Take Precautions When Feeding Drought-Damaged Corn as Silage

When a corn plant is stunted, or not growing normally, nitrates can build up in the plant. Typically nitrogen that is taken up by the corn plant is converted to amino acids – the building blocks of protein – but in the stressed plant this conversion does not occur. And that’s why producers need to know how to handle and feed drought-damaged corn in silage form, according to Steve Ensley of Iowa State University’s Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine (VDPAM) department

The Creative Commodity: A Study of Improvisation in Middle and High School Choral Classrooms in Florida

The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of improvisation in middle and high school choral classrooms. Specifically, the researcher sought to answer the following questions: (1) To what extent are middle and high school choral directors using improvisation activities in their classrooms? (2) How do the Core Arts Standards impact the value choral music educators’ assign to improvisation? (3) What challenges do choral music educators encounter when attempting to implement improvisation? (4) What do choral music educators believe would help them effectively use improvisation in their classrooms? A researcher-designed questionnaire was sent to 105 middle and high school choral directors from 11 counties in central and northern Florida. The results of the study indicated that 87% of the respondents did not believe improvisation could help their students develop musically. Additionally, 70% of the respondents expressed a need for more examples, tools, and resources for teaching improvisation in the choral classroom. Results from this study suggest some music educators may not value improvisation as a creative music activity in the classroom. The failure to include improvisation in many choral music classrooms may be due to a lack of teaching resources specific to vocal improvisation. Additional research is necessary to determine why choral music educators might place so little value on vocal improvisation as a component of a comprehensive choral music education. Subsequent investigations should examine the actual use of improvisation in secondary choral classrooms. A creative music activity guide, aligned with the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards, might also be developed to help choral music educators incorporate creative activities, such as improvisation, into their curriculums. Keywords: improvisation, creativity, standard

Water Quality for Livestock

Water is essential for all forms of life. The availability of adequate quantities and quality of water has the largest impact on the types of life and numbers of individuals that an environment can sustain and may be a limiting factor for livestock production systems. As water availability for human use becomes limited, water quality available for production animals will likely be of lessor quality. Large-scale animal production practices and emphasis on animal performance increase the demands on water delivery systems and increase concern about water quality

G03-1501 Prudent Use of Antibiotics in Companion Animals

This NebGuide explains why antibiotics must be used with care and how to prudently use antibiotics to treat companion animals. Antibiotics are used to improve animal health and performance. You, as the animal owner or caregiver, make important decisions about how antibiotics are finally used in companion animals. Antibiotics should be used prudently to ensure they are effective and will continue to benefit man and animals in the future. Are you prepared to make the best decisions about using antibiotics in animals

G03-1485 Guidelines for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics in Food Animals

This NebGuide explains why antibiotics must be used with care and how to prudently use antibiotics to treat food animals. Antibiotics are used to improve animal health and productivity. You, the animal caregiver, make important decisions about how antibiotics are finally used in food producing animals. Antibiotics should be used prudently to ensure they are effective, do not leave residues in food, and will continue to benefit man and animals in the future. Are you prepared to make the best decisions about using antibiotics in animals

Fluid Mechanic Assessment of the Total Cavopulmonary Connection using Magnetic Resonance Phase Velocity Mapping and Digital Particle Image Velocimetry

The total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC) is currently the most promising modification of the Fontan surgical repair for single ventricle congenital heart disease. The TCPC involves a surgical connection of the superior and inferior vena cavae directly to the left and right pulmonary arteries, bypassing the right heart. In the univentricular system, the ventricle experiences a workload which may be reduced by optimizing the cavae-to-pulmonary anastomosis. The hypothesis of this study was that the energetic efficiency of the connection is a consequence of the fluid dynamics which develop as a function of connection geometry. Magnetic resonance phase velocity mapping (MRPVM) and digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV) were used to evaluate the flow patterns in vitro in three prototype glass models of the TCPC: flared zero offset, flared 14 mm offset, and straight 21 mm offset. The flow field velocity along the symmetry plane of each model was chosen to elucidate the fluid mechanics of the connection as a function of the connection geometry and pulmonary artery flow split. The steady flow experiments were conducted at a physiologic cardiac output (4 L/min) over three left/right pulmonary flow splits (70/30, 50/50, and 30/70) while keeping the superior/inferior vena cavae flow ratio constant at 40/60. MRPVM, a noninvasive clinical technique for measuring flow field velocities, was compared to DPIV, an established in vitro fluid mechanic technique. A comparison between the results from both techniques showed agreement of large scale flow features, despite some discrepancies in the detailed flow fields. The absence of caval offset in the flared zero offset model resulted in significant caval flow collision at the connection site. In contrast, offsetting the cavae reduced the flow interaction and caused a vortex-like low velocity region between the caval inlets as well as flow disturbance in the pulmonary artery with the least total flow. A positive correlation was also found between the direct caval flow collision and increased power losses. MRPVM was able to elucidate these important fluid flow features, which may be important in future modifications in TCPC surgical designs. Using MRPVM, two- and three-directional velocity fields in the TCPC could be quantified. Because of this, MRPVM has the potential to provide accurate velocity information clinically and, thus, to become the in vivo tool for TCPC patient physiological/functional assessment. © 2000 Biomedical Engineering Society

