Effects of Conditioning Temperature on Pellet Quality of Nursery Pig Diets

The objective of this experiment was to determine the effect of conditioning temperature on pellet durability index (PDI) and pellet hardness. A phase 1 swine nursery diet was formulated to contain 25% spray-dried whey. The diet was manufactured and pelleted at the Kansas State University O.H. Kruse Feed Technology and Innovation Center, Manhattan, KS. The treatments consisted of three different conditioning temperatures: 130, 145, and 160°F. Diets were steam conditioned (10 in width × 55 in length Wenger twin staff pre-conditioner, Model 150) for approximately 30 sec on a 1-ton 30-horsepower pellet mill (1012-2 HD Master Model, California Pellet Mill) with a 3/16 in × 1 1/4 in pellet die (L:D 6.7). Treatments were pelleted at 3 separate time points to provide 3 replicates per treatment. Samples were collected directly after discharging from the pellet mill and cooled in an experimental counterflow cooler. Samples were analyzed for PDI using the Holmen NHP 100 (TekPro Ltd, Norfolk, UK) in duplicate for each replicate. Pellet hardness was determined by evaluating the peak amount of force applied before the first signs of fracture. Pellets were crushed perpendicular to their longitudinal axis using a texture analyzer. A total of 30 pellets of similar length were selected at random from each replication to be tested and the force needed to crush each pellet was averaged within replication. Although conditioning temperature was increased in a linear fashion, a quadratic increase (P \u3c 0.002) in hot pellet temperature was observed. Increasing conditioning temperature resulted in increased (linear, P \u3c 0.045) PDI and pellet hardness. There was a tendency for a low correlation (P \u3c 0.076, r = 0.618, r2 = 0.382) between pellet hardness and PDI. Overall, increasing the conditioning temperature increased both pellet hardness and pellet durability; however, these two responses were not strongly correlated. Future research and more data need to be generated to determine the relationship between PDI and pellet hardness at varying levels of pellet quality to determine what factors influence this relationship

Multi-Modal Neuroimaging Analysis and Visualization Tool (MMVT)

Sophisticated visualization tools are essential for the presentation and exploration of human neuroimaging data. While two-dimensional orthogonal views of neuroimaging data are conventionally used to display activity and statistical analysis, three-dimensional (3D) representation is useful for showing the spatial distribution of a functional network, as well as its temporal evolution. For these purposes, there is currently no open-source, 3D neuroimaging tool that can simultaneously visualize desired combinations of MRI, CT, EEG, MEG, fMRI, PET, and intracranial EEG (i.e., ECoG, depth electrodes, and DBS). Here we present the Multi-Modal Visualization Tool (MMVT), which is designed for researchers to interact with their neuroimaging functional and anatomical data through simultaneous visualization of these existing imaging modalities. MMVT contains two separate modules: The first is an add-on to the open-source, 3D-rendering program Blender. It is an interactive graphical interface that enables users to simultaneously visualize multi-modality functional and statistical data on cortical and subcortical surfaces as well as MEEG sensors and intracranial electrodes. This tool also enables highly accurate 3D visualization of neuroanatomy, including the location of invasive electrodes relative to brain structures. The second module includes complete stand-alone pre-processing pipelines, from raw data to statistical maps. Each of the modules and module features can be integrated, separate from the tool, into existing data pipelines. This gives the tool a distinct advantage in both clinical and research domains as each has highly specialized visual and processing needs. MMVT leverages open-source software to build a comprehensive tool for data visualization and exploration.Comment: 29 pages, 10 figure

