Effects of alternative soy sources on growth performance in early-weaned pigs

A total of 144 pigs (initial body wt of 10.4 lb) was used in a 56-d growth assay to determine the effects of different soybean preparations on growth performance and cost of gain in nursery pigs. Experimental diets were fed in three phases from d 0 to 35 postweaning (Le., d 0 to 7, 7 to 21, and 21 to 35). Treatments were a soybean meal-based regimen; a dry-extruded whole soybeans (mill-run) regimen; and a specially processed soy products regimen (Le., soy isolate in Phase I, soy concentrate in Phase 11, and extruded soy flour in Phase Ill). All diets were formulated to 1. 55, 1. 25, and 1.15% lysine for Phases I, 11, and III, respectively. Fat additions to the soybean meal and specialty soy product treatments were 2, 2, and 3%, for Phases I, 11, and III, respectively. The diets with extruded soybeans had more total fat (2.5, 3.8, and 4.8% greater percentage ether extract in Phases I, 11, and III, respectively) than the soybean meal-based control. On d 35 postweaning, the pigs were switched to the same soybean meal-based grower diet (.9% lysine) for a period of 3 wk. During Phase I (d 0 to 7 postweaning), pigs fed soybean meal gained 25% less and were 22% less efficient than those fed extruded soybeans and the specially processed soy products. Average daily feed intake was not affected by dietary treatment; however, pigs fed the specially processed soy product had the greatest ADG of any treatment, and numerically, the best efficiencies of gain. No statistical differences were found for ADG, ADFI, or F/G among treatments from d 7 to 21, 21 to 35, or 35 to 56 of the experiment. Thus, overall (from d 0 to 56 postweaning), pigs fed the various soybean protein sources had similar growth performance. However, overall costs per pound of gain were $.33,$.34, and $.42 for pigs fed extruded soybeans, soybean meal, and the specialty soy products, respectively. In conclusion, although the specially processed soy products regimen (Le., soy isolate) supported the greatest growth performance immediately after weaning (d 0 to 7), the best cost of gain was achieved by feeding extruded soybeans. However, the additional fat provided by extruded soybeans did not influence pig performance in this experiment.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 17, 199

Eu2+ spin dynamics in the filled skutterudites EuM4Sb12 (M = Fe, Ru, Os)

We report evidence for a close relation between the thermal activation of the rattling motion of the filler guest atoms, and inhomogeneous spin dynamics of the Eu2+ spins. The spin dynamics is probed directly by means of Eu2+ electron spin resonance (ESR), performed in both X-band (9.4 GHz) and Q-band (34 GHz) frequencies in the temperature interval 4.2 < T < 300 K. A comparative study with ESR measurements on the Beta-Eu8Ga16Ge30 clathrate compound is presented. Our results point to a correlation between the rattling motion and the spin dynamics which may be relevant for the general understanding of the dynamics of cage systems.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Conceptual inconsistencies in finite-dimensional quantum and classical mechanics

Utilizing operational dynamic modeling [Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 190403 (2012); arXiv:1105.4014], we demonstrate that any finite-dimensional representation of quantum and classical dynamics violates the Ehrenfest theorems. Other peculiarities are also revealed, including the nonexistence of the free particle and ambiguity in defining potential forces. Non-Hermitian mechanics is shown to have the same problems. This work compromises a popular belief that finite-dimensional mechanics is a straightforward discretization of the corresponding infinite-dimensional formulation.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figure

Altered CD161bright CD8+ Mucosal Associated Invariant T (MAIT)-Like Cell Dynamics and Increased Differentiation States among Juvenile Type 1 Diabetics.

