending on the parameter evaluated. Yellow coloration in fillets produced by CGM diets can have marketing implications.

Kinetics of chronic inflammation in Nile tilapia fed n‑3 and n‑6 essential fatty acids

The objective of this work was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with essential fatty acids on the kinetics of macrophage accumulation and giant cell formation in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The supplementation sources were soybean oil (SO, source of omega 6, n‑6) and linseed oil (LO, source of omega 3, n‑3), in the following proportions: 100% SO; 75% SO + 25% LO; 50% SO + 50% LO; 25% SO + 75% LO; and 100% LO (four replicates per treatment). After a feeding period of three months, growth performance was evaluated, and glass coverslips were implanted into the subcutaneous connective tissue of fish, being removed for examination at 2, 4, 6, and 8 days after implantation. Growth performance did not differ between treatments. Fish fed 100% linseed oil diet had the greatest macrophage accumulation and the fastest Langhans cell formation on the sixth day. On the eighth day, Langhans cells were predominant on the coverslips implanted in the fish feed 75 and 100% linseed oil. n‑3 fatty acids may contribute to macrophage recruitment and giant cell formation in fish chronic inflammatory response to foreign body.

Parboiled rice whole bran in laying diets for Japanese quails

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of parboiled rice whole bran (PRWB) inclusion in laying diets for Japanese quails, on their performance, egg quality, and economic viability. A total of 448 17-week-old quails were weighed and distributed in a completely randomized design with seven treatments and eight replicates of eight birds each. A control diet (no PRWB) and six diets, containing 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30% of PRWB, were tested. The increasing levels of PRWB did not affected nutrient digestibility coefficient, dietary energy use, feed intake, egg production, egg weight, egg mass, and the economic viability indices. However, there was a linear decrease in egg shell percentage, specific weight, and yolk color. The inclusion of up to 30% PRWB in the diet allows nutrient utilization and performance similar to those obtained by the control group, and it is economically viable.

Feeding rate and frequency on juvenile pompano growth

The objective of this work was to evaluate the ideal feeding rate and frequency for juvenile pompano (Trachinotus marginatus). Two experiments were carried out in a completely randomized design, with three replicates each. In experiment I, 25 fish (4.8±0.6 g and 6.48±0.01 cm) were stocked in 15 tanks (50 L) during 21 days and fed 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20% body weight per day. In experiment II, 20 fish (4.1±0.1 g and 6.6±0.1 cm) were stocked in 15 tanks (40 L) during 28 days and fed 2, 6, 8, and 10 times a day. The tested feeding rates and frequencies did not influence survival. Final weight and length in experiment I were significantly lower in fish fed 4% body weight per day, whereas in experiment II only weight was significantly lower in fish fed 2 and 6 times a day. At the end of both experiments, apparent feed conversion showed significant difference, with the worst value observed for fish fed 20% body weight per day in experiment I and 2 times a day in experiment II. Juvenile pompano show better growth performance when fed 8% body weight per day and 8 times a day.

Feeding strategies and energy to protein ratio on tambaqui performance and physiology

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of feed deprivation and refeeding with diets containing different energy to protein ratios (E/P) on the performance and physiology of juvenile tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum). A 4x2 factorial arrangement with three replicates was used, with four E/P ratios (11.5, 10.5, 9.5, and 8.5 kcal g-1 digestible energy per protein) and two feeding regimens (with and without deprivation), during 60 days. Fish from the food-deprived group were fasted for 14 days and refed from the fifteenth to the sixtieth day, whereas the remaining fish were fed for 60 days. At the end of the experimental period, weight of fish subjected to food deprivation was lower than that of those continuously fed; however, this condition did not influence the physiological parameters analyzed. Tambaqui fed 11.5 kcal g-1 achieved lower final weight than those fed with the other diets, in both regimens. Among the physiological parameters, only plasma protein presented significant increase in fish fed 8.5 kcal g-1, in both feeding regimens, probably due to the higher dietary protein concentration. These results indicate that fish show a partial compensatory growth, and that 10.5 kcal g-1 can be recommended for the diet of juvenile tambaqui.

