51. Qualitative behaviour assessment in intensively and extensively reared lambsRaul Bodas, Tanja Peric, 2019, objavljeni povzetek znanstvenega prispevka na konferenci Opis: Qualitative behaviour assessment (QBA, from the AWIN welfare assessment protocol for sheep) relies on the ability of humans to integrate perceived details of behaviour into descriptors with emotional connotation that can be scaled and added to other quantitative indicators. The complete AWIN protocol was performed in 14 groups (6
extensive, 2 semi-intensive and 6 intensive rearing system) of 15 young lambs (2 months of age) participating in the EcoLamb project (ERA-Net SusAn funded), which aims to holistically evaluate lamb production sustainability (meat quality, ecological footprint and animal welfare). Data on QBA (items were being scaled from 0 –absence- to
10 -all the animals fully expressed the evaluated item-), familiar approach and fleece quality tests were subjected to descriptive statistics analyses and showed herein. Extensively reared lambs scored higher in descriptors such as aggressive, defensive, physically uncomfortable or apathetic, whereas intensively reared lambs showed higher values in descriptors such as agitated and fearful but also in other as active, sociable, vigorous, subdued, calm,
inquisitive and assertive. Semi-intensively reared lambs scored in between. All the animals ruminated to some extent (when observed), the quality of the fleece was always acceptable and no stereotypes were recorded. Minor lameness problems were observed in one extensive farm. Regarding familiar approach, all animals (except in one
farm) voluntarily approached to human, despite a flight distance of 2 to 4 m was observed at the beginning. Although animal welfare is a real complex matter to be assessed, do animals from different rearing systems express different degree of positive emotional state?
Ključne besede: welfare, behaviour, lambs, sheep
Objavljeno v RUNG: 16.09.2019; Ogledov: 3393; Prenosov: 0
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52. 17β-Estradiol and testosterone amniotic concentrations in at term born puppies: preliminary resultsJasmine Fusi, Tanja Peric, 2019, objavljeni povzetek znanstvenega prispevka na konferenci Opis: The study of fetal sexual steroid hormones production during pregnancy deserve scientific interest in both humans and animals, to better understand the normal sexual development, but also in the recently investigated impact on the future health outcomes (Kuijper et al, 2013). Many studies reported the early production of testosterone by the testes during the fetal stage
of development; however, also estrogens were recognized to play a role in developing programming. Because of the scarce knowledge about this topic in the dog, the present study was aimed to assess the 17β-estradiol (E2) and testosterone (T) amniotic concentrations at birth in normal newborn dogs. The study was conducted on 31 normal puppies, 16 males and 15
females, born by 10 healthy bitches belonging to several breeds, submitted to elective Caesarean section at term, with litter-size ranging between 1 to 5. Amniotic fluid from each puppy was collected (Meloni et al, 2014) and immediately stored at - 20 ° C until analysis by RIA. Amniotic E2 concentrations in male and female puppies were 124±66.82 pg/ml and 109±42.15 pg/ml, respectively; while amniotic T concentrations were 124±91.24 pg/ml and 114±71.72 pg/ml, in male and female puppies, respectively, without significant differences between the two genders. These preliminary results showed that both E2 and T were detectable in canine amniotic fluid, but without differences between male and female puppies. The wide standard deviations found deserve further investigations on a larger number of subjects, to identify possible causes, such as the effect played by the bitch.
Kuijper EA, Ket JC, Caanen MR, Lambalk CB. Reproductive hormone concentrations in pregnancy and neonates: a systematic review. Reprod Biomed Online 2013; 27:33-63; Meloni T, Comin A, Rota A, Peric T, Contri A, Veronesi MC. IGF-I and NEFA concentrations in fetal fluids of term pregnancy dogs. Theriogenology 2014;8:1307-11.
Ključne besede: 17β-Estradiol, testosterone, amniotic fluid, fetal fluid, dog, puppy
Objavljeno v RUNG: 29.08.2019; Ogledov: 3335; Prenosov: 0
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53. Analysis of 19 Minerals and Cortisol in Red Deer Hair in Two Different Areas of the Stelvio National Park: A Preliminary StudyMarta Montillo, Tanja Peric, 2019, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: The aim of the study was to perform an investigation on the concentration of 19 minerals and
cortisol in red deer (Cervus elaphus) hair, a matrix that is easy to collect with non-invasive and painless
sampling, able to represent an integrative values of long-term substance concentrations, and able to
give useful information, also when performed on dead animals, given its extreme stability over time.
In the study thirty-five animals were included, coming from two different sides of a valley in the Stelvio
National Park, where official water analysis had pointed out elevated concentrations of As in one of the
two orographic sides. Hair cortisol concentrations were measured using a RIA(Radio Immuno Assay),
while minerals were detected using ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma- Mass Spectrometry).