Evaluation of Pellet Binders on Pellet Durability Index of a High-Fat Swine Diet

The objective of this study was to evaluate the addition of different pellet binders on pellet quality of a grower swine diet by measuring pellet durability index (PDI). Dietary treatments consisted of a corn-soybean meal-based control diet with 20% dried distillers grains with solubles and 4% choice white grease, the control diet with 0.6% lignosulfonate (AMERI-BOND 2X; LignoTech USA Inc.; Rothschild, WI), or the control diet with increasing levels of a pasta by-product (2.5, 5.0, or 10.0%; International Ingredients, St. Louis, MO). Pellet binders were added to the control diet in the place of corn to create dietary treatments. Each treatment was pelleted in 333 lb batches at 3 separate periods to provide 3 replications per treatment. Pelleting run was considered the experimental unit and time of processing served as the blocking factor. Order of pelleting dietary treatments was randomized within each time period. Corn was ground to approximately 600 μm. Diets were pelleted via steam conditioning (10- × 55-in. Wenger twin staff conditioner, Model 150) and using a 30-horsepower pellet mill (1012-2 HD Master Model, California Pellet Mill) with a 5/32- × 1-in. pellet die. During each processing run, pellet samples were collected throughout the run and immediately placed in an experimental counter-flow cooler for 10 minutes. After cooling, samples were analyzed for pellet durability index using the Holmen NHP 100 (TekPro Ltd, Norfolk, UK) for 30 seconds. There was no evidence (P \u3e 0.172) of difference for the effect of treatment on conditioner temperature, hot pellet temperature, or production rate. The average conditioner temperature, hot pellet temperature, and production rate were 185.9°F, 188.2°F, and 1,364 lb/h, respectively. The diet containing lignosulfate improved (P \u3c 0.001) PDI compared to the control diet. Increasing pasta by-product from 2.5 to 10% increased the PDI (P \u3c 0.01) compared with the control diet. Diets containing 2.5% pasta by-product had lower PDI compared to those with lignosulfonate, diets with 5% pasta by-product and lignosulfonate had similar PDI, and diets containing 10% pasta by-product had increased PDI compared to the lignosulfonate treatment. In conclusion, adding pellet binders to the high fat finisher diets improved PDI by 7.4 to 10.7%. Adding 5% pasta by-product improved PDI similar to that of lignosulfonate and adding 10% pasta by-product further improved PDI compared to lignosulfonate

Transcription control by the ENL YEATS domain in acute leukaemia

Recurrent chromosomal translocations producing a chimaeric MLL oncogene give rise to a highly aggressive acute leukaemia associated with poor clinical outcome. The preferential involvement of chromatin-associated factors as MLL fusion partners belies a dependency on transcription control. Despite recent progress made in targeting chromatin regulators in cancer, available therapies for this well-characterized disease remain inadequate, prompting the need to identify new targets for therapeutic intervention. Here, using unbiased CRISPR-Cas9 technology to perform a genome-scale loss-of-function screen in an MLL-AF4-positive acute leukaemia cell line, we identify ENL as an unrecognized gene that is specifically required for proliferation in vitro and in vivo. To explain the mechanistic role of ENL in leukaemia pathogenesis and dynamic transcription control, a chemical genetic strategy was developed to achieve targeted protein degradation. Acute loss of ENL suppressed the initiation and elongation of RNA polymerase II at active genes genome-wide, with pronounced effects at genes featuring a disproportionate ENL load. Notably, an intact YEATS chromatin-reader domain was essential for ENL-dependent leukaemic growth. Overall, these findings identify a dependency factor in acute leukaemia and suggest a mechanistic rationale for disrupting the YEATS domain in disease.K. LubinE. Wood