Lysine and arginine requirements of Salminus brasiliensis

The objective of this work was to determine the dietary lysine (DL) and dietary arginine (DA) requirements of dourado (Salminus brasiliensis), through dose-response trials using the amino acid profiles of whole carcasses as a reference. Two experiments were carried out in a completely randomized design (n=4). In the first experiment, groups of 12 feed-conditioned dourado juveniles (11.4±0.2 g) were stocked in 60 L cages placed in 300 L plastic indoor tanks in a closed circulation system. Fish were fed for 60 days on diets containing 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, or 3.5 % dietary lysine. In the second experiment, dourado juveniles (27.0±0.8 g) were fed for 60 days on semipurified diets containing arginine at 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 or 3.0%, in similar conditions to those of the first experiment. Optimal DL requirements, as determined by broken-line analysis method for final weight, weight gain and specific growth rate, were 2.15% DL or 5% lysine in dietary protein, and 1.48% DA or 3.43% arginine in dietary protein. The best feed conversion ratio is attained with 2.5% DL or 5.8% lysine in dietary protein and 1.4% DA or 3.25% arginine in dietary protein.

Stocking densities and feeding strategies in shrimp and tilapia polyculture in tanks

The objective of this work was to evaluate the performance of Pacific marine shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), in a polyculture in tanks subjected to different stocking densities and feeding strategies, in comparison with monoculture. Two experiments were performed, at the same time, in a completely randomized design with three treatments and four replicates each. Treatments for experiment I were: monoculture with 10 shrimp per m² (10S:0T); polyculture with 10 shrimp and 0.5 tilapia per m² (10S:0.5T); and polyculture with 10 shrimp and 1 tilapia per m² (10S:1T). Shrimp was the main crop, and feed was provided based on shrimp biomass. Treatments for experiment II were: monoculture with 2 tilapia per m² (2T:0S); polyculture with 2 tilapia and 2.5 shrimp per m² (2T:2.5S); and polyculture with 2 tilapia and 5 shrimp per m² (2T:5S). Tilapia was the main crop, and feed was provided based on fish requirements. In the experiment I, tilapia introduction to shrimp culture resulted in lower shrimp growth and poor feed conversion rate. In experiment II, shrimp introduction to tilapia culture did not interfere with fish performance. Polyculture is more efficient with the combination of 2 tilapia and 2.5 or 5 shrimp per m² and feed based on fish requirements.

Morphometric and allometric relations of cage-reared Iguaçu surubim

The objective of this work was to evaluate the morphometric and allometric relations of Iguaçu surubim (Steindachneridion melanodermatum) cultivated in net cages. One hundred and twenty specimens were cultivated at a density of 50 fish per square meter in three 6 m³ net cages. Fish were fed three times a day with commercial feed. Thirty fish were evaluated at 60, 120, 180, and 360 days of cultivation as to the variables: total body, head, clean trunk, viscera, skin, and fin weight; total, standard, and head length; and head and body height. The Iguaçu surubim shows later development of the clean trunk and early development of the other body parts.

Purification and fractionation by nanotiltration in dairy and sugar and sweetener industry applications

Nanotiltration is a membrane separation method known for its special characteristic of rejecting multivalent ions and passing monovalent ions. Thus, it is commonly applied with dilute aqueous solutions in partial salt removal, like in drinking water production. The possibilities of nanofiltration have been studied and the technique applied in a wide branch of industries, e.g. the pulp and paper, the textile and the chemical processing industry. However, most present applications and most of the potential applications studied involve dilute solutions, the permeating stream being generally water containing monovalent salts. In this study nanotiltration is investigated more as a fractionation method. A well-known application in the dairy industry is concentration and partial salt removal from whey. Concentration and partial demineralization is beneficial for futher processing of whey as whey concentrates are used e.g. in baby foods. In the experiments of this study nanotiltration effectively reduced the monovalent salts in the whey concentrate. The main concern in this application is lactose leakage into the permeate. With the nanofiltration membranes used the lactose retentions were practically ? 99%. Another dairy application studied was the purification and reuse of cleaning solutions. This is an environmentally driven application. An 80% COD reduction by nanofiltration was observed for alkaline cleaning-in-place solution. Nanofiltration is not as commonly applied in the sugar and sweeteners industry as in the dairy industry. In this study one potential application was investigated, namely xylose purification from hemicellulose hydrolyzate. Xylose is raw material for xylitol production. Xylose separation from glucose was initially studied with xylose-glucose model solutions. The ability of nanofiltration to partially separate xylose into the permeate from rather concentrated xylose-glucose solutions (10 w-% and 30 w-%) became evident. The difference in size between xylose and glucose molecules according to any size measure is small, e.g. the Stokes diameter of glucose is 0.73 nm compared to 0.65 nm for xylose. In further experiments, xylose was purified into nanoliltration permeate from a hemicellulose hydrolyzate solution. The xylose content in the total solids was increased by 1.4—1.7 fold depending on temperature, pressure and feed composition.

