An intense, slow and cold beam of metastable Ne(3s) ^3P_2 atoms

We employ laser cooling to intensify and cool an atomic beam of metastable Ne(3s) atoms. Using several collimators, a slower and a compressor we achieve a ^{20}Ne^* flux of 6 10^{10} atoms/s in an 0.7 mm diameter beam traveling at 100 m/s, and having longitudinal and transverse temperatures of 25mK and 300microK, respectively. This constitutes the highest flux in a concentrated beam achieved to date with metastable rare gas atoms. We characterize the action of the various cooling stages in terms of their influence on the flux, diameter and divergence of the atomic beam. The brightness and brilliance achieved are 2.1 10^{21} s^{-1} m^{-2} sr^{-1} and 5.0 10^{22} s^{-1} m^{-2} sr^{-1}, respectively, comparable to the highest values reported for alkali-metal beams. Bright beams of the ^{21}Ne and ^{22}Ne isotopes have also been created.Comment: 18 pages, 9 figures, RevTe

An approach to fulfill art 8 of directive 2009/128: procedure of risk assessment for pesticide application equipment

The EU Directive 2009/128/EC on the sustainable use of pesticides requires that Member States (MS) shall ensure that all Pesticide Application Equipment (PAE) in professional use shall be subject to inspection at regular intervals. Article 8.3 of the Directive allows the MS to derogate from the mandatory inspection at regular intervals or to apply different timetables and inspection intervals for certain types of PAE based on a Risk Assessment (RA) for human health, food safety and environment and an assessment of the scale of use. In order to fulfill Article 8.3, a risk assessment protocol was developed in Belgium within the framework of the SIRA-APESTICON project. Risk is now evaluated for the human health and the environment on all Belgian equipment. It will offer guidelines about the necessity to carry out an inspection of every PAE in use. The protocol is based on technical parameters subject to inspections, their occurrences and severities, but also on national scale of use of the PAE types. Results are expressed at different scale levels: the defect, the machine and the country.The EU Directive 2009/128/EC on the sustainable use of pesticides requires that Member States (MS) shall ensure that all Pesticide Application Equipment (PAE) in professional use shall be subject to inspection at regular intervals. Article 8.3 of the Directive allows the MS to derogate from the mandatory inspection at regular intervals or to apply different timetables and inspection intervals for certain types of PAE based on a Risk Assessment (RA) for human health, food safety and environment and an assessment of the scale of use. In order to fulfill Article 8.3, a risk assessment protocol was developed in Belgium within the framework of the SIRA-APESTICON project. Risk is now evaluated for the human health and the environment on all Belgian equipment. It will offer guidelines about the necessity to carry out an inspection of every PAE in use. The protocol is based on technical parameters subject to inspections, their occurrences and severities, but also on national scale of use of the PAE types. Results are expressed at different scale levels: the defect, the machine and the country

In vivo anomalous diffusion and weak ergodicity breaking of lipid granules

Combining extensive single particle tracking microscopy data of endogenous lipid granules in living fission yeast cells with analytical results we show evidence for anomalous diffusion and weak ergodicity breaking. Namely we demonstrate that at short times the granules perform subdiffusion according to the laws of continuous time random walk theory. The associated violation of ergodicity leads to a characteristic turnover between two scaling regimes of the time averaged mean squared displacement. At longer times the granule motion is consistent with fractional Brownian motion.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, REVTeX. Supplementary Material. Physical Review Letters, at pres

Vitamin D supplementation in cutaneous malignant melanoma outcome (ViDMe): a randomized controlled trial.

