Livestock Husbandry between Ethics and Economics: Finding a Feasible Way Out by Target Costing?

Livestock husbandry is a major line of conflict in many industrialized countries. Farmers are caught in a dilemma between ethical considerations imposed by, for instance, nongovernmental organizations and the wider public on the one hand and competitive and economic pressures on the other. In this paper we use a target-costing approach to determine whether it is possible to implement more animal-friendly husbandry conditions for turkey fattening in Germany without sacrificing competitiveness. Empirical results show that, at first glance, the willingness on the part of consumers to pay for more animal welfare exceeds the costs to farmers of more animal-friendly husbandry systems. A critical discussion reveals that this result may be flawed by methodological problems for which no solutions have yet been found.animal welfare, livestock husbandry, target costing, willingness to pay, Livestock Production/Industries, D12, D63, Q12,

Mechanism of the Efficient Tryptophan Fluorescence Quenching in Human γD-Crystallin Studied by Time-Resolved Fluorescence†

Human γD-crystallin (HγD-Crys) is a two-domain, β-sheet eye lens protein found in the lens nucleus. Its long-term solubility and stability are important to maintain lens transparency throughout life. HγD-Crys has four highly conserved buried tryptophans (Trps), with two in each of the homologous β-sheet domains. In situ, these Trps will be absorbing ambient UV radiation that reaches the lens. The dispersal of the excited-state energy to avoid covalent damage is likely to be physiologically relevant for the lens crystallins. Trp fluorescence is efficiently quenched in native HγD-Crys. Previous steady-state fluorescence measurements provide strong evidence for energy transfer from Trp42 to Trp68 in the N-terminal domain and from Trp130 to Trp156 in the C-terminal domain [Chen, J., et al. (2006) Biochemistry 45, 11552−11563]. Hybrid quantum mechanical−molecular mechanical (QM-MM) simulations indicated that the fluorescence of Trp68 and Trp156 is quenched by fast electron transfer to the amide backbone. Here we report additional information obtained using time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. In the single-Trp-containing proteins (Trp42-only, Trp68-only, Trp130-only, and Trp156-only), the highly quenched Trp68 and Trp156 have very short lifetimes, τ ~0.1 ns, whereas the moderately fluorescent Trp42 and Trp130 have longer lifetimes, τ ~3 ns. In the presence of the energy acceptor (Trp68 or Trp156), the lifetime of the energy donor (Trp42 or Trp130) decreased from ~3 to ~1 ns. The intradomain energy transfer efficiency is 56% in the N-terminal domain and is 71% in the C-terminal domain. The experimental values of energy transfer efficiency are in good agreement with those calculated theoretically. The absence of a time-dependent red shift in the time-resolved emission spectra of Trp130 proves that its local environment is very rigid. Time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy measurements with the single-Trp-containing proteins, Trp42-only and Trp130-only, indicate that the protein rotates as a rigid body and no segmental motion is detected. A combination of energy transfer with electron transfer results in short excited-state lifetimes of all Trps, which, together with the high rigidity of the protein matrix around Trps, could protect HγD-Crys from excited-state reactions causing permanent covalent damage

Measure Guideline: Steam System Balancing and Tuning for Multifamily Residential Buildings

This report was written as a resource for professionals involved in multifamily audits, retrofit delivery, and program design, as well as for building owners and contractors. It is intended to serve as a guide for those looking to evaluate and improve the efficiency and operation of one-pipe steam heating systems. In centrally heated multifamily buildings with steam or hydronic systems, the cost of heat for tenants is typically absorbed into the owner's operating costs. Highly variable and rising energy costs have placed a heavy burden on landlords. In the absence of well-designed and relevant efficiency efforts, increased operating costs would be passed on to tenants who often cannot afford those increases. Misinvestment is a common problem with older heating systems -- multiple contractors may inadequately or inappropriately upgrade parts of systems and reduce system functionality and efficiency, or the system has not been properly maintained

Individual voxelwise dosimetry of targeted 90Y-labelled substance P radiotherapy for malignant gliomas

