Excluded from Our City: Clement of Alexandria and the Porous Frontier of Early Christian Identity

In the Paedagogus, the second volume of his three major works, Clement of Alexandria develops a “Christian” ethic and sense of identity, which is dependent on one’s “habits, deeds, and passions.”1 The work itself is directed toward “you who are children” and is intended to instruct Christians in matters of character and behavior.2 Though he is preoccupied with attempting to educate—rather, allowing his understanding of Christ to educate—Christians in regard to appropriate behaviors and values, thereby defining and maintaining a unique sense of Christian identity in late second century Alexandria, he is also at home in a culture of Greek and Jewish philosophy and literature. As an educated, Greek-speaking, Alexandrian Christian, with a significant indebtedness to both Plato and Philo, Clement is an ideal figure to engage with when concerned with questions of identity among early Christians. By applying modern theoretical frameworks and studies on identity, I aim to examine Clement’s ideal and demonstrate how intertwined and permeated it is by that which he seeks to exclude. His aim of trying to regulate behavior in order to maintain a distinct group cohesion is part of what is best understood as the process of identity. 1 Clement, Paedagogus, 1.1.1. 2 Clement, Paedagogus, 1.1.1

Evaluation of different oil sources for nursery pigs

A total of 210 pigs (PIC 327 × 1050, initially 28.9 lb BW) were used in a 21-d trial to evaluate the effects of increasing oil sources on nursery pig growth performance. The 2 oil sources included a commercial source of soybean oil and a proprietary source of corn oil originating from the ethanol industry (Corn Oil ONE, Feed Energy Co., Pleasant Hill, IA). The 5 experimental diets included: a control diet without added oil, diets with 2.5 or 5% added soybean oil, or diets with 2.5 and 5% added corn oil. Diets were formulated with an identical standardized ileal digestible lysine:calorie ratio and were fed in meal form. There were 6 pens per treatment with 7 pigs per pen. Overall, from d 0 to 21, no oil source × level interactions were observed. Increasing corn oil or soybean oil had no effect on ADG or final BW. Increasing corn oil or soybean oil decreased (linear, P \u3c 0.05) ADFI, which resulted in improved (linear, P \u3c 0.01) F/G. Caloric efficiency was not affected by oil source or level. Feed cost per pig tended to decrease (linear, P = 0.066) for pigs fed increasing levels of soy oil. Cost per pound of gain decreased for both Corn Oil ONE (linear, P = 0.032) and soybean oil (linear, P = 0.008) as oil level increased. Value of the weight gain and income over feed cost was similar for pigs fed diets with Corn Oil ONE and soybean oil (P = 0.833). This study shows the benefits of adding a dietary oil source in late-phase nursery diets to achieve improved feed efficiency. Corn Oil ONE is a suitable alternative for soybean oil, and cost and availability should dictate which source is used.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 20, 201

Evaluation of specialty soy protein sources on nursery pig performance

Swine Industry Day, 2014 is known as Swine Day, 2014A 35-d growth trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of a new soy protein source, Nutrivance (TechMix, Stewart, MN), on nursery pig growth performance. Nutrivance is a modified soy protein produced via a proprietary process combining extraction and enzymatic treatment of soybeans. Pigs (n = 1,188, PIC 337 × 1050; initially 9.8 lb BW) were weaned at 21 d of age and allotted by weight to pens with 27 pigs per pen. Pigs were fed a common diet for 15 d before the start of the study. Pens of pigs (13.5 lb BW) were then allotted to 1 of 4 dietary treatments fed for 14 d followed by a common diet fed for 21 d. The 4 experimental treatments were a corn-soybean meal–based control diet, or a corn-soybean meal–based diet with either 8% Nutrivance, 8.65% HP-300 (Hamlet Protein, Findlay, OH), or 6.85% Soycomil P (SPC; Archer Daniels Midland Co., Decatur, IL). The diets were formulated to the same standardized ileal digestible lysine level with specialty soy protein products replacing a portion of soybean meal in the control diet to form the experimental treatments. From d 0 to 14, there were no differences in ADG or F/G; however, pigs fed the diets containing Nutrivance or HP-300 had decreased ADFI (P < 0.02) compared with those fed the control diet, with pigs fed diets containing SPC intermediate. From d 14 to 35 when a common diet was fed, pigs previously fed the diet with the HP-300 had lower ADFI (P < 0.03) compared with pigs fed the control diet, with pigs previously fed diets containing Nutrivance or SPC intermediate. From d 0 to 35, pigs fed diets containing Nutrivance or HP-300 had decreased ADG and ADFI (P < 0.02) compared with pigs fed the control diet, with pigs fed diets containing SPC intermediate. Final weight (d 35) was greatest (P < 0.04) for pigs fed the control diet and lowest for pigs fed the diet with Nutrivance, and pigs fed the diets with HP-300 or SPC were intermediate. In conclusion, differences exist between alternative specialty soy protein sources, but, the corn-soybean meal control diet elicited the greatest growth performance in this study