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Dietary Acid-Binding Capacity-4 Influences Nursery Pig Performance and Fecal Dry Matter

A total of 360 pigs (200 × 400 DNA; initially 12.9 lb) were used to evaluate the impact of increasing the acid-binding capacity-4 (ABC-4) of the diet on nursery pig performance and fecal dry matter (DM). At weaning, pigs were allotted to 1 of 6 dietary treatments. There were 5 pigs per pen and 12 replications per treatment. Pigs were fed experimental diets in two phases with phase 1 being from d 0 to 10 post-weaning followed by phase 2 from d 10 to 23. Diets were formulated with increasing ABC-4 levels ranging from 150 meq/kg (diet 1, low ABC-4) to 312 meq/kg (diet 5, high ABC-4) in phase 1 and 200 meq/kg (diet 1, low ABC-4) to 343 meq/kg (diet 5, high ABC-4) in phase 2. For diet 1, the low ABC-4 diets were formulated using specialty soy protein concentrate (AX3 Digest; Protekta; Newport Beach, CA) at 12.50 and 10.00% of the diet in phase 1 and 2, respectively. The low ABC-4 diet also utilized fumaric acid and formic acid at 0.50 and 0.48% of the diet, respectively for both phase 1 and 2. For diets 2 (medium low), 3 (medium), 4 (medium high), and 5 (high), increasing ABC-4 of the diet was achieved by progressively decreasing the level of acidifiers and replacing specialty soy protein concentrate with enzymatically treated soybean meal (HP 300; Hamlet Protein; Findlay, OH) on an SID Lys basis. Diets 1 through 5 were formulated without the inclusion of ZnO. For diet 6, a positive control diet was utilized which had the same formulation as the highest ABC-4 diet but with the addition of pharmacological levels of Zn from ZnO. Following phase 2, all pigs were placed on a common diet until d 38 of the study. In the experimental period (d 0 to 23) and overall (d 0 to 38), a quadratic response was observed (P ≤ 0.030) where BW and ADG were highest for pigs fed the medium low and medium ABC-4 diets. During the experimental period (d 0 to 23), pigs fed increasing ABC-4 levels had poorer (linear, P = 0.002) F/G. For overall F/G, a quadratic response was observed (P = 0.023) where F/G was most improved for pigs fed the medium low and medium ABC-4 levels. Pigs fed diets with ZnO had increased (P ≤ 0.038) ADG compared to pigs fed diets without ZnO during the experimental period and overall. In summary, pharmacological levels of Zn improved nursery pig performance as expected. The medium low and medium ABC-4 levels improved performance compared to higher ABC-4 levels, suggesting an optimal ABC-4 level of the diet for this study would be at or below 256 and 295 meq/kg in phase 1 and 2, respectively

Effect of Dietary Salt and Zinc Level on Growth Performance and Fecal Dry Matter of Nursery Pigs

A total of 360 pigs (Line 600 × 241, DNA; initially 12.6 ± 0.5 lb) were used to determine the effect of feeding different levels of dietary Na alone or in combination with pharmacological levels of Zn on growth performance and fecal dry matter of nursery pigs. At weaning, pigs were randomly allotted to pens (6 pigs per pen) and fed a common diet for 7 days. On d 7 after weaning (d 0 of the trial), pigs were assigned to 1 of 6 dietary treatments with 10 replications per treatment. Dietary treatments were arranged in a 2 × 3 factorial with main effects of added Zn (0 or 2,000 ppm Zn from ZnO) and Na (0.13, 0.24, or 0.35% from salt). All diets contained 110 ppm of Zn from ZnO from the trace mineral premix. Following a 14-d experimental period, pigs were fed a common phase 3 diet for 21 days. From d 0 to 14, increasing Na increased (linear, P \u3c 0.05) ADG, ADFI, and BW. The addition of ZnO in the diet also increased (P \u3c 0.001) ADG, ADFI, and BW. An interaction (linear, P = 0.027) was observed where increasing Na up to 0.35% improved F/G from d 0 to 14 only when pharmacological levels of Zn were fed. Within the interaction, pigs fed diets without ZnO showed a response (quadratic, P = 0.027) in F/G as Na increased. When Na was increased from 0.13 to 0.24% F/G improved, but when Na was further increased to 0.35% F/G worsened. When 2,000 ppm of Zn was added, F/G improved (linear, P = 0.003) as Na increased. From d 14 to 35 and overall, an interaction was observed (linear, P \u3c 0.05) for F/G. Within the interaction, pigs fed diets without ZnO showed a linear increase in F/G as Na level increased (linear, P ≤ 0.011). On d 7, fecal dry matter decreased and then subsequently increased (quadratic, P = 0.026) with increasing Na. Unexpectedly, pigs fed added Zn had decreased (P = 0.008) fecal dry matter on d 14. In summary, increasing dietary Na and the addition of pharmacological levels of Zn independently improved daily gain and feed intake in nursery pigs, but an improvement in F/G from increasing Na was only observed when pharmacological ZnO was also present