Type 1A diabetes (T1D) is believed to be caused by immune-mediated destruction of β-cells, but the immunological basis for T1D remains controversial. Microbial diversity promotes the maturation and activation of certain immune subsets, including CD161bright CD8+ mucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, and alterations in gut mucosal responses have been reported in type 1 diabetics (T1Ds). We analyzed T cell populations in peripheral blood leukocytes from juvenile T1Ds and healthy controls. We found that proportion and absolute number of MAIT cells were similar between T1Ds and controls. Furthermore, while MAIT cell proportions increased with age among healthy controls, this trend was not observed among long-standing T1Ds. Additionally, the CD27- MAIT cell subset is significantly increased in T1Ds and positively correlated with HbA1c levels. However, after T1Ds are stratified by age, the younger group has significantly increased proportions of CD27- MAIT cells compared to age-matched controls, and this proportional increase appears to be independent of HbA1c levels. Finally, we analyzed function of the CD27- MAIT cells and observed that IL-17A production is increased in CD27- compared to CD27+ MAIT cells. Overall, our data reveal disparate MAIT cell dynamics between T1Ds and controls, as well as signs of increased MAIT cell activation in T1Ds. These changes may be linked to hyperglycemia and increased mucosal challenge among T1Ds

The effect of novel carbohydrate sources on nursery pig growth performance

Two growth assays were conducted to determine the effects of novel carbohydrate sources in Phase I and II starter diets on growth performance. In Exp. 1, 90 weanling pigs (avg initial body wt of 12.4 lb and 18 d of age) were used in a 38-d trial evaluating three carbohydrate sources: corn, tapioca, and rice flour. The carbohydrate sources were substituted for corn in diets formulated to 1.55 and 1.3% lysine for Phase I (d 0 to 10) and Phase II (d 10 to 24), respectively. All pigs were fed the same sorghum-soybean meal-based diet from d 24 to 38 post-weaning. For the overall experiment, pigs fed rice flour had greater average daily gain (ADG) compared with those fed tapioca, with those fed the diet containing corn having intermediate ADG. Pigs fed rice flour had improved feed to gain ratio (F/G) compared with those fed either corn or tapioca. In Exp. 2, 60 weanling pigs (avg initial body wt of 8.6 lb and 17 d of age) were used in a similar study to evaluate corn, ground sorghum, and roasted sorghum as the primary carbohydrate sources in Phase I and II diets. During d 0 to 10 post-weaning, pigs fed the corn diet had greater average daily feed intake (ADFI) than those fed the sorghum-based diets; however, no other differences in growth performance were observed during the experiment. These results suggest similar growth performance of starter pigs fed tapioca, sorghum, and roasted sorghum compared with those fed corn-based diets. However, pigs fed rice flour had improved F/G compared with those fed either corn or tapioca. Therefore, decisions on the use of novel carbohydrate sources in Phase I and II starter diets should be based on their price and availability relative to corn.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 17, 199

Sex differences in the temperature dependence of kidney stone presentations: a population-based aggregated case-crossover study.

Previous studies assumed a uniform relationship between heat and kidney stone presentations. Determining whether sex and other characteristics modify the temperature dependence of kidney stone presentations has implications for explaining differences in nephrolithiasis prevalence and improving projections of the effect of climate change on nephrolithiasis. We performed an aggregated case-crossover study among 132,597 children and adults who presented with nephrolithiasis to 68 emergency departments throughout South Carolina from 1997 to 2015. We used quasi-Poisson regression with distributed lag non-linear models to estimate sex differences in the cumulative exposure and lagged response between maximum daily wet-bulb temperatures and emergent kidney stone presentations, aggregated at the ZIP-code level. We also explored interactions by age, race, payer, and climate. Compared to 10 °C, daily wet-bulb temperatures at the 99th percentile were associated with a greater increased relative risk (RR) of kidney stone presentations over 10 days for males (RR 1.73; 95% CI 1.56, 1.91) than for females (RR 1.15; 95% CI 1.01, 1.32; interaction P < 0.001). The shape of the lagged response was similar for males and females, with the greatest risk estimated for the 2 days following high temperatures. There were weak differences by age, race, and climatic zone, and no differences by payer status. The estimated risk of presenting emergently with kidney stones within 10 days of high daily wet-bulb temperatures was substantially greater among men than women, and similar between patients with public and private insurance. These findings suggest that the higher risk among males may be due to sexually dimorphic physiologic responses rather than greater exposure to ambient temperatures

Fecal contamination of drinking water within peri-urban households, Lima, Peru.