Effect of Dietary Formic Acid and Lignosulfonate on Pellet Quality

Nursery pig diets are pelleted to improve handling characteristics and pig performance. Feeding good quality pellets is important to achieve the maximum improvements in growth performance. Therefore, it is important to determine how feed additives included in nursery pig diets influence pellet quality. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of formic acid and lignosulfonate (LignoTech USA) inclusion in nursery pig diets on pelleting characteristics, pellet quality, and diet pH. The 5 treat­ments consisted of a control, or the control plus 2 concentrations of added formic acid (0.36% or 0.60%), or the control plus two combinations of 60% formic acid and 40% lignosulfonate (0.60% or 1.0%). Diets were steam conditioned (10 × 55 in, Wenger twin shaft pre-conditioner, Model 150) for approximately 30 s and pelleted on a 1-ton 30-horsepower pellet mill (1012-2 HD Master Model, California Pellet Mill) with a 3/16 × 1 ¼ in pellet die (length:diameter ratio of 6.67). The production rate was set at 1,984 lb/h. Treatments were pelleted at 3 separate time points to provide 3 replicates per treatment. Samples were collected directly after discharging from the pellet mill and cooled in an experimental counterflow cooler. Pellet samples were analyzed for pellet durability index using the Holmen NHP 100 (TekPro Ltd, Norfolk, UK) and stan­dard and modified tumble box methods. Pellet hardness was determined by evaluating the peak amount of force applied before the first signs of fracture. Pellets were crushed perpendicular to their longitudinal axis using a texture analyzer (Model TA-XT2, Stable Micro Systems Godalming, UK). Pellet samples were analyzed for pH via poten­tiometer and electrodes (AACC Method 02-52.01). Voltage and amperage data was collected via Supco DVCV Logger (Supco, Allenwood, NJ) and used to calculate pellet mill energy consumption (kWh/ton). Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure in SAS v. 9.4, with pelleting run as the experimental unit. Increasing formic acid in the diet decreased pH (P \u3c 0.001) by 0.6 to 0.8 in low formic acid diets and by 1 point in the high formic acid diets. When adding formic acid or lignosulfonate to the diet, no evidence for differences was observed for pellet mill energy consumption, production rate, hot pellet temperature, or pellet durability regardless of testing method or pellet hardness. In conclusion, pellet quality was not influenced by formic acid or lignosulfo­nate, and as expected pH decreased as the level of formic acid increased

Stability of Four Commercial Microbial Phytase Sources Under Increasing Conditioning Temperatures and Conditioner Retention Times During Pelleting

This experiment was designed to evaluate the effects of conditioning temperature and retention time on the stability of 4 commercially available microbial phytases in a corn soybean meal diet. Treatments were arranged in a 4 × 3 × 2 factorial of phytase source (A, B, C, and D), conditioning temperature (180, 190, and 200°F), and conditioner retention time (30 and 60 s). Diets were formulated to release 0.15% phosphorus. A total of 5 mash samples from each treatment were analyzed for phytase. Diets were pelleted via steam conditioning (10 × 55 in. Wenger twin staff pre-conditioner, Model 150) using a 30-horsepower pellet mill (1012-2 HD Master Model, California Pellet Mill) with a 3/16 × 2 in. pellet die. Production rate was set at 10 lb/min, approximately 30% of the rated throughput for the pellet mill. All treatments were replicated on 3 separate days. Retention time was randomized within day and phytase sources were randomized within retention time. Pellets were collected after the die and cooled for 10 min. Five cooled pellet samples per treatment per day were analyzed for phytase. Data were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure in SAS 9.4, with pelleting run as the experimental unit and day as the blocking factor. There was no evidence for a source × conditioning temperature × retention time interaction for hot pellet temperature or phytase stability. Increasing conditioning temperature (180, 190, and 200°F) increased (quadratic, P \u3c 0.03) hot pellet temperature (203, 208, and 211°F, respectively). There was no evidence of difference in hot pellet temperature due to retention time. There was a phytase source × conditioning temperature interaction (P = 0.01) for phytase stability. At conditioning temperatures of 180, 190, and 200°F, phytase stabilities were 33.7, 17.5, and 16.3% for A; 13.0, 8.3, and 9.0% for B; 24.2, 11.2, and 11.8% for C; and 20.7, 11.5, and 9.7% for D; respectively. At conditioning temperatures of 180 and 190°F, phytase A had greater (P \u3c 0.05) stability compared to all other sources. At 200°F, there was no evidence of difference between phytase A and C stability, but stability of phytase A was greater (P \u3c 0.05) than phytase B and D. Phytase stability of B was less (P \u3c 0.05) than that of the other sources when pelleted at 180°F. When pelleted at a conditioning temperature of 200°F, phytase stability was similar between phytase B, C, and D. There was no evidence of difference in phytase stability due to retention time. Microbial phytase stability was reduced by increasing conditioning temperature, although the amount of reduction was dependent on phytase source. Additionally, a maximum phytase stability of 33% was observed with the equipment used in this study, indicating severe consequences of achieving hot pellet temperatures above 200°F

