Methane production and energy partition in sheep fed timothy silage- or hay-based diets

Methane is produced as a result of anaerobic fermentation of the soluble and structural carbohydrates by methanogens in the rumen of ruminant animals. Removal of methane from rumen represents a loss of approximately 7.22% of gross energy intake.  Four ruminally fistulated Cheviot wethers were used in a crossover design to determine methane production and energy partition in sheep fed timothy silage- or hay-based diets. The experimental diets consisted of either timothy silage or timothy hay and a commercial concentrate (85:15, on DM basis). Variables measured were nutrients digestibility, energy balance and methane production. Apparent digestibilities of DM, OM, CP, NDF, ADF, cellulose and hemicellulose were significantly higher (P0.05) on sheep fed silage-based diet than those fed hay-based diet. Sheep fed silage-based diet had greater (P0.01) urinary energy loss, methane and heat production, but lower (P0.05) fecal energy loss. Methane production, either expressed as g kg-1 dry matter intake or g day-1 was markedly lower (P0.05) in hay-based diet as compared to silage-based diet. There was a strong relationship between methane production (g day-1) and NDF digested (g day-1) (R2 = 88.4%, P0.001). Methane production expressed as g kg-1 NDF digested in silage-based diet was higher (P0.05) than in hay-based diet (66.44 vs 62.70). These results indicate that methane release by sheep increased with increasing NDF digested. Key Words : Methane, Silage, Hay, Neutral detergent fiber, Shee

Soil acidity and the liming of Iowa soils

Whether or not their lands will give better crop yields if lime1 is applied has become a live question with Iowa farmers. They have written many letters of inquiry upon this point to the Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station and hundreds of soil samples have been analyzed to make satisfactory answer. To provide more complete information relative to this important question of soil acidity and the use of lime in Iowa, the agronomy section of the experiment station gathered many soil samples from well scattered localities in the principal soil areas. These were analyzed and the results are now presented and discussed in this bulletin. These analyses show that liming is likely to be profitable in the Mississippi loess, the Southern Iowa loess and the Iowan drift areas because those soils are very apt to be more or less acid; also, that the soils of the Wisconsin drift are only occasionally in need of liming, and those of the Missouri loess only very rarely

A class of invisible inhomogeneous media and the control of electromagnetic waves

We propose a general method to arbitrarily manipulate an electromagnetic wave propagating in a two-dimensional medium, without introducing any scattering. This leads to a whole class of isotropic spatially varying permittivity and permeability profiles that are invisible while shaping the field magnitude and/or phase. In addition, we propose a metamaterial structure working in the infrared that demonstrates deep sub-wavelength control of the electric field amplitude and strong reduction of the scattering. This work offers an alternative strategy to achieve invisibility with isotropic materials and paves the way for tailoring the propagation of light at the nanoscal

Direct manipulation of wave amplitude and phase through inverse design of isotropic media

In this article we propose a new design methodology to control both amplitude and phase of electromagnetic waves from cylindrical incidence, which utilizes engineered media that does not resort to transformation optics or its quasi-conformal approximations. This method can lead to two-dimensional isotropic, inhomogeneous material profiles of permittivity and permeability, to which a general class of scattering-free wave solutions arise. Our design is based on the separation of the complex wave solution into amplitude and phase. We give two types of examples to validate our methodology.We are supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) of UK [grant number EP/I034548/1]. L Y benefits from EPSRC Durham Symposium 104, LMS Caring Supplementary Grant [Ref. CC-15/16-09] and Antennas group travel grant [EECSRC2/4a], and wants to thank Patrick Bradley, Flynn Castle and Fang Yanlong for inspiring conversations to improve this manuscript

A game theoretic approach for optimizing density of remote radio heads in user centric cloud-based radio access network

In this paper, we develop a game theoretic formulation for empowering cloud enabled HetNets with adaptive Self Organizing Network (SON) capabilities. SON capabilities for intelligent and efficient radio resource management is a fundamental design pillar for the emerging 5G cellular networks. The C-RAN system model investigated in this paper consists of ultra-dense remote radio heads (RRHs) overlaid by central baseband units that can be collocated with much less densely deployed overlaying macro base-stations (BSs). It has been recently demonstrated that under a user centric scheduling mechanism, C-RAN inherently manifests the trade-off between Energy Efficiency (EE) and Spectral Efficiency (SE) in terms of RRH density. The key objective of the game theoretic framework developed in this paper is to dynamically optimize the trade-off between the EE and the SE of the C- RAN. More specifically, for an ultra-dense C- RAN based HetNet, the density of active RRHs should be carefully dimensioned to maximize the SE. However, the density of RRHs which maximizes the SE may not necessarily be optimal in terms of the EE. In order to strike a balance between these two performance determinants, we develop a game theoretic formulation by employing a Nash bargaining framework. The two metrics of interest, SE and EE, are modeled as virtual players in a bargaining problem and the Nash bargaining solution for RRH density is determined. In the light of the optimization outcome we evaluate corresponding key performance indicators through numerical results. These results offer insights for a C-RAN designer on how to optimally design a SON mechanism to achieve a desired trade-off level between the SE and the EE in a dynamic fashion

Methane production and energy partition in sheep fed timothy silage- or hay-based diets