Demogenetics in metapopulations

SUMMARY : Human-induced habitat fragmentation constitutes a major threat to biodiversity. Small and isolated populations suffer from increased stochasticity and from limited rescue effects. These two factors may be sufficient to cause local extinctions but fragmentation induces some genetic consequences that can also contribute significantly to extinction risks. Increased genetic drift reduces the effectiveness of selection against deleterious mutations, leading to their progressive accumulation. Drift also decreases both the standing genetic variation and the rate of fixation of beneficial mutations, limiting the evolutionary potential of isolated populations. Demography and genetics further interact and feed back on each other, progressively driving fragmented populations into "extinction vortices". The aim of the thesis was to better understand the processes occurring in fragmented populations. For this, I combined simulation studies and empirical data from three species that live in structured habitats. Chapter 1 and 2 investigate the demography of two shrew species in fragmented habitats. I showed that connectivity and habitat quality strongly affect the demography of the greater white-tooted shrew, although demographic stochasticity was extremely high. I also demonstrated that habitat fragmentation is one of the leading factors allowing the local coexistence of two competing shrew species. Chapter 3 and 4 focus on measuring connectivity in fragmented populations based on genetic data. In particular, I showed that genetic data can be used to detect the landscape elements impeding dispersal. In Chapter 5 that deals with the accumulation of deleterious mutations in fragmented populations, I demonstrated that mutation accumulation, as well a time to extinction, can be predicted from simple demographic and genetic measures. In the last two chapters, I monitored individual reproductive success in an isolated tree frogs population. These data allowed quantifying the effective population size, a measure closely linked to population evolutionary potential. To conclude, this thesis brings some new insights into the processes occurring in fragmented populations, and I hope it will contribute to the improvement of the management and conservation of fragmented populations.

Paperitehdasintegraatin tuorevesien käsittely kloorikaasun korvaavalla menetelmällä

Työn tarkoitus on löytää paperitehdasintegraatin tuorevesien käsittelyyn kloorikaasun korvaava desinfiointimenetelmä Stora Enso Publication Papers Oy Ltd.:n Anjalan tehtailla. Tehtaalla on ympäristöluvassaan velvoite selvittää mahdollisuudet tuoreveden desinfiointiin käytettävän kaasumaisen kloorin korvaamiseen hypokloriitilla. Kloorikaasun käyttö tehtaalla on työturvallisuusriski, ja jäännösklooripitoisuuksien hallittavuus kloorikaasua käytettäessä on heikko. Työssä tutkittava vesijae on kemiallisesti puhdistettu vesi. Koeajossa käytettävät kemikaalit ovat 10 % natriumhypokloriitti (NaOCl) ja kantaja-aine eli bromikloori- di-metyyli-hydantoiini (BCDMH). Tuloksista voidaan päätellä, että NaOCl:lla ja NaOCl:lla yhdessä BCDMH:n kanssa saavutetaan veden käyttökohteessa korkeammat aktiivisen kloorin jäännöspitoisuudet kuin kloorikaasulla. NaOCl:n ja kaksikomponenttisysteemin käyttökustannukset ovat kuitenkin yli kuusinkertaiset kloorikaasuun verrattuna. NaOCl annosteltuna yhteen pisteeseen olisi vaivattomin menetelmä kloorikaasun korvaamiseen. NaOCl:n annostelulla kahteen pisteeseen voitaisiin saavuttaa korkeampia jäännöspitoisuuksia kuin yhden pisteen annostelulla, mutta menetelmä vaatii lisätutkimuksia. Kaksikomponenttisysteemillä saavutetaan korkeimmat aktiivisen kloorin jäännöspitoisuudet, mutta sen seurantamenetelmien luotettavuudesta tulee varmistua ennen menetelmän käyttöönottoa. Korroosion ehkäisyn ja työturvallisuuden kannalta sekä NaOCl että NaOCl yhdessä BCDMH:n kanssa ovat turvallisempia vaihtoehtoja kuin kaasukloori.