We assessed fecal contamination of drinking water in households in 2 peri-urban communities of Lima, Peru. We measured Escherichia coli counts in municipal source water and, within households, water from principal storage containers, stored boiled drinking water, and water in a serving cup. Source water was microbiologically clean, but 26 (28%) of 93 samples of water stored for cooking had fecal contamination. Twenty-seven (30%) of 91 stored boiled drinking water samples grew E. coli. Boiled water was more frequently contaminated when served in a drinking cup than when stored (P < 0.01). Post-source contamination increased successively through the steps of usage from source water to the point of consumption. Boiling failed to ensure safe drinking water at the point of consumption because of easily contaminated containers and poor domestic hygiene. Hygiene education, better point-of-use treatment and storage options, and in-house water connections are urgently needed

Convergent evolution of pregnancy-specific glycoproteins in human and horse

Pregnancy-specific glycoproteins (PSGs) are members of the carcinoembryonic antigen cell adhesion molecule (CEACAM) family that are secreted by trophoblast cells. PSGs may modulate immune, angiogenic and platelet responses during pregnancy. Until now, PSGs are only found in species that have a highly invasive (hemochorial) placentation including humans, mice and rats. Surprisingly, analyzing the CEACAM gene family of the horse, which has a non-invasive epitheliochorial placenta, with the exception of the transient endometrial cups, we identified equine CEACAM family members that seem to be related to PSGs of rodents and primates. We identified seven genes that encode secreted PSG-like CEACAMs. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that they evolved independently from an equine CEACAM1-like ancestor rather than from a common PSG-like ancestor with rodents and primates. Significantly, expression of PSG-like genes (CEACAM44, CEACAM48, CEACAM49 and CEACAM55) was found in non-invasive as well as invasive trophoblast cells such as purified chorionic girdle cells and endometrial cup cells. Chorionic girdle cells are highly invasive trophoblast cells that invade the endometrium of the mare where they form endometrial cups and are in close contact with maternal immune cells. Therefore, the microenvironment of invasive equine trophoblast cells has striking similarities to the microenvironment of trophoblast cells in hemochorial placentas, suggesting that equine PSG-like CEACAMs and rodent and primate PSGs have undergone convergent evolution. This is supported by our finding that equine PSG-like CEACAM49 exhibits similar activity to certain rodent and human PSGs in a functional assay of platelet–fibrinogen binding. Our results have implications for understanding the evolution of PSGs and their functions in maternal–fetal interactions

Electronic transport through domain walls in ferromagnetic nanowires: Co-existence of adiabatic and non-adiabatic spin dynamics

We study the effect of a domain wall on the electronic transport in ferromagnetic quantum wires. Due to the transverse confinement, conduction channels arise. In the presence of a domain wall, spin up and spin down electrons in these channels become coupled. For very short domain walls or at high longitudinal kinetic energy, this coupling is weak, leads to very few spin flips, and a perturbative treatment is possible. For very long domain wall structures, the spin follows adiabatically the local magnetization orientation, suppressing the effect of the domain wall on the total transmission, but reversing the spin of the electrons. In the intermediate regime, we numerically investigate the spin-dependent transport behavior for different shapes of the domain wall. We find that the knowledge of the precise shape of the domain wall is not crucial for determining the qualitative behavior. For parameters appropriate for experiments, electrons with low longitudinal energy are transmitted adiabatically while the electrons at high longitudinal energy are essentially unaffected by the domain wall. Taking this co-existence of different regimes into account is important for the understanding of recent experiments.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figure