Efficacy of High Oil Corn in Reducing the Severity of a PRRSV Challenge in Growing Pigs

The objectives of this experiment were to determine the effects of high oil corn (HOC) on the aerosol transmission of the porcine reproductive and respiratory synrome virus (PRRSV), and the effects of HOC on PRRSV seroconversion in growing pigs. One hundred PRRSV negative gilts (25 kg) were housed in 1 of 2 mirror imaged rooms. Both rooms contained 10 pens with 5 pigs/pen, and each room had its own separate ventilation and maure handling systems. The study was arranged in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. The main effects consisted of a dietary energy source, (#2 yellow corn (CON) and HOC), and with or without a virus challenge (VC). A three-phase feeding prgram was used, and in each phase the CON nd HOC diets contained the same lysine:calorie ratios. Animals were allowed to acclimate ot their respective diets for two weeks before the VC was administered At day 14, fifty pigs (pigs from 5 pens in each room) were inculated with a tissue culture infectious does (TCID) 50 of PRRS virus 2367 (1 x 104) intranasally. Blood was collected twice weely from day 7 to day 64 post-inculation (PI) and analyzed for serum PRRSV concentrations via ELISA PRRSV serum antibody titers peaked for all treatments at day 50, and then declined thereafter Serum antibody titers remained lower (P=.05) for animals fed HOC diet compared to those fed the CON diet. Animals fed the HOC diet experienced a delay (P=03) in measurable PRRSV serum antibody titers compared to those fed the CON diet. Also, it took longer for the PRRSV negative pigs fed HOC to seroconvert than the PRRSV negative pigs fed the CON diet. This dely may be attributed to effects of HOC on dust reduction affecting the aerosol transmission of PRRSV, and/or the biological effect HOC has on PRRSV, and/or the biological effect HOC has on PRRSV challenged pigs. The data from this study indicates that HOC delays the seroconversion of PRRSV challenged pigs, and may reduce the onse of PRRSV in growing pigs

Thermal Environmental Effects and Group Size on Growing Swine Immune Status

The effects of environmental conditions on the immune system of growing pigs (30-50 kg) were studied using T and B cell proliferation counts. Pigs were exposed to a constant 32°C ambient temperature versus a naturally occurring diurnal temperature variation during hot weather and a constant 10°C vs 21°C ambient temperature during cold weather. In addition, T and B cell proliferation counts were compared for pigs in single, 9 and 18 pigs/pen group sizes. Concancavalin A (ConA), Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) mitogens were used to determine T cell activation over time. Pokeweed (PWM), Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and Salmonella typhimurium mitogen (STM) mitogens were used to determine B cell proliferation over time. ConA tests revealed significant (P\u3c0.01) increases in T cell proliferation over time for both temperature treatments during hot weather. No significant differences in B cell proliferation were noted during the hot weather trials. A general decline in T cell activation over time was noted in both temperature treatments during cold weather. Significant (P\u3c0.01) reductions in B cell activation were noted for all pigs in the cold weather trials. T and B cell proliferation comparisons for group size at all temperature treatments were non-significant. The objective of this experiment was to find what effects temperature and group size have on the capacity and function of a growing pig\u27s immune system

Uterine Environment and Pregnancy Rate of Heiferswith High Blood Urea Concentrations

Reports demonstrate that excess dietary protein significantly alters the ionic composition of uterine fluid during the luteal phase ultimately decreasing fertility. Since the early bovine embryo cannot adapt to changes in the uterine environment, changes in the concentrations of ions (pH) in the uterus can be unfavorable to embryo development and survival therefore having negative effects on fertility. In this study, heifers fed a high protein diet had elevated systemic concentrations of plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) compared to heifers fed a control diet. However, there was no deleterious effect on uterine pH or reproductive success. In summary, excess protein in a diet did increase PUNs to a concentration that has previously been reported to be detrimental to pregnancy success; however, there was no negative effect on uterine pH or pregnancy success

Observation and Assignment of Silent and Higher Order Vibrations in the Infrared Transmission of C60 Crystals

We report the measurement of infrared transmission of large C60 single crystals. The spectra exhibit a very rich structure with over 180 vibrational absorptions visible in the 100 - 4000 cm-1 range. Many silent modes are observed to have become weakly IR-active. We also observe a large number of higher order combination modes. The temperature (77K - 300K) and pressure (0 - 25KBar) dependencies of these modes were measured and are presented. Careful analysis of the IR spectra in conjunction with Raman scattering data showing second order modes and neutron scattering data, allow the selection of the 46 vibrational modes C60. We are able to fit *all* of the first and second order data seen in the present IR spectra and the previously published Raman data (~300 lines total), using these 46 modes and their group theory allowed second order combinations.Comment: REVTEX v3.0 in LaTeX. 12 pages. 8 Figures by request. c60lon

The application of omics in ruminant production: a review in the tropical and sub-tropical animal production context

The demand for animal products (e.g. dairy and beef) in tropical regions is expected to increase in parallel with the public demand for sustainable practices, due to factors such as population growth and climate change. The necessity to increase animal production output must be achieved with better management and production technologies. For this to happen, novel research methodologies, animal selection and postgenomic tools play a pivotal role. Indeed, improving breeder selection programs, the quality of meat and dairy products as well as animal health will contribute to higher sustainability and productivity. This would surely benefit regions where resource quality and quantity are increasingly unstable, and research is still very incipient, which is the case of many regions in the tropics. The purpose of this review is to demonstrate how omics-based approaches play a major role in animal science, particularly concerning ruminant production systems and research associated to the tropics and developing countriesinfo:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Search for Tensor, Vector, and Scalar Polarizations in the Stochastic Gravitational-Wave Background

The detection of gravitational waves with Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo has enabled novel tests of general relativity, including direct study of the polarization of gravitational waves. While general relativity allows for only two tensor gravitational-wave polarizations, general metric theories can additionally predict two vector and two scalar polarizations. The polarization of gravitational waves is encoded in the spectral shape of the stochastic gravitational-wave background, formed by the superposition of cosmological and individually unresolved astrophysical sources. Using data recorded by Advanced LIGO during its first observing run, we search for a stochastic background of generically polarized gravitational waves. We find no evidence for a background of any polarization, and place the first direct bounds on the contributions of vector and scalar polarizations to the stochastic background. Under log-uniform priors for the energy in each polarization, we limit the energy densities of tensor, vector, and scalar modes at 95% credibility to Ω0T<5.58×10-8, Ω0V<6.35×10-8, and Ω0S<1.08×10-7 at a reference frequency f0=25 Hz. © 2018 American Physical Society