Combustibility of Paper Mill Rejects

Tämän työn tarkoituksena oli selvittää mekaanisen massan valmistuksen käsittävän paperitehtaan rejektija jätevirtojen poltettavuutta, jos paperitehtaan vesikiertojen sulkemisastetta lisätään. Jotta prosessin tilannetta sulkemisen jälkeen saatiin arvioitua, Anjalan paperitehtaan nykypäivän PK3:n prosessia tutkittiin kuorimolta jätevesilaitokselle. Kirjallisuusosassa käsiteltiin rejekti- ja jätevirtojen alkuperää mekaanista massaa käyttävässä paperitehtaassa. Myös tämän päivän jätevedenkäsittelyprosessit sekä sulkemisessa mahdolliset prosessiveden puhdistustekniikat esiteltiin lyhyesti. Lisäksikäytiin läpi nykypäivänä metsäteollisuudessa käytössä olevat polttotekniikat sekä polttoaineiden karakterisointi kattilan käytettävyyden ja päästöjen kannalta. Anjalan PK3:lla käytetään sekä peroksidi- että ditioniittivalkaistua tai pelkästään ditioniittivalkaistua hioketta riippuen tuotannossa olevasta lajista. PK3-prosessissa syntyneet jätevesi-, liete- ja muut jätevirrat selvitettiin molemmissa valkaisuolosuhteissa. Prosessin eniten liuennutta orgaanista ainesta sisältävät jätevesijakeet, 3-hiomon kuumankierron ja kirkassuodoksen ulosajot sekä kuoripuristimen suodos, valittiin puhdistettaviksi virroiksi prosessin sulkemista arvioitaessa. Kun peroksidivalkaisua käytettiin 3-hiomolla, TOC-kuorma jokeen oli 30 % suurempi kuin pelkällä ditioniittivalkaisulla. Jos prosessin sulkemisastetta lisättäisiin, TOC-kuorma olisi 30 %pienempi kuin tänäpäivänä peroksidivalkaisua käytettäessä (80 % puhdistustehokkuudella). Prosessin sulkemisastetta lisättäessä biolietettä muodostuisi n. 30 % vähemmän verrattuna nykytilanteeseen, sillä mikrobien ravintona käyttämää orgaanista ainesta päätyisi vähemmän jäteveteen. 3-hiomon peroksidivalkaisun vaikutus kattilan käytettävyyteen ja päästöihin oli pieni, sillä biolietteen osuus polttoaineen syötöstä oli vain 4 %. Vain osa biolietteestä muodostui 3-hiomolta peräisin olevaa orgaanista ainesta poistettaessa. Jos nykyisen pääpolttoaineen, PDF:n,osuuden jättää huomioimatta, SO2- ja NOx-päästöt sekä leijupedin sintrautuvuus ovat hiukan suuremmat käytettäessä peroksidivalkaisua 3-hiomolla kuin pelkästään ditioniittivalkaisulla. Jos kuoripuristimen ja hiomon suodosten puhdistuksen konsentraatit johdetaan poltettaviksi BFB-tyyppiseen kattilaan, leijupedin sintrautuminen tulisi olemaan suurin ongelma. Myös raskasmetalli-, SO2- ja NOx-päästöt lisääntyisivät merkittävästi verrattuna nykyiseen tilanteeseen. Sen sijaan kattilan korroosioriski tuskin lisääntyisi. Lisäksi konsentraattien kosteuspitoisuus olisi korkea, mikä tekisi poltosta kannattamatonta veden haihdutuksen vaatiessa paljon energiaa. Yksityiskohtaisempaa tutkimusta tarvitaan vielä prosessin sulkemisen vaikutuksista päästöihin ja kattilan käytettävyyteen. Myös muita konsentraattien hävittämismahdollisuuksia tulisi tutkia lisää.

The genome of the recently domesticated crop plant sugar beet (Beta vulgaris)

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris) is an important crop of temperate climates which provides nearly 30% of the world's annual sugar production and is a source for bioethanol and animal feed. The species belongs to the order of Caryophylalles, is diploid with 2n = 18 chromosomes, has an estimated genome size of 714-758 megabases and shares an ancient genome triplication with other eudicot plants. Leafy beets have been cultivated since Roman times, but sugar beet is one of the most recently domesticated crops. It arose in the late eighteenth century when lines accumulating sugar in the storage root were selected from crosses made with chard and fodder beet. Here we present a reference genome sequence for sugar beet as the first non-rosid, non-asterid eudicot genome, advancing comparative genomics and phylogenetic reconstructions. The genome sequence comprises 567 megabases, of which 85% could be assigned to chromosomes. The assembly covers a large proportion of the repetitive sequence content that was estimated to be 63%. We predicted 27,421 protein-coding genes supported by transcript data and annotated them on the basis of sequence homology. Phylogenetic analyses provided evidence for the separation of Caryophyllales before the split of asterids and rosids, and revealed lineage-specific gene family expansions and losses. We sequenced spinach (Spinacia oleracea), another Caryophyllales species, and validated features that separate this clade from rosids and asterids. Intraspecific genomic variation was analysed based on the genome sequences of sea beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima; progenitor of all beet crops) and four additional sugar beet accessions. We identified seven million variant positions in the reference genome, and also large regions of low variability, indicating artificial selection. The sugar beet genome sequence enables the identification of genes affecting agronomically relevant traits, supports molecular breeding and maximizes the plant's potential in energy biotechnology.