In Vivo Flow Dynamics of the Total Cavopulmonary Connection from Three-dimensional Multislice Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Background. The total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC) design continues to be refined on the basis of flow analysis at the connection site. These refinements are of importance for myocardial energy conservation in the univentricular supported circulation. In vivo magnetic resonance phase contrast imaging provides semiquantitative flow visualization information. The purpose of this study was to understand the in vivo TCPC flow characteristics obtained by magnetic resonance phase contrast imaging and compare the results with our previous in vitro TCPC flow experiments in an effort to further refine TCPC surgical design. Methods. Twelve patients with TCPC underwent sedated three-dimensional, multislice magnetic resonance phase contrast imaging. Seven patients had intraatrial lateral tunnel TCPC and 5 had extracardiac TCPC. Results. In all patients in both groups a disordered flow pattern was observed in the inferior caval portion of the TCPC. Flow at the TCPC site appeared to be determined by connection geometry, being streamlined at the superior vena cava–pulmonary junction when the superior vena cava was offset and flared toward the left pulmonary artery. Without caval offset, intense swirling and dominance of superior vena caval flow was observed. In TCPC with bilateral superior vena cavae, the flow patterns observed included secondary vortices, a central stagnation point, and influx of the superior vena cava flow into the inferior caval conduit. A comparative analysis of in vivo flow and our previous in vitro flow data from glass model prototypes of TCPC demonstrated significant similarities in flow disturbances. Three-dimensional magnetic resonance phase contrast imaging in multiple coronal planes enabled a comprehensive semiquantitative flow analysis. The data are presented in traditional instantaneous images and in animated format for interactive display of the flow dynamics. Conclusions. Flow in the inferior caval portion of the TCPC is disordered, and the TCPC geometry determines flow characteristics

In Vivo Flow Dynamics of the Total Cavopulmonary Connection from Three-dimensional Multislice Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Background. The total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC) design continues to be refined on the basis of flow analysis at the connection site. These refinements are of importance for myocardial energy conservation in the univentricular supported circulation. In vivo magnetic resonance phase contrast imaging provides semiquantitative flow visualization information. The purpose of this study was to understand the in vivo TCPC flow characteristics obtained by magnetic resonance phase contrast imaging and compare the results with our previous in vitro TCPC flow experiments in an effort to further refine TCPC surgical design. Methods. Twelve patients with TCPC underwent sedated three-dimensional, multislice magnetic resonance phase contrast imaging. Seven patients had intraatrial lateral tunnel TCPC and 5 had extracardiac TCPC. Results. In all patients in both groups a disordered flow pattern was observed in the inferior caval portion of the TCPC. Flow at the TCPC site appeared to be determined by connection geometry, being streamlined at the superior vena cava–pulmonary junction when the superior vena cava was offset and flared toward the left pulmonary artery. Without caval offset, intense swirling and dominance of superior vena caval flow was observed. In TCPC with bilateral superior vena cavae, the flow patterns observed included secondary vortices, a central stagnation point, and influx of the superior vena cava flow into the inferior caval conduit. A comparative analysis of in vivo flow and our previous in vitro flow data from glass model prototypes of TCPC demonstrated significant similarities in flow disturbances. Three-dimensional magnetic resonance phase contrast imaging in multiple coronal planes enabled a comprehensive semiquantitative flow analysis. The data are presented in traditional instantaneous images and in animated format for interactive display of the flow dynamics. Conclusions. Flow in the inferior caval portion of the TCPC is disordered, and the TCPC geometry determines flow characteristics