Results showed a negative relationship between cortisol and some mineral concentrations (Li,
Co, As, Cd, Cr and Tl) and significant differences in some mineral concentrations between park
areas (Al, Co, Cu, Cd and Ni). As, Cr and cortisol differences approached statistical significance.
This preliminary study represents a step forward in the study of wildlife allostatic load and a valid
method for applications in wildlife management programs, in environmental studies and in public
health programs.
Ključne besede: hair, deer, mineral, cortisol
Objavljeno v RUNG: 27.08.2019; Ogledov: 3094; Prenosov: 97
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56. Black holes, gravitational waves and fundamental physics: a roadmapLeor Barack, Tanja Petrushevska, Andreja Gomboc, Katja Bricman, Aurora Clerici, Christopher Eckner, Nada Ihanec, Gabrijela Zaharijas, 2019, pregledni znanstveni članek Opis: The grand challenges of contemporary fundamental physics—dark matter, dark energy, vacuum energy, inflation and early universe cosmology, singularities and the hierarchy problem—all involve gravity as a key component. And of all gravitational phenomena, black holes stand out in their elegant simplicity, while harbouring some of the most remarkable predictions of General Relativity: event horizons, singularities and ergoregions.
The hitherto invisible landscape of the gravitational Universe is being unveiled before our eyes: the historical direct detection of gravitational waves by the LIGO-Virgo collaboration marks the dawn of a new era of scientific exploration. Gravitational-wave astronomy will allow us to test models of black hole formation, growth and evolution, as well as models of gravitational-wave generation and propagation. It will provide evidence for event horizons and ergoregions, test the theory of General Relativity itself, and may reveal the existence of new fundamental fields. The synthesis of these results has the potential to radically reshape our understanding of the cosmos and of the laws of Nature.
The purpose of this work is to present a concise, yet comprehensive overview of the state of the art in the relevant fields of research, summarize important open problems, and lay out a roadmap for future progress. This write-up is an initiative taken within the framework of the European Action on 'Black holes, Gravitational waves and Fundamental Physics.
Ključne besede: black holes, gwverse
Objavljeno v RUNG: 24.06.2019; Ogledov: 3707; Prenosov: 0
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57. Cortisol, DHEA, and Sexual Steroid Concentrations in Fattening Pigs’ HairCristina Bergamin, Antonella Comin, Mirco Corazzin, Massimo Faustini, Tanja Peric, Annalisa Scollo, Flaviana Gottardo, M. Montillo, Alberto Prandi, 2019, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: The aim of this study was to analyze the feasibility and reliability of using hair as a matrix
to determine the dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and sexual steroid concentrations and the
cortisol/DHEA ratio in fattening pigs. The results could be also used to plan future research to
identify threshold values in order to set up strategies to control the allostatic load and increase the
resilience of fattening pigs before slaughter. The study was conducted on 107 commercial crossbred
rearing pigs. The hair samples were taken by shaving at the age of 36 weeks, and concentrations of
the hormones were measured using a solid-phase microtiter radioimmunoassay. Females had
significantly higher cortisol levels (p < 0.01), significantly lower DHEA concentrations (p < 0.05) and
significantly higher cortisol/DHEA ratios (p < 0.01) than barrows. Progesterone was significantly
higher in gilts than in barrows (p < 0.01). Testosterone and 17β-estradiol were significantly higher
in barrows than in gilts (p < 0.05). If future research can produce threshold values for the different
markers examined, the evaluation of animals under subclinical stress conditions will be possible.
Ključne besede: fattening pigs, hair, steroid hormones, allostatic load
Objavljeno v RUNG: 12.06.2019; Ogledov: 3836; Prenosov: 0
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58. Incorporation of Sc into the structure of barium-hexaferrite nanoplatelets and its ex-traordinary finite-size effect on the magnetic propertiesDarko Makovec, Matej Komelj, Goran Dražić, Blaž Belec, Tanja Goršak, Sašo Gyergyek, Darja lisjak, 2019, izvirni znanstveni članek Ključne besede: Nanoparticles, Magnetic properties, Size effect, Structure properties relationship, Ferrite.