Preserved functional autonomic phenotype in adult mice overexpressing moderate levels of human alpha-synuclein in oligodendrocytes

Mice overexpressing human alpha-synuclein in oligodendrocytes (MBP1-alpha-syn) recapitulate some key functional and neuropathological features of multiple system atrophy (MSA). Whether or not these mice develop severe autonomic failure, which is a key feature of human MSA, remains unknown. We explored cardiovascular autonomic regulation using long-term blood pressure (BP) radiotelemetry and pharmacological testing. We instrumented 12 MBP1-alpha-syn mice and 11 wild-type mice aged 9 months for radiotelemetry. Animals were tested with atropine, metoprolol, clonidine, and trimethaphan at 9 and 12 months age. We applied spectral and cross-spectral analysis to assess heart rate (HR) and BP variability. At 9 months of age daytime BP (transgenic: 101 +/- 2 vs. wild type: 99 +/- 2 mmHg) and HR (497 +/- 11 vs. 505 +/- 16 beats/min) were similar. Circadian BP and HR rhythms were maintained. Nighttime BP (109 +/- 2 vs. 108 +/- 2 mmHg) and HR (575 +/- 15 vs. 569 +/- 14 beats/min), mean arterial BP responses to trimethaphan (-21 +/- 8 vs. -10 +/- 5 mmHg, P = 0.240) and to clonidine (-8 +/- 3 vs. -5 +/- 2 mmHg, P = 0.314) were similar. HR responses to atropine (+159 +/- 24 vs. +146 +/- 22 beats/min), and to clonidine (-188 +/- 21 vs. -163 +/- 33 beats/min) did not differ between strains. Baroreflex sensitivity (4 +/- 1 vs. 4 +/- 1 msec/mmHg) and HR variability (total power, 84 +/- 17 vs. 65 +/- 21 msec(2)) were similar under resting conditions and during pharmacological testing. Repeated measurements at 12 months of age provided similar results. In mice, moderate overexpression of human alpha-synuclein in oligodendrocytes is not sufficient to induce overt autonomic failure. Additional mechanisms may be required to express the autonomic failure phenotype including higher levels of expression or more advanced age

Evaluation of specialty soy protein sources on nursery pig performance

A 35-d growth trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of a new soy protein source, Nutrivance (TechMix, Stewart, MN), on nursery pig growth performance. Nutrivance is a modified soy protein produced via a proprietary process combining extraction and enzymatic treatment of soybeans. Pigs (n = 1,188, PIC 337 × 1050; initially 9.8 lb BW) were weaned at 21 d of age and allotted by weight to pens with 27 pigs per pen. Pigs were fed a common diet for 15 d before the start of the study. Pens of pigs (13.5 lb BW) were then allotted to 1 of 4 dietary treatments fed for 14 d followed by a common diet fed for 21 d. The 4 experimental treatments were a corn-soybean meal–based control diet, or a corn-soybean meal–based diet with either 8% Nutrivance, 8.65% HP-300 (Hamlet Protein, Findlay, OH), or 6.85% Soycomil P (SPC; Archer Daniels Midland Co., Decatur, IL). The diets were formulated to the same standardized ileal digestible lysine level with specialty soy protein products replacing a portion of soybean meal in the control diet to form the experimental treatments. From d 0 to 14, there were no differences in ADG or F/G; however, pigs fed the diets containing Nutrivance or HP-300 had decreased ADFI (P \u3c 0.02) compared with those fed the control diet, with pigs fed diets containing SPC intermediate. From d 14 to 35 when a common diet was fed, pigs previously fed the diet with the HP-300 had lower ADFI (P \u3c 0.03) compared with pigs fed the control diet, with pigs previously fed diets containing Nutrivance or SPC intermediate. From d 0 to 35, pigs fed diets containing Nutrivance or HP-300 had decreased ADG and ADFI (P \u3c 0.02) compared with pigs fed the control diet, with pigs fed diets containing SPC intermediate. Final weight (d 35) was greatest (P \u3c 0.04) for pigs fed the control diet and lowest for pigs fed the diet with Nutrivance, and pigs fed the diets with HP-300 or SPC were intermediate. In conclusion, differences exist between alternative specialty soy protein sources, but, the corn-soybean meal control diet elicited the greatest growth performance in this study.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 20, 201

