Effects of forage supplements on milk production and chemical properties, in vivo digestibility, rumen fermentation and N excretion in dairy cows offered red clover silage and corn silage or dry ground corn

peer-reviewedThis study concerned the effects of partial substitution of clover silage with high starch forages on milk production and chemical composition, in vivo digestibility, rumen fermentation pattern and nitrogen excretion of dairy cows. Sixteen dairy cows were separated into two groups and were assigned to treatments in a two-period crossover design. Two forage supplements were used: corn silage (CS) and dry ground corn (DG). All animals received 4.5 kg of concentrate dry matter per day. Results showed no significant difference between the forage supplements for milk production, while significant differences (P<0.01) were observed for milk fat, milk protein and nitrogen utilisation efficiency (42 v. 4.0 g/kg, 3.5 v. 3.3 g/kg and 222 v. 188 g/kg, respectively, for DG and CS). Faecal N excretion did not differ between forage supplements, but urinary N excretion was higher for CS (P<0.05). No significant differences were observed between treatments for rumen fluid pH or for rumen fluid concentrations of ammonium nitrogen or of acetic, propionic or butyric acids. Dry matter intake and the in vivo digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, acid detergent fibre and neutral detergent fibre were all higher for CS compared with DG.The authors are grateful to the Environmental Office of the Cantabrian Government for funding the project 05-640.02-2174

Flight dynamics and stability of kites in steady and unsteady wind conditions

The flight dynamics and stability of a kite with a single main line flying in steady and unsteady wind conditions are discussed. A simple dynamic model with five degrees of freedom is derived with the aid of Lagrangian formulation, which explicitly avoids any constraint force in the equations of motion. The longitudinal and lateral–directional modes and stability of the steady flight under constant wind conditions are analyzed by using both numerical and analytical methods. Taking advantage of the appearance of small dimensionless parameters in the model, useful analytical formulas for stable-designed kites are found. Under nonsteady wind-velocity conditions, the equilibrium state disappears and periodic orbits occur. The kite stability and an interesting resonance phenomenon are explored with the aid of a numerical method based on Floquet theory

The Extirpation of Idolatry in Peru

Long recognized as a classic account of the early Spanish efforts to convert the Indians of Peru, Father De Arriaga’s book, originally published in 1621, has become comparatively rare even in its Spanish editions. This translation now makes available for the first time in English a unique record of the customs and religious practices that prevailed after the Spanish conquest. In his book, which was designed as a manual for the rooting out of paganism, De Arriaga sets down plainly and methodically what he found among the Indians—their objects of worship, their priests and sorcerers, their festivals and sacrifices, and their superstitions—and how these things are to be recognized and combated. Moreover, he evinces a steady awareness of the hold of custom and of the plight of the Indians who are torn between the demands of their old life and their new masters. The Extirpation of Idolatry in Peru is an invaluable source for historians and anthropologists. L. Clark Keating is professor of modern languages at the University of Kentucky.https://uknowledge.uky.edu/upk_latin_american_history/1004/thumbnail.jp

Steel profiles for repairing deteriorated timber beam ends

Se describe un procedimiento para la consolidación de viguetas de forjado de madera con deterioro en las cabezas mediante perfiles de acero conectados a la madera desde la cara superior del forjado. La pieza de refuerzo es un perfil en U de acero S275 conformado en frío con pletinas soldadas insertadas en la madera y conectada mediante tirafondos. Se ensayaron 30 piezas a flexión obteniendo la rigidez y la capacidad de carga. Las probetas se dividieron en tres grupos. El primero compuesto por 10 piezas de madera laminada encolada de abeto con una sección de 180 x 200 mm y una longitud de 4.000 mm; el segundo consistía en 10 piezas de madera aserrada de pino silvestre con la misma sección y longitud y, el tercero, estaba formado por otras 10 piezas de madera del género Pinus con una sección de 130 x 150 mm y 3.000 mm de longitud, procedentes de un edificio de Madrid con 120 años de antigüedad. Cada grupo de 10 piezas se dividió a su vez en dos grupos de 5 piezas. El primer subgrupo estaba formado por las piezas completas de madera y constituía el grupo de referencia. Las piezas del segundo subgrupo tenían una longitud inferior que se salvaba con una extensión del refuerzo metálico. Los resultados indican que el sistema de refuerzo metálico permite resolver los problemas de falta de apoyo de la vigueta por deterioro de la madera que afecte en una longitud limitada (aproximadamente entre el 10 y el 20% de la longitud)

Aqueous two-phase systems within selectively permeable vesicles

An aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) encapsulated within a vesicle organizes the vesicle core as two coexisting phases that partition encapsulated solutes. Here, we use microfluidic technologies to produce vesicles that efficiently encapsulate mixtures of macromolecules, providing a versatile platform to determine the phase behavior of ATPSs. Moreover, we use compartmentalized vesicles to investigate how membrane permeability affects the dynamics of the encapsulated ATPS. Designing a membrane selectively permeable to one of the components of the ATPS, we show that out-of-equilibrium phase separations formed by a rapid outflow of water can be spontaneously reversed by a slower outflow of the permeating component across the vesicle membrane. This dynamics may be exploited advantageously by cells to separate and connect metabolic and signaling routes within their nucleoplasm or cytoplasm depending on external conditionsThe authors acknowledge financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (MCI) through the María de Maeztu Programme for Units of Excellence in R&D (CEX2018-000805-M). L.R.A. and J.L.A. also acknowledge financial support from MCI through the Ramón y Cajal Programme (RYC2018-025575-I and RYC2019-028189-I; MCI/AEI/FSE, UE