Effects of Altering Dietary Acid-Binding Capacity-4 with Specialty Soy Protein Sources or Acidifiers on Nursery Pig Performance and Fecal Dry Matter

A total of 300 pigs (241 × 600 DNA; initially 13.2 lb) were used to evaluate the effects of altering the dietary acid-binding capacity-4 (ABC-4) with specialty soy protein sources or acidifiers on nursery pig performance and fecal dry matter (DM). At weaning, pigs were allotted to 1 of 5 dietary treatments. There were 5 pigs per pen and 12 replications per treatment. Pigs were fed experimental diets in two phases with phase 1 fed from d 0 to 10 post-weaning followed by phase 2 from d 10 to 24. Diets were formulated with increasing ABC-4. A single low ABC-4 diet was formulated to 200 and 250 meq/kg in phase 1 and 2, respectively. The low ABC-4 diet utilized 0.38% fumaric acid, 0.36% formic acid, and specialty soybean meal (AX3 Digest; Protekta; Newport Beach, CA) at 9.38 and 7.50% of the diet in phase 1 and 2, respectively. Two medium ABC-4 diets were formulated utilizing two different strategies. In the first medium ABC-4 diet, specialty soybean meal was replaced with enzymatically treated soybean meal on an SID Lys-basis and resulted in an ABC-4 level of 290 and 322 meq/ kg for phase 1 and 2, respectively. In the second medium ABC-4 diet, acidifiers were removed resulting in an ABC-4 level of 271 and 321 meq/kg for phase 1 and 2, respectively. In the high ABC-4 diet, specialty soybean meal was replaced with enzymatically treated soybean meal and the acidifiers were removed, resulting in ABC-4 values of 362 and 394 meq/kg for phase 1 and 2, respectively. In addition, the high ABC-4 diet, but with added pharmacological levels of Zn from ZnO served as a control diet. Following phase 2, all pigs were fed a common diet until d 38 of the study. Increasing ABC-4 levels tended to decrease (linear, P = 0.062) the ADG during the experimental period. Pigs fed increasing ABC-4 diets had poorer (linear, P ≤ 0.043) F/G during the experimental period (d 0 to 24) and overall (d 0 to 38). Increasing ABC-4 levels also decreased (linear, P ≤ 0.005) fecal DM on d 10 and 24. Pigs fed diets containing pharmacological levels of Zn from ZnO had improved (P ≤ 0.047) BW, ADG, ADFI, and F/G during the experimental period (d 0 to 24) but poorer (P = 0.005) ADG and F/G during the common period (d 24 to 38), compared to pigs fed diets not containing ZnO. Ultimately, this resulted in no benefit from ZnO for the overall study (d 0 to 38). There were no differences between the two medium ABC-4 levels for the growth performance. However, pigs fed the medium ABC-4 diet based on specialty soy protein replacement had increased (P = 0.003) fecal DM on d 10 compared to the medium ABC-4 diet where acidifiers were removed. In conclusion, as dietary ABC-4 increased from 200 to 362 meq/kg in phase 1 and 250 to 294 meq/kg in phase 2, pigs had linearly decreased growth performance and fecal DM. The results of this study suggest a low ABC-4 diet can be utilized to improve growth performance and fecal consistency in diets without pharmacological Zn. Additionally, there were no differences between the medium ABC-4 diets for growth performance, suggesting the decreased performance was due to an increase in ABC-4 level and not a change in ingredients