Purpose: Substance P is the main ligand of neurokinin type 1 (NK-1) receptors, which are consistently overexpressed in malignant gliomas. The peptidic vector 111In/90Y-DOTAGA-substance P binds to these receptors and can be used for local treatment of brain tumours. Dosimetry for this interstitial brachytherapy has mainly been done using geometrical models; however, they often do not faithfully reproduce the in vivo biodistribution of radiopharmaceuticals, which is indispensable to correlate the deposited energy with clinical response. The aim of this study was to establish a reproducible dosimetry protocol for intratumoural radiopeptide therapy. Methods: For test and therapeutic injections, 2MBq of 111In-substance P and 370-3,330MBq of 90Y-substance P, respectively, were applied in 12 patients with malignant gliomas. Over a period of 24h, serial SPECT scans were performed on a dual-head SPECT camera. The scans were acquired in a double-energy window technique together with 99mTc-ECD in order to co-register the dose distributions with a separately acquired, contrast-enhanced CT scan. Quantitative voxelwise dose distribution maps (in Gy/GBq) were computed from these data using a mono-exponential decay approach. Pre- and post-therapeutic values were compared. Results: Agreement between pre- and post-therapeutic dosimetry was very good and delivered absolute dose values in Gy per injected GBq. In all patients, the pretherapeutic test injection together with the CT overlay technique could predict the precise localisation of dose deposition in an anatomical context. Conclusion: This protocol allows a precise pretherapeutic computation of the expected three-dimensional dose distribution and is clearly superior to the previously used dosimetry based on planar scintigraphic images. It has become an indispensable tool for planning intratumoural radiopeptide therapy in glioma patient

Serviceverzeichnis Forschungsdaten

Der Bereich Forschungsdatenmanagement (FDM) entwickelt sich rasant. FDM hat an vielen Universitäten und außeruniversitären Forschungseinrichtungen strategische Bedeutung erlangt. Standorte müssen nicht von Grund auf neu anfangen, um Dienstleistungen zum FDM anzubieten. Sondern es ist möglich, besser als bisher voneinander zu lernen und auf Diensten und Expertise von anderen aufzubauen, wenn bekannt ist, wo welche Dienste angeboten werden und bei wem spezifische Expertise bzw. Erfahrungen vorhanden sind. Das Projekt „Serviceverzeichnis Forschungsdaten” ist 2016 aus dem 6. DINI/nestor-Workshop „Kooperationstreffen Forschungsdaten” in Göttingen hervorgegangen. Hier hat sich ein großer Informationsbedarf über vorhandene nationale FDM-Angebote/Initiativen und vorhandene Expertise gezeigt. Ziel des Verzeichnisses ist eine systematische Sammlung von Diensten und Expertinnen und Experten bzw. Ansprechpartnerinnen und Ansprechpartnern rund um das Thema Management von Forschungsdaten. Diese Informationen sollen offen und interaktiv über eine Webplattform präsentiert werden. Primäre Zielgruppe sind alle diejenigen, die sich mit dem Aufbau von Informationsinfrastruktur beschäftigen, aber auch Forschende, die Dienste nutzen möchten oder Expertise zu bestimmten Fragestellungen im Datenmanagement suchen. Der Inhalt soll sowohl durch die Community der FDM-Expertinnen und Experten als auch der Diensteanbieter selber gepflegt werden. Ein schlankes Redaktionskonzept soll die Qualität des Serviceverzeichnis Forschungsdaten sicherstellen. Die Projektgruppe hat hierfür ein Datenmodell und eine Plattform prototypisch entwickelt, die wir in unserem Beitrag vorstellen möchten. Derzeit werden Anwendertests durchgeführt, die der Weiterentwicklung des Systems dienen

Influence of two breakfast meals differing in glycemic load on satiety, hunger, and energy intake in preschool children

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Glycemic load (GL) is the product of glycemic index of a food and amount of available carbohydrate in that food divided by 100. GL represents quality and quantity of dietary carbohydrate. Little is known about the role of GL in hunger, satiety, and food intake in preschool children. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of two breakfast meals differing in GL on hunger, satiety, and subsequent food intake at lunch in preschool children aged 4-6 y.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Twenty three subjects consumed low-GL (LGL) and high-GL (HGL) breakfast meals according to a randomized crossover design followed by an <it>ad libitum </it>lunch 4 h after consumption of breakfast. Children were asked to consume meals until they are full. Each treatment was repeated twice in non-consecutive days and data were averaged.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Children in LGL group consumed significantly lower amounts of GL, total carbohydrate, energy, energy density, and dietary fiber and higher amounts of protein and fat at the breakfast compared to those in HGL group. Prior to lunch, children were hungrier in the HGL intervention group compared to the LGL intervention group (<it>P </it>< 0.03). However, no significant difference was observed between LGL and HGL intervention groups in the amount of food and energy consumed during lunch.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Decreased hunger in children prior to lunch in LGL group is likely due to higher protein and fat content of LGL breakfast. Diets that are low in GL can be recommended as part of healthy diet for preschool children.</p

