Comparison of Grain Sources (Barley, White Corn, and Yellow Corn) for Swine Diets and Their Effects on Meat Quality and Production Traits

Efficient pork production is a necessity for an economically viable swine industry. Number two yellow corn is considered the primary energy source for swine diets in the Midwest. Despite the low protein content, corn is considered one of the most economical feed stuffs available to the swine production system. Barley is a high fiber that has approximately 89% of the energy content of corn. While barley contains a higher protein and amino acid level than corn, animal performance is expected to be depressed due to the high fiber content. Because barley lacks the carotene content that yellow corn possesses, it has been hypothesized that barley-fed pigs will yield higher meat and fat quality that is desired by export markets. White corn was used in this trial to determine its contribution to meat quality and growth traits. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of energy source on performance and carcass traits of pigs. Diet treatments (primary energy source) were: 1) yellow corn, 2) white corn, 3) 1/3 yellow corn, 2/3 white corn, 4) 2/3 yellow corn, 1/3 white corn, 5) barley. Pigs completing the trial were from two sires lines, Duroc (n=500) and Hamp x Duroc (n=499), that were mated to PIC 1055 females. Pigs were randomly allocated to pens based on genetic type and gender using a 2 x 2 x 5 factorial arrangement with two genetic types, two sexes (barrows and gilts) and five treatments. Animals fed these diets differing in energy source did not express a difference in average daily gain, average daily feed intake, feed-to-gain ratio, backfat depth or percent fat free lean. However, barley-fed pigs did have a smaller (p \u3c .05) loin muscle area than pigs fed corn-based diets. Diet did not have an effect on sensory panel traits for tenderness or chewiness and limited differences were observed for juiciness, flavor, and off-flavor. Percentage loin purge, and cooking loss did not differ among diets fed to the pigs with minimal difference noted for color values. Pigs fed barley diets did have lower iodine value content within the subcutaneous fat indicating that the fat is of firmer quality. Results of this trial suggest that barley does not have an advantage in meat quality traits when compared to traditional corn-based diets. Barley does however have a significant impact on the hardness of pork fat, but does not have a significant effect on subjective color values

The Cambridge Concise History. Serbs and Serbia in a New and Complete History

Dejan Djokić has written an important new book, a complete history of Serbs and Serbia from the initial Balkan migration to the present decades since the wars of Yugoslavia’s dissolution. Although one of the new Concise Histories from Cambridge University Press, covering this long history requires a long book. Well written and well argued, it balances the core of Serb identity against discontinuities. They range from Tsar Dušan’s over-expanded empire and Ottoman occupation to revolt and independence, followed by occupation in two world wars and inclusion in the two Yugoslavias

An Empirical Comparison of Project Delivery Method Performance for Highway Construction Projects

The intent of this study was to provide an empirical analysis of project performance between the traditional design-bid-build (DBB) method and alternative design-build (DB) method of project delivery for highways. The study examined five major performance metrics: cost growth, schedule growth by notice to proceed, schedule growth by construction start date, award growth and construction engineering inspection cost factor. The data were collected from six selected state departments of transportation (DOT): Florida, Indiana, Oregon, North Carolina, Ohio, and Utah. These six DOTs have significant experience on using the DB project delivery method. Totally, more than 15,000 projects were mined and analyzed. To create a comparable pair between DBB and DB projects, six contract size bins were defined: projects under $2M,$2M - $5M,$5M - $10M,$10M - $20M,$20M - $50M, and over$50M. Performance data were collected from the six states by direct DOT official interviews and were mapped to the exploratory metrics. Three rounds of mining were conducted to accomplish the comparable sets of projects: missing data point removal, outlier removal, and project pairing by the bin-sampling method. Projects were matched one-to-one between DBB and DB at +/- 15% of contract award amount and +/- 1 year of respective project construction start date. The results of analysis showed that on average, the cost growth for DB projects is higher than the cost growth for DBB projects for smaller project ranges and lower than DBB projects for larger project ranges. The schedule growth based on notice to proceed dates and construction start dates on DB was found less than that for DBB projects across all sampled states and for all project sizes. DBB produced more negative award growth than DB for all contract size bins. For CEI factor, DBB showed higher mean values than DB for five out of the six contract size ranges