Evaluation of Corn Protein Source on Feed Intake Preference in Nursery Pigs

A total of 180 pigs (241 × 600, DNA; initially 17.0 ±1.6 lb) were used to determine feed intake preference from various corn protein sources. A series of 5-day preference trials were used with two diets offered within each comparison with feeder location rotated daily within each pen. Feed consumption was used to determine preference between each diet comparison. There were 6 replicates of each diet comparison. The corn protein sources utilized in this experiment included: fermented corn protein, high protein distillers dried grains with solubles (HPDDGs), whole stillage solids (approximately 2/3 content of fermented corn protein), and thin stillage solids (approximately 1/3 content of fermented corn protein). Fermented corn protein and HPDDGs were included in the diet at 15% as a replacement for corn. Whole stillage solids and thin stillage solids were included in the diet at 10% and 5%, respectively, as a replacement to corn to match its contribution in fermented corn protein. The control diet was a standard nursery diet. Diet comparisons included: 1) Control vs. Fermented corn protein; 2) Whole stillage solids vs. Fermented corn protein; 3) Thin stillage solids vs. Fermented corn protein; 4) HPDDGs vs. Fermented corn protein; 5) Control vs. Whole stillage solids; 6) Control vs. Thin stillage solids. For comparison 1, pigs preferred (P \u3c 0.001) the control diet by consuming 82.5% of their intake with this diet compared with the diet containing fermented corn protein. For comparison 2, there was no difference (P \u3e 0.05) in feed consumption of diets containing whole stillage solids and the fermented corn protein. For comparison 3, pigs preferred (P = 0.001) the diet containing thin stillage solids by consuming 75.8% of their intake with this diet compared to the diet containing fermented corn protein. There was no difference when comparing fermented corn protein and whole stillage solids, but thin stillage solids had a higher percentage intake than fermented corn protein. Therefore, it is likely that whole stillage solids are the component of fermented corn protein that negatively affect feed consumption

Measurement of the Acid-Binding Capacity of Common Ingredients and Complete Diets Intended for Weanling Pigs

Some ingredients bind more acid in the stomach than others which can increase gastric pH in weaned pigs, causing decreased protein digestion and allowing pathogenic microorganisms to proliferate. The objective of this experiment was to measure acid-binding capacity at a pH of 4 (ABC-4) of common nursery ingredients and determine additivity in diets. Ingredient categories included: cereal grains, vegetable proteins, animal proteins and milk, vitamin premixes and minerals, amino acids, and fiber sources. A 0.5 g sample of each ingredient was suspended in 50 mL of distilled deionized water and titrated with 0.1 N hydrochloric acid. Sample ABC-4 was calculated as the amount of acid in milliequivalents (meq) required to lower 1 kg of a sample to a pH of 4. Cereal grains were found to have lower ABC-4 compared to other ingredients. Vegetable proteins had higher ABC-4 with more variation than cereal grains. Soy protein concentrate and enzymatically treated soybean meal (ESBM) had higher ABC-4 compared to SBM while fermented soybean meal (FSBM) was lower. Zinc oxide (ZnO) and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) had the highest ABC-4 among all ingredients. Following ingredient analysis, a series of complete diets were analyzed to determine ingredient additivity by comparing the differences between calculated and analyzed ABC-4. Perfect ABC-4 additivity was not found, with all diets having lower analyzed ABC-4 than calculated values; however, the analyzed ABC-4 followed dietary calculated values for higher or lower ABC-4 diet values. These data suggest that ABC-4 diet can be adjusted through selection of ingredients, but feeding trials are needed to determine the impact on pig performance