Nutrition education: a questionnaire for assessment and teaching

It is generally recognized that there is a need for improved teaching of nutrition in medical schools and for increased education of the general population. A questionnaire, derived in part from a study of physician knowledge, was administered to first year medical students in order to assess their knowledge of various aspects of nutrition and metabolism, and as a teaching tool to transmit information about the subject. The performance of first year students was consistent with a generally educated population but there were surprising deficits in some fundamental areas of nutrition. Results of the questionnaire are informative about student knowledge, and immediate reinforcement from a questionnaire may provide a useful teaching tool. In addition, some of the subject matter can serve as a springboard for discussion of critical issues in nutrition such as obesity and markers for cardiovascular disease. A major barrier to improved teaching of nutrition is the lack of agreement on some of these critical issues and there are apparent inconsistencies in recommendations of government and health agencies. It seems reasonable that improved teaching should address the lack of knowledge of nutrition, rather than knowledge of official guidelines. Student awareness of factual information should be the primary goal

Metabolic effects of diets differing in glycaemic index depend on age and endogenous GIP

Aims/hypothesis High- vs low-glycaemic index (GI) diets unfavourably affect body fat mass and metabolic markers in rodents. Different effects of these diets could be age-dependent, as well as mediated, in part, by carbohydrate-induced stimulation of glucose-dependent insulinotrophic polypeptide (GIP) signalling. Methods Young-adult (16 weeks) and aged (44 weeks) male wild-type (C57BL/6J) and GIP-receptor knockout (Gipr −/− ) mice were exposed to otherwise identical high-carbohydrate diets differing only in GI (20–26 weeks of intervention, n = 8–10 per group). Diet-induced changes in body fat distribution, liver fat, locomotor activity, markers of insulin sensitivity and substrate oxidation were investigated, as well as changes in the gene expression of anorexigenic and orexigenic hypothalamic factors related to food intake. Results Body weight significantly increased in young-adult high- vs low-GI fed mice (two-way ANOVA, p < 0.001), regardless of the Gipr genotype. The high-GI diet in young-adult mice also led to significantly increased fat mass and changes in metabolic markers that indicate reduced insulin sensitivity. Even though body fat mass also slightly increased in high- vs low-GI fed aged wild-type mice (p < 0.05), there were no significant changes in body weight and estimated insulin sensitivity in these animals. However, aged Gipr −/− vs wild-type mice on high-GI diet showed significantly lower cumulative net energy intake, increased locomotor activity and improved markers of insulin sensitivity. Conclusions/interpretation The metabolic benefits of a low-GI diet appear to be more pronounced in younger animals, regardless of the Gipr genotype. Inactivation of GIP signalling in aged animals on a high-GI diet, however, could be beneficial

Acute effect of meal glycemic index and glycemic load on blood glucose and insulin responses in humans

OBJECTIVE: Foods with contrasting glycemic index when incorporated into a meal, are able to differentially modify glycemia and insulinemia. However, little is known about whether this is dependent on the size of the meal. The purposes of this study were: i) to determine if the differential impact on blood glucose and insulin responses induced by contrasting GI foods is similar when provided in meals of different sizes, and; ii) to determine the relationship between the total meal glycemic load and the observed serum glucose and insulin responses. METHODS: Twelve obese women (BMI 33.7 ± 2.4 kg/m(2)) were recruited. Subjects received 4 different meals in random order. Two meals had a low glycemic index (40–43%) and two had a high-glycemic index (86–91%). Both meal types were given as two meal sizes with energy supply corresponding to 23% and 49% of predicted basal metabolic rate. Thus, meals with three different glycemic loads (95, 45–48 and 22 g) were administered. Blood samples were taken before and after each meal to determine glucose, free-fatty acids, insulin and glucagon concentrations over a 5-h period. RESULTS: An almost 2-fold higher serum glucose and insulin incremental area under the curve (AUC) over 2 h for the high- versus low-glycemic index same sized meals was observed (p < 0.05), however, for the serum glucose response in small meals this was not significant (p = 0.38). Calculated meal glycemic load was associated with 2 and 5 h serum glucose (r = 0.58, p < 0.01) and insulin (r = 0.54, p < 0.01) incremental and total AUC. In fact, when comparing the two meals with similar glycemic load but differing carbohydrate amount and type, very similar serum glucose and insulin responses were found. No differences were observed for serum free-fatty acids and glucagon profile in response to meal glycemic index. CONCLUSION: This study showed that foods of contrasting glycemic index induced a proportionally comparable difference in serum insulin response when provided in both small and large meals. The same was true for the serum glucose response but only in large meals. Glycemic load was useful in predicting the acute impact on blood glucose and insulin responses within the context of mixed meals