Objavljeno v RUNG: 06.05.2019; Ogledov: 3366; Prenosov: 0
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59. ASSESSMENT OF CORTISOL AND DHEA CONCENTRATIONS IN THE GRIFFON VULTURE (Gyps fulvus) FEATHERS TO EVALUATE ITS HEALTH CONDITIONGian Nicola Frongia, Tanja Peric, Marco Muzzeddu, Fiammetta Berlinguer, Giovanni Leoni, Valentina Satta, Cristina Bergamin, Marcello Franchini, Antonella Comin, Salvatore Naitana, Alberto Prandi, 2018, objavljeni povzetek znanstvenega prispevka na konferenci Opis: During their life, birds face several challenges which can threaten the stability of physiological functions. These situations typically trigger a cascade of endocrine secretions involving the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, and resulting in the release of both cortisol and corticosterone also in birds. The use of a non-invasive approach to collect samples of biological material derived from natural populations represents a greatly combination for an improvement of knowledge avoiding handling animals. Steroid concentrations in feathers are mainly acquired from the capillary around the follicle during the long period of feather grown reflecting their bloodstream concentrations. Accordingly, a chronic HPA axis activation could be assessed using molted feathers cortisol concentrations. Another hormone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), is secreted by adrenals and it could be assessed in molted feathers. This study was aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using feathers cortisol and DHEA concentrations to provide a retrospective assessment of the activity of the HPA axis in griffon vulture acquired for health monitoring purposes. For this, we introduced two groups of
animals with a known health condition: one group composed by griffons that have experienced a long-term physiologically compromised period (PC group; n=8) and the other group composed by griffons physiologically not compromised (CTRL group; n=9). The feathers cortisol and DHEA analyses were carried out using RIA [1,2] adapted for feathers. The results revealed different feather hormone concentrations between the two groups of animals. The feathers cortisol had a median value higher in the PC group than in the CTRL group, with cortisol concentrations showing a central value 1.6 times higher in those animals that suffered a long-term physiological impairment. The PC group showed also (Kruskal-
Wallis test) higher feather concentrations of DHEA (P=0.01) than the CTRL group. Pearson’s correlation coefficients were used to examine the associations between cortisol and DHEA, showing no correlation between cortisol and DHEA feather concentrations in the PC group (r=0.18, P=0.34) and a moderate positive correlation in the CTRL group (r=0.51, P=0.011). In conclusion, our study reveals that molted feathers can be an interesting way to evaluate the physiological status of wild animals by using a non-invasive approach. Our analyses reveal that in addition to cortisol also DHEA could be evaluated to better understand the relationships between these hormones and to determine the resilience condition of wild species.
Ključne besede: CORTISOL, DHEA, GRIFFON VULTURE, Gyps fulvus, FEATHER
Objavljeno v RUNG: 09.04.2019; Ogledov: 3293; Prenosov: 0
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60. A NEW TOOL TO EVALUATE CORTISOL CONCENTRATIONS IN ANIMAL HAIRAntonella Comin, Tanja Peric, Mara Colzani, Francesco De Vecchi, Cristina Bergamin, Alberto Prandi, 2018, objavljeni povzetek znanstvenega prispevka na konferenci Opis: The study of cortisol in hair requires the use of a highly sensitive assay. To date, hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) have been evaluated with different analytical methods as Radio Immune Assay (RIA), Enzyme Immunossay (EIA), Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), ChemiLuminescent Immunoassay (CLIA) and High Performance Liquid
Chromatography with Mass Spectrometry (HPLC/MS) or Liquid Chromatography with Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Amplified luminescent proximity homogeneous assay (AlphaLISA) is an ELISA-like, nonradioactive technology first reported in 1994 [1]. This technology allows the quantitative detection of molecules of interest in a light-induced chemiluminescence immunoassay using a microplate without wash step. The aim of the study was to compare RIA with AlphaLISA method and examine the sensitivity in evaluating cortisol concentrations in animal hair of the Cortisol AlphaLISA kit (PerkinElmer, USA),
originally suggested for the analysis of buffer and serum samples. The study has been carried out on 4 samples of calf, 4 samples of foal and 8 samples of sheep hair. After washing with isopropanol, two extracts were obtained from each hair sample. One extract has been evaluated for HCC by RIA as previously described [2,3]. The second extract has been reconstituted with the buffer provided by the Cortisol AlphaLISA Kit and HCC evaluated by the use of this commercially available kit. The preliminary results indicate that the Cortisol AlphaLISA Kit is capable to detect cortisol also in hair samples with high sensitivity, with a detection limit of 17 pg/ml. Intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation (CVs) were 4.0% and 9.0%, respectively. Cortisol concentrations ranged between 1.31 and 16.94 pg/mg, 6.30 and 57.65 pg/mg, and 2.16 and 45.08 in calf, foal and sheep hair, respectively. The HCC obtained by Cortisol AlphaLISA Kit and RIA showed a good correlation (r=0.79, p<0.01).
Considering the possibility to use a low amount of extracted sample, its no-washing procedure and the performances showed, we can conclude that the Cortisol AlphaLISA Kit can be considered an excellent tool to evaluate cortisol concentrations also in hair derived from animal species.
Ključne besede: hair, cortisol, analyses, method, AlphaLISA, Amplified luminescent proximity homogeneous assay
Objavljeno v RUNG: 09.04.2019; Ogledov: 3565; Prenosov: 0
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