Effects of Dietary Amino Acid Density and Exogenous Protease Inclusion on Growth Performance and Apparent Ileal Amino Acid Digestibility in Turkeys

Protein is one of the most expensive nutrients in poultry diets. In an effort to minimize feed costs, protein digestion and utilization by the animal must be carried out as effi­ciently as possible. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of dietary amino acid density and exogenous protease inclusion on growth performance and amino acid digestibility in turkey poults. Hybrid turkey poults (n = 780) were fed diets formulated to provide low (LAA) or adequate (AAA) amino acid density (approxi­mately 91 and 100% of the NRC4 recommended requirement for digestible Lys, respec­tively) with each diet being fed with or without an exogenous protease. Poults received experimental diets from d 1 to 42 of age. Growth performance metrics were calculated from pen weights and feed consumption was recorded throughout each experiment, and digestibility data were obtained from analysis of ileal contents. Data were analyzed using SAS 9.4 with pen as the experimental unit and pen location as the blocking factor. For the overall experiment (d 0 to 42), poults fed AAA diets had improved (P \u3c 0.01) ADG, ADFI, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to those fed LAA diets. There was no difference (P \u3e 0.14) in poult performance due to protease inclusion. There was an amino acid density × protease interaction (P = 0.01) for apparent ileal amino acid digestibility (AIAAD) of Trp. There was no difference in AIAAD coefficients of Trp in the LAA diets with or without protease. However, in the AAA diets, poults not receiving protease had greater AIAAD of Trp than those consuming protease. There was no difference (P \u3e 0.09) in AIAAD coefficients of Arg, Met, Cys, Thr, Ile, Leu, Lys, or Val due to dietary amino acid density or protease inclusion. Greater amino acid density improved growth performance in poults up to 42 d of age. No improvement in growth performance was observed when poults were fed an exogenous protease in the starter phase, although protease inclusion increased ADG by 5.3% and ADFI by 4.1% during the grower phase. There was no benefit of increased dietary amino acid density or protease inclusion on AIAAD in poults

Conceptualizing Quality in Software Industry

This paper investigates the different software quality perceptions from the different stakeholders’ perspectives and presents a critique to previously developed quality models and measurement theory frameworks associated. It emphasizes the rationale beyond the selection of the Goal Question Metric (GQM) as an evaluation method for the development of the software project with the desired quality needs satisfying the software system. Then it ends up with several concluding remarks that pinpoint the main discussion points and offers guidance for further research