New Tricks (2016)

25 years ago, a group of students began the Literary Stunt Dogs, a club for students who wanted to establish a way to share poems, short stories, art pieces, and photography made by the individuals in the community of Dakota State University. Then, in spring of 1992, the first issue of New Tricks was published. Today, the 2016 Literary Stunt Dogs are proud to bring you yet another engaging and entertaining issue filled with works created by students, faculty, staff, and other DSU members. In addition to the print copy, we are now offering our works online as well. Please enjoy all this issue has to offer, and take a closer look at these works and many others that have been published on our website, www.new-tricks.org

Expression, Processing, and Localization of PmpD of Chlamydia trachomatis Serovar L2 during the Chlamydial Developmental Cycle

BACKGROUND: While families of polymorphic membrane protein (pmp) genes have been identified in several Chlamydia species, their function remains mostly unknown. These proteins are of great interest, however, because of their location in the outer membrane and possible role in chlamydial virulence. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDING: We analyzed the relative transcription of the pmpD gene, a member of the pmp gene family in C. trachomatis serovar L2, and its protein product translation and processing during the chlamydial developmental cycle. By real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, the pmpD gene was found to be upregulated at 16 to 24 four hours after infection. Using polyclonal antibodies generated against the predicted passenger domain of PmpD, we demonstrated that it is initially localized on the surface of reticulate bodies, followed by its secretion outside Chlamydia starting at 24 hours after infection. In elementary bodies, we found a approximately 157 kDa PmpD only inside the cell. Both events, the upregulation of pmpD gene transcription and PmpD protein processing and secretion, are coincidental with the period of replication and differentiation of RBs into EBs. We also demonstrated that, in the presence of penicillin, the cleavage and secretion of the putative passenger domain was suppressed. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Our results are in agreement with the general concept that PmpD is an autotransporter protein which is post-translationally processed and secreted in the form of the putative passenger domain outside Chlamydia at mid- to- late point after infection, coinciding with the development of RBs into EBs

Mammals of Iowa: Holocene to the End of the 20th Century

This review of Iowa\u27s mammal fauna at the close of the 20th century summarizes changes in distributional patterns following Euroamerican settlement in the early 1800s. Data from historical records, museum specimens, and presettlement late Holocene fossils indicate presence of 69 resident mammals at that time. Hunting pressures and the conversion of prairie and forest to agricultural fields reduced the populations and ranges of many state mammals, and 14 species were extirpated by 1900. An additional 15 species are either uncommon or rare today, and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources lists four species as endangered, three as threatened and one as of special concern. Species dependent upon either forest or prairie have suffered most; forest-edge species generally have thrived and even increased. River otters and a captive bison herd were reintroduced recently, and several (like the spotted skunk and the bobcat) have benefited from setaside acreage, flood-plain and wetland reclamation, and roadside management initiatives. Species distribution and relative abundance vary slightly among the state\u27s five geographic regions

Aphid Feeding Behavior: Relationship to Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus Resistance in \u3ci\u3eAgropyron\u3c/i\u3e Species

The infectibility of various Agropyron species (wheatgrasses) was examined with respect to three isotates of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) by infesting them with appropriate vector aphids, followed by testing by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Feeding behavior of the vetors Rhopalosiphum padi and Sitobion avenae was also electronically monitored to determine their ability to inoculate phloem. The results indicated that resistance to BYDV infection occurs in several Agropyron species. For most species tested. resistance seemed due to failure in virus increase. but in some species a major constraint on infection \\\u27as the inability of vectors to locate phloem. Two potential approaches to breeding for reduced BYDV in wheat by crossing with Agropyron species may thus be: incorporating factors reducing or preventing virus production and incorporating factors reducing the ability of vectors to inoculate plants successfully