Identification of defects originated during the filling of cast pieces through particles modelling

In casting processes, strong recirculation zones may trap air, gases and strip particles of sand off the mold affecting seriously the quality of the cast pieces. Especially during the filling of molten pieces with large surfaces, several faults were detected which are responsible of considerable economic losses in such casting processes. The aim of this work is focused on the correct identification of these physical phenomena, through Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). A fully experimental work correlating a saline solution with similar properties than the liquid alloy was carried out in order to guess the flow behavior inside the mold. Different parameters such as filling time, temperature and velocity of the liquid alloy together with the geometrical design of the mold were taken into account. The simulated evolution profiles and propagation speeds were compared with the laboratory experiments showing good agreement, validating thus the numerical model. Through an advanced particles modeling feature from a commercial package, the potential to predict and later correct some casting defects was demonstrated. As a conclusion, the mold together with supply channels need to be carefully optimized in order to control the correct direction of solidification avoiding the appearance of oxides but also to prevent stripping the sand off the walls

Exergames for motor rehabilitation in older adults: an umbrella review

Background: Exergames have been used as an innovative motor rehabilitation method with the main aim of improving motivation and exercise. As research interest in exergaming for rehabilitation is rapidly growing, a review of existing systematic reviews is important to synthesize the available evidence and provide recommendations. Objectives: In this article, we systematically synthesized the information from reviews that have examined the effects if exergames on different body movement parameters in older adults with and without specific pathologies. Method: Searches were conducted in Web of Science, Scopus, PsycARTICLES, PsycINFO, Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection, PubMed, SciELO, B-On and Google Scholar, articulating different terms and Boolean operators. Systematic reviews, meta-analysis and literature reviews published until May 2017 that investigated exergame interventions on physical outcomes, such as balance, gait, limb movements, muscle strength, in healthy and non-healthy older adults. Results: Based on prior reviews, exergaming, as a standalone intervention, has a positive effect on balance, gait, muscle strength, upper limb function, and dexterity. When compared to traditional physiotherapy, exergaming has at least similar effects on these outcomes. Many of the investigated studies indicated low methodological quality for the evaluation of the effects of exergames on different outcomes related to motor rehabilitation. Conclusions: Exergames could be used as a complement to traditional forms of motor rehabilitation, but future individual studies and reviews should follow more rigorous methodological standards in order to improve the quality of the evidence and provide guidelines for the use of exergames in motor rehabilitation.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Tailored virtual reality for smart physiotherapy

Remote sensing and Virtual Reality (VR) are technologies that create new development opportunities in the field of serious games with application in physiotherapy. Thus, during a physiotherapy training session expressed by a game around the remote sensing of user body motion provides measurements that can be used for objective evaluation of physical therapy outcomes. In this work is presented a serious game for physiotherapy characterized by Kinect natural user interface and a set of VR games developed in the Unity3D. To provide patient electronic health record, game remote configuration as well as for data presentation for physiotherapist a mobile application was developed. Additionally, several training results expressed by upper limb, neck and spine angles are included in the paper.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Agent Based Model of the Cytosine Radiation Induced Reaction

The stability of cytosine in aqueous solution was studied in the laboratory, simulating prebiotic conditions and using gamma radiation as an energy source, to describe cytosine behavior under radiation. For a better understanding of the radiation-induced processes, we proposed a mathematical model that considers chemical reactions as nonlinear ordinary differential equations. The radiolysis can be computationally simulated by an agent-based model, wherein each chemical species involved is considered to be an agent that can interact with other species with known reaction rates. The radiation is contemplated as a factor that promotes product formation/destruction, and the temperature determines the diffusion speed of the agents. With this model, we reproduce the changes in cytosine concentration obtained in the laboratory under different irradiation conditions

Cortisol, Heart Rate, and Perceived Exertion Responses to Different Resistance Training Protocols with and Without Blood Flow Restriction

ABSTRACT PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of different resistance exercise protocols on cortisol, heart rate, and perceived exertion. METHODS: Eight males and eight females (age = 21.8 ± 2.6) performed three randomly assigned exercise protocols on three separate occasions: low-intensity resistance training (RT) exercises with blood flow restriction (BFR) at 20% of one repetition maximum (1-RM) (BFR20), moderate-intensity RT exercises with BFR at 40% of 1-RM (BFR40), and traditional high-intensity RT exercises at 80% of 1-RM (HI80). Participants completed 2-3 circuits of four sets in the leg press and leg extension machines. Total volume of resistance training (RT) exercises performed was about 25% for the BFR20 session and 50% for the BFR40 session compared to the volume of RT exercises for the HI80 session. Heart rate (HR) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were monitored throughout each session. Saliva samples were collected before and immediately after each exercise session. Samples were stored at -80 ℃ and later analyzed with ELISA for salivary cortisol concentrations. RESULTS: No significant differences in cortisol concentrations were noted between conditions, but significant increases in cortisol concentrations were seen from pre- to post-exercise exercise (pCONCLUSION: The cortisol findings may indicate that all three exercise protocols resulted in similar levels of stimuli to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. It should be highlighted that the BFR20 session with lowest training volume and intensity resulted in similar objective (i.e., HR) but significantly lower subjective level of exertion (i.e., RPE) compared to the HI80 session with highest training volume and intensity. The cortisol, HR, and RPE responses to various RT sessions indicate that the findings of the present study may have some clinical and/or practical applications