Evaluation of different zinc sources and levels on nursery pig performance

Swine Industry Day, 2014 is known as Swine Day, 2014A total of 294 pigs (PIC 327 × 1050, initially 14.1 lb BW) were used in a 31-d trial to evaluate the effects of increasing levels of two different zinc sources on nursery pig growth performance. Pigs were weaned at 21 d of age and were fed pelleted diets for the first 7 d and a mash diet for 24 d of the 31-d trial. Each treatment had 7 replicate pens with 7 pigs per pen. The 6 experimental diets were: (1) a control diet; (2) a diet with 500 ppm of Zn from Zinco+; (3) a diet with 1,500 ppm of added Zn from Zinco+; (4) a diet with 500 ppm of Zn from zinc oxide (ZnO); (5) a diet with 1,500 ppm of Zn from ZnO; and (6) a diet with 3,000 ppm of Zn from ZnO. All diets contained 110 ppm of Zn from the ZnSO4 provided by the trace mineral premix. Zinco+ (Jefo, Quebec, Canada) is a fat-encapsulated form of ZnO that is suggested to be more bioavailable than ZnO. From d 0 to 7, neither Zn source nor level influenced pig performance. From d 7 to 21, pigs fed increasing Zn from Zinco+ tended to have increased (linear, P = 0.06) ADG and had improved F/G (linear, P < 0.01). Pigs fed increasing levels of Zn from ZnO had greater ADG and ADFI (linear, P < 0.01) and improved F/G (quadratic, P = 0.02). Pigs had greater (P < 0.01) ADG and ADFI when fed diets containing 3,000 ppm of Zn from ZnO compared with pigs fed diets with 500 ppm of Zn from Zinco+. Day 21 BW increased with increasing Zn from Zinco+ (linear, P < 0.03) and Zn from ZnO (P < 0.001), with pigs fed 3,000 ppm of Zn from ZnO having heavier (P < 0.01) d-21 BW compared with those fed 500 ppm of Zn from Zinco+. Overall, from d 0 to 31, increasing Zn from Zinco+ did not affect growth performance, but increasing Zn from ZnO increased (P < 0.01) ADG and ADFI. Pigs fed 500 ppm of Zn from Zinco+ had poorer ADG (P < 0.02) and ADFI (P < 0.01) than pigs fed 3,000 ppm of Zn from ZnO. This study shows the growth benefits of adding 3,000 ppm of Zn from ZnO in diets fed to newly weaned pigs. Lower levels of Zn from Zinco+ did not provide the same growth-promoting potential as the diet with 3,000 ppm of Zn from ZnO

Pine species determine fungal microbiome composition in a common garden experiment

The factors shaping the composition of microbial communities in trees remain poorly understood. We evaluated whether the core and satellite fungal communities in five pine species (Pinus radiata, Pinus pinaster, Pinus sylvestris, Pinus nigra, and Pinus uncinata) were shaped by the host species identity. Because the trees had earlier been inoculated with a fungal pathogen (Fusarium circinatum), we also explored the possibilities to detect its presence and potential co-occurrence networks. We found interspecific variation in the fungal community composition and abundance among the different tree species and the existence of a core microbiome that was independent of the host species. The presence of F. circinatum was confirmed in some samples through qPCR but the pathogen did not co-occur with a specific fungal community. The results highlight the importance of host species as a determinant of microbiome assembly in common environments

Comparison of soybean oil and different sources of corn oil on nursery pig growth performance