Efficacy of Feed Additives Against Swine Viruses in Feed

Research has demonstrated that swine viruses can be transmitted via feed. There­fore, strategies are needed to prevent or mitigate swine viruses in feed. The use of chemical feed additives is a strategy that has been shown to have potential utility for this purpose. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a commercially available formaldehyde-based feed additive, medium chain fatty acid blend (MCFA), and commercially available fatty acid-based products for mitigation of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) as viral mitigants in a feed matrix. Experimental treatments consisted of: 1) non-treated, individually inoculated virus controls (positive control); 2) 0.33% commercial formaldehyde-based product (Sal Curb; Kemin Industries, Inc.; Des Moines, IA); 3) 0.50% MCFA blend (1:1:1 ratio of C6:0, C8:0, and C10:0, Sigma Aldrich, St. Louis, MO); 4) 0.25%; 5) 0.50%; or 6) 1.00% of commercial dry mono and diglyceride-based product (Furst Strike; Furst-McNess Company, Freeport, IL); 7) 0.25%; 8) 0.50%; or 9) 1.00% of commercial dry mono and diglyceride-based product (Furst Protect; Furst-McNess Company, Freeport, IL); 10) 0.25%; 11) 0.50%; or 12) 1.00% dry mono and diglyceride-based experimental product (Furst-McNess Company, Freeport, IL). In total there were 12 treatments with 3 replications per treat­ment. A complete swine feed was treated with each chemical treatment before inocula­tion with 106 TCID50/g of feed with PEDV or PRRSV. Post-inoculation feed was held at ambient temperature for 24 h before being analyzed via quantitative real time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). The analyzed values represent the cycle threshold (Ct). A lower Ct value indicates a higher level of detectable viral nucleic acid. Formaldehyde and MCFA decreased (P \u3c 0.05) the detectable RNA concentration of PEDV and PRRSV compared to all other treatments. Furst Strike, Furst Protect, and the experi­mental product did not significantly reduce detectable concentrations of RNA for PEDV or PRRSV. In conclusion, MCFA and formaldehyde chemical treatments are effective at reducing nucleic acid levels of PEDV and PRRSV in feed

Effects of Dietary Amino Acid Density and Exogenous Protease Inclusion on Growth Performance and Apparent Ileal AA Digestibility in Broilers

Protein is one of the most expensive nutrients in poultry diets. In an effort to minimize feed costs, protein digestion and utilization by the animal must be carried out as efficiently as possible. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary AA density and exogenous protease inclusion on growth performance and AA digestibility in broilers. Treatments consisted of a 2 × 4 factorial design with main effects of commercial protease (with or without) and digestible Lys (1.12, 1.15, 1.18, or 1.21%). Broiler chicks were housed in 4 Petersime batteries and treatments were randomly assigned to 80 cages within location block, resulting in 10 cages per treatment with 6 chicks per cage at placement. A commercial enzyme complex with 3 proteolytic activities was added to the protease diets at 0.25 lb/ton, and the same inclusion of sand was added to the diets without protease. Diets were balanced by energy and Lys:amino acid ratios. Titanium dioxide was included in the diets at 0.5% as an indigestible marker. On d 20, ileal contents from 2 chicks per cage were collected and composited by cage for calculation of apparent ileal AA digestibility. Growth performance metrics were calculated from cage weights and feed consumption was recorded throughout the experiment, and AA digestibility data were obtained from analysis of ileal contents. Data were analyzed using SAS 9.4 with cage as the experimental unit and cage location as the blocking factor. There was no evidence of an amino acid density × protease interaction (P \u3e 0.05) for BW, ADG or ADFI. There was an amino acid density × protease interaction (quadratic, P \u3c 0.05) for feed conversion ratio (FCR). Chicks fed 1.12 and 1.21% digestible Lys diets with added protease had a 2-point improvement in FCR compared to chicks fed these diets without protease. There was no difference in FCR between birds consuming diets with or without protease when fed 1.15 and 1.18% digestible Lys diets. There was no evidence of difference (P \u3e 0.10) in ADG or ADFI due to dietary amino acid density throughout the feeding period. However, broiler FCR was improved (linear, P \u3c 0.01) by increasing dietary amino acid density from 1.12 to 1.21% digestible Lys. There was no evidence (P \u3e 0.10) of main effect of added protease on BW, ADG, ADFI, or FCR. There was not an amino acid density × protease interaction (P \u3e 0.09) or main effect of dietary amino acid density or protease inclusion (P \u3e 0.12) on apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of Lys, Arg, Met, Cys, Thr, Ile, Leu, Val, or Trp. In conclusion, increasing dietary amino acid density improved FCR in broiler chicks, and the rate of improvement was dependent on the inclusion of an exogenous protease