Methane is produced as a result of anaerobic fermentation of the soluble and structural carbohydrates by methanogens in the rumen of ruminant animals. Removal of methane from rumen represents a loss of approximately 7.22% of gross energy intake. Four ruminally fistulated Cheviot wethers were used in a crossover design to determine methane production and energy partition in sheep fed timothy silage- or hay-based diets. The experimental diets consisted of either timothy silage or timothy hay and a commercial concentrate (85:15, on DM basis). Variables measured were nutrients digestibility, energy balance and methane production. Apparent digestibilities of DM, OM, CP, NDF, ADF, cellulose and hemicellulose were significantly higher (P<0.05) on sheep fed silage-based diet than those fed hay-based diet. Sheep fed silage-based diet had greater (P<0.01) urinary energy loss, methane and heat production, but lower (P<0.05) fecal energy loss. Methane production, either expressed as g kg-1 dry matter intake or g day-1 was markedly lower (P<0.05) in hay-based diet as compared to silage-based diet. There was a strong relationship between methane production (g day-1) and NDF digested (g day-1) (R2 = 88.4%, P<0.001). Methane production expressed as g kg-1 NDF digested in silage-based diet was higher (P<0.05) than in hay-based diet (66.44 vs 62.70). These results indicate that methane release by sheep increased with increasing NDF digested

Observation and control of hybrid spin-wave-Meissner-current transport modes

Superconductors are materials with zero electrical resistivity and the ability to expel magnetic fields known as the Meissner effect. Their dissipationless diamagnetic response is central to magnetic levitation and circuits such as quantum interference devices. Here, we use superconducting diamagnetism to shape the magnetic environment governing the transport of spin waves - collective spin excitations in magnets that are promising on-chip signal carriers - in a thin-film magnet. Using diamond-based magnetic imaging, we observe hybridized spin-wave-Meissner-current transport modes with strongly altered, temperature-tunable wavelengths. We extract the temperature-dependent London penetration depth from the wavelength shifts and realize local control of spin-wave refraction using a focused laser. Our results demonstrate the versatility of superconductor-manipulated spin-wave transport and have potential applications in spin-wave gratings, filters, crystals and cavities.Comment: main: 8 pages, 5 figures, supp: 15 pages, 6 figure

Dinophysis spp. associated to detection of diarrheic shellfish toxins (DSTs) in mollusks and to human diarrhoetic disease episode (Buenos Aires Province, Argentina)

During January and February 2010 lipophilic shellfish toxins were detected in two bivalve species from Villa Gesell and Mar Azul (Argentina) by the mouse bioassay method and potentially toxigenic species of Dinophysis were consistently found with densities of the order of 103 to 104 cell l-1 in the phytoplankton. Additionally, three cases of human gastrointestinal illness associated with the consumption of cooked wedge clams (Donax hanleyanus) collected in Villa Gesell were reported. The consumed shellfish was positive for lipophilic toxins by the mouse bioassay and the human diseases were consistent with diarrhoetic shellfish poisoning (DSP). This is the first record of detection of an outbreak of diarrhoetic shellfish poisoning associated to the presence of Dinophysis species in Argentina. The species identified were Dinophysis acuminata and D. caudata, previously associated to the detection of diarrhoetic toxins in clams (Mesodesma mactroides), wedge clams and mussels (Mytilus edulis) from the coastal waters of Uruguay.Durante enero y febrero de 2010 fueron detectadas toxinas lipofílicas en moluscos de Villa Gesell y Mar Azul (Argentina) utilizando el método de bioensayo en ratón y consistentemente fueron halladas especies toxígenas de Dinophysis en densidades del orden de 103 a 104 cel l-1 en el fitoplancton. Adicionalmente, fueron reportados tres casos de pacientes con gastroenteritis afebril asociada a ingesta de berberechos cocidos (Donax hanleyanus) colectados en Villa Gesell. Los moluscos consumidos resultaron positivos para toxinas lipofílicas por bioensayo en ratón y los síntomas de las intoxicaciones fueron consistentes con los de la «Intoxicación Diarreica por consumo de Moluscos» (DSP). En Argentina, este es el primer reporte de detección de toxinas diarreicas en moluscos asociada a la presencia de especies de Dinophysis. Las especies determinadas fueron Dinophysis acuminata y D. caudata, previamente asociadas a la detección de toxinas diarreicas en almejas (Mesodesma mactroides), berberechos y mejillones (Mytilus edulis) de la costa de Uruguay.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Earlier versus later start of antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected adults with tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis remains an important cause of death among patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Robust data are lacking with regard to the timing for the initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in relation to the start of antituberculosis therapy

Development and validation of an instrument to measure the perceived benefits of digitalization in manufacturing

Digitalization in manufacturing can help the firm to improve output and reduce costs. This work reports on the development, testing, and validation of an instrument to measure the perceived benefits of digitalization in manufacturing. The item was developed based on a comprehensive literature review and qualitative investigation from practitioners who are actively engaged in taking decisions/implementing digitalization in Indian manufacturing. Exploratory factor analysis of data from 234 practitioners yielded 5 factors of perceived benefits of digitalization in manufacturing: real-time monitoring; data governance; eco-positivity; resiliency and agility; and embedded/automated control. The results of confirmatory factor analysis on a different sample of 235 practitioners supported the stability of this 5-factor structure. The empirical results confirm the high reliability and construct validity of the newly developed instrument by achieving discriminant, convergent, nomological and predictive validity. Furthermore, this research provides a self-diagnostic tool for manufacturing firms to assess the existing capability and prioritize digitalization efforts for maximum benefits over time