Potential new protein sources for monogastric animals

A series of four trials was conducted to evaluate activated sewage sludge (AcSS) as a protein source. In the first trial the protein efficiency ratio (PER) of sun-dried and auto-claved, sun-dried AcSS was measured with rats. Growth of AcSS-fed rats was extremely poor as compared to those rats fed casein, brewers yeast or cottonseed meal. Autoclaving did not increase performance. These findings indicate that the protein quality of AcSS is poor. The second trial examined the effects of increasing levels of AcSS (0, 30, 40, 50 percent) on growth rate, feed intake, sodium pentobarbital sleeping times, organ weights and tissue metals accumulation, in male Long-Evans rats. Average daily gain(g) for 30 days was 5.6, 4.9, 5.1 and 4.8 for 0, 30, 40 and 50 percent AcSS. Pentobarbital sleeping time(35 mg pentobarbital/kg body weight) was reduced (P<.01) in the 50 percent AcSS group as compared to the 0 percent AcSS group indicating stimulated hepatic drug metabolism. Liver weight as percent body weight was increased (P<.05) in the 40 and 50 percent AcSS groups. Tissue mercury, lead and cadmium in the liver, kidney, heart and muscle of the 50 percent AcSS-fed rats were 0.10, 0.11, 1.01; 0.78, 0.13, 1.22; 0.23, 0.08, 0.67 and 0.05. 0.03, 0.33 ppm respectively. The diet contained 3.2, 5.2 and 217 ppm mercury, cadmium and lead. These results indicated hepatic metabolism of toxic constituents in AcSS. The performance of zero and 30 percent AcSS-fed rats was assessed over three generations. Birth weight, weaning weights, average daily gain, feed intake and tissue heavy metals accumulation were studied. Birth weights were greater (P<.05) for the 30 percent AcSS -'fed groups; apparently average litter sizes were slightly less. Post weaning average daily gain was lower (P<.05) for the F3 male and female 30 percent AcSS-fed rats than the zero percent AcSS-fed rats. Performance and tissue heavy metals accumulation in this and the previous trial are sufficiently low that AcSS appears to have minimal use as a feed ingredient. A fourth trial was conducted to determine the general chemical nature of the toxic constituent(s) of AcSS through pentobarbital sleeping times. Ashed and solvent extracted preparations of AcSS were incorporated into a diet at a level equivalent to 50 percent unaltered AcSS. Zero percent and 50 percent unaltered AcSS diets were included. Pentobarbital sleeping times (35 mg pentobarbital/kg body weight) of the groups fed ashed and solvent (hexane, ether) extracted AcSS were not different (P<.05) than the zero percent AcSS -'fed group. These results indicate the major toxic factor(s) in AcSS to be of an organic nature. These trials indicate because AcSS is a low quality protein with substantial quantities of heavy metals it is not likely to have application as a protein supplement for non-ruminant animals, The solvent extracted meal from a potential industrial oil seed crop, Limnanthes, was evaluated as a protein source in three trials, In the first trial the protein quality was measured through a PER. Unaltered Limnanthes meal is unacceptable as the sole source of protein in the monogastric diet. Limnanthes with the goitrogens extracted and the endogenous enzyme inactivated was shown to be a protein equal to that of cottonseed meal. Protein digestibility in Limnanthes was examined in a second trial. A 60 percent digestibility coefficient indicates likely interference of the fibrous hull fraction with protein digestibility. In a thrid trial the response of rats to increasing levels (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 50 percent) of an enzyme inactivated Limnanthes mealwere examined. Rats fed 20 percent Limnanthes had average daily gains and feed intake not different (P<.05) from the zero percent Limnanthes-fed rats. At the 25, 30 and 50 percent levels daily gains and feed intake were lower (P<.05) in the 25, 30 and 50 percent Limnanthes-fed groups. Limnanthes meal is a poor quality protein when used alone in non-ruminant diets. Protein digestibility appears to be reduced by the hull fraction. Adequate growth performance with no apparent side effects is obtained in rats with dietary levels of 20 percent or less. Low saponin alfalfa was evaluated as a protein source for nonruminants. The contribution of saponin to the negative effects of drying on the quality of alfalfa was examined in trial one. Average daily gains of rats fed air-dried, low saponin alfalfa were higher (P<.05) than rats fed freeze-dried low and high saponin alfalfa. These results indicate saponins do not undergo heat stimulated reactions which decreases the palatability of alfalfa, Freeze-drying appears to decrease the nutritive value of alfalfa. In a second trial the growth inhibitory effect of high saponin alfalfa was studied through a pair-feeding regime. Low saponin alfalfa-fed rats had daily gains not different (P<.05) than the high saponin alfalfa-fed group with which they were pair-fed, results which indicate growth inhibition is largely due to reduced feed intake. The level at which a low or high saponin alfalfa diet would be rejected in favor of a control diet was examined. Rats consistently preferred the control diet. Rabbits rejected low saponin at the five percent level and high saponin at the 15 percent level. These results indicate rabbits have a preference for bitterness whereas rats do not. In a second palatability study, intake of high saponin and low saponin alfalfa was examined. At all levels rats chose the low saponin diet over the high saponin diet. Rabbits rejected the high saponin diet at the 20 percent level, results which confirm the species difference of the previous study and indicate saponin to affect diet acceptability in the rat. The growth response of pigs to high and low saponin alfalfa diets was measured. Pigs on the low saponin diet had growth rates not different (P<.05) than the controls. The high saponin groups had growth rates different (P<.05) from the low saponin and control group. There were no differences (P<.05) in feed intake or feed efficiency. Dietary saponin is a significant factor in growth inhibition in pigs