A total of 350 pigs (PIC 1050; initially 26.45 ± 0.09 lb and 45 d of age) were used in a 21-d study to compare the effects of soy oil and 2 sources of corn oil on nursery pig growth performance. The 7 dietary treatments consisted of a corn-soybean meal–based control diet with no added oil or the control diet with 2.5 or 5% soybean oil (NE = 3,422 kcal/lb) or corn oil from 2 different sources (NE = 3,383 kcal/kg for both sources). There were 5 pigs per pen and 10 pens per treatment. Pig weight and feed disappearance were measured on day 0, 7, 14, and 21 of the trial to determine ADG, ADFI, and F/G. Overall (d 0 to 21), increasing corn or soybean oil improved (linear; P \u3c 0.02) ADG, F/G, and final (d-21) BW, but a source × level interaction was observed (P \u3c 0.05) for ADG, F/G, and caloric efficiency (CE; caloric intake/total BW gain). For ADG, increasing soy oil or corn oil source 1 from 2.5 to 5% increased ADG, whereas increasing corn oil source 2 from 2.5 to 5% decreased ADG. Feed efficiency also improved at a greater rate for pigs fed increasing corn oil source 1 compared with the other oil sources. Caloric efficiency was not influenced by soy oil or corn oil source 2 but was improved (linear, P \u3c 0.05) as corn oil source 1 increased in the diet. The improved CE for corn oil source 1 indicated that the energy value of this source was underestimated. In conclusion, soybean or corn oil improved ADG and F/G as expected; however, growth performance varied among the 3 oil sources. This study shows the benefits of adding an oil source in late-phase nursery pig diets to achieve improved ADG, F/G, and CE, but more research is needed to determine the cause of the varied responses between corn oil sources.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 20, 201

Effects of Increasing Zinc from Two Different Sources on Nursery Pig Performance

A total of 360 weanling pigs (Line 400 × 200; DNA Genetics, Columbus, NE, initially 13.0 lb) were used in a 28-d trial to evaluate the effects of Zn source and level on nursery pig growth performance. Each treatment had 8 replicate pens with 5 pigs per pen. The 9 dietary treatments were arranged as 2 × 4 + 1 factorial and consisted of a control diet that contained 110 ppm Zn from ZnSO4 from the trace mineral premix or the control diet with 390, 890, 1,890, or 2,890 ppm added Zn from either TBZC (Intellibond Z; Micronutrients, Indianapolis, IN) or ZnO. This provided diets with a total of 500, 1,000, 2,000, or 3,000 ppm added Zn. Diets were fed in 3 phases from d 0 to 7, 7 to 21, and 21 to 28 with the first phase fed in pellet form and the others as meal. No Zn source by level interactions or Zn source differences were observed throughout this 28-d study. Overall, from d 0 to 28, increasing Zn increased (linear, P ≤ 0.05) ADG, ADFI, and d 28 BW. On d 28, fecal samples were collected from 3 pigs in each of the 8 pens per treatment and analyzed for DM content. There was a tendency (P = 0.08) for a Zn source by level interaction. As Zn from TBZC increased, fecal DM decreased, but for pigs fed increased Zn from ZnO there was no difference in fecal DM. In conclusion, up to 3,000 ppm Zn improved ADG and ADFI with no effect on F/G. There were no differences among pigs fed the different Zn sources, suggesting that either Zn source is effective at improving weanling pig growth performance

The emission spectrum of the strong Fe II emitter BAL Seyfert 1 galaxy IRAS 07598+6508

The narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy IRAS 07598+6508 is known to be a stong Fe II emitter. The analysis of several high S/N ratio spectra shows that its spectrum is dominated by a relatively narrow "broad line" region (1 780 km s$^{-1}$ FWHM) emitting not only Fe II, but also Ti II and Cr II lines. Although we were unable to find a completely satisfactory physical model, we got the best agreement with the observations with collisional rather than radiative models, with a high density (n=10$^{15}$ cm$^{-3}$), a high column density (N$_{H}$=10$^{25}$ cm$^{-2}$) and a microturbulence of 100 km s$^{-1}$. This BLR is qualitatively similar to the one observed in I Zw 1. We have not found traces in IRAS 07598+6508 of the narrow line regions found in I Zw 1.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures, accepted by A&