Implementation of Professional Academic Advisors in Minot State University's College of Arts and Sciences and College of Education and Health Sciences

The purpose of this research project was to determine perceptions or concerns faculty advisors at Minot State University have regarding professional academic advisors and steps that can be taken to address those perceptions and concerns so that professional academic advisors can be implemented. A survey was sent to all full-time tenure track faculty, and the data were analyzed using t-tests of unequal variances to compare whether the College of Education and Health Sciences was more inclined than the College of Arts and Sciences to implement professional academic advisors. Additional t-tests of unequal variances were used to compare whether faculty who had 10 or fewer years of service with Minot State University were more inclined to use professional academic advisors than faculty with 11 or more years of service. The survey results indicated that faculty overall had many misconceptions regarding professional academic advisors and while the College of Education and Health Science and the College of Arts and Sciences had similar views regarding professional academic advisors, faculty who had 10 or fewer years of service were more likely to be in favor of professional academic advisors than those with 11 or more years of service. Suggestions from the lead faculty advisor at the University of North Dakota (UND) were used to determine best practices, and the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) database was also searched for best practices and qualifications for professional academic advisors

Transcriptional Activation of Stress Genes and Cytotoxicity in Human Liver Carcinoma (HepG2) Cells Exposed to Pentachlorophenol

Abstract: Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is a biocidal chemical with several industrial, agricultural, and domestic applications. There is accumulating evidence indicating that PCP is highly toxic to humans, with major target organs including the lung, liver, kidneys, heart, and brain. Little is known regarding the molecular basis by which PCP induces toxicity, mutagenesis, and carcinogenesis. Therefore, this research was designed to assess the cellular and molecular responses of HepG2 cells following exposure to PCP. The cytotoxicity experiment yielded a LD50 value of 23.4 + 9.7 μg PCP/mL upon 48 hrs of exposure, indicating that PCP is acutely toxic. A dose-response relationship was recorded with respect to gene induction. For example, fold inductions of CYP1A1 were 1.0 + 0.0, 1.0 + 0.0, 1.3 + 0.5, 6.3 + 4.3, and 22.5 + 3.5 for 0, 6.2, 12.5, 25, and 50 μg PCP/mL, respectively. Overall, five out of the thirteen recombinant cell lines tested showed inductions to statistically significant levels (p < 0.05). At 50 μg PCP/mL, the average fold inductions were 22.5 + 3.5, 52.8 + 2.5, 8.4 + 1.9, 6.16 + 2.4, and 12.5 + 6.8, for CYP1A1, XRE, HMTIIA, c-fos, and GADD153, respectively. These results indicate the potential of PCP to undergo Phase I biotransformation in the liver (CYP1A1, XRE), to cause cell proliferation (c-fos), growth arrest and DNA damage (GADD153), and to influence the toxicokinetics of metal ions (HMTIIA). Marginal inductions were recorded for HSP70, CRE, RARE, GADD45, and GRP78. Within the dose range (0-100 μg/mL) tested, no significant inductions (p < 0.05) were observed for GSTYa, NFkBRE, and p53RE